Those doing business with ESKOM must be very familiar with their procurement policy, ESKADAAT 6. The ESKADAAT 6 has all the correct sentiments in place to stimulate and foster black entrepreneurship. The problem, however, was that it appeared that the ESKOM people implementing it were getting it all wrong (in fact some reports suggested that the purchasing managers would only consider black-owned businesses, irrespective of whether there were black suppliers or not). This put many businesses under threat resulting in some concluding empowerment deals (you know what I think of deals for compliancy's sake) or just plain fronting (even though the ESKADAAT takes a very dim view of fronting).
PLEASE NOTE - IT IS NOT MY INTENTION TO INCUR ESKOM'S WRATH (I TOO LIKE TO HAVE ELECTRICITY EVERY NOW AND THEN). THESE ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO ME BY ESKOM'S SUPPLIERS (AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW), I HAVEN'T CONFIRMED THEM WITH ESKOM.
The good news is that ESKOM is now subject to the BBBEE codes.
Section 3 of BBBEE Code 000 (gazetted on the 9th of February, 2007) states that the codes are applicable to the following PFMA schedules:
- All public entities listed in schedule 2 or 3 (parts A and C) of the PFMA.
- Any public entities listed in schedule 3 (parts B and D) which are trading entities which undertake any business with any organ of state, public entity or any other enterprise
You will notice that ESKOM fits happily within Schedule 2. Bye,bye ESKADAAT.
Suppliers to ESKOM - start getting your scorecards in order. In fact if you are looking for a reputable rating agency I would strongly recommend Obed de Swardt of BEEMatrix.
Comments