Question NW2343 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
07 July 2015 - NW2343
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With reference to the 31 variables assessed by the former Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation’s Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) in the 2012-13 financial year, (a) what remedies have been implemented by her department to address the 15 weaknesses highlighted by the specified assessment results of the MPAT and (b) in the case of each weakness, list its corresponding corrective measure; (2) why did her department not appear before the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration as well as Performance Monitoring and Evaluation when invited to do so in the 2012-13 financial year; (3) what is the current MPAT assessment of her department?
Reply:
(1)
a) The Department of Defence utilises MPAT results to improve on its management practices and internal controls. This is achieved by means of continuously endeavouring to improve on good practice as per the prescribed MPAT standards.
b) After the DOD received the MPAT 1.3 (2012-13) results during mid-December 2014, a Departmental Instruction, approved by the Accounting Officer, was issued (DS/DPSP/R/501/13/4 dated 10 December 2014) to address the development of improvement plans. Key performance areas, which received a result of “partial compliance” or “non-compliance” with MPAT standards, had to compile an action plan to ensure improvement and/or full adherence to MPAT standards. Compliance with these action plans was monitored through the normal DOD’s performance reporting processes.
Improvement / actions to be taken to address the weaknesses as indicated by assessment results are listed in Appendix A.
2. The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration as well as Performance Monitoring and Evaluation took place on 05 November 2014 in the Strand Towers Hotel, Cape Town. Selected departments with poor MPAT results were invited to appear before this Committee, The DOD was not one of the departments invited to appear on that occasion.
3. The moderated MPAT 1.4 results were received during the end of May 2015. The average DOD score is 2.1.