DPSA; DPME & NYDA; Stats SA Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report

Meeting report

Ms R Lesoma (ANC) was elected the Acting Chairperson for the meeting.

The Acting Chairperson indicated that the Committee would consider three Budgetary Review and Recommendations Reports.

She also apologised for the delay in starting the meeting because they had received hard copies with some pages missing. 

DPSA and entities Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report

The Committee went through the document page by page.

The Acting Chairperson stressed to the committee staff that there is a need for the numbers to be correct and correspond with the reports from the Department.

Ms Z Jongbloed (DA) noted minor grammatical and spelling errors on some pages. She also suggested to the Committee that a sentence in paragraph 8.5 on page 25 be revised. She said instead of the sentence reading “The Committee condemns such suspensions for the purpose of ensuring stability in government and realising a vision of a developmental state”, the sentence should read “The Committee condemns such suspensions because of the negative effect it has on ensuring stability in government and realising a vision of a developmental state”.

The Members welcomed her suggestion.

Mr M Ntombela (ANC) corrected minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

Mr S Motau (DA) pointed out minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

The Acting Chairperson suggested that paragraph 9.4 under Recommendations on page 28, be retracted as this was also a recommendation in 2016.

Members of the Portfolio Committee agreed.

DPME & NYDA Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report

The Committee went through the document page by page.

Ms Zongbloed corrected minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

Mr Ntombela pointed out minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

Mr Motau corrected minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

Ms D Van Der Walt (DA) pointed out minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

The Acting Chairperson suggested that paragraph 11.4 on page 25 under Recommendations, be retracted as this was a recommendation in 2016.

Members of the Portfolio Committee agreed.

Stats SA Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report

The Committee went through the document page by page.

Ms Jongbloed corrected minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

Mr Ntombela pointed out minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report.

Mr S Motau corrected minor grammatical and spelling errors in the report..

Adoption of the BRRRs

The Acting Chairperson asked for the corrections and amendments to be captured and the meeting to adopt be reconvened after two hours.

Ms Van Der Walt suggested that electronic copies be sent and members could crosscheck if all errors they raised by were addressed.

The Acting Chairperson agreed, noting that there was nothing of substance to change. It was grammatical and spelling errors, and removing certain paragraphs from the documents.

The members also agreed and the acting Chairperson proceeded to allow for formalities for the adoption of the BRRRs.

All three BRRRs were adopted with amendments and without any dissension.

Miscellaneous Matters

The Acting Chairperson stressed the importance of the Committee monitoring recommendations from 2016. She also noted with regret that there were no documents sent by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation to the Committee for the following day’s meeting. The only document sent was the Local Government Management 2 document, after 10am on 16 October 2017.

The Acting Chairperson said the Committee needs to adopt all outstanding minutes.

She added on that it would be important for the Minister of Public Service and Administration to come and explain the suspensions and assure the Committee about the performance of the Department.

Ms Van Der Walt informed the Committee that she had written a letter to the Minister asking her to appear before the Committee to explain about the suspension of senior management. The Committee must be concerned about the splurge of millions of rands. She stressed that it was important for the Minister to come and explain that state of affairs.

The Acting Chairperson said it was on the agenda and will be addressed the following day.

The meeting was adjourned.