Help set up business to create jobs in Pilgrim’s Rest

The community of Pilgrim's Rest is in dire need of employment. It has a population of about 3000 people of which only one third are employed, many of these not on a permanent basis.

Having secured a 10 year lease agreement after a year's negotiating with DPWRT that governs Pilgrim's Rest I am ready to start up a business in the old Ponieskrantz stable yard. This business will have the potential to create at least six jobs in the first year, in what I like to call Phase 1.

Phase 1 will be a Wood and Metalwork business set up in the building that previously housed the horse carts. Almost all items manufactured will be sold through e-commerce platforms such as takealot, loot, yuppiechef etc. This means that it would not be dependent on geographical constraints that would otherwise be an issue for a business of the type in Pilgrim's Rest. It is envisioned that Phase 1 will employ between 10 and 15 people.

Phase 2 of the business would be agricultural in nature making use of the 10+ hectare land that the former stable yard has. This would preferably be focused on Aquaponics grow systems. The 58 stables will be changed over into growing rooms for mushrooms. All of the produce from this phase of the project will be sold via the new Fresh food market being constructed outside Nelspruit. It is envisioned that Phase 2 will be able to employ between 20 and 30 people.

In a struggling economy and community like Pilgrim's Rest employment for 30 to 45 people would make a big difference.

I hope you will see the merit of this project that I have been working to get off the ground for the last two years.