ALL WOMEN IN BUSINESS INITIATIVE EMPOWERS

September 2024.

World Entrepreneurs Day was celebrated last month in the Siyancuma Local Municipality, highlighting 50 aspiring female entrepreneurs. This gathering, part of Boikanyo Solar’s All Women-in-Business Empowerment Initiative, equipped these entrepreneurs with essential tools and resources to help them establish compliant, thriving businesses.

The focus of the gathering was on business compliance, informing participants about how adhering to SARS regulations can influence their businesses’ BBBEE status and Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration.

“I encourage all the women to keep their businesses compliant and put in the effort towards being operational and profitable as this is the criteria they need to meet to be eligible for grant funding. Our goal is to see these women become economically active, generate revenue, and achieve sustainability. This aligns with our broader Enterprise Development Objectives, which include Business Skills Development, Access to Funding, Networking Opportunities, and Access to Markets,” said Lesego Mosiane, Community Liaison Officer for Boikanyo Solar, which also funded the event.

The day also featured a keynote speech from a prominent female business leader, inspiring the participants with her success story. Furthermore, beneficiaries were awarded certificates of commitment and goodie bags to mark the occasion, along with a new laptop, intended to serve as an administrative resource for their start-up businesses.

One of the beneficiaries, Bonita Jonas, shared her plans of giving back to her community, “As a beneficiary of this initiative, my goal is to not only grow my business but also give back to my community. I aim to create employment opportunities for local unemployed youth and use the food left over at the end of each business day to feed homeless children.”

With a focus on empowering women between the ages of 18 and 59, the All-Women-in-Business initiative provides beneficiaries with start-up kits that include CIPC Company Registrations, BBBEE Certificates, SARS Tax Clearance Certificates and Pins, CSD Registrations, New Business Bank Accounts, and Start-Up Business Plans. This foundational support helps set them up for long-term success in the formal economy.