Ward 116 councillor Monde Mbingeleli recently urged residents to utilise platforms at their disposal to seek support for their economic empowerment.
Mbingeleli said this at the economic empowerment roadshow held at Sankopano Community Centre, where Joburg City Council, provincial government departments and the business sector advised communities and small businesses on support opportunities available to them.
He was concerned that residents and businesses only used ward committee meetings and other platforms to complain, rather than to seek advice to develop business ideas and for struggling businesses to seek assistance.
Mbingeleli said government worked in partnership with financial and business institutions which are keen to nurture, mentor and support business development and create business programmes which help companies to become viable and sustainable. This support could assist in helping even street traders become more viable, reduce unemployment rates in the country and improve household incomes.
He added that government had also set up policies to enable struggling businesses to survive. This, through obligations for contracted service providers to purchase some of their goods from small township-based businesses.
Solly Mlambo of council’s department of finance said they have established enabling conditions for small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) to become service providers for council.
“This would enable them to contribute to their own development through programmes and projects brought forward to council by councillors through integrated development plans,” he said.
“To be contracted as service providers, the SMMEs should be registered in the database, have a tax clearance certificate, provide proof of residence in the municipal area, provide a BEE compliance certificate if their annual income is above R5 million, submit directors’ identity details, banking details and health and safety compliance certificates.”
