Administrative Problems: discussion by Committee

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
6 September 2006
ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS: DISCUSSION BY COMMITTEE

Chairperson: Mr F Bhengu (ANC)

Documents handed out:
None

SUMMARY
The committee raised concerns over the administrative problems that it was experiencing, including errors still appearing on Order Papers. It further appeared that there was lack of funding for national and international trips for oversight purposes, which was hampering the Committee in its work. The Committee resolved to ask the Cluster Head of the committee section and the Chair of Committees to attend a meeting to explain the current situation. It was further agreed to take up other issues with the Minister.

MINUTES
The Chairperson expressed great disappointment with the administrative problems that the committee was currently facing. He was relieved that the committee had been assigned a new researcher, as the post had been unfilled for almost a year. Ms Inez Stephanie was introduced and welcomed as the newly appointed researcher
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The Chairperson pointed out that the committee was due to discuss a report that would have included the minutes of previous committee meetings and its findings on its oversight visits to Mpumalanga. The meeting to consider the Oversight Report had been scheduled for 5 September 2006 but was cancelled since the Report on the committee’s trip to Mpumalanga had not yet been completed. Ideally the completed report should have been circulated to members prior to the meeting for perusal.

In answer to queries why the Committee Assistant was not present, the Chairperson noted that the Assistant was apparently off sick.

The Chairperson referred to the Order Paper of the day that set out the agenda of various committees. According to this Order Paper the agenda for the current meeting was a briefing by the Office of the President. The Chairperson emphasized that an instruction had been given on 4 September 2006 that this must be removed as the briefing was not to take place, yet it still appeared. This briefing had tentatively been rescheduled for 13 September 2006.

The Chairperson reiterated his disappointment that this Committee was being compromised by constant administrative problems. He said that he had asked the Cluster Head of the committee section to attend the meeting in order for her to be made aware of the committee’s dilemna. He had also wanted her to explain the current dire financial situation. This Committee was being hampered in its oversight function, as there was apparently no funding available for the Committee to undertake trips nationally or internationally.

Mr H Maluleke (ANC) said that the Committee Cluster Head should take responsibility and finalise the administrative problems of the committee, which had been for two years.

Mr J Blanche (DA) noted that he had, over the past three years, submitted petitions complaining of the dilapidated state of certain public buildings, ranging across state properties in Johannesburg, Durban, George and Cape Town. He complained that he was yet to get a response.

Ms C Ramotsamai (ANC) said that the Minister was keen to meet with the committee. She noted that Mr Blanche’s issues should be raised with the Minister.

Mr M Likotsi (PAC) noted that the agenda in the current Order Paper had confused many members.

Mr S Huang (ANC) said that the administrative problems with the committee secretary were recurring, and asked the Chairperson to address this issue.

Mr S Opperman (DA) asked how there could be a lack of funding for committee visits and whether the budget that had been approved in March 2006 had changed.

The Chairperson reiterated that the committee section must be asked to explain the issue.

Mr L Maduma (ANC) was very concerned that if the Committee was unable to travel it could not perform its oversight function. He believed that a full breakdown of parliament’s expenditure to date was needed to shed light on the issue.

Ms T Nwamitwa-Shilubana (ANC) felt that this Committee was being treated unfairly as other committees were undertaking trips to perform their oversight functions.

The Chairperson called on the Committee Assistants to have the report on the oversight visits, together with previous minutes, ready by Friday, 8 September 2006. He also called for a special meeting with the Committee Section and the Chair of Committees to discuss the issues raised in the meeting.

The Chair further requested that the newly appointed committee researcher, Ms Stephanie arrange a meeting with the Minister.

The meeting was adjourned.