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Willem Phungula | 23 January 2023 Some of the youth queueing to submit forms outside Kings Park stadium at the Metro Police recruitment venue. Picture: eThekwini Municipality Durban — Unions said that the high number of youths who applied for just 200 posts with the eThekwini metro police department showed that the government had failed to address unemployment in the country. The unions were reacting to the revelation that close to 100 000 youths are scrambling for 200 metro police vacancies. Cosatu secretary Edwin Mkhize said this was a clear message to the government that it had failed to address the ever-rising unemployment crisis. Mkhize said the rising unemployment in the country was a cause for concern and it was clear the government had failed to come up with strategies to deal with it. Cosatu was worried that most of the youth were university graduates who, after not getting the jobs they qualified for, opted to take the metro police opportunity. “Being a police officer should be more about calling than being driven by financial interest. Crime fighting is a serious job, especially in a crime-riddled country like ours,” said Mkhize. Mkhize warned police management to be very transparent, saying he wondered how the management would trim such a big number of applicants down to 200. Municipal and Allied Trade Union of South Africa (Matusa) national deputy secretary Thulani Ngwenya said that during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address he announced that jobs would be created but nothing materialised. He said, “The president is likely to repeat the lies in this year’s address.” Metro police deputy head Sibonelo Mchunu confirmed that they had received close to 100 000 applications. Mchunu said the metro police were aware of the high unemployment rate but there was little it could do since they were allowed to hire only 200 applicants this year. Both psychometric and physical tests were the most determining factors for a successful applicant. Mchunu said recruits would spend three years at the training centres going through various policing methods. He said that previously metro police training focused on traffic control, saying crime combating and by-laws enforcement had been added to the course which caused the extension of the duration. Mchunu said the new policing laws required that all municipal police should also complete SAPS training. While Mchunu’s recruitment team was dealing with the volume of applications, more than 200 scholar patrollers have demanded their inclusion on the list, calling on the management to absorb even those patrollers who were over age. The patrollers, most of them over 35 years, marched to the City Hall on Tuesday demanding that the management apply for an exemption and appoint them as fully-fledged police officers. Their argument was that they joined as school patrollers at a young age but it was the management’s fault that they had not absorbed them before exceeding the age of 35. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/100-000-hopefuls-scramble-for-200-durban-metro-police-jobs-394f86a0-b9f5-4ea1-b36a-187974a8f708

Andile Ntingi | 4 September 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa has the gift of the gab. When he was deputy to then president Jacob Zuma he mesmerised the business community in November 2017 with his “New Deal” speech, in which he acknowledged that the SA economy needed to undergo structural reforms to grow. This speech drew inspiration from former US president Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal programme, a series of economic reforms and infrastructure projects introduced between 1933 and 1938 aimed at ending the Great Depression.  Then on February 16 2018 Ramaphosa serenaded South Africans with the “Thuma Mina” (Send Me) state of the nation speech, delivered two days after Zuma had dramatically stepped down as president of the country and been replaced by Ramaphosa. These two famous speeches gave hope to many people that Ramaphosa was a reform-minded, benevolent leader capable of turning the economy around and stopping SA’s slide into a basket case status. In the Thuma Mina speech, an adaptation of late saxophonist Hugh Masekela’s 2002 song Thuma Mina , Ramaphosa pledged to support efforts to “triumph over poverty”. “I wanna lend a hand. Send me,” he famously pledged. South Africans were prepared to follow his lead, roll up their sleeves, and help him rebuild their country from the ruins of overwhelming corruption, a stagnant economy, failing SMEs and rising unemployment. Six years on, there has been no economic turnaround and unemployment has soared. Under Ramaphosa’s leadership the economy has grown at an average of 0.32% a year, more than four times slower than the annual growth rate of 1.57% achieved during Zuma’s nine-year tenure, which started during the 2009 global financial crisis and ended at the beginning of 2018.  Under Zuma, unemployment rose from 20.51% to 24.22%, but it has since jumped to 33.5% under Ramaphosa. Small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs), which contribute 57% of SA’s GDP and 56% of national employment, have had to deal with the worst of it, suffocating under the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic, power cuts, logistics constraints, water shortages, excessive red tape, a high cost of doing business and the lack of access to capital and markets. Yet, according to the National Development Plan (NDP), by 2030 SMMEs are expected to contribute 60%-80% to GDP and generate 90% of the 11-million new jobs that need to be created. But, given the severity of the challenges our country faces, the targets envisioned in the NDP are unlikely to be met by 2030. To make matters worse, there was a lengthy delay in developing and promulgating the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill, which is meant to accelerate the SMME sector’s post-Covid recovery. The delay has had a knock-on effect because it has also held back the proposed merger between the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the Co-operative Banks Development Agency and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) to establish a new entity known as the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (Sedfa). The merger should have been concluded by April 1 2022, but the cabinet gave it a 20-month deadline extension to enable the department of small business development to finalise the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill. It was eventually introduced in parliament in June 2023 to facilitate public consultations. The 20-month extension meant the merger should have been completed by the end of February 2024, but this did not happen as the country was bracing for the May 29 general elections.  Ramaphosa finally signed the bill into law in July. Now small business development minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has the task of implementing the new legislation, which also provides for the establishment of the office of the small enterprise ombud services. This ombud will mediate disputes involving SMMEs and aim to reduce the number of disputes that degenerate into costly litigation.  The National Small Enterprise Amendment Act has raised the hope of struggling entrepreneurs and SMME owners, who are counting on it to improve the ecosystem for SMMEs, streamline bureaucracy, minimise duplication and enhance the delivery of services to SA’s estimated 2.6-million SMMEs, most of which are informal. SA has tinkered with its SMME landscape before through a consolidation of SMME institutions, but these mergers have not boosted the contribution of SMMEs to the economy, which remains dominated by oligopolies and monopolies. Since 1994, the government has restructured and consolidated state institutions supporting SMMEs three times. In 2004, Ntsika Enterprise Promotion and the national co-ordinating office of manufacturing advice offices merged to form Seda, an entity that offers nonfinancial support and advisory services to SMMEs. The second consolidation took place in 2012, when Sefa was established after the merger of Khula Enterprise Finance, the SA Micro-Finance Apex Fund and the Industrial Development Corporation’s small business funding unit into a single lender offering loans to SMMEs. This merger was a forerunner to a third shake-up in the SMME landscape, which resulted in the establishment of the department of small business development in 2014. There are three key challenges Ndabeni-Abrahams must address if we are to move the needle as far as SMME development is concerned. The first involves Sefa, which has a R4.2bn loan book. The agency deals with loan applicants whose business plans are usually drafted by Seda, which expects Sefa to automatically approve the loans. But the reality is that loans are approved or rejected based on the loan applicant’s ability to repay debt, not on who prepared their business plans.  The second pressing matter is the manner in which the R20bn government expenditure on enterprise development is monitored. Sedfa must be given the mandate to co-ordinate this expenditure to ensure maximum impact in the SMME sector, instead of the practice of giving this mandate to various departments, where the funds are funnelled into a black box that no-one can account for.  The third issue is the proliferation of extortion syndicates, which threaten and demand protection fees from SMMEs, primarily those that trade in townships and rural towns. Ndabeni-Abrahams must put pressure on her colleagues in the security cluster to eradicate these brazen criminals, which are forcing more and more SMMEs to shut down. In the wake of the historic May 29 election, SMME owners expect real service from their government, not the rhetoric and lip service they have been subjected to for so long. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2024-09-04-andile-ntingi-consolidation-of-smme-legislation-must-usher-in-real-service-not-rhetoric/

Staff Reporter | 30 August 2024 As South Africans reflect on the journey 30 years into democracy, it’s vital to recognise both the achievements and the challenges that still lie ahead. While there have seen numerous policy and legislative reforms, it’s disheartening to note that the built environment sector remains largely untransformed, according to the Council for the Built Environment. In addition, the organisation said statistics indicated that 13% of professionally registered individuals in this field are women, and these statistics “are indeed worrying and highlight a significant inequality that must be addressed”. In this regard, the Built Environment Women’s Network, in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment recently hosted a fantastic Youth Assembly and Women's Network event under the theme Women’s Well-being and Career Growth. The networking event aimed to empower underprivileged female students by addressing both their educational needs and personal well-being. “A significant part of the event was a hygiene products drive, which successfully donated over 200 dignity packs. Additionally, this is part of our broader programme aimed at empowering women and creating a networking platform for information sharing, best practices, and role modelling within the Built Environment,” the Council for the Built Environment said in a statement. “It was inspiring to see so many passionate individuals, especially young women, come together to discuss ideas, share experiences, and work towards building a more inclusive Built Environment. We had insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and a chance to highlight the vital role that women play in this field. “This, for us, was a demonstration that we shouldn’t just talk about these issues; our actions must reflect our intentions. We are now deliberately creating supportive platforms that allow women in the Built Environment to pursue their passions and practice what they studied, just like their male counterparts. “We do this because we strongly believe that for change to happen, it must start with us, and it is a long journey. We will continue to advocate and champion inclusivity, foster partnerships, and ensure that the voices of women are not just heard but valued.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/empowering-women-in-the-built-environment-for-true-transformation-9e32898e-56db-4f06-a742-d01a4604fdf5

SA News | 21 August 2024 The National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission is inviting all stakeholders with an interest in the National Minimum Wage to make representations of possible adjustments in the policy instrument. “The closing date for submission of written comments/representations concerning possible adjustments to the National Minimum Wage is 30 September 2024,” the Commission said in a statement. This as the Commission is conducting an investigation into possible adjustments to the NMW and will submit its recommendations to the Minister of Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth later in 2024.  This is in accordance with section 6(2) of the National Minimum Wage Act, No. 9 of 2018. The NMW is the minimum amount of pay that an employer is legally required to remunerate employees for work done. The amount does not include payment of allowances (such as transport, tools, food or accommodation) payments in kind (board or lodging), tips, bonuses and gifts, among others. The National Minimum Wage is the floor level below which no employee should be paid. The NMW first came into implementation in 2019 at a minimum of R20 per hour. The NMW is enforced by law and violations are subject to fines.  Commission Chairperson, Professor Imraan Valodia said written representations will be forwarded to the Minister together with the Commission’s report to decide on the 2025 determination. The current rate of NMW as announced by former Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi in February 2024 is set at R27,58.Written inputs should be sent to: Directorate: Employment Standards, Department of Employment and Labour, Private Bag X117, Pretoria, 0001, or nmwreview@labour.gov.za on or before the closing date. – SAnews.gov.za ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/have-your-say-2025-national-minimum-wage-determination

By McDonald's | 16 August 2024 Valuable work experience is gained in the skills-driven training programme. McDonald’s South Africa (Yes, we’re lovin’ it) and CATHSSETA (Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority) hosted an inspiring, time-savvy conference about their Skills Development Partnership at “The Hamburger University”, one of only nine in the world McDonald’s training centres, located at the McD’s Head Office in Sandton (Johannesburg) on 13 August 2024.  The joint initiative aims to tackle the scourge of youth unemployment through the recruitment and training of local job seekers between 18-35 years old via workplace-learning (learnerships/entry-level jobs), at McDonald’s franchises around the country. Over 1 646 youth are officially placed in the skills-driven training programme for 18 months, and a guaranteed stipend of R3 500 is paid to these workers excluding extra employee benefits from McDonald’s, should the trainee-employees wish to take shifts after learning periods daily. This allows trainees to earn disposal income which contributes significantly to the economy and their communities. The initial stipend was R2 500, and McDonald’s South Africa topped the figure by another R1 000. This is an impressive win for the nation, as this skills development partnership actively reduces the staggering 60% youth unemployment rate, according to CATHSSETA CEO Marks Thibela. It is just the beginning as plans are underway for the first cohort to graduate in May-July 2025, and another intake will be announced then.  “Our 2030 vision is in action through skills initiatives like this, as it is a high impact programme where 80% absorption rate is estimated.” Thibela boasts that the recruited candidates also earn UIF and Disability Leave, among other worker benefits. CEO of McDonald’s South Africa Greg Solomon gave a compelling keynote address: “Businesses and government need to collaborate to address youth unemployment crisis and skills shortages. We strive to eradicate these socioeconomic issues through three E’s: Education, Exposure and Experience.”  The trainee-workers are empowered with education to learn skills required at the workplace. In this context, they study how to operate a successful restaurant business at one of the top franchises in the country, and in the world (McDonald’s is currently ranked as the top employer as well). The workers enrolled through this skills programme are exposed to the industry via working directly in the hospitality sector as cooks, assistant chefs and barristers, etc. Lastly, these young trainees acquire experience needed in the workplace to be valued human capital in the competitive world of business, as they have to compile a portfolio of evidence (WIL, also known as Work-Integrated Learning).  This ensures that their theoretical and practical knowledge through the experience matches the skills required for a permanent job placement, or even a promotion up in the ranks of corporate SA — utilising their affiliation with McDonald’s as a start in their respective careers they carve. “One of the key priorities is to skill young people. We therefore challenge the private sector to produce skills, as the government can’t be the only player,” said Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.  He said that young people who are recruited into the programme must take the initiative to showcase their hospitality talents at World Skills, a global event that ranks restaurateurs and other sub-sectors associated with travel and dining. The event is scheduled to take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on 10-15 September 2024.  Thibela said that there is a budget of R7 million in funding for businesses in the hospitality sector to participate. “Young people should aspire to be job creators rather than job seekers.”  One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Frans Mohlaba (from Tsakane, Soweto) shared his testimony that the workplace learning keeps him fulfilled, and that the stipend has improved his livelihood. Mohlaba brands himself as the next CEO of McDonald’s South Africa. Solomon commented: “Young people have big dreams, and they need to take small steps to get there.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://mg.co.za/partner-content/2024-08-16-youth-empowerment-through-the-mcdonalds-south-africa-and-cathsseta-skills-development-partnership/

Leo London | 7 March 2024 Youth unemployment is considered a national crisis that demands urgent, innovative and coordinated solutions. Young people who are unable to find employment or further education and training opportunities have become invisible to the existing administrative systems. Without equal opportunities to obtain an education, they will not be able to participate equally in jobs, in voting, and in other crucial areas of life. As such, Youth NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) fall outside the institutional environments and networks that can be used as points of entry into the labor market. While urban centers thrive with innovation and economic growth, rural youth contend with challenges stemming from their geographic distance, resource scarcity, and lack of exposure to emerging technologies and infrastructure. This spatial divide not only inhibits their access to quality education and skill development opportunities but also perpetuates a cycle of economic stagnation. Kefilwe Tsela’s Academy innovative solution The Traveling Skills Academy is an exciting new program by Kefilwe Tsela Academy that aims to bring quality learning and skills development opportunities directly to marginalised communities. This program aims to provide access to quality skills development to youth that are not in education, employment or training, also known as NEETs who experience barriers to accessing the traditional education system, and post-basic education youth who are experiencing long-term unemployment. The Travelling Skills Academy is a mobile academy equipped with computers and internet access to provide learning at the doorstep of the most marginalised youth. This breaks the participation barrier of costly and time-intensive traveling to learning training centers that are usually in the cities. So by taking learning opportunities to the youth, we make learning a low barrier to entry. Features and benefits: Access to infrastructure: The academy provides laptops, tablets, internet access, and digital tools, eliminating infrastructure barriers and enabling learning within the community at no cost to the participants.Blended learning: Combining face-to-face interaction with digital learning through laptops and tablets ensures a comprehensive educational experience that effectively prepares participants for the digital workplace.Demand-driven: Focused on relevant digital skills and careers, our adaptive curriculum provides demand-driven skills to deliver immersive and transformational learning experiences. The program equips the youth with skills and competencies that can help them start and grow careers and businesses in the digital economyMicro-learning pedagogy: Bite-sized, engaging content facilitates rapid skill acquisition, making participants employable in a week. Through a dynamic microlearning pedagogy, learners are able to learn practical skills that they can start using immediately. Our core objectives include offering essential and intermediate skills to NEETs, providing practical knowledge and skills, fostering employment opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship, and addressing the skills gap in local communities. Objectives: Provide individuals with practical skills and knowledge in various trades. Facilitate employment opportunities for trainees through industry collaborations. Foster entrepreneurship by enabling trainees to start their own businesses. Promote socio-economic development by addressing the skills gap in the local community. Enhance the overall employability and productivity of individuals. Through strategic interventions spanning education, skills training, mentorship, and community development, this program aims to instill a sense of agency within underserved youth. By fostering an environment that values their unique strengths and cultivates their potential, the goal is not only to empower individuals but to spark a broader transformation within these communities. The program seeks to empower rural and township youth by giving them the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive, create, and lead. The Travelling Skills Academy is a comprehensive approach that engages local stakeholders, leverages technology for educational outreach, and establishes pathways for skill development and employment. Launching the Traveling Skills Academy The Traveling Skills Academy is set to launch in April 2024, and we are excited to announce that we will be visiting local townships in Gauteng. Our goal is to provide an opportunity individuals to enhance their personal and professional growth, regardless of their location, background, and financial circumstance. We believe that the Traveling Skills Academy has the power to transform lives and contribute to the overall development of communities. By offering accessible skills development opportunities.We are excited to embark on this journey and we are positive on the social and economic impact the Traveling Skills Academy will have on the youth, communities, and the country’s well being. To stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments regarding the Traveling Skills Academy, we encourage you to visit our website or follow us on social media. We will be posting regular updates about the launch, upcoming workshops, and opportunities to engage with the academy. Bridging gaps, empowering futures: Unveiling the Traveling Skills Academy Introduction: At Kefilwe Tsela Academy, we are committed to democratising education and making quality learning accessible to all. We address a pressing issue – the national crisis of youth unemployment. A significant portion of our youth, labeled as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), faces invisibility in administrative systems, hindering their access to equal opportunities in crucial aspects of life. Challenges faced by youth: Urban centers flourish with innovation, but rural and township youth encounter barriers such as geographic distance, resource scarcity, and limited exposure to emerging technologies. This spatial divide not only restricts access to quality education but also perpetuates economic stagnation. Kefilwe Tsela’s Innovative Solution - The Traveling Skills Academy: Introducing our groundbreaking initiative - The Traveling Skills Academy. This program is designed to directly bring quality learning and skills development opportunities to marginalised communities, breaking the barriers that hinder youth from traditional education systems. Features and benefits: Access to infrastructure: Equipped with laptops, tablets, internet access, and digital tools, the academy eliminates infrastructure barriers, providing learning within communities at no cost.Blended learning: Combining face-to-face interaction with digital learning ensures a comprehensive educational experience, preparing participants for the digital workplace.Demand-driven curriculum: Focused on relevant digital skills and careers, our adaptive curriculum delivers transformative learning experiences, equipping youth for the digital economy.Micro-learning pedagogy: Bite-sized, engaging content facilitates rapid skill acquisition, making participants employable in a week. Objectives: Provide practical skills and knowledge in various trades. Facilitate employment opportunities through industry collaborations. Foster entrepreneurship, enabling trainees to start their own businesses. Address the skills gap in local communities, promoting socio-economic development. Enhance overall employability and productivity. Launching in April 2024: The Traveling Skills Academy is set to launch in April 2024, visiting local townships in Gauteng. Our goal is to provide individuals with opportunities for personal and professional growth, irrespective of their location, background, or financial circumstance. Get involved: We invite you to join us on this transformative journey. Stay updated on the Traveling Skills Academy by visiting our website or following us on social media. Engage with us as we post regular updates about the launch, upcoming workshops, and opportunities to connect with the academy. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/commitment-to-democratising-education-and-making-learning-accessible-to-all-561920a

Tabloid Newspaper | 30 January 2024 Youth and women empowerment remains a necessity to society and central to government aspired socio-economic development, with an importance that cannot be cast aside in modern day societies. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development has thus undertaken a transformative mission to uplift the lives of impoverished women and youth throughout the province. In collaboration with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) and Vaal University of Technology, the department has embarked on a partnership that has seen over 32 youth receive training in cellphone repairs in 2023, with NEMISA handling the training aspect, while the department contributed by offering venues and funding to the tune of R5 million. The initiative has proven to be successful, with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) supplementing the efforts by providing business management training. A total of 31 youths participated in the programme, eight of them hailing from the Umkhanyakude District. Most of the beneficiaries were recipients of the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) and KZN MEC of Social Development, Nonhlanhla Khoza, said that it was pleasing to see young people dedicated to changing their lives for the better. Speaking during the graduation ceremony at eSicabazini Youth Academy, MEC Khoza said that the youth, who came from all over the province, had ventured into repairing cellphones in their respective areas and as a significant step towards supporting these emerging entrepreneurs, MEC Khoza handed over business start-up kits, in partnership with the NYDA. Additionally, industrial sewing machines, equipment for the hospitality industry and other start-up kits were provided to 27 women from non-profit organisations after they completed business management courses and skills development programmes with SEDA. During the handover and graduation ceremony, MEC Khoza emphasised the department’s commitment to empowering youth and women in rural areas to overcome poverty. “We have made a commitment that we want to see young people and women across the province playing a significant role in the economy of this country. It’s very pleasing that these beneficiaries were recipients of the R350 SRD grant and they now make over R500 a day by repairing cellphones,” she said. Highlighting the importance of breaking the cycle of dependency on government assistance, MEC Khoza emphasised the need for individuals to be self-reliant and engage in sustainable economic activities. “With such initiatives, the department aims to empower individuals to contribute meaningfully to both the local and national economy, fostering long-term social and economic advancement. We believe that when people start their own businesses, they will be able to fight poverty,” she said. MEC Khoza said that it would be a joyful day to see women from rural areas able to work with local schools by sewing uniforms and getting supported by their local communities. “We train these women because we want to see them playing a significant role in the economy of their area. There should be no need to go purchase school uniforms from conglomerates while our community possesses such skills. We want to see school governing bodies make a determination to embrace and support these women,” said MEC Khoza. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://tabloidmedia.co.za/empowering-youth-and-women-to-reverse-poverty/

Sipho Jack | 28 January 2024 The Gauteng Health Department says it is committed to supporting local businesses and township suppliers and the localisation of procurement within Gauteng. Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the department remained committed to providing financial muscle to small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs). “We have allocated substantial investments to bolster the local economy, underlining our commitment to nurturing township enterprises and contributing to their growth and sustainability,” Modiba said. He was responding to questions about how the department planned to support local business. This was after Jack Bloom, the DA shadow minister for health, revealed that the department had spent R1.7 million on food alone this year. Bloom claimed that the department was overlooking local businesses in favour of companies from Limpopo. Modiba said the reason why the department seemed to be prioritising Limpopo companies was that it was participating in a provincial transversal contract which lapsed in 2021. “The provincial treasury handed back the responsibilities for the GPG (Gauteng provincial government) departments to establish their contract for food items. The department started to participate in the Limpopo contract in August 2023 while initiating a departmental contract for food items. “In the absence of a departmental food contract, health institutions procured food through the Request for Quotations (RFQ) process, which resulted in (them) incurring increased irregular expenditure and shortage of supply. “The bid specifications committee was in the process of finalising the specifications for the food contract at the time.” Modiba added that all food items on the Limpopo contract were verified and were of the same specifications that the department required. “The suppliers that are on the Limpopo contracts are inclusive of suppliers that have a Gauteng address on the central data base. It must be pointed out that no law prohibits a company from Gauteng from getting contracts from other provinces and vice versa. “The department is in the process of establishing a contract for the provision of food-related items. The participation in the Limpopo contract is a provisional measure to ensure the uninterrupted supply of food-related items,” the spokesperson said. On the question of why the company was charging the department an exorbitant amount, Modiba said the department was bound by the legislation governing the participation of contracts, which regulates that the participating department participates with the full terms and conditions of the contract. “The participating department is not permitted to add or reduce the terms and conditions of the contract. The department is procuring the required goods based on the rates stipulated in the approved Limpopo contract,” he added. Modiba said the amount spent on the food items was justifiable as the department aligned with the standard practices and adhered strictly to the applicable laws, including National Treasury regulation 16A6.6. The spokesperson said the regulation permitted the head of department to engage in contracts arranged by other organs of the state through a competitive bidding process. “The department participates in other contracts with the same terms and conditions including National Treasury transversal contracts. The department is utilising the prices as regulated by the signed and approved Limpopo contract.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/gauteng-health-supports-smmes-d44f53bf-c79c-4d66-8bab-554920af8971

SA Government | 24 January 2024 Partner us in registering employment vacancies – appeals Employment and Labour Minister T.W Nxesi. Employment and Labour Minister T.W Nxesi has called on employers to register their vacancies and available training opportunities in the Department’s job placement platform - the Employment Services System of South Africa (ESSA) system to help cushion the effects of poverty and unemployment. Nxesi said: “We are willing and ready to assist you in the recruitment and selection of your future employees free of charge. In other words, no employer will be charged labour brokering fees where you opt to use our systems. We offer similar services free of charge to work seekers. Please get involved in these initiatives so that you are not left behind: they benefit companies, they benefit work seekers, particularly the youth, and they contribute to economic development and help build social cohesion”. The Minister was speaking at an employer briefing session at Digital Hub in Botshabelo in the Free State Province. The briefing session coincided with the start of the two-day Jobs Fair held at Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium – Botshabelo Arena, today (24 January 2024). The Free State Jobs Fair follows on the heels of others held last year in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo. In January 2024 the Department also held a Jobs Fair in Thulamahashe in Mpumalanga Province. More Jobs Fairs are to be held in George, Cape Town and other provinces. The Department of Employment and Labour Jobs Fair concept seeks to stimulate employment of work seekers particularly amongst youth. The event also provides an opportunity where job seekers can interact with potential employers for placement and learn about available job opportunities. The Jobs Fair, is an initiative championed by the Department’s Public Employment Services (PES) branch and seeks to create opportunities for work seekers and provide a platform to interact with prospective employers. Today’s briefing was also led by discussions on National Labour Migration Policy, the Employment Equity discussions, Labour Activation Programme presentation, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act and the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy. Nxesi said: “I don’t have to lecture you as employers on the high rate of crime that we are currently experiencing. The youth remain vulnerable in the labour market, it is a ticking time bomb and represents the greatest risk to social stability in South Africa. Mind-sets need to change, innovations need to be sought and collaborations strengthened to bring about a halt to the staggering unemployment amongst youth. “From our side, we have started this initiative - engaging in a number of Jobs and Career Fairs across the country - and we have been running them for the last two years. We have introduced state of the art mobile units that are assisting a great deal in servicing work seekers. We have partnered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), as well as with the Department of Basic Education (DBE).” He said the partnership with institutions of learning was part of Education for Employability (E4E) - a joint project funded by the European Union to smooth the transition from school to work. “We are supporting the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative and coordinating various interventions in this regard. We continue to make funding available under the UIF Labour Activation Program towards various partnership projects designed to create employment,” Nxesi said. The Department is this week providing an integrated service delivery programme which also includes taking services to the people, unemployment insurance processing, administering the compensation for occupational injuries and diseases claims and conducting blitz inspections. The Minister is expected tomorrow (Thursday) to address work seekers during the Jobs Fair at Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium – Botshabelo Arena. For media inquiries, kindly contact: Teboho ThejaneDepartmental SpokespersonCell: 082 697 0694Email: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/minister-thulas-nxesi-calls-employers-register-vacancies-and-training

Nicola Daniels | 14 December 2023 The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has come under fire for “abandoning” the target of 75% of budget expenditure on Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and black-owned enterprises. In response to a parliamentary question from EFF MP Nazier Paulsen, DFFE said it had revised its policy in line with the new Preferential Procurement Regulations (PPR) of 2022. Paulsen wanted to know why the target of 75% of budget expenditure on Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment and black-owned enterprises was removed. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Barbara Creecy responded that the target was set in 2019 for the DFFE 5-year strategic plan when the National Treasury’s Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Regulations of 2017 were still in effect. “The DFFE revised its policy in line with the new Preferential Procurement Regulations (PPR) of 2022. The department’s new supply chain management policy makes use of specific goals applicable for preferential procurement. The specific goals in the policy allocate preference points to enterprise/entities from the following categories: More than 50% ownership by black people, more than 50% ownership by women; and more than 50% ownership by people with disabilities.” The department said it stipulated one or more of these specific goals for its tenders. Paulsen said this week that the ANC had never been a party empowering black people and transforming the economy in favour of black people who had been marginalised. “The ANC has now adopted a neo-liberal type of approach,” he said. The Black Business Federation said the move was inconsistent with the national policy of BBBEE and had not undergone public scrutiny. “We need to revise that law to make it inclusive. We have BBBEE which provides a certificate as a regulation and works with a standard scorecard you get tax rebate. How will PPR work? The law needs scrutiny before it can be applied. It has loopholes that might exclude some and make room for bias and favour big companies in big business. We need to enhance BBBEE, not fall short or cut corners. We still remain fractured; the imbalances of the past are still there,” Black Business Federation spokesperson, Sifiso Shezi said. Cosatu parliamentary co-ordinator Matthew Parks said they supported preferential procurement. “It is critical expenditure and can be used to support preferential procurement, localisation and job creation. Parliament will soon pass the Public Procurement Bill which will strengthen preferential procurement, localisation and job creation requirements for public expenditure across the state. This will be an important boost and binding across the state,” he said. President of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa, Mametlwe Sebei said: “The attempt to invent a class by means of a state legislation is always going to give us a problem that has its own contradictions. The economy is monopolised, you cannot reverse that. “The reality is that monopoly is a feature of modern capitalism all across the world. The issue is how do you insert black capitalism in that monopolised capital. “Fundamentally, it is undoable on the scale required. Capitalism is about profit. The idea that somebody is just going to hand over money based on racial markers as people in majority, that is never going to go smoothly. “That’s why we are seeing fronting. The mining industry is the most remarkable example of the failure of BBBEE as they argue once empowered always empowered, which means if they comply once they don’t have to comply again and again. “Changing regulations after regulations will not address the fundamental problem. We say nationalise key sectors of the economy/industry on the basis of public ownership by democratic control to contribute to national wealth for everyone.” Policy analyst Nkosikhulule Nyembezi said even when seen through Paulsen’s eyes, things “do not look good right now” for Creecy’s specific goals in the policy to allocate preference points to enterprises and entities with 50% ownership by blacks, women and people with disabilities. “In 2022, the minister announced revisions to its policy in line with the new Preferential Procurement Regulations (PPR) of 2022 and targets by which she expects to be judged. With an election looming, such targets matter more than usual amid widespread disappointment over the minister’s admission that the department has not set targets in line with specific goals, as per their policy. “Embarrassingly, despite the 2022 department’s new supply chain management policy, the waiting list for targeted enterprises and entities has just risen, as the minister’s admission of lack of targets has led to under-performance and not improvements. “Politically, this is the big problem that Minister Creecy seems unable to solve. She has defined herself as a minister who can deliver. Yet even if her priorities were the right ones, which they are, and the figures showed her implementation of the policy to be making progress in empowering the category of beneficiaries – they continue to show slow progress – she would struggle to persuade voters that she understands their priorities in the absence of set targets in line with specific goals as per the policy,” Nyembezi said. Economist Duma Gqubule said that the government was abandoning its own policies and unless there was pressure to revive the policy and mend the mistakes of the past, it was “as good as dead”. “If you look at issues like ownership, there are so many loopholes in law. The BBBEE code has become like an exam that is easy to pass. They (companies) get points they don’t really deserve. They make fatal policy mistakes, especially in the design. The compromises they made in the drafting of the mining and finance charter, for example, completely diluted the process of BBBEE. It’s supposed to be a measurement system. The department is taking its cue from government. The president doesn’t even talk about it in the State of the Nation Address. I don’t see the pressure from black business organisations to change it,” he said. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/creecy-catches-flack-over-bbbee-target-def99fa1-b25a-4248-a8fe-a0b545a4f399

Duma Gqubule | 12 December 2023 Quasi-public institution needs to be created to centralise job creation initiatives. In 2016 my fellow columnist on this page, Neva Makgetla, a senior economist at Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies, wrote a policy brief that brought attention to the growing surplus at the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), which was then more than R100bn. She made an innovative proposal of using a portion of the surplus to finance a fiscal stimulus for the economy. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, SA created almost R60bn “out of thin air” when it ran down the surplus to pay 13.8-million people who were temporarily unemployed during the lockdowns. According to the Treasury’s 2023 Budget Review, the UIF will have a surplus of R109.1bn at the end of the 2023/24 fiscal year. There was no need for the UIF surplus before the pandemic, and there is still no need for it now. But the government has run out of ideas on how to use it. Recently the department of employment & labour came up with a mad plan to spend R15bn to create 2-million jobs by the end of March 2024, a few months before the national election. A better option is to use the UIF’s surplus to significantly expand public employment. SA has three public employment programmes that had a budget of R17.8bn for 2023/24. They will create almost 1.8-million work opportunities and 900,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs during this fiscal year. The Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) had a budget of R9.4bn. It will create 500,000 work opportunities and 290,000 FTE jobs. The Community Works Programme (CWP) had a budget of R4.3bn and will create 250,000 work opportunities and 100,000 FTE jobs. The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) had a budget of R3.1bn and will create 1-million work opportunities and about 490,000 FTE jobs. In addition, the Public Employment Services within the department received R1bn and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) R880.3bn. The 2023 medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) extended the PES, only for 2024/25, but there is no budget allocation. Ominously, the Treasury said: “The MTBPS proposes that the government should co-ordinate its approach to employment support. In this regard, significant portions of the EPWP and the CWP will be repurposed into the presidential employment initiative.” But cutting spending on other public employment programmes to pay for the extension of the PES makes no sense given the scale of the crisis. During the third quarter of 2023 the expanded  unemployment rate was 41.2% and 11.7-million unemployed people did not work. SA needs an annual GDP growth rate of 4.2% just to create jobs for the estimated 700,000 people who will enter the labour market each year until 2030. Since GDP growth alone will not be enough to create full employment, there must be other policy levers to create work. We must create a new quasi-public institution with professional management and civil society oversight that amalgamates all the country’s institutions that create employment: the PES, the CWP, the EPWP, Public Employment Services, the National Youth Service within the NYDA and Harambee, a youth employment accelerator. The new institution should have a three-year target to create 5-million work opportunities and 2.5-million FTE jobs at a living wage of R5,000 a month, indexed to the inflation rate. It should eventually develop the capacity to provide a job guarantee in SA. US economist Pavlina Tcherneva says a job guarantee is a public option for jobs. “It is a permanent, federally funded and locally administered programme that supplies voluntary employment opportunities on demand for all who are ready and willing to work at a living wage.” Civil society organisations, communities and companies could bid for job creation projects that would be evaluated based on objective criteria. A large transfer from the UIF surplus can provide the initial capitalisation for the new institution. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2023-12-12-duma-gqubule-state-should-use-uif-surplus-to-grow-public-sector-jobs/

Tando Faku | 11 December 2023 In unlocking South Africa’s township economy, Evergrow Seedlings, an agribusiness startup founded in Soweto has grown significantly since its establishment in 2018 to become a prominent contributor in creating opportunities for locals. Founded by Andile Gcaza (Bsc. Biotechemistry) and Phetole Raseropo (BSc. Botany), the business now employs more than twenty people who work as gardeners and farmers. Through their hard work, they sell over a million seedlings across South Africa. The dynamic duo are also graduates of Saica’s Enterprise Development (Saica ED) Flagship Programme which empowers SMMEs to elevate their businesses by offering them financial excellence through financial bootcamps, financial coaching, affordable accounting services, using accounting graduates where possible, and develop their financial excellence reporting standards. They established the business after identifying a gap within modern food systems around primary agricultural production value chains. Through their participation in the programme, they now have an MS Excel comprehensive business plan with a financial model in place, three-year historic financial statements, five-year forward-looking projections on their income statements and a cash flow statement including a loan amortisation schedule. This means that they are now a credible business that can attract different kinds of financial investments and funding. The two agripreneurs are now acknowledged as prominent contributors to not only the South African economy but to also SMMEs that produce local products that are relevant to our heritage. Evergrow Seedlings strives to offer high turnover vegetable seedlings and primary consultation services to smallholder farmers in urban to peri-urban areas. Saica Enterprise Development (Saica ED) offers Financial Excellence to SMMEs through all designations of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica). Saica ED thus partners with the Saica associated small and medium practices (SMPs) and other groupings within Saica to achieve Financial Excellence in both small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) and entrepreneurial incubators nationwide. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/837/244545.html