Department of Tourism Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report: finalisation

Meeting report

Deliberations on the Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report
The Committee considered a revised version of its Draft Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR). Further grammatical and spelling changes were effected to the BRRR.

Mr S Farrow (DA) directed the Committee’s attention to page 20, which referred to “Other service delivery performance findings” under the paragraph, “Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)”. He wished a provision to be added to the effect that Local Economic Development (LED) offices had to be established by municipalities. Additionally on page 20 under the paragraph, “Local Government”, a provision had to be included to the effect that every municipality should have a “directorate of tourism”.
He highlighted the importance of the development of the South-South Corridor but was not sure where it should be placed in the BRRR. He suggested that it be included under paragraph “8.2.6 Tourist Airlift” on page 29.

The Committee agreed to its inclusion under paragraph 8.2.6.

Mr Farrow was also concerned about how to ensure that there was sustainability of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) processes. There had to be a sustainability model and skills transfer. The Committee should perhaps make a recommendation on it, which would convince the National Department of Tourism (NDT) to put a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) in place. He suggested that it be included under the paragraph, “Governance and Operations” on page 25. The NDT needed to follow up on projects in order to ensure that there was sustainability.

Mr Sibusiso Khuzwayo, the Committee Content Adviser, suggested that Mr Farrow’s suggestion on sustainability be included under “Social Responsibility Implementation (SRI)” on page 28 which was a performance related recommendation.

Mr Farrow agreed with Mr Khuzwayo and so did the Committee.

The Chairperson said it was fitting to include it under “Social Responsibility Implementation (SRI)” under subsection 8.2.3, subparagraph (ii).

The Committee agreed.

Before embarking on final consideration and adoption of the BRRR, the Chairperson informed the Committee that the ANC had requested that the adoption of the BRRR be postponed for a week as the party wished to research and revisit previous years’ BRRRs of the Committee.

The Chairperson pointed out that many Committees had not yet finalised their BRRRs. The Committee’s BRRR would be tabled in a written form.

The Committee agreed to the request of the ANC.

Mr Farrow congratulated the Committee staff involved in the drafting of the BRRR and said that it was a good document that reflected the work of the Committee.

Ms M Njobe (COPE) asked whether the Committee could still influence the budget of the NDT. Should the Committee not do the BRRR earlier?

The Chairperson explained that the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) prescribed the processes to be followed. Annual Reports should first be completed and only thereafter could BRRRs be done. There were tight deadlines. The issue of when the BRRRs should be done perhaps needed to be reconsidered. Should the PFMA be changed? Proposals that might emerge may not be workable.

Committee Minutes
The Committee adopted minutes dated the 10 September 2013. No amendments were made.

Minutes dated 8 October 2013 were placed before the Committee for consideration.

Mr Farrow said that the minutes did not reflect the media statement made by the Committee that crime in SA impacted heavily upon tourism.

The Chairperson, referring to the minutes, asked whether the Sho’t Left Campaign had been changed to Vaya Mzanzi as was reflected in the minute.

Mr Farrow said that the two campaigns had been merged.

The Committee agreed that the minutes should be amended to state that the two campaigns had “merged”.

The minutes were adopted as amended.