2.5 Challenges For the period under review, the Department experienced the following challenges: . The lack of a clear policy framework has affected the achievement of some key deliverable e.g. concession of branch lines and future allocations to Eskom as part of IRP2; . Retaining and attracting skilled people to enhance the capacity of the department to perform its oversight function; . Worsening global and domestic economic conditions have negatively impacted on the financial position of some SOCs which may delay funding of the build programme; and . Limited financial resources that meant some of the projects could not be implemented.