City and National Government join hands to give new equipment to Cape Town entrepreneurs

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth Alderman James Vos and the Economic Growth team joined Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, Honourable Sidumo Dlamini to hand over much-needed equipment to small business owners to help them grow their operations. The handover took place during an event at the Civic Centre on Friday, 11 February 2022. Read more below:

The handover is part of the Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP) which strives to accelerate the growth of informal and micro enterprises by improving their competitiveness and sustainability.

‘I wish to extend to the officials at the National level my sincerest gratitude for this programme and its resources,’ said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.

National Government’s Small Business Development Department set the criteria and selected the 67 traders for the handover from the informal sector database and others who responded to City advertisements.

The business owners work in a variety of industries and goods given include freezers, generators and laptops.

One of the business people, Linda Phito, said his new laptop will better help him to reach new potential customers.

‘Now that I own a laptop, I can connect with the world online and market my business and attend online training. This equipment I am getting today will help me create jobs for others that are less privileged,’ said Phito.

Budding fashion designer, Weziwe Tyalita, said she had been struggling for some time.

‘Finally my prayers have been answered and government has helped me with a sewing machine to make my life easier,’ said Tyalita.

Alderman Vos said this initiative is a good example of stakeholders working together to assist local entrepreneurs boost their businesses.

‘It gives me great pleasure to work with our national counterparts in helping the determined entrepreneurs who are essential to our economic growth. These kinds of targeted interventions all add up to create opportunities in communities across Cape Town.

‘I also look forward to continued engagement with the Department of Small Business Development around dismantling systemic red tape that thwarts development. Instead, we must create an environment that allows for greater ease of doing business.

‘Here in Cape Town, we have set up organisations whose purpose is to help start-ups navigate municipal structures and teach them about business improvement strategies. These platforms all contribute to why Cape Town has been called the Start-Up Capital of Africa.

‘I would encourage traders to sign up for the City’s Business Hub programmes, where a variety of topics will be covered, including costing and pricing of products, financial management, and tools for developing an entrepreneurial mindset.

‘The healthy development of the informal sector is one of my biggest priorities and is a feature of the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy (IEGS) recently adopted by the City. The strategy will be the foundation for further developing the City’s economic opportunities and growth systems and takes into account Cape Town’s particular socio-economic landscape.

‘Let’s continue collaborating and innovating for a better Cape Town!’ said Alderman Vos.

For more information, entrepreneurs can email Informal.trading@capetown.gov.za or visit www.capetown.gov.za/businesshub