Hon Speaker and hon members, as you are aware, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, directors-general of departments, as accounting officers, are responsible for managing the finances. They are therefore responsible for addressing the shortcomings and implementing the recommendations identified in the Auditor-General's reports. As Ministers are ultimately responsible for the overall performance of their line departments, they are expected to take appropriate steps to ensure that accounting officers act on the Auditor- General's recommendations.
In order to strengthen the performance monitoring system, the Presidency has put in place the following measures: the Director-General of the Presidency is the Chairperson of the Forum of South African Directors- General, Fosad. With Cabinet approval, Fosad has started to monitor the implementation of key improvements to management and administration in the Public Service.
The Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration in the Presidency is facilitating this monitoring on behalf of Fosad, and it provides the Fosad Management Committee with regular reports on progress towards improving a number of key administrative problems. The aim of this monitoring is to increase the focus of accounting officers on addressing these matters and to provide Cabinet and the President with periodic reports on progress in this regard.
The Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration is currently working with the Department of the Public Service and Administration to revise the performance assessment system for accounting officers, to increase the role of the Presidency and the Offices of the Premiers in this system, and to ensure that the managerial and administrative performance of a department is a key factor in the performance assessment of the accounting officer of that department.
Fosad started monitoring managerial and administrative performance issues three months ago. This will be an ongoing process until managerial and administrative performance improves. The new performance assessment system for accounting officers is planned to start in the 2013-14 financial year. In the meantime, the existing performance assessment system for accounting officers will continue. I thank you.