Thesis (M. Com. (Business Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of the financial bootstrapping strategies used by rural based small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The study was guided by the following objectives, (1) To investigate the financial bootstrapping strategies used by rural entrepreneurs, (2) To examine the effect of the education of the owners on the financial bootstrapping strategies used by rural entrepreneurs, (3) To determine the effect of the age of the owners on the financial bootstrapping strategies used by rural entrepreneurs and (4) To investigate the effect of the gender of the owners on the financial bootstrapping strategies used by rural entrepreneurs. The research followed a quantitative research method with a descriptive research design. A sample of 104 rural SMMEs participated in the survey. Data was collected through the use of self-administered questionnaires in a survey. The participants in the study were rural SMME owners in Fetakgomo Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The study utilised the convenience and snowball sampling techniques to obtain data from the respondents. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, T-test and regression analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure reliability. The results indicated that rural SMMEs have a low usage and adoption rate of bootstrapping finance. The research also found that rural SMMEs mainly utilised owner’s finance as the primary bootstrapping method. The results of the T-test showed significant differences between gender and bootstrapping methods as well as between the level of education and the bootstrapping methods used by rural SMMEs. However, there was no significant difference between age of the owners and bootstrapping methods used by rural SMMEs. Recommendations were ii proposed for the government to create an enabling environment for rural SMEs by embarking on a variety of strategies to raise awareness on the importance of bootstrapping finance. Rural SMME owners were recommended to enrol for a certificate course in financial management to sharpen their skills. Keywords: entrepreneurs’ characteristics, financial bootstrapping, rural area, SMMEs, South Africa.

The South African government, in its attempt to curb unemployment, continues to promote and facilitate the establishment of small businesses. The promotion of businesses is evident through the development of policies, establishment of supporting agencies and the formation of the new ministry, Department of Small Business Development. The government acknowledges the contribution of small businesses in relation to job creation, poverty alleviation and having an inclusive economy. There are different types of businesses in the South African context, such as registered and unregistered businesses, operating in both informal and formal sectors. This study focuses on registered businesses in the main economic sectors such as retail, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, services, construction and transport. Its main objective is to develop a framework that will enable small businesses to operate sustainably irrespective of the challenges experienced in these economic sectors. Areas of focus in the research study are in the City of Matlosana that falls within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District in the North West province. The City of Matlosana comprises of Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartbeesfontein (KOSH). The areas consist of many small businesses in different sectors of the economy. It is an area known to have been dependent mainly on mining activities for its economic sustainability. However, the mining activities have declined due to depletion of mining reserves and the focus is mainly on alternative potential economic sectors such as manufacturing, services, retail, agriculture and construction. A quantitative research approach was applied for the study. Data analysis and interpretation were conducted by using statistical methods such as frequencies, reliability with reference to the mean, standard deviation and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient as well as Spearman’s Rank Order Correlations. Internal and external factors such as management skills, inability to access funding, the lack of proper business planning, economic conditions and industry changes influence the failure rate of businesses. The study investigates the extent of such factors that influence sustainability opportunity. Previous research on this topic indicates that most businesses fail within three years of their start-up. Some newly formed businesses are a result of the reasons such as unemployment or inability to be employable, that result into survival type of small business. Businesses operating in a survival mode do not employ as many people as possible and are easily susceptible to challenges due to changes in economic conditions. They typically have a small impact on the economic growth of the area. Conclusions of the study show that most owners do not necessarily empower themselves by short training courses or study business as a career choice to enhance their knowledge and skills. The level of education is as low as below matriculation (grade 12) with three to five years of experience in a particular business sector. There is a low level of prior knowledge of business but a high level of prior working experience in the same sector of the economy. Small business owners are mostly involved at operational and management level in their businesses indicating that administration and strategic planning are lacking which affects long-term plans of most businesses. The framework developed focused on many different aspects that influence the success and failure of small businesses. It is evident that there are factors that are influential to any business operating in a particular sector. There are instances where some factors have a major bearing on particular businesses as compared to others. In cases where the owner is strategic, experienced, qualified and skilled, the businesses have all-important competitive advantage to stand the challenges. Business characteristics such as location, years of operation, its responsiveness to its customer needs and business planning contributes advantageously to its sustainability. In various economic conditions, some sectors are affected in different ways depending on its financial strength. There is no single aspect that is identified as a stand-alone factor to enable a small business to be sustainable. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The South African government, in its attempt to curb unemployment, continues to promote and facilitate the establishment of small businesses. The promotion of businesses is evident through the development of policies, establishment of supporting agencies and the formation of the new ministry, Department of Small Business Development. The government acknowledges the contribution of small businesses in relation to job creation, poverty alleviation and having an inclusive economy. There are different types of businesses in the South African context, such as registered and unregistered businesses, operating in both informal and formal sectors. This study focuses on registered businesses in the main economic sectors such as retail, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, services, construction and transport. Its main objective is to develop a framework that will enable small businesses to operate sustainably irrespective of the challenges experienced in these economic sectors. Areas of focus in the research study are in the City of Matlosana that falls within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District in the North West province. The City of Matlosana comprises of Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartbeesfontein (KOSH). The areas consist of many small businesses in different sectors of the economy. It is an area known to have been dependent mainly on mining activities for its economic sustainability. However, the mining activities have declined due to depletion of mining reserves and the focus is mainly on alternative potential economic sectors such as manufacturing, services, retail, agriculture and construction. A quantitative research approach was applied for the study. Data analysis and interpretation were conducted by using statistical methods such as frequencies, reliability with reference to the mean, standard deviation and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient as well as Spearman’s Rank Order Correlations. Internal and external factors such as management skills, inability to access funding, the lack of proper business planning, economic conditions and industry changes influence the failure rate of businesses. The study investigates the extent of such factors that influence sustainability opportunity. Previous research on this topic indicates that most businesses fail within three years of their start-up. Some newly formed businesses are a result of the reasons such as unemployment or inability to be employable, that result into survival type of small business. Businesses operating in a survival mode do not employ as many people as possible and are easily susceptible to challenges due to changes in economic conditions. They typically have a small impact on the economic growth of the area. Conclusions of the study show that most owners do not necessarily empower themselves by short training courses or study business as a career choice to enhance their knowledge and skills. The level of education is as low as below matriculation (grade 12) with three to five years of experience in a particular business sector. There is a low level of prior knowledge of business but a high level of prior working experience in the same sector of the economy. Small business owners are mostly involved at operational and management level in their businesses indicating that administration and strategic planning are lacking which affects long-term plans of most businesses. The framework developed focused on many different aspects that influence the success and failure of small businesses. It is evident that there are factors that are influential to any business operating in a particular sector. There are instances where some factors have a major bearing on particular businesses as compared to others. In cases where the owner is strategic, experienced, qualified and skilled, the businesses have all-important competitive advantage to stand the challenges. Business characteristics such as location, years of operation, its responsiveness to its customer needs and business planning contributes advantageously to its sustainability. In various economic conditions, some sectors are affected in different ways depending on its financial strength. There is no single aspect that is identified as a stand-alone factor to enable a small business to be sustainable. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

SMMEs contribute to socio-economic development, and play a critical role in reducing unemployment. Information and communication technology infrastructures (ICTs) impacts on the establishment, growth, and success of SMMEs and also on how enterprises manage their operational activities. This study was conducted in Pretoria, South Africa, in Gauteng province, with the objective to study SMMEs owned by women in order to identify the challenges they encounter in accessing and using ICT infrastructures. The researcher addressed issues related to ICTs in general, and then assessed the challenges preventing business owners from accessing and using ICT infrastructures in order to improve their operational capabilities. A qualitative research methodology which included explorative and descriptive approaches was used. The findings of the study revealed the following challenges which women experience in their businesses: entrepreneurial challenges, infrastructure, ICTs, family responsibilities, support from government and other relevant bodies, lack of mentoring, financial and gender inequality. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

SMMEs contribute to socio-economic development, and play a critical role in reducing unemployment. Information and communication technology infrastructures (ICTs) impacts on the establishment, growth, and success of SMMEs and also on how enterprises manage their operational activities. This study was conducted in Pretoria, South Africa, in Gauteng province, with the objective to study SMMEs owned by women in order to identify the challenges they encounter in accessing and using ICT infrastructures. The researcher addressed issues related to ICTs in general, and then assessed the challenges preventing business owners from accessing and using ICT infrastructures in order to improve their operational capabilities. A qualitative research methodology which included explorative and descriptive approaches was used. The findings of the study revealed the following challenges which women experience in their businesses: entrepreneurial challenges, infrastructure, ICTs, family responsibilities, support from government and other relevant bodies, lack of mentoring, financial and gender inequality. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

Magister Commercii - MCom / Motivated by the number of firms that migrate from the Alternative Exchange (AltX) to the JSE main board, this research undertakes to examine the role and the functions of the AltX and its contribution to the development of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa over the period from January 2004 to December 2015. This study seeks to explore the performance of the firms that have migrated from the AltX to the JSE main board, as well as the attributes that contribute to a successful migration. The study emerges by computing risk, return, risk-adjusted performance and liquidity statistics of the firms that migrated from the AltX to the JSE main board over the period of the research since their respective listings on the AltX. In the preliminary tests conducted in this study, the excess returns of the sample firms were regressed against the market risk premium using ALSI as the market proxy. It is discovered that the beta coefficients estimated by the regressions are statistically insignificant. This indicates that the firms listed on the AltX have insignificant correlation with the firms listed on the JSE main board. Therefore, the ALSI could not be used as a performance benchmark for the sample firms in this research. Subsequently, the research evaluates the market response before and after the announcement date and the actual migration date of the firms that have migrated from the AltX to the JSE main board. The reasons why this research investigates the impact of announcement and actual migration separately is due to the observation that the period between announcement date and migration date is usually more than a month and investors might have different reactions towards these two mentioned events. Moreover, this is the first research that has investigated the impact corporate reaction on both migration announcement date and the actual migration date of the firms from the AltX to the JSE main board. The results reveal that there are significant average abnormal returns and average abnormal turnovers reaction around migration announcement date/actual migration date. The findings suggest that both the migration announcement and actual migration of the firms from the AltX to the JSE main board have produced significant abnormal returns. Moreover, the research evaluates the performance of the firms that have migrated from the AltX to the JSE main board against their comparable peers. The performance evaluation is conducted in two folds. Firstly, the evaluation is conducted in order to assess the financial position of the AltX sample firms before their migration to the JSE main board. Secondly, the post migration performance evaluation is conducted in order to classify each of the sample firms either as a success or as a failure after their migration to the JSE main board. The results reveals that, out of 20 sample firms only 13 firms have been categorised as successful post their migration from the AltX to the JSE main board, while the remaining 7 firms are categorised as unsuccessful post migration. Finally, this research investigates the attributes that differentiate the AltX firms that are likely to be successful and those that are unlikely to be successful after their migration to the JSE main board. To achieve this, Multivariate Discriminant Analysis (MDA) model developed by Altman (1968) is employed. The results reveals that, the model is able to classify 90% of the original cases and 85% of the cross-validated cases perfectly. Moreover, the model has identified net profit margin, current ratio and return on capital invested as the most important financial ratios in distinguishing the successful firms from unsuccessful firms post migration from the AltX to the JSE main board. / 2021-04-30

Thesis (M.Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Unemployment in South Africa has prompted the government to shift focus in terms of employment creation resulting in encouraging citizens to become entrepreneurs. This took effect after 1994 and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have since been the important drivers of the economy. They have provided jobs to many unemployed people and reduced poverty in many communities. Despite their importance, these enterprises encounter challenges that threaten their sustainability and growth. The purpose of the study was to investigate the internal and external factors affecting SMMEs. To get a clear understanding of the challenges confronting managers of SMMEs in Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality (LNM), a comprehensive investigation of this problem was conducted through a literature review. The study adopted a mixed method approach, where the researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods to elicit information from the participants. The study also adopted the interpretivism and positivism paradigms. Data were collected through the usage of structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from the respondents who were selected purposively. Analysis of quantitative data was done through SPSS and presented in tables, graphs, and pie charts. For qualitative data, thematic analysis was used. The findings confirmed what was reviewed in the literature, namely, that managers of SMMEs encounter operational difficulties; and inaccessibility of funding is a major challenge. The study revealed that 78% of the respondents used personal savings and some borrowed from friends and family, whilst only 22% received funding as a form of government grants and bank loans. To confront the challenges of funding, government and parastatals should ensure that SMMEs receive funding in an impartial manner; and government should also serve as collateral for SMMEs with financial institutions in cases where government could not offer funding since lack of collateral proved to be a blockade for SMMEs. Chapter 5 of this research report provides a conclusion and recommendations arising from the data collection on the improvement and accelerated support to ensure the sustainability and growth of SMMEs.

Thesis ((MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The positive role and fundamental contribution of SMMEs on a global and national level is key to economic growth. Various perspectives and opinions exist in terms of the role, extent and nature of the contribution made by SMMEs in the local economy. The main aim of this study was to investigate ways in which the informal motor vehicle mechanic businesses operating in Tzaneen CBD can be assisted to become formalised businesses for long-term sustainability and contribution to the local economy. The research was qualitative in nature. Group interviews were conducted with motor mechanics operating opposite Tzaneen bus rank in the town of Tzaneen, Limpopo Province as well as with their representatives (i.e. their executive committee). The purpose of the interviews was to find out what they thought about possibilities of being formalised and what their needs are. In addition, questionnaires were designed and handed out to officials from GTM LED, SEDA and GTEDA. The purpose of the questionnaires was to explore what these institutions have done previously and what they were willing to offer to help formalise the informal motor mechanic operations. The research results show that the motor mechanics understand what formalising their enterprises entails and they are willing to cooperate with the government organisations to convert them into sustainable enterprises. The representatives from government agencies showed willingness to support these motor mechanics, they are also willing to prioritise and develop necessary support programmes. The study recommends that the motor mechanics be helped with infrastructure; registering their businesses; mentoring and coaching be offered to them; marketing their business; and training and development occurring on a continuous basis.

M. Tech. (Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become prevalent in our everyday business and personal lives. As such, users and organisations must know how to protect themselves against human errors that led to more companies losing or sharing information that should not be shared. The issue emanates from lack of ICT security culture both in individuals and organisations. This research is based on a wide theoretical review that is focused on proposing a conceptual model on technological, environmental and organisational factors that influence the adoption of ICT security culture and implementation in Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Factors or determinants that influence the adoption of ICT security culture in SMMEs in the Gauteng province were investigated. Questionnaires were distributed to examine the perception of ICT security culture adoption among SMMEs in the Gauteng province South Africa. A sample of 647 individuals from different SMMEs in the Gauteng province returned the questionnaire. The results of the research study show that technological context (perceived benefits), environmental context (government regulations) and organisational context (management support) determinants have direct influence on the ICT security culture adoption. The recommendation is that information security awareness programmes must be put in place. Further research is recommended using more determinants that might have a positive impact toward the adoption of the ICT security culture. In order to minimize data breaches due to human error it is recommended that SMMEs around Gauteng Province in South Africa adopt the framework as outlined in this research study.

Asians and expatriate Africans have been prominent in the SMME economy of South Africa. This work seeks to establish reasons for the growth and competitiveness of SMMEs run by these groups compared to those operated by local citizens. Reasons for this competitiveness are gleaned from existing literature and presented in accordance with the Perren model which attributes the growth of SMMEs to the owner’s motivation, expertise in managing growth, access to resources, and demand. In this work, the Perren model was first applied to Asians and Lebanese in East and West Africa to set a foundation for comparison with the South African situation. This work concluded that it is the four interim growth drivers acting together that cause competitiveness of Asian- or expatriate African-owned SMMEs. Policy recommendations to improve competitiveness of SMMEs owned by local citizens are then suggested at the end. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)