Red Tape Reduction Intervention Saves Local Business

The firm, which offers services to the terrestrial, construction and marine industries, secured a R12 million tender to conduct a geological survey for Transnet for the port dugout in Durban.

The small business was struggling to obtain a Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Labour. Without this document, it stood to lose the tender for its biggest project yet.

After three months the company turned to the Western Cape Government's Red Tape Reduction Unit for assistance, who assisted them in obtaining the letter within three days.

Steven Horwood, the chief executive officer of 7 Sea Geoscience, told Minister Winde they would have lost the contract had the Red Tape Reduction Unit not stepped in.

Minister Winde said this was a good example of how the Red Tape Reduction Unit was playing a key role in helping small business to grow.

Minister Winde also visited the province’s Dorp Street Walk-In Centre, which is making it easier to do business with the Western Cape Government. Since the centre was opened eight months ago, the waiting time for tender documents has been reduced from 45 minutes to five minutes.

“Small businesses are key to our economy in that they provide jobs to residents and increased revenue for the province. That is why we are doing everything in our power to assist them. We want people to experience the Western Cape as an easy, efficient place in which to invest and do business. Through their good work, the Red Tape Reduction Unit is changing the brand of our region.”

Minister Winde urged businesspeople to share their red tape issues with the unit.

“The only way the unit can fix the problem is if businesspeople contact them. In this way we can also understand what the underlying problems are in the business or government environment and start to influence system changes.”

On Thursday (25 July) Minister Winde will raise awareness about the Red Tape programme during a walkabout and flyer hand-out at the Food Market in St. Georges Mall.

For any red tape related queries, please call the Western Cape Government Red Tape Call Centre on 0861 888 126. You can also visit the Walk-in Centre at 142 Long Street, Cape Town.