Cape Town - The DA plans to make it easier for people to start their own businesses to grow employment, its leaders said on Monday.
"We believe that South Africa's failure to grow the economy and create jobs is, in part, a failure to cultivate a nation of entrepreneurs," Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said in Cape Town.
Mazibuko and her fellow MPs blamed the ANC for strangling citizens' entrepreneurial spirit through red-tape.
The party was unveiling its plan "Building a Nation of Entrepreneurs" - part three of a five part strategy on jobs and growth.
It outlined how the party intended ensuring small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) get off the ground and thrive.
Mazibuko gave several examples of how small businesses could drive job creation.
"In the United States, SMMEs have created 80% of new jobs over the last 10 years, and form 98% of all employer firms," she said.
"In India, the figure is 90%. In Ghana, it is estimated that 92% of all the businesses in the country are small businesses, and they contribute about 70% to the national GDP."
Mazibuko said in South Africa, firms with fewer than 50 workers accounted for 68% of employment.
If the DA were in power, it would ensure less red-tape and reduce costs to start a business.
"The DA will do this by establishing business registration one-stop-shops; implementing regulatory impact assessments to gauge costs, benefits and risks of all new legislation," she said.
"We believe that South Africa's failure to grow the economy and create jobs is, in part, a failure to cultivate a nation of entrepreneurs," Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko said in Cape Town.
Mazibuko and her fellow MPs blamed the ANC for strangling citizens' entrepreneurial spirit through red-tape.
The party was unveiling its plan "Building a Nation of Entrepreneurs" - part three of a five part strategy on jobs and growth.
It outlined how the party intended ensuring small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) get off the ground and thrive.
Mazibuko gave several examples of how small businesses could drive job creation.
"In the United States, SMMEs have created 80% of new jobs over the last 10 years, and form 98% of all employer firms," she said.
"In India, the figure is 90%. In Ghana, it is estimated that 92% of all the businesses in the country are small businesses, and they contribute about 70% to the national GDP."
Mazibuko said in South Africa, firms with fewer than 50 workers accounted for 68% of employment.
If the DA were in power, it would ensure less red-tape and reduce costs to start a business.
"The DA will do this by establishing business registration one-stop-shops; implementing regulatory impact assessments to gauge costs, benefits and risks of all new legislation," she said.