The City of Cape Town Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) Covid-19 Toolkit has been featured at the ‘Cities Against Covid-19 Online Global Summit’ hosted in Seoul, Korea, as a best practice model for workplace readiness.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made its presence felt on the economy and local businesses. To respond to this, the City’s Enterprise and Investment Department created a limited edition SMME Covid-19 Toolkit, filled with the essentials to help get businesses back to work after the lockdown period. This is to assist businesses in combating the spread of Covid-19 and ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers.
“We received over 3,000 applications from all over the city and have started the distribution process. The toolkit distribution points are chosen according to the proximity of the applicants’ business addresses provided. This week I assisted the officials with the distribution of toolkits in various locations across the city including Gugulethu, Milnerton, Kuilsriver and Bellville. Next week we will be assisting in Khayelitsha, Plumstead and Mitchells Plain,” says Alderman James Vos.
The uptake of the toolkit applications and ensuing gratitude received from the business fraternity on various social media platforms and emails in Cape Town has been phenomenal. These toolkits are only available to businesses who applied during the application period via the portal. Those businesses who did not receive a toolkit will still have the opportunity to receive support services from The Business Hub. Contact The Business Hub via email business.support@capetown.gov.za for more information or advice on the SMME support services.
As South Africa enters the next phase of the fight against the coronavirus, the actions of businesses to reduce the risks to their employees and customers will be key to determining the fate of the country.
Alderman Vos has urged that all businesses have a part to play in implementing the necessary health and safety measures as instructed by the national government to avoid further negative impacts on respective sectors.
