The past three days have provided us with an opportunity to work as a collective to craft the Department of Roads and Public Works strategic plan for the next five years. This strategic plan which is guided by smart strategic objectives we will leave with and implement it in accordance with our mission and vision statement.
We are a public institution that should provide sustainable, high quality roads and accessible building infrastructure in the Eastern Cape Province. At the core of government’s approach in stimulating the economy are the continued efforts to link investment in infrastructure with economic development. It is in this context that we must view provincial government’s multi billion programme of upgrading road and building infrastructure in this term.
We must streamline service delivery focus areas by prioritising those that have greatest impact in improving lives of the people of the province. Key thrust of our approach should be project based planning and reporting. Improve resource allocation and quality of spend, exploring alternative and innovative approaches to service delivery and improved accountability and rigorous monitoring.
The department must recommit itself to Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) principles that will stimulate further growth and assist in alleviating poverty. We must show innovative approach by combining rural road maintenance needs with poverty alleviation and address the goals set in the Provincial Growth and Development Plan (PGDP) and United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. To further sustain our programme is to ensure maintenance of public assets in an ongoing need by unbundling maintenance contracts.
The strategic plan document will be a product of a thorough process which is formed by key policy priorities as identified by the present government at national, provincial and local spheres. Strategic plan document serves as a guiding and living instrument towards achieving prosperity of people of this province. We must further commit ourselves to address audit queries. Auditor-General recommendations do not enjoy the priority they deserve, especially amongst non-financial personnel.
Your dedication over three days is a clear indication that you know what is expected of you as implementers of government policies. We must serve as cogs in the wheels to accelerate service delivery. We must develop score cards to measure our performance periodically. We must cultivate effective communication, cooperation and trust to achieve rapid department management based on our strategic goals.
The public sector does not have the luxury of a one dimensional vision and is compelled to manage conflicting needs and expectations of its various constituencies to navigate these needs and expectations of capitalists and labour of rich and poor of have and have not is a very difficult task indeed which need a concerted effort from all of us.
I think we have as well made a clear diagnose of the disease and agreed with the disease hence we have prescribed the right treatment. Transitional period of configuring this department should be given the sensitivity it deserves. After every divorce a proper counselling is needed.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
5 July 2009
Source: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://dpw.ecprov.gov.za/)
