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By Mayibongwe Maqhina 
3h ago
Cape Town: President Cyril Ramaphosa has set performance targets for his ministers in a move to increase their accountability between now and 2024.
This grew out of the performance agreements that were recently posted on the government website after they were signed by Ramaphosa and individual ministers.
In February, Ramaphosa committed to signing performance agreements that were based on the objectives set out in the medium-term strategic framework to instill transparency and accountability.
While each minister has his or her specified goals, there is a common thread when it comes to spending and auditing finances.
The majority of ministers are expected to ensure 100% elimination of waste and useless expenses, 75% reduction of irregular expenses, and maintain an unqualified audit opinion by 2024.
In terms of the agreement signed by the Minister of Justice and Penitentiary Services, Ronald Lamola, it must ensure that there is an audiovisual preventive detention system implemented in 60 courts and virtual hearings in 21 courts of first instance.
Lamola must also provide resources to ensure the establishment of specialized commercial crime courts in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northwest, Eastern Cape and Free State within five years.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula is tasked with updating, renovating and ensuring the maintenance of approximately 20,000 km of road network and ensuring that 10% of road freight is transferred to rail by 2024.
Amid the challenge of non-payment of toll rates, Mbalula has to develop a strategy for the implementation of the “user payment principle” and ensure there is 100% compliance by 2024.
The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, is mandated to ensure better coverage of social grants for orphans and vulnerable children through extended social grants for children.
Zulu has until 2021 to draft legislation and regulation.
“With the consent of the Minister of Finance, guarantee the implementation of the extended child social allowance,” says its performance agreement.
Also among its objectives is to increase the number of children accessing early childhood development by 20% and 20.1 million eligible beneficiaries were beneficiaries of social grants by 2024.
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille, is tasked with creating jobs through the Job Summit commitments, Operation Phakisa and other public sector employment programs.
It has been given a goal of creating five million job opportunities in expanded public works programs by 2024.
De Lille, together with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, must ensure that the 100 billion rand Infrastructure Fund is established and operational by 2024.
It is also tasked with ensuring that all schools identified through the SAFE program have sanitation that meets minimum infrastructure standards by 2024.
“In consultation with the Minister of Basic Education, develop norms and standards for minimum infrastructure and related modular designs for schools,” says De Lille’s performance agreement.
De Lille will also lead the process for the establishment of the New Town in South Africa together with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Internal Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has to provide leadership and resources to ensure that the Border Management Agency is gradually implemented and operational by 2024.
Motsolaedi will also ensure that 100% of the 106 foreign missions are equipped with the eVisa system by 2025.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has been assigned to ensure that the National Health Insurance fund is established as a public entity and operational in 2021-22.
Mboweni’s goals include training SARS through the establishment of an illicit economy unit and ensuring the establishment of the R100 billion Infrastructure Fund.
Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, together with Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, are tasked with leading and coordinating the remodeling and transformation of identified cities into smart cities.
Also among the goals of Dlamini Zuma is support for adequate municipal spending in the municipal infrastructure grant fund to address infrastructure delays.
It should also support National Treasury incentives and support to municipalities to increase spending on repairs and maintenance, as well as supervise the implementation of Municipal Public Accounts structures.
Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams was mandated to ensure the licensing of 5G spectrum and the start of deployment by March 2024.
It is expected to issue a policy direction for 5G by December 2021 and ensure that 80% of the population will have internet access by 2024.
Political Bureau
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