Despite working for leading multinational companies, Bongani Andrew Mntambo considers his job as the Head of the City’s procurement as a top professional achievement.
Born and bred in Evaton in the Vaal, Mntambo started his career as an operations manager at Shell South Africa before working at City Power as a general manager for logistics. He was later promoted to be the entity’s general manager for supply chain management.
In addition to his already extensive working history, Mntambo was an executive director for supply chain management at the City of Tshwane.
As the new Head of Strategic Supply Chain Management (SSCM), he is eager to streamline procurement processes during his tenure to make it efficient to do business within the City. Under his leadership, the City is on the cusp of implementing the approved supply chain turn-around strategy, which has critical aspects for improving municipal procurement through digitsation.
“My role is to provide the direction, foundation and guidance in the application of the elements of the Supply Chain Management system that will be embedded throughout the City to achieve effective financial management as outlined in the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA),” says Mntambo.
He adds that through various strategic interventions, the importance of his department will be reinforced, and oversight work in the City’s procurement activities improve. He asserts that it is vital to provide goods and services in a way that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
The father of three says he wants to improve staff morale in his department, reward excellence and transfer skills to empower his colleagues. He believes the sporadic walkabouts he has on the 15th floor at the Metro Centre are a powerful management style that ensures procurement requirements are actioned accordingly.
“Automating functions such as demand planning, acquisition management, stores and warehousing stock availability, and contract performance monitoring are just the tip of the iceberg of the immediate plans I need to get a grip on to ensure efficiency,” he says.
Mntambo considers teamwork as a key success factor that will lead to delivering goods and services at the right time, and at an acceptable cost. “I would like my legacy to be that of having automated SSCM processes, subsequently contributing to the smart city strategy,” he says.
Mntambo holds a Diploma in Road Transport Management, a B.Tech degree in Transport Management and a BCom Honours degree.
He also has a European Master Logistician Certificate and has finished a Master’s programme in supply chain management, an Executive Development programme as well as a Lean Logistics Certificate. He has just completed a Municipal Finance Management Certificate.
Mntambo is an ardent Kaizer Chiefs fan who also enjoys golf, reading, running and exercising. He hopes his team will win the Premier Soccer League title this season.
By Gontse ‘GeE’ Hlophe
15/10/2021