Hon. Maropene Ramokgopa

Strengthening

On 6 March 2023

Honourable Maropene Ramokgopa was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

It has been a momentous 6 months for this trail-blazing politician having been elected at the end of last year as the first “second” deputy secretary general of the ANC — a position which came into existence after the 55th National Conference had taken place from 16 to 20 December 2022.

These accolades and positions are a culmination of a long career as a policy maker and diplomat. In 2006 then-President Mbkei appointed her as Northern Cape mayor – she was the youngest mayor in the country at the time and ex-President Zuma appointed her the Consul General in Mumbai between 2016 to 2019 and she served as the Treasurer Consular Corps in Mumbai for two consecutive terms.

In 2020 Hon. Ramokgopa became chief advisor to the African Union Chairperson at the time (H.E. Ramaphosa) and the special advisor on International Relations to His Excellency, President Cyril

Ramaphosa. Her political career spans over two decades, beginning in the ANC Youth League. She gained valuable experience in public governance and policy development in local government having served as a ward councillor in the Kgatelopele Municipality from 2005 to 2006, executive mayor of the Siyanda District Municipality from 2006 to 2009, and office manager in the Northern Cape Premiers’ Office Status of Women between 2009 to 2013.

Hitting The Ground Running

With a view to streamlining planning and monitoring, Minister Ramokgopa is focusing on strengthening the National Planning Commission as an independent institution. She appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration early in May 2023 to table the department’s annual performance plan for the 2023/2024 financial year and in her presentation outlined the mandate of her department:

“The primary mandate for DPME (Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation) is to facilitate the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) through the development of sectorspecific and outcome-specific medium-term plans and delivery

Gov.za|DailyMaverick|News24

Despite progress made in the current planning system, more must be done to ensure local government is better integrated agreements, and monitor and evaluate the implementation of these plans.

“This mandate entails ensuring alignment of departmental strategic and annual plans and budget allocations with the government’s medium-term strategic framework,” - Hon Ramokgopa.

Referencing challenges regarding the rollout of plans on a national scale, Hon. Ramokgopa said her department was in the process of developing “sector-specific and outcome-specific” medium-term plans.

“Despite progress made in the current planning system, more must be done to ensure local government is better integrated. This requires urgency, especially with the implementation and institutionalisation of the District Development Model (DDM).

“The DDM remains an important pillar of planning and the implementation of policies and programmes at the local government level with the support of other spheres of government,” –Minister Ramokgopa.

In her presentation the minister said that in the 2023/2024 financial year, her department would focus on specific priority areas which include the strengthening of the National Planning Commission as an independent institution to monitor the implementation of the NDP and provide feedback and guidance to the government and aligning planning processes with the government’s medium- and long-term goals.

“The DPME will conduct rapid evaluations on programmes that are aimed at achieving our annual apex priorities (APPs) of the sixth administration,” – Hon Ramokgopa.

Key commitments outlined by the Minister include the establishment of an interactive knowledge hub to promote evidence-based planning; an Integrated Planning Framework Bill; the production of the 30-year review report of South Africa’s democracy; and the revamping of the presidential hotline to encourage government-citizen engagement.

“The APP provides a pragmatic framework to be implemented by the DPME in pursuit of our vision of improving government outcomes and improving the quality of lives our people live. It takes guidance from the NDP on guiding our collective journey towards Vision 2030 and employs the MTSF as the vehicle that will carry us over five years,” - Minister Ramokgopa.

We look forward to the Minister’s progress report on our collective journey towards Vision 2030 – a mere 7 years away.

BY KOKETSO MAMABOLO