Building a culture of entrepreneurship
DIEPSLOOT – In and effort to assist with unemployment in Diepsloot, Blue Label Telecoms through its division, The Prepaid Company, donated 10 bicycles to entrepreneurs to help them develop their SIM card retail businesses.
Luthando Muteyi, national sales manager at The Prepaid Company said the programme had helped numerous people to create sustainable jobs for themselves by selling airtime and SIM cards to people in their communities.
“The Prepaid Company provides SIM cards to entrepreneurs who don’t have access to a fixed brick-and-mortar location to use as a retail store or outlet,” he said.
Hafeez Giftique, a store owner in Diepsloot Mall, explained that up until now, store owners had been dispatching foot soldiers into communities, either by taxi or on foot in order to sell airtime and SIM cards. “Equipped with new bicycles, the foot soldiers will now be more efficient,” he said.
“They will be able to carry more stock, get to and from destinations faster, and sell more.”
The donation of bicycles made through a programme called BLU Agent, aligns with Blue Label’s passion for granting opportunities to underemployed and unemployed people, enabling them to earn money to support their families.
The bicycle incentive model is in partnership with Vodacom, one of Blue Label telecoms’ largest business partners, and strives to help poor communities look after themselves, help each other, and learn from one another.
Muteyi added, “Job creation is one of the biggest challenges facing South Africa today, and we are proud to play a role in addressing the problem.
“We are eager to help people create a better life for themselves through entrepreneurship, whilst helping communities and people to become self-sufficient. Our approach is sustainable since entrepreneurs recoup their investment through selling SIM cards and airtime quickly and soon build a regular stream of income for themselves.”
