BY OBAKENG MAJE
THE North West Provincial Supply Chain Management office and Finance, economic and enterprise department (FEED) visited Dr Ruth Segomotsi district in Pudimoe location, near Taung to teach small business owners about the news initiative the government want to put in place.

Deputy Director from Provincial Supply Chain Management under Contract Management, Goitseone Tong said the government brought this initiative forward and introduces it to business owners.

“Currently no single point of entry exists for the publication of national, provincial and local government tenders causing duplication and fragmentation of notices for government tender opportunities.

“The old method does not support easy and transparent access to businesses in South Africa to government tender opportunities. In addition, information related to the award of tenders is not consistently published with information related to the successful bidder, price awarded and the names of bidders,” Tong said.

He said the eTender publication portal aimed at simplifying, standardising and automation of the procurement process.

“It is in fact a first step towards implementing government’s eProcurement system as part of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) and will directly contribute to reducing duplication, fragmentation and inefficiency in government tender publications,” Tong said.

According to Tong, anyone can access the ePortal system from national treasury website.
Timothy Mokhonto who is a Director in Economic Empowerment Services at FEED, said his department offers outreach programmes where they alert businesses about the new method that will be put in place.

“We have supporting mechanism to all businesses in the province and we would like to encourage business owners to make use of that. There are means to digitalise interaction between South African businesses and government.

“The initiative will help us to curb corruption and make sure that transparency is there. To all those who does not have access to internet, they’re encouraged to go to any government institution and they will print ePortal forms for them,” Mokhonto concludes.

Caroline Mosiatlhaga-Moncho who runs a construction company called Keleku Construction Enterprises, said she appreciate the visit because that always highlights unsolved issues surrounding businesses.
TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_