12/04/2017
That's where we are still!! - me and my BEE partner started setting up TopPCTraining (Pty) Ltd at Essenwood Centre in December 2016 - we applied for an ITHALA bank loan, 9 December, and have been awaiting a final outcome of the loan to date - I spent all my spare money, holiday and night class money in the setup so far - paid for electricity deposit, rent deposit, rent from December to now - bought and built desks, and purchased the few computers that can be seen in the photo, and a laptop - all purchased by myself - my partner could only purchase 1 printer unfortunately due to not having work (he used to train computer programs for us at Umfolozi TVET).
But the problem is, we cannot continue without the finance - ITHALA in this 3 - 4 months, kept asking for more paperwork, and they also asked me to settle 2 credit cards that were in the red, before they could finalise the loan - I found the cash and paid the amounts, but then the loan was not finalised, and is still not!!! ITHALA also visited the premises twice to see how we were going - we still had faith in getting the loan, but now it's not looking good, as they now want a company to offer security for the amount, which we are working hard on.
We are all specialists in the Microsoft training and testing fields, and I am an Accredited ICDL trainer and tester (the nearest to us being Durban), and MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist), proctor of training and testing for Certiport.
We have been building up contacts with Trust Companies to continue, and it is slowly progressing, but now TOO SLOW - we need to setup first, before they will bring students, of which there are many of, especially in the rural areas where kids have never worked on computer.
The reason why we started building up in December, is that I was to be placed on forced pension, from Umfolozi, as from my 65th birthday, 28 February 2017.
(labour regulations law - section 187(2)(b) of the labour relations act 66 of 1995)
I would like to urge my FACEBOOK friends to offer assistance, where possible - maybe in the form of helping us to secure a fast loan with a reputable company, or (has to sound like begging), maybe a donation to get us going, as it has now become very serious, and stand to close down, and losing all cash, and time put in the company.
Regards
Barry Scott Mutlow