Pretoria – The Gauteng Department of Economic Development has intensified its campaign to assist township entrepreneurs to formalise their businesses.
The Qondis’ Ishishini Lakho (fix your business) campaign was launched in October 2015 and has since assisted over 6 000 businesses in 20 townships across the province.
The department says due to the high demand of this service, it is now extending the programme to June 2016, instead of March, as initially planned, to meet the demands of township entrepreneurs.
The MEC of Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile, said formalising businesses will no doubt break the norm of township settlements being just labour reservoirs, but transform township economies and create opportunities for sustainable growth.
“The campaign reflects the Gauteng Provincial Government’s commitment to transforming township economies. The decisions and the interventions that we make as a provincial government are a clear indication of our unwavering support of township based SMMEs,” said MEC Maile.
Townships that have been visited to date include Tembisa, Kokosi, Khutsong, Ivory Park, Ebony Park, Thokoza, Wattville, Actonville, Mamelodi, Tsakane, Reiger Park, Soshanguve, Kagiso, Munsieville, Azaadville, Khutsong and Hammanskraal.
MEC Maile is expected to oversee business registrations at Atteridgeville Community Hall, in Tshwane, on Tuesday.