Abstract
This paper reviews procurement and quality control challenges in South Africa's energy sector, highlighting how inefficiencies, corruption, and governance failures contribute to load-shedding, inflated costs, and project delays. While blockchain has been explored in various sectors, its application to the unique complexities of South Africa's energy procurement, marked by bid manipulation, political interference, and weak quality oversight, remains underexplored. This study addresses that gap by situating blockchain within this context and assessing its potential to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency. A total of 160 academic and industry sources published between 2018 and 2024 were identified, with 28 selected based on relevance, credibility, and impact for detailed thematic analysis. Findings indicate that blockchain's decentralised, tamper-proof structure can streamline procurement processes, automate verification through smart contracts, and strengthen quality control. The study also identifies adoption barriers, including resistance from entrenched systems, high implementation costs, and the absence of clear regulatory frameworks. Recommendations include establishing public–private collaboration structures, implementing targeted pilot projects, and introducing legislative measures to enable adoption. By addressing both the opportunities and barriers, the study advances the discourse on digital transformation in public procurement and offers practical pathways to promote transparency, efficiency, and sustainable energy delivery.