Thread by @EDSE_programme

This important inter-provincial task team meeting starts shortly. We'll post the highlights throughout the day.

cc: @DSBD_SA @TutwaConsulting @EUinSA @PalladiumImpact #EUinSA

https://twitter.com/EDSE_programme/status/1440643619036151813

Welcoming participants, @EDSE_programme team leader @evans_gwynne urged a "can-do" culture to reducing red tape. A collaborative government/business initiative was critical, welcoming the presence of @PresidencyZA, @SBI_SouthAfrica and @BusinessUnitySA at the forum.

The task team's leader, @DSBD_SA's Vijay Valla, said the Department initiated the task team within the govt's whole-of-government approach championed by the @PresidencyZA through the District Development Model. A dashboard was being piloted: what get measured, is what's get done.

The Inter-Provincial Task Team was a Community of Practice to share information, experiences across all spheres of govt on gaps in red tape regulatory reform and interventions and methodologies to address them. The "softest voice" of informal traders also needed to be heard.

https://twitter.com/evans_gwynne/status/1440953675984293895?s=19

Vijay Valla shared some important lessons from @DSBD_SA's series of Public Private Dialogues on red tape reduction:

The @DSBD_SA had developed Awareness and Assessment Toolkits for Red Tape Reduction, in a drive to ensure that RTR becomes self-sustaining and entrenched at every level of government. Note Vijay Valla's #3, below:

Responding to Vijay's input, a participant from the Western Cape noted that "the more we went into EODB, the more we had to move closer to business; the more we also realised that our priorities were not necessarily the priorities of business."

As a diversion, the @EDSE_programme's daily SMME News whatsapp facility got a great compliment from the WC participant. The informative postings had made a "massive difference" and were re-shared to a local WC business group. Leverage!
@EUinSA @PalladiumImpact @TutwaConsulting

An overview of the SA tax landscape for small business: the conclusions from a fascinating presentation by @TreasuryRSA tax specialist Johan Lamprecht

We are now in a facilitated Q&A session. Provincial participants are sharing mechanisms to identify, address and escalate RTR and EODB issues. Do these mechanisms work and how can they be improved.

The Eastern Cape has not established a formal RTR programme. But an EC Business Council had been established, chaired by a provincial MEC, to deal with issues "as they come up". Capacity constraints are a serious constraint but additional capacity would be recruited.

Gauteng also has no formal RTR programme. In 2017, the premier had established an advisory council but it "had lagged". However @GDCoGTA had established a "war room" to deal with RTR issues as they arise.

KZN has a special inter-departmental RTR initiative which meets with small businesses. Issues are directed to municipalities, supported by a task team if needed. The premier's office had established a special unit aimed at large business wanting to invest in the province.

The North West province anticipated that an MOU being finalised with @DSBD_SA would enable the province to formalise an RTR programme. In the interim, it had undertaken a RTR survey in two municipalities and a business survey.

The NC was continuing with an RTR assessment in municipalities - targetting two municipalities in this financial year. It also faced staffing constraints and also needed to secure greater alignment across departments in solving RTR issues.

The WC had instituted a structured EODB case management system within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. It received cases through a number of channels, including a dedicated red tape mail box and a web-based submission form. Some 10 600 cases had been logged.

The WC had also established a transversal war-room dedicated to dealing with construction sector RTR and EODB. A key lesson: political, top level management buy-in was crucial to resolve needed escalations.

The Western Cape was also finalising a dedicated municipal Red Tape Support Unit given that "very little capacity" exists within municipalities to deal with red tape needed to unlock investment in their jurisdiction.

Now, for a view from @BusinessUnitySA, represented by @SBI_SouthAfrica's John Dludlu. He made two observations. First: the presentations showed a willingness across government to learn from each other and that a more narrowly focused RTR and EODB agenda was being undertaken.

Secondly, at the level of ideas:
* The need to institutionalise the task team dialogue in a more structured way across the SMME ecosystem
* A Red Tape Challenge for SA?
* Is it time to revert to regulatory impact assessments?

Task Team participants are discussing the pros and cons of a recommendation from the Western Cape that @DSBD_SA should champion EODB concerns:

The @PresidencyZA's Anthony Costa said the proposal made sense in using the provinces as the core of the process and in using @DSBD_SA as the natural line ministry. But the Presidency and other national departments can assist with promoting greater collaboration on RTR, EODB.

Drawing discussion to a close, @EDSE_programme's @evans_gwynne said the participation of organised business and the Presidency had cemented the work done by the task team over the last two years. There was however a need to support those provinces with capacity constraints.

The @EDSE_programme, with @EUinSA funding, would continue to support the work of the task team and would also explore partnership mechanisms allowing @DSBD_SA to have sustained, coordinated interaction with the private sector on SMME policy issues.

Task team leader Vijay Valla said today's meeting generated buy-in for pathways and mechanisms for further EODB work within the framework of the #ERRP. The next meeting, in collaboration with the Eastern Cape, would discuss capacity building among the provinces. #ends!