Tech tool to tackle tender corruption

In an effort to curb corruption and fraud in the supply chain management system in the province, a new  procurement system will be implemented across KwaZulu-Natal government departments from next month.

According to a Daily News report, The  supply chain management reforms would include an electronic e-procurement system to be implemented in all government departments, a departure from the current BAS (basic accounting system) that the government uses.

It would have built-in business intelligence analysis systems to allow anyone to track tenders and how much the government was spending on certain items.

The e-procurement tool would also make it harder for officials to tamper with tenders as it would allow for the tracking of the whole tender process by anyone.

The public would be able to check what tenders were available and then bid for them.

The programme would also be linked to other databases like that of Sars and would trigger useful information such as that a bidder’s tax certificates had expired.

Once implemented, the provincial Treasury would go on a roadshow to educate citizens about the programme.