Current Edition >> Archives Section >> SMME Information >> May 2002

SMME Flashes

SME's vital to SA economy, say Business Partners: With the slow inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Africa to address the skyrocketing unemployment, “the financing enablement and support of small and medium enterprises (SME's) is one of the most significant challenges facing the country today,” Business Partners said in a media release. “ The most recent statistics available show that 3,7% of our population are entrepreneurs, compared with an international average of 10%. If we can close this gap, the positive effect on job creation and on the economy as a whole will be extensive.” Business Partners state further: “By way of example, Johannesburg is such a successful environment for SME's because all of these economic drivers are present in the city. Richards Bay is also a good location, because five of the seven are present there.” According to the Registrar of Companies' 1990-2000 statistics, SME's represent 97,5% of the number of registered businesses in South Africa, employ 55% of the country's labour and contribute approximately 42% to total remuneration.

Absa en Mvelaphanda span saam: Absa Korporatiewe en Aksepbank en Mvelaphanda Strategic investments gaan hul kragte saamspan om die grootste swartbemagtigingsfonds tot nog toe op die been te bring. Die nuwe fonds van R500 miljoen, wat as die Mvelaphanda Belegginsfonds bekend staan, sal op dieselfde beginsel as 'n private aandelefonds werk en is daarop gemik om klein bemagtigingsondernemings te help.

USAid continues confidence in SA: The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) has indicated its confidence in South Africa's future by disclosing that it will remain active in South Africa until 2010. Its aim is to strengthen economic, political and social service sectors. Last year USAid provided more than R260 million in direct support to the SA Government for development priorities. This is expected to rise by another 8% this year. Total government-to-government development assistance has reached nearly R3 billion since bilateral co-operation was established in 1994.

International entrepreneurial opportunity for school learners: South African schoolchildren will be the only group from Africa to take part in the first Enterprise Olympics (www.enterpriseinsight-scotland.com) on 25 and 26 June 2002 in which 15 countries will compete. Participants will be linked to the Glasgow Science Centre via computer. The Web page could easily get as many as 200 000 hits per week. The driving force behind SA's participation is Elsa Phillips of Klerksdorp, teaching at a black school. She has 26 pupils participating in her programme for the international competition, but to qualify, a country needs 40 pupils. Interested people can phone her at 083 320 7002 or email her at elsaphillips@yahoo.com.

Sizanani has helped 232 small businesses: It is being reported that Sizanani Advisory Services have helped 232 small businesses access R7,65 million and in the process contributed to the creation of over 1 000 jobs since its formation in 1998. Sizanani is a Section 21 company and a joint venture between the Banking Council South Africa and four major banks, Absa, FNB, Nedcor and Standard Bank, as well as being sponsored by the Kelloggs Foundation. Sizanani Advisory Services' helpline number is 0861 333 000, serving in English, Zulu and Sotho.

Telecom opportunities: Telecom's players in rural regions are being invited to attend workshops at which the Dept. of Communication is to spell out opportunities available to the soon-to-be-liberalized market. The government plans to let small empowerment firms provide services in areas where under 5% of the population has access to a telephone, in a bid to take Telecoms into outlying regions. The workshops are to be held in Pietersburg, East London, Durban, Bloemfontein and Sandton.

Anglo procurement: Anglo American is set to spend R1,2 billion by year-end on the procurement of services from small and medium enterprises in the empowerment area - an improvement on the recorded R1,046 billion it spent in 2000, reports Anglo's enterprise development and empowerment initiative Zimele.

Jhb street vendors centralized at Newton: As part of the upgrading of Newton in Johannesburg, street vendors and taxi's are to be centralized at the R140 million Metro market development. To be opened in July this year, it comprises a three-storey building comprising a taxi rank, bus terminus and retailer trader markets. The market is located between West and Sauer Street and will accommodate about 550 trade stalls, 3 000 taxi's and 100 busses. It will also provide a 2 000m² trading area for formal traders.

Mondi recycling's project for small businesses and hawkers: Last year Mondi Recycling, the largest paper recycling company in SA, paid out more than R17 million to small businesses and hawkers in its programme of recycling 300 000 ton/year. The firm recovers waste-paper for recycling from various paper pick-up programmes, such as commercial centres, small businesses, schools and charities, kerbside and offices.The latest development has been the establishment of 82 paper buy-back centres throughout the country, which are the first co-operative ventures of their kind in South Africa. The centres, which pay cash for waste-paper collected by local hawkers, are joint ventures between the recycling firm, small business entrepreneurs and local councils. To assist hawkers in collecting waste, the firm has developed and distributed 400 specially-designed paper barrows and a number of "buy-cycles".

Anglo American's affirmative procurement drive: Anglo American is set to spend this year some R1,2 billion on the procurement of services from small and medium enterprises (SME's) in the empowerment area - an improvement on the recorded R1,046 billion spent in 2000. SME procurement currently accounts for some 20% of the group's spending in those areas where SME's can and do compete. In this regard it looks as if for the period between 2000 and 2005, Anglo will achieve a total SME procurement figure of around R8 billion. Last year, sugar and metals subsidiary Tongaat-Hulett came out tops in terms of SME spend by division, with almost R404 million paid for SME derived products and services. Anglo Coal followed with R133,7 million, then Anglo Platinum with R106,8 million, while pulp and paper firm Mondi spent close to R100 million with SME's.

Ski-oord in Lesotho: Die grootste ski-oord in Suider-Afrika word teen sowat R100 miljoen in Lesotho ontwikkel deur 'n konsortium bestaande uit 'n SA maatskappy Afri-Ski, 'n Oostenrykse maatskappy HSP Alpine Service en die Lesotho regering. Die luukse oord word gebou naby die Calendonspoort-grenspos in die Mahlesa-hoogland, sowat 15km agter Mont-aux-Sources in die Drakensberge. Dit is slegs sowat 4½ uur se ry van Johannesburg en behoort 'n inspuiting te wees vir internasionale toerisme. Twee ski-hysers en twee hellings van onderskeidelik 900m en 1,5km gaan gebou word. Sneeumasjiene gaan ook ingespan word sodat skiers vier maande van die jaar kan ski. Die geteikende voltooingsdatum is Junie 2003.

Super Group Stop.Shop: About 1 000 jobs within six months and up to 10 000 by end 2003 are possible as a result of a social investment project announced by Super Group, which is to invest R3 million in the project Stop.Shop - over the next three years to empower present and potential street vendors by allowing them to sell quality products under the Stop.Shop brand name. Any profit will be ploughed back into the project to grow it into a countrywide initiative which is eventually to be self-sustaining. The project also helps to fight crime - with the support of security company Chubb, every seller will eventually get a panic button which, when necessary, will send an emergency signal to the nearest Chubb patrol vehicle. Stop.Shop products range from torches, emergency equipment for vehicles and fire extinguishers to consumer goods, such as sweets. Organizations wishing to contribute time, energy or products to the project can phone Stop. Shop at 082 335 5082.

Mediese toestelaanleg te Centurion: Die ontwikkeling van 'n aanleg in Hennopspark, Centurion, vir die vervaardiging van 'n unieke mediese toestel, behoort volgens 'n aankondiging 'n belegging van R300 miljoen vir Tshwane te beteken. Die toestel sal vir dieselfde doel as 'n spuitnaald gebruik word, maar kan net een keer gebruik word. Dit is só ontwerp dat die naald terugspring in 'n houertjie nadat dit een keer gebruik is. Die oordrag van siektes soos MIV/Vigs en Hepatitis C kan só voorkom word. 'n Bemagtigingsgroep het met die hulp van die Centre for Business, Information and Support (Cenbis) 'n lisensie gekry om die toestel te vervaardig en dit in Afrika te versprei.

Nuwe Noord-Kaapse Wetgewer kompleks: Sowat 30% van die nuwe Noord-Kaapse Wetgewer kompleks van sowat R122 miljoen, waar vyf afdelings gehuisves gaan word, is reeds opgerig. Die kompleks behoort teen Julie volgende jaar klaar te wees. Die eerste fase van die projek, die oprigting van die heining om die kompleks en die gebou vir toegangsbeheer, is ook reeds afgehandel. Minstens 400 plaaslike inwoners is by die konstruksie betrokke, onder wie 8% vroue. Die kompleks sal verder bestaan uit die kantoor van die premier, die kantore van die politieke partye en wetgewerlede, die kantoor van die speaker, die kamers vir debatte met verwante geriewe en die administratiewe blok.

Mintek Projects: Black economic empowerment (Bee) companies are set to benefit over the next few years from several projects worth billions of rands being promoted by mineral and metallurgical parastatal Mintek. These included a hot-briquetted iron (HBI) plant planned for the West Coast, a magnesium-alloy plant also planned for the West Coast and a facility to process imported nickel-ore at an as-yet-undecided coastal location. The estimated capital cost of the three projects is respectively $350 million, $100 million and $80 million. All in all Mintek is at present promoting five big projects costing a total of more than $1 billion.

Mautsendal Cultural Village te Rosendal: By die natuurskone maar verarmde dorpie Rosendal in die Oos-Vrystaat het die verbeeldingryke Mautsendal Cultural Village as werkskeppingsentrum tot stand gekom. Die projek van R1,25 miljoen, 'n netjiese etniese dorpie met 'n klerefabriek en rondawel-winkeljies langs die grootpad na Fouriesburg, is deur die gemeenskap en plaaslike stadraadslede begin om iets te doen om hul situasie te verbeter. Geld is deur die nasionale Dept. van Omgewingsake en Toerisme gegee vir die kompleks waar entrepreneurs geleentheid kry om vir hulself kleinsake-ondernemings op te bou. Die projek bestaan uit Rearabetswe, 'n klerefabriek waar 43 vroue kantoordrag maak, Phale Crafts waar 18 vroue tradisonele vilt- en kralewerk, juwele en ander kunswerke maak, 'n toeristewinkel met inwoners se handwerk, 'n wegneemete-onderneming met tuisgebak en kraampies vir entrepreneurs. Die projek, in die totstandkoming waarvan o.m. georganiseerde landbou, die Technikon Pretoria en die Afrikanerbond betrokke was, is in November 2001 deur die Staatspresidentsvrou, Me. Zanele Mbeki, geopen.

Open Africa community tourism: Open Africa, a not-for-profit company sponsored by the private sector and Government, is bent on creating jobs by linking the splendours of Africa through a network of community-driven tourism routes. The target is 87 5000 direct jobs by 2005. “There is already 324 establishments on 19 routes covering 5 000 km directly employing nearly 7 000 people,” says Open Africa (OA) founder/director Noel de Villiers. “In the first year of operation the combined turnover of these linked businesses was R108 million. The 2005 target - and we're on track - is 250 routes, employing 87 5000 people in areas where unemployment is high,” according to Mr. De Villiers. More info from www.africandream.org.

Government to leverage procurement for black SME loans: Trade & Industry Minister Alec Erwin, indicated in Parliament that government plans to make greater use of its procurement budget estimated at more than R80 bn annually, as a leverage to secure bank loans for small and medium black businesses which win government contracts. Mr. Erwin said the aim was to address the lack of collateral, which made it difficult for small and medium black businesses to get bank loans. The businesses had not had the opportunity to build up adequate assets. Government has to use its financial muscle in this way already and the plan was to extend the practice further.

Tenderhulp in Noord-Kaap: Die vestiging van nog twee eenhede wat raad aan kleinsake-ondernemings gee oor hoe om hul tenders goedgekeur te kry, word in onderskeidelik Upington en Port Nolloth beplan. Die tenderadviesafdeling van die Kimberleyse Sakedienssentrum, die enigste afdeling nog in sy soort in Noord-Kaap, het teen einde verlede jaar met sy hulp verseker dat reeds meer as R14 miljoen se tenders van klein ondernemings in die provinsie goedgekeur is. Mnr. Patrick Silo van Ntsika sê nog twee sakedienssentrums word in onderskeidelik De Aar en Calvinia beplan. Meer as R14 miljoen se tenders is reeds aan kleinsake-ondernemings in die Noord-Kaap toegeken met die hulp van die Kimberleyse Sakediens-sentrum (KBSC), 'n geakkrediteerde Plaaslike Sakediens-sentrum (LBSC) en 'n Tenderadvies-sentrum (TAC). Dit lewer dienste aan ondernemings in die Diamantveld-gebied.

Biodiesel-aanleg: 'n Aanleg vir die vervaardiging van biodiesel, die eerste in sy soort in Suid-Afrika, is op die plaas Moerdersorg van mnr. Johan Minnaar in die distrik Wesselsbron geopen. 'n Oliepars-aanleg op die plaas waar 100% suiwer sonneblomolie reeds die afgelope twee jaar in oorleg met die firma Marlim in Welkom, vervaardig word, vorm die grondslag van die aanleg. Die biodiesel is geskik om in enige kommersiële dieselenjin gebruik te word.

Eskom-elektrifisering: Volgens syfers deur Eskom vrygestel, het die gedeelte van die bevolking wat geëlektrifiseerde huise bewoon, vermeerder van 40% in 1994 tot meer as 70%. Dit is die tydperk sedert Eskom van die regering opdrag gekry het om met grootskaalse elektrifisering in veral landelike gebiede. te begin. Meer as 2 miljoen huise is geëlektrifiseer sedert 1994 tot einde verlede jaar. Daarvan is 71% in landelike gebiede. Dit het meegebring dat 10 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners wat nie voorheen elektrisiteit in hul huise gehad het nie, nou oor dié basiese hulpbron beskik.

Nuwe Mangaung tronk inspuiting vir plaaslike ekonomie: 'n Jaarlikse inspuiting van sowat R100 miljoen in Bloemfontein se ekonomie word verwag wanneer bykans 3 000 gevangenes binnekort in Suid-Afrika se grootste doelontwerpte maksimum gevangenis opgeneem word. Slegs die sowat 9 000 maaltye per dag elke dag van die jaar vir gevangenes in die nuwe tronk gaan 'n reuse bydrae tot die stad se ekonomie lewer. Dit sal die eerste tronk in die land wees wat deur 'n private maatskappy, Group 4 Correction Services of South Africa, bestuur word.

Free State tenders delegated to departments: Following the disbanding of the Free State Tender Board two months ago, it has been announced by Premier Winkie Direko that departmental tender committees will henceforth decide on recommendations by departmental heads on the tenders of less than R1 million, while a central procurement committee will make recommendations to departmental heads on tenders over R1 million.

Regering meer as R1 miljard vir SA ekonomie: Minister van Handel en Nywerheid Alec Erwin het verlede maand in die Parlement aangekondig dat meer as R1miljard vir vanjaar opsy gesit is om binnelandse investering deur die Strategiese Investering-sprogram te stimuleer. Hy het gesê die uitwerk van die bedryfsbesonderhede van die drie jaar Program, is pas in oorleg met die Tesourie gefinaliseer. Terselfdertyd het Adjunk-minister van Handel en Nywerheid, Lindiwe Hendriks gesê die departement het R557 miljoen vir die lopende boekjaar toegeken aan programme vir swart bemagtiging, kleinsake-ontwikkeling en ander projekte om die uitdagings van globalisering die hoof te bied. Hiervan is 58% spesifiek aan kleinsake-ontwikkeling toegewys.

SA still fine emerging market: According to the Templeton Emerging Markets Fund, South Africa has the best investment potential of emerging markets. About 14% of Templeton's US$7,5bn investment in emerging market is in SA because, as is stated companies are managed professionally, accounting practices are transparent and fiscal policy is sound.