House Chair, unfortunately, the oversight visit to Gauteng has yielded the same issues that we have constantly been talking about in this very House. Some of the issues found within this department are currently experienced in other departments such as, the Extended Public Works Programme, EPWP.
The EPWP is a key and important programme that, if executed correctly, can help alleviate poverty and educate and skill people. The population of South Africa, in turn, must jealously protect and support the success of this programme. However, the lack of cohesion within the department's entities has led to parts of the EPWP being unable to meet some of its key performance indicators that were outside of its control. You would want key performance indicators under its control if you do not have confidence in fellow entities and their ability to assist you in meeting the overall key performance indicators. This demonstrates a lack of cohesive
understanding to achieve the common goal of a transformed, inclusive and growing economy supported by public infrastructure.
In support of my argument, we see one of the recommendations admit that:
The entities reporting to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure worked in silos. This affected the joint effort that was required to address urgent transformation challenges in the construction and built environment sector.
The silo mentality pays no dividend when a team, group or entity has to work to ensure effective service delivery. It leads to the breakdown and failure of communication - as we are currently witnessing in almost all departments.
The IFP has maintained the position that the challenges of unemployment and transformation require urgent policy intervention. This has now rung true in the committee report.
We have also been highlighting the skills gap that currently exists in South Africa. In addressing the need for transformation and the skills gap, the IFP has correctly identified that the existing human
resource skills and material resources within the department are inadequate for the purpose of meeting the urgent and necessary demands for development.
The IFP proposes, amongst others, that a cadre of specially trained and dedicated civil servants be assembled to facilitate real community development based on the promotion of self-reliance and the provision of essential infrastructure.
The IFP supports the report.
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