DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP WILL STEP UP SOUTH AFRICA

DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP WILL STEP UP SOUTH AFRICA

 By BRIAN KAJENGO

South Africa has to up the game in the development of entrepreneurship. This was said by the Director-General of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), Mr Lionel October at the launch of the STEP UP 2 A START UP initiative, a nationwide programme to teach high school learners how to start their own businesses. The launch took place in Ormonde, Johannesburg last night.

October said the START UP initiative meant that government could step up its efforts to develop entrepreneurship.

“The development of entrepreneurship as a key driver of the economy and the dynamic partnership between private and public sectors are imperative to the growth of the economy and job creation,” added October.

October said in spite of the challenges that the economy is facing, it has a huge potential to grow.

“We can learn from countries like Germany who have managed to improve their economy and are the world’s shining example. It does not need rocket science to turn our economy around and decrease unemployment. Strategies have been developed and we are now in the processes of implementing them,” added October.

He said the dti has to date approved 42 incubators through the Incubation Support Programme (ISP) that launched in 2012, and there was room to expand on this model.

According to October, the programme launched to encourage the private sector to develop new enterprises by transferring skills to smaller enterprises and provide them with procurement opportunities in their specific value chains.

October reiterated government’s commitment to the development of entrepreneurship and said the departments of Small Business Development and Basic Education would strengthen entrepreneurship curriculum in schools.

The Managing Director of Primestars Marketing, Mr Martin Sweet could not contain his excitement on the launch the initiative. He said whilst the majority of entrepreneurship programmes target post-matric youth, this initiative aims to inspire a culture of entrepreneurship and wealth creation earlier on in the career development process.

“The goal should now be to create one million businesses by 2020,’’ added Sweet, whose company  specialises in facilitating youth development programmes for school learners from historically disadvantaged communities, and are the brains behind the STEP UP 2 A START UP initiative.

The learning and development process of the initiative is comprised of four stages which are the Educational film, the Entrepreneurs toolkit, the National Youth Start-up Business competition and the Boot Camp and Awards ceremony.