Question NW203 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
26 February 2018 - NW203
Mente, Ms NV to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
Did the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences use the services of a certain company (name furnished) on 5 July 2017 to travel from Kievits Kroon, Pretoria to 12 East Road Observatory, Johannesburg; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what (i) was the cost of the trip and (ii) are the details of each person who was transported, (b) was the service that was provided by the specified company the cheapest travel option, (c) did the spending comply with (i) the National Treasury’s cost cutting measures and (ii) the regulations of (aa) her department and (bb) the Auditor-General of South Africa and (d) who approved the (i) trip and (ii) the payment?
Reply:
The National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) has provided the following responses to the questions posed.
The services of Exclusive Tours was used.
a) (i) The trip cost R1 500.
(ii) The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof Sarah Mosoetsa, was transported.
b) It was the cheapest travel option.
c) (i) The expenditure complied with the NIHSS’s policies. The NIHSS is neither a Department, nor a constitutional institution, nor a public entity listed in Schedule 2 or 3, and therefore the Public Finance Management Act is not applicable to the NIHSS.
(ii)(aa) Spending is managed by the NIHSS in terms of its policies.
(ii)(bb) The Auditor-General of South Africa audits the NIHSS in terms of Section 38 of the Higher Education Act and since its inception has received unqualified audit opinions.
d) (i) and (ii) The acting CFO approved the expenditure.
COMPILER DETAILS
NAME AND SURNAME: MS PEARL WHITTLE
CONTACT: 012 312 5248
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Minister signs Parliamentary Question 203.
MR GF QONDE
DIRECTOR–GENERAL: HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DATE:
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION 203 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.
COMMENTS
PROF HB MKHIZE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DATE: