Remedies for possible corrupt activities within the Supply Chain Management Directorate of the Department of Correctional Services

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to investigate remedies for possible corrupt activities transpiring within the supply chain management (SCM) division of the Department of the Correctional Services (DCS). The focus of the study was to review the level of awareness of public service corruption; to evaluate the policy guidelines and responsibilities of the SCM division in the DCS; and to evaluate and describe the corruption challenges in the SCM division of the DCS. The study includes a survey of international and national literature on the remedies for corruption in SCM. The study was conducted at two correctional services regions, namely, Gauteng region and Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West region. The Pretoria district is responsible for two geographically large regions. In this study, a sample size of 30 respondents was targeted. A total of 30 respondents provided feedback which translated to a 100% response rate. Survey questionnaires were distributed to the respondents, whereby 30 returned completed questionnaires, meeting the required sample figures. Respondents were selected using random sampling. A quantitative research methodology was utilised for the interpretation and analysis of data. The quantitative data was triangulated with data collected through the documentary study. The major findings of this study confirm that the DCS does not adequately address the challenge of corruption and its remedies within the SCM directorate. The following finding supports this proposition: departmental officials do not regularly attend corruption prevention and ethics workshops. This inevitably implies lower levels of awareness of the phenomenon of corruption and its negative impact. Communication about procurement corruption is not clear or provided timeously. The study also confirmed that respondents often observe colleagues ignoring department’s policies and procedures. Respondents disagreed that the department undertakes vetting of all newly recruited staff. The study confirmed the respondents’ view that the awareness of the effect of corruption on the activities of the Department is inadequate. Proposed remedies include education and training interventions on a continuous basis, the encouragement of whistle blowing to enable suppliers and communities to report corruption, the vetting of newly recruited and appointed officials, and awareness campaigns to emphasise the debilitating effect of corruption on the department (directly) as well as society (indirectly).