The University of Venda (UNIVEN) hosted a joint workshop of its Facilities Planning and Infrastructure Committee (FPIC), Finance Committee (FINCOM), and Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) on 13 November 2025 at the Protea Fire & Ice Hotel in Menlyn, Pretoria.
The session, facilitated by Dr Takalani Dzaga, Director of Marketing, Branding and Communication, brought together governance structures to deliberate on the Integrated Supply Chain Management (SCM) Policy and the Draft 2026–2030 Institutional Strategic Risk Validation framework.
Opening the joint workshop of the Facilities Planning and Infrastructure, Finance, and Audit and Risk Committees, the Chairperson of the Facilities Planning and Infrastructure Committee, Mr Edwin Mabelebele welcomed members and stakeholders to a strategic session aimed at refining the University of Venda’s Supply Chain Management and Infrastructure Procurement and Delivery Management Policy.
He highlighted the importance of harnessing the diverse expertise within the committees to shape a policy that upholds governance integrity, aligns with international best practices, and advances the University’s developmental agenda. The Chairperson underscored that the poli-cy must drive job creation, supplier development, and economic growth while ensuring robust monitoring, accountability, and innovation in infrastructure management.
He further emphasised the need to prioritise both new projects and the maintenance of exist-ing infrastructure, strengthen supplier performance oversight, and ensure fair and transparent procurement practices.
In conclusion, he commended the Director: Supply Chain Management and Expenditure, Mrs Beauty Mutheiwana, and her team for their diligent work in preparing the draft policy for consideration.
The workshop featured an in-depth presentation by Mrs Beauty Mutheiwana, Director of Supply Chain Management and Expenditure, who outlined the University’s Integrated SCM Policy, a uni-fied approach to procurement and infrastructure delivery grounded in constitutional principles of fairness, transparency, competitiveness, equity, and cost-effectiveness.
The policy consolidates procurement for goods, services, research equipment, and infrastruc-ture into a single governance framework guided by national legislation such as the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), the Higher Education Act (1997), the Public Procurement Act (2024), and the BBBEE Act (2003).
Mrs Mutheiwana highlighted the policy’s Five Pillars of Procurement: Fairness, Transparency, Competition, Cost-Effectiveness, and Empowerment, supported by rigorous ethical standards and governance controls.
The integrated policy eliminates fragmentation in procurement processes by establishing clear delegations of authority, lifecycle planning for infrastructure projects, and internal auditing for probity.
It positions procurement not merely as a transactional activity but as a strategic enabler of the university’s mission, advancing sustainability, local economic participation, and ethical leadership.
The workshop also received a presentation from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni, titled “Draft 2026–2030 Institutional Strategic Risk Validation.” Prof Nthambeleni outlined the consultative process through which the university’s Executive and Senior Management identified key strategic risks that could affect the implementation of the new Strategic Plan. Drawing on internal audit reports, risk registers, and performance data, the presentation emphasised that proactive risk assessment enhances decision-making, strengthens institutional resilience, and ensures that UNIVEN remains adaptive and sustainable in achieving its long-term objectives.
The Chief Operating Officer, Mr Botwe Kraziya, closed the session by thanking participants for their commitment and invaluable contributions. He commended members for their active par-ticipation and providing inputs that would be integrated into the final SCM Policy and 2026–2030 Strategic Risk Register.
In his closing remarks, Mr Mabelebele expressed appreciation for the constructive deliberations and commended members for their dedication to strengthening governance and accountability across the university.
Through this joint committee engagement, UNIVEN reaffirmed its commitment to transparent governance, ethical procurement, and strategic risk management, key pillars in driving institu-tional excellence and sustainable development.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
