By OBAKENG MAJE
Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) owners in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Dr Kenneth Kaunda regions benefitted from the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) empowerment fund.
The equipment and machinery that were handed over in both districts were valued at approximately R1.2 million and were for SMMEs which mostly operate in manufacturing, catering, baking, décor, cleaning and environmental services.
One of the beneficiaries, Tshepiso Jantjies from Jantjies Boerdery said the machinery he received from the department, will come in handy. Jantjies said his enterprise is a multi-agricultural company, which specialises in crop production and animal feed manufacturing in the Taung area.
“We are grateful after we have received a wheel rake and drum mower through the departmental empowerment fund. We started to turn our company into an enterprise back in 2019. We are specialising in agro-processing.
“We had some challenges with machinery after our storeroom was gutted by fire. Our old machinery was dysfunctional and we were so happy to receive new machinery. These ones will improve our turn-around strategy,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Lancelot Koos from Ganyesa village, near Vryburg shared the same sentiments. Koos, who is the owner of Lanzito’s Buy and Braai said his business model entails car wash services and a complementary Shisa Nyama/ Braai business.
“I conceptualised the business line after I identified a market gap in Ganyesa Business Centre, whilst working for the bank in Pretoria. Since its inception, the business was operating informally until 2018 when I decided to leave my full-time job to focus more on it.
“Since then, the business has been doing well except during the lockdown period. Most of my customers are within Ganyesa and neighbouring villages such as Tlapeng, Tlakgameng and Morokweng,” he said.
Koos received a walk-in freezer room, gas griller – turn burner radiant free-standing, wrapping machine, price computing scale, glass meat chiller and countertop pie warmer.
Meanwhile, North West MEC for DEDECT, Kenetswe Mosenogi said: “We have embarked on an ongoing programme of handing over business equipment and machinery to successful applicants of the departmental empowerment fund for the 2021/2022 financial year.
“The programme is part of the department’s interventions aimed at leveraging enterprise funding through procurement of equipment and machinery for start-ups, as well as growth and expansion of enterprises, which will result in job creation and poverty alleviation.”
Mosenogi further said the applicants must have been operating a legally registered business and be residing in the North West province. She added that, in order to reverse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses and cooperatives, they ought to urgently provide some support to these entrepreneurs.
“Through this hard-headed intervention by the department, we will certainly improve their competitiveness and bring up profitability. Through this programme, the government is only re-affirming its commitment to support and sustain enterprises through operational tools.
“This is also proof to all entrepreneurs in the province, especially young people that, the department’s financial assistance is not designed for a certain group of people, but for any entrepreneur who meets the qualifying criteria required for funding,” said Mosenogi.
The Guardian 