‘Plain steps up its game with digital hub
Mitchell’s Plain entrepreneurs, digital and gaming enthusiasts have been called on to step up and into an incubator and digital hub in the Town Centre.
Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, said instead of dreamers going to Silicon Valley for high technology and innovation, they should be coming to Mitchell’s Plain.
She was speaking at the launch of Africa’s Got Game incubator and digital hub on Wednesday July 17.
The hub is fully equipped and set to provide services and programmes to township-based enterprises and cooperatives of Mitchell’s Plain.
“Mitchell’s Plain it is in your hands. We want to plant the seed. We have prioritised entrepreneurs, support cooperatives and SMMEs (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises),” she said.
It offers a hybrid approach to all qualifying enterprises, generating innovative solutions across various industries.
It provides youth entrepreneurs with skills development training that prepares them for future business and work opportunities. It also offers technical development services to qualifying entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Ms Ndabeni-Abrahams said entrepreneurs from the area, known for gangsterism, drugs and crime should use the opportunity to turn its story around.
“We have to build a capable army if we are able to deal with the challenges our people have to face,” she said.
She said the youth should be armed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“Make sure everyone becomes digital savvy and connected. We need to make sure that not only are our people consumers of technology that is brought to us but also that our people are able to innovate. We want to give people access to innovation, which starts with an idea,” said Ms Ms Ndabeni-Abrahams.
Got Game board chief executive officer Martine Solomon said it was born in 2012 but it was founded on the streets of Mitchell’s Plain.
“We have really seen the good, the bad and the ugly but we have chosen to come back here,” she said.
They have hubs across South Africa, running various empowerment programmes as well as a few countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
“We’re passionately engrossed in the SMME and digital development of our communities, particularly because without those two elements, we cannot and will not grow the economy of South Africa because there will not be jobs,” said Ms Solomon.
They want to train and develop people in scarce skills and ensuring SMMEs become sustainable.
Ms Solomon said the infrastructure should feel different when entered.
“We are here to serve. It is the centre of Mitchell’s Plain, where everyone is included,” she said.
She said the community should see it as a centre where they can ask for help.
“We want to bring the energy that Mitchell’s Plain needs,” said Ms Solomon.
