Department needs effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, says Tourism Committee
The Acting Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Ms Lusizo Makhubela-Mashele, expressed concern about the Department of Tourism’s serious wasteful and fruitless expenditure. The department briefed the committee yesterday on its first- and second-quarter reports for the current financial year.
Ms Makhubela-Mashele said: “The department did not perform well in the two quarters under review, as there were delays in planned projects and the Covid pandemic was also a factor that contributed to under-expenditure.”
The Chairperson also raised concerns about the way tenders are awarded and highlighted the lack of departmental monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Such mechanisms would help to assess the department’s performance and act as an early warning system for any problems.
The committee also noted the delays in the appointment of service providers and that the department is slow to act when, in some cases, the appointed service providers did not meet BBBEE standards.
Members of the committee told the department to seek common ground with organisations that have taken them to court, as these interdicts have prevented the department from releasing Covid-19 relief funds to recipients in the tourism sector.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, MS LUSIZO MAKHUBELA-MASHELE
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Name: Jabulani Majozi (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 0663020623
E-mail: jmajozi@parliament.gov.za
