Parliament of South Africa
Parliament of South Africa
11/06/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/07/2023 00:26
Media Statement: Many Buffalo City Residents Support NSEA Bill
Parliament, Monday, 6 November 2023 - The residents of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality who participated in today's public hearings on the National Small Enterprise Amendment (NSEA) Bill conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development in Mdantsane at NU 10 Community Hall had opposing views on the Bill. The majority of them supported the Bill but they highlighted its shortcomings and made proposals to strengthen it.
The committee explained the key aspects of the Bill to a diverse group of participants who filled the NU 10 Community Hall to capacity. The Bill aims to establish the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA) by amalgamating the Co-operative Development Banks Agency, the Small Enterprise Development Agency and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency. In addition, it proposes that the Minister of Small Business Development be the sole shareholder representative on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa.
The committee told the participants that the merger of the three historically separate entities has been necessitated by the need to create a one-stop-shop to avoid people having to travel unnecessarily to get services that could be obtained under one roof. The participants also heard that the Bill proposes to establish the Small Business Ombud to resolve disputes between big and small business players, as small business players are sometimes bullied by big companies and by the government. The committee stressed that the Bill aims to promote the rights of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa.
Participants had suggestions for how parts of the Bill could be strengthened. They said the entities the Bill proposes to merge should still be given an opportunity to prove themselves and justify their existence. The participants argued that if these entities failed to understand their roles when they were independent, things will be worse under a merger.
The participants also believe that the Bill creates a basis for local people to reclaim their economy. They suggested that each new SEDFA office must be responsible for certain wards to ensure that the new entity adds value to historically economically marginalised people. The participants told the committee that the 30% local SMMEs are entitled to from contractors is not enough and they hoped that the new SEDFA entity will address that.
Participants who opposed the Bill said they had not been sufficiently informed about the Bill before the public hearings started, but they have noted a lot of gaps in the Bill.
The committee Chairperson, Ms Violet Siwela, thanked the people for attending the public hearings and for their insightful inputs on the Bill. She urged the organisational representatives present to return to their constituencies and report back to them. Meanwhile, the committee is still inviting written submissions on the Bill. "The committee will consider each and every input made on the Bill when it considers the Bill after it has reached all the provinces," said Ms Siwela.
The committee will tomorrow conduct public hearings on the Bill in the OR Tambo District Municipality in Mthatha at Khwezi Community Hall from 10:00 to 14:00
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MS VIOLET SIWELA.
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact media officers:
Name: Mr Mava Lukani
Cell: 081 503 1840
Email: [email protected]
The committee explained the key aspects of the Bill to a diverse group of participants who filled the NU 10 Community Hall to capacity. The Bill aims to establish the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA) by amalgamating the Co-operative Development Banks Agency, the Small Enterprise Development Agency and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency. In addition, it proposes that the Minister of Small Business Development be the sole shareholder representative on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa.
The committee told the participants that the merger of the three historically separate entities has been necessitated by the need to create a one-stop-shop to avoid people having to travel unnecessarily to get services that could be obtained under one roof. The participants also heard that the Bill proposes to establish the Small Business Ombud to resolve disputes between big and small business players, as small business players are sometimes bullied by big companies and by the government. The committee stressed that the Bill aims to promote the rights of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa.
Participants had suggestions for how parts of the Bill could be strengthened. They said the entities the Bill proposes to merge should still be given an opportunity to prove themselves and justify their existence. The participants argued that if these entities failed to understand their roles when they were independent, things will be worse under a merger.
The participants also believe that the Bill creates a basis for local people to reclaim their economy. They suggested that each new SEDFA office must be responsible for certain wards to ensure that the new entity adds value to historically economically marginalised people. The participants told the committee that the 30% local SMMEs are entitled to from contractors is not enough and they hoped that the new SEDFA entity will address that.
Participants who opposed the Bill said they had not been sufficiently informed about the Bill before the public hearings started, but they have noted a lot of gaps in the Bill.
The committee Chairperson, Ms Violet Siwela, thanked the people for attending the public hearings and for their insightful inputs on the Bill. She urged the organisational representatives present to return to their constituencies and report back to them. Meanwhile, the committee is still inviting written submissions on the Bill. "The committee will consider each and every input made on the Bill when it considers the Bill after it has reached all the provinces," said Ms Siwela.
The committee will tomorrow conduct public hearings on the Bill in the OR Tambo District Municipality in Mthatha at Khwezi Community Hall from 10:00 to 14:00
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MS VIOLET SIWELA.
For media inquiries or interviews, please contact media officers:
Name: Mr Mava Lukani
Cell: 081 503 1840
Email: [email protected]