New IRR report on value-for-money common ground between parties

South Africans are entitled to local government that treats public money with care and buys the best goods and services it can for every rand spent.

The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) will publish a short report showing the value-for-money common ground between the major parties. This presents an opportunity for political parties in hung councils across the country to put politics aside and work towards serving the interests of residents.

Parties are challenged to declare:

What, if any, value-for-money commitment they have made, and

How they aim to achieve their value-for-money goals.

The report, authored by IRR researcher Chris Patterson, argues that parties are broadly aligned on the problems facing municipalities, and have proposed solutions to them.

Patterson says: "The report illustrates that the major political parties share a common goal in achieving value for money. Voters across the country live with the real consequences of the failure to achieve value-for-money spending – in the potholes scarring roads, not being sure the lights will come on, and having to drink store-bought water because the taps have run dry."

The public's desire for effective, efficient and economical spending is paramount.

IRR polling shows that 8 in 10 South Africans want government to procure goods and services on a value-for-money basis.

Date: Thursday 12 November 2026

Time: 10:00

Speakers:

John Endres, IRR CEO

Hermann Pretorius, IRR Head of Strategic Communications

Ofentse Donald Davhie, CRA Research Associate

Terence Corrigan, IRR Projects and Publications Manager

Register for the webinar: https://streamyard.com/watch/CXQ5TUKi8EBX

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