REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS ON BUDGET VOTE 11: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION (DPSA)

 

The Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs having considered Budget Vote 11 of the DPSA, reports as follows:

 

1.         Introduction

 

1.2        On the 16th April 2010, the Committee met with the DPSA to hear briefings on their medium-term budget and strategic plans for the 2010 /11 financial year. This was done as part of the Committee’s role in conducting parliamentary oversight and ensuring executive accountability, especially with regards to the budget expenditure of the Department.

 

2.         Background

 

2.1        The Senior Departmental Officials who appeared before the Committee included the Acting Director-General, Acting Chief Operation Officer, Acting Chief Financial Officer and other departmental officials. The main objective of the briefing session was to allow the Department to brief the Committee on its 2010/11 medium-term budget, priority projects per programme and how the Department intends to address the challenges encountered with regards to the realising its vision and mission.

 

            3.         DPSA Budget Vote

 

3.1        An apology was given for the absence of both the Minister and his Deputy. The Acting Director-General presented the Department’s 2010/11 Budget Vote. The presentation focused on previous year’s achievements and challenges, Medium-Term Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan as well as the Medium Term Budget for the 2010/11 financial year. The table below gives a breakdown on the budget’s economic classification with respect to the departmental programmes:

Programmes

 

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

1. Administration

138, 787

140, 559

147, 358

2. Human Resource Management and Development in Government

48, 903

39, 175

41, 503

3. Labour Relations and Compensation Management in Government

57, 220

57, 166

58, 076

4. Information and Technology Management in Government

45, 357

45, 202

47, 320

5. Service Delivery Improvement throughout Government

186, 663

188, 314

195, 118

6. Governance and Public Service and Administration

174, 554

186, 729

194, 732

TOTAL

651, 484

657, 145

684, 107

2010 MTEF Allocations as in the Estimate of National Expenditure (ENE).

 

3.2        For the purpose of this report, the measurable objectives achieved by the Department for each programme are outlined below:

 

(A)        Human Resource Management and Development (HRM&D)

 

3.3               Some of the major achievements reported by the Department in respect of the above–mentioned programme included the development of an integrated Health Risk Assessment and Management System (OHASIS). A curriculum for HR practitioners has been implemented by PALAMA (Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy), learning materials for the JobACCESS has been developed. Furthermore, a draft strategic framework for performance management system was developed, and a blue-print on performance measures will also be developed. The HR Connect programme was rolled out to 56 departments and the programme was on track. 

 

(B)        Management of Compensation (MOC)

 

3.4               The significant achievements in relation to MOC programme reported by the Department included the completion of preparatory work for monitoring and evaluation of nurses, and the development and implementation of HR module of the Information of Financial Management System (IFMS). The module was currently under pilot in Free State and DPSA.  It was reported that a Public Sector Summit was held and a declaration was signed. The main purpose being to strengthen social partnership for good governance and revised policy on post retirement medical assistance and implementation of pension policy on past discriminatory practices.

 

(C)        Information and Technology Management (I&TM)

 

3.5               Achievement registered under this proramme related to the development of a Government Wide Information Security Governance Framework, connection of 46 Thusong Service Centres to a centralized ICT infrastructure. A report on the ICT Expenditure patterns in the public service was concluded, with recommendations on strategies to save/reduce costs/expenditure. In addition, the Department reported that an Architecture blue-print for IT was still work in progress and provinces were being consulted.

 

(D)        Service Delivery Improvement (SDI) 

 

3.6        The Department reported that it has provided assistance to the departments with regards to the development of service delivery models. The Community Development Worker Policy Framework was developed, with norms and standards and guideline being finalized. A total of 500 officials were trained in developing and implementing 3 year Service Delivery Improvement Programmes and Standards (SDIPs).

 

(E)        Governance for Public Service and Administration

 

3.7               The major achievements in relation to this programme included the development of a monitoring and evaluation training programme to support consolidated system for “one time” reporting on various public service regulations. Equally, the Conflict of Interest Framework was implemented as well as the completion of compliance audit in 36 national departments. Lastly, the Department has developed an anti-corruption capacity building programme with PALAMA, and it was indicated that an Anti-Corruption Summit and experts’ roundtable was hosted to approve the Programme of Action requirements.

 

 

4.         Annual Performance Plan (2010/11)

 

4.1        The 2010/11 Annual Performance Plan tabled by the Department is based on the 10 strategic priorities identified, and are linked to performance outcomes. These strategic priorities include service delivery quality and access; effective systems, structures and processes; leverage ICT as a strategic resource; effective employment entry into public service and HRD;  effective HRM Practices, norms and standards; healthy, safe working environments for all public servants; appropriate governance structures and decision-making; citizen engagement, stakeholder and public participation; corruption tackled effectively and lastly, contributing to improved public service in Africa and international arena. The strategic priorities are discussed below:

  

            Priority 1: Service Delivery Quality and Access

4.1.1          The intention of this strategic priority is to enforce the requirements the SDIP’s as well as conducting user satisfaction surveys of government services. During this financial year, the Department aim to forge social compact with labour to improve service delivery. Together with relevant institutions, the Department will develop standards for waiting time for pensions, hospital queues and vehicle licensing centres.

 

Priority 2: Effective Systems, Structures and Processes

4.1.2          Part of the Department’s goal under this priority is to centralised Expert/Specialist PERSAL and directing departments to improve quality of PERSAL information and monitor progress of the data clean-up processes involved. The Department will then train all line departments and issue certificates of competence to HR end-users.

 

Priority 3: Leverage ICT as a Strategic Resource (Enabler)

4.1.3     The Department will oversee the turn-around strategy for SITA and work collaboratively with the GITOC to improve the service delivery of mandatory IT services by SITA. Furthermore, it will also implement the roll-out of skills database to all line departments.

 

            Priority 4: Effective Employment Entry into Public Service HRD

4.1.4     A comprehensive funding model for public sector training linked to skills development 

            legislation will be established, with a minimum levels of training per annum for the 

            public sector in specific competency areas. The Department will also introduce a national integrated public sector training system covering the three spheres of government, as well streamline the government-wide institutional landscape for public sector training.

           

            Priority 5: Effective HRM Practices, Norms and Standards

4.1.5          A revised PMDS Strategic Framework for public service in all levels which  links organizational performance  with individual performance will be developed. Significantly, the Department will revamp performance management system for senior managers and levels 1-12. It will also review and strengthen the performance management system for HOD’s, and linking them to the outcome of performance audits by the Auditor-General. Lastly, it will support departments that repeatedly obtain qualified audits.

 

Priority 6: Healthy, Safe Working Environments for all Public Servants

4.1.6          Under this strategic priority, the Department will focus on the implementation of EHW policies through guidelines, handbooks and training. In addition, it will also implement the monitoring and evaluation tool to measure EHW policies.

 

Priority 7: Appropriate Governance Structures and Decision-Making

4.1.7          The Department aims to support departments to improve their financial capability and also monitor progress in signing of delegations from Ministers to Director-Generals on HRA Monitor, as well as reporting on the implementation of HR and Finance delegations at service delivery points.

 

Priority 8: Citizen Engagement, Stakeholder and Public Participation

4.1.8          The Department hopes to promote Nation Building through, Imbizos and service delivery visits, as well as facilitating social compact through agreements on service delivery standards.

 

Priority 9: Corruption Tackled Effectively

4.1.9          Support will be provided to departments in building minimum anti-corruption capacity as well as investigate allegations of corruption from National Anti-corruption Hotline. An anti-corruption risk assessments and training on education ethics will be conducted. A strategy to prosecute and charge public servants involved in tendering and other fraudulent activities will be developed, as well financial disclosures analysed and monitored to verify honest disclosure.

 

Priority 10: Contribution to Improved Public Service in Africa and International Arena

4.1.10   Under this strategic priority, the Department will only be developing a strategy for ensuring quality outputs in multilateral agreements.

 

 5.        Committee Observations

 

5.1        The Committee has observed that the Department’s medium-term strategy has been aligned to the new and established mandate. The new mandate of the Department included those priorities emanating from the macro-reorganisation, State of the Nation Address and Cabinet Lekgotla. The Committee noted that the Department was however in the process of reviewing its strategy in order to identify gaps and to reprioritize its resource allocation. In this regard the Department will hold an operational review session to ensure the alignment of strategy and its operational plan for 2010/11.

 

5.2        The Committee has further observed that the Department’s mandate has evolved over the years from developing policy towards implementing and facilitating service delivery improvement through support interventions, ICT and community development workers. The Department also participates in and plays a critical role in various public administration and management structures in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and the rest of the world.

 

6.         Recommendations

 

6.1        Having considered and deliberated on the Department of Public Service and Administration 2010/11 Budget Vote and Annual Performance Plan, the Committee recommends as follows to the National Council of Provinces, that the Department should:

           

6.1.1     Provide the Committee with progress reports on all the municipalities that have failed to comply with the policy frameworks developed by the Department.

6.1.2     Provide the Committee with progress reports on the development of a Single Public Service Bill.

6.1.3     Provide the Committee with a comprehensive list of all the summits and conferences schedule for 2010/11 financial year to be hosted by the Department.

6.1.4     Provide the Committee with progress reports on a quarterly basis on the achievements made by the Department in respect to its 2010/11 medium-term priority projects per programme.

 

6.2        The Committee further recommends that the National Council of Provinces should approve Budget Vote 11 of the Department of Public Service and Administration.

 

Report to be considered.