Committee Report on 2007/8 Fourth Quarter Expenditure: adoption

Meeting report

Committee Report on 2007/8 Fourth Quarter Expenditure: Final draft
The Chairperson recommended that the Committee glance through and consider only the portion of the Report that contained the findings and recommendations, as the report needed to be adopted on that day.

Ms J Fubbs (ANC) expressed her concern that the Committee was still unable to unpack the issue of funds transfers, as pivotal information was not provided by various departments.

Both Mr G Schneeman (ANC) and the Chairperson agreed that it was imperative that the Committee receive adequate information from the departments regarding transfers, as the information was crucial for effective parliamentary oversight.

Ms R Mashigo (ANC) added that the Joint Budget Committee comprised NCOP Members as well, and suggested that joint hearings be held in future as a way forward.

The Chairperson agreed but added that the NCOP Members were not always available due to other pressing commitments.

The issue of the filling of vacancies within departments was a great concern. Ms N Mfeketo (ANC) said that departments cannot be allowed to use the lack of skills as a reason for not filling those vacancies. Moreover departments had, in essence, been funded to fill those vacancies.

Mr M Swart (DA) agreed that departments had been funded in order to fill vacancies. There was concern that the money that had been allocated for the payment of salaries was being shifted to other items, and that was where the issue of transfers came in.

The Chairperson agreed.

The Committee adopted the Report, subject to amendments.

The Committee meeting was adjourned.