The DA-led Stellenbosch Municipality is passionate about assisting entrepreneurs to reach their full economic potential.
On the 23rd of October the municipality hosted the first ever Get Started Stellenbosch Entrepreneurs Expo aimed at providing young people with information on available resources, services and support structures. The event was attended by hundreds of young people from the EPWP database, unemployed youth, school children and students who experience various exhibitions and presentations.
“With our country going through tough economic times, unemployment at high levels and stagnant economic growth, we have to think outside of the box and explore how we, as a local government, can play a role in job creation and economic growth,” said Stellenbosch Executive Mayor Gesie van Deventer.
In addition, the DA-led municipality also launched a new entrepreneur hub which will be housed in the centrally located old Victoria Street Clinic. Local NPO, the Ranyaka Community Transformation, was awarded a 10-year lease to develop the space into a place where entrepreneurs can access services and business support. It will also be a place where local entrepreneurs can sell their products and services.
Should sufficient funding be received, plans are for renovations will commence in the first quarter of 2020.
Mayor van Deventer also added that these ventures show “our clear and unwavering commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and economic development in an inclusive and innovative way.”
The DA believes that entrepreneurship and small business development is key to job creation and economic growth and where we govern, we implement plans and programmes to drive this.