Challenges Faced By Small, Medium And Micro Enterprises In The Nkonkobe Municipality

This study investigated the challenges that are faced by entrepreneurs in the Nkonkobe Municipality in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and the objectives were to identify and suggest solutions for the challenges. This study followed a qualitative research design and in-depth interviews were used to gather data from the respondents. Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) owners and managers in the Nkonkobe Municipality were the target population. A sample of thirty respondents was drawn using purposive sampling method. Most of the respondents who participated in the study were from the agricultural industry, trading sector, and the arts and crafts industry. The challenges identified as impediments to the establishment, survival and growth of these SMMEs include lack of networking opportunities, lack of access to finance and inadequate government support. Recommendations were suggested to the SMME owners and managers, government agencies and the local municipality

The Importance Of Entrepreneurial Competencies On The Performance Of Women Entrepreneurs In South Africa

The study investigated the importance of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of women entrepreneurs in East London, South Africa. The objectives of this study were to identify key entrepreneurial competencies that influence the performance of women entrepreneurs, to establish a relationship between entrepreneurial competencies and the performance of women entrepreneurs and to suggest strategies that can be implemented to improve entrepreneurial competencies of women entrepreneurs. Both primary and secondary data source were used in this research. This research followed a quantitative research design. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The findings of this research showed that entrepreneurial competencies are crucial for the survival and performance of SMMEs

The impact of entrepreneurship education on the performance of small, micro and medium enterprises in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play an important role in contributing to economic development of many countries around the world, including South Africa. Despite the importance of SMMEs an unacceptable and disappointingly high number of these ventures fail during the first few years of operation. It is in light of the importance and challenges faced by SMMEs that the performance of SMMEs is of interest to all countries. This study investigated the impact of entrepreneurship education on the performance of SMMEs in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The objectives of the study were to investigate the role of entrepreneurship education in improving entrepreneurship skills and knowledge of owner/managers of SMMEs in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, to determine the role of entrepreneurship education on the establishment and survival of SMMEs and to identify strategies that can be implemented to improve the performance of SMMEs. Both primary and secondary data sources were used in this study. A quantitative research design was used in conducting this research. Simple random sampling, a probability sampling technique was used to select a sample of 201 from the sample frame of 420 registered SMMEs. The survey method, by way of a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) is the statistical software that was used to analyse data. The Chi-square test, the T-test, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. Validity and reliability of the research instrument and the findings was assured. The results for this study are useful for the development of the SMME sector, which is very important to South Africa for they contribute to the solving of socio-economic challenges. The findings of this research showed that entrepreneurship education has a positive impact on the performance of SMMEs and it plays a critical role in improving entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of SMME owners and managers. It was also found that entrepreneurial education is very important for the establishment and survival of SMMEs. Strategies that can be implemented to improve the performance of SMMEs in South Africa were suggested to the government, government agencies, educational institutions, other organisations, and SMME owners and managers

Influence of Perceived Time and Entrepreneurial Skills Constraints on Entrepreneurship Interest among Final Year Undergraduate and Honours Students at the University of Fort Hare

Several scholarly efforts have been previously exerted in investigating student entrepreneurship interest in the developed countries, and several studies have contributed in this direction, yet little was achieved in South Africa. The main aim of this study was to empirically assess perceived time and entrepreneurial skills constraints as possible barriers to entrepreneurial interest among a sample of 366 (205 (56%) male and 161 (46%) female) final year undergraduate and postgraduate ‘honours' students of a previously disadvantaged university in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, using the survey research design, and a structured validated questionnaire. Three hypotheses were stated and tested using Multiple Regression Analysis. The results revealed that perceived time and entrepreneurial skills constraints jointly influenced entrepreneurship interest, F (2, 363) = 25.887; R2 = 0.120; p<. 01. The results further revealed that perceived time constraint independently influenced entrepreneurship interest, (β = 0.226; t= 4.108; p< .01). Likewise, the results showed that entrepreneurial skills constraint independently influenced entrepreneurship interest, (β = 0.188; t= 3.415; p< .01). The findings are valuable to the policy makers and professionals in promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship among the youth, with the consequence decline rate of joblessness

A narrative analysis of barriers encountered by a sample of immigrant entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa

A growing movement of foreign nationals is settling and starting up businesses in South Africa. Given this fact, there is a need to understand those factors influencing the human capital side of being an immigrant entrepreneur as a basis for coming up with mechanisms to support such a sample group. The focus of this empirical investigation was to understand those barriers that are encountered by immigrant entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. To fully experience this, there is a need to understand those factors that affect immigrant entrepreneurship as a practice and the entrepreneur as someone who seeks to enact this value. The narrative research paradigm was adopted to understand the main purpose of the study. Guided by the study objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted using a sample of foreign immigrants operating businesses in the Eastern Cape (n = 23). Individual stories and narratives highlighted the fact that immigrant entrepreneurs encountered the following challenges: financial resources, xenophobia and crime, legislation and finally lack of networks

Factors influencing student usage of an online learning community: the case of a rural South African university

Technology adoption within higher education is becoming popular. This has often resulted in hubs of learning referred to as an online learning community. The success of such platforms is dependent on full system utilisation. The study draws on a quantitative empirical investigation into the factors that influence the adoption of an online learning community amongst 252 first year students at a rural university in South Africa. The results of the study show that a positive relationship exists between online course design and student ratings of perceived usefulness and perceived interaction (PI) concerning the utilisation and usage of an online learning community. Furthermore, the online learning community’s interface design was found to be positively related to ratings of perceived ease of use but not with PI. Based on these findings, interventions are proposed, which have ramifications in working within online learning communities to benefit both the student and the lecturer

Government social protection and households’ welfare during the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa

Purpose – This study evaluates the impact of government social protection interventions on households’ welfare in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses survey data comprising 393 observations and the multinomial logistic regression technique to analyse the effect of government interventions on households’ welfare. For robustness purposes, a negative binomial regression model is also estimated whose results corroborate the main results from the multinomial regression model. Findings – The study’s findings show that government economic interventions through social protection significantly reduce the likelihood of a decrease in household income or consumption. COVID-19 grant/social relief of distress grant, unemployment insurance, tax relief and job protection and creation are all significant in sustaining household income and consumption. Practical implications – The findings have policy implications for social development. Specifically, the findings support the use of government social protection as a safety net for low-income groups in South Africa. Originality/value – The study presents preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of several measures used to ameliorate the COVID-19-induced recession within the South African context