12 Nov 2020

Letlhakeng Sub-district Council has embarked on an education campaign following the realisation that many companies made mistakes in tendering processes. 

Speaking during a meeting held at Takatokwane main kgotla on November 11, assistant council secretary Mr Tumelo Seboko said among the many services offered by the council was procurement but some discrepancies had been discovered during tendering processes.

For instance, some companies submitted bids without all the required documents, he said. 

Mr Seboko said it was important that companies tendering for council services knew what was expected  of them.

The aim of such meetings was therefore to level the playing field and provide an  opportunity for companies to prepare themselves better for the next tender, he said.

He said they were also aimed at reducing tender appeals which resulted in delays and consequently poor service delivery. 

Commenting, the LAPAD secretary, Mr Michael Senwelo said it was of paramount importance that SMMES knew the documentation needed for their bids to be considered.

He encouraged business owners to register their companies in order to qualify for economic empowerment programmes. 

For his part, Senior procurement officer, Mr Thebeetsile Motanyane encouraged companies to register with his office so that they could be considered for micro procurement.

Micro procurement, he explained, was the supply of goods and services worth between P1 and P20 000 which did not require tendering.

He said the first three companies in the database were asked for quotations as per the need at the time.

The office would keep choosing from the list until it was exhausted, he said. 

Mr Motanyane said  the  arrangement gave all small companies an opportunity to be considered for micro procurement. 

He advised contractors against quoting either low or high prices further encouraging reasonable prices as per the LAPAD Act.

In his contribution, Ticano executive director Mr Opelo Motswagae said his company funded small and medium enterprises that won government tenders but lacked the means to purchase and supply products.

Mr Motswagae said as long as a company met all the requirements, it was assisted without delay.

He pleaded with SMMES to invest and save money earned from tender projects as well as to insure their businesses.

Kgosi Visco Tsiane of Takatokwane expressed appreciation for the free education given to residents and business owners which he said would awaken the entrepreneurship spirit as well as help  entrepreneurs to up their game.ends