BY JACO SLABBERT IN the heart of Bloekombos, located just outside the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, there’s an interesting social enterprise working to create a grassroots retail mechanism. It’s a unique approach to the bottom-of-the-pyramid market, using a hybrid model to create work opportunities, empower entrepreneurs, cultivate a responsible economic ecosystem and increase the… [Continue Reading]

Success in business often depends on how you tap into the resources from your environment. This is what the Chivrikani Producers Cooperative from the rural areas surrounding Tzaneen in Limpopo did by producing various products from marula fruit pulp. Here are (from left to right) Venia Ngobeni, Frangelina Sibanda, Shiela Shipalana and Pemler Shipalana, who… [Continue Reading]

2013-09-02: Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies will officially launch Small Business Connect on Tuesday 2 September 2013.

ARE you looking for a mentor to give you business advice and guidance? Or are you a mentor who is available to support small business owners in your area? Mentor-Connect will be a regular Small Business Connect feature to link mentors and small business owners. Every month we will feature a selection of mentors and… [Continue Reading]

THE first major small business incubator in the Northern Cape, the R12 million SMME Village was launched in Kimberley earlier this year. Built by the Sol Plaatje Municipality, the impressive facility, in Tyala Street in Galeshewe, can accommodate 40 small businesses and already has nearly 30 tenants accredited – most of whom have moved in.… [Continue Reading]

THE recent appointment of the new board of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) sparked enthusiasm around the prospects of youth-lead businesses gaining access to business financing not previously available to them. After almost a year of delays, President Jacob Zuma appointed the new board of the NYDA earlier this year, with Young Communist League… [Continue Reading]

WHILE the rand’s steady fall from R7 to a dollar in 2011 to R10 to a dollar in May, has made many of South Africa’s exports more competitive, not all exporters are rubbing their hands with glee. Exporters whose goods are largely dependent on imports such as machinery and fuel as input costs won’t benefit… [Continue Reading]

A NEW “solar farm” in Droogfontein, 20 km outside Kimberley, that will generate 50 mega watts of electricity is also powering a new catering business that has set up a canteen for the plant’s workers. Kopenalo Co-operative has six women members who are from the community, and who have been able to establish their business… [Continue Reading]

AMID increasing costs, lower economic growth and looming business regulations, the mood among many business owners is one of increased concern for the future. “I’m very despondent at the moment,” admits Nutver Gulab, who co-owns Fine Organic Chemicals, a small manufacturer that produces cleaning products. “If someone goes we won’t employ extra people.” In the… [Continue Reading]

SIMPHIWE is standing on the platform at Mabopane station. The 16h31pm train is late again. It could be another two minutes … or two hours, if the cable thieves have struck again. Sigh. She whips out her Nokia and punches a few buttons. She smiles: GoMetro has just told her that the train is delayed… [Continue Reading]