Retail centres as training tool

COMMUNITY INVOLVED

services from black-owned businesses in the local community. Nthwese believes it is vital to involve the local community at every stage of a development project and sourced workers from the township for the construction. It also identified a number of local security, cleaning and landscaping businesses with the potential to be upskilled as part of the mall’s facilities management team.

Nthwese’s facilities management partner, FullServe, a level 1 B-BBEE company, has subcontracted 30% of its contract to two local businesses – Toyiya Empire (landscaping and cleaning) and Selwalenkwe (security).

FullServe is providing mentorship and training in a 12-month enterprise development programme to help the two businesses to develop the capacity to meet the requirements of the mall. The two local business owners have also received training in areas such as recruitment, staff management, site assessment, dealing with clients, reporting and marketing and compliance and adherence to industry standards.

Preferential procurement at this level will help to transform the economy. It is important for established businesses to partner with emerging business owners, and the partnerships need to foster practical day-to-day participation in which innovative ideas and involvement in decision making is encouraged. This will pave the way for the new generation of black industrialists the country so urgently needs.

Basic infrastructure, often lacking in under-serviced areas, is critical for property development to take place. Transport, communication, sewage, water and electricity systems are high-cost investments and are vital to a retail centre’s viability. Not only does infrastructure have a positive effect on economic growth and development, it is fundamental to creating an enabling environment for communities.

Jackline Okeyo is business development and operations director at Nthwese Developments