Mbashe Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Samkelo Janda, has handed over working equipment to 14 identified small businesses as part of the municipality’s endeavours to strengthen small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), in line with its local economic development strategy.
The handover of the working equipment followed an application process, where small business operators in Dutywa, Willowvale and Elliotdale towns, which form the Mbhashe Local Municipality, were invited to submit applications and motivate on the kind of assistance their businesses needed.
“Upon receiving the applications from business owners, a verification process then ensued whereby municipal officials visited the business premises of prospective applicants to verify whether the businesses did exist and whether there was justifiable reason to approve support for such business,” said Janda.
He further said their support for small businesses was aimed at retaining jobs and for businesses to create more job opportunities, considering the massive retrenchments that occurred due to COVID-19.
The support extended by the municipality to the 14 small businesses included tools of the trade such as fencing material, protective clothing, building materials and many others, depending on the operational needs and sector of the receiving business.
Janda said that more working equipment would be handed over to other small businesses during the current financial year while also lamenting that they could not assist everyone who had applied for business support, due to a limited budget.
The municipality spent more than R775 000 towards the purchase of the items that were handed over to the 14 approved small businesses on February 18.
Beneficiaries included small scale farmers, small bakeries and businesses that operate in the hospitality sector, as well as motor mechanics, with most of them being youth- and women-owned businesses.
