Question No 607
Professor B Turok African National Congress (ANC) to ask the Minister of Finance:
(1) What was the (a)(i) extent of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for South Africa in the 2008/09 financial year and (ii) from what source was it received, (b)(i) expenditure of ODA for that year and (ii) where was the expenditure incurred and (c)(i) scale of unspent funds and (ii) what portion was returned to the donors?
Reply:
(a)(i) Official Development Assistance received by government is in terms of international agreements of an administrative nature and can be in the form of technical cooperation (e.g. provision of expertise, technical assistance, training, study tours, secondments etc.), or in the form of grants via the RDP fund. In terms of the latter, the amount for 2008/09 totals R1 993 344 363
(a)(ii) Grants are usually channelled through the RDP fund. With regard to technical assistance, it is difficult to provide an exact figure on the amount received as this is mainly received in kind in the form of international expertise or technical advice or assistance to a programme.
(b)(i) During the 2008/09 financial year an amount of R1 825 376 620 was transferred from the RDP fund to various spending agencies. This amount comprises some funding received during previous financial years as well as funding received during the 2008/09 financial year.
(b)(ii) The breakdown of the allocation and spending focus of these funds is reflected in the annual financial statements that are presented to Parliament each year http://www.oag.treasury.gov.za, a copy of the relevant annual financial statements are available on request.
(c)(i) The unspent funds currently in the RDP fund comprise mainly of interest accrued on funds deposited into the RDP fund.
(c)(ii) A total amount of R20 356 955 was returned to the donors during 2008/09 It should be noted however, that these funds comprised mainly of interest accrued on funds deposited into the RDP Fund (R 16 019 137) as well as funds remaining in respect of projects that have been finalised and closed (R4 337 818).
Issued by: National Treasury
25 August 2009
