Questions and Replies
29 April 2022 - NW651
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with the details of the communal areas in (a) the Eastern Cape and (b) Limpopo in terms of the (i) number of dipping tanks for sheep and cattle, (ii) districts and/or areas where they are located, (iii) distances that the animals travel to reach the dipping facilities, (iv) details of the dipping committees and (v) frequencies of dipping in the past 10 years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(a) Eastern Cape Province
(i) 1 555 dipping tanks for cattle. There are no dipping tanks for sheep.
(ii)-(v) Refer to Table 1 below.
(b) Limpopo Province
(i) 1 466 dipping tanks for cattle. There are no dipping tanks for sheep.
(ii)-(v) Refer to Table 2 below.
TABLE 1: EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Categories |
(i) Number of Dipping Tanks |
(ii) District |
Local |
Village |
(iii) Distances that the animals travel to reach the dipping facilities |
(iv) Details of the dipping committees |
(v) Frequencies of dipping in the past 10 years; |
Sheep |
The sheep dipping tanks are not part of the EC Provincial Veterinary Services. The government intervention on sheep is in terms of sheep scab treatments to improve the quality and quantity of the wool clip. |
||||||
Cattle |
40 |
Alfred Nzo |
Ntabankulu |
19 wards |
2 to 4 km |
All dipping committees are functional. 1 per dipping tank, 4 per LM and 1 per district. |
Mbizana: dips weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. Rest: fortnightly in summer and monthly in winter. |
56 |
Mbizana |
32 wards |
|||||
71 |
Mzimvubu |
28 wards |
|||||
69 |
Matatiele |
27 wards |
|||||
236 |
Total |
||||||
113 |
Amathole |
Mbashe |
1 to 5 km |
Not all dipping committees are functional, approximately 70% are functional. |
Raymond Mhlaba is inland: dips monthly in winter and fortnightly in summer. The rest are coastal: dips weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. |
||
23 |
Buffalo City |
||||||
9 |
Ngqushwa |
||||||
107 |
Mnquma |
||||||
2 |
Mahlathi |
||||||
23 |
Raymond Mhlaba |
||||||
277 |
Total |
||||||
66 |
Chris Hani |
Intsikayethu |
1 to 5 km |
95% of the dipping committees are functional. |
All are inland: the dipping is done once a month in winter and twice a month in summer. |
||
68 |
Ngcobo |
||||||
53 |
Emalahleni |
||||||
44 |
Sakhisizwe |
||||||
37 |
Inxuba Yethemba |
||||||
116 |
Enoch Mgijima |
||||||
384 |
Total |
||||||
37 |
Joe Gqabi |
Senqu |
500m-1.5km |
Dipping committees are functional |
All are inland: the dipping is done once a month in winter and twice a month in summer. |
||
140 |
Elundini |
100m-5km |
|||||
63 |
Walter Sisulu |
100m-5km |
|||||
240 |
Total |
||||||
61 |
O.R. Tambo |
Ingquza Hill |
31 wards and 61 villages with dipping tanks |
3-5 km |
95% of the dipping committees are functional. |
The whole municipality is treated as coastal. Dipping happens weekly in summer months and twice a month in winter months. |
|
101 |
KSD |
35 wards, 102 villages |
3 to 5 km |
95% have functional dipping committees and others have community animal health workers. |
Mqanduli area of KSD: In summer, dipping is done weekly for all the villages along the coast and in winter fortnightly. All KSD: (Mthatha and Mqanduli, the inland area, the dipping is done once a month in winter and twice a month in summer. |
||
82 |
Nyandeni |
31 wards and 82 villages with dipping tanks |
3-5 km |
98 % functional dipping committees. This is the one of the municipalities without community animal health workers. |
Ngqeleni and Libode Coastal area: these areas are dipped every week in summer months and twice a month in winter months. Nyandeni inland: the dipping is done fortnightly in summer months and once a month in winter months. |
||
40 |
Port St Johns |
20 wards and 40 villages with dipping tanks. |
3-5 km |
66% functional dipping committees. There are no community animal health workers in the municipality. |
The whole municipality is treated as coastal. Dipping happens weekly in summer months and twice a month in winter months. |
||
88 |
Mhlontlo |
26 wards and 88 villages with dipping tanks. |
3-5 km |
88 % have dipping committees. Others have fully employed community animal health workers. |
The whole local municipality is regarded as inland. The dipping is twice a month in summer months and once a month or even suspended in winter months. The suspension all depends on the weather. |
||
392 |
Total |
||||||
7 |
Sarah Baartman |
Kouga |
1 to 5 km |
Functional dipping committees or farmers representatives in all areas. |
Dr Beyer’s Naude is in Land: monthly in winter and fortnightly in summer. Rest of the areas are coastal: dips weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. |
||
17 |
Koukamma |
||||||
46 |
Nelson Mandela Bay |
||||||
10 |
Sunday’s River Valley |
||||||
36 |
Dr Beyer’s Naude |
||||||
42 |
Makana |
||||||
22 |
Ndlambe |
||||||
6 |
Blue Crane Route |
||||||
179 |
Total |
||||||
1 555 |
Grand Total |
NB: The above list includes dipping tanks and handling facilities for spray dipping and/or pour-ons. The State provides the acaricide in all of them.
TABLE 2: LIMPOPO PROVINCE
Categories |
(i) Number of Dipping Tanks |
(ii) Districts |
Local Municipality |
Village |
(iii) Distances that the animals travel to reach the dipping facilities |
(iv) Details of the dipping committees |
(v) Frequencies of dipping in the past 10 years. |
Sheep |
NONE |
|
|||||
Cattle |
230 |
Mopani |
Letaba |
52 villages |
Overall average of 1-6km |
Dipping committees are functional and composed of cattle farmers. |
Weekly in villages around the Kruger National Park. Frequency increased during the Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Every 28 days in communal areas. |
Tzaneen |
41 villages |
||||||
Baphalaborwa |
15 villages |
||||||
Maruleng |
48 villages |
||||||
Giyani |
74 villages |
||||||
Cattle |
223 |
Vhembe |
Musina |
56 villages |
Overall average of 1-6km |
All dipping committees are functional and composed of cattle farmers. |
Weekly in villages around the Kruger National Park. Frequency increased during the Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Every 28 days in communal areas. |
Makhado |
68 villages |
||||||
Collins Chabane |
54 villages |
||||||
Thulamela |
45 villages |
||||||
Cattle |
331 |
Sekhukhune |
Makhuduthamakga |
104 villages |
Overall average of 1-6km |
All dipping committees are functional and composed of cattle farmers. |
Weekly and frequency increased during Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Every 28 days in communal areas. |
Elias Motsoaledi |
40 villages |
||||||
Ephraim Mogale |
51 villages |
||||||
Fetakgomo-tubatse |
136 villages |
||||||
Cattle |
223 |
Waterberg |
Modimolle-mookgophong |
41 villages |
Overall average of 1-6km |
All dipping committees are functional and composed of cattle farmers.
|
Weekly and frequency increased during Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Every 28 days in communal areas. |
Mogalakwena |
117 villages |
||||||
Lephalale |
41 villages |
||||||
Bela-Bela |
11 villages |
||||||
Thabazimbi |
13 villages |
||||||
Cattle |
417 |
Capricorn |
Molemole |
32 villages |
Overall average-1-6km |
All dipping committees are functional and compose of cattle farmers. |
Weekly and frequency increased during Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Every 28 days in communal areas. |
Lepelle Nkumpi |
89 villages |
||||||
Blouberg |
104 villages |
||||||
Polokwane |
192 villages |
29 April 2022 - NW708
Phiri, Ms CM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(1) In light of the fact that the Government has provided funds to Mango’s business rescue and yet the finalisation of the process has not yet been concluded, on what date is it envisaged that the business rescue process will be concluded; (2) whether the rescue plan is intended to find the buyer and/or the investor for the airline; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The business rescue process is at an advanced stage. The Department has transferred the last tranche of R399 million from the total of R819 million that was allocated to the airline for restructuring purposes. The last tranche was transferred on 28 March 2022 on conditions that not only should the business rescue process be completed around the end of April 2022 but that a viable strategic equity partner for Mango is identified that has financial capacity to fund the airline after it exits the business rescue process.
2. The process of identifying a suitable Strategic Equity Partner (SEP) for Mango is part of the conditions for transfer of the last tranche of R399 million as indicated above. The process which was initiated on 2 December 2021 is expected to be finalised in the next few months.
29 April 2022 - NW1019
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What (a) action is his department taking to curb the smuggling of goods and contraband into prisons and (b) number of officials who are implicated in the cases have been (i) officially dismissed and (ii) prosecuted in the past two years?
Reply:
a) The following are the key actions towards curbing the contraband into DCS facilities:
- DCS officials are sensitised to comply with Security policies and procedures by ensuring that proper and regular searches of inmates, officials, visitors and services providers are conducted at Access Control points. For any non-compliance, consequence management which includes disciplinary cases and opening criminal cases with SAPS is undertaken.
- Bag-less society is implemented in all Correctional Facilities and the relevance of this is discussed during morning parade and at security forum committee meetings.
- Frequent patrolling of outer perimeter fencing on a daily basis including foot patrols during the day and night.
- Officials are sensitised on a daily basis on the consequences of colluding in corrupt activity with offenders and inmates.
- Smuggling and corrupt activities by officials within the Correctional Facilities is a standing point of the agenda at morning parade and at security forum meetings
- Searching of official vehicles, service providers and visitors using metal detectors search mirrors, scanners and body scanners at entry points.
- The use of EST officials to conduct random surprise search operations at all access points of the Correctional Facility.
- The assistance of SAPS, Metro Police (sniffer dogs), South African Revenue Services inspection services (illegal imports) and Crime Intelligence Unit are requested at different intervals
- The use of DCS K9 Unit (sniffer dogs & corridor dogs) during surprise searching operations.
- The use of walkthrough, hand held metal detectors, scanners, of parcel scanners and the use of x/ray scanners which are installed at certain Correctional Facilities
- Incidents of smuggling by officials with offenders are investigated and disciplinary action taken against perpetrators.
- Use of internal information gathering on smuggling or corrupt activities.
- The Emergency Security Team (EST) at Management Areas is tasked to continually do search and clean-up operations.
- M&E including provision of support to custodial officials by management.
- The issue of integrated planning with stakeholders which features prominently as DCS works closely with other players in the security space, such as, SAPS, DOD, CSIR, etc. does yield good results.
(b)(i) Eighteen (18) officials have been dismissed for smuggling goods and contrabands.
(b)(ii) Seventy-four (74) officials were prosecuted in the past two years, 40 cases for 2019/2020 financial year and 34 cases for 2020/2021 financial year.
END.
29 April 2022 - NW900
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
With reference to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the increase of automation, more use for robotic components and an urgent need to upskill those whose jobs are in danger of becoming redundant, coupled with the many opportunities for the Republic to benefit from the changes 4IR will bring, what are the details of the plans that have been put in place by his department to ensure that the Republic benefits from the changes in the labour force?
Reply:
Automation is an enabler of innovation and not the other way round, it is important to understand that fact. After we have understood that, we must then grasp other facts that, economies are stimulated and driven by innovation. If we speak about change, change should not be for the sake of change but it should be adapted to the needs of the economy and its population. There is a notion that has become a cliché that speaks about change because somewhere someone is talking about change rather than change dictated by our own environment.
Albeit, we must agree that education and training institutions are central in driving skills that are needed by the changing economy. That is why my Department and the Department of Higher Education are always in constant collaboration on critical skills that are needed by the economy. As result, there is a critical skills list that speaks to the demand of our economy. This assists us in better responding to the needs of the labour market.
In responding to the 4th Industrial Revolution, the Honourable member will know that the President has established a commission amongst the others the Commission is to assist the government in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital industrial revolution. The Commission will further identify relevant policies, strategies and action plans that will position South Africa as a competitive global player.
The work of the Commission will be tabled at NEDLAC for further discussion on how to come up with policies that will respond to the changes in the labour market as well as how to upskill, reskill and produce future skills that will be needed by the economy.
As a country that is grappling with unemployment, we must ensure that change does not exclude our people in the world of work but enhance their productivity, mobility and speaks to the needs of the population.
END
28 April 2022 - NW810
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What are the reasons for the high withdrawal rate of over 50% of case enrolments for fraud and corruption (details furnished); (2) Whether he has found that a conviction success rate of five out of 13 cases in specialist units such as the (a) Specialised Commercial Crime Unit and (b) National Prosecuting Authority is acceptable; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (3) Whether the success rate does not represent serious underperformance; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. In order to address the question with regard to the withdrawal rate it is necessary to indicate the details of the thirteen (13) finalised cases. Five (5) cases resulted in convictions, two (2) cases resulted in acquittals, and in the remaining six (6) cases prosecution was in fact declined.
The six (6) cases wherein prosecution was declined are as follows:
1.1 Lichtenburg CAS 259/8/2016
Background of Case (Summary)
Financial Intelligence Centre (“FIC”) identified several deposits into the bank account of the Chief Financial Officer of Ditsobotla Local Municipality from the following entities:
(a) Khoisan Roads Cc, Ipes-Utility Management Services (PTY) LTD, and Bay Breeze Trading 241 Cc.
(b) Two (2) of the abovementioned entities are service providers of Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
Outcome:
The main suspect has passed away, and prosecution was declined on 22 July 2021.
1.2 Potchefstroom CAS 81/05/2011
Background of Case (Summary)
Docket was opened by the Department of Education North West in Potchefstroom. The complainant alleges that two tenders were awarded to four companies during 2007. During investigations by the Department of Education it was discovered that two of these four companies were allegedly front companies.
Outcome:
The Deputy Public Protector (DPP) declined to prosecute due to insufficient
evidence to prosecute.
1.3 Hartbeespoortdam CAS 174/6/2016; and
1.4 Hartbeeesporrtdam CAS175/06/2016
Background of Case (Summary)
The docket was opened by the Department of Water and Sanitation North West at Hartbeespoort dam. The complainant alleged that the suspects contravened sec 57 (e) of the PFMA, by appointing a company to upgrade the road at Hartbeespoort dam and Lindleyspoort dam whereas the terms of the contract does not make provisions for such services. It was also found the same service provider allegedly had received other tenders without following tender procedures.
Outcome:
The DPP declined to prosecute due to insufficient evidence.
1.5 Mogwase CAS 204/03/2013
Background of Case (Summary)
The Department appointed a contractor to disburse an amount of R1.5m to create projects to alleviate poverty for 100 indigent’s community members but the contractor allegedly disbursed for only 22 indigents. The said contractor allegedly failed to return to the site to continue with the project as agreed in the service level agreement and stole the remaining amount.
Outcome:
The DPP declined to prosecute because the suspect is deceased.
1.6 Mmabatho CAS 270/05/2011
Background of Case (Summary)
The Department of Education advertised a tender seeking a motivational speaker who will render service to different districts within the province for a period of six (6) months. The MEC, Superintendent-General and officials connived with the appointed service provider to defraud the Department by inflating prices and claiming for services not rendered.
The case was before the Mahikeng High Court and was struck off the roll, on 25 August 2014 because the prosecutor needed to finalise the charge sheet and get permission from the DPP North West to re-enrol the matter.
Outcome:
Application for re-enrolment was submitted to the DPP who requested the DPCI to follow-up on certain aspects before a final decision could be made. On 21 September 2021, the DPP refused authorisation in terms of section 342A of Act 51 of 1977 for re-enrolment of the matter, and the matter is now deemed finalised.2.
2. In regard to the remaining seven (7) finalised cases, prosecution was instituted and resulted in five (5) convictions and two (2) acquittals. This translates to a conviction rate of 71%. The details of the two (2) cases wherein the accused were acquitted are as follows:
2.1 Wolmaranstad CAS 92/12/2010
Background of Case (Summary)
The municipality advertised a tender for refuse trucks whereby the complainant was one of the service providers that bid for the tender. The complainant alleges that he was approached by the employees of the municipality whereby they promised to influence the bid committee to award the said tender to him for benefit.
Outcome:
Matter was before court on 24 April 2019. The accused were acquitted. The complainant was a single witness, as the second witness, his son, passed away prior to the proceedings. At the stage when the matter was partly heard, it happened on repeated occasions that an interpreter was not available for the complainant, and the Court refused further postponement of the matter in terms of section 342A of Act 51 of 1977, resulting in the acquittal of the accused.
2.2 Mahikeng CAS 165/01/2018
Background of Case (Summary)
The Department of Health advertised a vacancy for the Head of the Department (HoD) post. The appointed HoD misrepresented himself by submitting false information during his application. Information was received that the appointment was irregular as he did not meet the requirements as per the advert of the post. Preliminary investigations were conducted, and it was proved that there was a prima facie case that needs further investigation.
Outcome:
The case was prosecuted in the High Court, and the accused was acquitted on 09 November 2021. The court found their versions to be reasonably possibly true.
3. It is submitted that, given the abovementioned context, the finalisation of these thirteen (13) cases does not represent serious under-performance.
END
28 April 2022 - NW1067
Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(a) What are the reasons that his department has failed to intervene and/or resolve the matter relating to a certain official (name and details furnished), who has been repeatedly prevented from assuming responsibilities, despite various arbitration and court orders instructing the department to re-instate the specified official and (b) on what date is it envisaged that the official will be allowed back at work without any further hindrances?
Reply:
a) The Department did not fail to intervene and/or resolve the matter in terms of administrative legislative prescripts. The Department is following processes provided for in law.
b) The matter is handled within legislative prescripts and must be allowed to follow due course. The matter is sub judice as fair administrative procedure depends on prevailing circumstances of each case.
END
28 April 2022 - NW1205
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Following his engagement with the stakeholders who are activists in the quest for decriminalisation of sex work in the Republic, (a) what were the resolutions of the engagement, (b) how do the resolutions nourish the advocacy for decriminalisation of sex work and (c) what role will he be playing in the quest for decriminalisation for sex work?
Reply:
The South African Law Reform Commission released its Report on Adult Prostitution in 2017. Cabinet, at the time, decided not to make a policy choice at that stage and felt that the issue of the possible decriminalisation of sex work should be further debated. There are various policy and legislative options. In order to take the debate on the possible decriminalization of adult sex work forward, the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr John Jeffery, has started a series of consultative meetings with various stakeholders and interest groups. The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has met with representatives of the pro-decriminalization sex work sector and has had similar meetings with other stakeholders who have a variety of views on the matter.
a) No resolutions have been taken as the engagements with stakeholders are ongoing, but the intention is to proceed with the finalization of a Draft Bill by the end of this year.
b) There are no resolutions as the engagements are ongoing, but the engagements with stakeholders seek to elicit a wide range of views on the matter.
c) As mentioned above, the current engagements are being led by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. Once a Draft Bill has been prepared, the Minister will approach Cabinet to seek approval to publish the Bill for public comment.
28 April 2022 - NW754
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What (a) is the (i) current total number of inmates requiring medical care in the Republic and (ii) most prevalent disease amongst inmates and (b) steps has his department taken to prevent inmates from getting sick?
Reply:
(a) (i) The current total number of inmates requiring medical care in South African correctional facilities cannot be predicted for a particular time as they all remain potential patients. Nonetheless, all inmates have access to health care services based on their individual health needs as mandated by the current Departmental Policy Procedures on Health Care.
(a) (ii) The most prevalent disease amongst inmates is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
(b) The following standard measures are implanted to prevent inmates from getting sick:
- Screening of inmates on admission, during incarceration and on release for communicable diseases in order to facilitate early diagnosis and the initiation of treatment;
- Provision of treatment for communicable and non-communicable diseases in compliance with the Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines Lists (STGs and EML;
- Provision of Primary Health Care services to inmates on a daily basis to address their health needs. Those that require secondary and tertiary levels of care are referred to the relevant external and sensitization sessions on various health conditions as well as maintenance of hygiene standards such as promotion of hand and respiratory hygiene for inmates with regard to COVID-19 through different media as well as implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures;
- Compliance to the Department of Correctional Services specific Standard Operating Procedures for Preparedness, Detection and Response to COVID-19 in order to contain and mitigate COVID-19 infections in the correctional facilities;
- Administering of COVID-19 vaccines to the inmates who have agreed to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity in the correctional facilities thus mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
- Provision of meals to inmates addressing their nutritional needs.
END
28 April 2022 - NW1093
Boshoff, Dr WJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(a) How much diesel has been used in the generation of electricity at Eskom since 1 January 2022, (b) what was the total cost thereof and (c) how was the total price that Eskom paid for the diesel calculated?
Reply:
According to the information received from ESKOM
a) From 1 January 2022 to 24 March 2022, Eskom utilised 110 141 069 litres of diesel for the generation of electricity at two of its OCGT stations.
(b) The total cost of the amount in (a), above is R1 385.9 million.
(c) The price indicated is the moving average price for each month. The price is the wholesale price less rebates and discounts where applicable. In addition, tank rental costs are included monthly, and these are approximately R4 million per month for both stations. There were no demurrage costs in this period.
Note that the usage and costs are verified at the end of each month. The March values and thus the totals in (a) and (b) above may therefore be subject to change.
28 April 2022 - NW1110
Whitfield, Mr AG to ask the Minister of Police
With regard to litigation against the Central Firearms Registry (CFR) since 2011-12 financial year, (a0 what is the breakdown of the total costs incurred by (i) him and (ii) the National Police Commissioner, (b) which law firms were used to defend the CFR, (c) what is total number of cases that the CFR (i) won, (ii) lost and (iii) settled and (d) what are the further relevant details of the specified litigation?
Reply:
Attached find here: Reply
28 April 2022 - NW1327
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With reference to the preliminary report received by the Department of Justice on the structural defects pertaining to the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court Building in Gauteng, which advised that a further and full investigation by a structural engineer was called for on an urgent basis in order to ascertain with certainty whether the structural deficiencies of the specified court building were of such a nature that it was no longer safe to use, what steps have been taken (a) to source on an urgent basis such further report by a structural engineer and (b) in the meantime to ensure adherence to health and safety standards at the building?
Reply:
a) The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD)’s Gauteng Regional Office requested the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to conduct a structural assessment on the Palm Ridge Court facility on 08 November 2021.
The request was based on numerous complaints that the users of the building had been raising to the attention of the DoJ&CD’s Gauteng Regional Office where administration staff, judiciary and the public at large felt they were not safe to either occupy or utilize the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court facility due to its severe structural defects.
The assigned structural engineer visited the site to conduct an inspection on 15 November 2021. The nature of the inspection involved assessment of the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court facility to pronounce on its structural integrity and provide recommendations. The recommendations on the Investigation Report, Condition Assessment: Palm Ridge Magistrate Court were that a complete status quo report be conducted by a professional team and where the need for further investigation arises, a specialist be requested.
The DoJ&CD wrote to DPWI and requested that a comprehensive assessment on the structural integrity of the building be conducted, and a new repairs and renovations project on the facility be registered.
ZAS Architects & Planners and Fhatani Consulting Engineers together with representatives from DPWI and DoJ&CD undertook a review of issues identified within the Investigation Report: Conditional Assessment: Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, Johannesburg as prepared by DPWI on Thursday, 3 February 2022. A detailed report, dated 8 February 2022, covers two (2) sections, a response to remedial items identified by the structural engineering services division and prioritization of remedial items identified.
ZAS Architects & Planners and Fhatani Consulting Engineers provided their professional opinion that there were no major remedial items identified that warrant the building unsafe, and the facility can be used for its intended purpose. Notwithstanding, the remedial work as identified should be carried out expeditiously.
b) The structural engineer report has declared the building safe for occupation. However, the report further outlined the remedial works that needed to be executed as part of the maintenance of the court. DPWI has attended to the following identified challenges on an emergency basis:
- Leaking roof;
- Damaged ceilings;
- Non-functional lift;
- Damaged flooring;
- Urinal systems; and
- High-rise lighting globes.
For the remedial work required to fix the cracks, DPWI is in the process of appointing a contractor. In anticipation of the appointment of the contractor to fix the wall cracks, DoJ&CD is of the view that the remedial work cannot be executed while the users are in the building.
The DoJ&CD has been looking for an alternative accommodation for officials occupying the one wing which is severely affected by wall cracks. Two (2) locations have been identified, one (1) is a community hall within a 5km radius of the court earmarked as alternative accommodation, upon municipality engagement and approval. The second location is a vacant land parcel opposite the court, this is privately owned and can be utilized as parking. The owner of the site has agreed to let out the land to DoJ&CD officials to use as parking daily. The courts parking area will be used to place park-homes as offices and mobile courts while repairs are being attended to at the court.
END
28 April 2022 - NW919
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether, with reference to the address of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on 15 February 2022, wherein she indicated that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) would be open to receiving private funding in order to do its work, the NDPP at any stage discussed the specified matter with him; if not, why not; if so, (2) Whether it is his department’s position to get private donors to fund the NPA; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what has he found would be the implications of this on the independence of the NPA?
Reply:
(1) and (2) Government has an obligation to ensure that state institutions are adequately resourced. To date, National Treasury has met this obligation in respect of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). As a result, the question of private donor funding does not arise. In this financial year, R1,2 billion has been allocated to the NPA. In the next financial year, the NPA is expected to advise the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and National Treasury if a shortfall arises. Having addressed the issue of adequacy of funding, I have been informed of requests by the NPA regarding the acceptance of donor funding, its modalities, measures to ensure accountability and to address perceptions of interference with the independence of the NPA and actual interference with the independence of the NPA. These engagements have been ongoing with the Director-General of the Department as the Accounting Officer and the NPA. In this regard, a governance framework for the acceptance of donor funding is being considered.
In general, all private donor funding is processed through the Reconstruction Development Programme which falls under the administration of the National Treasury. In terms of this programme, domestic and foreign grants are received and dispensed according to strict guidelines, controls and oversight.
Should we have a scenario wherein the budget of NPA can only be supplemented by donor funding, the process mentioned above will apply. Safeguarding the independence of the NPA remains of utmost importance. A proper governance framework will be put in place to ensure that the NPA will be sufficiently insulated.
END
28 April 2022 - NW1145
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With reference to the closure of the Rustenburg Magistrates Court on 25 February 2022 due to health and safety considerations, what (a) are the reasons that his department failed to ensure that the necessary steps were taken in respect of the maintenance and refurbishment of the building to prevent its closure and (b) steps have been taken since the closure of the building to restore the right to occupy and use of the building?
Reply:
a) The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) did not fail to ensure that necessary steps are taken in respect of the maintenance and refurbishment of the building to prevent the closure of Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court.
The Department has a delegation of R100 000.00 per incident as part of the day-to-day maintenance guidelines to ensure that the challenges experienced at the court are addressed. Below are the day-to-day maintenance issues addressed by the Department through the North West Regional Office:
- Leaking pipes;
- Repairs to ablution facilities;
- Repairs to ceilings;
- Security and office lights; and
- Air conditioners.
However, the Rustenburg Magistrate Court was served with a prohibition notice by Bojanala Platinum District Municipality for reasons listed below:
- Failure to provide the facility users (public and staff members) with an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being.
- Exposing facility users to asbestos fibre material that were found to be dripping from the ceiling within the facility passage and court area.
- Exposing facility users to unsafe structural conditions of falling ceiling boards with asbestos lining, and failure to provide adequate ablution facilities for public and staff members.
- Ignoring and allowing continued use of non-functional ablution facilities and use of same toilet facilities by both genders.
Therefore, the efforts made by the North West Regional Office delegation were not sufficient to address all the challenges highlighted above.
b) Rustenburg Magistrate Court is old and dilapidated, and there will always be facility issues and structural challenges due to aging of the building. After the closure of the court, an action plan monitored on weekly basis was developed to address the issues raised. Since the court reopened, service providers to attend to unhygienic toilets and contractors to fix the ceilings were appointed, and the facility is cleaned.
The Bojanala Platinum District Municipality confirmed that the Department has rectified the issues that were raised, lifted the notice and the court is currently operational.
Permanent solution of the maintenance challenges to the court:
The long-term solution for the court is to repair and renovate the building to eliminate unhygienic conditions of the premises that pose a health risk and nuisance to public health and safety.
- The Rustenburg project started in March 2007 as a Repair and Renovations (planned maintenance) project registered and funded by Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI). The project went out on tender in 2012. The tender lapsed without the appointment of a service provider by DPWI. The DPWI did not fund the project in the 2013/14 financial year due to budget cuts.
- The DPWI requested DoJ&CD to fund the project under capital budget in May 2013, and the DoJ&CD agreed to the proposal in July 2013, on condition that additional accommodation vacated by SARS at the adjacent building be added to the project, upgrading of the old court and all security measures and ICT requirements be included.
- The project scope included:
- Conversion of existing offices to accommodate officials within the court, including adjacent Public Protector and Family Advocate at Old SARS building;
- Additional Family Courts at the Old SARS building;
- Walk way adjoining the main court building to the Old SARS building;
- Guardhouse;
- Access for people living with disability;
- Covered and uncovered Parking around both buildings;
- Air-conditioning system;
- Ablution facilities;
- Plumbing system;
- Repairs to walls, windows, doors, roof and floor skirting;
- Installation of a lift at the main building; and
- CCTV, alarm, PABX, Control Room and Server Room.
- A Pre-Design Information Request (PDIR) was issued to the DPWI’s Town Planning Services (TPS) in September 2014 for purposes of clearing the site. The site clearance was issued in March 2015.
- A Sketch Plan Committee meeting which was scheduled for 4 October 2016 turned into a technical meeting because the DPWI Professional Services Quantity Surveyor was not happy with the high project estimate/high building cost.
- The project was re-advertised on 20 September 2019 and closed on 23 October 2019, the briefing meeting was held on 4 October 2019. The project validity period expired before appointment was concluded.
- The project was re-advertised on 01 April 2021 and closed on 05 May 2021. The bid has been going back and forth between DPWI Regional Office and National Bid Adjudication Committee (NBAC). To date, no contractor is recommended or appointed. The bid evaluation process is underway at DPWI.
In light of the above, this is what the Department has been trying to do over the years but due to the procurement processes of DPWI, the DoJ&CD find itself in a dire situation.
The DPWI is currently going through the evaluation process for the third time, and DoJ&CD hopes that the contractor will be appointed in the 2022/23 financial year for the refurbishment of the court to be completed.
END
26 April 2022 - NW1278
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Social Development
With reference to the 177 108 public servants who were found to have received social grants, excluding the Social Relief of Distress Grant, (a) on what date did her department suspend the payment of the grants to the specified public servants, (b) in which (i) national and (ii) provincial government departments are the implicated public servants employed and (c) other than the suspension of the grants, what other measures has her department taken in order to address the issue?
Reply:
a) Payment of the identified grants was suspended on 10 September 2021. However, all were reinstated, after having discovered that many of the suspended grants were being received by interns and contract workers, who may qualify to continue receiving these grants. The reinstatement was done in order to afford the review process to be done according to the prescripts of the Regulations to the Social Assistance Act, 2004.
b) (i) The public servants identified were found in the following national departments
NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS |
CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR POLICE |
DEEDS REGISTRATION TRADING ACCOUNT |
DEPART AGRICULTURE LAND REFORM RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
DEPART COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES |
DEPART OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR |
DEPART OF ENVIRONMENT FORESTRY AND FISHERIES |
DEPART OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY |
DEPART OF WOMEN YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES |
DEPART SPORTS ARTS AND CULTURE |
DEPART TRADE INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION
|
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION |
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING |
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERANS |
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES |
DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION TRADING ACCOUNT |
DEPT GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND INFO SYSTEMS |
GOVERNMENT PENSIONS ADMINISTRATION AGENCY |
GOVERNMENT PRINTING |
INDEPENDENT POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE |
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION |
MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AGENT |
NAT DEPT COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AF |
NAT DEPT JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION |
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
NATIONAL DEPT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION |
NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY |
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT |
NATIONAL TREASURY |
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE |
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION |
PLANNING MONITORING AND EVALUATION |
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TRADING ENTITY |
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE |
STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA |
THE PRESIDENCY |
(ii) The following provincial departments also had staff members receiving the social grants.
EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE |
EAST CAPE COOPERATIVE GOVER AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIR |
EAST CAPE ECONOMIC DEV ENVIRONM AFFAIRS TOURISM |
EAST CAPE EDUCATION |
EAST CAPE HEALTH |
EAST CAPE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
EAST CAPE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
EAST CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE |
EAST CAPE PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
EAST CAPE PUBLIC WORKS |
EAST CAPE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND AGRARIAN REFORM |
EAST CAPE SAFETY AND LIAISON |
EAST CAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
EAST CAPE SPORT AND RECREATION ARTS AND CULTURE |
EAST CAPE TRANSPORT |
FREE STATE PROVINCE |
FREE STATE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
FREE STATE COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRAD AFFAIRS |
FREE STATE ECONOMIC SMALL BUS TOURISM AND ENV AFF |
FREE STATE EDUCATION |
FREE STATE GOVERNMENT MOTOR TRANSPORT TRADING ACC |
FREE STATE HEALTH |
FREE STATE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
FREE STATE MEDPAS TRADING ACCOUNT |
FREE STATE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
FREE STATE POLICE ROADS AND TRANSPORT |
FREE STATE PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
FREE STATE PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE |
FREE STATE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
FREE STATE SPORT ARTS CULTURE AND RECREATION |
GAUTENG PROVINCE |
GAUTENG AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
GAUTENG COMMUNITY SAFETY |
GAUTENG COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFF |
GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF E-GOVERNMENT |
GAUTENG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
GAUTENG EDUCATION |
GAUTENG HEALTH |
GAUTENG HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
GAUTENG INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT |
GAUTENG INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING AGENCY |
GAUTENG OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
GAUTENG ROADS AND TRANSPORT |
GAUTENG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
GAUTENG SPORTS ARTS CULTURE AND RECREATION |
GAUTENG TREASURY |
GG TRANSPORT TRADING ACCOUNT |
MEDSAS TRADING ACCOUNT |
KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE |
KZN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
KZN ARTS AND CULTURE |
KZN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LIAISON |
KZN COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRAD AFFAIRS |
KZN ECONOMIC DEV TOURISM AND ENVIRO AFFAIRS |
KZN EDUCATION |
KZN HEALTH |
KZN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
KZN OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
KZN PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
KZN PUBLIC WORKS |
KZN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
KZN SPORT AND RECREATION |
KZN TRANSPORT |
LIMPOPO PROVINCE |
LIMPOPO AGRICULTURE |
LIMPOPO COOPER GOV HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TRAD AFFAIRS |
LIMPOPO ECONOMIC DEVELOP ENVIRONMENT TOURISM |
LIMPOPO EDUCATION |
LIMPOPO HEALTH |
LIMPOPO OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
LIMPOPO PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
LIMPOPO PUBLIC WORKS ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE |
LIMPOPO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
LIMPOPO SPORT ARTS AND CULTURE |
LIMPOPO TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY |
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE |
MPUMALANGA AGRICULTURE RURAL DEV LAND AND ENV AFF |
MPUMALANGA COMMUNITY SAFETY SECURITY AND LIAISON |
MPUMALANGA COOPERATIVE GOV AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS |
MPUMALANGA CULTURE SPORT AND RECREATION |
MPUMALANGA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM |
MPUMALANGA EDUCATION |
MPUMALANGA HEALTH |
MPUMALANGA HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
MPUMALANGA OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
MPUMALANGA PUBLIC WORKS ROADS AND TRANSPORT |
MPUMALANGA SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
NORTHERN CAPE PROCINCE |
NORTH CAPE AGRIC ENVIRON AFF RURAL DEV LAND REFORM |
NORTH CAPE COOP GOVERNM HUMAN SETTLEM TRAD AFFAIRS |
NORTH CAPE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM |
NORTH CAPE EDUCATION |
NORTH CAPE HEALTH |
NORTH CAPE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
NORTH CAPE PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
NORTH CAPE ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS |
NORTH CAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
NORTH CAPE SPORT ARTS AND CULTURE |
NORTH CAPE TRANSPORT SAFETY AND LIAISON |
NORTH WEST PROVINCE |
NORTH WEST AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT |
NORTH WEST ARTS CULTURE SPORTS AND RECREATION |
NORTH WEST COMMUNITY SAFETY AND TRANSPORT MANAGEME |
NORTH WEST COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS |
NORTH WEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIR CONS TOURISM |
NORTH WEST EDUCATION |
NORTH WEST HEALTH |
NORTH WEST HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
NORTH WEST OFFICE OF THE PREMIER |
NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL TREASURY |
NORTH WEST PUBLIC WORKS AND ROADS |
NORTH WEST SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE |
WESTERN CAPE AGRICULTURE |
WESTERN CAPE COMMUNITY SAFETY |
WESTERN CAPE CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPORT |
WESTERN CAPE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM |
WESTERN CAPE EDUCATION |
WESTERN CAPE ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEVELOPMENT PLA |
WESTERN CAPE HEALTH |
WESTERN CAPE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
WESTERN CAPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
WESTERN CAPE PREMIER |
WESTERN CAPE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT |
WESTERN CAPE TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC WORKS |
c) The grants were reinstated and all affected employees were sent notices that a review of their social grant was being conducted. The review process will enable SASSA to correctly apply the means test and update personal details. If any public servant is found to have received a grant that he/she is not entitled to, following the review process, further action will be implemented, which will include recovery of the amounts overpaid, as well as an official report to the department that employs them for disciplinary action to be taken by the respective department.
In addition to the above review project which is underway, SASSA is currently implementing the following measures to prevent persons who are not eligible for a social grant being able to receive these:
-
- Engaging the Department of Public Works to establish a data sharing mechanism that will assist in identifying citizens who are part of the EPWP programme, though their wages may qualify them to receive the normal grants it is still necessary their applicants are taken through a means test.
- SASSA, together with the Department of Public Service Administration (DPSA) and administrators of Persal (the government employees salary system) are currently engaging to look at future mitigations. The team is refining the criteria and specifications for data extraction and data sharing.
- Engaging DPSA to consider mechanisms which will assist the state to take consistent actions against public servants who access social grants unlawfully.
26 April 2022 - NW1051
Mathulelwa, Ms B to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
What are the reasons for her failure to attend and account at meetings of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development in terms of her constitutional responsibility as set out in section 92(2) of the Constitution, 1996?
Reply:
The Minister’s inability to attend some meetings of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development is primarily because the scheduled time for this Portfolio Committee is on Wednesdays at 09:30, which clashes with the Cabinet Committee Meetings or Cabinet Meetings which commence on Wednesdays at 08:30 until later in the day. HE President Ramaphosa, has directed that Ministers must prioritise Cabinet work, while at the same time impressed upon the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, HE Deputy President Mabuza to engage Parliament to endeavour to strike a balance between work of Parliament and Cabinet in so far as it relates to Ministers. It has also been resolved that Deputy Ministers need to attend the Portfolio Committee meetings where Ministers are expected to be in Cabinet.
The Minister will endeavour to avail herself to balance her accountability between Cabinet and Parliament as practical as possible.
STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
MINISTER: SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
26 April 2022 - NW950
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
By what date will she provide replies to questions (a) 486, (b) 487 and (c) 488 published on 25 February 2022?
Reply:
The honourable member is informed that question 486 was responded to and tabled on 04 April 2022 and questions 487 and 488 on 14 March 2022.
26 April 2022 - NW1085
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether her department will provide statistics on the total number of children who have survived abandonment annually since 2010; if not, why not; if so, what total number of such children (a) have been (i) reunited with family and (ii) adopted, (b) are still in institutions, temporary safe care and/or temporary foster care and in need of permanent family care and (c) are being added to the system annually?
Reply:
(a) (i) The total number of children reunited with families is 565 with annual breakdown from the following provinces:
PROVINCE |
TOTAL |
Limpopo |
14 |
FS |
19 |
KZN |
143 |
EC |
38 |
WC |
173 |
Mpumalanga |
15 |
Gauteng |
158 |
NC |
0 |
NW |
5 |
(ii) There are 893 abandoned children that have been adopted.
These numbers are from the adoption register database with the following breakdown:
Period |
Number of adopted children |
1 Apr 2010 to 31 Mar 2011 |
0 |
1 Apr 2011 to 31 Mar 2012 |
0 |
1 Apr 2012 to 31 Mar 2013 |
67 |
1 Apr 2013 to 31 Mar 2014 |
134 |
1 Apr 2014 to 31 Mar 2015 |
86 |
1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2016 |
99 |
1 Apr 2016 to 31 Mar 2017 |
87 |
1 Apr 2017 to 31 Mar 2018 |
142 |
1 Apr 2018 to 31 Mar 2019 |
171 |
1 Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2020 |
40 |
1 Apr 2020 to 31 Mar 2021 |
67 |
Total |
893 |
(b) The total number of children in Institutional care is 3 279 with provincial breakdown as follows:
PROVINCE |
TOTAL |
Eastern Cape |
255 |
Western Cape |
1 594 |
KwaZulu Natal |
1 129 |
Free State |
17 |
Mpumalanga |
0 |
Gauteng |
143 |
NC |
10 |
NW |
119 |
Limpopo |
12 |
Since 2010 there were 1 530 children in temporary safe care.
There is no provision of temporary foster care in the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No 38 of 2005) only short term in accordance with section 159 and long-term placement in terms of section 186.
Since 2010 there are 507 adoptable children who survived abandonment and are in need of permanent family care. These figure is from the Register on Adoptable Children and Prospective Adoptive Parents (RACAP).
(c) The number of reported cases of abandoned children are added to the National Child Protection Register annually, with the following breakdown:
Period |
Number of abandoned children added on the CPR system |
1 Apr 2010 to 31 Mar 2011 |
135 |
1 Apr 2011 to 31 Mar 2012 |
71 |
1 Apr 2012 to 31 Mar 2013 |
128 |
1 Apr 2013 to 31 Mar 2014 |
134 |
1 Apr 2014 to 31 Mar 2015 |
41 |
1 Apr 2015 to 31 Mar 2016 |
24 |
1 Apr 2016 to 31 Mar 2017 |
45 |
1 Apr 2017 to 31 Mar 2018 |
144 |
1 Apr 2018 to 31 Mar 2019 |
229 |
1 Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2020 |
40 |
1 Apr 2020 to 31 Mar 2021 |
67 |
Total |
1058 |
26 April 2022 - NW1242
Mthenjane, Mr DF to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
What (a) number of women-owned businesses have been supported by her department in the three quarters of the 2020-21 financial year and (b) lessons has her department learnt in this regard?
Reply:
a) As per the published audited 2020/21 Annual Report of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), the Department supported 1 015 women-owned businesses during 2020/21 financial year.
b) The lessons learnt in this regard is that the DSBD should consider designing support programmes which are targeted specifically for vulnerable groups such as women, youth and people with disabilities as these groups are still operating in the informal or micro level and mostly vulnerable to disasters and externalities. The department will also have to collaborate and partner with other entities within government in the private sector to leverage on existing resources and capacity. According to a study conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, women owned businesses have received between 13,8 % and 34% of government support during the different levels of COVID-19 lockdown.
STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
MINISTER: SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
26 April 2022 - NW1105
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 2601 on 13 December 2021, wherein she indicated that the relevant information would be ready by 17 December 2021, she will honour this commitment and forward the specified information to Ms A L A Abrahams; if not, why not; if so, by what date?
Reply:
With regards to Parliamentary Question 2601, we can avail the following information that we have on our system. In doing so, I will respond to all the questions again, to ensure a comprehensive response.
What is the total number of cases of abuse of the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) Child Support Grant that have been reported to her department in each province since 1 January 2015;
As mentioned in our previous response, SASSA does not maintain separate statistics on abuse of child support grants and is thus not able to provide this information. However, all cases where a change of care giver is requested are attended to.
What is the total number of cases in which the Child Support Grant (CSG) has successfully been transferred to an alternative caregiver;
The total number of child support grants (counted per child), which have been transferred from one care giver to another from 2015 to date is indicated in the table below:
Province |
Number |
Eastern Cape |
249 490 |
Free State |
90 831 |
Gauteng |
175 558 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
301 318 |
Limpopo |
142 709 |
Mpumalanga |
106 043 |
Northern Cape |
50 379 |
North West |
97 308 |
Western Cape |
103 942 |
Total |
1 317 578 |
What happens to the (a) CSG and (b) child in question in cases where there is no alternative caregiver;
(a) The child support grant is only paid to a primary caregiver, and therefore lapses until a new primary care giver is appointed.
(b) Where no alternative care giver is identified, the case is referred to social workers who will then attend to the placement of the child as per the relevant provision of the Children’s Act, 2007. SASSA would in these cases be guided by the outcome of the social work investigation.
What mechanisms have been put in place by her department and/or the SASSA to mitigate against the abuse of the CSG grant by the caregiver;
Where abuse is reported, social workers are requested to investigate and make a recommendation to SASSA regarding the administration of the child support grant.
What support does her department and/or SASSA offer in order to assist the caregiver who has been reported as allegedly abusing the CSG grant?
Cases of abuse of the child support grant are referred to social workers within the provincial departments of Social Development to investigate. Neither, SASSA, nor the National department, is able to render such support, which is a provincial competency.
26 April 2022 - NW547
Mthenjane, Mr DF to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
What has he found to be the difference between the spaza support programme run by the Small Enterprise Development Agency and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, as compared to the spaza programme run by other private provincial organisations that have higher incentives than her department’s programme, which has a low uptake across the Republic?”
Reply:
The Spaza Shop Support Programme as implemented by the Small Business Development Portfolio (the Department of Small Business Development [DSBD], the Small Enterprise Development Agency [Seda] and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency [sefa]) is linked to a broader process of value chain development within the retail space. This includes the concurrent linking up of beneficiaries with wholesalers, bulk buying arrangements done through Spaza Support Associations, access to SMME products at wholesalers by Spaza Shops through localisation efforts of the DSBD and its entities as well as the formalisation and strengthening of the spaza shops by working with municipalities and the banking sector.
The responsibility to implement the Spaza Shop Support Programme lies with the entities, while the DSBD co-designed the Programme with the entities it continues to monitor and review the programme to increase uptake. Anecdotal evidence gathered by the entities responsible for implementing the programme has indicated that the major difference between the DSBD programme and the programmes implemented by provincial departments centers on the following issue:
- The funding structure employed by the provinces vs that employed by the DSBD: DSBD employs a blended finance model that incorporates an equal split between grant and loan funding whereas the provincial model is entirely grant funding.
Finally, the DSBD has facilitated the participation of relevant public sector and private sector role players in the development of spaza shops by providing access to the tools developed by these role players.
MS STELLA TEMBISA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
25 April 2022 - NW1322
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether there was an investigation into the cause of the irregular expenditure of approximately R12 million relating to the appointment of a company for communications and marketing; if not, why not, if so, what was the outcome?
Reply:
According to available records, the Department of Social Development has not incurred any irregular expenditure relating to the appointment of a service provider/company for communications and marketing. I will appreciate it if the Honourable Member can furnish me with further details on the matter, including the financial year so I can provide the relevant information.
25 April 2022 - NW1426
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
What has he found to be the financial impact on (a) unmarried and (b) unemployed fathers for DNA testing to determine that they are the biological father?
Reply:
There is currently no research findings on this matter and I would not want to speculate. However, it is important for the Honourable Member to note that Section 21(1)(b) of the Children’s Act (Act No.38 of 2005) provides, that an unmarried father of a child, regardless of whether he has lived or is living with the mother of the child, acquires full parental rights and responsibilities over the child if he –
(i) consents to be identified or successfully applies to in terms of section 26 to be identified as the child’s father or pays damages in terms of customary law;
(ii) contributes or has attempted in good faith to contribute to the child’s upbringing for a reasonable period; and
(iii) contributes or has attempted in good faith to contribute towards expenses in connection with the maintenance of the child for a reasonable period’.
Furthermore, the Act confirms in Section 36 a presumption in respect of a child born out of wedlock (parties who were not married to each other). The presumption is that the person whom had sexual intercourse with the mother at any time when that child could have been conceived will be presumed to be the biological father of the child in the absence of evidence to the contrary which raises reasonable doubt. The Act also states that as paternity is determined on a balance of probabilities, the man is not entitled to demand scientific proof and that in relevant instances, the court has the inherent power as upper guardian of all minor children to order such tests if it is in the best interests of the child.
25 April 2022 - NW610
Mokgotho, Ms SM to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
By what date will the Reconstruction and Development Programme houses in ward 6 in Mamusa Local Municipality that were started in 2015, but left incomplete be completed?
Reply:
According to the response received from the Provincial Department of Human Settlements, It is anticipated that the houses will be concluded by 31 December 2022. However, it must be mentioned that since the inception of the project, two contractors have been appointed, one in 2015 and the second one in 2017, both abandoned the project. The project currently has the following milestones:
- 121 Foundations,
- 79 Wall plates and
- 10 Completed units
The Department has since allocated its internal Inspectors, NHBRC, and the Planning Unit through the assistance and appointment of a Quantity Surveyor to further ascertain the milestones on the ground and determine the costs before the appointment of another contractor.
25 April 2022 - NW1320
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether there is currently and/or has ever been research conducted by a certain company (name furnished) for the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what process was followed to appoint the specified company; (2) whether there were any terms of reference from SASSA in respect of the research undertaken by the company; if not, why not; if so, (a) will she furnish Ms B S Masango with a copy and (b)(i) how and (ii) by whom were the terms of reference approved?
Reply:
1. SASSA and DSD officials have sat on and advised the steering committees which guides some of the work of FinMark Trust (FMT). FMT is a non-profit organisation (NPO) focused on making financial markets work for the poor in Southern Africa (SA). The NPO is financed from donor funding and conducts research work that the country as a whole, including SASSA, can benefit from. Some of the research they conduct include the following:
- (i) FMT conducts an annual Finscope consumer survey in SA funded by the Banking and Insurance sectors, National Treasury, South African Reserve Bank and the Financial Sector Regulatory Authority. The results from the survey form part of the financial inclusion dialogue in SA and are presented to key stakeholders. The presentations to SASSA have happened regularly over the years at no cost to SASSA. FMT also publishes the results from these surveys on their website to make their results accessible.
- (ii) FMT/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) approached SASSA in 2018/2019 to conduct research on the SA Grant population to understand the need for digitisation of recipient payments, their requirements of financial literacy/education and to assess support for grant recipients to improve their capacity for livelihoods. The support was offered to SASSA at no cost and approved by the then Acting CEO. The scope of work was approved by, National Treasury, and Department of Social Development. Attached is the letter of support for the project which the then Acting CEO signed as well as the concept note for the projects which was formulated by both FMT and UNDP.
In 2020, SASSA approached the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for capacity building support on various areas including, improving customer experience and cost through improved digitisation, strategic communication, cyber security, data architecture, project management and gender integration (letter attached). After agreeing on the scope of work, the Gates Foundation using its own procurement processes secured the services of FMT to support SASSA in the aforementioned areas.
2.
(a) Scope of work done is available and provided for in the attached documents.
(b i) The Memorandum of understanding (MoU) underscores the scope of work
ii) The MoU was signed by the current Chief Executive Officer of SASSA
25 April 2022 - NW1184
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) What are the reasons that her department is planning to close the Mhlangazane Primary School in Ward 9 in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality; (2) whether her department has consulted the community on the decision; if not, why not; if so, what are the views of the community on the closure of the school?
Reply:
1. Mhlanagazane Primary School had only 83 learners by the end of 2021.
- It is classified as a small and non-viable school in terms of the Government Notice No. 37081 on minimum uniform norms and standards for public school infrastructure.
- It is planned to be merged with Phumelele Primary School for quality teaching and learning and maximum use of resources to the benefit of all learners. The merger and closure will be as per sections 12A and 33 of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, as amended.
(2) whether her department has consulted the community on the decision; if not, why not; if so, what are the views of the community on the closure of the school?
Response:
Mhlanagazane consultations:
There were a number of consultations that were done for the closure of Mhlangazane Primary and its merger with Phumelele Primary. There were consultations on the following dates:
11 June 2019; 19 June 2019; 9 September 2019; and 7th June 2021 (Parents meetings).
- Views of the community
The Chief of Esandleni and some members of the community mentioned that the school is the only Government structure available in the area and on those grounds, they wanted the school not to be closed or merged with Phumelele Primary.
Other members of the community who are in support of the closure and merger of Mhlangazane with Phumelele Primary schools have since removed their children and registered them at Phumelele.
As it stands, there is no likelihood that learner enrolment at Mhlangazane Primary will increase. Under such circumstances, the school will forever have the challenge of not receiving effective teaching and learning.
25 April 2022 - NW714
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
In the light of the fact that she planned to use her participation in the High Level Segment of the 49th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, to launch South Africa’s campaign for membership of the Human Rights Council for the period 2023 – 2025, what are the (a) full details of and motivation for the campaign and (b) envisioned benefits for South Africa?
Reply:
A reply to the above question should be understood in the proper context of, inter alia: our Constitution, our broad foreign policy objectives, and the values, principles and norms that guide South Africa’s relations with the world and engagement in the multilateral system, in this case, in the field of human rights in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).
South Africa’s foreign policy and engagement with the world is guided by the supreme law of our land, the Constitution. Our Constitution states that the Bill of Rights is a “cornerstone of democracy in South Africa” and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom (section7(1) of the Constitution). Further, the Constitution places an obligation on the state to “respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights.” (section 7(2) of the Constitution). It is important to note that the obligation on the state to “respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights” is stated without limitation; that is, the obligation is not only limited to the actions, decisions and policies of the South African government in the domestic setting, but that this obligation rests on the South African government even when it acts beyond its territorial boundaries in the field of foreign policy.
One of the fundamental commitments we made, as the people of South Africa, when we adopted the Constitution as the supreme law of our land is that we shall “build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign [and responsible] state in the family of nations” (preamble to our Constitution). What that commitment means, is that, inter alia: (a) South Africa shall no longer be a pariah and rogue state in the eyes of the international community; (b) South Africa shall be a cooperative member of the family of nations and shall be willing to be bound by and respect the rule of international law; (c) South Africa will play a constructive role in international politics and will put its shoulder to the wheel and help develop the kind of norms, standards and values at the multilateral level (in this case, in the field of human rights) that will foster respect for human dignity, promotion of human rights, and ending racial discrimination and all forms of intolerance; and (d) South Africa shall no longer use its sovereignty to violate international law (international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the international law of protection).
South Africa’s aspiration for membership of the HRC is inspired by the above considerations and strategic objectives. Our desire to go back into the HRC is also informed by our national interest as articulated in important policy frameworks of our government, including the National Development Plan (NDP), specifically, chapter 7 (“positioning South Africa in the world.”) as well as the commitments contained in the African Agenda 2063 (the Africa we want). South Africa is an important so-called middle power. We don’t use economic dominance of military might to pursue our national interests. We depend on the institutions of global governance to do this.. Hence the importance of our role in the Council.
The field of human rights is a highly contested area at the multilateral level, in this case, in the HRC. For instance, there are some countries that argue that the only human rights that matter, and therefore worthy of protection, are the so-called civil and political rights (eg freedom of speech, the press, right to vote, etc.); and that other rights, known as economic, social and cultural rights (eg right to adequate housing, right to nutrition, right to a clean environment, right to development, etc.) cannot be given the same treatment since these rights are said to be ‘non-justiciable.’ These socio-economic rights are justiciable in the South African Constitution and South Africa is in the forefront of working towards the elimination of the false dichotomy between ‘development’ and democracy.
The HRC is an important multilateral arena where South Africa can “take its rightful place as a sovereign [and responsible] state” and pursue its foreign policy objectives and promote its values. This is where South Africa can play a constructive and meaningful role and promote international cooperation and multilateralism in the field of human rights. The HRC will provide a platform for South Africa to participate in the development of norms and standards in the field of human rights that will foster the promotion, protection and practical realisation/enjoyment of all human rights by all people across the world. Given our commitment to multilateralism, our presence in the HRC will provide space to push for the transformation of the global system of governance from the power-based system to a rules-based system and to enhance the efforts to create a just and equitable global order. Thus, the HRC constitutes an important terrain within which to pursue South Africa’s national interests and to influence the future direction of the global system of governance.
In summary, the main aim of South Africa’s campaign for election into the HRC is to achieve the following foreign policy goals: (a) to pursue our national interest; (b) to promote our values, (c) to contribute to the development of a rules-based system of interstate relations (multilateralism); and (d) to help create a global environment that is conducive to peace, development, respect for the rule of international law, advancement of human rights and freedoms, and the development of Africa.
In the HRC, South Africa will focus on thematic areas that resonate with our priorities such as (a) advancement, promotion, protection and practical enjoyment of human rights (including the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities); (b) elimination of gender based violence; (c) addressing socio-economic inequalities, (d) combating racism and racial discrimination; and (e) protection of the rights of migrants, refugees, children, and other persons of concern as well promoting access to the right of everyone to the highest standards of physical and mental health, including access to medicines and vaccines.
South Africa’s tenure in the Human Rights Council (2023-2025) will also focus on the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a component of global efforts towards the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. To this end, South Africa will continue to (a) take a lead on the implementation and follow-up to the programme of activities of the Decade of People of African Descent (2015-2024); (b) support the activities and programmes of the newly established Forum on People of African Descent; and (c) ensure that the aims, objectives and mandate of the DDPA are realised. South Africa will also play a key role in the processes to start negotiations on the Declaration on the rights of people of African descent.
The HRC is set to be “reviewed” during the period 2021-2026. Although the fullest terms of this “review” have not yet been defined, it is anticipated – based on the views of other countries, particularly the western countries – that the latter countries will push for far-reaching changes to the mandate of the HRC and seek to eliminate some of the items that are currently on the agenda of the Council. For instance, the US has already nailed its colours to the mast by publicly indicating that Washington will seek to eliminate the item (item number 7) on the agenda of the Council that deals with the question of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories as well as the question of racism (item number 9). As far as South Africa is concerned, the “review” of the HRC should aim to preserve the mandate of the Council and keep intact the items dealing with the question of Palestine and racism and other forms of intolerance. It would be important therefore that South Africa is present in the Council to fight for these objectives. The anti-racism agenda is an important flagship programme for South Africa given the responsibility we have in this regard following the outcomes of the 2001 Durban World Conference Against Racism. Any attempts by other countries to delete this important agenda from the agenda of an important institution such as the HRC should be resisted. At the time when racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance are raising their ugly heads, all efforts should be made to ensure that the international community is focused and committed to joining the fight to rid the world of these scourges. South Africa needs to be in the Council to champion this fight.
25 April 2022 - NW783
Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What number of (a) learners and (b) teachers (i) were injured and (ii) have died of unnatural causes on school premises in the (aa) 2017, (bb) 2018, (cc) 2019, (dd) 2020 and (ee) 2021 academic years?
Reply:
The information has been sourced from provincial education departments (PEDs) and will be provided once received from the PEDs.
25 April 2022 - NW423
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether her department intends to deploy any naval support to the coast of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, in order to support efforts by the SA National Defence Force in combating insurgents linked to the Islamist State; if not, what steps are being taken by her department to interdict seaborne supplies to the insurgents; if so, what are the relevant details regarding the deployment?
Reply:
Attached find here: Reply
25 April 2022 - NW898
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
In view of section 31BB of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998, which empowers him to designate persons as environmental mineral resource inspectors to monitor compliance of NEMA, as of 1 March 2022, what (a) total number of environmental mineral resource inspectors are currently employed by his department, (b) is the total breakdown of the inspectors in each province, (c) specific factors are taken into consideration to determine the number of environmental mineral resource inspectors required in each province and (d) prescribed standards are in place to ensure that the monitoring and compliance functions fulfilled by the environmental mineral resource inspectors give effect to NEMA?
Reply:
(a) Total number of environmental inspectors is 94
(b) The breakdown in respect of Environmental Mineral Resource (EMRIs) in each province is as follows:
No. Seq |
REGIONS |
EMRIs |
1. |
Head Office |
16 |
2. |
Limpopo |
12 |
3. |
Northwest |
14 |
4. |
Mpumalanga |
12 |
5. |
Northern Cape |
10 |
6. |
Free State |
7 |
7. |
KwaZulu Natal |
7 |
8. |
Gauteng |
7 |
9. |
Western Cape |
6 |
10 |
Eastern Cape |
3 |
(c) A number of dynamics are taken into consideration when Inspectors are assigned with the functions and responsibilities, which may amongst others include the Inspectors capacity (skills and experience) required to perform functions relating to the dynamics of such a province’. The environmental challenges and dynamics of a particular Region/Province would also form the basis of the capacity required to deal with such.
(d) All the EMRIs have undergone the necessary training by an assigned Institution with more focus on the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998). The training largely revolves around the functions they need to perform as per the relevant legislation, primarily being NEMA. All the Performance standards set for the inspectors in this regard revolve around NEMA. The adherence to the standards in this regard are duly monitored by their managers and supervisors who are graded as Grade 1 EMRIs.
25 April 2022 - NW1109
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)What is the progress of each investigation and/or disciplinary hearing for public servants who fraudulently applied for the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant; (2) Whether any of the public servants who are currently being investigated and/or facing a disciplinary hearing have offered to pay back the money that they have received; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) What will be the consequences for those public servants who are found to have unlawfully applied for and/or received the R350 grant?
Reply:
1. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) received files of 154 public servants who are alleged to have fraudulently applied for the R350 grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) on 11 March 2022. The DPSA has requested SASSA to assist with the drafting of charges before engaging the affected departments. The Fusion Centre met on the 25th March 2022, where the DPSA put the matter on the agenda for discussion. The meeting resolved that the DPSA should continue with the distribution of these files to the affected departments without the draft charges. Once the files are distributed, the DPSA will continue monitoring progress in the disciplinary proceedings as discipline management is a decentralised function.
2. The DPSA has not received any information regarding public servants who are currently being investigated and/or facing a disciplinary hearing. The DPSA believes that all public funds that accrue wrongly to anyone should be recovered.
3. The DPSA views these as serious allegations and anticipates that the affected departments will be calling for the maximum allowable sanction allowable in the disciplinary code. However, the DPSA cannot pre-empt the outcome of disciplinary hearings as each case is dealt on its merit.
25 April 2022 - NW191
Lorimer, Mr JR to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(a) What number of supplier invoices currently remain unpaid by (i) his department and (ii) each entity reporting to him for more than (aa) 30 days, (bb) 60 days, (cc) 90 days and (dd) 120 days, (b) what is the total amount outstanding in each case and (c) by what date is it envisaged that the outstanding amounts will be settled?
Reply:
a) For the period ending 31 January 2022, the analysis for the unpaid invoices of more than 30 days was as follows:
|
|
(i)(cc) > 90 days |
(i)(dd)>120 days and above |
||||
No.of invoices |
Total Value |
No.of invoices |
Total Value |
No.of Invoices |
Total Value |
No.of Invoices |
Total Value |
3 205 |
R15 193 370.14 |
1078 |
R3 474 541.90 |
745 |
R3 014 842.40 |
2 507 |
R4 770 030.52 |
( c) It is envisaged that by the end of March 2022 the above-mentioned outstanding invoices would be paid.
END
25 April 2022 - NW27
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Given that in January 2022, there were alarming reports that five offenders attacked correctional services officials at the Mthatha Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape, what is the latest progress on the internal investigations into the matter; (2) Whether any official reports have been submitted to him and/or his department; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what action will he take to increase security measures at the specified correctional centre.
Reply:
- A security incident was reported, the investigation has been completed and submitted to the delegated authority. The recommendations of the report were approved and are currently in implementation. Furthermore, a criminal case has been reported to the Police (SAPS case number 155/1/2022)
- Yes, a report was submitted. The centre has been stabilized and the 9four perpetrators identified in the incident have been subjected to disciplinary processes as prescribed. In addition, the offenders have been reclassified as high risk and transferred to an appropriate facility. The Emergency Support Team (EST) has been deployed to augment security in the Management Area. In addition, the Management Area is implementing an action plan to eliminate contrabands from entering the centre.
END
OBJECTIVE |
STRATEGY |
ACTIVITIES |
To maintain a secure and safe environment that is conducive to the rehabilitation of inmates and the attendance of remand detainees in court processes. |
Working with Intelligence Agencies |
|
Vetting and Screening of all Officials |
|
|
Profiling of Gang members |
|
|
Management of Security Information |
|
|
Establishment of Security Committees |
|
|
To facilitate the combatting approach to prevent ,reduce and eradicate disruptive groups (e.g. gangs) on the Management of Correctional Centres; |
Interventions to discourage Gangsterism |
|
Development and Implementation of an Information Management |
||
To enable inter-sectorial co-operation (i.e. government and civil society) to promote Correctional Centre and Community safety |
Establish Inter-Sectorial forums to promote Correctional Centre and community safety |
|
To address the potential negative effects of incarceration; |
Interventions to discourage Gangsterism: |
• Inmates that divulge security information leading to positive results are rewarded in line with Special Remission policy; • Disciplinary actions are taken against gang members and Staff for involvement in gang activities; • Criminal activities reported to law enforcement agencies; |
Development and Implementation of an Information Management System |
|
|
To address the potential negative effects of incarceration; |
Effective orientation of inmates on admission and during incarceration; |
|
To develop and build knowledge about Gangs and effective response in Gang Management to inform, review and monitor / improve strategies |
Ongoing Research to improve knowledge on Gangs and other disruptive inmates groups and creating safer correctional centers |
|
Mitigation of gang activities |
|
END
25 April 2022 - NW1002
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With reference to his reply to question 3 on 2 March 2022 that he occasionally approves the temporary recruitment of specialists by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), specifically persons with suitable qualifications and experience, in terms of section 38 of the NPA Act, Act 32 of 1998, (a) who are the persons with whom agreements in terms of section 38 of the NPA Act are currently in place and (b) what are the details of the specific cases in which the aforesaid persons have been engaged to perform duties and functions for the NPA?
Reply:
a) The details of the persons with whom the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has entered into agreements in terms of section 38 of the NPA Act are as follows:
1. Adv. Z Matebese, SC has been appointed to prosecute in the matter of State versus R Mkhwebane, which is a perjury case against the Public Protector opened as per Hillbrow CAS 536/08/2019. The perjury charges are based on the adverse factual findings by the Constitutional Court relating to the honesty and integrity of the Public Protector as per Public Protector v South African Reserve Bank (CCT 107/2018) 2019 (6) SA 253 (CC). At the heart of the allegations against the accused, is the false statements she made regarding the purpose of the meeting she had with Presidency on 7 June 2017, and the discussions she had with the Presidency regarding the remedial action in her final report in respect of an investigation into loan funds made available by the South African Reserve Bank to an entity called Bankorp Ltd, which was later taken over by Absa Bank Ltd. The matter is of a high-profile nature and involved an important Chapter 9 institution.
2. Adv. Nazir Cassim, SC, Adv. Sandra Freese and Av Thabile Ngubeni have been appointed in respect of a High Court Case in Bloemfontein re State versus N Mokhesi and 15 Others (Case Number 45/2021). The accused, during pre-trial proceedings, gave the State notice of their intention to file certain motion applications on various issues, including but not limited to inter alia that the evidence before the Zondo Commission be excluded in the criminal trial, as well as an application pertaining to the applicability of sections 27 and 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, and allegations in respect of the infringement of various rights of the accused. The accused referred to allegations of impropriety on the part of the State and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), including Senior State Advocate De Nysschen and the investigation team. The aforementioned counsel had dealt with similar applications for the State. They were appointed to provide services for the duration of the criminal proceedings under the aforesaid case number and any other related matters and appeal processes that may arise out of the criminal proceedings against the accused.
3. Adv. Izak Pansegrouw has been appointed in respect of a High Court Case in Johannesburg regarding the State v Sylla Moussa. The case emanates from the former DSO where advocates James De Villiers and Pansegrouw were seized with the matter. Both have since resigned. The accused is a Guinean national who, during June 2006, was charged with sixteen (16) counts of fraud, alternatively, three (3) counts of theft and three (3) counts of money laundering in terms of the provisions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998.
The prosecution of Mr Sylla Moussa is the second longest outstanding matter on the High Court roll in Johannesburg. The matter has been dragging for more than twelve (12) years due to various and incessant interlocutory applications brought by the accused. The Judge President of Gauteng, Honourable Justice Mlambo has already on numerous occasions expressed his concern and displeasure with the apparent problems finalising the matter. He has already allocated a specific Judge to case manage the matter.
This is a very complex fraud matter and voluminous in nature. The preamble of the indictment reflects the following: The accused was in control of two (2) accounts held by corporate entities with ABSA bank. The said accounts were labeled “credit accounts” and bore no-risk status, which meant that the accused could immediately make withdrawals against cheque deposits made into the account. Electronic transfers can only be made from such an account if sufficient funds exist in that account, even if only by way of cheque deposits. The accused allegedly conducted “cross fire fraud” which is described in the preamble to the indictment as follows:
a) No value cheques or cheques of insufficient value (“facilitation cheques”) would be deposited into the beneficiary bank account at ABSA and drawn against the drawer’s account at ABSA.
b) The lack of funds in the drawer’s account to support the amount depicted as per face value of the facilitation cheques, resulted in an artificial credit being created in the beneficiary bank account.
c) The drawing and deposit of the facilitation cheques would be recorded as debit and credit entries respectively. The balances and credits recorded on the respective bank statements of the beneficiary and drawer bank account would therefore not be representative of the genuine or underlying funds created by such transactions, but would be artificial and designed to mislead Absa into accepting that the accused or the corporate entities were conducting bona fide transactions or were involved in genuine and bona fide arm’s length business transactions while they were not.
4. Adv. Wim Trengove, SC, Adv. Andrew Breitenbach, SC,Adv Hephzibah Rajah and Adv. Ncumisa Mayosi were appointed in respect of STATE VERSUS JACOB G ZUMA AND THALES SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD (CASE NUMBER CCD 30/2018) in the KZN High Court. The accused (Mr. JG Zuma) had on the first day of the criminal trial on 17 May 2021, given the State formal notice of his intention to file a special plea in terms of section 106(1)(h) of the CPA and section 35(3) of the Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, wherein he would seek a recusal of the lead prosecutor, Adv. Billy Downer, SC. In the light of the accused attack under oath against Adv. Downer personally, the latter had to file an answer on behalf of the State under oath. Counsel were required to settle such an answer and to argue the matter before the criminal court, as Adv. Downer would be disqualified from doing so himself. A substantial part of these allegations in the accused affidavit were strikingly similar to the allegations which Zuma made in his permanent stay application previously before court. The full court had either found the allegations to be without foundation or struck out the scandalous and vexatious allegations, including those against Adv. Downer personally, in the permanent stay ruling handed down on 11 October 2019. The counsel previously engaged, namely: Adv. Wim Trengove, SC, Adv. Andrew Breitenbach, SC, Adv. Hephzibah Rajah and Adv. Ncumisa Mayosi, had all worked on the preparation, drafting and arguing of the permanent stay application against Mr Zuma. They accordingly had an in-depth knowledge of the history of this matter and the relevant arguments he advanced in his special plea.
5. Adv. C.J Mouton SC, Adv. G Wolmarans and Adv. Chuma Mcoseli were appointed in respect of THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS GRAHAMSTOWN VERSUS TIMOTHY OMOTOSO & OTHERS in the Eastern Cape High Court.
The accused in the aforementioned matter stands before Court on the following charges:
a) COUNT 1
Managing an enterprise conducted though a pattern of racketeering activity (contravention of section 2 (1) (f) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 as amended)
b) COUNT 2
Participating in the conduct of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity (contravening section 2(1)(e) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 as amended)
c) COUNT 3, 5, 9, 14, 16, 20, 23, 26, 30, 33, 35, 38, 41, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 57, 60 and 62
Trafficking in persons for sexual purposes (contravening section 71 (1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 as amended).
Alternatively, Involvement in Trafficking in persons for sexual purposes (contravening section 71(2) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 as amended).
4) COUNT 4, 7, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 32, 37, 40, 43, 44, 52, 53 and 59
Rape (contravening section 3 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 as amended)
5) COUNT 6, 10, 13, 17, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31, 34, 36, 47, 50, 55, 58, 61 and 63
Sexual assault (contravening section 5(1) of Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 as amended)
On 28 April 2021, the Defence filed an application in the Eastern Cape High Court for an order to declare a “mistrial” in the matter. When the Defence brought the said application, it became apparent that the allegations levelled against the prosecution team were quite serious and it became impossible for the State’s advocates seized with the criminal prosecution to continue dealing with the application in Court. In the circumstances, an application was made to the Honourable Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to approve the appointment of Adv. C.J Mouton SC, Adv. G Wolmarans and Adv. Chuma Mcoseli in terms of section 38(1) of the NPA Act 32 of 1998, since a determination had already been made that the matter should be opposed. The aforesaid section 38 Counsels have thus been appointed on behalf of the State to appear and argue the “mistrial” application.
6. THE STATE VERSUS CLIFFORD BISHOP AND OTHERS
The accused in the aforesaid matter are being prosecuted on a charge of arson, two (2) counts of murder and two (2) counts of attempted murder. Adv. Glenn Gregory Turner is prosecuting the matter. Adv. Turner has been on contract as a Senior State Advocate stationed at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Grahamstown. He was a member of the NPA for approximately 40 years. When his contract with the NPA expired on 30 June 2021, Adv. Turner requested his supervisor to complete the aforesaid matter, which at that stage was partly heard, in order to avoid inconvenience and costs.
7. THE STATE VERSUS XOLANI ZUNGU AND THREE (3) OTHERS
Adv. Greef was a Senior State Advocate attached to the Organised Crime Component, Durban. The aforesaid officer retired from the NPA with effect from 1 April 2021. She however declared to her supervisor willingness to return to complete the aforesaid matter without remuneration. The trial has been proceeding since April 2019, and the matter could not be finalised by the time Adv. Greef retired due to Covid-19 crisis.
The DPP held a view that it is in the interest of justice and expedient for Adv. Greef to continue prosecuting the matter, as she has been involved in the matter since its inception, and was au fair with all the challenges involved in the matter. The appointment of another prosecutor to continue with the matter would have potentially delayed the matter further, and involved unwarranted costs to the NPA.
- The table below provides details of specific cases the aforementioned persons have been engaged to perform duties and functions for the NPA:
Name of Supplier |
Business Unit |
Description of Service |
Ministerial Approval date |
Cost |
Adv. Nazeer Ahmed Cassim, SC |
ID |
Estina Dairy Farm |
19 May 2020 |
R3 000/h |
Adv. Isak Zirk Pansegrouw |
DPP Gauteng South |
State v Sylla Moussa |
21 May 2020 |
R1 800/h |
Adv. Wendy Greeff |
DPP KZN |
State v Xolani Zungu and 3 others |
31 Mar 2021 |
R0 |
Adv. Zinzile Zandisile Matebese, SC |
NPS |
State v Busisiwe Mkhwebane |
13 Apr 2021 |
R2 350/h |
Adv. Glenn Gregory Turner |
DPP Grahamstown |
State v Clifford Bishop and 2 others |
06 Sep 2021 |
R0 |
Adv. Andrew M Breitenbach, SC |
NPS |
State v J Zuma and Thales South Africa |
24 May 2021 |
R3 600/h |
Adv. Ncumisa Mayosi |
NPS |
State v J Zuma and Thales South Africa |
24 May 2021 |
R1 900/h |
Adv. Hephzibah Rajah |
NPS |
State v J Zuma and Thales South Africa |
24 May 2021 |
R2000/h |
Adv. Wim Trengove |
NPS |
State v J Zuma and Thales South Africa |
24 May 2021 |
R4 800/h |
Adv. Christiaan Johannes Mouton, SC |
DDPP Port Elizabeth |
State v Timothy Omotoso and others |
31 May 2021 |
R3 200/h |
Adv. Chuma Emily Mcoseli |
DDPP Port Elizabeth |
State v Timothy Omotoso and others |
31 May 2021 |
R600/h |
Adv. G Wolmarans |
DDPP Port Elizabeth |
State v Timothy Omotoso and others |
31 May 2021 |
R2 200/h |
Adv. Nazeer Ahmed Cassim, SC |
DPP Bloemfontein |
State v N Mokhesi and 15 others (Asbestos) |
17 December 2021 |
|
Adv. Sandra Freese |
DPP Bloemfontein |
State v N Mokhesi and 15 others (Asbestos) |
17 December 2021 |
|
Adv. Thabile Ngubeni |
DPP Bloemfontein |
State v N Mokhesi and 15 others (Asbestos) |
17 December 2021 |
|
25 April 2022 - NW924
Denner, Ms H to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With regard to the Government’s efforts to curb and eradicate gender-based violence in our society, what total number of (a) sexual offences courts have been fully established and are functioning throughout the Republic and (b) magistrates have been dedicated to such courts; (2) what total number of (a) cases have been brought before the dedicated courts and (b) the specified cases (i) have resulted in successful convictions and/or (ii) are still pending; (3) what (a) total number of offenders who have been found guilty were sentenced to imprisonment and (b) were the (i) minimum and (ii) maximum sentences handed down by the dedicated courts?
Reply:
(1)(a) From August 2013 up to 7 February 2020, the Department upgraded 106 courts into sexual offences courts in line with the MATTSO[1] Sexual Offences Courts (SOC) Model. Pursuant to the promulgation of section 55A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No 32 of 2007) (the Act), these courts are now referred to as the MATTSO courts.
On 7 February 2020, section 55A of the Act was promulgated into law to introduce the statutory sexual offences courts that must be established and resourced in line with the Regulations relating to Sexual Offences Courts. The Department is in the process of converting the MATTSO courts into the section 55A sexual offences courts. However, this does mean that the MATTSO courts ceased to function, as section 55A (5) of the Act empowers the MATTSO courts and the rest of the courts for the regional divisions to deal with sexual offences matters, even though they are not established as the sexual offences courts yet.
On 30 March 2022, the Minister received a letter of concurrence from the Acting Chief Justice to designate courts where the section 55A sexual offences courts must be established. With this progress at hand, it is therefore anticipated that the first batch of these courts will be released in the next financial year (2022/23).
(b) As indicated in paragraph (1)(a) above, at present only the MATTSO courts are prioritising the adjudication sexual offences matters until the establishment of the section 55A sexual offences courts. The Department is unable to provide the exact number of magistrates dedicated to the MATTSO courts, as the allocation of such presiding magistrates falls under the purview of the administrative functions of the head of each regional division (referred to as the Regional Court President). In seeking to formalise the execution of this judicial function per regional division, section 55A (7) of the Act requires the head of each regional division to issue directives with the purpose of ensuring that sexual offences matters receive priority at each sexual offences court. It is therefore expected that the Regional Court Presidents will issue these directives upon the establishment of the section 55A sexual offences courts planned for the 2022/23 financial year.
(2) During the period 1 April 2021 to 28 February 2022, the 106 MATTSO courts registered the following cases according to the following metrics:
Reply to Question (2)(a) |
Reply to Question (2)(b)(ii) |
||
Province |
No. of MATTSO Courts |
Total No. of new cases registered |
Total No. Pending cases |
Eastern Cape |
6 |
151 |
327 |
Free State |
9 |
403 |
593 |
Gauteng |
21 |
695 |
810 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
12 |
425 |
700 |
Limpopo |
10 |
142 |
333 |
Mpumalanga |
7 |
246 |
507 |
Northern Cape |
12 |
150 |
274 |
North West |
14 |
161 |
506 |
Western Cape |
15 |
349 |
936 |
TOTAL |
106 |
2 722 |
4 986 |
(2)(b)(i) During the period 1 April 2021 to 28 February 2022, the NPA reported cases of sexual offences finalised with conviction as follows:
Total No of cases finalised with a verdict |
Total No of Cases finalised with a Conviction |
Percentage of Conviction |
|
All provinces |
4 040 |
3 008 |
74.5% |
Courts attached to the 55 TCCs |
1 190 |
910 |
76.5% |
3. The Department is currently not collecting statistics according to the types of sentence imposed on convicted sex offenders, and this includes sentences imposed in terms of the minimum sentencing legislation referred to as the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 105 of 1997). However, the correction of this matter is already receiving attention. In January 2022, the Department established a Task Team constituted by statisticians, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) specialists and the system developers drawn from DoJ&CD, NPA, Legal Aid South Africa, the Integrated Justice System (IJS) and the judiciary to address gaps in the current data metrics of the Integrated Case Management System (ICMS): Criminal and to align this data repository to the new changes introduced by the recent 3 GBV Amendment Acts of 2021. The upgrading of the ICMS: Criminal will unfold in a phase-in approach which gives priority to the inclusion of the additional data metrics on sentencing, as part of Phase 1. The latter Phase is expected to be finalised in 2022/23 financial year.
While the Department’s ICMS upgrade is in progress, the NPA is collecting statistics on the imprisonment sentences imposed on convicted sex offenders, but in a limited scale. During the period 1 April 2021 to 28 February 2022, the NPA reported that the 55 Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) recorded the following breakdown of sentences imposed exclusively on convicted rape offenders:
Offence |
Type of Sentence |
Number |
RAPE |
Life imprisonment |
173 |
20-25 years imprisonment |
89 |
|
10-19 years imprisonment |
338 |
Please note that these statistics do not give the complete performance of all courts in the country, as it is limited only to those courts that are linked to the 55 TCCs.
-
Ministerial Advisory Task Team on the Adjudication of Sexual Offences Matters ↑
25 April 2022 - NW1023
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Deputy President
Whether, as the Patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement, he has any plans to intervene in instances of violence and substance abuse in our schools in order to restore values and morals among our youth; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Moral Regeneration Movement notes the incidents of violence and substance abuse in schools which involves, amongst others, sexual abuse, allegations of racism, bullying, drugs and alcohol abuse amongst learners. The apex of these being murders amongst learners.
The Moral Regeneration Movement continues to intervene to address these ills in our schools and communities. The Moral Regeneration Movement has engaged and encouraged public, private, religious, Traditional and Inter-Faith Leaders, civil society formations, and other stakeholders to partner in adopting prioritised school project. It has further engaged and partnered with the Department of Basic Education in incorporating the Moral Regeneration Movement’s Charter of Positive Values, and other moral renewal programmes as part of the curriculum.
In this regard, the Moral Regeneration Movement is committed to:
- Develop programmes which are inclusive of ethical, and values driven leadership in schools and communities
- Promoting school safety in partnership with Department of Basic Education and South African Police Service.
- Empowering community leaders and structures to address social issues facing school and communities, in particular, to eradicate racism and xenophobia in schools and communities.
In promoting the Charter of Positive Values and the Bill of Rights in places of learning, workplaces and communities, the Moral Regeneration Movement view morals as societal, and transcend community confines, hence it has developed a programme to promote ethical leadership across society. This programme has footprints in workplaces and institutions of higher learning to:
- Develop ethical and values driven leadership in institutions of higher learning and communities
- Have each university to adopt the charter of positive values
- Develop and nurture ethical leadership in student leaders
- Address social ills facing institutions of higher learning
- Create platforms for ongoing conversation on the values and ethics that student leaders should aspire towards.
The Ethical Leadership Project further seeks to support leaders, educators and communities to set up mechanisms, and systems that will promote ethical leadership, re-instate discipline in our schools, and foster a sense of accountability towards a moral and ethical society for the common good, and to address the abuse children in our schools in order to restore values and morals among the youth.
- END -
25 April 2022 - NW1009
Steenhuisen, Mr JH to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) What is the (a) volume in barrels, (b) average cost in Dollars per barrel and (c) value of the Republic’s strategic fuel reserve currently; (2) (a) how often was a rotation of the strategic fuel reserve undertaken (i) in the (aa) 2019-20 and (bb) 2020-21 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2021 and (b) what was the reason for each rotation that was undertaken in each case; (3) to what extent will the Republic’s strategic fuel reserve shield South Africans from the predicted fuel crises caused by the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine? NW1257E
Reply:
(1)(a) Whilst there are 10 million barrels of crude oil in the terminal, only 8.7 million barrels are accounted as inventory and the balance is working stock.
(b) The cost per barrel is as per prevailing market rate. Each grade of Crude oil is priced differently at a premium or discount of Brent Crude Oil as prevailing in the market. As at the 4th of April Brent Crude Oil was trading at $104/bbl.
(c) As at the 28th of March 2022 the cost value of the strategic reserves in tank was R 1 750 764 252. This is what would be reflected on the annual financial statement in terms of the accounting rules.
(2) There has not been any rotation of strategic reserves during the abovementioned periods.
(3) As per the joint statement issued by the National Treasury and the Department of Minerals and Energy, the Strategic stock will be utilised to provide a R 6 Billion cover for revenue lost in the reduction of the general fuel levy for two months. This will effectively “reduce the general fuel levy for Petrol from R3.85 per litre to R2.35 per litre and reduce the general fuel levy for diesel from R3.70 per litre to R2.20 per litre”
25 April 2022 - NW1291
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether, in light of the fact that her department utilised 2% of the Presidential Early Childhood Development Stimulus Relief Fund for administration fees, what (a) was the total amount from which the administration fees were deducted and (b) was the total amount of the administration fees in Rands; (2) whether second and third administration fees were charged in 2021 and 2022 respectively; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) was the value in Rands of the second and third administration fees, (b) is the breakdown of how the administration fees were utilised, (c) are the names of the service providers who were paid with the administration fees and (d) are the amount(s) paid to the specified service providers?
Reply:
1. The amount was used for administration costs which may include administration fees, staff costs, travel costs required for administration of the grant by Provincial Departments of Social Development.
a) The total budget allocation for the Presidential ECD Stimulus Relief Fund was R496,250 for the 2020/21 financial year;
b) Of the total budget above, an amount of R6,409 million was budgeted for a once-off administration cost.
c) No, administration costs were charged as a once-off (refer to b). Of the budgeted administration costs, an amount of R1,282 million was spent as per the breakdown below:
Province |
Amount |
Commodity |
Northern Cape |
R 283 920-00 |
Advertising and Marketing |
Western Cape |
R 998 380-00 |
Service Providers staff cost and travel costs for site visits across the Province conducting second level verification of ECD facilities and practitioners |
Total |
R1 282 300-00 |
(c)(d)
Province |
Service Provider |
Amounts |
Northern Cape |
NCRF (National Community Radio Forum) Northern Cape |
R283 920-00 |
Western Cape |
Foundation for Community Work |
R 998 380 |
Total |
R1 282 300 |
25 April 2022 - NW406
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What contract management measures are in place in his department to ensure that contract periods and/or durations do not end before a new service provider is appointed?
Reply:
In improving contract management at DCS, contract management at Department of Correctional Services, contract owners or End Users are reminded in writing twelve (12) months ahead and within six months another follow up is made in advance to ensure that contract periods or durations do not end before a new service provider is appointed.
In addition, this contract register also assist to indicate if the service provided is still required and what are the implications going forward.
The department also issued a directive that no extension of contract will be entered into as part of improving contract management and reducing irregular processes.
END
25 April 2022 - NW773
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What total number of girls between the ages of 9 and 18 years have been sexually assaulted at schools in the past five years and (b) in which area and/or province has this been most prevalent?
Reply:
The Department of Basic Education does not keep statistical information on sexual assault nationally. This information resides with Provincial Education Departments. However, as the Department is building the South African Schools Administration and Management System, this element is accommodated in the plans. It is advised that the Honourable Member obtains the information directly from provinces.
25 April 2022 - NW970
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
What number of due diligence checks that were undertaken on behalf of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) for recruitment purposes in the past 12 months have (a) been returned to the DPWI due to insufficient information, (b) not complied with the requirements of her department in terms of (i) structure, (ii) format and (iii) information and (c) been processed and finalised?
Reply:
Section 3(7) of the Public Service Act, 1994 gives powers to Executive Authorities for purposes of recruitment. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) however supports the Minister for the Public Service and Administration (MPSA) in the processing of Cabinet Memoranda for purposes of appointments of Directors-General and Deputy-Directors-General at National government. Insight is therefore only limited to the processing of such Cabinet Memoranda.
(a) & (b)(i)(ii)(ii) According to available records, the DPWI submitted six (6) Cabinet Memoranda, five (5) of which were referred back for additional information and to seek clarity pertaining to the adherence to the recruitment regulatory and legislative framework.
(c) Three (3) Cabinet Memoranda were tabled following clarity being sought from the DPSA. A total of three (3) Cabinet Memoranda are still receiving attention by the DPWI in order to clarify matters raised after, the DPSA provided guidance on how to properly apply the regulatory framework.
25 April 2022 - NW1087
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Noting that many children’s homes have announced that they have matched children to adoptive parents, but that they are waiting for her department to confirm the placements before the specified children can go to their new homes, what (a) are the full, relevant details of the total number of placements that her department is currently processing and (b) is the reason for the backlog; (2) whether her department has any action plan to speed-up the placement issue; if not, why not; if so, what is the (a) timeline and (b) action plan for the resolution of the specified issue?
Reply:
It is important for the Honourable Member to note that adoption is regulated in terms of the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005), which outlines which processes must be followed to protect the best interest of the child. The Department has to follow all the regulations to comply with the provision of the Act.
1. (a) It should be noted that there is no backlog for adoption applications. The total number of adoption cases that the department is currently processing is 41, with provincial breakdown as follows:
Province |
Number of applications being processed currently |
Eastern Cape |
10 |
North-West |
8 |
Mpumalanga |
6 |
Northern Cape |
4 |
Free-State |
0 |
KZN |
13 |
Gauteng |
0 |
Western Cape |
0 |
Limpopo |
0 |
TOTAL |
41 |
(b) Not applicable as there is no backlog
2. (a) Refer to (b)
(b) Refer to (b)
25 April 2022 - NW1236
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What steps will be taken by her department to speed up the filling of vacancies in the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training?
Reply:
UMALUSI’S RESPONSE TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION 1236
What steps will be taken by her department to speed up the filling of vacancies in the Council for Quality Assurance and Further Education and Training?
a) Umalusi has a total staff establishment of one hundred and thirty-eight (138) approved positions on the structure.
b) Of the one hundred, and thirty-eight (138) approved positions, one hundred and thirty (130) positions are filled.
c) The organisation currently has eight (8) vacancies, and seven (7) vacancies are in the process of being filled. One (1) vacancy will be filled after completing the infrastructure renovations later during the current financial year.
d) Due to the ever-increasing pressures in delivering a national mandate, there is a need to expand the Umalusi staff establishment. The organisation intends to submit a request to the Council during the current financial year to create additional posts, but the approval and filling of these posts will be considered within the limited budget allocation.
25 April 2022 - NW1321
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)(a) What total number of officials in her department at the senior management level of (i) director, (ii) chief director and (iii) deputy director-general are on suspension, (b) how long has each specified official been on (i) paid and (ii) unpaid suspension and (c) what are the reasons for their suspension in each case; (2) whether each official is undergoing disciplinary hearings; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, on what date is it envisaged that each disciplinary hearing will be finalised?
Reply:
A senior manager at the level of Chief Director is currently on precautionary suspension in the department. The official has been on suspension for a period of 212 days for allegations in relation to attack and assault of a fellow colleague. Disciplinary processes relating to this matter are at an advanced stage.
25 April 2022 - NW587
Jacobs, Mr F to ask the Minister of Social Development
How (a) will the underpayment of provisional tax, including its penalty, be managed better regarding the Social Relief of Distress grant of R350,00 and (b) has its mismanagement further influenced possibilities for an increase by the National Treasury?
Reply:
The matter in question relates to the competence of the Ministry of Finance and the Honourable Member is advised the question to the relevant Executive Authority.
25 April 2022 - NW955
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)What measures and/or interventions has her department put in place to ensure that appointments within the Public Service are based purely on merit and competency; (2) Whether the specified measures and/or interventions apply to the appointments of senior managers within the Public Service; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) & (2) The Public Service Act, 1994 and Public Service Regulations, 2016 requires that persons who are appointed in the Public Service must be fit and proper and further indicates that any person who is appointed must meet the inherent requirement of the job. In the making of any appointment in terms of section 9 of the Public Service Act, 1994, in the public service- (a) all persons who applied and qualify for the appointment concerned shall be considered; and (b) the evaluation of persons shall be based on training, skills, competence, knowledge and the need to redress, in accordance with the Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act 55 of 1998), the imbalances of the past to achieve a public service broadly representative of the South African people, including representation according to race, gender and disability.
These legislative prescripts apply to all appointments in the Public Service which must be open, transparent and fair to all of those who apply. The intention is to seek the best person for the post within the context of the regulatory framework.
25 April 2022 - NW1133
Mabika, Mr M to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether she has been informed of the application to build a high school between Hlokohloko and Hlazane Primary Schools in the Umkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal that was made by the community over a decade ago, because learners from the two primary schools still have to walk for over 10km to the nearby Vukani Bantwana and Esiphondweni High schools without any form of scholar transport; if not, will she intervene to solve the problem; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The question falls within the purview of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. Attached please find response from KZN.
22 April 2022 - NW1214
Groenewald, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether, in light of the fact that in terms of section 73 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, Act 117 of 1998, municipalities must establish ward committees within 120 days after a local government election, any municipalities failed to comply with the specified provision; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) which municipalities failed to comply and (b) what are the reasons for their non-compliance; (2) whether the specified municipalities that failed to comply, rectified it after the 120 day-provision to date; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
1. (a) In terms of Section 73 (1A) (a) of the Local Government Municipal Structures Amendment Act, if a metropolitan or local council is unable to establish a ward committee or ward committees in accordance with subsection (1), the speaker must, prior to the expiry of the 120 days after the elections, in writing and on good cause shown, request the MEC, responsible for local government in the province concerned, for an extension. Municipalities that could not meet the deadline have been guided to request extensions from their respective MECs to ensure compliance. The following municipalities did not meet the deadline:
PROVINCE |
DISTRICT |
MUNICIPALITY |
NUMBER OF WARDS |
EASTERN CAPE |
Nelson Mandela Bay |
60 |
|
Chris Hani |
Sakhisizwe LM |
9 |
|
Alfred Nzo |
Umzimbuvu LM |
27 |
|
Sundays River Valley LM |
8 |
||
Sara Baartman |
Kou - Kamma LM |
6 |
|
Kouga LM |
15 |
||
Ndlambe LM |
10 |
||
Makana LM |
14 |
||
Dr Beyer's Naude LM |
14 |
||
Blue Crane LM |
6 |
||
FREE STATE |
Mangaung Metro |
51 |
|
Lejweleputswa |
Tokologo LM |
7 |
|
Thabo Mofutsanyana |
Mantsopa LM |
9 |
|
Maluti A Phofung LM |
35 |
||
Setsoto LM |
17 |
||
Xhariep |
Kopanong LM |
9 |
|
Mohokare LM |
7 |
||
GAUTENG |
City of Johannesburg |
135 |
|
City of Tshwane |
107 |
||
West Rand District |
Merafong LM |
28 |
|
KWAZULU-NATAL |
Umzinyathi |
Umvoti LM |
14 |
MPUMALANGA |
Gert Sibande |
Lekwa LM |
15 |
NORTHERN CAPE |
Frances Baard |
Dikgatlong LM |
8 |
Phokwane LM |
10 |
||
ZF Mgcawu |
Kai Garib LM |
10 |
|
Tsantsabane LM |
7 |
||
Pixley ka Seme |
Thembelihle LM |
6 |
|
Kareeberg LM |
6 |
||
Renosterberg LM |
5 |
||
Siyathemba LM |
6 |
||
NORTH WEST |
Dr Kenneth Kaunda |
Maquassi Hills LM |
11 |
Bojanala |
Moretele LM |
26 |
|
Moses Kotane LM |
34 |
||
WESTERN CAPE |
Cape Winelands |
Witzenberg LM |
12 |
Eden |
Oudtshoorn LM |
13 |
|
TOTAL |
13 |
35 |
743 |
(b) The reasons for non-compliance or not being able to meet the 120 days deadlines by certain municipalities were due to the late constitution of some municipal councils, especially in hung municipalities, non-adopted public participation and ward committee establishment policies, disputes lodged by communities as well as human resource changes experienced in the Offices of the Speaker.
(2) Yes, some municipalities failed to comply requested extensions and were granted such by their respective MECs. These municipalities are proceeding with the establishment of ward committees.
22 April 2022 - NW1229
Ceza, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
What action has been taken by her department to compel provinces and municipalities who are sitting on section 106 reports to submit such reports?
Reply:
The Department engages with provinces and municipalities through correspondences and meetings to ensure that they submit such copies of investigation reports conducted in line with Section 106 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, 2000. The Department continues to collaborate with law enforcement agencies and provinces through the recently established Local Government Anti-Corruption Forum (LGACF) to ensure the implementation of recommendations emanating from such investigation reports. Amongst others, the formation of the LGACF is vital for the purpose of fostering collaboration amongst the stakeholders at the local government level in order to effectively prevent corruption and coordinate efforts amongst all the key stakeholders including law enforcement agencies.
Further, if the Honourable Member is aware of such a report/s which have not been shared with the Department or law enforcement agencies, the Honourable Member is requested to provide more details so that officials from the Department can follow up on the matter.
22 April 2022 - NW1208
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, with regard to farmers who find it difficult to do artificial insemination due to the costs of semen, her department intends to establish semen banks in all districts so that farmers can get semen at a low cost; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No, there are no intentions of developing semen banks in Districts.
South Africa possesses superior animal genetic materials that is sought after all over the world. These animals were developed by objective breeding over a significant number of years. Artificial insemination was never prioritised as an instrument to improve livestock fertility due to huge capital requirements to establish bull-testing centres for semen collection and distribution. However, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has over the years collaborated with Provincial Departments of Agriculture to implement animal improvement programmes that involve donation of animals to improve reproduction of animals in the hands of emerging and developing livestock farmers.
22 April 2022 - NW1263
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
In light of the fact that the Republic has, for the second time, on 24 March 2022, chosen to abstain when the United Nations called for a vote on the situation in Ukraine (details furnished), at what point, such as the number of civilian casualties reached and type of weapons used, will the Republic consider re-evaluating the impact of the call for dialogue, mediation and diplomacy, which after more than a month into the conflict, has had little or no impact in stemming the humanitarian crisis that the Republic claims to be very concerned about?
Reply:
South Africa is not indifferent to the unfolding situation in Ukraine. South Africa has expressed deep concern about the continuing conflict, the loss of lives and the deteriorating humanitarian situation and consequently urged for the cessation of hostilities.
South Africa remains steadfast in its view that dialogue, mediation and diplomacy is the only path to de-escalate and ultimately resolve the current conflict. In this regard, we reiterate our call for the Good Offices of the United Nations to mediate in pursuit of finding a sustainable solution and for us as member states to facilitate an enabling environment for dialogue.
In its engagement on the matter of Ukraine, South Africa has maintained that international law needs to be respected and adhered to by all countries equally and that no country should be able to violate international law with impunity.
South Africa has always opposed violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, in keeping with the UN Charter. We have also decried the humanitarian disaster that has resulted from the ongoing use of force in Ukraine, and called for the urgent opening of humanitarian corridors and the provision of aid to the civilian population which, as usual, bears the brunt of the suffering when violent confrontation breaks out.
South Africa has also maintained that as we focus on the conflict in Ukraine, there also needs to be consistency in the manner in which we approach the rule of law and respect for the UN Charter as we address situations of conflict across the globe. International law needs to be respected and adhered to by all countries equally.
We need to reflect that despite the slew of resolutions that condemn the Russian Federation in the global community and in the UN, the conflict has escalated. In our engagements with some of the supporters of these resolutions, we have indicated that while we have some of the same goals, such as an agreement to an immediate ceasefire, the opening of humanitarian corridors and mediated negotiations towards a lasting peace, we have different strategies. Perhaps, if the strategies proposed by South Africa and other non-aligned countries were followed, the conflict may have de-escalated.