Local SMME’surged to unite and position themselves for the opportunities in the Lanseria Smart City project

The Northrand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) in partnership with the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Zone 14 Region hosted the Lanseria Smart City Summit on November 25 at Indaba Hotel in Fourways.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during the State of the Nation address last year that government had set aside billions of rand to build Lanseria Smart City.

The chairperson of the newly formed business network, Richard Ntjana said the summit was aimed at organising and positioning local SMMEs for business opportunities that the project would present.

Ntjana said the business network was prepared to work with all local businesses to ensure that there was no exploitation of them by big business.

“Our local businesses are always left out when there are projects taking place in our communities. Big business will always come and leave our communities dry and poor. We organised this event to keep them [local business] abreast with the new developments on the project so that they organise and position themselves for business opportunities that this mega project will present,” Ntjana said.

Sanco provincial chairperson Chris Malematja reiterated a project such as this must prioritise local businesses and local communities.

“We want our local businesses to be economically viable and that is possible if local SMMEs are part of projects that take place in our communities. As Sanco, we are 100% behind NCCI and we will oppose any attempt to destabilise it. We want to see our people benefitting and owning infrastructure in this project,” Malematja said.

He urged local business owners to unite and don’t allow themselves to be used for fronting and get involved in corrupt activities.

“Don’t allow people to come and corrupt you. Corruption and fronting have destroyed many local business-minded people. Go and organise yourself and don’t allow anyone to divide you.”