Thank you, Nicolas, and good afternoon everyone.

This event marks an important moment where South Africa joins thirty-nine other countries whose public procurement systems have also been evaluated using the MAPS international standard and universal tool.

The assessment of the procurement system was initiated by the National Treasury in 2023. The aim was to identify how the public procurement system can generate greater value for money for government, become more transparent and drive accountability.

The MAPS tool allows for benchmarking of our procurement systems against international practices and uses the outcomes to improve and strengthen the overall system.

I am thankful to the many stakeholders that participated in the assessment including development partners, organs of state, civil society, non-governmental organisations and others. The broad participation of stakeholders bodes well for the work that lies ahead to align our procurement system with international best practice.

The improvements in our procurement system are the core of enabling the public sector to deliver services economically, effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, the current system is fraught with inefficiencies that make it uneconomical, cumbersome and open to abuse.

The MAPS assessment will contribute to the government’s efforts to reform and modernise the public procurement system. The findings and recommendations will specifically be considered in the development of regulations to the Public Procurement Act as confirmed by the Minister in his recent Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.

Full speech attached.