"The department is running a support programme for emerging contractors who have been awarded construction contracts, under the auspices of a trading entity known as Impophoma Infrastructure Support Entity.
Impophoma leases fleet and plant equipment at reasonable prices to SMMEs, thus ensuring that they become sustainable concerns. Construction contractors also receive assistance with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Registration plus free training on business planning, modelling and marketing. This takes place at three dedicated Construction Contact Centres in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
With regards to SMME Development, a total 1 687 BBEEE companies and 1 139 SMMEs were awarded contracts by the department. The value of these contracts amounted to about R4 billion for BBBEE and R2 billion in the case of SMMEs. On the other hand, the construction of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link has, in the 2007/2008 fiscal year alone, spent R1.89 billion in procurement and sub-contracting to BBBEE's and SMME's."
