Ithuba Holdings (RF) (Proprietary) Limited
Key initiatives and projects
Youth Enterprise Development Programme (YEDP)
The (YEDP) programme is an enterprise-development programme designed for aspiring entrepreneurs between 18 – 35 years old, who have a business idea or have registered a small business, and need to take it to the next level of commercialisation (pre-start-up). It takes ad hoc trading businesses to a more stable state of trading. The end result of the programme is a business modelling and planning document that can be used to raise capital from investors or to secure a loan from a financial institution.
Success Story
With the YEDP programme initiative, ITHUBA intended to integrate the entrepreneurs into their procurement ecosystem, which will add onto ITHUBA’s already impressive 90% of locally-based suppliers.
One of the entrepreneurs, Mary-Jane Ngwane owns 8Consulting, an ICT company that focuses on Business Intelligence reporting. Her business now provides services for ITHUBA and its parent company, Zamani Holdings.
“To have a client as big as ITHUBA on my business profile will open doors for me. I’m grateful that I have had this opportunity and as a new entrepreneur, this programme will be instrumental in my success going forward” ― Mary-Jane Ngwane.
Further initiatives
Every year since 1999, the Eric and Charmaine Mabuza Scholarship Foundation has been affording the youth an opportunity to pursue their dream careers by sponsoring their tertiary education.
This Foundation is responsible for taking underprivileged youths to university, a basic right that in not easily accessible by many South Africans.
Education is extremely extensive in South Africa, with tuition fees increasing every year. One example of an increase in tuition fees is the cost of a BA degree at Stellenbosch University that has increased by 30% between 2006 and 2015. That is a heavy cost burden for ordinary South Africans to carry.
Through the Eric and Charmaine Mabuza Foundation, we have supported 197 students through tertiary education. Paying for their tuition, accommodation, study materials and meal allowance. The Foundation has seen graduates becoming Medical Doctors, Engineers, Accountants and many more professionals.
Every year since October 2018, ITHUBA and its sister companies allows young people a skills development opportunity through its graduate programme. Following a successful first intake of 11 graduates, the 2019/20 programme commenced with in October 2019 with an intake of 13 graduates.
The graduates, who are in the fields of Marketing, Human Resources, ICT, Finance and Corporate Relations, are allocated a dedicate mentor who is an expert in their field.
The graduates have a Learning programme dedicated at sharpening their business and soft skills through a reputable institute, Chartall Business College.
This is a women empowerment programme that identified over 100 female retailers to develop, train and upskill in order to improve their business skills. These are women who own informal super markets that sell National Lottery products, some residing in previously marginalized rural areas.
ITHUBA partnered with education institutes such as Regenesys and the University of Johannesburg Business Schools.
In October 2019, a group of 14 women who are part of this programme graduated at the University of Johannesburg Kingsway campus, each awarded a qualification in Advanced Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
This programme aims to address the digital literacy challenges and digital divide that exist in disadvantaged areas in South Africa.
It is aimed at empowering both the learner and the educator wit technological skills and tools that will enhance the learning experience of the Grade 11 and Grade 12 pupils, with special focus on Mathematics and Science.
The school of excellence was launched in September 2019, with beacon schools in Mpumalanga, Stintile and Masitakhe Secondary Schools. Mpumalanga is one of the 9 provinces in South Africa, located in the eastern part of the country.
To kick off the programme, both schools received equipment which included a laptop and data projector. All teachers received extensive training and electronic training manuals to help through their digital journey.
The Angel Fund is fund set aside by ITHUBA to assist individuals and communities who are in distress and need urgent relief.
In 2019, Kwa-Zulu Natal, one of the 9 provinces in South Africa, located on the Eastern seaboard of the country was attacked by storms that left many people homeless, while others died tragically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aOZPD1Mr0E
https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/at-least-51-confirmed-dead-in-kzn-floods-reports-20190424
ITHUBA donated 500 blankets and mattresses to the Kwa-Zulu Natal residence as part of the KZN relief project.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought devastation all around the globe. In South Africa, a nation-wide lockdown was enforces on 27 March 2020. This meant that a lot of people, especially blue-collar workers could no longer earn a living. For essential workers such as health and security workers, this meant that they were at the frontline and working hard in fighting the impact of this deadly virus.
In a true spirit of UBUNTU, ITHUBA stood up for the nation, providing food parcels to distressed communities and other necessities relevant for essential workers who are at the fore-front of battling this pandemic.
ITHUBA Donated 100 000 reusable face masks to the South African Department of Health and the South African Police Service.
This was a significant contribution to essential workers, the hand-over ceremony received nationwide news coverage.
Below is a link to the news coverage, broadcasted on one of South Africa’s biggest news channels, SABC News.
During these unprecedented COVID-19 times, ITHUBA saw it necessary to pay tribute to all front line workers and thank them for their selflessness in fighting the COVID-19 virus.
We commissioned a national TV advert and a social media campaign to display our gratitude. The campaign gained traction from ordinary South Africans as well as well-known celebrities who took to social media to individually participate in the #THANK YOU Campaign.
