Question No: 65
The leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) to ask the Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
1. Whether, with reference to his speech on the budget vote for the Presidency 2009/10 financial year, (a) there will be a rating system on the one-page report card system for Cabinet Ministers and (b) how will Ministers’ performance be measured on the report card; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;
2. Whether there will be any consequences if a Minister fails the rating system; if not, why not; if so, (a) what consequences and (b) how many times may a Minister fail this rating system before the consequences are enacted;
3. whether the (a) results of these one page report cards or (b) general outcomes or findings of each or report back sessions will be made public; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case
Reply:
1. Government approved its Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) for the period 2009 to 2014 in July 2009. This spells out its plan for the next five years. The new performance process is an extension of the MTSF. We are in the process of developing measurable outcomes and outputs against which Ministers and departments need to deliver. Once cabinet has approved these outcomes, they will be formally communicated to Ministers.
2. The document improving government performance was launched to the public on Friday 4 September describes our approach in more detail. This is not a rating system as the question suggests but a mechanism to direct our delivery and assess our performance on a regular basis. The six monthly reports from ministers to the President will have two objectives assess the progress we have made in six months towards what in all cases are long term targets and identify blockages to delivery that need attention. The approach is a reflection of how seriously the Presidency takes the responsibilities of planning and improving performance. Consequences for not meeting delivery targets will be decided upon by the President.
3. Government is committed to keeping the South African public and Parliament fully informed of its plans and progress in implementation. Regular reports, publications and addresses to Parliament will be used to report of performance.
Issued by: The Presidency
9 September 2009
