Minister, up to half of all working South Africans are employed by small businesses and they are responsible for up to 80% of formal jobs created in recent years. Yet, in spite of government's good intentions, policies and programmes, small businesses struggle under the dead weight of government bureaucracy and red tape. For example, Khula pleads for an expanded mandate regarding loan facilities and Seda is supposed to provide major support. Now, Seda offices are by and large dysfunctional and not fully rolled out yet.
Last week we learnt of another debacle in your department when a forensic investigation on Seda reported that a lot of money went on irregular expenditure.
Mr Minister, there are too many institutions and duplications. The question is: Why do you not institute an effective, simplified one- stop operation for small business support coupled with swift, strict action against miscreants? Thank you.