WCG DoTP APP 2023/2024

7.5.

PROGRAMME 5: CORPORATE ASSURANCE

7.5.1.

Programme purpose

To render enterprise risk management, internal audit, provincial forensic and corporate communication services. This Branch contributes to the improvement of governance in the WCG through the services it offers. The strategic objective links directly to the National Development Plan and the Medium term Strategic Framework, particularly as it relates to the outcome “professional, meritocratic and ethical public administration” and the interventions aimed at reduci ng the incidences of corruption in the public sector through the work of Provincial Forensic Services. Programme 5 contributes to the “Transformed Governance” outcome of the Innovation, Culture and Governance priority through the work conducted in various business units. Services rendered are inherently corporate governance related services and although not the only contributors to transforming governance, provide assurance to management and, ultimately, the Executive that risks are being identified and mitigated and allegations of fraud and corruption investigated and acted upon. Our services therefore seek to strengthen and maintain good corporate governance practices and accountability in government institutions. Another dimension of Governance Transformation relates to decisive responses to allegations of fraud, corruption and maladministration. The outputs and indicators selected indicate this branch’s cont ribution to transforming governance. Although the outputs and output indicators selected remained static if compared to previous years, the focus will be on the “how” to contribute to governance transformation as espoused to in the Provincial Strategic Plan. The specifics are indicated below as part of the Sub-programme purpose. Having due regard for the need to demonstrate citizen impact and taking account of the current evolving strategic environment in the WCG, the extended EXCO of the Branch has defined its strategy to “ Inspire, enable and assure good governance for the benefit of all our citizens ”. This aligns to the department’s repositioning to be outward -looking, and ultimately have an impact on the citizens of the Western Cape. Our current services in many instances already contribute to citizen impact and the following are examples thereof: 1. Audit areas focussing on the coalface that can be specifically linked to the key priorities in the Provincial Strategic Plan, are already being included in the internal audit plans; 2. In the innovation space, Provincial Forensic Services is conducting a data analysis project to test the methodology for identifying red-flags from a set of data; and 3. Also, Enterprise Risk Management has started to focus on analysis of opportunities (rather than risks) to find ways of capitalising on the opportunities being presented in our environment (digital disruption as an example). We do however acknowledge that further improvement is required and will therefore focus on the following over the next 5 years: 1. ERM will challenge management in client departments to consider risks that enable a Citizen centric approach (currently less than 40% of risks identified enable a Citizen-centric approach); 2. IA will increase the number of audits that are performed in frontline service delivery areas (currently 48% of audits in the “consolidated” audit plan is linked to frontline service delivery areas);

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DOTP ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN FOR 2023/2024