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As South Africa stands at the crossroads of economic opportunity, the time is ripe for a  paradigm shift that places SMMEs at the heart of our economic strategy.

SA fails to unleash economic revitalisation power of SMMEs

Through targeted policies, awareness campaigns and collaborative efforts, we can harness small, medium and micro enterprises’ dynamism and pave the way for a more inclusive and…

At the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the emphasis was on digitalisation and technological advancement of the industry. However, the industry recognises that cybersecurity can no longer continue to remain the unaddressed elephant in the room

SMMEs lose R49 million annually to cyber breaches

Awareness is the most important aspect in the world of cybersecurity, according to experts in the field

(Photo: David Harrison)

OPINION | Our small businesses face big problems

Small, medium and micro enterprises are vital to the economy yet there is much more the government can do to help them grow

Small businesses must be proactive in their tax affairs

There are numerous means by which errant taxpayers can start the new year on a clean slate

The private sector can contribute to migration policy development to improve business operations, boost productivity and support the economy. (Oupa Nkosi)

SA’s private sector can promote migrant entrepreneurs who create jobs and skills

The private sector can contribute to migration policy development to improve business operations, boost productivity and support the economy

Government policy for major tenders requires that 30% be awarded to local contractors to promote local skills development and economic opportunity. The idea behind this is well-intentioned. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G)

Rid the infrastructure spend of patronage in the post-Covid-19 reconstruction

This can be done by making the project’s 30% of the budget for local broad-based black economic empowerment a separate budget to break the feedback loop that greases the wheels…

Scalabrini launched a constitutional challenge against two sections of the Refugees Act as well as parts of its regulations.
Photo: (David Harrison/M&G)

South Africa excludes refugees and asylum seekers from Covid-19 aid

Despite being protected in South Africa by law, these groups have been swept aside when it comes to relief packages

A major problem for businesses during lockdown is that they are not getting money coming in, so they have little liquidity. (Paul Botes/M&G)

The missed opportunity: SMMEs in the South African economy

Entrepreneurs in South Africa have found wasy to innovate for the finance that their businesses need

Khosi Tyobeka is the head of Zimasa Travel, which gets tourists to their destinations in style

Investing in relationships

Small companies are able to customise experiences and build critical relationships

Namhla Mayeki, business relationship manager at Tsheola Dinare Tours and Transport, says Meetings Africa is the perfect event for networking and boosting your business

Fast-moving travel solutions

Building a solid foundation in the travel market requires a commitment to reliability

A trader weighs onions at a New Delhi market. India’s unemployment rate is about 7%, 23-million people are artisans and small businesses employ 40% of the workforce. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP)

South Africa’s entrepreneurs remain elusive

Perhaps the reason is less about poor support and more about a bad attitude to self-employment

(John McCann/M&G)

SMEs hobbled by funding gap

Only 1% of South Africa’s small, medium and micro-sized enterprises ask for formal financing

Potential workers gather to see if they have secured a job at Lonmin mine in Marikana. A reader writes that the youth need skills to take up job opportunities in a variety of sectors.

Letters to the Editor: June 22 to 28

Our readers write in about unlocking youth power and the evolution of the school curriculum

Gauteng premier David Makhura. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)

Makhura plans Gauteng’s facelift

The premier wants to give township enterprises a boost and will name and shame public servants who don’t do their jobs well

Any discussion about black economic empowerment must weigh up its benefits, addressing historical injustices and the costs of not transforming the economy. Photo: File

Gauteng plans to give its townships a business and lifestyle facelift

The township economy has taken centre stage in Makhura’s state of the province address, which he delivered at the Gauteng Legislature on Monday.

Gigaba: If the funding for small businesses could be accessible

Gigaba budgets R2.1-billion for small business

Gigaba says that by enabling new businesses with new ideas to emerge and thrive, “we are radically transforming patterns of production in the economy”

Minister Lindiwe Zulu says radical steps are needed to build up black-owned small businesses.

Lindiwe Zulu laments inadequate budget

The minister says R5bn and an overhaul of the ecomony are needed for SMMEs to create 90% of new jobs.

Change: The president of the South African Spaza and Tuckshop Association

Small enterprises are embracing a new inclusive business model

Working with small business is good for big business, the economy and job creation.

From unemployed to top dog

What makes Hot Dog Café extraordinary is that it is one of the few — unemployed-to-entrepreneur projects that has succeeded in South Africa.