Assessing Sustainable Procurement in South African State-Owned Enterprises: A Comparative Perspective

This study assesses the institutionalisation of sustainable procurement (SP) practices in South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs), evaluating their alignment with economic, social, and environmental sustainability objectives. It further explores the challenges hindering SP implementation and the variations in adoption across Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 SOEs. We employed a mixed-methods approach based on semi-structured interviews with 51 procurement professionals across 26 SOEs. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques in SPSS while the open data using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that economic sustainability receives the highest emphasis, social sustainability is moderately integrated, and environmental sustainability is the weakest. Notably, Schedule 3 SOEs demonstrate greater adherence to government mandated sustainability policies, while Schedule 2 SOEs prioritize financial autonomy and cost-driven procurement strategies. Governance issues, corruption, and lack of SP training further impede comprehensive sustainability adoption. This study advances the empirical understanding of SP practices in SOEs within a developing economy. It also provides practical recommendations for government policymakers, SOE leadership, and procurement professionals, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive national SP framework, regulatory enforcement, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance SP integration.