Speaker, as part of the ANC's commitment toward contributing to the building of small and micro enterprises, critical in the mobilisation of small businesses into co-operative organisations, the Iperekeng Dikwena, Work for Yourselves, project was recently launched in Polokwane and is set to benefit from a R1,2 million project allocated for building a legal car-wash facility before December which is aimed at benefitting the car-washers who have been operating illegally.
The facility will accommodate 34 vehicles and will be fitted with prepaid water and electricity metres, as well as a recycling water system and storeroom. Local people will be hired to build the wash bays. This project will not only benefit the car-washers, but also the vendors. It will operate as a cooperative with a 17-member steering committee representing the local taxi association and street vendors already established to manage the co-operative.
The ANC encourages this initiative and believes that it should be emulated in other provinces, as this initiative helps to transform community-based car-washers into small businesses and cooperatives that can help with the local economic development and the empowerment of youth and women. Thank you.