Pretoria - Ministers will in the next coming weeks brief members of the media on their departments’ progress towards achieving the 12 specific outcomes of government.
Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams on Thursday said the executive had already noted and endorsed the progress made in the implementation of the 12 Outcomes of the respective Service Delivery Agreements between October and December 2012.
“Respective Cluster Ministers will in the next two weeks brief members of the media on the content of the reports and elaborate on the progress made,” Williams said.
Ministers had entered into delivery agreements with President Jacob Zuma, where they have to give progress reports on their departments’ set targets.
The 12 outcomes identified by government include:
- Improved quality of basic education.
- A long and healthy life for all South Africans.
- All people in South Africa are and feel safe.
- Decent employment through inclusive economic growth.
- A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path.
- An efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network.
- Vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities with food security for all.
- Sustainable human settlements and improved quality of household life.
- A responsive, accountable, effective and efficient local government system.
- Environmental assets and natural resources that are well protected and continually enhanced.
- Create a better South Africa and contribute to a better and safer Africa and World.
- An efficient, effective and development oriented public service and an empowered, fair and inclusive citizenship.
Meanwhile, Cabinet commended the announcement by the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Lindiwe Sisulu, of the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The unit will assist in fast tracking the processing of the disciplinary cases within the public service and curbing corruption.
“This campaign will contribute towards the attainment of a capable state, which is a key element in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP),” said Williams.
The NDP is a policy blue print aimed at alleviating poverty and creating jobs by 2030.
The bureau would form part of amendments to the Public Service Act, which will come before Parliament in June.
The amendments also include banning all public servants from doing business with the government.
The proposed bureau plans to deal with a challenge that the government has long faced, namely that of officials who are booked off from work for long periods of time while their disciplinary cases are underway, with many of these cases involving conflicts of interest as well as fraud and corruption.
The lengthy time it takes to resolve cases costs the state and taxpayers millions of rands a year, as officials continue to be remunerated while on suspension and because the state often has to pay other officials to act in their place.
Similarly, the government has also battled with public officials that are found guilty of an offence and, once fired, take up positions in other government departments or agencies.
A manual has been adopted by Cabinet and provinces on procedures in recruiting, retaining and dealing with those officials that resign.
An exit interview would be required for any resignation by officials with the position of chief director upwards, to ensure that such officials are not facing a disciplinary procedure when they announce their resignation. - SAnews.gov.za
