Where South Africa Stands on ESG in Municipal Procurement

Philip de Bruin, Managing Director at Business Engineering, gives an honest assessment of where municipalities stand across all three ESG pillars.

On social, frameworks for SME support, fair labour and skills development exist - but heavy reliance on imported consumables quietly undermines local objectives.

On environment, energy-efficient equipment is gaining traction but end-of-life disposal remains unresolved. His suggestion: a green scorecard modelled on B-BBEE, giving suppliers a clear, point-based target to work towards.

On governance, even with reforms improving financial standardisation, the system is not waterproof. Put a stop street in the road, and people will find a way around it.

All three pillars need to be tackled together - and local government procurement is where that work must begin.

* From Future Cities Africa webinar: Transparency, Accountability, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in Municipal Procurement Watch: https://futurecitiesafrica.com/webinar/74/transparency-accountability-and-environmental-social-and-governance-esg-in-municipal-procurement