The Adopt-An-SME programme is ticking off all the right boxes when it comes to developing South Africa’s SME ecosystem, close to a year since its launch.

Championed by accounting firm, SME.Tax, fintech innovator SME Snapshot and consulting firm, Decusatio, the 12-month program supports a group of entrepreneurs to use technology and networks to growth their businesses.

“Our goal is to create an ecosystem of better managed small businesses. We are building reputable businesses that will be the benchmark of doing business in the SME landscape,” says Tyronne Nel, founder of SME Snapshot.

Marc Ashton, founder of Decusatio adds that one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses and Enterprise Development beneficiaries in South Africa is failure to break into the market and find those valuable first clients.

“We believe that by capacitating these SMEs with our team, we will help them elevate from just working in their businesses to working on their businesses,” says explains.

The programme provides strategic business content, tools and resources that enable SME owners to unlock the growth potential of their businesses. 

“Before any work begins all business owners get put through an intensive Statutory, Regulatory and Financial appraisal. We also spend some time highlighting any deficiencies before getting into the solutions,” Ken Brown, director at SME.Tax highlights. 

Tebelo Ramaboea founder of Capital Projects and Investment declares that the programme helped him turn around his struggling business. 

“We have been so fortunate to get courses that are designed to upskill entrepreneurs in all spheres of business, starting from understanding the fundamentals of business 101, cash flows and sales,” Ramaboea explains. 

Entrepreneurs also gain one-on-one mentoring sessions, monthly skills workshops as well as secretarial support to help get their business systems going. A resource that Andile Vilakazi, founder of Drone Eye Technology, says was invaluable for his business. 

“Participating in the programme has expanded my horizon when it comes to running my business and understanding my role in it. The lessons are insightful from business ideation stage to getting a system going, where your business can continue to run even if you are not there,” Vilikazi says. 

Drone Eye Technology is currently at the final stages in two different SME competitions - eKasiLabs lead by The Innovation HUB and Gauteng Accelerator Programme as well as the ‘Driving Force for Change’ support initiative by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries - the award ceremonies for both will take place on the 26th of November 2021.

“I strongly believe that the Adopt-An-SME programme played a vital part in pivoting Drone Eye Technology to where we are now. The knowledge and technology we have access to helps us focus on growing our business and not just running it,” Vilakazi exclaims. 

Corporates looking to support a SME can sign up on the website SME. Tax or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Author: Emma Montocchio, Problem-Solver, Decusatio

The tourism and eco-tourism sectors have been particularly hard hit as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures. As the economy starts to re-open, organisations can use powerful incentives such as YES to help re-build the sector.

The Youth Employment Service (YES) incentive out of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) rewards organisations who create youth jobs, with the opportunity to move up to 2 full levels on their B-BBEE scorecard. 

What’s great about YES is that the youth that you appoint to your program don’t need to work inside your own organization – if you are passionate about eco-tourism, you can deploy your youth into a series of tourism and eco-tourism jobs where they can gain valuable industry experience. 

With youth unemployment running at nearly 65% in many of the tourism-focused areas, here are examples of some of the YES programs we are currently working on where corporate sponsors can benefit from the B-BBEE incentive and contribute to re-building the sector:

Anti-poaching, drone and wildlife monitoring initiatives

With foreign tourism income being pulled out of the sector, anti-poaching and wildlife monitoring projects quickly became under-funded. As restrictions begin to ease, there is a lot of capacity for funding these kinds of projects and these represent a great way to invest in the sector for the long-haul.

Hospitality and Culinary

Between Limpopo and Mpumalanga roughly 150 000 matriculants graduate each year with only 30% achieving a Bachelors Degree pass. The hospitality sector allows youth without tertiary qualifications or a University level pass to be able to enter the workforce and get valuable work experience.

Equip a Beauty Spa or laundry service

Integrate your Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) with your YES investment and help young women establish either a Spa or an innovative low-water usage laundry service. What’s great about these business models is that your investment will see youth learn to become business owners and contribute to a broader tax base in the country.

Support Community Healthcare and Sanitary Pad manufacturing

COVID-19 has heavily impacted communities in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, particularly on the healthcare front. With access to healthcare infrastructure limited, organisations can partner on novel concepts including equipping Community Healthcare Worker initiatives or investing in sanitary pad manufacturing solutions as part of their ESD or SED spend. This solution allows your investment in a YES program to create new business owners and manufacture sanitary pads which can be donated to the local communities, schools and charities while tackling a very real healthcare challenge for young women.

The YES B-BBEE incentive is a powerful tool for securing recognition on your scorecard and with the right partner, you can build high-impact projects while integrating multiple elements for maximum return.

Cabinet has approved the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan which aims to get the sector back to 2019 levels by 2023. As part of this plan, the inclusion of women and youth are key to re-building the sector and we look forward to engaging with partners on these projects.

For further information: Emma Montocchio, Decusatio

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