Chairperson, the committee has looked at the annual report of the department and we have raised the following concerns. One of the concerns is that the department is still facing a lot of challenges around corporate governance and how they manage their finances.
We have also raised concerns about the shortage of staff, particularly in high positions. This concern formed part of our previous recommendations. The department has not managed to fill those positions. We were also concerned that 95% of our 2009-10 recommendations were not implemented. This was due to the fact that there had been a high turnover in leadership positions of the department. We hope that moving forward, those who are in the department will focus on and implement the recommendations.
However, we also noted that there is some progress in terms of state-owned enterprises, in particular Sentech which has received an unqualified report. But, on the same note, we are disappointed that the SABC and the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA, Usaasa, have entered the terrain of qualified reports. We must also say that we are disappointed as the committee about the performance of the Usaasa board. That entity did not implement any of the strategic plans presented before the committee. In that regard, the committee recommended that the Minister responsible consider taking strong actions against the Usaasa board. If possible, the board members concerned must be relieved of their duties because they failed South Africans in terms of making sure that the ICT infrastructure was available throughout the country.
However, I must also express my appreciation, as the chair of the committee, for the way the committee members from the opposition parties - in particular, the DA, Cope and the IFP - conducted themselves in the committee and for the wisdom and direction they continue to provide. Yes, we have learnt that whatever the parties, including the ANC, raise in the committee, is raised so as to try to build the department to make sure that it becomes a successful department.
An issue on which all parties have consensus is that the department seems to forget that they are a policy development department. They start entering the terrain of wanting to run projects, which they are not supposed to. They must focus on policy development and let the state-owned companies run those projects as required. With that, I recommend that the House adopt the Report. Thank you. There was no debate.
Chair, we would like to welcome the spirit that has been shown of working together by all parties in this portfolio committee. Also, regarding the policy issues that the board seems to forget about, the portfolio committee will focus on making sure that all that happens. On that note, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.