ENSURING EDUCATION SPENDING SUPPORTS JOB
CREATION
17 April 2002
The Department of Education has become the first government
department to commit itself to giving preference to Proudly South
African members in awarding tenders. This move strengthens a
growing trend towards ensuring that procurement decisions are
linked to job creation and the Proudly South African campaign.
In a statement released after a meeting with all the Provincial
Ministers of Education and the National Department, the Minister of
Education, Kader Asmal, said "In adopting the campaign, the
Department of Education wishes to encourage companies, especially
those with whom we do business, to actively support the campaign
and encourage job creation." Asmal added that their adoption of the
campaign would represent the economic component of its Values in
Education initiative.
The Council of Education Ministers agreed to ensure that
departmental procurement policy supports the campaign wherever
possible, in the knowledge that Proudly South African companies
would provide a quality local product, with fair labour practices
and sound environmental policies.
Provinces have reported that thus far, over R1 billion has been
spent on the supply of learning support materials. This gives some
indication of the spending power that a Department such as this
brings to the campaign.
Proudly South African is pleased that its efforts in terms of
Government procurement are bearing fruit. The issue is on the table
for discussion at Nedlac, the National Economic Development and
Labour Council. The Electrical Cable Industry has also recently
provided funding to support a procurement advocacy campaign.
Proudly South African, which was a Nedlac initiative, promotes
the buying of South African goods and services in order to support
job creation. Companies have to show that they meet the four
criteria of quality, local content, labour and environmental
standards in order to be able to put the logo on their
products.
The Department of Education might be the first Government
Department to join as a member of Proudly South African, but the
dti has been integrally involved in the campaign thus far,
providing R14 million in seed money. A total of R75m in cash and
kind has been raised thus far to fund the campaign from 2001-2003.
Founder sponsors (SAA, Telkom, Eskom and Old Mutual) committed R32
million. The SABC has committed R16 million in airtime value. 120
companies have been accredited to date.
Companies of any size can become members of the campaign,
provided they meet the specified criteria, agree to pay affordable
membership fees, and abide by the Proudly South African code of
conduct. For further information, please refer to the Proudly South
African website www.proudlysa.co.za, or contact Labane Maluleke on
011 327 7778.
For further information: contact Martin Feinstein on 083 300
6836
or
Molatwane Likhethe (Minister Kader Asmal's media liaison) on 082
573 0397