South African SMEs given e-commerce lift

Young South African entrepreneurs are being given a helping hand onto the information superhighway thanks to a new social entrepreneurship initiative by South African digital agency Krazyboyz Digital.

Internet access, hosting and website development is prohibitively expensive in South Africa compared with many countries, effectively shutting the internet door on start-up companies.

SMEweb.co.za, a partnership between Krazyboyz and the Umsobomvu Youth Fund, will allow SMEs to set up their own business websites for only R200 (£14.50).

The cost includes domain registration, professional site design, hosting for one year, five email addresses and support.

SMEweb.co.za will also design a complete corporate identity with a logo, business cards and a letterhead for an additional R200.

"This initiative has been a long time coming in South Africa and is truly exciting," said Zibusiso Mkhwanazi, executive chairman of Krazyboyz.

"This sort of package is essential if our young entrepreneurs are going to compete locally and internationally.

"Making a business look good can mean the difference between securing and not securing a deal, because first impressions last."

Applicants must be between 18 and 35 to take part in the initiative, and must prove that they are running an authentic business with a clear vision and realistic goals.

"Not everybody has the time or the desire to create their own website, while others have special requirements that call for more expertise," said Neo Motlhabane, business development director at Krazyboyz.