Stakeholders help affected businesses

“We believe South Africa belongs to all the people who live in it.”

Those were the words of Nelson Mandela during his 1990 speech.

The recent unrests that erupted in parts of Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng were viewed as an attack on the country’s democracy.

As a result, businesses were targeted and looted and some infrastructure was destroyed or burnt. This included small businesses, which are considered to be the heartbeat of the township economy.

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Siyakholwa Support Care Centre started a programme to aid local small businesses, including some in Germiston, that were affected by the unrest.

The programme is titled Unrest Business Rebuild Programme, where they focus on helping small businesses that were looted to get back on their feet.

Beauty Nomvuyo Munyu, head of the NPO, said this programme was initiated by at least seven of the organisation’s board members.

“At the peak of the unrest, we came together to call for calm, we managed to intervene and question people why were they looting. The answer was that they were poor and hungry,” said Munyu.

“We formed groups and organised campaigns to clean up malls and shopping centres. The seven board members raised funds and others donated resources to help rebuild the businesses.

“This does not only help families to have sources of income but it also boosts the township’s economy and eradicates poverty,” she explained.

Thus far, the programme has helped rebuild 12 businesses, including street vendors, fast food takeaways and tuck shops. Though there has been progress, Munyu said that there has been a challenge to raise funds.

“What we did was identify business models that would not cost us more than R3 000 to rebuild. We have not been able to help those whose business models would cost us more than that, such as carpentry.

“Before we begin the process of aiding them, we visit the business owners and evaluate. Some of these are referred to us by our local councillors and community leaders.”

The Siyakholwa team is also looking at the alternatives of buying old zozo huts for some members because it will be less costly compared to a new one.

“Some of these affected places also include parts of Germiston Extension Two and Benoni and registered and unregistered businesses,” she added.

The organisation is also looking at celebrating Women’s Month with empowerment programmes already in the pipeline.

Visit www.siyakholwasupportcarecentre.org.za for more information.

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,  or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za