Tsakani Masia is a go-getter. When she decides to do something, nothing stands in her way.

“I believe that big things start small and humble beginnings do have happy and big endings,” said this strong woman.

“This propels me and is the driving force behind my success,” she says of her philosophy.

She believes that one’s background is not one’s yardstick to determine one’s future success. “In fact, I have read many profiles of successful individuals. Most of them started small and, because of hard work, they succeeded beyond expectations,” she said.

Masia was one of the nine hardworking Vhembe youths whose hard labour paid off handsomely. She was one of the big winners in the second annual Vhembe District Municipality Youth in Business Competition in the Enterprise Devel-opment category. For her feat, she walked off with R100 000.

Her testimony at the ceremony convinced the youth who had gathered there that success follows hard work, just as day follows night. This rubbed off on the youth who were left imbued with the spirit of making a mark and contributing towards the economic development of the district and the province as a whole.

The ceremony, which took place amidst pomp and ceremony, was held at the Thohoyandou Town Hall on Friday evening.

The Vhembe District Municipality Youth in Business Competition is an initiative of the district municipality with its partners. The competition started last year and is aimed at empowering youths who are already in business and those aspiring to venture into business in the Vhembe District.

The competition also aims to encourage young people to participate in the economic activities of the district and to add professionalism into business. It has been found that older people dominate the district’s economic sectors. It has also been found that many of the district’s youth would like to venture into business but lack start up capital.

“The competition will give young people the financial boost to start up their own businesses and display their skills in the different sectors,” said Muthotho Sigidi, the municipal manager at Vhembe.

Addressing the competitors, the executive mayor of Vhembe, Falaza Mdaka, urged the youth to stand up and do something for themselves, such as start self-sustainable developmental projects that will create jobs even for others. He said the youth should not pretend that they know everything in business, but should take a leaf from the books of established businesspeople who could assist them, so that their businesses and projects prosper. He also urged them to share their experiences with each other. He encouraged the youth to believe in themselves and be deter-mined that they could make it.

The full list of winners and their prize money per category is as follows:

Agriculture: Managa Lufuno (R100 000), Ndivhuho Phungo (R50 000), Rofhiwa Tshilat-shitswu (R25 000);

Tourism: Marara Matshidza (R100 000), Vuyani Mahlawule (R50 000), Thizwilondi Gabeni (R25 000);

Enterprise development: Tsakani Masia (R100 000), Nyelisani Luvhengo (R50 000), Tshifhiwa Maphiri (R25 000).

The competition was sponsored by the SABC Limpopo, Eddy’s Hayani Accommodation and the Vhembe District Municipality.