The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala says government wants to ensure that small, medium sized and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are equipped to be able to participate in the development of the economy.
Zikalala was addressing the private and public sector stakeholders’ dialogue on the province’s plans to assist the SMMEs.
He says R57 million has been set aside for the incoming financial year to be located for the Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation (Raset) programme.
Raset is a programme which aims to open up markets for black small-scale and subsistence farmers.
Zikalala says they want to buy from emerging business people.
“If you are in a small business in iLembe we will say all commodities that as government we want will be provided, we are going to procure them from small businesses within iLembe, and then as government we get in to support those small businesses that are there. Then they compete on their own through procurement processes and legislation. Radical Economic Transformation is not an organised looting,” says Zikalala.
