Question NW1914 to the Minister of Finance
01 September 2020 - NW1914
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether he has been informed of the plans of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to assist the Government with drafting One Plan and other initiatives under the District Development Model (DDM); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether the DBSA and/or the National Treasury received diagnostic reports in respect of the lessons learnt by the Government in piloting the DDM in the OR Tambo and Waterberg District Municipalities; if not, on what basis has the DBSA issued a tender (details furnished) on 30 June 2020 to source professional service providers to help in the development and finalisation of the DDM One Plan for the specified two districts; if so, (3) whether he will furnish Mr C Brink with a copy of the reports; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The District Development Model (DDM) is an initiative by the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) to facilitate better coordination across all spheres of government and SOEswith regard tothe investments that is required to facilitate development in 52 spaces in the country. The objective of the DDM is to effectively respond to the needs of communities by implementing programmes that contribute to the outcomes in the National Development Plan (NDP). Government should be able work in partnership with the private sector and communities in making the outcomes of the National Development Plan a reality, now more so than ever before given the fiscal constraints we face and impact of Covid-19 on our communities.
Our understanding is that DCoG has concluded and MOU with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) MOU to assist the department with professional servicesforproject management unit (PMU) to implement the DDM.
2. DCOG has made available the DDM concept note, document on lessons learnt in the pilots and profiles of the 52 District it produced available in the following link http://www.cogta.gov.za/ddm/
There is no requirement that DCOG should submit reports to Treasury prior to its decisions to procure professionals through the DBSA for its implementation of DDM, given that National Treasury does not get involved in the procurement processes of professional servicesof other institutions. In other words, we can’t provide comments on what basis the DBSA issued a tender on 30 June 2020, DCOG should be in a position to provide required details.
3. Besides the information DCOG published in its website, given thatit is the custodian of theDDM, it will only be appropriate that they be approached to provide the Honourable members with the diagnostic reports in respect of the lessons learnt by the Government in piloting the DDM in the eThekwini Metro, OR Tambo and Waterberg District Municipalities.