Public Service & Administration Portfolio Committee's Five Year Plan

Meeting report

Committee 5 year plan: 2009-2014
The Chairperson started the meeting by referring to the draft Five Year Plan. He allowed for comments and suggestions.

Ms A Dreyer (DA) noted that the finalisation of the single public service legislation was included in the Committee’s vision. This was not appropriate as the matter had not been discussed, and no documents had been presented. She suggested that this item be put on hold until the accompanying documents had been considered.

The Chairperson pointed out that the Committee would be allowed to go on two international trips during the five year period. Accordingly, he asked Members to apply their minds to this matter.

Mr E Rasool (ANC) asked whether a body like the Government Employment Medical Scheme (GEMS) and had to report to the Committee. What distinction was there between this body and those that fell under the natural domain?

Ms Razia January, Committee Secretary, explained that this entity reported to the Ministry and not to the Committee directly.

Year-2009
The Chairperson referred Members to this years draft programme. It included dates, times, meetings, objectives and the cost involved.

Ms H Van Shcalkwyk (DA) noted that Committee would be trained by National Treasury from the 6-9 October 2009. While she acknowledged that the training was necessary and essential, she urged members to opt for the most cost effective venue (for this exercise). In addition, she asked if the quality of the training would be affected by the venue.

Mr Rasool said that the quality of the training had to be weighed against the cost. The cost should be considered from both sides. Flying officials from Pretoria could be expensive for government as a whole.

The Chairperson said that this matter would be finalised sometime in September.

Ms N November (ANC) suggested that the decision should be made by mid September to make sure that people were made infromed in good time.

Mr Rasool referred to the catering prices and asked why they differed for the different meetings.

Ms January replied that the catering was R100 more for meetings that had guests in addition to the committee members, since more food would have to be provided.

Year-2010
The Chairperson referred to the year 2010 draft programme and noted that the study tour was still to be approved.

Mr L Ramatlakane (ANC) said that a decision could only be made once research had been done, and the countries short-listed.

The Chairperson said that since this would be a study tour, they should consider which country would benefit the Committee the most.

Ms Dreyer suggested that fact sheets should be compiled to make it easier to compare between the countries.

Mr N Gcwabaza (ANC) said that the Committee should consider Mozambique since there had been interaction between South Africa and Mozambique on Public Service and Administration.

The Chairperson said that Members should consider the options, and that the matter would be discussed further at subsequent meetings.

Mr Ramatlakane referred to the fourth term. He said that the only weakness was that there was no allocation for engagement with the different spheres of government. Provisions for this should be made within the report.

Year-2011
Ms Dreyer referred to the first term of 2011. There would be local government elections during the first half of the year and this could affect the Committee’s work.

Mr Ramatlakane said that a note should be added, stating that changes could be made to the programme due to the elections.

Year-2012
The Chairperson referred to the draft plan for 2012.

Mr Rasool noted that the third term agenda was the only one that changed every year, whereas the same issues were considered in the first, second and fourth terms each year. The Committee should consider whether the item in term three was placed in the right priority as an addition to the standard plan. The third term of 2012 would be too late to deal with vacancies. This matter should be brought forward.

Mr Gcwabaza said that the issue on vacancies should be included in every term as part of job creation, and as a response to the recession.

Ms Dreyer referred to the oversight visits in the fourth term. Given that there were three spheres of government, she cautioned that a visit to the provinces could be viewed negatively –“stepping on the toes of the provincial government”.

Ms November said that although there was the possibility of offending the provincial government, time was of the essence. There should be communication and monitoring. More could be achieved if the different spheres of government worked together.

Mr Gcwabaza said that the oversight should be done to facilitate and support co-operative governance. The Committee should interact and communicate with the provincial government. Mayors can not be excluded from the discussions. The Public Service Management Bill would have been passed by then. The visits would be carried out in the implementation of that bill, as a way of evaluating the challenges, and not as interference.

Ms Dreyer asked if the quarterly reports on spending could not be made available. This would be a way of identifying problems early on.

The Chairperson replied that this could be requested.

Mr Rasool referred to page 1 of the draft programme. Only five of the objectives had been covered in the programme. There was nothing on anti-corruption strategies, people with disabilities, or the skilling of junior and senior management. The Committee should consider how to include the rest of the visions. The quarterly reports would be in compliance with the anti-corruption plan. Eliminating vacancies could include hiring disabled people. This programme should be revisited and the outstanding issues incorporated. The appropriate issues should be the main focus of the visit to the provinces.

The Chairperson said that the appropriate changes would be made, and that finalisation would take place at the following meeting. At the same time, he added that changes would still be made along the way as well.

The meeting was adjourned.