Boost for Cape Town businesses as Council approves support policy
The City Council gave the go-ahead for the Business Support Policy that aims to address the evolving needs of entrepreneurs and small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in Cape Town.
The approval of the policy comes after the public participation process undertaken between 15 June and 15 July 2026. The City received more than 160 comments from a range of stakeholders, including residents, business owners, industry representatives, incubators, government departments, NGOs, chambers of commerce, property sector stakeholders and economic development practitioners.
‘Across South Africa, SMMEs account for just over 40% of employment in the formal sector. This is well below the global average of close to 70%. Creating conditions for small businesses to survive and expand is critical to solving the country’s unemployment crisis. The Business Support Policy will be a tool in the City government’s efforts to boost emerging and existing enterprises,’ said Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
The new policy is a revision of the previous document approved in 2018, which provided the framework for the City’s SMME development approach, which included the establishment of the Business Hub.
‘In 2026, more than 5 800 businesses participated in programmes overseen by the Hub, including procurement readiness, supplier development, tender training, pricing and marketing support, export readiness and market access. This kind of constant engagement with entrepreneurs is what has helped our City team to refine this policy,’ said Alderman Vos.
Among the key deliverables of the policy are:
- Expanded business support services including further skills development initiatives
- Improved access to, and where appropriate – creation of, business-enablement infrastructure
- Inclusive and spatial economic development across the city
- Improved support for partnerships and ecosystem coordination
- Workforce development
For business-related queries, contact The Business Hub at business.support@capetown.gov.za or +27 21 417 4043.
Information on the City’s business support services:
