SMMEs take centre stage at construction expo

The “Re Aga Mmogo” Construction Expo for enterprises owned by women, youth, persons with disabilities and military veterans kicked off on a high note at the Nasrec Expo Centre last week.

The expo was aimed at making information accessible to SMMEs and offer them assistance from various stakeholders on how to navigate the construction terrain.

This is the first time that the public and private sector in the province have come together on this scale to advance the economic participation of these designated SMMEs in construction, as well as transform the sector, which is historically dominated by men.

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The expo served as a platform to introduce SMMEs to targeted economic opportunities in the public and private sectors, equip them with necessary knowledge to operate in what is often a complex environment such as compliance and funding, and expose them to business support, skills development and mentorship opportunities.

Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development, Lebogang Maile announced at the plenary of the expo that it would take place on a yearly basis to help promote preferential procurement and enterprise development initiatives for these designated groups.

“The main challenge is the dissemination of information. That is why we called you today to come receive information.

“Information is power. We want all the problems of the SMMEs solved. Not for you to come here and listen to speeches and go home. This exhibition is not a talk shop,” Maile said.

Innocentia Mahlangu who chairs the South African Institute of Civil Engineerings (SAICE) diversity & inclusivity panel and its education and training committee, told the opening of the expo that designated groups continued to be marginalised in the built environment, because there was an attraction and retention problem.

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“We cannot continue on this trajectory if we are to build a sustainable industry. Today we are taking a bold step in the right direction. Our responsibility lies in mobilizing our collective responsibility,” Mahlangu said.

The expo featured four pavilions representing government and public sector agencies, business, funding institutions, and institutions of higher learning and professional bodies.

Delegates from these stakeholders held four interactive sessions with SMMEs on skills development, training, mentorship and funding opportunities, business incubation, and regulatory compliance.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who gave the keynote address, told SMMEs that the construction sector plays an integral part in building the province’s economy, ensuring economic inclusion and creating jobs.

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“We are coming to you as the Gauteng government to say construction is the new economy that we are going to defend and protect.

“We are ready to take you to the next level. The only question you must answer is if you are ready,” he said.

To further enable SMMEs, the Gauteng Provincial Government has released a booklet containing various opportunities from its economic cluster departments, social cluster support departments, opportunities in property development from the Department of Infrastructure Development, as well as a directory of the dozens of exhibitors who attended the expo.