Parliament, Friday, 15 October 2021 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development, Ms Violet Siwela, has welcomed immediate return to normality in Gqeberha after the reported scenes of violence on Wednesday.

Ms Siwela condemns with contempt any form of violence, especially where small businesses and innocent people are affected. She said: “Small businesses are expected to contribute more jobs towards the target of 11 million jobs as set out by the National Development Plan in order to reduce the country’s unemployment by 6 percent by 2030.”

According to Ms Siwela, the country cannot afford another form of disruption on the operation of small businesses, following the stringent lockdown regulations and the recent destruction and looting of shops in some parts of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng in July.

“I would like to thank the Minister of Police for his urgent visit to the affected area as well as his reassurance to the country that the law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to apprehend those who participated in the violence,” said Ms Siwela.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MS VIOLET SIWELA.

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