ENCA: Violence in SA | Counting the costs for SMMEs

Small Business Institute CEO, John Dludlu spoke with eNCA’s Tumelo Mothotoane. Courtesy of #DStv403

JOHANNESBURG – Small businesses have been hit hard by recent looting and riots.

The Small Business Institute says it’s thankful to residents for helping with mop-up operations, but it says it’s time for the government to step in.

The CEO of the Small Business Institute John Dludlu said: “Unfortunately the call is going to government and of course to the big suppliers to say: please help us rebuild, quickly rebound by getting us stock and by getting our places up and running again.

“There is so much the communities can do, they can clean up and they can assist in rebuilding the malls but what they cannot do is restock you, this where help is definitely required.

“We are getting so many calls from SMMes that “if I do reopen will I have security?”; “if I do reopen will I be protected?,” Dludlu said.

“The communities are unlikely to protect you forever law authorities and enforcement need to be there.”

“Where we are now it looks increasingly unlikely that we can not do this without another <round> of government assistance, and we don’t have to wait for October MTF to be released, we need to urgently act.

“There is only so much that SASRIA the insurance company can do to assist small businesses and big businesses which are impacted by this. “

by ENCA – https://www.enca.com/business/there-only-so-much-communities-can-do-small-business-institute