President Jacob Zuma today, 11 October 2011, met with Premiers and Local government representatives to discuss governance and improving the performance of the State at all three levels, at the meeting of the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) at the Union Buildings, Pretoria.
The PCC’s purpose is to ensure the implementation of national policy and legislation in provinces and municipalities as well as the coordination and alignment of priorities, objectives and strategies across national, provincial and local governments. Chaired by the President, the PCC comprises the Deputy President, the Minister in the Presidency, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Service and Administration, Premiers of the nine provinces and the South African Local Government Association.
Issues discussed
State of vacancies in the Public Service
In his State of the Nation Address in February, President Zuma made a commitment that “Government must fill all funded vacant posts. The Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Department (DPME) will provide a report within six months.” The findings of the report by DPME were discussed at the PCC.
It was found that national and provincial departments had done very well in terms of filling vacant posts by the end of the 2010/2011 financial year.
Said Minister Collins Chabane; “However, there are some remaining vacancies in some departments, particularly for highly skilled positions such as engineers, where it has been found to be difficult to find candidates. The concerned departments are currently engaged in recruitment processes to fill these positions. At national level as of end of March 2011, a relatively small number, 8 600 out of a total of 300 182 of funded posts were calculated to be available to be filled. At provincial level, there were also a limited number, 7 000 out of a total of 862 750 funded vacant posts available. Local government has filled most of their funded vacant posts over the past year. The process of recruitment is currently underway’’.
President Zuma urged departments to work harder to find the scarce skills necessary to improve service delivery.
Improving the performance of the State
In April 2010, the President met with all Directors-General and Deputy Directors-General from national and provincial government with the aim of finding ways to improve the performance of the Public Service. In response, the Forum of South African Directors General (FOSAD) has started to monitor the administrative and managerial performance of national and provincial departments, to ensure that weaknesses are addressed.
Some of the results of this monitoring were discussed by the PCC.
‘’The Directors-General have to urgently put in place service delivery standards and service delivery improvement plans, complete disciplinary processes within reasonable timeframes, respond to cases reported on the Anti-corruption hotline managed by the Public Service Commission, and ensure that suppliers of goods and services to government are paid within 30 days in terms of the commitments we have made to the public’’ said President Zuma.
FOSAD, chaired by the Presidency Director-General, Dr Cassius Lubisi, would ensure that the directives are implemented.
Global economic situation, budget and expenditure
The Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan briefed the PCC on the global economic situation.
The Minister warned that the global economy is very uncertain and turbulent and that the South African economy could be impacted even more if the situation worsens, leading to more uncertainty in the economic and revenue environment. It was also noted that Government expenditure needs to be curbed.
With regards to provincial spending and budgets, the PCC also noted the need to improve on the following areas:
- Projected overspending on personnel
- Slow spending of capital budgets and likely under expenditure
- Poor budgeting especially for infrastructure projects
“It is important for us to understand that the bleak global financial situation impacts on us as a country, and that we must find means to cushion ourselves, President Zuma said.
The PCC meets four times a year.
Enquiries:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148 or
Harold Maloka
Cell: 082 847 9799
