KwaThema – Small emerging entrepreneurs were encouraged to use the opportunities provided by the municipality during the Mintirho ya Vulavula programme at KwaThema Stadium on Friday.
The Mintirho ya Vulavula programme is focused on empowering SMMEs through public procurement programmes as part of the city’s 10-Point Economic Plan. Some of its key focus is intended to support small and medium enterprises.
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MMC for Finance and Economic Development Clr Doctor Xhakaza says the consultation event is aimed at consulting entrepreneurs on how they may benefit from the opportunities provided by the metro.
“We need everyone to cooperate and to work with the city to clean up the system by blowing the whistle on fraud and corruption and tender irregularities so that the programme benefits all the SMMEs.
“The metro has intensified its efforts to increase economic participation by the traditionally marginalised sectors of society through a community empowerment programmes.
“This is to assist them to be economically competitive and to participate in the mainstream economy.
“The metro has set aside R12-billion over the next three years to help improve the small businesses.”
Xhakaza adds the consultation is to educate and provide the community and the local business fraternity with valuable information to improve their businesses.
“This relates to the application processes for inclusion in the sub-contracting processes for the city’s preferential procurement programme.
The city has invited members of the community who fall under the designated groups for gaining prospective contractors’ preference points for contracting bidding processes.
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“The targeted enterprises and cooperatives are those that are at least 51% owned by black people, black people who are youth, black women, black people living with disabilities.
“They also have to be black people living in rural or underdeveloped areas or townships, and co-operative which are at least 51% owned by black people and black people who are military veterans,” he adds.
