Page 13 09/05/09 01 01BN0505 EDITION 145 carterc 10:04:32 AM 05/05/09

Big news NEWS MAY 2009 PAGE 13

Networking made easy

MONGEZI Mtati of Netweb Event own refreshments at the venue.
truly is an “ideas guy” and is He also started NetwebTV an
determined to help entrepreneurs online channel on Zoopy at
run their companies effectively and http://www.zoopy.com/NetwebTV
become more successful. where he interviews other
Mtati hosts a monthly net- entrepreneurs, asking them about
working dinner for emerging how they built their companies.
entrepreneurs who are in their first This is designed to showcase
five years of business. South African business talent and
He targets entrepreneurs with make more entrepreneurs, instead
businesses with a turnover of of more people who own jobs.
between R100 000 and R1m. “Bring your business cards and
It is an opportunity for an open mind,” says Mtati.
entrepreneurs — experienced and Contact Mongezi Mtati on
emerging — to rub shoulders while 083 757 3163.
sharing information on how best to Book your seats at http://netweb-
be your brand, woo strategic part- event.pbwiki.com.
ners and raise finance. Read more by Mongezi on
Most of all, according to Mtati, he http://brainskan.blogspot.com.
wants to help business owners to
make their business systems fund
themselves.
Speakers range from consultants
and entrepreneurs to service
providers.
“The Netweb Event focuses on
assisting business owners to become
resourceful; when you are the busi-
ness then capital is not a hindrance,”
says Mtati.
These sessions are hosted on the
first Wednesday of every month at
Doppio Zero in Newtown at 6.30pm.
They are free, but you need to book
your seat in advance and buy your Mongezi Mtati says he is an “ideas guy”.

Keeping SMEs afloat

BY THAMI MZWAI.
............................................................................... estimates that between 30% and business policies and institutions
80% of SMMEs collapse in the first work better.
MUNICIPALITIES and state-owned few years of operation. Hence I suggest that when paras-
entities have quite a problem on However, there are small busi- tatals give business and contracts to
their hands as it appears that many nesses that make it and this is black-owned small enterprises, they
black-owned small businesses end because of several factors, three of must also provide support services
up on the rocks when their contracts them being the exclusive rights to to ensure that these entities survive
come to an end. selling specific goods or services, in the long run.
Two municipalities and a serving niche markets, or having an In my view, it should be a period
state-owned entity have confirmed advantage that no other entity has. that allows the contractor to sta-
that some of their black contractors One or two have darn good man- bilise and others can then get the
ended up deeper in debt than when agement that knows the industry contract. There is no point in giving
they started out, and then pleaded while others could have a big hitter a contract to the next person when
for extensions to their contracts. in the industry as investor. the incumbent will collapse on
For how long must black entities However, they are getting there losing it. One or two terms are not
have contracts so that these help — but need help. After all, govern- enough as the new contractor could
them to be sustainable? ments all over the world have special also collapse if he or she is a
Small businesses operate in the policies and institutions to help completely new player.
same environment as big businesses small businesses survive. ❑ Mazwai is director of the Centre
and they find it hard to hold their SA is also doing quite well in for Small Business Development at
own. Hence, the University of small business support, but we must the University of Johannesburg.
Thami Mzwai, directorof the Centre for Small Business Development. Pretoria’s Prof Marius Pretorius just make sure that our small -Business Day