https://applj.journals.ac.za/pub/issue/feed 2026-03-04T15:04:28+00:00 APLU aplu@africanprocurementlaw.org Open Journal Systems <p>The <strong>African Public Procurement Law Journal</strong> was established to stimulate and foster academic engagement and debate in the field of public procurement law and regulation on the African continent. The Journal is the first platform devoted exclusively to research into public procurement law in Africa and will be published online by the African Procurement Law Unit of the Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Journal will publish articles continuously on its website and consolidate all contributions in two editions per year. The Journal will publish high quality papers on themes and sub-themes relevant to procurement law and regulation in Africa. The Journal intends to make widely accessible, information on African public procurement law, regulation and policy and provide readers with scholarly and in-depth analysis on the same. The Journal is aimed at a diverse audience of academics, practitioners, regulators, policy makers, government officials and students.&nbsp;</p> https://applj.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/80 2026-03-04T15:04:28+00:00 Ron Watermeyer watermeyer@ioptions.co.za Jonathan Klaaren jonathan.klaaren@wits.ac.za Samuel Laryea Samuel.Laryea@wits.ac.za

<p>Various forms or variants of framework agreements have evolved in South Africa following the promulgation of National Treasury’s Supply Chain Management Regulations in 2005. There are currently very different understandings and interpretations amongst those responsible for procurement as to what is permitted under these agreements. This uncertainty has resulted in a hesitancy to implement these efficient and effective tools, which have the potential to significantly improve service delivery in South Africa.</p> <p>This contribution, firstly, identifies the international concepts, principles and approaches associated with framework agreements. We, thereafter, unpack the framework agreement variants which have evolved in South Africa within two distinctly different procurement system paradigms, and we outline the soft law approach which has developed in South Africa within the paradigm associated with the procurement of infrastructure, and which is now incorporated into ISO 10845-1:2020. The contribution finally explores the underlying reasons for the confusion surrounding framework agreements and proposes an approach to promote such agreements in a manner which ensures that best value is achieved.</p>

2025-12-31T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Watermeyer Ron, Jonathan Klaaren, Samuel Laryea