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21 December 2023 - NW4045

Profile picture: De Freitas, Mr MS

De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Tourism

(1)With reference to forensic audits undertaken by South African Tourism in the last three financial years and since 1 April 2023 to date, (a) which audits have been (i) each per month, (ii) concluded per month, and (b) what was the value of each of the audits in each instance respectively; (2) What was the nature of each audit in each instance respectively; (3) Who conducted the audits in each instance respectively; (4) What was the outcome of each audit in each instance respectively?

Reply:

Forensic Audits 2020-2021

(1)(a)(i+ii) Which audits have been concluded per month

(1)(b) What was the value of each audit

(2) What was the nature of each audit

(3) Who conducted each audit

(4) What was the outcome of each audit

N/A

R0

General complaint received 24 Feb 2020

Independent Forensic Investigators

Closed

N/A

R0

Unethical conduct complaint received 22 July 2020

Independent Forensic Investigators

Closed

Forensic Audits 2021-2022

(1)(a)(i+ii) Which audits have been concluded per month

(1)(b) What was the value of each audit

(2) What was the nature of each audit

(3) Who conducted each audit

(4) What was the outcome of each audit

From 1 January 2022, three investigations were undertaken.

Two investigations were received in May 2022 through the Hotline and one was a direct call from the whistle-blower received in June 2022.

R0

R0

The Direct Call

R89 000

Unethical Conduct

Unethical Conduct

Payment of invoices without work done

All investigations are conducted by independent forensic investigators that are sourced through supply chain management processes.

The process was underway to conclude the three investigations in the FY 2022-2023 table.

 

 

Forensic Audits 2022-2023

(1)(a)(i+ii) Which audits have been concluded per month

(1)(b) What was the value of each audit

(2) What was the nature of each audit

(3) Who conducted each audit

(4) What was the outcome of each audit

N/A

R0

Unethical Conduct

SIU

Irregularities were identified. Matter still underway.

N/A

R0

Unethical Conduct

SIU

Allegations partly confirmed. Matter still underway.

N/A

R390 195

Bribery/Corruption

Forensic Investigators (Outsourced)

Improper conduct and misrepresentation on the part of certain officials identified. Matter still underway.

N/A

R0

Misconduct

Human Capital

False allegations identified.

N/A

R0

Misconduct(duplicate of 10)

Human Capital

False allegations identified.

N/A

R89 000

Payment of invoices without work done

The preliminary investigation was done by forensic investigators (Outsourced)

Referred to SIU for full investigation. Matter still underway.

Forensic Audits since 1 April 2023

(1)(a)(i+ii) Which audits have been concluded

(1)(b) What was the value of each audit

(2) What was the nature of each audit

(3) Who conducted each audit

(4) What was the outcome of each audit

N/A

Pending

Corruption

SIU

In progress

N/A

Pending

Corruption

SIU

In progress

N/A

Pending

Investigation

Pending

In progress

18 September 2023

Pending

Suspected scam

SIU

In progress

04 October 2023

Pending

Complaint on HC process

SIU

In progress

 

21 December 2023 - NW4128

Profile picture: Matumba, Mr A

Matumba, Mr A to ask the Minister of Tourism

(a) By what date will the SA Tourism Board be appointed, (b) what are the reasons for the many delays and (c) what time frames have been put in place in this regard?

Reply:

(a and c)The time allocated in Cabinet for concurrence is as follows:

  • Present to ESIEID Cabinet Committee on 7 February 2024
  • Cabinet approval on 14 February 2024.  
  • Gazette on 23 February 2024.

(b) I was hoping to get this matter onto the November Cabinet schedule.

21 December 2023 - NW4103

Profile picture: Matumba, Mr A

Matumba, Mr A to ask the Minister of Tourism

What is the implementation interface between the Tourism Sector Masterplan and the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2026 with regard to the SA Tourism plans; (2) Whether SA Tourism has developed audit action plans to deal with financial management and the cash flow challenges; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) Whether SA Tourism has started to develop a business optimisation strategy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) What measures has SA Tourism put in place to achieve its employment equity targets with the current moratorium in place?

Reply:

  1. What is the implementation interface between the Tourism Sector Masterplan and the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2026 with regard to the SA Tourism plans?

The Tourism Sector Masterplan (TSMP) was approved by Cabinet in October 2023.

It was derived from, among others, the three-year Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP), which comprises interventions that extend beyond its immediate implementation time period of 2023–2024 and was approved by the Cabinet in April 2021.

The plan primarily aims to galvanise government, industry and labour to collectively share a common vision that will position the tourism industry on an inclusive and sustainable competitive path for the benefit of all South Africans.

The Masterplan is anchored on three interlinked pillars or strategic themes:

  • Protect and Rejuvenating Supply;
  • Re-ignite Demand;
  • Strengthen Enabling Capability for long-term sustainability.

Within these pillars, there are seven Strategic Interventions that address key areas of focus. These interventions include enhancing education and skills development, promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth, improving infrastructure and connectivity, fostering social cohesion and well-being, preserving the environment and natural resources, strengthening governance and institutions, and promoting regional cooperation.

Additionally, there are three Enablers that support the implementation of the plan, namely, to form targeted, strategic partnerships between government and industry; partnering with relevant departments to ensure improved travel facilitation through the implementation of e-visas, tourist safety, airlift capacity and quicker turnaround times in the processing of tour operator licences; and stimulate domestic demand through Government Consumption expenditure.

The plan indicates that South African Tourism is the lead partner in destination marketing of South Africa as a key destination and the entity will continue leading in the stimulation of demand in collaboration with the industry and provinces through the following programmes:

  • Targeted domestic initiatives and campaigns through domestic tourism seasonal campaigns.
  • Domestic business events and B2B campaigns.
  • Regional tourism campaigns to increase the number of tourists from the continent/region.
  • A global marketing campaign targeted at high-value source markets.
  • A global business events campaign to drive an increase in the number of events and business events hosted in SA.
  • Drive the number of international bid submissions.
  • Facilitation through the National Association Project to host Business events in VTSDs.
  • Drive the growth in the number of quality-assured establishments.  
  • Confirming and implementing the brand management protocol.

SA Tourism is the lead on the Effective Marketing Pillar of the NTSS, which is aligned to the strategic interventions of the Tourism Master Plan. The effective marketing is done through engagement with tourism bodies and provinces through a coordinated approach.

(2) Whether SA Tourism has developed audit action plans to deal with financial management and cash flow challenges; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

With regard to audit action plans; for the current financial year South African Tourism has compiled an audit action plan resulting from findings by the Auditor General and Internal Audit services. The plan is monitored on a monthly basis by internal audit to ensure implementation by management. Moreover, SAT has set up an “operation clean audit committee” comprising various business unit managers to ensure that compliance and financial management is achieved throughout the organisation.

Stringent cashflow management is in place given the current cashflow challenges. Controls are to monitor cash flow daily and report more frequently. Measures also include deferring non-urgent payment and transfer of funds to the international office been rationed to transfer only what is required on a monthly basis.

3. Whether SA Tourism has started to develop a business optimisation strategy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

The budget optimisation strategy which was identified as a deliverable in the approved Annual Performance Plan, is at an advanced stage of development. A change in the approach to strategy development in the beginning of the financial year, and extensive work required in research and benchmarking has resulted in delays in the targeted dates. However, management will ensure that sufficient progress is achieved at the end of quarter 3.

4) What measures has SA Tourism put in place to achieve its employment equity targets with the current moratorium in place?

Two targets have not been met during the period, namely Women in Senior management positions and employment of person with disabilities.

1. Ordinarily the action would be to identify roles for purposes of meeting the Employment Equity targets as part of recruitment planning.

2. Persons with disabilities were prioritised through the recruitment of interns with disabilities,  as well as awareness sessions and management training on reasonable accommodation.

 

21 December 2023 - NW3766

Profile picture: De Freitas, Mr MS

De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Tourism

With reference to projects undertaken by the SA Tourism in the past three financial years and since 1 April 2023 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (a) who undertook each project in each month, (b) how were the project suppliers identified and (c) what was the (i) budget allocation for each project and (iv) actual expenditure in each case?

Reply:

The projects, initiated by SA Tourism in the past three financial years, are as captured in the Annual Performance Plans and the relevant implementation reports have been presented to the Portfolio Committee.

The reports can also be accessed on the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) website.

21 December 2023 - NW3898

Profile picture: Khanyile, Ms AT

Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

Considering that in 2019 the Refugee Appeals Authority South Africa (RAASA) entered into an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) for a backlog project, what total number of (a) RAASA members (i) were hired and (ii) remain employed and (b) appeal hearings have been (i) heard and (ii) decided after a hearing by the specified members?

Reply:

The Four-Year Partnership Agreement is between the Department of Home Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Agreement was signed on 8 March 2021 paving the way for the implementation of Plan 2019: Backlog Project.

A (i) At the heart of Plan 2019, was the recruitment of 36 legally qualified Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa (RAASA) members to assist with the adjudication and finalisation of Backlog Appeal cases. A total of thirty (30) Members were recruited at different times of the project in 2021. The Project was never fully capacitated with 36 Members due to UNHCR’s financial constraints.

(ii) During the recruitment process, we preferred lawyers who actually practised on arguing cases in court. However, the number has decreased to twenty-two (22) because many lawyers who abandoned their practices during the Covid lockdown have now resigned to go back to their practices since the lockdown is over

The UNHCR has first informed that they no longer have money, however, the EU (European Union) has agreed to help but can only fund ten (10) members. The result is that 12 members’ contracts will have to be terminated.

B (i) A total number of hearings conducted: 3 439.

(ii) A total number of finalised decisions: 3 626. (This figure includes paper determinations, “No Show” decisions, and family joining)

The total number of finalised appeal cases including cancellations/withdrawals of asylum claims: 8 380.

END

21 December 2023 - NW4046

Profile picture: De Freitas, Mr MS

De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Tourism

(1)With reference to the seizure of South African Tourism’s assets, (a)(i) when and (ii) where did the seizure take place; (2) What assets (a) were seized and (b) are being utilised in place of the seized assets; (3) What (a) was the value of the assets seized (b) were the reasons for the seizure; (4) Whether legal action has been initiated in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW5322E

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) - When did it take place?

I have been informed by South Africa Tourism that, regarding the inquiry concerning the acquisition of assets belonging to South African Tourism, it is imperative to clarify that it was not a seizure but rather a retrieval of assets. Specifically, the laptops in question are the rightful property of SA Tourism and do not constitute the personal assets of the individuals who were instructed to surrender their laptops for the purpose of data preservation. This procedural action transpired on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

(1)(a)(ii) - Where did it take place?

At the SA Tourism Johannesburg office, located in Bojanala House, 90 Protea Road, Chislehurston, Johannesburg, 2196.

(2)(a) - What assets were seized?

NO

LAPTOP/DESKTOP

MAKE

COLLECTION LOCATION

DATA COLLECTED

DATE RETURNED

1

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5520

SIU OFFICES DELIVERED BY SAT

10-Jul-23

11-Jul-23

2

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5520

SIU OFFICES DELIVERED BY SAT

10-Jul-23

11-Jul-23

3

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5520

SIU OFFICES DELIVERED BY SAT

07-Jul-23

10-Jul-23

4

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5520

SAT

06-Jul-23

10-Jul-23

5

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5520

SAT

06-Jul-23

10-Jul-23

6

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 7300

SAT

06-Jul-23

10-Jul-23

7

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 7290

SAT

06-Jul-23

10-Jul-23

8

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 7300

SAT

06-Jul-23

07-Jul-23

9

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5300

SAT

06-Jul-23

07-Jul-23

10

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 7290

SAT

06-Jul-23

07-Jul-23

11

LAPTOP

DELL XPS

SAT

06-Jul-23

07-Jul-23

12

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5520

SAT

06-Jul-23

07-Jul-23

13

LAPTOP

DELL LATITUDE 5430

SAT

06-Sep-23

08-Sep-23

(2)(b) - What are being used in place of the seized assets?

Individual laptops were returned as per the Table above. The focus remained on expediting the return of laptops to individuals in the minimum amount of time.

(3)(a) - Value of the seized assets?

The average value of laptops taken is approximately R 21 000, therefore the total average value was approximately R 252,000 at the time of collection for data preservation purposes.

(3)(b) - Reason for the seizure?

The assets were collected for the preservation of data to ensure that all information necessary to the investigation was secured and available to the investigators.

(4) - Whether legal action has been initiated?

The event was not a seizure but a collection of assets which already belonged to SA Tourism, not the individuals who were asked to hand them in for data preservation purposes. The assets that were collected are the property of SAT as an employer and were not seized from anyone. Officials were requested to temporarily hand in SAT property. No legal action has been initiated, and the SIU employees seconded to the agency continue their investigations.

 

 

21 December 2023 - NW4087

Profile picture: Powell, Ms EL

Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether he met with Mr Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader based in Qatar and/or any other members of Hamas whilst in Qatar during November 2023; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the full details of their discussions?

Reply:

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) did not meet with Mr Ismail Haniyeh or any member of Hamas during her visit to Qatar in November 2023. It is worth noting that Hamas is headquartered in Qatar and that the organisation is funded by the Government of Qatar. The presence of Hamas has historically been supported by the Government of the United States as the latter required a channel of communication to the organisation. This is part of the reason why Qatar has been able to play a prominent role in negotiating the current humanitarian pause as well as the exchange of hostages and political prisoners between Hamas and Israel.

21 December 2023 - NW4102

Profile picture: Matumba, Mr A

Matumba, Mr A to ask the Minister of Tourism

What are the details of SA Tourism will do differently in the implementation of the Tourism Sector Masterplan against the strategies developed to implement the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan?

Reply:

The Tourism Sector Masterplan which was approved by Cabinet in October 2023 was derived from, among others, the three-year Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP), approved by the Cabinet in April 2021.

The plan primarily aims to galvanise government, industry, and labour to collectively share a common vision that will position the tourism industry on an inclusive and sustainable competitive path for the benefit of all South Africans.

The Masterplan is anchored on three interlinked pillars or strategic themes:

  • Protect and Rejuvenating Supply;
  • Re-ignite Demand;
  • Strengthen Enabling Capability for long-term sustainability.

Within these pillars, there are seven Strategic Interventions that address key areas of focus.

These interventions include enhancing education and skills development, promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth, improving infrastructure and connectivity, fostering social cohesion and well-being, preserving the environment and natural resources, strengthening governance and institutions, and promoting regional cooperation.

Additionally, there are three enablers that support the implementation of the plan, namely, to form targeted, strategic partnerships between government and industry; partnering with relevant departments to ensure improved travel facilitation through the implementation of e-visas, tourist safety, airlift capacity and quicker turnaround times in the processing of tour operator licences; and stimulate domestic demand through Government Consumption expenditure.

The plan indicates that South African Tourism is the lead partner in destination marketing of South Africa as a key destination and the entity will continue leading in the stimulation of demand in collaboration with the industry and provinces through the following programmes:

  • Targeted domestic initiatives and campaigns through domestic tourism seasonal campaigns.
  • Domestic business events and B2B campaigns.
  • Regional tourism campaigns to increase the number of tourists from the continent/region.
  • A global marketing campaign targeted at high-value source markets.
  • A global business events campaign to drive an increase in the number of events and business events hosted in SA.
  • Drive the number of international bid submissions.
  • Facilitation through the National Association Project to host Business events in VTSDs.
  • Drive the growth in the number of quality-assured establishments.  
  • Confirming and implementing the brand management protocol.

 

21 December 2023 - NW4127

Profile picture: Matumba, Mr A

Matumba, Mr A to ask the Minister of Tourism

What (a) has been the progress on the implementation of the summer campaign and (b) total number of jobs does she envisage to create from the summer campaign this year?

Reply:

ACTIVATIONS AND AMPLIFICATION OF THE CAMPAIGN:

I have been informed by SA Tourism that the plan for a summer campaign activation has been approved for implementation during the weekends of December 15-17 and 22-24. The objective is to establish a platform for South Africans to engage in the Tourism Economy while also generating excitement among the public through a diverse range of tourism products and experiences.

The roll out includes the following activities:

  • Out of Home Campaign - running since October 2023
      • SMME Showcase platforms at main route oasis + Festivals through the Sustainability Village platform.
      • Gimme Summer Amplification of PTA summer campaign activations (2 per province)
      • Amplification of the activations through SAT owned social media channels.

(b) total number of jobs does she envisage to create from the summer campaign this year?

SA Tourism uses the “Summer Army” in the activation across all nine provinces. SA Tourism will receive the final job creation figures at the end of the summer campaign.

21 December 2023 - NW3887

Profile picture: De Freitas, Mr MS

De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Tourism

With regard to the top leadership and management at the levels of (a) Director-General and (b) Deputy Director-General in SA Tourism, (i) what qualifications does each of the specified persons have in each case and (ii) how do the specified qualifications align with the position that must be fulfilled?

Reply:

I have been informed by SA Tourism that the details regarding qualifications of top management are contained in the table below.

With regard to the top leadership and management in SAT

(i) What qualifications does each of the specified persons have in each case

(ii) How do the specified qualifications align with the position that must be fulfilled

(a) Chief Executive Officer

The CEO role is currently vacant and recruitment is in progress.

The acting incumbent has been appointed by the Board to carry the delegation of CEO to allow for business continuity.

The requirements for the Chief Executive Officer are the following:

  • A recognised Bachelor’s Degree;
  • A recognised post graduate qualification. Masters or equivalent will be an added advantage;
  • At least 10 years proven experience in senior management, including 5 years at executive-level;
  • Public Service/Public entity experience at senior management level will be an added advantage;
  • An understanding of the tourism industry (Government Policy and Private Sector Stakeholder landscape) will be an added advantage;
  • Marketing Operations Management

(b) Chief Finance Officer

- Bachelor degree in Accounting;

- Bachelor Honours degree in Accounting; and (CA) SA

The requirements for the Chief Finance Officer are the following:

  • B. Com Financial Accounting Honours Degree or equivalent;
  • Registration with SAICA as CA (SA);
  • Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or Financial Management will be a definite added advantage;
  • Minimum 10 years in executive financial management role;
  • Minimum 10 years’ experience in managing the Finance function in a public entity;
  • Minimum 10 years experience in managing the Finance function of an entity within the tourism sector will be an added advantage;

The qualifications the incumbent possesses, coupled by their work experience align them to the position fulfilled.

(c) Chief Operations Officer

- Bachelor of Social Science

- GIBS Executive Leadership Development Programme;

The requirements for the Chief Operations Officer are the following:

  • A three-year Commerce degree (major in Marketing would be preferred);
  • Excellent understanding of marketing principles
  • A post graduate business management qualification and/or previous project management experience would be an advantage
  • 8-10 years’ work experience in Marketing and Advertising and communications field, or similar environment, of which 5 should be in senior management.
  • Marketing Operations Management.
  • Government priorities and imperatives.
  • Legislation and regulations that govern the Public Service e.g. the Public Service Act.
  • The PFMA and regulations, and other relevant legislation – e.g. the National Strategic Intelligence Act; the National Archives of South Africa Act; the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
  • Performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks, systems and processes.
  • Relevant legislation and regulatory requirements namely PFMA, Treasury Regulations and Frameworks on performance information and strategic plans.

The panel at the time of recruitment considered the candidate's experience and knowledge and concluded that it is aligned with job requirements which led to the decision to hire the candidate.

(d) Chief Quality Assurance Officer

- BCom Marketing Degree

- Professional Management Development programme -GIBS

- MASA Diploma in Media Management.

- A Three-year Commerce degree (major in Marketing would be preferred)

- A postgraduate or Master’s Degree in PR/Hospitality/Sales & Marketing/Travel & Tourism Management or equivalent.

- 8-10 years in Senior Operations and/or Marketing and Sales Management experience or a related field, of which 5 years should be in management position.

- Experience in Hospitality Product / Business Development, Destination and/or product knowledge.

The qualifications the incumbent possesses, coupled by their work experience align them to the position fulfilled.

e) Chief Marketing Officer

The CMO role is currently vacant and recruitment is in progress.

The acting incumbent has been appointed to carry the delegation of CEO to allow for business continuity.

  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing/Advertising/Business Development/Management/Business Administration/International Relations/Public Relations or a bachelor’s degree in any other field with relevant experience
  • Postgraduate qualification in Marketing/Advertising/Business Development/ Management and/or relevant field will be an added advantage.
  • 10 years’ work experience in Marketing, Advertising, Communications and Media Marketing (press and digital) with experience from travel and tourism industry or similar background. • 5 years’ experience in Senior General Management experience • Experience in Public Sector will be added advantage • Experience in international/multinational marketing organisation • Ability to operate and manage in a matrix organisation with multiple stakeholders • Savvy marketer and a great communicator

f) Chief Convention Bureau Officer

The CCBO role is currently vacant and recruitment is in progress.

The acting incumbent has been appointed to carry the delegation of CEO to allow for business continuity.

  • Degree Commerce (major in Marketing/Tourism/Economics would be preferred);
  • Excellent understanding of marketing principles, especially business events;
  • A postgraduate qualification in business management and previous project management experience would be an advantage;
  • 8-10 years’ work experience in Marketing and Advertising and communications field, or a similar environment, of which 5 should be in management.

g) Chief Strategy Officer

Vacant

  • Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Business Information Science or Statistics.
  • 8-10 years in data analytics and research or a related field, of which 5 years should be in a management position. • Post Graduate Degree in Business Management would be an added advantage.

- Extensive knowledge of international and domestic travel • Knowledge and understanding of the principles of business, the application thereof, the opportunities within business and the seizure of such opportunities • Knowledge and understanding of research methodology and principles critical in deriving intel that is reliable and integral • Excellent understanding of marketing principles, especially business events. Understanding general data management policies and procedures. • Ability to implement and follow governance and compliance procedures. Previous experience in managing an Analytics/ Research Department is essential

21 December 2023 - NW4092

Profile picture: Loate, Mr T

Loate, Mr T to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour

(1)Whether the Government’s negotiations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council in respect of the social compact has progressed substantially in the past 21 months, since the President, Mr Cyril M Ramaphosa, announced the urgent need in his State of the Nation Address in February 2022; if not, why not; if so, (2) how much progress has the Government registered since February 2022 in (a) visibly building a better and more inclusive society, (b) growing the economy, (c) creating jobs and (d) tackling crime and corruption with the help of partners from organised business, Labour and communities in society at large? NW5373E

Reply:

1. There are some imperatives that must be understood by all when it comes to Social Compact and Social Compacting. Among these, are the following:

  1. Social Compacting is both a process and an institutional framework.
  2. Social Compact traverse on the social dialogue path, it then progresses through collective bargaining processes
  3. Social Compact requires elements of societal partnerships.
  4. Given what is stated above and below, it therefore stands to reason that, Social Compacting is about Unity in Diversity, where common interests are maximised in a principled manner.
  5. Social Compacting is premised from a firm belief that working together, coordinating, collaborating, cooperating, converging, co-creating, networking and building trust between important groupings in society will lead to better socio-economic outcomes than each working separately.

2. The dynamic process of Social Compact is advancing, recognising changing conditions, adapting to them, acknowledging different and/or conflicting interests, navigating through them. It should be stated that some of the elements that are listed on this question may not fall under the ambit of Social Compact, whilst others can be grouped together, and as such are globally responded to.

  1. Emerging consensus was achieved on key binding constraints to economic growth and what should be done especially in relation to energy and freight.
  2. Understanding of the nature of the ESKOM crisis and links to the energy crisis was developed
  3. Signing of the social compact to support ESKOM
  4. The implementation plan has been regularly reviewed and updated making the Social Compact a living and interactive process
  5. Birthed the work of Operation Vulindlela, the National Electricity Crisis Committee (NECOM) and the Operational Partnership between business and government.
  6. Changing nature of NEDLAC Energy Work Stream when NECOM was set up.
  7. Set up co-ordinating structures including a 7-a-side of the leadership of social partners and government.
  8. Improve the eco-system for small business
  9. The structures set up under the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (ERRP) were consolidated into NEDLAC Chambers and Task Teams.
  10. Establishment of the Presidential Climate Change Commission

21 December 2023 - NW3784

Profile picture: Khanyile, Ms AT

Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

With reference to the constitutional defects of section 34(1)(b) and (d) of the Immigration Act, Act No 13 of 2002, which were highlighted in the judgment handed down by the Constitutional Court on 29 June 2017 but suspended the declaration of invalidity for 24 months that expired on 29 June 2019, what total number of (a) persons were (i) detained for the purposes of deportation between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023 and (ii) deportations were confirmed and (b) court cases (i) have been initiated against Home Affairs concerning the (aa) detention for purposes of deportation, (bb) prevention of confirmation of deportation and (cc) confirmation of deportation between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023 and (ii) did the department defend?

Reply:

(a)(i) There were 31 229 persons detained for the purposes of deportation between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023.

(a)(ii) 27 823 deportations were confirmed between 29 June 2019 and 30 October 2023.

(b) For the period between 19 June 2019 and 30 October 2023, the following:

(b)(i)(aa) There were no court cases initiated against Home Affairs concerning detention for purposes of deportation.

(b)(i)(bb) No court cases were initiated against the department to prevent confirmation of deportations.

(b)(i)(cc) There were no court cases initiated against the department regarding the confirmation of deportation.

(b)(ii) There were no court cases which required the department to defend.

 

END

21 December 2023 - NW2298

Profile picture: Mmutle, Mr TN

Mmutle, Mr TN to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

In view of the position of the Civilian Defence Ministry having two appointed acting officials of which one is from the civilian section and the other one from the uniform section, (a) how has she addressed the anomaly and (b) what is the policy position on acting appointment(s) and their timeframe(s)?

Reply:

Find reply here

21 December 2023 - NW4060

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Marais, Mr S to ask the President of the Republic

(1)In light of the Expert Panel into the July 2021 Civil Unrest’s recommendation of the urgent development of an Integrated National Security Strategy and with reference to his 2022 State of the Nation Address in which he made a call to all South Africans to participate in the development of the Integrated National Security Strategy and pronounced that he intends to approach Parliament’s presiding officers to request that Parliament plays a key role in facilitating inclusive processes of consultation, what is the (a) status and (b) progress of the development of the Integrated National Security Strategy; (2) what (a) public or other consultations have been undertaken in the development of the Strategy and (b) is the envisaged finalisation date for the specified Strategy; (3) (a) when will he engage the presiding officers of the Parliament of RSA for including it in the development of the Strategy and (b) what will be the extent to which he envisages Parliament’s involvement?

Reply:

The development of the draft National Security Strategy is being undertaken by the National Security Council. Once the National Security Council has completed its work and the draft National Security Strategy has been considered by Cabinet, the draft will be made available for consultation and input.

21 December 2023 - NW3910

Profile picture: Ismail, Ms H

Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Tourism

What (a) type of critical skills shortages are there in the tourism sector institutions that report to her and (b) is the detailed report on the number of critical skills currently short in her department?

Reply:

(a) The type of critical skills shortages within the tourism sector institutions are:

  • Financial Management
  • Strategic Leadership
  • Food Safety Quality Assurance
  • Travel consulting
  • Professional Cookery
  • Tourism Information Officers
  • Work Readiness and placement
  • Occupational Health Norms and Standards
  • Career Development
  • Service Excellence
  • Digitalisation Skills

I have, further, been informed that the above critical skills are informed by the existing Skills Audit Report and Tourism Sector Human Resources Development Strategy 2017 – 2027.

(b) The department experiences high turnover is some skills while unable to recruit and retain adequately skilled persons, at the same level as the level of loss, in the following areas:

  • Supply Chain Management Skills
  • Risk Management (Business Continuity Management Skills)
  • Information and Communication Technology Skills
  • Geographic Information System
  • Graphic Designers

The department has also resolved to strengthen existing capacity on the management of Infrastructure Projects through augmenting the following skills:

  • Construction Project Managers
  • Quantity Surveyors

 

20 December 2023 - NW3269

Profile picture: Montwedi, Mr Mk

Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Given that during her visit to Taung in 2020 she made a commitment to farmers that the Lesedi store would be handed over to farmers to be fully used for agricultural activities, what (a) steps has she taken to fulfil the specified promise and (b) time frames have been put in place to acquire the Lesedi store?

Reply:

a) Steps taken are as follows:

  • Appointment and Mandate of the Task Team: In November 2021, the Head of Department (HOD) of the North West Provincial Department of Agriculture (NW-PDA) formed a Task Team. This Team's primary objective was to address two key issues at the North West Provincial agricultural facility: firstly, determining the rightful ownership of the facility, and secondly, evacuating non-agricultural businesses, such as motor mechanic workshops and brick-making enterprises.
  • Initial Actions and Renovation Plans: The Task Team, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), decided to refurbish specific structures at the facility for use as a Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU). This unit would support Taung crop farmers who cultivate approximately 3600-3700 hectares of land under an Irrigation Scheme. Essential renovation works identified included upgrading the storage facility, the guard room, and fencing, with further infrastructure development planned for the future.
  • Challenges in Eviction and Lease Agreements: The eviction process of the current tenants, primarily non-agricultural businesses, faced complications. Occupiers of the Lesedi building claimed to have valid lease agreements with the Provincial Department of Agriculture. However, upon investigation, it was determined that these leases had expired, and the NW-PDA had no plans to renew them. The Task Team's mandate to evict these tenants was hindered by this lease disagreement.
  • Stalled Development Plans: Due to unresolved issues regarding the facility's ownership and the ongoing presence of non-agricultural businesses, DALRRD's plans to develop the site were put on hold.

b) Resolution Efforts by NW-PDA: The NW-PDA, as the custodian of the Lesedi building, committed to resolving the conflict with local businesses. This action aims to make the facility available for its intended purpose – the establishment of a functional FPSU for Taung farmers. However, the Task Team faced further delays. Meetings with tenants were disrupted by individuals claiming ownership of the Lesedi Cooperative facility. Consequently, the Task Team could not resolve the ownership issue and sought legal advice from the State Attorney, which is still pending.

20 December 2023 - NW3518

Profile picture: Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN

Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Whether her department has contributed towards the training and upskilling of youth agri-preneurs in rural areas in the current financial year; if not, why not; if so, (a) in what way was the upskilling done and (b) what total (i) number of youths were beneficiaries and (ii) what amount was spent?

Reply:

Yes.

a) The Department is contributing towards the training and upskilling of youth agri-preneurs in rural areas through various training interventions categorised as follows:

  • Production: goat, poultry, crops, animals, maize, livestock and beef production, artificial insemination, hydroponics etc;
  • Business and Entrepreneurship: bookkeeping, business management, financial management, record keeping, marketing, new venture creation, farm management, veld management, South African Good Agricultural Practice (SA-GAP), access to funding, conflict management etc.;
  • Occupation Health and Safety: safety use of chemicals, animal health, fire management, biosecurity etc.; and
  • Agro – Processing: grain processing, value adding, packaging etc.

(b)(i) Total beneficiaries who received training through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) during the current financial year (2023/24) is 10 085 of which 4 134 are youth and in addition, 394 beneficiaries of State Land Allocation Programme also received training of which 239 are youth.

NARYSEC Programme: 128 young people have been trained and certified in the agricultural sector in the 2023/ 2024 Financial Year to date with a budget of R7 026 050.72 (Annexure A: NARYSEC Interventions).

A total of 195 young people under the NARYSEC Programme is currently busy with skills development in the agricultural sector for the 2023/24 Financial Year, and the estimated budget is R10 961 643 (Annexure A: NARYSEC Interventions).

2023/ 2024 Financial Year Intakes for the NARYSEC Programme on different sectors:

  • Annexure B: July 2022 Intake – 702 youth people;
  • Annexure C: May 2023 Intake – 700 young people;
  • Annexure D: September 2023 Intake – 845 young people; and
  • Annexure E: October 2023 Intake – 735 young people.

(ii) R50 425 000 was spent on CASP beneficiaries and R1 195 000 was spent on State Land beneficiaries.

 

ANNEXURE A OF NA-QUES 3518 OF 2023– NARYSEC INTERVENTIONS

Table 1: NARYSEC Youth Trained and Certified in the Agricultural Sector in the 2023/24 Financial Year: The table below details the number of NARYSEC youth trained and certified in the Agricultural Sector for the 2023/24 financial year to date, per province, per learning programme, as well as the type of agribusiness these youth were recruited for, and the associated budget:

No.

Province

No. Youth

Learning Programme

Agribusiness Opportunity

Budget

1.

Eastern Cape

13

Poultry & Piggery Production

In Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo Districts, the Municipalities and Traditional Councils have made projects and land available for NARYSEC participants to be linked to projects and start their own agricultural enterprises.

R529 100.00

2.

Free State

20

Animal Production

The Trompsburg and Zastron Farming and Projects Cooperatives have committed to expose the young people who are decedents of the beneficiaries to take an active role in the operation of the projects. Support will be provided to establish these youth into enterprises.

R680 000.00

   

27

Plant Production

The Bakoena Tribal Authority has committed to support the enterprise formed with a portion of land for fruit and vegetable production. Support will be provided to establish these youth into enterprises.

R877 500.00

3.

KZN

19

Tractor & Basic Farm Implements Maintenance

Youth trained to support DALRRD supported enterprises.

R847 020.00

4.

Limpopo

3

Crop Production

Youth being supported to start enterprises through DALRRD Community Enterprise Development (CED) unit.

R58 500.00

5.

Northern Cape

8

Bee Keeping & Honey Production

The Ba-Ga Bareki Traditional Authority has committed to supply the 8 youth with land to start-up and run a Bee Keeping and Honey Production business.

R526 150.72

6.

North West

15

Animal Production

The Bangwaketse bo-Rra Motingoe Trust requested that these youth be trained in Animal and Plant Production, as the farm has both grain and animal production components. The farmer who is leasing the farm has offered to mentor them for a year after they complete their training, whilst paying them a salary. The mentoring will help the youth to apply their skills in a commercial set-up. This will result in the Bangwaketse bo-Rra Motingoe Trust having a skilled workforce when the lease lapses and the community take over the operation of the farm.

R1 384 650.00

   

23

Plant Production

 

R2 123 130.00

GRAND TOTAL

128

 

R7 026 050.72

Table 2: NARYSEC Youth Currently Busy with Skills Development in the Agricultural Sector for the 2023/24 Financial Year. The table below details the number of NARYSEC youth currently busy with skills development in the Agricultural Sector for this financial year per province, per learning programme, as well as the type of agribusiness these youth were recruited for, and the associated budget:

 

No.

Province

No. Youth

Learning Programme

Agribusiness Opportunity

Budget

1.

Eastern Cape

10

Grain Production

In Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo Districts, the Municipalities and Traditional Councils have made projects and land available for NARYSEC participants to be linked to projects and start their own agricultural enterprises.

R370 300.00

   

10

Tea Production

 

R367 700.00

2.

Free State

15

Fruit & Vegetable Production

The Edenville farming and Projects Cooperatives has committed to expose the young people who are decedents of the beneficiaries to take an active role in the operation of the projects. Support will be provided to establish these youth into enterprises.

R487 500.00

3.

Gauteng

20

Poultry Production

These youth will be grouped into 4 poultry cooperatives and will also be issued with starter packs to become operational.

R1 449 200.00

4.

KZN

19

Plant Production

Youth being trained to support DALRRD supported enterprises.

R751 526.00

   

10

Animal Production

Enterprises to be supported by DALRRD CED units.

R387 620.00

   

13

Poultry Production

Enterprises to be supported by DALRRD CED units.

R463 892.00

5.

Limpopo

20

Vegetable Production

Land has been made available by Ellias Motsoaledi and Greater Letaba Municipalities and the Traditional Council, for these youth to start their own agricultural enterprises.

R814 000.00

   

10

Mixed Farming

Maruleng, Waterberg, Vhembe and Sekhukhune District Municipalities have committed to absorbing these youth upon completion of training and to also support those interested in starting their own enterprises.

R378 475.00

   

10

Poultry Production

The Bantwane Traditional Council has provided 10 Hectares of land where these youth will be supported to start their own enterprise. The Provincial Department of Agriculture has also committed to absorb these youth into funded agricultural enterprises for experiential training.

R635 000.00

6.

North West

10

Animal Production

Ten (10) youth from Jericho in the Bojanala District formed a cooperative, namely JBS Co-operative whose main aim is beef production.

R923 100.00

   

17

Plant Production

The Ramotlakane CPA Executive Committee identified a portion of land that will be allocated to the youth after training. The portion is approximately 22 hectares and has a functional irrigation system, water pump and fenced.

R1 569 270.00

7.

Western Cape

31

Agriculture Maintenance Supervisor

Nine (9) youth will work with the Thembelihle farming project as a way of introducing the youth into Farming. The youth are the descendants of the beneficiaries. The project has been largely funded by the Department.
A further nine (9) youth will work with the Sandkraal farm; the Department is in the process of funding the establishment. The youth are from the same community where the farm is. The remaining thirteen (13) youth will be absorbed by UmuSA Foundation and placed in their farm for permanent employment.

R2 364 060.00

GRAND TOTAL

195

 

R10 961 643.00

Please note that the total budget per learning programme includes the costs related to Training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Toolboxes, and Training Stipend (R3 500.00 per month per learner).

20 December 2023 - NW4069

Profile picture: Van Zyl, Ms A M

Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

What (a) are the details of her department’s community outreach projects and plans to spay and/or neuter and provide general care of animals in communities in each (i) province, (ii) municipality and (ii) town and (b) is the (i) time frame and (ii) frequency in each case; (2) whether she will furnish Ms A M van Zyl with a list of state veterinarians for each (a) province, (b) municipality and (c) town; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the programme reaches every community in the Republic; if not, (a) why not and (b) what steps will she take to ensure that the programme reaches into every community?

Reply:

(1)(a)(i),(ii) The Department has a Primary Animal Health Care (PAHC) Strategy which was developed in 2013 for the implementation of primary animal health care services across the country.

The aim of the Animal Health Care Strategy is to provide veterinary services, especially to resource-poor communities of South Africa thus improving the livelihood and Animal Health.

Objectives:

  • To promote accessibility is main element of the PAHC thus ensuring that veterinary services are rendered to the rural and peri-urban areas where the most needy and vulnerable groups of the population live.
  • To promote community participation by meaningful involvement of the community in planning, implementing and maintaining veterinary services.
  • To promote veterinary extension services by providing adequate training to communities on prevention and control of endemic animal diseases.
  • To use appropriate technology that is scientifically sound, adaptable to local needs, and acceptable to those who apply it and for whom it is used.
  • To facilitate inter-sectoral collaboration to improve animal health services and strengthen vertical linkages within government and horizontal linkages at national, provincial, district and municipal levels.

The Strategy also gives effect to the implementation of a Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme for veterinarians in South Africa.

The CCS programme requires newly qualified veterinarians and those registering with the South African Veterinary Council for the first time to practice as veterinarians in South Africa, to perform a Compulsory Community Service under the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), in line with the provisions of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act No 19 of 1982. The veterinarians are employed by DALRRD for a period of 12 months and distributed across all provinces.

The CCS programme, in addition to implementing the objectives under primary animal health care, also aims to address the skewed distribution of veterinarians across the country, which has resulted in poor accessibility of veterinary services to under-served and resource-poor areas. The programme also aims to distribute the veterinary profession equitably and provide an opportunity for newly qualified veterinarians to develop their knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The CCS veterinarians provide the following services:

    • Primary animal health care including sterilization (spay and neuter) and vaccination campaigns;
    • Herd health management;
    • Disease surveillance and control;
    • Extension services and awareness;
    • Clinical veterinary services;
    • Imports and export facilitation;
    • Veterinary diagnostics services (laboratories);
    • Regulatory services; and
    • Veterinary Public Health.

(b)(i),(ii) The CCS veterinarians are employed for a period of 12 months and provide the above-mentioned services daily.

(2)(a),(b) Please refer to Annexure A.

3. No.

a) The allocation of CCS veterinarians depends on the number of veterinarians entering the CCS programme in a particular year. The DALRRD allocates the veterinarians based on the requests by provinces and the total number available, this therefore means that the distribution differs from year to year and there may be years in which there is a shortage to cover all areas in the country.

b) The programme is dependent on the total number of available CCS veterinarians entering the programme every year, and this dependency is outside the control of the Department. However, it should be noted that provinces, in addition to the CCS programmes, operate various primary animal health care programmes such as spays and neutering, depending on their capacities.

20 December 2023 - NW3902

Profile picture: Lees, Mr RA

Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Transport

(1)What are the relevant details of (a) all directives and/or instructions issued by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) board and executives for payments not to be made to experts who had provided services to or on behalf of the RAF, (b) the reasons for issuing directives and/or instructions to be stopped and (c) on what legal basis were directives and/or instructions given for payments to experts who had provided services to or on behalf of the RAF to be stopped; (2) what are the relevant details of all reports and/or intellectual property obtained from experts that have not been paid for by the RAF; (3) whether the reports and/or intellectual property have been used in any way by the RAF including for purposes of settling or disputing claims; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details

Reply:

1. No such a directive was issued by the Road Accident Fund. However, it must be noted that a Service Level Agreement (SLA) was in place with the erstwhile

Panel of Attorneys. The SLA was clear that the RAF would not be liable for any fees charged by the experts where no pre-Authorisation is obtained.

2. The specific reports were processed by the erstwhile panel of attorneys as part of claims administration process.

3. The Service Level Agreement is clear and provides guidance on all matters connected with payments, pre-authorisation and handing of reports.

20 December 2023 - NW4223

Profile picture: Joseph, Mr D

Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Police

(I) On what date will the (a) construction of the new Tafelsig Police Station in Mitchells Plain commence and (b) specified project be completed; (2) what (a) areas in Mitchells Plain will the new police station cover and (b) is the total cost of the project?

Reply:

Find reply here

20 December 2023 - NW4161

Profile picture: Majozi, Ms Z

Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Police

Whether his department has records of the number of vehicles (a) at each police station and (b) in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

20 December 2023 - NW3623

Profile picture: Masipa, Mr NP

Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

What (a) are the full detailed arrangements and/or contracts that are in place between her department and the SA Farmers Development Association (SAFDA) and (b) is the detailed breakdown of funds received by SAFDA from the allocated budget of her department. (2) what (a) are the details of farmers who were funded and/or supported through SAFDA, (b)(i) items were received and (ii) is the price of each item and (c) is the success rate of the farmers to date. (3) what are the (a) details of farmers who were excluded from the support provided by SAFDA and (b) reasons for their exclusion?

Reply:

(1) (a) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) signed an overarching MoA with the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) which controls all commodity organization trusts through the Marketing of Agricultural Act No. 47 of 1996 including the introduction of levies on agricultural products. A portion of these levies is used for transformation of the sectors. The MoA allows DALRRD to enter into Service Level Agreements (SLA) which regulate this partnership.

The response is divided into three parts based on specific interventions as per agreements emanating from the main Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) concluded with the South African Farmers Development Association (SAFDA). Part 1 focuses on Land Development and Post Settlement Support, Part 2 on Fertilizer support and Part 3 on Infrastructure Development.

(b) Please refer to Annexure A.

(2) (a),(b)(i),(ii) Please refer to Annexure A.

(c) The farms are all at different levels of productivity. Infrastructure projects progress is reflected in Annexure A.

(3) (a) None.

(b) Falls away.

 

(1)(b) Breakdown of funds received by/ disbursed to SAFDA from allocated budget

(2)(a) Details of farmers funded and/or supported

(2)(b)(i)

Item received / details of support

(2)(b)(ii)

Price per item

(c) Success rate of farmers to date

Budgeted amount

Amount disbursed to SAFDA.

       

Part 1: LAND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME

KWAZULU-NATAL: FARMS UNDER SAFDA

R18 461 128.92

R18 461 128.92

Isizwe Sakwa Dludla Trust

Production inputs

R4 991 840.00

The Trust had internal conflict that delayed implementation. Following a community resolution, the Trust established a new Operational Entity for the implementation of LDS.

Current status: the new entity to sign a Financial Tripartite with the Financial Institution to enable the transfer of funds to be completed and implementation to resume.

     

Machinations

R12 907 306.50

 
     

Infrastructure

R200 000.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R0.00

 
     

SAFDA management fee (2%)

R361 982.92

 

R18 577 375.52

R18 577 375.52

Entembeni Trust, Entembeni

Production inputs

R1 529 280.00

Expenditure to date

R9 635 713.31

Implementation at 52%

     

Machinations

R15 133 833.25

 
     

Infrastructure

R1 550 000.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R0.00

 
     

SAFDA management fee(2%)

R364 262.27

 

R14 429 937.91

R14 429 937.91

Entembeni Royal Household

Production inputs

R842 400.00

Expenditure to date

R8 685 887.13

Implementation at 60%

     

Machinations

R12 754 598.30

 
     

Infrastructure

R550 000.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R0.00

 
     

SAFDA management fee (2%)

R282 939.66

 

R15 178 092.92

R15 178 092.92

Emakhasaneni Trust

Production inputs

R0.00

Expenditure to date

R9 216 378.88

Implementation at 61%

     

Mechanizations

R13 323 282.20

 
     

Infrastructure

R650 000.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R907 200.00

 
     

SAFDA management fee (2%)

R297 609.67

 
           

MPUMALANGA: FARMS UNDER SAFDA

R33 508 660.53

R33 508 660.53

Matsamo CPA

Production inputs

R5 509 769.09

90% complete

     

Mechanizations

R6 313 705.00

 
     

Infrastructure

R8 750 000.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R17 787 922.57

 
     

SAFDA management fee (2%)

R657 032.56

 

R4 839 900.00

R4 839 900.00

Rouxville

Production inputs

R00.00

25% complete

     

Mechanizations

R810 000.00

 
     

Infrastructure

R3 935 000.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R0.00

 
     

SAFDA management fee (2%)

R94 900.00

 

R14 879 839.00

R14 879 839.00

Bambanani Mlambo trust

Production inputs

R709 745.00

100% complete

     

Mechanizations

R1 464 217.25

 
     

Infrastructure

R0.00

 
     

Operating Capital

R6 322 877.00

 
     

SAFDA management fee (2%)

R291 761.65

 
 

Part 2: EDTM: FERTILIZER SUPPORT

DALRRD signed a Service Level Agreement with the SA Farmers Development Association (SAFDA) to coordinate and facilitate procurement of production inputs (fertilizers) for Small-Scale Growers (SSGs) in the Komati/Malelane Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) in Nkomazi Local Municipality under the Ehlanzeni District of the Mpumalanga Province:

  • SAFDA developed business plans for Mpumalanga, motivating for support to SSG’s for fertilizer support, given that fertilizer prices had trebled; and
  • Business plans were approved and SAFDA was tasked with the procurement of the fertilizer, delivery to the farmers and then invoicing DALRRD.

KWAZULU-NATAL (KZN): SMALL SCALE GROWERS’ (SSGs) FERTILIZER SUPPORT 2023 (Summary of SSGs, HAs, Bags and value of provided fertilizer)

Budgeted amount

Amount disbursed to SAFDA.

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT

BUSINESS PLAN

No of Bags @R856

 

Price per item

Success rate to date

   

 

Area

 

Growers

     

R97 274 342

R97 274 342

Umzimkulu

1 436.65

235

7 183

R856.00 per bag

All the Growers received the fertilizer and signed for it.

   

Sezela

3 166.59

1 661

15 833

   
   

UGU

4 603.24

1 896

23 016

   
   

Umfolozi

2 478.89

1 624

12 394

   
   

UMKHANYAKUDE

2 478.89

1 624

12 394

   
   

Gledhow

2 210.40

182

11 052

   
   

Darnall

1 948.55

160

9 742

   
   

Maidstone

1 476.30

343

7 382

   
   

ILEMBE

5 635.25

685

28 176

   
   

Noodsberg

849.60

714

4 248

   
   

Eston

737.45

487

3 687

   
   

UMGUNGUNDLOVU

1 587.05

1 201

7 935

   
   

Pongola RCL

136.60

16

683

   
   

ZULULAND

136.60

16

683

   
   

Amatikulu

4 040.22

2 661

20 201

   
   

Felixton / Makhatini / Jozini

4 801.75

2 596

24 009

   
   

KING CHETSHWAYO

8 841.97

5 257

44 210

   
   

     TOTALS

23 283

10 679

116 415

   
 

MPUMALANGA : KOMATI PROJECTS

R43 million

R43 million

Project

Cession (ha)

No of growers

Cession (No of Bags)

Price per item

Success Rate

   

Spoons 8 Farmer Association

627,8

56

3139

R833.65 per bag of fertilizer throughout all the projects

All fertilisers were issued and signed for.

   

Lugedlane and Shinyokane

576

37

2880

   
   

Figtree A FA Association

447

14

2235

   
   

Figtree B Farmer Association

235

14

1175

   
   

Figtree C Farmer Association

446,4

47

2232

   
   

Figtree D Farmer Association

437,8

76

2189

   
   

Madadeni FA

327

40

1635

   
   

Magudu FA

391,2

15

1956

   
   

Mbunu B

402

52

2011

   
   

Mfumfane

634

75

3170

   
   

Ntunda A and B

33

1

42

   
   

Sibange

333

38

1665

   
   

Sikhwahlane

436

54

2180

   
   

Spoons 7 A&B

367,2

30

1836

   
   

Sibonshwa project

116

1

580

   
   

Walda

871,6

36

4358

   
   

Vuka Usebente

76

7

380

   
   

Huchinson farm Mzinti

18

1

90

   
   

Timiseleni Coop Magudu

243

15

1215

   
   

Phaphamani womens coop

23,3

2

117

   
   

JJ Maswati coop

141

40

705

   
   

Total

71 825

651

35790

   
           

MPUMALANGA: MALELANE PROJECTS

   

Projects

Cession (ha)

No of Growers

Cession

Price per item

Success rate

   

Nyubela and Sons

51

1

255

R833.65 per bag of fertilizer throughout all the projects

All fertilisers were issued and signed for.

   

Langeloop 1 (West & East)

410

40

2050

   
   

Langeloop 2

300

37

1500

   
   

Khanyangwane/ Buffelspruit

224

29

1121

   
   

Gijima Bomake Coop

135

56

677

   
   

Tikhontele Co-op

314

28

1570

   
   

Schoemansdal Trust

104

88

522

   
   

Nhlangu West

87

27

435

   
   

Nhlangu East

127,6

25

638

   
   

Ngogolo

590

39

2950

   
   

Mbongozi

135,6

18

678

   
   

Zelpy

136

22

680

   
   

Dwaleni

51

1

255

   
   

Lotswitswi

22

1

110

   
   

Middleplaas (Timiseleni n Tizameleni)

122

28

610

   
   

Rainbow

32

20

160

   
   

Rouxville farm

90

1

450

   
   

Total

2931,8

461

14659

   
               

EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY FOR KOMATI/MALELANE FPSU

   

EQUIPMENT / MACHINERY

Specification

Usage

Quantity

Total Amount (R)

Growers that use the services of the FPSU equipment can save more than R3 500/ha on land preparation costs since private contractors have been charging more than R8 000/ha for complete land preparation while the FPSU charges between R4 500 – R5 500/ha. The current land preparation rate is more than R10 000/ha, and the FPSU currently charges R5 500/ha. Farmers that have used the growers’ machinery have saved and improved their farm profitability (though no actual impact assessment has been done at this stage). The success rate on farms will be determined after harvesting in December 2023.

   

Tractors (4x4)

71-80 kw with CAB MFWD

Land Preparation/ General Purpose

2

R1 554 132

 
   

Tractor (4x4)

91-100 kw with CAB MFWD

Land Preparation /Fire Fighting

1

R1 387 284

 
   

Boom Sprayer

600L

Herbicide/Pesticide Application

1

R63 106

 
   

Fire Tanker

5000L, full house

Firefighting/ Herbicide

1

R252 800

 
   

Gyramower/

Slasher 1.8m

Heavy Duty

Slashing/Road Maint

1

R53 424

 
   

Mouldboard Plough

Reversible

Land Preparation

1

R111 700

 
   

Lowbed

6 Ton capacity

Transporting machinery between projects

1

R221 600

 
   

Bell Loader

120 model

Crop removal

4

R4 338 688

 
   

Ripper

Medium Duty – 5 Curved Shank

Land Preparation

1

R84 000

 
   

Ridger/

Furrow

Shear Ridger – 3 Row

Land Preparation

1

R77 000

 
   

TLB

 

Land Preparation /General Purpose

1

R1 017 600

 
   

3 row fertilizer applicator

3 row fertilizer applicator

Fertilizer application

1

R58 500

 
   

5 Ton Tipper Trailer

5 Ton Tipper Trailer

General Purpose

1

R128 000

 
   

INFRASTRUCTURE

         
   

Dragline rehabilitation

(50m draglines; tripods; sprinkler heads; nozzles; stoppers; piplets)

Irrigation overhauling (procurement and supply)

300

R1 500 000

 
   

Drip system materials

(filters; valves; rolls; gromets; L-couples; reducers; straight couplings; End stoppers; Submain line)

Irrigation overhauling (procurement, supply and installation)

100

R2 500 000

 
   

Dam/River Pumps

8x10/75kw motors; 8x soft starters)

Replacement and installation

400

R1 000 000

 
   

TOTAL

     

R14 347 834

 
 

Part 3: RURAL DEVELOPMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE

KWAZULU NATAL

R37 455 014

R37 455 014

Amatikulu

Macekane FPSU: Macekane has 2 600 small-scale sugar cane growers, planting approximately 5372 hectares.

R37 455 014

Progress made to date is 30-50%

R37 455 014

R37 455 014

Felixton

Amatikulu FPSU: Amatikulu has 4 025 sugar cane small-scale growers, planting approximately 5 862 hectares.

R37 455 014

Progress made to date is 30-50%

R37 455 014

R37 455 014

Gledhow

Darnall

Maidstone

Qwabe FPSU: Qwabe has 547 sugar cane small-scale growers, planting approximately 3 958 hectares.

R37 455 014

Progress made to date is 30-50%

R37 455 014

R37 455 014

Makhathini/ Jozini

Jozini FPSU: Jozini has 1240 sugar cane small-scale growers, planting approximately 2278 hectares.

R37 455 014

Progress made to date is 30-50%

R37 455 014

R37 455 014

Umzimkulu

Sezela

Sezela FPSU: Sezela has 1156 sugar cane small-scale growers, planting approximately 4283 hectares.

R37 455 014

Progress made to date is 10%

R37 455 014

R37 455 014

Noodsberg

Eston

Noordsburg FPSU: Noordsburg has 2321 sugar cane small-scale growers, planting approximately 1467 hectares.

R37 455 014

Progress made to date is 30-50%

MPUMALANGA

R44 844 404.66

R29 299 331.13

Komati:

    • Spoons 7 & 8 Farmer Association
    • Lugedlane and Shinyokane
    • Figtree A, B, C & D Association
    • Madadeni FA
    • Magudu FA
    • Mbunu B
    • Mfumfane
    • Ntunda A and B
    • Sibange
    • Sikhwahlane
    • Sibonshwa
    • Walda
    • Magudu

Farms Irrigation infrastructure development and upgrades for 2 200ha

R29 299 331.13

Progress is at 32% (700ha) to date.

 

R15 545 073.53

Malelane:

    • Langeloop 1 & 2
    • Schoemansdal Trust
    • Nhlangu West
    • Nhlangu East
    • Ngogolo
    • Middleplaas (Timiseleni n Tizameleni)

Schoemansdal

Refurbishment of 22 farms’ production inputs storage facilities and offices

Farms soil and water conservation structures development

Development of Malelane/Nkomati Sugarcane FPSU that will provide support to production farms in the form of a mechanisation centre and fuel depot.

R15 545 073.53

Progress made to date is 80%.

20 December 2023 - NW4224

Profile picture: Seitlholo, Mr IS

Seitlholo, Mr IS to ask the Minister of Transport

What total number of kilometres of the national roads were resurfaced (a) in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022 and (b) since 1 January 2023?

Reply:

SANRAL resurfaced the following kilometres of national roads:

a) (i) 2021/22 = 449 km

(ii) 2022/23 = 688 km

b) 2023/24 = 1308 km to date

20 December 2023 - NW3998

Profile picture: Masipa, Mr NP

Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

What measures has she put in place to improve the situation of the Animal Health Directorate that has to date failed livestock farmers, which is also reflected by the Ministerial Task Team’s report which highlighted numerous issues?

Reply:

The Animal Health Directorate has not failed livestock farmers. The mandate of the Directorate is “to provide for the control of animal diseases and parasites, for measures to promote animal health, and for matters connected therewith”.

To this end, the Department has regulations and guidelines for the prevention of entry as well as the control of diseases. The sub-directorates of Epidemiology and Disease Control are constantly monitoring laboratory results which are analyzed, and any suspicion of infection is brought to the attention of the Director and the Chief Veterinary Officer. This is followed up by instructions to the provinces on how to handle the suspicion including control measures to apply. Due to varying resources in the provinces, these are applied differently in each province, with varying success.

One of the high-risk activities that the Department is managing is research conducted using pathogens that could be detrimental to the health status of the country. Ironically this same risk mitigation is found to be unnecessary by the Ministerial Task Team’s report.

The findings of the Ministerial Task Team’s report were all catered for in the Veterinary Strategy that was signed in March 2016. The Strategy has 5 pillars, one of which is to strengthen competencies for animal health, all of which are being implemented and facilitated by Operation Phakisa, at differing rates depending on the availability of resources.

Section 11 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984) places the responsibility of preventing the introduction of diseases on owners. The Department has several biosecurity guidelines for different farming practices which include surveillance, some of which is at the owner’s expense and some which the Government pays for. However, many farms do not implement these measures due to the expenses associated with them. The lack of biosecurity on farms has been demonstrated to contribute significantly to the introduction and further spread of diseases into and between farms.

Climate change and international trade in animals and animal products have also led to increased occurrence of animal diseases. Maintaining a biosecure environment is thus always a moving target and this is not unique to animal and animal products.

In the past 5 years, South Africa successfully eradicated 3 separate outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks in the country, but most importantly, retained trade with neighboring countries. The reason neighboring countries could still accept poultry products from South Africa, at the height of a trade-sensitive disease outbreak, was because of the confidence they have in the Veterinary Services of South Africa, which is brought by its sound technical expertise in the field.

South Africa also reported cases of African Swine Fever outbreaks and equally retained trade with most neighboring countries.

Since 2019, South Africa has not had a free status for Foot and Mouth Disease, and yet trade of livestock, beef, and wool continues; this again is due to the confidence in the South African Veterinary Services’ globally. Recently the Department facilitated the opening of beef exports to China and Saudi Arabia, and a few other countries are in the pipeline, such as Iraq.

Just these three points highlight the support given to the farming communities and how the Department is not failing its livestock farmers.

While some control measures are not solely the responsibility of the Department, classic examples of challenges illustrating plain disregard of the law are indiscriminate movements of cattle even though the Minister had placed restrictions on the movements of livestock at the start of the North West outbreak, and the legal challenges lodged against the Department by the same livestock farmers the Department was trying to protect.

 

As the report recommends, Veterinary Services is strengthening its collaboration with industries; there are already two recent success stories from this collaboration viz. the opening of beef markets for China and Saudi Arabia. The containment of Foot and Mouth Disease is another success story that is due to these collaborative efforts.

20 December 2023 - NW4160

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Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Police

Whether the SA Police Service (SAPS) has records of the number of firearms (a) that were reported (i) lost, (ii) stolen, (iii) recovered and (iv) unrecovered belonging to (b) the SAPS members and (c) the public during the 2015-2023 period; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

20 December 2023 - NW4013

Profile picture: Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN

Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Whether her department has (a) drilled and/or (b) maintained any boreholes since 1 January 2023 in each province; if not, why not; if so, what (i) total number of boreholes were drilled and/or maintained during the specified period and (ii) was the total cost in each case; (2) whether water was found at each specified borehole; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the further, relevant details?

Reply:

(1)(a),(b),(i),(ii) and (2) Please refer to Annexure A.

Province

(a) Boreholes Drilled

(b)

Boreholes Maintained

Reasons for not drilling/ Maintaining

(i)

Total Number of Boreholes Drilled

(i)

Total Number of Boreholes Maintained

(ii)

Total Cost of Drilling (ZAR)

(ii)

Total Cost of Maintenance (ZAR)

Borehole Identification

Water Discovery

Details if Water Not Found

Additional Relevant Details

Eastern Cape

0

0

The province is planning to drill and maintain 5 boreholes in the 2024/ 2025 financial year.

0

0

R0

R0

0

0

0

A detailed investigation is to be conducted within the community and drilling of boreholes be done at locations where enough underground water is found and pipelines to be used to transfer the water closer to where it is needed. The aquafer in the area does not deliver enough water and is not sustainable; the indicated area is restricted. Existing boreholes are rehabilitated to establish the yield and to determine if a new borehole is required.

Free State

55

32

N/A

55

32

R5,5m

R1,1m

87

54

33

 

Gauteng

24

0

N/A

24

0

R6,8m

R0

24

24

0

 

KwaZulu Natal

6

1

N/A

6

1

R0,6m

R0,03m

7

4

3

 

Limpopo

0

0

There was no target set for borehole projects in the 2023/ 2024 financial year. The province has been granted approval of R3 520 000 for drilling of 11 boreholes for the 2024/ 2025 financial year.

0

0

R0

R0

0

0

0

 

Mpumalanga

0

0

The province is planning to drill boreholes in projects that are being implemented such as Malelane/Nkomati Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU) and Red Meat value chain projects, if necessary after a feasibility study has been concluded.

0

0

R0

R0

0

0

0

 

North West

7

0

N/A

7

0

R1,8m

R0

7

6

1

 

Northern Cape

2

0

N/A

2

0

R0,7m

R0

2

2

0

 

Western Cape

0

0

The province is planning to drill 7 boreholes and maintain 4 boreholes in the 2024/ 2025 financial year.

0

0

R0

R0

0

0

0

 

Totals

94

33

 

94

33

R15,5m

R1,1m

127

90

37

 

20 December 2023 - NW3505

Profile picture: Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN

Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Whether her department has details of the total number of successful young commercial farmers who have attained funding through her department in the (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21, (c) 2021-22 and (d) 2022-23 financial years; if not, why not; if so, (i) what are the figures in each municipality, (ii) which sectors of agriculture have seen the most investment and (iii) what was the total expenditure?

Reply:

(a),(b),(c),(d) Yes. This response covers young commercial farmers who have received funding from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) through Conditional Grants (Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme “CASP” and Ilima/Letsema) that are transferred to Provincial Departments of Agriculture who implement agricultural projects. The young farmers reported herein are beneficiaries (owners or shareholders) of projects that were implemented in the respective financial years reported below.

(i) The number of youth farmers supported per province in the respective financial years as follows: Tables 1 and 2 depicts figures for CASP and Ilima/Letsema respectively, while Table 3 provides information for the Jobs Fund.

Table 1: CASP – Number of youth supported per financial year:

CASP

  1. 2019/20
  1. 2020/21
  1. 2021/22
  1. 2022/23

Eastern Cape

195

257

131

278

Free State

235

610

300

155

Gauteng

67

21

231

1 575

KwaZulu Natal

188

442

484

503

Limpopo

79

77

26

26

Mpumalanga

190

61

115

94

Northern Cape

29

3

39

5

North West

128

128

41

51

Western Cape

251

131

95

3

Total No

1 363

1 731

1 462

2 690

Males/Female

717 / 646

911 / 820

840 / 622

1 189 / 1 501

Source: CASP Annual Reports from Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

Table 2: Ilima/Letsema- Number of youth Supported per financial year

Ilima/Letsema

  1. 2019/20
  1. 2020/21
  1. 2021/22
  1. 2022/23

Eastern Cape

5 059

410

3 894

5 672

Free State

13 331

5 789

222

0

Gauteng

83

18

2 000

55

KwaZulu Natal

603

607

1 241

1 235

Limpopo

461

474

2 070

1 253

Mpumalanga

403

191

1 408

395

Northern Cape

26

10

22

0

North West

62

19

0

21

Western Cape

232

36

0

432

Total No.

20 260

7 554

10 857

9 063

Males/Female

8 885 / 11 375

3 804 / 3 750

4 136 / 6 721

3 893 / 5 170

Source: Ilima/Letsema Annual Reports from Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

Table 3: Jobs Fund – Number of youth supported per financial year:

Year

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

(i) what are the figures in each municipality?

   

Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompathi District

- 1 livestock farmer (34 years)

- Allocated Amount = R 1 021 600

Bojanala District (North West)

- 2 young citrus farmers (28 & 32 years)

- Allocated Amount = R 10 815 965

Chris Hani District (Eastern Cape)

- 1 livestock farmer (32 years)

- Allocated Amount = R 4 013 514

(ii) which sectors of agriculture have seen the most investment?

Horticulture and livestock production received the most investment. Funding went towards both primary production and agro-processing.

(iii) What was the total expenditure?

 

R 15 851 079.00

Total Project Budget

 

R 38 437 823.25

% Expenditure on Young Commercial Farmers

 

41 %

(ii) In terms of CASP (Ilima/Letsema), the support focused on grain production followed by livestock, vegetable, and fruit while horticulture and livestock production received the most investment with regards the Jobs Fund intervention.

(iii) Conditional Grants and Jobs Fund Expenditure reported:

Financial Year

CASP Budget spent

R’000

Ilima/Letsema Budget Spent

R’000

Jobs Fund Budget Spent

2019/20

1 537 000

510 000

-

2020/21

1 041 000

415 000

-

2021/22

1 228 875

546 574

1 021 600

2022/23

1 478 007

593 818

10 815 965

4 013 514

Total spent

5 284 882

2 065 392

15 851 079

Note! The total expenditure against the budget transferred to the province was reported, not expenditure against gender or vulnerability groups.

20 December 2023 - NW4170

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

Whether her department has records of the number of (a) women, (b) youth and (c) previously homeless people who have been offered subsidized housing during 2019 – 2023 period; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

According to information received from Provinces, the department received applications for housing assistance across provinces. Applications are selected and approved based on the government criteria from Municipalities for allocations on what is available for beneficiaries.

The list below provides information of Women, Youth headed households and previously homeless people who have been living in informal settlements with no proper houses.

EASTERN CAPE for the period, delivered and recorded.

Women

236,391 units

Youth

23,328 units

Previously Homeless People

Nothing was recorded under this category

FREE STATE reported.

Women

116,363 units

Youth

3,235 units

Previously Homeless People

Nothing reported under this category.

GAUTENG for the period, delivered and recorded.

Women

10,848 units

Youth

3,359 units

Previously Homeless People

Nothing reported under the category

KWAZULU NATAL for the period, delivered and recorded.

Women

32,344 units

Youth

6,381 units

Previously Homeless People

49,574 units

LIMPOPO reported.

Women

11,898 units

Youth

4,813 units

Previously Homeless People

There is no information on that.

MPUMALANGA for the period, delivered and recorded.

Women

9,407 units

Youth

127,988 units

Previously Homeless People

Nothing reported under the category

NORTHERN CAPE for the period, delivered and recorded.

Women

31,600 units

Youth

1,444 units

Previously Homeless People

Nothing reported under the category

NORTH-WEST reported.

Women

173,900 units

Youth

16,648 units

Previously Homeless People

There is no information on that.

WESTERN CAPE for the period, delivered and recorded.

Women

170,171 units

Youth

12,074 units

Previously Homeless People

Nothing reported under the category

20 December 2023 - NW3885

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Makesini, Ms M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

What (a) urgent steps have been taken regarding the beneficiaries who have been on the national housing list from the late 1990s and early 2000s and have to date not been allocated houses and (b) are the reasons that there have been so many delays in allocating housing to such beneficiaries?

Reply:

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Provincial Departments had their own waiting lists that were not digitised and were held in various offices.

a) Steps taken:

  1. The National Department has developed the National Housing Needs Register (NHNR) which is utilized at provincial and municipal level to enable citizens to register their need for adequate shelter.
  2. The Provincial Departments use the NHNR to identify potential beneficiaries to ensure that the allocation process is fair and transparent, and that queue jumping is eliminated.
  3. The identification process uses a prioritisation criterion for beneficiary selection to reserve the subsidised units for the most vulnerable. The priority cohort includes:
  • Elderly beneficiaries (60 years and older).
  • People living with medically certified disabilities.
  • Beneficiaries who are on the National Housing Needs Register for the longest period (15 years and longer).
  • Backyard dwellers (only for new/Greenfield projects).
  • Approved Military Veterans.

b) Delays can be alluded to the following:

  1. There have been several budget cuts over the past years due to the shrinking fiscus which has led to the reduction of completed housing units, meaning that a lesser number of beneficiaries stand to benefit from the housing projects.
  2. In some cases, households move from one area to another, therefore when a project is completed, the initially registered households become untraceable.
  3. In some Municipalities, Councillors are still hesitant in the utilisation of the NHNR for allocation purposes- This is a matter that we are addressing through our Councillor Induction Training that is rolled out throughout the country and delivered by our Capacity Building Unit.
  4. Some people assume that after completing the NHNR, they have applied for an actual housing opportunity, whereas the application process begins with filling in the subsidy application form which is issued by the Province or Municipality when a project is going to be built close to your place of residence- In response to this challenge, we conduct consumer education in collaborate with Provinces and Municipalities.

20 December 2023 - NW4027

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

Whether her department has any functional measures in place to combat intimidation and abuse faced by the municipal workers who report and attempt to report corruption and maladministration in municipalities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

According to the Case Management Register for the past 3 financial years, including the current financial year the Department did not receive complaints or allegations from municipal officials relating to fraud, corruption and maladministration.

Municipal officials can report allegations of housing fraud and corruption by making use of the following reporting mechanisms:

  • DHS Special Investigations Directorate: 012 421 1503/1416/1535
  • DHS Call Centre: 0800 146 873
  • DHS Reception/Call Centre walk in reporting at 240 Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria
  • National Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701
  • The Presidential Hotline: 17737

.

20 December 2023 - NW4222

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Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Police

What total number of (a) police officers, (b) detectives, (c) support staff and (d) vehicles will be allocated to the planned Tafelsig Police Station in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town?

Reply:

Find reply here

20 December 2023 - NW4159

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Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Police

Whether the SA Police Service has records of the number of the estimated population served by each police station in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

20 December 2023 - NW3426

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Makamba-Botya, Ms N to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Noting the various reported incidences of racial tension arising at the University of Pretoria and the alleged unfair dismissal from Student Representative Council elections of certain candidates (details furnished), (a) what are the details of the intervention measures that his department has made in the institution, noting the historical context of the institution itself with regard to racial discrimination and (b) how does the department ensure that students and workers have an outlet outside of the investigation processes of institutions for reporting issues pertaining to racial prejudice?

Reply:

a) The Department approached the university for a response which was then provided on 14 December 2023. In the report the university confirms that it developed a transformation strategy in 2022 as required, and the strategy creates safe spaces for engagement and discussion on institutional culture, and subsequently established UP Institutional Transformation Committee and UP Transformation Office, all which are tasked with developing and implementing various transformation initiatives.

b) All incidences on racial prejudice and other forms of discrimination which are reported to the Department are immediately investigated by senior officials, sometimes with the assistance of Higher Health and South African Police Services.

20 December 2023 - NW3731

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Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport

(1) Whether a certain company (name furnished) to whom a certain tender (details furnished) was awarded, is still operational; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the specified company met and fulfilled all the necessary requirements; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (3) whether she will furnish Mrs N J Nolutshungu with copies of the relevant documents that the company had submitted to her department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW4947E

Reply:

The question pertaining certain company was referred to the KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport who have confirmed:

1. The company is operational

The company can only be excluded, if the National Treasury exclude them from the Centralised Supplier Database (CSD) and/or if the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) imposes restrictions on it.

2. The company met and fulfilled all the necessary requirements as per the bid document.

3. The province is in the position to furnish relevant documents.

However, access to information pertaining to the process followed in the awarding of the bid and relevant documents may be requested by filling Form 1 provided in terms of Promotion of Access to Information Act read with Regulations. The request may be addressed to the province, for attention Ms Philile Sithole: Deputy Information Officer at: [email protected].

20 December 2023 - NW4099

Ceza to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether she has found that the deployment of the SA National Defence Force to support a multi-sectoral effort that brings together the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster and other relevant departments and stakeholders has made inroads in the fight against illegal mining criminal syndicates and labour brokers that are alleged to be at the centre of recruiting illegal miners from the Southern African Development Community region; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

19 December 2023 - NW3683

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Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

With reference to the recent settlement reached with a certain person (name and details furnished) after an eight-year legal battle, what are the details of the total amounts paid (a) to the specified person as part of the settlement and (b) in legal fees fighting the original decision of the commission for conciliation, mediation, and arbitration?

Reply:

Boxing South Africa has indicated to the Department that the details of the settlement agreement shall be submitted to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee because the provision of the settlement prohibits Boxing South Africa from divulging the contents thereof. The Chairperson to take into cognizance the contents thereof and act accordingly.

19 December 2023 - NW3743

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Shikwambana, Mr M to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(a) On what date will the report which was compiled by Professor Yunus Ballim on allegations of corruption at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme be released, (b) what are the findings of the specified report and (c) what recommendations have already been implemented thus far?

Reply:

a) The report compiled by Prof Ballim constitutes an investigation into the causes and failures of the NSFAS, and it investigates business, processes, systems, and capacity challenges of the NSFAS. The Department has engaged the government printers for a quotation, and the report will be published as soon as it is processed internally.

b) The 271-page report concludes with 21 recommendations. Some of the findings and actions processed thus far are captured in the table below:

FINDINGS

ACTION

Migration from a decentralized to a student centred model (SCM) occurred without properly configured operational model / enterprise architecture plan that articulates its processes and organizational capabilities

NSFAS has assigned an Executive to oversee the feasibility study into regionalization. NSFAS

Full integration of the IT systems with all PSET institutions to ensure integrity of data and efficiency of the flow of information on registration, academic progression and funding details is required. Upgrade IT system and protect systems against fraud.

NSFAS has developed a multi-year ICT implementation strategy. Thus far it has received R119 million to improve its ICT systems.

Develop an organogram and a staffing plan with requisite competencies

An organogram was developed in 2022. NSFAS turn-around plan aims to add communication, ICT and finance skills as the organogram is aligned to new challenges

Accelerate regulations that will frame the bursary scheme in consultation with the sector.

The Department is commencing with the development of a fee regulatory framework in 2024 which will advance regulations as opposed to guidelines. The regulations will incorporate the bursary scheme.

Protect systems against fraud.

NSFAS is cooperating with law enforcement agencies.

Desist from radical policy shifts which have no regard for implementation complexities

Evidence based decisions are being affected, such as, extensive research which guided the student funding model.

19 December 2023 - NW3626

Profile picture: Schreiber, Dr LA

Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

(1) Whether he will furnish Dr L A Schreiber with a copy of any document that guides the decisions of his department when it comes to applications for exemption in terms of section 12(1) of the Use of Official Languages Act, Act 12 of 2012; if not, what criteria are used to guide decision-making on the granting of such exemptions; (2) what number of complaints were lodged in terms of section 9(2)(c) of the specified Act since 1 March 2018. (3) with regard to the lodged complaints, which use of the official language(s) did the complaints relate to?

Reply:

1. There is no specific document as such that has been developed by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, however, section 12 of the Use of Official Languages Act and section 6 of its Regulations strictly guide the process on how exemption should be granted by the Minister.

2. The information provided below is based on the audited Annual Reports.

FINANCIAL YEAR

NO. OF CASES RECEIVED

NO. OF CASES RESOLVED

PERFORMANCE (%)

2018 -2019

25

4

16%

2019 - 2020

11

10

91%

2020 - 2021

9

9

100%

2021 - 2022

9

9

100%

2022-2023

13

12

92%

3. There are no complaints that came directly to the Department but there were complaints that were received by PanSALB in relation to official languages with South African Sign Language and isiZulu leading.

The complaints are also against both public and private sectors where retail industry is leading. The complaints here are mainly about spelling and orthographies of Previously Marginalised Languages.

In the public sector, complaints are about Language Policy Implementation, especially equitable treatment, and parity of esteem. Complaints in the Language in Education domain is leaning towards the language of instruction in former Afrikaans public schools. Complaints that were received around the previously marginalised languages are more on the spelling and orthographies, equitable treatment, and parity of esteem.

19 December 2023 - NW3058

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Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

(1). Given that the Republic has not won a medal for three years in a row at the World Athletics Championships (WAC) (details furnished), (a) how will the Government support (i) Athletics South Africa and (ii) the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic can team leading up to the Olympics next year. (2). What (a) total amount has been spent on officials and athletes attending the WAC in Budapest, Hungary this year and (b) is the breakdown of the specified amount in terms of the (i) number of officials and athletes who attended and (ii) cost of flights, accommodation, meals, allowances and any other specified expenses?

Reply:

1a(i). Athletics South Africa( ASA) is one of the priority 16 Sport Codes and is therefore a beneficiary of the conditional grant that is accessed through provinces for sport events, competitions, capacity development for coaches, managers, technical staff, and other areas as identified by ASA and the respective provinces. Through the grant, DSAC supports ASA (through its affiliate South African Schools Athletics (SASA) to unearth new talent through the countrywide school’s athletics programme which starts at school/local level and culminates with a National Championship. The Department further funds ASA through transfer funds for the development of athletes, including support for international events. In 2021/22 the Department transferred R 6 million to ASA and in 2022/23 a transfer of R 4 650 000-00 has been allocated.

a(ii). The Department provides South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) with funding to deliver multi-coded teams to International Events only, e.g., Olympics, Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games. Further, SASCOC works with National Federations (NF) including Athletics South Africa (ASA) to prepare and deliver the teams to these international events. The Department does not channel any support for the development of athletes through SASCOC but directly with the National Federations (NF).

Having engaged athletics, the poor performances of our athletes is attributed to dwindling financial resources and an inability to provide comprehensive support to athletes. This includes but is not limited to required services such medical support, training camps, support with competition costs, international travel for competition and suitable training facilities.

2(a). R 2 321 561-10 was spent.

(b)(i)(ii). A total of R 1 463 596-10 was spent on athletes and R 857 965-00 on officials as per the below tables.

   
   

AMOUNT SPENT ON ATHLETES

HEADING

AMOUNT

Accommodation and Meals Domestic

R 206,781.62

Flight - Domestic

R 119,252.75

Flight - International

R 668,598.00

Visa

R 42,273.00

Medical

R 69,850.00

Per Diems

R 72,000.00

Training Camps

R 257,097.23

Safeguarding

R 27,743.50

TOTAL

R 1 463 596-10

   

AMOUNT SPENT ON OFFICIALS

HEADING

AMOUNT

Accommodation and meals

R 97,700.00

Transport Domestic

R 26,880.00

Transport International

R 605,777.00

Visa

R 55,608.00

Per Diems

R 72,000.00

TOTAL

R 857 965-00

   

19 December 2023 - NW3625

Profile picture: Schreiber, Dr LA

Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:

(1). Which national government departments submitted annual reports in terms of section 9(2) of the Use of Official Languages Act, Act 12 of 2012 to his department in the past two years. (2) (a) which (i) national government departments, (ii) entities reporting to him and (iii) state-owned enterprises were granted exemptions in terms of section 12(1) of the specified Act in the past two years and (b) what were the reasons for granting the exemptions?

Reply:

These annual reports are submitted to PanSALB. PanSALB took a strategic decision to move from merely monitoring the compliance reports to evaluating Language Policy Implementation in terms of the Constitution, the Use of Official Languages Act, and PanSALB Act. This ensured a more qualitative approach from merely receiving reports to ensuring the substantiveness thereof.

It commissioned Language Policy Implementation Evaluation which was affected by National Treasury Regulations on tenders above R30 000. The service provider commenced a Language Policy Implementation Evaluation in March 2023. The service provider has been on the ground conducting data collection and assisting national departments with language policy implementation reporting. They have also been analysing the received Annual Language Reports received from the national departments and the report is expected to be released by the end of February 2024. This will provide a comprehensive list of compliant and submitted reports from national government departments.

(2) (i) The Department has not granted an exemption to any national government department since the Act does not provide for that.

(ii) There are no entities reporting to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture that were granted exemptions in the past two years. Below are four other national public entities that were granted exemptions:

  • South African Weather Service
  • National Gambling Board
  • South African National Biodiversity and.
  • iSimangaliso Wetland Park

(iii) There are no state-owned enterprises that were granted exemptions.

(b) The reasons for granting the exemption were that these entities in terms of the

size is small and they have capacity challenges. They were not able to establish fully-fledged language units as the Use of Official Languages Act requires. They indicated that they would assign a senior employee to perform the functions of a language unit. In the past two years there is no entity reporting to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture that was granted an exemption.

19 December 2023 - NW3656

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Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)       Whether her department has taken any steps to intervene regarding the allegations of poor management and financial irregularities at the Settlers Agricultural High School in Limpopo; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date, (b) what are the relevant details of the specified intervention and (c) who has been appointed to perform the functions of the school governing body; (2) whether an audit investigation has been conducted into the utilisation of school funds; if not, why not; if so, what were the findings of the audit investigation; (3) whether she will furnish Mrs D van der Walt with a copy of the report of the findings of the audit investigation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what measures will be put in place to ensure that the (a) specified school returns to its status as one of the top agricultural schools in the Republic and (b) hostels of the school are run with adequate resources for all learners?

Reply:

Whether the Minister of Basic Education has taken any steps to intervene regarding the allegations of poor management and financial irregularities at the Settlers Agricultural High school in Limpopo. If not, why not? If so, (a) on what date, (b) what are the relevant details of the specified intervention and (c) who has been appointed to perform the functions of the school governing body?

Answer:

I must first point out that the answers to these questions are based from the information I received from the Limpopo Education Department (LED) and that I intend to visit Settlers Agricultural High School in January 2024 to ascertain the accuracy of the reports

The LED has reported that it intervened by appointing an investigation team comprising officials from Institutional Governance and Learner Affairs, Norms and Standards for School Funding, Risk Management and Labour Directorates.

  1. The Investigation Team was appointed on 24 April 2023.
  2. The investigation focused on school management, school governance, learner discipline, financial management and hostel management.
  3. On 25 August 2023 the Head of Department applied section 25 (1), (2) and (3) of South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996 as amended and appointed six (6) departmental officials as members of Settlers Agricultural High School sufficient persons to perform all functions of the school governing body.

 

2. Whether an audit investigation has been conducted into the utilisation of school funds. If no, why not; if so, what was the findings of the audit investigation?

Answer:  

Yes, an audit is being conducted into the utilisation of school funds. There are clear indicators that the school finances might have been mismanaged by the school governing body. For example, the R500 000, 00 Maths, Science and Technology (MST) grant that was deposited into the school bank account by the Limpopo Department of Education on 31 May 2023, with a condition that it be utilised for agricultural science resources or programmes in the school, was not used for that purposes. So far not enough evidence has been found to prove that the money was utilised for agricultural sciences resources or programmes. The Department is still investigating what the money was used for.

3. Whether the Minister will furnish Mrs. D van der Walt (DA) with a copy of the report of the findings of the audit investigation. If not, why not? If so, what are the relevant details?

Answer:

Yes, the Minister will furnish Mrs. D van der Walt with a copy of the audit investigation once the investigation is concluded. 

 

4. What measures will be put in place to ensure that the (a) specified school returns to its status as one of the top agricultural schools in the Republic and (b) hostels of the school are run with adequate resources for all learners?

Answer:

a) The Department has dissolved the school governing body and appointed sufficient persons to perform all the functions of the school governing body and they have expertise in the management and governance of schools. The profiles of the sufficient persons are as follows:

 

RECOMMENDED OFFICIAL

SPECIALITIES

Advocate Tshiwela Molepo

- Legal background,

- Specialist in Governance and School Leadership

Mr Mokobane Malose Simon

  • Specialist in Governance and School Leadership

Ms Mokgehle Mamotlhatlego Sherin

  • Specialist in Governance and School Leadership

Dr Madire Sakgea Elias

- PHD in Business administration and conducted research on small and medium enterprises

- Specialist in Governance and School Leadership

Mr Ntshumeni Thando

  • Finance expert with BCom in Accounting

Dr Mathobo David Nndineni

- Specialist in curriculum support

- PHD in agriculture and conducted research on sustainability of vegetable production system in Limpopo

 

b) The Department has placed the principal on precautionary transfer to the Circuit office and appointed an acting principal who has the vast knowledge of running a farm and a hostel. Sufficient Persons have already established the following committees in terms of section 29 of the South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996 as amended. The following committees were established to assist them to perform their functions so as to quickly turn the school around:

  1. Finance Committee
  2. Disciplinary and Hostel Committee
  3. Admission and Human Resources Committee
  4. Curriculum Committee
  5. Uniform, Tuckshop and Farm Committee
  6. School safety and infrastructure Committee

Sufficient Persons are in the process of reviewing school and hostel policies to enable them to govern the school and to administer the hostel.

Collection of fees

At the time of the appointment of sufficient persons the school was unable to collect fees from parents. Parents refused to pay both school and hostel fees because they said they had lost confidence in the SGB and did not have trust in its financial management. The Sufficient Persons are working on rebuilding trust between themselves and the parents of learners. As a result of the confidence and trust that are improving, sufficient persons were able to collect hostel fees as follows;

  1. August 2023 = R440,228
  2. September 2023 = R440,895
  3. October 2023 = R1,131,233

Unfortunately parents are still reluctant to make payments towards school fees and it remains difficult for the sufficient persons to run the school.

Debt recovery plan

The Sufficient Persons are working on identifying and appointing a Debt Collector. The Debt Collector will be appointed and will be instructed to collect fees with the required aggression. Debts from previous years will also be followed up. Sufficient Persons have resolved that parents owing funds for 2023 can make payment arrangements until the 29th October 2023. The due date for payment of 2023 fees has been extended to 30 November 2023 for those who signed Acknowledgement of Debt and made Payment Arrangements.

Maintenance of Hostel, School Buildings, and Grounds

Sufficient persons have started the process of repairing and maintaining the following:

  1. Hostel burglar proofs,
  2. Hostel ceilings
  3. School grounds and sewage systems.

Farm operations and revenue

The Sufficient Persons are working on a turn-around strategy to improve revenue, operation and accountability on the farm. The plan is that by January 2024, the farm must be able to pay salaries for its own employees. The year-to-year lease agreement for the lease of 128 hectares of arable land owned by the school that was signed between the Willand Boerdery and the School has lapsed on 31 October 2023. The proposed lease agreement is at an amount of R1200 per hectare. The Sufficient persons are still looking into a possibility of renewing the lease agreement for another year.

Please note that over and above the steps taken in response above, as a Minister, i will personally lead a team from DBE to interact with the province to make sure that the matter is being sufficiently dealt with, the visit to the province will probably take place early in 2024 due to current time constrains.

18 December 2023 - NW3904

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Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Basic Education

With reference to her reply to question 549 on 17 April 2023 that her department intends to deal with overcrowding in schools through the Special Intervention Programme on Overcrowding in Schools, (a) which schools have been identified, (b) what are the relevant details of (i) assistance envisioned for each identified school and (ii) timeframes for the programme to be concluded in each identified school?

Reply:

A total of 70 043 additional classes were identified from 8 133 over crowded school across all provinces. The special programme was put on hold when Treasury implemented cost containment measures. 

The building of additional classes will follow the normal infrastructure programmes until we are advised differently by Treasury.

The number of identified schools and classes per province are attached.

18 December 2023 - NW4118

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Boshoff, Dr WJ to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)       Whether, with reference to the committee meeting on 31 May 2023, she will furnish Dr W J Boshoff with a list of all the documents drafted by the Unit of Social Mobilisation and Support Services as indicated by the Deputy Director-General of the specified unit, Dr Granville Whittle; if not, why not; if so, (a) by what date will she furnish Dr W J Boshoff with the specified documents, (b) what is the status of the documents, (c) who were on the stakeholder lists of the unit and (d) who advised the unit on the drawing up of the documents; (2) whether the documents will be released for public comments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has drafted two documents awaiting approval by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM). These documents are:

  1. Protocol for the Elimination of Unfair Discrimination in Schools
  2. Guidelines for the Socio-educational Inclusion of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics- (SOGIESC) in Schools

The DBE is currently doing further developmental work on the two documents, following comments gathered at the Heads of Education Committee (HEDCOM) and will be made available to the Honourable Member in 2024, when the log of comments has been considered. 

The following engagement platforms of stakeholders were consulted:

  1. Education Labour Relations Council Bargaining Meeting
  2. National Consultative Forum
  3. South African Principals’ Association (including KZN-specific)
  4. District Directors’ Meeting with Minister
  5. South African Council for Educators
  6. National Alliance of Independent Schools Associations
  7. HEDCOM Subcommittee of Legal and Legislative Services
  8. Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign Interprovincial Forum
  9. Education Management and Governance Interprovincial Forum
  10. Safety in Education Interprovincial Forum
  11. Social Cohesion, Values and Nation Building Interprovincial Forum
  12. Care and Support in Schools Interprovincial Forum
  13. Inclusive Education Interprovincial Forum
  14. Provincial Education Departments and stakeholders
  15. Education Districts and stakeholders

The following partners have provided advice and technical support to the DBE in the formulation of the two draft documents:

  1. South African Human Rights Commission
  2. Commission on Gender Equality
  3. Equal Education Law Centre
  4. Centre for Child Rights
  5. Universities (Educational Psychology Departments)
  6. Catholic Institute of Education
  7. FOR SA
  8. The Children’s Institute
  9. UNESCO
  10. UNICEF

The documents will not be published for public comment because they are not policies. They are guidelines and protocols to guide institutional governance and management practice.

18 December 2023 - NW4029

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Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department has the relevant details of the total amount spent by each institution of higher learning for contracting security companies in the 2022-23 financial year; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Reporting Regulations of June 2014 does not require the Universities in the Annual Reporting to the Department to specifically disclose Total Security Costs as part of the audited financial Statements of Comprehensive Income. However, the Outsourced Security costs are stipulated as part of the Supplementary Data which is verified by the external auditors of the University.

As per the audited supplementary data received and the universities’ audited financial statements, the total amount spent by each institution of higher learning for outsourced security services in the 2022 financial year is shown in the table below. The University of Cape Town, University of Fort Hare and University of South Africa have not as yet submitted their Annual Reports and Financial Statements, we are consequently unable to gauge how much they have allocated towards outsourced security services thus far.

Further, University of Limpopo has not as yet submitted their Supplementary Data and a follow up has been made. The Supplementary Data supplied by Sefako Makgatho University and Sol Plaatje University suggest that the universities have not incurred costs for outsourced security services.  University of Pretoria was billed R11 000 for an outsourced security services.

NAME OF INSTITUTION

SECURITY EXPENSES

Traditional Universities

R'000

North West University

65 082

Rhodes University

8 036

Stellenbosch University

50 092

University of Cape Town (no data provided)

 

University of Fort Hare (no data provided)

 

University of KwaZulu Natal

32 831

University of Limpopo (no data provided

 

University of Pretoria

11

University of the Free State

44 779

University of the Western Cape

78 971

University of Witwatersrand

13 862

 

 

Universities of Technology

 

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

971

Central University of Technology

17 826

Durban University of Technology

54 155

Mangosuthu University of Technology

26 671

Tshwane University of Technology

25 210

Vaal University of Technology

57 271

 

 

Comprehensive Universities

 

Nelson Mandela University

1 832

University of Johannesburg

38 990

University of South Africa (no data provided)

 

University of Venda

45 530

University of Zululand

30 737

Sol Plaatje University (no data provided)

 

University of Mpumalanga

22 137

Sefako Makgatho University (no data provided)

 

Walter Sisulu University

108 265

Where no data is provided, DHET will follow-up with the university concerned.

18 December 2023 - NW3964

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Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Police

(1) What has he found to be the (a) extent of effectiveness and (b) current status of the SA Police Service (i) specialised units and (ii) task forces dedicated to combating specific types of crime, such as organised crime, cybercrime and drug trafficking; (2whether there are plans to enhance the co-ordination and collaboration among various law enforcement agencies to address complex and interconnected criminal activities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

18 December 2023 - NW3759

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Tambo, Mr S to ask the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE

(1). What were the (a) total costs to his department for his more than a week-long stay in Paris, France and (b) reasons for him to attend the semi-final match between South Africa and England at a time when the Republic has a tight austerity policy in place.

Reply:

(a). The Total costs incurred will be available once reconciliation of invoices and costs is finalised.

(b). I attended the Rugby World Cup to support the Springboks in the Semi-Finals and Finals, I also led the South African delegation to the 9th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 9) to the International convention against doping in sport, which took place in Paris, I attended this as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and Vice President of the International Conference of Ministers and senior officials responsible for physical education and Sport.

18 December 2023 - NW4110

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Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

(1) What urgent interventions has he taken regarding the Diphtheria outbreak at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre, where a young inmate has already died with several other inmates are placed in isolation?

Reply:

1. The urgent interventions, with, are as follows:

  • All the contacts of the index patient were traced and symptomatic patients were isolated while all asymptomatic contacts were quarantined;
  • Several inmates have been placed in isolation as a precautionary measure;
  • Case finding was conducted by sending throat swabs of all the contacts to National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) for testing;
  • Antibiotics treatment was given to symptomatic contacts and antibiotics prophylaxis also given to all asymptomatic contacts;
  • Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) administered to the confirmed cases;
  • Diphtheria Booster vaccine was offered to both inmates and officials;
  • Continued close monitoring of those in isolation and in quarantine;
  • Stakeholder collaboration was established with the National and Western Cape Provincial Department of Health including but not limited to:
    • National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD)
    • National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
    • Provincial Centre for Disease Control, City of Cape Town from the onset of the outbreak.
  • Daily updates were provided to the relevant stakeholders;

In addition to the above all the regions were updated to be on high alert especially because an inmate had already succumbed to Diphtheria at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre.

END.

18 December 2023 - NW4043

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Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

What is the number of prison warders who (a) were retained, (b) resigned from his department and (c) retired in 1994?

Reply:

The public service went through an administrative and structural transformation post the Democratic transition in 1994. The Government of the Republic of South Africa subsequently introduced a Personnel and Salaries Administration (PERSAL) system.

The PERSAL system is able to draw reports up to 2001 only, records for the period in question are not readily available, however, they may be sourced from the Archives and it will require more time.

END.

18 December 2023 - NW3718

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Malomane, Ms VP to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Whether, considering that the maintenance and transformation of national heritage landscapes is a key performance indicator of the commitment of his department to address development and advocacy for the preservation of history, his department has been able to ensure that heritage sites are built and maintained, especially the ones that bear witness to our history and all heroes; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Yes, my department is able to maintain and build heritage sites. The department allocates Capital Works budget over the MTEF for the maintenance and repairs of our heritage sites that fall under the management of this department’s (VOTE 37).

Through the User Asset Management Plan (UAMP), system, institutions send their maintenance and new construction plans to this department for approval by National Treasury. Once approved the department releases the CAPEX funds via allocation letters. These include recently developed and constructed museums that my department has, since inception of the National Legacy Project, in 1998, developed and constructed, such as the Luthuli Museum in Stanger, the O R Tambo Memorial Garden in Nkantolo, Matola Raid Museum in Maputo Mozambique, the Nelson Mandela Statue at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Samora Machel Monument in Mbuzini, Freedom Park in city of Pretoria, the restoration of the Winnie Madikizela Mandela House in Brandfort, Inqghuza Hill Museum in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape to name a few.

 

The department has also contributed towards the completion of the following heritage sites, the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg, and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Museum & Learning Centre in Graaff-Reinet. Currently, the department has responded to a call to stabilise Liliesleaf Museum which was closed due to Covid-19 and other internal operational challenges.

The department ensures the transformation of the heritage landscape to commemorate, celebrate, conserve, and preserve the history and heritage sites of the previously marginalized South Africans. The new heritage structures that are developed under the ambit of the National Legacy Project, and are reflective of the history of all our heroes, heroines and history are:

  • DR. JL DUBE AMPHITHEATRE: Phase 1 of the project was completed by the 31st of March 2023. The completed scope includes the construction of the roof covering, staircases and ramp, spectator ablutions, electrification, parking areas, civil works around the facility, tuck-shop and storage area, and spectator seating area.
  • Phase 2, a Professional Service Provider has been appointed to finalize design work. Phase 2 scope includes the construction of the ablution area, the waiting area, security guardhouse, fencing, theatre floor polishing, paving around the facility, landscaping and storm water management, stage roof, stage lighting and sound system, access road, bus parking area, and the installation of plastic chairs on the concrete seating.
  • WINNIE MADIKIZELA MANDELA BOMBED CLINIC: The Professional Service Provider was appointed in January 2023. Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is in the process of appointing the contractor. The tender bid closed on the 26th of October 2023. The scope of work includes the construction of enclosure side walls (see-through glass wall and solid brick wall), construction of the cover roof, electrification of the facility, paved walkway, and development of the exhibition work.

18 December 2023 - NW4167

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Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Whether her department has any functional interdepartmental agreements in place with other departments to (a) tackle bullying in public schools and (b) address substance abuse amongst adolescents; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Yes, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) does have functional agreements in addressing bullying and substance abuse amongst adolescents in schools. These agreements are as follows:
1. Inter-Departmental Campaign on the Prevention of Violence, Bullying, Corporal Punishment, Gender-Based Violence, Teenage Pregnancy, Drugs and Substance Abuse.

The Department and its partner Departments: Social Development, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, Health, Communications and Digital Technologies, Home Affairs, the Presidency and the South African Police Service have embarked on an Inter-Departmental Campaign on Violence Prevention.

This Campaign raises awareness on issues such as the prevention of bullying, corporal punishment, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, drugs and substance abuse in schools. The Campaign has been championed by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education and supported by other Deputy Ministers from the above-mentioned partner departments, and Executive Mayors. Additionally, it has also targeted districts with high levels of crime and violence known as hot spots throughout various provinces. The Campaign is also rolled out through a jamboree of career choices provided by various higher learning institutions (e.g Universities, T-VET Colleges and SETAs) and build up events that take groups of learners through priority content areas related to violence prevention; including bullying and substance abuse.

To date, the Campaign has been rolled out in six provinces such as Gauteng (Gauteng West District), Limpopo (Sekhukhune East District), Mpumalanga (Nkangala District) and the North-West (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District), as well as Eastern Cape (Nelson Mandela District) and KwaZulu-Natal (Pinetown District). In the new financial year of 2024, the Department plans to roll out the Campaign in the outstanding provinces, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

2. Partnership Protocol between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service (SAPS)

The Department has an established Protocol with SAPS to address crime and violence in schools, including drugs and substance abuse. The Protocol has enabled all schools to be linked to their local police stations. SAPS conduct searches and seizures in schools and also coordinate crime awareness campaigns in schools. Regularly, searches and seizures of illegal drugs and dangerous weapons are done in schools, as well as crime awareness campaigns discouraging gangsterism, bullying and theft amongst the adolescent.

3. Cyberbullying and Online Safety awareness campaigns in schools

The Department has an established relationship with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Films and Publication Board in conducting awareness campaigns on cyberbullying and online safety in schools including alerting the learners about online child sexual grooming, human trafficking, classification of content, exposure to adult online content and digital footprint through social media, as well as encouraging them to be good digital citizens. The FPB has used its Online Safety Youth Council Members, made up of 11 young people from the ages of 13 to 21 years old in conducting peer to peer awareness dialogues in schools. The awareness campaigns have reached various schools nationwide in 2023 and will continue to be implemented in 2024.

4. Central Drug Authority in addressing substance abuse.

The DBE serves on the board of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), which is a coordinating structure set up by the Department of Social Development to coordinate the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan 2019-2024, on addressing substance abuse in the country, by various departments.  The CDA comprises of officials from civil society organisations and departments such as Health, Higher Education, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, as well as National Treasury. Through the CDA, the Department continues to implement its National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of Alcohol and Drug Use Amongst Learners in Schools. Its approach is not a punitive one, instead it is restorative.  Schools are required to do the following to curb alcohol and drug use of learners:

  • Establish school-based support teams;
  • Establish or strengthen referral systems (e.g rehabilitation centres, social workers);
  • Implement drug testing in schools;
  • Implement Curriculum on drugs and substance abuse through the Life Orientation subject.

In terms of training on the National Strategy; provinces and districts continue to re-train schools.  This training is predominately intergraded with the training on the National School Safety Framework. Drug testing is at the centre of the training on the National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of Alcohol and Drug Use Amongst Learners in Schools.

 

  1. National Technical Intersectoral Committee on Child Justice

The DBE serves on the National Technical Intersectoral Committee on Child Justice (ISCCJ), which is mandated to implement the Child Justice Act of 2008 nationwide, and manage children in conflict with the law.  The ISCCJ is championed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and supported by other departments and entities such as Social Development, Health, National Prosecuting Authority and SAPS. The DBE facilitates the provision of teaching and learning services in 34 Child and Youth Care Centres nationwide, as means to ensure the learners acquire skills, while DSD provides substance abuse and psychosocial support programmes in these centres, as means to rehabilitate the learners.