Last year’s campaign was a broad invitation to small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises operating within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Service Centre space to apply for funding. While the ICT category received a sufficient number of applications – there is a need to focus exclusively on Service Centres and encourage more eligible SMEs in this category to participate in this year’s campaign.

The 2026 campaign is trying to increase the number of service centre participants in this ED programme and is now focusing on black-owned SMEs but targeting mainly underserved provinces. It is therefore looking for skilled service centre entrepreneurs with a minimum of three (3) years experience in mobile device and/or consumer electronic repairs. The main aim of this Samsung EEIP ED programme is to assist SMEs to operate suitably funded accredited service centres in an urban or peri-urban area with sufficient retail footprint.

Samsung is well aware of the government’s NDP Vision 2030 (National Development Plan) targets and the critical role that the SME sector can play in job creation in the country. In her keynote address at the JSE SME Rise Capital Matching Initiative conference, the Minister of Small Business Development highlighted that the NDP Vision 2030 has set a target of generating 11 million jobs by 2030, with small businesses projected to account for over 9 million of those employment opportunities.

And, in order for government to achieve its ambitious employment goals – there is a need for such EEIP ED programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable growth of businesses in the SME space that will result in economic growth and lead to job creation.

Nicky Beukes, Samsung EEIP Project Manager said: “As Samsung, we understand the number of challenges that affect the growth of local SME Service Centres in the small to medium-term. This ED programme is there to ensure that we bring positive change to more eligible entrepreneurs with experience in the Service Centre market. As a company, we are committed to enhancing empowerment and ICT entrepreneurship development that will stimulate job creation. Ultimately, the aim of this year’s EEIP Service Centre campaign is to contribute to the growth of the participating service centres that will lead to job creation and economic growth.”

Some of the immediate challenges experienced by these service centre SMEs include competition resulting in reduced volumes as well as vertical integration of operations from big players. In addition, the improved quality of electronics in general – results in longer time-frames before any breakdown thereby reducing the need for repair services provided by service centres.

And, in South Africa, it is a well-known fact that the service centre industry is extremely competitive and it can take a number of years before profitability is reached. The fact is that sustainable volumes are required to ensure future success of the service centres. The funding support from this ED programme can assist service centre entrepreneurs to overcome some of these challenges.

Besides the funding element, successful participation in this year’s service centre campaign means that eligible SMEs can now have access to supply chain processes that can contribute to their repair volumes as well as specialised equipment and access to genuine parts. They also have an opportunity to receive full accreditation from an OEM and these benefits combined – can provide these small and medium enterprises with the ability to compete efficiently.

Beukes emphasised: “By participating in this campaign, you could also be one of the selected entrepreneurs with grant-funding to support operations, receive specialist business development support and have access to Samsung’s service repair network.”

How to Apply

If you are a talented service centre business with growth potential, the opportunity you have been waiting for has arrived. Samsung can help by empowering you to ignite and grow your service centre business. You could receive grant funding to capitalise the business and gain access to specialist business development support services. To learn more about the criteria for qualification as well as information on how to enter, please click on this link – https://www.samsung.com/za/local-programme/ed-programme/

On 19 May 2023, Samsung officially relaunched the Customer Service Centre in Maseru, Lesotho to bring much-needed post-sales support and convenience to Basotho customers. Located at Ground Floor Shop 1, Industrial Area, Moshoeshoe Road, Maseru, the new Samsung Customer Service Centre has been rebranded and improved with the latest Samsung technology and is now in an optimal position to give greater access to even more customers.

The service centre had to be upgraded and moved to its current location to make it easily accessible to customers. It is a big improvement on the old one which didn’t cater for walk-in customers and wasn’t supporting all Samsung products. With the new service centre, Samsung aims to create a walk-in facility for the convenience of the Basotho customers. The company also wants to provide direct support for mobile phones that wasn’t there before, which meant customers had to send their devices to South Africa for repairs. With this move, Samsung also wants to grow the repair environment and create job opportunities in the Lesotho capital.

“Our commitment to giving our customer the most convenient service possible is always top of mind. Through this new service centre we want to demonstrate that we really take care of our customers beyond sales and are prepared to make the necessary investment to ensure they get the qualified and professional service they deserve,” said Paul Croll, Director of Customer Service at Samsung South Africa. “Our customers in smaller markets should enjoy the same level of service as the ones in bigger markets do and this is precisely what informed the move to prioritise this service centre.”

Besides giving customers support on all Samsung products, the revamped customer service centre gives customers ease of access to any repair work they need as well as improved security, both for themselves and their devices, which now no longer have to travel across the border just to get fixed. Customers can now drop off and collect their devices as well as have technicians to come to their homes to diagnose and/or fix their large appliances and TV’s.

The next big thing for the service centre, coming up in the near future, will be mobile eco repairs, where they will do more cost-effective mobile phone repairs while reducing electronic waste, which is in line with the Samsung’s environmental, social and corporate governance principles.

Operating Hours:

Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00

Saturday 08:00 to 17:00

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

The Samsung Academy, established in 2011, equips unemployed matriculants from low income areas with the latest global technological skills to assist them to compete effectively in the job market. Samsung’s vision is to fast-track youth into the electronics job market, therefore aligning to the government’s Vision 2030 that encourages entrepreneurship and self-employment initiatives.

“We’re on a drive to give the youth of South Africa hope for the future with viable careers in a highly desirable field. Our graduates have all entered the workplace with essential electronic engineering skills, allowing them to support themselves and make a positive impact on their families and communities,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director of Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs for Samsung South Africa.

Students are taken through an intensive technical training course followed by a month of in-service training. Once this is completed, the young graduates are taught about client service and are then deployed to Samsung Service Centres. By moving one of the six Engineering Academy’s from Boksburg to Midrand, Samsung is able to reach students beyond its initial focus in Ekurhuleni and into greater Johannesburg.

It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. For both the Women Technical Programme and the Boys to Men initiative, there are two intakes every year. Applicants need to have a matric certificate, with mathematics and science on higher grade. There has already been remarkable success with hundreds of students enrolling and graduating every year since inception.

There are six academies that matriculants between the ages of 18 to 25 can apply to. These are: Samsung Academy in Midrand; Refrigeration and Aircon Academy at EEC KwaThema College; Tshwane North College in Hammanskraal; Orbit College in Mogwase; Gerit Sibande College in Standerton; and KwaMashu Coastal College in KwaMashu.

Mr. Sung Yoon, CEO & President Samsung Africa says, “This is another step towards securing the future of the youth marginalised by poverty. We’re here to help give the next generation power – the power to seize control of their own futures. And in doing so, they can contribute to their communities and country.”

Richard Chetty, Director of Services for Samsung South Africa, says, “Not only does the Boys to Men and Women Technical Programme arm students with the necessary engineering skills, graduates are given the opportunity to work within the Samsung Service Centres, which launches them into sustainable employment.”

Students are taken through an intensive technical training course followed by a month of in-service training. Once this is completed, the young graduates are taught about client service and then they are deployed to Samsung Service Centres.

In addition to the Women Technical Programme and Boys to Men, there are six academies that matriculants between the ages of 18 to 25 can apply to. These are: Samsung Academy in Midrand (previously located in Boksburg); Refrigeration and Aircon Academy at EEC KwaThema College; Tshwane North College in Hammanskraal; Orbit College in Mogwase; Gerit Sibande College in Standerton; and KwaMashu Coastal College in KwaMashu.

Samsung is also seeking applicants who have completed an Engineering diploma or degree – these candidates will be taken through the same technical engineering course but will have a different career trajectory laid out for them within Samsung Electronics.

“We’re on a drive to give the youth of South Africa hope for the future with viable careers in a highly desirable field. Our graduates have all entered the workplace with essential electronic engineering skills, allowing them to support themselves and make a positive impact on their families and communities,” says Chetty.

For both the Women Technical Programme and Boys to Men, applicants need to have a Matric Certificate and a valid driver’s licence. The initiative is a six months programme held from June to November at the Samsung Engineering Academy in Midrand.

Matriculants or Engineering graduates who wish to apply for the next intake, which beings in June, can e-mail their CV’s, drivers license and matric certificates to Janine.Singh@Samsung.com by 30^th April 2018.