I fail to understand how such an enormous sum was spent unless she stayed in the best hotels, travelled first class and took a whole entourage with her.
I will be following up with another question to get to the bottom of how the money was spent.
This wasteful and fruitless expenditure is against the background of Minister Zulu and her Department crying about lack of budget for their programmes to boost small business development.
Her response (carried in full below) shows nothing concrete emerged from her trip, which was more a series of talk shops than meetings with a clear set our outcomes.
The focus on women empowerment is ironic in view of the findings of an SNG strategic review of the Department released in November which is severely critical of the Department's women empowerment initiatives. The review recommends that the SA Women in Entrepreneurship Network be discontinued and that the Directorate for Gender, Youth and People with Disabilities be transferred the Small Enterprise Finance Agency to lower the administrative cost.
Minister Zulu would have been better advised to learn from the UK's successes in boosting early-stage entrepreneurship and stimulating angel investing through its Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
She should also take a leaf out of the UK government's book in its approach to enterprise, small business and job creation. The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 is an appropriate model for Minister Zulu to introduce in South Africa as she ponders amendments to the National Small Business Amendment Act of 2003. This act is hopelessly out of date and is in urgent need of a review.
RESPONSE TO PARLIAMENTARY
QUESTION 3863
3863. Mr R W T Chance (DA) to ask the Minister of Small Business
Development:
(1) (a) What was the purpose of her overseas
trip in October 2015, (b) which countries did she visit, (c) who did she meet
and (d) what were the relevant outcomes of each meeting;
(2) what was the total cost of the specified
trip? NW4674E
RESPONSE:
(1) (a) The Minister of Small Business Development received an
invitation
from
the CEO of the Women Forum for Economy and Society, Ms. Jacqueline
Franjou, to
attend the 11th edition of the Women’s Forum Global Meeting on the Economy and
Society in Deauville, France.
The
Minister of Small Business Development also received an invitation from
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to attend and
participate in the 11th Session of the South Africa- UK Bilateral
Forum in London.
(b) The Minister of Small Business
Development visited France and the United Kingdom in October 2015 respectively.
(c) In France, the Minister spoke at the
11th edition of the Women’s Forum Global Meeting where the Minister
engaged with women from different parts of the world including; Minister’s and
Deputy Ministers, high level female entrepreneurs and executives, global
thought leaders and think tanks, financiers, and youth innovators, amongst
others.
In London, the Minister met
with Minister’s in the Economic Cluster from the United Kingdom and fellow South
African Ministers, (as part of the official Bi-Lateral proceedings).
Minister also
met with the UK Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, Hon
Sajid Javid and Ms. Baroness Scotland, Prime Minister Cameron’s Trade Envoy to
South Africa.
Minister held a
Business Breakfast Dialogue with Members of the South African Business Chamber
of Commerce in the United Kingdom.
Minister also
spoke at the Chatham House Business Round Table on the important role of SMME’s
and Cooperatives in advancing economic growth and development.
(d) In
France the meeting discussed the important role women play in entrepreneurship,
and provided the South African and continental experience and perspectives as
it relates to SMME development. Attendees were impressed at South Africa’s
experience and strides made to integrate women into the mainstream economy
through strong economic policies and institutions. This created an interest for
some to consider using these best practices learnt from South Africa.
During the bilateral engagement, and as
part of the Economic Working Group, discussions centred on the economic
partnership between South Africa and the United Kingdom. Both sides agreed to
strengthen relations in this regard, with specific focus on increasing the
levels of trade and investment, particularly amongst SMME’s in high end productive
sectors, such as ICT, services sector and Agro-processing, amongst others. Both
sides adopted a Joint Communique which focused on strengthening strategic
sectors, increasing as well as creating and strengthening regional value
chains.
Both the Meetings with the UK Secretary
of State for Business Innovation and Skills and Prime Minister Cameron’s Trade Envoy to South
Africa focussed on strengthening relations between the two countries as it
relates to SMME development. The key focus areas included partnership in skills
development, and vocational training, particularly in ICT, and Infrastructure
Development, amongst other sectors. Discussions also included identifying
opportunities for both sides in critical sectors such as; manufacturing and
advanced manufacturing, Green Economy, and services sectors amongst other high
end productive sectors. Support was also leveraged for the Departments newly
launched Centres of Entrepreneurship. In addition, discussions included
possible exchanges with Universities and Technical colleagues on
entrepreneurship development.
The Business Breakfast Dialogue (as
arranged by BrandSA) with the South African Chamber of Business in London
focussed on the role of the Department of Small Business Development, including
its products on offer for SMME’s and Cooperatives. In addition, it included
discussing possible mechanisms of increasing the levels of trade between the
two countries, as well as possible support to South African companies operating
in the United Kingdom, and those returning to South Africa. Lastly, the meeting
focused on the importance of the partnership between government and the private
sector in jointly working together to improve the economy as well as
contributing to job creation.
The Chatham House Round-Table focussed
on South Africa’s experience in the SMME and Cooperatives space against the
background of the establishment of the Department of Small Business
Development. Discussions also included garnering support for the implementation
of the National Development Plan. In addition, the round table emphasised the
importance of the private sector in economic development. South Africa also
emphasised the importance of regional integration within the context of
creating regional value-chains and increasing intra-African Trade, and thereby
advanced support for Agenda 2063. Lastly, both sides noted that we face similar
challenges – especially as it relates to SMME development, and agreed that it
was important to share experiences to this end.
2. The
total estimated cost of the trips is approximately R689 600.
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