Parliament, Tuesday, 10 October 2017 – The Standing Committee on Appropriations today shifted its focus to the importance of strengthening the alignment of the South African Budget, the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) and the National Development Plan (NDP).
The Committee found, in its recent expenditure hearings, that Medium Term Expenditure Framework planning tools and mechanisms are still not sufficiently embedded in the work of departments and public entities, which poses significant risk to the attainment of MTSF targets.
The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) reported that analysis and assessments undertaken by the PBO included, among other things, the assessment of the alignment of the 2014-2019 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) with the actions and objectives of the NDP; and assessment of reporting systems for performance, monitoring and evaluation in government. The PBO is currently in the process of analysing the integration of the MTFS into Annual Performance Plans (APPs).
Some of the findings reported by the PBO show, with relation to outcome one (quality basic education), that a mere 10 of the 40 MTFS performance indicators are presented in departmental APPs. The Department of Basic Education is responsible for 38 of these indicators, the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services has one of these indicators and the Department of Social Development has the other.
While outcome two (a long and healthy life for all South Africans) has 77 MTSF performance indicators, only 36 are reflected in departmental APPs; and while outcome three (all people in South Africa are and feel safe) has 93 MTFS performance indicators, only 58 of these are reflected in departmental APPs.
The Committee raised its concerns with these numbers and highlighted the importance of ensuring accelerated progress on the MTSF and the NDP. The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Yvonne Phosa, said the non-alignment of APP and MTSF indicators are a serious concern as this undermines the NDP’s developmental and transformation objectives. Members feel strongly that there should a mind-set change and civil servants must do what they are supposed to do, to ensure that departmental objectives are met.
Officials from the Department of Monitoring and Evaluations (DPME) indicated that MTFS indicators have a hierarchy, and that a number of national departments have indicated that some of the indicators assigned would be better suited at provincial departments. Both PBO and DPME officials agreed with the recommendation from the Chairperson that departments which share performance indicators should be engaged at the same time and not individually, to ensure that there is agreement on the way forward.
The Committee is pleased with the alignment of thinking between the DPME and PBO and hopes for this partnership to be strengthened. The Committee also welcomed the news of the partnership between the (DPME) and the Auditor-General of South Africa in finding solutions to the challenges faced by departments. The Committee further encouraged the DPME to be part of its quarterly engagements with National Treasury to ensure that MTFS targets are attained.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, MRS YVONNE PHOSA.
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