2025/2026 Enterprise & Supplier Development Initiative
Partnership Overview
Introduction
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has partnered with the National Empowerment Fund to drive economic transformation through Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD). This strategic collaboration aligns with SARS’s commitment to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) and aims to create a pipeline of transformed, capable suppliers who can meet current and future procurement needs.
Programme Objectives
Building Supplier Excellence Across Strategic Sectors
The SARS–NEF partnership focuses on six critical objectives that are designed to strengthen South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and ensure that small businesses are equipped not only to survive, but to scale sustainably.
Enhance Supplier Capability and Capacity
Promote Local Economic Development
Reduce Supply Risk
Promote Innovation and Continuous Improvement
Achieve Cost and Value Optimization
Ensure Compliance and Sustainability
SARS Enterprise & Supplier Development Partnership
Who We Serve
Supporting Black-Owned Suppliers Ready to Grow
This initiative specifically supports 51% black-owned EMEs (Exempted Micro Enterprises) and QSEs
(Qualifying Small Enterprises) operating in three strategic sectors:
Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Businesses offering tech solutions, IT services, digital infrastructure support, software development, and related services.
Professional Services (PS)
Enterprises providing consulting, legal, financial, HR, marketing, training, and other specialist services that support corporate and public-sector operations.
Corporate Real Estate (CRE)
Companies involved in facilities management, property maintenance, construction support services, office fit-outs, cleaning services, security solutions, and related real estate support functions.
Regional Priority
Special focus on suppliers in regions where SARS has experienced low response rates to procurement
opportunities, bringing development directly to underserved areas.
Target
Focus on Second Chances
We prioritize suppliers who were previously disqualified during SARS procurement processes due to:
These businesses have potential but need targeted support to become procurement-ready and competitive.