The role of e-governance in enhancing effective supply chain management in the Rand Water

Abstract

This study investigates the role of e-governance in enhancing effective supply chain management (SCM) in the Rand Water. Guided primarily by institutional theory and selectively drawing on the technology organisation, environment perspective, the study examines how coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures interact with internal capabilities to shape digital reform trajectories. This study adopted a desktop-based qualitative design, synthesising secondary sources published between 2020-2025. This includes peer-reviewed studies, policy frameworks, and audit reports to inform data collection and analysis. The analysis employed content and thematic analysis to map e-governance across the full SCM value chain, procurement, demand planning and forecasting, logistics and inventory visibility, disposal and compliance, contract oversight, and risk control, rather than treating e-procurement in isolation. Within this frame, the study seeks to address persistent weaknesses at Rand Water, fragmented platforms, manual workarounds, partial integration of the Central Supplier Database and eTender systems, skills and capacity gaps, and cyber-organisational risks. The study found that Rand Water has made notable progress in digitising procurement processes, particularly in sourcing and tendering, improving transparency, compliance, and accountability through system integration and automation. However, downstream supply chain functions remain only partially digitised, with fragmented systems, skills gaps, and cybersecurity concerns limiting the full realisation of an integrated and transformative e-governance framework. The study recommends the integration of supply chain systems into a unified digital architecture, supported by advanced analytics, improved digital skills, and strengthened data governance and cybersecurity frameworks. It further calls for a shift from compliance-driven e-governance to a more flexible, innovation-oriented approach that promotes organisational agility, responsible risk-taking, and long-term performance improvement.