- Site C Business Forum teams up with Standard Bank to teach township traders how to grow and register their businesses.
- The aim is to help business owners manage money better and build legacies for future generations.
Business owners in Khayelitsha want to change how people see their area — and they’re using business to do it.
The Site C Business Forum invited Standard Bank to teach local traders how to run their businesses properly, register them, and get access to real opportunities.
Chwayita Khoncoshe, Deputy Chairperson and spokesperson of the Forum, said people need to know that Site C is home to hardworking entrepreneurs — not just crime.
“There are successful businesses here, run by people who grew up in Site C. They are giving back and saying no to crime,” she said. “We formed the Forum to help small businesses grow.”
Standard Bank was invited to support the effort by sharing knowledge and helping township businesses formalise.
“We want businesses in Khayelitsha to be taken seriously,” said Khoncoshe. “Some of these people have been selling since we were kids. Now it’s time for them to get access to government support.”
She said they also want the bank to help informal traders like street vendors and spaza shop owners understand how to manage their money.
“People must stop keeping all the money to themselves because it’s easy to spend. They must learn to save and grow,” said Khoncoshe.
Standard Bank’s Provincial Head Enterprise Director, Nqobile Nzuza, said their goal is to grow the economy by supporting small businesses.
“Many township businesses have been running for years but were only registered recently,” said Nzuza. “We teach business owners how to manage their money and plan for the future.”
He said many businesses don’t have succession plans.
“If a father or mother dies, the business dies with them. We want to change that. Children should be part of the business so they can keep it going,” said Nzuza.
Nyameko Mvinjelwa, one of the attendees, said the workshop helped them understand compliance, business ethics and how to network.
“Events like these are important, especially now when so many people are unemployed,” said Mvinjelwa.
Pictured above: Site C Business Forum invited Standard Bank to teach businesspeople how to run a successful business.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
