South Africa
1Min
South Africa
Nov 5, 2025
The National Treasury says it will fully comply with any court ruling over the controversial IFMS tender, pledging transparency and accountability in its procurement process. The long-delayed project has faced repeated setbacks, with critics questioning fairness and oversight in the contract’s awarding.
The National Treasury has announced that it will abide by any court ruling concerning the disputed Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) tender, signalling its intent to uphold transparency and judicial independence amid growing scrutiny.
The statement follows a series of court challenges over the awarding of the IFMS contract, which forms part of government’s multi-billion-rand effort to modernise public finance systems. Critics have accused the process of being opaque, with allegations of irregularities in procurement and vendor selection.
Treasury spokesperson Mfilisi Skosana said the department would respect whatever decision the court makes and would not interfere in the legal process. “The National Treasury reaffirms its commitment to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability in all procurement processes,” Skosana said.
The IFMS project, initially launched over a decade ago, aims to streamline payroll, supply chain, and financial management across government departments. However, it has been dogged by controversy, cost overruns, and repeated restarts under successive administrations.
Analysts say Treasury’s neutral stance could be a strategic move to restore credibility after years of criticism over delayed implementation and wasted expenditure. “This is a chance for Treasury to show it can respect oversight and rebuild confidence in state procurement,” said governance expert Dr. Thandi Mbele.
Civil society groups have urged Treasury to use the court process as an opportunity to improve accountability and avoid political interference in large state technology contracts.
