The City of Johannesburg has established an online database of black-owned suppliers, to help put potential buyers of goods and services in contact with them.
The database, called the Joburg black suppliers` database (Joburgbsd), will target all industry sectors, including information and communications technology.
It is aimed at building new business opportunities, particularly in the small and medium enterprise sector.
Intetech Integrated Technologies, a small black-owned IT company, was selected through a tender process to handle the development, maintenance and promotion of the Joburgbsd project.
"The majority of South Africans are earning a low income and are often not empowered in terms of business ownership and management," says Thokozani Thwala, programme manager for the city`s economic and development unit.
"In order to increase the need for a sustainable economic participation, the City of Johannesburg has developed and adopted a BEE [black economic empowerment] strategy that will assist the city`s government to play a meaningful role in broadening economic participation of black entrepreneurs in the local economy."
The project entails the identification of Gauteng-based black businesses, including black owned, black empowered, black women empowered and community empowered.
Reflecting needs
"There are challenges and opportunities that exist within the national and regional economy," says Thwala.
He adds that the lack of quality accredited data and monitoring has made it difficult for development and support initiatives to be sure policies and plans reflect the needs of black businesses and offer growth opportunities for them.
"The quality of data available on black-owned businesses is poor and patchy. There is currently no comprehensive and reliable source of black enterprise information and this negatively impacts on economic development support activities. There is no single body or organisation tasked and endorsed by government, specifically with collecting and maintaining black business data."
Thwala admits that other databases exist but says most are run on a commercial basis and are not recognised by the government.
Free access
He says the value of being registered on the Joburgbsd database is that BEE companies can register for free and potential buyers will have free access to the database. He notes that one of the critical components of BEE is the procurement of goods and services from black suppliers.
"The City of Johannesburg has committed itself to procure from companies that are listed on the database. We have planned further discussions with major companies, other spheres of government and State-owned enterprises to be partners in this initiative. This will reduce duplication and create real business opportunities for the suppliers," says Thwala.
"Other value-added services will also be provided to both suppliers and buyers. These include referral services, financial advice, online tenders and business plans," says Thwala.
Close to 3 000 Gauteng-based black companies have already registered on the database. Other plans include the establishment of an online tender system and a financial and business news section.
Thwala says his department is accepting registrations by e-mail and will allow online registrations from 1 November.
For more information on the registering process, contact Thokozani Thwala on (011) 358-3692.
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Gauteng launches SME portal, agency
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