Brief
South Africa's small business minister urges regulatory reforms at GEC+Africa
Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni highlighted regulatory simplification and infrastructure upgrades as key to boosting small businesses at the 2026 GEC+Africa.
By Felo News Desk · Published
South Africa’s small business development minister Stella Tembeni Ndabeni called for simpler regulation, stronger infrastructure and closer government‑entrepreneur collaboration during the final day of the 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa).
What happened
The second day of GEC+Africa focused on the ease of doing business. Ndabeni delivered the keynote address, stressing the role of small businesses, township enterprises and innovation in the country’s economic renewal. City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos also spoke, emphasizing practical interventions to improve efficiency, service access, investment attraction and job creation.
What the reports add
TechCentral reported that the discussions identified red‑tape reduction, licensing reforms, infrastructure upgrades and investment‑friendly conditions as priority areas. The outlet also noted that AI’s impact on work was examined by Vukani Mngxati, CEO of Microsoft South Africa, and Robert Koen, managing director of Amazon Sub‑Saharan Africa, who asked how Africa could shift from consuming AI to contributing to its development.
What was said
Ndabeni highlighted the need for entrepreneurs to have a meaningful role in shaping policies that affect their businesses. Vos called for practical steps that enable businesses to operate more efficiently and attract investment.
How it came about
The focus on regulatory ease follows ongoing debates in South Africa about the business climate, as seen in earlier Felo coverage of fintech entry challenges (Revolut’s 2028 South Africa bank licence plan). The GEC+Africa forum provides a platform for government officials and private sector leaders to align on reforms that could improve the environment for small‑scale entrepreneurs.
Key facts
- Minister Stella Tembeni Ndabeni delivered the keynote at GEC+Africa, calling for simpler regulation and stronger infrastructure. (techcentral.co.za)
- James Vos, Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for economic growth, emphasized practical interventions for business efficiency. (techcentral.co.za)
- Microsoft South Africa and Amazon Sub‑Saharan Africa discussed AI’s role in reshaping African workforces. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “Ease of doing business takes centre stage at GEC+Africa”
