Chair, as government we are insisting on prioritising SMMEs. This importance that we attach to SMMEs can be traced back, can be seen, in our efforts of placing SMME development right at the centre. We even moved further to create the Department of Small Business Development. The Minister of Small Business Development remains the champion. She must champion the development of small businesses. Our understanding is that there cannot be any economy that will drive any big economy. A growing economy has its basis, has its foundation, in small- and medium-sized enterprises. These small enterprises that hire 10, 15, 20 people form a very strong foundation of a thriving economy.
Our attitude of opening up spatial economic zones is to try and take infrastructure into these townships. Our efforts in revitalising the industrial parks are trying to bring infrastructure and services to those forbidden townships and villages where there is poverty. We want to encourage our SMMEs to stay in their rural areas, to stay in their villages, and we will bring the infrastructure that will support them to do business.
You would be aware that in a number of villages and townships there are already these big malls, retail businesses, that have, in a way, undermined these general dealers that were there that we know in the past used to thrive in our townships and our villages. The advent of these big chain stores and malls tended to affect those small general dealers and whatnot.
Our intention is to try and open up and deal with competition models so that these small and medium-sized enterprises - whatever they are producing - should be tested in terms of quality. If they are of a good standard, government must present a platform for them to buy these products. These products can also be sold in those big retail stores.
It is, though, for government to ensure that we intervene. There is no reason why a small farmer who is farming there can't bring his or her produce into these malls. These malls are taking produce from elsewhere and not supporting the farmers close by. There is no reason why a small farmer can't be supported by a department of education that is feeding children. There is no reason why a small farmer cannot be supported by the Department of Correctional Services that is feeding your prisoners ... by the Department of Health that is feeding patients in hospitals. This just needs the intervention of government to ensure that these small enterprises are supported and mentored so that we reduce the rate of their failing.
Some start their businesses and fail. Part of the problem is that these small enterprises - as much as they strive very hard to enter into business and provide services - are not paid on time. Some of the culprits that are not paying these SMMEs on time are our municipalities, our provincial governments and our national government. And that is going to come to an end. Thank you very much. [Applause.]