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The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tips for entrepreneurs looking for government tenders: R1 trillion infrastructure investment loading
Public infrastructure spending over three years will exceed the R1 trillion mark. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced on Wednesday during his third budget speech that the National Treasury has earmarked R1 trillion for infrastructure investment. This could mean that many construction companies in South Africa will get a chance to bid to play a role in the upcoming infrastructure transformation. Roelof van den Berg, CEO of the Gap Infrastructure Corporation, said the government's multibillion-rand infrastructure plans could create significant opportunities, but only for businesses that understand how to navigate the complexities of the tendering process. 'We're seeing too many capable small contractors fail within their first few years, not because they lack skills or technical expertise, but because they're unprepared for public tender requirements in order to win projects.' ALSO READ: R1.3tn for infrastructure: Can SA deliver? Four tips to apply for tenders Van den Berg offers four insights into how new construction businesses can position themselves for future growth: 1. Registering with relevant regulatory bodies He said public sector projects require registration with several government departments and agencies before applying for tenders. 'The first critical registration is with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), without which no contractor can apply for a public tender. 'Some exclusions apply, including joint ventures, subcontractors, labour-only contractors and home builders, which fall under the purview of the National Home Building Council (NHBC).' He noted that many emerging contractors delay their applications or submit incomplete forms, which can lead to weeks of setbacks and disadvantage smaller businesses. 2. Understanding the CIDB grading system and improving your rating Van den Berg added that, depending on its size and track record, a contractor might be excluded from larger public projects, with top contracts reserved for the highest-rated companies. 'CIDB Grade 1 has no criteria besides registration, but limits participation to projects below R500 000. Grades 2 through 9 demand that specific financial and performance metrics be met. 'Grade 2 companies can tender for projects of up to a million rand, but must show proof of completing a R130 000 project in the past five years. Grade 8 contractors can apply for R200 million projects, while Grade 9 companies have no cap – but both must have completed multimillion-rand projects successfully.' He advises treating each project as a stepping stone. 'Carefully and consistently maintain detailed records of timelines, costs, safety compliance and client feedback. Even tracking missteps can guide you to improve over the long term.' ALSO READ: Public-private partnership: key to infrastructure transformation 3. Including social responsibility essentials in tender applications He added that with growing recognition of the important role of corporate social responsibility in changing lives, the government is increasingly seeking contractors who share the aim of improving community well-being. 'You're far more likely to secure a tender if you can demonstrate how your involvement will contribute additional value in terms of upliftment or protecting local ecosystems.' He recommends committing to employing and training community members or contributing to development programmes, depending on capacity and budgets. 'Even smaller-scale initiatives can make a difference in a real and impactful way on the lives of others.' 4. Mitigating risks by subcontracting 'For smaller contractors who lack the capacity for entire projects, van den Berg suggests subcontracting with established firms.' He said this allows new or lower-graded businesses to handle parts of the work without taking on unmanageable risk while benefiting from the principal contractor's guidance. 'Working under an established brand is one of the best ways to learn the ropes. You can see how they manage timelines, compliance processes and stakeholder relationships, and apply that knowledge to your own business to help you move up the CIDB ranks.' Minister welcomes investment Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson welcomed the news of the investment. 'Infrastructure investment remains one of the most effective ways to achieve the government of national unity's (GNU's) goal to grow the economy and create jobs. 'As the department of public works and Infrastructure, together with Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), we stand ready to play our part in achieving this goal. By working together we are building a better South Africa.' Job recreation Godongwana, while delivering his third budget speech on Wednesday in Cape Town, said infrastructure is a rich source of jobs in construction, engineering and related industries across a range of skill levels. 'It is for these reasons that infrastructure is the fourth pillar of the growth strategy. This budget demonstrates our resolve to change the composition of spending from consumption to investment. 'Allocations towards capital payments remain the fastest-growing area of spending by economic classification. Public infrastructure spending over three years will exceed the R1 trillion mark.' NOW READ: Budget 3.0: Fuel levy replaced VAT hike but is it the better option?
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Chow Kit photo shop fronts father-son immigration forgery ring
KUALA LUMPUR: A document forgery operation allegedly run by a father-and-son duo behind a photo shop near Chow Kit Market has been uncovered by the Immigration Department. The illicit activity, believed to have been ongoing since early this year, was exposed following a raid at 7pm yesterday. The operation was the result of two months of intelligence gathering. KL Immigration Department director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the two suspects, aged 60 and 34, were believed to be involved in the production, falsification, and alteration of immigration endorsements, including visas, permits, passes, and other official documents, under Section 55D of the Immigration Act 1959/63. "They were also found to have been supplying, selling, or transferring entry permits, passes, and travel documents — particularly to foreign nationals. "We suspect they were offering services for the procurement of E-Pass PLKS (Temporary Employment Visit Passes) issued by the Immigration Department, with forged details, alongside counterfeit JIM i-Kads and CIDB cards intended for use in the construction sector," he said during a press conference today. According to Wan Mohammed Saupee, the suspects communicated with clients via WhatsApp, requesting passport-sized photographs and accepting payments either online or in cash. "Each document is priced between RM60 and RM140, with a turnaround time as quick as one day. "The enforcement team also seized several cards resembling MyKid which are believed to be counterfeit," he added. The raid led to the confiscation of 50 forged E-PLKS slips, 100 blank chip-based card templates, card printers, photocopy machines, desktop and laptop computers, a printing machine, hologram stickers, and RM4,000 in cash. "Foreigners found to be using the services of unauthorised agents or syndicates will face stern action under the law," he said. Wan Mohammed Saupee added that the department believes similar forgery operations remain active and that enforcement teams are ramping up efforts to identify and apprehend other individuals involved, based on intelligence and ongoing investigations.
The Star
22-05-2025
- The Star
Father, son nabbed over fake ID shop
Busted: Wan Mohammed Saupee (second from left) showing the items seized during the press conference at KL Immigration headquarters. KUALA LUMPUR: On the outside, it looked like an ordinary photography and watch shop in Chow Kit where people go in to get their photo taken for official documents. But in reality, the shop was a one-stop centre for migrants and foreigners to get all manner of forged documents such as MyKad, MyKid, temporary work permits (PLKS), I-Kad and CIDB cards. Run by a father and son, the shop has been operating since early this year and is believed to have attracted clients from even outside the Klang Valley. Kuala Lumpur Immigration director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the centre was busted following an 'Ops Serkap' raid at about 7pm on May 20. 'The operation involved 15 officers who did a month of surveillance and intelligence gathering. We detained both men aged 60 and 34 in the raid. 'They have been forging documents and cards for foreigners and foreign worker agents. The foreigners are from various countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar,' he told a press conference at the KL Immigration headquarters yesterday. The suspects would communicate with prospective customers via WhatsApp. Customers would be asked to provide a passport photo and pay either in cash or through online methods. 'They charged customers between RM60 and RM140, depending on the complexity of the work,' said Wan Mohammed Saupee. Among the items seized were fake I-Kad, 50 fake e-PLKS slips, forged MyKad and MyKid as well as a card printing machine, 100 blank cards, photocopy machines and mobile phones, and RM4,000 in cash. 'Their fake cards included chips and hologram stickers that seemed genuine. However, the chips would not contain any information when scanned,' he said. On top of immigration offences, the suspects will be also investigated for money laundering. 'We are checking bank transactions of both suspects. We believe they garnered big profits from this operation,' he said.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Barnama
Father And Son Arrested Over Fake Immigration Document Racket In Chow Kit
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- A father and son have been arrested for allegedly running a document forgery syndicate out of a watch and photograph shop in Chow Kit, producing fake immigration credentials for foreign nationals. Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the local pair, aged 60 and 34, were detained around 7 pm on Tuesday during a raid known as 'Op Serkap', following a month-long surveillance operation and public tip-offs. The suspects are accused of offering falsified Temporary Employment Visit Passes (e-PLKS), altered immigration i-Kads and counterfeit cards from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Clients reportedly placed orders via WhatsApp, submitted details and paid online or in cash. Each document costs between RM60 and RM140 and could be completed within a day. 'The shop's location in a busy area popular with migrant workers helped the syndicate attract clients, including those from outside the Klang Valley, through a network of agents who may also have been deceived,' he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration headquarters today. Officers seized a desktop computer, a high-tech card printer capable of producing hologram stickers, closed-circuit television (CCTV) equipment, RM4,000 in cash and roughly 50 counterfeit documents. These included fake PLKS slips, CIDB cards and identity cards resembling Malaysia's MyKad and MyKid, which are typically issued by the National Registration Department (JPN). 'This is a serious offence that poses a national security risk, as these documents could allow individuals to enter and work in the country illegally,' Wan Mohammed Saupee said. The suspects are being investigated under Sections 55D and 56(1)(i) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. One of the men has a previous immigration offence on record.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Father and son arrested over fake immigration document racket in Chow Kit
KUALA LUMPUR: A father and son have been arrested for allegedly running a document forgery syndicate out of a watch and photograph shop in Chow Kit, producing fake immigration credentials for foreign nationals. Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the local pair, aged 60 and 34, were detained around 7 pm on Tuesday during a raid known as 'Op Serkap', following a month-long surveillance operation and public tip-offs. The suspects are accused of offering falsified Temporary Employment Visit Passes (e-PLKS), altered immigration i-Kads and counterfeit cards from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Clients reportedly placed orders via WhatsApp, submitted details and paid online or in cash. Each document costs between RM60 and RM140 and could be completed within a day. 'The shop's location in a busy area popular with migrant workers helped the syndicate attract clients, including those from outside the Klang Valley, through a network of agents who may also have been deceived,' he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration headquarters today. Officers seized a desktop computer, a high-tech card printer capable of producing hologram stickers, closed-circuit television (CCTV) equipment, RM4,000 in cash and roughly 50 counterfeit documents. These included fake PLKS slips, CIDB cards and identity cards resembling Malaysia's MyKad and MyKid, which are typically issued by the National Registration Department (JPN). 'This is a serious offence that poses a national security risk, as these documents could allow individuals to enter and work in the country illegally,' Wan Mohammed Saupee said. The suspects are being investigated under Sections 55D and 56(1)(i) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. One of the men has a previous immigration offence on record. Between January and May 20, the department conducted 272 operations across Kuala Lumpur, screening 3,587 individuals and arresting 1,789 undocumented migrants, according to Wan Mohammed Saupee. He said authorities also detained 68 employers and opened 1,551 investigation papers, collecting RM4.59 million in compound fines, primarily for employing undocumented workers and abusing immigration passes. The department has also received 96 applications under the relaunched Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0), which allows undocumented migrants to return to their home countries voluntarily, he added. The initiative, which resumed on Monday, has so far collected RM37,920 in fines and processing fees.
