Committee Report on Department of Public Works Strategic Plan 2013

Public Works and Infrastructure

30 April 2013
Chairperson: Ms Mabuza (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee met briefly to consider and adopt its report on the Department of Public Works budget for 2013. Members corrected several nominal errors in the document as well as more substantive ones.

Members emphasised that the Department of Public Works had to make sure that it complied with the Employment Equity Act. They further stated that Transformation in the construction industry had to be achieved, and the design of the Department of Public Works projects should be labour intensive.
Other issues relating to the Departments asset disposal policy and asset register were also discussed. Members adopted the report as amended and agreed to present it to the House.
 

Meeting report

Ms Akhona Busakwe, Committee Secretary, read the text message of apology sent by Ms C Madlopha (ANC) who did not attend the meeting. The text message was read as follows, “Please submit my apology to the committee that I would not be able to attend the meeting due to other commitments”.

Ms P Ngwenya-Mabila (ANC) suggested that the Committee should not worry too much about the text message of apology, but rather concentrate on the issues of the meeting- Consideration and Adoption on Department of Public Works Strategic Plan 2013.

The Chairperson also informed Members that two other Members- Ms A Dreyer (DA) and Mr P Mnguni (COPE)- had submitted apologies and would not be attending the meeting.

Committee Report on Department of Public Works Strategic Plan 2013
The Chairperson apologised for the late distribution of the draft report.

It was agreed that Members would be given 10 minutes to go through the draft report.

Ms Ngwenya-Mabila noted that most information contained in the draft report was from Annual Performance Plan (APP), and that the draft report did not have enough findings. The APP was not put together very well; there was no plan in place from the Department of Public Works. There had to be some corrections on sentenced usage, language usage and headings in the draft report. She raised concerns about the Department’s non-compliance with the Employment Equity Act (EEA).

Mr L Gaehler (UDM) noted that it was difficult to correct the report in most cases. He emphasised that the design of the Department of Public work’s projects, and the construction industry projects had to be labour intensive.  

Mr M Swathe (DA) advised that all parliamentary documents had done had to be saved somewhere. In addition, he asked about the Department’s asset disposal policy.

Ms N Ngcengwane (ANC) noted that the Department of Public Work’s compliance with Employment Equity was not clear, and she emphasised that the Department should do much better in complying with the legal framework. The Department’s projects had to achieve value for money. She then asked about whether the Appropriation bill was going to be passed.

Mr K Sithole (IFP) addressed three issues. Firstly, he noted that the Department of Public works mentioned transformation in the construction industry, and suggested that the Committee should make some recommendations about this. Secondly, he expressed concern about the asset register. Lastly, he queried whether the budget allocated to the Committee was enough for it to carry out its mandate.

Ms N Madlala (ANC) noted some incorrect words on page 1 of the draft report, and made corrections. The sentence on page 4 “Department’s centralised policy and procedure” was confusing, and she asked for clarity on that.

The Chairperson noted that some paragraphs on page 12 of the draft report were not satisfactory, and they needed to be corrected.

The Chairperson said that there was a problem with the findings and it should be improved.

The Chairperson said that the Committee was still waiting for the Department to report on the asset register. The budget allocated to the Committee was meant for catering, travelling, and accommodation, and it was enough. She asked whether, with corrections and amendments, Members approve the report.

Members adopted the report as amended.

In concluding, the Chairperson announced that that each Committee in Parliament had to choose 7 people to attend the centenary activities relating to the 1913 Native Land Act. In addition, there would be no meeting next week due the fact that 6 Departments would be participating in the National Planning Commission (NPC) meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.
 

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