The awards, which stem from the consultative engagements that the Gauteng government held with over 50 000 entrepreneurs across 65 townships in the province, are aimed at showcasing, recognising and rewarding township business excellence.
Maile says the awards, first concept in the country would build and cement confidence in township-based businesses.
“We have inspirational stories of township entrepreneurs breaking through hostile and adverse conditions of the apartheid system, which effectively criminalised and stifled black enterprise and building formidable brands and industries.
We need a new generation of successful township business people who are engaged in various sectors of the economy, producing the very goods that our households consume on a daily basis. We |have to break the paradigm of townships only being consumer-driven service economies to townships as productive sites and thriving commercial centres” said Maile.
To qualify for the competition, participants must have amongst others be South African citizens residing in Gauteng, own a registered business, have a tax clearance certificate, financial statements, an annual turnover of less than R2 million.
The prizes for the awards are designed to address the peculiar challenges facing township businesses by offering:
• Cash injections up to the value of R1 million
• All expenses paid learning trip to some of the world’s leading innovators with strong entrepreneurship culture
• Mentorship and incubation provided by established businesses across various trades and sectors as well as
• Business tools to enhance performance and output
The awards are part of the Township Revitalization Programme.
The ceremony begins from 6pm with loads of performances lined-up.
Meanwhile, The Bontle Ke Botho (BkB) Clean Up Relay will be going to Ekurhuleni as its next stop.
It happens at Tsakane Community Hall, Tsakane Township on Sunday March 13.
The relay, which focuses on partnerships with municipalities and entrenching cleanliness in communities, will be clubbed with the Ekurhuleni Clean Neighbourhood initiative.
This partnership will see Ekurhuleni going to greater heights in terms of cleanliness, especially given the fact that Ekurhuleni has been consistent with its cleaning efforts and sustainability.
The BkB relay which started at the City of Tshwane after the Provicial Launch on the 31st Jan 2016, has already been launched in Toekomsrus, Ranfontein in the Westrand Municipality. Ekurhuleni is now the third Municipality to receive the baton and reintroduce the BkB in Ekurhuleni.
All regions in Gauteng will have a chance to receive the baton and participate in this Clean Up relay which run for an entire week after the launch and thereafter, municipalities must sustain the momentum of cleaning as well as addressing challenges met as cleaning initiatives continue.
In his comments on the BkB relay and partnering with Municipalities, MEC Lebogang Maile said: “We are very excited to see BkB gaining momentum and growing. Our relationship and partnerships with Municipalities will not only entrench cleanliness in communities but will encourage communities to join initiatives of cleanliness in communities and play a meaningful role in keeping their environment clean.”
Ekurhuleni Metro has supported the BkB Campaign since its inception in 2002.
Many wards and schools including the municipality itself have won provincial BkB prizes several times for initiating best environmental action projects.
Through winning the BkB first prizes, Ekurhuleni qualified to participate in the Department of Environmental Affairs’ National Greenest Municipality Competition (GMC) and won the first prize in 2013.
This made Ekurhuleni Metro the first Gauteng Municipality to win the first prize in the GMC. It comes as no surprise that their Clean Neighbourhood initiative has already bore fruits and continues to put Ekurhuleni at the forefront of environmental care.
The Ekurhukeni BkB Clean Up relay launch in partnership with Ekurhuleni Clean Neighbourhood initiative will take place as follows:
It begins from 7am.
Ed. Its unfortunate the campaign happens at the time streets in Joburg are filthy as a result of the strike by municipal workers.
