Questions and Replies

Reply:

(a) Two cases of procurement fraud were identified by the department in the past five financial years.

(b) (i) and (ii) in the first case, the official was charged with financial misconduct but resigned from the Department before the disciplinary proceedings could be finalised. The matter was subsequently reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their further handling and a legal application was also made for the suspension of the contract.

In the second case, the matter was reported to the SAPS for further handling as it only involved the service provider and the project had reached conclusion.

Reply:

a) As part of the actions on the audit findings and recommendations of the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA), the Department will undertake an independent investigation to establish if there was any possible collusion from officials in this regard. The Department aims to conclude this investigation by end of April 2022.

The redemption of funds that were destined for the tourist guides who were in the respective Provincial Registers but were unfortunately found to have been deceased will be reported to the South African Police Services (SAPS) for further handling.

Furthermore, provinces will be informed of the audit findings particularly in relation to their tourist guides registers.

b) (i) and (ii) The Department will undertake a verification process with all the provinces of the forms of identification used by the various tourist guides taking into account the fact that anyone with a work visa may register as a tourist guide provided all other legal requirements are met. Further verification will be conducted with the Department of Home Affairs. Where there may be a case of invalid identification, the Department will institute recovery processes. The verification process is scheduled to conclude by March 2022.

Reply:

a) My Department promote and support the creative sector by providing funding to Entities reporting to me, these Entities then engage the creative sector to forge social cohesion and advocate against social ills. Examples on how the Department’s entities directly and indirectly support the sectror are as follows;

• The Market Theatre Foundation, is currently creating a play about gender-based violence for teenagers, to be disseminated digitally to high schools nationwide. The play is designed to help high school learners identify gender-based violence and the way it affects their lives, as well as equip them with knowledge, skills, and resources to support them in situations in which they survivors of gender-based violence. In addition, the Market Theatre Laboratory works extensively with its own students on building awareness around gender-based violence through a series of workshops. The students create plays throughout the year exploring this and other socially relevant themes. In 2021, the Market Theatre Laboratory partnered with an independent theatre company to host performances of the play “Text Me When You Arrive: a guide on how not to get raped and killed in South Africa”, a play also grappling with this theme.

The National Film and Video Foundation’s stance has been reflected through the following projects:

• Research conducted in partnership with Sisters Working in Film & TV (SWIFT) entitled “Gender Matters in the South African Film Industry” (2018) which aimed at providing information and statistics on women participation, challenges and roles in the local film industry,
• An MOU signed with SWIFT which covered amongst other things, the implementation of a Code of Good Practice: Handling Sexual Harassment in the Film and Television Industry (“The Code”) which promotes workplaces that are free of sexual harassment, where employers and employees respect one another’s integrity and dignity, their privacy, and their right to equality.
• In partnership with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH), the NFVF institutionalised gender sensitivity training and GBV training with industry proessionals and AFDA students respectively

The Robben Island Museum hosted a social cohesion programme in the form of an Annual Spring School programme held on the island aimed at capacitating the youth and recently held one on 04 - 09 October 2021. The main objective of all the Nation Building Youth Camps facilitated by Robben Island Museum is to create an opportunity and space to debate on social ills, pertinent issues affecting communities, inclusivity and leadership skills. The theme of the 2021 Spring School was Young people acknowledging that the epidemic of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa is a national crisis. The 2021 Spring School Programme was made possible with the support from the DSAC’s Sub-Directorate on Social Cohesion and Nation Building.

In addition to the above, other specific programmes implemented include the following:

Social Cohesion Advocates Programme

Through the Social Cohesion Advocates Programme, the Department has been able to implement GBV Dialogues and Seminars in churches, institutions of higher learning such as at then Vaal University of Technology (VUT). As part of creating platforms for promoting Social Cohesion and Nation Building Social Cohesion Advocates have engaged in After School care programmes to empower girls and young women.

During the July 2021 Unrest, Social Cohesion Advocates have been able to participate in fact finding missions. They have engaged communities in dialogues including trainings on Mediation, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building. There have also been initiatives on Healing of Memories and Trauma and Trauma Counselling session.

Preventing Gender Based Violence

Where Gender Based Violence (GBV) is concerned, the idea is to prevent it from happening as opposed to providing interventions when it has happened as that tends to be costlier and unsustainable. As the adage goes Prevention is better than cue. Communities need to understand the Concept of Gender so that they can understand why the scourge is called GBV. Capacity Building in the form of Training has therefore been engaged into including two (2) Gender Sensitisation and GGBV Workshops have been held. A Gender Sensitisation and GBV Workshop was conducted for Albinism Advocacy Access (AAA) on 20 – 22 October 2021 Another one was conducted at Inanda which is one of 30 hotspot areas in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) as communicated by the Minister of Police, Mr Bheki Cele. The Department intends massifying these awareness creation workshops including in areas such as Delft and Lusikisiki.

Funding to Non Profit Organisations

Over and above these, the Departments funds several Non Profit organisations that encourage Prevention of GBV. In this financial year, three (3) such organizations. These organisations have programmes such as After school Programmes that reduce the exposure of children to GBV plus unwanted and or unplanned pregnancies.

Campaigns led by the Department

The Department has also engaged in active campaigns such as The Orange Day Campaign which marks the 25th as a day to wear orange and unite to end violence Against women and Girls (VAWG). This way, on a monthly basis, 365/24/7. we are able to promote the message of GBV prevention as opposed to focusing exclusively on 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). This also ensures that there is monitoring of progress especially as DSAC reports on a monthly basis to the Department of Women Youth and People with Disabilities, under Pillar 2 of the Gender Based Violence National Strategic Plan 2030.

Further, Department has launched two programmes in an aid to raise awareness against GBVF. The programmes are Golekane and Baqhawafazi. Golekane is a campaign which endorses a call to action for men by men to end GBVF through behavioural dialogs, panel discussions, grassroots anti GBVF activations and father and son camps.

Baqhawafazi is a movement that seeks to raise awareness against gender based violence, intimate partner violence and femicide in South Africa. It is comprised of testimonials telling the untold stories of GBVF through raw footage from survivors of GBVF. Some of the activities implemented include The Survivors Guild- August 2021, A walk fit for purpose- August 2021, Digital Content on Social Media pages – September 2021, Filming and production of interviews – September 2021, Media Placement- Erection of billboards and Street pole ads- September 2021.

Reply:

The time frame for the finalisation of the tourism white paper review process is planned as follows:

The Department of Tourism seeks to have in place a Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa by the end of 2021/22 financial year. Thereafter, the White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa will be ready in 2022/23.

Reply:

Yes.

a) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has signed agreements to implement blended finance with Land Bank and the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC).

• The 1st Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) made and entered into between the former Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and Land Bank was signed on March 2018;
• The 2nd one was a tripartite that was entered into between former DAFF, Land Bank and former Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) signed in September 2018; and
• The 3rd one was between DALRRD and IDC signed in March 2021.

b) Details of funding provided to farmers: Please refer to Annexure A.

ANNEXURE A OF NA-QUES 2307 OF 2021

(i) Land Bank support during the proof of concept phase (2018/2019 financial year):

Farmers supported during the proof of concept phase in 2018/19 financial year.
Province	Type of Support	Commodity	Total Value (R'000)	Approved Grant (R'000)	Approved Loan (R'000)	Amount Drawn (R’000)	Insurance (Y/N)	Permanent Jobs	Status
KwaZulu Natal	Mortgage and production loan	Sugarcane	15 000	7 000	8 000	15 000	Y	13	Operational. Although the client experienced a small fire which burnt ± 39 ha of sugar cane, ±21 ha was mature cane. On 4 November 2019 the client lodged claim against insurance for the damage to the 18 ha. Despite the above, the client is on track with farming operations and payments. The instalment has already been provided for.
Northern Cape	Mortgage and Production loan	Livestock	8 152	4 000	4 152	8 152	N	3	Operational. Although drought is still persistent in NC, supplements continue to be given to livestock and farmer drilled borehole.
Mpumalanga	Mortgage and Production loan	Mixed (crops and Livestock)	51 386	33 826	17 560	51 386	N	23	Operational. 15 Cattle were reported stolen in December 2019. 70ha under production.
North West	Mortgage and production loan.	Broilers and Cattle	10 214	2 714	7 500	10 214	N	29	Operational. Sells broilers to Supreme chickens.
North West	Mortgage and Production loan	Broilers	19 158	13 858	5 300	19 158	N	8	Operational. Sells broilers to Supreme chickens.
North West	Mortgage and Production loan	Mixed (crops and Livestock)	55 000	35 500	19 500	55 000	N	5	Operational.
Gauteng	Mortgage and Production loan	Broilers	6 852	4 710	2 142	6 852	N	7	Operational although the farmer experienced challenges with poor project management during construction of 3 poultry houses. Contract with Avon chickens.
Total			165 762	101 608	64 154	165 762		88
PS: It took the Land Bank 272 days on average from approval to disbursement.

PS: The agreement with Land Bank is still effective however, the current liquidity challenges at Land Bank has prevented Land Bank to support the farmers through Blended Finance after it was relaunched on 18 March 2021 as they are still awaiting their challenges to be resolved before supporting new transactions.

(ii) Support through IDC (the spreadsheet with details is attached)

The IDC started implementing blended finance after the re-launch by Ministers of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and Trade, Industry and Competition on 18 March 2021. The following is the IDC performance since the launch:

a) DALRRD transferred R200 million to IDC in March 2021. The second Tranche will be disbursed before end November 2021;

b) The base target contribution from IDC is R4 billion and Dalrrd has committed R1 billion in five years to the IDC;

c) Approvals as at 30 September 2021 – IDC has approved total funding of R260,340 million, of which R182,340 million is loan and R78 million grant; supporting 5 enterprises and creating 128 permanent jobs as shown in the table below:

Producers supported through IDC as at end September 2021
Province	Type of support	Commodity	Total Value R'000	Grant Approved	Loan Approved	Total Drawn	Insurance (Y/N)	Permanent Jobs	Comment
KZN	Acquisition Production loan	Timber (Forestry)	25 400	10 000	15 400	0	Y	26	Expansionary acquisition
GP	Production loan (Capex & Opex)	Agro-processing (vegetables)	11 000	4 000	7 000	0	Y	32	Support working capital and machinery
MP	Production loan (Capex & Opex)	Broilers	75 400	23 000	52 400	0	Y	21	Start up: 360 000 chickens per cycle
GP	Production loan (Capex & Opex)	Broilers	72 640	23 000	49 640	0	Y	25	Expansion:380 000 to 680 000 chickens per cycle
MP	Production loan (Capex & Opex)	Broilers	75 900	18 000	57 900	0	Y	24	Expansion:545 000 to 845 000 chickens per cycle
Total			260 340	78 000	182 340	0		128
Final conditions to be met before transfers are made.

Furthermore the current pipeline is as follows:

d) Eight (8) transactions are at Due diligence phase (DD) requiring R534 million and R168 million grant, creating 656 permanent jobs;

e) Transactions that have passed the deal development forum (DDF) and are moving to Due diligence phase are four (4), requiring R199 million loan and R38 million grant, creating 314 permanent jobs;

f) Lastly there are 13 transactions that are at assessment phase requiring R1, 320 billion and R337 million grant, creating 260 permanent jobs;

g) The commodities supported include poultry, beef, piggery, Horticulture, agro-processing and forestry.

ii) Jobs Fund Facility

• DALRRD has received funding amounting to R300 million from the Jobs Fund to support 108 smallholder producers towards their commercialisation. The fund received from the Jobs Fund required match funding of an equal amount of R300 million from DALRRD. A contract has been signed with the Land Bank as the authorised credit provider. The Land Bank has been appointed as the Implementing Agent for DALRRD’s Jobs Fund project.

• The R300 million from the Jobs Fund coupled with the R300 million match fund from DALRRD is allocated to producers as 50% loan and 50% grant. The loan is repayable at a 7.5% interest to be used as a revolving fund to support additional producers.

Reply:

(1)(a) The Department worked with Organised Agriculture and appointed Locust Control Contractors. Organised Agriculture submitted the names of the people to be appointed as locust control contractors for each locust district. All appointed Locust Control Contractors were trained and supplied with insecticide, spray pumps and protective clothing. Reimbursement of the Locus Control Contractors was informed by number of days worked and distance travelled.

The Helicopter Service Provider was appointed to supplement the ground control teams in reaching inaccessible areas.

The officials of the Department monitored and evaluated the locust control operations. The locust outbreak was successfully controlled in 45 locust districts in the Northern Cape Province from January 2020 to August 2021.

(b) The Department appointed a total number of 1076 Locust Control Contractors and Helicopter Service Provider to control the outbreak.

(c) The total cost of the operation for Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape was R 74 667 464.14. It is not possible to give cost only for Northern Cape due to centralization of items such as insecticides, protective clothing, etc at the depot in the Northern Cape from where it is dispatched as required.

(2) Not all service providers were paid within 30 days. The reasons for not paying within 30 days were:

• closure of departmental buildings due to exposure to Covid-positive cases (processing of payments cannot be done remotely); and
• incorrect banking details of the service providers (which required another process of engaging the service provider).

Reply:

(a) The budget allocated to the Food Services Tourism Incubator which is being implemented in partnership with SEDA is R 6 million over two years.

(b) The programme can accommodate 100 participants.

(c) The purpose of the Tourism Food Services Incubator is to empower trained food services candidates to become owners and operators in the food services business. In view of the rising unemployment figures particularly in the tourism and hospitality industry, the Department saw it fit to maximise its investment in the food services training and skills development by supporting youth wanting to engage in new venture creation in areas where there are viable markets.

(d) The programme will be implemented over two financial years: 2021/22 and 2022/23.

 

Reply:

1. (a) There is no construction of a Resistance and Liberation Museum in the Eastern Cape.

b) When Cabinet approved the implementation of the recommendations of the feasibility study to establish a Resistance and Liberation Movement Museum called for by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the purpose and rationale was that there is no museum expressing the horror of colonialism and apartheid without sanitization. The feasibility study acknowledged the existence of museums on the liberation struggle but these museums deal with specific aspects of the liberation struggle and do not depict the liberation struggle in an unsanitised manner so that current and future generations have a full understanding of the price paid for a democratic dispensation. Cabinet approved that this museum be developed in Tshwane.

2. The feasibility study to establish a Resistance and Liberation Movement Museum called for by the Inter-Ministerial Committee and approved by Cabinet, found that the establishment of such a museum was viable and feasible.

Reply:

1. We appoint people to the boards and councils who have applied. To my recollection there is no law that forbids a person from serving in more than one council or board.

Reply:

1. It can be confirmed that Pelonomi Hospital is maintained in accordance with a 5-year maintenance plan. The objective of the departments’ maintenance plan is to address maintenance backlog, user needs, clinical standards, and statutory requirements (as per the occupational health and safety act).

2. The department is reviewing the plan on an annual basis through the User Asset Management Plan and Infrastructure Programme Implementation Plan (IPMP). This is to allow for new activities that need to be added and escalation of costs.

3. (a) The hospital is experiencing shortages in beds due to the maternity ward not yet being complete. The contractor terminated when progress was still at 40% to complete due to poor workmanship. New contractor is expected to be on site by March 2022 for 14 months.

(b) Medicine Shortages experienced as per the table below:

Medicine Name	Suppliers
Amphotericin B	Waiting for Buy-Out
Acetylcysteine Vials	Equity not paid by depot
Ganciclovir 500mg vials	Waiting for Buy-Out
Nylon 3/0	Waiting for Buy-Out
Phenylephrine drops	Waiting for Buy-Out
Prontosan cleaning solution 350 and 1000ml	Waiting for Buy-Out
Tramadol 100mg ampoules	Waiting for Buy-Out
Sodium Valproate 400mg vials	Waiting for Buy-Out
Nylon 1/0	Waiting for Buy-Out
Soda Lime	Depot cancelled order and awaiting buy-out
AMIKACIN 100 MG	Waiting stock – Medical Depot (DDV)
Cefepime 1g and 2g	Waiting stock – Medical Depot (DDV)
SALBUTAMOL RESP SOL 5MG/1ML 20	Depot out of stock
FLUMAZENIL 0.5 MG/5 ML AMP	Waiting for Buy-Out
CARBIMAZOLE 5 MG TAB	Waiting Buy-Out
CLOTHIAPINE 40 MG TAB	Waiting Buy-Out
DIGOXIN 0.25MG 28'S 1 TAB	Depot out of stock
RINGER'S LACTATE SOLUTION 200	Waiting stock – B-Braun awaiting stock
Saline 50ml, 100ml and 200ml	Waiting stock – B-Braun awaiting stock
Paracetamol syrup	Barrs not being paid
Augmentin syrups	Sandoz not being paid
Aldactone tabs	Sandoz not being paid
Hydralazine 25mg	Sandoz not being paid
Hibiscrub and Steriprep	Barrs not being paid
Tuberculin PPD	Company out of stock
Actilyse	Awaiting buy-out
Artesunate	Equity not being paid
Midazolam 5 and 15mg	Worldwide problem

(c) Oxygen Shortages

There is currently no challenge with oxygen. All vacuum and oxygen points are serviced. The medical gas plant room was upgraded to provide the following capacity:

• Main tank = 19 500 Tons
• Standby tank = 8 500 Tons

Tanks were also furnished with sensors that are directly linked to Afrox supply chain platform. Afrox is thus informed when levels go beyond 50% and is then actioned to refill such.

(d) Theatre Beds Shortages:

There are currently 4 theatre beds shared between surgical and maternity. This shortage dur to the maternity Ward and its theatre still being under upgrade and renovation.

(e) Theatre Equipment Shortages:

The following equipment is required:

• Orthopaedic Drills = 6
• Operating Light with Camera = 6
• Anesthetic Machine = 3
• Dermatome = 2
• Tourniquet Machine = 4
• Autoclave for non-heat item = 2
• Mobile Suction Machine = 20
• Electrical Suction Machine = 10
• Theatre Chair = 18
• CMAC = 2
• Video System, Laparoscopic, General Surgery with Instruments = 1

1. f) General Medical Equipment Shortages

The following general medical equipment shortages exists:

• Cardiotocography (CTG) or Fetal Monitor = 15
• Transport Incubator = 3
• Hemodialysis Machine = 16
• Mobile Theatre Light = 2
• Dental Chair = 10
• CPAP Machine = 10
• Examination Light = 6
• Ultrasound (Sonar) Machine = 4
• Plaster (Cast) Cutter with Vacuum System = 6
• Defibrillator = 15
• AEEG Machine = 2
• Instrument Washer = 2
• Bronchoscope = 1
• Electrosurgical Unit Tester = 2
• ECG Simulator = 4
• Examination Couch, Paediatric = 4
• Electrical Safety Analyzer = 2
• Digital Bucky X-Ray Machine = 4
• Anesthetic Machine, MRI Compatible = 1
• Contrast Warmer = 1
• Injector Pump = 1

4. (a) Suppliers:

• Medical waste service provider is Buhle Waste.

• General waste service provider is Mangaung Metro Municipality.

• Recyclable waste: (e.g. white paper, card boxes and plastic cartons) the service is Waste Recyclers.

(b) Medical waste services are provided daily from Monday to Friday.

(5) No.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) The total number of buses registered in the Autopax fleet is 428.

(b) The breakdown of (i) vehicle types and (ii) year of purchase of specified buses is tabulated below:

Vehicle type	Number of vehicles	Year of purchase
MAN 26.310 6x2 FOCNR City to City	5	2009
M/Benz 24.360 6x2 0500 ORSD Andare City to City	262	2010
M/Benz 24.360 6x2 0500 ORSD Paradiso Trans-Lux	156	2010
MAN Lion Explorer	5	2009
Total	428

2. The total number of passenger buses in daily use during the 2021 financial year (April 2020 – March 2021) is 66. Number of passenger buses in daily use during the 2020 financial year (April 2019 – March 2020) is 117.

Reply:

The details of the names and locations of the clinics are being collated in consultation with the Gauteng and the Eastern Cape Provincial Departments of Health. These details will be furnished to the Honourable Member and to Parliament as soon as they have been received from the provinces concerned.

 

END.

Reply:

The goals of the vaccination programme are to save lives by vaccinating those at highest risk of severe disease and death, and to vaccinate as many people as possible so that society and the economy can open up and resume full capacity, thus protecting livelihoods.

Herd or population immunity refers to a situation where a high enough proportion of the population are immune (as a result of natural infection or immunisation) that the virus is unable to circulate; as a result even those who are not immune are protected from infection. Whilst it was initially thought that herd immunity for Covid-19 was achievable, scientists now consider this unlikely because of factors such as vaccine hesitancy, the emergence of new variants and the delayed approval of vaccinations for children.

The immediate target of the vaccine roll-out is to ensure that at least 70% of adults have received at least one dose of vaccine. As of 2nd December, 41% of adults had been vaccinated. Sufficient vaccines and capacity to vaccinate are now available, and the main constraint to achieving higher vaccination coverage relates to poor uptake of vaccines. In response, a comprehensive Demand Acceleration Strategy has been put in place in an effort to generate demand and increase the number of individuals accessing vaccination. Key components of this strategy include:

Raising the profile of the vaccine roll-out

1. Vooma Vaccination weekends were held during October and November 2021. These included a national call to action led by the President, as well as other political, trade union, religious, traditional and other leaders. Events were also hosted by national, provincial and local leadership at vaccination sites.
2. Working with a range of stakeholders at national, provincial and local levels in order to mobilise communities through a range of activities including mobilisation at events (e.g. religious gatherings), in public spaces (e.g. taxi ranks) and through door to door campaigns.
3. Recognition of good performance at provincial and district level, and of outstanding performance by healthcare and other workers during Vooma Vaccination weekends.

Making reliable information regarding the safety and effectiveness of vaccines widely available

4. Increasing the availability of reliable information regarding vaccination through various media platforms including TV, radio and print media.

5. Improved signage at vaccination sites, and improving locally available information regarding location and opening times of local vaccination sites.

6. Monitoring and addressing misinformation circulating on social media.

7. Developing a network of local vaccination champions who volunteer to motivate those around them to vaccinate and report any problems with vaccination sites.

Providing incentives and rewards to vaccinated individuals

8. Limiting access to sports and other events to those who are vaccinated.

9. A pilot project whereby individuals 50 years and older can access a R100 (recently increased to R200) grocery voucher to offset any costs incurred through vaccination (e.g. transport costs).

10. Encouraging retail stores and other companies to provide rewards (e.g. entry to a lucky draw) for those who are vaccinated.

11. Consideration of making vaccines mandatory in some settings providing that these are implemented within the current legislative and regulatory framework.

Removing barriers to vaccination

12. Increasing the number of outreach and pop-up sites in an effort to take vaccinations as close as possible to people and communities.

13. Ensuring that as many sites as possible are open during weekends (especially but not exclusively during Vooma Vaccination weekends).

14. Pilot projects including provision of free transport to vaccination sites.

 

END.

Reply:

a) The total amount PRASA allocated in the budget for the past three financial years is R3,857,356,575-49.

b) Please refer to the breakdown in the table link below for the actual amount paid for securing assets in each of the past three financial years.

https://pmg.org.za/files/RNW2399-2021-12-10.pdf

Reply:

Yes. The Department has the National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan.

The number of people with severe mental disorders who do not receive the care, treatment and rehabilitation for their mental health conditions is not only high in South Africa but across the Low and middle-Income Countries. The Department of health has developed a plan to improve access to mental health services in the country and to ensure that people living with mental health conditions receive the care they need.

The plan is derived from the provisions of the Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No 17 of 2002), which among others, aims to make comprehensive and quality mental health care, treatment and rehabilitation services available to the population equitably, efficiently, integrated at all levels, and in the best interest of mental health care users, within the limits of available resources.

The National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan ,which is being updated and reviewed, further provides a blue print for strategic interventions to improve access to mental health services for the general population.

The details of the plan includes:

1. Mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness initiatives, which are not restricted to the Health Department, but integrated into policies and plans of relevant sectors, such as Social Development, Education, Correctional Services and other stakeholder departments.
2. Integration of mental health into all aspects of general health care across all levels of the health system to reduce the burden of untreated mental health conditions.
3. Ensuring that psychotropic medication as provided on the Standard Treatment Guidelines and the Essential Drug List (EDL) are available at all levels of health care.
4. Strengthening district based mental health services through establishment of district specialist mental health teams to ensure comprehensive services and integration at primary health care.
5. Enhancing institutional capacity and governance through establishment of Mental Health Review Boards in all provinces. These are quasi-judicial structures appointed by the Members of Executive Councils as prescribed in the Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No 17 of 2002), to oversee that the human rights of mental health care users are upheld.
6. Improving human resource capacity for mental health services and training of health professionals including ongoing routine supervision and mentoring at all levels of the health system.
7. Strategic purchasing of services from health professionals through the NHI Conditional Grant to improve capacity for early identification, diagnosis, treatment and referral, at Primary Health Care including forensic mental health services.
8. Improving infrastructure for mental health services in Primary health care facilities, general hospitals and specialized psychiatric hospitals.
9. Development of community mental health day care and residential care facilities for people with severe mental illness and severe or profound intellectual disability
10. Strengthening Inter-sectoral collaboration to address the social determinants of mental illness
11. Ongoing surveillance and research on mental health services in the country. The Department recently conducted research on the evaluation of the health system cost on mental health services and programmes in the country; and on the mental health investment case to inform evidence based mental health plans and programmes.

END.

Reply:

The challenges affecting the flow of cross-border traffic are because of the delays which are being experienced on the Mozambican side of the border owing to several new processes and requirements which were recently introduced. This has resulted in significant delays and vehicle pileup on the Mozambican side, as well as on the South African side. Due to the infrastructure layout on the border approach road, vehicles tend to queue on the side of the road all the way to the border mouth. The law enforcement of the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) is therefore, supporting the South African Police Service (SAPS) to detect and prosecute criminal elements who target truck drivers to ensure their safety. The Road Transport Inspectorate of the C-BRTA, under the Road Traffic Management Corporation, is also working with the Provincial Traffic and Nkomazi Local Traffic to control traffic flow with a view to reduce build up in traffic. Furthermore, the C-BRTA is engaging with Mozambican counterparts to urgently address the challenges with a view of mitigating against increased congestion at the Lebombo Port of Entry.

Reply:

Yes.

a) The services provided by officials in the port of entry environment spans various areas, various legislation and some provided by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). The nature of the various legislative mandates implemented in the border environment necessitated thorough assessment and engagements of the identified legislation to ensure relevant sections implemented within the border law environment are transferred to the Minister of Home Affairs. Engagements have had to be conducted with the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority office to ensure clear understanding of the intention so as to ensure BMA is adequately empowered with the correct provisions within the respective Acts. The SAHPRA has had to be engaged with respect to Acts enforced by the Entity and to receive their concurrence. Meetings between SAHPRA, Home Affairs and BMA have been facilitated by the department.

The department has been heavily involved in the Covid-19 response for the period under review, and that Port Health Service has been at the centre of the cross border monitoring and response to the pandemic in line with the Internaitonal Health Regulations. The Department has played a leading role in the response activities to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19 and strenghthening of our public health system in general. As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced various challenges faced by ordinary South Africans and within our own work environment. It is my view that had things been normal, we would have responded much quicker to the section 97 proclamation as requested by the Minister of Home Affairs.

b) We await final response from SAHPRA, but are hopeful a response should be expected within the next month. It must be noted that SAHPRA has a Board and decisions are taken at the Board level. The meetings of the Board are scheduled on certain dates in a year. Fortunately SAHPRA is currently attending to the provisions of the Acts to be transferred to the Minister of Home Affairs.

 

END.

Reply:

a) what is the rationale behind the regulations?

The Minister of Employment and Labour has not issued any a regulation on the 19th October 2021. The Compensation Commissioner issued a notice to prescribe administrative rules for the payment of claims using the Account Verification System. The notice highlights the intention by the Compensation Fund to strictly enforce the payments of claims to claimant’s bank account using validations that come with the Account Verification System.

This notice is part of the Compensation Fund’s efforts to strengthen systems of internal control the Fund by the implementation of Account Verification System (AVS).

b) what are the reasons that the Compensation Fund is determined to stifle third-party pre-funding administrators?

There is nowhere in the notice published on the 19th October 2021 where reference is made to third party pre-funding administrators.

Reply:

1. (a) Initially the National Department of Health (NDOH) anticipated that the adjudication and appeals process of the NFC Scheme would be complicated and onerous and that a retired judge would be better placed to oversee the scheme and adjudicate the appeals.  Upon re-assessment the NDOH has realised that the processes and caseload are not as complicated and burdensome hence the requirement for a retired judge and a Governance Oversight Committee has been done away with and this will reflect in the amended Regulations and Directions that will be published soon.  All oversight powers will now vest with the DG as the Accounting Officer of the NDOH.

(b) No committee members have been appointed on the basis that the Governance Oversight Committee will no longer be required.

(c) See (a) and (b) above.

2. (a)-(b) The disbursements will be done by the NDOH.  Disbursements will be made once claimants have been able to establish a causal link between the vaccine and the injury.  This will be assessed by the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee and the Adjudication Panel will set the quantum.

3. The NDOH is not able to provide a list of nominated candidates for the Governance Oversight Committee since the Committee was never established based on the reasons outlined above.

END.

Reply:

(a) Yes, at the Department under Compensation Fund in the Western Cape province (b) the Department has zero tolerance on all employees who conspire to defraud UIF

(i) The name of the official is Ms Pumla Kenya working as a Nurse at the Compensation Fund

(ii) The official unlawfully received TERS benefit to the amount of R7 594.62 and used it

(iii) The matter was investigated and referred to the Hawks for prosecution. The matter is currently in court, however the funds were fully recovered from the official. The disciplinary measures were not taken because the employee immediately resigned after the commencement of the investigation.

Reply:

The National Learner Transport Policy of 2015, National Land Transport Act of 2009 and National Road Traffic Act of 1993 regulate and manage the safety of learner transport services.

The Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC) is empowered by the Act, to act on public transport operators who disregard the provisions of the Road Traffic Act and compromise the safety of passengers and other road users. Overloading of passengers is strictly forbidden and different punitive measures are being exercised to ensure compliance with the Act.

Regulation 250 of the National Road Traffic Act of 1993 provides that no person shall on a public road convey school children in the goods compartment of a motor vehicle for reward.

The Department together with the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC) and provinces will continue to strengthen the enforcement of the Act and its regulations to ensure zero tolerance to these violations.

Reply:

1. The National Department of Health (NDoH) and the GCIS has worked together on a national information dissemination strategy, supported by a range of non-government partners. The strategy is informed through analysis of national and sub-national surveys and social listening, analysed by the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Committee of the NDoH and the multi-sectoral Demand Acceleration Task Team mandated by the NDoH. Together these structures have produced a variety of communication outputs, including:

• Mass dissemination of over 25 million information brochures in all 11 languages (distribution with the support of the PEPKOR group)
• Distribution of 300,000 posters in 14 languages through health facilities, retail stores and 40,000 spaza shops;
• Production and broadcast of radio public service announcements on 11 public radio stations and talk-shows and live reads on over 60 community radio stations;
• Production of videos for people with hearing disability and pamphlets in large print and Braille for people with visual impairment;
• Extensive use of social media through the use of both banners and voice clips in all 11 languages.

The use of this material has been mediated through partnership with trade unions, faith-based organisations, traditional and Khoi-San leadership, the business sector and community-based organisations. This is facilitated through the National Communications Partnership convened by GCIS. In addition, a number of other social partners have facilitated large-scale public communication and social mobilisation strategies, including the ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves” campaign and UNICEF outreach vehicles.

Working with these partners, the private sector and clinical operators of outreach programmes at SASSA queues, provincial departments of health have extended services to poorer, older people living in rural communities. It is particularly gratifying that the highest vaccination first dose coverage for people aged 60 years and older is in Limpopo (77%), closely followed by the Western Cape (70%), Eastern Cape (68%), Free State (67%) and KwaZulu-Natal (61%) respectively. It is of concern to the Department that the highest number of unvaccinated older people in fact reside in Gauteng, with over half a million people aged sixty years and older still to be vaccinated. This illustrates the fact that urban informal settlements and inner city areas should equally be regarded as national priorities.

 

The National toll-free COVID hotline is promoted in all communication as an accessible channel through which the public discuss/can get answers to questions and concerns re vaccination, registration/booking, side effects etc. In addition, Govt leads specific communication and engagement campaigns to maximise key moment uptake, or focus on key groups i.e. Vooma Vaccination weekend launched in October,  and Vooma III week scheduled for 3 to 10 December, linking pop up sites with Vooma media (community radio imbizos and talkshows and on the ground activation of community networks and stakeholders for imbizos and one to one discussions, Festive Season Noku Mashaba communication campaign launching on 13 December, through multiple communication channels: commuter TV, billboards, community and national radio PSAs,  digital banners, digital videos, posters and social media.

Zwakala #takeyourshot youth focused campaign led by community youth influencers, across multiple mass media channels and rapidly extending into community activations and micro level co-ordination around vaccination drives, TheTruck community engagement campaigns in collaboration with provincial departments of health, district health services and UNICEF,  a multimedia truck broadcasting local stories in local languages has visited multiple high risk areas in all provinces, to focus attention of local communities on real stories of COVID 19, and encourage them to engage with ground support teams and services around COVID prevention and vaccination  This adds to existing community engagement and door to door work conducted by provinces.

 

The national Vax Champs programme launched in November, invites everyone living in South Africa to sign up to become an ambassador for vaccination against Covid-19by by encouraging friends, family and neighbours to vaccinate. This will grow a network of local champions to lead the way to higher vaccination rates.

Vaccination of poorer, older persons living in rural communities:

• R200 Vooma Voucher (Checkers/Shoprite/USave) for every person over 50 who vaccinates for the first time during November/December
• Pop up vaccination sites activated through Vooma campaigns, in December will focus on shopping malls, taxi ranks and recreational areas, in addition to existing vaccination sites.
• NDoH campaign for youth to get older family members vaccinated.
• Young people in communities volunteering to assisting older persons to register/access vaccination e.g. Grandkids4Gogos.
• Involving the elderly tell their stories of vaccination in the stories broadcast on theTruck.

2. The following table reflects the details in this regard.

Province	District	Subdistrict	Total No of Individuals Vaccinated
Eastern Cape	Alfred Nzo	Matatiele LM	56117
Eastern Cape	Alfred Nzo	Umzimvubu LM	57755
Eastern Cape	Amathole	Amahlathi LM	37925
Eastern Cape	Amathole	Great Kei LM	10287
Eastern Cape	Amathole	Mnquma LM	68125
Eastern Cape	Amathole	Ngqushwa LM	19193
Eastern Cape	Amathole	Raymond Mhlaba LM	54348
Eastern Cape	Chris Hani	Emalahleni LM	35617
Eastern Cape	Chris Hani	Engcobo LM	40251
Eastern Cape	Chris Hani	Enoch Mgijima LM	80015
Eastern Cape	Chris Hani	Intsika Yethu LM	35129
Eastern Cape	Chris Hani	Inxuba Yethemba LM	21098
Eastern Cape	Chris Hani	Sakhisizwe LM	17292
Eastern Cape	Joe Gqabi	Elundini LM	36567
Eastern Cape	Joe Gqabi	Senqu LM	43327
Eastern Cape	Joe Gqabi	Walter Sisulu LM	25860
Eastern Cape	OR Tambo	Mhlontlo LM	48888
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Blue Crane Route LM	13550
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Dr B Naude LM	25911
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Kouga LM	34558
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Kou-Kamma LM	10512
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Makana LM	46295
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Ndlambe LM	16273
Eastern Cape	Sarah Baartman	Sundays River Valley LM	19808
Free State	Fezile Dabi	Mafube LM	10470
Free State	Fezile Dabi	Moqhaka LM	41052
Free State	Fezile Dabi	Ngwathe LM	28278
Free State	Lejweleputswa	Masilonyana LM	14156
Free State	Lejweleputswa	Matjhabeng LM	165221
Free State	Lejweleputswa	Nala LM	17612
Free State	Lejweleputswa	Tswelopele LM	17908
Free State	Thabo Mofutsanyana	Dihlabeng LM	98363
Free State	Thabo Mofutsanyana	Mantsopa LM	17315
Free State	Thabo Mofutsanyana	Nketoana LM	11677
Free State	Thabo Mofutsanyana	Phumelela LM	10440
Free State	Thabo Mofutsanyana	Setsoto LM	26445
Free State	Xhariep	Kopanong LM	24237
Free State	Xhariep	Letsemeng LM	9441
Free State	Xhariep	Mohokare LM	8126
Free State	Mangaung	Botshabelo SD	43328
Free State	Mangaung	Thaba N'chu SD	26697
Gauteng	Sedibeng	Lesedi LM	30662
Gauteng	Sedibeng	Midvaal LM	34739
KwaZulu-Natal	Amajuba	Dannhauser LM	15412
KwaZulu-Natal	Amajuba	Emadlangeni LM	5385
KwaZulu-Natal	Harry Gwala	Dr N Dlamini Zuma LM	31651
KwaZulu-Natal	Harry Gwala	Gr Kokstad LM	21176
KwaZulu-Natal	Harry Gwala	Ubuhlebezwe LM	28615
KwaZulu-Natal	King Cetshwayo	Mthonjaneni LM	11360
KwaZulu-Natal	King Cetshwayo	Nkandla LM	25250
KwaZulu-Natal	uMgungundlovu	Impendle LM	8758
KwaZulu-Natal	uMgungundlovu	Mkhambathini LM	13862
KwaZulu-Natal	uMgungundlovu	Mpofana LM	11545
KwaZulu-Natal	uMgungundlovu	Richmond LM	20912
KwaZulu-Natal	uMgungundlovu	uMngeni LM	37759
KwaZulu-Natal	uMgungundlovu	uMshwathi LM	19527
KwaZulu-Natal	Umkhanyakude	Big 5 Hlabisa LM	45860
KwaZulu-Natal	Umkhanyakude	Jozini LM	39606
KwaZulu-Natal	Umkhanyakude	uMhlabuyalingana LM	42313
KwaZulu-Natal	Umzinyathi	Endumeni LM	30232
KwaZulu-Natal	Umzinyathi	Msinga LM	29791
KwaZulu-Natal	Umzinyathi	Umvoti LM	25456
KwaZulu-Natal	Uthukela	Inkosi Langalibalele LM	45722
KwaZulu-Natal	Uthukela	Okhahlamba LM	22102
KwaZulu-Natal	Zululand	AbaQulusi LM	45325
KwaZulu-Natal	Zululand	eDumbe LM	15334
KwaZulu-Natal	Zululand	Ulundi LM	33722
KwaZulu-Natal	Zululand	uPhongolo LM	25392
Limpopo	Capricorn	Blouberg LM	56965
Limpopo	Capricorn	Lepelle-Nkumpi LM	67007
Limpopo	Capricorn	Molemole LM	34635
Limpopo	Mopani	Ba-Phalaborwa LM	44320
Limpopo	Mopani	Greater Giyani LM	74173
Limpopo	Mopani	Maruleng LM	44626
Limpopo	Sekhukhune	E Motsoaledi LM	82495
Limpopo	Sekhukhune	Ephraim Mogale LM	27245
Limpopo	Vhembe	Collins Chabane LM	61997
Limpopo	Vhembe	Makhado LM	139444
Limpopo	Vhembe	Musina LM	35627
Limpopo	Waterberg	Bela-Bela LM	24078
Limpopo	Waterberg	Lephalale LM	50594
Limpopo	Waterberg	Mogalakwena LM	111255
Limpopo	Waterberg	Mookgophong/Modimolle LM	42416
Limpopo	Waterberg	Thabazimbi LM	56965
Mpumalanga	Ehlanzeni	Bushbuckridge LM	150730
Mpumalanga	Ehlanzeni	Thaba Chweu LM	39159
Mpumalanga	Gert Sibande	Chief Albert Luthuli LM	39955
Mpumalanga	Gert Sibande	Dipaleseng LM	7464
Mpumalanga	Gert Sibande	Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM	12970
Mpumalanga	Gert Sibande	Lekwa LM	30997
Mpumalanga	Gert Sibande	Mkhondo LM	17138
Mpumalanga	Gert Sibande	Msukaligwa LM	46778
Mpumalanga	Nkangala	Emakhazeni LM	17010
Mpumalanga	Nkangala	Steve Tshwete LM	67574
Mpumalanga	Nkangala	Victor Khanye LM	18563
North West	Bojanala	Kgetlengrivier LM	15879
North West	Bojanala	Moses Kotane LM	64412
North West	Dr Kenneth Kaunda	JB Marks LM	80366
North West	Dr Kenneth Kaunda	Maquassi Hills LM	23957
North West	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	Greater Taung LM	36109
North West	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	Kagisano-Molopo LM	24018
North West	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	Lekwa-Teemane LM	14557
North West	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	Mamusa LM	16013
North West	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	Naledi LM	36651
North West	Ngaka Modiri Molema	Ditsobotla LM	60547
North West	Ngaka Modiri Molema	R Moiloa LM	53031
North West	Ngaka Modiri Molema	Ratlou LM	30624
North West	Ngaka Modiri Molema	Tswaing LM	26478
Northern Cape	Frances Baard	Dikgatlong LM	11806
Northern Cape	Frances Baard	Magareng LM	5917
Northern Cape	Frances Baard	Phokwane LM	19391
Northern Cape	John Taolo Gaetsewe	Gamagara LM	19338
Northern Cape	John Taolo Gaetsewe	Ga-Segonyana LM	43067
Northern Cape	John Taolo Gaetsewe	Joe Morolong LM	3410
Northern Cape	Namakwa	Hantam LM	9113
Northern Cape	Namakwa	Kamiesberg LM	3536
Northern Cape	Namakwa	Khai-Ma LM	6452
Northern Cape	Namakwa	Nama Khoi LM	19393
Northern Cape	Namakwa	Richtersveld LM	2749
Northern Cape	Pixley ka Seme	Emthanjeni LM	16908
Northern Cape	Pixley ka Seme	Renosterberg LM	350
Northern Cape	Pixley ka Seme	Siyancuma LM	7222
Northern Cape	Pixley ka Seme	Siyathemba LM	9357
Northern Cape	Pixley ka Seme	Ubuntu LM	6798
Northern Cape	Pixley ka Seme	Umsobomvu LM	9032
Northern Cape	ZF Mgcawu	!Kheis LM	221
Northern Cape	ZF Mgcawu	Dawid Kruiper LM	34303
Northern Cape	ZF Mgcawu	Kai !Garib LM	33835
Northern Cape	ZF Mgcawu	Tsantsabane LM	17278
Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Breede Valley LM	71510
Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Langeberg LM	35492
Western Cape	Cape Winelands	Witzenberg LM	48771
Western Cape	Central Karoo	Beaufort West LM	13220
Western Cape	Central Karoo	Laingsburg LM	2470
Western Cape	Central Karoo	Prince Albert LM	2950
Western Cape	Garden Route	Bitou LM	17872
Western Cape	Garden Route	George LM	72928
Western Cape	Garden Route	Hessequa LM	19894
Western Cape	Garden Route	Kannaland LM	8067
Western Cape	Garden Route	Knysna LM	31696
Western Cape	Garden Route	Mossel Bay LM	40162
Western Cape	Garden Route	Oudtshoorn LM	28566
Western Cape	Overberg	Cape Agulhas LM	13656
Western Cape	Overberg	Overstrand LM	44048
Western Cape	Overberg	Swellendam LM	13671
Western Cape	Overberg	Theewaterskloof LM	50439
Western Cape	West Coast	Bergrivier LM	23371
Western Cape	West Coast	Cederberg LM	26012
Western Cape	West Coast	Matzikama LM	20566
Western Cape	West Coast	Saldanha Bay LM	37267
Western Cape	West Coast	Swartland LM	39939
		Total	4969800

END.

Reply:

a) There is currently in excess of 7800 households in the Western Cape Province who have illegally occupied the PRASA railway reserve along the Central Line. The areas occupied covers the rail reserves in Langa, Phillipi and Khayelitsha. Therefore, it is currently impossible for PRASA to rehabilitate or upgrade railway infrastructure or resume commuter rail services in the Central Line.

The Department, together with the National Departments of Human Settlements, Public Works & Infrastructure, Western Cape Provincial Departments of Human Settlements, Transport and Public Works, the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality and PRASA has decided that a joined approach will be taken to come up with sustainable solutions to be able to relocate households who have illegally occupied the railway reserve. In order to effect this decision, the parties has decided to enter into an Implementation Protocol that will facilitate decisions taken to find suitable alternative land to resettle the households and to ensure a process to restore the rail services in the Central Line corridor.

b) PRASA is working together with the Western Cape Department of Human Settlement and the City of Cape Town to identify suitable parcels of land and to install minimum services on this land to relocate the illegal occupants. Two (2) land parcels were identified in Eersterivier offered by the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and the Western Cape Provincial Department of Transport and Infrastructure for the Langa Relocation Program.

The Court Order stipulates that the relocation should take place on or before 26th November 2021, subject to conditions, including implementation of services which will necessitate preparation of the two land parcels. To access the identified state land, a motivation was made to the City of Cape Town to undertake an internal application to declare these two land parcels as emergency relocation sites so that immediate access could be obtained and land preparation could resume. On 22 September 2021, PRASA and the Housing Development Agency made this application to the City of Cape Town. On 18 October 2021, the City of Cape Town declined the application on the basis that there is threat of opposition from a Developer owning an Estate in the Eersterivier area and that there is a petition from the receiving community in opposition of the relocation.

PRASA is currently addressing the matter through intensive consultations with the City of Cape Town, WC Provincial Government, the Eersterivier receiving community and the Langa affected communities. The consultations are currently on-going.

 

Reply:

Following receipt of the SIU Report (the Report) on 29 September 2021 the investigators appointed to assist the National Department of Health reviewed the Report and supplemented their legal opinion on proposed charges against implicated officials.  Charges were subsequently issued to all affected officials who are identified in the SIU and Ngubane Report’s and based on the advice from the investigators.  The Disciplinary Hearing for the affected officials has commenced and is currently underway. 

 

END.

Reply:

a) Jane Furse Memorial Hospital started to experience water shortages following the illegal connections on the main line from De Hoop Dam by the surrounding communities. The Provincial Department of Health through Water Affair Department end up contracting a service provider drilled a borehole on site. Due to challenge with water table level around Jane Furse Hospital, the borehole ran dry. The Sekhukhune District Municipality left with no choice but to fill up the hospital water storage tanks through water delivered by the contracted service provider.

b) Jane Furse Memorial Hospital had been connected to De Hoop Dam from its existence and the borehole is also connected.

c) Jane Furse Memorial Hospital is not involved in any forms of contract but Sekhukhune District Municipality. The Hospital is responsible of paying monthly bills as per the meter reading to Sekhukhune District Municipality.

END.

Reply:

My Department participates in the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) which is constituted by the President of Republic of South Africa, led by Minister of Labour. The IMC amongst others is responsible to deal with migration of foreign nationals for employment and related opportunities. Departments constituting the IMC are tasked with the responsibilities of developing an implementation plan to arrest the problems affecting the Road Freight and Logistics Industry.

The Implementation Plan had four action steps, being the review of legislation, review of policy, inspections of all companies in the truck industry and roadblocks, vehicle check points as well as high visibility patrols at affected routes. The Department of Transport and its entities, i.e, the RTMC and CBRTA participates in inspections of road freight companies, roadblocks and vehicle checks.

In addition to the above activities, my Department has proposed the insertion of Regulation 116A in the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000, which still recognises a professional driving permit issued by countries within the SADC and prescribed territories. These professional driving permits shall in line with the proposed amendment be valid only when operating a motor vehicle registered in the country that issued any such professional driving permit and further that South African registered trucks shall only be operated by drivers who possess a South African issued professional driving permit.

Reply:

1. (a) (i) None

 (ii) None

(b) The total cost per student to date, depending on the Rand/Dollar Exchange Rate at the time of transfer, is reflected below and based on:

(i) Scholarship Programme, jointly funded by both Governments.

• Preparatory (one year) : $2000.00 per student
• 1st – 5th Year (per student) : $5000.00
• Stipend (per student per year) : $2400.00

(ii) Expanded Training Programme (ETP) is wholly funded by the South African Government is reflected in the table 1 below:

Table: 1

Level	Tuition Fees	Meals & acc.	Ave. cost Med. Ins.	Stipend
Preparatory	$6000.00	$6022	$450	$2400.00
1st – 2nd Year	$12, 500	$6022	$500	$2400.00
3rd – 4th Year	$11, 500	$6022	$500	$2400.00
5th Year	$13, 500	$6022	$600	$2400.00

(iii) Local Universities

Tuition fees at South African universities during the integration since inception until 2018 varies from one university to another. After the agreement signed with local universities, the cost of integration per student has been standardized since July 2018 and adjusted according to Consumer Price Index. Students have all to be in the clinical training platform for 18 months which translates into three (3) semesters. Additional costs included transportation of the final year students to local universities which depends on the mode of transport and distance to the university.

• July 2018 – June 2019 : R231 325.00 (R115 662.50 per semester).
• July 2019 – June 2020 : R241 734.63 (R120 867.31 per semester).
• July 2020 – June 2021 : R252 612.68 (R126 306.34 per semester).
• July 2021 – June 2022 : R260 696.28 (R130 348.14 per semester).

(2) Yes

This was a shortfall for the 2019/2020 academic period of students in Cuba. The shortfall was because the exchange rate baseline that was used in calculating tuition fees for students in Cuba was at R15 for the 2019/2020 academic period. Since the exchange rate escalated so much above the base line, this meant that the amount transferred to Cuba was lower than the amount received from Provincial Department of Health. The amount transferred to Cuba did not cover the total amount due.

(3) (a) (i)(ii)(iii) See Table 1 above

(iv) None known

(v) Additional costs include two return flight tickets per student during six years and/ or during a bereavement of next of kin.

(4) The department has just concluded an internal audit and reconciliation exercise from October 2021 to November 2021.The findings have been sent to Provinces for review and approval. Provinces have been requested to correct the findings by 17 December 2021.

 

END.

Reply:

An infrastructure audit has been undertaken by PRASA, with the below breakdown per region:

(a) Please see response below.

(b) (i) Goods fall within the portfolio of the Department of Public Enterprises

(ii) Please see response below.

Gauteng Region

17% of the network is functional

• 2 lines under electric traction (TFR Vereeniging & Saulsville)
• 2 lines under diesel traction (Naledi & Leralla)

List of functioning lines:

• TFR Vereeniging – Union (249 patronage per day)
• Saulsville – Pretoria (1973 patronage per day)
• Naledi – Johannesburg (4096 patronage per day)
• Leralla – Germiston (6142 patronage per day)

Kwa-Zulu Natal

47% of the network is functional

 

List of functioning lines:

• Umlazi – Durban (9830 patronage per day)
• TFR Cato Ridge – Durban (5830 patronage per day)
• Kelso - Durban Partially Functional from Umkomaas to Durban (1660 patronage per day)

Western Cape

 

40% of the network is functional

List of functioning lines:

• Kraaifontein - Cape Town via Monte Vista (4583 patronage per day)
• Cape Town - Langa via Mutual (325 patronage per day)
• TFR Cape Town - Malmesbury (429 patronage per day)
• Cape Town – Retreat via Athlone (1112 patronage per day)
• Cape Town – Simon’s Town (3257 patronage per day)

Eastern Cape

The infrastructure network utilised by PRASA in the Eastern Cape belongs to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR)

List of functioning lines:

• TFR Gqeberha - Uitenghage (466 patronage per day)
• TFR East London - Berlin (5826 patronage per day)

Reply:

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) as the regulator of nurses and midwives in South Africa, takes responsibility, amongst others, for –

• Setting and maintaining standards of education, training, and practice and

• Providing mandatory guidance and additional advice to people designing and developing education programmes

Gerontology Nursing/ Geriatrics is currently not listed as a Post Graduate Diploma (Nursing Speciality) programme. However, the content of Gerontology nursing/ Geriatrics is covered in the curricula of the legacy professional nurse qualifications, the new higher education 4-year Bachelor degree as well as the new 3-year diploma programme under the following exit level outcome:

• Provide nursing care throughout the lifespan in various healthcare settings of which the following criteria are evaluated:

• Preventive, promotional, curative and rehabilitative nursing care is provided to different age groups in various health care settings,

Based on the above information, all professional nurses trained whether through the legacy professional nurse qualifications and the new qualifications at higher education level are full capacitated to holistically nurse geriatric patients throughout the levels of care. All other categories of nurses work under the direct supervision of the professional nurse who guide the nursing process. Should there be specific gerontology nursing needs that have to be developed, the establishment can provide that by way of in-service training and continuous professional development.

END.

Reply:

1. (a) Amount recorded as being owed by PRASA to Transnet

(b) Amount paid to Transnet for rental of locomotives over the last 5 years

(2) PRASA has undertaken a national verification of its assets during the period of March 2021 up to August 2021.

1. The following were the findings raised by Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) in the past financial year:

1. Network assets – limitation to existence and completeness.
2. Completeness of facilities and lease improvements.
3. Internal control deficiencies identified on the Land Asset Register.
4. Facilities and leasehold improvement information not submitted for audit.
5. Retirement on facilities and leasehold improvement has been accounted incorrectly and no supporting documents obtained to ascertain the accuracy of the retirement amount.
6. Intangible assets could not be traced back to the fixed asset register.
7. Completed assets under work in progress.
8. Difference between amount per Intangible Asset Register and Trial Balance/Annual Financial Statements.
9. De-recognition certificates of vehicles were approved after year end.
10. Misstatements identified in investment property.
11. Completeness of land on PPE and investment property could not be confirmed.
12. Inadequate impairment assessment on all classes of PPE.
13. Assessment of useful lives of assets not performed in accordance with GRAP 17.
14. Assets captured at no cost.
15. Facilities and leasehold improvement - valuation of work in progress.
16. Facilities and leasehold improvement - findings on valuation and verification of work in progress.
17. Existence and completeness of rolling stock could not be confirmed.

1. The network infrastructure assets shows significant areas of loss.

1. It will not be practical to provide, at this stage, the estimated replacement value of the entire damaged infrastructure as an assessment to replace all the assets has not been done for the entire network. This will be an exercise which is done as and when each area of the damaged infrastructure is replaced, i.e. on a phased approach. The focus currently is on the replacement of Mabopane line in Gauteng and Central line in the Western Cape which is Phase 1.

Assessment has been done on the two area in terms of replacing the assets. It is estimated that the two areas will be will be replaced at an estimated value of R1,2bn.

The second phase assessment is on ten (10) identified corridors which cut across all the provinces with a Metrorail footprint.

Reply:

1. The SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL) mandate does not include public transport, as such SANRAL has not made any Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System funding transfers to any of 13 cities in the past three financial years.

2. SANRAL has made payments to Electronic Toll Collection (Pty) Ltd, (ETC), in which Kapsch TrafficCom (Sweden and Austria) has 25% direct shareholding, for the development of an Account Based Ticketing (ABT) module as part of the SANRAL Transaction Clearing House (TCH) system to enable pilot projects to commence at selected cities. The Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) systems of the BRT’s will interface to the SANRAL ABT module for account hosting and transaction processing.

a) The amount that was paid to date to ETC for the ABT module project is R1,711,282.65, excluding VAT for development and integration of the module on the SANRAL TCH.

b) No operational costs have been incurred to date as the project is still in the development stages and has not gone operational

Reply:

1. UIF appointed Vindya Systems in July 2018 to support and maintain the UIF claim management system which was developed in Java. NB: that was before. Their scope of work is not to update the risk register as that is done by risk management directorate. Every month the risk register is updated by ICT risk officer and Risk Management Directorate.

2. Due to pressures to process payments the shortcomings were identified while the Fund was paying claims and continued to be addressed. The scope of work was to enable the employers to apply online since applying on email was having huge delays.

The shortcomings of the systems which were identified were addressed on the system release of the 21 September 2020. The short comings include integration with Correctional services, DPSA, live link with Home Affairs and the link with SARS.

Also the link between the DEL and Home Affairs was not sending the updates captured on Saturdays and Sunday because the old configuration of sending updates was Mondays to Fridays. The system was initially intended to be used to process claims of those who were already in the systems i.e the UIF beneficiaries which was having less risk as UIF was processing such claims.

3. The major risk identified was that employers who were not UIF contributors were also claiming at the beginning of TERS as result out of 16 000 employees applied for only 57 that were meeting all requirements to qualify for TERS. The departmental management together with UIF then took a decision not to punish employees because their employers didn’t contribute for them. That decision opened the UIF to lot of fraudulent claims as it meant that any company can claim for people that never worked for if as long as they managed to source ID numbers. More than 90% of wrongly paid people result from this decision which was not taken by ICT management of the company maintaining the system.

4. The above serves as a statement on the matter

Reply:

The Department enquired about the taxi riots in Atteridgeville from the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport as well as the Taxi Industry in the Tshwane Region. Their response is that they are not aware of such an occurrence of taxi riots in that area.

Reply:

1. (a) The total number of senior staff members of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) that has been and/or was suspended since 2019 and (b) on what charges are listed in the table below:

(a) Financial Year	(b) Charges
2019/20 TOTAL = 17	Participating in the irregular appointment of private security providers
	Failing breathalyser test when reporting for duty and colluding with competitors.
	Procurement related irregularities
	Misconduct: sexual harassment nepotism and violation of recruitment policy gross dishonesty gross negligence dereliction of duties damage to company property theft operational irregularities
2020/21 TOTAL = 14	Procurement related irregularities
	Misconduct: gross dishonesty gross negligence dereliction of duties damage to company property operational irregularities
2021/22 TOTAL = 11	Procurement related irregularities
	Theft
	Sexual harassment

2. The total number of the suspended PRASA members which (a) have been reinstated, (b) are still suspended and/or (c) had their services terminated are listed below:

Financial Year	(a) Reinstated	(b) Still Suspended	(c) Service Terminated
2019/20	5	46	18
2020/21	12	36	30
2021/22	9	22	14

3. With reference to the specified PRASA members who have been reinstated, are still suspended and/or had their services terminated, the cost at which this has taken place in each specified case, including (a) salary and benefits expenses to Prasa and (b) legal costs are listed below:

(a) FY2020/21: EMPLOYEE COST TO COMPANY
PRASA Corporate	R5,316,062-92
AUTOPAX	R1,228,945-43
PRASA CRES	R2,460,022-63
PRASA Rail	R13,497,814-55
PRASA Tech	R6,951,264-48
TOTAL	R29,454,110-01

(a) FY2021/22: EMPLOYEE COST TO COMPANY
PRASA Corporate	R6,680,079-48
AUTOPAX	R492,277-49
PRASA CRES	R4,709,643-24
PRASA Rail	R3,617,636-63
PRASA Tech	R593,538-19
TOTAL	R16,093,175-03

(b) FY2021/22: LEGAL COSTS
Internal disciplinary hearings	R11,024,796-36
CCMA	R7,309,533-83
Labour Court	R5,766,758-82
TOTAL	R24,101,089-01

 

4. With reference to the PRASA members who are still suspended, (a) the next expected step and (b) by which date the specified step is envisaged to be implemented is listed below.

(a)

BUSINESS UNIT	PROGRESS STATUS
PRASA Corporate	4 Senior members: disciplinary hearing in progress for Procurement related irregularities One manager: still under investigation for Gross dishonesty and fraud allegations
AUTOPAX	Disciplinary Hearings in progress for gross negligence, false declaration, shortages and theft
PRASA CRES	Disciplinary hearings are in progress for all suspended employees for procurement related irregularities
PRASA Rail	Disciplinary hearings are in progress for all suspended employees for various acts of misconduct
PRASA Technical	One Employee undergoing disciplinary process Attorneys appointed to finalise charges and proceed with disciplinary hearing in another matter

(b) Dates

The matters are all at different stages of either the investigation or the disciplinary process. It is not possible to give an exact date of the next step for each matter, since this is influenced by a number of factors, like the complexity of the matter, the availability of the parties, the stage of the investigation by either internal or external investigators, etc.

Reply:

(a) In the financial year 2021/22, there are no new irregular expenditure cases for the two quarters reported. 

There are 8 Irregular expenditure and 25 Fruitless and Wasteful expenditure cases registered from previous financial years. 

(b)  A total of 8 irregular expenditure cases are under investigations and 25 Fruitless and wasteful expenditure cases are pending investigation. 

(c)   None has been finalised to-date, but cases are reported to our Audit and Risk Committee on a quarterly basis to ensure regular oversight on irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure cases. 

Delays noted in finalizing cases are mostly due to Covid-19 and the move of the Department of Health offices from the Civitas building to Dr. AB Xuma building.  

 

END.

Reply:

PRASA, in its quest to restore the operations of public commuter and passenger rail transport is executing the following programs: -

a) PRASA has prioritised the rehabilitation of what is themed Presidential Projects in the Mabopane Line in Gauteng, and Central Line in the Western Cape.

b) Several other key corridors and lines across the country are also project listed for rehabilitation and completion within the current financial year up to 2022/23.

c) PRASA has put in multiple strategic processes to ensure that security challenges are resolved as soon as possible to secure the safety of all passengers and employees.

Reply:

Currently, the issuing of operating licenses to Taxi operators is the responsibility of the Provincial Regulatory Entities (PREs) in the respective Provinces. In order to determine a national backlog in respect of the issuing of operating licenses to Taxi operators, the Department, on 05 November 2021, requested each of the nine (9) Provinces to submit details of their backlogs, the causes of the delays and indications of when the backlogs will be dealt with.

To date, only seven (7) Provinces have responded, namely the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Kwa Zulu Natal, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga province. The Gauteng and North West Provinces have not yet responded. The Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces have indicated that they have no backlog in respect of issuing of operating licenses to Taxi operators in their Provinces.

There is a combined total of seven thousand nine hundred and twenty (7920) applications in backlog in respect of the issuing of operating licenses to Taxi operators as reported by Kwa-Zulu Natal, Northern Cape, Limpopo and Free State Provinces. The reasons for the delays vary between the slowness and unreliability of the NLTIS system and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is envisioned that the backlog will be dealt with and finalized by 31 March 2022.

The table below depicts the responses received from Provinces in respect of the backlog in numbers, reasons for the delay and envisioned dates to finalize the backlog per Province.

Province	a) Backlog	b) Reasons for the delay	(c) Date to finalize the backlog
Gauteng	No response received	-	-
North West	No response received	-	-
Western Cape	No backlog reported	-	-
Eastern Cape	No backlog reported	-	-
Mpumalanga	No backlog reported		-
Free State	821 applications	Restrictions imposed by the National Lockdown.	31 March 2022
Northern Cape	2698 applications	COVID-19 protocols and restrictions	31 March 2022
Kwa-Zulu Natal	2859 applications	Taxi operators are not uplifting the operating licenses due to vehicles being repossessed or due to reduced profit collections on operations.	Applications are cancelled on the system in accordance with the National Land Transport Regulation time-frames.
Limpopo	1542 applications	Lack of evidence of demand/supply of transport information from ITPS of municipalities in the province.	31 March 2023

Reply:

Question 1: What (a) number of municipalities are in arrears on motor vehicle license fees payable to his department and (b) amount does each municipality owe;

Response:

A) The national department of transport is not responsible for the collection of licence fees, it is the provincial departments of transport that are responsible for the collection of the licence fees.

It is worth noting that the DLCA only withhold driving licence cards for DLTCs that have been in arrears for more than 90 days without entering into or honouring the payment arrangement. As at 1 November 2021, the DLCA withheld cards for 9 DLTCs that are in arrears for more than 90 days. Refer to the Age analysis below.

Name	120+ Days	90 Days
Category : 2 - KWAZULU-NATAL
Estcourt/Wembezi DLTC	R -	R 20,372.54
Eshowe DLTC	R -	R 22,199.00
Category : 3 - EASTERN CAPE
Komga DLTC - Great Kei Municipality	R 190.94	R 12,878.11
Category : 4 - WESTERN CAPE
Eastridge / Mitchells Plain DLTC	R -	R 2,942.00
Riversdale DLTC (incl.1067)	R -	R 8,096.50
Category : 7 - NORTHWEST
Ventersdorp DLTC/ JB Marks Mun	R 15,326.00	R -
Wolmaranstad Reg Auth	R 13,750.17	R 0.48
Category : 9 - NORTHERN CAPE
Upington DLTC / Khara Hais	R -	R 37,213.27
Springbok DLTC Nama Khoi	R 15,465.15	R 24,411.00

Furthermore, the following process is followed before cards are withheld:

1. 30 days outstanding - The DLCA will telephonically liaise with DLTCs that are owing invoices for more than 30 days which a view of trying to obtain results for late payment.
2. 60 days outstanding - Reminder letters are sent to remind DLTCs that their invoices are outstanding for more than 60 days and must come up with a payment plan to address the debt owing with is in line with the DLCA policies.
3. 90 days outstanding - When no feedback is received from the above steps, DLCA will then resolve to withhold cards until we have an active payment plan or the amount owing is paid in full.
4. 120 days outstanding - interest is charged on all invoices that have been outstanding for than 120 days.

B) This question is no more relevant, kindly be referred to the 1A above.

Question 2: What number of municipalities are (a) having licence paper withheld as a result of outstanding monies and (b) at risk of losing their agencies as a result of outstanding monies;

1. The National Department of Transport is not responsible for withholding of the licence paper, however it is worth noting that municipalities themselves procure the face value documents directly from the GPW OR alternatively from the provincial department of transport.
2. The national department of transport does not enter into any agency agreement with municipalities for that reason the department is not aware of any risk where municipalities are losing their agencies.

Question 3: What other measures will be taken against the defaulting municipalities?

The national department of transport cannot take any measures against the defaulting municipalities because of the explanation furnished at the 1A and 1B above.

The action to be taken is contained within agency agreements concluded by provinces and their agents and the decision to act is the sole prerogative of the province concerned as custodian of the function of vehicle and driving licences.

Reply:

a) Vehicles processed under the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) and Revised Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (RTRP) are surrendered by the owner/applicant to the appointed service provider.

b) Old Taxi Vehicles (OTVs - minibus taxi vehicles older than 4 September 2006) processed for scrapping are physically compacted and the bales of scrap metal are sold.

The panel vans that were unlawfully converted to operate as taxis, are scrapped through the Revised Taxi Recapitalisation Program following the remedial action by the Public Protector. However, because they are not defined as OTVs, only spare parts that are not safety critical components, are salvaged and sold. The chassis, body and remaining parts are physically compacted and the bales of scrap metal sold.

c) The revenue generated from the sale of the scrap metals bales and spare parts is ring fenced and accounted for by the appointed service provider for the benefit of the minibus taxi industry. Therefore, no income is returned to National Treasury.

Reply:

a) The South African Government remains steadfast in its approach with regard to the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) and its support for the State of Palestine. The establishment of a viable Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace with Israel, within the internationally recognised borders, which came into existence on 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in compliance with all relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and internationally agreed parameters, remains a fundamental pillar of South Africa’s Foreign Policy. The commitment of solidarity with the Palestinian people made on 8 June 2021, as well as South Africa’s reaction to the granting of Observer Status to Israel by the African Union, are testimony to the Government’s efforts to bring Palestine back into the global mainstream.

b) The Government has indicated its views on the Miss Universe pagearnt and called on Miss South Africa to refrain from participating in the pageant. Miss South Africa has not agreed to the governments proposal.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(a) I have been informed by the Department that in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality:

(i) There are one-thousand-and-eighty-three (1083) buildings owned by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).

(ii) There are ninety-six (96) vacant land parcels owned by DPWI.

(b) The total number of the specified buildings and land parcels that are unoccupied and vacant, is one-hundred-and-two (102).

(c) The plans by the Department are to use some of these for: (i) the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sites through Social Development; (ii) student housing; (iii) Waste Management Bureau through the Department of Environmental, Forestry and Fisheries; and (iv) advertisement and revenue generation.

 

Reply:

1. The Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) has been successful in that to date, 77 763 old and unsafe minibus taxi vehicles have been removed from active operation and over R5 billion of support has been provided to an industry that transports approximately 69% of the public commuters daily while not receiving operational subsidy from government. Only minibus taxi vehicles older than 04 September 2006 are processed for scrapping and only if they are in possession of a valid operating license. As a result, the slow uptake in scrapping cannot simply be attribute to lack of interest from operators but it is equally a consequence of not meeting the requirements.

2. The objective of the TRP goes beyond the scrapping of old taxi vehicles. It forms a key pillar of the national programme to improve public transport, and is focused on the two pillars of improving the safety of passengers using the taxi mode, and the transformation and empowerment of the taxi industry. The South African public transport system consists of the rail, bus and minibus taxi services, with the latter being the only public transport service not receiving operational subsidy.

According to the National Household Travel Survey, the minibus taxi commuters account for approximately 69% of public transport users for work, school and other purposes. Over and above being the main mode of transporting public transport passengers, the taxi industry forms a critical and complex part of the South African economy with its business operations and activities. As a critical strategy in transforming and integrating the public transport system, the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme is aimed, amongst others, at:

• replacing old unsafe taxi vehicles with safe compliant vehicles,
• promoting modal integration through addressing the fragmentation in the minibus taxi industry, and
• promoting the formalisation of the taxi industry and its operations into business units thereby facilitating modal integration and effective structuring and institutionalisation of the taxi industry.

Therefore, the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme will be an ongoing programme that ensures the use of safe and compliant vehicles for the majority of commuters and also provide a form of capital subsidy to the industry to incentivise compliance.

Reply:

Since the beginning of the Libyan crisis in 2011, South Africa has been calling for a political solution to the crisis in Libya as the only viable means towards achieving durable peace. We believe that the holding of free and fair national elections on 24 December 2021 will create confidence whilst at the same time contributing towards the enhancement of security, stability and development for the Libyan people.

South Africa supports the ongoing efforts of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council. We have consistently called for the AU to remain seized with the Libyan conflict with a view towards ensuring the achievement of transition towards a stable, durable and inclusive political order in the interest of all Libyans. South Africa is also a member of the AU High Level Committee on Libya, chaired by President Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo. We also acknowledge the efforts of the AU high Representative for Libya in his continuing enagement with the various stakeholders in Libya.

At the United Nations (UN), South Africa has made consistently articulated its principled position on the matter. In this regard, and as a member of the UN Security Council from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020, we called for a peaceful political solution that is Libyan-led and owned, emphasizing the importance of unified institutions and reconciliation among Libyans. In addtion,South Africa supported peace efforts in Libya by voting in favour of a number of resolutions. The latest of which are 2570 and 2571 (2021), which were aimed at creating conditions conducive for an intra-Libyan political process under the auspices of the UN. South Africa has also welcomed the efforts of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) aimed at bringing about an early and peaceful resolution to the Libyan crisis.

We met Libya at UN and offered assistance with elections preparation and constitutional process. We indicated that South Africa’s experience of transition could be of great help to Libya especially the writing of a new constitution and training of public service.

Finally, South Africa reiterates its support for free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in Libya.

COMPILER DETAILS

NAME AND SURNAME: DR JOHNNY PITSWANE

CONTACT: x10982

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Minister signs Parliamentary Reply 2635.

 

MR TC MONYELA

ACTING DIRECTOR–GENERAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

PARLIAMENTARY REPLY 2635 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.

COMMENT/S

DR GNM PANDOR, MP

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

Reply:

(a) and (b) The Department signed a Partnership Protocol Agreement with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to support its efforts in combatting violence and crime in schools. This Protocol, sets out the framework for close inter-departmental co-ordination in order to create Safe, Caring and Child Friendly Schools, in which quality learning and teaching can take place. The aims of this protocol are to:

1. Strengthen Safe School Committees to curb crime and violence in schools;
2. Encourage all role players at school and in communities to play an active role as members of Safe School Committees;
3. Link all schools to local Police Stations;
4. Establish reporting systems at schools;
5. Raise awareness amongst learners regarding crime and violence and its impact on individuals, families and education;
6. Establish a school-based crime prevention service and interventions, which will deter potential offenders and empower potential victims and past victims;
7. Extend  crime  prevention  programmes  to  Early  Childhood  Development Centres in order to raise awareness amongst young children on how to keep themselves safe;
8. Mobilise communities to take ownership of schools; and
9. Promote the image of the South African Police Service, and to build positive relationships between schools, police stations, children and school communities.

The abduction of learners outside school premises is a worrisome development for the Basic Education Sector and the school communities in general. Due to the complexity of this threat to the Sector, a broader national collaboration is being marshalled by the department with other relevant departments, especially those in the Security Cluster.

The Minister of Basic Education collaborates and works effectively with the SAPS through the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Structures (Natjoints) which coordinates all security and law enforcement throughout the country to source intelligence regarding incidences of violence in schools.

The Department also utilises the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) to work with school communities to ensure the safety of school communities. The QLTC constantly reaches out to communities, including the traditional leaders, in promoting the participation of  parents and the broader society to make our schools safe places of teaching and learning.

Reply:

(a)(i)(ii) Annual Scrapping Statistics – Financial Year 2018/19:

Province	Apr 18	May 18	Jun 18	Jul 18	TOTAL
Eastern Cape	5	30	34	57	126
Free State	3	7	14	5	29
Gauteng	4	23	51	75	153
KwaZulu-Natal	18	25	56	54	153
Limpopo	-	11	15	6	32
Mpumulanga	2	10	30	7	49
Northern Cape	-	-	2	-	2
North West	-	10	21	13	44
Western Cape	14	29	34	101	178
TOTAL	46	145	257	318	766

Note: Vehicles were scrapped for a 4 month period (April – July 2018) only in this financial year as the previous TRP contract ended in September 2018.

 

(a)(i) Annual Scrapping Statistics – Financial Year 2019/20:

Province	May 19	Jun 19	Jul 19	Aug 19	Sep 19	Oct 19	Nov 19	Dec 19	Jan 20	Feb 20	Mar 20	TOTAL
Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	12	34	16	39	95	30	55	281
Free State	-	-	-	-	14	2	19	11	11	5	3	65
Gauteng	18	22	37	22	34	50	71	64	68	22	49	457
KwaZulu-Natal	-	19	47	30	30	51	28	59	81	53	63	461
Limpopo	-	-	-	12	1	21	18	60	14	24	15	165
Mpumulanga	-	-	-	-	3	8	37	21	9	38	62	178
Northern Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	2	1	-	13
North West	-	-	-	4	5	25	27	32	24	13	8	138
Western Cape	-	-	-	-	10	36	24	49	22	19	25	185
TOTAL	18	41	84	68	109	227	240	345	326	205	280	1 943

Note: New RTRP contract concluded on 13 March 2019 with actual scrapping of vehicles only commencing in May 2019 on a staggered site establishment approach.

(a)(i)(ii) Annual Scrapping Statistics – Financial Year 2020/21:

Province	Apr 20	May 20	Jun 20	Jul 20	Aug 20	Sep 20	Oct 20	Nov 20	Dec 20	Jan 21	Feb 21	Mar 21	TOTAL
Eastern Cape			32	32	9	24	32	17	21	18	32	17	234
Free State			6	16	-	8	2	1	8	1	-	8	50
Gauteng			21	29	15	88	31	78	34	-	58	62	416
KwaZulu-Natal			39	27	37	54	61	58	63	39	70	104	552
Limpopo			1	20	18	8	5	8	5	5	6	3	79
Mpumulanga			19	29	33	21	16	15	18	9	17	9	186
Northern Cape			2	-	3	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	6
North West			4	-	7	6	6	-	4	9	1	10	47
Western Cape			16	17	18	41	16	23	47	11	36	9	234
TOTAL	-	-	140	170	140	250	170	200	200	92	220	222	1 804

Note: There was no scrapping of vehicles during April and May 2020 due to the hard lockdown imposed during COVID.

1. Annual Scrapping Statistics – Current Financial Year 2021/22 to date:

Province	Apr 21	May 21	Jun 21	Jul 21	Aug 21	Sep 21	Oct 21	Nov 21	TOTAL
Eastern Cape	26	26	20	7	29	29	63	49	249
Free State	3	6	9	10	13	8	2	16	67
Gauteng	30	63	26	9	50	23	20	33	254
KwaZulu-Natal	-	113	3	75	40	113	7	55	406
Limpopo	8	6	4	4	9	7	10	4	52
Mpumulanga	8	-	23	17	18	10	7	13	96
Northern Cape	5	3	10	-	6	3	6	-	33
North West	-	-	1	-	1	-	1	-	3
Western Cape	9	28	24	9	22	27	43	31	193
TOTAL	89	245	120	131	188	220	159	201	1 353

Reply:

a) As at 19 November 2021, a total number of 61 new trains have been manufactured at the local factory in Dunottar. A further 18 new trains were manufactured in Brazil and deliver to PRASA.

(i) The total number of trains that have been manufactured at the Gibela Manufacturing Plant in Ekhurhuleni in each month of each year since the opening of the factory is listed below:

Year	Month	Number of trains manufactured	Total per year
2018	December	1	1
2019	February	1	8
	March	1
	April	1
	June	1
	September	1
	October	1
	November	1
	December	1
2020	January	1	20
	February	1
	March	2
	July	4
	August	1
	September	3
	October	2
	November	4
	December	2
2021	January	2	32
	February	3
	March	4
	April	2
	May	4
	June	2
	July	4
	August	4
	September	4
	October	2
	November	1

(ii) As at 19 November 2021, 51 new trains have been produced at the local factory and delivered to PRASA in terms of the Manufacturing and Supply Agreement entered into between PRASA and Gibela. The delivery of further 10 trains in currently in progress.

b) The Gibela Factory currently only manufactures trains for PRASA in terms of a Manufacturing and Supply Agreement.

Reply:

Please find response as provided by Mpumalanga Department of Education 

Reply:

a) PRASA started to provide services under COVID-19 on the 01 July 2020 operating under difficult conditions of stolen and vandalised rail network infrastructure while operating limited services to ensure that staff is familiar with the handling of customers under the Covid-19 conditions. Limited services were introduced, and the limited number of stations were identified for the stoppage of trains to avoid overcrowding. Measurers were put in place to mitigate the spread of the pandemic in all modes of transport.

However, there were no additional measures put in place during the period from 1 September 2021 to 1 November 2021 across all modes.

b) No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was provided to the public and passengers on taxis, trains and buses over this period. A number of municipalities provided PPEs and sanitisers to public transport operators before this period.

c) Because there were no additional measures introduced for the said period, the success rate was not measured.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

One of the roles of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) is to develop a comprehensive infrastructure project pipeline. ISA is not a project owner. The procurement of service providers remains the responsibility of the project owners and sponsors. The Construction Industry Development Board’s mandate is to, among others, ensure uniformity in construction procurement, industry transformation and efficient and effective infrastructure delivery. The CIDB ensures that local contractors are empowered to take advantage of the opportunities arising out of infrastructure projects at a local level. The CIDB issues quarterly Construction Monitoring reports to track employment in relation to construction of infrastructure projects.