Date: 09/11/2005
Source: Department of Public Service and Administration
Title: Fraser-Moleketi: Focal Point of South Africa’s APRM


  Presentation by the Focal Point of South Africa’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to the Representative of Panel of Eminent Persons

South Africa’s Implementation Road map

* The process needs to be popularised through radio and television (TV) advertisements, talk shows and newspapers.
* Constitutional structures were invited to participate.
* Research and academic bodies also will be mobilised to participate along with other relevant groups and structures (e.g. women’s organisations).
* Provincial processes include conferences and other engagements with civil society structures.
* Provinces are actively working towards developing and submitting Provincial Reports.

Members of the Governing Council

Chairperson:
* Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi: Minister of Public Service and Administration

Members:
* Mr Bheki Sibiya: Business Unity South Africa
* Mr Looks Matoto: Disabled People South Africa
* Ms Zanele Twala: South African Non-Governmental Organisation Coalition (SANGOCO)
* Ms Nomonde Mqhyai: SA Youth Council
* Ms Thabisile Msezani: SA Council of Churches
* Mr Randall Howard: South African Transport
and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) / Congress of South African Unions (COSATU)
* Dr Mongane Wally Serote: Arts and Culture
* Mr Master Mahlobogoane: South African
National Civics Organisation (SANCO)
* Ms Laura Kganyago: National Women’s Coalition
* Mr Moemedi Kepadisa: National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU)
* Dr Essop Pahad: Minister in the Presidency
* Mr Trevor Manuel: Minister of Finance
* Mr Mandisi Mpahlwa: Minister of Trade and Industry
* Ms Brigitte Mabandla: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development

Progress to date

* The President formally committed South Africa to the APRM on 28 September 2005
* The Governing Council was elected on 29 September, with 10 members from Civil Society and five from Government, during the first Consultative Conference.
* The Governing Council held its first meeting on 14 October 2005. The second meeting was held on 4 November 2005.
* Our Participatory Process will ensure receipt of inputs from representatives of all groupings in South Africa.
* Provincial Workshops are taking place across the provinces during November.
* Parliamentary hearings on the four thematic areas are taking place across the country
* The Country Support Team, lead by Prof Adedeji, visit is taking place from 8 – 11 November

APRM Timeframes

* South Africa aims to complete the process in the recommended nine months: November 2005 – August 2006
* The process of compiling inputs, drafting the report and the Programme of Action (PoA) and finalising the documents after consultation with stakeholders will take about three months
* The assessment review by the APRM Panel and consideration of the report by the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) takes about three - four months * This leaves two months for extensive consultations and mobilisation.

Major milestones

* A draft report and programme of action will be compiled by the Governing Council with assistance from South Africa’s APRM Secretariat.
* The report and Programme of Action will be distributed for comment and presented at a Second Consultative Conference.
* After approval by stakeholders the final report will be sent to the APR Team to form the basis for the review

Benchmarking good practice

* South Africa’s report, as well as those of other African countries participating in the APRM, will serve as benchmarks for their peers on the continent.
* Benchmarking will enable the achievement of the objectives of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the APRM through sharing experiences and reinforcing best practices on the continent.
* Benchmarking will also include identifying systemic deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building in certain focused areas.

A Participatory Process

* The APRM process in South Africa will be a participatory process led by Government but inclusive of Civil Society (business, academics and others).
* A range of different mechanisms will be used to ensure that citizens have a chance to contribute. These include:
- Two National Consultative Conferences
- Nine Provincial Consultative Conferences - District and local level consultations led by ward committees
- 90 Community level discussion groups involving the Community Development Workers (CDWs)
- Several sectoral input sessions
- Other consultative events
- The overall objective is to build consensus and ensure buy-in to a national programme of action

Consultation and participation

* Community Development Workers and Ward Committees are to play a role in community and local level consultations
* Leaders of other social sectors will be invited to make submissions together with other forms of social engagements that are still being planned
* A research plan will be rolled out to ensure the collection of data from diverse perspectives
* Accredited research partners will be asked to participate in the process by making submissions in their areas of specialisation, as well as participating in technical workshops on each of the four thematic areas

Research Strategy (1)

* The Research strategy is:
– based on the assumption that empirical data is readily available in South Africa, and the focus will therefore be on building consensus on the implications of the Programme of Action
– A partnership strategy in which an invitation is being issued to institutions and organisations to become part of a network of research partners
– Stimulating debate through the Governing Council issuing papers on a weekly basis

* Moderators will be appointed to oversee the reports in each of the thematic areas to ensure credibility and integrity

Research Strategy (2)

* The Research Strategy includes four transparent and participatory processes:
– PHASE ONE: Submissions and contributions - Raising Awareness of the Process and generating contributions
– PHASE TWO: Cataloguing and Collating - Receipt and cataloguing of submissions and preparation of technical reports
– PHASE THREE: Developing the assessment reports - Council hosting a seminar for research partners on each thematic area; Purpose: to reach overall agreement on the tone and content of answers for each question
– PHASE FOUR: Implication analysis - Second series of seminars will then be held to develop the interim programme of action

Media and Communication

* Communication is a central component of the overall strategy
* Raising awareness and creating opportunities for submissions from diverse and varied sources is essential for broad-based participation
* Commercial and community media is being utilised including pamphlets, posters, radio and TV advertisements
* Other innovative and creative partnerships have been suggested and are being investigated

Challenges & Successes

* Challenges in the APRM Process so far are centred around the commitment to a participatory process. Obstacles that have been encountered include:
– Making the questionnaire, and issues addressed in the questionnaire, accessible to all segments of the South African population
– Ensuring participating in rural areas, and in all 11 official South African languages

* Successes in the APRM have been included – Wide participation from all sectors in South Africa
– Open and transparent process
– Appointment of a representative Governing Council
– Adoption of a clear Roadmap

Conclusion (1)

* From 9 to 11 November 2005 we will receive a visit from a Country Support Team that will review our strategy and assess our readiness.
* We will then continue with the process of mobilising and soliciting submissions.
* These will be synthesised and integrated into a draft country self assessment report and interim national programme of action.
* These will be considered at a Second National Consultative Workshop after which amendments will be made to the report.
Conclusion (2)

* Once South Africans have approved the report, it will be submitted to the APR Secretariat which will consider and assess it from a technical perspective.

* A country review team will then visit South Africa in mid-2006 to consult on our self assessment and will later issue a review report * Documents will be released publicly once tabled before the NEPAD Heads of Government.

Issued by: Department of Public Service and Administration
9 November 2005