To ensure equal and fair opportunities for vendors and effective supplier management, the City of Tshwane introduced its online procurement system last week.
The launch of Tshwane's e-procurement system follows president Jacob Zuma's directive earlier this year that all government departments will be compelled to advertise tenders online.
To curb corruption and eliminate duplication, government and National Treasury have enforced the mandatory use of online systems for tenders to ensure procurement transparency.
According to a statement, the city's e-procurement value chain will consist of e-tender and e-procurement management.
Bongani Mntambo, Tshwane's acting executive director for supply chain management, said the online system is one of the city's initiatives to incorporate best practices to improve its governance and compliance around tendering and procurement processes.
The e-procurement system will help to eliminate human intervention, corruption and City of Tshwane employees who try to do business with the city, said Mntambo.
"The e-procurement system goes beyond being digital. It's an electronic filing system leaving a trail for all transactions. The City of Tshwane is transitioning to a paperless environment, thus all inefficiency goes away," explained MMC for economic development in the City of Tshwane, Subesh Pillay.
The system has also been designed to streamline interactions between vendors and the city when procuring goods and services. It will provide a user-friendly, online service where vendors can register their companies and services.
The e-procurement system will not only enable suppliers to view tenders online but also provide quotations, express and register their interest, request information and submit proposals.
The city has invited prospective suppliers of goods and services to register their companies via the new portal, while existing suppliers are required to check and update their records and upload B-BBEE certificates and other relevant documents.
Once registration is complete, an e-mail verifying vendor status will be sent as confirmation. Prospective and existing suppliers will be able to access the e-procurement portal via the city's Web site starting next month.
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