It was a joyful day for the hawkers of Kwa Ntozonke Market when the Small Business Development Minister, Ms. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, with the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and KSD Executive Mayor, Cllr. Nyaniso Nelani, officially opened the Ntozonke Market on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
The opening comes after this 48-year-old structure underwent a very much needed facelift.
Executive Mayor, Cllr. Nyaniso Nelani, stated in his welcoming remarks that the revamping of the market will see an increase in tourism and the local economy being strengthened because of the aesthetic and safety of the centre.
“We grateful for the strides made by the Department of Small Business Development in ensuring that our informal traders are operating in a conducive environment. The refurbishment of Ntozonke Market contributes to the ongoing assistance that DBSD provides to our local SMMEs such as business equipment and trainings.” He said.
The mayor further revealed KSD plans to convert Owen Street into a container city in order to have a designated area where all street vendors can trade.
The revamping of Ntozonke Market is part of Shared Economic Infrastructure Facility (SEIF) programme that is implemented by the Department of Small Business Development. The programme (SEIF) seeks to provide SMMEs, co-operatives and the informal sector with decent facilities to conduct their businesses and to create a conducive and modern operational environment for small businesses. This programme also contributes towards advancing the objective of revitalising the township economy.
More than R11,7 million was spent on the renovations, which turned the old and dilapidated building into a brand-new structure with a modern roof, floor tilling, new electrical installations, a water tank for backup, fencing and paving all around the building.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Bodloza, expressed her delight, saying, “We are excited and grateful for these renovations made on this market, as it was indeed in a bad state to the extent that some people were afraid to come inside because it looked shady.” She thanked the government for assisting informal traders with working tools, citing that “I am one of the entrepreneurs that have received industrial machines that I could not afford on my own, and on top of that, we received a basic training on business skills.”
Over 70 informal traders have benefited from the centre and they specialize in Xhosa traditional wear, traditional medicines and other traditional items.
In her keynote address, Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams stated that for many years, the market has played a huge role in improving the lives of the people, and the government values the consistency of hawkers operating in the market. She added that the government prioritizes businesses that are sustainable, like Ntozonke Market Centre.
She continued saying that in fulfilling the government’s commitment to bring a better life for all and ensure that people participate in the country’s economy, the DSBD has a Shared Economic Infrastructure Facility (SEIF) programme where they work with municipalities to assist SMMEs.
“According to the National Development Plan, the government has a target to create about eleven million jobs by 2030, and nine million of those jobs are expected to come from SMMEs (both formal and informal). That is the reason we have initiatives to support the informal sector as well.”
The Minister also mentioned the Department of Small Business Development’s various funding support programme as well as the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP), which aims to integrate and transform opportunities in townships and rural areas into profitable business ventures.
The launch was followed by Ministerial Imbizo that took place at Rhema Umtata Christian Church Hall (RUCC) where the Minister interacted with business sector.