The Sourcefin Brief week ending 19 October 2026
Ekurhuleni has the go-ahead to buy 2,400MW of new power. The work sits with the producers building the plants, so here is how SMMEs get on their call list.
On this page
- Ekurhuleni gets the go-ahead to buy 2,400MW of new power – here’s where the work is
- Why most small businesses get rejected for funding (the answer isn’t what you’d expect)
- How Chuck Chilli went from 24 jars of homemade relish to national retail shelves
- Funding conditions
- Tender radar
- New on Sourcefin’s Knowledge Hub
- Tip of the week
- This week’s case
- Built for the SMME journey
Ekurhuleni can now buy 2,400MW from private producers, so SMMEs should target the firms building the plants. This week’s Brief covers funding conditions, open tenders on the radar, new Knowledge Hub articles, a tip of the week and a worked example of Sourcefin funding.
This week’s theme
Ekurhuleni gets the go-ahead to buy 2,400MW of new power – here’s where the work is
What was approved on 19 October
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced a Ministerial Determination that lets the City of Ekurhuleni buy about 2,400MW of new generation capacity from independent power producers. The plan mixes solar, natural gas, waste-to-energy and newer technologies. Most of the solar, 1,137MW of it, is embedded generation inside Ekurhuleni itself. The minister says the programme won’t use municipal funds. It is expected to attract billions of rand in private investment, and that money has to be spent on building something.
Sources: SAnews · EWN · Jacaranda FM
Your customer is the producer, not the city
This isn’t a fresh tender. Ekurhuleni has been building its power programme since 2017, and more than 75 independent power producers have already been appointed. The determination gives them the certainty to move towards construction, subject to their remaining project-specific requirements. Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza says the city is working towards sod turning on some projects before the end of this week. The first phases are due online in 2027, with full capacity by 2030. So most of the buying over the next few years sits with the producers and the firms building their plants, not with the city.
Sources: Jacaranda FM · The Citizen · EWN · SAnews
Wednesday: the mini budget
One more date for your diary. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, 21 October, at 14:00. If you sell to government, listen for two things: any change to infrastructure spending, and any change to the money that flows to provinces and municipalities. Those are the earliest signals of where public work is heading next year. Make a note of what moves in your sector, because it should shape where you spend bid time in the months ahead.
Sources: The Presidency · Parliament of South Africa
What to do next: This week, watch for the first Ekurhuleni projects to break ground and note who is building them – that is your call list. Then send each one a one-page capability statement for the packages you can deliver, such as electrical installation, civil works, fencing, security or transport. When a subcontract order comes through, Purchase Order Financing (POF) can pay your supplier so you start on time.
Why most small businesses get rejected for funding (the answer isn’t what you’d expect)
Jedd Harris maps the five business problems funding is meant to solve, and shows how to match yours to the right tool before you apply.
How Chuck Chilli went from 24 jars of homemade relish to national retail shelves
From 24 jars shared at the office to a 35,000-unit Pick n Pay order – and the Purchase Order Financing (POF) that got it produced and delivered.
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Funding conditions
What the market looks like this week
Yahoo Finance · 20 Oct 2026, 08:25 CAT
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Tender radar
Open tenders relevant to your business
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Specialised construction activities
Lubricants Supply and Delivery - 36 Months
Johannesburg Water · Gauteng · Closes 23 October 2026
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Supplies: Electrical Equipment
Supply of Data Concentrator G3-PLC/GSM
ESKOM · Gauteng · Closes 23 October 2026
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Services: Functional (Including Cleaning and Security Services)
Cleaning Services for City-Owned Buildings
City of Tshwane · Gauteng · Closes 23 October 2026
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Other service activities
Transcription Services for 36 Months
Defence · Gauteng · Closes 23 October 2026
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Supplies: Computer Equipment
Provision of ICT Peripherals and Devices for 3 Years
Council for Geoscience · Gauteng · Closes 23 October 2026
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Supplies: Medical
Supply and Delivery of Optical Assistive Devices for Health Institutions
Gauteng - Health · Gauteng · Closes 23 October 2026
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Supplies: Clothing/Textiles/Footwear
PPE Supply and Delivery for Water Sanitation Personnel
Victor Khanye Local Municipality · Mpumalanga · Closes 23 October 2026
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Supplies: Clothing/Textiles/Footwear
Supply and Delivery of PPE for Emalahleni Local Municipality
Emalahleni Local Municipality · Mpumalanga · Closes 23 October 2026
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New on Sourcefin’s Knowledge Hub
Top picks from this week’s articles
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2026-10-07
How FNB purchase order financing works, from referral to delivery
The five stages of FNB purchase order financing, from the Relationship Manager referral through assessment and funding to delivery and repayment.
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2026-10-08
NEF funding in South Africa: what it takes to qualify
What the NEF looks for, the deal sizes it considers and how long a decision actually takes.
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2026-10-14
FNB purchase order financing eligibility: who actually qualifies
What Sourcefin assesses when an FNB referral arrives: the four questions behind purchase order financing eligibility, and what does not disqualify you.
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Tip of the week
Build a funding folder before you need it: latest financials, six months of bank statements, company documents, your tax compliance PIN and every confirmed order, all in one place.
When an order lands, every day spent chasing paperwork is a day off your delivery window. A complete folder lets a funder start assessing straight away.
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This week’s case
Sourcefin funding · Deal size: R2.4m
Electrical subcontractor lands a solar installation package but can’t fund the cable order
A Gauteng electrical contractor won a subcontract to install cabling and mounting structures on a commercial solar project. The main contractor’s purchase order was confirmed, but the cable, isolators and mounting rails had to be paid for before work could start. With Purchase Order Financing (POF), the funder paid the supplier directly against the confirmed order. The team started on schedule, and the finished installation became the reference for its next bid.
This is a fictional illustration of how Sourcefin’s products are typically used. Names and figures are not real.
Built for the SMME journey
Sourcefin exists to help South African business owners deliver on confirmed work. By funding purchase orders directly at the supply stage, we help keep working capital intact so you can build your business one contract at a time.
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Sourcefin is a South African alternative finance provider that offers purchase order funding and invoice discounting to SMMEs, enabling businesses to fulfil confirmed purchase orders or tenders and unlock cash flow without collateral. Unlike traditional lenders or banks, Sourcefin also provides end-to-end support including supplier sourcing, logistics, project management, and risk oversight.
