Official reply: 19/04/11
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 616/2011
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 07 March 2011
Internal question paper no: 4
Mr M Mnaqsela (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) (a) Which travel agencies or travel service providers does her
department use currently and (b)(i) how and (ii) when were they
appointed in each case;
(2) what was the (a) budgeted amount and (b) actual amount paid to each
specified service provider for departmental travel expenditure in the
(i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10 financial years? NW659E
REPLY:
(1) (a) The Department of Social Development currently uses Travel
with Flair.
(b)(i) The service provider was appointed through a public competitive
bidding process.
(ii) The current service provider was appointed on 1 April 2009.
The previous service providers were Rennies Travel (1 April 2006
to 30 November 2008) and Magic Travel (1 December 2008
to 31 March 2009).
(2) (a) Budget allocations for travel and accommodation:
i) 2007/08 Financial Year: R39 538 263.00
ii) 2008/09 Financial Year: R45 734 462.00
iii) 2009/10 Financial Year: R54 966 727.00
(b) The actual expenditure for travel and accommodation is as
follows:
i) 2007/08 Financial Year:
Rennies Travel : R33 847 720.89
ii) 2008/09 Financial Year:
Rennies Travel R50 022 667.10
Magic Travel R 4 461 864.70
Total R54 484 531.80
The traveling and accommodation costs of the Department increased
above the initial budget allocation for travel and accommodation
during the 2008/09 financial year and were funded from savings on
other operational expenditure items.
The main reasons for the increased costs related to:
- Assistance provided by the Department of Social Development as
part of the Governmentâs programme on Post Conflict
Reconstruction in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- The Department launched several initiatives to capacitate
provinces and non-governmental organisations in terms of key
legislation aspects (eg Childrenâs Act).
- The Appeals Function was established and several hearings were
conducted in provinces by the Appeals Tribunal.
iii) 2009/10 Financial Year:
Magic Travel R13 111 307.80
Travel with Flair R29 115 940.91
Total R42 227 248.71