MARIO’S Grass Cutting Service Limited (Ltd), a youth-owned emerging business providing gardening services in Buffalo City Metro, recently received a much-needed R300,000 financial boost from the Eastern Cape’s Isiqalo Youth Fund investment initiative.
The ISIQALO Youth Fund is an initiative of the Eastern Cape government in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), aimed at empowering and providing financial assistance to youth-owned emerging businesses and young entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape.
The Isiqalo Youth Fund invested R300,000 and a bakkie in Mario’s grass cutting and gardening services in an attempt to assist the business in expanding its operations, creating new job opportunities for local youth, and contributing to Buffalo City’s economic growth.
Mario’s Grass Cutting Service was established by its current owner, Mandilakhe Matuwana, in Nompumelelo township in 2020 when the world was still grappling with the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which led to massive job losses.
Matuwana believes that the financial support from Isiqalo will help grow his business and create sustainable job opportunities for local youth in the area.
The COVID-19 lockdown regulations brought financial strain to Matuwana’s business as it could not operate, and he struggled to pay his employees.
“The company is doing well now. We are in demand, and now that we have a bakkie, we will be able to expand our operations to other areas of Buffalo City,” said Matuwana.
The company mainly operates in Beacon Bay, Abbotsford, Nompumelelo, and other nearby townships; however, Matuwana’s objectives include expanding and providing services to the entire Buffalo City region.
“We provide affordable landscaping and garden services in Buffalo City’s urban areas and townships, assisting businesses, homeowners, and property developers with professional garden cleanup, tree trimming, and grass cutting,” added Matuwana.
In October, Isiqalo provided musical and photography equipment valued at R500,000 to Amahomba Entertainment, a production studio based in Mdantsane.
