Confusion surrounds Tokafalo programme
Friday, February 20, 2015
Tokafala is a partnership between government, Anglo American, De Beers and Debswana, aimed at promoting economic development and employment creation through Small Macro Medium Enterprises (SMME) support.
Minister for Trade and Industry Vincent Seretse contradicted himself on Wednesday after Mathokgwane asked him for details on the 63 companies that the minister, in his committee of supply speech, said had been enrolled under the programme, at a cost of P63 million.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...