SA Weather Service; SA National Parks Quarter 1 & 2 performance; with Deputy Minister

Video The Committee's objective was to assess if South African Weather Service (SAWS) and South African National Parks (SANParks) were on track to exceed the minimum performance target of 80% by the end of the financial year. Overall, SAWS achieved 83% of its targets in the first quarter and 82% in the second quarter. It reported an operational setback due to a recent cyberattack. Other challenges included revenue shortfalls and operational issues affecting air quality monitoring. SANParks reported successful conservation efforts, park management improvements, and an increase in new tourism products. It experienced some challenges, including a loss of 75 000 visitors at Table Mountain as well as criminal activities taking place at national parks as well as rhino poaching and livestock predation. A number of corrective measures were introduced, such as increased law enforcement capacity and increased visibility of park rangers at affected parks. Committee members had questions about SAWS revenue generation; the impact of cyberattacks on its operations; the adequacy of its target setting; super computer tender; load shedding impacts on operations; and legal fees. Discussion on the SANParks performance included its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) targets; community engagement initiatives; poaching and biodiversity conservation; tourism revenue; and the tourism management IT system being built by Gijima.