MEC Zondi announces inaugural Ekasi Business Fair to accelerate township investment in Hammarsdale
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Rev. Musa Zondi, today officially announced the inaugural Ekasi Business Fair, a strategic township economic activation initiative that will take place on 6 and 7 March 2026 at Hammarsdale Junction Mall.
The announcement was made during a media briefing held at the Moses Kotane Research Institute (MKRI) in Durban.
The Ekasi Business Fair is a collaborative initiative between EDTEA and the Icebolethu Foundation, designed as a practical implementation vehicle of the Province’s Township and Rural Economies Revitalisation Strategy (TRERS).
Speaking at the briefing, MEC Zondi said the initiative represents a deliberate shift in how government activates township and rural economies.
“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,” said the MEC.
Approved by the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet in April 2022, TRERS seeks to transform township and rural areas into inclusive, diversified and sustainable economic systems. The MEC emphasised that one of the biggest barriers to township economic growth is not a lack of ambition or talent, but the disconnect between available resources, funding instruments, government programmes and entrepreneurs on the ground.
The Ekasi Business Fair aims to bridge that gap by bringing government, financial institutions, development agencies and private sector stakeholders directly to township entrepreneurs.
Over the two days, the Fair will feature:
• A structured exhibition of 100 township-based businesses from Hammarsdale and surrounding areas
• A two-day business conference with keynote addresses and panel discussions
• Practical masterclasses covering financial management, human resources, marketing, digital platforms, artificial intelligence tools, and funding access
• Direct engagement platforms with development finance institutions and private sector partners
MEC Zondi noted that the Fair forms part of EDTEA’s broader Township and Rural Investment Activation Programme for the 2025/26 financial year and will serve as a pilot model that can be replicated across other townships in the province.
“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,” he said.
Icebolethu Group CEO, Dr. Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo, said the initiative builds on more than a decade of community development work undertaken by the Icebolethu Foundation since its establishment in 2015.
“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 3,000 people. That is the kind of journey we want to inspire,” said Dr Mcoyi-Zondo.
She emphasised that the Fair is not limited to Hammarsdale and will be rolled out to other townships as part of a broader provincial model.
In addition to the exhibition and conference, the Fair will feature a Business History Museum profiling prominent local business pioneers, aimed at preserving township business heritage and inspiring young entrepreneurs.
Both parties underscored that the success of the initiative will depend on sustained collaboration between government, research institutions, development finance entities and the private sector.
The Department has called on financial institutions to engage meaningfully beyond compliance requirements, on the private sector to open procurement opportunities, and on development agencies to align programmes to avoid duplication.
The Ekasi Business Fair is expected to create a structured platform for market access, mentorship, funding linkages and enterprise development, contributing to job creation, stronger local supply chains and expanded provincial economic participation.
The public, business community and media are encouraged to attend and support the inaugural Ekasi Business Fair on 6–7 March 2026 at Hammarsdale Junction Mall.
