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Choosing the correct Skills Development service provider, in most cases, is the difference between the success or failure of a Skills Development Strategy. Therefore, due diligence before contracting a Skills Development service provider is essential and would include establishing the following: How long have they been in business? Did they previously trade under another company name? What are the geographical areas in which they operate? Do they have references that support a solid track record? What is the average drop-out rate of Learners? Do they rely on third-party intervention? Are the Learners’ salaries or wages in line with the national minimum wage requirements? Can they furnish evidence that they are an accredited Skills Development service provider? Do they adhere to the standards of the body of their accreditation? Can they provide a financial viability report from their auditors? Do they agree to a site visit to confirm that the facilities will adequately accommodate Learners from both an infrastructural and geographical perspective? Can they confirm that they have the in-house capacity to meet the contract requirements? Do they have a good relationship with the primary SETA aligned with the sector an organisation represents? Skills Development Services are available to assist members in selecting a Skills Development service provider.

Informal training is the means that many organisations use to drive their Skills Development mandate. Category G is Informal Training whereby the Skills Matrix references work-based informal programmes. It refers to the workplace or internal training, whereby one employee trains another. The following evidence substantiates a claim for this category: Certified copy of a South African identity document; A signed EEA1 or any documentation confirming race and gender presented by the trainee; A training register confirming the date, the number of hours, as well as the trainer’s and trainee’s names. All parties must sign off this evidence; The payslip/s of the trainer will verify the hourly rate paid in the month training took place. Evidence may include the trainer’s IRP5 if the Measurement Period is a February year-end. Skills Development Services are available to assist members in allocating their Skills Development spend.

The 2013 amendments to the Generic Codes closed a loophole that allowed early payment terms for ‘Black’-owned businesses in exchange for Preferential Procurement points. The amendments mean that an organisation may only claim early payment terms from Supplier Development Beneficiaries. Therefore, the following applies to an invoice on which a claim for early payment is going to be made: The invoice payable for goods or services must appear in an organisation’s TMPS; Only the amount for early payment terms must reflect. Enterprise & Supplier Development Services are available to guide organisations in allocating their spend within this element.

SA News | 14 July 2023 The Employment and Labour Department is looking into imposing significant fines against unlawful labour practices by employers as the number of violation of basic employee registrations increase. “One of the things we are going to be harsh on is that some of the employers violate labour laws, and we come back to them and we find they did not correct because we start by corrective measures. “And they continue to violate labour laws, and then they get a fine in court but the fine is insignificant to them and they continue to violate labour laws,” said Minister Thulas Nxesi. The Minister was addressing the employers of the Golden Ridge Estate during farm inspections on Wednesday. The Golden Ridge Estate is a farming estate in Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape and the second biggest gross domestic product (GDP) contributor in the province. “Now part of the law which we are cooking is that if we are to find you [as an employer in violation of labour laws] and if we have given you warnings to do the corrective measures, and for the third time we find you violating, we are going to deal with your profits and a certain percentage of your profits. “And we send a very clear message,” he warned. The Minister further explained the department’s current stand on the Employment Equity Act to the farm owners. He also touched on the lack of training and mentorship of certain sectors of the population on farms. “The most sensitive issue, which I must emphasise, is the question of the foreign nationals amid high unemployment in South Africa. “You can employ them provided they are legal and provided they have papers. But it must be a particular quarter. You have the security sector and the retail sector, but we cannot come up with something which is a one size fits all. It’s going to depend on the various sectors,” he added. The Minister also embarked on the ‘Taking Services to the People’ initiative where he visited the Tamboville Community Multi-Purpose Centre in Kariega. “It’s a very strong programme where we feel that some of the people are not closer to Labour Centres, and then it means we must be able to provide service closer to them. Tons of the services we are bringing are the UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund] and the Compensation Fund. “We’re also looking at the Employment Services where we’ll do career counselling for the young people on how to deposit their CVs in a central database which will be available to all the employers, both private and public,” he explained. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employers-warned-comply-labour-laws

Schalk Burger | 13 July 2023 The Competition Commission has signed a settlement agreement with fast-moving consumer goods company Unilever South Africa that settles a possible market division case against Unilever. In terms of the settlement agreement, Unilever has agreed to pay an administrative penalty in the amount of R16-million without an admission of liability. Unilever has also agreed to a range of initiatives, including that it will increase the aggregate yearly value of its procurement of products and services from local entities by a minimum of R340-million for over a period of four years as part of the settlement agreement. Additionally, the company has agreed to donate hygiene, disinfectant and oral care products to the value of R3-million to no fewer than 18 780 public schools over a period of five years. Further, Unilever will establish an enterprise and supplier development fund to the value of R40-million. This fund will provide interest-free business loans to qualifying black-owned entities in the manufacturing, logistics and wholesale industries in South Africa that meet Unilever’s credit and selection criteria. This includes black-owned manufacturing companies requiring startup funds to enter the logistics, wholesale and distribution industries. “With agreements like the one with Unilever, the Commission preserves the spirit of healthy competition, protects the rights of consumers and paves the way for a thriving marketplace built on integrity and shared prosperity,” said Commissioner Doris Tshepe. The agreement has been filed with the Competition Tribunal for confirmation. In 2017, the commission referred a case against Unilever and trading and logistics multinational Sime Darby Hudson Knight for prosecution for possible division of markets between 2004 and 2013. The commission’s investigation found that the two companies entered into a sale of business agreement, which contained a non-compete clause, which restricted each of them to produce and supply certain pack sizes of margarine and edible oils. This is in possible contravention of the Competition Act. Sime Darby settled the matter with the commission in July 2016. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/commission-reaches-settlement-with-unilever-south-africa-2023-07-13

Partner | 14 July 2023 The Microsoft Emerging Partner Programme is an Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) B-BBBEE initiative by Microsoft South Africa that supports the development of 100% Black-Owned SMMEs (Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises) in the ICT industry in South Africa. This programme aims to identify, recruit, and nurture emerging partners in the Microsoft partner ecosystem. Whether you build apps or deliver IT services, this programme offers a great opportunity for you to take your small ICT business to the next level. Building a better South Africa The Microsoft Emerging Partner Programme is focused on offering skills development and building commercial capabilities of its 100% black-owned ICT SMME partners. The programme does this through: Instructor-led technical skills training Exam vouchers for Microsoft Certifications Business Development training, mentoring, and coaching Adoption and Change Management certification programme Funding of Microsoft workloads (subject to budget availability and Scope approval) The programme also supports SMMEs to attain Solutions Area Designations. Designations differentiate your business by demonstrating your organisations capabilities in your chosen area of business, with easily identifiable badging. Find out more about Microsoft’s Solutions Area Designations here: Microsoft Cloud Partner Program There are six different Solutions Area Designations, and the Emerging Partner Programme will help participating SMMEs attain up to two designations over a period of 24 months. How to apply To participate in the Microsoft Emerging Partner Programme, your company must be a 100% black-owned Exempted Micro Enterprise or Qualifying Small Enterprise (with a turnover below R50 million). The owner must have five years of IT experience, and the business must be operational for at least two years. A valid B-BBEE ICT Affidavit, CIPC registration certificate, and SARS Tax Pin letter are also required to apply to this programme. Recruitment for the Microsoft Emerging Partner Programme ends on 21 July 2023 – so sign up now to take advantage of its powerful benefits. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://businesstech.co.za/news/industry-news/704275/join-the-microsoft-emerging-partner-programme-to-accelerate-the-growth-of-your-smme/

Business Live | 13 July 2023 The 2023 Sanlam Transformation Gauge report will provide a three-year comparative view of progress and trends affecting economic transformation in the country. It's been 20 years since the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act was introduced to address inequalities in SA. Now it's time to evaluate whether BBBEE has delivered the positive benefits it set out to achieve. Is the country positively transforming? Is it happening at pace, or being slowed down by a lack of commitment by corporate SA, corruption and narrow self-interests? The annual Sanlam Transformation Gauge Report aims to answer these questions. Published in partnership with the Sunday Times Business Times, it's the only consolidated, sector-focused research report that takes a holistic measurement of economic transformation in SA, accounting for all elements of BBBEE. The 2023 edition of the report will also provide a three-year comparative view of progress and trends affecting economic transformation in the country. Register now for the virtual Sanlam Transformation Gauge Conference on July 18, when the findings from this year's report will be unpacked. During this insightful event, Sanlam chair Elias Masilela will explore the evolution and impact of BBBEE since its inception, critically examining its efficacy in addressing historical injustices and fostering economic transformation. How transformation and economic inclusion reflects on a BBBEE scorecard, and how it plays out in the lives of real people, is often very different. In an effort to close the gap between data and the lived experience, a panel of experts will examine critical elements of the BBBEE scorecard including ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier development and socioeconomic development. Moderated by broadcaster Gugulethu Mfuphi, this panel will include: Mamkeli Jim, dealmaker: leveraged finance at RMB; Tabea Kabinde, chair of the Commission of Employment Equity and transformation consultant; Litha Kutta, co-chair: Enterprise & Supplier Development Community of Practise; Nozizwe Vundla, head of the Sanlam Foundation; and Disa Mpande, acting CEO of merSETA. For the full conference programme, visit the Sanlam Transformation Gauge website. Event details Date: 18 July 2023 Time: 9am — 12.30pm Venue: Online ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/news/2023-07-13-native-register-virtual-sanlam-transformation-gauge-conference-to-scrutinise-progress-of-bbbee/

Western Cape Government | 13 July 2023 Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, and provinical Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, had the pleasure of joining the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN), one of the organisations currently funded through the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s SMME Booster Fund. The visit was part of a showcase of the work done with four of its partner SMMEs in Langa this week. BEN’s objective is to promote sustainable social and economic empowerment by ensuring a reliable supply of donated and affordable bicycles to disadvantaged communities and institutions. “Skills development comes in many forms and BEN not only understood this but also embraced this reality. The organisation has for years been building on its own skills upliftment capabilities, with the aim of embedding itself in communities where skills development will have the most impact,” said Premier Winde. Minister Wenger added, “The Western Cape Government is on a mission to achieve break-out economic growth by enabling the private sector to grow, and thereby, to create many more jobs in the province. This is the heart of our bold new economic action plan, Growth for Jobs. Which is why it was truly wonderful to see the positive impact the SMME Booster Fund is having on enabling township-based business to get set up and to thrive. I particularly enjoyed speaking with some of the young people employed by Cloudy Deliveries, who deliver groceries directly to people’s homes in and around Langa.” With the funding provided by the SMME Booster Fund, BEN is providing basic mechanic training to young bike mechanics in four local businesses, including Cloudy Deliveries, Langa Bicycle Hub, iKhaya le Langa, and Langa Pump Track initiative. BEN is also supplying new bikes to both Cloudy Deliveries and the Langa Pump Track initiative. “Its aim to empower particularly young people with skills in the field of bicycle maintenance speaks to the growing realisation of the importance of this mode of transport in our province in connecting communities to economic opportunities and decongesting our roads. Our role as government is to create an environment that allows organisations like BEN and its initiatives to keep growing. This is the backbone to our Growth for Jobs Strategy. It is an honour to be able to help BEN and its partners in building up skills in a form of transport, a pastime and sport that is very close to my heart.” said Premier Winde. “Since 2019, this programme has assisted 860 SMMEs, thereby helping to sustain 4 977 jobs. In addition to this, the Booster Fund has also helped these SMMEs to grow, creating an additional 651 jobs. Applications for the 2023 iteration of Fund closed on Monday this week and I look forward to announcing the successful organisations soon as we continue to support entrepreneurs and SMMEs as the driving force behind economic growth and job creation in the Western Cape and South Africa,” concluded Minister Wenger. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/celebrating-smme-booster-fund%E2%80%99s-success-langa%E2%80%99s-bicycle-empowerment-network

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Busi Kheswa | 13 July 2023 Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows that youths aged 15-24 years and 25-34 years recorded the highest unemployment rates of all age groups at 62.1% and 40.7%, respectively. Levels of unemployment continue to engulf our thoughts and energy, more so as we believe that sustainable livelihoods programmes will bring about pride, joy and to some extent bestow and restore some level of dignity. With Gauteng being the most populous province in SA, this number will be quite significant due to a number of reasons including young people migrating from their home provinces in search of better opportunities in the province believed to offer better economic opportunities. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the youth unemployment rate, when measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, rose to 62.1% in the first quarter of 2023, the highest in a year, from 61% in the previous three-month period. Gauteng accounts for the most. The Gauteng government launched a programme called Tshepo 1 Million to ease pressure on youth. Various departments needed to contribute through various programmes to ensure this could be realised. As part of contributing to the programme, the Gauteng department of social development is implementing the Welfare-to-Work Programme (W2WP). This programme includes the recruitment and selection, assessment, placement and on-job development, case management, training and developmental education, support services and job retention services. It readies participants for the job market and provides them with work experience to get and keep jobs. Initially, the W2WP was developed to support young women who were recipients of child support and foster care grants, but was expanded to assist exiting foster care beneficiaries, victims of gender-based violence, recovering substance abuse patients, women exiting shelters, and all other beneficiaries to transit from welfare into the world of self-sustenance. The programme incubates individuals for a period of not more than three years, and based on their assessment and educational profile, individuals are linked to a programme aimed at ensuring they can move themselves out of the social security system. Beneficiaries are selected based on socio-economic factors such as: The age cohort (between 18 and 25 years old) Social status factor (from poor backgrounds – based on household profiling from GDSD) Passed matric Participants who are willing to, and are ready to, work Participants willing to, and are ready to, look and take a post-matric qualification/course Through the programme, the department provides accredited skills training through partnerships with accredited partners in the field of hospitality, fashion design, real estate, photography, beauty therapy and hair dressing, etc. This is done through partnering with non-profit organisations that train and offer unit standards and/or qualifications that fall within the primary focus area of the education and training quality assurance body of the relevant sector education and training authority or professional body. There is also job placement where participants are linked to job opportunities within the network of potential employers. June 28 saw 536 youngsters graduating from this programme. These young people got accredited training in hair, beauty and fashion design as class of 2022/23. One beneficiary, 30-year-old Thando Femmers who graduated in fashion design through the Sun Goddess Foundation, said he was happy to break the cycle of poverty at home as he’s now the owner of a growing high fashion brand. “I want to empower people in my community who are hopeless. I was once a member of the community with no aspirations, but I thank Sun Goddess Foundation and the Gauteng department of social development for giving us an opportunity to live a life with purpose.” Even though these interventions seem scanty given the magnitude of youth employment, the government continues to change lives one step at a time. Key to this change is being consistent and intentional in improving lives for the better through sustainable livelihood and developmental programmes. • Kheswa is with the Gauteng department of social development ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2023-07-13-busi-kheswa--gauteng-youth-programme-helps-beneficiaries-transit-from-welfare-into-the-world-of-self-sustenance/

Nathaniel Lee | 12 July 2023 A not-so-new scourge of the so-called construction mafia is taking root across the country and poses a serious threat to national stability if not decisively dealt with. The term refers to groups that organise themselves as local business forums and invade construction sites across the country, demanding money or a stake in developmental projects. They are also known as the “amadelangokubona”, which means giving up only once having seen. They operate by invading construction sites while heavily armed and extorting a 30% stake from the established construction companies hired through the tender process. They sometimes extort protection money from these companies as a safeguard against further violent disruptions. In some cases these groups damage infrastructure and make it difficult for the project to continue until the owners give in to their demands. They are said to operate under the banner of Radical Economic Transformation. It would not be far-fetched to infer that these groups exist with the tacit approval of some of the ANC leadership. These mafias are believed to have started in KwaZulu-Natal around 2015 and spread to Gauteng and the rest of the country. It seems their motivation stems from the promulgation in 2017 of new regulations to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA), which stipulate that 30% of all contract value on state construction must be allocated to certain designated groups, including black South Africans, women and people with disabilities. In their misinterpretation of the stipulations, these groups also invade private-sector construction. These groups operate illegally and are a threat to the rule of law. They are hooligans who have instilled terror in businesses across the country. The latest invasion of the construction mafia took place at Menzi High School in Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal. The project was to build an additional 13 classrooms to relieve overcrowding and specialised laboratories at this school, which is known for producing excellent matric results in the province. According to a Sowetan report, the contractor had to abandon the project. The R37m project was expected to be completed by 2024, which has now been adjusted to 2025 due to the delays. Apparently there had been six attempts at derailing the project by armed gangs demanding to be paid 30% of the total project cost. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for public works Sipho Nkosi visited the school on Tuesday and expressed his concern about the disruptions. What is most disconcerting is the willingness of the MEC to negotiate with these unreasonable gangs. “We hope to get their names and advise them that the 30% they want is through negotiations with the main contractor to subcontract”, he said. It was therefore not surprising that none of the members of the construction mafia were present at the meeting called by the MEC to resolve the impasse. They are aware of the illegality of their actions and can only thrive in anonymity. The MEC seems not to comprehend that he is dealing with a criminal gang and not respectable business people. These are criminals who need to be stopped in their tracks before they sow even more mayhem. No respectable state can plead and negotiate with criminals who terrorise citizens. It is for this reason the US and the UK have an unyielding stance of not negotiating with terrorists. Criminals have to be arrested, tried and convicted to protect citizens. It is clear that the construction mafia are hell-bent on creating a parallel state which will undermine the rule of law and state security. Giving in to the demands of these gangs would be tantamount to feeding a monster which would swallow all of us later. We should therefore not compromise or negotiate with these hoodlums. According to a 2022 report by Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, in 2019 alone, at least 183 infrastructure and construction projects worth more than R63b had been affected by these kinds of disruptions across the country. This is economic sabotage by any account. It is time for law enforcement to take the initiative back from the mafias and reaffirm the rule of law by making them see that harassment, violence and extortion are not the means to achieve transformation in the construction industry or any other endeavour. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2023-07-12-nathaniel-lee--respectable-state-cant-discuss-business-with-mafia-groupings/

Investec | 11 July 2023 South Africa faces a dual economic imperative – finding solutions to address the highest unemployment rate in the world, along with the crippling effects of Eskom's rolling power cuts that are hobbling the economy and constraining growth. Investec and its commercial and developmental partners are pioneering a new impact investment model that does both. This video shows how consolidating infrastructure and social investment into one community maximises economic development. Hear from some of the youths who’ve been liberated from unemployment. According to the most recent Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey, South Africa’s unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2023 stood at 42,4% based on the expanded definition. While this figure represents a slight improvement (+0.2%) over Q4:2022, the deepening employment crisis caused by multiple global and local economic headwinds continues to disproportionately impact South African youths. In the first three months of 2023, unemployed South Africans aged between 15 and 34 increased by 241 000 to 4.9 million, effectively increasing the youth unemployment rate to 46.5% in the first quarter. Rural unemployment a dire situation Yet these startling figures paint only half the picture, with the situation in rural areas being worse. Touws River (Touwsrivier) in the central Karoo, once an economically thriving town along the main Cape Town to Kimberly railway line, is one of the more extreme examples, as most of the town’s roughly 8,000 inhabitants live under the breadline. When the railway line fell into disrepair due to disuse, underinvestment and a transition to road freight, the Touws River community became impoverished. An estimated 85% of those who live in the town today do not earn an income. Those who do earn, rely almost exclusively on seasonal citrus fruit farming in the nearby De Doorns area from November to March. Private sector investment delivers broad impact With little government support in the town, the private sector has stepped in to help address the unemployment and unfolding hunger crisis, with Investec and its commercial and developmental enterprise partners attempting to spark an economic revival. Investec is maximising the impact of a commercial investment in a solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) in the area with an accompanying enterprise development investment. Touws River is the host community for the 36 MW CPV1 Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) solar power plant developed by Pele Green Energy. Investec provided group-level acquisition funding to help Pele Green Energy secure a 35% stake in the CPV1 project in 2011. As one of the first REIPPPP projects to go live, CPV1 has been feeding electricity into the national grid to augment the shortfall from Eskom’s predominantly coal-fired power generation fleet since 2015. “We are really connected to the community because the community hosts us,” explains Fumani Mthembi. MD at Knowledge Pele, the socio-economic development arm of the Pele Energy Group. “We see this asset as a catalyst for development in this community. Many employees at the site came from Touws River, and we have a genuine sense of social responsibility towards those who live there.” Creating enduring economic impact While the asset has the ability to create jobs and support downstream activities, the lifecycle of solar projects does not typically generate a large number of long-term employment opportunities after the construction phase. Fumani Mthembi, MD at Knowledge Pele, the socio-economic development arm of the Pele Energy Group: “Knowing that we would form part of the community for 20 years, it was imperative that we created other opportunities to build enterprises and industries that would have positive knock-on effects,” continues Mthembi. “After our corporate banking team financed the asset, Pele approached us to fund some development opportunities in the Touwsrivier community,” explains Margaret Arnold, who oversees enterprise development initiatives for Investec. “Communities around solar plants are typically very remote, with very few opportunities available for people who live in these areas. It was an absolute no-brainer for us to see how we could blend our commercial investment with a developmental aspect to generate greater impact for the community.” Technologically-enhanced farming Investec provided a R5-million grant fund, which Knowledge Pele deployed to develop the Touwsrivier Commercial Hydroponics Farm (TCHF). “We chose hydroponic farming because it is highly sustainable, using less water and land than conventional farming to reduce the environmental impact. The technology also provides a high degree of certainty in crop supply and quality,” explains Mthembi. “Importantly, we chose an asset that was aligned to the skills profile of the community so that we could create jobs.” Generating impactful social return The farm is owned by Knowledge Pele and the Touwsrivier Solar Community Trust, in which 50% of equity is held by the community. This ownership structure provides an impactful social return on investment for the community coupled with financial income that seeks to uplift households. The TCHF produces over 4,000 kg of leafy green vegetables a month, focusing mainly on seven types of lettuce. The farm has off-take agreements in place with reputable retailers and plans to erect additional tunnels to expand the operation once additional funding is secured. “We wanted to build something that was technologically advanced and would meet numerous Sustainable Development Goals by creating industrial and social infrastructure, while also working in the local context,” elaborates Mthembi. The TCHF project initially employed 19 people from Touwsrivier, with Investec’s Youth Employment Service (YES) program paying all farm workers who were under 35 for the first year. There are now12 community members from Touwsrivier permanently employed at the TCHF, five of which have come from the Investec YES program, including Theodeline Bosman, who manages quality control. “I learned all of my horticulture and hydroponics skills during my Investec-funded YES internship program. I am now part of the process of getting food to my nation, and I don’t think there is anything more honourable than that.” And her employment at TCHF has given Theodeline a measure of economic freedom, providing income that has enabled her to complete a course and support her and her son. “I have been able to move away from my mother. I am looking into starting a little business. The farm has opened so many doors for me and it continues to open new avenues by broadening my perception of agriculture.” Extending reach for greater inclusivity To extend its social impact in the area, Investec also sponsored 30 learnerships for interns at the National Institute for Development and Training (NID), who are all from Touws River. “The institute was established to address the 85% unemployment rate amongst people with disabilities,” explains NID CEO Dr. Lientjie van Rensburg. The NID aims to change lives through the holistic development of people with disabilities, with a focus in rural areas where the organisation trains beneficiaries and then connects them with workplaces in the corporate industry. To date, 75% of the youth that finish the programmes at the institute find employment. “For the Touws River community, we have selected programmes where there is job opportunities, including the agriculture, hospitality and IT sectors,” explains Dr. van Rensburg. A replicable model for impact “We at Investec look for enterprise development opportunities to maximise the impact in one area. It’s much better than having dispersed initiatives scattered all over the place. Touws River has certainly been an incredible case study- where you combine a commercial asset, with developing the surrounding community for significantly more impact,” concludes Arnold. Mthembi echoes her sentiment, “We see the Touwsrivier Commercial Hydroponics Farm (TCHF) as a blueprint to build public-private infrastructure partnerships in other sectors and a model for tackling the unemployment crisis,” concludes Mthembi. Investec, together with its REIPPPP commercial and developmental enterprise partners are investing for impact to create jobs in the forgotten town of Touws River (Touwsrivier) ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-11-youth-development-to-spark-economic-revival-in-touws-river/