Mpumalanga Business 2021-22

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
The Gert 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. 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.
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.
Examples of township
businesses supported by the
Department of Economic
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).
MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2021/22 48