Questions and Replies
18 March 2022 - NW372
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) For what total number of days was the eGazette website offline in the 202021 financial year, (b) for what total number of days was the website offline between 1 April 2021 and 9 February 2022 and (c) given the impact of downtime to court and legislative processes, what contingency processes are in place to ensure that the eGazette website remains online?
Reply:
a) For the said period the Government Printing Works website was never offline.
b) The Government Printing Works website was only offline from 31st January 2022 and restored on 13 February 2022. However, it subsequently went down again from 15 February 2022 to 21 February 2022 due to technical challenges experienced when the physical server on the DMZ which manages the website services crashed. During this period the publishing of the gazettes still continued and gazettes were made available to the public through the following channels:
- Contact Centre accessible through telephone (012) 748 6200 or email: [email protected]
- GPW Bookshop, both hard and soft copies with soft copies requested through [email protected]
The website came back online on the 22nd February 2022 and gazettes are being uploaded
c) During the time when the website was down, GPW ensured that all requested e-Gazettes were sent through to customers per email to avoid service interruptions and ensure business continuity. The channels mentioned in (b) above were used to keep customers updated.
GPW has developed a Business Technology Strategy and Plan that serves to migrate the ICT environment from the old to the new web service infrastructure to avoid a recurrence of the system crashes.
END3
18 March 2022 - NW448
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
What steps will he take to ensure that (a) the Memorandum of Incorporation between his department and the Department of Basic Education is implemented and (b) sport development at school level takes place to ensure that transformation starts at grassroots level?
Reply:
(a). The implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between my Department (DSAC) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE), remains the joint responsibility of both departments. Within the framework, roles and responsibilities for both departments have been clearly defined. DSAC responsibilities within this framework, starts at District, goes to Province and National. These tasks have been fully implemented and we will continue to play our role in executing our part in the MoU.
(b). As per the MoU delineation of responsibilities, the first three levels of the MoU, which are School, Cluster and Area level, remains the responsibility of DBE. We have worked together to ensure that we set-up the structures that will manage and coordinate sport at that level, there is still a lot of work to be done. Using School Sport as a transformation tool, we have also strengthened the role of Sport Federations, with regard to taking ownership of grassroots development, which includes school sport. We are currently introducing the former athletes, as the Sport Ambassadors, who will help us manage the after school programme within the school sport.
18 March 2022 - NW357
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
(1)In light of the increasing poverty levels in the Republic, what total number of children (a) between the ages of 0 to 7 years have died of malnutrition and/or malnutritionrelated reasons and/or diseases in the (i) 201920, (ii) 202021 and (iii) 202122 financial years and (b) have died as a result of malnutrition and/or malnutritionrelated reasons and/or diseases in each province in the same period; (2) what total number of children (a) between the ages of 0 to 7 years have been stunted as a result of malnutrition in the same periods and (b) have been stunted as a result of malnutrition in the same periods in each province; (3) what number of children has she found are likely to (a) die of malnutrition related diseases and (b) be stunted as a result of malnutrition in the next five years?
Reply:
The Honourable Member is advised that as this information is not readily available at the National Department of Health (NDOH), the Department is still working with the provinces to source this information. The full response will be furnished to Parliament as soon as we have obtained such from the provinces.
END.
18 March 2022 - NW211
Moteka, Mr PG to ask the Minister of Tourism
In light of the fact that the Auditor-General has made a finding that the Tourism Relief Fund was paid out to deceased persons, what (a) total number of deceased persons were paid, (b) total amount was paid to deceased persons and (c) action has she taken against those responsible?
Reply:
a) The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) reported that 17 deceased tourist guides were paid. After verification was conducted, the Department found that payments were made for a total of seven (7) deceased guides.
b) The total amount that was paid out for these cases was R16 500.
c) Case have been opened with the South African Police Services (SAPS) for further investigations.
18 March 2022 - NW315
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Tourism
What actions and/or strategies (a) has she put in place to ensure that the Republic is not placed on the red list of the United Kingdom in the future and (b) is she undertaking in order to have the Republic removed from the red lists of key tourism markets?
Reply:
(a), (b) No one can pre-empt what other countries may do in future in relation to their approach to the management of the pandemic. However, South Africa’s approach which has proven to work effectively is to engage diplomatically with affected countries including the United Kingdom.
18 March 2022 - NW443
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE”:
Whether his Department, in collaboration with National Federations and/or Local Municipalities, have come together to establish a programme (a) directed at ensuring that sport is a priority in underprivileged areas and (b) to provide (i) facilities, (ii) infrastructure and (iii) the necessary funding; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
((a). The establishment of Club and Rural Sport Development within communities and traditional councils was to ensure that access is created within communities in remote areas. The clubs and traditional council’s teams play in a league system whose main aim is to-
-
- Revive the interest of sport within communities, increased participation and identify talented athletes.
- Enhance the level of performance of talented athletes and coaches and increase the rate of sports development.
- National federations enhance the education of individuals and groups by means of training opportunities to coaches, administrators, and technical officials.
(b) Government established a Build for Sport and Recreation Programme (BSRP) as a funding model for delivery of sport facilities through the former Department of Sport and Recreation. In 2004/5 BSRP was integrated in the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), which by design municipalities are Implementing Agents (IA). This decision was informed by the need to integrate certain infrastructure investments targeting Municipalities to ensure coherent and coordinated infrastructure development in Municipalities.
In 2016/17, the Department managed to convince both Parliament, National Treasury (NT) and Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to ring-fence portion of 5% of sport infrastructure in the Municipal Infrastructure Grant. The MIG focuses on basic needs and prioritizes the previously disadvantaged areas.
18 March 2022 - NW48
Gumbi, Mr HS to ask the Minister of Tourism
(1)Whether, since her appointment as Minister, she has kept all staff in the Ministry that used to support the former Minister, Ms M T Kubayi; if not, which staff members (a) have been retained and (b) are no longer in the employ of the Ministry; (2) whether she has transferred and/or employed any staff members who assisted her in her previous ministry in the department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation; if not, why not; if so, (a) which staff members and (b) what are their responsibilities?
Reply:
1. (a) No, none of the support staff of former Minister Kubayi were retained.
(b) All members of the support staff for former Minister Kubayi are no longer in the employ of the Ministry of Tourism.
2. (a) + (b) The following employees constitute the staff compliment of Ministry:
Surname & Initials |
Designation |
Mr B Ntshona |
Chief of Staff |
Ms N Mgqabi |
Private & Appointment Secretary |
Mr S Motale |
Media Liaison |
Ms Z Adams |
Parliamentary Officer |
Ms TJ Selamolela |
Admin Support & Coordination |
Ms S Sihlwayi |
Parliamentary and Cabinet Support |
Mr M Zuzile |
Community Outreach Officer |
Mr W Langeveld |
Assistant Appointment and Administration Secretary |
Ms VG Mbete |
Receptionist |
Ms T Mbune |
Household Aide |
Ms L Mokola |
Household Aide |
The following are departmental employees who render services to Ministry in compliance to provisions of the Ministerial handbook:
Surname & Initials |
Designation |
Mr J Skhosana |
Administrative Services/ System |
Mr F Raboroko |
Driver/Messenger |
The following are Special Advisers in terms of the Dispensation of Special Advisers:
Surname & Initials |
Designation |
Adv M Simelane |
Special Advisor |
Mr MJ Mdekazi |
Special Advisor |
18 March 2022 - NW322
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
(a) Who is currently acting in the position of chief audit executive at the National Lotteries Commission and (b) what amount has the specified person earned since he acted in the position? [
Reply:
The reply furnished to me by the Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), Ms Thabang Mampane has not replied fully to (a) other than to state that it is the “Internal Audit Specialist” and I will be requesting further information. In respect of (b), the reply received states that an amount of R64 256 has been paid as the acting allowance from July 2021 to February 2022.
-END-
18 March 2022 - NW312
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1) (a) What number of variants have been experienced in the Republic since the onslaught of the Corona virus and (b) at what intervals; (2) whether COVID-19 tests differentiate between the variants of the virus; if not, how (a) do we know which variant has infected an individual and (b) are variants tracked through the testing kits; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what number of persons were infected with each variant in the Republic; (4) whether there is updated statistics available for infections of each variant; if not, why not; if so, will he furnish Ms H Ismail with the statistics?
Reply:
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, change over time. Most changes have little to no impact on the virus’ properties. However, some changes may affect the virus’s properties, such as how easily it spreads, the associated disease severity, its ability to evade the immune system, or the performance of vaccines, therapeutic medicines, diagnostic tools, or other public health and social measures.
1. The following variants of concern (as defined by the World Health Organization) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been found in South Africa during the Covid pandemic: Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron. The Beta variant was dominant during the 2nd wave, Delta during the 3rd wave and Omicron during the 4th wave. Other variants, which have not been classified as variants of concern, have been detected in South Africa e.g. Eta, Kappa and C.1.2.
2. COVID-19 tests identify anitgens that are common to all variants, and the tests do not differentiate between different variants of the virus. Genomic sequencing is required to identify the variant of the virus which has infected an individual, and is only conducted on some of the specimens.
a) It is not usually possible to be certain as to which variant has infected each individual, although inference may be drawn based on the dominant variant at the time of infection. From a clinical perspective, this does not matter as the clinical management of the patient is the same, irrespective of the variant causing infection.
b) No
3. Not all viruses are sequenced, and therefore the number of persons infected with each variant is not known. However, based on genomic surveillance, whereby both routine specimens from all provinces and specimens of special interest are sequenced, it is possible to identify new variants as well as shifts in the variants causing COVID disease over time. Each of the waves of COVID infection has been associated with emerging dominance of a new variant. The first wave was associated with the alpha variant, the second with the beta variant, the third with the delta and the fourth with omicron.
4. The Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa, which includes the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, KRISP at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, the University of the Free State, the University of Pretoria, the University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, continue to monitor and assess the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Updates are published on a weekly basis on the NICD website (https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/disease-index-covid-19/sars-cov-2-genomic-surveillance-update/).
END.
18 March 2022 - NW390
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
Whether, following a suspected gas leak from a certain company (name furnished) and its inhalation at a school and homes in the surrounding area of Richards Bay, where children and adults developed nausea, vomiting, difficulties in breathing with many having collapsed and transported to hospitals and clinics in the Richards Bay and Empangeni areas, her department investigated the incident; if not, why not; if so, what (a) are the results of the investigation (b) is being done to prevent the incident from happening in the future? [NW404E]
Reply:
On 07 February 2022, Foskor received a complaint from the uMhlathuze Local Municipality regarding a possible gas leak from its Acid Plant at a localised area of Richards Bay High School. A detailed investigation was immediately conducted by Foskor’s environmental and emergency management. I am advised of the following results:
a) The investigation revealed that there was no gas leak at Foskor facilities.
b) The cause of the incident is still being determined.
Foskor committed to work with the relevant institutions to assist in determining the cause of the incident.
-END-
18 March 2022 - NW321
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
What (a) period has a certain person (name and details furnished) not been at work while drawing a salary, (b) are the reasons provided by the person for not being at work and (c) amount has the person earned during the specified period? [
Reply:
The Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), Ms Thabang Mampane has furnished me with the following response to the question:
“(a) and (b) The named person is a duly appointed staff member of the NLC who has been on medical leave in line with NLC approved policies and employment laws since end of May 2021.
(c) From May 2021 to date, the employee has earned a salary of R1 472 564.”
-END-
18 March 2022 - NW353
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
What is the final status of the grant for Peru and Bala movie; (2) whether the grant remains cancelled; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what were the reasons for his department overturning the previous approval of the grant; (3) whether he will furnish Mr MJ Cuthbert with the final report and/or audit findings of his department’s audit department regarding a complaint laid by the filmmakers on 6 March 2020; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Reply:
The department informs me that the grant approval for the movie Peru and Bala was cancelled due to the applicant’s failure apparently to comply with the Film and Television incentive guideline requirements and with the conditions set out on the approval letter. I will be reviewing the file and will thereafter provide the member with a further update.
-END-
18 March 2022 - NW50
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Tourism
What were the outcomes of her four-day working visit in December 2021 to the United Arab Emirates?
Reply:
The outcomes of the Minister’s working visit included the following:
(i) Discussions took place with diplomats of countries that had put South Africa on a ‘red list’ and these engagements contributed to the lifting of the travel restrictions by a number of countries.
(ii) Following engagements with South Africa’s diplomatic community in North Africa and the Middle East to ensure consistency of messaging in this emerging tourism market, the diplomats committed to communicating the message that South Africa is ready to receive tourists.
(iii) Engagements took place with the Middle East investment community on their appetite and readiness to restart investment activities in South Africa’s tourism sector in light of COVID19. Minister will continue engaging those investors who have shown interest in investing in tourism-mega projects in South Africa during the next financial year.
(iv) Engagements were held with the Middle East carriers on both the need to apply a science-based approach to operational decision making in relation to the COVID19 pandemic as well as the need to explore mutually beneficial collaboration. Following these engagements a Memorandum of Understanding between South African Tourism and Emirates Airlines is in process of being finalised.
18 March 2022 - NW421
Groenewald, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(1)Whether, with reference to the statement issued by the North-West University (NWU) to students and staff on 11 February 2022, indicating that the specified university is awaiting directives from the Department of Higher Education on the implementation of mandatory vaccinations at the NWU, his department will instruct the NWU to implement a policy of mandatory vaccinations for students and staff at the university campuses; if not, why not; if so, (2) whether his department supports mandatory vaccinations for students and/or staff at institutions of higher learning, such as universities and colleges; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
The sector has taken different approaches to the vaccination issue, with some public universities opting for mandatory vaccination policies for accessing campus, and others still consulting and taking a more cautious approach. Universities and TVET colleges decisions on policies are guided by the Council of each institution. I have not yet issued any directive to any institution of higher learning in relation to mandatory vaccination.
My Department is in the process of consulting via Natjoints, which is the advisory forum of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) with a view to advise me and I will seek the support of the NCCC in whatever advice I receive.
Currently, HIGHER HEALTH, our implementing agency, that is guiding institutions on the management of the pandemic, has finalised the guidelines that institutions will follow in determining various matters around vaccination. I am currently studying the guidelines before I can release them for implementation by all our institutions. Whilst this process is underway I have urged all our institutions to ensure that the policies and procedures they put in place have been widely consulted on campus. Whilst this matter has not been finalised at government level I have urged institutions to encourage everyone in our higher education and training community to get vaccinated.
Scientific advice provided with the support of Higher Health and led to the basic education sector opening up in full was also provided for the post-school education and training sector. It is only when a large number of staff and students is vaccinated that a return to full time face to face teaching, without space restrictions is implemented. This assumes that all other safety protocols such as masking, hand-washing/sanitising will continue. We are prioritizing this work as it has to be concluded as a matter of urgency, so that the sector is able to operate effectively for the 2022 academic year. I have briefly discussed this matter in my press briefing on 1 February 2022. Again, once all this work is finalized I will release a statement.
17 March 2022 - NW456
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
Whether, with reference to the Auditor-General’s report, his department will supply a breakdown of (a) the R49 million unauthorised expenditure in terms of noncompliance in the 2020-21 financial year, (b) R922 million irregular expenditure for the 2020-21 financial year and (c) R849 million for the 2019-20 financial year; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what disciplinary procedures have taken place in each case?
Reply:
a) Breakdown of R49 million unauthorised expenditure
Programme 4: Primary Health Care: (R37,886 million)
Per economic classification |
Amount in R’000 |
Compensation of Employees |
(43 763) |
Goods and Services |
4 936 |
Transfers and Subsidies |
- |
Capital Assets |
941 |
Net Results |
(37 886) |
Programme 6: Health Systems Governance: (R11,841 million)
Per economic classification |
Amount in R’000 |
Compensation of Employees |
151 |
Goods and Services |
13 708 |
Transfers and Subsidies |
(30 568) |
Capital Assets |
4 868 |
Net Results |
(11 841) |
Grand total: R49,727 million
b) The National Department of Health did not incur irregular expenditure to the value of R922 million for the 2020/21 financial year. The irregular expenditure disclosed in the Annual Financial Statements for the 2020/21 financial year amounts to R297,888 million and is composed as follows:
Actual Irregular expenditure incurred in 2020/21 R131,752 million
Irregular expenditure incurred in previous financial years R166,136 million
Accumulative amount as at 31 March 2020/21 R297,888 million
c) The National Department of Health did not incur R849 million for the 2019/20 financial year. The irregular expenditure disclosed in the Annual Financial Statements for the 2019/20 financial year amounts to R166,136 million and is composed as follows:
Actual Irregular expenditure incurred in 2019/20 R 58,784 million
Irregular expenditure incurred in previous financial years R107,352 million
Accumulative amount as at 31 March 2019/20 R166,136 million
With regards to disciplinary procedures, cases have been sent for assessment in terms of the Irregular Expenditure Framework as published by National Treasury, dated 16 May 2019 to determine whether the transactions are indeed irregular or not. Some of these transactions have been sent to the Office of the Accountant-General to determine if indeed the findings of AGSA are valid or not in terms of the Mechanism for Resolving Disagreement Between the Auditor (AGSA) and Auditee dated 01 June 2021, the auditee in this cases is (NDOH). Some of the officials implicated in the cases mentioned had been suspended and disciplinary hearings are underway/ in progress.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW636
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What number of (a)(i) doctors and (ii) nurses who have completed their (aa) degrees, (bb) period of internships and (cc) community services have been placed in state hospitals to provide health care and (b) the specified doctors and nurses have not been placed and are currently unemployed; (2) what (a) is the budget for placing (i) doctors and (ii) nurses in the healthcare system and (b) are the short comings of the budget in order to realise the placements in each case?
Reply:
1. (a)(i)(aa) The total number of doctors who were confirmed as having met the requirements of completing their degrees in December 2021 that made them eligible for medical internship for January 2022 are 2 419;
(a)(ii)(aa) The total number of Nurses who were confirmed as having met the requirements of completing their degrees in December 2021 that made them eligible for community service for January 2022 are 3 196;
(a)(bb) The total number of Interns who have completed their medical degrees and were eligible to be placed for medical internship in the Annual 2022 cycle are 2 419;
(a)(cc) The total number of community service doctors who have completed their medical internship and were eligible to be placed for community service doctors in the Annual 2022 cycle are 2 155.
(b) A total of 43 Medical Community Service doctors, 10 Medical Interns and 12 Community Services Nurses were placed, respectively into positions. However, they have since rejected their placements due to various reasons and therefore remain unemployed.
(b)(i)(ii)The budget for placing Interns and Community service Doctors and Nurses in the healthcare system have since increased from the year 2016 baseline with 75%, making the budget demand to be R 4 898 440 063.00 p/a. The increased numbers demanding additional positions for placements, are due to returning medical students who studied in Cuba through the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) Programme and additional intakes by local Universities, (b) the National Department of Health, had to approach National Treasury to introduce new funding as Human Resources Training Grant (HRTG) to cover the shortfalls as Provincial Departments of Health were unable to the shortfalls demands within their equitable share budgets.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW481
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether she has been informed of the prolonged and repeated water outages and restrictions suffered by residents of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State in the past year due to faults in the water reticulation network and the inability of the municipality to pay its bulk water account; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) steps is the national Government taking in terms of section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Republic, 1996, to support and strengthen the capacity of the specified municipality to provide water to the community and (b) progress has been achieved in this regard to date?
Reply:
The MISA technical support was made aware of the water provision challenges. MISA is continually supporting MLM in infrastructure delivery and service delivery including improving access to water together with the Department of Water & Sanitation and other stakeholders through the DDM.
a) National Government has deployed technical support, through MISA as mentioned in the background above, to low and medium capacity municipalities including MLM.
As part of the support package to MLM, MISA conducted a water infrastructure assessment from the 21st of August 2018 to the 31st of March 2019 that covered the nine (9) water services treatment plants in MLM. The Assessment Report was shared with the MLM and MLM is continuously supported to implement the recommendations of the report in order to improve delivery. MISA supports MLM with the implementation of projects throughout the project life cycle. Some of the specific activities of support are as follows:
-
-
- Review of projects business plans and technical reports for registration processes,
- General project management and project implementation planning
- Verification of work done on infrastructure projects
- Invoice verification on the MIG funded projects prior payment to ensure value for money is created on the ground.
-
MISA is also supporting MLM with the development the Social Labour Plans (SLP) in mining towns.
b) National government has developed programmes to support municipalities including the MLM to perform their functions.
MLM is also supported by national government through conditional grants like the MIG and WSIG to provide access to water. MISA is providing technical support to implement these grants.
Furthermore, the Minister of Water and Sanitation has commenced a stakeholder consultation process to address the challenges that SWB is facing. To that end the Minister of Water and Sanitation wrote to the Minister of COGTA in that regard on the 4th of February 2022.
17 March 2022 - NW493
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Health
With reference to the mandatory polymerase chain reaction test when tourists enter our borders, (a) what informs his department to continue with the specified tests, (b) by what date will the requirements for the tests cease and (c) what is being done to ensure that tourists entering our borders experience an efficient, speedy and safe entrance in future?
Reply:
a) This is a requirement stipulated in the current National State of Disaster Regulations. The global community is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and its categorisation as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation COVID-19 calls for countries to decrease the disease incidence through early detection and response. Requiring tourists to produce a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is classified as part of the early detection measures South Africa has introduced to reduce transmission of COVID-19. This requirement assists in deterring travellers who are symptomatic from travelling and from potentially infecting others during travel and South Africans on entry into the country.
b) An increase in immunity levels against the virus by the general population and vaccination uptake will allow the country to revise some of these entry requirements as more and more citizens become less susceptible to severe disease caused by COVID infections.
c) Considerations are underway to allow fully vaccinated tourists to enter the country and allow for the use of other less expensive means of tests such as antigen testing in the future also in consideration of the epidemiological circumstances. There are also joint initiatives between accounting officers of Health, Tourism and Home Affairs to work on the electronic screening process of travellers.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW462
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
What number of babies have reportedly been stolen out of (a) public and (b) private hospitals in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021?
Reply:
The following table provides the response in this regard.
Provinces |
Number of babies stolen |
|||||
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
||||
Public hospitals |
Private hospitals |
Public hospitals |
Private hospitals |
Public hospitals |
Private hospitals |
|
Eastern Cape |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Free State |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
Gauteng |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Outstanding |
Kwa-Zulu Natal |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
|
0 |
Not reported |
Limpopo |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
Mpumalanga |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not provided |
North West |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
Northern Cape |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
Western Cape |
0 |
Not reported |
0 |
Not reported |
1 |
Not reported |
We still await information from the Eastern Cape and Gauteng Provinces. This will be furnished to Parliament as soon as it is received.
END
17 March 2022 - NW324
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
With reference to his department receiving an unqualified audit with findings from the Auditor-General for the 2020-21 financial year, what are the accumulative figures in (a) his department and (b) the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority in terms of irregular expenditure?
Reply:
The cumulative figures for the 2020-21 financial year in terms of irregular expenditure as stated in the Annual Reports are as follows:
a) The Department: R297 888.00.
b) The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority: R10 369 880
END.
17 March 2022 - NW310
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
What (a) was the total cost incurred for legal fees in the 2020-21 financial year and (b) are the subsequent disciplinary procedures for each province?
Reply:
The following table reflects the details in this regard, as received from the provinces:
PROVINCE |
(a) Legal fees (cost) |
(b) Disciplinary procedures |
Eastern Cape |
Legal practitioners and employees with competencies to handle cases. |
|
Free state |
R 2 790 446.55 |
Legal practitioners and employees with competencies to handle cases. |
Gauteng |
R 130 346 197,23 |
Outstanding |
Kwazulu Natal |
Outstanding |
|
Limpopo |
Legal practitioners and employees with competencies to handle cases. |
|
Mpumalanga |
R 35 798 383.52 |
Legal practitioners and employees with competencies to handle cases. |
North West |
R 3 748 814.05 |
Lawyer, consultants and employees |
Northern Cape |
R 2 854 890.69 |
Lawyers and employees |
Western Cape |
R 8 526 308.99 |
No lawyers are used in the province for disciplinary hearing |
National department of Health |
R 6,092,749.98 |
Employees with competencies to handle cases hearing |
END.
17 March 2022 - NW333
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(a) With which countries does the Republic currently have the bipartisan trade protocols that relate to (i) bovine and (ii) small ruminants semens and (b)(i) since what date was each specified protocol in place and (ii) what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(a)(i),(ii)(b)(i),(ii) Please refer to the table below.
No |
(a) Country |
Import/Export |
(a)(i),(ii) Species |
(b)(i) Date of inception |
(b)(ii) Details |
1 |
Australia |
Import |
Bovine |
January 2013 |
Trade is taking place. An updated veterinary health certificate was proposed to Australia for negotiation in February 2021. |
2 |
Australia |
Import |
Ovine and caprine |
2009 |
Trade is taking place. There are few applications (by importers) to import the commodity, therefore few permits are issued. |
3 |
New Zealand |
Import |
Bovine |
May 2007 |
Trade is taking place. |
4 |
New Zealand |
Import |
Ovine and caprine |
January 2007 |
Trade is taking place. There are few applications (by importers) to import the commodity, therefore few permits are issued. |
5 |
Canada |
Import |
Bovine |
January 2010 |
Trade is taking place. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is in the process of negotiating an updated veterinary health certificate. |
6 |
Denmark |
Import |
Bovine |
May 2015 |
Trade is taking place |
7 |
Finland |
Import |
Bovine |
May 2016 |
Trade is taking place |
8 |
France |
Import |
Bovine |
June 2015 |
Trade is taking place |
9 |
Hungary |
Import |
Bovine |
December 2016 |
Trade is taking place |
10 |
Ireland |
Import |
Bovine |
November 2017 |
Trade is taking place |
11 |
Italy |
Import |
Bovine |
June 2014 |
Trade is taking place |
12 |
Namibia |
Import |
Bovine |
April 2014 |
Trade is taking place |
13 |
Norway |
Import |
Bovine |
July 2019 |
Trade is taking place |
14 |
Netherlands |
Import |
Bovine |
July 2014 |
Trade is taking place |
15 |
United Kingdom |
Import |
Bovine |
April 2014 |
Trade is taking place. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is in the process of negotiating an updated veterinary health certificate. |
16 |
United States of America |
Import |
Bovine |
2010 |
Trade taking is place. South Africa proposed an updated veterinary health certificate for negotiation in February 2021. |
17 |
Brazil |
Export |
Caprine |
August 2017 |
In January 2019, South Africa experienced an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and lost its World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognised freedom. South Africa wrote to the Brazilian Veterinary Authority to renegotiate and was informed that the protocol had been updated and it was necessary to re-negotiate. The updated requirements contain conditions for Scrapie, which South Africa cannot meet. This protocol is no longer active and trade has been suspended. |
17 March 2022 - NW387
Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
What is her department’s plan to address the issue of nonviable municipalities particularly to ensure that the situation is improved to bring about economic growth and job creation?
Reply:
The Department has over the years implemented initiatives to support Local Economic Development at a municipal level. In 2018 the Department released the National Framework on Local Economic Development which sought to encourage all actors and role players to recognise the critical importance of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as a catalyst to promote inclusive, local economic growth and development.
Guided by framework, the Department has championed the establishsment of Business Development Forums (BDFs) which seeks to address the public sector – private sector divide as it relates to the planning and implementation of local economic development programmes. The BDFs have been implemented in municipalities such as West Coast; Sara Baartmaan, Ehlanzeni and Umgungundlovu District Municipalities.
The Department has also been involved in various Business Adopt a Municipality (BAaM) / Partnership projects with the business sector and State Owned Companies to support municipalities in addressing the challenges they face in complying to their legislative mandate.Partnerships established under the BAaM programme are different to other relationships between local government and the private sector in that they offer an opportunity for the private sector to share its experiences, skills and resources to directly support service delivery in a structured fashion at local level.
The Department in collaboration with the DTI and SALGA produced guidelines for reducing red tape in municipalities. The evidence study pointed out that municipal managers are usually focused on improving municipal financial audit results, and not on reducing Red Tape. The guidelines call upon municipal managers to prioritise both the improvement of audit ratings and the reduction of Red Tape. Among others, the guidelines recommend the initiation of Red Tape Reduction programmes by municipalities in conjunction with local business entities.
Lastly, the Department is coordinating the implementation of the District Develomplent Model (DDM) which is anchored on the development and implementation of district and metro one plans. One of the critical focus areas of the one plan is economic positioning - which is about that ensuring that districts and metros throughout the country understand their competitive and comparative advangateges and utilise them to grow their economies. The district and metro one plans are also meant to facilitate the reimagining district and metro spaces to promote inclusive growth and development. Importantly, one plans contain catalytic projects that will be implemented over a medium to long term to support economic recovery and growth in the districts and metros.
Through the DDM approach, the department is championing a programme focusing on the alignment of the Cooperatives based community economic development model to the District Development Model to address service delivery challenges in Municipalities. This programme seeks to address amongst others the following challenges - high rate of unemployment and poverty; minimal community participation in their development; lack of focus on repairs and maintenance to reduce government expenditure and carbon emission; and over dependency of poor families on government handouts and services. The programme is being piloted in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province focusing on Land fill, routine road maintenance, and potholes patching targeting Community Works Programme Participants.
17 March 2022 - NW325
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With reference to the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority receiving an unqualified audit with findings from the Auditor-General for 2020-21, what (a) were the findings regarding the specified audit report and (b) consequence management has been put in place by his department; (2) whether there are distinct timelines factored into the consequence management system; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what (a) were the regressions, (b) departments were guilty and (c) disciplinary actions have been taken against implicated officials who committed offences such as irregular expenditure and the amounts thereof, compliance with the law, regulations and documents, internal policies and procedures; (4) what control system has been put in place to ensure proper record keeping to ensure that complete, relevant and accurate information is accessible and available to support financial and performance reporting?
Reply:
1. (a) Findings raised related to prior year material misstatements not corrected.
(b) SAHPRA has established a Loss Control Function which reviews determination reports and recommends appropriate consequence management.
2. Timelines are factored into the audit action plan for overall improvement requirements in the SAHPRA control environment. The Finance Unit embarked on a project to correct prior year material misstatements. The Project Plan was executed for the period September 2021 and January 2022. The successful implementation of the Project Plan, envisages the following outcomes:
- Reconstructed 2018/2019 & 2019/2020 Financial Years
- Deferred Income listing for 2019/2020 (By implication, this will also result in a listing of the Deferred Income balance for 2018/2019)
- Adjustments Schedule
For irregular expenditure transgressions, a detailed Standard Operating Procedure has been developed together with the establishment of a Loss Control Function which reviews determination reports and recommends appropriate consequence management in line with our internal disciplinary policy and labour relation directives
Financial reporting/record keeping – business units are required to report on financial and performance management information on a monthly basis by the 7th of each month. Consequence management has been implemented against officials not submitting within specified timeframes
Irregular expenditure – Determinations are initiated once transgressions have been confirmed either through the SAHPRA internal control system or through internal or external audits. All transgressions confirmed have been condoned by the National Treasury with the exception of one which is still under consideration by National Treasury.
3. (a) None, no change in overall audit opinion and reduction of one qualification.
(b) Three officials from the Supply Chain Management, Office of the Board Secretary and Inspectorate departments.
(c) To date, disciplinary action has been taken against three officials relating to irregular expenditure as follows:
- Official 1 – R1 920 309
- Official 2 – R5 672
- Official 3 – R97 750
The remainder of the condonation approved by NT related to employees who have subsequently left the organisation. Disciplinary action has also been taken against three officials relating to internal process and procedures for financial reporting and record keeping.
4. Financial reporting/record keeping: business units are required to report on financial and performance management information on a monthly basis by the 7th of each month.
Historical information (remaining qualification) is a challenge. A project has been initiated to develop supporting records for audit purposes. Listings are created from the bank statements for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years to support the financial statement figures previously reported on. Application numbers are to be listed against the listings derived from the bank statement which will be linked to supporting evidence. The project is planned for completion before submission of the financial statements for audit purposes. Internal audit has been tasked to track progress made against the clearing of the remaining qualification.
Performance reporting: management is required to upload their portfolio of evidence to support the reported performance on the Performance Information SharePoint Group. Furthermore, management is required to sign the official sign-off page to confirm accuracy of the information reported and that the relevant evidence has been loaded. Furthermore, the reported performance is also audited by Internal Audit prior to submission.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW384
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Health
Whether, following an unknown suspected gas leak and inhalation at a school and homes in the surrounding area of Richards Bay, where children as well as adults developed nausea, vomiting, difficulties in breathing with many having collapsed and transported to hospitals and clinics in the Richards Bay and Empangeni areas, his department has investigated the incident; if not, why not; if so, what (a) are the results of the investigation and (b) is being done to prevent the incident from happening in the future?
Reply:
The National Department of Health is indeed the custodian of Health Services in the country, the Constitution has, in Schedule 4B, assigned some of the Health Services to Municipality later defined in section 1 of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act No 61 of 2003) as Municipal Health Services. The District Municipality is therefore responsible for the services but monitored and supported by both the Provincial and National Departments of Health.
The matter was investigated through the King Cetshawayo District Municipality lead by the Air Quality Management Unit in collaboration with the Environmental Health Unit (Municipal Health Services) thereof.
(a) The results of the investigations are as follows: There was no substantive or adequate information provided on the type of gas that was inhaled by the pupils during the interviews with the affected school (Richards Bay High School) and their neighbouring schools. The authorities could not access the main complainants through the Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA) Arboretum Station that would have provided adequate information on the type of fumes/smell experienced, times, duration and the areas (location). In addition, the available ambient monitoring data and emission data does not provide a conclusive source of emissions due to the reported symptoms not related to the monitored sulphur dioxide.
(b) The authorities to conduct a further investigation until the root cause is identified; availability of public awareness posters on how to log air quality complaints; conduct awareness in local schools on air quality. Fire, rescue and disaster management as well as the community are urged to log complaints through the authorities’ (City of uMhlathuze and King Cetshwayo District Municipality). The available complaints systems telephone numbers are 035 907 5000 and 080 011 1258 respectively).
END.
17 March 2022 - NW607
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
What is the position of his department on mandatory vaccination in institutions of higher learning?
Reply:
The scientific evidence is that where people must unavoidably congregate every protective measure should be taken including masking, ventilation, social distance from one another where possible, physical barriers such as screens, and increasing individual immunity through vaccination. The approach taken by institutions of higher learning is in line with this evidence and is therefore supported.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW461
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
What (a) is the current national backlog of postponed (i) non-essential surgeries and (ii) cancer treatment, (b) is the backlog in each province in each specified case, (c) what (i) number and (ii) types of each surgery have been delayed and (d) is the waiting time for each of the non-essential surgeries, for example, the period a patient has to wait for the procedure to remove a cataract?
Reply:
a) Surgeries are conducted at facility level and the information is also collected here. The current national backlog information can therefore not be provided as there is still outstanding information.
Table below provides information by province who have reported for (b)(i)(ii).
Province |
b(i) non-essential surgeries |
b(ii) cancer treatment, |
Free State |
3076 |
Not specified |
Kwa-Zulu Natal |
16295 |
311 |
Limpopo |
5398 |
120 |
Mpumalanga |
2687 |
No backlog for cancer treatment |
Northern Cape |
2542 |
Not specified |
Western Cape |
Western Cape Department of Health use operations > 30 mins as a proxy marker for this: 2019 the Department performed 105 882 operations > 30 mins This dropped by 19 % during 2020 Dropped even further to 22 % by 2021 |
The services have begun re-escalating cervical cancer screening activities again. |
Province |
c(i)Number of delayed surgeries |
c)(ii)Type of surgery |
Free State |
411 |
Orthopaedics |
|
59 |
Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
350 |
General Surgery |
|
722 |
Ophthalmology |
|
88 |
Urology |
|
98 |
Maxillo- Facial |
(d) (i) The waiting time in Free State facilities for non-essential surgery is as follows:
- Orthopaedics surgery ranges between four (4) weeks for femur fracture to five (5 years) for arthroplasty.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology between from two (2) weeks to two (2) years.
- General Surgery ranges between two (2) weeks to two (2) years.
- Urology ranges between one (1) month to one (1) year.
- Ophthalmology there is none for Retina surgery from one hospital.
(ii) However for cataract surgery it ranges from one (1) year to three (3) years.
Province |
c(i)Number of delayed surgeries |
c)(ii)Type of surgery |
Kwa- Zulu Natal |
2147 |
Orthopaedics |
721 |
Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
|
|
1653 |
General Surgery |
6857 |
Ophthalmology |
|
2287 |
Urology |
|
740 |
Maxillo- Facial |
|
650 |
ENT |
|
246 |
Plastic Surgery |
|
107 |
Neurosurgery |
|
887 |
Paediatric Surgery |
(i) The waiting time in Kwa Zulu-Natal facilities for non-essential surgery is as follows:
- Orthopaedics surgery ranges between six (6) months to two (2) years.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology ranges between three (3) months six (6) months.
- General Surgery ranges between six (6) months to one (1) year.
- Urology ranges between twelve (12) months to three (3) years.
- ENT ranges between six (6) months to one (1) year.
- Plastic Surgery not provided
- Neurosurgery not provided
- Paediatric Surgery not provided
(ii) Ophthalmology which includes cataract surgery ranges between six (6) months to one (1) year.
Province |
c(i)Number of delayed surgeries |
c)(ii)Type of surgery |
Limpopo |
141 |
Orthopaedics |
74 |
Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
|
5000 |
Ophthalmology |
|
97 |
Urology |
(i) The waiting time in Limpopo facilities for non-essential surgery is as follows:
- Orthopaedics surgery ranges between six (6) months to two (2) years.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology ranges between six (6) months to one (1) year.
- Urology ranges between six (6) months to one (1) year.
(ii) Ophthalmology which includes cataract surgery ranges between one (1) year to four(years)
Province |
c(i)Number of delayed surgeries |
c)(ii)Type of surgery |
Mpumalanga |
325 |
Orthopaedics |
369 |
Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
|
80 |
General Surgery |
|
1913 |
Ophthalmology |
(i) The waiting time in Mpumalanga facilities for non-essential surgery is as follows:
- Orthopaedics surgery ranges between seven (7) days to one (1) year.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology ranges between four (4) weeks to six (6) months.
- General Surgery is one (1) year.
- Urology ranges between six (6) months to one (1) year.
(ii) Ophthalmology which includes cataract surgery ranges between four (4) weeks to one (1) year.
Province |
c(i)Number of delayed surgeries |
c)(ii)Type of surgery |
Northern Cape |
425 |
Orthopaedics |
190 |
Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
|
492 |
General Surgery |
|
1440 |
Ophthalmology |
|
471 |
Urology |
|
750 |
ENT |
|
100 |
Plastic Surgery |
|
62 |
Maxillo Facial |
(i) The waiting time in Northern Cape facilities for non-essential surgery is as follows:
- Orthopaedics surgery ranges between two (2) days to three (3) months
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology not specified.
- General Surgery not specified
- Urology ranges one (1) year eight (8) months
- ENT not specified
- Plastic Surgery not specified
(ii) Ophthalmology which includes cataract surgery ranges between two (2) to three (3) years.
We still await information from the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Northwest, and Western Cape Provinces. This will be furnished to Parliament as soon as it is received.
17 March 2022 - NW561
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health
In light of the fact that Tshwane has confirmed at least seven typhoid fever cases between December 2021 and February 2022, what is his department’s level of readiness to deal with typhoid fever outbreak?
Reply:
The Department of Health has Outbreak Response Teams at National, Provincial, District and facility level. These teams are activated on notification of an outbreak of any communicable disease in the province and in the country, typhoid fever inclusive. The teams meet regularly to discuss and monitor the trajectory of all prevalent notifiable medical conditions, one of which is the Typhoid disease.
Typhoid (Salmonella Typhi) is a Notifiable Medical Condition, meaning that all confirmed cases must be officially reported to the Department of Health through the Notifiable Medical Conditions Surveillance System (NMCSS). The NICD Notifiable Medical Condition (NMC) system helps to notify cases of Typhoid and other communicable diseases in real-time. These timely notifications assist members of the Outbreak response teams to respond urgently to any Typhoid case and any communicable disease outbreak at all levels of service delivery. In addition, the district team downloads cases daily on the NMC system if any have been reported and liaise with the IPC nurses to get the demographics of the cases so that the clusters can be correctly identified, and contact tracing can commence.
Environmental Health Practitioners regularly go inside communities where there are possibilities of community members drinking from streams, dams, rivers, and lakes. They collect samples of water from these water entities and measure levels and concentration of E. coli in these waters. These levels are proxy indicators of the levels of the Typhoid fever pathogens.
They also use the opportunity to educate community members about the Typhoid disease and how to prevent this disease. Social mobilization and Risk Communications are ongoing in the communities towards the prevention and control of Typhoid disease. The provinces make use of community radio stations and secure slots where communities are educated about typhoid.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW552
Mokgotho, Ms SM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In light of the fact that the Moses Kotane Local Municipality incurred fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R2 822 000 and R111 943 868 which was incurred in respect of prior years and have not yet been dealt with in accordance with section 32 of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, what (a) steps does she intend to take to assist the municipality to bring the officials who misappropriated public funds to book and (b) are the time frames in this regard?
Reply:
The Department coordinated the Municipal Structures Amendment Act of 2021, the Act now includes the function of Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), which empowers the committee (MPAC) to investigate and report to council on matters affecting the municipality.
The Department is embarking on the development of online monitoring and reporting tool for MPACs. The Department in collaboration with stakeholders within local government space continues to capacitate MPACs to have a better understanding of their oversight role, which includes treatment of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in accordance with section 32 of Municipal Finance Management Act.
The Northwest Province has targeted to support all four district municipalities on the investigation of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in line with District Development Model. Additionally, the Provincial CoGTA in collaboration with Provincial Treasury and SALGA will follow up on the work executed by the previous council on the investigation of UIF&W expenditure.
The province has inducted newly elected MPAC members on numerous components with emphasis on investigation and reduction of the UIF&W expenditure in the municipalities on the 7-11 February 2022.
The Department of Treasury is taking a lead on the review of municipal UIF&W expenditure reduction strategy and municipalities are directed to implement the recommendations.
17 March 2022 - NW386
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Health
(a) What are the details of the moratorium placed on the filling of critical positions by the KwaZulu-Natal provincial department of health which were advertised in Circular G01/2022, (b) for how long will the moratorium be in place and (c) what factors were considered to justify the moratorium?
Reply:
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health informed that-
a|) The Circular was issued by the Department as a cost containment plan for the management of budget allocated. The primary aim is to ensure that there is no over expenditure on COE amongst other things as a turnaround strategy to reduce the over expenditure in the budget allocated.
b) The Department will closely monitor the spending of budget in which it will allow the filling of critical posts whilst the moratorium is in place as a cost containment plan.
c) The resolution by the Provincial Executive Council, Provincial Treasury and relevant Portfolio Committees is that the accounting officer submits and implements a turnaround plan that will ensure the Department does not over-spend its budget allocation as envisaged in section 39(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act of 1999, as amended.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW281
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he has been informed that from 9 February 2022 to date, the ambulances of Kimberley in the Northern Cape were not operating due to petrol cards which were declined; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No, I was not informed about the matter.
However, on enquiry Northern Cape Department of Health (NCDOH) indicated that petrol cards were placed on hold by the service provider due to nonpayment and during this period ambulances did not stop operating as there was an arrangement made with the service providers.
The NCDOH has engaged with the service provider and has come to an arrangement for payment of outstanding accounts. The agreement included partial payment on a scheduled basis towards the accumulated outstanding balances from November 2021 and that essential vehicles fuel cards would not be placed on hold.
There is also an additional contingency plan in place of using alternative service providers as a last resort to ensure that there is no disruption of ambulance services in the province.
END.
17 March 2022 - NW523
Sharif, Ms NK to ask the Minister of Health
What is the (a) make, (b) model, (c) year of manufacture, (d) price and (e) purchase date of each vehicle purchased for use by (i) him and (ii) the Deputy Minister since 29 May 2019?
Reply:
(i) No vehicles were purchased for the Minister since 29 May 2019.
(ii) The following vehicle was procured for the then Deputy Minister:
(a) Audi
(b) Q5
(c) 2020
(d) R756,489.83
(e) 30 September 2020
END.
17 March 2022 - NW6
Hendricks, Mr MGE to ask the Minister of Police
(1) Whether, in light of calls by the Portfolio Committee on Police for investigations into missing firearms at a police station in Johannesburg and the fact that this is not an isolated case, seeing that firearms stolen from police depots have landed in the hands of gangsters, the National Commissioner of Police will prioritise the investigation into the stolen firearms which contribute greatly to violent killings on the Cape Flats; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Whether an intelligence officer will be deployed to the police depots identified as hotspots for missing firearms; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details; (3) What turnaround strategy is there to encourage the public to report stolen firearms, as members of a the public are often too afraid to report corruption at a police station; (4) Whether hi Office will refer cases of police officials who were previously accused of being involved in missing firearms for further investigation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW7E
Reply:
Attached find here: Reply
16 March 2022 - NW335
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What (a) is the status of the vaccines that are being produced and sold at Onderspoort Biological Products and (b) are the details of vaccines that are being imported from other countries and sold in the Republic and (c) are the details of their effectiveness in the treatment of animal diseases; (2) what (a) vaccines are in short supply and (b) actions have been taken to address the shortage of the specified vaccines?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) continues to produce key vaccines, and some have recently been distributed across the country including Bluetongue vaccine and African horse-sickness vaccine. Most vaccines will be released soon in the coming months as per our sales forecast and production plan.
(b) There is a large number of animal vaccines imported into the country and are sold by OBP’s competitors. The OBP only imports Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine, which in turn it provides to the Department for use to control FMD.
(c) During registration of vaccines by the Registrar of Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Seeds and Remedies Act 36 of 1947, all claims for effectiveness are evaluated by the registrar. The Vaccines will therefore not be registered unless they are proven to be effective. At production before bottling in particular, tests are conducted for efficacy. If there are any doubts on the efficacy, the vaccine is not passed. Efficacy test results are kept at the production facility for record purposes should there be failures in the field.
(2)(a) There have been concerns from industry on a shortage of vaccines for vector borne diseases. These vaccines included African horse sickness, Blue tongue and Rift valley fever, mainly raised by observations that rainfall for this year has been above normal. OBP has been releasing vaccine batches as soon as they are available to the outlets but because of overconsumption in the market, an apparent shortage has resulted.
(b) OBP has short and long-term production and preventative maintenance plans which are yielding positive outcomes. This is to ensure that scheduled production of vaccines is not interrupted.
16 March 2022 - NW759
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What measures have been put in place by her department to develop a curriculum that empowers the youth to be manufacturers and producers of goods and services, which can be consumed in the communities where they reside?
Reply:
The Department of Basic Education has introduced the Three-Stream Curriculum Model. Through this Model the DBE seeks to strengthen the offerings of subjects that equip learners with skills and competencies that enables them to fix, maintain and build products, such subjects include woodworking where learners are able to build chairs, tables, cabinets just to give an example.
Learners also offer hospitality subjects, where learners amongst others learn how to cook. The products produced through learning these subjects may be sold during open days at schools as well as to individuals who are willing to purchase them.
Children in Agricultural schools are not only taught how to produce agricultural produce, but are also taught entrepreneurial skills, and how to access the markets to sell their produce.
These are some of the efforts of the Department offer curriculum that teach learners how to manufacture and produce goods and services which can be consumed by communities they reside in.
16 March 2022 - NW685
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What is the total number of (a) single-medium schools of each language in the Republic, (b) schools for each language in each province and (c) single-medium schools that were closed in each province in the (i) 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22 financial years and (ii) what were the reasons for each closure?
Reply:
Response: (a) (b)
Table 1 indicates that, there were 7 106 single medium schools in the country. Majority of these schools were English medium with 5 964 schools.
Number of Single Medium Schools per Province, in 2021
Source: LURITS 2021
(c) (i) During the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years there were eight (8) single medium schools that were closed and these schools were from Mpumalanga.
(ii) Reasons for closure: There are various measures that can lead to merger or closure of schools. The Department of Basic of Education has provided Provincial Education Departments with Guidelines for Rationalisation and Re-alignment of Public Schools; Holistic Approach. The primary objective of the School Rationalisation process is to continue providing universal access to quality basic education in a rational manner, doing so cost effectively with respect to resource provisioning, where the costs being referred to are not only limited to monetary costs but also socio-economic imperatives.
16 March 2022 - NW294
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Ms N.N Chirwa (EFF) to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What is the reason that a certain inmate (details furnished) has been denied repeated requests for medical care?
Reply:
The mentioned inmate is receiving treatment for his medical condition from the centre clinic on a continuous basis and on 01 February 2022, he was seen by the visiting medical practitioner who endorsed that the patient must be referred to King Edward Hospital.
The offender has a confirmed appointment date for 15 March 2022
END
16 March 2022 - NW139
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What is the status of all the infrastructure projects of his department aimed at (a) adding additional bed spaces to correctional facilities and (b) building of new correctional centres?
Reply:
a) Currently, DCS has one upgrade project in execution at Parys for the construction of additional bed spaces. This project is underway and scheduled for completion during the 2022/23 financial year. The project is implemented by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The construction is at 85% completion.
b) Building of new correctional centres can be summarised as follow:
Projects: Construction of new correctional centre |
Status |
Burgersdorp |
Tender advertised for the appointment of a construction contractor. Bid Adjudication stage with DPWI. Construction contractor appointment scheduled for the 2022/2023 financial year. |
Lichtenburg |
Project in design stages. Site clearance finalised, Construction contractor appointment scheduled for the 2022/2023 financial year. The project is in the process to be adopted from the DPWI, due to delays during the planning and design stages. |
Thohoyandou |
Site clearance stage: Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Kirkwood |
Site identified. The feasibility studies are 80% complete. Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Richards Bay |
Feasibility study stage. Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Nigel |
Appointment of consultants to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments finalised. Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Leeuwkop |
Appointment of consultants to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments finalised. Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
George |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Voorberg |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Klerksdorp |
Feasibility study and site clearance processes finalised. Project deferred due to budget constraints. |
Khayelisha |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site identification report completed. |
Bergville |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site identification report was completed. |
Potchefstroom |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
Losperfontein |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
Polokwane |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. A Township Establishment was approved by the Municipality in 2011. |
Port Shepstone |
Site clearance outstanding. |
Mouth Ayliff |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
Engcobo |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
Queenstown |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
East London |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
Durban |
Project deferred due to budget constraints. Site clearance processes not initiated. |
END
16 March 2022 - NW491
Mbabama, Ms TM to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What (a) is the total amount of the Presidential Employment Stimulus vouchers for subsistence farmers that were distributed in (i) all nine provinces to date and (ii) each provincial department and (b) number of farmers did her department reach in the implementation of the specified programme; (2) whether she has been informed of any incidents of the abuse of the support programme that took place in the nine provinces; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a),(i),(ii),(b) Please refer to the Table below.
Province |
(a)(i),(ii) Total amount for vouchers issued |
|
Eastern Cape |
125 383 700,00 |
21 567 |
Free State |
34 216 400,00 |
5 769 |
Gauteng |
28 599 300,00 |
5 145 |
Kwa Zulu Natal |
160 846 500,00 |
28 246 |
Limpopo |
102 849 000,00 |
16 436 |
Mpumalanga |
98 366 600,00 |
17 728 |
North West |
79 897 000,00 |
12 051 |
Northern Cape |
22 898 200,00 |
3 246 |
Western Cape |
13 051 400,00 |
2 124 |
Total |
666 108 100,00 |
|
2. Yes.
- Suppliers charging marked up prices;
- Non-delivery and delayed delivery of agricultural production inputs by suppliers to farmers causing delays in implementation of projects by the farmers; and
- Collusion between some suppliers and farmers in exchanging vouchers for cash.
In an attempt to deal with these challenges, the Department suspended the project for one month in order to review and redesign its implementation plan. The Department removed all suppliers who do not have shops (middlemen) and is replacing them with agro-dealers who own shops. These beneficiaries are now going to redeem their vouchers with agro-dealers and buy items at shelf prices like any other agricultural customer. There are no extra charges on the items. This will also eliminate any chance of exchanging vouchers for cash because the redemption of the voucher and all transactions will be done inside the shop after the farmer has selected the production inputs.
16 March 2022 - NW644
Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) What is the total number of teachers who have been identified as under-qualified for their positions in the (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021 academic years; (2) what is the total number of teachers who have been identified as (a) under- and (b) unqualified in each district where they do not possess the relevant (i) subject knowledge and/or (ii) qualification covering teaching methodology in the classroom in the specified period; (3) what is the name of each school that is affected by teachers who were found to be either unqualified and/or under qualified; (4) whether her department has taken any steps to compel the specified educators to attend further education to upskill themselves in the missing subject knowledge and/or teaching methodology qualifications; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) (a) 912 (b) 706 (c) 547
(2) In terms of the valuation of educator qualifications, unqualified educators that are both academically and professionally unqualified with the qualification equivalent to Grade 12 while the under-qualified educators are those that are professionally qualified both in terms of subject matter and methodology but below the minimum qualification of matric plus three-year professional qualification. The table below summarises the number of qualified and unqualified educators as of December 2021. Only 218 were appointed permanently.
PROVINCE |
UNQUALIFIED (a) (I)(ii) |
UNDER-QUALIFIED (b)(i)(ii) |
TOTAL |
EASTERN CAPE |
29 |
132 |
161 |
FREE STATE |
44 |
40 |
84 |
GAUTENG |
8 |
62 |
70 |
KWAZULU/NATAL |
123 |
15 |
138 |
LIMPOPO |
1 |
17 |
18 |
MPUMALANGA |
56 |
32 |
88 |
NORTH WEST |
3 |
84 |
87 |
NORTHERN CAPE |
308 |
10 |
318 |
WESTERN CAPE |
456 |
155 |
611 |
TOTAL |
1 028 |
547 |
1 575 |
3. The detailed information per district and school is attached as Annexure A.
4. Over the years the Department has implemented various programmes, particularly, to assist un-and-under-qualified educators to improve their qualifications. The National Professional Diploma was implemented as an interim qualification for the purpose of upgrading under-qualified educators.
16 March 2022 - NW460
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she will furnish the details of the South African beef that has been exported to (a) European and (b) American markets since 2000, including the (i) name of each country and (ii) tons of beef exported and (c) revenue earned in each case?
Reply:
(a),(b) No. Neither the European Union (EU) nor the United States of America (USA) has granted South Africa (SA) market access to export raw beef to their territories. Therefore, no raw beef can be exported to these markets.
(i),(ii) Falls away.
(c) No revenue was generated as there are no beef exports to EU and USA.
16 March 2022 - NW402
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
By what date is it anticipated that his department will finally make the long outstanding payments due to pensioners of the Department of Correctional Services in terms of the occupation-specific dispensation reached in March 2017?
Reply:
The audit of the Occupation Specific Dispensation payments to ex-officials has been finalised on 15 February 2022. Following the audit, the process of payments to ex-officials has started again.
Payments will be processed per region, and the Department has already started with Eastern Cape. In each region ex-officials who previously never got any payments will be prioritised, after which those cases in which officials were underpaid will be processed.
It is anticipated that all Occupational Specific Dispensation payments will be finalised by 31 August 2022
END
16 March 2022 - NW169
McGluwa, Mr JJ to ask the Minister in the Presidency
What steps has his Office taken to assist Statistics SA to overcome some of the field work logistical obstacles such as the recruitment of persons, acquisition of vehicles and shortage of tablets, which it has been experiencing to ensure that the Census takes place?
Reply:
The Statistics Act, that is Act No. 6 of 1999, directs the Minister to publish the date of the census by notice of a gazette. In line with previous practice, the Office of the Minister and Deputy Minister has been working closely with Stats SA to publicise the census since the 100 day countdown and the launch of the census. They have each led numerous census publicity activities in various areas with media in tow to ensure maximum participation from the public in the sourcing of fieldworkers at large.
The Statistics Act is very clear on the responsibilities of the Minister in that the Minister may not interfere with the powers of the Statistician-General in executing the Act. The Office of the Minister is thus not involved in the operational aspects of recruitment of fieldworkers for the census as well as the sourcing and acquisition of vehicles. Stats SA has no shortages of tablets and have made adequate provisions for all fieldworkers.
Thank You
16 March 2022 - NW431
Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies
Whether, with reference to her statement during the debate on the State of the Nation Address on 15 February 2022 that an allocation of 10GB basic data would be made available to all households, and in view of the fact that the Republic is yet to complete its digital migration that was set in motion in 2006 and scheduled to be completed in 2015, a feasibility study and/or costing has been done for the proposed 10GB data roll-out; if not, why not; if so, what (a) are the full, relevant details and (b) is the proposed timeline for the roll-out?
Reply:
I have been advised by the department as follows:
a) A specific feasibility study relating to the 10GB data has not been undertaken, however, the SA Connect Phase 2 proposal borrows on the tenets of universal access to basic and essential services (e.g. water, electricity and data being the next step). Recognizing the negative impact of the digital divide, especially in the rural and underserviced areas, the statement relating to the allocation of 10GB is a statement of intent to address this divide.
b) The proposed timeline is in parallel to the roll out of the SA Connect Revised Model, which is planned to be completed within the next 3 years starting from 01 April 2022.
15 March 2022 - NW515
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What is the (a) make, (b) model, (c) year of manufacture, (d) price and (e) purchase date of each vehicle purchased for use by (i) her and (ii) the Deputy Ministers since 29 May 2019?
Reply:
(a),(b),(c),(d),(e) None.
(i),(ii),(ii) Not applicable.
15 March 2022 - NW126
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether the South African animal breeders’ associations has been in contact with her office to request assistance with the opening of an export and import market for semen of bovine and small ruminants; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) are the relevant details and (b) are the results of the engagements with the breeders’ association; (2) whether there was any information received from breeders’ associations; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what follow-up has her department made with countries that are interested in South African breeders?
Reply:
- The DALRRD has been approached by several breeder associations to request market access for ruminant semen and embryos.
a) The main interest from these associations is between South Africa and the MERCOSUR countries with emphasis on Brazil and Argentina.
b) DALRRD began negotiations for the export of ruminant semen and embryos in 2010 with Brazil and Argentina and information has been exchanged over the years. In 2016, an agreed upon veterinary health certificate for ovine embryos was achieved with Brazil. In 2017, Brazil agreed to the veterinary health certificate for caprine semen and embryos. In 2019, when South Africa experienced the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak and lost our OIE recognised free status, DALRRD was informed by Brazil that the protocols had been amended and re-negotiation of the veterinary health certificate was required. The amended MERCOSUR requirements included Scrapie measures which were not there previously, and these excluded South Africa from qualifying for exports of ovine and caprine semen and embryos.
Industry also expressed an interest in exporting bovine semen and embryos to Australia. DALRRD completed the Foot and Mouth Disease questionnaire and submitted it with our request for market access to the veterinary Authority of Australia. In July 2015, the Australian Veterinary Authority responded to SAVSEG that South Africa’s request for market access was not a priority to them.
There was also interest to export Boer Goat genetics in 2021 to the USA. DALRRD wrote to the USDA to request market access and was informed that they are updating the regulations regarding Scrapie and would not consider market access requests until the process had been finalised. At the time, the USDA could not provide an expected time when the updating of the regulations would be finalised.
The USA also has a lengthy process of recognising the FMD and other diseases of concern, even when the OIE recognises RSA free of those diseases.
2. Industry has assisted with obtaining copies of the MERCOSUR requirements for the export of ruminant semen and embryos to MERCOSUR member ountries. They have also assisted with having these requirements translated into English and assisted with translating the proposed veterinary health certificates into Spanish or Portuguese for the negotiations. This assistance was of great value in the negotiations and successful conclusion of the veterinary health certificates for ovine embryos and caprine semen and embryos by Brazil in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
DALRRD was informed that the USDA process to update their Scrapie regulations is due to be finalized in February 2022, the updated process has not been shared by the USA yet, and DALRRD is following up periodically.
At present South Africa is facing several challenges with regard to opening markets for the export of ruminant semen and embryos. These challenges include, but are not limited to, the following:
- there is no national animals identification and traceability system which follows livestock from birth to the final product,
- South Africa has lost its OIE recognized FMD free status,
- South Africa does not have adequate surveillance system for Scrapie in order to declare itself free according to the OIE general surveillance and specific Scrapie requirements, industry has been requested to assist.
Until these challenges have been resolved, South Africa is in a difficult position to provide the necessary animal disease guarantees required by countries interested in importing ruminant semen and embryos from South Africa.
Until these challenges have been resolved, South Africa is in a difficult position to provide the necessary animal disease guarantees required by countries interested in importing ruminant semen and embryos from South Africa.
15 March 2022 - NW160
Cachalia, Mr G K to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether he and/or his department ever received correspondence from a certain political organisation (details furnished), via email, WhatsApp, hardcopy and/or in any other format of which the original file is dated June 2020; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what date was the specified correspondence received, (b) who was the sender of the correspondence and (c) what steps were taken by his department in this regard?
Reply:
I have not received the attached letter, neither does the department have it on its records.
END
15 March 2022 - NW446
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether, with reference to media reports that a certain company (name furnished) has around 90% foreign nationals at their South African offices, he has investigated the matter and determined how it was made possible for the specified company to operate and work in the Republic under such circumstances?
Reply:
In investigating this matter, DoEL consulted with DHA to determine whether DHA had granted Huawei a permit to employ more than 40% foreign nationals. The response bt DHA waqs that DHA had not granted any such permission, whether explicitly or impied. The only visas for which the Immigration regulations prescribe the 60:40 ratio are Corporate visas and Business visas. None of the current Huawei employees are on either of those two visa categories.
Home Affairs records show that Huawei has been issued with 538 intra-company transfer work visas, 76 critical skills work visas and 11 general work visas. This makes up a total of 625 work visas issued to Huawei employees.
Holders of intra-company transfer work visas do not hold a local position in the staff establishment of Huawei in South Africa. They remain employed by Huawei abroad in the Peoples Republic of China. They are physically head quartered in South Africa but employed by the mother company abroad to service other markets on the African continent.
While Huawei may have 625 foreign employees based in South Africa, those who are employed on the staff establishment of Huawei in South Africa in terms of the Immigration Regulations are 87 in total (76 critical + 11 general work).
The 87 employees are the ones who have local contracts to conduct work in South Africa for Huawei. When properly interpreted, Huawei South Africa employs 87 foreign employees.
END
15 March 2022 - NW296
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What steps has she taken to ensure that the allegations of corruption and mismanagement at Nokuthula Special School in Johannesburg are fully investigated and (b) by what date will her department ensure that the resources needed by the learners at the specified school are supplied?
Reply:
The administration and management of schools is the competence of provincial education departments. I therefore, had to consult with the MEC for Education in Gauteng Province, who has advised that:
(a) The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has instituted an investigation on financial irregularities at the school, based on an anonymous tip off received on 29 November 2021. The investigation is expected to be complete by 31 March 2022.
(b) The school is a section 21(1)(c) of the South African Schools Act, 1996; and is responsible to purchase textbooks, educational materials, or equipment from the specific budget allocated. For the 2021/22 financial year, the school has received 100% of its allocated budget to fulfil the allocated function.
15 March 2022 - NW422
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Given that the Government officially recognises the One China position which includes Taiwan in the People’s Republic of China, what is the reason that citizens of Taiwan are not afforded the convenience of e-visa services when applying to visit the Republic of South Africa?
Reply:
Our understanding of the China Policy is that if you extend e-visa to China, all territories that are regarded as part of China are automatically covered.
END