On Thursday, the Soweto Business Access spearheaded the meeting to discuss what should happen to foreign shop owners that are back in business.
The meeting was held at Ekhaya Centre, Diepkloof.
On top of the agenda was to ensure that all foreign nationals’ shops are closed.
Founder of Concerned Business Associates (CBA) Pat Mamabolo said, “We must do away with the influx of mushrooming of foreign nationals in our areas.
“ We have engaged with relevant structures in Soweto and other areas about township economic development so that we have one objective with a common goal.”
Sello Motaung, a farmer said, “As local business owners we will be working together, with the help of the Economic Empowerment Institute Corporative (EEIC), which is still in training and will empower local businesses.
“In this corporative, local business owners will be funded with capital so that they grow.”
“It will also carry local businesses to compete with big businesses.
“Business owners will then have to contribute a certain amount of money to help other businesses grow,” said Motaung.
He urged local business owners to work together to help each other grow.
The objectives:
- Identify shops that are empty, so that they can empower them.
- The EEIC will be introduced to help local business owners who do not have the capacity to open their own shops.
- Qondisa ishishini lakho (make your business legal), this is programme the government will use to check if local businesses comply with by-laws, tax payment and are registered.
- Township revitalisation, the government will be using the programme to address the issue of unemployment in the township.
