20 Nov 2013

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says government decision to right size but not ‘down size’ the public service is meant to create efficiency and effectiveness by outsourcing non-core services to the private sector.

Mr Masisi told Parliament on Tuesday that the outsourcing programme accorded employees the opportunity to either form companies or be absorbed by the companies where possible.

He explained that the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) was a major policy meant, among others, to address unemployment by creating job opportunities in the private sector and promoting consumption of locally produced goods and services.

Minister Masisi stated that in 2012/2013, a total of goods and services worth P3.42 billion were recorded, out of which P1.84 billion were from local manufacturers and suppliers.

Furthermore, he said a total investment worth just over P1 billion was realised the same year, generating 1 206 jobs. He indicated that the assertion that the EDD had failed was not a fair assessment of the progress made by the programme because the contrary was true.

Minister Masisi was responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Okavango, Mr Bagalatia Arone who had asked the minister how government intended to keep people employed, in view of government’s decision to downsize the Public Service, given failed economic diversification drive. Ends