EmaXesibeni businesses benefit from government investments in small towns

Emerging business people and the taxi industry at EmaXesibeni, formerly known as Mount Ayliff, hope that the Small Town Revitalization project will provide good returns for local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs) and the transport industry.

The multi-million-rand project is part of the Small-Town Revitalisation programme initiated by the Office of the Premier in the Eastern Cape. It seeks to attract potential investors and uplift socio-economic activities in the area.

Street vendors are expected to benefit more from this much-needed programme.

Informal trading contributes immensely to local economic development in the Eastern Cape. It’s a significant catalyst to fight poverty and unemployment in the countryside.

It’s expected that this business hub will boost economic growth and motivate more informal traders in rural areas. And it’s a dream come true for hawkers.

Hawker Thembisa Ganyaza says, “We are extremely happy about this initiative, ECDC and Umzimvubu have done well and because we have been trading under harsh weather conditions for son many years, all is well now and we are happy for the recognition.”

Hawker Mnyamezeli Mdepha claims, “For so many years, we’ve been crying for a nice place to market our businesses. Now that it has come, its joy for everyone and its going to change so many lives.”

Dozens of emerging entrepreneurs stand a chance to take their businesses to another level.

Project manager Azola Makhanda says, “This project is aiming to create job opportunities and grow the local economy of this area. The project is situated in the CBD. It has 114 hawkers , which will benefit. About 25 million rand that has been set aside for it.”

The strategic business hub is seen as a game changer for small businesses in the region. Umzimvubu LM Mayorz, Zukizwa Ndevu explains, “We want to change the economic outlook of the small town of Mount Ayliff. We want to see women, young people take space. The aim is to fight poverty and unemployment. This is a way to go as we are changing the lives of the people.”

Street vendors hope more local economic development infrastructure will continue to be prioritized.