Standing L to R: Adv Anthony Mac Minn, Ms Marne Botha, Mr Mark Everett, Cllr Stanley Peterson, Prof Pierre Joubert. Seated: Cllr. Maureen Basson and Prof Andrew Crouch
The Centre for Entrepreneurship & Rapid Incubator (CfERI) was established in 2017 to promote entrepreneurial development amongst youth, unemployed and women. CfERI is funded by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and was initially located within the Vaal University of Technology satellite operation in Upington. On 1 June 2021, CfERI was transferred to Sol Plaatje University (SPU). The SPU-CfERI provides business support services throughout the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality to improve economic development and unemployment in the district, while also extending the footprint of the University in the region.
Today, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, Professor Andrew Crouch signed the new lease agreement for the SPU-CfERI premises with the new Executive Mayor, Cllr. Maureen Basson, and Speaker, Cllr. Stanley Peterson, of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, alongside the Centre Manager of the SPU-CfERI, Adv. Anthony Mac Minn, in Upington.
The SPU-CfERI is in the process of developing a Maker Space with new technology and innovation that can assist entrepreneurs with prototyping and manufacturing their products. The new lease agreement provides stability for the SPU-CfERI to grow unhindered in a space that allows it to improve the technology and create innovative methods for SMMEs to start and scale their businesses.
