Question NW1455 to the Minister of Basic Education
15 August 2017 - NW1455
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)With regard to her reply to question 783 on 11 April 2017, what was the specific reason for the underspending in (a) the Eastern Cape of R47 776 717.16, (b) the Free State of R291 294 846, (c) KwaZulu-Natal of R97 551 404, (d) Limpopo of R86 082 002, (e) Mpumalanga of R81 404 186, (f) the Northern Cape of R27 198 095 and (g) the North West of R53 433 807 as part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI); for each, specify (i) the number of projects affected and (ii) whether or not the projects were completed in the 2016-17 financial year; (2) what amount was (a) allocated to and (b) spent by the Western Cape as part of ASIDI in the 2015-16 financial year?
Reply:
1. The process of merging, closing and rationalisation of small and unviable schools, led to major delays, which delayed the allocation of projects to implementing agents and contractors, which in effect led to lower spending. Non-performing contractors and Implementing Agents (IAs) also had a negative effect on performance and expenditure. The process of terminating and replacing contractors and IAs is lengthy and as such, the projects that are stopped do not generate any expenditure during that process. The process of replacing the service providers has been concluded. Finally, in some parts of the country, inclement weather severely affected work at sites.
2. The Western Cape was allocated R 274 804 000 in 2015-16 financial year. Expenditure for the 2015-16 financial year was R 329 098 000.