The innobiz Durban University of Technology (DUT) Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation awarded entrepreneurial certificates to 30 informal traders operating in Durban. The handover ceremony was held outside the Workshop Mall in Durban on Thursday, 08 December 2022.

In his welcome address, Mr Mfanafuthi Ndunakazi, Chairperson of the Workshop Informal Traders, expressed his gratitude to DUT for offering the short course to informal traders. He also thanked Iphalamende Labantu for partnering with DUT to offer the informal traders business training and the Ward 28 committee for the support.

Speaking on behalf of Iphalamende Labantu, Mr Sibusiso Zwane said their aim is to empower South African informal traders and assist them in enhancing their businesses. He stated that this is an ongoing programme with the help of DUT.

“We salute DUT for partnering with us as Iphalamende Labantu in assisting to empower the South African informal traders to another level. We appreciate DUT for giving back to the community made up of people who are being excluded on the economy, people who are being undermined. We noticed that many people have businesses but are lacking skills, so this programme is assisting them to acquire the necessary skills to enhance their businesses,” added Zwane.

Furthermore, they will do an impact analysis to assess how informal traders were empowered and to ensure that there are no gaps in their training.

Ms Mary-Ann Nhleko, innobiz DUT lecturer and Entrepreneurship Co-ordinator, explained that the training was based on entrepreneurship, looking at how informal traders can expand their businesses, so they can make a profit. Speaking about the first cohort of 30 students, Nhleko said she was impressed by their commitment to the programme and their willingness to learn.

“I would like this programme to continue and reach out to more informal traders. I noticed that the first group came lacking knowledge but ended the programme excited to have learnt new business skills. They learnt a lot from innobiz DUT,” she said.

One of the 30 informal traders who successfully completed the short course, Ms Bonani Shabane (45) from Waterloo, Verulam said she was happy to get an opportunity to set foot at DUT and attend training. She added that this programme boosted her confidence and business.

“We learnt plenty of skills such as counting of our stock and profit. We were also taught about how to conduct ourselves as business people and how to treat our customers. We learnt how to save money and sustain our businesses. My hope is to move from selling in the streets in three years’ time, to selling in a building where I will create jobs for other South Africans. I believe that this certificate will open more doors for me,” added Shabane.

Through this training, Shabane has learnt to differentiate between an entrepreneur and a business person who only cares about generating profit. She aspires to be an entrepreneur whom is an individual who conducts a business to also make an impact in people’s lives.

Pictured: The DUT and Iphalamende Labantu team with the 30 informal traders who were awarded certificates.

Simangele Zuma