Plan to boost black entrepreneurs

THE provincial government’s plan to get businesses to source supplies from black entrepreneurs has the approval of the captains of tourism and retail industries, but the capacity to meet the demand could be a challenge.

Addressing stakeholders in industries such as hospitality, retail and wholesalers in umhlanga on Thursday, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, introduced Operation Vula, an agrarian socio-economic transformation plan which forms part of the government’s radical transformation agenda.

According to Zikalala, the aim is to get the private sector to open up opportunities for black entrepreneurs.

“The growth in inequality is posing a threat to the economy of country… But you cannot distribute something that does not exist. We need to work together to grow the economy of Kwazulunatal and attract investment to our province,” he said.

He described radical economic transformation as an effort to support black people to get into business through supporting mechanisms, such as the provision of loans and grants to be able to compete.

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