Hon House Chair, we are introducing the committee report on the access by Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, SMMEs', to funding hearings that were held in November last year. The report was published in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATCs in April this year.
The purpose of the hearings was to provide a platform for small, medium and micro enterprises and their microfinance stakeholders to give their first- hand experience and raise their concerns regarding microfinance services offered by government.
The committee also wanted to ascertain the extent to which government's SMME services were reaching the people and addressing their needs.
Furthermore, as a committee we hosted these hearings so that we could involve the public in establishing relevant intervention mechanisms that would enhance the delivery of appropriate services to the SMMEs who needed them the most.
In addition, the portfolio committee wanted to ascertain the role that Parliament and the department should be playing in order to intensify the fight against the high levels of unemployment and poverty, and the huge income gap that is plaguing South Africa.
Finally, we wanted collective participation in finding solutions to the high failure rate of SMMEs in the country.
With that, we would like the House to approve the report, with special attention to observations and recommendations, as it appears in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, ATCs, tabled on 8 April 2011.
Furthermore, the committee would like to thank all those who participated in the public hearings. We submit the report to the House for approval. Thank you.
There was no debate.
Hon House Chairperson, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.