Parliament, Wednesday, 29 April 2020 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business, Tourism, Employment and Labour, Mr Mandla Rayi, has welcomed the benefit scheme interventions intended to lessen the impact of Covid-19 on small businesses.
The committee held a joint virtual meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development, and the committees heard of various schemes that are intended to lessen the impact of Covid-19.
The Minister of the Department of Small Business Development, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, told the joint virtual meeting about three support facilities established by the department, namely the Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) Debt Relief Scheme, Spaza Support Relief Scheme and the Business Growth Facility.
“We, however, feel more money should be availed for this purpose so that more people can benefit. The National Treasury should see how it could increase the financial support in these schemes,” said Mr Rayi.
The committees are happy with the R2 billion to support small businesses, as was announced by the President, but highlighted that assistance needs to be meaningful and geared in such a way that it empowers the entire sector. They reiterated the fact that the National Treasury should consider putting more resources into the Covid-19 relief fund.
Meanwhile, the committees called on the department to be prudent about the allocated resources and ensure that the right people benefit.
Mr Rayi encouraged other provinces to emulate KwaZulu-Natal about putting systems in place to coordinate spaza shops and access what the Spaza Support Relief Benefit Scheme has got to offer.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSRTRY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS, TOURISM, EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR, MR MANDLA RAYI.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the Committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Mr Justice Molafo
Tel: 021 403 8444
Cell: 081 424 7481
Email: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za
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