By Puisano News Reporter
Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) persevere, innovate, and overcome the
most formidable odds in all corners of South Africa.
Those were the words of the Deputy Minister of the Department of Employment and Labour, Boitumelo Moloi, delivering a keynote address during the 44th National Productivity Awards – which were hosted by the Department’s Productivity SA entity – in Midrand last week.
Moloi said the Annual Productivity SA National Awards are not only a celebration; but “they
are a testament to the remarkable journey of progress and commitment”.
“These awards are a testament to the tenacity and ingenuity of our SMMEs. In every corner
of our country, they persevere, innovate, and overcome the most formidable odds. They do
not seek the spotlight, but they certainly deserve it. They are the unsung heroes of our
economy, and our commitment to empowering them remains steadfast.
“Today, as we gather to celebrate productivity excellence, we must also recognise the
challenges South Africa faces. Unemployment remains a pressing concern for our nation,
and it’s a challenge that touches the very heart of the National Development Plan (NDP).
This plan outlines our vision for a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous South Africa,”
said the Deputy Minister.
The awarding ceremony was also meant to celebrate excellence and innovation in
productivity and employment promotion in South Africa.
The National Productivity Awards ceremony is an annual event that celebrates and
recognises the remarkable achievements of SMMEs that have demonstrated excellence in
successfully implementing impactful and sustainable productivity initiatives, which have
demonstrated outstanding productivity growth, employment expansion, wealth creation,
and social responsibility as a result of productivity improvement initiatives.
This year, the Awards ceremony marked 44 years of existence and they continue to play a
pivotal role in shaping a culture of productivity in South Africa.
The awarding of SMMEs commends the dedication and tireless efforts of successfully
implementing productivity improvement initiatives and has demonstrated the commitment
to improving productivity and driving economic growth.
“The Productivity Awards are more than accolades; they are the embodiment of a collective
dream. A dream that envisions a South Africa where every business, regardless of its size,
thrives; where every worker, irrespective of their background, prospers; and where our
nation, as a whole, surges toward a brighter tomorrow,” said the Deputy Minister.
The Productivity SA CEO, Mothunye Mothiba, said: “Particularly those entrepreneurs in the
townships and the rural economies…there is a solution to their productivity and capability
challenges, and that lies with this entity of the Department of Employment and Labour.”
