Sol launches ‘business’ village
THE SOL Plaatje Municipality, in conjunction with De Beers, yesterday launched the R9.3 million Galeshewe SMME (small, medium and micro enterprises) Village, which will begin operating in January 2013.
The facility was officially opened by the Executive Mayor, Agnes Ntlhangula, at the old Number Two Beer Hall in Hulana Street, Galeshewe.
The Galeshewe SMME Village will accommodate various tenants, including manufacturers of environmentally-friendly cleaning products, ginger beer, leather goods and clothing, as well as service providers specialising in IT, training and communication.
Delivering the keynote address, Ntlhangula said that it was in the interest of business, government and the people of the Sol Plaatje municipal area to drive economic transformation and build prosperity for all.
“The Galeshewe SMME Village will be a hub for developing sustainable and successful small and medium-size business owners who will in turn contribute to economic development, growth and employment in Galeshewe, Kimberley and ultimately in the Northern Cape.”
She added the area was rich in history and by creating successful business opportunities residents could destroy the stigma of beer halls, created by the previous regime in order to keep men occupied with alcohol instead of looking for work.
Also speaking at the event, municipal manager Goolam Akharwaray said that as the largest incubator village in Kimberley, the Galeshewe SMME Village was initially intended to accommodate 16 tenants, who were all selected through a rigid interview process and only after meeting the necessary criteria.
“Tenants will be provided with all the critical support, mentorship and training required at the start-up phase of any business, thereby reducing the risk of business failure. A rental contract will be signed with eligible tenants for a period of three years after which they will be required to take ownership of their own businesses.”