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Thursday 17 March 2016

Entrepreneur Magazine News


South African Government Grants

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There’s a pervasive myth that there’s no funding available for businesses. This is not the case – if you meet the criteria there’s government grants available for your business.
South-African-Union-Buildings
The South African government is well aware of the importance of developing the economy, creating employment and attracting foreign investment.
To make these goals a reality, there are grants and assistance programmes available from the government and associated organisations that can get your business off the ground and expanding.

What is a government grant?

It is an award of funds from the government that does not need to be repaid, does not accrue interest, and has strict guidelines for application. Grants available from the government usually tie in with its key deliverables such as black economic empowerment, job creation and developing the economy – to name some.

 Related: Government Funding and Grants for Small Businesses

Do you have to repay a Government Grant? 

South-African-money
Unlike a loan, a grant is an award of money that is non-repayable – meaning there is no obligation by the receiving parties to repay the money received. While the government is one of the best sources of grants, its selection criteria is strict and paperwork intensive, and the receiving business is obligated to spend the funds in a manner specified by the provider.
Most funds available in South Africa have their own specific requirements, so it’s advisable to research each fund carefully to assess their criteria and up your chances of receiving funding.

List of Government Grants for Business

The best place to start with researching government grants for business is through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). By visiting www.thedti.gov.za, you can explore a number of funding options from grants to incentives and all their qualifying criteria. Some grants available include:
Related: Government Loans

1. Aqua-culture Development and Enhancement  Programme (ADEP)

This programme is available to registered entities involved in primary, secondary and ancillary aquaculture projects for both marine and fresh water. It is approved for new, existing and upgrading entities. See more at here.

2. Automotive Investment Scheme (AIS)

This scheme is designed to grow and develop the automotive industry through investment in new and replacement models and components  that will increase production volumes, sustain and increase employment, and strengthen the automotive value chain. See more here.

3. Black Business  Supplier Development Programme (BBSDP) 

This is a cost-sharing grant offered to black-owned businesses to improve their competitiveness and sustainability. It aims to fast-track small and micro-enterprises, foster links between black-owned businesses, corporates and public sector, and to complement affirmative procurement and outsourcing. It provides grants to a maximum of R1 million. See more at here.

4. Business Process Services (BPS)

This scheme aims to attract investment and create employment in South Africa through  off-shoring activities. It involves a three-year tax-exempt grant for qualifying businesses. See more here.

5. Capital Projects  Feasibility Programme (CPFP)

The Capital Projects Feasibility Programme is a cost-sharing grant contributing to the cost of feasibility studies for projects that will lead to increased local exports and stimulate the local manufacturing sector. See more here.

6. Critical Infrastructure Programme (CIP)

This is aimed at improving the infrastructure of South Africa. The grant covers a minimum of 10% to a maximum of 30% of total development costs of qualifying infrastructure. See more here.

7. The Co-operative Incentive Scheme (CIS)

This scheme is a 90:10 cost-sharing grant for registered primary cop-operatives of five or more members to improve the viability and competitiveness. See more at here.

8. Incubation Support Programme (ISP)

This programme is designed to create and develop successful enterprises with the ability to revitalise communities and local economies. For more information visit this site.

9. The Manufacturing  Competitive Enhancement Programme (MCEP)

Provides enhanced manufacturing support to encourage facility upgrades to sustain employment and improve productivity. See more here.

10. Manufacturing Investment Programme (MIP)

This programme is a reimbursable cash grant to local and foreign-owned manufacturers who wish to establish new facilities or expand on existing ones.

11. National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)

While it is moving away from grants for youth and going toward mentorship and development programmes, grants are available for youth entrepreneurs. See more here.

12. People-carrier Automotive Investment Scheme (P-AIS)

This is a cash grant of between  20% and 35% of the value of qualifying investment in productive assets approved by the DTI. See more at here.

13. The Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS)

This scheme is a cost-sharing grant offered on an 80:20 principle and a maximum of R1,5 million is awarded to qualifying businesses. See more at here.

14. Support Programme for  Industrial Innovation (SPII)

The Support Programme for Industrial Innovation is aimed to promote technology development in South African industry. Visit their site for more information.

Who can apply for Government Grants for Business?

South African Government Grants
Because of the number of grants available – and each with its own criteria – you will need to individually research each grant. Generally through, the following will be required:
  • The business needs to be majority black-owned
  • It needs to have a significant representation of black managers (if applicable)
  • Minimum and maximum turnovers vary from grant to grant
  • The business must have a minimum of one year in trading
  • The business must be a registered entity with a tax clearance certificate, Vat number, etc.
  • The business must comply with all regulations such as CIPRO, SARS etc.
  • All owners and major shareholders need a clear credit history.
Related: DTI Funding

Tips on applying for Government Grants for Business

Once you’ve identified a grant applicable to your business and industry, research it thoroughly to determine the qualifying criteria. Each grant listed on the DTI website has a contact person you can call or email for more information.
When applying, make sure you’ve completed the following checklist:
  1. Completed and signed application form
  2. SARS Tax Clearance Certificate – Original and valid
  3. Detailed business plan
  4. Co-operative resolution (if applicable)
  5. List of directors, shareholders etc. complete with certified copies of IDs and CVs
  6. Copy of business registration cerfiticate
  7. Motivational letter
  8. Bank statements
  9. Projected financial statements for start-up and/or expansion.
When applying for a Government Grant you will need to have a business plan. Here is a free business plan template to get you started.
SOURCE: Entrepreneur Magazine

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Wednesday 16 March 2016

AllAfrica.com News

South Africa: Business Welcomes Black Industrialists Programme


Pretoria — Business has welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry's Black Industrialists Programme that is aimed at expanding the industrial base and injecting new dynamism with the inclusion and participation of black industrialists.
Black Business Council Vice President Sandile Zungu said the business fraternity fully supports the programme, which was officially launched at The New Age business briefing on Wednesday.
Zungu said the first step business will take is to internalise the whole programme and give guidance to entrepreneurs who want to access the scheme.
He said many black firms must benefit from the policy and they must be encouraged to bloom in order to expand the country's industrial base.
"The business narrative is shifting and we need to have more black people controlling the value chain in the economy in order to have a more inclusive and radical economic transformation," said Zungu.
Speaking at the launch, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said the focus of the newly-launched programme is mainly geared towards manufacturing, industrialisation and inclusive economic growth.
The policy and the programme are a key part of government's broad industrialisation initiatives to expand the industrial base and participation of black industrialists in manufacturing activities and the economy.
Minister Davies said the programme is designed to create a single forum to provide black industrialists with financial aid, non-financial support, market access and advice for those who are already trading in the manufacturing space.
The CEO of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), Philisiwe Mthethwa, said in 2007 the agency established a strategic fund to unlock opportunities for black industrialists in the country.
"Even though the NEF has a very good balance sheet, we are not sitting on a pile of cash. We have 23 pipeline projects worth R2.7 billion to promote the Black Industrialists Policy and many other entrepreneurs keen to get involved in the manufacturing sector," she said.
Minister Davies acknowledged that the programme was not designed to solve all problems or entertain passive shareholders. He said it is a step towards addressing and empowering black people in all sectors, specifically manufacturing.
"Manufacturing is one of the least empowered sectors and that is why we came up with the Black Industrialists Policy to increase the volume of black management and involvement in order for them to control the value chains and encourage others to come forward," he said.
The Black Industrialists Programme offers a cost-sharing grant ranging from 30% to 50% to approved entities, to a maximum of R50 million. The quantum of the grant will depend on the level of black ownership and management control, the economic benefit of the project and the project value.
Potential black industrialists can visit www.thedti.gov.za to access the policy and application process.
SOURCE: AllAfrica
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Thebe Investment Corporation (Thebe) is one of South Africa’s leading investment companies.

Founded in 1992 as a pioneering black-owned company, Thebe Investment Corporation (Thebe) is one of South Africa’s leading investment companies, managing assets of over R6 billion. Thebe is a unique entrepreneurial company that does not exist only to make a profit, but is driven by a commitment to serve the broader interests of the community. Our investment portfolio spans tourism, mining
resources, infrastructure, renewable energy, petrochemicals, telecommunications, financial services, and healthcare. We actively work to promote mutually beneficial economic partnerships by investing in or developing businesses that create value for our stakeholders through the origination, execution, and prudent management of our investments.



Transformation is at the heart of how we seek to generate growth for all our stakeholders and the communities where we do business.
Founded in 1992 as a pioneering black-owned company, Thebe Investment Corporation (Thebe) is one of South Africa’s leading investment companies, managing assets of over R6 billion. Thebe is a unique entrepreneurial company that does not exist only to make a profit, but is driven by a commitment to serve the broader interests of the community. Our investment portfolio spans tourism, mining resources, infrastructure, renewable energy, petrochemicals, telecommunications, financial services, and healthcare.
Contact us
Tel:+27 11 447 7800
Fax:+27 11 447 5502
Postal Address
PO Box 3308,
Parklands, South Africa,
2121
Physical address
Thebe House 166 Jan Smuts Avenue Rosebank Johannesburg South Africa 2196
Office Hours: 8am – 5pm (Monday – Friday)
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BUSINESS DAY NEWS

Grocery inquiry to cover concerns of township SMEs

BY LINDA ENSOR, MARCH 15 2016, 11:58
TEAMING UP: The first spaza-to-store conversion, Monageng Market, opens in Diepkloof, Soweto this week. It is owned and run by Solly Legae, who says the move will change the face of retail in townships. Picture: SUPPLIED
The first spaza-to-store conversion, Monageng Market, is owned and run by Solly Legae. Picture: SUPPLIED
THE grocery retail sector inquiry launched last year by the Competition Commission was very significant and could address issues of food prices and market access, the economic development minister said on Tuesday.
The inquiry was the second initiated by the commission in terms of amendments to the Competition Act, which allows it to proactively conduct investigations. The first one conducted was into the private healthcare industry.
"Over the past decade or more, a number of developments in the retail sector affected township shops and small retail businesses of South Africans, often very negatively," Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by African National Congress (ANC) MP Imamile Pikinini.
"For example, national supermarket chains moved aggressively into townships and rural areas, often in newly constructed shopping malls, impacting on the viability of small, informal and independent retailers in a number of ways.
"A study by the Bureau of Market Research in Soshanguve found that half of the informal businesses located near to a new shopping centre closed down and most retailers had a decline in their turnover, profitability, stock movement and product range," the minister said.
Mr Patel said the reason for the grocery retail market inquiry was to consider ways to improve dynamic competition access for small businesses in the retail sector and combat restrictive practices.
The inquiry will look at the effect of national supermarket chains on small and independent retailers in townships, rural areas and the informal economy; the effect of exclusive lease agreements between shopping mall owners and national supermarket chains that often keep smaller retailers out; and the dynamics of competition between local small retailers and foreign-owned small retailers in townships.
Other areas to be examined include the effect of regulations, including municipal by-laws, on smaller retailers and the informal sector; the effect of buyer groups where small shop-owners co-operate on bulk-buying, quality controls or technology to enable them to compete more effectively against larger players; and the prevalence of pricing policies that may discriminate against smaller players in specific product value-chains.
SOURCE: BUSINESS DAY

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Shanduka Blackpages News

The enterprise and supplier development portal

Shanduka Blackpages is a powerful, online national directory connecting big business to smaller black enterprises to transform procurement in South Africa. Powered by the Supply Chain Network and Absa, Shanduka Blackpages is the most efficient procurement interface on the market.
It is a platform to achieve transformation as it links big business to smaller black enterprises. Procurement professionals now have a tool, aided by ease of navigation, through which they can quickly search, filter and locate approved suppliers listed on the Shanduka Blackpages database.
Procurement professionals have peace of mind knowing that the companies listed will be able to deliver the goods and services profiled on the site, and they will be able to select the most appropriate suppliers from the national database for their specific requirements.
Smart filters, easy navigation, saved search reports and advertised tenders will also ensure that smaller black enterprises will have a national presence and access to larger corporations. Being listed on the Shanduka Blackpages supplier database, will ensure that suppliers and procurement professionals will be linked by industry, with targeted outcomes so that the best fit is achieved.
Standardised templates for tender submissions will take the headache out of the submission process, and will save on time and money as a result. Tender opportunities are also linked to industry-specific opportunities, facilitating an otherwise cumbersome process.
This all important online supplier and procurement directory is a must-have for every South African business. Become part of this network today.
The Shanduka Blackpages membership goes a long way because it gives us exposure, because as a business you might not be able to afford the advertising in magazines or other procurement portals – basically it exposes us to the buyers of our services.
Ndaba Khanyane, Client, Bizdev Consulting
gotosbpages

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Tuesday 15 March 2016

SABEF PROMOTING THE BLACK ENTERPRISE

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The South African Black Entrepreneurs Forum (SABEF) was established in 2002 by a dynamic group of entrepreneurs that were trailblazers in the early days of economic transformation in South Africa. 
SABEF is a non-profit section 21 registered company that endorses pure broad-based black economic empowerment.  We strongly believe that entrepreneurship is a conduit to poverty alleviation, job creation and economic growth in South Africa.
SABEF seeks to facilitate entry of emerging entrepreneurs into prominent sectors of the mainstream economy, through access to markets, networking, lobbying and advocacy, and by implementing solution-focused development and networking programmes aimed at ensuring the growth and sustainability of the emerging business sector in South Africa.
Preferential Procurement and Enterprise Development are two significant cornerstones of SABEF’s strategy to build capacity in small businesses and facilitate sustainable economic opportunities and provide holistic business education and information.
SABEF brings focus on the empowerment and development of SMMEs in South Africa’s communities that are remote from economic prospects. It promotes their business concepts, products and services for funding and capacity building opportunities.

Programmes

SABEF Kasi2Kasi SME Development Tour
This initiative is a hybrid of information sharing and technical training for township entrepreneurs and small business owners. The tour is a road show across South African townships and is a programme that integrates academia, technical business training, motivation and inspiration. Through our partner organisations, SABEF seeks to develop and expose the brightest and best business minds to entrepreneurs and SME owners. The initiative aims to achieve some of the following:
Give technical business capacity through the various business workshops and technical training sessions.
Promote SABEF and its programme partners as socially responsible corporate citizens that encourage the up liftment of black enterprises. 
For more information please visit http://sabefkasi2kasi.weebly.com 
Women in Business Breakfast Series
The Women in Business Series (WIBS) is a successful partnership between Absa Bank and SABEF since 2012. This is a partnership that celebrates women in business from all walks of life. WIBS is a series of industry – specific business workshops, where each month will focus on a key economic industry. Through out the series there will be an analysis of the industry that will cover some of the following:
Women’s active economic participation in the industry
An overview of the key industry in South Africa
At the end of the WIBS series a report will be released and this will capture the findings of the collective industry workshops and also the market research that will be conducted.
The Objectives
An opportunity for women who are excelling in key sectors of our economy to be acknowledged and be given the opportunity to give back and inspire up-coming women in business.
A chance to share learning’s, industry knowledge and business opportunities with women who are not familiar with the industry.
For more information visit this website http://www.womeninbusinessseries.co.za/ 
The Nelson Mandela Entrepreneurship Lecture
The annual Nelson Mandela Entrepreneurship Lecture is about celebrating the life of a, Man that inspired hope, dignity, pride and forgiveness in the hearts of many South Africans and the world. He once said ‘Money will not create success, but the freedom to make it will’. During the annual 18th July- Nelson Mandela day celebrations , SABEF in partnership with Africa Rising Foundation will host an entrepreneurship lecture in a township, in loving memory of Nelson Mandela .Traditionally the lecture will feature a local or international entrepreneur who will inspire and motivate township entrepreneurs to live by the philosophy of Tata and motivate them to empower themselves. In 2013 SABEF hosted Ndaba Mandela, the Chairperson of the Africa Rising Foundation and also world-renowned motivational speaker and entrepreneurs Mr. Les Brown. This is a signature initiative that will ensure that the Legacy of Nelson Mandela lives on. 
Black & Jewish Entrepreneurs Network
In business, South Africa needs to transform and integrate the diverse cultures and societies that exit. The Black-Jewish Entrepreneurs Network (B-JEN) is a joint South African Jewish Board of Deputies and South African Black Entrepreneur Forum (SABEF) programme.  This is a structured networking evening that creates a platform for select black and Jewish entrepreneurs to engage, exchange ideas and learn about best business practices in their societies. MEC. Mr Alan Winde, Rapelang Rabana, Khaya Gobodo and Jody Aufrichtig where some of the keynote speakers and judges who contributed to the initiative. 
For more information, please visit http://www.capebod.org.za/events/b-jen
The Annual Kelly Ritchie South Africa Tour
The potential of this country and continent is lauded by the world. SABEF is proud to have a world-renowned entrepreneur Mr. Kelly Ritchie as the Global patron who is flying the SABEF flag around the world.
Kelly is an International speaker, former advisor to the Rich Dad Company and personal friend of Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad) and Blair Singer (Little Voice Mastery, ABC’s of Building a Business Team). 
Together with Blair Singer, Kelly owns Sales-Partners Worldwide and the global franchise of Hosemasters International with franchises worldwide. Kelly has spent the last 22 years starting up and successfully running and supporting many businesses around the world.
Since 2012, in partnership with SABEF, Kelly has been coming to South Africa and developing SMEs in townships by coaching them on business principals, systems and money cycles. In 2013 Kelly launched the SABEF Kasi-to-Kasi SME Development Tour in Soweto and also conducted the High Energy Mentorship Tour in November with his colleague Jason Tyne from the USA. In 2014 SABEF will host Kelly Ritchie & Jason Tyne to inspire more entrepreneurs and develop and coach more small businesses. 
Start-Up Africa Weekend
This is a 3-day festive entrepreneurial event that seeks to unleash Africa’s Innovative business ideas. It is a gathering of entrepreneurs, industry experts, financiers, business mentors, venture capitalists and angel investors over one weekend. It is best understood as an economic development model capable of turning informal operations into formal businesses. Aimed at South Africans who have own existing (small and medium sized enterprises) ventures as well as high impact business ideas, the rationale of the initiative is to start a continental revolution of entrepreneurs that build new enterprises which are innovative, unique, sustainable and, most importantly, contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic development of communities. The key sectors that will be focused on this year will be ideas and businesses in the Innovation, Green-economy and ICT sectors.  The Start-Up Africa Weekend initiative is a proud partnership between SABEF and Africa 2.0, a Pan-African foundation which is a civil society organisation that consists of young and emerging leaders from Africa and the Diaspora who share a collective vision for Africa and a commitment to finding and implementing sustainable solutions that will in turn leapfrog the development of the continent. 
Global Entrepreneurship Week
Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self- starters and innovators. These activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors—introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities”. The South African Black Entrepreneurs Forum (SABEF) in partnership with Wits Business School Centre of Entrepreneurship (CfE) annually hosts the “Great Lessons from Great Entrepreneurs” panel discussion during this week.  This is a classic panel discussion amongst prominent South African Entrepreneurs and international thought leaders who will engage on various dynamics of entrepreneurship in the world and in South Africa. The audience will have an opportunity to engage the panel and ask relevant questions. In 2012 there was a diverse panel of global, continental and local entrepreneurs who contributed to the discussion. In 2013 the panel focused specifically on Innovation.

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