MEC Tasneem Motara met the community of Duduza
The Duduza community discussed business growth opportunities at Monty Motloung Hall on Monday.
Duduza – The Gauteng Department of Economic Development embarked on GP Plug community visits by the MEC, Tasneem Motara.
The latest visit was at Monty Motloung Hall in Duduza on Monday.
The purpose of these visits is to equip the community with information on the township economy, service delivery, SMME development, partnerships, skills development and training, funding, business formalisation and market access.
Different departments were present to give presentations on how their departments work and how best they can assist the community.
The departments included the liquor board, the consumer affairs champions, and The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP).
During his welcoming address, Ward 98 Clr Thabo Motaung said he hopes the community will leave the hall more equipped with information.
He also mentioned that Duduza is the only township in the country without shops owned by foreign nationals.
“I am proud that all our shops are 100% South African-owned and we are aiming to keep it this way,” he said.
The department’s deputy director general (DDG) Mpho Nawa said, “This is part of the government’s initiative to take the government back to the people. To meet and help the people with what they may need help with.”
He said this is to ensure the government is closer to the people.
Motara gave the keynote address saying, “Our department, through its partners, has been helping communities to start and or grow their businesses – whether financially or through business aspects such as HR, marketing and more.”
She also said they had consumer affairs champions in the department helping the consumers with their rights against suppliers.
Motara said they are focusing on Townships Informal Settlements Hostels (TISH) because that is where the majority of the people in the province reside, and are places still underdeveloped where residents lack opportunities.
“The Township Economic Development Act is about regulating laws and assisting in formalising township economy and funding it,” Motara said.
She said with liquor licences, the department will be launching a system which will get people to apply for the licence online so that the department gets to deal with red tape.
ALSO CHECK: Arrested Gold One miners out on R1 500 bail
ALSO CHECK: New Amandebele kaNdzunza chief in Tsakani appointed
