Public and private sectors encouraged to collaborate with township-based entrepreneurs
Parks Tau supports development of kasi businesses.
The business industry was hit hard by the global pandemic, township entrepreneurs were left facing numerous challenges such as limited funding, lack of infrastructures, and professional networks, and thus a lot of entrepreneurs feel like they are being marginalised.
To combat this issue, eKasiLabs, The Innovation Hub recently hosted MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Parks Tau, and other stakeholders involved in Township Economy Revitalisation for a panel discussion to promote the progress of the eKasiLabs programme, and to discuss solutions to the problems faced by entrepreneurs in townships. The event took place on Thursday, May 13 at the Soweto Empowerment Zone.
“The eKasiLabs programme was developed in support of the Gauteng Township Economy Revitalisation Strategy. It is focused not only on providing access to working infrastructure for township-based entrepreneurs but also offers a range of capacity development interventions such as business mentorship, technical skills training, networking opportunities, and assistance to market access,” says CEO of The Innovation Hub, Advocate Pieter Holl.
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MEC Parks Tau encouraged the public and private sectors to collaborate with township-based entrepreneurs, facilitating growth from micro, small and medium businesses to big, established businesses.
“I have a problem with the notion that when it comes to the township, it becomes micro, small, or medium. The intention is not for the township entrepreneur to stay small. We want them to grow big. Township entrepreneurs should think beyond small. There are many opportunities for township entrepreneurs to be involved in large business processes. Entrepreneurs should take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them, we need to move from just innovation to acceleration, he said.
Parks Tau and the panelists discussed challenges that township entrepreneurs face in the country and the panel discussion was dominated by the issue of including township entrepreneurs into the supply chain. Two of the biggest challenges being procurement and access to state funding.
“Our entrepreneurs do not have the history required to obtain state funding and they do not qualify for procurement processes, because of a lack of experience. Government and other agencies should look at these criteria for township entrepreneurs to ensure a fair playing field,” says Nothile Mpisi, GM of eKasiLabs.
eKasiLabs across the Gauteng province has created over 635 jobs, recruited 565 entrepreneurs with 147 of those entrepreneurs with innovations that are currently in the market.
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