Business summit in Midrand aims to help small enterprises
MIDRAND – President for the Black Business Council, Sandile Zungu says that the current economic state of South Africa affects everyone.
The Black Business Council held their annual summit at the Gallagher Convention Centre Midrand on 4 and 5 March.
The summit was attended by politicians, businessmen and women as well as aspiring entrepreneurs all in one venue with the sole aim of discussing the future of business in the country and opportunities to look out for.
President of the Black Business Council, Sandile Zungu explained in his message to guests that promises to spare no effort in ensuring that business is united for the shared future of South Africa.
“When we met a year ago, our country was facing serious challenges our economy was growing, if at all under one per cent, a rate too insignificant to scratch our triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“It is sad that 12 months later we have not made enough progress to improve the lives of our people and economic operators.
“Our state-owned entities have entered uncharted terrain and after many years of receiving fiscal bailouts, the South African Airways was placed under business rescue which is a first for an SOE in our country.”
Zungu said that all the South African economy was facing suggested that the environment has actually deteriorated significantly from last year and added that we are in the crises together. “This is both a threat and opportunity – I prefer to see this as an opportunity to re-imagine our future because we are called to provide leadership during these turbulent times.
“Critically, this leadership shot entails the following urgent steps. Let us fix Eskom, this is our biggest threat today. The R200-billion budget allocation to support Eskom is a commendable start. Henceforth, there are two non-negotiables to fixing it. First, there is no credible solution that does not include coal and secondly, we have to stop paying lip service to the need for a just transition from fossil fuel to clean energy.
“Secondly, all our state-owned entities are facing governance, leadership and capitalisation challenges and these need to be attended to. Also, let us free our small and medium entreprises so they also can do business. According to a consultancy SBP, a small business owner spends as much as nine days each month on a compliance burden, and this is a problem that needs addressing.”
Details: For more information about the event and the council, contact the Black Business Summit on 011 728 3336.
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/239092/technology-small-businesses-showcase-technology-projects-paris-manage-healthcare-africa/
