Challenges facing small, micro and medium enterprises (SMME) at the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality of Northern Cape province in South Africa

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the challenges that the SMMEs faced in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality (SPLM) in the Northern cape and further provide solutions that can assist in the future. SMMEs are viewed as the foundation for economic development and create jobs for the community. The objective of the study was established and evaluated. This study was qualitative in nature, and the data was collected from a sample of 15 SMMEs within the jurisdiction of SPLM, using non-probability sampling to find an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing SMMEs. Data was collected using semi-structural interviews. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse data through ATLAS.ti software. SMMEs in SPLM contribute to the economy and create jobs. However, these SMMEs are experiencing many challenges such as technology, crime, unemployment, lack of access to the market, training, financial resources, and poor infrastructure that led to failure. There are no guidelines to assist SMMEs to manage, sustaining developing their business hence the study was conducted. With the aim to investigate and obtain an understanding of the challenges and further provides solutions that can assist in the future. Furthermore, there are no similar studies conducted that highlight the challenges of SMMEs in SPLM. The findings from this study further reveal that these SMMEs also experience the following challenges: late payment, political interference, competition, Covid-19, economic factors, lack of mentorship and unfair practice. These findings appeared to be the stumbling block to the growth of these SMMEs.

Maikemisetso a thuto e ne e le ho batlisisa mathata a di-SMME tse lebahaneng le tsona Masepaleng wa Selehae wa Sol Plaatje (SPLM) Kapa Bokone le ho tswella ho fana ka ditharollo tse ka ba thusang nakong e tlang. Di-SMME di nkwa e le motheo wa ntshetsopele ya moruo le ho thehela setjhaba mesebetsi. Sepheo sa thuto se ile sa thehwa le ho hlahlojwa. Phuputso ena e ne e le ya boleng ka tlhaho, mme dintlha di ile tsa bokellwa ho tswa sampoleng ya di-SMME tse 15 ka hara matla a SPLM. Sampole e seng monyetla e ile ya sebediswa ho fumana kutlwisiso e tebileng ya diphephetso tse tobaneng le di-SMME. Dintlha di ile tsa bokellwa ho sebediswa dipuisano tse hlophisitsweng hantle. Ho ile ha sebediswa hlahlobo ya sehlooho ho sekaseka data ka software ya ATLAS.ti. Leha di-SMME ho SLPM di kenya letsoho moruong le ho theheng mesebetsi, di tobana le diqholotso tse ngata jwalo ka thekenoloji, botlokotsebe, kgaello ya phihlello ya mmaraka, kwetliso, mehlodi ya ditjhelete, le meaho e mebe e lebisang ho hloleheng. Ha ho na ditataiso tse thusang di-SMME ho laola le ho ntshetsa pele kgwebo ya bona. Sepheo sa phuputso e ne e le ho batlisisa le ho utlwisisa diqholotso tsa bona le ho tswela pele ho fana ka ditharollo tse ka ba thusang nakong e tlang. Ho feta moo, ha ho diphuputso tse tshwanang tse entsweng tse bontshang diqholotso tsa di-SMME ho SPLM. Ditshenolo tsa phuputso ena di boetse di hlahisa diqholotso tse ding tseo di-SMME tsena di tobanang le tsona tse kang ditefo tsa moraorao, tshitiso ya dipolotiki, tlhodisano, Covid-19, maemo a moruo, kgaello ya boeletsi le tlwaelo e hlokang toka. Diqholotso tsena di ile tsa bonahala e le tshitiso kgolong ya di-SMME tsena.

Tshipikwa tsha ngudo iyi ndi u sengulusa khaedu dzo livhanaho na dzi SMME ngei kha Masipala Wapo wa Sol Plaatje (SPLM) kha la Northern Cape na u dovha u nekedza thasululo dzine dza nga vha thusa matshelo. Dzi SMME dzi sedzwa sa mutheo wa mveledziso ya ikonomi na u sika mishumo kha tshitshavha. Ndivho ya ngudo yo thomiwa na u elwa. Ngudo iyi ndi ya khwalithethivi, nahone data yo vha yo kuvhanganyiwa u bva kha tsumbonanguludzwa ya dzi SMME dza 15 kha vhupo ha SPLM. Tsumbonanguludzwa i si na khonadzeo yo shumiswa u kona u pfesesa vhukuma khaedu dzo livhanaho na dzi SMME. Data yo kuvhanganywa nga inthaviwu dzo dzudzanywaho. Musaukanyo nga thero wo shumiswa u saukanya data nga kha sofutiwee ya ATLAS.ti. Musi dzi SMME kha SLPM dzo dzhenelela kha ikonomi na u sika mishumo, dzo livhana na khaedu nnzhi sa thekhinolodzhi, vhugevhenga, u shaya u swikelela maraga, vhugudisi, zwiko zwa masheleni, a themamveledziso i si takadzi ze zwa vhanga u kundelwa. Ahuna nyendedzi dza u thusa dzi SMME u langa na u bveledza mabindu avho. Tshipikwa tsha ngudo ho vha u sengulusa na u pfesesa khaedu dzavho na u dovha u nekedza thasululo dzine dza nga vha thusa matshelo. Zwiṅwe hafhu, ahuna ngudo dzi elanaho nadzo dzo itwaho u sumbedza khaedi dza dzi SMME kha SPLM. Mawanwa u bva kha ngudo a dovha a bvisela khagala dziṅwe khaedu dzi re hone dzo livhanaho na SMME sa u lenga u badelwa, u dzhenelela ha politiki, mutatisano, Covid-19, zwivhumbi zwa politiki, u shaya vhupfumbudzi na maitele a u dzhia sia. Khaedu idzi dzo vha zwithithisi kha nyaluwo ya dzo SMME idzi.