Procurement Fraud, Tariffs, and Ethical Sourcing Take Centre Stage at 2025 Indaba
Procurement fraud, tariffs, and ethical sourcing headline the 19th Smart Procurement World Indaba, with over 2,000 professionals from the private and public sectors expected to attend South Africa’s leading procurement and supply chain conference.
As global markets become increasingly volatile and tariffs continue to rise, procurement is rapidly transforming from a traditional cost-cutting function into a strategic force driving innovation, collaboration, supply chain resilience, sustainability, and value creation. This evolving role is set to be a key focus at the upcoming 19th annual Smart Procurement World Indaba, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg from 15 to 18 September 2025.
The event’s theme, “Game On, it’s time to step up,” highlights the urgent need for procurement professionals to develop the right strategies and skills necessary to navigate today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment. According to CEO Debbie Tagg, this theme reflects the importance of collaboration across supply chains to deliver meaningful value and adapt successfully to disruption.
The Indaba will feature four main summits addressing critical procurement issues: the Sustainability Summit Africa, the Corporate Sourcing and Supply Chain Summit, the Public Sector Supply Chain Summit, and the Leaders’ Forum. Each summit will explore challenges and opportunities faced by procurement practitioners across sectors.
Ahead of the main conference, a pre-conference workshop will focus on combating procurement fraud through a multidisciplinary, accountability-driven approach. Facilitated by Clarence Jones, a former investigator with South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), the workshop will equip attendees with tools to identify and manage fraud risks. Emphasis will be placed on the role of whistle-blowers and implementing accountability mechanisms such as segregation of duties and electronic payment systems to enhance transparency and integrity.
Opening day keynotes will examine procurement’s role in fostering enterprise and supplier development, alongside the complexities of global sourcing amid trends such as deglobalisation, near-shoring, tariffs, and supply chain uncertainty. Economist Lara Hodes from Investec will provide insights into how South African companies can navigate these evolving dynamics.
Artificial intelligence (AI) will be a prominent topic on the second day. Jan Potgieter, managing director of Imperium, will explore how procurement leaders can integrate emotional intelligence with AI-enabled decision-making capabilities to thrive in volatile supply chain environments. Amy Hervey, founder of Architech, will discuss AI’s potential impact on employment across industries including mining, sport, finance, and retail, emphasizing that human agency remains essential in driving true transformation. Her keynote will be followed by a panel discussion on how sectors like travel and financial services balance AI adoption with maintaining human-centred interactions. Panellists include Kevin Lomax, vice president and South African managing director of Wings, and Pascalle Albrecht, Commercial Issuing executive at Absa Group.
The Indaba’s expo will bring together over 600 procurement decision-makers, featuring a dedicated “Go Green Zone” that highlights sustainable procurement solutions ranging from eco-friendly products to waste-reduction strategies.
Tagg points to a broader shift in procurement’s role—from operational support to strategic leadership. In light of ongoing economic and environmental pressures, procurement functions are increasingly tasked with managing risk, strengthening supply chain resilience, driving ESG compliance, and fostering SME growth through inclusion and enterprise development. The message is clear: the procurement profession must elevate its impact to meet the demands of a complex global landscape.
