This year’s 18th annual Smart Procurement World Indaba, which takes place in Gauteng from 9 to 12 September 2024, is one of the most important ever, according to the organisers. It comes hot on the heels of the signing into law of the Public Procurement Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Around 600 procurement professionals are expected to attend the event to learn, network and explore issues that include this long-awaited legislation.

Still to be gazetted and come into force, the Act is currently the subject of intense debate, with procurement professionals and legal experts questioning whether it represents a groundbreaking step forward for public procurement and an end to state capture or a looming catastrophe and more corruption. The constitutionality of the Public Procurement Act is currently the subject of a challenge by the City of Cape Town.

Professor Geo Quinot, founding director of the African Procurement Law Unit and Professor of Law at Stellenbosch University, contends that the promulgation of the Public Procurement Act is “a momentous occasion in South African procurement law, despite the fact that there are still a number of outstanding questions that must be resolved, and a lot of work still to be done before the act can be fully implemented, not the least of which is the creation of extensive regulations to give content to the system”.

“Our unit has facilitated extensive and intense debate on the draft Bill and then on the Bill and now the Act at a series of national workshops since February last year, so we've been very active in our critical engagement with the important law reform,” he says. Quinot is one of the esteemed speakers on the programme for this year’s Smart Procurement World Indaba and in his not to be missed session, he will share his insights and discuss the impact of the Public Procurement Act. Quinot will explore how procurement can adapt to changes in the supply chain management environment and the new legislation's effects on public sector operations. He will also explain how public procurement institutions should prepare to implement this new legislative framework.

The Smart Procurement World Indaba is South Africa’s largest, longest-standing event for procurement and inbound supply chain professionals. Its theme this year is “The DNA of Procurement”. Smart Procurement chief operating officer Debbie Tagg elaborates: “Attendees can expect to uncover the intricacies that define procurement’s genetic makeup at the 2024 indaba. The event will explore the interconnected strands that shape every procurement decision, transaction and relationship. Just as the DNA carries the genetic information that shapes living organisms, the DNA of procurement intricately weaves through every aspect of the supply chain, determining its structure, resilience and ultimate success.”

The Sustainability Summit Africa is an important co-located event at this year’s indaba. It takes place on 10 September 2024. “With an increasingly intense worldwide focus on sustainable procurement, we recognise the importance of having this crucial topic up front and centre at our industry’s premier gathering,” Tagg states. The summit features local and international experts who will address the critical role played by supply chain and procurement professionals not just in achieving environmental goals, but also in ensuring the longevity of small businesses and the economic stability of organisations, communities and regions. Sustainable procurement examines how procurement affects the environment, society and the economy. An exciting new feature at this year’s fourth Sustainability Summit Africa is “The Green Zone”, which features a range of solutions across alternative energy sources, eco-friendly products and waste reduction strategies. “It will provide attendees with valuable insights into the latest sustainable practices. Solutions providers will have the opportunity to showcase their companies’ products and services to a highly targeted audience of purchasing managers who are actively seeking sustainable procurement solutions for their organisations,” Tagg explains.

The annual APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) SA Conference is a guest conference at the 2024 Smart Procurement World Indaba. Taking place on 10 September 2024, APMP SA is Africa’s largest in-person education and networking event for bid, proposal, tender, capture, business development and graphics professionals.

This year’s Smart Procurement World Indaba event partners are Ecovadis, Market dojo, Solu Growth PSA, Spend HQ, Zycus and Heineken.