Awards launched to recognise and reward successful township businesses
Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile officially made the call for township entrepreneurs to participate in the nominations process for the inaugural Township Entrepreneur Awards.
The awards, which stem from the consultative engagements that the Gauteng government held with over 50 000 entrepreneurs across 65 townships in the province, are aimed at showcasing, recognising and rewarding township business excellence.
Speaking about the initiative, which is a first in the country, MEC Maile said that the awards would build and cement confidence in township-based businesses.
“We have inspirational stories of township entrepreneurs breaking through hostile and adverse conditions of the apartheid system, which effectively criminalised and stifled black enterprise and building formidable brands and industries.
We need a new generation of successful township business people who are engaged in various sectors of the economy, producing the very goods that our households consume on a daily basis. We |have to break the paradigm of townships only being consumer-driven service economies to townships as productive sites and thriving commercial centres” said Maile.
Moipone Molotsi from the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Small Business Development said that “Townships are no longer just offering services but there is a shift to a greater focus on productive economic activities, manufacturing, product development and innovation. These awards will encourage and boost the confidence of entrepreneurs who are already in the business of producing and manufacturing.”
There are fifteen categories in the competition, thirteen of which require the submission of an entry form for consideration. Three specialist categories are open to businesses owned by young people, people with disabilities and women.
To qualify for the competition, participants must amongst others be South African citizens residing in Gauteng, own a registered business, have a tax clearance certificate, financial statements, an annual turnover of less than R2 million.
Businesses also need to be active in the transport, automotive and components, construction, real estate, furniture and timber, food and beverage, tourism and creative industries, retail and finance as well as service driven sectors like car washes, restaurants, and beauty parlours.
The prizes for the awards are designed to address the peculiar challenges facing township businesses by offering:
- Cash injections up to the value of R1 million
- All expenses paid learning trip to some of the world’s leading innovators with strong entrepreneurship culture
- Mentorship and incubation provided by established businesses across various trades and sectors as well as
- Business tools to enhance performance and output
The launch will officially announce the Call for Nominations which will close on 02 November 2015, followed by a rigorous adjudication process and interviews for finalists. The process will finally lead up to the actual awards ceremony, which will be take place on 20 February 2016.
Entry forms are available from the following platforms www.townshipentrepreneurawards.co.za and are to be submitted to info@townshipentrepreneurawards.co.za.
Like our Facebook pages: Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Township Entrepreneur Awards
Follow us on Twitter: @GautengDED, @te_awards
