Upliftment of underprivileged economics is key
ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1991, former minister of planning, provincial affairs and national housing Jacobus Kriel signed the less formal township establishment act into effect. This meant that those who sought to submit an application for the establishment of a township had to do so.
The Act, no 113 of 199, stipulated that the application had to be accompanied by the plans, documents, permissions, approvals, information and applicable fees. It also stated that applicants had to have a valid copy of every title deed in respect of the land that formed the subject of the application.
Before that, there was the infamous Native Administration Act, 38 of 1927. It made provision for the establishment of a township, as sought by then minister of Bantu administration and development Michiel Coenraad Botha, for African citizens in areas of land held by the “South African Native Trust” which was established by the Native Trust and Land Act, 18 of 1936. The act made it impossible for our people to own substantive land. Given that painful experience, it would be worthwhile to reflect on the strides and achievements that have been made since then.
When South Africa transitioned from apartheid to a democratic nation, that endeavoured to be equitable for every citizen post the first democratic election in 1994, I saw a gap.
The complex transition made me realise that there was an opportunity to use every opportunity and resource at my disposal to propel myself out of the poverty that we, black South Africans, had been condemned to. It was an opportunity to create a property development juggernaut that would foster opportunities for poor black townships and rural communities.
Through this dream and sheer determination, I established Nthoese Developments in 1994. Decades later, the vision has neither shifted nor changed. It has always been to ensure that most property development and CSI work we are involved in focuses on the well-being and the progress of townships and rural communities.
Some of the largest townships include Soweto, Tembisa, Katlehong, Umlazi, Soshanguve and Khayelitsha. As a country, we need to focus on the collaboration between black-owned businesses and construction workers – a move we have prioritised.
In doing so, we have found that we are investing in the growth of blackowned SMEs and equally providing black individuals with an income, knowledge of the property development industry and construction work that forms the basis of work experience they can leverage for future business opportunities.
In the long-term, the individuals and businesses will expand, collaborate with, and integrate other blackowned SMEs and individuals into the economy, uprooting and eradicating deep embedded poverty.
For instance, through the establishment of projects such as the Bambanani Shopping Centre in Diepsloot and the Thulamahashe Mall in Bushbuckridge, Nthoese Developments highlights the importance of pioneers; entrepreneurs in being able to employ hundreds of black individuals and dozens of small businesses, thus creating a sustainable environment in South Africa. It also highlights our love for the economic participation and growth of black communities post-apartheid South Africa.
The establishment of the shopping centres means our people have access to essential facilities such as banks, groceries and post offices.
They also ensure those who are historically disadvantaged or poor are not excluded as society advances.
But the development of our people lies not only in commercial property but in places such as churches and NGOs which are often used by many who seek to stand up on their own and escape poverty.
These areas serve as a refuge. Therefore, ploughing back by providing something as simple as office furniture or supplies needed for day-to-day operations ensures they are victorious in their quest to build societies.
Resources that go into marginalised communities should be for the longterm betterment and self-sustainability of the core tenets of an equitable and prosperous society do not lie in only donating money or food hampers to underprivileged individuals and communities.
Rather, it also lies in providing marginalised communities with longterm investment resources that will help cultivate successful businesses and liberate them and future generations from poverty.