In April 2024, local e-commerce group Takealot in partnership with the Gauteng government introduced its Takealot Township initiative. It features six different programmes aimed at empowering entrepreneurs in Gauteng townships.
Takealot says it wants to help South African communities by making products locally, helping small businesses, and creating jobs. Takealot aims to create 20 000 jobs through the initiative by 2028.
The project currently takes place in specific townships in Gauteng. These include Soweto, Tembisa, Alexandra, Katlehong, Mamelodi, Sebokeng, and Soshanguve.
Kagiso, Hammanskraal, Etwatwa, Ivory Park, Diepsloot, Vosloorus, Tsakane, Daveyton, Winterveld, Evaton, Ga-Rankuwa, Kwa-Thema and Mabopane, are also part of the programme.
Below we look at the programmes and their benefits.
1. Takealot Personal Shopper Programme
A personal shopper is someone who purchases products on behalf of the public. The goal of this programme is to hire and train 5000 personal shoppers in specific underserved areas by 2028. The personal shoppers earn a profit for every shopper they help make purchases on Takealot. This programme is run in all designated townships.
2. Takealot Delivery Team Last Metre Driver Development Programme
Takealot hires drivers to deliver goods from Takealot, and its subsidiaries Mr D and Superbalist.
This programme will onboard 2000 drivers by 2028. The aim is to train skilled drivers looking to work for Takealot. The Gauteng government will provide vehicle funding for eligible trained candidates. Takealot will supply equipment such as the driver’s hot bag and reflector vest.
The programme will run in Soweto, Hammanskraal, Tembisa, Katlehong, Mamelodi, Alexandra, Sebokeng, Vosloorus, Atteridgeville, Mabopane, Soshanguve, and Cosmo City.
3. Takealot Township Franchise Development Programme
A Takealot franchise serves as a base for collecting and delivering items ordered from the platform. Entrepreneurs who run these franchises have business experience.
The programme aims to assist ten franchisees with training and financial backing over the next five years. Also, it will offer them the chance to develop their business skills while encouraging local and economic growth. Participants do not pay any loyalties to Takealot and receive their full profit.
This programme will only run in Soweto, Hammanskraal, Tembisa, Katlehong, Mamelodi, Alexandra, and Sebokeng.
4. Mr D Mzansi Trailblazer Restaurant Programme
The programme supports independent restaurants owned by disadvantaged entrepreneurs. It provides them with trading benefits to boost their sales on the Mr D platform. The aim is to help these businesses grow and succeed in the competitive market. By increasing their visibility and reach, the programme helps these restaurants attract more customers and generate more revenue.
Restaurant owners can join the Mr D platform for free and get training on using the platform’s tools. Additionally, they will get R 1000 in advertising credit for the first three months of trading on Mr D.
5. Superbalist Stock Reseller Programme
A stock reseller is someone who resells unsold or returned stock at a reduced rate. This programme aims to help grow the clothing market in underserved communities. The programme will support ten resellers over five years and provide them with Superbalist stock, training and funding opportunities.
The Stock Reseller programme lets people in the townships purchase new, high-quality clothes at lower prices. It also provides them with an opportunity to start their own retail business.
Superbalist and the Gauteng government’s enterprise and entrepreneurship development agencies, will identify existing entrepreneurs in clothing retail. Interested parties will register through the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller.
6. Takealot Marketplace SME and Local Industrialisation Programme
The Takealot marketplace is a part of the website dedicated to third-party sellers. The online marketplace helps small businesses grow by reducing costs and allowing them to focus on their products. It gives entrepreneurs and SMEs a chance to compete and overcome growth challenges.
The SME initiative aims to help township manufacturers grow by joining the Takealot marketplace. Participants will receive benefits such as listing creation, digital marketing tools, and storage in distribution centres. They will also have access to nationwide pick-up points and delivery by over 15 000 drivers. And robust advertising solutions, and safe and secure online payment methods, including buy-now-pay-later options.
Takealot has also waived subscription fees, and gives participants training. They will also receive Proudly SA memberships for one year. This will help SMEs promote and sell their products hassle-free.
These programmes help both current entrepreneurs expand their business and new entrepreneurs succeed in the economy. Although the initiative only runs in certain townships, Takealot said it intends to extend it to townships outside Gauteng.
Mamongae Mahlare, executive chairperson of the Takealot Group (which incorporates Takealot.com, Mr D and Superbalist), highlights that driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities is important to Takealot.
“We are a local champion for small businesses in South Africa. We support small businesses in South Africa. We believe working with the Gauteng Provincial government will improve the township economy in the province,” adds Mahlare.
Visit the Takealot website today and register for the Takealot Township Initiative project today!
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