Author: pippa-ed

Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD), a pillar of the Black Economic Empowerment Codes in South Africa, was designed to build supplier-grade, black-owned SMEs and to widen their access to South Africa’s corporate supply chains.

The spend is substantial, exceeding R150 billion over the past five years, but too much of it still prioritises activity over results. Money moves, workshops are counted, vendors are registered, yet the real markers of progress – capability, contracts, repeat spend and retention – remain patchily measured and weakly incentivised.

This report argues for a simple pivot: keep verification rigorous but point it squarely at outcomes that matter to firms and to the economy.

Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD), a pillar of the Black Economic Empowerment Codes in South Africa, was designed to build supplier-grade, black-owned SMEs and to widen their access to South Africa’s corporate supply chains.

The spend is substantial, exceeding R150 billion over the past five years, but too much of it still prioritises activity over results. Money moves, workshops are counted, vendors are registered, yet the real markers of progress – capability, contracts, repeat spend and retention – remain patchily measured and weakly incentivised.

This report argues for a simple pivot: keep verification rigorous but point it squarely at outcomes that matter to firms and to the economy.

What next?

Your feedback on what resonated, and what was missing will contribute to the ongoing research and discussion on impactful ESD. Please take a moment to share your insights with us.

Click below to download the calendar entry

Billions have been spent on empowerment, through ESD, grants, and SME support. What is the return on that investment? Where is the measurable impact?

Now is the time for a courageous intervention from all stakeholders to review the system which currently favours tickbox compliance and points over performance.

Corporates, policy makers and media all have a role to play to dramatically shift the status quo from compliance to a powerful lever that can meaningfully impact the economy and society.

Be a part of the solution.

Join a morning session where we will explore solutions to:

• Shift the emphasis from money spent, to performance delivered
• End grant dependency
• Grow sustainable business that win on merit and that thrive in any market
• Integrate ESD and procurement to go beyond lip service
• Drive real economic transformation

REGISTER HERE:

Space is limited, please RSVP by 17 October 2025

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Medsac, which was started in 2017, services the private and public sectors, through manufacturing of engineering designs, services and construction, focusing on steel services, supply & repair of various plant and equipment.

FOUNDER:

Brilliant Shoba studied mechanical design in China & gained experience in Germany which led to founding & growing Medsac

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Diversify customer base: Two new sales representatives were onboarded to drive engagement with clients & the number of active clients has grown, reducing customer concentration to 40%

• Net profit: Cost controls and operational efficiencies contributed to Medsac exceeding their net profit goals on the programme

• Skills development: Medsac has obtained Seta accreditation and is training students with the plan to open a new training facility next year. “We really need to diversify and upgrade the skills of our workers so that we can grow in other areas”, says Brilliant

Barberton Mines (Pty) Ltd, in partnership with Aurik, proudly celebrates the graduation of our 9 dynamic SMEs who have completed a transformative 12-month business development programme.   

Through building systems and strengthening your businesses for scale and resilience, you continue to craft your Asset of Value. This graduation marks not an end, but a powerful new chapter in your journey of growth.

We invite you to join the ceremony, please register below to confirm your attendance.

Date: 29 August 2025
Time: The graduation ceremony will be the closing session of the Access to Markets event, which starts at 8am. The graduation is scheduled for 11am
Venue: Anew Resort White River, Mpumalanga

Aurik and Rainprop are partnering with established businesses in Gauteng to participate in an 18-month programme that will build our the structures in your business to drive next level growth, including:

• Positioning to stand out in the market
• Systems to deliver consistently
• Building a purposeful team and delegating to them to release your time

Register below for an online briefing to understand the full benefits and criteria of this opportunity.

Mining and construction businesses in Mpumalanga and Limpopo have an opportunity to partner with Komatsu, to gain access to business development support and grants.

This programme will enable you to set up the foundation of your business to be ready for scale and growth, supported by grant funding to unlock growth opportunities.  

Partnerships are available to both early phase and more established businesses.

Join a briefing session either online or in person on 15^th or 16^th April to gain insights into the benefits, criteria and next steps for this programme.

Register here: