Financial help and supply of work equipment among issues raised with minister Ndabeni-Abrahams at Bay engagement sessionTownship business owners’ wish list

• Published date: 25 April 2024
• Publication title: Herald, The (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)

Financial support, work opportunities and the provision of work equipment

These are some of the issues that emerging businesses in Gqeberha want the ANC government to prioritise before and after the elections.

The points were raised during a visit by ANC national executive member and small business development minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.

Ndabeni-Abrahams hosted a business engagement session yesterday with predominantly township business owners from various sectors.

The engagement held at the Daku Community Hall in Kwa-zakhele is part of the ANC election blitz that was preceded by a door-to-door campaign led by former ANC Women’s League president Bathabile Dlamini.

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair for women, Mandisa Kondile, said while she and many others had benefited from several programmes, there was still a long way to go to ensure full support.

“When government officials visit their [foreign nationals’] shops to check for compliance and [the shop owners] are removed when they’ve transgressed the law, no-one cares to find out if the owner of the house where the foreigner rented wants to start the business afresh and is equipped accordingly.”

She said this was one of the easiest ways to get local people back into the spaza shop business and alleviate poverty.

Ward 22 Ikasi Business Forum chair Uzuwakhe Stout said most entrepreneurs in Kwazakhele required machinery and other equipment for them to thrive but struggled to get support from government.

“Many businesses operate from their yards and that is against municipal bylaws, but what choice do they have because there are no business hubs to accommodate them.

“We have welders and recyclers...