Small businesses in the Western Cape can now call a provincial hotline to lodge and request assistance for their red tape-related issues or for any general information on starting and growing a business.
Red Tape to Red Carpet
Call Centre
0861 888 126
redtape@westerncape.gov.za
The Call Centre, which arose out of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Red Tape to Red Carpet Programme, reflects the Western Cape Government’s commitment to creating and maintaining an enabling environment for business.
Red tape reduction features prominently in provincial government’s Strategic Objective 1: Creating Opportunities for Growth and Jobs and national government’s New Growth Path.
“One of the most important elements of a favourable business environment is the absence of costly, complex and time-consuming rules, regulations and procedures,” says Chief Director in the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, John Peters.
These rules, regulations and procedures, or so-called “red tape”, in many cases dominate the interaction between the public and private sector. The Western Cape Government will therefore show leadership in advocating for appropriate regulatory reforms and striving to eliminate regulatory obstacles faced by entrepreneurs as they seek to grow their businesses and create jobs.
To this end, the Red Tape to Red Carpet Programme will drive key initiatives to reduce red tape and associated bureaucratic delays. An important objective of the programme is to gather evidence on the impact of red tape on businesses in key sectors in the province so as to identify and prioritise areas for regulatory reform.
The Call Centre contributes to government’s red tape reduction efforts by providing businesses with a clear point of access into government from where they can seek assistance with stubborn red tape issues and any other blockages to business development and growth. Should the call centre staff not be able to deal with an issue they will refer it to the Red Tape to Red Carpet Unit for further investigation.
Existing and prospective small business owners can contact the Call Centre for assistance with:
- Advice on starting a small business.
- Advice on growing an existing business.
- Bureaucratic delays with government agencies and departments and municipalities affecting small businesses, eg business registration, EIA/HIA applications, business permits and licences and zoning applications.
- Immigration matters related to starting a business in South Africa.
The Call Centre does not assist with consumer-related matters, pensions, rates and/or any other non-business-related matters.
Listen to Minister Alan Winde talk about this campaign.
