Small businesses fuelled for growth

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Five micro-distributors have been given the tools to take their businesses to soaring new heights.

The businesses received bakkies, stock and cash safes as part of the Department of Small Business Development-Nestlé Micro-Distributor Programme.

“A total of R250 000 has been invested per SMME that has been approved as a micro-distributor. [About] R150 000 is earmarked for the purchase of the vehicle, while the balance will to go to storage, safes and stock,” the department said.

The Department of Small Business Development has partnered with Nestlé South Africa in an Enterprise Development Programme to grow small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

It is expected that 34 more micro-distributors will benefit over the next few months and at least 200 will have benefited by 2020. All beneficiaries of the programme are operating in townships and rural areas.

On Wednesday, the department and Nestlé handed over the resources to the five beneficiaries in Johannesburg.

Beneficiary Wendy Masiza, who distributes Nestlé products to spaza shops in the East Rand, expressed her gratitude for the initiative.

“The bakkie will provide reliable transport for me, as the car that I was using was giving me problems. This will also help me to grow my business by giving me the ability to provide to more spaza shops,” Masiza said.

Nestlé chairman Remy Ejel said the programme is focusing on rural areas and townships, as unemployment is a challenge in those areas.

“You are not only making a difference in your lives but you are also making a difference in the lives of the people that will be working with you in the future while you are growing.

“Nestlé [is] delivering on its purpose to enhance the quality of life but at the same time… Through the hard work you do, you will be able to grow and employ more people,” Ejel said.

He said when the public sector and private sector work together, they can make difference and build a better future.

“Today is one of the most beautiful days because there’s so much passion… impacting individuals, [who in turn] will make a difference… This is how together we can create an economy that is more inclusive, that is more robust and can grow,” Ejel said.

Department of Small Business Development Acting Deputy Director-General Lindokuhle Mkhumane encouraged the entrepreneurs to be successful in their business endeavours so that the department can fund more SMMEs.

“We expect SMMEs to create about 60-70% of the jobs in South Africa. Out of the 11 million jobs that must be created by 2030, about 90% of those must come from SMMEs.

“Please don’t hire someone that you cannot fire. Make sure that hire someone you can fire when they don’t deliver because we are dependent on you,” Mkhumane said. – SAnews.gov.za