Reply:

1.(a). The support that was granted to SAMIC was done through a transfer of funds subsequent to entering into an MOA with the organisation having conceded to their proposal for assistance.

(b). No service provider was picked as there was no service

solicited by the Department.

2. Once a project is funded, it is the beneficiary’s responsibility to implement it according to the terms set in the proposal and the MOA. The Department does not in all instances participate in the beneficiaries events/activities.

3. The Department transfers funds to beneficiaries who in turn enter into agreements with third parties or service providers. Intervention by the Department where there are disputes is not a requirement. Where there are merits to mediate between beneficiaries and third parties, attempts are made by the Department to broker workable and lawful solutions.

4. SAMIC was responsible to determining invitees, participants and desired outcomes of the elective conference for its members. The Department is not aware of the specifics of who should or should not have been there and the desired roles for each as it was not the one implementing the conference.

Reply:

1. USIBA Awards was a project that was initiated and conceptualised by the Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), and was then presented to the Department for partnership funding. The objective of the project was to provide accolades to individuals of excellence especially those who have done exceedingly well in the arts and culture field, this as a way of recognising them for the role they have played in re-energising the souls and spirit of the nation through the arts and culture. It was for this reason that the Department took a decision to invest or support the project, considering its significance in the sector.

2. A tender process is only required when procurement of services are being done. In this instance, the USIBA awards was not a project of the Department but an unsolicited project that was initiated by CCIFSA and was therefore supported through a grant, like any other projects that are being funded by the Department.

3. (a). Likewise, all services providers for the USIBA awards were procured by the beneficiary – which is CCIFSA in this case. (b) The Department does not have any role whatsoever in the procuring of service providers for all the projects that are receiving grant support. Ours is to ensure that the beneficiaries deliver on the said objectives and properly account for the resources that we have provided.

4. (a). A grant of R12 000 000 was allocated for the overall project and it was made up of three main pillars or items. The first pillar included Logo Design, Development of Trophies, and Project Launch & Media and Publicity and the total budget allocated was R1 635 000, the second pillar was a two days CCIFSA Policy Conference and a budget of R3 002 000 was allocated, the last pillar was the actual USIBA Awards and a budget of R6 273 000 was allocated and thus bringing the total to R10 910 000. The difference from the total grant was budget for administrative costs and constituted just about 10% of the grant. However, the actual costs to the project, including administrative costs came to the total of R11 500 000, which is the total amount that was transferred to CCIFSA.

(b). Based on the agreement there was no requirement that the specific project should be audited; however, CCIFSA did furnish its end of the year audited financial statement as part of the reporting to the Department.

5. The Department have not been informed of any investigation initiated by the SIU on CCIFSA. If anything, the Department remains committed to cooperate on all matters.

Reply:

1. The department only funded the policy conference and no other amount was given for programmes stemming out of the conference. Engagements with the Department continue to lobby for funds for proposals presented subsequent to the conference.

2.  The release of the policy conference was hampered by the

delay in the payment of service providers. As a result, the conference report was withheld. Having already settled the payment, the submitted reports have been shared with provincial task team coordinators. Once all information has been verified, the report will be circulated with the sector at large.

Reply:

a) Gauteng

(i) Occupational Therapy services

There are seventy-nine (79) clinics that are situated in the townships in Gauteng that offer occupational therapy onsite and forty-four (44) on outreach basis

(ii) Speech Therapy services for children with speech challenges

There are seventy-nine (79) clinics that are situated in the townships in Gauteng province that offer speech therapy onsite and forty-four (44) on outreach basis for children with speech challenges.

b) Eastern Cape

(i) Occupational Therapy

There are fifty-one (51) clinics that offer occupational therapy on outreach basis that are situated in the townships in Eastern Cape Province.

(ii) Speech Therapy

There are seventy-nine (79) clinics that are situated in the townships in Eastern Cape province that offer speech therapy on outreach basis for children with speech challenges.

END.

Reply:

a) The Digital Vaccination Certificate is a digital version of the paper vaccination card that can be verified by a third party through the scanning of the QR code to establish the validity of the Vaccination Certificate. Government does not intend to use proof of vaccination to regulate access to public sector services and facilities.

b) Within the borders of South Africa, the primary use of the vaccine certificate could be used for third parties to allow vaccinated people to access certain rewards or incentives. This may include access to events such as sports, entertainment, and religious events, or to benefit from discounts or other rewards (such as entry into a lucky draw) offered by retailers or other private businesses.

The Department of Labour and Employment is responsible for regulating workplaces. Government's current position is that employees should be encouraged to vaccinate. However, employers may require employees performing certain functions, where not being vaccinated poses a risk to the employee, other employees, or members of the public, to be vaccinated. All existing legislation and regulations must be followed in dealing with situations where employees chose not to be vaccinated. 

END.

Reply:

(a) There were 10 beneficiaries that were successfully assisted.

(b) 66 permanent jobs and 5148 temporary jobs were created.

The loans were provided to those applicants whose businesses were still at the pre-investment stage. Non-financial support was provided, so that they could be capacitated at the pre-investment stage of a transaction for their applications to meet the requirements and standards for funding approval. This assisted beneficiaries to become financially sustainable and able to grow their businesses which employ people mainly the marginalised such as black women, youth and people with disabilities. Further than this DSAC and the NEF helped the applicants approach other financial institutions for funds and that also helped them to become financially independent and no longer rely on government grants. (b) The implementing agency NEF was monitored through reports and meeting whilst an evaluation was conducted through a research process with the beneficiaries and employees as respondents. (c) projects were funded for a specific time frame and were successfully implemented for the period of the pilot project.

Reply:

 

1. (i) Leopards are generally considered uncommon in South Africa, however, estimates of the size of the national population vary widely from 2 185 to 23 400 leopards (Friedmann & Traylor-Holzer, 2005; Martin & De Meulenaer, 1988; Swanepoel et al., 2014b). None of these estimates are based on rigorous population counts at regional scales and their confidence intervals are so wide,

indicating the need for more information (for example, 2 813 to 11 632 leopards estimated by Swanepoel et at., 2014b).

ii) Leopards are very difficult to survey accurately, especially in the dense bush found in the Kruger National Park (KNP). A mark-recapture survey using camera traps gave an estimate of between 1 630 and 2 860 leopards in the KNP in 2011. SANParks is confident that there has not been much fluctuation in respect of leopard numbers in the KNP year on year since the survey was conducted.

1. Given the concerns around the current state of conservation of leopards, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is of the view that all options for the conservation and sustainable use of leopards should be explored. The use of artificial skin is an option that was introduced by NGOs in an effort to reduce the poaching of leopards for their skin. To date, it has not yet been promoted by the DFFE and may be considered by the Leopard Forum (a forum to coordinate the work of leopard management from various role players towards the development of the Leopard Biodiversity Management Plan) if it is deemed a viable option for the promotion of the conservation and sustainable use of leopards. The DFFE, however, continues to educate and raise awareness throughout the country on the threats to the survival of the species and the impact of the illegal and unsustainable use of leopards, including the unsustainable harvesting of skin and other derivatives from leopards. More importantly, the DFFE is engaging with rural and urban communities on legal ways to source skins to ensure compliance with the legislation.

SANParks has engaged with the Panthera Foundation on sourcing artificial leopard skins to be used by traditional leaders for ceremonial purposes. The Panthera Foundation has committed to providing SANParks with 20 artificial leopard skins. Upon receipt of these skins, SANParks will engage with the traditional leaders to map a way forward.

Regards

MS B D CREECY, MP

MINISTER OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

DATE: 19/11/2021

Reply:

(a). The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is the Custodian of the Robben Island and therefore responsible for the maintenance. DPWI has developed a new strategy and approach to improve the effectiveness and efficiency on rendering maintenance services known as the Total Facilities Management (TFM) programme.

The TFM solution combines services streams across the “hard” (technical maintenance) and “soft” (cleaning, hygiene, security, etc.) services under the management of a single Service Provider (SP) who also manages sub-contractors.

Known alternatively as a one -stop-shop, the benefits of TFM include minimizing management and task duplication, effecting improvement in service reliability and efficiency, and streamlining interoperability of facility services thus reducing the operational and maintenance expenditure while optimizing delivery.

DPWI is currently busy with the finalization of the procurement process of the TFM contract for a period of 36 months. The procurement process will be finalized before the end of December 2021. The TFM contract will guarantee that all maintenance needs are attended on a regular basis and will ensure that UNESCO international heritage status for the Robben Island is also maintained.

In the interim, DPWI is maintaining the facility through various term contracts. This is carried-out by DPWI Cape Town regional office.

(b). The Robben Island Museum is currently busy with implementing financial turn-around strategies to deal with a challenge of financial constraints. The measures implemented has so far been successful in preventing job losses at the Museum. This process is ongoing and the entity still faces major obstacles to recovery and will be dependent on the opening of tourism activities until a final strategy is in place informed by the development of RIM’s business model.

Reply:

a) The tables below indicate the vacancy rate percentages per province and for the last 3 years in Clinic’s (Reports as of September of each year)

Clinics - Medical Officer / Specialist Vacancy rate as at September 2019
Row Labels	Eastern Cape	Free State	Gauteng	KwaZulu Natal	Limpopo Province	Mpumalanga	North - West	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Grand Total
Filled	57	74	25	25	206	5	60	50	274	565
Vacant	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	1.0	3.0
% Vacancy rate	0.00	1.33	0.00	0.00	0.48	0.00	1.64	0.00	0.36	0.53

Clinics - Medical Officer / Specialist Vacancy rate as at September 2020
Row Labels	Eastern Cape	Free State	Gauteng	KwaZulu Natal	Limpopo Province	Mpumalanga	North - West	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Grand Total
Filled	57	38	24	22	193	5	58	46	225	668
Vacant	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	4
Vacant	0.00	2.56	0.00	0.00	0.52	0.00	1.69	0.00	0.44	0.60

Clinics - Medical Officer / Specialist Vacancy rate as at September 2021
	Eastern Cape	Free State	Gauteng	KwaZulu Natal	Limpopo Province	Mpumalanga	North - West	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Grand Total
Filled	60	45	30	25	184	5	60	50	277	736
Vacant	13	13	12	10	79	6	18	11	18	180
% Vacancy rate	17.81	22.41	28.57	28.57	30.04	54.55	23.08	18.03	6.10	19.65

b) The tables below indicate the vacancy rate percentage per province and for the last 3 years in Hospital’s (Reports as of September of each year)

Hospitals - Medical Officer / Specialist Vacancy rate as at September 2019
Row Labels	Eastern Cape	Free State	Gauteng	KwaZulu Natal	Limpopo Province	Mpumalanga	North - West	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Grand Total
Filled	172	529	383	2855	1288	957	443	70	1447	8144
Vacant	5	4	3	10	7	7	2	0	11	49
% Vacancy rate	2.82	0.75	0.78	0.35	0.54	0.73	0.45	0.00	0.75	0.60

Hospitals - Medical Officer / Specialist Vacancy rate as at September 2020
	Eastern Cape	Free State	Gauteng	KwaZulu Natal	Limpopo Province	Mpumalanga	North - West	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Grand Total
Filled	167	448	350	2567	1222	911	408	69	1029	7171
Vacant	5	4	3	10	6	7	2		6	43
% Vacancy rate	2.91	0.88	0.85	0.39	0.49	0.76	0.49	0.00	0.58	7.35

Hospitals - Medical Officer / Specialist Vacancy rate as at September 2021
	Eastern Cape	Free State	Gauteng	KwaZulu Natal	Limpopo Province	Mpumalanga	North -West	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Grand Total
Filled	167	470	445	2935	1325	1089	503	72	1166	8172
Vacant	29	121	32	296	523	166	65	16	48	1296
% Vacancy rate	14.80	20.47	6.71	9.16	28.30	13.23	11.44	18.18	3.95	13.69

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) All four (4) forensic chemistry Laboratories are functional. There is one (1) laboratory each in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

(b) None.

(2) (a)-(b) Total number of laboratory tests still to be conducted (including the backlog) as at 30 September 2021 refer to Table 1 below.

TABLE 1
Test to be conducted as at	Ante-mortem drunken driving	Post-mortem drunken driving	Toxicology testing	Food Testing
30 September 2021	38,111	10,648	30,669	1,745

(c) Monthly demand for laboratory tests nationally refer to Table 2 below.

TALBE 2
	Ante-mortem drunken driving	Post-mortem drunken driving	Toxicology testing	Food Testing
Average number of test requests received per month (5-year average)	5,046	1,617	411	229

END.

Reply:

 

1. (a) The Depa#ment developed a National Coastal Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in 2019, a decision support tool to assist coastal planning and response to physical hazards attributable to climate change, such as sea level rise, flooding, erosion, or storm events. The National Coastal Climate Change Assessment Report and the Geo-Spatial Index for coastal climate change vulnerability of South Africa's coastline and estuaries are available. http://mapservice.environment.oov.za/CoastaI%20Viewer/

(b) The Department has been rolling out training and capacity building for municipalities and has completed seven (7) sessions with coastal municipalities (Metropolitans and Districts) on the use of the data generated to support the decision making process of authorities. Both an on- line and offline tool have been developed and shared with all coastal municipalities and provinces. Coastal provinces have also been working with their respective municipalities to develop Coastal Management Lines (CMLs) for their coastline to deal precisely with coastal risk within their programmes, plans or strategies to address the sea level rise impact.

2. (a)(b)

Less risk - west coast

• • A general decrease in rainfall in the western and southern part will reduce the risk of flooding in river catchments (apart from the Orange River with its far inland reaching catchment).
  • The expected decrease of storm frequency and intensity will reduce the likelihood and intensity of sea storms. This means that the risk of coastal flooding and erosion on the west coast might be decreasing.

More risk - east coast

• • In contrast, the east coast is likely to become more affected by climate related weather events. The expected increase in the occurrence of storms and cyclones in northern KwaZuIu- Natal can increase the damage through direct wind impacts.
  • The department is currently partnering with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the green book, and part of the implementation will include identifying possible areas that require long-term adaptation measures to facilitate and achieve sustainable coastal development in South Africa.

1. In 2021 the department published three reports which deal with climate change and fisheries in South Africa. These three reports are the results of national workshops that were held as part of a larger project under the umbrella of the Benguela Current Commission. The first of these evaluated the sensitivity of different fishing sectors to climate change, the likely impact that climate change would have on these sectors, how adaptable the sectors are likely to be, and how vulnerable they are. The second report evaluated possible adaptation measures for the different fishing sectors, indicating the likely threats to each sector and detailing possible adaptation measures and evaluating these in terms of their feasibility, priority and timescales. The third report

evaluated existing research for fisheries adaptation to climate change and identified areas where additional research is required going forwards. The reports can be made available on request to the communications unit of the Department.

1. The science observations on temperature and other key features can be accessed at https://www.environment.oov.za/documents/research#oceans The findings are available in three reports, and copies of these can be provided.

Regards

MS B D CREECY, MP

MINISTER OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

DATE: 19/11/2021

Reply:

(1) (a) Minutes of joint safety and security meetings are confidential and cannot be shared, as these documents contain sensitive security-related content, including details about anti-poaching campaigns.

(b) The South African National Parks (SANParks) engages with the Republic of Mozambique through a number of forums established in accordance with the International Treaty signed in 2002 between South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. This includes the Greater Lebombo Conservancy (GLC) Security Forum which consists of:

a. Kruger National Park(KNP);

b. Mozambique — Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC);

c. Mozambique — Environmental Police; and

d. Mozambique — Private Concessions (Karangani, Ferreira, Masintonto and Sabie Game Park).

Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, meetings were held quarterly in Xinavane, but have since been held virtually or along the South Africa/Mozambique Boundary. Various high-level visits have taken place between South Africa (SA) and Mozambique, and this includes a Mozambican delegation visit to KNP in October 2019. The delegation consisted of ANAC and Park Managers from Mozambique. It is also important to understand that at an operational level, the relationship between KNP Rangers and their Mozambican Counterparts (whether government or neighbouring concessions) does not function on the basis of scheduled meetings, but rather on daily communication and co-ordination via telephone or radio. The success of the current relationship and the efficiency it brings to law enforcement efforts is based on the building of trustful relationships informed by a shared vision. This has developed over time. This partnership informed the development of a Joint Safety and Security Plan for the Greater Lebombo Conservancy, Kruger I ationaI Park and Limpopo National Park.

There are also structures in place to give effect to the 2002 Treaty to support the policing structures on combating crime, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the department and ANAC signed in 2014 on Cooperation in the Field of Biodiversity Conservation and Management. These include the following:

a. GLTFCA Joint Management Board

b. Joint Management Committee (JMC)

c. Support to the structures aligned to the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Coordinating Committee (SARPCCO)

d. Forum of SADC Chiefs of the Armies, South Africa and Mozambique in which SANParks participates through the department.

(2) SANParks’ Environmental Crime Investigations (ECI) Unit has, since 2013, had a working relationship with the Mozambique Police in Maputo and Gaza Provinces as well as ANAC in Maputo. Since the start of this collaboration, SANParks officials have visited Mozambique on a regular basis and vice versa. Information pertaining to wildlife crime, including rhino, elephant, lion and pangolin poaching is shared during these sessions. Members of the aforementioned Mozambican departments have, on many occasions, visited Nelspruit and Skukuza Police Stations to obtain details or statements from arrested Mozambican suspects to better understand wildlife crime networks in Mozambique. This co-operation has led to a number of successes in the fight against wildlife crime.

In addition to the ongoing collaboration that is taking place with the Mozambique Police, both with SANParks ECI (as indicated above) and SAPS (through the police co-operation structures that are in place), the depa#ment also works very closely with ANAC to ensure that information on wildlife crimes is shared timeously; linkages between the countries are understood and support in relation to investigations is provided. Where confiscations of rhino horn take place in Mozambique, samples of these horns are transported to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria so that analysis can be undertaken and linkages can be determined to poaching scenes, stockpiles or live animals in South Africa.

Regards

MS B D CREECY, MP

MINISTER OF F RESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DATE:19/11/2021

Reply:

The Human Papillomavirus vaccination programme was implemented in South Africa in 2014 with the aim of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer. A recently published study showed that women - now in their 20s - who were vaccinated against HPV in England at age 12 or 13 years experienced an 87% reduction in cervical cancer compared to the expected rate among unvaccinated women[1].

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that cervical cancer, which comprises 84% of all HPV-related cancers, should remain the priority for HPV immunisation programmes. For the prevention of cervical cancer, the WHO-recommended primary target population for HPV vaccination is girls aged 9-14 years, prior to them becoming sexually active[2]. The South African HPV vaccination programme targets Grade 5 girl learners 9 years and older in public schools, and is therefore aligned with these recommendations.

Vaccination of secondary target populations (such as girls 15 years and older, and boys) is only recommended by WHO if this is feasible, affordable, cost-effective and does not divert resources from vaccinating primary target population or from effective cervical cancer screening programmes.

Global cost-effectiveness analysis informed by country-based evidence suggests that vaccinating pre-adolescent girls is usually cost-effective, particularly in resource-constrained settings where alternative cervical cancer prevention and control measures often have limited coverage. However, if the HPV vaccination coverage in girls is greater than approximately 50% (as is the case in South Africa), then gender-neutral vaccination (targeting boys and girls) is unlikely to be cost-effective. [3],[4]

END.

1. Falcaro M, Castañon A, Ndlela B, et al. The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study. The Lancet. 2021. ↑

2. World Health Organization. Human papillomavirus vaccines: WHO position paper, May 2017. Weekly epidemiological record. No 19, 2017, 92, 241–268 ↑

3. Modelling estimates of the incremental effectiveness & cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination. Available at http://www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2016/october/07_Modelling_HPV_immunization_strategies.pdf?ua=1. ↑

4. Fesenfeld M, Hutubessy R and Jit M. Cost-effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccination in low and middle income countries: a systematic review. Vaccine. 2013 Aug 20;31(37):3786-804. ↑

Reply:

1. The Department is working against the target of reaching 70% of adults (28 million persons) vaccinated with at least one dose by end of December 2021. The number of vaccinations is dependent on the number of persons vaccinated with Pfizer, which is a two dose vaccine. As of 16 November, the Department has vaccinated 16 million persons; however there have been 24.2 million vaccinations. The Department is confident that it will reach 70% coverage in all age bands; and in all provinces and districts. The coverage in the 60+ population is highest (just below 64%); while it is lowest (25.5%) among youth (18-34 year) population. We have a large youth population in South Africa. 17.8 million of 39.8 million adults are in this age group and therefore, our overall vaccination coverage is going to be heavily dependant on our collective ability to convince youth to be vaccinated.

The Vaccination coverage is a function of both supply and demand side factors. The forecasting done by the Department is largely from a supply side (looking at both health system capacity; and availability of vaccines). The lower coverage we’re observing currently is driven by demand side factors.

2. One million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield) were delivered to South Africa on 01 February 2021.

 

Attached is the vaccine arrival report detailing the receipt of the shipment in South Africa.

Furthermore, attached is the vaccine arrival report detailing the receipt of the shipment in South Africa.

END.

Reply:

1. The Secretary General (SG) was expelled through a conference resolution but the CCIFSA National Office Bearers (NOB) opted for a different approach, that of suspension. The SG subsequently decided that his matter would be dealt with through his legal representatives. To this end, the matter is still pending.

2. The Secretary general is currently still on suspension from the federation and his membership will be subject to the finalisation of all processes that will require to be instituted between his legal representatives and the organisation.

Reply:

1. (a). CCIFSA has old media pages and websites that requires revival and professional upkeep and management. At the moment, the federation does not have operational budgets to actualise these activities.

(b). CCIFSA currently does not have an operational space (office), however, one has been identified in Gauteng (Johannesburg) and once budgets allow, this will be secured.

 

Reply:

a) The Minister continues to facilitate engagements between the parties to the litigation to find an amicable solution. These efforts have resulted in consensus on matters on dispute be they on the release of the spectrum or temporary spectrum.

b) The Department continues to support the development and advancement of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), etc. At this point the Department is working with industry experts and academia to develop South Africa Artificial Intelligence Policy, this is after the country successfully led the development of the AI Blueprint for Africa the Smart Africa Alliance. Of course, the ability to extend the availability of these technologies will highly be influenced by the deployment of the spectrum.

Reply:

The dispute between mobile network operators and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was finally resolved on 15 September 2021 with the granting of a court order, in terms of which the decision taken by the Authority to publish the Invitations-to-Apply for the release of high demand spectrum and the licensing of the Wireless Open-Access Network (WOAN), was set aside and the matter was referred back to the Authority for reconsideration. Therefore, the Authority will, during the course of Quarter 3, make an announcement on the reconsideration of the matter as directed by the court.

In light of the above, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies intends to conclude the digital migration process by the end of the 2021-2022 Financial Year. The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies will outline key milestones before end of October 2021.

This will place ICASA in a position to licence the digital dividend currently occupied by broadcasting service licensees, and which was the subject of the litigation, without any contention. The Department is committed to providing support to ICASA to ensure that it delivers on its legislated mandate and strategic objectives.

Reply:

I have been advised by the South African Post Office (SAPO) as follows:

a) (24) Twenty-four Post Office branches have been permanently closed in Gauteng for which official approvals have been granted. Another (66) sixty-six branches have been closed awaiting official approval for the closure. The closure of these branches relate to landlord disputes, lockouts due to rental arrears, electricity arrears, while others have been looted and vandalised. See details hereunder. The lists hereunder details affected branches but is fluid given the changing circumstances and issues at any point in time.

b) Some have been permanently closed due to optimization of the SAPO branch network as well as forced closures by landlords as a result of rental arrears.

c) Communities have been referred to the nearest alternative branches which are in a radius of +-5km. This does not affect the street delivery of mail in these areas. Where private boxes are to be moved, renters retain their PO Box numbers once transferred to the closest open Post Office.

Official approval granted for permanent closure:

No	Office	Province	When Closed	Reason
Approval granted for closure during April 2021
1.	Linden	Gauteng	Apr 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
2.	Jukskeipark	Gauteng	Apr 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
3.	Thokoza	Gauteng	Apr 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
4.	Fontainebleu	Gauteng	Feb 2021	Forced closure by landlord
5.	De Deur	Gauteng	May 2020	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
6.	Fairland	Gauteng	Aug 2020	Forced closure by landlord
Approval granted for closure during May 2021
7.	Glenharvie	Gauteng	Mar 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
8.	Sonlanpark	Gauteng	Nov 2020	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
9.	Monumentpark	Gauteng	Feb 2021	Forced closure by landlord.
10.	Henbly	Gauteng	Mar 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
11.	Strubensvallei	Gauteng	May 2021	Forced closure by landlord.
12.	Van Dyk Park	Gauteng	May 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
13.	Brenthurst	Gauteng	May 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
14.	Bakerton	Gauteng	May 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
15.	Edenpark	Gauteng	May 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
16.	Dunnottar	Gauteng	May 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices.
Approval granted for closure during June 2021
17.	Wendywood	Gauteng	Feb 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices
18.	Boipatong	Gauteng	Jun 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices
19.	Kagiso	Gauteng	Sept 2020	Forced closure by landlord
20.	Welobie	Gauteng	May 2021	Forced closure by landlord
21.	Woodhill	Gauteng	Sept 2020	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices
Approval granted for closure during July 2021
22.	Khumalo	Gauteng	Feb 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices
Approval granted for closure during August 2021
23.	Dower Glen	Gauteng	May 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices
24	The Tramshed	Gauteng	Aug 2021	Optimization and amalgamation with the surrounding offices

Branches closed awaiting official approval, locked out by landlords due to rental arrears, electricity arrears, looted and vandalised branches:

No	Office	Province	Reason
1	Alexandra South	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
2	Aston Manor	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
3	Atlasville	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
4	Benoni North	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
5	Bertsham	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
6	Boitumelo	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
7	Bramley	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
8	Cleveland	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
9	Dersley	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
10	Doornpoort	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
11	Dunnottar	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
12	Dunswart	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
13	East Lynn	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
14	Ebony Park	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
15	Elardus Park	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
16	Elspark	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
17	Evaton	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
18	Faerie Glen	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
19	Fararmere	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
20	Florida Hills	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
21	Fourways North	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
22	Heidelberg	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
23	Highveld Park	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
24	Ifafi	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
25	Isando	Gauteng	Burglary. Equipment stolen
26	Kaalfontein	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord and vandalised by looters
27	Kagiso East	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
28	Katlehong	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
29	Khumalo	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
30	Kliptown	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
31	KwaXuma	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
32	Kyalami	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
33	Lambton	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
34	Laudium	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
35	Leondale	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
36	Lynnwood Ridge	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
37	Masoheng	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
38	Montana	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
39	Noordheuwel	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
40	Oliefantsfontein	Gauteng	Blocked sewerage drain
41	Orange Farm	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
42	Paardekraal	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
43	Pierre Van Ryneveld	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
44	Protea Gardens	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
45	Quagga	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
46	Randhart	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
47	Randpark Ridge	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
48	Rant en Dal	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
49	Raslouw	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
50	Rensburg	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
51	Ruimsig	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
52	Rusloo	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
53	Rynfield	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
54	Sandringham	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
55	Silverton	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
56	Sinoville	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
57	Stretford	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
58	Strubenvale	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
59	Sunward Park	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
60	Tembisa South	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised
61	Three Rivers	Gauteng	Locked out by landlord
62	Tiegerpoort	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
63	Turffontein	Gauteng	Closed, awaiting official approval
64	Vosloorus	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
65	Westonaria	Gauteng	Electricity account arrears
66	Zola	Gauteng	Looting and vandalised

Reply:

1. Yes. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) had contracted two hundred and fifty-eight (258) suppliers with regards to intervention package through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI) project. Farmers were also assisted in a form of vouchers up to a maximum of R 50 000.

2. No. DALRRD decided to put benchmark prices on all items that were in the list of agricultural production inputs approved to be part of the support of the beneficiaries. Prices for each item in the list, per particular unit of size, were checked in the form of a quotation from all major existing agro-dealers per Province, around the country. An average price per item was then calculated for each Province. Since the time of the implementation of the project, DALRRD had sourced the services of the services providers and there was an agreement to determine a percentage benchmark of 27% which was going to determine a ceiling price above which these service providers could not charge their mark-up for each item. This was done to prevent middlemen from charging any amount that they want, an advice that had been given to us by the auditors when they were auditing the COVID-19 relief fund for smallholder producers.

Reply:

1. The dispute between mobile network operators and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was finally resolved on the 15th September 2021 with the granting of a court order, in terms of which the decisions taken by the Authority to publish the Invitations-to-Apply (ITAs) for the release of high demand spectrum and licensing of the Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN) was set aside and the matter was referred back to the Authority for reconsideration.

In light of the above, the Authority will, during the course of Quarter 3, make an announcement on the reconsideration of the matter as directed by the court.

(2) The Department – as the policy maker – will work with ICASA and all stakeholders to ensure that ICASA’s initiation of the process of licensing of spectrum.

Reply:

I have been advised by the SABC as follows:

a) The decision to move Ikwekwezi to Tshwane was done by the previous leadership of the SABC and the reasons are unknown.

b) The SABC has moved Ikwekwezi FM back to Auckland Park due to associated previous running costs of R684k per month. The station will be housed at the SABC’s Auckland Park campus with no extra costs to the SABC.  Moreover, the SABC has also upgraded its Auckland Park radio facilities which accommodates all its Gauteng based radio stations and has a disaster recovery capability for all other radio stations.  The additional future costs of upgrading the Tshwane Office is therefore mitigated and the economies of scale, both employees and facilities is leveraged.  

c) The projected direct savings are R684k per month in rental costs.  This excludes the necessary upgrades that would have been required and the additional staff costs associated with running these stand-alone studios.

d) Motsweding FM based in Mahikeng, North West Province, also transmitted a few programmes from Tshwane.

Reply:

1. Yes. Eight (8) Cohort of attachés have returned from foreign postings during the period 1 April 2018 until 30 July 2021. Seven (7) attachés have been suitable placed.

One (1) attaché did not complete her term of posting abroad and was recalled due to a court case she had with the head country for contravening national laws on employment (employment of an illegal immigrant). She is not yet placed and is currently additional to the approved establishment.

2. (a) The qualifications of Senior Managers ranges from matric, National Diplomas, Junior Degrees, Honours Degrees, Masters Degrees and PhDs.

(b) The Senior Managers in Corporate Services qualifies to be occupying the positions they currently occupy because of the experience they acquired over the years and further qualifications that they pursued while employed.

(c) (i) 367 Senior managers were directly placed.

(ii) 11 Senior managers became redundant in terms of PSCBC Resolution 1 of 209.

Reply:

1. There are seven provinces which have finalized their implementation plans. These are Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo.

Two (2) Provinces i.e., Mpumalanga and Free State have not finalized plans for implementation of the NSP on GBVF. The two provinces have started working on their implementation plans but have not yet completed the process. The process has been very intensive requiring provinces to adequately customize the NSP on GBVF.

1. The department has been engaging provinces through information sessions to assist and fast-track the processes. The provinces have also wanted to align their plans to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework that the department has developed and is currently embarking on a nation-wide multisectoral capacity building.

This process will help the remaining provinces I! ?.!ize their plans while the other four provinces will have to align where appropriate as part of standardizing the national

response to GBVF. In provinces that currently do not have aligned provincial GBVF plans, the department continuously organizes information sessions to localize NSP on GBVF and supports the establishment of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).

The current provincial public participation sessions on the NCGBVF Bill are also an entry point to resuscitate the prioritization of GBVF activities into plans. The department in the first quarter (Q1) and second quarter (Q2) of 2021/21 financial year (FY) held provincial NSP on GBVF Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework, technical indicator descriptors and reporting tools virtual consultative sessions to ensure each province is fully aware of their allocated M&E indicators and can report on their set NSP on GBVF targets.

The department in Quarter 4 of the financial year 2021/22, will conduct workshops for provinces on capacity building to harness the institutionalization and also mainly provide the much needed support to ensure coherent and integrated implementation of the NSP on GBVF.

Approved by:

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP Minister

Date: 29/10/2021

Reply:

By regulating the use of guard dogs and service dogs, by regulating space between Wheelchairs in queues in service points, by encouraging the use of white canes instead of guards, by agreeing with the retail industry to allocate time and date for persons with disabilities and setting aside dates for the receipt of disability grants. This was published on the 2nd April 2020 Regulation 117B of the National Disaster Management Act (Alert

Level S) “The State has to take reasonable measures within its available resources to ensure safety and protection of persons with disabilities”

The Maintenance of social distance and self-isolation was adhered to by care givers and persons with disabilities, except in certain circumstance and instance such as SASSA Cape Town incidents. There is no MOA because this was done within the workstreams and in consultation with the Organisations of Persons with disabilities. It applies to all spheres of Government.

Approved by Minister
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP
Date 29/10/2021

Reply:

a) As stated in my previous reply to this question, the Deputy Minister’s programme in the area is linked to the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM), which Cabinet approved in August 2019 as an important innovation to improve integrated planning and delivery across the three spheres of government.

The Deputy Minister is the District Champion for Amajuba District. The DDM focuses on the forty-four (44) districts and eight (8) metros as focal points of government and private sector investment. The model will ensure coherence and integration in planning, budgeting and implementation of service delivery projects in all districts and metros by all three spheres of government – national, provincial and local.

b) Key activities of the programme included amongst others, meeting and distribution of personal protective equipments (PPEs) to Early Childhood Development Practitioners and facilities in the district, meet-and-greet with local mayors, launch of ChommY-a social behavioural programme targeting young children, dialogue with the District Men’s Sector, to name a few

c) Chapter 3 of the Guide for Members of the Executive (Ministerial Handbook) makes provision for the appointment of Ministerial staff (support staff) who render support services whenever they travel for work-related purposes. The travel by support staff who accompanied the Deputy Minister and the Department officials who were part of the DDM programme were approved in line with the Department’s Supply Chain Management policies. Their role was to coordinate and support the implementation of the DDM programme.

d) (i) (ii) (iii) the cost of travel and accommodation, including subsistence are covered in the Department’s annual budget for implementation of the Annual Performance Plan targets and outreach programmes in the DDM

Reply:

1. (b) (c) (i) (ii) (aa) (bb) The budget for travel and accommodation of the Deputy Minister, support staff and officials of the Department forms part of the implementation of the Annual Performance Plans (APPs), including the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM)

Reply:

Hon. Member, part of the information relating to your question has been gathered. But we are still trying to obtain more information from other stakeholders operating in this space. Once we have all the data, we shall reconcile the information, package it, of course guided by the pieces of legislation that govern the operations.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet:

We have not been provided with sufficient information to respond. The member is, therefore, requested to provide more precise information on the project, including the wagon type and year of contracting.

Reply:

This question needs to be referred back to Transport, in as far as issues of the Ports Regulator of South Africa are concerned. All other issues relating to Public Enterprises and Transnet have been fully covered in our response to PQ2019.

Reply:

a) The Department is supporting Denel’s new operating model which is aimed at stabilising operations and cost structure. The National Treasury has agreed to settle Denel’s government guaranteed debt, which will save the entity approximately R250 million in interest payment annually.

b) Plans are under considerations to raise the required funding to address both operational requirements and legacy obligations, which includes salaries. Amongst others, Denel has identified assets and other investment assets for disposal to raise funding to raise part of the obligations and to increase operational activities which is key to the SOC generating the minimum required cash flows. However, this process will take some time, none the less, we remain committed to do the best for all employees as soon as possible.

Reply:

According to the information received from ALEXKOR

a) In Alexkor no one is unqualified

b) Not Applicable

c) Not Applicable

According to the information received from DENEL

(a, b, c) Denel is currently executing the new operating model. Part of the strategy is to do contract scrubbing and perform a skills audit to ensure that qualified personnel are placed in the right positions, these will be done across all levels in the organization.

In implementing the new operating model. Denel has identified an opportunity to establish a Workforce Transition Plan, with clear Principles and Guidelines. The process is backed by a Governance Framework to ensure that all Managerial and Leadership positions adhere to a defined criteria which only allows for positions to be filled with suitably qualified and competent incumbents.

 

According to the information received from ESKOM

(a)

Eight (8) Senior Managers do not hold the national higher diploma (B.Tech) but have national diploma (T3). However, all have on average more than 20 years on the job experience as well as the required technical competencies in Maintenance, Engineering, Operating, Outages and Project Management.

(b)(i) and (ii)

The eight (8) Senior Managers are employed in the following areas within Eskom:

Location	Number of Senior Managers
Megawatt Park – Gauteng	3
Arnot Power Station – Mpumalanga	1
Hendrina Power Station – Mpumalanga	1
Majuba Power Station – Mpumalanga	1
Tutuka Power Station – Mpumalanga	1
Lethabo Power Station – Free State	1

(c)

When determining whether a person is suitably qualified for a job, Eskom considers all the factors listed below and the minimum inherent requirements of the job.

The minimum inherent requirements of the job are considered, in conjunction with the employment equity plan of the business unit (BU) and the division, as follows:

a) Appointment or succession into a position is made in line with the Employment Equity Act. Eskom has set the following requirement to select suitable candidates:

b) Formal education – relevant qualification with due consideration to circumstances where the qualification is a statutory or is an essential requirement for the position.

c) Recognition of prior learning – where the individual has undergone an RPL process and has acquired a formal qualification with the required number of credits equivalent to the minimum requirements of the job

d) Relevant experience – where the individual has demonstrated knowledge and skills in previous positions that are similar or related to the position being applied for.

e) Capacity to acquire, within a reasonable time, the ability to do the job – the candidate’s potential to do the job will be assessed using a battery of relevant psychometric assessments.

Although the managers do not have national higher diploma (B.Tech), they however meet all other key requirements of the jobs they occupy as set out by the Eskom Talent Discovery Procedure and therefore there is no specific action required as it relates to the eight managers.

Eskom utilises a rigorous selection process when making decisions to either appoint or promote individuals into managerial levels, which includes psychometric assessments. Where any gaps are identified when promoting or appointing individuals into managerial positions appropriate development programmes are put in place to close the gaps. Eskom also management development programmes, that are in-house and in partnership with institutions of higher learning.

According to the information received from SAFCOL

a) None at SACOL, all Senior Managers have the required and relevant qualifications and credentials for the positions they currently occupy

b) Not Applicable

c) Not Applicable

According to the information received from SAA

a) There are no Managers at SAA without the required qualifications. The inherent requirements as outlined in the job profile for each position are always factored in placement decisions. This includes qualifications and credentials, as applicable to deliver on the requirements of the position. All managers qualify for the positions they occupy and these appointments are in line with SAA’s Recruitment Policy and Practices.

The recent Section 189 Process undertaken involved a matching and placement process against the job criteria to ensure best fit for position. For promotions or placement moves across divisions or functions, interviews were conducted to establish position fit.

b) All positions are occupied by competent individuals, and where gaps exist, it does not adversely affect the core deliverables of the position. Opportunities for skills development and personal growth remains a priority for SAA, and employees are encouraged to sign up for training opportunities when they arise.

Additionally, SAA has developed a system consisting of subjective (self) assessments that we are rolling out, which will be enhanced with objective psychometric assessments that will enable the airline to develop individualised development plans to further enhance the skills and competencies required.

According to the information received from TRANSNET

a) Transnet SOC Ltd, (“Transnet”) has 113 approved roles for Senior Executive Management, 15 at top Executive Management and 98 at Senior Management levels. 98% of all appointed Senior Managers meet full requirements as stipulated in the job description. Only one manager does not meet the stipulated qualification requirements.

b) The senior manager joined Transnet Group from 1 September 2011.

c) The employee has a lower qualification but has extensive unique experience within operations and critical business areas within Transnet. He will undergo Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and is currently registered for the Rail Business Performance Programme through the University of Pretoria, to be completed in 2022. The University of Pretoria and Franklin Covey (SA) developed the Rail Business Performance Enhancement Programme for Executives.

This Programme is evaluated at NQF Level 8 (Postgraduate) whereafter delegates can choose to pursue a master’s degree in Public Administration (40 Credits) at the University. The Senior Manager has also demonstrated and achieved exceptional performance over time in the roles that he has been assigned to perform in the organisation. Noting the extensive experience and performance, the decision was taken to appoint the employee.

Reply:

According to the Information received from Alexkor

ALEXKOR

a) None b) N/A c) N/A d) N/A e) N/A

No	Operating Division	Description of Services	Value of awarded Tender	Name of Service Provider	Duration of Contract (Start date-End Date)
1	ALEXKOR	NONE	NONE	NONE	NONE

According to the Information received from Denel

DENEL

a) None b) N/A c) N/A d) N/A e) N/A

No	Operating Division	Description of Services	Value of awarded Tender	Name of Service Provider	Duration of Contract (Start date-End Date)
1	DENEL	NONE	NONE	NONE	NONE

According to the Information received from Eskom

ESKOM

a) Eskom has 47 active bus transport services contracts during 2021/2022 financial year. b) Eskom c), (d) and (e) Details of each contract, in terms of the value, the suppliers who were awarded the contracts and the period, are as set out on the table below

Area	No.	Name of Supplier	Validity Per. Start	Validity Period End	Contract Duration	Contract Amount
Gx	1	MAKALANE PLANT MAINTENANCE	2018/09/01	2023/08/31	5 Years	R14 976 783.36
Gx	2	MAKALANE PLANT MAINTENANCE	2019/01/01	2023/12/31	4 Years	R5 776 440.00
Gx	3	NAREMOTHO TRADING ENTERPRISE	2018/09/01	2023/08/31	5 Years	R15 996 713.00
Gx	4	Scsokos Transport (Pty) Ltd	2017/08/01	2022/07/31	5 Years	R8 328 060.00
Gx	5	Nkodosi Trading Enterprise(Pty) Ltd	2017/08/01	2022/07/31	5 Years	R20 462 222.52
Gx	6	Beactress Business Enterprise CC	2017/08/01	2022/07/31	5 Years	R2 040 000.00
Gx	7	Wozungithathe Business Enterprise CC	2017/08/01	2022/07/31	5 Years	R7 260 293.38
Gx	8	Simadlala’s Trading Enterprise	2017/08/01	2022/07/31	5 Years	R4 303 200.00
Gx	9	NAREMOTHO TRADING ENTERPRISE CC	2018/09/18	2023/09/18	5 Years	R1 048 800.00
Gx	10	MAKALANE PLANT MAINTENACE CC	2018/09/18	2023/09/18	5 Years	R11 289 780.00
Gx	11	NTHUSE AMOS MODISE CC	2018/09/18	2023/09/18	5 Years	R12 546 822.00
Gx	12	Qedumana Transport	2019/11/01	2024/10/31	5 Years	R4 453 088.00
Gx	13	Beactress Business Enterprise	2019/05/01	2024/04/30	5 Years	R6 552 000.00
Gx	14	Wozungithande Business Enterprise	2019/05/01	2024/04/30	5 Years	R14 163 788.00
Gx	15	SC ZONDO Transport	2019/05/01	2024/04/30	5 Years	R13 515 788.47
Gx	16	MK Engineering construction &suppliers	2019/05/01	2024/04/30	5 Years	R33 903 849.38

Area	No.	Name of Supplier	Validity Per. Start	Validity Period End	Contract Duration	Contract Amount
Gx	17	Simadala’s Transport	2019/05/01	2024/04/30	5 Years	R11 183 480.00
Gx	18	Thandimpilo Supply and Projects	2021/04/08	2021/08/31	4 Months & 23 days	R125 000.00
Gx	19	Thandimpilo Supply and Projects	2021/09/01	2021/09/30	1 Months	R24 924.00
Gx	20	Mphakathi Tours cc	2019/08/13	2022/08/12	3 Years	R45 043 208.40
Gx	21	Mphakathi Tours cc	2019/09/13	2022/09/12	3 Years	R8 833 567.00
Gx	22	MPHAKATHI TRANSPORT	2018/12/01	2021/11/30	3 Years	R12 684 751.00
Gx	23	CHARLANNA TRANSPORT AND PROJECTS	2018/12/01	2021/11/30	3 Years	R5 673 119.04
Gx	24	BLF SIKHOSANA LOGISTICS	2018/12/01	2021/11/30	3 Years	R7 372 072.80
Gx	25	MELSEE TRADING ENTERPRISE	2018/12/01	2021/11/30	3 Years	R6 622 770.60
Gx	26	MS THUGWANA	2018/12/01	2021/11/30	3 Years	R11 211 092.64
Gx	27	NKODOSI TRADING ENTERPRISE	2020/02/04	2022/01/31	3 Years	R1 007 755.20
Gx	28	MPHAKATHI TOURS	2020/02/04	2022/01/31	3 Years	R5 112 470.40
Gx	29	KUHUMUSA TRANSPORT AND PROJECT	2020/02/04	2022/01/31	3 Years	R1 061 280.00
Gx	30	KUHLWILE CONSULTING	2020/11/01	2022/10/31	3 Years	R862 118.40
Gx	31	MPHAKATHI TOURS	2021/01/15	2023/01/14	3 Years	R1 874 880.00
Gx	32	SINOBUHLE AND JOY SUPPLIES TRADING	2020/12/01	2021/05/31	6 Months	R396 000.00
Gx	33	ENNEAD CONSULTING	2021/06/01	2021/06/30	1 Month	R5 956.50
Gx	34	SINOBUHLE AND JOY SUPPLIES TRADING	2021/07/01	2021/07/31	1 Month	R26 000.00
Gx	35	SINOBUHLE AND JOY SUPPLIES TRADING	2021/08/01	2021/11/30	4 Months	R264 000.00
Gx	36	ADAMS TRANSPORT	2021/08/01	2021/11/30	4 Months	R209 000.00
Real Estate	37	ADAMS TRANSPORT	2021/08/01	2021/11/30	4 Months	R500 000.00
ERI	38	STABUS PTY LTD (2015/061938/07)	2017/05/01	2022/04/30	5 years	R177 053 830
ERI	39	ERMELO TAXI ASSOCIATION	2017/08/01	2022/07/31	5 years	R33 738 263.60
ERI	40	MS THUGWANA	2017/04/01	2022/03/31	5 years	R11 159 564.88
ERI	41	MMABATHO TRANSPORT	2017/04/01	2022/03/31	5 years	R4 050 000.00
ERI	42	STANDERTON TAXI GROUP	2017/05/19	2022/05/31	5 years	R56 798 280.00
ERI	43	MS THUGWANA	2017/10/01	2022/09/30	5 years	R24 964 802.00
ERI	44	DUVHA UNITED LONG DISTANCE	2017/11/01	2022/10/31	5 years	R34 338 041.00
ERI	45	MATHES TOUR TRANSPORT	2018/11/01	2022/07/31	5 years	R10 443 442.25
ERI	46	MAGAIA TRADING ENTERPRISE	2019/10/24	2024/10/31	5 years	R25 331 615.15
ERI	47	AMERSFOORT LOCAL AND LONG TAXI ASOCIATION	2020/02/27	2024/03/01	5 years	R22 909 868.00

According to the Information received from Safcol

SAFCOL

a) One b) SAFCOL c) R6 105 500.00 (incl. VAT) d) Myboet General Trading e) RFB016/2019, for a period of three (3) years, effective from 20 May 2020

No	Operating Division	Description of Services	Value of awarded Tender	Name of Service Provider	Duration of Contract (Start date-End Date)
1	SAFCOL	For the provision of bus transportation services for the SAFCOL	6 105 500.00	Myboet General Trading	3 years (2020/05/01 2023/05/01)

According to the Information received from South African Airways

(b) PURPORSE OF TENDER	(c ) AMOUNT	(d) NAME OF SERVICE PROVIDER	( e) PERIOD
Crew transport by bus	R7 207 162,90	Mahle Wonke Co-operative limited	March 2019 – Sep 2020
	R2 567 624,20	Mudziwa Travel Pty Ltd	March 2019 to March 2020
	R165 000,00	Xhamla-Buhle Shuttle Services	March 2019 to March 2020
Charter flights from Jhb to Cape Town	R238 500,00	African Soil Tours	Mid-June 2020 to 30 Sep 2020
	R68 000,00	Compass Travel	Mid-May 2020 to June 2020

No	Operating Division	Description of Services	Value of awarded Tender	Name of Service Provider	Duration of Contract (Start date-End Date)
1	SAA	Crew transport by bus	7 207 162.90	Mahle Wonke Co-operative limited	March 2019 – Sep 2020
2			2 567 624,20	Mudziwa Travel Pty Ltd	March 2019 to March 2020
3			165 000,00	Xhamla-Buhle Shuttle Services	March 2019 to March 2020
4	SAA	Charter Flights from JHB to Cape Town	238 500,00	African Soil Tours	March 2019 to March 2020
5			68 000,00	Compass Travel	Mid-May 2020 to June 2020

According to the information received from Transnet

a) The total number of tenders for the provision of bus transport services to Transnet is 24 (twenty-four).

b) The services were provided to Transnet (SOC) Ltd.

c) Refer to table below for detailed amounts.

d) Refer to table below for names of service providers that were awarded the tenders.

e) Refer to table below for the period of time for services rendered.

Transnet Bus Transport Services Tenders
No	Operating Division	Description of Services	Value of awarded Tender	Name of Service Provider	Duration of Contract (Start date-End Date)
1	TFR / TCC	For the provision of bus transportation services for the Transnet-Phelophepa health care Train 1 project for a period of nine (09) months	1 002 858,00	Mbita Holdings	9 Months (2020/03/16 - 2020/12/15)
2	TFR / TCC	For the provision of bus transportation services for the Transnet-Phelophepa health care Train 2 project for a period of nine (09) months	454 925,00	Mbita Holdings	9 Months (2020/03/16 - 2020/12/15)
3	TNPA	Provision of staff transport at TNPA	1 730 750,00	Umlazi General Plant Hire	9 months (01 December 2019-31 Aug 2020)
4	TPT	Bus Services at Durban Pier 2	3 530 630,00	C & D Martins	6 months (2021/01/06 to 2021/06/13)
5	TPT	Bus Services at Durban Pier 1	1 903 280,00	Dumas Transport	6 months (2021/01/22 to 2021/06/08)
6	TPT	Bus Services at Durban Pier 1	725 760,00	Umlazi Plant Hire	6 Months (2021/01/22 to 2021/06/23)
7	TPT	Bus Services at Richards Bay	21 791 737,50	Ikhwezi Buses	10 months (2020/08/13 to 2021/06/08)
8	TPT	Bus Services at Point and Maydon Wharf	7 124 400,00	Umlazi Plant Hire	12 months (2020/09/29 to 2021/08/19)
9	TPT	Bus Services at Saldanha	3 950 749,30	Ikhwezi Bus Services	12 months (01 Aug 2020- 23 Aug 2021)
10	TPT	Bus Services at Cape Town Container Terminal	21 371 432,50	New Era	12 months (01 Aug 2020- 23 Aug 2021)
11	TPT	Bus Services at Cape Town MPT	11 258 518,82	Fox Transport	10 months (01 April 2020-1 Feb 2021)
12	TPT	Bus Services at Cape Town MPT	1 897 500,00	Waterfront Shuttle Services	07 months (02 Feb 2021- 31 Aug 2021)
13	TPT	Bus Services at East London	375 260,00	Xhamla-Buhle Trading	12 months (01 Aug 2020- 23 Aug 2021)
14	TPT	Bus Services at TPT Port Elizabeth	2 698 502,50	Glenlinx-Qwabe Joint Venture Transport	4 months (01 Aug 2020- 30 November 2020)
No	Operating Division	Description of Services	Value of awarded Tender	Name of Service Provider	Duration of Contract (Start date-End Date)
15	TPT	Bus Services at TPT Port Elizabeth	1 019 046,00	Glenlinx-Qwabe Holdings Pty Ltd	4 months (04 May 2021- 31 August 2021)
16	TPT	Bus Services at TPT Port Elizabeth	413 185,50	Glenlinx-Qwabe Joint Venture Transport	2 months (06 August 2020 - 30 Sept 2020)
17	TPT	Bus Services at Nqura Container Terminal	1 093 976,80	Ntando Tours	1 month (02 Sept 2020 - 30 Sep 2020)
18	TPT	Bus Services for TPT Port Elizabeth	1 658 537,00	Laphumikhwezi Transport	4 months (21 Dec 2020 until 30 April 2021)
19	TE	Transportation of Employees	20 700 000,00	Lifetime Tours and Projects	36 months (27 Aug 2019 - 31 Aug 2022)
20	TNPA	Bus Services for TNPA PE	1 020 901,00	Chumile Holdings (Pty) Ltd	12 months (01 September 2021 to 31 August 2022)
21	TNPA	Bus Services for TNPA PE	169 383,50	Chumile Holdings (Pty) Ltd	2 months (01 July 2021 -31 August 2021)
22	TFR	Provision of Employee Bus Services for Richards Bay	1 890 000,00	Ikhwezi Bus Services	6 months (25 July 2021 – 24 January 2022)
23	TFR	Provision of Employee Bus Employee Bus Services for Vryheid	942 000,00	Ikhwezi Bus Services	12 months (19 Nov 2019 – 18 Nov 2021)
24	TFR	Provision of Employee Bus Service for Saldanha	14 600 000,00	Ikhwezi Bus Services	25 months (1 July 2019 – 31 Aug 2021

Reply:

a) The Special Investigating Unit has informed me as follows:

Proclamation R42 of 2019

The allegations relate to the irregular award of contracts to Buthelezi EMS and its associated companies for the provisioning of patient transportation services and construction related services in breach of the prevailing procurement prescripts and on terms which are to detriment of the North-West Department of Health (NWDOH). The allegations further extend to the administration of the contracts in that the allegations received by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) refer to fraudulently inflated invoices, non-delivery of services and the irregular approval of requests to increase the contract prices.

Outcomes as per the ongoing investigation:

(i) The order for the freezing of the Head of Department (HOD)’s pension was granted. The pension amount is R2 125 113, 58.

(ii) Civil proceedings have been instituted at the Special Tribunal for the recovery of R30 000 000.00 pre-payment. The matter is opposed by the HOD, and the SIU is awaiting a court date.

The investigation is ongoing and expected to be finalised by end of November 2021.

b) Covid-19 Investigation Proclamation R23 of 2020

Allegation: The procurement of, or contracting for goods, works and services including the construction, refurbishment, leasing, occupation and use of immovable property during or in respect of the national state disaster as declared by Government Notice No. 313 of 15 March 2021 by or on behalf of the State institutions, and payments made in respect thereof.

The SIU is investigating twenty-one (21) service providers with a total value of R15 million. The following are the outcomes of the investigation:

(i) Number of referrals for disciplinary action against officials: One (1) against Station Manager

(ii) Number of referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority and/or Asset Forfeiture Unit: One (1) against Store Manager

(iii) Number of referrals to the South African Police Service (SAPS): Seven (7) service providers for charging VAT when they were not registered VAT vendors

(iv) Rand value of civil proceedings instituted: R256 000,00 against one (1) service provider.

(v) Rand value of potential cash to be recovered: Acknowledgement of debt against six (6) service providers for inflation of PPE’s prices for the value of R1 090 148,00

(vi) Rand value of actual cash recovered: R19 591,00 against two (2) service providers for inflation of PPE’s prices.

The investigation is ongoing and expected to be finalized by the end of October 2021.

Reply:

1. From the time South Africa successfully hosted the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) in Durban in 2001, our country has been in the forefront, particularly at the continental and multilateral/global levels to ensure that the outcomes of the Durban Conference are not only promoted, but are implemented by all countries around the world. It is important to note that the global anti-racism agenda and its programmes (such as the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD)) face incredible opposition from major powers, institutions and interest groups. Despite these challenges, South Africa has managed, working with our partners on the African continent and in the Diaspora, to still register some achievements and successes in the fight against racism and in pursuit of the goal to promote and implement the outcomes of the WCAR. The following are examples of how South Africa played a key role (despite the opposition from other countries and organisations) in promoting and implementing the outcomes of the WCAR in general and the IDPAD in particular:

(i) the adoption of resolution 68/237 by the UNGA and the actual declaration of 2015-2024 as the IDPAD with the objective, inter alia, of (a) reinforcing the actions and measures aimed at securing the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights of people of African Descent, and their full and equal participation in society; (b) providing an operational framework for the eradication of current and historical social injustices and work towards eradication of racial prejudices and discrimination that people of African descent still experience; and (c) contributing to a greater knowledge, appreciation and respect for people of African descent and their contribution to the economic, social, intellectual, cultural and ethical development of humanity;

(ii) the creation of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Follow-up to the Durban Declaration and programme of Action that meets annually in Geneva;

(iii) the creation of a dedicated thematic Special Procedure Mechanism of the Human Rights Council for people of African descent called the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent;

(iv) the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards whose mandate is to “elaborate, as a matter of priority and necessity, complementary standards in the form of either a convention or additional protocol(s) to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, filling the existing gaps in the Convention, and also providing new normative standards aimed at combating all forms of contemporary racism, including incitement to racial and religious hatred”;

(v) the resolutions that South Africa and the Africa Group (in Geneva), pioneered, which resolutions sought to focus the world’s attention on the plight of African-Americans in the US and Africans and people of African descent in other countries following the murder of George Floyd on Africa Day (25 May) 2020;

(vi) the follow-up resolution that South Africa sought to place before the Human Rights Council that sought further to demonstrate the need for the rights of people of African descent to be respected and protected (this was in the aftermath of the killing of Lindani Myeni (a South African) by the Honolulu police in the US);

(vii) in 2012, South Africa hosted the Global African Diaspora summit in Sandton, Johannesburg and adopted a Programme of Action, which, inter alia, committed African and Diaspora leaders to “leverage the collective efforts of the African Union and all its inter-governmental entities in regions in which African Diaspora populations are part of to promote and advance issues of critical importance to Africa and its Diaspora;

(viii) the role that South Africa played (through the Presidency and the Ministry/Department of International Relations and Cooperation) in raising awareness and drumming up support for the special commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the WCAR as evidenced by: (a) South Africa lobbying for support and actually obtaining it from the Human Rights Council (HRC) and other partners during the HRC Session in February 2020; (c) the keynote address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the special meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN in February 2021 on the theme: “Reimagining equality: Eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all in the decade of action for the SDGs”; as well as (d) the holding of the webinar jointly organised by DIRCO and the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation at the University of Johannesburg in July 2021; and

(ix) the speech by President Ramaphosa at the 20th anniversary of the WCAR during the UNGA in September 2021 wherein he, among other important issues, called for reparations for the victims of slave trade.

(2) In all the programmes, resolutions and initiatives aimed at promoting and implementing the outcomes and follow-ups of the WCAR and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), South Africa has always sought to cooperate with the African Union and the structures that pursue the interests of the Union (such as the Africa Group in Geneva and New York). The resolutions that South Africa has led on and championed in the Human Rights Council in Geneva (such as the so-called George Floyd resolution) were promoted and adopted with the full support of the Africa Group. During South Africa’s chairship of the AU (2020), South Africa and President Ramaphosa in particular played a key role in leading the continent and galvanising global support for Africa’s capacity to respond to covid-19. In his engagements with partners across the world, President Ramaphosa underscored the need for Africa, the Africa Diaspora, and people of African descent in general to be given due consideration in all programmes aimed at fighting covid-19 since it was this group of people who find themselves on the receiving end of poverty, inequality, and other forms of social injustices. In working with the AU and other structures such as the Africa Group, the countries of SADC are/were always included.

Notwithstanding the challenges South Africa has experienced and continues to encounter in our fight against racism and the recognition and respect for the rights of people of African descent, in the programmes that South Africa has led on e.g. on human rights of people of African descent and access to vaccines that prioritised the interests of people of African descent, South Africa has registered great successes (see discussion above).

(3) There is a lot of work that still needs to be done to promote IDPAD in South Africa, on the continent and in the African diaspora and South Africa should continue to take the lead in this regard. The previous summits, conferences and meeting organised and hosted by South Africa as well as resolutions and decisions championed by South Africa at multilateral fora focusing on issues of interest to people of African descent bear testimony to our commitment not only to promote IDPAD but to ensure that resolutions, actions and programmes aimed to benefit people of African descent are implemented. As a way of deepening cooperation between South Africa and CARICOM countries, South Africa had contemplated the possibility of building a complex in Pretoria that would house the diplomatic missions of countries in the CARICOM, but because of financial constraints, this project could not take off the ground.

(4) South Africa was instrumental in the formulation of the theme of the 20th anniversary of the Durban anti-racism conference, which was “Reparations, racial justice and equality for people of African descent”. The calls for reparations and for social justice for people of African descent, particularly victims of the (trans-Atlantic) slave trade are always met with great opposition from a number of countries, particularly some western countries and some of their social partners (NGOs). Notwithstanding this, South Africa, the AU, CARICOM countries and other partners in the Diaspora have managed to keep the flame of reparations burning. The Africa-CARICOM Summit on 07 September 2021 called for a collective commitment of Africa-CARICOM Member States to fully participate in the High Level meeting of the UN General Assembly commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the DDPA on 22nd September, 2021 and use the event to advance the claim for reparations within the process of the UN.

For instance, President Ramaphosa at the 20th commemoration of the WCAR in September 2021 called for reparations for the victims of the slave trade. On 7 September 2021, South Africa under the leadership of President Ramaphosa participated in the inaugural CARICOM-Africa Summit hosted virtually by Kenya under the theme, “Unity Across Continents and Oceans: Opportunities for Deepening Integration.” Working with its partners on the African continent and in the CARICOM, South Africa is committed to implementing the outcomes of that important summit.

(5) South Africa does not have reporting obligations to the UN on IDPAD. Any reports in connection with IDPAD would ordinarily be the responsibility of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent which is currently chaired by Ms Dominique Day (US citizen) and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent which was launched in August 2021. Ordinarily, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent would prepare its own report which would also be submitted to the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The latter would report on the work done in respect of the IDPAC in her report to the HRC.

 

Reply:

There is no additional budgetary impact being brought about by the amendments published in the Government Gazette on 6 August 2021. Legal Aid South Africa re-introduced the provision of Civil Legal Services in about 2004. Currently, the service delivery split between criminal and civil services with 87% on Criminal Defence Services and 13% on Civil Services.

The table below reflects the service delivery split between criminal and civil matters over the last six (6) financial years.

Financial Year	Criminal	Civil	Total
	Number of matters	%	Number of matters	%
2020/21	269 388	91%	27 818	9%	297 206
2019/20	351 061	87%	51 177	13%	402 238
2018/19	362 213	87%	53 990	13%	416 203
2017/18	371 202	87%	55 415	13%	426 617
2016/17	385 972	87%	58 990	13%	444 962
2015/16	388 692	88%	52 364	12%	441 056

The provision of civil legal aid has always been included in the Regulations since they came into operation on 22 August 2017 but these amendments have been effected to the Regulations to address the following specific aspects:

a) Regulation 9: Implements a waiting period where there are capacity constraints at offices due to the reduction in the Budget and thus the available resources. Priority matters will however not be subject to a waiting period.

b) Regulations 11, 13 and 23: These regulations address technical errors in the wording to align to the intended meaning of the Regulation.

c) Regulation 14: The amended regulation now excludes the enforcement of CCMA awards from legal aid except in circumstances where the client has not been able to enforce the award with the assistance of the CCMA Regulations. This will reduce the instances in which legal aid can be granted to enforce CCMA Awards.

d) Regulation 15: This brings about a limitation to the types of divorce matters that can be assisted on legal aid. This will thus decrease the divorce matters in which legal aid can be granted.

e) Regulation 27: The effect of this amendment is to bring about an automatic increase in the Legal Aid SA means test to keep pace with inflation.

f) Regulation 31 and 32: It will be possible to provide assistance in both criminal and civil cases where applicants exceeds the means test but where the circumstances justify the granting of legal aid but subject to a contribution being paid for such assistance.

Reply:

The Department of Correctional Services has embarked on a clean audit drive and one of the pillars is to prevent and reduce irregular expenditure which will also address poor financial management. To date One Thousand and Eighty Two cases (1 082) of both irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure have been investigated out of one thousand three hundred and twenty (1320) cases reported, representing 82%.

On cases that are completed, the Department will result in disciplinary action against all transgressors, additionally there has been a collaborative effort between DCS and National Treasury to condone transactions where action is taken as this will reduce the quantum of irregular expenditure that is required to be disclosed in the Annual Financial Statements.

The Department has further enhanced its internal control environment within Supply Chain Management by introducing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), probity audits before bids are awarded and have established a Departmental Control Committee to manage awards on quotations.

END

Reply:

(1)(a) Directors-General and Heads of Department are appointed on fixed term contracts. Positions become vacant when a Head of Department vacates her or his position. Reasons for vacancies are due to the previous National Macro-Organisation of Government and contracts ending. Departments are at different points of the recruitment process to finalise the process of the filling of the post in the respective departments.

(b) It is the responsibility of the relevant Minister of every department in the case of a National Head of Department to advise the President of the vacancy of a National Head of Department in order to manage the process of the filling of the post. The MPSA provides support and guidance to departments on the policy matter pertaining to same and has a guide in place for the filling of such posts. In addition the MPSA has issued various circulars as well as provided reports to the President on the matter.

(2) Departments are consistently provided with support from the MPSA and DPSA on the matter of vacancies. The relevant Executive Authority of a department in terms of Section 3(7) of the Public Service Act, 1994 is responsible for recruitment and appointment and the filling of vacancies in terms of the Public Service Act, 1994 and Public Service Regulations, 2016. Vacant HoD posts are occupied in an acting capacity for business continuity of a department, as such an acting HoD is responsible for the deliverables of the department and reporting such through the required structures. Performance is reported through the Annual Performance Plan and Annual Operational Plan by each department through their relevant Executive Authority. MPSA is responsible for the development of norms and standards and will continue to support departments.

End

Reply:

(a)The response will be provide after receiving information from the Presidency and the Premiers.

End

Reply:

a) As a result of the unstructured economic framework, most SMMEs, especially those owned and run by women, youth and persons with disabilities continue to face economic exclusion. Women’s challenges are further compounded by structural barriers to gender equality and access to productive resources. The high rate of unemployment amongst the young people makes entrepreneurship a practical option to addressing the socio-economic conditions of this targeted group. The coronavirus pandemic had exposed the level of inequality between men and women, youth and persons with disabilities as most of them operate within the informal economy. This has raised an urgent need for the economic empowerment of women and girls and all targeted groups.

In responding to the above reality, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has committed to deploy several interventions to support sustainable SMMEs and Cooperatives that will contribute meaningfully to the economy over the medium-term. Most of these interventions will prioritise young people, women and persons with disabilities, especially those that are from historically disadvantaged rural and township areas. This is in line with the DSBD strategic decision of mainstreaming the designated groups with a minimum 40% target for women, 30% for youth and 7% for persons with disabilities across all the SBD Portfolio programmes and interventions. To this effect, the DSBD will continue to contribute to Priority 2: Economic Transformation and Job Creation and the related sub-outcomes and interventions.

b) In responding to covid-19 negative effects on the economic, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) introduced the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) that was developed following the approval of the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Fund by Cabinet in March 2020. TREP offers both financial and non-financial support and prioritizes supporting small businesses in townships and rural areas to participate meaningfully in the mainstream economy.

(c) Since TREP was introduced in the last financial year, the Department is yet to conduct an impact assessment. However, there has been significant support provided to SMMEs since programme inception. In terms of the financial support,6293 SMMEs were supported to the tune of R141 612 457, with 7674 jobs facilitated. Furthermore, 23 441 companies were assisted with non-financial support.

d) The Department adopted an approach that involved the joint implementation of the programmes together with its entities (the Small Enterprise Development Agency [Seda] and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency [sefa]) and worked as a portfolio wherein the capacity and reach of the entities was utilised for efficiency of delivery.

In addition to this approach, the Department forged meaningful partnerships with banks and other relevant private sector institutions such as the large telecoms companies. This allowed for the use of enabling technology to fast-track the programme and assist with the mainstreaming objectives.

e) The Department increased its cooperation with relevant associations whose members come from SMMEs and other targeted groups at it reached into communities to mitigate the adverse and ravaging impact of Covid on their members within those communities.

These efforts were strengthened by the adoption of the District Development Model approach coupled with the use of tools (an ecosystem development and related support tools were developed) and structures such as District Local Economic Development forums as well as aligning to and working with Provincial Economic Development Departments.

Over 50 officials were deployed from the Department into Districts throughout the country to partner with municipal officials, Seda and sefa for outreach, for the rollout of TREP and for the promotion of other government SMME support programmes.

MS STELLA TEMBISA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Reply:

Honorable Member, the Department of Water and Sanitation (the Department) is implementing the following interventions to strengthen governance at Water Boards:

a) The Minister had 5 Provincial engagements in the Free State, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu- Natal. These provincial engagements were attended by the DWS Provincial Office, Provincial Government, Water Boards, Water Service Authorities and broader water and sanitation Committees and Forums.

b) The engagements with Water Boards were mainly around issues of governance, financial viability and accountability and broader service delivery issues as per their mandate.

c) The Minister, during the engagement in the Eastern Cape between 31 August to 2 September 2021, interacted with Amatola Water Board. The Minister noted with concern the issues of lack of stability both in the Board and Executive Management. The situation is exacerbated by a number of allegations including allegations of political interference.

d) To stabilize Amatola Water Board the following decisions were made:

• The Department obtained a legal opinion on the Board Appointment process of Amatola Water.
• Probity Check was conducted on all new Board Members
• The Minister is currently implementing the outcomes of the legal opinion and probity Check.
• The Minister has processed a Cabinet Memorandum to appoint the permanent Chief Executive Officer of Amatola Water

---00O00---

Reply:

a) The National Planning Commission (NPC) functions as an independent think tank and an advisory body to the Presidency. It is administratively supported through the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evalaution (DPME), and the Minister in the Presidency responsible for DPME acts as the Chairperson of the NPC, and signs a performance agreement with the President which includes the Commission’s deliverables. As such, the Commission is not a government department or component, and Commissioners serve on a part time basis, and do not each sign an individual performance agreement.

b) The performance of the NPC is planned and reported as part of DPME’s strategic plan and annual performance plan. In this regard, the NPC submits quarterly and annual reports to DPME in line with applicable prescripts. For the Commission’s 5-year term of office 2015-2020 the NPC has submitted a Handover Report to the President. The process to appoint successor Commissioners of the NPC will be concluded in due course. The reports of the NPC can be found at www.nationalplanningcommission.org.za/publications_reports

Thank You.

Reply:

a) (i) and (ii) the Scheme has not yet been advertised, but was initially piloted with Provinces and South African National Parks (SANParks).

b) The pilot with SANParks during 2019/20 financial year was rolled out in five National Parks as follows: -

1. Eastern Cape: Addo Elephant Park (11 December 2019)
2. Northern Cape: Augrabies National Park (17 January 2020)
3. Limpopo Province: Marakele National Park (6-7 February 2020)
4. Mpumalanga Province: Kruger National Park (27-28 February 2020)
5. Free State: Golden Gate Highland National Park (11-12 March 2020)

During 2020/21 the Scheme was rolled out in partnership with four remaining provinces as follows:

(i) Kwazulu-Natal (10-11 November 2020)

The group was taken to the Giants Castle Nature Reserve in the Drakensberg Ukhahlamba Park.

(ii) Gauteng (5-6 March 2021)

A group from Gauteng, comprising of senior citizens, fitness fanatics (hikers) and young people were part of the program. The group also included small product owners and emerging tour operators. The group was taken to Cradle moon at the Cradle of Human Kind with senior citizens taken on a boat cruise and the rest of the group taking part in a 10km hike.

(iii) North West (11-12 March 2021)

A group of students at the TVET college in Rustenburg who are studying towards a tourism or hospitality qualifications were part of the program. They were taken to Pilanesberg and also to Mphebatho Cultural Centre in Mogwase, Moses Kotane Local Municipality.

(iv) Western Cape (15-16 March 2021)

A group comprised mainly young people from the Overberg District Municipality participated in an interactive and informative session on the importance of Domestic Tourism. Thereafter the group undertook site seeing to the town of Hermanus and visited the Shark Conservatory. They also visited the most southern tip of Africa at the Cape Agulhas National Park.

(c) The initial part of the scheme will be determined during the full implementation, however the pilot had 469 participants in 2019/20 financial year and 200 participants in 2020/21 financial year.

(d) The Domestic Tourism Scheme is designed to promote social tourism, encourage group travel such as stokvels, church groups, sports fans, etc.; people with modest income as well as general members of the public, particularly those who are less informed about travel opportunities. It’s also about access to travel amongst those within the lower Living Standard Measure (LSM) group.

(e) The Scheme has been piloted in partnership with SANParks and Provincial Tourism Departments. Total amounts spent to date are as follows: -

2019/20: R 1 625 215.37

2020/21: R 792 566.07

2021/22: This shall be reported in accordance with the normal reporting schedule as information

must be audited.

(f) There was greater interest in the scheme, however only 50 participants per province could be accommodated due to the available budget. The provinces that were part of the provincial partnership for rollout of the Scheme and Domestic Tourism Awareness programme in 2020/21 included: Gauteng, North West and the Western Cape.

Reply:

It is presumed that the Honourable member meant 17 August 2021 when the Department briefed the Portfolio Committee on Tourism on the 4th Quarter Performance Report for the financial year 2020/2021.

a) The initial approach was that the programme would be implemented through a partnership with a private sector financial institution, which unfortunately did not yield due to the length of time it took to finalise the Partnership Framework, including consultation with the National Treasury. This necessitated a change to a procurement approach which only started later in the financial year and as such could not be concluded in time.

b) Given that the process is still at procurement phase, no expenditure has been incurred towards implementation as yet.

Reply:

a) The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has developed the Business Recovery Support Programme in response to the recent spate of public violence, looting and destruction of property in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng. The Business Recovery Support Programme focuses on uninsured small enterprises impacted negatively by the unrest, predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. The Programme caters for small enterprises that require funding for working capital (including stock), equipment (including delivery vehicles) and furniture, as well as fittings.

The programme offers financial support in line with the Blended Finance approach, which is a combination of a grant (60%) and a loan (40%). The interest rate on the loan component is limited to 5%. There is an initial payment moratorium of up to maximum of 12 months for small enterprises in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng; and six (6) months for other Provinces. The repayment period of a maximum of 60 months applies. Maximum funding available per entity is R2 million.

The DSBD also has the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP), which offers financial and non-financial support to rural and township enterprises. This programme has been in existence before the looting that occurred in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces in July 2021. The aim of the programme is to support SMMEs and co-operatives in order to revitalise and improve the economy. The SMMEs that were affected by the looting may also apply for the TREP support.

Furthermore, the DSBD and its entities (Small Business Development Agency [Seda] and Small Business Finance Agency [sefa]) has the Informal Traders Support Programme that is aimed at supporting informal and micro businesses in the informal sector that were affected by looting. The Programme provides business focused support (financial and non-financial) to informal businesses. The Programme will support 17 667 entrepreneurs at R3 000 each (as a once-off grant).

In addition, and linked to the Programmes outlined above, Seda provides Business Development Support (including pre and post investment support), which includes development of business plans where necessary, financial management training, and other business support related aspects.

b) Applications by businesses that were affected by the looting are currently being processed by sefa. These businesses affected by the looting, based in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng North and South at large, are open to apply for the programmes offered by the Small Business Portfolio (the DSBD, Seda and sefa).

However, the table below outlines the applications received so far at sefa KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Regional Offices that are currently being processed:

REGIONAL OFFICE	KWAZULU-NATAL	GAUTENG SOUTH	GAUTENG NORTH	TOTAL
Total number of applications received	30	10	19	59
Total value of applications received	R30 000 000	R9 700 000	R8 100 000	R47 800 000
Total number of applications being processed	13	5	3	21
Total value of applications being processed	R15 500 000	R2 593 000	R1 500 000	R19 593 000

MS STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Reply:

a) number of applications have been

(i) received

• KZN: 276 employers registered and applied for 7321 employees while 50 employers have not yet applied for their employees.

• Gauteng Province: 83 employers registered and applied for 1368 employees while 26 employers have not yet applied for their employees.

(ii) approved in terms of the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s Destroyed, Affected or Looted Workplaces: Temporary Financial Relief Scheme since the scheme was established

• Information is not yet available, that work is still in progress.

(b) is the value of benefits paid to date? NW2420E

• This shall be furnished as soon as payments have been made.

Reply:

The department has advised me of the following information regarding the assessment of defaults on loans by the following dtic entities, The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission; Industrial Development Corporation (IDC); National Empowerment Fund (NEF); and the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF).

Over the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2021, the IDC approved R45.6 billion for companies with more than 25% black shareholding. R40.2 billion was disbursed (including guarantees that were issued). The amount of R978 million (2.4%) was written off.

To date, the NEF has approved approximately R11.3 billion. Over R7.504 billion has been disbursed to majority black owned and managed businesses across all sectors of the economy. To date, over R3.9 billion has been repaid by investees. The cumulative impairment balance of R746 million has been provided for against the gross portfolio balance of R3,8 billion.

From January 2021 to September 2021, the AITF has approved R 82 136 304 to businesses that have a 51% or more shareholding.

R 6 619 462 has been disbursed to date. There are no current defaults or written off amounts to date.

The AITF begun processing funding applications in January 2021.

The B-BBEE Commission will be conducting an assessment through its panel of researchers. At this point the Commission has noted the decline of registered empowerment deals from 109 (2019) to 52 (2020) registered last year.

-END-

Reply:

Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) are an important delivery mechanism to accelerate infrastructure investments into the country. As such, the National Treasury has the core responsibility to regulate PPPs in the country. The central legislation governing the PPPs for National and Provincial Government is Treasury Regulation 16 to the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (PFMA).

Treasury Regulation 16.3.1 (a) is clear in its guidance that once a project is identified by an institution to be implemented as a PPP, the project has to be registered with the relevant Treasury. Thus, any infrastructure project registered with the Infrastructure and Investment Office, remains under the ownership or sponsorship of the relevant Department or Implementing Agent and not with the Presidency. SANRAL for example, is the Implementing Agent for all South Africa’s proclaimed National Road Network from National to Provincial and some selected regional routes, as applicable. SANRAL will thus be responsible for the necessary registration of possible PPP projects with National Treasury and the Department of Transport and will be responsible for the contractual arrangements as well.

Line function Departments, SOEs, Public Entities, Provincial Government Departments and Municipalities are responsible for managing procurement processes in line with the Public Finance and Management Act and Municipal Finance Management Act. The Presidency is not the custodian of information relating to the contracting of Service Providers for the infrastructure projects including Strategic Intergrated Projects.

With regard to the timeframes of the gazette projects of 24 July 2020 by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, it should be noted that all of these projects are at various stages within the infrastructure value chain of delivery. For example, a number a number of the Transport projects are completed, whilst a number of the Water and Sanitation projects, under SIP 19, are still in preparation stages. It is envisaged that projects in the preparation stages can take up to 36 months to reach conclusion of the relevant studies.

Great strides are being made with the SIP 20a, the Emergency/Risk Mitigation Power Purchase Procurement Programme (2000MW) where the preferred bidders are appointed and projects to be operational by mid-2022. While the DBSA only recently launched a Call for Proposals for SIP 20b, the Embedded Generation Investment Programme (EGIP), which opened on the 4th of August 2021 and will close 31st September 2021.

It is envisaged that the projects under the Social Housing Programme can be fully in construction within the next 18 months with 2 projects already reaching a completion rate of 65% to 70%, one social housing project completely refurbished and others to reach financial close within 12 months

The acceleration of those projects Gazetted on the 24th of July 2020 is being implemented in accordance with the Infrastructure Development Act, No. 23 of 2014 as amended where the Investment and Infrastructure office works closely with the relevant Departments in implementing Schedule 7 of the Act.

Thank you.

Reply:

1. There is no lack of efficiency in the Department in responding to written enquiries.

2. Yes, the Department has a responsibility to respond to enquiries and responds to enquiries on a daily basis. The Department aims at assisting members of the public who lodge enquires and DCS ensures that responses are provided within a reasonable period. Functionaries at Correctional Centres, Management Area, Regional and Head Office level, who are responsible to manage and respond to enquiries registered by members of the public were appointed. The Department also launched a call centre contact number (086 0000 327) to further make it easier for members of the public to register enquiries telephonically and receive responses.

3. The enquiry on whether the profile report of offender Gregory Cloete (Registration No: 203788971) had Social Worker and Psychologist reports when it served before the Minister was received on 24 August 2021. The enquiry was on the same day forwarded to Western Cape Region with a return date of 31 August 2021. A letter of response addressed to Mr M.G.E Hendricks will be drafted upon receipt of the feedback. Accordingly, there is no failure to respond to the said enquiry.

It is requested that all enquiries regarding offenders should be routed through prescribed channels for Members of Parliament to be assisted as efficiently and effectively as feasible.

END

Reply:

The response below is based on the information sourced from PERSAL and therefore reflect information captured by both National and Provincials departments as of 31 August 2021. (a) two hundred and twenty-three (223) (b) the total amount is R22 254 974.06 (c) the average length of the time will be Sixty-eight (68.03) days.

End