The DA will write to the Portfolio Committee Chairperson on Science and Technology, Bevan Goqwana, and request that he summon the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to brief the committee at the first available opportunity on recent reports that up to a third of the staff complement is going to be retrenched.
 

 
Given the mandate of the TIA, which is to use South Africa’s science and technology base to develop new industries, create sustainable jobs and help diversify the economy away from commodity exports towards knowledge-based industries, it plays a pivotal role in promoting innovation to encourage economic growth.
 

 
According to the department, transfers to the TIA are projected to decrease by R30 million in 2014/15 and R50 million in 2015/16 and 2016/17 and it was said that it would not affect the activities of the agency and that no staffers would be retrenched.
 

 
However, this agency has been beset with problems since its inception; but, shedding jobs and cutting its budget won’t fix the TIA.
 

 
I will also submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, to ascertain the following:
 
 

• what the specific reasons for the retrenchments are;
• what role the budget cuts played in the decision to retrench staff;
• what the process was regarding staff members to keep them informed; and
• what processes and criteria will be used to determine which staff will be affected by these retrenchments.

The DA will oppose the Mid-Term Budget of the Department if it does not allocate more funds towards the TIA to ensure that it functions effectively.

Issued by DA