Big plans for small businesses in Endumeni

Plans are underway to jumpstart the economy of the area through the development of small businesses.
Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Small Business Development, recently visited Dundee where she addressed local stakeholders on her department’s plans for the future at the Moth Hall.

Before the minister addressed the crowd, Deputy Mayor, Sduduzo Mdluli highlighted the importance of small businesses thriving as it helped grow and develop communities.
The Deputy Mayor also touched on Dundee’s numerous industries which once blossomed in the area and how the economy suffered once these closed down. He also thanked the Department for making time to come to Endumeni. “We must use these opportunities to make positive changes in the lives of ordinary people,” he said.

During her speech, Minister Zulu said that the purpose of her department and its agencies, was to promote entrepreneurship and enterprise growth, where small businesses and co-operatives act as drivers of job creation and economic growth. The minister also touched on the issue of rising unemployment levels and how many live in extreme poverty.

She added that the department, together with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and Small Entreprise Finance Agency (SEFA) has embarked on the development of a plan which expects 90% of jobs would have to be created by small and expanding businesses by 2030.

She also mentioned that her department aimed at creating awareness on the importance of entrepreneurship, increasing the small enterprise start up rate in the economy, support existing start ups to reduce the failure rate and increase overall competiveness of small enterprises in the economy. The minister then highlighted the numerous programmes that would be rolled out to assist small businesses.

“We are determined to support township and rural businesses with a series of targeted support interventions aimed at addressing the legacy of spatial exclusion faced by these businesses,” she said.

The Minister’s visit was mainly thanks to Sibusiso Sikhakhane, who has been liaising with various departments in order to bring more focus to Endumeni.

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