Question NW3482 to the Minister of Communications
03 December 2018 - NW3482
Filtane, Mr ML to ask the Minister of Communications
(1) Whether (a) the Head Office of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is being moved from Sandton to Centurion and (b) a lease agreement has been signed to that effect; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) whether there was any official procurement process followed in acquiring the new premises or lease thereof; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the procurement process; (3) whether the new premises has any implications for the storage capacity of ICASA’s documents and office equipment; (4) whether the relocation to the new offices was subjected to a formal procurement process to assist with the moving of furniture, boxes and other items; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) whether there are staff who are or have been assisting with this moving process at their own cost with limited reimbursement; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW4032E
Reply:
I have been advised by the Department as follows:
1). (a) Yes, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (the Authority) has moved its Head Office to new premises situated in Eco-park (Centurion) Pretoria, after its lease agreement with Growth-Point Properties (Sandton) came to an end on 31 October 2018. Prior to the move, the Authority embarked on an open tender process in line with Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 1999 as amended (the PFMA), the associated National Treasury Regulations (NT Regulations) and ICASAs Supply Chain Management Policy in order to appoint a provider for its head office premises.
(b). A lease agreement has been entered into with the new landlord to provide ICASA with office accommodation for a period of 9 years and 11 months with effect from 1 November 2018.
(2)The Authority is governed by the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 1999 as amended (the PFMA), and the associated National Treasury Regulations (NT Regulations). To this end (as stated above), the Authority embarked on an open tender process in line with the PFMA, the NT Regulations and ICASA’s Supply Chain Management Policy to procure the new office premises.
(3)The new premises have sufficient storage capacity for office equipment and documents.
(4)The Authority is a participant of National Treasury Traversal Contract – Transportation of Cargo and Furniture Relocation Services for the State for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020 (RT8-2017). Services for the relocation of furniture, boxes and other items were procured utilizing the traversal contract. This is in line with the PFMA, the NT Regulations and ICASA’s Supply Chain Management Policy.
(5) Given the amount of work required to complete the relocation process, it was necessary for some members of staff of work overt-time to successfully complete the relocation. The staff members who qualify for overtime were paid for the overtime worked in line with the organisation’s policies. For those staff members who do not qualify for overtime pay,
arrangements were made with respective line managers to get time off in exchange for overtime worked. There are no staff members who were required to assist with the relocation at their own cost.
Ms. S. Ndabeni-Abrahams, MP
Minister
Date: