| Government's Programme of Action - 2004 | |
| Governance & Administration Cluster | ||
| Actions | Departments | Timeframe | Progress - Updated 15 Feb 2005 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.00 | ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPMENTAL STATE | ||||
| 1.01 | Batho Pele change management campaign immediately accelerated, injecting energy of election campaign into the public service | DPSA | Ongoing | Comprehensive Batho-Pele Revitalization Programme management document has been developed. A road show to provinces and provincial EXCO's and HOD Forum is being planned. | |
| 1.02 | Promote common understanding across all sectors of country's development vision | DPLG, Presidency, GCIS, NT | Ongoing | A proposal for the National Sustainable Development Strategy has been submitted to Cabinet and the draft strategy for Local Economic Development is ready to be submitted to Cabinet | |
| 1.03 | Compulsory induction/orientation of public servants (Batho Pele, Constitution, etc) | SAMDI, DPSA | Ongoing | Planning stage for phase 2 is underway. | |
| 1.04 | Batho Pele requirements in performance agreements in terms of belief set "we belong, we care, we serve" | DPSA, SAMDI | Ongoing | Guidelines are being developed on how to factor Batho Pele requirements into Performance Agreements and performance evaluation | |
| 1.05 | Develop accountability framework for public servants - to the people | DPSA, OPSC | Ongoing | The framework for accountability in the public sector is being developed | |
| 1.06 | Develop Imbizo, Letsema and Community Development Workers as innovative instruments | GCIS, Presidency | Ongoing | See 1.06.1-3 below | |
| 1.06.1 | Increase Community Development Worker intake from current 491 to 1236 covering 200 municipalities | DPSA , SAMDI, DPLG | Mar-05 | By Jan-05, there were 557 Community Development Workers | |
| 1.06.2 | Deal urgently with challenges re: funding; learnership and institutional model for Community Development Workers | DPSA, SAMDI | Jul-04 | 1 454 CDWs in learnerships nationally. 565 CDW graduates will qualify and be ready for placement by Jun-05. Pilots in 8 muniicipalities and ward plans developed to feed into IDP review process. | |
| 1.06.3 | Further refine the Imbizo programme of direct interaction between the government and the people, drawing on our experience over the last 5 years | GCIS, Presidency | Ongoing | Sep-04 Focus Week largest ever with most local government participation. President and Deputy President did imbizo provincial visits. Planning for 2005 National Imbizo Focus Week is underway. | |
| 1.07 | Popular community participation deepened | DPLG | A report from the pilot on Community Based Planning is being finalised. | ||
| 1.07.1 | Participation and shared responsibility in implementation | DPLG | A consultative conference on community participation is being organised to enhance community involvement in governance | ||
| 1.07.2 | Develop and implement measures to enhance participation of civil society structures | DPLG, DPSA | Ongoing | Guidelines for community participation have been drafted and civil society is being consulted for comment | |
| 1.07.3 | Government-wide policy guidelines on participation and consultation | DPLG, DPSA | A research study has been commissioned to evaluate the functioning of the Ward Committees and strengthen policy guidelines on community participation | ||
| 1.07.4 | Community monitoring and evaluation | DPLG, Presidency, DPSA | Ongoing | Public hearings, izimbizo etc are the mechanisms put in place to encourage community monitoring and evaluation. | |
| 1.07.5 | Immediate discussions with provincial and local govt on feasibility of institutionalised co-operation with civil society similar to national Presidential Working Groups | DPLG, Presidency | Ongoing | Guidelines for community participation have been developed and circulated to stakeholders for comments | |
| 1.07.6 | Assist local government to ensure that the system of Ward Committees functions as visualised in national legislation | DPLG | Ongoing | More than 80% of ward committees have been established and research on functioning of ward committees has been commissioned. Related to 1.07.3 | |
| 1.07.7 | National departments will liaise with the National Development Agency to improve their cooperation especially with developmental non-governmental and community-based organisations | DSD | Ongoing | A model for public participation has been developed to address customization of approach towards cooperation. | |
| 1.08 | Ensure the proper functioning of the public sector SETA to address the challenge of building a public service that has the requisite skills and motivation to meet the developmental challenges of our democratic state | DPSA, DoL, SAMDI | Ongoing | Efforts to strengthen the human resource complement for the public sector SETA within DPSA are ongoing while challenges are identified | |
2.00 | HUMAN RESOURCES FOCUS | ||||
| 2.01 | Strengthen HR Planning function | DPSA, SAMDI | Ongoing | Research and review looking at HR planning is still underway | |
| 2.02 | Strengthen HR function with view to retention and capacity building, in context of labour market, changing skills requirements and contribution of higher education institutions | DPSA, SAMDI | Ongoing | Research focusing on the HRM model and competency has been completed | |
| 2.03 | Aggressive public sector HR development campaign | DPSA, SAMDI | Ongoing | The consultation process for the review of HRDS for the public service is underway. | |
| 2.04 | Strengthen DPSA capacity to strengthen implementation of decentralised HR policies | DPSA | Ongoing | Systems and processes for strengthening HR policies are being developed | |
| 2.05 | Improve quality of work experience | DPSA | Ongoing | See 2.05.1 to 2.05.3 | |
| 2.05.1 | Improve the physical work environment | DPW, DPSA | Ongoing | A strategy for improving location of government offices was submitted to Cabinet in Dec-04. | |
| 2.05.2 | Simplify performance management system for lower levels | DPSA | Ongoing | A discussion document has been developed | |
| 2.05.3 | Attend to conditions of service of professionals to attract and retain them in the public service | DPSA | Ongoing | A broad framework introducing payment of scarce skills allowances to identified personnel in selected occupations been tabled at the PSCBC. Implementation has commenced in the Health Sector | |
3.00 | BETTER GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT | ||||
| 3.01 | Relationship between Executive and Head of Department (HOD) | OPSC, DPSA | Ongoing | A study addressing the relationship between Executive and HOD's, role clarification and strengthening of support for Executive is being finalised and will be made available during 2005. | |
| 3.01.1 | Role clarification and distinction between Executive and HOD | OPSC, DPSA | See 3.01 | ||
| 3.01.2 | Strengthen support capacity for Members of the Executive | OPSC, DPSA , SAMDI | See 3.01 | ||
| 3.01.3 | Provide explicit accountability framework | OPSC | Project plan for the review of the HOD evaluation framework has been finalised and the draft accountability framework will be developed during 2005 | ||
| 3.02 | Management capacity | DPSA, OPSC, SAMDI | Ongoing | See 3.02.1-3 below | |
| 3.02.1 | Implement all delegations across all spheres in the immediate term | DPLG | Guidelines on the sections 9 and 10 of the Municipal Systems Act have been published | ||
| 3.02.2 | Ensure regulatory flexibility - intensify programme to reduce red tape in the public service | DPSA | In Nov-04 the Minister of Public Service and Administration awarded prizes to public servants who proposed best innovations for the elimination of red tape | ||
| 3.02.3 | Review Public Service Act and Public Finance Management Act in the medium term | DPSA, NT | Work in progress. | ||
| 3.03 | Review the Senior Management Service | DPSA | Ongoing | The findings of the review of competency based assessments for the senior management service were submitted to Cabinet in Jan-05 | |
| 3.03.1 | Appoint to the Service rather than a post | DPSA | Regulatory provisions in place | ||
| 3.03.2 | Facilitate mobility and expert intervention capacity, domestic and regional | DHA | Mapping of processes through a business modelling project commenced | ||
| 3.03.3 | Consider formal (competitive) entrance exams | DPSA | Pilots have been completed | ||
| 3.04 | Significantly strengthen middle management capacity | DPSA | Ongoing | SAMDI has commenced with training that is aligned to the competency framework developed | |
4.00 | MACRO-ORGANISATION OF THE STATE | ||||
| 4.01 | Exploit synergies in the structural landscape and create more coherence for greater impact | DPSA, DPLG | Cabinet Memorandum has been prepared on initial work on review of SOEs and regulatory framework is being developed | ||
| 4.02 | Finalise the framework for intergovernmental relations with respect to assignment of roles and functions - passing the Intergovernmental Framework Relations Bill this year | DPLG, Presidency | Dec-04 | Intergovernmental Relations Framework Bill has been certified and introduced into Parliament | |
| 4.03 | Review of Public Entities and SOE's, with report, including recommendations on legislative changes, completed by July, focusing on the following wrt PE's: classification framework; different corporate forms; corporate governance and HRMs | DPSA, NT, DPE | Jul-04 | A preliminary report on the review of Public entities has been submitted to the Governance and Administration Cabinet Committee | |
| 4.04 | Integrate initiatives for accelerated service delivery, e.g. Gateway; e-governance | DPSA | See 4.01,4.02 below | ||
| 4.04.1 | Launch the Batho Pele Gateway Portal, which will provide streamlined government services on-line, including through public information terminals in Post Offices and Multi-Purpose Community Centres, within two months | DPSA, GCIS | Aug-04 | Charter for Batho Pele Gateway Improvement Project has been defined. | |
| 4.04.2 | Build 60 Multi Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) and finalise plans to have at least one of these in each of our 284 municipal areas | GCIS | Dec-04 | 65 MPCCs are operational. Strategy on implementation of the second generation of MPCCs extending to 284 municipal areas was approved by Cabinet in Jan-05 | |
| 4.05 | Create a unified public service dispensation for the public service and local government | DPSA, DPLG | Ongoing | Legislation on employment matters for local government and governance of public entities is being prepared | |
| 4.06 | Work with relevant provincial governments to expedite the passage of provincial legislation regarding the place and role of the system of traditional government | DPLG | Ongoing | Out of 6 relevant provinces, five have published their draft Bills for public comment | |
5.00 | POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FOCUS | ||||
| 5.01 | Policy reviews of most important transformation policies, focusing on development impact; impact on vulnerable groups; and implementation feasibility | DPSA, Presidency | Ongoing | There is ongoing review of government policies and programmes through cluster system | |
| 5.02 | Better informed on resource implications of proposed policies prior to Cabinet decisions | Presidency, NT | Ongoing | There is ongoing review of issues to be tabled in Cabinet on resource implications for proposed policies | |
| 5.03 | Improve system of regular cluster reports to Cabinet | Presidency, Clusters | Ongoing | There is a bi-monthly process in place to ensure regular cluster reporting to Cabinet | |
| 5.04 | Guidelines for improved policy-making and implementation | Presidency, NT, DPSA, DPLG | Ongoing | The national Planning Framework and guidelines published in 2001 are being reviewed | |
| 5.05 | Create high-level expertise to assist with implementation, including macro-policy management function with capacity for implementation, planning, sequencing and removal of service delivery blockages | DPSA | Ongoing | Work is in progress to identify the requirements and status for high level expertise to improve the capacity of government to implement its developmental programmes | |
| 5.06 | Programme of engagement for Local Government - Project Consolidate | DPLG | Ongoing | ||
| 5.06.01 | Public participation, Ward Committees and Community Development Workers | DPLG, DPSC | See 1.06.2 | ||
| 5.06.02 | Human relations and electoral administration | DPLG | Work is continuing to develop human relations and establish electoral administration in preparation for local government elections | ||
| 5.06.03 | Indigent policy, free basic services, billing systems and municipal debt | DPLG | 12 municpalities have been targetted as part of Project Consolidate, that will receive dedicated attention to address their billing problems | ||
| 5.06.04 | Expanded Public Works Programme, Municipal Infrastructure Grant and Local Economic Development | DPW, DPLG , NT | Ongoing | The three programmes are being implemented to enhance social infrastructure, job creation and economic development | |
| 5.06.05 | Anti-Corruption | DPSA, SAPS | Ongoing | A national summit on Anti-corruption is being planned | |
| 5.06.06 | Specific interventions arising from Section 139 of the Constitution, rural and urban nodes | DPLG | A review on the progress made in implementing the developmental programmes in the 21 rural and urban nodes has been undertaken | ||
| 5.06.07 | Performance management, service delivery indicators and communication | DPLG, OPSC, Presidency, GCIS | Ongoing | Successful 2004 Municipal Performance Excellence (Vuna) Awards held in Dec-04. A monitoring system for performance management in municipalities is being refined | |
| 5.06.08 | Local Government will invest R38 billion in infrastructure over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework period | DPLG, NT | Mar-07 | 71 Project Management Units have been established to assist with Programme Management at a local level | |
| 5.06.09 | Major review of the local government equitable share allocation and formula, to ensure that municipalities with low fiscal capacity are adequately resourced, and empowered to collect their own revenues. | NT, DPLG | Dec-04 | A review has been undertaken and work is in progress to address the recommendations that arose from the review | |
| 5.06.10 | Review municipal capacity for credit control and implementing policies that alleviate the plight of the indigent | DPLG | Dec-04 | Revenue Enhancement Programme is being implemented in 12 municipalities. This is part of Project Consolidate which is specifically targetted at municipalities which have high levels of the indigent present | |
| 5.07 | Refine the delivery orientation of local government | DPLG | Ongoing | ||
| 5.07.1 | Identify and implement action areas requiring immediate and ongoing support to Local Government by National and Provincial spheres | DPLG, Presidency | Project Consolidate was launched in 2004 as an initiative of the whole of government to target 136 municipalities that require additional support in key areas of service delivery and governance | ||
| 5.07.2 | Focus on forging a common vision with key service delivery departments regarding the role of local government | DPLG, Presidency | This is being addressed through, inter alia, the establishment of a Cabinet Inter-Ministerial Committee and a Technical committee of senior officials to oversee and support Project Consolidate | ||
| 5.07.3 | Undertake systematic monitoring and evaluation of this programme through structured reports to Cabinet and PCC twice a year | DPLG, OPSC, Presidency | A proposal for monitoring progress on the implementation of the government’s programme of action at provincial level was submitted to PCC in Nov-04 | ||
| 5.07.4 | Establish trouble-shooting capacity to identify and remove bottlenecks inhibiting acceleration of service delivery and local government transformation | DPLG, | A national Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established in the DPLG to assist in identifying service delivery bottlenecks and supporting the various initiatives aimed at addressing these bottlenecks | ||
| 5.07.5 | More focused and targeted support to areas and communities neglected by apartheid government | DPLG | Projects specifically aimed at addressing capability shortfalls in the 21 rural and urban nodes have been approved for implementation within the Project Consolidate | ||
| 5.07.6 | Engage and interact directly with municipalities, communities and key stakeholders | DPLG | At the end of 2004, a national workshop was convened of provinces and 136 municipalities that are part of Project Consolidate, to agree on the implementation arrangements. A National Advisory Working Group has also been established to this effect | ||
| 5.07.7 | Work intensively with Offices of Premiers for them to assume greater profile in local government transformation | DPLG | In 2004 the Ministry and DPLG met all Premiers to discuss and mobilize their support for Local Government Transformatio and Project Consolidate. Local government matters are also regular agenda items to President's Coordinating Council | ||
| 5.07.8 | Work closely with provinces in finalizing and harmonizing Provincial Growth and Development Strategies and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and the National Spatial Development Perspective | Presidency, DPLG, NT | Dec-04 | Project completed and a Cabinet memorandum on interventions needed to drive alignment was submitted to Cabinet in Jan-05 | |
| 5.07.9 | Closer attention to policy matters needing refinement and clarification | Presidency | Work is ongoing within the Presidency, the Cabinet system and the Cluster to continuously attend to policy matters that need revision, refinement or clarification. | ||
6.00 | EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING | ||||
| 6.01 | Create strong information base for good governance and service the developmental state | Stats SA, Presidency | The National Statistical System has been established to develop a strong culture of information collection, collation and management to support good governance and developmental initiatives | ||
| 6.02 | Create government-wide M&E framework to track impact of government programmes against goals and effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery outputs | Presidency, OPSC, NT, DPSA, DPLG | A proposal on the architecture and implementation is under development | ||
| 6.03 | Urgently improving our knowledge of what goes on in service delivery institutions (schools, clinics, etc) | Stats SA, Presidency | Discussions around the draft MOU between Presidency and Stats SA took place in January 2005. The proposed draft is being refined. | ||
| 6.04 | Establish Service Delivery Co-ordination Forums (complementing Project Consolidate) | DPLG,DPSA, GCIS | Forums are being established as part of Project Consolidate | ||
| 6.04.1 | Premiers Offices to convene district managers in Education, Social Development, Health, Area Commissioner, etc | DPLG, Presidency, DPSA, DoH, DoE | Premiers' Offices are playing a coordinating role in provinces on an ongoing basis | ||
| 6.04.2 | Identify areas where intervention is needed and deploy officials from elsewhere in government for days or months as needed | DPSA, | Framework for interventions drafted in preparation for future interventions | ||
| 6.04.3 | Focus on basics like record-keeping and discipline | DPSA | Handbook for record-keeping developed | ||
| 6.05 | Operationalise the early warning system across entire system of service delivery | DPSA, GCIS, NT, Presidency | Early Warning System will be implemented as part of the government wide monitoring and evaluation project | ||
| 6.06 | Provide support in response to early warning system through a well-resourced rapid response capability to address service delivery backlogs | DPLG, Presidency, NT, GCIS | The DPLG and the established Project Management Units are refining a monitoring instrument that will inform support to be provided to the 136 targeted municipalities | ||
| 6.06.1 | Refine the system of M&E to improve the performance of our system of governance and the quality of our outputs, providing an early warning system and a mechanism to respond speedily to problems when they arise. | Presidency, DPSA, DPLG, NT | Work to conduct a comprehensive review of existing M&E systems across all three spheres of government was completed in January 2005 | ||
7.00 | RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE SECOND ECONOMY | ||||
| 7.01 | Launch the Expanded Public Works Programme in all provinces by beginning of September, concentrating on the 21 urban and rural nodes already identified in terms of our Urban Renewal and Integrated and Sustainable Rural Development Programmes | DPW, DPLG | See Economic Cluster 9.01 | ||
| 7.02 | A Financing Protocol relating to the Urban Renewal and Rural Development Programmes will be finalised within two months, to improve effective and co-ordinated financing of these Programmes by the three spheres of government and different departments | DPLG, NT | Aug-04 | Jan-05 Cabinet Lekgotla approved recommendations regarding department's and SOE's future contributions in the nodes. These are now being developed for the medium term into Cluster strategies and funding commitments as part of the Financing Protocol | |
| 7.03 | DPSA, DPLG and Communications will work to ensure that modern ICTs are introduced in the development nodes as quickly as possible, to assist in all their developmental and governance efforts | DOC, DPLG, DPSA, | Discussions are under way with DPSA regarding the launching of the E-Gateway portal in all 21 nodes | ||
| Last updated: 2005 March 7 | |||||