Keynote address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2nd Presidential SMME and Co-Operatives Awards

Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams conducting a walk-about at a pavilion where SMMEs were exhibiting their products during the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum.

The Minister for Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and officials from the department's entities Seda and sefa are in Sinawe Conference Centre,Bizana in the Eastern province to interact with Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises, as well as Co-operatives and informal entreprenuers.

The engagements forms part of Nibus strategy meant to shorten the developmental gap at the rock bottom of the SMMEs chain and it targets mostly women, youth and businesses owned by people living with disabilities.

As part of her ongoing Eastern Cape tour, the Minister for Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is leading the Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme in the township of Port Alfred, kwaDuza. Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams is handing over tools and equipment to 68 informal traders.

The (IMEDP) seeks to empower and develop informal traders to become skilled and adequately equipped to manage their businesses. It also provides equipment and machinery that is needed in various sectors.

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) in collaboration with its agencies, Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) and Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is hosting a Ministerial Imbizo in Kuruman, Northern Cape province. The Imbizo is led by Deputy Minister Dipuo Peters.

The purpose of the Ministerial Imbizo is to engage SMMEs, Co-operatives, Business Chambers and Forums on small business development issues inclusive of red tape and exposing entrepreneurs to various opportunities that will assist them to grow and develop their businesses.

In an attempt to alleviate poverty and to empower Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), Minister for Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is in Joza township in Makana District to unlock the potential of up and coming businesses in the Eastern Cape province by officially launching the Crudastar Incubator.

The Deputy Minister for Small Business Development Ms Dipuo Peters visited the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in Arcadia, Tshwane, Gauteng province.

The aim of the visit is to identify the shortcomings of the taxi industry and deliberate on various approaches that are intended to enhance the sustainability of the industry in the economy.