Matema Thosago
Matema Thosago turning 37 years old, has a Diploma in Tour Guiding, NQF level 2 in Field Ranger Law Enforcement and environmental education. She did a Business management certificate with the University of Johannesburg and Currently completed basic project management with the Open University Of Uk
2010 She successfully established a non-profit organisation named Progress’ Nature Conservation Rangers Organization (P’NCRO) in Limpopo province and in 2011 it was expanded to KZN. Since 2017 until now she is working full-time as the founder and director of Tau Sejala Enterprise, her vision is to uplift and restore rural communities through the creation of beautiful up-cycled products. She is a Key Person of Influencer in the environmental management industry. A proactive and target-driven leader with expertise in nature conservation and decisive in planning initiatives. Focused on supporting successful operations, revitalising lagging areas and revamping unsuccessful or defective strategies. Critical thinker and analytical problem-solver ready to take on demanding field work.
She worked for 3 years as project coordinator with WESSA, Then worked with Nkinane Training Institution and Consulting as an environmental education facilitator. Due to being an environmentalist/activist in 2011 she was nominated by the National Youth Development Agency as a youth ambassador of Limpopo and beyond. During COP17 she made a history by being the first and only female in South Africa that volunteered to paddle a bicycle for 3350km (Musina to Durban) and planted 17 trees across the towns, her aim was to be the voice and advocate for people living in rural communities as they are the most vulnerable people concerning climate change. During COP 21 she continued cycling/paddling from Musina to Botswana raising awareness for climate change.
She identified a polluted 900m wetland which is posing a health threat to community members of Ga-Motholo, Mashemomong and Mamotintane. The pollution is not only damaging the environment but also the crops and livestock of the farmers’ families. She took the initiative of conserving and rehabilitating the Wetland through a cleaning campaign, facilitating environmental awareness in the community in partnership with the Bjatladi traditional authorities, However, today with her company (Tau Sejala Enterprise) and her initiative (Domestic Waste Program) aims to protect the environment and people living in rural communities of South Africa. Her motive is based on her research that the National Environmental Management: Waste Act no 59 of 2008 chapter 4 of section 23 has excluded people living in rural communities in terms of waste collection services in their households. It is therefore Tau Sejala Enterprise is providing bins, refuse bags and waste collection services to households through training youth at a professional level to enable them to provide professional services/products needed to customers.
She created 15 job opportunities so far 10 sales representatives, 3 waste collectors, 1 field ranger and herself as a part-time head of training and full-time as a handcraft artist developing beautiful up-cycled products from waste materials to avoid taking waste to landfill.2019 The Department of Art and Culture awarded her with a social entrepreneur award based on the impact of her artwork (up-cycled products) initiative. Same year she managed to raise $5000 capital seed for the Domestic Waste Program (DWP) initiative from Tony Elumelo Foundation.
Besides being a God-fearing woman, she is providing clothes and sanitary towels to the needy through Activate Network and her church program (Abigail Arise). She is very active in community activities hence she was nominated to be a project steering committee for road construction and also a chairperson for Are Thabeng Tsware Orphans board member and signatory.
She is always tackling all her assignments with dedication and a smile. Her main problem now is based on the policy (NEMA) that excluded people in rural communities so she aims to solve the matter by creating more job opportunities for youth in rural communities. This award will motivate her more.