Small Business Development Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni will host a media breakfast on Monday aimed at providing feedback on public consultations around the proposed Business Licensing Bill, 2025.
The event, organised by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), will bring together key stakeholders to discuss input received during consultations on the bill, which seeks to establish a business regulatory regime that benefits South African citizens and businesses.
According to the department, the media breakfast will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on feedback received during the consultation process for the Business Licensing Bill, which is intended to reshape aspects of the country’s business regulatory framework.
The development of the bill follows the transfer of the Business Act, 1991 to the Department of Small Business Development in October 2020. The shift placed responsibility for the legislation within the department’s portfolio as part of broader efforts to strengthen the regulatory environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
A significant step toward the drafting of the new bill came in May 2025, when Cabinet approved the National Business Licensing Policy. The policy approval on 28 May 2025 paved the way for the development of the Business Licensing Bill, which aims to modernise and refine the business licensing framework in South Africa.
Following Cabinet’s approval of the policy, the Business Licensing Bill was published in the Government Gazette on 26 September 2025 to allow members of the public and stakeholders to submit comments and proposals.
The department subsequently received a range of inputs through both written and oral submissions during the consultation period. These submissions came from a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the public, business associations, government components, municipalities and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The department said the upcoming media breakfast will serve as a platform to share feedback from these engagements and outline the key themes and perspectives raised during the consultation process.
By bringing together stakeholders who participated in the consultations, the department aims to highlight the contributions made by different sectors and provide clarity on the next steps regarding the Business Licensing Bill, 2025.
The engagement is expected to provide insight into how the feedback gathered during the consultation process may influence the final shape of the proposed legislation, as government works toward establishing a business regulatory regime designed to support both citizens and businesses.
The engagement will take place from 08:00 to 11:00 on 9 March 2026 at the Southern Sun Arcadia, Pretoria. – SAnews.gov.za
