Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Small

latest news & developments
As South Africa stands at the crossroads of economic opportunity, the time is ripe for a paradigm shift that places SMMEs at the heart of our economic strategy.
ARTICLE

SA fails to unleash economic revitalisation power of SMMEs

Through targeted policies, awareness campaigns and collaborative efforts, we can harness small, medium and micro enterprises’ dynamism and pave the way for a more inclusive and…

  • Maphefo Sipula
4 min read
At the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the emphasis was on digitalisation and technological advancement of the industry. However, the industry recognises that cybersecurity can no longer continue to remain the unaddressed elephant in the room
CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

SMMEs lose R49 million annually to cyber breaches

Awareness is the most important aspect in the world of cybersecurity, according to experts in the field

  • Mandisa Ndlovu
2 min read
(Photo: David Harrison)
NEW ECONOMY

OPINION | Our small businesses face big problems

Small, medium and micro enterprises are vital to the economy yet there is much more the government can do to help them grow

  • Cuma Velile Dube
4 min read
MICRO AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Small businesses must be proactive in their tax affairs

There are numerous means by which errant taxpayers can start the new year on a clean slate

  • Iman Rappetti
5 min read
The private sector can contribute to migration policy development to improve business operations, boost productivity and support the economy. (Oupa Nkosi)
BUSINESS

SA’s private sector can promote migrant entrepreneurs who create jobs and skills

The private sector can contribute to migration policy development to improve business operations, boost productivity and support the economy

  • Paul Kariuki
  • Tawanda Matema
4 min read
5G

Blockchain tech can raise tax revenues

But the South African Revenue Service doesn’t yet have the skills and multiple users to adopt it

  • Sarah Smit
8 min read
Ambitious: Economic policy researcher Nomahlubi Jakuja describes the pan-Africa free trade area as a huge undertaking
AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA AFCFTA

Africa trade bloc bets on business without borders

The new year started with a crucial step towards free trade between countries on the continent

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Government policy for major tenders requires that 30% be awarded to local contractors to promote local skills development and economic opportunity. The idea behind this is well-intentioned. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G)
BROAD BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Rid the infrastructure spend of patronage in the post-Covid-19 reconstruction

This can be done by making the project’s 30% of the budget for local broad-based black economic empowerment a separate budget to break the feedback loop that greases the wheels…

  • Philip Machanick
8 min read
Scalabrini launched a constitutional challenge against two sections of the Refugees Act as well as parts of its regulations. Photo: (David Harrison/M&G)
ASYLUM SEEKERS

South Africa excludes refugees and asylum seekers from Covid-19 aid

Despite being protected in South Africa by law, these groups have been swept aside when it comes to relief packages

  • Callixte Kavuro
5 min read
A major problem for businesses during lockdown is that they are not getting money coming in, so they have little liquidity. (Paul Botes/M&G)
INFORMAL ECONOMY

The missed opportunity: SMMEs in the South African economy

Entrepreneurs in South Africa have found wasy to innovate for the finance that their businesses need

  • Sonqoba Vuba
12 min read
Namhla Mayeki, business relationship manager at Tsheola Dinare Tours and Transport, says Meetings Africa is the perfect event for networking and boosting your business
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

Fast-moving travel solutions

Building a solid foundation in the travel market requires a commitment to reliability

  • Tamsin Oxford
11 min read
Khosi Tyobeka is the head of Zimasa Travel, which gets tourists to their destinations in style
CONFERENCES

Investing in relationships

Small companies are able to customise experiences and build critical relationships

  • Tamsin Oxford
4 min read
A trader weighs onions at a New Delhi market. India’s unemployment rate is about 7%, 23-million people are artisans and small businesses employ 40% of the workforce. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP)
BRICS

South Africa’s entrepreneurs remain elusive

Perhaps the reason is less about poor support and more about a bad attitude to self-employment

  • Staff Reporter
5 min read
(John McCann/M&G)
FUNDING

SMEs hobbled by funding gap

Only 1% of South Africa’s small, medium and micro-sized enterprises ask for formal financing

  • Thulebona Mhlanga
3 min read
Potential workers gather to see if they have secured a job at Lonmin mine in Marikana. A reader writes that the youth need skills to take up job opportunities in a variety of sectors.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Letters to the Editor: June 22 to 28

Our readers write in about unlocking youth power and the evolution of the school curriculum

  • Letters
4 min read