For Lungiswa Mama, an informal trader from Mdantsane, business at the Highway Taxi Rank will never be the same. As of this week, her fruit and vegetable stall will reap profits she has only dreamed of – until now.

Mama was one of 17 participants who successfully completed BCM's Informal Traders Development Programme in the past year.

According to Samkelo Gqeba, BCM's communications officer, the goal of the course is to equip hawkers with knowledge that will enable them to grow their business. "The course is aimed at building the capacity of street traders to enhance the growth and sustainability of their businesses, through the provision of business skills training."

Gqeba said the municipality set aside R400 000 in 2010 to provide training for hawkers operating in Mdantsane.

The curriculum was divided into five parts, namely basic bookkeeping, stock control, health and hygiene, marketing and customer care, and costing.

"A contributing factor to the failure of hawkers is a lack of financial management and failure to diversify the business," said Gqeba.

The programme began in 2007 after the BCM's research discovered that hawkers, particularly at the Highway taxi rank, played an important role in the area's economic development and also boosted job creation. Since then, the municipality's Mdantsane One Stop Shop has conducted the course.

"Participants have gained a lot from the training because they did not know there is a need to register a business," said Khungeka Somnono, the Mdantsane One Stop Shop coordinator.

She said the training has helped hawkers understand the basic principles of running a successful enterprise. "Now they have learned they must have a bank account and save their profits. Others did not know about stock control. They only placed orders as they wished," she said.

Mama said the knowledge gained from the training has helped her business to soar. "I was taught how to deal with different types of customers in a professional manner. Now I am reaping the rewards because I am able to retain old customers and attract new ones."

The BCM course has also inspired her to tackle issues such as slow trade in the middle of the week. "The training has taught me to think out of the box and look for other business. I have decided to sell airtime to supplement my profits," said Mama.