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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 02 Oct 2008 Title: Presidency performing well -------------------- The work of the Presidency has been performed in a manner that meets the requirements of the state, writes Sholain Govender. This is according to Director General in the Presidency Reverend Frank Chikane who addressed media during the launch of the Presidency's Annual Report 2007-2008 at the Union Buildings on Thursday. "I am proud that we have created an institution that works," said Reverend Chikane. He highlighted the Presidency's success in institutionalising systems developed over the years and said the development of the Policy Unit within the department had resulted in the successful implementation of many projects in South Africa. The biggest achievement thus far for government, according to Rev Chikane was the delivery of basic services. According to the report, improving the quality of lives of South Africans involves the expansion of access to basic amenities, housing, health care and education. These interventions are clearly outlined in Government's Programme of Action. "The provision of basic services, including water and sanitation, remains a top priority," said the report. Interventions such as eradication of the bucket system and providing clean drinking water have taken place primarily under the Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) which has the added benefit of job creation for young people and rural communities. "By March 2007, the bucket system was eradicated in 81 percent of affected areas," said the report. "To date there are 1.34 million households still in need of access to basic water services with access to water services having improved just over 18.5 million households or 88 percent since 1994." Project Consolidate was launched in 2004 as part of the basic services interventions and designed to facilitate service delivery at municipal level. This initiative called for collaboration from national departments; Treasury, Water Affairs and Forestry and the Provincial and Local Government (DPLG). The Siyenza Manje programme, hosted by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, assisted municipalities with the implementation of 417 infrastructure projects valued at R4.2-billion. Significant progress has been made in this regard despite a number of municipalities facing infrastructure delivery challenges, according to the report. Chief Operations Officer in the Presidency, Trevor Fowler, said programmes like Siyenza Manje were used to help with planning, co-ordination of policy, monitoring and evaluation, facilitation of implementation and with ensuring a receptive environment and unblocking of administrative processes that were impeding progress. In terms of skills development, Government's commitment to education was demonstrated by the fact that during 2007/08, 18 percent of government expenditure went towards the funding of education. In 2007, there were 12.4 million or 98 percent learner attendance at a total of 26 099 public and independent schools in South Africa, served by 395 452 educators. About 6 million learners have access to the national school nutrition programme. In 2007, about 5 million learners, 40 percent of the total, did not pay school fees and the figure rose to just above 5 million in 2008. The Dinaledi Schools project also continued in its goal of improving mathematics, science and language competence in public schools. Rev Chikane said currently capacity building was the greatest challenge for government, however, an examination of education and skills acquisition, according to the report, shows an improvement from 2004, although as a slower pace than desired. JIPSA - a high-level partnership between government and the private sector, has been used to support ASGISA in accelerating the skills development of priority skills in the country with focus on engineering, town and urban planning, artisan and technical skills, planning and management for public education and healthcare systems, maths, science and language competence in schools. The Skills Development Bill has been amended and presented to Parliament, service level agreements have been signed between the various Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and the Department of Labour, and more than 15 000 graduates have been placed as part of the work placement programme which the Presidency is actively involved in. - BuaNews |
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