House Chairperson, the ACDP is of the view that the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation carries a responsibility central to the success of government itself. Policies, programmes and budgets mean little if they are not properly monitored, honestly evaluated and effectively implemented. South Africans are increasingly frustrated by the widening gap between government promises, and service delivery realities on the ground.
The ACDP notes the allocation of R514.6 million to DPME and asserts that this budget must strengthen the Department’s ability to ensure that government planning is coherent, delivery measurable, and accountability transparent.
Yet serious weaknesses remain. There exists a poor alignment between departmental Annual Performance Plans and the Medium-Term Development Plan, while simultaneously, the rollout of the Geospatial Information Management Strategy has stalled. Across government we continue to witness poor coordination, delayed infrastructure projects, persistent underspending and weak implementation.
Far too often, monitoring becomes a compliance exercise instead of a mechanism for corrective action. The true measure of this Department is therefore not the number of reports it produces, but whether its work leads to measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.
The ACDP believes this Department must become a far stronger driver of accountability and consequence management across government.
We recommend, firstly, the strengthening of real-time monitoring systems. Failures are too often identified only after public money has been lost. Digital monitoring dashboards and quarterly public reporting mechanisms should be expanded so departments are held accountable throughout the financial year.
Secondly, there must be stricter consequence management for non-performance, procurement irregularities and repeated audit failures. Monitoring without accountability weakens governance and erodes public trust.
Thirdly, drastically improve coordination between national, provincial and local government. Departments continue operating in silos while struggling municipalities lack support and oversight. Integrated planning and faster intervention mechanisms are urgently needed.
As Kingdom builders, the ACDP positions that South Africans do not need more bureaucracy, which paralyses development, but a capable, ethical state, undergirded by good governance, that delivers results. This budget must strengthen oversight, restore accountability and ensure that every rand spent delivers meaningful value to the people of South Africa.
I thank you.
