The Speaker:

Letter dated 5 August 2003 from the Minister of Health to the Speaker, tabled in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the delay in the tabling of the Annual Reports and Financial Statements for the National Health Laboratory Services for 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.

Dear Madam Speaker

National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS): Annual Reports 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that the National Health Laboratory Services will not be able to comply with the PFMA Regulations in respect of the submission of the abovementioned Annual Reports to Parliament.

The National Health Laboratory Services was established as a public entity on 1 October 2001 and used the budget of the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR) for the first eighteen months of its existence.

There was a delay in the appointment of external auditors, but finally PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Gobodo have been appointed and commenced the audit for the 18-month period. This has been done with the involvement of the office of the Auditor-General.

The National Health Laboratory Services will therefore not be in a position to present an annual report for 2001/02, but expects to submit one report for the 18-month period from 1 October 2001 to 31 March 2003. The auditors have advised that they will only be able to present the draft audit report to the National Health Laboratory Services on the 15 September 2003. There is insufficient time for the National Health Laboratory to submit an Annual Report to the Minister and Parliament by the 30 September 2003.

The Annual Report shall be submitted as soon as it becomes available.

Kindly bring this to the attention of the Secretary to Parliament.

Kind regards

Dr M E Tshabalala-Msimang, MP
Minister