CITYVIEWS
August 2012
Photo: Johan Dempers, Aerial Image
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2
about
town
CityViews
August 2012
CITYVIEWS Published by:
Opportunity city:
The Central City Improvement District (CCID)
Editor: Judith Browne: 021 419 1881 judith@capetownpartnership.co.za
Cape Town’s bustling economic heart
O
ur city is many things to many people, and so has a number of names, among them iKapa, the Mother City, the Tavern of the Seas, Camissa (“the place of sweet waters”) – and more recently, //Hui !Gaeb (“where clouds gather”).
“Cape Town’s economic opportunity might not always come dressed in a suit, or have a formal office, or work structured hours, but that’s no measure of our work ethic … Words like innovation and inspiration go a long way towards describing our city and what drives our economy.”
Part of my experience of Cape Town is as a second generation Greek – my father immigrated to South Africa from Heraklion, Crete in 1956 to escape the economic hardships, high unemployment and civil war that devastated Greece after World War II, and within a short period of time started a building company which at its peak had over 100 employees. Cape Town was a city of opportunity then and still is today. As a second generation Greek, the name “Mother City” interests me: In Greek, our beautiful Mother City would be called a metropolis (meter for mother, polis for city). To me, our city has an inherently metropolitan feel, as a result of it being South Africa’s first globally linked economy, a port city that has become the home of people from all over the globe. The name that is all wrong, however, is Slaapstad: To call Cape Town a sleepy hollow is to misunderstand
how this city works and who it attracts. Yes, we’re uniquely positioned as a city, situated between a mountain and the sea, and this does provide opportunity for a range of leisure activities – whether just walking our mountainside or exploring our city by sea or by air. But leisure activities are not the only opportunity this city affords: If you consider patterns of migration and urbanisation in Southern Africa, you’ll find that Cape Town is a city of opportunity – drawing people who are looking for jobs, and also looking to create jobs. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, knowledge workers and talented young graduates and professionals are drawn here by the quality of life available – knowing that they can live in close proximity to where they work, in a vibrant urban space defined by a great diversity of people. Cape Town’s economic opportunity might not always come dressed
Deputy Editor: Benita Kursan
Website: www.capetowncid.co.za www.capetownpartnership.co.za
Design: Infestation www.infestation.co.za 021 461 8601
in a suit, or have a formal office, or work structured hours, but that’s no measure of our work ethic or our productivity. Instead, words like innovation and inspiration go a long way towards describing our city and what drives our economy. Make no mistake: All of us in Cape Town’s CBD – whether we’re employers or employees, part of the formal economy or informal trade, an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur – are part of a vibrant local economy that contributes in a significant way to the Western Cape and to the rest of South Africa.
The Central City Improvement District is a private-public partnership formed by the property owners of a defined geographical area to provide top-up services over and above what the City of Cape Town provides. The CCID and its managing agent, the Cape Town Partnership, were formed when the City of Cape Town, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders came together to address issues of urban degeneration, disinvestment in the Central City and related social problems. The Central City’s rapid regeneration process has been built upon the strength and pillars of successful private-public partnerships at both operational and strategic levels, and a shared vision for a clean, safe and caring Cape Town CBD.
From the urban heart of a bustling business hub, Tasso Evangelinos COO of the CCID
SAVE THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR PHONE
CARING CITY
Taj Cape Town has teamed up with local specialist walking tour company, Footsteps to Freedom, to offer walking tours focused on the history of the CBD. The Winter Discovery Walk starts in the hotel’s lobby and covers landmarks like St George’s Cathedral, the Slave Precinct, the Grand Parade and Parliament, and concludes with homemade soup and freshly baked bread at Mint Restaurant. Winter Discovery Walks start in the hotel lobby of the Taj Cape Town, and will take place every Saturday (starting at 10h30) until 29 September. Tickets are R95.
To book: Contact Taj Cape Town on 021 819 2000 or visit www.tajcapetown.co.za.
Gratitude attitude
CCID Deputy Security Manager: 082 442 2112 CCID 24-hour number: 082 415 7127 SAPS Control Room: 021 467 8002 Social Department: 082 563 4289
Everyday acts of kindness help transform Cape Town, and City Views would like to recognise those individuals who would otherwise continue doing good, but without thanks. This month, we’d like to recognise a hardworking elder of our community and the organisation that affords him work opportunities.
Telling your story in City Views
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Walking the city
CCID Security Manager: 082 453 2942
Leonard Ethelbert
Every day from Monday to Saturday, Leonard Ethelbert travels – sometimes on foot – from his home in Woodstock to the Hope Street headquarters of Straatwerk, an outreach organisation that provides part-time work to disadvantaged and rehabilitated men and women across the city. Leonard, or Oupa, as he’s
CITY VIEWS ONLINE Read the latest e-dition: www.capetownpartnership.co.za/city-views Friend us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CityViewsCapeTown Follow us on Twitter: @City_Views
affectionately known, is paid to help wash the bibs and gloves worn by CCID officials. He turns 94 this year – which makes him as old as Madiba. “When I was a child I attended school in Umtata for a year with Mandela,” says Oupa. “I’ve lived in a few different places but I love Cape Town best because it’s a place where everyone who wants to work can find something to do, and we’re all one family, regardless of our colour.” Oupa grew up in Cape Town and when he was younger he worked as a mechanic, and took part in dancing competitions where the likes of Miriam Makeba
would sing. A few years back he fell on hard times: “I wasn’t well and I had nowhere to stay so I was sleeping outside a police station. Two CCID officials saw me and took me to a shelter nearby where I ended up staying for three months. Some of the men I stayed with at the shelter worked for Straatwerk, and thankfully they brought me here. I’m getting old now but I’m not old enough to stop working yet.” To Leonard, who continues to be of service to his community, and to Straatwerk, who facilitate work opportunities for those who need them, thank you!
Support Leonard and Straatwerk in doing good work in the city by volunteering your time and expertise: Straatwerk Hope Street T: 021 930 8055 www.straatwerk.org.za Is there someone who has transformed your experience of the city? Write to us and tell us about it.
City Views does not sell advertising or editorial space at this time. We are, however, always on the look out for city ownership stories: tales of people who love the CBD, who choose to live, work, study, invest, and play here. If you would like to be featured, please send your story to judith@capetownpartnership.co.za for consideration. Please note that submission of a story doesn’t guarantee that it will be included.
Distributing City Views If you’re an eager reader of City Views – and you know others who would enjoy reading it too, consider becoming a distributor. All we need is your contact details, address and how many copies you need each month. Or, if you would just like to track down where you can obtain your FREE copy send an email to Aziza Patandin on aziza@capetownpartnership.co.za.
Reading City Views We love knowing who our readers are and what they think. If you enjoy your copy of City Views, why not mail a picture of you reading it, wherever you love to read it (Your local coffee shop? On a street bench while people-watching?) telling us what you enjoyed most. If we like it, we’ll run it. Get in touch: judith@capetownpartnership.co.za.
August 2012
about
CityViews
town
3
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
A cross-section of
R
ecent studies show that the Cape Town city-region’s economy contributes around 13% to South Africa’s total GDP. The City of Cape Town’s economy contributes 89.1% to this figure. At the heart of this economic production is the Central City, accounting for 24.5% of all business turnover in the City of Cape Town. Each year, businesses in the Central City churn out an estimated R216-million in annual rates – funds that help to grow the economy and contribute to greater investment across the metro-region. These numbers alone show just how important the Central City is to the larger economy of the metro-region, but what is it exactly that shapes our economy?
Economic diversity
Upon hearing the word “economy” most people think of large buildings housing fancy offices. The Central City has plenty of those – in fact, according to the latest SAPOA Office Vacancy Survey we occupy 32.8% of the A-grade office space in the Cape Town metro-region. But it’s not only corporates like investors and lawyers that make up the Central City economy; archi-
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Cape Town’s economy
Cranes on the city’s skyline are a sign of significant investment in Cape Town’s CBD
tects, ICT and medical service professionals, and creative industries are also significant economic producers. With the City of Cape Town estimating that over 300 000 people commute in and out of the Central City each day, it’s not surprising that the CBD is home to such a diverse economy. Another side to business in the CBD is the informal economy – an estimated 900-strong workforce made up of shop owners, food vendors, artisans, and craftspeople. A recent survey showed that the people who work on our city’s streets and in our markets serve an estimated 71% of people moving through the Central City each day. That’s definitely big business, and its impact on the metro-region’s larger informal sector – which the City of Cape Town says contributes 12% towards the city’s economic output – cannot be underestimated. New development
Our city skyline also says a great deal about our economy. Bright yellow cranes have become regular fixtures of the Central City landscape, as two new developments take shape: Portside and 22 Bree. These large-scale developments are set to radically
enhance the economic environment of the Foreshore area. Representing a collective R1.96-billion investment, they symbolise an exciting future for Cape Town’s economy and renewed confidence in the Central City as a place to do business. With more new developments in the pipeline and catalysts like the Urban Development Zone (UDZ) tax incentive being offered, development is a trend that’s likely to grow. The UDZ was launched by SARS to incentivise property owners in urban areas across the country by offering developers substantial tax breaks and deductions on their investments. The developers of Portside – the Central City’s tallest building in the making – took advantage of this incentive, and saved millions as a result. Urban densification
Densification is a positive spin-off of development in the Central City. By bringing people together in new compact and environmentally friendly spaces, organisations and employees contribute towards sustainable clustering. By sharing workspaces, people interact and amplify each other’s positive contributions and gen-
erate a greater level of economic output. This is one of the pre-eminent principles of The Fringe district, a space within the Central City that supports the clustering of creative and entrepreneurial sectors. By clustering creative people together in one place, The Fringe estimates that by 2031 we’ll see the area providing 3 500 jobs, an additional R1.5-billion in GDP and R1.2-billion in tax revenues each year. From creatives in The Fringe to Foreshore corporates, the Central City economy brings together a diverse collection of people who build our economy. What started as a small trading port at the tip of Africa has transformed into one of Africa’s most creative and innovative economies. In the future, new economies in other parts of the world will open up more opportunities for our city. Cape Town’s Central City, and the people that live, work and play within it, will continue to develop these markets and are set to create some of the most unique and exciting economic activity in the world.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
The Central City is a thriving place, but what is it about our CBD that makes it such a strong driver of the economy? What builds business, powers people, and catalyses capital? Andrew Fleming, researcher of The State of Cape Town Central City Report – a publication of the CCID set to be launched in the CBD in September – unpacks what makes our economy unique, and the diverse ways in which people contribute to it each day.
Francisco Sinandil e works for construction firm Murray and Robe rts, and is tasked with making the concre te cubes that will fo rm part of the Ports ide development, sche duled for complet ion at the end of 2013 . “These new build ings are creating jobs, and I get paid we ll to work here,” sa ys Khayelitsha-bas ed Francisco. “I enjoy everything about my job, especially wo rking in Cape Town .”
The State of Cape Town Central City Report launches in the CBD in September. For more information, head to: www.capetowncid.co.za
4
around
town
CityViews
August 2012
ENTREPRENEURIAL CITY
Helping
make business happen Lavendra Naidoo is a core member of Cape Town Activa – an online resource for entrepreneurs and job seekers – and the general manager of its Foreshore-based implementation partner, The Business Place eKapa. CV What is your background and how did you become involved in The Business Place? I grew up in Rylands and currently reside in Parklands. After university I worked in small business finance for over fourteen years. I was retrenched in 2007 and started working at The Business Place soon after, and so far it has been a challenging and rewarding experience.
CV What are some of the business resources available to the public at The Business Place? We provide access to the following services: one-on-one business development advice; business information and resources; free internet; legal guidance; networking opportunities; use of meeting areas; training and referrals to third party support organisations.
CV Why was The Business Place established and how have Capetonians responded to it? It was established to provide a support mechanism for individuals wanting to start or expand a business. Thousands of people have visited the centre since its inception. We’re currently receiving around 600 visitors per month.
CV Is Cape Town Activa an online version of The Business Place? The Cape Town Activa platform was created to help connect local job seekers and entrepreneurs to business resources, and in so doing position the city as an entrepreneurial destination. It currently serves as a virtual gateway that provides information on individuals and organisations offering business support to help people build businesses or to become more employable.
relaxed atmosphere and, given the number of new building sites under construction, it’s a part of the CBD that’s constantly transforming.
What are some of the best things about being based on the Foreshore? I see this as the financial district of the CBD as it’s in close proximity to key touchpoints and public transport nodes. It has a
Interested in starting or growing your own business? Make an appointment to see a consultant at The Business Place, or check out Cape Town Activa’s online resources.
CV
“I envision a more inclusive and enabled CBD for all citizens, where entrepreneurial and employment support and development is streamlined and enhanced, making the Central City an even more conducive environment for economic development.”
CV What is your vision for central Cape Town in 2040? I envision a more inclusive and enabled CBD for all citizens, where entrepreneurial and employment support and development is streamlined and enhanced, making the Central City an even more conducive environment for economic development; and a city that has eradicated the many social challenges currently facing so many of our communities.
Lavendra Naidoo
The Business Place First Floor 7 Anton Anreith Arcade T: 021 425 7816 www.thebusinessplace.co.za Cape Town Activa www.capetownactiva.com
Welcoming retailers into the Central City Cape Town CBD is a place of opportunity, drawing new business, retailers and residents. Here’s a list of a few new retail locations to open in the last month or so: Why not stop by and wish them a warm welcome?
Café Aesh 39 Adderley Street T: 021 469 9737 Snacks Mobile Construction House Cnr of Adderley and Church Street T: 021 469 9730
Photo: Justin Patrick
Eastern Palace 172 Long Street T: 021 424 1861 Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV Who are the various stakeholders in The Business Place and how are they involved? The Business Place model is based on collaboration between the public and private sector and local communities. Our current stakeholders include the City of Cape Town, Sekunjalo Investments Limited and British Telecom South Africa. The organisation has been blessed to have access to highly experienced individuals who have willingly volunteered their time to provide strategic guidance and leadership at a board level, none more so than our chairman Dr Iqbal Survé.
Cape Town Activa has been going for just over a year now. How have Capetonians responded to the initiative? Some 65 support organisations and 164 users have registered so far. At this point we’re focusing on coordinating the support organisations, and monitoring and measuring the entrepreneurship environment and the Cape Town Activa ecosystem. There’s a lot of support for business out there that people are not yet aware of. Ultimately we hope to help connect entrepreneurs with viable business plans to financiers – from angel investors down to micro financers – who can provide capital to get businesses going. CV
Lavendra Naidoo
Hawks and Hounds 271 Long Street T: 082 655 6116
Businessmen in the CBD
Y OPPORTUNITY CIT Dr Iqbal Survé is the chairman of the UCT Graduate School of Business and the Sekunjalo Group, one of Southern Africa’s largest investment holding companies. What does he think about the economic clout of Cape Town?
“Cape Tow n is a great place for economic d evelopmen intellectua t. It has l ca to excellen pital in that it is hom e tu centre of in niversities, and it’s a n ovation an platform fo d a strong r emerging ideas. The cultural en city’s vir entreprene onment is conducive urship, and to the entreprene urial opport re are many unities to ta into in the Central Cit y – particula p within the rly realm of th e provision services – th of at are allie d with the rejuvenati on of the C BD.”
August 2012
around
CityViews
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“We live in the Central City” Colleagues and friends Mohato Lekena, Robin Brink and Ross Dorkin of multimedia production group GlowLDB live and work together at Church Square House on Spin Street.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
“My vision for the CBD in 2040 is increased accessibility. I’d love the city to be owned by all members of society – especially those who were previously not entitled to it.” Mohato Lekena Mohato, Ross and Robin inside their dual-purpose living space on Spin Street
“A talk at the TEDxStellenbosch conference in 2011 inspired us to create a dual-purpose living space in the city centre. It’s great living and working with friends because our creative energy and production is not limited to office hours. We’re constantly busy.” Robin Brink
CV What’s your background and how did you connect with the GlowLDB team? Mohato: I’m originally from Alberton, outside Joburg. Our shared interest in music brought us together. I’m generally responsible for coding, but our roles in the team are quite fluid. Robin: I’m from Pietermaritzburg in KZN. I moved to Cape Town when I was thirteen. I direct our web and graphic design projects, and I connected with Mohato and Ross through our musical interests. Our overlapping skills allow us to work collaboratively and to critically engage with each other’s work. Ross: I also grew up in Pietermaritzburg. I moved to Cape Town to study music. Robin connected the team, and I lead our sound design and music production work. CV What’s it like living with colleagues and how did your decision to live together come about? Mohato: We live together as friends, so we get along well and this helps to keep our productivity levels up. Robin: A talk at the TEDxStellenbosch conference in 2011 inspired us to create a dual-purpose living space in the city centre. It’s great living and working with friends
because our creative energy and production is not limited to office hours. We’re constantly busy. Ross: We’re surrounded by creativity 24/7 and there are no obstructions to our workflow. We’re able to operate whenever we’re inspired. Do you have any advice for people looking to set up similar dual-purpose spaces in the CBD? Mohato: Don’t restrict yourself in terms of the areas you’re willing to stay. Every part of this city has its own buzz and community. Be willing to explore. Also, carefully consider who you decide to live with because they’ll influence the type of experience you have. Robin: Look for niche opportunities and untapped spaces. Our space used to be an insurance brokerage, now it’s a design and music studio with a library containing over 7 000 vinyls. Ross: Be imaginative and take time to find the right place. CV
CV What’s the best thing about
living in the Central City? Mohato: Being able to walk everywhere. Everything is nearby and it’s safe, so there’s no excuse to miss events or to not do interesting things. I also enjoy shopping at the small vendors in the neighbourhood.
Robin: Everything we need is on our doorstep and it’s great to be located in the centre of progress and change. Ross: Everything is accessible. CV Where in the city do you go to relax? Mohato: There’s a huge water feature outside the Woolworths head office. If you sit near it and close your eyes, it sounds like a waterfall. Robin: The Central City Library. Ross: The Company’s Garden. CV Where in the Central City do you like to eat out? Mohato: Doppio Zero on St George’s Mall. Robin: Timbuktu on Long Street and Coffee Zone off Plein Street. Ross: The Eastern Food Bazaar is super-convenient. CV What is your vision for the CBD in 2040? Mohato: Increased accessibility. I’d love the city to be owned by all members of society – especially those who were previously not entitled to it. Robin: More parks and public spaces; more community projects and inner-city residential spaces. Ross: I’d like to see more public spaces and projects that engage people of all walks of life.
Check out GlowLDB online: www.glowldb.co.za and explore their Cape Town for yourself: Central City Library Corner Parade and Darling Street T: 021 467 1567 www.capetown.gov.za/en/ library Doppio Zero Mandela Rhodes Place Corner Church Street and St George’s Mall T: 021 424 9225 www.doppio.co.za Eastern Food Bazaar 96 Longmarket Street T: 021 461 2458 www.easternfoodbazaar.co.za Timbuktu Café Pan-African Market 76 Long Street T: 021 426 4478 www.panafrican.co.za The Coffee Zone Corner Mostert and Plein Street T: 021 462 6004
town
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Consult with a corporate lawyer to ascertain the legal implications around registering your company to ensure that your businessmeets the current legal requirements. 5th Floor, Nedbank Building 85 St George’s Mall T: 021 426 4126 or 0800 110 110 www.legal-aid.co.za
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Academy of Entrepreneurial Development If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, are from a disadvantaged background and have not received any formal business training, you might be eligible to participate in this six-month business and lifeskills course. UCT Graduate School of Business Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road
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Ackerman 12 Raymond EXNE EXNE R
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Cape Town Entrepreneurship Week is set to take place in November. EZ ISN GR Stay tuned to www.ctew.co.za for details. DERBY
10 South African Revenue Service
Business Corner The Central City Library has a good selection of business books, journals and newspapers, and provides information relevant to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Corner of Parade and Darling Street T: 021 467 1500 www.capetown.gov.za/en/library
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WANT TO GATHER MARKET INTELLIGENCE?
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COMPANY’S GARDEN
8 Innovation Shack Pitch your new business idea to this team of business gurus and investors TON BUX if they like it they’ll invest in and testing the concept and help you to implement it. Public pitch sessions take place at the UCT Graduate School of Business at 12h00 on the last Friday of every month. UCT Graduate School of Business Breakwater Campus GE Portswood Road N RA O T: 072 487 6775 R PE charlesm@innovationshack.co.za UP
Small businesses are often eligible for tax concessions. Contact SARS or a registered tax practitioner to see if you qualify. 17 Lower Long Street T: 0800 00 7277 www.sars.co.za
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If you’re a crafter or a designer, head REET here to take advantage KLOOF ST of mentorship opportunities and other resources like the FabLab, where you can prototype your idea before you take it to market. 75 Harrington Street WELGEMEEND T: 021 461 1488 www.capecraftanddesign.org.za HOFMEYER
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7 Cape Craft TABLE andMOUNTAIN Design Institute
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This information and communications technology (ICT) incubator provides training on starting and running a business, infrastructure in the form of shared office space, and networking opportunities. It recently expanded its focus to include design-related business too. The Woodstock Exchange 66 Albert Road T: 021 409 7000 www.bandwidthbarn.org
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Centre This centre – supported by the Small Enterprise Development Agency, an agency mandated to help develop, support and grow small business in South Africa – offers general business advice and information. Cape Chamber of Commerce 19 Louis Gradner Street T: 0860 103 703 / 021 418 5194 www.seda.org.za
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of Economic Development and Tourism This government department aims to grow the economy by creating opportunities for businesses and employment for individuals. Most exciting for entrepreneurs is its Red Tape to Red Carpet programme and call centre that aims to eliminate regulatory obstacles by offering business advice and a place to report bureaucratic delays. 10th Floor, Waldorf Building 80 St George’s Mall Red Tape to Red Carpet hotline T: 0861 888 126 redtape@pgwc.gov.za www.westerncape.gov.za/edt
WANT TO CAPITALISE ON YOUR CREATIVITY?
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RAYDEN
2 Western Cape Department
BAY VIEW
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If you need help formulating a QU AR RY first business plan or taking the HIL L steps of your plan, this is the place to start. Advice regarding training and business certification is available, and members are welcome to use the office facilities for meetings. 7 Anton Anreith Arcade Hans Strydom Road T: 021 425 7816 www.tbp.co.za
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1 The Business Place eKapa
Pitch your startup concept to Umbono and if they like it they might just provide you with an online VA RSITY platform, office space and seed capital to help turn your vision into a business. LEE UKOPFloor, Woodstock Exchange 4th 66 Albert Road umbonoza@gmail.com www.google.co.za/umbono
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EN WELTEVRED
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13 UCT Graduate School BELLA IR NOORDE of Business ST. JAM 14 Department of GetESa business qualification from NNA BELLA DO Trade and Industry one of Africa’s top academic KR known for its ALOE EUPEL A good place to start if you’re Cinstitutions, HELMSF ORD HO UT looking for financial assistance expertise on emerging markets US TH APAN AG from the government to get your and for encouraging social business off the ground, the DTI innovation and entrepreneurship. also provides information and UCT Graduate School of advice on business regulation and Business
15 Small En Finance Age Small and me businesses ar apply for busi minimum of R
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22 Enablis SA Sign up to take part in business networking events, and to connect with mentors and potential funders. 302 Manhattan Place, 130 Bree Street T: 021 422 0690 www.enablis.co.za
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THINKING ABOUT STARTING A BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT BUSINESS?
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LK your business, connect with WA particularly businesses owned RIA TO VIC like-minded business people and by black women – and major relevant support networks to help corporates in South Africa. OK O BR AIN NT take your business to the next Suite 602, 80 Strand Street U MO level. T: 021 419 3347 2nd Floor, Anton Anreith Arcade www.sasdc.org.za YN Hans LW Strydom Road E S www.sabef.co.za 19 Shanduka Black Umbrellas 18 South African Supplier If you’re looking to start or grow ON Diversity Council your own business and provide RT BA This organisation helps form employment opportunities for partnerships between others, apply to take part in a black-owned businesses – three to six-month pre-incubation
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17 SA Black Entrepreneurs Forum LE AR If you’re a black entrepreneur in SE the early stages of developing
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16 Industrial Development Corporation If you’re looking to develop a business in agriculture, healthcare, ICT, metal, motion pictures, clothing and textiles, tourism or venture capital, you might be eligible to partner with the IDC by applying for a government loan of between
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12th Floor, Standard Bank L EL SS Centre, Hertzog Boulevard RU T: 021 418 0126
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23 Wesgro Wesgro is one of the first points of contact for foreigners looking to investment in Western Cape business, and for local exporters and investors looking to market their products or expand their businesses abroad. 12th Floor, Waldorf Building 80 St George’s Mall T: 021 487 8600 www.wesgro.co.za
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Special thanks to Cape Town Activa (www.capetownactiva.com) and The BusinessCAPlace eKapa (www.tbp.co.za) for supplying some of the information contained in this map. If you notice IN PLE ET SK BA anything missing, please mail the editor at judith@capetownpartnership.co.za.
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21 Cape Chamber of Commerce Become a member of the oldest member-based business organisation in South Africa for access to business information, networking and training. Cape Chamber House 19 Louis Gradner Street T: 021 402 4300 www.capechamber.co.za
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20 Business Network International Never underestimate the power of marketing your business by word of mouth. Sign up to attend a networking event that connects professionals from different industries and encourages the sharing of referrals. Meetings take place on Tuesdays from 07h00 at the Grand Daddy Hotel on Long Street. T: 082 777 8557 www.bni.co.za
CAPE TOWN STATION
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WANT TO NETWORK WITH LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS?
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programme. If the team at Shanduka like what they see, they’ll offer you a three-year incubation programme. 2nd Floor, 7 Anton Anreith Arcade T: 021 425 8416 www.shandukablackumbrel las.com
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PREFER TO ACCESS ADVICE ONLINE? Silicon Cape Connect with this virtual community and online resource centre for information on all things ICT related. www.siliconcape.com Cape Town Activa This online resource centre aims to connect potential entrepreneurs, small business owners and job seekers to a variety of private and public sector business-related contacts www.capetownactiva.com
8
around
town
CityViews
August 2012
Success and long-distance swimming Local businessman Theodore Yach has swum across Table Bay – to and from Robben Island – no less than a record 64 times. He was the first person to swim to and around the island, and back to Three Anchor Bay, and he’s swum the English Channel. In his book, In My Element, he shares his tips on how to get ahead.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV How do you balance swimming with a stressful work life and a busy family life?
Theodore Yach with Ralph Borland’s shark sculptures on Jetty Square
“People are finally starting to take the city seriously. Corporate Cape Town is getting stronger as the Western Cape is being recognised as South Africa’s second most important economic driver.” Theodore Yach
Balance breeds mediocrity. If you want to be the best, you have to push yourself as hard as you can. Discipline is important. I go to bed early and wake up early. There’s a lot that you can do between the hours of 05h00 and 22h00. If you want to succeed you have to do everything to the best of your ability, all the time. Sometimes, when I’ve had a long day at the office or I’ve been travelling, I really don’t feel like training, but I still go, and it’s usually on those days that I have the best swims. CV What inspired you to write a book?
Since my first long-distance swim in 1981, I’ve put together and collected scrapbooks that document my achievements. When my family moved house, my wife suggested I cement the information contained in the scrapbooks into one comprehensive book.
By sharing my story I aim to inspire and encourage people to take up long-distance swimming, and by sharing my training methodologies I aim to give them the tools to get started. CV Development in the CBD is another issue that’s close to your heart. How has your career reflected this passion?
My grandfather’s business was based in the Central City and in my youth I’d often help out running errands around town. I was one of the founding directors of the CCID and the Cape Town Partnership, and I was Chairman of the CCID for five years from 2005. I’m still a CCID board member, and, working for Zenprop, I’m often negotiating deals on properties in and around the CBD. CV How has the Central City evolved and where is it headed?
People are finally starting to take the city
seriously. Corporate Cape Town is getting stronger as the Western Cape is being recognised as South Africa’s second most important economic driver. In the next few years, as political boundaries fall away, it’s going to be crucial for public transport infrastructures to form better connections to connect town and township, and for areas like District Six to start being properly repopulated through important initiatives like The Fringe.
If you’d lik e to get into long-distan ce up a copy o swimming, pick f Theodore ’s book in the CBD at th Roeland Str e Book Lounge, 71 e www.book et, T: 021 462 2425, lounge.co.z a.
Y OPPORTUNITY CIT
Soul food in the city
What made you decide to start a business in the food industry? I’ve always cooked and enjoyed food although I never received formal training as a chef. I studied economics at university, and spent time living and working abroad. I worked on sailboats in the Mediterranean and I’d often come across little hole in the wall places there that sold food. When I returned to Cape Town I was inspired to create something similar here. CV
Why Bree Street? I knew that I wanted my business to be located in the CBD so I literally walked the city streets until I found the right spot. Bree Street lends itself to business with its two-way traffic and wide pavements. I’m surrounded by businesses and people who can afford to eat out once a day and there’s a lot of passing trade. CV
through the Fine Food Initiative, and have been fortunate to receive an amount of government funding which enabled me to grow my team from one employee to ten.
How did your original concept take shape? My original concept at Rotisserie 360 was to offer a limited selection of classics done well, so we did rotisserie chicken with a selection of salads and vegetables. I hired someone to help me, and I used my savings and bought the most important equipment new and the rest secondhand online or at auctions.
CV How has the menu evolved? The menu has grown but everything is still simple, fresh and healthy. Rotisserie chicken is still our speciality – we sell around 30 chickens a day – and other popular dishes are beef bourguignon, roast chicken and leek pie, and our customers love our homemade mayonnaise. We deliver to offices in the area, and we have a fridge filled with readymade meals to take home.
CV How did Rotisserie 360 become Café Frank? Rotisserie 360 was thriving and I realised that if I wanted to grow the business I’d have to expand. A regular customer who’d become a friend offered to help finance the expansion and refurbishment of the space. I also heard about an opportunity to apply for funding from the Western Cape Government
CV Where do you see your business going in the next ten years? For now, Café Frank is my social and creative outlet. It’s also a platform I’m using to launch and test my range of ready-made frozen meals. Ultimately, I’d like to expand the concept into an extensive range of convenience foods that are sold at our own retail outlets. Watch this space!
CV
Café Frank is open Monday to Thursday from 07h30 to 18h00, and on Fridays from 07h30 to 17h00. Café Frank 160 Bree Street T: 021 423 0360 www.cafefrank.com
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Three years ago passionate foodie Debbie Wynne settled in Cape Town and started a business selling rotisserie chicken from a hole in a wall on Bree Street. Her concept was a hit – so much so that she recently expanded and rebranded, transforming the compact Rotisserie 360 into a spacious sit-down eatery called Café Frank.
Debbie outside her newly rebranded and expanded eatery CV Do you have any advice for Capetonians looking to start their own businesses? Be prudent about what you put into the business when you start out, and keep your concept simple and your product consistent. Be focused on what it is that you are selling.
CV When you’re not at Café Frank, where do you like to shop and eat out? I avoid shopping malls so when I’m in town I shop for music and clothing on Long and Kloof Street, and I generally eat out at Caffe Milano and Carne.
“I know the CCID security guys by name and I feel safe. I love coming to work because there’s a great sense of community here. It’s like a little village. There wasn’t much here in the beginning but Bree Street has become a popular lunchtime destination, with all the other eateries moving in to the area.” Debbie Wynne
August 2012
around
CityViews
town
9
L CITY ENTREPRENEURIA
The business benefits of bazaaristan Informal trading is growing more rapidly than the GDP of many countries, and bazaaristan – the term used to describe the phenomenon – is said to be the second largest economy in the world. Informal trading opens the market and creates opportunities for people who don’t fit the traditional business mould but are willing to put their ingenuity and resourcefulness to good use.
Ruth Moore: Artmosphere Ruth Moore was one of the first informal traders on St George’s Mall. Twenty three years ago she set up a street gallery to showcase art by African artists and today it continues to add a splash of colour and creativity to the heart of the city centre. What’s your background and what inspired you to start trading art? I grew up in Germany and moved to Africa around 35 years ago to work as a missionary. I met my husband in Zimbabwe and we moved to Cape Town a few years later. He’s always been involved in music and art, and had a few close artist friends. Some of these artists were from places like the Congo and Zimbabwe, and they came from disadvantaged backgrounds. I wanted to help create exposure for their work by providing a platform for it.
Hamied Bhawoodien: GoGo Fruit Hamied Bhawoodien has been trading on the streets of the CBD for over 30 years. He started his own business selling fresh produce on St George’s Mall eight years ago, and come rain or shine, his stall continues to provide many passersby with a daily dose of fruit, vegetables and animated conversation. CV What is your background and why did you decide to start trading in the Central City? I dropped out of school when I was a teenager because I realised that I’d rather work and sell things than study. I started working for someone else, selling fruit and vegetables in town. I’ve always sold produce, except for times when I’ve taken other parttime jobs – like building or bricklaying. CV How has informal trading in the CBD changed since you started out? It’s a lot more organised now. You apply for a monthly trader’s permit and you’re allocated a specific place to trade from. In the past there were a lot more informal traders than there are today and there was a lot more competition. You couldn’t get a permit though and it was illegal to sell things on the street. If the police caught you they’d confiscate your stock and you’d go to jail. CV What’s does a typical workday look like? I live in Gatesville in Athlone and every morning I try to get to the Epping Market early, around 04h00 or 05h00, before the big retailers come to buy their stock. My son Faizel helps me load up our bakkie with produce and then we come through to town. We set up early in time for commuters and office workers to shop on their way to work. It’s mainly regulars who buy from me. If I’m not here my customers phone me to see where I am and they wait for me to come. My customers are loyal because I guarantee the quality of my stock. If it’s not good, I’ll refund you. It’s hard work so I employ someone to help me sell. If we haven’t sold all the stock by the end of the day I make
up sale packages – like R10 for a mixed bag – because I don’t like to have leftovers. CV What’s the best thing about working in the city centre? I love working outdoors and Cape Town is the best place. It’s a safe place. It’s all happening in Cape Town and the people are friendly. I learn something new everyday. I’ve learnt how to say hello in languages like German and Italian from chatting to my customers.
“I love working outdoors and Cape Town is the best place. It’s a safe place. It’s all happening in Cape Town and the people are friendly. I learn something new every day. I’ve learnt how to say hello in languages like German and Italian from chatting to my customers.”
CV What attracted you to the idea of trading informally in the CBD? I love being outdoors and being a part of the vibe of an African city. I don’t think I could ever work indoors. Trading on the street is a lot cheaper than opening a traditional gallery and I enjoy being my own boss. I pay a relatively small fee for a monthly trader’s permit but I don’t have to make a huge turnover to afford to pay rent. I don’t have to come to work every day but I want to; you have to be determined and persistent, and you have to be here to sell. CV How has this part of the city transformed over the years? The city feels safer and it’s a lot cleaner. It’s probably one of the cleanest cities in the world now. There are a lot of visitors from places like the United Kingdom and Ger-
many, but I’d like to see more people visiting Cape Town from abroad. There seems to have been a lot of turnover of tenants in the shops around St George’s Mall but there are a lot more informal traders selling art here. There’s a lot more competition, but it’s a great place to trade in terms of logistics. CV What sets your stall apart from others in the area? This was the first street gallery in the area and I have a lot of loyal customers who come here because they trust that I’ll always have a good selection. I curate a variety of artworks by different artists so there’s always something for everyone. Some of the artists are formally trained professionals and some of them live in the townships and have never received formal training. I prefer not to accept commissions on their behalf because they’re sometimes unreliable due to their circumstances, but I do arrange special commissions sometimes.
Artmosphere St George’s Mall (outside the entrance to Edgars) T: 083 448 5477 Mondays to Saturdays from around 10h00 to 16h00
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV
Hamied Bhawoodien
If you weren’t a trader what sort of work would you do? If I didn’t do this sort of work I’d be in tourism. Most people in the tourism industry have to look up places in Cape Town on a map, but I know this city so well I’ll never need to use a map. CV
GoGo Fruit St George’s Mall (outside the entrance to Clicks) T: 074 672 3678 Mondays to Fridays from around 07h00 to 17h00
Ruth at her stand on St George’s Mall
“I love being outdoors and being a part of the vibe of an African city. I don’t think I could ever work indoors. Trading on the street is a lot cheaper than opening a traditional gallery and I enjoy being my own boss.” Ruth Moore
10
from
the fringe
CityViews
August 2012
Y COLLABORATIVE CIT
Empowering city startups
Photo: Lisa Burnell
through collaboration Serial entrepreneur Vuyisa Qabaka was born and bred in the Eastern Cape and moved to Cape Town to study at UCT. Since then he’s incubated a number of successful business ventures and relocated his headquarters to The Hostel, a shared office environment in The Fringe. What is your take on Cape Town’s entrepreneurial landscape? It’s the most positive it’s been in the ten years I’ve lived here. The ecosystem is transforming and becoming a leading environment for entrepreneurs. I’m aware of a number of initiatives by government and the private sector that should see Cape Town becoming a shining example of entrepreneurship development in SA. CV
CV What are some of the factors that make the city a viable economic hub? Cape Town is dominated by service-oriented industries like tourism, hospitality, business process outsourcing (BPO) and financial services. We have an illustrious history of agriculture and manufacturing, and we’ve developed a technology and innovation hub that champions the green economy. Geographically we’re well positioned as a trade port. We have natural beauty and a diverse mix of urban and agricultural land and ocean. We’re also the most literate population in the country. In other words, we have it all. Despite all this though, doing business in Cape Town is nowhere near where it should be. Our main economic nodes are underutilised and there’s not enough emphasis on the business environment. The good news is that with programmes like the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) being created, there’s a strong opportunity for change. CV You launched the South African Black Entrepreneurs Forum (SABEF). What is this exactly and how have Capetonians responded to it? SABEF is a business network for black entrepreneurs in the early stages of developing their
Where can you find out more about Vuyisa’s business connections? The Cape Town Club Leinster Hall Weltevreden Street T: 021 424 5586 www.capetownclub.org.za Cape Chamber of Commerce 19 Louis Gradner Street T: 021 402 4300 www.capechamber.co.za
businesses. It’s a support system that helps people overcome the challenges of starting a new business. Capetonians have been very receptive to the network. We’re currently signing up an average of 30 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) per week, so the future looks good. Vuyisa Qabaka in the old Stakesby Lewis Hostel, his new headquarters in The Fringe
“The Central City is a vibrant environment for business. It has a supportive government, a collaborative ecosystem, and a vibrant and creative consumer market that’s open to innovation – and it’s a great place in which to test untested concepts, whether it’s in a creative industry, the green economy, social entrepreneurship or technological innovation.” Vuyisa Qabaka
CV Why did you decide to locate your headquarters in The Fringe? The Fringe offered a creative, cost-effective and accessible environment to build our network in. Being in an entrepreneurial and creative space has its advantages for entrepreneurs because the entrepreneurship space is as much about innovation and creative solutions as it is about taking risks. CV What are your hopes for the Western Cape from an entrepreneurial development perspective? My biggest hope is that we con-
tinue on the collaborative path. I hope that our townships are seen as economic hubs where talent and innovation are nurtured; that we invest in the development of infrastructure that has the potential to make today’s township tomorrow’s suburb. I hope that wealthy individuals can be called upon to join hands with poor citizens to help grow communities. I hope that it’s citizens – not politicians – that determine the future of Cape Town. We could become the entrepreneurial hub of Africa in a short space of time, but it must start with collaboration. I believe that we’re not a long way off from that dream. CV And how do you see The Fringe contributing to this process? The Fringe thrives on creativity. A collaborative collective support system must exist and everyone needs to understand their role within the district. Creatives need to be taught business skills and The Fringe district itself should have a blueprint of how it can structurally support the creative industry.
What would you regard as priorities for The Fringe going forward? I would advise the coordinators of The Fringe to focus on three immediate priorities: fast wireless internet, collaboration and networking, and improving the business environment. CV
Where in the CBD do you go for business meetings? Is there anywhere in particular that lends itself to networking? I spend a lot of time at Ikhaya Lodge on Dunkley Square because it’s centrally located for my meetings with parliamentarians, government officials and entrepreneurs, and they serve great African cuisine. I’m a member of the Cape Town Club and I get to meet a lot of high profile people when I use the facilities there. I’m also a member of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and regularly attend their events. CV
Economic Development Partnership 10th Floor, 34 Bree Street T: 021 419 1881 www.wcedp.co.za EmpowerWeb www.empowerweb.co.za Ikhaya Lodge Dunkley Street T: 021 461 8880 www.ikhayalodge.co.za South African Black Entrepreneurs Forum T: 021 811 0262 www.sabef.org.za The Hostel 86 Commercial Street T: 021 419 1881 www.thefringe.org.za
Six Fringe-based tech startups to watch If these six internet companies are anything to go by, The Fringe is fast becoming a hotbed for innovative information and communications technology company headquarters. Check them out online at these addresses, and for more information on The Fringe visit www.thefringe.org.za or contact 021 419 1881.
■ www.cybersmart.co.za ■ www.formula-d.co.za ■ www.furnspace3d.co.za ■ www.macway.co.za ■ www.rubybox.co.za ■ www.taxirank.co.za ■ www.thisarmy.com
August 2012
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CityViews
Championing local innovation
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What Google’s incubating in the Cape Last year search technology giant Google launched Umbono, a project designed to help develop a sustainable internet ecosystem across Africa by helping specially selected teams of tech entrepreneurs to get their products off the ground.
Justin Stanford launched his first online venture at the age of 18 from a friend’s garage. Since then he’s launched a slew of successful startups, and co-created Silicon Cape, a virtual network that’s helped put Cape Town on the map as South Africa’s top destination for ecommerce and innovation.
INNOVATIVE CITY
So far four teams of local tech entrepreneurs have been chosen to take part in a sixmonth programme in which they receive seed capital and mentorship from top local and international businesspeople.
Who are they? ■ www.localsort.com ■ www.taxtim.com ■ www.sampleboard.com ■ www.starburstgames.co.za
Ecommerce in the heart of the city Orders fly in to the 36 Boutiques headquarters on Adderley Street from trend-savvy customers across the country. CEO Gadija Gamieldien tells us what it’s like to run one of the country’s first online fashion emporiums. CV What are some of the local brands available at 36 Boutiques?
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Thula Sindi, Loin Cloth and Ashes, Oh Dear Megan, Chica Loca, Amanda Laird Cherry and Urban Goddess, to name a few. We provide a complete technical and marketing infrastructure to local designers in order to create a strong national and international footprint for their brands.
Justin Stanford working from a local “coffee office”, Escape Caffé, where there’s free WiFi
In the mid-1990s news of young guys abroad selling their online startup ventures for millions started filtering through to SA. I was inspired and decided that I wanted to get involved. I left school early and struggled for a few years before launching my first successful venture – ESET, a global antivirus software programme that’s now utilised in 20 countries. I had no formal training; I learnt everything I know for free online. Back then people thought I was crazy and that I could never pull it off, but today there are loads of crazy young people doing it; the new generation has a different approach.
What inspired you to co-create the Silicon Cape initiative? CV
When I started out there wasn’t an IT startup ecosystem in Cape Town. Startups worked individually and there was a perception that you had to leave SA to make it big. Vinny Lingham and I wanted to create a community to promote a virtual concept of Cape Town as an innovation hub, and we wanted to connect businesspeople with a vested interest in technology to
resources and to each other. We expected a hundred or so people to attend our launch in 2009, and it was so oversubscribed – over 1 000 responded – we ended up having to turn people away.
“Techies gravitate here because they’re generally driven more by their environment than money. Geeks like me like things to be organised and Cape Town is not only the most beautiful city in SA, but also the most organised.” Justin Stanford
CV What attracts people in your industry to Cape Town?
It’s a confluence of things. Techies gravitate here because they’re generally driven more by their environment than money. Geeks like me like things to be organised and Cape Town is not only the most beautiful city in SA, but also the most organised. The universities act as anchors and the coastal geography lends itself to a more relaxed lifestyle. Also, to make initiatives happen you need innovative ideas and
wealth to get the ideas off the ground, and the lifestyle here tends to attract wealthy investors.
Start with the end in mind, do your research and don’t forget that the consumer is your reason for being. It’s worthwhile to get a foot in the door at large innovative organisations like Naspers that support local talent and nurture entrepreneurs.
CV Where is Cape Town’s IT industry headed?
We’ve got a lot of bright young people here and the capital they need to grow business. Expats are returning from abroad and people are moving here from other cities in SA because this is where it’s all happening. My venture capital company 4Di is re-investing in the next generation of startups, and individual angel investors and initiates like Google Umbono are identifying good ideas and growing them. Internet access is widespread and relatively affordable here and there are opportunities for technology to contribute to economic development and create social change. It’s a strong tool for empowerment and a potential economic driver, and it’s a great enabler that doesn’t require physical infrastructure.
CV What is your future vision for Cape Town, and what does the city have to do in order to achieve it?
Cape Town is a city of possibilities. To invigorate economic development here there must be a drive towards constant learning and development across all sectors. It’s essential for our education system to align with the new era of technology that constantly reinvents itself,
Get involved in the Silicon Cape Initiative online here: www.siliconcape.com Learn more about Justin’s other initiatives here: www.justinstanford.com.
What’s the best thing about working in the Central City? CV
Our team has a mandate to hit the stores during the week and observe fashion on the city streets. Being situated on Adderley Street makes it easy for us to pop out to observe what Capetonians are wearing. It’s also great for retail therapy. I particularly enjoy shopping at Merchants On Long and the smaller boutiques on Long Street and at the Old Biscuit Mill.
Want to revamp your wardrobe without leaving home? Visit 36 Boutiques online here: www.36boutiques.com. You can also collect your purchases from 36 Boutiques at 11 Adderley Street. Contact 0861 00 00 36 for more information.
Gadija Gamieldien at her Adderley Street headquarters
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV What is your background and how did you start out in the IT industry?
Do you have advice for locals interested in setting up tech companies in Cape Town? CV
and it’s crucial to support local business to ensure that we become a breeding ground for future entrepreneurs. We also have to create a sense of urgency around environmental consciousness. An eco-friendly city will ensure that we preserve our natural resources for future generations.
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August April 2012
My Cape Town: Njabulo Ndebele Professor Njabulo Ndebele is not just an acclaimed writer and the former vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town – he’s a leader, a teacher, a thinker, and now the incoming board chair of Cape Town Partnership. What does he think and feel about the way in which he lives and works? CV You’re a very respected storyteller. What are some of Cape Town’s stories that need telling? The stories are infinite. They are as many as there are people and communities they belong to. It is not enough to see thousands of Capetonians in the streets of Cape Town on 2 January every year. We should also make a special effort to describe the impact of public events from the perspective of individuals that attend them. A single event would suddenly show many patterns and colours. The public story then interacts with the private story in a most expansive manner.
To your mind, what is Cape Town’s biggest challenge? I think that the next big challenge for Cape Town is what I would call paying attention to the human fabric in the quilt that the Western Cape is putting together. I would like to see more people who come into the city being able to see something of themselves in it – from those living in the CBD, to those living further afield in our city and our country, and those coming from the African continent and the world. Achieving this is a tremendous challenge, but also a gift that the city can give.
Photo: Shaen Adey
CV
“I have found out about cities that there is no inherent contradiction between public space and private reflection … Most people think that you necessarily need solitude to think. Incredible though it may seem, privacy can occur in the anonymity you can enjoy amidst the crowds of cities. Sometimes I crave crowds at night –then I may just drive through Long Street and feel good about being among people from all over the world, and being part of that energy.” Njabulo Ndebele
The Haven’s vision is to get the homeless home. 021 425 4700 The Homestead provides residential care and family integration for boys. 021 461 7470 Straatwerk has job rehabilitation projects for men and women. 021 425 0140 Salesian Institute Youth Projects provide education, skills training and rehabilitation to vulnerable youth. 021 425 1450
Ons Plek provides residential care while undertaking reunification process for girls. 021 465 4829 The Carpenters Shop provides rehabilitation services and skills training for adults. 021 461 5508
CV What’s your vision for Cape Town, if we meet that challenge? In 10 years’ time, Cape Town will be a very diverse yet integrated city. You can’t speak of people being free if on a day-by-day basis they live with a sense of being marginalised. So I believe that the reconnection with our townships can no longer be an add-on of urban development, but it must be the centrepiece. This doesn’t mean the end of the CBD. It means that previously excluded groups will become central in contributing to the decision-making, leadership and aspirations of our city.
This will redefine the cultural experience of South Africa. CV You’ve recently been elected chair of the Cape Town Partnership.What do you hope to bring to this role? I truly believe that the best egos are egos that are given away to the collective ego. In this way, the sense of the individual is acknowledged precisely because it has been shared, and often it is given back. I hope that what I can bring to the Cape Town Partnership board is an experience of how easy it is to integrate with different people. I grew up in a township on the East Rand, speaking several languages, surrounded by a diversity of people and cultures, and in proximity to different classes. This experience gives one a tremendous sense of social flexibility. I also think that telling stories is very important. Being a writer, I know that a story can open up spaces for a good conversation. Stories project honesty, and when you work with honesty you are likely to achieve the best results. Cape Town has stories to tell, and a good range of issues to tackle.
You’ve spoken before about every South African having at least three or four other South Africans in them. Can you explain what you mean? Show me one South African who was born somewhere in this land, or who has grown up somewhere here from childhood, who has not been influenced in one way or another by interaction with people speaking another language, worshipping a different god, singing a different song, dancing a different dance, going to a different school, living in a different environment. There is not a single South African who can claim purity of language, culture, and social experience. Not one! If there is one thing that defines our sense of being CV
“The city is where we all come together. We do so for a variety of reasons – for shopping, entertainment, worship, education, for experiencing our togetherness (remember the Fan Walk of the 2010 World Cup matches in Cape Town?), for sauntering through the streets to be part of the human energy flowing there, for rendezvous with friends and lovers, for good restaurants … It is there that we experience community broader than the one we each belong to.” Njabulo Ndebele
indigenous as South Africans, it is our multicultural connections reaching out towards a cohesive identity. We have taken three centuries to develop it. It is amazing just how much we deny it. It is not entirely true that Cape Town at night is overwhelmingly white, or that Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha at night are overwhelmingly black. Black people in the city are always present in their physical absence. Similarly, white people are always present in their physical absence. It’s just that we have all learned never to acknowledge that reality: that we all carry one another inside of us.
To hear more from Professor Njabulo Ndebele, pick up a copy of A Rediscovery of the Ordinary, Fools and Other Stories or The Cry of Winnie Mandela at your local library, then visit www.njabulondebele.co.za
Many children and young adults living on the streets have severe drug addiction problems. More often than not, the money they receive from begging is used to buy their next “fix”. The CCID therefore requests that members of the public do not give money or handouts directly. If you would like to help, please contact one of the listed organisations mentioned. Contact the Central City Improvement District’s (CCID’s) Social Development Department for further information or assistance.
Pat 021 419 1881 | Dean 082 928 3862 Headman Sirala-Rala 082 262 0113 Mark Williams 082 262 0112
www.capetownpartnership.co.za