Port Elizabeth’s small business organisation Comsec was be the centre of focus of African business when a Rwandan business delegation jetted into the city to meet with the Community Self Employment Centre (Comsec) and other local businessmen, with a view to studying the business model of Comsec who celebrated its 10th year in the business development arena.

Comsec was established in 1994 as a business organisation which contributes towards economic development through support of entrepreneurship among local people. Over the years, its services have grown to include business development services, consulting, business skills development, and accounting services, amongst others.

Comsec enjoys the support of a number of national institutions including the Department of Trade and Industry through Ntsika, National Development Agency, Ecmac, CSIR, Nedcor, and Deloitte and Touche.

Heynes said one of the most pressing challenges for small businesses remains the inability to access markets which was disappointing because small business, which was the driver of the economy, received little or no support.

“The big corporates should give way to smaller black businesses training them and empowering them in receiving accreditation,” he said.

This was re-iterated by guest speaker at the function, Kevin Wakeford, managing director of Growth Africa, who said too many constraints in the economy were inhibiting the growth of small businesses.


“Poverty and unemployment in the country is on the increase because of the constraints in the economic system. It is difficult for small businessmen to compete fairly in certain sectors of the market.

“For them to compete, they need more than a loan. They need training and a chance to venture into other avenues.
“Markets for small business are blocked by cronyism and monopolies,” he said.