Sakhile Mokoena

Sakhile Mokoena

Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla, pictured, has advised emerging black businesses to avoid fronting for established companies.

Speaking at a black economic empowerment conference in Nelspruit, Makwetla said fronting had resulted in the delivery of poor services.

"Some of these fronts have been notorious for their methods of acquiring business," Makwetla said.

He also said he was concerned about the slow growth and development of black businesses in the province.

Black businesses had not developed to build a reputation in the market place and had not acquired the latest technologies to compete with their white counterparts.

"We have always hoped that black business would graduate to a higher level," he said.

"However, blacks have not invested in the growth of their businesses, but allowed themselves to become fronts," Makwetla said.

"People want quality houses, clean water and reliable power supply, even if that is not delivered by a black-owned company," he added.