Thabong gets huge industrial business hub

Small business owners in Thabong will receive training, infrastructure and marketing support to grow their businesses and create jobs for locals

Plans are afoot for Enactus, the Matjhabeng Local Municipality and Harmony Gold Limited to transform the informal industrial park in Welkom’s Thabong township into a fully-fledged business hub.

Enactus is a global non-profit organisation that consists of a community of students, academics and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better more sustainable world.

The industrial park, which is situated at the entrance of Thabong, currently consists of 12 informal institutions that specialise in services such as mechanics, welding and construction. Some of the business owners are not even registered and most of the businesses operate without any formal infrastructure such as water or electricity.

“Every year the Enactus students from the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein are asked to identify struggling entrepreneurs in the Free State that would benefit from their abilities to raise funds in order to get them on their feet.

“We chose the industrial park in Thabong, because we realise that these business owners have skills and some of them are even registered with the SABS but they just need a little guidance; together we can make a big difference in many lives,” explained president of the Enactus group, Maraka Lefera.

She said they approached the Matjhabeng Local Municipality and Harmony who were both very eager to help. Enactus students apply business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

She said the first step in the process will be to get the businesses registered and host a variety of workshops in order to upgrade the skills and quality of work of the business owners, while the Matjhabeng Local Municipality takes care of the process of getting the infrastructure sorted out.

“For the workshops and training, we are partnering with Harmony mine, ABSA, SEDA and DTI. Furthermore, we will also be hosting exhibitions every month in order to get the businesses exposed and recognised by their immediate community,” said Lefera.

The local economic development (LED) department of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality will be in charge of the project.

“The area was initially reserved for small entrepreneurs, but was never developed. For more than 20 years business has been going on without formal infrastructure. Due to the decline in the mining industry, we believe that this initiative will also boost the community of Matjhabeng,” said acting manager of SMME, trade and investment in the LED department, Malehloa Leballo.

One of the business owners of the informal industrial park, Jones Klein, who owns a construction company, said he was happy that their existence is being recognised.

“I have been here for almost 11 years now because I saw a need for construction services in the community and had my business registered immediately. People pass us every day at the side of the road, with no idea what we are capable of; even big business owners from Welkom’s own industrial park in sometimes come to us for help. We believe this initiative will give our lives and our community the boost we need to improve our lives,” he said.