Questions and Replies

Reply:

The department is currently undertaking the below listed projects to address inmate accommodation

PROJECT	COMMENTS
The repair and upgrade of the Integrated Security System at Emthonjeni Youth Facility to restore 288 bed spaces	Progress is at 85% and completion is estimated for March 2023
The upgrading of Parys Correctional Facility to provide an approximate of 250 beds	Construction is at 55%, completion is estimated for 03 April 2023.
The upgrading of the Burgersdorp Correctional Facility to a new generation Facility to provide an approximate of 500 beds	Site was handed over to contractor in April 2022, construction is in the initial stage with an estimated completion of June 2026
The upgrade of the Litchenburg Correctional Facility to provide an approximate of 500 bed spaces	Design is at advanced stage, department in discussions with Local Municipality on supply of bulk services.
Construction of Richards Bay Correctional Facility with an approximate 1000 bed spaces	Consultants have been appointed by Department of Public works and Infrastructure and are busy with planning on all three projects.
Construction of Kirkwood Correctional Facility with an approximate 500 bed spaces
Construction of a new facility at Leeuwkop with an approximate 1500 bed spaces

END

Reply:

Eskom has applied to procure from existing generators on a Standard Offer basis. The DMRE has processed the request and it is currently receiving NERSA’s attention for concurrence.

Reply:

Find here: Reply

Reply:

(a) (i) Extension Practitioners (officers) are allocated to districts and not placed per farm.

(ii) The number of Extension Practitioners (officers) per Province is as follows:

PROVINCE	NUMBER OF EXTENSION PRACTITIONERS
Eastern Cape	496
Free State	115
Gauteng	119
KwaZulu-Natal	522
Limpopo	310
Mpumalanga	146
Northern Cape	43
North West	181
Western Cape	60
TOTAL	992

(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) The current Extension Practitioners are not allocated according to the specified producer categories; hence no ratio is available.

(b)(aa) Ratio per Province

The current ratio of Extension Practitioners to farmers is based on the July 2021 General Household Survey (GHS) by Statistics South Africa which measures the number of households practicing agriculture and is therefore not specific to categories of farmers. The Ratio of Extension Practitioners (officers) to farmers per province (as of September 2022) is outlined below:

PROVINCE	Ratio
Eastern Cape	1:1162
Free State	1:1672
Gauteng	1:2896
KwaZulu -Natal	1:1216
Limpopo	1:2058
Mpumalanga	1:3085
Northern Cape	1:1097
Northwest	1:809
Western Cape	1:977
NATIONAL AVERAGE	1:1 663

The estimated number of farmers as the GHS (July 2021) and the number of Extension Practitioners (officer) per province are shown on the table below:

PDAs	Number of Extension officials	Total number of Extension Officials	Number of households per province	% Of households involved in agriculture	Estimated # farmers [GHS 2021, StatsSA]	Extension to farmer ratio (current)
	Managers	Extension Practitioners
EC	31	496	527	1 725 000	33%	576 150	1 162
FS	11	115	126	952 000	20%	192 304	1 672
GP	8	119	127	5 384 000	6%	344 576	2 896
KZN	60	522	582	3 111 000	20%	634 644	1 216
LP	11	310	321	1 684 000	38%	638 236	2 058
MP	41	146	187	1 399 000	32%	450 478	3 085
NC	8	43	51	363 000	13%	47 190	1 097
NW	31	181	212	1 308 000	11%	146 496	809
WC	8	60	68	2 021 000	3%	58 609	977
TOTAL	209	1 992	2 201	17 947 000	17%	3 086 884	1 663

(b) (bb) The breakdown of Extension Practitioners (officers) per District excludes Managers.

Province	Number of Extension Practitioners per district	Province	Number of Extension Practitioners per district
1. Eastern Cape		5. Western Cape
Sarah-Baartman	35	Cape Winelands	12
Amathole	153	Little Karoo	6
Chris Hani	74	Swartland	5
Joe Gqabi	31	Cape Metropole	8
O.R. Tambo	116	Garden Route	9
Alfred Nzo	87	Northwest	6
Total	496	Overberg	7
		Central Karoo	5
		Provincial office	2
		Total	60
2. Free State		6. North West
Provincial office	9	Bojanala	55
Xhariep	14	Dr Ruth S Mompati	42
Mangaung	23	NMM	58
Thabo M	32	Dr Kenneth Kaunda	26
Lejwe L	21	Total	181
Fezile D	16
Total	115
3. Gauteng		7. Northern Cape
Germiston	40	John Taolo Gaetsewe	12
Pretoria	41	Frances Baard	7
Randfontein	38	ZF Mgcawu	8
Total	119	Namakwa	7
		Pixley ka Seme	9
		Total	43
4. KwaZulu-Natal		8. Mpumalanga
Amajuba	46	Bohlabela	34
Ugu	50	Ehlanzeni	29
Ethekwini	33	Gert Sibande	33
uThukela	29	Nkangala	50
uMkhanyakude	52	Total	146
King Cetshwayo	73	9. Limpopo
Zululand	71	Capricorn	72
Umzinyathi	38	Mopani	53
Ilembe	45	Sekhukhune	59
Harry Gwala	41	Vhembe	93
Umgungundlovu	44	Waterberg	33
Total	522	Total	310
		GRAND TOTAL	1 992

Reply:

(a)(i) To strengthen the SHRA’s regulatory role and to build a sector that is capable of delivery and management of social housing at the level of scale and form required, the Compliance, Accreditation and Regulation (CAR) Operational Framework was reviewed. Implementation is underway, with the SHRA aiming to increase its internal capacity and reduce the past reliance on consultants. Organisational capacitation of key personnel including resources to provide more in-depth compliance monitoring and a Regulations Manager and to increase in-house capacity when dealing with issues of regulatory enforcement and non-compliance, in line with section 12 provisions contained within the Social Housing Act 16 of 2008 are being implemented.

(a)(ii) Cases of non-compliances which have escalated for enforcement relates to the following institutions:

• Free State Social Housing Company: Placed Under Administration.
• Troyeville Housing Cooperative: Placed under Administration.
• Communicare: Allegations of maladministration have been made against the institution, and the finalisation of a forensic investigation is imminent.
• Housing Association East London (Belgravia): Failure to meet compliance conditions has resulted in a downgrading of accreditation status. There are suspected grounds of maladministration, and a forensic audit has been approved.
• Urban Scape Rentals: Failure to meet compliance conditions has resulted in a downgrading of accreditation status. There are suspected grounds of maladministration, and a forensic audit has been approved.

(b) Irregular expenditure incurred in the past five years pertain to investing in projects that fell outside a restructuring zone, which has since been declared and regularised. The remaining irregular expenditure relates to a single grant recipient (TBGI) amounting to R26.7 million which is being dealt with by implementing the court judgement to recover the funds – a loss cannot be established at this stage.

There have been no funds lost through non-compliance, as most non-compliance has been limited to the submission of documents. Three institutions are about to be taken through regulatory enforcement and forensic investigations are to be conducted. These are Housing Authority of East London (HAEL), Urban Scape and Communicare. The extent of maladministration and if funds have been lost, can only be ascertained when these investigations are concluded.

Reply:

a) (i) Hospitals

All public hospitals have backup generators. Backup generators are only meant to run as backup for 2 to 3 hours for life saving equipment in emergency areas. Service delivery therefore gets negatively affected in areas which are not powered by generators.

(ii) Clinics and Community Health Centres (CHCS)

Backup power in the form of generators is available in 42% of clinics and 86% of CHCs nation-wide.

• Impact of load shedding on PHC facilities that do not have backup power.
• The electronic Health Patient Record System works on electrical power and during power failures staff cannot retrieve patients files and patients have to wait until power is on thus increasing patient waiting times
• Patients physical examination and deliveries becomes impossible in dark consulting rooms resulting in unnecessary referrals of patients to hospitals.
• Water interruption due to the water pumps in reservoirs requiring electricity to function.
• Telecommunication break down affecting receiving calls from communities and contacting call centre for ambulance.

(b) Provinces that are affected the most:

Clinics: The Table below indicates that only Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have more than 70% coverage with regard to backup power in clinics.

District	Total number of clinics	Facilities have backup electricity	Average % scored
ec Eastern Cape Province	723	145	20%
fs Free State Province	202	32	16%
gp Gauteng Province	326	267	82%
kz KwaZulu-Natal Province	580	418	72%
lp Limpopo Province	452	113	25%
mp Mpumalanga Province	226	88	39%
nc Northern Cape Province	124	24	19%
nw North West Province	259	80	31%
wc Western Cape Province	175	88	50%
Average / Total	3067	1288	42%

• 1288 out of 3067 Clinics has backup electricity
• 1779 clinics do not have backup electricity

Community Health Centres: The Table below indicates that only Free State Province (36%) has less than 70% coverage with regard to backup power in community Health Centres.

District	Total number of CHCs	Facilities having backup electricity	Average % scored
ec Eastern Cape Province	41	34	82%
fs Free State Province	10	4	36%
gp Gauteng Province	38	34	90%
kz KwaZulu-Natal Province	21	20	94%
lp Limpopo Province	26	20	77%
mp Mpumalanga Province	55	48	88%
nc Northern Cape Province	30	26	85%
nw North West Province	47	43	92%
wc Western Cape Province	48	42	87%
Average / Total	316	272	86%

• 272 out of 316 CHCs has backup electricity
• 44 CHCs do not have backup electricity

END.

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission has furnished me with a response to the question.

It provides a list of law firms. I have requested that additional details be provided in respect of the specific matters covered in each of the specific briefs given to each law firm. Attention is also drawn to the reply to Parliamentary Question 606.

The reply of the NLC is attached hereto. A supplementary reply will be tabled if warranted, once the further information I have requested has been received.

-END-

Reply:

The Department of Correctional Services did not submit a policy review document and/or any other policy document to external structures or structures of any political affiliation during the past five (5) years.

a) Not applicable.

b) Not applicable.

END

Reply:

The Gauteng Provincial Department of Health is working with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the issues at the Tembisa Hospital. The matter is being dealt with by the Province. The SIU has also made a statement on this already. We therefore await the outcome of this investigation by the SIU.

END.

Reply:

(a+ b) The National Department has referred the matter to the Gauteng province and will provide a detailed and final reply as soon as the information is obtained.

Reply:

The IDC has approved R14,4 billion of funding in the Foundry and/or mini mill industry since FY 2010, in the following forms: industrial loans of R5,99 billion, equity of R8,44 billion and grants of R4m.

In addition, the IDC provided guarantees of R5,5 billion to companies in the sector.

A supplementary reply will be submitted shortly, with additional information.

-END-

Reply:

(1) The Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme was instituted in terms of section 3(4) (g) of the Housing Act, 1997 (Act No. 107 of 1997), (The Housing Act) and is reffered to as the National Housing Programme: Upgrading of Informal Settlements. The programme seeks to facilitate the structured in situ upgrading of informal settlements as opposed to relocation to achieve, tenure security, health & security and empowerment etc.

In 2019/2020, the National Department of Human Settlements in consultation with the National Treasury introduced the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG), this was an attempt by the Department to ensure that there is a focus on the upgrading of informal settlements projects within the sector. The main objective of the Grant was to strengthen the policy in relation to the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme, for both provinces and metropolitan municipalities. The Grant seeks to ensure the provision of basic services such as water, electricity, roads, stormwater, refuse removal and sanitation services to households.

To support the implementation of the Grant, a total budget of R14.7 billion was reprioritised from the Human settlements Development Grant (HSDG) and Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) in 2020/21 and 2021/2022. The funds were set aside to support the upgrading of 231 000 households in informal settlements over the medium-term.

2. In terms of finding out whether the identified programmes have been successful in dealing with the deficiencies that surround the construction of viable housing, it must be noted that the introduction of the dedicated Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant was in 2019/2020 and actual implementation started during the 2021/22 financial year, thus it is still too early for the Department to pronounce on the success or failure of the Grant in dealing with the deficiencies that surround the construction of viable housing. However, the non-financial performance of the programme in provinces and municipalities was provided and reported that 610 informal settlements were upgraded by provinces and 674 by metropolitan municipalities during the 2021/22 financial year. Furthermore, a total of 21 075 sites were provided with basic services such as electricity, water and sanitation by provinces and a total of 3 596 sites by metropolitan municipalities in 2021/22.

Reply:

The National Department of Health is in consultation with the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health to establish the issues that the Honourable Member is raising in this Question. The full report and response will be furnished to the Honourable Member as soon as the full details are received from the Province.

END.

Reply:

1. (a) According to the Internship and Community Service Programme all eligible applicants who met the requirement for allocations and submitted their application on time we all allocated. However, the following community service doctors were excluded due to the reasons provided in the respective columns:

2022 Annual Cycle - Applicant who was not placed during allocation phace - Doctors and Nurses
	Field of Study	Already placed in previous cycle	Applicant deceased	Applicant declined allocation	Late - Applications	Moved to a future cycle - availability date outside current cycle	Future cycle - based on Institutions and Provinces feedback	Removed from Allocation - Based on Institutional Feedback	Grand Total
Community Service	Medical Practitioner	3		74	6	50	20	1	154
	Professional Nurse	53	1	24	27	119	10		234
Grand Total		56	1	98	33	169	30	1	388

2022 Midyear Cycle - Applicant who was not placed during allocation phace - Doctors and Nurses
	Field of Study	Applicant declined allocation	Late - Applications	Moved to a future cycle - availability date outside cycle	Grand Total
Community Service	Medical Practitioner	11	7	1	19
	Professional Nurse		8		8
Grand Total		11	15	1	27

2. (a) The table below indicate the total number of (i) doctors and (ii) nurse applicants who was placed in the 2022 cycle’s but terminate their allocation after placement.

2022 Community Service applicants who terminated their contracts
Field of Study	ECP	FSP	GAU	KZN	Lim	MPU	NCP	NWP	WCP	Grand Total
Medical Practitioner			4	1	2		1		2	10
Professional Nurse	8		11	3						22
Total	8	0	15	4	2	0	1	0	2	32

(b) The main reason why applicants terminated their contracts was medical and personal reasons. Also 1 death in Limpopo Medical Officer.

(3) (a) The Department is ensuring that all Statutory community service posts for both doctors and nurses are absorbed within the Provincial Equitable Share and the Human Resources Training Grant (HRTG) Budgets

(b) Currently only Organs of State (i.e. South African Health Product Regulator Authority (SAHPRA), National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and Office of Health Standard Compliance (OHSC) are included in accommodating community service doctors and nurses. The model to accommodate the private health sector to absorb community service doctors and nurses will be explored during the review of the Community Service Policy that is on course.

END.

Reply:

The following table reflects the details as received from the Provincial Departments of Health

EASTERN CAPE
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
02	Yes	Nil	02	01 Dismissal
				01 Disciplinary on progress
FREE STATE
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
05	Yes	R24 259 970.00	1	Disciplinary case – employee was dismissed, 4 still under investigation
GAUTENG
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
21	Yes	R2 752 210.85	0	0 All the 21 still under investigations
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
04	Yes	R5 610 244.85	04	1 awaiting sanction. 1 dismissed. 2 still pending.
KWAZULU-NATAL
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
21	Yes	R2 864 840.00.	04	02 officials 3 month without pay
				01 Written warning
				01 official dismissed
				02 officials resigned before hearing. The remaining cases are is still pending.
LIMPOPO
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
0	0	0	0	0 Limpopo confirms that the cases they have are for Fraud not corruption.
MPUMALANGA
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
09	Yes	R 58 380 442.25	09	09 cases involved 9 people whose matters were finalized and 5 are pending sanctions.
NORTHWEST
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
7	Yes	R27 328 762	2	The two (2) disciplinary actions were for the Corruption cases, wherein One (1) was given two months without salary sanction, and the other One (1) was dismissed. Five (5) still in the investigation process.
WESTERN CAPE
1(a)Total No. Corruption Case	1(b)Corruption Case	1(c)Total Amount	2(a)No. of Disciplinary Case	2(b) Outcome
07	Yes	R357 954.80	17	6 Dismissal
				2 Final written warning
				1 written warning
				8 Disciplinary hearing in progress The 7 corruption cases involved 17 people, of which 9 were concluded and 8 still outstanding.

Information on the Northern Cape Province will be furnished as soon as it is received.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) (i)

No employees of the department are currently working from home, this is in line with section 4 of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Circular 38 of 2022 (29/06/2022): REPEAL OF THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF NOTIFIABLE MEDICAL CONDITIONS, which states that ‘Departments are required to ensure that all employees return to normal work conditions with no restrictions.’

(1) (a) (ii)

Not applicable.”

(1) (a) (iii)

Not applicable

1) (b)

Not applicable

(2)

A statement on the matter will not be made as employees have returned to the office at 100% capacity, in line with Circular 38 of 2022.

Reply:

a ) The Northern Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements has advised that it has directed the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to conduct a forensic investigation in order to determine all the relevant facts and reasons for the project not being completed and the mitigation measures required. The investigation has been completed by the NHBRC and a report referred to the Petitions Committee in the province for consideration. Once the report has been considered, the provincial department will take the required measures against the said contractor as recommended by the NHBRC and the Petitions Committee.

b) No disciplinary measures have been taken by the provincial department as yet pending the outcome and recommendations of the NHBRC and the Petitions Committee.

Reply:

Yes, the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) is aligned with the Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme (CASP), AGRI BEE and Blended Financial Scheme (BFS).

The envisaged approach is for the project approval process of the mentioned programmes to incorporate the AAMP’s strategic commodities and align to both National and Provincial Value Chain strategies of the AAMP. Furthermore, the Integrated Programme and Project Management methodology, which aims to align all relevant programmes and projects, including CASP at a project approval level will be introduced.

Reply:

Three, Gauteng, Kwa Zulu Natal and Northern Cape responded to Parliamentary Question 3065 as follows:

1. Gauteng

1. The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements does not have houses to be demolished because of poor workmanship. The construction of houses/units are done in stages, e.g., foundation, wall plate, roof, and completions. These stages are also used as payment milestones for each stage completed and compliant. If non-compliance or incompleteness is observed during inspection, no approval is granted until the snags are fixed.
2. No additional amount is spent because houses are still under construction and would be fixed before approval is granted to the next milestone.

2. Kwa Zulu Natal

a) The Department enrols all new developments with NHBRC, which acts as a quality assurer and keeps a register of contractors. When poor workmanship is identified, it is reffered to the contractor to repair at own cost.

The Department has embarked on a programme to repair units with structural damages that were constructed in the earlier years of the housing development programme. The units were constructed prior to the enrolment with NHBRC. 10 368 units have been rectified under this programme.

b) The amount spent for the rectification of 10 368 units was R976 521 000.

3. Northern Cape

1. There has not been any houses demolished and repaired in the Northern Cape.
2. No expended has been incurred in the Province for repairs.

Reply:

The Presidency does not have a program of graduates employed to conduct condition assessments in Parliament Villages under the Presidential Employment Stimulus.

Thank You.

Reply:

No measures have been put in place to recruit and permanently employ fieldworkers and data capturers as the department does not employ fieldworkers and data captures.            

Reply:

1. The South African Government is mandated to effect redress in the interests of equity, as embodied in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act no. 108 of 1996). The Constitution, 1996 laid the foundation for a coherent and an inclusive economy of all its citizens. Section 9 of the Bill of Rights, in the Constitution, promotes equality in all facets of life, inclusive of the economy. An inclusive economy will only be possible if the South African economy builds on the full potential of all persons and communities across the length and breadth of our Country.

The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act, 2003 (Act No. 53 of 2003), as amended, defines ‘broad-based black economic empowerment’ as: “the viable economic empowerment of all black people, in particular women, workers, youth, people with disabilities and people living in rural areas, through diverse but integrated socio-economic strategies that include, but are not limited to -

(a) increasing the number of black people that manage, own and control enterprises and productive assets;

(b) facilitating ownership and management of enterprises and productive assets by communities, workers, co-operatives and other collective enterprises;

(c) human resource and skills development;

(d) achieving equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce;

(e) preferential procurement from enterprises that are owned or managed by black people; and

(f) investment in enterprises that are owned or managed by black people”.

(2) The introduction of ‘broad-based’ criteria is intended to ensure that the impact of policy is not confined to opportunities only for black entrepreneurs. The impact of policy on living standards (including persons living in poverty) and on employment (measured by the quality and quantity of jobs), are therefore also relevant.

A number of broad-based investment vehicles addresses socio-economic development matters such as

• provision of bursaries to students, which assist with increasing employability of the individuals and helps to grow the pool of skills that can drive higher growth, and thus higher incomes and jobs numbers
• rolling out of education support (eg teaching of numeracy at primary schools), laying the basis for better technical skills
• health-care services (such as HIV-Aids education) to discourage risky behaviour and stigmatising HIV positive persons
• rural development which assists with sustainable livelihoods
• job creation schemes and
• measures to improve living standards for members of communities.

The Department is currently undertaking research that can assist to quantify the impact of broad-based BEE policies on the above.

-END-

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still working with the Provincial Departments of Health to source the full details required by this Question. A full report and response will be furnished to the Honourable Member and Parliament as soon as the information has been collated from all the Provinces.

END.

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission has furnished me with a response to the question.

It provides a list of various parties litigated against and legal fees for litigation. I have requested that additional details be provided in respect of the specific matters covered in the legal briefs.

For the supplementary reply on legal costs, I am requesting that the NLC compiles a record of the following:

1. Total legal and consultancy costs of the various matters involving the Ministry, including but not limited to:

• Litigation on the appointment of acting chairperson
• Litigation on disclosure of information and appointment of forensic investigators,
• Litigation on appointment of board
• legal or consultancy advice sought on power of Minister or the dtic in relation to the Board, including its removal
• legal or consultancy advice sought on the disclosure of beneficiary information
• legal or consultancy advice sought on the appointment of the forensic firm by the dtic; and the appointment of the SIU by the President
• media consultancy or lobbying costs involving matters relating to the Ministry or the dtic
• legal or consultancy cost in relation to disciplinary proceedings commenced by the Minister against members of the Board

2. Total legal and consultancy costs of the various matters involving any member of parliament

3. Total legal and consultancy costs of the various matters involving any journalist or media house or SANEF.

The new Board is currently reviewing the legal costs of the NLC. I will request the Board to consider that the review should cover whether legal costs of the extent covered in the reply below is justified; and to adjust the future NLC Budgets based on the outcome of the review.

In respect of the legal department of the NLC, I will be requesting the Board to commission a review of the work actually done by the Unit and each specific member of the Unit and to evaluate the outcome of such review.

The NLC advises as follows in respect of the questions:

“(1) The matters initiated by the NLC constituted 25% of litigation matters pursuant to section 10(3) of the Lotteries Act, 1997 (Act No. 57 of 1997).

(1)(a) List of all the parties litigated against:

• NLC / Boitumelo Mafonjo
• NLC / Yanga Mvakwa
• NLC / Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition
• NLC / Ithuba Holdings & 2 Others

(1)(b) Matters instituted against the NLC by current and/ or former staff:

• Mzukisi Makatse / NLC
• Tshililo Ndonyane / NLC
• Khomotso Aphae / NLC
• Sello Qhina / NLC
• NUPSAW obo Members / NLC
• Ithuba Holdings / Lotto Star & Others
• Katleho Malatsi / NLC & 4 Others
• Phillemon Letwaba / NLC & SKX

(2)(a)&(b) The Legal and Investigation Services Division, comprises of a staff complement of seven (7) employees - structured as follows:

 

a) Position	b) Duties
1 x Executive Manager: Legal	The incumbent is responsible for strategic legal direction and the effective and efficient management of the Legal and Investigations Division. The incumbent oversees the Commission’s legal compliance and management of legal risks, fraud risks as well as contractual risks. Provides legal support and advisory services to the NLC and the NLC Board in executing its functions as per the Commission’s enabling legislation. Ensures safe and adequate whistleblowing arrangements are in place.
1 x Legal Manager	The incumbent provides operational and credible legal advice to all Commission’s divisions to ensure that legal challenges are avoided, and legal and fraud risks are mitigated. Ensures the efficacy of legislation, practical implementation of all legislative prescripts and manage litigation when it arises whilst anticipating and acting against legal risks facing the Commission and provide general legal support to the Commission. Ensures that all investigations are conducted in an independent, objective and credible manner. Manages the whistleblowing arrangements.
1 x Legal Specialist	Provision of general legal advice, legal and advisory support to the Commission. Conduction of education and awareness interventions and drafting of all contracts of the Commission. Monitoring and reporting of divisional risks (monthly & quarterly reporting).
1 x Senior Legal and Forensic Specialist	The incumbent investigates all fraud and corruption and any other activities that undermine the Commission’s regulatory and grant making mandate in order to ensure prosecution/civil recovery and associated disciplinary action / relevant consequence management. Monitors trends of impropriety and flags it for the respective divisions. Conducts fraud education and awareness as well as alerts to NLC stakeholders. Identifies and reports control weaknesses to appropriate management and identifying areas within the Commission. Collaborative engagements with law enforcement agencies for when there is alleged or actual acts of impropriety.
1 x Forensic Officer	The Forensic Officer is responsible for investigating all allegations of fraud and corruption. Conduction of education and awareness relating to fraud and trends. Reports cases to law enforcement agencies. Drafts investigation reports.
1 x Administrative Assistant	Renders administrative support to the Commission’s investigation unit.
1 x Executive Assistant	Incumbent is responsible for providing secretarial, clerical, administrative support and general office duties in order to ensure that services in the Legal Services Division are provided in an effective and efficient manner.”

-END-

Reply:

The National Department requests the Honourable Member to rephrase the question in a clear manner for the Department to assist in responding. The question is not clear and it is difficult to provide a response.

END.

Reply:

1. SASSA has returned to providing full services, within its capacity, since the lifting of the State of Disaster. There is no “ban” in place with regards to home visits.

2. As from 2021/2022; SASSA has done the assessment in terms of critical posts required to ensure that its operation and service delivery are not compromised; It must also be recorded that SASSA is undergoing transformation process whereby its businesses are reviewed for organizational effectiveness, responding to 4th Industrial technology requirements and to be in line with the current Strategic Plan 2020/2021 to 2024/2025. As a result of the above mentioned project, SASSA has established the Critical Post Committee which is responsible to ensure that critical posts are identified and funded. The identified critical posts would be presented to the Executive Committee for consideration and approval at the beginning of each financial year. In 2021/2022 there were 251 critical posts filled 2022/2023 financial there are 118 critical posts approved for filing, and in case the post becomes vacant within a financial year it would be replaced if it meets the description/criteria of being critical.

In view of the above mentioned processes, SASSA is able to manage the risks of ensuring that on one hand, service delivery is not compromised, and on the other hand, the filling of posts is based on needs until the Business Process Re-Engineering and organizational structure are in place with minimal or no labour challenges/disputes. Lastly, SASSA has the total of 7 642 filled posts as at 31August 2022.

3. (a) At present SASSA is experiencing slightly higher than normal applications in some of their offices, which may be as a result of the lower uptake during the COVID pandemic. Load shedding, which affects both network connectivity and other system availability also negatively impacts on the speed at which a client can be assisted.

As mentioned, front line staff are considered as critical posts and are prioritised for filling, however this is subject to available resources.

SASSA has also implemented an online application portal which aims to relieve some of the pressure on the queues in local offices.

(b) With regard to shortages of capacity, please note that critical posts are filled, and SASSA has not implemented a moratorium in filling posts. In the event an official vacates a posts; replacement is sourced with immediate effect, subject to recruitment processes. However, as with all other government departments, and the overall attempts by government to manage the public sector wage bill, the compensation of employees budget of SASSA are also subject to these reviews and has been cut significantly over the past few years. As mentioned, SASSA has prioritised front line staff over other posts in an attempt to continue to provide optimal services.

Reply:

1. The following is the status of awarding of bursaries and scholarships for the (8) Provincial Departments of Health participating in the Nelson Mandela Fidela Castro Medical Collaboration Programme.

• 2017/2018 no bursaries and scholarships were awarded
• 2018/2019 no bursaries and scholarships were awarded
• 2019/2020 only Northwest awarded four (4) bursaries
• 2020/2021 no bursaries and scholarships were awarded
• 2021/2022 no bursaries and scholarships were awarded

2. (a)-(b) There is a total number of 702 students in the specified programme for 2022 also broken down in tables below:

Table 1 below indicates that a total of 103 students were integrated into the Universities in South Africa in July 2022.

Table1: Students integrated in 2022 into South African Universities

Province	UCT	UL	UP	SMU	WITS	WSU	Total
EC	1	0	0	0	2	5	8
FS	0	1	1	0	0	0	2
GP	5	0	4	1	6	1	17
KZN	3	3	1	2	1	3	13
LP	3	14	2	1	2	2	24
MP	4	2	6	2	5	5	24
NC	1	0	1	0	0	0	3
NW	3	3	1	2	1	3	13
SA	8	20	23	16	17	19	103

Table 2 below indicates that a total of 466 students were integrated into the Universities in South Africa in July 2021 and are currently completing their programme.

Table 2: Students integrated in 2021 and in Universities 2022

Province	SMU	SU	UCT	UFS	UKZN	UL	UP	Wits	WSU	Total
EC	2		1	3	3	1	2	8	5	25
FS	1		0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
GP	12	5	5	12	20	1	10	52	6	123
KZN	3	3	2	2	7	3	4	13	7	44
LP	12	5	4	4	17	11	9	37	15	114
MP	7	4	3	11	6	3	10	22	6	72
NW	8	1	4	3	6	3	8	14	10	57
NC	5	2	2	7	1	3	5	4		29
SA	50	20	21	42	60	25	48	151	49	466

Table 3 below indicates that 94 students are repeating some modules in 2022 in South African Universities.

Table 3: Students repeating in 2022

Province	UCT	UL	UP	SMU	WITS	WSU	SU	UFS	UKZN	Total
EC	0	1	0	0	5	4	0	2	1	13
FS	0	0	1	2	1	1	1	3	0	9
GP	0	0	0	2	8	2	0	0	0	12
KZN	1	1	3	2	2	3	2	1	5	20
LP	0	1	2	2	6	0	0	2	0	13
MP	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
NC	1	0	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	6
NW	1	3	1	5	3	0	2	3	1	19
SA	3	6	12	13	25	10	6	12	7	94

Table 4 below indicates that 37 students are currently in Universities in Cuba Universities.

Number of students in Cuba in 2022

Province	Number
Eastern Cape	0
Free State	0
Gauteng	8
KwaZulu-Natal	8
Limpopo	5
Mpumalanga	5
Northern Cape	2
North West	9
Total	37

3. (a) Total cost of the Programme

Costs for Cuba

This is a Scholarship Programme which is jointly funded by both Governments. The 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.

The Expanded Training Programme (ETP) which is wholly funded by the South African Government is reflected in the table below:

Table: 5

Level	Tuition Fees	Meals and Accommodation	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

Costs 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 was 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 to be in the clinical training platform for 18 months. This translates to 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.

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

(b)(c)(d) The information below indicates total cost by provincial breakdown, by number of students and amount to be transferred by each province to South African University for the specified period.

Eastern Cape Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
25	R3 450 967.01		8	R 2 208 618.88	R 5 659 585.89

Free State Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
1	R138 038,68		2	R552 154,72	R690 193,40

Gauteng Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
120	R 16 564 641,60		17	R 4 693 315,12	R 21 257 956,72

KwaZulu Natal Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
43	R5 935 663,24		13	R3 589 005,68	R9 524 668,92

Limpopo Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
112	R 15 460 332,16		24	R 6 625 856,64	R 22 086 188,80

Mpumalanga Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
68	R 9 386 630,24		24	R 6 625 856,64	R 16 012 486,88

Northern Cape Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
30	R4 141 160,40		3	828 232,08	R4 969 392,48

Northwest Department of Health

FOURTH COHORT - Third Semester- July to December 2022		FIFTH COHORT - First & Second Semester - July 2022 to Jun 2023
Total No of Students	Total Cost		Total No of Students	Total Cost	Grand Total to be transferred
57	R7 868 204,76		13	R3 589 005,68	R11 457 210,44

END.

Reply:

1. The Minister of Health conducted site visit to the hospital on Thursday, 01 September 2022, and interacted with facility management to assess the impact of protests on health service deliver, local SAPS authorities to understand their role in enforcing the court interdict and leaders of the Operation Dudula to understand their concerns.

a) During this meeting an agreement was reached that the protests should end with immediate effect, and all concerns should be raised through proper channels, instead of protests action that will affect service delivery. The protest was called-off.

b) After Kalafong hospital management was alerted of the disruption of free access to the hospital, hospital security and SAPS members were deployed to ensure free access to the hospital.

2. Secondly, the hospital management applied for an urgent court interdict against the protesting organization. A Court interdict preventing disruption to free access to the hospital was subsequently granted.

END.

Reply:

(1)        The following table reflects the details in this regard.

North West

(1)
(a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care,	(b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility	(c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave	(d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care;
The prisoner warden / guard accompanies the patients in health facilities and stay with them through out until they leave the health facility.	SAPS / Correctional Services takes care of prisoners as outpatients and inpatients. During consultation, they are being prioritized, as they do not follow the queue. When admitted they are under-guard by SAPS/Correctional Services The Correctional Service department make prior arrangements with the hospital for the retrieval of files and immediate medical treatment at Casualty and out patients departments.	Operational Manager, doctor, nurses and security	Procedure lies with the department of Correctional Services. However, the responsible nurse from Correctional Services Facility will arrange a booking at the hospital in advance. The hospital will retrieve the prisoner’s file 2 days before the actual date of appointment.   Once in the facility, the prisoner will be processed while balancing the rights of the other patients and that of the prisoner. The prisoner remains under guard right through every step of care until the last working station which is pharmacy and exit the facility.

 

(2)        The response is as follows:

 

(2)
Facility	what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years			and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;
Klerksdorp / Tshepong Hospital	6			03/02/2022 at 02:45, a mentally disturbed patient fought with the nurse and security officer at Casualty. 06/03/2022 at 02:20, a patient fought with the security at casualty and broke the window. 22/03/2022 at 11:40, a gang brought their friend with a gunshot wound, when the Doctors referred their friend to Tshepong they threw tantrums. 19/06/2022 at 01:00, two armed men gained access to the doctor’s quarters and robbed doctors. 15/08/2022 at 20:00, a gangster was shot and brought to Tshepong Hospital, other gang members followed him to the hospital to try and finish what they started. SAP had to be called for assistance. 13/08/2022, there was an attempt to abduct a female Doctor at the doctor’s quarters, guards fired four shots and the intruders ran away.
Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital	None
Mafikeng Provincial Hospital	5			House breaking with force entry Robbery at gun point Employees fight using a child Theft using force Gang fights
Potchefstroom Hospital	4			A psychiatric patient stabbed a nurse One patient was followed by others to finish him Another psychiatric patient attacked the security guard and a nurse A family who wanted to enter the hospital by force and slapped the security guard.
Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital	2022 – Two (02) 2021-2018 - None			2022 (01) – Intoxicated patient physically assaulted nursing staff in Casualty. 2022(02) – Staff member physically assaulted in Radiology Department due to person grievances not pertaining to work.
Witrand Hospital	0			None
Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital	0			None
Klerksdorp / Tshepong Hospital Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital Mafikeng Provincial Hospital Potchefstroom Hospital Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital Witrand Hospital Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital		The hospitals have electricity backup (Generator) which only covers clinical/patient areas, Load shedding affects areas that are not on backup as follows: Safety issues (break-ins, opportunistic theft, attacks, etc.) Communication breakdowns (non-availability of systems such PERSAL, BAS, Walker, emails, internet, etc), delay in capturing of invoices. Damage to equipment’s High costs incurred on fuel Water interruption due to the water pumps filling water slowly in the reservoirs

 

 

Northern Cape:

(1)
(a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care,	(b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility	(c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave	(d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care;
The prisoner warden / guard accompanies the patients in health facilities and stay with them through out until they leave the health facility.	SAPS / Correctional Services takes care of prisoners as outpatients and inpatients. During consultation, they are being prioritized, as they do not follow the queue. When admitted they are under-guard by SAPS/Correctional Services The Correctional Service department make prior arrangements with the hospital for the retrieval of files and immediate medical treatment at Casualty and out patients departments.	Operational Manager, doctor, nurses and security	Procedure lies with the department of Correctional Services. However, the responsible nurse from Correctional Services Facility will arrange a booking at the hospital in advance. The hospital will retrieve the prisoner’s file 2 days before the actual date of appointment.   Once in the facility, the prisoner will be processed while balancing the rights of the other patients and that of the prisoner. The prisoner remains under guard right through every step of care until the last working station which is pharmacy and exit the facility.

 

(2)       

 

(2)
Facility	what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years	and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;
Windsorton Clinic	1 – 2018	Nurse assaulted by psychiatric patient (outpatient) – waiting too long to receive medication.
RMSH A&E	5 – 2018 6 – 2019 5 – 2020 3 - 2021	Patient assaulted nurse (shocked death of family member and way nurse relayed message) Drunk patient Psychiatric patient attack security trying to steal food. Triage waiting period (violence patient) Mental patient damaged drs vehicle (stone thrown windscreen). Patient threatened guards with knife. Dr threatened by family (child died) to shoot him. Aggressive patients A&E (swearing staff) Patient arrested for rape treated at hospital threatened staff verbally. 72-hour observation attacked guard (clothes ripped). Two Fleet employees assaulted one another. Patient threatened staff (gun in car not confirmed) – casualty. Professional Hitmen shot patient recovering in ward (gang related). Gun threat, Mental patient (arrested with unlicensed firearm). Buck horn taken off patient entering casualty to receive treatment. 4 x gun-shot wound victims treated (gang-related). Staff threatened not to work unless security increased. 72-hour ward – one patient attacked another using food-tray. Khoocs – foreigner verbal threat to shoot.  Racial tension patients waiting. Knife found in sleeve of patient being treated (who came in unconscious in ambulance).
Springbok (Dr Van Niekerk) Hospital	1 – 2018 1 - 2021	Psychiatric patient attacked guard who caught him stealing food out of kitchen. Patient under alcohol influence assaulted staff.
Prof ZK Matthews Hospital, Barkly	1 – 2018 1 – 2019	Mental patient broke doors. Staff striking at facility – burn tyres and blocked entrance.
Hopetown Clinic	1 – 2018	Nurse assaulted patient coming for treatment (long waiting time for assistance)
Kuruman Hospital	1 – 2018 3 - 2020	Union disruptions Kidnapping patient – saps caught (CAS215/09/2020) Guard stabbed with knife by patient trying to enter. Guard assaulted and attacked with knife stopping gangs entering.
MaDoyl Clinic	1- 2018       1 – 2020	NGOs contracting Health Care Workers (HCW) – threaten to close clinics (absorption into Health) Alleged knife threat by staff (to close clinic) – victimization concerns COVID.
EMS Control Room, Kimberley	1 – 2018	Assault (domestic dispute at work)
Colesburg Nursing home	1 – 20108 1 – 2019	Attach nurse in flat (domestic). Drunk visitors refused entry – vulgar language security.
Bill Pichard Hospital, Prieska	2 – 2019	Rape victim threatened rapist family at hospital. Gang violence following victim to hospital.
Harmony Home	2 – 2019	Assault patient by guard (patient stole guard’s money – mental patient). Mental patient attacked guard and ripped uniform.
Ritchie Clinic	1 – 2019	Social worker / nutritionist threatened after removal malnutrition children from mother
De Aar Hospital	1 – 2019         1 – 2020	Foreign nationals entered with knives – threat to nurses (x-ray equipment not working). Gang-related violence. Assault by mental patient.
Ipeleng Clinic	1 – 2019	EPWP workers strike – burn tyres and blocked entrance to facility.
Hopetown Clinic	1 – 2019	Mental patient fight with staff (waiting for medication issue).
Pampierstad Nursing home	1 – 2019	3 males jumped fence and attacked staff residing to steal.
City Clinic	1 – 2019	Municipal strike action – threats.
Loeriesfontein Clinic	1 – 2019	Nurse assaulted by boyfriend at clinic.
WESH (Mental B3)	2 -2019	Mental patient alleged assaulted security guard (stole money). Patient attacked guard with hair clipper.
Victoria West Hospital	1 – 2020 1 – 2021	Gang violence hospital (threat at hospital when gang arrived whilst person was receiving treatment). Malicious damage of front door – psychiatric patient.
Oliphantshoek CHC	1 – 2020	Assault and public violence (drunk visitors)
New Mental Health Hospital	3 – 2020 1 - 2021	Patient assaulted guard with metal coffee mug. Patient assaulted guard (needed medical attention and clothes ripped). Attempted escape of mental patient who tried to flee whilst being transported in ambulance to RMSH (overpowering staff). Guard assaulted by 4 unknown suspects fled theft power-station copper.
Connie Vorster Hospital, Hartswater	1 – 2020	Mental patient (broke window) COVID protest
LAdams Clinic	1 – 2020	Patients threaten staff.
Beaconsfield Clinic	1 – 2021	OPD Patient threaten staff.
EMS Kuruman	1 – 2021	Guard overpowered by 5 unknown suspects (hostage situation) theft.  CAS 799/03/2021
Galeshewe Day Hospital	1 – 2021 1 - 2022	Guard attacked with sharp object (eye injury). Assault – maternity patient slapped nurse.
Dr Winston Torres Clinic	1 – 2021	Patient slapped guard refusing entry (skipped queue).
Jan Kempdorp Hospital	1 – 2021	Emotional trauma patient damaged property – broke door after death of family.
Carnarvon CHC	1 – 2022	Assault – 4 drunk people tried to enter facility and assaulted security.
Pampierstad CHC	1 – 2022	Mental patient threaten staff (OPD).
Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, Upington	1 – 2022	Aggressive visitor with patient under influence of alcohol removed by SAPS.
Valspan Clinic	1 – 2022	OPD mental patient threaten staff.

 

Free State

(1)
(a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care,	(b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility	(c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave	(d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care;
The prisoner warden / guard accompanies the patients in health facilities and stay with them through out until they leave the health facility.	SAPS or Correctional Services takes full responsibility for the prisoners admitted and for outpatients at health facilities. Prisoners are prioritized at health facilities and don’t follow the queue. Prisoners when they  are admitted are under SAPS and   Correctional Services watch. The Correctional Service department make arrangements with the facilities and responsible for opening for files and collection of medical treatment.	Doctor, Operational Manager, nurses and Security Officers on duty.	Procedure lies with the department of Correctional Services. However, the responsible nurse from Correctional Services Facility will arrange a booking at the hospital in advance. The hospital will retrieve the prisoner’s file 2 days before the actual date of appointment.   Once in the facility, the prisoner will be processed while balancing the rights of the other patients and that of the prisoner. The prisoner remains under guard right through every step of care until the last working station which is pharmacy and exit the facility.

 

(2)       

(2)
Facility	what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years		and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;
Universitas Academic Hospital	4		Porter fought with the messenger. The cleaner fought with the messenger. ATM bombed and Security Officers were pointed with firearms. Break in and 31 computers stolen
Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital	3		Security Supervisor assaulted by community member. Female Security Officer assaulted by psychiatric patient  Male Security Officer assaulted by psychiatric patient.
National District Hospital	2		Psychiatric patients fought with Security Officers and nurses in two different incidences.
Bongani District Hospital	0		None
Boitumelo District Hospital	1		Security Officer fought with the patient where Security Officer broke his leg.
Botshabelo District Hospital	0		None
Dr JS Moroka Hospital	0		None
Fezi Ngubentombi District Hospital	1	Intoxicated patient assaulted Security Officer and the nurse.
Sinorita Nhlabathi District Hospital	0	None
Free State Psychiatric Complex	Several	Patients fighting each other
Parys District Hospital	0	None
Tokollo District Hospital	0	None
Mafube District Hospital	0	None
Winburg District Hospital	1	Two nurses fought each other
Katleho District Hospital	0	Messenger fought with cleaner
Thusanong District Hospital	0	None
Mohua District Hospital	0	None
Nala District Hospital	0	None
Elizabeth Ross District Hospital	1	Patient fought with nurses and Security Officers
Phekolong Nketoane District Hospital	1	Gangsters fought with Security Officers at the gate because they wanted to force to see the patient.
Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital	1	Visitors fought with nurses and Security Officers claiming they are from far and wanted to see their patient.
Diamant District Hospital	0	None
Stoffel Coetzee District Hospital	0	None
Embekweni District Hospital	0	None
Dihlabeng District Hospital	0	None
Thebe Phumelela District Hospital	0	None
Winburg District Hospital	0	None

 

Eastern Cape  

 

(1)
(a) The inmate is accompanied and guarded by the warden/ guard team into the health facility, through the entire visit to the facility.  The hospital have a fast line leeway for inmates visiting the hospital, especially when hospital booking system have been followed to the various clinics of the hospital	(b) The inmates consult on a booked appointment schedule; they receive priority consultation to avoid subjecting them in long queue in health facilities. This is in line with hospital standard operating procedures.	(c) If there is any unexpected eventuality in a form of   incident, it is reported, firstly to the hospital CEO, Head of clinical Governance to the doctors, nursing service manager staff and the security officers.	(d) The Correctional Services officials bear responsible for safeguarding procedure of the inmates upon egress point of the health facility up until the exit point and safe return to the correctional facility. In accordance to the Correctional Services Act.

(2)       

(2)
Facility	what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years	and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;
Fort England Psychiatric Hospital (Sarah Baartman District)	1	10/06/2019 - One in-Patient stabbed another in-patient with a sharpened thick piece of wood on the forehead and left eye
Bisho Hospital (Buffalo City Metro)	1	19/01/2019- Assault of a security officer by a patient
Nomangesi Jayiya Clinic (Nelson Mandela Bay Health District)	1	13/01/2022- Security guards were attacked/ assaulted by 4 thugs.
Nelson Mandela Metro Health District	38	EMS personnel have been victims of crime in the Gqeberha Northern areas. there has been no fatalities; 2019- 26 attacks 2020- 6 attacks      2021- 5 attacks 2022- 1 attack

Information from other remaining provinces is still being collated and will be furnished as soon as it is received.

 

 

END.

Reply:

1. The hospital was completed on 9 March 2022 and is currently operational.

2. (a) The table below reflects the details in this regard:

Contract Name	Cost
Contract 1 : Earthworks	1 244 730,50
Contract 2 Pilling	24 451 211,82
Contract 3 Superstructure	3 172 362 000,79
Contract 3 VAT	475 854 300,12
Total	3 673 912 243,23

(b) The original completion date was the 05 October 2018.

(3) (a) 41 Months

(b) Yes there were penalties imposed.

(4) The hospital is operational since August 2021. The practical completion has been following a phased approach until the overall practical completion was reached on 9 March 2022.

(5) (a) Yes

(b) Yes, Operational needs and budget have been catered for

END.

Reply:

The response is as follows, according to the Eastern Cape Province Provincial Department of Health

QUESTIONS	RESPONSES
1. What (a) total amount does his department owe to the (i) Walter Sisulu Local Municipality and (ii) Senqu Local Municipality and (b) is the age analysis of the monies owed in each case;	a) (i) Walter Sisulu Municipality - R6 147 567 (b) Age analysis:- Current R 205 831 30 Days R 1 739 086 60 Days R 168 002 90 Days R 533 722 120 + Days R 3 500 926 Amount under dispute R2 200 400 (not included above) a) (ii) Senqu Municipality - R3 956 314 b) Age analysis:- Current R 695 501 30 Days R 589 036 60 Days R 560 980 90 Days R 483 178 120 + Days R1 627 619
2. What (a) are the specific details of the buildings in respect of which his department owes the specified municipalities and (b) is the use of each specified building;	2. (a and b) Walter Sisulu Municipality Hospitals Aliwal North Hospital - Aliwal North Burgersdorp Hospital - Burgersdorp Jamestown Hospital - Jamestown Steynsburg Hospital - Steynsburg St Francis Hospital - Aliwal North Clinics Khayamandi Clinic - Steynsburg Venterstad Clinic - Venterstad Maletswai Clinic - Aliwal North Poly Clinic - Aliwal North Nurses Home Venterstad Clinic Nurses Home - Venterstad Under dispute Eureka Clinic - Burgersdorp Oviston Satellite Clinic - Oviston Acc 10 - Dept. of Health Hilton Clinic - Aliwal North Old Prison - Burgersdorp Town Clinic 2. (a and b) Senqu Municipality Hospitals Cloete Joubert Hospital Empilisweni Hospital Lady Grey Hospital
3. Whether his department has any plans to address the debts; if not, why not; if so, what (a) are the details of his department’s plan and (b) is the time frame in which the debts will be settled?	3. (a) Funding recently received – mid-September 2022. Amount authorised 05/10/2022 and awaiting disbursement as indicated below: - Walter Sisulu Municipality - R6 142 115 Senqu Municipality - R2 666 843 3.(b) Remaining amounts as follows are in the process of being paid: Walter Sisulu Municipality- R5 542 Senqu Municipality – R1 289 47

END.

Reply:

(a) on what date is her department planning on submitting the joint bid to the National Treasury.

• The joint bid was tabled to National Treasury on the 28th of July 2022.
• The department is expecting a response from the National Treasury anytime in the month of November 2022.

The aim of the joint bid is to:

• Source funding to leverage and expand on employment of social service professionals to address social ills which are adversely impacting the country and society.
• Source funding to employ social service professionals from the current pool of unemployed social service graduates.

Various government departments participated in the joint bid process, and these are:

• 9 Social Development Provincial Departments.
• South African State Security Agency.
• Department of Basic Education.
• Department of Correctional Services.
• Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
• South African Police Service.
• Department of Health.

(b) how far is the process on the development of the Draft Sector Strategy?

1. The Draft Sector Strategy was developed in the financial year 2021/2022.

2. The following government departments participated in the drafting of Sector Strategy:

• 9 Social Development Provincial Departments.
• South African State Security Agency.
• Department of Basic Education.
• Department of Correctional Services.
• Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
• South African Police Service.
• Department of Health.

3. The Draft Sector Strategy will serve before Cabinet before the end of financial year 2022/2023.

Reply:

The Department has been informed that the Health Professions Council of South Africa is currently processing refunds for candidates that paid and were scheduled to take both components of the medical professions board examination (Theory and OSCE) but ended up taking only OSCE component.

END.

Reply:

1. No vaccines have been destroyed as a result of expiry from the central storage managed by the National Department of Health.

2. When it becomes necessary to destroy vaccines due to expiry at the central storage level, there will be two cost elements resulting in a total cost per vial:

(i) Distribution from the central warehouse to the waste management sites: 

Pfizer: R16.24 to R20.49 per vial of 6 doses - depending on the vaccine distributor.

J&J: R14.90 to R14.94 per vial of 5 doses - depending on the vaccine distributor.

(ii) Cost of destruction, which is estimated to be between R18 and R25 per kilogram.

Pfizer: A tray of 195 vials weighs approximately 1.2kg - therefore, R0.11 to R0.15 per vial
J&J: A shipper of 480 vials weighs approximately 3kg - therefore, R0.11 to R0.16 per vial

(iii) Estimated total cost of destruction per vial:

Pfizer: R16.35 to R20.64 per vial of 6 doses
J&J: R15.01 to R15.10 per vial of 5 doses.

3. (a)-(b) (i) Zero Rands in central storage. The province bears the cost of destroying expired vaccine doses at a facility level. The waste disposal is integrated into the normal waste disposal contracts and is generally costed by weight. It will be difficult to calculate the cost for vaccines only as the waste would include other medicines.

(ii) The province bears the cost of destroying opened vials. As these doses are disposed of together with the needle and syringes in yellow sharps containers (i.e. normal waste for any immunization programme) it is once again difficult to determine the cost for the vaccines alone as these vials, syringes, and needles will generally be mixed with other sharps disposed of at a facility level.

END.

Reply:

a) Based on information obtained from the Central Supplier Database (as at the end of July 2022) and compared to information on the Personnel Salary System (PERSAL), 119 public service employees are registered on the Central Supplier Database with the purpose to tender for business with the State.

However, these 119 employees are not necessarily conducting business with the State. It is possible that some of the employees on the list may have resigned in the meantime, or that they belong to categories that are exempt from this prohibition (such as traditional leaders), or are serving as directors on boards of entities in an official capacity. In terms of Regulation 13(c) of the Public Service Regulations, 2016, employees may conduct business with the State, if they are doing so in an official capacity. Section 8 of the Public Administration Management Act extended the prohibition to special advisors.

To determine whether these employees are indeed conducting business with the State, the name list was shared with the respective departments, requesting them to verify if the employees are still in service, if they are conducting business with the State (be it in a private capacity or in an official capacity) and if any steps are taken against transgressors. In formal letters to the heads of these implicated departments, the DPSA requested the departments to provide monthly feedback on progress made regarding the identified cases, starting from 1 July 2022. The responses of departments received are indicated in the section under (i)). On 7 June 2022, the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (in the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA)), Police and National Prosecuting Authority convened a workshop for the implicated departments on how to proceed with investigating and prosecuting these cases.

(i) National departments: There are 29 public servants who have been found to be possibly conducting business with the State:

• Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - two public servants
• Correctional Services - six public servants
• Employment and Labour - one public servant
• Higher Education and Training - two public servants
• Home Affairs - two public servants
• International Relations and Cooperation - one public servant
• Justice and Constitutional Development - two public servants
• Mineral Resources and Energy - two public servants
• South African Police Service - four public servants
• Public Service and Administration - two public servants (One was found to be a Special Advisor)
• Public Works and Infrastructure - one public servant
• Science and Innovation - two public servants (both were found to be serving in various Boards as representative of the department)
• Trade, Industry and Competition - one public servant (the official is representing the DTIC at its entity, COEGA)
• Transport - one public servant

(ii) Provincial departments: There are 90 public servants who are possibly conducting business with the State:

Eastern Cape has 16 public servants

• Education - nine public servants
• Health - four public servants
• Office of the Premier - one public servant
• Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture - one public servant
• Transport - one public servant

Free State has 6 public servants

• Education - four
• Health - one
• Provincial Treasury - one

Gauteng has 7 public servants

• Education - two
• Health - four
• Human Settlements - one

KwaZulu-Natal has 16 public servants

• Agriculture and Rural Development - one
• Education - four
• Health - six
• Transport - five

Limpopo has 12 public servants

• Co-operative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs - two
• Education - five
• Health - five

Mpumalanga has 19 public servants

• Community Safety, Security and Liaison - one
• Education - seven
• Health - eleven

North West has 1 public servant

• Health - one

Northern Cape has 11 public servants

• Agriculture Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform - two
• Economic Development and Tourism - one
• Education - three
• Health - five

Western Cape has 2 public servants

• Education - one
• Health - one

2. In provincial departments, three (3) public servants on senior management level (positions ranging from Salary level 13 to 16) were found to be possibly conducting business with the State. In National departments, eight (8) public servants held senior positions. As indicated, the figure is still to be verified with the affected departments.

End

Reply:

a) In the Western Cape resources are deployed based on District and Sub-District level rather than Local Municipalities. In this case they deploy resources to the Garden Route District. The population for the Garden Route District is 622 000. This equates to 0.3 ambulances per 10 000 population. The ambulance allocation per sub-district is as follows:

George 3

Knysna 2

Plettenberg Bay 2

Uniondale 1

Dysselsdorp 2

Oudtshoorn 2

Calitzdorp 1

Ladismith 1

Heidelberg 1

Riversdale 2

Mosselbay 2

b) The reality is that without a significant increase in the budget for compensation of employees the Western Cape province is unable to increase the number of ambulances. The Province is however, deploying several other initiatives to augment service delivery. These include:

• Community-orientated Emergency Care underpinned by the Emergency First Aid Programme
• Augmentation of provincial services with contracted private ambulance service

END.

Reply:

The NWRS-3 will be finalised and approved on 31 March 2023 as outlined on the Department’s Annual Performance Plan.

The Department is currently conducting public consultation workshops on the draft National Water Resource Strategy 3 (NWRS-3) as required by the National Water Act (NWA). Call for public consultation was done through the Gazette Notice which was published on 27 July 2022 under Notice 47133. After public consultation, the document will be updated based on the comments received from various stakeholders and a final document will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

While there has been a delay in finalising and publishing the NWRS-3, the NWRS-2 is still being implemented by the Department, it’s entities as well as the entire water and sanitation sector stakeholders. Therefore, the Department has not neglected its responsibility to protect, use, develop, conserve, manage and control the country’s water resources.

---00O00---

Reply:

(1)(a) The Department has implemented the following remedial measures to strengthen the parole system:

• Ongoing training is provided to the Case Management Committees (CMCs) and Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards (CSPBs) as they are responsible for case management and consideration process. The training focuses on parole policy procedures, decision making tools and calculation of release dates amongst others.
• The CMC compile Correctional Sentence Plan (CSP) for all offenders serving sentences of longer than 24 months. The CSP spell out the interventions proposed to address the needs and risks of an offender that were identified during an assessment of the offender.
• Quality assurance teams were established at the Management/ Regional and Head Office (Directorate Pre-Release Resettlement) to assist with the improvement of the quality of profiles submitted to CSPB, National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS) and the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services for consideration for possible placement on parole.

(1)(b) Monitoring and supervision of Probationers, Parolees and Awaiting Trial Persons (ATP) is a human capital-intensive activity. The day to day monitoring is enhanced through allocation of resources for physical monitoring, office consultation, telephone monitoring where applicable, community service and programme attendance. In 2021/2022 a total of five hundred and eighteen (518) vehicles were allocated to community corrections offices within the regions to ensure successful monitoring in all areas.

The monitoring category for every offender under the system of Community Corrections is determined by the predicted risk of offenders from High (minimum 8 contacts), Medium (minimum 4 contacts) and Low Risk (minimum 2 contacts). Parolees attend sitting either every six months/ frequently depending on their length of their sentence to review their status, behaviour, reclassify or referred for intervention.

The establishment of 219 offices, 57 satellite offices and Service Points for easy access of services contributes positively to the compliance with conditions, ensure visibility and strengthening of the monitoring system.

(2) Yes, an integrated approach at District level and national department enables continuous consultations with traditional leaders, counsellors and relevant department to ensure that they assist the department during reintegration process to accelerate and augment monitoring. Partnerships were formalised with Traditional Councils at each Community Corrections Office, and Traditional Councils offices are used as community service centres, where parolees and probationers render services as part of their conditions of parole. Community establishments such as schools, churches, police stations, and other public spaces are used as service points to enhance the monitoring systems

The Department of Correctional Services has the community reintegration programme in place for networking and social profiling of communities and identification of stakeholders who can assist in the monitoring and supervision of parolees and probationers.

END

Reply:

a) Training of specialist nurses, as referred to as ANPs in the question here above, has always been a priority for the national and provincial departments of health.  Accordingly 11 118 Clinical ANPs have been trained between 2017 and 2021. In addition all public colleges have prioritised ANP as part of new programmes which commenced in January 2020. Accordingly with finalisation of accreditation processes  by the Council of Higher Education ( CHE) it is anticipated that public nursing colleges will continue to produce ANPs.

In terms of the statement “attempt to address the Republic’s health care system which continues to struggle with a shortage of doctors” it is to be noted that doctors and nurses, including specialist nurses, have different scopes of practice and can thus not replace each other.

(b) All posts for health professionals including those that utilize the capacity of qualified APNs in the Republic’s healthcare system are prioritised to ensure that the required health skills mix is provided in all the levels of care.

END.

Reply:

1. Firstly, the National Department of Health has identified a priority list of health facilities that require an urgent exemption either from Eskom or local municipalities. The list has been submitted to both Eskom and local municipalities for approval. Secondly, my department is currently conducting a due diligent exercise for the installation of solar panels at all our health facilities as a second or third power back-up mechanism (first being generators and second being Uninterrupted Power Supply).

2. Refer to response above.

END.

Reply:

a) As of 1 June 2022, the WC Region had a total of 7 provincially Contracted assessors, who may be shifted across areas of need should they agree. The table below reflects the current distribution of contracted doctors servicing the areas of George, Rieversdale, Knysna, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay:

Service Area	No. of Servicing Dr/s
i) George	1
ii) Riversdale	1
iii) Knysna	1
iv) Mossel Bay	1
v) Plettenberg Bay	1

 

(b) If a client is reapplying for a lapsed disability grant (usually a temporary grant which has lapsed), the application is treated as new. Unfortunately SASSA’s information system does not segregate booked clients as new applicants or active beneficiaries.

As of 20 September 2022 the number of clients awaiting an assessment, in the listed areas, is indicated in the table below:

Service Area	Clients Awaiting Assessment
i) George	985
ii) Riversdale	None
iii)Knysna	None
iv) Mossel Bay	747
v) Plettenberg Bay	None
Total	1 732

Reply:

(a)(i) The table below provides an indication of the number of clients who have applied for the provision and the number of clients who are on a pending status, per month from April to August 2022.

Period	Total Applications	Pending Status
April	8 148 777	-
May	10 602 246	-
June	11 369 799	-
July	11 823 675	455 836
August	12 179 270	97 766

All clients for the months of July and August who are still on a pending status are new clients who applied late in the respective month. The processing of their applications takes a bit longer as it includes additional first-time validations, such as the verification with Home Affairs for identification purposes etc.

(a)(ii) There are various reasons why clients are declined when applying for the grant, however, all of these reasons can be attributed to indicators that the clients may have a source of income.

These include being employed within government (checks against the Persal, Persol and GEPF databases), support received through NSFAS, accommodation within a government facility (such as a prison) and other indicators of employment such as employer’s contributions to UIF on behalf of the employee and or payment of taxes to SARS. In addition, the bank accounts of applicants are also checked to confirm whether or not there were funds above the threshold flowing into the account during the month.

The table below indicates the total amount of people who were declined on a monthly basis since April to August 2022:

Period	Total Declined
April	3 303 085
May	4 793 365
June	4 390 526
July	5 645 976
August	4 648 389

The table below shows the number of declines that relate specifically to the bank account checks that indicates whether or not the applicant has had a flow of funds above the threshold into their bank account relative to the month of assessment.

Period	Total Declined	Declined due to bank account checks
April	3 303 085	2 700 752
May	4 793 365	4 030 211
June	4 390 526	3 496 046
July	5 645 976	4 902 655
August	4 648 389	4 358 023

(b) The cash send option is still used and is an active payment method for client payment.

The same process, as with bank account verification (where bank account details are verified and linked directly to the applicant) is also followed for cellphone numbers.

Thus, cellphone numbers provided by clients for the payment of the provision are also subjected to identity and cell number verification processes.

This entails that SASSA needs to ensure that the client (identity number) and the cellphone number can be directly linked to each other. This will typically also be true when a client followed a RICA process for his/her cellphone.

This process has been concluded and all cash send payments where SASSA was able to directly link the cellphone number to the client was concluded.

The table below indicates the figures of cash payments made for the month April 22 to July 22.

Period	Clients who requested Cash Send	Successfully Verified (Linked client to Cell Number)	Client could not be linked to Cellphone Number	Clients Paid	% Paid
April	240,507	70,316	170,191	70,316	100%
May	380,548	101,967	278,581	101,967	100%
June	385,062	104,109	280,953	104,109	100%
July	401,405	100,165	301,182	100,165	100%

Where clients applied for cash send and whose cell phone number failed verification, they will have to provide SASSA with a bank account where SASSA is able to pay their money into as these clients typically have not followed the RICA process and it would be a risk to Government to pay these clients without definitive linkage between the client, their ID number and cellphone number.

Reply:

(1)(a) number of times has his department been sued for crimes committed by repeat offender parolees in the past five years	(1)(b) amount in Rand has his department paid in the specified cases;
13	NIL

2. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) utilises various communication methods, including key messages, video-clips, publications, pamphlets, website, social media, community outreach, media engagement, marketing and advertising, events and other opportunities, to support efforts to make citizens aware of their rights.

It is evident that communication effort and consistency have over the years yielded positive outcomes in raising public awareness on DCS main functions. These are attributed to the continued educational programmes that DCS has constantly embarked on over the years to highlight its main functions to South African citizens through various media platforms i.e TV and radio.

Though the awareness of the functions of DCS to rehabilitate and re-integrate offenders into society started on a low base, continuous and purposive communication succeeded in increasing the level of awareness in these areas.

Informed by research, programmes such as Yobe, CorreXions and community outreach programmes were put together and seem to have contributed in showing increased awareness of the role of DCS over time.

Changing public opinion or views takes time. This is clearly seen from the trended data on DCS indicators that have been tracked over time.

Case Management Committees (CMC compile Correctional Sentence Plans (CSP) for all offenders serving sentences of longer than 24 months. The CSP spells out the interventions proposed to address the needs and risks of an offender that were identified during an assessment of the offender. These interventions are implemented and monitored over the duration of the sentence and inform the basis for the Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards (CSPBs) granting or declining Parole for any given offender. It must be noted that CSPB’s are not responsible for monitoring Parolees serving their sentences outside the bounds of a correctional facility as this is a function carried out by Community Corrections in the Department.

The day to day monitoring of Parolees by Community Corrections is conducted by allocation of resources for physical monitoring, office consultation, telephone monitoring where applicable, community service and programme attendance. The nature and frequency of monitoring an offender is based on their specific profile. Any violators of Parole conditions are sanctioned and where the gravity necessitates they are returned to continue serving their sentences in a Correctional Facility.

END

Reply:

The Auditor-General ‘s (AGSA) audit on National Department of Health (the department) for 2021-22 was concluded on 27 September 2022 which is when the final version of the audit reports were issued to the department. The timing of the parliamentary question preceded the issuing of the final version of the audit report to the department by AGSA. Furthermore, the department has just tabled its Annual Report 2021/22 that includes the 2021/22 AGSA’s Audit Report with recommendations. The departments Annual Report 2021/22 is also scheduled to be presented at the Portfolio Committee meeting scheduled for Friday, 14 October 2022.

The department is currently coordinating the process of ensuring that all the AGSA’s audit findings and recommendations are supported by proper management action plans to address the findings.

END.

Reply:

1. Interactions are being held with other departments. Municipal Health Services Departments, led by Environmental Health Practitioners, with other sector Departments such as Department of Water and Sanitation in those areas of jurisdiction jointly assess potential health hazards and risks.

The Department of Health has developed the National Environmental Health Norms and Standards that further guides Municipalities on roles they should play to ensure that communities are not exposed to unsafe water including development of Municipal Water Quality Monitoring Plans against which routine water sampling is conducted. The National Department of Health further encourages and support Municipalities in conducting health Education to the communities affected including providing all other Municipal Health Services.

2. (a) Yes, wastewater is tested. Domestic water sources are not tested because SARS-CoV-2 is not spread by water.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Durban University of Technology started testing wastewater for SARS-COV-2 in mid-2020, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Municipalities.

As a result, interested laboratories formed the South African Collaborative COVID-19 Environmental Surveillance System Network (SACCESS). The aim of the SACCESS is to create a network of stakeholders (including laboratories and municipalities) capable of testing wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 by standardised methodology to support tracking of the COVID-19 pandemic across South Africa.

Results of wastewater based testing for communicable diseases in influent sewerage reflect the health status of the population, and proves helpful in monitoring effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 is not transmitted by wastewater and untreated wastewater influent is not regarded as infectious for SARS-CoV-2. Data from testing of wastewater has been made available in South Africa through the NICD-led South African ‘SACCESS’ network and has contributed to developing COVID-19 response plans.

(b) Municipalities’ environmental health services are required to develop water quality monitoring plans in accordance with the National Environmental Health Norms and Standards for Environmental Health. These plans include, monthly domestic water quality monitoring plans including water borne diseases environmental surveillance, include cholera monitoring amongst others.

3. District and Metropolitan Municipalities’ environmental health services are required to develop water quality monitoring plans in accordance with the National Environmental Health Norms and Standards for Environmental Health. These plans include, the requirements for monthly domestic water quality monitoring supplies in terms of microbiological and chemical quality of water for fitness for human consumption for water services and non-water services authorities.

Sampling is focused on water supplies that are likely to pose risk to human health.

In the event of non-compliance with water quality standards, sampling frequency is increased (for example to 4 (four) samples per month).

Monitoring of water sources is accompanied by the necessary community education.

(4) The following information is supplied by the Limpopo Department of health. The most recent period for which data is available is August 2021 – July 2022.

Below is a table that indicates the number of cases of water-borne diseases that were treated:

Table: Diarrheal cases by district for last 12 months from Aug 2021 to Jul 2022 District

District	Waterborne disease	Number of case treated
Capricorn	Cholera	0
	shigellosis	1
	Typhoid	2
Mopani	Cholera	0
	shigellosis	0
	Typhoid	0
Sekhukhune	Cholera	0
	shigellosis	0
	Typhoid	0
Vhembe	Cholera	0
	shigellosis	0
	Typhoid	2
Waterberg	Cholera	0
	shigellosis	0
	Typhoid	0
Total		5

END.

Reply:

(a) The table below shows the number of declines that relate specifically to the bank account checks that indicates whether or not the applicant has had a flow of funds above the threshold into their bank account relative to the month of assessment.

Period (2022)	Total Declined	Declined due to bank account checks
April	3 303 085	2 700 752
May	4 793 365	4 030 211
June	4 390 526	3 496 046
July	5 645 976	4 902 655
August	4 648 389	4 358 023

(b) The following table provides the number of reconsiderations successfully processed (approved) in the previous year (2021/22).

Month	Approved Reconsiderations
August-2021	676 236
September-2021	496 445
October-2021	400 689
November-2021	294 649
December-2021	211 494
January-2022	258 309
February-2022	271 176
March-2022	215 092

Reply:

The Acting Minister for the Public Service and Administration is not aware of the alleged unethical conduct by some human resources offices who want bribes in order to fast-track payment, which is due to retired employees. Employees who are approached to pay bribes, should report that immediately to the SAPS, as it is a criminal offence.

The affected employees can report the alleged corrupt practice to the National Anti-Corruption Hotline 0800 701 701 which is managed by the Public Service Commission, for investigation.

In addition, on 23 September 2022, the Department of the Public Service and Administration (DPSA) issued Circular 47 of 2022, attached herein, on the exit procedure to assist human resources personnel responsible for exits in the Public Service.

Furthermore, the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) is collaborating with the National School of Government (NSG) to introduce a module aimed at improving and fast-tracking exits in the Public Service.

End

Reply:

(1) a) For the period referred to in the parliamentary question from 2012/2013 to 2021/2022 financial year, 1174 persons were suspected to have unduly benefited from the social grant system leading to cases referred to law enforcement.

b)The breakdown of the number of persons who unduly benefited

No	Year	Beneficiaries	Offic ials	Money Lenders	Other
1	2021/22	-	50	-	-
2	2020/21	17	20	-	-
3	2019/20	83	16	3
4	2018/19	73	52		1 CPS Official 6 Public Works Officials 5 Former SASSA Officials
5	2017/18	38	195	53	7 private person 1 CPS
6	2016/17	1	22	-	3 Private Persons
7	2015/16	9	337		5 Doctors 5 Private persons 3 Former SASSA Officials
8	2014/15	-	3	64	16 Private Persons 2 CPS Officials
9	2013/14	-	56	-
10	2012/13	-	10	-	03 Former SASSA Official 15 Agents/Tout
	Subtotal	221	761	120	72 Private persons
	TOTAL	1174

2 a) The total potential loss is projected at R536 683 179.12. Some of the cases are not yet finalised to come to full determination of the actual loss.

b) The breakdown of potential loss in each year

No	Year	Potential Loss	Budget Amount	Loss as a %
1	2021/2022	R 23 141 386.15	R 221,716,422,608.00	0.010%
2	2020/2021	R 8 554 573.60	R 195,516,422,608.00	0.004%
3	2019/2020	R 6 861 156.50	R 175,155,593,000.00	0.004%
4	2018/2019	R 215 402 889.89	R 162,960,723,000.00	0.132%
5	2017/2018	R 6 886 687.94	R 151,580,232,000.00	0.005%
6	2016/2017	R 75 085 055.62	R 140,498,691,000.00	0.053%
7	2015/2016	R 14 712 807.44	R 129,818,278,000.00	0.011%
8	2014/2015	R 59 203 282.32	R 120,952,101,000.00	0.049%
9	2013/2014	R 109 949 555.00	R 113,006,841,000.00	0.097%
10	2012/2013	R 16 885 784.66	R 104,887,916,000.00	0.002%
Total	R 536 683 179.12	R 1,516,093,220,216.00	0.034%

 

Reply:

1. The National Department of Health (NDoH) is committed to improving the health status of all South Africans. The ministerially appointed National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC) consider medications for inclusion on the Essential Medicine List (EML) based on priority conditions within the country, taking into consideration the clinical need, evidence of efficacy, quality, safety, affordability and implications for practice.

The review of medicines for inclusion on the EML and use in the public sector is a dynamic process, with disorders/medicines being reviewed continuously based on factors including the changing clinical need, emerging clinical evidence, availability of new medicines, price of medicines. This has been demonstrated with the approval of newer agents on the EML such trastrastuzumab and bortezomib in the management of breast cancer and are both available in the public sector.

Although a number of the agents used in the field of haematology and oncology are 20 to 30 years old, these agents are established effective therapies considered standard of care for particular indications in these fields.

Cost-effectiveness, affordability and security of supply of these newer agents is often the reason why they are not considered for use in both the private and public sectors.

The private sector is also often limited by the price of these newer agents, and may only be able to use them in situations where medical schemes cover portions of the costs, with large co-payments are made by individuals out of pocket. The availability of generic and biosimilar agents will promote competition driving down the prices of these newer agents for consideration for widespread public health use.

Both undergraduate and postgraduate trained clinicians in the fields of medical oncology and clinical haematology are exposed to modern therapeutic options. Additionally, exposure to use of these agents is often gained through work in clinical trials and access programmes.

2. Treatment options that are currently provided in the South African public sector are based on available evidence as described above.

The current budget for medicines is approximately R 20 billion, with an additional budget allocation per province for more modern therapeutic options in the National Tertiary Services Grant.

MEDICINE BUDGET
R Thousands	Main Budget 2022/23
Provinces
Eastern Cape	2,067,531
Free State	1,020,160
Gauteng	5,117,929
Kwazulu-Natal	4,535,574
Limpopo	1,499,518
Mpumalanga	1,793,290
Northern Cape	415,010
North West	1,215,842
Western Cape	1,876,983
Total	19,541,837

END.

Reply:

1. I wish to acknowledge the challenges that the Department has in ensuring that the Court Recording Technology (CRT) and Sexual Offences Courts’ Systems (SOS), are fully maintained and functional. The Director-General and his Team are working very hard to restore functionality, ensure that relevant technology is available in courts, and ensure that courts are functional. Meetings with relevant Departmental officials, in the National and Provincial Offices, and the current service provider (Datacentrix), are held on a weekly basis to strategically discuss challenges and progress on the project.

a) As at 1 June 2022, there were 1 566 functional CRT machines (77%) and 548 non-functional machines (23%). As of 10 September 2022, 1 794 machines were fully functional (88%) as compared to 230 (12%) that are non-functioning.

b) The number of SOS, that were functioning on 1 June 2022, were 270 (67,8%), and 128 (32,2%), were non-functioning. As of 10 September 2022, 319 (80,2%) SOS were fully functioning, and 79 (19,8%) were not functioning.

Between July 2022 and August 2022, 50 SOS court rooms were upgraded from old to new technology (SOS), and in those courts, the systems are stable. 110 SOS court rooms have been identified for the next phase of the upgrade. The Project is anticipated to be completed by 31 December 2022, where-after all problematic SOS court rooms will be fixed.

The Alternative SOS Solution, that has been considered and is being used by some Provincial Offices, is an attempt to temporarily substitute the normal SOS in the Courtrooms by utilizing the below IT equipment:

• Video-Conferencing Capable Laptops – These devices are meant to connect the Intermediary room and the court room together utilizing two (2) laptops that have built-in camera, microphone and a wireless adapter to ensure that child victims can be both seen and heard during testimony by court participants, and most importantly recorded during the session.
• The other supporting equipment used are lapel microphones (clip-on microphone) for the child victim and headphones with a mouthpiece for the intermediary officer – these ensure sound is carried from both the intermediary officer and child victim into the court.
• The other supporting equipment used in the solution, is the conferencing speakerphones (conference microphone) – This is used to pass/communicate testimonies into the working CRT or alternatively used to record sound from the intermediary and other present court participants into an actively recording laptop via the built-in voice recorder app.
• The platform that is being used to connect the two rooms together is, MS Teams (other Video-conferencing platforms can be used but since this solution is being paid for in-house, that is why Kwa-Zulu Natal chose to use it).
• In closing, other video-conferencing solutions are currently being explored and tested and the above is subject to change, if other cheaper/ cost effective means are found to be stable and efficient.

2. I wish to inform you that the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2021 (Act No. 13 of 2021), does not specifically provide for the appointment of specialist interpreters. However, I wish to inform you as follows:

a) There are no posts created for Special Court Interpreter for the Sexual Offences Courts. Currently, the placement of interpreters in Sexual Offences Courts and matters involving children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable witnesses are mainly based on experience, character and demeanor of the Interpreter.

b) The Department, working closely with the Judiciary and Prosecutors, will design a programme that will be offered to Sexual Offences Courts’ Interpreters. This programme will focus on issues such as child development, needs of people with disabilities and complexities relating to sexual offences.