While South Africa talks about unemployment and slow growth, township entrepreneurs are quietly building jobs, services and hope – often with very little support.
Over the past three years, the Silulo Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme has walked a structured 10-month journey with 133 entrepreneurs across seven cohorts in Khayelitsha and Dunoon. Together with our partners, they have:
- Created over 650 jobs (permanent, part-time and internships)
- Grown turnover in many businesses
- Unlocked almost R39 million in combined support value (funding, tools, software, facilities and mentorship)
Now, applications are open for two new parallel cohorts – one in Khayelitsha and one in Dunoon – starting in February.
What entrepreneurs actually gain
This isn’t a once-off workshop or feel-good event. It’s a structured learning and implementation journey built around real business needs in the township economy:
🔟 Ten-Week Intensive Bootcamp Weekly, in-person sessions cover the fundamentals that matter most to township entrepreneurs, including:
- The entrepreneurial journey and mindset
- Understanding the numbers in your business
- Planning and thinking strategically
- Resources and finance
- Operations
- AI tools for small business
- Marketing and customers
- Compliance and risk
🧭 80-Step Roadmap to Success Developed with Notre Dame’s Urban Poverty & Business Initiative, this roadmap guides entrepreneurs through three phases:
- Planning – feasibility, legal registration, brand building
- Launch – market entry, customer acquisition, revenue generation
- Stabilisation – cash-flow management, operational efficiency, repeat sales
Entrepreneurs don’t just learn concepts – they leave with a practical roadmap and tools they can use long after graduation.
🎓 Three-Month Student Consultancy UWC Entrepreneurship & Innovation students work directly with each entrepreneur on pressing business challenges – from marketing plans to operational improvements. It’s like having your own mini-consulting team.
🤝 Peer Forums & Networking Regular peer-accountability forums and networking events connect entrepreneurs to funders, corporates and social investors – opening doors that are often closed to township businesses.
📊 Monitoring, impact & ongoing perks
- Certificate of completion (for those who finish the full journey)
- Continued access to selected workshops, forums and showcase opportunities
- Ongoing use of the 80-step roadmap dashboard and impact tracking tools
And most importantly: entrepreneurs themselves rate the programme an average of 9.6/10 – with more than 80% giving it a full 10/10.
That level of satisfaction is not just about content; it speaks to relevance, support and real-world impact.
Who should apply?
The programme is designed for township-based entrepreneurs who:
- Are already running a business or have a validated idea with early customers
- Are serious about growing revenue, tightening operations and creating jobs
- Are willing to commit to regular sessions, assignments and peer forums over 10 months
Whether you are in services, retail, construction, food, education, logistics, creative industries or social enterprises, the focus is the same: practical tools to build a stronger, more sustainable business in the township context.
How to apply
👉 Register online – Apply here: https://silulofoundation.org/apply/ 🗓
Applications close: 31 January 🚀
Programme starts: February
📍 Two parallel cohorts: Khayelitsha & Dunoon
You can also email [email protected] or visit your nearest Silulo centre in Khayelitsha or Dunoon for assistance – see www.silulofoundation.org for addresses and contact details.
In conclusion – an invitation to entrepreneurs and supporters
If you are an entrepreneur in Khayelitsha or Dunoon, this is an opportunity to:
- Strengthen your skills with a clear, structured roadmap
- Get real support from experts, students, peers and partners
- Position your business for growth, jobs and long-term impact
If you’re not an entrepreneur but care about township economies, this is also your invitation:
- Become a mentor
- Explore partnership opportunities
- Support funding, tools, workspace or market access
Township entrepreneurs are already building South Africa’s future economy. With the right backing – and the right programmes – they can do even more.