SCM roadshow ignites entrepreneurship interest amongst youth

14 March 2013

The Provincial Government is one of the largest buyers of goods, works and products that are required to deliver a variety of services to the people.

According to the estimates of expenditure for the 2014/15 financial year, Mpumalanga Government will spend R7.1 billion or 20 per cent of the budget on procurement of goods and services from 1 April 2014.

This obliges the Provincial Government to ensure that the business people and potential suppliers of goods and services are informed about public procurement policicies and tender opportunities in Mpumalanga.

On Thursday, 12 March 2014, it was the turn of the people of Chochocho and surrounding areas, to benefit from a very informative and educative Provincial Supply Chain Management Roadshow.

The Department of Finance uses the roadshows to share useful information about policies and available business opportunities in the Provincial Government.

Acting General Manager for Assets and Liabilities said the roadshows are an important part of their programme of disseminating information about public procurement opportunities to all the people in Mpumalanga.

"We organise this roadshows to share knowledge and information about tendering process and procedures in the public service.

"This is also an important platform for the government to draw aspirant entepreneurs to access and participate in economy by bidding for business opportunities that are available in government and private sector," said Mr Masambo.

The roadshow empowered the local youth with all the necessary information on tendering for government business and other opportunities.

Victor Mathebula from ward 7 in Chochocho, is one of the unemployed youth who benefited from the roadshow.

"This roadshow has enlighten me on various aspect of procurement.

"I now have a better understanding of the processes and hopefully I will be able to implement my ideas to improve my living conditions," he said.

Another resident, Ms Reginah Ngomane, concurred, adding that the roadshow "has encouraged her to re-focus her energy to bring her business idea to life".

In his budget speech Tuesday, 11 March 2014, MEC for Finance, Mr Madala Masuku also cautioned suppliers of services to the government to refrain from giving pricing of service. He said this practice robs the government of an opprtunity to expand the services to all people who desperately need them.

"Those who milk the State through exaggerated and inflated quotations must be centred, said MEC Masuku.

The Department of Economic Development Evironment and Tourism and Small Enterprise and Development Agency also shared information and opportunities on entreprenuership and small business support services with the participants.

For more information please contact:
Letshela Jonas
Tel: (013) 766 4323
Cell: 079 5000 154

Issued by Department of Finance, Mpumalanga Provincial Government