NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                     29 July 2002

CITY'S EFFORTS PAY OFF AT NOMZAMO

Business is booming in the informal settlement of Nomzamo in Somerset West where shops and small businesses are thriving due to a rewarding partnership with the City of Cape Town.

Councillor Kent Morkel, the City of Cape Town’s Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Tourism and Property Management, says the key to Nomzamo’s success is the spirit of partnership that has evolved over the years with the Council.

All the work was done by local builders, carpenters and bricklayers who formed the Nomzamo Builders' Trust three years ago. With a total financial contribution of R1,7 million from the City of Cape Town for the four stages of the project, the Trust has gone from strength to strength.

“The Council recognises that future economic development and job creation largely depends largely on encouraging entrepreneurship in all our communities,” said.

The City has contributed R120 000 for the first phase, R500 000 for the second, R200 000 for the third and R912 263 for the fourth phase.

The whole shopping centre area is about 1 000 square metres and there are 20 shops, eight containers and two open air slabs for informal traders on renting ona daily basis. There is still space for a post office and 225 square metres for a supermarket in some of the hives, and an opportunity exists for a bank.

“The Council identifies those projects that have the potential to teach people to help themselves, and then we help with training, infrastructure and funding, where possible", added councillor Morkel.

“The spirit of entrepreneurship is thriving in Nomzamo and the community is flourishing because of it,” he said.

The Nomzamo business hives facility was launched with great pride by the local community and the City on 27 July 2002.

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