Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee Councillor Thembo Ntuli with 20 Natural Beauty Products manufacturing course graduates. He also bought products.

A GROUP of 20 emerging entrepreneurs graduated on 21 August after completing a six-month Natural Beauty Products Manufacturing course. The ceremony was held at the Durban Botanical Gardens where they received their certificates from Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee Councillor Thembo Ntuli.The programme was funded by the City’s Business Support, Tourism, Markets and Agri-Business Unit. 

Councillor Ntuli said the training aimed to empower young people with skills to participate in the mainstream
economy. He congratulated the benefi ciaries for their dedication in completing the course. The group was taught to manufacture various products including natural skin products, hair treatments, and other cosmetic products. Some of the products have completed the lab testing process and have been approved according to the standards of the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). 

The Municipality partnered with Futhi Mkhize, founder of EThnomedicine Health Practitioner, who trained the 20 entrepreneurs. Mkhize is a success story of the City. In 2012 she received business skills development from the Municipality to study Phytomedicine and Ethnomedicine. Today, she has her own manufacturing plants and has created employment for others. Councillor Ntuli said the Municipality was proud that “one of its own was able to transfer skills to others”.