13 May 2010
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DETERMINED : Premier Nomvula Mokonyane
Merger of agencies on cards
GAUTENG plans to save more than R100million by merging all provincial government agencies into three, premier Nomvula Mokonyane said yesterday.
Speaking after a meeting of her executive council in Johannesburg, Mokonyane said the council had considered a report on a review of all agencies with a particular focus on those in the department of economic development.
They included the Gauteng Economic Development Agency, the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, the Gauteng Tourism Authority, the Gauteng Film Commission, Blue IQ and the Gambling Board.
The review had said the agency model had proven successful and was recommended as the best practice mechanism for economic development.
However it had also said there were strategic, structural and human weaknesses across the agencies.
Mokonyane said it had been found that some of the agencies performed similar functions, while others were not fully aligned to “strategic objectives” of the department.
The review had recommended that the agencies be retained, but with major changes to address the weaknesses and challenges.
Mokonyane said the agencies would be reduced to three: Growth and Development, Tourism Promotion, and Industry Regulation.
Agencies such as the Gauteng Liquor Board would now fall under the Industry Regulation Agency and any agency that dealt with tourism would now fall under Tourism Promotion.
She said this new-look agencies would still fall under the department of economic development.
The province wanted to conclude the mergers within the 2010/11 financial year. No jobs would be lost.
Mokonyane also congratulated the newly-elected Gauteng chairperson of the ANC Paul Mashatile and his executive committee.
“The executive council looks forward to forging a healthy and strong working relationship with the chairperson and the entire ANC provincial leadership,” she said.
She said there would be no changes from the way her executive council used to work with the provincial ANC before its new executive was appointed. – Sapa
