MAKE PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT VISIBLE

Procurement costs can be reduced by migrating to a policy of value for money procurement. This can be promoted by the following steps:

1) The estimated total cost of preferential procurement premiums, based on the transparency report, should be indicated as a separate item in the budget. This will empower councillors to make a more informed vote on the budget.

2) The city should perform a referendum under its ratepayers to determine public support for preferential procurement.

3) The city could choose BEE weightings that predominantly benefit Cape Town residents instead of arbitrary biological attributes. Since this might clash with national legislation that mandates preferential procurement, CoCT should collaborate with civic organizations that have specialized litigation units that successfully challenge preferential procurement. Since there is also international opposition to the preferential procurement such parties could be approached to assist with the funding of litigation and applying pressure through international trade organisations.