Question NW2220 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
30 October 2020 - NW2220
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)(a) What type of entity is Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), (b) under which legislative prescript was the ISA established and (c) where in the organogram of her department does the ISA sit; (2) under what legislative prescripts was the appointment of a certain person (name and details furnished) done; (3) whether the organisational structure for the ISA is available; if not, (a) who will draft the organogram and (b) by what date will the organogram be drafted; if so, will she provide Ms S J Graham with a copy of the organogram; (4) whether appointments will be made without an organogram being in place; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the position(s) in which appointments will be made (details furnished); (5) (a) where is the funding for the ISA emanating from, (b) how much funding has been allocated to ISA in the current financial year, (c) where is the budget and (d) how is the budget allocated?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. (a) ISA was not established as an entity but a function to oversee the implementation of the mandate of Infrastructure. It is part of the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (NDPWI) functional organisational structure reporting to the Minister, responsible for PICC & IDMS roles emanating from the National Macro Organisation of Government (NMOG) processes including the urgent need for targeted infrastructure investment.On the 27 May 2020, Cabinet resolved to create Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) to be housed within DPWI to serve the purpose of being a single-entry point and to ensure that DPWI has a system accounting for all infrastructure projects at all levels of government.
(b) Public Service Regulations, 25 (2)(a) states that, based on the strategic plan of the department, an executive authority shall determine the department’s organisational structure in terms of its core mandated and support function. Public Service Act, section 41 stipulates the alignment with the said regulations as well as the role of the Minister of Public Service and Administrations.
(c) The structure depicts ISA at a macro level within the department with the Head of ISA reporting to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.
2. Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is appointed in the Presidency on contract. The Ministerrequested the permission of the Presidency to utilize the expertise of Dr Ramokgopa in introducing the functions of Infrastructure within DPWI.
3. The organisational structure of ISA was concluded by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and submitted to the Minister of Public Service and Administration for his concurrence in accordance with the Public Service Act and Regulations and approved.
4. No, the Department of Public Service and Administration must approve the organogram, which was done in September 2020. The recruitment process has started.
5. The Department reprioritised the budget to fund the function of ISA which will be subject to approval by National Treasury. For the current financial year, an amount of R23.062 million has reprioritised to provide funding for compensation of employees. Other funding requests such as computers, software licenses, cell phones and office furniture will be procured from the centralised budget under Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) budgets for goods and services and payments for capital services.