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SME's - still a strong component in the South African economy
Written by: Dr. Rob SmorfittArticle Overview: Despite the educational crisis in South Africa, entrepreneurship is thriving, albeit not the way it could be!
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Free Download - SMEs – SMEs struggling in South Africa. Why? By Dr. Rob Smorfitt |
SME's - still a strong component in the South African economy
South Africa does have a strong entrepreneurial drive. Many of our entrepreneurs have become world leaders in their fields,and provide suitable role models for the future entrepreneurs.
South Africa is strong in trading, retail, mining, manufacturing, IT, and a number of other sectors. We have produced some of the world's greatest inventions.
Even today, we find our entrepreneurs delving into almost every sector, from pebble bed nuclear reactors, to mining to medical.
The South African government has an immense wealth of entrepreneurial expertise in the country, can they find a way to utilise it to the benefit of the country?
SMEs - my PhD topic and African context
SMEs - opportunities in Africa
Facts about SMEs in Africa
SMEs - surviving the recession in Africa
SMEs – SMEs struggling in South Africa. Why?
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About the Author: Dr. Rob Smorfitt RSS for Dr. Rob's articles - Visit Dr. Rob's website  Have an MBA and a PhD in entrepreneurship. Three key areas of ongoing research are entrepreneurship and innovation in large business strategy, the impact of legislation on SME development and SME finance. Run my own SME blog at http://sme-smb-smme.blogspot.com as well as an entrepreneurship and innovation for large businesses blog at http://innoveur.blogspot.com I have been self-employed since 1982. I have started or purchased in excess of 50 businesses since then. Most were sold again and a few were shut down because of a lack of profitability. Many were run by staff or family while I worked full time in my bigger businesses. Author of 6 books. Written articles for various magazines, newspapers and websites. Experienced in research within developing countries.
Click here to visit Dr. Rob's website  
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Related Forum Posts
Re: In-House or Outsource?
- Unfortunately, in the South African context, very few SMEs see outsourcing as an option. They believe it is too expensive, and they are paranoid that someone will "steal their ideas".
I believe that the three main functions that cannot be outsourced are marketing, sales and strategy. These must be done in house I believe. If you do not have the marketing skills then get them. Hire a consultant or attend a course, but get the skills. Even if you use a consultant, you need to understand what marketing is about, as no one knows your market like you do. Marketing is made to seem difficult and complex, but everyone who really understands their markets, can easily learn to do their own marketing.
In South Africa, labour legislation is extremely inflexibile, and consequently labour broking is a large industry. This is an ideal starting point for SMEs in South Africa, as it is a legally complex area, whih comes with severe penalties.
I say do it!
Rob Smorfitt
Re: How will an african make money truely on the net?
- [quote="MichelleJ":2a9hm5bq]Hi Topeyinka
I am just wondering, with Paypal as long as they can get your credit card verification
I don't think that they worry if you are an African or not. I also live in South Africa and
there was no problem getting verified with them once they had checked my credit card
details that proved the card belonged to me.
Michellej[/quote:2a9hm5bq]
Hi Michelle,
You can use paypal to send money and buy as a South African, but you are limited to receive payment. So what is the use of spending money without making it. You cannot accept payment with your paypal.
Any way South Africans can make use of 2CO to recieve payment on theie websites.
Re: Newbie from Africa
- [quote="MichelleJ":1mn7d7fx]Hello Biiyke
Welcome to the forum. Which part of Africa are you from it is quite a big continent? I live in South Africa.
MichelleJ[/quote:1mn7d7fx]Hello MichelleJ,Nice to hear from you.I live in Nigeria.I am also trying to reach the South African market because I know You guys have a lot of unique stuff to show the world!
Re: Hello from South Africa
- Thanks Topeyinka
Nice to see yet another South African here!
Cheers for now
Cyn
[quote="topeyinka":3dokkoo1][quote="CynthiaMinnaar":3dokkoo1]Hi Everyone
My name is Cynthia Minnaar and I run my own online business full-time from my home in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Although I have been submitting articles to Evan Carmichael for quite a while now, it has taken me far too long to finally join the forum! However, I am pleased to finally be here and look forward to learning and contributing.
Great to see familiar faces in the Moderator panel - Hi Carol, David & GT.
Cheers for now
Cyn[/quote:3dokkoo1]
Hi Cyn,
You welcome to the forum. You will always find this forum educative and interactive.
I am also in South Africa, I stay in Pretoria.
You are in the right forum for a new life lift.
Cheers![/quote:3dokkoo1]
Re: How will an african make money truely on the net?
- [quote="MichelleJ":3amqs8x7]Hi Topeyinka
I am just wondering, with Paypal as long as they can get your credit card verification
I don't think that they worry if you are an African or not. I also live in South Africa and
there was no problem getting verified with them once they had checked my credit card
details that proved the card belonged to me.
Michellej[/quote:3amqs8x7]
Good points Michelle
I'm in the US and for most things I do, I have to verify account numbers, tax ID, social security number - this is standard business practice that I'm very familiar with and have done for years. If a company is going to send you money - they need procedures in place to verify the recipient.
There are several countries that I've heard cannot operate through Paypal and other companies for various reasons. With the overall situation of the worldwide economy, I would think that regulations could become tighter and tougher. Recently, we've all seen what happens when there aren't enough regulations in place.
Shri
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