Reply:

1. The Department of Human Settlements has:

(a) An expenditure on catering of R 47 306 107.81 for the period stipulated

(b) An expenditure on entertainment of R 166 708.04 for the period stipulated

(c) An expenditure on accommodation for:

(i) Minister R 1 171 035.97; and including her staff R 5 278 335.85

(ii) Deputy Minister R 849 375.85; and including her staff R 3 182 717.12

(iii) The Department R 23 449 728.33

Reply:

1. Yes, intergovernmental assessment to determine the ability and/or preparedness of municipalities to implement the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, Act 46 of 1998 (AARTO) has been conducted from 2015/16 Financial Year with the most recent readiness assessment completed in the current financial year 2021/22.

The readiness assessments were conducted in all 9 (nine) provinces and covered 213 Metro/Municipal jurisdictions. The readiness assessment scope sought to establish the following:

1.1 Whether an issuing authority has an issuing authority code and user group office code as per NaTIS system;

1.2 Whether all key actors have been trained i.e. law enforcement, data capturers and cashiers;

1.3 Whether the requisite IT equipment has been installed;

1.4 Whether all the SLAs between IAs and SAPO, GPW & RTIA are in place(this relates to printing and posting as well as the availability of stationery);

1.5 Whether all actors are registered on the system;

1.6 Whether Back Office and Camera enforcement system is managed by the IA or an external service provider; and

1.7 Whether the service provider is linked to National Contraventions Register (to establish whether the service provider is AARTO ready).

2. My Department in the process of rolling out AARTO engaged with the MEC’s for Transport and Community Safety and Minister of Justice & Correctional Services requesting their concurrence in the promulgation of the AARTO regulations. All MEC’s within the Road Transport Management portfolio with the exception of Western Cape provided their concurrence to the Department to proceed with the envisaged National AARTO rollout.

Furthermore, there is already a National AARTO National Steering Committee comprising of the Provinces and Municipalities tasked with monitoring the readiness to implement AARTO, I will look at that report and should the need arise to engage the MEC’s on the provincial readiness before the final implementation.

Reply:

Answering these questions would require extensive research, as they relate to a period spanning four decades. This is compounded by the unreliability of some of the information, which relates to activities undertaken during the apartheid era. For example, some of the projects that were undertaken during the apartheid era were secret projects that were not properly or fully recorded. Therefore, the information required to answer the questions is not available.

Reply:

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Reply:

Answering these questions would require extensive research, as they relate to a period spanning four decades. This is compounded by the unreliability of some of the information, which relates to activities undertaken during the apartheid era. For example, some of the projects that were undertaken during the apartheid era were secret projects that were not properly or fully recorded. Therefore, the information required to answer the questions is not available.

Reply:

Answering these questions would require extensive research, as they relate to a period spanning four decades. This is compounded by the unreliability of some of the information, which relates to activities undertaken during the apartheid era. For example, some of the projects that were undertaken during the apartheid era were secret projects that were not properly or fully recorded. Therefore, the information required to answer the questions is not available.

Reply:

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Reply:

This CARA fundeding prioritised funding of CSOs in under resourced areas including township and rural areas. More victims of Gender Based Violence in these under resources areas are able to access services from these CARA funded CSOs. This CARA funded project has overall contributed towards increased accessibility of victim empowerment services to victims of gender based violence.

77 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) funded through this fund are classified as emerging due to inadequate project management, governance and financial management capacity within these CSOs. The process of implementing the mentoring and coaching programme is underway. R5 million of CARA funding was budgeted for implementation of mentoring and coaching for emerging CSOs. This mentoring and Coaching is underway.

It should however be noted that the process of conducting evaluation study on the CARA funded projects has been initiated and the final evaluation report will provide more reliable findings regarding the impact of this CARA funded project.

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Reply:

The Member is informed that question 1902 on 22 October 2021 was asked to and responded by the Minister of Finance and not the Minister of Social Development. However, the response follows.

1. The allocation of the R496 million, when announced and allocated as part of the 2020 Conditional Grants, was based on the “Equitable share formula” to the provincial Departments of Social Development and not based on the applications of ECD staff.

As a result, six (6) of the nine (9) provincial Departments of Social Development received more funding that was required in terms of the number of ECD staff applied. The remaining three (3) provinces had a shortfall based on the number of applications received.

This has resulted that the six (6) provincial Departments of Social Development could only request roll over funds that was committed in terms of ECD staff at financial year-end and three (3) provinces could only commit what was allocated. As a result of this, the R41 million difference was lost and was returned back to National Treasury.

Therefore, the National Treasury only approved the requests by provincial Departments of Social Development for “Roll over funds” to the 2021/22 financial year based on the actual commitments registered for outstanding ECD Staff that was eligible for payment and thus approved that R351 million be rolled over to the 2021/22 financial year to the provincial Departments of Social Development.

2. In terms of the guidelines of the National Treasury for the “Roll over of Funds”, it is not permitted to apply for rollovers twice for the same purpose. However, given the nature of the ECD stimulus, the Department intends to engage the National Treasury to request for a roll over to finalise the payment of the ECD Stimulus Package in the 2022/23 financial year.

The Department of Social Development and Basic Education will engage the National Treasury on how best this project can be concluded in the 2022/23 financial year.

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1. Background

The National Development Agency (NDA) was appointed by the Department of Social Development (DoSD) in December 2019 to coordinate and implement, on behalf of the Department, the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA): Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) through appointment of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who will provide direct and indirect support to victims of gender-based violence and femicide.

The total amount for the Programme transferred to the NDA in 2020 was R95 million. R90 million was allocated for CSOs funding while R5 million was allocated for a mentorship programme for emerging CSOs. The NDA Board approved 312 CSOs to receive the funding to the amount of R85 700 000.00 to implement GBVF programmes in communities across all nine Provinces. The balance of R4 300 000.00 from the R90 000 000.00 was not committed in the first call for proposals. Moreover, there was a R3 400 000.00 saving made from the initial approved list. The total funds available for the second call for proposals is R7 700 000.00 based on the balance from the first call for proposals and the savings cited above.

2. Response to Questions

(a)(i) The total number of proposals received as a response to the NDA CARA second call for proposals was 313. However, only 186 complied to the closing time for the call for proposals which was 21 October 2021, 12:00 noon and therefore were assessed for possible funding.

(a) (ii) The names of applicants received in each Province for the CARA funds second call for proposals, with information on district, physical address, contact details is attached as Register 1.

(b) The document with the 186 assessed proposals (names of the organisations) and Provinces for the second call for proposals is attached as Register 1 whilst Register 3 indicates the 41 shortlisted proposals for verification.

(c) Each CSOs is allocated an amount of R200 000.00 per and would paid in two tranches after it was approved by the NDA Board, the second tranche is paid after the CSOs has submitted a reports stipulated in the contract between the CSO and the NDA.

(d) (i) To date the NDA has made payment of R40 350 000.00 to 296 Civil Society Organisations for first tranches.

(d) (ii) R26 450 000.00 has been paid to 189 Organisations for second tranche payments. Second tranche payments are made once the CSOs have met the conditions stated in the signed SLA for second tranche payment.

(e) The successful Organisations were identified through evaluation criteria set by the Project Steering Committee responsible for assessment of all proposals submitted for funding of CSOs for the implementation of the CARA programme. The criteria were part of the Terms of Reference included in the second call for proposals to ensure that CSOs were aware of it at the time of preparation and submission of the proposals. The ToRs and criteria are attached as Annexure A.

Reply:

(1)

The ECD Stimulus allocation was allocated to the National Department of Social Development on condition that it will become part of the 2020 ECD Conditional Grant and therefore implementation by the provincial Departments of Social Development. These conditions were set by the National Treasury and approved within the “Division of Revenue Act.

The National Department of Social Development has since the inception of this project, centralised the application process since no systems were in place for the implementation of this project, given the informal nature of the ECD sector.

However, the Department developed a policy that guided the implementation of this project. The policy clearly indicated the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders including the provincial Departments of Social Development.

The Department also further received technical support from DG Murray Trust (DGMT), who assisted in management of the implementation of the project and attended to communication matters that related to this project. DGMT appointed the service provider in this regard.

DGMT advised that they are financially constrained and cannot continue financially supporting the project.

It is against this background that national Department of Social Development decentralised some of the activities that include staff and site verifications. Site verification was already done by provinces. The National Department remained with the technical part of the project which is batch generation.

(2)

This shift has no impact in the payment of ECD programmes as some of the provinces were already verifying the ECD programmes to confirm that they are paying the right ECD programmes. During sessions held with provinces led by HODs, provinces showed willingness and commitment to consolidate the project by paying those ECD programmes that qualify to be paid.

(3)

The National Department engaged the provincial Department teams led by HODs about the shift in responsibilities and decentralisation. The only issue raised during these engagements was training of officials to carry out the responsibilities which was done by both the service provider and the national departmental officials. The provinces committed to projectized the project. Provinces developed project plans and submitted to National, which are continuously monitored through different departmental structures.

(4) (a)

It should be noted that training was provided to provinces to prepare them for the execution of their new roles. Continuous support is provided to those provinces that need support. This include the functioning of help desks where officials at national level are deployed to assist in managing and resolving issues when necessary. Continuous monitoring of the implementation of this project is also done through meetings nationally and with individual provinces.

(b)

It is the intention of the department to finalise payment by the end of March 2022. It should be noted that the majority of the ECD programmes have been requested to correct their information, with only few responding to the call. Some staff members of the ECD programmes have on a repeated basis failed verification despite correction of information, same with bank verification. This could imply that these applicants and staff are non-existent and therefore should this pattern continue the department will be left with no option but to pay those who qualify and close the project.

Reply:

The Department, as well as SASSA considers it as a top priority to ensure that every client is attended to with dignity at all times when visiting our offices or interacting with all SASSA staff. With regard to the Walvis Bay office, a senior delegation recently visited Walvis Bay. The purpose of the visit was to prepare the environment for the review project which is currently underway, but also to engage stakeholders in Walvis Bay and the SASSA staff member to address the complaints which had been received.

The local office in Walvis Bay has not been adequately resourced, which has given rise to frustrations from both the staff member and the members of the community. This is being addressed to ensure that the environment is conducive to the service provided.

One of the targets set in the operational plan for 2022/23 is to conduct a satisfaction survey to obtain feedback from service users which will be used to inform a service delivery improvement plan. In addition, training for staff on customer care matters as well as legislative requirements is planned for the new financial year.

The other target which has been set for SASSA is to develop and implement a comprehensive customer services strategy, which will enable SASSA to measure and report on aspects directly related to the clients we serve and ensure the upholding of the Batho Pele principles.

The Department believes that the above interventions will go a long way towards ensuring that SASSA provides a customer centric service at all times.

Reply:

In August 2010, Limpopo Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs partnered with the Housing Development Agency (HDA) to, assist the Department with among other things, to ensure accelerated delivery of Sustainable Human Settlements in the Province.

In May/ June 2021, the Limpopo Department of Human Settlements appointed Housing Development Agency (HDA) as the implementing agent for the the construction of Transitional Residential Units (TRUs) following an assessment of the residential situation at Talana Hostel, Tzaneen, where it was evident that the settlement was highly congested and posed a risk of spreading the cvid-19 virus.

The Agency, in turn, appointed the contractor, Aventino Group CC through its procurement processes to carry out the actual work of construction of Transitional Residential Units (TRUs) at a total cost of R15 750 000 for supply and installation of basic engineering services for 142 Transitional Residential Units (TRUs). To date the Agency paid a total amount of R2 577 640 00 after the completion of forty (40) out of 142 TRUs. The money was paid in two (2) tranches) of R1 095 497 on 22 July and R1 482 143 on 24 July as reflected in the bank records of Aventino. The cost per unit, according to the appointment letter, amounted to R64 441 00. Specification for the construction of the TRUs were set out in the scope of work (Terms of Reference). A written contract was entered into between the Housing Development Agency and Aventino.

After the media uproar and public outcry following the official handover of the Transitional Residential Units (TRUs) by the Premier, the Department of Human Settlements requested the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to conduct an investigation into the TRUs. The findings of the investigation revealed the following,

1. The defects found in the TRUs are major structural and non-structural defects
2. The TRUs are not safe and pose a public health and safety hazard to inhabitants and other persons in their vicinity, and
3. The workmanship is generally poor and doesn’t meet the level of accuracy required in building construction.

Based on the findings of NHBRC investigation, the Housing Development Agency appointed a law firm (ENS) to assist with the internal investigations into allegations against its employees. Subsequently, three (3) officials were placed on precautionary leave and subject to disciplinary process. One of the officials has since resigned from the organization and the other two were issued with final written warnings as part of consequence management.

Furthermore the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) conducted an investigation with regard to this contract/ tender. To date, the Director of Aventino as well as the Housing Development Agency (HDA) Manager who was involved in the awarding of tender were arrested.

Based on the investigation conducted by the hawks and the public protector office, it is confirmed that there were no officials from the Department who were involved in the awarding of tender for 142 temporary Transitional Residential Units (TRUs). The contractor was appointed and paid by the Housing Development Agency. It must be noted that, the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs had not transferred any funds to Agency for this contract.

Reply:

• The Office Manager, Supervisors and floorwalkers manage long queues outside the offices and using manual ticket system to serve clients.
• The public is given information relating to the requirements of various applications/ services in the morning before they enter the office.
• The collection clients are also verified by service manager to avert a situation where the clients come to the office to check personally even if they did not receive the text SMS.
• The collection counter is strategically placed to allow efficient and better flow of queues.
• People with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers are prioritised and those who applied on line are also prioritised.
• All the Births, Marriages and Death re-issues of certificates are prioritised as they are already on the system and most can be issued on the spot.
• Back office staff assists at the front office during peak and high volume periods in line with the operations management principles.

To alleviate long queues at offices the Department has piloted the Branch Appointment Booking System at some live capture offices for Smart ID Card and Passports applications, as well as for the collections of both documents during the 2021/22 financial year. This system will allow clients to make a booking (appointment) and visit the office on the day and time of the appointment without standing in queues. The system will be rolled out to other identified high volume offices in the next years.

The Department also has a strategy to expand its infrastructure and its footprint, whereby currently twenty eighty (28) bank branches which are operational and available to service clients requiring DHA services. As part of the outreach programmes, mobile units are being deployed to far flung areas to deliver services to the public. There is currently a fleet of hundred (100) Mobile Units across the country. An additional ten (10) mobile units are being procured to increase the footprint in the department. The plan is to have all ten mobile units delivered before end of this financial year 2021/22.

END

Reply:

The National Department of Health is working with the North West Provincial Department of Health to obtain the details that the Honourable Member is requesting. The full response will be provided to the Honourable Member as soon as it is finalised with the North West Provincial Department of Health.

END.

Reply:

(1)(a) The Competition Commission undertakes stakeholder education and training initiatives on various aspects of the Competition Act, to promote compliance to its provisions. For the past five years, training has been focused on Public Procurement, with the following workshops conducted from 01 April 2021 to 14 March 2022:

Dates	Stakeholder	Notes
September 2021	Auditor General	The Commission provided training on Competition issues in Public Procurement to 180 participants in the Free State and Gauteng Business Units.
February 2022	Auditor General	The Commission provided training on Competition issues in Public Procurement to over 300 participants in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal Business Units.
March 2022	Auditor General	The Commission provided training on Competition issues in Public Procurement to over 100 participants in the Eastern Cape Business Unit.
March 2022	Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport	The Commission provided training to officials at the GDRT Competition issues in Public Procurement. The training session also sought to highlight issues related to a particular tender number PPR 2017 and SBD 9 Sub-contracting requirements.

In March 2022, the Commission published a training manual on procurement for officials, entitled: “A Guide on Promoting Competition in Public Procurement”; and a YouTube video entitled: “What Bidders Need To Know About Bid Rigging”.

(2)(a) and (b) The Commission did not conduct any benchmarking exercises, or have key performance indicators in place for this area of work. However, the Commission receives formal and informal feedback on its workshops from the institution/department where the training was provided and directly from workshop participants, all of which has been positive to date. The Commission also regularly receives complaints from government departments- in the main. These complaints are lodged by officials who are either aware of, or have received the Commission’s training on bid-rigging detection. Further, suspicious bid activity is an area which the AG highlights in their audit reports of entities. The relevant entities are expected to engage with the Commission on the matters, as they resolve audit findings.

-END-

Reply:

a) (i) The National Health Insurance (NHI) Pilot Programme took place over a five year period starting in the 2012 / 2013 financial year and concluding in the 2017 / 2018 financial year. The 1% decrease in the budget has no effect on the programme that was concluded four(4) years ago.

(ii) Any budget decrease reduces the amount of care that the health sector is able to provide. The NHI is a reform that will take time and that is to be phased in. The reduction of allocations will not impact the rollout of the NHI programme but it will negatively impact health care for those who use the public health system.

b) (i) Programme 3: Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases is the most affected by the decrease.

(ii) The decrease is mainly due to a reduction in the allocation to procure COVID-19 vaccines because sufficient stock were obtained during 2021 for the vaccination programme.

END.

Reply:

The mandate to investigate complaints against sheriffs as well as to institute disciplinary proceedings lies with the South African Board for Sheriffs.

In terms of Section 44 (1) of the Sheriffs Act, 1986 (Act No. 90 of 1986), any complaint, accusation or allegation against a sheriff may be lodged with the Board in the prescribed manner.

The prescribed manner is in terms of the Regulations relating to Sheriffs, 1990, and includes the submission of formal complaint to the South African Board for Sheriffs in an affidavit-format and/or per the form as prescribed in the Regulations.

In terms of section 44 of the Sheriffs Act, 1986, the Board can charge a sheriff for improper conduct and institute a disciplinary proceeding.

In terms of Chapter IV of the Sheriffs Act, 1986 (Act No. 90 of 1986), the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services can suspend the sheriff from office under certain circumstances and usually only does so on the recommendation of the Board for Sheriffs as the regulatory authority.

It is therefore recommended that the Honourable Member addresses her concerns to the Chairperson of the South African Board for Sheriffs for investigation.

 

 

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(1) I have been informed by the Department that:

(a) There are two pumps at the ESSEX pump station.

(b) Only one pump is operational.

(2)

(a) They are serviced monthly by DPWI Workshops personal.

(b) They were last serviced on 17th March 2022.

(3) The pumps were installed in 2019. One pump is in a good working condition and the other one is overheating due to ceased bearings and it is undergoing repairs.

(4) The faulty pump was discovered during the monthly servicing which took place on the 17th March 2022. The Facilities Management unit is in the process of requesting a quotation from the service provider who services the pump in order to determine whether the replacement cost can be accommodated under day to day servicing or if the replacement will need to be registered under planned projects.

Reply:

The clinic in Mabeskraal is functional. The cleaning materials have been provided and the monitoring system put in place to ensure continuous supply and availability.

The facility has a total of 43 toilets, 15 non-functional toilets have been attended. The remaining toilets process will be completed by the 15th of April 2022. The delay was due to replacement of the old plumbing system (complete flush master units) as they are worn out and problematic to repair. The current process is to replace the whole plumbing system.

END.

Reply:

Within the available time, the Department advises that 132 projects (involving 112 firms) have been supported in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality through 3 programmes, namely the support administered by the Industrial Financing Branch, the funding by the Industrial Development Corporation and the transactions of the National Empowerment Fund. Other programmes are in the process of recording their activities at District Municipality level, and the figures may be updated in future.

Data on ownership demographics for firms in Nelson Mandela Bay metro are available as follows:

1. The IDC supported 64 firms since the 2018/19 financial year. Forty-one (41) firms have black shareholding, ranging from four percent to 100% black ownership. Nineteen (19) of the firms were 100% black-owned.
2. The NEF supported 12 businesses all of which are black-owned and managed. More broadly in the E Cape, the NEF approved R706 million to date.
3. The Industrial Financing Branch supported 61 projects, involving 36 companies, 1 Trust and 11 projects in Coega, for 2018/19 to January 2022. Demographic details will be compiled by the Department. The Department advises that R1,7 billion was approved for the 61 projects, with total investment generated of R3,5 billion, which are projected to create 1 150 new jobs and retain 13 850 direct jobs with a further 926 construction jobs.

The Department has highlighted a number of success stories involving masterplan sectors in the presentation to Parliament on 27 October 2020. These include sectors with exposure in the Eastern Cape, including the following:

• The auto sector, covering both production of cars, bakkies and trucks as well as the manufacture of components locally. This is important for Nelson Mandela Bay as the auto sector is the largest manufacturing sector in the E Cape. Further examples of progress relates to VW production, Isuzu’s new model that is being rolled out and the new auto plant, namely BAIC.
• Clothing, textiles and footwear, with a stronger focus on localisation of supply-chains.
• Steel and metal fabrication, with programmes to rebuild the foundations of the sector.

-END-

Reply:

Molnupiravir and Paxlovid® (ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir) are oral antiviral agents that have been reviewed by the National Essential Medicines List (NEML) Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on COVID-19 Therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19 in ambulant patients.

The current rapid reviews or advisories, based on available published evidence at the time are accessible from the National Department of Health website. As evidence on COVID-19 therapeutics is emerging rapidly, the MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics reviews are routinely updated when new evidence becomes available. The MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics considers a range of factors apart from efficacy and safety when making recommendations.

The rapid review of molnupiravir, issued on 20 December 2021, was based on the available published evidence at the time which was a single randomised controlled trial by Bernal et al. (2021). Based on this data, a conditional recommendation was proposed by the MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics that molnupiravir not be used for the management of COVID-19 in ambulant unvaccinated patients.

However, in March 2022, more information has been released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the form of a supplement to the published WHO living guidelines: Safety and efficacy of molnupiravir compared to standard care/placebo. The NEML MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics will thus be reviewing this additional evidence to update the rapid review. Based on this new data, the recommendation may or may not be revised.

Similarly, for ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid), a conditional recommendation was proposed against it’s use for the treatment of COVID-19. The evidence base for the rapid review report dated the 14 March 2022, was a single randomised controlled trial of ambulatory unvaccinated adult patients with confirmed COVID-19, who were at high-risk for progression to severe COVID-19. This antiviral has the potential for many drug-drug interactions (including anti-epileptic and anti-diabetic medicines, protease inhibitors amongst others) and therefore given the potential safety risks associated with its use patient and healthcare worker- education would be required.

Products have yet to be registered in South Africa, and the NEML MAC on COVID-19 Therapeutics will be updating the review, when there is more information on the availability and pricing of generic products.

Both antivirals requires rapid access to definitive diagnosis and initiation within five days of the onset of symptoms and is contra-indicated in pregnancy, requiring women of childbearing potential to take effective contraception.

However, it is important to note that these oral antiviral formulations do not replace vaccination for prevention of COVID-19, but as treatment, once infection occurs.

END.

Reply:

The Department is aware of the tension between workers from Zimbabwe and Lesotho in the Robertson area that is approximately 40 kilometres outside the town of Worcester. In the Departments’ engagement with the Municipality and Law Enforcement, we were informed that employers are using unregistered Labour Brokers to recruit workers from Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

The DEL met some of the employers through the assistance of the Municipality and informed them that from the week of 11 April to 14 April we will be inspecting, through a blitz inspection programme, approximately 200 farms in the area to determine compliance with labour laws, including the registration of Labour Brokers as Temporary Employer Services. This will be done in collaboration with the Dept. of Home Affairs and the South African Police to ensure the smooth progress of the event. Any non-compliance found will be dealt with in terms of the prescripts of the law.

Reply:

a) (i) Nil

(ii) Nil

(aa) Nil

(bb) Nil

b) (i) Nil

(ii) Nil

(iii) Nil

c) Nil

 

 

N LETSHOLONYANE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CORPORATE SERVICES

DATE:

QUESTION FOR WITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NUMBER: PQ 880 [NW1061E]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11 MARCH 2022

Recommended/not recommended

M TSHANGANA

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

DATE:

__________________________________________________________________________

Approved/Not approved

MS M T KUBAY, MP

MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

DATE:

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still sourcing this information from the provinces. As soon as this information has been collated, it will be furnished to the Honourable member and Parliament.

END.

Reply:

a) The total number of inspectors posts is = 1 951

• The total number of filled inspectors’ posts as at on the 30th of March 2022 is = 1 785
• The total number of inspectors vacant posts is = 166.
• A vacancy rate of 8.50%
• The rate of filled posts is at 91.50%

b) The standard set is that 100% of all vacancies are expected to be filled within 4 months of being vacant.

The following table depicts the status quo with regards to progress on the filling of vacancies per province:

	EC	FS	GP	KZN	LP	MP	NC	NW	WC	TOTAL
Total vacancies	10	11	72	16	13	8	9	9	18	166
Number of vacancies advertised	2	1	33	7	3	4	2	2	6	60
Number of vacancies at shortlisting stage	4	2	11	0	0	3	3	6	4	33
Number of interviews conducted	2	4	14	2	0	0	2	0	1	25
Number in the process of being filled/issued with letters	2	4	14	7	10	1	2	1	7	48

Reply:

On 22 March 2022, I advised the Portfolio Committee of the work of the Department and its entities on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. In the course of the presentation and the engagement, I drew attention to the need to scale up the impact of the state’s efforts to promote spatial development. The Project Management Unit (PMU) was set up at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to enable better performance of Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks; and to integrate work on SEZs with the overall work of industrial funding by the IDC. Staff from the dtic were seconded to the Unit, with the budgeted financial allocation for salaries still being the responsibility of the Department. Their responsibilities include assisting companies to establish new businesses and significant progress has been made in the Tshwane SEZ, which has helped to create close to 4000 construction jobs and 559 permanent jobs to date.

-END-

Reply:

The Fund requests for and collects all outstanding information. The outstanding information will either relate to medical information from medical service providers or information from the employer, member or beneficiary to support the claim further.

Requests are sent, together with periodic follow up reminders, to the employer for the outstanding information. All parties, however, are responsible to ensure that the Fund receives any requested information.

Reply:

a) There were no incidents of sexual harassment or sexual assault reported during the past three (3) financial years and since 1 April 2021.

b) and (c) There were no cases of sexual harassment opened/withdrawn and thus no sanctions had to be issued.

-END-

Reply:

864. (a) (b) (c) (i) (ii)(iii)

All expenditures in relation to catering, entertainment and travel and subsistence including accommodation are disclosed in the audited Annual Financial Statements. The expenditure for the 2019/20 financial year was disclosed in the audited Annual Financial Statements of the former departments of Trade and Industry and Economic Development Department and the expenditure for the 2020/21 financial year was disclosed in the audited Annual Financial Statements Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). The current financial year’s audited Annual Financial Statements will be available in September 2022.

Catering:

The accounting records reflects expenditure on a cost centre level and according to the departmental records, the following amounts were spent for Ministry on catering which covers catering for meetings convened by Minister, Deputy Ministers and/ or the staff of Ministry. Catering covers refreshments, light meals or snacks.

Cost centre	2019/20	2020/21	Total
Ministry	R53 870	R22 292	R76 162

Entertainment:

The departments have spent the following amounts on entertainment for Ministry which largely cover expenditure for dinner meetings on international trips with international counterparts.

Cost centre	2019/20	2020/21	Total
Ministry	R10 556	R0	R10 556

Accommodation:

The departments have spent the following amounts on accommodation for Ministry which covers local and international accommodation booked for Minister, Deputy Ministers and/ or the staff of Ministry.

Cost centre	2019/20	2020/21	Total
Ministry

-END-

Reply:

We are still verifying information; we will revert to you as soon as it has been finalised.

Reply:

The Compensation Fund Board has been established in terms of section 12 of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act as an Advisory Board to advise the minister on policy matters.

It is not an Accounting Authority of the Fund and as such not involved in the day to today operations of the Compensation Fund.

Reply:

The oral antivirals, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid® (ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir), are indicated for use in the treatment of COVID-19 infections. These antivirals are indicated for use in ambulant patients and not in patients with more severe disease. Therefore the benefit of these agents for widespread use requires careful consideration as not all patients would be eligible to receive these traetmnets. Furthermore, the clinical trials for both agents were conducted in the unvaccinated population.

Additionally, Paxlovid is associated with significant drug-drug interactions with many commonly used agents in the management of comorbidities such as diabetes, epilepsy and HIV, i.e. high risk populations for COVID-19 infections. Significant training will be required to ensure its safe use in the target populations.

The aim of vaccination is to prevent morbidity and mortality. Vaccination has been proven to be a key intervention to prevent infections, or the severity of infections, in order to reduce the loss of life and to mitigate the public health and economic impact of the pandemic and end the acute phase of the global pandemic.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) (i) Two

(ii) Two

b) The Board of the IDT is appointed for a period of four years with effect from the date when the Trustees received their letter of authority, dated 05 July 2021.

c) The Accounting Authority is the Board of Trustees. The following are the names of the Board members:

1. Ms Tebogo Malaka: Chairperson, but currently acting as the CEO.
2. Ms Zimbini Hill: Interim Chairperson
3. Mr Timothy Sukazi
4. Dr Michael Sutcliffe
5. Mr Krishen Sukdev
6. Ms Lerato Kumalo
7. Ms Karabo Joyce Siyila
8. Ms Nthabiseng Mkhwanazi
9. Prof Raymond Nkado
10. Mr Mpilo Mbambisa
11. Mr Lufuno Nevondwe
12. Ms Rehana Parker

d) i) The details of posts with officials in an acting capacity are as follows:

• Regional General Manager: North West Office

• General Manager: Portfolio Management Services

• Executive Head: Corporate Services Unit

• Regional General Manager: Limpopo Office

• Regional General Manager: Mpumalanga Office

• Senior Manager: Legal Services

• General Manager: Financial Management

• Project Accountant – National Office

• Senior Business Analyst

• Human Resource Development Manager

• Personal Assistant to the CEO

• Programme Manager: Northern Cape

• Committee Officer

• Manager: Employee Relations

ii) These posts have not been permanently filled is due the history of the IDT, whereby the entity has been confronted with a going concern for the last 10 years. The IDT has gone through several phases of turnaround, of which the strategy of 2017 identified the most desirable organisational structure that reduced the staff complement to 310. However, there was a skewed balance between project management and admin staff. The latter formed the majority. There was a process of right-sizing the organisation that was required to be undertaken. The financial challenges and the uncertainty of the future of the IDT led to some of staff leaving. Since 2020, some of the vacant posts could not be filled because the IDT was not generating adequate funding to cover the employee costs.

iii) To date, the progress on filling vacancies is as follows:

• New appointments - the positions below were filled:
• Chief Financial Officer.
• Chief Audit Executive.
• Company Secretary.
• General Manager: Corporate Services Unit.
• Senior Manager: Risk and Compliance.
• 2 Internal Auditors.
• General Manager: Portfolio Management Services – To be advertised on 3 April 2022
• Executive Head: Project Management Services Unit (PMSU) – Position on advert stage.
• Senior Manager: Legal Services – Position advertised.
• General Manager: Financial Management – Negotiations and offer stage.
• Project Accountant – Priority list for advert.
• Manager: Employee Relations - Position advertised.
• Chief Information Officer - Position advertised.
• General Manager: Supply Chain - The position was re-advertised on 13 February 2022.
• Executive Manager: Corporate Services Unit - Position to be re-advertised.
• Supply Chain Practitioners – at shortlisting stage.

Reply:

a) (i) (aa) 1

(ii) 0

b) (i) 1

(ii) 0

(c) The accused was due for retirement when the case was finalised at the CCMA which was in favour of the employee, therefore the disciplinary hearing did not happen as he was already out of the system. The department paid the compensation to the employee to the value R160 118.88 as result of the arbitration outcome.

END.

Reply:

Vaccines are intended to prevent infection or reduce the severity of infection when it occurs. Most vaccines used in the prevention of illnesses are injectable.

In contrast, oral antiviral therapies are generally indicated for the treatment of infections when they occur. Therefore, the purpose of the vaccine compared to oral antiviral therapies are different, and they should not be considered as alternatives.

The role of the National Department of Health is to identify medicines which are safe, effective, cost-effective and affordable for inclusion in the Essential Medicines List. Medicines on the list are then procured for use in the public sector. To date, no antivirals against Covid-19 have met the criteria to be included on the Essential Medicines List.

Manufacturers are responsible for decisions regarding where medicines are manufactured. One of the key considerations that will inform the viability of local manufacturing is the volumes that may be intended for use that will produce the economies of scale leading to affordable prices. The required volume is informed by the size of the population that will benefit from a particular therapy.

END.

Reply:

(a) The figures of cases which are being prepared for deportation are 323.

(b) Illegal foreign nationals who are detected as illegal in the country, but found to have children or family units are issued with Orders to Depart and not deported, in order to allow them time to make their own arrangements to leave the country.

(i) Children born in the Republic

In cases where parents do not have legal status, they are issued with Orders to Depart from the country with the minor child, as they are attended to in the spirit of family unit principle.

(ii) Children attending schools in the Republic

All learners in schools (South African or foreign national) are managed primarily by the Department of Basic Education, whose policy allows for provisional registration over a 90-day period. At the end thereof, a study visa or proof of application at the Visa Facilitation Services must be submitted.

In cases where minors are unaccompanied, the Department of Social Development (DSD) becomes involved when requested to perform a background verification of the child, and this would be done with the Social Development and, International Red Cross where, necessary in the country of origin.

After tracing the child’s family, the family’s immigration status in the country is also verified. The DSD prepares report and can apply through the Children’s Court for a court order to place the child or relocate them to their country of origin.

END

Reply:

The 1 303 609 claims that were migrated from the old systems included claims that were finalised and those that were still current at the time of migration. These claims have been finalised and the Fund is presently dealing with current claims.

Reply:

The Department of Corporative Governance (DCOG) together with MISA, all provincial departments responsible for local government and provincial treasury departments, under the leadership of the Minister of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), prepared the State of Local Government report 2021.

The reasons for the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) was found to be dysfunctional with challenges in all pillars namely political, governance, administrative, financial & service delivery. All these challenges contribute to the MMM not able to sufficiently deliver basic services such as waste removal and fixing of leaking sewerage pipes.

It is for that reason that Mangaung Metro has since been placed under section 139(5)(a) and (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa; read together with Section 150 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (MFMA) to deal with challenges identified above.

 

 

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

I have been informed by the Department that:

a) and (c) Yes, consequence management has been initiated against the officials who are alleged to have had a hand in irregular appointments at a national and regional offices of the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure. The disciplinary hearings are chaired by independent chairpersons who are practicing advocates. One hearing was completed in 2020 with not guilty findings. A second hearing is nearing conclusion, but has been postponed to 20-22 April 2022. A third hearing took take place on the 30 March 2022. Furthermore, the Department has, in May 2019, lodged a court application to review and set aside the irregular appointments at the Labour Court. The date of this hearing is in May 2022.

Response with respect to North West Provincial office:

b) Yes, there is consequent management that is being applied against the officials who have been found to have had a hand in irregular appointments at Provincial Department of Public Works and Roads.

• There are three (3) cases which are currently in the process of consequence management with two (2) of the contracts being further investigated by forensic auditors

• Furthermore, there are seventeen (17) contracts currently in the process of forensic investigation with one of the terms of reference being to identify responsible official(s).

Upon completion, consequence management will be implemented as per recommendations.

NB: Kindly note that with respect to other Provincial Public Works and Roads offices, the question should be directed to their responsible MECs.

Reply:

The National Minimum Wage is enforced through the Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Act 7 of 2018: s65 to s75.

All the employers that transgressed the NMWA were brought to book.

As at the end of quarter 3 in the current financial year; the following was the outcome in this regard:

Number of BCEA and NMWA inspections conducted	126 261
Number found to be non-compliant	6 060
Number of notices issued	6 060
Amount of money recovered due to underpayment of the NMW	R19 684 305.00
Number referred for prosecution due to failure to comply with expired notices	809

:

Reply:

The following are names of Primary Healthcare Facilities that will be completed by end 2021/22 financial year.

Province Owner	Facility Asset Name	Project Name
Gauteng (GT)	Greenspark Clinic	Greenspark Clinic-Construction of new Clinic-ID
KwaZulu - Natal (KZ)	Chwezi Clinic	Chwezi Clinic: Supply, Installation and Commissioning of Park Home Unit
Mpumalanga (MP)	Pankop Clinic	Construction of new Pankop Clinic and 2 x 2 accommodation units at Pankop in Masobye Village
North West (NW)	Gateway Clinic	Gateway Clinic Parkhome
Northern Cape (NC)	Bankhara/Bodulong Clinic	Facility Replacements: Bankhara Bodulong Clinic
Western Cape (WC)	Avian Park Clinic (NEW)	Worcester - Avian Park Clinic - New
Western Cape (WC)	Khutsong South Clinic	Khutsong South Ext2 Clinic-Construction of new Clinic-ID
Western Cape (WC)	West Rand District Clinics	West Rand District Clinics - Electro
Western Cape (WC)	Ekubungazeleni Clinic	Ekubungazeleni Clinic - Re-route existing sewer line & upgrading the existing septic tank
Western Cape (WC)	Hlathi Dam Clinic	Hlathi Dam Clinic: Replacement of Existing Sewer System
Western Cape (WC)	Impilwenhle Clinic	Impilwenhle Clinic (Imbal)- New borehole.
Western Cape (WC)	KwaMashu Poly CHC	KwaMashu Poly CHC - Replacement of Fencing
Western Cape (WC)	Mazabeko Clinic	Mazabeko - Replacing of Existing Sewer system
Western Cape (WC)	Ndwedwe CHC	Ndwedwe CHC - Construction of medical waste area
Western Cape (WC)	Nondweni Clinic	Nondweni Clinic - Replacing of Existing Sewer system
Western Cape (WC)	Ntabeni Clinic	Ntabeni Cinic - Replacement of perimeter security fencing
Western Cape (WC)	Oqaqeni Clinic	Oqaqeni Clinic - Replacement of Fencing
Western Cape (WC)	Underberg Clinic	Underberg Clinic (Pholela CHC)- New borehole
Western Cape (WC)	Heuningvlei Clinic	Replacement of Heuningvlei Clinic
Western Cape (WC)	Gansbaai Clinic	Gansbaai - Gansbaai Clinic - Upgrade and Additions (Alpha)
Western Cape (WC)	Laingsburg Clinic	Laingsburg - Laingsburg Clinic - Upgrade and Additions

END.