1. What is the fee for certification?

• Certification requires R 1,140-00 (incl. VAT) non-refundable certification application fee.

2. How long is the process for certification?

• From the time we receive a completed and corrected Certification Application and package, the certification process can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete.

1. What is the criteria set out for qualification of a bona fide black supplier?

• Your company must be 51% or more black- owned, controlled and managed.

• The persons who make up the majority ownership must be South African Citizens.

• The highest titled position in the business (i.e. Managing Director or Member, CEO, Chairman of the Board etc.) must be held by a black person.

• The business must be headquartered in South Africa.

• The business must be compliant with the statutory requirements of South Africa.

• The business must be operating and can demonstrate a clear product and/or service offering.

2. I’m a black entrepreneur wishing to start up my own business. Can the SASDC help me?

• Unfortunately the SASDC only works with established-black owned businesses who are ready to reach corporate procurement staff. We don’t specialize in enterprise development because there is already an extended network of assistance in that area.

3. I’m a foundation or a service-providing non-profit organization. Can I become certified?

• No, unfortunately the SASDC does not certify foundations or service-providing non-profit organizations at this time.

1. Does the SASDC provide any funding?

• No, unfortunately we do not provide financial assistance for SMME development.

2. If the SASDC doesn’t provide any funding, can it facilitate funding support with other organizations, including its corporate members?

• If you’re seeking financial support we recommend utilizing other resources focusing on enterprise development. While there are many sourcing of funding for South African SMME`s, the Department of Trade and Industry has compiled a list of financial support resources to qualifying companies in various sectors of the economy. Please visit their website here for more information. Once you`re transaction-ready and seek exposure to our corporate members, come back and seek certification!

3. If the SASDC doesn’t provide funding, exactly how does the SASDC support SMME’s?

• With multiple options available to SMME’s for Enterprise Development, the SASDC aims to be the leading service provider fostering business linkages between transaction-ready SMMEs and corporate enterprises.

• Private sector companies registered and operating in South Africa
• State-own Companies / Enterprises
• Universities and Independent Tertiary institutions

We have a 2-tiered membership subscription structure which is determined by the Board of Directors.

Core Membership with the basic benefits and services will come at an annual investment of R87,500 (excl. VAT).  Additional service requirements would be subject to a fee being levied.

Charter Membership is always recommended because of the additional services and benefits that you will be able to access at an included discounted value.  This membership involves an annual investment of R175,000 (excl. VAT).

* Annual subscriptions fees can be adjusted at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

The SASDC is corporate-led and driven and as a non-profit company, driven by our mission to create the best possible circumstances for corporate members and certified suppliers to do business.  Black owned businesses that we certify are beneficiaries of our mission.  Membership fees subsidize our certification processes, our supplier capacity building initiatives and linkage facilitation services, over and above the direct benefits and services rendered to our members.

General Services and Benefits include the following:

• Access to SASDC Corporate members and a Pool of verified Black Owned Suppliers
• Targeted Interventions that speak to the burning supplier diversity / ESD platforms within each Corporate.
• Exposure to Best Practice Tools, Guidelines and Training, as well as member service support with developing and implementing Supplier Diversity as well as Supplier Development strategy.
• Corporate Branding and Exposure through SASDC communication channels.
• Participation in events for Linkages and Match-making between our Corporates and the Black Owned suppliers that we certify
• We offer our corporates training on supplier diversity best practice which ranges from half a day to the full 2-day programme.  In addition, we provide B-BBEE ESD training to procurement teams, the objective of which is to demonstrate the link between ESD and supplier diversity.
• Involvement in SASDC Governance, Leadership and Operational Structures (Membership Advocacy, Supplier Certification, Capacity Building, and Black Supplier Input Committees) to drive member priorities and the organisation’s shared mission.
• Facilitated and aligned Supplier Development interventions that support member specific supplier capacity building objectives
• Access to a growing business network that extends to global partners around the world
• Facilitating linkages between certified Black-owned suppliers and non-black owned businesses who are looking to partner and have specified partner requirements upfront (NB: we connect the parties but do not broker deals)

In addition, we have established strategic partnerships with public sector players such as the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Small Business Development, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, etc. with the objective of creating channels of engagement for our corporate members as and when such needs arise.