Supply chain management has a critical role in steering business success through coordinated activities of the value chain partners. The success of fast-moving consumer goods companies (FMCGs) has a direct relationship with the performance of the leading retailers, which are their main channel of distribution. The supply chain of the leading South African food FMCGs and the corresponding retail chain stores was studied with the aim of establishing that collaboration and integration enhanced the response to the customers' requirements. The study was grounded on collaboration and integration theory, and a qualitative research methodology was used. Non-probability sampling was used, and senior managers selected from the two types of firms were interviewed. The data collected was transcribed, coded and thematically interpreted using content analysis. The outcome of the study indicated that supply chain collaboration and integration of the FMCG retailers, enhanced response to the customers' requirements.

This study focused on the South African public sector supply chain (PSSC), and the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) projects in executing public service delivery. The poor public service delivery caused by perpetual protests and blockades of public facilities by angry communities prompted this research. The study looks at the possibility of applying PPPs business acumen or commercial initiative to the PSSC to ethane public service delivery. The PSSC and some of the PPP projects established after the country's democratic dispensation in 1994 were explored in pursuit of a solution to the service delivery dilemma. The theory of collaboration and integration formed the basis of the study. A qualitative research methodology was pursued, and senor managers from the South African Treasury and PPPs were interviewed. The study established that the business acumen or commercial initiative applied by PPP projects through supply chain collaboration and integration enhanced public sector delivery, and, thus, PPPs are a more suitable model than the prevailing PSSC processes.

This study probed the influence of information technology adoption by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Gauteng and Free State Provinces of South Africa. The supply chain integration and collaboration of the SMEs was also explored to ascertain the IT influence. A quantitative methodology was used as it was the best way to measure the extent of the information technology (IT) influence. The participants were sent questionnaires via the e-mail and provided feedback to the researcher via the same medium. The sample size of 300 comprised the owner/manager in the manufacturing and service sector SMEs from the two provinces. The data collected was analysed using a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) method and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using AMOS 22 Statistical Analysis software. The findings from the study indicated that information technology adoption enhanced integration and collaboration of SMEs supply chain. It also emerged that there was wide application of information technology amongst most of the SMEs approached. The other benefits that emerged from the increased use of IT in the supply chain included enhancement of customer service, inventory management, lead time, and relationship building. Indeed, Instilling IT skills to the SMEs employees was actually knowledge enhancement in performing business tasks.

Coal is one of the three fossil fuels which are the main source of energy in the world. The other fossil fuels are crude oil and natural gas. Coal exists in situ in a number of countries and it contributes 39% of the total electricity generation in the world. In South Africa coal is the primary source of energy producing the country’s 88% of electricity and a third of liquid fuels. The coal production in the world is geared to maintain the energy supply even with the rising energy demand and cost emanating from rising global population and industrialisation. Hence, the need for sustainable energy supply for the present and the future. The global phenomenon of climate change or global warming which emerged in the early 1990s blames the weather pattern change partly to human development using non-renewable energy (fossil fuels) that provide high carbon emissions into the atmosphere. As a result, United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) was formed to lead the global campaign for the development of cleaner energy (producing less carbon emissions) and intensifying the use of renewable energy sources (produce cleaner energy) in an effort to slow down the climate change. During the last quarter of 2013 scientists reached a consensus by providing a 95% proof that carbon emissions into the atmosphere contribute significantly to the climate change. Therefore, the pursuance of energy sustainability is in development of clean energy from renewable sources and the use of technologies that reduces carbon emissions from the existing sources. The United Nations require all the nations in the world to adapt to the energy sustainability initiative. The South African government has reciprocated by introducing legislations supporting the initiative and has provided funds in support of projects involved in energy saving and development of renewable sources of energy. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p1686

South Africa is predominantly a carbon economy. The coal supply chain impacts on the environment commences with mining, processing, transportation and processing by the end users. The country possess the largest coal reserves in the African continent, it is among the leading producers in the world and one of the top twenty leading nations in carbon emissions globally. Coal is the primary source of energy in South Africa producing 88% of the total electricity generation and one-third of liquid fuels production. Hence, the needs for greening the coal supply chain.The South African government newly adopted national development plan for the next twenty years proposes future reduction for coal dependency by boosting development of renewables sources of energy despite their high implementation cost. There are new legislations in support of clean energy development and sustainability initiative as mandated by the United Nations Convention on Climate Change. Greening the coal supply chain require combined efforts from the government and the industry. The focus areas include use of clean technologies in mining, processing, burning coal at power stations and the industries. Improved transportation system in form of intermodal transport with emphasis on the rail use over the road and maintaining or increasing the use of conveyor belts where appropriate would be the future for the coal value chain. However, increased use of renewable energy, use of natural gas and shale gas for the generation of electricity as they produce less carbon emissions would be the ultimate goal for greening the South African coal supply chain. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p1632

The importance of the South African coal mining industry goes back to more than 100 years. However, the logistics role of the of the coal supply chain since early 1920s when coal started replacing hydro power as a primary source of energy continues to be of significance to socio-economic attributes and of concerns in environmental impacts. The coal transportation modes are conveyor belts, rail, road and water. The South African coal serves both domestic and export markets. The leading industry players are the five leading international resources companies which produces over 80% of the commodity in the country. The companies are BHP Billiton, Anglo American, Xstrata/Glencore, Sasol and Exxaro and they jointly own Richards Bay Coal Terminal which is also the leading coal export terminal in the world. The other 20% of coal is produced by the black economic empowerment companies also known as junior miners. The domestic coal is mainly used for the generation of electricity, production of synthetic-fuels/petrochemicals, as a catalyst in the heavy industries and for cooking and space heating at homes. The coal logistics benefits the communities where the mines and consumers are located, but it also has adverse effects on the environment. These factors are some of the major logistics implications in the South African coal supply chain. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p503

Coal is a strategic commodity in South Africa as it is the Primary source of energy in form of electricity and synthetic liquid-fuels. It is also a feedstock in the heavy industries that include steel, cement, aluminium smelters and paper. Its role in socio-economic development spans over 100 years. Therefore, the importance of coal supply chain cannot be overemphasised. The mining industry and the role players comprises the South African government, public and private enterprises. Hence, there is need for collaboration of the three parties in a public-private partnership (PPP) model to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.The government role in the legislative environment, issuing of exploration, mining and water licenses among others is crucial for the industry. The state-owned corporations such as Transnet, the only national rail transport logistics company and electricity supply company (Eskom), the main electricity generating company and the leading customer/consumer of the South African coal underpins the extent of the state involvement in the industry. The private sector role of ownership of the coal-mines is dominated by the big five international organisations namely BHP Billiton, Anglo Coal, Xstrata/Glencore, Sasol and Exxaro and the black economic empowerment (BEE) companies or junior miners. The electricity and the liquid-fuels types of energy impact on all sectors of the economy. It is this complex relationship by all the role players in the coal-mining industry supply chain that requires enhanced collaboration in a PPP model to harmonise the entire operations in the value-chain. The relationship of the industry players was observed through the mining process, coal transportation to the domestic customers/consumers and export markets. The coal transport logistics infrastructures comprising conveyor belts, rail, road and water were explored and constraints requiring PPP solutions identified. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n4p224

The study explored possible areas for applying the Theory of Constraints in the South African coal mining industry supply chain with the aim of improving effectiveness, efficiency and profitability (throughput). The origin of the Theory of Constraints was explored including various aspects of its application such as the system theory, capacity management, thinking/approach and throughput. Various types of plant classifications were reviewed to ascertain how coal supply chain would be classified. The five step processes pioneered by Goldratt for identifying and alleviating constraints were explored as would be applied in the coal supply chain. The other areas studied included constraint based approach, coal infrastructure, demand management and optimised production technology. The Theory’s intended impacts on the coal mining industry supply chain collaboration were also observed. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n9p131

Coal has been an important commodity in South Africa for many years and it is one of the oldest mining enterprises in the country. Its role since 1923 as a primary source of energy has steered the economy and society to prosperity. The energy generated especially electricity and synthetic fuels impacts on all sectors of the economy and the society. The country has enough coal for domestic consumption and for export to last the country for longer than it has existed. There are 73 collieries distributed through the coal mining areas with majority of them (61) situated in the Mpumalanga coalfields. The only problem with coal mining is raising carbon footprint and carbon emissions that have become a global issue for nearly the last two decades. The five leading coal mining companies (Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton, Exxaro, Xstrata and Sasol) produce over 80% of the South African coal. The rest is produced by junior miners that comprise the newly established Black Economic Empowerment companies. The domestic coal consumption is 75 percent of the total coal produced in the country while 25 percent is exported. The interactions of the role players in the coal mining industry commencing with the government regulations, supply chain members, employees and the society who are the beneficiaries of the process underpins the socio-economic attributes of the industry. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p347