SPEAKING at the official launch of the Township ICT and Digital Technology Incubator in the Neave industrial area of Gqeberha, the Minister of Small Business development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, said young entrepreneurs should explore opportunities in energy to help South Africa to provide sufficient electricity to power the economy.
According to Ndabeni-Abrahams, the country needed a stable electrical power supply.
“The challenge is for SMMEs to come up with innovative solutions. Every crisis brings opportunity,” she said.
Ndabeni-Abrahams said power should be seen as part of the business ecosystem, which included water and logistics.
“There are opportunities in the entire ecosystem,” she said.
Propella Business Incubator is a partnership between the Nelson Mandela University (49%) and Engeli Enterprise Development.
The township hub is a partnership between Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and Propella Business Incubator (PBI).
The partnership aimed at bridging the gap between township and technology for grassroots, rural and township entrepreneurs.
Ndabeni-Abrahams said through on-site or virtual ICT support services and a development platform, the incubator offered young entrepreneurs, with viable digital or technology concepts, the opportunity to transform their ideas into viable businesses.
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Eugene Johnson, described the incubator as a good example of the success that could be achieved through co-operative partnerships that included the city, SEDA, academia and business.
“For us, it is important that both the formal and informal economy is revived in Nelson Mandela Bay,” she said. “The city is keen to assist any incubator programme that helps young people to realise their potential.”
Speaking after a tour of the facility and meeting the entrepreneurs, SEDA chairperson, Dr Joy Ndlovu, said it was very encouraging to see young people wanting to be part of the solution, rather than complaining about what was wrong.
“The youth are doing things for the benefit of the community.
“They are finding solutions to the problems we face as a society,” she said.
“The choice of the location of the incubator is strategic because it creates a link between the township and the industrial zones of the municipality. The two economies need to merge,” said township incubator manager, Nafeesa Dinie.
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