Question NW175 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
26 February 2018 - NW175
Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)(a) What is the total amount that the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) is paying for rent to a certain company (name furnished) per annum, (b) what is the term of the contract, (c) what number of employees of the NIHSS are accommodated on the property and (d) is the contract with the specified company the most affordable and value for money lease in light of lack of funding for higher education; (2) Has she found that the NIHSS staff could not be accommodated in the buildings of her department that are under existing leases; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) has provided the following responses to the questions posed.
1. (a) The NIHSS currently pays Alchemy Properties an annual rental of R3 339 411.74.
(b) The term of the contract is for three years which commenced on 1 November 2015 and will end on 31 October 2018.
(c) A total of 38 employees are accommodated on the property.
(d) The procurement of the premises was done in terms of an open tender process and the lowest quotation was approved.
2. The NIHSS could not be accommodated in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s offices. Before securing their own office space, all NIHSS’s employees were temporality housed at the Centre for Education Policy Development, who was the fund-holder at the time. At that time, the NIHSS had only 5 employees. The NIHSS staff complement has since increased, hence the need for suitable office space.
COMPILER DETAILS
NAME AND SURNAME: MS PEARL WHITTLE
CONTACT: 012 312 5248
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Minister signs Parliamentary Question 175.
MR GF QONDE
DIRECTOR–GENERAL: HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DATE:
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION 175 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.
COMMENT/S
PROF HB MKHIZE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DATE: