(a) Whether she intends to invest a higher percentage of the gross domestic product in research and development than the present 0,76% in view of the fact that economies that significantly increase their investment in science, technology and innovation, as research clearly shows, (details furnished) are able to respond faster and more comprehensively to fiscal improvements; if not, why not; if so, by what percentage does she intends to increase investment in research and development for over the medium term?
Whether she had ascertained from the Director-General and other relevant officials why the Auditor-General had to remind them of their oversight responsibility as management in 2015 regarding (a) supply chain management, (b) performance information management and (c) instituting more effective policies and procedures to manage the contracts that her department had entered into, if not, why not; if so, (i) what reasons did they advance and (ii) what steps has she taken to ensure that such reminders will never be needed again?
- Yes,
(aa/ab) During July 2015, a meeting was held between the Minister, management of the Department and officials from Auditor General in which Supply Chain Management and Performance Information management were discussed.
(ac) The Contract Management Sub-Unit has been established, this Sub-Unit has a Practitioner and interviews for the Assistant Director: Contract Management will be conducted in December 2015. In addition to this the ...
Whether she had ascertained from the Director-General and other relevant officials why the Auditor-General had to remind them of their oversight responsibility as management in 2015 regarding (a) supply chain management, (b) performance information management and (c) instituting more effective policies and procedures to manage the contracts that her department had entered into, if not, why not; if so, (i) what reasons did they advance and (ii) what steps has she taken to ensure that such reminders will never be needed again?
- Yes,
(aa/ab) During July 2015, a meeting was held between the Minister, management of the Department and officials from Auditor General in which Supply Chain Management and Performance Information management were discussed.
(ac) The Contract Management Sub-Unit has been established, this Sub-Unit has a Practitioner and interviews for the Assistant Director: Contract Management will be conducted in December 2015. In addition to this the ...
Whether she intends to invest a higher percentage of the gross domestic product in research and development than the present 0,76%, in view of the fact that economies that significantly increase their investment in science, technology and innovation, as research clearly shows, (details furnished) are able to respond faster and more comprehensively to fiscal improvement; if not, why not; if so, by what percentage does she intend to increase investment in research and development for over the medium term?
The Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) Strategic Plan (2015-2020) outlines what the DST will do to help achieve this target. For the year 2015/16, for instance, the DST has a budget of R7 482 billion, of which 92,2% (R6,9 billion) is allocated to entities that report to the Minister of Science and Technology. Key funding priorities for the DST over the medium term ...
Whether she had ascertained from the Director-General and other relevant officials why the Auditor-General had to remind them of their oversight responsibility as management in 2015 regarding (a) supply chain management, (b) performance information management and (c) instituting more effective policies and procedures to manage the contracts that her department had entered into; if not, why not; if so, (i) what reasons did they advance and (ii) what steps has she taken to ensure that such reminders will never be needed again?
- Yes,
(aa/ab) During July 2015, a meeting was held between the Minister, management of the Department and officials from Auditor General in which Supply Chain Management and Performance Information management were discussed.
(ac) The Contract Management Sub-Unit has been established, this Sub-Unit has a Practitioner and interviews for the Assistant Director: Contract Management will be conducted in December 2015. In addition to this the ...
Whether the National System of Innovation was resulting in a year-on-year increase in respect of (a) productive research, (b) economic and professional exploitation of knowledge in South Africa, (c) leveraging of private sector and international funding for innovation, (d) building knowledge-generation and knowledge-exploitation capabilities in rural and historically disadvantaged higher education institutions and (e) developing and strengthening regional and provincial innovation systems and capabilities to meet community and industry demands; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
(1) What (a) total amount did her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliamentary business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips undertaken;
(2) What is the total amount that her departments spend on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliamentary business in the specifies financial year?
Whether the discontinuation of the student programme at the SA Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) will have any impact on the future need for scientists in the field of Astronomy; if so, what is her department doing to remedy the situation at the SAAO?ˮ
What progress has been made by ASSAf to promote and inspire all fields of scholarly inquiry and evidence-based solutions that are aligned with goals of the department and the challenges reflected in the National Development Plan?
(2) How does the mandate of ASSAf assist with (a) unprecedented employment rates, (b) poverty and (c) inequality?”
(1)What is the current level of collaboration between the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the SA National Space Agency (SANSA);
(2) Is the HSRC currently benefiting from prefential pricing from any of SANSA’s products and services with regard to (a) spatial development and migration, (b) HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases and (c) Tuberculosis; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details of the specified benefits in each case?.”
