MIDVAAL’S YOUTH SUMMIT DELIVERS BIGGER AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE

Midvaal Local Municipality hosted the third annual Mayoral Youth Summit, bringing on board more stakeholders and pledges to empower and give young people opportunities.

The event was held at the Midvaal Christian Centre, with many young people in attendance to grab hold of the opportunities being offered.

As promised, the Youth Summit brought various stakeholders from government departments, private-sector partners, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), who exhibited their services and provided on-site support to young people throughout the day.

From the inception of the Youth Summit, we committed to young people that the programme would not be a talk show but would yield tangible results that would give them opportunities to build a better life and future for themselves.

As a sphere of government that is closest to the people, we understand the immense challenges that face young people, from poverty, unemployment, lack of opportunities, inequality, and other social ills affecting them.

It is against this backdrop that we remain intentional in our efforts to mobilise support and partnerships.

We continue to engage stakeholders to bring forward practical and immediate solutions that uplift as many young people as possible.

The following pledges were made by various institutions and organisations towards youth upliftment:

Afriguard

pledged to provide 70 learnerships exclusively for Midvaal residents.

YAB Skills

pledged to train ten Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the New Venture Creation Skills Programme, accredited by the Services SETA, through the Midvaal Skills Development Centre from February 2026.

Human Capital Learning Solutions

Pledged to develop 50 Unemployed youth on the following Cisco Programs: Digital awareness, Cyber Security, Internet of Things (IoT) and Basic Programming

Meyerton Engineering (Pty) Ltd:

pledged learnerships and apprenticeships in partnership with the Midvaal Local Municipality.

pledged to establish a Midvaal Scholarship Fund in 2026

pledged to explore the facilitation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) development initiatives for youth in collaboration with MLM

Nedbank

pledged R50 000 towards the Mayoral Bursary Fund.

pledged to provide Financial Wellness Programme valued at R180 000 in Consumer Financial Education, Financial Fitness Education, and Business Literacy

a one-week SME training programme valued at R150 000

to enrol three Midvaal youth in the YES Programme, where they have a total investment of R191 712 (inclusive of 12-month stipends and once-off M&E placement fees for the three YES participants)

pledged to expand the SimplyBiz Programme, aimed at driving SMME growth through practical and proven support.

TLP App

• pledged to provide 50 business registrations for free.

Midvaal Local Municipality

The municipality will once again allocate R750 000 in the 2025 academic year to support students who are pursuing higher education, sponsoring tuition, registration, books, or laptops.

We remain committed to the Mayoral Undertaking of Creating Opportunities for All and will continue to lobby stakeholders to come on board and hold hands as we work to improve the lives of the young people of Midvaal.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR:

Yours in Service Excellence, Ald. Peter Teixeira
#PeoplesMayor

Midvaal Local Municipality has invested over R8 million in the construction of new trading stalls aimed at empowering informal traders and restoring dignity to their daily operations.
The project includes the construction of 34 trading stalls, an ablution block, and an administrative office. Each stall is equipped with water and electricity points and can be securely locked to safeguard he traders’ goods after hours. The construction of these stalls not only restores dignity for the informal traders but will also significantly improve the trading environment in the Central Business District.
For years, informal traders operated under harsh conditions without permanent structures, leaving them vulnerable to weather conditions that often forced them to close down, often resulting in loss of income.
Informal traders play a critical role in the economy, as they provide not only an income to owners but also create employment opportunities. Midvaal will continue to support this sector to ensure that the informal traders operate in a conducive environment that enables them to thrive.

Midvaal Local Municipality has officially established and appointed the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) as part of its continued commitment to combating the growing scourge of substance abuse within local communities. In line with Chapter 10, Section 60 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act 70 of 2008), municipalities are mandated to form Local Drug Action Committees to coordinate and implement community-based responses to substance abuse. The Executive Mayor, Alderman Peter Teixeira, joined by the Members of the Mayoral Committee, formally appointed the committee during a special ceremony held to mark this significant milestone. The LDAC will consist of representatives from government departments, non-profit organisations, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders.
Its mandate is to develop, implement, and monitor local drug strategies; coordinate prevention and rehabilitation initiatives; and support individuals and families affected by substance dependency.
During his address, Executive Mayor Teixeira described the establishment of the Committee as both a legislative requirement and a moral obligation. “Too many lives depend on the success of this initiative. It must not become a tick-box exercise but a living, functioning structure that gives hope to those trapped in addiction” he said. As a caring and compassionate institution, Midvaal Municipality pledges its full support as we work to build a drug-free Midvaal.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR:

Yours in Service Excellence, Ald. Peter Teixeira

#PeoplesMayor

For media enquiries, please contact:

Idah Satikhe

Senior Media Officer

MokgadiS@midvaal.gov.za

010 494 3112

On Monday, 1 September 2025, Midvaal Local Municipality opened its first Skills Development Centre in Savanna City. The project, initiated in line with the Executive Mayor, Alderman Peter Teixeira’s Mayoral Undertaking of Creating Opportunities for All, has been a long time coming, years in the making and a true milestone for the municipality. This promise, first made in 2021, required persistent effort, extensive planning, and countless negotiations to finally bring the vision to life.

The Centre is also the result of a strategic partnership between Midvaal Local Municipality and HEINEKEN Beverages, reflecting a shared commitment to empowering communities through education, training, and opportunity. The Skills Development Centre is designed to bridge the skills gap in our community by offering training in various artisan trades, including plumbing, carpentry, bricklaying, electrical work, millwrighting, boiler making, and many others. In addition, the Centre will serve as a hub for innovation and enterprise development, equipping young people and the local workforce with practical skills, while also providing SMMEs with access to information and facilities to support business growth.

The Executive Mayor, Alderman Peter Teixeira, remarked: “Young people want to contribute meaningfully to their families, their communities, and to our country. But too often, the opportunities have been limited because of South Africa’s sluggish economic growth. This Skills Development Centre is a direct response to that reality. It is about equipping our people with the tools to create a better life for themselves.”
HEINEKEN Beverages Managing Director, Jordi Borrut, added: “Our donation of containers for this Skills Centre reflects our commitment to sustainable solutions that serve real community needs. We applaud the Mayor’s leadership in driving skills development, and we’re proud to play a role in enabling spaces that empower local communities with knowledge and opportunity”.

The CEO of Ranyaka Community Transformation, Ms Sithembiso Malevu, the Centre’s implementing agent, also noted: “The Skills Development Centre represents a new chapter for Midvaal and its communities. For us at Ranyaka, this is more than just a building; it is a platform of opportunity where young people, women, and small businesses can access the skills, networks, and resources they need to thrive. We are proud to collaborate with the Municipality and HEINEKEN in making this vision a reality, and we look forward to walking this journey with the community to ensure the Centre remains responsive to their aspirations.”
The opening of this Centre, along with the new partnerships and commitments, marks the beginning of a lasting legacy, one that extends beyond a single project and reflects Midvaal’s broader vision of empowering the youth and workforce of this region.

Midvaal Local Municipality will continue to work to create opportunities for all and bring opportunities directly to Midvaal’s youth, ensuring they have the skills and resources needed to build a sustainable future.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR:
Yours in Service Excellence,

Ald. Peter Teixeira

#PeoplesMayor

Midvaal Local Municipality has completed the electrification of over 1,200 households in Sicelo, at a cost of over R18 million.

This multi-year and phased project began in 2023 and was completed in June 2025.

The project involved the construction of an 11 kV (MV) and a 420 V (LV) overhead network.

Additionally, the project included overhead house connections as well as the installation of meters and ready boards.

A total of 1,228 electricity connections were completed across four phases: 474 in Phase 1, 321 in Phase 2, 98 in Phase 3, and 335 in Phase 4.

Residents now have access to much-needed electricity, uplifting the community by ensuring a safe and reliable power supply.

Due to the established electrical infrastructure, illegal connections were removed in the area, reducing the risk of electrocution from unsafe connections.

The removal of illegal connections will also benefit the municipality in its efforts to reduce electricity losses and increase revenue.

The contractor spent approximately 30% of their final contract value on uplifting local Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). This is in direct line with our efforts of uplifting local businesses and people through investing local, buying local and empowering local.

We remain committed to the Mayoral Undertakings of creating opportunities for all and providing excellent service delivery to all our communities.

The electrification project is also a testament to our commitment to improving infrastructure and ensuring access to basic services for all communities.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Idah Satikhe
Senior Media Officer
MokgadiS@midvaal.gov.za
010 494 3112