Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism
As the Province is stopping the Booster Fund for SMMEs:
(1)(a) what funding or support mechanisms are in place for township-based entrepreneurs and SMMEs to access (i) market opportunities, (ii) business training and (iii) infrastructure;
(2) whether his Department intends to introduce a new funding model for entrepreneurs and SMMEs, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
- (a) (i) The Department will host eight Supplier Open Days in the Western Cape. The Supplier Open Days will provide access to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to build their capacity and understanding about public procurement practices to improve access to public sector tender opportunities. The Department will collaborate with local municipalities, South African Revenue Services (SARS), Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), Provincial Treasury, provincial departments, and compliance entities in the roll out of the initiative. In addition, the intention is to ensure that MSMEs are compliant with government regulations to enable access public sector procurement opportunities.
The Department will collaborate with the Department of Infrastructure on their Contractor Information Sessions. These engagements enable MSMEs in the construction sector to better understand government’s procurement and supply chain practices and where and how to access government procurement opportunities. The sessions will include issues such as procurement opportunities, capacitating and empowering suppliers, and business readiness. The programme is implemented in a partnership approach and includes, amongst others, the National Home Builders Registration Council, South African Revenue Services, Construction Industry Development Board, and local municipalities.
The Department will partner with the six Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the Western Cape to support qualifying regional winners through a two-day Business Development Support bootcamp programme. The support to youth-owned businesses (pre-start-up and post-start-up stage) through targeted business support interventions, will contribute to their development and growth. In collaboration with TVET colleges, the project will provide business development support services, to predominately township-based businesses. The support will assist the businesses to prepare their pitches, and the Western Cape winners will participate in the national Entrepreneurship Inter-College competition. The partnership aims to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among TVET students by actively supporting and celebrating youth-led businesses during the competition.
- The Department is in the process of embarking on the development of an MSME strategy that will inform its approach to support businesses in the Western Cape. The Department continues to play a facilitative role whereby it collaborates with various stakeholders within the MSME ecosystem. The partners include mandated MSME funders such as the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Industrial Development Council (IDC).
The Department continues to engage and work with Entrepreneurship Support Organisations such as RLabs, Silulo Foundation, University of the Western Cape, Western Cape TVET College, ORT SA Foundation, ASISA, WomHub to provide support to MSMEs.
