Emerging township entrepreneurs must form strategic partnerships, pool their purchasing power, and embrace digital technology to gain a competitive edge in local and global markets.
This was the central message delivered by Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, during an empowerment workshop hosted by the Methodist Church’s Young Women’s Manyano in Duncan Village, KwaGompo, Eastern Cape.
Addressing attendees at an event designed to connect local ventures with government support programmes, Godlimpi advised that operating independently limits scale.
He noted that foreign-owned businesses have successfully dominated sectors like township spaza shops precisely by clubbing together to procure stock in bulk from wholesalers at lower prices. Godlimpi urged South Africa’s micro-enterprises to adopt these same collective strategies to boost their buying power, lower operational costs, and compete effectively.
Beyond collective buying, Godlimpi encouraged business owners—many of whom showcased craft products including beadwork, pottery, and textiles at a mini-exhibition—to modernise operations through digital tools, establish an online presence, and look beyond national borders for market expansion.
Supporting the initiative, Buffalo City Metro Mayor Princess Faku highlighted municipal efforts to equip local artisans with machinery. Faku also urged young women to branch into urban agriculture, noting its untapped economic potential within the metro.
For local entrepreneurs like cultural artist Lwandisa Monqo, the workshop provided actionable strategies to navigate tough market dynamics.
According to the Competition Commission’s findings on the township economy, small enterprises face major hurdles in sourcing, regulatory compliance, and distribution—barriers that keep them from scaling or integrating into broader supply chains.
By leveraging shared purchasing models, adopting modern technologies, and tapping into targeted government support, township enterprises can overcome these structural barriers, transition from survivalist micro-ventures, and build sustainable enterprises that drive regional economic growth.
