OVERVIEW
Development finance and SMME support Companies are supporting training and start-ups. SECTOR INSIGHT The African Development Bank is funding entrepreneurship.
Equipment purchased by Stenda Trading. Credit: Exxaro
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he Ger t Sibande Centre for Entrepreneurship in Evander hosts a Rapid Incubator in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda). The aim is to promote and develop young entrepreneurs in the province. The Incubator offers a variety of services, including mentorship and coaching, training, advice on business compliance, network and linkages as well as facilitating access to marketing and funding opportunities. Infrastructure support is available in terms of office space and boardroom, telephone and Internet connections and printing services. The Centre was established in 2015 through a partnership between the Gert Sibande TVET College and National Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the University of Johannesburg. The college has five other campuses across the Gert Sibande District Municipality. A new national programme to boost employment has received a funding boost from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The dtic has received a R23.6-million grant to pursue four programmes, one of which is focussed on encouraging enterprise development in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. The hope is that graduates will leave colleges with qualifications and fully-functioning businesses that can start employing staff. The college’s workshops will be open to local entrepreneurs to develop and produce products that can be sold. Entrepreneurship Development is one of the subjects on offer at 90 Youth Development Centres which are being established throughout MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2021/22
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Mpumalanga. Other courses include accredited training in computer skills and life skills, with workshops on job preparedness and career guidance. The centres are par t of Mpumalanga’s response to the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Programme. The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is the implementing agent of the provincial government’s SMME support policy. An agreement has been signed by Standard Bank and MEGA to launch an SME Fund with a capitalisation of R500-million. MEGA has also overseen the rehabilitation of industrial premises in former homelands and formed partnerships with financial institutions for funding. E x a m p l e s o f to w n s h i p businesses supported by the D e p a r t m e nt o f Eco n o m i c Development and Tourism (DEDET) are an agreement with Sumitomo Rubber SA to promote local tyre enterprises and financial support for the commissioning of a sanitary towel plant by the Ntirhisano Sanitary Worker Cooperative in Bushbuckridge (and support for business development and access to market).
