Committee Budget Estimates for 2002-2003 & 2003-2004: discussion

Meeting report

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
23 October 2002
COMMITTEE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR 2002-2003 & 2003-2004: DISCUSSION

Chair: Inkosi M Hlengwa (IFP)

Documents Handed Out:
Updated programme for Portfolio committee on Public Works;Budget Estimates:[Appendix 1]
Portfolio Committee on Public Works Committee Programme (April 2002-2003) [Appendix 2]
Proposed Budget for financial year (April 2003-March 2004) [e-mail [email protected] for document]

SUMMARY
The Committee discussed budget matters for the current financial year ending March 2003 as well as for the next financial year beginning April 2003. Important issues included allocation for international visits. Concerns were raised about insufficient funding. It was suggested that the state of some government buildings be attended to as a matter of urgency especially where security matters were involved.

MINUTES
Budgetary Issues
The Committee discussed its budgetary issues for the 2002-03 and 2003-04 financial years respectively. According to the programme, there probably would not be changes in this current financial year, though the scheduled trip to Tanzania would probably not take place due to insufficient funds. There was only R64 000 available whereas the required amount for the trip was R83 778.

Please refer to Appendix 1 & 2.

Discussion
Mr Schippers (NNP) asked for a breakdown of the spending. The committee secretary pointed out that this was currently about R 76 000.

Mr Opperman (DP) pointed out that the budget should be linked to the programme, it seemed odd that the funding was insufficient for planned activities.

The chair pointed out that it should be noted that the supplied programme and costs were not final and therefore, some amounts would be re-adjusted as the chairperson of committee had indicated. Coming to the programme, he went on to point out that on the 16 October, the committee was supposed to start looking at the Property Bill, but this unfortunately did not take place.

He also pointed out that the report on the Tanzania trip had not materialised.

The chair pointed out that members should indicate so if they wanted to add any new items to the programme or leave it as it was.

Mr Schippers (NNP) pointed out that this in light of the limited time might not be possible.

Mr Borman (DP) expressed concern over the state of public facilities in Gauteng and indicated that currently, it left a lot to be desired. This had led to security concerns for instance in courts were judges and other legal personnel need to be safeguarded from exposure to risk.

The chair pointed out that for the 2003-04 financial year, this would be included in the provincial visits programme. Mr Borman pointed out that this was an urgent issue which needed utmost attention.

Mr Radebe (ANC) pointed out that since there were maintenance people in the department, a short-term solution would be for Mr Borman to submit the names and places of these buildings to the chair so that it received the attention of the minister.

Draft Programme
Mr Joey Leburu, the Committee Secretary discussed the draft programme for 2003-2004 (see Appendix 1).

Discussion
The chair pointed out that members should remember that food costs and questions could only be directed to the catering division and not the chair or the secretary.

On the issue of transport costs, Mr Schippers (NNP) pointed out that Johannesburg International was not the last international airport from Cape Town, there is a new one in White River (Nelspruit) in Mpumalanga and costs should be accordingly adjusted.

Mr Leburu pointed out that he found it difficult to make any budget estimates for international members of parliament to visit South Africa because this had not been done in Public Works before. Lastly, he pointed out that the issue of research would not cost anything, as the Parliamentary Research Services Unit would perform this task

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix 1
BUDGET ESTIMATES
Portfolio committee on Public Works
APRIL 2002 - MARCH 2003
Chairperson: Ink M W Hlengwa
Committee Secretary: Joey Leburu

A. Number of meetings held (24 April - 26 June 2002): 9
Number of meetings to be held (14 August - 13 November 2002): 12
Number of meetings to be held (22 January - 19 March 2003): 9

Overall meetings for 2002-2003 financial year = 30

CATERING COSTS @ R400.00 per meeting:
R400 x 30 = R12 000.00

Finger lunch/full lunch (in case of public hearings) @ R35.00 per person:
R35.00 x +/- 25 people x 3 meetings = R2 625.00

SUB-TOTAL (Catering) = R14 625.00

B. PUBLIC HEARINGS
(i) Legislation not yet before the Committee: Property
Estimated costs:
Adverts: R25 000.00
Travel costs (presenters): R15 000.00

SUB-TOTAL (Public hearings) = R40 000.00

C. NATIONAL TRIPS
Purpose: Fact-finding and oversight function of the Committee.

Invitation by the Minister of Eduaction to Ink MW Hlengwa to attend HIV/AIDS workshop on 30 May to 01 June 2002.


Number of delegation: 1.
Travel costs (flights): R2 062.00
Ground travel R300.00.
Accommodation R390.00.
Total R2 752.00

Provincial trips were undertaken in April 2002 from the pool budget of Committees.
Purpose: To view the extent of vandalism on army bases, follow up visit to CBPWP in North West, attend a CBE launch by Department of Public Works, meet with Minister of Public Works and walk about the department, meeting with the Chief Director Property holdings regarding the army bases, visit the IDT to view the projects and service that it renders to the government departments.

Estimated costs @ 8 persons for the whole visit:
Flight: R22 000.00
Accommodation @ R550.00 per night for 10 days: R44 000
Ground transport: R18 124.00
Contingency allowance R7000.00
Travel allowance: R84.00 per day
SUB-TOTAL (National trips) = R97 844.00


D. INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
Possible trip to Tanzania in September or December 2002.
Purpose: View and observe public works issues in general and identify
similarities with South African since Tanzania and SA are former former colonies of Britain, and look at the impact of HIV/AIDS in the construction industry.

Number of delegation: 8

Estimated costs:
Flights: R3 750.00 per person x 8 = R33 750.00
Accommodation: R1 280.00 per person per day x 6 nights = R7 680.00
Travel allowance: R 4 731.00 per person x 8 x 6 days =R37 848.00
Ground Transport: R2 500.00
Gifts R2000.00
(Medical aid and insurance costs inclusive)
SUB-TOTAL (International trips) = R83 778.00

E. RESEARCH
The Committee will be using the Parliamentary research unit therefore there will be no cost implication on the committee.

SUB-TOTAL (Research) = R0 000.00

F. OVERSEAS TRIPS SINCE 1999
The Committee had undertaken one international trip during this
period (2001 to date).
A 8-member delegation visited Britain on 18 - 27 April 2001 to view and observe process that are being in Britain in terms of property management and land rehabilitation and landscaping.


G. GIFTS (Attachments/international Members of Parliament visits to South
Africa) The Committee does not expect international attachments, however it budget for this item in case there be some visitors.
Estimated costs: R1 000.00

SUB-TOTAL (Gifts) = R1 000.00

H. CONFERENCES/SEMINARS
Members are sometimes invited to attend seminars and conferences overseas as well as national. The Committee is also planning to hold a workshop on HIV/AIDS for construction industry and traditional leaders. The Parliamentary Research unit has been tasked to research on this subject and feasibility holding the workshop. The costs will vary hence R1 04 000.00 has been budgeted.

Appendix 2