'South African-Indians have critical role in Gauteng's growth'

The South African-Indian community has a critical role to play in the growth of the small business sector in the country's economic hub, Gauteng province, according to its Premier David Makhura.
"I have no doubt with what I know about Indian business people, especially your small business enterprises, that you can play a very important role in this new economy," Makhura said at a function hosted by the Tamil Federation of Gauteng (TFG) here.
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa.
The Premier promised to return with his provincial minister for Economic Development to have a conversation with the Indian community on how it could assist in the development of small entrepreneurs.

"Among those (who could assist in this strategy), the most tried and tested are those in the Indian community," Makhura said as he explained how the key driver of growth in future is going to be the SMME sector.
"The Indian business people and their largely SMME enterprises are going to be a very critical focus, in what we call the township economy revitalisation strategy.

That includes supporting enterprises and small business that are in the townships so they can play their rightful role in increasing employment," he said.
"You have to teach the other township enterprises. Indians run family enterprises that go from one generation to another to sustain and educate their children," Makhura added.

"We as the Tamil Community have the necessary experts in most of the fields who can be brought on-board to assist and fast-track some of the projects that the Gauteng Provincial Government wants to implement," said TFG President Nadas Pillay.
Reaffirming that the community was part of the Rainbow Nation, Makhura said, "Without you we are incomplete. Informed by this reality, we will continue to promote and preserve the history and heritage of the Tamil South Africans.