Independent Development Trust (IDT): Briefing

Meeting report

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
18 June 2003
INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT TRUST: BRIEFING

Chairperson: Inkosi M Hlengwa

Documents handed out:
Independent Development Trust (IDT): Report
IDT: Report Powerpoint Presentation

SUMMARY
The Independent Development Trust presented a comprehensive report on its activities and corporate plan. The Committee commended the Independent Development Trust on its work. Concerns were raised about the involvement of political parties in the distribution of National Food Emergency Programme food parcels. After a brief discussion it was agreed that the IDT would investigate this matter.

MINUTES
The Committee was presented with a comprehensive report of the Independent Development Trust's (IDT) activities and corporate plan. Please refer to attached presentations.

Discussion
Mr E Sigwela (ANC) commended the IDT on its work, asking whether its planning expertise was available to municipalities.

Ms E Vries, Director: Corporate Affairs, said it was the responsibility of the Department of Provincial and Local Government to assist municipalities with their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). The IDT intervened by developing the capacity of local communities to inform on the processes concerned.

A committee member asked what skills training was provided to contractors from previously disadvantaged communities and how the Local Authority Plans (LAPs) would influence the development of municipalities.

Ms E Vries said it was not possible to determine the effectiveness of LAPs at this stage.

Mr M Moloi, Regional Manager: North West and Free State provinces, said when advertising tenders the IDT arranged workshops for contractors from previously disadvantaged communities to assist them with tender applications.

Mr N Magubane (ANC) expressed concern about the involvement of political parties in distributing food parcels in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mr Moloi replied that, although the IDT was only contracted to deliver these food parcels to the relevant organisations for distribution, it was often necessary to become involved in the distribution itself. Difficulty was sometimes with identifying beneficiaries, and this was compounded by the different approaches used by the various provinces.

Mr S Opperman (DA) agreed with Mr Magubane's concern and asked who audited the IDT's external funding.

Ms Vries said the IDT was well aware of the sensitive nature of the Food Distribution Programme and had clearly defined its role in this process from the start. The IDT did not identify beneficiaries nor was it responsible for the distribution of food parcels. The IDT's responsibility was to acquire food for the parcels.

Ms R Moodley, Director: Financial Services, said that the auditing of external funding was usually part of each contractual agreement between the IDT and the donor organisation concerned.

Mr Magubane asked who was responsible for food distribution in his home area.

Ms S Sithebe, Director: Human Resources IDT, replied that the IDT in KwaZulu-Natal was based in Durban. Officials travelled to other parts of the province from there.

Ms P Radebe, member of the IDT Board of Trustees, said that the IDT had noted the concerns expressed about the food distribution process and would look into the matter.

The Chair agreed with Ms Radebe that more information was required.

Mr Sigwela said the IDT should liaise with the churches on food distribution as they had an excellent record in this regard.

Inkosi Hlengwa said it was important to make use of traditional structures to expedite activities in their respective communities.

The meeting was adjourned.