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There have been investments in smart water system through investment in technology to preserve the water supply at the same time reducing water costs by the municipality. These systems are possible through Information Communication and Technology, which does not come cheap (Albert, 2015:41).
Smart systems in water provision need seven ways in the implementation process.
• Mapping and monitoring the physical infrastructure
• Accurately measuring water consumption
• Monitoring drinking water quality
• Present, perfect and predict condition
• Make better use of diffuse and distributed non-traditional water resources
• Prepare better for storms
• Harness the energy and nutrient resources in water and wastewater (Albert, 2015:38).
The ICT assists in capturing the full potential of water services while contributing to economic development through its financial attractiveness from business as they usually use large amounts of the city’s water supply (Economic developed and growth in EThekwini, 2011: 19). Having the smart system can also assist the municipality to reduce leaks, theft and invest in projects of infrastructure, which can assist in increasing the water supply in the municipal area (Economic developed and growth in EThekwini, 2011: 20).
The Accounting officer in the eThekwini municipality must make sure that process towards the provision of any service that Supply Chain Management policy is followed and for the study followed in the provision of water services to residents. The systems and procedures developed towards water provision and distribution networks must be in line with SCM regulations (EThekwini Municipality, 2016).
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SCM management is new in the public sector especially in South Africa. It was adopted in the year 2001 with the review of the joint assessment review with the World Bank through the office of the national treasury. In government institutions like municipalities, there was a lack of accountability, transparency in the procurement policy. A growing need for SCM was evident (Ambe, 2016:20).
A document with regulations, procedures for accounting officers was developed to guide the process in administration for entities in government institutions. It was always going to be a challenge in applying SCM in the municipal environment as most of the literature, which exist, was found in private sector transactions. The field has gained much attention in the municipal are with regards to attracting concepts like quality, delivery, speed and value for money (Ambe, 2016:20).
2.4.1 Status of municipalities and practices in South Africa
Municipalities in South Africa are divided into different categories, as for example the eThekwini municipality as a focus area for the study is a metropolitan (EThekwini municipality, 2012: 5). The municipalities are dived into four district and nineteen local municipalities. SCM practises in municipalities are an obligation of the South African Constitution, compliance with regulations is the responsibility are determined by auditor’s general office when he or she reports (Ambe, 2016:24).
According to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, there are three categories of municipalities. Category, A municipality make up the metropolitan, category B making the district and category C being the local. There are 278 municipalities in the country with 226 being local municipalities, 44 being local and 8 being metropolitan (Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996:89).
Compliance with Supply Chain Management is based on weather employees, councillors; state officials are given awards on the side out of regulations. Contracts, which are declared inadequate but are processed, can show that there is no SCM compliance with also providing awards to close family and friends. Lack of control in the municipality by accounting officers
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with uncompetitive procurement processes can be a sign of no compliance with SCM regulations in a municipality (Ambe, 2016:25).
To implement fairness, transparency, equity and accountability in municipalities, there are certain regulations provided by SCM process to subject certain officials to legislation. The key acts for any municipality are:
• Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000.
• Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act 5 of 2000.
• Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 (MFMA).
• Preferential Procurement Regulations 2011.
• Supply Chain Management: A Guide for Accounting Officers of Municipalities and Municipal (Fuzile, 2015:9)
In the municipal context of South Africa SCM deals mainly with financial management technique, which exists to regulate there, way funds are handled in the procurement of goods and services. It also makes sure that service delivery is responsive to the needs of society without corruption dominating transactions, hampering with the process. In the municipal environment of South Africa; a lot of municipality have failed to comply with SCM regulations. This has been corruption with few individuals benefiting financially at the expense of service delivery. In some instance, officials ignore SCM regulations with families getting an advantage with their associates when it comes to jobs and tendering processes (Ambe, 2016:25).
Municipalities in South Africa have an obligation as per section 165 of the MFMA to have an audit, which is internal to check the efficiency and effectiveness with economic use of SCM to achieve the stated goals and objectives. There should also be compliance with the external auditor, which examine the reports from the mayor. The audit assist to eliminate, corruption, nepotism from office bearers like political, accounting officers as to not affect other stakeholders which are suppliers and community members (Motuba, 2014:26).
35 2.4.2 Municipal SCM challenges
Municipalities in general face similar challenges when it comes to SCM. The major challenge is the need for human capital development associated with socioeconomic growth when it comes to understanding Supply Chain Management. The need for long-term quality service delivery is always not possible in most cases because of corruption and inefficiency (Motuba, 2014:26).
Globalization has been another factor for municipalities to deal with when comes to implementing SCM. The world has become small with the global economy being inter linked when it comes to the procurement and delivery of goods and service. Technology has been an outstanding factor, which has come with globalization. Technology has become a primary importance for SCM strategy (Motuba, 2014:24).
Officials should understand how to implement technology as it can cause damages when it’s not properly applied. Technology enables information to circulate easy with communication in the value chain with cost decreasing. The challenge facing municipalities is the lack of human capital towards technology understanding (Ambe, 2016:25).
Officials in municipalities still lack compliance and accountability. The public has been furious with SCM officials in municipalities who have engaged in corruption but still work in government and just change departments within. Municipalities not having proper organizational structures with relevant skills, knowledge and capacity to fully implement SCM functions has been a cause for the lack of service delivery and corruption (Motuba, 2014:25).
Not having the proper skills and knowledge causes polices not to be understood. SCM policies are cumbersome with officials with relevant qualifications finding it hard to understand some regulations and procedures. Communities are always in strikes because there are not informed of changes in policy and their involvement is sometimes undermined because some officials do not even know that they form part of decision making in the value chain (Ambe, 2016:25).
Municipalities have struggled to create supplier relationships, which is an important element in SCM. This has led to suppliers over charging officials and colluding as suppliers towards
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municipalities, which has had a negative impact on service delivery. Strong ethical leadership has been a growing factor which has been undermined by public officials. (Ambe, 2016:27).