The process of procuring goods and services from service providers is extremely particular and must be approached with as much proper conduct and diligence. As a government institution sefa is governed by the Constitution, National Treasury and the applicable Legislations. Therefore the procurement process must adhere to these foundations.

The above legislations prescribes a principle that sefa must account to the public for every cent it spends and must avoid irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure by adhering to the prescripts of all applicable legislations and regulations. After previous challenges, one should add that sefa has made strides and continue to improve in this regard judging from the decrease in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditures to date. Contrary to the general belief, a state entity does not just procure from anywhere, there are regulations and guidelines that must be followed before, during and after transactions are concluded.

On 23 October 2013, Cabinet resolved that all departments, constitutional institutions and public entities must implement measures to contain operational costs and eliminate all non-essential expenditures. To this end the National Treasury circulated the National Treasury Instruction 01 of 2013/2014: “Cost Containment Measures”. This has once again put Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the center of operational activities of entities in as far as procurement of amenities are concerned. A circular has since been released on e-sefa talk to assist and guide business on what sefa should do or not do in regard to cost containment measures.

SCM will constantly be putting proper systems in place and updating these to ensure that sefa is able to acquire goods and services in compliance with regulations from suppliers who are qualified, able and capable to deliver and are also adhering to government laws required of every accountable entity.

The alterations on the SCM process and policy are imperative to comfort the need to address the major challenges, audit findings and possible qualifications. SCM is currently assessing the current system and reviewing the possibilities of having an integrated operating system which will help to improve sefa’s buying processes from external suppliers, disencumber and hasten the process of acquisition. This will also aid in strengthening compliance and the recording of all financial transactions and ready the figures from SCM’s perspective for audits and the annual report.

With the current situation of juggling a number of balls in the air at the same time sefa, its employees and its partners alike can look forward to quality delivery and growth as we play our part in helping to make sefa accountable and responsible in its dealings with the public of South Africa as a whole.