Questions and Replies

Reply:

According to the information received from Eskom:

a) Mr. de Ruyter qualifies for the normal remuneration and fringe benefits associated with his position as Group Chief Executive, and as per his public profile which demonstrates a heightened threat level in the recent past. In the financial year ended March 2022, the security costs incurred for Mr. de Ruyter were R46 490.00.

b) Eskom pays the cost and the employee, Mr. de Ruyter, is personally liable for the tax on the invoice of the security costs.

Reply:

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

“The position of Senior Executive: Grant Funding ceased to exist in April 2017 and was replaced by position of Chief Operations Officer.

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2019/2020 (aa)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b) Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c) Travel Allowance R'000	(d)Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Total R'000
(i) Chief Financial Officer	1 703	245	-	48	296	2 292

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2020/2021 (bb)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b) Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c) Travel Allowance R'000	(d) Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Total R'000
(i) Chief Financial Officer	1 731	250	-	48	655	2 684

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2021/2022 (cc)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b)Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c)Travel Allowance R'000	(d)Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Other Allowances	Total 2022
(i) Chief Financial Officer	2 116	326	-	48	687	104	3 281

-END-

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission has furnished me with the following response to the question, for the period to the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

a) Board Fees

BOARD MEMBER	i) 2019/20	ii) 2020/21	iii) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
Prof NA Nevhutanda	1 572	996	-
Adv. WE Huma	946	979	329
Prof YN Gordhan	1 106	1 133	1 755
Dr MA Madzivhandila	1 111	1 117	1 524
Ms DLT Dondur	1 066	1 210	1 853
* Ms Z Brown	-	-	-
Dr CR Lubisi	-	-	15
Ms BD Ferguson	-	-	24
Ms PK Mvulane	-	-	28
Mr W Hofmeyr	-	-	24

* Ms Brown is Minister’s designate to the Board, employed in the public service, therefore not eligible for Board emoluments.

b) Provident Fund

Board members are not staff of the Commission, therefore not eligible for Provident Fund benefit.

c) Travel Allowance

BOARD MEMBER	i) 2019/20	ii) 2020/21	iii) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
Prof NA Nevhutanda	442	10	-
Adv. WE Huma	159	9	-
Prof YN Gordhan	312	5	-
Dr MA Madzivhandila	234	22	40
Ms DLT Dondur	298	6	-
* Ms Z Brown	-	-	-
Dr CR Lubisi	-	-	1
Ms BD Ferguson	-	-	11
Ms PK Mvulane	-	-	5
Mr W Hofmeyr	-	-	-

* Ms Brown is Minister’s Representative employed in the public service therefore not eligible for Board emoluments

d) Cell Phone Allowance

BOARD MEMBER	i) n2019/20	ii) 2020/21	iii) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
Prof NA Nevhutanda	21	41	-
Adv. WE Huma	14	55	9
Prof YN Gordhan	14	55	55
Dr MA Madzivhandila	14	55	46
Ms DLT Dondur	14	55	55
* Ms Z Brown	-	-	-
Dr CR Lubisi	-	-	-
Ms BD Ferguson	-	-	-
Ms PK Mvulane	-	-	-
Mr W Hofmeyr	-	-	-

* Ms Brown is Minister’s Representative employed in the public service therefore not eligible for Board emoluments

e) (i),(ii),(iii)

Performance Bonus

Board members are not staff of the Commission, therefore not eligible for Performance Bonus.

-END-

Reply:

I have been furnished with the attached reply to the question submitted by the Acting Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission.

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) One. National Treasury is currently on a hybrid working arrangement for purposes of decongestion. Any employee needed physically in the office is instructed to do so. This is to accommodate the current refurbishment project which is underway in both the two buildings (40 Church Square and 240 Madiba Street building). 40 Church Square building, a government owned building which was previously the South African Reserve Bank building, built between 1934 and 1935 is undergoing infrastructure upgrade, following recent infrastructure failures that resulted in it not being fully conducive to 100 % occupancy.

(1)(a)(ii) One employee has special permission to work from home.

(1)(a)(iii) Due to ill-health.

(1)(b) All employees will return full-time in the office upon the completion of the refurbishment project. The one employee will continue working from home until such time that her health condition has improved.

(2) No

Reply:

Yes, the Republic still has Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) stored safely at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation SOC Limited (Necsa), which has neither been downgraded nor sent to USA for safekeeping. The material is highly secured and under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards. The IAEA continuously monitors the stored material using their Remote Monitoring System (RMS) connected 24hrs to IAEA Headquarters in Vienna and does physical verification inspections by visiting Necsa in planned and unplanned visits. This is consistent with South Africa being a signatory to the international treaties for non-proliferation of nuclear material such as the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) and Protocol Additional to the Safeguards Agreement (AP). In terms of security, it should be noted that Necsa is a National Key Point.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not within the perview of the Department Coorperative Governance and Traditional Affairs but that of Police. It is recommended that the question be transferred to Ministry of Police.

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission has furnished me with the following response to the question:

“FINANCIAL YEAR: 2019/2020 (aa)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b) Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c) Travel Allowance R'000	(d)Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Total R'000
(i) Chief Information Officer	2 410	365	120	48	440	3 383
(ii) Executive Manager: Regulatory Compliance	1 995	-	156	48	333	2 532

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2020/2021 (bb)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b) Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c) Travel Allowance R'000	(d) Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Total R'000
(i) Chief Information Officer	1 731	250	-	48	655	2 684
(ii) Executive Manager: Regulatory Compliance	2 031	40	156	48	738	3013

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2021/2022 (cc)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b)Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c)Travel Allowance R'000	(d)Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Other Allowances	Total 2022
(i) Chief Information Officer	2 395	543	120	48	977	327	4 410
(ii) Executive Manager: Regulatory Compliance	2 233	-	156	48	771	32	3 240

-END-

Reply:

The CEO of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) has furnished me with a detailed reply, which disputes the version apparently put to the Honourable Member.

In the reply, the CEO advises that the NEF “relied on the letter of intent to conduct due diligence with the anticipation that Fairplay Hardware would issue a final binding contract prior to presenting the application to the NEF’s Investment Committee for final approval.”

I will be happy to arrange a discussion between the Honourable member and the NEF to provide more details.

-END-

Reply:

Serious consideration is being given to the recommendations of the Zondo Commission and other similar options to introduce as much objectivity and transparency as is possible in specific contexts. For example, the Presidential SOE Commission has recommended the establishment of a “Holding Company” for strategic SOEs, based on research into experiences of other countries.

The President is scheduled to present a consolidated plan (in October 2022) setting government’s response to the state capture report; and the progress registered to date in implementing the recommendations.  The department submitted progress updates to the Presidency and this will form part of the President’ submission to Parliament.

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) None

(ii) None

(iii) Not applicable

(b) Not applicable

(2) Yes. The employees have had the option of vaccination, and in addition, the COVID infection rate has dropped. However, the virus is still “present”. So, with appropriate precautions, the public service has to be back at work and make every effort to increase the productivity within the department.

Reply:

According to the information received from Denel

Denel has not sold any of the above-mentioned products and materials to Russia.

 

Reply:

a) Electric Vehicles

In the 2021/22 financial year, South Africa imported electrical vehicles to the value of R478.0 million. Customs duties (including ad valorem duties) and VAT on imports declared amounted to R78.4 million and R52.9 million, respectively.

b) Hybrid Vehicles

In the 2021/22 financial year, South Africa imported hybrid vehicles to the value of R1 096.0 million. Customs duties (including ad valorem duties) and VAT on imports declared amounted to R136.5 million and R110.3 million, respectively.

The cumulative customs value of imports of both vehicle classes in the 2021/22 financial year was R 1 573. 9 million, whilst the Customs duties (including ad valorem duties) and VAT on imports declared amounted to R 214.9 million and R 163.2 million, respectively.

Imports of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, 2021/22

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still working with the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health to verify details in this regard. The full breakdown will be provided to the Honourable Member as soon as the information is received from the Province.

END.

Reply:

According to the information received from Alexkor

1. There is no record of any illegal miners being provided with any permits during the tenure of a certain person (name and details furnished) of Alexkor and the PSJV;
2. There is no record of any agreements entered into by the Alexkor RMC PSJV with any illegal miners and illegal mining is not permitted.
3. There is no record of any agreement with illegal miners as alluded to the above;
4. There is no record of any agreement with illegal miners as alluded to the above; and
5. The person in question (name and details furnished) resigned from Alexkor and was not transferred to African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation. The terms and conditions of his employment at African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation are not known by the Minister and Alexkor remains a state-owned entity falling under the Department of Public Enterprises. Further details of the current status of thee individual can be obtained from the MINISTRY OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY.

Reply:

A directive for all departmental senior managers (SMS members) to return to office was issued on 26 and 27 January 2022. The Department of Public Service and Administration issued a directive for all government officials to return to office with effect from 1 July 2022. This directive was communicated to the dtic officials on the same day.

I have been advised that a snap survey was conducted in early September 2022 which the Department says indicated that that six employees out of a total staff complement of 1 197 were working remotely. Five officials submitted medical certificates to support their request to work remotely and one person was incapacitated due to a motor vehicle accident. Subject to their medical condition, three officials will return within the next four months, whereas the remaining three are undergoing continuous assessment to determine when they are able to return.

I have asked the Department to prepare a further review of attendance to ensure that there is compliance with the policies and that attendance information is correctly reflected.

(2) No statement on this matter will be made as the information is provided above.

-END-

Reply:

I have been furnished with the attached reply to the question submitted, by the Acting Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission.

 

 

 

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission has furnished me with the following response to the question:

“The Corporate Services was disbanded in June 2017, therefore the position of Executive: Corporate Services ceased to exist.

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2019/2020 (aa)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b) Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c) Travel Allowance R'000	(d)Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Total R'000
i) Company Secretary	1 581	228	-	48	275	2 132
ii) Executive: Corporate Services	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2020/2021 (bb)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b) Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c) Travel Allowance R'000	(d) Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Total R'000
i) Company Secretary	1 607	232	-	48	611	2 498
ii) Executive: Corporate Services	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

FINANCIAL YEAR: 2021/2022 (cc)

Executives	(a) Basic R'000	(b)Provident Fund and Risk Benefit Contributions R'000	(c)Travel Allowance R'000	(d)Cellphone Allowance R'000	(e)Performance Bonus R'000	Other Allowances	Total 2022
i) Company Secretary	1 980	305	-	48	638	247	3 218
ii) Executive: Corporate Services	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a”

-END-

Reply:

1. No, National Treasury has not received any complaint alleging irregular appointments at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State.

The complaint that we received related to the escalating costs of the Commission, and hence the Minister of Finance requested the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to audit the costs of the Commission, the investigators, and legal services costs.   The proposed audit was not a forensic audit, rather a review to determine whether the costs incurred for investigators and legal services derived value for money. Such an audit review will inform the cost structure for any future Commission established by the President.

2. Details on the audit (which is still in process) can be sourced from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

 

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission has furnished me with the following response to the question. It should be noted that the sums paid out are currently the subject of evaluation and an investigation. Where any wrongdoing is found to have been committed, firm action will be taken.

a) Basic Salary

DESIGNATION	(aa) 2019/20	(bb) 2020/21	(cc) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
i. Commissioner	3 032	3 085	3 384
ii. Chief Operations Officer	2 422	2 465	465

b) Provident Fund

DESIGNATION	(aa) 2019/20	(bb) 2020/21	(cc) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
i. Commissioner	59	60
ii. Chief Operations Officer	367	373	398

c) Travel Allowance

DESIGNATION	(aa) 2019/20	(bb) 2020/21	(cc) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
i. Commissioner	144	144	133
ii. Chief Operations Officer	120	120	120

d) Cell Phone Allowance

DESIGNATION	(aa) 2019/20	(bb) 2020/21	(cc) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
(i) Commissioner	-	-	-
(ii) Chief Operations Officer	48	48	48

e) Performance Bonus

The Performance Bonus is determined and paid out in terms of the Performance Management and Short-term Incentive Policies. Bonus amounts disclosed in the Annual Financial Statements are actual bonus payments for the prior financial year as bonuses are paid one year in arrears. The 2019/20 bonuses were paid in October 2020 which was during the 2020/21 financial year. The amounts are disclosed at gross amounts prior to deduction of Pay as You Earn (PAYE).

(i), (ii)

DESIGNATION	(aa) 2019/20	(bb) 2020/21	(cc) 2021/22
	R’000	R’000	R’000
Commissioner	500	250	*354
Chief Operations Officer	442	976	# 0

* Provisioned amount pending outcome of Audit of Performance Objectives

# Not eligible for participation in accordance with the NLC’s Performance Management and Short-Term Incentive

Policies Short-Term Incentive Policy

-END-

Reply:

The previous Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), had furnished me with the following response to the questions:

1. The Board members earned meeting fees for bid evaluations as detailed under Question 3.

2. What number of meetings did each board member attend during the last bid evaluation which resulted in Ithuba being awarded the lottery operator licence?

BOARD MEMBER	2013/14	2014/15
	No of Meetings	No of Meetings
Prof NA Nevhutanda	-	15
Adv. JC Weapond	23	15
Prof G Reddy	8	15
Ms M Mokoka	14	15
Ms TS Kekana	-	19
Ms NEP Loyilane	-	14

3. (a) Name of each board member who was involved and (b) total amount that each member earned during the previous licence adjudication.

BOARD MEMBER	2013/14	2014/15
	R’000	R’000
Prof NA Nevhutanda	-	228
Adv JC Weapond	167	114
Prof G Reddy	10	88
Ms M Mokoka	45	112
Ms TS Kekana	-	76
Ms NEP Loyilane	-	121

4. Previous and/or current board members earned to date for attending meetings and/or other tasks related to the current adjudication for the new licence due to be awarded in 2023.

BOARD MEMBER	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
	R’000	R’000	R’000
Prof NA Nevhutanda	389	-	-
Adv. WE Huma	348	-	-
Prof YN Gordhan	361	114.11	-
Dr MA Madzivhandila	393	75.65	-
Ms DLT Dondur	436	108.92	-

5. The budget allocated for Board emoluments for member’s role in adjudicating amounts to R4, 594,015.00.

-END-

Reply:

I can only answer for funds committed by National Treasury to KwaZulu-Natal for disaster relief, and what portion of these funds have been transferred. I cannot answer for the funds that are committed by the province or municipalities from their equitable share and budget allocations.

(i) Immediate disaster response grants from national government

Disaster relief funds are available from four Schedule 7 grants in the 2022 Division of Revenue Act. These funds are limited to immediate relief – not envisaged to fund repair and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and are intended to assist all provinces and municipalities. Following a disaster, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC), coordinates and verifies submissions from provincial departments and municipalities due to a disaster that are funded through the disaster response grants. Applications are subsequently forwarded to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), which conducts its analysis and verification. A similar approach is followed for funding requests from the emergency housing grants, with provincial departments of human settlements required to send applications to the national Department of Human Settlements (DHS). If satisfied with the applications, the NDMC and DHS make recommendations to the National Treasury for the approval. Once approval is granted, funds are disbursed to provinces and municipalities, who can use the funds immediately.

 

Applications for funding from the four disaster response grants did not reach the National Treasury until mid-June 2022, the latest reaching the National Treasury on 27 July 2022. Of the R1 billion (announced? Source??), R674.1 million has been approved to date, to fund immediate response by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Human Settlements and several municipalities in KZN and the Eastern Cape. Of the R674.1 million approved to date, R547.7 million is for KZN. Below is a breakdown of the R1 billion, showing the amounts requested, approved, and transferred to date.

Table 1: Funds for immediate relief in 2022/23

Table 2 outlines the immediate disaster response funding approvals by province. Of the R674.1 million approved to date, R547.7 million is for KZN.

Table 2: Disaster relief grant approval and transfers by province

Why the total approved amounts have not all been transferred

Provincial Emergency Housing Grant (PEHG)

The KZN province requested R342.1 million to fund the provision of 4 983 Temporary Residential Units (TRUs). Only R325.8 million could be approved as this was the baseline for this grant in 2022/23. The balance (R16.3 million) of the requested amount is awaiting conversion of R120 million from the Municipal Emergency Housing Grant which currently has R158 million available.

The approved funds is being transferred in tranches. R140 million was transferred to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements in June 2022, the balance will be transferred once the province has spent at least 80 per cent of the first tranche. As at the end of August 2022, the province has only spent R53 million, or 38 per cent of the funds transferred; and has delivered only 1 076 TRUs across all districts in the province.

There have been no further requests for funding by KZN from this grant.

Municipal Emergency Housing Grant (MEHG)

No MEGH applications were received for KZN municipalities. Funding requests for KZN municipalities were submitted by the KZN department of Human Settlements and have been approved through the PEHG.

One MEGH application has been submitted to National Treasury and approved to date,
R16.6 million to fund 258 temporary residential units in Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Only R8.3 million has been transferred to date. The second tranche will be transferred when the municipality spends at least 80 per cent of the 1st tranche. To date, the municipality has not yet reported any expenditure on the first transfer made to it.

(ii) Reprioritisations

Over and above the funding approved from the emergency response grants, R4.6 billion in reprioritisations has been approved and disbursed to date. Of this amount R4.4 billion was for the KZN Department of Human Settlements, KZN department of Transport and municipalities in KZN. This comprises of reprioritisations within conditional grants and transfer advancements.

Table 3: Reprioritisations

(iii) Post-disaster repair and recovery

The responsibility of repairing infrastructure damaged by disasters lies with the municipality or line department responsible for the infrastructure that is damaged. If the province or municipality does not have sufficient resources then national government is approached to intervene.

The repair of infrastructure and other damages that falls outside the category of immediate needs are funded through an adjustments budget or annual budget, depending on the timing of the disaster and submission to National Treasury. This funding is appropriated in terms of section 30 of the Public Finance Management Act which allows the Minister of Finance to table an adjustments budget for, amongst others, unforeseeable and unavoidable (U&U) expenditure. Decisions around unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditure are taken by a committee of Cabinet, chaired by the President. Once the decisions are taken, the Minister of Finance will table an Adjusted Appropriation Bill and the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, as part of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.

(b) Projects to be funded by the approved funds

The R325.8 million approved from the PDRG will fund the provision of 4 983 temporary residential units in KZN. Of these, 3 000 are for eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, accounting for R196 million of the funds approved. A breakdown of how much will be spent in each district/municipality is provided in Table 4.

Table 4: Breakdown of PDRG approval for KZN

The R331.7 million approved from the MDRG and transferred to several municipalities in KZN and the Eastern Cape will fund the repair of municipal infrastructure including water and sanitation, roads, and storm water infrastructure. Of this amount, KZN municipalities account for R221.9 million (this is the total amount the KZN municipalities applied for) as shown in the Table 5 below.

Table 5: KZN MDRG approvals

The balance (R109.8 million) of the approved amount is allocated to several municipalities in the Eastern Cape for the same purpose.

Not included in the table above is eThekwini Metro’s application of R185 million from this grant, for the repair of water and sanitation, roads and storm water infrastructure. This is provisionally approved and is awaiting the conversion of the Provincial Disaster Response Grant, which remains upsent as no applications for funding from this grant have been received. The conversion of this grant needs to be done through publication of a Gazette. National Treasury is in the process of issuing this Gazette, only then can the funds be transferred to eThekwini Metro.

(c) Reporting and monitoring of expenditure and the procurement process

Funding to respond to this disaster will be subject to the necessary procurement and reporting conditions. Provinces and municipalities are required to spend funds in line with the applicable allocation conditions and reporting requirements as outlined in the 2022 Division of Revenue Act. The National Treasury has also issued further guidance on the monthly reporting of disaster relief expenditure in terms of the respective Standard Chart of Accounts for each sphere.

The need for increased pro-active governance measures with regard to supply chain management and procurement processes during this time is paramount. Organs of state have been advised to consider using their internal audit committees to undertake audits of procurement to respond to the effects of the damage caused by the 2022 April floods.

In recognising that the budget is responding to an extraordinary event and that the normal course of ex-post auditing may be inappropriate, the Auditor-General is also conducting real time audits across the planning and implementation value chain. These audits provide management with real time information, allowing for a real-time response to the audit findings by accounting officers and authorities.

Reply:

1. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (a)(i) do not have employees that are currently working from home (ii) (iii) no special permission was granted for employees to work from home and therefore no reasons exists (b) All employees are expected to be at their respective offices.
2. The Minister does not believe statement on this matter is necessary.

Reply:

I have been furnished with the attached reply to the question submitted by the Acting Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission.

 

 

Reply:

No, there is no intention to amend the mandate of the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) which is derived from Land Bank Act, Act No. 15 of 2002, in line with its eleven objects. The objects of the Land Bank are as follows:

1. Equitable ownership of agricultural land, in particular the increase of ownership of agricultural land by historically disadvantaged persons.
2. Agrarian reform, land redistribution or development programmes aimed at historically disadvantaged persons or groups of such persons for the development of farming enterprises and agricultural purposes.
3. Land access for agricultural purposes.
4. Agricultural entrepreneurship;
5. The removal of the legacy of past racial and gender discrimination in the agricultural sector.
6. The enhancement of productivity, profitability, investment and innovation in the agricultural and rural financial systems.
7. Programmes designed to stimulate the growth of the agricultural sector and the better use of land.
8. Programmes designed to promote and develop the environmental sustainability of land and related natural resources.
9. Programmes that contribute to agricultural aspects of rural development and job creation.
10. Commercial agriculture.
11. Food security.

Based on the objects of the Land Bank, the Bank can achieve its objects or mandate by providing financial services to a wide range of farmers utilising wide range of instruments to wide range of clients including micro financing. Microfinancing will therefore only be provided to the agricultural sector if such financing supports the objectives of the Land Bank.

Reply:

According to the information received from Alexkor

1. When PSJV Board cancelled the SSI contract, it was agreed that Alexkor will take over the selling and marketing of the PSJV diamonds, because Alexkor at the time had a diamond dealers license and former Chief Executive Officer was the authorised representative of the license. The PSJV diamonds were sold at the Diamond Evaluation and Export Centre (DEEC) on open tender in terms of the license. With the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer, Alexkor had no authorised representative to sell the diamonds and the diamonds are now sold by the PSJV under the producers license. The sales and marketing of the diamonds are now performed by the PSJV.

2. The total sales since the cancellation of the SSI contract are as follows:

Number of diamond sales: 11

Total carats sold: 51, 055

Dollar Value: USD $ 59 294 713,00

ZAR Value: R913 310 725,57

Reply:

(1) Process followed by Land Bank to recover on default loan:-

a) At inception the accounts are managed by the Bank’s Post Investment Management Services Department (PIMS). So immediately upon default, PIMS team engages the clients with a view of providing compressive assistance to those struggling clients. Such assistance includes restructuring and forbearance measures once the cause/s for default has/have been established.

b) Once all of the aforementioned measures have failed and there is nothing else that the Bank could do to further assist those struggling clients, and as the last resort, the account is then transferred to Legal Department for further management of the client. This is when the legal process commences in order to recover monies owed to the Bank. Even after the commencement of the legal process, the struggling clients can still approach Land Bank and make proposals for consideration by Land Bank with a view of resolving the matter and avoid the legal route because the legal process, as you may be aware, can be protracted and expensive.

(2) Whether the National Treasury has put measures in place in order to support struggling commercial and emerging farmers who are struggling to honour their loan repayments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

Reply: No. National Treasury has not received any request for intervention on this matter for consideration.

(3) (a) what is the average interest rate that farmers at the bank had to pay for their loans,

See the average client interest rates from April 2018 to July 2022:

b) how does the interest compare with the commercial bank loans?

We do not have access to this information and are therefore unable to provide the average interest rates of commercial banks.

c) what measures has the National Treasury put in place to ensure that the interest rates are affordable for farmers who are struggling and yet provide food security?

i) National Treasury has not received any request for intervention on this matter for consideration.

ii) However, part of the R7bn of the capital injection allocated to the Land Bank is meant to support the bank for deployment for the financing of the Banks new development portfolio, and the use of this capital at nominal cost of funds will enable affordable financing by the Bank.

Reply:

There is no definitive treatment for this condition. Supportive care is given to the patient in the form of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and in later stages breathing support. Support in the form of assisting the person and their family in terms of ensuring disability is provided by the Department of Social Development.

END.

Reply:

a) Impact of (i) health care (ii) health care services

• Impact on Infrastructure: Limited budget does not allow for extension and refurbishment of service areas according to the hospital needs and statutory requirements. This leads to recurrent breakages which leads to service interruptions e.g. boilers are old and difficult to repair; this impact negatively on theatre outputs, availability of linen for patients, steam availability for the kitchen operations etc.

• Impact on the service offerings package: Limited budget continues to impact negatively on immediate access to needed tertiary care e.g. Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital patients that require radiation therapy are referred to CMJAH and patients who require cardiac surgery are referred to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for treatment.

• Impact on Compensation of employees: due to limited funding for compensation of employees there are services that remain limited but are required for example, some of the beds in ICU cannot be used, this limits the availability of ICU beds for patients from the hospital and other facilities within the cluster.

• There are vacant posts that are not funded due to limited budget. This has resulted in the delay or no activation of services that are needed such as additional theatres that could be assisting in addressing some of the surgical backlogs

b) By what date will this be rectified?

• Annually the management has continued to present the budget requirements to the provincial budget bilateral committee. No additional funding was allocated

• Remedial intervention for staffing challenge: The Gauteng DOH Provincial Office is currently reviewing the hospital staff establishment.

• The date for rectification of underfunding for Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital cannot be determined at facility level

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(1)

(a) The number of officials suspended since 1 July 2021 is three (03).

(b) The names are as follows:

(i) Name	(ii) ages	(iii) job Profile	(iv) Official position
Ms Lydia Ludick	52	Payroll consultant	Payroll Consultant
Advocate Florence Mthenjane	61	HR Manager	Human Resources Manager
Mr Simon Matsoso	58	Programme Manager	Programme Manager

(3 The employees in question have been in the employ of the IDT.

(4) There was no pending disciplinary matter prior to the current disciplinary process. The employees are still in the employ of the IDT.

END

Reply:

a) The students are allowed two tickets, meaning two (2) times to travel between the Republic of Cuba and Republic of South Africa during their six (6) years in Cuba. However, students are also allowed to attend funerals of the next of kin/close relatives or when they are sick and come for further treatment in South Africa.

b) There are few airlines available, and no specific airline has been allowed for students to use, however Air France has been frequently used.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) I have been informed by the Independent Development Trust (IDT) that the service provider completed the job as stipulated in the Terms of Reference, and the contract was for R3 997 36.00, not R4.2 million. The Organisational Development (OD) exercise was completed. The advertised tender was withdrawn in March/April 2022 as the IDT is currently undergoing a reconfiguration process with the assistance of DPWI.

(2) The service provider was in compliance with the Terms of Reference as advertised and as contracted.

(3) The service provider was tax registered and compliant at the time of appointment.

(4) The service provider performed the work as contracted. This included performing the skills audit and coming up with a new structure, including the final process of placement as per the deliverables. The process resulted in employees being placed accordingly, others competing for positions and also others taking voluntary severance packages (VSP). All these processes were the results of the OD process conducted and approved by the Board.

(5) Supply chain management appoints service providers on behalf of the organisation, and they duly have the authority to approve through the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as per the relevant prescripts.

Reply:

1. The National Department of Health has developed the National Digital Health Strategy which is highlighting the high-level of outcomes towards Digital Health for South Africa. Note: That the implementation of the digital health strategic is delayed by 2 years as a result of the Departments involvement in the management of the COVID 19 Pandemic in the Country.

2. Four levels of technical maturity are defined in health information systems for patient records:

Level 1: Local paper based medical records

Level 2: Local Paper Based records with some IT Support

Level 3: a Centralised shared electronic health record with mixed mode local medical records (both paper based and electronic medical records

Level 4: a Fully integrated national shared Electronic Health record owns by the Patients with local Electronic Medical Records.

3. The aim is to work through a systematic process that would facilitate South Africa to be at the level 4 Maturity. The National Department of Health to date has focused on development and implementation of key building blocks essential for the level 4 maturity namely:

Within the ICT Technology and Hardware component

a) To date the National Department of Health in collaboration with Provincial Departments of Health have purchased and distributed 22 812 Desktop Computers to 3150 public health facilities (3089 PHC facilities and 61 Hospitals)

b) The National Department of Health has established a National Central Health Information Data Centre for the secured Digital Health Solutions and their respective datasets

c) The National Department of has established a Big Data Platform that uses 4IR technology – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to enable the management and matching of different datasets together with the development of data analytics and visualisation products

The following intervention has been focussed on for the development of the Digital Health Enterprise Architecture

d) The National Department of Health in partnership with the CSIR and wide consultation has developed the revised version of the Interoperability Normative Standards framework for Digital Health in South Africa. This framework provides for the set of norms and standards to be used for all Digital Patient Information Systems to allow for the sharing of data and linkages of different patient information solutions with the ultimate aim being the creation of one portable electronic health record.

e) The first phase of the South African Digital Health – Health Information Exchange has been developed. This technology provides a mediator between different software solutions to ultimately provide for the creation of shared and portable Electronic Health Records for the users of the Health System

With regards to software solutions:

f) To date the focus has been on the development and implementation of 2 of the 4 Identity Registry Software Solutions and Platforms required for the development of a shared Electronic Health Record for users of the Health Care System

User Registry:

g) The National Department of Health in partnership with the CSIR developed the Health Patient Registration System (HPRS). The purpose of the system is to standardise patient registration across all health facilities. A National patient registry has been created and will be the source of the NHI Beneficiary registry.

(i)The Health Patient Registration System assigns a unique Master Patient Index (MPI) to everyone registered on the system. This system as at 29 August 2022 has been installed in 3150 public health facilities (3089 PHC Facilities and 61 Hospitals). This solution is the authoritative source of all individual’s’ demographic and personal data. To date the demographic data of 63 241 201 individuals has been registered on the HPRS at the point of care since inception some people will have died and others left the country. The ability to do identity verification at the point of care is important for the authenticity of the data included on the system. During this financial year the department is commencing with the deployment of bio-metric identity verification at the point of care.

h) The Master Patient Index assigned by the HPRS to individuals is used as a catalyst for the development and implementation of the user’s Electronic Health Record, where the information about a patient from different information systems will be linked into one record for the patient. To this effect the HPRS has been linked with the laboratory test results system of NHLS. This functionality is being tested for implementation at PHC facilities in Ugu District in KZN, identified PHC facilities across all districts in Free State and PHC facilities in Gert Sibande district in Mpumalanga. Development has started for the use of the MPI with other systems such as the HIV and TB patient information systems as well as the SYNCH System which is the digital solution of the Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme and an electronic pharmaceutical prescribing and dispensing systems. This initiative forms part of the preparatory work for the implementation of NHI.

An important enabler to ensure maximum impact for this initiative is access to continuous quality broadband connectivity. The department will continue to work with stakeholders in this space namely the Department of Post and Telecommunication services, ICASA, SA Connect and Mobile Telecommunication service providers to develop and implement appropriate solutions.

Health Establishment Registry:

i) NThe National Department of Health has developed the Master Health Facility Registry solution and platform. This registry is the authorative source of data for all health establishments in the country. The registry currently has the details of more than 40 000 health establishments (public and private) registered on the system. This solution assigned a unique identification number to each health establishment. All patient information systems will be required to use this Health Establishment User Identity and forms a non-negotiable component of the development of a share electronic health record.

END.

Reply:

I have not received any reports of maladministration and corruption at the National Arts Council of South Africa as of recently. All allegations formally reported in the past were fully investigated and such investigations were concluded.

The Department will persistently act accordingly and decisively, upon any alleged maladministration and corruption formally brought to the attention of the Department.

Reply:

(a). My department is indirectly involved in the Vilakazi precinct as a tourist attraction through the National Heritage Council, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which has submitted a nomination to UNESCO nominating the precinct as part of the Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy World Heritage Site.

(aa) My department provided R7 million in March 2022 to rescue and stabilize the Liliesleaf Museum operations as the Museum faced closure.

Reply:

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Reply:

Section 52 of the Health Act (Act No. 61, National Health Act, 2003) makes provision for the Minister of Health to make regulations regarding human resources within the national health system in order to create new categories of health care personnel to be educated or trained and thereby mitigate the impact of human resources for health (HRH) shortages.

The Clinical Associate category was introduced by the National Department of Health in 2007, to increase access to healthcare, primarily in district hospitals by extending the capacity of the health team. The main objective in developing this cadre of health worker was to improve access to health care to all sectors of the population irrespective of their geographical location. Hence the majority of Clinical Associates work in the public sector at primary care level in district hospitals and Community Health Centres.

Deployment of doctors in rural and underserved communities is supported and enhanced by the Government’s Community Service Policy that effectively compels graduates seeking registration with the HPCSA as independent practitioners for the first time to have completed one (1) year of community service. The policy makes provision for placement of graduates in facilities based on service needs.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) I have been informed by the Department that it has

(i) 14 properties which falls under Walter Sisulu Local Municipality. Three in Jamestown and 11 in Aliwal North; and

(ii) 35 properties under Senqu Local Municipality. 11 in Barkly East, 4 in Lady Grey, 3 in Rhodes and 17 in Sterkspruit. See spreadsheet Annexure A attached.

(b) With regard to:

(i) Location; and (ii) use of each specified building, see details on the attached spreadsheet. Annexure A

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) I have been informed by the Council for the Built Environment that:

(a) the CBE does not have members that register with it like the Councils for the Built Environment (CBEP). It is an umbrella body charged with the mandate, among others, of promoting sound governance of the built environment professions and also in line with Section 3 (h) of its establishing Act, the Council for the Built Environment Act, 2000 (Act No. 43 of 2000):-

• serve as a forum where the representatives of the built environment professions may discuss the relevant—

(i) required qualifications;

(ii) standards of education;

(iii) training and competence;

(iv) promotion of professional status;

(v) legislation impacting on the built environment; and

(vi) ensure the uniform application of norms and guidelines set by the councils for the professions throughout the built environment.

(b) See table below

Name of the Council	2018	2019	2020	2021
ECSA	49334	57867	55730	61799
SACAP	9988	10982	11859	11790
SACLAP	282	330	374	403
SACQSP	4098	4422	4130	4454
SACPVP	5122	2075	1886	1894
SACPCMP	3207	6843	7367	11422
Total	72031	82519	81346	91762

(2)

Table 1: Number of Voluntary Associations Recognised by the CBEP

CBEP	Number of VAs Recognised	Number of VAs Not Recognised
SACAP	13	0
SACLAP	3	0
ECSA	51	0
SACPVP	3	0
SACPCMP	13	3
SACQSP	1	1

(Source: CBEP Fourth Quarter Report 2020/21)

Reasons for Non - Recognition of Voluntary Associations

• Do not meet the minimum requirements of the guidelines for recognition.
• CBEP await full compliance with requirements for recognition.

(3) There are no parallel professional structures in competition with the six Councils.

(4) None. (a) and (b) fall away.

Reply:

We are aware of the challenges experienced by the Eastern Cape department of Health in most of their facilities including Livingstone hospital and we are providing all the support necessary. It is not the intention of the National department to institute the Section 100 provision, but the intention is to support the province on all their interventions

We are supporting the province in their Health Turn-Around Plan consisting of six pillars to address their administrative challenges. The strategies outlined in the plan envisage collaboration with and seeking assistance from other government departments and the Office of the Premier as well as external stakeholders including private sector, communities and academic institutions. The plan gives a detailed outline of the strategies and the support required from each of these stakeholders. The pillars of the plan are summarised below.

PILLARS OF THE EC HEALTH TURNAROUND PLAN AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT

1. Financial sustainability initiative: This pillar addresses the EC DOH financial discipline and wellness; looking at strategies to take department beyond compliance and towards social entrepreneurship. Strategies to address this pillar include a) revenue generation, b) introducing efficiencies, c) management of cost-drivers and d) management of debt and unauthorised expenditure.

2. Medico-legal intervention: addresses the following strategic objectives i.e

a) Stopping haemorrhage of funds

b) Strengthening case management

c) Developing Medico-Legal litigation expertise

d) Manage unauthorised expenditure associated Medico-Legal (ML) settlements

3. Service delivery optimisation pillar focuses on:

a) Service Optomisation Implementation Planning

b) HR Intervention to promote SDO

c) Securing buy-in from key stakeholders

4. Digitalisation and eHealth: This pillar addresses issues of inadequate capacity to track all debts against the department, insufficient staff and budget to electronically capture and store of maternity medical records on HMS2 module. Support services are manual therefore labour-intensive, cumbersome and prone to human error and broadband to critical sites slow. Alternative solutions are required in the interim to gain last mile connectivity.

5. Clinical - Healthy Communities Initiatives: has four strategic objectives which are:

a) National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation through ward-based community outreach teams

b) Primary Health Care (PHC) Approach of inter-sectoral collaboration

c) Addressing Burden of Disease

d) Integrated Development Planning

6. The Foundation Pillar purports to strengthen Leadership and Management Capability and improves stakeholder trust and confidence in the EC healthcare system. The key focus areas are valued employees, capable teams, effective leadership and communication & change management.

END.

Reply:

Government consult with all stakeholders.

Reply:

(1). The gender pay gap between male and female professional athletes is a challenge that requires all role players within the Sport and Recreation fraternity to actively address. The Department has adopted a 2-pronged approach in addressing this challenge. Namely, policy reform and secondly targeted programmatic interventions.

In terms of policy intervention, the Department is in the process of formulating a Women in Sport Policy. The key aim of the policy is to ensure equality within the Sport and Recreation sector across the various spheres of the industry, e.g. administration, coaching, remuneration, participation opportunities, etc. The above-mentioned policy is currently at consultation phase and the Department has recently concluded consultations with National Federations.

In terms of targeted programmatic interventions, the Department is of the view that professionalisation of Women’s Sport is key in addressing gender pay gap. To this end the Department with limited financial resources has been primarily providing support to Cricket SA, South African Football Association, Netball SA and South African Rugby for the implementation of Women’s programmes with the ultimate aim of establishing professional leagues. The success of these kind of initiatives is dependent on the corporate investment in Women Sport.

The Private Sector (Corporate) is mainly driven by commercial interest hence it is imperative that commercially attractive and bankable products are developed.

The best cases in point is Women’s National Teams players and technical personnel in Cricket, Rugby and Netball are now contracted on a full time basis and paid salaries. This is the first step towards the professionalization of Women’s Sport which lays a foundation for the realization of pay parity in our sport.

(2) (a) Total amount: R7 124 000.00

(b)

PROVINCE	AMOUNT
Gauteng	R1 530 234,50
Limpopo	R1 344 249,60
Eastern Cape	R1 060 140,70
KwaZula Natal	R1 080 187,60
Free State	R545 046,90
Western Cape	R810 140,70
North West	R200 124,00
Northern Cape	R200 000,00
Mpumalanga	R230 000,00
TOTAL	R7 124 000.00

Reply:

There is currently no research programme related to Motor Neuron Disease that is supported by the National Department of Health.

END.

Reply:

1. Langa Township has been identified as an area of significance and has been given a Grade 1 status. However, the whole geographical area of Langa in Cape town has not been declared as a heritage area. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) has identified the following sites in Langa for future declaration:

• Main Barracks
• Kitchen Complex
• Washington Drive
• Migrant Passage (Old Pass Office)
• Site Of Old Dipping Hut 
• Old Police Station
• Laborers Hostels

 2. In accordance with section 27 subsection (3) of the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999, any person may submit a nomination to SAHRA for a place to be declared a national heritage site or to the provincial heritage resources authority for a place to be declared a provincial heritage site.

The heritage resources authority concerned may prescribe the format and procedures for such nominations. SAHRA considers Langa to be a highly significant area and will be looking to formalise the protection of the resources we have identified. We also encourage any members of the public to nominate any sites in Langa that they feel are significant.

Reply:

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Reply:

(a)-(b) Forensic Pathology Service is provided through the Regulations relating to the provision of Forensic Pathology Service and Code of guidelines. These service works within the Criminal Justice Systems as it deals with the non-natural causes of death. The service interaction with the South African Police Service is also defined in the regulations and code of guidelines.

(i) Removal of the body

The Forensic Pathology Officers may only remove a body from the scene of death after the Investigating Officer has given authority for such removal of the body by the Service.

(ii) Transportation of the body

• A person in charge of a health establishment where a person has died of unnatural causes must immediately notify the South African Police Service of such death.
• Death in transit to or on arrival at a health establishment must be reported by the person in charge of that health establishment.
• The Service, after authorization by the Investigating Officer, must then remove the body as prescribed by the Code, to the designated facility.

(iii) Medico-legal Postmortem Examination

A post-mortem examination may only be conducted-

• in terms of the above-mentioned regulations, provisions of the Act, the Inquest Act,
• at a designated facility or institution.
• with the express request of the Investigating Officer investigating the death, or the authorization of the magistrate in whose district such post-mortem examination is intended to be performed.

The Head of Department or the person to whom such function has been delegated, may authorize any other person other than an authorised person, to participate in a post-mortem examination.

Any person other than-

• the Investigating Officer investigating the cause of death.
• an authorized person; or
• a person authorized by the Head of Health or delegated person, may apply to the magistrate within whose jurisdiction the cause of death is being investigated or to the authorised person, to be present at the post-mortem examination.

(iv) Reporting and consultation.

• No person is allowed to make copies of any documentation relating to a post-mortem examination without prior written approval of the person in charge of that designated facility.
• No person may release information or documentation, original or copied, pertaining to any post-mortem examination to any other person unless duly authorised by the person in charge of the designated facility where such post-mortem examination was conducted.
• When any copy is made or document removed from a post-mortem file, a record
• the name and signature of the person who made the copy or removed them
• the name of the document copied or removed;
• whether the document was copied or removed.
• the number of copies made;
• the purpose for which the copies were made, including reference to the letter for any official request;
• the date and time the document was copied or removed; and
• whether written approval was given.
• When any file is removed, whether for court appearance, studying its contents or for any other purpose, a record must be made in a Forensic Pathology Service Register of files indicating the must be made on the cover of the file indicating document;

- name and signature of the person who removed the file;

- date and time of removal;

- purpose of the removal; and

- date and time of the return; and

- name and signature of the person returning the file. when the file is returned –

• A forensic pathologist, forensic medical officer, or medical practitioner that copies or removes any documentation relating to a post-mortem examination, must return all such documentation, original or copied, that is no longer required for academic or consultative purposes, to the file immediately.

END.

Reply:

a) All the hospitals have back-up generators including Uninterrupted Power Supply products.

b) The Department is in the process of installing solar panels to all the community health centres (CHC’s) and clinics.

END.

Reply:

(AA) (I) Section 2 of the National Sport and Recreation Act assigns roles and responsibilities in terms of the promotion and development of sport in the Republic. The responsibility of coordinating high performance sport including team preparation to the Confederation in consultation with the relevant sport bodies. Therefore, the Department engages with the Confederation in ensuring that necessary programmes for preparation of Team South Africa for Summer Olympics are implemented.

(BB) (I) The responsibility to qualify and prepare athletes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games are the responsibility of the National Federations. However, the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) assists the participating National Federation as a national multi-coded body responsible for the preparation, presentation, and performance of teams to all multi-coded events.

(II) Funding

(AA) The Department provides funding to SASCOC as well as National Federations part of which is for preparations of athletes and presentation of Team SA. The funds allocated for Team SA preparations depends on the business plans submitted by SASCOC and the National Federation on annual basis. The Department budgets R4,000,000 annually for the Athlete Support Programme.

Reply:

1. The project was stopped after the President advised so.

Reply:

Motor Neuron Disease is a very rare chronic neurological disorder. Provinces do not collect routine data on this condition.

END.