On Friday we waited for the implementation of the ground breaking New Companies Act. This was first signed into law by President Mbeki in 2008 and we have seen little movement since then on the subject. We were notified that implementation date was 01 April and that all systems in the DTI were set and ready. Many people have spent a huge amount of money getting ready, running and attending workshops and training. There has been a frantic sell off of all shelf companies on the market in order to avoid the new rules. And now nothing? A small article on page 5 of the weekend paper states that due to the lack of readiness the DTI has postponed the implementation date yet again.

Me thinks the April fool is DTI and the CIPRO office. The lack of leadership and accountability in these offices is slowly eroding the structures that assist small business. It is near impossible to register a new business or change the mandate of an existing one. Banks are nervous to lend money or even open accounts for new businesses and now we wait in limbo between processes not sure what to do.  Catch a wake up government and give us some delivery, we are bleeding out here in the market!