Following the recent national cabinet Lekgotla, the Limpopo provincial Executive Council (EXCO) held its two-day Lekgotla on 3 and 4 August 2011 in Polokwane. The current provincial EXCO Lekgotla was designed to, among others, to assess government performance in the first quarter in line with the implementation of the 2011/12 Programme of Action.
The meeting deliberated on matters that include:
- Provincial government financial performance with regards to the attainment of the objectives of the Operation Clean Audit – Vision 2014.
- Progress report on the implementation of the Limpopo Employment Growth and Development Plan (LEGDP).
- Progress on government’s objective to create jobs in the province.
Progress report on the implementation of infrastructure projects implemented by the following departments:-
- Public Works
- Education
- Agriculture
- Road and Transport
- Health
- Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs
- Social Development
The first quarter reports of the following structures of EXCO also served before the Lekgotla:
- Governance and Administration cluster
- Social Development cluster
- Economic Development cluster
- Infrastructure Development cluster
- Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster.
Lastly, the Lekgotla received progress report on the preparations of the National Water for Development Summit scheduled to take place on 19 and 20 August 2011 in Limpopo.
On the matter of the provincial government financial performance with regard to the attainment of the objectives of the Operation Clean Audit – Vision 2014, the Lekgotla welcomed the fact that, the Fetakgomo local municipality in Sekhukhune and the departments of Agriculture, Provincial Treasury and Local Government and Housing, have received a clean audit.
The Lekgotla appreciated that the National Treasury and the Auditor General have expressed confidence in how the provincial government has improved its financial management. Consequently, Lekgotla reaffirmed that Limpopo will achieve the prescripts of the Operation Clean Audit – Vision 2014.
The Lekgotla appreciated progress made with regard to the developments that are taking place in the provincial growth points in pursuance of the implementation of the LEGDP. The plans to enhance the Integrated Human Settlement at Lephalale in Waterberg district and the construction of the new democratic town in that area are at an advanced stage.
Other growth points such as Musina demonstrate that the retail industry in the province is surging up. The Lekgotla appreciated that the construction of the Wholesale centre in Musina is unfolding in a satisfactory manner and this centre will, among others, leverage the LEGDP objective of enhancing the regional economic growth within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Lekgotla has welcomed progress made by the provincial administration with regards to the creation of jobs. The Lekgotla received report that the Limpopo provincial government has been able to create over 62 400 in the first quarter of the current financial year. Below follows a breakdown of jobs created per department:
- The office of the Premier has created 143 jobs.
- The department of Public Works has created 581 jobs.
- The department of Agriculture has created 1 536 jobs.
- The department of Sport, Arts and Culture has created 15 jobs.
- The department of Education has created 17 890 jobs.
- The department of Local Government and Housing has created 939 jobs.
- The Limpopo Provincial Treasury has created 17 jobs.
- The department of Safety, Security and Liaison has created 02 jobs.
- The department of Roads and Transport has created 19 978 jobs.
- The department of Health has created 8 860 jobs.
- The department of Social Development has created 2 566 jobs.
On the matter of implementation of infrastructure projects by the respective departments, the Lekgotla welcomed the fact that the province in rolling out infrastructure projects over 62 billion rand in all the districts of the province. The Lekgotla noted the progress made in the implementation of infrastructure projects that include transport inter-modal transport system in Thohoyandou, construction and the revitalisation of clinics and hospitals, revitalisation of irrigation systems, construction of RDP houses, schools and early childhood development centres.
The Lekgotla noted and appreciated the first quarter reports of the following cluster:
- Governance and Administration cluster
- Social cluster
- Economic cluster
- Infrastructure cluster
- Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster
On the matter of preparations of the National Water for Development Summit scheduled to take place on 19 and 20 August 2011 in Limpopo, the Lekgotla appreciated the progress report presented in this regard. The scheduled National Water for Development Summit is designed to, among others; identify water challenges and possible solutions that will enable economic development in the province in line with the LEGDP.
The Lekgotla made the following resolutions:
1. Infrastructure delivery management process to be implemented through the already established forum chaired by the Premier and meetings to assess progress should be held monthly
a. The Forum to also assess progress made in relation to Job Creation
b. Executive Mayors should participate in the forum so that progress made in relation to Municipalities can be monitored monthly
2. Office of the Premier to develop stronger norms and standards for infrastructure delivery (quality assurance) and enforce compliance thereof.
3. Implementation of IDIP (Infrastructure Development Improvement Plan)
a. Provincial Treasury, Office of the Premier and DLGH to provide technical assistant and support to all departments and Municipalities with planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting
b. Provincial Treasury should review and fast track procurement processes
4. EPWP Job creation fund
a. Provincial Treasury must consolidate reports incorporating department expenditure and proposal on intervention on slow spending.
5. Revenue collection:
a. Departments must prioritise revenue collection, enhance revenue collection strategies and have in place dedicated revenue collection personnel.
b. Provincial Treasury to consider re-introducing revenue monitors/inspectors to the province.
c. Provincial Treasury to consider an incentive plan to incentivise Departments to stimulate revenue collection and to exceed budgeted targets.
6. The Clean Audit Strategy that has been presented by the Provincial Treasury and adopted by EXCO LEKGOTLA must be implemented by all the provincial departments, provincial public entities and municipalities. Provincial Treasury to present monthly report on the progress made to EXCO.
7. DLGH and the Provincial Treasury should adopt Municipalities with qualified Audit reports for support and capacity building.
8. Executive Mayors must take responsibility, resolve and account for all the Municipalities with disclaimers in their Districts.
9. A Clean Audit 2014 Provincial Coordinating Committee should be established and led by the Premier supported by MEC: Provincial Treasury, MEC: DLGH and Executive Mayors to:
a. Review clean audit milestone progress, at least quarterly, and coordinate initiatives
10. Catalytic projects should be prioritised, with cost implications and funding mechanism should be proposed.
11. There is a need for more vigorous communication of successes recorded in service delivery including the progress made by the Provincial Government on the implementation of the Anti-corruption strategy.
12. Service providers in the construction industry undertaking government projects should be enrolled for construction industry programmes as a compulsory requirement enhance skills development in the province.
13. A dedicated Unit for Project preparatory funding and partnerships should be established in Limdev in support of the LEGDP.
14. The SOEs should be given an opportunity in the EXCO Lekgotla to assess their progress on their programmes.
15. One day Freight conference organised by the Department of Roads and Transport is endorsed.
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