SA Plans National Planning Law to Strengthen Accountability and Service Delivery

The South African government is preparing a major policy framework aimed at introducing legislation to create a clearer national planning system and improve accountability across all spheres of government.

Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, announced that the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) is developing a White Paper on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation that is expected to be finalised during the 2026/27 financial year.

The proposed framework is intended to strengthen the state’s ability to coordinate development planning, track implementation, monitor government performance, and improve service delivery outcomes in line with South Africa’s long-term development agenda.

New Policy Intended to Strengthen National Planning System

According to Ramokgopa, the new policy framework will help establish:

• A more coherent national planning system

• Stronger coordination across departments

• Improved accountability mechanisms

• Better alignment between budgets and priorities

• Enhanced implementation monitoring

The Minister explained that the legislation would strengthen the DPME’s mandate as the central institution responsible for:

• Government-wide planning coordination

• Monitoring implementation of national priorities

• Evaluating programme effectiveness

• Tracking delivery against development goals

The Department plays a key role in implementing South Africa’s:

• National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030

• Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029

Budget Allocation Approved for 2026/27

Tabling the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament, Ramokgopa welcomed approval of the department’s:

• R532.9 million budget allocation for 2026/27

The Minister outlined the department’s priorities for the coming financial year, which include:

• Institutionalising the MTDP across government

• Strengthening monitoring systems

• Improving evaluation capacity

• Enhancing frontline service delivery oversight

• Expanding citizen accountability mechanisms

Government Shifts Toward Results-Based Planning

Ramokgopa said the DPME has already made significant progress in aligning departmental planning and budgeting with national priorities.

During the 2025/26 financial year, the department worked closely with the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) to assess:

• 55 national and provincial draft Annual Performance Plans (APPs)

According to the Minister, this process reflects a broader transition from:

• Compliance-driven planningto:

• Results-based governance

The Government aims to move beyond procedural reporting and focus more directly on measurable outcomes and service delivery performance.

Mid-Term Development Plan Central to Government Agenda

The MTDP serves as the five-year strategic framework guiding the work of South Africa’s seventh administration.

The plan focuses on three core national priorities:

• Driving inclusive economic growth and job creation

• Reducing poverty and the cost of living

• Building a capable, ethical and developmental state

The DPME is responsible for tracking progress against these priorities and identifying implementation gaps requiring intervention.

Biannual Monitoring Reports Track Government Performance

The department has developed enhanced monitoring systems to assess implementation of the MTDP across government departments and provinces.

Ramokgopa confirmed that the latest:

• Biannual MTDP Performance Monitoring Report

covering the period:

• October 2025 to March 2026

has now been completed.

According to the Minister, the report indicates that government is making:

• “Steady progress” toward achieving MTDP priorities.

The DPME also plans to publish a:

• Mid-term monitoring report

evaluating government performance over the first two-and-a-half years of the MTDP cycle.

The report is expected to help identify:

• Administrative bottlenecks

• Delivery delays

• Policy implementation gaps

• Areas requiring urgent intervention

Government Plans Wider Public Access to Reports

Ramokgopa said the department intends to make performance reports more accessible to the public through broader engagement with:

• Parliament

• Civil society

• Stakeholders

• Citizens

The Government believes greater transparency and public access to monitoring data can strengthen accountability and improve trust in public institutions.

Frontline Monitoring Seen as Key to Service Delivery

Deputy Minister Seiso Mohai emphasised the importance of frontline monitoring in ensuring that policies translate into real improvements in people’s lives.

He described the:

• Frontline Monitoring and Support Programme

as a cornerstone of the department’s efforts to bridge the gap between:

• Policy intentionsand:

• Actual citizen experiences

“Our view is that plans and policies find real meaning at the frontline of service delivery, where citizens interact daily with the state,” Mohai said.

The programme involves direct assessment of service delivery conditions in areas such as:

• Healthcare

• Education

• Housing

• Social services

• Local government administration

Presidential Hotline Continues Citizen Accountability Role

The department also reported continued operation of the:

• Presidential Hotline

which serves as a direct citizen engagement and complaints mechanism.

During the reporting period:

• More than 2,300 complaints were received

• A 72% resolution rate was achieved

The complaints involved both:

• National departments

• Provincial government institutions

Officials said the hotline remains an important tool for:

• Public accountability

• Citizen participation

• Service delivery monitoring

• Government responsiveness

Government Seeks Stronger State Capacity

The proposed national planning legislation comes as South Africa continues to face significant governance and service delivery challenges, including:

• Infrastructure backlogs

• Slow implementation of programmes

• Budgetary pressures

• Administrative inefficiencies

• Public dissatisfaction with service delivery

The Government argues that stronger planning systems and improved monitoring mechanisms are necessary to:

• Improve policy coordination

• Ensure efficient use of public resources

• Deliver measurable development outcomes

• Accelerate implementation of national priorities

The White Paper is expected to provide the policy foundation for future legislation aimed at institutionalising a more integrated and accountable planning framework across the South African state.