Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu and Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Phumulo Masualle, will officially launch the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) and Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)’s new offices on Friday, 4 December 2015 in Mthatha. Later in the afternoon, they will award certificate to 114 informal traders who successfully completed their training courses. This is part of a government-wide National Imbizo Focus Week which seeks to promote an inclusive economy that benefits all.
“The launch of sefa and IDC offices is part of government’s concerted effort to enhance access to funding by businesses, especially SMMEs and co-operatives. We have heard the voices of our people when they urged us to ensure that small business support services must be accessible. We hope that these offices will become a model for co-location in the near future”, said Minister Zulu.
Informal traders who will receive certificates were offered training on entrepreneurship through a partnership between the Department of Small Business Development, the provincial department and the Wholesale and Retail SETA. The National Informal Business Upliftment Support was initiated to create a conducive environment for informal traders to participate in the mainstream economy.
“Through this training, we hope that one day our informal traders will grow to a level where they will be able to compete with established businesses”, concluded Minister Zulu.
The Imbizo Focus Week will afford political principals an opportunity to communicate government-led efforts to stimulate and grow the economy. It creates an opportunity for political principals to mobilise all stakeholders and beneficiaries and take them along the journey of igniting economic growth. Imbizo ensures the active participation by all sectors of society and encourages collective responsibility for growing and developing our economy.
Members of the media are invited to the three activities which are scheduled as follows:
Opening of sefa and IDC office:
Date: Friday, 4 December 2015
Time: 9:30
Venue: 7 Sisson Street, ECDC Building Fortgate, Mthatha
Imbizo programme
Date: Friday, 4 December 2015
Time: 11:00
Venue: Southernwood Community Hall, OR Tambo District MunicipalityGraduation ceremony of informal traders
Date: Thursday, 4 December 2015
Time: 17:00
Venue: OR Tambo Hall, Southernwood, Government Printers, Vulindlela Industrial heights, Mthatha
Enquiries: Cornelius Monama
Spokesperson: Department of Small Business Development
Tel: 082 578 4063
Email: CMonama@dsbd.gov.za
Twitter: @cmonama
Innocent Ndima
Small Enterprise Finance Agency
Tel: 0798461587
Email: innocentn@sefa.org.za
