Its about time

I am very happy that the city is looking into this. As an entrepreneur, I have a fully registered business. I own a digital transformation company that is focused on Internet Service Provision and Cybersecurity. I am in the process of obtaining my ICASA licenses in order to start operations. I am also enrolled into a cybersecurity course starting end of June, for now we do POPIA advisory and Cybersecurity Consulting.

As a ward committee member, as a business sector representative in my Ward, I speak to many business people and the sentiment and frustration is that it is VERY difficult doing business with the City. I was told to register with the Western Cape because it is actually easier to work with the Western Cape Government than the City of Cape Town.

I understand that the City has to follow strict protocols and procedures, but as mentioned, it is us the SMMEs that will be creating the jobs desperately needed. I read a sad article that mentioned that roughly 6% of SA citizens have registered businesses, the rest are all looking for jobs. I know that the city is probably in the lead when it comes to this but more can be done.

It is frustrating as an entrepreneur, to have to consider employment because the "system" seems to be working against me. Entrepreneurship should be made an alternative. The schooling system is already failing us by producing employees, whom are mostly not even employable. Entrepreneurship is the key to lifting people out of poverty and building local economies. In Khayelitsha, very few entrepreneurs benefit from the highly lucrative local economy. Big business is extracting value and leaving locals to fight for scraps.

One of the best ways to help us entrepreneurs is to bring business services closer to where we are based. I am based in Khayelitsha, and I am yet to see any business support services in the area that are City of Cape Town's. In 2 years, I have had 1 interaction with The Business Hub in Khayelitsha. Promises were made that the team would return. I was told that I needed to travel to the City in order to get the service I need. Local structures are NOT built for entrepreneur or business support, because they are run by employees who do not understand nor have the capacity to assist entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs should be represented by entrepreneurs, not employees.

Another way is to get SMMEs involved in the City's huge BPO investments. A large percentage of the people who work at these BPOs are based in the Cape Flats, how about we bring a BPO or two to the communities where the employees live, so that we also get the convenience of working where we live. Entrepreneurs can bridge this by being the local support. This will also go a long way in developing our local economies. Townships need to stop being places of extraction and rather places of investment. The potential that lives in the Cape Flats and surroundings is HUGE, it only needs commitment. Please help entrepreneurs make it, so that we can create all those highly needed jobs.