Current Edition >> Archives Section >> SMME Information >> October 2001

Questionmark over contributions by national departments to SMME sector

Since the promotion of the SMME sector is official governmental policy, all possible national departments have been instructed to create a SMME division, to devise a SMME promotional strategy and to implement this strategy. Such relevant national departments include amongst others Trade & Industry; Labour, Minerals & Energy Affairs; Agriculture; Public Enterprises; Environmental Affairs & Tourism; Arts, Culture, Science & Technology; Public Works; Transport; Water Affairs & Forestry; etc.
There is, however, no comprehensive information readily available on what the various SMME strategies of these departments comprise and if you are interested, you have to contact each one individually. The task of communicating these strategies has apparently been given to the Corporate Communications Division of each department.
The Business Bulletin as an entrepreneurial newspaper focusing on the SMME sector countrywide, has approached these departments for advertorial input with the request to say each what are they doing and planning for the SMME sector in SA. Such an input can of course only be effective if it is substantial and done under the official corporate banner of the department concerned. Hence our request that for the service -professional and effective - the departments should be prepared to pay for space. Put otherwise: If you run a viable taxi service, you can offer some free rides, but not all rides can be free.
Up to date it is only the Department of Trade & Industry, which have responded positively to our request - published in our April 2001 edition. The rest: A continuous deafening silence. Are the relevant departments in principle simply opposed to communicating their SMME info in this way? Or do they not have time to ? Or do they not have information readily available? Is the problem perhaps budget and, if so, why? Or are they simply not able to respond ?
Be as it may, it is our submission that the greatest sufferers are the SMME's - they do not get comprehensive info on what opportunities and benefits are available from the departments. There has to be articulated, relevant and targeted communication.
On the other hand, The Business Bulletin has found the parastatals and big companies much more forthcoming and accessible, as can be gleamed from recent editions.
The point that should be made is that there are key roleplayers in the development of the SMME sector which should rise to the occasion if the SMME sector is to attain its direly-needed objectives in South Africa. Amongst these roleplayers, the national departments are supposed to be in the frontline, but they are evid