Business people from in and around Site C flocked to the Solomon Tshuku town hall during the first annual Business Summit last Friday.
Various government and private stakeholders attended the event, shared their services – and advised the entrepreneurs on various aspects of running a successful business.
The event was spearheaded by the recently established Site C Business Forum which noted that small businesses in the township face a number of challenges, many of which leave entrepreneurs demoralised and frustrated.
Site C Business Forum community liaison officer, Melikhaya Yalwa, said the event was aimed at providing a platform for township entrepreneurs, particularly those from Site C, to share their positive and negative experiences.
He said the main aim of last week’s summit was to link the entrepreneurs with service providers and to empower them to contribute to the economy by creating jobs.
“We want these existing businesses to keep their doors open by empowering them with vital information. I know that many businesses in the township have the potential to grow and become successful businesses but need proper information and ways of getting their voices heard by stakeholders which are meant to empower them,” he said.
‘’We want to ensure that we pull every resource to Site C so that these businesses can grow.
‘’It is important to know and understand what business is and to know what you want. To run a successful business you need to be a good leader and how I define good leadership is when you have a vision that is deeply rooted in purpose and conviction,” he said.
Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) regional manager, Shaun Charlie, said such platforms were essential as they wanted local business to take advantage of the opportunities they offer.
Meanwhile, local business person and entrepreneur, Nolufefe Mjama, said often when people talk about entrepreneurship they show you the colourful side of it but don’t talk about the difficulties.
Ms Mjama said she had been running a fisheries for almost 20 years but Covid dealt her business a harsh blow,
She believes that such platforms play a critical role in empowering them as small business people and rekindles their passion and love for running a business.
Ward councillor, Khayelethu Khama, said business empowerment was among his priorities and that he was proud that such a forum had been established during his tenure.