Parliament must debate PSC report on Premiers' performance 

On Wednesday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) will put a motion to the National Assembly calling for a debate on the recently released Public Service Commission (PSC) report on the performance of Premiers. 

The PSC report indicates that the performance of Premiers is patchy, with the lowest performing Premier achieving a score of 47%, compared with 82% for the best performing Premier.

This report shows that provincial governments - if administered properly - can achieve excellent results that positively impact on the lives of citizens. But the opposite is also true. Provincial governments that do not have good leadership do not have good service delivery either.

It is no coincidence that the PSC found that the worst performing Premier's Offices were the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. These are the two provinces that have required government intervention this year as a result of meltdowns in education and healthcare.

It is also no accident that the top performer was the Western Cape. Premier Helen Zille is building a world-class administration that is improving the lives of all the people in that province step-by-step. 

The ANC often points to the collapse of provincial services to make the case for reducing or even scrapping the provincial sphere of government. But the truth is that when provinces are governed effectively they play a major role in growing the economy, creating jobs, treating the sick, housing the homeless and educating our children.

I believe that Parliament should consider the findings of the PSC report and discuss its implications. Let us have this debate in the House so that we can fully explore why some provinces perform and others do not.

Statement issued by Kobus Marais MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration, June 11 2012

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