​Lerato Mailoane
Are you a young person looking to expand your business? The Gauteng Department of Economic Development in partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is giving young entrepreneurs a chance at success this Youth month, through the Bizniz in a Box competition.
The competition is hosted on Lesedi FM, where entrants will make a 90-second business elevator pitch live on the Thakgoha Show.
The best presentation chosen by the panel stands a chance to win one of 10 mobile kitchens valued at R82 000 each. The competition will run until Thursday, 30 June 2022.
Bizniz in a Box aims to create an ecosystem of viable micro-businesses offering complementary products and services in a community, using a spaza shop as the anchor. 
Each business operates out of a custom-designed container and covers various needs of the local community, such as a business center/internet café, a car wash, a fast-food shop, or a mini baker.
To be considered, you need to be between the ages of 18-35 years, with at least one-year entrepreneurial experience, ideally with an ability to recognise the needs of the community such as convenience stores.
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Parks Tau said this initiative, which started in 2016, could not have come at a better time as the country celebrates Youth month.
"The department is excited about this initiative and encourages young people in Gauteng to take advantage of it and other programmes aimed at youth empowerment offered by the province such as Tshepo 1 Million," Tau said.
Khanya Doctor Kekana, the owner of Kth Avenue in Tembisa, who has been running a fast-food business for a year has managed to grow his business and attract more customers from his collaboration with Bizniz in a Box.
Kekana began his business in a makeshift trolley where he would sell fast food moving from street to street. Through his partnership with the Bizniz in a Box programme he now has a permanent location where he runs his fast-food restaurant.
Coca-Cola Managing Director, Velaphi Ratshefola said youth unemployment continues to be a concern as the number of young people employed in both the formal and informal sector remains high, at over 1.8 million below the levels reached before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This is an untenable situation and as CCBSA, we believe in using our industry leadership to be part of the solution to achieve positive change in the country and build a legacy that we can be proud of. Hence our strong emphasis on economic inclusion, particularly of young people through our Bizniz in a Box BiB initiative", said Ratshefola.