For many years, the old clinic at 7 Victoria Street, Stellenbosch nurtured the physical health of local communities. In July this year, the historical clinic will once again open its doors – this time, as a unique space that will open the doors to economic inclusivity in the town.
The CoCreate Hub will become a place of connection. A place of showcasing local talent. A place that nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit in our midst to the benefit of all our local communities.
BRINGING THE VISION TO LIFE
None of this would have been possible without the support of funders committed to seeing the Hub vision come to life. A big thank you to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Nedbank, the Stellenbosch University, Jannie Mouton Foundation, Entersekt and other local philanthropists. The project is also supported by the Nedbank Proud of my Town initiative in Stellenbosch.
“We are so grateful to these funders who share our vision for Stellenbosch; one where locals connect with locals and where any business owner could have the opportunity to trade from the centre of town. To date, R2,6 million has been raised between these funders. Fundraising is ongoing and there is an opportunity to sponsor one of five street food trucks where micro entrepreneurs can sell local food flavours,” says Marli Goussard, Ranyaka Enterprise Development Manager.
TACKLING THE TRANSFORMATION
The exciting journey to transformed the disused historical building into an economic hub with a difference started in 2019 when the Stellenbosch Municipality awarded a ten-year lease for the building to local NPO, Ranyaka Community Transformation.
Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and a national lockdown, basic maintenance work commenced on site in July 2020, with construction kicking off in February 2021 following approval of the building plans by Western Cape Heritage and the local Municipality. In line with Ranyaka’s commitment to promoting local economic inclusion, preference was given to local B-BBEE micro or small contractors who reside and/or operate their businesses within the municipal boundaries of Stellenbosch.
WHAT THE HUB WILL OFFER
Upon completion, the CoCreate Hub will provide a multifunctional facility where local community entrepreneurs can access affordable working, trading and retail spaces. In a town where centrally-located business premises come at a premium, the Hub will unlock previously untapped markets for BEE level 1 and 2 small business owners.
Applications are currently open for vendors who are interested in trading their quality, locally-produced goods and services in the heart of Stellenbosch, as well as small business owners who require hot-desking space in town. (Refer to the link below to apply.)
SUPPORTING LOCAL, PROMOTING ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
The Hub will also offer Stellenbosch residents and visitors the opportunity to ‘buy local’ and discover the oft hidden gems in the form of products and services by small business owners residing in, or working from communities surrounding central Stellenbosch. In addition, NGOs with a job creation or enterprise development mandate will have access to a facility where they can provide training and mentorship services.
Ranyaka’s Building Business programme will also support business owners through practical business support, training, the allocation of mentors and assistance with business compliance and local supply-chain registration.
OPPORTUNITY FOR VENDORS & SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Vendors who are interested in trading their quality, locally-produced goods and services in the centre of Stellenbosch whilst uplifting and transforming the community around them, are invited to fill out the vendor application form that is available on the Ranyaka website at https://ranyaka.co.za/entrepreneurship-hub/
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The CoCREATE Hub forms part of Ranyaka’s Building Business programme – one of ten programmes that forms part of Ranyaka’s Collaborative Community Transformation framework.
The framework is currently being implemented in 9 towns in 8 provinces across South Africa under the banner of the Nedbank Proud of my Town programme. Building Business kicked off in Stellenbosch in 2017 and the Hub forms part of a broader strategy to support enterprise development and entrepreneurship in Stellenbosch.
FOR MORE INFORMATION/HUB SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the CoCreate Hub or to enquire about the possibility of selling your products or offering your services at the Hub, email hub@ranyaka.co.za. Information also available here: https://ranyaka.co.za/entrepreneurship-hub/
Follow the Hub on Facebook here. (@CoCreateHubStellenbosch)
Follow the Hub on Instagram here. (@cocreate_hub)
Above: Before work started at the old Victoria Street clinic, 2019