Edition August 2026

As Gauteng intensifies efforts to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa has taken on an expanded mandate that includes Agriculture, Rural Development and Economic Development. At the heart of her vision is tackling unemployment and creating pathways to opportunity for the province’s residents.

Speaking to Public Sector Manager magazine, Ramokgopa shared her vision for a more inclusive and dynamic Gauteng economy. Central to that vision is supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses that have the potential to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Her commitment to entrepreneurship is deeply personal. Prior to her appointment to the Gauteng Provincial Government's Executive Council in 2024, Ramokgopa built her career in the private sector and as a businesswoman. That experience continues to shape her approach to leadership and her determination to create conditions that enable local entrepreneurs to succeed.

Ramokgopa opened the interview at the InvestSA boardroom in Sandton with a sense of gratitude, reflecting on the privilege of serving and making a meaningful contribution to the lives of entrepreneurs throughout the province.

“I have walked this journey, I have been through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and I have suffered through depression and stress caused by financial strain, and that gives me an insight into some of the pressures facing our entrepreneurs, but it also gives me an opportunity to get a lot more practical about how we provide solutions for entrepreneurs,” she said.

Empowering small businesses

Ramokgopa believes government has a vital role to play in helping emerging businesses grow into sustainable enterprises. By fostering strategic partnerships and creating pathways to new market opportunities, she says government can help build a pipeline of thriving businesses that contribute meaningfully to economic growth and employment creation.

“Our job is to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for somebody who is starting a business to grow the business, access information, capital and resources so that they can move to the next level. We expect to see jobs being created out of every rand that we invest,” explained the MEC.

Ramokgopa readily admits that she is obsessed with job creation. In her view, every government leader should be equally focused on combating unemployment by backing entrepreneurs who are committed to building sustainable businesses and creating opportunities for others.

Among the initiatives Ramokgopa points to is the Boundless Soweto AI App Development Challenge, hosted in June 2026, as part of Youth Month celebrations. The event brought together 50 unemployed information technology graduates to develop artificial intelligence-powered solutions aimed at addressing community challenges and stimulating economic activity in townships.

Home-grown solutions

Through innovation-driven initiatives such as hackathons, workshops and technology challenges, the department is creating opportunities that enhance young people's employability, nurture digital skills and unlock entrepreneurial potential.

The MEC described the initiative as an inspiring project led by a local entrepreneur who uses the hackathon model to encourage young people to develop solutions to challenges facing their communities. She noted that the solutions have the potential to grow into viable businesses that create jobs, while also providing participants with opportunities to showcase and pitch their ideas to broader audiences and potential investors.

What Ramokgopa finds most inspiring is that the programme was born out of entrepreneurial vision and determination. Its founders took over an abandoned school building in Soweto and transformed it into a technology skills centre that now provides young people with practical training and pathways into tech-related careers.

While the department does not fund the project, it partnered with the organisers to host the challenge and supported recruitment by providing a database of young people who could participate – an example of how government and local innovators can work together to create opportunities for youth and drive economic development.

Support for local entrepreneurs

Unlocking access to capital for small businesses is a key priority for Ramokgopa. She highlighted the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP), the department’s primary agency for small business financing, as one of the mechanisms being used to support entrepreneurs, particularly those operating in townships.

She also pointed to the Township Economy Partnership Fund, launched in 2022 by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development in partnership with the GEP and the Industrial Development Corporation. The fund is designed to strengthen township enterprises by providing financial and non-financial support to SMMEs operating in sectors such as manufacturing, the taxi economy, ICT, backyard property development and retail, among others.

“It is also important to look at the non-financial support, enabling and facilitating market access for various entrepreneurs,” she said.

Agriculture and rural development

Agriculture and agro-processing remain critical drivers of Gauteng’s economy. The province is home to approximately 42% of South Africa’s registered agro-processing enterprises, underscoring its strategic role in attracting investment, creating jobs and driving inclusive economic growth.

To support the sector’s expansion, Ramokgopa said the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has established a R100 million blended finance fund for agro-processing businesses in partnership with the National Empowerment Fund. The initiative is aimed at unlocking capital and accelerating the growth of enterprises across the agro-processing value chain.

The programme is already beginning to yield results. To date, 58 businesses have been approved for funding, while a further 11 projects are undergoing financial due diligence. According to Ramokgopa, this demonstrates the growing impact of the fund in unlocking investment and stimulating activity within the province’s agro-processing sector.

Beyond the blended finance initiative, close to 500 agro-processing enterprises have received support through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, which has invested nearly R19.9 million in qualifying businesses. Additional support has been provided through the AgriBEE Fund, which has distributed approximately R5.8 million, while a partnership with Nedbank has channelled around R8 million towards aggregation and incubation initiatives. Direct support to micro-enterprises has also amounted to approximately R4 million, further strengthening the province’s efforts to build inclusive and sustainable agricultural enterprises.

The funding forms part of a broader strategy to help businesses progress from start-ups to commercially competitive enterprises capable of supplying formal markets and participating in larger value chains.

Strategically positioned as South Africa’s agro-processing hub, Gauteng processes approximately 35% of the region’s agricultural produce, contributes around 20% of the country’s total agricultural output and is home to about 42% of South Africa’s registered agro-processing enterprises.

Priority sectors to bolster economic growth

The provincial government recently unveiled the Gauteng City Region Economic Growth and Development Plan, an ambitious roadmap aimed at accelerating economic growth and development across the province. The plan targets annual economic growth of between 3% and 5% by 2030, positioning Gauteng as a key driver of South Africa’s economic renewal.

For Ramokgopa, however, economic growth is not an end in itself. The true measure of success, she said, will be the creation of sustainable jobs and meaningful economic opportunities for residents.

“On that score, we are targeting between 5 000 and 6 000 new jobs that need to come out of the activities that we engage in. This is a plan that effectively oversees the province’s growth strategy. including investments from the private sector and multinational investors,” she explained. ❖