Armscor: inclusion of women and youth-led enterprises

By Armscor - March 29, 2026

This Supplier Day forms part of an ongoing effort by Armscor, in partnership with WIDSA and AMD, to transform the industry, ensure transparency, and support small and medium enterprises, specifically those that were previously excluded from the mainstream
A panel, made up of experts within public and private sectors, discussed ways to address challenges faced by women and youth-led enterprises.
The event brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, and the private sector.

The Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), in partnership with the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industry Association (AMD) and Women in Defence South Africa (WIDSA), hosted a Supplier Information Day today, 26 March 2026, at the ACSA International Indaba Conference Centre, Kempton Park.

This gathering, under the theme “From Participation to Prosperity: Unlocking Opportunity, Advancing Capability for Sustainable Growth,” seeks to empower women and youth-owned enterprises within the defence industry. The event brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, and the private sector to promote and advance inclusive economic participation within the South African defence sector.

In her opening remarks, the Deputy Chairperson of the Armscor Board, Ms Margaret Ndlovu, highlighted the need for the defence sector to be inclusive and intentional in paving the way towards sustainable growth. “As Armscor, we carry a critical mandate as the acquisition agency of the Department of Defence. This responsibility extends beyond procurement. It encompasses the deliberate development of a resilient, innovative, and transformed defence industrial base. Central to this is our commitment to empowering previously underrepresented groups to take their rightful place within this strategic sector,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga, underscored the importance of transforming participation into meaningful economic empowerment. “Today’s theme, 'From Participation to Prosperity – Unlocking Opportunity, Advancing Capability for Sustainable Growth,' is both timely and necessary. It recognises that participation alone is not enough. True transformation is realised only when participation translates into shared prosperity, when opportunity leads to capability and capability leads to long-term sustainability,” she said.

A panel, made up of experts within public and private sectors, discussed ways to address challenges faced by women and youth-led enterprises. This included access to funding, supply chain management processes, and support interventions available.

“For far too long, women and young people have faced systemic barriers to entry in sectors such as defence; barriers that are structural, financial and, at times, cultural. We must acknowledge this reality with honesty, but also confront it with deliberate action. It will require all of us to play our part in addressing the injustices of our past,” emphasised Minister Motshekga.

This Supplier Day forms part of an ongoing effort by Armscor, in partnership with WIDSA and AMD, to transform the industry, ensure transparency, and support small and medium enterprises, specifically those that were previously excluded from the mainstream economy.

In closing, the need to turn dialogue into action was emphasised. “As a government, we remain committed to creating an enabling policy environment that supports these objectives. We will continue to work closely with entities such as Armscor, WIDSA and AMD to ensure that transformation is not an abstract ideal, but a measurable outcome. We must also recognise that sustainable growth requires more than compliance. It requires a shared vision—a vision where transformation and excellence are mutually reinforcing. A vision where inclusion strengthens capability and where capability drives competitiveness,” concluded Minister Motshekga.