ATC220324: Report Of The Portfolio Committee On Public Service And Administration On The Fourth Quarter Performance (2021/22) For The Department Of Planning, Monitoring And Evaluation And Brand South Africa: Budget Vote 8, Dated 23 March 2022

Public Service and Administration

Report Of The Portfolio Committee On Public Service And Administration On The Fourth Quarter Performance (2021/22) For The Department Of Planning, Monitoring And Evaluation And Brand South Africa: Budget Vote 8, Dated 23 March 2022

 

BACKGROUND

The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) having considered fourth quarter performance of 2021/22 financial year of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Brand South Africa, reports as follows:

 

INTRODUCTION

Parliament through its Committees has a constitutional mandate 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 serve as 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 and entities. The Public Finance Management Act of 1999 guides the Department to do quarterly performance reports. 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 March 02, 202, the Committee considered first to third quarter performance of 2021/22 of 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 focusing mainly 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. 

 

PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE

Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Budget Allocation and Expenditure 2021/2022

Per Programme (R’000)

Final Appropriation

Expenditure

% Spent

Programme 1: Administration

185 514

118 793

64.%

Programme 2: National Planning Coordination

80 069

39 803

33%

Programme 3: Sector Monitoring

66 545

42 281

64%

Programme 4: Public Sector Mon.& Capacity Dev.

80 513

45 272

56%

Programme 5: Evidence and Knowledge Systems

41 309

22 218

54%

Total

453 950

268 367

59%

 

 

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 has nine predetermined targets 2021/22 financial year as per the annual performance plan. Of total targets, the Department achieved six targets and three targets were not achieved in the first, second and third quarter performance. Among target not achieved include the average vacancy rate for the quarter was 8.5%. The Department to fill vacant posts (6 posts filled) the vacancy rate only increased slightly over the reporting period despite the high number of staff exits experienced

 

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 had five predetermined targets in 2021/22 financial year. Of all set targets, the Department achieved all targets in the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, the Department under National Planning Coordination achieved two targets from three set targets. In the third quarter, the Department under National Planning Coordination was unable to achieve all three set targets. The Department was unable to achieve target on the Budget Prioritisation Framework and draft diagnostic report due to procurement delays. SEIAS on the Draft Integrated Planning Framework Bill was not completed due to protracted delays in the SCM procurement process.  The appointment of a service provider to revise the Draft Bill has been delayed due to procurement processes. The SEAIS can only be completed once the amended Bill has been completed and has therefore been delayed

 

Programme 3: Sector monitoring Services  

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 has three predetermined targets in 2021/22 financial year. Of 3 targets, the Department achieved all targets in the first and second quarter. In the third quarter, the Department planned to achieve three targets but all were not achieved.  

 

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 has seven predetermined targets in the 2021/22 financial year. The Department has achieved five targets and two were not achieved in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Department achieved four targets and three were not achieved. In the third quarter, the Department achieved six targets and only 1 target was not achievement.

 

  Programme 5:  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. The main objective of the programme is to support the planning and monitoring roles of the Department by developing and implementing the national evaluation plan annually, conducting research and evaluations in key policy areas as identified annually, and producing relevant evidence reports. It also improves knowledge management in the Department through the development and implementation of a departmental knowledge and evidence hub.

 

Programme 5 has five predetermined targets for the 2021/22 financial year. In the first quarter, the Department had zero planned targets, however in the second quarter, four targets were set and three achieved whilst only one was not achieved. In the third quarter, the Department planned five targets, four achieved and one was not achieved.        

 

 

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. BSA develops 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.

PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE

Budget allocation and expenditure

Programme

Ytd Q3 Budget

Ytd Q3 Actual

Ytd Q3 Variance

Variance Explanation

Brand Marketing

64,424

51. 303

13, 120

Promotion of Nation Brand taking place at a latter part of the quarter and the postponement of international programme, international perception study subscription and National Brand Index

Stakeholder Relations

15,982

10,292

5,689

SAIC postpone to the fourth quarter and WEF Davos even has been postponed to the next financial period.

Administration

79,607

68,721

10,885

Due to the delay in the procurement of capital assets and realized savings in the employee cost. 

Total

160,014,000

130,317,967

29,696,033

 

 

 

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 has seven predetermined targets in 2021/22 financial year. Of seven targets, Brand South Africa in the first quarter achieved five targets and not achieved 2 targets. In the second and third quarter, BSA achieved four targets and three not achieved. Non achievement of targets include high vacancy rate experienced since BSA was placed under moratorium however it was lifted. Among target not achieved include payment of valid invoice to service providers.    

 

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 has nineteen predetermined targets in 2021/22 financial year. Of nineteen targets, BSA has in the first quarter achieved fifteen targets and three were not achieved. In the second and third quarter, BSA achieved eighteen targets and only one was not achieved. In this programme, most of the non-achievement of targets was based on cancellations of international events such as World Economic Forum due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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 has eight predetermined targets in 2021/22 financial year. Of eight targets, BSA in first, second and third quarter achieved all seven and only one target was not achieved.

 

FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS

The Portfolio Committee made the following observations and findings:

 

The Committee welcomes and notes first, second and third quarter performance of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for 2021/22 financial year. The Department has achieved 70% of the set targets in all three quarter performance. The Department spent a total of R268.3 million of the allocated budget of R453.9 million in 2021/22 financial year.

The Department was urged to conduct more unannounced monitoring visits to the service delivery centres more especially in the Department of Home Affairs across the country with the aim of improving efficiency of its services.

 

In light of the progressive move concerning the National Development Plan Monitoring Report targets, the Committee commends the Department for developing such a crucial monitoring report to monitor high level indicators on the implementation of the NDP by various government departments and entities. The Committee pleads with the Department to publish such kind of the reports on the departmental website and be tabled in Parliament to assist Committees in exercising oversight in their respective sectors. 

 

The Department conduct myriad of evaluations cutting across numerous sectors in government, however, the Committee was concerned about completed impact evaluation studies not influencing policy modification in government. Policy modification phase exists because policies are established and operate in a dynamic world. The Department was urged to share impact evaluation studies with parliament committees to be used as evidence based decision making and for the purposes of influencing budget allocations.  

 

The Committee take note of the development and implementation of the Draft Policy on Framework for Integrated Planning in all spheres of government to ensure coherence and coordination in the work of government. The implementation of the Draft Policy will set tune for the finalisation of the Integrated Planning Framework Bill which was long overdue in government.

 

Although, the vacancy rate was at an acceptable requirement by the Public Service Regulations, the Department was encouraged to fill all funded vacant posts to strengthen its capacity of monitoring activities in various levels.

 

The Committee was concerned about persistent trends of not achieving target concerning the Budget Prioritisation Framework. The Committee urged the Department to make an informed decision to either discontinue with the framework since this has not been achieved in two consecutive years. 

 

Brand South Africa

Brand South Africa was commended for achieving most of the set targets in first and third quarter performance of 2021/22 financial year under difficult conditions having confronted by the merger and moratorium of posts. Brand South Africa has achieved over 80% of targets in all three quarter performance which is commendable.

 

As much as the moratorium was lifted, the Committee was concerned about high vacancy rate of 23% as a result of outstanding merger between Brand SA and Tourism SA.

 

Brand SA was commended for reaching over 2% employment of persons with disabilities.

 

The Minister of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation together with Brand SA have to provide the Committee with an update regarding the possible merger of Tourism SA and Brand SA. 

 

6. The Portfolio Committee recommends as follows:

6.1       The House adopts and approve performance report of the Budget Vote 8 of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

 

Report to be considered