OVERVIEW Development
OVERVIEW Development finance and SMME support Supply chains are providing chances for small businesses. Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) has a project called Ntinga (“to soar” in Xhosa) whereby suppliers receive training and are mentored for 18 months. A selection of black-owned manufacturing businesses exhibit at the company’s Black Supplier Day with the potential to become a Volkswagen supplier. Municipal and provincial procurement policies specify that certain goods should come from SMMEs. In 2020/21, the provincial government spent R16.8-billion (or 61% of the budget) on suppliers and service providers based within the province. A total of R4.1-billion was spent on SMMEs. A programme called “Have-I-Been-Paid” aims to improve the time within which payments are made. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s Enterprise Development Programme has several parts: the Export Development Programme is the latest initiative. The National Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has allocated R6.6-million to the Informal and Micro-Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP) for the Eastern Cape. The DSBD’s other programmes include: • The Black Business Supplier Development Programme. • The Co-operative Incentive Scheme, a 100% grant. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is an agency of the DSBD which gives non-financial support to entrepreneurs through training, marketing and assistance in the writing of business plans. The Seda Technology Programme (Stp) helps potential businesses become trading entities. There are 10 offices in the province, with the main provincial office in East London. Port Elizabeth is the head office of the Chemin incubator which supports SMMEs in the downstream chemical sector. Furntech (a furniture incubator) has a branch in Mthatha and there are also construction incubators. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is another financing institution. It sometimes takes shares in businesses but also administers programmes such as the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP). ONLINE RESOURCES Eastern Cape Development Corporation: www.ecdc.co.za Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency: www.ecrda.co.za MCEP: www.investmentincentives.co.za/mcep SECTOR INSIGHT The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has launched an Export Development Programme. Two of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation’s seven business units are devoted to small business: Development Finance and Enterprise Development. The ECDC has several financial products tailored to SMMEs. The ECDC and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) jointly run the TIA-ECD Innovation Seed Fund Programme, which aims to identify and co-fund earlier-stage technology innovation projects. Help Desks have been established to support small business in Port Elizabeth and East London. As part of its Small Contractor Development, Training and Community Participation programme, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) offers training. Since its inception, the SAB Foundation’s Tholoana Enterprise Programme has provided over R35-million in grant funding and business support to 1 056 entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape. One example of what can be achieved is illustrated by Bukelwa Ngoqo, founder of Sunkissed Fashion, who increased her turnover from R250 000 to R830 000 and grew her workforce from four employees to eight. ■ EASTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2021/22 36
SMME VIRTUAL ROADSHOW PRACTICAL AND USEFUL INFORMATION ON SMALL, MEDIUM AND MICRO-BUSINESS IN SOUTH AFRICA. TO REGISTER: Visit www.gan.co.za and then SMME Virtual Roadshow Since 2014, the SMME Roadshow has supported small business in South Africa. Following the unprecedented challenges of 2020, Global Africa Network is relaunching the SMME Roadshow in a fully virtual, nationwide format. The SMME Virtual Roadshow, brought to you by Global Africa Network Media with Nemesis Accounting, SME Warrior and Aurum Wealth Creators, takes the form of presentations and practical guidance from thought leaders and experts in their fields. Presentations are pre-recorded for quality and convenience and presenters and their teams will be on hand to engage and interact with delegates. Delegates will also be able to network with other delegates. Who should attend? SMMEs requiring support and guidance on the following topics should attend: ABOUT GLOBAL AFRICA NETWORK Global Africa Network Media (GAN) is an established authority on business development in South Africa’s nine provinces. GAN’s online products include its well-established B2B portal, www. globalafricanetwork.com, and its monthly business and investment e-newsletters, with a reach of over 53 000 subscribers. Each of the nine titles and the national journal, South African Business, has been utilised by all levels of government, parastatals, corporates, and national and provincial businesses. GAN is a specialist in small and developing business, and the company is a trusted partner of business chambers and other representatives of organised business in each province. • Access to funding • Access to markets • Business revival • Training and skills development • Compliance and regulatory • Technology support • Running a business Each of South Africa’s nine provinces will be represented at the Roadshow, and will showcase incentives, services and opportunities available to SMMEs. For information on sponsorship opportunities, email info@gan.co.za
