By Mumtaz Saley

08:08:2019

Radio Islam recently interviewed Shawn Theunissen, founder of Property Point, who has been vocal on key issues such as the importance of entrepreneurs in job growth. 

Businesses have suffered a downturn in recent weeks adversely affecting the country’s’ economy. South Africa has been informed of it’s highest unemployment rate in eleven years. 

As the economy struggles due to both internal and external factors, Shawn highlighted an important focal point; small businesses, if given the help to gain larger opportunities, will help ease the unemployment rate as well as the economy at large.  He firmly believes that small businesses are the panacea to South Africa’s crises. 

While South Africans had hope that the economy would take a turn for the better with the election of President Cyril Ramphosa, due his strong business ethic, many citizens now feel that the country is a sinking ship. However we have to realise that the economy did not fall overnight; this was a gradual process and that being said, the regrowth of our economy will take some time. 

Small businesses contribute to local economies by bringing growth and innovation to the community in which the business is established. They also help stimulate economic growth by providing employment opportunities to people who would not have been employed in larger companies, providing an up-skill or skills learning tools to those who have no formal qualification. 

South African companies need to start focusing on nationalising supply and demand chains and not outsourcing to companies overseas. Larger companies need to start conversing with small owned businesses to help fill the supply and demand within South Africa. Remember Local is lekker! 

Mumtaz Moosa Saley

08:08:2019