Tembisa residents learn from business expo

On March 20, scores of Tembisa entrepreneurs attended the 2019 Kasi Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo.

Founder and organiser of Nkgalabi Projects, Solly Mankga, said compared to last year, the annual event attracted more big companies such as Kenya Airways. It is very rare to find an airways company being part of a kasie (township) entrepreneurship summit,” said Mankga.

He said they had also roped in Tiger Brands which donated food parcels to community members who attended the event.

“This year we decided to make the event have a social element where we don’t just empower people, but we also give them hope.

“Those that are less disadvantaged, we gave them food items from Tiger brands.

“The main thing the people have learnt today is how to acquire funding,” Mankga said.

He said in the past, the seminars focused on how to start business ventures and to put in place structures to ensure businesses operate.

“We have never touched on the element of funding.

“This year we had an opportunity to make sure we focus on the element of funding, and how small businesses can access funding,” said Mankga.

Mankga was happy the Tembisan got involved in the project and made a presentation on how small businesses could be enhanced through advertising their products and services in the newspaper.

Founder and director of Activation Hub Fredrick Mamabolo said it was a good day and everyone learnt a lot from one another.

“We shared some of the most fundamental knowledge and principles to help our small businesses to grow. “What I enjoyed most was to see the passion of young business people, the products they offered and the hunger to exhibit their products and services.

“I will see them next time in another business expo,” said Mamabolo.

Funding specialist, Sammy Mokgoatsane, said he enjoyed sharing funding information with local entrepreneurs. He sold books on the subject.

“The event was a success, it was a brilliant event because we could network.

“I feel most people understand entrepreneurship and know what to do to succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Mokgoatsane.

Winner of Tembisan advertising package Nthabiseng Timbane said she was excited that her business was going to be featured in the newspaper.

“I know advertising in the local newspaper will expose my business and my company will grow.

“I am so grateful for that,” said Timbane, the founder of Ntabiey Naledi (Pty) Ltd.