NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER: 167 [NW173E]
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: No. 1 of 2013
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 FEBRUARY 2013
DATE OF REPLY: 13 March 2013
Mr M G P Lekota (Cope) asked the Minister of Public Works:
(1) Whether the Joint Cabinet Memorandum No 10, of 13 August 2003, set
budget parameters and limits on the installation of security measures
at the residences of the national executive; if not, what is the
position in this regard; if so, why were these parameters exceeded in
respect of security installations at the President's Nkandla
homestead;
(2) whether the memorandum exempts projects undertaken for the
installation of security at residences of the national executive from
(a) requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999,
and (b) his authorisation and oversight; if not, in each case, what
are the reasons for incurring the extent of expenditure at the
President's Nkandla homestead; if so, in each case, what are the
relevant details? NW173E
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works
1) The Cabinet Memorandum does not set any budget parameters and limits on
the installation of security measures for the President. In terms of the
Cabinet Memorandum, the main consideration shall be to ascertain the
level of the security threat to the President, Deputy President, Former
Presidents or Former Deputy Presidents or their immediate families,
including their personal property, after which the relevant security
requirements shall be prescribed for installation by the Department of
Public Works.
2) (a) The Cabinet Memorandum does not exempt security installation
projects from the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, 1990
[Act No. 1 of 1999], and (b) it does not exempt the Minister from his
oversight role, which I have been playing, and can be seen in the manner
in which I appointed a Task Team to look into the matter of the security
upgrades at the Presidentâs private residence.