A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Wits Business School Johannesburg, 2018 / Developing SMMEs has become a growing phenomenon within emerging economies. This is because enterprise development is designed to achieve a positive socioeconomic impact by encouraging and investing in entrepreneurship (Peters et al., 2004). Therefore, understanding the performance of business incubators, and how they enable SMMEs to contribute to economic development, is critical for policy makers who have an urgent mandate of growing the South African economy (AlMubaraki & Busler, 2011). This study argues that business development strategies that adopt a blanket approach towards supporting SMMEs operating in different sectors and levels may not be appropriate, given the dynamics of different ventures. This study investigates and compares the effect of sector specific business incubators versus mixed sector business incubators in improving SMME performance to inform policy makers about the state of entrepreneurship of enterprises that engage with incubating organisations. The methodology used in this study was quantitative and cross sectional in nature. One hundred and five responses were received from SMMEs that graduated from a business incubator to assess how their performance has improved over time. The findings revealed that relationships do exist between sector specific business incubators and job creation as well as turnover, but this relationship is not significant. The findings also suggest that there was no significant statistical difference when comparing sector specific to mixed sector business incubators in job creation and turnover. Business incubators should have specific touch points and interventions targeted at different levels of the entrepreneurial process, thus, working towards addressing the diverse needs and challenges pertinent to emerging businesses operating in different industries. The findings which emerged from this study provide a decent base to further explore how sector specific and mixed sector business incubators improve SMME performance / MT 2019

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts / In this thesis I argue that with the move to postfordism and the adoption of postfordist production techniques, small businesses have become important components in an economy. I look specifically at Japan and the Third Italy where the small business sector has thrived in order to provide a comparative framework for the South Africa case study. The fieldwork component of the research looks into a specific subsector in the South African economy - that of the electronics industry, with a specific locus on the manufacture of security equipment. This subsector was evaluated in terms of how it relates to the ideal types of Japan and Italy, and whether postfordism is in any way present in this industry. The findings have been mixed. The subsector under consideration is dynamic and is moving into international markets where it is able to compete successfully. There are, however, several aspects that are lacking; most notable is the lack of coherent networks and industrial districts. Institutions that could play a role in assisting firms and facilitating the growth of networks are either still being set up, unable to assist the sector because of lack of knowledge or are focused on larger corporations. However, the growth of small businesses in the electronics industry, particularly the security equipment manufacturing, with very little support indicates that there are tremendous opportunities for this sector in the future. / Andrew Chakane 2020

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in the field of Public Policy, Johannesburg, 2017. / The role of SMMEs in job creation in developed countries has been studied extensively. These studies do not include micro firms in their research. There is a scarcity of literature when it comes to the role SMMEs play in job creation in developing countries. This study adds to the literature gap by incorporating micro firms in its research. The study explored the ability of SMMEs in addressing unemployment in South Africa by looking at their ability to create jobs. The study is a qualitative analysis of existing literature combined with interviews of 16 SMME owners. The role SMMEs play in job creation is not only measured by the number of people employed (labour intensiveness) but also by the potential of SMMEs to grow and thus create jobs in the future. The interview respondents were largely comprised of microenterprises. The paper also found business owners to have low and negative sentiments towards the government. Cash flow and funding remained the major challenges facing the sector in 2016/17. The findings from the interviews are aligned with the empirical findings of the study. / XL2019

A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Poverty reduction and employment creation are some of the top United Nations Millennium Development goals as per the UN Summit of 2000. In both the developed and developing world this can best be achieved through an increase in employers. In the developing world, especially in Africa, small, medium and micro enterprises have been found to be the engine driving employment creation, economic development and poverty reduction. Having mentioned the crucial role, small and micro enterprises play in the economy and wellbeing of the people, their sustenance, success and continuity are of vital importance. Many small and micro businesses are started every year but most of them fail in their infancy due to a number of problems they face, especially lack of financial planning knowledge which is the main reason for embarking on this study. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the reality of financial planning knowledge among small and micro enterprises, especially from the perspective of owner-managers. An exploration is undertaken to see and understand their perception and attitude towards financial planning processes. The study proposes to find out what financial planning knowledge the owner-manager has tools they are currently employing in their businesses and whether or not, and to what extent do, they implement the advice from financial experts. The research wants to further explore what financial information is collected, recorded, how it is used (or not) to make business decisions and evaluate the enterprise’s success or failure in relation to what they know, use and implement as far as financial planning is concerned. The study used a quantitative technique to collect data and a questionnaire was personally administered to 100 respondents in the Durban CBD including Warwick Triangle and the response rate was 100%. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The overall findings of the study were that most of the small and micro enterprises do not understand what financial planning is or what is involved in financial planning hence their inability to properly plan their finances and manage their businesses accordingly. Some of them were found to be able to calculate a mark-up on their selling price but no records were kept. For those who have a chance to get some advice from a financial expert, do implement the advice given, but in their own way they see suitable for their particular businesses. However, they do not implement the exact advice as given only in the form they see fit for their enterprises.

Economic stagnation in sub-Saharan Africa since 1970 is well documented. While the causes are varied, the paradigm of nationalistic state-led economic development has changed. Economic development occurs in a global marketplace. Manufacturing has shifted from developed to less developed countries, an opportunity that was seized in Asia and Latin America. South Africa’s labour, unskilled and costly by world standards, is at a disadvantage as an agile and competitive world market seeks skilled labour at the lowest cost. South Africa’s Gear economic policy suggests that 300 000 new jobs need to be created annually until 2004 in order to reduce unemployment. Small, medium and microenterprise growth is central to meeting this target. Numerous government structures to assist small enterprises have been created. Few, however, assist small business with the demands of the marketplace. Most focus on generic skills training and questionable small business finance. This thesis suggests that interfirm linkages between large and small enterprises is one strategy that can assist the growth of small business, create employment and, increase labour skills. International experience shows that generic training is less effective in promoting small business than linking business training to actual market-demands. Interfirm linkages, most often through subcontracting, is a strategy used successfully in Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil. Such linkages are usually government supported and provide incentives for both large and small businesses to work together productively. Three South African interfirm linkage case studies are critiqued. Case study findings indicate that interfirm linkages expose emerging businesses to market conditions, and can provide access to process technology training, low cost raw materials, creative finance, and new markets. Small business ‘learns by doing’ and also ‘learns while earning’. The state has a role in the development of a vibrant small, medium and microenterprise sector in South Africa. Current support strategies are largely unrelated to market conditions. Interfirm linkages are an approach that applies market forces in the development of small business. Government policy would be wisely directed to support such business interactions.

Abstracts in English, Zulu, Sesotho and Venda / This study focused on occupational health and safety in South African small businesses. The owners/managers of small businesses have a moral, legal and financial obligation to ensure the health and safety of their employees. Both an international and South African perspective on occupational health and safety in small businesses are included in the literature study. Twelve core occupational health and safety criteria, developed specifically with regard to small businesses, were identified and used as basis for this study, in conjunction with the aspects of the theory of planned behaviour. The research design of this study included a positivistic research philosophy and a deductive research approach. A questionnaire was developed and used to determine the knowledge, attitude, behavioural intent and actual behaviour of South African small business owners/managers with regard to occupational health and safety in their businesses. In addition, barriers to occupational health and safety compliance were determined and tested to determine the perceived strength of these barriers. South African small business owners/managers completed the questionnaire for this study. It was determined that the knowledge, attitude, behavioural intent and actual behaviour of South African small business owners/managers related to occupational health and safety were not at optimum levels. Barriers to compliance should be reduced. Legal compliance issues comprise one of the main reasons why South African small businesses fail. Therefore, this study proposes a compliance management framework, based on applicable occupational health and safety legislation that encompasses moral, legal and financial contentions. The identified core occupational health and safety criteria were used as sections in the compliance management framework. This proposed compliance management framework aims to reduce the complexity of occupational health and safety legislation for South African small business owners/managers. / Ngudo heyi yo sedza kha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni kha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe. Vhalanguli/vhaṋe vha mabindu maṱuku vha na pfanelo ya vhuḓilisi, mulayo na masheleni u khwaṱhisedza tsireledzo na mutakalo kha vhashumi vhavho. Vhuvhili hazwo mbonalo ya lushaka na ya dzitshaka nga ha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni kha mabindu maṱuku zwo katelwa kha ngudo dza maṅwalwa. Nḓila khulwane dza fumimbili dza tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni, dzo bveledzwaho nga maanḓa hu tshi itelwa mabindu maṱuku, dzo topolwa na u shumiswa sa mutheo kha ngudo heyi, zwo ṱanganyiswa na zwiteṅwa zwa thiori ya vhuḓifari ho dzudzanywaho. Nyolo ya kuitele kwa ṱhoḓisiso heyi i katela fiḽosofi ya ṱhoḓisiso ine ya khwaṱhisedza nga u sedza hu tshi shumiswa kuitele kwa ṱhoḓisiso kwa u ṋea zwiitisi. Mbudzisambekanywa yo bveledziswa na u shumiswa u ta nḓivho, vhuvha, vhuḓifari vhune ha khou lavhelelwa na vhuḓifari ha vhukuma ha vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe zwi tshi ḓa kha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni mabinduni avho. U ḓadzisa kha zwenezwo, zwithivheli kha u tevhedza tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni zwo tiwa na u lingwa u ta maanḓa o vhonwaho kha zwithivheli izwi. Vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe vho fhindula mbudzisambekanywa kha ngudo heyi. Ho waniwa uri nḓivho, vhuvha, vhuḓifari vhune ha khou lavhelela na vhuḓifari ha vhukuma ha vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe zwi tshi ḓa kha tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni zwo vha zwi si kha ḽeveḽe dza nṱhesa. Mafhungo a u tevhedza lwa mulayo tsho vha tshiṅwe tsha zwiitisi zwihulwane uri ndingani mabindu maṱuku a Afrika Tshipembe a tshi khou kundelwa. Nga zwenezwo, ngudo heyi yo dzinginya furemiweke ya ndangulo ya u tevhedza, zwo ḓi sendeka kha mulayo wo teaho wa tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni une wa katela therisano dza vhuḓilisi, mulayo na masheleni. Nḓila khulwane dzo topolwaho dza tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni dzo shumiswa sa khethekanyo kha u tevhedza furemiweke ya ndangulo. Heyi furemiweke ya ndangulo ya u tevhedza yo dzinginywaho yo livhiswa kha u fhungudza vhukonḓi ha mulayo wa tsireledzo na mutakalo mushumoni kha vhaṋe/vhalanguli vha mabindu maṱuku Afrika Tshipembe. / Lolu cwaningo lugxile kwezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini emabhizinisini amancane aseNingizimu Afrika. Abanikazi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane banesibopho sokuziphatha, sezomthetho kanye nezezezimali sokuqinisekisa impilo nokuphepha kwabasebenzi babo. Kokubili umbono wamazwe omhlaba nowaseNingizimu Afrika ngempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini emabhizinisini amancane kufakiwe esifundweni semibhalo. Izimiso eziyishumi nambili eziyisisekelo zezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini, ezithuthukisiwe ngokukhethekile maqondana namabhizinisi amancane, zahlonzwa futhi zasetshenziswa njengesisekelo salolu cwaningo, ngokuhlangana nezici zomqondo wokuziphatha okuhleliwe. Ukwakheka kocwaningo kwalesi sifundo kubandakanye isimo esiyisisekelo solwazi, iqiniso nokuba khona (ifilosofi) kokucwaninga okuhle kanye nendlela yocwaningo yokuthuthukisa umbono ngokuya komqondo osukhona. Kwenziwa uhlu lwemibuzo futhi lwasetshenziswa ukuthola ulwazi, isimo sengqondo, inhloso yokuziphatha nokuziphatha kwangempela kwabaninimabhizinisi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika maqondana nempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini emabhizinisini abo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izithiyo ekuthobeleni ezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini zanqunywa futhi zahlolwa ukuthola amandla abonwayo alezi zithiyo. Abanikazi bamabhizinisi amancane / abaphathi baseNingizimu Afrika bagcwalise uhlu lwemibuzo kulolu cwaningo. Kwanqunywa ukuthi ulwazi, isimo sengqondo, inhloso yokuziphatha nokuziphatha kwangempela kwabaninimabhizinisi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika ahlobene nempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini bekungekho ezingeni elifanele. Izithiyo ekuthobeleni kufanele zinciphiswe. Izinkinga zokuthobela komthetho ziqukethe esinye sezizathu ezisemqoka zokuthi kungani amabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika ehluleka. Ngakho-ke, lolu cwaningo luphakamisa uhlaka lokuthobela kokuphathwa, olususelwa kumthetho osebenzayo wezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini obandakanya imibango yokuziphatha, yezomthetho neyezezimali. Izimiso ezisemqoka ezikhonjiwe kwezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini zisetshenziswe njengezigaba zohlaka lokuthobela kokuphathwa. Lolu hlaka oluhlongozwayo lokuthobela kokuphathwa luhlose ukunciphisa ubunzima bemithetho yezempilo nokuphepha emsebenzini yabaninimabhizinisi / abaphathi bamabhizinisi amancane aseNingizimu Afrika. / Boithuto bona bo ne bo shebane le polokeho le bophelo bo botle dikgwebong tse nyane Afrika Borwa. Beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba na le boikarabello ba boitshwaro, molao le ditjhelete ba ho netefatsa polokeho le bophelo bo botle ba basebeletsi ba bona. Boithuto ba dingolwa bo kenyelleditswe bobedi tjhebo ya matjhaba le ya Afrika Borwa mabapi le polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing ho dikgwebo tse nyane. Ho hlwailwe le ho sebediswa ditlhophiso tse leshome le metso e mmedi tsa motheo tsa polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing, tse thehilweng ka ho qolleha bakeng sa dikgwebo tse nyane jwalo ka motheo wa boithuto bona, hammoho le dikarolo tsa thiori ya boitshwaro bo rerilweng. Moralo wa patlisiso wa boithuto bona o ne o akarelletsa filosofi ya dipatlisiso tse senang leeme le katamelo ya dipatlisiso e etsang diteko ho fumana na thiori e itseng ke nnete kapa tjhe maemong a itseng. Ho ile ha hlahiswa le ho sebediswa letoto la dipotso ho fumana tsebo, maikutlo le maikemisetso a boitshwaro le boitshwaro ba nnete ba beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa mabapi le polokeho le bophelo bo botle dikgwebong tsa bona. Ho feta moo, dithibedi tsa tatello ya melawana ya polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing di ile tsa fumanwa le ho etswa diteko ho bona matla ao ho dumelwang hore dithebedi tsena di na le ona. Beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa ba ile ba tlatsa letoto la dipotso bakeng sa boithuto bona. Ho ile ha fumanwa hore tsebo, maikutlo le maikemisetso a boitshwaro le boitshwaro ba nnete ba beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa mabapi le polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing ha di maemong a matle. Dithibedi tsa tatelo di lokela ho fokotswa. Mathata a tatelo ya semolao ke a mang a mabaka a sehlooho ao ka ona dikgwebo tse nyane tsa Afrika Borwa di hlolehang. Kahoo, boithuto bona bo sisinya boteng ba moralo wa tsamaiso ya tatelo, o thehilweng hodima melao e amehang ya polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing o kenyelletsang mehopolo ya boitshwaro, molao le ditjhelete. Ditlhophiso tse hlwailweng tsa motheo tsa polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing di sebedisitswe jwalo ka dikarolo moralong wa tsamaiso ya tatelo. Moralo ona o sisintsweng wa tsamaiso ya tatelo o ikemiseditse ho nolofatsa molao wa polokeho le bophelo bo botle mosebetsing bakeng sa beng ba/baokamedi ba dikgwebo tse nyane ba maAfrika Borwa. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Management Studies)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Cost and Management Accounting, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Small businesses are vital for employment and job creation in South Africa. The implementation of sound cash management practices is essential to ensure to profitability and sustainability of any successful business. The commonly used expression, “Cash is king” cannot be contested as its validity was more prevalent in this research study. The aim of the study was to identify the current cash management practices of small retail businesses in the Tongaat area and identify the impact of such practices on their profitability and sustainability. This descriptive, cross sectional study, using a quantitative research paradigm and a non-probability sampling method targeted a sample of 69 businesses in the chosen area. The sample structure consisted of small retail businesses in the Tongaat area of KwaZulu-Natal. There was a significant relationship between drawing budgets and sustainability. This finding suggests that the more often the business draws up cash budgets, the more viable and sustainable the business is. 78.3% of the respondents acknowledged the importance of keeping records in the business, however, only 29.9% drew up cash budgets. The findings of this study could be useful to potential, emerging and established owners of all types of businesses since effective and efficient cash management is an integral component of any successful business. There should be more emphasis placed on the impact of how proper cash management practices can affect profitability and sustainability of a small retail business. A recommendation that adds value to the study was to engage the final-year, National Diploma: Cost and Management Accounting students in an integrated project, where they can provide cash management advice to these businesses. This will enhance the small businesses’ knowledge of cash management and encourage implementation of these procedures to assist in increasing profitability and sustainability in their business.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Business Studies Unit--Durban University of Technology, 2008 / The ability of the South African Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme to promote economic growth and employment. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offers the Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme (SMEDP) incentive grant programme to qualifying manufacturers in South Africa. The status of the progress of this incentive grant programme is unknown. The DTI alluded to an impact study in the 2004 DTI Annual Report but no further reference or publication of results of the impact study has been made. The objectives of the study are to investigate the following three criteria of the SMEDP and to develop benchmarks and recommendations for future incentive grants offered by the DTI. • Rationale for implementation of SMEDP; • Exploration of SMEDP merits; and • Measure of SMEDP success. The study is a secondary analysis design with both qualitative and quantitative components. The qualitative component allows the researcher to reflect on the process by which the incentive programme under investigation came into being, whilst the quantitative component allows for comment on the result of the process as per the markers developed in the qualitative component of the design. There were 152 sample cases used in the study. The outcome measures are the output measures stated in the Medium Term Strategic Plan which are: • The number of jobs sustained. v i • The number of jobs created. • The number of Greenfield’s projects supported. • The fixed investment in Rand terms. • The improvement in employment levels. The DTI achieved certain of the stated objectives. The empirical data analysed confirms the achievement of these objectives. There is scope for further empirical investigation for the future development of incentive grants. The contribution of the SMEDP to economic growth and employment growth is evident and such government interventions should be continued. The recommendations from the study include further investigation into the following areas to improve the benefits provided by manufacturing incentive programmes: • Limit the incentive to a specified Rand value per job created; • Volume driven turnover growth not price driven turnover growth; • The continued inclusion of expansions in future programme; and • Specified sector programmes i.e. textile sector.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis, presented in six thematic chapters, investigates an approach for promoting the growth of small businesses in South Africa. Chapter 1 motivates the thesis by discussing the contested role of small businesses in reducing unemployment and fostering social equity. Chapter 2 reviews the small business development policy in South Africa and explicates the socioeconomic conditions underpinning the policy. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are empirical analyses using data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys of 2003 and 2007, and the World Bank Financial Crisis Survey of 2010 to determine key impediments to the growth of small businesses and characteristics of firms creating and retaining most jobs in South Africa. Chapter 3 uses two methods to investigate the key impediments. The first method is based on a count of obstacles that entrepreneurs rate as seriously affecting enterprise operations. The second estimates the effects of the obstacles on growth through sequential multivariate regressions and identifies binding constraints for different categories of firms. It emerges that medium-sized firms are mildly affected by most obstacles but micro and small firms are significantly affected by crime, electricity and transportation problems. The chapter provides important insight on the sequencing of interventions to address the impediments to growth. Chapter 4 studies the finance constraint. It evaluates the importance of the constraint firstly by assessing whether firms rating finance as a serious problem underperform firms rating the problem as less important. Thereafter, the chapter studies the experiences of firms when seeking external finance and identifies four levels of the finance constraint. Using an ordered logit model and a binary logit model, the chapter explores the profile of financially constrained firms. Results show that firms owned by ethnic groups disadvantaged in the apartheid era are more likely to be credit-constrained. The results also suggest that the likelihood of being credit-constrained decreases with higher levels of formal education. The results inform policy on the types of firms that financial interventions must target. Chapter 5 builds on a growing body of evidence which shows that a small proportion of firms in an economy account for over 50 percent of net new jobs. The evidence from the literature suggests that such high-growth enterprises have distinct characteristics that could make it possible for interventions to nurture or for other firms to emulate. The chapter employs two methods to investigate the characteristics of high-growth firms. The first is logit regression, which the investigation uses to determine characteristics of firms that create more jobs than the average firm. The characteristics are also interacted to identify interaction terms most associated with growth. The second method is quantile regression, which makes it possible to assess the importance of each characteristic for firms in different levels of growth rates. The results show that the typical high-growth firm is more likely to be black-owned. The results of the chapter however highlight the need for further research into characteristics that may perhaps explain high-growth firms more robustly than variables in the survey instrument. The research ends with a summary, a discussion of areas of further research, and policy recommendations in Chapter 6.

Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need for Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME) growth in South Africa is beyond question. Government sees SMMEs as an important vehicle to boost the economy of the country because of the contribution they make to job creation. According to recent estimates by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), small businesses represent 98% of the total number of registered firms, employ 55% of the country’s labour force and account for 35% of GDP. Unfortunately South Africa has a low survival rate among start-up businesses compared to other developing economies. Some believe that the reason for the failure of government programmes to support small businesses is due to poor delivery. This is one of the key issues to be addressed by all business support players. The key to success is to pursue a private sector led approach where experienced business advisors and mentors can add value to the businesses of customers. The research focuses solely on support organisations within the Siyanda region. The findings support the notion that Seda, as government’s small business support vehicle, will have to utilise support organisations more in order to make a success of its mandate. The investigation has identified some recommendations that may lead to an improvement in the current environment. The first approach is to ensure that people who render small business support have business experience and understand small enterprises. Secondly, to ensure that sector programmes are focused on a particular objective and that the overall strategy remains integrated and focused. In order to achieve this, the private sector should participate and share the costs. In recommending measures to improve the promotion of small business support at a local level, it is important to focus on what works best and that is ultimately privatesector organisations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die behoefte aan groei van Klein, Mikro en Medium Ondernemings (SMMEs) in Suid-Afrika word nie debateer nie. Die regering sien SMMEs as ‘n belangrike medium om die land se ekonomie ‘n hupstoot te gee vanweë die bydrae wat hulle tot werkskeppping maak. Volgens onlangse skattings van die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid, verteenwoordig kleinsake-ondernemings 98% van die totale aantal geregistreerde ondernemings en verskaf hulle werk aan 55% van die land se arbeidsmag, en dra hulle by tot 35% van die bruto binnelandse produk. Ongelukkig het Suid-Afrika ‘n lae oorlewingsyfer onder nuwe besighede in vergelyking met ander ontwikkelende ekonomieë. Sommige mense glo die rede vir die mislukkig van regeringsprogramme wat kleinsake-ondernemings ondersteun, is swak dienslewering. Hierdie is een van die sleutelkwessies wat aangespreek behoort te word deur alle sake-ondersteuningspartye. Die sleutel tot sukses is om ‘n privaatsektor-gedrewe aanslag te volg waar ervare sake-adviseurs en -mentors waarde kan toevoeg tot kliënte se besighede. Die ondersoek het sekere aanbevelings geidentifiseer wat mag lei tot ‘n verbetering van die huidige omstandighede. Die eerste stap is om te verseker dat mense wat kleinsake-ondersteuning bied wel sake-ondervinding het en die kleinsakebedryf verstaan. Tweedens, om te verseker dat die sektor se programme wel gefokus is op ‘n spesifieke doelwit en dat die oorkoepelende strategieë geïntegreerd en gefokus bly. Ten einde dit te bereik, moet die privaatsektor deelneem en die kostes deel. By die soeke na stappe om die bevordering van kleinsake op plaaslike vlak te verbeter, is dit belangrik om te kyk wat (elders) reeds geslaag het. Dit is alte dikwels stappe wat deur die privaatsektor onderneem word.