Question NW1491 to the Minister of Small Business Development

Reply:

The Department appreciates the initiative taken by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Gauteng Enterprise Propeller in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporations for the purposes of setting up the Township Partnership Fund. However, the Department is however not in a position to request other state organs such as the provinces to adopt or implement the Fund since the provinces are operating independently.

The Department continues to engage with Provinces with the aim of ensuring uniformity in support for township and rural areas-based enterprises. The DSBD continues to support SMMEs through its own Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP), which is a Programme with a dedicated budget to assist small enterprises operating in underserved and unserved locations such as townships and rural areas.

To compliment the fund established by the Gauteng provincial government, the DSBD has adopted a Portfolio approach comprising of the DSBD, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) using an integrated approach for the support of SMMEs.

Both Seda and sefa have operational offices together with satellite and mobile facilities in provinces and districts throughout the country. This national footprint allows for ease of access and interaction with relevant public and private sector structures as well as with SMMEs that are located in rural areas.

STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS

MINISTER: SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT