The University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) is set to convene a major national colloquium aimed at unpacking South Africa’s sweeping public procurement reforms, amid growing debate over transparency, governance and economic transformation in state spending.
The high-level Public Procurement Policy Colloquium will take place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on Wednesday, bringing together government leaders, state-owned entities, business organisations, academics and small enterprises to discuss the implications of the draft General Public Procurement Regulations 2026.
Hosted by the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, the event comes at a critical moment as South Africa prepares to implement reforms linked to the Public Procurement Act 2024 — legislation expected to significantly reshape how procurement is managed across national, provincial and local government, as well as state-owned companies.
Public procurement represents one of government’s biggest economic instruments, involving hundreds of billions of rand annually in infrastructure projects, service delivery programmes and supplier contracts. It is reported that the reforms could have far-reaching consequences for accountability, empowerment, infrastructure development and economic inclusion.
The SBL said the colloquium seeks to create a platform for robust engagement on how procurement can be used more effectively as a developmental tool while remaining constitutionally compliant and resistant to corruption.
Backed by the University of South Africa’s 150-year academic legacy, the SBL said it intends to bridge the gap between scholarship, governance and economic policy through evidence-based dialogue.
The discussions are expected to focus on what organisers describe as the “triple PFMA environment” — public finance management, procurement governance and regulatory instruments — with participants expected to interrogate implementation challenges and governance risks associated with the new framework.
Expected attendees include senior government officials, procurement authorities, organised business formations, academics and SMMEs. Business groups such as Business Unity South Africa, the Black Business Council and the Black Management Forum are also expected to participate.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Gwen Ramokgopa are among the senior leaders expected to engage with stakeholders on procurement reform and economic governance.
The colloquium is expected to examine how the draft regulations could affect transformation objectives, supplier development and localisation, while also exploring ways to professionalise procurement systems and improve public sector efficiency.
According to the organisers, discussions will also address the meaningful participation of historically disadvantaged groups and small businesses in state procurement processes, an issue that has remained contentious in South Africa’s democratic era.
Procurement reform has increasingly become a focal point in national policy debates, particularly following years of allegations of corruption, inflated contracts and governance failures linked to state procurement systems. Experts have long argued that weak oversight and inconsistent procurement practices have undermined service delivery and public trust.
The SBL said it intends to table constructive proposals during the colloquium aimed at strengthening governance mechanisms and improving oversight within procurement systems.
Among the proposals expected to be discussed are measures to modernise procurement evaluation criteria, embed stronger risk management systems and introduce more sustainable and gender-responsive procurement approaches.
Organisers say the broader objective is to ensure procurement becomes a strategic instrument capable of supporting infrastructure development, economic growth and social transformation, while remaining aligned with Section 217 of the Constitution, which requires public procurement systems to be fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
The event also seeks to encourage closer cooperation between government and the private sector in implementing procurement reforms effectively.
Observers say the success of the reforms will ultimately depend not only on the quality of legislation but also on the state’s capacity to implement the changes consistently across institutions.
The colloquium is expected to generate policy recommendations that could contribute to refining the draft regulations before they are fully implemented.
For the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, the gathering represents an opportunity to position academia as a key contributor to public sector reform and national development.
The event will run from 08:30 to 17:00 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, with members of the media invited to attend and cover the discussions.
