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The Eskom Simama-Ranta competition winners for KwaZulu-Natal have been announced as the Phendukani Full Service High School, with the James Nxumalo Agricultural High School in second place, and in third place, the Gratton High School.

“The unemployment crisis requires structured and targeted interventions to stimulate economic growth and job creation. Through the Simama-Ranta high school entrepreneurship competition, Eskom introduces an enterprise culture early in the lives of young people, instilling a paradigm shift for the youth to appreciate their role in solving the country’s triple threats of poverty, unemployment, and inequality,” said Nthato Minyuku, Eskom’s Group Executive for Government and Regulatory Affairs.

Established in 2019, the enterprise club of the Phendukani Full Service High School, a quintile 3 school located in eMadadeni, has evolved from selling sandwiches to a thriving agri-processing business. The club manages two greenhouse tunnels, growing a range of crops. They produce vegetable juices and smoothies and sell these at a local agricultural flea market. “Our winnings will be used to expand our nurseries, and to purchase equipment for a hydroponics plant. We are also very proud that the club recently secured a deal to supply a fruit and vegetable store in Newcastle,” said educator, Sifiso Dlalisa.

The James Nxumalo Agricultural High School’s enterprise club was established a decade ago, and specialises in plant and animal production. The club intends purchasing a greenhouse with their prize money, and they are working towards starting a mini vegetable market to attract local vendors.

Based in Eshowe, the 2nd runner-up Gratton High School’s enterprise club was established in 1999 and specialises in agri-farming projects, including managing a vegetable garden, breeding broiler chickens, pig farming, and making jam. Although the Covid-19 pandemic has affected its jam production, the club looks forward to using the prize money to grow their project and create more job opportunities for the local community.

“We applaud the manner in which the young KwaZulu-Natal entrepreneurs conducted the business projects they entered in this year’s Simama-Ranta competition. We congratulate the provincial winners, and all participating schools that are already job creators in their respective communities,” said Cecil Ramonotsi, Chief Executive Officer of the Eskom Development Foundation.

Issued by Madelline Kadzinga, Foundation Project Marketing and Communication Manager, Eskom Development Foundation