The African Council of Hawkers and Informal Businesses (ACHIB) represents some 110000 members throughout Sot Africa and it has delightfully just turned 18 years of age.

ACHIB would like to thank the Honorable members of the portfolio committee of Trade and Industries and its chairperson for inviting us.

Honorable members, the small business member's act is the one that resulted in the formation of three organizations namely
1. Khula finance
2. Ntsika
3. National Small Business Council

We as ACHIB came here in parliament, then and submitted that all those organizations should not be informed in the place of Khula, we suggest that Government could put a guarantee with existing organizations form a sectoral board at National, Provincial and Local Level monitor and Report on the progress made.

With reference to Ntsika we suggest that Government together with existing organizations should form a non-financial services board, on the sectoral base thereby assessing and approving programs funding.

The National Small Business Council disaster that was a fail from its inception, Job Creation for the Elite under the disguised representing SMME's there is always a temptation to take the L instead of SMME's, because they are organized with offices, mails, and they never differ as long as their salaries are paid end the month. Both at National and Provincial offices Government funds and equipment were looted. Therefore Honorable members you cannot entrust the future of SMME's and that of South Africans in the hands of parastatals again.


Honorable Members

We could like to submit that the new structure, this time around should he a board representing sectors as follows:

A)Informal sector retail 2 members
B) Industrialist sector 2 members
C) Farmers 2 members
D) Builders 2 members
E) Transport 2 members



The same structure should be duplicated in the Provinces. The secretariat should be outsourced to a law firm unsolicited bid.

The research should be implemented in the same strategic system The department of trade and Industries should do the Confer( workshops and overseas trips including international relations

The Department of Trade and Industries should make accessible to SMME's and not only have programs with the Elite

The criteria of sectoral representatives should be as follows:

i) Regulatory Review
ii) Training
iii) Infrastructure
iv) Import and Export
v) Finance and Non- financial Services
vi) Business Linkages and Tender advice

This new structure must have links with Local Government Traditional authorities, Provincial Government and National Government. In the offices of the Mayor, Premiers and State President, like the youth, the disabled and woman commission After all 70% of SMME's are Women.


The Honorable members must put this new structure on spotlight, by once a year having local Provincial and National conferences, to find out whatever people are happy with the w done as well as the people representing them.

I would like to Invite the Honorable Members to join ACHIB in the Provincial SMME Rally weeks. We would go around the country to launch the Excitement, legitimacy confidence building, flea Markets. Regulatory Reviews, Training, Infrastructure Import and Exports, Finance and Non-financial Services, Business Linkages and Tenders from Government and Parastatals.


The Rallies be he1d at the following venues, cities, and town on the dates below

Date: Province Venue