A seat at the table for local businesses, Eldos

The Eldorado Park business community have long been clamouring for a seat at the table. Many business owners have a multitude of questions relating to their businesses and how government can step in to provide a way forward in ensuring that the local economy flourishes.
At a business breakfast on January 21, arranged by prominent local activist, Dereleen James, the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for economic development, Lebogang Maile addressed the various business leaders in Eldorado Park, providing insight into the relationship between local business and government.

According to James, the idea to get business, the community and government talking, arose from her observation of the divide which exists between these entities.
The entrepreneurs attending the event shared a common goal, which is to mobilise the youth into making a positive contribution to the local economy, while providing assurances that the money remains in Eldorado Park.

A cross-section of local businesses were represented at the event, ranging from Euston Lemmetjies, owner of Legends Barbershop, to Marc Crisp, owner of Crisp Kitchen where the event was hosted, as well as Bashier Holland, Public Relations Officer of the Eldorado Park Taxi Association.

Many are in agreement that Eldorado Park has the potential to be an economic powerhouse and a few factors such as access to information were touched on as being crucial to creating a sustainable and thriving local economy.

Maile touched on a number of issues, most importantly that entrepreneurs in the township need to move away from the ‘survivalist mentality’ which sees businesses operating on a month-to-month and showing a small profit.

He stressed that entrepreneurs need to look at ways of owning the means of production and to adopt an inclusive business mentality which will see businesses gaining traction and providing a much-needed injection to the local economy.

Representatives from the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) were in attendance and networked with the various entrepreneurs with the aim of compiling a database of the diverse businesses within the community.

The hashtag #wecareweact has been adopted by the GEP to generate dialogue between entrepreneurs and government. Video and audio available below.