As South Africa celebrates Youth Month during June, Mpumalanga’s young entrepreneurs are calling on government for support.
Young entrepreneurs were attending the Spaza Shop Support Fund workshop in Mbombela. It was hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the Department of Small Business Development. It is part of the countrywide awareness and education roadshow the national departments had already unrolled across seven of the country’s provinces.
It was during this local event, attended by more than 300 spaza owners, where the youth urged asked government live up to its commitment to aid them in growing their businesses. They made it clear that they wished to create much needed employment for their peers and in their communities.
During her presentation, the Project Manager of the Fund, Siziwe Zulu, said the Fund would prioritise the youth, women and people with disabilities. Assistance would be financial and otherwise.
Nomawethu Maseko (27) owns a shop supplying bottled water to the Pienaar community outside Mbombela. The business is already providing employment to two others. “
Financial support from the Fund will help me expand my business, making it sustainable. We heard government will be prioritising young people. With their help, we can change the lives of many people for the better,” said Maseko.
She said the many older spaza shop owners at the workshop proved government needs to ensure more young people are assisted to participate in this market.
“We are the future. If they seriously want to change the township and rural economy, young entrepreneurs should be supported in order to bring that change,” added Maseko.
Thando Lubisi (27) runs a spaza shop from a caravan, parked in a filling station yard in Matsulu.
“This Fund provides government with the perfect opportunity to assist young entrepreneurs. We want to create employment for other young people and members of our communities. I have plans for expanding my business; a proper physical structure where I can add more stock and equipment. The market is there for my products, but the caravan has become too small with the growing demand,” said Lubisi.
Warren Mngwambe (34) also harbours hopes of expanding his Kabokweni-based fast-food business. “We learnt the Fund can assist with stock. That is exactly what I need. My customers have increased significantly since I started the business. Stocking piecemeal due to lack of funds inhibits the growth of my business. My plan is to expand and employ other people to assist me in the business,” echoed Mngwambe.
During the question-and-answer session, most participants complained about the strict requirements applicants have to comply with. They said it was expensive and cumbersome to achieve compliance level to qualify for the Fund; too many documents needed from different government institutions.
The Manager of Business Registration and Governance at Mbombela Local Municipality, Vincent Mabuza, said it would be in the interest of both spaza shop owners and government to set up a one-stop shop where applicants can obtain all requirements documents and apply for funding.
“I think the Fund should consider assisting spaza owners financially herewith as well as the process costs time and a lot of money. This would ensure the number of applicants qualifying for Fund assistance increases in order for it to start making a difference in the township and rural economy,” advised Mabuza.
