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In April 2024 I wrote under the title “Together we are Sterk”,
This article may confuse one because it was written in the heat of the 2024 general elections, but it is still relevant that it talked about Advocacy groups (interest groups, lobby groups etc.)
In July 2024 I wrote under the title “Let us be proud of our own”.
These articles are both relevant to Senqu Economic Development Forum as expresses in their WhatsApp group.
Yesterday I wrote to the initiator of this group (which brings together small businesspeople of different persuasions) and enquired as to whether there are forms in other Municipalities that have similar objectives. I was tying to explore how I could expand my marketing range for 2026.
She replied that “this was my brain idea and my aim was to have it in Walter Sisulu and Elundini that we do Joe Gqabi Economic Development Forum”.
It is refreshing that there are people in our community who still wake up and clean around themselves and even go as far as cleaning their neighbour’s environs just by thinking and reaching out.
Unfortunately, this spirit is immediately suffocated by our silence and indifference.
This is why I shout out to the world that Sterkspruit exists.
Big up Ntombazana: Support the people’s future with vision.

Some time ago I was a whatsapp group member of Masakhane Organization which operates in some of the Suburbs in Bloemfontein. In that time the “to be” organization was at the stage of drafting a constitution and we were expected to contribute towards that important step.
I suggested that the easy way would be to look into the constitutions of bodies of similar intent and take out what would suit us. This was my demise.
The next thing that happened was a voice note from a prominent lady in the group. I cannot say now what she said but I know that she was spewing vitriol, asking who I thought I was. I replied that I would reply and this was because I had to take some time to organize myself and not reply out of emotion. Immediately after that I was blocked.
In writing as I do I need to caution such organizations ate made in order to bring people who share certain values and experiences together and should not be a platform to settle scores and (I dare say) gossip.
I am a proud citizen of Herschel District (as it used to be. If one looks at the posts that I have contributed to this platform one would attest to this and I will not be deterred. MASAKHANE please

There is wind that our Municipality will soon have a platform for Company Registration. This is a noble intervention that will save money for aspirant Small Business and promote more and more participation and business activity. But is it really noble?
A worrying factor is that the Municipality has it’s own mandate which is to promote and encourage small business and in so doing curb unemployment and create employment. This translates to nurturing existing businesses.
If true, this is ill advised, and the entity will be shooting its own mandate in the foot by stifling small business.
Has the mother of small business considered:
1. Supporting the small business support entities even financially by subsidizing small business registrations?
2. Trying to negotiate with existing small business support entities in order to mitigate prices and ant other conditions?
3. Trying to bring existing entities in the field of small business support entities in par with their counterparts that appear unapologetically on the internet,
I don’t think so.
Stifling small business smacks of the apartheid era and is counterproductive to our government objectives Nyhani.
White Companies have been there on the ground and on the internet for ages. Look at Govchain, Company Partners, Swiftreg, ANM Accounting, Shelf Company and many others. In fact, we have inherited our pricing regime from them, but vitriol is not directed at them but to the small fish. Our taxes support the endeavors of the Municipality but now the same taxes are used to subjugate their very subjects. It doesn’t add up.
There is also wind that some big muscle business is intending to do the same services for a certain sector or certain sectors. Maybe ndishiywe ngumgosi.
Are they bringing in anything better than we locals offer? Have they attempted any dialogue with us. Whose empowerment is this. Have they, among other things looked at means of mitigating prices and other factors. You don’t kill one of your children so that the other one can breast feed more.
What are they saying about ancillary services related to company registration. Registration is only an admission at the gates of the stadium. The playing field is inside.
Lastly I must thank the Senqu Economic Development WhatsApp group for accepting me and my Company and I want to say to them our company is versatile. Nothing is cast in stone when it comes to group situations. We are open to discussions and negotiations. We are your Partner.
Before I leave I am duty bound to make an honest disclosure about myself.
At some point I was a member of Senqu SMME’s WhatsApp group. There happened to be a contentious issue against which I objected. The problem seemed to have been resolved but later, guess what: “You can’t send messages to this group because you are no longer a member” And that’s how my business was promoted. Nkosi yam