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Housing
March 2016G
ugile Nkwinti, Minister of
Rural Government and Land
Reform said: “The roll out of
red tape reduction guidelines will
be implemented in 30 municipali-
ties. The department has secured a
partnership with the International
Labour Organisation to monitor
the implementation of municipal
red tape reduction guidelines. Four
municipalities in the Free State and
KwaZulu-Natal have been identified
and are being used in the pilot roll
out.”
Addressing the Economic Sec-
tors, Employment and Infrastructure
Development cluster media briefing
Nkwinti added that the Guidelines for
the Reduction of Municipal Red Tape
are aimed at improving the survival
rate of small business and contrib-
uting to the levelling of the business
playing field. The guidelines serve
as a practical implementation
framework to reduce local
government or munici-
pal red tape in support of
SMMEs.
“Some rules, regula-
tions and bureaucratic
procedures are excessively
complex and impose unnecessary de-
lays, inaction and costs that exceed
their benefits. The guidelineswill pro-
vide municipalities and businesses
with practical tools and resources
to address these issues, which have
the potential to improve the business
environment for small businesses,”
said Nkwinti.
Further support
towomen owned SMME
enterprises include incen-
tives, incubation and business
support to ensure that the sector
thrives. This also includes the Coop-
eratives Incentive Scheme, which the
Minister said was making an impact.
Over 136 cooperatives have received
management training, governance
and bookkeeping. In addition 14 co-
operatives and SMMEs received fund-
ing and market opportunities, with
funding approval for more than 93
cooperatives still to be rolled out.
■
Cutting through red tape
Government has provided guidelines to reduce red tape to various
municipalities in a bid to make it easier for small businesses to succeed.