Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. Yes, the Department is able to monitor people serviced daily at its offices. The Department uses the Branch Queue Management System (BQMS) where tickets are issued to clients based on the type of services they seek from the Department. Thus, the Department is able to analyse the total number of clients serviced per day and for which services. Furthermore, the Department is piloting the Branch Appointment Booking System to live capture offices for Smart ID Card and Passports applications, as well as for the collections of both documents. 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. Currently ten (10) offices have been successfully rolled out with the Branch Appointment Booking System and the system is now available for clients to make use of it. The booking system has been piloted to 8 of the 24 offices identified for the financial year 2021/22. The remaining 16 sites will be piloted by 31 March 2022. With this system the Department will be able to monitor and evaluate services required and the number of people served daily at it offices.

(1)(a) N/A

(1)(b) Currently the office resource capacity is 1x Office Manager and 5x Front Office Clerks. Resource allocation is determined by the current fixed staff establishment.

The resources for the Department’s service points is based on the DHA Access Model and geographic access norms and standards. The department locates offices in line with the population concentration and the Access Model recommended a Small office in Stellenbosch based on the total population. The Department determines the resources of its service points based on the size of the office and the population threshold for that office. Thus, the adequate capacity (human resources and counters) for Stellenbosch office is determined at 41 officials and 17 counters that should serve clients efficiently. Furthermore the office size should be 1746, however, the existing office is approximately 406 in size which is less than the office norms required. The Department through the implementation of the DHA Access Model will be acquiring alternative accommodation for Stellenbosch office that aligns to the model office design. This will address the existing challenges pertaining to over-crowding, long queues inside and outside the office. Furthermore, the Department has developed a business case on funding compensation of employees (COEs) which will ensure that front offices are fully capacitated.

(2) On average approximately 222 clients queue in front of the Stellenbosch office on a daily basis. Queues are not cut off or limited to any specific number. According to the Access norms and standards, a Small office has a population threshold of 168 000 people per annum, translating to 811 clients per day. However, due to the office space constraints and internal capacity, the office can only accommodate client commensurate with the capacity, that is, 222 clients that queue in Stellenbosch daily.

(3)(a) No clients are admitted after 15h30. Operating office hours are from 07h30 to 15h30 daily from Monday to Fridays.

(3)(b) All clients in the office are served. However, clients waiting outside are informed by the office manager/ floor walker on a 2 hourly basis of the number of clients inside the office being processed and the systems functionality.

(4)(a&b) Yes, there are plans to strengthen capacity and recruiting additional front office staff ie. 1x Civic Services Supervisor and 3x Front Office Clerks, to increase the intake capacity of the office.

The Department has developed the norms in relation to internal capacity in line with DHA Access Model and facility standards. According to the facility standards, Stellenbosch office requires 41 officials and currently have only 6 officials. A recruitment process will be initiated by the Department in the month of March 2022.

The Department has also submitted the strategic accommodation requirements to DPWI to determine budgetary requirements for the department’s infrastructure in order to allow the Department to apply for capital budget from National Treasury. The capital budget will ensure that the Department constructs/ acquires fit-for-purpose infrastructure. The Department will capacitate offices as and when alternative accommodation is sought.

END

Reply:

(a) The meeting with the CEO of Emirates, HH Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al, on 15 December 2021 focused on opportunities to be explored by both countries including investments, tourism and knowledge sharing around hosting of big events i.e. 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and World Expo Dubai 2020 as well as to intensify airlift collaborations. Emirates Airlines has a number of code-share agreements with South African airlines such as Airlink, Safair, etc., which cover the domestic as well as the regional (SADC) market. It was further proposed that Emirates Airlines should consider re-introducing Rooibos Tea on their airline, which is very popular in South Africa as an indigenous product of the country due to its health benefits.

(b) Both sides agreed that it is important to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Emirates Airlines and South African Tourism. Emirates indicated that with the MoU signed, they can drive demand to South Africa. The process to finalise the MoU is currently in progress and due to be signed soon.

Reply:

a) Sections 4(1)(b) and (c) of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 (Act No. 62 of 1997) (“ESTA”) were applied to buy land for the Moyeni family. This section empowers the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to provide subsidies to facilitate the planning, acquisition and development of the land occupied or to be occupied by occupiers and former occupiers in terms of on or offsite developments. “Off site development” is defined in section (1) of ESTA as a development, which provides occupants with an independent tenure right on land owned by someone other than the owner of the land on which they resided immediately prior to such development. The Moyeni family therefore consented for the Department to purchase the farm described as Portion 2 of Longridge farm No 309, East London Registration Division as an offsite development. This has given them independent security of land tenure.

b) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has recently transferred the property in full ownership to the family as the long-term occupiers who were about to be evicted; therefore, the Department will now apply section 4(1)(c) of ESTA which empowers the Minister to grant subsidies to the occupiers or their spouses or dependents of long-term occupiers to provide development support to the family. Any support that the family may require will be provided for in terms of this section.

Reply:

(1)(a) Yes. The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development was informed of shortages of some vaccines (including AHS) by the National Animal Health Forum on 29 November 2021.

(b) The Minister engaged both entities i.e. the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) as well as Industry, including the Animal Health Forum and instructed that measures be put in place to ensure continuity in vaccine production and availability. The Minister further advised that there should be closer collaboration between the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Research and OBP. The Minister also engaged with industry as recently as 21 January 2022 where the OBP provided updates on vaccine availability.

2. Yes, the OBP has taken steps to prioritise AHS vaccine production. Over and above considering the possibility of public private partnerships for the development of vaccines, the OBP has undertaken the following:

(a)(i) Revision of production schedule (December 2021) to address urgent vaccine shortages

(ii) Development and implementation of a short term maintenance plan to attend to critical equipment impacting negatively on vaccine production (December 2021)

(b) Below are the time lines provided by the OBP on availability of the AHS vaccine since urgent steps were taken to address shortages:

• December 2021 – AHS was available
• January 2022 – AHS was not available due to equipment failure
• February 2022 – AHS was available as of the 4th week of February

(3)(a),(b)(i),(ii) While consideration is being given to this, there have not been any active discussions on a public-private partnership arrangement with any company on the production and sale of AHS vaccine. However, related to further studies on the virus itself, there are existing arrangement with other State Owned Enterprises like the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Research on research to enhance the effectiveness of the vaccine itself.

4. In exceptional circumstances, where there is no other product for the intended use, the Department may fast track the review of registration applications in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No 36 of 1947).  Where such products meet the requirement in terms of safety, efficacy and quality, registration may be granted within a short time frame. The details of speeding up the evaluations include the relevant industry making the request to speed up the evaluations, support of the need to make the vaccine available by the Director of Animal Health and consultations with potential manufactures of the that vaccine if available in the country and consideration by the Registrar of Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act 36 to urgently deal with the evaluation.

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Reply:

The Norms and Standards for safe operations of the tourism sector in the context of COVID-19 or any other pandemic were Gazetted under Section 7(1) of the Tourism Act no. 3, of 2014 on 3 December 2021, Notice no 696 of 2021. It is since then, effective and is implemented by the Tourism Sector.

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Reply:

a) The process of reviewing the Tourism Policy is in progress thus the Department cannot pre-empt or make pronouncements on the content.

b) MINMEC meetings are held quarterly depending on the availability of the MINMEC members.

c) (i) The Department of Tourism does not have policy and/or legislative responsibilities for Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs). The department acknowledges concurrent legislative competence and that local govenment is the sphere of government responsible for the development of local tourism including matters related to CTOs. The Department’s point of entry to community organisations is through Provincial and Local governments and the District Development Model.

(ii) The Department does not fund Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs). CTOs are independent associations based on voluntary participation by their membership. The organisations are responsible for their own operations including financial aspects thereof.

Hon Winkler, a key intervention of the Department in support for the protection of core tourism infrastructure and assets is the investment in the development of community owned tourism assets to support inclusive economic growth, product diversification and geographic spread.

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Reply:

a) According to the Audit General of South Africa’s (AGSAs) report, a total of 869 tourist guides was reported to have had no identification numbers.

b) After conducting verifications, the Department found that all guides listed in this category had some form of identification captured against their names. This included passport/work visa numbers for non-South African citizens who, in terms of the Tourism Act, 2014 are also eligible to register as tourist guides. During the auditing process, the AGSA only verified South African identification numbers that were provided and not other forms of identification applicable to non-South African citizens. The Department has requested additional information from the respective Provincial Registrars regarding the type of identification number that was provided which will then be consolidated and sent to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for further authentication.

Reply:

 

	a) Make	b) Model	c) Year of manufacture	d) Price	e) Purchase date
(i) Minister: Two vehicles purchased; one based in Cape Town and the other in Pretoria. The details of the two vehicles are the same.	Volvo	XC60 D4 AWD G/T Inscription	2020	R700 000-00 per vehicle	20 March 2020
(ii) Deputy Minister: Two vehicles purchased; one based in Cape Town and the other in Pretoria. The details of the two vehicles are the same.	Volvo	XC40 D4-AWD G/T Momentum	2021	R700 000-00\ per vehicle	17 March 2021

Reply:

Honourable Member, this is a Labour matter between the employees and their employer. The Department of Tourism has no role in the matter.

Reply:

a) The online lecture for tourist guides was advertised through the website of the Department of Tourism and on social media platforms. Invitations were also sent to Provincial Registrars to disseminate to tourist guides on their respective registers.

b) About 300 tourist guides attended the live session held on 14 October 2021and about 250 tourist guides streamed the session via YouTube.

c) The Department spent R23 538.46 (excl. VAT) to purchase a webinar licence which was used for all webinars hosted by the Department during the financial year in question, including the webinar platform that was created to host the live lectures. All subject matter experts that delivered the lectures/presentations volunteered their services.

d) The only cost that was incurred for the lecture series was the licencing cost associated with the hosting of webinars.

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Reply:

1. The Onderstepoort Biological Products’ (OBP) last update of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) vaccine formulation was done in December 1994. There is no scientific evidence indicating that the AHS viruses in the field have mutated to the extent that it warrants a new formulation. Studies completed that looked at genetic variations of AHS field strains over a period of more than 40 years conclusively indicate that the level of genetic variation in AHS field strains do not warrant a review of the current AHS vaccine formulation.

2. (a)(i) OBP conducts vaccine safety, Innocuity, potency and sterility tests routinely as standard tests for the release of production batches with the option of immunological tests if warranted. The dates when the various batches were released in each of the past five financial years following potency and safety tests were in 02/2017, 06/2017, 08/2017, 10/2017, 12/2017, 02/2018, 04/2018, 07/2018, 09/2018, 10/2018, 12/2018, 03/2019, 05/2019, 06/2019, 07/2019, 10/2019, 02/2020, 05/2020, 06/2020, 08/2020, 09/2020, 02/2021/, 03/2021, 12/2021.

(a)(ii) Since April 2021 there was no production of AHS vaccines and therefore no tests were done between April 2021 and November 2021.

(b) The results obtained in these studies provided evidence that the OBP AHS vaccine generates protective immunity against field strains of AHS viruses and proved to be safe for use in horses.

3. Yes, there are certificates of analyses of all batches released in the past five years to date. Detailed study reports on AHS vaccine safety and efficacy as conducted by OBP are available in each project file for inspection within OBP premises. The OBP AHS vaccine has been evaluated by various authors as published in peer reviewed scientific articles, and the studies demonstrated safety and or efficacy of the OBP AHS vaccine. OBP is also ISO9001:2015 certified giving assurance that all batches passed meet specification for requirements.

4. Due to biosecurity concerns, approval of the applications in terms of section 20 of the Animal Diseases Act, Act 35 of 1984, for conducting efficacy and safety studies for experimental AHS vaccines is dependent on availability of a certified vector protected facility. The Minister has found out that the absence of these facilities is the main reason for the delays in the approval of the applications.

Reply:

(a) and (b) The Honourable Member is referred to the following Annual Performance Reports for the details of irregular expenditure per financial year

Year
2017/18	Reported in 2018/19 financial year- Page 189, note 22 on irregular expenditure
2018/19	Page 189, note 22 on irregular expenditure
2019/20	Page 205, note 22 on irregular expenditure
2020/21	Page 153, note 22 on irregular expenditure
2021/22	To date- AR still to be issued

Year	Number of cases	Value
2017/18	6	R271 252-53
2018/19	22	R26 520 527-00
2019/20	9	R8 409 977-00
2020/21	7	R1 223 493-00
2021/22	2	R1 381 170-34

*Annual performance reports are available on the Department of Tourism’s website: https://www.tourism.gov.za/ResourceCentre/Pages/Reports.aspx

(c ) steps taken to make those responsible to account / consequence management.

The 9 irregular expenditure cases disclosed in 2020/21 and 2021/22 are under investigation. For the 2018/19 financial year 16 cases were attributable to implementing agents and 6 for the Department. For the 2019/20 financial year 8 cases were attributable to implementing agents and 1 case for the Department.

The 24 cases for implementing agents amount to R33 745 885-00 and make up the majority of the irregular expenditure cases both in number and value. These implementing agents did not apply procurement policies, which are aligned with the requirements as stipulated in the Department's SCM policy, when contracting with third parties but instead used their own policies. In these cases, together with the remaining 7 cases involving procurement by the Department, it was found that the Department had received value for money and no recoveries were applicable.

No officials could be held liable for this Irregular Expenditure and an educational approach was taken through engagements with Implementing agents to ensure that they use the procurement policies of the Department to prevent future cases of non-compliance. This has yielded results as is evidenced by the significant decline in irregular expenditure in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years to date.

Reply:

(i) (a) Audi; (b) S8; (c) 2019; (d) R 1 560 602.80 and (e) March 2019 and

(ii) (a) Audi; (b) S8; (c) 2019; (d) R 1 506 125.45 and (e) March 2019

Reply:

 

1) Yes, the SA Air Force has a Section within the Directorate Human Resource Management namely, Transformation Management who are managing the process on behalf of Chief of the Air Force. The Transformation Management Section is mandated to set targets to be realised by each mastering/specialisation in the SA Airforce.   (2) The Transformation Management Section’s Plan is to manage aspects which includes gender equity, members with disability and racial equity. As per the guidance from CDTM, the SAAF has drafted a SAAF Transformation Management and Equity Plan dated 14 February 2020. This plan provides the detail which include all the goals, objectives and outcomes that are required. The plan is a broad ambition of the SA Airforce and is work in progress.

 

Reply:

 

His Excellency President M.C. Ramaphosa on the 03 September 2021 during his oral reply, stated that the “…whenever the President or the Deputy President goes, at any given time, the transportation is the responsibility underline of the government. When they fly it is the responsibility of the Airforce…” The Honourable Member is invited to listen to the recording of the President again. The VVIP unit of the SAAF did not task or undertake any flights for the Deputy President to Russia from 01 January 2020 to date. The unit and the Department is not privy to any arrangements the Deputy President may or may not have made regarding his travel to Russia. Arrangements for flights are only made through the Office of the President or the Deputy President. We have no record of such request and therefore did not make any arrangement.   The Department is unable to comment on question number 2 and 3.

Reply:

No correspondence was ever received in June 2020 by myself or the departments from any political organisation in any format either email, WhatApp, or hardcopy.

a – c; are not applicable.

Reply:

 

(1) Following the Military Ombud (MO) Investigation Report MO/DIA/12/1/0008/18-19 dated 27 January 2020, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans (MOD&MV) commissioned an inclusive and comprehensive audit of the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) for nurses in the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS). The aim of the audit was to ensure accuracy and guarantee that no nurse with a similar complaint was left out. Subsequent to the audit, a submission, which included the possible complainant, was approved by the MOD&MV for the payment of all affected personnel.

(2) The Department of Defence (DOD) is in the process of capturing and finalising all outstanding final compensation resulting from the audit and submission as approved by the MOD&MV. The payment of all outstanding compensations will be finalised before the end of the 2021/2022 financial year.
a) Recommendations were not yet ratified by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans for implementation, but rather for all-inclusive and Comprehensive audit of OSD for nurses in the South African Medical Health Services (SAMHS) to ensure accuracy and guarantee that no nurse with a similar complaint is left out.

(b)It is not necessary to take actions against any person in the Department and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as this was structural issues rather than negligence or human error.
(c) No date can be provided yet for the person to receive the payments which are in line with the findings and recommendations by the MO. The Minister is yet to pronounce implementation based on her approval of the comprehensive audit report. However, determination has been made to identify areas for funding the shortfalls on approval by the Minister.
(d) The findings and recommendations of the MO in terms of the Mil Ombud Act are advisory in nature until they are endorsed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. The OSD audit for all nurses was completed and is receiving further attention from the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. For further endorsement.
(e) Money spent on the Office of the MO is still valuable, and the Department sees the Military Ombud as a force multiplier to accomplish other successes than without it.

Reply:

 

1(a) Soldiers are deployed in protection of the borderline 24/7 against the illegal immigrants of all nationalities. 1(b) The SANDF conducts foot patrols, vehicle patrols; and has observation posts; along the borderline as to prevent illicit goods of all types; including weapons; from illegally entering the borders of RSA. In executing its mandate in terms of the Constitution, the SANDF ascribe to all international and national prescripts as well as regulations in the conduct of its duties along the borderline. As part of the ongoing efforts by members of the SANDF deployed along the borderline, in January 2022 they have stopped one thousand five hundred and eighty two (1 582) illegal immigrants from the South Africa- Zimbabwe borderline to highlight just one of many successes that are made by our soldiers.

Reply:

a) Persons that arrive in the Republic of South Africa for tourism purposes can be visa required or visa exempt. Upon entry, such international tourists are normally provided with a period of stay between 30 to 90 days.

Information on Purpose of Visit is collected for foreign arrivals into South Africa with the inclusion of the following categories considered as arrival statistics for tourism purposes:

• Holiday/vacation
• Visiting Family and Friends
• Conferences
• Visits under three months’ days

(i) 2015: 14 314 029

(ii) 2016: 15 256 448

(iii) 2017: 15 083 469

(b)The total recorded movements for traveller departures are the following:

(i) 2015: 14 174 416

(ii) 2016: 14 988 924

(iii) 2017: 14 929 567

The difference between arrivals and departures could arise as a carryover of movements into the next year or extension of the period of stay.

END

 

Reply:

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Reply:

(1) There were no deployment of the SANDF soldiers in KwaZulu-Natal beyond the 13 September 2021. The incident of the 27 September 2021 was not related to the deployment of SANDF soldiers previously authorised.
(2) No extension or unauthorized extension of deployment was ever granted or issued for the SANDF under Operation PROSPER beyond the 13 September 2021, in KwaZulu-Natal.

Reply:

(1.) From the SANDF appreciation with specific reference to medical expertise and their ongoing assistance to the Department of Health, Cuba was the obvious choice to train and qualify medical specialists. Through Project Thusano, the Cubans also demonstrated their skills and knowledge in terms of the maintenance and repair of various technical capabilities. Cuba was the only country that has opened its training opportunities in bigger numbers to the SANDF and that could tailor make training programmes according to the SANDF's unique training requirements which is the most cost-effective way to train and qualify large numbers of military personnel.

(2) Based on the above motivation, the training provided to the SANDF by Cuba is currently the best possible training intervention available based on the unique SANDF training requirements.

 

Reply:

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Reply:

1. Areas visited:

a) Yes, a Mobile Solution Truck did visit the areas of the Dr. Beyers Naudé Local Municipality in 2021, as indicated, here-below:

i) Aberdeen- 28th March 2021

20th April 2021

21st June 2021

6th July 2021

8th November 2021, and

18th November 2021

ii) Steytlerville – 20th January 2021

21st September 2021

23rd September 2021

21st October 2021

(iii) Jansenville - 26th April 2021

18th May 2021

15th September 2021 and

18th November 2021

(iv) Klipplaat - 17th May 2021

19th September 2021

20th October 2021

v) Reitbrone - 26th May 2021

vi) Willowmore - 17th May 2021

9th September 2021

18th September 2021

21st September 2021

10th October 2021

(vii) Baviaanskloof - 20th March 2021

26th June 2021

29th September 2021

2. In the year 2022 the Mobile Solution Truck visited Aberdeen on 16th February 2022, Jansenville on 17th February 2022, Klipplaat on 17th February 2022. As scheduled, it is envisaged that it will visit Willowmore on the 8th March 2022, Klipplaat on the 15th March 2022 and Steytlerville on the 16th March 2022. Other areas will be visited in April 2022, dates not yet confirmed.

2a) The Local Municipal / Home Affairs Stakeholder Forum Executive disseminates the envisaged visits through the Municipal Mayor, the Municipal Speaker, the Community Development Workers (CDWs), Ward Committees, and Councillors.

b) Smart ID Cards /Green Barcoded ID Books, Births Registrations, Re-Issues of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Amendments, and Rectifications

END

Reply:

 

(1) The investigating team could trace invoices to the total amount of R 15 640 487.95 paid to Maponya 911 Services. The actual amount was supposed to be R 3 439 084.75 as per findings which has a difference of R 12 201 403.20 as over billing. The services has been suspended with effect from March 2021. These amounts can only be finalised pending further investigation. (2) At this stage there is an investigation underway in optometry services, names of companies and individuals cannot be confirmed at this stage as the investigation still need to be finalised. (3) Investigation of the matters are still pending, only on their conclusion can appropriate measures be taken to prevent any future occurrences.

Reply:

(1.) The SANDF continues to expose its members to various Foreign Learning  Opportunities (FLOs) in many countries including in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe where various languages are spoken. The purpose of utilizing FLOs has primarily been to enable the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to adopt 'best practice' approaches to military doctrine based on exposure of other Defence forces' practices, with the premise that those members identified for such exposure are well versed in SANDF doctrine.
Yes, members of the SANDF did training in African countries such as Zambia, Uganda, the Americas and Asia, to mention a few. It must be noted that most nation states had restricted training opportunities during COVID-19 periods.

 (2.) Yes all the specified countries were considered to empower members of the SANDF through its bilateral-lateral military relationships with the international community. During 2019/2020FY we had senior officers in the specified countries.

(3.) The South African Air Force is facing shortages of reliable training aircraft and relies on FLOs to keep up with the demand to have trained and skilled workforce in the aviation sphere. The Cuban FLOs provide a value chain training in aviation such as pilots, aviation technicians, aviation engineers, Air traffic controllers and Aircraft Preservation, including simulator developer and software developer programmes that South Africa and the SANDF are highly in need of. The Cuban Pilot Training is using the L 39 Albatross Fighter Jet, which is used in several countries as a versatile Jet trainer for their fighter pilots.

(4.) As indicated above, the SANDF, within its means, continues to expose its members to various FLOs in many countries including Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. It is in the interest of the SANDF that its members are empowered in various militaries.

(5.) (a) The following is the total cost of the Cuban training in each year since it started:
(i) 2014 - R15 838 547, 00
(ii) 2015- R24 485 149, 62
(iii) 2016- R15 967 981, 88
(iv) 2017 - R83 477 610, 24
(v) 2018 - R73 625 956, 67
(vi) 2019 - R72 697 854, 04
(Vii) 2020 - Training was suspended due to Covid 19.
(viii) 2021- R73 074 191, 20

Reply:

1) Response to Paragraph (a)
As at 14 February 2022 the DOD had Three Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Six (3936) unpaid invoices.
(aa) Suppliers invoices currently unpaid and older than 30 days (96)
(bb)  Suppliers invoices currently unpaid and older than 60 days (35)
(cc) Suppliers invoices currently unpaid and still within the 30 days (3526)
(dd) Suppliers invoices currently unpaid and older than 90 days (204)
(ee) Suppliers invoices currently unpaid and older than 120 days (75)

2)
Response to Paragraph (b)
(aa) Suppliers’ invoices currently unpaid and are still within 30 days payment period amounts to RM 188 400 872.01
(bb) Suppliers’ invoices currently unpaid and are already over the 30 days payment period amounts to RM 14 131 214.52
(cc) Suppliers’ invoices currently unpaid and are already over the 60 days payment period amounts to R 392 467.30
(dd) Suppliers’ invoices currently unpaid and are already over the 90 days payment period amounts to R 139 133.27
(ee) Suppliers’ invoices currently unpaid and are already over the 120 days payment period amounts to RM 3 120 208.38

Reply:

Reply 1
1.i. The relevance and importance to the SANDF: It provides Control and Administrative Node Western Cape for the Defence Signal Network for Chief Command Management Information Systems (C CMIS} server connectivity, with Pretoria network infrastructure and Administrator function.
1.ii. Security of the Republic. To Support the People of South Africa: Support to the people of South Africa means supporting of the population of South Africa by means of operations other than war, during periods when the responsible state departments do not have the capacity. The provision of hydrographic services for use by the SA Navy, South African and international mariners, and for other mariners in terms of regional and international treaties and agreements obligations. SA has an international obligation to issue promulgation of radio navigation warnings, notices for mariners, and tidal and related meteorological data for mariners in terms of international obligations. The communications center’s capability is key to fulfilling these strategic mandate and international obligations.

1.iii. Maritime.
i. The primary objective of this system (Communications Centre) is to provide the backbone for local, national, and global maritime communications in support of safety of life at sea, naval and maritime exercises and operations, both during force preparation and force employment activities, sufficient for peace, and expandable to war. 
ii. The collective being operationally available 24/7, provide for a number of communications means and methods, thereby ensuring reliability of service through area broadcasting and coverage.
iii. Radio Weather Facsimile Service to SA Navy vessels and Mariners commercial / recreational craft including yachts on behalf of the South African Weather Service.
iv. Serves as an alternate radio site to Telkom Cape Town Radio for Maritime Search and Rescue in co operation with MRCC Cape Town where the SANDF is tasked through J Ops.
v. The SAN provides the communications link when SAN vessels are tasked as Search and Rescue platform with SAR on Scene Commander and Coordinator staff of MRCC onboard.
vi. Naval and Maritime Air communications organisation is designed to provide communications between:
(1) Headquarters (HQ) including inter-service HQs;
(2) controlling HQs ashore, ships and authorities at sea;
(3) controlling HQs ashore and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA);
(4) widely separated units at sea;
(5) ships and naval authorities at sea with such Army and SAAF HQs, aircraft and troop formations as the strategically and tactical situations require; and

(6) Ships in company.
1.iv. Air traffic in and Around the Coast of the Republic. The Maritime Air Radio Organisation and Station within the Silvermine Bunker provides the primary communications capability for the SA Airforce (SAAF) amplified as follows:
i. The station's primary role in support of the SA Navy is to provide for co-ordination and safety of aircraft and helicopters flying over the sea.
These include routine coastal patrols and interactions with ships and submarines at sea. Vessel activity around the coast is reported directly to Silvermine for further action by Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
ii. The station is utilized by the SAAF for the co-ordination and safety of all military flights both nationally and within the Sub-Saharan African territory where the SAAF is required to operate, typically in peace keeping missions and disaster relief roles.
iii. The station provides co-ordination and safety of Presidential Flights on a global basis.
iv. Air Traffic in and around the coast of the Republic.
v. The station provides for Safety Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) as in-flight
information for military aircraft.
1.b. It is hereby stated that no part of the fence has been stolen. The fence is being replaced due to its condition and the contractor's material for the remainder of the fence is on site. The contractor responsible for the work was appointed by the Department Public Works and the indication from this department is that the work will be completed by Mar 2020. Correspondence was sent to the department to receive a new end date but no feedback has been received to date. Notwithstanding, all building infrastructure are in a sound condition and receives ongoing maintenance as and when required.
1.c. The cost of the contract for the fence is RM 13 paid to date is RM 10.5.

Reply 2
The vandalism and cable theft at Silvermine Antenna Farm transpired between 2015 and 2017 and was replaced at a cost of R 868 804.10, by Reutech Solutions. The antenna farm is currently being safeguarded by members of Maritime Reaction Squadron whilst waiting for completion of the perimeter fence (the antennas are currently enclosed, awaiting completion of approximately 4 meters of underdig and thereafter the handing and taking over).

Reply 3
The Naval Communications Centre (NCC) at Silvermine will not be decommissioned due to its strategic and operational role to South Africa and the SANDF. In addition the Hydrographic Act 35 of 2019, places an obligation on the SA Navy. In the event of total communications equipment failure at NCC, all communications services will be handled by the alternative secondary broadcast station which is located in Durban.

Reply:

(1) The President appointed the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC} in terms of s5 of the NCAC Act (Act 41 of 2002 as amended). The NCACC is a Cabinet Committee Sui Generis. The role of the NCACC is to approve export permits in line with the NCAC Act and its attendant Regulations
(2) The Committee may not be chaired by (a) Minister(s) with a line responsibility interest in trade in Conventional Arms s5 (3). That would exclude from Chairpersonship inter alia: Defence, Trade and Industry and Competition and Finance, as prime examples.
(3) It is common cause notwithstanding that, the Minister of Defence while appointed to the NCACC as per provisions (supra). The Chair of the NCACC is the primary person responsible for the overall performance of the Committee.
(4)Therefore, the correct procedure would be to direct questions/the Parliamentary Question of/about the NCACC to the Chair of the NCACC, who is tasked with responding for the Cabinet Committee, or otherwise at the Chair's direction.

 

Reply:

(a)(i) As at 16 March 2022, the number of total applications received since 2014 was 1 196 659.

(a)(ii) Of the total mentioned above 242 642 were for visitor’s visa, 19 368 were for business visas, 513 642 were for general work visas, 33 479 were for critical skills visas, 94 042 were for study visas, 10 869 were for retirement visas, 91 540 were for relatives’ visas, 6 788 were for medical treatment visas and 56 108 were in other categories not on the requested list.

128 181 were applications for Permanent Residence permits.

Applications not yet finalised from the totals mentioned above were as follows 17 042 were for visitor’s visa, 59 were for business visas, 948 were for general work visas, 585 were for critical skills visas, 4 977 were for study visas, 602 were for retirement visas, 7 887 were for relatives’ visas, 296 were for medical treatment visas and 5 283 were in other categories not on the requested list.

Applications not yet finalized for Permanent Residence permits were 34 186.

(b)(i&ii) There are 2 875 Permanent Residence appeal applications and 516 Temporary Residence appeal applications that are not yet finalised.

END

 

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(1) (a) There are a hundred and five (105) SANDF members from all Services who departed to Cuba for the following training programmes at the end of August 2021:
(i) 30 x members for Senior Courses (SDSP & JSCSP).
(ii) 75 x members for various vocational/cadet training.
(b) From the SANDF appreciation with specific reference to medical expertise and their ongoing assistance to the Department of Health, Cuba was the obvious choice to train and qualify medical specialists. Through Project Thusano, Cuba also demonstrated their skills and knowledge in terms of the maintenance and repair of various technical capabilities. In addition, Cuba was the only country that has opened its training opportunities in bigger numbers to the SANDF and that could tailor make training programmes according to the SANDF's unique training requirements.

  (2) Only the extended courses i.e. medical and pilot courses are presented in Spanish which requires the one (1) year Spanish Language Training. All the other courses are presented in English.

(3) It is in the interest of the SANDF that members are conversant with other foreign languages including Spanish due to the multi-lateral military relationships of the SANDF with the international community.

(4) The SANDF only became aware of the allegations of ill-treatment of Cuba learners via the social media platform as no formal complaint has been received in this regard. The organisation has however directed the Defence Attaché in Cuba to look into these allegations.

(5) (a) As indicated in par 2 above, not all courses are presented in Spanish. The one year language intervention for extended courses is of such a nature that learners are able to grasp the learning material without any additional intervention. However, it must be noted that, where further language interventions are required, learners are provided with interpreters and or translators. (b) Even though the training is available in South Africa, the SANDF did a skills gap analysis and ascertained that there is a backlog which necessitated the current arrangement with the Cuban Government.

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The feasibility study on amalgamation of public entities is currently being considered for implementation by the Department. With regards to Robben Island Museum, a recommendation was that the entity be merged with other museums with a similar theme to form a Liberation Museum. This museum will consist of entities such as Freedom Park, War Museum of the Boer Republics, uMsunduzi Museum, Nelson Mandela Museum and Luthuli Museum. The outcome of this process will be communicated once completed.

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1. The Department has consistently applied itself to such measures to enable the opening up of sporting venues. With the COVID-19 vaccines being accessible to all South Africans, the Department embarked on a partnership type of approach with sport and creative personalities / organisations.

The Minister established a committee of experts called the Return to Play Adjudication Committee to support organisations, clubs and individuals to ensure compliance. The Department formulated operational guidelines, Sports organisations have submitted their operational plans, which were analysed, adjudicated and approved, and events were monitored.

A proposal to reopen the events sector through a controlled set of Government (DSAC) approved events for vaccinated persons has been processed through relevant structures.

2(a). While the Department may not have provided direct support to maximise revenue without relying on gate-takings while the situation persists, other efforts have been in place to support Sports Federations during this time of COVID-19. The provision of financial and non-financial support to recognised National Federations is to promote and foster development of sport and recreation in South Africa. Support is provided to sport and recreation bodies in line with the provisions of Section 10 of the Sport and Recreation Act.

The support is towards both the administration of the sport and recreation bodies although this is minimal. The significant portion of the support is towards programmes and projects. Self-sustainable sport and recreation bodies represent ideal scenario, which may contribute to job creation and economic development. However, with the prevailing financial situation within the federations, consideration was made to provide for more allocation towards operational and administrative costs to keep the sport and recreation bodies afloat. The Department offered relief funding to athletes, coaches and technical officials who lost income due to cancellation of their events during COVID-19. Further, through the Presidential Economic Stimulus Package, sports federations managed to retain 4, 566 and 921 new jobs were created with the Sports associations.

The Department provided an enabling environment for the return of spectators as per the Directions gazetted by the Minister in October 2021 and requested Federations to submit operational plans. This is part of the plan towards economic recovery of the Sports associations.

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The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

I have been informed by the Department that:

(a)(i)(ii)(aa): Total number of incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault that were reported in the department in each of the past three financial years

	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021
(i)Total number of the incident of sexual harassment	Nil	2 cases reported 1 case was withdrawn by the complainant following the informal process	Nil
(ii)Total number of sexual assaults reported	Nil	Nil	Nil

 

(bb)(b)(i)(ii)(iii): since 01 April 2021

(b)(i). No. of cases opened and concluded	(ii). Cases withdrawn	(iii) cases remain open or pending
Nil	Nil	Nil

(c) Sanctions meted out against each person who was found guilty

2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
No incidents reported	1 case, employee sanctioned to one-month suspension from work without pay, coupled with a final written warning and corrective counselling.	No incidents reported	No incidents reported

Reply:

The amalgamation of the two Departments will not have an impact on the restructuring of public entities. The former Department of Sports and Recreation had two public entities with separate mandates. Therefore, these entities will not be subjected to the amalgamation process like the ones which reported to the former Department of Arts and Culture.