IRR asks major parties: Are you really committed to value for money?

The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has engaged the leaders of the ANC, DA, MK, EFF, IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA and the PA on the value-for-money commitments made in their manifestos in the lead up to the 4 November local government election.

Says IRR researcher Chris Patterson: “IRR polling shows that 8 in 10 South Africans want government to procure goods and services on a value-for-money basis. The public's appetite for the effective, efficient and economical spending of their money is front-of-mind in the light of failing local government."

The IRR has asked each party leader to sign – and publicly commit to – the 2026 Value for Money Contract, an undertaking founded on the IRR's #ValueForMoney Bill:

• Procurement should maximise whole-life value, considering quality, suitability, reliability, capability, risk and integrity;
• Competitive procurement should be the norm, with published evaluation methods and recorded reasons for exceptions; 
• Preference mechanisms should not displace maximum value;
• Procurement records should be digitally accessible, with reasoned awards and regular reporting, and 
• Suppliers should receive prompt payment through electronic invoicing.

Notably, the FF+ was the only party to meet the IRR's 13 October deadline to sign the 2026 Value for Money Contract.

While the IRR remains open to engaging parties on value-for-money service delivery, we are deeply concerned that transparency is being treated with such disdain less than four weeks before South Africans go to the polls to elect their councillors.

"South Africans deserve local governments who treat public money with care by buying the best goods and services they can for every rand spent," Patterson concludes.

Media contact:  Chris Patterson, IRR Researcher Tel: 063 682 5035 Email: chrisp@irr.org.za

Media enquiries: Michael Morris Tel: 066 302 1968 Email: michael@irr.org.za