Today, the City of Johannesburg launched the second Opportunity Centre at the Roodepoort Civic Theatre.
This follows the successful launch of the first ever Opportunity Centre, named Khoebo (roughly translated as “business”), by the City in March 2018 at 88 Marshall Street.
It was officially opened by Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Herman Mashaba.
Each OC will carry its own unique name selected from a batch submitted by students within that particular area. This not only ensures a name that encompasses the people, particularly the youth, within that Region but also allows for their active participation in this process. The reveal of the Roodepoort OC name will be made at the launch, with Wits University kindly having put up prize money for the student whose proposed name was selected.
This 2nd OC is part of the 14 planned by the Department of Economic Development to be opened by the end of the 2020/2021 financial year. The City believes that the development and support of SMMEs and entrepreneurs plays a huge role in achieving the 5% economic growth target by 2021 with sustainable SMME’s contributing to a reduction in unemployment.
Each OC will carry its own identity and be customised in order to cater for specific services required in those areas of operation to ensure that the City remains consistent with its new model relating to OC’s. Thus far, the city has attracted over ten business partners including: SARS, CIPS, Innovation Hub, Productivity SA, SEDA, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), ABSA, TUHF, GenAfrica, Discovery and SmartProcurement World.
The City of Jo’burg will continue in its efforts to facilitate high level service support by inviting a range of public and private sector partners from various disciplines to be part of the impactful legacy that these OC’s will provide.
The following standardised services will be provided at the Roodepoort Opportunity Centre:
a) General business information and advice
b) Business assessments, gap analysis and development plans
c) Business management training seminars, including financial literacy, marketing sales and operations managements
d) Tax and accounting advisory services, including company registration, tax compliance, financial advisory and auditing
e) Managed workshops, meeting rooms internet Wi-Fi services offered on a subsidised monthly fee and/or pay-per-use basic
f) Funding facilitation including funding products awareness and application support
g) Enterprise development services delivery points
h) Partner services on site
i) Assistance with city supplier data base and compliance issues.
All OC’s will also include a procurement desk and from the 2018/19 financial year a Job Seekers as well as an Innovation desk, a first in South Africa.
These services are provided at no cost to the SMMEs with the City providing the facilitation and space required to offer them.
Media queries:
Stakeholder Manager: Jabulile Buthelezi
Office of the MMC: Cllr Leah Ruth Knott
Mobile: +27 67 028 9636
Email: JabulileBu@joburg.org.za
