In an effort to invest in the growth and development of small businesses in KSD’s jurisdiction, the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality today launched the KSD Retail Spaza Shop Support Programme targeting local entrepreneurs who own spaza shops.
Small businesses play a crucial role in the local economy, providing jobs and sources of income for our local communities. It is important that these businesses have every opportunity to succeed, and that is exactly what the municipality seeks to do with its Retail Spaza Shop Support Programme.
The programme enables entrepreneurs from townships and rural areas who are South African citizens and own Spaza Shops. The goal is to reclaim the retail economy in our communities, boost local production and accelerate job creation by transforming informal spaza shops into wholesale businesses.
Beneficiaries will also be provided with skills and business management support that is required for the success of their businesses. The first beneficiary of the programme, Mr Songezo Ndwanyaza from Ward 36, Emampingeni in Mqanduli, received two hundred thousand rand (R200 000) and store stock as a start-up to boost and expand his business. Mr Ndwanyaza started his business by saving his COVID-19 R350.00 unemployment grant.
In his remarks, KSD Executive Mayor Cllr Nyaniso Nelani mentioned that small businesses like Spaza-Shops are often the backbone of the communities in which they operate and that investing in the local economy is vital for sustainability. He further urged the Ward 36 community to support the Spaza Shop to promote economic growth of their area.
He concluded by encouraging unemployed youth to at least consider starting small businesses to generate income, citing that there are various government platforms set up to support them.
The programme is also part of Youth Month, which is celebrated under the theme “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future.”