BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MALKERNS– In a powerful demonstration of community spirit and long-standing social investment, MTN Bushfire officially donated a sum of E194 355 to Young Heroes during a briefing on January 30, 2026 at House On Fire.
The funds handed over were accumulated during the 2025 MTN Bushfire festival, where a portion of every ticket sold was directly allocated to support local social causes. This event celebrates an 18-year partnership that has consistently turned festival revenue into life-changing opportunities for Eswatini’s most vulnerable youth.
The briefing was attended by the MTN Eswatini CEO, The Leadership of MTN Bushfire , Young Heroes representatives, Lobamba Lomdzala community representatives, and Young Heroes beneficiaries. This diverse gathering highlighted the collaborative effort required to drive social change.
Now celebrating 20 years of impactful service, Young Heroes operates with a mission to provide a vital safety net for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), adolescent girls and boys, and young women. Since its inception, the organisation has reached over 9 000 beneficiaries through its holistic support programmes.
Khulekani Magongo, Executive Director of Young Heroes, described the occasion as “a moment of continuity” and a “public signal that impact compounds when sustained.” He reflected on the journey that began in 2007, noting that the festival has evolved from a fundraiser into a “strategic enabler.”
Magongo stated, “This partnership is not about a cheque. It is about belief, consistency, and shared responsibility.” He revealed that the cumulative total of support from the festival has now surpassed 2 million Emalangeni.
Jiggs Thorne, the Founder and Managing Director of MTN Bushfire, emphasised that the festival is a conscious movement for social change. He noted, “MTN Bushfire is more than a festival; a festival could be a vehicle, a storytelling platform for the change we envision.” Thorne highlighted that the festival’s ethical business model ensures value is shared and reinvested locally, rooted in a respectful relationship with the Lobamba Lomdzala community.
Jerry J. Soko, the Interim CEO of MTN Eswatini, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the youth. He asserted, “In any shape or form, for organizations such as ours, if we can touch the lives of young people and give them opportunities to gain skills that empower them to become confident and brave women at home and in their communities, it is certainly something we need to be part of and actively support.”
Zwakele Dlamini, Head of Programmes at Young Heroes, provided a detailed breakdown of how these funds translate into real-world change. In 2025, the support allowed 25 youth (15 females and 10 males) to access vocational training in fields such as Electrical Wiring, Motor Mechanics, Fashion Design, and Computer Programming.
However, due to a shift in global funding that has increased the risk of school dropouts, the 2026 MTN Bushfire Fund will pivot its focus to School Fees Payment. The programme aims to support 60 vulnerable children residing in Lobamba Lomdzala at risk of dropping out by providing block grant support for educational materials and tuition.
The tangible impact of this support was personified by Pretty Sithole, a fashion and design student at the Esitjeni Skills Centre. As a beneficiary, Sithole thanked the organisations for the opportunity to turn her creative passion into a sustainable career path, embodying the confidence and skill-set the program strives to build.
As the 19th edition of MTN Bushfire approaches this May, this handover serves as a reminder that the festival’s legacy is measured not just in music, but in the educated and empowered youth of Eswatini.
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