Page 6 - CSERI Annual Review eBook

DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
MESSAGE FROM THE
DUT CENTRE FOR SOCIAL
ENTREPRENEURSHIP RAPID
INCUBATOR DIRECTOR:
DR POPPET PILLAY
It gives me great pleasure to report on our Incubator for the 2021-
22 financial year and I would like to thank SEDA and DUT for their valuable support in achieving our targets for the year. I would also like to thank our Steering Committee Members and our Partners for their contributions in creating a greater impact for our SMMEs.
As with the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, KwaZulu-Natal was once again plunged into turmoil during the unrest in July 2021 that had an extremely negative effect on businesses, especially small enterprises. Despite the challenges, most of the SMMEs in CSERI incubation programmes managed to survive and remain sustainable. Through the Centre, approximately 30 SMMEs received assistance with their applications for funding for damage to their business. The resilience, determination and sacrifices made by our SMMEs during that time was truly amazing and we are so proud of their achievements.
The Centre was awarded funding for the Localization and ESD Programme in 2020 that commenced in September 2021 and ended in September 2022. The main aims of the Localization Programme was to develop local SMMEs to produce for the local market, replace imports and to become exporters to Africa and other international countries where possible. The Localization Programme will be reported on in the 2022/23 Annual Review Report.
During the 2020/21 financial year, the Centre partnered with industry and other organizations in the ecosystem to run entrepreneurship workshops and events for youth and communities. These included:
1. Launch League UK Bootcamp for Youth Start-Ups in May 2021. The Centre later assisted in the development of a module on Finance with Launch League UK in November 2021.
2. The Cataler SA Enterprise Development Programme supported 15 beneficiaries through the Advanced Enterprise Development Programme to become suppliers to the automotive industry as well as other sectors.
3. The Youth Innovation Challenge in partnership with Innovate Durban was hosted in September at the ML Sultan Campus for a group of 30 students. The programme was mostly online because of COVID-19 restrictions. We are very happy to report that of the three universities that participated, DUT students won the competition that was held in October 2021.
4. Broll SA Property Group partnered with the Centre to run the UMlazi Megacity Seed Project. The main prize was to provide an entrepreneur in UMlazi with a kiosk at the mall for a year, following the destruction during the July unrest. The winner and runners-up have joined the CSERI incubator to develop their businesses as part of their prizes.
5. The Centre partnered with the Maker Space Foundation in Durban to run workshops for DUT students in designing and making items using the Maker Space machines and facility based at the Steve Biko Campus. A group of 56 students participated in the project that was held in October 2021.
6. A workshop on Entrepreneurship and Design thinking was held for 13 potential staff Spin-off companies at the Centre. The Centre is currently supporting 5 Spin-off companies from the group with financial support.
In December 2021, a group of 105 SMMEs graduated online and in March 2022 another group of 46 SMMEs graduated at Botanic Gardens at a physical event. I am very pleased to report that the CSERI achieved and exceeded its Key Performance Indicators for the 2020/21 financial year. A total number of 88 Start-ups were supported; 400 jobs were sustained; 23 new SMMEs were created and 45 new jobs were created during the financial year. The client turnover for 2022/21 financial year was R 45 449 274.
I would like to acknowledge our SEDA Project Specialist, Ms. Martha Mamoepa, for her unwavering assistance throughout the year and our CSERI Team for always going the extra mile in ensuring the growth and success of all the SMMEs in incubation and post incubation.
Sincerely
Dr Poppet Pillay
4 CENTRE FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENUESHIP RAPID INCUBATOR