Southern Africa’s Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, SAPICS, has affirmed its support of an industry-wide pledge to fight corruption within the supply chain sector.

“As the president of SAPICS, and in my capacity as the group chief procurement officer of PRASA,  and as a passionate supply chain professional, I pledge to take a firm stand against corruption in all its forms within the supply chain fraternity,” SAPICS president Keabetswe Mpane announced.

She said that SAPICS is proud to support and endorse a petition launched by AWISCA (African Women in Supply Chain Association) that urges all stakeholders to root out corruption. Among other demands, this petition calls for “the robust public prosecution of those found guilty of any form of corruption”.

The supply chain profession’s stand follows a growing public outcry over the corruption taking place in the procurement of PPE (personal protective equipment), with President Cyril Ramaphosa describing those involved in this corruption as “hyenas and scavengers”.

“SAPICS is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in the supply chain and procurement profession. We are uncompromising in our drive to ensure that individuals and organisations in the supply chain field have the skills and support that they need to operate with integrity and uphold the highest moral and professional standards,” Mpane said.

Ethical leadership and the scourge of corruption will be addressed in one of the powerful presentations planned for the annual SAPICS Conference next month. Human capital and strategy expert Buyani Zwane is one of the speakers who will be addressing supply chain professionals at this year’s online event. He asserts that Africa’s future growth and prosperity hangs in the balance, as corruption erodes the basic fibre of economies, organisations and communities.

What is needed most, Zwane says, is ethical leadership. “This is the foundation on which we must build the path to attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the SADC region and African continent undeterred by pandemics.”

Hosted annually by SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management in Southern Africa, the SAPICS Conference is Africa’s leading knowledge sharing and networking event for supply chain professionals. This year, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the event takes the form of a virtual conference on 23 and 24 November.

“Through collaboration and education, we can ensure that supply chains across Africa are managed by professionals who are professionally competent and emotionally supported. We need skilled, professional, suitably qualified supply chain professionals now more than ever, and superior education and training like that offered by SAPICS will ensure that supply chains keep moving now and beyond Covid-19,” Mpane stated.