Remarks by the mayor of KwaDukuza at the media launch of the KwaDukuza Entrepreneurship Month at La Montagne, Ballito

Programme Director, Cllr. S. Cele and members of the Portfolio Committee responsible for Economic Development;

General Manager of LaMontagne, First Resort, who is our host;

Invited guests;

Event organisers;

I extend my greetings to members of media who elected to honor this occasion and I accordingly wish to extend my welcome to special guests to the north coast of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal which is home to the great Zulu King Shaka kaSenzangakhona.

 

We welcome you being propelled by multiple socio-economic challenges which require our collective intervention in a society that is largely characterised by inequalities, poverty and joblessness. One of the mandates of the current government is to cushioning its people towards economic opportunities in ways that are inclusive and free from corruption.

As we launch this ground-breaking programme, it is also our way of paying tribute to the countless men and women who devoted their lives for the realisation of a democratic and a more united South Africa. We take pride in expanding the heritage of our forebears who envisioned a democratic South Africa and a better future for each and every citizen. We move forward with the assurance of a brighter future ahead in the knowledge that we are guided by their revolutionary spirit.

Ladies and gentlemen, the agenda of government to eradicate poverty is consequently underpinned by historical challenges which continue to undermine our efforts for inclusive economic transformation and development. The legacy of the past which was designed to deprive access to basic services, access to information, access to the economy and other opportunities including decent jobs created a condition which required the democratic government to redress post 1994.

Economic climate

In addition, our local economic situation cannot be aptly narrated without mentioning the economic downturns that we have experienced over the past three years. The effects of the Covid pandemic, the civil unrest and the subsequent floods in 2022 led to severe economic shocks. Economic recovery has seemed to be sluggish and - has worsened over the few months - as a result of international conflicts which have largely impacted the strength of the South Africa Rand. The rising standard of living and load-shedding have become major threat to jobs, food security, and the survival of businesses and state organs.

Given these circumstances, as government we are in agreement with the private sector that we need to focus our efforts on reviving small to medium-sized businesses to cushion economic growth.

As we strive to improve our local economy, create more job opportunities, and foster business growth, it becomes crucial that we also prioritize key goals such as alleviating poverty, reducing unemployment, and addressing inequalities.

 

2023 State of Entrepreneurship findings

Findings of the 2023 State of Entrepreneurship in South Africa Survey by the Entrepreneurs' Organisation South Africa chapter revealed the following, “Small business owners in South Africa have no shortage of entrepreneurial spirit and grit, and most are building multiple businesses without help, but the two major challenges standing in the way of their growth in 2023 is lack of access to funding and the impact of ongoing load shedding”.

 

Statistics South Africa 2022 Census results on KwaDukuza

A few weeks ago, Statistics South Africa unveiled and presented the findings of the Census 2022 to the State President and they showed that the population of KwaDukuza has increased from approximately 231,000 in 2011 to 324,000 by 2022. This means that we experienced an Annual Population growth of 3.4%. 

 

Such growth reflects that there is more demand for municipal services, jobs, and a sign for growing businesses markets for entrepreneurships. Therefore, our entrepreneurship development programmes are geared towards responding to the challenges faced by secondary cities like KwaDukuza.

Throughout the years, we have implemented strategies to guarantee that local communities reap the benefits within thriving sectors within our economy. We persistently collaborate with developers and investors to create opportunities for subcontractors. This approach has effectively minimized business disruptions. We continue to seek solutions to support local businesses to enter industries that have a potential to create more sustainable businesses.

Local Contractors Development Programme

The council of KwaDukuza has implemented a programme named the Local Contractors Development Programme with the purpose of incubating local contractors and to help them contribute towards rebuild infrastructure that was destroyed in the 2022 floods. 

Deeds of Cessation Agreement

 

Local Contractors Development Programme programme is being complemented by the Deeds of Cessation Agreement, which was recently adopted with a view of supporting local contractors by granting funding opportunities once they are officially appointed by the municipality. This tripartite agreement involving the supplier, contractor and KwaDukuza seeks to redress historically disadvantaged individuals who have a challenge with cashflow. In this way, suppliers will be able to deliver projects without being constrained to budget limitations and with an assurance to deliver.

The municipality is also playing an active role in collaborating with different partners to provide assistance and resources to such contractors so that they become self-reliant, reliable, and capable of fulfilling their contractual obligations.

Our ongoing efforts involves finding ways to assist local businesses to enter industries which have the potential to deepen sustainability.

KwaDukuza Municipality is one of the few municipalities in the province to implement an initiative aimed at redressing the current challenges experienced by small to medium enterprises.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, the KwaDukuza Entrepreneurship Month Programme for the year 2023. This multi-pronged programme is designed to harness business expertise and to leverage business acumen amongst local entrepreneurs.

 

We have joined hands with the private sector in pursuit of a common goal of empowering our local people by enhancing capacity and facilitating the exchange of information for inclusive economic growth.

 

Over the next two weeks, the KwaDukuza Entrepreneurship Month Programme will provide a strategic platform for businesses to acquire and share information and knowledge, connect with other businesses, explore opportunities, showcase, and promote new innovations for their products and services to potential buyers and customers.

I must point out that this media launch takes place on the second day of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is observed and celebrated around the world from 13 – 19November 2023.

KwaDukuza has dedicated the month of November to commemorate local entrepreneurship and the role of small business in our economy -believing that wealth is obtained through the development of entrepreneurs. We last hosted this programme in 2019 before the impact of covid-19 under the title Small Business Week. This is the 8^th edition which we have renamed and also excited about.

The theme for this year's event draws inspiration from the Global Entrepreneurship Week and reads as follows, “Business thrives here". The theme is aligned with the government's role in advancing economic growth as its fundamental aspects. It is our responsibility to build favourable conditions that allow businesses to generate long-lasting employment opportunities, wealth, and inclusivity.

Our event will accommodate more than 1000 individuals from all walks of lives - starting from today until the 29^th of November 2023. We are confident that the two-week program will make a valuable contribution to the revitalization of our economy.

 

We offer our gratitude to all private stakeholders and state organs for their support in making this initiative possible. I singularly wish to record my gratitude to the MEC for economic development in the province, Mr. Sboniso Duma for his responsiveness and support. I have also conveyed my desire to host the MEC next week, where I have committed to allocate more than R1.5 million to thirty (30) local start-ups.

As the Council, we have advocated for the partnership between the private and public sectors as the main catalyst for achieving our socio-economic transformation goals. I am delighted to announce that in this year's programme, we have secured several partners who will be implementing a range of initiatives aimed at supporting both emerging and established businesses. I extend a warm welcome to all government agencies, private sector organizations, and our partners who are generously offering both material resources and financial assistance for various projects.

The key activities will be characterised by outreach business development sessions, masterclasses, seminars and handovers of business equipment to deserving SMME’s. Both public and private stakeholders will be playing a key role in ensuring the our programme is successful. I wish to acknowledge our stakeholders and their teams as we are boldly committing to empower our people.

We are pleased to have both commercial banks and the Small Enterprise Finance Agencies in our midst and we are confident that you will have a significant impact in assisting our emerging contractors with securing financing for their working capital needs. This collaboration will highly contribute towards addressing the primary concern raised by our local contractors. In conjunction with this support, regulators and other partners will provide training and capacity building opportunities.

Looking at the week ahead, I wish to highlight that I will be presenting the Driver’s License programme to empower those who are unable to afford to pay for their licenses. We will also be awarding electricity generators to SMME’s in order to address the issue of load shedding that has collapsed a number of small businesses. In addition, KwaDukuza will be hosting its Energy Indaba to find ways in which small businesses can be assisted in running their businesses efficiently.

True to form, this is the current governments continued commitment to stimulate the socio-economic conditions whilst recognizing the impact of colonialism, segregation, and marginalization of the majority of our people in the past.

KwaDukuza Municipality by far remains the fastest growing secondary city in the country, with property development, services, tourism and manufacturing sectors being the key pillars contributing its growth.

I wish to outline a list of activities which have been adopted by council to address our socio-economic challenges as we rollout the 2023 KwaDukuza Entrepreneurship Programme:

Date	Activity	Description of activity	Venue
16 Nov 2023	Masterclass on Financial Literacy	The objective of this session is to focus on local business owners, addressing concerns related to adhering to business regulations.These concerns include setting up business bank accounts, exploring funding options, and implementing strategies to manage personal and business finances effectively. Additionally, the session aims to educate local businesses about essential financial products such as business insurance and bank guarantees. The session is open to 60 participants.	Supper Room,KwaDukuza
21 -24 Nov 2023	Masterclass:Art of Pitching	This Masterclass offers an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to learn how to effectively pitch and present their business ideas to potential investors. During one of the sessions, a select group of entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to the investors. This session will be hands-on, with successful entrepreneurs being rewarded with prizes. The Masterclass aims to have 30 participants over the course of 4 days but is also targeting a total of 60 participants.	KwaDukuza Library Boardroom
22 Nov 2023	BusinessEmpowermentWorkshop	The business empowerment workshop aims to create an opportunity for different programme partners to exchange valuable business insights with aspiring and established entrepreneurs. The shared information will cover a wide range of topics, including business finance and compliance. This session is part of an outreach program specifically designed for aspiring and established businesses in our three rural wards, namely ward 1, 3, and 25. The workshop aims to engage 120 participants.	Vulingqondo Community Hall (Nothern Cluster)
	KZN Liquor Authority Roadshow	The KZN Liquor Authority plans to engage in a public consultation to discuss policy reforms pertaining to the assessment and approval of liquor licenses. The target audience for this consultation includes local entrepreneurs who hold liquor licenses as well as the general public. The municipality's business licensing authority collaborates closely with the KZN Liquor Authority to ensure that applications comply with regulations and receive approval. The purpose of this session is to increase awareness among the public about the licensing process in the province.	KwaDukuza Town Hall
23 Nov 2023	BusinessEmpowermentWorkshop	The business empowerment workshop aims to create an opportunity for different program partners to exchange valuable business knowledge with both aspiring and established entrepreneurs. The knowledge shared will cover a wide range of topics, including business finance and compliance. Our target is to reach 100 participants for this workshop.	Shakashead Community Hall (Southern Cluster)
24 Nov 2023	Youth In Business Information Sharing Session	The Youth in Business session focuses on youth-owned businesses and aspiring young entrepreneurs. It will serve as a platform for sharing information about various business development initiatives. It will provide an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to receive feedback on the progress of interventions identified during the youth month. The session aims to engage 180 participants.	KwaDukuza Town Hall
27 Nov 2023	Tender Advice Session	The Tender Advice Session aims to create an opportunity for individuals interested in conducting business with the government to discuss compliance matters, ethical conduct, and learn from established service providers. The session will provide insights into the impact of legislative changes on government business partnerships. Furthermore, it will focus on financial resources available to those who have received government contracts or purchase orders. The target is to have 100 participants attend the session.	KwaDukuza Town Hall
28 Nov 2023	Business Seminar – Main Event	The handover of business start-up equipment to thirty deserving entrepreneurs will be the focal point of the business seminar event. Both the KwaDukuza Municipality and KZN EDTEA have allocated a total of R1.5 million for this programme.Additionally, on the same day, the Mayor of KwaDukuza will announce the selected youth who will benefit from the KDM Drivers Assistance Programme. We anticipate that Mr. S. Duma, the MEC for EDTEA, will grace us with his presence on this significant day, which serves as the highlight of our month-long program. Targeting 500 – 650 participants, including exhibitors.	Stanger High School - Sports field
29 Nov 2023	Business Seminar and Exhibition	Attendees and stakeholders will engage in informative discussions and panel sessions. Certain stakeholders will provide on-site services to their clients throughout these two days. This session will also provide an opportunity for accomplished local entrepreneurs to share their personal journeys to success with the local business community. Our goal is to attract 500 participants, which includes exhibitors.	Stanger High School - Sportsfield

 

Ladies and gentlemen, we highly appreciate your support and coverage as we launch this programme. We extend an invitation to local established businesses to collaborate with us in nurturing and guiding emerging entrepreneurs. Our shared vision is to realize the prosperity of our people, with the vision to eradicate all forms of crimes in society and the prevalence of poverty. I officially declare the official opening of the 2023 KwaDukuza Entrepreneur Month Programme. I trust that you will have an exceptional experience in the course of the programme and I anticipate that you will share success stories after this engagement.

 

I thank you

Issued by the Office of the Mayor, KwaDukuza Municipality

Enquiries: Sphe Ngobese | 073 784 7822