14 May 2018

The newly registered Jwaneng Chamber of Commerce (JCC) will assist in advocating for small businesses around Jwaneng to ensure that they benefit from the local empowerment programmes offered by the government and the Jwaneng mine.

Briefing Boteti Sub council delegates and Jwaneng Town council leadership in Jwaneng on Tuesday, the JCC chairperson Mr Julius Sebako said the society has observed a gap between well-established businesses and small ones, which needs to be filled.

Mr Sebako said the society will also ensure that it helps improve business and human resources in Jwaneng.

“We will ensure that residents of Jwaneng are well equipped with knowledge and skills to work in the mine and other sectors of the economy.  Our aim is to see them benefitting either directly or indirectly from the mine since it is in their area,” he explained.

He further revealed that JCC will also enhance entrepreneurial workforce and training to ensure that there is a fair balance between foreign companies and local ones during tendering processes.

Mr Sebako said they have observed that Jwaneng businesses have been disadvantaged due to factors which include unavailability of serviced land.

He however noted that the town has potential business opportunities such as tourism, cultural activities and sports tourism among others.

The Jwaneng Town Clerk, Mr Dick Kalantle said the council exists as a service provider that cares about the livelihoods of the community.

Mr Kalantle said the council should come up with bye-laws that will not repress small businesses but rather promote order to ensure that the health of the community is not compromised.

“We should look beyond the mine and think outside the box because after the closure of the mine, Jwaneng should still be in existence. These are the people we should take on board to assist in building a tomorrow Jwaneng,” he said.

He further revealed that the Jwaneng Town Council will build standardised market stalls for small businesses with their share of the P10 million constituency fund.

Boteti delegates were on a benchmarking trip to Jwaneng to learn about, among others, good governance, best practices and corporate social investments. ENDS