Questions and Replies

Reply:

(a) There are different estimated costs for each organization providing statutory services as their expenses are based on the various costs elements. According to the business plans submitted to the Department for 2017/18 financial year, the annual estimated cost/budget for organizations in Greater Springs area is as follows:-

Regional Structure Group	Name of NPO	Programme	Annual Estimated cost as per the Business Plan for 2017/18 Financial Year
Ekurhuleni	SKDB S-TVL CMR SPRINGS	Child and Family	1 430 557
Ekurhuleni	Springs and Kwa-Thema child & family welfare	Child and Family	1 702 486

b) The annual allocated budgets for nongovernmental organisations and/or nonprofit organisations providing statutory services on behalf of the Government in Greater Springs area are as follows:

Regional Structure Group	Name of NPO	Programme	Annual allocated Budget for 2017/18 Financial Year
Ekurhuleni	SKDB S-TVL CMR SPRINGS	Child and Family	898 064
Ekurhuleni	Springs and Kwa-Thema child & family welfare	Child and Family	1 232 448

 

1

Reply:

a) There are different estimated costs for each organization providing statutory services as their expenses are based on the various costs elements. According to the business plans submitted to the Department for 2017/18 financial year, the annual estimated cost/budget for organizations in the afore-mentioned areas is as follows:-

AREA	Name of NPOs	Annual Estimated cost as per the Business Plan for 2017/18 Financial Year
(a) Greater Springs area	CMR Springs	R 1 430 557
	Springs and Kwa-thema child & family welfare	R 1 702 486
(b) Greater Nigel area	Nigel Child & Family Welfare	R 2 763 000
	CMR Nigel	R 611 168
(c) Greater Brakpan area	CMR Brakpan	R 1 166 672
	Geluksdal Child & Family Welfare	R 1 910 075
	Die Ondersteuningsraad, Brakpan	R 707 294
(d) Greater Boksburg area	CMR Boksburg	R 723 599
	Famsa EAST RAND	R 2 413 018
	Greater Boksburg Child & Family Welfare	R 5 504 046
(e) Greater Benoni area	Greater Benoni Child & Family Welfare	R 5 286 594
	CMR Benoni	R 2 210 112
	Actonville Child & Family Welfare	R 1 605 122
(f) Greater Tembisa area	Tembisa Child & family welfare	R 4 249 577
	Childline Gauteng,Tembisa	R 2 108 277
(g) Greater Kempton Park area	Child Welfare SA- Kempton Park	R 3 415 037
	CMR Kempton Park	R 1 990 196
	Die Ondersteuningsraad,Kempton Park	R 367 320.60
(h) Greater Germiston area	Die Ondersteuningsraad Elsburg	R 1 075 762
	Greater Germiston Child & Family Welfare	R 4 301 189
	CMR Germiston	R 1 821 448
	Childline Gauteng, Kathorus	R 1 550 577
	Khanya Family Centre	R 2 563 026
(i) Greater Edenvale area	Edenvale Child & Family welfare	R 1 167 820
(j) Greater Alberton area	Child Welfare SA, Alberton	R 6 221 357
	CMR Alberton	R 1 256 382

2

Reply:

(a) No,

(b) The Advisory Board on Social Development Act, (Act No 3 of 2001) has not yet been put into operation.

Reply:

1. The social relief of distress is an on-going, legislated programme which is implemented every year in every province in response to identified needs. This programme provides material assistance to citizens who experience a crisis, which is beyond their ability to deal with within their own resources. The assistance is provided for a temporary period only. This period may vary from one to three months, which may be extended to six months, under certain circumstances.

SASSA manages the social relief of distress programme in line with the provisions as legislated in the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (as amended). The legislation empowers SASSA to provide social relief of distress to South African citizens, permanent residents and refugees, where they meet certain criteria. One of the criteria is that social relief of distress may be provided where communities are affected by a disaster, even where that area is not declared a disaster area. This enables SASSA to respond to localized incidents such as floods, fire and other disasters.

The social relief of distress may be issued in the form of food vouchers, food parcels, school uniforms or cash, depending on the reason for the issuing of the social relief of distress, as well as the specific arrangements made in the affected province. Where social relief of distress is provided as a response to disasters, the assistance may take the form of pre-cooked hot meals, meal packs, blankets, dignity packs and/or mattresses. The actual assistance provided will depend on the specific needs of the affected communities. In addition to the immediate humanitarian assistance provided, in instances where the affected community lost all their possessions, for example in the case of fire, the families may be provided with a once off cash amount when they are ready to return to their homes. This is to assist in buying some of the household items which were lost in the disaster. However, SASSA does not provide household items as part of the social relief of distress programme.

Within the social relief of distress programme, there are projects such as zero hunger which targets children with limited nutritional resources, seasonal farm workers to support seasonal farm workers during their lay- off period, school uniforms for children whose families cannot afford to buy the uniforms.

For every citizen assisted with social relief of distress, there is an application process followed, to ensure eligibility for the assistance. For humanitarian assistance provided in response to disasters, SASSA provides the relief off lists provided by the local disaster response team in the municipality.

The tables below reflect the amounts spent on social relief of distress for the financial year 2016/2017 and 2017(April to August)

Social relief of distress expenditure per region for the financial year 2016/17

Region	Budget amount	Amount spent
Eastern Cape	116 000 000	94 447 000
Free State	35 000 000	33 401 000
Gauteng	78 000 000	66 674 000
KwaZulu-Natal	132 000 000	124 247 000
Limpopo	82 000 000	81 213 000
Mpumalanga	48 000 000	47 518 000
Northern Cape	50 000 000	18 477 000
North West	46 000 000	43 906 000
Western Cape	93 000 000	76 309 000
	680 000 000	587 192 000

 

Social relief of distress expenditure per region for the financial year 2017/18

(April to July 2017)

Region	Budget amount	Amount spent
Eastern Cape	96 000 000	9 187 743
Free State	36 000 000	7 504 300
Gauteng	80 000 000	13 321 756
KwaZulu-Natal	100 000 000	14 709 053
Limpopo	84 000 000	16 509 652
Mpumalanga	50 000 000	8 074 750
Northern Cape	25 000 000	6 663 536
North West	45 000 000	2 087 575
Western Cape	84 000 000	7 067 466
Total	600 000 000	85 125 832

No of food parcels issued April 2016 to July 2017

Region	No of food parcels issued 2016/03 to 2017/07
Eastern Cape	103 801
Free State	47,035
Gauteng	51,548
KwaZulu Natal	69,310
Limpopo	74,263
Mpumalanga	39,937
Northern Cape	26,988
North West	9,080
Western Cape	22,246
Total	444,208

2. SASSA manages the social relief of distress programme in line with the provisions as legislated in the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (as amended). The legislation empowers SASSA to provide social relief of distress to South African citizens, permanent residents and refugees, where they meet qualifying criteria.

 

 

Reply:

At the time of responding to the questionnaire according to the set deadline, no inputs had been received from the relevant provinces since this provinces do not report information in this disaggregated manner to the national office.

Reply:

1. Progress Made:

Governments’ response to gender based violence:

An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Violence against women and children (VAWC); which is led by the Department of Social Development, was established on the 3rd May in 2012. The IMC on VAWC comprised of seven (7) state departments, namely DSD, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development; Department of Women, Home Affairs; South African Police Services, Health and Basic Education.

A comprehensive strategy to address the scourge of violence against women and children which is the Integrated Programme of Action addressing violence against women and children (POA- VAWC; 2013-2018) was developed in 2013. The aim of the POA- VAWC is to eliminate of all forms of violence against women and children. The programme is an important foundation in a longer journey to realize the long term vision of all women and children living free from violence in South Africa. The framework for the realization of this vision is articulated in the three pillars namely (1) Prevention and Protection, (2) Response, as well as (3) Care and Support.

Progress since 1 August 2016- 31 August 2017:

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

Child Protection System Review, finalized in November 2016; this review strengthens the response to child protection.

Children’s dialogues are conducted with community based plans developed, seeking solutions on how to improve services to children.

National dialogues conducted by the department of social development and women on gender based violence.

Children’s Parliament, Child Protection Week, Human Trafficking week, 16 Days on no violence against women and children, National Children’s Day and Orange Day are observed on the 25th of each month.

Strengthening of family support through Parenting programmes as well as Fatherhood and Men’s Care programme

Gender Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) has established technical task team looking at integration of systems and capabilities of being connect.

The Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini and the Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bagopane-Zulu successfully launched the GBVCC enhancements to cater for People with Disabilities on the 2nd of December 2016:

• The Centre operates an Emergency Line number- 0800 428 428
• A Skype Line (Helpme GBV) for members of the deaf community.
• An SMS Based Line (31531) for persons with disability.

National Emergency Response Team (NERT) is established - 24 hour response on trauma- rendered to the victim/family, provide crisis intervention and refer to provinces for further interventions. The team is manned by highly skilled social workers and psychologist trained on management of trauma.

Advocacy and awareness campaign is undertaken through Government Communication Information Systems (GCIS); communication messages around reporting and available services for victims of gender based violence is shared with victims and the public e.g services rendered by the Gender Based Violence Command Centre.

A total number of 1371 people reached by NERT in provinces between April 2016 July 2017 for immediate trauma counselling, psychosocial support to both individuals and family members and dialogues with entire community when need arises.

NERT will continue with provision of emergency interventions in all GBV related incidences and provide immediate trauma counselling in institutions of higher learning.

Awareness campaign against Ukuthwala of girl child in the following provinces –Free State, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo.

Prevention of Violence at Institutions of Higher Learning

Ndabezitha Izimbizo against Domestic Violence in Rural Communities of Ga-Mphahlele- Limpopo, Peddie- Eastern Cape, eDumbe- KZN; Batlokoa Ba Mokgalong (Vrede) in Free State; Sokhulumi (Bronkhorstspruit) in Gauteng

Prevention of Violence at Institutions of Higher Learning

Establishment of Everyday Heroes Ambassadors in provinces as change agents for gender based violence.

Consultations in all provinces with Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transsexual, Intersex community

Deputy Minister of Social Development launched GBV Enhancement.

Launch of POWA-APP linked to the Gender Based Violence Command Centre.

DSD developed a Policy of VEP Support Services. A draft Bill on Victim Support Services has been developed and is certified by State Law Advisor. Socio Economic Impact Assessment report certified by the DPME.

The table below indicates the number of GBV cases that have been referred with incidences, intervention, and referral and follow up.

The GBV Command Centre statistics for the period August 2016 to July 2017 are listed in the table below:

Incident Type	Number of Calls Received
	August	September	October	November	December	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	Total
Abandoned Children	1	2	7	1	13	3	2	3	2	3	12	3	52
Indecent Assault	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	2	1	9
Physical Violence	67	52	92	58	103	58	19	79	37	46	98	83	792
Rape	6	8	19	11	17	12	8	26	12	19	44	24	206
Verbal Abuse	7	3	15	12	7	1	3	10	3	6	23	12	102
Other GBV Incident *	109	27	135	58	144	72	50	124	49	79	147	109	1103
Other Type of Incident**	526	445	1350	414	1000	1146	523	1416	312	410	932	535	9009
Total	716	539	1618	554	1285	1292	605	1661	415	563	1258	767	11273

(Total figures represent tickets opened on the GBV CCIS)

• Includes other types of GBV, not specifically listed on the GBV Command Centre Information System ( CCIS): Stalking, economic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, forced marriages, forced prostitution, forced abortion, human trafficking, child marriage, exploitation of domestic workers, bride kidnapping, violence against foreign nationals, grade 12 related queries, intimidation and assault, substance abuse, child neglect, abuse of elderly citizens, family disputes, protection order enquiries, bullying, child custody incest etc.

2. (a) The department and the national cluster departments have made strides in terms of responding by providing trauma counselling, conducting awareness campaigns, information sessions and other emergency services

An integrated system that captures data for all people affected by violence has not yet been finalized hence it’s difficult to confirm whether the number is increasing or decreasing of people affected by the scourge of violence.

The monitoring electronic integrated system is envisaged to be operational in the new financial year.

At this stage it is not possible to tell if the number of people affected by the scourge decreases.

(b) South African society is perceived to be having one of the highest prevalence of violence and violence-related injury in the world. The high levels of violence against women and children are particularly alarming and continue to have devastating and lasting effects on survivors. Thus measuring the notable decrease in the number of people affected by this scourge needs to be on a National level rather than a departmental level. The aim of the department is to sensitize the community to speak up and not be silent about things that matter to them.

Reply:

a) There is no contract between SAPO and SASSA.

b) Not applicable.

c) Not applicable.

Reply:

(1)(a) Ms Pearl Bengu was appointed on the basis of her qualifications and vast experience as the most suitable Executive to act in the vacant position of CEO and to SASSA in the interim while the process of filling the position is underway. The educational qualifications, experience and competency profile of all Regional Executive Managers were considered and Ms P Bengu has been identified as the most suitable candidate to be appointed to act in the post of Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency.

(1)(b) There are no business dealings between the Acting CEO and family of the Executive Authority.

(2) The advertisement of the vacant post of the CEO of SASSA has been approved by the Executive Authority. Recruitment process has commenced.

Reply:

(a) The South African Social Security Agency issues blankets to deserving beneficiaries under the Social Relief of Distress programme, and as part of promotional items within communications and marketing. When blankets are issues as promotional items, they are targeted towards older persons, in recognition of the contribution they have made to building a democratic South Africa, and ensuring cohesion in local communities.

SASSA manages the social relief of distress programme in line with the provisions as legislated in the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (as amended). The legislation empowers SASSA to provide social relief of distress to South African citizens, permanent residents and refugees, where they meet certain criteria. One of the criteria is that social relief of distress may be provided where communities are affected by a disaster, even where that area is not declared a disaster area. This enables SASSA to respond to localized incidents such as floods, fire and other disasters.

The social relief of distress may be issued in the form of food vouchers, food parcels, school uniforms or cash, depending on the reason for the issuing of the social relief of distress, as well as the specific arrangements made in the affected province. Where social relief of distress is provided as a response to disasters, the assistance may take the form of pre-cooked hot meals, meal packs, blankets, dignity packs and/or mattresses. The actual assistance provided depends on the specific needs of the affected communities. In addition to the immediate humanitarian assistance provided, in instances where the affected community lost all their possessions, for instance in the case of fire, the families may be provided with a once off cash amount when they are ready to return to their homes. This is to assist in buying some of the household items which were lost in the disaster. However, SASSA does not provide household items as part of the social relief of distress programme.

(b) The table link below reflects the amount spent on blankets issued per province for the financial years: 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17.

http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/RNW2127Table-170913.pdf

Reply:

Yes official do have close protection.

SASSA pays for close protection.

2016/17 : R1 922 460.16

2017/18 : April, May and June : R438 606.68

Reply:

The beneficiaries of the Food and Nutrition Security Programme are identified through the profilling of househlods by Community Development Practitioners (CDPs). This is an exercise that is undertaken to identify needy households and programme beneficiaries for planning to devise strategies to alleviate poverty and improve service delivery. The most poor and vulnerable household with no source of income and food are identified and referred to relevant programme interventions including appropriate nutrition support.

Reply:

1. Government has tabled the discussion paper on Comprehensive Social Security in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) where it is currently engaging with social partners on the recommendations in the tabled discussion paper, one of which, is the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The NEDLAC MANCO Task Team on Comprehensive Social Security requested 12 months (approximately until March 2018) to debate these complex issues, with a review after six months to decide on whether more time will be needed (amongst other things).

As part of their terms of references, social partners will agree on the implementation plan which will also inform the timelines for the establishment of the National Social Security Fund. On conclusion of these processes, Government will announce the proposed implementation plans.

2. It is proposed that all workers will need to make mandatory payroll contributions of at least 12% to the NSSF, which will be shared between the employer and employee, for incomes up to the income of ceiling of R178 464 per annum (which is aligned to the Unemployment Insurance Fund threshold). This includes unemployment insurance, which will continue to be paid at the rate of 2%, and the 10% is meant for retirement and risk benefits. Government proposes to subsidise the contributions of low-income workers. This is the initial proposal by government, and will form part of the negotiations of the NEDLAC Task Team (referred to above).

Reply:

(1) (a) At the time of responding to the questionnaire according to the set deadline, the national Department of Social Development had not yet received inputs from the provinces since the parliamentary question needs provincial inputs.

(1) (b) (i) The Department is funding R15 per child per day in 8 provinces and R17 per child in KwaZulu-Natal.

1. (b) (ii) The funding is meant to provide for the following:
   1. Nutritional meals for children (50%)
   2. Educational material for the stimulation of children (30%)
   3. Subsidize salaries of ECD practitioners (20%).

(2) All centres that are receiving a subsidy for funding, provide meals for the children. The Department of Social Development works in collaboration with the Department of Health to assist in the provisioning of a set menu for the ECD centres.

Reply:

Yes, the department has determined estimates for the universalisation of the old age and child support grants.

(a) Three universalisation options are being considered for the old age grant to align tax policy with social assistance policy

1. Universalisation at the age of 60 years aligned to social assistance policy will cost an estimated R23 billion
2. Universalisation at the age of 65 year aligned to tax policy will cost an estimated R13 billion
3. Universalisation at the age of 75 (both tax and social assistance have over 75 benefits) will cost an estimated R6 billion.

(b) The estimated cost for universalisation of the Child Support Grant is R23 billion. This is the amount required additional to the expenditure of the grant in its current form.

The Comprehensive Social Security Paper, which is currently in discussion at NEDLAC, suggests that these proposals be done in fiscal neutral manner. In other words, currently poor people below the means test are supported by social grant and wealthier people, above the tax threshold are supported by Tax Expenditure Subsidies and Tax rebates, with a few people in between these thresholds getting neither a grant nor support through the tax system. The principle around universalisation is to unite these fragmented systems and utilise the available funding for the benefit of everyone.

Reply:

1. The Department of Social Development has proposed an amendment to the Social Assistance Act to make provisions for funeral benefits. This amendment Bill has gone out for public comments, which have been considered. The department will approach Cabinet in the course of the next few months for approval to take the amendment to Parliament. If parliament approves the Social Assistance amendment Bill that makes provisions for the Funeral Benefit, the department will develop a set of regulations outlining the administration and other criteria of the benefit. The department is currently conducting consultations in preparation for the drafting of the regulations. The benefit levels will be determined at implementation and annually; and will be gazetted as with the other social grants.

2. Regulation 26A provides for a maximum of 10% to be deducted from an Older Persons’ grant, a Disability Grant or a War Veteran’s grant, for funeral insurance. This applies only to private insurance companies (not the state), to allow beneficiaries to access funeral insurance in the absence of the state providing such benefits.

Reply:

No - The Early Childhood Development Centre, Thembalihle Creche and Pre-school with NPO registration Number 051-912does not receive funds from the Department of Social Development. No information is available on the funding by the government department.

Reply:

(1) (a) R 74,603,183.16

(b) SAB&T

(2) & (3) As indicated in my previous reply to this question, the officials implicated in the report are no longer in the employ of SASSA. The Agency is investigating this matter further.

(4) See 3 above

Reply:

1. Regulation 26A to the Social Assistance Act, Act 13 of 2004, makes provision for the direct deduction of funeral policy premiums from a social grant, under certain conditions. These conditions include that the value of the deduction cannot exceed 10% of the value of the grant; deductions are only permissible from adult grants of a permanent nature (that is only from grants for the aged, war veterans or people with disabilities); and that the beneficiary must request this deduction in writing and in person from SASSA. SASSA has in the past not been managing these deductions, which were affected by the payment service provider, Cash Paymaster Services, on behalf of SASSA. With the in-sourcing of the payment function, one of the first areas of work which SASSA is able to bring in-house and manage directly, as intended in legislation, is the management of the direct deductions in terms of Regulation 26A.

In order to do so, SASSA has, after following a procurement process, contracted QLink, the company which is responsible for managing payroll deductions for SASSA as well as government, through National Treasury, for a period of 5 years.

It should be understood that the management of deductions referred to above are for beneficiaries who already have funeral policies, and who have been making use of the direct deduction facility. It is not for a new funeral policy scheme.

2. There was not request for information issued for a service, as this is not a new service which is being provided. There was only a submission to the Bid Adjudication Committee to consider a variation in scope of the existing contract SASSA already has with QLink, after having obtained confirmation from QLink that they are both able and willing to provide the required management service.

3. Not applicable, since SASSA has not appointed a funeral policy provider. SASSA is not involved in the provision of funeral policies at all. The decision to take a funeral policy lies with the beneficiary, who then approaches SASSA to provide the deduction facility for the premium only, in terms of Section 20 and Regulation 26A of the Act.

Reply:

 

DSD
(a)(i) 2014/2015	(aa) (aaa) Names	(bbb) Professional Designations	(bb)(aaa) Details of contracts/ agreements	(bbb) Amounts
None	None	None	N/A	N/A
(a)(ii) 2015/16
None	None	None	N/A	N/A
(a)(ii) 2016/17
None	None	None	N/A	N/A
NDA
b(i) 2014/2015	(aa) (aaa) Names	(bbb) Professional Designations	(bb)(aaa) Details of contracts/ agreements	(bbb) Amounts
None	None	None	N/A	N/A
b(ii) 2015/2016	None	None	N/A	N/A
b(iii) 2016/17	None	None	N/A	N/A
SASSA
b(i) 2014/2015	(aa) (aaa) Names	(bbb) Professional Designations	(bb)(aaa) Details of contracts/ agreements	(bbb) Amounts
	Mr ST Dube	Grants Administrator	T/A Pauline and Viljoen Trading was awarded a contract or agreement to conduct business (Catering) with Edumbe Municipality (KZN)	August 2014 R12 000.00 December 2014 R16 000.00 March 2015 R9 000.00.
	Mr SS Mbambo	Senior Grants Administrator	T/A Construction,Taxis, Catering and Supplying was awarded a contract or agreement. Mshwathi Municipality (Electrification in Public Halls, Ingwe Municipality –Youth Development Plan); Department of Public Works (Renovation at Cedera) and Harry Gwala District Municipality for construction of toilets. (KZN)	R500 000.00- R1000 000.00
	Ms PP Hadebe	Senior Grants Administrator	T/A Ingelengele Trading was awarded a contract or agreement with the Dept. of Sports & Recreation for Catering. (KZN)	R85 000.00
	Ms. JN Mncube	Grants Administrator	Zones Tents and Chairs Hiring was awarded contract or agreement to conduct business with Public Works repairs and renovations at Macambini Clinic for office accommodation (KZN)	R5 800 000 R672 000.00
	Ms P Haas	Clerk Management Accounting	Eluthandweni – Event, Catering and Accommodation Services NC Health Department	R 8,740.00
b(ii) 2015 /2016	Ms. JN Mncube	Grants Administrator	Zones Tents and Chairs Hiring was awarded contract or agreement to conduct business with Public Works for fencing.(KZN)	R400 000.00
	Ms PP Hadebe	Senior Grants Administrator	Ingelengele Trading) was awarded a contract or agreement with the Dept. of Sports & Recreation for Catering.(KZN)	R40 000.00
	Ms P Haas	Clerk Management Accounting	Eluthandweni – Event, Catering and Accommodation Services NC Health Department	R 8,740.00
b(iii) 2016/2017	None	None	None	None

 

 

Reply:

(a) Yes

(b) Yes

(c) (i) DSD and NDA- not applicable

(ii) SASSA- Yes, the Regional Manager for SASSA in KZN is currently receiving protection services.

(i) Both the Minister and Deputy Minister receive protection receive from the SAPS VIP Protection paid by the State as per the provision of the Ministerial Handbook

(ii) Not applicable

(iii) DSD and SASSA not applicable

(aa) after intimidation and death threats on the life of the SASSA Regional Manager by officials who were subjected to disciplinary hearings for fraud and collusion with syndicates who were defrauding the social grants system. The provision of protection services was recommended by the State Security and SAPS after proper assessment was conducted.

(bb) SASSA budget.

(cc) Further details can be provided by the SAPS VIP Protection on (aa)

Reply:

1. Tender SASSA 42/15/GA was a request for proposals from potential service providers to be accredited for the provision of Project Mikondzo event management services. This was not a tender for the appointment of service providers, but only for the accreditation of service providers, who would be registered on the SASSA data base. When the specific service are required, quotations are obtained from the accredited service providers, in accordance with approved procurement processes. The tender was advertised in the Government Tender Bulletin on 5 February 2016 and responses were evaluated by an approved Bid Evaluation Committee during May 2016. The responses were evaluated on administrative and technical criteria only.

 (a) Since this was a process to accredit service providers and not to award a contract, there is no total value available.

 (b) Given the above response, this is not applicable

 (c) The accreditation is for a period of 3 years as from July 2016.

2. There is no signed service level agreement as there is no contract entered into. However, the services required are stipulated in the Terms of Reference which were advertised.

Reply:

1(a) National Development Agency as per the NDA Act (Act No. 108 of 1998)

(b) DSD and SASSA

(i) (aa) 4 January 2016

(bb) 31 December 2019 (3 years as per the provision of the NDA Act)

(ii) (aa)ten

(bb) 7

2 (a) The establishment of the Board is provided for in the Act itself. It is not a matter that the Executive Authority decides on his/her own. As it currently stands, the NDA Act provides for the establishment of the Board whereas the SASSA Act does not make the same provision, hence there is no board for SASSA.

Reply:

The information is contained in the annual reports for the respective financial years in question. The information was also presented to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development.

Reply:

(a) What is the total number of persons who were employed at early childhood development centers in the (i) 2014, (ii) 2015, (iii) 2016 and (iv) 2017 academic years,

The above Parliamentary Question has provincial implications and at the time of reply no response was received from Provinces.

(b) the Child Protection Register classifies organisations only as employers and not in terms of their functions, namely early childhood development centers. However, the number of employees screened in (i) 2014 were 30010, (ii) 2015 were 32780, (iii) 2016 were 39203 and 2017 were 3921 (April and May), and (c) No specified persons in respect of early childhood development centers were found not suitable to work with children in each case.

Reply:

(a) (i) (ii) The Bid Specification Committee has been appointed and it is in a process of developing draft specification which will be tabled to the Bid Adjudication Committee for approval.

(b)The timeframe set are as follows:

• The procumbent process: July- September 2017
• Phase-out Negotiations with CPS: November 2017
• Setting up by the new Service Provider November 2017

Reply:

The Department of Social Development (DSD) in collaboration with the Department of Women (DOW) and other relevant government Departments is involved in the Sanitary ware Programme. The Department has produced the Concept Document on which the Base Document now with DOW is founded.

Coordinated by DOW, Six (6) Work streams were developed where DSD sits in Work stream 1, meant to develop a Policy Framework on the Sanitary ware Programme. In order for the Policy Framework to be meaningful, DSD as the lead on this Work stream has proposed a Policy Framework Structure for members to contribute. DSD has also concretely suggested a 2 – 3 Day uninterrupted Retreat to focus on the development of such a Policy Framework to present as a Draft to the proposed National Consultation Indaba.

A logical Framework has also been developed to guide the process.

The Gender Chief Directorate within DSD continues to sit in the Sanitary Programme under DOW giving constructive input where necessary. Other Programmes within the Department such as Community Development, Families, Victims Empowerment Programme (VEP), Children, and Social Security are expected to support this Programme.

Reply:

	Total number of cases that were identified by the Auditor- General	(b)(i) what was the total amount involved in each case	b (ii) how much has been recovered in each case?
(aa)2014/2015)
(a)(i)Fruitless Expenditure	0	R0.00	R0.00
(a)(ii) Wasteful Expenditure	0	R0.00	R0.00
(a)(iii) Irregular Expenditure	9	R1 604 877.32	R0.00
(bb)2015/16
(a)(i)Fruitless Expenditure	1	R485 000.00	R0.00
(a)(ii) Wasteful Expenditure	0	R0.00	R0.00
(a)(iii) Irregular Expenditure	6	R3 063 101.94	R3 063 101.94
(cc)2016/17
(a)(i)Fruitless Expenditure	0	R0.00	R0.00
(a)(ii) Wasteful Expenditure	0	R0.00	R0.00
(a)(iii) Irregular Expenditure	1	R414 105.00	R414 105.00

(cc) 2016/2017 The Auditor-General is still busy with the 2016/2017 audit in the Department and it is not known what the final outcome will be until the final management report is issued on 14 July 2017.

Reply:

The Child Protection Register does not categorise organisations in terms of their activities such as cultural, but as employers. However, (a) the number of employees screened in (i) 2014 were 63664, (ii) 2015 were 94552, (iii) 2016 were 103350 and 2017 were 3921 (April and May), and (b) persons were found not suitable to work with children in (i) 2014 were 87, (ii) 2015 were 300, (iii) 2016 were 281, and there no records for first quarter of 2017.

Reply:

SASSA has not conducted a formal study into the cost of applying the means test. However, research conducted by the Economic Research Policy Institute (EPRI) in 2011, when working with UNICEF on a paper regarding the Universalisation of the Child Support Grant, noted “The means test does impose administrative and time costs on SASSA employees and beneficiaries, but more significant costs occur during the monitoring of the grant.” The same will hold true for the older persons grant.

In an internal exercise conducted by SASSA in 2013, the direct average cost of completing an application for a social grant (excluding the disability related costs, where the direct costs are much higher, as the cost of the medical assessment must be factored in) was R89,73. This is largely driven by the amount of time it takes to complete an application, and does not factor in costs incurred by the beneficiary. This amount will require review, given the increase in staff costs since this time.

Based on trends over the past financial years, an average of approximately 200 000 new applications for grants for older persons are processed. If a unit cost of R89,73 per application is taken into account, then the cost for administering these applications is R17 946 000. While this total cost cannot be attributed to the cost of administering the means test, it does contribute a large portion of the costs.

Reply:

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NDA)

The position of (a) CEO was filled on 1 November 2016 with the appointment of Ms Thamo Mzobe. The position of (b) Chief Financial Officer became vacant after the resignation of the former CFO. Interviews were conducted for this position and it will be filled as soon as all relevant human resources has been completed. The position of (c) Chief Operating Officer was newly created in the NDA organizational structure that was approved by the NDA Board. Interviews were conducted for this position and it will be filled as soon as all relevant human resources has been completed.

SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY (SASSA)

The position of (a) Chief Executive Officer was filled on 1 November 2016 with the appointment of Mr Thokozani Magwaza. The position of (b) Chief Financial Officer was filled on 1 March 2016 with the appointment of Mr Tsakeriwa Chauke. The position of the (c) Chief Operating Officer is currently vacant and was advertised. The closing date for applications for this position was 8 March 2017. The post will be filled in the current financial year.

Reply:

Yes, the Department of Social Development (National) has funded Non-Profit- Organisations (NPOs) that specialise in (a) mental health (b) disabilities and (c) substance abuse in the 2015/2016 financial year.

(a) and (b) The following Non-Profit Organisations that specialise in Mental Health and Disabilities were funded at National level for the specified period (2015/16 financial year).

ORGANISATION	KNOWN AS	FUNDING
1. South African federation for Mental Health	SAFMH	R 801 000.00
2. Deaf Federation of South Africa	DEAFSA	R 500 000.00
3. Epilepsy South Africa	Epilepsy SA	R 500 000.00
4. Disabled Children Action Group	DICAG	R 750 000.00
5. Albinism Society of South Africa	ASSA	R 700 000.00
6. Autism South Africa	Autism SA	R 500 000.00
TOTAL	R 3 751 000.00

(c) The following Non-Profit Organisations that specialise in Substance Abuse were funded at National level for the specified period (2015/16 financial year).

ORGANISATION	KNOWN AS	FUNDING
1. The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.	SANCA
2. South African Depression and Anxiety Group	SADAG
TOTAL VALUE		R2,887,000.00

1. The following is a provincial breakdown of the total number of NPOs, delivering mental health, disability and substance abuse services that were funded during the 2015/16 financial year.

PROVINCE	MENTAL HEALTH	DISABILITIES	SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Free State	4	91	53
Western Cape	114	217	49
North West	3	30	12
Mpumalanga	7	133	6
Northern Cape	2	12 (14 OFFICES)	1 (2 OFFICES)
Gauteng	The Department of Social Development does not fund the Mental Health organisations in Gauteng province. These are funded by the Department of Health.	116	48
Eastern Cape	2	22 - Residential Facilities 13 - Welfare Organisations 22 - Protective Workshops 18 - Community Based Rehabilitation projects. 26 - Special Day Care Centres	5
Limpopo	1 23 – stimulation centres	3 - Homes 15 -Community based rehabilitation 49- protective workshop	1 21 - programmes
Kwa-Zulu Natal	0	4	0
TOTAL	156	773	197

(ii) Total financial value

PROVINCE	MENTAL HEALTH	DISABILITY	SUBSTANCE ABUSE	VALUE (R) TOTAL
Free State	-	-	-	26,562,985.91
Western Cape	48,000,000.00	129,000,000.00	56,600,000.00	233,600,000.00
North West	2,075,643.00	14,615,000.00	6,622,000.00	23,312,643.00
Mpumalanga	4,211,721.00	30,971,279.00	10,971,000.00	46,154,000.00
Northern Cape	1,009,456.98	6,348,170.09	410,771.90	7,768,398.97
Gauteng	The Department of Social Development does not fund the Mental Health organisations in Gauteng province. These are funded by the Department of Health.	63,082,175.00	60,320,466.00	123,402,641.00
Eastern Cape	0	31,577,345.00	4,244,555.35	35,821,900.35
Limpopo	3,560,000.00	12,500,000.00	4,600,000.00	20,660,000.00
Kwa-Zulu Natal	0	932,400.00	0	932,400.00
TOTAL	588,856,825.98	289,026,369.09	143,768,793.25	518,214,969.23

(iii) Percentage of compliance with the NPO Act 71 of 1997.

PROVINCE	MENTAL HEALTH	DISABILITY	SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Free State	100%	100%	100%
Western Cape	99%	100%	100%
North West	100%	100%	100%
Mpumalanga	100%	100%	100%
Northern Cape	100%	100%	100%
Gauteng	The Department of Social Development does not fund the Mental Health organisations in Gauteng province. These are funded by the Department of Health.	100%	100%
Eastern Cape	55%	100%	44%
Limpopo	100%	100%	100%
Kwa-Zulu Natal	100%	100%	100%

Reply:

1. Honourable Dr Makhosini Busisiwe Khoza was never appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of Social Development, Ms BO Dlamini.

2. None.

Reply:

This matter is still before the Gauteng High Court.

Reply:

It is a matter of public knowledge that the Constitutional Court has extended the CPS contract with SASSA for the payment of social grants for a period of twelve months, until 31 March 2018 on the same terms and conditions as those of the initial contract signed in 2012. The Court further ordered that the Minister and SASSA report on affidavit every three months on how they plan to ensure the payment of social grants after the expiry of the extended contract in March 2018.

The first report to the Constitutional Court is due next month (June). The report will set out the exact details, including the timeframes on how the Agency intends to ensure the payment of social grants beyond the current contract.

We will therefore furnish the Honourable Member with such report once it has been completed and submitted to the Constitutional Court as per the judgment.

Reply:

Today we pride ourselves on having reached out to the poorest of the poorer. We have proved to be a developmental state that has been able to take decisive action to support more than 12 million children through the social grant system. When the policy on the Child Support Grant (CSG) was developed, the Lund committee (1996) recommended a small amount (R70) derived from the Household Subsistence Level for food and clothing for children. Drawing on the Committee’s recommendations, Cabinet approved the CSG at a higher amount of R100 when implemented in 1998. This amount has been increased by inflation since then. Government is continuously faced with the policy question as to whether the value of the grant should be increased (above inflation) to be in line with more recent food nutritional indexes, or to expand the reach of the grant. In the last two decades, Government has focused mainly on extending the reach of the CSG to poor children. Currently our focus is on ensuring that the low take up between 0-1 is addressed through programs such as the Integrated Community Outreach Programme (ICROP) and Mikondzo, which target areas of greater deprivation. This is in line with the objectives set in the National Development Plan and the Medium Terms Strategic Framework for 2019.

Historically only a few children accessed social assistance through the State Maintenance Grant. Today the vast majority of children in need of assistance is able to access the support, not only through the grant but through a range of other government interventions.

This is also in line with the Taylor Committee report (2002) that assessed the effectiveness of the CSG in relation to nutrition. The Committee recommended that the CSG be supplemented by an appropriate nutrition programme. To this effect, Government provides essential services for example, food nutrition programme to poor children through the Department of Basic Education and other free basic municipal services at reduced and controlled costs to impoverished households. In addition Government has ensured that basic food items such as brown bread, maize meal, vegetables, fruits, eggs, samp, mealie rice and milk are zero-rated, meaning the 14% VAT is not paid on these goods.

Reply:

Yes, the Department considers the following three poverty lines developed by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

Food poverty line: the Rand value below which individuals are unable to consume enough food to supply them with minimum per-person-per-day energy requirements for good health (about 2 100 kilocalories) per capita per month.

Lower-bound poverty line: stipulates the threshold below which one has to sacrifice some food to obtain some basic non-food items. It is a sum of the FPL and the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose total expenditure is equal to the food poverty line; and

Upper-bound poverty line: the unambiguous threshold of relative deprivation below which people cannot afford the minimum lifestyle desired by most South Africans. It is a sum of the FPL and the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose food expenditure is equal to the food poverty line.

Based on the national poverty lines above, data from Stats SA shows that between the period 2006 and 2011, there was a decline in poverty levels in the country for all three lines. The proportion of the population living below a food poverty line decreased from 28.4% in 2006 to 21.7% in 2011 whilst the proportion living below the lower bound poverty line decreased from 51.0% 2006 to 37.0% in 2011 and with regards to the upper bound poverty line, the proportion declined from 66.6% in 2006 to 53.8% in 2011.

A report entitled Poverty Trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 and 2011 attributed the main source of decline in poverty to social wage package through services such as free primary health care, no-fee paying schools and school nutrition programme, social grants (most notably the Old Age and Child Support Grants, RDP housing and the provision of basic services to poor households namely water, electricity and sanitation.

Reply:

1. Ms Khoza was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) from the 2 September 2013 until 21st May 2107 when she resigned from the committee following her appointment as a Member of Parliament. She was paid for the hours she worked both as the chairperson and committee member of the MAC.

The total amount paid for her services is R 601 066.55 (inclusive of meetings, travel domestic and international and S&T allowances).

2. (a) & (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) No

Reply:

(a) and (b) Yes,

  (i) Yes, (aa), (bb) and (cc)

2014
Dates	(aaa) Who was Present at the meeting?	(bbb) What was the reason for the meeting?	(ccc) Where did it take place?
26-08-2014	Mr F Earl (SASSA) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Ms A Lewington(CPS)	Card Replacements and Pin Reset Management Reports KZN scanning Scanning of re-registration documents Sort and sort plan	SASSA: Head Office
10-09-2014	Mr T Malumedza(CSIR) Mr E Dube (CSIR) Mr D Mathekga(CSIR) Mr F Dinisio (CSIR) Mr F Earl (SASSA) Ms F Talane (SASSA) Ms G Maphophe (SASSA) Mr S Belamant: CEO (NET1) Ms A Lewington ( CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS)	CPS presentation on grants payment process –Cash flow	Net1 Offices: Rosebank
15-09-2014	Mr C Pakade :DG (DSD) Mr Z Dangor Special Adviser to the Minister –(DSD) Mr T Magwaza DDG (DSD) Ms V.L Petersen: CEO (SASSA) Mr F. Earl -EM (SASSA) Mr H Kotze :CFO ( CPS/Net1) Mr S Belamant: CEO (CPS/Net1)	The review of SLA, direct deductions on SASSA cards and review of biometric voice	SASSA : Head Office
4.10-10-2014	Mr F Earl: EM (SASSA)	Inputs into the draft SLA Grants transfer and reconciliation process. KZN data and feedback on CSIR visit	Net1Offices :Rosebank
2015
26-02-2015	Mr F. Earl- EM (SASSA) Mr E Matshiga –Senior Manager (SASSA) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Ms A Lewington (CPS)	Review of the Enrolment Strategy In SASSA Local: Business Rules/ Audit Of Enrolment Sites Development Of A Card Management Strategy: Mitigation Of Risk Monthly Reports Beneficiaries Children And Procurators not registered Cash Requirements: April 2015 And December 2015 December Pay Cycle Audit Of The Nedbank Accounts DSD Audit Findings Exemption 17 Breaches : Confirmation Of Proposed Meeting With The Registrar Feedback On Regional Grants Operational Meeting	Net 1 Offices : Rosebank
09-11-2015	Ms F Talane (SASSA) Mr T Matlou (SASSA) Mr S Koliti (SASSA) Mr N Pillay ( CPS) Ms A Lewington( CPS)	Discussions on Customer Care working relations	Net1 Offices: Rosebank
2016
1.30-03-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Mr J Skhosana: (SASSA) Mr S Budaza: (SASSA) Mr A Segafa: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby-(SASSA) Ms A Lewington: (CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: ( CPS/Net 1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	SASSA: Head Office
2.26-04-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Ms G Maphophe: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby: (SASSA) Mr K Tlou: (SASSA) Ms A Lewington:(CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: (CPS/Net1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net 1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	Net1 Offices :Rosebank
3.26-05-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Mr J Skhosana: (SASSA) Mr S Budaza: (SASSA) Mr A Segafa: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby-(SASSA) Ms A Lewington: (CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: ( CPS/Net 1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	SASSA: Head Office
4.29-08-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Ms G Maphophe: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby: (SASSA) Ms A Lewington: ( CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: ( CPS/ Net1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	Net 1 Offices-Rosebank
5. 04-11-2016	Mr T Matlou: ( EM SASSA) Mr G Maphophe (SASSA) Mr M Sethosa : (SASSA) Mr M Nhlangothi: (GM: SASSA) Mr N Pillay: ( CPS/ Net1) Ms A Lewington: (CPS/ Net1)	National Steercom to address operational challenges encountered by regions during payment of grants.	Net1 Offices –Rosebank
6. 22-08-2016	Ms Z Mvulane (EM: SASSA) Ms T Parkies (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe(Workstream) Mr J Segole(Workstream) Mr M Van Wyk(Workstream) Mr T Sukazi (Workstream) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Dr Serge Belamant (CPS)	Due diligence Information Technology BIN Migration Card Security Features Biometric Functionality	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
7. 18-10.2016	Ms Z Mvulane (EM: SASSA) Ms T Parkies (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe(Workstream) Mr J Segole (Workstream) Mr M Van Wyk(Workstream) Mr T Sukazi (Workstream) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Dr Serge Belamant (CPS)	Phase-in Phase-out Biometric System Integration Merchants Management Call Center Integration Reconciliation	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
8. 28-10-2016	Ms Z Mvulane Ms T Parkies Mr W Metcalfe Mr J Segole Mr M Van Wyk Mr T Sukazi Mr N Pillay Dr Serge Belamant	Business continuity Card Life Extension Merchant Management Introduction of the Special Account 4. Improvement of SASSA payment file.	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
2017
1. 01-03-2017	Ms T Mzobe (SASSA) Ms Z Mvulane (SASSA) Ms R Ramokgopa (SASSA) Ms D Ndlovu (SASSA) Mr T Chauke (SASSA) Mr A Mahlangu (SASSA) Mr B Van Vrede (DSD) Dr W Magasela (DSD) Dr S Belamant (CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Mr T Jonger (CPS) Mr H Kotze (CPS) (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe Mr Manie V Wyk	SASSA and CPS Negotiation	Protea Hotel
2. 02-03-2017	Mr A Mahlangu (SASSA) Mr B Van Vrede (DSD) Dr W Magasela (DSD) Dr S Belamant (CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Mr T Jonger (CPS) Mr H Kotze (CPS) (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe Mr Manie V Wyk Mr Julias Sehole	SASSA – CPS Technical Negotiations	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
3. 03-03-2017	Ms T Mzobe (Acting CEO SASSA) Ms Z Mvulane (SASSA) Ms R Ramokgopa (SASSA) Ms D Ndlovu (SASSA) Mr T Chauke (SASSA) Mr A Mahlangu (SASSA) Mr B Van Vrede (DSD) Dr W Magasela (DSD) Dr S Belamant (CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Mr T Jonger (CPS) Mr H Kotze (CPS) (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe Mr Manie V Wyk	SASSA and CPS Negotiation	Protea Hotel

Reply:

1) Yes, and addendum to the 2012 contract has been signed

 (a) It has been finalized as per the National Treasury instruction of 2016/17

 (b) (i) is R16.44 per beneficiary projected annual cost of R1 170 080 000.00 calculated at 11 000 000.00 number of beneficiaries

     (ii) 12 months

    (iii)

Types of Grants	Amount (R)
Older Person’s grant	R1 600.00
Older Person’s grant (above 75)	R1 620.00
Disability grant	R1 600.00
War Veteran’s grant	R1 620.00
Child support grant	R380.00
Foster Child grant	R920.00
Care Dependency grant	R1 600.00
Grant-i-aid	R380.00

(2) None. However, the Constitutional Court set out a process for CPS to approach National Treasury for an increase in the transaction costs, should this be necessary to court will make a final decision.

Reply:

The last time the Department purchased official vehicles for both the Deputy Minister and the Minister was in 2009 after their appointment in their respective positions. The purchase of official vehicles for political principals is guided by the prescripts and regulations of the National Treasury concerning vehicle fleet replacement and are also clearly stipulated in the Ministerial Handbook.

In terms of the aforementioned prescripts, Departments may purchase official vehicle/s directly from manufacturers and/or their dealerships only when the currently provided official vehicle for that office has reached 120 000 km or 5 years, whichever comes first. The Ministerial Handbook clearly states in Chapter 5 No 1.2.1:

Members at national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Cape Town and one vehicle for use in Pretoria. The total purchase price of the vehicle may not exceed 70% of the inclusive annual remuneration package of a Minister as may be amended from time to time on recommendation of the Commission for the Remuneration of Political Members

The official Pretoria based vehicles allocated to the Minister and the Deputy Minister in 2009 have far exceeded the prescribed 120 000 km and the five year period. The Minister’s vehicle reached 161 523 km and the Deputy Minister’s vehicle 143 652 km. As such the purchase of new official vehicles became unavoidable and needed replacement due to high maintenance costs and security reasons.

One official vehicle in Cape Town has also far exceeded the prescribed 120 000 km (151 062 km for the Minister) and the five-year period. In compliance with the National Treasury’s cost containment measures, the Department has delayed the purchase of official vehicles for Cape Town. Although the money for the purchase of the new official vehicles for the Deputy Minister and Minister was budgeted for in the 2014/15 financial year, the following official vehicles were only purchased in the 2016/2017 financial year.

	( a) Make	(b ) Model	(c ) Price	(d ) Date on which the vehicle was purchased
(i)Minister
(aaa) 2014-15	-	-	-	-
(bbb) 2015-16	-	-	-	-
(bb) since 01 April 2016	BMW	B 7A22 740l	R1 302 525	13.10.2016
(ii) Deputy Minister
(aaa) 2014-15	-	-	-	-
(bbb) 2015-16	-	-	-
(bb) since 01 April 2016	Jeep Grand Cherokkee	HEMI SRT8 6.4L	R1 161 687	25.07.2016

Reply:

1. (a) The tasks of the workstreams are the following:

1. The legislative Policy Requirements Management is to provide comprehensive legal advice to SASSA and other in relation to the future workstream payment system focusing on legislative management policy requirements, contract development and design of the new system.
2. Information and Business System and Banking Services is to facilitate for the insourcing of an ICT platform that will integrate the application of payment management system for social assistance and related social security benefits.
3. The Benefits and Local Economic Development is to identify the benefits and economic development initiatives to be implemented with delivery of the comprehensive security system
4. Change and Stakeholder Management workstream; is to provide guidance to the change management and stakeholder engagement.
5. Human resource Management workstream is to facilitate for the development of the organisational organogram and skills training programme that will support the new proposed functions to be institutionalized within SASSA.

(b) Three ( 3 ) workstream leaders were appointed with 14 additional support staff members.

(2) Yes

 (i) Mr Patrick Monyeki is the workstream leader for Information and Business System and Banking Services and the following personnel is employed by him.

• Mr Warwick Metcalfe: Programme Manager
• Mr Julius Segole: BIS Project Manager
• Ms.Colleen Armstrong: PMO Project Manager
• Mr Manie Van Wyk: Banking Project Manager
• Mr Christian Nyakanyanga: Security Architect
• Ms.Laecoln Snayman: Project Administrator
• Mr Senzo Derrick Ndlovu: Business Analyst
• Ms. Nombuso Zuma :Business Analyst
• Mr Nazeem Ally: Architect
• Mr Aboobaker Ashis: Architect
• Mr Ronald Barnes: Architect
• Mr Maneesh Singh Architect
• Mr Jaco Moller: Quality and Risk Manager

The Steering Committee comprises of DSD and SASSA officials.

• Mr Tim Sukazi is the team leader for the Legislative and Policy Workstream and supported by Ms Ziyanda Nyanda

(ii) Ms. Tankiso Parkies is the Benefits and Local Economic Development workstream leader. The leader is supported by the alternative pay-points assessment and merchants suitability assessment teams established within SASSA. Other members of the team:

• Mr Dominic Nsele
• Ms Unathi Mguye
• Ms June Mabhida
• Ms Ngobese

(iii) Human Resource management: Dumisile Ndlovu (SASSA official)

(iv) Communication and change management team is supported by Mr Sgwili Gumede and the internal SASSA staff

(b) Mr P Monyeki R35 897 645.01/ Mr T Sukazi R7 620 227.40 and Ms. T Parkies R4 381 726.00

2.  The due diligence that are being conducted include the following:

• ICT Infrastructure
• Data Integration system
• Transaction data analysis capability

Reply:

SASSA Gauteng Region, through the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) is in the process of acquiring permanent office accommodation for the Kempton Park area.

The procurement process is at an advanced stage as the submission for entering into a lease agreement with the recommended service provider has been routed to the Director General of NDPW for approval/disapproval, we now await feedback from his office.

Several engagements have been made seeking progress in this regard, to date no tangible response is forthcoming. As the Agency we are committed to finalizing this process however we rely on our counterpart of which is the National Department of Public Works.

The Agency will continue to engage with the National Department of Public until the process is finalized.

 

Reply:

This matter is still before the Gauteng High Court.

Reply:

The biometric standard has been finalized and adopted by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) for use in the banking environment.

(a) SASSA did not cover the total cost, but initiated the process with the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). During engagements with South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and PASA, SARB issued an instruction to PASA to develop an industry standard for biometrics. SASSA then stopped work on the industry standard, but continued with work on the value of biometrics in social grant payments. The amount paid to CSIR was R 482 964.42 inclusive of VAT.

(b) There were not individual consultants used. SASSA contracted CSIR, a government agency, to undertake the research and development.

(c) CSIR was contracted for a number of work packages, related to the payment of social grants. The total amount of the contract for the development of a biometric enrolment and authentication system was R 3 323 066.94 inclusive of VAT.

Reply:

(1) The matter has not yet been finalized by the North Gauteng High Court.

Reply:

(a) A total of 13 005 475 additional enrolments were performed by Cash Paymaster Services.

(b) The additional enrolments were not charged for at a unit cost, but rather the cost were calculated using the actual costs incurred as a result of the additional re-registrations which had to be performed over the period from January to July 2013. The costs incurred related to transport; infrastructure hire costs (use of halls and other venues for the re-registration); security service; travel and accommodation and staff costs, amongst others.

Reply:

1. (a) The Minister of Social Development did not visit New York in November 2016, however, the Minister and the delegation from the Department visited Mexico to attend the High-Level Meeting on the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network held in Acapulco, Mexico. The delegation used the opportunity to visit PROSPERA program which is a comprehensive social program initiative implemented by the Government of Mexico. The study visit to Mexico’s PROSPERA program has been outstanding since September 2015 and therefore the Ministerial invitation to participate in the High-Level meeting presented a unique opportunity for the Department to streamline its international programme with the aim to minimize expenditure associated with travel. In the interest of saving costs the Ministerial delegation undertook a visit to the State of Maryland (Baltimore) in the United States of America (USA) to cement bilateral cooperation with the State of Maryland and begin direct interaction with Howard University.

(b) The Minister was accompanied by the following delegation to Acapulco:

• Mr Abram Phahlamohlaka: Chief of Staff;
• Ms Mayibuye Mbatha: Private Secretary to the Minister; and
• Mr Daniel Shivuri: Ministry Administrator.

The study visit to PROSPERA program was conducted in Mexico City and Mr Xolani Khumalo, Director: International Relations joined the delegation for the purpose of preparing for such assignment. In Maryland, USA, the Minister was joined by Ms Constance Nxumalo, Deputy Director-General: Welfare Services and Mr Sipho Shezi: Special Advisor to the Minister to provide political support to the Minister.

(c) In the efforts to contain expenditure of the visits, it must be noted that the Ministerial hotel accommodation in Mexico was catered for by the host country while the Minister and the delegation used standard rooms in Baltimore (State of Maryland). In Mexico, the delegation also shared one vehicle with the Minister. The full breakdown of all costs is as follows:

Item	Total Cost
Flights ticket	R562 547.38
Subsistence &Travel allowance (i)	R89 251.25
Vehicle hire & Hotel accommodation (ii) & (iii)	R118 931.25
Total Cost	R770 729.88

2. Indeed a comprehensive report of the visit may be presented to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the date that is mutually agreeable to both parties. As the outcome of the visit please receive a copy of the draft Bilateral Agreement with Mexico (annexure A) as well as the draft Agreement with the State of Maryland in USA (annexure B).

3. Visit to Mexico: The study visit to Mexico’s PROSPERA program has been outstanding since September 2015 and therefore the Ministerial invitation to participate in the High-Level Meeting on the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network presented a unique opportunity for the Department to undertake the much anticipated study visit. The visit also dealt with elements related to the provision of social grants, South Africa could learn good practice from certain aspects of PROSPERA program which is implemented by the Mexican Government. PROSPERA is designed to be inclusive of education and health in addition to social grants. It was revealed to the delegation that the grants system in Mexico is administered by state-owned social bank which eliminate a number of administrative challenges that are experienced in the current South African context.

South Africa is part of the global community and the socio-economic challenges that are encountered in South Africa are similar to those of Mexico and other developing countries of the world. The Mexican social program i.e. PROSPERA has been proven to be working in the Mexican context and South Africa may replicate certain aspects of PROSPERA program for the benefit of impoverished South African population. In pursuit of this, the Department has undertaken a process of concluding a Bilateral Agreement with Mexico on the areas of social development which will provide the basis and legal framework for the implementation of future exchange programs between South Africa and Mexico. The Minister and the delegation also met with the Under-Secretary of SEDESOL (Deputy Minister of Social Development) in Mexico to conclude outstanding political interaction with regards to the draft MOU.

Visit to USA’s State of Maryland: As part of the international cooperation, the Department of Social Development has been negotiating Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with both the State of Maryland and Howard University. Despite the fact that Ministerial delegation did not incur additional flight costs for the visit in question, the opportunity was also utilized to concretize the areas of cooperation with the State of Maryland. The MOU (attached as annexure B) has now been agreed upon and it will be signed via the diplomatic channels. The MOU areas of cooperation include the following:

• Capacity building within the Department of Social Development social service policy, practice and professionals focused on behavioral health, including mental health;
• Establishment of partnerships with colleges, universities, and other academic training institutions, in priority areas including social work and early childhood education;
• Exchange of expertise in the design and rollout of Alcohol and Substance Related Disorder prevention, treatment, after care and reintegration programs. Both parties will seek to collaborate in advocating for early intervention and a more integrated approach with other role players in addressing the challenges of drug abuse;
• Sharing of good practices that address the needs of foster youth and vulnerable youth between the ages of 19-23 years. This will include youth that graduate out or age out of Foster Care System and Child and Youth Care Centers or facilities;
• Sharing of good practices that address the needs of the population in the most impoverished communities and the rural areas by initiating DSD programs using various mechanisms, including Non-Profit Organizations (NPO) and Faith Based Organizations (FBO);
• Sharing of good practices that will assist in developing center and non-center based early childhood programs with parenting training and development, including strengthening family programs;
• Exchange good practices that will enhance existing youth development, engagement, and delinquency prevention programs to include the use of technology training as well as link to other models, such as entrepreneurship programs; and
• Jointly work towards strengthening management of monitoring and evaluation of systems that ensure policies are well designed and have the desired impact on programs and services.

Reply:

No.

Reply:

The Department of Social Development does not deal with School Nutrition programme at all.  The question must be sent to the Department of Basic Education.

Reply:

No.