| Metropolitan SMME Portal exhibits at the Cape Town Small Business Week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Here are some comments from the visitors to our stand: | ||
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Linda Cass – Amazing African Tours
Wonderful service and just what SMME’s need. Thx! |
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Jonas Taioe – Cornerstone Painting Services
Friendly people, approachable and with excellent service thanx Metropolitan SMME Portal for info!! |
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Mr. & Mrs. Mashape – Seedtime & Harvest
The start up phase of every SMME is challenging, your portal provides a valuable tap in for lead generation, networking etc. Awesome!! At no cost! God bless. |
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Archive for November, 2008
Cape Town Small Business Week
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008Tax Incentives May Help In Job Creation
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008The point that Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are the key to job creation and a source for economic growth has been made several times and I am sure there can be no sustained argument against that view. Government on their part have created multiple support organizations such as the Small Enterprises Development Agency, Umsobomvu Youth Fund and Khula Enterprise Finance Limited, with a view to creating a vibrant small business sector. The government believed that by providing support to the SMMEs, employment creation would follow naturally.
The most pertinent question, though is to what extent has such investment in SMME development yielded the much desired employment opportunities. Judging from the jobless economic growth we have seen in the last few years, the approach is definitely not working. Entrepreneurs are in business to make money and their priority is just that. We may not want to hear this but job creation, to put it crassly, is just a byproduct. Adam Smith explained how selfishness and self interest can lead to economic wellbeing and prosperity.
Now, how do we place job creation as a priority item on the agenda of entrepreneurs? In other words, how do we make job creation an opportunity fore entrepreneurs to make money? There should be tax incentives for businesses that create employment. The incentives should take into account the quality of jobs created measures by the salary paid, the number of jobs created and the sustainability of those jobs measured by the period of employment. This will encourage entrepreneurs to prioritise employment creation.
By Dumisane Mpafa
SMME Solutions
Partners Find Winning Recipe
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Four Eerste River entrepreneurs have literally put together their money where their mouths often are- around good food. But they’re making their money cooking food, and are providing good entertainment too.
The four are , Vusi Ngwenya, Eva Stuurman-Sofute and Pamela Gcanga-Ngwenya, who own Diverse Catering and Entertainment CC.
While the business’s focus is African cuisine, it does cater a variety of foods “to satisfy and suit” any occasions.
The four, who are two married couples, established the business partnership this year, each bringing different skill to share in the enterprise. They began operating in June and run it from the Sofute home.
After only three months they all agree that they have achieved a measure of success already.
Eager to get their business off the ground the four started out with only one stove and a few pots, but as demand has increased they have had to hire additional cooking utensils.
They also offer an entertainment. “We offer marimba music…..depending on the occasion, so that our clients can also be entertained while enjoying our delicious meals,” Said Ngwenya.
Sofute and Vusi came up with the idea of starting the catering business as both are experienced chefs who have worked for various restaurant and hotels.
While working at a hotel I thought “Why shouldn’t I start a catering company because I have 18 years experience” said Ngwenya.
So they teamed up and with their wives- Eva Stuurman-Sofute who has worked in the hospitality industry, and Pamela Gcanga-Ngwenya in bookkeeping – started the business.
But like most people entering into business for themselves they needed guidance on finding financial assistance. They had started up with their own funds but needed more money to keep up with the growing demand for their services so they approached staff at the Red Door offices in Table View for assistance.
Red Door is a provincial government initiative aimed at helping entrepreneurs with business advice and information.
“Red Door has been a great help in assisting us in finding finance to buy our own cooking material,” said Sofute.
Looking to the future, he said he and his partners hoped to move to proper business premises when money allowed and planned to build their business into one of the best catering concerns in Cape Town.