The Gauteng provincial government is set to launch the first small medium and micro enterprise (SMME) incubation hub in Diepsloot within the next 100 days.
This forms part of its plans to “revitalise and mainstream” the township economy by supporting the development of township enterprises, co-operatives and SMMEs that will produce goods and services.
“The provincial government and municipalities will work together to provide training, funding, economic infrastructure and markets for the goods and services produced by township and community enterprises,” said Gauteng premier David Makhura in his State of the Province Address (Sopa) earlier this week.
He added that his government would convene a summit with township entrepreneurs and SMMEs within the next six months to develop a detailed programme of action.
“Township entrepreneurs are capable of producing food (bread for school nutrition and hospitals), clothes (school and police uniforms) and furniture (for government offices). This will bring millions of township residents into the mainstream of the economy,” Makhura said.
The Diepsloot incubation hub will be the first of many earmarked for Gauteng’s townships.