Government e-tender portal to reduce bureaucracy

Getting the right information on a public sector tender should not be a routine process. Unfortunately, it is a hurdle one has to overcome before compiling piles of paperwork that is usually required.
Good news for businesses is that they will be able to access tender information, literally at their finger tips from their smart phones with effect from April this year. Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, revealed this in his 2015 national budget speech in Parliament.
Nene said:  “In close collaboration with the State Information Technology Agency, a central e-tender portal will be implemented from April this year.
“It will be compulsory that all tenders be advertised on this portal, and all tender documents will be freely available there. Tender advertisements in newspapers and the government gazette will be phased out.”
Above and beyond, apparently, in a move meant at eradicating rampant tender fraud, a central supplier database will be introduced. Under the system, suppliers will only be required to register once when they do business with the state. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden for business, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
On the convenience of the e-portal, Nene said: “The database will interface with SARS, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission and the payroll system. It will electronically verify a supplier’s tax and BEE status, and enable public sector officials doing business with the state to be identified. This intervention will also reduce the administrative burden for SCM practitioners and address many of the concerns raised by the Auditor-General every year.”
There are likely to be concerns on how people with limited or no internet access will utilise the facility.