Question NW144 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
15 April 2016 - NW144
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)How does her department justify the poor achievement of targets in all of its programmes with regard to its budget expenditure of 91,7% in the 2014-15 financial year; (2) whether the lack of (a) competent and/or (b) professional staff members in her department impacted on these under-achievements for the specified financial year; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)
(a) Programme 1: Out of 14 targets planned, 10 targets were achieved and these constituted to 71% achievement. The department is at the moment fast tracking the recruitment process to ensure that all vacant funded posts are filled and the appointment the TSI to fast track and develop a turnaround strategy to ensure achievement of targets is still ongoing.
(b) Programme 2: Out of five targets planned, 2 targets were achieved which constituted to 40% achievement. The dependency of the department on other sister department to dispense benefits to Military Veterans (MVs) also creates a threat to achieve the targets as planned (like housing, education etc.).
(c) Programme 3: Out of six targets planned, 3 targets were achieved which constituted to 50% achievement. The department is in the process of serious engagements with identified Stakeholders to address this impasse of dispensing the benefits to the relevant bona fide MVs.
(2) As indicated previously, I have appointed a turn around team to assist the Department in setting in place systems to enable it to meet its service delivery targets. I am also in the process of filling vacancies in certain key positions within the Department. The DG and all DDG positions will be filled shortly and a new CFO recently assumed office.