As the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to settle down, businesses are looking at ways to bolster their brands ahead of the festive season into a brighter future.
On Friday 9 September, more than 50 small businesses from Site C jumped on the bandwagon.
They established Site C Business Forum, an independent body responsible for fighting for the rights of their businesses and to unite all the business people in the area.
The launch was held at the Blue Hall.
Melikhaya Yalwa, the new forum’s public relations officer, described the launch as the beginning of new things.
“We felt there’s a need to establish our own forum to represent us. We need an organisation that will be closer to the people,” he said, adding that their aim is to unite local businesses and be the “voice for the voiceless people”.
Yalwa said the forum is completely independent from the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF).
“Our forum is strictly for business. It is not politically affiliated and it represents all business people in Site C. We have nothing to do with the KDF. Our forum is independent,” he explained.
One of the forum members Granville Piet, who owns a T-shirt printing business, believes that the forum will assist and develop them.
Piet, who is also a photographer, added: I believe it will be easy to access any relevant information because our leaders are close to us. They will be able to assist some of us with business registration, application for funds etc”. Piet said local businesses require leaders who will be accessible all the time. He highlighted funding for small businesses as the main challenge.
“In most cases we are working as individuals and some of us are not meeting the requirements to be able to get funds. This forum will make it easier for us to approach government institutions for funds and other things,” he explained, and urged other young businesses to join forum.
