Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Mogale City and Lepharo turn the key to unlock the economic potential of Munsieville.
In recognition of the potential of Gauteng’s informal economy and the SMME sector’s ability to drive economic growth, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), Mogale City and Lepharo have unveiled the Mogale City Incubation Hub. Valued at R13 million, the facility is strategically located to re-ignite the commercial potential of the Munsieville community, while providing access to skills and training that could quadruple the size of the local economy within three (03) years.
With projected infrastructure projects that are valued at R60 billion in the broader West Rand region in the next decade, the Hub creates an industrial corridor for innovation, partnership, and entrepreneurship. Servicing the construction and mining value chains, the infrastructure is earmarked as an enabler for cutting down youth unemployment and the capacitation of SMMEs.
The three-year programme, which is being implemented by Lepharo, an incubation centre for manufacturing, will take place with the support of PPC cement, SEDA and Gauteng Government’s Tshepo1million youth empowerment proramme. Each partner works with the candidates to educate and empower them through skills development, value creation and entrepreneurship mentorship. Forming part of Lepharo’s national incubation efforts, the qualifying and aspiring small and medium enterprises were invited to apply to be part of the incubation program.
Serving as a key to a more integrated and inclusive value chain, the game-changing intervention of the Hub is building internal networks of SMMEs owned by black industrialists that will better service all levels of business in the townships. The three projects which are Mining Incubation, Brick Manufacturing and the Construction Inputs and services hubs are developmental nodes that are ready for the inclusion of the SMMEs into their creation. With many in and around Mogale City actively seeking out economic opportunities, the multi-disciplinary approach to creating a new area of black industrialists creates an ecosystem that is indispensable for sustainable shared growth and social cohesion.
The matter of long-term security as a catalyst for shared prosperity remains a key component in this process. With spending on the projects aimed at directly building the economic capacity and linked employment, Tshepo 1Million, in partnership with Harambee Youth Empowerment Accelerator’s role in the identification and inclusion of the youth into the Incubation process is integral.
Speaking at the event, Mogale City Executive Mayor Councillor Francis Makgatho epitomised the launch of the Incubation Hub as a journey that starts with a single and then small following steps. Beginning with operation of the Hub to fight unemployment amongst youth, women and alleviating poverty among the most vulnerable greater things aligned to the West Rand Corridor development will follow. “We welcome the partnership with Provincial Government’s Economic Development and private sector affiliates to see the set up and operation of one of Gauteng’s best industrial parks i.e., not only by appearance but outcomes where we would have responded to the unemployment, skills development and economic challenges prevalent in Munsieville and surrounds”, concluded Mayor Makgatho.
The 15 companies identified had to meet the specifications of being 100% black owned, women owned, and youth owned (EME and QSE) i.e. of goods and services with experience and qualifications in the mining or related commodities. Companies with focus on areas such as mining related value chain, fuel and chemicals, metal commodities, engineering products as well as services, manufacturing of mining related products sand production consumables. To enrol in the next program, SMMEs can call Lepharo on 011 363 3920 on info@lepharo.co.za