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The purpose of the study was to investigate the roles of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized businesses in fostering local economic development. Based on this assumption, this conceptual study attempts to investigate the function of small and medium-sized firms in LED. According to studies, the entrepreneurial spirit of the SME owner is a significant determinant of a SME's ability to surmount survival challenges and achieve sustainable growth. The article also attempts to locate and establish the purpose of the study by identifying the barriers that small and medium-sized businesses encounter in their efforts to contribute to economic growth and offering potential solutions to these barriers. Due to inadequate infrastructure development and a lack of the fundamental capabilities to control and influence local economic growth, the study concludes that exceptional measures are necessary to overcome obstacles such as finance and service. The purpose of this study is to answer the research question of whether the emphasis should be placed on creating competent entrepreneurs, particularly among previously disadvantaged individuals, if the government's goal to leverage the SMME sector is to have any significant success. It was noted that the LED is essential but has not been utilized frequently. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, the study accessed data on both private and public spaces primarily through secondary sources. The qualitative investigation accessed the foundational literature via a sophisticated search. According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in the promotion of LED. The study concluded, among other things, that the local level of governance in South African municipalities is incapable of providing basic services and the necessary infrastructure.

The study looked at the role and contribution of entrepreneurship industry to foster social and economic development through small, micro, and medium-sized businesses in South Africa. The conceptual research looked at the influence of small, micro, and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) on South African development. The study's objective was to evaluate how small, medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) are now driving economic growth and solving social issues in a setting where big businesses and governments appear to be doing very little. As a result, the study examines how SMMEs might help the nation solve persistent societal evils including poverty, inequality, and social isolation. A desktop literature review research design was adopted to collect data on the role of entrepreneurship in South Africa, policies and practices of big business and government that exacerbate social issues in communities and impede socioeconomic development, as well as the specific roles that SMMEs play in achieving socioeconomic development goals. Findings from research indicate that, among other development outcomes, SMMEs are at the vanguard of creating jobs and fostering social and political justice in the nation. Future empirical studies that account for and evaluate the importance of SMME contributions to the construction of economic, social, and political justice in the nation are advised because this work lacks the empirical support necessary to substantiate its conclusions and observations.  

This study intended to investigate how the Lephalale Local Municipality's small and medium companies (SMEs) are hampered by a lack of government support. This study also aims to demonstrate how SMEs face difficulties in surviving as a result of problems in the business environment. Consequently, the government of South Africa has programs to assist SMEs. The growth of SMEs is important for advancing innovation, wealth distribution, and employment. The majority of SMEs launch and maintain their businesses with their own money. By using a qualitative research approach and semi-structured in-person, phone, and email interviews to collect data, the goals of this study were met. There were 318 registered SMEs in the area. Using purposive sampling methods, data from operational enterprises with a lifespan of 0 to 5 years were gathered. Atlas TI 8 was used to evaluate the data. The primary conclusions of this study show that (i) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find it difficult to maintain their operations because they lack access to capital and business equipment. This fails if SMEs are not given the proper support. Because they lack the resources to compete with big companies, SMEs find it challenging. (ii) Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should think about enrolling in bookkeeping training and sending their staff to business training in order to network for the survival of the company. In order to assist SMEs in fulfilling the requirements for maintaining their enterprises, this study advises the government to examine present standards. With the right assistance, SMEs can create business plans and maintain operations, which will result in the creation of jobs, particularly for local communities. The government ought to think about mentoring and overseeing sponsored SMEs.

Since the start of the democratic era in 1994, South Africa has prioritised small, medium, and micro enterprises for economic growth and social development, offering significant opportunities to the unemployed population. However, the extent to which SMMEs contribute to the socio-economic progress of a particular economy is contingent upon various factors, including the specific country or sector in which they operate. In South Africa, the majority of SMMEs operate within the services sector, with 30% in wholesale and retail trade, 23% in community and social services, and 14% in financial services. Grounded on the  Resource-Based View theory, this study aims to investigate how SMMEs contribute to the social and economic development of South Africa. Furthermore, their contributions align with four of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, making this research both relevant and timely. This systematic literature review included nineteen research articles using bibliometric indicators from the Google Scholar database. As a result, the literature review revealed four key SMMEs’ contributions to South African socio-economic development namely employment creation and income generation, economic growth, development and specialisation, contribution to GDP, and poverty alleviation. To further enhance this contribution, it is recommended that governments provide support in the form of training programs, access to finance, and mentorship opportunities to help SMMEs grow and create more job opportunities..

Local Economic Development strategies were formulated in response to the stipulations made by the national government of South Africa. The national mandate placed the responsibility on the local sphere of government to promote economic progression from a grassroots level and to contribute to developmental activities within the state. The National Framework LED has been created as a basis for the effective practice of LED in terms of implementation. This paper focused mainly on evaluating the effectiveness of Local Economic Development strategies in uMhlathuze Local Municipality within Empangeni town. This paper and its problem were developed by the researcher due to the growing unemployment rate in South Africa which mostly affects young people, more especially at the municipal level. The researcher was convinced to evaluate how the economic development strategies or initiatives addressing the issue of unemployment and assisting economic development within the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, intending to come up with mechanisms that may be put at hand to ensure the effectiveness of these strategies provided to address economic issues with the municipality. This paper employed qualitative methods to collect and analyze data. Qualitative data were collected from community members and staff of the municipality within the Department of Economic Development through the use of questionnaires. The analysis of qualitative data was done through thematic analysis. The findings of the research revealed that there is a communication breakdown between the community and the municipality to enable the community to use the opportunities for economic development. This paper recommends that the municipality needs to develop/advance communication methods to ensure that the community is informed and aware of the development opportunities that are provided by the community.

This study aims to provide compelling evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of local economic development (LED) in advancing economic and social development. The research undertook a systematic review of existing literature to assess whether LED strategies have effectively addressed the racially and gender-based socio-economic disparities between affluent and impoverished communities. The analysis revealed that municipal LED efforts have predominantly concentrated on community economic development projects, many of which have turned out to be economically unfeasible with minimal enduring impact on poverty alleviation. Moreover, the collaboration among government entities, local businesses, and the voluntary sector was frequently found to be weak or altogether absent. For significant socio-economic transformation in South Africa, LED policies must emphasize not only an increase in the number of job opportunities but also a diversification of economic activities. Local governments are called upon to play a proactive role in this transformative process. Furthermore, the LED strategy should be comprehensive and not reliant on a limited number of projects. This study This research is characterised by originality and great scientific value, as it underscores the necessity for the national government to take on a leadership position and devise LED guidelines that empower local authorities with the capacity to effectively foster LED activities.

South Africa is a developing country characterised by a high rate of unemployment. Unemployment is more prevalent among women and the youth, as they comprise a larger population in South Africa. This has created a higher demand for public services, burdening the government’s ability to provide services. Promotion and funding of community entrepreneurship can ensure that local communities are given the required skills and support to start their businesses to support their families while creating an impact in society. South Africa has many informal businesses in which community members operate, and street vendors are the noted portion that constitutes this informal trading in South Africa. This paper seeks to analyse how the government can implement local economic development (LED) initiatives in a way that promotes and encourages community entrepreneurship. The local government is a sphere closer to the people and is entrusted with implementing LED initiatives in South Africa. The local government has a vital role to play, but it has not done enough to enhance community entrepreneurship in local communities. Based on this premise, this paper will also analyse the key challenges the local government faces in ensuring that community entrepreneurship is encouraged and promoted. This paper is timely. Therefore, the country is currently faced with a higher unemployment rate, which is mostly prevalent among women and the youth, and effective LED initiatives can promote community entrepreneurship in local communities for the betterment of citizens’ lives.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are essential catalysts for economic expansion and employment generation in local communities. Nonetheless, their elevated failure rate presents a considerable risk to economic sustainability. This study examines the fundamental difficulties leading to SME failures in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality (SPLM) in the Northern Cape, South Africa, and analyses viable ways to improve their sustainability and growth. Data were gathered using a qualitative research approach through semi-structured interviews with 15 SME owners recruited via non-probability sampling. Thematic study, utilising ATLAS.ti software, identified multiple persistent challenges encountered by SMEs in the region. These encompass restricted access to technology, deficient infrastructure, financial limitations, poor training, elevated unemployment, constrained market access, and safety issues. Factors like delayed payments, political meddling, unfair competition, the repercussions of the Covid-19 outbreak, and insufficient mentorship further impede SME development. The study assessed current government support channels, highlighting their benefits and deficiencies. The findings highlight the necessity for focused policy interventions, capacity-building measures, and enhanced support structures to bolster the resilience and long-term sustainability of SMEs in SPLM.

Productive asset creation has been proposed as a potential solution for local economic development. The research study explores the concept of productive asset creation and its impact on local economies. The main objective of the study was to establish the impact of Productive Assets Creation (PAC) in stimulating Local Economic Development in Botswana The research study discusses value creation and value appropriation, highlighting the role of innovation and competition in capturing societal value through productive assets. Local Economic Development provides a multilevel perspective on value creation and capture, emphasizing the role of favourable economic environments within communities. The research study referred to various kinds of literature discussing the importance of productive asset creation as a solution to Local Economic Development. The literature that was used also argued that policy consideration should be made on productive assets to promote business development and improve overall returns to communities. The research utilised qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. Interviews and document analysis were used to interact with relevant participants and gathering relevant data. The findings and recommendations derived from this paper aids in developing productive assets that feeds into local economic development initiatives. By considering the theories and perspectives discussed in the selected references, future researchers, policymakers and practitioners may gain insights into the factors and strategies that contribute to successful economic development at the local level.

This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by uMsunduzi local municipality in supporting SMMEs and identify programmes offered by the municipality to stimulate the SMME sector. The study adopted a qualitative research method to collect data. A sample of 7 municipal workers was selected using the purposive sampling technique. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, and thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the business support programmes that the municipality offers to support SMMEs are insufficient to meet the demands of these enterprises in the region. The results further revealed that the lack of suitable business infrastructure, mainly due to deteriorating buildings in the city centre serving as the main business hub, poses a significant challenge for the municipality. Lastly, the insufficient allocation of resources and the lack of communication to raise awareness about business support programmes aimed at SMMEs also emerged as one of the challenges for the municipality. The study recommended that better policy reformations and better resource allocation be made by the municipality. Improvement in communication efforts to raise awareness of readily available business support programmes offered to SMMEs was also recommended. Lastly, municipal engagement with the upper government spheres was also recommended so that the municipality could obtain funding to refurbish the decaying infrastructure with the potential to house SMMEs for business use and improve business incubation and training centres that support SMMEs.