The Free State provincial government is walking the talk on investment to grow the economy of the province by giving support to small businesses like Dee Dee Hygiene Solutions and help them realise their dream and eventually grow the province’s GDP.
During the Industrial Park refurbishment launch on Monday, 12 March 2024, at the Botshabelo Industrial Park; the MEC for Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) Mr Thabo Meeko said, the province is on a drive to attract investors into the province, as part of the drive, they are going to refurbish the Industrial Parks in Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu and in Qwa-qwa.
Meeko said though the recent investment conference held by the province in Bloemfontein attracted pledges worth over R81 billion, they, as government will not wait but with the little budget they have, they have begun some work and have funded some small businesses and renovated the factories for them to use.
In attendance was the beneficiary of the programme Naledi Phahlo (30) from Thaba Nchu, the Founder and Director of Dee Dee Hygiene Solutions. The young resilient entrepreneur was using a small space for her cleaning products business, but as the business grew and demand for her detergents is also growing, she needed a bigger space to operate from, she approached DESTEA, of which, the department gave her a bigger factory in Botshabelo.
Phahlo says she missed out on an export opportunity due to the small space she was operating from. Clients from East Africa, Seychelles and in the SADC region, Zambia made a due diligence visit to her factory to assess if she has the capacity to supply the required quantity, but unfortunately for her, her work space did not meet the requirements and she lost her international potential deal.
But that did not discourage her, instead it made her more determined and sort for a bigger space.
“This facility is actually a catapulting moment for us, because it is going to launch us to go for businesses that are actually big in terms of number, we will be able to do bulk buyers; we will also be able to get into retail which is what we wanted to do from the past,” said Naledi Phahlo.
The Premier of the Free State Mr Mxolisi Dukwana said during his address at the launch, the provincial government is working on reversing the injustices of apartheid whereby black people were excluded from economic participation and quality education during the iron rule era. He said black poverty was created as black people were forcefully moved to areas that had no economic activity with barren soil and away from towns.
Dukwana said the government is on a drive to bring jobs closer to the people by developing the township economy, refurbish the Industrial Parks in the province and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) so that people do not travel far to go to work. By supporting small businesses, jobs can be created for thousands of people and multiplier effect can take place in areas where black people reside.
He also affirmed investors and entrepreneurs that challenges like crime and drugs around the Industrial Parks will be addressed urgently, security will be improved at the SEZs.
The Premier Mxolisi Dukwana and MEC Thabo Meeko officially launched the factory for Dee Dee Hygiene Solutions in Botshabelo and said renovations will be completed by end of March 2024.