Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Tuesday said the Government of National Unity (GNU) would pay special attention to the speed of execution of policies adopted over the past 30 years.
Speaking at the National Council of Province’s (NCOP) three-sphere planning session, Mashatile said they would strengthen co-ordination through a refocused Presidency as the centre of government by pulling together other critical government departments, such as Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the National Treasury.
“Our intention is to align planning and budgeting as part of implementing the District Development Model (DDM) premised on One Plan-One Vision and this we will do to achieve maximum results in building a better life for all,” he said.
Mashatile said the successful implementation of the DDM lay in the speed of execution as a modus operandi.
“We need to ensure that from the point of view of the executive, we are entrenching the discipline of getting things done.”
The deputy president also said they were working on measures to ensure the introduction of legislation by the executive in Parliament was done timeously.
“Equally, we are ensuring that when bills are introduced in the National Assembly, they must have followed all the compliance processes so that the constitutionality of the proposed legislation is not compromised. This is an important task to avoid litigation,” he said.
Mashatile said the GNU had outlined three overarching priorities: driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.
He said they have taken a decision to invest in the building of a capable, developmental state.
“A developmental state in our context is a state that will redirect resources towards job creation and ensure that people have access to asset ownership, economic opportunity, education, health care and other basic services.
“More importantly, in the quest for a developmental state, we will continue to invest in building safer communities.”
Mashatile said they were aware of the high levels of extortion crimes, particularly in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
“Through the justice, crime prevention and security cluster, we are bringing together resources to put an end to extortions and ensure that communities may conduct business without fear or intimidation.”
Mashatile said the GNU will soon be unveiling the medium-term development plan (MTDP) as soon as it was approved by the Cabinet.
“The MTDP will set out a well-defined vision and strategy that outlines clear goals and includes specific, measurable objectives and a road map for achieving them over the next five years.
“Therefore, we need to use the MTDP to continue to make strategic investments in individuals, particularly through education, skills development and adequate health care.”
He said Parliament has a responsibility to oversee the performance of departments and other state organs, as well as ensure accountability and transparency in government actions across all spheres.
“We must ensure that we facilitate and deepen executive accountability by ushering in a new culture of co-operation between the NCOP and the three spheres of government.
“This co-operation should be based on a shared commitment to better the material conditions of our people, but it should also be rooted in a deep reverence and respect for the people who elected us to serve.”
NCOP chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said the planning session provided them with an opportunity to present their priorities for the seventh Parliament to usher in new possibilities.
“We must underline our deliberate act to reposition the NCOP and its unique and distinct constitutional mandate, in the sector across government, and hearts and minds of our people.
“This is to ensure provincial interests are taken into account and thus promote national unity through co-operative governance and intergovernmental relations across the three spheres of government,” she said.
Cape Times