Stick to tender quota, state told
Emerging small business leaders took the opportunity to slam the government for failing to comply with its own regulations on procuring locally.
At last week’s rural and township industrial economy summit, which concluded at the East London ICC on Friday, it was a key issue that the legal quota of 30% of all tenders, meant to go to local service providers and prioritising women and disabled people for contracts, was not being met. The two-day summit, following one held in Pretoria in June, was attended by Deputy President David Mabuza, trade and industry minister Rob Davies, small business development minister Lindiwe Zulu and about 1 000 entrepreneurs from around the country.
A special advisor to Zulu, Dr Thami Mazwai, who also serves on the presidential BEE advisory council, facilitated the proceedings of the final day, where commissions from the different sectors discussed topical issues.
Chairwoman of SA Women in Construction (Sawic) in Mpumalanga, Nomhle Tshaba-Nyumba, said the Eastern Cape construction sector was still dominated by men.
“It is heartbreaking that many women in construction have to leave their homes and families in the Eastern Cape to pursue business in Gauteng, which better understands their role and accommodates them through structures supporting women in the building environment.”
Tshaba-Nyumba, who was born in Port Elizabeth and whose company has its headquarters in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, and offices in the Eastern Cape, said: “Disabled people are also not catered for. The government places regulations they do not comply with and nobody monitors what is happening. BEE ought to prioritise women and the disabled.”
Mazwai said the BEE council would compile a report from the summit for the president and small business development minister.