NEWS5 October 2007 Page 5

DERRICK DLAMINI

A RECORD crowd attendedthe city’s Small Business Fair,held at the Durban Exhib-ition Centre at the weekend.

With some 350 exhibitorsdisplaying their products andservices the fair was thebiggest in its nine-yearhistory.

Philip Sithole, Acting Headof the Business Support Unit(BSU), which organised thefair, said it had been aresounding success.

“More than 400 delegatesattended the fair’s con-ference, and we had 8 700visitors. And the number ofcorporates that participatedwas more than 10 – anincrease on previous years.”

Exhibitors represented allsectors of industry, frommanufacturing to tourism.

Among the highlights wasthe SMME (Small, Mediumand Micro Enterprise) Busi-ness Conference.

Respected business expertsshared tips with smallbusiness owners on how tobe more competitive, acces-sing global markets and usingprocurement as a tool forempowerment.

The conference, held inpartnership with Small Ent-erprise Development Agency(Seda) and the DurbanChamber of Commerce, alsodiscussed the World Cup as aspur for economic growth.

SkillsAddressing small business

operators and visitors, Kwa-Zulu-Natal MEC for Financeand Economic DevelopmentZweli Mkhize said there was agrave need for a skills rev-olution and gave the assur-ance that the partnershipbetween government insti-tutions and the private sectorwould continue to empowersmall businesses.

“We need to focus ourinvestment on emergingentrepreneurs to develop askilled society.”

Mkhize said there were stilldifficulties facing the sector,including a skills shortage,finance, infrastructure, man-agement and market regu-lations. “There’s a need todevelop a regional facilitycatering for all small busi-nesses to deal with thesechallenges.”

City Manager Michael Sut-cliffe urged small businessesto grasp opportunitiesoffered by the World Cup.

“Start thinking big andstrive to improve the qualityand quantity of your pro-ducts and services,” he said.

Sutcliffe advised SMMEsintending to sell productsduring 2010 not to use Fifa

logos and to respect theworld football governingbody’s rules aimed at stamp-ing out “ambush marketing”.

Business owners could,however, use the phrase“Durban 2010” as it was anofficial host city, he said.

The BSU’s Bruce Buthelezistressed the significance ofemerging entrepreneurschanging their mindset fromone of dependency to one ofa merchant. “The onus is onyou to pursue and hone yourentrepreneurship skills. You

are no longer the tool carriersbut are merchants in yourown right,” Buthelezi said.

The presence of Phil Cole,of the Leeds City Council,offered entrepreneurs anopportunity to network withoverseas markets.

Top businessman ThamiMazwai told businesses toadopt a more aggressiveapproach to global markets.

“This is not only an eco-nomic necessity, but it letsyou take your place in thecommunity of nations as

equals. Let the world knowthat South Africa is home toquality goods, services andknowledge,” he said.

Adding glamour to thisyear’s fair was a fashion showby Sweety-Nu 4U models,who paraded creations byemerging fashion designer,Thandeka Xaba, turning theaisles of the exhibition centreinto a catwalk.

Bead’ifferent Jewellery Ent-erprise’s Thandeka Mchunudescribed the fair as a uniquebusiness occasion.

“The amount of exposure,business contacts and link-ages were amazing. What I’vegathered during these threedays will set me working onbusiness ventures for the nextfive years and beyond,” said adelighted Mchunu.

First-time exhibitor SachunPillay, co-owner of Food-On-Wheels, said: “This really setsyou up for bigger oppor-tunities. The municipalityand government must becommended.”

dlaminisd@durban.gov.za

Bumper Small Business FairWith 350 stallholders exhibiting there was something to suit every taste

GOOD TURNOUT: Zama Khumalo, of Glamorous Boutique, shows Mafi Nhlumayo some of her designs during thecity’s Small Business Fair at the Durban Exhibition Centre Pictures: DERRICK DLAMINI

BEST FOOT FORWARD: Thulane Shezi of T.tee proudlyexhibits some of his wares

FAIR DEAL: MEC for Finance and EconomicDevelopment Zweli Mkhize greets businesses

SIFISO XULU

THERE’S good news for hun-dreds of city business owners,with the expansion of themunicipality’s BusinessRetention and Expansion(BR&E) Programme to a largenew area of south Durban.

At the recent local launch,City Manager Michael Sut-cliffe said the municipality

understood the fears andaspirations of businesspeople in the area and theinitiative was its way ofopening communication.

“We know business ownersget frustrated. They want toknow how we are going to

sort out crime and themassive trucking problem inSouth Durban.

“I believe they also want toknow how they can benefitfrom the investment plannedfor the city. The BR&E pro-gramme is our way of finding

out what businesses needand communicating what wehave planned. We have topromote growth, and weneed help from businesses inthe area to make that areality,” Sutcliffe said.

The programme is a part-

nership by the South DurbanBasin Area Based Manage-ment Team, the Durban In-vestment Promotion Agencyand the Durban Chamber ofBusiness and Industry.

Chamber President ThembaNgcobo said more than 60%

of new jobs were createdthrough existing businesses.

“It is critical we offer incen-tives to businesses in Durbanto expand and continue tooperate where they are,rather than allowing them tomigrate,” said Ngcobo.

For more information,contact Nondumiso Ntuli on031 336 2512 or nondumiso.ntuli@dipa.co.za .

Support for South Durban companies

JOE MAJOLA

THE municipality paidtribute to women struggleveterans with a specialcelebration at the Bat Centrelast week.

It was to honour womenwho had risked losing theirlives and their families toplay an important role inhelping fight for the freedomand democracy that we enjoytoday.

In an address at the event,Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo,said: “In August we had anumber of activities as wecelebrated Women’s Monthand this symbolised theimportance of women’scontribution in South Africa.

“It is important weacknowledge the role playedby women.

“Our constitution ensuredthat women are free andhave opportunities toparticipate in the new SouthAfrica,” said Naidoo

One of the veterans,Alzinah Zondi, praised themunicipality forremembering thecontributions women madeto achieving democracy.

Glad“We have walked a mile

and some of our sisters andbrothers did not make it butwe are glad to be part of sucha celebration.

“I know some veterans whowere assaulted and abusedby police in the apartheiddays, but we made it.”

Samukele Khumalo, aGender Co-ordinator withthe CommunityParticipation Unit, whoorganised the event, said shewas delighted with itssuccess.

“We wanted women to feelappreciated, especially thoseinvolved in the struggle.

“As the municipality we arethankful and we want tosend a message to the newgeneration that the strugglestill continues and we shouldreflect on these women’sachievement.

“They had a purpose in lifeand a vision of the future ofthis country,” said Khumalo.

She said the municipalitywould continue to visitwomen veterans at theirhomes to document theirpart in the struggle.

She said the municipalitywas not ignoring thecontribution made by men,but “we wanted to give timeto the women as they arepeople who have beenforgotten”.

Womenstruggleveteranshonoured