JOHANNESBURG has set up the first online database of black-owned suppliers for the use of individuals and businesses.

Written by Ndaba Dlamini
Thursday, 06 October 2005

PEOPLE and businesses that want to procure goods and services from black suppliers can now access comprehensive and reliable information on black enterprises through a database set up by the City.

Launching the Joburg Black Suppliers Database on Wednesday, 5 October in Braamfontein, Councillor Parks Tau, the mayoral committee member responsible for finance, strategy and economic development, said the database was essential to growing the City's economy.

"The City is adopting the view that there is a need as government to become more aggressive in initiatives that need broader participation in the economy.

"Growing the economy is the number one priority for the City, and the launch of this database today is a deliberate way to create opportunities for black businesses to grow and contribute to the City's overall development."

Tau said the City, as an entity that uses corporate services in its day-to-day business, had an obligation to procure some of these services from black businesses and act as a catalyst to improve those businesses.

More than 3 000 Gauteng-based black companies were already registered on the database, the first "officially approved" black business suppliers site in the country, according to Thokozani Thwala, programme manager in the City's finance and economic development unit.

Explaining the database

Thwala took the guests through the new website, explaining that the companies on the database were not only black-owned companies from Johannesburg, but also companies from across Gauteng.

"The actual purpose of the launch of this new website is to invite companies that are not part of this database to come forward and register. The online registration of companies goes live on 1 November 2005."

The database, which is linked to the City of Johannesburg's official website, includes contact telephone numbers, street addresses and services offered by black-owned companies.

An online tender system, financial and business news sections would be included in the "near future".

Nafcoc Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by Modise Motloba, congratulated Johannesburg on its groundbreaking move, and said the chamber was willing to partner the City in terms of building capacity within black businesses.

Companies not yet on the database are invited to register for free. Prospective clients and suppliers can log on to the Joburg Black Suppliers Database, or contact Thokozani Thwala on 011 358 3692 or email him on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it