Enterprise Development in Rustenburg: Practical Pathways to Livelihoods and Inclusion

In Rustenburg, the Do More Foundation is supporting a growing network of enterprise development programmes that offer women and youth tangible pathways into the economy. These are not short-term projects, but long-term investments in people , building the kinds of skills, confidence, and resilience that underpin sustainable livelihoods. Through partnership with Pepkor Speciality, we’re able to drive programmes that directly respond to the lived realities of people in under-resourced communities in Rusteburg. These initiatives are part of a broader model.

With Niya Consultancy as the implementing partner, Pepkor Speciality’s contributions enable a range of programmes, including the Township Economy Project, the Sewing Programme, and the #DoMorePlay Toy initiative, to take root and grow. Niya Consulting serves as the implementing partner for these programmes in Rustenburg, bringing deep local knowledge and expertise to the design and delivery of enterprise development initiatives. Their hands-on facilitation ensures that each programme is responsive to community needs and achieves meaningful, measurable impact

The Township Economy Programme: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

The Township Economy programme in Rustenburg focuses on building the business and leadership capacity of young women who are starting or growing small enterprises. Since its inception, the programme has consistently met its annual recruitment target, enrolling 20 participants in both the 2024 and 2025 cycles , with just one dropout recorded across both cohorts.

Participants begin with foundational sessions on professionalism and character development, and then progress into practical business content , covering budgeting, tendering, pricing, customer service, and marketing. Guest talks from local business owners are a consistent highlight, grounding the theory in lived experience. Small adaptations, like previewing upcoming lesson content, have improved attendance and boosted learner motivation. The current cohort is preparing for site visits and a final “shark tank”-style event where selected candidates will pitch their businesses to a panel for start-up support. This will be followed by a graduation ceremony, celebrating their progress and readiness to take their businesses forward.

Sewing Programme

The Sewing Programme equips women with practical, in-demand sewing skills , opening the door to income generation through employment or self-employment. By mid-2025, the programme had reached its goal of 40 trained and graduated participants. Earlier cohorts completed their training with 100% attendance, highlighting strong commitment and facilitation. The curriculum includes industrial and domestic sewing machine operation, pattern reading, and a range of sewing techniques. Participants also develop small business and product development skills.

The programme faced temporary interruptions due to rental arrears and electricity issues, and early delays in equipment readiness , all of which were quickly resolved thanks to responsive team support and additional assistance from partners such as G-Fox. With funding and equipment support from Pepkor Speciality, the programme is better positioned to reach more participants and provide a solid foundation for future business growth.

Woodwork Training

Perhaps one of the most distinctive features of Rustenburg’s enterprise programming is its inclusive approach. The Woodwork Training Programme, in partnership with the ITeko School of Disability, offers young people with disabilities access to structured, skills-based learning in a supportive environment. By June 2025, 32 learners had completed the programme. Training covers foundational woodworking skills, and learners contribute to the production of DoMore Play toys.

Each cohort has graduated in the presence of teachers and family members , moments of shared pride that go far beyond the certification. For learners, the experience has been described as “a milestone” and “validation”. The success of this programme hinges on patience, differentiated support, and the ability to pace the training around each learner’s needs. It’s a model of what inclusive skills development can look like , and what it can achieve when paired with care and consistency.

Woodwork

The woodwork is a collaborative effort by Pepkor Speciality and the Foundation to enhance early childhood learning while offering practical opportunities for disabled youth. Youth with disabilities receive wood donations and training to produce educational toys. These toys stimulate children’s cognitive development while offering a source of income for the makers.

The programme blends inclusion with purpose , it supports young people with disabilities in building confidence and financial independence, while strengthening the quality of play and learning for children in nearby communities.

Across Rustenburg, these enterprise development programmes reflect a clear commitment: to support people where they are, with tools that help them grow. It’s not a top-down approach , it’s responsive, practical, and community-rooted. With partners like Pepkor Speciality, we are seeing real results: stronger small businesses, growing income potential, and a sense of possibility among young people and women who are so often excluded from economic opportunity

What else is happening in Rustenburg

DO MORE’s programmatic work in Rustenburg, North West continues beyond Enterprise development. Together with other key partners, they are delivering a comprehensive “basket of services” to address the diverse needs of young children here:

• Nutrition to combat food insecurity
• Early learning initiatives to prepare children for school
• Caregiver support to empower families
• Infrastructure development for safe learning environments
• Capacity building for ECD practitioners
• Child protection to safeguard children’s rights
• Enterprise development to foster sustainable local economies

This work is part of DO MORE’s Everyone Gets to PLAY model , a community-driven approach aligned with the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (NIECDP). It prioritises young children while strengthening the broader systems that surround them , from caregivers to local businesses.