Local Eden Park small enterprises (spaza shops) have been showered with tons of blessings by Edenkhoza Business Forum’s township retail shops refurbishment and cleaning campaign.
Edenkhoza is an NPC originally initiated late last year as a result of identifying a powerful opportunity to establish a business forum with a distinct difference of stimulating economic development in the community.
Founder and CEO of the initiative, Paul Jacobs, said the concept developed when he enrolled in the Ward Committee Governance Public Administration programme after being elected as a ward committee member in the economic development and city planning portfolio for Ward 57.
Taking action
“After the Gauteng Township Economy development Act was signed, I realised that the time is now to roll out the plan. I immediately started to engage my councillor, Dino Peterson. After a few meetings, he gave me the green light to start as it is in my competency to ensure economic development takes place in our community,” Jacobs explained.
The organisation is affiliated with Family Tree Holdings and together they hope to assist communities with several projects which include painting, cleaning, feeding schemes and many more.
Various local South African-owned shops have seen the light of the organization’s purpose after being blessed with a new fresh look as a result of this painting and cleaning campaign.
“The concept is simple, yet so powerful. The business forum will focus on bringing the citizens, business and government together to establish a close working relationship with these formations,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs added that they teamed up with Family Tree Holdings because they were impressed by their drive and dedication to promoting economic growth in the townships and the fact that they had already started putting their executive committee members through training.
Edenkhoza Business Forum plans to:
• Take the current local businesses to the next level.
• Create more businesses in the community.
• Be the resource for all local entrepreneurs.
• Establish strong relationships with the municipalities to ensure compliance with the relevant bylaws and statutory bodies.
• Bring cooperation between residents, government and local businesses.
• Get more people to fundraise, donate and volunteer to help small enterprises.
If you would like to know more about Edenkhoza and be part of this journey, contact any one of these office bearers:
CEO/founder Paul Jacobs 081 770 9096, chairperson Marilyn Muziro 074 015 4965, deputy chairperson David Hector 072 731 4478, secretary Barbara Beukes 068 597 9673 deputy secretary Mabongi Ndlovu 084 438 4991, treasurer Eric King 072 234 3675, PRO Ernest Zimase 079 555 1374 or the administrator Gershwin Jacobs 067 634 7040.
