Empowerment & Transformation

Empowerment and transformation is a challenge that affects all industries in South Africa.The empowerment and transformation programme’s objectives are as follows:  

  • Establish proactive preferential procurement and enterprise development practices;
  • Facilitate improved employment equity, management and control, and skills development performance; and,
  • Encourage coordinated socio-economic development investment to the benefit of the communities in close proximity to the industry.

In support of meeting these objectives, the Empowerment/Transformation TSC is responsible for the implementation/execution of the activities listed below.

SME incubator programme

The DCC has initiaited an incubator programme in partnership with key public and private sector organsiations. Through this programme development support is provided to Black owned SMEs based in KwaZulu-Natal that are engaged in the manufacture of chemical products. This programme aims to enhance the transformation profile of the chemicals manufacturing industry in KwaZulu-Natal via the following mechanisms:
  • Increased participation of Black owned enterprises in the sector
  • Greater participation of sustainable SMEs in the mainstream economy, thus promoting the creation of sustainable employment
  • Improved opportunities for DCC members to increase their Preferential Procurement through procurement from Black owned SMEs
  • Provision of pportunities for DCC members to invest Enterprise Development spend in a sustainable, productive manner

The multi-phased development model employed by the DCC is as follows:

  1. Business viability and diagnostic assessment
  2. Assistance with product and/or process development and testing
  3. Business plan capacity building and compilation support
  4. Business plan implementation support including business systems strengthening, marketing interventions and operational improvements

The eThekwini Municipality, DCC member firms and the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) have provided funding for the development of a group of five SMEs.

Engen Petroleum Limited has provided additional funding that will see the programme expand to a further five SME. SMEs interested in applying for assitance under this programme should review the following: SME Development Programme Application Form.  

Adoption of B-BBEE Best Practices

  • Best Practice Workshops:

Best practice workshops are hosted on the seven B-BBEE indicators in support of improving performance in each. Examples of subjects previously covered include an overview of the Codes of Good Practice on B-BBEE, socio-economic development and preferential procurement. An annual survey is also undertaken to establish the B-BBEE progress of the industry.

Preferential procurement initiative

  • Firms currently enjoy only limited access to information on potential Black owned SME suppliers. By creating a database of existing suppliers to the industry and sharing knowledge in this area, firms should be able to improve their preferential procurement performance.
  • Intended outputs of this initiative include the creation of a Black owned SME supplier database and improved preferential procurement performance.