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.