PROCUREMENT OF LOCAL CONTENT GOODS IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT – DAVIES

PROCUREMENT OF LOCAL CONTENT GOODS IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT – DAVIES

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has said that the procurement of goods with local content is not just a recommendation for state entities but a legal requirement. He was speaking at the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, briefing held in Parliament today.

According to Davies, all organs of state are obligated to procure goods that are on the designated list and conform to local content requirements.

“Among the challenges we face are that some procurers do not know what is required of them. We are saying that procurement officers should go to people with local content verification to assist them,” he added.

Davies said the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) had appointed the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to serve as the Local Content Verification Agency, in September 2012 and the Local Content Verification Office officially launched in June 2013.

“The SABS has since published the approved South African Technical Specification (SATS 1286) for the measurement and verification of local content. These standards should therefore be utilised to keep off shoddy work and protect businesses from shoddy verification agents. Our message is that the private sector should take it upon them to go to the SABS, for them to ensure that verification is done properly,” he highlighted.

Davies also said the dti was engaging with the office of the Auditor-General with regard to designations – a requirement that be implemented.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SABS, Dr Boni Mehlomakhulu said public procurement of low quality goods made households unhappy. She cited an example of low quality solar geysers which end up costing more to repair or replace. She highlighted the impact caused by government procuring outside the standards as they negatively affect service delivery.

“Quality assurance is important for service delivery,” said Mehlomakhulu.

She warned of products that be labelled as “Made in South Africa” however would only be assembled in South Africa, with more than 90% of foreign content. Mehlomakhulu urged government to insist on localisation on products that are available in the country. She also said that foreign companies in South Africa should be required to transfer the skills and technology which will enable local companies to produce goods on their own.   

Minister Davies also handed out the First Local Content Verification Certificates based on a tender issued by the City of Johannesburg to Sandown Motors (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Mercedes Benz South Africa, for the supply of the Rea Vaya ‘Bus Rapid Transit’ engines and chassis, with Marcopolo supplying the bus body against which there is an 80% designated local content threshold