With thousands of people including politicians, business leaders, journalists and political analysts descending on Nasrec, for the ANC 55th national conference, informal traders have used this opportunity to cash in by selling their wares.
A most curious sight at the media centre is that of two, sometimes three girls in school uniform serving customers at a coffee shop called Huis van Cofifi.
One of the two young girls who are pupils at Emshukantambo High School in Pimville Soweto, is 18-year-old Samukeliso Simelane, who says serving coffee is part of a school project where they have partnered with Huis van Cofifi, to get exposure on how businesses operate.
Simelane says serving all the people who are attending the 55th ANC national elective conference has shown her that she is capable of leading, when asked what her career choice is going to be.
“The reason I did history is because I want to learn how to articulate, analyse and read clearly; however as my mainstream career I do want to venture into law. I will be joining politics so Samukeliso Simelane will be known in politics as the president, that’s the plan,” quips the top achiever who says she is going to study at the University of Cape Town when she passes matric.
“I feel like South Africa needs a black feminine touch. We have had experience with men…we need women not because women are critical thinkers but because we are at the time where we preach so much equality and we need to practise it too”.
Her colleague Nompumelelo Nxumalo (17) said she would choose a career in medicine over politics.
“I feel like medicine is underrated and people never think about their health that’s why I want to study medicine, teach them about their health and open my own practice,” she says.
Their business partner and mentor Sibusiso Sibeko says it is important for the girls to participate in business at a young age.
Sibeko says he launched the business in 2020 and that there are about 15 other learners involved in the enterprise.
“This business gives them opportunities to empower themselves so this is one of those moments where they get those much needed skills, ” he says.
