By Noko Mashilo
Growing up in Duduza, Ekurhuleni, Sibusiso Radebe, 26, noticed a recurring issue that small businesses were frequently closing down.
His curiosity led him to investigate why they were failing. He discovered that a significant factor was a lack of marketing and advertising.
Determined to make a difference, he vowed that one day he would own a prestigious advertising agency to help sustain these businesses for future generations.
Radebe told Vutivi News that between 70% to 80% of small businesses failed within the first five years.
“It’s something I witnessed first-hand and it deeply affected me. That’s likely why I started PresiDA – to preserve the business legacies in the township. I want these businesses to grow and be sustainable, which is why my target market is small businesses in the township as well as big corporates looking to advertise in these areas through digital platforms,” he said.
PresiDA specialises in digital food menu boards, digital in-store advertising, signage, IT supply and training.
While studying IT at Damelin, Radabe enrolled in the National Youth Development Agency’s Entrepreneurship Development certificate programme in 2018.
The following year when he graduated with a Diploma in Information Technology, he had already grasped the importance of business compliance.
“For me, compliance can make or break you. Your business must be registered, have a separate bank account to avoid mixing business transactions with personal ones, and you must have a tax clearance certificate. If I hadn’t known these things, I would have been in trouble with SARS for non-compliance,” said Radebe.
He registered PresiDA in 2019, but only began trading in 2020.
“That same year, I joined the Black Umbrella incubator programme where I’m still involved today. I’ve earned several certificates, including Grow Your Own Business, Consumer Protection Act, B-BBEE, South African Tax, Business Finance, and Company Act.
“These certificates have equipped me with essential business skills, enabling me to manage costs effectively and set appropriate pricing for my services, which is crucial for business survival,” said Sibusiso, who credited these qualifications with significantly contributing to his business management.
He also understands the importance of B-BBEE and how to benefit from it.
“I’m an asset to large companies offering B-BBEE by supporting small businesses like mine. They’ve invested in my education and it also helps in securing preferential procurement,” added Radebe.
He is also part of the Propella incubator programme for Information Communication Technology training. Through this programme, he has learnt how to run his business more efficiently by leveraging IT concepts, which are vital in advertising.
“For example, my first billboard involved two components: a screen and a device. The device was connected to the screen and sourced from the United States. Today, I’ve found a simpler solution — a single system or software that directly operates the billboard. It’s user-friendly, connects to my laptop, and allows me to communicate with the billboard,” explained Radebe.
He is also involved with Eruditio’s incubator programme for business training, where he received a R50,000 grant to purchase equipment for his business.
He believes that resilience is crucial in business because it can be stressful at times.
“That’s why we need these incubators — to equip ourselves with the knowledge to run our businesses effectively,” said Sibusiso, who is committed to preventing the failure of small businesses.
