Latest news with #StellaNdabeni-Abrahams
TimesLIVE
20-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Government 'will remain committed to R100bn transformation fund'
Small business development minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has encouraged women to participate in the public comment process for the government's R100bn transformation fund aimed at helping small businesses access funds and markets. Speaking on Tuesday at the Women's Dialogue and Stakeholder Luncheon in Paris, Ndabeni-Abrahams called on women to share their opinions of the fund despite criticism in some quarters that the concept was flawed. 'There are people hell-bent on undermining this transformational agenda that we want to drive. There are people already who are committed that they will take that process to court,' said Ndabeni-Abrahams. She said the government would stand by the fund despite opposition from some quarters, including major business organisations. 'Yes, we are a government that promotes nonracism, but we are a country with a particular history that is not going to be washed away. We are standing by our constitution in terms of addressing past imbalances,' said Ndabeni-Abrahams. The Transformation Fund was proposed by the department of trade, industry & competition. It aims to raise R20bn over the next five years and disburse R100bn, using a mix of contributions from enterprise and supplier development (ESD) obligations under B-BBEE codes of good practice and voluntary donations by big corporations. After anger that the fund would impose new obligations for corporations, trade industry & competition minister Parks Tau allayed fears, saying it would not replace existing ESD programmes and contributions would be voluntary. Ndabeni-Abrahams said the government was pushing its plan to allocate 40% of public procurement to women, however women needed strategic procurement opportunities. 'We do see that the government and the private sector still want to use women to only provide catering. We want to ensure that our role does not remain one that provides food and does the décor. We (women) are bigger than those services and that is why we are working with the department of trade, industry & competition to ensure access to funding for small business,' she said. The Women's Dialogue and Stakeholder Luncheon is the first formal engagement of the France South African Investment Conference led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Philisiwe Mthethwa, non-executive director at the Industrial Development Corporation, also speaking at the event, said gender equity was crucial and not only a women's issue but a societal imperative. 'Let us forge partnerships rooted not only in profits but in purpose. Let us walk out of this room with collaborations formed, capital committed, and courage renewed. We are not here because we were invited, we are ready to lead, ready to build, ready to change the story for every woman and every girl, every unseen hereon still waiting to be seen,' she said.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
SA data, airtime too expensive
Concerns over the high costs of data and telephone calls have been raised by various political voices over time. The persistent issue of expensive data and telephone call costs in South Africa requires urgent and meaningful intervention. It has been six years since Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, committed to tackling the "exorbitant" pricing within the communications sector. Regrettably, this commitment has not yet translated into noticeable improvements for consumers. A comparison with other African nations clearly illustrates the price discrepancy. In Ghana, for example, 1 GB of data can be obtained for as little as R1.49, with the highest price point around R23 for the same amount. South African consumers, on the other hand, face considerably steeper charges. To illustrate, Cell C offers 1 GB valid for a single day at R25. Capitec Connect charges R25 for 1 GB valid for a week, and R45 for data without expiry. Even these rates appear more competitive when compared to Vodacom and MTN, both of which charge R89 for 1.2 GB. Further highlighting the disparity, data costs in Nigeria and Brazil are significantly lower, with 1 GB priced at about US$0.39 (R7.12) and US$0.40 (R7.31), respectively. Concerns over these high costs have been raised by various political voices over time. The Inkatha Freedom Party initially called for action, and more recently, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have advocated for the immediate removal of expiry dates for prepaid mobile data and airtime. This underscores the double challenge faced by consumers: high prices coupled with the risk of losing unused data and airtime due to expiration. Promotional offers, such as limited-time WhatsApp data, often force users into intensive, short-term usage to avoid losing their allocation. Until significant reductions in data and call costs are achieved, many South Africans, particularly the youth in both rural and urban areas who are disproportionately affected by these high expenses, will likely continue to feel that the financial burden they face is not being adequately addressed by the relevant authorities.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SA data, airtime too expensive
Concerns over the high costs of data and telephone calls have been raised by various political voices over time. The persistent issue of expensive data and telephone call costs in South Africa requires urgent and meaningful intervention. It has been six years since Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, committed to tackling the "exorbitant" pricing within the communications sector. Regrettably, this commitment has not yet translated into noticeable improvements for consumers. A comparison with other African nations clearly illustrates the price discrepancy. In Ghana, for example, 1 GB of data can be obtained for as little as R1.49, with the highest price point around R23 for the same amount. South African consumers, on the other hand, face considerably steeper charges. To illustrate, Cell C offers 1 GB valid for a single day at R25. Capitec Connect charges R25 for 1 GB valid for a week, and R45 for data without expiry. Even these rates appear more competitive when compared to Vodacom and MTN, both of which charge R89 for 1.2 GB. Further highlighting the disparity, data costs in Nigeria and Brazil are significantly lower, with 1 GB priced at about US$0.39 (R7.12) and US$0.40 (R7.31), respectively. Concerns over these high costs have been raised by various political voices over time. The Inkatha Freedom Party initially called for action, and more recently, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have advocated for the immediate removal of expiry dates for prepaid mobile data and airtime. This underscores the double challenge faced by consumers: high prices coupled with the risk of losing unused data and airtime due to expiration. Promotional offers, such as limited-time WhatsApp data, often force users into intensive, short-term usage to avoid losing their allocation. Until significant reductions in data and call costs are achieved, many South Africans, particularly the youth in both rural and urban areas who are disproportionately affected by these high expenses, will likely continue to feel that the financial burden they face is not being adequately addressed by the relevant authorities.
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Spaza shop registration: A mere 6% have been licensed, says Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says out of a total of 87,407 spaza shops that have been registered, just over 5,000 have been issued with licences. Image: File picture: Kopano Tlape/GCIS A mere 6% of registered spaza shops have been issued with licences, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said. Ndabeni-Abrahams disclosed that a total of 87 407 spaza shops have been registered since the registration was closed. 'Out of that 87 407, 54 583 are owned by South Africans while 32 824 are owned by non-South Africans. "And out of that number, only 5 456 have been issued licences,' she said. Ndabeni-Abrahams gave the figures during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday, when ANC MP Cristopher Malematja enquired about the number of spaza shops that have been registered since the expiry of the deadline for their registration. She told MPs that the process of registering spaza shops was the competency of the municipalities. 'The numbers that I'm presenting here are numbers that we have received from the report as we work together with the Department of Cogta. "In order to make sure that we also verify the information that we have received, our teams are able to then account for the numbers that have been verified.' The registration of spaza shops was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa last November following the deaths of at least 22 children after a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses were reported across all provinces. Ramaphosa announced that all spaza shops and other food handling facilities should be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days. Those that were not registered within the stipulated time and did not meet all health standards and requirements were to be closed. However, the initial deadline was extended amid integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams undertaking compliance inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesaler and retailers. In a follow-up question, Malematja enquired about the specific legal, administrative and operational criteria utilised by Ndabeni-Abrahams's department and its agencies to assess compliance during the spaza shop registration process. He also asked about the number of shops that have been closed due to non-compliance since the expiration of the registration deadline and reasons cited for their his closure. In response, Ndabeni-Abrahams cited the Businesses Act, the National Consumer Protection Act, the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act and the National Health Act as the legislation to ensure compliance by the spaza shops. 'All of these seek to do the most important things, address the challenges that talk to the absence of valid trading licenses or permits and look into the failures that are there to register businesses with appropriate authorities.' However, Ndabeni-Abrahams said they were awaiting an updated report from the NatJoints of the number of the spaza shops that will be closed or that have been closed since the registration process. Ndabeni-Abrahams said the R500m fund that has been established with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has not dispensed monies as yet, pending the verification of spaza shops. She explained that the fund will benefit compliant South African-owned businesses and those owned by those foreigners naturalised prior to 1994. Cape Argus
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Only 6 percent of 87,000 newly registered spaza shops have been issued with licences
Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says out of a total of 87,407 spaza shops that have been registered, just over 5,000 have been issued with licences. Image: File picture: Kopano Tlape/GCIS The number of registered spaza shops that actually have been issued with licences sits at a mere 6%, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said on Wednesday. Ndabeni-Abrahams disclosed that a total of 87,407 spaza shops have been registered since the registration was closed. 'Out of that 87,407, 54,583 are owned by South Africans while 32,824 are owned by non-South Africans. And out of that number, only 5,456 have been issued licences,' she said. Ndabeni-Abrahams gave the figures during the question and answer session in the National Assembly when ANC MP Cristopher Malematja enquired about the number of spaza shops that have been registered since the expiry of the deadline for their registration. She told MPs that the process of registering spaza shops was the competency of the municipalities. 'The numbers that I'm presenting here are numbers that we have received from the report as we work together with the Department of Cogta. In order to make sure that we also verify the information that we have received, our teams are able to then account for the numbers that have been verified.' The registration of spaza shops was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa last November following the deaths of at least 22 children after a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses were reported across all provinces. Ramaphosa had announced that all spaza shops and other food handling facilities should be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days. Those that were not registered within the stipulated time and did not meet all health standards and requirements were to be closed. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ However, the initial deadline was extended amid integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams undertaking compliance inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesaler and retailers. In a follow-up question, Malematja enquired about the specific legal, administrative and operational criteria utilised by Ndabeni-Abrahams's department and its agencies to assess compliance during the spaza shop registration process. He also asked about the number of shops that have been closed due to non-compliance since the expiration of the registration deadline and reasons cited for their his closure. In response, Ndabeni-Abrahams cited the Businesses Act, the National Consumer Protection Act, the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act and the National Health Act as the legislation to ensure compliance by the spaza shops. 'All of these seek to do the most important things, address the challenges that talk to the absence of valid trading licenses or permits and look into the failures that are there to register businesses with appropriate authorities.' However, Ndabeni-Abrahams said they were awaiting an updated report from the NatJoints of the number of the spaza shops that will be closed or that have been closed since the registration process. 'Those that have heeded the call to get registered will not be affected. We have given them a space of six months to make sure that they are compliant,' she said, adding that a fund has been established to assist them with compliance. 'Once we get the report from the NatJoints that is updated on the specifics in terms of those that are not compliant, we'll be able to then provide it to the House and other honourable members.' Ndabeni-Abrahams said the R500m fund that has been established with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has not dispensed monies as yet, pending the verification of spaza shops. She explained that the fund will benefit compliant South African-owned businesses and those owned by those foreigners naturalised prior to 1994. 'The reason to establish that fund is mainly to assist South African-owned spaza shops to make sure that they don't get closed - those that are not compliant - but also to help them create a competitive edge over the partners that they are competing with.'
