Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, together with MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Nonkqubela Pieters, handed over R2.35 million in business support to 10 enterprises across the OR Tambo District, as part of the Provincial Heritage Day celebrations at Kroza Great Place in Qumbu.

The support was facilitated through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), an entity of DEDEAT, through its Imvaba Co-operative Fund and Small Towns, Townships and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (STTREP).

The supported enterprises operate across agriculture, tourism, automotive services, baking and ICT, with the interventions providing critical productive assets including farming infrastructure and mechanisation, a delivery vehicle, ICT equipment and business machinery. The investment is aimed at strengthening production capacity, supporting the sustainability of local enterprises and contributing to the retention and creation of jobs in rural and township communities. Through ECDC, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government continues to translate its economic development mandate into tangible support for enterprises and communities across the province.

Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane closed the Provincial Heritage Day celebrations hosted with a call for communities to work together in confronting some of the province’s most pressing challenges. Addressing the scourge of gender-based violence and crime, the Premier called on communities to work hand-in-hand with the South African Police Service by sharing information and taking collective responsibility for building safer communities. He also called on Kings and traditional leaders to harness land as a productive asset, strengthening food security and improving livelihoods within their communities.