Members of the Extended Public Committee met in Committee Room E249 at 16:30.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: Hon House Chairperson; hon Deputy Minister of Public Works, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu; hon members of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, the Acting Director-General of the department, Mr Sam Vukela, and all senior officials of the Department of Public Works; representatives of our public entities; members of the media; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; the struggle continues.
As we forge ahead towards the centenary of the ANC in 2012, reflections on the long road traveled occupy our daily thoughts. It is unavoidable that reflections give way to recriminations, lessons learned and the long road still ahead in achieving a better life for all.
In my Budget Vote speech last year I shared with this House my thoughts on reviewing, reshaping and rejuvenating the Department of Public Works, to raise the bar in our efforts to deliver efficient services and to perform and deliver property development and management services that measure up to industry standards.
I also spoke of undertaking a turnaround strategy within the department with the intention of optimising performance and efficiency on all levels so that we may reclaim the department's mandate. For our part as the Department of Public Works we have insulated these strategic imperatives as anchors to our turnaround strategy. This strategy aims to improve functional efficiencies, inject new performance energy, improve optimal service delivery and enhance organisational excellence.
We are committed to align our budget and programmes to specifically contribute to the following government outcomes: create decent employment through inclusive economic growth; ensure efficient and effective development-oriented public service and an empowered and inclusive citizenship; establish sustainable human settlements; and ensure an improved quality of household life.
In pursuit of the aforementioned outcomes, the department welcomes the allocation of R6,4 billion for the financial year 2010-11. In line with our new ethos to raise the bar in service delivery and client relationship, the department has just handed over the pristine Civitas Building in central Pretoria to the Department of Health, ensuring that they have an integrated head office accommodation out of which they will drive policies to improve health services in the country.
The Civitas project marks our first groundbreaking Grade A model in the provision of world-class government accommodation and is indicative of our ambition to rejuvenate our competitiveness in the property management industry.
In October 2009 the department handed over the completed Phase One of the renovated Waterkloof Air Force Base to the Department of Defence for utilisation. Phase Two, encompassing the upgrade of taxiways and storm water drainage, is due for completion in May 2010.
The secondary runway and electrical infrastructure are currently under way, leading to full project completion in 2012. This project is a strategic imperative to complement our international commitment to a better Africa and a better world. This year we aim to complete the building of the new generation prison in Kimberley, and work has begun with the construction of the correctional facility in Tzaneen.
The department plays a pivotal role in contributing to the inclusive and shared growth path of the developmental state. In this regard, the allocated R1,3 billion capital budget will be channelled towards capital infrastructure projects for this current year undertaken by the department. The augmented R612 million allocated to the Property Management Trading Entity, PMTE, will be committed to maintenance and refurbishment of government buildings.
In utilising these funds, the department gives effect to accelerating inclusive and shared economic growth by continuing to roll out a state-led infrastructure investment programme and promoting strategic investments in productive activities.
Inherent in our capital programme will be the accelerated drive to improve access to all state buildings for persons with disabilities. This will align with the department's draft policy framework for persons with disabilities, which aim to promote employment equity, social inclusion and economic empowerment in line with the ethos of a caring nation.
House Chairperson, the Expanded Public Works Programme continues to be a strategic intervention to alleviate poverty and unemployment through the creation of labour-intensive work opportunities. In year one of Phase 2, the EPWP has created 604 000 work opportunities. The target for this current year is set at 642 000 work opportunities.
We intend achieving these targets through labour-intensive projects and increased labour intensity of existing projects and programmes. Participating in the Expanded Public Works Programme is not only about number crunching, but remains essentially a commitment to promote a human rights-oriented public service delivery culture characterised, amongst others, by caring for the elderly and sick, educating pre-school children, rehabilitating and cleaning up our environment as well as upgrading and maintaining crucial infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and sanitation through the labour-intensive or labour-absorbing service delivery models mentioned earlier.
The recent handing over of the pilot project of three bridges in the local municipalities of Intsika Yethu, Port St Johns and Umzimvubu in the Eastern Cape, which were constructed as a result of the Department of Public Works funding the project and utilising the specific bridge-making expertise of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, is indicative of a responsive government.
School children and the elderly can now safely cross rivers to get to schools and clinics without risk to life and limb, especially when rivers are flooded. [Applause.] The department will strive to ensure best use of the existing assets and to balance the ownership and lease portfolio.
Furthermore, by 2013, 90% of state land will be vested in accordance with the National Vesting Plan and developed in consultation with the provincial governments and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and. Furthermore a task team, chaired by myself, which includes Ministers Nkwinti and Gordhan, the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General, has as its key focus the management of state property.
We will be reconvening shortly to consider the technical report from the team headed by the Accountant-General. The plan to establish the amnesty call campaign is quite advanced. And the launch of the initiative in this financial year will further encourage those in illegal possession or occupation of state assets to surrender them without having to face prosecution.
Our Black Economic Empowerment Property Management proposition and the Property Charter ensure that we promote real economic transformation in the property sector in order to enable meaningful participation of black people, especially women and the youth. We will continue, as part of our growth path, to ensure that BEE companies are empowered through the department's procurement processes.
Going forward, we will be monitoring this very closely to evaluate the impact of market concentration and market abuse. An intervention is currently under way which will include, among others, the interaction with stakeholders in the property sector. There is huge potential for improvements in this regard.
Hon Chairperson, on the matters raised by the Auditor-General in his last report, I am pleased to announce that the process of cleaning up the Property Management Trading Entity is at an advanced stage, including financial systems integration, risk management and a substantial reduction in the debtors' book.
The department is also finalising the business case on the establishment of the Property Management Trading Entity as a strategic measure to improve management of its asset portfolio and enhance the value chain. It is envisaged that the PMTE will offer a professional, seamless and integrated functionality, thus restoring value for money, improving operational efficiencies, offering quality service delivery and achieving client satisfaction.
The lack of timely payment by government to small, medium and micro enterprises has been raised. This has to stop! The launch of the Re Ya Patala, "We Pay", initiative by the department in 2009 has committed us to ensuring that there is strict adherence to the 30-days payment policy as provided for in the Public Finance Management Act for services rendered. I did not hear that. [Applause.] As such we will continue to monitor that this 30 days payment practice is kept.
On the land ports of entry and our African agenda, the Department has been instrumental in delivering infrastructure projects under the aegis of the Border Control Operating and Co-ordinating Committee known as BCOCC.
Ahead of the Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament, the department initiated redevelopment projects at four land ports of entry bordering Mozambique, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana to address the envisaged increase in movement of people and goods passing through these various ports of entry during the 2010 event and beyond, especially facilitating commerce, encouraging cross-border people mobility whilst restricting movement of illicit goods and people. Most of these are nearing completion.
Also completed are a number of infrastructure initiatives on the continent, including the construction of the O R Tambo memorial complex at Kawaweta in Uganda. Described as one of the most remarkable projects ever to be developed by Public Works, the Kawaweta project was recently officially opened by the both presidents: the President of Uganda and the President of the Republic of South Africa.
House Chairperson, public works is an area of concurrent legislative authority listed in schedule 4 of the Constitution. Both the provincial and national legislatures have legislative competence in relation to the matters listed in this schedule. This concurrence often leads to some confusion in practical terms and requires a closer study of other constitutional provisions regarding which sphere of government will prevail over another and in what circumstances such prevalence is permissible.
Achieving these strategic imperatives demands that the department attracts and retains relevant skills. Equally, it requires that the department is properly structured and has proper systems, processes and policies. As part of our turnaround plan, we will ensure that critical skills are concentrated in the core business of the department to bring about an agile, responsive and result-driven organisation supported by prudent systems and information technology. While we have registered strides on the financial management front through improved internal controls and accountability, we will continue to ensure that the state resources are utilised in an efficient way.
As part of promoting accountability and integrity management, the department has commissioned the services of the Special Investigating Unit. This follows consistent allegations of continued financial mismanagement, deliberate inefficiencies, escalation of costs, noncompliance with proper supply chain management processes lack of integrity around procurement processes and wasteful and fruitless expenditure within the department. I would like to reiterate that any form of graft or dishonesty will not be tolerated, not on my watch. [Applause.
Optimal excellence and quality service delivery demand that our public entities share the same vision of the department and are responsive to the developmental agenda. Hence we continue to sharpen the focus of the Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB; the Council for the Built Environment, CBE; Agrimor South Africa; and the Independent Development Trust, IDT. The IDT, as the development agency within the Public Works family, will continue to pursue its development model of social infrastructure delivery, which uniquely balances outputs with development outcomes. Not only is 85% of the IDT's work located in rural South Africa, but the IDT will also advance the comprehensive rural development strategy, built on the pilot project that they concluded on behalf of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform recently in the 2009-10 financial year. We congratulate them for a job well done.
Emerging contractors have raised their concerns and suggestions on some of the registration regulations. In this regard a review of some of the regulations is under way. The review will ensure that emerging contractors progressively benefit meaningfully from the construction industry. In particular, the CIDB will, with immediate effect, pursue the developmental objectives, including the national contractor development programme, construction site health and safety, and enhancing infrastructure delivery skills. These will be key performance improvement priorities. In addition, the CIDB plans, by the end of the year, to develop financing models based on the implementation of various banks' memorandum of understanding. These are exciting initiatives by the CIDB, and these are two of the initiatives planned to begin addressing the challenges of emerging contractors.
The CBE and the professional councils have increased the number of university programmes accredited by the professions. The CBE, the six councils and the sector stakeholders have an important role to play in enabling the human resource development strategy in the built environment and professions in achieving the outcomes of the national human development strategy.
Agrimor SA continues to fulfil an important role by facilitating the introduction, application and use of innovative and nonstandard construction products. It is important for us to finalise an organisational model that will best enable Agrimor SA to significantly increase its delivery capability over the next budget cycle.
On the legislative front the Expropriation Bill will be tabled next year. It is currently receiving attention in our department and is co-ordinated with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The joint technical teams are at work, and both Ministers will be receiving the report soon. As a department we are of the view that this legislation is imperative for the real economic transformation in our country. More importantly, as we move towards the centenary of the Natives Land Act, Act 27 of 1913, the review of the State Land Disposal Act, Act 48 of 1961, is currently receiving urgent attention. Equally the review of the department's White Paper is in the pipeline.
As I conclude, I would like to reiterate that we will continue to ensure that our core mandate supports the principles and ethos of a developmental state. As part of reclaiming our mandate we will have to revisit resolutions that devolved the capital budgets to line departments. We will be engaging with Parliament and Cabinet on this matter to ensure that proper consultations are done as we seek to improve instruments of efficiency and service delivery.
The department will continue to put people first in its service delivery ethos. We will continue to turn around the operational model on how we conduct our business and realign our outputs to our strategic national outcomes. This we do fully aware that it will be a long, arduous struggle for which we require vision, determination and commitment. It is incumbent upon us to work in unison to construct a social compact with all stakeholders that will harness our collective resolve, underpinned by our shared values and a common vision.
Finally, I want to thank the Deputy Minister, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu; the Acting Director-General, Sam Vukela; and all those senior managers who ably stepped in where vacancies existed to ensure that work continued unabated. Thank you for keeping the ship on course. Soon we will be announcing the successful candidates for the posts of director-general, chief operations officer and the vacant deputy-director general posts, once Cabinet has approved the submissions. I can report here that this morning Cabinet already approved two candidates, so we are down to only three acting positions.
To the department I say that we must always remember our central theme. This is the year of action - to make government work faster, harder and smarter. I thank the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, under the able leadership of Mr Godfrey Oliphant, for his leadership and we thank him for enhancing the constructive oversight that has been done in our department.
I would also like to thank the Chief of Staff in the Ministry, Anusha Pillay, and her able team for their commitment and support during very difficult times. Last but not least, I want to thank my good wife, sitting behind me, and my family for tolerating me and my very busy schedule. [Applause.] I ask, Chairperson, that the House considers Budget Vote No 6 and gives us its blessing.
I must also say that in keeping with a healthy lifestyle [Interjections.] Can you protect me, Chair There is a bit of I know I have a beautiful wife, but leave her in peace. [Laughter.] In keeping with promoting a healthy lifestyle, as led by the Minister of Health, we will not be having a function this evening, but we will be having an imbizo where we can bring together small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs, and emerging contractors. We will be making an announcement soon, so that we can interact with those service providers that we don't pay as Public Works. Let them come and talk to us. We want to do that, not in Parliament, but where they actually do their work. So we want to promote a healthy lifestyle: No steak and chops this evening, sorry Thank you very much. [Laughter.] [Applause.?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Thank you, hon Minister. I would have protected you, but you invited the bewilderment. [Laughter.
Mr G G OLIPHANT: Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, I see hon Minister Shabangu is also here, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen and comrades, let me anchor my input in this very important debate by paying tribute to the workers of South Africa, in particular, and their counterparts and comrades around the globe for their successful May Day rallies and celebrations over the past weekend. [Applause.] I did not hear that. [Applause.] May Day remains an important date of working class solidarity and a critical rallying point for the advancement of workers' rights, and indeed a better world for their respective families.
It was on this day in 1886 that workers in the USA protested bitterly against slavery working conditions and demanded, amongst others, a reduction in working hours to eight hours per day - 40 hours per week, over five days. Hundreds of workers were killed and maimed around the world by capitalist brutality in collaboration with governments that supported them.
One hundred years later, in 1986, albeit under the state of emergency, workers in South Africa under the banner of Cosatu, after waging endless struggles, forcefully celebrated this day. It is therefore important that, in this important workers' month, we pause to remember those heroes and heroines who laid down their lives during the difficult days of apartheid oppression in association with capitalist exploitation in order for us to enjoy the freedom and democracy we have today.
Let me remind the House that on 24 August 2006, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the mineworkers' strike under the leadership of uncle J B Marks, Parliament agreed to the following resolution that still needs to be implemented.
that the living and working conditions of mineworkers be investigated further and be improved; and to support the initiative by the National Union of Mineworkers to build a workers' museum...
I also said that Parliament should give consideration to naming some of its buildings after J B Marks, a leader of the African Mineworkers Union, and other heroes and heroines of the struggle.
The Department of Public works, DPW, is the single biggest landlord in our country with huge responsibilities around accommodation and maintenance. All the departments of this government in the country as well as the Department of International Relations and Co-operation outside the country, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers and you, hon members, expect this department to offer decent and adequate accommodation together with the requisite services. This is a very huge task.
We have started some collaboration with the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services and intend to meet affected parliamentary committees like Home Affairs, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs as well as Defence and Military Veterans in an attempt to strengthen our collective oversight responsibilities relating to decent accommodation, proper registration and maintenance of state assets.
It is incomprehensible that, 16 years since our democratic breakthrough, we are still unable to properly account for all state assets that rightfully belong to future generations. The office of the Auditor-General has, amongst others, raised this matter as one of the serious issues that needs urgent attention. The portfolio committee has already agreed to have a meeting with the office of the Auditor-General in the coming week in order to discuss this matter and find some solutions.
The Government Immovable Asset Management Act, Giama, still has to be fully implemented at national and provincial levels. That Act specifically excludes jurisdiction at local government level, an issue that still remains a serious bone of contention in the portfolio committee.
In November last year we conducted a strategic planning workshop which included, amongst others, representatives of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and other important stakeholders. Among other critical issues discussed were the problems around vesting of state land associated with the Deeds Office. This matter still needs to be resolved.
One matter that we are seriously concerned about is the high level of vacancies in the Department of Public Works. I'm happy to hear that it's been addressed, but we have been extremely worried about senior positions, including that of the director-general and chief directors, that are vacant. This situation seriously undermines the capacity of the department and impacts negatively on the service delivery efforts needed in this department. I still do not understand why the state continues to have such high levels of vacancies, especially in funded posts, while the country is bleeding with high levels of unemployment.
The Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, is the single most important project of government intended for job creation and poverty alleviation in society. We therefore need to ensure that resources allocated to this programme are fully utilised and efficiently accounted for. The current state of affairs needs serious improvement so that we can properly massify work opportunities in a much more co-ordinated and comprehensive manner.
We have an opportunity of a lifetime to get South Africa working. With over R60 billion allocated to this department and an additional amount of over R2 billion allocated for capital budget in other departments in this financial year, together with the infrastructure budget allocated over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, the economic fortunes of our citizens can be changed for the better. We can indeed stimulate our economic activity in the short to medium term in a meaningful way. It is doable; it can be done, so let's do it!
The ANC truly believes that, by working together, we can do more. A lot of good work has been done in the department and a lot still needs to be done. For instance, a combination of the capital resources in the development finance institutions like the Public Investment Corporation, PIC, Industrial Development Corporation, IDC and the Development Bank of SA, DBSA - to name but a few - plus the creativity of South African brains, has the greatest potential to make poverty history and to increase the profile of state assets, especially in rural areas and poor municipalities.
The inner city regeneration programme is good and can be accelerated. However, Re Kgabisa Tshwane has been going on for many years now. When is 're kgabisa Thaba Nchu' going to happen When is 're kgabisa rural areas' going to happen And especially, when is 're kgabisa Warrenton' going to happen [Interjections.?
Ag nee man, 're kgabisa Kokstad' 'Re kgabisa Kroonstad' [Oh no man, when is the project starting in Kokstad and in Kroonstad] We must truly and sincerely live by the saying, "South Africa works because of Public Works"?
The Independent Development Trust, IDT, has done tremendous work in rural areas and in poor municipalities and needs to be supported. The committee agreed to mobilise financial resources for the IDT so as to optimise the utilisation of skills and expertise within the entity for the benefit of poor communities. This must be done almost immediately so that we can bring about certainty and stability within the IDT. They were, after all, the proud entity which reported to the Department of Public Works which continued to receive clean audits for the past seven years. Give them a big hand. [Applause.
During our oversight visit to the Eastern Cape in February this year, the portfolio committee members were taken aback by the scourge of underdevelopment in the rural areas, especially in Ngcingcinikhwe, a rural area in Ndabakazi near Butterworth. The village borders the Kei River, but villagers have no access to clean drinking water. Electricity connections are a stone's throw away across the river, but the village is not connected. There are no schools and no clinic, and yet there have been no protest marches. Our people are still hopeful that their government will one day address their plight and bring about a better life for them as well. Some families informed us that they even bought TV sets, just in case they also get connected, so that they can have an opportunity to watch and enjoy the World Cup Soccer tournament together with other fellow South Africans.
What are we waiting for, Comrade Komphela Kuza kude kube nini Ndoda [When will this end] Bomme re emetse eng, kapa re emetse mang [Ladies, what are we waiting for, or who are we waiting for ?
before we can start acting decisively as this Parliament?
Pregnant mothers in Ngcingcinikhwe were still subjected to giving birth at home unless some men volunteered to carry them, on time, on a stretcher, on their shoulders across the mountain to the nearest clinic. Thanks to the Department of Public Works there is now a one kilometre bridge or road that was erected to improve vehicle access to that village. [Applause.
My office recently received correspondence from the IDT office in the Eastern Cape reporting that they are working on the issues raised during our oversight visit to those villages, and we are expecting progress reports soon.
My time is running out very fast.
The committee has resolved to conduct comprehensive oversight visits to provinces in the near future, and has especially resolved to have serious engagement with the Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB, the Council for the Built Environment, CBE, and Agrément South Africa.
I see that time is running out very fast, so I will not go through everything here. I would just like to say in the end that we are going to be meeting with the CIDB and all these other entities that report to Public Works to finalise the work that still needs to be done.
As I conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the portfolio committee members very much, especially the ANC members for their unwavering support and commitment to tackling the challenges ahead. I would also like to extend a special word of welcome to the opposition party members participating in the portfolio committee, as well as to the Minister and the Deputy Minister; thank you very much.
I would very much like to thank the staff of the CIDB; CBE; IDT and Agrément South Africa, ASA; the secretary of the committee, Akhona Busakwe; the secretary to the chairperson, Gadija Osman; the new secretary to the ANC, Pumla Kweyama; and Inez, the researcher. We thank you very much for your hard work. Re a leboga. [Thank you.
I would also like to thank the catering staff who feed us here at Parliament everyday and the cleaning staff who clean up all the mess after we have left. Thank you. The ANC supports this debate. [Applause.
Mr S J MASANGO: Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and hon members, the DA is in support of the idea to rejuvenate and reshape the department and to develop a skills operation that focuses on core functions. However, all these good ideas mean nothing unless they are implemented properly and speedily.
Again, Minister, the road ahead will not be easy if one considers the following issues: Administratively, your department is headless and will be headless until you fill all the posts; the mud-slinging in the leadership, politically and administratively, does not do any favour to the department; the budget does not cover all the vacancy rates in your department, including the Occupation Specific Dispensation, OSD; very little if nothing is allocated for skills development; and lack of capacity in your department remains a concern.
Chairperson, unless the above issues are addressed, the Minister's good idea will remain but a pipedream. Another issue that demotivates the department's employees is that the contract employees are earning higher salaries than the permanent staff. This is something that the department must attend to as soon as possible.
Last year, Chairperson, I mentioned that the Marievale Military Base, a government-owned property, was in a state of disrepair. And until today nothing has been done there and the situation is getting worse.
The problem with Marievale is that there are communities who are staying there, and they've been renting the houses from the Department of Defence. There is absolutely no service delivery there. The municipality is unable to help because their area belongs to the national government. The community members are always stranded whenever they encounter problems because they don't know whom to report to.
The rampant looting that has plagued the area is continuing. Rented houses are falling apart because no one is repairing them. Cable boxes are left open, exposing children to danger. Without adequate drainage the roads run like swimming pools and all over the place the grass grows high. Nothing is happening there except the development of a golf course. How this will benefit the local community is unclear. Minister, I urge you to give due consideration to the situation at Marievale and to implement the suggestion I made to you last year.
Another military base that is not utilised is the Mariepskop Radar station in Mpumalanga, and very soon it will also be looted. It is one of the most beautiful places in our country. Standing on top of the mountain you can see forever. The sad part of this is that very few people know about it. It has more than 20 three-bedroom houses, three blocks of multi-storey flats, a dining hall, fully equipped kitchen with walk-in fridges, three different pubs, medical stations, swimming pool, rugby field, tennis courts and many other facilities left to the jungle.
The government has, since 1990, been wasting a lot of money by paying the personnel to look after the property. Here is a wonderful opportunity, Minister, for the private sector to open this village as a holiday resort that will offer much more than any other resort in the area. It will also provide lots of job opportunities in an area where the thought of a job is seen as a silly dream, not to mention the great income it can generate.
The DA supports the creation of job opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP. However, it is not enough to measure only the number of jobs opportunities created; we should go beyond this. It must not be about job creation just for the sake of meeting targets; there must be value for money spent from the public coffers. The department must start to measure the quality of the work done and customer satisfaction. The project must leave some legacy behind, like the road built at Ngcinginikhwe in the Eastern Cape, that's a good example. The community must feel proud of the work done by the EPWP in their area.
The skills transfer from the Extended Public Works Programme, EPWP, must be real and genuine. They should be approved by the SA Qualification Authority. If this is not the case, then we are wasting these young people time. It is also not true that we can train 500 people at a time and that, after completion, they go home just to rust again. Let us be realistic and train a reasonable number that will be absorbed into full employment either by government or the private sector.
Omunye weminqopho ye-EPWP kurarha indlala - umtlhago. Kodwana, Ngqongqotjhe, ukuthi ngubani ekufuze aqatjhwe nokuthi kuqatjhwe bunjani, lokhu kusese yindaba engalethi ubuthongo. Amathuba wemisebenzi asanikelwa labo abazanako nanyana abaneenhlobo. Abantu abatlhaga khulu nanje abawatholi lamaphrojekthi. UmNyango kufanele wendlale imihlahlandlela nemithetho ngokuqatjhwa ku-EPWP begodu uqinisekise bonyana abomasipala neemfunda bayayilandela leyo mithetho. Ukuze kurarhwe indlala, umtlhago kufuze kube, okungasenani, umuntu munye osebenzako emndenini ngamunye. Nangabe ubaba nomma abasebenzi, kufanele baqalelelwe kokuthoma. Labo babantu abazokuqinesekisa bonyana kubanokudla ekhaya - kurarhwe umtlhago. (Translation of isiNdebele paragraphs follows.
One of the objectives of the EPWP is to alleviate poverty, but the challenge, Minister, is who should be employed and how. This is still the challenge that brings sleepless nights. Job opportunities are still given to pals and relatives. People who are really suffering do not get these projects. The department should introduce guidelines with regard to the employment of people in the EPWP and ensure that municipalities and provinces adhere to those guidelines.
To alleviate poverty, at least one member of each family should be employed; especially, in cases were both parents are not working. They should be first in line to get these jobs. These are people who will make sure that there is food at home so their families do not go hungry.
Chairperson, corruption must be dealt with equally amongst all employees, from a general worker up to senior level. Many public sector employees seem to be getting away with it.
Minister, I am saying this because the former director-general of your department appointed Servcon and Intersite to do an asset register on behalf of the department without following the tender procedure in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA. This is a serious offence. Until now nothing has been done to bring him to book, but junior officials are being disciplined, arrested and charged for minor offences and not senior officials.
At present we are told that the companies are demanding R200 million for a job they dismally failed to carry out. But strangely enough, in 2009 Intersite appointed another company to do their asset register. Why can't they do their own asset register if they are qualified to do that I hope the Minister is going to treat this very seriously and ensure that the law takes its course?
Minister, after a few interactions with some of the institutions under your department, one wonders why some are existing and why they are under your department. One institution that I am not going to dwell on so much is Agrément South Africa - even the Minister is not too sure why this doesn't fall under the Department of Public Works.
All contractors must be registered with the Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB, in order to do business with government, but this is not the case. It depends on who you are and whom you are connected with. The law-abiding emerging contractors are kept on Grade 1 and 2 as long as their financial status are low. They will remain there, and probably most of them will die there. If contractors like SGL Engineering can get R140 million from government tenders in two years' time without being registered with the CIDB and no actions are taken against them, then what is the use of registering with the CIDB It is just a waste of time; it is either we give this institution some teeth to bite or we do away with it?
Kwamaswaphela, [Lastly,] the Council for the Built Environment is mandated to oversee the professional council. Minister, I don't understand why a council is overseeing another council. These are professional councils and they can stand on their own and report to the Minister without another council doing this on their behalf. This is just duplication and a fruitless expenditure.
All these institutions have board members that are paid by government for attending board meetings. The biggest question is: What are they discussing in every meeting Does whatever they decide on change the lives of the ordinary citizens of this country I doubt it, Minister?
Former President Thabo Mbeki once said that it cannot be business as usual, and President Jacob Zuma keeps on saying that we are doing things differently. It is time that we also consider the mandates of this institution and do things differently. Ngiyathokoza. [Iwahlo.] [Thank you. [Applause.
Mr P B MNGUNI: Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, what we want from this department as Cope is service delivery, not drama. With so many officials acting and the dramatic tension being so high, the department can easily rival Isidingo for entertainment value. However, this debate is to approve funds for the department to deliver on its mandate, and that is what we are demanding.
Cope is also concerned about the article which appeared in the Sowetan on Monday regarding the Council for the Built Environment, CBE, and more specifically the Engineering Council of South Africa, ECSA. If newly qualified black engineers are being held back by ECSA, as it is being alleged, the Minister must inform this House what he has done to remove the bottleneck.
We are also interested to know when ECSA and CBE will start to reflect the greater demographic representativity. With regard to government's promise of many years to use the state's assets to transform property industry and spatial development planning so that it bears the mark of the new democracy, we need the Minister to disclose what has been happening in this regard. In 2007 the department also undertook to make available state assets to support the country's housing backlog. To what extent has this been happening In the same year, the Government Immovable Asset Management Act was legislated to provide for a uniformed framework for the management of immovable assets; the co-ordination of their use to achieve service delivery objectives; and to set guidelines and minimum standards regarding asset management?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr L B G Ndabandaba): Order, order, order please. Hon member, sit down. Hon member, please bow when you get into the House. Go back, come back inside and bow, please! [Interjections.
Hon member, please go out, come back inside and bow. [Interjections.
Mr P B MNGUNI: Chairperson, I think you will have to add one minute to my time because he...
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr L B G Ndabandaba): Yes, you are covered.
Mr P B MNGUNI: I thank you very much. Has this legislation now been fully implemented Can the Minister show this House that all assets which no longer meet the service delivery requirements have been commercialised to the best advantage of the state In this regard, are there any assets of strategic importance that are not being used for that purpose?
The Act also requires a continuous interaction between users and custodians of the assets to enable their optimal use. Is this happening uniformly across South Africa Can the Minister give us assurance that users and custodians are interacting as the Act envisages?
I now come to the National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy that was developed by the department to rehabilitate public assets, most of which are in dilapidated states. We ask the Minister to inform this House about the achievements attained under this programme. While R6,4 billion allocated for rehabilitation may not be adequate, getting true value for this amount and plugging leakages will allow this expenditure to go far. Today, South Africa has to contend with a triple problem: inadequate resources, rampant corruption in the public service and extensive incompetence. The Minister has to ensure that he exercises proper vigilance.
A vital question that has to be asked is: How is the department managing government's immovable property portfolio in support of the government's social, economic, functional and political objectives without the proper function of an asset register Cope also questions why the compilation of the state asset register is being left to inexperienced students rather than experienced individuals in the field. The problem of the maintenance backlog in respect of government infrastructure and buildings is one of the greatest magnitude. Is there a credible plan to deal with the problem?
In this regard, where and how is this department failing so that the Minister of Communications, Siphiwe Nyanda, is forced and compelled to book into luxury hotels for an extended period It is estimated that a total of R4,5 million was spent by Ministers on luxury hotel stays and other property-related expense scandals last year. These include the R800 000 spending spree by the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa?
In addition, we cannot forget the report of R134 million that was splurged by the Department of Public Works' officials, including Minister Geoff Doidge and his, Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, on travelling, accommodation and restaurants since April 2008 with R34 million spent within the first six months of 2009. This is unacceptable at a time when the economy is in trouble and poverty is deepening. [Interjections.
The prestige management that funds the allocation of activities relating to the residences of Ministers and Deputy Ministers also needs to be brought under a magnifying glass. Reported expenditure on luxury Persian carpets, curtains and furniture at prices above those prevailing in the market, if true, must mean that this government cares nothing about the poor. [Interjections.
Will the Minister disclose, for example, what amount was spent on the residences of the Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the period May 2009-10 [Interjections.] Will the Minister give a breakdown for carpets, curtains and furnishing in the Ministers' houses The taste of fancy hotels and big spending should be funded by the Ministers themselves. Mismanaged spending means misallocation of resources and that in turn hurts job creation. [Interjections.?
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr L B G Ndabandaba): Hon members! Order, order!
Mr P B MNGUNI: Now, this is what you would like to hear, Minister; Cope is pleased that 190 buildings have been identified for remodelling in 2010 and 2011 to meet the needs of the disabled persons in South Africa. [Interjections.] [Time expired.
Mr V B NDLOVU: Chairperson, the Department of Public Works is one of the most important state departments due to the roles it plays in job creation, skills development and the combating of poverty. Needless to say, these three areas impact very heavily on any country's ability to achieve rates of economic growth that meets the country's social and material needs.
The department's role with regard to the creation of employment and stimulation of the economy is particularly important now that we are in the midst of an economic crisis. We are in full agreement with government that we must, despite the current recession, spend on infrastructure because such investment will generate growth when demand in domestic and global economy naturally increases.
Investment infrastructure has a huge potential to redress the high unemployment and poverty level in South Africa, and also to correct the skills deficit in disadvantaged communities. Commitment to poverty alleviation should continue to be high on government's agenda and should stay one of the focal points of the department. The shortcoming of and need to significantly improve upon the programme is self-evident. Internally, government has also become increasingly aware of its pitfalls.
The IFP had warned that the Expanded Public Works Programme, which has been the flagship government policy in the field of job creation until now, should not be seen as a welfare programme, as a job creation venture inculcating further dependence on the state by exaggerating its role in job creation. One of the significant challenges identified in the first phase of the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, has been the quality of training provided. The provision of two days of training per month of work on the EPWP is unlikely to have a dramatic impact on the skills composition of the labour force, and should not be measured on those terms.
While the Expanded Public Works Programme did absorb a large number of unskilled labourers, huge challenges remain in that projects are of a short duration and there is a lack of timely payments of government to small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs. It is unacceptable for our government to be seen as contributing to the demise of black business through not paying on time for services rendered.
The success of the EPWP will be measured by its ability to target beneficiaries from the poorest households in order to make a decisive impact on the widespread poverty that is distressing our country. The department, therefore, needs to urgently crack down on nepotism and favouritism with regard to public works projects. We cannot, and I repeat, we cannot allow a situation where jobs that are intended for the poor end up in the hands of politically connected people and siblings.
The department needs to consolidate its internal control and monitoring system as well as its compliance with Treasury regulations and the Public Finance Management Act. Too much reliance on consultants, especially considering the fact that some of the consultancies have been former employees of the department, raises serious questions of accountability and good governance. The Council of the Built Environment is a case in point, since we have received a qualified audit each year from the Auditor-General. We call upon the Department of Public Works to strengthen its human resource capabilities by speeding up its filling of vacant posts in its high ranks, and we take regard of and accept what the Minister has said on this matter. Thank you very much. [Applause.
Ms N D NGCENGWANE: Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, one of the key strategic development priorities of the ANC-led government is speeding up growth and creating more jobs, d ecent work and sustainable livelihoods. Under "Rural Development and Land Reform" the 8 January 2010 statement also states very clearly that the public representatives and government officials who have the responsibility of rural development and agrarian reform must speed up the provision of service to these communities.
With regard to economic transformation, one of the resolutions of the Polokwane conference states clearly that we need to overcome spatial patterns of economic marginalisation and fragmentation. It also states that we must reverse the geography of apartheid in both urban and rural areas.
We need to expand the opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and to support the growth of the second economy activities in the urban centres. We must do this through ensuring better access to the centres of economic growth, financial and institutional support for co-operatives and micro enterprises and a significant expansion of the public works programme linked to the expansion of economic infrastructure and meeting social needs with home-based care and early childhood development on a massive scale. We need programmes that target the employment of women, youth and people with disabilities, targeting labour-intensive production methods and procurement policies.
All these efforts by the ANC-led government are based on the wise words of our stalwart, our mentor, Mr Nelson Mandela, quoted and edited by Jennifer C Williams: " as long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest."
The general approach to fight unemployment and youth unemployment, in particular, is to have a wage subsidy that will create an incentive to hire youth and inexperienced workers and to raise youth employment by 500 000 by 2013, using the Expanded Public Works Programmes.
The key components of Expanded Public Works Programme 2 are: targets and accountability across government spheres; Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, incentive grant; nongovernmental sector; and technical support to spheres, sectors and implementation bodies.
The requirement here for public bodies is to have clear targets for each financial year. The public body must have clear programmes which will contribute positively to the targets. The targets will be annually adjusted to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework in line with budgets available and the performance of each public body.
Respective targets can only be achieved by holding respective political and administrative heads accountable. The setting and monitoring of feedback processes for performance in relation to all targets will be monitored and managed by the EPWP unit. This is very crucial, because without monitoring, evaluation and feedback either monthly or quarterly - by the EPWP unit and the Public Works portfolio committee members, we will not know whether we are coming or going.
As members of the ANC we are motivated by the choices we made. We made choices of committing ourselves to bettering the lives of the millions of disadvantaged South Africans. As Jim Rynn correctly puts it: "Motivation is what gets you started and habit is what keeps you going."
As we all know, the Department of Public Works has been faced with a lot of challenges over the past few years. Again, because of the commitment of the ANC-led government, we did not give up; we could not be deterred by the challenges. Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is really what makes life meaningful. What the ANC needs is the commitment of the opposition parties to work towards the same goal instead of standing at a distance holding a red pen and looking for mistakes. South Africa belongs to all of us, black and white, united in our diversity.
Together we can intensify the fight against crime and corruption. We can work towards building a developmental state, including improvement of public services and strengthening democratic institutions. Ability is what we have, motivation determines what we do and attitude determines how well we do it.
It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children in is just a little better than the one we inhabit today.
With regard to the EPWP incentive grant, an amount of R3,2 billion has been allocated to the Department of Public Works over the MTEF period for the payout of the incentives to the public bodies. By 2014 this is expected to grow to at least R5 billion.
The main objective of the EPWP incentive grant is to reinforce and reward public bodies for implementing labour-intensive methods or increasing the labour centres of infrastructure delivery. Commitment and agreement between the Minister of Public Works and the Premiers of each province led to the signing of the implementation protocols between 1 April 2010 and mid July 2010, which are managed by the EPWP partnership development directorate. Technical support from EPWP will be available to work in the provinces. The EPWP monitoring and evaluation unit will give assistance to all identified programmes reporting on the web-based reporting system. Before the public bodies have access to the EPWP incentive grant, they must report to the Public Works department their EPWP projects identified in a prior financial year, meeting minimum job creation based on the available grant budget.
The claims for incentive amounts can only be done upon proving that work has been created above the minimum threshold for EPWP of R50 per day for every day of work created. The public bodies must bear in mind that if they meet their job creation targets, they will receive their incentive allocation quarterly from the Department of Public Works, DPW. The harder they work, the more grants they get.
A minimum eligibility above threshold must be met before the public bodies can start accessing the incentive, except for rural municipalities where zero thresholds can apply. The total full-time equivalent allocation to provinces is R151 million for the 2009-10 financial year. The total incentive allocation to municipalities is R201,7 million of which R147,2 million will go to rural municipalities, and metros will qualify for R54,5 million.
The nongovernmental bodies - NGOs, CBOs and other nonprofit organizations - are expected to create jobs through the implementation of EPWP Phase 2. An amount of R80 million as wage incentive for 2009-10 has been allocated and R749 million over the MTEF period. Management of the nongovernmental sector will be done by the DPW, with oversight done by other departments.
There are two types of programmes that can be implemented under the nongovernmental sector. These are the area-based programmes that include different activities identified by communities in consultation with local government. Then there are institution-based programmes. These will also be delivered by the nongovernmental sector, with specific focus areas such as health care, child care, community safety, etc.
Sihlalo, malungu abekekileyo, iyandivuyisa le ndawo yokulandelela le misebenzi eza kwenziwa, maxawambi sixelelwa ngale misebenzi embetshembetshe enjengokugxotha ikati eziko kuhlale uNomyayi. Bathi xa bezixela, bezincoma uqonde nawe okokuba wonke umntu uza kohlutha kunye nabamelwane, kanti umntu nje uzokwenza iindlela zokufumana imali. Ekuthi kwakufunwa ubungqina bomsebenzi okanye imisebenzi kusuke kungene amabali. Nathi siyiKomiti ejongene nemicimbi yeSebe siza kuthi gqolo sincedisana neSebe ukujonga ngeliso elibukhali loo misebenzi, kungenjalo sizakukha phantsi isitya sigcwele. Siza kucela iingxelo zenkqubela-phambili naxa sihambela amaphondo sizibone.
Enye into Sihlalo, Mphathiswa neSekela lakho, xa ujonga iMpuma Koloni ilelinye lamaphondo athwaxwa yindlala kanobom, yaye lineendonga ezinkulu ezibangelwa lukhukhuliseko lomhlaba.
Xa sinokuvala ezi ndonga ngamatye achola-cholwe ngabantu emakhaya, amatye awathengwa koko kuthengwa ucingo olwalukiweyo ekuthiwa yinetting wire, kuqokelelwe amatye ngabantu belali nganye kuthi kwakugqitywa kuvalwe ezi ndonga ngala matye axhaswe lo lu cingo. Apha phezulu singade sifake okanye sityale amakhala okubamba amanzi nomhlaba, side sityale izityalo neentyatyambo ezintle ezingafiyo nasebusika.
Ekuqokeleleni amatye singasebenzisa neenqwelo ezi zitsalwa ziimbongolo okanye iidonki. Kubekho abantu abaqokelelayo nabagangatha iindonga, kubanjwe ukhukuliseko lomhlaba, kubekho iindlela ezintle neendlela ezibukekayo kunye nendlela yokubeka isonka etafileni, kananjalo nelizwe lethu libe lihle lithandeke nakubakhenkethi.
Sihlalo, kuwo onke amaqobokazana athe azijula ijacu ekhangela iinkedama zeli lizwe loMzantsi Afrika sithi 'Huntsu' ningadinwa nangomso, eli lizwe beliyakuba lilizwe elinjani elizele ziinkedama ezizula esithubeni zingenamakhaya. Nibaqoqoshile, nabathanda, nabakhulisa nabenzela namakhaya ngokunjalo. Sithi nakubacimi-mlilo nabanye 'Phambili' Mlisela Nomthinjana welizwe lakuthi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.
Chairperson and hon members, I am delighted by this monitoring of jobs that are still going to take place because sometimes we are told about these state-of-the-art jobs intended to fight poverty. When they make their proposals, you are also convinced that poverty will be a thing of the past, only to find out that these are just money-making schemes. This becomes evident when story after story is told instead of being given the facts about these jobs.
As the portfolio committee, we will continue working with the department in monitoring the jobs in question, otherwise we will fail. We will ask for progress reports and also visit these sites during our provincial visits.
One other thing, Chair, hon Minister and your deputy; the Eastern Cape is one of the poverty stricken provinces and has huge dongas as a result of soil erosion. We can close these dongas by using stones picked up by the villagers. You do not need to buy stones but only the netting wire. People from each village can gather stones to close the dongas using this netting wire. On the surface we can also plant aloe and evergreen flowers to stop soil erosion.
We can use carts drawn by mules or donkeys to gather the stones. Some people could gather the stones and others could pack these stones together or compress them inside the netting wire to stop soil erosion. By doing that we will be making beautiful roads, fighting poverty and ensuring that our country is beautiful and that it appeals to the tourists as well.
Chairperson, we commend all the young women for their tireless efforts in looking after the orphans of this country. Thank you very much. What kind of a country would we have if it was swarmed with homeless orphans You have nurtured them, loved them, brought them up and provided them with homes as well. We are also encouraging fire fighters and others, by saying 'Forward' to the youth of our country. [Applause.]?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: House Chairperson, Minister, the senior officials of the Department of Public Works, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I would like to first thank the hon members who have already spoken before me. I want to say to Mr Masango and Mr Mnguni - my children like to say, "from tokoloshe to technology" - that I hope that when we leave this room they will make sure to join me so that I can assist them to move from the tokoloshe stage to the technology stage. Maybe in the next debate we will get something different from them.
In the previous budget we indicated that for the first time in this government Deputy Ministers are allocated responsibilities. We requested then that this House should judge us on the performance the tasks allocated to us, which the Minister announced in his previous budget. Amongst the responsibilities the Deputy Minister was given was to take the asset register and do asset management, which a lot of members were complaining about. Hence I felt that it is important, hon Minister, to take them from the stage of tokoloshe to technology.
I'm extending an invitation to the members - for the first time we will be seeing this country's electronic asset register. It is out there in the foyer and we would like to make sure that we show members that, at the click of a button, you will know which asset belongs to whom [Applause] its history, who owned it over the years and, once and for all, put to an end the era when we didn't know what we own. We might not have captured everything, but we know exactly what we own and we are waiting for some of this to be vested.
Let me, once and for all, indicate that vesting is not the responsibility of the Department of Public Works. For us to capture an asset on the register, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform must first vest that asset. Even if we know where the asset is, unless it's vested, we can't capture it. For the last time, I hope members will understand that the vesting process contributes to the delay in us capturing our assets.
Our electronic asset register will assist members to understand that some of these assets belong to the provinces, even though sometimes, because we do not know, we would blame the national Department of Public Works for some of these assets. We are hoping that in the next three years all the assets of this government, with its own unique identity code, will have one single asset register for the state with different spheres so that you are able to understand which assets belong to whom. That will take us a long way in addressing the challenges that we face right now.
I also want to say that, despite the vesting process lying in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, the Department of Public Works has led the process, as the Minister indicated - and I can proudly announce that this task team has worked very hard - and we do have a draft vesting master plan which will be announced in due course.
A number of members also complained about the issues of rehabilitation and maintenance. As indicated, unlike previously where we had challenges of signing memorandums of understanding or service level agreements later, this time around we proudly stand here today to indicate that 98% of service level agreements and buildings that need to be rehabilitated have already been identified. For the first time we will be on time - on schedule to spend the allocated resources for the rehabilitation and maintenance programme.
I would like to say to hon members that some of us who reside in parliamentary villages enjoy the renovated houses and say to members that, come April 2011, the remaining houses will be fully renovated. We are looking at upgrading the security and we would appreciate it if members could allow us access to their houses so that we would be able to check whether they have telephone lines or not.
Lastly, I hope we will be appointing the long-outstanding management board. As the Minister indicated previously, we are finalising the legalities to enable the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Minister to be responsible for the parliamentary villages. We hope that members will work with us in establishing their own residence committees to enable us to partner in the running functioning of the parliamentary villages. We also hope that members will kindly pay their rent so that they can complain and so that we can use the money.
HON MEMBERS: Viva! [Applause.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: So can we please do that so that we can enjoy that comfort?
The issues around Giyama are working very well. We are on schedule, but we note at this Parliament that when Giyama was passed, it had some reservations around the issues of local government. We are in the process of responding to all those issues. We can confirm that our custodian and user asset registers are on schedule, and we are hoping that each and every department will be done by March 2011.
The Minister spoke at length about the issues of vulnerable groups. Needless to say, we all know that we have a responsibility to the women of this country who constitute more than 51% of the population. We would like to ensure that the money we spend, the work opportunities we create as well as the experiences of women whether at the different levels of their professional experiences or at the different levels of the construction, are responsive and indeed inclusive. We will be conducting a survey that will capture the experiences of women on construction sites so that we are able, together with our entities, to improve the working conditions of women to make sure that they also find the construction industry a very welcoming one without them having to change and become men, but rather remaining feminine and working in the industry.
We have done a lot of work with the women property network - professional women within the industry who are assisting us to ensure that we make the required changes, as the Minister indicated in his speech, in terms of ensuring that women in this country become property owners as well as managers of properties.
The Minister spoke about issues of disabled persons. Even though we have a lot of vacancies, I can proudly say that we are on course to meet our 2% target. We are very clear that the vacancies that we are filling as the Department of Public Works will reflect the demographics of this country. We will meet the 2% target as allocated.
As we understand the challenges and the realities faced by young people, we are in the process of establishing the youth directorate at a chief directorate level, which is a sign that we take issues affecting young people very seriously without ghettoising the young people and putting them in a corner. This directorate's key mandate will ensure full integration of young people in all the work that we do.
We remain faithful and we are very loyal to the children of this country, because we want to ensure that we are able to close the skills gap as well be as to ensure, as I said before, that the built environmental industry and the construction industry become "cool" and that they "rock", so that more young people and children can join. We are doing that at the department. We do have mentorship programmes that expose young learners from Grade 8 to 10 to the built environment so that when they do career choices they are able to keep our skills and close the gaps. We run career expos on construction where we are able to raise the required level of interest.
Regarding the Budget Vote, our communications unit ensured that our officials in the department give us some tips on the issues that we need to work on. One of the employees indicated that we need to relook the budget to see how our incubator and property programmes work. We can proudly say to members that we have heard you on the challenges that you've raised with the CIDB. We will be relooking our property incubator programmes to ensure that we, once again, use those programmes to uplift those that are sitting at level one of the CIDB register.
This Budget Vote is taking place within the national HCT campaign. We therefore call upon captains of the industry in the property and the built environment to allow access for government to bring services onsite where employees within the site would have an opportunity to be counselled to test. As a responsible department we will even host our own department testing campaign so that we can ensure that this country meets the 15 million target, as set by the President, in the fight against HIV/Aids by June 2011.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the ANC for the opportunity that they have awarded me, and to the President, the Minister as a partner in crime in leading this department, the portfolio committee that cracks the whip and keeps us in order and the officials in the Department of Public Works.
I would like to share one thought that I have on the wall of my office, which says: "Time slips through our fingers, through our hands like grains of sand, never to return again. Those who use time wisely from an early age are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives." I would like to say to the officials that that is how I value your contribution - the work that you do and the sense of urgency that is developing in the department. And my husband who works with me as my personal guide, half of the work I do is through his guidance and all the time that he gives me; his seeing eyes enable me to perform the work that I do so diligently. To my children whom I'm raising by remote control, I hope that one day they will understand that it's a contribution I needed to make. To the team in my office led by Mathute Motumi, for the hard work and keeping up with the stress levels and the screaming and shouting that happens from time to time. This is an opportunity for us to say thank you.
By elevating the lives of others, your life reaches its highest dimension. The universe favours the brave. When you resolve to lift your life to its highest level, the strength of your soul will guide you to a magical place with magnificent treasures. I hope that is where this team of Public Works is taking South Africa. As we do that, we indeed confirm once again as a collective team that South Africa works because of Public Works. Thank you very much. [Applause.
Mr M C MANANA: Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, acting director-general, distinguished guests, hon Masango, I think life is no longer about SGL Engineering nor is it about Julius Malema. Therefore I think we must really grow and focus on our mandate. [Interjections.
The 1994 democratic breakthrough ushered in a period in which youth development became part of the developmental interventions of the democratic state. In particular, youth formations of the government became seized with, among other things, the development of youth focused policy and legislative frameworks. Central to those were the National Youth Commission Act, the National Youth Policy of 2000 and the National Youth Development Policy Framework of 2000-07.
The above-mentioned frameworks outlined the country's perspective and institutional arrangements for youth development wherein some difficulties and weaknesses were identified, hence the need for a national youth convention was. The convention was aimed at reviewing the policy perspective and institutional mechanisms for youth development in the country. This convention adopted an integrated approach, which was canvassed by the ANC Youth league during the robust engagements which took place in the convention at Emperor's Palace in 2005.
This integrated approach to youth development required realignment of the institutional mechanisms for youth development in the country. It was within this context that a decision to establish a National Youth Development Agency was taken to ensure integration, sustainability and responsiveness to the aspirations and needs of our young people.
Let me deal with the ANC policy perspective. The ANC has always viewed young people as the most important stratum in society and, as such, has sought to ensure that they are fully integrated into society as agents of change. Consequently young people are regarded as a critical component within the motive forces of the national democratic revolution in the thorough-going process of resolving contradictions created by the system of colonialism and apartheid. This means that young people have an objective interest in driving the national democratic revolution, NDR, towards its logical conclusion. As active agents of change and social transformation, they stand to benefit from fundamental transformation of our society.
As a consequence of the significant role played by young people in bringing about a democratic breakthrough in South Africa, the ANC seeks to ensure that past imbalances created by the apartheid regime are redressed and that young people are afforded the opportunity to participate meaningfully in all sectors of society. After realising the impact of the apartheid government's deliberate neglect of young people, the ANC continues to prioritise issues of youth development within the broader framework of reconstruction and development of the South African society.
Following its capturing of political power in 1994, the ANC started implementing its policy commitments through setting up institutions for youth development. Currently, the ANC remains committed to ensuring that South Africa has the best institutional vehicle for integrated youth development so as to ensure effective implementation of youth development policies and programmes.
The ANC's national policy conference in July 2007 dealt with critical tasks facing the movement. Primary amongst these tasks was the challenge of dealing with the effects of unemployment through the Expanded Public Works Programme which is linked to the urban renewal and integrated sustainable rural development strategy. We acknowledged at that policy conference that the implementation of the national youth service programme created a huge opportunity for our unemployed youth and must be sufficiently expanded. The conference tasked government, through the Expanded Public Works Programme and Setas, to pay particular attention to the provision of skills to practitioners in the early childhood development, ECD, and Adult Basic Education and Training, Abet, sectors.
Six months later, at the occasion of our 52nd national conference in 2007 held at Polokwane, we resolved that government directly absorb the unemployed through labour-intensive production methods and procurement policies as well as a significant expansion of the public works programmes linked to the expansion of economic infrastructure. We further resolved that government should meet social needs with home-based care and early childhood development on a massive scale; provide a much larger national youth service; and ensure the linkage of industrial strategy with key youth development programmes in the form of an integrated youth development strategy.
At the conference the ANC equally reaffirmed its commitment to youth development by its resolution that government should review the existing institutions of youth development and create a national youth development agency that will ensure integration, sustainability and responsiveness to the demands and aspirations of South Africa's youth. While it emphasises commitment towards youth and youth development, the ANC policy paradigm on youth development also places obligations on young people to work for reconciliation and promote a common South African identity; to participate actively in the political, social and economic life of the country; to combat discrimination and racism; to promote democratic values; and to acquire skills and play a productive role in the economic reconstruction and development of the country.
Let me deal with jobs for the youth. Given the high level of youth unemployment in the country, youth economic development should be anchored around the idea of youth co-operatives so as to provide for collective ownership and control of the economic resources produced therein. Unlike the privately owned business enterprises, these youth co-operatives would have greater economic impact in terms of responding to socioeconomic challenges facing the youth of South Africa. The national youth service remains one of the programmes concerned with creating job opportunities for the youth. In addition, the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, is also tasked to create 40% of work opportunities for young people.
From 1 April 2009 51 learners participated in the learnership programmes. The department implemented an artisan training programme with the intention of addressing the shortage of qualified artisans in technical fields. It is noted that the department is constrained by financial challenges to meet the 2,5% target of absorbing national service graduates. However, the department should focus on this area in the 2010-11 financial year due to the priority placed on the resuscitation of workshops. Unemployment, hon members, amongst the youth is very high and is at almost 3 million.
Let me briefly refer to the national youth service which is a government initiative launched in August 2004 to engage young people in service activities that are aimed at nation-building whilst providing opportunities for learning. The youth service objectives are to promote social cohesion and build social capital; to inculcate a culture of service to communities by young people; to inculcate in young people the spirit of patriotism and an understanding of their role in the promotion of civic awareness and national reconstruction; to develop the skills, knowledge, and abilities of young people to enable them to make a meaningful transition to adulthood; and, lastly, to improve youth employability.
In the context of the ANC government's commitment to transformation and social development, the national youth service programme has the potential to mainstream youth development. It also has the potential to proactively address poverty reduction, skills development, youth unemployment, building caring communities and enhancing social cohesion. It would also include the delivery of vital services including community care, water, housing, community infrastructure, adult education, food and nutrition.
The critical point of departure for youth in construction is to build the capacity of communities to operate and maintain infrastructure and, in this way, increase the number of entrants into the built environment trades. Historically, the national youth service project, the national Department of Public Works and the national Department of Labour have been working on specific projects in construction skills training. This skills training has enabled young people to proactively participate in national development.
In an effort to strengthen the national youth service programme and make it sustainable, government departments have identified projects that could support this initiative and the national youth scheme. The refurbishment and maintenance of public buildings has been one area in which youth development in the built environment has taken place.
Mr L B GAEHLER: Chairperson and Minister, the UDM supports the Budget. This debate must be seen in the context of the current state of the South African economy. Public Works is at the forefront of government job creation initiatives, especially in the construction industry. Unfortunately the latest economic data paints a grim picture. Unemployment has risen in the past quarter, as 171 000 jobs have been lost and the number of potential productive adults who are jobless stands at 35%. That is a staggering 6 million unemployed people. The construction sector has seen a decline in jobs since the completion of the World Cup projects.
One major concern is the shortage of skills within the department. The long-term solution is a skills audit within government, since this issue cuts across all departments. The private sector should be involved in the process. We would also argue that service providers such as consultants and contractors of the department should provide opportunities for interns, apprentices and professional interns. We believe that such a policy will require monitoring and tracking, but it could play a vital role in creating jobs and enhancing the skills available to the department.
It is shocking that government still does not have a proper asset register despite this being a long-standing issue. The Construction Industry Development Board needs to be restructured, because it has failed to uplift contractors since most of them are still stuck in grade one where the board placed them upon registration. The current board needs to be changed so that the emerging contractors are represented.
One major issue is the nonpayment of contractors within 30 days. It does not really affect public works nationally, but it affects public works at a provincial level.
Abantu balamba izisu zithi nca emqolo, bade bafe kodwa banemali. Abanye sele kungaphezu konyaka bengabhatalwa. Baninzi abafileyo Mphathiswa. Siyakucela siyi-UDM ukuba ungenelele kule ngxaki. Yingxaki ebetha ilizwe lonke, ebetha nezi kon traka. Sisicelo esisenzayo eso. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.
[People are dying of hunger and they are dying whilst waiting for their monies. Some have been waiting for their payments for more than a year now. Hon Minister, a large number of people has since died. We as the UDM appeal for your intervention. This is a challenge for the whole country and it also affects these contractors. That is our request. Thank you. [Applause.
Mev N T NOVEMBER: Voorsitter van die Huis, agb minister Geoff Doidge, adjunkminister Bogopane-Zulu, hoofsweep, voorsitter en lede van die komitee, agb parlementslede, dames en here, goeie middag. Gun my die geleentheid om eerstens die moeders, vroue en kamerade van 9 Augustus 1956 te salueer vir die diep spore en sterk fondasie wat hulle gebou het.
Die ANC het reeds in 1912 geglo aan 'n nie-rassige, nie-seksistiese en 'n demokratiese Suid-Afrika. Die Vryheidshandves en al die goeie beleidsrigtings van die ANC is 'n bewysstuk daarvan. Die Polokwane-resolusies van die ANC het weereens bewys hoe belangrik gelykheid in die samelewing is. Dit is hoekom die ANC die deurlopende slagspreuk gebruik wat sê "'n Beter lewe vir almal". Vandag geniet vroue en vrouebemagtiging die prioriteit, en dit bevestig die 50-50 beleid van die ANC. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.
Mrs N T NOVEMBER: Chairperson of the House, hon Minister Geoff Doidge, Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu, Chief Whip, chairperson and members of the committee, hon Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Allow me the opportunity, firstly, to salute the mothers, women and comrades of 9 August 1956 for the indelible mark they have left and the firm foundation that they have built.
In 1912 the ANC already believed in a nonracial, nonsexist and a democratic South Africa. The Freedom Charter and all the good policies of the ANC are proof of this. The ANC's Polokwane resolutions once again proved the importance of equality in society. That is why the ANC continues to use the slogan "A better life for all". Today women and the empowerment of women enjoy priority, and this is affirmed by the 50-50 policy of the ANC.
Despite the significant progress since the establishment of our democratic government, South African society is unfortunately still characterised by racially-based income and social service inequalities. Consequently, the vast majority of South Africans remain excluded from ownership, control and management of productive assets and from access to training in strategic skills. This is not only unjust, but it inhibits South Africa's ability to achieve its full economic potential.
Since 1994, the ANC-led government has identified the construction industry in South Africa as essential to the achievement of the Reconstruction and Development Programme goals. These include housing, jobs, infrastructure development, skills and public service delivery improvement. The relationship with the industry is historical, as the ANC relied on industry to meet its development goals. Today, government has made available more than R787 billion for the next three to five years to develop infrastructure in the country, with immense benefits.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, states the imperative of redressing historical and social inequalities in, inter alia, the Bill of Rights, section 9, on equality and unfair discrimination. Furthermore, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, Act 53 of 2003, establishes a legislative framework for the promotion of broad-based black economic empowerment, BBBEE. One of the fundamental principles of this Act, as well as the many sector transformation charters, is to address gender inequality in the workplace. Provisions on the scorecards by which the transformation of organisations is measured effectively promote the employment of women as well as ownership and control by women within the business environment.
Traditionally very few women have been involved in contracting, particularly on the technical side. To a certain degree this male domination in the industry can be ascribed to discriminatory and narrow-minded thinking. There is a mindset that contracting is a man's work, and this mindset obviously needs to be eradicated as it really amounts to no more than unfair discrimination. [Applause.] There is much that can be done in this regard, and there are certain NGOs such as South African Women in Construction and Women for Housing that are doing sterling work in terms of assisting women to become more involved in the construction sector.
Evidence that affirmative action policies do, in fact, yield results comes from the experience of white women over the past 16 years. Such commendable advancement, however, betrays deliberate racial discrimination in that the higher profile of white women in senior management is a post-1994 development - the result of women being designated as a disadvantaged group and beneficiaries of affirmative action policies.
A white corporate culture has advanced white women, but continues to exclude all black women. Save for a limited number of equity transactions, to date, the construction sector continues to reflect vast inequalities in ownership, with little transformation having taken place. There are limited numbers of black women in controlling and managerial positions and in the specialised professions in larger enterprises in the sector. Black women, in particular, continue to be under-represented at board level and in executive management in the sector.
South Africa's once male-dominated construction industry has become attractive to women. The South African Women in Construction Association's database of women contractors has grown from 60 at its inception in 1999 to over 2 000. However, black participation is principally through micro and small businesses where there are also low levels of sustainability. There is little penetration of black enterprises in those components of the sector that are more capital-and knowledge-intensive. This situation is exacerbated by the absence of adequate financial and other support mechanisms for small, medium and micro enterprises, SMMEs, and the sector's inbuilt bias towards urban centres of development.
Without deliberate and effective intervention, emerging women contractors will not readily graduate to become commercially sustainable and technically proficient players in the construction industry. Failure to intervene in this space would mean that women contractors will remain trapped in the category of emerging contractors, unable to grow their businesses and to create decent jobs. They need to be identified, encouraged and supported with targeted and appropriately customised interventions which will ultimately enable them to compete in the open market with established contracting firms.
The aim must be to promote the effective advancement of employment equity in the industry to achieve a sustainable change in the racial and gender composition of ownership, control and management in the sector. Another aim must be to address skills development in a manner that accelerates the advancement of black women and designated groups, with particular emphasis on learnerships and technical and management training.
The ANC welcomes the department's commitment to women empowerment. Its internal recruitment drive has seen an upsurge of women in senior management from 23% in 2007 to 46% in March 2009. Externally, it seeks to ensure that there is an increased percentage of access to opportunities for women in the traditionally male-dominated construction and property sectors. A number of these programmes have been developed at national level and include the Expanded Public Works Programme, the Emerging Contractor Development Programme and the Contractor Incubator Programme.
The South African Women in Construction Association is a national association of women entrepreneurs in all areas of the construction industry, from the skilled trades to business ownership. Realising the need to build capacity and management skills for women in the industry, this association was established in 1999. It works closely with the Development Bank of Southern Africa; the Independent Development Trust, the IDT; and government departments to build up skills, create career opportunities, and provide networking platforms for women in construction. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Time expired.
Mr M W RABOTAPI: Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members and hon guests, management of the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, on the ground is not properly managed, especially the contract time frames that the department enters into with contractors. The payment of contractors is another factor. This demoralises our contactors to do business with the department.
It should be emphasized to the provincial administration that the portfolio committee is entitled to conduct oversights and, as a result, must be treated with respect in the sense that we fully need to know their strengths and weaknesses. There is also a number of projects for us to choose ourselves instead of them choosing for us.
Creating sustainable jobs still remain a challenge in our country. However, we acknowledge the efforts of the department in striving to create jobs for South Africans even though they might not be sustainable.
Hon Minister, your department's endeavour to empower South Africans with skills is moving at a snail's pace and needs to be jacked up. Students from Further Education and Training, FET, colleges and skilled labourers who are no longer employed could be helped to fill the gap of leadership in the building industry. Let us get South Africa working. By so doing we will be creating opportunities for all the people of South Africa.
In the last financial year your department promised to create 500 000 jobs with its EPWP throughout the country. However, the target was never reached, even though it was not too far from the said target.
Government-wide Immovable Asset Management, Giama, must be extended to municipalities to ensure that all properties that belong to municipalities are known. There are too many properties that belong to the municipalities.
In yesterday's Business News of The Star newspaper your department gave itself top marks for the creation of decent work opportunities for South Africa's unemployed. [Interjections.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr A Mlangeni): Order! Order, members! I won't allow that. There is too much noise there at the back. We are not children and we don't need to be reminded of that every time somebody is talking, whether you agree with the person or not. Please give him or her the opportunity to speak. There is too much noise on my right. I want discipline from you, comrades, please! Please, carry on.
Mr M W RABOTAPI: Hon Minister, you further went on to say there were five main government programmes associated with jobs involving infrastructure building. Minster, the reality is that your satisfaction does not reflect what is happening on the ground. A lot of developing contractors are frustrated because of the grading system that does not do justice to their objectives.
The fourth project that you mentioned is the Vukuphile Learnership Programme, aimed at creating contractors and supervisors trained in labour-based methods. However, these poor people are not happy with the grading system that is being used against them.
It is on record that 482 000 jobs were created last year. However, by December almost a quarter of these people were home again as the jobs were not sustainable. Things can be turned around if we learn from our past mistakes and also admit where we went wrong. Let us get our team right and put people who are fit for purpose in positions instead of using the chopping and changing system that we have been using.
In the parliamentary villages some members are still using very old furniture, while others have new furniture. The alarm systems do not function. Each time a technician comes he complains about the department not authorising a budget for batteries to be purchased.
South Africa is a predominantly rural country, but in terms of development this is not reflected in rural areas unless there is migration from rural to urban areas. All that I am saying is let us take our rural communities on board. Your department has a rural development programme which seems to be there in name only. Our people are waiting with keen interest for these programmes to start unfolding.
There must be planned maintenance and emergency maintenance. I'm pleased that the department, for this financial year, has planned to do maintenance on 64 properties and hope this will reduce the backlog. The concern is that, as the committee, we are not informed of those properties so that we can do oversight.
Motswana a re "tau e e senang seboka e siiwa ke none e tlhotsa," ka jalo a re tshwarane ka diatla ka gore ntšwanyana e bonwa mabotobotong. Ke a leboga. [There is a Setswana saying that, "united we stand, divided we fall", therefore let us work together, because our intentions have been clear from the onset. Thank you.
Mr C D KEKANA: Hon Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, a lot of ground has been covered by previous speakers, so I will only focus on infrastructure. The modern economy strives on infrastructure; in other words, the cornerstone of any economy is its infrastructure. By infrastructure I am confining myself to rail, roads, sea ports, airports, dams, electricity and power stations.
From the beginning of 1994 up to the current international recession, we were told by economists that South Africa has done very well in the economy. In fact, they called it a phenomenal growth in the economy. They said that apartheid did not grow the economy as much as the new ANC-led government has done. [Applause.
We grew the economy up to 4,5%. There were challenges and a part of those challenges was that the economy was not creating as many jobs as it was supposed to. We had an economic policy called the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition, Jipsa, and the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, Asgisa. Asgisa said that in order to grow the economy further than what we have done - further than this phenomenal growth that outshines apartheid - we needed to beef up our infrastructure. They said that the economy has grown so much that the infrastructure can't cope any more.
The infrastructure has become small, because the economy itself has grown. We need to beef up and increase our infrastructure. If you go on the highway you will see congestion there, but you will also see that we are already increasing the infrastructure, because where there were three lanes there are now four lanes. That shows that we are increasing the capacity of our roads to accommodate our traffic.
Another good example of this infrastructure that is so important for the economy to grow is that of electricity and power stations. Just to give you an idea, agriculture consumes 12% of electricity in South Africa; residents in South Africa consume 15% of electricity; mining consumes 17% of electricity; and manufacturing alone consumes 37%, as small as it is. You will realise that a lot of our raw materials from mining are still sent overseas in that we still export a lot of raw material. At Limpopo there was a resolution stating that we would like to beneficiate and expand manufacturing.
The Minister of Trade and Industry has said that in order to change the structure of this economy that exports raw material, we need to focus on manufacturing, but the very important point there is that we cannot expand our manufacturing. As small as it is, it is already consuming the highest supply of electricity, which is 37%. So in order to increase our manufacturing, we will have to increase electrical supply.
We know that our government is already busy with the building of power stations to boost the electrical infrastructural facilities for manufacturing. We hope that when manufacturing increases in our economy and when all the raw materials - our platinum, chrome, diamonds, which are beneficiated overseas; as much as 90% of small and rough diamonds are beneficiated in India - are beneficiated, all that must happen here, because big diamonds are beneficiated in London, Belgium and Israel.
We want to do all that here in South Africa, but besides the skills, for example in engineering, that we need to start designing our companies, we are also going to need a highly increased level of supply of electricity, because without electricity manufacturing can never manifest.
Now this just goes to show how important infrastructure is to our economy. Public Works has been given that responsibility. The 500 jobs that we are going to create are short term, but long-term and permanent jobs will be created when our economy expands. In fact, Asgisa has said that we need to increase the growth of our economy beyond. Once manufacturing has taken effect, we will definitely go beyond 6%.
We would like all of you to support us by supporting this budget for infrastructure, because no economy can ever strive without infrastructural basis. The foundation of any economy is the infrastructure. [Applause.
Fortunately, 2010 has also assisted us in beefing up our economy, as we can see that our airports and sea ports are being developed further and even our roads, because there was a budget allocated to infrastructural development for the purposes of the 2010 World Cup. It looks like good things are happening in South Africa in different ways. We can only wish that Bafana wins, because South Africa is actually winning.
In conclusion, with regard to the assets registration, the Minister and Deputy Minister have covered the asset registration issue, which is important. We need to know what belongs to government and what assets are of what value as far as land is concerned and which farms belong to the government, because there are people occupying those farms. If you didn't know, you would be under the impression that they belong to Mr so and so, only to find out that those farms are government's property. There are also properties internationally and in embassies.
With regard to the asset registration, I would like to focus on the area of rights. We have mineral rights and we are prospecting to know exactly where minerals are. Geoscience is doing the research, but the private sector, as it was involved in mining, already know where minerals are because they have done prospecting.
Together we can do better and we hope they will reveal the information so that we can have asset registration as far as minerals are concerned. I support the budget. Thank you. [Applause.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: Chairperson, I thought as a former House Chairperson you would give me 10 minutes. [Laughter.] I used to be very generous when you were on the floor, Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): In fact you are supposed to have three, you know [Laughter.?
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: House Chairperson, let me start by speaking about what hon Mnguni raised about Hollywood and Bollywood. He is a good contender for Parlywood. Maybe Parliament should have an act of Parlywood. I'm sure it will compete well with Isidingo.
Let's clarify this: The acting senior managers are not people from outside; they are from within the senior management. We could have, if we wanted to, just said, "This position is vacant; we don't have this particular position filled." But instead we gave those members in the senior management an opportunity to come up and experience what is to be a director-general, a chief operations officer and a deputy director-general. Therefore this creates an impression that there's a long string of acting when, in fact, there is none.
As I stand here today there are only two vacancies in senior management. If one listened carefully to what I said, this morning Cabinet confirmed two deputy director-general positions. The candidates for the director-general position have been interviewed. Their names are with the Department of Public Service and Administration, DPSA, and are on their way to Cabinet. That's three position. That leaves the position of the chief operations officer who resigned in February vacant. The deadline for applicants to apply for this post has passed. We hope that in the next week or two a panel will be set up with Ministers to actually interview the candidates for the chief operations officer position. That leaves one deputy director-general post of the Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, still vacant.
These are very able personalities from within senior management. I hope that we will see this in the light that these are very capable people. They have kept the ship on course. We haven't fallen off the bridge. These are our people that we are trying to promote and give exposure to. Let's not create an impression that they are acting and therefore they are not the same as the real McCoy. They are the real McCoy and I have confidence in them.
I thank members that spoke about the recapitalisation of the Independent Development Trust, IDT. I certainly think the IDT has done its role or played its part in the eradication of mud schools. But let me hasten to say that in my speech you will see that I spoke about concurrent functions. Building schools is not the work or the function of the national Department of Public Works. But because the IDT is the special kind of vehicle that it is, it is able to straddle national, provincial and local government. The IDT works at three different spheres and it also works across national departments.
This is why I feel very strongly that we need to do everything possible to ensure that the IDT is recapitalised, retained under Public Works and remains a special purpose vehicle. It can be used by other departments. It used by provincial and local governments. It built a beautiful building in Kokstad, which is my hometown, hon Rabotapi. I didn't spearhead it, but the local municipality asked the IDT to put up a good office building for them. If one goes to other areas one will see that it is building courts for Justice and Constitutional Development. In fact, it is operating so well and I'm a little bit worried that there will be opposition for the Department of Public Works, DPW, one of these days. Therefore we need to make sure that we recapitalise the IDT.
Yes, somebody mentioned the Public Improvement Commission, PIC; I think we need to think outside the box. The PIC is sitting with funding; the Industrial Development Corporation, IDC, is sitting with funding; and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, is sitting with funding. Let's think outside the box and see how Public Works can access these funds so that we can address some of the issues that have been raised here. I'm happy to say, hon chairperson of the committee, that, in fact, the department is currently working on a model and it will share with the committee what our thinking is.
I want to come back to the point made by hon Mahlangu. We are not headless. I think all the people who are sitting there do have heads. [Laughter.] So they are not headless. Don't worry about that, we've kept the ship on course. They had an option to say, "Minister, we don't want to act in these positions." They could have done so. However, because they bought into the vision and mission of the Minister and serve their country with passion, they stood up and said, "Minister, there's a task ahead; we will do it for you."
I agree on the issue of Occupational Specific Dispensation, OSD. Recently we went to India; the Department of Public Works in India employed 7 000 professionals. We don't have as many professionals in our department as the people sitting behind me. Therefore we have got to make a decision. Is this a technical department or do we want a rental collection office What is it that we want That is the vision that is in our strategic plan when we begin to say we want to raise the bar, review, reshape and rejuvenate?
Niyandilandela maqabane Uyandilandela, mhlekazi?
ILUNGU ELIHLONIPHEKILEYO: Ulahlekile.
UMPHATHISWA WEZEMISEBENZI YOLUNTU: Ulahlekile (Translations of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.?
Do you understand me comrades Do you understand me, sir?
An HON MEMBER: He is lost.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: Are you lost?
You see, hon Mnguni complaints about - I don't know how many millions were spent on travel -...
to go and create jobs through the EPWP.
Ndiza kuhamba ngebhaloni. [Kwaqhwatywa.] [I will travel by plane. [Applause.
With regard to the issue of Marievale, hon Mahlangu, I see that when Mr Blanché retired from politics in Parliament he left you with a legacy. [Laughter.
under Marievale. You know, what he didn't tell you is that he and I went to Marievale. "Unombuzo" [He has a question] every five minutes about Marievale. What's the problem with Marievale Do you want to go and play golf on a golf course I can invite you; it's not my golf course; I didn't build it. However, it's not true about Marievale?
You see, we must understand some of these functions of Public Works. Marievale is under the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. If they decide that they want to go ahead like Lephalale We've just refurbished Lephalale. We sorted out the sewerage systems which you complained about in Marievale. If the Department of Defence and Military Veterans wants us to do that, we will gladly do it. We explained that to Mr Blanché. He is not a member anymore, but he was honourable then and I hope he is still honourable. However, we went there and explained the issue. I think you and I must go there again so that we can help you with that issue, because I can see "iyakuhlupha" [that it concerns you.] [Laughter.
I covered some of the issues that have been addressed at a very high level in my speech. I get a sense that maybe, as we interact at committee level, we must certainly make sure that we go into some of the issues raised by members. I want to say to you that the Construction Industry Development Board, CIDB, and the Council for Built Environment, CBE, have done more than they have ever done before in reaching out to communities and talking to contractors.
THE HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr B Skosana): Hon Minister, you need to wrap up.
The MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS: Oh! Thank you, sir. Let me also say to hon Mnguni that the performance agreement we've just signed with the President is that in the next four years we have to release 6 250 hectares of state-owned land on which to provide local government with land to build houses. What I can tell you, hon Mnguni is that Public Works has already provided local government and provincial government with so much land in the last year. We will be happy to draw up a list for you to indicate just how much has been shared.
Let me also just make a very important point in the last minute of my allocated time: There is a very young organisation called SA Women in Engineering, Saweng. I would like to make sure that members of the committee actually make contact with this association. I think it's a voluntary association. They invited me to speak there and I thought I will see 10 to 15 women. But I saw 150 young women - the most beautiful in our country. They told me they are engineers, quantity surveyors and architects, and I was shocked, really shocked, to see that there are so many young women who are organised and really assertive. I think, hon November, we must put you in touch with them because what those women are doing will inspire you. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.
With regard to the last point, this reminded me that there is a demonstration which we are going to go to downstairs, because it's not true that there is no asset register in Public Works.
Iphaya ematshinini. Siza kucofa phaya [It is on the machine.
so that everybody can see it. Thank you. [Applause.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr M B Skosana): Hon Minister, if I were you, I would be careful - 150 beautiful women. I would be careful. [Laughter.
The Committee rose at 18:38.
South African Reserve Bank Amendment Bill, 2010, submitted by the Minister of Finance.
Please note: The above item replaces item 1 under Announcements in the ATC of 4 May 2010, where the Bill submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159 was incorrectly referred to the Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Select Committee on Appropriations.
The Portfolio Committee on Police examined the Budget Vote 22 of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) for the 2010/11 financial year including projections of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2011/12 and 2012/13 as shown in the Estimates of National Expenditure (ENE). Also examined, was the ICD strategic plan for 2010 - 2013.
Briefing by the ICD on the 2010/11 Budget and strategic priorities for 2010- 2013 2.
The aim of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) is to provide an accessible complaints processing mechanism, and efficient and effective investigation of complaints of deaths, misconduct and criminality allegedly committed by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Municipal Police Services (MPS), and to make appropriate recommendations.
investigating misconduct and monitoring the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act by the South African Police and Municipal Police.
The ICD had to reprioritise and manage its resources with due regard to the Government's call for departments to curb spending and in the light of the global recession. As such, the Directorate's 2010-2013 Strategic Plan is also more focused in direction and detail than its previous Strategic Plan, with an emphasis on restructuring/re-organising resources and processes within the ICD to enable it to carry out its mandate more effectively. These changes, including legislative changes, are also aimed at addressing "critical matters" identified in Parliamentary reports.
With the appointment of a permanent Executive Director for the ICD in August 2009, and restructuring of the ICD to carry out its mandate more effectively, it has been decided that the communications function within the ICD will relocate to the office of the Executive Director. This will also assist in formalising and streamlining communication between the ICD and the Secretariat. In addition, Programme 3: Information and Management and Research will be integrated into Programme 2: Complaints Processing, Monitoring and Investigation, and Legal Services will become a fully-fledged third programme.
It is also envisaged that legislation will be introduced in 2010 to strengthen the ICD to more effectively deliver on its mandate; and to bring about a certain level of independence (if not total and complete) from the SAPS.
enforce compliance by SAPS of recommendations made in respect of SAPS members.
Over the medium term the ICD has set targets to finalise 65 percent or 470 of investigations of deaths in police custody or as a result of police action in 2010/11 and 2011/12 and 70 percent or 480 in 2012/13. Targets for finalising investigations of criminal offences have been set at 55 percent in 2010/11 (representing 1100 matters) and 2011/12 (representing 1150 matters) and will be increased to 1200 or 60 percent in 2012/13.
In addition, the Directorate plans to decrease backlogs to not more than 10 percent of the previous year; increase attendance of crime scenes by 90 percent; register and allocate all complaints within 48 hours and complete all applications for referral within 30 days.
In the 2010/11 financial year the ICD receives an increased budget of R129.3 million which represents a R12.8 million nominal rand increase; or a R4.7 million real rand increase from the R116.5 million appropriated in 2009/10. In percentage terms the budget reflects a nominal increase of 10.99 per cent and a real increase of 4.02 per cent.
Budget Vote 22 has only three programmes, namely: Programme 1: Administration; Programme 2: Complaints Processing, Monitoring and Investigation; and Programme 3: Information Management and Research. The biggest allocation (R63.4 million or 49.03 per cent) goes to Programme 2 which is responsible for the ICD's core business, namely investigating deaths in police custody or as a result of police action; and investigating criminal offences and serious misconduct complaints against SAPS and Metro Police members. As a percentage of the total budget, Programme 2's allocation is only slightly higher than its percentage of the Budget Vote (48.1 per cent) in 2009/10, to the current 49.03 per cent. Programme 1 is allocated 38.7 per cent of the 2010/11 Budget (compared to 38.1 percent in 2009/10). The remaining 12.2 per cent is allocated to Programme 3 which shows a decrease from the previous Budget's allocation of 14 percent.
It is envisaged that Programme 3 will be integrated into Programme 2, and Legal Services (currently a sub-programme under Complaints Processing, Monitoring and Investigation) will become Programme 3. According to the 2010 Estimates of National Expenditure the revised priorities will necessitate a dedicated legal services programme to provide legal opinions to investigators and will improve service delivery and speed up investigations. The ICD indicated on 4 February 2010 that the Research function will in future be moved to the Secretariat of Police. The Secretariat will conduct research based on statistics contained in the ICD's information database on "cases of police brutality and criminality". In addition, the Secretariat will also take over the station audits, cell inspections and the monitoring of compliance by the Police with Domestic Violence Act provisions and reporting thereon to Parliament. The reprioritisation is aimed at strengthening the co-operation between the ICD and the Secretariat of Police in order to ensure the "effective monitoring" by the Police of the implementation of ICD recommendations to the Police. However, the ratio of the total police population in relation to ICD capacity (287 funded posts of which 13 are vacant) is still extremely low when considering that the police population was said to be 185 275 in November 2009 and is expected to grow annually by 10 per cent.
The allocation to Current Payments has increased by R11.8 million from R114.2 million in 2009/10 to R126 million in 2010/11. Current Payments include Compensation of Employees (which increased by R7.6 million from R66.5 million to R74.1 million); and Goods and Services (which increased by R4.2 million from R47.7 million to R51.9 million). All increases in the Current Payments allocations are lower when compared to the increases received in 2009/10.
Overall, expenditure is expected to increase over the medium term at an average annual rate of 9.4 percent to R152.4 million to make provision for the increased salaries of investigators; increases in investigative capacity; and the appointment of staff to the newly established asset management unit at the ICD head office. On average, salaries will increase annually by 10.8 percent; and expenditure in this regard is expected to grow from R66.5 million in 2009/10 to R90.4 million by 2012/13. Additional allocations of R2.2 million in 2010/11; R4.6 million in 2011/12 and R5.8 million in 2012/13 will be given to the ICD to strengthen support services; and to make provision for salary adjustments and the allocation of 3 additional administrative personnel in 3 provincial offices. The ICD has 287 funded posts, earmarked for Programmes 2 and 3; and 190 of these posts are located in provincial offices. Less funding has been given to Administration which resulted in post levels being downscaled.
Administration received 38.7 percent of the total budget allocation of R129.3 million. This programme, being the second largest programme, grew from R44.4 million in 2009/10 to R50.1 million in 2010/11, signifying a growth of R5.7 million (12.84 percent) in nominal terms and R2.6 million (5.75 percent) in real terms. The allocations for the three sub-programmes under Administration are: Management (R9.9 million), Corporate Services (R32.1 million) and Office Accommodation (R8.1 million). Although Current Payments has once again increased compared to 2009/10, the increase of R5.3 million is significantly less than the previous R11.6 million. Compensation of Employees increased by R 2.6 million and Goods and Services by R2.7 million. The increase in the Management sub-programme is due to staff increases in the office of the Executive Director to provide for the relocation to this office of the communications/liaison functions.
Complaints Processing, Monitoring and Investigation received the largest portion of the ICD budget, namely R63.4 million or 49.03 percent. In real terms the programme increased by R3.4 million (6.11 percent), while the nominal increase was R7.4 million or 13.21 percent. The sub-programme Complaints Processing, Monitoring and Investigation received R 61.8 million or 97.4 percent of the allocation as it is responsible for the ICD's core business, namely the receipt, registration, processing and investigation of complaints of deaths in police custody or as a result of police action, and complaints of misconduct and criminality. According to the 2010 Estimates of National Expenditure funding is distributed according to the number of personnel and cases. Compensation of employees increased by R4.2 million, much more significantly than the previous increase of R1 million.
It is expected that expenditure on capital assets will increase by 33.1 per cent to provide for the purchase of bulletproof vests, and computers for use in the field.
In terms of the current budget the sub-programme Legal Services gets R1.7 million rand or 2.68 percent of the programme allocation (an increase of 0.1 per cent). This sub-programme is currently responsible for providing legal advice to ICD officials on the ICD's mandate. It was previously indicated that Legal Services will become a fully-fledged programme on its own (Programme 3) with some of the functions to be moved to the Secretariat of Police; and the expansion of the investigative mandate of the ICD to focus on more serious crimes. The funding in the next budget for Legal Service is thus expected to increase dramatically to provide for the increased impact on Legal Service to secure a "dedicated legal services programme to provide legal opinions to investigators", and will help to improve service delivery and speed up investigations.
The Information Management and Research Programme received R15.8 million of the 2010/11 budget or 12.22 per cent, which represents a 1.6 per cent decrease compared to the 2009/10 allocation. In real terms the allocation decreased by R1.3 million or 8.03 percent; and in nominal terms this amounts to a decrease of R 300 000 or 1.86 per cent. The Programme consists of two sub-programmes, namely Research (which received R1.6 million) and Information Management System which received the largest allocation of R14.1 million. On average expenditure in this programme is expected to grow annually over the medium term by 6.2 per cent to reach R19.3 million in 2012/13 due to increased spending on employee compensation. It is not certain how the expected relocation of this function to the Secretariat of Police will impact on the medium term projections which are mainly linked to employee compensation.
The Information Management System sub-programme is also expected to show increased spending over the MTEF to provide for "more thorough data management, a streamlined linkage to government's online portals and the gateway e-government project, improved knowledge management and high quality reports". Over the medium term the focus area of this programme will be on maintaining the ICD's electronic information system and update the case management system. An improved case management system will assist the ICD in achieving better results at addressing case backlogs and speeding up the finalisation of serious crimes in terms of the reprioritised investigation focus areas.
The disciplinary enquiries of managers and staff members take some time to complete, due to the fact that the ICD depends on external experts to assist with the chairing of disciplinary enquiries or to deal with appeals.
Furthermore, the seriousness of the allegations of misconduct is determined by the preliminary investigation into the allegations of misconduct. Suspensions therefore depend on the complexity of the allegations and the period of time required to finalise the disciplinary processes.
The ICD does not have a medical aid scheme per se. ICD employees are members of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), or of other medical schemes available in the market.
The ICD is currently in consultation with the Department of Public Works to finalise the allocation of space with a view to the refurbishment of the building that has been identified as the new National Head Office Building. It is anticipated that the Directorate would be moving to the new building by May 2010.
The planned reduction of 10% with regard to the vacancy rate was determined on the basis of the fact that the ICD is not always able to retain staff members due to the flatness of the departmental structure, as well as the fact that the Department cannot match the salaries offered by other government departments and the private sector. Virtually all 16 vacant positions have been vacant for a period not exceeding three months and the ICD is in the process of filling these vacancies.
Why does the SAPS fail to notify the ICD of deaths in police custody or as a result of police action?
Of late there have been only isolated incidents of failure to report deaths in police custody or as a result of police action. There are, however, measures in place recommending disciplinary action in the event where the SAPS fails to notify the ICD of such deaths.
Where should the public report other cases of abuse?
The ICD will, as a matter of priority, investigate all cases of criminality and the Department will pay particular attention to complaints of a serious nature. Complaints of a less serious nature, such as service-related complaints, will be referred to the relevant police station, the Secretariat or the Provincial Commissioner's Office for investigation, while the ICD monitors progress of the investigation.
Clarify the problems encountered with state mortuaries and explain how the ICD intends addressing these problems.
The ICD plans to engage the Department of Health with a view to developing a Service Level Agreement, which will regulate the relationship between the two departments as it relates to the execution of the ICD's mandate.
In view of its geographical location, why is there a need for a satellite office in Gauteng?
Due to the number of complaints reported to the National Office by people from Pretoria and surrounding areas, it will be necessary to establish a satellite office, which will operate separately from the National Office, which mainly deals with policy issues. A satellite office, situated in Pretoria for example, would improve the response time of investigators to a crime scene, especially during peak hours. Provincial managers also gave their input regarding the preferred location of satellite offices. Mpumalanga, for example, identified Kwamhlanga (Highveld) and Ermelo (Eastern Highveld) as locations for its satellite offices.
With regard to the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee: Is the functioning of this Committee an ongoing process, and could the use of information communication technology (ICT) not assist with the monitoring process?
ICT is most definitely used to assist with the monitoring of performance on a monthly and quarterly basis. There is, however, a need to perform a physical inspection of files, so as to ensure compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure. This can only be done by a perusal of hard-copy files in the provinces. The provincial heads also play an important role in the monitoring of performance and in compliance with the Standard Operating Procedure.
Why are some of the investigators expected to share investigation equipment?
A period of three years has elapsed since the ICD last procured any investigation equipment, resulting in investigators, who were appointed during this period, having to share equipment. To overcome this obstacle, the ICD will, in future, ensure that equipment is procured for every newly appointed investigator.
Does the ICD experience delays with the processing of forensic reports by the Forensic Services Laboratory?
The ICD is affected by the workload of the Forensic Services Laboratory. However, a good working relationship has been established between the ICD and the Laboratory, which enables prioritisation of some high-profile cases. The forensic evidence in respect of such high-profile cases receives priority.
Why is the allocation of cases done at National level and not at Provincial level?
The allocation of cases is actually done at provincial level. The National Office, however, monitors whether or not performance targets have been met.
What is the purpose of the ICD's research projects?
The ICD's research projects focus on research related to police misconduct, which represents an area that falls within the ICD's current mandate. It is expected of the ICD to propose solutions to some of the policing problems identified during investigations. Research therefore facilitates the identification of problems and the proposal of solutions to specific problems.
When conducting station audits, does the ICD pay return visits to the stations that were audited during the previous year to establish whether the stations have implemented the ICD's recommendations?
The ICD is committed to the effective implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA). A plan of action was devised to audit all police stations in the country before the cycle is repeated. Subsequently no station was audited more than once during the period July to December 2009. The SAPS website indicates that there are currently 1 114 police stations nationally. The ICD's target for the 2009/10 financial year was to audit at least 200 stations. During the period July to December 2009, the ICD audited 241 police stations and, in so doing, already exceeded the target set for the financial year in question. Audit reports are sent to the station commissioners following each visit and follow-ups are carried out by means of reports, compiled by the station commissioners, to establish whether the ICD's recommendations have been implemented.
Why is the ICD still allowing exemptions with regard to the SAPS in terms of the DVA?
The Domestic Violence Act and the National Instruction on the DVA stipulate the procedure in dealing with non-compliance cases. In short, the police are required to take disciplinary action against any non-compliant member or, in instances where they believe there are no valid reasons for non-compliance in applications to the ICD for exemption from prosecution. The ICD, in turn, can exempt members in instances where a valid explanation for non-compliance is offered. In order for the ICD to consider an application for exemption, the relevant documentation, such as affidavits, should be attached to the application. In other words, it is not the ICD, but legislation that provides for the exemption of police officers where a valid explanation for non-compliance is offered.
How do you raise awareness of the ICD in rural and urban areas?
The ICD has offices in all nine provinces, as well as six satellite offices around the country. The non-availability of ICD branch offices in the various local government areas in the provinces represents a challenge and it makes it difficult for the majority of the population who live in the rural areas to have easy access to the ICD. Hence, the focus of the ICD's community outreach programmes during the 2010/11 period will be on rural areas.
What process needs to be followed to obtain funding and what's the reason for the ICD's application for more being rejected while the SAPS gets extra funding?
Government departments were requested to submit their expenditure estimates and data bases to the National Treasury by 24 July 2009 for the 2010 Budget allocation. Inputs were received from all the responsible managers and these were consolidated into one document. Options for additional funding were identified and these were communicated to both the Minister and the National Treasury. During August 2009, government departments were requested to reconsider their requests for additional allocations and to reprioritise and apply cost-cutting measures so as to curb expenditure. The ICD adhered to this request from the National Treasury, but also highlighted the fact that it was becoming increasingly difficult to attain the set objectives while, at the same time, improve financial control and compliance.
Normally, the budget process also comprises of MTEF hearings, where the Accounting Officer and programme managers have to motivate the inputs that they have put forward for additional funding. Following cabinet meetings and taking into account Cabinet's priorities, an allocation was made to the ICD.
Why does the future funding needs fail to reflect the new ICD legislation?
Due to the fact that the new legislation is still in progress, it cannot be included in future funding needs within the MTEF cycle.
Why is there an increase for only two years in Programme 2 and not for the third year?
Additional funding is only provided within a three-year cycle - hence the MTEF period. The increase in terms of Programme 2 started in the previous year (2009/10) of the MTEF cycle and therefore the significant increase to the ICD's budget comes to an end at the end of the third year - i.e. 2011/12. Therefore, it is only the remaining two years of the MTEF 2009/12 cycle that reflect the increase.
To which provinces will the three additional staff members be allocated?
Programme 1 was given a small increase in its budget, with the result that funds may allow for expanding the support staff structure in the following three provincial offices: Limpopo, the Free State and Mpumalanga.
The Portfolio Committee on Police supports the budget allocation of the Independent Complaints Directorate for 2010/11 and the 2010 MTEF and recommends that Budget Vote 22 be passed. The Democratic Alliance (DA) abstained.
The Committee examined the Budget Vote of the Police (Vote 24) for the 2010/11 financial year as well as the projection of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2011/12 and 2012/13 which are included in the Estimates of National Expenditure (ENE) 2010. The budget was examined in conjunction with the Department's Strategic Plan 2010 - 2014 and the Annual Performance Plan for 2010/11.
The current financial year (2010/011) marks the end of the Department's long-term Strategic Plan that covered the period between 2005 and 2010. However, most of these same priorities are still captured in the Department's latest long-term Strategic Plan covering the period between 2010 and 2014.
Maintaining security at major public events.
The challenge that has been laid by Government for all Departments in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster is that they must work towards achieving one outcome - 'to ensure that people are safe and feel safe. The Department of Police takes the lead in this regard. This outcome can be achieved once crime levels go down significantly to a point where citizens would no longer fear for their lives and/or property. It is an outcome which is directly in line with one of the top five priorities for Government, which is to fight crime and corruption in the next five years and make everyone feel safe.
Increasing the detection rate of these crimes from 13.8 per cent to 34 per cent.
Reducing all serious crimes categories (including high-contact crimes and "trio-crimes") by 4 -7 per cent.
Increasing the contact crime detection rate from 52.5 per cent to 57.5 per cent.
Although the Department still focuses its attention on crime prevention and visible crime deterrence, more emphasis for 2010/11 (and going forward) has been placed on increasing the capacity of the detectives in order to complement and supplement crime prevention efforts. The focus on crime prevention for the past ten years has seen the Department increasing in size and strength, as the number of police officials began to grow from 119 000 in the late 1990s to 185 275 by November 2009. The increase has particularly been in Programme: Visible Policing, which hosts police stations and most crime prevention activities such as patrols, beats, and stop-and-searches.
Generally, police work needs investment in human resources. Plans to ensure a constant provision of human resources to improve investigation capacity and other support services are in place. The President indicated during the 2010 State of the Nation Address that, over the next three financial years, the number of police will increase by 10 per cent. All these plans are meant to stabilise the crime situation and progress will be evaluated in 2014.
However, for 2010/11, the fight against crime is set to take a specific and narrowly defined approach that seeks to direct attention to particular offences, mainly the "trio-crimes" as well as contact crimes. These types of crimes are primarily responsible for the decrease in safety levels throughout the country and, thus, addressing them swiftly may go a long way in changing people's perceptions about safety and security in the country. This particular approach places more weight on increasing, among other things, the crime intelligence services as well as the investigation capacity within the detective services. Accordingly, the Police budget for 2010/11 has responded positively to this approach, as the allocation for Programme: Detective Services showed an increase of 8.53 per cent in real terms, while Programme: Visible Policing showed a decrease of -1.77 per cent in real terms.
The capacitation of the Detective Services will not only rely on increasing the number of investigators, but will be accompanied by technological advancement that will facilitate and enhance the Department's investigation capabilities so that crimes can be solved promptly and be brought to court for prosecution with sound evidence. Thus, the allocation for Sub-programmes: Criminal Record Centre and Forensic Science Laboratory increased in real terms by 49.85 per cent and 33.60 per cent respectively. In line with plans for technological advancement, the allocation for computer services increased from R1.7 billion to R2.9 billion, which, in nominal terms is a 64.7 per cent increase. Evidently, the budget allocation in this regard seems to complement the Department's objective of enhancing the hi-tech approach to investigations.
The Department of Police has five Programmes namely Administration, Visible Policing, Detective Services, Crime Intelligence, and Protection and Security Services. The overall budget increase for 2010/11 is 3.43 per cent in real terms compared to the previous financial year's increase of 6.12 per cent. This rather modest increase could be explained by the recent world economic downturn that affected most economies.
Despite that challenge, Programme: Administration increased by 7.05 per cent compared to the previous increase of 5.90 per cent in real terms and takes up 35 per cent of the total allocation for 2010/11. Programme: Visible Policing, which receives the largest allocation due to its size in personnel numbers makes up 38 per cent of the total allocation and received, in real terms, a decrease of -1.77 per cent (compared to the previous year's increase of 4.92 per cent, which was, however, the smallest increase when compared to other Programmes).
During the previous financial year (2009/10), Programme: Crime Intelligence received the biggest real percentage increase of 12.5 per cent despite being the smallest Programme in the Vote. However, in 2010/11, it received a 3.17 real per cent increase, while Programme: Detective Services received the biggest percentage increase of 8.53 per cent and makes up 17 per cent of the total budget. Thus, in summary and as reflected in the Table 1 below, all Programmes receive a real increase during the 2010/11 financial year, with the exception of Visible Policing.
A large proportion of the SAPS budget goes to compensation of employees which includes inter-alia, salary costs and social contributions such as allowances (scarce skills and promotions), incentives, overtime, Government contributions to pension fund and medical aid. The allocation for compensation of employees is around R37 billion (70 per cent of the total budget) while R12 billion is allocated for goods and services.
The purpose of Programme: Administration is to develop policy and manage the Department. It also provides administrative support.
The allocation for Programme: Administration increased by 7.05 per cent in real terms compared to the previous increase of 5.89 per cent. In the previous financial year, the allocation to the Minister had a real increase of 0.81 per cent. However, in the current financial year, this allocation decreased by -0.77 per cent in real terms. On the other hand, however, the allocation to the Deputy Minister had an increase of 0.42 per cent. Sub-programme: Management, whose allocation also includes a portion that constitutes a budget for the Secretariat of Police, increased by 6.47 per cent.
Sub-programme: Corporate Services receives the biggest allocation within Programme: Administration. It was allocated R16 billion for the current financial year compared to the previous allocation of R14 billion. This year's allocation showed a 7.24 per cent real increase compared to the previous year's 5.66 per cent. A huge amount of this allocation goes toward contributions for medical aid. This sub-programme also consists of the Training Division which has been allocated R1.3 billion compared to R1.1 billion that was allocated for the previous financial year.
The purpose of Programme: Visible Policing is to enable police stations to institute and preserve safety and security, and provide for specialised interventions and the policing of South Africa's borderlines.
Programme: Visible Policing is one of the priority programmes of the Department. It has three sub-programmes, namely Crime Prevention, Borderline Security and Specialised Interventions. The Programme takes the biggest chunk of the total budget allocation due to its size in personnel numbers. In the current financial year, it received 38 per cent of the total allocation (R20.7 billion), while during the previous year it received 41 per cent (R19.7 billion). In total, it received -1.77 per cent real decrease compared to the previous year's real increase of 4.92 per cent.
With regard to the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup, a total amount of R1.3 billion was allocated over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. The final allocation of that amount is R640 million to be utilised in the current financial year largely on personnel-related matters, including payments for overtime, subsistence and transport. Other equipment acquired at the initial stages of this expenditure will be utilised for crime prevention purposes during and after the tournament.
Sub-programme: Crime Prevention is the face of the Department since it constitutes most core policing activities that translate into actual service delivery at ground level, as police stations fall within it. It also entails community and/or sector policing as well as other crime fighting initiatives such as patrols, beats, roadblocks and stop-n-searches. The category of 'crimes dependent on police action for detection' arises from this sub-programme. Basically, most initiatives that employ proactive policing measures aimed at achieving Government's objective of reducing violent/contact crimes, including trio-crimes (robbery, business robbery, and car-jacking), reside within this sub-programme.
It should be noted, however, that the decrease in real terms received by Programme: Visible Policing also affected its sub-programmes, which was an inevitable consequence. Thus, sub-programme: Crime Prevention received -1.05 per cent decrease placing its allocation at R19 billion. Sub-programme: Borderline Security received -4.40 per cent decrease placing its allocation at R229 million, whilst the allocation for sub-programme: Specialised Interventions plummeted by -9.96 per cent placing its allocation at R1.4 billion. The Programme is still one of the Department's priorities. However, the level of emphasis given to it, as expressed in the budget allocation, has somewhat shifted towards Programme: Detective Services. Therefore, the 2010/11 allocation for this Programme will merely serve to ensure that the baseline is maintained.
The purpose of the Programme is to enable the investigative work of the SAPS, including providing support to investigators in terms of forensic evidence and the Criminal Record Centre.
Crime Investigations: accommodates detectives at police stations, who investigate general crimes as well as serious and violent crime.
Criminal Record Centre: funds criminal record centres, which manage criminal records.
Forensic Science Laboratory: funds forensic science laboratories, which provide specialised and technical analysis and support to investigators in relation to evidence.
Specialised Investigations: hosts the DPCI (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations) which specialises in combatting organised crime.
Programme: Detective Services received a total allocation of R8.7 billion with a real increase of 8.5 per cent. This Programme received significant increases which reflect Government's emphasis on it as one of many priorities.
Accordingly, sub-programme: Crime Investigations received R6.1 billion which was 2.3 per cent increase in real terms. Sub-programme: Criminal Record Centre received the biggest real increase of 49.8 per cent from R696 million to R1.1 billion. This allocation is in line with Government's objective of capacitating forensic investigations as a vital aspect of crime detection, and it is also in preparation for the implementation of the first phase of the Forensics Bill that deals with fingerprinting - a function that resides within this sub-programme.
Likewise, sub-programme: Forensic Science Laboratory had 33.6 per cent real increase, which saw its allocation rising from R404 million to R576 million. These notable increases are a fulfilment of Treasury's commitment that was made during the 2009 Budget Speech where it was stated that R5.4 billion had been set aside for overhauling the forensics environment over the MTEF period. The fulfilment of this commitment is working toward the realisation of a revamped criminal justice system which has a separate inter-sectoral budget of R900 million compared to the previous year's allocation of R200 million. Lastly, a new sub-programme hosting the DPCI is called Specialised Investigations. It received R909 million which was 3.76 per cent real increase from R821 million that was allocated to it in the previous financial year.
The purpose of Programme: Crime Intelligence is to manage crime intelligence and analyse crime information, and provide technical support for investigations and crime prevention operations.
Crime intelligence Operations: provides for intelligence based crime investigations.
Intelligence and Information Management: provides for the analysis of crime intelligence patterns to facilitate crime detection, in support of crime prevention and crime investigation.
Programme: Crime Intelligence receives 4 per cent of the total allocation hence it is the smallest Programme in the Vote, with only two sub-programmes, namely Crime Intelligence Operations as well as Intelligence and Information Management. The Programme was allocated R1.8 billion compared to the previous year's allocation of R1.7 billion, which reflected 3.17 per cent real increase. During the previous year's allocation, the Programme received 12.25 per cent real increase which translated into significant increases for both sub-programmes. However, in the current financial year, sub-programme: Crime Intelligence operations had a decrease of -4.84 per cent, while sub-programme: Intelligence and Information Management had an increase of 10.50 per cent.
The purpose of programme is to provide Protection and Security Services to all identified dignitaries and Government interests.
VIP Protection services: provides for the protection in transit of the president, the deputy president, former presidents and their spouses, and other identified dignitaries.
Static and Mobile Security: provides for the protection of: other local and foreign dignitaries; the places in which all dignitaries, including those related to the president and deputy president, are present; and valuable Government cargo.
Port of Entry Security: provides for security at ports of entry and exit, such as border posts, airports and harbours.
Rail Police: provides for security in the railway environment.
Government Security Regulator: provides for security regulation, evaluations, and the administration of national key points and strategic installations.
Operational Support: provides for administrative support for the programme, including personnel development.
Programme: Protection and Security Services has six sub-programmes, and has been growing rapidly in size since its inception in 2004. For the 2010/11 financial year, it received R3 billion compared to R2.6 billion given to it during the previous financial year. Overall, the total allocation for the Programme was slightly lower in real terms as it was 6.14 per cent compared to 7.89 per cent reflected in the previous year's allocation.
Sub-programme: VIP Protection Services received R400 million, which showed a 3.74 per cent real increase compared to the previous real increase of 0.57 per cent. Sub-programme: Operational Support received a real increase of 3.65 per cent whereas, in the previous financial year, its allocation had decreased by -1.78 per cent. This year, a decreased allocation of -2.71 per cent went to sub-programme: Government Security Regulator which, previously, had received a real increase of 15.66 per cent. Although the biggest allocation within the Programme goes to sub-programme: Ports of Entry, it received a lower increase of 8.60 per cent in real terms compared to last year's increase of 14.18 per cent.
Members noted that R1, 118 billion was budgeted for capital works and questioned what this allocation includes. Further questions were raised regarding the number of police stations built annually, compared to the amount budgeted for and the long term capital infrastructure plans.
According to the SAPS the capital works programme makes provision for services to be executed by the Department of Public Works on behalf of client departments to construct policing infrastructure. The capital works programme, inter alia, consists of the construction of new police stations, accommodation and other facilities such as training facilities, garages, shooting ranges and mobilization units. Furthermore, major maintenance and repairs including rehabilitation, renovation, sewerage, water systems, major electrical and upgrading, are also provided for. However, the primary focus for the utilization of the amount allocated for capital works is the establishment or re-establishment of police stations and related accommodation. Apart from the Department of Public Works being responsible for the execution of the Works Programmes, the Department has its own human resource capacity responsible for executing maintenance projects.
The construction of new policing infrastructure allows for low cash flow estimates during the first year. Subsequently expenditure trends peak during the second year and only retention funds are payable during the final phase of the project. Therefore, cash flow requirements are dependent on the phase of construction of various building projects, over a multi-year period.
The SAPS has developed a long term capital infrastructure plan that is currently being processed for approval by the National Commissioner. It is estimated that an amount of R1,118 billion (2010/2011), R1,235 billion (2011/2012) and R1,544 billion (2012/2013), will be spent on new capital works annually during the period 2010 to 2013. The plan includes prioritising infrastructure pojects that focuses on the establishment of new police stations and related accommodation.
The Committee expressed concern about delays with the building of new police stations and stated that it remains the responsibility of the SAPS national management to avoid these delays. Further concern was noted regarding relations between the SAPS and the Department of Public Works that seem to be stained causing ongoing delays with the role out of new infrastructure.
Provincial Commissioners reported that they have excess firearms. Members questioned whether this is contributing to the number of illegal firearms in circulation.
The SAPS stated that it is required that a five percent safety stock level, for emergencies, be maintained at all operational stations, which will assist in providing extra resources when needed. The management and redistribution of resources within the province is the responsibility of the Provincial Commissioner. The Department further stated that no correlation exists between the number of safety stock firearms within the provinces and the number of illegal firearms.
Departmental policies (Standing Orders 21, 48, 51 and 52) have been developed, circulated and implemented.
Safes were bought and issued to members.
Certification functionality for firearm verification was developed on the Provisioning Administration System (PAS).
The marking of all firearms with the SAPS emblem, serial number and bar code, for better identification, was initiated.
Parade inspections are conducted by provincial offices at stations, units and section levels.
A National Cross Functional Team conducts regular visits within the provinces to detect deficiencies.
A training curriculum was developed to ensure compliance with the Firearms Control Act.
The Firearm Permit system was developed and is being implemented.
The Divisions: Forensic Science Laboratory and Supply Chain Management are currently testing all police weapons, in order to record specimens from these weapons on the Integrated Ballistic Information System (IBIS), prior to issuing these weapons to SAPS members. The recording of official weapons on the IBIS system will ensure the linkage thereof to crimes committed with official firearms.
Management reports are presented to Provincial Commissioners on a quarterly basis as to address discrepancies in the accounting of firearms.
A Prevention of Firearm Losses Committee Task Team was established within the Department. The Task Team conducts regular inspections in provinces.
National and Provincial Inspectorate components perform announced and unannounced inspections at stations, units, provincial and national level, on a continuous basis.
Members questioned how the ratio of personnel to vehicles is determined and whether circumstances and terrain at each police station are taken into consideration.
The SAPS stated that the Resource Allocation Guide (RAG) is a basis to determine the number of posts required to perform policing activities at local level (police station), as well as the allocation of key physical resources like vehicles, IT equipment, etc. The programme consists of ratio analyses, standard times, time percentages, and time estimates (required) of specific elements of tasks or activities performed at the Crime Prevention Unit, Community Service Centre, Detective Service, Crime Information Analysis Centre and Support Services (e.g., Human Resource Management) at police stations of the SAPS. The nature of the terrain (tarred roads - flat or mountainous / dirt road -flat, mountainous and sandy / distances that need to be travelled) and type of duty to be performed (administrative or operational), are some factors that are considered when purchasing vehicles.
In terms of an Instruction issued to all Divisional and Provincial Commissioners (National Circular Q22/7/8, dated 29 March 2007) the criteria is defined for the allocation of vehicles within the Department.
The type and configuration of a vehicle must be considered when vehicles are allocated. For example, 4x4 vehicles are not to be allocated for city driving and sedans are not to be allocated for use in mountainous terrain.
The purpose for which vehicles will be used must also be considered when they are allocated.
Members enquired about the low detection target rates and whether these rates are acceptable, taking into account the increase in personnel, resources and training for this programme. The reason for consulting the National Prosecuting Authority to determine a baseline and target for court-ready cases was further questioned.
The SAPS indicated that the detection rate refers to cases finalized by the detectives for prosecution, cases resolved through investigation without prosecution (e.g. recovery of wondering stock which is often reported stolen) and cases withdrawn by complainants during investigation and in courts.
The Department's priorities, strategies and funding projections respond directly to the issues relevant to the Department that were raised in the State of the Nation Address, the Government Programme of Action and the Medium Term Strategic Framework. One of these priorities is to enhance the capacity of detectives, forensic and intelligence services. More members are recruited and enlisted on an annual basis towards these services as to ensure adequate policing capacity for service delivery improvement.
With regards to the Detective Service an implementation plan to increase the number of detectives was set. During the reporting period from 31 May 2009 to 28 February 2010, the human resource capacity of the detectives increased by 2 102 reflecting a total of 23 419 detectives, which indicates a growth of 9.8%. In respect of the training provisioning plan for the 2009/2010 financial year, the detectives targeted to be trained was 12 928. The total number of members trained by 31 January 2010 was 10 636.
The increases affected in the 2009/2010 financial year, in terms of the number of detectives trained and capacity expansion will not translate to immediate radical improvement in performance over the short term, but will impact on future outcomes as these members gain experience. The target range as defined in the Department's Annual Performance Plan for 2010/2011, towards detection rate, provide for this aspect as well as the intention to increase the outcomes in terms of the baseline defined.
With reference to court ready case dockets, there is an imbalance in the nodes of delivery between the police services and the justice system that have a direct bearing on detection rates. For example, in Mpumalanga, there are 85 police stations serviced by three prosecutors. Detectives have to take their cases to these prosecutors, often multiple times. Moreover, when they are unable to make a decision on their cases, they are then referred to the DPP in Pretoria. This, in turn, entails these same detectives having to commute to and from Pretoria. In the process of going back and forth other cases are neglected, inevitably impacting on the detection rate.
In order to overcome the problem of determining baseline cases ready for court a common approach between the SAPS and the NPA at provincial level is required. This will reduce inefficiencies, prevent the loss, misplacement or duplication of dockets and allow for more realistic target setting based on actual conditions.
As indicated previously, the detection rate is determined by cases that have been investigated and finalized by detectives and are ready to go to court. These cases are handed over to the NPA who then determine whether to prosecute the alleged offenders or not. It must be noted that the detection rate also includes cases which were finalized by detectives without the need to follow the prosecution route as well as cases which were withdrawn by complainants.
The JCPS cluster monitors these cases on a continuous basis and coordinates interdepartmental crime prevention and security initiatives across the integrated justice system up until conviction by the courts. However, it was noted by the Department of Justice that the SAPS does not have a final decision over conviction rates. The purpose of discussions with the NPA and the courts is to create a continuum in terms of the flow of work. The JCPS cluster will also continue to define mechanisms in order to ensure that the detection rate of high priority crime will increase in the nearby future.
The Committee again stated that the SAPS and the Department of Justice have to align their statistics capturing measures.
Members questioned when the FCS units will be established and operational.
Consultation with the nine Provincial Commissioners has been concluded. The structural proposal design is being finalized. All funded posts in terms of the Resource Allocation Guide (RAG) will be filled during the 2010/2011 financial year. The FCS units will be fully operational by 31 March 2011. Currently all FCS related cases are being investigated by detectives at station level.
The Minister confirmed that these units will be constituted by the end of June 2010 and fully operational by the end of March 2011.
Feedback to complainants on cases registered.
Members noted that complainants say that SAPS never provide feedback on registered cases. Members questioned what process SAPS utilise to ensure that complainants are provided with feedback on registered cases.
Specific enhancements of the Case Administration System (CAS) were effected during 2009. As soon as a case is registered, the complainant receives an SMS via his/her cell phone (if a cell phone number is provided). This SMS contains the case number, the investigating officer's name and contact number.
The above was implemented on 2 March 2009. Since the implementation date, a total of 1 747 836 SMS's were forwarded to complainants. This information is obtained monthly from SITA via Information and Systems Management.
If no cell phone number is provided, the complainant receives a document (SAPS 429) with the case number and contact details of the Unit that will be investigating the case in order to make any enquiries about progress on the case. In rural areas the SAPS 429's are mostly utilized due to lack of proper infrastructure.
The Department concedes that there are shortcomings when it comes to feedback to complainants with regards to court dates and the finalization of their cases. The Department is, however, in a process of improving the complainants' feedback system until their cases are finalized. Further measures are taken by General Investigations: Head Office to monitor the SMS system both electronically and manually on a monthly basis.
Greater focus will be placed during inspections by Head Office to ensure that the detectives give monthly feedback to complainants until their case dockets are finalized. If it is found that feedback is not given to complainants as instructed, disciplinary actions will be instituted.
Members enquired how SAPS utilise informers and how their claims are dealt with.
SAPS stated that information supplied by SAPS informers accounts for many successes achieved by the Department. They are remunerated for the information supplied to both intelligence and detective services. All aspects regarding informers and claims for informers are regulated by National Instruction 2/2001. The National instruction is very explicit in detailing the control measures to be followed, both on the financial aspects as well as the operational aspects.
Members questioned when last the National Commissioner adhered to the SAPS Regulation 26, that outlines the establishment of Job Descriptions and Post Titles.
Section 26 of the South African Police Service Employment Regulations, 2008, requires that job descriptions and titles must be reviewed at least once every five years and, where necessary, be redefined to ensure that they remain appropriate and accurate. The Department complies with the provisions as defined in terms of the prescriptive framework highlighted above.
Members noted that they were informed that SAPS members who worked overtime during the 2009 Soccer Confederations Cup were only paid half of the money due to them. Members questioned whether there was any truth to this allegation and enquired what measures will be taken to prevent a reoccurrence of this during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The SAPS stated that an agreement at the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC), Agreement 4/2009, regulates the payment of overtime to all employees who render policing duties at major sporting events. The Department did comply with the criteria defined within the agreement and honoured all payments of overtime during the Confederation Cup.
The agreement highlighted, is currently being reviewed by the Department. The review process will however be finalised and implemented by the Department before the commencement of the Soccer World Cup.
Members express concern that the SAPS have not set a deadline for finalizing negotiations.
Members noted that its alleged that the higher ranks within the SAPS tend to benefit the most from annual salary increases and further enquired what percentage members at lower ranks get compared to those in higher ranks.
The determination of any conditions of service of employees in the Public Service, including the SAPS, is made at the committee of Ministers. The committee consists of, amongst others, the Minister for Public Service and Administration, the Minister of Finance and other Ministers as the Cabinet may designate.
The Senior Managers in the Public Service received an annual cost of living adjustment of six per cent for the 2009/2010 financial year with effect from 1 January 2010.
A staggered approach was followed for members on salary level 1-12 (Public Service Act Employees) and salary bands A to MMS (SAPS Act Employees). These employees received an annual cost of living adjustment of 13 per cent at the lower levels to a maximum of 10 per cent at the higher levels, with effect from 1 July 2009.
Members questioned the need to establish a Border Management Agency while the Border Control Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) already exists and how this new agency will enhance border policing.
The SAPS stated that there is a need to establish a Border Management Agency to deal with border issues in line with international best practice. The Border Control Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) is more of a committee coordinating activities from different departments involved in border control.
Members questioned the average figure of 50 per cent decrease in the number of escapes from police custody, noting that in reality the incidence of escapes from police custody is increasing.
According to the SAPS the number of escape incidents reflected is 905 incidents for 2006/07, 664 incidents for 2007/08 and 719 incidents for 2008/09. The average number of escapes during these three years is 762.
In addition the Department has set a target to decrease the number of incidents with 50 per cent, during the 2010/2011 financial year.
Guidelines are being developed for police stations to ensure effective and efficient detention management. These guidelines focus on the relevant organizational instructions that are already incorporated in the Department's Standing Orders.
Specific trends and tendencies of escapes will be identified and mechanisms developed and introduced to prevent further escapes.
Furthermore, once an escape occurs, the Department registers a criminal case for investigation and institutes immediate disciplinary proceedings, against the member(s) involved.
Members questioned the impact of policing in communities when SAPS members are taken from police stations to police this event.
According to the SAPS there will be no negative impact on policing in the communities during the FIFA World Cup. Policing of this event is part of local policing activities. Officers from local police stations, including reservists, are not going to be deployed outside their policing precinct. They will carry on with their normal service delivery, at community service centres and crime prevention duties, within their precinct, including event venues. Police officers are not going to be deployed inside the stadiums/venues, but at strategic points like routes, hotels, tourist attraction areas, shopping malls and/or any other concentrated area, including identified crime hot spots in the station area.
SAPS members that will be deployed, specifically for the FIFA World Cup, are from National and Provincial specialized units, like the Special Task Force, National Intervention Units and VIP units (for Teams and VIP protection), and Public Order Units (for crowd management at stadiums and venues).
Therefore, policing in the communities will, instead, benefit from the policing of this event, as there will be more resources that will enhance police visibility within police precincts, where FIFA World Cup activities will be taking place.
The Committee expressed concern that the Department's plan to combat Human Trafficking during the FIFA 2010 World Cup does not include women.
Members questioned what plans are in place to prevent Human Trafficking during the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
The Department is part of interdepartmental processes aimed at the prevention of human trafficking. In this regard, the Department is a member of the Priority Committee on Child Protection during the FIFA World Cup period led by the Department of Social Development and the Human Trafficking Steering Committee led by the National Prosecuting Authority.
identifying children in need of care and protection, which will include children living in the streets, children at risk of being used by an adult to commit crimes and those at risk of being trafficked.
equipping SAPS members to identify and address children living and working on the streets.
creating and implementing awareness programmes at the national, provincial and local levels regarding abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children.
providing services to unaccompanied children and refugee children.
The Department further participates in the development of a campaign aimed at raising awareness of issues that make people vulnerable to trafficking, targeting the FIFA World Cup period. The campaign is led by the National Prosecuting Authority and also includes the Departments of Social Development and Education. This campaign will also provide information on steps that can be taken for assistance should one be in danger of being trafficked. Referral networks will be set up in order to access probation services and secure care facilities where needed.
Members questioned how the 2010/11 budget allocation will assist poor performing police stations.
This budget will assist the poor performing police stations by ensuring that additional crime prevention actions are performed at police stations, that more borderline policing actions are undertaken, that the detection rate for contact crimes and crimes dependant on police action for detection are improved from 42,86% to between 43%-60% and that increased cluster and ad hoc actionable intelligence operations on contact crimes are performed.
The Constitution and the South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act No. 68 of 1995), section 2(1) (a) provides for the establishment of the National Police Civilian Secretariat by the Minister of Police.
Evaluate the functioning of the Service and report to the Minister thereon.
The Police Civilian Secretariat's budget is incorporated into Programme: Administration of Vote 24 of the Department of Police. Sub-programme: Management, whose allocation also includes a portion that constitutes a budget for the Secretariat of Police, increased by 6.47 per cent in real terms compared to 8.76 per cent of the previous year. This year's allocation to the Secretariat is estimated to be around R21 million - an amount that is expected to assist in the re-organisation of this structure.
The Secretariat is currently undergoing institutional reform in order for the Minister to fulfil his constitutional and legislative obligations. To this end a new legislative framework for the Secretariat is being finalised. Furthermore, the Secretariat has developed five key components that will engage in the process of policy development and research; monitoring and evaluation; partnership management; support services, and the Office of the Secretary.
A new management team led by the new Secretary of Police has been appointed by the Minister together with three new Chief Directors in the Policy and Research, Monitoring and Evaluation and the Partnership Units.
Policy and Strategy: Strategic and indicative planning, research and the formulation of departmental policy proposals, which when approved by the Minister, would guide the activities of SAPS.
Audit and Monitoring: The monitoring of the Department's budget to ensure alignment with the policies approved by the Minister. Monitoring the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of these policies.
Providing Ministerial support services: Including the management of international and stakeholder liaison as well as provide legal services.
Communication: The implementation of a communication strategy aimed at informing and mobilising role players, stakeholders and partners outside the Department regarding the delivery of safety and security.
Accountability: To account to the Minister and to Parliament on issues and activities from time to time or as requested.
The Committee noted that communication is listed as one of the key functions of the Secretariat and yet the budget reflects only a small amount allocated to this function.
The Secretariat stated that the majority of their communication will occur through the Partnership Unit of the Secretariat and has been included in the planning and budgeting of this Unit. In addition, each of the other two units have incorporated communication as part of their general plans and budgeting. The communication budget listed under the Secretary of Police's office refers to website upgrade and specific communication projects that will be directed from the Secretary's Office such as the release of the crime statistics and the Annual Report of the Secretariat.
The Committee enquired if the Secretariat is involved in policy and strategic developments occurring in the department and whether the Committee in future will be briefed on these issues.
The Secretariat is increasingly addressing policy and strategic issues in consultation with the Minister of Police. There are a number of areas, such as Police Reservists, where it would be important that the Portfolio Committee is briefed. Based on this, there is a need for more regular and structured briefings to the Portfolio Committee. The Secretariat would like to engage the Portfolio Committee through such briefing notes or formal presentations. In addition, the Committee Chairperson is welcome to request the Secretariat to brief the Committee on issues and approaches as the need arises.
The Committee questioned whether the Secretariat will be involved in the monitoring of the security arrangements and implementation of security plans around the FIFA World Cup.
The Secretary stated that there are already complex processes in place from the public, media, portfolio committees, government and the FIFA organizing committee. Given the significant public participation in the FIFA World Cup the Secretariat has decided to focus on improved and sustained service delivery issues. Based on its current capacity the Secretariat will evaluate generally how the World Cup security plan were implemented but will not be engaged in the day to day monitoring of the plan.
Members questioned the different roles of the ICD, Inspectorate and the Secretariat.
The Inspectorate of SAPS is an internal unit that focuses on quality control over national instructions, internal audits and compliance. The ICD largely focuses on deaths as a result of police action and other complaints related to abuse of police powers. The Secretariat focuses less on individual complaints, but rather on the broader policy and monitoring issues with the view to impacting on the broader transformation of the service. The Secretariat is independent from SAPS and advises and reports to the Minister of Police on these matters.
Members questioned whether the Secretariat has the staffing capacity to meet set targets.
The targets set between April and June were the building blocks for the role the Secretariat needs to play going forward. While acknowledging that the Secretariat does not have the capacity to do everything it will use its relationships and partnerships with civil society and provinces to assist in reaching such targets.
With regard to the staff complement, this is a matter that is currently being discussed with the DPSA and the Minister. This is being done in order to ensure that the Secretariat is able to implement the new legislation and have the capacity to implement the Strategic Plan presented. A lot of work has been done on the new staff establishment and the Secretariat is confident that by the end of May 2010 it will be in a position to implement all aspects of the Strategic Plan.
Members questioned the relationship between the National Secretariat and the nine Provincial Secretariat and whether the National Secretariat plays a role in mobilizing the role players in the provincial departments for the community safety forums.
When the legislation is presented it will become clear that the National Secretariat has opted for a collaborative approach to engage with the Provincial departments. Part of this approach will involve the establishment of a provincial forum comprising of all Provincial Secretariats. This forum will be guided and assist the Police Civilian Secretariat with regard to strategic priorities and implementation of such priorities. The National Secretariat will work with the Provinces towards the implementation of the 10 pilot Community Safety Forums.
Members questioned the monitoring role of the Secretariat regarding the outputs of the ICD recommendations to the SAPS.
A key area of work of the Secretariat is to monitor the implementation by SAPS regarding the ICD's recommendations. Regular feedback will be provided to the Minister on any problems that may arise regarding the implementation of recommendations.
Members enquired whether the Secretariat will be conducting research into the distribution of SAPS vehicles.
There is currently an initiative being developed by the National Commissioner to address fleet management within SAPS. The Secretariat will be monitoring the impact, gaps and weaknesses in the Department's approach and will report to the Minister.
The Chief Directorate: Justice and Protection Services Safety of the Public Finance Division within National Treasury briefed the Committee on the SAPS Budget for 2010/11. The National Treasury provided an analysis of some of the key components of the budget including: broad expenditure trends over time, a breakdown of the 2010/11 economic classification items in the budget and a breakdown of the budget into programmes.
The National Treasury noted that the highest budget growth per economic classifications was salaries, capital expenditure for buildings, maintenance and equipment.
The Committee expressed concern about the maximum virament (funds transferred between programmes) of 8 per cent and that the SAPS always use the Visible Policing Programme's budget for this purpose.
SAPU raised concerns regarding the new rank system that will result in anxiety and fear. Further concern was expressed about the continuous reshuffling of members that result in lost promotional opportunities.
POPCRU stated that a flatter organisational structure is required and that restructuring should be focused at reducing the provincial and national structures in order to improve co-ordination. The redeployment to station level of certain specialized operational functions will ensure that crimes are investigated where they occur.
The lack of promotions in the SAPS is of great concern to POPCRU who stated that at the rank of inspector, SAPS members are often frustrated due to a lack of upward mobility. Further concern was raised regarding the filling of vacant posts by external candidates while capable members are not considered for promotions.
SAPU and POPCRU assured members of the Committee that their members are committed to ensure that a quality police service is rendered during the event. They expressed unhappiness in the manner the SAPS management has been handling the payment of overtime issue but remain hopeful that the current policy will be reviewed.
The Committee encourage the SAPS to continue in its quest to reduce serious crime by 7-10 per cent and not 4-7 per cent as indicated in the SAPS strategic plan and further urge the department to reconsider this position. Further interaction on this matter may be required.
The Portfolio Committee on Police supports the allocations to the following programmes: Administration, Visible Policing, Detective Services, Crime Intelligence; Protection and Security Services and recommends that Budget Vote 24 be passed. The Democratic Alliance (DA) abstained.
The Portfolio Committee on Police will continue to fulfil its Constitutional obligation, guided by the rules of Parliament in providing oversight over the functioning of the Department of Police to ensure that the SAPS and the Secretariat function effectively in line with their legislative and policy requirements.