Overview

Overview of Current Strategic Positions

Under his leadership Limpopo Business Support Agency (LIBSA) has moved from strength to strength in the delivery of business support services to the business community in Limpopo Province.

With the mammoth task of re-positioning LIBSA as the center of enterprise Development in the provision of non-financial business support services in the province, Reggie Mpe undertook the re branding of the organization as the first process to align it with its place of origin and purpose. The process culminated in the development of LIBSA's pay off line - Turning business ideas into reality -the brand's working focus.

Branch network

From six branch offices in 1999 with a Head Office in Polokwane, LIBSA has grown to a network of 14 branch offices across the five districts of Limpopo Province. This network is LIBSA's nucleus of services delivery. Our goal is to have branches in all the local municipalities by the end of the year (2006).

SMME DEVELOPEMNT

The diverse nature and economic strength of different district of the province call for different approaches to assisting small, medium and micro enterprises to ensure that all business communities participate in the economic processes of the province and the country. _To that end, LIBSA developed a business incubation programme to underpin LIBSA's intervention strategies. Under this programme, SMMEs are subjected to 15 month intensive specialize capacity building programmes on various business skill such as access to finance, business growth and sustainability and access to markets delivered by industry experts from various economic sectors. In short the objective of LIBSA's business incubation are: -

• Providing an enabling environment for business development among special groups (women, youth and disabled)
• Build a strong business network among the enterprises, industry expects and government.
• Ensure long term sustainable enterprises post incubation

CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Our drive to support co-operatives in Limpopo Province centers around the massive nature of business ownership and employment creation that this model present. The complex nature of managing co-operatives and the compelling adherence to legislation require partner with key stakeholders to ensure that we deliver a comprehensive service that will add the much neede value in the development and sustainance of o-operatives._To date LIBSA has a portfolio of 34 co-operative ranging from mining, manufacturing, financial services, and agriculture and trading. Through the partnership with the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism and Turfloop Graduate School of leadership, a course of co-operative Management was developed to ensure that members from different co-operative are capacitated to manage their business successfully. In Bohlabela, Champaing Chicken abattoir, a youth owned co-operative, created 18 permanent jobs and distributes frozen chicken to some major retailers and companies in and around Bohlabela. Ipopeng Fisheries co-operative, which also employs 11 women, is a classical example of how co-operatives are creating employment and reducing joblessness in Limpopo._In May and July this year (2006), 270 members were trained on this course and an additional 120 members will undergo the same training in September (2006).

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIP

Stakeholders are key to LIBSA's endeavors to reaching out to all aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in the whole province.

MUNICIPALITIES

LIBSA has been able to establish relationships with Districts and Local Municipalities in the Province. This sphere of government is a custodian of broad community development and as LIBSA; working closely with municipalities is key to reaching out to communities at all levels. To date LIBSA has forged strategic relations with Capricorn, Mopani and Waterburg districts municipalities whilst relations were also establishment with Tubatse, Thabazimbi, Fetakgomo, Aganang and Molemole local mucipalities.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES

Social Responsibility Programme is gradually changing the economic fate of communities to the better particularly in the areas where big corporations are doing business. Anglo Platinum one of the mining house in the Province, has aligned itself to the work that LIBSA does in SMME development. In Sekhukhune the company, through LIBSA services provided capacity building to entrepreneurs to ensure that these businesses have access equal access their procurement opportunities. In Waterburg, Matimba, an Eskom sub-sidiary has contributed much to the establishment of a community bakery that employs 13 permanent employees. The same passion goes to Kumba Resources whose contribution to LIBSA's Business Incubation Center cannot be underestimated._LIBSA appreciates the positive contribution from these companies and will continue to work closely with the broader private sector organizations for the betterment of our communities.

ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS

LIBSA is the implementing agent of the African Ivory Route on behalf of the Tourism Chief Directorate. The route comprises nine tourism camps offering a mix of cultural, wildlife and adventure spread across the golden horse-shoe, which covers a total of 1000 km in a giant arc through remote scenic wilderness areas and game reserves along the Eastern, Northern, and western boundaries of the Province. The concept of the route was to ensure community participation in tourism and hence the Community Eco-Tourism Association (Ceda) forms part of the decision -making process in the project. To date 55 students have been trained in course ranging from camp management, Tour Guiding, Hospitality, Business Plan Development and Management. The aim of the project is to ensure participation of communities in the eco-tourism.