ConCourt grants direct access to hear CoCT's bid to invalidate Public Procurement Act

CAPE TOWN - The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has granted direct access to hear the City of Cape Town’s bid to invalidate the Public Procurement Act.

The city said the adoption of the bill was unlawful due to poor public participation and parliamentary processes, and because seven of the nine provinces did not have mandates to vote on the bill.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomed the ConCourt's decision, saying the bill undermined the constitutional autonomy of local government.

"This act will slow down local service delivery and make it much harder for municipalities across the country to procure quickly in response to local needs."

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has instructed the national government to file papers by 8 August, and the city to respond by 22 August.