Reply:

The water challenges in Phokwane still persist but the municipality is working on a long-term plan address the matter. The Pampierstad bulk water supply system consists of seven reservoirs. One of these and two pumping stations are currently under construction. Raw water is obtained from the Vaalharts irrigation canal and stored in a 24Ml concreted lined dam, from which it is pumped to two concrete lined dams of 25 Ml at the water treatment works. The capacity of the treatment works is 9.6 Ml/day. Treated water is pumped via two asbestos cement rising mains to the main reservoir. The Phokwane Local municipality is planning to install a 315mm uPVC pipeline to augment the water supply from the treatment works.

The main reservoir site consists of one ground level reservoir of 6.5Ml and a 700-kl concrete tower reservoir. The tower reservoir is not operational as the electrical works required by the pumping station are not in place. Water currently gravitates from the ground level reservoir to the distribution networks of the town and suburbs.

A 400mm diameter uPVC pipeline was recently constructed to supply water from the main reservoir site to a new 10Ml storage reservoir on the hill near the village of Upper Majaekgoro. The reservoir was constructed as part of a bulk water supply upgrade project initiated in 2017/18 with the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to the value of R31 433 484.

To address the aforementioned shortcomings, a feasibility study to assess the efficiency and reticulation systems of Pampierstad and surrounding villages in providing its water supply areas with water of acceptable quality and quantity in a sustainable manner, was completed in February 2022 by the Phokwane Local Municipality. An estimated R70 905 356 is required to complete the Pampierstad Bulk Water Supply and is to be allocated via MIG.

It is therefore critical that the tower reservoir of 700kl be re-commissioned. This is necessary to solve the low-pressure problems, as currently experienced in a large area in Pampierstad. It is also required to commission the new 10ML reservoir to meet the water demands.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has invested over R72 million to replace asbestos cement (AC) pipes. The Phokwane local municipality is currently busy with Phase 5 of the project which is funded through MIG.

As an interim measure, the municipality uses the tankering system to fill water tanks that are placed at strategic areas where water provision remains a challenge.

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Reply:

BACKGROUND

With the adoption of the Guide on implementing lifestyle audits in the Public Service, lifestyle audits for the Public Service became compulsory from 1 April 2021. When implementing the Guide, national and provincial departments follow a three step approach, starting with lifestyle reviews. When red flags (unexplained wealth, conflicts of interest, etc) are identified during this step, the department will move to the next step, which is lifestyle investigations. This step may lead to disciplinary action if an irregularity or wrong-doing was detected (and if action is required in terms of law and prescripts). When an investigation prove to be challenging, a department will move to the last step, namely a lifestyle audit. This step involves the utilisation of specialist auditors that will employ specialist tools to trace unexplained wealth (for example). Given the three step approach, the lifestyle audit process can end with a lifestyle review (when no red flags are identified). If investigations are conducted, the timeframe for completion will depend on the complexity of the case. There is therefore no due date for completion of lifestyle audits. However, lifestyle reviews are to be completed at the end of each financial year for SMS members, and every second year for other categories.

RESPONSE

(1) (a) The national departments and provincial departments that have not started to conduct lifestyle audits:

(i) Not started to conduct lifestyle audits:

National departments:

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Correctional Services, Employment and Labour, Government Communication and Information Systems, Higher Education and Training, Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Justice and Constitutional Development, Military Veterans, The Presidency, Rural Development and Land Reform, Science and Innovation, Sport, Arts and Culture, Statistics South Africa, Tourism, Traditional Affairs, Transport, Water and Sanitation, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

 

Provincial departments:

Eastern Cape: Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Education, Health, Human Settlement, Provincial Treasury, Roads and Public Works, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Safety and Liaison, Social Development, Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Transport.

Free State: Agriculture, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Education, Health, Human Settlements, Office of the Premier, Police, Roads and Transport, Provincial Treasury, Public Works and Infrastructure, Social Development, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Gauteng: Agriculture and Rural Development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Community Safety, Economic Development, Education, E-Government, Health, Infrastructure Development, Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury, Roads and Transport, Social Development.

Limpopo: Agriculture and Rural Development, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Education, Health, Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury, Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Social Development, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Transport and Community Safety.

Mpumalanga: Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Economic Development and Tourism, Education, Human Settlement, Provincial Treasury, Public Works, Roads and Transport, Social Development.

North West: Community Safety and Transport Management, Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs, Education and Sports Development, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Local Government and Human Settlements, Office of the Premier, Public Works and Roads, Rural, Environment and Agriculture Development, Social Development, Tourism.

Northern Cape: Education, Environmental Affairs and Nature Conservation, Economic Development and Tourism, Health, Office of the Premier, Provincial Treasury, Roads and Public Works, Social Development, Sport, Arts and Culture, Transport, Safety and Liaison.

Western Cape: Agriculture, Community Safety, Education, Human Settlements, Local Government, Social Development, Transport and Public Works.

(ii) Conducted lifestyle audits:

National departments:

Basic Education, Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, Communications and Digital Technologies, Cooperative Governance, Health, Government Technical Advisory Centre, Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, Human Settlements, Home Affairs, International Relations and Cooperation, National Prosecuting Authority, National Treasury, National School of Government, Office of the Chief Justice, Office of the Public Service Commission, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Enterprises, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, Small Business Development, Social Development, South African Police Service, Trade, Industry and Competition.

Provincial departments:

Eastern Cape: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Office of the Premier.

Gauteng: Human Settlements, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation

Mpumalanga: Office of the Premier

North West: Health

Northern Cape: Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (SMS completed, rest in progress), Cooperative Governance (in progress), Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.

Western Cape: Cultural Affairs and Sport, Economic Development and Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Health, Provincial Treasury.

(2) Of the six provinces (above) that completed lifestyle audits or indicated that they were in the process of conducting lifestyle audits:

(a) Provinces that completed lifestyle audits:

Eastern Cape: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Office of the Premier.

Gauteng: Human Settlements, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation

Mpumalanga: Office of the Premier

North West: Health

Northern Cape: Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.

Western Cape: Cultural Affairs and Sport, Economic Development and Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Health and Provincial Treasury. The Western Cape Province indicated that they have proceeded to lifestyle investigations to address identified conflicts of interest.

(b) Provinces that are still in the process of conducting lifestyle audits:

Northern Cape: Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (SMS completed, rest in progress) and Cooperative Governance (in progress).

(3) Departments who detected no red flags during the lifestyle review process is regarded to have finalised their lifestyle audit process. All departments are expected to complete lifestyle reviews for SMS members at the end of each financial year, and that for the other categories at the end of the second year cycle when they are performing lifestyle audits on those employees. When investigations and audits are taking place (thus, lifestyle investigations and lifestyle audits), no time frame was set, as the process will be guided by the complexity of the case. However, the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit will monitor completion of investigations and audits.

End

Reply:

(a) (b) & (c) Please see the attached statistics for the different geographical regions as submitted by the Diplomatic Missions as follows:

• Annexure “A” for the European Geographical Region
• Annexure “B” for the Australasia and Oceania Geographical Region
• Annexure “C” for the Africa West and Central Geographical Region
• Annexure “D” for the Africa East and North Geographical Region
• Annexure “E” for the Africa SADC Geographical Region
• Annexure “F” for the Americas Geographical Region
• Annexure “G” for the Middle East Geographical Region

d) The Statistics received from the Missions were consolidated and reflects in Annexure H.

(e) The maximum processing timeframe for the issuance of visas is 10 working days.

(f) With the advent of the Corona virus-19 there has been a steep decline in international travel which also impacted on the volumes of Visa applications that went hand in hand with a curb in Government spending and an economic decline. There was therefore no specific focus in addressing the turnaround times for visa processing periods.

(g) The continued prevalence of the Coronavirus globally and the response thereto by the individual countries hinders the effective response mechanisms.

(aa)-(bb) The continued prevalence of the Coronavirus globally and the response thereto by the individual countries hinders the effective response mechanisms.

END

Reply:

(a) There are currently no legislated norms and standards for learner to educator ratio in public schools. The post provisioning norms apply what is referred to "ideal maximum class size" for each subject which ranges from six (6) learners per class in the case of Music, to 37 for subjects that accommodate large class sizes. As referred, these are ideal measures that the sector strives to achieve through continuous improvement in providing resources. It must also be noted that actual class sizes experienced by learners at schools are an outcome of various factors in the provisioning of educators. These include, among other factors, availability of classroom space; distribution of learners within and across grades; an increase of learners in certain geographic areas; time-tabling; and school size.

(b) Improving the class size towards a subject-specific ideal class size is an ongoing process.

Reply:

1(a) The Eastern Cape Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education initiative has 2 295 teachers who are able to teach through the medium of IsiXhosa and Sesotho.  

1(b) The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is in the process of putting a plan in place to promote all the nine previously marginalised official African languages as languages of learning and teaching beyond Grade 3. 

2. The DBE is collaborating with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) to put a plan in place to promote the nine previously marginalised official African languages (IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, IsiNdebele, Siswati, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi, Tshivenda and Xitsonga) as languages of learning and teaching post Foundation Phase. The DBE is establishing a task team comprising different stakeholders. The Old Mutual is part of the Task Team. So is the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. We are still in the very initial stage of the plan and trying to identify and bring in all the relevant stakeholders. 

The DBE, through the Eastern Cape Education's own initiative, piloted the Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education wherein IsiXhosa and Sesotho were utilised as languages of learning and teaching for Mathematics and Science and Technology beyond Grade 3. The learnings from the Eastern Cape Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education pilot taught us to be very prudent on dealing with a programme of this nature.

3. The DBE has a working relationship with the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (DHESI) on teacher production. The DHESI will be part of the African Languages Mother Tongue Education Task Team. The different options of accelerating teacher training in Mother-Tongue Based instruction will be explored by the Task Team and use of Teacher Training Colleges, could be one of the options. However, Teacher Training Colleges do not fall under the jurisdiction of the DBE.    

4. Research worldwide shows that learners learn best through their home languages. The DBE has continuously been conducting research on the impact of learning in one's home language. The Early Grade Reading Studies (EGRS) were designed as nested Randomised Control Trials led by the DBE in collaboration with other academics. The EGRS studies focus on the Foundation Phase, evaluating different interventions for supporting the teaching of reading. The studies aim to build evidence about what works to improve the learning and teaching of early grade reading in South African schools.

EGRS was a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of three promising intervention models to improve reading outcomes in Setswana as a Home Language. The interventions were (i) a structured learning programme with lesson plans and integrated materials as well as centralised training, (ii) the same structured programme with lesson plan integrated materials but with on-site coaching, and (iii) a parent involvement intervention.

Of the three interventions the coaching showed a substantial positive impact after two years of intervention. Learners who received two years of this coaching intervention were approximately 40% of a year of learning ahead of the students in the schools that received no intervention. The gains were sustained when the same learners were measured in Grade 4, one year after the intervention they were still about 40% of a year of learning ahead. A further follow-up on these learners was conducted in 2021 to measure long-term gains and the data thereof is currently being analysed. 

An improvement plan was developed based on the recommendations. This was adopted by Cabinet and the implementation of the improvement plan has been ongoing. Documents relating to EGRS are attached.

Reply:

a) School closures and lost contact time

After schools closed on the 18th of March in 2020, in response to the initial spread of COVID-19 in South Africa, a phased approach to reopening schools was adopted by the government. This meant that the amount of time that schools were closed varied across grades. Moreover, once schools were reopened they had to adhere to social distancing rules, which had the inevitable effect that most schools adopted some form of rotational timetabling. The overall effect of school closures and rotational timetabling meant that in some grades up to 60% of the 2020 school year was lost, as the figure below shows.

 

Figure 1: School days in 2020 by grade

 

After schools were reopened, contact teaching time was still compromised throughout 2020 and 2021 due to rotational timetabling systems. A large survey of no-fee primary school schools in the North West Province in term 3 of 2021 revealed that in 60% of the 190 schools visited, the school was on a rotational schedule. These findings are roughly in line with patterns observed in no-fee schools in Limpopo Province (Ardington & Henry, Funda Wande Limpopo Evaluation, 2021). A Department of Basic Education analysis of 2021 Term 3 administrative data on attendance suggested that approximately 22% of contact time in Term 3 of 2021 was lost nationally, but that in schools where rotational timetabling was still being implemented the amount of lost contact time was as much as 50%.

 

 

Figure 2: School attendance in 2021 in the North West Province

(b) (i) Measures in place to make up for lost time: The Three year Recovery Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs), which is a trimmed curriculum, provides guidance on core content, concepts and skills per subject and grade that teachers should prioritise. Mediation sessions have been conducted by PEDs on the implementation of the Recovery Annual Teaching Plans. A directive has been issued to schools to focus on formative assessment to ensure that more time is allocated to teaching. The Assessment for Learning (AfL) approach has been promoted at all levels in the system. Mid-year examinations were replaced by controlled tests. The weightings of school based assessment versus examinations has been reviewed so that a greater weighting is allocated to school based assessment conducted by the teacher in the classroom. Remote and Digital Learning programmes such as Radio and television lessons are broadcast for catch-up. The Education Assistants and Reading Champions were employed and placed in schools to alleviate some of the teachers’ administrative responsibilities, to ensure that teachers focus on the teaching and learning. The DBE has officially declared that 2022 to 2024 will be focussing on learning recovery, based on the Recovery ATP (trimmed ATP), even though normal schooling has resumed across all schools. This will allow schools more time to recover the learning losses. Teachers have been advised to first assess the learning deficits, for each of the sections of the work to be taught, so that learners can be taken from where they are, to where they need to get to.   

(ii) Provinces do report on the implementation of measures put in place to counter-act learning losses and the DBE monitors the implementation of these measures on an ongoing basis. However, given the extent of the learning losses, it may be pre-mature to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning recovery at this early stage. Evaluation studies in this regard are part of the DBE plan and will be implemented in 2023 and 2024.  

For other details on how much contact time was list, please see attachment.

Reply:

Date	Location	Suspects verified	Impact (Arrests)		Date	Location	Suspects verified	Impact (Arrests)
10-Apr-21	Hammanskraal	3	3		21-Sep-21	Waterkloof	3	1
17-Apr-21	Sunnyside	6	6		23-Sep-21	Villieria	9	9
19-Apr-21	Boekenhoutkloof	13	12		24-Sep-21	Hartebeespoort	3	3
23-Apr-21	Sunnyside	12	12		24-Sep-21	Rankuwa	50	0
25-Apr-21	Olivenhoutbotch	17	17		24-Sep-21	Pretoria	2	1
30-Apr-21	Mamelodi East	8	8		25-Sep-21	Sunnyside	42	19
30-Apr-21	Akasia	29	29		25-Sep-21	Pretoria	22	22
01-May-21	Sunnyside	13	6		25-Sep-21	Sunnyside	18	18
01-May-21	Olivenhoutbotch	9	9		25-Sep-21	Pretoria North	3	0
02-May-21	Mamelodi East	8	8		29-Sep-21	Hatfield	40	0
06-May-21	Sunnyside	4	0		29-Sep-21	Mabopane	4	4
06-May-21	Hammanskraal	47	0		30-Sep-21	Sunnyside	1	0
07-May-21	East Lyn	58	1		2-Oct-21	Akasia	4	4
07-May-21	Villieria	5	5		2-Oct-21	Hammanskraal	20	20
08-May-21	Sunnyside	15	11		03-Oct-21	Waverley	1	0
08-May-21	Olivenhoutbotch	81	81		03-Oct-21	East Lynne	5	3
15-May-21	Villieria	31	20		3-Oct-21	Villieria	3	3
20-May-21	Sinoville	7	7		08-Oct-21	Soshanguve	9	0
21-May-21	Soshanguve	10	10		8-Oct-21	Olivenhoutbotch	4	4
21-May-21	Hammanskraal	1	1		8-Oct-21	Bronkonspruit	4	4
21-May-21	Olivenhoutbotch	11	8		8-Oct-21	Soshanguve	3	3
22-May-21	Soshanguve	10	10		09-Oct-21	Soshanguve	6	0
22-May-21	Attridgeville	24	24		09-Oct-21	Mamelodi East	24	22
23-May-21	Mamelodi East	7	7		10-Oct-21	Villieria	8	8
28-May-21	Villieria	6	6		14-Oct-21	PTA West & Hercules	46	46
28-May-21	Hatfield	9	9		15-Oct-21	Brooklyn	3	3
29-May-21	Olivenhoutbotch	50	24		16-Oct-21	Olivenhoutbotch	79	79
29-May-21	Mamelodi East	11	11		16-Oct-21	Brooklyn	6	6
04-Jun-21	Pretoria West	17	17		19-Oct-21	Moreleta Park-	8	8
05-Jun-21	Hammanskraal	6	6		22-Oct-21	Hercules	2	2
10-Jun-21	Rankuwa	95	14		23-Oct-21	East Lynn	9	0
12-Jun-21	Bronkhorspruit	8	8		23-Oct-21	Bavianspoort	2	0
15-Jun-21	PTA West	27	27		23-Oct-21	Brooklyn	15	15
18-Jun-21	Erasmia	1	0		23-Oct-21	Boschkop	25	25
26-Jun-21	Moot	11	11		23-Oct-21	Loate-Mabopane	7	7
26-Jun-21	PTA West	3	3		23-Oct-21	Rankuwa	18	18
27-Jun-21	PTA West	3	3		23-Oct-21	Mamelodi	9	9
2-Jul-21	Laudium	15	15		24-Oct-21	Pretoria East	7	7
3-Jul-21	Silverton/ East Lynn	90	7		29-Oct-21	Temba, Hammanskraal	21	21
3-Jul-21	Loate-Mabopane	7	7		5-Nov-21	Olivenhoutbotch	42	42
4-Jul-21	Sinoville	25	25		20-Nov-21	Pretoria	15	15
8-Jul-21	N4 West Orchards	21	0		25-Nov-21	Bronkorhorspruit	24	0
17-Jul-21	N4 East Bronkhospruit	15	15		26-Nov-21	Attridgeville	5	5
18-Jul-21	Rankuwa	6	6		6-Dec-21	Pretoria	1	0
22-Jul-21	N4 West, Orchards	4	4		08-Dec-21	Erasmia	3	3
24-Jul-21	North Corridor, Mabopane	7	7		22-Jan-22	Sunnyside	15	14
25-Jul-21	PTA West	6	6		29-Jan-22	Brooklyn	2	2
4-Aug-21	NC- Rietgat & Soshanguve	9	9		05-Feb-21	Mamelodi East	25	25
7-Aug-21	Attridgeville	9	9		18-Feb-22	Strydfontein	1	1
08-Aug-21	Soshanguve/ Orchards	36	25		26-Feb-22	Brooklyn / Moot	25	25
15-Aug-21	Temba	14	14		07-Mar-22	Marabastad	23	15
20-Aug-21	Olivenhoutbotch	158	158		19-Mar-22	Menlyn	2	0
28-Aug-21	Soshanguve/ Mabopane	3	3		20-Mar-22	Soshanguve	38	0
29-Aug-21	Soshanguve/ Mabopane	6	3		20-Mar-22	Sunnyside	7	0
4-Sep-21	Akasia	46	46		22-Mar-22	Pretoria	8	0
16-Sep-21	Pretoria West	8	8		25-Mar-22	Olivenhoutbotch	37	35
17-Sep-21	Rankuwa	11	11			TOTAL	1172	812

END

Reply:

Since the RTMC is on the accrual basis, the below table outlines the opening balance for the respective periods, transaction fees billed to the provinces as well as the actual transaction fees paid over by the respective provinces to the RTMC.

It is important to note that transaction fees due to the RTMC is exclusively applicable to vehicle licence disc renewals. On a continuous basis, the RTMC shows an under collection on transaction fees. Provinces have indicated that this is due to municipalities not paying over all the funds to them and in turn the province not paying the full amount to the Corporation. Even though the recovery rate of the transaction fees have improved, there are still provinces that maintains a unremitting growth in the amount owed to the Corporation.

Reply:

Given the information at my disposal my Office, Media Development and Diversity Agency and Brand South Africa does not have any commercial contracts with the Government of the Russian Federation and/or any other Entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017.

Thank you.

Reply:

The Department finalised the process for the procurement of a contractor to commence with the repairs on road R566 near the Pretoria off-ramp delayed by the court matters relating to 2017 Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act. Now that this matter has been clarified, the procurement processes will commence as soon as possible and a Suitable Contractor will be appointed. Therefore the date to start with repairs will be determined by the finalisation of the tendering process.

Reply:

The Department awarded a tender for the amount of R65,018M to Botong/Nkolele JV for the

upgrading from gravel to surface, a 10km road D206 from Molelema to Matsheng in the greater Taung Local Municipality. Prior to the awarding of the tender, the Contractor confirmed in writing that it will be able to complete the work within the tendered scope, price and timeframe.

Immediately after commencement of the project, the contractor demanded an additional amount of R 49M, citing that, with the costed amount, only 7km of road will be completed as supposed to the contracted 10km. This would have increased the project value from R 65,018M to R114M with a variance of R 49 M which constitute an increment of 77%. Acceptance of this deviation could be classified as an irregular expenditure. To this end, the department could not agree to the deviation hence the contract was terminated as per the provision of the contract. The Contractor took the department to Adjudication process wherein the outcome came out in their favour. The department is not in agreement with the outcome of the Adjudication Board after one the board members resigned sighting procedural matters. The department has now filed papers in court opposing the outcome of the Adjudication Board. For that reason, the project cannot proceed pending the outcome of the court process.

Reply:

1. Prasa has concluded the first phase of project Ziveze verification where employees were asked to present themselves in person and submit qualifications and ID copies for verification and vetting.

The process is now on the second phase where salaries of all employees who failed to present themselves were locked at the April 2022 pay day. Subsequent to the locking of salaries some employees presented themselves with the necessary information for verification.

Part of this phase is that Internal Audit is auditing the project processes until July 2022. In addition PRASA has commenced with a forensic investigation.

The detailed reports with financial impact will be submitted on conclusion of the forensic audit.

2. A report detailing the final numbers of unverified employees; the salaries paid from inception to April 2022; the loss suffered by the organisation shall be made available on conclusion of the forensic audit. It must be noted that employees have been coming in for verification after salaries were locked on 27 April 2022.

Reply:

Department

The Department of has not concluded any commercial contracts with the government of the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017.

Therefore (aa) (bb) (cc) (dd) (ee) Not applicable

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)

ACSA has not concluded commercial contracts with (i) the government of the Russian Federation and/or (ii) any other entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017.

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS)

There are no registered contracts between ATNS and the Russian Federation. 

Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA

1. (i) and (ii) The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) did not conclude any commercial contracts with the government of the Russian Federation or any other entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017.
2. (bb) (cc) (dd) and (ee) Not applicable as the C-BRTA is contracting goods within the Republic and has not had a need to procure goods from the Russian Federation or any other entity in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017.

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA)

(b) (i) The Road Traffic Infringement Agency entity did not conclude any commercial contracts with the government of the Russian Federation and/or

(b) (ii) The public entity did not conclude any commercial contracts with any other entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017.

(aa) Not applicable,

(bb) Not applicable,

(cc) Not applicable,

(dd) Not applicable, and

(ee) Not applicable

South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)

(b) (i) and (ii) SANRAL has not concluded any commercial contracts with the Russian Federation, or any entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017 or before that date. As a state-owned company SANRAL takes guidance on international relations from the Minister in his capacity as the shareholder representative of Government with regard to executive authority over SANRAL.

(aa) Not applicable,

(bb) Not applicable,

(cc) Not applicable,

(dd) Not applicable, and

(ee) Not applicable

Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)

(b) (i) and (ii) The Road Traffic Management Corporation has never concluded any commercial contracts with the Russian Federation.

(aa) Not applicable,

(bb) Not applicable,

(cc) Not applicable,

(dd) Not applicable, and

(ee) Not applicable

Road Accident Fund (RAF)

(b) Road Accident Fund has not concluded any commercial contracts with

(i) the government of the Russian Federation and/or

(ii) any other entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017; as there was no necessity to conclude a commercial contract with the government of the Russian Federation or any other entity based in the Russian Federation.

(aa) Not applicable,

(bb) Not applicable,

(cc) Not applicable,

(dd) Not applicable, and

(ee) Not applicable

Railway Safety Regulator (RSR)

The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) has not concluded any commercial contract with any Russian entity or the government of Russia since 1 April 2017 to date.

Ports Regulator of South Africa(PRSA)

(a) N/A

(b) The Ports Regulator did not conclude any commercial contracts with the (i) government of the Russian Federation and/or (ii) any other entity based in the Russian Federation since 01 April 2017.

(aa) N/A

(bb) N/A

(cc) N/A

(dd) N/A

(ee) N/A

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)

(b) The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has not concluded any commercial contract with any Russian entity or the government of Russia since 1 April 2017 to date

South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

(b) N/A (b) the South African Civil Aviation Authority HAS NOT concluded any commercial contract with (i) the government of the Russian Federation and/or (ii) any other entity based in the Russian Federation since 1 April 2017 (aa) N/A (bb) N/A (cc) N/A (dd) N/A (ee) N/A.

South Africa Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

(b) Yes, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

(i)No

(ii)Russian Maritime Register of Shipping

(aa)A Recognition Organisation (RO) Agreement was signed on the 6th of August 2019 between Russian Maritime of Shipping and SAMSA in compliance with Section 18 “Delegation of Authority” of the IMO Instruments implementation (III) Code for any South African ship, allowing a South African ship-owner or manager to use the Russian Register of Shipping as a ship’s classification society in order to conduct statutory surveys on behalf of SAMSA.

(bb)There is no financial burden on the South African Government associated with this contract. The classification society acts on behalf of the ship-owner and all costs related to their services are for the ship- owner’s account.

(cc)This RO Agreement expires on 5 August 2024 (5 years from date of signing).

(dd)The contract is a general agreement as signed with all other recognised classification societies globally by South Africa.

(ee)There are currently no South African ships using the Russian Register of Shipping as their classification society.

Reply:

The road P53/1 from road R510 (Rustenburg – Northam road) to Mogwase is in the plan of the North West Department of Public Works and Roads for rehabilitation of the entire section during the 2022/23 financial year.

Reply:

(a) The question makes reference to the potholes in Bloemfontein. It is therefore important that roads in an around Bloemfontein are being maintained by The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) as well as the Department of Police, Roads and Transport (DPRT). MMM would therefore be responsible for all urban roads, while DPRT predominantly have custodianship of peri-urban and rural roads. This reply is therefore in relation to the broader Mangaung Metropolitan Area.

It is also important to consider that the MMM relies on the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to perform their maintenance, while DPRT relies heavily on the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant (PRMG) in terms of its maintenance strategies. The PRMG has strict conditions that allows for 25% of the grant to be used for upgrades and the remaining 75% for maintenance activities. This is in contrast with the prevailing road conditions which warrant and require upgrade-related activities, as opposed to the maintenance activities that the grant makes provision for. For this purpose, intense engagement is required from Provincial Treasury to ensure that funding is availed through the Infrastructure Enhancement Allocation for the necessary upgrades. Alternatively, the strict PRMG conditions require relaxation in order for the country at large to be able to mitigate the current backlog in road maintenance. If this is not achieved, Provinces will continuously be challenged with the situation whereby maintenance is performed in line with grant conditions, while the actual need on the ground is much more intense and borders on upgrade activities.

A recent presentation by NDOT suggests that the South African road network was not planned for the current traffic volumes. A large volume of traffic have migrated from rail to road and households currently procure several vehicles as opposed to one vehicle per family as anticipated when the broader road network was planned.

This, as well as the delay of timely routine maintenance activities, contribute to the state in which road are.

The delay in maintenance, results in exponential repair cost if left unattended.

Information obtained from MMM suggests that their road network within Bloemfontein is as follows:

• Mangaung Metro contains a total of 3800km of road network entailing 2200km of unsealed and 1600km of sealed roads.
• Conditions are generally poor across most of the areas with about 90% of the bituminous road seal needing urgent attention to prevent moisture ingress and extend the life of the underlying pavement layers.
• Rehabilitation backlogs is also substantial with 35% of the pavement layers being in a very poor condition.
• Thus, Mangaung Metro Municipality should undertake a project of road network resealing and rehabilitation.

(b) The current conditions requires a total amount of R981 054 417 that will be distributed as follows due to capacity and available budget for the following activities:

• • Rehabilitation of 106km of sealed network
  • Treatment of 335km of sealed network with Micro Paving of 15 mm thick.
  • Replacement of 230km access streets with paving blocks. To avoid high maintenance costs on access roads of functional class 5.
  • Treatment of 30km of sealed network with Asphalt overlay.
  • Application of slurry seals preceded by application of Diluted Emulsion, crack sealing and patching for 149km

The anticipated catch-up period is as follows:

July 2022 to June 2023 R 339 112 210

July 2023 to June 2024 R 272 047 480

July 2024 to June 2025 R 369 894 727

TOTAL R 981 054 417

Similarly, the Department of Police, Roads and Transport have developed a maintenance strategy on its own network consisting of 220km that is being prioritized.

• The estimates are based on current market rates and the available internal maintenance capacity
• Where a service provider is appointed, the cost may differ due to other Logistical and General contractual obligations
• The underlying road pavements of most sections need to be rehabilitated thoroughly to prevent further defects and deterioration.
• The annual Routine Road maintenance must be considered, and have an annual budget allocation to attend ongoing road deterioration. Due to current procurement status of the said Maintenance strategy, costing was done with the aim of addressing it in one financial year as follows:

Description	Amount (R )
Material	R21 331 416,96
Material Transport (10%)	R 2 133 141,69
Labour	R7 250 040,00
Plant & Equipment	R6 849 888,00
Sub Total	R 37 564 486,65
VAT 15%	R5 634 673,00
TOTAL	R43 199 159,65

Reply:

The Office of the Premier: Northern Cape

1. (a) Mr. R Palm, the HoD of Northern Cape Sports, Arts and Culture is suspended.

(b) Mr. Palm is facing charges relating to fraud.

2. (a) Mr. R. Palm has been on suspension since September 2020.

(b) An amount of R R2 014 340.00 has been paid to Mr. Palm since his suspension.

The Office of the Premier: KwaZulu Natal

1. (a) Dr GG Sharpley, the HoD of KwaZulu-Natal Public Works is on precautionary suspension.

(b) Dr GG Sharpley is facing charges relating to allegation of misconduct regarding the appointment of the consultant compliance officer. His continuous precautionary suspension is due to the fact that during the recent proceedings the Presiding Officer made a ruling in favour the Employer following the point in limine his legal representative had raised.

 

2. (a) Dr GG Sharpley, has been on suspension since November 2020.

(b) An amount of R2, 346,238.00 has been paid to Dr GG Sharpley since his suspension.

The Office of the Premier: Free State

1. (a) Mr N Mokhesi, the HoD of Free State Human Settlements is on precautionary suspension.

(b) Mr N Mokhesi is facing charges relating to misconduct – tender irregularities

2. (a) Mr N Mokhesi, has been on suspension since June 2020.

(b) An amount of R3 412,484,00 has been paid to Mr N Mokhesi since his suspension.

 

The Office of the Premier: Free State

1. (a) Mr SS Mtakati, the HoD of Free State Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation is on precautionary suspension.

(b) Mr SS Mtakati is facing charges relating to misconduct – tender irregularities

2. (a) Mr SS Mtakati, has been on suspension since May 2021.

(b) An amount of R1 978 533, 00 has been paid to Mr SS Mtakati since his suspension

The Office of the Premier: Mpumalanga

1. (a) Mr K Masange, the HoD of Mpumalanga Human Settlements is on suspension.

(b) Mr K Masange is facing charges relating to gross negligence

2. (a) Mr K Masange, has been on suspension since April 2021.

(b) An amount of RR1 308 568,15 has been paid to Mr K Masange since his suspension.

The Office of the Premier: Mpumalanga

1. (a) Ms BS Nkuna, the HoD of Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison is on suspension.

(b) Ms BS Nkuna is facing charges relating to serious offence

2. (a) Ms BS Nkuna, has been on suspension since June 2021.

(b) An amount of R1 196 064, 31 has been paid to Ms BS Nkuna since her suspension.

The DPME received the following responses from provincial Offices of the Premiers with regards the DGs and or HoDs on suspension.

a) Limpopo, Western Cape and Gauteng indicated that there are no DG’s nor HoD’s on suspension, as a result the provinces submit a nil report to the afore-mentioned question as raised by the National Assembly.

b) Eastern Cape and North West – None

Thank You.

Reply:

The Guidelines for the Heads of Department (HoDs) Performance Management and Development System (PMDS), were developed by the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DPME) and were linked to the HoD PMDS Directive which was developed by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA). The Directive requires all Directors-General (DGs) in national departments and HoDs in provincial departments to enter into Performance Agreements with their Executive Authorities. The HoD PMDS processes align individual performance (40%) with organisational performance (40%) which are Annual Performance Plans, Auditor-General findings, and Key Government Focus Areas (KGFAs). The KGFAs address areas of Supply Chain, Diversity and Transformation, Integrated Governance, Regional and International Integration as well as Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS). Furthermore, a department's performance accounts for 60% of the assessments of the accounting officers, with the objective of ensuring alignment between individual performance and that of a department.

The DPME has completed the assessment of departments through various reports such as the Biannual Reports, but has not yet conducted an exercise to establish a direct link between the performance of DGs to that of departments. The department has identified the need to review the current HoD PMDS, to amongst others, ensure alignment between the PDMS of Ministers and that of DGs. The review will also need to focus on a significant shift towards outcomes based approach to planning, monitoting and evaluation. It is once we have aligned the approach to Annual Persformance Plans (APPs) and PMDS to enable an all round outcomes based performance that we will also evaluate the relationship and interplay between the performance of heads of department and the relevant departments.

Thank You.

Reply:

a) The assessments have been undertaken by teams of engineering specialists and project managers within SANRAL, complemented by specialist consulting engineering firms.

b) (i) and (ii) as per table below:

c) Procurement documents are in the process of being finalised where applicable for the sites indicated above. In the interim, holding actions are being undertaken by routine road maintenance contractors.

Reply:

The Department of Transport in consultation with Free State and Kwa Zulu Natal Governments between which this road R74 traverses, the teams had already done the technical assessment to ascertain the treatment the road will need. It is however worth mentioning that R74 has two sections in it and these are P11 and P340.

a) The majority of this road needs heavy rehabilitation where first 30kms of P11 is planned for the current financial year (2022/23) and this repair work is estimated to take 30 months.

The remainder of the section of this road P340 is planned for the subsequent financial year (2023/24) and this estimated to a period of 20 months.

The holding measure that includes fixing potholes, stormwater repairs and drainage maintenance are already underway.

b) This Part of the Question has been responded to in (a) above.

Reply:

1. Honourable Hunsinger is welcome to meet directly with the City of Ekurhuleni as well as the KTVR operator to perform a detailed analysis of KTVR’s financial statements. KTVR’s operations cost numbers are highlighted below.

Line Items	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21
Operations Cost	R119,2m	R126,7m	R168,4m	R232,2m

2. (a)(b) The City of Ekurhuleni has acknowledged the criticism from NDoT (especially from 2019) in bilateral meetings held regularly 2 to 3 times a year. On the 05 March 2019, the Deputy Director General: Public Transport called all the cities to a meeting to direct them on the revised focus of the PTNG for 2019/20 on wards which is to fastrack operations while scaling back on infrastructure plans and spending and put them on notice to launch.

The City team is trying their best to finalise long outstanding matters like concluding minibus operator negotiations, scaling up to 80 buses and 20 000 passenger trips per weekday etc. Currently the city has deployed 40 buses, is procuring 15 more and plans to conclude negotiations by February 2023.

3. The majority of feedback has occurred in regular bilateral discussions. Please contact the Public Transport Branch at the NDoT for further information if required.

Reply:

a) What has been done so far?

Following the National Taxi Lekgotla held in October 2020, the Department established a Joint Technical Task Team (JTTT) to oversee the implementation of Lekgotla resolutions. The JTTT is comprised of government and the taxi industry. An Implementation Plan has been developed to guide the process and serve as a monitoring tool in as far as progress is concerned in terms of short, medium and long term activities. The implementation of short-term activities has commenced.

b) the envisaged implementation date of the taxi subsidy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

The Department is developing a Public Transport Subsidy Policy that will guide the distribution of subsidies in line with demand without focusing on modes of transport. This implies, amongst others, that the policy is advocating for the inclusion of other role players such as the minibus taxi operators in the public transport subsidy. The policy is currently being consulted with stakeholders and will be submitted to Cabinet for approval and only then will it be implemented.

Reply:

1. Between uMgababa and uMkhomazi there are two major embankment failures, one on the Northbound carriageway at N2 Section 24 km 2.0 to 2.6 and the other on the Southbound carriageway at N2 Section 23 km 49.8. Due to the nature of the failures they require extensive geotechnical investigations, hence geotechnical contractors have been deployed to undertake investigative drilling.

In terms of the northbound failure (uMgababa), the construction of a bypass lane in the median is being undertaken through the routine road maintenance (RRM) contract. Further, the appointed consultant team is finalising its design and procurement documents for the contractor who will implement the repairs.

In terms of the southbound failure (uMkhomazi), traffic accommodation measures have been implemented through the routine road maintenance contract, whilst the preparation of procurement documents for the design consultants are being finalised.

2. The procurement for the service providers to undertake repairs is in the preparation phase therefore there is no tender yet that has been let for the repairs. The only works currently underway is the construction of the median bypass lane in order to restore traffic movements in the northbound direction through the routine road maintenance contract. Availability of rock material from quarries did affect progress on the bypass lane, requiring this material to be sourced from further locations (further than 100km).

3. As noted above, material availability has affected the construction of the bypass lane in the median.

4. (a) No tender has been advertised for this repair as the procurement process is in the preparation phase. The temporary solution is being undertaken through the existing routine road maintenance contract which was awarded to Razzmatazz (Pty) Ltd in October 2021.It is noted that the RRM Contractor is also utilising a local subcontractor and local labour.

(b) It is estimated that the repairs will cost approximately R240 million at each of the locations i.e. northbound and southbound respectively.

(c) The estimated duration is 8 months for northbound failure and 10 months for southbound failure.

5. All holding actions have been undertaken within the budget of the routine road maintenance contractor. A budget has been allocated for the repairs for which tenders will be advertised.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) I’ve been informed by the Department that DPWI does not have any state property that could be made available to the taxi industry in:

1. Matatiele;
2. Mount Fletcher;
3. Maclear; and
4. Mthata

As a result, the Department rents from private landlords for our clients.

However, in Mthata, the Department has the following state properties that are to be developed for our clients to decrease our lease portfolio:

• Erf 920: the Old Enkululenkweni Ministerial Complex along R61, it is illegally occupied and was identified to be a government precinct; and

• Erf 265: at No. 33 Sprigg Street, it is a vandalised and dilapidated house where SAPS, Home Affairs and Environmental Affairs showed interest but never availed funds for refurbishment.

Reply:

Legislation on post-school education does not preclude any aspect of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and that includes the right to self-determination.

For instance, the Higher Education Act, 101 of 1997 makes provision in line with the Constitution for the establishment of private institutions.

The development of the post-school sector in South Africa post-apartheid has been driven by post-apartheid national policy imperatives, geared towards developing a national unified higher education system within a coherent national education policy framework. The focus of the policy frameworks in place since democracy has been to develop a truly national post-school education and training system which addresses the legacies of past inequality and discrimination, which is geared towards supporting national imperatives, and which supports the national development agenda. These policy goals are clearly articulated in the various White Papers, including the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training.

As outlined in the preamble to the Higher Education Act, the purpose of the Act was to create a single unified higher education system, redress imbalances of the past, and transform higher education in terms of the expectations of an open and democratic society.

Public Universities are national institutions and while they are anchored in local communities and within provinces, they are funded and monitored at national system level.

Reply:

This information is not readily available at the National Department of Health (NDOH), it is in health facilities which fall under the administration of provinces. Accordingly the NDOH is consulting with the provincial departments of Health to source this information. The Minister will provide a full response to the Question as soon as the information has been received from provinces.

END.

Reply:

It is unclear what is meant by the term “anti-COVID-19 prevention pill”. Currently, the antiviral medicines available in oral dosage forms (“pills”) are intended to be used for the treatment of COVID-19, not for prevention.

The National Essential Medicines List (NEML) Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on COVID-19 Therapeutics has reviewed the available evidence for two oral antiviral products, molnupiravir and ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir. All rapid reviews are accessible from the National Department of Health website and are routinely updated when new evidence becomes available. Currently, the NEML MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics does not recommend the use of either molnupiravir or ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in the treatment of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Both of these medicines need to be used within five days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. They may also not be used during pregnancy, so women of childbearing potential would need access to effective contraception. Neither of these medicines has yet been registered in South Africa, by either the innovator manufacturers or generic producers. The NEML MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics will continue to monitor the situation in terms of availability and pricing, as well as emerging evidence, and will update the reviews as necessary.

Apart from public health and social measures (such as mask-wearing), the primary means for the prevention of COVID-19 remains vaccination. Approved COVID-19 vaccines are available for all persons aged 12 years and older, and the evidence for their use in younger children is currently being reviewed.

END.

Reply:

The table below reflects the 2020 audited number of full-time lecturers in terms of their highest qualification at public universities.

Institution	Degree	Honours	Masters	Doctorate
Cape Peninsula University of Technology	23	89	374	240
Central University of Technology	2	31	152	126
Durban University of Technology	25	35	343	213
Mangosuthu University of Technology	10	17	117	47
Nelson Mandela University	29	60	251	315
North West University	90	211	472	800
Rhodes University	4	12	120	216
Sefako Makgatho University	8	171	302	130
Sol Plaatje University	4	6	54	65
Tshwane University of Technology	14	160	409	312
University of Cape Town	34	39	348	713
University of Fort Hare	18	33	121	163
University of Free State	26	63	346	472
University of Johannesburg	40	1	508	703
University of KwaZulu-Natal	50	31	388	761
University of Limpopo	29	101	257	209
University of Mpumalanga	5	11	39	64
University of Pretoria	5	9	353	873
University of South Africa	24	162	618	980
University of Stellenbosch	23	40	300	806
University of Venda	10	52	160	193
University of Western Cape	43	24	205	409
University of Witwatersrand	46	34	294	810
University of Zululand	2	14	147	153
Vaal University of Technology	14	34	170	79
Walter Sisulu University	54	100	340	169
Total	632	1 540	7 188	10 021

Reply:

It is premature to decide on whether the Minister of Health will sign or not sign the proposed convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response until a draft working document thereof is presented to Member States. The decision will therefore be informed by the scope of this Agreement in compliance with the prescripts in Section 231 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

END.

Reply:

This information is not readily available at the National Department of Health (NDOH), it is in health facilities which fall under the administration of provinces. Accordingly the NDOH is consulting with the provincial departments of Health to source this information. The Minister will provide a full response to the Question as soon as the information has been received from provinces.

END.

Reply:

1. This question was raised at the Portfolio Committee held on the 19 April 2022. The NHLS CEO investigated these matters and responded to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee in the letter dated 17 May 2022 (see attached letter).

Ms Seleka was a senior scientist at NICD and was charged with misconduct. She was subsequently dismissed, and the matter was later concluded at the CCMA as a result of a settlement agreement reached by both parties.

2. A report detailing a sequence of events surrounding the specified person’s case are found in the attached report.

3. Ms Mpho Seleka has never applied to the NHLS nor NICD after her services were terminated.

4. The NHLS confirms that Ms Mpho Seleka has never applied to the NHLS nor NICD after her services were terminated. There is, therefore, no record of her being invited to the interview and later released.

END.

Reply:

My Department has sought and received only one legal advice on the matter regarding the status of Afrikaans and Khoi languages as indigenous languages of South Africa. The Legal Opinion is herewith attached.

Reply:

1. (a) For Nurses:

Year:	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Programmes
R425 Diploma	√	√	√	Phasing out	Phasing out
R425 Degree	√	√	√	Phasing out	Phasing out
R169 (Higher Certificate)	New programme	√	√	√
R171 (3-year Diploma)	New programme	√	√	√
R174 (4-year Degree)	New programme	√	√	√
Post Basic Diplomas*	√	√	Phasing out
Post Graduate Diplomas**	New programmes	CHE accreditation outstanding	CHE accreditation outstanding

*Post Basic Diplomas: Advanced Midwifery; Advanced Psychiatry; Child Nursing; Critical Care; Community Health Nursing; Child Psychiatry; Nephrology; Oncology; Ophthalmology; Peri-operative Nursing; Primary Health Care; Trauma & Emergency, Nursing Education, Occupational Health and Safety, Nursing Administration.

**Post Graduate Diplomas: Midwifery; Mental Health; Child Nursing; Critical Care (Adult); Critical Care(Child); Community Health Nursing; Nephrology; Nursing Education; Occupational Health Nursing; Oncology & Palliative Nursing; Ophthalmic Nursing; Orthopaedic Nursing; Peri-operative Nursing; Primary Care Nursing; Emergency Nursing; Health Service Management; Forensic Nursing; Infection Prevention and Control Nursing.

(b) For Specialist Medical Personnel:

This is the list of the qualifications for specialist medical personnel that are recognized by the Health Professions Council of South Africa offered by South African Academic Institutions - Health Sciences Faculties:

Doctor of Medicine	Master of Medicine (Ophthalmology)	Master of Science (Sports Medicine)
Doctor of Medicine (Clinical)	Master of Medicine (Orthopaedics)	Master of Surgery
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Otorhinolaryngology)	Masters of Public Health
Master of Domestic Medicine	Master of Medicine (Otorhinolaryngology)	Postgraduate Diploma in General Ultrasound
Master of Emergency Medicine	Master of Medicine (Paediatrics)	Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine and Health
Master of Family Practice	Master of Medicine (Pathology)	Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Medicine
Master of Medicine (Anaesthesiology)	Master of Medicine (Physical Medicine)	Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Evidence and Healthcare
Master of Medicine (Community Health)	Master of Medicine (Plastic Surgery)	Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Physiology)
Master of Medicine (Community Health)	Master of Medicine (Preventive Medicine)	Bachelor of Science (Aerospace Medicine)
Master of Medicine (Dermatology)	Master of Medicine (Psychiatry)	Diploma in Anaesthesiology
Master of Medicine (Emergency)	Master of Medicine (Radiological Diagnostics)	Diploma in Community Health
Master of Medicine (Family Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Radiology)	Diploma in Family Medicine
Master of Medicine (Forensic Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Surgery)	Diploma in Health Administration
Master of Medicine (Geriatrics)	Master of Medicine (Therapeutic Radiology)	Diploma in Industrial Health
Master of Medicine (Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Thoracic Surgery)	Diploma in Laryngology and Otology
Master of Medicine (Medical Administration)	Master of Medicine (Urology)	Diploma in Medical Administration
Master of Medicine (Neurology)	Master of Military Medicine	Diploma in Medical Radiology
Master of Medicine (Neurosurgery)	Master of Pharmacological Medicine	Diploma in Occupational Health
Master of Medicine (Nuclear Medicine)	Master of Science (Aerospace Medicine)	Diploma in Ophthalmology
Master of Medicine (Paediatric Surgery)	Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science (Reproductive Biology)	Master of Science (Medicine)
Master of Medicine (Röntgenological Diagnosis)	Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medicine Science (Underwater Medicine)	Master of Science in Medicine (Bioethics and Health Law)
Master of Science (Medical Science in Clinical Epidemiology)	Diploma in Occupational Medicine	Diploma in Child Health
Postgraduate Diploma in Infection Control	Diploma in Oncochemotherapy	Diploma in Clinical Pathology
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Science (Hyperbaric Medicine)	Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Ethics	Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management
Diploma in Tropical Health	Master of Surgery (Ophthalmology)	Master of Science in Medical in Pharmacology
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Pharmacology)	Master of Surgery (Orthopaedics))	Bachelor of Dental Therapy
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition)	Master of Surgery (Otorhinolaryngology)	Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Medical Virology)
Master of Medicine (Primary Health Care)	Diploma in Cardiac Surgery	Diploma in Industrial Medicine
Master of Medicine (Pathology (Anatomy))	Diploma in Community Medicine	Diploma in Maternal and Child Health
Master of Medicine (Pathology (Chemical))	Diploma in Palliative Medicine	Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Master of Medicine (Pathology (Clinical))	Diploma in Psychological Medicine	Doctor of Philosophy in Health Professions Education
Master of Medicine (Pathology (Forensic))	Diploma in Obstetrics	Master of Medical Science (Critical Care)
Master of Medicine (Pathology (Haematology))	Master of Medical Science (Pharmacology))	Master of Philosophy: Infectious Diseases
Master of Medicine (Pathology (Microbiology))	Diploma in Clinical Pharmacology	Diploma in Forensic Medicine
Master of Medicine (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery))	Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical HIV/AIDS Management	Philosophiae Doctor in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Master of Philosophy (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)	Master of Medicine (Cardiothoracic Surgery)	Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine
Master of Philosophy (Emergency Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Radiotherapy and Oncology)	Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Forensic Medicine
Master of Philosophy (Family Medicine / Primary Care)	Master of Medicine (Virology)	Doctor of Medicine (Psychiatry)
Master of Philosophy (Maternal and Child Health)	Masters in Occupational and Environmental Health	Doctor of Philosophy (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
Master of Philosophy (Medical Genetics)	Diploma in Health Services Management	Doctor of Science in Medicine
Master of Philosophy (Occupational Health)	Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology	Master in Philosophy in Applied Ethics
Master of Philosophy (Paediatric Pathology)	Doctor of Science in Medicine	Master of Medicine (Comprehensive Medicine)
Master of Philosophy (Palliative Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine)	Master of Medicine (Medical Genetics)
Master of Philosophy (Sports Medicine)	Master of Science in Medicine (Maternal and Child Health)	Master of Medicine (Occupational Medicine)
Diploma in Tropical Health	Master of Surgery (Ophthalmology)	Master of Science in Medical in Pharmacology
Diploma in Medicine	Diploma in Radiological Diagnosis	Diploma in Travel Medicine
Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology	Diploma in Radiotherapy	Certificate in Paediatric Neurology
Diploma in Ophthalmic Medicine and Surgery	Diploma in Surgery	Certificate in Gynaecological Oncology
Diploma in Paediatrics	Certificate in Critical Care	Certificate in Trauma Surgery
Diploma in Physical Medicine	Diploma in Primary Emergency Care	Cert Paed Neurol (SA)
Diploma in Psychological Medicine	Diploma in Allergology	Cert Gyn Oncol (SA)
Diploma in Public Health	Diploma in Cytology	Cert Trauma Surg (SA)
Diploma in Sleep Medicine	Diploma in Mental Health	Certificate in Urogynaecology
Diploma in Travel Medicine

(2) (a) For Nurses:

Programmes	Output per year
	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
4 Year Diploma and Degree	3322	3564	3736	3608	3535
1 Year Higher Certificate		178
Specialist Nurses	4954	4527	4971	3372	4445

*All statistics obtained and collated from SANC (https://www.sanc.co.za/sanc-statistics/)

(b) For Specialist Medical Personnel:

The following is the number of Medical Specialists that qualified and registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa between the years 2018 – 2022 in all the Specialist disciplines:

2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	Grand Total
679	624	556	724	236	2 819

* Annexure B attached provides a comprehensive information per discipline

(3) The table below shows the numbers of Medical personnel that have qualified between 2018 and 2022 as recognized by the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration.

					REGISTRATION_YEAR
BRD_CODE	PROFESSIONAL_BOARD_NAME	REG_TYPE	REGISTER_CODE	REGISTER_NAME	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	Grand Total
MDB	MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONS BOARD	Intern	GCIN	INTERN GENETIC COUNSELLOR	3	5	3	6		17
			GRIN	INTERN GENETIC COUNSELLOR	1					1
			IN	INTERN	1,607	515	2,421	2,474	2,303	9,320
			MSIN	INTERN MEDICAL SCIENTIST	80	56	12	92	12	252
			PHIN	INTERN MEDICAL PHYSICIST	10	11	21	7	4	53
		Intern Total			1,701	587	2,457	2,579	2,319	9,643
		Practitioner	CA	CLINICAL ASSOCIATE	131	140	61	145	33	510
			DP	DENTIST	216	207	206	195	202	1,026
			GC	GENETIC COUNSELLOR		8	3	3	2	16
			MP	MEDICAL PRACTITIONER	1,782	2,146	1,900	2,111	2,279	10,218
			MS	MEDICAL BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST	30	34	51	38	13	166
			PH	MEDICAL PHYSICIST	6	7	11	6	3	33
		Practitioner Total			2,165	2,542	2,232	2,498	2,532	11,969
	MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFESSIONS BOARD Total				3,866	3,129	4,689	5,077	4,851	21,612

END.

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

I have been informed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) as follows:

(1)

(a) In 2020, CIDB went through an Organisational Design (OD) led by an independent service provider. The OD looked at restructuring the organogram, salary structure, and job grades. As a result, the job grades were reduced from 24 to 16 levels. This resulted in collapsing E4 and E5 to E Upper. The CIDB grades as follows: three lower subgrades, i.e. E 1-3, and one sub grade in the upper bands, e.g. E4 and E5 = E upper.

(b) To align more with CIDB current strategy, the Board prioritised expertise and qualifications in the built environment as a construction regulator. A Master's degree was added as an advantage to include those with experience and relevant qualifications.

(2) To expand the talent pool and include more people with disability, women, and youth, the Board opted to set the requirement in the advert in the manner that it was advertised.

(3) Same as above, in an effort to expand the talent pool to include more people with disability, women, and youth, the Board opted to set the requirement in the advert

(4) Six candidates met all the requirements including the added advantage: Master’s degree and

(a) were shortlisted accordingly.

(b) five candidates were interviewed as one candidate formally withdrew their candidature.

(5) The appointed individual exceeded the minimum requirements by having a Master's degree from the University of Cambridge.

Reply:

A pandemic treaty is not imminent. Although Member States of the World Health Organization agreed in December 2021 that a new World Health Organisation (WHO) convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response is needed, it will take years of negotiations to reach a final draft. 2024 is the target. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) leading this process will meet before the end of 2022 to discuss and consider a working draft treaty. The outcome of this meeting will determine whether there is a draft document that can be shared.

END.

Reply:

The department has planned adequately for the 5th wave, in the same manner that it did with the previous waves. Immediately after the end of the 4th wave, the Incident Management Team (IMT) conducted the Intra – Action Reviews with the provinces, drawing the lessons from the past experiences but particularly from the 4th wave.

The outcomes of the intra Action Reviews indicated that the department must retain all key interventions such as hospital oxygen management capabilities, number of beds set aside for admission, availability of the respiratory support of devices, which have really made sure that the hospitals succeeded in the management. Human Resources were deployed in line with the community service programme and were made be on standby in the event of the increase in hospital admissions.

Over and above the Intra Action Review, the department also developed the following documents, working with the provinces, through the provincial leads who are members of the IMT.

• The 5th wave resurgence plans
• The reset and recovery plans for the health system
• The plans for the continuity of essential health services.

This was in preparations for the rise in the number of cases, during the 5th wave.

These documents were developed with the support of the World Health Organization and other partners as living documents that get revised every time there is an increase or in preparation for the increase in the number of cases.

END.

Reply:

The National Department of Health (NDOH) is consulting with the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health to source this information. The Minister will provide a full response to the Question as soon as the information has been received from the Gauteng Department of Health.

END.

Reply:

(a) The Service Provider named Integrated Forensic Accounting Services (“IFAS”) has been assigned the investigation of the top law firms that are litigating against the State (for the respective Provinces) on medico-legal matters. The specific Law Firms are Wim Krynauw Attorneys, Joe Hubbart Attorneys and Van Zyl Johnson Inc.

Additional two (2) Law Firms, i.e. Dudula Inc, and Elliot Maris Wilmans & Hay were allocated at the request of the Northern Cape Province bringing the total number of law firms investigated to five (5).

The specified law firms have not yet been referred to the SIU.

(b) The investigation against the specified legal firms by the SIU has not yet started as the reports by the Service Provider on such law firms have not yet been referred to the SIU. The reason is that the Department is still awaiting the National Proclamation to be signed by the President of the Republic. As soon as the National Proclamation is signed by the President, the Forensic Reports from the Service Provider will be provided to the SIU to form the basis of their (SIU) investigations.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) I commissioned the report after a meeting with the Presiding Officers of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces on 07 October 2019. This followed a complaint by the Presiding Officers about the time, quality and budget overrun of the Prestige projects in Parliament. The terms of reference were developed between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and Parliament which covered the areas of concern raised by the Presiding Officers.

(2) The timelines provided to Binder Dijker Otte to deliver the report was 6 months due to the number of projects to be audited.

(3) Binder Dijker Otte delivered the report to the Department by 20 November 2020, within three months of their appointment. However, the report was only given to me almost a year later on 17 September 2021. The report was subsequently handed to the Speaker of the National Assembly on 18 September 2022 for processing.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

I have been informed by the Department that all treatment plans have been drafted to address the 30 findings in the BDO report

(a) There is no outstanding treatment plan

(b) Not Applicable.

(i) See the attached Annexure

(ii) See the attached Annexure

Reply:

(a) Legislative Mandate: The Department of Health strives to take reasonable legislative and other measures to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to have access to health care services including reproductive health care in terms of its Constitutional obligations. Section 27 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care. Section 27 (3) further states that no one may be refused emergency medical treatment.

The statistics on the total number of babies who were born to illegal and/or undocumented migrants at public health facilities in each province in the past three years is not available as our health facilities do not keep statistics on foreign nationals.

(b) With regards to the number of illegal and/or undocumented immigrants who are making use of health facilities for other medical services other than giving birth in each province; due to community integration of migrants, the Department of Health is not able to determine the number of undocumented immigrants as this is not a policy requirement.

END.

Reply:

(1) Public health practitioners are not insured against medico-legal claims. Section 76 (1) (h) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) (“PFMA”) read with Treasury Regulation 12.2 provides for the claims against the State through acts or omissions of officials and how they must be dealt with.

Treasury Regulation 12.2 provides that an institution must accept liability for any loss or damage suffered by another person, as for a claim against the state, which arose from an act or omission of an official, provided the official acted in the course of his or her employment and was not reckless, wilful or malicious.

In terms of Treasury Regulation 12.2.3 provides that an amount paid by the institution for losses, damages or claims arising from an act or omission of an official must be recovered from the official concerned if the official is liable in law to compensate the institution unless the institution has accepted liability in terms of paragraph 12.2.1.

(2) The regulated framework with regard to the legal costs and in particular the extent of the legal costs that can be charged by legal practitioners is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and not the Department of Health.

Section 35 (4) of the Legal Practice Act, 2014 (Act No.28 of 2014) (LPA) mandates the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) to investigate and report back to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development with recommendations on issues of fees and tariffs payable to legal practitioners.

In light of this, the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) was requested to conduct an investigation into legal fees. In light of the above the SALRC started with their Project 142. On 10 September 2020, the SALRC issued a Discussion Paper 150 with recommendations. Below are some of the recommendations from the SALRC relating to legal fees.

Recommendation 7.1 of the Discussion Paper: The imposition of a universal and compulsory tariff is undesirable not only for the legal profession, but for the economy of South Africa too.

Recommendation 7.2 of the Discussion Paper: The LPC (Legal Practitioners Council), as the regulatory body for the legal profession in the Republic, is the appropriate body to develop service-based attorney and client Fee Guidelines for determining legal fees in respect of all branches of the law.

N.B. More information can be obtained from the Department of Justice.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

1. I have been informed by the Department that the Board of Trustees of the IDT resolved to sell the National Head Office building in the Board of Trustees meeting held on 23 February 2022.

• The Board resolved to sell the building as there are latent structural defects and electrical issues with the building that will be costly to fix.
• There are visible cracks at the entrance of the building and the basement also tends be flooded when it rains leading to the columns supporting the building to move.
• The building is therefore not safe to be occupied by employees, and it does not comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• The building also has high maintenance costs. A cost benefit analysis has been done and the conclusion is that the cost to maintain and refurbish the building outweighs the one of seeking for new leased office accommodation.

2. The sale of the building has not been advertised. This will be determined by the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance.

(b), (i) and (ii) Fall away.

(3) The advertisement for the lease of the new building was issued and the procurement process is in progress.

(a), (b) and (c)

The IDT does not therefore have monthly costs at this stage. The cost per square metre as well as the date for relocation to the new building will be determined once the procurement process is finalised. The cost per square metre should be within the Rode Independent guidelines.

Reply:

1. Sol Plaatje University’s off-campus accommodation accreditation process opened in November 2021. Service providers that missed the first submission deadline were afforded an opportunity to submit applications of accreditation up until the last day of February 2022.   The university reported that the process of accreditation is open to all interested parties that meet the requirements in the minimum norms and standards as stipulated by DHET. All properties must be conducive to living and learning. Note: 99.9% of the Sol Plaatje University accredited off-campus accommodation suppliers advance BBB economic empowerment goals.

2. Neither the Minister nor the Department have received complaints of discrimination against SPU by black property owners. 

3. Please note that as per the 2022 NSFAS eligibility criteria and conditions for financial aid, private accommodation allowance is limited to the maximum cost of the equivalent University owned on-campus accommodation at a particular institution.   The SPU in consultation with all affected landlords has set the 2022 private accommodation rental/allowances for a double room at R3 500 and single rooms are capped at R4 200.

Reply:

The Provincial Department is planning to deliver 600 units in the Mahikeng Local Municipality. The Department will through its planning process engage with Mafikeng Local Municipality to advise the Municipality to consider Ward 5 in its list of priorities of housing allocation during this current financial year adjustment period alternatively during the 2023/2024 financial year.

 

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO:1826

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 May 2022

N BUTHELEZI

ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: AFFORDABLE RENTAL AND SOCIAL HOUSING

DATE:

MS TSHANGANA

DIRECTOR-GENERAL: HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

DATE:

Approved/Not approved

Ms MT KUBAYI, (MP)

MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

DATE:

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

a) The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has processed –

1. 37 products,
2. 389 tests,
3. 198 personal protective equipment,
4. 0 treatment (7 currently in process) and/or
5. 12 vaccines related to COVID – 19;

b) (i) 494 processed items were approved and

(ii) 275 were rejected; and

(c) the reasons for decision made in each case are as follows:

• Incomplete documents submitted,
• Test kits not meeting performance requirements, and
• No originating approval from one of the 6 recognized jurisdictions.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) a)

(i) I have been informed by the Department that the following repairs are funded by the Department of Sport Arts and Culture:

Phase 1: Repair and maintenance was completed by 30 March 2022 and this was the external painting of the entire building & boundary wall including repairs of the ceiling that collapsed, bird proofing, replacement of broken windows and window frames, sanding and varnishing of doors.

Phase 2: Further repairs and maintenance are in progress. The contractor is on site undertaking the work, including the electrical upgrade. The estimated completion for all the infrastructural work is end of November 2022.

(ii) The estimated completion for all the infrastructural work is end November 2022. Thereafter the artworks, other collections and new installations will be reinstalled by the Curatorial Team. The aim is to reopen the IOTH to the public during Heritage Week 2023.

b) The client is responsible for maintenance work up to R1 million.

c) As indicated above repairs and maintenance are in progress, the contractor is on site undertaking the work.

(2) The estimated completion for all the infrastructural work is end November 2022

Reply:

1) Over 10 000 teachers have been provided training across all provinces. The DBE has also, through a partnership with UNISA, provided training on coding and robotic to 986 Foundation Phase teachers, subject advisors and provincial coordinators to date. 

2) The selection of schools for the pilot included schools in townships, rural areas as well as those providing multi-grade teaching including school for learners with special education needs.