By Doreen Mokgolo
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the Government of National Unity (GNU) will meet soon to work out priorities for the country’s seventh administration.
She addressed the media on Thursday following the swearing-in of the deputy president, 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers who are part of the GNU in parliament.
To get the ball rolling, the government will hold its first lekgotla next Thursday and Friday, where the priorities of the seventh administration will be decided.
The ANC was forced to form a GNU after failing to win a majority in the general elections on 29 May.
Ntshavheni said the Forum of South Africa Directors-General has analysed the manifestos of parties in the GNU.
“The forum will submit proposals for consideration and adoption at the cabinet lekgotla. The president will announce the adopted programme of action at the opening of parliament on 18 July,” she said.
The government’s priorities and programme of action are written in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), which the GNU guides.
“After the adoption of the MTSF, individual departments will be expected to develop strategic plans linked to the MTSF and annual performance plans for the implementation of strategic plans and MTSF targets. The departments will then present both their strategic plans and annual performance plans to parliament for oversight,” Ntshavheni said.
The president and individual ministers are duty-bound to bring policy issues and major decisions, such as decisions with financial consequences that go over a department’s approved budget and any other matter, to the cabinet.
“This is our new normal. We are forced to work with what the voters want by making lemonade out of lemons,” Ntshavheni said.
Pictured above: Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
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