On 13 November 2022 JT Communication Solutions won the National Presidential SMME Award for SMMEs Owned By Persons with Disabilities at the inaugural National Presidential SMME Awards established by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and its agencies, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) and in partnership the European Union and 22 On Sloane.
It was a fitting acknowledgement for a SMME and that has, over the last three years, felt the harsh winds of the global pandemic along with the pain of personal disability and in the process had to pivot not just in terms of core strategy, but also core competencies. From public relations to digital disruptions JT Communications have always defied the odds doggedly steering through trying times and flying the flag high for female entrepreneurship. The Covid-19 pandemic brought the business the same challenges faced by many SMMEs both here and globally, as well as the added blow of founder and managing director Vanessa Perumal literally losing her voice to a rare form of cancer and a full laryngectomy.
With the desire for driving social change, Perumal has always used her voice and that of JT Communications to champion the African narrative and disrupt the status quo. In fact JT Communications’ Entrepreneur Connect Africa (#ECAfrica) was all about telling the African entrepreneurial story. Despite her own battles recovering her voice, Perumal has found new ways to cooperatively partner with innovative, technologically driven African hubs to aid the growth of SMMEs both here and in Africa and encourage cross-country collaborations.
In looking to their business, JT Comms has moved towards the effective use of the digital space to create new revenue streams and promote youth employment. Furthermore Perumal is using her “new” voice to promote social entrepreneurship through speaking engagements. Perumal and her daughter Taynita Harilal are also founders of a digital disruptor #ECAfrica and has secured a venture capital investment from Pan Africa start up tech funder Adanian Labs which sees the duo at the cutting edge of leading solutions in tech ecosystems to advance African Entrepreneurship
“This award is significant not just as a win just for JT Communication Solutions but shows the commitment from our President and the various enabling bodies to align with entrepreneurship as an opportunity to fix South Africa forward,” says Perumal.
“With six million jobs lost during Covid 19 and the highest youth unemployment in the world and our inability to job create. Entrepreneurship is a key driver and we are honoured to be recognised for our contribution in growing the ecosystem for entrepreneurs and showcasing a more positive accurate narrative of the possibilities of aligning synergised networks.
“The more we can tap into enabling legislatives frameworks like ESD funding and BBBEE opportunities beyond ticking off boxes, the more we are able to strive to creative transformative economies,” she continues.
The awards formed part of National Presidential SMMEs and Cooperatives Summit and winning SMMEs received cash prizes worth R100,000 and access to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress+ Africa which will take place on 13–14 September 2023 in Cape Town.
