Supply chain management system challenges in the eThekwini District of the South African Police Service

Abstract

The concept of Supply Chain Management system challenges in the South African Police Service (SAPS) involve issues such as procurement delays, inadequate infrastructure, limited technology integration, and potential corruption. These factors can hinder the efficiency of the supply chain, impacting on the timely provision of essential resources for law enforcement activities. Addressing these challenges requires strategic planning, technology upgrades, and stringent oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement process. The research objectives were to examine the extent of SAPS management in the eThekwini District with the principles and practices of the Supply Chain Management system to ascertain the level of competence of personnel in the Supply Chain Management Department and the challenges of the SAPS in the eThekwini District; to identify the challenges associated with Supply Chain Management in the eThekwini District in the SAPS and to submit proposals and recommendations that may enhance the challenges and change and make SCM more effective since it is the core of the organisation. The research adopted a qualitative design with the required data collection methods and analysis techniques. Primary empirical data was collected through in-depth interviews, public documents, and archival materials, such as reports, records, events, and decisions. In this study, the population comprised of the personnel in the SCM departments in the 42 (forty-two) SAPS stations in the eThekwini District. The sample for this study comprised of 10 (ten) stations. The selected participants were those who were directly involved in procurement process in the SCM unit. The main contribution of this research was to enhance the internal control of SCM to mitigate the risk of fraud, corruption, and non-compliance; to improve staff compliance to ensure growth and development of both internal employees and the management. The reason of this study is to reduce challenges to the Organisation, within the sub-component, SCM in the South African Police Service