Pretoria - The turnaround strategy to rebuild the Department of Public Works is well underway, Minister Thulasi Nxesi told the National Assembly when presenting his 2013/14 Budget Vote Speech on Wednesday.
“I want to assure this House that the turnaround project to rebuild the Department of Public Works is now well underway. We have the funding from National Treasury.
“The core of the turnaround team is in place under the office of the Director-General, not in the ministry,” said Nxesi.
He said this was done to ensure the continuity of implementing the turnaround strategy.
Nxesi said the planning processes were at an advanced stage, with fixed-term plans in place, developed in consultation with National Treasury.
The department’s past performance had been characterised by corruption and mismanagement, Nxesi noted.
“This is a large and complex organisation where, all too often, there is misalignment between the mandate and the structure of the organisation.
“We are currently addressing the challenge of organisational structure with the assistance of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA),” he said.
Much of the department’s problems could be traced to a long period of unstable and constant changing of leadership.
“I have also said that any turnaround strategy needs to be led from the top. I believe we have now stabilised leadership with the appointment of the new Director-General and Chief Financial Officer, as well as other changes at leadership level,” Nxesi said.
The minister said their strategic focus hinged on five key areas which included combatting fraud and corruption; compiling the Immovable Assets Register; audit of leases, improving audit outcomes and bringing into operation the Property Management Trading Entity (PMTE). - SAnews.gov.za
