Intergenerational Leadership Dialogue: The Effects of the Energy Crisis on SMMEs in South Africa

Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are the backbone of South Africa’s economy and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP growth. However, the ongoing energy crisis has resulted in extreme levels of energy poverty across communities. The lack of an adequate, affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy supply poses a significant threat to the development and longevity of these businesses, as well as the opportunity to ramp up SMME growth across South Africa.

In his 2023 Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stressed that the lack of a reliable energy supple is the biggest economic constraint that South Africa is grappling with currently. In response to this increasing crisis, the National Business Initiative (NBI) will be hosting an upcoming Intergenerational Leadership Dialogue: The Effects of Loadshedding on SMMEs in South Africa on 31 May 2023.

 This important discussion will unpack and explore:

• The effects of loadshedding on the South African Economy.
• The importance of collaboration between financial and private institutions to develop sustainable solutions for SMMEs.
• The policy interventions posed by the South African Government to improve access to electricity for both big businesses as well as SMMEs.
• Call to Action: Key opportunities for collaboration between the Public and Private sectors in dealing with the loadshedding crisis and addressing energy poverty across South Africa.

The energy crisis has created a unique vacuum for decisive leadership and reimagined discussion. We need to step into this vacuum and find collective, sustainable and long-term solutions that address not only energy, but socio-economic and sustainable development in the long-term.

 Join us and our esteemed panellists in discussion on the interventions that need to be established and implemented to address the energy crisis and the critical role financial and private institutions must play to successfully empower SMMEs.

Please click here to register for this Zoom event.