The Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development has noted and welcomed the directions issued by the Minister of Small Business Development, Mr Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, that are aimed at assisting small businesses including the corner shops, spaza shops, fruit and vegetable stores, as well as informal trading sub-sector, commonly known as Langanas, that operate mostly in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. 

The committee calls on them to comply with the lockdown directions. 

Minister Ntshavheni issued the directions in line with the amendments to the regulations on the COVID-19 lockdown, which were published on the government gazette by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoCTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on 2 April 2020.

Furthermore, the committee has called upon all the municipalities to adhere to these amended regulations by assisting all eligible informal traders to comply. 

Committee Chairperson, Ms Violet Siwela, said that the committee has been made aware that some municipalities are closed and informal traders were turned away.

“It has further come to our attention that some municipalities are declining applications from eligible informal traders who are properly registered on the municipal databases. We call upon CoGTA to investigate such cases,” said Ms Siwela. 

Ms Siwela further urged informal traders to meet conditions of the regulations, thereby ensuring that, at all times, staff carry permits to perform essential services as contemplated in regulation 11(B)(3).
 
She said: “The country is facing an unprecedented crisis, which calls for all of us to remain calm. However, we are confident that the scaled up support to small business and informal traders, in which government has negotiated discounted prices at some wholesalers, will go a long way in bringing stability in the sector.”

The committee has further implored all small businesses and informal traders to exercise social distancing practices and observe health measures issued by the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health. 

Issued by The Parliamentary Communication Services on Behalf of The Chairperson of The Portfolio Committee On Small Business Development, Violet Siwela