In response to the July looting that rocked the country, Rays of Hope joined forces with AlexBiz, a support network for businesses based in Alexandra Township, to raise funds for businesses that were directly affected. Many were left unable to trade and face a long journey of rebuilding their businesses.
ALEXANDRA – Youth urged to register their business portfolios for future funding.
Mokgadi Chat's to AlexBiz co-founder Thabiso Sebata
LBS students have been collaborating with micro-entrepreneurs in Alexandra Township (‘Alex’) in Johannesburg for ten years, with over 700 MBA students helping 134 entrepreneurs respond to business challenges, but the last two years have been the most difficult period for the people of Alex, firstly with COVID and then widespread rioting over 2020 and 2021.
In our first two articles about the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alexandra, we explored the typical challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and informal entrepreneurs operating in South African townships, before looking at the institutional ecosystem in which these entrepreneurs operate. Our third and final post in this 3-part series will explore the way forward: Can the disconnect between the offering in the ecosystem and the needs of microbusinesses be better bridged? Can some of the most basic and immediate needs of informal entrepreneurs and microbusinesses be better supported, and, if so, then how?
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