Red tape’s stymying small businesses entrepreneurial spirit, job creation

I WOULD like to say, after my past two years of experiencing entrepreneurship in this country, you do not make it particularly easy.

My husband and I have worked hard for all, and the little, that we have.

We both worked and paid for our own studies. We have always worked for whatever it is we have. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

About two years ago we had the guts to start our own business, a restaurant.

We took a dead space that was a parking lot for five cars and turned it into a vibrant, green conscious hub of good food, that grows its own herbs, are all about supporting local initiatives such as the Khulisa Streetscape project, supporting only local seasonal produce and local small producers that do sustainable responsible farming. We have done away with straws and plastics.

We are progressive about saving water. We have built an entire restaurant out of recycled goods and up-cycled whatever we could find. Only the oven and the extraction system is brand new.

In a country where the unemployment rate is at 26.7%, we have managed to create 25 jobs. We have managed to keep a roof over 25 families’ heads and keep food on their tables for almost two years.

We have managed to create a space for local artists – be it fashion, graffiti or music – where they feel safe and they can come and express themselves.

We are now at a point where we are able to send staff on management courses, chef courses, etc, not for our benefit but so that they can better themselves and possibly become gutsy entrepreneurs themselves one day and in return employ another 25-odd people.

We have managed to create an environment where we love our neighbours, work with neighbouring businesses, welcome new business and if you need the proverbial cup of sugar you may come and get it.

What really gets to me is that government red tape and procedure doesn’t make anything easy. I get it, It shouldn’t be easy, but gosh you almost make me wish I was just washing dishes somewhere and pulling a salary at minimum wage.

You can’t register a business (without a business bank account) and are being able to open a business bank account without a registered business name.

We are stuck between only being able to apply for a business licence once doors are open to not actually being able to trade without a business licence?

Don’t get me started on liquor licence applications that take 18 months to get in the Western Cape. Where also one can only apply once you are ready to open your doors as you need to provide colour pictures and measurements of the final space.

Having complied quadruple times over with health and safety, fire department, labour law, you name it, to then when you enquire about the application and said business licence to only get told the person you need to see has retired, his/her position is being advertised and they’ll get back to us when a replacement is appointed.

By the time the new person is appointed the by-laws have changed, so when we were compliant nine months ago as per your law, we now aren’t because you have changed the laws and so the vicious cycle continues.

Still, I as an entrepreneur want to comply.

At no point has someone said: “Well done, thank you for creating jobs, thank you for turning a dead space into a vibrant melting pot of culture, thank you for saving water, thank you for trying to help save the planet by being green and environment conscious.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for a handout but some assistance with red tape and a tax break or so would go a long way in helping young businesses flourish and sort out the unemployment rate we have. It will help put money in the poor man’s pocket instead of just making the rich man richer.

Don’t worry about us, we are okay now, we have our licences, we are being head hunted by major companies to come do what we do; we love what we do and will continue what we do.

But realise that you are in no way assisting the small guy starting his own business. In no way has there been any help, assistance or guidance. There’s only been a strong message of: “We don’t want you here and we do not want you to succeed or manage to create jobs.”

Between the banks, big corporations and government’s various departments’ attitude towards the small business owner, it simply doesn’t feel like entrepreneurship and job creation is wanted.

This is sad to see in a country where job creation is required. I am merely asking you to help us serve our country. As small business owners, we are here, we are working and ready to serve. Help us help you create the jobs that are required. – Proud South African business owner