Questions and Replies

Reply:

The President (a) and or any member of the Cabinet (b) did not meet with any member of Harakat al-Mugawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) to discuss any strategy whereby South Africa could assist Hamas or any other country in waging a diplomatic and/or legal offensive against the State of Israel at any time in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date.

 

Reply:

(a) The Provincial Departments of Health have advertised available funded posts for the various health professional categories including medical doctors and nurses. These are at different stages of recruitment.

(b) National Department of Health will provide guidance to provinces in line with the announcement that will be made by the Minister of Finance in his budget speech on 21 February 2024.

END.

Reply:

Neither the President (a) and/or (b) any member of the Cabinet had discussions with any member of the government or the executive of (i) the Islamic Republic of Iran and/or (ii) the State of Qatar regarding any strategy whereby South Africa could assist the Islamic Republic of Iran or any other country in waging a diplomatic and/or legal offensive against the State of Israel at any time in (aa) 2022, (bb) 2023 and (cc) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date.

Reply:

1. It is not a policy requirement to allocate ambulances to hospitals. Ambulances are allocated to EMS stations which are either stand-alone or co-located in hospitals, clinics, and other public facilities. The allocation is organized according to what is practically achievable within the budget allocation. The focus is on ensuring that these ambulances are accessible and respond on time when they are needed. Nationally, of the 483 public EMS Stations, 365 (76%) of are co-located at hospitals and clinics. The breakdown of EMS Stations per province is as follows:

PROVINCE	Total No. of Stations	No. of Stations Stand Alone	No. of Stations at Hospitals	No. of Stations located at Clinics	No. of Stations located at other sites
Eastern Cape	85	14	48	16	7
Free State	59	2	26	27	4
Gauteng	57	6	21	23	7
KwaZulu-Natal	71	22	26	19	4
Limpopo	57	10	26	18	3
Mpumalanga	37	7	16	5	9
North West	20	1	10	6	3
Northern Cape	48	4	8	36	0
Western Cape	49	12	25	9	3
TOTAL	483	78	206	159	40
PERCENTAGE	100	16	43	33	8
Other sites: Fire Stations, Local Govt Offices, SAPS

2. Access of ambulances to hospitals including emergency responses within the community are subject to demand and availability of ambulances at the time required. All calls, when received, are prioritized according to patient acuity needs, triaged and dispatched to the first available ambulance. This prioritization includes interfacility transfers.

END.

Reply:

(a) All hospitals have backup power in a form of generators to provide back-up electricity during outages. Some hospitals also have uninterrupted power supply (“UPS”) units inbuilt as part of their power supply backup. However, the generators and UPS units are not designed to run for longer periods of time than usually anticipated, as has been experienced in the recent frequent and longer instances of loadshedding.

(b) There are maintenance plans in place for all generators to ensure that they are operational and that there are diesel suppliers on standby to ensure that the generators are fully functional at all times.

END.

Reply:

According to the SAHPRA:

a) SAHPRA has the mandate of regulating the efficacy safety and quality of medicines and thus the information supplied in a license application does not include information about the financial implications of not having a license ;

b) There are various reasons licenses are not granted but in essence applicants must comply with the criteria for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Warehousing Practice (GWP). This is done in accordance with the General Regulations to the Medicines Act, Regulation 23(3) and Regulation 23(4). Noncompliance with the criteria for licensing will result in a license not being issued. In some cases applicants decline an inspection when they are contacted for assessment of their license application.

However, there were delays in finalisation of inspections due to capacity constraints in the Inspectorate unit.

c) In the 2022/2023 financial year, SAHPRA approved all new license applications that were evaluated however there are delays in the inspection of applicants due to limited inspection capacity.

END.

Reply:

According to Gauteng Department of Health:

1. Phahameng Clinic is one of the 40 clinics in the City of Tshwane (CoT) that is still owned and operated by COT. The provincial government through the Tswane Health District Office assists with the staffing shortage by seconding staff to some of these clinics. There has been a moratorium placed on the filling of vacant positions since 2019 to date, due to budget constraints. The CoT and the Tswane Health District Office are in the process of considering a list of critical positions to be filled during the 2024/25 financial year, within available budget.

2. (a) Facility Level: Phahameng clinic is resourced with personnel from both the City of Tshwane (CoT) and Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH).

The clinic has the following vacancies:

• 1 Chief Community Health Nurse (CoT)
• 1 Nursing Assistant (CoT)
• 1 Community Health Nurse (GDoH)
• The above positions have been vacant for less than 2 years.

b) Data is awaited from Gauteng Department of Health and will be provided as soon as we receive it.

3. Yes, budget constraints experienced by COT and the provincial government, impede the process of filling vacancies. The CoT and Tswane Health District are in the process of considering a list of critical positions to be filled during the 2024/25 financial year, within available budget.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) The delegates are mandated to advance the interests of South Africa and of the Continent with regard to aspects that promote public health in relation to the control of tobacco and related products.

(b) South Africa is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is a Global public health treaty which informs South Africa’s mandate in this regard.

(2) (a) Mandate on:

(i) combustible cigarettes

To ensure decisions made at COP will protect public health, reduce demand and supply and protect vulnerable groups and non-smokers and to identify new risk based on available scientific evidence.

(ii) non-combustible nicotine products

South Africa supports agenda items and decisions aimed at protecting public health. Our main objective to protect public health, reduce demand and supply and protect vulnerable groups and non-smokers against the harm caused by nicotine and to identify new risk based on available scientific evidence.

(iii) harm-reduction policies, technologies, and evidence led scientific findings

The Department of Health is not in support of the proposed promotion of harm reduction strategies and technologies, since what is proposed by the tobacco industry in this regard remain harmful to the public. The unregulated and uncontrolled use of nicotine poses a health risk and therefore, the Department is committed to the regulation of all tobacco and related products. The objective at all times is to promote public health and protect the vulnerable groups against the harm posed by the tobacco and related products.

(b) South Africa, in our pursuit to regulate all tobacco and related products, is guided by local and global studies that have provided significant evidence about the harm caused by both combustible and non-combustible tobacco and related products. These include the emerging products flooding the market worldwide.

END.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet.

Major problems at CTCT that impact on its operations is twofold:

(i) The first is the extreme windy conditions which paralyzes operations for long periods of time. Transnet has obviously no control over this problem.

(ii) The shortage of equipment.

(iii) Not withstanding the above, excellent progress has been made by putting in place an experienced management team, installing new equipment on an incremental basis and ensuring that both cranes and other equipment are able both to steady ships in rough weather and cranes which operate in windy conditions.

(1)(a) CTCT only executed 12 vessels for the month, compared to an average expectation of 20 per month. In 2023, CTCT recorded the highest number of hours lost due to strong winds in December, with 183 hours (equivalent to eight days) lost compared to 150 hours during the same period in 2022. The increased wind speed experienced also prevented the safe docking of some vessels into the terminal. When the terminal goes windbound, it means that the terminal must cease operation for safety reasons.

CTCT has also been challenged with equipment unavailability of especially Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes and Haulers, which have exceeded their design life. Equipment breakdowns result in crane down time and reduced productivity over the quay. TPT have since made significant strides in improving the availability of equipment, particularly through the delivery of 7 used RTGs in December 2023, 6 of which are already in operation. Training has been done on this new equipment.

In addition to the above, the terminal was shut for the public holidays on 25th December 2023 and 1st of January 2024.

(1)(b) While CTCT’s headline productivity measure is the Moves per Ship Working Hour (SWH), which measures the average container moves on a vessel per hour, the current focus is on a number of containers moved over the quayside over a 24 hour period. This helps to maximise the volumes rather than focusing solely on SWH which can be compromised if the focus is on volumes.

For the month of December, CTCT averaged an SWH of 27,6 moves per hour, servicing a 2-Berth operation for a portion of the month while the 7 used RTGs were discharged at one of the berths. In January, the terminal resumed a 3-berth operation, but this means that cranes and supporting RTGs and Haulers were spread across 3 vessels instead of 2, resulting in a reduction in equipment allocation per vessel. As a result, the SWH for January 2024 was 22.

A more realistic indication of the operational improvement is the overall throughput across all berths, which is measured by the daily container moves. For the month of December, the terminal moved an average of 700 containers per day. Container moves in January increased to 842 moves per day and 1164 moves per day for February month to date. Furthermore, the average daily rate for the last 7 days is 1238. This reflects an upward trend in operational activity. The immediate target is to ramp up to 1500 container moves per day, with an aspiration to improve further to 1700 per day.

(2) Since the beginning of December, CTCT appointed additional personnel, which coincided with the ramp-up of the current deciduous season. These include appointments of Diesel Mechanics, Millwrights, Driver Articulated Vehicles and Operators of Lifting Equipment amongst others. A Team from Navis, the software system used to operate the terminal, is also in CTCT to train the Planners and Supervisors to use the system optimally and improve efficiencies.

(3) In 2023, CTCT recorded the highest number of hours lost due to strong winds in December, with 183 hours (equivalent to eight days) lost compared to 150 hours during the same period in 2022. The increased wind speed experienced also prevented the safe docking of some vessels into the terminal. When the wind is terminal bound, it means that the terminal must cease operation for safety reasons.

As previously indicated above, the delays can be linked to the equipment availability challenges, particularly with aging RTG cranes and Haulers which CTCT currently faces. This has led to downtime and reduced productivity along the quay. TPT has made significant progress in addressing this, obtaining 7 used RTGs in December 2023, with 6 already in operation and staff trained on the new equipment.

(4) Since the delivery of Rubber-Tyred Gantries (RTGs) on 11 December 2023, the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has completed the following:

• Fully commissioned a total of six RTGs with the seventh still in progress.
• A total of 54 Operators of Lifting Equipment (OLE) have completed training on the pre-used RTGs.
• Six RTGs have been successfully handed over to Operations. These machines now fully form part of our RTG fleet.
• The seventh RTG wasn’t successfully commissioned due to additional parts it required, which are on order from abroad. The commissioning process is in progress. It is projected that all seven RTGs will be operational by the end of February 2024.

 

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/ Comments

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister of Public Enterprises

Date: Date:

Reply:

The departmental statement referring to some medical doctors rejecting placement in rural facilities is based on historic trends that led to delays with recruitment for rural hospitals as well as the recent Internship and Community Service Placement (ICSP) statistics. During the 2023/2024 cycle, the Department received 109 appeals against placements for Community Services Medical Officer posts with majority being posts in rural facilities.

However, the Department can confirm that there are medical doctors in all hospitals and healthcare facilities that are designated to have medical doctors as part of the workforce, including those in rural areas.

END.

Reply:

According to the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH):

The clinic supervisor that was overseeing seven (7) clinics in the local area of the Mhlonlo Sub-district of OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape (EC), retired in 2021, and the appointed operational manager for Malepelepe Clinic who was the most senior professional nurse in the area, was delegated to oversee the seven (7) clinics as a clinic supervisor.

Since, as per Department of Public Service and Administration Regulations, the post of operational manager of Malepelepe Clinic was still filled by the person who was appointed acting clinic supervisor, the acting operational manager for Malepelepe Clinic could not receive an acting allowance.

On 1 February 2024, the operational manager for Malepelepe Clinic, who was overseeing the seven (7) facilities, was appointed in the post of Clinic Supervisor, and the post of operational manager for Malepele Clinic became vacant. The person delegated to act as operational manager for Malepelepe Clinic will receive an acting allowance as from 01 February 2024 and the vacant post of operational manager for Malepele Clinic will be filled in line with government recruitment processes.

END.

Reply:

The President (a) did not meet with or had a telephone discussion with (i) Mr Ismail Haniyeh and/or (ii) any other members of the Harakat al- Muqawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) in (aa) 2022, (bb) 2023 and (cc) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date.

Regarding contact with any member of Cabinet (b), it should be recalled that DIRCO issued a media statement on 17 October 2023, confirming that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr GNM Pandor, received a request to call the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to discuss getting humanitarian aid to Palestine. During the call, and In line with the Government’s position, Minister Pandor reiterated South Africa’s solidarity and support for the people of Palestine and expressed sadness and regret for the loss of innocent lives of both Palestinians and Israelis. The statement further indicated that Minister Pandor and the Hamas leader discussed how to get the provisional supply of necessary humanitarian aid to Gaza and other parts of the Palestinian territories.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

(1) and (2) Kindly see the response provided in Parliamentary Question No. 58

(3) Cape Town Terminals have contracted line services calling in accordance with the terminal’s full capacity design. Therefore, any additional vessels are reviewed and handled on an ad-hoc basis, depending on the occupancy and availability.

Cape Town will see short-term benefits as there is an opportunity for the Western and Northern Cape deciduous fruit exporters to export more of their produce to Europe and America.

Most vessels now re-routing via the Cape of Good Hope (COGH) would still have cargo for foreign destinations and therefore would not necessarily request to stop in South Africa for additional volumes. However, the South African Ports will continue to pursue additional business opportunities which may arise from the additional vessels calling via COGH.

 

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister of Public Enterprises

Date: Date:

Reply:

(a) The government’s strategic plan on energy procurement is codified in the 2023 draft IRP which has been released for public participation and comments.

(b) The IRP sets the strategic plan which includes the optimal energy mix to achieve our energy security objectives with due regard to our energy resource endowments

(c) The energy action plan sets out short and medium interventions measures to balance the energy supply and demand which includes interventions to;

(i) Strengthen and/or repurpose the existing Eskom fleet including gas to energy on both open and close cycle gas turbines,

(ii) Optimize the uptake of private renewable energy investment both through renewable energy independent producer programme, embedded generation programmes and commercial/domestic rooftop solar solutions

(iii) Modernize and expand the transmission infrastructure

(iv) All procurement will be done in line with section 217(1) and (2) of the constitution

(v) refer to reply above

(2) Based on the 2019 IRP government will in 2024 will commence the procurement of:

(i) 2500MW nuclear energy

(ii) The conversion of Gourikwa and Ankerlig to gas from diesel/open gas turbine OCGT which will yield 2000MW and a further 1000MW conversion into Closed Cycle Gas Turbine OCGT

(iii) An additional 3000MW is approved in Richards Bay

Eskom will rollout plans for the development of solar PV coupled with battery energy storage systems which will yield 4000MW.

 

 

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

1. The Ngqura Container Terminal (NCT) private sector participation (PSP) transaction ran alongside the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 transaction, with the intention to position it as a transshipment hub for SA, based on the location of South Africa, adjacent to major sailing routes such as Asia and West Africa and Asia and South America trades.

There was an initial interest for the PSP in the terminal, as demonstrated by responses received during the Request For Information and the Request For Qualification processes, with four respondents shortlisted to participate in the Request For Proposals (RFP) process. However, there was no response received on the final RFP submission date. Some respondents cited challenges in meeting the volume requirements for NCT, which were stipulated in the RFP documents, and therefore the PSP for NCT was not awarded.

2. There was no response to the RFP process as outlined above and the PSP could not be awarded.

3. Transnet’s strategy to position the terminal as a transshipment hub has not changed. Management is considering options on how to proceed with the PSP, and a decision has not been taken yet whether this will include amending the RFP requirements or whether other alternatives to the initial PSP process will be considered.

4. Further announcements will be made when there is further progress.

 

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

1. (a), (b) (i) and (ii)

One official from the Department of Health was delegated to attend COP 10. No other officials from other entities were delegated by the Department to attend.

2. The cost for travel and subsistence for 1 person was R175 040.46. There was no other cost involved.

3. The cost is funded by the Department only.

END.

Reply:

As reflected during the media briefing hosted on 05 February, fiscal challenges facing the country and also impacting on the health care system are acknowledged. The Provincial Departments of Health continue to actively engage their Provincial Treasuries to find ways of addressing the unemployment of health professionals, including medical doctors. According to the 09th February 2024 PERSAL print out, 425 Medical Officer appointments were captured for January 2024. Of these, 371 are Medical Officer Grade 1 category.

As reported in Parliament during the State of Nation Address (SONA) Debate on 13th February 2024, working with the Minister of Finance, a solution to address the current challenge of doctors wishing to stay in the public service is being worked out. The details will be furnished after the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech on 21st February 2024.

There is no documented evidence that links the choice to emigrate with the delayed employment by the state. Contrary to that is the demonstration of aspirations to serve the South African Public Health system as expressed by the recent outcry by the “unemployed doctors”.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) The South African delegates were mandated to advance the interests of South Africa and of the Continent with regard to aspects that promote public health in relation to the control of tobacco products, electronic delivery systems and related products.

(b) The mandate is based on the fact that South Africa is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is a Global public health treaty which informs South Africa’s mandate in this regard. The treaty is evidence-based and reaffirms the rights of all people to the highest standard of Health. In addition, South Africa is guided by local and global studies that have provided significant evidence about the harm caused by both combustible and non-combustible tobacco products.

(2) No, the public comment on the legislative process related to the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill has not been incorporated into the mandate, because legislative processes pertaining to the Bill has not been completed yet. Many of the COP issues are similar to the provisions of the Bill, and this is a justifiable coincidence since the two are dealing with the same subject matter at different levels. The Bill process is a law-making process at national level whilst COP deals with tobacco control and regulation at international level.

(3) The National Department of Health respects and values the legislative process that the Bill has to undergo and that includes the public participation process. The Bill before Parliament aims at regulating and controlling the tobacco and related products in the interests of public health. The WHO FCTC is a regulatory instrument on tobacco control at international level. Both WHO FCTC and the National legislation (Tobacco Products Act 83 of 1993), Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill are dealing with the same subject matter namely the regulation and control of tobacco and related products, including electronic delivery systems. Therefore, you may find similar aspects covered in the Bill being discussed at COP as the body implementing the WHO FCTC. As a matter of course, the resolutions and recommendations of international bodies do influence the direction of national laws to the extent allowed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

END.

Reply:

1. The respective facilities have requested to install, secure, operate and maintain the allocated units and furthermore these facilities were requested to record the generators in their individual asset register.

2. The individual facilities are responsible for the operational budget of the generators

3. Procurement of fuel will be done through the regular procurement process of the respect facilities

4. Please refer to answer above

 

 

Reply:

According to information received from Eskom:

(1)(a)(i)

The number of electrical infrastructure theft incidents is depicted in the table below:

 

Sum of Events ID
Operating Unit	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	Grand Total
Eastern Cape Operating Unit	1171	1080	1194	1280	1418	986	7129
Free State Operating Unit	702	582	569	554	518	420	3345
Gauteng Operating Unit	1849	1195	1400	1116	771	699	7030
KwaZulu-Natal Operating Unit	2159	1290	1489	1152	1125	1383	8598
Limpopo Operating Unit	924	828	852	857	707	523	4691
Mpumalanga Operating Unit	732	702	731	837	764	667	4433
North West Operating Unit	892	878	803	767	675	507	4522
Northern Cape Operating Unit	462	434	410	449	422	367	2544
Western Cape Operating Unit	269	274	261	372	322	253	1751
Grand Total	9160	7263	7709	7384	6722	5805	44043

The number of transformer theft cases that were reported is depicted in the table below:

(1)(b)(i)

Data not available for (aa) 2019-20, (bb) 2020-21 and (cc) 2021-22 (dd) 2022-23: A direct loss of R18 953 668.45 was reported relating to the theft of transformers.

(2)(a)

• The total number of failed transformers in Eskom across the nine provinces due to theft is 1347 as of 09 February 2024. Failed transformers are replaced daily, while failures as a result of theft and vandalism also take place frequently.
• The main causes of these transformer failures include overloading, which occurs when customers have tampered with or bypassed their meters, illegal connections which have bypassed the fuses and breakers that are meant to protect the transformer from overloading, as well as theft and vandalism.
• Eskom remains committed to replacing failed transformers soon after tamper fines have been paid by the customers and the replacement criteria have been met.

(2)(b)

• Collaboration with SAPS, SSA, and NPA [MAJOC/Priority Committee, ProvJoints, NatJoints] for continued support regarding crime prevention, disruptive operations, intelligence gathering, investigations, arrests and prosecutions.
• Implementation of technology to inform security designs for substations, powerlines and all Eskom facilities.
• Continually assessing threats and risks with appropriate plans for high-risk sites.

• Collaboration with communities to create awareness and encourage them to pay for electricity and take ownership thereof.
• Collaboration with the private security industry through enabling contracts.
• Strengthening of governance among the private security role-players that conduct business with Eskom.
• Conducting risk assessments and identification and classification of high-value assets and high-risk sites.
• Strengthening of security measures through investment in physical security technologies through the leveraging of the existing resources within Eskom Distribution.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

1. All medical doctors eligible for community service have been placed as of January 2024. This number excludes those who lodged appeals against the areas that they were placed at.

2. National Department of Health can confirm that all medical doctors that were eligible to commence community service started work on 01 January 2024. Only those who are deemed as not eligible or are late starters (i.e., completing their community service later than 31 December 2023) have not been placed. They will be placed upon completion of their community service.

END.

Reply:

The National Department of Health (NDoH) was aware of the shortages of biocides, hand sanitizer and hibiscus (hibiscrub) hand soap in the facilities across the Eastern Cape.

a) There are interventions that the NDoH implements to ensure that there are no supply shortages at facilities. These interventions are informed by the cause of the supply challenge.

• Where the supply constraint is due to operational matters, e.g. machine breakdown, labour unrest, theft, post importation testing, etc., the NDOH would source products from alternative local suppliers with registered products using the quotation process.
• Should the supply constraint result in a longer term supply challenge, such as regulatory matters including amendments to the dossier that requires approval from South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), including a change/addition of an active pharmaceutical ingredient source and/or manufacturing site, the transfer of ownership of dossiers which results in a change of marketing authorization, delays in the issuing of the permits for imported medicines, manufactured products requiring additional quality checks by SAHPRA, etc. and no alternative local suppliers with registered products are available; an application would be made to SAHPRA for the acquisition of unregistered medicines for human use in South Africa Act use in terms of Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act.

b) Health facilities in the Eastern Cape place their orders with the depot on a weekly basis, and the depot processes these orders efficiently with a lead time of a week.

In most cases including the recently reported case, the medicines supply challenges are transient in that an item may be reported as out of stock and soon after the item is back on stock.

Currently, there are no the shortages of biocides, hand sanitizers and hibiscus hand soap in health facilities across the Eastern Cape. The table below shows the current availability of the items in the Eastern Cape health facilities including the depots:

Item Description	Quantity on stock	Stock Provision in Months
Hibiscus (Hibiscrub) Hand Soap 500ml	6 826	2.5 months’ supply
Hand sanitizer without emollient 500ml	8 590	4 months’ supply
Biocide 100s	6 060	2 months’ supply

Table 1. Stock on hand of selected items as at 12 February 2024

END.

Reply:

a) In line with Formal Education Procedure- section 7.2.7.1, indicates that all offenders who have registered for education programmes that require access to electronic material are granted the use of computers/ laptops within the Correctional Centre. Personal laptops are allowed for educational purposes with the approval of the Head of the Centre.

b) As outlined in the Formal Education Procedure- section 7.2.9, the Department of Correctional Services has a secure room within the Correctional Centre or at the school available specifically for the placement of computers/ laptops for offenders.

A designated official is assigned to specifically control the use and access to all computers/ laptops in the secured room.

END

REPLY:

Reply:

(a) The R3.8 billion funding will be sourced from the National Skills Fund (NSF) and the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), with the NSF contributing R1.5 billion and the SETA offering R2.5 billion in 2024. The transfers will be subject to NSFAS meeting certain conditions, including improved controls and processes.

(b) 31 884 students will be funded over a period of 4 years.

Reply:

I have been informed by the SITA as follows:

1. (a) The following are the key reasons for the system interruptions at SITA:

(i) A change in configuration resulted in blocked communication between systems. This resulted in service disruptions and as a consequence impacted email, internet, intranet, VPN and Applications to a key national department.

(ii) The SITA Core Network links are provided by both Private Sector Operators (PSO) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The service disruptions occasionally impact on connectivity to some of SITA’s Switching Centres and Data Centres, which impacts government services to key national and provincial departments.

Notwithstanding the fact that there is redundancy in place, the fibre breaks still impact both primary and secondary links at times. The key contributing factors are vandalism, veld fires and construction work. There are also single points of failure in the Network that have been identified, that contributed to service outages.

(iii) Persistent loadshedding has also put pressure on backup power infrastructure that occasionally fail to kick in, resulting in disruption in network connectivity.

(b) The following interventions have been put in place to address the specified interruptions:

(i) SITA made investments to address single points of failure and modernised the network through a Software Defined Network programme. SITA has built further redundancy into the current architecture over and above the existing dual network routes and infrastructure. There has also been upgrades on backup power infrastructure, increase frequency of maintenance to backup diesel generators, uninterrupted-power-supplies and switchgear to ensure power supply equipment is protected. Alternative power sources are also being investigated for future investments.

2. The interventions that SITA has put in place, mitigate the risk of more severe system interruptions. The drive is to ensure high availability of services through:

• Modernisation of the Network;

• Consolidation and modernisation of switching and data centres;
  • Establishing partnerships with industry and State-Owned Entities to leverage their existing capabilities and to derive economies of scale.

Thank you

Reply:

(a) and (b)

Project name	Project Location	IBT System utilised	Number of Houses entrolled as IBT	Number of houses constructed and occupied as IBT	Number of houses still to be built on IBT
1. Transhex Mega Projects, BNG/Social/Gap Housing	Western Cape, Worcester	Ikhaya future house Moladi Envirolite	1410	190	1220
2. Umlazi F6, BNG/Social/Gap Housing	KZN, Umlazi	SANJO Fabtech Building system	Change of design in progress for 10 units. Units were initially enrolled as conventional	10 units in progress at various stages	0
3. Fortwest Ext 4&5, BNG/Social/Gap housing	Gauteng Pretoria West	Sanjo Fabtech Building system	500	100 Houses contructed. Not occupied	400 houses
4. Toekomsrus Ext 4, Western Mega Projects, BNG/Social/Gap housing	Gauteng Randfontein	MONL Frames building system	598	360 Houses constructed. 285 houses invaded houses is included in the 360 houses	238 houses
5. Thembisa ext 7	Gauteng Tembisa	Sterling Building systems (Sanjo Fabtech)	500	466 constructed, project on hold	34 houses
6. Delft Housing Project BNG/Social/ Gap housing	Western Cape, Delft New Precinct	Kwikspace Modular Buildings Vela Building Solutions	1911	1426	485
7. Greenville Housing Project, BNG/Social/ Gap housing	Western Cape, Fisantekraal	Benex Masonry Building system	2956	2659	166 Project under construction – 131 not yet started
8. Belhar Military vets project, BNG/Social/ Gap housing	Western Cape, Belhar	Intastor Profile Modular Roofing system	102	102	0
9. Sicelo Shiceka BNG/Social/ Gap housing	Gauteng, Midvaal	Sterling Buidling System (Sanjo Fabtech)	100	0	0
10. Vosloorus Ext.9 BNG/ Social/Gap housing	Gauteng, Vosloorus	Plaswall Building system	132	0	0

Reply:

The KZN Provincial Department of Human Settlements indicates that there are two factors that contributed to the delays of the Umbulwane Area H Housing Project-

(i) STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

In November 2018 to February 2019 severe weather patterns led to the Umbulwane area experiencing extended heavy rainfall, which resulted in the existing stormwater arrangements not able to limit/mitigate the extensive flooding of portions of the project, impacting on several houses under construction. The KZN NHBRC immediately stopped the construction activities until an appropriate and sustainable solution was found.

Following the tabling of the investigations that were conducted by both the NHBRC as well as the Project Engineer, meetings were held with all the stakeholders to discuss the findings and provide suitable and sustainable solutions in order to urgently implement and unblock the project. The Implementing Agent and the Project Engineers subsequently provided the remedial and upgrading requirements along with the maintenance plan.

(II) BULK SERVICES

During the installation of the bulk services, an application from the District Municipality, via the Alfred Duma Local Municipality citing that they did not have the funds to install bulk water and sewer arrangements. The KZN Department realised that if these issues were left unresolved, the structures on the ground would be subjected to vandalism and illegal occupation.

The KZN Department then made funds available to resolve both the storm water management issues, as well as the bulk connection services to allow the project to proceed.

The KZN Department took on the responsibility that should have been taken by the uThukela District Municipality (Bulk services) as well as the responsibility that should have been performed by the Alfred Duma Local Municipality (Storm water management) to unblock all challenges causing the project to be stalled. The Implementing Agent is anticipated to return to site and resume construction activities by 15 March 2024 and complete the project by March 2026.

The status of project the is as follows:

Internal Services

Water Reticulation : 100%

Sewer Reticulation : 100%

Storm water control : 100%

Internal Roads : 100%

Sewer Pump Station: 95%

Top structures

Slabs : 400

Walls : 145

Roofs : 105

 

Reply:

Based on the response or the information provided to my office by City of Johannesburg, it must be noted that in the last two (2) financial years (2021/2022 and 2022/23) the city has embarked on a process of developing the area using Informal Settlements Upgrading Grant (ISUPG). The City appointed a consultant to develop a professional upgrade plan in order to normalise the Kya Sands Informal Settlement into a formal township (i.e. to densify and present a tangible plan for re-development and re-blocking of the settlement).

The plan is categorised as a Category B1 settlement where in-situ upgrading will be utilised. In-situ upgrading means that the settlement will be developed in the same area where it is located as there is enough land and space. Households located in the North-Western sections of the settlement will need to be relocated as they are located within, the 1:100-year flood line.

(b) The Department of Human Settlements within the City of Johannesburg is providing interim basic services such as refuse collection, sanitation and water on a weekly basis.

Reply:

a) Before the 2023/24 financial year, the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) has been allocating disaster response funds (on application) to provinces and municipalities that were affected by disaster incidences such as floods, gale force winds and fires through the Provincial Emergency Housing Grant (PEHG) and Municipal Emergency Housing Grant (MEHG) respectively.

As a result of the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu Natal, the province was allocated a budget of R342 133 000 through the PEHG, for the provision of Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) that enabled more than 3 000 displaced households to be removed from mass care centres (community halls, churches, and schools) to various lodges and flats within eThekwini municipality. In addition, these funds were also utilised by the province for the construction of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), whilst a permanent housing solution such as the construction of BNGs, is sought by the KZN Department of Human Settlements (KZN-DHS). The Eastern Cape Province was allocated a budget of R84 109 000 through the PEHG, for the provision of 225 Temporary Residential Units to displaced households.

As of the 1st of April 2023, the NDHS discontinued the PEHG and MEHG to formulate an Emergency Housing Response Fund (EHRF) that is administered and implemented directly by NDHS.

The Human Settlements Department under the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) played an active role in the provision of emergency accommodation for the victims of the fire incident that occurred at the Usindiso building. The CoJ’s Human Settlements Department established a Transitional Relocation Area (Shalizile Denver TRA) where the victims were relocated to. Services such as water supply, sanitation, area lighting and refuse removal are provided. The costs relating to the construction of the corrugated structures amount to R3 648 640.00 in Shalizile Denver TRA.

bI The National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) put in place the following emergency housing interventions that will enable displaced disaster victims to be provided with decent shelter during disasters:

• A 3-year panel of contractors has been established for the construction of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) on an as-and-when-required basis until the year 2026.
• The Housing Development Agency (HDA) has been tasked with the responsibility of acquiring suitable land parcels and state-owned buildings that will be utilised immediately as Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) during disasters, whilst TRUs are being constructed. This responsibility is in line with their core mandate prescribed by the Housing Development Agency Act No. 23 of 2008.
• The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) has been tasked with the responsibility of conducting structural assessments and remedial plans for formal houses that were damaged by the floods, winds, and fires, as per their mandate prescribed on the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, 1998 (Act No. 95 of 1998).
• To ensure that such measures are implementable across all provinces, the NDHS has developed Emergency Housing Guidelines that outline the type of disaster interventions that should be provided by the department. The Guidelines also outline the collaborative role of the Provincial and Municipal Disaster Management Centres (PDMCs, DDMCs & MDMCs), in assisting the NDHS to respond effectively and efficiently to disasters.

Reply:

I have been informed by the SITA as follows:

Yes, SITA has implemented various contingency plans to ensure non-interrupted services during load shedding.

(a) Ongoing.

(b) SITA operates a total of twenty-six (26) Switching Centre and ten (10) Data Centre facilities across the country, which are central in the provision of network connectivity and hosting services, respectively.

• All these facilities are equipped with diesel generators which are triggered to provide backup power during load shedding. SITA has contracts in place for preventative and corrective maintenance and support of the diesel generators. Furthermore, SITA has established contracts with various Industry Suppliers for the supply and replenishment of diesel, performance of which is managed in line with service level agreements (SLAs) metrics.

• A remote environmental monitoring (REM) system has been implemented to ensure proactive monitoring of diesel levels in these facilities.

Thank you

Reply:

1. According to the Northern Cape Provincial Department responsible for Human Settlements the department acquired the Eskom building through the Housing Development Agency (HDA) for the reported R 16 million.

(a) A projected cost analysis was prepared by LESEDI Technical Engineering CONSULTING (PTY) LTD for the HDA in August 2021 and the cost for the project conversion was estimated at R120 million.

(b) A current cost analysis has not been done.

2. A signed inter-ministerial agreement between the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) affords the NDHS and its entities the first right of refusal from DPE to acquire disposable assets before availing them to the open market. The HDA as an Enabling Agent of the NDHS is tasked to acquire some of the properties availed by ESKOM for the purposes of provision of sustainable and affordable housing to communities. The HDA has identified a gap in the market for student accommodation in the various tertiary institutions in and around Kimberley. The HDA has therefore targeted the Eskom Towers building in Kimberley, for acquisition and redevelopment into student accommodation.

Student accommodation is renowned for being one of the less volatile asset classes thus providing investors an opportunity to plough funds with high prediction-confidence. The positive social-economic impact of this development besides job creation and an added revenue stream for the municipality has been an indication that investment in the ESKOM building is an advantage for development by the government.

Reply:

(1) (2) (a) The question falls under the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Kwa Zulu Natal. The Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MEC for Kwa Zulu Natal as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules. 

Reply:

1. Honourable Mkhonto, I am aware of the matter you are raising. Our labour laws are thoroughly crafted to deal with matters of this nature. We all want peace, stability, harmony and acceptable working conditions in the workplace. But when the instability of whatever nature rears its ugly head, our laws must kick in and the institutions that are a creature of these laws must then be activated to dive in, when those situations emerge.

Honourable Mkhonto, you will also appreciate the fact that even Minister himself or herself must act in a manner that is consistent with our laws. He or she cannot intervene in disputes in a manner that is outside legal framework, in other words, in contravention of labour laws.

Now, what have I done that is within the parameters of the law? I have met with the trade unions and the employer in the company. This was done through the consensus of the parties. I have appealed, encouraged and nudged parties to reach a settlement on the matter in dispute.

The law has articulated a mechanism on how parties can deal with their impasse. Legislation has established CCMA as a primary institution and impartial entity to deal with workplace disputes. Labour Relations Act, among others, in an attempt to protect politicians from accusation of interfering, meddling in and tampering with the system and of taking sides, does not permit the Minister of Employment and Labour to encroach the zone of workplace disputes between parties.

2. The issues of NUM and AMCU is outside of the mandate of Registrar of Labour Relations. The functions and the parameters of the Registrar of Labour Relations are clearly articulated in the Labour Relations Act. The issue between NUM and AMCU is about recognition in the workplace, whether the other party meets the requirement of being recognised as the negotiating partner with the employer.

The law is very clear that if parties cannot reach a consensus on the matter of the representivity threshold in the workplace, they should approach CCMA to conduct representivity and determine whether the aggrieved party has reached the necessary threshold. Even the CCMA has offered to intervene and assist in resolving the dispute. However, the parties are vacillating on this matter which frustrates the CCMA’s intention to intervene.

The Government is concerned about how parties conduct themselves even on matters that the law has offered dispute resolution mechanisms. To add to the work that, we’ve already done, we are envisaging meeting the sector to engage on the conduct of parties.

END

Reply:

1) No. The information requested is personal information relating to the candidates who applied for the post of Director-General, and it is protected in terms of Section 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996) and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.

2) No. The verification from the South African Police Service Criminal Database confirmed no criminal record.

Reply:

The rights of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities with regards to life, dignity and privacy, including their right to access all areas of human endeavour are well protected by the country's Constitution.

The Bill of Right enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. But it's particularly Section 9, the equality clause, that affords everyone specific protection against all forms of unfair discrimination. Section 9 in particular has broadened political and civil freedom .

Section 9, the equality clause, is far-reaching, prohibiting unfair discrimination on the grounds of gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, and sexual orientation.

Section 11, the right to life, affects issues such as domestic violence and femicide.

Section 12 concerns freedom and security of the person and the sub-section that applies specifically to women is 12(1)(c), which says everyone has the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources. 12(2) says everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes a woman’s right to make decisions concerning reproduction and to security in and control over her body.

Creating an environment where all these rights are protected is a responsibility for all of us, including government, all political parties, civil society, business, traditional and religious leaders and organization, families, right down to individuals. All spheres of government have an inherent responsibility to ensure that these rights which are guaranteed in the constitution are not violated and women, youth and persons with disabilities have rights to equal opportunities and access to promote equity and meaningful participation in society.

Government has developed various national policies and strategies that have been implemented to ensure inclusion and mainstreaming of issues affecting women, youth and persons with disabilities. For example concerted efforts have been made to improve access to education, employment opportunities, access to the built environment, skills development etc.

The recognition of South African Sign Language (SASL) as the 12th official language was an important step towards the realisation of the rights of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The department has developed frameworks on Awareness raising to ensure awareness on different disabilities, the Universal Design and Access to ensure that the built environment is prepared adequately and the Reasonable Accommodation to ensure that needs are identified and implemented.

South Africa after ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) adopted the national policy namely: The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015 and is currently in the process of developing a disability rights act which is being led by the South Africa Law Reformed Commission.

We have established a Disability Rights Machinery which is made up of organizations of and for persons with disabilities are part of the machinery at a National and also at provincial level through the office of the Premiers in the nine (9) provinces. The Purpose of the machinery is to monitor progress on the mainstreaming of implementation plans for persons with disabilities.

Government has further established the Presidential Working Group on Disability made up of members as individuals nominated by the disability sector from different organizations and expertise in disability to advise and guide government in implementation of programs for persons with disabilities.

The department collaborates with sister departments and the disability sector on advocacy programs, consults, plans and monitors mainstreaming of programs for persons with disabilities. Through the Gender Responsive Budgeting, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Auditing Framework, we are able to monitor gender, Youth and disability- responsiveness, inclusion and mainstreaming.

The Annual Performance Plans of government departments are assessed prior to finalisation to ensure that indicators and targets in APPs are women, youth and disability inclusive.

The Department of Women, Youth & Persons with Disabilities has developed a simplified results-based reporting template to assist with measuring targets and to monitor indicators.

The various international and national disability rights instruments and frameworks have been considered and have been harmonised to be included in the indicators within the simplified results-based reporting template. Indicators have been negotiated with the various government departments. The indicators contained in the simplified results-based monitoring template is currently being developed into a system, in partnership with UNICEF. This will assist with more effective and less burdensome reporting.

In 2021, government launched the Women Economic Assembly (WECONA) as a platform to action an enabling procurement environment for women-owned businesses by activating public & private sector supply value chains for a coherent & collaborative approach to achieving women's economic empowerment. Its mandate is anchored on pillars of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide.

At the launch the President instructed that the Provincial WECONAs be established to work in line with the District Development Model, and we have started with KZN. This is done to ensure that the program reaches women across the country.

Since its launch in October 2021, WECONA at a national level has sought to engage industry leaders to set gender transformation targets in each industry and establish game- changing interventions that increase procurement from women-owned businesses.

During our chairship of BRICS, we have worked with the BRICS partners and agreed on a ceclaration to address major concerns related to women across the BRICS countries and to promote mainstreaming of women’s issues across BRICS’ processes, priority areas, declarations and agreements; as well as to provide a platform for exchange of best practices, research and knowledge relating to BRICS women and girls.

We all know that the scourge of GBV as a violation of the constitutional rights of Women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The National Strategic Plan (NSP) thus seeks to rally society in ending GBVF by focusing on key pillars.

Pillar 5 in particular, recognises the role of access to economic opportunities as a foundation for economic power that also enables reduced cases and the vulnerability to gender based violence. The pillar work gives effect to Articles 8 of the 19 articles of the Presidential Summit Declaration Against GBVF, being to “Promote woman-centred economic development”. 

Successfully implemented, it has the power to transform the structural makeup of South Africa’s economy by systematically increasing access, control, and ownership of productive resources to women, as well as strengthening their participation in the world of work in order to address the economic drivers of gender-based violence across local, provincial, and national spheres. This pillar recognizes the clear link between GBVF and economic dependence and seeks to ensure that obstacles to women’s economic autonomy are effectively addressed.

The strategic approach of the pillar seeks ensure that: women are being included in all restorative programmes and opportunities; government and the corporate sector evaluates and makes plans to ensure that they create the most robust plans to guarantee the spiral of poverty for women in this country stops by providing avenues for economic development for women; and women are honoured by being embedded in our fiscal structures.

Key to this is the acceleration of initiatives to address women’s unequal economic and social position specifically through access to government and private sector procurement, employment, housing, land, financial resources and income generation initiatives.

To address the challenge of unemployment among youth, the SANDF led NYS programme is being introduced to build the youths’ character, empower them to serve in their communities, inculcate discipline and a sense of patriotism, train youth in leadership and entrepreneurship; and then provide them with technical capacity building in value chain driven sector specific industries with high absorption capacity.

The training streams will range from food and agriculture value chain; oceans economy and maritime skills; engineering, manufacturing, and infrastructure development; digital technologies and platform economies; and defense industries, public safety and security stream. The programme participants will be trained to be resilient and self-sustaining and then linked with job opportunities in diverse sectors.

We are aware that we cannot implement this program on our own, and on the advice of cabinet, we are working with various government departments who have the financial capacity to support elements of the National Service.

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

1. Strategies to improve the performance and accountability of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have not failed.
2. It is worth noting that SOEs face structural, operational and financial issues.
3. There has been progress although there have been some setbacks. The following are some of the examples denoting progress registered to date:

Eskom

Restructuring proceeding: Eskom’s vertically integrated structure is no longer suitable to meet the country’s energy needs and has made the utility susceptible to the kinds of problems it has recently experienced including state capture and dependency on fiscal allocations. Therefore, Eskom is currently being restructured into three subsidiaries i.e. generation, transmission and distribution as per the 2019 Roadmap For Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry.

Currently the Eskom Transmission Division is undergoing a process of legal separation to form the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA). The NTCSA was incorporated into a wholly owned subsidiary of Eskom Holdings in December 2021. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved the licence for NTCSA to operate the electricity transmission system as well as trading and import/export licences. Eskom’s plan is to commence trading by April 2024, but this is dependent on obtaining lenders consent which is currently being sought. The application for the designation of the NTCSA as a buyer has been supported by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and is being finalised by NERSA. The appointment of the NTCSA Board of Directors is underway. It is expected that NTCSA will be operationalised in April 2024.

Similarly, the Eskom Distribution Division is undergoing legal separation to form the National Electricity Distribution Company of South Africa (NEDCSA). The functional separation for Distribution was completed in March 2021. A new company, the National Electricity Distribution Company of South Africa SOC Ltd (NEDCSA), has been registered. The Minister of Finance and Minister of Public Enterprises has granted approval of the PFMA application in terms of section 54(2)(a) and 54(2)(d) for the transfer of the distribution business assets to the NEDCSA. It is expected that NEDCSA will be operationalised and trading by 2025. Functional separation for the Eskom generation business was completed in March 2021.

Generation improvement: To end loadshedding, Eskom has implemented a Standard Offer Program to purchase excess power from private generators and from neighbouring countries. The Standard Offer Programme is fully subscribed for the 1000 MW. Consideration is being given to extending the capacity and duration of the programme to take advantage of additional opportunities. Furthermore, An Eskom Emergency Generation Programme has been implemented, to procure emergency power when the grid is under significant strain. To date 60 MW has been signed on to the programme and is available to the grid. A further 150 MW is expected to be on-line from the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer programme by December 2023. Between 2028-2023 approximately 2411 MW of new capacity was brought online via the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP).

Eskom is currently in a process of extending the life of KNPP by an additional 20 years. Key to the life extension programme is the replacement of three life limiting components, namely, refuelling water storage tanks (RWST), reactor pressure vessel heads (RPVHs) and steam generators (SGs). Despite some setbacks, Eskom has replaced two of the three life limiting components i.e. RWST and RPVH. On 28 July 2023 Eskom replaced Unit 1’s stream generators and Unit 2 is undergoing similar replacement so to ensure energy security.

But unless new megawatts are added to the entire system, minimal loadshedding will continue in short term.

SAA

SAA is on its way to financial and operational sustainability. SAA’s 2021/2022 financial statements, indicate that the airline emerged from business rescue as a company that was liquid and solvent. After exiting the business rescue process its assets of R8.9-billion exceeded its liabilities of R5.8-billion, resulting in positive equity of R3.1-billion. SAA is now a going concern. During the period ended 31 March 2022, SAA operated on average five narrow-body (i.e., 3 x A319s and 2 x A320s) and two wide-body (i.e., 1 x A330 and 1 x A340) aircraft. The narrow-body fleet peaked at seven in December 2022 when SAA received two A320 deliveries to replace the A319s. The A319s exited the airline fleet in March 2023, leaving the airline with five A320s.

Despite fleet acquisition challenges, the airline will end fiscal year 2024 operating 17 routes, including Sao Paulo, and Perth, Australia and seasonal domestic routes which are George and Port Elizabeth

Transnet

There has been progress registered despite the structural setbacks experienced by Transnet relating to maintenance, equipment and crime. These will be addressed through the turnaround plan as well as the initiatives of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC).

In October 2023 Transnet developed a recovery plan (Turnaround Plan) outlining various measures planned and implemented across the operating division to improve operating performance, enhance effectiveness, and attain improved financial sustainability. The recovery plans include amongst other are reforms proposed by the NLCC in the Freight Logistics Roadmap such as vertical separation of Transnet Freight Rail into rail infrastructure manager and operation collaboration with private sector in ports and rail to resolve operating and financial challenges experienced.

• New top management will be put in place in Eskom and Transnet.
• The focus is now on creating financial and operational efficiency.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

The SBIDZ is managed by the Western Cape Provincial Government.

According to the Western Cape Provincial Government and the SBIDZ, the entity is not yet independently financially sustainable and is still reliant upon the Provincial Government as the owner of the SEZ, for operational funding.

Below is a table with the provincial allocation for the financial years 2022-2026.

Specific Budget policy programmes	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25	2025/26
	(R ‘000)	(R ‘000)	(R ‘000)	(R ‘000)
Operational Funding	41 977	-	-	-
New Integrated Port PPF request for SBIDZ	-	9,400*	-	-
Investment – Green Hydrogen development (Earmarked priority allocations)	-	3,300	18,150	18,150
Total	41 977	12,700	18,150	18,150

*To note, R9,4 million appropriated in the 2023/24 main budget for the Project Preparation facility for the integrated port upgrade in Saldanha is to be reclassified in the 2023 Adjusted Estimated for use as operational expenditure by the entity to assist with the entity’s sustainability.

In terms of funding from the SEZ fund, managed by the dtic the SBIDZ zone has received the following funding:

Bulk infrastructure	R 741 858 000
Top structure	R 391 130 000
Skills development	R 4 495 000
Total	R1 137 483 000

The total amount the SBIDZ received from the dtic SEZ fund is R1 137 483 000 over seven years, between 2016/2017 – 2023/2024.

In respect of green energy, the SBIDZ would require operational funding from the Provincial Government. the dtic, IDC and the SBIDZ are working together to attract private investment in green energy.

-END-

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has not institutionalised the provision of emergence relief measures to small, medium and micro enterprises due to limited budget; however we will continue to apply to National Treasury whenever there is a pandemic or a disaster.

Reply:

According to information received from Eskom:

(1)

(a) The smart meters that were installed during the past five years were mainly for grid modernisation, increased operational efficiency, revenue collection improvement and technology enhancement. The current non-smart meters that were in use have almost reached the end of life as technology is continuously developing. Internationally, all meters are read and controlled remotely with big data being collected from installed smart meters to enhance services offered to customers.

Eskom has started a project to use the already-installed meters for demand management i.e: using the load-limiting functionality which is built into smart meters. The first phase of the project was in Gauteng (Fourways) to ensure that the system worked as per design before the national rollout. At this stage, Eskom is preparing to roll out load limiting in all areas nationally, where smart meters are installed, following the successful implementation of the project in Fourways.

(i) Metros:

Sandton/Midrand – The full rollout of load limiting on installed smart meters in Sandton/Midrand is part of the second phase of the load limiting project. To this effect, the load limiting project in Fourways has already been extended to over 5000 smart meters in Riverside (Fourways area).

(ii) Municipalities:

Smart meters were installed at Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape for a Pilot Project known as Metering as a Service (MaaS). Part of the second phase of the national load-limiting rollout is to engage the municipality and implement load limiting on the installed smart meters.

(b) The installed cost of a single-phase meter ranges between ± R1 700 and ± R2 700 for a three-phase meter, if it is a straight meter swap out. Labour costs are included.

(2)

(a) Eskom has started a project to use the already-installed smart meters for demand management, using the load-limiting functionality built into smart meters. The first phase of the project was in Gauteng (Fourways) to ensure that the system worked as per design before the national rollout. At this stage, Eskom is preparing to roll out load limiting in all areas nationally where smart meters are installed following the successful implementation of the project in Fourways.

(b) Since June 2021, Eskom has only been installing smart meters for electrification projects and maintenance. Load limiting will be phased in on all installed smart meters under the national load limiting project.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

According to information received from Alexkor, Denel, Eskom, SAFCOL, Transnet and SAA:

ALEXKOR	None Alexkor and the PSJV do not hold or plan to hold any investment stakes in any commercial entities located in foreign jurisdictions.
DENEL	1. Not applicable 2. (a)(i) Entity1: Barij Dynamics (49%) (ii) R22 858 500 (a)(i) Entity 2: Pioneer Land Systems (49%) (ii) R0 (b) Barij Dynamics R91 953 908 (b) Pioneer Land Systems R0
ESKOM	None Eskom has no investment stakes in any commercial entities in foreign jurisdictions.
SAFCOL	No private investment in SOC (a)(i) Industrias Florestais de Manica in Mozambique (ii) Equity: R8 433 539 (b) Zero dividends

TRANSNET	Gaborone Container Terminal (GABCON) Botswana Railways (BR) and Transnet (trading as Spoornet) entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 16 August 1996. BR and Transnet agreed to build a new container terminal at a cost of R14million, where each party contributed equally. Further, it was agreed that a 50:50 Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) would be created to manage total investments for both parties.
	Country of Registration:	Botswana
	Strategic Objectives:	Regional Container Terminal Hub
	Shareholding:	Botswana Railways (64%) and Transnet SOC Ltd (36%)
	Dividends realised to date.	R5,4million
SAA		SAA currently does not have records of private investment transactions. Our current records indicate that No amount (Nil Rand Value) has been invested in SAA. However, we see from the attached news coverage that 20% stake in SAA, along with an option for a further 10% was sold to Swissair in June 1999 for R1,4-billion (about $200 million at the time) as part of the government’s privatisation process. The South African government is to buy back the 20% stake in the country’s national carrier, according to the then Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Jeff Radebe, under government’s transport subsidiary Transnet. SA to buy back 20% Swissair stake in SAA - The Mail & Guardian (mg.co.za) SAA does not hold any investments in any commercial entities located in foreign jurisdictions.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

1.  How may mini-bus taxis have been (a) impounded for not being roadworthy

a) Land transport enforcement is a function of a province or municipality. As enforcement authorities, provinces and/or municipalities are responsible for the impoundment of vehicles where there are transgressions to section 87 of the National Land Transport Act (NLTA). Therefore, the Department does not have the records of the impounded vehicles in the different Provinces.

b) The number of operating licenses (OLs) that have been (i) rejected and (ii) approved during the 2015 – 2022 period are depicted in the table below:

Province	Rejected	Approved
1. Mpumalanga	3 356	31 277
2. Free State	1 567	17 759
3. North West	2 431	25 352
4. Limpopo	3 452	31 873
5. Eastern Cape	4 023	35 832
6. Gauteng	10 457	50 700
7. Northern Cape	876	20 970
8. Kwazulu Natal	302	34 405
9. Western Cape	-	-
TOTAL	26 464	248 168

NB: The relevant information has not been received from the Western Cape Province and will be provided once received.

c) Refer to (b) above.

Reply:

Yes, my department together with all relevant role-players within the road traffic management has put a step-by-step measure in place to ensure road safety during the 2023 festive season in each province which is informed by the lessons learned over the last 5 years.

The interventions are based on the biggest contributors to fatal crashes by province were Gauteng (21%), Kwa-Zulu Natal (17%), Eastern Cape (15%), Limpopo (11%), Western Cape (10%) and Mpumalanga (10%) which collectively accounted for over 80% of fatal crashes in the 2022/2023 festive period. The top three crash types are crashes with pedestrians, single-vehicle overturns and hit and run. These three contributed 65.8% to fatal crashes in the 2021/2022 festive period and 68.6% to fatal crashes in the 2022/2023 festive period.

A three-phase strategic approach for the 2023/24 plan was adopted as follows:

Pre-Festive Season

This phase will seek to capitalise on the gains of October Transport Month. Messages and operations will focus on pre-travel, roadworthiness of vehicles, encouraging renewal of licence discs, Did You Know mini campaign and website and social media platforms will be utilised with high frequency for publicity to increase awareness and garner public buy-in. this phase will also include media statement/invitation to announce official launch of festive season campaign and Activations.

Phase	Period
Pre-Festive Activities	1 – 30 October 2023 – October Transport Month 1 – 30 November 2023 – Festive Planning 01 – 15 December 2023 – Festive Implementation

 

During Festive Season campaign

During the festive season messaging will continue anchored by the theme ‘’Masiphelele’’. Encouraging responsible use of alcohol, designated driver arrangements and use of seatbelts. Media is to be acritical stakeholder for dissemination of information, the launch of the festive season will also set the tone for the period.

Phase	Period
Festive Season Activities	15 December 2023 – 15 January 2024

 

Post Festive Season

This period will include the release of road safety statistics and focus road safety messaging on compliance and back to school, back to work programmes.

Phase	Period
Post Festive	16 – 26 January 2024

Road Safety Education

Interventions will vary based on the targeted audience; the messaging will be customised to audience to be impactful. The targeted audience are as follows:

Intervention will take the following formats:

•Mass Media

Drunk driving

The recently conducted research by RTMC revealed that alcohol is suspected in 67% of road traffic crashes and in the previous financial year 11 217 Drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. In pursuit of the realisation of fatality reduction, messaging will show the impact of alcohol on road safety and proposing alternative actions to motorists. Communication, education and awareness will be complemented by law enforcement alcohol operations.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

Intelligence Deployment

The State of Road Safety report confirms that road crashes normally occur within certain period of time and identified hotspot areas. The deployment of Traffic Law Enforcement resources is informed by the traffic data that is relevant, timeous and accurate. The analysis of road traffic data was used for planning purposes to come out with a uniform approach by all Provinces, Municipalities, SAPS and other relevant stakeholder to address peculiar challenges that require specific intervention. It is against this background that the 2022/23 National Road Safety Festive Season Plan have 24/7 deployment.

Six-point crashes and fatalities reduction strategy

The six-point crashes and fatalities reduction strategy is focused on safer road users and safer vehicles pillars of road safety.

International Border Posts

The following are the Ports of entry as identified by CBRTA which usually attract high volumes of traffic over this period of the year:

• Limpopo – (Beitbridge and Groblersbrug)
• Mpumalanga – (Lebombo and Oshoek)
• Kwa- Zulu Natal – (Golela)
• Northern Cape – (Vioolsdrift).
• North West – (Skilpadhek; Ramatlabama and Kopfontein);
• Free State – (Ficksburg)

REDUCTION TARGET PER AUTHORITY

The target is based on the 2021/2022 festive fatalities as a baseline:

Province	2021 baseline	9% Reduction	2022 Actual	2022	2022 Actual	2023 target	2023 target	-25%
		2022 target	% Achieved	Reduction	Total	Reduction	%	2024 target
KwaZulu Natal	300	-27	-0.7%	-20	281	-56	-19,8%	225
Gauteng	291	-26	+15,5%	45	336	-118	-35,1%	218
Eastern Cape	231	-21	-0.8%	-18	213	-40	-18,6%	173
Limpopo	231	-21	+16,5%	38	269	-96	-35,6%	173
Western Cape	225	-20	+55,6%	125	350	-181	-51,8%	169
Mpumalanga	194	-17	+24,3%	47	241	-96	-39,7%	146
North West	142	-13	+25,3%	36	178	-71	-40,1%	107
Free State	129	-12	+7,2%	9	138	-42	-30,0%	97
Northern Cape	65	-6	+97,0%	63	128	-79	-61,9%	49

EVALUATION AND MID OPERATION REVIEW

There will be an evaluation and Mid- festive season review session which will recommend adjustments if any and they will be communicated immediately to the provinces.

Reply:

In the past five years the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) issued:

The total number of 834 business loans and equity funding.

The total monetary value is R80,5 billion.

Total Approvals

BEE owned (>50%)

Women owned (>50%)

Non-South African companies

a) Total number of the business loans/equity that were issued:

1. 53,7% of the total number of business loans/equity by the IDC in the last five financial years was issued to majority black-owned companies; and by value it constituted 31,3% of all loans/equity approvals.
2. 11,8% of the total number of business loans/equity by the IDC in the last five financial years was issued to majority woman-owned companies.
3. 3,8% of the total number of business loans/equity by the IDC in the last five financial years was issued to non-South African companies (including investment in other African countries, and by value it constituted 15% of all loans/equity approvals.

Additional information requested will be compiled.

-END-

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The Department of Small Business Development engaged the National Treasury in March 2023 for funding to assist SMMEs to deal with the effects of load shedding under a programme called “Energy Relief”, also known as “the Power Purchase”, and the request was not approved by the National Treasury.

An update on this was provided to the Portfolio Committee.

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The Department of Small Business Development engaged the National Treasury in March 2023 for funding to assist SMMEs to deal with the effects of load shedding under a programme called “Energy Relief”, also known as “the Power Purchase”, and the request was not approved by the National Treasury.

Reply:

The impact of state capture and the climate of rentseeking and corruption at all levels, including the deliberate efforts of previous boards and management to force the departure of honest and skilled professions, particularly black professionals, will take unrelenting and courageous commitment to overcome.

Much progress has been made to recover operations, introduce skills and financial controls to overcome the legacy of corruption.

However, introducing ethical business practices in the private sector, both global and local, big and medium businesses, will require a total societal commitment. All social actors, including political parties, (many of which do not necessarily have “clean hands”) must publicly take an uncompromising stand on corruption and operational efficiency, and be seen to act accordingly – not just attempt to make political capital from a matter that we must act on the basis of national interest.

Boards and management at various entities are constantly introducing innovations and undertaking a constant battle against all forms of negativity.

This also involves new initiatives by the President and cabinet. The Presidential SOE Council (PSEC) is one such example.

The PSEC recommended that the Centralized Model be adopted to oversee the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) with development of the National Enterprises Bill and formation of the State-Owned Holding Company. On this basis, the Department then developed the National State Enterprises Bill. The Bill was published on 15 September 2023 for public comment, and the public comment period concluded on 14 October 2023. The Bill incorporates PSEC’s recommendation to adopt a centralized shareholder model to improve the management and oversight of South African State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

Eventually, we shall overcome the forces of darkness, corruption and negativity – the bankruptcy of ideas permeating many at present. Slogans alone will not work!

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not approved/ Comments

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

I have been advised that:

a) In a quest to cultivate an enterprising culture amongst the youth, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has designed support measures for youth-owned businesses. This presents much greater opportunities for isolated and marginalised youth into the economic mainstream in respect of which targeted measures are necessary for accelerating the promotion of youth businesses and self-employment. It is in this light, that the DSBD is increasingly expanding its programmes but more importantly, designing targeted instruments assisting youth owned enterprises with enterprise development.

As at the end of Quarter 2 of the current financial year, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), with limited resources, has provided 10,616 skills development and other business development support for youth entrepreneurship which may include interventions such as, but not limited to Financial Management training, Access to funding, Basic Business skills training, Information and Business Advice, Business Plans, Training and Mentoring, entrepreneurship awareness, etc.

Seda has an Entrepreneurship in Schools Programme that encourages learners to consider entrepreneurship as an alternative career to employment. The main objective of the programme is:

1. To influence the mind set of learners by encouraging them to become job creators instead of job seekers once they leave the schooling system;
2. To equip learners with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed to start and manage their businesses; and
3. To improve entrepreneurial activity amongst the learners and educators.

Entrepreneurship in schools (Step up to a Start Up) is a programme together with Primestars that will support educators through boot camps to create entrepreneurship awareness amongst the youth and educators.

Furthermore, through Sefa the department has the Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) – the primary objective of the fund is to provide support to youth Start-Up enterprises which are formally registered and is thus seen as an approach to assist in ensuring the economic participation of young people. This is intended to support most promising young entrepreneurs intending to scale-up and growing their businesses.

b) Since its inception the Youth Challenge Fund in November 2021, the programme has approved loans to the value of R227 798 265 to 66 youth-owned businesses and has disbursed R150 348 036 to 42 youth-owned businesses. On the other hand, Seda has also signed a three-year MoU with the National Skills Fund. It includes Work Integrated Learning for 1500 unemployed graduates who will be trained to provide mentorship to 12 500 micro enterprises.

In addition to the above, there other events that seek to orientate young people around entrepreneurship development and opportunities:

1. Seda Eastern Cape in collaboration with the KSD TVET college presented an information session to eighty (80) youth on entrepreneurship awareness. The event took place from on 6-12 June 2023.
2. On 10 May 2023 the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted a Career Fair in partnership with public entities to share Career and Personal Development Opportunities for Graduates to advance employability and Business Opportunities in the Northern Cape.
3. So are the other events such as Seda Eastern Cape’s Amathole Branch which held an eco-system stakeholder meeting by the Border Kei Chamber of Commerce on 22 June 2023. The Chamber is in the process of opening a youth desk focusing on Youth Development in its entirety. The youth desk comes as a follow-up to their annual Youth Reality Conference that the Chamber has been hosting for the past few years. The event attracts over two thousand (2000) young people in and around Buffalo City Municipality (BCM). The chamber has identified challenges that the young people face, and in collaboration with partners seeking to address some of these challenges. One of the challenges being the high level of unemployment among young people.
4. Seda Nkomazi branch in Mpumalanga made a presentation on Seda’s offerings at the Aids Foundation of South Africa from the 30 May -1 June 2023 in Mangweni, Buffelspruit and Naas respectively. The purpose of this collaboration was to implement a young women focused programme, of empowering them with skills including employability, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
5. The Nkangala Branch and other stakeholders in Mpumalanga participated in the youth month seminar “Leave Your Legacy” organised by Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA). A presentation on Seda products and services, opportunities that are available to youth and Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) was done. The event was attended by twenty-one (21) youth entrepreneurs, and it took place on the 14 June 2023.

These are some few activities amongst many that seek to orientate young people on entrepreneurship development and available support services provided by the SBD Portfolio.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

a) A total of 3 636 kilometers of railway track have fallen into disuse since April 1994 to the end of November 2023.

b) TFR has lost 4 633 kilometers of copper cable through theft from 2019/20 financial year to date as of the end of October 2023.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comment

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date: