Challenges impacting supply chain management performance at the South African Social Security Agency in KwaZulu Natal.

Abstract

Government departments are experiencing several supply chain management challenges that negatively impact on their performance. It is within this context that the aim of this study was to identify the supply chain management challenges that negatively impact on the performance of the South African Social Security Agency in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN SASSA) and suggest how these challenges could be addressed. No research study was found that identifies supply chain challenges that impact on SASSA’s performance in KZN and in other provinces, and thus this research aims to address this gap. This is a descriptive and exploratory study, with qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 participants at KZN SASSA. The participants were purposely selected because they were able to provide appropriate answers to the research questions. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of the research study reveal that supply chain challenges that impact negatively on KZN SASSA’s performance centre on procurement, legislation, supply chain training and completing procurement processes within the stipulated time. These challenges impact negatively on their performance – which affects service delivery. This study mainly recommends that Government departments could meet with National Treasury to revisit the stringent and excessive quantity of legislation in place, that the procurement process be revisited to address the delays of the procurement processes, that training be provided as and where there are any changes and newly introduced regulations, to avoid non-compliance to set laws that result in unauthorised wasteful and irregular expenditure.