How Effective Affirmative Tender Procurements Assist Women Entrepreneurs Operating in Small Business in South Africa

Abstract

The introduction of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment policy Act of 2003was presented by government to enable women, blacks, youth and the disabled to take business opportunities to start and grow their businesses. The South African Women Entrepreneurship Network was also established as a buying basket to lobby all women to speak in one voice when conducting businesses. These were as a result of a mechanism to redress the socio-economic impetus of the past policies on women which imposed oppression and exploitation on women, especially African women. This study focuses on how effective affirmative tender procurements are, in assisting women entrepreneurs operating in small business sector. The study also intends to establish who are the patronisers of these  procurements and document the problems women face in accessing these affirmative tenders. The data of the survey is analysed using the quantitative approach. The findings indicate that tender documents are not useful in empowering black women entrepreneurs. The study concludes by providing recommendations to the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

Key words: Women entrepreneurs, Tender documents, government, programmes and Policies.