Question NW3310 to the President of the Republic

Lekota, Mr M to ask the President of the Republic

Mr MGP Lekota (Cope) to ask the President of the Republic 1. How many inter-ministerial teams has he appointed since he took office; 2. Whether any of the specified teams (a) concluded their task and were disbanded and (b) were still in existence; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (i) what was the purpose for establishing each team and (ii) to what extent did each team fulfill the objectives it was set up for; 3. Whether he will make a statement on the functioning and efficacy of inter-ministerial teams; particularly in relation to better governance? THE PRESIDENCY: REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Private Bag X1000, Pretoria, 0001 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY Question No : 3310 Date Published: 28 August 2015 Mr MGP Lekota (Cope) to ask the President of the Republic How many inter-ministerial teams has he appointed since he took office; Whether any of the specified teams (a) concluded their task and were disbanded and (b) were still in existence; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (i) what was the purpose for establishing each team and (ii) to what extent did each team fulfill the objectives it was set up for; Whether he will make a statement on the functioning and efficacy of inter-ministerial teams; particularly in relation to better governance?                                                                                                                NW3923E DRAFT REPLY There are several Inter-Ministerial Committees (IMCs) that have been established since 2009. The purpose of the IMCs is to get a group of relevant Ministers to address a specific matter within a relatively short period of time. As a result most IMCs have a short life span. Some of the IMCs were established to achieve a short term goal include the following; IMC to oversee preparations for the 2014 inauguration IMC to oversee the 20 Year Review of Freedom and Democracy IMC to prepare for COP17 in Durban IMC to oversee South Africa’s bid for the Square Kilometre Array IMC on the impact of immigration regulations IMC on the New Growth Path IMC on Section 100 intervention in Limpopo IMC on Development Finance Institutions IMC on Ebola Preparedness and Response Other IMCs are appointed to address matters that are ongoing. These include the following: The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) IMC on Anti-Poverty and Short-term Job Creation IMC on the prevention and combating of corruption IMC on State Funerals IMC on the revitalisation of distressed mining communities Various IMCs on Operation Phakisa IMC on Natural Disasters and Flooding in South Africa IMC on Service Delivery IMC on Acid Mine Drainage IMC on BRICS IMC on the Bucket Eradication Programme IMC on Combating Alcohol and Substance Abuse The IMCs that were established to do short-term work have concluded their work and no longer active. For instance, the IMC that was established to oversee preparations for the inauguration did its work and no longer exists. Other IMCs still exist and are actively doing the work for which they were established. These include SANAC, the IMC on State Funerals. As stated in (a) above, the IMCs are a useful instrument to bring together relevant Ministers to achieve a specific goal that concerns all of them. They are a very effective tool of organisation the work of government and ensuring that government’s objectives are achieved.