SAA to nurture black business
15 June 2015
Black-owned businesses are set for another boost following a pledge by South
African Airways (SAA) to support black industrialists, including women and youth,
when procuring goods and services in the future. It is the first initiative of its kind
in the South African aviation industry.
Dudu Myeni, the chairperson of the SAA board, made the announcement at a
gathering of over 200 entrepreneurs in Midrand, on Friday, 12 June. Attendees
included small, medium and micro enterprises that are 50% or more black-owned,
black women-owned, disabled and youth-owned.
The gathering followed last month's signing of a memorandum of understanding
between SAA and the Department of Trade and Industry that ensured commitment
to develop and support black-owned businesses.
Myeni said the meeting was a step away from talking about supporting black
business to finally acting upon the idea. "There has always been a lot of talk-
shopping
and not enough doing. Now is the time for inclusive participation. Now is
the time for organic development and support for business."
Myeni said the future of South Africa was largely dependent on state-owned
enterprises nurturing small, medium and micro enterprises.
She added that SAA's procurement arm had a large enough capacity to incubate a
group of black industrialists. "As SAA, we are committed to empowering
entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds by levelling the playing field to
deliver inclusive opportunities."
SAA was taking seriously its leadership role in developing business within the
aviation industry. Myeni quoted a study by economic forecaster Oxford Economics
that the SAA Group contributed R9.2-billion to the South African gross domestic
product, of which R1.6-billion was contributed through spending by employees and
the company's supply chain. It found that 16 400 jobs were created directly through
SAA's supply
chain.
Friday's event was the first in a series of suppliers' engagement summits that SAA
will be hosting. At the gatherings, small, medium and micro enterprises will have
the opportunity to engage with SAA group buyers, as well as network with other
black-owned businesses. An overview of SAA's Procurement Transformation mission
and the SAA Annual Procurement Plan 2015 will also be given.
SAA said the engagements would be held in major cities around the country,
including in Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
SAinfo reporter
