The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is regarded as the world’s most authoritative study of entrepreneurship and provides measurements of entrepreneurial activity and the factors that either support or hinder it. In 2019, the South African leg of the report ranked South Africa 49th out of 54 economies, a ranking government is intent on turning around in the coming years, after noting the pivotal role SMME’s can play in improving the country’s economy. 

The report’s findings state that while there has been a substantial increase (from 43.2% in 2017 to 60.4% in 2019) in the number of individuals who perceive that there are good entrepreneurial opportunities in South Africa, the fear of failure is also high. A factor Glencore Ferroalloys has decided to tackle head on in their communities. 

The mining giant introduced their Enterprise Supplier Development programme, a business hub which aims to uplift and support local SMMEs in its host communities and assists in creating equal opportunities for businesses to operate in a sustainable manner, that ultimately improves the livelihoods of the communities and its members. In its latest support, Glencore Ferroalloys invested machinery worth over R1 million to local businessman Stanley Masege, of the Mmatsie Projects and Supplies Company. 

Glencore Ferroalloys Rhovan Mine Operations Manager, Phil Swallow says part of function of the ESD programme is to alleviate the fear of failure for business owners in their local communities. 

“One of our Glencore values is entrepreneurialism. This means that we do our best to promote and support entrepreneurialism within and outside the organisation. We do this because we understand the power that SMMEs have in really turning around local economies, and that’s our main purpose. We’re so honoured to have been able to support the Mmatsie Projects and Supplies Company with this high-pressure machine that will really change the way the company does business, and enable to them to grow at an even faster rate. For me, this business is a testament that Glencore’s commitment to championing entrepreneurship internally and externally, is making the desired impact and we really look forward to more such success stories,” he said. 

Stanley Masege was previously employed at Rhovan Mine as a Community Development Officer from 2011 to 2014, and later left to pursue a full-time career as an entrepreneur, a dream Glencore supported fully. Due to his professionalism and the valuable skills harnessed while working for Rhovan Mine, his company Mmatsie Projects and Supplies was later hired to perform maintenance for the mine. 

"I am so grateful to Glencore and the Rhovan Mine for their continued support for me and my business since day one. The journey of entrepreneurship is not easy at all, but because of Rhovan, I did not have to walk this road alone. This investment in my company reflects Glencore's core values of putting communities first and assisting local businesses in growing larger than they could have imagined. This support not only benefits me and my business, but also the community members that rely on this business to help their families. Thank you, Glencore," said founder and owner of Mmatsie Projects and Supplies Company, Stanley Masege.

Glencore’s ESD programme takes businesses through several intensive exercises to monitor the business and its performance to ensure that each business that receives the support will be able to make a real and lasting impact in the community where it operates.