15 July 08

By Sipho None

ALL hands on deck and business unusual was the theme of President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation address on 8 February this year. It was a theme that played itself out recently at the Kagisanong Community Hall in Kagiso, where the trade and industry deputy minister, Elizabeth Thabethe, and several of her officials taught small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) about the products available for them through her ministry.

Her delegation was accompanied by Mogale City Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane, who had a team of councillors and officials rounding out the dignitaries. Seerane welcomed everybody to the gathering and encouraged SMMEs to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

There were plenty of opportunities for potential and emerging entrepreneurs and SMMEs, he said, urging them to ensure they visited all the relevant government departments in getting information about business initiatives.

Giving snapshots of her departments’ products and services, Thabethe spoke of the gains and opportunities it offered.

“This [the meeting] is one of the opportunities that emerging and potential SMMEs should not let slip through their fingers. There are plenty of opportunities in my department and we saw it fit to visit communities and engage them on the services and products that we offer,” she said.

“We have seven divisions and 18 agencies all working together. Each division is headed by a director-general, who liaises with various stakeholders. We have realised that most emerging businesses are not aware of or are not clear about the channels to follow when trying to initiate a business or [get required] services.”

She explained that this lack of knowledge had prompted the department to take the information to various communities, targeting emerging and established businesses.

Thabethe said her ministry was geared towards facilitating and assisting SMMEs create business for themselves; it also aimed to stimulate the development of sustainable competitive enterprises. However, she also encouraged small and emerging businesses to be hands-on and to take initiatives when opportunities presented themselves.

Vuyani Bekwa, the enterprise development department manager, said that the department helped people to register their businesses and to develop their business plans. “It is our duty to see to it that emerging businesses are assisted … We also assist small and emerging businesses on tender processes and give advice on business mentoring and skills.”

Officials from the Trade and Industry Ministry outlined various departmental programmes, ranging from consumer protection and companies and intellectual property registration, to the regulation of co-operatives.

Mpule Teme, of the Mogale City Tourism Advisory Council, was glad that she had attended. “This kind of information is helpful to small and emerging businesses. Sometimes you have an idea; however, you do not know were to go for assistance. The information that I have received will help to develop and to improve on a tourism idea that I have.”

West Rand District Municipality Executive Mayor Faith Matshikiza was also pleased that the gathering had taken place. “Knowledge is power and I hope that the information that you have received here will help you to develop business plans and to improve your businesses. We as the government would like to encourage small and emerging businesses to take every opportunity that is given to [them].”