Questions and Replies

Reply:

Departmental plan to ensure that young persons are ready for the new world and the Republic does not fall further on global scale

On 7 June 2019 the then Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, appointed a

Ministerial Task Team on the Implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Post-School

Education and Training (4IRMTT) (Government Notice No 839 of 2019) to advise on how the Department should respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by the 4IR.

The purpose of the MTT was to investigate the capacity of the PSET system to: contribute to the 4IR; provide / produce skills that are in line with the needs of the 4IR (building capacity for functioning in the 4IR); and embrace the affordances of the 4IR. The MTT Report has since been presented to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, currently two departments within the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation are working together on the implementation of the recommendations arising out of the Ministerial Task Team on Fourth Industrial Revolution for Post-School Education and Training. However, the Department of Higher

Education and Training has been implementing the following initiatives related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution:

1. DHET Partnership with CISCO and HUAWEI - The DHET has partnered with CISCO and HUAWEI to support, in the updating of existing curriculum to align with industry demands in the digital skills area. Under Cisco agreement, at least 300 lecturers are being trained at all 50 TVET Colleges to upgrade their skills in ICT related NC(V) qualifications; under the Huawei agreement, lecturers at 32 TVET colleges are being trained to support the introduction of subjects such as Routing & Switching, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, WLAN, and Security and Cloud Computing.
2. Occupational Programmes aligned to priority sectors of the ERRP - Colleges are also identifying Occupational Programmes that will be introduced for purposes of aligning to the priority sectors as stipulated in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) in Partnership with Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and INDLELA. These will be supported through funding from SETAs and/or the National Skills Fund, guided by research undertaken through the Labour Market Intelligence Partnership (LMIP) and Sector Skills Plans (SPPs), which has highlighted the growing demand for digital and ICT skills across a variety of job roles.
3. Demand led skilling model for the Global Business Services and ICT industries - With support from the Presidential Employment Stimulus to the tune of R100 million, the National Skills Fund is managing the roll out of a demand led skilling model for the Global Business Services and ICT industries. This initiative is expected to be expanded in future years through insourcing funding from other public and private sector funders.
4. Approval and accreditation of programmes - One of the provisions of the ERRP Skills Strategy is to ensure expanded access to short programmes and full qualification required for the economic growth of South Africa. This also demands that quality councils introduce greater flexibility in their approval processes to ensure faster turnaround for timely approval and accreditation of programmes to respond to changes and innovations in ICT related fields, among others.
5. Expanded university enrolments - The university enrolment planning process enables institutions to collectively achieve the goals for the system within the context of system parameters and the government’s priorities. The Department has commenced with its midterm review of the approved 2020 – 2025 university enrolment plans, which will cover the 2023 – 2025 academic years. The review will provide a national picture of enrolments, average annual growth, graduates and further information on national imperatives and priorities for all higher education institutions. This process will culminate in a revised Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for the period 2023 – 2025 to ensure that the country can achieve its objectives for expanding university enrolments within a sustainable financial framework.

Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) priority skills related to 4IR:

Some SETAs, in their Sector Skills Plans (SPPs) have identified Fourth Industrial Revolution occupations as part of their priority skills, such as:

1. Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA)

1.1 As a key change driver 4IR was utilized as a vehicle to prioritize the following occupations in the sector: Industrial Mechanician, Planning Managers (Manufacturing), Processing Unit Managers, Plant Managers (Manufacturing), Engineering Managers,

Agricultural Engineering Technicians, Agricultural Product Processing Engineering

Technologists, Crop Production Mechanization Engineering Technologists, Environmental Protection Professionals and Conservation Scientists. These occupations are directly linked to 4IR where the integration of various technologies assist farmers in increasing efficiencies. The Occupations listed above form part of AgriSETA’ s priority occupations and are prioritised in the 2022/23 financial year through funding of bursaries, Graduate Placement and Learnerships.

2. Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA):

2.1 The SETA developed occupational qualifications on three levels to be registered with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations to address the growing need for formal qualifications related to Cyber Security.

2.2 The SETA allocated funds to re-skill and or upskill employees whose roles may be impacted by automation, artificial intelligence, and the increased need for data analytics.

2.3 There is dedicated funding allocated to IT related skills and some of the programmes funded include Data Management, Cobit 5 and Analysing Data.

2.4 Programmes for unemployed youth on the Kuyasa Learnership include modules in Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure, Microsoft Azure Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals, and Designing and Implementing an Artificial Intelligence Azure Solution.

2.5 A training programme in Cyber Security was implemented and recently the SETA also started to train high school students on skills for the future which include Coding, software programming and data science.

3. Construction Sector Education and Training Authority (CETA)

3.1 The SETA in response to changing world and technologies in the context of 4IR revised its Sector Skills Plan (SSP) to address issues of green technologies and 4IR skills including use robotics and drones in the sector. Emerging skills in this regard are highlighted. The SETA is also planning to review its training material across the board to speak to contemporary skills and innovations in line with the 4IR.

4. The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA)

4.1 The impact of 4IR on the chemicals industry is seeing increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), use of computer systems to perform tasks that would require human intelligence and the following are focal areas in CHIETA Strategic and Performance Planning Process and inter alia also focusing on the youth and rural learners.

4.2 The SETA is currently exploring 4IR opportunities and planning to open CHIETA Innovation Hub by 2025. The Innovation Hub would be dedicated to supporting the growth of very early-stage technology-based businesses in the South African chemicals industry. Learning and digitization of skills development through the virtual/simulated coded welding programme. Various new economy 4IR skill demands on the industry to be supported through the CHIETA Annual Performance Plan (APP).

4.3 As part of Research capacity building for students from previously disadvantaged institutions, the SETA funded the Vaal University of Technology to develop master’s students, through the development of a chitosan membrane for electricity production project, which will be utilised to develop fossil batteries for electric cars and capacitate the students with fourth industrial revolution skills. The University will be working with Pet Industrial, using their facilities for membrane Development.

4.4 Infusing the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) simulated training to extend the reach of CHIETA services and add greater value to learners. Digital training ecosystems.

5. Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA)

5.1 The 4IR Project(s) currently supported by the SETA and nature of support or objectives of the project: Influence of Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence Skills in the Sector. This Research Project is to ensure that the EWSETA has relevant, up-to date data and information with respect to the influence of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence skills in the energy and water sector; and the 4IR Aquatech Accelerator is a sector specific programme that seeks to fast-track sustainable solutions for Africa’s water-energy-food nexus challenges, this is a mentorship driven programme that is designed to identify, develop, support, fund, and up-scale a new generation of 4IR enabled solutions.

5.2 The SETA has partnered with MTN in their Annual MTN APPS Award where it will be leading the development of an Energy and Water Education APP which provides young people the opportunity to not only apply their 4IR skills in developing the APP, but also in interacting and using the winning APP.

5.3 In SETA career guidance interventions, the SETA will start to embed 4IR skills and careers within the energy and water sector, into the awareness and communication roadshows for example: drone technology (used widely in the renewable energy sector).

5.4 The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) has partnered with the 4IR-AquaTech Business Accelerator programme, which aims to capacitate young entrepreneurs with skills through a 6-month mentorship programme designed to identify, develop support, fund and upscale a new generation of 4IR enabled solutions to address the Eastern Cape Province’s pressing food-energy-water nexus challenges. The programme kicked off in June 2021 with a 4IR Aqua-Tech sociotechnical debate and hackathon to focus on the Eastern Cape water crisis.

6. Education, Training & Development Practices Sector Education Training Authority (ETDPSETA)

6.1 The ETDP SETA is supporting its Stakeholders, Constituencies, and the Unemployed persons in acquiring skills in 41R. The following are a few of the programmes implemented:

6.1.1 Unemployed persons: currently 250 unemployed young people have registered with the university of Johannesburg and Southwest College on digital skills programmes, namely, Artificial Intelligence and Computer Programming.

6.1.2 41R Research Chair - the ETDPSETA has partnered with the University of Johannesburg and established a research chair on 41R. The research looked at the processes of programme implementation at identified TVET Colleges, systems, and processes on how to automate TVET systems for effectiveness and incorporation of 41R principles and programmes. The research recommendations were distributed to the TVET colleges for 41R implementation.

6.1.3 41R Centres of Excellence in TVET Colleges - 10 TVET Colleges have received financial support to establish 41R mini laboratories and encouraged to work with the relevant industries for the delivery of programmes. Each TVET has been allocated an initial amount of R4m to commence with the project;

6.1.4 Support for Community Education and Training Colleges (CETs) - an amount of R5.4 has been set aside to support CETs to establish digital learning platforms to benefit students and lecturers;

6.1.5 Department of Basic Education - ETDPSETA has provided financial support to DBE to improve teaching and learning. A TV Channel has been established through this support. Several initiatives are in place to digitise teaching and learning which include training of teachers in coding, robotics and ICT Integration into teaching and learning.

6.1.6 Provision of Laptops and data to the unemployed young people - all unemployed beneficiaries that are supported by the ETDPSETA receive a laptop

and data in addition to the stipends- bursaries, internships, cooperatives development and learnerships and skills programmes.

7. Food & Beverages Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FOODBEV)

7.1 FoodBev SETA held a capacitation workshop in February 2022 with the Theme: Expanding Access to Quality Skills Development programmes in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for the Food and Beverages Manufacturing Sector. The aim of the workshop was to capacitate our stakeholders with technological skills needed in the Food and Beverages Manufacturing Sector.

7.2 The SETA is involved in training and upskilling/reskilling of 200 SMEs on the digital world of small businesses in the sector.

7.3 The SETA is funding towards 10 PhD and 40 Masters Research and Innovation bursaries which respond to 4IR needs in the sector.

8. Fibre Processing & Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP &M SETA)

8.1 The SETA has reviewed occupational qualifications to be registered with Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) ensuring that 4IR skills focusing on digitization and innovation are incorporated in the updated occupational curricula.

8.2 The FP&M SETA has implemented a number of technical & innovative projects in partnership with FP&M SETA employer associations and large employers to address Business Economic Recovery and Reconstruction (ERRP) e.g., National Bargaining Council for Clothing Industries, Printing South Africa, Forestry South Africa, Celrose Clothing, TVET SA and Prestige Clothing to upskill employees. Learnerships & skills programmes focused on automation, digitising design (CAD & CAM) and preproduction processes, use of artificial intelligence, use of additive manufacturing, robotics and coding, entrepreneurship and business coaching and mentoring.

8.3 The FP&M SETA has prioritized Economic Recovery and Reconstruction (ERRP) promoting sector growth, employment retention and sustainability.

8.4 The FP&M SETA funded workshops, skills summit and conferences to support promotion and advocacy of 4IR skills and skills for the digital economy for employees e.g. FP&M SETA Skills Summit - Future Perfect Digital and Innovation skills for business recovery and reconstruction, IPM Conference.

8.5 As per Annual Performance Plan 2022/23, targets were increased for occupational programmes to reskill and upskill workers for job sustainability.

8.6 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) promotes upskilling of workers facing possible retrenchment, in entrepreneurship, 4IR skills and business coaching and mentoring.

8.7 4IR skills incorporated into FP&M SETA priority skills to be promoted in FP&M sector - robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, big data specialists, analytics, Internet of Things, Block Chain, Automation, augmented reality, cyber security, data analysis and cloud computing.

9. Financial and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET)

9.1 The SETA has introduced an indicator in the Annual Performance Plan for 2022/2023

to do digital skills trainings for unemployed youth. The Sector Skills Plan for the sector identified some Information and Communication Technology skills like software development, systems administration. The response from FASSET was to pilot a digital skills programme where FASSET has developed two initiatives: the SETA adopted Microsoft Power Apps as a platform of choice because of the dominance of Microsoft in the desktop space. The platform was also selected because of the low-code requirement and the SETA has allocated around R5m to train 500 leaners in the following areas: Microsoft Office, Microsoft Digital Literacy, Microsoft Digital Literacy for Windows, Microsoft Planner, Microsoft data analytics, Microsoft Power BI, Analysing Data with Power BI.

10. Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA)

10.1 To facilitate effective workplace training and to adequately prepare students with tools to deal with the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” in line with the requirements of the health and welfare sector, the HWSETA in its funding interventions includes special funding that prepares students adequately for the new workplaces.

10.2 To prepare students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the HWSETA incorporates some technical and work readiness skills into the funding model. These include: Work readiness: Resume writing, self-presentation, time management, professionalism, and work etiquette and Technical Skills: Technology-based skills (Beginner, Intermediate or advanced computer programmes). Information technology students/ graduates are funded for coding or computer programming short programmes. These are applying to both employed and unemployed workers.

11. Media Information and Communication Technologies SETA (MICTSETA)

11.1 The MICT SETA has developed an Integrated Digital Skills Strategy (IDSS). This Strategy sets out a structured series of initiatives intended to contribute to the capacities of South Africans to meet the skills gap challenges arising from the increasing deployment and adoption of 4 IR technologies and the impact of these on the world of work, education and broader society.

11.2 To ensure that the South Africa especially the ICT Sector does not fall behind, the implementation of the Integrated Development Strategy has achieved the following:

• Developed a total of 28 4IR qualifications inclusive of full and part qualifications.
• Some of the qualifications have already been submitted to SAQA for final approval;
• Developed qualifications and submitted to QCTO for verification and recommendations to SAQA;
• Qualifications currently under development; and
• Established 4IR Research Chairs in Public Universities.

12. Manufacturing Engineering & Related Services Education and Training Authority (MERSETA)

12.1 The SETA is involved in a number of experiential learning and skills for 4th Industrial Revolution, with various universities such as: Cape Peninsula University of

Technology, Central University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Nelson Mandela University, North-West University, Rhodes University, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Cape Town, University of The Free State, University of the Western Cape, Vaal University of Technology; and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges such as: Vuselela TVET College, Boland TVET College, College of Cape Town, East Cape Midlands TVET College, Ehlanzeni TVET College, Ekurhuleni East TVET College, False Bay TVET College, Vhembe TVET College, Ekurhuleni West TVET College and False Bay TVET College.

13. Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority (PSETA)

13.1 The PSETA has partnered with Microsoft South Africa to provide digital skills programmes to public sector employees. The online platform, Batho Pele Digital Skills enabled by Microsoft Community Training, gives public servants free access to learning content ranging from entry-level digital literacy skills to advanced skills for technical roles. The programmes on the platform are available to the entire public sector, from local, provincial, and national government to the legislative sector, public entities and state-owned entities. The courses offered are basic digital skills and digital literacy and Microsoft office programmes used in the workplace.

13.2 For the unemployed the PSETA has partnered with Microsoft South Africa and its implementing partner Afrika Tikkun Services on the Global Skills Initiative South Africa (GSISA) in rolling out digital skills across the country. PSETA is a strategic partner to the project and supports unemployed learners to access this opportunity and promote the initiative through its networks to ensure that as many unemployed learners as possible have free access to the best resources, to improve knowledge and capabilities.

PSETA has allocated per province a minimum of 2 000 spaces for unemployed South African citizens to participate in this programme.

14. Safety and Security Education and Training Authority (SASSETA)

14.1 For the current workforce, SASSETA offers drone pilot training to the private security and policing subsectors; and electronic case and evidence management (court online, and caselines) training to the Justice and Legal Services subsectors.

14.2 For unemployed youth, SASSETA has awarded R15 million in bursaries to Universities South Africa to assist with the historical debt of students so that they can graduate and enter the economy; and R3 million to the University of the Witwatersrand to assist with the registration of new students. The target for both interventions is ‘missing middle’ students who are studying in the 4IR fields that are relevant to SASSETA and in terms of the Occupations listed in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. Examples of this are ICT Systems Analyst; ICT Security Specialists and Computer

Network and Systems Engineers; Software Developer, Programmer Analyst, Developer Programme, and ICT Project Manager.

15. Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA).

15.1 To understand the Transport Sector’s 4IR skills needs and occupations that are affected by the emerging technology and might require re-skilling and upskilling; TETA has commissioned a research study on the Impact of 4IR on the sector. The research study is aimed at identifying 4IR skills sets for all 8 sub-sectors in the transport sector. To ensure that the transport sector workforce is upskilled and reskilled; and that the unemployed receive training that will increase their employability, partnerships will be formed with institutions in the post school system to include the 4IR skills and occupations in curriculum. TETA entered a partnership with Stellenbosch University and Tshwane University of Technology to develop training programmes that will address the 4IR skills needs in the industry. Part of these projects include training the employed in the industry and unemployed on the developed 4IR training programmes.

The TETA is also funding projects to provide training for drone pilots to respond to the need of drones across all sectors of the economy.

15.2 The SETA is also funding unemployed learners on drone pilot training.

16. Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W &RSETA)

16.1 In line with the Annual Performance Plan (APP), the W&RSETA is providing bursaries to the unemployed youth within the sector in the following 4th IR related occupations: Software Developer; Business Analysts and Computer network engineer; Systems engineer; Data Analyst; System Architect; Data Scientist; Programming; Cyber security, and Mobile Application Designer.

17. Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA)

17.1 The Services SETA conducted research studies to understand the impact of 4IR on the services sector workforce. Findings of these have informed the update of the Sector Skills Plan 2022/23 and the Annual Performance Plan 2022/23 targets. To respond to these challenges the Services SETA has prioritised capacity to supply, focused on development of occupational qualifications and short skills programmes to address skills scarcity and to offer the current workforce that may face redundancy due to 4IR second opportunities.

17.2 The following short skills programmes have been finalised and registered with the QCTO: Spatial Intelligence Data Scientist and Advanced Spatial Intelligence Data Scientist.

17.3 The Services SETA Sector Skills Plan 2022/23 prioritises ERRP Skills Strategy with a specific on digital skills (4IR) and the Annual Performance Plan 2022/23 will prioritise these digital skills through short Skills Programmes, Learnerships, Internships and Bursaries among others such as: Data Centre Operations; Data Analysis; Data Science; Internet of Things; Cybersecurity and Digital Marketing. 

Reply:

According to the North West Provincial Department of Social Development, there are no records of ECD facilities that belong to social workers. Instead, social workers are employed by the Department to provide monitoring and oversight to ECD facilities to ensure compliance with norms and standards as per the provision of the Children’s Act.

Reply:

(a) The Department appointed contract employees after having identified a need for such employees in a number of Sub-Programmes.The Department then undertook a process to create posts on the Organizational Structure, in line with the identified need. Upon approval of the new Organizational Structure, the Department then advertised a number of posts, including a level 7 post in terms of Customer Care.

(b) The Department informed all Contract Employees that their contracts will not be renewed upon expiration date as the Department intended to advertise such posts. The person in question was advised to apply like all other Contract Employees. The person in question indicated that she is not interested in a Salary Level 7 post, which was the level of the post she occupied all along. The person in question declined the offer in writing to apply. She therefore forfeited the right to lay claim to the post or any other post because she conscientiously opted to not apply, consequently she terminated her own service in this regard as she denied herself the opportunity to be appointed permanently through the normal recruitment processes prescribed by law.

Reply:

Name of University	(1) Ratio of NSFAS to non-NSFAS students in campus accommodations	(2) What is the total number of beds (a) at each higher education institution and (b) reserved for NSFAS students
Cape Peninsula University of Technology	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 54% and 46% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 12 798. (b) At least 8335 beds are occupied by NSFAS students (this is based on data compiled from prior years and the current year)
University of Cape Town	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 65% and 35% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 7870 (6888 UCT owned and 982 Leased). (b) UCT does not reserve spaces for NSFAS students but UCT prioritises NSFAS students for on-campus residence accommodation.
Central University of Technology	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 96% and 4% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 1 139 (890 Bloemfontein campus; 249 Welkom campus).   (b) Students are placed on first come first serve principle, thus no beds are reserved for students.
Durban University of Technology	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 96% and 4% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 14 697. (b) 14 097 occupied spaces on residences for NSFAS students. 14161 are in residences, representing 74% residence uptake of this cohort. This translates into 96% of the total number in residence (14697) the remaining 4% (536) representing self-payers who are non-NSFAS.
University of Fort Hare	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 68.8% and 32,2% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 10 002 total beds (Alice Campus: 6024 University-owned and East London Campus: 3978 University-leased).   (b) UFH does not reserve spaces for NSFAS funded students. A residence admission policy is used for placement. Students are placed according to their academic performance and affordability.
University of the Free State	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 76% and 24% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 6 692 capacity for on-campus accommodation (Bloemfontein Campus: 4 418; QwaQwa Campus: 1 496 and South Campus: 778). (b) The university has a placement and renewal policy which governs the process of placement of students in the residences. Notwithstanding very strict adherence to the policies, 5 115 NSFAS students are accommodated in on-campus accommodation (represents 76% of the total capacity).
University of Johannesburg	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 40% and 60% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 7 188. (b) 2 541 are allocated to NSFAS funded students.
University of Kwazulu-Natal	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 76% and 24% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 20 004. (b) 15 203 are allocated to NSFAS funded students.
University of Limpopo	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 65% and 35% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) 7 326 beds for students on campus. (b) Residence admission and registration is dependent upon the Residence Admission Policy (Approved).  Application and Academic Performance are the main prerequisite for a student to qualify for accommodation. No reservation is done on the basis of NSFAS and or other Funding/Sponsor.
Mangosuthu University of Technology	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 87% and 13% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 1416 MUT owned residence (622 university owned beds are reserved for first year NSFAS funded students and 794 are non-NSFAS. A further 8581 beds are in leased accommodation (8150 are NSFAS funded and 431 are non-NSFAS). (b) 622 on campus/university owned is reserved for first year NSFAS funded students. Placement in leased accommodation is done on preference basis, either NSFAS or Non-NSFAS funded.
University of Mpumalanga	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 58.8% and 41.2% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds on campus is 1353 beds. Accredited Private Accommodation is 6467 beds. (b) We do not have beds reserved specifically for NSFAS students. Beds are allocated on the basis of the University Housing Policy which does not give preference to NSFAS students.
Nelson Mandela University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 85% and 15% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 4 298 (PE and George). (b) There is no bed reservation for specific categories of students except that first preference is given to out of town students.
North-West University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 59% and 41% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 11 319. (b) 6 454 occupied spaces on residences for NSFAS students. NWU beds are not reserved on the basis of the funding ability of a student but based on academic performance first, within the scope of the diversity targets of the institution.
University of Pretoria	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 37% and 63% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 7 027. (b) 35% (2 251) occupied spaces on residences are reserved for NSFAS students.
Rhodes University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 63% and 27% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 3 683 of which 2 324(63%) are occupied by NSFAS funded students. (b) NSFAS funded students are prioritised for campus accommodation
Sefako Makgatho University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 57.3% and 42.7% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has a total student accommodation capacity of 5015. (b) SMU does not have specified beds that are reserved for NSFAS student as the majority of our students are NSFAS sponsored. However, 2,877 NSFAS sponsored students are occupying the campus accommodation.
Sol Plaatje University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 75% and 25% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 1 812 (1 365 allocated to NSFAS funded and 447 non-NSFAS students). (b) A further 740 beds are allocated at University accredited accommodation (612 allocated to NSFAS funded and 128 non-NSFAS students).
University of South Africa	Non-residential	Non-residential
Stellenbosch University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 30% and 70% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 7 667. (b) 30% occupied spaces on residences for NSFAS (first year) students. 2 190 students to 5 406 non-NSFAS students = 7 596 students placed in campus accommodation as at 31 March 2022.
Tshwane University of Technology	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 80% and 20% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 7 248 (7 248 are TUT owned and 5 798 of these occupied by NSFAS funded students and 1 450 by non-NSFAS students). A further 4 766 beds are in University leased accommodation and occupied specifically by NSFAS funded students: 98.8% versus 1.2%).  (b) Spaces available in University owned accommodation is not reserved for NSFAS students. All applicants, whether self-funded or NSFAS-funded may register on a first-come-first-served basis. TUT also has 9 781 beds in accredited accommodation and all 9 781 beds are fully occupied by NSFAS funded students.
Vaal University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 78% and 22% for non-NSFAS	(a) Total number of beds is 4 731 (currently 4 088 beds are occupied and 643 under renovation). (b) 90% reserved for NSFAS funded students.
University of Venda	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 81% and 19 for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 9 776 (3 317 on campus University owned and 6 459 beds off-campus accredited residences).  (b) We do not reserve accommodation for NSFAS students, however we are aware that about 75% of our students are NSFAS funded.
Walter Sisulu University	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 95% and 5% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 21 000 (5000 WSU owned and 16 100 leased). (b) Total beds for NSFAS funded students 18 854.
University of the Western Cape	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 70% and 30% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 3302. (b) 75% occupied spaces on residences for NSFAS students.
University of the Witwatersrand	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 55.2% and 44.8% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 6 508 for university owned and leased (3 596 occupied by NSFAS funded students). (b) Wits does not reserve beds specifically for NSFAS-funded students. All NSFAS-funded students who apply for Wits accommodation and meet requirements get assistance. (Wits reserves through policy 50% (47% in 2022) of all residence beds for first year students).
University of Zululand	Ratio of NSFAS funded students is 78.7% and 21.3% for non-NSFAS students.	(a) Total number of beds is 5 324 (4 195 occupied by NSFAS funded students and non-NSFAS 1129) (b) The beds are generally reserved for funded students, so the non-NSFAS would be mainly for students funded by other funders.

Reply:

The Honourable Member is advised to refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question 122 on the same subject.

Reply:

The Department is providing psychosocial support to orphaned and child – headed households through the following community-based services :

• Food and Nutrition: The Child and Youth Care Workers provides a safety net for children within their communities and where they can access food when the food provision in their families is insecure or where the children are at risk of stunting and malnutrition. This service thus improve the children’s food security & nutrition intake by ensuring access to community nutrition opportunities (cooked meals, food parcels, and food vouchers).
• Educational Support: This support is aimed at increasing access to and attendance of schools through for example, supporting children to overcome obstacles to attendance – such as lack of school uniform, transport, lack of parental support for schooling and to support children in their educational performance. Furthermore, children are assisted to develop post-matric plans and to access tertiary education.
• Economic strengthening: The service aims at supporting and increasing the economic base of households through facilitating access to social security grants, entrepreneurial and other economic strengthening activities.
• Health promotion: This service is aimed at empowering children and adolescents to access health care services consistently. Improve children’s health through better access to health care, promote and support access to sexual reproductive health services for girls and boys, and the early identification and support to children with disabilities, promote and support good water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) habits.
• HIV and AIDS services: The services are aimed at reducing children’s risk of contracting HIV by improved HIV awareness and sexuality education, promoting known HIV status of children, support ART uptake and adherence and mitigating sexual and substance risk-taking behaviour of adolescents.
• Social behaviour change groups: The children are referred to these programmes which are aimed at promoting positive life changes. The groups such as YOLO, Chommy, Family matters, counselling sessions and loss and Grief Support.

If further intervention is required, these target groups are being referred to the Social Workers for by Child and Youth Care Workers for further assistance.

Reply:

(a) The total number of national adoptions from the period of 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022 is 1634.

(b) Figures of inter-country adoptions from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022 are 174.

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In the wake of the July 2021 civil unrest, I appointed an Expert Panel to critically review the security services’ handling of those events. Among other things, the panel recommended the appointment of suitable persons into the leadership of the security services.

On 25 February 2022, I announced the termination, by mututal agreement, of the contract of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla Sitole with effect from 31 March 2022.

On 28 February 2022, I announced the appointment of Ambassador Thembisile Majola as the Director-General of the State Security Agency with effect from 1 March 2022.

On 31 March 2022, I announced the appointment of General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola as the new National Commissioner of the South African Police Service.

Reply:

No. I have received correspondence from the leaders of political parties represented in Parliament and the Judicial Service Commission, as required by the Constitution.

Section 174(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, requires the President as the head of the national executive, after consulting leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly and the Judicial Service Commission, to appoint the Chief Justice.

For the purpose of promoting transparency and encouraging public participation, I invited the public to nominate suitable persons to be considered for the appointment as Chief Justice. I appointed a Panel of eminent persons with relevant experience to shortlist candidates from the list of nominees.

As required by the provisions of the Constitution, I have consulted the leaders of the political parties represented in the National Assembly and the Judicial Service Commission on the candidates I identified from the shortlist for the appointment of the Chief Justice. This process has been concluded as I have received the responses from the political parties’ leaders and the Judicial Service Commission.

Reply:

No request was received from Minister Mbalula for permission to travel to Ukraine.

 

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a) Particulars of the members of the CRL Selection Panel are as follows:

NAME	INTEREST GROUP	CAPACITY
Professor Sihawukele Ngubane	Academic (Language)	Chairperson
Hosi Nwamitwa II	Traditional Leadership Sector	Member
Dr Wally Mongane Serote	Culture and African Religion	Member
Mr Ashwin Trikamjee	Religious Communities (Hindu)	Member
Ms Marlene Bethlehem	Religious Communities (Jewish)	Member
Father Tseko Rakeketsi	Religious Communities (Christian)	Member
Ms Marah Louw*	Culture (Artistic Communities)	Member

B) In terms of section 9 of the CRL Rights Act, the President appoints the chairperson and no fewer than eleven (11) and not more than seventeen (17) persons as members. Persons recommended to the President by the CRL Selection Panel for appointment as members of the CRL Commission in terms of section 11(3)(d) are listed below:

NAME & SURNAME	CATEGORY
1. Prof. Luka David Mosoma	Religion
2. Ms Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva	Culture
3. Ms Sheila Khama	African Religion (Traditional healer)
4. Ms Tsholofelo Mosala	Youth/Culture
5. Mr Sicelo Emmanuel Dlamini	Language (Persons with disability)
6. Dr Oscarine Nokuzula Mdende	African Religion (Traditional Healer)
7. Prof. Pitika Ntuli	Religion (SACC)
8. Dr Sylvia Mmamohapi Pheto	Tradition
9. Dr John Mphaphuli	Religion
10. Rasta Sipho Mantula	Religion (Rastafarian)
11. Mr Mxolisi Eshwell Zwane	Language
12. Dr Muneer Abduroaf	Religion (Muslim)
13. Rev. Micah Mhlupheki Nthali	Religion
14. Mr Phumlani Victor Mzobe	Youth/Culture
15. Ms Nomalanga Tyamzashe	Culture
16. Ms Ramokone Tryphina Kgatla	Language
17. Adv Richard Botha	Culture
18. Dr Leshabela Herbert Maduane	Culture & Language (Academic)
19. Dr Johannes Gogome Tshifularo	Tradition
20. Mr Mandla Langa	Culture
21. Inkosi Sydney Xolile Ndevu	Tradition
22. Mr Renier Schoeman	Religion

* Ms Marah Louw did not participate in the process due to ill health.

Reply:

Mechanisms are in place that address the grievances of Directors-General.

Section 35 of the Public Service Act, 1994, as amended, provides for procedures in respect of grievances of employees in the Public Service, including Heads of Department.

Subject to the above, grievances of Heads of Department are handled in terms of Chapter 10 of the Senior Management Services (SMS) Handbook. This specifies the procedural stages to address the grievance of a head of department either to the relevant executive authoirty or the Public Service Commission directly.

Reply:

The Red Tape Reduction Team (RTRT) has a mandate to identify priority reforms and work with other departments and agencies to simplify regulatory processes and unblock specific obstacles to investment and business growth. This is aligned to government’s commitment in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to “reduc[e] the cost of doing business…[through] regulatory changes that seek to optimise the regulatory environment”.

This includes what is often referred to as “cutting red tape”, namely the removal of unnecessary or excessively complicated regulations and inefficient administrative processes which not only create frustration but increase compliance costs, especially for smaller businesses and entrepreneurs.

The RTRT will work with and build on existing programmes to improve the business environment, in particular those run by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Department of Small Business Development.

Being based in the Presidency, the RTRT will take a whole-of-government approach to addressing some of the challenges faced, including working with sub-national spheres of government. The RTRT will accordingly play a supporting and coordinating role within government.

The terms of reference are being finalised, and will reflect the mandate described above.

Reply:

The appointment of members of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission) is regulated in terms of the Commission on Cultural, Linguistic and Religious Communities Act, Act 19 of 2002 (“the Act”).

As required by section 11(4) of the Act, the members of the Commission that I appointed on 7 June 2019 were from the names submitted to me by the Selection Panel.

The following persons were appointed by the Minister of Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) as members of the Selection Panel in terms of Section 11(1)(d) of the Act:

1. Professor Sihawukele Ngubane (Chairperson)
2. Hosi Nwamitwa II
3. Dr Wally Mongane Serote
4. Mr Ashwin Trikamjee
5. Mr Marlene Bethlehem
6. Father Tseko Rakeketsi
7. Ms Marah Louw (Did not participate in the process due to ill health)

The Selection Panel, after concluding the interviews, submitted a list of 22 persons. According to Section 9(1) of the Act, the Commission consists of a Chairperson appointed by the President and no fewer than 11 and no more than 17 other members appointed by the President. After consideration of the list of the names provided by the Selection Panel, I appointed the current 13 members of the CRL Commission:

1. Prof Luka David Mosoma
2. Ms Sheila Khama
3. Ms Tsholofelo Mosala
4. Mr Sicelo Emmanuel Dlamini
5. Dr Oscarine Nokuzula Mdende
6. Prof Pitika Ntuli
7. Dr Sylvia Mmamohapi Pheto
8. Dr Muneer Abduroaf
9. Ms Nomalanga Tyamzashe
10. Ms Ramokone Tryphina Kgatla
11. Adv Richard Botha
12. Mr Mandla Langa
13. Mr Renier Schoeman

Reply:

The introduction of lifestyle audits for Members of the Executive has taken far longer than originally anticipated. While we have begun with lifestyle audits for senior public servants, it is important that we extend this practice to Members of the Executive.

Much work has been done on the approach and methodology to lifestyle audits of Members of the Executive. However, the finalisation of this work is being held in abeyance pending the submission of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. This is so that any additional measures required to strengthen Executive accountability and conduct can be considered holistically.

Reply:

No such correspondence was received.

Reply:

The President of the Republic has not entered into any agreements with any vaccine manufacturers. Such agreements are entered into by the relevant line department.

Reply:

I have not expressed dismay at anything the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation has done in fulfilment of her mandate.

2. South Africa’s position on the conflict in Ukraine has been articulated on several occasions, most recently in my response to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly on 17 March 2022, where I stated the following:

“The international community needs to work together to achieve a cessation of hostilities and to prevent further loss of life and displacement of civilians in Ukraine. It needs to support meaningful dialogue towards a lasting and meaningful peace, which ensures the security and stability of all nations.

“As a country, we are committed to the articles of the United Nations Charter, including the principle that all members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means. We support the principle that members should refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of other states.

"That is why, at the UN General Assembly Emergency Special Session, South Africa strongly urged all sides to uphold international law, including humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty as well.

“While there are people within our country and elsewhere that want South Africa to adopt a more adversarial position, our position seeks to contribute to the creation of conditions that make the achievement of a durable resolution of the conflict possible.

“Our approach is informed by an analysis of the causes of this conflict. This includes a view shared by many leading scholars, politicians and other people, that the war could have been avoided if NATO had heeded the warnings from among its own leaders and officials over the years that its eastward expansion would lead to greater, not less, instability in the region.

“While it is important to understand and articulate the causes of the conflict, and advocate for peace building measures, we cannot condone the use of force or violation of international law.

“We also need to recognise that coercive measures, such as sanctions outside of the legal prescripts of the United Nations, may serve to prolong and intensify the conflict.”

3. Many countries have diplomatic representation in South Africa. It is the practice of our government that when a diplomatic mission is hosting a key event, a Minister is assigned to represent our government.

This applies to all countries represented in South Africa. South Africa will continue with this diplomatic practice, which all diplomatic missions expect. The assignment of Ministers to these events is coordinated by State Protocol. This practice is also extended in all our diplomatic missions abroad when they are hosting such events.

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(i) Ministry	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22
a) Catering	0.00	0.00	0.00
b) Accommodation	332,786.78	0.00	0.00
c) Entertainment	0.00	0.00	0.00
(ii) Deputy Minister
a. Catering	0.00	0.00	0.00
b. Accommodation	514,163.56	40,843.43	179,559.59
c. Entertainment	0.00	0.00	0.00
(iii) Official of his department
a. Catering	140,637.33	60,205.34	37,312.53
b. Accommodation	2,877,798.90	349,562.74	600,764.83
c. Entertainment	0.00	0.00	949.00

Reply:

1. Reporting of jobs created and maintained by a respective financial Intermediary is furnished by the Financial Intermediary through capturing such information on the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) Intermediary portal. The legal agreement between the sefa and the financial Intermediaries requires the financial Intermediaries to have supporting documents to support their developmental information (such as, application forms, FICA documents and signed contractual agreement between SMME and the Financial Intermediary) for verification by sefa and its external auditors.

The information is captured, verified and approved by the respective financial Intermediary before sefa authorises it on the system. It is therefore the Intermediary’s responsibility to ensure that correct and reliable information is shared with sefa

2. sefa has not picked up any inaccurate financial reports nor a claim or complaint of such that could have required intervention. sefa hereby confirms that the said financial Intermediary has repaid the facility in full, both Capital and Interest advanced under the agreement. The last payment received was on 12 October 2020. The relationship between sefa and the financial Intermediary ended when the loan was fully amortised.

STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS

MINISTER: SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

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In responding to the Report of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development developed the National Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation Policy (Annexure A) which was subsequently approved by Cabinet.

The Policy aims, amongst other things, to achieve the following:

• Provide a uniform, fair, credible and transparent process and criteria for the selection of beneficiaries for land allocation or leasing of state properties by:

• Establishing independent Beneficiary Selection Land Allocation panels to preside over the selection of suitable candidates for land allocation;
• Implementing a standardised national on-line land application system to ensure a fair and transparent process of beneficiary selection and the rationing of resources; and
• Creating a land application register for potential beneficiaries of land allocation.

• Ensure qualified, suitable and deserving candidates gain access to land on an equitable basis and that the selected beneficiaries have the appropriate skills and capacity to optimally utilise state properties.
• Ensure that special target groups of land reform beneficiaries (as outlined in the Policy) have access to land for purposes of agricultural production.
• To give effect to these controls, an on-line land allocation system has been developed. The system has a clearly define automated qualifying criteria through which the beneficiary selection must pass.

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Yes, the non-payment of leases by farmers due to lack of post settlement support is partially correct. However, there are other reasons listed below, which the Department is trying to address:

• non-availability of lease agreements has resulted to some extent, in farmers not paying rentals;
• there has been a culture of non-payment from some of the farmers, despite having received post settlement support;
• farmers were incorrectly categorised as 1 and 2 instead of Category 3; according to the State Land Lease and Disposal Policy (SLLDP), Categories 1 and 2 are not required to pay rental, only Category 3;

In order to correct, this situation the Department has embarked on the following actions:

• when the land development support implementation manual was revised, a condition to force farmers to have valid signed lease agreements was included to ensure that there is a legal contract in place to deal with non-paying farmers;
• the process of making sure that all farmers have valid signed lease agreements is underway;
• when farmers are provided with land development support, their categorisation is confirmed and if it is not category 3, the process to correct this is undertaken;
• review and alignment of the SLLDP with other Departmental policies is also paramount in dealing with this matter and other issues, and is expected to commence in the 2022/23 financial year; and
• as the officials conduct site visits to farmers who have received land development support, the latter are encouraged to pay their rental, since this money will assist in expanding the support to other farmers who are still awaiting development support.

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The expenditure on catering and entertainment relates to amounts incurred on refreshments for Departmental conferences, workshops, indabas, courses, forums, recruitment interviews, training sessions, hearings and management meetings. The amounts for catering in 2019/20 financial year was for external stakeholder meetings during the pre-Covid19 period.

The entertainment expenditure is for luncheon meetings held with colleagues, foreign delegations and/or other individuals from within or outside the public sector including dinner for meetings that go into late afternoon and evening.

The accommodation expenditure is for official trips, namely, domestic and international. These trips are to attend conferences, parliament briefings, bilateral meetings, visits to offices and for border deployment of officials to borderlines during festive/ Easter periods

The total amounts, in Rands, that have been spent on the following items since 01 April 2019 to 18 March 2022 are;

a)

CATERING	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22
(i) Minister	R5 000	R0	R0
(ii) Deputy Minister	R0	R0	R0
(iii) Departmental	R1 904 427	R653 146	R569 386

b)
ENTERTAINMENT	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22
(i) Minister	R30 565	R36 182	R15 342
(ii) Deputy Minister	R7 831	R3 927	R0
(iii) Department	R137 483	R48 046	R56 513
c)
ACCOMMODATION	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22
(i) Minister	R987 411	R43 526	R200 525
(ii) Deputy Minister	R1 016 343	R582 630	R873 683
(ii) Department	R68 125 806	R28 414 197	R45 386 791

END

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Yes, Mr. Classen was indeed in the farm on the joint venture arrangement known to the Department. Recently the relationship between the two parties has deteriorated and to that extent the department served Mr Classen with the eviction letter signed on the 1st of February 2022 whilst on the other hand the lessee has taken this matter to court.

In order to assist black farmers, the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development is using the policy and the condition stipulated in the lease agreement to ensure that farmers do not enter into any partnership without the consent of the Department. This is to ensure that any relationship that will be establish with anyone is fair and non-exploitive.

Paragraph 5.7 of the State Land Lease and Disposal Policy makes provision that “The Lessee shall utilise the Farm in line with standard farming practices and may not deviate there from substantially without the prior written consent of the Lessor, who shall exercise this discretion taking into account prevailing agricultural and business conditions”.

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The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

a) I’ve been informed by the Department that out of the six Councils for the built environment professions, only two of them have the positions of President of Council being vacant. That is the Engineering Council of South Africa (ESCA) and the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP).

The SACLAP Council has just been appointed and will have its first meeting during the month of April 2022. The Council members will then be able to elect the President and Vice-President of the Council.

ECSA is yet to decide on who will be elected as President, to replace the late Mr Lebea.

All the Acts of Parliament establishing the six Councils provide for the election of the Presidents by the Council members themselves.

b) As indicated above no officials are implicated as the filling of the positions of the President of a Council is the domain of the Councils themselves.

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