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06 November 2023

Table Mountain National Park Unlocks Business Opportunities for Local Communities Through Economic Transformation Roadshow

Cape Town: South African National Parks (SANParks) has embarked on a remarkable journey to get local businesses involved in opportunities available in Table Mountain National Park. Communities and small business owners surrounding Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) had the opportunity to engage with SANParks staff on investment opportunities inside the Park during the Economic Transformation Roadshow on 1 November 2023 at the Alphen Centre, Constantia, Cape Town.

Table Mountain National Park Manager, Megan Taplin, said, “SANParks strives to promote economic and social development in our neighbouring communities’ Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). This is achieved through its Socio-Economic Transformation (SET) Strategy, which aims to initiate, facilitate and coordinate an integrated development programme for the benefit of current and future generations.” She continued to say, “The Economic Transformation Roadshows have a number of key objectives:

  • To communicate business opportunities inside the Park in relation to its supply chain procurement plans, tourism development and infrastructure projects.
  • To communicate timeframes within which relevant business and investment opportunities become available in the immediate, medium and longer terms.
  • To provide a roadmap on how to access available and planned opportunities.
  • To facilitate local community members access to benefits from their local national park.”

The Acting HOD: SET, Ms Hilda Mthimunye, Park staff, together with its Strategic Partners, engaged with delegates on addressing common barriers to entry faced by SMMEs (including access to markets, funding, capacity building, skills development and compliance issues). Communities bordering the Park including, Hangberg, Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Westlake and other areas in the Cape Flats were presented with opportunities such as Procurement policies; Goods and Services required and Tourism Development opportunities.

SANParks partnered with key strategic partners in the business development sector such as the City of Cape Town Business Hub; WESGRO (an official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape); National Development Agency (NDA) Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA); Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA); National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and False Bay College. These agencies shared their support programmes and compliance requirements needed to secure business opportunities and gave participants valuable information on how they can be supported to start and grow their small businesses.

SANParks’ vision, “A world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society”, informs the strategy of enabling SMMEs to harness various opportunities to contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product. “SANParks aims to partner with communities, open up dialogue and engage in available and future business opportunities. Robust business discussions were held during the sessions to assist emerging local entrepreneurs to benefit from business opportunities available in the Park. SANParks has set the platform for local businesses to start thriving and use the opportunities presented to them,” Taplin concluded.