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Editorial comments

Jack up the SMME sector

For a long time The Business Bulletin has been espousing the firm conviction that it is by and large only the SMME sector that can really promote economic growth in SA, thereby creating meaningfully jobs and social upliftment. Therefore the SMME sector is crucial to the future of SA if the growing gap between rich and poor is to be stemmed, the hungry and homeless masses to be kept at bay and South Africa to be a force to be reckoned with in the global market place. The government recognizes this, but which departments, parastatals and agencies do implement SMME development strategies that produce tangible results? In our view, very little, of which the Namac program and lately the inTouch Africa® program are delightful examples. And corporates? What difference do their respective SMME projects make?
It is our considered view that it is long overdue that SMME roleplayers should get practical on the ground, supply the largely business-illiterate masses with constructive developmental info, implement programs identifying prospective entrepreneurs with viable potential, assist start-ups to stand on their own feet and provide to going concerns the after-care that would help them prosper. Thus a big story in a few words, but hopefully the point is taken. It is anyway the mission providing the reason for existence of The Business Bulletin.

Free State Youth Commission

At the Free State Youth Economic Summit held 18 - 20 October 2002 at Phillip Sanders Resort near Bloemfontein, the focus was very much on large-scale unemployment and underskilledness amongst the province's youth. Notably there was not a white face amongst the attendees and when a question from the floor was asked about it, the chairperson, Teboho Sikisi, said the FS Youth Commission is “exclusively for blacks only and we are not apologetic about it".
Is this correct and wise in a province and a country where the same zebra has both black and white stripes? Is it correct for an institution to have such a policy when it functions on colourless taxpayer's money? Besides, the FS Dept. of Economic Affairs and the FDC were sponsoring this particular event. As a newspaper focusing on the development and advancement of all SA's citizens, could somebody in this instance point out to us the correct terms of reference please ?

Mr. Richmond Ntuli
While for a variety of reasons it is sensitive to write publicly about a government official, we feel a need to make an observation about someone who in a demanding and high profile position is doing his job with notable professionalism, with compassion and evidently with merit as the primary criterium for his judgment. An example of such a person is in our view Mr. Richmond Ntuli, provincial executive manager of the Dept. of Labour in the Free State.