Thank you, hon Deputy Speaker. The Department of Mineral Resources has, despite a number of challenges, presented a credible report on its financial and performance status for the 2018-19 financial year. The achievement of a clean audit bears testament to the fact that there has been a significant improvement in the financial and operational management of this department.
The biggest challenge faced by the department is the mineral regulations programme which has consistently underperformed on its key performance indicators. In 2017-18, the programme achieved just 59% of its objectives and although this improved to 67% in the year under review it still falls far short of where it should be. This is especially true as the programme forms the heart of the department's mandate.
Exploration is essential for the growth of the mining industry and to this end the DA welcomes the committee recommendation that the department should explore all possible funding avenues, including approaching Treasury, to speed up the modernisation of the SA Mineral Resources Administration System, Samrad, database. This is long
overdue, but must include making it more accessible and up to date so that real time information can be utilised in mining rights applications. The department is now required to present a plan for this within the next six months.
We also welcome the recommendation that the overlapping mandates of various entities within the department ...