Pretoria: Government is developing a policy aimed at introducing laws to create a clear national planning system and improve accountability across government.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, stated that this initiative will empower the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to enhance its mandate.
The department oversees the coordination of planning across government, monitoring progress on national priorities, and evaluating the effectiveness of key programs in alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024-2029. During the presentation of the department's Budget Vote in Parliament, the Minister announced the development of a White Paper on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, anticipated to be finalized during the 2026/27 financial year.
In the session, the Minister emphasized the department's priorities for the 2026/27 financial year and acknowledged Parliament's approval of the allocated budget of R532.9 million. The legislative process is ongoing, but the department is actively collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen and integrate planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
In the 2025/26 financial year, the department made substantial progress in institutionalizing the MTDP across government, ensuring stronger alignment between national priorities, departmental plans, and budgets. The MTDP is a five-year plan guiding the seventh administration's work in pursuing three strategic national priorities: driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
The Minister reported that in the previous financial year, the department worked closely with the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) to assess 55 national and provincial draft Annual Performance Plans (APPs). This signifies a shift from compliance-driven to results-based planning.
The department continues to enhance its monitoring systems to track the MTDP's implementation and identify service delivery gaps. Through this work, the department produces biannual MTDP performance monitoring reports. The latest report, covering October 2025 to March 2026, shows steady progress towards achieving the MTDP priorities.
Additionally, a mid-term monitoring report will be produced to assess the government's performance against the MTDP over the past two-and-a-half years. This report will assist in identifying bottlenecks and intervening promptly to drive MTDP implementation.
Minister Ramokgopa expressed a commitment to making these reports accessible to all South Africans by sharing them widely with stakeholders, including Parliament members. These reports are backed by evidence from frontline monitoring. The department has institutionalized the practice of assessing policy and implementation outcomes through frontline monitoring, emphasizing the importance of service delivery where citizens interact daily with the state.
Deputy Minister Seiso Moha highlighted the Frontline Monitoring and Support Programme as a cornerstone for bridging the gap between policy intent and lived experience, underscoring the importance of the Presidential Hotline as a vital mechanism for direct citizen engagement and accountability.
