EXCO Media Statement
17 April 2013
The Mpumalanga Cabinet today [Wednesday, 17 April 2013] held its ordinary meeting and it approved and noted a number of matters executed by the provincial administration.
The provincial-focused report, presented in the executive focussed on the assessment of the performance of the departments in the following targeted areas: vacancy rates and payments within 30 days.
State of governance in the province
Cabinet welcomed the progress made on the implementation of the Forum of South African Directors-General Plan [FOSAD] within the provincial administrative as a step in the right direction in ensuring good governance. The current national FOSAD report identified Mpumalanga as one of the best performing provinces on governance that is leading all provinces on the implementation of payment of service providers within 30 days.
The Office of the Premier has established a provincial process of monitoring progress on implementation of various government policies in the departments as part of the bigger FOSAD Plan. FOSAD is aimed at improving management and administration to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.
According to the report the provincial department was progressing very well in some areas. The report further showed the status in respect of timeously responding to Chapter 9 and 10 institutions such as the Auditor-General and the Public Service Commission that departments had greatly improved.
At least 11 heads of departments submitted their performance agreements before and after the deadline. Another 97 percent compliance by members of senior management services for the previous financial year. Again, 96 percent of members of senior management also complied with disclosing their financial interest to the employer.
The Executive Council asked the Provincial Management Committee and departments in general to focus in finalising the disciplinary cases, on which the province stand 50.3 per cent of the total of 187 of the cases.
Further, all twelve provincial departments were required to develop strategies to reduce the recruitment period and the vacancy rates within their ranks. All departments complied and have developed the recruitment and selection policies.
With regards to filling the vacant posts, not all the departments have managed to fill within four months as was directed by the Department of Public Service and Administration due to financial constraints, however at least seven departments are within the national norm.
In terms of verification of public employees, most departments complied except for two, namely education and health as they have large numbers of employees. The department of education has so far completed the final clean-up regarding the abolishment of unfunded vacancies.
On the other hand, health department is slowly unfolding the process of clean-up as the delay was as the result of staff shortages. Cabinet has encouraged both departments to expedite the process.
Cabinet was also briefed that departments have plans to reduce qualified, adverse and disclaimer audit reports. Although some departments were still finalising such plans, Cabinet welcomed the efforts as assisting in displaying good government.
Establishment of Rapid Implementation Unit
Cabinet approved the establishment of the long awaited Rapid Implementation Unit in the Office of the Premier which will solely be responsible for unlocking the blockages in terms of service delivery. The unit was pronounced by the honourable Premier Mabuza in his State of the Province address.
The Unit will deal with cross-cutting issues from various departments by monitoring and fast tracking the delivery of all priority projects of the departments. The Unit will also oversee the departments’ plans for and progress on delivery projects, and decide on unblocking initiatives in cases of delays in the delivery of specific projects.
No new personnel will be appointed, but the best officials will be drawn from other departments based on their skills and expertise as and when they are needed. The Unit will ensure that the turnaround time in the actual delivery of projects is in line with the implementation plans of the departments.
“We need to maximise the use of the capacity we have already built in the province to the benefit of the province. This should serve as part building the capacity of the state deliver. The unit should serve as part of the prestigious platforms to show case best performance and skills by officials. A platform on which, over time, every official should aspire to be invited to serve in over time.” Premier Mabuza concluded.
Disposal of surplus state-owned houses
Cabinet discussed and approved in principle the disposal of redundant state-owned properties. This comes in the light of escalating cost of maintenance and administering of these properties, whose rental by tenants cannot offset. The disposal is expected to reduce expenditure by government while generating revenue to increase maintenance budget of the houses which are still in good condition.
Cabinet emphasised that any process of disposal of any of these properties must be transparent and be based on best public sales practices, which should include property evaluation as part of determining a benchmark for acceptable prices in the interest of the state.
The provincial intervention in terms of Section 139 (1) (b) in the municipalities
Cabinet approved putting two municipalities under administration following the extreme collapse in terms of delivering the services. They are Bushbuckridge and Emalahleni respectively.
The intervention is in terms of Section 139 (1) (b of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. This decision comes after a long period of providing various provincial support through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and coaching by the executive council.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Affairs will take the process further as directed by the policy and legislative procedures, which including consulting with necessary bodies such as the National Council of Provinces, portfolio committee and the South African Local Government Association. The intervention is for period of six months.
Appointments
Cabinet approved the following appointments;
- Ms C Nelson – appointed Senior Manager: Primary Health Care Nkangala District [Department of Health]
- Ms DC Mdluli – appointed Senior Manager: Maternal/Child/Women/Youth/Health [Department of Health]
- Ms ST Gumede – appointed Senior Manager: Non-Communicable Disease Control [Department of Health]
- Mr MC Sibanda – appointed Senior Manager: Emergency Medical Services [Department of Health]
- Mr D Mdluli – appointed General Manager: Ehlanzeni District [Department of Health]
- Dr AB Shabane – appointed General Manager: Incremental Housing Program [Department of Human Settlements]
- Ms Z Mvusi – appointed General Manager: Technical Services [Department of Human Settlements]
- Mr SEB Matsebula – appointed General Manager: Chief Financial Officer [Human Settlements]
- Mr S Z Mncwango – appointed Senior Manager: Media and Departmental Liaison and Information Services [Office of the Premier]
- Ms C Churchill – appointed Senior Manager: Monitoring and Evaluation [Office of the Premier]
- Mr W Nkuna – appointed Senior Manager: Protective Security and Protocol Services [Office of the Premier]
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
