Questions and Replies

Reply:

A. NUMBER OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS PER PROVINCE

 

PROVINCE	NO. OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
EASTERN CAPE (EC)	69
FREE STATE (FS)	30
GAUTENG (GP)	82
KWAZULU NATAL (KZN)	73
LIMPOPO (LP)	43
MPUMALANGA (MP)	40
NORTHEN CAPE (NC)	11
NORTH WEST (NW)	31
WESTERN CAPE (WC)	24
NATIONAL	403

 

B. FUNDING OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

• All Technical Schools are funded by provinces from the allocated provincial budgets.
• Some Technical Schools are supported by Departmental Partners like Sasol Foundation
• Selected Technical Schools are chosen to be MST Grant Schools and they are supported in different ways including resourcing.
• Every three years, new schools are included by provinces in the list of MST Grant Schools.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(a and b) I’ve been informed that the Department has already released eleven (11) buildings for use by victims of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). Those properties are listed below as follows:

Table A

No.	PROVINCE	PROPERTY AREA
1.	Western Cape	Albertina
2.	Western Cape	Laingsburg
3.	Western Cape	Aurora
4.	Western Cape	Aurora
5.	Western Cape	Mooreesburg
6.	Western Cape	Heidelberg
7.	Gauteng	Salvokop, Pretoria
8.	Gauteng	Pretoria
9.	Gauteng	Pretoria
10	Gauteng	Pretoria
11.	Gauteng	Johannesburg

In addition to the above, the Department has identified more properties and jointly conducted site inspections with the Department of Social Development in various provinces. The Department is awaiting confirmation from the Department of Social Development on properties which must be released for use by victims of Gender based Violence. As a result the Department is unable to confirm the date on which the properties would be released.

I have requested a meeting with the Minister of Social Development, to expedite the handover.

The total number of 39 such buildings in each (i) province, (ii) region and (iii) municipality are listed on Annexure A.

Reply:

1(a) Annexure A reflects the list of the towns in Northern Cape which do not have SASSA local offices or services points

2. The only provinces which have a SASSA presence in all towns are Eastern Cape and Gauteng. For Eastern Cape, the towns of Bedford, Dimbaza, Adelaid and Sterkstroom had local offices, but these have been converted to periodic mobile services due to very low intake which did not warrant the continuation of the full time services.

For all other provinces, the attached annexures indicate the towns which do not have a fixed presence, with an indication of how those citizens are able to access SASSA services.

Reply:

This information is not readily available at the National Department of Health, it is in the provinces. The National Department of Health is therefore still consulting with all the Provincial Departments of Health to provide these details, and this will enable the Minister to respond to the Honourable Member’s question. The response will therefore be submitted as soon as information has been received from the provinces.

END.

Reply:

International migration in South Africa is regulated in terms of the Immigration Act, 2002 9Act No 13 of 2002) (the “Act”), read together with the Immigration Regulations, 2014. The long title of the Act specifically indicates that the Act has been enacted to regulate admission of persons to, their residence in, and their departure from the Republic. It follows, therefore, that all migrants, African or otherwise, who wishes to enter, and reside in, the Republic must apply for, and meet the requirements of, entry and residence as prescribed. In this regard, all migrants are welcomed into South Africa regardless of their nationality.

END

Reply:

(a&b) The arrest of members of the syndicate in Krugersdorp is indicative the net is closing in on all the corrupt Home Affairs officials and their associates be they South African or foreign nationals who are undermining the country’s laws. A multi-disciplinary law enforcement team is keeping a beady eye on a number of corrupt Home Affairs officials and syndicates and more arrests are imminent.

(a)(i) Furthermore, it is impractical to ascertain the number fraudulent documents in the hands of criminals and of those being produced through illegal means.

(b(i)-(iiI) There is currently an investigation taking place with regards to the matter.

However, the Branch Counter Corruption and Security Services, through investigations undertaken, intercepted the suspected fake passports issued through the process of photo swap. During the investigations on passport photo swaps, it was found that SA citizens who participated in the scam, are still in possession of their Identity Documents. It was only their passports that were required by foreign nationals. The suspected fake passports are from the following offices:

Home Affairs Office	Number of passports issued to foreign nationals
Benoni	101
White River	30
Burgersfort	45
Maponya Mall	20
Germiston	25
Prospecton	30
Ndwendwe	40
Tongaat	15
Umgungundlovu	18
Commercial Road	10

When fraudulent documents are detected the Branch Civic Services refers such cases to the Branch: Counter Corruption and Security Services if it involves the Departments officials and/or to Branch: Immigration Services (Inspectorate division) if it entails investigation of foreign nationals. Otherwise cases are referred to the South African Police Services (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies.

Upon conclusion of the investigations conducted by the above institutions, and when the outcome renders the enabling documents to be fraudulent, the Department follows a process to set markers to block, nullify and to cancel the fraudulently issued identity documents and passports on the National Population Register(NPR) as a means to maintain the credibility of the system in the Republic.

Furthermore, the Immigration Service Branch within the Department is also involved to flag such documents on the Movement Control System (MCS). As a result, a note verbale is also published and circulated through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) as a means to communicate to foreign countries regarding fake or fraudulently issued passports and identity documents.

(c) From 2013 to date, 396 officials have been investigated for selling South African documents.

END

 

 

 

Reply:

The unspent budget that the Honourable Member is referring to is part of the 2021/22 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) roll Over allocation totalling R134 million in the Eastern Cape which was approved and confirmed by the National Treasury on 15 November 2021. The tender was only advertised on 10 December 2021 and the closing date for the adverts was scheduled for 21 January 2022 as a result of Provincial Treasury directives for Tenders not to close in the month of December but be extended to January 2022.

After the finalisation of tender processes, the actual distribution of food parcels to the intended beneficiaries only commenced on 2 March 2022. By 28 March 2022, only 22 787 beneficiaries were able to receive food parcels constituting 26% of the total target of 85 741 beneficiary households. This is attributed to other various factors in addition to the stringent time frames that are related to Service Provider challenges with capacity to deliver as expected including unnecessary demands made by local truck drivers in the various local municipalities.

The Department through the Internal Audit Unit is currently exploring appropriate internal control systems and Risks involved in considering the operationalisation of the SRD Programme as transfers in future utilising a Zero Monthly Fee Digital Account as a Bank Card System possibly with no Bank Charges.

The Department remains convinced that exploring the utilisation of an Easy Zero Bank Card system is the most efficient and cost-effective mechanism to enable SRD beneficiary family households' easy access to food.

This system and/or mechanism remains the best option for the operationalisation of the SRD Programme in the Eastern Cape, given its largely rural terrain and thus difficult to access particularly during rainy days.

The Department has further initiated a process of preparing a submission in the form of a motivation to Provincial Treasury for the approval of additional allocation of funding to the Social relief of Distress Programme as a specialist and most urgent intervention to enable the 62 954 beneficiary family households to have access to food as well as to address immediate needs of hunger, child poverty and malnutrition amongst the Eastern Cape poor and vulnerable groups of family households who are mostly falling under the category of No Income Households.

Reply:

a) Disciplinary action is instituted against officials who are found to be involved in the illegal issuing of passports in accordance with the Disciplinary Code and Procedure for the Public Service (PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2003);

b) Passport processes are evaluated regularly to identify possible vulnerabilities to fraud, corruption and security breaches, and recommendations are made to affected business units for implementation. Passports that are found to be issued illegally are referred for cancellation.

END

Reply:

1. The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) received a 0% increase for the 2022-2023 financial year. All fees for Skipper Licences still the same as the 2021-2022 financial year and should assist fisher in the current economic climate. The 0% increase applies to all the services that the South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) provide and include the cost of safety surveys for fishing vessels. Should an increase be approved, due consideration will be given to the impact that any increase may have on fishers.

2. The challenge with lowering the current safety standards will lead to unseaworthy ships going to sea, which will not only endanger fishers but also other users of the sea. Reducing the safety standards will lead to unnecessary deaths amongst fishers and in turn impact on the fishing communities when a bread winner is lost. It must be noted that unseaworthy vessels lead to expensive Search and Rescue operations due to the number and type of sea and air assets that need to be mobilised to rescue a casualty at sea. Lowering Safety Standards which is meant to save both people and property at sea, or prevent pollution of the marine environment is not the solution.

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

The Department has investigated the matter with the Operational Manager of Stanford Terrace clinic and one of the reasons for the patient queuing outside the gate was due to inadequate space in the waiting area of the clinic as the clinic was implementing disaster management strategies and observing social distancing. The spacing of patients in mitigating the spread of COVID 19, resulted in queues that were outside the gate also because of large patient numbers.

Whilst the EC DOH acknowledges the basic conditions of employment of employees and nurses in particular, the locking of the gate with nurses enjoying lunch is regrettable, and investigations by labour relations office in this regard is underway. Should the findings of our investigation be found to be inconsistent with the EC DOH policies, consequence management will be instituted to those employees who failed to exercise the Batho Pele Principles whilst on duty.

PLANNED INTERVENTIONS

• Training of Stanford Terrace Nurses on Batho Pele Principles and;

• Procurement of a tent as a temporal measure for patients waiting to be served

As the National Department of Health, we will follow this matter closely to see to its conclusion.

END.

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development that, currently, the Department does not have charges specific to cannabis. However, the Department gathers information in relation to four (4) charges relating to cannabis which was previously referred to as “dagga”. This is included under the umbrella of “other narcotics”, and the Department cannot drill down to charges relating to cannabis or dagga.

The current charge description is as follows: “Unlawfully receiving any document, intoxicating liquor, dagga, drug, opiate, money or any other article whilst in custody; unlawful supplying, conveying, hiding or placing for an offender’s use any document, intoxicating liquor, dagga, drug or opiate; bringing or introducing into a correctional centre or place of custody any document/ intoxicating liquor/ dagga/ drug/ opiate; Inmate – Arranging with a correctional/ custody official/ another person for a document/ liquor/ dagga/ drug/ opiate/ money/ article.”

It should also be noted that the National Director of Public Prosecutions indicated that the National Prosecuting Authority does not record the above requested information manually, and the electronic case management system allows for reporting on both possession of drugs as dealing in drugs which could be extracted in accordance with the relevant sections of the Act. However, information specific to ‘cannabis’ is not available.

END

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

a) The issuance of the operating license function does not rest with the Minister of Transport. It is a function that falls within the competencies of the Provincial Regulatory Entities (PREs) and Planning Authorities, that is municipalities. Section 36(1) of the National Land Transport Act No. 5 of 2009 (the Act) requires all municipalities to prepare Integrated Transport Plans (ITP). Furthermore, the Act requires all applications for operating licences to be referred to municipalities for their comments and inputs as planning authorities. Municipalities must indicate whether there is a need for service on the route or routes or in the area or areas in terms of its integrated transport plans. If there is a need for such a service, the municipality can direct a PRE to proceed with granting an operating licence.

If a PRE based on the response from the planning authority does not support the issuance of an operating license, in most instances, it is as a result of oversaturation in a route, as determined through the ITP.

b) As indicated above, all applications for operating licences must be based on an ITP developed by a planning authorities. Integrated Transport Plans are data driven and evidence based and hence critical in informing the supply and demand model. An operator who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the application process for an operating license, they can appeal the decision of the PRE with the Transport Appeals Tribunal.

Reply:

The question is more relevant to the provincial administration since it is the responsibility of the employer, who in terms of section 3(1)(b) of the Employment of Educators Act is the Head of the Provincial Education Department (PED) to implement policies with regards to the Code of Conduct and safety measures at schools, as well to enforce disciplinary code and procedures against all employees employed at the provincial level.

The question should therefore be forwarded to the relevant employer (PED) for a response.

Reply:

1. A Rapid Response Team has been established under the leadership of the Director-General of Department of Transport. The team includes representatives from SANRAL, PRASA, KwaZulu-Natal province and various affected local authorities.

2. The focus of emergency response is to re-establish operations along all affected transportation networks (road and rail) within shortest timeframe. Where the above re-establishment of operations requires improvements to enhance road safety and security and increase network capacity, these will be implemented within available budgets. At this stage cleaning up operations to open affected road networks and damage assessments are still in progress. Detailed plans for each affected locality to be developed based on nature and extent of damage.

 

Reply:

1. The Minister does not have the power to hold principals of underperforming schools accountable, but Heads of Department (HODs) do. This is guided by section 58B of the South African Schools Act (SASA), 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) as amended.  According to subsection 1-5 of the SASA, the HoD takes the necessary steps to assist the school.  However, Members of the Executive Council (MECs) report to the Minister on the identification, management and support of underperforming schools by 31 March of each calendar year.  In the reports, the MECs indicate the challenges that led to underperformance, and the support programmes that will be implemented to deal with underperformance.

2. At the end of each financial year Provincial Education Departments report to the Minister the progress that has been made in supporting schools that have been identified as underperforming.

3 A table showing the number of underperforming schools per province is attached.

Reply:

1. (a) Prior to processing the applications for payment, the Department conducted a due diligence process, which include verification of name, surname, and identity number against existing national database such as the Department of Home Affairs’ National Population Register and the DPSA’s Personal and Salary System (PERSAL). It is during this verification process that the department identified that some of the ECD staff were on PERSAL.

(b) Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty-Nine (3 729)

(c) PERSAL does not reflect the departments within which these staff are employed. The data has been sent to DPSA, which is the custodian of the public service payroll to identify in which departments/entities they are currently employed.

2. No, public servants who were found on PERSAL were disqualified and no payments were made and therefore is no need for any disciplinary action. The Department will further engage the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and the DPSA in this regard.

Reply:

In the 2020/21 financial year, the sector employed 1 037 social work graduates. An additional 3 473 were employed in the same financial year which contributed significantly to the reduction of the number of unemployed social work graduates using the database of 9 000 unemployed social workers and social auxiliary workers that the Department developed in 2019.

In 2020/21-2021/2022 the department employed 3 388 unemployed social work graduates through the COVID-19 pandemic Presidential Stimulus Package.

As part of the long-term solution to address this issue, the Department has developed a draft sector strategy for the employment of social service professionals. The strategy addresses employment of social service professionals not only in the sector, but also in other departments/agencies, including at local government and the private sector where their professional services are required. This is an ongoing initiative within the context of the Inter-Departmental Forum. The forum resolved that all affected departments should submit a joint Funding Bid to the National Treasury in the current financial year for the permanent employment of social service professionals.

Reply:

The Department of Social Development in the Northern Cape funded all NPO’s approved for funding during the 2020-21 financial year. NPO’s are required to demonstrate that they can implement effective, efficient and transparent financial management and internal control systems as required by section 38 (1) (j) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA Act No. 1 of 1999). Approval for funding is subject to compliance with the above provision of the PFMA. The Department conducts quarterly monitoring at all funded NPO’s to ensure compliance with the Service Level Agreements (SLA) and provide the necessary support.

 

Reply:

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

PILLARS OF THE EC HEALTH TURNAROUND PLAN AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT

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

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

a) Stopping haemorrhage of funds

b) Strengthening case management

c) Developing Medico-Legal litigation expertise

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

3. Service delivery optimisation pillar focuses on:

a) Service Optomisation Implementation Planning

b) HR Intervention to promote SDO

c) Securing buy-in from key stakeholders

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

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

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

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

c) Addressing Burden of Disease

d) Integrated Development Planning6. 

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

END.

Reply:

(a) An investigation was conducted by iLembe District and a report will made available to the Department of Basic Education by the KZN provincial education department. 

(b) The school has been issued with the Guidelines for Tuckshop Operators. 

Reply:

Posts whether teaching or otherwise on the establishment of the Provincial Department of Education in Limpopo are the responsibility of the Head Of the Department of Education in Limpopo to fill since he/she is the employer and not the Department of Basic Education.

For this reason, the honourable Ms Tafeni is requested to direct this question to the MEC or Head of Department of the Limpopo Provincial Department of Education for a response.

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still consulting with the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Department of Health on this matter, to enable the Minister to respond to the Honourable Member’s question. The response will therefore be submitted as soon as information has been received from the province.

END.

Reply:

No, this road does not fall under the mandate of SANRAL.

The Provincial KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has confirmed this is part of their road network and its named P2-2. The Province is aware of the sink hole that needs to be addressed as part of the exercise to repair the roads damaged from the recent floods that occurred in April 2022 and is in the process of the appointment of service providers to do remedial works for the various road infrastructure projects, including the above work.

Reply:

This information is not readily available at the National Department of Health, it is in the provinces. The National Department of Health is therefore still consulting with all the Provincial Departments of Health to provide these details, and this will enable the Minister to respond to the Honourable Member’s question. The response will therefore be submitted as soon as information has been received from the provinces.

END.

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:

a) The total amount spent on catering for the period in question was R738 982.91,

(i) Minister: R157 644.86

(ii) Deputy Minister: R 90 665.20

(iii) Officials in the Department: R490 672.85

b) The total amount spent on entertainment for the period in question was R0.00,

(i) Minister: R0.00

(ii) Deputy Minister: R0.00

(iii) Officials in the Department: R0.00

c) The total amount spent on accommodation for the period in question was R15 345 562.86

(i) Minister: R 3 615 001.95

(ii) Deputy Minister: R 1 021 003.90

(iii) Officials in the Department: R10 709 557.01

Authorised for submission by

 

MS. NONKQUBELA JORDAN-DYANI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL (ACTING)

DATE:

Recommended/not recommended

__________________________

HON. PHILLY MAPULANE, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER

DATE:

Approved/ not approved

________________________________

HON. KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP

MINISTER

DATE:

Reply:

I have been advised as follows:

The Department is guided by the Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RF EMF) guidelines of March 2020 developed by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which provide the necessary and sufficient levels of protection from adverse effects relating to exposure to RF EMF when networks including 5G are deployed or operated.

Authorised for submission by

 

MS. NONKQUBELA JORDAN-DYANI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL (ACTING)

DATE:

Recommended/not recommended

__________________________

HON. PHILLY MAPULANE, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Approved/ not approved

________________________________

HON. KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:

No incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault were reported in the Department in the past three years and since 1 April 2021.

Authorised for submission by

 

MS. NONKQUBELA JORDAN-DYANI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL (ACTING)

DATE:

Recommended/not recommended

__________________________

HON. PHILLY MAPULANE, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Approved/ not approved

________________________________

HON. KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department and SOEs as follows:

a) Department

Department	i) Flowers	(ii) Cards	(iii) Wreaths	(iv) Gifts
	R47 363, 00	0	Included (i) due to BAS SCOA classification	R691, 00

(b-f)

SOEs	(i) Flowers	(ii) Cards	(iii) Wreaths	(iv) Gifts
SAPO	-	-	-	-
NEMISA	R3 549.90	-	-	-
SABC	R96 329.00	-	R4 463.00	R 116 181.00
SITA	R21 463.00	-	-	-
BBI	R69 156.00	-	-	R24 075.00

SAPO indicated that no money was spend for flowers, cards, wreaths and gifts in the last eight (8) years.

Authorised for submission by

 

MS. NONKQUBELA JORDAN-DYANI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL (ACTING)

DATE:

Recommended/not recommended

__________________________

HON. PHILLY MAPULANE, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Approved/ not approved

________________________________

HON. KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Reply:

a) Total number of remand detainees who have who have been in detention for more than two years as at 31st March 2022 was 3 698.

Regional breakdown is as follows:-

Region	Grand Total
Gauteng	1718
Western Cape	708
Limpopo, Mpumalanga & North-West	390
Kwa-Zulu Natal	387
Eastern Cape	291
Free State & Northern Cape	204
Grand Total	3698
Source: GITO

b) The reasons for the prolonged period of detention is the delayed response from the courts on the outcome of the applications of Section 49 G or a continue with detention response is received, however DCS does continue to make use of the provision of Section 49G of the Correctional Services Act by referring Remand Detainees (RDs) to court before completing a period of two years for consideration of their detention and thereafter annually if the RD remains in detention after the initial referral. The courts are required to consider applications from DCS where possible outcomes are as follows:-

1. Release of the RD
2. Release and placement on warning,
3. Placement under s62(f): Supervision by a correctional official
4. Reduction of the amount of bail
5. Placement in a secure care facilities
6. Decline to review bail (Unsuccessful application)

The department intends to intensify relationships with the Justice Cluster by participating in the National Efficiency Enhancement Committee (NEEC), Judicial Case Flow structures and the courts to address this challenge.

c) The strategies developed during the two consultative sessions held in November 2021 for all six regions relates to measures to reduce overcrowding. Heads of Centres were encouraged to establish and maintain stakeholder relations by attending District Efficiency Enhancement Committee (DEEC) meetings where issues relating to Case flows are addressed.

END

Reply:

The South African government supports the African Union (AU) Humanitarian Policy Framework which articulates the AU’s stance on humanitarian issues.

The AU adopted the AU Humanitarian Assistance Policy in 2015. It outlines a broad framework and the Continental body’s intent in dealing with humanitarian issues.

The Policy Framework establishes a strategic approach and guidelines in support of the core aims of humanitarian action: to preserve, protect and save lives, alleviate suffering and enhance physical security and human dignity of those in dire need. It also “complements and supports the policies of AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the international community, United Nations (UN) agencies, International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, national and international NGOs and other humanitarian actors and stakeholders”.

.

Reply:

a) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) A loan was made available to Cuba under an Economic Assistance Agreement for agricultural development projects as well as reconstruction of infrastructure.

The loan was divided into two tranches. The first tranche of R63 million was made available in 2018. The Cuban government has fully repaid the loan.

The second tranche of R84 631 000 million was made available in 2021. The Cuban government has been repaying the loan since December 2021.

The total loan to Cuba since 2018 is R147 631 000.

b) The relationship between South Africa and Cuba dates back well before the 1994 democratic elections, and the friendship and solidarity with Cuba should be viewed within the context of the significant contribution that Cuba made to the liberation of South Africa. The South African Government signed an Agreement on Economic Assistance with the Government of the Republic of Cuba on 3 February 2012, entering into force on 21 November 2012. The 2012 Agreement was one of the outcomes of the 2010 State Visit to Cuba by the then South African President. The latter announced that South Africa would offer Cuba an Economic Assistance Package to assist with agricultural development projects as well as reconstruction of infrastructure, following the damage caused by devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean in 2008.

The Economic Assistance Package enhanced economic collaboration with Cuba especially through improved bilateral trade and increased goodwill from the people of Cuba. Through the package exports of South African agricultural products, plastic resins, dump trucks and tires were increased, jobs were created and retained, there was business reinvestment, consumer support to the RSA manufacturing sector, and channels for payment from Cuba were established

 

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department and SOEs as follows:

I have been advised by the SOEs as follows:

a) Department:

i) Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality:

(aa) Water R0.00

(bb) Rates R0.00

(cc) Electricity R0.00

ii) Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality:

(aa) Water R0.00

(bb) Rates R0.00

(cc) Electricity R0.00

iii) Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality:

(aa) Water R0.00

(bb) Rates R0.00

(cc) Electricity R0.00

(b-d) SOEs:

• SAPO has indicated that no amount is owed to any of the mentioned municipalities as at 07 March 2022. All utilities, rates and taxes accounts are paid in full.
• Nemisa indicated that municipal rates and taxes accounts are up to date
• SABC responded that the accounts at the municipalities mentioned were up to date as at 07 March 2022.

Authorised for submission by

 

MS. NONKQUBELA JORDAN-DYANI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL (ACTING)

DATE:

Recommended/not recommended

__________________________

HON. PHILLY MAPULANE, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Approved/ not approved

________________________________

HON. KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

DATE:

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

1. The reply to Parliamentary Question 152 on 7 April 2021, highlighted that the information available from PERSAL, indicated that over 35% of senior managers (SMS) did not have the requisite qualifications for the positions that they occupied. By 31 January 2022, the figure reduced by almost 10% to 25.9%. As it stands, a total of 2412 out of 9309 senior managers do not have their qualifications reflected on PERSAL.

2. 50 departments updated the qualifications of their senior managers on the PERSAL system between 31 October 2021 and 31 January 2022.

3. The DPSA is monitoring the updating of PERSAL data and continues to remind Accounting Officers of the importance of maintaining this information. The current exercise has indicated that there might be SMS members who possess proper qualifications but such are not reflected on the PERSAL system. It is however clear that departments are gradually responding to
Circular HRD0301 to update PERSAL data, therefore further punitive measures might not be needed. It is important to reiterate the fact that the matter of the senior manager’s or other employees’ qualifications be understood within the broader context of the professionalization of the public service efforts that are underway.

End

Reply:

1. (a) (i) (ii) (iii) The hostel environment together with the nomadic nature of occupants have proven to be a difficult task for municipalities as managing agents to keep track of the number of persons occupying units. Illegal invasions together with sub-letting has exacerbated this problem to such an extent that most legal lease holders cannot be found. Provincial departments together with their respective municipalities are only responsible for government-owned rental accommodation and as such are not responsible for private rental accommodation or grey hostels (which include a component of private ownership).

(b)(i) (ii) The following table illustrates the hostels that have been transformed into family units as well as those which have not been refurbished in each metropolitan area:

Province	Metropolitan Area	Number of hostels not refurbished	Number of hostels transformed into family units
Gauteng	Ekurhuleni Metro	20	1
	Johannesburg Metro	14	8
	Tshwane Metro	3	2
Western Cape	City of Cape Town	5	1
KZN	eThekwini Metro	11	9
Free State	Mangaung Metro	No public hostels
Eastern Cape	Buffalo City Metro	No public hostels
	Nelson Mandela Bay Metro	No public hostels

2. Hostels are grouped into three categories only, that is: public, private and grey hostels.

(a) The Department is only responsible for public sector hostels and is currently transforming hostels into family units using the Community Residential Units (CRU) programme. The programme provides grant funding to provinces and municipalities for the upgrading, conversion, or complete redevelopment of existing government owned rental stock, including hostels.

(b) Due to the vast size of hostels and limited budget, all hostel projects are undertaken in phases and planned over a span of 10 to 30 years, therefore it is very difficult to put the exact date for the completion of the transformation of the hostels into family units.

Reply:

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is not aware of any benefits that have accrued to the governing party or to any political organisation as the Department does not have any interface with the governing party or political organisations on these matters.

 

COMPILER DETAILS

NAME AND SURNAME: MR BJ ERASMUS

CONTACT: 012 351 8637

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Minister signs Parliamentary Reply 1666.

 

MR Z DANGOR

DIRECTOR–GENERAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

PARLIAMENTARY REPLY 1666 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.

COMMENT/S

DR GNM PANDOR, MP

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

Reply:

Attached find here: Reply

Reply:

(a) The Minister of Basic Education enquired with the Provincial Education Department in question and recommended an investigation of the case and requested a report of the outcome.

(b) The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is used as the most supreme law of the State to deal with Racism in Schools. As such, a circular is released annually to all schools to encourage the Recital of the Preamble of the Constitution in schools, as a way to inculcate constitutional values and principles. This is coupled with the distribution of Slimline Constitutions, in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD). Furthermore, the National Action Plan to combat Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances led by the DoJ&CD has education-specific activities to guide the sector in addressing racism in schools. 

Within the basic education sector and the schooling community, the South African Schools Act is used as the basis of legislation to deal, among others, with issues of racism in schools. This is coupled with the South African Council of Educators Act and the Employment of Educators Act, which provide guidance on the ethical, non-prejudiced and non-racial conduct of teachers in the classroom and within the school environment. The School Code of Conduct provides for the discipline and ethical conduct of learners in schools.

Reply:

1. It is assumed that the Honorable Member is referring to headmen/women as defined in national legislation. According to information received from provinces, there is currently a total of 6 677 headmen/women in the country.

2. All duly recognised headmen/women are paid by the government. It should however be noted that there is a backlog in the payment of headmen/women in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The province is making arrangements to address the matter.

a) The salaries are determined by the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.

b) A job description was developed and approved by the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. This followed a job grading that informed the level at which headmen/women should be paid.

Reply:

• Queue marshals have been appointed to manage the queues – they identify the most vulnerable like elderly, ill, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to ensure they get assisted first.
• Queue marshals separate queues per speciality i.e.
• UIF has been allocated three queues; first is for new applications and clients who want to register as work seekers on ESSA, second is for enquiries (clients who have applied but the application is not yet finalised) and the third line is for clients coming to sign (clients who are already getting UIF benefits but must report every month to indicate if they are still unemployed as per Unemployment Insurance Act prescripts), another queue is for those who are coming to lodge a labour complaint against their employer and those who are coming to register/enquire an injury/disease on duty.
• Manual applications are taken when the system is offline or when the system is slow. In addition to this, UIF clients who are coming to sign (clients already getting UIF benefits) get listed on a register which gets attended to by the processing office staff to process the UIF payment.
• Encourage online applications and telephonic enquiries where clients have means.
• In cases of Reduced Work Time (RWT), retrenchments and closure of companies a team is sent to the premises of the employer for collection of documents for new applications and this has assisted to reduce the number of clients coming through to lodge UIF claims in our labour centre.

Reply:

The Department of Employment and Labour and its entities found no information connected to the question 1576 of Hon. Marais.

Reply:

The high diesel prices globally are a direct results of the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. The supply of diesel to Europe from Russian Federation has been disrupted as a result of sanctions thus creating a major diesel shortage globally.

The government has intervened by reducing the fuel levy by R1.50 per litre over a period of two months. This intervention came at a cost of R6 billion to the State and benefited both diesel and petrol users.

Reply:

Late in 2020 or early 2021, the Manager for Kokstad Labour Centre received a call from former speaker of Umuziwabantu Local Municipality, Cllr Mzwandile Nyathi requesting the intervention of the Labour Centre) on a complaint of workers who were retrenched by their employer, Dropper Pride without proper adherence to UIF prerequisites.

The Dropper Pride’s owner’s name was Calum and the company was specialising on a forestry sector. He indicated that he had decided to close the company due to financial difficulties and ultimately retrenched the workers.

Guidance was given to him regarding the required documentation to enable his workers to apply for UIF. Consequently, Honourable speaker, Cllr Nyati e-mailed the UI-19 forms with relevant supporting documents of the retrenched workers. Further arrangements were made for workers to deposit their UIF applications in the box next to entrance door of the office as the satellite office within the premises of Department of Home Affairs, in ward 1 of Umuziwabantu Local Municipality was closed due to Covid-19 regulations.

Another alternative given was the official fetching the forms from the clients in the premises of the satellite office

All these options enabled the clients to submit their UIF applications and eventually the clients were helped and received their UIF monies.

The intervention of Kokstad Labour Centre was after the retrenchment has already completed by the Dropper Pride.

Secondly, the Social Distress Grant is a form of relief scheme that administered entirely by South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), in which each beneficiary receives R350.00 if his / her application is successful.

The Department has an MoU with SASSA in which the clients’ database of DEL is shared with SASSA for enabling the effective operations for the grant. The database enables SASSA to see the status of a client in relation to employment / unemployment.

If SASSA system says the client still has UIF money in DEL, the client after he / she has verified with DEL can write a letter or affidavit that disputes that to SASSA in which the latter will process the client’s application for a grant.

In essence, the Social Distress Grant complaints and queries are not supposed to be taken to DEL but to SASSA with appeals if need be.