Finance and Economic Opportunities
- What are the details of (a) how the Pick n Pay Market Store Project was conceived, (b) the agreements made and targets set, (c) the evaluation reports that have been conducted now that her Department has exited the project;
- whether her Department can make available the (a) concept document and/or business case that were presented to it by Pick n Pay on this collaboration, (b) agreement signed by her Department and Pick n Pay outlining the partnership and the expectations of all the parties in the agreement and (c) close-out report?
(a) I am advised that:
- In 2016, Pick n Pay approached the Department to support its Market Store Programme, that was rolled out in Gauteng with the support of the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. After engaging with four other retailers and evaluating their responses, the Department decided to support the Pick n Pay Market Store Programme.
- In 2017, the Department supported two Market Stores through its partnership with the National Empowerment Fund (the Department first entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Empowerment Fund in 2012 to establish an Enterprise Development Fund for Western Cape businesses).
- In 2018, the Department through a direct agreement with the owner, co-funded a third Market Store.
- In 2019, an agreement was entered into between the Department and Pick n Pay for the support of up to 9 stores as part of the Pick n Pay Market Store programme.
(b) See 1(a). I am advised that the Department signed an agreement with Pick n Pay which entailed the activation of up to 9 Market Stores in 2019. The Department provided grant funding, managed by Pick n Pay, to assist with the establishment of the stores, including equipment and infrastructure. Reporting requirements in terms of the agreement included: a signed agreement for each business funded; list of businesses funded; amount of funds disbursed; interventions funded; utilisation of funds and balance of funds at the end of each quarter; bank statements.
(c) I am advised that a final evaluation report is being drafted by the Department which is engaging Pick ‘n Pay and the Market Stores to gather information.
(2)
- I am advised that the document contains proprietary information linked to the Market Stores and cannot be shared by the Department. A direct request should be made to Pick n Pay to acquire this information.
- I am advised that the proposal for support contains proprietary and personal information and given POPIA the full document cannot be made available by the Department. However, details outlining the partnership and expectations of all the parties, that do not violate POPIA, can be made available.
- I am advised that the close-out / final evaluation report is in process and therefore not yet available but can be made available once completed.
