Mike Anderson, National Small Business Chamber (NSBC) founder and CEO, believes the president’s latest address to locked-down South Africans, on May 13, is too little too late for small businesses.
“The threat to small businesses and the livelihoods because of job losses in this sector and increased poverty is far greater than the threat to lives as a result of anything else,” said Anderson.
“Even at level three, 75 per cent of small businesses still have enormous restrictions on rights. A continued lockdown with no end in sight is not in the best interests of the small business sector and the economy. Small businesses need more direction and assurance so that they can plan and prepare.”
He stressed that the Covid-19 Small Business Relief and Recovery Centre, powered by the NSBC, is to help small businesses by doing whatever we can to take their pain away during this crisis and then to bring them back way after the pandemic has subsided.
“This could be years,” said Anderson. “Small businesses are vital economic engines. A flourishing small business sector is the future of job creation. We have to ensure that we bridge businesses through these trying times. Our goal is to make sure businesses stay in business and that we keep workers employed.
“The NSBC, he added, is pleading to the mercurial job creators within the small business sector throughout the nation to hang in there.
“You are resilient and courageous and you must believe that you will triumph and come out stronger. “Now is the time to stay calm, be positive, adapt, learn new things and try new things.
“The NSBC will keep fighting the good fight to get you back into business and help you to prosper; we ask you to keep fighting too,” concluded Anderson.
For more information about the Covid-19 Small Business Relief Centre visit www.nsbc.africa or send an email to covid19@nsbc.africa
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