Question NW1404 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration
08 September 2016 - NW1404
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
Whether (a) his department and (b) all entities reporting to him are running development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (aa) what are the relevant details, (bb) what amount has been budgeted and (cc) how many jobs will be created through the specified development programmes in the 2016-17 financial year?
Reply:
(a)(i)(ii) No. The Department does not have a mandate to run development programmes.
(b) Entities namely (1) National School of Government and (2) Centre for Public Service Innovation
(1) National School of Government
The National School of Government does not run development programme for (i) small business and (ii) co-operatives as it does not fall within the mandate of the National School of Government.
(aa)(bb)(cc) Falls away
(2) Centre for Public Service Innovation
The Centre for Public Service Innovation is not running dedicated development programme for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives. However, in terms of its MoA with The Innovation Hub (one of the entities within the National System of Innovation tasked with developing SMMEs), the Centre for Public Service Innovation, annually post a public service challenge to small businesses and co-operatives on their Open IX Exchange.
Small business and co-operatives are invited to submit proposals for developing solutions. The Centre for Public Service Innovation then funds the piloting of the selected solution to a maximum value of: (bb) R250 000, (cc) the number of jobs to be created for 2016/17 has not been quantified yet, since pilot project will only be initiated later in the year.