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14 December 2023 - NW4153

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Mr M

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

Profile picture: Breedt, Ms T

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 - NW3697

Profile picture: Semenya, Ms MR

Semenya, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

Considering that every government department is required to contribute to social and economic transformation through job creation and allocating a share of its budget to historically disadvantaged individuals, including the most vulnerable members of our society such as women, young persons, military veterans and people with disabilities, what (a) actions has her department taken to help create jobs and spend resources on procurement for black persons and vulnerable groups and (b) are the details of the achievements of the specified categories of disadvantaged populations since 2019?

Reply:

(a) Actions taken by the National Department of Human Settlements to help create jobs and spend resources on procurement for black persons and vulnerable groups.

On 27 January 2022, Cabinet recommended that, all sector departments and State entities should prioritise mass employment. In response to this call, in February 2022, the Department issued a Circular to the Heads of Provincial Departments of Human Settlements and Chief Executive Officers of Human Settlements entities, advising them on the requirement to prioritise the Mass Employment Programme in their respective Annual Performance Plans.

At National Department Level:

  • In terms of procurement spending allocation, the national Department of Human Settlements is targeting the procurement of goods and services from Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Level 1 to 4 firms. The B-BBEE Level 1-4 firms are mainly small-medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs). It must however be noted that due to the nature of competition and services required, it is not always practical to purchase goods and services from the targeted B-BBEE levels.
  • The Department’s procurement is done in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act in terms of which for procurement less than R50 million, bids are scored a maximum of 20 points for Historically Disadvantaged Individuals while for procurement of more than R50 million the maximum score is 10 points.

(b) The department’s contribution to social and economic transformation through job creation and allocating a share of its budget to historically disadvantaged individuals was done through the procurement process as follows:

  • For 2019/20 financial year, the National Department of Human Settlements procured forty five percent (45%) of goods and services from suppliers and service providers who are on B-BBEE Level 1-4. The procurement allocation is shown below:
     

2019/20

TOTAL SPENT

R 130 728 311,00

%

Women-Owned Enterprises

R 30 263 319,21

23,15%

Young Persons Owned Enterprises

R 10 998 341,15

8,41%

Military Veterans

R 455 156,07

0,35%

People with Disabilities Owned Enterprises

R 1 146 564,90

0,88%

 

R 42 863 381,33

 

Level 1

R 51 841 046,61

39,66%

Level 2

R 3 644 208,69

2,79%

Level 3

R 2 600 000,00

1,99%

Level 4

R 836 187,50

0,64%

 

  R58 921 442,80

 45,07%

  • For 2020/21 financial year, the National Department of Human Settlements procured forty two percent (42%) of goods and services from suppliers and service providers who are on B-BBEE Level 1-4. The procurement allocation is shown below:

2020/21

TOTAL SPENT

R118.901.737,52

%

Women-Owned Enterprises

R15.218.642,06

12,80%

Young Persons Owned Enterprises

R6.676.519,21

5,60%

Military Veterans

R22.570,00

0,02%

People with Disabilities Owned Enterprises

R252.611,25

0,21%

 

R22 170342.52

18,6%

Level 1

R36.816.605,46

30,96%

Level 2

R3.828.546,14

3,22%

Level 3

R2.569.319,93

2,16%

Level 4

R6.569.319,93

5,52%

 

R49 783 791,46

41,9%

  • For 2021/22 financial year, the National Department of Human Settlements procured over fifty five percent (55%) of goods and services from suppliers and service providers that were on B-BBEE Level 1-4. The procurement allocation is shown below:

2021/22

TOTAL SPENT

R111.024.641,19

%

Women Owned Enterprises

R26.683.931,58

24,03%

Young Persons Owned Enterprises

R18.926.372,73

17,04%

Military Veterans

R0

0,00%

People with Disabilities Owned Enterprises

R1.555.614,17

1,40%

 

R47 165 918,48

42,5%

Level 1

39.381.810,68

35,47%

Level 2

14.753.893,24

13,29%

Level 3

3.914.289,44

3,53%

Level 4

2.938.823,60

2,65%

 

R60 988 816,96

54,9%

  • For 2022/23 financial year, the National Department of Human Settlements procured ninety seven percent (97,68%) of goods and services from suppliers and service providers who are on B-BBEE level 1-4. The procurement allocation is shown below:

2022/23

TOTAL SPENT

R134.338.215,89

%

Women Owned Enterprises

R50.739.311,49

38%

Young Persons Owned Enterprises

R75.168.797,70

55,95%

Military Veterans

R0

0,00%

People with Disabilities Owned Enterprises

R535.252,00

1,05%

 

R126 443 961,19

94,1%

Level 1

50.147.760,18

37,33%

Level 2

69.859.296,11

52,00%

Level 3

6.170.453,66

4,59%

Level 4

5.055.854,34

3,76%

 

R131 233 364,29

97,68%

  • For 2023/24 financial year April to August 2023, the National Department of Human Settlements procured ninety nine percent (99.45%) of goods and services from suppliers and service providers who are on B-BBEE level 1-4.

The procurement allocation is shown below:

2023/24 April - August

TOTAL SPENT

R35.653.241,02

%

Women Owned Enterprises

R23.787.507,04

66,72%

Young Persons Owned Enterprises

R18.066.659,29

50,67%

Military Veterans

R0

0,00%

People with Disabilities Owned Enterprises

R71.317,46

0,20%

Level 1

R31.657.270,38

88,79%

Level 2

R3.674.984,78

10,31%

Level 3

R0

0,00%

Level 4

R123.675,86

0,35%

 

R35 455 931,02

99,45%

(b) Details of sector achievements of the specified categories of disadvantaged populations since 2019

  • The National Department further coordinates sector-wide information on employment and training, which is subsequently on a quarterly basis consolidated and reported on mass employment and training issues.
  • The Human Settlements subsidy programme is broad, as it caters for both rural and urban communities which township communities. As such, value chain opportunities particularly for business owned entities such as Contractors, Material Suppliers, Professional Resource Teams are spread across the various Subsidy Programmes.
  • Since 1 April 2022 of the lapsed 2022/23 financial year up to the end of Q1 of the current 2023/24 financial year, a total of 259 275 job opportunities have been created within the sector. These figures are however not audited.

(b)(i) Military Veterans: During 2021/22:

  • KwaZulu-Natal: The Province was supported to train thirty (30) Military Veterans companies, jointly with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), on construction and related fields. After completion of training, successful companies were assisted with the NHBRC registrations. Prior to this, KZN had appointed a Military Veteran’s company in 2016 to build houses for Military Veterans. The same company was also provided with technical and administrative training to ensure that they deliver, however the Province had to appoint three additional contractors in 2022/23 Financial Year to scale up performance.
  • Eastern Cape: The Province was supported in the establishment of a Military Veterans Cooperative called Matrosov, which works closely with the contractor to build Military Veterans houses in the Chatty 491 Project in Port Elizabeth. A Military Veteran was also appointed as the CLO and some of the Military Veterans were responsible to provide security to the project.

b)(ii) Provinces and Metros on Human Settlements Conditional Grants

  • The National Department continuously encourages Provinces and Metros to annually set aside and allocate at least 40% of their annual conditional grants allocations to business entities/ companies owned by designated groups, with specific reference to three grants, the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG), Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG), and the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) 2021-2022.
  • Provinces and Metros are continuously supported to ensure transformation in this regard, including on prioritizing allocation of human settlements projects to business entities of designated groups. The National Department monitors Provinces’ and Metros’ compliance in this regard, with the performance information consolidated, analyzed and reported on, on a quarterly basis.
  • The sector performance in job creation through awarding of contracts for human settlements projects to designated and vulnerable groups since 2019 to 2023, as submitted by Provinces, Meros and Human Settlements Entities, is as outlined below. These figures are however not audited.

Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG)

  • For 2021-22 financial year, R2 billion was allocated to businesses of designated groups, yielding 46% achievement of the 40% set aside.
  • For 2022-23 financial year, R3.4 billion was allocated.
  • For 2023-24 financial year, since April-June 2023, R1 136 861 has been allocated.

Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG)

  • For 2021-22 financial year, R1.4 billion was allocated for companies of designated groups, yielding 36% achievement of the 40% set aside.
  • For 2022-23 financial year, R1 164 345 million was allocated, which included April-June 2023, which is the last quarter of the Metros financial year, with R30 494 spent.

Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG)

  • For 2021-22 financial year, R1 million was allocated to companies of designated groups, yielding 36% achievement of the 40% set aside.
  • For 2022-23 financial year, R2 million was allocated.
  • For the current 2023-24 financial year, since April-June 2023, R98 346 has been allocated.

On an annual basis, Provinces and Metros have collectively allocated o:

  • In 2021/22, R3.5 billion was allocated to companies owned by designated groups.
  • In 2022/23, R3.7 billion was allocated.
  • In 2023/24, R1 235 207 has been allocated.

b)(iii) Human Settlements Entities

National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) 2021-2022

  • The National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) plays a major role in creating an enabling environment through provision of housing construction finance and enterprise development.
  • For 2021/22 FY: The entity’s value of disbursements for business entities of designated groups was R284 million. 123 SMME’s were supported through the Enterprise Development Programme. R90.3m worth work packages for SMMEs were issued. Out of SMME’s that participated, 42 are women owned entities and 15 include youth owned entities through the NHFC interventions. In total, R374 million was set aside by NHFC.
  • For 2022/23 FY: NHFC allocated R274 million through the value of disbursements for Designated Groups. The value of disbursements targeted towards B-BBEE compliant companies - Level 4, 3, 2, 1 Contributor (R'm) was R669 million. The value of disbursements targeted towards black owned entities (R'm). Moreover, women were the most beneficiaries of the First Home Finance (erstwhile FLISP) subsidies that were approved and disbursed. In total, NHFC allocated R1.186 billion.

Social Housing Regulatory Authority 2021-2022

  • For 2021/22 FY: The 2021/22 training programme covering a wide range of topics in relation to the programme, saw over 1 201 participants enlisted, of which 572 of attendees were female, 395 youth and 11 were persons living with disabilities. Various awareness sessions were also held focusing on designated groups to ensure their participation in the future social housing development. The existing body of knowledge and information has been formally constituted into materials and toolkits and such unpacked for broader audiences. SHRA spent 81% of its budget on majority owned black business. 93% of the capital grant award were made to majority black owned and controlled businesses.
  • For 2022/23 FY: Procurement spent for designated groups women (40%), youth (20%) PWDs (5%). On procurement spent for women was 48.49% and youth 3.42%, with nil expenditure on PWDs. Construction Procurement Spent for designated groups through the Capital Consolidated Grant (CCG) women (40%) yielding (48.9%) and youth (20%) yielding 6.39%, again with nil expenditure on PWDs. Construction Spent for designated groups through Institutional Investment Grant (IIG) target of (40%) yielding 41%. Construction Spent for Black Owned through CCG target of (70%) yielding 70%.

Housing Development Agency (HDA)

  • For 2021/22 FY: Procurement spend for designated groups women (40%), yielding 8.12% youth (20%) yielding 2.92% PWDs (5%) yielding 0.53%. Procurement spend targeted at businesses owned by BBBEE level 1-4 (60%) yielding 70.7%.
  • For 2022/23 FY: Procurement spend for designated groups women (40%), yielding 52% youth (20%) yielding 23% and PWDs (5%) yielding 5.56%.

National Homebuilders’ Registration Council (NHBRC)

  • For 2021/22 NHBRC through the Social Transformation and Empowerment Programme (STEP) trained 9154 individuals on various technical skills. 61% of the total number of individuals trained are women. BEE spend target of 65% yielding 73.72%.
  • For 2022/23 FY: NHBRC through the Social Transformation and Empowerment Programme (STEP) trained 8517 cohort of women, youth, people with disabilities and Military Veterans through the contractor training and development as well as the technical skills programme. Procurement spent for designated groups women (40%), yielding 43.24% youth (20%) yielding 34.08% and PWDs (5%) yielding 0.23%.

Community Schemes Ombuds Services (CSOS)

  • For 2021/22 FY: CSOS conducted 73 training and awareness raising sessions against a target of 18. CSOS spend 77.05% of its overall budget on BBBEE level 1-2 (R42. 374 million) and BBBEE level 3-8 (R9.340 million) black owned or controlled companies and non-compliant R5.707 million). Collectively, the procurement spent is R 58,851 Rm.
  • For 2022/23 FY: CSOS procurement spent for women owned entities for the target of (40%) yielding 41.5%, youth (20%) 9.1%.

Property Practitioner Regulatory Authority (PPRA) 2021-2022

  • For 2021/22 FY: The PPRA was able to reach over 5000 through workshops and awareness raising physically and through virtual platforms. PPRA mobilized 2000 interns, predominantly youth through the Services Seta funding
  • For 2022/23 FY: The PPRA introduced and reviewed number of transformation and empowerment programmes which includes amongst others, the Principalisation (Incubation) Programme; Regularisation Programme, Consumer Awareness Programme, Work Readiness Programme, Internship Programme – ‘one learner, one property practitioner”.

14 December 2023 - NW3092

Profile picture: Essack, Mr F

Essack, Mr F to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

What (a) total amount in debt does (i) Denel, (ii) the SA Forestry Company Limited and (iii) Alexkor owe to date, (b) is the breakdown of (i) the entities that are owed and (ii) the interest accrued to date and (c) amount does each of the three entities pay in interest on the debt owed in each case?

Reply:

According to the information received from SOCs:

ALEXKOR:

a) R4 620 135.75

(b)(i)

(ii) No interest has been accrued on the items listed.

(c) None

DENEL:

  1. (i) R100m
  2. (i) Aluwani

(ii) R 5,456,986.30

  1. 3 months Jibar + 280 basis points

SAFCOL:

(a) (ii)

R58 537 150

 

(b)

(i) Nedbank Bank:

Capital R4 600 167

Standard Bank:

Capital R52 483 995

(ii) Nedbank Bank:

Interest R387 066

Standard Bank:

Interest R1 065 922

(c)

Nedbank Bank:

Interest R387 066

 

Standard Bank:

Interest R1 065 922

 

Remarks: Approved/Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4111

Profile picture: Mohlala, Ms MR

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.

---00O00---

14 December 2023 - NW3516

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether his department has any short-term step-by-step solutions to address the mismanagement of state-owned entities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

I have directed the boards of several SOCs in my portfolio to formulate and implement turnaround plans. These plans aim to enhance operational efficiency and significantly improve the overall performance of the respective companies.

Eskom

Eskom is making strides towards ensuring energy stability and sustainability. The Generation Recovery plan has already recovered 1,535 MW between April and September 2023 contributing to Eskom’s goal of achieving an Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 65% by March 2024. This progress is poised to reduce the intensity and frequency of load shedding while increasing grid capacity. Furthermore, Eskom has significantly improved generation at its coal-fired stations through accelerated maintenance. In addition, the bringing online of three units at Kusile Power Station earlier than scheduled has reduced the amount of load shedding. Eskom’s partnership with independent power producers (IPPs) will add 9,421 MW of renewable energy to the grid. This underscores Eskom’s and the countries commitment to cleaner energy solutions. Eskom is also undergoing restructuring process that will result in the company having ion and Distribution. This is to promote efficiency, accountability, and the adoption of new technologies. The recent debt relief package from the government, along with efforts to strengthen the transmission grid and combat corruption, further solidifies Eskom's position on the path to a sustainable and reliable energy future for South Africa.

In addition to these advances, Eskom has made significant progress in addressing financial challenges and enhancing its corporate structure. The debt relief package of R254 billion from the government and measures to write off municipal arrear debt demonstrate Eskom's commitment to financial sustainability. Their focus on strengthening the transmission grid, with a special emphasis on the first 1,000 km of power lines, underscores their readiness to accommodate power from independent producers. Importantly, Eskom's anti-corruption efforts have led to a number of arrests, the recovery of assets, and the pursuit of criminal cases, affirming their resolve to protect the integrity of the company and public funds. These combined efforts paint a promising picture of Eskom's commitment to a more stable, sustainable, and accountable energy future, ultimately benefiting the people of South Africa.

Transnet

On 1 September 2023, I directed the Transnet Board to urgently address and report to the shareholder on its decisions and recommendations within the next few weeks in respect of, inter alia the following:

  1. Operational transformation: Develop or enhance a turnaround plan to radically transform the operational performance of each of the business areas, including the restructuring of the entity to deliver on its mandate more effectively and efficiently.
  2. Root causes: Identify the root causes of the inability of management and staff to meet the performance targets and a plan to deal with the deficiencies.
  3. Stringent / rigorous accountability Oversight: Transnet to develop, with the DPE and National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), a new framework for transparency and accountability through detailed reporting on the successful execution of the turnaround strategy.
  4. Digitisation of systems: Mechanisms to speed up the automation and digitisation of performance reporting systems to prevent deliberate and wrongful manipulation of data.
  5. Rigorous system of controls: Implement urgently the controls identified by the Auditor General reports.
  6. Private sector participation: Transnet is in the process of getting private sector involved in various capital projects. For example, a reputable international private sector partner has already been identified for the development and operation of the Pier 2 container terminal at the port of Durban.

As a result, the Board and Interim leadership have formulated an impressive “Recovery Plan” that is being rigorously implemented. In particular, the operational inadequacies are being systematically overcome – the assistance of the private sector through the establishment of “Centre of Excellence” will result in better operational outcomes in due course. Similarly, extraordinary efforts are being made to acquire additional equipment to improve port performance. Already a difficult operational approach at the ports introduced by management, is reducing the time spent by ships at anchorage.

 

Alexkor

Alexkor is solvent and does not have any interest-bearing debt. Alexkor’s financial position has limited financial risk as the largest liability will be settled by ring-fenced funds.

In January 2022, I appointed an interim board to restore governance amid years of instability. The appointment process for a permanent CEO and CFO is underway.

In 2019, we initiated a forensic investigation into allegations of maladministration and corruption. This led to significant findings, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorize the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to delve into corruption and maladministration in Alexkor and joint venture diamond operations on December 10, 2021. We remain resolute in our commitment to transparency, justice, and ethical governance as we pave the way for a brighter future.

South African Airways

There have been notable strides in the SAA Strategic Equity Partner (SEP) transaction. The approval of the transaction in July 2023 by the Competition Tribunal offers the potential for a significant turnaround. It provides the opportunity for SAA to comprehensively address and overcome its longstanding financial difficulties, with the added benefit of mitigating the compounding effects of the COVID-19 crisis. By securing a strategic equity partner and fostering collaboration, SAA may embark on a path towards financial stability and long-term viability, marking a pivotal moment in its recovery journey. Currently, it has expanded its route network to 11 destinations and increased a number of aircraft by 9 with further expansion expected over the short and medium term. It also plans to commence international routes with the first flight to Brazil expected shortly.

SAFCOL

SAFCOL's unqualified audit and INFLOMA's clean audit underscore SAFCOL’s financial responsibility and transparency. With a notable R285 million profit, SAFCOL is not only stable but also positioned for growth, especially as it pursues projects like Combined Heat and Power (CHP – generating heat and power from wood chips) to mitigate load shedding risks. SAFCOL’s initiatives further highlight its commitment to social responsibility. SAFCOL is a thriving, responsible organization, ready to embrace future opportunities and challenges.

Denel

 

In the past three years, Denel was faced with significant viability challenges. The malfeasance linked to State Capture and poor management decisions resulted in a steep decline in revenues and profitability since 2017/18, reversing a 7-year trend of good governance, growth, and profitability. This culminated into in a weak balance sheet, declining order book, poor operational performance, unpaid salaries, and suppliers which resulted in an erosion of key defence industrial capabilities and loss of critical skills.

Government has made significant interventions to stabilize the SOC. In the past five financial years, the State has injected into Denel approximately R9 billion, including settling guaranteed debt which was keeping Denel in a debt trap due to high interest payments. The intervention has resulted in an appreciable improvement in the market sentiments (employees, clients, partners, financial institutions, and suppliers) regarding the clarity of Government’s strategic intent with respect to Denel.

The focus in the near term, the Department is encouraging Denel to optimise on short term revenue opportunities to ensure that the SOC can fund its operational requirements and deliver on existing contracts.

Despite the challenges of the prior years, the interest by both local and international entities as well as government to collaborate with Denel on various defence technologies remains high.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW3890

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Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

Regarding the struggle for foreign qualified doctors to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for every year since 2013, what (a) total number of foreign qualified doctors (i) applied to be registered with the HPCSA and (ii) were successfully registered and (b) were the reasons that the other doctors were not registered?

Reply:

According to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the HPCSA underwent major organisational changes with substantive configurations that took effect in 2019/20. Regrettably, a lot of information from financial years prior to 2019 is still to be collated through the Knowledge Management Process. Currently, information as it relates to the question asked is available from 2017 as follows:

a) (i) The total number of foreign qualified graduates that applied to the HPCSA between 2017 and 2023 was 3836, and

(ii) of these 2056 applicants did not write the exams for various reasons outlined below. A total of 1780 foreign graduates wrote the exams, 1066 passed and thus qualified for registration.

b) Applicants would not proceed to registration for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to the following –

(i) Failure to provide compliant documentation, including information on curricula, notarized documentation, hours of training, domains covered, etc.;

(ii) Non-recognition of qualification by the designated entity, in this case, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG); and

(iii) Failing, either the theory and/or board examinations.

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 - NW3830

Profile picture: Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN

Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation

What was the total number of (a) rejected, (b) successful and (c) overall applications for water licences in the (i) 2017-18, (ii) 2018-19, (iii) 2019-20, (iv) 2020-21 and (v) 2021-22 financial years?

Reply:

The table below provides details on number of applications for water authorization licenses handled by the Department of Water and Sanitation during the period 2017-2022:

Applications for water licences

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

Total

a) Rejected

38

112

54

48

37

289

b) Successful

700

779

625

626

728

3548

c) Received

888

937

1023

998

940

4786

The Department did not manage to finalise all applications within the financial years in questions due to capacity challenges. The applications were carried over to the following financial years as indicated in the table below:

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

150

46

344

324

175

The Department of Water and Sanitation, with the assistance of Operation Vulindlela has implemented measures to improve the turnaround times for processing of licences as follows:

  1. The Organizational Structure of the Department was revised in September 2022 to cater for the establishment of sub-directorates solely focusing on the function of water use authorisation at provincial offices.
  2. The Department has filled 100 out of the 120 new technical vacant positions within the sub-directorates that were established in 2022.
  3. An in-house mandatory water use authorisation training programme has been developed and implemented from August 2022 to improve the skills of the officials involved in processing water use authorisation.
  4. The Water Use Licence On-line platform (E-WULAAS) was enhanced to include a performance monitoring and escalation system that provides for an early warning system and escalation when the allocated days for officials within the authorisation value chain are exceeded.
  5. New and revised documents aimed at minimising amendments (revised water use licence condition templates and WULA summary reports) were implemented.

---00O00---

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

 

14 December 2023 - NW3525

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Tambo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

a) What steps does he intend to take to (i) curb the exodus of high-ranking officials at state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and (ii) deal with the allegations that this was due to his undue interference in the entities and (b) to what does he attribute the resignation of high-ranking officials in SOEs? NW4691E

Reply:

(a)(i) The Board of Directors, entrusted with the ultimate responsibility and guided by their fiduciary duties, is empowered to manage all facets of the SOE's business. In instances of significant operational challenges affecting both the Company and the broader economy, as exemplified by Transnet, I have tasked certain Boards, including Transnet's, with developing and implementing a recovery plan. This strategic initiative aims to reassess and enhance operational effectiveness, ultimately leading to a substantial improvement in SOE’s performance.

The Boards are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring operational continuity and the successful implementation of the turnaround plans.

(ii) The Shareholder has a responsibility to hold the Boards of SOEs accountable in line with relevant laws including the Companies Act and Public Finance Management Act. Furthermore, the shareholder exercises shareholder rights in line with the Memorandum of Incorporation. There has not been any political interference in the SOEs that resulted in any leadership vacuum.

While the Departments ensures that there is stable leadership in SOEs, we have appointed interim leaders who possess the necessary experience and expertise to effectively manage and guide Eskom and Transnet. We have recently directed the Transnet Board to promptly formulate solutions for a variety of operational challenges, which encompass matters such as accountability, cost structure, and employee engagement.

(b) During extremely challenging times, it is found that more often than not, changes in leadership at both Board and Executive level are necessitated in order to drive urgent change and performance of an organisation, based on its operational requirements and the need for a review and refocus of operational effectiveness. This has been the case in the instance of Transnet and Eskom in recent months.

Leadership change is but one of the levers utilised to drive strategic enhancement of the organizations. It is on this basis that a review of Executive Management to determine whether they were fit for purpose and capable of executing the Board’s revised strategies and plans was undertaken by the SOE Boards. Coupled with leveraging of existing resources to pursue long-term success, the Boards of some entities in the DPE portfolio, namely Transnet, Eskom, and Denel, are undertaking rigorous and comprehensive recruitment processes to fill key positions of Group Executives and Prescribed Officers.

While the recruitment processes are underway the Boards have appointed interim executives and prescribed officers from within their existing management structures, with immediate effect. This ensures leadership continuity and stability, and operational sustainability.

Any assertion of the so called “interference” is rejected emphatically.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not approved

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW3652

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Phillips, Ms C to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy

(1) With reference to the remining of rock dumps and tailings storage facilities (TSFs) on abandoned and/or derelict mines, who becomes the owner of a rock dump or TSF on an abandoned and/or derelict mine; (2) whether the specified rock dump and/or TSF falls under the administration of his department; if not, which department does it fall under; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the registered owner has a specified time frame to utilise the waste rock dumps and the TSFs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether the process to be followed for the remining of a rock dump or TSF is the same as the process for a prospecting licence, which would include an environmental impact assessment and a water use licence?

Reply:

1. With reference to the remining of rock dumps and tailings storage facilities (TSFs) on abandoned and/or derelict mines, the person who was legally authorised to mine on the land in question, becomes owner of the movable dumps or (TSFs). Refer to the judgment of De Beers Consolidated Mines versus Ataqua Mining (Pty) Ltd and Others (3215/06) [2007] ZAFSHC 74 (13 December 2007).

2. Whether the specified rock dump and/or TSF falls under the administration of my department or otherwise, depends on when the dump was created. Dumps created before the commencement of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (“MPRDA”) are regarded as historic dumps. As confirmed in the De Beers judgment mentioned above, these dumps fall outside the jurisdiction of application of the MPRDA and are therefore not subject to its licencing regime. Dumps created post the commencement of the MPRDA is regarded as residue stockpiles and/or residue deposits which walls within the administration of my Department.

3. Whether the registered owner has a specified time frame to utilise the waste rock dumps and the TSFs will depend on the facts of each individual case and the nature of the right(s) and obligations of the owner in each case.

4. Whether the process to be followed for the remining of a rock dump or TSF is the same as the process for a prospecting licence, will firstly depend on whether the dump is historic, or whether the material therein constitutes residue stockpiles or deposits. Secondly, the nature of the activity will determine the extent and nature of the statutory authorisation to be obtained to carry out the activity. In most cases, environmental authorisations and water ule licences are required to carry out activities of this nature.

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

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Mr M

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

Profile picture: Gondwe, Dr M

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 - NW3889

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Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

(1)(a) Who will form part of the delegation from the Republic to the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to be held in Panama from 20 to 25 November 2023 and (b) what are their expertise; (2) what is the (a) mandate and (b) position of the Government regarding the specified COP meeting?

Reply:

1. (a) COP 10 did not take place in November 2023 as scheduled. It was due to take place in Panama but has since been postponed and indication is that it will probably take place in the first quarter of 2024. Ordinarily the delegates include a legal representative responsible for drafting legislations and an official responsible for policy formulation, that is the programme manager for health promotion in the Department.

(b) The legal representative has experience in public service and working on health legislation and subordinate legislation and a health promotion official with experience in health policy formulation and application with both academic and professional health experience. Their experience and expertise place them in good standing to contribute towards development and alignment of the South African legislation and policies that promote public health.

2. (a) The delegates are mandated to advance the interests of South Africa and of the Continent on aspects that promote public health in relation to Tobacco Control and related products.

(b) South Africa is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which is a Global public health treaty. The treaty is evidence-based and reaffirms the rights of all people to the highest standard of Health. It aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

Therefore, Government’s participation as a member state, is to learn, contribute, and adopt policy that may advance public health in South Africa.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW3730

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Mkhwebane, Adv B to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

(1).Whether he will furnish Adv B J Mkhwebane with proof that the amendment by the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) of the expired projects and unclaimed funds policy and the promulgation of the standard operating procedure comply with the various legislative requirements as clearly stipulated in remedial actions of the Public Protector, set out in 7.1.2.1.1 to 7.1.2.1.4 of the Report 125 of 2019/20; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2). what are the reasons that he has not reviewed the lawfulness of the policy operating at the NAC. (3) whether he intends to oppose the court application of the SA Roadies Association regarding the matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

(1). The National Arts Council (“NAC”) wishes to place on record that the two remedial actions as formally recorded at clauses 7.1.2.1.1 and 7.1.2.1.4 of the Public Protector’s Report 25 of 2019/20 were implemented by the NAC in 2021.

The following documents are attached hereto as evidence of implementation of remedial actions 7.1.2.1.1 and 7.1.2.1.4:

  1. A copy of the Standard Operating Procedure; and
  2. A copy of the declaration of interests registers for all NAC employees relating to the projects they have initiated since 2015 to date.

(2). The National Arts Council has reviewed the Expired projects policy to ensure that it complies with laws and policies. The reviewed policy is attached for perusal.

(3). The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture will not oppose the court application by South African Roadies Association on the matter. The applicant is not seeking any relief against the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

14 December 2023 - NW4014

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

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

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Ms MD

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 - NW3799

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

(1) whether his department has any records of cases of fraud and mismanagement of funds lodged against any of its (a) former and current senior management officials since April 1994, if not, why not, if so, what total number of (i) arrests have been made, (ii) such cases are before the courts and (iii) convictions have been secured. NW5017E

Reply:

There is 1 recorded case of mismanagement of funds by senior management official in the Department. The details are shown below:

Total of cases of fraud and mismanagement of funds lodged against current and previous senior management officials since 1994

Nature

Arrests have been made

Cases before the courts

Convictions have been secured

2020/2021 – 1 Case

Mismanagement of funds

No need for arrests. It is a civil recovery matter

Matter not before court as yet. Matter is still at pleading stage.

No need for conviction. This is a civil recovery matter.

Remarks: Reply: Approved/Not Approved

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW3891

Profile picture: Clarke, Ms M

Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health

(1)What is the status of CAS4/06/2023; (2) what is the status quo of the medical case with the medico Legal Mortuary file number 1508/23; (3) whether the family has been given the postmortem report of a certain person (name and details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1.  A CAS number is generated by the South African Police Service (SAPS);

2. The postmortem was conducted, and the histology analysis has also been concluded to confirm the cause of death;

3. The postmortem report is ready for collection by the Investigating officer for release to the family.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4120

Profile picture: Breedt, Ms T

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 - NW3774

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

(1) Whether the Government regards and upholds the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights, also known as the Barcelona Declaration of 6 June 1996, as its lodestar document; if not, with which specified articles and/or aspects of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights does the Government disagree; if so, (2) Whether his department is committed to ensuring that national departments, entities, and national public institutions uphold and implement the principles contained in the declaration through the Use of Official Languages Act, Act 12 of 2012; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

(1). PanSALB commemorates Linguistic Human Rights during Human Rights Month, March of each year with various empowerment workshops including the Linguistic Human Rights Public Lecture. This year, PanSALB hosted the public lecture at the Dr. Neville Alexander Building, University of Cape Town on 31 March 2023.The keynote speaker was the retired Judge of the Constitutional Court, Judge Albie Sachs.

PanSALB participates in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) in which it contributes to Articles 13 through 17 which put emphasis on the revitalization, use, development, and transmission to future generations of their languages, oral traditions, writing systems and literatures.

PanSALB further promotes the teaching and learning of Indigenous languages through corpus planning, status planning, and acquisition planning through its various initiatives that include dictionary compilation programmes, spelling and orthography rules, and terminology development. All these programmes are based on the principle that language development occurs when the language is used. Therefore, the concepts of language development and language use are inseparable, as for one to develop a language one must use it.

(2). Section 8(1)(b) of the PanSALB Act empowers the Board to request any organ of state to supply it with the information on any legislative, executive, or administrative measures adopted by it relating to language policy and language practice. In case the organs of the state (especially the language units of the national departments) do not submit the required reports as stipulated in section 8(d) of the Use of Official Languages Act, the Board may invoke section 8(6) of the PanSALB Act which provides that the Board may summon any person to give evidence before it, or to produce any official document or such other information or object as may be necessary for the performance of the Board’s functions.

14 December 2023 - NW3091

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Essack, Mr F to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

(1) As the Government shareholder representative in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), what (a) are the relevant details of any private equity capital investments that have been invested in (i) Denel, (ii) SA Forestry Company Limited and (iii) Alexkor in the past five financial years and (b) are the names of the (aa) individuals and/or (bb) institutional private equity investors; (2) what is the breakdown of the dividends that have been paid out by each of the specified SOEs in the past five financial years to each specified private equity investor? NW4158E

Reply:

According to the information received from SOCs:

ALEXKOR:

 

(1)

(a) There were no private equity capital investments invested in Alexkor for the past 5 years.

 

(b) (aa) N/A there were no private investors.

 

(bb) N/A there were no private investors.

(2)

No dividends were paid as there was no private equity investor.

DENEL:

(1) (a) (i)None

(b) (aa) None

(bb) None

(2) None

SAFCOL:

1. (a) (ii) There are no Private Equity Investments in Safcol.

(b) (aa) N/A

(bb) N/A

2. N/A

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

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 - NW3894

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

(1)Where did a certain person (name furnished) work before being transferred to her department; (2) whether the specified person previously worked with the Director-General, Ms Y Makhasi, at (a) the Film and Publication Board, (b) the Department of Public Enterprises, (c) the Department of Community and Safety Liaison in the Gauteng Provincial Government and (d) her department; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details. (3) whether the post was advertised before the person was transferred to her department; if not, why not; if so, (a) who was recommended for the advertised position and (b) what were the reasons that the recommended candidate was not appointed. (4) whether the position became a new position after restructuring; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how have the functions of the position changed and (b) what were the reasons that the new position was not advertised in terms of the Public Service Regulations?

Reply:

1. The person worked for the Gauteng Department of Community Safety and Liaison before being transferred to the Department of Public Service and Administration.

(2) According to the departmental records:

(a) Yes, the person was employed at the Film and Publication Board from August 2012 to January 2014. Ms Makhasi was employed at the Films and Publication Board from 2008 to 2013.

(b) Yes, the person was employed in the Department of Public Enterprises between 1 February 2014 and 31 March 2016. Ms Makhasi was employed at the Department of Public Enterprises between 1 August 2013 and 31 December 2015.

(c) Yes, the person was employed in the Gauteng Department of Community Safety from 1 April 2016 until 31 May 2020. Ms Makhasi was employed at the Gauteng Department of Community Safety between 11 January 2016 and 28 February 2020.

(d) Yes, the person is currently employed at the Department of Public Service and Administration from 1 June 2020. Ms Y Makhasi has been employed at the department from 1 March 2020.

3. The post of Director: Executive Support was not advertised before the person was transferred to the Department of Public Service and Administration in terms of section 14 of the Public Service Act, 1994.

4. The post of Director: Executive Support was newly created in the Office of the Director-General on 7 May 2020.

(a) The post was defined to support the Director-General directly in relation to diary management, logistical support, coordination of the work of the Cluster, Cabinet and Parliament.

(b) The post was filled in terms of section 14 of the Public Service Act, 1994 which does not require advertisement.

End

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 - NW4119

Profile picture: Breedt, Ms T

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 - NW3868

Profile picture: Mohlala, Mr M

Mohlala, Mr M to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation

How does he and/or his department intend to address the urgent challenges highlighted in the 2022 Green Drop report, which indicates that over 60% of wastewater treatment works in the Republic are classified as poor to critical, due to issues such as (a) overcapacity, (b) ageing infrastructure and (c) limited technical capacity?

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation is implementing various support programmes and initiatives to strengthen local government in terms closing the gaps identified on the 2022 Green drop report.

The Department funds infrastructure interventions aimed at supporting Water Services Authorities in addressing the gaps identified in the 2022 Green drop reports. Before a project is approved for Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) funding it has to go through a comprehensive project planning process, culminating in an Implementation Readiness Study (IRS). The Department is currently finalising the RBIG project planning priority list for the 2023/2024 financial year. This prioritisation will be guided by the 2022 Green Drop report, where the most critical systems are prioritised for project planning, which will then ultimately lead to the unlocking of funds and implementation of projects addressing the most critical systems, as identified by the report. This is the biggest value add of the 2022 Green Drop report as it provides guidance for the Department’s infrastructure investment programme, targeting the Departments Grants towards the most critical infrastructure needs. Before the 2022 Green Drop report, the project planning prioritisation was not informed by such quantitative data.

This will address the issues raised around over-capacited and ageing municipal infrastructure. The comprehensive planning process will also address the limited technical capacity concerns, as the IRS process includes an operation and maintenance plan, highlighting both human and financial resource requirements to properly operate and maintain the proposed infrastructure, which is associated to a cost-reflective tariff, which the WSA must sign off and commit to fulfilling, before the project is implemented.

The Department provides technical capacity support to Water Services Authorities to address the gaps identified in the 2022 Green Drop report. DWS has applied for Process Controllers funding proposals for the Water and Wastewater Treatment plants at the Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA). Upon approval by EWSETA, an appropriate training will be implemented in order for Process controllers to comply with the required Water and Wastewater regulations.

Furthermore, DWS is collaborating with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is currently implementing year two of the Councillor training as guided by the 2021-2026 Five Year Councillor Development Strategy for Water and Sanitation Portfolios Councillors. Additionally, the Department has embarked on a programme of conducting training needs analysis that aims at identifying and closing the skills gap on the Wastewater Treatment Works Operation and Maintenance Teams. The programme was initiated to support the WSAs to establish and strengthen the inhouse Operation and Maintenance Teams to enable them to tackle maintenance problems as and when they occur without relying on outsourcing. The outcomes of the training needs analysis will inform the development of training programme.

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14 December 2023 - NW3869

Profile picture: Mohlala, Ms MR

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

Given that the residents of Warrenton in the Northern Cape have endured eight months without running water and that the apparent lack of response from the Magareng Local Municipality raises concerns, furthermore noting that the community is grappling with ongoing challenges related to water scarcity, what has he found to be the current state of water supply in Warrenton?

Reply:

The Magareng Local Municipality reported that it is implementing three short- and medium term initiatives to address water supply challenges in Warrenton and surrounding areas, summarized as follows:

  • Water tankering was implemented as a temporary measure to ensure continuous water supply to the communities until water supply was restored in November 2023. However, the municipality still has two trucks operating across the town of Warrenton on an ad hoc basis.
  • The municipality appointed a service provider to inspect and repair the damaged bulk pipeline that transfers water from the Water Treatment Works through the Vaal River to the town of Warrenton. Inconsistencies in the river levels resulted in delays to the completion of the repairs to the pipeline. Repairs resumed on 08 August 2023 and the project was completed and water provision restored for the whole of Warrenton in November 2023. The project was funded by the municipality for R1 169 594,71.

However, it should be noted that the Magareng Municipality is operating old infrastructure such as asbestos pipelines (major component of distribution network), thus over and above the damage to the pipeline there have been challenges impeding adequate supply of water to residents. For example, as indicated the distribution network was not operational for 8 months, this automatically resulted that the asbestos cement pipes had dried up (become brittle), once water was restored, the pressure build-up in pipes resulted in major leakage problems due to asbestos pipes are bursting. The leakages affect pressure variation in the network in this way water supply becomes problematic during peak hours.

  • The construction of the bulk water pipeline on the old N18 Margrieta Prinsloo bridge is a long term and most sustainable solution to resolve the water supply challenges in the municipality. The cost to completion for the remaining works is estimated at R5 145 435. Construction of the remaining portion of the project commenced in April 2023. The project is 90% complete. The planned completion was initially August 2023, however during the restoration there were various challenges that occurred such as increased leakages of the asbestos pipes and major valves components having rusted and breaking off. The team revised the strategy to include reconstruction of valve chambers and leakage repairs as part of the bulk water pipeline as this restricted the functionality of the whole bulk water pipeline. As a result, the completion date has been moved to December 2023. The expenditure to date is R2 380 622,38 against the R5 145 435.

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14 December 2023 - NW4054

Profile picture: Gondwe, Dr M

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 - NW3972

Profile picture: Loate, Mr T

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 - NW4048

Profile picture: Clarke, Ms M

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

Profile picture: Hicklin, Ms MB

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

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Ms MD

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 - NW3940

Profile picture: De Villiers, Mr JN

De Villiers, Mr JN to ask the Minister of Health

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)-(c) No, neither the Minister, the Deputy Minister nor any official of the National Department of Health attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023.

(i), (ii), (iii) (aa), (bb), (cc) Not applicable.

END.

14 December 2023 - NW4063

Profile picture: Hicklin, Ms MB

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 - NW3959

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Ms MD

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 - NW3905

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Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 771 on 27 March 2023 and noting that farming areas of Dordrecht, Jamestown and Aliwal North which are serviced by the Aliwal North Eskom Office still experience weekly outages due to the slightest winds and poor weather conditions suggesting unresolved previously reported defects on these lines, he will furnish Ms A M van Zyl with a detailed (a) plan and (b) timeframe aimed at resolving the defects to ensure that these farming areas enjoy stable electricity supply?

Reply:

According to the information received from Eskom

Before February 2023, the Melkspruit area had been experiencing poor electricity supply. During February and March 2023, Eskom arranged planned outages to conduct maintenance on the equipment and power lines in the area. As a result, 80% of the defects on the lines were resolved by Eskom’s construction maintenance teams. The reliability and electricity supply situation has been improving since the planned maintenance took place. There has been a significant reduction in the number of faults per month from 19 faults in February and March 2023 to an average of about four faults per month in the last few months. Eskom continues to closely monitor and clear any faults on the power lines in the area.

Remarks: Approved/Not Approved/Comment

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4151

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Mr M

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 - NW4150

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

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 - NW3798

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

What are the relevant details of the (a) budget allocated for and (b) actual expenditure on flights of senior management in his department in the (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2021 22 financial years?

Reply:

The budget for flights within the Department is not split between senior managers and other officials. However, 95% on average of the travel is undertaken by senior managers. The total flights of officials over the last three years are shown below:

(i) 2019/20 Financial Year:

Expenditure Items

(a)

(b)

 

Total budget allocated

Actual expenditure

Flights

19 557 000

15 728 000

(ii) 2020/21 Financial Year:

Expenditure Items

(a)

(b)

 

Total budget allocated

Actual expenditure

Flights

3 924 000

2 384 000

 

(iii) 2021/22 Financial Year:

Expenditure Items

(a)

(b)

 

Total budget allocated

Actual expenditure

Flights

9 607 000

5 130 416

 

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/Comment

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

14 December 2023 - NW4030

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Ms MD

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 - NW3222

Profile picture: Essack, Mr F

Essack, Mr F to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:

DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NO.:PQ 3222 QUESTION: 3222. Mr F Essack (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:In light of the fact that the National Treasury has cautioned that the Government will have to cut back on spending in order to balance the budget and save the Republic from going over a fiscal cliff, what steps have Denel, the South African Forestry Company SOC Limited and Alexkor taken to ensure that they will rely entirely on their own balance sheets instead of bailouts from the fiscus to fund their own operations? NW4296E REPLY: According to the information received from SOCs: ALEXKOR: Alexkor had good returns from the sale of diamonds in the 2022/2023 reporting period and there are sufficient reserves to continue operating in the next 12 months without reliance from the fiscus. DENEL: Denel has tabled a comprehensive turnaround plan dealing with all aspects of the business with the following objectives: Reduced costs and increased revenue Engaged staff who are performance orientated Increased customer base Ensuring effective supply chain procedures Optimized planning and production Partnerships and joint ventures This plan and actions were underpinned by a recapitalisation programme from Government and Denel is currently executing this plan and will not require any additional bailouts from the Government. SAFCOL: SAFCOL has implemented cost curtailment measures since the start of the second quarter. Through this, revenue-generating and compliance expenditure is prioritised. The impact of these cash preservation measures is closely monitored on a monthly basis. Due to this intervention, SAFCOL’s total expenditure at the end of September 2023, was 16% below budget and continues to show positive variances in the forecast for the remainder of the year. SAFCOL has no government guarantees in place and relies on the robustness of its own balance sheet. Currently, there are no indications that any bailouts would be necessary in the foreseeable future. Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comments Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP Acting Director-General Minister Date: Date:

Reply:

According to the information received from SOCs:

ALEXKOR:

Alexkor had good returns from the sale of diamonds in the 2022/2023 reporting period and there are sufficient reserves to continue operating in the next 12 months without reliance from the fiscus.

DENEL:

  • Denel has tabled a comprehensive turnaround plan dealing with all aspects of the business with the following objectives:
  • Reduced costs and increased revenue
  • Engaged staff who are performance orientated
  • Increased customer base
  • Ensuring effective supply chain procedures
  • Optimized planning and production
  • Partnerships and joint ventures

This plan and actions were underpinned by a recapitalisation programme from Government and Denel is currently executing this plan and will not require any additional bailouts from the Government.

SAFCOL:

SAFCOL has implemented cost curtailment measures since the start of the second quarter. Through this, revenue-generating and compliance expenditure is prioritised. The impact of these cash preservation measures is closely monitored on a monthly basis. Due to this intervention, SAFCOL’s total expenditure at the end of September 2023, was 16% below budget and continues to show positive variances in the forecast for the remainder of the year.

SAFCOL has no government guarantees in place and relies on the robustness of its own balance sheet. Currently, there are no indications that any bailouts would be necessary in the foreseeable future.

 

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date: