Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. (a)The Free State Province has a total of fifteen (15) field veterinarian positions, ten (10) of these positions are filled.

(b)(i)There are five (5) positions that are currently vacant, and the department has advertised three (3) positions linked to the provincial budget.

(ii)The department plans to therefore to fill the three advertised positions as early as 1st October 2021.

2. The ratio of mature livestock unit is approximately 50000 livestock units to a veterinarian.

3. The Free State has implemented the compulsory community service with success, and the program has been running since inception in 2016. During 2021, the compulsory community service year the Free State Provincial Department is hosting 14 Veterinarians in the following eight (8) provincial clinics that are again distributed among the province’s five (5) Districts:

• a) Bloemfontein State Vet Clinic in Mangaung Metro;
• b) Thaba Nchu State Vet Clinic in Mangaung Metro;
• c) Qwa Qwa State Vet Clinic in Thabo Mofutsanyana;
• d) Kroonstad State Vet Clinic in Fezile Dabi;
• e) Ladybrand State Vet Clinic in Thabo Mofutsanyana;
• f) Fauresmith State Vet Clinic in Xhariep District;
• g) Welkom State Vet Clinic in Lejweleputswa District; and
• h) Heilbron State Vet Clinic in Fezile Dabi.

On average all the clinics are seeing an average 928 Clients per month. Each client brings to the clinics a minimum of two (2) animals. The clinics are providing assistance for both companion animals (dogs and cats) and farm animals (cattle sheep and goats). Primary animal health care remains the focus area of intervention at these clinics. Farmer extension services and farmer workshops are being offered to assist our rural emerging farmers to improve their livestock production.

4. (a) The Free State Province shares the same disease profile as the rest of the country. Bovine brucellosis, Bovine tuberculosis and Rabies continue to be recorded from time to time as a result of our field personnel performing routine disease surveillance function. The outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever also spread to the Free State Province, this being a result of movement of migratory wild water birds; as well as movement of pigs and pig products between different provinces (livestock auctions as possible route).

(b) The veterinary and para-veterinary personnel continue to implement disease prevention and disease control interventions as part of their day-to-day functions linked to these diseases.

Reply:

The total number of school learners, in each province, who are facing criminal charges for any kind of assault that took place in school, is reflected in the table below.

Find here: Number of assault cases reported in schools, per province, in 2020/2021
 

Reply:

1. The DHA Online Verification System (OVS) was initially deployed and accessed by the Citizens for the online verification of; marital status, passport and ID application status, among others. The OVS gained popularity to the point whereby insurance companies were not using proper processes. However, insurance companies opted to use the same free service designed for individual citizens. International users were identified trying to access our National Population Register (NPR) system via the unsecured OVS.

This imposed a risk to NPR and security of Citizen’s data. Department was then advised to temporally close the OVS and work on a solution to address all identified risks. Security of Citizen’s data is the priority of the DHA, that’s why the Department opted to temporarily close the system, until OVS is secured and is solely accessed by the authorised users. Thereafter, DHA separated OVS processes for insurance companies and Citizens, into two phases. The former is already in commission, while the latter is being planned to be released as a second phase.

Efforts are underway to provide such services in a more secure fashion. Some of the related developments are described below.

DHA continuously invests in ICT innovations that improve internal operational efficiencies and effectiveness, while also improving Citizen’s digital experiencing through deployment of innovative technologies. DHA acknowledges the adoption of digital transformation and the implementation of ICT technologies that enhance service delivery channels. That’s why there are current e-modernisation projects in place and e-home affairs digital channel. The first phase of eHome Affairs digital channel was developed to allow Citizens with access to the Internet, to apply for Smart IDs and Passports.

This first phase was further rolled-out to the participating banks to provide application of Smart ID’s and Passports. The same eHome Affairs digital channel will soon be used to allow clients to book appointments; not just with the participating bank branches, but with participating Home Affairs front offices as well, but for various services not just Smart ID and Passports. This is one of the initiatives contributing to the War on Queues, as communicated to Parliament.

(2) Emanating from the above background, DHA has embarked on the following initiatives to improve system availability and connectivity:

• • Go to Market Strategy for Access Link – The implementation of a strategy wherein DHA has access to a localised pool of pre-approved service providers wherein a procurement of a connectivity service can be expedited without the onerous procurement processes has long been awaited by DHA. SITA’s promise to implement this strategy in early 2022/23.
  • Partnership with Connectivity Equipment Manufacturers in order to improve turnaround times to replace connectivity hardware infrastructure is in progress.
  • Improve management of generators in term of maintenance together with Department of Public Works to minimise issue of power outages that affects ICT infrastructure.
  • Implemented 100 DHA Mobile trucks with VSAT connectivity and Live-Capture system that are deployed in Rural areas and also planning to procure additional 10 Mobile trucks within the current financial year.
  • Implement DHA Self-service kiosk system for collections, reprint (of birth, marriage and death certificates and re-issue applications for Smart ID’s and Passports by 2024/25 financial year in order to reduce long queues and ease access to DHA services.
  • Increase rollout of DHA services such as ID and Passports to more banks in all Provinces.
  • Implement LTE internet routers to the most of DHA branches in all Provinces to minimise service interruptions, due to cable theft.
  • Closer cooperation with other state and private entities on improving access to the internet to the areas that do not have internet connectivity.
  • Upgraded most of DHA branches across the Country to a minimum of 2MB line or higher bandwidth.

END

Reply:

1. No Department officials have been identified as aiding and abetting the escape of the identified individual.

2. Under section 49 (5) of the Immigration Act, 2002, any public servant who provides false or intentionally inaccurate or unauthorised documentation or benefit to an illegal foreigner, or otherwise facilitates such illegal foreigner to disguise his or her identity or status, or accepts any undue financial or other consideration to perform an act or to exercise his or her discretion in terms of this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment not exceeding eight years without the option of a fine: provided that if such public servant is employed by the department , such office shall be punishable by 15 years without the option of a fine.

END

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) to (iv) The number of child murders, which took place, in 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, is reflected in the table below:

	(i) 2017-2018	(ii) 2018-2019	(iii) 2019-2020	(iv) 2020-2021
Total	576	563	534	469

(1)(b)(i) to (iv) The number of child rapes, which took place, in 2017-2018, 2018- 2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, is reflected in the table below:

	(i) 2017-2018	(ii) 2018-2019	(iii) 2019-2020	(iv) 2020-2021
Total	11 656	11 665	11 380	10 552

(2)(a)(i) to (iv) The number of investigations into the specified cases for child murders, which resulted in successful convictions, in each specified year, is reflected in the table below:

Total		(i) 2017-2018	(ii) 2018-2019	(iii) 2019-2020	(iv) 2020-2021
		251	174	95	33

Find here: (2)(b)(i) to (iv) The number of investigations into the specified cases for child rapes, which resulted in successful convictions, in each specified year, is reflected in the table below:

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1:

a) The Small Harbours Unit has been located as a Chief Directorate within the Department’s Programme Management Office (PMO). The Small Harbours has been included as one of the 62 Strategic Integrated Projects of Government.

b) The Small Harbours portfolio of properties generated a total of R21 139 517.65 of revenue during the 2019/20 financial year.

2:

a) In the 2019/20 financial year the Small Harbours Unit applied for the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) and General Budget Support Programme (GBS) from National Treasury. The BFI approved R100 million. A total of R15 million under the GBS programme was allocated however no funding was received

The R100 million assisted the Small harbours Unit in completing the priority scope of work under the repair programme to the 13 proclaimed fishing harbours in the Western Cape. Part of the funding was directed to Saldanha and Pepper Bay harbours as the last two harbours in the programme to complete the upgrades to the slipway infrastructure, civil infrastructure upgrades, electrical infrastructure upgrades and security infrastructure upgrades.

b) The Small Harbours Unit did not apply for any funding applications in the 2020/21 financial year.

Reply:

(a) to (f) The information is attached, as Annexure A.

Reply to question 2007 recommended

NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-09-23

Reply to question 2007 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 29-9-2021

Reply:

1. The total cost of appointment is R1 057 075.20.

2. A more information will be provided after having interacted with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) Report on the matter.

3. N/A

Reply:

1. The Department of Social Development has not conducted any study that is specific to orphan hood and therefore does not have the figures of children orphaned due to COVID-19. The causes of orphan-hood have not been tracked as yet, services are rendered to all children who are made vulnerable by different circumstances including those who are orphaned.

2. The department in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders in the children’s sector at the National Child Care and Protection Forum developed an Emergency Response Plan which is intended to ensure coordination and monitoring of services to children including the adverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in an increased number of orphanhood and caregiver deaths. The National Child Care and Protection Forum meets on quarterly basis and is a coordinated national structure to monitor implementation of services to children.

Reply:

In terms of the Disciplinary Code and Procedure, discipline is a management function, and the PSC does not have the mandate to interfere in the disciplinary process. This position was confirmed by a legal opinion obtained by the PSC from the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor.

However, as part of its monitoring and advisory mandate, the PSC held a meeting with DPSA on 28 May 2021 to deliberate on, amongst others, the issue of disciplinary management and prolonged suspensions. The DPSA indicated that they have procured a service provider to assist them to develop a strategy on how to deal with the backlog of disciplinary cases. In order to contribute to the formulation of the strategy, the PSC and DPSA explored various options, including the following:

1. The reinstatement of employees whose cases have exceeded the 90 days period where the nature of the misconduct is not of a serious nature;
2. The reassignment of employees whose cases have exceeded 90 days where the nature of the misconduct is not of a serious nature to other units within Departments or the Public Service;
3. The establishment of a pool of capacity (i.e. Labour Relations Officers) within the Public Service to deal with backlog cases within the prescribed period; and
4. The appointment of contract workers/service provides who have the required expertise to deal with some of the cases within the prescribed period.

The PSC is awaiting further engagements with DPSA on the development of the strategy and the PSC continues to urge departments to ensure that disciplinary matters are concluded timeously in the interest of sound labour relations and service delivery.

End

Reply:

(1) a. The total number of foreigners (refugees) receiving social grants as at July 2021 is 13 472.

(1) b. Table 1 shows the number of social grants by grant type per province.

Table 1: Number of social grants per province

Province	Care Dependency Grant	Child Support Grant	Disability Grant	Foster Child Grant	Grant-In-Aid	Old Age Grant	War Veterans Grant	Total
Eastern Cape	23,417	1,972,830	178,386	74,893	34,024	593,929	8	2,877,487
Free State	8,787	711,619	78,067	24,569	10,576	212,589		1,046,207
Gauteng	20,916	2,000,812	120,845	41,371	10,424	678,524	9	2,872,901
Kwazulu Natal	39,044	2,969,151	223,704	63,210	79,759	732,988	4	4,107,860
Limpopo	16,627	1,963,506	99,816	40,437	54,687	489,613	2	2,664,688
Mpumalanga	11,335	1,165,489	76,726	22,693	23,237	267,023		1,566,503
North West	9,803	903,493	64,815	26,691	17,228	277,606	1	1,299,637
Northern Cape	5,787	328,070	50,819	10,570	18,975	92,971	1	507,193
Western Cape	16,280	1,052,251	150,624	32,209	24,110	379,526	9	1,655,009
Total	151,996	13,067,221	1,043,802	336,643	273,020	3,724,769	34	18,597,485

(2) It is important to note that applicants for all social grants, except for the Foster Child Grant are means tested. In addition, SASSA checks all the applicants of social grants against the government payroll databases (Persal and Persol) in order to ensure that government employees do not unduly benefit from social grants. The fact that a government employee is benefitting from a social grant is not necessarily an indicator of fraud, as some of the lower level staff may still meet the means test thresholds.

Access to other databases that have been brought into the SASSA environment will also assist SASSA in further refining the validations processes, to ensure that the information provided by applicants on application is checked before the grant is approved. This will assist in reducing errors of inclusion.

(2) i. The total number of Social Development officials receiving social grants is 3400. Table 2 shows the breakdown by department and grant type.

Table 2: Number of DSD official receiving social grants per province

DEPARTMENT	Care Dependency Grant	Com	Child Support Grant	Disability Grant	Foster Child Grant	Old Age Grant	TOTAL
VOTE 04 - EC: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	18	2	103	4	91		218
VOTE 06 - GP: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	6	1	230	7	34	1	279
VOTE 07 - FS: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	7		91	2	31	1	132
VOTE 07 - WC: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	9	1	45	4	17		76
VOTE 11 - NC: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	3		41	1	13		58
VOTE 12 - LP: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	8		158	6	27	4	203
VOTE 12 - MP: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	5		42	1	31		79
VOTE 12 - NW: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT	6		59	2	30		97
VOTE 13 - KZN: SOCIAL DEVELOPMNT	51	2	1876	101	132	79	2241
VOTE 19 - NAT: SOCIAL DEVELOPMNT	2		12	1	2		17
TOTAL	115	6	2657	129	408	85	3400

(2) ii. Table 3 shows that 153 SASSA employees are receiving social grants as at July 2021.

Table 3: Number of SASSA officials receiving social grants per province

PROVINCE	CARE DEPENDENCY GRANT	COM.	CHILD SUPPORT	DISABILITY GRANT	FOSTER CHILD GRANT	TOTAL
EASTERN CAPE	5		5		33	43
FREE STATE	3		1		6	10
GAUTENG	3		2		5	10
HEAD OFFICE			5		1	6
KWAZULU-NATAL	10		2	1	11	24
LIMPOPO	6		4		3	13
MPUMALANGA	3		1		9	13
NORTH WEST	2				7	9
NORTHERN CAPE	3	4	1		4	12
WESTERN CAPE	2		3	1	7	13
TOTAL	37	4	24	2	86	153

All social grants received by SASSA employees, except for the foster child grant and the combination grants (which is a combination of foster child grants and care dependency grants, in which case both are not means tested) have been suspended with immediate effect in accordance with Regulation 29(1)(a) of the Social Assistance Act, which allows for suspension without prior notice, in cases of suspected fraud or misrepresentation.

Processes are now underway to determine the amount paid which should not have been paid, as well as the date from which these employees started being employed by SASSA, to determine the amount to be recovered. In addition, documents are being prepared for disciplinary processes to be implemented.

As a preventive measure, all Socpen data will be checked against the SASSA salary system on a monthly basis prior to the payment extraction.

(2) ii. Table 4 shows that as at July 2021, 177108 social grants were received by employees of national and provincial government departments.

NATIONAL/PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT	Care Dependency Grant	Com	Child Support Grant	Disability Grant	Foster Child Grant	Old Age Grant	TOTAL
EASTERN CAPE	413	47	8570	435	2063	595	12123
FREE STATE	116	8	2916	114	529	144	3827
GAUTENG	537	15	20136	460	901	221	22270
KWAZULU/NATAL	1717	74	61384	3321	3414	8449	78359
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	267	10	8577	186	826	466	10332
MPUMALANGA	224	4	7744	302	617	512	9403
NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS	630	22	10113	372	1605	522	13264
NON GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS			14	1	2		17
NORTH WEST	416	25	17074	579	846	246	19186
NORTHERN CAPE	127	14	3474	217	313	228	4373
WESTERN CAPE	192	3	3079	111	473	96	3954
TOTAL	4639	222	143081	6098	11589	11479	177108

Table 4: Number of National and Provincial government employees receiving social grants per province

Reply:

The following numbers relates to Covid-19 claims received and approved by the Compensation Fund:

Number of received claims related to COVID-19	21 219
Number of approved claims related to COVID-19	13 958
The value of benefits paid to date	R32,723,086.79

Reply:

It is important for the honourable Dr Cardo to realise that majority of the bargaining councils which is +- 85% are made up of small businesses. Furthermore, out of 46 bargaining councils, 40 are private sector bargaining councils and they employ +-950 000 employees in the economy.

Not all of these bargaining councils have concluded collective agreements and/or have extended their collective agreements to non-parties. The remaining 6 are in public sector. Given that in the public sector there is one employer, there is no need for exemption applications

In terms of the law, bargaining councils are required to annually (covering 1 January to 31 December) furnish the Registrar of Labour Relations with the information on exemptions so as to see whether they have taken the affairs of small businesses into consideration.

The Registrar of Labour Relations received reports from 22 of the bargaining councils; and only 13 received exemption applications.

A total of 1443 exemption applications were received by 13 bargaining councils IN 2020:

• A total of 660 exemptions were granted to all; and out of 660, 310 were granted to small businesses;
• A total of 715 were refused; and out of 715, 329 refusals were for small business;
• Withdrawn were 34; and 11 were for small business; and
• By end December, 34 applications were still under considerations.

The granted exemptions range from wages, conditions of employment, provident/pension fund; and medical/sick funds amongst others. When application is refused, it is because it does not comply with the requirements to be granted an exemption.

END

 

Reply:

1. The Government of the Republic of South Africa has formally, lodged an objection to the unilateral decision by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) to grant the State of Israel observer status to the African Union (AU).

• 1.1 Consequently, the matter has been placed on the agenda of the AU Executive Council that will convene on 13 and 14 October 2021.
• 1.2  South Africa and other like-minded countries that have lodged objections will, at the Executive Council meeting, vigorously pursue the conviction that the AU must, as a matter of urgency, rescind the decision on Israel's observer status unless and until it complies with all United Nations (UN) resolutions concerning its withdrawal from all occupied territories and give effect to the self-determination of the Palestinian People.

(2) South Africa maintains diplomatic relations with Israel and as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Israel has an Embassy in South Africa and South Africa maintains  an Embassy in Israel. There are no plans to request the closure of the Israeli Embassy in South Africa.

Reply:

The Department has used virtual marketing tools to support local businesses to access export markets, in addition to more traditional means.

These included the following:

1. Trade Seminars

The department hosted thirteen (13) virtual trade seminars and business engagements with local and international partners.

• South Korean market initiative for the sale of South African alcoholic beverages at GS Retail Stores.
• UAE Virtual trade and investment webinar focusing on the food and beverage market.
• Inaugural South Africa – United States Black Business Summit
• Collaborated with WESGRO and the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) on two (2) key events:
  • Cape Agriculture Week Inward Buying Mission.
  • Biofach eSpecial (an organic virtual trade fair).
• Footwear and Leather Virtual Exhibition event, targeting the Middle East and Africa, with particular focus on UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Kenya.
• Webinar on Trade, Investment and Boat Buying Tourism Opportunities in the Boatbuilding Sector in South Africa.
• Webinar between Export Promotion: North America and USAID for funding opportunities for PDI’s, SMME and Women owned Enterprises.
• Webinar with the US Food and Drug Administration about information companies need to know to export food products to the USA.
• Brazil Agribusiness Trade and Investment webinar hosted in partnership with DIRCO.
• South African companies were introduced and received online training on a Russian e-commerce platform, OZON as a tool to further access the Russian market.
• South Africa-Argentina Webinar: Opening South-South Business Opportunities
• Undertook an outward investment mission to Côte d'Ivoire to assist a South African solar company to enter the energy sector.

2. Trade leads to businesses

It provided 122 trade leads to businesses.

To date, the Department through South African Embassies and Consulates has received and disseminated 122 trade leads linked to export opportunities in 34 territories, including China, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Singapore, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Mauritius, France, USA, Thailand, Argentina and Zimbabwe

3. Assistance with market access

It assisted companies with two 2 market access interventions in terms of product certification in key markets.

• The Department intervened in assisting a BEE company to be certified for beef exports to China.
• The Department, together with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), assisted a company to overcome challenges related to the company’s exportation of live animals (sheep, goats and cattle) from South Africa to Kuwait.

4. Export training programmes

As part of growing and diversifying the exporter base, the department provided thirty (30) exporter awareness and capacity building sessions

• Twenty (20) Global Exporter Passport Programme (GEPP) sessions were held where 270 individuals were trained in the following districts:

City/Town	Province	GEPP Training Phase 1	GEPP Training Phase 2	GEPP Training Phase 3	Trained companies per city/town
Port Elizabeth	Eastern Cape	18	15	13	46
East London				9	9
Mbombela	Mpumalanga			5	5
Virtual Training (1)	National		11	18	29
Virtual Training (2)		32	15	25	72
Tshwane	Gauteng		16	15	31
JHB Sandton			11	8	19
JHB Constitution Hill		13	9	6	28
Tzaneen	Limpopo			11	11
Durban	KwaZulu-Natal		11	9	20
Totals		63	88	119	270

• Ten (10) Export Awareness sessions involving 224 individuals were held as follows:

Province	City/Town	Persons	Date Of Seminar	Platform
1 January 2021 – 30 March 2021
None
1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021
Gauteng	Alexandra	20	06-04-2021	Physical
	Midrand	23	21-04-2021	Virtual
	Johannesburg	17	09-06-2021	Physical
	Johannesburg	35	21-06-2021	Physical
Limpopo	Thohoyandou	9	26-05-2021	Physical
	Giyani	7	27-05-2021
	Polokwane	11	28-05-2021
Northern Cape	Kimberley	11	26-06-2021	Virtual
1 July 2021 – Current
Gauteng	Johannesburg	37	09-07-2021	Virtual
Mpumalanga	Ermelo	48	28-07-2021	Virtual
TOTAL		224

5. Incubation programmes

The Department coordinated an incubation programme for women entrepreneurs.

The Department has an agreement with the German Ministry and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to collaborate on capacitating South African companies that wishes to do business in Germany with adequate understanding of the market and business culture. The programme is executed in a form of mentorship and incubation by German companies and is designed to assist companies to develop an in-depth knowledge of international trade, using access to the German market as a case the study.

So far in 2021, the programme has benefitted 65 South African companies (44 of which are women-owned) from the following provinces:

• Eastern Cape (6)
• Mpumalanga (1)
• North West (3)
• Gauteng (32)
• Western Cape (19)
• KwaZulu-Natal (4).

The continuing Covid-19 pandemic compelled the programme to be facilitated virtually for a period of 8 weeks. The total of 65 companies were divided into three groups which received training on the following dates:

• Group 1: 1 March 2021 until 23 April 2021
• Group 2: 2 June 2021 until 23 July 2021
• Group 3: 6 July 2021 until 27 August 2021.

6. Export marketing assistance

The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) funding rules were revised to support South African companies to also participate in virtual exhibitions and missions.

In addition to the existing EMIA support measures, the following support measures were approved for virtual exhibitions and missions:

• Procure and funding 100% digital platform (virtual space/ digital exhibition/ Virtual B-B platform, listing/registration).
• Procure and fund physical stand in a case of hybrid missions and complement with relevant ICT infrastructure, gadgets and related data.
• Assist with digital marketing content/profile development (Digital videos, Digital Profiles, Digital Catalogues, Destination advertising / material / branding and Website) limited to R5, 000 per company participating.
• Transportations of material and samples.
• Procure and provide translators for virtual Group Missions.
• Air time/ mobile data for internet access to qualifying companies (based on need assessment) limited to R200 per event.
• Digital sales lead management and tracking.

7. Unblocking obstacles for investors

Invest SA assisted with the following:

• BMW: Facilitated the unblocking of port clearance procedures that affected the production of the BMW X3 which is destined for the Domestic and Export Market. Due to the challenges at ports, an urgent shipment containing parts were delayed at the Cape Town Harbour. BMW were notified that a Detention stop has been put on these containers by Customs Border Control. The net impact of this would have been the shutdown of the plant which would have impacted their export commitments. InvestSA intervened by escalating the matter to Transnet and had the matter resolved.
• AMKA: Invest South Africa facilitated port clearance for raw materials required for the production of cosmetics for domestic consumption and for exports to markets in Africa.
• LULU Group: Facilitated the shipment of Lulu Groups, buying office containers which were delayed in the port of Cape Town with export products destined for Middle East market.

8. Sector support

The following are highlights of the assistance to local businesses in Footwear & Leather Goods sector through South African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) to access the export markets since 1 January 2021:

The exports Footwear & Leather exports by value to Middle East increased from R 1.5m value to over R 14 million, to USA by 20% and to UK by 6%. New Markets accessed in Poland, Rumania and Russia brought additional R 1.2m export revenue. Setting up of a New Virtual Show room on SAFLEC website and development of New Virtual Trade Platforms. Launch of new virtual platform for Trade promotion. Addition of 10 more companies to SAFLEC virtual show room. Conversion of 31 companies to virtual platform. This resulted in an increase in exports by 63% in comparison to the 2020 exports largely affected by Covid-19.

Due to the restriction on physical trade promotion resulting from COVID, SAFLEC continues to prioritize Africa, Europe, America’s as well as Australia as markets for South African footwear through virtual platforms to retain the awareness of South African manufacturers. Africa was prioritized as the low hanging fruit. Asia and Europe markets are looked at for Handbags and Leather Goods.

9. Industrial funding and support

The Industrial Financing Branch (IFB) has taken the following actions over the last few months to assist South African exporters:

• Twelve companies that received support from January to July 2021, reported export sales of R542 million. Seven of these companies are Black Industrialists, one is involved in the processing of oysters and is supported by the Aquaculture Development and Enhancement Programme and the other four are beneficiaries of the 12I Tax Allowance Incentive. Two of these 12I companies are operating in the food and beverage industry, one in the home and personal care products and the other in pharmaceuticals.
• On 26th August 2021, IFB through a SEDA online platform, conducted a virtual national SMME exporter development briefing session with SMME’s located across the country. Over 400 SMME across different economic sectors were invited.
• On 26th May 2021, the Branch in partnership with Wesgro conducted a briefing session on export incentive offerings.
• In September 2021, a digital export event support component for emerging exporters was introduced in the revised Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS) guidelines.

In addition. To the above, there are a number of projects supported y the NEF, IDC and ECIC which assist SA-based companies to increase their exports to the rest of the continent. To illustrate this, the ECIC is providing support to SA companies linked to the Amandi Rail Ghana and Amandi Hospital Ghana projects. This includes exports by Macsteel an SA supplier on the project. The involvement of Macsteel in this Project will advance the objectives of the Steel Master Plan of the dtic. The exports sourced from the South African exporters will have an impact on the South African economy.

10. Regulator efforts

The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) issues permits for exports of Covid-related products. This included

• Hand sanitisers
• Vaccines
• Face-masks and shields

ITAC assists SA exports by issuing rebate and drawback certificates based on the value of imported inputs to final export products. The main users are the agriculture and agro--processing, clothing and textiles, chemicals and plastics, and metals and machinery industries.

Rebate item 470.03 provides for rebate of customs duty upon importation of components and materials specified in the permits and are intended for use in the manufacture, processing, finishing, equipping or packing of goods exclusively for export:

• 98 certificates issued from January to August 2021, covering a wide variety of products.

Drawback item 521.00 provides for drawback of customs duty that was paid on imported components and materials used in the manufacture, processing, finishing, equipping or packing of goods already exported:

• 117 certificates issues from January to August 2021, covering a wide variety of products.

-END-

Reply:

1. Robberies, targeting schools, are addressed as part of the National Crime Combating Strategy of the South African Police Service (SAPS), which employs a five pillar approach, to combat crime. The five pillars are as follows:
   • Pillar 1: intelligence gathering, analysis and coordination.
   • Pillar 2: Proactive and high visibility approach.
   • Pillar 3: Combat and reaction approach.
   • Pillar 4: Reactive through detection, including an organised crime approach.
   • Pillar 5: Communication and Liaison.

As part of the proactive and high visibility approach, Pillar 2, the SAPS and the Department of Basic Education have a protocol in place, since 2011, to strengthen school safety. As part of this programme, all police stations have school safety officers, who are designated to prO\/ide support to schools, educate pupils about crime and safety tips and coordinate any crime prevention interventions, in schools. The schools are also linked to their local police

stations, in order to streamline the crime reporting process. The SAPS conducts school safety programmes across the country, on an annual basis, including crime awareness campaigns, operations required by the schools and other proactive crime prevention programmes, such as the Junior Commissioner Initiative, crime dialogues and sports against crime projects.

The Department of Basic Education and provincial education departments are also involved in the structures of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, including the National and Provincia! Joint Operational and intelligence committees, which allows them to cooperate with the SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other departments in the JCPS Cluster, to ensure a coordinated response to crime and other threats targeting schools.

2. From 30 June 2021 to 26 July 2021, a total of 411 burglaries were reported at schools nationally. A total of 34 suspects were charged and referred to court, in 26 cases.

3. The JCPS Cluster and the SAPS provide regular feedback on notable successes, including arrests, but does not necessarily share information on every arrest and every person charged. Court proceedings are mostly public proceedings, which allows for the media to report on any person, who appeared as an accused in court.

4. The National Crime Combating Strategy serves as a blue print for the fight against crime and the School Safety Programme provides for a specific focus on preventing crime that affect schools, in recognition of the importance of education and of schools being safe spaces for children.

Reply to question 1820 recommended

NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021/09/15

Reply to question 1820 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 18/09/2021

Reply:

The revenue losses suffered by SANRAL due to traffic reductions during lockdown, is estimated around R650 million. However, SANRAL continued to apply frequent user discounts of 20% to 40% (Class 1) and local user discounts of 40% to 90% (Class 1) on all its routes, regardless of this loss in revenue. SMME’s therefore continue to benefit from these discounts all over the country. Details of the discounted rates are available on SANRAL’s website and in the published Gazette of 11 February 2021 – Vol 668.

It must be emphasised that by awarding contracts SANRALs contribution to SMMEs is far more significant and sustainable. Therefore, SANRAL endeavoured to ensure it continues to contribute significantly to the recovery of the country’s economy by continuing to speed up its construction programme. This was done despite challenges in the changing procurement environment to adjust to lockdown regulations. To this end, SANRAL awarded 64% more construction projects in 2020/21 financial year than in the prior year. More details of SANRAL’s contribution to SMMEs, such as the Supplier Development Desk, is published in the Integrated Report of 2021 and on SANRALs website.

Reply:

a) PRASA will request all service providers that are currently rendering services where physical contract documentation could not be traced to submit copies of the signed contract agreements with PRASA.

b) (i) PRASA has signed a Secondment Agreement with SIU to investigate all contracts that were identified in the Public Protector Derailed report and flagged also by AGSA as irregular. Such investigation would shed light on how contract documents went missing in the first place and what corrective measures should be taken against responsible individuals. Internally the key challenge is on non-availability of documents and SIU seems to be having capacity constraints. SIU has indicated that the capacity challenges are being addressed and the investigations will be finalised in June 2021.

(ii) The process to pay for services where contract documentation is missing requires end-user departments to compile the necessary submissions with relevant source documents and confirmation of receipt of goods or services for approval by the GCEO and Finance prior to processing of any payment, especially for goods and services of a critical nature that PRASA cannot afford to operate without. In instances where payments have been processed without the necessary documents, based on the SIU investigation, appropriate corrective action will be taken against responsible individuals.

 

Reply:

1. The investigation is close to completion and currently awaiting the Financial Report from the Accountant, after which the case will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision whether to prosecute or not.

2. No, the case is still under investigation.

 

Reply to question 1949 recommended

NATIONAL COMMISSIONERGENERAL: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021/09/07
 

Reply to question 1949 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP

Date: 18/09/2021

Reply:

(1)(a) The total number of cases outstanding, since 1 March 2021, in each forensic laboratory of the South African Police Service (SAPS), is reflected in the table below:

 

Biology
Category	Biology Eastern Cape	Biology KwaZuIu- Natal	Biology Head Office	Biology Western Cape	Total
Unclassified > 3 ' days	7 050	8 438	34 829	14 197	64 514
Routine > 35 days	921	81	4 399	2 539	“     7 940
DNA Intelligence > 90 days	0	0	25 996	14 483	40 479
Non-routine » 113 days	0	0	10	22	32
Reference Index Intelligence > 90 days	0	0	72 615	52 051	124 666
Total	7 971	8 519	137 849	83 292	237 631

Find here question reply

 

Reply:

(a) The South African Police Service (SAPS) is obliged, in terms of its Constitutional mandate to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect and secure the inhabitants of South Africa and to enforce the law. Police operations, which were conducted following the protest action that started, on 9 July 2021 and looting that started, on 11 July 2021, were informed by the need to restore public order, recover stolen property and enforce the law to deter further violent protests and footing.

(b)(i) Practical guidance for the procedures to be followed during searches and seizures were provided to the SAPS, in a circular issued, on 12 May 2016. This circular was distributed again to inform the procedures followed during operations, to recover stolen property, in July 2021.

(b)(ii) The SAPS relies on Sections 21 or 22 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), that provide for search and seizure with a warrant, as we!! as search and seizure without a warrant. The SAPS also relied on Section 13 of the SAPS Act, 1995 (Act No. 68 of 1995), to cordon off particular areas to ensure the safety of the public or to restore order, in particular areas.

(c) The SAPS required people, who were in possession of suspected stolen or looted items, to provide proof of purchase.

Reply to question 1799 recommended

NATIONAL COMMISSIONERGENERAL: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021/09/15
 

Reply to question 1799 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP

Date:

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) I have been informed by the Department that the value of the current maintenance project WCS 046748 is R 88, 997, 040.00 including VAT.

b) The name of the contractor who was awarded the maintenance contract is "Ilitha Painters & Decorators" t/a The Construction Co.

c) The contract was awarded on the 7th of April 2020.

d) The intruder alarms system challenges will be addressed, per Parliamentary Village, on the dates listed below:

• Acacia Park – on works completion of the Park on the 19th of May 2022
• Laboria Park – on works completion of the Park on the 9th of February 2023
• Pelican Park – on works completion of the Park on the 4th of December 2023

Reply:

I have been furnished with a reply to the question submitted, by Ms Thabang Mampane, Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission.

Ms Mampane says the following:

“ In terms of section 2A (3) which states that: The Commission may, upon request by the Minister, board or on its own initiative in consultation with the board, conduct research on worthy good causes that may be funded without lodging an application prescribed in terms of this Act.

a) In compliance with section 2A (3) the NLC allocated and disbursed R 140 923 864,10. In addition to that, the NLC compiled a Report on COVID-19 Funding outlining the integrated response to Covid – 19 relief funds. The report is attached as Annexure A for reference.

b) The list of funded organisations and the amounts is attached as Annexure B.

c) The balance of unallocated funds amounting to R9 076 135,90 will be disbursed in the current financial year as the pandemic is still on-going and the Commission is assessing needs in relation to worthy good causes relating to the pandemic.

d) All the grants that were awarded under the Covid Relief Fund fell under the small grants category as such the reporting shall be done in terms of Regulation 10 of 2015 which states that:

“An applicant to whom a small grant is made must, at such period as may have been imposed at the time when a grant is made submit to the National Lotteries Commission a report detailing how the grant funds were used, together with all supporting invoices and any other relevant documents for the purposes of financial accounting.”

Considering the above, the NLC is awaiting reports from the beneficiaries for the Commission to compile a consolidated Monitoring and Evaluation Report.”

Attachments:

Annexure A

Annexure B

-END-

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1) I have been informed by the Department that an investigation into the allegations made in December 2020 against the Registrar and President of SA Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) has been concluded. The report has will be submitted to the Portfolio Committee today, 17 September 2021.

(2) The Registrar of SACAP is not a member of the anti-corruption forum. However, the President of the SACAP is a member.

Reply:

1(a) Open Water Advanced Risk Solutions was appointed to conduct an investigation

(b) The investigation was completed in July 2019.

(i)(aa) the detailed findings are contained in a report, and confirm the 2017/18 AGSA findings.

(bb) the recommendations are contained in the report.

(ii) The Department has hard copies of the report.

2(a) the Director-General has been found guilty and dismissed with a 30 day notice period. In respect of other implicated officials, consequence management is currently underway.

(b) The Department brought a review application on 10 March 2018 to have the tender award reviewed and set aside by the High Court. The review application also request for the recovery of the money that was paid to the service provider by the Department. The hearing on the matter took place on 12 and 13 October 2020. The judgement was reserved and the Department is waiting for the outcome.

Reply:

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act, prohibits work by children if the child is under 15 years old; under the minimum school-leaving age (where this is 15 years or older); over 15 years but under 18 years old, if the work is inappropriate for the age of the child or if the work places at risk the child’s well-being, education, physical or mental health, or spiritual, moral or social development or has been prohibited through regulations.

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act further explicitly criminalises all offences related in the engagement of the child labour and regulates that any person convicted of the prohibition of child labour may be sentenced a maximum term of imprisonment of up to six years.

As a country, we further pride ourselves in the Child Labour Programme of Action (CLPA) which is the country’s roadmap towards the prevention, reduction and eventual elimination of child labour. It serves to focus and guide the efforts of a number of Government departments and civil society groups, including business organisations, labour federations and organisations serving the interest of these children.

In order to collect reliable and credible statistics on child work in the country, the Department of Employment and Labour commissioned Statistics South Africa in 2019, to conduct a national household-based survey; the Survey on the Activities of Young People (SAYP). The SAYP is a household-based sample survey that collects data on the activities which children aged 7 to 17 years who live in South Africa get involved in.

According to the 2019 Survey on the Activities of Young People which was realised in March this year:

• There was a decline in the number of children who were involved in child labour from 779 000 in 2010 to 577 000 in 2015 and 571 000 in 2019;
• Children aged 16-17 years were more likely to be engaged in child labour;
• Compared to other population groups, black African children were more likely to be involved in Child labour;
• In both 2015 and 2019, the difference between boys and girls involvement in child labour was minimal;
• Children in KwaZulu-Natal were more likely than those in other provinces to be involved in child labour at 8,8% in 2019 from 10,0% in 2015;
• At 2,5% urban areas had the lowest proportion of children involved in child labour compared to 8,5% of children in non-urban areas in 2019;
• The proportion of children who were exposed to at least one hazardous working condition decreased from 34,2% in 2015 (0,8 of a percentage point) to 33,5% in 2019.
• Furthermore, girls (34,1%) were more likely to be exposed to hazardous conditions compared to boys (32,9%) when both engaged in all economic activities in 2019.
• In both 2015 and 2019, boys who were engaged in both market activities and production for own consumption (or household use) accounted for the largest share of children who were exposed to at least one hazardous condition (60,8% and 53,0% respectively).

END

Reply:

In terms of the Lotteries Act, the appointment of the new Chairperson of the NLC requires that Parliament must put recommendations to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition before a decision is made, following which the Minister must consider the matter and make an appointment. The matter of the appointment was referred to Parliament in November 2020. The Ministry awaits the recommendations from Parliament as required by the legislation.

The court proceedings referred to in the question relates to an entirely different issue, namely the appointment of an acting chairperson pending finalisation of a decision on the Chairperson.

-END-

Reply:

South Africa’s foreign policy is based on its Constitutional values and principles central to which are the rights of the Child. In the context of the post-apartheid era where an array of laws and frameworks have been put in place to protect the child, South Africa has complemented these with actions at the regional, continental and United Nations level.

In order to build on the AU campaign and promote the SADC Model Law, the AU followed up with the End Child Marriage campaign that is based on the 5 Year Strategic Plan, which commenced in 2019 to 2023. The AU campaign held in 2014-2017 needed to be built on to provide an environment to enhance the effectiveness of the SADC Model Law. South Africa, at the national level, will work with traditional leaders, teachers, church leaders and social partners to ensure the eradication of this practice in the country.

South Africa has participated in AU and SADC forums and other consultative engagements that have been held to address the issue of Child Marriages in the respective member states. It should be taken into consideration that South Africa participates as part of the collective in these multilateral engagements where member states engage and take individual decisions to domesticate AU and SADC policy positions. In this regard, South Africa as Member State of the African Union (AU) has been in the forefront of the efforts to eradicate this harmful practise including being part of the campaign to End Child Marriage through the 5 year strategic plan (2019-2023).

Reply:

1. (a) The total number of Veterinarians in North West is 30 Veterinarians. This includes 7 Veterinarians that are in middle management, 4 the laboratory.

(i) There are 9 vacant posts.

(ii) 9 posts have been advertised and the shortlisting process has been completed waiting for approval. Interviews will be held immediately afterwards. These include posts that are occupied by short term contract veterinarians.

2. In each State Veterinary area there is one (1) State Veterinarian taking care of all livestock unit’s needs. These includes activities related to animal health, veterinary public health and export related matter of all commodities.

3. Yes. The Department is implementing Compulsory community services for veterinarians in the North West Province. In 2021, eleven (11) Compulsory Community Services veterinarians are employed mainly in the rural areas providing both primary animal health care services and State Veterinary services.

4. (a) During the past financial year we have has the following major outbreaks of diseases

(i) African Swine Fever

(ii) African Horse Sickness

(iii) Avian Influenza

(iv) Rabies

There were also singular/minor outbreaks of the following

i. Blue Tongue

ii. Salmonella enteritidis

iii.Malignant Cattarhal Fever

(b) Interventions undertaken to treat diseases:

i. African Swine Fever: The outbreak was controlled by depopulation of the farm both initially by the farmer and later due to a court instruction. Carcasses were buried with lime on the farm. The farm was cleaned and tested and the quarantine notice will be lifted when the last test indicates negative results

ii. African Horse Sickness: These outbreaks were reported and quarantine notices issued. The individual outbreak farms were advised to vaccinate the animals and employ location of animals to higher lying areas to avoid vector insects.

iii. Avian Influenza: The affected farms had their flock culled. The company/farm used their own rendering plant to dispose of dead carcasses. Surveillance was conducted and quarantine lifted after negative results.

Reply:

a) According to PERSAL Dr DC Mamphiswana is currently not employed in the Public Service.

b) Dr DC Mamphiswana was the previous Director-General at the Public Service Commission and was appointed on 01/06/2016. He was dismissed for misconduct in January 2021.

c) Not applicable as the person is no longer employed in the Public Service.

End

Reply:

It was noted that some departments are not capturing or updating the NQF qualifications and personal information as often as expected. This practice leads to unreliable data regarding officials. The capturing is done on the PERSAL system and hence departments are required to urgently update the information on the PERSAL system. (b) Currently there is no prescribed timeline for the updating of information on the PERSAL system. Departments are, however expected to update information on PERSAL system when employees are promoted or transferred to another department and/or at any time when personal information changes. (c) Heads of various departments are responsible, hence the Circular is directed to Heads of Departments. (d) The matter will be escalated to Executive Authorities where there is non-compliance with the Circular. The MPSA also has the option of reporting the non-compliance with the Circular to the President if no-noticeable change is reported after escalation to Executive Authorities

End

Reply:

a) The South African Government has not been directly approached by the mentioned organisation or Rwandan citizens or civil society on this matter.

South Africa’s foreign policy is based, amongst others, on mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries with whom it has diplomatic relations. In this regard, South Africa believes in non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries unless requested or invited to do so by the affected country or as part of a multilateral team or mandate. In principle, South Africa encourages parties involved in political conflict to settle internal disputes and differences through dialogue and within the confines of their domestic law. In the case of Rwanda, South Africa conducts its bilateral relations through the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) and high level meetings where issues of mutual concern are discussed, including those of human rights where merited.

b) South Africa has not been approached by any party from Rwanda to intervene in Rwanda. Rwanda is a member state of the East African Community (EAC) and as such, any proposals for intervention should be processed through the EAC and supported by the Rwandan parties. The success of South Africa’s national reconciliation, nation building and respect for human rights is internationally recognised and should any country wish to emulate the South African example and learn from the experience, South Africa is most willing and available to assist or share.

Reply:

1. (a) and (b)

Table 1 shows that as at July 2021, 177 108 social grants were received by employees of national and provincial government departments. The Table also shows the breakdown by grant type.

NATIONAL/PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT	Care Dependency Grant	Com	Child Support Grant	Disability Grant	Foster Child Grant	Old Age Grant	TOTAL
EASTERN CAPE	413	47	8570	435	2063	595	12123
FREE STATE	116	8	2916	114	529	144	3827
GAUTENG	537	15	20136	460	901	221	22270
KWAZULU/NATAL	1717	74	61384	3321	3414	8449	78359
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	267	10	8577	186	826	466	10332
MPUMALANGA	224	4	7744	302	617	512	9403
NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS	630	22	10113	372	1605	522	13264
NON GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS			14	1	2		17
NORTH WEST	416	25	17074	579	846	246	19186
NORTHERN CAPE	127	14	3474	217	313	228	4373
WESTERN CAPE	192	3	3079	111	473	96	3954
TOTAL	4639	222	143081	6098	11589	11479	177108

Table 1: Number of National and Provincial government employees receiving social grants per province

2. (a) The total amount that SASSA has spent in paying Public Service employees who applied for and received SASSA administered grants is

approximately R200, 7 million. Table 2 shows the amount paid during July 2021.

Table 2: Amount paid to public servants during July 2021 per province by grant type

REGION	CSG	DG	FCG	CDG	COM	OAG	Total
Eastern Cape	R8,037,695	R1,513,124	R3,719,837	R1,259,226	R232,733	R1,613,858	R16,376,473
Free State	R2,232,898	R342,625	R949,518	R323,190	R36,540	R349,913	R4,234,684
Gauteng	R13,158,586	R1,115,230	R1,753,063	R1,426,750	R76,020	R620,144	R18,149,793
KwaZulu Natal	R63,236,049	R9,706,180	R7,970,354	R5,564,046	R419,155	R20,866,448	R107,762,232
Limpopo	R9,902,243	R642,859	R1,638,430	R881,959	R54,540	R933,824	R14,053,855
Mpumalanga	R7,233,146	R882,309	R1,129,420	R722,528	R27,510	R1,249,995	R11,244,908
North West	R2,797,271	R646,044	R650,465	R435,553	R62,160	R553,705	R5,145,198
Northern Cape	R14,185,790	R1,504,404	R1,958,887	R1,310,375	R106,680	R534,644	R19,600,780
Western Cape	R2,081,331	R294,809	R960,180	R516,273	R29,610	R337,522	R4,219,725
Total	R122,865,009	R16,647,584	R20,730,154	R12,439,900	R1,044,948	R27,060,053	R200,787,648

2. (b) Steps taken against the implicated employees

It should be noted that all social grants are means tested, apart from the foster child grant. Public servants are entitled to receive the foster child grant. Where the foster child grant is paid in conjunction with a care dependency grant for the same child neither are means tested, and public servants would not be contravening any laws by receiving these grants.

For the remainder of the grant types, the means test would need to be applied. Since the information has been extracted, arrangements have been made to suspend the grants, apart from the foster child grants, for all public servants. Those who still qualify will have to come in and review the grant, and provide current information on their income, to determine whether they still qualify to receive these grants.

Measures will also be taken to recover any funds overpaid. Where it is found that the public servants were receiving a grant to which they were not entitled, the matter will be reported to their employing department, for disciplinary action to be taken.

Reply:

1. (a) There are 39 posts of which only 24 are filled.

(b) (i) The current vacancy rate is 33% that is 13 positions are not filled.

(ii) The process of filling these critical vacant posts has started. The Department will be advertising the posts within this financial year.

2. There are approximately 1150000 livestock units in Mpumalanga province with only 24 veterinarians servicing the animals which translates into approximately 48 000 livestock units per State Veterinarian. This are State Veterinarians and therefore excludes private veterinarians.

3. Yes, Mpumalanga has implemented the Compulsory Community Service. There are 24 CCS Veterinarians placed in Mpumalanga.

4. (a) Prevailing animal diseases during the past financial year in Mpumalanga were African Swine Fever. Mpumalanga province occasionally experiences outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Avian Influenza.

(b) Interventions to treat the diseases includes strategic guidance, provision of technical advice, assistance with procurement of the Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine and continual monitoring and reporting.

Reply:

1. (a) (i) The department has an internship programme, for a 24-months period, which started in 2020.

(ii) A total of thirty-two (32) interns have been appointed into this programme.

(b) A needs analysis is done prior to the start of the internship programme. An advert clearly stipulates the fields and recruitment panels are set up to select and recommend suitable interns per field, from applications received. Mentors from each programme are identified and linked to an intern.

2. No, the departmental internship is done as a public service programme. Thus, it does not provide for organisations outside the department. Applications are done by prospective interns in their individual capacity.

(Please see below a table with the number of interns per programme)

Branch / Office	Programme	Number
Ministry and Deputy Ministry	-	2
Office of the Director-General	-	1
Corporate Management	Strategy and Operations	2
	Transport and Travel Services	1
	Financial Management	3
	Risk and Integrity Management	1
	Communications	1
	Legal Services	1
	Internal Audit	1
	Information Technology	1
	Human Resources Utilisation and Employee Health and Wellness	2
	Human Resources Administration and Employee Relations	1
Tourism Sector Support Services	Enterprise Development	2
	Transformation	1
	Tourism Visitor Services	1
	Responsible Tourism	1
	Tourism Incentives Programme	1
Destination Development	Destination Planning	1
	Working for Tourism	2
	Programme Coordination Unit	1
	Tourism Enhancement	1
Tourism Policy Research and International Relations	Research	1
	Knowledge Management	1
	Bilateral Relations	1
	Monitoring and Evaluation	1

Reply:

(1) All universities have measures in place to raise awareness and offer guidance and advice on GBV related matters. These include but are not limited to workshops or presentations during orientation weeks and during various parts of the year for students; roadshows; training; production and dissemination of brochures and other literature for the university community; and information on institutional websites. In addition to these initiatives, a large number of students have completed a curriculum on GBV prevention and mitigation via Higher Health, empowering them with knowledge and understanding of GBV and related matters. Higher Health is the Department’s implementing agency for student health, wellness and development in the post-school system.

There is a need for more comprehensive training embedded in institutional policies. The Ministerial Task Team established to advise the Minister and Department on gender- based violence and related matters, is exploring the possibility of national standards and principles about what should be included as a minimum in training sessions.

Higher Health has established relationships with campus and community radio stations to engage young students routinely on matters related to sexual and gender-based violence, and mental health as a matter of priority. There is also Higher Health's 24-hour toll-free helpline available in all 11 official languages. The line offers health, wellness and psychosocial risk assessment toolkits for early screening, empowerment and referral related to gender-based violence, mental health, HIV, TB and other matters.

(2) Following the release of the policy framework and as part of its work, the Ministerial Task Team held a series of engagements with university communities across various institutions. Amongst others, the aim was to establish how universities respond to sexual harassment and gender-based violence and harm, and what support is needed from the Department to enable the effective implementation of the policy framework.

(3) It has been established that not all universities have sufficient means to deal with GBV, and the Department and Higher Health aims to support campuses in addressing the problem. There has to be a coordinated implementation of the framework by universities through a fully coordinated national response. The Ministerial Task Team will advise on areas requiring improvement in institutional responses to gender-based violence and sexual harassment, and appropriate levels of support needed for the implementation of the national policy framework to address gender-based violence by universities.

Higher Health, through the Department, has released a set of instruments that will further strengthen the realisation of the policy framework. These instruments are directives to all institutions and management to put the necessary infrastructure towards a comprehensive response on cases of sexual and gender misconduct, rape and sexual assaults across all our campuses. The procedural guidelines and protocols on rape, code of ethics ensure that reporting of cases, disciplinary systems, safeguarding evidence, provision of rape kits, psychosocial support services and survivor-friendly infrastructure are developed across campuses.

The Department will play an oversight role, monitoring institutions to ensure that they take full responsibility for addressing GBV on their campuses.

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department and SOEs as follows:

a) DEPARTMENT

Yes

(i) Name of the company

Vimtsire Protection Services

(ii) Purpose

To provide physical security for the department (both Hatfield and Cape Town offices).

(iii) Value

R 18 091 921,34

(iv) Duration

Three years (01 December 2018 – 30 November 2021)

b) State-Owned Entities (SOEs)

Entity	(b)	(i)Name of Firm	(ii)Purpose	(iii)Value	(iv)Duration
ICASA	Yes	Modise Protection Services	Physical guarding	R 5 097 931.15	3 years
		CIYTech Systems Cc	Maintenance of security systems (CCTV cameras & biometrics)	R 174 018.00	3 Years
		ADT Fidelity	Armed response & alarm monitoring	R 88 591.40	3 Years
		Modise Protection Services	Physical guarding	R 262 649.76	1 Year
		Televonic Systems	Maintenance of security systems (CCTV cameras & biometrics)	R 56 223.50	3 years
		Rishumele Trading	Maintenance of security systems (CCTV cameras & biometrics)	R 95 041.17	3 years
		Ubomi Technologies	Physical guarding	R 298 515.13	7 months
		Pro-Secure PTY Ltd	Maintenance of security systems (CCTV cameras & biometrics)	R 99 056.80	2 years
		Multi-Locking systems	Maintenance of security systems (CCTV cameras & biometrics)	R 268 984. 16	4 Years
		Multi-Locking systems	Maintenance of security systems (CCTV cameras & biometrics)	R 173 111.71	3 Years
Postbank	Yes	Vusela Security Company	Monitor access control; screening employees; escorting clients; protection of company assets and personnel, report criminal activities to SAPS and assist in handover of Postbank Visa and SASSA cards	R 44 000 per month	5 years
Nemisa	Yes	Rise Security Services	Provide physical protection in the Parktown Building	R 3 732 056.51	3 years (ending March 2021)
		PEPLER ALARMS CC	Provide reaction service and 24/7 monitoring of the alarm in the Franschhoek Building	R 462.30	Month to month contract
SABC	Yes	Mafoko Security Patrols (Head Office-Gauteng)	Provision of physical security services at SABC Auckland Park offices and TV Outside Broadcasts	R 185 519 425. 61	5 years
		Khayalami Security CC (Eastern Cape)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 13 838 216. 62	2 years
		Khayalami Security CC (Western Cape)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 11 525 746. 05	3 years
		Vhugi Protection Services (Limpopo)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 17 421 396. 43	3 years
		Modise Protection Services (North West)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 17 415 286. 04	3 years
		Mafoko Security Patrols (Free State)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 7 186 607. 46	3 years
		Khayalami Security CC (Northern Cape)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 4 569 137. 04	3 years
		Mafoko Security Patrols (Mpumalanga)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 4 966 994. 66	2 years
		Mafoko Security Patrols (Gauteng)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 3 236 391. 24	2 years
		Mafoko Security Patrols (KwaZulu Natal)	Provision of physical security services at TV Outside Broadcasts and Provincial offices	R 7 361 514. 50	3 years
Broadband Infraco (BB)I	Yes	Selkirk Security services	Provision of security services at Head Office	R 2 440 944. 00	3 years
		Mzuzovama (Pty) Ltd	Provision of alarm monitoring and ad hoc call outs for emergency responses at Newcastle Point of Presence	R 148 940. 00	2 years
		Nthuthuko Zulu Innovative Holdings	Provision of alarm monitoring and ad hoc call outs for emergency responses at Mzintlava Substation	R 20 400. 00	2 years
		Azifani Security and Cleaning Services	Guarding services on emergency basis and escorting of technical employees to dangerous sites in the Northern Cape and Gauteng regions	R 1 220 662.12	As and when – value is for the period 1 April 2020 to 28 February 2021 Provision of alarm monitoring and ad hoc call outs for emergency responses at Mzintlava Substation R 20 400.00 - 2 years
		National K9 Security Services	Guarding services on emergency basis and escorting of technical employees to dangerous sites in KwaZulu-Natal	R 572 784. 00	As and when – value is for the period 1 April 2020 to 28 February 2021
		Bohlale Security Services	Guarding services on emergency basis and escorting of technical employees to dangerous sites in the Free State	R 208 874. 00	As and when – value is for the period 1 April 2020 to 28 February 2021
Sentech	Yes	Collins Sebola Financial Services (PTY) LTD JV Ramadzwi Security Services and Training Agency (PTY)	NKP Security guards’ deployments	R 14 532 175. 93	3 years
		Afriguard Security Services	Security guarding for the sites	R 4 591 766. 81	2 years
		Fidelity Security Services	Emergency security guard’s deployment due to power and RF cable theft on site	No contract value, services charged on a month to month basis	Month to month until new contract is set up.
		Fidelity-ADT Security Services	Armed Response and monitoring	R 32 905. 00	5 years
		Buyisa Security Services	Guarding of the offices afterhours only and 24 hours on weekends and Holidays	R 753 210. 36	3 years
		Fidelity ADT and Technical	Armed Response and monitoring	R 27 000. 00	3 years
		National Security and Fire	Armed Response and Monitoring	R 24 443. 64	3 years
		National Security and Fire	Armed Response and Monitoring	R 15 120. 00	3 years
		Red Alert (PTY) LTD	Armed Response and Monitoring of all four areas/sites	R 85 523. 71	3 years
		Harambe Technologies	CCTV system maintenance	R 663 964.56	5 years
		Craddock Sekuriteit CC	Armed Response, monitoring and escorts to sites	R 9 457,20	3 years
SAPO	Yes	Fidelity Cash Solutions ** All Provinces	South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Pay point Services Cash-in transit (CIT) & Guarding	R 825 000 000. 00	2 years (RFP to be issued)
		Fidelity Security Services ** Gauteng	Guarding Services Static and SASSA	R 201 032 089. 00	5 years
		Fidelity Security Services ** Eastern Cape	Guarding Services SASSA	R 81 449 264. 51	5 years
		Fidelity Security Services ** Western Cape	Guarding Services SASSA	R 33 376 527. 70	5 years
		G4S ** All Provinces	CIT Services	R 400 447 987. 28	5 years (New Award pending)
		Vusela Sanmva Joint Venture ** Free State ** North West ** Kwazulu-Natal ** Northern Cape	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 240 656 922. 50	5 years
		Isidingo (UNITRADE 1047 CC) ** Western Cape	Guarding Services Static	R 33 422 400. 00	5 years
		Tyeks Security Services ** Eastern Cape	Guarding Services Static	R 59 942 143. 30	5 years
		Marumofase Security ** Limpopo	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 2 859 247. 04	1 year
		Ally’ s counter Force Security ** Limpopo	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 1 714 828. 32	1 year
		Clearpoint Security & Hygiene ** Mpumalanga	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 1 153 047. 60	1 year
		Sakhile Ezweni Group ** Mpumalanga	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 4 191 095. 23	1 year
		Khayalami Security ** Mpumalanga	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 8 667 153. 9	5 years
		Ndivhuwo Security Training ** Limpopo	Guarding Services Static & SASSA	R 3 302 970. 48	5 years
Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)	Yes	PMT Security Service	Provision of physical security services	R 29 000 per month	1 year
SITA		SITA currently does not have security contracts in place for the East London, Bhisho and Port Elizabeth offices.	SITA is receiving security services from the Landlord’s Security at East London and Bhisho that are on site. At Port Elizabeth there is currently no security on site. It is for this reason that a new Security Contract for SITA has been concluded for all 3 sites.	SITA is not paying for security service exclusively, as it is incorporated in the lease agreements.	We can thus not quantify any value for security service. East London Lease Term: 01 Mar 2019 to 28 Feb 2024 Port Elizabeth Lease Term: 08 Jul 2020 to 07 Jul 2021 Bhisho Lease Term: 01 Nov 2019 to 31 Oct 2024
		Bangilizwe Security Services	Physical Building security for SITA Eastern Cape premises (East London, Gqeberha and Bhisho)	R 475 410. 00	6 months
		Tyeks Security Services	Provide guarding and security services for SITA Free State premises ( Fort Drury Building and DATA CENTRE in Bloemfontein)	R 2 752 318. 30	3 years
		4B Protection Services	Provide 24/7 Physical Security Services for SITA Gauteng premises (Erasmuskloof, Centurion, Beta and Numerus Buildings )	R 50 248 823. 29	3 years
		Sbu & Sbo Protection Services (Pty) LTD	Provision of 24/7 Physical Security Services for SITA KZN premises (Pietermaritzburg & Durban Office)	R 4  839 720. 07	3 years
		R5 Security services Pty Ltd	Provision of physical security services for SITA Limpopo premises (Polokwane Office)	R 2 741 598. 87	3 years
		Mthenjankave Security Service	Provision of physical security service for SITA Mpumalanga premises	R 1 495 315. 01	3 years
		This forms part of the Landlord (Bridge Trust) Lease agreement. The security company is CCL Services	Provision of physical building security for SITA Northern Cape premises (Kimberley office)	R 151 800. 00 (Only 1 day shift guard, seven days a week from 06h00 to 18h00)	1 year
		SITA currently does not have a security contract in place as this forms part of the Landlord Lease agreement.	Provision of security services for SITA North West premises (Mafikeng, Rustenburg and Potchefstroom)	SITA is not paying for security service exclusively in terms of the lease agreements.	We can thus not quantify any value in terms of security.

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) and ZADNA do not make use of any private security firm as their offices are located at an office park which has its own security company.

Reply:

1. 1. The total overtime expenditure by provincial and national departments for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years are set out in the table below. In instances where no values are displayed, it is due to either the department splitting or merging with another/other department(s) or overtime payments not having been captured on the PERSAL system:

Department Name	2019-20	2020-21
	Amount (R)	Amount (R)
Eastern Cape Provincial Administration	Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs	1,207,384.23	131,393.44
	Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism	511,581.59	249,209.73
	Education	18,113,853.20	13,965,584.32
	Health	829,123,891.33	922,173,581.39
	Human Settlements	183,421.78	130,867.37
	Office of the Premier	959,684.20	155,510.05
	Provincial Treasury	65,511.58	5,302.19
	Roads and Public Works	1,876,901.37	537,655.44
	Rural Development and Agrarian Reform	4,583,294.67	3,966,340.06
	Safety and Liaison	956,381.49	191,975.32
	Social Development	3,258,168.59	1,348,584.50
	Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture	971,988.92	29,116.44
	Transport	39,490,326.66	44,816,427.05
Free State Provincial Administration	Agriculture	1,406,881.16	1,517,070.60
	Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs	27,482.18	326,724.86
	Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs	3,686,637.87	1,145,811.34
	Education	6,663,922.23	6,077,107.86
	Health	412,804,512.48	448,065,887.45
	Human Settlements	919,669.23	282,820.62
	Office of the Premier	5,841.27	28,560.38
	Police, Roads and Transport	26,522,898.56	26,223,630.44
	Provincial Treasury	193,997.36	129,203.80
	Public Works	1,261,530.82	1,371,970.70
	Social Development	9,747,433.92	6,324,314.36
	Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation	1,029,939.76	116,687.64
Gauteng Provincial Administration	Agriculture and Rural Development	3,992,205.46	836,076.84
	Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs	280,270.04	954,484.62
	Community Safety	26,033,682.97	77,501,930.44
	E-Government	4,989,355.16	6,067,932.15
	Economic Development	14,159.93	40,695.39
	Education	21,995,472.75	24,786,642.54
	Health	2,435,543,294.00	2,763,210,382.50
	Human Settlements	129,667.01	58,370.18
	Infrastructure Development	28,723,049.87	29,295,939.15
	Office of the Premier	713,338.14	2,973,302.02
	Provincial Treasury	441,709.44	256,062.17
	Roads and Transport	2,286,377.10	8,877,497.13
	Social Development	1,435,832.52	1,268,506.95
	Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation	6,240,455.90	706,086.43
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Administration	Agriculture and Rural Development	7,863,906.28	8,384,542.17
	Arts and Culture	221,106.35	11,173.32
	Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs	1,130,739.09	563,901.35
	Community Safety and Liaison	260,549.36
	Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs	1,150,064.72	648,309.55
	Education	45,741,563.54	42,181,719.06
	Finance	1,374,313.87	615,340.64
	Health	1,443,466,029.40	1,651,250,447.20
	Human Settlements	1,753,104.14	487,113.17
	Office of the Premier	1,133,266.41	1,083,368.74
	Public Works	1,273,475.07	671,446.33
	Social Development	4,797,599.77	6,104,190.08
	Sport and Recreation	3,602,378.24	1,135,364.42
	Transport	120,146,901.38	114,084,581.30
Limpopo Provincial Administration	Agriculture and Rural Development	10,515,966.75	2,981,688.70
	Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs	4,358,545.18	1,093,578.77
	Community Safety	88,452.17
	Economic Development, Environment and Tourism	21,306,916.98	17,419,216.45
	Education	21,490,655.33	12,084,855.07
	Health	912,828,046.45	834,820,747.92
	Office of the Premier	2,626,255.86	207,299.01
	Provincial Treasury	61,181.02	83,157.58
	Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure	5,185,352.43	1,313,613.05
	Social Development	644,331.84	171,781.02
	Sport, Arts and Culture	381,760.10	19,709.53
	Transport and Community Safety	134,489,211.93	118,715,430.12
Mpumalanga Provincial Administration	Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs	2,512,911.27	1,108,970.79
	Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs	535,146.73	448,455.16
	Community Safety, Security and Liaison	21,406,246.29	27,837,333.02
	Culture, Sport and Recreation	3,558,405.69	1,892,291.27
	Economic Development and Tourism	786,429.45	8,047.20
	Education	9,496,317.00	10,047,619.84
	Health	425,888,487.00	495,675,959.89
	Human Settlements	2,742,950.17	1,418,061.16
	Office of the Premier	689,522.46	502,770.65
	Provincial Treasury	867,846.68	62,664.65
	Public Works, Roads and Transport	25,012,772.13	28,574,276.03
	Social Development	1,779,451.45	13,441,056.28
North West Provincial Administration	Agriculture and Rural Development	2,926,869.15	3,070,211.19
	Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation	280,463.39	496,449.11
	Community Safety and Transport Management	48,715,985.02	40,785,276.66
	Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs	1,154,554.32	1,826,152.58
	Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism	815,951.62	509,190.39
	Education	12,774,961.63	7,752,329.84
	Health	493,620,723.57	648,705,462.33
	Human Settlements		29,555.38
	Office of the Premier	916,062.45	1,049,945.94
	Provincial Treasury	3,060,051.70	1,629,648.73
	Public Works and Roads	14,270,996.60	5,642,349.40
	Social Development	1,116,656.03	1,731,924.82
Northern Cape Provincial Administration	Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development	1,419,518.86	751,237.42
	Education	4,511,565.10	3,364,596.93
	Environment and Nature Conservation	461,153.72	170,158.66
	Health	189,446,067.37	223,175,196.17
	Office of the Premier	891,074.34	549,628.18
	Provincial Treasury	64,866.20
	Roads and Public Works	1,556,828.92	419,632.24
	Social Development	193,823.21	193,274.31
	Transport, Safety and Liaison	1,630,716.95	3,176,554.74
Western Cape Provincial Administration	Agriculture	3,802,633.61	2,770,686.47
	Community Safety	1,857,729.80	1,460,201.91
	Cultural Affairs and Sport	1,686,526.30	135,725.04
	Economic Development and Tourism	131,377.14	174,957.97
	Education	11,463,379.32	5,749,486.77
	Environmental Affairs and Development Planning	326,097.58	63,502.19
	Health	1,157,736,241.00	1,243,312,634.20
	Human Settlements	5,295,675.96	1,742,808.98
	Local Government	943,099.21	851,712.07
	Provincial Treasury	669,139.26	389,753.04
	Social Development	8,378,531.97	9,032,576.23
	Department of the Premier	3,517,839.63	1,247,110.44
	Transport and Public Works	12,378,007.36	9,447,650.95
National Departments	Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries	17,779,803.32
	Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development	80,389,519.07	40,098,966.40
	Basic Education	7,897,621.06	5,681,828.67
	Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service	794,037.21	400,803.16
	Communications	541,647.64
	Communications and Digital Technologies	639,577.01	138,099.45
	Cooperative Governance	4,412,709.39	4,270,256.25
	Correctional Services	193,914,775.91	211,578,343.23
	Economic Development	280,232.85
	Employment and Labour	55,125,049.13	53,047,865.35
	Energy	612,460.36
	Environment, Forestry and Fisheries	10,565,727.39	12,219,404.08
	Government Communication and Information System	2,950,394.84	702,593.22
	Health	20,001,395.84	25,895,317.01
	Higher Education and Training	16,976,257.16	9,595,677.26
	Home Affairs	85,684,534.47	50,468,033.79
	Human Settlements	2,257,343.29	1,731,822.84
	Independent Police Investigative Directorate	1,816,320.14	1,339,076.49
	International Relations and Cooperation	11,755,886.85	8,905,729.97
	Justice and Constitutional Development	18,089,042.44	9,119,949.42
	Military Veterans	1,804,463.19	917,236.95
	Mineral Resources and Energy	4,878,887.82	2,823,676.98
	National School of Government	225,216.84	14,284.23
	National Treasury	16,347,923.84	3,179,421.72
	Office of the Chief Justice	2,194,424.04	856,071.81
	Office of the Public Service Commission	380,286.14	118,374.03
	Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation	1,099,056.25	408,591.27
	Police	1,058,957,936.40	703,439,233.53
	Public Enterprises	633,577.65	54,097.31
	Public Service and Administration	1,182,159.50	941,606.03
	Public Works and Infrastructure	41,830,007.47	22,785,119.14
	Science and Innovation	634,812.48	176,458.79
	Small Business Development	258,870.39	80,442.36
	Social Development	3,978,318.46	5,318,308.53
	Sport and Recreation South Africa	740,229.15
	Sport, Arts and Culture	2,211,959.45	1,123,723.21
	Statistics South Africa	1,750,411.32	1,208,001.54
	The Presidency	11,214,516.50	4,723,079.39
	Tourism	711,130.74	1,497,175.97
	Trade, Industry and Competition	1,058,217.03	282,276.81
	Traditional Affairs	550,756.28	23,888.86
	Transport	3,285,644.20	2,572,738.80
	Water and Sanitation	33,960,826.74	31,247,215.11
	Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities	190,896.72	44,683.56

Data Source: PERSAL

Compile by the DPSA

Excludes Defence and the State Security Agency

1. Overtime work is informed by the service delivery requirements of a department. Hence, Regulation 49 of the Public Service Regulations, 2016 requires that a department must have an approved overtime policy in place. The said departmental overtime policy must be in keeping with the overarching policy requirements set out in the Public Service Regulations, 2016, applicable collective agreements and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, as amended.

a) The overarching policy requirements were established with the introduction of the Public Service Regulatory Framework in 1999 and the conclusion of Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) Resolution 3 of 1999.

b) The said policy requirements are reviewed as and when required, for example, with the introduction of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, as amended, in the Public Service in July 2000 and with the promulgation of the 2016 Public Service Regulations. The applicable Regulation is currently being reviewed.

End

Reply:

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

(a) On 11/07/2020 a fraudulent reissue card was performed (Card number 4213 xxxxxx100415) at Umzinto Post Office. The account was reimbursed on the 28/09/2020.

(b)(c) Another card was issued (4213xxxxx991290) on 18/11/2020 at Halfway Post Office which has an active status on the client’s profile.

(d) SAPO did not receive any new affidavit for any other disputed amounts.

Stats below refer:

(e) The modus operandi that criminal syndicates embark on from time to time changes continually. SAPO/POSTBANK have embarked on a process of cleansing its payment system and circumventing unauthorised access.

Reply:

The President of the Republic of South Africa has in terms of section 42A(3) of the Public Service Act,1994 (Proclamation 103 of 1994) delegated powers to the Minister of Home Affairs to deal with the possible precautionary suspension of the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Mr Qwebinkundla Qonde. This arises from adverse audit findings made by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) in an audit of the financial years 2018/19 and 2019/2020 of the National Skills Fund, where the DG is an Accounting Authority.

The DG, as required by the law, was afforded an opportunity to make representations before the decision could be taken on the matter. After considering the entire case, he was put on precautionary suspension to pave the way for the forensic investigations to be conducted without any form of disturbance or interference. It is important to note that each case needs to be considered on its own facts.

In terms of the Public Service Act and the PFMA the relevant and responsible Ministers are in a position to respond to the Ministry-specific questions. Furthermore, questions related to the Auditor-General can be posed directly to the Auditor-General as the Auditor-General is accountable to Parliament.

Reply:

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

Yes, the South African Post Office does offer registered digital communication. There is one system in operation, namely:

(a) Registered electronic mail system on RiPoste TrEx from Escher Group (IRL) Ltd;

b) SAPO entered into the Escher contract on 29 November 2013 and a modification was done on 27 June 2016. The original design of the service was one sender to one recipient. One sales engagement with customers, it became clear that customers were looking for an automated system to cater for one sender to many recipients (bulk). The cost of the modification amounted to R17 398.00.

c) The original cost was R 8 512 830.00. The maintenance cost amounted to R677 988.00 per quarter. SAPO has not paid maintenance for nine quarters due to the process of changing hosting providers. However, SAPO does not anticipate the need to pay outstanding maintenance costs.

d) The registered electronic mail system was concluded on agreement number 4600000491. The tender number was RFP No 03 E Registered Mail 12/13/HM. There was no tender conducted for the revenue sharing concept, it followed an investment procedure. The SAPO/Service Provider Agreement; SAPO Limited Bidding Document; and e-Registered Mail Statement of Work Agreement is attached as Annexures B1, B2 and B3 respectively.

Reply:

In my address to the nation on 16 July 2021, I described the violence and destruction of the preceding days as an attempted insurrection that failed to gain popular support.

In that address I outlined some of the key features of this attempted insurrection, including:

• deliberate, coordinated and well-planned actions intended to cripple the economy, cause social instability and severely weaken – or even dislodge – the democratic state;

• the exploitation of the social and economic conditions under which many South Africans live to provoke ordinary citizens and criminal networks to engage in opportunistic acts of looting;
• economic sabotage through targeted attacks on trucks, factories, warehouses and other infrastructure necessary for the functioning of our economy and the provision of services to our people;

• attempts to inflame racial tensions and violence through social media, fake news and misinformation.

The characterisation of the unrest in these terms was based on reports and analysis received by the National Security Council, meetings with stakeholders, site visits to areas in KwaZulu-Natal affected by the violence and media reports of the events.

Reply:

1. (a) The Department of Tourism does not have programmes, initiatives, streams and/or projects regarding Community Tourism Organisations. The Department’s point of entry to community organisations is through Provincial and Local government with due recognition of the concurrency of the tourism legislative mandate

(b)– (c) Not applicable

2. (a – b) Not applicable

(i)-(ii) The Department of Tourism does not have policy and/or legislative responsibilities regarding Community Tourism Organisations. However, the department has a responsibility to reach out to tourism stakeholders at all levels, and to maintain sound intergovernmental relations by working with and through provinces and local government where appropriate. The department acknowledges concurrent legislative competence and that local govenment is responsible for the development of local tourism including matters related to community tourism organisations.

Reply:

1. Overtime work is informed by the service delivery requirements of a department. Hence, Regulation 49 of the Public Service Regulations, 2016 requires that a department must have an approved overtime policy in place. The said departmental overtime policy must be in keeping with the overarching policy requirements set out in the Public Service Regulations, 2016, applicable collective agreements and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, as amended.

a) The overarching policy requirements were established with the introduction of the Public Service Regulatory Framework in 1999 and the conclusion of Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) Resolution 3 of 1999.

b) The said policy requirements are reviewed as and when required, for example, with the introduction of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, as amended, in the Public Service in July 2000 and with the promulgation of the 2016 Public Service Regulations. The applicable Regulation is currently being reviewed.

2. Overtime payments are a function located in departments through the PERSAL system. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) does not have access to, and control over the payment function taking place in departments. However, the DPSA from time to time does extract data on overtime from PERSAL and analyse the overtime expenditure in the Public Service. This analysis is used to engage with departments to ensure compliance with Public Service Regulations, 2016 including on the proper alignment of departmental structures to service delivery requirements. Since 2020, the DPSA has held regular meetings with departments that have been found to be non-compliant with applicable regulations and technical support has been provided to improve compliance.

End

Reply:

All organs of state must develop sustainable regulatory measures for the control of COVID-19 beyond the state of disaster. Measures must be infused into policies and regulations to normalise COVID-19 preventative measures in the society.

The current measures contained in the regulations for dealing with the disaster in the context of the risk adjusted strategy remain necessary to limit the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once sustainable sectoral regulatory measures for COVID-19 response are in place or the need to invoke current extraordinary measures provided for under the state of disaster ceases, all the Regulations and Directions issued under the national state of disaster will cease to exist.

Accordingly, ongoing assessments by the National Coronavirus Command Council and Cabinet will determine the satisfaction of conditions for terminating or allowing the state of disaster to lapse.

Reply:

(a) and (b)

Engagements with both trade and media in the markets indicate that crime is a factor in tourist decision making. To this end, the department working with South African Police Services put in place and implemented the Tourism Safety Strategy. However, it is encouraging that respondents to the exit survey conducted on departing inbound tourists through South African Tourism, indicate a higher level of satisfaction with the levels of safety in the country based on their experiences.

Reply:

The Honourable member is referred to the Department of Tourism’s website where a list of all beneficiaries of the Tourism Relief Fund is published. The Honourable member is also referred to responses to Parliamentary Question (NA) 219 of 15 June 2020 and PQ 197 (NCOP) of 5 June 2020. Below is link to the Department’s website to access the list of beneficiaries:

https://www.tourism.gov.za/AboutNDT/Documents/Tourism%20Relief%20Fund%20Beneficiaries.pdf#search=Tourism%20relief%20Fund

Reply:

The department’s focus is on implementation of Norms and Standards for safe operations by the sector. The department also supports the call for South Africans to get vaccinated so that we could reach population immunity which would be a more sustainable way to mitigate against economic disruption.

Reply:

(a) and (b)

Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs) are independent associations based on voluntary participation by their membership. The organisations are responsible for their own operations including financial aspects thereof. The Department of Tourism does not fund CTOs. The work of the department is guided by the Annual Performance Plan wherein all the details are provided.

Reply:

Law enforcement agencies have arrested several individuals alleged to have been involved in the instigation and/or incitement of the violence that occurred in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021. These cases are now before the courts and the law must be allowed to take its course. Investigations by law enforcement agencies are ongoing. It would not be correct to pre-empt the outcome of these processes.

In addition, I have appointed a panel of experts led by Professor Sandy Africa to undertake a full analysis of the possible causes of the unrest and the response of our law enforcement agencies. I look forward to their report, which they have promised me will be ready at the end of the year.