Policy Assessment and Recommendations Reports; Committee Annual Performance Plan

Meeting report

Report of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure on Budget Vote 40: Transport, and on the Strategic Plan and 2023-24 Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Transport

The Committee observed the following:
- The key transport safety concerns include over 12 000 road crash facilities occurring in the Country annually;

- Potholes reported through the SANRAL portal are to be closed within 14 days;

- Central Line in the Western Cape has partially opened;

- Delays in the implementation of IPTN are a result of protracted consultation with Taxi Operators;

- An impact evaluation study of the National Road Safety Strategy would be commissioned;

- A survey on the extent of illegal taxi operations has been conducted;

- The Department is in the process of procuring a new licence card production machine;

- Assessment by the Department determined that three (3) provinces (Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape) did not have dedicated public transport law enforcement units.

 

The Committee recommended that the Department should:

- allocate provincial resources equally and effectively;

- assist Msunduzi, Buffalo City and Mbombela in regaining entry to the IPTN programme;

- expedite digital driving licenses;

- increase the patrol of South Africa’s coastal borders;

- Increase percentage of freight moved from road to rail; and

- engage private sector to invest in rail infrastructure.

The Chairperson, Ms M Moshodi (ANC, Free State), Mr M Dangor (ANC, Gauteng),

Mr M Rayi (ANC, Eastern Cape), Ms M Bartlett (ANC, Northern Cape), Mr E Nchabeleng (ANC, Limpopo), and Mr C Dodovu (ANC, North West) voted in favour of the report.

Ms B Mathevula (EFF, Limpopo) voted against the report.

Mr J Londt (DA, Western Cape) reserved judgment on the report.

The report was adopted.

 

Report of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works And Infrastructure On Budget Vote 13: Public Works And Infrastructure, and on The Strategic Plan and 2023-24 Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Public Works Infrastructure

 

The Committee observed that:
- The Refurbishment Operate and Transfer Programme (ROTP) is planned to be rolled;

- The Department plays a significant role in the planning and development of SMART Cities;

- The precinct plan for Salvokop Government Precinct has been completed and the project is currently in phase one of implementation of roll;

- All provincial departments met grant requirements;

- Refurbishment project at the Parliamentary Village is currently prioritising the removal of asbestos; and the digital system that allows the Department to maintain a near 100% payment of invoices.

 

The Committee recommended that the Department:

- Continue with its efforts to address risks post by the “Construction Mafia”;

- Prioritise the process of Business Process Automation;

- Explore the use of catalytic funding to unlock the development of SMART cities; and

- Should take concerted steps towards improving low payment rates.

The Chairperson, Mr Dodovu, Mr Nchabeleng, Mr Rayi, Mr Dangor, and Ms Moshodi voted in favour of the report.

Ms Mathevula voted against the report.

Ms S Boshoff (DA, Mpumalanga) and Mr J Londt reserved judgment on the report.

The report was adopted.

Report of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure on Budget Vote 9: Planning Monitoring and Evaluation and 2023-24 Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

The Committee observed that:
- The Department appoints specialists without outsourcing and the Cost of Employment allocations are under the Administration programme;

- Sector compacts should be concluded to guide all social partners in a particular sector;

- Partnership with the Department of Co-Operative Governance in respect of the first-generation District Development Model One – Plans;

-  Only 30% of the actions required to implement the National Development Plan were on track; and

- The Department charts its effect on departmental outcomes and ensures the credibility of its findings.

 

The Committee recommended that the Department:

- Monitor indicators in budget expenditure and strategic focus in rural areas;

- Monitor of municipality to be developed by the PSC (Public Service Commission) should cover political interference in the administration and legislative measures;

- Performance and accountability measures should be put in place for Acting HOD’s and

DG’s; and

- DPME (Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation) should report on targets to accelerate the attainment of the NDP outcomes.

The Chairperson, Ms Moshodi, Mr Dangor, Mr Rayi, Ms Bartlett, and Mr Dodovu voted in favour of the report.

Ms Mathevula voted against the report.

Ms Boshoff and Mr Londt reserved judgment on the report.

The report was adopted.

Report of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure on Budget Vote 7: National School of Government and on the Strategic Plan and 2023-24 Annual Performance Plan of the National School of Government

The Committee observed that:
- NSG’s Project Khaedu was designed to equip public servants with theory and practice required to unblock service delivery challenges;

- Engaged with Heads of Departments developing public management curriculum at tertiary institutions;

- Provided international learning opportunities and access to international knowledge hubs; and

- Provided education and training opportunities across the broad career path of public servants.

 

The Committee recommended that the Department:

- Develop a Supply Chain Management and Procurement degree level qualification;

- Incorporate project management theory and practice into its learning opportunities; and 

- Extend training interventions for Traditional Leaders in the Art of Facilitation for Traditional Leaders to the reaming provinces.

The Chairperson, Mr Dangor, Ms Moshodi, Mr Nchabeleng, and Mr Dodovu voted in favour of the report.

Ms Boshoff and Mr Londt reserved judgment on the report.

 

The report was adopted.

Report of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works And Infrastructure on Budget Vote 11: Public Service and Administration and on the Strategic Plan and 2023-24 Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Public Service and Administration and the Centre For Public Service Innovation

 The Committee observed that:
- Update on progress on the implementation of the State Capture Report recommendations;

- Amendments to the Public Administration Management Act will introduce integration of a single public service;

- There are 315 precautionary suspension cases across National Departments;

- Not all Departments fully implement all aspects of the collective agreements;

- The early retirement directives contribute to the reduction of the public sector wage bill; and

- Reported challenges in the implementation of the Public Service Job Evaluation System.

 

The Committee recommended that the Department:

- Monitor compliance with the prohibition against public servants conducting business with the state;

- Resource the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity, and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit with sufficient capacity; and

- Note the implications of the Public Service Amendment Bill which prohibits Senior Managers from holding political office.

The Chairperson, Mr Dangor, Mr Rayi, Ms Bartlett, Ms Mamaregane, Ms Moshodi and Mr Dodovu voted in favour of the report.

Ms B Mathevula voted against the report.

Ms Boshoff and Mr Londt reserved judgment on the report.

The report was adopted.

 

Report of the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure on Budget Vote 12: Public Service Commission And 2023-24 Annual Performance Plan of the Public Service Commission 

 The Committee observed that:
- Provide feedback on the implementation of lifestyle audits for the public sector;

- Public Service Commission Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament shortly;

- The PSC will be conducting studies on the effectiveness of government support for service delivery; and continue to conduct Service Delivery Inspections, which are undertaken through its provincial offices.

 

The Committee recommended that the Department:

- Identify assessments on the readiness of departments to address seasonal challenges;

- Undertake an assessment of the effect of load shedding on the capacity of the public sector;

- Report on the extent of utilisation of head-hunting processes in recruitment;

- The Council to approve the budget of the Public Service Commission.

The Chairperson, Mr Dangor, Ms Moshodi, Ms Bartlett, and Mr Dodovu voted in favour of the report.

Ms Mathevula voted against the report.

Ms S Boshoff reserved judgment on the report.

The report was adopted.

 

Committee Matters

The Committee considered and adopted the draft minutes of previous meeting dated 10 May 2023. The minutes were unanimously adopted as a true reflection of the meeting.

The Chairperson thanked the participants for their attendance and engagement.

The meeting was adjourned.