The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Morning and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, says government’s Operation Phakisa projects have unlocked investments worth billions of Rands.
The Minister also said the National Youth Development Agency’s National Youth Service will this year receive the largest budget increase as a push is made to improve the lives of young people by the year 2020.
He said this when he briefed the media ahead of tabling the department’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
” Investments amounting to about R17 billion in the Oceans Economy has been unlocked.
“Over 4 500 jobs have been created in the various projects of the Oceans Economy,” he said.
Minister Radebe said over R7 billion has been allocated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to improve ports.
Health sector
On the health sector, Operation Phakisa, the Minister said the sector has been successful in creating 280 ideal clinics in 2015/16, within the group of 1139 clinics identified for the financial year.
He said in order to be declared an ideal clinic, there are standards to be met.
The number of clinics scoring over 70% have increased from 139 to 445.
“The number of clinics scoring less than 40% have decreased from 213 to 90 within a period of one year,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister said the Delivery Lab Reports for Operation Phakisa in Basic Education and in Galvanising growth in the Mining Sector have been finalised.
Presidential Hotline resolving logged queries
The Minister said as part of the Frontline Service Delivery Monitoring and Support programme, the Presidential Hotline, which was set up by The Presidency to allow citizens to lodge service delivery or customer complaints, was maintaining a high case resolution rate.
“The Presidential Hotline logs an average of 2 000 cases per month.
“The cumulative resolution rate for Hotline cases stands at 98%,” he said.
He said that in addition to this, over the past year, the department has assessed over 100 facilities and conducted improvement monitoring in 120 facilities.
Ensuring payment of invoices within 30 days
The Minister also said that during the 2015/16 financial year, 44 service providers reported cases of non-payment of invoices.
The failure by government departments to pay invoices within 30 days has been an issue that President Jacob Zuma has prioritised as it was seen to be creating challenges for small businesses.
“As a result of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation’s intervention, more than R41 million was paid to some of the service providers,” he said.
NYDA to spend R72m in youth programmes
The Minister said the NYDA has made achievements in improving governance, operations and creating youth development opportunities.
“The NYDA will spend R72 million in programmes to facilitate economic participation of young people.
“R87 million has been set aside for programmes in education, skills development, health and well-being representing a 44% budget increase.
“The greatest increase in the NYDA budget is for the National Youth Service programme with budget increase from R22 million to R53 million,” he said.
He said the NYDA’s role will be to provide technical assistance and training to design, develop and implement National Youth Service programmes.
SOURCE: SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY