The Nafcoc Ekurhuleni Business Round Table and Expo2024 (NEBRTE) programmeme prepared township entrepreneurs to reposition themselves as they reclaim the township economy ahead of the new season.
Township entrepreneurs, Nafcoc executives, government representatives and various organisations in and outside the Ekurhuleni district gathered at Taps Wraps (TW) at corner Moagi and Bierman roads in Vosloorus for the NEBRTE programmeme, during the closing function on December 12.
Nafcoc executive members present were the national secretary general Richard Zulu, Ekurhuleni chairperson George Ratswana and deputy secretary Carol Kobe, Nafcoc National Women deputy secretary Sibyl Louw, Soweto Business Chamber deputy chairperson Sonto Simelane, Nafcoc Ekurhuleni treasurer Leah Mahlangu, Nafcoc Ekurhuleni first vice chairperson Mthu Ntalo, Nafcoc Ekurhuleni secretary Miemie Matshinye, Nafcoc Sedibeng chairperson Philippine Magodoli, Nafcoc Ekurhuleni second vice chairperson Joseph Moshoma and Nafcoc Sedibeng enterprise development manager Sy Maphalla.
Representatives from organisations such as the United Soweto Business Alliance (USBA), Township Economic Commission of South Africa (TECSA), Wesolve4x and the Black Business Council also attended. NEBRTE aimed to ignite the spirit of partnership and collaboration among township entrepreneurs.
The programmeme created a vital platform for discussions, exchanging ideas and opportunities, funding, sharing advice from experienced business people and encouraging business compliance.
Ratswana said they wanted to close the year with style by encouraging, bringing hope, revitalising the minds of the entrepreneurs and inspiring collaboration.
He said they did not want entrepreneurs to conclude the year without knowing what was happening because the people who attended brought hope to everyone. He further noted the most important thing in this lifetime that keeps people going is hope.
“Once you lose hope, you will not wake up tomorrow,” he added.
“The theme for the day is NEBRTE, as this was how we structured the closing function. We linked the programme with the township economy to remind people that there is a township economy that we need to reclaim and reposition ourselves. We have positioned ourselves, but not correctly. We need to reposition ourselves correctly by talking amongst ourselves and collaborating,” said Ratswana.
He said when all is said and done, they wanted to see the aftercare service.
“Aftercare is what we spoke about here. Whether you are in business or a community, we must be able to implement what we always talk about, which is the day-to-day management of the country (money). We must account and make it sustainable.”
He said there is uncertainty on whether the programmes in the hands of the government will be implemented after the 2024 elections.
“Remember, we come from a five-year government programme. They are not going to be implemented. That is why we must take it upon ourselves. We are on our own as small businesses.”
Ratswana said the focus for 2024 will be implementation, as he explained, they will visit the members’ businesses.
“We have already started. Thobile Sibeko (founder of TW) has benefited from exposure, network, and finances. Her business is going to the next level, and that is what we want. Had we not visited this place, people would not know that there was a Taps Wraps in Vosloorus,” he said.
Zulu told Kathorus MAIL that during the Nafcoc AGM two years ago, the organisation took a resolution to unite Nafcoc and renew the organisation because they had internal challenges for years. He shared they went in and out of court fighting among each other, but other people sponsored the fight.
“It all started when we sold our shares at Tsogo Sun. We were part of Tsogo Sun; we used to own 25%.
“We sold those shares 12 years ago and to date, we have been mud with problems. There is a pending case, to that effect and has never seen light in court after 11 years. Nobody knows it has moved from one hand to the other.”
He said they are still hopeful that the case will find its day in court because their members’ money had been ‘stolen’ and it caused divisions in Nafcoc.
But despite all these challenges, they have managed to bring back the organisation and are hopeful that they will rebuild it; he added.
“We are going to a summit next year. At that summit, we want to re-look our constitution and our strategic intent. We will invite several delegates, including the government, so that we come out with a new purpose vehicle that could define itself better.”
He said they would also look at the challenges out there and how to deal with those challenges in support of SMME development.
“We are the champions of SMME development in the country and because of the internal challenges, we did not focus on that, hence we find South Africa in the mess it is in today.”
He said they have learnt from those processes and believe that going forward, they will do something different.
“When I joined Nafcoc I led from the youth, region to province and now I am at a national level. With that experience, I think I can contribute positively to the collective leadership and hopefully, we will work together to advance the interest of black business in the county. We will engage the government so that they work together with us to build, resuscitate, and change the tide.”
The internal fights within Nafcoc negatively impacted the economy and black SMMEs. The vacuum left by Nafcoc resulted in the formation of various forums in all areas, which created fragmentation.
“Nafcoc is trying to bring everyone back because it is not all lost. Fortunately, we have a footprint in all provinces. We have provincial leadership and regional leadership in some provinces and have sectors affiliated with Nafcoc.
“We believe when we strengthen these structures, we will rebuild the organisation to reclaim our responsibility for being champions of SMME development in the country,” he noted.
Zulu stated their plans include creating a parallel system, citing that the current system is not working for them.
He said they believed the current system was brutal. It has created a dog-eat-dog situation. It has also displaced people in their own areas, as they had to compete with national stores and foreigners.
“The only way to restore the plight of our people is to come up with something parallel to the current system. We are determined to implement it,” said Zulu.
The founder of TW Thobile Sibeko, the host of the event, said the turnout was great, adding it was always good to see business people together.
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She said the NEBRTE programme is extremely important. It is not about supporting one business, but they are attempting to collaborate as businesses.
“We are trying to find out how we can create an eco-system among ourselves because, as township entrepreneurs, it is difficult on your own. We are trying to lend a helping hand to each other, market our businesses together and see if we can find a synergy that will enable us to grow together and grow the relationships.
“We only grow united.”
She said sitting in their own corners will not help because there are people who can connect you to people you need. Maybe it was difficult for you to find, but because they have a relationship with them, it makes it easy for you.
“Those collaborations come to life when they come together for such events,” she added.
Sibeko said most of the business challenges she encounters are market access. However, she believes with the partnership coming out of the NEBRTE, she will resolve them.
“I can cater for them and they can recommend me to other people because the food is unique and I think that blew them away.”
