“In signing the MoU, CIPS is holding itself accountable to the SOEPF motto of ‘spearheading good governance’, said CIPS SA MD Andre Coetzee.

Coetzee said that existing legislation has not stopped corruption in certain Procurement activities and what is missing from the profession is leadership on ethics and integrity.

To that end SOEPF and CIPS are working towards making CIPS the formally recognised professional body for Purchasing and Supply Management in South Africa.

“The South African Revenue Service’s Department of Human Resources favours CIPS qualifications when filling procurement posts,” said Kamogelo Mampane, Chairman of SOEPF’s Skills Development Committee, at the signing.

The two bodies aim to ensure that all Procurement and Supply Chain officials in Southern Africa have a license to practice.

“In order to promote the profession, its professionals must be held in esteem as skilled individuals with integrity,” said SOEPF Chairperson Fantas Mobu.

Mobu added that collaboration is the key in improving and protecting the image of Procurement.
The bodies will collaborate in areas including:
• Advocacy and lobbying towards enhancing the professional status of the purchasing and supply community within South Africa.
• Participating in the SCM education reform within the country.
• Encouraging staff to join CIPS Southern Africa as members and to work towards obtaining MCIPS membership status.
• Incorporating the professional membership status within employee development programmes.

SOEPF was formed in June 2004 and is a voluntary forum of Procurement / Supply Chain Management heads of South Africa’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Its purpose is to share best practices in Supply Chain Management within the SOEs and actively promote and adhere to the Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act.

More importantly, SOEPF promotes Procurement as an integral part of the strategic function of any organization, thus promoting the procurement profession.

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) is an international professional body dedicated to serving the Purchasing and Supply Profession and to promoting good practice.

CIPS provides a wide range of services and qualifications focusing on people development, process development and performance enhancement in the supply chain arena. The flagship qualification offered by CIPS is at Honours Degree level and leads to the internationally recognised professional designation of MCIPS.

CIPS Southern Africa represents CIPS in South Africa.