The Alex Safe Hub hosted a targeted women’s empowerment session led by the Democratic Alliance, aimed at unlocking the economic potential of women entrepreneurs in the township.

The session, held on Thursday, brought together small business owners, councillors and government stakeholders to address structural barriers and identify scalable solutions for the growth of small businesses.

Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole framed her address around the economic realities facing women in low-income communities.

“Research has shown us that many women are breadwinners,” she noted, emphasising that they carry extended responsibilities that necessitate the initiatives intended to empower them.

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Her remarks highlighted the burden of care and income generation that women often carry, a burden that often limits their ability to formalise and scale their enterprises.

Sithole emphasised the importance of nurturing small business ideas, noting their potential to grow. Throughout her presentation, she made an emphasis on the importance of starting businesses, even if it is small.

“Don’t wait, start now. When you have an idea, don’t undermine it. And don’t undermine collaborating with SEDFA,” she said, urging women to engage with the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA).

The agency provides access to markets, financial instruments, and capacity-building programmes designed to move micro-enterprises toward formalisation and growth.

Her comments also touched on the lifecycle of small businesses, cautioning against stagnation once initial revenue is achieved. “For people in business, there is no holiday,” she said. “That’s how they build legacies.”

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She also encouraged township entrepreneurs to transition from survivalist operations to sustainable, growth-oriented businesses.

Bridget Masango, DA member of parliament and chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Development, reinforced the need for interventions in underserved areas like Alexandra. Furthermore, she noted the willingness of Alex residents to change their lives. “

South Africans who are called poor and vulnerable can and are willing to transition from that to be entrepreneurs.”

Masango called for a shift from passive resilience to active agency. “Your success is in your hands. We must change the situation.”

The session underscored a critical insight that the participation of businesswomen in the economy is central to the township’s inclusive growth.

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