South African cement manufacturing giant Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) has officially launched its PPC Cement Express Outlet pilot project with ten local entrepreneurs. The launch took place at one of the entrepreneurs’ premises, Riverside Hardware, in Orlando West, Soweto.
The company reports that the community of Soweto will now have access to high- quality cement at its doorstep. The project, in partnership with Mobile Payment Corporation (MPC) and First National Bank (FNB), is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, using PPC’s corporate social investment (CSI) model.
Speaking at the launch, PPC executive for transformation and government rela- tions Nolwandle Mantashe said that the pilot project is the end result of innovation that began at the PPC leadership academy. “At PPC, economic empowerment is a key focus area and we are committed to uplifting the lives of those who live around us.
“We are also planning to roll the project out in other areas where PPC is operating, which is basically the whole country,” she said.
The project will offer beneficiaries the opportunity to start their own cement outlets. These express outlets are mobile business solutions for small, micro- and medium-size enterprises (SMMEs), which are cost effective and secure.Each beneficiary receives a start-up package which includes a PPC-branded container; a pallet of 40 bags of Surebuild cement; a training programme on PPC cement products, training on supply chain management processes, and methods to sustain their businesses; as well as a toll-free number to ensure ordering and dispatch efficiencies.
All ten beneficiaries will now liaise directly with PPC, with no intermediary, which will become a cost benefit to them.
PPC CSI manager Francie Shonhiwa said that the company had identified a gap within the retail sector where emerging SMMEs were struggling to expand their businesses. “As opposed to providing handouts to supplement their incomes, PPC opted to empower people and tackle long-term social needs by starting cement supply outlets, affording emerging entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate in the formal economy. Playing an active role in contributing towards job creation and infrastructure development is core to the way we conduct business,” she added.
The business owners went through an intense screening process and were selected based on the following criteria: ownership of an existing operating business, business acumen for operating an SMME, strategic location and adequate space.
MPC chairperson Clive Rice said: “We at MPC are enthusiastic about this initia- tive as it provides the necessary sustainable empowerment required in South Africa, during this time when unemployment is at its highest. This initiative will provide the emerging market with First World banking facilities and infrastructure to operate a small business in an efficient fashion, which will lead to job creation.”
FNB will open a bank account in the name of the entrepreneur, which will be used to order and pay for stock through a mobile phone. The solution integrates directly into PPC’s systems and provides the entrepreneur with an acknowledgement of the order and payment having been made.
FNB global transactional services head Chris Kotze noted that FNB is committed to making it as easy as possible for entre- preneurs to start their own businesses. “Whether you are a start-up or your business is well established, FNB offers a variety of innovative products and services. Our innovative retail banking channels, combined with real-time receipting, provide a sophisticated supply chain payment solution for clients such as PPC.”
Over the next few months, the project will be closely monitored. Also speaking at the event, beneficiary and Riverside Hardware owner George Makama said that there was a growing dilemma in society in that people believe in handouts. “This will never make people grow economically. We have to start creating our own wealth, and the partnership with PPC has provided us with the leverage to enable this,” he noted.
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