Co-operatives seem set to become the preferred choice of business in Alexandra.
Co-operatives seem set to become the preferred choice of business in Alexandra.
Most of the businesses in this township operate with tight budgets. They are mostly spaza and tuck shops, vendors and hawkers, hairdressers, taxis and creches, welders and panel beaters, motor repairs, housing and road construction, vegetable gardening, waste recyclers, environment and landscaping.
And they have been drifting towards a collective form of business operations for survival and to become profitable.
The co-operative models have become their preferred option after the launch of the Alex district of the South African National Apex Co-operative Organisation (Sanaco).
The district was launched this week after 18 additional members joined 48 previous members.
Violet Mabaso, secretary of Sanaco Joburg region, said the formation of the district confirmed the growing confidence in co-operatives as a viable business model. She said they needed support to access business opportunities, and to organise themselves better. In turn, the region she said, would support the district through workshops on productivity, business principles and on developing business plans. And could provide access to other support through its membership of the women’s council of the city council, and would get them affiliated to the youth and disability councils for other benefits. Mabaso added that other support would be provided through legal and financial service providers to enable them to function with full and updated legal status.
Tidimalo Nkotoe, chairperson of Sanaco’s women’s wing in Gauteng, said membership to the district would avail lots of opportunities to the co-operatives provided they remained organised and committed.
The opportunities include accessing incentives worth R100 000 from the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, R360 000 from the Department of Trade and Industry, and also some of the R1.2 billion allocated to co-operatives and small businesses by the City’s recently launched Jozi@work programme.
She urged members to strengthen their organisational structures, governance, financial management, knowledge of business operations, legislation, and of how to access funding opportunities.
“The region will strengthen you through sessions on group dynamics and business mindset to make you full-time entrepreneurs,” she said.
She concluded that the main challenge was the lack of a hub where members could get all essential services for their operations.
Details: Violet Mabaso 083 517 6087.
