Latest news with #Masilela
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga business owners discover opportunities at MSME seminar
The MEC for economic development and tourism, Makhosazane Masilela, said R1.5m has been released to support Mpumalanga-based micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). She said this while hosting the two-day seminar and exhibition for MSMEs and co-operatives, aimed at providing valuable insight and guidance on non-financial and financial services offered by the government and its implemented agencies. The event took place in Sabie on May 19, and Bushbuckridge the following day. Masilela said the sessions were intended to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to strengthen their involvement in local and international markets. ALSO READ: KwaMhlanga entrepreneurs walk 300km to provincial government for change 'I must indicate that these events are not only intended to impart valuable economic development information and skills, but we also use them as a barometer to gauge the level of awareness of our small enterprises about the programmes and interventions offered by government, in collaboration with the private sector, geared towards stimulating business growth,' Masilela said. She added that financial support is made available for entrepreneurs through one of its entities: the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency. ALSO READ: 43 000 Mpumalanga residents lose jobs in first quarter of 2025 A local entrepreneur, Lucky Khoza, went to the event and shared his excitement over attending such an engagement for the first time. 'This seminar has opened my eyes to opportunities I never knew existed and also funding I never thought I could access. I'm excited to share my business ideas within the private sector as well, to gain assistance in taking my business to the next level,' Khoza said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
MunMEC aims to foster collaboration
On a mission to foster collaboration between the provincial and local spheres of government, the MEC for economic development and tourism, Makhosazane Masilela, convened a virtual MunMEC on April 22. The MunMEC is a structure, comprising provincial municipalities and Masilela, which ensures mutual consultation, policy co-ordination and aims to achieve a coherent government for effective provision of support to rural and township businesses. In order for the seventh administration to realise its key priorities – to drive inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty, as a department and as municipalities – we need a deliberate a coherent approach as we deal with economic development matters in the province. Working together with our municipalities we should be able to drive meaningful economic growth that will, in turn, contribute towards creating much-needed jobs and the eradication of poverty,' said Masilela. This structure has been established to ensure that interaction and engagement are strengthened between MMCs for local economic development and the department, in order to improve the functioning of local economic development and the manner in which support for small enterprises is co-ordinated. The MunMEC deliberated on the township revitalisation programme. The department has already developed a red tape reduction strategy to provide support to municipalities aimed at simplifying doing business with small enterprises and the broader informal sector. ALSO READ: WATCH: Mpumalanga Nursing College students demand better studying environment The department has committed to strengthening partnerships with municipalities, to ensure that the regulatory environment in the townships and rural areas is conducive for businesses to thrive, without experiencing cumbersome red tape. The feedback on this was that more emphasis should be placed on economic transformation through the continued support and nurturing of the informal sector. Masilela urged municipalities to assist spaza shop owners, who are compliant with the relevant regulations, to apply for financial support from the R500m Spaza Shop Fund recently launched by the Department of Small Business Development. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga premier releases investigation report on R2m laptops 'Let us take advantage of the fund, meant to support spaza shops that are compliant with the regulations. We have a responsibility to assist them to register, because the fund is meant for the whole country and Mpumalanga must also benefit from it,' said Masilela. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
