Understanding Deviations

Learn about procurement deviations and how to interpret Treasury reports.

3 Guides

What is a deviation? A deviation is when a government entity procures goods or services without following the standard competitive bidding process. While some deviations are legitimate (emergencies, sole suppliers), high deviation rates may indicate procurement challenges.

See Deviation Data Live

These guides explain what deviations mean. To see actual deviation data from government entities, visit our Transparency Dashboard where you can filter by entity, type, and value.

View Deviation Data

Deviation Guides

Procurement Deviations: Types, Rules & Red Flags

Understand sole supplier appointments, emergency procurement, contract expansions, and variations—when they're legitimate and when they're concerning.

How to Read National Treasury Deviation Reports

A practical guide to interpreting the quarterly deviation reports published by Treasury, including what the numbers mean and how to spot patterns.

Deviation Thresholds & Approval Limits

Know the rand value thresholds that trigger different approval requirements, and what happens when entities exceed their limits.

Ready to explore the data?

Now that you understand deviations, use our Transparency Dashboard to see real deviation data from government entities.

View Deviation Data