Deputy Minister Dina Pule on her meeting with the Eastern Cape Executive Council

30 March 2011

Today Deputy Minister Dina Pule met with the Executive Council of the Eastern Cape as part of the provincial visits she undertook since the beginning of March this year. 

She communicated the role of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Department in the Presidency, explained the reporting process to be followed and spoke about the new tool kit to be used for monitoring purposes.

This is the third province the Deputy Minister visited.  During a media briefing held following the meeting, the Deputy Minister was asked to explain what her office does with the reports received from communities through the Presidential Hotline.  The Deputy Minister said “We attend to the reports by ensuring that they reach the relevant departments and municipalities.  We further visit the communities affected, depending on the nature of the report.

At the July 2010 Cabinet Lekgotla, President Jacob Zuma indicated that he expected the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to monitor the performance of individual departments and municipalities. 

Deputy Minister also paid an unannounced visit to Dibashe Day Care Centre in Mdantsane Township, NU10.  The visit was prompted by a letter she received from the owner of the Day Care Centre, Ms Phumla Goje complaining about funding for the centre that has been reduced by the Department of Social Development, thus affecting the proper running of the centre.

The Deputy Minister was joined by the MEC of Human Settlement, Ms Helen Sauls- August and officials from the Departments of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation and provincial Social Development.  The matter was discussed and it transpired that the complainant, Ms Goje had initially applied for funding for Sixty (60) children and had unlawfully increased the number to one uundred and seventy six (176) in violation of the regulations set by the Department of Social Development.

Having heard from the Department of Social Development and Ms Goje, the Deputy Minister recommended that Social Development arrange a meeting with Ms Goje and the parents to assist them structure the budget to cover expenses of the centre within the available funds. She also emphasized the importance of having parents playing a constructive role and contribute towards the upkeep of the centre.

The Deputy Minister concluded the meeting by saying “I am satisfied to have come and listened even though we cannot offer the help required as there are regulations in place governing the funding of service centres such as this”.

The Deputy Minister said the visit is a clear indication that government takes public complaints serious and is willing to listen to the people.

The Deputy Minister also visited Ward 17 of Manyano Thembelihle in Mdantsane where community members expressed their appreciation for the housing delivery project.  They also indicated that they understood that government has an ongoing roll-out plan of service delivery.

Enquiries:
Bongiwe Gambu
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Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)