Gauteng entrepreneurs could win cash injections of up to R1-million, as well as mentorship and incubation from established businesses, by entering the province’s first Township Entrepreneur Awards.
Launched on Monday, following consultative engagements between the Gauteng government and over 50,000 entrepreneurs across 65 townships in the province, the awards aim to showcase, recognise and reward township business excellence.
Speaking at the launch, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile called for entries saying: “We need a new generation of successful township business people in various sectors, producing the goods our households consume daily. We must change the paradigm of townships only being consumer-driven service economies to being productive sites and thriving commercial centres.”
University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Small Business Development Moipone Molotsi added that townships were no longer just offering services, as there had been a shift to a greater focus on productive economic activities such as manufacturing, product development and innovation.
The competition will have 15 categories, 13 of which require submission of an entry form. Three specialist categories were open to businesses owned by young people, people with disabilities and women.
Participants must be South African citizens residing in Gauteng, own a registered business, have a tax clearance certificate, financial statements and a yearly turnover of less than R2-million.
Nominations close on November 2. The awards ceremony will be held in February 2016.
