SMALL businesses in Soweto are disappointed at the remarks that businesspeople should not complain about the presence of foreign businesses in the townships.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe yesterday addressed 500 small business owners in Tshiawelo, encouraging them to start new business .
Thabethe said the entrepreneurs should stop complaining about how business had been taken over by foreigners.
"You guys give these foreigners places to stay and places to do business because you love money," she said.
She said through partnerships with the DTI and Nafcoc, it was possible for the people to empower themselves.
"You should be your own employers," said Thabethe.
To inspire the small business owners, Thabethe told them of a project in Tzaneen, where a group of women were growing green pepper and had started exporting it to other countries.
She said her department was supporting this project.
There has been a growing concern among small businesses in the townships, especially those in retail, that foreign retailers are now threatening the livelihood of their business.
Among foreigners doing business in Soweto are Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Somalis and Ethiopians.
Gauteng Business Forum chairperson Mokhosana Mhlanga said the minister's response was pathetic.
"We are unemployed, so we need rent to survive. When we start seeing problems with these foreigners in our houses, we kicked them out and they took us to court," said Mhlanga.
"These people are molesting our economy. The government takes foreigners seriously but they undermine us. The people have had enough."
Alfred Nkomo, who runs a fast food outlet, said he was happy with the minister's address but he did not agree with Thabethe's response regarding foreigners.
Minister's remarks rile traders
SMALL businesses in Soweto are disappointed at the remarks that businesspeople should not complain about the presence of foreign businesses in the townships.
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe yesterday addressed 500 small business owners in Tshiawelo, encouraging them to start new business .
Thabethe said the entrepreneurs should stop complaining about how business had been taken over by foreigners.
"You guys give these foreigners places to stay and places to do business because you love money," she said.
She said through partnerships with the DTI and Nafcoc, it was possible for the people to empower themselves.
"You should be your own employers," said Thabethe.
To inspire the small business owners, Thabethe told them of a project in Tzaneen, where a group of women were growing green pepper and had started exporting it to other countries.
She said her department was supporting this project.
There has been a growing concern among small businesses in the townships, especially those in retail, that foreign retailers are now threatening the livelihood of their business.
Among foreigners doing business in Soweto are Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Somalis and Ethiopians.
Gauteng Business Forum chairperson Mokhosana Mhlanga said the minister's response was pathetic.
"We are unemployed, so we need rent to survive. When we start seeing problems with these foreigners in our houses, we kicked them out and they took us to court," said Mhlanga.
"These people are molesting our economy. The government takes foreigners seriously but they undermine us. The people have had enough."
Alfred Nkomo, who runs a fast food outlet, said he was happy with the minister's address but he did not agree with Thabethe's response regarding foreigners.
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