Development finance and SMME support

Maponya Mall is lending a hand.

Provincial government spent R1.6-billion with youth-owned companies.

Skills development for business owners and young people is at the centre of the Maponya Mall Community Hub, which was launched in 2023.

Facilities have been created at the mall where information and courses will be available. SMMEs will be helped in preparing their products for market and classes will be offered in branding and compliance.

The Afrika Tikkun Foundation will run four-month Youth Accelerator Programmes focussed on sense of self and goalsetting, community and skills. Additional courses on the retail sector and ICT will be held. Other partners in the Hub initiative are Redefine Properties, the Dr Richard Maponya Institute and FNB Philanthropy.

With youth unemployment high, a Gauteng Integrated Youth Development Strategy 2030 has been approved. The Gauteng Provincial Government procured goods and services to the value of R1.6-billion from youth-owned companies in 2022.

The national Youth Employment Stimulus (YES) programme has provided more than 100 000 young people with workplace experiences in Gauteng. Other avenues for job creation include the Expanded

Online Resources

Gauteng Growth and Development Agency: www.ggda.co.za

Maponya Mall Community Hub: www.maponyamall.co.za

Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.co.za

Public Works Programme (EPWP), placement as educational and general teacher assistants and the newly created Crime Prevention Wardens. A Township Economic Development Bill aims to do away with restrictive bylaws and rezone taxi ranks to allow for the growth of retail outlets and services such as mechanics and panel-beaters.

Gauteng has 14 registered co-operative banking institutions serving more than 16 000 member-owners, with over R100-million in savings and R150-million in assets. The township market of about 250 000 township households holds enormous potential for collective buying.

The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) is linking large companies with small businesses at Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The aim is to create a pipeline for SMMEs.

About half of South Africa’s formal SMMEs operate in Gauteng and more than half are in the wholesale and retail sector and the accommodation sector. The next most popular sectors are community, social and personal services. ■