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137 TUESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2008
138
Prior to 2002, student nurses were
granted posts while undertaking undergraduate
studies. This anomaly was
historical, and has subsequently been
transformed to the bursary system. This
has enabled the department to create
greater access to formal education and
training opportunities for HDI’s (Historically
Disadvantaged Individuals).
(g) (i) The department has not opened
new training colleges for nurses,
however, the plan is to open a
satellite campus of the Western
Cape College of Nursing in
Boland Overberg region in
(ii)
2008-09 Financial Year and one
in Southern Cape Karoo Region
2009-10. APH Nursing College
will commence the Diploma in
Psychiatry in July 2008.
The training posts were replaced
by the introduction of a bursary
system. Please refer to response in
question (f) above.
(h) The strategy is to increase the number
of bursars based on service delivery
needs and budget availability.
Low rate of compliance to performance
agreements
1310. Mr K J MINNIE (DA) asked the
Minister of Social Development:
(1) With reference to his department’s
reply to Question 94 on 12 March
2008 regarding the signing of performance
agreements, what are the reasons
for this low rate of compliance;
(2) whether he has taken any action
against senior managers who failed
to sign performance agreements in
each of these three years; if not, why
not; if so, what action in each case;
(3) whether he has taken any steps to
ensure a greater compliance rate of
senior managers; if not, why not; if
so, what (a) steps and (b) are the
reasons that these compliance rates
still decreased over the past three
years? NW2076E
The MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOP-
MENT:
(1) DSD acknowledges that there has been
a systematic problem towards the compliance
of entering into performance
contracts by some SMS members, for
the following reasons:
● In the past three years, the DSD
establishment has grown significantly
in the upper echelon with 20
posts. Newly appointed SMS members
are given three months period to
complete and sign their performance
agreement.
● Due to the work demands of SMS
members, more attention was paid to
operational work to the extent that
Human Resource Management functions
are neglected.
● This resulted in unintended negative
consequences where SMS members
do not conclude their performance
agreement.
● Climate survey has been conducted
within the department with the specific
focus on the performance management
system.
(2) Yes, action has been taken.
● The Minister and Director-General
have signed individual letters on
28 August 2008 requesting them to
finalise their performance agreement
as a matter of urgency.
● SMS members have been advised
that failure to comply disciplinary
action will be taken against them.
(3) (a) Yes, various intervention have
been taken to address this.