Question NW729 to the Minister of Small Business Development
11 April 2024 - NW729
Muller, Ms N to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
With reference to her mandate to ensure the appointment of an Advisory Board is carried out in accordance with the commitments made in the subsequent Annual Performance Plans for 2022/2023, what are (a) the timelines for concluding the appointment of the Advisory Board and (b) the envisaged functions thereof?”
Reply:
I have been advised that:
(a) The Act requires the Minister to determine the constitution for the Advisory Body through an open and transparent process. The draft constitution for the Advisory Body has been approved by Minister and published in the government gazette for public comments.
Once comments have been received the final adjustments will be finalised and presented to Cabinet. After the final endorsement by Cabinet the final constitution will be published in the government gazette and the recruitment for the appointment of members of the Advisory Body initiated in June 2024.
Furthermore, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) facilitated consultations with the National Treasury on the appropriate level of category for remuneration for members of the Advisory Body and in addition a remuneration policy was approved in consultation with the Department for members of the Advisory Body. This will coincide with prescripts for remuneration for members of statutory bodies as prescribed by the National Treasury.
(b) The primary function of the Advisory Body will be to advise the Minister on broad areas that affect small enterprise growth, including national standards pertaining to small enterprise development and regulation, existing or proposed policies that may affect small enterprises, programme interventions and their impact, the impact of existing legislation on small enterprises and constraints that affect the viability of small enterprises into value chains amongst others. The Advisory Body constitution will be finalised through public participation.