Question NW3889 to the Minister of Small Business Development
10 November 2022 - NW3889
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
Whether her department has any programmes that link small, medium and micro enterprises to the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other national chambers of various other countries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?”
Reply:
The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) prescribes to the Constitutional provisions for Freedom of Association founded in the Bill of Rights. Small, medium, and micro enterprises have the liberty to exercise this freedom by self-determination and association based on their needs and aspirations.
With that freedom of association, there are several representative bodies for private sectors, SMMEs, informal economy, etc. The Department does support individual small businesses and these can then form their own associations or chambers to advance their interests. The Department engages on a regular basis with the associations matters including the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) to gather inputs on policy matters.
Pillar 4 of the National Integrated Small Enterprise Development (NISED) Strategic Framework, recently approved by Cabinet, calls for the strengthening of strategic partnerships with the ecosystem role-players. This includes government to government relations, government with the private sector and other non-state actors. The SACCI Chief Executive Officer is an active participant on the programme of the National Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Summit taking place on 13-15 November 2022.
STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
MINISTER: SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT