As part of its concerted efforts to increase participation of companies owned by previously disadvantaged individuals and groups in its procurement, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport held a suppliers day information sharing session at the Mthatha Civic centre hall in Northcrest on Friday, 7 October 2011.
Taking practical steps in bringing the services to the people, the department invited a wide range of business people and stakeholders with the aim of elevating supplier relations in Mthatha and surrounding areas and offered an opportunity for direct engagement between the department and suppliers in order to iron out problems experienced by both parties during procurement processes.
Having identified some of the challenges facing small businesses in the province and the centralisation of suppliers’ database to the Provincial Treasury, the department also invited the South African Revenue Service (SARS), departmental Fraud Unit, Construction Industry Development Board, Eastern Cape Development Corporation and the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury to give presentations in an effort to empower the small businesses on how to benefit from the government procurement systems
Manager for Demand Management Services Tammie Mqashane urged the small business owners to ensure that documents are fully and properly completed and submitted on time with a valid tax clearance certificate and that all documents must be original to avoid being over-looked.
"We can't make business with you if you don't have a tax payer's certificate; if you are not in good standings with SARS, we eliminate your documentation and if you're a member of more than one company we eliminate all your documentation" said Mqashane.
The small business owners present were happy with the department’s keenness in informing, educating and engaging them about things that will keep their businesses running smooth without the fear of having to paying a penalty fine.
"I now know where to go when I need information on procurement opportunities, understand the guidelines to improve my chances of being awarded a procurement contract and that confronting the department will not jeopardise my chances of procuring a contract but keep me up to date in terms of knowing what is expected of me", said Lunga Sokupha, owner of Ovayo Uyeva Trading Enterprising.
Zukile Mgxokwana of Magebs Catering, Cleaning and General Trading was grateful to the department for giving them a chance to get the much needed information, adding that he would grab every procurement opportunity the Department of Transport brings at his disposal.
