OVERVIEW
Development finance and SMME support The Centre for Entrepreneurship has opened at False Bay TVET College.
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rovincial government, represented by the Department of Economic Development, Agricultural and Tourism (DEDAT), and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) have teamed up to give small business access to funding. More than R15-million has been loaned to 280 SMMEs between 2014 and 2018 by the DEDAT/NEF Enterprise Development Fund. Other partners of the provincial government include: • Deloitte, the Western Cape Funding Fair • Absa, business skills training • Pick n Pay, Township Economic Revitalisation Programme, which entails upgrading of spaza shops into mini-supermarkets. Nozinga’s market in Gugulethu has created 15 new jobs.
Using the supply chain is a good way to create new businesses and retailers like Pick n Pay, Woolworths and Shoprite invest heavily in such programmes. DEDAT’s Agri-Processing Supplier Development Programme assisted 21 businesses in the 2017/18 financial year. An investment of R2.5-million achieved good results in terms of increased turnover and job creation. Darling Sweet (pictured) has grown into a substantial business with 21 full-time staff. The annual Western Cape SMME Opportunity Roadshow showcases opportunities, allows for relevant networking and guides small businesses on how to get their products and services into the mainstream of the economy. The Roadshow, which is also held in Port Elizabeth, Durban and Johannesburg, is supported by the Department of Small Business Development. The Philippi Village Container Walk houses key-cutters, buildingmaterial suppliers, hairdressers and clothes shops. With the backing of the IDC, the two-storey creations house retail shops on the bottom floor and offices on the top floor. Several NGOs have a presence and training is available for entrepreneurs. Philippi Village is a joint venture between Business Activator and the Bertha Foundation, a global philanthropic foundation. Cape Gateway, the website of the Western Cape government, lists 50 SMME support organisations in the province. These range from the provincial trade and investment promotion agency, Wesgro, to smaller community institutions and business initiatives. Several WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2019
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SECTOR INSIGHT Support funding hit the sweet spot for a Darling toffee maker. industry bodies also exist to assist SMMEs in sectors such as clothing and textiles, arts and crafts, and boatbuilding, as well as training centres in areas identified as having high unemployment and skills shortages. The National Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has several programmes to assist SMMEs and co-operatives. These include:
