Question NW1742 to the Minister of Basic Education

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21 November 2016 - NW1742

Profile picture: Davis, Mr GR

Davis, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)With reference to her reply to oral question 117 on 24 August 2016, (a) why was the Ministerial Task Team provided with an extension of six months to continue with the forensic investigation of cases reported during the finalisation of the report and (b) have the specified forensic investigations been completed at the end of August; (2) whether the specified forensic investigation was initially undertaken by Deloitte and Touche SA and now undertaken by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services; if so, why was the decision taken to transfer the forensic investigation from the company to the department; (3) (a) what amount has been budgeted for the forensic investigation and (b) what is the breakdown of the budget; (4) whether she will make the report, that will be handed over to her at the end of August 2016, available to the public; if not, why not; if so, on what date will she make the specified report available to the public; (5) (a) when was the deadline for provincial departments of education to take action on the identified cases and provide progress reports to her, (b) which of the specified provincial departments have provided her with progress reports and (c) when will the specified progress reports be made available to the public?

Reply:

1.  With reference to her reply to oral question 117 on 24 August 2016, (a) why was the Ministerial Task Team provided with an extension of six months to continue with the forensic investigation of cases reported during the finalisation of the report and (b) have the specified forensic investigations been completed at the end of August?

(a) The Report of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) indicated that there were 22 cases that still needed to be finalised. In addition to these cases, there were some additional cases that were received while the MTT was busy finalising the report. This necessitated that an extension of six (6) months be granted to the MTT Forensic Team in order to allow them to complete all the investigations and prepare a final forensic report.

(b) The Chairperson of the MTT, Prof J Volmink, has established that due to the mammoth task faced by the forensic team and the complexity of the investigation, it was not possible for this team to finalise its work by the end of August 2016 as was initially anticipated.

The Chairperson requested a further one month extension until 30 September 2016, to allow finalisation of all the cases at hand, as well as the consolidation of the Final Forensic Report. The request is being processed for the Minister’s consideration.

(2) Whether the specified forensic investigation was initially undertaken by Deloitte and Touche SA and now undertaken by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services; if so, why was the decision taken to transfer the forensic investigation from the company to the department?

The Ministerial Task Team comprised of the Chairperson, Prof J Volmink, Independent Educationist, Mr M Gardiner, members from the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA); Department of Justice and Correctional Services (DoJ & CS) and Deloitte and Touché SA.

The service of forensic investigation was not transferred. The DoJ & CS and Deloitte worked very closely as members of the MTT. The services of the forensic team from the DoJ & CS have been rendered pro bono, except for the payment of the subsistence and travelling allowances as and when required.

When the extension was granted, it made financial sense to use the human resources from a Government Department to complete the work they have started, as members of the MTT, rather than to enter into a new financially binding contract for another six (6) months.

(3) (a) What amount has been budgeted for the forensic investigation and (b) what is the breakdown of the budget?

(3)(a & b) The breakdown for the forensic investigation is as follows:

Deloitte contract amounted to: R 951 946

Subsistence and Travelling for DoJ & CS R 212 492

Total R 1 164 438

(4) Whether she will make the report, that will be handed over to her at the end of August 2016, available to the public; if not, why not; if so, on what date will she make the specified report available to the public?

(4) The Report of the MTT will be made available to the public after the Minister has received and analysed the Forensic Report.

(5) (a) When was the deadline for provincial departments of education to take action on the identified cases and provide progress reports to her, (b) which of the specified provincial departments have provided her with progress reports and (c) when will the specified progress reports be made available to the public?

(5) (a) The affected Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) were given a period of three (3) months from the 16 August 2016 to complete their work.

(b) None. The PED’s will submit the final report by end of November 2016.

(c) The Minister will determine, after considering the Provincial progress report, whether to make it available to the public.

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