Strand-based entrepreneur Stephen Manual has been able to increase his staff complement by employing local skilled workers at his panel-beating business after receiving R50 000 from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s (DEDAT) Enterprise Development Grant Fund (EDF). The EDF is an initiative of the department. The initiative’s aim is to support… [Continue Reading]

More than 200 Cape Town informal traders were given a chance to voice their grievances and address key challenges when they met recently with local government officials and business advisers at the Micro Enterprise Summit held in the city. The event, held in June, is the second of its kind hosted by the City of… [Continue Reading]

Since Dennis Jooste took over the management of the short-term insurance (STI) ombud’s office less than three years ago, it has received and resolved thousands of complaints by consumers. Last year was the office’s busiest period with over 9 000 complaints lodged and resolved. This is based on figures in the recently-published annual short-term insurance… [Continue Reading]

Women were recognised for their contribution to the economy at this year’s annual Regional Business Achiever Awards held in KwaZulu-Natal in May. The gala evening, hosted by the Business Women’s Association of South Africa (Bwasa) at the Durban International Convention Centre, recognised women’s achievements and contributions across various sectors. Bwasa is a national platform that… [Continue Reading]

Business registration and basic support processes by government need to be sped up so that entrepreneurs have more time to grow their businesses. This was the call made by Solly Fourie, head of the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Fourie says the recently-established Ministry for Small Business Development should work to address… [Continue Reading]

Information sharing and forging strategic partnerships are key to growing a business. So says Alana James, owner of communications company Gecko Connect, during a recent address at the Women Entrepreneurs on the Rise conference held by Old Mutual in Cape Town. James was one of the keynote speakers at the conference which was hosted in… [Continue Reading]

Some 300 business owners get their monthly dose of Small Business Connect by picking up a copy of the newspaper at the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) in Rustenburg. Mlungisi Makhubalo, marketing and stakeholder relations manager at the Seda branch says, that they recommend the newspaper to business owners because it is informative and easy… [Continue Reading]

Yershen Pillay describes his time so far as the national executive chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) as a “privilege”. It’s not surprising considering that his role is to help run some of the country’s biggest youth entrepreneurship projects. Since his appointment last year, the agency has invested R25 million in grant funds… [Continue Reading]

In a first for the minibus taxi industry, commuters will be able to get access to free wi-fi as part of a new initiative by the South African National Taxi Association (Santaco). Launched last month Wi-Taxi is already available in Gauteng and Santaco plans to introduce the initiative to more regions by the end of… [Continue Reading]

Being a Shell supplier is not just about delivering the goods. Just ask Oliver Romer, director of National Oilwell Varcos, who has benefited from becoming part of the Shell supply chain. “Every day brings about new challenges in this very fast and high risk industry. Logistic support is crucial to ensure products get to customer… [Continue Reading]