The African National Congress (ANC) has committed itself in its election manifesto to ensuring that at least 75% of government procurement takes place with local suppliers and producers. This would apply to the purchases of larger state-owned companies such as Transnet and Eskom.
The pledge is part of the ruling party’s job creation programme, which aims to create 6-million jobs over the next five years.
“Among [the ANC’s] job creation programmes is the promotion of local manufacturing and procurement. […] The state must buy at least 75% of its goods and services from South African producers. The state’s buying power will support small enterprises, cooperatives and broad-based black economic empowerment,” said President Jacob Zuma, speaking at the 2014 election manifesto’s launch.
Further, he outlined measures to tackle corruption, including a ban on the bidding of public officials and representatives for public contracts and the creation of a central tender board.
“We have stated that we will intensify the fight against corruption and that public servants and public representatives will be prohibited from doing business with the state.”
To further prevent corruption, tender processes will be centralised under a central tender board, said Zuma.
“We will thus pursue action against companies involved in bid-rigging, price fixing and corruption in past and current infrastructure build programmes.
“We will do this using the competition authorities, through taking up civil claims, and calling on the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate criminally-liable behaviour.”
