AbaQulusi Business Forum – Entrepreneurship for economic growth

Mbalenhle Zungu & Chantel Ashraf, AbaQulusi Business Forum, write:-

ABAQULUSI Business Forum (ABF) is for dynamic individuals. We strongly believe that entrepreneurship is a conduit to poverty alleviation, job creation and economic growth.

The ABF mission is to promote, inspire, grow and enhance business opportunities in AbaQulusi, to provide support to businesses and foster economic upliftment of local small businesses.

The ABF’s objective is to influence the policies and by-laws within the municipality, to be user-friendly and accessible to all.

The ABF envisages an integrated open market that is accessible to AbaQulusi entrepreneurs and advances their economic emancipation.

The ABF aims to empower our members by delivering high quality professional initiatives to transform our economy, and embrace the spirit of Ubuntu.

[Following unsuccessful attempts to have a meeting set up with the Mayor], we decided on March 30, 2015, to close [developmental] sites, as we received no response from the municipality. The reason for closing the sites was not, as some people believe, because we do not want outside contractors to work in the AbaQulusi area, and that we do not want infrastructure development in AbaQulusi. It was because we were not getting any platform to raise our issues and concerns.

Some of these are the High Street project, the Domoina Lane project and the Mason Street Park project.

All these projects started in 2013 and to date they are still incomplete. These projects were all awarded to outside contractors whereas we have experienced contractors in AbaQulusi who could have been awarded these contracts.

We would like to thank our Honourable Mayor Khaba for the big role that she has played in the progress in the Forum. Through the intervention of the Mayor we had a follow-up meeting in council chambers on June 4, where our issues and concerns were expressed. Present at that meeting was the Office of the Mayor, Supply Chain and Local Economic Development (LED).

Since that meeting we have attended a business breakfast hosted by the ZDM, and a workshop hosted by LED. We appreciate the support we are receiving from Mr Dalisu Zulu, the Director of Town Planing and LED.

We would also like to thank the main contractors who have subcontracted work to members of the Forum, namely Sikoti Investment cc and PZL.

We extend an invitation to all business owners in the AbaQulusi area, whether small, medium or micro enterprises, and irrespective of race, gender or sector, to join the Forum.

For more information you may contact Mbalenhle Zungu (073 767 9570) or Chantel Ashraf (073 394 8116) during office hours.

[Letter edited. Editor]