Provincial Treasury wins Gold at the 2026 Service Excellence Awards

The Western Cape Provincial Treasury’s Procurement Performance Monitoring project, themed "Implementing Socio-economic Impact for Women-Owned Companies through Preferential Procurement Goals for the Province", was awarded First Place (Gold) in the Best Frontline Service Delivery category at the 2026 Western Cape Government Service Excellence Awards.

The award recognises the outstanding work of the Procurement Governance, Policy and Systems Team, whose innovative approach has transformed public procurement from a compliance-driven administrative function into a strategic instrument for women's economic empowerment and inclusive economic growth in the Western Cape.

In the 2024/25 financial year, the Western Cape Government's total procurement spend amounted to R19.73 billion, of which R6.84 billion (34.60%) was spent on women-owned businesses. In the 2025/26 financial year, spend on women-owned businesses increased to R7.54 billion, representing 34.69% of the province's total procurement spend.

This was the second consecutive year that the Western Cape exceeded National Treasury's 30% benchmark for procurement directed towards women-owned enterprises.

Provincial Treasury is currently working with the World Bank on a detailed assessment of the province's procurement data to determine whether the Western Cape may be the first national or subnational government in the world to direct at least 30% of its procurement spend to women-owned businesses without relying on set-asides or mandatory sub-contracting.

The team's work supports the implementation of preferential procurement goals that create meaningful opportunities for women-owned businesses to participate in the provincial economy, while ensuring that government procurement remains efficient, transparent and responsive.

As a critical frontline support service, the Procurement Governance, Policy and Systems Team provides guidance and support to 13 provincial departments, 12 public entities, suppliers, executive leadership and residents. The team bridges the gap between complex procurement legislation and practical implementation by developing policies, systems, tools and actionable procurement intelligence that enable informed decision-making across government.

Commenting on the achievement, Provincial Treasury Head of Department, Julinda Gantana said, "This award reflects our commitment to using public procurement as a catalyst for positive socio-economic change. The Procurement Governance, Policy and Systems Team has demonstrated how innovative governance practices can advance women's economic participation while strengthening service delivery and accountability across government."

Western Cape Minister of Finance, Deidré Baartman, said, “This recognition reflects the Western Cape Government's commitment to creating opportunities through innovation and good governance. By using procurement as a tool to empower women-owned businesses, Provincial Treasury is helping to drive economic participation, growth and greater inclusion across our province. Congratulations to the team on this outstanding achievement.”

The Western Cape Government Service Excellence Awards recognise individuals and teams whose work embodies the values of caring, competence, accountability, integrity, innovation and responsiveness while making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents.

This Gold Award serves as recognition of the team's leadership in advancing procurement innovation and creating tangible economic opportunities for women-owned businesses throughout the province.

Provincial Treasury congratulates the entire Procurement Governance, Policy and Systems Team on this remarkable achievement and thanks them for their dedication to building a more inclusive and opportunity-driven economy.