Employment is one of the biggest ways small businesses can contribute to the economy yet the government continues to turn a blind eye to the troubling realities faced by business owners like Vilakazi and pay lip service to the sector’s role in economic recovery.
For 20 years Amos Vilakazi’s tuckshop enjoyed decent business with about 300 customers a week and making R3,000 in profit – but it all fell apart nine months ago when a local transformer blew up.