Question NW3264 to the Minister of Social Development

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13 November 2017 - NW3264

Profile picture: Wilson, Ms ER

Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Social Development

(1)With reference to her reply to question 2019 on 9 October 2017, in which she gives a breakdown of the number of Mikondzo events that were held in each province, as well as the associated costs, why were 20 events held in KwaZulu-Natal and only one or two events held in the remainder of the provinces, which total to only 11 events; (2) in view of the specified reply which states that the total cost of the specified events amounted to R10 098 290 976, although the budget was only R62 500 000, (a) why did her department overspend billions of Rands on the events and (b) in which budgeted line item were these billions reflected; (3) whether any virements were necessary to pay for the overspend; if so, (a)(i) from which budgeted line item and (ii) in which programmes were the specified virements made, (b) what percentage of the specified budgeted line item was used for the virements, (c) who authorised such virements and (d) were the large virements authorised by the Treasury; (4) with reference to her specified reply in which it is stated that the budget allocation of each event was R2 500 000, but according to the actual expenditure costs the average cost of each event was R325 million, from where did she obtain the specified figures?

Reply:

1. The reply to Parliamentary Question 2019 indicated that there were 11 Mikondzo events held in KwaZulu-Natal. The areas identified for Mikondzo are informed by prevailing social ills, the level of poverty and challenges with access to social services amongst others. As a result, the provinces will not all host the same number of Mikondzo events.

2. Please note that there was an error in the attachment to Parliamentary Question 2019, for which I apologise. The actual amount spent on Mikondzo for the financial year, was approximately R100 million, and not R10 billion. The events in Limpopo and Mpumalanga indicated that an amount of R2,5 billion was spent on these events. This should have been R2,5 million, which was in line with the budgeted amount for each event. The funding was allocated from the retained surplus.

3. No virements were necessary, as the funding was allocated from the retained surplus.

4. As indicated under response to question 2, the details in the spreadsheet in the response to question 2019 was incorrect. The budgeted amount for each event was in fact R2,5 million.

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