Mission to revive township economies

THE face of our local municipality is not about the beauty and the glamour you see in the city’s suburbs, but what you see in the townships.

This sentiment was expressed by City of uMhlathuze Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo, addressing a business breakfast session last week focusing on a township economy revitalization plan.

Addressing owners of SMMEs, enterprises and market stalls who converged at Hlanganani Hall in eSikhaleni, Mhlongo said the municipality was concerned about the status of businesses operating in the townships.

‘The objective of this engagement is to empower our entrepreneurs, organise them and to inculcate a culture of circulating the rand within the township. Many of our townships, including eSikhaleni, have a rich history which could be exploited to the benefit of our local community.

‘There is nothing stopping us from creating a climate similar to that of Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where residents have used the history of the township and turned the area into a tourist attraction, while creating jobs for the local community in the process.

‘As we are positioned strategically, people travelling to Durban using the N2 should have reason to visit our townships, to get a feel of the ‘lokshin culture’ before proceeding with their journey.

‘For that to happen we need to professionalise our business and be more innovative. We want you to build a sustainable business economy.’

Mhlongo said the municipality was in the process of rezoning some land spaces to allow the business sector to seize opportunities.

‘This is the beginning of a series of engagements with all business sectors within the city. By this intervention we are sending a clear message that we have not neglected our township economy.’

Mhlongo, accompanied by his deputy, Cllr. Zethu Gumbi, City Speaker Cllr Mfundo Mthenjana and Municipal Manager Dr Nhlanhla Sibeko said he was also concerned about township businesses that do not grow.

‘We are reaching out to you to expand your businesses. It is not correct to have a businessman who has been operating a spaza shop for more than 20 years, and has not developed to owning a supermarket. That mentality has to change.

‘As a city we want to create township economic nodes with the aim of attracting tourism. This will only succeed if we improve on our customer care services, comply with the laws and are able to operate in a manner that does not disturb our neighbours,’ he said.

There was also a panel discussion in which local businesses leaders engaged with various stakeholders on streamlining business in the townships.

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