Question NW34 to the Minister of Social Development
03 October 2017 - NW34
Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)With reference to the 2015-16 annual report of her department, (a) what are the names of each consultant paid from the R40,5 million spent on consultants in the specified financial year, (b) what consulting services were provided in each case, (c) what is the total amount paid to each consultant, (d) is there a service level agreement with each of the specified consultants and (e) what tender procedures were followed in each case; (2) with reference to the R8, 4 million and R7, 08 million spent on catering in Programmes 4 and 5 respectively, (a) for which events was catering required in each programme, (b) what is the total amount that each event cost in each of the specified programmes, (c) what is the total number of guests who attended each specified event in each programme and (d) in which province did each event take place?
Reply:
As per the latest Standard Chart Of Accounts (SCOA), consulting services refers “to specialist services and skills provided that are required for the achievement of a specific objective, with the aim of providing expert and professional advice on a time and material basis. It is unnecessary to maintain these skills in-house, since they are required on a once-off or temporary basis. The legal status of this person can be an individual, a partnership or a corporation. Remuneration is usually based on an hourly fee or a fixed fee for a product/deliverable”.
Due to the number of transactions involved that make up amount (R40, 5 million) disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements of the department, it is not possible to respond on the details required by the member. Based on the SCOA categories, numerous payments were processed for the following goods and services:
Payments for consultancy services rendered by specialised professional Accountants and Auditors firms. This excludes payments for services rendered by the Auditor-General personnel or firms contracted by the AGSA for audit services.
Payments for consultancy services rendered by an Audit Committee member. The legal status can be an individual.
Payment for consultancy services rendered by a Board Member for specialised professional services.
Payment for consultancy services for the provision of specialised professional or technical services related to Human Resources Management.
Payments for professional services for special commissions of enquiry and members of committees other than the Audit Committee and Board Members.
Payments for specialist research and advisory services related to the development, refinement or evaluation of policies to the senior management of an entity (Usually these kinds of specialist research and advisory services would be done by recognized specialists in the relevant field, who very often are working as individuals, universities or research institutes).
Payments for professional services for editors, translators (not in a court) and capturing of information (Transcripts). Included in this item are sign language translators or interpreters used e.g. in Parliament or when delivering public speeches.
Payments for professional services of a valuation of assets.
Payments to occupational safety and health and risk assessment consultants which is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in the work- or employment environment. As a secondary effect, it may also protect co-workers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment.
Payment for consultancy services for the provision of specialised professional services regarding Financial, Asset and Procurement Management.
The department is however unable to answer the questions unless the member have a direct question on specific goods and services delivered and rendered respectively.