There is no comprehensive audit of the total aid given to SA to date. Under the terms of the Import and Export Control Act of 1963, South Africa's Minister of Trade and Industry may act in the national interest to prohibit, ration, or otherwise regulate imports. In recent years, the list of restricted goods requiring import permits has been reduced, but still includes such goods as certain foodstuffs, clothing, fabrics, wood and paper products, refined petroleum products and chemicals. The government remains committed to the simplification and eventual reduction of tariffs within the WTO framework, and maintains active discussions with that body and its major trading partners. The government is attempting to centralize and standardize the buying procedures of national, provincial, local, and state-owned corporate entities.
Purchases are by competitive tender for project, supply and other contracts.
As part of the government's policy to encourage local industry, a price preference schedule, based on the percent of local content in relation to the tendered price is employed to compare tenders. To claim preference for local content, tenders must enclose with their bid a certificate showing classification of supplies offered in terms of local content. An additional preference may be claimed if a product bears the mark of the South African Bureau of Standards. Under the program, all bidders on government and parastatal contracts who exceed the imported content threshold must also submit an industrial participation package worth 30 percent of the imported content value. The bidder then has 7 years to discharge the industrial participation obligation.