Hundreds of municipal and government officials and other stakeholders met to learn, share knowledge and network at the 12th annual Western Cape Procurement Conference, which was hosted by the Western Cape Government in partnership with Reside Summit and Smart Procurement World.

The 580 delegates from the Western Cape and across South Africa included procurement professionals, engineers, economists, infrastructure investors and asset managers. The event was held under the theme “Blueprint to Impact: Creating a Legacy of Growth”. The programme was geared towards catalysing action from blueprint to lasting impact.

In his informative address, Tertius Simmers, the Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, reminded delegates of the province’s bold commitment made two years ago: to transform infrastructure from a static concept of roads, bricks and buildings into a dynamic lever for dignity, development and economic mobility. “Infrastructure must do more than serve the present - it must liberate and shape the future,” the Minister said. “Together as partners, we must design and deliver infrastructure that is climate-resilient, socially relevant and inclusive of women, youth and the historically marginalised.”

At the heart of this commitment lies the Western Cape Infrastructure Framework 2050, a long-term, data-driven blueprint to deliver sustainable, equitable infrastructure that unlocks access to jobs, markets, healthcare, education and energy security, he explained. This framework is supported by the Western Cape Infrastructure Strategy and Implementation Plan, which is translating vision into tangible action.

The province’s infrastructure pipeline - now valued at R119 billion - is undergoing continuous refinement to ensure bankability, investor readiness and impact at scale, Simmers said. A new Infrastructure-as-a-Service virtual platform is also being piloted to streamline project evaluation and enable smart, collaborative planning across sectors and regions.

The Minister noted that his priorities are to accelerate delivery, unlock funding, build strategic alliances and invest in skills and innovation. He stressed that the focus must be on new models of delivery, from alternative building methods and smart technologies to public-private partnerships and cross-sector skills development.

Another important session at this year’s conference was an update on innovations in the Department of Health, presented by Simon Kaye, Deputy Director General, Corporate Support Services, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness. He reported that a robust electronic procurement (ePS) foundation and fully featured asset-scan model now drive comprehensive, real-time asset visibility across the province. By strengthening security and automating workflows, the department has paved the way for reliable, self-service analytics, Kaye said. In addition, a strategic shift to SQL (Structured Query Language) and rigorous data governance has enabled seamless, real-time analytics and empowered users with on-demand insights.

The conference closed with a powerful session that explored the role of strategic sourcing in empowering communities, creating economic opportunities and contributing to prosperity. This was presented by Santie Roy, Director of Local Government Supply Chain Management in the Western Cape Government’s Provincial Treasury.

This year’s conference attendees praised the high-level engagement and actionable insights. “I enjoyed the notion that procurement should move towards the future - not only to enhance service delivery but in a way that makes it more efficient and effective in improving the lives of the people the service is delivered to,” commented Gavin Peters from Cederberg Municipality.

“It was an absolute honour to participate in the 12th annual Western Cape Procurement Conference,” enthused Francini van Staden, whose role encompasses sustainability integration and reporting at the Western Cape Environmental Affairs Department. “Thank you for the opportunity and for once again organising such a wonderful event. This is an annual event that brings so much value to the community of practice.”

Ronald Mlalazi from Commerce Edge was delighted to witness the power of public procurement at the conference. He said that he was inspired by the Western Cape Government’s strategic intent to elevate public procurement and accelerate its ability to drive economic growth and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities.

The 12th annual Western Cape Procurement Conference was made possible through the support of event partners, including EY, Absa, ZYCUS, Addendum, Commerce Edge, OTpro, AVIS and Commerce Edge SA.