Summarize this strategy in $10$ pages $1.$ Background and Context

$1\mathrm{.}1.$ Subsequent to the advent of democracy in South Africa in $1994,$ several pieces of legislation were promulgated by Parliament to reinforce democratic principles as enshrined in the Constitution $($Act no$.108,1996).$ Acts such as the Public Finance Management Act $($Act no$.1,1999),$ the Promotion of Access to Information Act $($Act no $2,2000)$ and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act $($Act no $3,2000)$ were promulgated to promote noble principles and values such as efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

$1\mathrm{.}2.$ It is worth noting that sound records management, as a central tenet of good governance features prominently in all the above$-$mentioned Acts. Good record$-$keeping is the cornerstone of any efficient, transparent, accountable administration.

$1\mathrm{.}3.$ The value of records in office administration cannot be emphasized. Every administrative process or transaction conducted by an organization involves or is informed by a record. A single transaction has the potential to generate multiple documents either through creation or receipt. Like any other organization, the Eastern Cape Department of Health $($ECDoH$)$ is dependent on its records to operate efficiently and to account for its actions.

$1\mathrm{.}4.$ Conscious of the value of sound record$-$keeping in public administration, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa passed the National Archives and Records Service Act $($Act no$.43,1996$ as amended$)$ to regulate records management functions in governmental bodies. In terms of Section $13(1)$ of this Act, the National Archivist shall be charged with the proper management and care of public records in the custody of governmental bodies.

$1\mathrm{.}5.$ It is worth noting that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa divides the responsibility for the management of records of public bodies between the National and the Provincial Archives Services. In terms of Schedule $5$ of the Constitution, archives other than national archives are designated as a functional area of exclusive provincial legislative competence. Prior to $1996$ public records of all three levels of government $($national$,$ provincial and local$)$ were governed by national legislation. As a Constitutional imperative, provinces are now expected to promulgate their own archives and records services legislation and to create own archival and records management infrastructure.

$1\mathrm{.}6.$ To this end, the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature passed the Provincial Archives and Records Service Act $($Act No$.7$ of $2003)$ to regulate records management functions in the province. The provincial archives legislation is however, consistent and concomitant with the national archives legislation.

$1\mathrm{.}7.$ It is therefore expected that public records generated by governmental bodies within the Eastern Cape, including ECDoH, should be managed in terms of the broad policy guidelines contained in both the National Archives and Records Service Act and the Provincial Archives and Records Service Act.

$1\mathrm{.}8.$ In addition to legislative compliance, it is expected of organizations to implement recordkeeping systems and processes which are aligned to ISO $15489,$ an international records management standard adopted by the South African Bureau of Standards $($SABS$)$ as SANS $15489.$ Section $4$ of the standard states that records management includes:

$$ setting policies and standards;

$$ assigning responsibilities and authorities;

$$ establishing and promulgating procedures and guidelines;

$$ providing a range of services relating to the management and use of records;

$$ designing, implementing and administering specialized systems for managing records; and

$$ Integrating records management into business systems and processes.

$1\mathrm{.}9.$ Within this context, the department is expected to implement recordkeeping systems and processes aimed at creating and maintaining authentic, reliable and usable records In order to support continuing service delivery and provide necessary accountability. The department should also ensure that the integrity of the records is protected for as long as they are required as evidence of business operations.

$1\mathrm{.}10.$ This document sets out an overarching framework for integrating current records management initiatives, as well as recommending new ones. It defines a strategy for improving the quality, availability and effective use of records and provides a strategic framework for all records management activities. This will enable overall coordination of all records management activities and ensure alignment with the ECDoH$$s strategic plan.

$1\mathrm{.}11.$ The records management strategy should be read in conjunction with the ECDoH$$s Records Management Policy and all other relevant pieces of legislation and Records Management policy manuals.

$2.$ Scope of application

$2\mathrm{.}1.$ The records management strategy is applicable to all components of the department $($Head Office, Regional$/$District Offices, H