Former South African prosecutor calls for transparency in procurement

Procurement is an area of government that needs to be carried out with transparency to avoid future problems, says former South African Head of National Prosecuting Authority  Vusi Pikoli. Speaking at the Smart Procurement World 2010 conference in Midrand's Gallagher Estate on Tuesday, Pilkoli highlighted the importance of fostering transparency by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.

He said the South African Constitution made direct reference to procurement in Section 217, and that it must be done in an accountable and transparent manner "without creating more problems than what we are trying to solve". "When any sector is marred by a culture of impunity that's where the rot comes in," he said.

"There's a lot we can do to root out corruption. Government can't do it alone; we need partnerships and collaborations with both the private and public sector." Procurement and supply chain management are the functions that directly affect the bottom line of all business and government departments.

Read more here