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Programmes in KwaZulu-Natal

• Economic Development Programmes
  • Integrated Business Support and Economic Development
  • Co-operatives Programme
  • The Gijima KZN LED Support Programme
• Arts, Culture and Tourism Programmes
  • Arts and Crafts Programmes
  • Skills Programmes
• Tourism Programmes
  • International hotel school
  • Tourism Career Support Programme
  • Tourism Mentorship Programme
• Public Work Programmes
  • Expanded Public Works Programme
  • Masakhe Emerging Contractor Development Programme
  • The CIDB Outreach Centre (CCC)
  • Contractor forums
  • National youth service
  • Food security projects
• Thusong Centres

Economic Development Programmes

Integrated Business Support and Economic Development

This programme aims to promote entrepreneurship and small medium and micro enterprise (SMME) development by offering business advice, network support, training and mentoring to small and emerging businesses in the province.

Contact the Integrated Business Support and Economic Development Programme: 033 264 2503/83

Co-operatives Programme

Your co-operative could benefit from this programme too. Don’t let lack of skills get you down. Contact the people who have experience with co-operatives, and can give you the advice and guidance you need.

Contact the Co-operatives Programme: 033 264 2540/50
To register a co-operative, contact CIPRO: 0861 843 384

The Gijima KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) LED Support Programme

The role of the municipality is to create a favourable climate for economic activities; but it is up to individuals in every community to come up with ideas and plans for the businesses.

The Local Economic Development ( LED) programme is making an impact in our community! Through LED, we have taken the initiative and formed a business forum for all business stakeholders to lead and guide local economic development. We’re beginning to see more people flourish, thanks to the healthy business environment LED is creating.

The Gijima KZN LED Support Programme funds projects that help previously disadvantaged people from poor communities to improve their lives financially by becoming involved in small business. The programme makes it possible for people to get the skills they need to do this.

How to apply:

• There will be a call for project proposals in the local newspapers, so check them regularly.
• Follow the instructions in the newspaper advertisement to get your application forms.
• Fill in the application forms, carefully sticking to the guidelines you are given.

Contacts:

Ugu and Sisonke Area Manager	039 688 5845
Umgungundlovu and Uthukela Area Manager	035 799 2635
Umkhanyakude and Zululand Area Manager	035 573 1868
Amajuba and Umzinyathi Area Manager	034 314 3759 ext. 2021
Department of Finance and Economic Development	033 846 6800
Department of Economic Development (DECD)	033 264 2500
DECD Co-operatives Unit	033 897 4546/897 4347

Seda Offices
Seda	0860 103 703
KZN Provincial Office	031 277 9500
eThekwini	031 308 9900
Kokstad	039 727 1428
Ladysmith	036 631 3325
Newcastle	034 312 9096
Richards Bay	035 797 3711
South Coast	039 682 6222
Umgungundlovu	033 345 3017
Other Programmes
CIPRO	0861 843 384
Tshumisano Programme	031 336 1545/85
Integrated Energy Centres	031 333 9479

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Arts, culture and tourism programmes

Arts and crafts programmes

The Craft Enterprise Programme

This programme is currently focused on the Ukhahlamba Region and the Umzimkhulu District of the Pietermaritzburg Region. It helps develop crafting skills, craft business skills and marketing skills. It may also help to provide raw materials as start-up capital and aftercare.

Contact: 033 341 3608

The Craft Skills Development Programme

This programme operates across the entire province. It focuses on promoting quality products, developing business skills, marketing and aftercare. The programme operates largely in the areas of embroidery, beadwork, carving and the fine arts.

Contact: 033 341 3608

The performing arts

This programme promotes indigenous music and aims to support and mould artists until they become self-sustainable. It provides artists with opportunities to perform, assists them with the recording and marketing of their work and launching of products. In this way, it provides artists with opportunities for national and international exposure.

Contact: 033 341 3608

Arts centres

These centres aim to develop the arts in KwaZulu-Natal. Government plans eventually to have at least one centre in every municipality.

Contact: 033 341 3608

KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture Council

The KwaZulu-Natal Arts and Culture Council provides funding to various organisations to promote the art and culture of the province.

Contact: 033 341 3608
Contact the Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism: 033 341 3616

Skills programmes

Tour-Guiding Skills Programme

This programme helps tour guides by improving their skills in customer care, use of language, and other areas.

Contact: 033 341 3061 or 033 341 3074

Theatre Development Programme

This training programme gives artists skills such as acting, directing, script development and writing. Upon completion of training, participating artists prepare productions that are shown at the Theatre Festival.

Contact: 033 341 3608

Arts and Culture Business Training Programme

It is important that artists have the necessary skills to manage their businesses, including entrepreneurship and business management skills. The Arts and Culture Directorate is there to assist with this.

Contact: 033 341 3608

Intellectual property law training

This is a two-month programme which gives training on issues of intellectual property like copyrighting. Participating artists will also be given training skills so that they can teach other artists.

Contact: 033 341 3608

Ar ts and culture aftercare programme for emerging artists

Here artists are given mentors who are prominent in the Arts and Culture field to make sure that experience in the industry is passed on.

Contact: 033 341 3608

Arts and culture learnerships

A specific learnership programme called the National Certificate Arts and Culture Administration has been introduced by the Department. This programme benefits the arts and culture industry in the province.

It aims to improve and increase opportunities for all selected candidates to become employed and, in the process, reduce poverty. After the training programme, candidates have the opportunity of establishing their own businesses.

Contact: 033 341 3608

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Tourism programmes

International hotel school

This is a three-month skills training programme aimed at small and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in the tourism business areas of accommodation (B&Bs) and tour operating. The programme aims to give bed and breakfast (B&B) owners and tour operators the business skills they need to run their businesses more effectively and profitably

Contact: 031 341 3074 or 031 267 4700

Tourism Career Support Programme

This programme is for learners that are in the field of travel and tourism or students that are already at institutions of higher learning and who are committed to studying tourism. The programme awards bursaries to tourism students from universities and technikons. Included in this programme is a Tourism Career Exhibition which is organised by the Department to coincide with the start of the Tourism Month. There, potential employers are given a chance to meet potentia employees. The exhibition is aimed at addressing issues of unemployment and gives students who are unemployed, the opportunity to network and market themselves to potential employers.

Contact: 033 341 3074

Tourism Mentorship Programme

The tourism unit established the Tourism Mentorship programme and the Tourism Ambassador project in partnership with the various municipalities. These programmes help emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, particularly those from historically disadvantaged groups, giving their business an opportunity to develop and grow by linking them with well established businesses within the industry.

The Tourism Mentorship Programme is a six-month course. The aim of the programme is for experienced and established businesses to provide hands-on training and guidance to new and emerging businesses.

Contact: 033 341 3074 or 031 572 5299

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Public works programmes

Expanded Public Works Programme

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is a government programme aimed at the alleviation of poverty and unemployment. People gain skills while they work and increase their capacity to earn an income. The EPWP focuses on improving skills through education and training and improving the enabling environment for industry to flourish.

Contact: 033 355 5451

Masakhe Emerging Contractor Development Programme

Masakhe focuses on the empowerment of SMMEs in construction. The programme gives access to contracts and training. It also has a database of targeted beneficiaries. The following are eligible for this programme:

• Contractors registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) from grade one to five in the General Building sector will be considered emerging for the purposes of this programme.
• Projects up to the value of five million rand per project will be set aside for this programme.
  

Contact: 033 355 5428

The CIDB Outreach Centre (CCC)

The Construction Contact Centre (CCC) is a one-stop service facility aimed at providing construction awareness and access to a broad spectrum of development opportunities available in the construction industry.

Services rendered by the CCC include:

• Contractor registration advice and Help Desk
• Distribution of Construction Industry Development Board ( CIDB) registration forms through CCC Help Desks
• Registration, upgrades and renewal process streamlining
• Advice center.
  

Contact: 033 355 5429

Contractor forums

The department has established regional contractor forums as a platform for communication, information-sharing and best practices.

Contact: 033 355 5429

National youth service

The National Youth Service (NYS) is an infrastructure programme of the EPWP. Participants are placed on a year-long accredited skills programme in both construction and entrepreneurship.

Contact: 033 355 5451

Food security projects

The Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs offers food security projects. These projects help emerging farmers from poor areas with technical support, information and applications for funding. The projects focus on piggery, poultry and vegetable production.

Contact Food Security: 035 831 0326/474 2163
Contact the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs: 033 355 9690/9100

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Thusong centres

Website: www.thusong.gov.za

Useful government contacts

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Last modified: 19 September 2008 13:05:00.