Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, other Ministers and Deputy Ministers present here, hon members, distinguished guests and fellow South Africans, in respect of its legal mandate the Ministry and the Department of Public Service and Administration are responsible for all human resource transversal policies, regulations, norms and standards, labour relations, conditions of service, and employee wellness on behalf of government as an employer.
Part of this responsibility includes the education and training of Public Service employees, their wellbeing regarding health and wellness, and ensuring continuous innovation in the work methods to improve service delivery as technologies change. It achieves these goals through, among other entities, the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority, PSETA, in regard to education and training; the Government Employees Medical Scheme, Gems, in regard to medical aid; and the Creative Problem Solving Institute, CPSI, in regard to innovation.
The PSETA is accredited as a Seta in terms of the South African Qualifications Authority Act, Act 58 of 1995. Its mandate is to develop and implement a sector skills plan for the public sector within the framework of the National Skills Development Strategy and to monitor and audit achievements in respect of national standards and qualifications as they pertain to the public sector. In our oversight work we have noted a number of challenges and problems that this entity has experienced in recent times.
One of the main problems that has persistently faced the PSETA is that of governance. This is manifested in their disclaimer audit report for the 2009-10 financial year from the Auditor-General, and the fraud findings as alluded to in that report. We are happy that the Ministry has shown determination in attending to these challenges in the form of instituting a forensic investigation and taking charge by implementing temporary measures through an administrator.
We are encouraged by plans that the PSETA Board has come up with in this Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period to focus on building the institutional capacity of the organisation through, among others, the appointment of the chief executive officer, CEO, and senior management and, most importantly, to address and complete the issue of its autonomy and funding model which has to some extent contributed to its perennial problems.
Hon Chairperson, notwithstanding these challenges, we have noted some of the achievements as reported in the annual report, such as: achieving full accreditation as an Education and Training Quality Assurance body; meeting the National Skills Development Strategy, NSDS, targets by accrediting 33 service providers, developing 24 qualifications and certifying 25 moderators; and exceeding the target of 2 000 by assisting 3 211 workers to enter learning programmes, with 2 812 workers against a target of 950 workers completing learning programmes. We believe that with extra support in regard to capacity and addressing its governance problems, the PSETA can do more to drive the process of ensuring that a skilled workforce is realised in the Public Service in the near future. As public representatives we are going to increase our vigilance in our oversight role of monitoring the implementation of a change programme as developed by its board and hold them accountable. For the ANC, Setas are the bedrock of our policy priorities in skills development for the purpose of job creation. The ANC is committed to building the capacity of the Public Service and Administration as it is crucial for a developmental state.
We recognise that institution-building for appropriate skills development cannot be achieved overnight, as we are dealing with the legacy of long- entrenched structural imbalances in our system of education and training for the public sector. In this vein, all efforts to build the PSETA must be supported, while at the same time ensuring that action is taken where good corporate governance has been violated. Where evidence has been found of fraud and mismanagement, action against the culprits must be taken swiftly.
Hon Chairperson, creativity and innovation are important elements of modern approaches to service delivery, as demonstrated by the need for continuous change in work methods. The legislative mandate of the CPSI is to provide the Minister with independent, diverse, and forward-looking research findings and advice on innovative service delivery with a specific focus on government's priorities. It encourages learning and rewarding institutions with regard to innovative methods of providing services to the people.
It is pleasing to note that the CPSI is recognised and is a member of international bodies such as the United Nations Committee of Experts. This, together with its sharing and cross-publishing of innovative case studies between the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management and CPSI journals, needs to be applauded and encouraged as it promotes learning and institutional strengthening. Its new Multimedia Innovation Centre was established as a knowledge repository for the public sector but has now grown to facilitate various other platforms that are necessary for capacity-building for people to expand and test their ideas.
Hon Minister, we would like to see the CPSI visiting communities, especially where we have seen protests about service delivery, so that the problems can be diagnosed and correct solutions applied in order to improve service delivery. The centre needs to brand service delivery in the Public Service.
The lesson we learn from the type of innovation and management we have observed in the CPSI and Gems is that success is possible in the public sector. Gems is showing success in achieving its mission of providing all Public Service employees with equitable access to affordable and comprehensive health care benefits within a very competitive market environment of medical aid schemes. It continues to increase its membership base, while managing cost effectively at the same time.
All these three entities are strategically important for the task of building modern human resource management and developing our Public Service and Administration. The ANC has supported their creation because of its longstanding commitment to building a strong professional Public Service and Administration based on the democratic values of our Constitution and the Batho Pele principles. The ultimate goal from the ANC policy perspective is a strong developmental state that is capable of eradicating poverty, eliminating inequalities, growing the economy inclusively, and delivering services to all in society, especially the poor, with speed and quality.
We want to see PSETA, in particular, supported in its change management processes, and thus strengthened, in the interests of education and of government employees and sound human resource management and development. We want to support the noble efforts of innovative approaches to service delivery through the CPSI.
Ka lona lebaka leo, ANC e thekga ditekanyet?o t?e. Ke a leboga. [Legofsi.] [For that reason, the ANC supports the allocated budget. I thank you. [Applause.]]