Stakeholders talk growth

Various key role players of government collaborated with the Greater Tzaneen Municipality and Mopani District Municipality to host the annual SMME roadshow at the Nkowankowa community hall.

The roadshow aims to equip the community with knowledge and guidance from experts in business on how to kick-start and grow their businesses.

Government representatives from several agencies, such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) presented opportunities to the public.

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Andrew Matjeke from the Economic Development Department (EDD) outlined the purpose of the roadshow saying its a way for government to provide a service and guidance to small businesses.
Arnold Mathebula, a representative from LEDA spoke of the various opportunities made available by the agency.

“Our aim is to implement economic activities,” he said. They have also developed a funding programme for new and existing businesses that are less than three years old.

They also offer guidance when it comes to drafting business plans and where technical skills are required to build a business.

Mantsho Mpiti from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) explained how their grant programme operates with their four different thresholds.

The first helps with existing businesses like barber shops and the second is for start-up businesses for which they provide funding from R 1 000 to R 50 000.

She emphasized the importance of having a market when requesting funding. The third threshold is for existing businesses which employ at least five workers, to receive funding from R 50 000 to R 100 000.

The fourth threshold is for successful businesses that would want to expand outside their main area of business. The community responded well to the information session, but few had doubts.

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Xikombiso Ngobeni said that these annual roadshows do not make any difference because all the opportunities presented to them never materialize.

The Greater Tzaneen Economic Development Agency assured the community that this year it will be different.

They promised to oversee all communication between business owners and the stakeholders and offer assistance to business owners.