PARYS – The Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development concluded its public hearings on the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill in the Free State, ending its session in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality. Residents from the area overwhelmingly supported the bill during these final hearings.

According to Parliament of South Africa, residents in attendance expressed concerns about the increasing number of tuckshops owned by foreign nationals in the region. They urged for regulations to be included in the bill to address this issue. They pointed out that the current laws are perceived as lenient towards foreign nationals, accusing them of dominating the tuckshop market in African communities, evading taxes, and selling alcohol without the necessary license.

Furthermore, the residents highlighted difficulties in accessing funding for small businesses, especially those owned by women. They called for the bill to consider provisions that support small, medium, and micro enterprises operated by women, emphasizing that businesses owned by men tend to prosper while women entrepreneurs lack the required support. They also identified the limited access to farming land and business premises as hindrances to expanding their businesses locally.

Mr. Faiez Jacobs, the leader of the delegation, clarified the purpose of the public hearings and the goals of the bill during the session. He stated that the bill aims to consolidate the Small Enterprise Development Agency, the Co-operative Banks Development Agency, and the Small Enterprise Financing Agency into a single entity, the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency. This merger is expected to create a comprehensive service center to offer complete support to small businesses. Additionally, the bill intends to establish a Small Business Enterprise Ombudsman service to champion fair trade practices and protect the rights of small businesses.

Mr. Jacobs encouraged the residents to openly express their opinions on the bill, emphasizing the importance of their participation in shaping the legislation. He thanked them for their involvement, highlighting the crucial role of public engagement in the parliamentary process.

“As the committee, we appreciate that you came out in numbers to participate in this law-making process, which is one of the key mandates of Parliament,” he concluded.