Amendments to the report are as follows: On page 1545, in paragraph 3, line 3, after "and" to insert "process on".
On page 1545, in paragraph 3, line 7, after "government" to add "and on performance agreements".
On page 1546, in paragraph 4 (c), after "projects" to add "and maintenance".
At the beginning of this year when the President of the Republic of South Africa presented his state of the nation address, he emphasised "Business Unusual" by government. We all looked forward to "Business Unusual" in all government departments and that it would be reflected also in the first- quarter spending by different government departments. Unfortunately, spending in most departments is the same as in the previous year and the year before last. As the committee, we wonder if this is "Business Unusual" or business as usual, because spending must show a difference, but there is none.
The President also emphasised the filling of critical posts within six months. We have recommendations regarding the filling of vacant critical positions, and we would like departments to report to Parliament by September so that when we look at the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, MTBPS, and mid-term spending we would check whether those posts have been filled as per Presidential instruction. We expect the Public Service commission to respond or report by September by ensuring that all senior positions are filled and that all senior managers have signed their performance agreements. We want that information so that we can transfer it to various portfolio committees for follow-up.
We have in our oversight function realised that low spending by different departments impact negatively on the lives of women. Remember that this is Women's Month, so if departments do not spend, it means that women who are out in the rural areas, disadvantaged areas, are suffering as a result of departments not spending as expected. This has been taken seriously by the committee. We are still going to follow up to ensure that departments spend and do not go for virement in September or October when the Minister of Finance will be presenting a report before Parliament. In our previous reports we said that we are going to focus on our oversight function and not on government in general. We called the departments of Public Works and Communications. Our interaction with the Department of Public Works was very good and we are happy that Public Works has come up with a plan that will inform us about what they plan doing to ensure that projects with other departments are not delayed. All departments have been complaining about how frustrating Public Works has been. We are going to follow up on that, to ensure that departments are not unnecessarily frustrated by Public Works.
With the Department of Communications serious challenges were experienced and we intend to interact with the Minister at some stage because all is not well with regard to Sentech and Infraco. We support the department for not allocating funds to these two before they submitted their business plans.
We had a challenge in our public hearings with Communications where allegations were made about the Auditor-General for coming up with wrong reports. We wondered how that was possible because this department took part in the planning from the onset, and they agreed with the Auditor- General on when to conduct the audit and who was to provide the Auditor- General with information. We are disappointed that by the time the Auditor- General went for audit, the department had not provided the necessary information. According to the department's report, information was locked away somewhere and the person who had the keys was not available. We can't allow that kind of arrangement. If the person is not there, somebody else must have the keys in order to give documents to the Auditor-General to do the audit.
We expect that departments will co-operate with the Office of the Auditor- General to avoid unnecessary squabbles between the Auditor-General's office and the departments. This is an Office that must be respected. Remember it is part of the Chapter 9 institutions and it must be given the necessary respect and co-operation.
We are very grateful to various portfolio committees. We have observed that since we started reporting to Parliament on a quarterly basis, and debating our reports, portfolio committees are following up with their departments on what they are doing with regard to the issues that we raise and those that are raised by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Scopa. We are happy about the co-operation of and support by different portfolio committees.
We are also thankful for our relationship with National Treasury. In 2005, when I joined the Budget Committee, there was a sea between us and the National Treasury that could not be breached. But now the relationship is very good. Whenever we ask for information from them, they respond as per the request. They do not give us what, they want but they give us what we want, for us to do better oversight. That is why they have changed the section 32 report, which deals with monthly spending. The information contained in it is what we requested in order to do our oversight function better.
I also want to thank Parliament. When we started, I used to report on that without their support with research, and without a permanent secretary in the committee, we would not have been able to do our work. We are thankful that at least we have two researchers and a permanent secretary and whenever we need additional assistance, Parliament is in position to give us the support.
We also want to call on members and departments to look at our recommendations. We expect that by September the Department of Public Service and Administration, DPSA, and the National Treasury must come back to Parliament, based on the recommendations that we gave them. The ANC supports the reports. Thank you. [Time expired.]