Irregular expenditure in national and provincial government departments and State-Owned Enterprises is costing South Africa billions of rands every year. Political interference in public sector procurement was one of the compelling topics on the agenda at the 16th annual Smart Procurement World Indaba.
Thandy Pino, who is the founder and CEO of Ntakha Consulting and former Chief Director of Supply Chain and Asset Management at the Gauteng Department of Health, shared her insights and advice on this challenge. She described political interference as an emotional subject for public sector procurement practitioners. “However, whether we love them or hate them, politicians are one of the procurement profession’s important stakeholders and they need to be served ethically,” she told the more than 500 delegates who attended the Indaba to learn and network.
Pino asserted that procurement practitioners can enable political interference by telling politicians what they want to hear. She stressed the importance of unwavering adherence to supply chain processes, and to ensuring that politicians know that “you know and are committed to the processes and systems”. She recommended using every opportunity to empower and educate others – including politicians - on the supply chain management process, including using policies, circulars, instruction notes and presentations. “When you receive an instruction or mandate, always refer to the legislation,” she advised Indaba attendees. “Ask...
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