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09 July 2021 - NW1002

Profile picture: Abrahams, Ms ALA

Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

With reference to the senseless murder case number CAS266/11/2020 of Bonteheuwel resident, Ms Lauren Dryden, in November 2020, what are the reasons that all charges have been dropped against the accused, Mr Fernado Isaacs, who was expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on 29 March 2021; (2) whether he will furnish Ms A L A Abrahams with a detailed report on how the decision was taken; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will consider reopening the case in the interest of justice for the family and the community of Bonteheuwel; if not, why not; if so, will the matter with reference number: 10/2/4/6-1292/2 remain with state prosecutor?

Reply:

1. The National Director of Public Prosecutions has informed me that the following are the reasons for the withdrawal charges against the accused person:

a) At the time of accused arrest, the only evidence linking him to the crime was an informal identification of him on a Facebook photograph.

b) Evidence about identification is, because of the fallibility of human observation, to be treated with caution by the courts.

c) The accused was arrested and detained, pending a further investigation to link him further to the commission of the offence.

d) No further evidence was forthcoming and his continued incarceration could not further be justified.

e) The charges were therefore provisionally withdrawn against the accused person.

2. Other than what is stated above, the State does not wish to disclose any further details surrounding the investigations at this stage. It must be borne in mind that the matter is still under investigation, and that the State does not wish to compromise this process.

3. At the time of provisionally withdrawing the charges against the accused person, the prosecutor received instruction to discuss the reasons for the withdrawal of the charges with the family of the deceased, as well as the re-enrolment plan.

As stated above, the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP) received confirmation from the prosecutor that the consultation did take place on the day of the withdrawal of the charges against the accused person. Therefore, the ADPP issued instructions for further urgent investigations. Once the investigations have been completed, the docket will be presented back to the ADPP for re-evaluation.

The NPA treats instances of femicide as a priority crime with sensitivity and compassion. If sufficient evidence linking the accused person or any other person is uncovered, prosecution will definitely be reinstated.

09 July 2021 - NW271

Profile picture: Madlingozi, Mr BS

Madlingozi, Mr BS to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Whether he and/or his department has been updated by the National Prosecuting Authority on the status of the investigations into the Steinhoff corruption saga; if not, why not; if so, what progress has been made with the specified investigations?

Reply:

The investigation is being conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and has been ongoing since early 2018. It is a complex investigation, involving also a forensic investigation into thousands of foreign and local transactions, requiring for applications for Mutual Legal Assistance Requests relating to different bank accounts in various countries to be made.

Further, the DPCI recently registered a separate case docket relating to an investigation into possible insider trading against the suspect/s. A team of prosecutors is guiding such investigation, and the team of investigators has been enhanced, in line with the decision to prioritize the matter.

09 July 2021 - NW907

Profile picture: Arries, Ms LH

Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

What total number of (a) cases of domestic violence were prosecuted over the past five years and (b) the specified cases have resulted in convictions?

Reply:

a) It must be noted that there is no offence per se called “domestic violence”, it is rather a collective of offences related to the Domestic Violence Act or other relevant legislation (for example: Protection from Harassment Act) or even other related common law offences which displays evidence of domestic violence in the merits of the case (for example: attempted murder).

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) does not collate offence specific statistics, therefore we extracted the information as is available on the ECMS. The information reflected only relates to main charges and would not indicate those cases where a different main charge such as assault, attempted murder, malicious injury to property, etc have been added. Secondly, the extracted information only relates to offences linked to the particular Acts of which three (3) contraventions are available namely:

Source

Description

a) Section 18(1)(a) read with section 10(1) or (2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011

Contravening a prohibition, condition, obligation or order imposed by a court by means of a protection order.

b) Section 6(a) read with section 2 and 4 of the Prevention of Family Violence Act 133 of 1993

Contravening an interdict or other order granted by a judge or magistrate in a domestic violence incident.

c) Section 7(1) read with section 17 of the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998

Contravening the conditions of domestic violence protection order.

The following information, as extracted, is only with reference to contraventions on the aforementioned legislation. The previous disclaimers as explained in the second paragraph should also be kept in mind. A comparison of cases finalised between April 2019 and March 2020 compared with the verdicts finalised with a verdict between April 2020 and March 2021 is depicted in Figures 1 and 2 for District and Regional court respectively.

Figure 1: Verdicts Apr 19- Mar 20 compared to Apr 20 – Mar 21 in DC

Light blue reflects the 2020/21 FY for number of verdict cases finalised per month. The decrease in numbers as indicated is due to the impact of covid-19 and related restrictions. The dark blue information reflects the previous 2019/2020 FY.

 

Figure 2: Verdicts Apr 19- Mar 20 compared to Apr 20 – Mar 21 in RC

Light blue reflects the 2020/21 FY for number of verdict cases finalised per month. The decrease in numbers as indicated is due to the impact of covid-19 and related restrictions. The dark blue information reflects the previous 2019/2020 FY. The lower numbers in the Regional Court is attributed to the fact that the predominant number of these contraventions of orders are dealt with in the District Courts.

 

Similarly, a comparison of cases finalised between April 2018 and March 2019 compared with the verdicts finalised with a verdict between April 2019 and March 2020 is depicted in Figures 3 and 4 for District and Regional court respectively.

Figure 3: Verdicts Apr 18- Mar 19 compared to Apr 19 – Mar 20 in DC

Light blue reflects the 2019/20 FY for number of verdict cases finalised per month. The dark blue information reflects the previous 2018/2019 FY.

 

Figure 4: Verdicts Apr 18- Mar 19 compared to Apr 19 – Mar 20 in RC

 

b) The number of convictions resulting from the verdict cases are depicted in Figures 5 and 6 for the period April 2020 to March 2021; respectively for the District court and the Regional court. The conviction rates during this period for the District court was 77.9% and in the Regional court 77.3%.

The number of convictions resulting from the verdict cases are depicted in Figures 7 and 8 for the period April 2019 to March 2020; respectively for the District court and the Regional court. The conviction rates during this period for the District court was 76.2% and in the Regional court 80.0%.

Figure 5: Verdicts breakdown for Apr 20- Mar 21 in DC

Figure 6: Verdicts breakdown for Apr 20 - Mar 21 in RC

Figure 7: Verdicts breakdown for Apr 19- Mar 20 in DC

 

Figure 8: Verdicts breakdown for Apr 19- Mar 20 in RC

 

08 July 2021 - NW1689

Profile picture: Nodada, Mr BB

Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(a) What is the total number of teachers who are registered with the SA Council for Educators who have been found guilty of sexual misconduct against learners from 1 January 2015 up to the latest date for which information is available and (b) of those teachers, what is the total number that continues to work?

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education does not have access to the SACE Register of educators but rely on the information provided by SACE and as such, the question has been referred to SACE and response will be provided once received.

08 July 2021 - NW1685

Profile picture: Gondwe, Dr M

Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)       (a) What are the reasons that the Kretzenhoop Primary School in Blanco, George, is categorised as a quintile 4 school and (b) on what grounds was the application of the specified school to be re-categorised as a quintile 2 school rejected; (2) whether she has been informed that the parents of the majority of the learners at the school occupy low income positions at the affluent Fancourt Golf Estate; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether her department has put any plans in place to review the categorisation of the school as a quintile 4 school; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a) What are the reasons that the Kretzenhoop PS in Blanco, George, is categorized as a quintile 4 school, and

The South African Schools Act (SASA), 1996 (Act 84 of 1996), as amended, and the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF) (Government Gazette 29178, dated 31 August 2006) were amended to allow for the re-ranking of schools in terms of poverty. All schools of the WCED were re-ranked in terms of paragraph 101 of the NNSSF.

In terms of the amended NNSSF, the Western Cape (WC) schools are ranked within national quintiles (NQs) based on the poverty index of the community surrounding the school.

As from 2007, Kretzenhoop PS was classified as a NQ4 school in accordance with the amended NNSSF.  The school’s allocated poverty score was ranked 87th out of 357 schools within its Quintile, ranking the school within the top 24% of least poor schools in the Quintile.

(b) On what grounds was the application of the specified school to be re-categorized as a quintile 2 school rejected?

Kretzenhoop PS submitted an appeal in 2019 through the relevant District Office, to challenge the quintile classification as per the requirements stipulated in Circular 0027/2019.

The school cited the following reasons, inter alia, in support of the national quintile change:

  1. The school is central to a rural setting,
  2. The community has high levels of unemployment,
  3. A large proportion of learners are from single-headed households, and
  4. Most of the learners’ families are recipients of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and are unable to support fundraising functions.

           In terms of the SASA and the amended NNSSF, the National Minister declared all NQ 1-3 to be no fee schools. Furthermore, all departments may also offer no-fee status to Quintile 4 and 5 schools subject to available funding and after taking all no-fee related programmes into consideration. 

During October 2013 approval was granted to invite schools on a voluntary basis to apply for no-fee status due to the current economic situation in the country, and taking into consideration the high unemployment rate within the Western  Cape. Kretzenhoop PS accepted the invitation to be declared voluntary no-fee as from 1 January 2014. In terms of the NNSSF, any school may appeal against its quintile or fee status, and the school first exercised this right in 2017. The  WCED appeal process was enhanced to ensure all factors of schools are considered (see below description of the appeal process followed) and the application was considered in 2019 using the WCED appeal process indicators to ensure a balanced view was presented for consideration. The school’s application to change the quintile was however declined in January 2020 by the provincial Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Education based on the following reasons:

  1. Financially, the school will not benefit from a quintile change as it already receives the maximum benefit from the department by way of Norms and Standards; 
  2. The request to move from NQ4 to NQ2 is not feasible as the current provincial quota for NQ2 is fully subscribed; and
  3. The school is currently ranked within the top 24% in the poverty rating within its quintile. There are poorer schools within NQ4 that would have to be considered ahead of Kretzenhoop PS, should a change in quintile be considered.

(2) Whether she has been informed that the parents of the majority of the learners at the school occupy low income positions at the affluent Fancourt Golf Estate, if not, what is the position in this regard: if so what are the relevant details;

No mention was made of the affluent Fancourt Golf Estate in the application received from the school. This factor was also not a consideration and therefore did not affect the decision one way or the other.

The following reasons were cited by the school in the appeal submitted:

  1. The school is situated in a rural community.
  2. Most parents are from a low-income group.
  3. Most of the learner’s families are recipients of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants and are unable to support fundraising functions.
  4. The community has high levels of unemployment.
  5. A percentage of parents work as domestic workers and farmworkers.
  6. Poor socio-economic situation of community.

(3) Whether her department has put any plans in place to review the categorization of the school as a quintile 4 school. 

In terms of the NNSSF all Provincial Education Departments (PED’s) must have a fair process in place to deal with disputes regarding Quintile classification or Fee status. The Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) appeal process allows for all schools to participate in this process. All appeal applications are dealt with on an individual basis when received. There is currently no appeal application in process for Kretzenhoop PS in particular, other than the application concluded in January 2020. 

The WCED has the following processes in place for quintile and fee-status allocations:

(a) Resource Targeting list

The resource targeting list as per the NNSSF is reviewed every year and forms the basis of the pro-poor distribution of the school allocation budget and informs the quintile classification of each school. 

                (b) Voluntary reclassification of certain Quintile 4 and 5 schools as no fee

In terms of section 39(7) of the SASA, the National Minister of Basic Education determined that all learners in Quintiles 1 to 3 (60% of the public ordinary school learners nationally) are to be in no fee schools. The WC is still regarded as one of the least poor provinces, resulting in the WC poverty distribution providing for the allocation of 40.3% of its learners to Quintiles 1-3, compared to the 60% target for public ordinary school learners nationally. Currently the provincial % for Quintile 1-3 is 40.2%, 0.1% less than the national target. 

The pro-poor policy has partially addressed the pressure with the voluntary declaration of no-fee schools in quintiles 4 and 5, allowing for better alignment between the WCED school classification and the national indicator of 60% of learners to be treated as poor learners.

The table below illustrates the current fee-status for all Western Cape public schools:

WCED Pro-poor policy

No-fee (Q1-5)

Fees

 

60%

40%

            (c) Appeal process against quintile/fee status classification

Any school may apply for a deviation to the MEC if the school believes that it warrants special consideration, such as poor socio-economic situations, unemployment rate, financial position of the school, declining school fee collection, high number of social grants recipients, increasing poverty changes, learners from impoverished communities attending the school, etc.  The MEC considers each case on its merits and provides a formal response. Furthermore, it should be noted that schools are not limited to the number of applications they may submit as it is acknowledged that any school’s situation remains fluid and could warrant a new consideration subsequent to one appeal having been processed. All appeals processes are subject to the availability of funding.

08 July 2021 - NW1422

Profile picture: Gumbi, Mr HS

Gumbi, Mr HS to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsQUESTION

"(1) With reference to House 34 on 120656 road in Ntuzuma D, Durban where Tholi Clementina Msomi (details furnished) lives with a disability in a state-sponsored house that does not have adequate sanitation, what state assistance for the provision of adequate sanitation does she qualify for; (2) whether she will ensure that Ms Msomi receives the needed support through her department and/or the relevant municipality; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

This matter was referred to the National Department of Water and Sanitation who advised that it be referred to the Metro municipality where the resident is residing. The member will be provided with a response as soon as it is received from the Metro.

07 July 2021 - NW1545

Profile picture: Komane, Ms RN

Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Given that the contracts of Community Work Programme implementing agents have been extended with six months, (a) what is the reason that there are delays in the payment of stipends to participants in the specified programme and (b) has she held anyone responsible for the specified delays?

Reply:

1 (a) The delay in payment of several participants for April 2021 was due to the process of re-registration of participants for the 2021/22 financial year as well as 2 days of downtime of the payment system hosted by an external payment provider. Payments to some participants were delayed in the month of May 2021 due to a payment data-file error that resulted in the payment file being rejected by the bank.

1 (b) The department is prioritising the improvement of efficiencies in the entire CWP program, especially ensuring that legitimate participants are paid timeously. The CWP Branch is in the process of reviewing re-registration procedures to ensure that similar delays due to re-registration of participants are not experienced at the commencement of the 2022/23 financial year. A new payment system is currently being developed and will be implemented by 30 September 2021. The new payment system will introduce controls to ensure that payment data files do not contain errors. Interim controls have been put in place on the current system to verify payment data files until the new system has been implemented.

07 July 2021 - NW1328

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Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health

(1)Whether, with reference to his reply to question 856 on 15 April 2021, healthcare workers were made aware of the fact that the K95 masks presented to them only had a very low filtration-efficacy range and could compromise their own health; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what consequence management will be meted out to the (a) procurers and (b) suppliers of the specified masks?

Reply:

1. The respirators that did not meet the minimum standard as per the laboratory test were not distributed to health care workers. Where the respirators were distributed these were immediately removed from circulation on instruction to the head of the institution and replaced with respirators that complied with the minimum standard. Communication was sent out to hospitals that received a consignment of donated KN95 that had to be recalled. In this instance the donor replaced the respirators with a new consignment.

2. The National Department of Health: Policy for the Regulation of Quality Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Supply in Healthcare, August 2020 makes the following provision, in accordance with SAHPRA requirements, for all licensed establishments to conduct post marketing surveillance:

Prior to use of respirators purchased, a minimum of 10 respirators per 1000 (or part thereof) and at least 100 units of 10000 should be randomly picked by the purchaser from the boxes in their possession and sent at a minimum for a Particulate Filter Penetration test at a published accredited South African test laboratory (to sodium chloride) which test must indicate that the respirator has passed the minimum specification. This cost is borne by the seller (incorporated into cost of sale) and selection of respirators for testing is conducted by the purchaser to maintain integrity of random selection, testing and reporting to the purchaser.

a) If respirators pass this test, all respirators in the same production batch may be used, in the same purchase and having been delivered, and in possession of the purchaser.

b) Failed tests require a second batch of randomly selected (or the same) respirators be sent for formal testing as per point 6

c) The final result of the testing must be reported to the supplier and a copy supplied to SAHPRA and the NRCS. The supplier is then required by the regulators to report (as per pharmaceutical batch recalls), on a publicly accessible portal for the particular batch affected (as per many other global regulatory agency standards for quality testing) at a minimum on SAHPRA and NRCS websites (or a link from one to the other).

d) Publication will only reference the manufacturer, batch failed and test results. The implication should not necessarily be that all respirators from the manufacturer are defective.”

END.

07 July 2021 - NW1413

Profile picture: Ismail, Ms H

Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health

(1)Whether he will furnish Ms H Ismail with the scientific evidence on which the decision was made, as contained in the circular distributed by his department on 29 January 2021 entitled Wrapping of coffins with plastic, wherein some cases of bodies that were wrapped with plastic, the need for funeral directors to wear full personal protective clothing as a precaution, falls away; (2) whether an individual who handles the deceased can contract COVID-19; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether an individual can contract COVID-19 in the event that there has been contact with bodily fluids from someone who has died of COVID-19; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) are the relevant details and (b) evidence is there showing that it is possible or impossible?

Reply:

(1) The evidence is clear and has been documented in the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on Infection prevention and control (IPC) for safe management of a dead body in the context of COVID-19, interim guidance, 4 September 2020. The National Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines (South Africa), based on WHO recommendations, outlines the evidence and steps required for handling of COVID-19 bodies and safe burial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has clarified the difference between death from Ebola and COVID-19 and the burial requirement for each. There is no need for extra PPE- gloves and aprons will suffice since the route of transmission is not like Ebola where the virus survives post mortem in body fluids.

(2) No, to date, there is no reported case of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a dead body to a human. There is very little risk of infection being transmitted from a dead body to those carefully handling the corpse.

(3) No, however;

a) When dealing with a dead body, all handlers must ensure that IPC precautions are in place such as wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) which protects the body, respiratory tract and mucous membranes from accidental splash contamination. Hand hygiene, good ventilation and a clean environment is essential. Good general hygiene is importanct to make sure that working surfaces are free from contamination and by so doing this will ensure safety of everyone using the premises.

b) There is no evidence that SARS-COV-2 can be transmitted via body secretions post mortem.

END.

07 July 2021 - NW1539

Profile picture: Ceza, Mr K

Ceza, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What interventions does her department plan to put in place to regulate church attendance and other public gatherings, in light of the growing number of coronavirus cases in the Republic?

Reply:

The interventions put in place to regulate church attendance and other public gatherings in light of the growing number of coronavirus cases in the Republic, entails amongst others prohibiting gatherings, restricting the duration of gatherings or the number of people that may gather at any given time and reinforcing the health protocols and the social distancing measures that must be followed when gathering.

The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) considered reports from the NATJOINTS and the Department of Health and recommended further restrictions to be put in place, in line with the Risk Adjusted Strategy for managing the pandemic. These measures are set out in Government Notice R.477 published in Government Gazette 44642 on 30 May 2021. It entails, amongst others, reducing the number of people that may attend indoor church and other public gatherings to 100 persons or less and outdoor gatherings to 250 persons or less. If the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of one and a half meters from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.

07 July 2021 - NW1521

Profile picture: Hlengwa, Ms MD

Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

(1)Whether his department has conducted adequate research on the capacity for vaccination roll-out programmes across the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) with reference to the report provided by the Health Sciences Faculty at the University of Fort Hare, what is the capacity of his department to deliver the planned number of vaccinations in the second phase by the end of June 2021 in the Eastern Cape; (3) whether his department supports the findings made in the specified report on its lack of capacity for the vaccination roll-out; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what plans and teaching programmes does his department have in place to encourage South Africans to register for vaccinations, especially for the current cohort receiving vaccines?

Reply:

I am not able to respond to this Question as I am still waiting for the Honourable Member to share the report that the Honourable Member is referring to. Once the Honourable member has furnished me with the report, that would enable me to reply fully to the information requested by the question.

END.

07 July 2021 - NW1261

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

With reference to Project Thusano which guides the overall agreements with the Cuban government, military and any other Cuba-related party, what (a) are the full details of the skills transfers that the Cubans have completed, with specific reference to the (i) number of persons and (ii) official qualifications achieved as outcomes from the project, (b) number of newly skilled South Africans have been transferred back to their respective units in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and (c) is the impact of costs to her department as a result of the dependence on Cubans to service and maintain SANDF vehicles and equipment?

Reply:

a) The details of the skills transfers that the Cubans completed are as indicated in the paragraphs below.

(i) One-thousand-three-hundred-and-eighty-six (1 386) SANDF members formed part of the Project THUSANO skills transfer.

(ii) Three-hundred-and-nineteen (319) SANDF members received official qualifications as an outcome of the project.

b) Four-hundred-and-eighty-three (483) SANDF members are currently working in their respective units.

c) Due to a bilateral agreement between Cuba and South Africa, there are no costs involved as a result of the dependency on the Cubans to service and maintain SANDF vehicles and equipment.

07 July 2021 - NW1052

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1)What (a) was the direct and indirect total costs in each year over the past five years relating to Cuban staff employed and/or contracted for Operation Thusano (details furnished) and (b) are the costs related to providing security and/or protection services to Cuban staff; (2) what was the total number of (a) vehicles that were stripped of parts during the specified period and (b) serviceable vehicles that were reassembled and returned for military work; (3) (a) what is the value of the spare parts reintroduced into the vehicle maintenance system, (b) to which (i) military bases and (ii) maintenance depots were the spare parts supplied and (c) what is the cost benefit analysis of the stripped spare parts; (4) whether she has considered selling any of the unused vehicles at Wallmansthal military base, among others, for scrap metal; if so, what would the total monetary value be; (5) what is the (a) real productivity at Wallmansthal military base, seeing that electricity supply is extremely poor and blackouts occur regularly and (b) total cost of running generators at Wallmansthal with regular electricity blackouts?

Reply:

1. (a) The below figures indicate the payment according to the contract and administration per Financial Year

Year

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Total Cost

6,125,800

143,952,671

170,662,596

274,393,655

219,595,670

252,386,010

9,,555,856

(b) The current amount spent over six years on VIP protectors for S & T, accommodation and food is R 2, 683,239.46.

2. (a) A total number of sixty-seven (67) vehicles have been dismantled over the past five years.

(b) Eleven-thousand-six-hundred-and-twenty-three (11 623) vehicles have been repaired.

3. (a) This is a lengthy process and requires more time to effectively determine the value of the re- introduced spares. So far twelve-thousand-six-hundred-and-ninety-one (12 691) spare parts have been re-introduced into the vehicle maintenance system over the period of five years. Spare parts such as starter motors, alternators, brake boosters, differentials and engines are received and repaired, and then returned to the vehicles as part of the repair process. The spare parts from dismantled vehicles are also serviced and taken to the depot. The cost of the spare parts is not yet determined, as the internal capability within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is utilised.

(b) (i) and (ii) The spare parts are supplied to the under-mentioned entities for their repair and return to the vehicles:

  1. DOD Mobilisation Centre, Bloemfontein.
  2. Regional Workshop Gauteng.
  3. 102 Field Workshop, Potchfestroom.
  4. 101 Field Workshop, Postmasburg.
  5. 35 Engineering Support Regiment, Springs.
  6. Army Support Base, Kimberly.
  7. Army Support Base, Cape Town.
  8. Air Defence Artillery School, Ermelo.

(c) The cost of the spare parts repair process has not been determined, as the internal capability within the SANDF is utilised to verify in the system the value of the parts when they are procured, and the current status of the re-introduced parts.

4. No military vehicle has been sold as scrap metal, as the approval for this process to proceed must first be finalised.

5. (a) Wahlmansthal is continuing with maintenance and repairs in their area. Tasks also include the preservation of vehicles. A total of one-hundred-and ninety (190) vehicles have been preserved at Wahlmansthal. The members also dismantled fifteen (15) vehicles.

(b) When there are severe electricity blackouts, a total amount of 4 450 litres of diesel is consumed weekly due to the electricity blackouts at a cost of R8 455.00. The monthly consumption is R33 820. 00. The Department of Defence is engaging ESKOM to upgrade the power supply. ESKOM has commenced with the feasibility study to determine the scope of work and costs for the upgrades.

07 July 2021 - NW1563

Profile picture: Masipa, Mr NP

Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsQUESTION

(a)"What is the (a) extent of the commonage land in the North West and (b) current usage of the commonage land; (2) whether the commonage land has water rights to allow farming to take place; if not, what steps will her department take to ensure that there are water rights; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there are farming activities taking place on the commonage land; if not, why not; if so, what farming activities are taking place on the pieces of land; (4) whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with the (a) relevant information regarding land that has been invaded and (b) action(s) that were taken regarding the situation; if not, why not; if so, on what date?

Reply:

The issues relating to the commonage land are managed and administered by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The Honourable member is advised to direct this question to the said department.

07 July 2021 - NW1399

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

What (a) are the details of the protection services that are provided to the Cuban representatives in the Republic and (b) have been the costs related to the specified protection services in the past five years, with regard to Project Thusano and the agreement between the Government and/or her department as the lead department and the Cuban government and Cuban entities?

Reply:

a) Twenty-one (21) members form part of the protection service to the Cuban representatives. These members’ tasks include:

(i) Reconnaissance, which is executed each time the Cubans have to deploy or visit a unit/entity.

(ii) En-route protection, during movement.

(iii) Protection at accommodation sites.

b) The current amount spent over six years on VIP Protectors; on S&T, accommodation and food; is R 2, 683 239.46.

07 July 2021 - NW2125

Profile picture: Breytenbach, Adv G

Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

In light of the fact that the Waterval Magistrates’ Court in the Makhado Local Municipality in Limpopo has been non-functional since 2019 due to a complete lack of telephones, what measures have been put in place to rectify the situation?

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) that the PABX-system was installed by ITEC through a Departmental contract on 2 November 2018. At the expiry of the contract, the license was not renewed, and it started malfunctioning in August 2019.

In April 2021, Brilliantel Communications was appointed to supply and install PABX systems (including 3 years’ maintenance and support) in all the DoJ&CD sites, including all the courts.

Calls were logged from April 2021, and subsequently Brilliantel Communications visited the site on 7 February 2022. The service provider advised that the system is dead and needs replacement. This is one of the sites affected by contract management issues, i.e. affected by lapsed contracts.

In addressing the problem, the site has been scheduled for the installation of new PABX-system by 6 June 2022. I have been informed that the PABX-system was installed at the relevant court on 2 June 2022.

Whilst the Department was waiting for the new PABX-system to be installed as scheduled, and to minimize the impact of non-functional phones onsite, the Head of Office and all Magistrates, Court Manager as well as the Domestic Violence/Harassment Clerks applied for cellphone allowance and were approved to participate in the cellphone allowance policy.

END

07 July 2021 - NW1471

Profile picture: Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI

Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1)Whether her department and/or the SA National Defence Force has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) whether her department and/or the SA National Defence Force took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?

Reply:

1. (a)(i) Yes, Project THUSANO commenced in February 2015. Since then the under-mentioned number of Cuban members have worked in South Africa as per the specified Financial Year (FY) indicated:

FY

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

Total Number

117

133

166

179

172

  • An increase in the maintenance and repair teams was approved during the FY2017/18, and a project on simulators also commenced during this period.
  • A downscale process started in FY2019/20 and the number of artisans and interpreters was reduced. However, the Military Medical Brigade arrived in April 2020, consisting of 27 members.

(ii) The nationals that are due to be employed in the 2021 – 23 Medium Term Expenditure Framework are indicated below:

FY

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Total Number of Specialists

172

145

134

  • The Military Medical Team will finish in October 2021.
  • The downscale process will commence in FY2022/23.

(b) The Cuban members have worked in the under-mentioned areas, and will continue performing in these areas going forward.

  • Maintenance and repair of A, B, C and D-vehicles for all the Services and Divisions.
  • Preservation of A and B-vehicles for the SA Army and SA Military Health Services (SAMHS).
  • Deactivation of B-vehicles for the SA Army and SAMHS.
  • Stocktaking, organization and management of warehouses in the SA Army.
  • Maintenance and repair of components and spare parts for the vehicles of the different Services and Divisions.
  • Maintenance and repair of transport airplanes and helicopters for the SA Air Force.
  • Maintenance, repair and manufacturing of test benches for the SA Air Force.
  • Maintenance and repair of avionics components for the SA Air Force.
  • Maintenance and repair of medical equipment for SAMHS.
  • Delivery of medical services to assist SAMHS in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Research, development, manufacturing and installation of combat driving and shooting simulators and automated shooting ranges.

(c) The Cuban specialists are transferring the under-mentioned skills:

  • A-type maintenance to B, C and D-vehicles.
  • B-type maintenance to B, C and D-vehicles.
  • C-type maintenance to B, C and D-vehicles.
  • Light repair to B, C and D-vehicles.
  • Major repair to B, C and D-vehicles.
  • Maintenance to mechanical and electrical components of A-vehicles.
  • Light repair to A-vehicles.
  • Major repair to A-vehicles.
  • Deactivation of B-vehicles.
  • Organization and management of workshops.
  • Panel beating, welding and spray-painting of A, B, C and D-vehicles.
  • Auto electrician skills.
  • Repair of different kinds of components.
  • Repair, manufacture and exploitation of test benches.
  • Stocktaking and warehouses organization and management.
  • Operation maintenance and repair of avionics components, such as navigation systems, radio stations, magnetic indicators and power amplifiers.
  • Joint work with the South African members in servicing the Oryx helicopters, as well as C-47 TP and PC7 Astra MKII aircrafts.
  • Operation, maintenance and repair of test benches.
  • Calibrating and testing components.
  • Maintenance and repair of different medical equipment.
  • Simulators designing and development.
  • Simulators validation.
  • Simulators operation.
  • Simulators manufacturing and installing.
  • Methodologies for training personnel with the use of simulators.
  • Maintenance and repair of simulators.
  • Simulators technologies, hardware and software.
  • Electronic basics.
  • Combat shooting training with the combined use of simulators and automated shooting ranges.

(d) The Logistics Division does not know the cost of employing the Cuban members. The figures as indicated in the table below indicate the payment of the contract and administration per FY.

Year

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021

 

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Total Cost

6,125,800

143,952,671

170,662,596

274,393,655

219,595,670

252,386,010

9,555,856

2. In South Africa, the companies only provided PME maintenance and repair services for the SANDF, but hiring those companies have the following disadvantages:

  • The services are too expensive.
  • The maintenance and repairs provided by these companies take a very long time.
  • The quality of the maintenance and repairs is not good.

As a consequence, the SANDF pays a lot of money, the vehicles spend a long time receiving the maintenance and repair, and when they are delivered back to the SANDF, these vehicles have to be returned to the companies as they break down very quickly. Taking into account the budgetary constraints faced by the SANDF, and the amount and complexity of the missions it has to fulfil, the SANDF requires a faster, cheaper and more reliable maintenance and repair service for the Prime Mission Equipment (PME). For this reason, the SANDF must build its own capabilities for maintaining and improving the serviceability rate of the PME, which is critical for having a better combat readiness. The companies are not willing to repair the vehicles for a lower price, nor to transfer the skills for doing it. The Cuban members, on the other hand, are providing the services in the required way, and are transferring their skills to the SANDF members at the same time. For example, at the Army Support Base (ASB) Western Cape, at the beginning of the Project, the vehicle serviceability was at 35%. At the current moment the ASB’s serviceability stands at 84%. Most of the unserviceable vehicles at the ASB are not repaired yet due to the lack of funds for procuring spares and material panel beating and painting.

06 July 2021 - NW1481

Profile picture: Mphithi, Mr L

Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Acting Minister in The Presidency

(1)Whether her Office has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) whether her Office took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?

Reply:

  • Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has not concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba and/or Cuban National from 2010 – 2011 financial year up to the 2020 – 2021 financial year.
  • The Presidency has not concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba and/or Cuban National from 2010 – 2011 financial year up to the 2020 – 2021 financial year.

Thank You.

06 July 2021 - NW1502

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Finance

(1)Whether the public debt decreased since June 2020 in accordance with the Government’s undertaking to reduce it; if not, by what total amount did it increase; if so, by what total amount did it decrease; (2) what are the (a) details of the strategies that the Government has implemented since June 2020 to reduce public debt and (c) estimated outcomes in 2021?

Reply:

1. The June 2020 Supplementary Budget projected that gross national government debt will reach R3.97 trillion or 81.8 per cent of GDP by the end of 2020/21. According to the preliminary outcome for 2020/21, gross debt amounted to R3.93 trillion or 79 per cent of GDP. According to the 2021 Budget, gross debt will stabilise in 2025/26 at 88.9 per cent of GDP compared to 95.3 per cent forecasted in the 2020 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement.

2. (a) The 2020 Supplementary Budget outlined how Cabinet had endorsed a 2021 budget process that moves towards debt stablilisation. Cabinet had reiterated support for the proposed public-service wage bill reductions announced in February, which would improve the composition of spending.

The 2020 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) then proposed steps to reduce the fiscal deficit and stabilise debt-to-GDP ratio over a five-year period. The 2020 MTBPS proposed fiscal adjustments to narrow the main budget deficit by 7.3 percentage points of GDP over the 2020 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period, and by an additional 1.8 percentage points in the subsequent two years after the MTEF. To partially offset the effect of the spending adjustment, government had weighted the largest share of reductions to the wage bill, while supporting capital grants and the Infrastructure Fund. Narrowing the deficit and improving the composition of spending requires reductions in the growth of the wage bill, which accounts for about one-third of the consolidated budget. Government proposed downward adjustments to main budget spending plans over the next three years. Relative to the 2020 Budget, total main budget non-interest expenditure was projected to decrease by R62.9 billion in 2021/22, R92.9 billion in 2022/23 and R150.9 billion in 2023/24.

(c) The 2021 Budget continues this path of expenditure restraint and fiscal consolidation. However, it withdraws the R40 billion in tax measures announced in 2020 SAB. Efforts to narrow the budget deficit and improve the composition of spending – primarily through restraining wage bill growth – remain on course.

06 July 2021 - NW1680

Profile picture: George, Dr DT

George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Finance

Whether any funds have been made available for the Local Government Elections that will take place on 27 October 2021; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Yes. The funding for the local government elections has been provided for and is included in the baseline of the Electoral Commission. The procurement of the election devices is also funded and included in the baseline. The baseline for the IEC for 2021/22, including the operational expenditure of the Commission, is R2.2 billion.

06 July 2021 - NW950

Profile picture: Hill-Lewis, Mr GG

Hill-Lewis, Mr GG to ask the Minister of Finance

Whether, in light of the fiscal pressures facing the economy and the commitment of the National Treasury to implement zero-based budgeting, the National Treasury has ever considered and/or is considering the implementation of (a) a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of SA, 1996, which requires that the State cannot spend more than its income or any similar amendment, (b) budget balance rules that require the primary budget balance to achieve a net balance of zero over a specified period of time or any similar rule, (c) debt rules which require the Government to place a growth ceiling on consolidated government debt or any similar rule, (d) expenditure rules that require government to place a growth ceiling on government expenditure or any similar rule and/or (e) revenue rules that require the Government to abide by certain limitations as it pertains to raising and introduction of taxes or any similar rule; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

a) The National Treasury is not proposing amendments to the Constitution.

b) The National Treasury is not proposing a balance budget rule but the 2021 Budget sets out a fiscal framework that targets a debt stabilising primary balance in 2024/25 with debt as a share of output stabilising in 2025/26. The spending ceiling announced in February 2021 remains a key fiscal anchor.

c) No, a debt rule is inappropriate because small changes to debt projection assumptions can have a very significant impact on the long-run debt outlook. Projections of debt are very sensitive to assumptions about future rates of economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and the long-term path of the deficit. Unexpected increases in inflation or depreciation of the exchange rate would increase the cost of outstanding inflation-linked or foreign-currency bonds. A debt rule would encourage pro-cyclical fiscal policy stances which would worsen the conduct of fiscal policy.

d) Government already has an expenditure ceiling. It sets a maximum level of expenditure to which the government has committed itself. The ceiling is applied to national government departments and excludes spending that is financed from dedicated revenue sources other than the National Revenue Fund. The ceiling has helped to significantly slow the growth of non-interest expenditure.

e) No, government’s tax policy objectives are set out in chapter 4 of the 2021 Budget review. Tax rates are influenced by projections of government spending and borrowing and the nation’s debt stock and a single numerical revenue rule would be inappropriate. Within this framework, tax policy must also consider the effect of taxes on economic growth; the behavioural response of taxpayers; inequality and fairness; and revenue administration capacity. Short‐term tax policy changes factor in the state of the economy. Over the medium term, tax policy changes seek to create an environment that is conducive to broad‐based economic growth and that avoids complicated incentives for specific sectors or groups of taxpayers. Progressivity will be enhanced by restricting deductions for the wealthy and increasing overall collections through improved administration.

06 July 2021 - NW1132

Profile picture: George, Dr DT

George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Finance

With respect to the first strategic risk listed under the Internal Environment Analysis on page 11 of the latest Annual Performance Plan of the Accounting Standards Board, (a) what are the reasons for the systemic delays in the determination of the implementation date of Standards of Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) and (b) by what date will the amendments to GRAP 104 be implemented?

Reply:

The concerns raised by the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) in their latest Annual Performance Plan has been noted by the Ministry and the National Treasury. The process for the promulgation of Standards of GRAP approved by the ASB, including the consultation with key stakeholders, has been reviewed and streamlined to avoid any future backlogs.

With regard to GRAP 104 on Financial Instruments, the effective date of this revised standard will be 1 April 2025.

06 July 2021 - NW1751

Profile picture: Arries, Ms LH

Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Social Development

What (a) total number of officials have been found to have colluded with nonprofit organisations to commit fraud in her department in the past five financial years, (b) action has been taken against the specified officials and (c) total amount was lost through this kind of fraud in the specified period?

Reply:

Nr

Province

(a) total number of officials have been found to have colluded with nonprofit organisations to commit fraud in her department in the past five financial years

(b) action has been taken against the specified officials and

(c) total amount was lost through this kind of fraud in the specified period?

1. 

Eastern Cape

During the past year financial years, investigations have been conducted on alleged fraud and mismanagement of funds by NPOs at the Districts. The findings are that, only project members found to have committed the alleged fraudulent activities.

Some of the cases have been reported to the SAPS, due to criminal elements in them.

Not applicable

2. 

Free State

There are no officials in the Free State Department of Social Development who have been found to have colluded with non-profit organisations to commit fraud in the past five years.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

3. 

Gauteng

No officials have been found guilty to have colluded with Non-Profit Organisation to commit fraud. There are however cases that are currently being investigated in the Department as well forensic investigation reports which are under review.

Not Applicable, no officials have been found guilty to have colluded with Non-Profit Organisation to commit fraud

Not Applicable, no officials have been found guilty to have colluded with Non-Profit Organisation to commit fraud.

4. 

Kwa-Zulu Natal

One (1) official in the Department was found to have colluded with non-profit organisations to commit fraud in the past five (5) financial years. This happened in the financial year 2014/15

The official was charged with misconduct, found guilty and dismissed from the Public Service in March 2018

Total amount lost through this act was R438 380.00

5. 

Limpopo

Zero

Not Applicable

None

6. 

Mpumalanga

No officials were found to have colluded with NPO’s to commit fraud in the past 5 years

Subsequently no action has been taken.

Not applicable

7. 

Northern Cape

The Northern-Cape Department of Social Development has no current knowledge on any cases of possible collusion and subsequently have no information to report

None

None

8. 

North West

The North West Provincial Department of Social Development does not have any recordings on its database of fraud related cases, any officials who have been reported or found to have colluded with nonprofit organisations to commit fraud in the past five financial years.

The Department have established a dedicated Risk, Fraud and Ethics Management unit, which maintains the database of any reported or allegations levelled against any official on incidents of fraud, corruption, mismanagement of funds allocated to NPOs for purpose of investigations. Should there be sufficient grounds to consider disciplinary steps, referrals are to be made to Labour Relations unit or the law enforcement agencies to take appropriate actions.

The Risk, Fraud and Ethics Management unit implement quarterly education and awareness programmes to capacitate both the funded NPOs and officials, to deter any possible temptations that would be in contrary with the applicable legislations

None

 

None

9. 

Western Cape

Zero – Noneto Western Cape Department of Social Development

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

06 July 2021 - NW1536

Profile picture: van der Merwe, Ms LL

van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development

(1)By what date (a) will her department submit the report to Cabinet, which was funded by the European Union and commissioned by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation relating to identifying and costing of core gender-based violence (GBV) services and (b) does her department intend to use the costing model to inform as to how they will fund GBV services, from shelters to post-rape care; (2) by what date does she envisage the new inter-sectoral policy on shelters will likely be finalised and made operational?

Reply:

1. (a) The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation is the lead department in the research on identifying and costing of core gender-based violence (GBV) that was commissioned and funded by the European Union. The DSD is an important stakeholder in this process and support the outcome of the research. Once approval has been granted by all relevant forums, the implementation of the recommendations will resume. The planned activities are:

(i) First quarter (April – June 2021): the DG Social Development approved the report;

(ii) Second quarter (July – September): the report will be presented to the DG DPME and Social Cluster for endorsement and approval;

(iii) Third and Fourth quarter (October – December): report will be presented to Cabinet for approval.

(b) Yes, the department intends to use the costing model to inform as to how to fund GBV services, from shelters to aftercare services including post-rape care.

2. The new Intersectoral policy on sheltering services has been presented in the Departmental management structures. The plan is to finalise the policy approval by various stakeholders in the current financial year in order for its operation to resume in the financial year 2022/23.

05 July 2021 - NW1111

Profile picture: Hunsinger, Dr CH

Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport

Whether any of the staff of his department have been overseas since the period of the lockdown was instituted to curb the spread of the coronavirus; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) have any of them had difficulty in returning to the Republic, (b) in which countries were they, (c) for how long did they travel, (d) who are the staff members, (e) at what cost did they travel and (f) what is their current status?

Reply:

THE international maritime organization SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME: MR TERRENCE MABUELA

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Maritime Law Institute [IMLI] was established in 1988 under an agreement concluded between the IMO and the Government of Malta with the purpose to train officers principally from developing countries in International Maritime Law. Its mission is to enhance capacity-building in all States, to contribute to the fulfilment of the IMO objectives thereby promoting safe, secure, environmentally sound and sustainable shipping through international cooperation.;

Mr. Terrence Mabuela: Deputy Director for Maritime Environment Protection was admitted and offered a scholarship by the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) on the 20 July 2020 to study a Master’s of Humanities in International Maritime Legislation at Malta, Sweden. Mr. Mabuela was therefore released by the Minister of Transport on a full-time study leave of nine (09) months i.e from October 2020 to June 2021 with full pay in line with the provisions of the Public Service Regulations, 2016.

Due to the impact of Covid-19 and attempts by all states including South Africa to curb the spread of the virus, Mr. Mabuela was allowed to commence his studies online from October to December 2020. However, the online studies were a temporary measure until the pandemic is controlled in which students were expected to report to the Maritime Institute in Malta on a full-time basis in January 2021.

THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The International Maritime Organization Scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation costs, Insurance costs (Fire, theft public liability and repatriation in cases of emergency) and monthly stipend of 315 Euro. The scholarship does not cover travel cost to and from Malta.

The Department spent an amount of R18 674.65 towards Mr. Mabuela’s travel to Malta in January 2021 and has already bought the return ticket for his return to South Africa in July 2021 to the value of R18 674.65.

In response to Covid-19 protocols, the International Maritime Law Institute required students to quarantine for 14 days at Turkey on their way to Malta which incurred additional cost of R25 500.00 for accommodation to the department. The total costs for travel and accommodation for Mr Mabuela is therefore R62 849.30.

 

05 July 2021 - NW1072

Profile picture: Steyn, Ms A

Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Whether her department and/or any entity reporting to her paid any funds to SA Development Association (SAFDA) since 2015; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what total amount in each year, (b) under what programme and (c) What was the fully details of the purpose of the funding. (2) whether her department signed any agreements with SAFDA to provide work on behalf of her department; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the relevant details of each specified agreement and (b) who is responsible to monitor and evaluate the work provided; (3) whether she will furnish Mrs A Steyn with copies of all agreements between her department and SAFDA; if not, why not: if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Yes.

(a),(b),(c) Please refer to the table below.

Year

Programme

Amount R

Details

2015/16

Recapitalisation &

Development

64 974 477

Support to small scale farmers during drought

 

Proactive Land Allocation Strategy (PLAS)

6 025 523

Support to PLAS farmers affected by drought

   

3 550 000

Management fee

2018/19

Rural Enterprise & Industrial Development

96 089 280

Ratoon management

2019/2020

Restitution

18 096 000

Restitution farmers

 

Rural Enterprise & Industrial Development

36 992 000

Ratoon management for small scale farmers

2020/21

Rural Infrastructure Development

20 937 010

Rebuilding & operationalisation of Mkhuze Rail siding

Total

R246 664 290.00

 

2. Yes.

a) The Department has an MoU signed on 02 March 2016, as well as a Service Level Agreement also signed on 09 March 2016. The agreements are meant to have provided assistance to small scale farmers/ sugar cane growers with production inputs, as well as the utilisation of machinery, equipment, provision of farm infrastructure, training and mentorship.

b) The Provincial offices of the Department are responsible for monitoring the implementation.

3. Yes. Please refer to Annexures A and B. available on request.

05 July 2021 - NW1550

Profile picture: Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN

Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What are the reasons that her department has denied Lihle Tshenollo Mashiya, a four-year-old autistic child who is staying in house number 4642 Section B, Bronkhorspruit in Mpumalanga, access to a school that caters for learners with special educational needs?

Reply:

As Bronkhorstspruit is located in Gauteng Province and falls under the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and not the Mpumalanga Department of Education (MPDoE), the Department of Basic Education referred the enquiry to both Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). Both PEDs have reported that they do not have any record of the referral of Lihle Tshenollo Mashiya for admission.

It should be noted that Lihle Tshenello Mashiya is four years old, and at the moment the responsibility for Early Childhood Development (ECD) resides with the Department of Social Development. If the full details of the learner are provided, the DBE will liaise with the Department of Social Development to see how best the child can be assisted.     

05 July 2021 - NW1663

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Health

(1)Given the vaccination roll-out programme and the announcement of vaccinations based on age, by what date does he envisage will vaccinations to multiple disabled persons be offered, as they often have comorbidities making them the most vulnerable members of society to contract the COVID-19 virus; 2) what are the reasons that they will not be vaccinated at the same time as their parents and caregivers, since they are often cared for by their parents who are older than 60 years; (3) what are the full, relevant details of the reasons that their exposure to COVID-19 infection and the risk of them dying is not treated as a high priority in terms of the policies on the roll-out of the vaccine by his department?

Reply:

1. People with disabilities who live in care homes of any description are vaccinated through the outreach programmes through the ‘congregate settings’ programme. People who are bedridden can, where it is possible, be visited and vaccinated at home. Insured patients should arrange this with their medical aids. For public patients this will depend on the capacity of the provincial health department.

2. The Electronic Vaccine Distribution System (EVDS) is programmed to schedule vaccinations in age bands as determined by the government from time to time (after advice from various Ministerial Advisory and other committees).

3. Vaccination of every person in South Africa is considered important and urgent. The reality is that the capacity of the combined public and private health services to vaccinate people is limited. There are many competing priorities for vaccination and these priorities are addressed within the capacity of the system and the availability of vaccine. There is no objective way to choose one person’s health needs above another, so the focus has started with the groups where the greatest concentration of risk has been identified and that is in the age group over 60 years. The rollout to others is as fast as the vaccine and the services can manage.

END.

05 July 2021 - NW1500

Profile picture: Ngcobo, Mr S

Ngcobo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Whether, in light of the upcoming Jobs Reset Summit of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from 1 to 2 June 2021, which will focus on mobilising a global jobs recovery plan in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in view of the assertion by the WEF that global pandemic, the choices made by policy-makers, business leaders, workers and learners today will shape societies for years to come, his department, on its own and/or in collaboration with non-profit organisations, has put any plans and initiatives to provide cybersecurity learning to address the global deficit in the cybersecurity workforce from a lower level of education; if not, why not; if so, what are the full, relevant details?

Reply:

The outcome of the summit will be assessed and a determination will be made on how it provides lessons to the basic education sector. 

05 July 2021 - NW1755

Profile picture: Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN

Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What (a) total number of schools for learners with special educational needs can be found in Tsitsikamma and (b) steps has she taken to ensure that there are enough schools for all such learners in that area?

Reply:

There are currently no special schools in Tsitsikamma. The Eastern Cape Department of Education has, however, ensured access to education for learners with special needs, by designating and resourcing Graslaagte Primary School as a full-service school. The intention is to also designate and resource Storm River Primary School as the second full-service school in the area. 

02 July 2021 - NW1229

Profile picture: Komane, Ms RN

Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether her department has executed the order which was handed against it in favour of the community of Marieville in Ekurhuleni; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The SANDF is fully adhering to the court order of Judge Davis dated 06 April 2021. The SANDF does not have any plan to evict anyone without any court order and its court application process for eviction(s) is under way. The members of Happiness Village will stay there until the eviction application by the SANDF has been adjudicated upon and legally authorised.

None of the remaining housing structures in Happiness Village will be demolished by the SANDF. In ensuring that this is implemented, a briefing was given to all uniformed members in Marievale Military Base to the effect that no member of the SANDF was allowed and will never be allowed to assault, harass or threaten any member or occupant of Happiness Village and/or demolish their houses. Furthermore, a copy of the court order was distributed to all members in Marievale Military Base.

The Chief of the SA Army has also promulgated clear instructions requiring full compliance to the court order. Weekly feedback about routine activities and adherence to the court order is provided to the relevant headquarters.

02 July 2021 - NW1535

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Given the recent publication of the annual report of the SA Post Office’s financial results for the 2019-20 financial year, which shows that the Post Office is technically insolvent, how does she and/or her department intend to return the Post Office to solvency?

Reply:

The SA Post Office has prioritised initiatives that focus on improving service delivery, revenue recovery and growth and cost reduction. The Department is concluding the procurement process to appoint a team of experts to develop a restructuring and turnaround plan for a sustainable post office of the future. The turnaround plan will inform the MTEF funding submission for the post office.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

02 July 2021 - NW1244

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Majozi, Ms Z to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Given current litigation surrounding the auctioning of spectrum, (a) how does the Government intend to ensure availability of high demand spectrum and (b) for how long will such initiatives last?

Reply:

(a)(i) With regards to the pending litigation, the effect of the interdict granted on 8 March 2021, is that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is prohibited from proceeding with auctioning the spectrum as planned. The Ministry and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies remain desirous of the speedy resolution of the matter out of court and continues to support the auctioning of spectrum as government is in dire need of the proceeds that will be derived therefrom. The Ministry and Department respect the interim relief granted by the court and abide thereby. Government can therefore only ensure the availability of high demand spectrum when all parties submit to mediation to resolve the matter out of court or the court rules thereon, whichever comes first.

(a)(ii) As far as it relates to temporary spectrum, the Minister issued the Electronic Communications, Postal and Broadcasting Directions under the Disaster Management Act on 26 March 2020. In terms of the Directions so issued temporary licensing of high demand spectrum must be provided for the duration of the COVID-19 national disaster.

(b)(i) The litigation is set down for hearing on 26 to 29 July 2021 and the Ministry and Department are not in a position to pre-empt the outcome and length thereof.

(b)(ii) ICASA, in its latest amendment of the ICT COVID-19 Regulations (28 May 2021), extended the validity of the temporary radio frequency spectrum licences to 31 August 2021.

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

02 July 2021 - NW1717

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Hill-Lewis, Mr GG to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

With reference to the directive of the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa, which she refers to in her remarks in Government Gazette No. 42388 of 9 April 2019, that her Office assumes responsibility to oversee and lead the work of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (PC4IR), what are the full details of all fees and monies paid to the (a) individual members of the PC4IR and (b) Chairperson of the PC4IR?

Reply:

a) The Department set aside an amount of R1 650 000, as a once-off gratuity payment to (33) thirty-three PC4IR Commissioners, wherein each Commissioner would receive an amount of R50 000. Of the 33 Commissioners, (6) six were already in employment of the State which eliminated them from receiving the gratuity. In addition, (11) eleven Commissioners opted not to receive the gratuity, while (1) one Commissioner resigned during the beginning of the work of the PC4IR. A total of (15) fifteen Commissioners who complied with the conditions of registration in the Central Supplier Database (CSD) were paid. Accordingly, a total amount of R750 000 was paid to individual members of the PC4IR out of the allocated R1 650 000.

b) No payment or fees were paid to the Chairperson of the PC4IR.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

02 July 2021 - NW1178

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Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Techgnologies

With regard to the broadcast digital migration project, what (a) total number of households (i) have been identified as requiring state assistance, through subsidies or otherwise, to migrate from analogue to digital broadcast signal reception and (ii) that were identified have already been migrated to date in each province, (b) are the cumulative monthly household broadcast migration targets in each province until the envisaged completion of the project and (c) are the (i) allocated budgets for the project and (ii) anticipated shortfalls in relation to the specified household migration targets in each province?

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:-

(a)(i)   See table below. The data provided below is from StatsSA and has a margin of +/- 15% accuracy - noting the dynamic circumstances of households that proceed to voluntarily migrate via the existing commercial digital broadcast platforms. The Department used data from StatsSA as a reference point for planning.

 

  1.  
  •  

ESTIMATED SUBSIDY BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS

Free State

322 970

Northern Cape

101 885

North West

391 767

  •  

646 116

  •  

381 717

Eastern Cape

551 649

KwaZulu Natal

817 383

Western Cape

380 100

  •  

1 091 256

  1.  

4 684 843

 

 

(a)(ii)   See table below. Installations are conducted in a sequential provincial schedule, as depicted in the order of provinces below:-

PROVINCE

Total Registrations Completed as at June 2021

Total Installations Completed as at June 2021

Free State

278 069

213 902

Northern Cape

72 429

44 356

North West

155 530

85 224

Limpopo

86 817

37 381

Mpumalanga

97 095

49 288

Eastern Cape

163 162

25 231

KwaZulu Natal

206 652

77 639

Western Cape

54 860

2

Gauteng

33 895

8

TOTALS

1 148 509

533 031

 

(b)       Monthly household migration targets are not used as a yardstick. Instead, a determination is made to conclude a critical mass threshold of 70% household migration within a target transmitter coverage area (which covers a number of predetermined towns/villages). The outcome is then applied to determine the analogue transmitter switch off (ASO) in the provincial sequence. The ASO is carried out in a provincial transmitter sequence in this controlled manner until the final transmitter within the province is switched off.

The table below provides depicts the preliminary migration schedule for each province. The ASO process is carried out in an overlapping manner between provinces. The schedule is subject to continuous revision to optimise where practical, taking  external circumstances and internal implementation variables into account.

 MIGRATION AND ANALOGUE SWITCH-OFF (ASO) PROVINCIAL SCHEDULE 

PROVINCE

Start

Finish (revised)

FREE STATE ASO

08/01/2018

07/03/2022

NORTHERN CAPE ASO

08/01/2018

21/02/2022

NORTH WEST ASO

05/04/2021

21/01/2022

LIMPOPO ASO

06/09/2021

08/03/2022

MPUMALANGA ASO

03/06/2021

14/02/2022

EASTERN CAPE ASO

02/08/2021

31/01/2022

KWAZULU-NATAL

26/07/2021

15/03/2022

WESTERN CAPE ASO

23/08/2021

01/03/2022

GAUTENG ASO

13/09/2021

22/03/2022

 

(c)(i)   Total budget allocated so far for decoder subsidy, excluding goods and services, is approximately R1,2 billion.

(c)(ii)   The anticipated combined national decoder subsidy shortfall is approximately R563-million for the vouchers; an additional amount will be required for the voucher system which still needs to be determined.

 

 

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

02 July 2021 - NW1015

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August, Mr SN to ask the Minister of Communications

Whether, in light of the recent announcement by the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) of its intention to publicly auction the Rocklands Villas residential property in Sea Point, Western Cape, she has considered leasing the specified building to any other government department, particularly to provide social and affordable housing within the Cape Town Central Business District; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details (2) Whether she intends on having discussions with other government departments regarding making the best use of the property in order to address spatial justice within the society; if not, why not; if so, which government departments

Reply:

1. On 21 September 2020, the SABC was granted concurrent approval by the Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and Finance to dispose of 25 non-core properties including Rockland Villas through an open market auction in terms of section 54(2)(d) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999. The concurrent approval was also granted in keeping with National Treasury’s prefunding conditions which were attached to the financial bailout allocation and turnaround plan implementation to dispose of all residential properties as the leasing of properties does not form part of SABCs core mandate.

2. The Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has since submitted a request and proposal to the DCDT on 05 May 2021 for possible acquisition of the Rocklands Villas residential property based in Cape Town, Sea Point by the Housing Development Agency for human settlement development purposes. DCDT is currently facilitating engagements between the SABC, Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation as well as the Housing Development Agency (HDA) seeking to find an amicable solution between the parties (SABC and the HDA).

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

 

02 July 2021 - NW1469

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Mabika, Mr M to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

(1)Whether her department has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) Whether her department took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:

  1. No
  2. Not applicable

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

01 July 2021 - NW1483

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Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

(1)Whether his department has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) whether his department took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?

Reply:

1. The Department of Public Service and Administration has not concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year. There was no need identified in this regard.

2. Not applicable.

End

01 July 2021 - NW1300

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Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Finance

What amount in revenue has been raised from the Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax since its inception in 2018; Budget/National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Obesity 2015-2020; (3) what are the proposed increases in the Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax for the (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23 financial years; (4) how has COVID-19 affected income from the Sugar Tax to the fiscus; (5) whether he has received any reports and/or research on the effectiveness of the Sugar Tax on the health of South Africans; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. I presume the Honourable Member is referring to the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugary beverages that was introduced on 1 April 2018, to give effect to health policy to counter the rise in diabetes, obesity and other related diseases in South Africa. There is no “sugar sweetened drings tax” nor any “sugar tax”.

The HPL is administered and collected by SARS. The HPL is a domestic consumption tax and payable by manufacturers in the Republic. Imported sugary beverages are taxed when cleared for domestic consumption.

The cumulative revenue collected from the on domestically produced and imported products, from inception on 01 April 2018 to 31 March 2021, is R7.9 billion. Collections in 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 were R3.2 billion, R2.5 billion and R2.1 billion respectively. These revenue figures from both domestically produced and imported sugary beverages are published on the National Treasury website at http://www.treasury.gov.za/comm_media/press/monthly/monthly_2021.aspx.

2. Tax revenues from the HPL are not earmarked or ringfenced for any particular expenditures, but instead flow into the National Revenue Fund. However, additional funding for health promotion and chronic disease prevention was allocated in the National Department of Health budget (see 2018 Estimates of National Expenditure). This allocation is approximately R50 million per annum over the 2021 MTEF. The National Department of Health has spent R24 million in 2019/20 and R14 million spent in 2020/21 on the health promotion allocation.

3. The rate for the HPL was not changed for the 2021/22 fiscal year and no announcement has been made for the 2022/23 fiscal year. Rate and levy changes are normally only made as part of the annual Budget announcements.

In terms of revenue estimates, the 2021 Budget Review showed an expected growth of HPL collections from R2.0 billion to R2.2 billion for the 2021/11 fiscal year. Measured against the actual unaudited revenue outcomes for 2020/21, the estimates for 2021/22 were forecast to increase by R101.4 million (4.8%), with most of the growth emanating from the HPL on domestically produced products. In the next year, HPL collections were estimated to increase from R2.2 billion to R2.4 billion in 2022/23, representing a growth of R152.1 million (6.9%).

4. During the 2020/21 financial year, HPL collections from locally manufactured sugary drinks, which are the vast majority, contracted year-on-year by 16.4% when compared to the 2019/20 financial year. During the early stages of the hard lockdown levels, most manufacturers of sugary drinks were not classified as essential services and thus production was affected. Furthermore, it appears that the impact of the restricted sales on alcoholic products during the COVID- lockdown is one of the drivers behind the lower manufacturing of sugary drinks as demand has also fallen.

During the 2018/19 financial year the imports of HPL amounted to R1.34 billion with R53.1 million in duties collected, and imports increased to R1.45 billion with duties registering R67.8 million. In 2019/20 imports amounted to R1.23 billion with duties of R66.6 million.

The imports of HPL improved to R556.7 million and duties of R26.2 million in 2020 during the first five months of the strict lockdown, as compared to R444.4 million and R24.70 million of duties during the same period in 2019. Overall, Covid-19 had an insignificant impact on HPL collections from imports.

(5) At present there have been two studies that have been shared with the Ministry of Finance on the effectiveness of the health promotion levy. The first detailed the impact of the health promotion levy on the prices of beverages and did not find any evidence of price increases for beverages that were exempt from the health promotion levy, whiles those beverages that were taxed increased in price by around R1 per litre on average. The second study examined the impact of the health promotion levy on the consumption levels of sugary beverages. The study finds that there was a decrease in the consumption of taxable beverages, with a smaller increase in the consumption of non-taxed beverages, and that the impact was greater for lower income households. The citations of the two studies are provided below:

  • Stacey, N., Mudara, C., Ng, S. W., van Walbeek, C., Hofman, K., & Edoka, I. (2019). Sugar-based beverage taxes and beverage prices: Evidence from South Africa's Health Promotion Levy. Social Science & Medicine, 238, 112465.
  • Stacey, N., Edoka, I., Hofman, K., Swart, E. C., Popkin, B., & Ng, S. W. (2021). Changes in beverage purchases following the announcement and implementation of South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: an observational study. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(4), e200-e208.

01 July 2021 - NW1073

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Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

With reference to the filling of vacant posts for the position of Director-General and/or Head of Department in the Public Service, what (a) is the total number of (i) national and (ii) provincial departments which were required to advertise for the specified posts more than once during the (aa) 2018-19, (bb) 2019-20 and (cc) 2020-21 financial years, (b) are the reasons that the specified departments were required to advertise for the posts more than once and (c) total amount was spent on re-advertising the posts for each of the implicated departments?

Reply:

(a) Based on information available to the DPSA (a)(i) Three Director General or Head of Component posts were re-advertised as follows:

(aa) CEO: Government Printing Works was re-advertised in June 2018.

(bb) Director-General: Department of Home Affairs was re-advertised in November 2019.

(cc) Director-General: Cooperative Governance was re-advertised was advertised in February 2020.

(a)(ii) Based on information available to the DPSA, state the number of HOD posts (i.e. three (3) Provincial HoD posts were re-advertised:

(aa)

(bb)

(cc)

(b) The reasons provided to the DPSA by the advertising Departments included that advertising requirements were not being met, including attaining the delegation of authority to fill the post from the President and allowing for a fair or adequate time to reply to an advert. It should be noted that in terms of section 3(7)(a) and (b) of the Public Service Act, 1994 the relevant executive authority of department has power and duties to manage the recruitment and appointment in his or her department which includes filling of a posts. The mandate of the DPSA as far as advertising is concerned, is limited to the publication of the vacancies and facilitation of the cabinet memorandum specifically for the Director-General and Deputy Director General posts.

(b) The DPSA issues the PSVC publication at no cost to the departments, any other costs related to the re-advertisement of such post in the media is managed by the relevant department.

End

01 July 2021 - NW1608

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Selfe, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

What total number of reports did the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) receive from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) concerning allegations of crimes committed by a certain person (name furnished) and other unspecified officials of his department; (2) whether the NPA has instituted criminal charges against any persons as a result of the SIU reports; if not, (a) why not and (b) what action will the NPA take based on the reports; if so, (i) who has been charged, (ii) what type of charges have been laid and (iii) on what date is it envisaged that the trial(s) will commence?

Reply:

  1. During March 2020, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) referred the matter directly to the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) Head Office. The matter was referred to the AFU Durban as it falls within the jurisdiction of that office.
  2. There is currently no criminal case registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in this matter. However, the AFU in Durban is engaging with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI): Anti-Corruption, with a view to initiate a criminal investigation on the matter. It should be noted that the SIU is also involved in disciplinary proceedings brought against the person by the Department of Correctional Services.

01 July 2021 - NW1745

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Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

What (a) were the reasons given by the Northern Cape regarding the request for condonation on submission on Performance Agreement Compliance and (b) measures has his department put in place with regard to provinces missing deadlines?

Reply:

a) The Northern Cape Provincial Government complied with the due date of 31 October 2020 on the signing of PAs for the 2020/2021 performance cycle as set by DPSA Circular 32 02 2020. There was therefore, no reasons required.

b) The performance management and development system (PMDS) prescribe the specific measures for dealing with non-compliance on the signing of PAs including:

  • Empowering Executive Authorities and Heads of Department to take appropriate disciplinary action against employees who fail to comply with the PMDS; and
  • Disqualifying any employee who fails to comply from participating in any performance incentive, i.e. pay progression and performance bonuses;

The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) monitors compliance to these policy prescripts and issues compliance notices. Advocacy meetings are also held with FOSAD and Provincial Executive Councils led by Premiers to highlight areas of concern. If a Department is highlighted to have consistently failed to comply, the Minister also has the option to escalate the matter to the President.

End

30 June 2021 - NW1468

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Mabika, Mr M to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1) Whether her department has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) whether her department took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?

Reply:

 

  1. The Agreement on Collaboration Between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Cuba on Professional Services in the Field of Basic Education was concluded in November 2016, valid for five years from 2017-2022. The Agreement is for the DBE to employ 20 Cuban Subject Specialists in Maths and Science. The break-down has been as follows:
  2.  
  3. 2017-2018 (10) Cuban nationals based at DBE, (4) based at Eastern Cape
  4. 2018-2019 (10) Cuban nationals based at DBE, (4) based at Eastern Cape
  5. 2019-2020 (4) Cuban nationals based at DBE, (6) based at Eastern Cape (6) based at Free State (2) Gauteng (2) Limpopo
  6. 2020-2021 (4) Cuban nationals based at DBE, (5) based at Eastern Cape (6) based at Free State (2) Gauteng (2) Limpopo
  7. 2021-2022 (4) Cuban nationals based at DBE, (5) based at Eastern Cape (6) based at Free State (2) Gauteng (2) Limpopo
    (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, Their responsibilities include:
  8. Improving teacher capacity, development and support;
  9. Strengthening MST Curriculum to respond to Curriculum Implementation;
  10. MST Educator Subject Content Training;
  11. Producing and Compiling Teacher and Learner Support Material;
  12. Analysing MST results; 
  13. Screening books, videos, manuals and question papers to look for gaps in the proposed approaches

 (c) The Cuban nationals are specialists in Maths and Science; these subjects are listed as scarce skills where there is a struggle to find properly qualified teachers. The specialists have long standing practice in how they teach particular methodologies in Maths and Science that help teachers to master teaching difficult concepts and areas of work. All Cuban Specialists have Masters Degrees. They have also developed materials that are provided to the department to help convey understanding in these methodologies in the identified scarce skills subjects. Since their arrival, they were able to assist the department in identifying some of the problems that the department has experienced in how to teach and what better pedagogical approaches can be explored to overcome these challenges. They

(d) R733 257.00 p.a. The DBE currently has four specialists.

(2) The Cuban subject specialists have been employed to train teachers and strengthen the sector capacity, and not to teach the children. They have conducted meaningful workshops for teachers and Subject Advisors that help them to better understand the concepts and are able to go back into the classroom to teach the learners based on this assistance.        

 

30 June 2021 - NW1687

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Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1) What is the breakdown of the state of incomplete school infrastructure in each province; (2) whether she will furnish Mr B B Nodada with a list of schools in each province that are (a) incomplete and (b) complete; if not, why not, if so, on what date; (3) what has been the budget allocation of her department for school infrastructure in the (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19, (e) 2019-20 and (f) 2020-21 financial years in each province; (4) what is the estimated cost of her department meeting school infrastructural goals in order to meet the Minimum Norms and Standards for schools in each province?

Reply:

(1) See attached Annexure A;
(2) See Annexure B;
(3) See Annexure C;
(4) See Annexure D
 

29 June 2021 - NW1748

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Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

In light of the fact that many Magistrates Courts in the Republic postpone cases due to the lack of interpretation services, which is a disadvantage to many South Africans, especially black persons, what (a) total number of cases are postponed daily in the courts due to the lack of interpretation services and (b) are the reasons that his department is not hiring interpreters?

Reply:

a) As part of monitoring of administrative support to the courts the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) has included a Key performance indicator on the Annual Performance Plan which is monitored monthly. The Department has set a target that in less than 0.3 % in criminal cases the main cause of postponement of the case should relate to the unavailability of court administrative officials essential to a court sitting relating to Indigenous language as well as Foreign language interpreters as well as court recording system operators.

The performance in relation to this indicator for the period 1 April - 30 April 2021 is a National average of 0.14% against the 0.3% target.

See breakdown into regions and District and regional courts as per table below:

b) The Department is appointing interpreters as and when positions become vacant. The Regional Heads have delegations to advertise and fill the vacancies where required. Currently, the Department has a vacancy rate of 7.7%. The table below depicts the number of positions on the establishment, number of posts filled as well as the number of vacant positions:

Job Title

Filled Posts

Vacant Posts

Total Posts

Vacancy Rate

Court Interpreter

1 262

88

1 350

6.5

Senior Court Interpreter

396

49

445

11.0

Court Interpreter Principal

63

8

71

11.3

Assistant Director: Court Interpreting

32

1

33

3.0

Deputy Director: Court Interpreting

6

1

7

14.3

TOTAL

1 759

147

1 906

7.7

In relation to Foreign Language Interpreters and Sign Language Interpreters, they are sourced from the database as and when they are required, paid a daily allowance for appearance in court.

29 June 2021 - NW1638

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Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

What total number of cases emanating from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (a) does the National Prosecuting Authority intend to refer and/or (b) has it already referred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI); (2) which criteria are used to determine what cases are ultimately referred to the DPCI; (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

  1. As at 25 May 2021, 55 TRC cases have been referred to the DPP Offices in the jurisdictions where the crimes were committed. These cases are all being investigated by the DPCI. A further 59 cases have been identified as warranting investigation, which will be referred to the regions once there is the necessary capacity in the NPA / DPP Offices.
  2. Cases are referred to the DPCI either because of the public interest which they attract or due to requests being made by relatives of the victims or other interested parties. The cases are referred merely upon request and are not subject to any pre-evaluation process.
  3. Yes, I will make a statement.

29 June 2021 - NW1645

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Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport

Whether the Government has any strategy to bring stability and peace to the logistics sector which is currently facing violence regarding alleged disparities in the hiring of foreign and local drivers of trucks; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Department of Employment and Labour can amplify the reply further but it suffices to state that our President, Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, established an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) led by the Department of Employment and Labour, which amongst others has been tasked with the responsibilities of dealing with challenges facing the Road Freight Industry Logistics.

As the Department of Transport, we have published Government Gazette 44484 dated 23 April 2021 proposing an insertion of Regulation 116A into the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000. For ease of reference, the aforesaid draft provides as follows:

116A. Authority of a Professional Driving Permit issued in a foreign Country

(1) the Authority provided by a professional driving permit issued in a foreign country shall apply in respect of a vehicle registered in the country that issued any such permit.

(2) A permit referred to in sub-regulation(1), shall not apply to a vehicle registered in the republic.

The Draft Amendments will therefore effectively ban drivers who hold a Public Drivers Permit (PDP) issued by a foreign country from operating vehicles registered in South Africa.

29 June 2021 - NW1255

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Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport

(1)Whether he has adopted any strategies to rebuild the crumbling rail infrastructure, especially in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, since many persons were not using public transportation for some time during the lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) how does he intend to protect existing infrastructure from further deterioration and destruction?

Reply:

1. There are plans in place to rehabilitate the rail infrastructure in various corridors across the country. In the City of Cape Town specifically, the Central Line Corridor which carries the majority of residents in the city from their places of residence to work is a flagship project announced by the President where the entire line is earmarked for major rehabilitation covering the following:

  • Removal of illegal settlements from rail servitude;
  • Rehabilitation of the Power Supply System;
  • Rehabilitation of the Perway Infrastructure;
  • Modernisation of the Signalling Infrastructure;
  • Repair of station facilities for customers.

Apart from the Central Line the following corridors are also earmarked for resumption of services and rehabilitation of infrastructure:

  • Cape Town – Simonstown (WNB & ATL)
  • Cape Town – Strand

In Johannesburg a number of corridors are also being rehabilitated for the MTEF period:

  • Leralla – Johannesburg
  • Johannesburg – Naledi
  • Residensia – New Canada
  • Kwesine – Germiston
  • Randfontein – Johannesburg

2. In order to protect the existing infrastructure from further deterioration and destruction the following preventative measures will also be put in place to address recurrence:

  • Close off the corridor through Walling
  • Provision of Street to Street access to pedestrians to cross the railway line
  • Upgrade of the Security Interventions across the corridor incorporating the community involvement approach where community members volunteer their services to provide intelligence to the SAPS, CPF and PRASA Protection Services on crime incidents along our corridors.

29 June 2021 - NW1644

Profile picture: Msimang, Prof CT

Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Given current successes on the implementation of virtual courts and the opportunities offered by technological advancements in enhancing access to justice through a hybrid system of courts involving physical and virtual courts, what support does the Government intend to offer the judiciary, within the lawful bounds of the separation of powers, in enhancing its modernisation to cater for virtual courts in a post-pandemic era?

Reply:

The Department is in a process of finalising technical integration designs and procuring a court audio visual solution that will be used for court participant’s interviews and testimony in cases where direct contact is not feasible or very expensive, as well as in cases where expert witnesses are required in court. This will also allow victims and witnesses to easily get in touch and communicate with the CJS practitioners that are responsible for their case. This includes Interpreters, Witnesses, SAPS & DHA Laboratory Experts, Sexual Offence Facilitation and External Experts. This is initially related to virtual court appearances integrating to court recording solution for the court record, however it will be expanded to cater for virtual courts eliminating the physical appearance of all parties in courts and the adjudication of the case online.

The current Annual Performance Plan target for the Court Audio Visual Solution is the implementation of 45 identified sites for the current financial year.

a) As part of the digital transformation of courts and court processes, the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) in the spirit of the modernization approach has leveraged digital and virtual opportunities to ensure efficiency and continuity in court services and led by the Judiciary is in the process of developing and implementing Court Online, an advanced cloud-based collaboration solution aimed at providing a platform for the filing of court documents electronically (E-Filing) over the Internet from anywhere. Court Online is an E-Filing, Digital Case Management and Evidence Management system for the High Courts of South Africa. It provides Law Practitioners with the opportunity to file documentation electronically online anywhere and anytime without being physically present at court. It also affords Law Practitioners the ease of managing their court appearance diaries and court evidence instantaneously online.

Within the court room and chambers, Judges shall make use of the Court Online system to adjudicate disputes electronically. Office of the Chief Justice has partially implemented the Court Online system in the Gauteng Division of the High Court. Case-Lines as a stand-alone solution for evidence management was successfully piloted in these courts. The aim is to roll-out this electronic platform to other service centres during the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) period.

b) Provision for virtual hearings have further been made in the Directives issued by the Heads of Court/Judges President in line with the Superior Courts Act, 2013.

c) The Draft Court Online (E-Filing) Court Rules, drafted by the Judiciary and supported by the Office of the Chief Justice, are currently before the Rules Board. These rules will institutionalize Court Online (E-Filing) and are a major step in the digital transformation of courts and court processes.

d) The Office of the Chief Justice has further provided Judges and officials with ICT solutions to enable the courts to operate virtually. Amongst others, these measures included the provision of enhanced end user equipment, increased bandwidth for internet as well as increased data access.

e) Licenses have been provided for modern enterprise video communications/video conferencing platforms such as MS Teams or Zoom, along with concomitant storage space for the recording of proceedings, to enable virtual hearings to be conducted at the Superior Courts.

f) To improve network access, Wi-Fi was expanded at all Superior Courts.

g) All Constitutional Court hearings are currently livestreamed on the Judiciary YouTube channels.

h) In order to assist with readiness for digital transformation and improved service delivery, the Office of the Chief Justice is implementing the ICT Infrastructure Refresh Project, which would focus on the replacement of old hardware infrastructure. It is further supported by the recently installed Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems which ensures continuous availability of ICT systems and virtual platforms during power interruptions.

29 June 2021 - NW1634

Profile picture: Sithole, Mr KP

Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport

What sustainable measures have been taken to ensure that there is a sustainable resolution to e-toll challenges, considering widespread non-payment of e-toll bills and payment delays being blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic?

Reply:

SANRAL participated in the Technical Task team, led by the Director-General of Transport, to present various options to Ministerial Committee, which was led by the President and included the Ministers of Finance and Transport as well as the Premier of Gauteng. The Technical Task team concluded their work some time before lockdown in 2020. The decision is now in the hands of Cabinet.

In the meantime, SANRAL has to continue to operate within existing financial constraints and in line with National Treasury budget approval.