South Africa is at a critical fiscal crossroads. Budget deficits are widening, debt service is consuming more public funds than ever and economic growth remains slow. But amid the pressure lies an opportunity to reform how the state spends its money and how public procurement supports real value, accountability and development. Recognising this, the organisers of the upcoming annual Smart Procurement World Indaba have announced a not to be missed public sector panel discussion featuring some of the country’s most influential Treasury leaders.

For procurement professionals across the public sector, it is vital to stay up to date on developments that will directly shape how you plan, buy and manage contracts, whether you work at a government department, municipality, SOE or state hospital, Smart Procurement stresses. At this year’s indaba, senior leaders from National Treasury and Provincial Treasuries will unpack the latest fiscal strategies, challenges and priorities, and what these mean for procurement teams across the country. If you work in or with public procurement, this is a conversation that you cannot afford to miss, says Smart Procurement CEO Debbie Tagg.

“This session offers rare and direct insights into the transition - driven by the new Public Procurement Act - from legislation to regulation, including how to ensure a coordinated and compliant rollout. It will explore whether our Treasuries are effectively fulfilling their custodian role as well as the practical challenges faced on the ground by public finance teams. Attendees can expect to leave with tools and guidance to strengthen their implementation programmes.

“One of the biggest questions on the agenda, and which this panel of senior leaders will examine, is how we unite and formalise a high-performance treasury team across all spheres of government.

“Public finance matters now more than ever,” Tagg asserts. “With debt nearing 78% of South Africa’s GDP, more of the budget goes to paying interest than funding hospitals, infrastructure or service delivery. The budget deficit is set to widen further, while public demand for services grows. Revenue targets are under pressure due to weak growth and policy rollbacks like the cancelled VAT increase. These constraints mean one thing: government must get more from every rand it spends. And that starts with procurement, which accounts for nearly 30% of total government expenditure.

“For too long, procurement has been seen as a compliance box to tick, but today, it must be a strategic lever to drive value for money in a tight fiscal environment; to prevent corruption and leakages in the system; to support local economic development and transformation; and to ensure faster, more efficient delivery of services.

“To do this, procurement professionals must understand how the public finance system works, and how National and Provincial Treasury priorities are shifting. As budgets tighten and scrutiny rises, the skills, insights and decisions of procurement professionals will increasingly determine whether public money achieves its intended purpose.”

This important session features five panellists: Isac Smith (Deputy Director General: Governance and Asset Management for the Western Cape Provincial Government), Owen Witbooi (Deputy Director General at the Gauteng Provincial Treasury), Walter Molelekwa (Senior Manager Asset Management at the Northern Cape Provincial Treasury), Betty Rakubu (Chief Director at Limpopo Provincial Treasury) and Mzuvikile Mququ, (Director: Supply Chain Management at Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury). It will be moderated by Ronald Mlalazi (Managing Director of Commerce Edge International).

“All government departments, municipalities and public entities are urged to attend - to hear directly from those shaping the regulatory landscape and leading the charge nationally and across our provinces,” Tagg concludes.

The Smart Procurement World Indaba is South Africa’s top conference for the procurement and inbound supply chain profession. This year’s 19th annual Smart Procurement World Indaba takes place in Johannesburg from 15 to 18 September 2025. The organisers expect more than 2 000 attendees from the private and public sector to attend.