KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance Francois Rodgers has welcomed the comprehensive engagement held with the Government of India on its Government e-Marketplace (GeM) -- a world-class digital public procurement platform designed to enhance transparency, efficiency and inclusivity in government procurement systems.
Rodgers noted the strong alignment between the principles underpinning the GeM platform and KwaZulu-Natal’s own efforts to modernise procurement through digital reform.
The GeM platform, which operates as a fully digital, rule-based and transparent procurement marketplace, has been instrumental in reducing human transactional interfaces, improving price determination, expanding supplier participation, particularly among small and emerging enterprises, and strengthening audit trails within public procurement processes.
Rodgers said KwaZulu-Natal Treasury is pursuing a similar vision through the implementation of the provincial digital procurement plan aimed at modernising procurement practices, strengthening financial governance, and curbing inefficiencies and opportunities for maladministration.
“The engagement with the Government of India confirms that KwaZulu-Natal is on the right path in its digital procurement reform journey. Digital procurement platforms are critical for building capable institutions, improving oversight, and restoring public trust in the management of public resources,” Rodgers said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the KwaZulu-Natal government remains open to learning, development and partnership with other governments and institutions that have successfully implemented innovative reforms in public financial management.
“We recognise that no government operates in isolation. There is value in learning from international best practice and adapting proven systems to strengthen service delivery outcomes and ensure value for money for our citizens,” he said.
The engagement forms part of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury’s broader commitment to advancing the vision of an ethical and capable State, where public finances are managed transparently and procurement systems directly support inclusive economic growth and improved service delivery.
Under Rodgers’ leadership, the department is expected to continue exploring collaborative opportunities, knowledge exchange platforms, and reform partnerships aimed at strengthening governance, accountability, and institutional capacity across the province. – SAnews.gov.za
