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Performance
FutureMakers
builds
strategic relationships
with key stakeholders to
enhance a collaborative
approach to developing
SMEs.
This approach enables partners
to cooperate and share expertise
and resources. We value the
key partnerships that drive
this programme. Partnerships
include local enterprises such as
SizweNtsalubaGobodo, Thrifty
Car Rental, and TIA; and global
corporates such as Microsoft,
Accenture and Cisco.
Meet Thulisile Volwana and Sabelo Sibanda,
Owners of Tuse
Tuse makes communications technologies available in places with
little to no signal through wireless mesh networks. They believe
their business will help people in marginalised, rural areas that do
not have communications infrastructure, through enabling ICT for
development, health, and education.
“Basically, to try save the world in our tiny little way.”
Their company was started as the result of an initial innovation –
the development of Africa’s first solar-powered tablet PC.
“We missed the most important part of the entire value chain in
which the tablet PC would exist. We needed to make sure people
were connected. So we went about trying to solve the connectivity
issue.”
TelkomFutureMakers, through one of its hubs – Propella, provided
Tuse with business incubation and business development support.
Tuse also received funding and advice from anotherTelkom
FutureMakers partner, the Identity Development Fund.
“TelkomFutureMakers has
been invaluable in helping
us grow our business. With
exposure to networking,
infrastructure, a venue
(to conduct business) and
access to finance... I could
just list so many things
they do, it’s incredible.”
Meet Mandla Phakathi,
Owner of Netroutes
Mandla owns an Internet café, supported byTelkomFutureMakers,
in Vosloorus. It was a challenge opening this type of business in a
community with low computer literacy. His time is spent running a
business and being available to help those in need.
However, the greatest challenges bring the greatest rewards. “It’s
very rewarding when someone comes through, and they come to
you and say – ‘through your Internet café I was able to find a job,
it’s through you and your help that I was accepted into University
of Johannesburg (UJ)’.”
TelkomFutureMakers helped Mandla grow his business in terms
of revenue through sellingTelkomproducts and assistance with
branding, and “over and above that, how they’ve helped me,
they’ve married into the vision of where I want to go”.
“A kid in matric will come
through and say, ‘I want to
apply online to university’.
I will then help them, not
spoon feed them, let them
make a mistake.”
Social and relationship
capital
– continued