South Africa Government : Small Business Development hosts second leg of stakeholder consultation sessions, 28 Jan to 5 Feb

Department's nation-wide stakeholder consultation enters its second leg

The highly successful national stakeholder consultation sessions that are currently underway across the country, are now entering the second leg. The department seeks to solicit inputs from its stakeholders on the review of the National Small Business Act, 1996 (Act Number 102 of 1996), read with the National Small Business Amendment Act, Number 26, 2004 as well as engage stakeholders on the proposed National Minimum Wage.

The stakeholder consultations started on Monday, the 25th of January and will be concluded on the 5th of February 2016. Already two-day sessions have been held in Durban, East London and Kimberley. The department is satisfied with the quality of inputs received over the last two days as well as the quality of participation. The department is confident that the views expressed and inputs received will contribute to the formulation of a position on the review of the National Small Business Act and the National Minimum Wage.

The venues and dates for the remaining stakeholder sessions are as follows:

Dates: (Thursday and Friday, 28-29 January 2016)

• Rustenburg (North West): Hunters Rest Resort, Rustenburg, Rustenburg/Krugersdorp Road, 12 km outside, 24th Ave, Rustenburg.
• Umtata (Eastern Cape)-Venue: Hotel Savoy; Address: 912 Nelson Mandela Drive, Mthatha
• Ladysmith (KZN)- Venue: Royal Hotel, 140 Murchison Street,Ladysmith
• Upington (Northern Cape)- Desert Palace Casino, 1 Olifantshoek Road, Keidebees, South Africa, Upington

Dates: (Monday and Tuesday, 1-2 February 2016)

Polokwane (Limpopo): Bolivia Lodge: Road R81, 600m From Mall of the North, Polokwane.

Dates: (Tuesday and Wednesday, 2-3 February 2016

• Nelspruit (Mpumalanga): The Hotel Promenade CBD, Samora Machel Dr & Henshall Street
• Cape Town (Western Cape): River Club in Observatory, Address: Observatory Rd, Observatory
• Boksburg (Gauteng): Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo; No 14 View Point Road

Dates: (Thursday and Friday, 4-5 February 2016)

Bloemfontein (Free State): President Hotel & Conference Venue, 1 Union Avenue, Naval Hill

Registration in all sessions will start at 8:30.

The provincial consultations will culminate into a National Stakeholder Indaba on the review of National Small Business Amendment Act.

Each consultation session takes place over two days. The first day is dedicated to the review of the National Small Business Act and the second day will focus on the National Minimum Wage.

The Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and KZN provinces have been allocated two sessions of two days each, given their sizes. This is meant to ensure that all the stakeholders are fully consulted. The rest of the other provinces will have a single session.

The review of the Act is aimed at ensuring that legislation relating to small businesses is developmental in its orientation and that it is in line with the current realities that confront small business. With regards to the proposed National Minimum Wage, the department seeks to give stakeholders an opportunity to make inputs on the proposed National Minimum Wage.

The following stakeholders are amongst those expected to attend: Micro businesses; Small businesses; Cooperatives enterprises; Small business chambers; Cooperative associations; Cooperative members; Labour; Academia; NGOs supporting cooperatives and small businesses; local and provincial government officials.

Enquiries:
Cornelius Monama
Cell: 082 578 4063
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter: @CMonama