PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION IN THE PRESIDENCY: Thank you very much, Chairperson.
Government communication will pursue what it has done for the past 15 years of democracy. What has been outlined is both an account of the use we made of the funds allocated in the last financial year and our priorities for 2009-10. The original budget allocated for 2008-09 was R418,255 million; after the adjustment estimates in September 2008, the budget increased to R439,832 million; at the end of the financial year, R427,484 million was spent - that is 97,2%. The bulk of the saving of R12,3 million relates to two projects: R7,4 million for the Energy Efficiency Campaign was unspent due to late allocation by the Energy Efficiency Campaign, and R4 million allocated to the communication strategy for the opening of Parliament and the presidential inauguration was not used as these took place after the end of the financial year. Over the MTEF period, expenditure will increase at an average annual rate of 4,7%, mainly because the GCIS and the IMC will have completed their activities relating to the 2010 World Cup.
Over the MTEF period, the department will receive additional funds of R16 million, R33,1 million and R33,2 million over the next three years respectively. The additional funds will mainly be used to accommodate the Re Kagiso Tshwane project during this and the next financial years; increased support to provincial offices; the state of the nation address and the opening of Parliament in 2009-10; establishing the government community radio link; running the Energy Efficiency Campaign; inflation- related adjustments; facilitating briefings by cluster Ministries; sustaining interaction between public representatives and the public; better organised and strategic communication leadership of government communication; and improved izimbizo and interaction.
I take this opportunity to welcome the new members of the portfolio committee. I am looking forward to working very closely with you to ensure that the GCIS and its agencies, the IMC and MDDA, will continue to have a meaningful relationship with Parliament. I would like also to offer a word of warmest congratulations to the GCIS leadership under Mr Themba Maseko, the CEO. I thank you. [Applause.]