ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (ED) FUNDING!

Nelson Sebati and the good folks at Murason Business Services hereby invite SMMEs to be pre-qualified as potential Enterprise Development (ED) partners to one of our leading clients. Our client based in Sandton hereby invites 51% or more Black Owned/Black Women Owned Exempt Micro Enterprises (EMEs) to apply for Enterprise Development funding. In line with our B-BBEE and Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) strategy that is aligned to the national Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act and Revised Codes of Good Practice issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), this RFP only applies to Black/Black Woman Owned Exempt Micro Enterprises. In order to qualify for consideration, potential ED partners must meet the below stated criteria: o Must be in the Business Services industry. o Have 51% Black/Black Women Ownership (without using the Modified Flow through principle). NB: Black People refers to Black South Africans as defined in the B-BBEE Codes. o Must be operational for at least 04 years. o Employ at least 03 people (over & above the Owner/Directors). o Must be located in Johannesburg. o Must have a minimum annual turnover of R300 000.00 (proof of turnover will be requested); o Must be compliant with all applicable business regulations for companies under South African law; o Applicants must submit a funding application detailing their funding need, funding amount and motivate why they should be granted the funding. This application must be accompanied by: · A company profile highlighting areas of specialization and core functions. · Valid B-BBEE Affidavit. · CIPC registration certificate. · Valid Tax Clearance Certificate/PIN. · 02 verifiable business references. Send application to reception@murason.co.za before 5pm on Friday 18 March 2022. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for presentations. All applications will be vetted, and we reserve the right to request further information and inspect operations. Failure to comply with the criteria as set out above will render the application unsuccessful. We reserve the right not to select any ED partners and pre-qualification does not guarantee any funding.

Nelson Sebati On Linkedin: 30 000 connections & counting

New Week, New month, Same Focus: Good morning to all the 30 000 connections in my network. It is going to be a GOAL-reaching, MONEY-making, RECORD-breaking & EMPIRE-building kind of month. Let's change the world together... #murason #bbbee #nelsonsebati #equality #transformation #diversityandinclusion

Murason Business Services Helps To Find, Create And Sustain Jobs.

I started out helping people FIND JOBS as a Recruitment Consultant. Then I took what I had learnt and used it to help CREATE JOBS as an Enterprise & Supplier Development (ESD) Specialist. Now I use my gathered resources and experience to help SUSTAIN JOBS as an Investor/B-BBEE Advisor. I have always known that the greatest way to empower anyone is to increase their self-esteem. Whether they be an unemployed father, a struggling female small business owner or a young growth-hungry entrepreneur, finding, creating or sustaining jobs does exactly that for them. For assistance call us on 011 039 7578 or email nsebati@murason.co.za.

B-BBEE Excellence = Strategic + Transformational + Transactional

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6463450594400043008 You are smart. You would not perform major surgery on yourself. You would not build your dream home without expert advice. So why attempt to optimize your B-BBEE compliance without professional support?

Your company needs to be B-BBEE compliant to operate competitively in today’s robust market. Your B-BBEE approach must be a "best-of-breed" model that incorporates the STRATEGIC (supports the business’ long-term core objectives i.e. Sustainability) + TRANSFORMATIONAL (Diversity & Inclusion focused) + TRANSACTIONAL (focused on scorecard Points in the short-term) into a workable plan with clear objectives, priority interventions, key milestones, performance indicators, etc. For help with shaping B-BBEE into your competitive advantage and brand edge, contact us today on 011 039 7578 or nsebati@murason.co.za

Unpacking the fight for Humanity, Freedom and Equality........

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6460451920124342273

Nelson Sebati hosting an executive session on "Diversity & Inclusion". Helping leaders from the public and private sectors understand and unpack the fight for HUMANITY, the fight for FREEDOM and the fight for EQUALITY..... #transformation #diversityandinclusion #murason #bbbee #equality. Sebati says, as a people we have had to fight to prove our HUMANITY i.e. we are not animals or a sub-species, but we are in fact human beings. Then we had to break the shackles of slavery, colonialism and apartheid for our FREEDOM. Now we are battling the resultant institutionalized racism, entrenched discrimination, exclusionary economic practices and formal and informal barriers to entry and or advancement for our EQUALITY!!!

Poverty is not an abstraction or happenstance......

The system is engineered to transfer wealth upwards, a perpetual inequality machine!!!

The legacy of socio-economic injustice which was inherited from the Natives Land Act of 1913 continues to haunt the majority of black South Africans today.

Pick Mentors.....

Which 2 would you choose to mentor you for 1 year and why?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MENTORING??? FOR MENTEES: • Provides impartial advice and encouragement • Develops a supportive relationship • Assists with problem solving • Improves self-confidence • Offers professional development • Encourages reflection on entrepreneurial path FOR MENTORS: • Opportunity to reflect on own entrepreneurial path • Enhances job satisfaction • Develops professional relationships • Enhances peer recognition • It uses your experience, making it available to a new person • It widens your understanding of the organisation and the way it works • It enables you to practice interpersonal skills • It provides personal satisfaction through supporting the development of others As clichéd as it may sound, it is extremely important for entrepreneurs to find a mentor/s who has absolutely no vested interest in their business and who can offer objective advice. entrepreneurs need to be vulnerable with their mentor/s and allow him or her to be brutally honest. In fact, entrepreneurs should actively solicit brutal honesty.

RACISM must fall.....

The duty to combat racism has to be owned by all South Africans. Racism is often subtle not overt. It can manifest in all manner of ways, including dismissive tones, policies, a sense of entitlement or displays of senseless resentment, says Nelson Sebati, Chief Empowerment Officer at Murason Business Services.

Sebati echoes the sentiments of African-American writer Shannon M. Houston, who reckons it’s time black people heed Toni Morrison’s pearls of wisdom on racism. “Racism keeps you explaining. The very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work.” Houston wrote in Paste magazine that, during “moments of weakness”, black people keep explaining things to white people. She said it’s a “miracle we get anything else done, all the explaining they need”! She said if white people did not yet understand what privilege, racism, cultural appropriation and condescension is, it is simply because they are not interested in understanding and black people should stop wasting their energy giving explanations.

Apathy is killing Black-Owned SMMEs....

Unfortunately this is how some people view transformation challenges i.e if doesn't affect them, then it must not be a real issue.

Moneypulation..........Perception VS Reality

Translating Academic Theories On Transformation Into Lived Realities.....

Nelson Sebati and other business leaders discussing Transformation and B-BBEE ahead of the 10th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg later this month

Our First 100 Days In office.........a quarterly report from the Chief Empowerment Advisor's Office

B-BBEE UPDATE: On the 1st of April 2018 I took the challenging and thrilling position of Chief Empowerment Advisor at Murason Business Services. Together, you (my nearly 12 000 LinkedIn connections) and I have been on a transformation journey to make this country a better place for all. We have liked posts, shared information, exchanged referrals and debated broad topics related to B-BBEE, Inclusion, Diversity and Equality. In keeping with that shared value approach, I would like to present the QUATERLY IMPACT REPORT for our “First 100 days in office”. 1. We hired a very passionate and knowledgeable Junior Empowerment Advisor; 2. We have assisted a Black-Owned JSE Listed Group with 4 subsidiaries navigate the verification of all its entities with an average Level 2 B-BBEE rating score across the group; 3. We signed an exclusive partnership agreement with one of most respected names in the Training Industry to bring our customers a turn-key solution to the challenges and opportunities of Skills Development; 4. We guided a South African based Rail Industry player move from a Level 4 to level 2. 5. We designed and launched an Agri BEE project valued at over R143 million per annum. 6. We unlocked a transport supply chain opportunity for a Black-Owned SMME valued at R9 million per annum. 7. We assisted in ring-fencing R50 million worth of mixed (grant/loan) funding for black SMMEs, R11 million has already been disbursed; 8. We have mentored 7 executives on the strategic implementation of B-BBEE. O ur quarterly score is 6.5/10 (65%). We are proud of our achievements and are striving for improved results at the end of quarter 2 where we will list the number of net new jobs created. Thank you to all, including the haters, lol!! Stay with us? Contact us for help with your B-BBEE and Diversity implmentation: nsebati@murason.co.za

B-BBEE NEWS: Proposed B-BBEE Amendments to Series 400 - Enterprise and Supplier Development element.....

B-BBEE NEWS: On 15 June 2018, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies (MP) published for PUBLIC COMMENT the Amended Draft Schedule 1 of 2018 in terms of section 9 (5) of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 53 of 2003), as amended by the Act 46 of 2013. Closing date for comments is 15 August 2018. See link for details: http://www.thedti.gov.za/gazzettes/41709.pdf Key Proposed Amendments: - Big black business may qualify as ESD beneficiaries; - 51% Black Owned Entities (using Flow Through Method) get a multiplier of 2 applied to spend under Preferential Procurement; - Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) and Exempt Micro Enterprises (EME) Procurement points are merged into 1 indicator with a target of 25% for 5 points; - Clarification that Enterprise Development (ED) Beneficiaries cannot be current suppliers per updated definition; - Enterprise Development or Supplier Development (SD) recognition for guarantees increased from 3% to 50%. The gazette also returns to focus the Empowering Supplier criteria which many in the industry assumed would fall away completely. For more information contact us on nsebati@murason.co.za

B-BBEE OPPORTUNITY ALERT: I am looking for a 51% Black-Owned/Black Women-Owned Supplier/s of QUALITY LARGE EGGS..

B-BBEE OPPORTUNITY ALERT: I am looking for a 51% Black-Owned/Black Women-Owned Supplier/s of QUALITY LARGE EGGS (large as per international grading i.e. 51 -59g). I am looking for a South African producer that can deliver estimated 970 000 eggs per week on time and every time nationally. This is could be a 6-month contract to test the relationship with the possibility of extending to a 3-year contract depending on performance. No 3rd party agents or intermediaries!!! I want to source from the Producer/s. For more information contact me or send quotations to info@murason.co.za....

Proposed Amendments To B-BBEE Codes.....

The recently proposed amendments to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes were published for public comment following the government’s introduction of the Youth Employment Service (‘YES’) with huge opportunities for companies to enhance their B-BBEE levels. YES initiative! With these proposed amendments directly linked to the ‘YES’ initiative, the focus of black empowerment has now significantly shifted from a narrow focus on ownership to a broad focus on employment and development. The proposed amendments are constructive and well-construed as they encourage corporates to contribute to empowerment in targeted areas of national priority – upskilling the youth and addressing unemployment through job placement. For ease of reference and in order to reduce the complexity of the proposed amendments, we have outlined the salient points. Find a copy of the full Gazette right here. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SPECIAL TARGETING FOR BURSARIES A new indicator for Skills Development has been introduced in the form of Bursaries for black people at Higher Education institutions. This was done by redirecting points from Learnerships and general Skills Development spend (reducing learnership points from 8 to 6 points) and introducing a separate target for bursaries at 2,5% of the leviable amount with a weighting of 4 points. • SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TARGET EQUATION: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TARGET 3,5% + BURSARIES TARGET 2,5% = 6%. Key Notes: Double counting (dipping) is not allowed between bursaries skills spend and the overall Skills Development target spend and no double counting is allowed in respect of learnerships for black people and learnerships for black unemployed individuals. • No Economically Active Population (EAP) targets for bursaries and for the disabled training is required. • An increase in the skills spend cap of 15% on informal /non-accredited training to 25%. • There is no cap on ancillary training expenses for higher education bursaries (travelling, accommodation, catering, etc.) whereas the 15% cap for all other legitimate training expenses, such as costs associated with a Skills development Facilitator (SDF) and Training Manager costs, remains in place. • Informal Skills Development expenditure for ‘YES’ initiative employees are capped at 50% of overall Skills Development targets of 3.5% – until clarified. • Stipends paid to bursary students may be included in bursary spend. INTRODUCTION OF: THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OR ‘YES‘ INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE B-BBEE LEVELS Government is very serious about alleviating the extremely high unemployment statistics for black youth by incentivising the private sector to participate through rewarding companies with enhanced B-BBEE scorecard levels if they meet the eligibility criteria and the set targets for work experience and job absorption. YES is a business-led initiative implemented in partnership with government, labour and civil society. The YES initiative aims to place more than 1 million young people in internships in businesses over a period of three years. Key Notes: • Scorecard entities only: o Generic entities: should meet the normal sub-minimums for each of the priority elements OR meet 50% average across the 3 priority elements o QSEs: should meet the normal sub-minimum for priority elements OR 40% across 2 priority elements o EMEs: No sub-minimum will apply. o YES’ entities are obliged to maintain or improve their B-BBEE status level compared to the preceding year. • YES initiative encourages corporates to create employment opportunities for unemployed black youth for a minimum of 12 months by entering into a ‘Fixed term’ or ‘Temporary employment’ contract specifically for new positions. Job placements may either be within the company itself (Measured Entity) or can be sponsored by placing new trainees in Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) and Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs). • A minimum salary of R3 500 p/m is payable (tax ETI allows R1 000 to be reclaimed from PAYE). • Youth employees should be black and between the age of 18 and 35, with no EAP targets for the B-BBEE purposes, but all youth employees would receive tax incentives. • YES initiative headcount targets: The YES initiative target for generic entities is calculated as the greater of : 1,5% NPAT target divided by R55 000; or 1,5% of Measured Entity’s headcount in preceding year; or the value in the company turnover band in Table 1. The YES initiative target for QSEs and EMEs is determined by the headcount band. Enhanced Recognition For Scorecard Entities: The ‘YES’ initiative will enable generic entities to maximise their B-BBEE scorecards by reaching and exceeding the YES targets that are set. Benefits are as follows: • Achieving the YES target and providing jobs for 2,5% of candidates in your company or pay salaries for candidates placed in QSEs or EMEs – enhance 1 B-BBEE level. • Achieving 1,5 times the YES target and 5% absorption (job placement) – enhance 1 level and 3 bonus points on the whole scorecard. • Achieving double the YES target and 5% absorption (job placement) – enhance 2 levels on the scorecard. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO: ENHANCED RECOGNITION STATUS FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES An interesting feature of the proposed amendments is the automatic recognition for large black-owned companies (generic entities with annual revenue exceeding R50 million). Generic entities will be deemed to be B-BBEE Level 1 with 100% black ownership or B-BBEE Level 2 with at least 51% black ownership without having to do a scorecard. Only scorecard clients can increase their level with the YES initiative. Generic ARLs (Automatic Recognition Levels) must be measured on ownership alone. Key Notes: o The Codes make it very clear that no other principle of ownership enhancement can be used for generic entities. Generic entities cannot achieve ARL with “deemed” techniques for black ownership such as modified Flow-Through principle; “once-empowered always empowered”; qualifying transactions; mandated investments and exclusions, etc. o Joint Venture requirements are provided and are similar to those introduced by the new Construction Sector Codes. The proposed amendments aim to promote innovative ways to increase the participation of black South Africans and in particular black youth in our economy. The DTI has invited members of the public to participate in a 60-day public commentary process on these proposed amendments to the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice on or before 29 May 2018. I encourage our clients and other impacted business to contact me for specific guidance on how these amendments are likely to affect them.

The Stressful Life Of B-BBEE Managers and Transformation Executives in Corporate South Africa........

Damned if they DO & damned if they DON'T: The life of B-BBEE/ Transformation Managers or Executives is a STRESSFUL one. The high levels of pressure in these corporate positions has led to many colleagues simply bowing to anti-transformation resistance to safe guard their careers, the bond, school fees and holiday homes........

That is why it is highly recommended to bring in an external expert who is impartial to assist with the difficult conversations and company politics. For expert assistance contact nsebati@murason.co.za

Nelson Sebati, trusted Economic Empowerment Advisor

Nelson Sebati, South Africa's leading BEE consultant and advisor offers social responsibility, transformation and economic empowerment solutions to corporate clients and multinationals in South Africa and its neighboring economies. With Nelson you have access to a wide range of genuinely expert services to help determine your approach to B-BBEE. Find out why so many blue chip clients work with him!

Nelson Sebati Pays Tribute to Winnie Madikizela_Mandela

Nelson Sebati Featured In Sunday Times on B-BBEE......

Share N.Sebati - Sunday Times Skills Development.pdf - 641 KB

Nelson Sebati attends the Launch of the Global Entreprenuership Week (GEW) 2017.....

Nelson Sebati ushering out Minister Lindiwe Zulu & Premier David Makhura at the GEW 2017 in Johannesburg....

Nelson Sebati with David Petersen at GEW 2017........