COVID 19 Supra Searching Corruption Mahumapelo, on for a suitable 3 8 Tourism Month 16 candidate to lead the Office Vol. 02 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Issue 06 2020 SIU to investigate ‘disgraceful’ Covid-19 corruption, and three Amendment Bills against GBVF on the cards – President Ramaphosa Over the last two years, significant progress has been made in strengthening institutions like recognises that the struggle against GBVF requires the NPA, the Hawks, SARS, the SIU and others so that they are able to detect, investigate and collective, cohesive and prosecute all acts of corruption. strategic leadership. The strategic plan provides for a governance structure in The president appeared Mputing. Council on GBV, and will programme of action. the form of a multi-sectoral for the first time in the Ms Jacquiline Mofokeng women from rural areas Following the Presidential GBVF Council to lead the National Assembly since (ANC) asked the President: with different cultural, racial Summit against GBVF in implementation of the plan. the outbreak of Covid-19 to With reference to the work and class backgrounds be November 2018 and after answer questions on a range the Government has done to represented thereon? an extensive consultation We have improved the supply of issues including gender- address GBVF, the adoption process, a National Strategic of sexual assault evidence based-violence and femicide of the National Strategic President’s response: Plan was adopted by Cabinet. kits, which are now available (GBVF), corruption and the Plan and the work towards The struggle to end GBVF in all police stations. Three government’s strategies establishing the Council on succeeds only if society as The implementation of the amendment Bills intended and plans to resuscitate GBV, what is intended to a whole is mobilised and Plan began on 1 May 2020. to strengthen the response the economy, reports Abel be the composition of the organised behind a common The National Strategic Plan of our criminal justice PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS system have been approved through a transparent process measures not only to detect, In an important first step enabling members of the by Cabinet and are in the of public nomination and investigate and prosecute towards that goal, Cabinet public to find detailed process of being introduced selection. such crimes, but also to established a ministerial information about how public into Parliament. strengthen measures to team to compile and collate funds are being spent. Among other things, these Mr John Steenhuisen prevent corrupt activities. a comprehensive report of Rev Kenneth Meshoe (ACDP) Bills aim to tighten bail (DA) asked the President: the details of all tenders asked the President: Whether conditions for perpetrators Whether the President To achieve this purpose, and contracts awarded the Special Investigating Unit of sexual offences; has received, as directed I have authorised the by national departments, (SIU) that was authorised by strengthen parole conditions on and/or about 6 August Special Investigating Unit provincial governments the President to investigate and increase minimum 2020, the comprehensive to probe any allegations and other public entities any unlawful and/or sentences; and ensure more report containing the full relating to the misuse of as part of the response to improper conduct in the severe consequences for details of all tenders and Covid-19 funds across all the coronavirus pandemic. procurement of goods and contravening a protection contracts that have been spheres of the state. The The ministerial team was services during national order. Five new Thuthuzela awarded by each national work of the SIU is taking given the responsibility to state of disaster, requested Care Centres are to be department, provincial place alongside the work ensure that the details of assistance from the Cabinet established and will be government and public entity of the recently-established these tenders and contracts to provide the names of operational by the end of during the period of the special coordination centre, be made public. Earlier companies and the details March 2021. National State of Disaster which is called the Fusion this week, the National of tenders and contracts that from the Committee of Centre, to strengthen the Treasury started publishing were awarded to national After extensive consultation, Ministers appointed by him collective efforts among the submissions from departments, provincial it has been decided that to deal with allegations of law-enforcement agencies to these various government governments and/or public the National Council will corruption associated with prevent, detect, investigate departments and entities on entities during the period of consist of a Board with the Republic’s response to and prosecute Covid-related their website. the national state of disaster; various technical working the coronavirus pandemic; corruption. if not, what necessitated the units. In line with Article 4 if not, by what date does To date, 95% of provincial appointment of a committee of the Presidential Summit he envisage to receive the The National Treasury and national departments of six Ministers, led by Declaration, the GBVF Council report; if so, (a) on what date has taken effective steps and state entities have the Minister of Justice and will consist of a maximum did he receive the report to tighten procurement submitted all information Correctional Services. of 13 members, 51% of and (b) what are the main regulations. These measures regarding Covid-19 which will be civil society findings of the report? will strengthen the ongoing procurement to the President’s response: As I representatives and 49% work of the Auditor-General Ministerial team. This indicated in my reply to the government representatives. President’s response: It is to audit, in real time, all initiative is unprecedented previous question, Cabinet disgraceful that at this time Covid-19 expenditure. in our country’s history, established a ministerial The National Council will of national crisis, there are Perhaps the greatest defence be inclusive of all South companies and individuals against corruption in public Africans, including women who seek to criminally procurement is to make from urban and rural areas, benefit from our efforts to the entire process more and different cultural, racial protect people’s health and transparent and open to and class backgrounds. The save lives. As government, public scrutiny. members will be appointed we have taken several THE SIU HAS NOT MADE ANY REQUEST TO CABINET FOR ASSISTANCE IN GATHERING DETAILS OF COVID-RELATED TENDERS AND CONTRACTS. Ms Noxolo Abrahams COVID 19 CORRUPTION 3 team to compile details of all confront the effects of a Covid-19 related procurement massive global slowdown of all government bodies so and a dramatic decline in that these could be made local economic activity. public. Cabinet’s intention in doing so was aimed to The supplementary promote transparency and budget tabled by the accountability. Minister of Finance on 24 This process is distinct from June therefore proposed and unrelated to the work of significant increases in Editor Brent Simons the SIU in investigating any expenditure in the context unlawful or improper conduct of falling revenue. As a Production editor Mava Lukani in the procurement of goods consequence of our decisive and services in any state and absolutely necessary Design and layout institution. response to this pandemic, MIND TRIX MEIDA government debt is expected Copy editors The SIU has not made any to reach R3.9 trillion in Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula request to Cabinet for 2020/21. This does not Ms Veronica Mente (EFF) Writers assistance in gathering include the debt of state- Abel Mputing, Sakhile Mokoena, details of Covid-related owned companies. Nolizwi Magwagwa, Faith on GBV to ensure that all you give an indication as to Ndenze, Mava Lukani tenders and contracts. matters are attended to. Now how you intend to address According to the Debt would stabilise at 200 social workers have been the underfunding of shelters, Photography Mlandeli Puzi, proclamation I signed on 23 around 87.4 percent of hire to assist with psych- some have not been paid. Zwelethemba Kostile July, the SIU is authorised gross domestic product social cases. This is progress. We will never win this war if to probe any allegations (GDP), after which it would Distribution & subscriptions we don’t fund shelters. Jacqueline Zils relating to the misuse of gradually decline. The Follow-up question, Ms Covid-19 funds across all active scenario prevents Mente: There is a view President’s response: We Publisher Parliament of the Republic of spheres of the state. debt service costs from that there should be a are building more shelters. South Africa continuing to rise faster than parliamentary committee And we need more as long The SIU is empowered by all other items of spending as there is a scourge. We Printer that will oversee the work of Vision Enterprises the SIU and Special Tribunals for the foreseeable future. the National Council on GBVF will look at the issues of Act of 1996 to gather all In this way, it prevents and the implementation of unpaid shelters. We will Section Manager: Publishing and Production necessary evidence required an outcome where South the National Strategic Plan also bring social workers Shirley Montsho in the fulfilment of this Africa’s debt costs are higher on GBV. Do you support such into the systems because mandate. If the SIU finds than all other expenditure, a proposal? there are cases that need Copyright INSESSION is is published by evidence that a criminal a sovereign debt crisis well qualified personnel like the Information and Content offence has been committed, causes investors to leave the President’s response: If social workers to deal with.