They said that they have been eagerly waiting for this kind of platform to advertise their products and services.
The exhibition was held at an open veld near Nyawuza car wash in Vosloorus.
A teacher of Khaesho School of Disability, Sarah Muleya, said they have been struggling to get a place where they could sell carpets and handcrafts by the disabled in their school.
“I believe if the exhibition can continue to be hosted, it will help us a lot to sell our products and get an income. Our school is running without any sponsors. Today we are selling handmade carpets, earrings, neckties, necklaces for men and women, and many other products,” she expressed.
She mentioned that the school of disability has been running since 2006 and it has been providing good services to the community of Katlehong.
Siphokazi Nciza, the founder of Kasielabs and who also graced the event, said one of their problems is that they don’t have offices. The initiative helps her organisation to be visible.
“I’m here to advertise our services as an educational institution. We equip people with digital skills such as end-user technical support, system development, software development and network engineering.
“By being here we want people to know that we impart digital skills to people and they receive credible certificates after completion of their courses at our institution. We will be hosting an entrepreneurship boot camp for four days. It’s a great initiative that a lot of people can benefit immensely from and it will be for free,” Nciza explained.
Anyone who wants to be part of the entrepreneurship boot camp may call Nciza on 083 580 6520 or WhatsApp her on 061 511 0677.
An employee of Nedbank, Terrence Windvogel, who came with her team to the exhibition, said they attended the event to educate people who are running SMMEs on how to expand their businesses.
“People must know that they can start small but grow into a conglomerate. A lot of people in communities have great business ideas, but they struggle to turn them into viable businesses.”
SMMEs that need the services of a banker may call Windvogel on 082 882 3642/ 010 248 9395 or email Terrencew@nedbank.co.za.
According to the co-founder of Nyawuza Ratswana Business Hub, Goerge Ratswana, the objective of the exhibition is to improve the township economy.
“The exhibition is a one-stop shop where you get different businesses that provide different services and products. We are planning to have another exhibition in September. This is our first time hosting this business initiative today.
“The idea is for consumers to get everything that’s township-based at the exhibition. The advantage of the place where we hosted our first event is that it’s visible to the community. I guarantee that people will get quality products and services,” Ratswana stated.
He said the SMMEs will be identified, developed, managed and allowed to run smoothly.
“We always say the township economy has to be improved. I believe that someone has to make sure that happens and that’s why we have introduced the exhibition with my partner.
“I’m one of the people who fought for the Gauteng Township Economy Act to be introduced, so that’s why I’m vigorously pushing for such initiatives to take place,” Ratswana explained.
He added that at their next exhibition, they are going to invite more organisations that will be helpful to SMMEs.
Interested parties may phone Ratswana on 073 031 1428 or Nyawuza on 078 250 5133.
