PPPs – the answer to South Africa’s energy challenges? Quarter 1 2022

Regulatory Framework

The key legislative and regulatory framework applicable to PPP arrangements are in the Public Finance Management Act (1 of 1999) (PFMA), and its subordinate legislation, including Regulation 16 of the Amendment of Treasury Regulations in terms of s76 of the PFMA, and the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (56 of 2003).

In 2000, pursuant to these legislative measures, South Africa established a PPP unit to, inter alia:

1. develop policy and the regulatory framework for PPP arrangements;
2. prepare guidelines and manuals on the regulatory requirements;
3. establish a Project Development Fund to improve the quality of PPPs; and
4. launch stakeholder awareness campaigns to educate the public and private sector in the procurement requirements of PPPs.

Until 31 March 2013, the PPP unit was a division of the Budget Office Division in the National Treasury. Now the unit is part of the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC), which is an agency of the National Treasury, established to support public finance management through professional advisory services, programme and project management and transaction support.

The GTAC reports to the Minister of Finance and is established as a government component in terms of the Public Service Act. The technical functions of the PPP unit are critical for GTAC, and the technical assistance activities include:

1. procuring and management of transaction advisers;
2. procuring project officers;
3. advising on project feasibility;
4. advising on procurement document preparation and implementation;
5. advising on negotiations and deal structuring; and
6. provision of capacity building and training.

Procedural requirements for PPP

Regulation 16 of the PFMA sets out three procedural steps to be fulfilled by the accounting officer or accounting authority at the government agency, prior to Treasury approval of a PPP. These are:

1. A feasibility study is to be performed, explaining the strategic and operational benefits of the proposed PPP for the government agency in terms of its strategic objectives and government policy.
2. Once written approval of the feasibility study is obtained by the Treasury, the procurement documentation will be issued to the prospective bidders. After the evaluation of the bids, but prior to appointing the preferred bidder, the government agency must submit a report for approval by the relevant treasury, demonstrating how the criteria of affordability, value for money and substantial technical, operational and financial risk transfer were applied in the evaluation of the bids, demonstrating how these criteria were satisfied in the preferred bid and including any other information as required by the relevant treasury.
3. Finally, once the procurement phase is finalised, the accounting officer or accounting authority of the government agency must conclude a PPP agreement as prescribed by the regulations.

Amendments

Prior written approval by the relevant treasury is required for any material amendments to a PPP agreement, including any material variations to the outputs provided for, or any waivers contemplated or provided for in the PPP agreement.

The relevant treasury will approve a material amendment only if it is satisfied that the PPP agreement, as amended, will continue to provide –

1. value for money;
2. affordability; and
3. substantial technical, operational and financial risk transfer to the private party.

Implementation of government's plans to establish alternative sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of energy will require vast resources of finance, expertise, technology and manpower. It is unlikely that any one organisation will have ready access to all these and, for that reason, there is extensive scope for the establishment of PPPs to bring these plans to fruition.

Jacobsberg writes in his personal capacity. Shongwe is an associate with Andersen (South Africa).