Rules as the foundation of service delivery

Prior to his appointment as Weskus Distrik’s Senior Manager: Supply Chain Management (SCM), Maurice Markus led portfolios such as expenditure, and between that portfolio and his current position he has a rounded view of the first and last lines of defence when ensuring that funds are deployed and paid in a compliant manner.

His experience has also placed him as chairperson of various forums in the SCM sphere.

“The SCM function ensures that the tender process is fair, clean, compliant, and free of adverse scrutiny. Getting the process wrong can have a significant impact on service delivery as a tender award can be challenged and result in months or even years of litigation.

Apart from excessive legal costs and loss of reputation, a well-intended service to the community can be delayed. Where key infrastructure or community services are involved, delays can result in unrest and loss of investor confidence”.

The Weskus Distrik SCM team ensures that the process is strictly adhered to, including overseeing the unambiguous specification of products or service, advertising and preparing the tender documents, and ensuring that the appropriate forums and committees adjudicate and evaluate the proposals presented. Allowing for any objections, a tender is only awarded 21 days after a successful tender is approved.

Does the exhaustive process delay service delivery?

Not so, says Maurice.

“Our average time for awarding a contract is an excellent 3-4 months. The reason why we are so responsive is because our departments know long in advance what is needed and they have had the time needed to consult widely, compile accurate specifications, the project has been approved and budgeted for, and all the role players understand the SCM process intimately”.

Executive Mayor Boffie Strydom’s rallying call of ‘Laat Waai’ is another reason why much-needed projects do not drag, either in the lead up process or when implemented.

Maurice believes that the separation of powers (which prevents the political arm of a municipality interfering with, or unduly influencing, the administrative arm) enjoyed in the municipality is an important principle which greatly benefits the efficacy of supply chain management.

“Overall, we are guided by the Municipal Finance Management Act. For some, regulations and legislation may seem obstructive but in truth, these are designed to protect precious funding and ensure that public service is delivered in a quality way. Qualified, experienced and committed officials do not see the Act as an inhibitor but as an enabler of public service”.

Maurice Markus
Senior Manager: Supply Chain Management
Weskus Distrik.

 

West Coast District Municipality

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