City lends helping hand to SMMEs with 3000 COVID-19 Toolkits

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS.

I am excited to announce that on Monday, 4 May 2020, the City’s Department of Enterprise and Investment will launch the CPT+U SMME COVID-19 Toolkit campaign targeting Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in Cape Town.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has made its presence felt on South Africa’s Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises. For this reason, my team and I are staying committed to supporting SMMEs to combat the economic impact of COVID-19.

SMMEs form the backbone of the city’s economy, making up the majority of service providers for goods and services needed for the optimal performance and functioning of the high growth sectors in Cape Town.

The core function of the Business Hub, an initiative in the department, is aimed towards finding solutions designed to make small businesses more competitive and resilient. It functions as a support desk within the City that offers SMMEs and entrepreneurs all the tools they need to start and grow their businesses.

We have created 3000 SMME COVID-19 Toolkits, containing the essentials to help get businesses back to work safely as soon as they are allowed to do so. SMMEs desperately need help to remain open, support their staff and get back to business.

The kit contains the following:

• A customer safety poster
• An employee safety poster
• Information on relief funding and support opportunities
• Hand sanitiser
• Face masks

This is to support businesses in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health and safety of employees and customers. There are only 3000 toolkits available and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis

Those businesses registered on the City of Cape Town database will automatically receive an email with information on how to apply. For those businesses not registered on the City of Cape Town’s database, please visit our webpage to apply for the SMME COVID-19 Toolkit before the closing date, 15 May.

Those businesses who do not receive a toolkit, will still have the opportunity to receive support services from The Business Hub.

Please contact The Business Hub via email business.support@capetown.gov.za for more information or advice on our SMME support services.