Dear Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development,

I write to you not only as an entrepreneur but as someone deeply invested in the transformation and growth of South Africa’s small business sector. Having founded Winsome Africa, a company dedicated to assisting businesses in automating their financial processes, I have firsthand experience of the financial and regulatory hurdles that hinder entrepreneurs from scaling, innovating, and contributing meaningfully to economic development.

One of the most pressing issues faced by entrepreneurs is the difficulty in securing funding for business expansion and innovation. While government funding mechanisms exist, many small businesses struggle to access them due to stringent requirements, prolonged approval processes, and a lack of alignment between funding institutions and real entrepreneurial needs. Additionally, private sector funding remains elusive for many due to high-interest rates and risk-averse lending models that exclude high-potential but undercapitalized businesses.

Compounding this challenge is the high cost of doing business, particularly compliance costs. Many small businesses are burdened with regulatory requirements that, while necessary, create significant financial and administrative strain. Compliance with tax, labor, and financial reporting laws can be overwhelming, often requiring businesses to divert much-needed capital away from innovation and growth toward regulatory upkeep. For many, compliance becomes a barrier rather than an enabler of success.

A Call for Entrepreneur-Led Solutions
While government support structures exist, they often fall short because they are designed without deep engagement with the very entrepreneurs they seek to assist. The solution lies in bringing entrepreneurs into the policy and solution-crafting processes. Entrepreneurs understand the realities of starting and scaling businesses in a way that traditional policy approaches may not fully capture.

I propose that the Department of Small Business Development formally involve experienced entrepreneurs in shaping funding models, streamlining compliance frameworks, and developing policies that encourage rather than stifle innovation. As someone who has built a business from the ground up and assisted countless others in navigating financial challenges, I would like to volunteer to be part of such an initiative. My expertise in finance, accounting, and business automation can contribute to crafting practical, implementable solutions that benefit the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Role of Winsome Africa in This Vision
At Winsome Africa, we have seen firsthand how tailored financial strategies and automated reporting solutions can ease the burden on businesses. We work with entrepreneurs across industries, helping them achieve compliance while remaining financially viable. However, private initiatives alone cannot solve systemic issues—collaboration with government and key stakeholders is essential to drive meaningful change.

I urge this Committee to consider:

Revising funding criteria to be more accessible to entrepreneurs, particularly those in high-growth sectors.
Reducing compliance costs by digitizing and streamlining reporting requirements for small businesses.
Establishing an entrepreneur advisory panel to work alongside the Department in shaping policies and funding models that are truly responsive to small business realities.
I welcome the opportunity to further engage with the Committee and contribute to discussions aimed at strengthening South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Let us move beyond discussions and implement solutions that make entrepreneurship a powerful driver of economic transformation.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and the opportunity to collaborate toward a more enabling business environment for South African entrepreneurs.

Yours sincerely,

Tumuge Lutic Mosoane
Founder & President, Winsome Africa