Deputy Speaker, hon members, the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises undertook an oversight visit to the Department of Public Enterprises, DPE, and three of our state-owned companies, namely Transnet, the South African Forest Company Limited, Safcol, and Broadband Infraco. The purpose was to familiarise the committee with the challenges faced by these entities; to assess the working conditions of workers, job creation and skills development initiatives; and the impact of the developmental projects on the communities adjacent to where these entities are situated.
During our oversight, the committee found the following at the department: The committee acknowledged the monitoring systems and tools that the Department of Public Enterprises had put in place to execute its unique function of shareholder management. The committee is concerned with the cases of financial and management irregularities in our state-owned companies such as Transnet, Broadband Infraco and SA Express Airways. The department needed to sharpen its oversight tools, especially through the boards, to detect irregularities and discrepancies timeously. There is also a need for the Auditor-General to audit all the big state-owned companies.
Regarding Broadband Infraco, the committee feels that there is a need for Broadband Infraco to be issued with an electronic communication services licence in order to deliver on its developmental mandate of lowering the costs of connectivity and providing broadband services to clinics, hospitals, schools and so forth.
Regarding Safcol, the committee welcomed projects that were undertaken by Komatiland Forests within the surrounding communities, especially in identifying community needs. Safcol has built school classrooms, donated computers and established early childhood development centres in these communities. We believe the entity can do more.
Regarding Transnet, the committee was impressed with Transnet's expansion programme of the Durban Harbour as well the state-of-the-art pipeline that goes to Gauteng. These have a positive impact on our country's economy. There is a need for the Department of Public Enterprises to be sufficiently resourced and capacitated in order to effectively oversee the massive infrastructure projects of our state-owned companies.
Namens ons komitee l ek hierdie verslag voor hierdie Huis vir oorweging. Baie dankie. [On behalf of our committee, I submit this report to this House for consideration. Thank you.]
There was no debate.