The Ekasi Business Fair, launched by the Icebolethu Foundation and KwaZulu-Natal MEC Rev. Musa Zondi, aims to transform township economies through direct connections between entrepreneurs and stakeholders.
Image: Supplied
The Icebolethu Foundation, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Rev. Musa Zondi, has officially launched the inaugural Ekasi Business Fair.
This strategic initiative, designed to invigorate township economies, will take place at Hammarsdale Junction Mall on 6 and 7 March 2026.
The announcement was made during a media briefing at the Moses Kotane Research Institute (MKRI) in Durban.
The Ekasi Business Fair represents a significant shift in how the government seeks to activate township and rural economies.
As Zondi stated during the briefing, “Today is not simply about announcing an event; it is about announcing a shift in how we move township economies from survivalist activity to structured, scalable, and investment-ready ecosystems.”
This fair is not just an event; it embodies a comprehensive framework for economic transformation.
Supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet's approval in April 2022, the Township and Rural Economies Revitalisation Strategy (TRERS) aims to reshape these areas into inclusive, diversified, and sustainable economic systems.
Zondi emphasised that the main barrier to economic growth in townships is not a lack of ambition or talent, but rather a disconnect between resources, funding channels, government plans, and local entrepreneurs.
The Ekasi Business Fair is strategically designed to bridge this gap by facilitating direct connections between entrepreneurs and a spectrum of stakeholders, including governmental bodies, financial institutions, and private sector partners.
Over the two-day fair, attendees can look forward to:
* A structured exhibition of 100 township-based businesses from Hammarsdale and surrounding areas.* A two-day business conference featuring keynote addresses and insightful panel discussions.* Practical masterclasses on crucial topics such as financial management, human resources, marketing, digital platforms, artificial intelligence tools, and accessing funding.* Direct engagement platforms designed for interaction with development finance institutions and private sector partners.
Aligning with EDTEA’s broader Township and Rural Investment Activation Programme for the 2025/26 financial year, the Ekasi Business Fair will also act as a pilot model poised for replication in other townships throughout the province.
As MEC pointed out, “This is not a symbolic intervention; it is designed to identify scalable enterprises, prioritise funding based on real engagement, and open procurement and investment pipelines for township businesses.”
Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo, CEO of Icebolethu Group, remarked on the foundation's decade-long commitment to community development, highlighting that Hammarsdale represents the birthplace of the Icebolethu Group:
“Hammarsdale is our founding township; Icebolethu was launched here 16 years ago with one branch and three employees.
Today, the Group operates over 200 sites across nine provinces and employs close to three thousand people. That is the kind of journey we want to inspire.”
In addition to exhibitions and conferences, the fair will include a Business History Museum, showcasing prominent local business pioneers, aimed at preserving township business heritage and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Both the Icebolethu Foundation and MEC Zondi emphasised that the success of this initiative hinges on strong collaboration across sectors.
Financial institutions have been urged to engage meaningfully beyond mere compliance, while the private sector is called upon to create procurement opportunities, and development agencies must align their programmes to avoid redundancy.
The Ekasi Business Fair is poised to establish a structured platform for market access, mentorship, funding connections, and enterprise development, which will ultimately contribute to job creation, innovative local supply chains, and broadened provincial economic participation.