The Office of the Premier in the Northern Cape convened a highly successful strategic planning session over 3 days form 04 – 06 November 2014 at Marrik farm near Kimberley.
This strategic session was attended by all managers in The Office of the Premier and was characterised by vigorous and robust engagements with the sole purpose of:
- Redefining the role of the office as the apex of provincial government.
- Repositioning the office to take its rightful position of leading the developmental agenda in government.
- Broaden its outlook in advancing an external coordination and oversight role as well as empowering its own public service machinery to fulfil its mandate
In her political overview Premier Sylvia Lucas said “Planning is an inevitable part of the process for delivery and in this new term we have a blue print known as the National Development Plan (NDP Vision 2030).
All government programmes and plans should and will be guided by the National Development Plan, Medium Term Strategic Framework 2014-2019, Spatial Plan Land Use Management Act and the Infrastructure Development Plan.
The Director General in his input remarked by saying “Our mandate as an office is to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people”
The repositioning will enhance the external and internal coordination role of The Office of the Premier to give strategic direction in government work.
Part of the urgent matters is that the Office of the Premier must provide strategic support to local government as guided by the Inter – Governmental Relations Framework.
A total shift of paradigm will take place in how government do business and the Office of the Premier will play a key role in facilitating this process as we move the Northern Cape forward.
The programme of action of government in the province requires a special focus and high levels of energy for its implementation for this Medium Term Strategic Framework 2014- 2019.
The Office of the Premier emerges from this session with renewed sense of urgency to deliver on governments mandate and commitment to deliver to our people.
This delivery agenda is taking place in a challenging world economic environment with the 2008 economic melt-down therefore government is forced “ to do more with less” as even articulated by the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene in the Mid Term Budget Review.
There is no doubt that the road ahead is brighter, and we are committed to the Batho Pele slogan that says; We Serve – We Care – We Belong!
Monwabisi Nkompela
Executive Manager – Information & Communications Services
Office of the Premier (Northern Cape Provincial Government)