STRATEGY ON THE PROVISION OF TARGETED …

1 STRATEGY . ON THE PROVISION OF. TARGETED SUPPORT TO. DEPARTMENTS. by Department of Public Service and Administration TABLE OF CONTENTS. Section Page 1. 2. Problem 3. Main Goals for providing TARGETED 4. Key Objectives for providing TARGETED 5. Legislative 6. Policy 7. 8. Model for Providing TARGETED 9. Coordinating Structures for TARGETED 10. 2. ACROYMNS AND GLOSSARY. AG Auditor-General D: GI Directorate: Government Interventions DPME Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation DPSA Department of Public Service and Administration EXCO Executive Committee HOD Head of Department HR Human Resource ICT Information and Communication Technology MANCO Management Committee MOU Memorandum of Understanding MPAT Management Performance Assessment Tool MPSA Minister for Public Service and Administration MTSF Medium-Term Strategic Framework NDP National Development Plan NT National Treasury PMDS Performance Management and Development System PSA Public Service Act PSC Public Service Commission SMS Senior Management Service Department refers to the Department of Public Service and Administration 3.

2 1. INTRODUCTION. This document provides a STRATEGY for the PROVISION of TARGETED support to non- compliant government departments. The Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) of government for 2014 2019, approved by Cabinet on 23 July 2014, puts an emphasis that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) needs to develop mechanisms to help departments strengthen their internal Human Resource Capacity'. The 2013 Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) results suggest that Human Resource Capacity is not the only challenge that confronts the functionality of government departments. The MPAT results highlight challenges in other management standards such as Service Delivery Improvement Plans, organisational design, management of discipline and diversity management.

3 All these policy areas stated above fall within the mandate of the Minister for Public Service and Administration (MPSA). The STRATEGY is developed by the DPSA to coordinate TARGETED support to non- compliant government departments in line with the mandate of the MPSA. outlined in section 3 (6) of the Public Service Act, 1994 as amended by the Public Service Amendment Act 30 of 2007. This is also a direct response to the weakness in government departments that have also been raised by the Public Service Commission and Auditor-General (AG) in their reports. The STRATEGY will also seek to provide hands-on support to improve actual delivery of services to our people; and proactively support departments resolve areas of weaknesses and non-complaint.

4 However, it should be noted that although the DPSA will provide hands on support to departments, individual departments are still ultimately responsible for the effective and efficient functioning of their internal human resources including to ensure full compliance with regulatory prescripts. 2. PROBLEM STATEMENT. The findings from the 2013 MPAT Report indicate that a number of government departments are not complying with the basic regulatory standards and prescripts contained in various regulations and Directives governing the functioning of the Public Service. The 2013 MPAT Report shows, for example, that 65% of departments were assessed as non-compliant with a standard related to organisational design.

5 4. 82% with a standard related to human resource planning; 90% with a standard related to management of disciplinary cases; 70% with a standard for service delivery improvement and; 98% with a standard related to diversity management. In a large percentage cases, government departments do not comply with Directives and Circulars issued by the DPSA because of the lack of understanding and sometimes with poor expertise to internalise and implement. Other challenges relate to the lack of adequate capacity, proper delegations and consequences for failure to implement policies. On the other hand, the DPSA recognises the fact that government will not be able to achieve its developmental goals if the back-office systems are not functioning optimally, hence the need to provide TARGETED support to departments has been identified.

6 The findings indicated above from the 2013 MPAT Report are clear sign that government departments are not where they are supposed to be and that there is a need for urgent steps to improve compliance rate. This STRATEGY seeks to provide the solution to these challenges by changing the way government works. 3. MAIN GOALS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORT. The main goals for developing the STRATEGY on the PROVISION of TARGETED support to departments is to achieve the following: a) Improved compliance and adherence to the provisions of the legislation, Directives and Circulars issued by the Department. b) Reduced audit findings on human resource management issues and other related policy areas. c) Improved functionality of government departments to deliver on their mandate and PROVISION of services to the general public.

7 4. KEY OBJECTIVES FOR PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORT. To provide mechanisms and a platform for providing both professional and administrative support to departments in order to improve compliance with basic and minimum regulatory requirements contained in the legislation and in various Directives and Circulars issued by the DPSA. To enable government departments to fulfil their obligations and to deliver on the Programme of Action of government outlined in the Medium-Term Strategic 5. Framework, State of the Nation Address delivered by the President of the republic of south Africa and the National Development Plan-Vision 2030. To ensure that government departments improve performance through continuous monitoring and evaluation.

8 To ensure Improved Service Delivery by government departments and improved confidence in the manner in which government services are rendered to the public. 5. LEGISLATIVE MANDATE. The STRATEGY for the PROVISION of TARGETED support is premised on the legislative mandate of the Minister for the Public Service and Administration as stated in section 195 (1) of the Constitution of the republic of south Africa and section 3 of the Public Service Act, 1994 as amended by Public Service Amendment Act 30 of 2007. According to Chapter 10 (section 195[1]) of the Constitution of the republic , Public Administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles: a) A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.

9 B) Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted;. c) Public administration must be development oriented;. d) Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias;. e) People's needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy making;. f) Public administration must be accountable;. g) Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information;. h) Good human-resources management and career-development practices, to examine human potential, must be cultivated; and i) Public administration must be broadly representative of the south African people, with employment and personnel management practices based on ability, objectivity, fairness, and the need to redress the imbalances of the past to achieve broad representation.

10 In terms section 3 (1) of the Public Service Act (PSA) of 1994, as amended, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration is responsible for establishing norms and standards relating to;. a) The functions of the public service;. 6. b) Organisational structures and establishments of departments and other organisational and governance arrangements in the public service;. c) Labour relations, conditions of service and other employment practices for employees;. d) The Health and wellness of employees;. e) Information management ;. f) Electronic government in the public service;. g) Integrity, ethics, conduct and anti-corruption; and h) Transformation, reform, innovation and any other matter to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the public service and its service delivery to the public.