Press Release 06 June 2013

SAPLATO 2 Group Mentorship Programme

Closing Function

The SAPLATO Mentorship Programme was born out of the relationship of the South

African Government and the Flemish Government (Belgium). It is an initiative to

improve local SMMEs business management skills. The PLATO programme, as it is

known in Belgium has been running successfully in Europe since 1988. In South

Africa it was established as SAPLATO. It is a group mentorship programme which

provides a platform for SMMEs to share business related information, day to day

challenges, experiences and possible solutions through the assistance of coaches.

The SAPLATO mentorship programme was first rolled out in South Africa in 2007 to

2008 with our partners which are Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and

Voka Chamber of Commerce in Belgium.

There were twenty (20) businesses who participated on the programme. Due to the

level of success from the previous programme, the programme was rolled out again

in November 2011 to February 2013 by Seda and the following organizations: The

Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and

Invest North West (INW). The programme involved businesses, who are members

and non-members of the Chamber from all sectors of business and levels.

In KZN based in Durban, the programme involved thirteen (13) businesses who held

monthly meetings where different business topics selected by the participants were

discussed. The industry specialists in various fields were invited as guest speakers

with the aim of sharing knowledge and information with the participants and

provide solutions where possible, under the eye of the coaches during their

discussion sessions.

On 7 June 2013 thirteen (13) participated business owners will be awarded

certificate of participation at the closing function of this programme. The closing

function will be attended by the members, non-members of the Durban Chamber of

Commerce and Industries, various stakeholders such as Absa Bank and the Small

Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), who played a vital role in the

implementation of this programme together with Voka Chamber of Commerce.

The Deputy President of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr

Kwanele Gumbi will also be attending the function, where he will be addressing the

audience on the background of the SAPLATO mentorship programme. The Small

Enterprise Development Agency will be represented by the Provincial Manager in KwaZulu

Natal, Mr Lindani Dhlomo. The participants will also share their journey and

achievements during their participation in the SAPLATO group mentorship programme.