As part of 13th National Congress Resolution on working with progressive civil society organisations and the aftermaths of the riots in the province, COSATU in Gauteng held a meeting with the SSES on 4 August 2021 at COSATU House in Johannesburg. The meeting discussed the challenges faced by small black enterprises in Soweto post the riots and looting mostly in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.

The SSES has 35 members mostly in the Diepkloof area. The businesses of the majority of members of the SSES are have lost everything due to looting and are not insured. In term of the report received only five members are showing the signs of re-building their businesses and part of their challenges is the landlord that is demanding rent even when their businesses are not operating.

It is clear from these engagements that small black owned enterprises will not thrive in this province if they are not united and dependent on big business. Small black owned enterprises are run to the ground deliberately by monopoly capital. COSATU in Gauteng is worried that the GCR Economic Re-Building and Accelerated Initiatives will cover big business that is not sympathetic to small black owned enterprises.

The meeting concluded as to:

·        Convene a meeting with SANCO and SSES;

·        Convene an urgent meeting with the MEC of Economic Development to address challenges faced by small black owned enterprises;

·        Meet with the landlord in question to address rental issues; and

·        Convene a webinar to understand challenges faced by small black owned enterprises at the hands of big business and lack of support from government.

As part of assisting and working together with the small black owned enterprises, we will instruct our clusters and locals to gather information of all unorganised  small black owned enterprises across the province.

Provincial Secretary: Louisa Modikwe – 066 182 2402

Provincial Chairperson: Amos Monyela – 079 493 5002