Ahead of the national budget, to be tabled on February 22, the Small Business Institute (SBI) has called on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to support ...
“If we don’t give hope to the millions of youths, the social stability of our country will be at more risk than from any external factors and enemies. The simpler the better is our message, especially coming out of the Covid-19 relief schemes,” says Dludlu. On the topic of support for small businesses, he says SBI expects Godongwana to give details and quantum of envisaged relief under the redesigned Bounce Back scheme to assist small firms to procure alternative, non-grid sources of electricity. “We welcome government’s willingness to listen to perspectives of other players in the ecosystem to make the scheme more responsive to the needs of those it is aimed at assisting. “We are hoping the Budget provides clarity on what support will be given to families and businesses if the tariff increase is not implemented,” says Dludlu. SBI CEO John Dludlu says the institute appeals to Godongwana to explain how government will support South Africans from the effects of an 18% electricity tariff increase, which was granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to Eskom.