Margaret’s small uniform business that supplies kits to informal settlements learners and sports teams has grown thanks to a special project that incentivises budding business owners to reach their own goals!
Kraaifontein, South Africa (17 May 2024) — Almost ten years ago, Margaret Nomhle Yalabi registered her own uniform business, a milestone step for the entrepreneur.
Her business, iKasi Krate Uniforms based in Kraaifontein, makes uniforms for schools and sports squads in informal settlements.
But for Margaret, like many other entrepreneurs based in the City outskirts, access to resources that would grow her budding business was not always readily available.
So, when the City of Cape Town began its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Entrepreneurship Trainee Programme to help small and informal businesses grow, Margaret was one of the hopeful entrepreneurs who decided to take part to better her businesses’ future.
It was a huge learning experience for her, that showed her both what she needs to work on as well as what she needed to let shine more—like her own authenticity.
“I’ve learnt so much from the programme. It taught me that you have to be yourself and always be honest with your clients,” she shared.
“I’ve also learnt that I’m not very good at admin so I must get someone else to do it, while I learn to master that part.”
The programme (overseen by the Urban Waste Management Directorate) focuses on incentivising entrepreneurs from micro to medium enterprises with payouts when they meet specific goals, all while empowering them to reach their goals with unique training and development programmes.
Since her time in the programme, Margaret has been able to grow her uniform business through purchasing operational machinery, learning the power of branding and using an invoice app to up the business’s professionalism.
In even more exciting news for her, dreams to expand to an outlet shop in Delft and hire other staff are also on the cards.
“The project is a fantastic case study on fostering economic inclusion and supporting the growth of small businesses in Cape Town. Providing entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and mentorship will catalyse job creation, stimulate economic growth and contribute to the overall prosperity of our city,” Mayco member for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Twigg beamed.
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