Questions and Replies

Reply:

The challenge with the question in respect of Retshidze is that it is general and as such it is difficult for the department to respond in a specific way. The table here below provides general responses in line with the areas that were covered by the Retshidze report.

 

a) The plans of the department concerning Free State Health Issues and (b) date to address the issues of access to health care are in the table below:

Item	Challenge raised by Ritshidze	Plans of the department	Date
Shortages of staff	79% of facilities again reported being understaffed and unable to meet the needs of public healthcare users this year	There currently are budget pressure and as such the department is not able to appoint a new staff	The department will prioritize critical post for 2023/24 budget and over the MTEF
ART	66% of PLHIV would like to collect ARVs closer to their home (66% last year)	The department is planning on increase pick up points for the ARVs so that the patients can collect their treatment closer home The department will also reopen more adherence clubs that were affected during COVID19 Districts have developed differentiated of care models and welcome back campaigns towards reach 95-95-95	March 2023 extended to April 2023 for budget in the new financial year.
Infrastructure and cleanliness	90% of facilities need some additional space 25% of public healthcare users reported that facilities were “dirty	The infrastructure unit has received approval to allocate additional funding to maintenance and refurbishment of facilities earmarked for ideal clinic programme The department has appointed EPWP to assist with cleaning at health facilities to argument the current shortages	March 2023
Waiting times	4:31 hours was the average waiting time after the facility	The department planned to decant more patients who are more stable on treatment to reduce backlog waiting time	The department plans to appoint staff in the MTEF period
Men specific services	9 sites had no male specific services at all	The department plan to pilot a men’s clinics to HIV and testing, , male medical circumcision and other services	April 2023
Availability of medication	13% of respondents said they had left or knew someone who left empty handed (8% last year)	There are currently no shortage of ARV and monitored weekly using SVS Facilities are implementing and monitoring redistribution to ensure sustainability of medicine .	Ongoing
Key population	0% facilities report any key population specific services at all	The department has employed 25 peer educators to promote access for access for key population Also do demand creation for key population The plan is to expand the peer educators service over the METF to insure accessibility to key population	April 2023

Some of the key general activities and plans

• Welcome back strategy was started in 2020/ 21 financial year but not fully implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The department planned to re- train all categories of staff.
• To strengthen adherence to treatment through reviving adherence clubs.
• Implementation of the track and tracing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• Monitoring of Medicine availability is done through Stock status report.

END.

Reply:

The National Department is consulting with the Provincial Departments of Health to get the full details and figures on this question. The response will be ready in a week or two and will be furnished to the Honourable Member as soon as it is ready.

END.

Reply:

(1)-(2) The National Department of Health has identified a priority list of health facilities that requires an urgent exemption either from Eskom or local municipalities. The Department has provided Eskom with a total of 212 priority hospitals across the country to be considered for possible exclusion from loadshedding on a phased approach, and 67% of them are supplied directly by municipalities, while Eskom supplies the remaining 33%. The current number of hospitals excluded from loadshedding across the country, has increased from 37 to 72 since the last public announcement by Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla in September, while more efforts are being made to implement exemption of health facilities in all the provinces as a matter of urgency in line with the commitment made to ensure that no province is left behind. The updated list of exempted facilities per provinces is as follows: Eastern Cape (7), Free State (14), Gauteng (17), KZN (15), Limpopo (10), Mpumalanga (4), Western Cape (4) Northern Cape (1), and North West (0).

The preliminary network analysis conducted revealed that, 28 hospitals in various provinces can be excluded from loadshedding by building new infrastructure at the estimated cost of R100 million. However, the team is investigating possible load curtailment for bigger hospitals as well as other alternative solutions.

 

END.

Reply:

1. Yes, the Department has received correspondence regarding maintenance of infrastructure at Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court. On 27 February 2020, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) handed over the site to the contractor in order to carry out planned maintenance to the entire building of the Magistrate’s Court but the project was disrupted due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations. However, as soon as the restrictions were lifted and the contractor came back on site, the local business forum intimidated the workers, and added to the delay. The contractor returned on site from 1 August 2022.

2. I have been informed about the collapse of the roof at the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court.

a) The DPWI provided a report, titled “Preliminary Investigation Report: Current Condition of the Roof Covering and Safety of the Building”, dated 21 September 2022. Thereafter, a full investigation report on the current condition of all wooden roof trusses will be provided. Once the survey is completed, the Department is expecting to receive the cost estimates of the damages from the DPWI.

b) A contingency plan was compiled together with all the stakeholders at the magistrates’ court as follows:

1. Potchefstroom Magistrate engaged JB Marks Municipality to assist in identifying alternative accommodation. The Municipality made the Town Hall and the Traffic Court available for use by the Department.
2. The District Courts B and E were accommodated at the Town Hall for all cases where the accused persons are out on bail or warning.
3. The Regional Court is accommodated at the Traffic Court for all cases where the accused persons are on bail or warning.
4. All Regional Court matters, where the accused persons are in custody including sexual offences related matters, are heard at the Regional Court.
5. All the cases, whereby the accused persons are in custody including first appearance matters and bail applications, are dealt with at the only available court room, Regional Court 3.
6. The Children’s Court matters are dealt with at the boardroom of the Head of Court.
7. The rest of the Family Court matters (Domestic Violence and Protection from Harassment) including District Civil Court matters are dealt with at the dedicated Children’s Court.
8. The quasi-judicial functions (Small claims, Maintenance applications, Clerk of the Civil Court, Cash Hall, Offices for the Magistrates Regional and District and Public Prosecutors) are accommodated at the additional office space made available on the 1st floor.
9. Transport is made available to transport members of public, accused persons on bail/warning and witness to the respective alternative accommodation.
10. To ensure effective implementation of the contingency plan, 08:00 morning meetings are held with all the JCPS stakeholders to discuss the circumstances prevailing on a daily basis.

3. On 20 September 2022, the Department issued a media statement, titled: “Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Office temporarily evacuated after roof collapse”.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

I have been informed that the project is being implemented by the Department of Defence and not the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Therefore, (a), (b) (i) & (ii), (c) (i) & (ii) and (d), Fall away.

Reply:

a) (i) (ii)

The total amount that was allocated to the Commission for Khoi-San Matters (i) during the 2021-22 financial year was R6,320,135,18 and in the 2022-23 financial year R9,781,111.00

The following table indicates the (b) Breakdown of expenditure on (i) traveling, (ii) accommodation and (iii) administration for the public meetings per province as at the beginning of October 2022:

Spending Item	2022/23 FY	2021/22 FY
Traveling (Summary)	R307,790.17	R94,878.90
Eastern Cape campaign	R55,590.94	R0.00
Free State Campaign	R15,762.19	R0.00
Gauteng Campaign	R0.00	R0.00
Kwa-Zulu natal Campaign	R25,270.66	R0.00
Limpopo Campaign	R23,595.00	R0.00
Mpumalanga Campaign	R22,401.49	R0.00
Northern Cape Campaign	R34,163.76	R0.00
North-West Campaign	R0.00	R0.00
Western Cape Campaign and Launch in the prior FY	R43,928.72	R94,878.90
Accommodation (Summary)	R185,760.00	R18,500.00
Eastern Cape campaign	R10,080.00	R0.00
Free State Campaign	R23,040.00	R0.00
Gauteng Campaign	R0.00	R0.00
Kwa-Zulu natal Campaign	R25,920.00	R0.00
Limpopo Campaign	R23,040.00	R0.00
Mpumalanga Campaign	R23,040.00	R0.00
Northern Cape Campaign	R28,800.00	R0.00
North-West Campaign	R23,040.00	R0.00
Western Cape Campaign and Launch in the prior FY	R31,680.00	R18,500.00
Administrative costs (Summary)	R 66,529.19	R12,402.35
Eastern Cape campaign	R12,323.12	R0.00
Free State Campaign	R10,001.66	R0.00
Gauteng Campaign	R0.00	R0.00
Kwa-Zulu natal Campaign	R12,158.85	R0.00
Limpopo Campaign	R3,258.97	R0.00
Mpumalanga Campaign	R2,382.82	R0.00
Northern Cape Campaign	R10,771.86	R0.00
North-West Campaign	R3,565.89	R0.00
Western Cape Campaign and Launch in the prior FY	R12,066.02	R12,402.35

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

REPLY:

• I have been informed by the Department that the Public Works Green Building Policy as approved and signed on the 31st of May 2018, in section 10.4, paragraph 3 states that DPWI will develop guidelines and minimum standards for the management and recycling of construction waste. These guidelines and minimum standards are incorporated into the relevant specifications for the construction works of DPWI throughout the procurement process.

• Recoverable waste shall be dealt with before disposal to sites. The Department, through the Indigenous Knowledge Systems is planning to roll-out rammed earth techniques in utilising crushed and compacted construction waste including earthworks waste. The excess material shall be disposed of, spread, and roughly levelled where permitted on-site.

• Within the DPWI’s procurement processes, credits shall be awarded to contractors who adhere to alternative and innovative greening ideas during construction including disposal of construction waste.

• The Public Works Green Building policy, in terms of green procurement, stipulates that the DPWI will adopt the Green Building Public Procurement Policy where all contractors and/or sub-contractors are mandated to provide detailed Waste Management Plans in accordance to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as regulated by the National Environment Management Act 107 of 1998 and the Public Works Green Building Policy.

• Furthermore, the Green Building National Framework, states that the Certification of green contractors and products will be adapted in the construction sector to ensure recognition as credited green building practitioners, contractors, or suppliers, hence this initiative will benefit the sector through materials that will not be disposed of, to the landfill sites and repurposed for other uses. It will also ensure confidence in the contractor’s ability and knowledge of disposing of construction waste.

• In addition, the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) is planning to develop a best practice or standard related to optimising the reuse of waste from construction. This will include the requirement for waste management plans.

• In line with interdepartmental cooperation, DPWI provided an input to the Operation Phakisa work stream championed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) regarding plans around the management of construction waste. The management of construction waste is expected to provide job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Reply:

The question by the Honourable WF Faber is vague. It would assist the response if the Honourable Faber were to indicate the specific structures and/or fora external to Government to which he refers.

Reply:

1. In March 2022, government responded to the escalating fuel prices by implementing a package of short-term measures comprising temporary fuel levy relief, release of strategic stocks and structural adjustments to fuel prices to assist consumers and vulnerable households. A temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of R1.50 per litre was implemented from 6 April 2022 until 31 May 2022 to provide limited short-term relief to households from rising fuel prices following the Russia/Ukraine conflict. The revenue foregone of R6 billion will be recouped through the sale of a portion of the strategic crude oil reserves held by the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) and will not have an impact on the fiscal framework.

Government extended the temporary fuel levy relief for a two-month period consisting of a continuation of the relief of R1.50 per litre for the first month, from 1 June 2022 to 6 July 2022, and a reduction in the relief for the second month to 75c per litre of fuel from 7 July 2022 to 2 August 2022. This temporary relief was withdrawn from 3 August 2022 and the revenue foregone from the extension of the relief is estimated at R4 billion. Unlike the previous announcement, this is expected to have an impact on the fiscal framework as it will not be funded through a sale of strategic oil stocks. The extension of the fuel levy relief will be accommodated in the current fiscal framework in a manner that is consistent with the fiscal strategy outlined in the Budget and to be dealt with in the October 2022 MTBPS.

Government remains committed to the fiscal framework outlined in the 2022 Budget and any further relief should be done in a fiscally neutral manner or it would undermine government’s efforts at consolidation. Due to the tight fiscal position, there is limited space to fund additional tax relief.

As announced in May 2022, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has also taken further measures to help reduce fuel prices in a more sustainable manner. The DMRE removed the demand side management levy of 10c per litre applied to 95 unleaded petrol sold inland effective from 1 June 2022. After a review and consultation by the DMRE, it is proposed that the basic fuel price is also decreased by 3c per litre in the coming months.

Government intends to continue with consultations and proposals to remove the price cap on 93 ULP, which will partially deregulate the market and introduce more competition to lower pump prices. A review on the Regulatory Accounting System (which includes the retail margin, wholesale margin and secondary storage and distribution margins) will be completed by the DMRE to assess the potential to lower margins over the medium term.

Government continues to monitor the impact off the Russia/Ukraine conflict and zero-COVID policies in some countries, which continue to have an impact on energy and food prices and result in supply chain shocks, with the aim of investigating further measures to make households and businesses less vulnerable to such shocks.

2. Section 5(1)(a) of the Road Accident Fund Act (1996) stipulates that Road Accident Fund (RAF) is funded by means of Road Accident Fund levy, as contemplated Customs and Excise Act (1964). The funds collected, subject to any deductions in the Customs and Exercise Act, is a direct charge against the National Revenue Fund, for the credit of the RAF. With the levies earmarked in law, the revenue for the RAF is protected.

3. A general principle in public finances is earmarked funds for expenditure should be avoided, as it is inefficient and could be wasteful. Earmarked funds also limit budget flexibility in the delivery of priorities. It is only under exceptional circumstances that funds are earmarked and the general practice in South Africa is that all taxes revenues are deposited into the National Revenue Fund for general use.

Section 213(1) of the Constitution provides for a National Revenue Fund into which all revenue received by the national government must be paid, except money reasonably excluded by an Act of Parliament. Money is only withdrawn from the National Revenue Fund, in terms of Section 213(2) through an Act of Parliament.

With taxes and levies funding general budget programmes, in terms of Section 213 of the Constitution, it is impossible to list detailed projects funded through the general fuel levy for specific projects.

Reply:

1. Yes, the Department has received correspondence regarding maintenance of infrastructure at Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court. On 27 February 2020, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) handed over the site to the contractor in order to carry out planned maintenance to the entire building of the Magistrate’s Court but the project was disrupted due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations. However, as soon as the restrictions were lifted and the contractor came back on site, the local business forum intimidated the workers, and added to the delay. The contractor returned on site from 1 August 2022.

2. I have been informed about the collapse of the roof at the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court.

a) The DPWI provided a report, titled “Preliminary Investigation Report: Current Condition of the Roof Covering and Safety of the Building”, dated 21 September 2022. Thereafter, a full investigation report on the current condition of all wooden roof trusses will be provided. Once the survey is completed, the Department is expecting to receive the cost estimates of the damages from the DPWI.

b)  A contingency plan was compiled together with all the stakeholders at the magistrates’ court as follows:

1. Potchefstroom Magistrate engaged JB Marks Municipality to assist in identifying alternative accommodation. The Municipality made the Town Hall and the Traffic Court available for use by the Department.
2. The District Courts B and E were accommodated at the Town Hall for all cases where the accused persons are out on bail or warning.
3. The Regional Court is accommodated at the Traffic Court for all cases where the accused persons are on bail or warning.
4. All Regional Court matters, where the accused persons are in custody including sexual offences related matters, are heard at the Regional Court.
5. All the cases, whereby the accused persons are in custody including first appearance matters and bail applications, are dealt with at the only available court room, Regional Court 3.
6. The Children’s Court matters are dealt with at the boardroom of the Head of Court.
7. The rest of the Family Court matters (Domestic Violence and Protection from Harassment) including District Civil Court matters are dealt with at the dedicated Children’s Court.
8. The quasi-judicial functions (Small claims, Maintenance applications, Clerk of the Civil Court, Cash Hall, Offices for the Magistrates Regional and District and Public Prosecutors) are accommodated at the additional office space made available on the 1st floor.
9. Transport is made available to transport members of public, accused persons on bail/warning and witness to the respective alternative accommodation.
10. To ensure effective implementation of the contingency plan, 08:00 morning meetings are held with all the JCPS stakeholders to discuss the circumstances prevailing on a daily basis.

3. On 20 September 2022, the Department issued a media statement, titled: “Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Office temporarily evacuated after roof collapse”.

Reply:

(1) (a) The reasons will be established through a formal investigation.

(b) The staff involved will be subjected to a formal investigation in line with the Labour Relations Act and other labour related legislation and prescripts. Recommendations of investigation reports will be implemented.

(2) The nurse who was on duty when this incident occurred has not been suspended yet, because she has been on sick-leave ever since the incident. She will be served with the required disciplinary process communication instruments on her return. Should her absence be prolonged, the Eastern Cape Department of Health will serve her with these instruments while at home.

END.

Reply:

1. No. The President of the Republic of South Africa assented to the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Act No. 3 of 2022 on 17 August 2022 which Act will be operational on 1 November 2022. New regulations relating to this matter will be finalised and gazzeted in due course.

2. The Minister of COGTA will not make a statement on the matter.

Reply:

1. (a) Before students leave for Cuba, they get orientation about their stay and study in Cuba and the socioeconomic status in Cuba and some of the strengths of the medical training, this includes safety measures, living conditions. Upon arrival in Cuba, the Cuban authorities also orientate them about safety issues.

(b) Students from South Africa receive 200 USD per month to supplement their needs over and above what they are provided for by the Universities in Cuba. South African students are also provided with additional essential items when a need arise, an example is during the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest consignment was sent in June 2022 to alleviate challenges their challenges in Cuba.

(c) There are three support levels for students, from time to time, delegations from Provincial Health Departments including the MECs and Deputy Minister of Health, visit Cuba, and travel to various Provinces in Cuba to meet with the students. Where there is tragedy such as death of a student, or next of kin, Psychologist and/Psychiatrist are sent to Cuba where there are emergencies. All Provinces also provide online counselling of students from time to time. The Cuban authorities also provide psychological and psychiatric treatment for students, however where there is real need for students to come back home for further treatment, students are accompanied back home to receive that treatment.

(d) The following structures were also established to provide a support mechanism for integration of students from Cuba, these are:

i. The Ministerial task Team (MTT)

The MTT is comprised of Deans of Medical Schools/Health Sciences Faculties or their representatives, representatives from National Treasury and National Department of Higher Education and Technology. In developing an effective strategy for integration of large groups, the Minister of Health appointed the MTT whose terms of reference are:

• To co-ordinate and facilitate the process of engagement with all stakeholders in order
• To ddevelop comprehensive and detailed implementation plans for each province and associated university in order to ensure the successful re-integration of the students in the expanded Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro Medical Collaboration Programme into the final year undergraduate medical programme.
• To pprovide oversight, monitoring, evaluation and support to Provinces and Universities to ensure that deadlines as determined within these implementation plans are adhered to and met.
• To develop and implement a Primary Health approach to under-graduate medical training and to ensure the transformation of undergraduate medical training to incorporate some of the strengths of the Cuban model of training.
• To provide oversight to the process to ensure that quality standards as required by the HPCSA as well as the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba are met.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between all stakeholders to overcome challenges and hurdles.

The MTT has a subcommittee Academic Review Committee (ARC) that:

• focuses on Academic performance of students in all the Medical Schools/Health Sciences Faculties where they are allocated on their return.
• All Universities participating in the Programme have appointed Academic Coordinators who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme.
• These coordinators also monitor academic performance of the students including clinical practice and provide interventions at an operational level in terms of academic progress of students.

The Academic Coordinators have a direct link with the Academic Review Committee (ARC) which focuses on the Academic performance of the students in South Africa relation to:

• students who are not progressing well and recommend remedial programmes
• monitor progress of all students in the different levels in Cuba
• Request for regular reports on students from all Universities
• Advocate for issues of standardization amongst participating universities
• Advocate for curriculum review, changes with focus on PHC & District Health Care through the Curriculum Subcommittee amongst others.

ii. Joint Academic meeting (JAM)

The JAM is an Academic structure is comprised of the Deans of Medical Schools/Health Science Faculties responsible for Medical Education in South Africa and the Medical Education University Deans in Cuba. It was established in 2010. Its function among others is to:

• conduct of oversight in relation academic teaching, training, and learning including discussion around curriculum development and alignment to prepare the students when they return in South Africa.
• share of experiences between the two countries in terms of academic performances of students but also looking at areas that need improvement.
• monitor performance of students when they are in Cuba and their performance in South Africa after their return.
• share and align policies, procedures applied in Cuba and where there is a need for alignment of review in the pursuit for academic excellence including good clinical practice amongst others.
• The JAM is held annually alternating between the two countries. The first JAM was held in Cuba in 2010 followed by the second in Durban 2011 and the in 2019 at Walter Sisulu University from the 3 to 4 July University. The JAM was supposed to be held in CUBA in 2020 but could not materialize due to COVID-19, however it was held in Cuba from the 23 to the 24 October in 2022.

iii. South African Committee of Medical Deans (SACOMD)

This structure has been existing however in terms of the integration Programme the NMFC Programme is also discussed at meetings of SACOMD some of which relates to:

• Expansion of the training platform for the re-integration process and future expansion.
• Move towards Primary Health Care approach in teaching and training.
• identify the requirements to expand the training platform.
• Collaborates with Department of Health to monitor Memorandum of Agreements (MOU) signed between Universities and the Department of Health.

2. (a) The bursary contract elements are standard for all bursaries for the Department of Health. In terms of the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Collaboration additional elements are added in the bursary contract:

• running costs such as, return air tickets twice (during second and fourth year) during their training in Cuba for vacations in South Africa,
• transportation costs for bereavement in SA (for close family members only), this is restricted to “immediate family member” referred to the parents/ legal guardian(s), brother(s); sister(s) and spouse of the bursar,
• stipend whilst in Cuba, expended by the Department on behalf of the bursar
• the bursar will be allocated to an authorised medical university on return to South Africa to complete his or her medical degree;
• the bursar will complete his/her study at the University of the Republic of Cuba for the first six years of the course, and a designated university in South Africa for the final year of the course.

(b) The only condition where the bursary can be declared null, and void is when it is a fraudulent document.

(c) (i) If it is a fraudulent document, it should be terminated when this is known and confirmed and

(ii) the student might be liable for paying back the money or legal action will be taken against the student

 

END.

Reply:

All official government policy and review documents must be widely consulted with and made known to the public in all its manifestations.

Reply:

The procurement of COVID-19 vaccines followed a two-step process:

1. Availability of clinical evidence from randomised controlled clinical trials which formed the basis of the Advisory from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 vaccines. This advisory is available on the SA Coronavirus website.

2. Procurement following prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act made available from National Treasury.

The procurement prescripts, available on the National Treasury website, are applicable to all government departments and are not unique to the NDoH.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1)

a) I have been informed that disciplinary processes will be instituted against employees who may be fingered in the malpractices as soon as internal investigation is concluded.

b) The department has developed a task team that monitors and ensures the smooth running of the process.

2. Empowerment initiatives for Women, Youth & People with disabilities are tabled below:

As per Quarter 1 REPORT

April -June 2022/2023 Financial Year from SCM

INITIATIVES	ACHIEVEMENTS	DISAGGREGATED DATA ON BENEFICIARIES
		WOMEN	MEN	YOUTH	DISABILITY
				MALE	FEMALE	MALE	FEMALE
Participation of designated Groups in the DPWI Programmes through Procurement For all transactions within quotation threshold, a mandatory Preferential Procurement Requirements for B-BBEE Level 1, 2 & QSE/EME applies.	Majority of quotations awarded to Designated Groups in line with Preferential Procurement Regulations 2017	475 Transactions to the value of R24 442 932,97	858 Transactions to the value of R77 674 599,64	224 Transactions to the value of R23 816 608,54	97 Transactions to the value of R10 839 286,51	1 Transactions to the value of R384 999,54	1 Transactions to the value of R2 9000,00

3. The department leverages its procurement spend to promote transformation and empowerment of historically disadvantaged individuals and designated groups as listed in the Preferential Procurement Regulations of 2017. The department has implemented a transformation agenda that utilizes pre-qualification criteria and mandatory subcontracting when inviting bids and quotations.

For the period 01 April 2022 – 31 August 2022, 62 tenders worth R 329 224 983 were awarded to designated/ targeted groups. 57 of these tenders to the value of R316,797,325 were awarded to Level 1 BEE service providers and 5 tenders to the value of R12,427,658 were awarded to Level 2 BEE service providers.

The targeted (designated) groups benefited as follows;

• Black majority owned, 60 awards (97%) to the value R283,838,371
• Women black owned, 15 awards (24%) to the value of R26,256,604
• Youth black owned, 8 awards (13%) to the value of R30,734,232
• Contractor Co-operative, 4 awards (6.5%) to the value of R2,125,567
• Companies in Rural/ Underdeveloped/ township areas, 26 awards (44%) to the value of R50,940,120

The above statistics are indicative of the department’s commitment to empowerment and transformation.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Background

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (“DPWI”) was informed by the Telkom Retirement Fund (“TRF”) itself on 07th March 2015 that the subject property was still on the market, which led to the Department investigating the viability of the property and an eventual acquisition in 2015 for use as government accommodation.

The Telkom Towers Complex comprised of 10 buildings that measure 221,954m² with a gross lettable office accommodation area of 115,480m². There are 2234 parking bays totalling 60,624m². However, the PPS building which, until today, remains a National Key Point Building would not be available to a new owner as Telkom required to lease this building indefinitely.

The migration plan from SAPS into Telkom towers was delayed since December 2015.

Response

In order to respond to the immediate upgrade requirements for the Telkom Towers North Building and Annex buildings, a project was commenced through the Development Bank of Southern Africa (“DBSA”) as Implementing Agent to DPWI, in accordance with the SAPS migration plan. The site was handed over to the contractor on the 24th June 2019 and practical completion was obtained on 31st August 2021. The DBSA has not been an implementing agent for Telkom Towers since 2015, as they were only engaged to complete two buildings out of the entire complex.

The DBSA is a government owned entity and development finance institution under the National Treasury. The Independent Development Trust (“IDT”) is also a government owned entity under the DPWI. On or about 22 June 2022 the National Treasury approved the inclusion of IDT as an Implementing Agent for the DPWI. The DPWI and IDT are currently finalising the Memorandum of Agreement for collaboration and cooperation as an Implementing Agent on DPWI’s infrastructure portfolio.

Reply:

InvestSA reports on metrics outlined in the dtic’s Annual Performance Plan, which sets out the key actions to be undertaken. By acting as a facilitator in the business eco-system, Invest SA plays a role in companies investing and expanding. The outcomes are in turn reported on as set out below.

The following six examples as outlined in the dtic Annual Report presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, provides tangible evidence of targets being attained:

• R176 billion-investment pipeline.
• 642 investor consultations for rapid implementation
• Assisted with the evaluation of 305 visa recommendations for technical experts of various companies
• 54 ease of doing business engagements i.e., Technical Working Groups, Business meetings , Stakeholder engagements
• 179 intra-company transfers, critical skills and permanent residency visas facilitated.

There are several more examples of outcomes achieved by Invest South Africa and I will report on some of these to the Portfolio Committee when reporting on the department’s quarter 1 and quarter 2 performance for this financial year.

Reports are generated internally through the branch in cooperation with other branches such as the Economic Research and Policy Branch in the Department.

Reports are generated internally and there are no costs involved.

Quarterly reports are compiled by Invest SA based on reports submitted by companies.

-END-

Reply:

The CEO of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has advised me that the following total production volumes were achieved for the 10 year period from 2013-2022:

• Phosphate rock: 18 860 000 tons (on average 73% of capacity)
• Mono-ammonium phosphate 2 678 000 tons (on average 59% of capacity).

The Mine and acid plant had not been operating at full capacity for a number of years. Improvements to the infrastructure, power supply and additional technical capacity is required to improve production and capacity utilisation. The IDC has regularly engaged the Foskor leadership to improve operational performance and works with Transnet on logistics and Eskom on the energy related issues.

Following operational improvements made and favourable market conditions, a projected improvement in output for the current financial year is expected to increase capacity utilisation at the mine to 95% and a substantial improvement at the plant.

The IDC is the majority shareholder in Foskor, holding 59% of the Foskor shares. The IDC does consider potential Strategic Equity Partners for businesses that it is involved in.

-END-

Reply:

The responsibility to determine the category of municipalities resides with the Municipal Demarcation Board.

Reply:

A large number of public comments were received by the due date and a few stakeholders requested additional time and were granted a short extension. Comments ranged from pro-forma views in favour or against the proposals; to substantive submissions that engaged specifically with the policy, legal or economic aspects of the proposals. These comments are currently being evaluated and considered by the Ministry.

Copies of submissions are not normally made available to the public or to Members of Parliament, as respondents to a request for comment did not make representations in anticipation that their comments would be made available to the public.

-END-

Reply:

1. Based on the figures below (revenue that National Treasury received from the Levy), it can be estimated to be about 2.2 %.

“In the revenue year 2021/22, the Health Promotion Levy (colloquially referred to as the sugar tax) contributed a total of R 2,259,832,000.00* in the revenue collections that were reported by the South African Revenue Service. The R 2,259,832,000.00* collected reflects R2, 182,323,000.00* in domestic levy and R77, 510,000.00* in an import levy. Overall the FY2021/22 collections represent a growth of 6.92% on the FY2020/21 collections of R2, 113,606,000.00 (R2, 046,177,000.00 domestic levy and R67, 429,000.00 in import levy). “

* All figures for FY2021/22 are preliminary pending auditing processes.

The following are the actual amounts that the Department received:

• R50m in 2018/19
• R40m in 2109/20
• R49 699m in 2020/21
• R53.5 in 2021/22
• R48 366 00 in 2022/23

2. (a) The Department spent the HPL as follows

• 2018/2019 :

• • Wellness Campaign to create awareness and screen for HIV, TB, Hypertension and Diabetes in all provinces (Cheka Impilo).

• • Events in provinces to raise awareness on Cancer and to introduce the provinces to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Strategy which was approved in 2017.

• 2019/2020:

• • Funds were spent on expanding the scope and coverage of Cancer Awareness Campaigns to all provinces.

• 2020/2021:

• • Spending on Campaigns was not possible due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, funds were directed toward public education and awareness programs on Covid-19.

• 2021/2022:

• • There was a continuation in the allocation of funds for public education programs on Covid-19.

• • Funds were spent on phase one of the National Dietary Intake Survey

• • SABC Side-by-Side Campaign on Child Health.

• • Planning for the National Non-Communicable Diseases Campaign

• 2022/2023:

• • The HPL is being used to fund Phase two of the National Dietary Intake Study (NDIS).
  • National Non-Communicable Diseases Campaign. Funds will be used for the purchases of screening devices, consumables and community health worker training material for the Campaign. The key objective is for CHWs to screen for hypertension and diabetes and link patients to care.
  • Launch of the National Strategic Plan for NCDs and the commemoration of the World No Tobacco Day

(b) Hundred percent (100%) of the HPL levy is spent for health promotion, awareness, disease/injury prevention and disease related research.

3. (a) Non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes, cancer, mental health), communicable diseases (HIV, TB, Covid-19, water and vector borne diseases), Violence and Injury

(b)

• In 2021 PRICELESS reported evidence-based gains from the HPL, including

• • The national urban household purchases of taxable beverages by

volume fell by 51% (Kantar) with a 29 % decrease in sugar intake.

• • In a self-reported Langa survey of young adults ( 18- 39 y), on taxable

beverages showed a 37% reduction by volume and 31% decrease in sugar intake

• • In a Soweto Study of teenagers , young adults, and older adults, the frequency of Sugar Sweetened Beverages intake amongst heavy consumers fell from 10 beverages per week pre HPL to 4 beverages per week one year post HPL
• As at August 2022, the country achieved 94% of the target population knowing their HIV status as part of the 90-90-90 targets. The achievement can be attributed to the Wellness Campaign (Cheka Impilo) that influences health seeking behaviour, including condom distribution and treatment adherence.

• In 2022, the Department approved the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2022 – 2027 (NSP NCDs) which adopts an integrated person centered approach and is inclusive of population level interventions. The NSP NCDs aims to promote wellness, reduce modifiable risk behaviour, enhance management and control of non-communicable diseases in particular hypertension and diabetes and empower communities, patients and their families.

• The 2022/23 Annual Performance Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Reports confirm increased heath seeking behaviour as the total screened for diabetes for Q1 was 2 550 479 which increased to 6 242 487 in Q2 and Total screened for hypertension for Q1 was 2 654 572 which increased to 6 366 095.

4. (a) (i) The Department commenced the Dietary Intake survey in 2019 but it could not be completed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

     (ii) The Department completed the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in 2021.

(b) (i) The results of the Dietary Intake Survey will become available in June 2023.

(ii) The GATS results provide statistics on tobacco use, cessation, second hand smoke, economics and the role of other players in the environment including the media. This survey is available on the internet.

(c) Results from surveys (international and national) are used to inform strategies for combating burden of disease conditions.

.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) The National Department is not aware of any mismanagement and/or misspent of funds by any of its officials on this programme. The funds are assigned to the programme and transferred to the Department of International Relations and Corporation and Cuba when received from the Province for students in Cuba.

In South Africa they are transferred to Universities by the National Department of Health for students.

(2) (a)(b)(i)(ii) There are no audit investigations we are aware of relating to the mismanagement or misspent of money for the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Collaboration Programme in the Department of Health.

END.

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(a) (i) The Honurable Member may request the National Treasury for the full allocations for government as a whole. For its part the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) has allocated a total of R516 748 000 from the Municipal Disaster Relief Grant. This does not include allocations in terms of Reprioritisation and Reallocations made by other sector departments.

(ii) The Honourable Member may contact the Solidarity Fund for the information requested.  

(b)

Disaster Response Grant Allocation (2022/2023)	Approved amount (KZN Phase 1)	Approved amount (KZN Phase 2)	Approved amount (EC Phase 3)	Approved amount (EC Phase 4)	Recommended amount (KZN- Phase 5) (Awaiting NT approval)
Municipal Disaster Response Grant: R371 420 000	Inkosi Langalibalele LM: R 48 950 000	Alfred Duma LM: R14 414 000	Port St Johns LM: R 13 300 000	Winnie Madikizela LM: R 12 790 132	eThekwini MM: R 185 087 026
	ILembe DM: R 19 523 000	Kwa –Dukuza LM: R109 043 000	Ingquza Hill LM: R 4 130 000	Mbashe LM: R 14 415 000
	UMsunduzi LM: R 620 000	Ray Nkonyeni LM: R11 000 000	Nyandeni LM: R 2 692 902	OR Tambo DM: R 46 872 163.23
	Mkhambathini LM: R 8 200 000		Umzimvubu LM: R 10 500 000
	Ray Nkonyeni LM: R 8 100 000		Ntabankulu LM: R 5 110 777
	uGu DM: R 2 000 000
Provincial Disaster Response Grant: R145 328 000	R 145 328 000 of the Provincial Disaster Response Grant was moved to the Municipal Disaster Response Grant where it was allocated to municipalities
R516 748 000	R87 393 000	R134 457 000	R35 733 678	R 74 077 296	R 185 087 026

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1. Yes, initial inspection was conducted on 07 October 2022 and a follow up on 24 October 2022 by health inspectors, now called Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from Zululand District Municipality. The EHPs did not find any evidence of ants in food provided to patients. There is a pest controller providing pest control services in the kitchen. An inspection of food premises was done from the storage, preparation, transportation to the ward, to providing food to patients and was found to be complying with required prescripts. Patients were also interviewed to determine if there was any incident where food provided had ants and no patient witnessed that incident and no further complaint was received by the EHPs.

2. Yes, EHPs have visited the facility which was found to be in compliance with minimum standards as it is in possession of a valid Certificate of Acceptability issued for compliance with the provision of the Foodstuff Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972, as amended and its regulations. Furthermore, as a proactive prevention measure, a comprehensive report with recommendations to the facility on implementation of the clean-as- you-go principle including provision of rodent proof at the storeroom was compiled.

END.

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Based on the recent feedback from Steve Biko Academic Hospital, a service provider was appointed at the beginning of October 2022 for the servicing of the chillers including air conditioners. The hospital has 5 out 6 chillers currently running at optimal levels. The two broken air conditioners has been fixed and the temperatures are now perfect in their theatres. And they are being monitored on a daily basis by the recently appointed service provider.

END.

Reply:

The question by Honourable Member does not indicate what kind or type of training referred to in the above question. It is recommeded that the member be specific on what type of training is referring to in order for the department to respond accordingly.

Reply:

 

Government engaged in a consultation process to recognise the 5 groupings of Khoi-San namely the Griqua, Koranna, Nama, San and Cape-Khoi as per the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019 (Act No. 3 of 2019).

Should there be any evidence submitted to government of the existence of an additional Khoi-San main grouping other than the Cape-Khoi, Griqua, Koranna, Nama or San, government will consider amending the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act to include that main grouping.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

I have been informed that the project in question is being implemented by the Department of Defence and not the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Therefore, (a), (b), (c) and (d), Fall away.

Reply:

1. (a) There are 3369 students recruited to the programme since inception.

b) A total of 2617 has graduated from the Programme.

c) The total of 2 617 students mentioned in (b) above, after completion of their integration in South African local universities are/were allocated to various health facilities for a two-year medical internship and then proceed to fulfil a one-year Community Service Programme in rural and underserved areas.

d) The National Department of Health has requested the numbers that are currently still employed form Provincial Departments of Health, since the PERSAL System does not have a functionality that provides such granular data since inception of the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Programme.

2. (a) The doctors from the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Programme assume appointment to the department as qualified medical doctors like any other doctor trained in South Africa, this also include termination of employment. The termination of duty is therefore based on grounds that are deemed necessary for termination in terms of the scope of practice of medical doctors or it may be voluntary as is the case with any other employee.

(b) This cannot be quantified specifically for the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical doctors.

(3) (a) Costs incurred when students in Cuba

The following are average costs incurred and are fixed cost per student per year, depending on the Rand/Dollar Exchange Rate at the time of transfer, is reflected below:

• Preparatory (one year) : $2000.00 per students
• 1st – 5th Year (per student) : $5000.00
• Stipend (per student per year) : $2400.00
• Additional costs include two return flight tickets during six years and additional flight ticket in case of death of immediate family member. The tickets cannot be costed as it also depends on the Rand/Dollar Exchange at the time.

Level	Tuition Fees	Meals & Acc.	Ave. cost Med. Ins.	Stipend	TOTAL
Preparatory	$6000.00	$6022	$450	$2400.00	$14, 872.00
1st – 2nd Year	$12, 500	$6022	$500	$2400.00	$21, 422.00
3rd – 4th Year	$11, 500	$6022	$500	$2400.00	$20, 422.00
5th Year	$13, 500	$6022	$600	$2400.00	$22, 522.00

b) Costs incurred for integration in the local Universities

Tuition fees charged by South African universities during the integration since inception until 2018 varied from one university to another. After the agreement signed with local universities, the cost of integration per student has been standardised since July 2018 and adjusted according to annual Consumer Price Index. Students have all to be in the clinical training platform for 18 months which translates into three (3) semesters. Additional costs include transportation of the final year students to local universities which depends on the mode of transport and distance to the university.

The following are the average costs incurred in South Africa:

• July 2018 – June 2019 : R231 325.00 per student (R115 662.50 per semester).
• July 2019 – June 2020 : R241 734.63 per student (R120 867.31 per semester).
• July 2020 – June 2021 : R252 612.68 per student (R126 306.34 per semester).
• July 2021 – June 2022 : R260 696.28 per student (R130 348.14 per semester).
• July 2022 – June 2023 : R277 641.54 per student (R138 820.77 per semester).

Amount outstanding are not readily available for both Cuba and local Universities as we are in a process of receiving and paying invoices for the 2021 to 2022 financial year for Cuba, and 2022/ 2023 Financial year for local Universities.

END.

Reply:

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) regularly provides documents for public and stakeholder comment as feedback can assist to strengthen policy documents.

Section 195(1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996), prescribes that Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the principle that the people’s needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy-making.

Copies of the dtic Policy documents are available on the Department website: www.thedtic.gov.za.

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Reply:

The Maquassi Hills and Mamusa Local Municipalities are currently not under intervention in terms of Section 139 (7) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

  

Reply:

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) informs me that it uses standard industrial classification codes (SIC) that does not include the level of detail set out in the question. For example, if a company’s business is in the computer industry, it will be classified as Information and Communication Technology and will not be specific as to whether that entails Artificial Intelligence or Robotics etc. The Companies Act, 2008 (Act No. 71 of 2008), did away with the concept of primary business being contained in a Companies Memorandum of Incorporation and made same general.

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Reply:

(a) and (b) No, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) will not use the Report on the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegation of State Capture to investigate whether the Departments and/or Entities reporting to her contributed towards state capture.

(a) On reading the various reports, there is an indication that there are no parts of the report that are relevant to the Departments and Entities reporting to the Minister of COGTA. Although, there are certain issues affecting a municipality that were highlighted in the report, there are no specific findings and/or recommendations in relation to the affected municipality. Officials from the Department have collaborated with officials from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to assess all the recommendations emanating from the various reports of the Commission. Should this broader assessment in collaboration with the DPME identify matters that require my attention, I will ensure that the necessary steps are taken, especially where legislative or institutional changes would be required and prepare motivated implementation plans, indicating how each recommendation ought to be addressed.

(b) Not applicable.

 

Reply:

1. As I had indicated previously, the Department has received, considered and accepted the legal advice on the status of Afrikaans as an indigenous language, and the need for policy adjustment to clearly reflect this fact so that we are not unduly distracted from the important task of developing our historically marginalised languages. The adjusted definition will be published in a Government Gazette. Officials from my Department have been having discussions with officials from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and there is consensus on the need for an explicitly inclusive definition of indigenous languages in the policy framework.

2. The Honourable member must rest assured that the amendment will be published as per the advice, and I hope this will close this matter once and for all and re-focus our attention on the main task at hand which is bringing dignity and respect to all our historically marginalised indigenous languages as the Constitution of the Republic demand of us.

Reply:

The South African Police Service is to launch the Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) whose role will be to address the scourge of crimes within the non-ferrous metals, essential infrastructure, critical infrastructure, extortion, and illegal mining. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will work together with the envisaged unit.

Reply:

1. The challenges are disputes between the concerned group and the Bjatladi Communal Property Association (CPA) committee, more specifically on governance issues.

2. Yes. The cause of the challenges is the governance issue, coupled with allegations of corruption and maladministration against the current CPA committee. On 16 September 2022, the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development together with Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) held a meeting with both the concerned group and the current Bjatladi CPA committee with the intention to resolve their disputes, however, the two groups are not ready to work together.

Professional mediation was recommended, to which they needed to consent within five working days. To date, the two groups have not consented to participate in the proposed mediation.

Reply:

a) The claim was to be settled in two (2) phases, however due to policy changes in the processing and the settlement of claims in the Commission, full and final settlement of the claim at once is planned.

b) The claimant beneficiaries comprises of three (3) villages, namely Lower Zingcuka, Upper Zingcuka and Lower Ngqumeya. The household verification for Lower Zingcuka and Lower Ngqumeya has been completed and the household verification for Upper Zingcuka is currently underway.

c) Submission of verification documents by Upper Zingcuka beneficiaries to finalise the household verification process.

END

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Universities in South Africa have a wide range of liberal arts in their Programme and Qualification Mixes. These are academic fields in history, literature, philosophy, sociology, drama and visual arts, to name but a few.

Traditional and comprehensive universities offer a range of classic and world-renowned liberal arts, with various schools within faculties dedicated to such studies, e.g. the University of Johannesburg has the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture that offers qualifications in creative, hospitality and the visual arts; the University of South Africa, Stellenbosch University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, University of Fort Hare and University of Zululand have a long history in the offering of liberal arts.

Universities of Technology also have a long history in the liberal arts, e.g. the Tshwane University of Technology has a campus dedicated to the liberal arts and the Durban University of Technology boasts of a well-known Faculty of Art and Design.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation established the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) through the publication of Government Notice No. 37118 on 5 December 2013. The role of the NIHSS is broadly to enhance and support the Human and Social Sciences (HSS) in South Africa and beyond, and to advise government and civil society on HSS related matters. It does so through its various programmes, including the Doctoral school scholarships, catalytic projects and African Pathways Programme. The NIHSS works with universities, think tanks and research bodies to convene and coordinate PhD-level academic programmes, catalytic research and international research collaboration. The Doctoral scholarships programme is the Institute’s largest programme and works in collaboration with the South African Humanities Deans’ Association and Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges such as the College of Cape Town and Tshwane North TVET College offer qualifications in art and design.

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1. No, Body Building South Africa (BBSA) has not paid the fine. South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports has sent the federation Letters of Demand provided for the debt owed to it in our Annual Financials. BBSA responded with lawyer’s letters despite being informed that the SA Anti- Doping Regulations (2021) and the World Anti- Doping Code (2021) do not provide recourse for a national federation to dispute the fine.
2. The South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has not indicated what actions they have taken to stop BBSA from repeated doping offenses. Section 17(A) that deals with Punitive Measures and specifically Subsection (1) of The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Act; the Department on written recommendations of SASCOC, may cause an investigation to be conducted as it deems fit to ascertain whether the federations comply with the provisions of the Act. The Department is still awaiting written recommendations from SASCOC.
3. (a) As disclosed in the SAIDS 2021/22 Annual Report, eleven (11) tests were conducted at the National Bodybuilding Championships. (b) Ten (10) tests returned positive for various anabolic steroids. The names of the athletes and the substances are disclosed, as is required by the World Anti-Doping Code, in the Annual Report.

Reply:

1. To date, a total of R28 048 067 (twenty-eight million forty-eight thousand and sixty-seven Rands) has been provided to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) towards the Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite (MDASAT) constellation. The funding covers research and development costs, including compensation of non-academic staff (engineers), student bursary support and constellation launch costs. The cost of the full constellation of nine satellites is R97 978 338 (Ninety-seven million nine hundred seventy-eight thousand three hundred thirty-eight), the balance of which has not yet been secured.

2. Since its launch on 13 January 2022, the MDASAT-1 constellation has been in the commissioning phase of its mission, which is the first phase of satellite operation and begins immediately after deployment. The satellites automatically deployed their antennas and the immediate message about battery voltages reading were excellent. Both the primary ground station at CPUT and the secondary at the Houwteq Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility (DenelSpaceteq) successfully tracked, commanded, and decoded the signals. Automatic beaconing was switched off, after some tests were performed with the Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) communications. All the satellites’ subsystems responded well, and all communication links, power operations and TT&C of all three satellites report a healthy status.

There has been a delay in the full commissioning of the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) and payloads due to a few technical challenges related to the orientation (spin and tumbling) of the satellites in space. These challenges are being investigated by reproducing them on the engineering models in the lab before developing a software update that will be installed through the onboard software-defined radio.

3. The data currently being received from MDASAT-1 is being used to commission the various satellite subsystems and payload. Maritime domain awareness data has not yet been acquired due to the satellites still being in the commissioning phase of the mission. Once the satellites are fully commissioned, data will be integrated into the National Oceans and Coast Information Management System that will provides decision support tools for oceans governance and marine protection.

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(1). The List was not published late, the NAC published the approved list on the due date (30th September 2022) on all the social media platforms. The social media sites were our quickest way to disseminate the approved list following the crash of the NAC website due to extremely heavy traffic. The website was then restored after a couple of hours and the information was also made available on that platform.

Council does not and did not adjudicate any applications. Please refer to point 2 above where they clarified the role of Advisors vs the role of Council Members. Additionally, the ACT clearly states that “Panel Members advise the NAC on the merits of applications”. This means that they advise, but do not approve, as that is the role of the Council (as the Accounting Authority of the entity). All final Council-approved Applicants are from the pool of applications that have been adjudicated by the Advisors.

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