By OBAKENG MAJE
The residents in Taung said the amendment of the National Small Enterprise Act [No. 103 of 1996] is long overdue as small businesses are faced with many challenges. This was raised during the public hearing on the National Small Enterprise Amendment (NSEA) Bill in Taung.
The Chairperson of the Small Business Development Committee, Violet Siwela said, that residents made oral submissions, particularly on Clause 5 of the Bill, which seeks to insert Chapter 3A into the Act. Siwela further said that this chapter will provide for, among others, the establishment of the Office of the Small Enterprise Ombud Service.
“It will also provide the appointment of the Ombud and any necessary deputy Ombud. The powers and functions of the Ombud, and the manner of dealing with complaints and determinations. Some residents said that the Ombud Office will help a great deal and should be accessible to remote communities,” she said.
Siwela added that they expressed overwhelming support for the NSEA Bill and pleaded that, it be passed into law and implemented as a matter of urgency. She said others suggested the insertion of a new clause that will provide for the establishment of the small enterprise council, which should work with registered structures such as local business chambers to ensure that the Bill is fully implemented.
“Stakeholders from the agricultural sector submitted that the Bill should also make provision for the allocation of land for business activities by small enterprise owners. Furthermore, the residents welcomed Clause 4 of the Bill, which seeks to substitute Chapter 3 of the Act to provide for, amongst others, the establishment and functions of the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA).
“According to the NSEA Bill, SEDFA will substitute the Co-operative Banks Development Agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), and Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA). The dissolution of these entities and the subsequent establishment of SEDFA will bring about synergy in the entire value chain from the advisory, training, business plan, and financing stages,” said Siwela.
She said more often during their oversight work, they learned that most aspiring entrepreneurs struggle to access funding from SEFA, while they have approved business plans by SEDA.
Siwela said North West is the eighth province to host the public hearings on the NSEA Bill and will be followed by Gauteng.
The Guardian 