To enhance the openness and transparency of provincial procurement processes, the Gauteng Provincial Treasury and the Department of Transport have agreed to pilot an open process around selected tenders in this financial year.

The process will involve supporting bidders to comply with documentary requirements prior to the deadline for the tender; screening those sitting in the departmental acquisition committees for possible conflicts of interest; publicising companies that  bid for these tenders, introducing independent compliance audits of the evaluation processes prior to the awarding of tenders and publicising who has won these tenders.

The purpose of this pilot exercise is to develop a model for open tendering by Gauteng provincial government departments that will be taken to the provincial Executive Council for consideration and adoption.

“We have to reassure citizens of efforts placed towards a clean and transparent government. No citizen has to doubt the integrity of the state in the administration of tenders and whether those contracted for projects are qualified to implement and complete the work they are contracted for and that the tendering process is open and fair,” said MEC for Finance Barbara Creecy.

Creecy expects her officials to tackle the late payment of service providers with renewed vigour. Last week she met all officials responsible for processing of supplier payments both in the Gauteng Department of Finance and Gauteng Provincial Treasury to devise a plan to eradicate this challenge in the province.

“Firstly we are setting up an electronic platform that can be accessed by all current and prospective Gauteng provincial government suppliers to send invoices directly and communicate with us about non-payments. Secondly we will improve on our existing invoice and payment tracking system to identify and elevate problem areas for rapid decision making and thirdly we will work with departments on further simplifying their payment and approval processes,” Creecy explained.