Whether her department has any plans and/or partnership with other departments to ensure the restoration of South Africa as a dream travel and tourist destination in Africa amidst the rising levels of crime and attacks on tourists, especially in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
I have been informed that the Department has a partnership in a form of a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South African Police Services (SAPS) for collaboration on the prevention, investigation and combating of crimes impacting on the tourism industry and the safety and well-being of tourists.
The MoU entails working on a number of areas including:
- Identification and analysis of tourism ...
(1)Whether her department opened satellite tourism offices in various municipalities to achieve transformation and capacity-building agendas; if not, why not; if so, what (a) total number of offices have been opened to date and (b) is the state of their functionality;
(2) whether there has been any feedback from the local communities on how to better improve services aligned through tourism, in order to assist local and rural communities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
1. (a) and (b) I have been informed that the Department has not opened satellite tourism offices in municipalities as Tourism is a concurrent function. It is the mandate of municipalities to manage and maintain such offices.
2. Not applicable
With reference to the legal action and matters of any description undertaken by the SA Tourism (a) in the past three financial years and (b) from 1 April 2023 to date, (i) which matters were opened and closed in each month, (ii) what were the matters in each case, (iii) what matters were settled out of court in each month, (iv) what are the reasons that each specified matter was settled out of court, (v) which matters went to arbitration in each month, (vi) what were the outcomes in each matter, (vii) which matters went to court in each month and (viii) what were the outcomes of each matter in each case?
I have been informed by SA tourism that legal matters undertaken by the entity are as tabled below.
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Years
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(i) Which matters were opened and closed in each month
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(ii) What were the matters in each case
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(iii) What matters were settled out of court in each month
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(iv) What are the reasons that each specified matter was settled out of court
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(v) Which ... |
(a) What total number of officials in her department were suspended in each month in the (i) past three financial years and (ii) this year to date, (b) on what date was each suspension lifted in each month, (c) what were the reasons for each suspension, (d) what level did each suspended official occupy, (e) what total number of officials were given paid leave in each month, (f) on what date did each suspension commence in each month, (g) what amount was paid out to each official in each month whilst on suspension and (h) what number of officials are still suspended with pay?
I have been informed by the Department that details of suspensions are contained in the table below.
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Years
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(a) What total number of officials in her department were suspended in each month
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(b) On what date was each suspension lifted in each month
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(c) What were the reasons for each suspension
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(d) What level did each suspended official occupy
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(e) What total number of ... |
(a) What number of officials in SA Tourism were suspended in each month in the (i) past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2023 to date, (b) on what date was each suspension lifted in each month, (c) what were the reasons for each suspension, (d) what level did each suspended official occupy, (e) what total number of officials were given paid leave in each month, (f) on what date did each suspension commence in each month, (g) what total amount was paid out to each official in each month whilst on suspension and (h) what number of officials are still suspended with pay?
I have been informed by SAT that details of suspensions are contained in the table below.
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(a) What total number of officials in SA Tourism were suspended in each month
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(b) On what date was each suspension lifted in each month
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(c) What were the reasons for each suspension
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(d) What level did each suspended official occupy
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(e) What total number of ... |
(a) What are the reasons that new building premises are sought for her department, (b) on what date (i) did the search commence and (ii) is it envisaged to conclude, (c) who was tasked with the function of finding premises and (d) what (i) is the monthly budget allocated, (ii) will be spent every month and (iii) are the terms and conditions?
a) I have been informed that the Department is currently utilising 13 878.60m² of office space and requires approximately 16 948,20 m², hence the need for a building that will accommodate the needs but also to manage the costs through government ownership.
b) (i) The search commenced in 2016.
(ii) Due to current financial constraints, the process of new building is on hold.
c) Department ...
(a) What projects were initiated by her department in each month (i) in the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 January 2023, (b) in which month was each project completed in each case, (c) and (d) what are the reasons that the projects are incomplete in each case?
The projects, initiated by the Department in the past three financial years, are as captured in the Annual Performance Plans and the relevant implementation reports have been presented to the Portfolio Committee.
I have been informed by the Department that no projects were initiated since 1 January 2023.
What are the specific details in relation to the implementation status of the Tourism Transformation Fund?
I have been informed by the Department that the Tourism Transformation Fund (TTF) was officially launched in May 2018.
Since inception a total of 27 applications were approved for support under the TTF. Unfortunately, eight (8) of the approved applications were withdrawn post investment, leaving 19 active approved projects at various stages of implementation.
Based on information received from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), ...
In light of the looming economic crisis resulting from the prolonged beach closures in Durban and the potential devastation facing the tourism industry and its entire value chain, what specific immediate action is her department undertaking to swiftly restore these vital tourist attractions?
Tourism is a concurrent function with clear roles and responsibilities for each sphere of government. Beaches fall within the responsibility of local government. The Honourable Member is therefore requested to redirect this question to the relevant authority.
(1)The Auditor-General Report of the 2022/23 financial year identified 26 vacant posts from a structure of 202 approved positions, (a) can she identify where these vacancies are distributed, (b) how these vacancies impact the work of SA Tourism and (c) by when these vacancies will be filled;
(2) with two cases of corruption reported in her department and still under investigation, what is the progress on the investigation of these cases?
1.(a) Vacancies are in the following Programmes:
I have been informed that SAT currently has 26 vacancies as at 31 March 2023, this includes 3 at the Executive level.
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Programme
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Number of vacancies within the programme
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PROGRAMME 1: CORPORATE SUPPORT
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12
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PROGRAMME 2: BUSINESS ENABLEMENT
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1
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PROGRAMME 3: LEISURE TOURISM MARKETING
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11
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PROGRAMME 4: BUSINESS EVENTS
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1
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PROGRAMME 5: TOURIST EXPERIENCE
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1 ... |
