President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised support for small businesses and job creation in the State of the Nation Address, prompting SMF News to investigate entrepreneurs in Stellenbosch who are already tackling unemployment at a local level.
CoCreate, an employment hub on Victoria street in Stellenbosch, where small businesses operate from a renovated municipal building. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
Within the town, CoCreate hub, situated on 7 Victoria Street, sustains livelihoods by providing job opportunities. This raises questions about how national commitments to support small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) translate into economic activity on the ground.
The business hub, run by Ranyaka Community Transformation, an NGO and development agency, is housed in an old clinic. It houses 9 physical businesses and 20 businesses have their products on display.
The shared business space also showcases products from entrepreneurs who do not operate from a permanent base there. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
From clinic to enterprise
According to the manager, Susan Yallop, Ranyaka secured the building through a municipal tender process which required the organisation to refurbish the former clinic. They have since transformed the space into a functioning small business centre.
“Basically, because of the investment that we’ve made of over R6 million, we don’t pay rent to the municipality for the building, but we do pay the rates and taxes and the water and light bills,” said Yallop.
While the hub itself benefits from access to municipal infrastructure, Wardah Cassiem of Wadi’s Kitchen, an entrepreneur operating within the hub, says that her day-to-day operations largely rely on her own resources rather than direct municipal funding or programmes. “It would be beneficial, especially for a woman-owned business to actually get funding to take your business to the next step,” Cassiem says.
She already employs two other women, and hopes to grow her business and employ even more. “With the State of the Nation Address, we’re hoping that it’s not just gonna be all words, we’re hoping that we’re gonna see action.”
The compact work station of Wadi’s Kitchen inside CoCreate Hub. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
The skills gap
Bradley Cameron, a co-manager at the hub, said meaningful support begins with understanding the realities entrepreneurs face. “You have to know what the problem is in order to fix it,” he said, adding that closer engagement and skills-based support from the municipality could strengthen small businesses beyond financial assistance alone.
Coffee MM, a coffee shop, is one of the small businesses housed inside the building. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
For employees working within the hub, the space represents more than just a shared business environment, it represents possibility. Jodene Philander, a barista at Coffee MM, said she chose to work there because she saw it as “an opportunity for small businesses to be seen” and wanted to be part of making a difference. She added that working in the space motivates her, noting that being in an environment like this shows that “it’s possible for you to start a small business.”
As national commitments to job creation continue to unfold, spaces like this hub reflect how local initiatives can inspire both employment and entrepreneurship within the Stellenbosch community.
SMF News contacted the Stellenbosch Municipality regarding its support for small businesses and local economic development initiatives. Despite multiple attempts, no response was received by the time of publication.