Media Release: GRDM and stakeholders join hands at District Alignment Workshop to address the needs of local MSMEs

For immediate release
08 September 2026|

The National Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) is currently conducting a series of district workshops and roadshows aimed at engaging with key stakeholders across the district. Representatives include Local Economic Development Managers from local and district municipalities, business chambers and associations representing informal businesses.

The first Workshop is currently underway at the Council Chambers of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) where representatives, this morning, were warmly welcomed by the Executive Mayor, Ald. Marais Kruger.

The purpose of the workshop is to obtain inputs from local and district representatives regarding stakeholder experiences, challenges and best practices, to inform the National Informal Business Upliftment Strategy (NIBUS).

National, Provincial, District and Local Government representatives during the District Alignment Workshop.

Discussions this morning covered a range of key topics, including the products and support offerings of the DSBD, the Strategic Direction and Strengthened District Implementation Approach of the DSBD, Existing Programmes, Priorities and Opportunities for Alignment from a Provincial perspective, as well as the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) support offering and the District Partnership / Referral Approach.

When welcoming all present, Mayor Kruger stated that “our primary objective should be to bridge the gap between informality and economic readiness”.

“Through targeted interventions – focusing on infrastructure development, skills training, technological transfer and innovation, and regulatory relaxation – we want to create an ecosystem where an informal enterprise can seamlessly evolve into a sustainable micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME)” he added.

Kruger further acknowledged that red tape is a challenge many informal business leaders are faced with when he emphasised: “We must ensure that these business leaders are unburdened by red tape, protected by fair local policies, and equipped with the corporate governance, financial literacy, and marketing tools required to become funding-ready so their businesses can thrive”.  Mayor Kruger further noted that no single sphere of government can achieve this alone. “True development relies heavily on the Joint District and Metro Approach (JDMA) / (DDM) into our local economic frameworks,” he said.

With the following words, Mayor Kruger concluded and said: “As the Garden Route District Municipality, we stand firmly committed to supporting our B-Municipalities – to align our local bylaws and economic development initiatives. By pulling in one direction with national and provincial departments, alongside private sector partners, we ensure that informal traders receive uniform, high-impact support across the entire district footprint”.

Further items discussed on the agenda included products and offerings of the SEDFA, the strategic direction and a strengthened District Implement Approach of the DSBD, a facilitated District Priority-Setting, a District NIBUS Action Plan, as well as the way forward.

The event is well represented by local municipalities across the district as well as national and provincial stakeholders in a virtual format.

ENDS