Committee Minutes and Committee Reports on Arcacia Park and Plettenberg Bay Visit
Public Works and Infrastructure
11 October 2006
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Meeting report
PUBLIC
WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
11 October 2006
COMMITTEE REPORTS ON ARCACIA PARK AND PLETTENBERG BAY VISIT
Chairperson: Mr F
Bhengu (ANC)
Documents handed out:
None
SUMMARY
The Chair provided feedback on his attempts to engage with the head of the
committee section and the House Chairperson regarding the inadequate support
that the committee was experiencing, and the depleted budget of the committee.
He reported that briefings by the Independent Development Trust, the
Construction Industry Development Board and the Council for the Built
Environment would be rescheduled to the week starting Monday 16 October 2006.
The Committee considered the minutes of meetings from March 2006 to September
2006. It was noted that the issue of Acacia Park remained unresolved, and
information had been sought from the Department. Alternative development of
Fernwood or other military bases was discussed and the Department of Defence
would be asked for feedback. It was agreed that the secretariat of the Property
Charter would be asked to brief all portfolio Committees, and that a separate
briefing be arranged by secretariat of the Property Charter, together with the
Construction Industry Development Board.
The Committee considered its report on the visit to Acacia Park, and noted that
progress seemed to be slow. It was agreed that the Chairperson would engage
with the Department. The Committee also considered its report on the visit to
Plettenberg Bay. Four important issues were identified which had caused
particular concern to the Committee, and there was a sense that local
government was not being proactive enough. It was suggested that a further
visit was necessary.
MINUTES
Rescheduling of briefings
The Chair reported that the Department of Public Works had requested that
the briefing by the Independent Development Trust, the Construction Industry
Development Board and the Council for the Built Environment be rescheduled due
to the fact that the entities were unprepared. It was agreed that the briefings
would be rescheduled to the week starting Monday 16 October 2006. The
Chairperson had in the meantime requested that the Department furnish the
committee with a report on each of the three entities by the end of the week.
The Chair emphasised that he was trying his utmost to set up meetings with the
head of the Committee Section and the House Chairperson, in order to discuss
complaints by Members that inadequate support was being given to the committee.
The Chair noted that the Committee Section needed to do an introspective
evaluation of itself insofar as its capacity was concerned. He furthermore
identified the budget of the committee as an issue that needed to be raised
with the House Chairperson, especially since the committee was planning trips
to Canada and Chicago.
Consideration of Minutes March 2006-September 2006, and matters arising:
Acacia Park and Property Charter
The Minutes of meetings from March 2006 to September 2006 were tabled. The
Chairperson made a point of highlighting the resolutions taken by the committee
for each meeting. He asked that the resolutions of each minute be highlighted
in the next amended draft of the minutes. This would allow members to identify
which issues needed to be addressed.
Some issues emanating from the minutes that remained unresolved, and were
considered important by the committee, were discussed.
The Chairperson noted that the issue of Acacia Park remained unresolved. He
noted that even though the park was used as a residence for parliamentarians it
had not until recently been totally acquired by Government. Part ownership of
it had vested with the Graaf Trust and Government had bought the trust’s share
for R110million. The Department had been requested to furnish the committee
with a register of occupants of Acacia Park and a breakdown of the park’s
maintenance budget. This information was yet to be furnished to the committee.
Mr J Blanche (DA) suggested that Fernwood be developed into a residence for
members of parliament. He believed that old military bases like Fernwood would
be ideal for development into residences.
The Chairperson agreed and noted that the process on deciding on what to do
with old military bases was ongoing.
Ms Ines Stephanie, the committee researcher, gave the committee a brief
background on the current situation regarding redundant military bases.
The Chairperson suggested that a letter be addressed to the Department of
Defence in order to obtain feedback on the current status of the process.
The Chairperson raised concerns over the issue of the Property Charter and
noted that Members were unhappy with the Department’s report on it. It was
agreed that the Department would be requested to ask the secretariat of the
Property Charter to brief all portfolio committees since property was relevant
to all of them. It was also agreed that on a separate occasion the secretariat
of the Property Charter, together with the Construction Industry Development
Board, be asked to address the committee in a combined briefing.
Consideration of Committee Report on visit to Acacia Park
The committee proceeded to discuss the report on its visit to Acacia Park. The
Chair noted that no proper arrangements had been made for the refurbishment of the
park. He stated that many members were unaware of what was happening and
communication was seemingly poor.
Ms C Ramotsamai (ANC) noted that the refurbishments should ideally have taken
place during the parliamentary recess period from December 2006 to 12 January
2007. Coincidentally this was also the period when building contractors were on
leave.
The Chairperson conceded that it was indeed a challenge for the builders to
complete the refurbishments by March 2007, given that they would be off work in
December and January.
Mr Blanche suggested that the committee be given a progress report on the
refurbishing process.
Mr C Wang (ANC) recommended that the builders should be requested to furnish
time frames on their progress.
Ms Ramotsamai noted that Acacia Park did have a board and a committee to
oversee the refurbishment process.
The Chairperson pointed out that the builders were inevitably contractually
bound to deliver. The point was made that parliamentary members should embrace
the refurbishing and that they should be forthcoming with their co-operation.
Mr Blanche reiterated his comments on the possible use of Fernwood as a
parliamentary residence. He suggested that Acacia Park be sold off and that
parliamentary residences be built closer to parliament.
The Chairperson agreed to engage the department on the issue in order to come
up with the best alternatives.
Consideration of Committee Report on visit to Plettenberg Bay
The Report on the Committee visit to Plettenberg Bay was tabled.
The Chairperson stated that it was unacceptable that Plettenberg Bay did not
have its own public hospital. He felt it preposterous for persons to have to
travel to Knysna to receive medical assistance. Most patients often did not
have their own transport and huge travel delays often led to disastrous
consequences.
Ms Ramotsamai commented that the report was fairly simple and she suggested
that additional issues be included in it. Firstly, the fact that private public
partnerships relating to BEE did not exist in Plettenberg Bay should be
mentioned. Secondly, there must be reference to the fact that electricity was
lacking in the townships and that efforts should be made to correct it.
Thirdly, the land in Plettenberg Bay was predominantly privately owned and therefore
land for public housing was scarce. It was felt that national government should
offer available pieces of government owned land to the municipality for the
purposes of building public housing.
Mr L Maduma (ANC) said that the cost of buying up private land was huge, and
complicated the matter. He noted that the Deputy Minister had alluded to the
concept of “integrated communities”. He said that municipalities had requested
national government to transfer government owned land to them. The problem was
that there were huge delays in the process.
The Chairperson commented that discussions on the transference of land from
national to local government were ongoing.
Mr Maduma said that pressure needed to be applied on local government to take
action.
Ms Ramotsamai and Mr Blanche both felt that local government officials were not
doing their jobs in Plettenberg Bay.
Mr Opperman suggested that maybe the problem was one of a lack of funding.
The Chairperson answered that funding was never mentioned as an issue. The
major complaint by local government in Plettenberg Bay was the shortage of
land. He felt that there was no sense of urgency by officials, who were
comfortable in their jobs. The result was that the status quo remained.
Mr Maduma believed that another visit was needed to check on the progress being
made.
The meeting was adjourned.
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