The Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane handed over equipment that will assist the founder and director of TNJ Media, Thando Mpinda (28) in operating his digital billboard, last weekend.
Mpinda is from Highland location in Mbizana. He said the equipment would help him to develop his business and to gain more trust from his customers.
“At the moment, we are 17 (people), including the employees. I had a love of communication and creativity, that is why I started this kind of a business,” said Mpinda. He added that the equipment was handed over by Mabuyane last weekend.
Mpinda said young people should stop undermining themselves and ensure that they look for help all the time. “I am very happy because Mabuyane assisted me to fulfil my dream. People should start trusting government because you do get support when you look for it.”
Mabuyane said he was proud to have handed over much-needed equipment to one of the Isiqalo Youth Fund projects in Mbizana.
“TNJ Media is a 100% black, youth-owned media company, registered in 2014. It was founded by Mpinda and currently services Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg. Its core business is on billboards, out of home advertising, signage, full branding, strategic marketing, broadcasting and filming,” said Mabuyane.
TNJ Media was funded by the Office of the Premier’s Isiqalo Youth Fund at level two and received a high quality LED billboard screen, with supporting software and WiFi, structure delivery and installation.
Mabuyane added that Mpinda will also receive training for his employees on operations of the billboard screen and rental for 20 months to the value of R72 600.
According to Mbuyane, the Isiqalo Youth Fund is part of the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier, it is geared towards the development of youth entrepreneurs and provides financial and non-financial support, so that they may eventually enter the mainstream economy.
“It always gives me great joy to be part of such wonderful youth-owned businesses. We have a lot of young people with great potential and all they need is assistance and, through Isiqalo, we will keep putting in a lot of effort and resources to help where we can.”
