The concept of supply chain is predominant in literature. It offers solutions to keeping costs to a minimum and at an acceptable level of services. Supply chain management represents a significant change in the way that organisations view themselves and has witnessed values created through the integration and coordination of supply, demand and relationships in order to satisfy customers in an effective and profitable manner both in the private and public sectors. Despite the importance of supply chain management and its role in creating and sustaining competitive advantage in the private sector, it has not been used to its fullest potential as a tool for enhancing public procurement. The main objective of this paper is to explore the perspectives and practices of supply chain management in the public sector. The theoretical paper is supplemented by a case study of the South African public sector supply chain. The paper identifies the