​Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government, in partnership with the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council (GEAC), hosted a high-level consultative session with leaders of organised business formations to introduce and discuss the newly developed Ethical Procurement and Integrity Pact.
The meeting, held on Monday, brought together prominent representatives from Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the National Business Initiative (NBI), the Black Business Council (BBC), and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), among others.
The engagement is part of Gauteng's ongoing efforts to foster clean, accountable, and transparent governance.
The Ethical Procurement and Integrity Pact builds on the province's pioneering initiatives, such as the Open Tender System, and aims to regulate future relationships between the state and the private sector in procurement matters.
It outlines a shared commitment to ethical conduct, transparency, and value for money in all government contracts.
In her address, on behalf of the Gauteng Executive Council and as a representative of the GEAC, MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to ethical leadership.
"When the 6th administration came into office in 2019, we made ethical leadership
a top priority. We knew that without a strong ethical foundation, our service delivery efforts would be compromised. This is why we engaged with GEAC member Advocate Thuli Madonsela early on, to entrench ethical conduct as non-negotiable in our governance culture," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko. 
During the meeting, business leaders participated in a panel discussion where they raised concerns about the devastating effects of corruption and how the pact will go a long way toward promoting integrity in government procurement.
Policy and Marketing Executive at BLSA, Nompumelelo Mokou, said the pact is "a bold and long-overdue move," adding that its success would depend on political will, consistent implementation, and consequence management.
She further commended Premier Panyaza Lesufi for taking firm action by removing underperforming heads of department, reinforcing a culture of accountability.
For his part, Vice-President of the BBC, Gregory Mofokeng, stressed the importance of a balanced relationship between the state and businesses.
"While businesses are expected to comply with rules and standards, government must do the same. It is unethical and frustrating to work with public servants who lack the qualifications or capacity to execute their responsibilities," said Mofokeng.
The pact will enable the provincial government to enter into contracts that deliver quality services at competitive prices, while adhering to ethical procurement practices. It also seeks to restore trust in the public sector and ensure that business partnerships are conducted fairly and responsibly.
If a service provider does not sign the integrity pact during the submission of the bid, the tender will be disqualified.