Mon May 20 04:31:41 SAST 2013
Mon May 20 04:31:42 SAST 2013

Khoza calls for visionary leaders

May 23, 2012 | Sapa | 47 comments

AN ABSENCE of visionary leadership is a major stumbling block for entrepreneurs in South Africa, Nedbank chairman Reuel Khoza says

FRANK: Nedbank chairman Reuel Khoza

"Leadership at all levels should demonstrate a commitment to creative freedom," he told delegates to a micro-finance conference in Sandton yesterday.

Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMES) should form the backbone of South Africa's economy.

"Big business and the state cannot provide enough jobs," he said.

Entrepreneurs in the informal sector experienced police harassment. Within 18 months of existence, many SMMES "fall off a cliff into an abyss".

"Some struggle on as subsistence businesses. They do not grow beyond that."

A lack of finance was not necessarily the key obstacle. Finance was in fact more available in South Africa than in many other countries. The bigger problem was the lack of an enabling environment.

According to the World Bank, South Africa was one of the most difficult countries in which to do business.

In Singapore the state required three simple procedures, which took three days, and cost 0.01% of per capita income, to start a business.

In South Africa, five complicated procedures were needed. These took 19 days and cost 0.3% of income, said Khoza.

Comments

Mon May 20 04:31:42 SAST 2013 ::
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May 23, 2012

breaking

stupid Spear Zuma south africa is going nowhere.
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May 23, 2012

Tabza325is

"According to the World Bank, South Africa was one of the most difficult countries in which to do business."

South Africa runs on detious processes, go apply for anything and see how the detious the process is...
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May 23, 2012

Pointman

Liberate the entrepreneurs - dilute the labour laws and make cipro more efficient. Also make more risk capital available and create zones (SEZ) where labour laws do not apply, Also for a period of say 10 years deregulate some industries e.g. software development.
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May 23, 2012

7000000

Comrade Raul , I totally agree with you my man. The huge problem that we cannot avoid is the type of Leadership that we have. Whilst we understand that the President is not educated, instead of Comrades who are educated supporting the President they in turn sabotage him so that they can prove that he is doing those things because of illiteracy. The other problem is our Political heads like Ministers and etc, they think they are above the law and the biggest mistake that they do is to hire their friends and relatives at a very top positions in order for them to get the fat salary and when they do nonsense, they run away instead of being accountable and labour laws does not allow us to fire them after those mistake to reverse the situation. How the hell will you be able to manage a budget of 800 million if you are a CFO and you only have a Diploma in Finance? That is a total madness and ANC is really behaving like lunatics when coming to feeling top posts, they are totally out of their mind. Until we get things like these right , our black masses will be poor for ever. You can fund SME's but if you do not have a means and Market to sustain them , were corruption ravage every good deed than you are clearly wasting your time.
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May 23, 2012

SeshegoGuY

Bolela Raul Bolela!!
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May 23, 2012

Toivo

We have a serious problem in this country where we always bring in race in every discourse. It's more worrying when it's coming from Gwede Mantashe who occupies a very critical role being SG of the ANC. It shows how shallow our leadership is at the very highest levels.

How does Gwede explain the fact that a white professor and a black teenager were arrested for defacing the painting "The Spear" if this was a racial matter? The country is so desperate for leaders who can work towards uniting its people rather than these worshipers of a cult personality.

Jackson Mthembu also put his cock into it, mobilizing people to cram the court area when the related case to this matter is heard. These are the same people that persecuted the ANCYL leadership for being irresponsible.

Let's focus on real issues that affect this country, Poverty, Mdluli & abuse of state agencies, corruption in Limpopo and every other province of SA etc.
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May 23, 2012

rasefatee


Leadership at all levels should demonstrate a commitment.
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ok Raul this is what the spear painting is all about
well said 7000000 now this is what Dr Ramphele is advocating
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May 23, 2012

MommaC

The bigger problem was the lack of an enabling environment."

Yip. Labour unions, electricity, labour unions, water, labour unions, transport, labour unions, red tape oh and did I mention labour unions?
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May 23, 2012

LBS

@MommaC
The bigger problem was the lack of an enabling environment."

Yip. Labour unions, electricity, labour unions, water, labour unions, transport, labour unions, red tape oh and did I mention labour unions?


I think you forgot to mention labour unions!! lol
Good morning.
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May 23, 2012

molefelives

@7000000
Well come on board, you really listened the last time when the masses were surprised by your comment few days ago.
Now you comment lieke an open minded citizen, clever indeed.
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