Premier

Question by: 
Hon Galil Brinkhuis
Answered by: 
Hon Alan Winde
Question Number: 
10
Question Body: 

(a) Whether the office of the Commissioner for Children has been fully equipped with the necessary resources, equipment and staff; if not, (a) what is the reason for the delay and (b) what is the time frame to equip her office; if so, what are the relevant details?

Answer Body: 

The following are resources put in place to ensure the Office of the Commissioner for Children is equipped and has sufficient tools of trade:

  • Onboarding support was provided to the Commissioner until staff members were in place e.g.;
  • Setting up of office, IT, communications (i.e email, cellphone, branding, posters etc)
  • Introductions to key role players in the social sector departments
  • Administrative, office and operational support including procurement and staff support on visits/workshops
  • Part-time personal assistant assigned

Budget

The Children’s Commissioner budget for 2022/23 is R10.413 million, comprised of:       

  • COE – R6.754 million
  • G&S – R3.659 million

The 22/23 COE budget includes an additional R1 million.

Staffing:

  • Following approval of organisational structure, the Commissioner took responsibility for recruiting her own staff, with operational assistance from the Department of the Premier.
  • Considering budget constraints, and the vision for the work to be carried out by the office under the current Commissioner, the sub-directorates were re-organised to bring on board the requisite capacities complementing the current skill set of the Office of the Commissioner to fulfil urgent functions.
  • The sub-directorates are: “Investigations and Advice” and “Monitoring and Awareness”.
  • Posts were advertised towards the end of 2020 and recruitment processes have since been concluded.
  •  The Deputy Director: Investigations and Advice, Assistant Director: Investigations and Advice and Childrens Commissioner Officer have been appointed.
  • A full-time personal assistant from the Department has been assigned to the Office.

 Plans for future appointments:

  • Recruitment for the ASD in the Investigation and Advice branch is at an advanced stage.
  • Discussions for the permanent appointment of the personal assistant are underway with HR (PMP)
  • The additional CoE budget with the latest allocations, will be used to staff the Awareness and Advice Branch with 1 permanent DD and 1 permanent SL8 in 2022/23.

Accommodation:

  • Temporary premises were secured at Norton Rose House in Riebeek Street Cape Town
  • The offices have since moved to the 6th Floor, Waldorf Building.
Date: 
Friday, March 4, 2022
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