Date: 12/04/2005
Source: The Presidency
Title: Zuma: Answers to questions in NCOP


Questions put to Deputy President Jacob Zuma, for oral reply in the National Council of Provinces

QUESTION NUMBER: 1

Mr D A Worth to ask the Deputy President:

(1) Whether, in view of the recent riots and unrest in the Free State, the Government has determined the root causes of the alleged lack of delivery that instigated these riots; if not, why not; if so, what root causes were identified;

(2) Whether any action will be taken to address these problems; if not, why not; if so, what action?

REPLY:

(1) The Honourable Member must have heard that the Department of Local Government and Housing in the Free State Province has commissioned a study to investigate the root causes of the protests.

(2) Certainly action will be taken to address these problems. Most of the municipalities that have witnessed civic protest in the Free State are part of those that have been selected for Project Consolidate, a hands-on support and engagement programme by National Government to build the capacity of municipalities to perform their mandate.

Following recommendations that would flow from the study undertaken by the Free State, those municipalities that do not fall under Project Consolidate will be subjected to targeted intervention programmes by relevant role-players.

I am informed that the Free State Government has already initiated its own interventions in some of these municipalities and will be submitting reports to this House via the Free State Legislature.

QUESTION NUMBER: 2

Mr M J Sibiya to ask the Deputy President:

With regard to the Government’s stated intention to assist people trapped in the ‘second economy’, what further measures will be introduced to enhance the capacity of officials tasked with ensuring the success of policies designed to move poor people into the first economy, for example the new agriculture micro-finance scheme?

REPLY:

As the President stated in the State of the Nation Address and as contained in government’s Programme of Action, we are committed to strengthening the capacity of the state to implement its policies and programmes.

Specific commitments were made to expand employment in the public service in policing, correctional services, education, health and economic services. The last three — education, health and economic services — are all key to moving poor people into the first economy.

In addition, the Forum of South African Directors General has been tasked to provide by May this year, a review of the functioning of government with proposals on improving the capacity of implementing agents, their competence, the alignment of planning, and implementation and the mobilisation of the public service to speed up socio-economic transformation. This review will identify the problems that need to be addressed and will make recommendations on improvements in the structure and capacity of the pubic service.

However it is important to highlight a number of initiatives that are currently underway to boost the capacity of the state as contained in the programme of action.

Amongst these are the implementation of a revised performance management system; the development of a framework to improve the physical work environment; the development of a framework to improve conditions of service for professionals and a plan to significantly strengthen the middle management capacity in the public service.

I would also like to point out to the honourable member that Cabinet expects the National Department of Agriculture to provide it with an implementation plan for the new agricultural micro-finance scheme before it is to be operationalised. This plan should contain a human resource element to show that it would have the capacity to deliver on its mandate.

QUESTION NUMBER: 3

Mr S Shiceka to ask the Deputy President

(1) Whether the powers and functions given to traditional leaders have been found to be adequate; if not, what areas still need to be addressed; if so, what impact will the discussions in KwaZulu-Natal on the powers and functions of the chiefs and King have on the country as a whole;

(2) Whether, in light of the fact that chiefs are the custodians of the African cultural heritage and customs, the re-establishment of the Southern African Development Community and African Houses of Chiefs is being discussed; if not, why not; if so,

(3) Whether the houses will be established; if not, why not; if so, when;

(4) Whether a permanent venue for the South African House of Traditional Leadership has been established; if not, why not; if so, where?

REPLY:

(1) Government has, through a number of mechanisms, significantly expanded the roles and functions of traditional leaders and restored respect for the institution which had been eroded over a period of time by successive colonial and apartheid governments.

For example the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act which was passed in 2003, provides for the establishment of Traditional Councils which will work hand-in-glove with municipalities on issues relating to the management and development of their communities.

The Act further directs that the functions of Traditional Councils be complemented by additional roles to be allocated by different government departments.

Furthermore, the Act not only retains the existing national and provincial houses of Traditional Leaders, but also establishes local houses of Traditional Leaders at a district or metropolitan municipal level.

As the name implies, the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act is framework legislation and it is left to Provinces to pass their own laws to provide some of the more specific detail regarding the recognition of traditional communities, senior traditional leaders and regents as well as the role of traditional leaders. The provincial legislation will however, have to be consistent with the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act.

(2) &( 3) As indicated in the President’s speech to the annual opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders on 7 April this year, Cabinet has indeed endorsed a proposal by the National House for the establishment of a continental body of traditional leaders.

This matter will be canvassed further with the National House during our routine interactions.

(4) Cabinet has directed that the Departments of Provincial and Local Government, Public Works and the Presidency facilitate the construction of a chamber for the National House of Traditional Leaders. Preparatory discussions in this regard are continuing.

QUESTION NUMBER: 4

Mr J W le Roux to ask the Deputy President:

(1) (a) What steps does the Government intend taking to resolve the financial crisis currently being experienced by the Eastern Cape provincial government, especially in light of the fact that suppliers have for some time not been paid for goods and services rendered and (b) what long-term impact will the current situation have on the economy of the Eastern Cape;

(2) Whether the Government intends saving the Eastern Cape provincial government from bankruptcy by providing additional funds; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

1. Whilst the Eastern Cape provincial government has experienced some financial problems I would urge the Honourable member not to over exaggerate the situation.

The Premier and provincial Executive Committee have put in place measures to improve their state of finances. This is evident in the budget they have tabled for the 2005/06 financial year, and the way the province has improved its cash management since it incurred an overdraft at the end of the 2003/04 financial year.

In addition to the measures taken by the provincial government to remedy the situation, national government has put in place a task team to assist the province to deal with its management weaknesses.

To the extent that any suppliers may not have been paid, is not necessarily due to a lack of funds, but is often due to capacity weaknesses in some departments.

Such problems can only be resolved if the Honourable Member is more specific and gives the names of specific suppliers who have not been paid to the provincial treasury.

The provincial treasury has already succeeded in reducing the payment period from 61 days in 2002/2003 to 49 days currently.

As a result of these measures I am confident that these problems will not have a long-term impact on the economy of the Eastern Cape.

(2) Government generally does not bail out any province or municipality by providing additional funds, and all allocations made to a province or municipality are in accordance to the annual Division of Revenue Act.

Issued by: The Presidency
12 April 2005