Question NW3447 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration

Reply:

There is no dedicated funding ring-fenced for the Thusong Service Centres as there is no lead Department for the Programme. The GCIS as the current coordinator is only having funding for Marketing and Communication for the work undertaken at the Centres.

(2) What are the reasons that the TSC Programme does not currently have a workable funding model:

REPLY:

National Treasury was tasked with the responsibility to explore a possible funding options and model as part of the repositioning of the Programme. However, the recommendations could not be implemented due to lack of a lead Department.

(3) What are the reasons that the workable funding model recommended by the National Treasury in respect of the TSC Programme has not been implemented:

REPLY:

The recommendations could not be implemented due to lack of a lead Department.

(4) What total amount in funding was earmarked for the TSC Programme by the Government in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial years?

REPLY:

There are no dedicated or ringfenced funds for the Thusong Service Centre Programme.  No funds were earmarked for the national coordination function carried out by the GCIS.

The 2006-2014 Business Plan advocated that the primary responsibility for the funding of Thusong Centres should rest with Municipalities as the plan envisaged that these Centres would be managed by Municipalities. Furthermore, the funding may come from various sources e.g., Municipal Infrastructure Grant and Neighbourhood Development Grant for construction of Centres and cost recovery mechanisms from Leases signed with anchor tenant departments. 

NW4579E

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