
Youth Month - Empowering the future, today
As a mutual society, AVBOB exists not to serve shareholders but to serve its members: our policyholders and the communities in which they live. This allows AVBOB to reinvest in people and create meaningful opportunities for them. Backed with eight consecutive Top Employer awards, AVBOB has built a reputation as a workplace where talent, including young people, can thrive.
Creating opportunities for the youth
AVBOB understands the significant challenges that South African youth face, particularly when it comes to unemployment. This informs the learnerships and internships that AVBOB designs to give young people hands-on experience and a foot in the door. We encourage the youth to regularly visit our website (www.avbob.co.za) and follow our social media platforms to stay informed about these opportunities and about permanent job openings available nationwide.
Empowering young entrepreneurs
Beyond employment, AVBOB is also passionate about entrepreneurship. Through our Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme, we support small and growing businesses, helping them access the tools they need to succeed, such as funding, market access and skills development. This initiative doesn't just help individual entrepreneurs; it strengthens the broader economy.
Launched in 2021, the ESD Programme focuses on collaboration and long-term impact. Through partnerships with inspiring entrepreneurs like Neo Monareng (founder of Gadifele Communications) and Sibusiso Sibanyoni (founder of Kandee.co), AVBOB contributes to offering young business owners benefit not only from access to markets and infrastructure but also from vital business expertise and continuous professional guidance.
Introducing Groundbreakers: A youth employment solution
In 2025, AVBOB introduced an exciting new initiative under the ESD Programme, specifically designed to address youth unemployment. The Groundbreakers initiative creates short-term job opportunities for young people aged 18-35 by placing them at AVBOB Funeral Service branches, starting with three in Mahikeng, Temba and Tzaneen, respectively.
Their role involves assisting with essential grave services such as grave opening and closing, grave site cleaning, and other related grave site services in the surrounding communities. Importantly, they will be remunerated for their contributions, while gaining work experience, community respect and economic participation.
The Groundbreakers initiative demonstrates how business-led solutions can drive meaningful change in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent work and economic growth. AVBOB is committed to advancing job creation, empowering local talent, and fostering inclusive economic participation that aligns with the SDGs, reflecting AVBOB 's values of building resilient communities and driving long-term socio-economic impact.
At AVBOB, Youth Month is more than just a commemoration – it's a call to action. Whether it's through employment, enterprise support, or empowerment initiatives like Groundbreakers, AVBOB remains committed to investing in the future of South Africa: its youth.
ABOUT AVBOB MUTUAL SOCIETY
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
‘Unacceptable that SA mines are surrounded by squatter camps'
The study also found a need for global uniformity, including globally comparable wages, extending beyond just living wages. Mining companies operating in South Africa have failed to provide housing for their employees and local communities as required by law. This is according to the recent research conducted by the Bench Marks Foundation. It said that most of the mines are surrounded by informal settlements where mineworkers and host communities reside. 'South African mines are surrounded by squatter camps due to their failure to provide proper, dignified housing for their employees,' said David van Wyk, a researcher for the Bench Marks Foundation. 'For example, we have been calling on a mining firm operating in Marikana, where more than 40 people were killed by security forces, to improve the housing conditions of the people in the area, but to no avail.' Van Wyk said the research also revealed that there was a need for the mining companies operating in the country to strive to bring the mining-affected communities to similar standards with those based in North America and Australia. 'The foundation's latest research, published in our Policy Gap 14, points out that it is unacceptable that South African mines are surrounded by squatter camps (misnamed informal settlements) due to the failure of South African mines to provide proper, dignified housing for their employees. There needs to be global uniformity in working and living conditions,' Van Wyk said. Wages The study also found a need for global uniformity, including globally comparable wages, extending beyond just living wages. It further said that the wage gap between South African and Australian mineworkers is completely unjustifiable. 'The weighted mean wage for the lowest paid categories in mining in the United States is US$16.21 per hour, while in South Africa, the average general mineworker's salary is R177 600 per year, which works out at R91.08 per hour (that is US$4.96 per hour: 30% of the US wage).' According to the study, the mine wage scale model used in South Africa is outdated and derives from apartheid practices. 'It is time to adapt to global best practice,' the document reads. ALSO READ: How SA's old coal mines can offer hope for dying towns Settlements are missing basic services The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) has welcomed the study. Sabelo Mnguni, Macua national coordinator, said the foundation's findings were in line with what 'we have seen and documented in mining communities across South Africa'. 'Mining-affected communities have been living with this reality for decades. 'The failure of mining companies to provide proper, dignified housing for workers is a direct result of weak enforcement of social and labour plans under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, combined with corporate cost-cutting that prioritises profits over people.' He said to make things worse, informal settlements are often without basic services such as clean water, sanitation and electricity. Mnguni said Macua's research showed that up to 70% of mines have failed to meet legally binding social and labour plans commitments on housing and living conditions. 'This is well-documented through our social audit reports and by various community groups, civil society organisations and even Parliament. 'The government must strictly enforce social and labour plans housing provisions and hold mining companies legally accountable for non-compliance, including suspending mining rights where obligations are not met. 'The current proposals in the Act undermine these obligations and try to turn them into discretionary provisions,' said Mnguni. The Minerals Council South Africa did not respond to questions sent yesterday. NOW READ: SA's shrinking mining sector and the policies that brought us here


The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Is buying a car with a balloon payment a debt trap?
A new shiny car is not in everybody's budget these days and car financers are trying to help them with balloon payments. It is so tempting. That lovely shiny car will cost so much less per month and by the time the balloon payment comes around, you can always trade it in and pay off the balloon payment. And buy another new shiny car with its own balloon payment. How could this be a debt trap? If you consider choosing a balloon payment when financing a new car, you are not alone. South African banks report that as many as a third of car loan customers choose the maximum balloon payment to reduce their monthly repayments. However, Ernest North, co-founder of car and home insurance platform Naked, says it is wise to consider the long-term impact before committing to a balloon payment for your new car. 'Balloon payments have become increasingly popular in South Africa due to the rising costs of living, including the higher costs of car purchases and ownership. However, many consumers go for a balloon payment without understanding that they could get caught in a debt trap four or five years down the line.' ALSO READ: Why balloon payments can become a burden – and how to manage them Lower monthly instalments – that balloon at the end of the term… North says although lowering your monthly repayments can help you to stretch your salary a bit further and potentially afford a better car, the lump sum at the end of the loan term is the sting in the tail. 'While a balloon payment can be a useful financial planning tool, many people find that they struggle to afford the final repayment.' A balloon payment is a large amount that you agree to repay at the end of your car finance term, usually between 20% and 35% of the car's value, with 40% being the maximum most banks would allow. During the term, you pay lower monthly instalments, but it is because you are not paying off the full loan, just a portion of it. North says this might feel like a win, but warns consumers to consider the total costs of buying a R500 000 car on a six-year loan (assuming no deposit and an interest rate of 10.5%): ALSO READ: Don't get caught! Look out for these balloon payment traps when buying a car What happens when the final car payment is due? When the balloon payment is due, your options will be to: Pay it off in cash and own the car outright. Refinance the outstanding balloon payment by entering a new loan agreement and face another few years of making monthly payments and interest charges. You will also have to qualify for financing to take this option. Extend the loan term. Some lenders might allow you to stretch out your repayment period further, although this could mean paying even more interest. Again, this is only possible if you are creditworthy. Sell or trade in your car, leaving you without an asset after forking out cash for months. But remember, you must still settle the balloon payment. ALSO READ: Need a new car? These are the payment options available to you Risks of choosing a balloon car payment North also reminds consumers about the risks of balloon payments. 'These numbers and options make the significant risks and costs of balloon payments clear.' He says the monthly benefit is actually very small compared to these future risk you take: Significant financial risk because you will either need to have cash to pay the balloon payment at the end or you will need to finance it. The bigger the balloon payment, the higher the interest you pay over the full term of the loan. After depreciation, your car might not be worth as much as the balloon payment at the end of the loan. You may never own a car outright if you get caught in a loop of refinancing via a balloon payment plan every five or six years. If you want to exit the loan early, you must be prepared for early settlement penalties and the outstanding balloon payment. Even worse, if your car is stolen or written off in an accident, you will be forced into an early settlement and will need to pay a massive shortfall. If you cannot afford the final payment, you could face consequences, such as repossession of the car under the National Credit Act. 'In theory, a balloon payment gives you the option to pay a large cash amount at the end of your finance term and then you can keep the car. But the reality is that most people do not have that kind of cash lying around and end up having to sell the car. 'And if the car's value is less than the outstanding balloon amount, it becomes a very serious problem, one that many people are unfortunately facing.' ALSO READ: Is it still worth buying a car? Are balloon car payments really a good thing? Do balloon payments then ever make sense? North says despite the costs and risks, there are some instances where balloon payments can be a helpful tool in your financial planning: You like to trade your car in for a new model every few years and are confident you can afford the balloon payment when it is due. You can realistically expect your income and savings to increase over the loan term. You want a reliable new car with a warranty, rather than risking potentially higher and unpredictable maintenance costs with an older one. You are paying for the car through a business and can claim tax deductions on depreciation, interest, fuel, maintenance and potentially the balloon payment to help with cash flow. You do not anticipate needing to exit the loan early and are committed to keeping the car for the full loan term. ALSO READ: The best way to finance your car If you do, choose the right kind of balloon payment Should you choose a balloon payment for your car, you will have to choose between guaranteed future value and traditional balloon payments. North says a Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) finance option could be a safer alternative. 'GFV agreements add a layer of financial security by guaranteeing the value of your car at the end of the finance term, regardless of how much it has depreciated. This guaranteed amount functions as your balloon payment (also known as the 'optional final payment') and is agreed upon upfront. 'When the finance term ends, you will have three choices: Make the final payment and keep the car, trade it in for a new car, or give the car back with nothing more to pay, even if its actual market value is lower than the GFV. This offers peace of mind and avoids the burden of being left with a car that is worth less than the lump sum you still owe.' North also warns against using balloon payments to buy a car you cannot actually afford in the long term. 'Rather put down a larger deposit or choose a more affordable car. Remember, a more expensive car will also have higher maintenance and insurance costs. While it can make sense in some circumstances, the downside of a balloon payment is very seldom worth the benefit.'


The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Hlabisa is a lesson on getting things done behind chaos
While the GNU continues to be chaotic, Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has kept calm and done the unthinkable. The GNU presents a laugh a day. In the last month, Andrew Whitfield got axed, setting an awkward precedent for President Cyril Ramaphosa's defence chief. While bus drivers are taking their own lives, having not been paid since January, a dialogue is on the go that increasingly seems to be evolving into a monologue. Gayton McKenzie has been doing his thing, whatever that might be on the day, and team DA is patting themselves on the back for outsourcing state work to the banks. And we all applauded it, such is our disdain of home affairs. Oh, and the ministers appointed to fix load shedding were busted doing what we already knew they were doing; burning diesel as ferociously as Christians burned Beatles albums. Amid all the chaos and lack of time to consider which connected cadre should feast on which deal, some real good has been done; Transnet even seems to be on the rise, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's revelations are promising to unlock some gems and South Africa's economic kingpin, Thabo Mbeki, has finally found some guts to start saying some things. Amid the chaos, some things are improving The weather is perfect for sowing the seeds of ideas that may be great for the country and good for the fiscus, even if they aren't politically popular. In a country where a small minority are being squeezed for funding, it's difficult to make financially prudent decisions. But since that money isn't getting to the people it's supposed to, it makes it somewhat easier. Add to that the warring internal factions and it shouldn't be surprising that as the castle of patronage comes down, a couple of things can be improved with the resources. A minister who seemingly gets this and has largely kept a calm demeanor throughout the GNU is Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosini Hlabisa. During lockdown, we learned just how much power Cogta has and Hlabisa has been wielding it pretty impressively. ALSO READ: IFP reaffirms GNU role, slams NPA and urges reforms within justice system Halbisa takes on municipal functionality On natural disaster management, he's done the unthinkable in South African terms; enhancing the implementation of a 10-year-old framework. It shouldn't be impressive, but since we tend to have a kink of jumping from one policy to the next, doubling down and anchoring a belief in a policy's execution is quite a brave and functional thing. When last have you heard a minister insistent on implementing the plan of a predecessor and making it work? Hlabisa genuinely seems to want to do what's good for the people and when it comes to preventing them from dying, that's quite nice. I'm not sure if it's because nobody knows how to get in his way or whether it's just not profitable to impose themselves on him, the minister has been given some room to manoeuvre and it appears he knows this. It shouldn't be surprising that he's taken on what is probably going to be the most difficult reform of this administration; municipal functionality. Ten years ago, you wouldn't dream of anybody in Jacob Zuma's cabinet thinking of claiming that the national government is bloated, let alone municipalities. ALSO READ: Cogta warns municipalities against wasting R1.2 billion disaster relief Now, the minister is having a right go at the state of municipal affairs and fairly so. It's not like John Steenhuisen is going to criticise anybody's literacy because it will come off poorly, but the way Hlabisa puts it makes it pragmatic in the eyes of the public. 'You can't monitor billions if you can't read,' he said. Why on earth we're even in a position where he's got to say that is beyond me, but thank goodness somebody has finally said it. What's most exciting about this shake up is that it's clearly a long term investment and he's set milestones allowing him to take his time on the matter. It shows a degree of seriousness rather than politricking and perhaps we don't see the results in his lifetime. It feels so good to hear a minister commit themselves to a long term solution to an issue that nobody has really tried to address in 30 years. There's a saying about great men planting trees and I really hope this one grows. We could do with the shade. READ NEXT: Almost 40 municipalities facing sanctions from Treasury over mismanagement