SAICA : Tender process for the tough-minded
Speaking of transparency in the same sentence as tendering to government; surely not? Chartered accountant [CA(SA)] Julius Mojapelo, Senior Executive for the Public Sector, at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) sets the record straight.
There are many Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) doing honest deals with government, through a legal, transparent process of procurement and Tendering.
But the truth is that by far the majority of SMMEs steer well clear of government even though BBBEE and tendering rules favour them. As important as it is for tender processes to be above board for SMMEs who find these processes onerous enough, SMMEs generally don’t look for business from Government at any level for a much more critical (to them) reason. They do not on average get paid on time by public institutions.
And as a result, over 80% of SMMEs don’t do business with government at any level.
This was among the findings of the 2024 SMME Insights Survey conducted by SAICA.
The SMME Insights Survey is a substantive study, which has been conducted annually since 2014. The average turnover of these enterprises is R10.9 million, with a third employing between six and 49 people. These companies are, according to the National Development Plan, the country’s only hope of reducing unemployment and poverty and of boosting our failing levels of gross domestic product.
Among the survey’s critical conclusions is that SMMEs (and by extension our country) could flourish if the tender process was simplified and made more transparent, and if government and big business paid their accounts on or before 30 days.
Public finance management capacity building
In the light of the low uptake by SMMEs in tendering for government contracts and the often bemoaned slow payment by government it is heartening to learn that SAICA is working with government to improve public finance management capacity.
But what, exactly, is being done?
“Providing public finance management capacity building support is a priority at SAICA,” says Mojapelo. “This involves collaboration with public sector institutions to help them improve financial management systems and processes to ensure sustainable service delivery.” Paying SMMEs on time would be one of the outcomes.
“SAICA is also educating SMMEs and SAICA members who interact with SMMEs on the process of doing business with government. This makes it easier for SMMEs to tender for contracts.”
But with slow payment by government a concern for many SMMEs is Mojapelo optimistic about a turnaround? “I see signs of government’s commitment to turning the situation around, through recent legislation and measures,” he confides.
“Among them,” explains Mojapelo, “Treasury Regulations 8.2.3 states that, unless determined otherwise in a contract or other agreement, all payments due to creditors must be settled within 30 days from receipt of an invoice or, in the case of civil claims, from the date of settlement or court judgement.”
“Specifically; these measures include establishing a dedicated call centre within National Treasury to assist institutions and affected suppliers in resolving non-payment of suppliers/creditors appointed through the supply chain management process.”
Tellingly, National Treasury will provide quarterly reports to parliament regarding the non-payment of creditors within 30 days, and make the reports public.
While this is a step in the right direction, SMMEs remain unconvinced about doing business with government. The proof of the pudding it seems will only emerge in the eating.
Facilitating payment of long standing government debtors
Mojapelo sympathises with the plight of SMMEs, struggling to get payment from government.
“The Small Enterprise Development Agency payment assistance hotline is a very important platform that SMMEs can use to facilitate payment of long outstanding payments from public sector institutions (www.seda-smme.co.za),” says Mojapelo.
And current legislation protects SMMEs in instances of slow payment.
“Should entities fail to comply with the 30 days payment terms, this will result in non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and Treasury Regulations,” explains Mojapelo.
In the words of Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Small Business Development in a budget speech earlier this year, “National Treasury has gazetted the revised Preferential Procurement Regulations in January 2024, which encourages Government and its entities to procure at least 30% of goods and services from SMMEs and Cooperatives.”
But, as the Minister observed, “The contribution of SMMEs to the South African economy is far below its potential.”
“According to the Quarterly Financial Statistics Report, the private sector earned a total of R2.3 trillion in the last quarter of 2024. Large businesses…contributed 60% to this total, followed by small and medium businesses at 40%.”
“We need to do better and match the global average which shows that small businesses share higher levels of participation in various economies. This is possible if we heed the President’s directive to set aside 30% of government procurement budget of around R600 billion towards SMMEs and Cooperatives.”
SMMEs might be tempted to reply to Minister Zulu that “the contribution of government to encourage SMME involvement by paying its bills on time is also far below its potential.” The ball, it seems, is firmly in government’s court. There is no chicken and egg situation here. If government pays on time SMMEs will engage in droves.
The continued growth of SMMEs rests on government’s commitment to delivering on tender and payment policy. Everyone’s a winner when we create jobs through transparent tenders, fairly awarded, and where work is paid on time.
SMMEs wanting to report slow payment by government may call 0860 766 3729.
About SAICA:
The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa’s pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes. The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 40 000 members who are chartered accountants [CAs(SA)] and hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in their spheres of business operation. Most of these members operate in commerce and industry, and play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.
SAICA Media Contact:
Kulani Irish Chauke
Coordinator: Corporate Communications
SAICA Brand Division
Tel: 011 479 0698
Email: kulanic@saica.co.za
SAICA Subject Matter Specialist:
Julius Mojapelo
Senior Executive: Public Sector
SAICA Standards Division
Tel: 011 621 6738
Email: willieb@saica.co.za
Jeanne Viljoen
Project Director: Small Medium Practice
SAICA Standards Division
Tel: 011 621 6688
Email: ThinusP@saica.co.za