The Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development has begun a week-long oversight inspection in Matatiele. The visit assesses how government support programmes affect small, medium and micro enterprises (MSMEs) in the area.
The programme started with an engagement involving senior officials from the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and its agency, the Small Business Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa). During the session, officials outlined available support and reported on interventions in the Eastern Cape.
Why it matters to you
Small businesses play a key role in job creation in rural towns like Matatiele. As a result, this oversight helps determine whether public funding, loans and training reach local entrepreneurs and support sustainable livelihoods.
For business owners, the inspection also highlights what assistance exists and how it is being monitored. Meanwhile, communities benefit when effective programmes strengthen the local economy.
What the committee was told
During the briefing:
- DSBD Deputy Director-General Yanga Tantsi explained the Department’s mandate.
- He outlined national initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth.
- Sedfa Acting CEO Nkosikhona Mbatha presented on Sedfa’s work in the Eastern Cape.
- He outlined financial and non-financial support provided to entrepreneurs in Matatiele.
Support discussed included funding, business development services and capacity-building programmes.
On-site inspections of Sedfa beneficiaries
In the second phase of the visit, committee members conducted on-site inspections of selected Sedfa-supported businesses. They engaged directly with business owners to understand:
- How government support contributed to business growth
- Whether jobs were created or sustained
- The impact on local economic development
These interactions allow the committee to gather first-hand evidence beyond written reports.
