honoured
1 August 2007
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism adhered to Deputy
Minister, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's call of empowering the nation when last
night more than 50 SMMEs from the Southern District Municipality were
graduating at a gala dinner and award Ceremony at the Klerksdorp Recreation
Centre.
These women and men were trained in 'Basic Business Principles.' This quest
for skills development is in pursuit of well-managed and developed businesses
that will be sustainable. This training was sponsored by Industrial Development
Corporation (IDC). When addressing the audience the Executive Mayor of the
district Pinky Moloi said "We live in challenging times and fortunately the
opportunities are in abundance so let's use them."
She further said SMMEs need an integrated effort to increase development and
sustainability because government cannot do this alone. It is through both
public and private sector that the economy of the country is realised.
Speaking to the SMMEs, the Mayor acknowledged their efforts to contribute to
the mammoth task of development, through decreasing the rate of unemployment
and skills development. She further said "it is high time that they stop to
emerge forever," adding that they should not allow themselves to be rented.
This means that they should not be used to front other companies. One of the
graduates Lepekola Petrus Kodisang of Jouberton who is more than 60 years old
could not contain himself as he acknowledged that 'Thuto ga e golelwe,' meaning
that it is never too late to learn."
The ceremony took place in the evening after an SMME Summit that was held
during the day focusing of challenges that the SMMEs were faced with. The
challenges include, among others, financial and non-financial problems,
marketing opportunities and skills development. Financial institutes and
service providers such as Absa bank, First National Bank, Standard Bank,
Ashanti Anglo Platinum and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) were
invited to workshop the SMMEs.
For further information, please contact:
Dumisa Seshabela
Tel: 018 387 7860
Cell: 082 524 1499
Issued by: Department of Economic Development and Tourism, North West
Provincial Government
1 August 2007
