Mashinini encourages business progress

Small Business Development, Tourism and Environment MEC, Sam Mashinini, said government should act proactively in addressing the problems and challenges that citizens are faced with.
Mashinini was speaking at an entrepreneurs convention held at the prestigious Emoya Estate on the outskirts of Bloemfontein where budding business persons were given the platform to air their grievances.

This was the first of a series of business dialogues that will offer business person the opportunity to talk directly with government.

The MEC advised that problems should be dealt with as they arise to avoid them piling up and creating more problems and to heighten the probabilities of progress.
“I am concerned that even in 2015 we are still discussing issues that were raised as back as 2009. We cannot discuss forever, we need to take action, and where there are problems we should be able to indicate that to the people who expect government’s assistance.”

Mashinini told the entrepreneurs that anyone who needs government assistance must be willing to put in hard work and prove that they are worth the assistance they would be receiving from government.

“Once you have been assisted, you should be able to fly so that government can be able to assist others. We cannot have a situation where a member of the public virtually lives in the department chasing opportunities and blocking others from accessing the assistance,” said the MEC.

Gadija Brown, a deputy director in the department of economic affairs, took to the podium to advice attendees on the requisites for small business to succeed in their bid to get assistance from government.

She highlighted that all business should be registered legal entities that should have a sound business plan.

Brown further granted those in attendance the opportunity to ask questions of which she provided clear and adequate responses.
ANC chief whip and member of the provincial legislature, Neels Van Rooyen, was present at the convention.