Coega Development Corporation’s SMME Development Programme achieved procurement spend of over R1-billion for the 2023/24 financial year
The Coega Development Corporation’s (CDC’s) Small, Medium-Sized and Microenterprises (SMME) Development Programme has achieved procurement spend of over R1-billion for the 2023/24 financial year.
This achievement equates to 69.42% of the total spend for the year and relates to the overall spend allocated to SMMEs across the organisation’s infrastructure development portfolio, which includes the Department of Health, Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, among others.
CDC is tasked with managing the development of projects for government departments across the country, with a compulsory corporate target of 33% SMME involvement in all infrastructure projects.
“Of the R1-billion achieved for the year, over R400-million was reported in the last quarter of the financial year [January to March 2024], which represents 40% of the total SMME procurement spend for the year.
“We have a strategic outcome which speaks directly to increasing economic opportunities for the marginalised through, amongst other programmes, advancing the meaningful economic participation and gainful employment of SMMEs,” says CDC SMME Development Programme manager Unathi Maholwana.
During the full year, CDC also trained 150 SMME beneficiaries across various skillsets to the value of over R320 000.
The SMME training is mentioned as a crucial component in ensuring that SMMEs are accredited and prepared for site work.
“CDC’s SMME Development Programme places a strong emphasis on the training and upskilling of beneficiaries. Our training focused mainly on Construction Supervision, National Qualifications Framework level 4, and New Venture Creation, NQF level 2,” Maholwana explains.