WEDNESDAY, 1.30PM:
THE government could have as few as eight departments if a proposal to streamline its structure is accepted, a government official said on Tuesday.
A Presidential Review Commission report, expected to be released for debate in the next few weeks, could see a repositioning of a number of public assets under individual departments’ line management, in an attempt to iron out structural anomalies inherited by the government. Senior government officials are emphasising the belief that “institutional fragmentation” has been a major factor inhibiting delivery.
Proposals include merging departments such as sports and recreation, and public works and public enterprises, into other existing departments.
“Ideally there should not be a department of public enterprises, and the individual privatisation processes currently run by the department should be moved to other state departments,” the official said.
Other moves might see Denel controlled by the ministry of defence, Adventura resorts under environmental affairs and tourism, and Transnet under the department of transport, he said.