Floyd Shivambu has launched a scathing attack on South Africa’s tender system, calling it “deeply corrupt” and a major barrier to ethical governance and economic fairness.
According to Shivambu, tenders are routinely awarded to individuals long before proposals are even submitted — a practice he says turns the procurement process into a formality used to cover up predetermined deals. “People are chosen in advance, and the rest is just paperwork to justify it,” he claimed.
Even more concerning, he alleged, is the prevalence of bribery in the system. “In many cases, tenders go to those who pay kickbacks, not those who are best equipped to deliver,” Shivambu said, pointing to a culture of pay-to-play that undermines public trust and squanders taxpayer money.
His comments add to growing public frustration over procurement corruption in South Africa, a problem that has fueled inequality, collapsed service delivery, and crippled development in many communities.
With calls mounting for a complete overhaul of the tender process, Shivambu’s remarks reignite debate about how to restore transparency, hold officials accountable, and ensure that public funds serve the people — not private pockets.
