In 2006, 50 years after the Women's March, the Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development, Tasneem Essop, has set aside R4 million to support 80 sustainable women's enterprises and R2 million to support 60 sustainable youth enterprises.
Why? Because developmental states have found an interesting correlation between entrepreneurs and economic growth. The Western Cape Government has identified the SME sector and entrepreneurs as a vehicle to bring about economic growth and development.
On August 18 the Premier of the Western Cape, Ebrahim Rasool, and Minister Tasneem Essop will honour the 140 entrepreneurs from across the Western Cape who will be receiving their letters of intent at a luncheon to be held at the Kenilworth Racecourse in Kenilworth, Cape Town.
In so doing, the Government is committing itself to:
The RED Door centers played a pivotal role in identifying suitable candidates. The Youth Commission assisted with identifying youth candidates.
Each of these entrepreneurs has already completed some distance of the journey. Their business plans were assessed in terms of the idea, market, financial requirements, cash flow and competency and skill. Each of them had to adhere to by laws and trade licenses.
This project will also bear non-quantifiable fruit:
For more information contact:
Agnes van den Berg
Manager: Communications
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Tel: 021 483 9160
Lynnette Johns
Media Liasion Officer to
Ms Tasneem Essop
Provincial Minister:
Environment, Planning and Economic Development
Tel: 021 483 3915
Fax: 021 483 6081