Finance and Economic Opportunities
With regard to the Weekend Argus headline of Sunday 7 February 2021, which read: “Covid-19 vaccine will cost Western Cape billions”, and stated that Premier Winde “has confirmed that he and his procurement team will meet this week to hash out a plan and source money from provincial treasury that will bolster the national Department of Health’s allocated doses for the province”:
- Whether this development by the Premier to source money to purchase the COVID-19 vaccine for the province has been bought to his attention; if so, what are the relevant details;
- (a) what are the details of the members of the Procurement Team, (b) how were they appointed, (c) what is their scope of work and (d) why this process is driven by the Premier and not by the Department of Health or the Provincial Treasury;
- whether this matter was tabled at the Cabinet for discussion and decision; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what are the details of the minutes of the meeting or meetings at which the matter was discussed;
- why was this matter not disclosed at the Ad-hoc Committee’s session on 3 February during his Department’s presentation titled “Funding for the COVID-19 vaccine” or by the provincial Department of Health?
- Whether this development by the Premier to source money to purchase the COVID-19 vaccine for the province has been bought to his attention; if so, what are the relevant details;
Yes, the matter has been brought to the attention of myself and the Provincial Treasury and is being addressed through the 2021/22 budget process.
- (a) what are the details of the members of the Procurement Team, (b) how were they appointed, (c) what is their scope of work and (d) why this process is driven by the Premier and not by the Department of Health or the Provincial Treasury;
A strategic sourcing team has been constituted by senior officials from the Department of Health and Provincial Treasury, that were identified by the respective Heads of Department. The team advises the Accounting Officer for Health on demand forecasting requirements, regulatory requirements, supplier dynamics and acquisition modalities. The process is driven by the Department of Health, supported by the Provincial Treasury.
- whether this matter was tabled at the Cabinet for discussion and decision; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what are the details of the minutes of the meeting or meetings at which the matter was discussed;
This matter was presented to Cabinet by Provincial Treasury as part of the 2021/22 budget presentation for Cabinet approval on 25 February 2021.
Further details will be provided when the budget is tabled on 16 March 2021.
- why was this matter not disclosed at the Ad-hoc Committee’s session on 3 February during his Department’s presentation titled “Funding for the COVID-19 vaccine” or by the provincial Department of Health?
The acquisition of vaccines was traversed during the Ad-hoc Committee meeting on 03 February 2021.
