Eastern Cape Business 2017 edition

OVERVIEW
means the company can move
to commercialisation. PolyFibre
uses recycled plastic and pineapple
waste.
The Small Enterprise
Development Agency (Seda)
is an agency of the national
Department of Trade and
Industry, and gives non-financial
support to entrepreneurs
through training, assistance with
filling in forms, marketing and
creating business plans. It often
helps small businesses draft applications
for loan finance. Seda’s
main provincial office is East
London, with nine other offices
located throughout the province.
Several of Seda’s technology
incubators are in the Eastern
Cape. Port Elizabeth is the head
office of the Chemin incubator
which supports SMMEs in the
downstream chemical sector.
Furntech (a furniture incubator)
has a branch in Mthatha and there
are also construction incubators
in Mthatha and Port Elizabeth.
The Seda Nelson Mandela Bay
ICT Incubator (SNII) promotes
entrepreneurship in the ICT sector.
It also supports several small
companies in sub-sectors ranging
from hardware and software
to graphics and web and systems
analysis. In 2016, a new technology
research and development
centre (R&D Lab) was launched
at its Newton Park technology office
in Port Elizabeth. The facility
offers assistance and support to
design and develop apps, software
solutions, as well as electronic
and mechanical device
prototypes.
The Masisizane Fund offers
loan financing at good rates and
training through its Business Accelerator programme. As a non-profit
initiative of the Old Mutual Group, the fund focusses on the cash
flow of potential businesses rather than insisting on security in the
form of property or something similar.
In 2016, Absa Bank launched a new Enterprise Development
Centre, the eighth of its kind in South Africa. The centre aims to
give small businesses access to finance and to help entrepreneurs
find markets.
As part of its Small Contractor Development, Training and
Community Participation programme, the South African National
Roads Agency (SANRAL) offered training in 2016 to 20 people from
four SMME sub-contractors in the making of dolosse. Dolosse are the
large inter-locking blocks of concrete used to protect the N2 and railway
line from the sea. Eight of the 2.5-ton dolosse are manufactured
every day. The project’s main concrete subcontractor is Dynaform.
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) provides financial support
from R250 000 up to R75-million for start-ups, the expansion of
existing business, as well as the acquisition of equity. In the Eastern
Cape, the NEF is supporting companies working in the fields of solar
energy, restaurant franchises and transport.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has a section devoted
to SME support on its website and offers mentorship to start-ups
and entrepreneurs. The Border-Kei Chamber of Business is similarly
supportive.
The Eastern Cape Exporters’ Club honoured two SMEs in 2016:
Mend-A-Bath International (whose headquarters are in Port Elizabeth)
won a merit award for entrepreneurial flair and Hansens Engineering
won for increasing turnover and profitability in the medium
enterprise category.
All businesses are expected to register with the Department of
Labour and contribute towards the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Business Partners: www.businesspartners.co.za
Department of Trade and Industry: www.dti.co.za
Development Bank of Southern Africa: www.dbsa.org
Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency: www.ecrda.co.za
Eastern Cape Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za
Industrial Development Corporation: www.idc.co.za
Unemployment Insurance Fund: www.labour.gov.za
National Empowerment Fund: www.nefcorp.co.za
South African Institute of Entrepreneurship:
www.entrepreneurship.co.za
Small Enterprise Development Agency: www.seda.co.za
Small Enterprise Finance Agency: www.sefa.org.za
55 EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017