A Komani multi-award winning young businessman, Masonwabe Fuma, has been named 2022 Trailblazer of the Year by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) as a special tribute to the young South Africans under the age of 35 who are excelling in their line of work against all odds.
This is a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, whom even during these uncertain times are actively making a difference in their communities. Trailblazers are pioneers, innovators and job creators, change agents, lifelong learners, risk takers and pathfinders, the agency said on its website.
Fuma said he was humbled by this milestone and recognition and that it is a result of my many years’ commitment and hard work developing and empowering underprivileged young people.
“Winning awards is generally testament of one’s greatness, and that they’re thought leaders and experts in their industries. They are also prestigious recognitions of excellence. They speak to my personal achievement and are a gold star on my profile. I think more importantly, this says that Komani youth are a cut above the rest.”
He said he belonged to a category of young people whose purpose in life was greater than their own jackets.
For Fuma, it is important to shift the trajectory of the marginalised people who live in squalor and develop them. The 28-year-old entrepreneur wants to bring hope where there is hopelessness and be the light in the dark.
“My purpose was written in the dreams and tears of my ancestors. This inspires me to keep on going. I’m at a point in my life where not even the alarm wakes me up in the morning. My purpose wakes me up and I want to continue being a foot soldier in this long relay of Africa’s development,” he said.
Fuma is not new to awards. He made it to the 2021 Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young and Eminent South Africans list, 2021 Sunday WorldTop 100 Unsung Heroes’ list and won the 2022 Africa Top Forty Under 40 Honourary Award for Community Development in Ghana in March this year.
“With a bit of support, encouragement and inspiration here and there, young people of the Chris Hani District could conquer the world. SA is a country where being extremely poor is normal,” he said.
It is incomprehensible for Fuma that youth unemployment, inequality an poverty were at their peak while young people have capabilities.
“We need to recognise that our people are human and in turn create a humane world through building and organising our people into cooperative style enterprises so that they are much more able to address these challenges. We need to look into our people having their own means of production.”
He said he is currently building Sakhulutsha eAfrika, a centre for youth development, local enterprise, advisory and research. For more information, one can visit www.sakhulutshaeafrika.co.za.
“Some of the projects I’m running are focused on education and entrepreneurship. These projects allow young people to view the world more broadly, and the opportunities it presents. It further enables young people to be creative, open minded, resilient and to persevere. I also enjoy the leadership talks I give at high schools and tertiary institutions titled: ‘Moulding a 21st Century Young Person: Creating Future Fit For Purpose Young People’,” he said.
“Everything I do is aimed at creating a sustainable organisation and one that creates long lasting solutions and positive impact in our communities.
“Businesses need to take the lead. Nowhere in the history of mankind have countries come out of difficult situations without the role and leadership of business leaders. We can’t sit on the sidelines and bemoan the state of the game,” he said.
