vi. FOREWORD BY THE FOCAL POINT: MINISTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION As South Africa’s Focal point and the Chairperson of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism, in South Africa, I wish to confirm that the APRM programme is as vibrant in the country now as it was at the time we acceded to this voluntary instrument in 2003. Structures of the APRM remain well organised and functioning, poised to deal with issues as per the Programme of Action (PoA). Community meetings organised around the programme of the APRM are still attended by large numbers of people, confirming popular participation in APRM affairs. Of course, this is so within the context of our vibrant democracy which is characterised by healthy and strong relations between formal government structures, business, labour and organs of civil society. We are working hard to ensure an improvement in the participation of civil society in general, local government in particular (a sphere of government very important in the implementation of the PoA), as well as the NGO sector in the APRM. In the process of developing this Report, we held consultative conferences in the nine provinces of the country and provided an opportunity for all the sectors to make inputs in the APRM processes. Attendance during provincial consultative conferences was impressive. In provinces, inclusive consultation processes started at district municipal levels right up to provincial level. We are determined to popularise and extend the inclusivity of APRM consultative processes so that the voices of people are accorded the necessary space. This Report is, therefore, not a reflection of elites, but a product of engagements by South Africans talking about their own experiences. We have given all relevant sectors an opportunity, through their representatives, to make inputs to the report. However, there are important lessons we have learned in the process. The first relates to the experience of implementing the PoA and the second relates to the report writing process. At the level of implementation, one of the important lessons is about strengthening coordination, i.e. identifying synergies among various programs and projects in the various spheres of government in order to fully realise the impact intended by the APRM. It is going to be very important, going forward, to strengthen the institutionalisation of the APRM in all spheres of government and to monitor and strengthen relations with civil society organizations. With regard to our APRM reporting, as part of the institutionalisation of the APRM, dedicated research capacity is important so that the report writing process can be faster and more detailed on important issues. As the Report shows, there is a strong fit between South Africa’s own agenda for improved governance and development and what the APRM has required of it, thus making the APRM a necessary catalyst for the achievement of long-set goals. We are committed to using the APRM so that South Africa benefits from the possibilities it opens for a ‘sea change’ in attitude towards governance and the internalisation of basic values of justice, equity, transparency and accountability2. This particular Report provides an outline of how we are dealing with persistent challenges of corruption, lack of capacity and skills in public finance 2 Adedeji, A (2008): ‘NEPAD’s African Peer Review Mechanism: Progress and Prospects’ in John Akokpari et al – The African Union and its Institutions, Centre for Conflict Resolution and Fanele, 2008. 18