Question NW154 to the Minister of Public Works
24 February 2017 - NW154
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Public Works
(1) What is the total amount of his department’s budget allocation for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2017; (2) whether his department disbursed any other resources for SONA; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works
1. The Department of Public Works (DPW) budgeted an amount of R3.5 million in terms of Prestige logistical services for the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) and opening of Parliament event. The DPW spent only R2.7 million from the budgeted amount, thus making the savings of about R800 000.
2. The Department did not disburse any other financial resources for the SONA apart from what was budgeted. Instead, the Department realised savings through the insourcing of staff from its workshops and horticulture services, as well as the Expanded Public Works Programme. The savings were made against the backdrop of austerity measures that were introduced by Government in recent years.