Support for rural small businesses in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Figures & data

Table 1: Average breakdown of SMMEs according to size or class

Size or class	Total full-time equivalent of paid employees	Total annual turnover	Total gross asset value
Medium	<200	<R25.00 million	<R8.00 million
Small	<50	<R10.00 million	<R3.00 million
Very small	<10	<R2.50 million	<R0.70 million
Micro	<5	<R0.50 million	<R0.10 million

Figure 1 Spatial distribution of administrative district councils within the Limpopo Province

Figure 2 Municipal district/region (n = 534)

Figure 3 Subsectors of SMMEs interviewed

Figure 4 Age of business (n = 528)

Figure 5 Financier of start-up capital (n  = 522)

Table 2: Perception of the different SMME support systems

Small business support requirements/systems	Agree	Disagree
Training for skills development
On-the-job training is an effective form of training for my type of business	(374) 69.5	(71) 13.5
I would be able to manage my business better with some training	(435) 83.8	(39) 7.5
Hands-on training is readily available for staff development	(160) 31.3	(205) 40.2
Training for staff development is easily accessible	(115) 22.3	(299) 57.9
There are known organisations where training for my business is provided	(155) 29.6	(175) 33.5
Managerial training is easily accessible	(99) 19.1	(319) 61.7
Financial assistance
Financial providers insist on greater control of the business activities	(232) 44.1	(154) 29.3
There are not many financial support options available to small businesses	(410) 77.9	(61) 11.6
Banking sector is unwilling to give loans to small businesses	(310) 58.9	(72) 13.7
Finance is the biggest problem facing small businesses	(456) 87.2	(39) 7.5
Private institutions such as building societies are prepared to assist small businesses financially	(109) 20.9	(184) 35.2
I would sacrifice my independence to obtain financial assistance	(210) 40.8	(248) 48.2
Government is not doing enough to help small businesses financially	(394) 75.7	(64) 12.1
Government support
Government policies are favourable to small business development	(98) 18.9	(292) 56.3
Government-sponsored organisations such as DBSA and Business Partners are prepared to assist small businesses	(139) 26.5	(126) 24
Partnerships and subcontracts
Big businesses are always ready to share valuable information with SMMEs	(160) 30.6	(240) 45.9
Big business is prepared to start partnerships with SMMEs	(152) 29.1	(218) 41.7
Subcontracting of SMMEs by big business improves skills of SMME employees	(319) 60.9	(74) 14.1
Forming partnerships with big businesses improves business relations	(412) 78.2	(41) 7.8
Other forms of support
Business counselling can be obtained at low cost	(70) 13.5	(321) 61.5
Business advice is easily available	(114) 21.9	(301) 57.8
Product advertising is a costly method of attracting customers	(393) 75.9	(70) 13.5
Note: Data presented as n (%).