Proudly Ekasi launches a new movement

On Friday, local business organisation, Proudly Ekasi launched their latest innovative concept dubbed Ekasi open day stokvel to support small business.

The monthly pop up made its first stop at the Our Cookie Corner, a bakery and catering small business in Meadowlands where dozens of members from Proudly Ekasi spent much of the afternoon talking business and showcasing their products.

“The concept is really about pushing brands and brand identity from kasi to kasi.

“Not only are we promoting the establishment but we understand the needs of every business, educating one another about the myths surrounding our businesses and products,” explains Happy Mehlape, founder and stakeholder management of Proudly Ekasi.

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The idea of the open day is to go to one business which has been identified each month and purchase products or render the services from that particular business, rotating to different businesses every month.

Mehlape said a key part of the organisation’s vision is growing and establishing business through compliance and certification, which she said was necessary to change the value of the products and services offered by small businesses.

The introduction of the proudly kasi stokvel aims to assist emerging businesses within its organisation and understanding what is needed with a specific business. It currently has over 400 members under its belt.

“We try to bring in as many people that have registered businesses and if not, that’s the first thing because compliance is critical.

“We are trying to move away from that thing that you can just start a business. We say let us be different in how we do business so that people have confidence in buying from you or acquiring your service.”

The organisation previously operated as the Soweto Business Events Council, which along Family Tree offered accredited training and getting businesses funding ready.

“We are always talking about the township economy and how we should be circulating the Rand. It is literally saying let us do it the corporate way, let’s have governance, let us be separated from the pack.

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“We want to put value over quantity, ensuring quality as well so that we can start owning a big chunk of the economy and being trusted to say this particular group of people can be sourced.”

Founder of Sip Some Africa, Tsholofelo Moagi who has been a member of Proudly Ekasi for four years lauded the new movement, adding that it was important in growing small businesses.

“The concept is a powerful and we are in agreement when we look at the benefits and the need for us to circulate the kasi Rand among ourselves,” Moagi added.