Questions and Replies

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18 December 2023 - NW3688

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Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture

(1).Whether, with regard to his promise to build the economy by working with all stakeholders of his department, he has plans in place to work with the stakeholders to create jobs for young people; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details. (2). whether the 15th BRICS summit brought any sustainable economic development to the economy?

Reply:

(1). The Young Creatives Programme is creating 270 job opportunities for young people who are active in the Creative Industries. These Young Creatives are placed in Community Arts Centres across the country. They receive a monthly stipend of R4000.00 (Four thousand rands only) for 12 months. The Programme, as the National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) of the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, also gears participants towards employability and better self-confidence to be successful in getting a long-term job or setting up their own Creative Arts enterprise.

The NYSP is a government-led initiative that engages South African youth in community service activities, to strengthen service delivery, build patriotism, promote nation-building, foster social cohesion. In our case with The Young Creatives Programme, when we place these young people in Community Arts Centres to assist the youth to acquire occupational skills. At the same time, the monthly stipends they receive, creates a measure of sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The NYSP is currently said to be the single largest service programme for young people in the country. We are partnering on the Programme with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), to assist with management of stipend of these 270 participants.

I officially launched the programme in July 2023 in Gauteng, with young people from all nine provinces present.

18 December 2023 - NW3576

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Ramolobeng, Ms A to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

What plans has his department put in place with regard to the safety of officials working at the (a) Tzaneen and (b) Tswelopele Correctional Centres in Kimberly, who do not have official accommodation?

Reply:

a) It should be noted that after the completion of the construction of the new generation Correctional Centre at Tzaneen, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) tasked the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to commence with the planning and design of the official staff accommodation on the existing site, in close proximity to the Correctional Centre. It is anticipated that the planning and design stages will be finalised during the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

b) Indeed, the Tswelopele Correctional Centre (TCC) was constructed without the inclusion of official staff accommodation, the need was communicated to the DPWI as there is existing state-owned land available for the construction of official staff accommodation. Currently, DCS is investigating funding strategies which includes the possibility of the District Development Model (DDM) to address housing challenges.

END.

18 December 2023 - NW3566

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Joseph, Mr D to ask the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE

(1). whether his department continues to fund the cultural and creative industries (CCIFSA) after several allegations of mismanagement: if not, why not: if so, what was the ccifsa budget allocation in (a) 2020-21. (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial years. (2). what was the date of 2022 CCIFSA annal general meeting and (b) where can one access and view audited financial statements for the 2022-23 financial year. (3). on what date were the CCIFSA office bearers elected, (c) who were auditors appointed to oversee the election of the specified office berears and (c) what were the audited results? NW4600E

Reply:

(1). Yes, CCIFSA is funded on an annual basis by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Budget allocations are as follows:

  1. For 2020/21 no funding was given to CCIFSA.
  2. R5 000 000.00 for 2021/22
  3. R5 000 000.00 for 2022/23

(2). CCIFSA did not have an annual general meeting in the 2022/23 financial year due to its unfinished business of facilitating the hosting of the three outstanding Provincial Regional Conferences. To date, the following Provinces have hosted the Provincial Conferences namely Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Northwest.

(b) 2022/23 CCIFSA Audited Financial Statements are available at any time they a required through the Department.

(3). (a). CCIFSA Office bearers were elected on 21-23 August 2019

(b). The elections were conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

(c). The results were as follows:

  • President: Ms Joy Mbewana (KZN
  • Deputy President: Mr Johannes Msomi (MP)
  • National Coordinator: Mr Luzuko Lukhohli (EC)
  • Secretary General: Mr Ayanda Roda (FS)
  • Deputy Secretary General: Mr Anenele Maki (WC)
  • Treasury General: Mr Mangaliso Mtshula (NC)

18 December 2023 - NW2928

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Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy

With reference to the identification by his department’s Integrated Resource Plan of the Komati Power Station as an underperforming power plant scheduled for decommissioning in 2020, and in light of his claims in recent interviews and speeches that the Komati Power Station was a performing plant that should not have been decommissioned, what (a) total amount of electricity did Komati Power Station generate and (b) was the Energy Availability Factor at the time of its decommissioning?

Reply:

As part of information gathering process in preparation for the development of IRP 2019, the Department requested information on existing power plant generation capacity and performance projections. Eskom projected Komati to be performing at energy availability factor of 87 percent in year 2020. Komati power station has a design generation capacity of 1000 MW from a total of nine units. The repurposing of this power station has therefore led to the loss of this capacity.

18 December 2023 - NW2686

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Terblanche, Mr OS to ask the Minister of Police

What total number of (a) firearms belonging to the SA Police Service were reported stolen and (b) crimes have been committed with stolen police firearms, (i) in the (aa) 2021-22 and (bb) 2022-23 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2023?

Reply:

Find reply here

18 December 2023 - NW3025

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

Whether, with reference to displaced educators in the Republic, particularly at the Lulamelani Secondary School in the Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, (details furnished), her department has a standardised process of removing displaced educators from schools in place; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will she determine a process to deal with the issue of displaced educators as this happens throughout all provinces?

Reply:

The question is based on a direct context of  Lulamelani Secondary School in the Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga. The question can therefore best responded by the the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Mpumalanga . The Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MEC for Free State as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules. 

18 December 2023 - NW3278

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Tetyana, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What are the reasons that he has not published the report to date, which was concluded in 2021 by the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, chaired by Professor Yunus Ballim?

Reply:

It is not mandatory for Minister to publish all reports, particularly after they have been tabled in parliament. Nonetheless the report is available on request. Furthermore, work is underway to ensure the report is published in the government gazette.

18 December 2023 - NW3717

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Zondi, Mr MA to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Considering that developing a shared national identity is fundamental for nation building and social cohesion, what programmes has his department undertaken to promote a social compact through meaningful dialogue to embed shared values?

Reply:

The foundation for shared values based on nonracialism and non-sexist, democracy, social justice, and a shared national identity was laid by the 1996 adoption of the Constitution as a national compact to transform and uproot our country from its divisive past. As a Compact, the Constitution set the democratic government on a path to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights.

The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, which oversees the implementation of the Priority 6 Social Cohesion Programme of Action, has several national identity-building and constitutional values-affirmation initiatives aimed at fostering national unity and a sense of pride in being South African.

To foster a national identity that is inclusive of all individuals and surpasses racial, ethnic, religious, and other social identity-related factors, the Department has implemented targeted initiatives to popularise national symbols like the flag in school projects, the #IamtheFlag campaign, awareness-raising workshops on national symbols and national orders based on our Passport of Patriotism, and the commemoration of all our national days. These initiatives offer prospects for genuine nation-building and a broad national identity, with national symbols serving as crucial markers for our shared identity that is founded on Constitutional values, cohesion, and pride in our country.

Further, the Department also implements several community engagement initiatives that are designed with the express purpose of reflecting and mobilising our communities around our shared values in our constitution. These programmes include the Community Conversations Programme, the Social Cohesion Advocates Programme, and the Moral Regeneration Programme. These programmes create opportunities for social dialogue around our constitutional values and the horizontality of human rights in our country. Further, these programmes create platforms for communities to address the social ills that are plaguing our communities such as Gender Based Violence and Femicide as well as the eroding levels of morality and values in our communities. They are also a platform for creating opportunities for interaction to create trust among those from diverse backgrounds, shared values, and a sense of belonging.

There is no doubt that our quest for a shared national identity which is a fundamental prerequisite for nation-building and social cohesion must necessarily be based on the iconography and overall heritage landscape that accurately reflects the demographics of our country as part of redress and restitution. In this regard, my department remains steered by the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to redress the past inequities, whilst integrating the previously marginalised heritage as a way to cultivate the prospects of authentic reconciliation and social cohesion. In this regard, the Department carries out the Heritage Legacy Project, whereby the Department has constructed several heritage sites and erected monuments and statues in pursuit of the transformation of the heritage landscape. For this MTSF period, these include the Sarah Baartmann Center of Remembrance; Winnie Mandela House in Brandfort; OR Tambo Legacy Project and the JL Dube Amphitheatre.

Further, through the South African Geographical Names Council, the Department continues to standardise the geographical names in South Africa as a way to redress, correct and transform our country with major towns recently changed such as Gqeberha from Port Elizabeth, Kariega from Uitenhage, Qonce from King Williamstown, and Winnie Mandela from Brandfort, and major airports having been recently changed that include the King Phalo from East London and Chief Dawid Stuurman from Port Elizabeth. These national identity-building initiatives are very important in guaranteeing that nation-building and social cohesion are not merely theoretical concepts without the potential to impact inherited racial inequality which is antithesis to the shared values as espoused in the Constitution of our republic.

In addition to the aforementioned programmes, which are essential for forging a national identity based on our shared values, the Department is currently finalising a National Social Compact for Social Cohesion and Nation Building in partnership with key stakeholders. Under this initiative, social actors from the public sector, labour, business, and civil society will engage in meaningful dialogue that will see each of the social partners playing a significant and meaningful role in promoting social cohesion and nation-building.

The Department and other important stakeholders are planning to present this social compact before the social partners at NEDLAC before bringing it before Cabinet for approval. It is expected that the resulting Social Compact will inspire the important sectors of our society such as business, media, and civil society to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building, with the understanding that these goals cannot be achieved solely by government and that a fundamental agreement outlining the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in society is necessary.

14 December 2023 - NW4203

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Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Whether the Government will support the SA Rugby Union (SARU) in their next bid to host the Rugby World Cup; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how will the Government ensure that SARU drives transformation in rugby in all (a) communities and (b) schools to give every rugby player the same opportunity to play for the Springboks?

Reply:

Government decision to support or not support any bid to host major international sport events in country, including a bid by SARU, is based on the merits or demerits and motivating factors of the application as submitted at that time. All applications to host major sporting events in the country must be aligned with the bidding and hosting regulations.

(a). As part of the annual transfer, the Department provides financial support to SARU which is earmarked for programmes aimed at transformation in communities. These programmes include get into rugby, rugby for people for people with disability and the women’s rugby programmes.

(b). Through Club Development Programme, Rugby receives support in rural areas to support the leagues and train coaches and referees.

Each province makes provision through the conditional grant to support priority codes.

Rugby is one of the 16 priority codes that are part of the School Sport Programme. And as result, they receive support from provincial departments, through the Conditional Grant, to:

  1. Conduct capacity building programmes, which are meant to empower educators to train as coaches and managers of Rugby, with the view to promote participation in Rugby in schools.
  2. Participate at the district and provincial championships.
  3. Also receives support to participate at the National School Sport Championships.
  4. Benefits from the provision of equipment and attire to enable schools to participate.

 

14 December 2023 - NW4049

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Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

Whether, with regard to the 11th SA AIDS Conference, 2023, that was held in Durban, his department ordered an expo stand; if so, (a) for how many days, (b) what was the cost of the stand (i) in total and (ii) for each day, (c) how (i) was the stand utilised and (ii) is return on investment measured in relation to the stand?

Reply:

The National Department of Health organized an exhibition stand in collaboration with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) during the 11th SA AIDS Conference.

a) The exhibition stand was on display for three (3) days in line with the exhibition hall operational period.

b) The total cost for the stand was -

  1. Total cost for three (3) days amounted to R1,055,951. The cost of the stand included booking of exhibition space at the Durban ICC exhibition Hall, Conceptualization, design, production and dismantling of an exhibition stand frame, panels, related items and Recording, production and editing of videography and photography of HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB interventions/programmes that were showcased during the exhibition.
  2. Costs were not broken-down per day. According to the terms and conditions of the Conference Organisers, the Exhibition space is booked for the duration of the Conference, there are no daily rates applicable.

c) (i) The stand was utilised as a platform to popularise the current National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs: 2023-2028, and showcasing the achievements of the country’s HIV response.

(ii) Return on investment is that the Department in collaboration with SANAC was able to provide a platform for engagement (dialogues) with various stakeholders on innovative interventions implemented to prevent new HIV infections. Furthermore, delegates had the opportunity to share lessons learnt, best practices and new scientific and behavioural developments in HIV response.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4050

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Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

Whether, he has undertaken any consequence management measures against certain persons (details furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) when will the consequence management measures be implemented?

Reply:

a) The correspondence from NEHAWU refers to a forensic investigation that was instituted by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to investigate the allegations levelled against the President of the HPCSA, Prof. M.S. Nemutandani.

It is important to appreciate the following:

  • HESA appointed Prof Nemutandani to the Medical and Dental Professions Board (MDB) as per the Regulations relating to the Constitution of the MDB.
  • As a Member of the MDB, Prof Nemutandani was one of those designated in terms of section 5(1)(a) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974 (“the Act”), to be a member of the HPCSA Council.
  • Prof. Nemutandani was thereafter elected as President of the Council by the members of the Council per section 7(1) of the Act, and that is how Prof Nemutandani became the President of the HPCSA.

You would appreciate that the President of the Council is appointed by the Minister after being recommended by members of the Council. You would consequently appreciate why the forensic investigation report makes findings and recommendations for consideration by the HPCSA and not the Minister. It is the Council that should consider the report and make recommendations to the Minister on any action against the President of the HPCSA.

b) According to the Registrar of the HPCSA, the matter is currently serving before the Professional Conduct Committee of the Medical and Dental Professions Board. The Committee is tasked with adjudicating whether the acts that Prof Nemutandani is accused of constitute unprofessional conduct as defined in the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974. This matter was first set down for 22 September 2023 but subsequently postponed to 15 November 2023 to allow the respondent to secure a legal presentation as he needed to brief counsel. The matter could not proceed on 15 November 2023 on account of a request for further postponement by the respondent as he had a bereavement in his family. The postponement was granted by the Committee to February 27,28, and 29, 2024. The Minister will be provided with a report upon the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing.

Notwithstanding the abovementioned disciplinary process, which is ongoing, the Department is also taking legal advice in terms of any further steps with respect to the individuals mentioned and the findings of the investigation report because of the nature of the matter and the level of Prof. Nemutandani at the HPCSA.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4152

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Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

What plans are in place to fill the vacancies in the finance section of her department which stand at 26,8% as at 31 March 2023 according to the most recent Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report on her department, particularly considering the findings of the Auditor-General with regard to R1,44 billion in irregular expenditure?

Reply:

The following posts in the Finance Division were tadvertised to address the high vacancy rate and are in various stages of the recruitment process:

  • Chief Financial Officer post was filled with effect from 01 June 2023.
  • Director: Financial Accounting post was filled with effect from 04 December 2023.
  • Chief Director: Financial Management advertised on 20 August 2023 and is in process.
  • Deputy Director: Budget Management advertised on 11 August 2023 and is in process.
  • Deputy Director: Cash Flow Management advertised on 11 August 2023 and is in process.
  • State Accountant (6 Posts) advertised on 12 September 2023 and is in process.

14 December 2023 - NW3977

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Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

Whether the position a certain person (name furnished) is holding, was job evaluated before the person was transferred as the person was not an employee affected by restructuring; if not, why not; if so, (a) how did the person know that there was a vacancy in the Office of the Director-General of her department, (b) was the irregular appointment of the person (i) challenged and (ii) reported to the Public Service Commission and (c) what was the outcome of the investigation?

Reply:

The job was evaluated.

a) The person was contacted by the Human Resource unit of the Department to establish if she would consent to a lateral transfer to the post of Director: Executive Support.

b) The appointment of the person was not irregular.

  1. There was no challenge in the form of a grievance, dispute referral or court process on the transfer of the person.
  2. The Department is aware that a complaint was referred in 2022 to the Public Service Commission on the transfer of the person.
  3. The Department has not received the outcome of the investigation by the Public Service Commission.

End

14 December 2023 - NW4014

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Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether his department has any (a) short-term and/or (b) long-term contracts with any (i) South African and (ii) foreign companies in efforts to restore the energy contributions of the (aa) Kusile and (bb) Medupi Power Stations; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the (aaa) terms of each contract, (bbb) projected deliverables of each agreement and (ccc) further relevant details?.

Reply:

(a) and (b)

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) does not have short-term and/or long-term contract with any national or foreign companies in respect of all Power Stations, this includes the Kusile and Medupi Power Stations. Any such contracts are entered into by Eskom. Examples would be with supplies from Cahovva Bassa, Southern African Power Pool

(aaa), (bbb) and (ccc)

The Department of Public Enterprises has an oversight responsibility over State-Owned Companies (SOCs) and is not involved in the operations of the SOCs. The Department is not responsible for procurement in the Eskom power stations in line with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd management is responsible for all the interventions at the Kusile and Medupi Power Stations.

.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4036

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Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

Whether his department has any record for the projected number of retirements of public health service officers in the next five years in each (a) departmental section and (b) province; if not, why not; if so, what (a) step-by-step measures are in place to replace them and (b) are the further relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a)(b) According to the PERSAL report as extracted on 31 October 2023, the table below is the data of health care workers in both health related and non-health related categories who are expected to retire due to attaining 65 years, which is the compulsory retirement Age in accordance with the Public Service Act 1994, as amended.

2. (a) Since the Department is unable to fill vacant posts due to budget cuts that have tremendously affected Cost of Employment (COE). Provinces have introduced systematic process of approving funding and advertisements of posts in consultation with Provincial Treasuries, to avoid exceeding available budgets.

  • Developed and prioritised posts through Annual Recruitment Plan – where funding permits
  • Prioritised filling of posts through conditional grant funding
  • Filling of replacement posts considered and approved monthly
  • Advertisements published National wide through print media
  • A dedicated Registrar Programme to train and produce in-house Medical Specialists

(b) The Persal Age analysis information is used to influence our internal skills development program. When a retiring official is in a specialist posts, the Department grants study leavers who are interested in that particular speciality with the intention to appointment them when they qualify into that vacated post of the retire.

 

PERSAL Report as at 31 October 2023 - Staff retirements per year as at age 65

Province

Occupational Group Clasification

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

Total

Eastern Cape

Health Related

21

232

386

428

548

711

2326

 

Non Health Related

1

25

62

73

86

110

357

Prov. total

22

257

448

501

634

821

2683

Free State

Health Related

32

100

140

154

223

273

922

 

Non Health Related

5

17

24

28

50

60

184

Prov. total

37

117

164

182

273

333

1106

Gauteng

Health Related

69

309

393

531

696

880

2878

 

Non Health Related

12

27

117

150

224

271

801

Prov. total

81

336

510

681

920

1151

3679

Kwazulu-Natal

Health Related

58

243

378

414

578

726

2397

 

Non Health Related

4

66

114

143

216

308

851

Prov. total

62

309

492

557

794

1034

3248

Limpopo

Health Related

19

119

174

169

308

384

1173

 

Non Health Related

4

43

70

56

103

174

450

Prov. total

23

162

244

225

411

558

1623

Mpumalanga

Health Related

20

50

70

97

139

192

568

 

Non Health Related

1

12

38

57

78

84

270

Prov. total

21

62

108

154

217

276

838

Northern cape

Health Related

22

34

70

58

89

100

373

 

Non Health Related

1

5

5

9

7

18

45

Prov. total

23

39

75

67

96

118

418

Nort- West

Health Related

80

69

125

110

188

270

842

 

Non Health Related

1

10

16

28

41

64

160

Prov. total

81

79

141

138

229

334

1002

Western Cape

Health Related

64

163

166

197

272

355

1217

 

Non Health Related

5

17

41

61

69

90

283

Prov. total

69

180

207

258

341

445

1500

Total

419

1541

2389

2763

3915

5070

16097

END.

14 December 2023 - NW3946

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Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether (a) he, (b) the Deputy Minister and (c) any other official in his department attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, what (i) are the relevant details of each person in his department who attended the Rugby World Cup, (ii) is the total number of such persons and (iii) were the total costs of (aa) travel, (bb) accommodation and (cc) any other related costs that were incurred by his department as a result of the trip(s)?

Reply:

a) The Minister did not attend the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023.

b) The Deputy Minister did not attend the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023.

c) There were no other officials who attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023.

 

Remarks: Approved/Not Approved/Comment

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4120

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Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry. Fisheries and the Environment

(1) Whether, with reference to the proposed introduction of Norms and Standards for the Management of Damage-causing Animals in South Africa and subsequent statements regarding Guidelines for The Management of Damage-causing Animals in South Africa, the Guidelines were issued; if not, by what date(s) will the Guidelines be (a) issued and (b) implemented; if so, on what date was the Guidelines issued; (2) Whether she will furnish Ms T Breedt with a copy of the relevant Guidelines; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) What were the reasons that the proposed Norms and Standards were replaced with the Guidelines, of which compliance is not mandatory and which are unenforceable?

Reply:

Find reply here

14 December 2023 - NW4105

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Mthethwa, Mr E to ask the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture

Whether there is an entity that is equivalent to the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in the creative and cultural sector; if not, what measures has he put in place to establish such an equivalent entity; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) is a committee recognised as a national confederation in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act 110 of 2007.

No, there is no entity that is equivalent to SASCOC in the Creative and Cultural Sector, as the two are incomparable with SASCOC being a creation of a piece of legislation.

14 December 2023 - NW4064

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Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

What (a) total number of applications have been received for positions of community service physiotherapist in 2024, (b) total number of applicants have already been placed as community service physiotherapists and (c) is the deadline for final placement?

Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stakeholders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) A total of 470 physiotherapist (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for community service positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) 463 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above. Of those 424 have been allocated and notified, with the remaining 39 applicants still confirming their actual commencement dates.

c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

The deadline to finalize all allocations cannot be specified as the process is not punitive, however it unfolds until all eligible applicants have been allocated to positions, and duly appointed by Provincial Departments of Health.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4126

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Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Health

In light of the festive season approaching in a couple of weeks, what measures have been put in place to ensure that hospitals across the Republic are prepared for the increase in medical incidents?

Reply:

In preparation for the busy festive season the following measures have been put in place in hospitals:

  • Contingency plans for the festive season are in place for all hospitals and Emergency Medical Services as is done annually.
  • Contingency plan is in place for extra personnel in Accident and Emergency units, surgical and orthopaedic wards throughout the festive period due to expected increase in the number of patients requiring surgical intervention.
  • Elective, non-urgent surgical procedures are not booked during festive period and theatre space is provided on a 24hour basis for emergencies.
  • Leave is strictly monitored, senior managers on call on a 24-hour basis to oversee operations in hospitals during this period.
  • In case of disasters, all hospitals are in constant alert and the hospital disaster plans will be activated which includes recalling of staff on leave, at any given time.
  • Interprovincial collaborations on transfers are arranged in case of disasters to respond appropriately.
  • Stable patients on chronic medication have been given 2 months’ supply of medication to decongest the hospitals.
  • Stable patients are discharged home to avail beds for acutely ill and emergency cases.
  • Stable patients are given Pass-out should they wish so.
  • The Medical Depot ordered buffer stock to accommodate any eventuality.
  • Hospitals in the same or close geographical areas have a divert operational policy in place as a mechanism to ensure access to emergency medical services.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4162

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Ms MD

Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

Whether his department has records of the number of doctors who (a) graduated from each medical school in the country during the 2018-2023 period, (b) did not get placed to serve the mandatory community service, (c) entered the public health service upon completion of community service and (d) are unemployed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

According to the records as presented to Parliament responding to a similar parliamentary question number 3511, the table below provides (a) data of graduates from each medical school in the country for the 2018-2023 period.

South African Institutions of Higher Learning

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

TOTAL

University of Free State

114

130

179

176

167

173

939

University of KwaZulu Natal

159

78

229

150

281

130

1027

University of Limpopo

 

 

24

41

89

75

229

University of Pretoria

225

291

351

366

335

343

1911

University of Stellenbosch

231

295

294

310

306

295

1731

University of Witwatersrand

274

277

425

397

436

466

2275

Walter Sisulu University of Science and Technology

86

99

195

156

156

151

843

Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (University of KwaZulu Natal)

5

143

77

178

64

200

667

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

201

255

333

254

309

290

1642

University of Cape Town

191

237

213

207

231

241

1320

Total

1486

1805

2320

2235

2374

2364

12584

(b) The Department has it on record that all these graduates were placed for the mandatory community service, after completing their medical internship and were declared registerable as community service doctors by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

(c) The table below provide a breakdown of new Medical Officer appointments per province for the period 2018 to 2023. The appointments, includes doctors who post their medical community service applied for appointment in the public service.

Medical Officer's appointed from 2018 - 2019 in the Public Sector

 

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

*2023

Total

EC

329

323

364

298

275

252

1841

FS

103

109

158

110

196

170

846

GP

328

421

587

605

658

568

3167

KZ

493

511

656

489

514

515

3178

LP

110

224

183

215

261

239

1232

MPY

62

59

150

55

112

124

562

NW

83

88

85

95

48

144

543

NC

34

20

167

46

190

54

511

WC

249

283

345

275

360

235

1747

Total

1791

2038

2695

2188

2614

2301

13627

*2023 Data is only available up to November 2023.

(d) The Department does not keep records of unemployment doctors after completing community service as they register as independent medical doctors and can opt to practice in the public service or the private sector.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4214

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Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Whether her department will furnish Ms H S Winkler with the contact information of all the air quality officers in each municipality in KwaZulu-Natal; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

14 December 2023 - NW4119

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Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

(1) Whether her department has been informed of the drinking water shortages for animals in the Molopo Nature Reserve in the North West and the consequential death of game in the specified park; if not, why not; if so, what steps have been taken to assist in resolving the issue; (2) Whether the North West Department of Tourism and/or Environmental Affairs contacted her department for assistance in the matter; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) How will her department ensure accountability for the tragedy that occurred in terms of game dying of thirst in the Limpopo Nature Reserve; (4) How does her department monitor the functioning and/or infrastructural aspects of nature reserves under the custodianship of provincial departments?

Reply:

Find reply here

14 December 2023 - NW4194

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

(a) What total amount has the Africa Renaissance Fund paid out in aid to African countries since 2019 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (b) which countries benefited from the financial aid and (c) what total amount did each of the countries receive?

Reply:

Since 2019, the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund has provided aid to the following African countries:

a) Total aid provided by the ARF since 2019 to date is R406 439 351,32.

b) and c) The below table provides the information requested.

Name of the Country

Project Description

Value of the project

South Sudan

Humanitarian Assistance

R74 750 898,00

Republic of Zimbabwe

Humanitarian Assistance

R50 000 000,00

South Sudan

Prevention and Resolution of Conflict

R1 025 820,00

The Central African Republic

Promotion of Democracy and Good Governance

R18 554 240,00

AU Special Fund for COVID-19

Humanitarian Assistance

R72 711 439,04

South African contribution towards the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

Humanitarian Assistance

R36 344 440,13

The Kingdom of eSwatini

Humanitarian Assistance

R40 000 000,00

Central African Republic (CAR)

Prevention and resolution of conflict

R8 185 000,00

The Kingdom of Lesotho

Democracy and good governance

R32 396 231,00

Drought Relief in Namibia

Humanitarian assistance

R72 471 283,15

Total

R406 439 351,32

14 December 2023 - NW4054

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Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

(1)(a) When was a certain person (name furnished) seconded to her department and (b) what position was the person seconded to; (2) what were the reasons that the person was seconded to her department; (3) whether the position the specified person currently holds was advertised; if not, why not; if so, when was the position advertised; (4) prior to the specified person’s promotion at her department, what position did the person previously occupy in the Gauteng Provincial Government; (5) which person in the Gauteng Provincial Government signed the person’s secondment agreement to her department?

Reply:

(1) (a) The person was seconded to the Department on 1 August 2020;

(b) The person was seconded in terms of section 15 of the Public Service Act to support the Office of the Director-General;

(2) The person was seconded to the Department to provide policy coordination and support in the Office of the Director-General;

(3) The position the specified person currently holds was advertised on 16 October 2020;

(4) The person previously occupied a Director: Policy Advisor and Analyst post in the Gauteng Office of the Premier;

(5) The person’s secondment agreement was signed by the Director-General: Gauteng Office of the Premier.

End

14 December 2023 - NW4216

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Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Whether her depadment will furnish Ms H S Winkler with the details of officials in each province tasked with investigating reports of illegal fishing and trawling; if not, why not; if so what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

14 December 2023 - NW3972

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Loate, Mr T to ask the Minister of Health

(1)What is the position of his department regarding the finding of the International Diabetes Federation that (a) the prevalence of sugar diabetes had more than doubled between 2011 and 2021 in the Republic, (b) approximately 4,2 million persons were living with diabetes and (c) by 2045 more than 7,4 million South Africans could be diabetic; (2) whether his department intends to take any steps in this regard; if not, why not; if so, (a) how aggressively and (b) via which programmes is his department actively containing the spread of diabetes and/or succeeding with the given programmes; (3) whether he will make a statement on the prevalence of diabetes and the implication it has for the South Africn society and its economy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a), (b) and (c) The Department is concerned about the growing number of people diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% of all cases and is associated with obesity, unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or better managed when people make healthy lifestyle choices. It is for this reason that the Department is acceleration implementation of preventive programmes.

2. (a) The Department has taken and will continue to take serious steps to prevent and control diabetes. The intensity of the Department’s intervention in this regard, is amongst others demonstrated by the fact that the Department has for the past two years, used part of the Health Promotion Levy to provide tools to provinces to facilitate increased screening and focussed health education in the community and in primary health care facilities for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, and promoting physical activity and healthy eating.

(b) The Department has a directorate for NCDs, and national managers work with managers in provinces and districts to pursue the objectives of the programme. The programme is currently achieving its screening targets. Outcome targets will be measured though the WHO STEP survey which is scheduled to commence during the 2024-2025 financial year.

(3) No, it is not necessary to make a statement.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4215

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Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Whether her department will furnish Ms H S Winkler with the contact information of the environmental management inspectors, commonly known as Green Scorpions, in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

14 December 2023 - NW4048

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Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

Whether he will furnish Mrs M O Clarke with all the reports regarding assessments and/or investigations into the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Gauteng since 1 January 2016 to date; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Table below is providing a list of reports that were conducted since 1 January 2016:

DESCRIPTION OF THE REPORT

DATE OF THE REPORT

CONDUCTED BY WHO

LINK OF THE REPORT

STATUS OF THE REPORT

Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) Report

17 September 2017

Bigen Africa on behalf of GDID (Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development)

Tambo Memorial Hospital - OHS Report.pdf

Contractor was appointed by IDT on behalf of the National Department of Health to address the non-compliance issues.

Condition assessment on the structure of the hospital regarding the damages caused by the gas explosion

29 December 2022

IDT on behalf of the National Department of Health

Report for Tambo Memorial Hospital structure.pdf

Contractor was appointed by IDT on behalf of the National Department of Health to address the findings.

Condition assessment on medical equipment/health technology equipment of the hospital regarding the damages caused by the gas explosion

29 December 2022

National Department of Health

Tambo Memorial Hosp Equipment Report.pdf

All the findings were addressed and resolved in January 2023.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4062

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Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

What (a) total number of applications have been received for positions of (i) interns and (ii) community service doctors in 2024, (b) number of applicants have already been placed in each case and (c) is the deadline for final placement in each case?

Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stakeholders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) (i) A total of 2 403 medical interns (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for medical internship positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

(ii) A total of 2 391 medical doctors community service (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for medical internship positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) (i) 2 354 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above and have since been notified of their placement outcomes.

Some outcomes were unfavourable to the applicants with reasons as follows:

  • 113 have been declared not eligible for this Cycle by HPCSA
  • 6 applicants to commence duty from 1 July 2024
  • 1 applicant retracted his allocation due to other commitments

(ii) 2 387 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above and 2 158 have since been notified of their allocation. The remaining 229 applicants to commence duty from 1 March 2024 and will be allocated in January 2024

(c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4163

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Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

Whether his department has records of the number of specialists in each specified area of specialisation (a) in each province, (b) in the public health service, and (c) in the private health service during the 2013-2023 period; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The data as requested is drawn from the Persal System and was extracted on 30 November 2023. Unfortunately, records on the Persal System are not able to provide granule data of each specialization as Specialists are not captured per specialization but per Professional Category.

(a)-(b) The table below responds to question (a) and (b) which is the data available on the Persal system. We do acknowledge that the Professional Councils also keep data of all specialities but with a limitation of not being able to still distinguish between employment status (public or private) as well as current location of practice (Nationally or Abroad).

Row Labels

EC

FS

GAU

KZN

LP

MPU

NW

NC

WC

Medical Specialist

163

127

1026

569

81

51

113

29

749

Registrar (Medical)

97

186

1265

334

94

4

44

2

630

Senior Registrar (Medical)

 1

 0

10

0

 1

0

 0

48

Professional Nurse (Specialised)

1448

596

2834

3605

1539

775

1265

150

1416

Dental Specialist

0

1

60

2

3

2

0

0

5

Grand Total

1709

910

5195

4510

1715

832

1422

181

2848

(c) Not able to provide information of specialist currently in the private sector as the Department is currently not collecting the data but still improving our Human Resource Information System to be operable with private sector.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4063

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Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

What (a) total number of applications have been received for positions of community service nurses in 2024, (b) total number of applicants have already been placed as community service nurses and (c) is the deadline for final placement?

Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stake holders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) A total of 2 036 nurses (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for professional nurses community service positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) 2009 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above. All applicants have been allocated and notified.

c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

The deadline to finalize all allocations cannot be specified as the process is not punitive, however it unfolds until all eligible applicants have been allocated to positions, and duly appointed by Provincial Departments of Health.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4142

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Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Health

What (a) number of doctors have been found to operate in public (i) hospitals and (ii) clinics without proper qualifications and (b) actions have been taken against the officials that allowed the specified doctors to have access to the hospitals and clinics?

Reply:

(a)-(b) According to the HPCSA they have no records of doctors employed and practicing in public hospitals or Clinics. It is important to appreciate that before a doctor can be employed in the public healthcare sector and paid in the public healthcare system he/she must be registered on the PERSAL system which would include a requirement that the doctor provides evidence of registration with the HPCSA as a doctor. Given that there are no reports of doctors without proper qualifications being employed in the public healthcare sector there would be no need to take action against any official in this regard.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4180

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Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

(1)(a) What are the (i) full details of all companies that provided services to his department that have been blacklisted in each province and (ii) reasons for each specified company being blacklisted and (b) on what date was each company blacklisted; (2) whether he has found that any of the blacklisted companies are currently still operating as service providers to his department; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps does he intend to take in this regard?

Reply:

1. (a)(i),(ii) No Department within the Health Sector have blacklisted any company.

(b) Not applicable.

2. Not applicable.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW3959

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Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

(1)What is the update on the current plans for the revitalisation and reopening of the Kempton Park Hospital, which has remained closed for 25 years; (2) (a) what specific health services and facilities are envisaged for the revitalised Kempton Park Hospital and (b) how will such services and facilities address the healthcare needs of the surrounding communities; (3) whether there were consultations with the local community regarding the plans for the specified hospital; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how was the community feedback incorporated into the redevelopment strategy; (4) what measures have been put in place to ensure that the hospital aligns with the healthcare priorities and expectations of the communities it serves?

Reply:

1. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) requested the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) to plan the renovation and refurbishment of the existing hospital infrastructure. The department was informed that the cost of renovations was comparatively too high as compared to the cost of building a new hospital. It was then decided that the existing hospital buildings should be demolished, site cleared, and a new hospital be built on the same site.

Further GDOH requested Gauteng Infrastructure Funding Agency (GIFA) to assist with the funding proposals for the demolishing and rebuilding of the new hospital. Currently GIFA is in the process of preparing Business Cases for submission to National Treasury to request alternative funding of the project under the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) Framework.

2. GDOH plans to reopen the hospital as a new district hospital to provide additional level 1 district beds needed within the Tembisa and Kempton Park area. Provision of additional district hospital beds at Kempton Park hospital will alleviate the pressure on the Tembisa Regional hospital and free bed space for level 2 and level 3 patients.

(3) The planning of the project was put on hold in 2019 to ensure funding is secured before the project can proceed. Consultations with local community were planned to take place once the funding of the project is secured and the project is ready to proceed.

4. The construction of a new level 1 Kempton Park district hospital will ensure that hospital aligns with the Departmental Long-Term Plan (LTP) to provide much needed level 1 district beds within the Tembisa and Kempton Park and the surrounding areas.

Tembisa hospital is a regional hospital with the proposed plan to increase the level of care to Tertiary and Regional levels. Currently Tembisa hospital is under severe pressure due to being the only government hospital catering for the uninsured population of Tembisa, Kempton Park and other surrounding areas.

Due to shortage of district beds in the area, Tembisa hospital is using level 2 beds for level 1 patients that are affecting the level 2 bed availability.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4151

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Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

(a) On what date will her department table the promised Bill to operationalise the SA Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) which has taken almost 15 years, and has contributed to underspending by her department and (b) what is the projected timeline for operationalising the SADPA?

Reply:

a) The Department is currently ensuring compliance with the below processes required for the introduction of the draft Bill into Parliament:

  • Submission of the draft Bill to the Speaker and the Chairperson of the council in terms of Joint Rule 159 and thereafter the Bill is referred to committees;
  • Gazetting the notice of intention to introduce in terms of National Assembly Rule 276/ NCOP Rule 186;
  • Certification of the draft Bill by OCSLA and submission to Parliament’s Bills Office for processing in terms of National Assembly Rule 279(2).

The Department has been in contact with the Bill’s Office in Parliament and currently working on the submission of the draft Bill as per the Joint Rule 159.

The supply chain processes are also underway for the gazetting of the intention to introduce the draft Bill in terms of National Assembly Rule 276/NCOP Rule 186.

The Office of the Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) has also been engaged on facilitating the process of obtaining the certification of the draft Bill through the Department of Justice as required by the National Assembly Rule 279(2).

b) Following the proclamation of the Amended Act into law by the President, the Department will implement the necessary processes for the establishment of the fully-fledged entity.

14 December 2023 - NW4199

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Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

(1)With regard to the October 2023 medical and dental board (MDB) examination, what are the reasons that the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and MDB (a) deviated from past practice of allocating three hours to the theory component of the board examination and (b) did not inform candidates of the deviation from the past practice; (2) (a) what are the reasons that the HPCSA forces candidates who wish to register as interns and candidates who wish to register as medical officers to write the same examination and (b) on what date is it envisaged that the HPCSA will rectify the situation and provide different examinations to suit the level of registration?

Reply:

According to the HPCSA:

1. (a)-(b) The Scope and Guideline document for “Board Examination for Foreign Medical Practitioners wishing to practice in South Africa and for the purpose restoration” issued by the HPCSA’s Medical and Dental Professions Board dated July 2023 provides details on the content, length, and format of the Theory Examination. It is stated in the guideline document that the theory examination time is two (2) hours, as such the candidates were duly informed about the duration of the examination. In addition, the University (UKZN) created a special website from which candidates could access information and directly engage the institution on any matter as they prepared for the exams. The time period for each examination is determined when the examination questions have been finalised so there is no deviation from a three-hour examination period.

2. (a) Foreign-qualified medical graduates need to comply with the standards determined by the MDB for the purposes of registration and clinical practice. Both medical interns and medical officers will enjoy the same scope of clinical practice therefore it is appropriate that their assessment should be the same. There is no rational basis for separate examinations for the two groups.

(b) Based on what has been provided above, there is no need for rectification of any situation.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4150

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Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether his department has any projected capped amount at which it will cease to provide financial relief to state-owned enterprises; if not, why not; if so, what (a) is that amount and (b) are the further relevant details?

Reply:

The Department has no capped amount at which it will cease to provide financial relief to state-owned enterprises. Each request for financial relief is assessed on its own merit. The factors to be considered are diagnosis of the challenges the SOE is facing and the development of turnaround plan to remedy those challenges.

The Presidential State-Owned Enterprises (PSEC) was established by the President in 2020, of which the Department is the Secretariate. The task of PSEC is to reform, reposition and revitalise the SOE’s not only within the Department’s portfolio but others as well. The exercise will require some funding which may be from Government and/or from other sources including disposal of non-core assets, private sector participation amongst others. Funding will therefore be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

 

It must be emphasised that SOEs should not operate on the basis that they will always receive funding from the fiscus. In fact, SOEs must be viable in their own right as soon as possible.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4205

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Faber, Mr WF to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether she will furnish Mr W F Faber with a comprehensive list of all South African embassies and consulates worldwide, including their contact details and addresses; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

A comprehensive list of all South African Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates with contact details and addresses are available online through the website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation at www.dirco.gov.za/south-african-representation-abroad/. The contact details and addresses are updated on a regular basis when new Heads of Mission and officials assume their duties at these missions or when the location of the chancery has changed. In addition to consulting the Departmental website, contact details can also be obtained from our 24-hour switchboard number at +27 12 351 1000.

14 December 2023 - NW4030

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Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

Whether his department has any records of the number of workdays that have been lost to his department due to (a) sick leave and (b) strike action from 1 January 2019 up to 31 December 2022; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

a) Public Services employees are entitled to 36 sick leave days over a 3-year cycle as part of their basic conditions of services. In addition, the Annual Report of the National Department of Health publishes leave usage statistics on a year-to-year basis. These leave days are captured on the Transversal system that is administrated by National Treasury (PERSAL). The statistics are as follows:

Year

Total Sick Leave Days

Number of Employees using Sick Leave

Average Days per Employee

2019

7578

984

8

2020

1036

339

3

2021

2374

425

6

2022

5924

796

7

b) The Labour Relations Act (LRA) defines a strike as “the partial or complete concreted refusal to work, or the retardation or obstruction of work, by persons who are or have been employed by the same Employer or by a different Employer, to remedy a grievance or resolve a dispute in respect of any matter of mutual interest between the Employer and Employees.

Furthermore, the section 64 of the LRA stipulates two procedural requirements that should be met for a strike action by employees to be protected and they are as follows: -

  • Firstly, it requires that the issue in dispute should be referred for conciliation to a bargaining council or the CCMA.
  • Secondly, If conciliation has failed or (thirty) 30 days period has lapsed from date in which the dispute was referred to the council or the CCMA. the employees in the private sector are required give the employer at least a 48 hours’ notice to embark on a strike, while the employees of the state required to give the state seven (7) days’ notice.

In the Department there was no strike action, rather there was a work stoppage due to non-compliance of the infrastructure/ building to Occupational Health Safety legislative framework.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4202

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Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

(1). (a) On what date did his department host the 2022 Sports Awards event to honour all the winners, (b) what total number of guests attended and (c) what is the name of the venue that the occasion was held at; (2). what was the total amount to host the event, including the breakdown cost for the venue, sound, food and music; (3). (a) what are the full details of the company that got the tender, including their names and contact information and (b) from which (i) line item of the budget was the money sourced and (ii) financial year’s budget?

Reply:

1)(a). The South African Sport Awards were held on 25 March 2023.

b). A total of 1000 people attended the event.

c). The event was held at Sun City Superbowl.

2). The total amount for event management services (hosting the event) was R7,962,131.38. This covered the following services;

Invitation Management, Accreditation and Seating

Voting line

Presenters and Anchor of the Main Event

Set up and décor for Gala Dinner for 1000 people

Technical Production of the Show

Catering, meals, and refreshments (Set days)

Accommodation (Hosts, Anchors, Choreographers, Artists, and Crew)

Transportation (Hosts, Anchors, Choreographers, Artists, and Crew)

Safety and Security

Emergency and Medical Services and Public Liability Insurances

Photography and Videographer

Public Relations, Marketing and Collaterals

Trophies and Medallions

Nominees Blazers and Local Apparel

Coffee Table Book

Panel Members (including debriefing)

Operations Venue Requirements and equipment

Researchers

3)(a). The company that provided the event management services was Moila Vortex Solutions.

3)(b). The budget was sourced from Recognition Systems: Contractors

3(c). The budget was sourced from the 2022/2023 financial year.

14 December 2023 - NW4198

Profile picture: Hicklin, Ms MB

Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

Whether, with regard to the Health Justice Initiative’s revelation that South Africa was forced to overpay for COVID-19 vaccines, and that the terms and conditions were overwhelmingly one-sided and favoured multinational corporations, he will ensure that South African representatives and negotiators working on the World Health Organisation Pandemic Treaty insist on including clauses that will (a) protect the (i) sovereignty of member countries and (ii) countries against extortion by pharmaceutical and other companies, as well as by member countries and (b) provide for consequence management, including arbitration, should extortion occur; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

South Africa’s representatives and negotiators working on the World Health Organisation (WHO) convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (WHO Pandemic Agreement) have participated in the various iterations of the development of a draft negotiation’s text to prepare for the actual negotiations. The latest version of the document under discussion is titled the “Advanced unedited version of the WHO Pandemic Agreement” and is dated the 16 October 2023 (attached as Annexure to this response). The actual negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement have not yet commenced as there is still no agreement on the negotiation’s text and there are divergent views on the language and contents of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the WHO member states. The disagreements are on how the principle of Equity is to be operationalised throughout the Articles of the Agreement, to ensure that the mistakes made in responding to Covid-19 are not repeated as we move forward. The disagreements are based on developing countries requiring that lessons learnt for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response are provided for and that the provisions of the Agreement do not disadvantage member states from the global south. However, despite these divergent views, the following areas on sovereignty and conduct of pharmaceutical manufacturers are still being deliberated upon in developing a negotiations text for a future WHO Pandemic Agreement:

a) The “Advanced unedited version of the WHO Pandemic Agreement” has several articles addressing issues of protecting sovereignty of member states and on protecting members states against extortion by pharmaceutical manufacturers and other companies.

(i) On protection of sovereignty of state Parties to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the Preambular section and Article 3 on General Principles and Approaches addresses these concerns.

  1. The Preamble reaffirms the principle of sovereignty of States Parties in addressing public health matters.
  2. Article 3 affirms that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the general principles of international law, have the sovereign right to legislate and to implement legislation in pursuance of their health policies.

(ii) On protecting members states against extortion by pharmaceutical manufacturers, other companies and member states, Article 10 on “Sustainable Production” and Article 13 on “Global Supply Chain and Logistics” is meant to provide for mechanisms that must be deployed by state parties to prevent extortionary practices by pharmaceutical entities and member states in which they are domiciled. It must however be noted that pharmaceutical companies are not state parties, but that member states in which they are domiciled will be the state parties to the WHO Pandemic Agreement and this is where the challenge of operationalising equity arises as the member states often invoke free market principles and their inability to intervene:

  • 1. Article 10 makes provision for state parties to be self-sufficient in providing for health products by ensuring that in the inter-pandemic period, there is achievement of more geographically and equitably distributed global production of pandemic-related products, and that member states increase the timely, fair and equitable access to safe, effective, quality and affordable pandemic-related products, and thereby reducing the gap between potential demand and supply at the time of a pandemic.
  • 2. Article 13 (3) makes provision for the establishment of the WHO Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (the WHO SCL Network) which shall work with state parties to the agreement to ensure that it facilitates the negotiation and agreement of advance purchase commitments and procurement contracts for pandemic-related products; promotes transparency in cost, pricing and all other relevant contractual terms along the supply chain; and coordinates to avoid competition for resources among procuring entities, including within member states, regional organizations and/or mechanisms.
  • 3. Articles 13 (5) and (6) further provide for each Party to the agreement to, at the earliest reasonable opportunity and in accordance with applicable law, make publicly available online the terms of government-funded purchase agreements for pandemic-related products in those instances in which the Party is directly entering into such purchase agreements and shall to the fullest extent possible and in accordance with applicable laws, exclude confidentiality provisions that serve to limit disclosure of terms and conditions of such purchases.

b) The provision for consequence management, including arbitration, should extortion occur, is described in Article 34 on “Settlement of Disputes” of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This Article provides for parties to resolve disputes through diplomatic channels by negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice, including good offices, mediation or conciliation.

Failure to reach a solution by good offices, mediation or conciliation will not absolve Parties to the dispute from the responsibility of continuing to seek to resolve it. However, the pharmaceutical companies as previously stated are not state parties and will not be signatories to Agreement. This is where the drafting of the negotiating text has stalled as currently there are diverging views from advanced economies and countries of the global north where most of these pharmaceutical companies are domiciled on how to resolve challenges that may arise out of the conduct of these companies. This has resulted in the inability to reach consensus with the representative member states from the developed countries from the global north.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4189

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Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy

(1)With reference to (a) his reply to question 1642 on 2 June 2023 and (b) the meeting on Tuesday, 14 November 2023 with the interested and affected parties discussing a scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, how is it possible that the Hillside Siding coal wash plant on Elandspruit, Farm 291 JS, in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has been established and operational despite the farm not having records of (i) a water use registration, (ii) an approved EIA, (iii) an approved Basic Assessment Report and (iv) an approved Environmental Management Programme; (2) whether Hill Siding has been authorised to make use of the specified property(ies); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (3) whether he will furnish Ms A M M Weber with a copy of the said authorisation; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date and (b) what are the further, relevant details in this regard?

Reply:

  1. The Department is not a competent authority to deal with coal siding and wash plant which is outside the mining area. This business operation as it falls outside of the mining area requires authorization from the departments of Forestry, Fisheries and Water and Sanitation.
  2. Please see (1) above
  3. Please see (1) above

14 December 2023 - NW4153

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Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

What (a) number of employees of her department have faced disciplinary proceedings in the past year, (b) are the details of each specified employee, (c) are the reasons that each specified person was facing disciplinary proceedings, (d) is the period taken to resolve the disciplinary proceedings in each case, (e) number of employees were suspended, (f) were the charges that led to each suspension, (g) number of employees were dismissed, (h1) were the reasons for each such dismissal, (h2) number of employees were suspended with full pay and (i) for how long were the specified employees suspended with full pay?

Reply:

a) The number of employees of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation that faced disciplinary proceedings was 34.

b) The details of the employees that faced disciplinary hearings were as follows:

(i) Chief Directors: 4;

  1. Directors: 7;
  2. Deputy Directors: 3;
  3. Assistant Directors:15;
  4. Senior Administrator: 1; and
  5. Level 7: 4

c) The reasons for the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:

(i) 25 employees were charged with financial misconduct;

(ii) Six (6) employees were charged with Insolence and disgraceful conduct;

(iii) Two (2) employees were charged with late coming and absence without authorisation; and

(iv) One (1) employee was charged with failure to submit a financial disclosure form.

d) The periods taken to resolve the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:

(i) 27 cases finalised in one to three months;

  1. One (1) case finalised in four months and sixteen (16) days;
  2. Two (2) cases finalised in nine to 12 months; and
  3. Two (2) cases are still pending.

e) The number of employees suspended were 4.

f) The charges that led to the suspensions were:

(i) Two (2) employees were suspended for insolence and threatening behaviour; and

(ii) Two (2) employees were suspended for financial misconduct.

g) The number of employees dismissed was 2.

(h1) The reasons for the dismissal of the employees were:

(i) One (1) employee was dismissed for financial misconduct; and

  1. One (1) employee was dismissed for absence without authorisation.

(h2) The number of employees suspended with full pay was 4.

(i)The periods of suspension with full pay were:

(i) One (1) official was suspended for six months and 9 days;

  1. One (1) official was suspended for ten months and 19 days;
  2. One (1) official was suspended for 10 months and 20 days; and
  3. One (1) official is still on suspension (since 7 September 2022) pending the hearing outcome.

14 December 2023 - NW4179

Profile picture: Clarke, Ms M

Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What are the full details of all the investments that were made to the public health sector by foreign (i) governments, (ii) private companies and/or corporations and (iii) individuals in each specified financial year since 1 April 2019, (b) what is the total amount of each investment and (c) how was each investment utilised?

Reply:

a) (i),(ii),(iii) Donor funds

b) Total per each investment

a) (i) (ii) (iii)

DONOR'S NAME

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

Totals

b) Total: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

492,075,883,56

366,677,054,80

42,708,867,45

20,730,070,29

26,843,267,28

949,035,143,38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b) Total: European Union

4,613,092,16

-

-

-

-

4,613,092,16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b) Total: Germany

5,455,047,89

877 636,52

-

-

-

6,332,684,41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b) Total: Global Fund

616,153,230,05

571 301 660,14

1,411,879,026,50

922 803 142,86

930 804 645,72

4,452,941,705,27

(c) The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) financial and technical support through the existing Cooperative Agreement, assists the NDoH to incorporate results of programme evaluations into operational disease prevention and control programmes.

  • In Financial year 2019/2020, The CDC supported Community Services.
  • In financial year 2020/2021 CDC supported procurement of HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs and TB Prevention therapy drugs. The drugs were distributed to provincial depots in 2021/2022. To date, in addition to the programmatic supports, the CDC Cooperative Agreement has been supporting the NDoH with key personnel within its directorates. Funded personnel are responsible for their respective areas of expertise, and all efforts contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB in the country. Additional funds were used to support payment of key personnel appointed in the HIV/AIDS and TB as well as Maternal Child and Women Health clusters.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4121

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Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

(1) With reference to vehicles speeding and resulting in associated animal mortalities in the Kruger National Park (KNP), including unethical behaviour by visitors and/or overcrowding at animal sightings, what (a) total number of (b) kind of species were killed by vehicles in the KNP in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2023; (2) Whether any regulations have been implemented and/or proposed to (a) control unethical behaviour by visitors to the KNP and (b) limit overcrowding at animal sightings in the KNP, as have recently been introduced in the Serengeti National Park; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Find reply here

14 December 2023 - NW4111

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Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation

(1)   Whether, given the persistent challenges of dysfunctional wastewater systems, pollution of rivers, lack of clean drinking water and inadequate sanitation facilities that SA citizens face, he has found that the District Development Model (DDM) has been effective in addressing the specified challenges in both the national and local government sphere of government; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) What (a) are the specific examples of (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful interventions of the DDM and (b) steps has he put in place to rectify the specified shortcomings to ensure the provision of the specified basic services to all citizens?

Reply:

1. The District Development Model (DDM) promotes intergovernmental relations that enhance collaborative planning and implementation of local government programmes. Section 41(1) of the Constitution requires all spheres of government to cooperate with one another, support one another and foster friendly relations. Furthermore, in terms of section 154(1) of the Constitution, national and provincial governments, must support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities to perform their functions.

The DDM is informed by the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 2005 (Act 13 of 2005), which provides for coordinated and integrated alignment of developmental priorities between the three spheres of government. The DDM is integrated district-based approach to addressing service delivery challenges through, among others, localised procurement and job creation that promotes involvement of local communities. It calls for One District, One Plan, and One Budget. Plans are being developed in 52 districts to set out long term strategic framework that will guide the investment and service delivery. The One Plan being developed in each District captures all the necessary challenges, commitments, and resolutions service delivery challenges.

Water service delivery is classified as a functional area of concurrent national and provincial legislative competence in Schedule 4, Part B of the Constitution, 1996. This means that there are dimensions of water services that fall within the realm of both national and provincial governments. Therefore, co-operative governance on these matters is imperative. The DWS is collaborating with relevant national departments and municipalities towards alignment of projects and avoiding duplication which will maximise the resources available to address water services challenges, in line with the DDM. The advent of the DDM has made collaboration to be more effective and efficient as all the departments are being monitored by DDM Champions.

2. The Department has submitted all the key strategic water projects (under implementation and in planning stages) and budgetary allocations as part of the One Plans. These projects are monitored and reported to Steering Committees at each district. At this stage it is not possible to make a determination whether the DDM interventions have been successful or not but collaboration efforts between different role-players are progressing well.

To fast-track the provision of water and sanitation services, the Department provides financial support to municipalities, through conditional grants to develop infrastructure and address infrastructure backlogs. ​Approximately R153 billion has been set aside for the infrastructure investment over the next seven years (2030) as part of the SDG 6 drive to provide water to everyone by 2030. This includes the R105 billion which is aimed at ensuring water security for the country. Approximately 60% of national water resource infrastructure projects are funded by private sector as an initiative of the Department through Public Private Collaboration Agreements. The other additional R47,5 billion is earmarked for Water Services. This includes projects that will improve access to reliability of water supply and ultimately the SDG 6 targets by 2030

Fundamental reforms are required to arrest and turn around the decline in municipal water and sanitation services, including the following:

  • The Department will soon issue updated and more comprehensive national norms and standards for water and sanitation services for public comment.
  • The DWS will also publish a National Regulatory Dashboard showing compliance with national norms and standards as monitored and reported amongst others by Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop Results.
  • The DWS has gazetted the Water Services Amendment Bill for public comment. The current Act distinguishes between roles of Water Services Authority (WSA) and Water Services Provider (WSP) in municipalities. The Bill clarifies functions of WSAs and WSPs, including that billing and revenue collection for water is a WSP function.
  • The Amendment Bill introduces a compulsory operating license system for WSPs, to be managed by DWS as the national regulator. This will enable WSAs to ensure that WSPs have minimum competency, capability, and performance levels. The Bill will empower the Minister of Water and Sanitation to instruct a WSA to appoint a Water Services Provider that is licensed. The Bill will further provide for Minister to implement regulatory enforcement protocols (non-compliance notices, directives) for water services, and to make gross non-compliance an offence, similarly to the National Water Act.

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14 December 2023 - NW4197

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Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What total number of health inspectors are currently employed in each province, (b) what is the vacancy rate of health inspectors in each province and (c) by what date does his department intend to fill all the vacancies in each case?

Reply:

a) The total number of Environmental Health Practitioners (Health Inspectors) per Province is as outlined in the table below under column 4:

b) The vacancy rate per Province as listed below in the table under column 5.

c) The department is not responsible for filling the vacancies of Environmental Health Practitioners (Health Inspectors) because these officials are working directly under 44 Districts and 8 Metropolitan municipalities. The mandate to appoint EHPs lies with the Districts and Metropolitan municipalities.

Table depicting the total number of EHPs and the vacancy rate:

Province

Population as per Census 2022

Required EHPs (Inspectors) Per Ratio of 1: 10 100

Number of EHPs (Inspectors) per Province

Vacancy Rate per Province (vacant Funded Positions)

Eastern Cape

7230204

723

203

8.86%

Free State

2964411

296

71

21.13%

Gauteng

15099422

1510

437

14.42%

KwaZulu Natal

12423908

1242

287

10.45%

Limpopo

6572720

657

129

3.1%

Mpumalanga

5143324

514

81

3.70%

North West

3804546

380

76

28.95%

Northern Cape

1355945

136

55

50.9%

Western Cape

7433019

743

373

2.42%

RSA

62027499

6203

1712

 

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4053

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Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

With regard to the Distribution Demand Management Programme (DDMP), (a) how many proposals have been received for (i) Load Management Programme, (ii) Residential Load Management Programme, (iii) Energy Efficiency Programme and (b) what are the relevant details of each proposal in relation to the specified programme; (2) What is the (a) status of each proposal and (b) estimated demand reduction of each project; (3) What are the potential barriers to entry into these programmes that might have affected the intake for each programme; (4) What marketing measures Eskom intends undertaking to improve the intake of the programmes?

Reply:

1. Twenty-three project proposals have been received to date.

  • Load Management (LM): 16 proposals received.
  • Residential Load Management (RLM): zero proposals received.
  • Energy Efficiency (EE): seven proposals received. (See tables in (2) for details).

Of the 23 projects received, 16 projects (11 LM and five EE) have met the programme criteria to proceed to the governance approval stages. (See the tables in (2) for details).

(2)

Eskom Distribution Demand Management Programme – Load Management Projects

Project number

Project name

Project type

Demand reduction (MW)

Project costs

Status

Project description

2023001

Cooke 4 Water Pumping System

Load Management

10.000

R30 000 000

Procurement phase

Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours

2023003

Driefontein 4 and 5 Fridge Plant

Load Management

5.000

R15 000 000

Procurement phase

Optimisation of underground mining refrigeration system to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours

2023008

LM Karee 4 – Water Pumping System

Load Management

1.000

R3 000 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours

2023009

LM Karee 4 – Compressed Air (CA)

Load Management

1.300

R3 900 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of underground mining compressed air network to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours

2023010

LM Samancor WCM Mooinooi CA

Load Management

1.000

R3 000 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of underground mining compressed air network to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours

2023011

LM Samancor MFC Mills Load Shifting

Load Management

1.440

R4 320 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of smelter-milling plant to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours

2023012

LM Samancor TAS Mills

Load Management

1.058

R3 174 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of smelter-milling plant to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours

2023014

LM Samancor ECM Doornbosch PC

Load Management

0.700

R2 100 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of air pressure control for the underground mine to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours

2023015

LM Samancor ECM Tweefontein PC

Load Management

1.000

R3 000 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of air pressure control for the underground mine to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours

2023016

LM Great Noligwa KOSH Pumping

Load Management

1.600

R4 800 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours

2023017

LM Moab Khotsong Compressors

Load Management

0.800

R2 400 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Optimisation of underground compressor network to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours

 

 

 

24.90

R74 694 000

 

 

 

Eskom Distribution Demand Management Programme – Energy Efficiency Projects

Project number

Project name

Project type

Demand reduction (MW)

Project costs

Status

Project description

2023004

Driefontein 5 Service Water Optimisation

Energy Efficiency

1.000

R3 000 000

Procurement phase

Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical energy savings between 06:00 and 20:00

2023005

Driefontein 5 Energy Recovery

Energy Efficiency

1.800

R5 400 000

Procurement phase

Commissioning of an underground turbine to break the water pressure feeding down the mine shaft to generate electricity, reducing the amount of electricity needed from Eskom

2023007

EE Limpopo Schools Lighting Project

Energy Efficiency

0.443

R1 329 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Replacing old fluorescent lights with energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting at 34 Limpopo public schools

2023018

EE Kusasalethu Turbines

Energy Efficiency

3.200

R9 600 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Commissioning of an underground turbine to break the water pressure feeding down the mine shaft to generate electricity, reducing the amount of electricity needed from Eskom

2023019

EE Shoprite T5 LED Retrofit

Energy Efficiency

0.640

R1 920 000

Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023

Replacing old fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting at 31 Shoprite Checkers supermarkets

 

 

 

7.083

R21 249 000

 

 

(3)

No.

Possible barriers to uptake

Mitigation

1

The DDMP performance contracting programme participating criteria limit mid-segment consumers to participate, as the minimum criteria requirement targets larger projects.

Review programme participation requirements to attract medium to small customers to participate. Revise the engagement plan to address the missing middle segment.

2

Developers have challenges in securing upfront project funding from commercial funding institutions. The incentive is paid after project implementation and during the sustainability period.

Project developers have been encouraged to engage the public (Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), etc.) and private financial institutions for support in financing Energy Efficiency and Demand-Side Management (EEDSM) projects.

3

Project developers, customers, and funders require certainty in the markets when it comes to Demand-Side Management (DSM) incentives. How long will they be available so that they can plan on capital?

This is important to developers and customers, as it will assist them in the decision to invest. Eskom Integrated Demand Management (IDM) intends to run the DDMP after the Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD) 6 (the 2029 financial year) and to motivate the inclusion of DSM in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which will assist in enhancing certainty.

4

The skills shortage is a critical factor. Most customers do not have the necessary skills and resources to undertake DSM measures. This also has an impact on the assessment of benefits when it comes to DSM initiatives.

Eskom IDM and the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) have collaborated to assist customers who have the potential to participate. The NCPC has the resources to offer customer training on DSM and to conduct energy assessment audits.

5

DDMP's current engagements are held at executive customer level, and the information is not adequately passed on to on-site engineers to develop projects.

Engage engineers/energy managers at site level within the cluster.

(4) The following interventions are ongoing to improve the visibility of the DDMPs:

  • Ongoing presentations to industry associations, such as the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and the Energy Services Company (ESCO) Association.
  • Eskom has also presented the DDMP at the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) DSM Indabas (national, Western Cape (WC), and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Furthermore, Eskom participates in NECOM Work Stream 5 - DSM as a task team member.
  • In addition, Eskom has held EEDSM symposiums and continues to engage with customers and stakeholders to promote and provide clarification on the DDMP performance contracting programmes.
  • Eskom IDM management recently held meetings with large municipalities/metros (KZN and the WC) and is planning to engage other distributors.
  • Eskom IDM management has decided to conduct roadshows in all provinces that address the missing middle (small- to medium-sized customers) to improve participation.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4112

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Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation

Whether, in light of the ongoing water access challenges in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, there is a realistic prospect of rectifying these longstanding issues and ensure consistent access to water and sanitation for the people in the affected areas of the specified provinces and other areas experiencing water access disruptions, given that these problems have persisted for many years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has a constitutional responsibility to support municipalities to carry out their water and sanitation functions. Secondly, as the regulator of the water sector it is required to set regulatory rules, norms and standards for municipal water and sanitation services in terms of the National Water Act and the Water Services Act.

Whilst the government has made great strides to improve access to water services since 1994, the demand for water has continued to escalate due to economic growth, population growth, urbanization, inefficient use (including increasing physical losses in municipal distribution systems), degradation of wetlands and the impacts of climate change. Another contributing factor to the ongoing water access challenges in the water sector is the fragmented planning and implementation of projects.

The Ministry is in ongoing engagements with municipalities that have severe challenges with the delivery of water services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces. In many of the most challenged municipalities, the DWS and municipal leadership have agreed on improvement plans which include the following:

  • DWS financial support in the form of Regional Bulk Infrastructure and Water Services Grants, technical advice and management support from DWS and water boards.
  • The development of 5-year reliability plans that seek to ensure that municipalities provide reliable water services 95% of the time. These plans will also assist municipalities in managing their assets coupled with shorter turnaround time to fix breakages.
  • Through the District Development Model, the Department is working with municipalities by assisting with integrated planning for water supply projects being funded through the DWS grants and the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).
  • The Blue and Green drop audits are another mechanism that the Department has put in place to ensure reliable water services, and these audits are able to identify plants that need urgent action from the municipalities. Based on the reports from these audits, municipalities are expected to develop action plans and allocate budgets to attend to the issues identified during the audits.

Furthermore, there are Departmental projects that have been completed, are ongoing or still in planning stages in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo as indicated in Annexure A below. These projects will contribute towards improving access to reliable water supply, address water supply backlogs and increase the capacity of water supply systems to meet current and future water demands.

---00O00---

WSA

Project Name

Implementing Agent

Area

 

LIMPOPO

Lepelle Northern Water Board

   

Vhembe DM & Mopani DM

NANDONI TO NSAMI REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME:

Provision of Raw water pipeline from Nandoni to Nsami WTW, Provision of Clean Water Pipeline, Giyani Water Services, Upgrading on Nandoni WTW from 60Ml/day to 120Ml/day

 

Vhembe DM, Collins Chabane LM, Malamulele East (incl. Muswane & Mphambo). Mopani DM e.g. Giyani, Xikukwani and etc (55 villages_

Practical completion Nov 2023

Mopani DM

Giyani WTW Refurbishment (Phase 1)

Giyani - Reticulation of 24 Villages (Phase 1)

 

Giyani, benefiting of 55 villages while Giyani (P1_ 24 Villages)

Jan 2023 to April 2024 (37 Contractors on-site)

Polokwane City & Capricon

OLIFANTSPOORT /EBENEZER WATER SUPPLY SCHEME Ebenezer/Olifants Bulk Water Scheme

 

Polokwane, Capricorn,

Aug 2023- Aug 2026

Masodi LM

MASODI WWTW - MLM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IVANPLATS PROPRIETARY LIMITED MINE -Masodi WWTW

Masodi LM

 

To complete by Dec 2023

Polokwane LM

Polokwane interventions

Polokwane LM

Polokwane, Seshego, Bloodriver and Perskebult

August 2023

- April 2025

Vhembe DM

MUSINA WATER SERVICES AUGMENTATION INTERVENTIONS:

  • Transfer of water from Zimbabwe (medium term) Beitbridge-Musina Integrated Water Supply Scheme (BMIWSS).

DBSA/ DWS/ Lepelle Northern Water Board

Musina

Jan 2024-Jul 2026

Sekhukhune DM and Mogalakwena LM

DWS and Lebalelo Partnership Projects: The purpose of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project Phase 2 (ORWRDP-2) is to develop the infrastructure required in the Middle Olifants River (in the areas of Sekhukhune and Mogalakwena Districts of Limpopo) to meet the water demands in the area.

This Includes the building of 2 dams (De Hoop and Flag Bashilo dams), and the construction of bulk pipelines and pump stations as part of the conveyance system.

  • De Hoop Dam Scheme to Polokwane _(Phase 1)_38
  • Flag Boshielo Phase 2 (96)

Lebalelo Water Users Association

Sekhukhune DM and Mogalakwena LM

Jan 2023- 2030

Sekhukhune DM

Moutse East Water Scheme_ A sub-scheme to receive water from Loskop Bulk water scheme_ through construction of storage and pumpstation

Sekhukhune DM

Moutse East Community

Aug 2022 – Sept 2025

EASTERN CAPE

NMMB

NOOITGEDAGT COEGA LOW LEVEL SUPPLY SCHEME (NCLLS) phase three entails the construction of a flash mixer, two flocculation channels and settling tanks, six new filters (increasing the capacity of the WTW’s with 70Ml/day to 210Ml/day)

Amatola Water

NMBM

Completed

June 2023

NMMB

Lower Sundays River GWS:The works are inclusive of earthworks, canal realignment, servitude rehabilitation, etc. This project is of major importance to the water security of Nelson Mandela Bay

DWS

NMBM

Sep 2023 – Sep 2025

Mbizana

GREATER MBIZANA REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME (GMRBWS) & Repair of Ludeke Dam

Upgrade Nomlacu Water Treatment Plant from 10 Mℓ/day to 20 Mℓ/day,.

uMgeni Water Board

Mbizana

July 2023- June 2024

Mnquma Municipality

NQAMAKHWE REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME; To provide bulk water infrastructure to supply approx 78,000 people in 120 rural villages (wards 13-20 of Mnquma Municipality) with domestic water

Amatola Water Board

Ngamakhwe, Butterworth, Centane

Construction. Completion by April 2024

Ndlambe LM

NDLAMBE BWS PROJECT PROGRESS: The construction and commissioning of the 5 Mℓ/day Port Alfred RO-plant and 16 Mℓ reservoir, including the brine sea outfall pipeline, the construction of 2Mℓ reservoirs in Cannon Rocks

Ndlambe LM

Ndlambe

Construction. Completion Dec 2024

Makana LM

The augmentation of the existing 10 Mℓ/day James Kleynhans WTW by the construction of an additional 10 Mℓ/day WTW to 20Ml/day, along with associated works required to meet the bulk potable water needs for the Bulk Water Supply

Amatola Water Board

Grahamstown + Makhanda

July 2023 - March 2024 (31 August 2023 Practical Completion)

Makana LM

Emergency Repair & refurbish pumpstation @ Howlsons Poort Dam and commission water to Waainek WTW. Provision of O + M for Makana LM for Waainek WTW

Amatola Water Board

Grahamstown + Makhanda

Jun 2023 - Dec 2023