Questions and Replies
10 December 2021 - NW1757
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Transport
What is the national backlog in respect of the issuing of operating licences to taxi operators, (b) what has he found to be the cause of the delays and (c) on what date is it envisaged he will fix the problem?
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 |
10 December 2021 - NW2590
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health
(a) Whether he will re-introduce a requirement for the (a) SA Nursing Council and (b) training colleges registered with the National Qualifications Framework to include courses in Gerontological Nursing Science and/or Gerontology including Geriatrics in the up-coming nursing training curricula as the requirements of the National Health Act, Act 61 of 2003, indicate a clear need for the training of nursing care staff members in residential care facilities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2558
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether the Pelonomi Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, Free State, is maintained in accordance with a five-year maintenance plan; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the specified plan; (2) whether his department has reviewed the plan; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date was it reviewed and (b) what changes were implemented; (3) what are the relevant details of the current shortages of (a) beds, (b) medicine, (c) oxygen, (d) theatre beds, (e) theatre equipment and (f) general medical equipment; (4) (a) what are the names of the various suppliers contracted for the specified resources and (b) how frequently is medical waste products removed from the specified hospital (5) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
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
- 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.
10 December 2021 - NW2294
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What (a) total number of buses are currently registered in the Autopax fleet of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and (b) is the breakdown of (i) vehicle types and (ii) year of purchase of the specified buses; (2) what total number of the passenger buses were in daily use in the past financial year versus the prior financial year?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2660
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
With reference to his reply to question 2344 on 18 November 2021, wherein he stated the total number of clinics situated in townships which offer speech and occupational therapy, what are the (a) names and (b) locations of each such clinic in (i) Gauteng and (ii) the Eastern Cape?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2554
Gela, Ms A to ask the Minister of Health
What steps will be taken by his department to intensify the COVID-19 vaccination rollout to ensure that the nation reaches herd immunity by the end of the year, especially now in the post-elections period?
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
10 December 2021 - NW2399
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
What amount has the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) (a) allocated in the budget and (b) actually paid to (i) contractors and (ii) internal Prasa security for securing assets in each of the past three financial years?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2665
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health
Whether, in light of the fact that on 25 October 2021 the world commemorated World Mental Health Day and the acting Director-General of Health, Dr Nicholas Crisp, during a webinar hosted by his department described the current investment into mental health services as frightening while a very low number of persons actually receive the care they need, his department has come up with a solid plan to address the issue; if not, why not; if so, what are the full, relevant details?
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Strengthening district based mental health services through establishment of district specialist mental health teams to ensure comprehensive services and integration at primary health care.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Improving infrastructure for mental health services in Primary health care facilities, general hospitals and specialized psychiatric hospitals.
- Development of community mental health day care and residential care facilities for people with severe mental illness and severe or profound intellectual disability
- Strengthening Inter-sectoral collaboration to address the social determinants of mental illness
- 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.
10 December 2021 - NW2278
Shembeni, Mr HA to ask the Minister of Transport
What interventions has he put in place to assist truck drivers who queue for more than 30km from Lebombo Port of Entry every day and who are being robbed in the process?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2617
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Health
Whether, with reference to the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on 9 November 2021 at which his department was identified as one of the departments that has not yet provided the necessary input for the section 97 Presidential Proclamation to be signed to transfer the relevant border law enforcement functions to the Minister of Home Affairs, he has been informed that this lack of input is holding up the implementation of the Border Management Authority; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the reason for delayed response and (b) by what date will he provide the necessary input?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2603
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
With regard to the publication in the Government Gazette on 19 October 2021 of a notice enforcing new banking information requirements for the compensation of occupational injuries and disease related claims, (a) what is the rationale behind the regulations and (b) what are the reasons that the Compensation Fund is determined to stifle third-party pre-funding administrators?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2562
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With regard to the oversight measures that he implemented for the COVID-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme, which includes the creation of the Governance Oversight Committee, what (a) are the reasons that the draft regulations state that the specified committee will be headed by a retired judge, (b) is the date on which the final members for the committee will be chosen and (c) are the relevant (i) qualifications and (ii) job descriptions for all the positions in the committee; (2) (a) through which system and/or entity will disbursements be made and (b) what are the criteria for (i) disbursements for claimants and (ii) deciding on the amounts payable; (3) whether he will provide Ms H Ismail with a list of candidates nominated for the committee; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2605
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
Whether the Special Investigating Unit has uncovered any officials of (a) his department and/or (b) the Unemployment Insurance Fund who conspired to illegally claim COVID-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme benefits; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (i) are the officials’ names and designations, (ii) is the nature of their alleged crimes and (iii) are the criminal charges and/or disciplinary measures instituted against them by his department?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2352
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What total amount (a) of payments is due from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) to Transnet SOC Ltd for each year in the past five financial years and (b) did Prasa pay Transnet for rental and/or use of Transnet locomotives in the past three financial years;
Reply:
- (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.
- The following were the findings raised by Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) in the past financial year:
- Network assets – limitation to existence and completeness.
- Completeness of facilities and lease improvements.
- Internal control deficiencies identified on the Land Asset Register.
- Facilities and leasehold improvement information not submitted for audit.
- Retirement on facilities and leasehold improvement has been accounted incorrectly and no supporting documents obtained to ascertain the accuracy of the retirement amount.
- Intangible assets could not be traced back to the fixed asset register.
- Completed assets under work in progress.
- Difference between amount per Intangible Asset Register and Trial Balance/Annual Financial Statements.
- De-recognition certificates of vehicles were approved after year end.
- Misstatements identified in investment property.
- Completeness of land on PPE and investment property could not be confirmed.
- Inadequate impairment assessment on all classes of PPE.
- Assessment of useful lives of assets not performed in accordance with GRAP 17.
- Assets captured at no cost.
- Facilities and leasehold improvement - valuation of work in progress.
- Facilities and leasehold improvement - findings on valuation and verification of work in progress.
- Existence and completeness of rolling stock could not be confirmed.
- The network infrastructure assets shows significant areas of loss.
- 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.
10 December 2021 - NW2295
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What total amount of Bus Rapid Transit System funding did the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) transfer to each of the 13 cities in the past three financial years; (2) what total amount has been paid by Sanral to a certain company (name furnished) since the beginning of their engagement, distinguishing between (a) contract agreement and (b) operational agreement payments?
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
10 December 2021 - NW2672
Denner, Ms H to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
(1)Whether, with reference to a certain consulting company (name furnished) which was appointed by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to manage risk at the UIF, he will indicate how often the risk register is communicated to the management of the UIF; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the shortcomings of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system of the UIF were identified by the specified company and relayed to the management of the UIF; if not, why not; if so, what steps were taken by his department to address the shortcomings in the ICT system of the UIF; (3) whether any other risks were identified by the company that could have resulted in erroneous and fraudulent payments of UIF-Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme funds; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of such risks; (4) whether he will make a statement on the matter
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
10 December 2021 - NW2464
Motsepe, Ms CCS to ask the Minister of Transport
What immediate interventions will be implemented by his department regarding the taxi riots in Atteridgeville, which are affecting the transportation of pupils to school during the examination period?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2275
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)(a) What total number of senior staff members of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has been and/or was suspended since 2019 and (b) on what charges; (2) what total number of the suspended Prasa members (a) have been reinstated, (b) are still suspended and/or (c) had their services terminated; (3) with reference to the specified Prasa members who have been reinstated, are still suspended and/or had their services terminated, at what cost has this taken place in each specified case, including (a) salary and benefits expenses to Prasa and (b) legal costs; (4) with reference to the Prasa members who are still suspended, (a) what is the next expected step and (b) by what date does he envisage will the specified step be implemented?
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:
|
|
2020/21 TOTAL = 14 |
Procurement related irregularities |
Misconduct:
|
|
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 |
|
AUTOPAX |
|
PRASA CRES |
|
PRASA Rail |
|
PRASA Technical |
|
(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.
10 December 2021 - NW2663
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health
With regard to the Auditor-General’s Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report dated 10 November 2021, which was presented to the Portfolio Committee on Health, wherein it was noted under consequence management that investigations within his department are either not initiated or those initiated were not completed and, therefore, no one was held accountable for the irregular or fruitless expenditure, what (a) total number of current investigations have been launched by his department regarding irregular and fruitless expenditure in this financial year, (b) is the status of the investigations referred to in (a) and (c) total number has been completed in specific?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2179
Chabangu, Mr M to ask the Minister of Transport
What progress has he made to ensure that trains are running efficiently again in the major cities in the Republic?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2726
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
(1)Whether a certain person (name and details furnished) will resume the duties he fulfilled before his suspension in 2020; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what are the terms and time frames of the appointment of a certain person (name furnished) in an acting capacity?
10 December 2021 - NW2360
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Transport
What steps will his department take to mitigate the increasing incidents of the overloading of learners on small taxis and bakkies operating as scholar transport, which result in injury and death in the case of accidents?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2589
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What concrete measures has the Government taken to prioritise the (a) dissemination of information regarding the necessity to be vaccinated (details furnished) and (b) vaccination of poorer, older persons living in rural communities; (2) what number of persons living in the rural areas have received vaccines?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2400
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
With reference to the pending final court ruling on the Langa rail occupancy matter, what are the full details of the measures that (a) his department and (b) the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa have put in place to relocate the rail occupants?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2661
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
With reference to his reply to question 1753 on 18 June 2021, wherein he stated that consequent management processes are still underway and his department still awaits the Special Investigating Unit report to supplement its processes, what (a) are the names of the individuals involved and (b) has his department done to date to make them account for their deeds?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2625
Moteka, Mr PG to ask the Minister of Health
What are the reasons that (a) the Jane Furse Memorial Hospital has been relying on water delivered by trucks from tenderpreneurs for many years despite having boreholes and the De Hoop Dam nearby, (b) water pipes have not been connected to the bore holes and/or from the De Hoop Dam and (c) his department chooses to spend millions monthly on a service provider who delivers water to the hospital instead of saving those resources for other service delivery issues?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2354
Shembeni, Mr HA to ask the Minister of Transport
What measures has he put in place to resolve the long-standing strike by truck drivers across the Republic?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2563
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What (a) total number of provinces have reported to him that they are (i) withdrawing their support to the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro Medical Collaboration Programme and (ii) stopping payments towards the specified programme and (b) total amount in funds was meant to be paid by his department towards the programme for the 2021 academic year in each province; (2) whether he and/or his department requested the provinces to make an additional payment over and above the payments they were supposed to make; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what is the (a) allocated annual stipend by his department for each student and (b) full breakdown as reported to his department of the costs for the programme in each province with regard to (i) stipends, (ii) insurance, (iii) administrative costs, (iv) wasteful expenditure and (v) any other costs; (4) whether his department is in possession of an audit report of the programme that he can provide to Ms H Ismail; if not, why not; if so; if so, what are the relevant details?
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.
10 December 2021 - NW2383
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether his department has conducted a rail infrastructure audit; if not, why not; if so, what percentage of the infrastructure network is (a) functional and (b) carries (i) goods and (ii) passengers?
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)
09 December 2021 - NW2556
Siwela, Mr EK to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
In view of the fact that several schools (names furnished) were ravaged by storms in January 2021, and that to date no repairs have been done in the specified schools and both learners and teachers are confronted daily with the reality of dilapidated schools, (a) by what date(s) does she envisage her department will ensure the schools are repaired and (b) what are the reasons that it has taken her department so long to repair the schools and restore the dignity of the learners and teachers?
Reply:
Please find response as provided by Mpumalanga Department of Education
09 December 2021 - NW2466
Langa, Mr TM to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
By what date(s) will schools in Wards (a) 5, (b) 6 and (c) 7 in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal be refurbished, given the poor state of school buildings in the specified areas?
Reply:
Please find attached response as provided by KZN DoE
09 December 2021 - NW2666
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
Given the mass movement of persons during the election campaigns in the period 1 September 2021 to 1 November 2021, what (a) additional measures were put in place to ensure that social distancing and the relevant COVID-19 protocols were adhered on all forms of transportation, (b) support was given to the public in relation to personal protective equipment in taxis, trains and buses and (c) was the success rate of each measure put in place?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2477
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
With regard to the past fruitless and wasteful expenditure caused by a certain company (name furnished), what guarantee does her department give that the specified company will not be considered for the contract to upgrade the Beitbridge Boarder Post port of entry in order to accommodate the high influx of persons at the specified port?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
National treasury has restricted the relevant companies from doing business with the State for 10 years and therefore will not qualify to participate in any bid while they are restricted.
09 December 2021 - NW2501
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(a) What total number of trains (i) have been manufactured at the Gibela Rail Manufacturing Plant in Ekurhuleni in each month of each year since the opening of the factory and (ii) have been sold and (b) to which countries were the trains sold?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2722
Khumalo, Dr NV to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether there are currently any collaborative interventions undertaken by her department and the SA Police Service to deal with the (a) violence in schools amongst learners and (b) kidnapping of children from schools; if not, why not; if so, (i) what has been the method of measuring the impact of the interventions and (ii) to what extent has she found this to be a reflection of an ineffective national intelligence function?
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:
- Strengthen Safe School Committees to curb crime and violence in schools;
- Encourage all role players at school and in communities to play an active role as members of Safe School Committees;
- Link all schools to local Police Stations;
- Establish reporting systems at schools;
- Raise awareness amongst learners regarding crime and violence and its impact on individuals, families and education;
- Establish a school-based crime prevention service and interventions, which will deter potential offenders and empower potential victims and past victims;
- Extend crime prevention programmes to Early Childhood Development Centres in order to raise awareness amongst young children on how to keep themselves safe;
- Mobilise communities to take ownership of schools; and
- 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.
09 December 2021 - NW2633
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
How does the Government’s policy positions on apartheid Israel align when she pledges solidarity with the Palestinian People in her statement on 8 June 2021 on Justice for the Palestinian People and the Government and others moved in October for the rescission of the African Union’s decision to grant Israel observer status, while it permits Ms South Africa to attend the 70th Annual Miss Universe pageant to be held in Eilat, Israel and (b) what is the Government’s position on the Republic of South Africa being represented by Miss South Africa in an international event that will give credibility and acceptance amongst the community of nations to the apartheid state of Israel?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2333
Shelembe, Mr ML to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)What (a) is the current status of the Akasia Police Station’s R4 626 222,47 owed in arrears of rental payments to the City of Tshwane, (b) payments have been made to date on the outstanding amount and (c) are the details of the available budget for the settlement of the outstanding amount in the current financial year; (2) whether any payment agreements have been concluded with the City of Tshwane to settle the debt; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the details of the payment agreement(s) and (b) have the payment agreements been honoured to date?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
1 I have been informed that the Department received the letter of demand without a breakdown of the amount claimed as well as a copy of a non-compliant lease which was signed by one party to a contract. The matter was referred to the attorneys of City of Tshwane to provide the breakdown of the claim and justify its legitimacy. To date, the region has not received response. No payment will be effected until the claim is verified.
(2) No payment arrangement has been concluded with City of Tshwane.
a) There is no payment agreement in place.
b) The Department through its Legal Services has requested the breakdown of the amount claimed from the Attorneys as this information was not included, so that the Department knows from what period is the claim based. Once the department is in receipt of such information, verification will be conducted on the system. Finance and REMS through Legal Service will confirm whether the claim is payable or not.
09 December 2021 - NW2543
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
With reference to the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme and taxis returned and scrapped under the programme, what total number of taxis have been scrapped (a)(i) in each province and (ii) in each month in the past three financial years and (b) to date?
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.
- 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 |
09 December 2021 - NW2567
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
Noting that once a taxi is scrapped and the Government has paid out R124 000 to the owner, which in essence is money derived from tax contributions in the hands of the National Treasury, (a) what happens to the vehicle that has been written-off, (b) are such vehicles re-sold, sold for parts and/or scrap-metal and (c) is this income returned to the National Treasury?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2667
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
What (a) total number of (i) buildings and (ii) vacant land in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality are owned by her department, (b) total number of the specified buildings and vacant land are unoccupied and (c) plans are in place to make use of them?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2609
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Transport
(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; (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; (3) what other measures will be taken against the defaulting municipalities?
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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;
- 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.
- 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.
09 December 2021 - NW2635
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
What support South Africa has offered to ensure that the State of Libya holds peaceful elections, free from foreign interference, on 17 December 2021?
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:
09 December 2021 - NW2441
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What is the current number of manual authorisations (MAs) served by the Railway Safety Regulator on rail sections owned by (a) the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and (b) Transnet respectively; (2) when looking at each of these sections being declared as an MA, (a) which 10 are the longest and most frequently found to be unsafe and (b) on what date was each of the specified sections mentioned for the first time?
Reply:
1. Railway Operators are required to report occurrences and incidents as prescribed by SANS 3000-1 by contacting the RSR Contact Centre, using the National Information Management System (NIMS) and a designated occurrence reporting email address. These occurrence statistics are reported and recorded to the RSR according to mandatory categories included in the South African National Standard on Railway Safety Management. These reportable categories operational occurrences and security incidents include derailments, collisions signals passed at danger, level crossing occurrences and security incidents such as theft and vandalism. Manual Train Authorisations are a daily procedural arrangement and are not reportable to the RSR. The RSR does not serve the authorisations, it is the Operator’s responsibility.
Safe train movement relies on the effective combination of all aspects of a railway system. Train control and communications systems play an important in this respect. Asset condition and maintenance faults also contribute to manual authorizations. That is, faulty signalling cables, defective rail, rail washaways or security violations like theft and vandalism of railway assets.
Manual train authorization is an accepted fallback method of train operations during abnormal conditions.
The required information can be obtained from the Operators.
09 December 2021 - NW2647
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 243 for oral reply on 17 November 2021, job creation means that novice contractors will be given an opportunity to create jobs in their areas where projects of infrastructure will be taking place; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2566
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether, given that this year marks 15 years since the inception of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) and that the allowance has been increased to encourage a higher uptake of what should bring about safe, effective, reliable, affordable and accessible taxi operations by introducing new taxi vehicles designed to undertake public transport functions, and noting that in the 2019-20 financial year less than 2 000 taxis have been scrapped while over R5 billion has been paid in scrapping allowances to date, he has found that the TRP has succeeded in the specified objectives; if not, wat is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether, given the continued low uptake amongst taxi owners, he has found that the TRP should be continued; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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.
09 December 2021 - NW2473
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(a) On what policy does she rely in the leasing of state buildings for (i) residential and/or (ii) business purposes and (b) how consistent is the application of the policy in each province?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
a) I have been informed by the Department that the Government Immovable Asset Management Act 19 of 2007 (GIAMA) provides guidance in respect of the disposal of immovable assets. The National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Immovable Asset Disposal Policy, which was approved by the Minister on 30 May 2013, is used when leasing state-owned buildings for both (i) residential and/or (ii) business purposes.
b) In addition to the above, the 2007 Business Processes for Property Management, developed in terms of Public Finance Management Act of 1999, is used by all provincial Regional Offices to ensure consistency. In addition the revised circular 135 of 2020 on letting out of state-owned properties further ensures consistency.
08 December 2021 - NW2588
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
Whether her department has conducted an investigation into the reasons that some government departments are battling to finalise and/or conclude disciplinary cases within the stipulated time frame; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) are the reasons that some government departments are battling to finalise their disciplinary cases within the stipulated time frame and (b) steps has her department taken in order to capacitate government departments that are failing to finalise their disciplinary cases within the stipulated time frames?
Reply:
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has conducted an investigation into the reasons why some government departments are battling to finalise and/or conclude disciplinary cases within the stipulated time frame.
During Quarter (Q) 3 of the previous financial year (October to December 2020), the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (PAEIDTAU), assisted by the Strengthening Ethics and Integrity Project that are funded by the Canadian Government, contracted an independent expert to conduct research into the reasons for case backlogs and long overdue precautionary suspensions.
a) The following reasons were identified why some government departments are battling to finalise their disciplinary cases within the stipulated time frame:
- Interference were reported, where it was alleged that suspensions were sometimes used as a tool to neutralize opposition, or employees from different camps or interest groups.
- Heads of Departments and labour relations officials are scared to address interferences due to a fear for retaliation.
- Unavailability of chairpersons in provinces.
- Use of legal services to assist with discipline management cases without involving the labour relations official.
- Appeals instituted on the side of the employer with the aim to keep an official out of the work place, usually when this person reported wrongdoing or corruption.
- Shortage of labour relations employees.
- Unavailability of tools of the trade, especially where educators are involved.
- Complexity of cases due to sector specific challenges, such as in Education and Health.
b) To capacitate government departments that are failing to finalise their disciplinary cases within the stipulated time frames, the DPSA launched a project where the Minister for the Public Service and Administration (MPSA) held one-on-one meetings with Executive Authorities of departments identified to have long overdue disciplinary cases and precautionary suspensions to ascertain the reasons for backlogs and to pledge support. This was immediately followed by a workshop conducted by the PAEIDTAU to the identified departments to address their backlogs. The PAEIDTAU developed, with the assistance of the Strengthening Ethics and Integrity Project, an electronic tool that was utilised by the affected departments to register their backlog cases on, and to provide monthly feedback. In January 2021, the Director-General (DG) DPSA embarked on provincial meetings, where the issue of discipline management is addressed and compliance statistics are shared with departments. The MPSA also addressed a special FOSAD meeting in May 2021 to raise this issue with director-generals.
To assist departments with managing discipline and to address the findings of the PAEIDTAU research, a new Guide on managing discipline in the public service was adopted and approved by the MPSA. From 1 April 2021, the implementation of this Guide is compulsory. This guide specifically addresses the issues of appeals and precautionary suspensions. During 2020, the DPSA also facilitated the training of 204 (out of 246) public service employees on a PSETA accredited course for presiding officers (chairpersons and initiators) to address the issue of capacity. With the assistance of the Strengthening Ethics and Integrity Project, the PAEIDTAU is currently developing training material for labour relations officials and managers, to improve implementation of the newly adopted guide.
The above outlined interventions undertaken by the MPSA, PAEIDTAU and DG yielded significant success. A decrease in suspensions and in the costs of precautionary suspensions, as well as an improvement in the capturing of cases on the Personnel Salary System (PERSAL) were noted at the end of March 2021. By the end of March 2021, provinces finalised 78% of their backlogs (up from only 1% in Q1, 8% in Q 2, and 18% in Q 3). The cost of precautionary suspensions for National Departments stabilised around R 20 million per quarter and the cost for precautionary suspensions in provinces decreased to a new low level - almost R 25 million less than what the year started with (Q1: R 87 million compared to Q4: R62 million). The two provinces that had the most precautionary suspensions also managed to reduced their backlogs. The Free State reduced their cost from R 12 million in Q 3 to R 6 million in Q 4. Kwa-Zulu Natal managed to reduce their cost from a high of R 92 million in Q 3 to R 21 Million in Q 4. The amounts reflected here are based on all disciplinary cases captured on PERSAL.
End
08 December 2021 - NW2503
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)Whether any disciplinary and/or legal steps have been taken against the 241 Public Service employees who, according to the Department of Social Development, received the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in May 2020; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) What steps has her department put in place to deter Public Service employees from applying for the SRD grant following its recent reintroduction by the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa
Reply:
1. No disciplinary and/or legal steps have been taken against the 241 Public Service employees who received Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants in May 2020.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is working with the departments of identified Public Service employees to ensure legal steps are taken where required. The Department of Public Service Administration (DPSA) is working closely with SASSA to ensure that disciplinary steps are taken against Public Service employees who received SRD grants in an unlawful way.
In terms of this arrangement, investigations are conducted by SASSA (supported by the Fusion Centre), as the DPSA has no investigative mandate. Furthermore, However, the DPSA plays a coordinating role and provides technical assistance to departments as far as that is concerned.
Up to date, the DPSA verified a list of 241 employees identified to have received SRD grants unlawfully. During the screening process, the DPSA found that only 198 employees on the list of 241 employees were in fact Public Service employees.
The investigating team therefore is currently focussing on the remaining 198 cases, and works with the South African Police Service to obtain statements and to collect evidence. This collated information is packaged in files which were opened for each accused. These files will be used during the criminal and disciplinary process so as to synchronize the two processes. The charges levelled against the employees will be fraud and misrepresentation. The investigation process is not yet finalised, but is continuing.
On 16 November 2021, the DPSA and investigation team from SASSA met to assess progress. The meeting resolved that the allegations against the public service employees are of a serious nature and therefore:
a) Disciplinary hearings should be held;
b) SASSA and DPSA agreed on the information/evidence to be included in the files to be opened for each employee;
c) For employees employed in provinces, the offices of the Premier will coordinate and monitor cases;
d) SASSA will provide witnesses;
e) Departments will have 90 days to finalise their cases from the dates of receiving files;
f) DPSA and SASSA will monitor the adherence to the timelines; and
g) SASSA will finalise the packaging of files.
Once investigations are finalised, the DPSA and investigators will reconvene with the identified departments, where guidance will be provided to labour relations officers to take the disciplinary cases forward in a coordinated way. The DPSA will source additional resources to assist those provinces with the most cases.
(2) SASSA is responsible for managing the payment of SRD grants and utilises its own electronic system to do that. The DPSA and SASSA linked the SASSA system to access information on the Personnel Salary System (PERSAL) so that current payments to applicants are only made after it was confirmed that the applicants are not appointed as Public Service employees.
End
07 December 2021 - NW2444
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
In view of the important and serious extradition case of the Bushiris having been delayed once again, what is the (a) latest development regarding the extradition of the Bushiris and (b) cause of the delay?
Reply:
The extradition proceedings against Shepherd Huxley Bushiri and Mary Bushiri (the Bushiris) commenced on the 8th March 2021 before the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe, Malawi. During these proceedings, Counsel for the Bushiris brought a number of preliminary applications relating to the following issues:
a) The Magistrate should recuse himself from the proceedings. This application was dismissed.
b) The State is using SADC Protocol when it is not law in Malawi. This application was dismissed.
c) The State should furnish counsel for the Bushiris with the transcript of the bail hearing of the Bushiris in South Africa. This application was successful. The State has since complied with the order.
d) The various witnesses of the State of South Africa should appear in person in the extradition proceedings in order to:
(i) Authenticate documents; and
(ii) Sign depositions.
This application was successful.
Counsel for the Bushiris applied for the review of all applications that were dismissed. The High Court dismissed the application without a hearing.
The State made an application to the Chief Resident’s Magistrate Court for the review of the decision regarding witnesses, and asked the Court to order that witnesses must appear through video conferencing or link. The Court dismissed the application.
The State then applied for a review in the High Court of the order of the Chief Resident’s Magistrate Court regarding witnesses. The review was argued in Court on 21 July 2021.
The High Court directed both parties to file submissions on whether the State witnesses from South Africa could testify via video link. The matter has since been adjourned pending the delivery of the order on a date to be communicated by the Court through the office of the Registrar.
07 December 2021 - NW2641
Tafeni, Ms N to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(a) What total number of (i) Chief Director and, (ii) Deputy Director-General positions are occupied by persons on an acting basis in her department and (b) by what date is it envisaged that the positions will be filled by permanent employees?
Reply:
Honourable Member, here is the reply:
a) There are currently two employees acting in higher positions:
(i) Chief Director: Communications
(ii) Deputy Director-General: Informal Settlement Upgrading and Emergency Housing
b) The Chief Director: Communication was advertised and shortlisting is scheduled to take place before 20 December 2021, with the interview taking place before the end of January 2022. The Deputy Director-General post will be advertised by 28 January 2022 and be filled by the end of the financial year (31 March 2022).