Quarter 1 Performance Report

Q1

2011/12



Quarter 1 Performance Report

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 5

PROGRAMME 1: ADMINISTRATION 8

Strategic Objective 1: Increased compliance with prescripts to achieve and sustain an unqualified audit. 8

Strategic Objective 2: Improved management of fraud and corruption cases 9

Strategic Objective 3: Improved human resources service delivery 10

Strategic Objective 4: Increased optimisation of systems (automated and manual) 11

Strategic Objective 5: Increased percentage of outstanding Truth and Reconciliation Commission Victims who qualify for reparations per TRC recommendations 12

PROGRAMME 2: COURT SERVICES 14

Strategic Objective 6: Improved coordination of the JCPS Cluster towards the delivery of Outcome 3. 14

Strategic Objective 7: Improved finalisation of activities in support of outputs of Outcome 3. 15

Strategic Objective 8: Improved delivery of maintenance services. 16

Strategic Objective 9: Increased protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. 16

Strategic Objective 10: Increased access to justice services by under-serviced communities. 19

Strategic Objective 11: Improved functionality of justice service points. 20

Strategic Objective 12: Improved delivery of services at the courts. 21

PROGRAMME 3: STATE LEGAL SERVICES 21

Strategic Objective 13: Improved service delivery at the Master’s service points. 22

Strategic Objective 14: Increased efficiency in the provision of services to beneficiaries of the Guardian’s Fund, trusts, insolvent and deceased estates. 22

Strategic Objective 15: Promote Constitutional Development and strengthen participatory democracy to ensure respect for fundamental human rights. 23

Strategic Objective 16: Improved provision of legal services to the state organs. 25

Strategic Objective 17: Improved policy and legislative framework for effective and efficient delivery of justice services. 26

Abbreviations and Acronyms 31

INTRODUCTION

This quarterly review covers the period from April to June 2011 and serves to inform the Minister and other stakeholders of the progress made on the implementation of the department’s annual performance plan and an update on budget spending.

Budget Spending

The overall expenditure versus budget at the end of the first quarter is near to the benchmark of 25%. However, capital spending is at 39.9% and would require careful monitoring for the rest of the year. There are several other unfunded expenditure amounting to about R650 million due to our service delivery demands. The department is therefore under pressure with regards to its budget and spending will be curtailed and prioritised towards the departmental strategic objectives. A circular has already been issued to request staff to curb spending wherever possible.

Strategic Objectives

Out of the total of 17 objectives that are contained in the Department’s strategic plan and Annual Performance Plan, 7 objectives have fully achieved quarterly targets, 6 were not fully achieved but are on track and in good progress, and 4 are delayed, as graphically illustrated below:

There were a number of indicators in which high performance was noted during the quarter under review and they include the following:

• 
  Improved finalisation of grievance and misconduct cases [Objective 3];
  
• 
  Completion of security installations in five additional courts [Objective 11];
  
• 
  Progress on the project to improve delivery of maintenance services; [Objective 8];
  
• 
  Increased protection of rights of vulnerable groups [Objective 9];
  
• 
  Progress on the finalisation of legislation for vulnerable groups [Objective 15];
  
• 
  Progress on the project to strengthen participatory democracy and respect for fundamental human rights, undertaken by the Constitutional Development [Objective15];
  
• 
  Progress on the increase of the number of briefs in value to be allocated to PDI’s [Objective11];
  
• 
  Coordination of JCPS Cluster; [Objective 6]; and
  
• 
  Improved delivery of maintenance services; [Objective 8].
  

However, the department will need to put more effort in dealing with:

• 
  Finalisation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) related reparations [Objective 5]
  
• 
  Finalisation of forensic cases which are older than 1 year [Objective 2];
  
• 
  Reduction of cases on the backlog roll [Objective 7];
  
• 
  Finalisation of targets for quasi-judicial services to assist the department to identify areas of service improvements [Objective 12];
  
• 
  Reduction of legal costs against the state [Objective 16]; and
  
• 
  Turnaround times in liquidation and insolvency cases [Objective 14].
  

For the next quarter, the department will focus on improving the data collection and analysis for quicker reporting. Some reports (for example, indicator 9.2, 9.6, 16.1, 16.2 among others), give two monthly updates instead of three monthly ones due to delays in validation of data. For these indicators, the updated first quarter results will be provided in the second quarter report.

Submission of evidence and supporting documentation is vital and will assist the department in addressing the audit queries raised by the Auditor General. Unfortunately, some source documentation will be considered after submission of this document and this might result in the restatement in the second quarter.