Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2012 / This study focused on the impact of implementation of Supply Chain Management Policy (SCM) in Limpopo Department of Local Government and Housing (The Department of Local Government and Housing is officially known as the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional affairs as from the 16 August 2011).The study analyzed the impact of implementation of SCM policy including the implications of non-compliance with this policy. The study also provides an analysis of the perceptions of officials of the Department of Local Government and Housing with regard to the impact of implementation of Supply Chain Management policy. The study also looked at Supply Chain Management in a public sector context including mechanisms that can be employed in order to improve implementation of Supply Chain Management policy. Qualitative research methods were used in this study. This means that primary data was collected using interviews and questionnaires. The findings from the study indicated that the Department experienced challenges in implementing the SCM policy and that there was a significant change in the behavioural patterns of the certain employees after the SCM policy was implemented. The study also revealed that the implementation of SCM policy had both positive and negative effects on the employees of the Department, service providers as well as the public. Furthermore, the research revealed that violation of SCM policy has a negative impact on service delivery. The study has provided answers to both the main research question and sub-questions. From the findings made, the study concluded that the implementation of Supply Chain Management policy has both the negative and positive impact on the Department.

Public procurement is the government activity most vulnerable to corruption. Lack of transparency and accountability are recognised as a major threat to integrity in public procurement. Repeated findings by the Auditor- General(SA) on poor document management and lack of compliance with the Public Finance Management Act ( No1 of 1999) by the SCM units in departments of the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration necessitates the use of e-procurement for purposes of accountability and proper documentation of transactions. The study assessed the current status of e-procurement in the Eastern Cape Provincial government. This entailed an overview of IFMS, identifying its implementation and shortcomings. Also reviewed was implementation of the Logistical Information System ( LOGIS) in the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration (Department of Health) as its e-procurement platform, as well as e-procurement at the Department of Social development and Special Programmes .The status of government suppliers’ internet connectivity was also assessed.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Supply chain management (SCM) in the public sector in general, as well as the municipal sphere in particular, has received increasing prominence over past few years. Although the focus is mainly due to the impact of fraud and corruption in public sector procurement, this author is of the opinion that SCM can also create value and aid in the attainment of strategic objectives. The study revealed that supply chain management is described as a process in literature, whilst it is described as a system by government. Of significance to this, is that both literature and government view SCM as a means to add value. The study also revealed that in order for SCM to add value and to contribute to the attainment of strategic objectives, it is important that SCM forms part of the performance management (PM) system of an organisation. Performance measurement tools, such as the balanced scorecard, benchmarking, improvement and other measurement tools, were introduced as tried and trusted methods for measuring SCM performance. The study was embarked upon because the author was of the opinion that municipalities in South Africa only implement SCM because it is required by legislation. Thus, this theory was tested at Hessequa Municipality and it was found that the current emphasis was on compliance at Hessequa Municipality. This was done by means of studying documentary evidence and through interviews conducted with various internal and external stakeholders either directly or indirectly affected by the SCM processes of Hessequa Municipality. The study tested Hessequa Municipality’s readiness to progress towards performance management and measurement by using the financial capability model for SCM as utilised by the Western Cape Government to ascertain the level of SCM implementation at municipalities. It was found that Hessequa Municipality meets almost all the compliance and control requirements, with only two areas that require slight attention before full compliance is achieved. Through the interviews conducted, the study also tested Hessequa Municipality’s willingness to progress to the next level and found that there was indeed a willingness to progress towards managing and measuring SCM activities. In conclusion, the study recommended that Hessequa Municipality uses a phased-in approach when it sets processes in place to progress towards performance managing SCM. That when developing performance indicators for SCM, it be aligned to the performance management system and targets of the municipality. It also recommended that a combination of the tried and trusted methods be used to measure SCM performance. Finally, it recommended that the municipality eradicates the silo approach to doing business and adopts a more integrated approach by firstly integrating its internal processes before embarking upon integrating the actions of all the agents within the supply chain. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voorsieningskanaalbestuur (VKB) in die openbare sektor oor die algemeen sowel as in die munisipale omgewing in besonder, het gedurende die afgelope jare al hoe meer na die voorgrond getree. Alhoewel die fokus hoofsaaklik toegeskryf word aan die impak van bedrog en korrupsie op verkryging in die openbare sektor, is die skrywer van mening dat VKB ook waarde kan toevoeg en tot die die behaling van strategiese doelwitte kan bydra. Die studie het aan die lig gebring dat VKB in literatuur as ’n proses beskryf word, maar deur die regering as ’n stelsel beskryf word. Wat egter van belang is, is dat beide die literatuur en regering VKB as ’n middel beskou om waarde toe te voeg. Die studie het ook openbaar dat, ten einde vir VKB om waarde toe te voeg en tot die behaling van strategiese doelwitte by te dra, dit belangrik is dat VKB ’n deel vorm van die prestasiebestuurstelsel van ’n organisasie. Prestasiemetingsinstrumente soos die gebalanseerde telkaart, doelwitstelling, verbetering en ander metingsinstrumente is ingestel as bewese metodes om VKB-prestasie te meet. Die studie is onderneem omdat die skrywer van mening was dat munisipaliteite in Suid- Afrika slegs VKB implementeer omdat wetgewing dit vereis. Hierdie teorie is by Hessequa Munisipaliteit getoets en daar is gevind dat die huidige klem op voldoening aan wetsvereistes is. Die toets is gedoen deur dokumentêre bewyse te bestudeer, asook deur onderhoude te voer met verskeie interne en eksterne rolspelers wat óf direk óf indirek deur die VKB-prosesse van Hessequa Munisipaliteit geraak word. Die studie het Hessequa Munisipaliteit se gereedheid om na prestasiebestuur en -meting te vorder, getoets deur van die finansiële vermoë-model gebruik te maak wat deur die Wes-Kaapse Regering gebruik word. Hierdie model word gebruik om die vlak van VKB-implementering by munisipaliteite te bepaal. Daar is gevind dat Hessequa Munisipaliteit aan feitlik alle vereistes vir nakoming en beheer voldoen, buiten twee gebiede wat geringe aandag verg alvorens volle nakoming behaal word. Deur onderhoude te voer, het die studie ook Hessequa Munisipaliteit se bereidwilligheid getoets om na die volgende vlak te vorder. Daar is gevind dat daar inderdaad ’n begeerte was om na die bestuurs- en metingsaktiwiteite van VKB te beweeg. Laastens het die studie aanbeveel dat Hessequa Munisipaliteit ’n infaseringsbenadering gebruik wanneer prosesse in plek gestel word om na VKB-prestasiebestuur te vorder. Wanneer prestasie-aanwysers vir VKB ontwikkel word, moet dit met die prestasiebestuurstelsel en -doelwitte van die munisipaliteit belyn word. Dit word ook aanbeveel dat ’n kombinasie van die beproefde en getoetste metodes gebruik word om VKB-prestasie te meet. Die laaste aanbeveling is dat die munisipaliteit die silo-benadering van sake doen uitwis en ’n meer geïntegreerde benadering aanneem. Die interne prosesse moet eers geïntegreer word, waarna die handelinge van al die rolspelers in VKB geïntegreer word.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) play an important role in the economic growth and development of any economy. They contribute to the goals of growth, equity, job creation and poverty reduction in different ways. Given the importance of the SMME sector, governments throughout the world including the South African government, have focused their attention on the development of this sector to promote economic growth, income distribution and employment opportunities. Most SMMEs in South Africa fail due to a variety of reasons, including a lack of access to markets, which is one of the critical factors for the survival and growth of SMMEs. The government of South Africa has introduced the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (Act 5 of 2000) to address the challenge of market access for SMMEs. The Act is aimed at utilising the purchasing power of government as an instrument of SMME development. SMMEs, especially those owned by historically disadvantaged individuals, are afforded an opportunity to access markets they would otherwise find difficult to penetrate. Given the importance of access to markets to SMMES, the study seeks to analyse the role of preferential procurement in Local Government with specific reference to Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), as an instrument of promoting the development of historically disadvantaged SMMEs in South Africa.

Despite reform processes in the employment of Supply Chain Management (SCM) as a strategic tool in the South African public sector, there are predicaments in SCM practices, especially in municipalities. This notwithstanding, research that demystifies the SCM implementation practices in local municipalities within the West Rand District, SA is lacking. This study explores supply chain management practices implemented at the West Rand District municipalities. An exploratory and descriptive study was conducted based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data was analysed descriptively using SPSS, inferentially using Fisher Exact test, as well as by content analysis using Atlas.ti. The findings of the study revealed that overall the West Rand District municipalities have adopted and implemented the SCM practices. However, SCM practices are sometimes not always aligned with government policies. The most implemented SCM practice was demand management, followed by acquisition management. The least implemented practices were logistics, disposal, risk and performance management. No significant differences were observed among the municipalities, except for municipality C (within its own supply chain practitioners). The municipalities face serious SCM challenges in implementing their SCM practices. These challenges stem from: a lack of training for SCM staff, lack of proper capacity, poor planning, and ineffective black economic empowerment in the West Rand District. Based on the results, there is a need of training for SCM staff, capacity building, better planning interventions, and more effective black economic empowerment. It should be reiterated that the lack of proper SCM processes and procedures are the root cause of problems in service delivery in South Africa. The study concludes by recommending that SCM practitioners should regularly update their SCM policies, ensure proper compliance with the elements of SCM, as well as to source competencies, skills, and knowledge from higher education institutions and private accredited service providers. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The thesis evaluates the extent to which good governance has influenced the procurement process at the Lejweleputswa District Municipality. Under good governance, the manner in which goods are procured or disposed of, is supposed to be unproblematic and conducted with the highest integrity, taking into account both the costs involved in the process and the benefits of the delivery of the services. Good governance should act as a “decontaminator or antiseptic in a germ infested area” (Cloete 2006:6–19). To extend the analogy further, this process of disinfecting the wound definitely requires some form of expertise and knowledge, as well as the participation of different role players, such as doctors and nurses; in addition, certain utensils to clean and cover the wound would be needed. In the same way, the procurement process needs experts to handle and enforce correct procedure. The values of good governance alone are meaningless unless there are people who are willing and have the capacity to manage the required processes and procedures. In South Africa, a new procurement process was adopted in the public sector in 1994. To date it has been interpreted and implemented in favour of historically disadvantaged individuals, like black people, women and disabled people through a legislative framework, the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 (RSA, Act 5 of 2000) and the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (RSA, Act 53 of 2003). It is crucial to point out, however, that the definitions given by these laws about black people differ or contradict each other. Challenges like this have turned the procurement process upside down. In an effort to attain uniformity in the procurement process in the local sphere of government, both National and Provincial Treasury Departments have instituted legislation and guidelines to steer the process. Despite all these efforts, municipalities are still associated with allegations of corruption and nepotism when awarding tenders to service providers. The Lejweleputswa District Municipality has not been spared from such accusations, as shown by the spate of riots that occurred in the Free State (Mail and Guardian 2007:6–12). This research has therefore been undertaken with the general objective of determining whether the values of good governance have managed to sustain a good procurement process in the municipality or whether the values are being ignored leading to procurement processes which do not fulfil the aims of the legislation and guidelines and remain open to allegations of corruption and maladministration. The specific objectives for the research were to investigate good governance in procurement in the municipality context and to make recommendations, if appropriate, on how to promote good governance in municipal procurement.

The purpose of this study is to explore procurement practices employed within the commuter bus industry in Gauteng. The contemporary procurement practices employed within the commuter bus industry in Gauteng have propagated a number of challenges for this industry, including a deficit in the allocated funds and a lack of coordinated relationship between the relevant stakeholders. This study is both descriptive and exploratory in nature and employed a mixed-method research approach to collect the research data. The data was collected from a sample of 18 respondents who are key stakeholders directly involved in the procurement of subsidised commuter bus services in Gauteng by means of a face-to-face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that there are three types of procurement practices employed within the commuter bus industry, namely, interim, negotiated and tender contracts. However, all these contracts are now outdated, due to the complex implementation of the policies guiding procurement. The study also revealed that there are minimal contributions towards the socio-economic objectives within the commuter bus industry. This has led to uncoordinated relations between the government officials and the subsidised commuter bus operators. Furthermore, there are challenges hindering effective procurement in the commuter bus industry, such as under-funding, fronting activities, frequent reshuffling of transport personnel and inconstant allocation of funds. The study also noted differences in the application of procurement practices between the government officials and the subsidised commuter bus operators, in terms of the industry’s contribution towards socio-economic objectives, policies and regulations, relationship and the challenges faced within the industry. Efficient procurement practices can contribute significantly to the commuter bus industry, especially towards job creation and economic growth. The study concludes with a recommended framework for enhancing the procurement practices of the commuter bus services in Gauteng. / Economics / M. Com. (Transport Economics)

This study explores the flawed procurement and delivery of Learner Teacher Support Materials (LTSM) in East London district at public secondary schools in the Eastern Cape province. Poor management of the procurement of LTSM has the result that some schools in the country have limited access to LTSM because of late delivery, non-delivery, incorrect and, or delivery shortages. These problems have contributed to under-achievement in the affected schools and in turn undermine the learners’ constitutional rights and educational aims and goals. Like many other provinces, the Eastern Cape also encountered difficulties with the procurement and delivery of textbooks to various public schools. To investigate the problem, a qualitative and exploratory study was carried out. The data were collected from a sample of 19 participants involved in the three levels of the procurement process; that is, district officials, school principals and the provincial head office officials. The researcher conducted face-to-face interviews using open-ended questions. The research results showed that although the procurement process of LTSM is centralised at the head office level, the other two levels, namely the district office and the school levels, play a significant part. While these levels play an important role in determining and collating the textbook needs, they require additional communication processes and systems to be in place to avoid prolonged timeframes and follow ups that bring about delays of the overall procurement process. Between communication of the relevant guidelines, and collating and submitting book needs information, delays happen along the way at one or more levels and these ultimately lead to either late procurement, late or non-delivery of books to the relevant schools. The study showed that although there are rules, regulations and various policies that serve as guidelines in the procurement process, the actual implementation and monitoring is flawed. The lack of coherence promotes mistrust and conflict between the relevant stakeholders, which in turn brings about minimal consultation on changes relating to effective management processes during procurement and distribution of LTSM. The study recommends changes that are needed to achieve effective management to alleviate problems encountered during the procurement and distribution of LTSM in the East London district public secondary schools / Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain, Transport, Tourism and Logistics Management / M. Com. (Logistics)