Tenderpreneur
Encyclopedia
Tenderpreneur is a South African term used to describe a government official or politician who uses their powers and influence to secure government tenders and contracts. The word is a portmanteau of "tendering" and "entrepreneur
." Some commentators believe that this practice might give rise to a cleptocracy as a deviant mutation of a democracy if left unchecked. In this regard a cleptocracy is defined at the condition arising when a political elite manipulate the three arms of government (legislature, executive and judiciary) with the intention of capturing resources that will enrich that elite, a general phenomenon known as elite capture.
The Star
, a South African newspaper describes a tenderpreneur as "someone politically well-connected who has got rich through the government tendering system". In January 2010, South African Communist Party
leader Blade Nzimande
called for transparency in the awarding of tenders, saying "let's be bold, let's go and promote small entrepreneurs and defeat tenderpreneurs, those who steal."
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
." Some commentators believe that this practice might give rise to a cleptocracy as a deviant mutation of a democracy if left unchecked. In this regard a cleptocracy is defined at the condition arising when a political elite manipulate the three arms of government (legislature, executive and judiciary) with the intention of capturing resources that will enrich that elite, a general phenomenon known as elite capture.
The Star
The Star (South Africa)
The Star is a daily newspaper based in Gauteng, South Africa. It has a readership of 840 000 and is owned by Independent News & Media. It gained worldwide attention in 2006 when it published survey results according to which about twenty percent of South African men have raped a woman in...
, a South African newspaper describes a tenderpreneur as "someone politically well-connected who has got rich through the government tendering system". In January 2010, South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
leader Blade Nzimande
Blade Nzimande
Dr Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande is a South African politician who has been Minister for Higher Education and Training since 2009.He has been the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party since 1998...
called for transparency in the awarding of tenders, saying "let's be bold, let's go and promote small entrepreneurs and defeat tenderpreneurs, those who steal."