International Relations and Cooperation Budget Review and Recommendations Report; Committee's Operational Plan
International Relations
18 October 2011
Chairperson: Mr T Magama (ANC)
Meeting Summary
The Committee reviewed its Budget Review and Recommendations Report. The main objective of the Department was to pursue African development and enhanced integration within
The budget briefing revealed an overall spending of 93.4%. The main expenditures were on capital projects in
The AGSA report mentioned 11 concerns with non-compliance. The Committee regarded these concerns as important. There was an irregular expenditure R526 000. The conclusion had been that the overall performance of the Department had been satisfactory except for the AGSA’s report. The activities of the Department and fulfilment of its mandate had contributed towards improving lives of South Africans towards a stable and secure continent. The Committee was satisfied that the Department had utilised its budget in accordance with its strategic plan.
Committee members agreed that the report was sound and raised question of there being no record of SCOPA in the report.
The Committee considered its draft operational plan most of the issues in the Committee Programme had been lifted from the business plan, except for the Palestinian issue the issue of how the Committee would engage with COP17. It was important for the Committee to have a final briefing by the Department on
Committee members proposed an oversight visit to Israel-Palestine and raised question as to who would present at the proposed symposium on Palestine, who would present at the regional integration workshop and would the Committee be represented at the Cop17.
The Committee adopted the Budget Review and Recommendation Report and the draft operational plan
Meeting report
The Chairperson offered apologies on behalf of Ms W Newhoudt-Druchan, Mr B Holomisa, Mr B Skosana, and Ms L Jacobus. He invited Ms Lineo Mosala, Content Advisor to Parliament to highlight the Budget Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR).
Consideration of Committee’s Budget Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR)
Ms Mosala stated that the BRRR was a review of Departmental activities over the past financial year. The document was an assessment of whether the objectives had been met in accordance with what had been stated in the strategic plan and whether the measurable objectives in the operational plan had been met. The main objective of the Department was to pursue African development and enhanced integration within
South-South cooperation had seen a lot of progress happening with the India-Brazil-South Africa group (IBSA), as well as the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa group (BRICS). BRICS had proven to be the strongest forum for cooperation in the South. Global systems of governance dealt with issues in participation and the G-20.
The budget briefing revealed an overall spending of 93.4%. The main expenditures were on capital projects in
The AGSA report mentioned 11 concerns with non-compliance. The Committee regarded these concerns as important. There was an irregular expenditure R526 000. Concerns of AGSA included the incompleteness and inaccuracies of financial statements submitted for audit, strategic objectives were not ‘smart’, issues that went unreported-such as the end result of a disciplinary case held against one of the officials. Also some employees performed remunerated work outside of the Department without permission and awards were made to suppliers who did not submit declaration of past supply chain practices. Some senior managers had performance contracts that were not signed and assessments that were not done, but were still paid for performance. There were some employees acting in higher vacated posts for an indefinite period exceeding 12 months. The law required that if an employee acted for a period of beyond 12 months there needed a formal appointment. Some employees were acting in senior management positions for more than 6 months, which was contrary to regulations. Management did not report outcomes of disciplinary proceedings related to financial misconduct. Most of the non-compliance issues passed by the Department’s management without it noticing. The AGSA recommendations stated that the Department needed to review its check and balances. The Committee was of the view that issues should be taken seriously. This was the first time that the dept had such an emphasis of matter and they needed to be addressed as soon as possible and reported back to the Committee. The AGSA report on the ARF found similar non-compliance issues. There was no reporting on progress made towards achieving measurable objectives and the other concern was that there should be strategic planning for the fund, so that projections were known well in advance. The response that Committee got back was that this was not possible due to the unpredictable nature of development assistance work and response to humanitarian crises. The Committee was concerned with how SADPA would be run without a specifically detailed strategic plan. The conclusion had been that the overall performance of the Department had been satisfactory except for the AGSA’s report. The activities of the Department and fulfilment of its mandate had contributed towards improving lives of South Africans towards a stable and secure continent. The Committee was satisfied that the Department had utilised its budget in accordance with its strategic plan.
Committee recommendations stated that the Department needed to conduct review of involvement on the continent under the ARF, so that when SADPA was operational, the Department would have a clear idea of the processes created before SADPA. NEPAD programmes needed funding due to shortage in funding. There needed to be a physical verification of all assets and a regular updating of the asset register. In reference to the AGSA report, there was a need for a refresher workshop for senior and middle management on the creation of ‘smart’ objectives and targets, as well as supply chain management. Issue of performance assessment needed to be addressed. The
Discussion
The Chairperson opened the floor to discussion
Ms C Dudley (ACDP) stated that the document mirrored what was discussed in the Annual Report and was sound.
Mr K Mubu (DA) agreed that the report was sound
Ms C September (ANC) asked whether there was anything in the report relating to SCOPA?
Ms Mosala responded that there was no record from SCOPA for 2010/2011 financial year. But the following year would definitely have a record from SCOPA.
The Chairperson suggested moving to the programme
Consideration of the Committee Draft Operational Plan
The Chairperson stated that most of the issues in the Committee Programme had been lifted from the business plan, except for the Palestinian issue, which was thrust upon the Committee by condition. The other ‘new’ issue for the Committee to engage with would be COP17. As the Department of International Relations and Cooperation was the lead Department for presiding over COP17, it was important for the Committee to provide oversight on the preparations for COP17. It was important for the Committee to have a final briefing by the Department on
The Chairperson opened the floor to discussion.
Mr E Sulliman (ANC) proposed an oversight visit to Israel-Palestine during the first week of December
The Chairperson responded that he was still in the processes of engaging the Speaker on this matter and also engaging the other House. The Committee would finalise that process and move forward accordingly. The Chairperson suggested leaving the timeframe open for now in order to give the Committee the space to fill it in if the request was approved.
Mr Mubu asked who would present at the symposium on
The Chairperson responded that the symposium would provide people from both sides the opportunity to present their views and have inputs from a broader section of society.
Ms C Dudley (ACDP) asked how the Committee would advertise the symposium, so that civil society could respond.
The Chairperson replied that the Committee would make the symposium public and use the media to promote it. There were lists of organisation that Parliament linked with on a variety of issues and members could add organisations to the list to ensure that no interested parties were excluded. On the regional integration workshop, the Committee wanted SADC to present and get the Department to make an input. The Workshop was not a repeat as to how regional integration functioned, but rather to come up with a workable framework for the consideration of treaties that would hopefully be adopted by Parliament as the framework for considering treaties within Parliament. Regarding the delegation for COP17, Parliament would send a delegation. The Speaker would determine who would be part of the delegation.
Ms September asked whether it would be advisable for the Committee to establish
The Chairperson suggested merging the oversight briefing with a visit.
Ms R Magau (ANC) proposed that the Committee adoption of the BRRR.
Mr Mubu seconded the adoption.
The Chairperson declared that the BRRR was adopted.
Mr Sulliman proposed that the Committee accept the draft operational plan.
Ms Dudley seconded the adoption.
The Chairperson closed the meeting.
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