Question NW3811 to the President of the Republic
28 November 2022 - NW3811
Steenhuisen, Mr JH to ask the President of the Republic
What legislative provisions does he rely on (a) to allow for the existence of the Ministerial Handbook and (b) guides him in setting the provisions for (i) Ministers and (ii) Deputy Ministers contained in the Ministerial Handbook?
Reply:
The State is required to ensure that political office bearers, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers and Members of Executive Councils are provided with resources and enabling facilities (tools of trade) to perform their duties effectively.
The Guide for Members of the Executive provides a framework to manage the extent to which the State provides these tools of trade. The adoption of the Guide is not done in terms of any legislative provision, but is the result of a Cabinet decision that the tools of the trade need to be defined and regulated.
The determination of tools of trade takes into account the nature of the work or duties to be performed by Members of the Executive. These tools of trade include official and private accommodation, offices, office Supplies and stationery, ICT, support staff, travel facilities and security.
The Ministerial Handbook seeks to ensure the appropriateness of the tools of trade, to manage the costs related thereto, to ensure the transparency of their use and ultimately to ensure accountability for the use of tools of trade.