Michael Nkalane
A total of R50 million has been allocated to the informal traders who graduated in wholesale and retail for infrastructure development, said Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.
She was speaking at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday at Zolani Centre in Nyanga where 116 informal traders from wholesale and retail sectors were handed certificates.
Informal traders from Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Villiersdorp, Paarl East and Worcester had taken part in a two-month project on introduction to entrepreneurship, advertising and promotion, customer care, basic financial management, purchasing, and legal skills.
“An amount of R50 million has been allocated for the roll-out of the Shared Economic Infrastructure Facility, which seeks to ensure informal businesses are treated with dignity,” Zulu said on Tuesday.
Sector Education Training Authority (Seta) acting chief executive Andile Sipengane said 87 percent of the wholesale and retail economy comprised informal traders.
“That has necessitated the need for intervention in your economic development. Hence we designed this10-module course on lifelong business planning to help you grow while contributing in the economy,” he said.
Elated Jesaya Alexander, who has been selling fruit and vegetables in Paarl for 31 years, said: ”I am too old to be rich. But I will use the knowledge I gained from this course to grow my business for the future generation and create employment for others. The good thing is that I know how to grow and market my business and form partnerships,” he said.
Grateful Fezeka Ntantiso, 35, who has been running a sewing shop in Villiersdorp for 11 years, said she will open a clothing factory. “I have been sewing for fun. I will have my clothing factory soon.”
Zulu said informal business was an important sector of the country’s economy, adding that the ceremony marked a momentous milestone towards building an inclusive economy that benefits all.
“This nationwide programme is the best thing that has ever happened to the informal sector.”
Higher Education and Training minister Dr Blade Nzimande urged Small Business Development and Seta to profile the graduates.
“That will make it easy to track their progress,” he said.