Vishal Premlall, national director of the Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association, says SA tyre manufacturers employ more than 6 000 people directly in South Africa and create indirect employment opportunities for more than 19 000 people.
Tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber South Africa’s (SRSA) Dunlop container project, which was initiated in 2012, is but one such initiative that promotes diversified opportunities.
“We know that our unemployment figures are highest among young people in rural areas and townships,” said Itumeleng Mojafi, group manager of enterprise development at SRSA, “and this project has enabled informal tyre businesses, often trading from makeshift, roadside facilities, to be transformed into proper Dunlop-branded fitment centres, where they can offer high-quality and affordable tyres, as well as tyre services to their communities, while also creating jobs.”
Today there are more than 80 Dunlop container outlets employing about 400 people across the country.
The business-in-a-box concept offers 48 township entrepreneurs an opportunity to start their own businesses.
In addition to the initial setup of a 12m Dunlop-branded container with equipment, retail software, startup stock and point-of-sale material, entrepreneurs will be trained at one of SRSA’s technical, training and retail centres to gain the skills necessary for their business to succeed. They will also receive legal and regulatory support, marketing support and business mentoring, an area where many small businesses traditionally fail.
“It’s all about finding the right entrepreneurs and ensuring they are equipped to be successful and well supported for their journey. The longer-term vision is that these entrepreneurs will be able to grow and develop their businesses from entry-level enterprises serving the person in the street to businesses that can support the taxi industry, and government departments, thus creating more job opportunities,” added Mojafi.
Source: Cathy Findley PR