PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION, PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRIES AND OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
12 February 2001
MEDIA BRIEFING
Ministry of Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser Moleketi stated that the theme of the Governance and Administration Cluster is "Effective and Integrated Government at Work". Significant progress has been made with preparing an integrated planning framework for government. This framework will in future assist so that budgetary allocations are made in support of policy priorities, rather than budgets driving government activity.
Initial steps were taken in 2000 to constitute multi-departmental sectoral reviews for the mid-year budgetary MTEC processes and these efforts will be strengthened this year. By 2002/03 the aim is to achieve integrated programme budgeting. Part of the input to the MTEC process will be peer review of the operations of different departments. The first pilots of such a review process will start in this year.
The Minister stated that in response to the weak management capacity the Senior Management Service system has been developed. This entails strengthened systems of recruitment and performance management as well as management development. The Minister mentioned that they also want to improve the overall quality of information stored in the current salary payment system.
Systems are already in place to achieve this. Additionally, a Centre for Public Service Innovation will be established to ensure competitiveness through innovation.
Minister Moleketi pointed out that their cluster will also prioritise the strengthening of local government, but that Minister Mufamadi will elaborate on this issue at a later media briefing.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of e-government. Minister Moleketi explained that the appropriate acquisition, deployment and operation of information technology carries with it the potential to lower public administration costs and improve productivity in the public service.
The Minister stressed that human resource development is crucial to transformation in South Africa. "Skilling-up" and "re-skilling" of public servants will form an essential part of the human resource development strategy. Additionally, the cluster will focus some of its efforts on the development of functional literacy and the improvement of the basic administrative capacities of public servants.
Minister Moleketi stated that one of their aims is to achieve integrated and seamless delivery of key services as the satisfaction of the public is paramount. The Ministry is making major strides in combating corruption in the public service sector. Where necessary, rationalisation of the country’s anti-corruption capability will take place and specific capabilities will be created.
Ministry of Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi stated that the objective of strengthening local government is to take the economy to a higher growth level. In order to realise this goal, strong institutions need to be in place. Historically, local government has not been structured conducively for development. Many municipalities, especially in rural areas, had no decent revenue base and were therefore unable to derive revenue from business service charges. The situation was worsened by the fact that many people were unemployed and impoverished. They were therefore unable to pay for services rendered. Last year’s local government elections served as a new starting point to address these problems. Many of the government programs were unsuccessful because partnerships were lacking to coordinate them. Mr Mufamadi informed all present that councilor training courses had commenced on the 17th January 2001. The focus of the training was on the following:
· Training on strategic and political skills ie strategic leadership to all role players, for example the state, private sector and civil society.
· Financial management and revenue collection
· The local government system itself i.e. councilors must understand the laws that govern their mandate.
Municipalities also realised that there are financial pressures accompanying the restructuring of their plans. The Minister added that R100m had been made available to municipalities for restructuring. The upcoming Division of Revenue Bill would set out any additional allocations.
Ministry of Home Affairs Deputy Minister Mr Charles Nqakula stated that they are finalising the new Immigration Laws Bill. He added that much discussion had gone into the Bill and that workshops will be held soon to finalise it. The following are areas of concern:
· Formulation of ways and means to attract skilled people from abroad, for example IT experts.
· Ways to improve IT capacity at all levels.
· Automation of the current fingerprint system
· Introduction of a smart card to replace the existing identity document.
The Deputy Minister made the point that they had requested input from the IT industry on the viability of such a smart card. The card would only be issued to persons who have a valid identity document. The card would also be useful to private institutions like banks, building societies etc. The aim of the card is to combat fraud and increase service delivery, for example, improve payment to pensioners. Mr Nqakula emphasised that the aim of the Ministry is to develop technology in South Africa and this will be spelt out in their budget vote speech.
Ministry of the Office of the President Minister Essop Pahad elaborated on the International Marketing Council, in particular its aims and organisational structure. The Minister was pleased that there are many persons who occupy important positions in society who were willing to play their part in marketing South Africa. The result is that many people are willing to serve on this council. Amongst the aims and functions of the Council are:
· Providing strategic advice on international marketing
· Members can take decisions and implement them
· The council will also meet on a quarterly basis
The Minister stated that on the 26th and 27th January they had a workshop and the following proposals were made:
· To revise the structure of the Council
· To establish a series of working groups
· To establish clearly defined tasks
· Assessment of perceptions both positive and negative.
The Minister briefly outlined the Council’s marketing strategies. It needs to be reactive in promoting South Africa as a brand. Secondly, it needs to be preemptive about any negative forces. Lastly, the Council must be proactive in identifying its target market.
In conclusion the Minister stated that they would announce the CEO of the Council. He specifically mentioned that the Minister will be exempted from being CEO but could still sit on the Executive Committee.
Discussion (Q) With reference to peer review, who will review various departments?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: There is already a team of Director Generals from the key departments who will form part of the peer review team. The peer review team would comprise members of various departments, depending on the issues to be dealt with.
(Q) Is anything being done to improve the Department of Home Affairs?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: The thrust of the government Service Cluster is to improve service delivery. Information technology will help in making the department more effective. Home Affairs should not be singled out, as no department is functioning perfectly yet. The Deputy Minister has reflected on some of the issues that they are working on.
(Q) The Protected Disclosures Act is aimed at protecting whistle-blowers. Has this been implemented and how effective is it in combating corruption?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: The Cabinet Committee dealing with the Criminal Justice Cluster will deal with all issues relating to corruption. There have been impediments in dealing with corruption but this has not stopped the work that must be done.
(Q) Much of what has been discussed refers to what will be done in the future. Tell us something about what has already been done to improve Public Services.
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: If you read my input or listened to what I had said earlier, it would have been evident that we are not dealing only with plans but that we have achieved a great deal. Much of what is being done involves a series of processes as opposed to just being once-off improvements. For example, we have done much in attempting to work out a budget that improves cluster functioning as opposed to line functioning. This is a process and not an event.
(Q) With reference to the delay in dealing with the International Migration Bill, how many work permits are being turned down each year?
(A) Deputy-Minister Nqakula: We do not have the statistics or figures presently. But we would like to get more details on this matter.
(Q) Relating to the Immigration Bill, the ANC had published a thick document in which they stated what they did not like about the Bill. You said that you wish to hold workshops to encourage people to get skills. Can you please elaborate on this?
(A) Deputy-Minister Nqakula: The workshops will deal with the broader essence of the Bill and not with only specifics as to how to attract foreign skills.
(Q) Is something being done to address the gender inequalities in the public service and to improve the figure of 16% for women in senior positions?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: The 16% figure does refer to women in senior public service posts but we still have to do more in addressing gender issues.
Minister Essop Pahad: We have gender focal points in each department. The Cabinet has
adopted a gender policy document. What we have to do is to intensify our work to ensure that gender equity exists at all government levels. This is a requirement of our Constitution.
(Q) There seems to be different opinions between the Public Service and trade unions on the issue of retrenchments. What is the position of your department on this?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: The Job Summit has laid out the restructuring of the Public Service as one of the main objectives. A framework on restructuring has been laid out aimed at carrying Public Service delivery forward. There is no talk of retrenchment but rather of redeployment of employees. Persons with the appropriate skills must fill required posts.
(Q) With regard to the smart card, is there an accurate timetable for its release? For instance if the card is lost, how quickly can it be replaced?
(A) Deputy-Minister Nqakula: All the information on a smart card will be kept in our database. Hopefully there will be no glitches in the system and we would like everything to happen by the end of this year. No specific date has been set as of yet.
(Q) You spoke of an efficient Public Service. How many super-numeries are there?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: We no longer use that term. There is one public servant for every 2000 people. Cabinet has given a directive to the Departments in terms of which they have to outline their management plans, the amount of people and the type of skills they need. The new emphasis is on quality as opposed to greater numbers of employees.
(Q) Since traditional leaders have rejected the Traditional Leadership Bill, what steps have been taken to address the issue?
(A) Minister Mufamadi: It is not correct to say traditional leaders have rejected the Bill. What they said is that certain things should be included in the Bill. Experts have looked at the Bill taking into account the constitutional requirements and the views of traditional leaders. We will bring that report to the Cabinet very soon.
(Q) Has the cost of skilling employees been qualified as yet?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: Offhand I do not have the figures with me.
(A) Deputy-Minister Nqakula: This does not mean that we have no skilled people. We only lack them in numbers.
(Q) Could you tell us more about any programs in place to attract skilled foreigners.
(A) Deputy-Minister Nqakula: Everything we do is going to be integrated. All departments are to work together.
(A) Minister Pahad: The present system is very slow. In addition, the private sectors know the skills they are looking for. There are a lot of skilled people from overseas who are currently employed in South Africa. Many of them are from countries like Russia, India and even from other parts of Africa.
(Q) Since the banking system is going to benefit from the smart card system, are they contributing any money to the process and if so, in what proportions?
(A) Deputy-Minister Nqakula: We have not gone to that level of discussions yet. We are still only dealing with how it affects people. We have not held negotiations with those who will benefit.
(Q) In streamlining the Public Service, were foreign models used as a frame of reference?
(A) Minister Fraser Moleketi: We have looked at foreign models but our focus was mainly on the needs that are specifically required in South Africa.
(A) Minister Pahad: We have sent teams to Great Britain, Canada and the US to make comparative studies and we did benefit from their experiences.
(Q) What is the possibility in the long run of provincial boundaries being redrawn?
(A) Minister Mufamadi: We don’t know. It depends on what happens in practice. The need to revise municipal and provincial boundaries may not even be necessary.