Potch Gazette

Government Empowers 105 Informal Traders in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District

By Karen Scheepers23 Oct 2026👁️ 39 views

On October 22, the Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, joined the North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane, at the Madiba Banquet Hall in Potchefstroom to officiate the handover of business start-up packages to 105 informal traders from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.

This joint provincial and national initiative forms part of targeted governmental programs designed to bolster microenterprises, stimulate local economic activity, and foster sustainable livelihoods across the region.

The handover event highlights a broader strategic drive to integrate informal business operators into the main economic fold. During the ceremony, both Minister Ramokgopa and MEC Lenkopane commended the selected beneficiaries—with particular emphasis on women and youth—for their entrepreneurial initiatives. Officials underscored that local small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are key components to achieving the targets outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, which aims to boost employment and economic inclusion through structured small-business growth.

A central theme of the initiative is its emphasis on long-term sustainability rather than one-off material aid. MEC Lenkopane noted that the North West Provincial Government is executing this informal business support model across all district municipalities. The structured support model integrates equipment provision with hands-on training, ongoing mentorship, and aftercare interventions. Furthermore, the program links beneficiaries to broader market access opportunities, such as participation in the provincial school nutrition scheme, while establishing monitoring frameworks to track business growth over time.

To ensure long-term viability, the initiative operates through multi-sectoral partnerships involving local higher education institutions, development bodies like the Youth Entrepreneurship and Acceleration Institute (YAEI), the North West Entrepreneurship Hub, and private sector enterprise partners. Through these integrated efforts, the Department aims to build a resilient economic environment across the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and the greater North West Province.

#DrKennethKaunda #LocalEconomy #SMME Support #NorthWestProvince

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