Question NW1397 to the Minister of Trade and Industry
31 May 2017 - NW1397
Hill-Lewis, Mr GG to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
(a) What amount did the National Empowerment Fund’s sponsorship of the Black Business Council (BBC) event on 15 May 2017 cost, (b) which person(s) or organisation approached the BBC for this sponsorship and (c) what are the full relevant details of the processes followed in expending the amount in this way?
Reply:
(a) What amount did the National Empowerment Fund’s sponsorship of the Black Business Council (BBC) event on 15 May 2017 cost?
The NEF approved sponsorship of R150 000 including VAT, totalling R171 000.
(b) Which person(s) or organisation approached the BBC for this sponsorship?
The Acting CEO of the BBC approached the NEF for the sponsorship. BBC correspondence to the NEF dated 11 May 2017 states that:
“We have invited the Minister of Finance, Honourable Malusi Gigaba to be our guest speaker and engage the Black Business Council fraternity on a number of issues.”
The BBC therefore approached the NEF, as an entity with the mandate of driving the implementation of black economic empowerment policies, to be part of an engagement with the Minister of Finance on issues affecting black entrepreneurs in South Africa.
(c) What are the full relevant details of the processes followed in expending the amount in this way?
The NEF approved the sponsorship in accordance with its internal policies.