Thank you very much, Chairperson. Hon Minister, my question relates to your department's capacity to monitor the employment of persons with disabilities by other government departments. That is what I want to know. Is the problem due to the fact that the posts are not advertised by government departments? Is it due to the fact that people with disabilities do not apply? Have you, as the department, established what the problems are, and what are you going to do about them?
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson, I indicated earlier on that, as we speak, there is a process that is unfolding to ensure that measurable targets are put in place. We are working with the Ministry or Department for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation to develop such measures.
We are also in the process of putting mechanisms in place to ensure that there is compliance. We all know that we have not done well as a country. There are a number of reasons for that. Hon members know that we have not achieved our ... [Interjections.] Now, the important thing to do is to ensure that all the departments comply with the set of targets and the mechanisms that are going to be put in place soon enough. These will be announced to the country to ensure that there is compliance around the 2% target that has been set for our country to reach. Thank you.
Meetings and work timeframes of National Planning Commission
86. Mr N Singh (IFP) asked the Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission:
(1) How many meetings of the National Planning Commission (NPC) have been held;
(2) whether any timeframes for the work of the NPC have been implemented; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO2520E
The MINISTER OF LABOUR (for THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION): Chairperson, to date, the National Planning Commission held three meetings on a monthly basis. The first meeting was a two-day orientation session in May 2010, which was addressed by the President, who spelled out the commission's mandate. The mandate that was given to the commission was that its vision and development plan should be finalised within 18 months after its appointment. Taking this deadline into account, the commission is in the process of finalising short-term deadlines to embark on the processes of consultation and discussions with various stakeholders in order to meet its mandate.
Furthermore, the commission is mandated to produce reports on issues relating to long-term development on an ongoing basis. Thank you, Chairperson.