By: Noxolo Majavu
Beauty cosmetics company Toca Essentials, which graduated from the Gibela Business Incubator in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni, last week, is now in the process of listing its products in some larger retail stores. Lebohang Skosana from Tsakane is the owner of indigenous oils made with hemp, oils, and herbs. The company completed a three-year programme at the business incubator that aims to create an enabling environment for SMEs in Ekurhuleni by providing them with technical development skills.
The incubator was opened at the KwaThema Business Park last week. It partners with the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium, the City of Ekurhuleni, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). It provides support and opportunities to small businesses that are trying to access the market. “They assisted me with product training and bookkeeping services for the time that I was incubated there… I was able to test some of my products, which include the beard kit and wash and food butter,” Skosana told Vutivi News.
Skosana, who was inspired to start the business by her herbalist family, said that the programme had also improved her credibility as the products were tried and tested. The incubator, which was established in 2019, is especially interested in entrepreneurs and small enterprises that can become suppliers to the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium value chain. In addition, it aims to boost and develop economies in the communities surrounding Gibela’s plant in Dunnottar, Nigel.
According to Seda, the hub has assisted start-ups in gaining access to R10.3 million in funding for their businesses, and an additional R2 million through an agreement with the Small Enterprise Finance Agency. “The first cohort of enterprises were admitted in January 2021, of which 100% are black-owned businesses, 49% are women-owned businesses, 35% are youth-owned businesses, and 2% are businesses owned by persons with disabilities. “Since its inception, participating SMMEs have generated almost R20 million in turnover and created 121 jobs,” said Gibela Business Incubator CEO Justine Mogashoa.
Mogashoa told Vutivi News that the incubator currently has 65 small businesses signed up for the three-year incubation programme. And had assisted 113 small businesses during the 2023–2024 financial year with ad-hoc services (once-off clients). “We have five small businesses that graduated during the official launch. These businesses joined the incubation in 2021 and achieved milestones that show the products/services they offer are market-ready,” she said.
Some of the beneficiaries which have include businesses in ICT, beauty, and cosmetics. Meanwhile, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said the incubator was another testament to the government’s resolve to transform small businesses into real game-changers and catalysts for economic growth and job creation.
