Review of supply policy planned

COUNCILLORS have expressed concern over the Nelson Mandela Bay supply chain management policy, which they say disadvantages small businesses in the city.

At yesterday’s transport committee meeting, councillors said the supply chain management policy only favoured outside businesses which sometimes did not afford emerging contractors a chance to work.

The councillors had requested the supply chain department to come and explain tender processes to the committee.

ANC councillor Mbulelo Gidane said while the city was busy with policy reviews, the department should find a better way of supporting emerging contractors.

“The SCM [supply chain management] policy must be user-friendly to local contractors. For 23 years, they have been disadvantaged.

“Yes, the coalition government has a right to say we [previous administration] have not developed local contractors,” Gidane said.

“If this administration can work hard to grow them, we won’t need to hire contractors from outside the city.”

DA councillor Mxolisi Breakfast said the city also needed to engage with business forums on growing small businesses.

“This municipality needs to engage with organisations like Nafcoc [National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry] or the business chamber to find out what role they are playing to develop small businesses,” Breakfast said.

“There is an outcry from outside about companies bidding for work without any success in this city.”

Supply chain official Ntomboxolo Ngxesha said the department would be consulting with all stakeholders when reviewing its policy.

“The latest version of our SCM policy was adopted in 2013. It does not cover anything about the development of emerging enterprises.

“There is also no legislation or act to supplement that. The only provision is that big contractors from outside have to give 30% of the work to local contractors,” Ngxesha said.