Question NW2134 to the Minister of Social Development
15 November 2021 - NW2134
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
With reference to her reply to question 1107 on 30 July 2021, wherein she does not provide the details as requested with regard to the campaign of the Deputy Minister in KwaZulu-Natal entitled 50 Good Deeds which commenced on 1 March 2020 until 14 March 2020, (a) how was the campaign aligned to the priorities and plans together with the outcomes achieved by her department, (b) what are the details of the programme of the two-week campaign, (c) what are the details of the list of Ministerial and officials who accompanied the Deputy Minister on the campaign and the specific role each played and (d) what was the total cost for the entire campaign in respect of the (i) Deputy Minister, (ii) Ministerial staff, (iii) subsistence and (iv) travel claims submitted at the end of the campaign?
Reply:
a) As stated in my previous reply to this question, the Deputy Minister’s programme in the area is linked to the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM), which Cabinet approved in August 2019 as an important innovation to improve integrated planning and delivery across the three spheres of government.
The Deputy Minister is the District Champion for Amajuba District. The DDM focuses on the forty-four (44) districts and eight (8) metros as focal points of government and private sector investment. The model will ensure coherence and integration in planning, budgeting and implementation of service delivery projects in all districts and metros by all three spheres of government – national, provincial and local.
b) Key activities of the programme included amongst others, meeting and distribution of personal protective equipments (PPEs) to Early Childhood Development Practitioners and facilities in the district, meet-and-greet with local mayors, launch of ChommY-a social behavioural programme targeting young children, dialogue with the District Men’s Sector, to name a few
c) Chapter 3 of the Guide for Members of the Executive (Ministerial Handbook) makes provision for the appointment of Ministerial staff (support staff) who render support services whenever they travel for work-related purposes. The travel by support staff who accompanied the Deputy Minister and the Department officials who were part of the DDM programme were approved in line with the Department’s Supply Chain Management policies. Their role was to coordinate and support the implementation of the DDM programme.
d) (i) (ii) (iii) the cost of travel and accommodation, including subsistence are covered in the Department’s annual budget for implementation of the Annual Performance Plan targets and outreach programmes in the DDM