ATC210224: Report of the Portfolio Committee Public Service and Administration on consideration of the first and second quarter performance of 2020/21 financial year for the Budget Vote 9 of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Brand South Africa, Dated 24February 2021

Public Service and Administration

Report of the Portfolio Committee Public Service and Administration on consideration of the first and second quarter performance of 2020/21 financial year for the Budget Vote 9 of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Brand South Africa, Dated 24February 2021

 

1. BACKGROUND

The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) having considered first and second quarter performance of 2020/21 financial yearof the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Brand South Africa, reports as follows:

 

1. INTRODUCTION

Parliament through its Committees has a constitutional responsibility to oversee quarterly programme performance information of the departments and entities. The Money Bills Amendment and Related Matters Act (2009) describe the process of exercising this responsibility. The Act states that portfolio committees of parliament must conduct reviews of the finances of their respective departments and entities and if required, issue recommendations on the forward use of resources.

Programme performance information focuses on information that is collected by government departments in the course of fulfilling their mandates and implementing policies. Quarterly performance reports serveas a vital tool to ensure accountability, transparency and oversight on how government resources are spent. Committees are expected to monitor both financial and non-financial performance of the departments. The Public Finance Management Regulations compel departments and their entities to prepare quarterly reports within 30 days after the end of each quarter. Committees conduct oversight over performance reports to fulfil Parliament’s oversight and accountability mandates as enshrined in the Constitution and under the rules established by the National Assembly.

On February10, 2021, the Committee considered first and second quarter performance of 2020/21of the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation and Brand South Africa. Performance information was in accordance with the Strategic Plans, Annual Performance Plans and Medium Term Strategic Framework. The report provides an overview of the presentations made before the Committee mainly focusing on the achievements, output in respect of the performance indicators and targets set for above-mentioned financial year. The report outlines the findings/observations of the Committee relating to the Department and BSA’s performance. 

 

1. PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE

Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Budget Allocation and Expenditure

Per Programme	ENE Budget R’000	Q1-Q2 Expenditure R’000	Variance Expenditure R’000	Budget Spent %
Administration	158,245	66,607	91,638	42%
National Planning Coordination	65,114	31, 285	33,829	48%
Sector Monitoring	59,447	28,283	31 164	48%
Public Sector Mon.& Capacity Dev.	81,486	29,725	51 761	36%
Evidence and Knowledge Systems	35,486	14,064	21,618	39%
Total	399,974	169,964	230,010	42%
Per Economic Classification	ENE Budget R’000	Q1-Q2 Expenditure R’000	Variance Expenditure R’000	Budget Spent %
Compensation	297,397	143,238	154,159	48%
Goods & Services	99,024	23,583	75,441	24%
Transfers & Subsidies	312	312	-	100%
Capital	3,237	2,827	410	87%
Payments for Fin  assets	4	4	-	100%
Total	399,974	169,964	230,010	42%

 

 

1. Programme 1: Administration

The main objective of the programme is to provide strategic leadership, management, administrative, financial and human resource services to enable the Department to achieve its strategic and operational goals. The programme’s objective is to co-ordinate planning, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Departmental plans, to promote internal and external communication on the work of the department, to achieve an unqualified audit opinion on financial statements, to hire, develop and retain the right people in the right positions for the department throughout the planning period, to successfully implement and realise benefits from ICT solutions in doing the work of the department and to promote good corporate governance practices and management.

Programme 1 had 12 predetermined targets in thefirst quarter 2020/21 financial year.Oftotal targets, 9 were achieved and 3 targets were not achieved.

In the second quarter 2020/21 financial year, the Department had 10 predetermined targets, 7 targets were achieved and 3 targetswere not achieved.

 

 

1. Programme 2: National Planning Coordination

The main purpose of this programme is to advance the strategic priorities of the department by developing and implementing the outcomes system, monitoring and reporting on its progress, and evaluating its impact. The main objectives are to ensure effective outcomes planning, monitoring and evaluation through facilitating the development of plans of the Delivery Agreements for priority outcomes with government departments, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Delivery Agreements and making recommendations for corrective action on an ongoing basis. In addition, the Department aims to provide advice and technical support to the Presidency, establish and support an effective national evaluation system to inform the government’s work on a continuous basis.

Programme 2 (A) responsible for the National Planning Commissionhad four predetermined targets in the first and second quarter 2020/21 financial year and all targets were achieved.

 

Programme 2 (B) responsible for the National Planning Coordination had 7 predetermined targets during first quarter 2020/21 financial year, 4 were achieved and 3 targets werenot achieved.In the second quarter 2020/21 financial year, the Department had 4 targets planned and 2 were achieved and 2 targets were not achieved.

 

1. Programme 3:Sector monitoring

The programme is responsible for promoting good M&E practices in government, conducting management performance assessment and support, frontline service delivery monitoring and support and government-wide planning and M&E capacity development and learning. The branch will also be responsible for the proposed Regional Offices. Whereas the OME Branch’s focus is on the management of the outcomes system and the achievement of government’s priorities, the focus of the IPM&E branch is on what can be done to make the organisation function better.

Programme 3 had 3 predetermined targets in thefirst quarter 2020/21 financial year, 2 targets were achieved and 1 target was not achieved. In the second quarter 2020/21 financial year, the Department had 3 planned targets and all the targets were achieved.

1. Programme 4:Public Sector Monitoring and Capacity Development

The purpose of this programme is to develop the country’s long-term vision and national strategic plans and contribute towards better outcomes in government through better planning, better long term plans, greater policy coherence and a clear articulation of long term aspiration. The main responsibilities of the programme is to institutionalise and strengthen planning in government by facilitating the development of sectoral plans, ensuring coherence between plans, policies and service delivery across government, ensuring high-level priorities are fed through into plans across all spheres of government and engaging stakeholders on the output of the planning process to ensure buy-in.

Programme 4 had 5 predetermined targets in thefirst quarter 2020/21 financial year, 2 targets were achieved and 3 targets were not achieved.In the second quarter 2020/21 financial year, the Department had 5 targets planned and 4 were achieved and 1 target was not achieved. 

 

1. Programme 6: Evaluate, Evidence and Knowledge Systems

The purpose of the programme is to coordinate and support the generation, collation, accessibility and timely use of quality evidence to support performance monitoring and evaluation across government coordinate and support the generation, collation, access and timely use of quality evidence to support PM&E across government.

Programme 5 had 1 predetermined target in thefirst quarter 2020/21 financial year and it was achieved. In the second quarter 2020/21 financial year, the Department achieved all2 predetermined targets.   

 

1. BRAND SOUTH AFRICA

Brand SAs purpose is to develop and implement a proactive and coordinated international marketing and communications strategy for South Africa; to contribute to job creation and poverty reduction; and to attract inward investment, trade and tourism.

BSA aims to make an indirect contribution to economic growth, job creation, poverty alleviation and social cohesion by encouraging local and foreign investment, tourism and trade through the promotion of Brand South Africa. BSAdevelops and implements a proactive and coordinated international marketing and communications strategy for South Africa to contribute to job creation and poverty reduction, and to attract inward investment, trade and tourism.

1. PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE
2. Budget allocation and expenditure

First Quarter 2020/2021

PROGRAMME	YTD Q1 BUDGET	YTD Q1 ACTUAL	YTD Q1 VARIANCE	YTD Q1VARIANCE%		VARIANCEEXPLANATION
Brand Marketing	30,718,205	16,429,803	14,288,402	47%		Postponement of events
Stakeholder Relations	2,365,000	1,206,809	1,158,191	49%		Postponement of events
Administration	31,735,995	26,027,727	5,708,268	18%		Delay in COLA 2020/2021 payments and filling of vacancies
TOTAL	64,819,200	43,664,339	21,154,861		33%

 

 

Second Quarter 2020/2021

 

 

1. Programme 1: Administration

The programme seeks to provide management and leadership to develop standardised format of guidelines and templates to strengthen the means of verification and collecting and reporting on performance information.

Programme 1 had 15 predetermined targets in the first quarter of 2020/21 financial year, 12 targets were achieved and3 targets were not achieved.  In the second quarter of 2020/21 financial year, program 1 had12 predetermined targets, 9 targets were achieved and3were targets were not achieved.   

 

1. Programme 2: Brand, Marketing & Reputation Management

The programme seeks to develop and articulate a Nation Brand identity that will advance South Africa’s long-term reputation and global competitiveness. This includes a focus to research and monitor sentiment and performance of the National Brand to analyse trends and provide insights to inform decision making and communication and then to both proactively and reactively communicate the country’s value proposition, values and highlight progress being made.

 

Programme 2 had 18 predetermined targets in the first quarter 2020/21 financial year, 17 targets were achieved and 1 target was not achieved. In the second quarter 2020/21 financial year, Department had 17 predetermined targets, 14 targets were achieved and 3 target were not achieved.   

 

1. Programme 3:Stakeholder Relations

The programme seeks to build and leverage collaborative partnership, to participate, to integrate and coordinate efforts and approaches to market the Nation Brand identity and promote the Nation’s value proposition and to interface meaningfully with stakeholders who drive or influence the Nation Brand and its reputation.

 

Programme 3 had 9 predetermined targets in thefirst quarter 2020/21 financial year, 7 targets were achieved and 2 targets were not achieved.In the third quarter 2020/21 financial year, Department had 7 predetermined targets, 5 targets were achieved and 2 target were not achieved.   

 

1. FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS

The Portfolio Committee made the following observations and findings:

 

1. The Committee notesand welcomed the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Brand South Africafirst and second quarter performance of 2020/21 financial year.

 

1. The Committee encouraged the Department to find better ways in achieving their targets despite challenges experienced as a result of Covid-19 and adapt to the new normalin conducting its business. 

 

1. The Department was commended on the reduction of the vacancy rate and appointment of three females as Deputy-Directors General. The Committee encouraged the Department to continue filling up the vacancies and create opportunitiesfor persons living with disabilitiesin senior management levels.

 

1. The Committee welcomed the announcement that the President has signed performance contracts with the Ministers and uploaded them on the government website for all South African to have access to.

 

1. The Committee commends the Department for paying invoices within 10 days and encouraged to share their strategy of paying invoices in time with other struggling government departments.

 

1. The Committee was concerned with the removal of certain targets in the annual performance plans due to budget adjustment and the impact this could cause in relations to service delivery.   

 

1. The Committee notes the disruption of Covid-19 on the work of the Department in resolving cases received on the Presidential Hotline. Furthermore, Members encouraged the Department to develop an infrastructure that would assist employees working from home on the Presidential Hotline to continue to speedily resolve cases received.

 

1. The Committee encouraged the Department to continue to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NDP by the government departments, as it is one of its important mandate.  Furthermore, the Department was urged to provide the Committee with the report on the monitoring of the implementation of the NDP.

 

1. The Committee urged the Department and Brand South Africato monitor their finances to prevent irregular, unauthorised and fruitful wasteful expenditure particularly on the procurement of personal protective equipments.

 

1. The Committee encouraged Brand South Africa to fill vacancies and prioritise persons living with disabilities for employment since there is no single employee with disability in the organisation.

 

1. The Committee urged Brand South Africa to be easily accessible to ordinary people in communitiesfor collaborations that would promote Brand South Africa locally.

 

1. The Committee commends Brand South Africa for having a strategic risk register that assists the entity to plan better for the improvement plans.

 

1. The Committee was concerned with South Africa as a brand and the impact of Covid-19 pandemicand corruption it hashad to the country in the international community.

 

1. The Committee encouraged Brand South Africa to have a retention strategy to retain its skilled employees, manage the vacancy rate and attract quality personnel with the skills needed to execute its mandate.

 

1. The Committee commendsBrand South Africa for swiftly concluding on the case of former CEO as the contract expired in June 2020.Furthermore, the Committee urged Board of Brand South Africa to swiftly fill the CEO position.

 

1. The Committee urged the Board of Brand South Africa and the Minister of the DPME to move with speed in deciding the outcome on whether tomerge Brand South Africa with Government Communication Information System.

 

1. The Committee advised Brand South Africa to improve all matter of emphasis highlighted by the Auditor General South Africa concerns on audit outcomes.

6. The Portfolio Committee recommends as follows:

6.1       The House adopts and approve first and second performance report of 2020/21 financial year of the Budget Vote 9 of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

 

Report to be considered