Parliament of South Africa
Parliament of South Africa
11/02/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/02/2023 14:08
Media Statement: Overberg District Residents Call for NSEA Bill to Contain a Clause Addressing Challenges Faced by Fishermen and Small-Scale Farmers
Parliament, Thursday 2 November 2023 - The residents of Overberg District in the Western Cape province call for the insertion of a new clause in the National Small Enterprise Amendment (NSEA) Bill that will address the specific needs of small-scale farmers and fishermen.
The residents made this submission during public hearings that were conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development today at Overberg Academy of Sports in Bredasdorp. The fishermen said that although it has been proved over the years that fishing can be financially viable, access to finance from commercial banks has remained a serious challenge. They told the committee that they are now pinning their hopes on the proposed Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA).
The Bill makes provision for the establishment of SEDFA through the amalgamation of the Co-operative Development Banks Agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency and Small Enterprise Finance Agency. 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 small-scale farmers who participated in the public hearings raised concerns that included the lack of agricultural land. They suggested that the Bill should contain a clause that addresses this type of challenge. According to them, this clause should outline explicitly the different sizes of land that the government should be obliged to allocate to small-scale farmers and the allocation should be determined by levels of development in farming.
Other participants suggested that over and above the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud Service, the Bill should also make a provision for the establishment of a small enterprise tribunal that will adjudicate when disputes arise between small-scale and well developed businesses.
These public hearings are conducted in line with section 59(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which requires the National Assembly to facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the Assembly and its committees. The Western Cape is the fifth province where the committee conducted public hearings on the Bill. The committee has successfully conducted public hearings on the Bill in Limpopo, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Free State provinces.
The committee will tomorrow conduct public hearings on the BILL at the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone, in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality at 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 Justice Molafo
Cell: 081 424 7481
Email: [email protected]
The residents made this submission during public hearings that were conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development today at Overberg Academy of Sports in Bredasdorp. The fishermen said that although it has been proved over the years that fishing can be financially viable, access to finance from commercial banks has remained a serious challenge. They told the committee that they are now pinning their hopes on the proposed Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA).
The Bill makes provision for the establishment of SEDFA through the amalgamation of the Co-operative Development Banks Agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency and Small Enterprise Finance Agency. 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 small-scale farmers who participated in the public hearings raised concerns that included the lack of agricultural land. They suggested that the Bill should contain a clause that addresses this type of challenge. According to them, this clause should outline explicitly the different sizes of land that the government should be obliged to allocate to small-scale farmers and the allocation should be determined by levels of development in farming.
Other participants suggested that over and above the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud Service, the Bill should also make a provision for the establishment of a small enterprise tribunal that will adjudicate when disputes arise between small-scale and well developed businesses.
These public hearings are conducted in line with section 59(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which requires the National Assembly to facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the Assembly and its committees. The Western Cape is the fifth province where the committee conducted public hearings on the Bill. The committee has successfully conducted public hearings on the Bill in Limpopo, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Free State provinces.
The committee will tomorrow conduct public hearings on the BILL at the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone, in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality at 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 Justice Molafo
Cell: 081 424 7481
Email: [email protected]