Two black entrepreneurs were waitresses at the Voorstrand Restaurant in Paternoster. They worked for a boss and dreamt of having their own restaurant and working for themselves. The difficulty was where would they get the finance and support to do so?

Mary-Ann Ketello and Latetia Schalk worked for two years as waitresses and during their last six months they saved an amount of R2,000 each from tips earned. The development of the Paternoster fish market helped them to fulfill their dream. They started the Seemeeu Restaurant in 2002 at the Paternoster fish market on the beach. In November 2005 they will be celebrating their third year of success.

The entrepreneurs are currently taking part in the Department of Economic Development & Tourism's Intermediate Training Programme, which comprises of sessions in Marketing-, Finance-, Human Resource- and Business Management. They are also participating on the Fast Track Programme. These programs equip them with the skills to run their business effectively and efficiently.

The Seemeeu Restaurant won the Woman in Tourism Award at the Cape Tourism Showcase Awards held on 20 August 2005.

"Provincial Government's Tourism Business Support System added value to our business and enabled us to draw up our own business plan, helped our business grow and gave us the opportunity to exhibit at the Cape Tourism Showcase. Since the Cape Tourism Showcase we've had tour buses coming in everyday to stop at our restaurant, between seven and ten buses per day." said Latetia Schalk.

For more information on the Tourism Business Support System of the Provincial Department of Economic Development & Tourism contact your local Tourism Helpdesk Agents (THD's):

• Dave Cornelius on 022 433 8518 or dcornelius@wcdm.co.za
• Helena van Rooyen on 022 433 1072 or swartland@cornergate.com
• Glenda Appies on 022 715 1000 or Glenda.a@mweb.co.za
• Valerie Mentoor on 027 213 4339 or tourism@matzikamamun.co.za.