The Presidency
Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Statistics South Africa
Government Communication and Information System
Media Development and Diversity Agency
Brand South Africa
The Presidency
The Presidency is mandated to ensure that the President can execute his constitutional responsibilities in leading and galvanising government and society to implement
the electoral mandate.
Over the medium term, the department planned to continue providing support to the President and Deputy President in the execution of their responsibilities, as outlined in Chapter 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996.
The department also planned to focus on enhancing leadership and partnerships through stakeholder engagements to promote the country’s social transformation agenda, facilitating economic growth and job creation, and operationalising the e‐Cabinet system.
Enhancing leadership and partnerships
The District Development Model (DDM) is aimed at improving coherence and integrated planning in South Africa’s 44 districts and eight metros to improve service delivery.
To enhance coordination between spheres of government, over the medium term, The Presidency planned to continue providing leadership and playing a coordinating role through its oversight of the model and, through the Presidential Imbizo, oversee its implementation.
The department plans to produce 1 report per year over the medium-term period on oversight visits. Over the medium term, the department planned to continue strengthening partnerships among government departments, civil society and the private sector through a number of engagements.
For example, the office of the Deputy President, working with the South African National AIDS Council and other stakeholders, will continue to support the goals of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections by ensuring that meetings take place with stakeholders and that responses to these
epidemics are well coordinated.
The department intends to have engagements with partners and stakeholders each year over the medium term to promote the country’s social transformation agenda. This includes continuing to work with provincial governments to expedite the profiling of military veterans to recognise their contribution to South Africa’s democracy, and ensure that they are provided with support and benefits – such as education, housing and pensions – to lead their lives with dignity, as required in terms of the Military Veterans Act of 2011.
Facilitating economic growth and job creation initiatives
Government recognises that employment creation and job retention are paramount to rebuilding and enhancing South Africa’s economy. In this regard, The Presidency leads South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) by facilitating and coordinating the Operation Vulindlela economic reform programme and the Presidential Employment Initiative, which are aimed at accelerating and facilitating investment, trade promotion, economic growth and job creation.
This entails providing young people with business skills and access to market and network opportunities, and driving progress on the recovery agenda.
Operationalising the e‐Cabinet system
The e‐Cabinet system is a tool for streamlining Cabinet’s decision‐making processes and ensuring that it adopts an integrated approach to governance.
The system provides a collaborative platform for members of the executive, heads of department and executive support staff to share, manage and store
information securely. Over the medium term, The Presidency planned to continue providing training to all users, including executives and limited support staff who communicate, manage, capture and distribute classified information for the overall optimal functioning of Cabinet and its committees.
Operation Vulindlela
Government is working to unlock the structural constraints to inclusive economic growth through OV, which brings together the ability of The Presidency to coordinate across government at a political and administrative level, and the technical expertise of National Treasury.
The core purpose of OV is to unleash critical sectors to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and enable higher economic growth. The initiative aims to modernise and transform network industries, including electricity, water, transport and digital communications. These network industries are the bedrock of economic growth, and are essential to creating a globally competitive economy.
By mid-2023, OV was working closely with the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Transport and Transnet to finalise a roadmap for the freight logistics sector. This roadmap will shortly be completed and will outline the actions to improve the performance of ports and rail as well as measures to reform Transnet and create an efficient and competitive freight logistics system.
To address the challenges in freight rail and port operations, we are forging cooperation at a very practical level with businesses and unions in sectors such as logistics, agriculture, auto, mining and forestry.
Infrastructure and Investment Office (IIO)
The IIO was established by The President of South Africa to co-ordinate and align the work of various structures responsible for economic and social infrastructure
development. As the demand for infrastructure in Africa continues to grow, the government will need to leverage public and private funds to marshal investments to bridge
the infrastructure divide.
New approaches to delivering infrastructure are needed, and so is innovative technology and effective collaboration between policymakers, sector agencies, financiers, and investors to fund and deliver projects to yield financial and nonfinancial returns for all stakeholders.
A further key role of the IIO is its mandate to solve regulatory and other bottlenecks which are prohibitive to investment, as well as play a leading role in accelerating decision-making in order for high priority investments to be speedily and efficiently implemented.
Investment
By 2023, five years had passed since President Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on an ambitious investment drive to raise R1.2 trillion in new investment to boost the economy of South Africa.
At the 5th South Africa Investment Conference held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg on 13 April 2023, the intial target was surpassed when over R1.5 trillion was raised through investment commitments.
Minister in The Presidency
The Minister is responsible for the:
- Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME);
- Statistics South Africa (Stats SA);
- Government Communication and Information System (GCIS);
- Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA); and
- Brand South Africa (Brand SA).
Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
The Minister is responsible for the:
- Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD); and
- National Youth Development Agency (NYDA
Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
The DPME is mandated to:
- support the National Planning Commission (NPC);
- facilitate the implementation of the NDP through the development of sectorspecific and outcome‐specific medium‐term plans and delivery agreements, and monitor and evaluate their implementation;
- ensure the alignment of departmental strategic and annual plans and budget allocations with government’s Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF);
- monitor the performance of individual national and provincial government departments and municipalities, and facilitate targeted intervention programmes;
- monitor frontline service delivery and manage the presidential hotline;
- develop and implement the annual national evaluations plan, and support the national evaluations system; and
- promote good planning, monitoring and evaluation practices in government. Over the medium term, the DPME planned to focus on supporting the implementation of the NDP, coordinating planning programmes across government, and monitoring and evaluation to support the implementation of government programmes and priorities.
Supporting the implementation of the NDP through the NPC
The DPME is tasked with facilitating the implementation of the NDP. This is carried out by the NPC and its secretariat, which is mandated to provide an independent and critical view of the country’s developmental trajectory, monitor its implementation, and provide feedback and guidance.
Over the medium term, the NPC planned to participate in and initiate 3 research projects in support of the implementation of the NDP while engaging all social partners and forging new partnerships. To realise this, the commission planned to facilitate a strategic engagement and partnership in each year over the medium term to develop cross‐cutting views on specific issues with the aim of finding sustainable and innovative solutions to obstacles that hinder the implementation of the NDP.
Coordinating planning programmes across government
In an effort to strengthen coherence and harmony across government’s planning system, the department has developed a policy framework for integrated planning.
To give effect to this, it has developed guidelines on the institutionalisation of the MTSF to support the integration of its priorities and targets across the planning system.
The department aims to ensure that enhanced planning finds expression across all spheres of government through the DDM, which addresses challenges to government service delivery by promoting local procurement to enhance job creation, promote and support local businesses, and involve communities.
The model’s approach to planning and implementation aims to improve coherence among all spheres of government, as well as the 44 districts and eight metros across the country, as development spaces that can be used as centres of service delivery and economic development, including job creation.
Monitoring to support the implementation and achievement of government programmes and priorities
To promote the alignment, coordination and integration of development planning, in line with realising the NDP’s development outcomes, the department will monitor the implementation of government’s 2019‐2024 MTSF over the medium term, which entails the production of a targeted two integrated monitoring reports per year.
To improve the quality of service delivery, the department is also tasked with monitoring frontline services, including complaints and compliments received through the Presidential Hotline, and plans to produce two reports per year over the medium term on frontline service delivery.
Evaluating to support the implementation and achievement of government programmes and priorities
In line with the NDP’s vision to build a capable and developmental state, the department will, through the National Evaluation Policy Framework, manage and support the evaluation of priority government policies, programmes and systems, and produce a targeted 12 evaluation reports over the medium term to support evidence‐based planning, monitoring and evaluation across government.
The department will continue to develop the centralised data management system, which is expected to provide users – including government departments, members of the public and academics – with an improved interface for accessing, retrieving, analysing and reporting on government performance information.
The system is envisaged to act as a knowledge hub to enable a greater understanding of the effectiveness of government interventions and their impact on society.
Statistics South Africa
Stats SA is a national department accountable to the Minister in The Presidency. The department’s activities are regulated by the Statistics Act of 1999, which mandates the department to advance the production, dissemination, use and coordination of official and other statistics to assist organs of state, businesses, other organisations and the public in planning, monitoring, policy developmentand decision‐making.
The Act also requires that the department coordinates statistical production among organs of state in line with the purpose of official statistics and statistical principles.
Modernising the operating model
To deliver statistical products and services better, faster and more cost effectively, the department is modernising its operating model. This entails introducing and implementing various innovative technologies over the medium term to optimise and automate statistical operations, including digital data collection methods for household surveys such as the census.
In response to the increasing demand for data and statistics, the department will be establishing an interconnected statistical system that facilitates data acquisition, integration, analysis and visualisation.
Implementing the continuous population survey
In 2023/24, Stats SA planned to work on reconceptualising the continuous population survey. This entails integrating several existing household surveys into a single continuous data collection vehicle with the objective of producingfrequent lower‐level data.
The department aimed to conduct integrated surveys to measure poverty and household living conditions, and was also conducting a national income and expenditure survey to measure living conditions by collecting data on household income and expenditure patterns. A sample of 30 000 households across the country has been included in the survey, which is expected to be published in 2024/25.
Releasing the results of Census 2022
On 10 October 2023, Statistician-General, Mr Risenga Maluleke, handed over the Census 2022 report to President Ramaphosa in Pretoria, and also announced the
results of the population and housing count to the country.
Census 2022 was the fourth population and housing count in post-apartheid South Africa, the first being conducted in 1996, and subsequent censuses being conducted in 2001 and 2011 respectively.
The population and housing census, which was conducted in February 2022, provided comprehensive data on population size, demographic trends and other information related to service delivery.
Government Communication and Information System
The mandate of the GCIS is derived from Section 195(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, which stipulates that the public should be provided with information that is timely, accurate and accessible. This is in support of the constitutional principles of freedom of expression, and transparent
and open governance.
The department is responsible for providing strategic leadership and coordinating government communication to ensure that members of the public are informed and have access to government programmes and policies thatbenefit them. Over the medium term, the GCIS planned to continue focusing on providing and facilitating strategic government communication and facilitating active citizen participation by rendering core communication activities and driving key national priority campaigns.
The department aimed to continue publishing Vuk’uzenzele newspaper, which is the only national publication that is focused on government’s key priorities, with an emphasis on service delivery programmes and the opportunities created by government.
The GCIS was expected to conduct activations across the country that entail direct interactions with citizens, mostly in area‐specific local languages. Key activities include printing pamphlets and information brochures, and advertising on social media, and radio and television stations. Activations will be initiated based on domestic and foreign media engagements, and important government and national events such as the State of the Nation Address.
Over the medium term, it planned to drive national priority campaigns on gender‐based violence and femicide (GBVF), anti‐corruption in government, and the ERRP. These campaigns are primarily aimed at raising awareness and informing the public on progress made in dealing with these challenges, and will be conducted through social media, community radio stations, television, newspapers, and distributing leaflets and flyers.
The GCIS continues to drive a variety of its own products and platforms to ensure that information reached South Africans. These include the fortnightly Vuk’uzenzele newspaper, daily News Service (SAnews); weekly My District Today newsletter, monthly Public Sector Manager magazine and annual South Africa Yearbook.
The department also engages with the public through campaigns and outreach programmes. These include community radio talk shows, activations at taxi ranks and malls, information blitzes on commuter trains, and social media campaigns. It also holds a community and stakeholder engagements term in the form of dialogues, meetings, webinars and community radio talk shows with sector departments, civil society, youth formations, faith‐based organisations and business forums.
In addition to these initiatives, the department conducts development communication projects to enhance service delivery and keep citizens informed and empowered on government’s progress and projects.
Media Development and Diversity Agency
The MDDA’s core activity is to provide financial and non‐financial support to community broadcast projects, and community and small commercial media print and digital projects. Its emphasis is on promoting indigenous languages and contributing to community development and the alleviation of poverty and inequality.
The agency also planned to intensify its focus on ensuring the sustainability of media projects in communities that are underserved by mainstream media.
Brand South Africa
Brand SA was established in 2002 to manage South Africa’s nation brand with the aim of improving the country’s global reputation and competitiveness. The entity’s primary objective is to develop and implement proactive and coordinated reputation management, communications and marketing strategies for South Africa to attract investment, trade and tourism.
Over the medium term, the entity aimed to focus on implementing activities that contribute to positively shaping South Africa’s image and reputation. This includes using research to monitor sentiment and the nation brand’s performance; analysing trends and providing insights to inform decision‐making and communications strategies; and communicating the country’s value proposition and values, and highlighting progress.
Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
The mandate of the DWYPD is to regulate the socioeconomic transformation and implementation of the empowerment and participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities. Over the medium-term period, the department planned to continue focusing on addressing GBV and supporting empowerment; promoting responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation across government; supporting youth empowerment; and promoting the rights of people with disabilities.
Addressing GBVF and supporting empowerment
The National Council on GBVF Bill was submitted to Parliament in 2022/23 and the launch of the council was expected in 2023/24. The council will be tasked with coordinating and overseeing the national response to GBVF.
The department aimed to facilitate public awareness and advocacy events, and support and monitor the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.
The Commission for Gender Equality planned to work towards gender equality by strengthening the legislative environment, public information and education, and investigating issues that undermine gender equality.
Promoting responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation
Over the medium term, the DWYPD planned to continue coordinating, monitoring and evaluate the implementation of responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and auditing frameworks across government for women, young people and people with disabilities.
It aimed to continue assessing the strategic and annual performance plans of other departments to ensure that they are responsive to policy priorities relating to the rights of women, young people and people with disabilities; and monitor compliance with international commitments on issues pertaining to these groups,
as well as develop country reports.
In each year over the next three years, the department planned to conduct 12 stakeholder engagements on the empowerment of women, young people and people with disabilities, and four community mobilisation events on national commemoration days.
Supporting youth empowerment
To advance the socio-economic empowerment of young people, the DWYPD planned to continue developing and reviewing polices, legislation and frameworks to guide government and other stakeholders on youth development.
Promoting the rights of people with disabilities
Over the period ahead, the department planned to continue advocating for services for people with disabilities. As part of these efforts, it planned to develop the Disability Rights Bill in partnership with the South African Law Reform Commission.
National Youth Development Agency
The NYDA Act of 2008 is the founding legislation of the NYDA. The agency’s role is to initiate, implement, facilitate and monitor youth development interventions aimed at facilitating the empowerment of young people and their participation in economic activity, and promoting social cohesion. The NYDA continues to support and foster entrepreneurship among young people, and createemployment pathways through cross‐sectoral collaborations.
Over the medium-term period, the agency planned to support 10 400 enterprises owned by young people and provide business development interventions to 87 000 young people. Young people will be helpd to find sustainable employment opportunities through jobs programmes.
The National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) will over the medium term support young people and encourage them to stay engaged in service to their communities and build the spirit of patriotism, solidarity and social cohesion.
As part of the Presidential Employment Initiative, the agency has partnered with the Jobs Fund to implement the revitalised NYSP. This funding is expected to provide for project management costs, training and stipends for young people participating in the programme.
Source: Official Guide to South Africa
