DEDEAT hands over sewing machines and materials to 10 WSLM beneficiaries

Mayor, Cllr. Vania Davids, Cllr. Wesizwe Moeti and the Regional Director for the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), Dr. Mboto led the handover of sewing of machines and materials to 10 beneficiaries in a ceremony held at department’s offices in Maletswai today.

The handover is part of Informal Business Support Program (IBSP) focusing on identified sectors such as Manufacturing, Clothing and Textile support interventions and material.

A total of forty-three (43) applications were approved in Joe Gqabi District and ten (10) of those are from Walter Sisulu Local Municipality.

Regional Director, Dr. Mboto said they are implementing this initiative in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and is aimed at providing support to informal businesses.

Mayor, Cllr. Vania Davids said: “The Informal Business Support Programme is a vehicle through which the department seeks to encourage formalisation of informal enterprises to access a variety of opportunities that exist for formal enterprises.”

The nature of support that is provided by the IBSP is both financial and non-financial, entailing the provision of equipment, tools, machinery, and training of the beneficiaries on entrepreneurship, coaching and mentorship.