Let’s build a nation of job creators and not job-seekers, says Minister Zulu
14 Jun 2018
The Department of Small Business Development wants to create a nation of job creators and not a nation of job-seekers. This was said today by Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, at the launch of Ekurhuleni West Centre For Entrepreneurship Rapid Youth Incubator in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni.
The Rapid Incubation Programme is part of the Department of Small Business Development’s programme to address the issue of youth unemployment in South Africa.
“Through this centre, we seek to provide students and participants with the theoretical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills that will enable them to start and run successful enterprises. We are determined to promote and inculcate an entrepreneurship culture among young people and to provide support to emerging entrepreneurs/start-ups in the City of Ekurhuleni”, said Minister Zulu.
Minister Zulu said that she was concerned about the high collapse rate of small businesses. “The high mortality rate of SMMEs is a matter of concern for us as government. Given their sheer numbers and propensity to fail, it is critical to have interventions such as these that seek to ensure that SMMEs can be self-sustaining”.
The Rapid Incubation programme allows student graduates an entrepreneurial platform to commercialise their vocational skills and move them from “job seekers to job creators”. The programme seeks to utilise the skills of TVET graduates to encourage and promote an entrepreneurship culture and providing the student incubatees with the necessary tools and techniques to establish their own businesses, and thus contributing to economic growth and job creation.
“Youth-targeted interventions in South Africa are needed to enable young South Africans to actively participate and engage in society and the South African economy’, she said. Minister added: “The marginalisation of young people is primarily manifested in high youth unemployment. In a job-scarce environment, joining the world of work is particularly difficult for young people but this not just a problem for South Africa only”.
The new Rapid Incubator will assist youth owned start-ups with the necessary infrastructure, networking and mentoring to overcome some of the barriers identified in their entrepreneurial journey.
Centres for Entrepreneurship that the department is launching across the country are dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship, venture- creation, and economic development through Universities and TVETs.
They drive the creation of early stage youth-owned enterprises both in the universities or colleges and provide a support platform to existing businesses outside the university or college establishment and its surrounding catchment.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Monama
Spokesperson Department of Small Business Development
Cell:060 960 3158
E-mail: Cmonama@dsbd.gov.za
