The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities, having considered Budget Vote 1 and the Strategic Plan of the Department and its entities reports as follows:
At present, the Presidency is the champion of socially vulnerable groups, namely children, youth, women and people with disabilities. According to the Announcement, Tablings and Committee Report of 5 June 2009, Vote No 1 - the Presidency was referred to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities for consideration and report.
The major challenge facing the Committee around deliberating on Vote 1 was the transitional arrangements with regard to the introduction of the new Ministry on Women, Children and People with Disabilities and the inclusion of the Special Programmes under the Presidency (namely the Office on the Rights of the Child, the Office on the Status of Women, the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons) as well as the inclusion of the National Youth Development Agency. Moreover, it must be noted that the National Youth Development Agency has recently been established and replaces the National Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund.
. The Department of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities has recently been introduced and therefore does not have a strategic plan and budget for the financial year 2009/10.
. The strategic planning process for the new Ministry is currently underway and a budget will only be tabled before the Committee in the next Medium Term Expenditure Framework period.
. The lack of clarity with regards to the transitional arrangements and budgetary allocations is of concern as there are direct implications for the programmes of the Office on the Rights of the Child, the Office on the Status of Women and the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons. Moreover, given the merger of the National Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund, similar challenges are faced by the National Youth Development Agency.
The Committee agreed that it would engage further with the Department on the establishment of the new Department. To this end, the Committee has noted Vote 1 and that the concerns highlighted above be considered.
2. Report of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the strategic plan and Budget Vote 4 of the Department of Home Affairs and its entities, dated 23 June 2009
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs having met with the Department of Home Affairs, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Film and Publication Board (FPB) and Government Printing Works (GPW) reports as follows:
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs plays an oversight role on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Home Affairs and its entities. The Committee has to scrutinize the Strategic Plans of the Department and its Entities to see that funds allocated to the Department are aligned to the respective strategic plan documents.
. Provide secure, efficient and accessible services and documents to citizens and lawful residents in accordance with national priorities, legislation and international standards; . Establish and maintain secure, effective, efficient, accurate and integrated data systems; . Facilitate and regulate the movement of people into and out of the Republic of South Africa through Ports of Entry in the interest of national security and in support of development goals; . Determine the status of asylum seekers and to regulate refugee affairs in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, national legislation and international protocols; . Advance cooperation with other departments and relevant civil society organisations on matters with a focus on improving service delivery and countering corruption; . Transform the Department of Home Affairs into a centre of excellence for securing and affirming the identity and status of persons and delivering a professional, caring and responsive service.
The Department of Home Affairs received an allocation of R5.05 billion for the 2009/10 MTEF, which is an increase of 4.8% compared to 2008/2009. The allocation has been broken down into the following programmes:
. The IT system of the Department of Home Affairs should be upgraded so that there would be no need for Asylum Seekers to review their applications at the Centre where they first applied. . The National Population Register (NPR) should be updated, so that the names of people who are not supposed to be in it are removed. . The vacancy rate of 34% is very high and the Department should ensure that the vacancies are filled as a matter of urgency in order to speed up service delivery.
- Manage elections of national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies in accordance with national legislation; - Ensure that those elections are free and fair; and - Declare the results of those elections within a period that must be prescribed by national legislation and that is as short as reasonably possible.
- Compile and maintain a voters' roll by means of a system of registering eligible voters by utilising data available from government sources and information furnished by voters; - Compile and maintain a register of parties; - Undertake and promote research into electoral matters;
- Develop and promote the development of electoral expertise and technology in all spheres of government; - Continuously review electoral legislation and proposed electoral legislation, and to make recommendations in connection therewith; - Promote voter education; - Declare the results of elections for national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies within seven days after such elections; - Appoint appropriate public administrations in any sphere of government to conduct elections when necessary.
. To develop a strategy to monitor project implementation and to facilitate independent assurance processes to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the Commission; . To maintain systems and procedures which will ensure an accurate and up-to-date national voters' roll; . To implement and promote effective electoral processes that will facilitate the participation of political parties and candidates in the management and delivery of free and fair elections; . To deliver well-run elections which produce results that are credible; . To educate and inform civil society with a view to optimizing citizen participation in democracy and electoral processes; . To develop and maintain effective business processes (in respect of legal services, human resources management, support services, financial management, and information and communication technology services) in order to ensure the effective functioning of the Commission;
. Clarity was sought on the allegations that during the April 22, 2009 election, there was a shortage of ballot papers in some voting stations; . The IEC had estimated 40% voter turnout for the 2011 Municipal elections, which is low compared to the voter turnout of 77% of April 22, 2009 election; . There had been complaints that some of the staff who assisted in the April 22 elections had not been remunerated by the IEC; . Some voters were declared deceased by the Department of Home Affairs in the National Population Register and could not vote in the April 22 elections.
. To ensure an enhanced, integrated and constitutionally sound regulatory framework, so as to enable informed choices about media content whilst creating a healthy and child safe media environment.
. To ensure that the business and work of the FPB reflects contemporary norms and values, by forming and maintaining national and international partnerships and coordinating initiatives that support the business of the FPB
The total operating and capital expenditure of FPB is R53,4 m and R39,3m is a grant from the Department of Home Affairs. FPB generates its other sources of funding from registration fees, classification fees, Department of Public Works rental subsidy and interests from investments.
. Funds allocated to FPB are not sufficient and this results in the FPB being unable to protect children against pornographic materials; . The Committee expressed concerned about the resignations of Senior Management at FPB; . It is very expensive to lease equipment like computers instead of buying them; . The Department of Home Affairs should follow-up on the assenting and signing of the Film and Publication Amendment Bill that was finalized early in 2009; . The FPB should devise a strategy to classify games at arcades.
. Conversion of GPW to a Government Component to perform as a ring- fenced business entity with flexibility and within regulated parameters; . Optimize production processes and facilities to increase operational effectiveness and improved customer service; . Migration of technology across the spectrum to enable current and new processes as well as increasing production capacity; . Implement effective market strategy to ensure that GPW retains high value customers and consolidates its position as state security documents printer; . Ensure strong financial management, by cleaning its balance sheet.
. The Committee was concerned that there is no proper governance structure at GPW; . The Committee noted that there was a shortage of artisan skills in the country and the GPW was also affected. GPW is also unable to attract and retain qualified staff due to salaries offered by printers in the private sector; . Questions were raised about Government departments that had received services from GPW and not paid for the services rendered.
The Committee indicated that it would schedule meetings during the course of the year with the Department and its entities in order to obtain more information on the successes, failures and challenges faced by the Department and its entities.