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The Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, is in East London for the Eastern Cape public consultation on the newly proposed Business Licensing Bill.
What Happened
Minister Ndabeni arrived at Thornpark in East London on Monday for the province’s leg of the national public consultation tour. The session, held at Asante Farm, focused on how the Bill will impact small enterprises and local economies.
The Business Licensing Bill proposes major reforms to simplify licensing and support cooperatives and MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).
Ndabeni was joined by senior officials from the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).
What Officials Are Saying
The department says the Bill could be a “game-changer” for small business growth. It also includes a key clause empowering municipalities to draft bylaws for issuing preferential business licences to previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
“We are here to listen to the business community and shape a framework that makes it easier to trade legally,” Ndabeni told attendees.
The Bill will also introduce legal provisions for creating exclusive trading zones in South Africa.
Why It Matters
The new law aims to help informal traders and cooperatives enter the mainstream economy. It could reduce red tape, boost township business inclusion, and improve municipal control over business registration.
Key highlights of the proposed Bill:
- Simplifies the business licence process
- Empowers municipalities to create trading bylaws
- Prioritises small businesses owned by previously disadvantaged groups
- Supports designation of exclusive trading zones
- Enhances formalisation for MSMEs
