The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure that small, medium-sized and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in townships have access to markets, mentorship and the JCCI’s export incubator programme.

Speaking to Engineering News Online on the sidelines of the yearly JCCI conference on inclusive growth through stakeholder partnerships, Maile said government had the responsibility to create a conducive environment for business to thrive.

“We are aiming to improve on coordination between government and business, as well as other stakeholders to propel the economy.”

JCCI president Ernest Mahlaule added that the MoU gave the two parties a framework, identifying programmes that will be jointly developed. “We will be bringing in capacity, established networks, while government will add policy.”

Asked what monetary value this MoU would hold, Maile said it was “not about the money”, but rather served as a symbolic gesture, demonstrating commitment from both parties.

Also speaking at the conference, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said government’s proposed Township Economies Stock Exchange would be launched in October.

The township exchange would assist enterprises situated in areas such as Alexandra, Soweto, Mamelodi and so forth to access funds to advance their businesses from small businesses to medium-sized and large enterprises.

“[It] will go a long way in easing the burden of access to finance carried by most township entrepreneurs. This intervention, which we are undertaking jointly with the private sector, will also help us turn our townships into centres of production and manufacturing,” Makhura said.

Also speaking at the conference, Centre for Development and Enterprise head Ann Bernstein said South Africans should "stop pretending" that business and government were working together, echoing Cyril Ramaphosa’s comments that government was "at war with itself", which kept it from successfully promoting business.