BBC talked to Ramaphosa about 'Zondo commission regulations' before Sona

New regulations will help end tender irregularities

- By Mpho Sibanyoni

The Black Business Council (BBC) says it directly complained to President Cyril Ramaphosa before he announced that the Public Procurement Act regulations would be finalised in the middle of this year.

The finalisation and gazetting of the regulations will give the procurement law enforcement powers to deal with elements that have been rigging the tender system.

According to the federation that represents black businesses, the point of contention when they met Ramaphosa recently at his official residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, was that the regulations were taking too long to finalise. Their concern came after the president signed the Public Procurement Act in July 2024, but it has not yet been gazetted.

This lengthy turnaround time rendered the law, a product of the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, impotent.

Once the legislation is enacted, it will be illegal to direct government officials to violate the required procurement processes. The act also protects officials from being victimised or suffering “occupational detriment” for reporting unlawful instructions.