The relationship between strategic planning and budgeting within the Mining Qualifications Authority in South Africa

Abstract

The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) was established as a statutory body in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996. The MQA was later also registered as a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) for the mining and minerals sector (MMS) in terms of the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 (SDA). Indications of the need for strategic planning informing the budgetary process derives from literature, the Presidential Review Commission (PRC) of 1998 and Treasury Regulation 5. The question remains whether strategic planning in fact influences the budget. The MQA was chosen as a case study for investigating this question. In this article the authors start by describing the MQA as a unique context of strategic planning and budgeting. It was found that strategic planning did occur over the years that were investigated. However, constraints in the management, budget format and independence were observed that possibly impeded the strategic planning that did occur to exert the required influence. It could not be established whether strategic planning played a significant role in determining allocations within the MQA budget for the years 2005/2006 to 2008/2009.