The Cathcart Resident Association (Cara) has called for the town’s residents to support their local businesses in order to create jobs for the people of this sleepy town.
The association’s chairman, Kenneth Sigidi, said residents were buying their groceries and other necessities from nearby towns, leaving investors reluctant to invest in their town.
“In order to sustain and grow local economy we need to support local businesses in our town and we will do that by showing that buying strength and buy local,” said Sigidi.
He said there was a bad tendency among the residents, which are estimated to be between 20000 and 25000, of going to nearest towns like King William’s Town, Queenstown and Stutterheim to do their groceries.
“People go and buy groceries, building material and other commodities which are also supplied by local shops,” said Sigidi.
He said their local economy was affected by this. “This bad habit will see the local economy deteriorate and some small shops will have to close down as had been the case with other institutions here.”
Cara secretary, Shadrack Tshaka said only foreign national-owned shops were growing in the area. He called for residents to support them before they decided to leave.
“These foreign nationals have come to open their shops here and it would be wise for the community to give them support. Their presence here give local people jobs, they are becoming big employers.
“They also hire local people and their vehicles to assist them get their stock from wholesalers – we need to support them,” said Tshaka.
Young Cathcart entrepreneur Sebenzile Mawe said: “We have a variety of people here from elderly to young and those who are still staying in farming areas and they need to be catered for. We want shops and centres that will be important for this community.”
Resident Blackie Mawe said their town was on a popular route and was historical. “Every town has its history and there’s potential here. Developers should come and invest money here and it’s up to us as residents to be ambassadors of this town and market it to lure businesses back to Cathcart. We can do it if other towns like Dutywa and Ngcobo can do it by getting investors to their towns.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Local businesses need support
The association’s chairman, Kenneth Sigidi, said residents were buying their groceries and other necessities from nearby towns, leaving investors reluctant to invest in their town.
“In order to sustain and grow local economy we need to support local businesses in our town and we will do that by showing that buying strength and buy local,” said Sigidi.
He said there was a bad tendency among the residents, which are estimated to be between 20000 and 25000, of going to nearest towns like King William’s Town, Queenstown and Stutterheim to do their groceries.
“People go and buy groceries, building material and other commodities which are also supplied by local shops,” said Sigidi.
He said their local economy was affected by this. “This bad habit will see the local economy deteriorate and some small shops will have to close down as had been the case with other institutions here.”
Cara secretary, Shadrack Tshaka said only foreign national-owned shops were growing in the area. He called for residents to support them before they decided to leave.
“These foreign nationals have come to open their shops here and it would be wise for the community to give them support. Their presence here give local people jobs, they are becoming big employers.
“They also hire local people and their vehicles to assist them get their stock from wholesalers – we need to support them,” said Tshaka.
Young Cathcart entrepreneur Sebenzile Mawe said: “We have a variety of people here from elderly to young and those who are still staying in farming areas and they need to be catered for. We want shops and centres that will be important for this community.”
Resident Blackie Mawe said their town was on a popular route and was historical. “Every town has its history and there’s potential here. Developers should come and invest money here and it’s up to us as residents to be ambassadors of this town and market it to lure businesses back to Cathcart. We can do it if other towns like Dutywa and Ngcobo can do it by getting investors to their towns.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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