The City of Cape Town launched the Micro Enterprise Development Tour in Langa, on Thursday, 15 August 2013, aimed at offering free enterprise development and entrepreneurial skills to communities that historically might not have been able to easily access this kind of support. This is in keeping with the City’s drive to build an Opportunity City for all residents.
The Micro Enterprise Development Tour seeks to impart invaluable knowledge on entrepreneurship and enterprise development at no cost to the unemployed.
“We are committed, through initiatives such as this, to ensuring that the City continues to support small business development. Every major company began as a small business. SMEs are critical to job creation and economic development,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Garreth Bloor.
“We encourage individuals from all communities to come out and pitch their entrepreneurial ideas to us on the tour. These individuals are invited to visit our tour bus and successful entrepreneurs will be rewarded with support to their enterprise as well as training programmes.
“The City is committed to developing entrepreneurs and supporting micro enterprises through various channels as we believe that they will be the key drivers of economic growth for the future. At the heart of driving job creation is empowering the job creators, the entrepreneurs,” says Councillor Bloor.
In addition to the tour, the City will partner with the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (MEDO), who will teach networking skills to already existing micro enterprises.
“In sponsoring this initiative, the City reaffirms its commitment to supporting communities in their economic development. We believe this is fundamental in dealing with high unemployment levels and in empowering individuals to create jobs for others in their communities.
“Whilst we have launched in the Langa Quarter, the tour will be wide-reaching and will include areas around the city. In light of the recent upsurge in gang violence, we have chosen to include Hanover Park. It is our hope that the support given to the community will assist them to make positive choices in what can be a difficult environment,” says Cllr Bloor.
Residents who would like to visit the Mobile Entrepreneurship Truck and would like a copy of the itinerary can phone 021 300 0500.
To register to attend any of the days, send an SMS to 44665 and enter “the date in August [space] first name [space] last name”, e.g. “15 John Smith”.
Image: Councillor Bloor with Nolu Tutani from MEDO.
