When you empower women, you empower the nation. Those were the words of City of Johannesburg officials as they kicked off an Entrepreneurship and Women Economic Empowerment workshop hosted by the Social Development Department on Wednesday, 08 June 2022, at Dlamini Multipurpose Centre in Soweto, Region D.
“The empowerment programme is about creating just and equitable societies. Women often face discrimination and persistent gender inequalities, with some women experiencing multiple discrimination and exclusion because of factors such as ethnicity or caste,” said Litshani Sidimela, Region D1 Programme Coordinator.
In partnership with the Opportunity Centre Unit, Department of Trade and Industry, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development as well as the United Nation’s Hand in Hand Southern Africa, the City aims to strengthen women’s rights and enable them to have control over their lives and exert influence in society.
About 100 women who had gathered at the Dlamini Multipurpose Centre were shown the ropes on how to start and sustain businesses. City officials directed them to Opportunity Centres that have been established to help small businesses flourish.
“Our Opportunity Centres help the youth, women in particular and the general public, to come up with business ideas then we help them to register those businesses. We also offer training and workshops and provide funding to small businesses that are funding ready.
“Our centre invites different organisations like SARS to educate young entrepreneurs and women about tax and other relevant information that has to do with entrepreneurship,” said Raymond Masuku from Atlehang Opportunity Centre, which is based at the Empowerment Zone in Diepkloof Zone 6.
The women were given basic information on how to become successful entrepreneurs, how to access business funding, increasing women participation in meaningful township economic activities and how to access information on education and training, employment, self-employment, citizenship and healthy lifestyle and wellbeing.
Judith Mhlongo, a community member from Soweto, said it was easy to start a business, but implementing and seeking help from organisations and centres were huge tasks. Now that people from Social Development, Department of Trade and Industry were here, she hoped there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
The City has eight Opportunity Centres spread across the seven regions from A in Midrand to G in Orange Farm. The centres are open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
Some of the services offered include:
• Business development & support to grow your business
• Entrepreneurship skills to capacitate your business
• Facilitation of access to finance, markets or opportunities to sustain your business
• Networking venues, meeting venues which must be pre-booked (subject to availability)
Consultation services:
• One-on-one consultations
• The provision of relevant business information
• Referral to relevant business support services
• Compliance advice
• Supply chain training
• Facilitation of funding through partners and stakeholders
Training offered:
• Business training
• Business management
• Financial management
• Bookkeeping
• Business idea generation
• Marketing strategy development
Written by Gontse “GeE” Hlophe
09/06/2022