Parliament, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development has welcomed the work that has been done in the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year by the Department of Small Business Development, Small Enterprises Finance Agency (SEFA), and the Small Enterprises Development Agency (SEDA).
On Wednesday morning, the department together with SEFA and SEDA briefed the committee, through a virtual platform, on their 2023/24 first quarter performance.
According to the Chairperson of the committee, Ms Violet Siwela, presentations were comprehensive, reflecting on the successes, failures and intervention mechanisms. “We appreciate and welcome the presentations because we can see that the department together with its entities are headed on the right direction to closing existing gabs,” said Ms Siwela.
The department reported that it has managed to pay 100% of valid creditors within 30 days during the period under review, which amounted to 2 412 invoices that were worth R13.8 million.
Meanwhile, SEFA has disbursed R385 million to 8 194 Small, Macro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), which contributed to the creation of 14 572 jobs. SEDA, on the other hand, has spent R220.28 million during the quarter under review against a target of R232.11 million.
Ms Siwela said: “We know that there has been hiccups but we welcome the filling of vacancies across the board. We call on the department together with its entities to fast track the process of filling all remaining vacancies.”
Ms Siwela further said that the committee relies on the Department of Small Business Development together with SEFA and SEDA to facilitate the creation of the country’s much-needed jobs.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MS VIOLET SIWELA.
For media inquiries 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
Arrange a tour