Township enterprises take centre stage as partners unite to unlock MSME growth in Bay.
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
As South Africa continues to navigate economic headwinds, the growing township economy presents a powerful and often overlooked opportunity for inclusive growth and job creation.
Recognising this, Standard Bank, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and Nelson Mandela University (NMU), hosted a township-based exhibition under the theme “SME Development – Unlocking Your Business Potential”, at the NMU Missionvale Campus today. The event aimed to empower and connect township-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to opportunities that will enable their sustainability and expansion.
The initiative forms part of the ongoing work of the Entrepreneurship Desk, established by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and supported by Standard Bank, Engie, MTN and Borbet SA. The Desk serves as a single point of contact for MSME growth and sustainability initiatives that include access to advisory support, funding, markets, business linkages and entrepreneurial skills development.
According to the Rogerwilco 2025 Township CX Report, the R900 billion township economy is 60% formal and 40% informal, with around R150 billion in cash spent annually at 150,000 spaza shops. These spaza shops contribute as much as 5.2% to South Africa’s GDP and employ approximately 2.6 million people.
When the Entrepreneurship Desk launched in 2022, its mission was clear - to reach underserved entrepreneurs in disadvantaged communities and townships, and provide them with the tools and networks needed to thrive. “Back in 2023, we asked ourselves how we could take our Entrepreneurship Desk services to the people, to meet entrepreneurs where they are,” explains Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. “We knew that township economies possess immense buying power, largely driven by informal and necessity-based enterprises. The goal has always been to help formalise these businesses, support their growth and ensure their long-term sustainability.”
This vision gained momentum in May 2024, when the Chamber partnered with Kasi Talks to bring together key ecosystem players to showcase their enterprise support offerings. Building on that success, the upcoming Township Exhibition takes this effort a step further, amplifying access, exposure and practical support for local entrepreneurs.
The exhibition brings together 38 MSMEs who will showcase their products and services, while 150 entrepreneurs have been selected to attend the event. Three outstanding exhibitors will walk away with developmental finance to further boost their businesses.
Adding to its impact, the programme features four panel discussions covering critical business topics:
• Business compliance.
• Access to supply chains and markets.
• Access to funding and banking solutions.
• Innovation, diversification and entrepreneurship.
Representatives from Standard Bank, Volkswagen Group Africa, Shoprite, Entsa and MTN, will unpack practical MSME solutions, share their expertise and offer guidance on how small businesses can scale and remain competitive.
“The township economy has the potential to be one of the strongest levers for reducing unemployment in the metro. Through partnerships such as this one, we are ensuring that MSMEs - the lifeblood of our economy - have the support, visibility and access they need to succeed,” says Van Huyssteen.
Beyond the event, the partners have committed to continued engagement with the participating businesses to provide tailored guidance and explore pathways for growth.
“We are committed to walking alongside our entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their potential and build enterprises that create lasting impact,” adds Van Huyssteen.
Jonty Bouw, Provincial Head of Enterprise Banking for the Eastern Cape at Standard Bank, said they were proud to launch the first Eastern Cape Standard Bank SME Expo in collaboration with the Chamber and Nelson Mandela University.
“This event reflects our commitment as Standard Bank to actively engage with and support the metro’s MSME sector. It provides a vital platform to connect entrepreneurs with the resources, information and networks they need to grow their businesses,” said Bouw. “As a bank deeply invested in driving enterprise development, we view this initiative as an opportunity to walk alongside township entrepreneurs - helping them formalise, scale and access the broader economy. Events like these are essential to building resilient communities and unlocking long-term economic inclusion.”
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