The revitalised Mamelodi Business Hub was unveiled on the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi Campus on 15 September 2023. This business hub will provide the youth of Mamelodi with a one-stop shop for skills to boost their entrepreneurial aspirations. Established in collaboration with UNICEF South Africa and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), it offers young people in Mamelodi and further afield the opportunity to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The hub has been reborn as a space for youth to grasp opportunities to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions, transforming their social and economic prospects, while improving the wellbeing of their communities and the country. “Mindful of the challenges facing youth and our nation, as a university, we strive to become integral to providing sustainable solutions, as it is on this initiative with committed partners. Our vision for the Mamelodi Business Hub is for it to become a centre of township revival, producing entrepreneurs who will contribute towards making a societal impact on their communities,” says UP’s Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Themba Mosia.

Originally known as the Mamelodi Business Clinic, the hub was established in 2011 by the Department of Business Management in UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Its aim was to enable community development through innovative interventions and enhance the development of entrepreneurs in the local community. Relaunched in May 2022, it now provides a significant boost for the youth of Mamelodi.

The unveiling of the business hub cemented the solid strategic partnership among UP, PwC and UNICEF South Africa, which is built on the united vision of a shared social impact. PwC and UNICEF funded and advised UP on the hub's new business model and programme. “For over a decade, the hub has modestly ensured that entrepreneurship becomes embedded in the Department of Business Management’s quality-driven community engagement initiatives that drive social impact through interdisciplinary-oriented programmes. We are proud that the rebirth of the hub emerges out of a greater vision for South Africa and Africa,” adds Prof Alex Antonites, Head of UP’s Department of Business Management.

In a positive step for the youth of Mamelodi, for the first time, entrepreneurs can book time slots to utilise the space for meetings and collaborations with various stakeholders. The hub will also play a key role in helping to develop women’s leadership skills, introducing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and co-creating innovative products and services for young entrepreneurs via UP’s interdisciplinary teams and strategic partners.

In addition, it plans to merge the needs of the micro-business environment in Mamelodi with the skills of UP’s undergraduate and postgraduate students, creating a base for collaborative international research and showcasing a unique entrepreneurship enablement model to be replicated in South Africa and Africa with university partners.

“Our partners, PwC and UNICEF South Africa, have empowered us at UP to take a significant step toward addressing the profound challenge of unemployment in South Africa, especially among the youth. This exemplifies the thuma mina attitude,” adds Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Shirley Machaba, CEO of PwC South Africa, says that aligning to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for greater impact is part of PwC’s societal purpose strategy. “The collaboration among PwC, UP and UNICEF allows us to focus on these thematic areas, specifically quality education, decent work and economic growth, and reducing inequalities by bridging the skills gap in communities lacking opportunities. Young people must be allowed to be educated, work and be innovative.” She believes that, by improving the chances of employability and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in the youth through the Mamelodi Business Hub, we are giving rise to positive transformation in South Africa and on the continent. “PwC is proud to be part of this initiative, drawing on our firm's skills, resources and experience to be a force for good,” she concluded.

Marthle du Plessis, PwC Africa Workforce of the Future Leader, says there is no greater way to make an impact than by providing youth with the skills, resources and platforms they need to survive and thrive in a fast-changing world. “We are proud to have assisted UNICEF South Africa and UP in launching the Mamelodi Business Hub as we are seeing a daily impact in the lives of countless youth. As a firm, we are committed to empowering young, talented people with the required skills to succeed. Key to this is bridging the stark digital divide that exists. While this is a complex problem that requires all stakeholders to work together, we have shown that, through the launch of this centre, it is possible to make the world a more resilient, capable and inclusive space.”

Carto Abrams-Swarts from UP’s Department of Business Management describes the hub’s transformative presence in the community, which can be seen as a beacon of hope and progress. “It symbolises not just economic growth, but also the empowerment of our community's dreams and aspirations. It is a testament to the belief that, by nurturing local talent and fostering innovation, we can collectively shape a brighter future for all.”