Mpumalanga Finance MEC calls for inclusive and fair procurement
10 December 2010
Mpumalanga Department of Finance marked the closing of the focus month of disability with a tendering campaign and handing of food parcel to a family in Shatale, Bushbuckridge on Friday, 10 December 2010).
The road show was intended to empower people with disabilities with information on public sector procurement for services, and consequently propel women, youth and people with disabilities to take their rightful place in economic development and usurp the opportunities that the government makes available for all.
Addressing more than five hundred (500) people who took part in the supply chain management roadshow for people with disabilities, MEC for Finance, Pinky Phosa called for united front to economic emancipation of all the people.
“Government and all other social partners must strengthen implementation, monitoring and accounting on recruitment and procurement policies to ensure that people with disabilities access the opportunities”, said MEC Phosa.
Phosa caution that the society will never achieve total economic development goals unless the private sector put their lot in doing the same, by committing to ensure access and equitable distribution of opportunities for all our people in the province.
All procurement needs except for one service (bussing of community) for the hosting of the roadshow were provided by people with disability from the area, making good the adage that says ‘nothing about us without us’. ..../MORE
MEC Phosa acknowledges that the struggle for inclusivity in the communities and economic space continues.
“We must commit that never again will the situation that our forefathers experienced during the height of political struggle repeat itself right before our eyes.
“We must ensure that we use all available means to promote just cause and do everything possible and everything within our power and means to protect the rights of all people of Mpumalanga through implementation of people-centred programmes.”
MEC Phosa welcomed the decision of the department to proactively source services from people with disabilities but caution that this must not be just a gesture for a day.
“We must continue to improve the way we work and serve the communities in order to ensure that the people of this province benefit from all the programmes and projects that are implemented on their behalf”, she said.
MEC Phosa also handed food parcel to a family as part of her commitment to promote actions that will lead to decent human living conditions for all.
The Supply Chain Management roadshow for people with disabilities coincided with the conclusion of the 16 days of activism against women and children abuse. The MEC urged the communities, civil formations and South African Police Service to continue the awareness campaigns beyond the 16 days.
“Democracy has given us back the human right to live freely, and let it be everyone’s commitment, to say every 365 days “I am not going to look away, but I am going to ensure that every woman and child enjoys the right to live freely, and free of abuse or any other form of human rights violation”.
The roadshow is part of the strategic response to challenges of access to information and support on tendering/bidding in public private sector.
It is a programme that seeks to bring young people, women and people with disabilities to the epicentre of economic advancement.
For more information, contact:
Letshela Jonas on 013 766 4243 / 079 500 0154 or Joseph Mkhonto on 013 766 4162 / 082 627 1750
Issued by Communications, Department of Finance, Mpumalanga Provincial Government