Sanas Accredited B-BBEE Consulting & Verification Services

Murason Business Services in collaboration with several SANAS-accredited agencies, offers a comprehensive array of B-BBEE Verification Services. We have designed a thorough verification methodology that streamlines & improves the B-BBEE audit procedure. Contact us on nsebati@murason.co.za or visit www.murason.co.za

THE DISEMPOWERMENT OF EMPOWERDEX....

I once lost a client (that shall not be named) because I strongly disagreed with how Empowerdex Cape Town was endorsing a long-winded and convoluted ED consultancy that delivered no real benefits to small black business i.e. +/- R2 million worth of diverted grant funding through an eerily complex structure with back-to-back contracts unnecessarily abusing the Modified Flow Through Principle. They issued this white-owned ED scam with an ED Recognition Certificate and then came back to verify the same information at the client via their Johannesburg branch…..Needless-to-say, I appreciated the client’s business, but I didn’t need it so I was happy to let them go on principle. I think Gobodo should call me, I feel like "Agrizzi-ing", LOL.… Sanele Kweyama anda twala Georgina Hlalele Duncan de Groot Do you remember the incident? #transformation #bbbee #murason #Empowerdex See the link for more details: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nelson-sebati-pr-ead-b-bbee-aaaa1516_transformation-bbbee-murason-activity-6524256610016063488-uUBD

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.

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.

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

Nelson Sebati Attends The Gauteng Province and GE Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing ceremony.....

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura & Chief Empowerment Officer, Nelson Sebati.

Nelson Sebati was in attendance when the Gauteng Province and GE Signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Economic Development. The MoU covers collaboration in the Energy and Healthcare sectors.Through the collaboration, GE will support the Premier's Office “Tshepo 1 Million" youth empowerment programme, which focuses on creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the Gauteng youth.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Gauteng premier David Makhura said; “We are delighted to be going into a partnership with a world-renowned company such as GE which not only supports our vision of turning Gauteng into a globally competitive City Region, but will also help us create an inclusive economy that will see the youth of Gauteng become active agents in the economy........https://www.cnbcafrica.com/apo/2017/10/13/the-gauteng-province-and-ge-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-advance-economic-development/

Entrepreneur Speakers Corner: MASTER CLASS.....Nelson Sebati & Others.

Ministerial briefing with Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Hon. Buti Manamela MP........

The Progressive Business Forum (PBF) hosted a ministerial briefing with Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Hon. Buti Manamela MP at the Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Thursday 23 April 2015. Also present was the Chairperson of the Economic Development Portfolio Committee of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, Cllr Willie van der Schyff and Professional Empowerment Advisor, Nelson Sebati. More than 200 business-people attended the event.....http://pbf.org.za/show.php?id=8333

What Is Supplier Diversity And Why Is It Important?

What is Supplier Diversity: A Profitable Strategy?

Supplier Diversity is a business strategy that ensures a diverse supplier base in the procurement of goods and services for any business or organization. Supplier Diversity emphasizes the creation of a diverse supply chain that ensures the inclusion of diverse groups in the procurement plans for government, not-for-profits, and private industry. Statistics show that companies who embrace diversity are more profitable than companies who don’t.

“The reason diversity works is that on almost every measure, greater racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse workplace teams function more effectively than more homogenous teams.  Members from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives avoid “groupthink,” whereas non-diverse teams get mired in it. …In short, the business case for diversity is overwhelming.”

What is a Diverse Supplier?

There are approximately sixteen categories used to identify diverse businesses. Common examples include Small Micro or Medium Enterprises (SMME), Black owned enterprises (BO), Black-Women Owned Enterprise (BW0) and Designated Groups Owned Enterprise (DGO). In order to report diverse spend; it is important to ensure suppliers are certified.

Diversity Certification is an important milestone in the life of a supplier because it authenticates that the business is owned, managed, and controlled by a qualifying diverse group. Organizations such as BBBEE verification agencies focus on assuring that businesses are appropriately categorized by offering third-party certification services on behalf of private industry. State and local governments also offer certification services the CIPC. Diversity certification by a governmental agency positions a supplier well to do business in the public sector.

Why is Supplier Diversity important?

A common misconception is that diversity is a quota system or social program designed to benefit selected groups while adding little to no value to the bottom-line. The fact is that a competitive advantage exists, as progressive organizations who have already implemented an effective strategy have realized. A Supplier Diversity commitment benefits a company because it:

• Promotes innovation through the entrance of new products, services, and solutions
• Provides multiple channels from which to procure goods and services
• Drives competition (on price and service levels) between the company’s existing and potential vendors
• Allows a company to take advantage of new opportunities for business expansion with the emergence of new consumer needs based upon shifting demographic realities
• Displays an organization’s commitment to doing business, beyond consumerism, in diverse markets
• Showcases the company’s interest in and commitment to the economic growth of all communities

Supplier diversity is beneficial to all stakeholders, not just to the companies with programs. First and foremost, supplier diversity programming adds economic value because it encourages the growth of diverse businesses. Diverse businesses typically encounter barriers that challenge their start-up and sustainability, so effective supplier diversity strategies can alleviate these pain points.

As small businesses grow, so will our nation’s economy. Since most diverse businesses are small businesses, they aid in the economic recovery and sustainability of their communities. In addition, supplier diversity is important because it provides products and services to emerging consumer markets. While traditional products and services remain available to consumers, demographic shifts create opportunities for diverse suppliers to meet the needs of emerging and/or shifting populations in the South Africa, Africa and across the globe.

Supplier diversity is also important because it assists our country in job creation. South African statistics show that over 50% of the workforce is employed by small businesses. In December 2014, the U.S. Small Business Administration reported 57 consecutive months of new jobs added back to the national workforce after the worst recession in recent history. SBA Administrator, reported “…this new trajectory is attributable to the success of entrepreneurs and the resurgence of our nation’s small businesses. About 7 million of the 10.9 million jobs added back were created not by large corporation, but by start-ups and small enterprises.”

Supplier Diversity Thought Leadership

Thought leadership in supplier diversity is important because it provides a forum for sharing information, resources, tools, methodologies, and experiences to assist in the growth, expansion, and development of the industry. It is also important because it provides information to companies that are attempting to develop effective supplier diversity initiatives. As organizations share their experiences, they enable success within other organizations and in-turn build a stronger industry and stronger communities with stronger diverse businesses.

As the premier provider of Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) services and solutions, I am positioned as a thought leader in the industry. I offer resources and solutions that enable supplier diversity success for my clients. My team is comprised of Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) experts and supplier diversity leaders from the corporate, government, non-profit, and technology sectors. With over 40 years of combined Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) and supplier diversity experience, our solutions are designed to solve real-life Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) challenges that can help our clients achieve their operational objectives.

For reliable Expert service on Supplier Diversity, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Supplier Development contact Nelson Sebati, Pr.EAd today or visit www.enterprisesupplierdevelopment.co.za for more information. 

Enterprise and Supplier Development News

Dear SMALL BLACK BUSINESSES, When it comes to 3rd Party ESD Intermediaries, some people and companies just TALK & ACT like they want to help you. Be aware and do not let other people pimp you for their own benefit.....

For reliable Expert service on Supplier Diversity, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Supplier Development contact Nelson Sebati, Pr.EAd today or visit www.enterprisesupplierdevelopment.co.za for more information. 

BBBEE ALERT: Black Industrialist Indaba 25 - 26 March 2015......

For reliable Expert service on Supplier Diversity, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Supplier Development contact Nelson Sebati, Pr.EAd today or visit www.enterprisesupplierdevelopment.co.za for more information. 

Nelson SebatI: A Small Part Of The Reason Why South Africa Has A Ministry Dedicated To Small Business Development.

Our Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Expert, Nelson Sebati was part of a team that contributed towards the successful creation of the new Ministry of Small Business Development and Cooperatives. This team was appointed by the Black Management Forum (BMF) to research, lobby, present and facilitate the dialogue on the creation of a new ministry dedicated towards Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development in South Africa. After a country wide roadshow, he and the team were thrilled when the national leadership took a decision to implement their recommendations and President Zuma announced the new ministry on 25/05/14 to be led by Minister Lindiwe Zulu.

To this day Nelson continues to be an avid supporter of the ministry and has a great working relationship with its leadership. He is occasionally called on to advise on issues of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development. 

For reliable Expert service on Supplier Diversity, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Supplier Development contact Nelson Sebati, Pr.EAd today or visit www.enterprisesupplierdevelopment.co.za for more information. 

Beware Of Bad BBBEE Advice....

BBBEE TRUTH: “He who takes advice about BBBEE from one who is inexperienced, unqualified and not certified in such matters, shall pay with his Rands, his BBBEE points and perhaps even his freedom for proving the falsity of those opinions”.

Seek BBBEE advice from those who are competent to give it. Contact me on nsebati@murason.co.za.

For reliable Expert service on Supplier Diversity, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Supplier Development contact Nelson Sebati, Pr.EAd today or visit www.enterprisesupplierdevelopment.co.za for more information. 

The Entrepreneurship Of King Shaka: 6 Reasons Why King Shaka Would Have Been A Successful Entrepreneur.

Former President, Thabo Mbeki said it best “I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land……….A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our native land thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say - I am an African.”

As an African Entrepreneur my homeland, this great continent informs, inspires and anchors my business vision, strategy, processes and ethics. It is for this reason that I have decided to write my first article for 2015 on the Entrepreneurial ways of the mighty King Shaka.

King Shaka kaSenzangakhona also known as Shaka Zulu is one of the greatest military leaders in African history and perhaps in all of history. There is controversy around his methods and the strictness with which he trained his troops, but in many ways, he improved warfare methods forever. Born in 1787 in what is now South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, he died in 1828, but his legacy lives on as a motivation figure to Africans across the continent. I have studied various accounts on the life and times of this influential warrior king and I could not help, but notice that his personality traits are very much similar to those displayed by today’s highly successful Entrepreneurs.

Here are 6 reasons why I think King Shaka would have been a ground-breaking Entrepreneur if he was alive today:

1. Perseverance

Born out of wedlock to an unranked woman, Nandi KaBhebhe and Senzangakhona kaJama, a minor chief of what was then a small Zulu tribe, Shaka was a humiliated and discredited child. Fleeing from humiliation at the hands of the Zulus he and his mother took refuge in the court of a neighbouring chieftain the eLangeni. There too, they were constantly harassed and he grew up quickly learning to persevere, fight and endure the cruel treatment. His father obsessively worried about being replaced by an heir sought to murder him as a boy several times, but through sheer determination he survived the multiple attempts on his life. Despite his disadvantages he went on to serve as a Mthethwa warrior and distinguished himself through his courage and adept skill as a close combat warrior. This ability gained the attention of the chieftain, Dingiswayo, who became his Mentor and honoured Shaka by making him commander of a regiment.

*Entrepreneurship is an ultramarathon. Like Shaka Entrepreneurs have to be able to live with uncertainty and push through a crucible of obstacles for years on end before they achieve their goals.

2. Hardwork

It is recorded that the hardworking king and his men routinely embarked on long marches for practice over rough and hot terrain so they could be accustomed to harsh conditions and would not be deterred by difficult environments during battle.  In line with this belief King Shaka introduced apprenticeships to instil a culture of working hard among his people and as a result children over the age of 6 years old became apprentice warriors, delivering rations, cooking supplies and carrying weapons to real warriors. By the time children came of age, they were accustomed to being in battle surroundings and were more emotionally ready to fight.

*The hard truth of the matter is that being an Entrepreneur (whether successful or not) is damn hard.  It is hard work day-in and day-out and Entrepreneurs need to understand the importance of working hard now to reap the benefits down the road.

3. Mentorship

Like Cornelius Vanderbilt to John D. Rockefeller, Tom Scott to Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison to Nikola Tesla so too was Dingiswayo to Shaka.

Banished from his father’s tribe, Shaka and his mother found a place in the Mthethwa clan under the rule of Dingiswayo kaJobe. Dingiswayo became Shaka’s mentor and the two developed a close working relationship. It was Dingiswayo who provided the guidance, tutelage and nurturing that Shaka had lacked throughout his childhood. With this support the ambitious young Shaka focused his attentions on excelling as a soldier serving in the ibutho lempi (fighting unit) for over 10 years. Dingiswayo trained the youngster in strategy, tactics and leadership, even including him in council meetings to familiarise him with the art of statecraft. When the Zulu chief Senzangakhona (Shaka’s father) died, Dingiswayo helped Shaka wrestle the throne from Sigujana his half-brother by providing his Mentee with the needed military backing. In later years when Dingiswayo was killed, Shaka with his military machine made it his personal mission to avenge his mentor's death. He destroyed the Ndwandwe clan in the process.

*Mentors help Entrepreneurs to stay focused and avoid unnecessary distractions that can take them off track. Mentors support to propagate and improve performance, decrease or eradicate blind spots and encourage Entrepreneurs to open up to constructive feedback by providing a safe atmosphere in which the Entrepreneurs can express fears, failures and dreams. Contact me should you require a Sales Mentor or a Personal Improvement Mentor. 

4. Innovation

Tired of the assegai - a long pole weapon made of wood with pointed iron at the end and thrown like a javelin - King Shaka introduced the ikwla, a weapon with a shorter range and a longer spearhead, sort of like a sword or dagger. This weapon gave King Shaka’s troops a huge advantage over their adversaries during close up encounters. In addition to this he also introduced a new shield and invented or perfected an attack method that became popularly known as the bull-horn-formation. This is a three-part attack system in which seasoned warriors form the “chest” of the horn at the front, pinning the enemy into a position where it can be easily attacked. Younger warriors would form the “horns” and encircle the enemy, attacking from the sides, and additional warriors formed the “loins,” standing behind the “chest” with their back to the battle, protecting against any additional attackers.

*Most Entrepreneurs are truly innovative and are able to manipulate the elements of the markets to create new solutions to business problems in the same way that King Shaka did with warfare.

5. Leadership

When his father Senzangakona, the chief of the small Zulu tribe of farmers and pastoralists, died in 1816, Shaka Zulu assumed the throne. Through his leadership vision and style he increased his army from 350 to more than 2000 soldiers in the first year of his reign and by 1824, he commanded an army in excess of 30 000 occupying an estimated 2 million square miles. He achieved this by eliminating privilege and class, introducing a graduating system through which soldiers had to earn their positions and rank, he shared all the spoils of war and resources taken from the defeated armies among his soldiers and  he allowed for ageing members of the army to be treated with dignity and to retire. As a leader he was task and achievement oriented, this gained King Shaka respect, loyalty and support.

*Entrepreneurs need to be good leaders in order to influence others to invest in them, work with them and follow them in the accomplishment of their goals.

6. Criticism

Legend has it that in mourning the passing of his mother, Nandi kaBhebhe, King Shaka implemented extreme procedures including forbidding crops to be planted, the use of milk and rampant executions. However, one Zulu tribesman stood up to King Shaka and reminded him that his mother was not the first person to ever die in their community and that some of his bereavement methods were too harsh.  King Shaka heeded this criticism, called off his lamentation measures and rewarded the tribesman for bravery in speaking up to him.

*The listening to and welcoming of criticism are some of the hallmarks of great Entrepreneurship as this leads to better customer service through improvements in product design or service delivery.

There are hardly any contemporaneous written records on King Shaka and we all must rely on 2^nd hand written material and oral testimonies, most of which are conflicting. Consequently, no one can claim to have a monopoly on the accuracy of his biography. This lack of consistency has left room for multiple interpretations of King Shaka’s legacy and what you read here are my thoughts and views on how I choose to commemorate and relate with this African legend who consolidated a nation and preserved its pride by saving it from European domination during his lifetime.

For reliable Expert service on Supplier Diversity, Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development and Supplier Development contact Nelson Sebati, Pr.EAd today or visit www.enterprisesupplierdevelopment.co.za for more information. 

Unpacking The New BBBEE Act: The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Act, No 46 of 2013 (a.k.a BEE Amendment Act)

The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Act, No 46 of 2013 (BEE Amendment Act) which amended the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, No 53 of 2003 (BEE Act) to, amongst others, make the BEE Act the overarching legislation in South Africa with regard to BBBEE, to make it mandatory for all governmental bodies to apply the generic BBBEE Codes of Good Practice or other relevant code of good practice gazetted in terms of the BEE Act when procuring goods or services or issuing licences or other authorisations under any other laws, and to penalise fronting or misrepresentation of BBBEE information, came into force and effect on 24 October 2014.

The “trumping” clause contained in s3 (2), will become effective on 24 October 2015 one year after the rest of the BEE Amendment Act comes into force.

The below are several highpoints of the amendments announced by the BEE Amendment Act:

 Status of Sector Codes and generic BEE Codes

Section 10(1) now provides that every organ of state and public entity MUST apply any relevant code of good practice issued in terms of the BEE Act when, amongst other things, determining qualification criteria for the issuing of licences, concessions, or other authorisations in respect of economic activity in terms of any law; or/and developing and implementing a preferential procurement policy. This provision makes it clear that organs of state and public entities are obliged to apply a code of good practice gazetted in terms of the BEE Act and not to simply, "take into account and, as far as is reasonably possible apply" such code of good practice, as was previously the case.

 The new s10 (2)(a) provides that the Minister of Trade and Industry may, after consultation with the relevant organ of state or public entity, exempt the organ of state or public entity from the requirement to apply a code of good practice in terms of s10(1) or allow a deviation therefrom if particular objectively verifiable facts or circumstances applicable to the organ of state or public entity necessitate a deviation.

 
The BEE Act also requires that such an exemption or deviation is published in the government gazette. Therefore an organ of state or public entity would not be entitled to deviate from the requirement to apply a code of good practice unless it has first obtained the consent of the Minister of Trade and Industry to do so and it is gazetted in the government gazette.

 Section 9(5) makes it clear that where a Sector Code has been issued for a particular sector, the compliance of entities within that sector must be measured in terms of the Sector Code. This is subject to the provisions of s9 (6) which provides that if an organ of state or public entity wishes to specify qualification criteria for procurement and other economic activities which exceed those set out in a code of good practice, such organ of state or public entity must make a request in that regard to the Minister of Trade and Industry and any such consent must be published in the government gazette.

 

The BEE Act also makes it clear that a code of good practice remains in effect until amended, replaced or repealed. This is relevant in the case of Sector Codes which are currently undergoing an alignment process with the revised generic BEE Codes.

 The “trumping” provision means that any legislation which contains its own BEE provisions will have to instead defer to the BEE Act and codes of good practice, and the organs of state or public entities issuing licenses or authorisation or procuring goods or services in terms of such legislation will be compelled to apply the BEE Act and applicable code of good practice instead of the BEE provisions set out in such legislation. This will have great impact on the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act 05 of 2000 (PPPFA) and Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 (MFMA) when it comes into effect.

 Fronting

The concept of fronting is now widely defined in the BEE Amendment Act.

• A person commits an offence if he knowingly engages in fronting, or knowingly misrepresents his BEE status, or provides false information to secure a particular BEE status or outcome.
• An offender may be subjected to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or to both a fine and imprisonment.
• If the offender is an enterprise and not a natural person, it could be subject to a fine of up to 10% of its turnover.

 BEE Commission

The BEE Amendment Act empowers the creation of a BEE Commission, to amongst other things, oversee, supervise and promote adherence with the Act in the interest of the public; receive complaints relating to BEE; investigate, either of its own initiative or in response to complaints received, any matter concerning BEE and to promote good governance and accountability by creating an effective and efficient environment for the promotion and implementation of BEE.

 The Commission may issue non-binding opinions on the interpretation of any provision of the BEE Act.

The Commission may make a finding as to whether any BEE initiative involves a fronting practice.

The Commission may institute proceedings in a court to restrain any breach of the BEE Act, including any fronting practice, or to obtain appropriate remedial relief.

If the Commission is of the view that any matter it has investigated may involve the commission of a criminal offence in terms of the BEE Act or any other law, it will refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority or an appropriate division of the South African Police Service.

The Commission is also entitled to refer a matter to the South African Revenue Services (SARS) or to any other regulatory authority if it is of the view that the provisions of relevant legislation have been breached.

 In simple terms it now means that BBBEE is far reaching and almost impossible to ignore because if you need a license, accreditation or recognition such as a Liquor license, Import license, FSP license, CIBD accreditation, Banking license, etc. then BBBEE applies to you whether or not you are buying or selling directly or indirectly to government. Not doing business with government is no longer an exemption.

But companies are not forced to comply and if they so wish they do not have to do anything because change like business survival is not mandatory.

For expert assistance contact me Nelson Sebati.

The Legend Of The “One Man Army” Entrepreneur.

 

Entrepreneurship is not an exact science. It probably is the furthest thing from it. However most people mistake Entrepreneurship with the famed legend of the “One Man Army”, but in life as in the picture above if you tilt your head or your screen a tab bit you will see the supporting troops in the background.

Though fabled and celebrated the “One Man Army” approach is completely wide off the mark. According to this approach the Entrepreneur controls everything and gives limited responsibility to others. I think if Entrepreneurs are to run successful businesses then they must learn to trust others and share responsibility with them. Team effort plays a major role in the development and growth of a business. So by delegating out tasks to others Entrepreneurs not only reduce their workload, but also give opportunities to others to show their talents.

By encouraging teamwork and cooperation the Entrepreneur transforms from a “One Man Army" to a "5-Star-General" and this is usually accompanied by better service delivery, increased customer satisfaction and higher staff morale. Most importantly it allows the Entrepreneur to do his/her job of creating much better.

At Murason Business Services we employ a rich balance of young talent and seasoned professionals that align for the company’s collective objective of excellently serving our clients. Our personnel consists of highly qualified, knowledgeable and enthusiastic expert teams devoted to the provision of service excellence i.e.:

• Executive Team  – Providing strategic oversight for the company’s activities;
• Management Team  – Managing the execution of the company’s operational mandate;
• Staffing Practitioners  – Certified consultants providing a comprehensive range of integrated recruitment services;
• Public Sector Professionals – Highly skilled specialists dedicated to serving government and public sector organizations and institutions;
• Support Team – Experts in back office systems, administration and quality reporting;
• Legal Team – Providing internal legal expertise.

We are dedicated to employing, empowering and developing people with the competencies required to enhance their careers. We constantly seek employees who wish to become instrumental participants in sustaining the company’s competitive advantage.

We value and reward the efforts of our staff because coming together is a Beginning, keeping together is Progress, working together is Success and staying together is significance.

We are a young company with many adventures and victories ahead of us. For the latest news on our journey follow us on Twitter, connect with us on LinkedIn and like our page on Facebook.

BBBEE Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) Challenges.....

Enterprise Supplier Development’s foremost goal is to build sustainable business enterprises that achieve growth in order to create jobs and to grow the economy, the two VERY essential conditions for political stability and low crime rate. But intents alone are not enough to ensure success of Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD). The most prevalent problem is the lack of knowledge and expertise and these have led to the sluggish progress in implementing Enterprise Development projects. The problem is exacerbated by the following issues:

o Lack of time and resources to identify sustainable Beneficiaries;
o Lack of a business model to maximize recognition of contribution;
o Lack of a process to monitor progress on projects and to introduce corrective measures, where necessary;
o Delaying implementation until the right partner comes along; 
o And reservation of spending lump sum due to fear that money will be wasted or misused. 

I can help your organisations successfully overcome all the above stated challenges through a sustainable Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) Strategy.


Contact me, Nelson Sebati today for EXPERT help.

BBBEE Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) Mistakes......

In order to save my clients time and money I ensure that their Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) interpretation is in line with the letter and spirit of the BBBEE Codes, Act and Sector codes. Here is a list of the most common mistakes that businesses make when interpreting the Enterprise Development element on the BBBEE scorecard:

The targets for Enterprise Development spend are 3% of Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) for Generic companies and 2% of Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE). On occasion companies misconstrue the targets as a percentage of annual turnover. VERY expensive blunder.

Enterprise Development beneficiaries are categorized by the BBBEE codes of good practice into two categories – “Category A” for Exempt Micro Enterprises (EME) and “Category B” for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE). Spend incurred with “Category A” beneficiaries is multiplied by a benefit factor of 1.25, while spend with “Category B” beneficiaries is recognized at 1 for 1. A common error is that companies overlook to multiply the “Category A” spend by the benefit factor for enhanced recognition or multiply spend incurred with “Category B” beneficiaries by the benefit factor (Category B spend doesn’t qualify for enhanced recognition). Avoid confusing the 2 as this has significant impact on your ED score.

In claiming early payments as Enterprise Development spend, companies must only consider amounts paid for invoices within 10 days and going forward this recognition will be capped at a maximum of 15% of the invoice amount and available points.


In recognizing shorter payment periods as Enterprise Development spend, companies should consider amounts paid for invoices within 10 days. The amount recognized under shorter payment periods is a percentage of the invoice based on the number of days taken to pay. The actual formula used is (15 minus number of days from date of invoice) divided by 15.


For example if payment was received on the same day as invoice, i.e. zero days after invoice received, then the calculation would be (15-0)/15 = 100%. If payment was received one day later, the formula would be (15-1)/15 = 14/15 = 93.3% and so on.


Supporting Invoices and Proof of payments with dates will be required to validate any claims for shorter payment periods.


Some companies “mistakenly” qualify 30 days invoice payments or the full invoice amount paid within 15 days as Enterprise Development spend. This is bad business and you will be painfully penalized at verification.

Currently Enterprise Development means helping small black businesses that are have a 50% or more black-owned or any other enterprises with more than 25% and a BBBEE status of between Level 1 and 6 (This has been removed in the new codes and will no longer apply after After 01 May 2015). Another common mistake here is considering Exempt Micro Enterprises (EMEs) or Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) with no black ownership as Enterprise Development beneficiaries.

It is clear from the above mentioned that it is easy to make these misinterpretations on Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD)  and that is why I recommend that you speak to an EXPERT to ensure that your Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD)  spend achieves the desired results.

Contact me, Nelson Sebati for dependable help and valuable advice on Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD).