Petro Maseko, a resident of Midrand, northern Joburg had one in a million opportunity when he pitched his business idea to Cllr Nkululeko Mbundu, the MMC of Economic Development.
“It was exciting,” said an elated Maseko after his pitch to Cllr Mbundu in a boardroom at the Ikamvalethu Opportunity Centre in Alexandra on Wednesday, 9 February. Maseko said he appreciated Mbundu’s feedback on his business proposal and considers this a rare opportunity.
The entrepreneur is creating a cell-phone application – Petro Shuttle Services – to empower drivers after he lost his job during the lockdown. He reached out to the Opportunity Centre in Alex because he believes they have the resources and partnerships to bring his business idea to life.
Cllr Mbundu was on an oversight visit at the Opportunity Centre to get perspective on the state of such facilities in the metro.
The centre manager, Bohlokoa Masai, took Mbundu on a walkabout of the facility, which boasts a training room with red walls, a large boardroom, a computer room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and offices for the centre manager, business advisor, and admin staff.
After the tour, Mbundu enjoyed freshly baked scones in the boardroom made by a local small, medium, and micro enterprise (SMME), Purple Apron, a successful beneficiary of the Alex Opportunity Centre.
“It’s important to bring services closer to residents. When people want to set up businesses, they don’t know where to start or where to go. This is a platform where they will get guidance from start to finish,” said Mbundu.
The MMC encouraged residents of Johannesburg to use any of the opportunity centres spread across the City.
Masai said the Alex Opportunity Centre has partnered with big corporate businesses in the area to provide opportunities for SMMEs in the community, particularly in construction.
“One of our partners is Investec, which afforded one of our SMMEs a project with the work-scope worth R2-million. We’re envisioning a great future for this community through opportunity centres, by bringing companies like SEDA, Innovation, and Sars on board,” Masai explains.
The nine opportunity centres in the City are designed to assist small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in their development and long-term viability strategies and to offer training services like business planning and supply chain management.
They offer consultation services, facility usage for businesses, including access to boardrooms for meetings, presentations, or interviews. They also offer job seekers an opportunity to register on the City’s database.
Residents can locate Opportunity Centres in each region of the metro:
• Khoebo Opportunity Centre in Johannesburg: 1st floor, 66 Jorissen Street, Jorissen Place, Braamfontein
• Isiqalo Opportunity Centre in Roodepoort: 4th floor, Roodepoort Civic Centre
• Thlabologo Opportunity Centre in Diepsloot: 1131 Ingonyama Street
• Thusanang Opportunity Centre in Klipfontein View, Klipfontein View Multipurpose Centre
• Ikamvalethu Opportunity Centre, Alexandra Multipurpose Centre
• Atlehang Opportunity Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto Empowerment Zone
• Simunye Opportunity Centre, Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre
• Joburg Market Opportunity Centre, 4 Fortune Street, City Deep
• Eldo’s Opportunity Centre, 4064 Link Road, Eldorado Park
Opportunity Centres are open every Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Written by Dakalo Ramudidibi and Brümilda Swartbooi
10/2/2022