1995 - National Treasury

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process so as to facilitate shifts in spending
priorities, are key features the RDP Fund
mechanism. A thorough overhaul of the expenditure
planning process has been instituted, which
will take effect from the 1996/97 budget year.
This reform will bring policy formulation, programme
development, planning, budgeting and
monitoring into an integrated system which will
align government spending with RDP goals and
allow performance in meeting RDP objectives to
be measured. Planning and budgetary reforms
are thus directed towards more effective and
efficient spending of public funds by all public
authorities. The RDP Fund will continue to serve
as a channel which guides government spending
towards the articulated goals of the Government
of National Unity.
In addition to the budget process, the criteria and
procedures through which the Presidential Lead
Projects have been financed from the RDP Fund
have introduced new project planning, budgeting
and evaluation processes as key elements in
effective government expenditure management.
Before obtaining funding from RDP sources,
Presidential Projects were required to prepare
detailed business plans. Project steering committees
comprising representatives of the Department
of State Expenditure, the RDP Office, the Central
Economic Advisory Service and responsible
departments were established to facilitate project
planning and evaluate draft plans. Throughout
this process, participating agencies have refined
their approaches to development planning and
budgeting, subject to stringent accountability and
efficiency norms. At all levels of government, the
RDP planning process is contributing to the
identification of strengths and weaknesses in the
institutional and human resource capacity of the
public sector, and where necessary corrective or
capacity building measures have been initiated.
A total of R2.063 billion is expected to be
disbursed from the RDP Fund during the 1994/95
financial year, mainly on the Presidential Lead
Projects. Unspent funds will be rolled over and
made available in the new financial year.
2.1.3.3 Policy development and coordination
Alongside the implementation of the programmes
and projects discussed above, the RDP Office has
been engaged in the formulation of development
policy in the areas of human resource development,
urban development and rural development,
in consultation with key departments and other
stakeholders.
Task teams representative of departmental roleplayers
have been formed and are developing
draft discussion documents as inputs into the
policy process. The purpose of this policy
development and coordination process is to
provide a framework within which medium and
long-term programmes for the implementation of
the RDP can be planned. It is envisaged that a
second White Paper will be released by the RDP
Office during 1995 which will incorporate these
policy frameworks.
The development of critical performance indicators
within various policy arenas has been identified as
an important task in this policy development
process. In order to assess the advances made
by Government in the implementation of the RDP
and in the various activities of Government, key
performance indicators are being developed,
based on the overall objectives of the RDP and
specific goals expressed in departmental action
plans. These indicators will be built into the
strategic management system and therefore into
the budget process.
The development of an information management
system which will support the planning, implementation
and monitoring of the RDP is also in
progress. Through this system, data gathering,
processing and utilisation will be structured in
ways which will facilitate integrated and complementary
development planning and monitoring
across government functions and levels.
2.1.4 Restructuring the public sector
Complementing the developmental focus of the
RDP, discussed above, Government has also
initiated a systematic process of public sector
restructuring aimed at efficient, effective and
economical public administration, policies and
programmes. Amongst the issues to be addressed
are the following:
• a history of discriminatory provision of
public services;
under-representation of blacks and women
in much of the civil service;