The voice of SMME at GTP

#SASMEF attends the Greater Tygerberg Partnership conference, “Unlocking our Urban future” for exhilarating presentations of what is possible in urban renewal in the Voortrekker Corridor “from potential to prosperity” and the exciting inclusion of the University of the Western Cape inclusion, removing the stigma of a bush university’ and taking its rightful pace as part of the metropolis. It was a meeting of Academia, Business, and Government jointly seeking a collaborative and concreative response the challenges facing modern urban life.

Fantastic obvious may be some of the responses, so what is the problem? The problem is finding a collaborative co-creative and inclusive platform where all stakeholders are actively involved and that include the voice of SMME. Sadly the later was hardy mentioned which is rather strange because one travelled Voortrekker Road it is populated with SMME.

Presentations did not avoid the base of the development pyramid: filth, crime, illegal dwellings etc. Unless addressing these is a priority, it is unlikely that the full scope of urban regeneration is realized. I was told by a delegate that the City of Cape Town program has split from its security component. That is a tragedy because it exposes the city to the high risks of poor safety and security. An investment in safety and security is a prerequisite for all economic development, especially SMME, and this investment must be led by government in the spending of tax payers money.

Yet the GTP meeting has a genuine-ness, authenticity, and honesty.

#SASMEF as the voice of SMME is pleased to be included in this conversation