Deputy Chairperson, on (1), the answer to the question is yes, the relevant official was charged with misconduct in an internal process. The official, however, resigned on 29 October 2010. The matter has since been handed over to the SAPS and is currently the subject of investigations by the Hawks, and therefore sub judice.
On (2), yes, the department initiated a process of preparation for the insourcing of nutrition services in March 2011 and by December 2011 we found that the state of readiness was such that the department was not able to take over the responsibility.
Faced with inadequate time to advertise a new tender, the department extended the existing contract to cover the period required for the department to complete the preparations for the insourcing of nutrition services.
The timeline for the nutrition services to be insourced is the end of January 2013. Readiness for the insourcing of nutrition services will be completed within the period of the extension of the current contracts. Thank you, Chairperson.
Thank you, Deputy Chairperson. Deputy Minister, thank you for the answer. This indeed confirms all our attempts as the ANC to fight corruption and tenderpreneurship wherever we find them.
In the latter part of your answer you indicated that the deadline was the end of January 2013. We would like to understand the current situation in regard to nutrition services to the prisoners?
We have extended the current arrangements until 2013.
Thank you, Deputy Chairperson. My question to the Deputy Minister is: Did the department terminate the contract between the department and the said contractors?
As we speak, the contract has expired. We are in a transition phase. So, what we are doing is basically getting Public Works and everybody involved.
For instance, we don't own the facilities in the kitchens. Just to give you an example of what we are talking about when we speak of readiness, we are now fitting new kitchens in our big facilities. That is where this contract is operating. Secondly, we are employing nutritionists. Those are the things we are trying to do to address the question of readiness.
We will then hopefully issue a new contract. Oh, we will not be issuing a new contract because we are insourcing - we are coming in. If we get all those capacities and capabilities within the department, then, come the end of January 2013, we as the department will be providing food in our facilities ourselves. Thank you.
Order! Can we proceed to the questions to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans? [Interjections.] Hon members, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is not here, so we will proceed to the questions put to the Minister of Home Affairs.
Offices located in rented buildings and details relating to rental payments in respect of these offices
9. Mr M J R de Villiers (DA) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:
(a) How many offices are in rented buildings in each province, (b) for how many of these offices was the rent fully paid until 31 January 2012 and (c) what (i) is the amount in arrears in each province, (ii) were the reasons for the accumulative arrear amount and (iii) action has been taken in this regard?