Question Question:Minister of Cooperative Governance to the Minister of Provincial and Local Government

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26 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Cooperative Governance

MPs to ask the Minister of Provincial and Local Government

Reply:

QUESTION NO. 1433

(Internal Question Paper No 24 – 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

With regard to each municipality, (a) what was the (i) total number of staff, (ii) total number of days taken for (aa) sick leave and (bb) annual leave and (iii) rate of absenteeism, (b) (i) what total amount was spent on consultants and (ii) what was the (aa) nature of the work done by the consultants, (bb) duration of their contracts or work done and (cc) hourly rates charged by these consultants during the 2007-08 financial year and (c) what total amount was spent by each of these municipalities on (i) parties and (ii) any other social events in each of the past three financial years up to and including 15 August 2008?

ANSWER

This question requires that information covering all the two hundred and eighty-three municipalities, be made available. The information sought also covers a wide range of issues.

The National Assembly Guide to Procedure, 2004 provides that members of the National Assembly "may not raise questions which would require an impractically extensive answer". This question falls within this category. Consequently, it is not possible to respond to the question.

QUESTION NO. 1436

(Internal Question Paper No 24 - 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

What is the breakdown of the (a) actual number of engineer posts and (b) the number of these posts that are vacant in each municipality as at 1 August 2008?

ANSWER

The Honourable Member will note that information has been obtained from Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The outstanding information from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West province will be made available to the Honourable Member as soon as it has been received.

See the tables here: http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1436tables.pdf

QUESTION NO. 1519

(Internal Question Paper No 25 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

(1) (a) How many posts on senior management level are currently vacant in each of the 283 municipalities and (b) how long have each of these posts been vacant

(2) whether each of these vacancies have been budgeted for; if not; why not; if so, (a) how much will be spent in filling these vacancies and (b) when will they be filled?

ANSWER

The Honourable Member will note that information has been obtained from Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The outstanding information from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West province will be made available to the Honourable Member as soon as it has been received.

See tables here: http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1519tables.pdf

QUESTION NO. 1543

(Internal Question Paper No 27 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

(1) What (a) were the reasons for the abolishment of the Regional Services Council (RSC) levies and (b) was the total amount owed to municipalities when the RSC levies were abolished;

(2) whether municipalities were given a date by which to collect the moneys owed to them; if not. what is the position in this regard; if so, what was the deadline;

(3) whether municipalities have been successful in recovering those moneys; if not, what are the challenges they are facing; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether his department has any plans to help those municipalities that could not recover the moneys owed to them at the time when RSC levies were abolished; if not, why not; if so, what plans;

(5) whether he has been informed of any legal action by a municipality or an individual representing a municipality against (a) organisations, (b) government departments. (c) private enterprises and (d) individuals over moneys owed to Regional Services Councils; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

ANSWER

The RSC levies were administered by the Minister of Finance and their abolishment were also done by the Minister of Finance, and the related matters of collections also have interface with the South African Revenue Services (SARS) which also report to the Minster of Finance. Accordingly, this Parliamentary Question should be directed to the Minister of Finance not the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

QUESTION NO. 802

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Moulana M R Sayedali-Shah (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What procedures are followed when meetings of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) and Directorate Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) are not held in terms of the approval process for urgent applications and (b) who from the NCACC attended the meetings of the Scrutiny Committee in terms of the regulations?

ANSWER

(a) As a general rule, meetings of the NCACC are scheduled to take place on a monthly basis throughout the year. At its meetings, it considers a number of matters placed before it. When taking decisions, the NCACC takes into account the recommendations placed before it by the Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Committee is a committee comprising all representatives of review departments. This committee has a duty to undertake general spade work for the NCACC. After considering the Scrutiny Committee's recommendations, the NCACC may decide to accept or reject the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.


In the event that the NCACC cannot convene, the Chairperson of the NCACC and the Minister of Defence consider and decide on matters that are urgent. In considering and deciding on urgent matters, the NCACC takes into account the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee. The decisions taken by the Chairperson and the Minister of Defence under these circumstances are, as a matter of principle, ratified by the next ensuing meeting of the NCACC.

The Directorate: Conventional Arms Control does not hold meetings to decide on urgent applications. What the Directorate does is to facilitate the holding of meetings by the Scrutiny Committee and the NCACC. The Directorate also executes and implements the decisions that have been taken by the NCACC.

Since the Scrutiny Committee was established and functioned as a subcommittee of the NCACC, no member of the NCACC has ever attended its meetings. This failure to have a member of the NCACC attending the Scrutiny Committee meetings is due to practical reasons only. It is because of these practical challenges that the NCACC has proposed an amendment to the Act relating to the establishment and functioning of the Scrutiny Committee.

QUESTION NO. 803

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether there are National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC)-approved processes for the Directorate Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) to follow when scrutinising and assessing applications for the issuing of a permit, besides the Chairperson delegating for the signing of permits; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

The Directorate uses clearly defined procedures when handling conventional arms permit

applications. The procedures deal with the following aspects:

(a) reflection on the international arms control regimes that have a bearing on the South African arms control system;

(b) structures established in terms of the law to implement conventional arms control in South Africa;

(c) classification and categorisation of conventional arms and related services; and

(d) procedures to be followed when handling different kinds of permit applications. These include registration permits, marketing permits, contracting permits, export permits, import permits, transit permits and end-user certificates.

In conducting all its work, the Directorate follows, and is guided by, these procedures.

QUESTION NO. 804

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) delegated the decision to issue permits; if so,

(2) whether minutes are kept of such decisions to delegate in respect of (a) who made the decision in each case to delegate, (b) when such decisions were made and (c) the basis on which each decision was made in the past 24 months; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) As a general rule, the transfer of conventional arms takes place on a daily basis. For such transfers to take place, the transfers have to be authorised by the NCACC. In order to facilitate this authorisation, the NCACC has delegated authority to the Directorate: Conventional Arms to handle these transactions. The delegated authority of the Directorate is not exercised in a vacuum, but within the context of NCACC guidelines. Further, the delegated authority of the Directorate has to be exercised after taking into account inputs by the various review departments. The delegated authority of the Directorate is exercised in respect of all kinds of permits, save for the contracting permits that are only authorised by the NCACC. Within the Directorate, the permit signing powers are carried out by the Director of the Directorate and the Deputy Director.

(2) The authority delegated to the Directorate was assigned in writing in respect of all permits, except contracting permits. All permits issued by the Directorate are recorded and are presented to the NCACC on a monthly basis for ratification. The basis for the issuing of permits are the provisions of the relevant Act, guidelines of the NCACC and inputs of various departments. All records of issued permits and the associated details are kept by the Directorate.

QUESTION NO. 805

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Moulana M R Sayedali-Shah (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether the Government received a diplomatic note from the Chinese and/or Zimbabwean government as part of the application for a conveyance permit with regard to the weapons for Zimbabwe carried by the Chinese ship that docked in the Durban harbour in April 2008; if so, (a) who authorised the permit and (b) who signed off the granting of the permit;

(2) whether he consulted the President in this process; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether a quorum was obtained when the decision was taken to issue the conveyance permit for the shipment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) what are the relevant details regarding the minutes kept of all meetings pertaining to the issuing of a conveyance permit to the Chinese shipment carrying weapons for Zimbabwe in respect of (a)(i) dates and (ii) times, (b) venues, (c) attendees and (d) decisions taken;

(5) whether the SA National Defence Force assisted with the refueling of the Chinese ship; if so, (a) how and (b) under whose order?

ANSWER

(1) As part of the transit permit application documentation, the NCACC (National Conventional Arms Control Committee) Directorate received a Diplomatic Note from the Zimbabwean Government, a copy of the Zimbabwean End User Certificate in respect of the consignment and a copy of a document from the Chinese Port Authority in respect of the consignment. After considering the documents, the Directorate consulted the various review departments, after which the matter was referred to the Chairperson of the NCACC for consideration and decision by the members of the NCACC. After due consideration, the NCACC authorised the Directorate to issue the permit. Subsequent to this authorisation, the Directorate issued the permit. The permit was signed by the delegated Deputy Director in the Directorate. It is worth mentioning though that the said Deputy Director signed the permit on specific instructions from the Director of the Directorate, who in turn was giving effect to the decision of the NCACC.

(2) The NCACC is an organ of state and has a full mandate in terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act (Act 41 of 2002), to regulate the transfer of conventional arms in South Africa. The NCACC considers and decides on all matters before it on the basis of this mandate. This approach was the followed without exception when the Zimbabwean transit permit application was dealt with.

(3) As a matter of practice, all transit permits are dealt with by the Directorate on the basis of the delegated powers, the guidelines of the NCACC and the inputs of review departments. Where the Directorate is not certain, the Directorate seeks, as a general rule, the advice of the NCACC through the office of the Chairperson. This was the case in respect of the transit permit under focus. After the transit permit application had been brought to the attention of the Chairperson of the NCACC, the Chairperson consulted members of the NCACC. After this consultation, a decision was taken to authorise the permit.

(4) As indicated in response to question (3) above, no specific meeting was held by the NCACC to consider this matter. Normal consultation was conducted by the Chairperson after which a decision was made to issue the permit.

(5) This question should be directed to the Department of Defence as the SANDF falls under that Department.

QUESTION NO. 823

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department will cease making allocations to the SA Local Government Association (Salga) since it has received three qualified reports from the Auditor-General in the past three financial years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether his department has any plans in place to help Salga resolve its financial problems; if not, why not; if so, (a) what plans; (b) when will they be implemented, (c) how long will it take to implement them and (d) how much will it cost to implement them;

(3) what (a) were the total amounts of State allocations to Salga and (b) was Salga's actual expenditure in each of the past five financial years;

(4) whether Salga overspent its budget in each of the past five financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, by how much in each case;

(5) whether the overexpenditure was accounted for in each of the past five financial years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) No. SALGA is mandated by the 1996 Constitution, and by the Municipal Systems Act (2000) and the Organised Local Government Act (1997), to assist with the transformation of local government in South Africa in line with the values and vision upheld by the government. The allocations to SALGA are appropriated through the annual Appropriation Act which is voted for in Parliament.

(2) Yes. The department has plans in place (a) to review SALGA's funding model, together with the National Treasury and SALGA, (b) over the duration of the 2009 MTEC process, (c) will depend on the recommendations of the MTEC, (d) there will be no cost implications as the work is being done by the dplg, SALGA and the National Treasury.

(3) The information relating to allocations is available from the 2008 (Vote 29) Estimates of National Expenditure document, and the information relating to actual expenditure is available from the Annual Report of SALGA. These documents have been tabled in Parliament.

(4) No. SALGA has not overspent on its budget over the last five financial years. The table appearing below presents the net cash flow for the last five financial years. The position over the last five years is as follows:

 

June 2003

June 2004

June 2005

June 2006

June 2007

Actual Net

Operating Result

R 4 911.500

(R 2 549 043)

(R 10 930 150)

(R 63 120 913)

R 1 899 245

Add: Non-cash

Flow items

         

Depreciation

R 257 186

R 266 047

R 1 341 644

R 1 914 068

R 2 144 462

Provision for

impairment of

trade receivables

-

R 5 295 625

R 62 984 226

R 43 499 461

(R 18 372 282)

Fair value adjustment

-

-

-

R 19 082 415

R 17 103 772

Actual adjustment Net

Operating Results

R 5 168 668

R 3 012 629

R 53 395 720

R 1 375 031

R 2 775 197

           

Budgeted Net

Operating Results

0

0

0

0

0

           

Variance

+R 5 168 668

+R 3 012 629

+R 53 395 720

+ R 1 375 031

+R 2 775 197.

(5) Falls away.

QUESTION NO. 832

(Internal Question Paper No 15 – 2008)

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether he will ensure that his department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

(2) whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to him; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) what is the estimated cost of all such (i) reports and (ii) publications per annum in the case of these agencies and all other working documents of his department and (b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of his department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices?

ANSWER

(1) (a) and (b) The Department of Public Works is leading the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Strategy in respect of all government buildings.

(2) The agencies or councils referred to report to Parliament, and not to the Minister.

(3) (a) (i) & (ii) Fall away. However, an amount of R 4,468,710 has been spent on all publications for the 2007/2008 financial year by the dplg.

(b) (i) Electricity.

(ii) Energy saving measures being implemented are the following:

1.1

· All lights in the dplg buildings, including parking areas, are to be switched off between 19h00 and 05h00. Lights in passages, lift lobbies and some lights at the foyer will not be switched off for security reasons. Timer switches will be installed on each floor to regulate electricity.

· All geysers will be switched off between 19h00 and 05h00.

· Air-conditioning systems in our buildings have been programmed to automatically switch off at 18h00 and switch on at 06h00.

· Staff members are to switch off all electrical appliances and equipment when not in use.

· Disciplinary steps will be taken against all staff members who fail to comply with the energy saving measures.

QUESTION NO. 850

(Internal Question Paper No 15 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) How many (i) professionals and (ii) managers have been deployed under Project Consolidate in (aa) 2005, (bb) 2006 and (cc) 2007, (b) to how many of the 136 municipalities have they been deployed, (c) for how long have they been deployed, (d) what are their fields of expertise and (e) from where were they sourced?

ANSWER

(a) (i) and (ii) (aa), (bb) and (cc), and (b):

Project Consolidate Deployments

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

Number of professionals and managers deployed

210 deployments

359 deployments

1 134 deployments

Number of Project Consolidate (PC), municipalities

69 municipalities

105 municipalities

268 municipalities

(including all 139 PC municipalities).

(c)The duration of deployment differs from one deploying agent to the next. Generally, deployments have ranged from one year to three years.

(d) Deployments have focused on the following skills areas:

  • engineering;
  • finance;
  • town-planning;
  • project management; and
  • human resource development.

(e) Support for Project Consolidate has been mobilised from a range of stakeholders and partners, including business and professional organizations, state owned enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and development and donor agencies. Some of these stakeholders include the First National Bank, the Business Trust, AHI, IDT, INCA Capacity Building Fund, GTZ, KFW, DFID (UK), USAID, the South African Planning Institution (SAPI) and the Old Mutual Group.

All firearm licence applications received for the period 20042007 have been fully processed on the Enhanced Firearms Register System. Contributory factors such as outstanding documentation from applicants, safe inspections, availability of applicants for safe inspections result in a situation where a final decision could not be made on the outstanding applications during that specific year. As the outstanding information is received, the applications are considered and finalized.

QUESTION NO. 1159

(Internal Question Paper No 20 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether his department has an anti-corruption unit to assist municipalities in the fight against corruption; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many people are involved in this unit, (b) what strategy to fight corruption has been developed by this unit, (c) what assistance have they had from municipalities and (d) what successes have they had in municipalities?

ANSWER

Yes, the Department has established a Chief Directorate which focuses on the implementation of anti-corruption measures within local government.

(a) Three Managers are driving the programme within the Chief Directorate.

(b) The Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy was developed by the Chief Directorate in the year 2006 to fight corruption within municipalities.

(c) Municipalities are cooperating, and have been assisted with the development of systems, policies and procedures to prevent corruption. It should also be noted that both the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID), have provided support to the Department from 2004 and 2006, respectively, with the roll-out of a local government anti-corruption programme.

(d) The impact of the strategy has not been assessed as the strategy is still being rolled out within municipalities. However, regarding the raising of awareness within municipalities, the strategy has had an impact, as local communities are now exposing and reporting corruption, where it occurs.

QUESTION NO. 1161

(Internal Question Paper No 20 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether his department has introduced any measures to assist municipalities in (a) collecting revenue and (b) spending their capital budgets; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(a) The dplg is working with the National Treasury, SALGA, Provincial Departments of Local Government and Provincial Treasuries to provide financial management support, which includes tools and systems for revenue collection. Apart from the legislative measures embodied in the Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act, the dplg has provided some municipalities with grant funding to address billing systems, data cleansing, development and the implementation of credit control policies. The dplg has also developed a model credit control policy and by-laws, in conjunction with SALGA. These are aimed at assisting municipalities with revenue management and collection.

With a view to supporting municipal revenue management, section 64(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), requires an accounting officer of a municipality to immediately inform the National Treasury of any payments for municipal tax or municipal services by government departments that are regularly in arrears for periods of more than 30 days. This provision assists in ensuring that such government departments are pressurised, through Provincial Treasuries and local government, to settle their outstanding accounts with municipalities.

(b) Regarding spending of the capital budgets, the dplg, in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, has deployed technical and financial experts within municipalities. The experts include engineers deployed to support municipalities with project management and the implementation of capital projects. This facilitates the spending of capital budgets.

QUESTION NO. 1167

(Internal Question Paper No 20 - 2008)

Mr. M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) (a) What was the total rand value of (i) hotel accommodation procured for his departmental officials and (ii) conferencing facilities hired by his department during period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and (b) in each case, what percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council:

(2) whether there are any barriers to making use of graded establishments; if not, why is the use of graded facilities not higher; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

The total Rand value of hotel accommodation procured and conferencing facilities hired, for the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008, amounted to:

(1) (a) (i) Hotel accommodation: R 6.027 million

(ii) Conferencing facilities: R 2.250 million

The percentage spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council Is as follows:

(b) 1 % on 2 star hotels;

27% on 3 star hotels;

66% on 4 star hotels;

3% on 5 star hotels; and

3% on lodges, guest houses and tour operators.

(2) There were no barriers when making use of the graded establishments as 97% of expenditure is spent on graded hotels as indicated in (b) above.

QUESTION NO. 1205

(Internal Question Paper No 21 – 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What amount was owed to each local and district municipality, (b) how many debtors were (i) residential properties, (ii) commercial enterprises, (iii) government departments and (iv) other entities in respect of each of the local and district municipality, (c) what amounts have been outstanding for more than (i) 6, (ii) 12, and (iii) 24 months in each case as at 1 July 2008 and (d) what amount was owed to each local and district municipality for (i) rates, (ii) water, (iii) electricity, (iv) sewerage and (v) refuse during this period?

ANSWER

(a) The total amount owed to local and district municipalities as at the end of June 2008 stood at R18, 407,490 billion.

(b) According to the 2008 Local Government Budgets and Expenditure Review, 2003/04 – 2009/10, residential properties owe approximately 60% (R10,8 billion), government departments owe approximately 20% (R3,6 billion) and commercial enterprises and other entities owe approximately 20% (R3,6 billion).

(c) Of the total debt, R15 billion has been outstanding for over 90 days. Further details appear in the Table and in the Appendix hereto. Information per municipality is available on the National Treasury website – www.treasury.gov.za/legislation/mfma/media releases/section71 4th 0708

TABLE

Provincial Debt Aggregate: 2007/08

DEBTOR AGE ANALYSIS FOR ALL PROVINCES AS AT JUNE 2008

           

Province

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

Over 90 Days

TOTAL

Eastern Cape

427,313

133,947

78,376

2,472,393

3,112,029

Free State

357,844

192,110

117,460

3,202,105

3,869,519

Gauteng

3,003,286

1,014,796

690,043

17,085,904

21,794,029

KwaZulu-Natal

1,111,143

297,242

209,099

3,988,935

5,606,419

Limpopo

28,898

14,939

41,389

720,405

805,631

Mpumalanga

179,964

65,753

60,891

1,642,721

1,949,329

Northern Cape

100,270

25,869

21,982

627,849

775,970

North West

189,515

89,105

79,603

1,999,469

2,357,692

Western Cape

956,464

181,306

183,092

3,470,189

4,791,051

TOTAL (including Metros)

R6,354,697

R2,015,067

R1,481,935

R35,209,970

R45,061,669

Debt owed to Metros

R4,426,440

R1,279,187

R855,337

R20,093,213

R26,654,179

TOTAL (District & Local Munics)

R1,928,257

R735,880

R626,598

R15,116,757

R18,407,490

Source: The National Treasury database: 2007/08

APPENDIX

Debtor Age Analysis of municipalities in all 9 provinces

(1) Eastern Cape

(2) Free State

(3) Gauteng

(4) KwaZulu-Natal

(5) Limpopo

(6) Mpumalanga

(7) Northern Cape

(8) North West

(9) Western Cape

QUESTION NO. 1233

(Internal Question Paper No 21 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

With regard to the White Paper on the System of Provincial and Local Government, (a) what amount has been (i) budgeted and (ii) spent on research papers or projects commissioned or to be commissioned, (b) what topics have been covered by these research papers and (c) when will these research papers be made available to the public?

ANSWER

(a)(i) The Department of Provincial and Local Government (dplg), has budgeted the following amounts for this process:

· 2007/8: R1,5 million;

· 2008/9: R1,5 million; and

· 2009/10: R2 million.

(ii) R6,023,787.74 (the full amount has been funded by donors).

(b) The following research papers appearing in tables 1 and 2 were commissioned by the dplg. They focuson the assessment of the state of local government, provincial government and cooperative governance, and also on specific sectors. There is also an overview paper summarising all the sector issues. A cross-cutting paper was also commissioned on capacity building.

QUESTION NO. 1234

(Internal Question Paper No 21 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What amount has been (i) budgeted and (ii) spent to assist the local government in the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) on what were these funds spent?

ANSWER

(a) and (b) Since the 2005/06 financial year, the dplg has budgeted an amount of R280, 000, 00 to support the Democratic Republic of Congo with the process of decentralization. The amount spent during this period is R278, 931, 00. The specific items on which the money was spent are as follows:

Items

Amount

   

Flights

R100,415.00

Accommodation

R 90,374.00

Ground Transport

R 17,015.00

Foreign Daily Allowance

R 71,127.00

   

Total Expenditure

R 278,931.00.

The dplg also received an amount of R2, 000,000.00 in the 2005/06 financial year from the African Renaissance Fund (ARF) managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to support the implementation of the Agreement on Decentralization signed on 16 March 2006 between the Department of Provincial and Local Government and the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization and Security in the DRC. This amount was spent as follows:

Items

Amount

Professional and Special Services

R 978,262.00

Translation and Transcription

R 328,475.00

Transport and Subsistence

R 557,635.00

Venues and Facilities

R 117,731.00

Other expenditure

R 17,897.00

Total Expenditure

R 2,000,000.00.

QUESTION NO. 1235

(Internal Question Paper No 21 - 2008)

Mr. W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether his department has developed or intends developing a policy for free basic services of (a) sanitation and (b) refuse removal: if not, why not; If so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(a) and (b) The Department has not developed, and has no intention of developing, a policy on free basic sanitation and free basic refuse removal.

The responsibility for the development of policies relating to free basic services lies with the respective sector departments. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is in the process of developing the Free Basic Sanitation Policy and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is in the process of developing the Free Basic Refuse Removal Policy. The role of the Department of Provincial and Local Government is to advise the respective sector departments on policy issues, and to coordinate and oversee the Implementation of free basic services.

QUESTION NO. 1897

(Internal Question Paper No 33- 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) Which municipalities in each province had a municipal manager under suspension as at 31 October 2008, (b) for how long and (c) what was the main reason in each case?

ANSWER

The Information as requested is not readily available within the dplg. Provinces and Municipalities have been requested to provide this information. The Honourable member will be provided with a response as soon as the information is received

ANSWER

According to the 2003/04 Auditor General Report, only 95 of the 283 audits had been finalised by 30 April 2005. Of the 95 audited twenty seven were unqualified (39%). forty five were qualified (47%), three were disclaimers (3%), and ten had an adverse audit opinion (11 %).

The department has detailed information for the past three financial years (ie. 2004/06; 2005/06 & 2006/07). Details are attached as Annexure A.

(2) Detailed information on the nature of audit opinions is contained in the attached as Annexure B.

(3) Details on the audit analysis are attached as Annexure C. The interpretations is as follows:

(i) There has been a 1 % increase in the unqualified audit outcomes, comparing 2005/06 & 2006/07 audit periods.

(ii) Comparing the 2005/06 & 2006/07 audit period, the number of municipalities with qualified audit outcomes increased by 3%.

(iii)The number of municipalities with disclaimers reduced by 6% during the same period 2005/06 & 2006/07.

(iv) There has been a 1% decrease In the adverse audit opinion during the periods under review.

QUESTION NO. 1276

(Internal Question Paper No 22 – 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

With regard to each of the municipal managers suspended from office in each of the past three years up to 1 July 2008, (a) what are their names, (b) in which municipality do/did they serve, (c) why are they suspended, (d) how long have they been suspended and (e) what (i) is their salary and (ii) remuneration have they received during their suspension?

ANSWER

The Department of Provincial and Local Government, in collaboration with the provinces, is gathering the required information. The detailed answer to this question will be provided to the Honourable Member as soon as the required information has been collated.

QUESTION NO. 1277

(Internal Question Paper No 22 - 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial, Local Government:

What are the (a) educational qualifications. (b) number of years spent in local government. (c) number of months spent in the current position, by each (i) municipal manager, (ii) chief financial officer currently employed in each municipality?

ANSWER

The Honourable Member will note that information has been obtained from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Limpopo and Western Cape provinces. The outstanding Information from Kwa Zulu Natal and North West province will be made available to the Honourable Member as soon as it has been received.

See the tables here:
http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1277tables.pdf

http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1277tables2.pdf

QUESTION NO. 907

(Internal Question Paper No 16 – 2008)

Mr I E Jenner (ID) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department is taking any steps to increase the delivering capacity of local authorities in respect of services and the provision of housing; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps;

(2) (a) which local authorities are receiving assistance to increase its delivering capacity and (b) with what result?

ANSWER

(1) Yes, the dplg has taken steps to increase the delivery capacity of municipalities in respect of infrastructure and service provisioning. Since the inception of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) Programme, municipalities have been allowed to top-slice their MIG allocation (0,5% - 5%, but not exceeding R3,5 million), so that they may be able to establish Project Management Units (PMUs). As at the end of the previous national financial year (2007/08), 190 PMUs had been established.

In addition, in 2006 Government commenced with the deployment of technical, project management, financial and planning experts within municipalities through the Project Consolidate initiative. As at the end of the March 2008, support had been provided to 110 municipalities.

(2) (a) The municipalities receiving assistance to increase their delivery capacity are:

Province

Municipality

Expertise

Eastern Cape

Nelson Mandela Metro

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

King Sabata Dalindyebo LM

Project Manager (2)/ Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

King Sabata Dalindyebo LM

Financial Expert

Eastern Cape

OR Tambo DM

Project Manager (3) /Technical Expert (3)

Eastern Cape

OR Tambo DM

Financial Expert

Eastern Cape

Koukamma LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

Blue Crane & Ndlambe LMs

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Province

Municipality

Expertise

Eastern Cape

Cacadu DM

Project Manager (2) /Technical Expert (2)

Eastern Cape

Sakhisizwe LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

Mamusa & Naledi LMs

Financial Expert

Eastern Cape

Great Kei LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

Great Kei LM

Financial Expert

Eastern Cape

Mbashe LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

Mnquma LM

Project Manager

Eastern Cape

Mbashe LM

Financial Expert

Eastern Cape

Matatiele LM

Planner

Eastern Cape

Matatiele LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

Sakhisizwe LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Eastern Cape

Sakhisizwe LM

Financial Expert

Free State

Tokologo LM

Financial Expert

Free State

Mathjabeng LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Free State

Masilonyana LM

Project Manager (2)/ Technical Expert (2)

Free State

Ngwathe LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Free State

Xhariep DM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Free State

Mohokare LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Free State

Kopanong LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Free State

Kopanong LM

Planner

Free State

Phumelela LM

Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)

Free State

Setsoto LM

Project Manager (2) /Technical Expert (2)

Free State

Phumelela LM

Financial Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Umgungudlovu LM

Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)

KwaZulu-Natal

Sisonke DM

Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)

KwaZulu-Natal

Hlabisa, Indaka & Jozini LMs

Financial Expert (2 per municipality)

KwaZulu-Natal

Hlabisa, Jozini & Umhlabuyalingana LMs

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Province

Municipality

Expertise

KwaZulu-Natal

Ilembe LMs

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Nqutu & Umsinga LMs

Project Manager/Technical Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Indaka & Okhahlamba LMs

Project Manager / Technical Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Ugu DM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Ingwe, Kwasani, Ntabanana & Emadlangeni LMs

Planner

KwaZulu-Natal

Emadlangeni LM

Financial Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Uphongolo LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

KwaZulu-Natal

Uphongolo LM

Planner

Limpopo

Lephalale LM

Project Manager / Technical Expert

Limpopo

Greater Marble Hall & Lepelle- Nkumpi LMs

Financial Expert

Limpopo

Mopane DM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Limpopo

Maruleng LMs

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Limpopo

Greater Tubatse LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Limpopo

Lepelle Nkumpi LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Limpopo

Mutale LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Limpopo

Sekhukhune DM

Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)

Limpopo

Sekhukhune DM

Financial Expert

Limpopo

Aganang

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Limpopo

Fetakgomo & Blouberg LMs

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Limpopo

Greater Giyani

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Limpopo

Ba-Phalaborwa LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Limpopo

Greater Marble Hall

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Limpopo

Lephalale & Thabazimbi LMs

Financial Expert

Limpopo

Mopane DM

Financial Expert

Mpumalanga

Bushbuckridge LM

Project Manager

Mpumalanga

Bushbuckridge LM

Planner

Mpumalanga

Bushbuckridge LM

Project Manage (2) /Technical Expert (2)

Mpumalanga

Nkomazi LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Mpumalanga

Mkhondo LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Mpumalanga

Mkhondo LM

Financial Expert

Mpumalanga

Albert Luthuli LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Province

Municipality

Expertise

Mpumalanga

Albert Luthuli & Govan Mbeki LMs

Financial Expert

Mpumalanga

Lekwa LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Mpumalanga

Lekwa LM

Planner

Northern Cape

Moshaweng LM

Financial Expert

Northern Cape

Pokwane LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Northern Cape

Dikgatlong LM

Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)

Northern Cape

Siyancuma LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Northern Cape

Siyanda DM

Financial Expert (2)

Northern Cape

Siyanda DM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Northern Cape

Karoo Hoogland

Financial Expert

North West

Kgetleng Rivier LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

North West

Moretele LM

Financial Expert

North West

Moses Kotane LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

North West

Merafong LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

North West

Tswaing LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

North West

Ventersdorp LM

Financial Expert

North West

Naledi LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

North West

Naledi & Mamusa LM

Financial Expert

North West

Taung LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Western Cape

Cederberg LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Western Cape

Cederberg LM

Financial Expert

Western Cape

Kannaland LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Western Cape

Hessequa LM

Project Manager/Technical Expert

Western Cape

Oudtshoorn LM

Financial Expert

Western Cape

Eden DM

Financial Expert

Western Cape

Eden DM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Western Cape

Oudtshoorn LM

Financial Expert

Western Cape

Kannaland LM

Financial Expert

Province

Municipality

Expertise

Western Cape

Hessequa LM

Financial Expert

Western Cape

Breedevalley & Witzenberg LMs

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Western Cape

Theewaterskloof LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Western Cape

Grabouw LM

Project Manager/ Technical Expert

Western Cape

Overberg DM

Project Manager / Technical Expert

(b) Since the 2006/07 financial year, municipalities have demonstrated improved capacity to spend MIG funds due to the increased interventions such as the establishment of PMUs and their deployment in municipalities.

The Eastern Cape Province managed to increase its spending from R954 million in the 2006/07 financial year to R1,371 billion in the 2007/08 financial year. In the Free State expenditure improved by R467 million in the 2007/08 financial year. In the Gauteng Province expenditure improved from R782 million in the 2006/07 to R863 million in the 2007/08 financial year. Expenditure in KwaZulu-Natal improved from R1, 153 billion to R1, 358 billion. In Limpopo the expenditure increased from R699 million in the 2006/07 financial year to R901 million in the 2007/08 financial year. The Mpumalanga Province improved its expenditure by R176 million in the 2007/08 financial year. The Northern Cape managed to increase its expenditure from R98 million in the 2006/07 financial year to R138 million in the 2007/08 financial year. The expenditure in North West improved from R440 million to R596 million. However the expenditure in the Western Cape Province decreased by R9 million in the 2007/08 financial year.

QUESTION NO. 356

(Internal Question Paper No 8 – 2008)

Mr L Zita (ANC) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What is the total monetary value of procurements secured by all municipalities in each of the past five financial years and (b) who are the beneficiaries of government procurement of goods and services in terms of (i) racial groups, (ii) income categories and (iii) (aa) large and (bb) small business enterprises?

ANSWER

(a) The Department of Provincial and Local Government does not monitor municipal procurement as this is the responsibility of the National Treasury.

(b) Falls away.

QUESTION NO. 366

(Internal Question Paper No 8 – 2008)

Mr E W Trent (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether it is policy, in the interest of sound financial management, that all spheres of government must settle their debts within a specified time, e.g. 30 days, 60 days or 90 days; if not, why not; if so, what is time period for (a) national and (b) provincial government departments;

(2) whether any (a) national and (b) provincial government departments are in arrears of the specified time in respect of amounts owed to municipalities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what amounts are overdue for the specified period for (i) national and (ii) provincial government department;

(3) whether government departments are required to pay interest on overdue accounts; if so, what steps should be taken to ensure that they do so;

(4) whether the failure of national and provincial government departments to settle the amounts due to municipalities timeously have a negative effect on their ability to manage their financial affairs effectively; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what action (a) has he taken or (b) will he take to correct this unacceptable state of affairs;

(5) whether the failure of the national and provincial government departments to settle their debts to municipalities timeously could lead to unnecessary increases in rates and other service charges; if not, why not; if so, what action (a) will he take or (b) has he taken to prevent such increases?

ANSWER

(1) Yes.

(a) and (b): Section 38(1)(f) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), provides that the accounting officer of a national or provincial government department must settle all contractual obligations and pay all money owing, including intergovernmental claims, within the prescribed or agreed period.

Further, item 8.2.3 of National Treasury Regulations that were issued in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), provides that all payments due to creditors must be settled within 30 days from the receipt of an invoice.

(2) Yes.

(i) and (ii): The National Treasury has been requested to provide the Department of Provincial and Local Government with this information, and it will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is received.

(3) In terms of section 64(2)(g) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), the accounting officer of a municipality is responsible for the management of the revenue of the municipality, and must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the municipality charges interest on arrears, except where the council has granted exemptions in accordance with its budget-related policies, and within a prescribed framework.

In terms of these provisions, government departments are required to pay interest on overdue accounts, unless otherwise exempted in terms of the provisions quoted above.

(4) Yes.

(a) and (b): As indicated above, the payment of debt owed to municipalities by national and provincial government departments is provided for in the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999). Also, section 64(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), requires the accounting officer of a municipality to immediately inform the National Treasury of any payments for municipal tax or municipal services by government departments that are regularly in arrears for periods of more than 30 days.

As the National Treasury is the custodian of the above pieces of legislation, the Department of Provincial and Local Government is in the process of ascertaining the following from the National Treasury:

§ compliance regarding the reporting of debt that is owed to municipalities by government departments, trading entities and constitutional institutions, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999); and

§ compliance by the accounting officer of a municipality regarding the reporting to the National Treasury of any outstanding payments by any organ of state that is regularly in arrears for periods of more than 30 days, in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003).

The Department of Provincial and Local Government intends making use of the responses from the National Treasury to develop a targeted approach to assist municipalities in recovering such outstanding debt.

(5) A general response in this regard cannot be provided as this will be informed by the magnitude of the debt that each municipality is owed by national and provincial government departments.

QUESTION NO. 1638

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

(a) What amounts were made available to the Bushbuckridge Local Government municipality under the Municipal Infrastructure Grant programme In the (I) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 financial years and (Hi) during the period 1 April 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available. (b) what amounts were actually spent and (c) which projects was the grant spent in respect of each of these financial years?

ANSWER

a) The amounts made available to the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality under Municipal Infrastructure Grant in 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 (up to end of June 2008) are R91, 212 000, R98, 167 000 and R152, 700 000 respectively.

b) The amounts actually spent are R 91,212 000, R98. 167 000 and R16. 751 000 respectively.

c) The grant was spent on the following projects as shown In table 1, 2 and 3 below:

See the table here: http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1638tables.pdf

QUESTION NO. 1641

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether the current service delivery backlogs is the planning base for delivery of basic services; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many people have (i) a flush toilet, (ii) non-ventilated pit toilets, (iii) ventilated pit toilets, (iv) a bucket latrine, (v) chemical toilets, (vi) no sanitation, (vii) piped water, (aa) in their dwelling, (bb) in their yard, (cc) more than 200m away and (dd) less than 200m away, (viii) a borehole, (ix) no water, (x) prepaid electricity meters and (xi) metered electricity and (b) what percentage of the population is constituted by these figures in each case?

ANSWER:

Yes. The backlog as published by Statistics South Africa is used to inform resource allocation at a macro-scale. Further to this, each individual municipality defines its backlogs more specifically through the Integrated Development Planning (lOP) and infrastructure planning process. This is conducted in alignment with the relevant line department information and plans.

(a)

Category

Households

 

Number

%

(i) ) a flush toilet

7,221,325

57.2%

(ii) non-ventilated pit toilets

2,587,202

20.5%

(iii) ventilated pit toilets

823,633

6.5%

(iv) a bucket latrine

244,282

1.9%

(v) chemical toilets

43,883

0.3%

(vi) no sanitation

3,360,108

26.6%

(vii) piped water

8,679,800

68.8%

(viii) less than 200m from

   

dwelling

954,877

7.6%

(ix)more than 200m from

   

dwelling

467,451

3.7%

(x) a borehole

335,984

2.7%

(xi) no water

1,621,620

12.9%

(xii) prepaid electricity meters

1,343,085

10.6%

(xiii) metered electricity

N/A

N/A

Source: STATSSA (Census 2001 & CS 2007) and DWAF

(b) According to the table above, about 57.2% households nationally have access to flush toilets. About 20.5% of the households nationally have access to non-ventilated pit toilets, 6.5% have access to ventilated pit toilets, 0.3% have access to chemical toilets and 1.9% have access to the bucket sanitation system. Nationally, a total number of 3,311,952 (26%) households are still without sanitation.

About 68.8% of the households nationally have access to piped water. A total number of 1,337,069 (11%) households are still without water. About 7.6% households travel less than 200 meters and 3.7% travel more than 200 meters from their dwelling to access water. A total number of 1,343,085 (10.6%) households have access to prepaid electricity meters.

QUESTION NO. 1642

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr. M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

What was the staff shortage in the fire brigade services in the dplg province in the past three years up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

ANSWER

The Information requested is not readily available within: the dplg. Provinces and municipalities have been asked to provide Information related to them. As soon as the required Information has been received, the Honourable Member will be provided with a response.

QUESTION NO. 989

(Internal Question Paper No 18 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) (a) Which municipalities currently have financial managers' positions vacant, (b) how long has the posts been vacant in each municipality and (c) how many of these positions have (i) existed and (ii) been vacant in each of the past three years for which information is available;

(2) whether these vacancies have been budgeted for; if not, why not; if so, when will they be filled;

(3) whether there has been any increase in the number of these positions in the past three years; if so, (a) what are the reasons for this increase and (b) what are the further relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) (a) According to information collected by the dplg through the Provincial Departments of Local Government, thirty-four (34) municipalities are currently without CFOs. Some of the vacancies could not be filled due to ongoing legal processes, such as misconduct hearings and investigations. The information relating to each of the affected municipalities appears below:

Province

Municipality

Period of Vacancy

Eastern Cape

O.R. Tambo District Municipality

16 months

 

Gariep Local Municipality

2 years

 

Mhlontlo Local Municipality

5 months

 

Sakhisizwe Local Municipality

2 months

 

Camdeboo Local Municipality

2 years

 

Mbizana Local Municipality

8 months

     

Free State

Naledi Local Municipality

2 years

 

Mohokare Local Municipality

7 months

 

Motheo District Municipality

3 months

 

Setsoto Local Municipality

1 month

     
     

KwaZulu-Natal

Ulundi Local Municipality

10 months

 

Umuziwabantu Local Municipality

8 months

 

Nquthu Local Municipality

4 months

 

Umtshezi Local Municipality

12 Months

 

Maphumulo Local Municipality

2 years

     

Limpopo

Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality

2 months

 

Polokwane Local Municipality

2 years

 

Mutale Local Municipality

3 months

 

Molemole Local Municipality

7 months

     

North West

Maquassi Hills Local Municipality

5 months

 

Mamusa Local Municipality

2 years, 6 months

 

Ditsobotla Local Municipality

2 months

 

Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality

4 years

 

Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality

5 months

     

Northern Cape

Siyanda Local Municipality

1 month

 

Siyancuma Local Municipality

9 months

 

Tsantsabane Local Municipality

16 months

 

Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality

5 months

 

Ubuntu Local Municipality

11 months

 

Nama-Koi Local Municipality

4 years

 

Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality

5 months

     

Western Cape

Cape Agulhas Local Municipality

7 months

 

Eden District Municipality

3 months

 

Breede Valley Local Municipality

12 months

 

Oudtshoorn Local Municipality

16 months

(b) In some municipalities the positions have been vacant for more than two years, while in other municipalities the positions have been vacant for a period which is between 1 and 16 months.

(c) (i) & (ii) The department has requested the Provincial Departments of Local Government to provide the required information.

(2) The analysis of the 2007/08 budgets indicates that CFO positions existed and have been budgeted for. The engagement process with the provinces will result in the production of the CFOs vacancy report for the quarter ending September 2008, which will include target dates for the filling of the vacancies per municipality.

(3) (a) & (b) The dplg has requested the provinces to provide information in this regard. The information available in the dplg relates to the latest four quarters of the municipal financial year and reflects that the vacancy rate is as follows:

During July-Sept 2007, the vacancy rate was 17%, Oct-Dec 2007, was 19%, Jan-March 2008, was 18%, and April-June 2008, was 12%. On average there has been a 6% decrease in the vacancy rate in CFO positions in municipalities.

QUESTION NO. 1659

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr. M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether any of the municipal authorities in each province spent its full budget in the (a) 2005-06; (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 financial years, if not (i) which municipal did no spent its full budget (ii) what amount was not spent in each case and (iii) what were the reasons for failing to spend the full budget in each case; if so, what are therelevant details?

ANSWER

(a) (b) (c)

o

~

x

... z

~

'1J ~

BUDGET SUMMARY FOR PROVINCES 2005106 - 2007/08 FINANCIAL YEARS

-

 

2005 - 06

2006 - 07

Province

Spent Amount

%of Spent Amt

Unspent Amount

%of unspent Amt

Spent Amount

%of Spent Amt

Unspent Amount

%of unspent Amt

Eastern Cape

9 605 821

96.3%

387619

3.7%

13084602

104.7%

-589,746

-4.7%

Free State

4 91 878

95.7%

221862

4.7%

5 391 345

86.5%

844,601

13.5%

Gauteng

3 7 527 959

97.7%

892265

2.3%

43091 570

99.6%

173,687

0.4%

KwaZuIu -Natal

1 9 905 237

98.7%

264,964

1.3%

2 1 722 379

96.3%

825,709

3.7%

Limpopo

4 238 002

93.6%

287 388

6.4%

3831711

73.1%

1,407,378

26.9%

Mpumalanga

4 699 626

103.1%

-143,425

-3.1%

5215329

89.7%

598,133

10.3%

Northern Cape

1 996 826

92.1%

170,569

7.9%

2 205 782

92.5%

178,604

7.5%

North West

5 446 098

92.7%

431,903

7.3%

4 300 843

61.3%

2,716,151

38.7%

Western Cape

1 6 695 272

92.6%

1,342,879

7.4%

1 8 148 002

88.5%

2,357,450

11.5%

Grand Total

R 105,046,719

96.5%

R 3.836,024

3.5%

R116,991.563

93.2%

R8,511,967

6.8%

                     

(a)(b)(c)......... continued

BUDGET SUMMARY FOR PROVINCES 2005/06 – 2007/08 FINACIAL YEARS

2007-08

Province

Spent Amount

%of Spent Amt

Unspent Amount

%of unspent Amt

Eastern Cape

12 584 648

75.8%

4,011,554

24.2%

Free State

6 371 755

84.8%

1,139,523

15.2%

Gauteng

47 901 775

92.4%

3,942,732

7.6%

KwaZuIu -Natal

24 182 478

96.4%

915,450

3.6%

Limpopo

6 230 966

79.3%

1,622,444

20.7%

Mpumalanga

5 525 860

68.3%

2,566,653

31.7%

Northern Cape

2 419 884

91.3%

231,824

8.7%

North West

5 202 659

79.3%

1,359,733

20.7%

Western Cape

20 418 844

86.5%

3,174,727

13.5%

Grand Total

R130,838,869

87.3%

R3,174,727

12.7%

(i) & (ii) All municipalities that have not spent their full budget and those that spent fully are reflected in the Annexure labelled Operating Expenditure and Capital Expenditure.

(iii) In the case where full budget was not spent, common reasons applicable to all municipalities relates to:

- Lack of capacity and skills to implement and manage capital projects

- Delays due to Technical reports and Environmental Impact Assessment affecting capital expenditure

- Fluctuating levels of vacancies impacting on the salaries and wages expenditure budget

QUESTION NO. 1323

(Internal Question Paper No 22 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department received the list of 21 recommendations made by the Harvard panel of international and local economists in its research papers on economic growth in South Africa, released in May 2008; if not, (a) why not and (b) when is it expected that the department will receive these recommendations; if so,

(2) whether his department has implemented or will implement any of these recommendations; if not, why not; if so, (a) which recommendations and (b) what are the timeframe for each recommendation to be implemented?

ANSWER

(1) Yes.

(a) and (b) Fall away.

(2) Yes.

(a) Recommendation 18, relating to the use of central bodies for the provision of services in municipalities with a low capacity.

(b) The timeframe extends over the period 2006 to 2011, in line with the 5 Year Local Government Strategic Agenda.

QUESTION NO. 213

(Internal Question Paper No 4 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether any municipalities are currently under investigation by his department or the provincial governments; if so, (a) how many, (b) which municipalities, (c) why are they being investigated in each case and (d) how many of these municipalities have had forensic audits conducted?

ANSWER

According to the information provided by the following three provinces the situation regarding investigations which have been conducted, is as follows:

(a) (b) (c)

Province

Number of

Municipalities

Names of

Municipalities

Reasons for Investigations

Eastern Cape

7

Kouga

Land Sales and procedures applied

   

Nkonkobe

Procurement, asset management and MIG Projects

   

Ukhahlamba

Causes of the bankrupt state of the municipality

   

Camdeboo

Councillor remuneration

   

Sundays River Valley

Councillor remuneration

   

Ingquza Hill

Nepotism in the appointment of staff and procurement

   

Alfred Nzo

Irregular tender procedures

       

Western Cape

1

George Municipality

Over a period of time complaints have been received from various sources regarding the conduct and the decisions of the George Municipality. The Provincial Minister of Local Government and Housing requested information on all issues from the municipal manager in terms of section 106 (1) (a) of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000). These issues have since been responded to by the municipality and some of them are currently being dealt with.

       

Kwazulu- Natal

35

Matatiele

Matter finalised.

The former Mayor repaid monies owing and the criminal/civil claim matters have been resolved out of court.

   

Uthukela

Department received an inadequate response and verification of implementation of recommendations in the forensic report indicated that no action had been taken by the Municipality.

   

Imbabazane

Council has partially implemented recommendations in forensic report.

   

Nongoma

Council has partially implemented recommendations in forensic report.

   

Ubuhlebezwe

Council has partially implemented recommendations in forensic report.

   

Hibiscus Coast

Matter finalised.

All issues to be addressed through the internal audit function of the municipality.

   

uMvoti

Matter finalised.

Disciplinary action instituted by council but official resigned prior to disciplinary hearing. Criminal case lodged. Civil recovery matter being pursued by individual whose house was sold.

   

Impendle

Council has partially implemented recommendations in the forensic report.

Outstanding matters to be addressed through the intervention in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution already instituted by Cabinet as a result of non-performance by the municipality.

   

Ulundi 1

Council has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and matters remain outstanding.

   

Ezinqoleni 1

Council has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Mtubatuba

Matter finalised.

Council has implemented recommendations in the forensic report.

   

Umzinyathi

The municipality has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Newcastle 1

Matter finalised.

Specific disciplinary action taken against officials and councillors.

   

Umgungundlovu 1

The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Uthungulu

(Ntambanana)

Matter finalised.

The Councillor was removed from office and a criminal case lodged.

   

Umtshezi

Matter finalised.

Council has implemented recommendations in forensic report.

   

Richmond

Matter finalised.

The Municipality has implemented recommendations in forensic report.

   

Ilembe 1

Submission of the report was pending as a result of a court case and the report required amendment. Report is to be referred to council.

   

Umuziwabantu

The municipality has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Newcastle 2

The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Ezinqoleni 2

Investigation underway.

   

Ulundi 2

Investigation underway.

   

Ilembe 2

No formal response has been received from the municipality.

   

Umkhanyakude

The municipality has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report.

   

Mkhambathini

Investigation report referred to the Municipality.

   

Msunduzi

The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Dannhauser

Final investigation report to be forwarded to municipality within the next two weeks.

   

Utrecht

Section 139 intervention instituted and administrator and special panel appointed by MEC have assumed responsibility to implement the recommendations contained in report. Final reports from intervention teams expected within two weeks.

   

Umlalazi

Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.

   

Umgungundlovu Review of PWC Report

The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.

   

Umgeni

Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.

   

Amajuba & Umzinyathi District and Newcastle Municipalities (Uthukela Water)

Matters being addressed through a Section 139 intervention already initiated at the parent municipalities of Amajuba, Umzinyathi and Newcastle Municipalities. There was also a report to the Portfolio Committee.

   

Edumbe

Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.

   

Zululand District

New investigation. Field work commenced and investigation underway.

   

Various Municipalities: Free Basic Electricity

Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.

(d) The Province of the Eastern Cape has indicated that there are 3 municipalities that in which forensic audits were conducted, and the Province of KwaZulu-Natal has indicated that all the investigations which had been conducted were forensic in nature. No forensic audits were conducted in the Western Cape.

The member will be provided with the outstanding information once it is received from the other six provinces.

Source file