The Botshabelo Digital Hub is envisaged to unlock the full potential of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Officially launched on 8 April by dignitaries of provincial and national government, the hub is partly funded by the European Union and supported by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
In 2020 the Small Enterprise Development Agency approved R5 million to cover the operational budget and capital expenditure.
The hub, located within the state-owned industrial park in Botshabelo, is designed to enable aspiring entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential and grow their dreams.
“This hub should unlock innovation for the digital era of the fourth industrial revolution,” said Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, minister of Small Business Development.
“Let’s all commit and ensure a good return of investment by this hub. Botshabelo may be the first, but let’s commit to do more in other areas as well.
“Where we are unable, we must strive to create special purpose vehicles here at this hub. We must accept that we cannot deal with red tape on our own in the next 12 months, and this means that we must reach out to anybody who shows interest. This must be done in the best interest of the people we are serving.”
Her department focuses on enhancing support of small businesses and cooperatives, with an emphasis on programmes to advance entrepreneurship among women, youth and people with disabilities to spark job creation and economic growth.
According to Makalo Mohale, Free State MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the hub is envisaged to become the centre of innovative, home-grown digital solutions to empower previously marginalised youth in the township.
“This project should seek to equip young people with skills and knowledge to enable them to take the lead in the transformation of South Africa’s economy in order to reduce inequality. Government made a bold decision in bringing the hub where it is so badly needed.”
Mohale stressed that the hub is a government flagship initiative aimed at providing a platform for youth to exhibit technological innovation and enabling them to venture into different spheres of business.
