Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

Small businesses in Sekhukhune are set to flourish following the establishment of a business hub in the area.

Anglo Platinum, the world's leading platinum company, has launched its first business hub for local entrepreneurs in Sekhukhune, Limpopo.

The centre is one of seven hubs that will be rolled out by the company in partnership with Anglo Zimele, an Anglo American enterprise development initiative.

Mary-Jane Morifi, the executive head of corporate affairs at Anglo Platinum, said yesterday that the hubs would provide local entrepreneurs with support services such as business planning, training, coaching and mentoring, tax and accounting advice as well as other day-to-day issues that face business owners.

"We are pleased to launch this centre, which will provide local budding and established businesses with the necessary support to make sustainable economic development a reality," said Morifi at the launch in Atok village along the Dilokong Corridor in Sekhukhune yesterday.

"We trust that the communities around our operations will make optimal use of these facilities," she said.

Morifi added they had already had a few beneficiaries and hoped to bring in more "to supply not only our operations but other businesses in the area".

She also noted that Anglo Zimele was an organisation with 20 years of experience in enterprise development, entrepreneurial partnering and black economic empowerment.

"This initiative is a catalyst for economic growth in the small and medium enterprise sector. Complementing the small business hub is the Small Business Start-Up Fund," Morifi said.