18 Jun 2024

Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) has appealed for  support from all government departments within Kanye District to assist enterprises operating within the area.

Kanye District Council chairperson, Mr Mpho Dithole said this at the opening of the full council session recently.

Such assistance, he said would help increase demand and increase job creation in the village. 

Also, he said LEA had 21 enterprises in Kanye District who were under their mentorship.

He said those enterprises had created 88 jobs cumulatively between April 2023 and March 2024 and a culumative revenue of over P8 million as at March this year. 

“Of the 88 jobs created, 52 per cent, which makes a total of 46 jobs are created by women-owned businesses and while 30 per cent, which makes a total of 26 jobs are from youth-owned businesses,” he said.

He noted that the enterprises were assisted with business advisory services comprising of business plans facilitation to access finance, training and mentoring, access to research information and opportunities, business monitoring and coaching, market access, product testing for quality assurance and capacity building.

Mr Dithole further said that since inception of the Chema Chema Fund, LEA had registered a total of 2 905  clients.

He said 724 had been verified and approved by LEA to apply for funding at CEDA.

 “Out of the 742 verified, 517 were women and 250 young people,” he said.

Mr Dithole said Kanye CEDA Office had approved 122 applications as at May 31, this year at a total value of P939 834.13,” he said.

He further noted that the office intended to embark on an outreach programme to facilitate applications for the Chema Chema programme starting with Lorolwane, Gasita and Selokolela from June 17 until 19. 

He added that CEDA had so far funded 112 businesses for the period of April 2023 to date in Kanye District.

“Out of the 112 funded businesses, 60 businesses are under Letlhabile at P442 378.00 and 52 under Mabogo Dinku at P525 319.51. 

The funded projects created total employment of 158 people, 125 females and 33 males and nine beneficiaries are youth,” he said.

He said there was need to enhance collaboration on trade finance for Batswana, who had been contracted to do business with the council.

“On the contrary, non-adherence to signed cessions with CEDA threatens to affect the performance of the funded projects and as such Council should commit to collaborating more with the Agency on both Trade Finance projects and signed cessions,” he said. Ends