Dysfunctional premier's office stymied by lack of skills

Serious concerns have been raised about the functioning of the premier's office in Gauteng.

A report on the premier's office by researchers for the provincial oversight committee showed that its personnel lacked the skills to draft legislation.

The committee reported that the premier's office had new staff who were still acquiring the skills necessary for drafting legislation.

"Provincial government is about drafting laws to ensure that we govern properly.

The premier's office is one of the key players in this process. If [Premier David Makhura] does not have people adequately qualified to draft legislation it is really worrying.

"It has been the same problem with the previous financial year and the premier before ," said committee member John Moody.

Moody said the premier's office provided leadership for all long-term plans in the province, including co-ordination of infrastructure programmes, dealing with the energy crisis and integrating municipal housing development.

Of the R329-million budget allocated to it for the 2014-2015 financial year, the premier's office had spent only 60.88% by the end of the third quarter.