Question NW1386 to the Minister of Communications

Reply:

(a) The Department is not running any development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives (aa) due to budgetary constraints.

Brand South Africa:

(b) Brand South Africa’s mandate is to manage South Africa’s reputation to position the country as a globally competitive destination. The organisation works with a range of stakeholders to achieve this mandate and therefore does not run specific development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co- operatives.

(aa) In executing its mandate to build a competitive identity for the country together with identified stakeholders, Brand South Africa partners with organisations that promote entrepreneurship development. This comes within the context of Brand South Africa’s Active Citizenship programme.

(bb) Brand South Africa has allocated R250 000 for the 2016/17 financial year to a national entrepreneurship workshop series which is aimed at fostering interaction and sharing lessons between emerging entrepreneurs and accomplished business leaders, who share key tenets of their business success, their entrepreneurial journey, the critical elements of their business growth as well as their insights on what is required to build an inclusive, thriving economy in South Africa.

(cc) The entrepreneurship workshop series aim to bridge the gap between reality and aspiration, information and knowledge and practical skills in building sustainable enterprises. The workshop series will reach an estimated number of 5,500 aspirant and emerging entrepreneurs.

Independent Communications Authority of South Africa:

(b) ICASA is not running any development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives (aa) due to the fact that, as a regulator, ICASA does not have resources to develop SMMEs and Cooperatives but create an enabling environment through regulations for their growth. SMMEs in ICT sector enabled through exemptions in licensing.

Media Development and Diversity Agency:

(b) (i) Yes the MDDA provides financial and non-financial support to Small Commercial Media Entrepreneurs registered according to the Company’s Act in South Africa

(ii) Yes the MDDA provides financial and non-financial support to Small Commercial Media Entrepreneurs registered according to the Cooperatives Act in South Africa

(aa) The MDDA has provided support in the establishment of Print Media Cooperatives in provinces of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Eastern Cape; these cooperatives encourages collective advertising to various Small Commercial and Community Print publications.

The MDDA is currently providing financial and non-financial support to 45 Small Commercial Media Projects spread across the country, this is in a form of grant funds, capacity building, and linkages with various stakeholders including government and information provision.

(bb) In the 2016-17 financial the print and digital media unit of the MDDA has been allocated a budget of 2, 5 Million which will be complemented by the write back funds as resolved by the MDDA Board, additional funding will also be sourced through engaging with the members of the Print and Digital South Africa.

(cc) Each Small Commercial Media house through the MSDDA support creates an average of 4 jobs, and the target for the 2016-17 financial year is 10 projects, therefore it is expected that these projects are expected to create 40 jobs opportunities.

Film and Publication Board:

The Film and Publication Board is not running any development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives.

South African Broadcasting Corporation:

The South African Broadcasting Corporation is not running any development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives.

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE: