Kasi businesses engage with Finance MEC!

By Thapelo Magola

Gauteng Finance MEC Jacob Mamabo- lo visited SUD Resturant in Soweto on Wednesday, March 22 to meet and interact with township business owners and learn more about trials and triumphs encountered by SMMEs (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises) when doing business.

Throughout a series of roundtable discussions , MEC Mamabolo highlighted how the government continues to support township businesses across Gauteng, helping them grow, innovate and adapt to changing times.

The Township Economy Think Tank also explored solutions like ensuring that the budget is localized, supporting entrepreneurs as job creators, amongst many other discussions.

In his keynote speech, MEC Mamabolo says the Gauteng provincial government is steadfast in ensuring that the budget can be used to grow and maximise the potential of township economy.

“You will recal that we have just delivered the budget of the province in the last few weeks. To reposition the fiscal instruments such as budget and supply chain to empower the people in the townships,” he explained.

MEC Mamabolo added that in the goods and services the government purchases, the Gauteng government will increase their spending to 60 percent of the R350 billion budget towards township suppliers.

Other opportunities for township entrepreneurs in the construction and builtenvironment, over R7.68 billion will be used to improve hostels, infrastructure in townships and reduce informal settlements.

Many business owners expressed their anger and frustration over the failure of basic services and corruption within the government enclaves which makes it hard to operate a business in townships.

“A series of engagements do nothing if townships remains squalid, poorly serviced and crime infested,” a business owner responded the MEC.

Thulani Msimanga, who owns a five star car wash and properties in Soweto said: “I’m so happy because we had the opportunity to interact with the MEC, because we are the ones knowing what needs to be done”.