OVERVIEW
Development finance and SMME support Banks are running training courses for business owners.
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onakaladi Gardens Wedding and Conference Venue expanded its turnover by more than 700% and created two new jobs, with a little help from a programme designed to support entrepreneurs and increase employment. The SAB Foundation Tholoana Programme has provided more than R1.6-million in grant funding and business support in the North West. The programme invests in entrepreneurs, particularly women, youth, people in rural areas and persons with disabilities. The 18-month programme provides mentorship, business development tools and workshops, access to peer networks finance, and support throughout the time spent on the programme. Monakaladi Gardens was a provincial winner in the Lilizela Tourism Awards 2019. I n November 2019 Nedbank and the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism ran a five-day training course for 25 women-led enterprises with the focus on financial management, marketing and business planning. Wendy Atahwo, the owner of events management company Cherry Homes, said that the networking was valuable, as was learning new skills and about new marketing trends. Standard Bank and Black Cherrie Management offered a series of seminars for small business in 2019, the first of which was related to financial solutions for SMMEs. The theme was “Up your entrepreneurial skills and increase your bottom line”. The Provincial Government has announced that in the 2020/21 financial year it will roll out two digital incubators jointly valued at R16million, at the Mafikeng Innovation Hub and in Mogwase, at the Leema Township Incubator. Most of the Cooke’s Lake Information Centre in Mahikeng (excluding the existing office block) is to become a permanent flea
Online Resources North West Development Corporation: www.nwdc.co.za Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.org.za Tholoana Enterprise Programme: www.sabfoundation.co.za
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Sector Insight Cooke’s Lake Information Centre is to become a flea market. market. A budget of R8-million has been approved by the National Department of Small Business Development (DSBD). The DSBD has several programmes to assist SMMEs and co-operatives. These include the Black Business Supplier Development Programme and the Co-operative Incentive Scheme, a 100% grant. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is an agency of the DSBD and gives non-financial support to entrepreneurs through training, assistance with filling in forms, marketing and creating business plans. A provincial policy framework is to be adopted to ensure that the maintenance of certain rural roads is set aside for job creation, small contractor development and local participation. The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) currently has nine contracts covering more than 2 300km in the province. A set of subcontracts is being negotiated for routine maintenance such as the patching of potholes, fencing and the cutting of grass verges. The Seda Technology Programme helps potential businesses become trading entities. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is a strategic lender and plays a strong role in supporting small and emerging enterprises. ■ NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2020/21
