Performance agreements signed by Ministers with the President cannot just be for show as a public relation exercise. They must be honoured and be seen to be honoured. They need to be monitored and evaluated to improve performance and service delivery.
Even more important, there should be serious consequences for poor performance. We all know that where there are no consequences for poor work or nonperformance, mediocrity and failure become the norm. [Interjections.]
In this regard, Parliament and the nation keenly await the outcomes of the earlier performance agreements signed by the Ministers with the President. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has to ensure that these reasonable expectations of the nation are met, otherwise expectations of improved performance and enhanced service delivery will remain just that - unfulfilled expectations.
The National Planning Commission has identified five focus areas for this financial year. One of these is to mobilise support for the implementation of the National Development Plan. We believe this is a very important focus area and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation should ensure that the appropriate budget is employed effectively in this respect.
In regard to the successful implementation of the National Development Plan, the people's plan, as so aptly put by Minister Radebe, should enjoy priority status in the work of the Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation if South Africa is to achieve the envisaged economic growth, employment, reduction of poverty and a thriving open opportunity society for all our people. Thank you. [Applause.]