Question NW806 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

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16 April 2018 - NW806

Profile picture: Van Der Walt, Ms D

Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

What amount has her department (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on the VIP (i) lounges and (ii) services at the (aa) O R Tambo, (bb) Cape Town and (cc) King Shaka International Airports (aaa) in each of the past five financial years and (bbb) since 1 April 2017?

Reply:

I wish to preface my reply by providing background information on services provided by the State Protocol Lounges (SPLs) which in essence is part (ii) of the Honourable Member’s question.

1. SPLs are facilities provided by the South African Government to facilitate the efficient arrival and departure during domestic and international transit of the President, Deputy President, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, as well as Foreign Heads of States. South African Ministers are facilitated during their international travels only. The State Protocol Lounges are located at OR Tambo (ORTIA), Cape Town (CTIA) and King Shaka (KSTIA) International Airports. The ORTIA and CTIA are rented facilities properties from ACSA and the King Shaka is government owned and the Department only pays the lease for land.

2. All three Lounges operate daily from 06h00-22h00. Arrivals and departures that fall outside the normal working hours are facilitated as per need. During major events e.g. Summits, Conferences, State and Official visits, the SPL work in collaboration with other Airport Stakeholders such as ACSA, SAPS, Immigration, Customs, etc. to ensure smooth facilitations.

3. The State Protocol Lounges services are rendered freely to the VIP. The Department, through the Directorate: SPL budgets for catering in all three Lounges. The budget is centralised in and not broken down per State Protocol Lounge. However, the budget for the rental and upkeep of the Lounges is with the Business Unit: Facilities Management, which also budgets for fuel and maintenance of service vehicles.

4. The services rendered by the State Protocol Lounges include; checking-in of VIPs, clearing of passports with Immigration during international travel, transportation to and from the lounge and the aircraft. The VIPs are also served non-alcoholic beverages.

5. In 2016/17, for instance, the facilitations conducted through all three State Protocol Lounges were 27 333. Figures for 2017/18 are indicated below:

  • In the 1st Quarter of 2017/18 faciltations conducted were 7 139.
  • In the 2nd quarter of 2017/18 faciltations conducted were 7 148.
  • In the 3rd quarter of 2017/18 facilitations conducted were 7 753.

The information requested by the Honourable Member is provided below:

(a) State Protocol Lounge Budget for:

(i) VIP Lounges (rental, utilities and cleaning services)

Lounge

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/2017

(aa) ORTIA

1 640 957

2 360 112

2 607 624

2 881 440

3 179 400

(bb) CTIA

1 647 939

1 818 660

1 976 608

2 148 708

2 335 560

(cc) KSIA

2 218 005

2 417 340

2 580 396

2 755 560

2 943 852

(ii) Services

The VIPs are chauffeured to and from the aircrafts on the airside. They are also provided with non-alcoholic beverages whilst waiting in the State Protocol Lounges. To this end, the total budget of all the services rendered at:

(aa) OR Tambo International Airport

(bb) Cape Town International Airport

(cc) King Shaka International Airport

 

Over the past five years is as follows:

(aaa)

Period

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

Groceries

100 008

138 356

192 602

194 575

294 936

Fuel

Total budget for fuel is centralised in the Transport Section.

(b) Expenditure on the VIP

(i) Lounges (rental, utilities and cleaning services)

 

Lounge

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/2017

(aa) ORTIA

2 136 037

2 360 112

2 607 624

2 881 440

3 179 400

(bb) CTIA

1 647 939

1 818 660

1 976 608

2 148 708

2 335 560

(cc) KSIA

2 218 005

2 417 340

2 580 396

2 755 560

2 943 852

(ii) Services

The VIPs are chauffeured to and from the aircrafts on the airside. They are also provided with non-alcoholic beverages whilst waiting in the State Protocol Lounge. To this end, the total expenditure of all the services rendered at:

(aa) OR Tambo International Airport

(bb) Cape Town International Airport

(cc) King Shaka International Airport

 

Over the past five years is reflected as follows:

Period

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

Catering

172 363

138 356

192 602

194 575

294 936

Period

20140301 – 20180226

Fuel

705 324.38

(bbb) Budget and Expenditure from 01 April 2017 to 28 February 2018

 

VIP Lounges

Lounge

Budget

Expenditure

ORTIA

3 519 312

3 519 312

CTIA

2 538 648

2 538 648

KSIA

3 146 330

3 146 330

Services

Item

Budget

Expenditure

Catering

206 177

107 711

Source file