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Mpumalanga Business 2021-22

OVERVIEW Research done

OVERVIEW Research done by Seda shows that a high percentage of SMMEs in Mpumalanga are in the trade and accommodation sector. Whereas the national figure is about 43%, in Mpumalanga it is closer to 50%. Seda is a subsidiary of the National Department of Small Business Development. Seda is not a financial agency, focussing rather on training and administrative support, although the agency will help SMMEs get in touch with financial bodies. Seda supports several incubators in the province: Furntech, furniture manufacturing, White River; Mobile Agro-Skills Development & Training (MASDT), agricultural training, Nelspruit; Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative (MSI), stainlesssteel processing, Middelburg (with Columbus Stainless); Timbali floriculture, Nelspruit; Ehlanzeni TVET College Rapid Incubator Renewable Technologies, Nelspruit. Private companies In her 2021 State of the Province address, Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane paid tribute to private companies for providing employment opportunities to local people and for continuing to support small and emerging businesses. Bursary programmes and training programmes were also acknowledged. The companies mentioned were Sasol, Exxaro, Eskom, Sappi, Columbus Stainless, South32, Samancor, RCL foods, Mondi, Safcol, Glencore, Standard Bank, Absa Bank, Nedbank and First National Bank. At Exxaro’s Matla Mine, a black– and woman-owned business has grown in leaps and bounds with support from the mining company’s Enterprise and Supplier Development unit. Stenda Trading won contracts to do underground civil and underground cleaning services at the mine. This included building containment and explosion-proof walls, installing black brattices, reinforced brattices and air crossings, building refuge bays, concrete work and installing specialised doors. Exxaro extended a R9.2-million interestfree loan to the enterprise to purchase equipment, vehicles and a mobile office. ONLINE RESOURCES Gert Sibande TVET College: www.gscollege.edu.za Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency: www.mega.gov.za Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative: www.mpstainless.co.za Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.org.za The Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative helps SMMEs develop products. Credit: MSI Sappi’s long-term Ngodwana mill project will spend more than R600-million on procuring goods and supplies from broad-basedblack-economic-empowered companies, of which R51-million will go to SMMEs. Other companies supporting SMMEs through their buying chain include Woolworths and Anglo American. Woolworths funds TechnoServe to ensure that small tomato growers can grow produce that will meet the demanding standards of the retailer, and to help them expand production. Anglo American’s Zimele runs four enterprise development and investment funds. Zimele runs hubs related to the supply chains of platinum, thermal coal and, with Mondi, forestry. ■ MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2021/22 50

Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism The voice of business in Ehlanzeni. As the official representative body of business and tourism in the Kruger Lowveld (Ehlanzeni District), our main mandates are to promote the region as a tourism and investment destination, to provide a diverse suite of networking and marketing opportunities for our members, and to represent and speak on behalf of the business and tourism community of our area. We do this by building and maintaining meaningful relationships with all spheres of government as well as like-minded organisations, and by acting as liaison between these entities and the business community. KLCBT’s president is Ms Sandra Jacobs (pictured). Area of operation The Kruger Lowveld covers the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga, including the following local municipalities: City of Mbombela, Thaba Chweu, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge, as well as the southern part of Kruger National Park and the surrounding private nature reserves. Member benefits Listing on website, Pay-to-Play participation in various marketing services and projects, weekly newsletter, invitations to all KLCBT events, advocacy and representations made by KLCBT on behalf of members, access to preferential arrangements negotiated by KLCBT with service providers, brochure display at Crossing Centre office, various sponsorship options, access to tender information. We are actively involved in the following advocacy campaigns: Service delivery: Public participation in various forums where government engages with stakeholders regarding budgets, planning and legislation. Promote home-grown businesses through education processes, research, maintaining a database, lobbying for stricter regulations Contact details Physical address: KLCBT House, Crossing Centre, Nelspruit Postal address: Private Bag X 11326, Nelspruit 1200 Tel: +27 13 755 1988. Fax: +27 13 753 2986 Email: business@klcbt.co.za and tourism@klcbt.co.za Website: www.klcbt.co.za Sandra Jacobs on large shopping chains, engaging large chains to buy local and to spend their CSI budgets locally. Local Economic Development: We are assisting with incubation in seven main corridors, mainly adding additional tourism products. Anti-corruption: Several successful initiatives reduced roadside corruption. Water: Bulk-water supply faces a future crisis and lobbying for the increase of storage capacity is beginning to show success. Roads and public attractions: Require upgrades and investment. Safety and security: A concern for all regions in SA. ■ 51 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2021/22

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