By John Young
eXtravagant's claims are made on how small and medium-sized businesses can comprehensively resolve the unemployment crisis. When children and students are taught how to become entrepreneurs, the financial outlook is a way to turn rosy. In reality, some people are much better suited to being employees than employers, and even after “upscaling” employing so many people, there are few SMMEs.
The SMME sector is actually essential to South Africa's economic health. The truly small and medium-sized enterprise (micro) subsector has attracted little attention, but survivalist companies play an important role. Hawkers and street traders work long hours, and “house shops” (a step under spaza shops where the house rooms are deployed) is a feature of most townships' economic profiles.
In this regard, two recent initiatives involving the South African Chamber of Commerce (SACCI) are particularly welcome. One initiative will improve the information available to researchers and policymakers, while the other program will provide SMME with concrete and practical help.
The ABSA/SACCI Small Business Growth Index (SBGI), operated by the Market Research Bureau, conducts regular research into this sector to provide accurate and up-to-date data on trends. This information could contribute to reducing startup failure rates at an astonishing level at present.
The second initiative, which includes SACCI, is called SME launch. For the Inhlanyelo Hub NPC to be managed, SMME will leverage SACCI's network, the financial insights of the Certified Business Accountants Institute (CIBA) and the experience of the Corporate and Intellectual Property Committee (CIPC) in issues such as legal compliance, intellectual property registration, and business formalization.
Both of these initiatives are detailed in the latest issue of Opportunity Journal.
Even with this problem
The theme of entrepreneurship arises again in a report on the new partnership between the Service Sector Education and Training Bureau and the WITS Entrepreneurship Centre. Another setta, Chemical Industry Education and Training Agency (CHIETA), argues that digital badges should replace craftsman's paper certificates.
There have been two interviews related to the opening of a LEGO certified store in Cape Town, with the emphasis on what two lawyers can do about illegal mining in South Africa.
Professor Craig McGregor, associate professor at Stellenbosch University, and Bruce Douglas Young, of the African Energy Leadership Centre at the University of Witwatersland, warn of several obstacles to the path to the introduction of green hydrogen on a commercial scale in South Africa.
According to David Leukes, president of South Africa's Consulting Engineer (CESA), collaboration and policy certainty is needed to strengthen infrastructure development and make it sustainable. When it comes to low-cost housing, Hlengiwe Maila is studying the South African market and believes there is a better way to tackle the backlog.
The freight industry is one of the world's largest polluters. Bidvest International Logistics believes that the answers must come from both the road and rail freight sector.
Two students at Stellenbosch University apply innovative technology to track tree health. Yasmin de Raay and Chris Erasmus developed a wireless de-extension scatterometer that tracks growth patterns, water dynamics and environmental stress, and competed in the 2025 Blue Sky Young Researchers and Innovation Competition international finals. De Raay's work involves machine learning and the generation of microscopic images that provide information about root growth.
– John Young, Editor, Opportunity
