Minister, in the light of the fact that you say government is not going to have a strategic plan and that they want to be results-driven with regard to eradicating corruption; the recent embarrassing exposs that implicated the governing party, its affiliates and high-profile individuals in the abuse of political office for financial gain; and this week's comments by the ANC spokesperson, Mr Jackson Mthembu, that "the ANC's democratic government has made it fashionable to fight corruption"; my question is as follows: Is the governing party prepared to support the recently tabled Private Member's Bill that seeks to ban political parties from tendering and contracting with government? If not, why not?
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY - PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: Obviously, I can't answer for the political party. Political parties have their own spokespersons or Chief Whips in Parliament to deal with these matters. [Applause.] The Bill, which I suppose is a Private Member's Bill, will undergo appropriate processes, and parties will discuss what will happen to it. I can't comment on behalf of political parties sitting here in Parliament. They have Chief Whips and leaders of political parties who can do that well. Thank you.
Hon Minister, I would like to know if your office is going to investigate the number of cases that are outstanding for disciplinary and corruption practices by departmental officials because in the committee I serve we are told, on a regular basis, that there are cases which are not finalised in good time. Some of the departments are not aggressive in pursuing either disciplinary or criminal proceedings against officials who are allegedly corrupt. I want to know if your Ministry would take this forward.
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY - PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: If there are processes which are not moving with speed, they will be dealt with through another process, not this one. I have indicated the tasks of this committee.
However, we do interact with state agencies which deal with various cases. It is not our job to investigate. We ensure that those who are tasked with doing the job do it speedily and according to law. Thank you.
Hon Minister, if you say that there is no need for a strategic plan to combat corruption, and that you are going to be result-oriented, how then do you determine what those results are? How do you embark on achieving the results that you want to achieve in eradicating corruption if there is no plan?
The MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY - PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: The hon member would remember that the issue of corruption falls within various areas of work of various institutions - the Police, the Public Service Commission, the Public Protector and everybody else. It doesn't help us to develop more and more documents. What we need is an effective mechanism and the unlocking of bottlenecks which make it impossible for agencies to perform their work. That is what we are going to do, and that is how we are going to judge progress with regard to that work. Thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, in the light of a number of strategies and ways of co-ordinating and combating corruption, can the Minister clarify to us if there is a time when government will take an approach of co-ordinating all activities, efforts, policies and strategies put in place to ensure that we deal with this problem of corruption that is facing us?
PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: In my response to the principal question, I indicated that one of the tasks we are busy with is to review the current measures to improve on their effectiveness and co-ordination. Therefore, definitely, that is part of the work which we are doing to ensure that there is better co-ordination of anticorruption efforts by all agencies responsible for various aspects of the corruption sphere.
Particulars regarding appointment of advisors in the Presidency
87. Mr N Singh (IFP) asked the Minister in the Presidency - Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration in the Presidency:
(a) How many advisors have been appointed in the Presidency, (b) what are the relevant details of (i) their salaries and (ii) their contracts and (c) what role does each fulfil?