An inaugural Colloquium for Business Forums in the North West has been hailed as a progressive step towards inclusive economic development, but small business owners across the province are calling for immediate and measurable action.
Led by North West economic development MEC Bitsa Lenkopane, the gathering was framed as a new era of collaboration between the government and private sector.
However, SMEs say that unless government commitments materialise into tangible support, the colloquium risks becoming another talk shop.
“We are tired of conferences where we are told help is coming, but nothing reaches us on the ground,” said Thandi Mahlako, the owner of Nomthanda Electricians (Pty Ltd) in Mahikeng.
“The support programmes they mention sound good, but we don’t know how to access them. And often, they’re not designed for the informal realities we face daily.”
Lenkopane outlined various interventions aimed at boosting small businesses, including the Informal Traders Support Programme, the Business Turnaround Interventions Programme and the General Dealer Support Programme.
She also encouraged entrepreneurs to register on the provincial MSME database and utilise enterprise support centres and incubation hubs.
“We need to work towards a transparent and fair business environment that empowers historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs,” Lenkopane said.
“Our province’s growth depends on the success of township and rural SMEs. That’s why we are reforming business regulations, accelerating support programmes and forging partnerships to unlock access to finance.”
But for many SMEs, these promises sound familiar and so do the delays.
“There’s a digital divide,” Mahlako said.
“Many small traders don’t even know these support centres exist, and those who do, are often frustrated by red tape and unclear criteria. We need officials who understand township economics.”
Sipho Mokwena, who owns Sipho’s Welders Pty Ltd in Brits, said his efforts to access funding have led to endless applications, but with no results.
“I have applied for three government grants. I either don’t hear back or get told I’m missing one document. Meanwhile, I need to replace machinery just to stay competitive,” he said.
Beyond funding concerns, the issue of localisation remains an issue.
The Ngaka Modiri Molema Business Forum criticised the continued awarding of government contracts to external companies, while local businesses were sidelined.
“We’ve heard localisation speeches for years,” said forum chairperson Oupa Nkomo.
“Yet tenders still go to companies from outside the province. If the government is serious, it must enforce procurement policies that favour local SMMEs and co-operatives.
“We want performance dashboards, not press releases.”
Lenkopane said the department was forging partnerships with development finance institutions, banks and other support agencies to address funding bottlenecks.
But many SMMEs remain sceptical, citing years of unmet commitments.
