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The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration/Monitoring and Evaluation is concerned about the paralysis at the Mpumalanga Department of Health. The Committee, which is on a two-day oversight visit to the province, received a briefing that the department is not complying with the majority of indicators in the Management Performance Assessment Tool.

This non-compliance has the effect of undermining the commitment to deliver an efficient, effective and development-oriented public service, as enshrined in section 195 of the Constitution and as captured by the National Development Plan. “It is disturbing that the Department of Health received 0% compliance in relation to the Financial Disclosures Framework (FDF) Act. This is disturbing considering the fact that all other provincial departments posted over 81% in FDF compliance. This undermines section 195 (g), which promotes transparency and accountability and creates a breeding ground for corruption,” said Dr Makhosi Khoza, the Chairperson of the Committee.

Paying service providers within 30 days was also highlighted as a huge problem within the department. The department has a backlog of 12 581 unpaid invoices within the 30-days deadline, to the total value of R1 444 965 192. “We must emphasise that this is unacceptable because it undermines the many entrepreneurs who are trying to drive the economy and create much-needed job opportunities. The must be urgently rectified,” Dr Khoza emphasised.

The Committee further highlighted concerns in relation to achieving the targets in spending of resources. Three departments – Public Works, Roads and Transport, Human Settlements and Health – achieved on average 55% of their targets despite spending the entire allocated budget. “The question remaining is what value does government and the people on the ground derive from money spend when targets are not met? Furthermore, it is worrying that these departments are supposed to form the core of departments that are central in driving the Infrastructure Development Plan, which was adopted by government as a key driver for economic development,” Dr Khoza emphasised.
     
The Committee further raised concerns in relation to accountability within the entire administration, as it was revealed that there was no evaluation of the performance of heads of department (HoD) within the entire provincial administration for the 2015/2016 financial year. The Department of Health was the only department not to have a signed performance agreement with its HoD as per performance management and development system policy. This trend undermines the monitoring and performance evaluation system adopted by the current administration. The Committee has resolved to raise this issue with the premier of the province to ascertain the reasons behind this worrying trend.

The Committee will today visit various health facilities in the province to assess the quality of services rendered to the people. The Committee has taken a decision to make unannounced oversight visits to these sites to see firsthand the quality of services rendered on a daily basis.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration/Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Makhosi Khoza