Question NW511 to the Minister of Social Development

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11 April 2018 - NW511

Profile picture: Wilson, Ms ER

Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Social Development

(1)Why (a) was a request to host five events in KwaZulu-Natal for beneficiary education and beneficiary awareness campaigns on the new payment system and foster care mop-up project on 12 and 23 December 2017 approved within a day on 5 December 2017, (b) did beneficiary education and beneficiary awareness campaigns on the new payment system take place when a new payment system for the payment of social grants had not yet been finalised, (c) did all five events take place in KwaZulu-Natal and (d) was a total amount of R20 million approved for hosting the five events without an itemised breakdown of costs; (2) what are the relevant details of (a) each service provider that provided services for each event, (b) the detailed breakdown of all costs incurred for each event, (c) the number of beneficiaries that attended each event and (d) each (i) national and (ii) provincial representative from her department who attended each event?

Reply:

(1)(a) Submissions and other documents routed for CEO’s signature are attended based on her availability in office. The mentioned submission was signed on 5 December 2017 because ACEO was in office on that day.

(b) SASSA has an obligation to ensure that the payment of social grants is uninterrupted notwithstanding the phasing-in or phasing-out of services providers. Accordingly stakeholder management and constant communication becomes critical to prevent confusion amongst beneficiaries and their families

  • The beneficiary education and awareness campaigns are held to reassure clients of government’s commitment to continue with the provision of paying social grants without any interruptions
  • The campaigns are used as a platform to educate people on different types of grants e.g. Grant in aid; various SASSA projects e.g. Regulation 26A, Foster care backlog mop-up project. With regards to Reg 26A: SASSA has insourced the services to do direct funeral cover deductions on qualifying grants thus communication with beneficiaries was critical in order to allow beneficiaries opportunity to update their information, and to be within the legislation requirement of one policy per person and the policy not to be more that 10% of the grant amount.
  • The beneficiary and stakeholder engagement was critical due to the need to provide clarity on the SASSA card that was to expire December 2017 and to inform beneficiaries that it has been extended to December 2018.

(c) No, only three events took place at the following places:

1. Makhosini

2. Kwamakhutha

3. Matshensikazi

(d) At head office level regions are allocated amounts to spend per event and the breakdown of cost is done at the regional level as they do their procurement process.

(a) 1. MAKHOSINI

NAME OF SUPPLIER

SERVICE RENDERED

Silver Ark Projects

Main Marque

Mbengiwe

Flooring

Mxinwa

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence and Marshals

Thinasonke

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

Sweet Basil

Catering For Public , VIP and Officials

Skhova's

Transport

Pubag

Sound System

Barlon Suppliers and Projects

Gift & Promotional Items

2. KWAMAKHUTHA

NAME OF SUPPLIER

SERVICE RENDERED

Bright Cloud

Main Marque

Thingo Investment

Flooring

Thengokhulu

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence And Marshals

Summer Rock

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

Ethel Investment

Catering For Public , VIP And Officials

Platonic

Transport

Silver Solutions

Sound System

Mbombo Events

Gift & Promotional Items

3. MATSHENSIKAZI

Name Of Supplier

Service Rendered

Kokumo Holdings

Main Marque

White Dove Investment (Pty) Ltd

Flooring

Tito Whl Trading

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence and Marshals

Idlomo Production

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

Duma Suppliers Group (Pty) Ltd

Catering For Public , VIP and Officials

Oakgotla

Transport

Sbani Samagela Trading Enterprise

Sound System

Marujwane Trading And Projects

Gift & Promotions Items

(b) The detailed breakdown of all costs incurred for each event:

1. MAKHOSINI

Service Rendered

AMOUNT(R)

Main Marque

485,021.00

Flooring

482,653.92

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence and Marshals

490,000.00

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

487,230.90

Catering for Public , VIP and Officials

493,650.00

Transport

493,000.00

Sound System

492,853.80

Gift & Promotion Items

480,000.00

 

3,904,409.62

   

KWAMAKHUTHA

 

 

SERVICE RENDERED

AMOUNT(R)

Main Marque

487,398.00

Flooring

491,379.00

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence And Marshals

490,100.00

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

493,250.00

Catering For Public , VIP And Officials

490,750.30

Transport

494,500.00

Sound System

467,240.00

 Gift & Promotion Items

495,000.00

 

3,909,617.30

MATSHENSIKAZI

SERVICE RENDERED

AMOUNT(R)

Main Marque

467,021.00

Flooring

496,950.70

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence And Marshals

488,399.50

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

491,489.30

Catering For Public , VIP and Officials

493,728.00

Transport

494,478.15

Sound System

493,050.00

Gift & Promotions

352,470.00

 

3,777,586.65

(c) Approximately 3000 people attended per event

(d) SASSA does not keep a record of official who attend the events. Officials attending events include representatives from Head Office, Provincial Offices as well as District and Local Offices.

 

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date……………………….

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