Infrastructure
(a) What did his Departmental Business Continuity Plan entail in the 2020/21 financial year and (b) how did the plan help his Department reach its targets?
(a) The Business Continuity Plan (BCP) incorporates the Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery (PPRR) Framework and is updated annually. The BCP prepares the steps the Department will take to recover systems and how to continue with critical business functions with minimal resources during and after an interruption. The Plan acted as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was reviewed to facilitate the development and approval of contingency plans in order to cater for the disaster. The review of the plan also ensured that the Department adhered to the State of Disaster Regulations. Additionally, the Department completed ICT Maintenance and Testing of the Online Workbook to discover possible system errors and correct it accordingly.
(b) The BCP ensured the continued delivery of Department of Human Settlements services to its clients. The various initiatives related to the BCP were executed as mitigating measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Plan significantly assisted and guided the Department by ensuring that all staff and facilities were fully operational and compliant throughout the hard lockdown. The Plan was implemented with associated Contingency Plans.
The initiatives and interventions raised awareness with staff and visitors visiting our buildings regarding health and safety as well as COVID-19 preventative measures to restrict transmission of the virus.
The BCP empowered Line Functions to set up functional project management teams working remotely but using technology to remain effective at their roles in facilitating the implementation of projects.
The BCP enabled a safe platform from which officials could facilitate recommencement of construction activities on sites guided by the Health and Safety Assessment and recommendations. Externally appointed Health and Safety professionals played a significant role in easing back construction works in line with the regular government notices that were issued.
The BCP with reference to both the Water shortage crisis as well as the Covid crisis, has been instrumental in assisting this Department to meet targets within the APP. It afforded officials the opportunity to continue working in a safe manner, and to remain effective.
The contractors closed the projects in terms of the Disasters Management Act and the regulations that was issued with COVID. All sites were closed during the hard lockdown when it re-opened, when it was allowed, it was in terms of prescribed health and safety instructions. Strict COVID-19 protocols were implemented, e.g. social distancing, masks, sanitizers, attendance registers, temperature checks etc.
