Have your say, urges state review body

Cape Town - The presidential review committee (PRC) on state-owned-entities (SOEs) has appealed for public submissions and contributions to the review of SOEs, the presidency said on Monday.

The committee, chaired by Riah Phiyega, was established by President Jacob Zuma to ensure that SOEs respond to a defined public mandate and support the government's developmental aspirations.

It will review the definition of SOEs and their contribution to human capital development, with particular reference to the development of scarce skills, and their reporting and accounting practices.

It will propose sustainable SOE business models which strike a balance between commercial, developmental and shareholder objectives.

The PRC will also review the collaboration between government ministries and SOEs, consider proposals for their strategic management and operational effectiveness, and propose viable shareholder and governance models.

"The PRC has held seminars with domestic and international partners including consultations with SOEs, government departments and other roleplayers and is now in a position to receive public submissions which will contribute to the successful completion of the report to the president," the presidency said.

It said the input should address whether SOEs are or are likely to be viable, effective, and add value to development and transformation, and if not, what could be done or what should be enhanced.

It should also address the appropriateness of the governance, ownership model, policy, and legislation to SOEs' effective delivery, and whether the SOEs' mandate and agenda are clear and sufficiently aligned with the state's development and transformation plans.

The deadline for submissions is Friday July 31. Submissions should be emailed to Godwin Ounoha at gonuoha@hsrc.ac.za, or to Bheki Mfeka at bheki@soereview.co.za or bheki@christpro.co.za.