Hon House Chairperson, allow me to thank the hon member for asking the question. The Department of Human Settlements has utilised consultants within the parameters of the said policies and the law.
I am satisfied that there has been no abuse whatsoever of the system pertaining to the calculation of the ratio of consultants in relation to houses or toilets. This, to my understanding, is misplaced as we take into account the totality of the work done by the consultant instead of counting the number of bricks or bags of cement or vice versa. All appointments of consultants are done through the stringent processes of going through interviews by selection panels in terms of the relevant section of the legislation or Act.
Hon Deputy Minister, there is a time and a place for consultants, but we must get value for money. We do have a concern about the use of consultants as noted in the 2011-12 Annual Report. Of the R91 million spent on consultants, about R56 million relates to sanitation yet we have underspent on our sanitation programme. After the presentation of the second quarter's report, it looks as if after a spend of only 8% after half a year we may again end up underspending in this year if we do not urgently address the situation.
Now, there were inconsistencies in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 Annual Reports. Consultants were used to review the White Paper on Basic Household Sanitation. In 2011, the report tells us that 10 consultants were used and paid R2 million, whilst in 2012, one was used and paid R1 million.
With those concerns in mind, the question is: What mechanisms do you have in place in the department to ensure that consultants are appointed only after a careful assessment has been done as to whether they are needed; and whether as a result of the work done, there will be delivery on the ground? Will the hon Deputy Minister ensure that we do get value for money?
Hon member, we will ensure that we get value for money. We will only use consultants for specified work and only when we need expertise to do work that is needed in the department. As I am saying, we are aware that the use of consultants is something that needs to be minimised in the department. We will ensure that we use the bare minimum amount of money for consultants.
In terms of the sanitation issue, however, it is a question that needs to be investigated. I am not aware that money has been used, for consultancy work regarding sanitation. That work needs to be investigated.
Hon House Chairperson, sanitation is a human rights issue. Almost 2,4 million South Africans still do not have access to sanitation. The bucket system in some places is still being used while consultants are paid millions. In 2006, former President Thabo Mbeki announced that all bucket systems would be eradicated by the end of 2007.
Up to this date, the promise has not yet been achieved. The question is: What plans have been put in place to eradicate the bucket system and by when, and how much has been allocated for this purpose?
House Chairperson, the work that has been done by the sanitation team regarding the issue of sanitation has been reported to the portfolio committee. Members of the portfolio committee have been given the report by the department as far as the sanitation work is concerned.
Of course, we understand that there is still a lot that needs to be done in that regard, but there is no way that we can complete that particular task overnight. A lot of work is needed. The portfolio committee has been informed of what has been done, in which area, and at what cost.
Hon Deputy Minister, Cope supports the government's efforts to contribute to the achievement of Outcome 8, namely creating sustainable human settlements and improving the quality of household life. We are also aware that to achieve this in our country is indeed a mammoth and complex task.
However, we are concerned about what appears to be the excessive use of consultants by the department in the implementation of its programmes, particularly where we consider that some of the tasks allocated to consultants could, in fact, be carried out by the department officials, as this would reduce the costs of consultants. This, of course, would provide employment to people with suitable skills in the department. The question is: Does the Minister have any future plans to reduce such costs and to use consultants only when and where absolutely necessary? If so, what plans; and if not, why not?
Hon member, I think I will be repeating myself on this one. I said earlier on that we are of the view that the use of consultants, as far as the department is concerned, should be minimised in future.
However, at the same time, when we talk about the issue of consultancy, we must look at the budget of the department and what percentage of that budget has been used for consultants. If, for example, you look into the calculations of the billions that are allocated to the department and the millions that have been used for consultancy, it is a fraction of what has been allocated to the department.
It is not that funding has been abused as such, but some work needed to be done and the department made use of that funding to ensure that we got the necessary expertise to deliver on our mandate.
House Chairperson, my question has been answered.
Particulars regarding the empowerment of artists, the fighting of piracy, and the development of libraries and museums
444. Mrs H S Msweli (IFP) asked the Minister of Arts and Culture:
(1) What steps is his department taking to empower artists; (2) whether his department has any plans in place to fight piracy which is affecting the music industry; if not, why not; if so, what plans;
(3) how many libraries have been built in rural areas since his reply to oral question 75 on 7 March 2012;
(4) whether there are any plans in place to improve and develop South African museums, particularly in rural areas; if not, why not; if so, what (a) plans and (b) are the further relevant details? NO4061E
House Chair, the question is about the steps the department is taking to empower artists; whether the department has plans to fight piracy; and about libraries and museums.
House Chair, let me say that yes, we do have various programmes, but we realised that the sector is very fragmented. We firstly looked at how we could deal with that problem and then we initiated various structures to bring artists together. Now there is an organisation called Mushito that is dealing with the music industry. There's an association of independent record companies of South Africa, and of course, there is the Creative Workers Union of South Africa.
All these structures helped us to improve the way in which artists organise themselves. We then came up with the strategy called Mzansi Golden Economy, where we look at scaling up a lot of events that are already taking place throughout the country - at least two per province - so that the artists will have opportunities to perform.
Working with provincial governments, we are also creating cultural precincts in all major cities in the country. These strategies are being implemented now and a lot of artists are benefiting from the programme. Recently, we sent out a call for artists to send proposals so that we can begin to fund various initiatives.
With regard to the issue of piracy, the Department of Trade and Industry is the lead department, therefore we are working with them on the antipiracy campaigns since we are a key player in that sector. There are various programmes that are unfolding, including awareness campaigns. We are also working with the Ministry of Police on that one.
As for libraries, we are continuing to build libraries. Obviously the rural areas are a problem. We haven't built any new libraries in rural areas since March 2012.
The problem here is that we don't physically build libraries, but we fund provinces and therefore they are the entities that are making libraries a priority. I had meetings with the MECs of provinces to ask them to prioritise rural areas.
The approach we are taking, House Chair, as the Minster of Basic Education has indicated, is to cluster areas to ensure that community libraries also benefit schools. Therefore, location is also influenced by that.
To the last part of the question as to whether the department is building museums, the reply is yes, we are building museums in various provinces. There is the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha and Qunu. There's also the Luthuli Museum based in Groutville in KwaZulu-Natal. We are currently building a museum in Nkantolo in the Eastern Cape at the homestead of O R Tambo.
We are also building a museum in Hankey in the Eastern Cape, the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance. We are also upgrading the Ncome Museum facility in KwaZulu-Natal. More programmes will be implemented next year as we roll out the Liberation Heritage Route.
Thank you, hon Minister, all my questions have been answered.
Hon Minister, I want to address the issue of community libraries in rural areas. Community libraries are of the utmost importance in rural areas, because more often than not they are the only source of information where learners can obtain information for school projects and where inhabitants can get books, periodicals, etc.
In this regard, Minister, conditional grants which are at the disposal of these libraries are very helpful. Before these grants are transferred to libraries, however, a business plan must be submitted. The problem arises when librarians do not have the capacity to draw up such a plan and therefore cannot benefit from the conditional grants.
How do you address this problem and how do you monitor whether municipalities into whose coffers these grants are paid, provide the grants to libraries whenever they request it? Minister, I know of municipalities that keep the grants in their coffers as long as possible in order to benefit from the interest on those amounts.
Hon member, as you mentioned, the conditional grant for libraries is ring-fenced. When we transfer the money to provinces we do it after we have received their business plan and then we monitor its implementation. We are trying to make sure that the money is not used for other purposes.
In some provinces they use municipalities as their implementing agency, but they know that it is a conditional grant. We have agreed that we must make rural areas a priority. We are working with the Department of Basic Education to ensure that schools also have access to community libraries, because there are schools that do not have libraries.
Yes, rural areas are a priority, but we are also establishing libraries in other centres. For instance, next week we will be opening the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg in the Eastern Cape, and it will also have a library on its premises. We are using various ways to ensure that there are more libraries. The National Treasury has indicated that we will be getting more money in the coming year again to ensure that we roll out these programmes to be able to reach all areas, particularly the rural areas.
Thank you, hon Chairperson. My question has been covered.
Umbuzo endinawo ngulo olandela imeko eseyixakile eMzantsi Afrika. Abantu behluphekile, bekhathazekile kukubona amaxesha amaninzi iimvumi ezizezona zithandwayo nezizezona zibonakala kakhulu zingamalungu e- ANC. Kusoloko kubizwa zona xa kukho imibhiyozo eququzelelwa leli sebe. Umbuzo wam ngowokuba, kusetyenziswa eziphi iimpawu ukuchonga imvumi ekufuneka ihambe, iye kombela apho? (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Mr P NTSHIQELA: The question I want to ask is the one that is bothering South Africa in general. People are disgruntled, they are not happy because most of the time the singers who are popularised and more visible are those that are members of the ANC. They are the ones who are always hired when there are functions organised by this department. My question is, which criteria are used in identifying singers who are going to perform?]
Order, hon members!
HOLOBYE WA VUTSHILA NA MFUWO: Ndza khensa Mutshamaxitulu. Loko hi fanele ku kuma vayimbeleri leswaku va ta yimbelela, a hi languti leswaku u huma eka nhlangano wihi. Hi teka hinkwavo lava kotaka ku yimbelela. Hikokwalaho, mhaka ya leswaku hi rhamba va ANC ntsena, e-e, a hi ntiyiso, tatana. Vayimbeleri va hina hinkwavo va fanele ku vuyeriwa loko ku ri na tikhonsati. A hi languti leswaku va seketela yini kambe hi languta leswaku xana va swi kota ku cina-ke. Loko va kota ku cina, va nyikiwa ntirho. Ndza khensa, tatana. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[The MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE: Thank you, hon Chairperson. When we source artists to perform the organisation of the artist is not a determinant. We pick them based on their abilities to perform. Therefore, the concern that we only invite artists belonging to the ANC is not true, sir. All of our artists stand to benefit when there are concerts. We do not concern ourselves as to which organisation they support but we choose based on whether are they able to dance. If they are able to dance, they are given the job. Thank you, sir.] Particulars regarding implementation of transformation programmes and handling of governance issues
467. Mr G P D MacKenzie (Cope) asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation:
(1) Whether he has been informed of any sports federations other than the SA Rugby Union (details furnished) which are implementing programmes of transformation; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether he has found that (a) his department, (b) the sport federations and (c) other sporting structures are dealing with governance issues appropriately; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?