Informal traders pass business skills test

11 April 2016

 

More than 100 Gauteng informal traders who recently successfully completed training under the Informal Traders Upliftment Project (ITUP) were presented with certificates by Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu at a graduation ceremony in Diepkloof, Soweto, on Friday April 8.

 

The informal traders were among 1 037 trainees who received training in business skills countrywide at a total cost of R20.3-million in ITUP’s inaugural year. More than 3 000 are expected to be equipped with business skills at treble the cost when ITUP 2 commences.

Minister Zulu congratulated the graduates, saying this was a “momentous milestone” in South Africa’s journey towards radical economic transformation. She said by upskilling informal traders, the government was empowering them to play a more meaningful role in the economy.

“Today, we pay tribute to Richard Maponya, Godfrey Moloi and Ephraim ‘Mshengu’ Tshabalala, among others, whose resilience and sacrifices during our darkest days defied the unequal playing fields of our ugly past to become business icons admired by friend and foe alike,” Minister Zulu said.

She said although the ANC was facing “internal challenges”, the government was determined to empower its citizens.

“We’re a resilient people. We stand on the shoulders of men and women who defeated apartheid. We’re empowering you to take care of yourselves.”

She thanked the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Provincial Government for their role in the ITUP.

“I worry about malls popping up in townships because they replace small and medium-sized businesses, and that is a problem. We’ve to be creative, innovative and competitive. That’s why, when this department was set up, President Jacob Zuma insisted we focus on the informal sector. Dreams of building an inclusive economy will not be in vain because you’re taking your destiny into your own hands,” Minister Zulu said.

The module included:

• Introduction to entrepreneurship;

• Advertising and promotion;

• Customer care and service;

• Basic financial management;

• Purchasing skills; and

• By-laws and compliance.

Many of the traders came from Johannesburg, including areas such as Alexandra, Soweto and Eldorado Park. Minister Zulu said the Gauteng Township Economy Revitalisation was a flagship programme that needed support. The government, in particular local government, needed to ensure by-laws were enforced without disenfranchising informal traders who had not had infrastructure support. Xitlhangoma Mabasa, Member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development, called on traders to pool their resources together to cut costs.

“Foreign traders have wised up to that. That’s why they are able to negotiate for favourable prices when they buy in bulk. Use the stokvels and burial society formula to boost your businesses. The business skills you acquired through this training are key,” Mabasa said.

Apart from certificates, the 106 graduates were promised to be handed equipment to support their ventures. Helen Nong of Meadowlands Zone 7, Soweto, who has been operating a spaza shop since 2000, was among those received theirs at the graduation when she was handed a deep freezer. Others will receive theirs at a later stage.

“I’m lost for words. I sell ice and ice cream. This fridge will boost my business,” she said.