IRR Report Urges Value-for-Money Procurement Focus
The Institute of Race Relations released a report on value-for-money procurement ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in City Hall
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The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) published a report titled 2026 Local Government Elections: A value-for-money common ground, launched with an online panel discussion. The report combines party commitments with IRR polling conducted in March 2026.
Why it matters
Four of the six major parties have an in-principle commitment to value for money, and IRR polling found 81.9% of respondents wanted government to report if and by how much Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) made procurement more expensive. The findings are directed at local government procurement ahead of the 2026 local elections in South Africa.
IRR polling conducted in March 2026 found 81.9% of respondents wanted government to report if and by how much BEE made procurement more expensive, with 73% strongly preferring such disclosure. Whether parties will translate these preferences into procurement policy remains unresolved.
The players
Institute of Race Relations (IRR)
The Institute of Race Relations is a South African public policy think tank that researches and comments on economic and social issues.
Dr John Endres
Dr John Endres is the chief executive officer of the Institute of Race Relations.
The details
The Institute of Race Relations launched its report with an online panel discussion featuring IRR CEO Dr John Endres, Terence Corrigan, Ofentse Davhie, Hermann Pretorius and Chris Patterson. The IRR will share the report with parties in the seven hung metropolitan municipalities and the largest hung municipalities over the next two weeks.
Timeline
March 2026: IRR polling on value-for-money preferences was conducted.
12 November 2026: The report was launched with an online panel discussion.
Over the next two weeks: The IRR will share the report with parties in hung municipalities.
Political Context
The report pushes for disclosure of how much Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment procurement rules add to municipal costs, a question that has long featured in South African debates over public spending. It frames value for money as common ground for parties heading into the 2026 local government elections.
Residents in municipalities governed through coalitions may see procurement debates shift toward disclosing the cost of BEE rules. The findings offer a basis for voters to ask parties whether they will report procurement cost impacts before the 2026 elections.
The takeaway
Clear disclosure of procurement costs is a point on which most respondents agree, regardless of party. Voters preparing for the 2026 elections can ask candidates directly whether they will report how BEE rules affect municipal spending.
What happens next
The IRR will share the report with parties in the seven hung metropolitan municipalities and the largest hung municipalities over the next two weeks.
Further reading
For related coverage of municipal decision-making, see City Hall reporting.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Politicsweb.
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