Page 677 - Demo

Department: Transport Aligning departmental budgets to achieve government%u2019s prescribed outcomes The Department has a role to play in each of the strategic national priorities and the goals of the province. To address this, the department has developed its own priorities, which will embrace the National Development Plan (NDP), Five-Year Implementation Plan, the Transport Sector Long Term Plans and Outcomes, and the Local Government Plans. The departmental approach was informed by the Medium Term Strategic Framework and the obligation to respond to some of the goals and priorities, which included: Economic Transformation and Job Creation; Education, Skills and Health; Consolidating the Social Wage through Reliable and Quality Basic Services; Spatial Integration, Human Settlements and Local Government; Social Cohesion and Safe Communities; A Capable, Ethical and Developmental State; and A Better Africa and World. The department also has a responsibility of contributing towards implementation of the Provincial Development Plan Goals, particularly Goal 1: Innovative and Inclusive Growing Economy, Goal 2: An enabling infrastructure network and Goal 6: Capable and Democratic Institutions. To align to these priorities and goals, the department%u2019s impact for the next 5 years is to provide a %u2018Safe and Reliable Transport System.%u2019 In order to realise this impact, the department identified key outcomes with key projects that will be implemented during the current electoral term, which may ultimately enable the department to achieve its impact. 2 REVIEW OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR (2024/25) Key Achievements The Department has continued to strive to improve administrative efficiency and effectiveness through capacitating its human resources by implementing its approved organisational structure (Organogram). At the beginning of the financial year, the department presented its Annual Recruitment Plan (ARP) to the Provincial Committee for Monitoring Team (PCMT), wherein the 364 posts were approved. The Department during this financial year has advertised a total of 327 positions and has managed to fill a total of 256 positions. Whilst the Department was well into its recruitment process, the process was held in abeyance due to a process of matching and placement of employees additional to the establishment necessitated by the implementation of the new organisational structure. The matching and placement process once concluded will assist in speeding up recruitment on the residual vacant funded post. The Department encountered delays in implementing the Learner Transport Management System in the Districts, primarily due to resistance from the public transport industry to use the system as contracted. Several engagements took place between the industry, Executive Management, and the Department to resolve this issue, resulting in agreement that the system was fit for purpose and would be utilised. The Department decided to phase the implementation by piloting the system in the Joe Gqabi District, allowing for thorough testing, adoption, and utilisation. Additionally, the Department completed building the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation system to enhance planning and reporting efficiencies, although its rollout was delayed due to outstanding requirements needing further consideration by the service provider. As aligned to the mandate of the Department, the provision of safe and reliable transport infrastructure leading to health, tourism, social amenities, and agricultural produce areas remains a priority. The visual conditions assessments were completed in 2023/24. During 2024/25, the Department reviewed the RAMS data produced from these assessments with the service provider to ensure that it is of a standard that may be usable to inform the roads infrastructure planning for the upcoming financial year. 656