economic opportunities
12 September 2006
Gauteng MEC for Local Government, Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu, has called on
emerging and small businesses to take advantage of the economic opportunities
created by the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the Gautrain.
Addressing the conference of the Gauteng wing of the National African
Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc), Mahlangu said that the
Gauteng Provincial Government had created a conducive environment for small and
medium enterprises to grow and thrive.
She promised the federation that the Department, together with
municipalities, would assist in ensuring that shopowners in the townships get
title deeds for their properties.
Mahlangu said the struggle was not only about political freedom, but about
total economic emancipation.
"One of the things that characterised the 1956 march to the Union Buildings
by our mothers and grandmothers was that of economic emancipation. I read in
one of the documents that they demanded that shopping centres be built in the
townships.
"Today, however, we hear that people (spaza shopowners), are saying that the
construction of shopping malls in the townships is killing their business. Most
of the shopping centres in our townships are dead and not because of the
proliferation of shopping malls but because of our environment and pricing.
"The environment in which we do our business as Black people leaves much to
be desired. We operate in filthy environments and don't seem to care about our
businesses. We should take pride in the business space we are occupying hence
we have agreed with the Nafcoc leadership that we will embark on a campaign to
clean our cities, towns and townships. We must take pride in ourselves and make
sure that the towns are better (maintained) than before," she said.
Mahlangu said small business should also be wary of their prices because
most of their prices were exorbitant as compared to the market prices offered
by giant retail stores.
"It is no secret that spaza shops' prizes are very high and you are pricing
yourselves out of the market," she warned.
She also called on the Nafcoc leadership to focus on the bigger picture of
economic emancipation and to present a more united front.
"We are committed as government, through the Gauteng propeller, to work with
small business to attain economic emancipation," she said, adding that
municipalities will work with Nafcoc in ensuring that local economic
development is realised fully.
Enquires: Themba Sepotokele
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Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
12 September 2006
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za)
