EThekwini Municipality has, on Thursday (16/05/2013), launched the Enterprise Development Strategy at the Marine Parade Hotel, to develop Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the eThekwini Region. This coincided with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding where about 15 big businesses committed themselves to uplifting small businesses and to enhance their businesses skills.

This initiative is the first of its kind to be undertaken by any South African Municipality and is seen as a great potential to increase job creation and bring more black entrepreneurs into the mainstream economy.

Deputy Mayor of eThekwini, Councillor Nomvuzo Shabalala said that small businesses are the future of the country as they are crucial contributors to the City’s economy.

“We are aware that this critical sector of our economy is also the one that is most vulnerable to sector challenges ranging from access to funding, access to markets, lack of proper skills to run a business and many other issues which have a negative impact on their ability to grow and be sustainable. Hence why through the Business Support, Markets and Tourism Unit, the Municipality has put in place a number of interventions that seek to empower, open opportunities and give guidance to the SMME sector,” said Shabalala.

Deputy City Manager of Sustainable Development and City Enterprises, Dr Naledi Moyo Ndwandwe reiterated that the Enterprise Development Strategy will assist in dealing with social ills such as the high rate of unemployment and poverty.

Senior Manager of Business Intelligence and Product Quality in the Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit, Dr Anneline Chetty said that Enterprise Development has been identified as a potential avenue to drive the required economic growth.

“The proposed strategy aims to address the need to stimulate the use of enterprise development within the eThekwini Municipality, by repackaging qualifying eThekwini business support programmes that require investment from corporate in the form of cash, equity or business mentorship, training and support services. These programmes will then be ring-fenced, verified and marketed to corporate on a platform to facilitate investment. There will be a specific focus on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).”

Sipho Zikode, from the Department of Trade and Industry said that it is always wise to invest in SMME’s as they are key drivers of economic growth and contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Deputy Mayor extended her gratitude to the following companies already on board, namely; Sapref, Eskom, Enablis, Toyota, Anglo American, Transnet, Goodersen Leisure, Artisan Skills Academy, Ithala, Absa, Plascon, PMB Business Centre, Rainbow, Shanduka Black Umbrellas and Bosch. She also pleaded with other companies to come on board and contribute to the economic growth of the City.

Representatives from the various companies applauded the initiative of the Municipality and committed themselves to ensure that this programme serves its purpose.

For more information please contact Thabo Mofokeng on 031 311 4820/ 0827317456 or email: Thabo.Mofokeng@durban.gov.za.

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality's Communications Unit. Contact Sane Shandu on 031 311 4806/072 572 8658 or email: sanelisiwe.shandu@durban.gov.za

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