KwaZulu Natal
Manguzi

North West

Itsoseng
Vryburg - ECA
Pomfret

Eastern Cape
Lubisi
Tsilitwa
Sulenkama

Gauteng

Mamelodi
Atteridgeville
 
 
 
 
 

Small Medium and Micro Enterprises

In relation to SMME development, there is a very real opportunity to improve service delivery to previously neglected groups in our society by harnessing the potential of SMMEs (including survivalist enterprises), community based organisations (CBOs), and ordinary citizens at local community/authority level. Initiatives aimed at improved service delivery need to address issues such as sustainability of service channels and universal access for all. We therefore, have to look at ways of 'pushing' service delivery as far forward as possible into communities while also establishing elements of this service delivery as new 'service businesses' to create new job and enterprise opportunities. In the light of the above, there is a growing interest in concepts like "one-stop-service-shops" and "multi-purpose community centres".

It is envisaged therefore that innovative ICT's will provide innovative convergence at the service delivery level and not only the technological level in support of societal transformation and development.
 
The ICT HUB
The operational and business model is based on defining the income-generating potential of the main operational components of the ICT Hub. ICT Hub's are geared to provide a range of services (a telecentre facility, desktop publishing and copying, training and business support) underpinned by appropriate ICT systems, to the community, for a fee.
 
ICT Hub Operational Components

Telecentre: (Telecommunication and Internet services)

  • Make and receive telephone calls
  • Send and receive faxes.
  • Send and receive e-mail
  • Access to the Internet

DTP: (Desk top publishing designing and copying services)

  • Typing
  • Preparing professional CV's for job seekers.
  • Creating and copying business cards and letterheads.
  • Designing brochures, pamphlets and advertising material for small businesses
  • Designing and copying community notices like funerals and weddings.
  • Assisting schools with copying, reports and question papers

Training: (Training of various kinds)

  • Computer training, including operating systems, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
  • Business training, including marketing, business planning, pricing and costing.
  • Project management training for community projects and SMME's
  • Financial management of community organisations and SMME's

Business support: (Providing professional business support services)

  • Conducting viability studies, environment scans and competition analysis.
  • Generating professional business plans.
  • Compiling funding and financing proposals.
  • Tender advice and assistance with responding to national, provincial and local tenders.
  • Financial management advice
  • Implementation and maintenance of businesses through a system of aftercare, mentoring and ongoing support.

 

The typical transaction values of the components of service delivery, follow an exponential increase from R1 through to R1000.

The low-cost, high volume business found in the first two components (Tele-centre and DTP) can create the fundamental cash flow needed to support the higher level activities (Training and Business support). These elements have been combined with anticipated volumes of transactions to arrive at the target income and other aspects of the business plan, to analyse the potential for the ICT HUB to support itself as a self-sustaining business.

 

A key aspect of the above model is the training of business advisers at the hub to provide business support to existing small businesses and entrepreneurs with new ideas. These new ideas need to be presented as a business plan which the entrepreneur owns and can present as a business case to funders for start up capital.

The ICT Hub plays a pivotal role in future local economic development by facilitating the identification of local business opportunities and providing leverage for these businesses.