Office of the Premier Annual Report 2009-2010 - Gauteng Online

Introduction by the Acting Director GeneralThe 2009/10 financial year was one of marked change, both in theinstitutional landscape of the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG)and in the priorities, programmes and projects initiated as the newterm of office began in May 2009. Premier Nomvula Mokonyaneushered in a new era of government, characterised by the catchword “kuyasheshwa” and in keeping with this ethos, the entireprovincial government, the Office of the Premier included, initiatedmajor alignment, reconfiguration and cost saving measures.1.3.1 OverviewAs the political nerve centre of government, the Office of the Premierhas played a significant role in facilitating the changes requiredto meet the challenges of the new mandate. With the focus ofgovernment on the following key areas, a great deal of work wentinto ensuring that all departmental plans and budgets were alignedto support these priorities:• Quality basic education• A long and healthy life for all South Africans• All people in South Africa being and feeling safe• Decent employment through inclusive economic growth• Vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities contributingtowards food security for all• Sustainable human settlements and improved quality ofhousehold life• A responsive, accountable, effective and efficient localgovernment system.In addition, through a major institutional review process, all GPGdepartments initiated organisational reviews to ensure optimumefficiency in the resourcing of departmental mandates. In particular,a number of portfolios were merged and others split as follows:• The Departments of Health and Social Development merged tobecome the Department of Health and Social Development• The Departments of Local Government and Housing merged toform the Department of Local Government and Housing• The Gauteng Treasury and the Gauteng Shared Service Centremerged to become the Department of Finance• The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport split toform the Department of Roads and Transport and the Departmentof Infrastructure Development.1.3.2 Outputs and OutcomesBased on the fifteen-year review conducted at both national andprovincial levels, the Office of the Premier embraced a range ofnew mandates and increased resources to some existing ones.Critical to the process of embedding the new mandates at all levelsin the province has been the process of reviewing cabinet systemsto ensure that effective policy and decision-making processessupport the Premier and her Executive Council (EXCO) at the centreof government. Improving centralised planning was also a majorfocus in 2009/10 with the establishment of the Gauteng PlanningCommission (GPC), the drafting of the Medium Term StrategicFramework (MTSF) for the province, and the development of theIntergovernmental Programme of Action for 2009/10, which givespractical expression to the MTSF.A wide range of strategies have also been reviewed in the 2009/10financial year, with the Office of the Premier supporting criticalprocesses such as the development of the Gauteng Employment,Growth and Development Strategy (GEGDS) and also taking thelead in a range of areas including:• The development of an international relations framework for theprovince• The drafting of a new intergovernmental relations framework• The revision of the Gauteng Anti-Corruption and Ethics Strategy• The development of new policy to support targeted groupsincluding women, youth, people with disabilities and a newfocus area – military veterans.The Office of the Premier has continued to ensure that communicationwith the people of Gauteng remains high on the agenda with theregular publication of a range of media products to inform citizensMARGARET-ANN DIEDRICKSACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL9