Views
1 year ago

Mpumalanga Business 2021-22

INTERVIEW Helping small

INTERVIEW Helping small business become viable and more competitive Seda Mpumalanga Provincial Manager Mashiba Kgole explains how targeted interventions and specific support programmes help SMMEs grow. Provincial Manager Mashiba Kgole BIOGRAPHY Mashiba Kgole has more than 17 years experience in the SMME development sector. He holds a National Diploma and BTech Degree in Chemical Engineering, certificates in Change Leadership Management, Outcomes Based and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as an international best-practice exposure programme on SMME development from SMEA in Taiwan. Please tell us about the Seda Mpumalanga network. Seda Mpumalanga is one of the nine provincial structures that are responsible for the delivery of Seda programmes, products and services. The provincial network is made up of a Provincial Office and five branches. The Provincial Office has the responsibility to manage, coordinate and support the entire network in the province and the branches are the delivery points where small enterprises can access Seda’s services. In addition to the branches, Seda is co-locating with partners in those areas where we currently do not have offices. The establishment of co-location points ensures that Seda has a presence in all the municipalities in the province. Currently, the province has 13 sites with various partners in different local municipalities. These points improve service provision in townships and rural areas where we have no offices. How is Seda improving SMME and co-operative growth in Mpumalanga? Seda supports the development and growth of SMMEs and cooperatives through an assortment of business development services (BDS). These services aim to provide solutions related to various business functions. We provide small businesses with the following services: business-related information, advice, consultancy, training and mentorship support. Through the Seda Technology Programme, Seda provides technology transfer, business and technology incubation services, as well as incentives for management systems implementation (such as ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001), product testing and certification. What is Seda’s role in ensuring business competitiveness and viability? Seda is playing a key role in the delivery of business development interventions to support small businesses to improve their competitiveness and viability. Seda aims to establish a long-term relationship with clients. Prior to embarking on any intervention, a Seda practitioner assesses the needs of the client. Based on the assessment results the client, together with the Seda practitioner, drafts a development plan with specific development interventions. These services are delivered to MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2021/22 22

INTERVIEW the client either by Seda’s practitioner(s) or through business development service providers. Some of Seda interventions involve assisting SMMEs with business and financial management training, legal compliance, bookkeeping support, mentorship support, implementation of quality management systems, product development and certification, to name a few. How is Seda Mpumalanga facilitating business development through ecosystem support? Seda supports a “team” approach to entrepreneurship promotion and development, which involves working with other stakeholders in the business development services ecosystem. We agree to be part of a team approach and play a specific role to contribute to the improvement of small businesses in the province. Our role is to develop, support and promote small businesses and co-operatives, ensuring their growth and sustainability in co-ordination and partnership with various other public and private entities to advance more support to small businesses with additional resources from our partners. How does the Seda District Ecosystem Facilitation (DEF) model fit into the government District Delivery Model with respect to facilitating BDS? The District Delivery Model, approved by the government, seeks to improve the planning and accelerate the implementation of service delivery programmes to communities, including the development of SMMEs through ensuring that all the three spheres of government work together. Through the DDM, Seda will ensure that development needs and opportunities for SMMEs and co-operatives within each district are taken into account. Seda will work closely with municipalities through the Local Economic Development (LED) offices to deliver services to SMMEs at a local and district level. This will result in more competitive and sustainable businesses that contribute to the economic growth of the district and the country. Are there any programmes which promote township and rural economies? The Department of Small Business Development (dsbd) together with its agencies, Seda and Sefa, continues implementing Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP). This is a dedicated programme to provide financial and/ or non-financial support to the township and rural enterprises with an emphasis on enterprises owned and managed by designated groups, women, youth and persons with disabilities, in order to increase their capacity to access economic opportunities and enhance their competitiveness. The following are some of the programmes: • Spaza shop support programme • Automotive aftermarket support programme (panel-beaters, motor mechanics, auto spares and auto fitment) • Clothing, leather and textile support programme • Bakeries and confectionaries support programme • Personal care programme (hair and beauty salons, barber shops, massage parlours) • Butcheries support programme • Tshisanyama and cooked food support programme • Fruit and vegetable vendors support programme. Seda Client in the Automotive aftermarket support programme (panel-beaters, motor mechanics, auto spares and auto fitment) 23 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2021/22

Other recent publications by Global Africa Network: