Question NW857 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
08 June 2020 - NW857
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether, with reference to her decision that some sites identified by her Department and the provincial Department of public works for use as quarantine facilities are unsuitable for quarantine purposes, in particular the Eskom Training Facility in Midrand, she had visited the sites herself; if not, (a) what is the basis of her decision, (b) were the reports she received verified by her own officials following a site visit, (c) was she informed that the sites had already been used as much as four times for repatriated citizens, (d) who accredited the sites for use, (e) which protocols were used to accredit the sites and (f) why is there a difference between the perceived standards of suitability used by her Department and those used by the Department of Health in terms of the selection of sites for quarantine purposes; if so, what are the relevant details of her assessment?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
a) The Minister of Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) did not declare any quarantine facility including Eskom Training Facility in Midrand unsuitable for purposes of quarantine. Such responsibility lies with the Department of Health.
b) Yes, only reports for facilities identified and availed from DPWI’s immovable asset register were verified by my Department’s officials. Eskom Training College is not one of them.
c) No, I was not informed.
d) This information may be sourced from the Department of Health
e) This information may be sourced from the Department of Health.
f) The determination of the suitability of the facility for use as a quarantine facility is the domain of Department of Health and not DPWI.