Pretoria- Africa stands on the threshold of an unprecedented economic success, and small businesses will be the main drivers of this growth, job creation and poverty reduction. Small business development is the key to unlock economic opportunities and thus achieve inclusive economic growth and sustainable employment.

This was the message delivered by the Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu in Milan, Italy during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) which ended recently. Minister Zulu addressed Ministers of Small Business Development from various countries and an African delegation shortly after South Africa Johannesburg was announced as the Host City for the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

“Small business is big business”, she told the Congress, reiterating the call by President Jacob Zuma. “Our policy interventions in South Africa seek to ensure that small enterprises grow into thriving businesses. They cannot remain small forever”.

She said that the high rate of unemployment, poverty and extreme inequality in South Africa called for bold andfar-sighted interventions.

Minister Zulu also met various Italian agencies and companies as part of her objective to identify opportunities for South African small businesses.

“As government, we remain open and receptive to new policy ideas that will help accelerate the formation of new businesses and sustainability of existing one. We see the GEC as a powerful platform to learn what other successful nations are doing to promote and sustain enterprise development”, said Minister Zulu.

We will focus on providing financial and non-financial support to small businesses. We want to reduce obstacles to doing business wherever possible.

Addressing a separate delegation from the African continent, Minister Zulu said: “There is general recognition that Africa is the next growth pole of the world. It is up to us, Africans, to seize the moment and ensure that Africa becomes an unprecedented economic success”.

Minister Zulu invited delegates to present ideas that would ensure that the Global Entrepreneurship Congress 2017 that would take place in Johannesburg becomes a resounding success. GEC provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to explore business networking opportunities, to learn and interact with their peers across the globe.

Addressing a delegation from the African continent, Minister Zulu also touched on the violence affecting businesses owned by foreign nationals. She reiterated government’s condemnation of the violence, the loss of lives and destruction of property.

“As government, we proceed from the premise that all people living in South Africa, including foreigners, are entitled to the full protection of our law. We will continue to act firmly and decisively against people who break the law and those who take the law into their own hands”.

“I established a Task Team to look at the underlying causes of the problem and to determine what needs to be done. I am confident that the Task Team will deliver a lasting solution.”

-TDN

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Cape Town – When Eskom chairperson Zola Tsotsi took to the podium 10 days ago to announce the suspensionof the utility’s CEO, Tshediso Matona, and three other senior executives, he made it clear that he was just the messenger.

Now Tsotsi faces the axe, according to an African News Agency (ANA) article published in the Sunday Independent.

According to the article, the Eskom board allegedly turned on Tsotsi over the terms of reference and scope of the inquiry that was announced when he suspended the utility’s leadership.

Sources told ANA that the process to start the inquiry had now paused and might even be canned.

For more http://www.news24.com

Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-1 to Black Leopards in a Nedbank Cup Last 16 clash, played at the FNB Stadium. The visitors scored the opening goal, before Willard Katsande equalised. However, it was Leopards that got the winner in injury time.

Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter sent a changed team into the field against Black Leopards. Reyaad Pieterse, for example, started in goal, while others who got game time were the likes of Simphiwe Mtsweni, Ovidy Karuru, David Zulu and Matthew Rusike.

Morgan Gould and Ivan Bukenya were the two centre-backs for the game.

Chiefs started well, having more possession of the ball, even though it didn’t result in many chances.

Zulu’s shot at goal from outside the box was the first kind of an opportunity, but the ball flew over the crossbar.

Amakhosi got a shock in the 21th minute when Leopards took the lead via Morgan Shivambu, leaving goalkeeper Pieterse no chance from close range. Linesman Buyisile Ngqambiyana, however, completely missed that Shivambu was offside when receiving the ball, as the Chiefs defence had moved up.

Zulu came close to the equaliser eight minutes later, but his header lacked the power to surprise Leopards goalie Avhashoni Tshinuna.

Slowly, the home side started to dominate, even though it was Leopards that nearly scored their second on the break.

In the 41st minute, Mandla Masango looked to round the Leopards goalkeeper, but he intercepted – did he get the Chiefs midfielder’s legs or the ball? That was the question. Masango and Amakhosi coach Baxter felt it was a penalty, which it clearly was.

In the end, referee Daniel Bennett got so upset with Baxter’s complaints that he was sent off.

The second half started like the first with Chiefs having most of the ball possession.

Rusike headed the ball at goal in the 50th minute, but the Leopards goalkeeper made a fine save, working the ball to corner.

Doctor Khumalo was now in charge at the bench, after Baxter’s sent off. The assistant-coach decided to ring the changes in the 58th minute, bringing on George Lebese for Karuru and Siphiwe Tshabalala for Zulu.

Amakhosi struggled to really dominate the game with the Leopards players working hard and competing for every ball.

Siphelele Mthembu replaced Rusike in the 75th minute. The tall striker wasn’t even a minute in the field, when his header nearly ended in the back of the net. But the Leopards goalkeeper came to his side’s rescue, punching the ball to a corner.

Eventually, it was midfielder Willard Katsande who scored the equaliser with a powerful header. The Zimbabwean doesn’t score often, but this was a beauty and… An important one as well.

The game was now on, with both teams looking for the winner. Shockingly, it was Leopards that got the goal in the 91st minute, thanks to Roggert Nyundu.

It means that Chiefs are out of the Nedbank Cup.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Katsande 79’)

Black Leopards (1) 2 (Shivambu 21’, Nyundu 91’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse, Moleko, Gould (C), Bukenya, Mtsweni, Masango, Katsande, Bukenya, Maluleka, Karuru (Lebese 58’), Zulu (Tshabalala 59’), Rusike (Mthembu 75’)

Black Leopards: Tshinuna, Maphangule (Mahangwahaya 66’, Bobe 87’), Ndou, Nyirinda, Radebe (Nange 46’), Nyundu, Shivambu, Munganga, Mabotja, Ntshangase, Mumuni

-TDN

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Johannesburg- “I thought that we would probably win this match and I selected a team that could do this,” Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter reflects about the 2-1 loss against Black Leopards in the Nedbank Cup 16 on Saturday. “However they played at 110 percent and we at 75. If that happens, it’s difficult to win.”

The coach was visibly upset about the way the Amakhosi got kicked-out of the Nedbank Cup in front of the home crowd.

“Cup tournaments are like this,” he lamented. “We struggled to focus, keep shape and so on. A Cup game is a great leveller. This wasn’t about tactics, but about a team that really stuck together and won.”

Baxter started with quite a different team than usual with players like David Zulu, Simphiwe Mtsweni, Reyaad Pieterse and Ovidy Karuru all starting.

“The team was virtually put upon us,” reacted Baxter. “We had suspensions, injuries and there were others I didn’t want to risk, like Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker – I was afraid that they we would break down if they had to play 90 minutes.”

The Leopards clash was Amakhosi’s third game in seven days.

“However, I still felt that we put out a competitive squad,” Baxter continued. “I hoped that they would be hungry.”

The visitors took the lead in the first half. Chiefs equalised in the second half thanks to Willard Katsande’s header. However, Leopards’ goal was clearly offside, while Amakhosi should have had a penalty in the first half when Mandla Masango was brought down by the goalkeeper. Referee Daniel Bennett had a shocker in the first half.

“Their goal was light-years offside,” commented Baxter. “And then the penalty… I told the referee, ‘didn’t you see that it was a penalty?’, while putting my hands in front of my eyes indicating that he may be needed binoculars. That’s when he sent me off.”

“Eventually, we did equalise. But we lacked the desire to put it to bed. I am embarrassed about the result and I am ashamed about my own performance for getting sent off. I should take responsibility. However, I am not sure what responsibility there will be for the officials. This result is difficult to swallow. In the end, Leopards wanted it most.”

-TDN

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2015 Nedbank Cup

Last 16

Full Time:  SuperSport United 1-0 Orlando Pirates

Date: 21 March 2015

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium

A single goal from Jeremy Brockie sent Orlando Pirates packing from the 2015 Nedbank Cup when SuperSport United beat the Buccaneers 1-0 in a Last 16 match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.

SuperSport started the better of the two teams and had the first shot on goal in the eighth minute when Jeremy Brockie met a right wing cross, but he fired inches over from eight yards out.

For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

A  head-on collision between a truck and a car on the N12 between Western area and Carletonville  has left two people dead and one man critically injured this morning. Exact detail to the cause of the accident and preceding events will remain a subject for police investigation and comment.

Netcare 911 paramedics arrived at the scene and found accident debris and the twisted frame of the vehicles spread over a large area, some of the injured was still trapped in the twisted metal. After triaging it was found that the two occupants from the car  had tragically died on impact due to the extensive injuries that they sustained, the truck driver was critically injured.

“After the patient was stabilised at the scene by an advanced life support paramedic, they transported him to a medical facility for the care that he required” Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said.

-TDN

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Picture: Members of various Stakeholders who were engaged in preparatory talks at Taung Police Station

BY OBAKENG MAJE
TAUNG- THE Community Policing Forum in Taung gathered at Taung Police Station on Thursday to come up with a strategic planning how to combat crime in the area.

Taung CBD is now a ‘hotspot’ for criminals to practice their misdemeanor behavior and the members of the CPF vow to fight against that.

Tebogo Lephoi who is one of CPF members said they will embark on a campaign to affray crime especially at Taung CBD near Shoprite.

“We have experienced many crimes around that area where criminals gathered together there and prey on unsuspecting citizens. Most common crimes are smash and grab, grabbing bags from its owners and theft out of the vehicle” Lephoi said.

The CPF said they working hand-in-hand with police and on the 31st March 2015, they will emplane in a march called Fight Against Crime campaign.

Some of residents who welcomed the initiative say crime is affecting their lives and is escalating every day.

“We are now scared to go to shops without being robbed. Taung has turned into monster, now our own children that we raised are the ones those inflict pain into our hearts” Dorothy Moreki said.

Keabetswe Madienyane from Manokwane shared the same sentiments and said patrollers are needed around town.

“One cannot go passed around town without any hassle. You see people gathering next to Shoprite waiting for their next victim. I believe manyaope might be the cause of all this crimes. We need patrollers around town so that we can have peace of mind while shopping” she outlines.

North West police will be part of the campaign that will commerce on 31st March 2015.
-TDN
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