21 July 2006
The Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) has exposed its poor grasp
of government's Programme of Action by coming up with some petty allegations
against the ongoing African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in South Africa,
describing the country self-assessment process a "significant wasted
opportunity" to address service delivery and accountable government.
The Director of the Grahamstown-based PSAM, Colm Allan, is quoted in media
reports as having blamed "the excessive influence of the national executive on
the South African APRM Governing Council" for the "vacuous" version of the
Country Self-Assessment Report, submitted to Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, the eminent
person leading South Africa's review process.
As a matter of fact, the APRM National Governing Council consists of 29
members, only nine of whom are government representatives. Therefore, Allan's
talk of "excessive influence of the national executive" is far-fetched and
baseless. The APRM Country Self-Assessment is a credible, high quality document
that reflects the views of those who participated in the process.
Among other things, Allan accused government of not "publicising [its]
action plans and evaluation of their implementation; enhancing accountability
of ministers and senior officials; improving expenditure management;
accelerating service delivery; and investigating the failure to implement
anti-corruption and mismanagement laws effectively".
A visit to the Batho Pele Gateway Portal, the government's official website
(https://www.gov.za), would reveal that the
PSAM's "recommendations" have already been incorporated into the Government's
Programme of Action, which is regularly monitored, updated and publicised.
In addition to making information available on the Batho Pele Gateway
Portal, government has put in place various other initiatives to enhance
accountability. These initiatives include the deployment of a cadre of
Community Development Workers across the country, regular media briefings to
outline progress in implementing governmentâs Programme of Action, izimbizo,
Batho Pele Centres (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Community Centres).
It is worth emphasising that the APRM process is not a review of government.
The process is about the review of all sectors and the sharing of experiences
and reinforcement of successful and best practices, including identifying
deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building - which is what our
peer review process has taken into consideration.
Prof. Adedeji has repeatedly pointed out that the APRM is not "an audit of
government", adding that he and his team of experts are not in the country to
"pass judgement", but to critically review the country (not merely government)
with a view of identifying deficiencies and best practices.
Clayson Monyela
Spokesperson for Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Focal Point and
Chairperson of the APRM National Governing Council in South Africa
Tel: (012) 336 1167
Cell: 082 806 7405
E-mail: claysonm@dpsa.gov.za
Issued by: Ministry for Public Service and Administration
21 July 2006
