The Interim Supply Chain Management Council in South Africa was launched on the  22nd of May 2018. I was privileged to be nominated as the Deputy Chairperson: Technical Standards and Competencies.

A team of SCM panellists after their lengthy engagements during a roundtable discussion organised by the Supply Chain Management Research Group (CEMS). I was privileged to be the host and chairperson of the SCMRG. “Supply chain management is often viewed as a source of corruption, especially within the public sector, where major tenders are issued. This is a result of the government’s failure to use public funds wisely and deliver better services within budget constraints”. This was a sentiment echoed by the panellists during the roundtable discussion centred on the theme Supply chain management: Bridging the gap between industry realities and academic expectations the Supply Chain Management Research Group (SCMRG) at CEMS in collaboration with SBL (Unisa) and CIPS held on the 4^th October 2016.

The ambition of creating a developmental state to transform the Apartheid economy has been hamstrung by an inability to implement transformation policies; it is a situation exacerbated by a lack of skills, competencies and capacity; and the patronage of corrupt procurement practices

Prof. Marcus Ambe, from the University of South Africa’s School of Public and Operations Management, in collaboration with Sibongile Shongwe, Director of MtileniMazi Enterprises, unpacks a procurement blueprint to accelerate inclusive growth and socio-economic development, in this month’s SmartProcurement.

The South African government is under increasing pressure to deliver and demonstrate success in service delivery and organisational performance. Proposals to spur real and deep economic transformation are varied, and in many cases focus on the need to develop South Africa’s industrial base. However, this focus ignores the significant role that failing to comply with appropriate procurement practices played in poor audit outcomes, irregular expenditure and the lack of basic monitoring and control systems.

Prof Marcus Ambe was one of the core team members of the workshop, held on the 19 July 2017.  The workshop aimed at developing a Terms of Reference for the creation of the  Interim Supply Chain Management Council.