Now or Never: It’s time to Create Real, Lasting Procurement Reform

Corruption Watch and the Public Affairs Research Institute call for decisive leadership and civil society collaboration in the drafting of South Africa's Public Procurement Bill. The authors argue that the pandemic-related corruption and the legacy of state capture highlight critical weaknesses in the current system, which requires a radical overhaul to ensure transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance.

• The authors assert that the current public procurement system contains significant weaknesses that not only allow but actively facilitate widespread corruption, as evidenced by the diversion of funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The draft Public Procurement Bill is identified as one of the most critical tools available to create a transparent and efficient procurement system that is insulated from corruption and supports sustainable, inclusive growth and social justice.
• The organizations express concern that the government lacks the necessary commitment, urgency, and focus regarding the legislative process, noting that the current policy formulation is not happening with appropriate speed or focus.
• To minimize corruption risks and ensure a transformative system, the authors argue for strong political will and a collaborative drafting process involving all stakeholders, including civil society, rather than a process driven solely by National Treasury.
• The organizations have proposed specific improvements to the Bill, including streamlining operations, limiting improper political interference, enhancing accountability and transparency, and providing support for whistle-blowers.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (2020). Now or Never: It’s time to Create Real, Lasting Procurement Reform. https://pari.org.za/now-or-never-its-time-to-create-real-lasting-procurement-reform/

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Now or Never: It’s time to Create Real, Lasting Procurement Reform. 2020. https://pari.org.za/now-or-never-its-time-to-create-real-lasting-procurement-reform/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Now or Never: It’s time to Create Real, Lasting Procurement Reform |date=1 September 2020 |url=https://pari.org.za/now-or-never-its-time-to-create-real-lasting-procurement-reform/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{publicaffairsresearchinstitute2020now, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Now or Never: It’s time to Create Real, Lasting Procurement Reform}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://pari.org.za/now-or-never-its-time-to-create-real-lasting-procurement-reform/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }