The Honourable Jeff Radebe MP
Minister in the Presidency
29th September 2014
Dear Minister Radebe
Problems
facing the establishment of the Department of Small Business Development
On Thursday and Friday last week the Portfolio
Committee on Small Business Development held a strategic workshop where the
Ministry and Department presented their vision and plans and the committee
members interrogated them.
Of concern to me is that there appears to be a
turf war developing between this department and the Departments of Trade &
Industry and Economic Development over where certain functions should sit. The
Acting Director General, Ms Pumla Ncapayi, reported to the Committee that the DED
is intent on retaining control of the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, while
the DTI is of the same view with regard to the Incubator Support Programme.
I am sure you will agree with me that these two
functions – finance and incubation for small businesses – sit squarely within
the remit of Small Business Development. Now that the President has created
this department it would be odd to say the least if it were not fully
capacitated to do its job.
There is multi-party agreement that small
businesses will create the majority of the 11 million jobs we need by 2030, as
outlined in the National Development Plan. Minister Zulu cannot be expected to
play her part in facilitating this process of job creation if she is shackled
from the start.
I am therefore appealing to you to intervene
and find a settlement between the three ministries so they can get on with the
important work ahead without delay. The Portfolio Committee is unanimous on
this matter and I am sure the Chairperson, the Honourable Ruth Bhengu MP, will
be taking it up through appropriate ANC structures as well.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Toby Chance MP
Shadow Minister for Small Business Development
Shadow Minister for Small Business Development
CC
The Honourable Lindiwe Zulu, MP
The Honourable Ruth Bhengu, MP
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