Question NW2151 to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

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21 September 2020 - NW2151

Profile picture: Cuthbert, Mr MJ

Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

Whether he will furnish Mr M Cuthbert with a list of official overseas trips that a certain person (name furnished) has taken during her tenure at his department, including the (a) cost, (b) destination and (c) purpose of each trip; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, 2) whether the specified person ever received any gifts from Ithuba; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, 3) whether the gifts were declared to his department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. I am advised that according to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) records, the specified person travelled overseas as detailed below and that all trips undertaken were aligned to the functions for which the official is responsible and were duly authorised by the delegated authority.

No

Destination (b)

Date

Cost (a) in Rand (R)

Purpose of each trip (c)

1

Boston

Oct 2011

73 727,00

Learning and development intervention.

2

Beijing and Shanghai

Nov 2011

61 661,00

Attended the SA EXPO in Beijing and Shanghai as part of the Dept’s trade promotion programme.

3

Boston

Mar 2012

73 596,00

Learning and development intervention.

4

Boston

Apr 2013

63 296,00

Attended the 2013 Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Summit.

5

Kuala Lumpur

Jun 2013

35 454,00

Invited to attend The Global Summit for Women 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

6

Brazil

Aug 2013

57 077,00

Conducted an international benchmarking study in Brazil pertaining to Public Entities and Statutory Institutions.

7

Washington

Nov 2013

75 843,00

Attended the 17th Annual KM World Conference & Exposition in Washington.

8

Paris

Jun 2014

59 026,00

Attended the Global Summit of Women in Paris.

9

Washington

Jul 2014

77 898,00

Attended and participated in the AGOA Forum and the business engagements on the margins of US-Africa Leaders’ Summit. Provided support to the Minister.

10

Brazil

Oct 2014

69 708,00

Led the delegation for the 6th Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) in Brazil.

11

Washington

Nov 2014

96 567,39

Learning and Development Conference in Washington.

12

Atlanta and Santa Fe

Jul 2015

100 311,72

Trade promotion programme to Atlanta & Santa Fe. Supported the Deputy Minister.

13

California and St Louis

Oct 2015

104 453,72

Learning and Development intervention.

Also met with Showroom Management Company regarding the trade promotion Hub in Atlanta.

14

Hong Kong

Mar 2016

60 916,72

Participated in the Trade Promotion Expo.

15

Atlanta

Jul 2016

119 081,23

Participated and attended the trade promotion programme in Atlanta.

16

Moscow

Sept 2016

48 688,23

Attended and participated in the national Pavilion in Moscow.

17

Washington

Nov 2016

64 713,23

Learning and development intervention.

18

Atlanta and Miami

Nov 2016

100 375,23

Participated in the trade promotion programme.

19

San Diego

Apr 2017

125 456,23

Meeting with institutional buyers regarding the trade promotion programme.

20

Doha Qatar

Apr 2017

60 793,23

Attended the International Conference on Chemical Disarmament and Security as part of council function.

21

Atlanta

Jul 2017

97 586,29

Participated in the Trade Promotion programme.

22

Atlanta

Jan 2018

80 163,29

Participated in the Trade Promotion programme.

23

Atlanta

Jul 2018

64 021,68

Participated in the Trade Promotion programme.

24

New York, Philadelphia and Orlando

Oct 2018

119 116,68

Participated in the outward mission as part of the Trade Promotion programme.

25

Atlanta

Sept 2019

90 927,93

Facilitated the Trade Promotion project closure.

26

Geneva, Germany and the United Kingdom

Nov 2019

101 427,93

Part of SABS administration function to address a session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardisation Policies and undertook benchmarking visits to the British Standards Institute (BSI), German National Standards Body (DIN) and Swiss Standards Body (SNV).

2. The specified person received the following gifts from Ithuba in 2016 when representing the Department at the launch of Ithuba’s new “Raffle” game:

  • 1 box of chocolates;
  • Two wine glasses;
  • 1 pair of Jenna Clifford earrings; and
  • Soap.

3. I am advised that the gifts were disclosed to the Department in 2016.

-END-

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