Uber participated as a content partner at the Gauteng Festival of Opportunities, held at the Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct. The participation puts Uber’s R5 billion investment pledge, made at the South African Investment Conference earlier this year, into action by connecting youth, job seekers and SMMEs with practical and market access opportunities.
The event brought together more than 4,000 youth, job seekers and township SMMEs alongside employers, funders, training institutions, entrepreneurs and government.
Uber’s participation builds on its continued partnership with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), including its R1 billion+ Township economy partnership.
The festival provided an opportunity for Uber to continue engaging with stakeholders on issues affecting economic participation, including navigating operating licence requirements and exploring ways to expand access to Uber products and services in townships and lower-income communities.
Led by the GDED, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Festival of Opportunities brought together opportunities across employment, education, entrepreneurship, skills development, funding, procurement, innovation and the digital economy.
“The festival is about making economic opportunities more visible and accessible to the people of Gauteng,” says MEC for Economic Development and Agriculture, Ms Vuyiswa Ramokgopa.
“When young people and small businesses can engage directly with organisations like Uber, ask questions and understand the steps required to participate and grow, we create a stronger connection between opportunity and action. Bringing government, training institutions and other stakeholders together is an important initiative in building an economy for our people to partake in.”
“Connecting people to practical opportunities and the information they need to access them is important in creating more inclusive economic participation,”
says Ofentse Madisha, Head of Public Policy for South Africa at Uber. “Our participation in the festival gave us the opportunity to engage with stakeholders and better understand the barriers people face, which will assist in shaping our engagement even after the festival.”
The festival served as an important initiative and platform for strategic, high-level engagements with the Gauteng Premier and provincial MECs, building on the conversations and areas of opportunity identified through the event.
