A young man just knocked onto my office door with documents in hand. I opened ready to give directions. He said “Hi sis wami. I’m looking for a job”. I had nothing to offer, and felt my stomach twist into knots as I said to him “I’m sorry, unfortunately I have nothing”

What shatters me the most is that in precisely 4 days I was well on plan to employ more than 5 people. All I needed was some sort of financial support. A loan, a grant, anything. I’ve engaged multiple agencies of @DSBD_SA, and still, nothing. So my retail opportunity is frozen

So each time I hear entrepreneurship chats from Pres. @CyrilRamaphosa & @GovernmentZA, I get overcome by resentment and fury. They make promises and raise hopes. I’ve done everything I need to do on my part; still am. But I’m not supported because I don’t go the corrupt route

And let me stand up for myself for a moment here:
Here’s a young girl, started a beauty brand from her kitchen, moved it to her garage when it grew bigger and now moved to a working space. Brand is gaining recognition nationally, and landed a retail deal in just a year & half!

I go to various @DSBD_SA agencies, narrate the story and show employment potential. I also show a solid business case. Let me mention I’m a former management consultant, so I know strategy. And let me also mention I’ve worked for a FMCG, so I know Ops!

One of the agencies actually approved my funding. I applied on the 26th August 2019. Was told I’m approved some time in May 2020. It’s the 28th of August today, I’m still chasing and begging a government agency to help me.

I’m sitting heat devastated now. How am I the person to turn a young person away when they are walking around with a CV in hand asking for a job? What are his circumstances? What is he going home to? Does he have a family to feed? What is his story?

@GovernmentZA, Pres. @CyrilRamaphosa, @DSBD_SA, help entrepreneurs. Big business is chopping down jobs, small businesses are creating jobs. Help us!

Oh look, as I’m writing this thread, this text comes from one of the nail techs who is signed up on my mobile beauty bar @ravesa_beauty. She evidently is desperate for bookings. She’s good at what she does, and again, my heart shatters as I have to say to her “nothing sis”

Do you know how it felt to see the list of PPE tenders given to politically affiliated people with no track record? To see this massive digits behind the R and know that just 10% of one person’s tender would have moved mountains for small businesses? Do you know??? @GovernmentZA

So I’m Working myself to the bone to raise money for my retail opportunity. I do some freelancing work on top of being the only person working on @masodi_organics (from procurement of materials to customer service). Because I’m not going to let my dreams die because of the gov.

why I don’t go the pvt sector route?
1 People there are obsessed with “track record” without context. Especially if you’re Liz from Lephepane village
2 Some want to give you R23.99 and take 80% of your business
3 Hugely connection-based like government. Oh please