Tyre partnership to lift townships

a process,” Kuhlase said.

Sumitomo Rubber SA business development director Yvette Govender said the programme targeted entrepreneurs in townships looking for opportunities to deal with tyre manufacturers.

“We wanted to formalise the informal township businesses and create employment opportunities by driving entrepreneurship,” said Govender.

Govender said they wanted the container tyre fitment centres to sell brand new tyres.

“There were challenges to this as some of the entrepreneurs were not skilled in this technical trade. They also did not have credit facilities and business skills.

“Ours as an iconic brand with over 120 years was to up-skill them in that regard thereby making the brand available to all consumers.”

The programme has now seen the establishment of a total of five tyre fitment centres in Ladysmith, Eshowe, Esikhaleni, Madadeni and Escourt.

PICTURE: EPA-EFE/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL AN EMPLOYEE works at the new Amazon Logistic and Fulfilment Centre in Dortmund, Germany, yesterday. The Fulfilment Centre is reportedly one of the US-based electronic commerce Amazon company’s newest and most modern European facilities and has been...

PICTURES: ZANELE ZULU FROM left: Thuli Glelekile; Yvette Govender, director: marketing & business development, Sumitomo Rubber SA; Sandile Sithole (tyre trader testimonial) and Henal Konjela at the launch of the partnership between Ithala and Sumitomo to assist township...

LUNGILE Thithi Kuhlase, of KZN Small Business Enterprise.