‘We Don’t Want Our Communities To Only Be Consumers & Workers,’ Says Mayor Masina As Ekurhuleni Rolls Out Development Fund

Riyaz Patel

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) has launched its Community Enterprise Development Fund (ECED) as part of its multi pronged strategy to boost the local economy and create jobs.

The ECED will support the development of community enterprises in the form of individual entrepreneurs, Small, Micro & Medium Enterprises, Cooperatives, Informal traders and formal businesses.

“The ECED Fund was created in line with the City’s pro-poor approach to governance. We want to provide access to funding for informal traders, cooperatives, micro-entrepreneurs, and young startup founders. Access to financing for young black entrepreneurs, and females in the main remains a serious challenge. If we are to correct the economic injustices of our past, we must unashamedly support small black businesses.” said Mayor Mzwandile Masina.

The Fund is part of the the Ekurhuleni Ten Point Economic Plan to position the Gauteng Eastern Development Corridor as the anchor and footprint of the