Information on Parties held by the Department of Foreign Affairs between 2002 - 2006

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 1299

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 31 OF 2006: 22 SEPTEMBER 2006
MR DHM GIBSON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

In respect of each year since 2002, up to and including 2006,

(a) how many parties were held by her department,
(b) what was the nature of the party in each instance,
(c) how much did each party cost and
(d) From which budget was the money allocated;

(2) whether any sponsorships were obtained in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Reply

(a) From 2002 to 2005 three parties have been held each year, with three parties been held thus far in 2006.

(b+c) In 2002 the Department held an Opening of Parliament Banquet in Honour of the Diplomatic Corps hosted by the Minister. The cost of this function was R506 890.03.
In the same year the Department held a cocktail function to mark its budget vote the cost of the function was R 27 965.60
The Department also had an end-of-year function for the staff of the Department. The cost of the function was R465 645.45

In 2003 the Department held an Opening of Parliament Banquet in Honour of the Diplomatic Corps hosted by the Minister. The cost of this function was R361 757.50 The Department held a dinner to mark its budget vote the cost of the function was R 55 244.42. We then held an end of year function at the cost of R215 891.80.

In 2004 the Department held an Opening of Parliament Banquet in Honour of the Diplomatic Corps hosted by the Minister at the cost of R444 817.10. A budget vote cocktail party was held in conjunction with the Department of Social Development. The cost to the Department of Foreign Affairs was R22 931.20. An end of year party was held for staff at the cost of R364 245.70.

In 2005 the opening of Parliament function cost a total of R635 211.00. A luncheon was held to mark the department's budget vote which cost R55 175.90. The end of year function for staff of the Department cost R334 012.00

In 2006 the opening of Parliament Function cost had a total cost of R750 935.50 A dinner was held to mark the departments budget vote which cost R57 900.80 The following morning a breakfast was held in conjunction with Morning Live the cost to the Department was R28 650.00. A farewell Function was held for The Chief of State Protocol Ambassador B.I.L Modise at the cost of R957 548.56

(d) All the Departments expenses came from its voted funds and the budget of the Chief Directorate Public Diplomacy.

(2) Sponsorships were obtained for many of the events hosted by the Department these are:

Sponsorship of R150 000 was received from BMW South Africa for the 2002 opening of Parliament banquet.

Sponsorship of R200 000 was received from BMW for the 2003 opening of parliament banquet.

2004 opening of Parliament Banquet
BMW R200 000
Anglo American R150 000.00

2005 opening of Parliament banquet cost a total of R635 211.00
BMW R200 000
Anglo American R150 000.00

The following sponsorships were received for 2006 opening of Parliament banquet:

BMW R250 000
Anglo American R165 288.60
KWV brand House
Burgers Park Hotel R20 000

In respect of the Farewell function for the Chief of state protocol the a total sponsorship of R463 377.70 was received as follows:

BWM South Africa R227 777.70
Eskom R 110 600.00
Petro SA R25 000.00
PriceWater House Coopers R25 000.00
ASBA, R25 000.00
SAP (Systems Applications and products) R25 000
de Beers R25 000