Press Statement For Immediate Release, 27 February, 2019.
Programme: 67CEOs Local Community SMME Development Programme 2019
Theme: Advancing Inclusive Ecosystems
Title: Media Release
South Africa’s real GDP growth is expected to rise to 1.5 per cent in 2019 and, to support this growth, the National Development Plan (NDP) estimates that SMMEs will generate 90% of the 11 million new jobs expected to be created in South Africa by 2030.
As a way to catalyse addressing the ‘triple challenges’ of high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, an advanced inclusive ecosystem is envisioned as a way of fast-tracking the development and establishment of SMMEs and entrepreneurs who can create much-needed jobs.
67CEOs and the event sponsor, Exxaro, believe that the growth of SMMEs, especially in local communities such as Mpumalanga will contribute substantially to the GDP growth and job creation goals set by the NDP.
With the support of corporate entities like Exxaro through its Enterprise and Supplier Development programme, 67CEOs will deliver its mandate to advance inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and increased economic inclusion while expanding financial and human capital for SMMEs. 67CEOs prides itself on creating avenues that seek to support, carry and advance ecosystems for budding entrepreneurs who continue to face systemic barriers to economic empowerment and independence.
“Exxaro believes that, unless we can power better lives for people, then we have not fulfilled our purpose. Exxaro will lead economic transformation by investing in black youth-owned and woman-owned small businesses that will create jobs in host communities and beyond.
We operate in an environment of vast inequality, poverty and unemployment, and we are mindful of the fact that we can only bring about change if we all work together. That is why we are delighted to partner with 67CEOs Foundation to help nurture small, micro and medium sized businesses.” says Mxolisi Mgojo, CEO of Exxaro.
The 67CEOs Foundation will host the first edition of its Local Community SMME Development Programme in 2019 made possible by Exxaro’s sponsorship. The event, hosted in Mpumalanga, is themed Advancing Inclusive Ecosystems, and is free and open to existing and potential entrepreneurs. 67CEOs, which provides mentorship and impactful entrepreneurship workshops to newly-established industrialists and SMMEs in partnership with CEOs and seasoned entrepreneurs (who volunteer their skills in service to inspire, mentor, coach and teach) will hold the two-day event to educate local start-up entrepreneurs and stimulate growth amongst local SMMEs.
“For us as a nation to see high-growth businesses emerge and thrive, the entrepreneurship ecosystem must be inclusive at all socio-economic levels. Public and private institutional policies and support should be designed and executed so they close historical gaps, alleviate poverty and create sustainable employments,” says Sam Apata, convener of 67CEOs Foundation.
Some of the key activities planned for the Local Community SMME Development Programme 2019 include: workshops, seminars, pitching sessions, speed mentoring and product demonstrations. CEOs, mentors and facilitators will participate in panel discussions and lead relevant workshops focusing on advancing inclusive ecosystems that encourage entrepreneurship and job creation in South Africa. There will be masterclass sessions on Business Model Canvas and SMME Financial Management. SMMEs will also have access to a platform through which to pitch their business ideas and will stand a chance to win business growth funding.
Some of the notable event speakers are:
- Tebogo Leepile, Group Community Development Manager of Exxaro
- Lusapho Njenge, Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme Manager of Exxaro
- Sandile Khumalo Supply Chain Sustainability Manager of Exxaro
- Mashiba Kgole, Provincial Manager of SEDA Mpumalanga
- Thuli Mashaba, CEO of Hula U Gude
- Derrick Ndzavi, Head: Mentorship Programme at 67CEOs Foundation
- Mahapa Mpitso, Chief Entrepreneurship Officer – CEO of “Buy Township Buy Village”
“SMMEs in Mpumalanga are invited to join prominent leaders in business at the Advancing Inclusive Ecosystems event. This is a great platform for education, inspiration, reflection, celebration, dialogue, networking and investment. Come and acquire the right knowledge that will position you for success in 2019 and beyond,” says Apata.
The event will cater for around 100 SMMEs to participate, with details as follows: Fortis Hotel, Witbank, Mpumalanga, on the 4th & 5th of March, 2019 at 9:00am – 3:00pm. To register for this event, follow the link: https://67ceos.org/smme-registration/
About Exxaro
Exxaro is a South African-based coal mining company listed on the JSE and included in the Responsible Mining Index. Exxaro’s portfolio of coal operations includes mines in Mpumalanga and Limpopo supplying to Eskom, other domestic markets and the export markets. Their investment portfolio also includes a 50% interest in Cennergi Pty Ltd, a joint venture with Tata Power, which has developed two wind farms with a combined generation capacity of 229MW (10% of the currently installed capacity of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
About 67CEOs
67CEOs Foundation is an independent, South African-registered, enterprise development non-profit organisation that hosts, amongst others, Mandela Day Entrepreneurship Drive every 18 of July and Global Entrepreneurship Week initiatives in November annually.
Read more about 67CEOs Foundation: https://67ceos.org/
The Primary Spokesperson for 67CEO’s Foundation is Derrick Ndzavi who can be contacted on +27 81 761 8997.
For media queries, interview requests and access to high res pics, please contact Sam Apata on sam@67ceos.org or 076 967 2318
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