NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 1497 (Written)
14 October 2009
1497. Mr S J Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Works:
(1) Whether his department organised or hosted (a) an imbizo, (b) a
seminar, (c) conference and (d) any other function during the period
1 January 2006 up to the latest specified date for which information
is available; if so, (i) on what date, (ii) what was the total amount
spent on each, (iii) what is the breakdown of the cost in each case
and (iv) how many guests attended in each case;
(2) Whether there were any related costs for the travel and
accommodation of guests for each of the events; if so, in each case,
(a) what were the costs and (b) what was the breakdown of these costs;
(3) Whether any member of the Cabinet was present at any of these
events; if so, (a) who, (b) in what capacity and (c) why? NW1901E
Reply
(1) a â d. Yes
i) See table below
|Period |Locality |
|April 2006 |Umjindi Local Municipality |
|October 2006 |Umkomazi Local Municipality, Gert |
| |Sibande District |
| |Municipality(Ehlanzeni Local |
| |Municipality) |
|April â July 14, 2007 |Imbizo Mkhondo Local Municipality |
|October 2007 |Limpopo Vhembe District AND |
| |UMkhanyakude District Municipality|
| |â Jozini Local Municipality. |
|April 2008 |DPW Projects & stakeholders |
| |(Kagiso & Waterkloop, Xhariep |
| |Municipality |
|August 2008 |Ugu District Municipality and |
| |Sisonke District Municipality |
|October 2008 |Nqushwa Local Municipality |
ii) Izimbizo are joint events often undertaken in equal partnership
with other spheres of government, including cost sharing
iii) The cost for the organization & staging of an izimbizo event is
driven by variable factors such as the format of an event (i.e. sit-
down or walk-about or rally- type), choice of venue, number or
guests etc. It is therefore difficult to break down the costs. For
budgeting purposes, the Chief Directorate: Communications &
Marketing would for its part, budgeting no less than R50 000 per
event.
iv) Izimbizo are not popularity contests but are the development
communication methods of government spurred by the desire to
communicate and address the service delivery concerns of any
citizen or a group thereof. Attendance registers are therefore
irrelevant
2. a â b. Guests bear their own costs
3. No
a â c. see answer above