Mpumalanga Business 2022-23

SECTOR NEWS
that carry tourists and is expected to create more than 40 000 jobs and
be administered by the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).
By giving contracts to SMMEs, the intention is to involve them in the
mainstream economy.
The Gert Sibande Centre for Entrepreneurship in Evander hosts a
Rapid Incubator in partnership with 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, the DSBD and
the University of Johannesburg. The college has five other campuses
across the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
A new national programme to grow employment has received a
funding boost from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The National
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has received
a R23.6-million grant to pursue four programmes, one of which is
focussed on encouraging enterprise development in 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. Other courses include accredited training
in computer skills and life skills, with workshops on job preparedness
and career guidance. The centres are part of Mpumalanga’s response
to the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Programme.
Private companies
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has paid tribute to private
companies for providing employment opportunities to local people
and for continuing to support small and emerging businesses. Bursary
programmes and training programmes were also acknowledged. The
company’s mentioned were Sasol, Exxaro, Eskom, Sappi, Columbus
Stainless, Samancor, RCL foods, Mondi, Safcol, Glencore, Standard
Bank, Absa Bank, Nedbank and First National Bank.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Gert Sibande TVET College: www.gscollege.edu.za
Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency: www.mega.gov.za
Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative: www.mpstainless.co.za
Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.org.za
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants: www.saica.org.za
Skills Academy and Artisan Development
Centre, Evander Campus, Gert Sibande
TVET College
At Exxaro’s Matla Mine, a blackand
woman-owned business
has grown in leaps and bounds
with support from the mining
company’s Enterprise and Supplier
Development unit. Stenda Trading
won contracts to do underground
civil and underground cleaning
services at the mine. This included
building containment and
explosion-proof walls, installing
black brattices, reinforced brattices
and air crossings, building refuge
bays, concrete work and installing
specialised doors. Exxaro extended
a R9.2-million interest-free loan to the
enterprise to purchase equipment,
vehicles and a mobile office.
Sappi’s long-term Ngodwana
Mill project will spend more than
R600-million on procuring goods
and supplies from broad-basedblack-economic-empowered
companies, of which R51-million
will go to SMMEs.
Other companies supporting
SMMEs through their buying chain
include Woolworths and Anglo
American. Woolworths funds
TechnoServe to ensure that small
tomato growers can grow produce
that will meet the demanding
standards of the retailer, and to
help them expand production. ■
MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2022/23 56