Manufacturing centre launched in Soshanguve

The centre strives to decrease failure rates in new businesses by providing access to a comprehensive range of services and increasing the awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities in South Africa.

Some of the products manufactured by Soshanguve entrepreneurs and those in surrounding areas include steel and wire products, tissue paper consumables, packaging for consumables and plastic products.

The Seda Technology Programme in partnership with the City of Tshwane and the Tshwane University of Technology set the centre up two years ago.

Sudesh Pillay, a member of the Tshwane Municipality's Mayoral Committee said: "The challenges for SMEs [Small and Medium Enterprises] is that they don't have markets.

"We want to create markets for them. We've taken a decision that all our corporate gifts we will procure locally. In terms of our budgets R120 million has been set aside to support procurement activities through SMEs."

More focus has recently been put on entrepreneurship following the loss of almost a million jobs in the country after the economic recession of 2008-2009.