Question NW3973 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration

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07 December 2015 - NW3973

Profile picture: Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP

Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

Whether any studies have been undertaken to determine whether there are any duplication of services in the Public Service; if not, why not; if so, (a) what were the findings of such studies and (b) how will the findings contribute to (i) advancements of services and (ii) savings in the 2015-16 financial year?

Reply:

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency is in a better position to respond to this parliamentary question, since it is responsible for “monitoring” in the public service. However, flowing from the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) Outcome 12, various projects were initiated, such as the development of Generic Organisational Structures. The Government’s Outcomes Based Programme identified key service delivery outcomes which necessitate collaboration across government Departments.

As part of the implementation of this Outcome 12 initiatives, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) is tasked with the responsibility to support departments with the development of sector specific generic functional structures, with a view to improve the quality of organisational structures in the public service. The aim is to ensure consistency and common understanding with regard to what constitutes departmental core functions in order to ensure alignment of organisational structures to the mandate and strategic objectives of such departments, as well as to achieve appropriate grouping of national and provincial functions to clearly define roles and responsibilities.

Furthermore, the DPSA conducts analysis of proposed organisational structures submitted to the Minister for Public Service and Administration (MPSA) for consultation in terms of the 2015 Directive on the Changes to the Organisational Structures by the Departments, which has been issued in terms of the Public Service Regulations 1/III/B.2.

The analysis of the proposed organisational structures also ensures alignment of organisational structures and functions to the strategic objectives and mandates of departments to ensure the elimination of the duplication of functions, the findings of the analysis are provided to relevant Executive Authority.

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