Small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and the covid-19 pandemic: what aided supervisors in Umhlathuze Municipality in traversing the disaster?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that helped small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in uMhlathuze Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to survive the COVID-19 disaster. Given that disasters are increasingly becoming the norm, the research was prompted by the need to obtain information that can mitigate SMME failure in the face of disasters like COVID-19. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Pilot study was done using two purposefully sampled SMMEs from uMhlathuze Municipality to test the suitability of the interview guide and the attitude of participants towards the research. Data obtained from the pilot survey was not included in the data analysis. Data for the research was extracted from twelve purposefully sampled SMME owners and managers from uMhlathuze Municipality using semi-structured interviews. The Thematic Analysis technique and Atlas.ti software (version 23.2.3.27778) were used to analyse the collected data. Research findings revealed that SMMEs in uMhlathuze Municipality were affected by diverse COVID-19 induced challenges. However, the good state in which the SMMEs were before the pandemic, coupled with the measures the SMMEs embraced to fend off the COVID-19 challenges, aided the survival of the SMMEs. Furthermore, research evidence showed that COVID-19 offered businesses certain opportunities. These opportunities also assisted other SMMEs to survive the COVID-19 crisis. Based on the research findings, the study recommends that SMMEs need to be equipped with crisis management skills to ensure their long-term sustainability. Furthermore, the government should embrace equitable treatment of registered SMMEs to reduce SMME failure and achieve inclusive growth.

Ndivho ya ngudo iyi ndi u sedza kha zwivhumbi zwo thusaho mabindu maṱuku, ane a khou aluwa na o linganelaho (SMMEs) kha Masipala wa uMhlathuze ngei KwaZulu-Natal, Afrika Tshipembe, u konḓelela tshiwo tsha COVID-19. Musi zwiwo zwi khou dzulela u vha nḓowelo, ṱhoḓisiso dzo kombetshedzwa nga ṱhoḓea ya u wana mafhungo ane a nga lugisa u kundelwa ha SMME musi hu na zwiwo zwi nga ho sa COVID-19. Ṱhoḓisiso dza khwaḽithethivi dzo shumiswa kha ngudo. Ngudo thangeli dzo itwa hu khou shumiswa SMME mbili dzo nangiwaho kha Masipala wa uMhlathuze u linga u tea ha nyendedzi ya inthaviwu na vhuḓifari ha vhadzheneli kha ṱhoḓisiso. Data yo wanala u bva kha tsedzuluso dza thangeli a yo ngo katela musaukanyo wa data. Data ya ṱhoḓisiso yo bviswa kha vhaṋe vha dzi SMME vha fumimbili vho nangiwaho hu na ndivho na minidzhere dza Masipala wa uMhlathuze nga u shumisa inthaviwu dzo dzudzanywaho. Thekiniki ya Musaukanyo wa Thero na sofuthiwee ya Atlas.ti (vesheni 23.2.3.27778) zwo shumiswa u saukanya data yo kuvhanganyiwaho. Mawanwa a ṱhoḓisiso o sumbedza uri SMME dza Masipala wa uMhlathuze dzo kwamea nga khaedu khulwane dza COVID-19. Fhedzi, zwe SMME dza vha dzo imisa zwone zwavhuḓi phanḓa ha dwadze, kathihi na maga o shumiswaho nga SMME u tshila musi wa khaedu dza COVID-19, o thusaho u konḓelela ha dziSMME. Zwiṅwe hafhu, vhuṱanzi ha ṱhoḓisiso ho sumbedza uri COVID-19 yo ṋekedza mabindu zwiṅwe zwikhala. Zwikhala izwi zwi dovha zwa thusa dziṅwe SMME u tshila musi wa COVID-19. Ho sedzwa kha mawanwa a ṱhoḓisiso, ngudo dzi themendela uri SMME dzi tea u shomedzwa nga zwikili zwa ndangulo ya musi wa khombo u khwaṱhisedza u sa nyeṱha ha tshifhinga tshilapfu. Zwiṅwe hafhu, muvhuso u tea u ṱanganedza u farwa hu linganaho dza SMME dzo ṅwaliswaho u fhungudza u kundelwa ha SMME na u swikelela nyaluwo nyangaredzi.

Inhloso yalolu cwaningo bekuwukuhlola izinto ezisize amabhizinisi amancane naphakathi nendawo abuye aziwe ngokuthi ‘ama-small, micro, and medium enterprises’ (SMMEs) kuMasipala waseMhlathuze KwaZulu-Natal, eNingizimu Afrika, ukuthi asinde enhlekeleleni yoKhuvethe. Njengoba izinhlekelele ziya ngokuya ziba yinjwayelo, ucwaningo lwagqugquzelwa isidingo sokuthola ulwazi olunganciphisa ukwehluleka kwama-SMME lapho kubhekene nezinhlekelele ezifana noKhuvethe. Kwathathwa indlela yocwaningo yesimo ocwaningweni. Ucwaningo lokuhlola lwenziwe kusetshenziswa ama-SMMEs amabili athathwe kuMasipala waseMhlathuze ukuze kuhlolwe ukufaneleka komhlahlandlela wenhlolokhono kanye nesimo sengqondo sababambe iqhaza ngocwaningo. Idatha etholwe ocwaningweni lokuhlola ayizange ifakwe ekuhlaziyweni kwedatha noma imininingwane Imininingwane yocwaningo ithathwe kubanikazi nabaphathi bama-SMME abenze amasampula ngamabomu kuMasipala waseMhlathuze kusetshenziswa inhlolokhono engaphelele noma engagcwele. Indlela yokuhlaziya isihloko kanye nesofthiwe ye-Atlas.ti (ivejini 23.2.3.27778) yasetshenziswa ukuze kuhlaziywe imininngwane eqoqiwe. Ucwaningo luveze ukuthi ama-SMMEs kuMasipala waseMhlathuze athinteke ngenxa yezinselelo ezehlukene ezidalwe yiKhuvethe. Kodwa-ke, isimo esihle lapho ama-SMME ayekuso ngaphambi kwalolu bhubhane, kuhambisana nezinyathelo ama-SMME azamukele ukuze agweme izinselelo zoKhuvethe , kusize ukusinda kwama-SMME. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ubufakazi bocwaningo buveze ukuthi uKhuvethe inika amabhizinisi amathuba athile. Lawa mathuba aphinde asize amanye ama-SMMEs ukuthi asinde enhlekeleleni yoKhuvethe. Ngokusekelwe emiphumeleni yocwaningo, ucwaningo luncoma ukuthi ama-SMME adinga ukuhlonyiswa ngamakhono okulawula izinkinga ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukusimama kwawo kwesikhathi eside. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uhulumeni kufanele amukele ukuphathwa ngokulinganayo kwama-SMME abhalisiwe ukuze kwehliswe ukwehluleka kwama-SMME futhi kuzuze ukukhula okubandakanya wonke umuntu.