The City’s Economic Growth Directorate gathered community entrepreneurs for the inaugural Khayelitsha Local Economy Symposium held at the OR Tambo Indoor Centre. The aim of the symposium is to provide a platform for local enterprises to network and learn about various mechanisms, including City initiatives, which would elevate their services and products.
The symposium brought together a number of business support facilities, such as the Site C Business Forum, to assist entrepreneurs with information about doing business with the City, training, queries relating to informal trading and access to finance.
‘Khayelitsha is one of Cape Town’s biggest social and economic hubs. More than 1 500 SMMEs operate in the area, not only providing valuable services and goods to community members, but also giving thousands of people much-needed jobs,’ said Alderman James Vos, the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
Alderman Vos highlighted the wide array of support programmes for small and growing businesses funded by the City. The Business Hub has trained thousands of Capetonian enterprise owners in its various courses, including the High Impact Programme, the Productivity Efficiency Programme and the Smart Supplier Programme.
‘From providing training courses to offering guidance on logistical and legislative concerns and bringing people together for networking opportunities like this, we’re giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. For example, the Youth in Business programme administered at the Bandwidth Barn in Khayelitsha by the City’s tech Special Purpose Vehicle, UVU Africa, has helped hundreds of young entrepreneurs to learn the skills needed to survive and thrive.
He noted two businesses who recently participated in the programme – Eezy Technologies and Mcotshana Holdings – who have grown their staff numbers.
‘This underscores the importance of supporting entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and knowledge resources because their success means growth and that they are able to employ others. This is how we are realising economic growth and opportunity for Cape Town,’ said Alderman Vos.
