So impressed were they with local businesses that some of the 50 American business students and academics that recently toured a Cape Town township, vowed to return next year with the promise to help invest in those businesses. Accompanied by the University of Stellenbosch Business School’s Small Business Academy, they were part of a tour… [Continue Reading]
Tag Archives | featured-slider
Stutterheim manufacturer to go global
Following the launch of a R4-million plant, the usually sleepy Eastern Cape town of Stutterheim will not be the same again. This, thanks to Ikusasa Green, a small enterprise that opened a cooler-box manufacturing plant in the small town. The plant, which will initially create more than 20 jobs, with a further 15 jobs to… [Continue Reading]
New ministry for SA small businesses
South Africa’s highly-anticipated first small business development minister Lindiwe Zulu carries the hopes of millions of small business owners on her shoulders, after President Jacob Zuma appointed her to this new ministry as part of his second-term cabinet. Zulu, a former special adviser to the president for international relations, who has admitted to not having… [Continue Reading]
Coega helps businesses upgrade status
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has already invested over R450 000 in a recently launched business support programme aimed at small businesses. The programme, which is being co-ordinated by the CDC’s small business development unit and is called the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Level One Certification, assists selected small businesses in the CDC database… [Continue Reading]
Are you cut out to be a fabric seller?
While the textiles industry has in recent years been in the news for all the wrong reasons – cheap imports, factory closures and job losses – there is nonetheless a good market out there for a small business selling fabrics. Specifically so if the owners are, so to speak, cut out to be fabric sellers.… [Continue Reading]
Women contractors make inroads
Two women entrepreneurs are inching closer to their goals in a male-dominated industry after successfully completing the South African National Road Agency Limited’s (Sanral) enterprise development programme. The programme, which was launched in the Eastern Cape recently, offers training to small businesses along the national roads Sanral builds, upgrades and maintains. Small contractors are trained… [Continue Reading]
Doing good with bicycle delivery of medicines
“NEITHER snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” This inscription on the New York Post Office pays homage to the American Postal Service’s enduring spirit to deliver the mail efficiently. In many ways, it reflects the dedication and drive of the Iyeza… [Continue Reading]
Marula Money
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]
Are you ready to go into business?
MANY people dream of starting a business but are hesitant to start because they are not sure if they’re capable of going on their own or are not sure what kind of business they should start. Are you one of those people wondering if starting a business is right for you? Do you have the… [Continue Reading]
No more building up steam while waiting for the train
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]