Health inspections should be carried out by DOH says Small Business Development Minister
The Minister of Small Business Development weighs in on a number of issues affecting her department including the regulation of spaza shops.
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Clement Manyathela is joined by Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Small Business Development Minister
Listen below
On spaza shops
The deaths of five children from Naledi in Soweto who died after allegedly consuming snacks from a local spaza shop has thrust the issue of spaza shop regulation back into the spotlight.
"We have established a township economy task team...that looks at counterfeit products, consumer protection...We are doing this because it is wrong that people are allowing people to sell them stale food, or food that is not of good quality.
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Small Business Development Minister
Ndabeni-Abrahams says the mandate for health inspectors currently rests at local government level.
This needs to change, she says.
"We believe it is a function that must go back to the Department of Health."
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Small Business Development Minister
On access to finance:
Many entrepreneurs and wannabe small business owners in South Africa bemoan the lack of finance available to help get their enterprises off the ground.
The issue is not the lack of finance available, says Ndabeni-Abrahams.
Lots of financial institutions are providing finance, but the challenge is access, she adds.
"Lots of financial institutions are providing finance, but the challenge is access. The first issue is that you must be compliant with what the financier requires and this requires enhanced business support to entrepreneurs."
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Small Business Development Minister
"The fact that you have an idea, you have a company that is registered, it doesn't mean the person you are bidding for money from, understands exactly what you want to do.
It doesn't mean that you foresee your projections will be like this, indeed it will be a reality. So we first say, let's enhance our business development support to our entrepreneurs."
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Small Business Development Minister
On late payments to SMMEs
In July, the Annual Report on Late Payment of Supplier’s Invoices by National Treasury was released, painting a worrying picture.
It revealed that the Eastern Cape and Gauteng are the worst performers when it comes to late payment having failed to pay over R4,5 billion and R2,7 billion respectively to suppliers within the prescribed period.
Ndabeni-Abrahams says such failures can signal the death knell for small businesses.
"We are aware of the challenge. We are saying no-one, no government or private sector must delay the payment of SMMEs because at times when they get an opportunity to do business, they go to the bank and borrow money, when you don't pay timeously you are adding more in terms of the interest they have to incur."
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Small Business Development Minister
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