SMME anger over tender

Small business owners to stage sit-in after being left out of R1bn infrastructure contract

SMALL business owners in Nelson Mandela Bay are spitting fire after they were excluded from a R1-billion infrastructure tender. The SMMEs have vowed to stop all roads and infrastructure projects in the Bay if they are not included in the contract.

The tender was advertised by the municipality a year ago.

However, some of the SMME representatives claimed they had only received letters, dated November, from the municipality this week, turning down their bids.

Yesterday, the small business owners had a meeting with the municipality’s supply chain management department, which they said did not go well.

Speaking on behalf of the SMMEs, Mhleli Peter said they were demanding answers from the municipality about the triennial tender for roads and pavement projects.

“We feel left out as SMMEs in grade 1 and 2. The purpose of the tender was to accommodate all the local SMMEs, but now only the established companies have benefited from this threeyear tender,” he said.

“We were surprised to get letters dated November on Tuesday and that does not give us the 14-day objection period.

“The letters came back saying that our bids were unsuccessful because the declaration of interest was not signed.

“We do not understand that, especially because we are on their database.”

Peter said they felt rejected by the new administration.

“How are we meant to grow if they are closing us out? he asked.

“There were more than 1 000 SMMEs that responded to the tender but they only took 40, which is just a drop in the ocean.

“We have tried to be civil about the matter, but our pleas fall on deaf ears.

“We have also tried several times to engage with infrastructure and engineering portfolio head Annette Lovemore with no luck.

“We then decided to escalate the matter to another level.”

Peter said the municipality should beef up its security on Tuesday because they were going to stage a sit-in at the metro’s supply chain management offices. Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said the matter had been directed to the relevant departments for a response.

‘ We have tried to be civil about the matter, but our pleas fall on deaf ears