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Observe, record, report: Real-time citizen engagement with public procurement in South Africa

This paper, produced by Public Affairs Research Institute, explores how greater transparency and civil society participation can strengthen accountability in South Africa’s public procurement system. Drawing on local and international experience, it proposes three practical mechanisms: civic observers for high-value, high-risk procurement; community-level social audits; and open data standards that make procurement processes easier to monitor from tendering through to contract implementation. Aimed at public sector reformers and civil society organisations, the paper considers how these mechanisms could support the Public Procurement Act, 2024, while emphasising that practical improvements can begin under existing regulations.

The paper was produced as part of the SA-EU Dialogue – a partnership between National Treasury, GTAC, GIZ and the European Union which is focused on strengthening public procurement systems in South Africa.

To learn more about the project click here.