Driving the Gauteng Department of Economic Development’s (DED’s) mandate of township revitalisation, MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile reported on Friday that the department had provided financial support to 643 existing small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) over the year, while supporting a further 5 061 with nonfinancial business development interventions.

Tabling the department’s 2014/15 annual report in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, he added that the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller had provided business development interventions to a further 953 cooperatives, while 983 township-based informal businesses had undergone bespoke training programmes.

“In the year under review, 84 small and emerging businesses were incubated at our renovated industrial hubs in Orlando, Payneville, Garankuwa, Residentia and Chamdor, in the West Rand . . . and are currently receiving businesses advisory services and have access to shared infrastructure and services at these facilities.

“The department has facilitated the incubation of 289 businesses . . . enabling the transfer of skills from big to small businesses, promoting supplier development and creating market opportunities for township businesses,” he commented.

DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
The DED was, meanwhile, accelerating efforts to revive and establish industrial parks and township enterprises in Toekomsrus, Khutsong, Mabopane, Hammanskraal, Ennerdale, Residentia, Katlehong, Garankuwa and Orlando, through which township entrepreneurs would be provided with clustered and cost-effective infrastructure.

Maile noted that the department would soon be engaging with the province’s metropolitan and district municipalities over a special dispensation designed to reduce the cost of rates and service charges for township businesses, particularly those involved in light and heavy industry.

While noting that the department’s philosophy emphasised the importance of development finance and “friendly” loan terms for entrepreneurs, the MEC remained adamant that, in the context of limited fiscal revenue, loan repayments by subsidised start-ups and enterprises was critical.

“We are engaged in a process to review post-investment initiatives to assist us in identifying early warning signs for clients that are in distress and to proactively intervene to create sustainable entrepreneurs in the province,” he said.

FOREIGN INFLOW
Reflecting on foreign investment gains, Maile reported that the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency had facilitated 13 investments in the agroprocessing, property development, business process outsourcing and green energy sectors from China, India, Brazil, Russia and Portugal over the period.

The agency also assisted five companies to retain their business operations in the province, while providing a further five active in the manufacturing, agroprocessing, automotive, finance and construction industries with technical assistance related to expansion projects.

“Our export promotion programme was instrumental in securing R170-million worth of trade deals for 20 companies,” he held.

TOWNSHIP GROWTH
The department, meanwhile, finalised the packaging and marketing of 25 township and neighbourhood tourism experiences for domestic and international tourists, while training 236 township beneficiaries in tourism skills at the Ga-Rankuwa Hotel School.

A further 216 township entrepreneurs received training in food, beverages and accommodation services through the Tourism Buddies programme.

Meanwhile, revenue collection by the Gauteng Gambling Board also “significantly improved” over the period, with the entity generating R883-million and exceeding the targeted amount of R778-million by 13.5%.