Big break for disabled entrepreneurs
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), was among the organisations that offered support and business skills.
THE Department of Small Business Development, in collaboration with various stakeholders, hosted the Disability Engagement Session on Thursday, 27 and Friday, 28 July.
Held at the Civic Centre in Pinetown, the session focused on communicating services that entrepreneurs with disabilities could access.
It also addressed challenges experienced in accessing such services and how the disabled could overcome them.
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), was among the organisations that offered support and business skills.
Also read: Companies join forces to empower youth
One of the disabled entrepreneurs, Mduduzi Jijana, said disabled people had little attention and opportunities from the government to help them.
“People have a perception that we, as disabled people, need grants to survive, but all we need is the government to provide us with support to build ourselves,” he added.
The second day provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs with disabilities to take part in a “Pitch Session”, to talk about their businesses and how they could improve them.
Jijana said the challenge that stood out was that people had less trust in disabled entrepreneurs in the business sector.
Following each pitch, government stakeholders responded to the needs of each entrepreneur. The support services that were part of the session included financial aid to boost businesses.
However, most of the services were applicable to disabled entrepreneurs with registered businesses, which meant that those who are still developing had to follow legal steps to benefit.
In the end, the engagement was an assurance the government will offer support and solutions to disabled entrepreneurs to compete equally in the business sector.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
