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Persons with disabilities are the largest marginalised group globally. Paragraph 2.1.1.3 under Statement 300 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice encourages the inclusion of persons with disabilities in terms of Bursaries, Learnerships, Internships, Apprenticeships and any other training initiative. The clause is stated as follows: “2.1.1.3 Skills Development Expenditure on Learning Programmes specified in the Learning Programme Matrix for 'Black' employees with disabilities as a percentage of Leviable Amount”. The points on offer are four with a 0.3% target.” Human Capital Services are available to assist members in implementing sustainable Skills Development Strategies for Persons with Disabilities.

Linda Ensor | 28 November 2023 The National Treasury will review a clause in the draft Public Procurement Bill that emphasises price as a criterion for evaluating bids so as to give empowerment a stronger role. Leanda Pietersen, the director of supply chain management legal advisory services at the Treasury, gave the undertaking during a meeting on Tuesday of parliament’s finance committee, which is deliberating on the bill. The bill lays down a broad framework for procurement by organs of state and includes sections aimed at empowerment and transformation such as set-asides, pre-qualifying criteria, and mandatory subcontracting and localisation in certain circumstances. Pietersen said the Treasury reconsidered the clause relating to the role of price in awarding bids before appearing at the committee and would review it to include other criteria. Pietersen was commenting on clause 18 (7) of the bill, which deals with set-asides and states that price must be used as a criterion for the evaluation of set-aside bids that meet other criteria such as functionality. In the Treasury’s revised bill, the clause states “the contract must be awarded to the bid that scored the highest points for price”. The points being assigned to price are calculated according to a prescribed formula. The wording aligns with the provision in the constitution that states “when an organ of state in the national, provincial or local sphere of government or any other institution identified in national legislation contracts for goods or services it must do so in accordance with a system which is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective”. It notes, however, this does not preclude a preferential procurement policy. The question of price and value for money has been a key issue raised during public hearings on the bill. EFF MP Mzwanele Manyi voiced objections to the use of price as a criterion, saying black businesses suffer from a number of disadvantages, which make them less competitive from a price point of view relative to their white competitors. These include the distance of their businesses in townships from the central business districts — the spatial development legacy of apartheid — which involves additional transport costs. Other disadvantages are their lack of economies of scale and the high risk placed by banks on black businesses. If price were to be rewarded, then the bill would in effect say that the government doesn’t want black suppliers, Manyi said. He indicated the inclusion of price as a criterion for bids is a deal breaker for him in terms of his further participation in the committee’s deliberations and urged it be removed altogether. Stellenbosch University law professor Geo Quinot, who heads the African Procurement Law Unit, said there are other important criteria besides price to consider when assessing bids, such as quality and environmental concerns, though he doesn’t believe price should be discarded altogether. DA finance spokesperson Dion George emphasised that “price is crucially important because government is running out of money and can’t afford to overpay for anything”. He said: “The irony here is that money for service delivery to the poorest South Africans is crowded out by paying more to service providers apparently to empower them. So money is diverted from the poorest households to other beneficiaries, many of whom are already empowered. “By not focusing on price, businesses will be incentivised to focus more on meeting preferential criteria than on improving their efficiency, productivity or quality of service. “This will disrupt the market signals that prices convey about the value and scarcity of resources, which will lead to significant inefficiencies and increased costs for the government and ultimately taxpayers.” The committee is racing to complete its deliberations on the bill, which is due for debate in the National Assembly next Tuesday. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2023-11-28-treasury-to-juggle-price-and-bee-in-procurement-bill/

Publicity | 27 November 2023 SAP has reaffirmed its commitment to youth skills by profiling its SAP Educate to Employ initiative and its public-private partnership with UNICEF and the government. This commitment was addressed at an event held in Johannesburg. The event showcased the SAP Educate to Employ initiative and aimed to educate youth aged between 16 and 24 years on soft skills, foundational knowledge and SAP skills using the student zone on the SAP Learning site. On the site, students can learn about the latest SAP solutions for free to kickstart their careers. The initiative forms part of SAP's global commitment to supporting UNICEF's Generation Unlimited (GenU), a public-private youth partnership that aims to deliver innovative solutions to challenges youth face around the world. In the region, the partnership is aimed at helping young people in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa gain skills for employment, with 100 youth forming part of the initial intake in South Africa. "Skilling of our youth to meaningfully participate in the digital economy is essential to an equality-centric and prosperous nation. We welcome SAP's continued investment in skills development for the youth and extend our congratulations to UNICEF and SAP on their partnership," says Pinky Kekana, deputy minister in the presidency for planning, monitoring and evaluation. "The South African government is encouraged by the initiative, and we look forward to supporting efforts to scale the SAP Educate to Employ initiative," adds Kekana. SAP says that the admission of the first 100 participants was announced at the event. A competitive set of students selected from a pool of 18 000 applicants across the continent will receive fully remote learning over a six to 12-month period, with the aim of joining the SAP ecosystem as a young professional upon completion of the course. Anele Chulayo, an SAP Educate to Employ candidate, says, "I have been passionate about coding since high school and the possibility of creating apps and technology that can make a difference to young people from all walks of life. I applied for SAP Educate to Employ in August this year and am delighted to have been selected as part of their programme." "The programme is already underway, and I'm excited to be learning new things each and every day including programming language and web development. I believe in the power of technology to do good and make a positive impact and difference in people's lives, regardless of background," adds Chulayo. Kholiwe Makhohliso, managing director at SAP Southern Africa, says, "Upskilling and mobilising Africa's youth population is one of the defining challenges of our time. To build a prosperous future for all, we must urgently address one of South Africa and the continent's greatest challenges — youth unemployment — which affects a disproportionate number of African youth." "We are proud to introduce a new Corporate Social Responsibility initiative as a demand-driven job creation initiative that empowers youth with vital skills, knowledge, attitudes and values to build their competencies for the 21st-century digital economy," adds Makhohliso. The initiative builds on SAP's other extensive youth skills development initiatives throughout Africa. This includes Africa Code Week, which has trained nearly 14 million African youth in basic coding skills, as well as the SAP Young Professional Program, which has equipped nearly 2 000 youth in Africa with work-ready SAP skills and certification as well as direct job placements, says SAP. SAP and UNICEF first joined forces in support of GenU in 2019 launching in: India Turkey, and Vietnam. The partnership was further extended in 2022 with a USD$4.55-million over three years investment focussed on impacting youth in: Kenya Nigeria the Philippines, and South Africa. It has since generated opportunities for over 7.6 million adolescents through inclusive and innovative skills development programmes. According to SAP, the initiative launches in South Africa at a time when youth unemployment was at a peak. More than half of South Africa's youth are currently unemployed. Without concerted efforts by public and private-sector role-players, South Africa will not reap the benefits of its substantial youth skills pool. Christine Muhigana, UNICEF's representative in South Africa, says, "To remain competitive in a dynamic and changing job market, youth need access to work-relevant skills and training opportunities. Through our partnership with SAP and working closely with key public sector role-players, we believe that this initiative can potentially make a lasting positive impact on youth job prospects in South Africa and beyond." UNICEF concludes that it does not endorse any company, brand, product or service. For more information, visit www.learning.sap.com. You can also follow SAP on Facebook or on X. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/publicity/155208/sap-unicef-and-genu-activate-sap-educate-to-employ-youth-skills-initiative-in-sa

Dirk Hermann | 27 November 2023 Solidarity is going to appeal to the United Nations that South Africa should rather shift its focus from affirmative action to training and the social economic position of people. Solidarity and the government will appear before the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) this week. Solidarity will argue on this international platform that the government’s focus on racial representivity is counterproductive and violates the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). The battle between the government and Solidarity dates back to as far as 2016. CERD already voiced its concerns in 2016 that South Africa was still using apartheid race classifications. The committee also recommended that South Africa’s empowerment decision-making should focus on the socio-economic position of people. In 2017, the South African Human Rights Commission also found in a report that South Africa’s affirmative action programme action contravenes the international convention. South Africa’s focus on racial representation has in no way reduced inequality. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. Only a small privileged group of elites became enriched by black empowerment and many people used black empowerment as a vehicle to commit corruption. Solidarity calls for a focus on people’s socio-economic position. We are also calling for a shift from an output-based approach (racial quotas) to an input-based approach (training and development). A combined focus on people’s socio-economic position and training and development will empower people on a broad basis without harsh racial divisions. Solidarity and the government recently reached an agreement following a previous complaint Solidarity had brought before the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation (IAO). Among other things, this agreement stipulates that race programmes must be temporary in nature, that race may not be the sole criterion when appointments are made, that skills must be taken into consideration, that no one’s services may be terminated on the grounds of race, that no absolute ceilings may apply in the workplace and that companies’ unique circumstances must be taken into consideration when appointing staff. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/abolish-racial-quotas-focus-on-training--solidarit

Yuneal Padayachy | 27 November 2023 ESG, the bedrock of global ethical and sustainable practices, is making waves in South Africa and for good reason. It compels organisations to reflect on their environmental impact, social responsibilities, and governance structures. With over 13 years of working in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) space, Yuneal Padayachy, chief support officer at The BEE Chamber, has witnessed an evolving landscape of transformation. From verifying compliance to fostering inclusivity, his path has taken him from corporate corridors to government initiatives. Now, as business moves from transactional to transformational strategies, environmental, social and governance (ESG) is the new, emerging force that he urges organisations to focus on: “Over the years, I have seen many organisations moving from the transactional approach to the transformational one in implementing their B-BBEE strategy which the BEE Chamber advocates for quite aggressively. The concepts that I am hearing more and more often in discussions is the concept of ESG – environmental, social and governance - which looks at the implementation of initiatives in these areas.” ESG principles have gained worldwide prominence as a framework for evaluating an organisation’s ethical and sustainable behaviour. This framework encourages organisations to consider the environmental impact of their operations, their social responsibilities, and their governance structures. While ESG is a global phenomenon, its relevance to South Africa is particularly significant. B-BBEE is a uniquely South African concept aimed at addressing the historical economic inequalities for Black People. B-BBEE focuses on increasing the participation of Black People, in the economy. This initiative includes Ownership, Management Control, Skills Development, Enterprise & Supplier Development, Socio-Economic Development, and the Youth Employment Service Initiative as its core components. There are a few linkages between ESG and B-BBEE in South Africa that drive sustainability; Padayachy unpacks them below: Economic transformation: ESG principles encourage responsible business practices, including fair labor practices, ethical procurement, and community engagement. “These aspects closely align with the objectives of B-BBEE, which seeks to drive economic transformation in South Africa for Black People by promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within organisations.” Social equity: “The "S" in ESG emphasises the social dimension of business operations, including promoting diversity and inclusion, philanthropy, and community development. B-BBEE directly addresses these concerns by empowering Black People in the workforce and fostering social development, which contributes to social equity,” explains Padayachy. Governance and transparency: “The "G" in ESG underscores the importance of strong governance and transparency within an organisation. Similarly, B-BBEE emphasises governance and compliance to ensure that transformation is not just a superficial exercise but a structural change in the business landscape.” So what are the benefits of linking ESG and B-BBEE in South Africa? Enhanced corporate reputation: Aligning with both ESG and B-BBEE principles can significantly improve an organisation’s reputation in South Africa. This is particularly valuable in a society that values ethical and sustainable practices. Market access and competitive advantage: Organisations that embrace ESG and B-BBEE not only meet regulatory requirements but also gain preferential access to new business and retain existing business, which is a strategic advantage in South Africa. Innovation and risk mitigation: Embracing ESG and B-BBEE encourages organisations to innovate and adapt to changing societal and environmental conditions. This not only mitigates risks but also positions them to seize emerging opportunities. Economic growth and social development: The linkage of ESG and B-BBEE accelerates economic growth in South Africa by fostering entrepreneurship and empowering marginalised communities with a specific focus on Black People. This, in turn, contributes to the overall development of the nation. Global attractiveness: Companies that are ESG and B-BBEE compliant become more attractive to international investors and partners, facilitating foreign investments and trade relationships. Long-term sustainability: By integrating ESG principles and B-BBEE into their core operations, companies in South Africa ensure long-term sustainability, which is vital in an ever-changing global business landscape. “The synergy between ESG and B-BBEE in South Africa is a powerful catalyst for economic transformation, social equity, and sustainable development. Companies that embrace these frameworks not only benefit from improved reputations and market access but also contribute to the broader goal of creating a more inclusive and prosperous South Africa,” says Padayachy. “The convergence of ESG and B-BBEE embodies a vision for a South Africa that is economically vibrant, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable. It is a path forward that holds promise for both businesses and society.” https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/750/244125.html

Bongani Mdakane | 27th November 2023 Global chemicals and energy company Sasol has extended the contract of the engineering company found by its forensic investigation to have committed BEE fronting. Sasol launched forensic investigations against NJM Heat Treatment & NDE Services (NJM) after media reports about the alleged fronting. NJM’s alleged questionable corporate governance further came to light when the company revealed in the Joburg High Court recently that it misrepresented its BEE status in a bid to get an Eskom tender. The newspaper also stumbled upon a document in which NJM’s former CEO Jack Madzivhandila complained about fronting involving its 26% shareholder Baleseng Zinyana and another 25% shareholder Vanessa Chungu. He said he was informed in 2017 by NJM directors Mark Smith and Alex Roditis that they intended to sell the shares of other shareholders, other than those held by Zinyana, equalling 25% to another black woman, Chungu, to enable the company to be 51% black-woman owned. He said he was later informed that Chungu bought the shares but because she did not have the capital she would pay for them from dividends. He said several years later Chungu still had not paid for the shares because the company had not declared or paid dividends. He also said the company’s turnover was reduced so that the profit margins would remain low, thereby diminishing the chances of dividends being paid out. As a result, Chungu would forever be indebted while on the other hand, the company continued to benefit from a good Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) assessment scoring. He said Chungu’s ownership was only on paper but not that which would economically empower her as a black woman. Sasol contracted a law firm, Cronje, De Wal-Skhosana Inc, to conduct forensic investigation, which revealed in its report that NJM was BBBEE non-compliant. In the report, which we have seen, the law firm’s Kimberly Ketsise, said investigation yielded a non-compliant outcome on NJM Heat Treatment & NDE Services’ claim of 51.23% black-female ownership. “It is an established fact that NJM has refrained from declaring dividends since the acquisition of shareholding by black shareholders, notwithstanding the company’s consistent profitability at the close of each financial year. “The appointment of Madzivhandila as a director and CEO appears to have been more symbolic than substantive – a manifestation of tokenism,” read the report. The report further said Madzivhandila indicated he felt discouraged and inhibited from actively participating in NJM’s core activities. The daily operations falling within the purview of his appointment were, in practice, managed and overseen by Smith and Riditis, said the report. “Furthermore, a significant income disparity of 119.80 has been discerned between the average earnings of two white male directors and that of the black female director, income disparity five years subsequent to her respective appointments (sic),” read the report. According to the report, there exists no substantive indication or corroborative evidence demonstrating active participation by Chungu at the strategic decision- making level, despite her assertions of unrestricted involvement as a board member in shaping strategic directives. The conclusion of a legal relationship with a black shareholder was for the purpose of NJM achieving a level 2 BBBEE compliance status without granting black shareholders the economic benefits that would reasonably be expected to be associated with the status or positions held by those black shareholders, said the report. “Thus the company’s 51% black female ownership deposed from 2018-2020 can also not be confirmed as true and correct. “The company’s validated ownership and present ownership cannot be confirmed as true and correct. “Evidence of fronting practice is confirmed herein where there was a deliberate circumvention or attempted circumvention of the BBEEE Act and the codes.” Sunday World has established that despite damning findings against NJM, Sasol extended its contract, which was supposed to end this coming Thursday, by another six months to run until May next year. NJM’s lawyer, Fraser Van der Watt said: “As far as our client is aware, Sasol is following its own internal process insofar as an investigation is concerned and our clients have not received any reports and understands that any investigations are ongoing. “Our clients deny that NJM’s black female ownership of 51% cannot be confirmed as true and correct, as our clients believe that this will be confirmed in the report following the outcome of any investigations.” Van der Watt added: “Our client denies that there were any fronting practices on NJM’s part or that there was a deliberate or attempted circumvention of the BBBEE Act and its codes. “Our clients deny that there has been any misrepresentation. Our clients believe that this will be confirmed in the report following the outcome of any investigations.” Sasol media relations manager Matebello Motloung said: “The matter is still under investigation and, therefore, we cannot comment on it now.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://sundayworld.co.za/business/sasol-extends-engineering-firms-contract-after-probe-warns-of-bee-fronting/

Christopher Tredger | 23 November 2023 Cloud adoption by South African small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) could generate a R185.9-billion boost for the economy over the next six years. This is according to a new study by Access Partnership commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It estimates that by 2030, SMMEs that adopt cloud services could help create 142 300 jobs, cut 4.74 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions, and slash cyber incidents by 34%. The rationale is that cloud would enable these companies to cut IT costs, be more productive, and expand operations, and in so doing, help create the capacity to support additional jobs in the economy. These jobs would be created not just by the SMMEs and startups that adopt cloud, but also by businesses along their supply chains, the report says. Busisiwe Khaba, AWS's regional head of public policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey, explains: “The research approach used an economy-wide employment coefficient (number of jobs supported per ZAR1 million of GDP) ... The 142 300 figure refers to the expected economy-wide jobs that will be supported in the year 2030 based on the cloud adoption projections in South Africa.” The study breaks down the estimated R185.9bn cumulative value as follows: R48bn in IT cost savings; R111bn in productivity gains; and R26 billion in revenue boosts. As to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, Khaba cites the company’s own research and that of global financial data and market analysis firm 451 Research. “Being highly utilised as a shared service, cloud servers can achieve up to an 80% reduction in carbon footprint compared to typical on-premises servers,” she says. Security gains AWS reports a 34% reduction in security incidents for cloud customers. Based on this statistic, the Access Partnership study estimates that South African SMMEs could potentially prevent over 88 800 security incidents between 2023 and 2030 by migrating to the cloud. Khaba says the research was conservative in its assumptions related to cloud adoption growth, so this figure could be considered a conservative estimate of cloud’s positive impact on SMMEs’ cyber security. The AWS executive adds that cloud service providers make significant investments to ensure the availability, security, and compliance of their services to reduce risk exposure for users. “Cloud service provider ecosystems also have significant training and certification options, including cyber security and data protection modules, to facilitate the uptake of cloud by new users.” AWS has also underlined the importance of government collaboration with industry to create supportive policies for SMMEs and startups – to improve access to skills, minimise red tape, streamline processes, and enforce policies. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itweb.co.za/content/G98Yd7LG9BevX2PD

News24Wire | 23 November 2023 The Treasury has drawn up far-reaching and extensive requirements to set the framework for how preferential procurement will be done by state entities and departments. The requirements – which run into seven pages – will form part of the Public Procurement Bill, which is under consideration by Parliament. Preferential procurement is enshrined in the Constitution, which requires Parliament to make laws that will give previously disadvantaged groups an advantage in tendering for state contracts. The proposals were presented to the Standing Committee on Finance last Friday, the same week in which Harvard's Growth Lab identified preferential procurement as a leading cause of the collapse of state capacity. In July, The International Monetary Fund also cautioned SA that preferential procurement adds a 20% premium to the state's cost of goods and services. There are five different ways in which a state entity can provide for preference. It is obligatory to include preferential measures in procurement policy. The five ways include: Setting aside specific contracts for preferred groups; Setting pre-qualification criteria for who bids for a tender; Applying a designated points system to provide preference; The compulsory use of sub-contracting, if viable; and Applying government-determined thresholds for local content and production. Each of the five alternatives includes detailed provisions. Set-asides These tenders can be set aside for South African-owned small businesses, in general, or those owned by one of the preferred groups. These include women, black people, black women, disabled people, black disabled people, youth, black disabled youth, military veterans, or small businesses in a geographical area. Bids must first meet this requirement and then score a minimum amount on the "functionality" aspect of the tender, which assesses the capacity of the bidder to do the work. Once these are applied, the tenderer with the lowest price wins. Pre-qualifications Pre-qualification criteria can be set to restrict who can bid. These include companies with a specific BEE rating, small businesses, and those 51% owned by any of the preferred groups listed above. Procuring institutions must first determine if such companies exist in the sector. They must then evaluate the bids, first in terms of functionality and then price. The preferential points system must be applied when assessing the bid price. The points system The new points system gives a far more significant advantage to preferred groups than previous iterations of preferential measures. It must be applied to all bids except those already set aside for particular groups. It will work on a sliding scale of 10% and 40% of the score derived from preference. While the regulations don't specify the rand value thresholds to which the 10% to 40% would be applied, tenders of lower value have a greater preference point weighting in the past. The points system will profoundly impact who wins tenders and the price advantage preferred groups will have over bidders that do not score well on the preference measures. While the proposals don't spell it out, it is conceivable that, in the most extreme case in the 40% scenario, where Bid A gets full points for preference and Bid B gets zero, Bid A can win with a price that is three times lower than Bid B's. The winner is the bidder who gets the highest score when price and preference points are combined. Sub-contracting If a procuring entity believes that sub-contracting is feasible, the winning bidder must sub-contract a part of the contract to a small business in general or small businesses that are 51% owned by any of the preferred groups. The main bidder must identify the proposed sub-contractors. The main bid is then evaluated for functionality, and then the preference points system is applied. The bid is awarded to the bidder with the highest score when price and preference are combined. Local content At the request of the minister of trade and industry, the minister of finance must designate certain sectors, sub-sectors or products to be locally manufactured or procured. The designated goods and services list must be published first for public comment and comments considered. If, following a designation, the goods cannot be locally produced, then the entity must request a waiver. Other criteria Contracting entities can also put in place measures to ensure sustainable development, beneficiation or job creation or set milestones that a contractor must achieve by the end of the contract. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.polity.org.za/article/treasury-puts-dramatic-plan-for-preferential-procurement-on-the-table-2023-11-23

Dataweek | 22 November 2023 A new partnership between Phahama Systems Development (PSD) and Bosco Printed Circuits (Bosco) aims to enhance their customers’ experience while maintaining the high service and quality that they are known for. The new entity, Phahama Bosco, will offer a spectrum of PCB solutions. For over 67 years, Bosco has been a leading player in electronics manufacturing. Specialising in locally-manufactured PCBs, it caters to a wide range of clients and provides solutions covering single- and double-sided boards and aluminium base PCBs. PSD is a 100% black-owned and women-controlled electronic contract manufacturer, specialising in PCB population. With a proven track record, it enjoys an excellent relationship with customers, and past collaborations with Bosco. Bosco, as a historically family-owned business, has recognised the importance of transformation. The partnership will see Bosco becoming a black-owned and women-controlled electronic supplier, with diverse offerings. The new relationship will be a marriage of the two entities, focused on mutual skills transfer and growth opportunities for all parties, with the expertise and experience built up over generations seamlessly integrated into the new company. Phahama Bosco has realised the need for vast technology upgrades and, through this collaboration, aims to enhance and diversify its local manufacturing by adding multilayer PCBs to its repertoire, whilst still delivering excellent customer service, competitive pricing, and flexibility, without compromising on the high quality that its customers have come to rely on. For more information contact Phahama Bosco, +27 11 452 1413, info@phahamabosco.co.za ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.dataweek.co.za/20947r

Brand South Africa | 22 November 2023 Many people wonder unto themselves, what would the South African economic landscape look like without the brave people who go off the beaten path and venture out into the unknown quests of enterprise? The answer to that question lies in all the strides and initiatives that the government continues to make in order to support the growth of small medium and micro enterprises. That is why the Department of Small Business Development under the leadership of Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, assembled some of the finest entrepreneurs in the country to celebrate the contribution they make in and around the South African economy. The Department of Small Business Development with the help of its agencies, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) came together once again to host the second National Presidential SMMEs and Co-operatives Awards ceremony on Friday 17 November at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways, South Africa.True to South African flair, attendees of the ceremony came out looking glamourous and stunning. Dignitaries from government, business and civil society also honoured the invitation with great enthusiasm. Among these dignitaries was none other than His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa who took to the stage to share congratulatory sentiments with the entrepreneurs in attendance. In his address, he clearly outlined the government’s strategic framework interventions which are set to level the playing field for SMMEs and Co-operatives. President Ramaphosa cited four areas of focus within the strategic framework. He mentioned that the government has plans to establish a small enterprise ombuds office to tackle unfair practices that SMMEs are subjected to such as non-payment for goods and services rendered. This has been among the main reasons why small businesses fail to make it past the three-year mark in South Africa. Showing a sense of accountability, President Ramaphosa admitted to government being among the defaulters of payment and made a commitment that perpetrators of this habit would be brought to book. The second area of focus in the strategic framework is market concentration which hinders market access through systematic barriers such as exclusivity clauses within the retail sector. He further applauded the Competition Commission for working tirelessly in resolving such hindrances. The third focus area is ensuring that half of the finance within Departmental Finance Institutions be dedicated specifically to the SMMEs and Co-operatives. Citing that DFIs such as the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) have disbursed R23 billion since 2005, contributing towards the employment of over 130,000 people to date. The fourth and final area of focus that will enable economic growth is entrepreneurship through the development of business incubators. President Ramaphosa was pleased to state that government has exceeded their 100-incubator target with 120 incubators developed thus far. Demonstrating the government’s commitment to tackle entrepreneurial misdemeanors with urgency. The nominees and winners of the awards went through a very rigorous selection process across the 14 categories. Winning cash prizes to the value of R100 000 and gaining access to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa. As Brand South Africa, we had the opportunity to collaborate on this auspicious occasion of celebrating our nation builders and entrepreneurs by giving a R 20 000 Vega School voucher to the winner of the Social Entrepreneur Award. Some of the winners on the night included: Mutapa Financial Services Cooperative for best performing rural CBI of the year, Bokang Lehloenya of Wa Rona Food Enterprise for startup business of the year, Degrecia Rapoo of Classic Oriental Consultancy for business development service provider of the year and Nokwanda Mchunu of Pink Print Farm Produce for rural based SMME of the year. The awards also served as a platform to shed light on the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week which is celebrated in over 200 countries with over 10 000 partners and 40 000 activities. Our responsibility as active citizens of South Africa is to continue showing our support to SMMEs and Co-operatives across the country and playing our part in creating economic growth. Let us join hands in making entrepreneurship fashionable. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://brandsouthafrica.com/159016/a-celebration-of-entrepreneurial-stars-at-the-2nd-national-presidential-smmes-co-operatives-awards-2023/

IT-Online | 21 November 2023 Enabling more of South Africa’s small, medium and micro (SMME) companies to adopt cloud computing could unlock R185.9-billion for South Africa’s economy by 2030, according to a new study by Access Partnership. The research, commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS), shows how by using the cloud, SMMEs could create 142 000 jobs, reduce carbon emissions by around 4,74-million metric tonnes, and reduce cybersecurity incidents by 34,2%. SMMEs are the backbone of the South Africa’s economy – especially in rural parts of the country – providing livelihoods for millions of people. Adoption of cloud technology could help these SMMEs thrive by giving them access to the same advanced IT infrastructure as large corporations at an affordable cost. Migrating to the cloud eliminates upfront hardware costs and ongoing maintenance burdens for small businesses. As well as levelling the playing field, cloud adoption will allow SMMEs to compete in South Africa’s digital economy by improving sector collaboration, driving efficiencies, providing data security, and helping them innovate quicker. “The role of SMMEs is important for economic growth and the development of the South African economy,” says Yunus Hoosen, CEO of Invest SA at the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition. “Relevant support for SMMEs including start-ups in the digital technology, innovation and digital transformation space cut across Government Departments such as the dtic (Department of Trade and Industry and Competition), Department of Small Business Development, Department of Science and Innovation, and Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. “The report is welcomed, especially the recommendations pertaining to government, and it should be noted that the dtic will continue to work with the mentioned other government departments and sector/industry role -players such as AWS to boost small businesses and to create jobs in the digital technology, innovation, and digital transformation space,” Hoosen adds. Cloud adoption will enable SMMEs become more resilient to cyberattacks. By migrating to the cloud, South African SMMEs could avert over 88 800 security incidents between 2023-2030, allowing them to focus on their business instead of cyberthreats. Access to cloud enabled technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI) could unlock the potential of South African SMMEs to create jobs, enable innovation, support sustainability, and drive inclusive economic growth. “As well as providing secure, affordable, and reliable IT infrastructure, cloud computing is democratising access to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), thereby enabling South Africa’s SMMEs to use them to grow their businesses,” says Amrote Abdella, GM of AWS Sub-Saharan Africa. “Small companies in industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare can use these technologies to unleash their potential, become more agile and competitive, and play a key role in driving the country’s economic growth. “By using cloud services and products anyone can access enterprise-class technology, scale rapidly, and free up resources to focus on business innovation and growth.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://it-online.co.za/2023/11/21/smmes-using-cloud-could-add-billions-to-sa-economy/

NYDA | 21 November 2023 Enabling young people to transition from learning to earning. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), working under the banner of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), is pleased to announce the opening of applications for 20 000 paid service opportunities for the second phase of the National Youth Service. The National Youth Service component of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention has delivered 47 234 service opportunities to young people in the 2022/23 financial year, with 12 546 young people exiting the programme for longer-termed opportunities. This makes the programme the largest scale youth service programme implemented in South Africa’s democratic history, and one of the largest service programmes globally. More importantly, the programme has successfully transitioned young people into more sustainable opportunities. This showcases the programme’s ability, in spite of a low growth economy, to transition youth from service into sustainable employment. The young people on the NYS programme are engaged in service activities which sharpen their skills, increase their employability status and also uplift their communities through programmes anchored in: Sports, Recreation, Arts and Entertainment Learner Support Programmes Social Support and Care Services Surveys and Digital Mapping Food Security and Child Nutrition Community Works and Greening Programmes Early Childhood Development Through the National Youth Service programme, young people have gained access to a network of mentorship opportunities, employer matching services, work readiness programmes, economic activity networks as well as ongoing support for them to apply to multiple longer-term opportunities. The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention through the NYS is South Africa’s most comprehensive effort to address youth unemployment to date. Its goal is to enable more young people to transition from learning to earning. It seeks to coordinate, accelerate, and enhance existing programmes and unblock pathways to employment, training and youth enterprise. Since the introduction of the PYEI, South Africa has seen eight consecutive quarters of decreases in youth unemployment. Young people are encouraged to raise their hands and volunteer in the second cohort of the National Youth Service by registering to be a part of this impactful and life changing network. Sign up for the National Youth Service on our zero-rated portal SAYouth.Mobi to access these opportunities by the 29th of November 2023. SAYouth.Mobi is a zero-rated platform for young people seeking opportunities to transition from learning to earning. Young people are encouraged to access the platform and to engage with various opportunity providers offering various forms of employment, training and mentorship programmes. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://mg.co.za/partner-content/2023-11-21-national-youth-development-agency-through-the-national-youth-service-opens-applications-for-20-000-youth-opportunities/