In conjunction with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Empowerment South Africa has secured an amount of R2m from government to create an investment trust for entertainers willing to enter viable business deals. One such deal is a housing stokvel.
The announcement was made at the IDC’s Johannesburg office on 24 August by Empowermentsa’s Mphuthi Mphuthi, who presented the “Red Carpet for Life Legacy Programme’ to dozens of Gauteng actors, musicians, etc. Empowermentsa is a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) linkages network.
“We want to set up companies that are run by local musicians and actors and not by big established BEE players. Empowermentsa wants to talk to artists in a business fashion so that they know they can venture into BEE deals. The idea is to turn our local artists, many of whom don’t make a good living, into brands, because brands attract business,’ said Mphuthi.
There was a strong Christian emphasis during the event which included a presentation from Paster Enoch Manissa (himself a successful businessmen) cautioning delegates about the dangers of success. “It’s very important to really know who you are and where you’re going so that you can handle the pressures of success. Money is a good servant but a bad master.’
For more on the ‘Red Carpet for Life Legacy Programme’ read the October issue of Screen Africa.
