Questions and Replies

Reply:

Since the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration and Labour we have put a number of measures that include the following:

• Establishment of a Technical Committee of Directors General that supports member Ministers on migration cross cutting measures that may be short, medium and long term that must be implemented to address various identified challenges.
• Developed a detailed discussion document that identified various Constitutional and existing Legislation and Regulations, Southern African Development Community and African Union instruments and protocols, Global Migration Treaties and Conventions, Courts judgements in relation to migration cases that we must always be mindful off and Legal opinions.
• We continue to implement short term measures that include, improvements in border management, joint enforcement and inspections on the roads and employment premises.
• We have established a National and Provincial Trucking, Logistics and Road Freight Forums that brought all stakeholders within the sector together to address the torching and looting of trucks, presence of foreign drivers and collective bargaining within the sector.
• The Action Plans developed, details measures that each Department is initiating in the areas of Statistics and projection of foreign nationals in the country, criminal and security measures, justice, human rights, social development, trade and bilateral agreements, agriculture etc.
• The Medium and long term measures include policy harmonization and development where there are gaps. The Department of Employment and Labour has developed a Draft National Labour Migration Policy and Draft proposed Employment Services Amendment Bill aligned to the policy that I will release as soon as I have completed internal government processes. The Department of Home Affairs is also reviewing the Immigration Act in its entirety.
• We have also established Committees that are assisting us to address other urgent matters relating to migration such as processing of Applications for Waivers of the current Immigration Act provisions, Work Visa applications by foreign nationals or corporates.
• We have made Submissions to brief Cabinet on the activities of the IMC.

Reply:

The Governance Task Team at Nedlac agreed to conduct a study on how Nedlac can become fit for purpose. The study did not specifically focus on reviewing the statutes and protocols of Nedlac.

a) The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)

b) The cost of the study is R1 206 510. The study has been funded by the ILO and Yellowwoods Foundation

c) A number of recommendations have been made by the service providers which are yet to be considered by the governance structures of Nedlac. Once the recommendations are confirmed, they will be reported on to Parliament.

Reply:

(a)(i)(ii) The department maintains and reports its performance per financial year. The total number of children that were registered within 30 days of birth and issued with birth certificates for the period of 2011/2012 to 2020/2021 financial years is 7 133 885. However, the total number of all births i.e. inclusive of late registration of birth (births registered for persons 31 days and above) is 10 862 086.

b) Provincial breakdown of children that were registered within 30 days of birth and issued with birth certificates for the period of 2011/2012 to 2020/2021 financial years

PROVINCE	2011/2012	2012/2013	2013/2014	2014/2015	2015/2016	2016/2017	2017/2018	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	Grand total
EASTERN CAPE	70123	68633	81634	88334	83959	86206	89695	95925	97704	78340	840553
FREE STATE	37712	38290	43749	42990	41902	42342	43706	45856	45432	40666	422645
GAUTENG	142502	146856	160228	164002	163236	173736	177687	188921	191363	170075	1678606
KWAZULU-NATAL	98170	101423	106049	119233	119961	128358	132174	141553	156588	136490	1239999
LIMPOPO	58134	67399	79658	88351	92514	100987	106295	113217	120636	118007	945198
MPUMALANGA	29703	38973	44839	53659	55712	60338	63700	66842	69534	69866	553166
NORTH WEST	32515	35598	38129	45404	21136	50104	52613	53841	54443	48139	431922
NORTHERN CAPE	15582	17484	20010	21578	45179	21146	21348	22494	21906	19736	226463
WESTERN CAPE	66964	73190	76383	80976	79887	81973	84817	88049	87647	69768	789654
HEAD OFFICE	5357	26	3	0	279	14	0	0	0	0	5679
TOTAL	556762	587872	650682	704527	703765	745204	772035	816698	845253	751087	7133885

END

Reply:

Visas are administered in terms of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act 13 of 2002) as amended read in conjunction with the Regulations promulgated under the Act. The Department is not in the process of amending the Immigration legislation to authorise the issuance of Remote working visas that would enable travellers to work remotely in the Republic

END

Reply:

The annual tariff escalation will be done strictly on the basis of what was negotiated and agreed to between the DHA and the private concessionaire. The agreed principle will then be provided for in the concession agreement as the sole basis of escalating the tariffs.  

For example, the concession agreement may stipulate that the annual tariff escalation will be linked to inflation, as calculated by StatsSA. Once this is agreed to, it becomes the only way that the concessionaire can escalate the tariffs.

END

Reply:

Yes, we are implementing programmes to equip recent graduates, other youth and people who have lost employment to re-enter the labour market under the current Covid-19 environment. The Department through its various entities, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), the Compensation for Occupational and Injuries and Diseases Fund (Coida), Public Employment Services (PES), Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), as well as Productivity (SA), all have programmes that are assisting these affected groups to enter the labour market.

Through the more than 126 labour centres the Department, daily provides assistance to work seekers to access the labour market. Work seekers, can register on the Employment Services System of South Africa (ESSA), and get access to many job and training opportunities that are posted by prospective employers.

The Department helps them to compile CV’s and also provides employment advise and were necessary even counselling from trained psychologists employed by the Department. They provide valuable life skills advise, psychometric assessments and career interest assessments.

During the period ending 31 March 2021, the Department registered 938,505 work seekers, provided counselling to 246,454 work seekers and was able to place 37,193 work seekers into employment or training opportunities. This is in addition to the 169,717 job opportunities, created through the stimulus packages that was made available by the Treasury to various government Departments.

Reply:

The Service Level Agreement with the VFS global company to provide visa front desk services has been extended until 31 December 2022. (a) The eVisa pilot process has been concluded and rollout is envisaged to commence in the second quarter of this financial year 2021/22 for short-term visitor’s visa applications. The eVisa adjudication hub has been identified and the staff for the eVisa adjudication hub are currently in their final stages of training. (b) the Public-Private Partnership process is underway. The Department consulted with the National Treasury and the Department was advised to recruit a Transactional Advisor and Project Manager to lead the process and ensure that activities and timelines are adhered to. The Department is currently busy with the Supply Chain processes for the appointment of the Transactional Advisor and Project Manager.

END

Reply:

1.

Year	Asylum Seeker	Refugee	Total
2019	1746	52	1798
2020	210	4	214
Total	1956	56	2012

 

2. (a) A total of 1561 have received a first instance rejection.

(b) The application form mostly states political grounds and atmosphere between ruling party and opposition parties. However, through interrogation and adjudication they concede on economic grounds, which do not exist under the 1951 UN Convention and the 1998 Refugee Act.

END

Reply:

The Department agrees that there are service challenges with the Municipality of Matatiele. This has informed a recent intervention wherein a senior management team led by the Director General undertook a visit to Mataiele on 2 June 2021 and engaged with municipal officials in finding a solution. The parties have agreed to a set of interventions addressing immediate, short and long term requirements to assist the district in its economic upliftment and transformation. The immediate constraint of DHA not having access to a suitable premise to conduct its business was addressed, and agreement with the municipality has been reached for the lease of a municipal building which will be refurbished to the standards of the department. It is envisaged that a full service live capture Medium Office affording the people of Matatiele and its surrounds with a modernised system to accept and process Smart ID Card applications should be operational by January 2022. For the interim the department is considering deployment of one of its Mobile Trucks for a week at a time to address the immediate demand for services.

The long-term solution entails the building of a fit for purpose DHA office in Matatiele and to this end a building has been identified by both the Municipality and DHA for the relocation of the offices.

END

Reply:

1. NEDLAC social partners are currently dealing with matters that are affecting e-hailing services workers the labour market will be informed as soon as this process is complete.

The Labour Relations Act of 1995 and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 deal with the presumption of who is an employee. According to the two legislations, a person is presumed to be an employee if they are able to establish that one of seven listed factors in section 200A of the LRA and section 83A of the BCEA is present in their relationship with a person for whom they work or to whom they render services.

The presumption comes into operation if the applicant establishes that one of the following seven factors is present:

• the manner in which the person works is subject to the control or direction of another person;
• the person's hours of work are subject to the control or direction of another person;
• in the case of a person who works for an organisation, the person forms part of that organisation;
• the person has worked for that other person for an average of at least 40 hours per month over the last three months;
• the person is economically dependent on the other person for whom he or she works or renders services; and
• the person is provided with the tools of trade or work equipment by the other person; 'the person only works for or renders services to one person.

The presumption applies regardless of the form of the contract entered into. The issue of the applicant's employment status cannot be determined merely by reference to either the applicant's obligations as stipulated in the contract or a 'label' attached to the relationship in a contract. Therefore, a statement in a contract that the applicant is not an employee or is an independent contractor is not a conclusive proof of the status of the applicant.

Any person believing that is an employee based on one of the presumption of who is an employee and feels that his employment rights were violated is free to approach the CCMA for help.

2. The Department, has been working closely with the International Labour Organisation in the commissioning and development of a National Labour Migration Policy. One of the recommendations emerging from a range of proposals, is the concept of introducing complete prohibitions or quarters on the number of foreign nationals that can be employed in any sector and this may include e-hailing transport. This will be in line with Section 36 of our Constitution to justify fair discrimination against foreign nationals as part of our efforts to address local high unemployment levels and to uphold existing minimum labour standards. I will release the Draft Policy and the proposed amendments for public discussion and consultation with the social partners as soon as internal government processes are completed.

3. Honourable Mr Ngcobo, as I have alluded to the fact that NEDLAC social partners are already dealing with the matter of e-hailing service workers, let us allow NEDLAC time to deal with the issues and at the right time, the labour market will be kept abreast on the developments.

Reply:

The SSA through its National Communications provides the following as measures and steps to ensure that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Security or cyber security in organs of state is maintained.

Provision of ICT Security Solutions and services to organs of state for protecting and securing electronic systems:

Rendering periodic and on-demand Information Assurance services and continuous monitoring services to clients and identified Critical Information Infrastructure:

• • Conducting technical Vulnerability and Risk assessments to identify and report on common critical vulnerabilities affecting Organs of state.
  • Continuous monitoring of ICT Security network infrastructures and systems of Organs of state in order to provide proactive alerts and warnings that help to protect the systems before harm.
  • Provision of Incident response to compromised systems of organs of state to mitigate risks and deploy measures to avoid recurrence of ICT security and Cyber-attacks and incidents.
  • Provision of cyber security awareness.

SSA National Communications is also busy with the review of the Cyber Security Strategy to improve the security and resilience of national infrastructures and services. The strategy establishes a range of national objectives and priorities that should be achieved in a specific timeframe.

The review/finalisation of the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill:

• to define offences and impose penalties that have a bearing on cybercrime
• to criminalise the distribution of data messages that are harmful
• to provide for interim protection order
• to further regulate jurisdiction in respect of cybercrimes
• to further regulate the powers to investigate cybercrimes
• to further regulate aspects relating to mutual assistance in respect of the investigation of cybercrime
• to provide for the establishment of a 24/7 Point of Contact
• to further provide for the proof of certain facts by affidavit
• to impose obligations on electronic communications service providers and financial institutions to assist in the investigation of cybercrimes
• to report cybercrimes
• to provide for the establishment of structures to promote cybersecurity and capacity building
• to regulate the identification and declaration of critical information infrastructures and measures to protect critical information infrastructures
• to provide that the Executive may enter into agreements with foreign States to promote cybersecurity
• to delete and amend provisions of certain laws
• to provide for matters connected therewith.

Reply:

a) 15 October 2020 to 31 December 2020

	Application received	Applications were rejected on the grounds of incorrect Standard Industry Classification Codes	Rejected applications were overturned on appeal?
Tourism	No data showing this category	No data showing this category	9
Liquor	12655	440	14
Hospitality	16332	686	290
Conferencing-events sectors	28987	No data showing this category	50
Any other business in related value chains,	No data showing this category	11549	5

b)

1 January 2021 to 15 March 2021

	Application received	Applications were rejected on the grounds of incorrect Standard Industry Classification Codes	Rejected applications were overturned on appeal?
Tourism	No data showing this category	No data showing this category	6
Liquor	6222	62	9
Hospitality	10701	124	239
Conferencing-events sectors	No data showing this category	No data showing this category	39
Any other business in related value chains	16923	1420	7

Reply:

a) The unaudited closing balance for contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2021 for the Department of Home Affairs is R1 930 321 440.36 (compared to R2 189, 283 as at 31 March 2020). Please note the 2020/21 figure is unaudited and subject to change, which change may not be that significant.

b) The total amount of legal fees paid by the Department of Home Affairs during the 2020/21 financial year is R38, 512 million (compared to R75, 162 million as at 31 March 2020). Please note the 2020/21 figure is unaudited and subject to change.

c) As indicated above, the Department paid R38, 512 million in legal fees, however, this amount includes fees for both matters that the Department succeeded (costs of Department’s Counsels to represent the Department) as well as unsuccessful matters.

It must be noted that the State Attorney pays legal fees on behalf of the Department and the Department in turn reimburses the State Attorneys. Invoices received from the State Attorney’s office are received in bulk and the State Attorneys do separate costs for successful and unsuccessful matters when sending invoices.

END

Reply:

1. (a)(i)(b)(i),(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)

The above-mentioned far flung areas are visited on a monthly basis by the Office to provide Services-on-wheels. There is a Monthly Program in place. More, recently, Jansenville and Klipplaat were visited by the Mobile Solution Unit on 17 and 18 May 2021, respectively, to provide services to the community and the learners.

2. The above-mentioned areas will be visited on a monthly basis to provide services leading to the local government elections in October 2021.

3. There is a Monthly Program in place, and it is communicated to the Local Municipal leader / active members in the Home Affairs / Municipal Stakeholder Forum that are assisting the communities, and Community Development Workers (CDWs) when the Department visits the areas

4. The programmes and visits are communicated, timeously, to all role players.

END

Reply:

The question was referred to the Electoral Commission which has responded as follows:

The Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Party Liaison Committee (NPLC) has agreed on a voting station COVID protocol which, inter alia, provides the following measures:

a) The mandatory wearing of masks within the perimeter of the voting stations

b) Enforcement of social distancing on queues at the voting stations

c) Mandatory sanitizing of hands at entrance and exit of voting station

d) Encouraging voters to bring own pens to the voting stations even though pens will be provided and sanitised.

e) Where the size of the voting station is small, allowing a single party agent per party

f) Providing Personal Protection Equipment for voting officials at all voting stations and during home visit special votes.

Additional measures are currently being discussed within the auspices of the NPLC. Once a common view emerges and budget permitting these measures will be presented to the Commission for consideration and possible approval.

END

Reply:

Reply to this parliamentary question has been logged with the Parliament Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.

 

Reply:

(1) No, the Department of Correctional Services has not yet embarked on the 2021/22 Learnership Programme. The enrolment will be determined by the human resource needs and the availability of funds. The absorption of learners who have completed their learnership is not a determining factor for the enrolment of the next group of learners on the programme. The aim of the programme is to provide training and skills development opportunities to the youth preparing them for the labour market.

(1)(a) None

(1)(b) Not applicable

(2) No, the learnership programme is a 12 month development programme and not an employment contract, in the case of group 1 of 2019/20 the contract was extended as the programme was suspended for two months during the lockdown levels 5 and 4. The programme came to an end on 31 December 2020.

(3) Yes, their contract appointment on the PERSAL system is created in such a way that, when the contract end date is reached, the learner is automatically removed from the PERSAL system enabling them to pursue alternative employment.

END

Reply:

1. The government does not have a precise number of the number of undocumented immigrants in Republic due to the clandestine nature of the act of being here illegally. A number of persons entered without being recorded on any system and live here as unrecorded. It is only when they are detected or their presence is noted that we are able to have figures. The number of undocumented migrants that were deported in 2019/20 was 29376 with the nationality breakdown as follows:

Mozambique	13834	Pakistan	32	Burundi	15	Bolivia	6
Zimbabwe	5790	Zambia	31	Ethiopia	13	Algeria	3
Malawi	4277	China	29	Botswana	11	Cape Verde	3
Lesotho	3963	India	29	Cameroon	11	Senegal	3
Tanzania	517	Bangladesh	26	Thailand	11	Bulgaria	2
Eswatini	314	Ghana	25	Brazil	10	Guyana	2
Nigeria	176	Angola	22	Congo-Brazzaville	10	Iraq	2
DRC	87	Kenya	21	Somalia	8	Sri Lanka	2
Uganda	50	Namibia	19	Egypt	7	UK	2
Spain	1	Saudi Arabia	1	Saint Vincent	1	Peru	1
Venezuela	2	Cuba	1	Gabon	1	Morocco	1
Cote d’Voire	1	Ecuador	1	Israel	1	Palestine	1

and in 2020/21 deportations dropped with the onset of the Covid pandemic and stood at 14859 the breakdown as follows:

Lesotho	5769	Kenya	5
Zimbabwe	3226	UK	4
Mozambique	2714	Botswana	3
Malawi	2019	China	3
Eswatini	622	Thailand	3
Tanzania	236	Cameroon	2
Nigeria	59	Guinea	2
DRC	51	Paraguay	2
Namibia	24	Philippines	2
Angola	23	Argentina	1
Burundi	19	Bolivia	1
Brazil	13	Bulgaria	1
Uganda	9	Germany	1
Zambia	8	Guyana	1
		Pakistan	1
		Seychelles	1
		Sierra Leone	1
		USA	1

2. The department is mandated by legislation to enforce immigration act and deport illegal immigrants. This activity continues unabated as reflected in response to question 1 above.

END

Reply:

Question1:

The first set of diving regulations were promulgated in 2001 and these were followed by the diving regulations which were promulgated in 2010. Currently, the draft commercial diving regulations are undergoing processes following the incorporation of public comments.

(a) & (b) Registered diving schools

Name of the Diving School	Approval level	Location
Professional Diving Centre	Classes 4 to 1	Durban
BS Divers	Classes 4 to 2	Hermanus (WC)
Sea Dog	Classes 4 to 2	Saldanha (WC)
Jack’s Dive Chest	Classes 4 to 2	Strand (WC)
University of Cape Town	Classes 6 to 4	Cape Town
Nelson Mandela Metro University	Classes 6 to 4	Cape Town
South Africa Police Services Academy	Class 4	Pretoria
South African Association for Marine Biological Research	Class 4	Durban

c) There is no prescribed frequency for the Diving Inspectors to conduct inspections at the approved diving schools. Pro-active inspections are planned as part of the normal Inspection Plan.

Some of the inspections are triggered by the ‘Diving Notifications’ received from schools when they conduct practical training as such training is deemed diving work.

Question 2

There are no Diving Schools that had their registration revoked. When Diving Inspectors conduct inspections and if they find non-compliances at the schools, they issue notices (legal instruments) in terms of section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. There are 3 types of notices that could be issued (individually or jointly) when there is non-compliance, namely;

a) Prohibition notice – when there is an act or process that threatens the health and safety of any person. The employer must immediately stop the operation or the process. The inspector may revoke the prohibition in writing if the threatening situation has been corrected to the satisfaction of the inspector.

b) Contravention notice – when there is a contravention of any regulation.

c) Improvement notice – when an inspector requires an improvement on certain activities or tasks that the employer has already implemented in the workplace.

The employer may appeal a notice and will be given 60 days should he/she wishes to appeal the content of the notice issued.

If the employer fails to comply with the notices issued, a prosecution will be recommended to the NPA. Where a Diving School was issued with a notice, the school did comply with the notice(s) issued.

Question 3

There were two fatalities in training since the promulgation of the Diving Regulations in 2010.

a) The first fatality happened at BS Divers on 06 April 2015. The preliminary investigation was conducted on the 08 April 2015 and section 31 investigation was conducted on the 7 May 2015. The investigation revealed that the divers were learners at the school, but the activity that they were undertaking was outside the scope of the school curriculum. The divers used free flow diving method as they were moving the jackstays underwater and one of the diver’s rope became entangled to his weight belt, causing him to drown. Diving without the use of diving apparatus, is outside the scope of the Diving Regulations.

Even though the divers were conducting this activity outside the scope of training of the school, the school still had the responsibility in terms of section 9(1) of the OHS Act to ensure that all learners are safe because the learners were within their premises and therefore, the school had a responsibility towards these divers in training. Contravention notices were issued for the school to improve their risk assessment for free-diving and to update their sea bed search method and to introduce measures to prevent the shot line from becoming entangled. The school complied with the notices issued.

b) The second fatality happened at Jack’s Dive Chest on 22 January 2020. The learners were at the Blue Rock Quarry performing a practical diving exercise on the emergency procedures and the recovery of an unconscious diver. Two divers were paired together to perform the exercise. The deceased diver swam from the wet bell to the worksite and was supposed to pretend to be unconscious so that the other diver can go and rescue him. When the deceased failed to respond to all the communication signals sent to him, the diver who remained in the wet bell, was instructed by the supervisor to go and rescue the deceased. The deceased was found unconscious and the other diver swam while holding him on the surface. The deceased was declared dead on the scene by the paramedics.

The preliminary investigation was conducted on 23 January 2020. During the investigation, a contravention and a prohibition notice were served to the employer. The section 31 investigation was conducted on 16 September and 09 November 2020. The delay was caused by the lock down for COVID-19. Once the investigation was finalized, a report was prepared and the matter was referred to the National Prosecution Authority on the 26 February 2021.

Question 4

Currently, there is no school that is under investigation for non-compliance. Inspectors do conduct inspections at the diving schools regularly to enforce compliance in terms of the Act and the regulations.

Reply:

(1)(aa) Yes, the mentioned offender was placed on parole.

(1)(aa)(a) He was placed on parole on 1 November.2019 to 24 April 2040.

(1)(aa)(b) He was placed on parole after completion of 1/3 of his sentence. The offender benefited from the Phaahla judgment since he was sentenced after 1 October 2004 for offences committed in June 2003. This meant that he qualified to be considered for parole after serving a 1/3 instead of ½ of his sentence as this was the parole policy applicable at the time of commission of the offences. He was considered for placement after attending relevant programmes. The placement on parole was subject to placement conditions until expiry of his sentence. The CSPB further considered amongst others the following factors:

• the completion of the legislatively required minimum detention period;
• proof of a monitorable and appropriate support system;
• positive report on conduct and behaviour (including relevant interventions and programmes where applicable);
• proof that rehabilitation/ development took place;
• risk posed to the community/ victim; and
  • acceptance of the conditions for placement by the offender.

(1)(aa)(c) The Offender was inter alia subjected to the following parole conditions in line with section 52 of Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act 111of 1998):

• house detention;
• does community service;
• seeks employment;
• where possible takes up and remains in employment;
• restricted to one magisterial district;
• lives at a fixed address;
• refrains from using alcohol or illegal drugs;
• refrains from committing a criminal offence;
• is subject to monitoring;

(1)(bb) Yes, the mentioned offender was placed on parole.

(1)(bb)(a) He was placed on parole on 20 September.2019 to 24 April.2040.

(1)(bb)(b) He was placed on parole by the CSPB after completion of 1/3 of his sentence. The offender benefited from the Phaahla judgment since he was sentenced after 1 October 2004 for offences committed in June 2003. This meant that he qualified for consideration after serving a 1/3 instead of ½ of his sentence as this was the parole policy applicable at the time of commission of the offences. He was considered by the CSPB after attending relevant programmes and was placed on parole subject to placement conditions which he had to comply with until expiry of his sentence. The CSPB further considered the following factors, among others:

• the completion of the legislatively required minimum detention period;
• proof of a monitorable and appropriate support system;
• positive report on conduct and behaviour (including relevant interventions and programmes where applicable);
• proof that rehabilitation/ development took place;
• risk posed to the community/ victim; and
• acceptance of the conditions for placement.

(1)(bb)(c) The offender was among others subjected to the following parole conditions in line with section 52 of Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act 111of 1998):

• house detention;
• does community service;
• seeks employment;
• where possible takes up and remains in employment;
• is restricted to one magisterial district;
• lives at a fixed address;
• refrains from using alcohol or illegal drugs;
• refrains from committing a criminal offence;
• is subject to monitoring;

(2) Yes,

(2)(a) The offender mentioned in part (aa) appeared in court on 12 May 2021.

(2)(b) He appeared at the Frankfort District Court.

(2)(c) He is alleged to have committed robbery with aggravating circumstances.

(2)(d) Bail has not been fixed.

 

END.

Reply:

(a)(i) 117 determination applications

(ii) 407 retention applications

(aa) 68 determination applications processed

(bb) 76 retention applications processed

(b) While awaiting review of the Regulations, clients are advised not to assume citizenship of another country.

(c) Original documents are critical for authentication purposes.

(d) The proposal will be considered in the review process.

END

Reply:

1. (a) Veterinary services in the Northern Cape is a directorate headed by the Senior Manager (Director) who is a veterinarian and who reports directly to the Executive Manager (Chief Director) in the department. There are 7 state veterinary offices spread throughout the province and each state veterinary office have service centres in their areas that the Animal Health Technicians operate from. The number of veterinarians in the province is 9 and this number includes the Chief Director, Director and 2 Deputy Directors.

POSITION	STATION	FILLED	VACANT
Chief Director: Agricultural Technical Support Services	Kimberley	1	0
Director: Veterinary Services	Kimberley	1	0
Deputy Director: Animal Health	Kimberley	0	1
Deputy Director: Veterinary Public Health & Export Control	Kimberley	1	0
Deputy Directory: Veterinary Laboratory & Epidemiology	Kimberley	1	0
State Veterinarian: Veterinary Laboratory	Kimberley	1	0
State Veterinarian: Export Control	De Aar	0	1
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	Kimberley	1	0
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	De Aar	1	0
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	Calvinia	1	0
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	Springbok	0	1
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	Upington	0	1
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	Kuruman	1	0
State Veterinarian: Animal Health	Mothibistad	0	1
Total		9	5

(b)(i) current vacancy rate is about 36%

(ii) There is a moratorium currently in place on the filing of vacant posts due to the financial constraints put on the departmental budget by the Covid

19 pandemic.

2. The FAO recommends a ratio of 1 veterinarian per 100 000 livestock units, and using this norm would result in the province requiring 16 State Veterinarians to carry out disease control, laboratory diagnostics and veterinary public health, which are the minimal requirements for a basic service.

3. The Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme was finally rolled out in the Northern Cape province in 2016 with the number of CCS veterinarians increasing steadily from 4 to the current number of 7. This year, the CCS veterinarians only started on 1 March 2021 due to the disruption of the academic year caused by Covid 19 pandemic. The MEC, Mase Manopole welcomed the seven (7) newly qualified Veterinarians to the Department under the Compulsory Community Service (CCS) program. The areas that benefits from this programme include Kuruman (2), Kimberley (2), Prieska (1), Veterinary Laboratory (1) and Upington (1). These 7 placements significantly increased access to Veterinary Services in the province, increasing the number of field Animal Health Veterinarians from 4 to 10. The livestock farmers in the rural communities have welcomed the move by government to introduce the CCS programme to speed up rural animal health care.

4. No major disease of economic importance was recorded in the last 4 years. The Northern Cape Province received above normal rainfall that favoured the breeding of mosquitoes which are responsible for the transmission of Rift Valley Fever disease (RVF), African Horse Sickness, Lumpy Skin Disease, Bluetongue etc. The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Ms Mase Manopole was on an awareness drive, forewarning all farmers to vaccinate their cattle, sheep and goats against RVF before the peak of mosquitoes around March and April. The MEC also advised farmers to get vaccines from the cooperatives in the province and encouraged them not to eat dead animals and should always wear protective clothing when handling aborted foetuses.

Rabies remains prevalent in wildlife and to support this phenomenon, the provinces recorded a number of rabies cases with only one human case. Fortunately, the victim was successfully enrolled on a full course of post exposure rabies prophylaxis. 5153 pets were vaccinated during the World Rabies awareness period in the province.

Sheep scab has been reported in areas where farming with sheep is dominant. Sheep scab is traditionally most prevalent during the second and third quarter of the year and 2020 was no exception. All the confirmations were done by the Kimberley Veterinary laboratory, which is the only government laboratory that is accredited to do sheep scab testing. All the outbreaks were handled as per the protocol.

Reply:

a) Since 1 January 2014 till 31 March 2021 the land development support grants were received by a total of 1664 beneficiaries across three different programs as reflect in attached Annexures A: Recapitalisation and Development Programme (RADP) projects; B: 1House Hold 1 Hectare (1HH1H) projects and C: Land Development Support projects.

b) (i) Please refer Annexures A, B and C.

(ii) The monitoring of the specified funds for the implementation of projects is done at different levels. The first level is at operational, which is at the Province through our Provincial Shared Service Centres (PSSCs), and lastly at programme level in national office.

When it comes to evaluation, the responsibility in the Department lies with the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, which is independent from the implementing unit. However, this function is not only limited to this unit, it also happens through Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and Public Service Commission (PSC), in some instances done by non-government organisations and institutions of higher learning.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. (a) I have been informed by the Department that:

(i) The project does not entail rebuilding but maintenance of the brick houses. The, site handover was done in September 2020 and is scheduled to be completed as follows:

• Acacia Park - 7 February 2022
• Laboria Park - 7 November 2022
• Pelican Park - 7 September 2023

(ii) The demolition of the prefabricated houses and building of new units project will commence with the appointment of the contractor in October 2021, firstly the designs will be done and thereafter construction.

(b) The project will be completed within the agreed timelines.

Reply:

1. (a) Veterinary services in the Western Cape is a directorate headed by the Senior Manager (Director) who is a veterinarian and who reports directly to the Executive Manager (Chief Director) in the department. There are 23 (18 State veterinarians and 5 Managers (Veterinarians).

(b)(i) There are only four unfilled positions out of the twenty two positions for veterinarians. Please note that this response excluded the director position which would have made the positions for veterinarians 23. The vacancy rate is therefore 18.8%.

(ii) The Western Cape Province is considering filling the vacant positions by December 2021. The filling of these positions will be guided by government prescripts related to resource constraints.

2. The FAO recommends a ratio of 1 veterinarian per 100 000 livestock units, and using this norm would result in the province requiring 15 State Veterinarians to carry out disease control, laboratory diagnostics and veterinary public health, which are the minimal requirements for a basic service. Considering the historical figures of veterinary livestock units in the Western Cape, the available veterinarians per veterinary livestock units is below norm that is 12.

3. The Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme for veterinarians is being implemented. A total of 17 CCS veterinarians have been allocated to the Western Cape Province and are deployed in the various districts.

4. (a) The following diseases were prevalent in the Western Cape during the past financial year:

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza;
• African Swine Fever ;
• African Horse Sickness and
• other day to day animal diseases.

(b) Whenever an animal disease outbreak occurs, relevant disease contingency plans are activated. Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza and African swine fever causes high mortalities in poultry and pigs respectively and are a serious threat to food security. Awareness campaigns are being conducted and improved surveillance for the diseases is implemented. African horse sickness is a disease of horses and other equines. It is a disease that is very trade sensitive and its occurrence leads to export restrictions.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. I have been informed by the Department that the below list of persons are occupying the houses on the property:

	A) Names	B) Position
1	Fikile Majola	Deputy Minister: Trade and Industry and Economic Development
2	Senzo Mchunu	Minister: Public Service and Administration
3	Rosemary Nokuzola Capa	Deputy Minister: Small Business Development
4	Pamela Tshwete	Deputy Minister: Human Settlement, Water and Sanitation
5	Sindisiwe Chikunga	Deputy Minister: Public Service and Administration
6	Mr John Jeffery	Deputy Minister: Justice and Correctional Services
7	Madam Assetan Koite	Dirco - President of pan African Women’s Organisation
8	Dr. Motene (PMU)	Presidency staff
9	Busisiwe Mkhwebane	Public Protector
10	Ebrahim Patel	Minister: Trade, Industry and Economic Development
11	Maite Nkoana-Mashabane	Minister in the Presidency: Women, youth and Persons with disabilities
12	Naledi Pandor	Minister: International Relations and Cooperation
13	Nkosazana Dlamini –Zuma	Minister: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
14	Lindiwe Sisulu International	Minister: Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
15	Nocawe Mafu	Deputy Minister: Sports, Arts and Culture
16	Cyril Ramaphosa	President
17	David Mabuza	Deputy President
18	Used as an office for Superfecta and Gauflora Facilities Management Contract

Vacant Houses:

	Address	Status	Comments
1	Bryntirion house no. 7	Vacant	Major renovations needed e.g., Roof leaks, Internal and External Painting works needed and Checking of all plumbing works and electrical works
2	Bryntirion house no. 15	Vacant	Major structural defects
3	Bryntirion house no. 896	Vacant	Major Renovations needed such as roof, Electrical and plumbing works
4	Goedehoop	Vacant	Structural defects
5	Lisdogan Flat 1 Bryntirion	Vacant	Minor repairs required
6	Bryntirion House no. 19	Vacant	Minor repairs in progress.
7	Bryntirion House no. 17	Vacant	Minor repairs in progress.

(2) The Estate Manager with the works inspectors regularly inspect the Estate.

(3) (a) Yes, any oversight visit can be undertaken to ascertain or establish the state of the houses.

(b) Apart from the list provided for question (1) other inhabitants include:

• Presidency Staff accommodation
• VIP Protection accommodation (SAPS)

(4) (a) The Maintenance Budget allocation for the 2021/22 Financial Year is R 40 000 000.

(b) The property falls under the Prestige Property Management portfolio.

Reply:

Each university is assigned a NSFAS servicing agent. The servicing agents liaise directly with universities to address any NSFAS related issues, including disbursements.

INSTITUTION	PROVINCES	SERVICING MEMBER	EMAIL ADDRESS
Tshwane University of Technology	Gauteng	Zukiswa Siyolo	[email protected]
Sefako Makgatho University	Gauteng
University of Pretoria	Gauteng	Michaela Brink	[email protected]
University of Limpopo	Limpopo
University of Free State	Free State	Mugelane Petersen	[email protected]
Central University of Technology	Free State
University of Cape Town	Western Cape	Junethe Cloete	[email protected]
University of Stellenbosch	Western Cape
University of Western Cape	Western Cape
University of Zululand	Kwazulu-Natal	Joan Mahlohla	[email protected]
University of Kwazulu Natal	Kwazulu-Natal
Mangosuthu University of Technology	Kwazulu-Natal	Natalie Phiri	[email protected]
Durban University of Technology	Kwazulu-Natal
University of South Africa	Gauteng	Lesego Moroeng	[email protected]
Sol Plaatjie University	Northern Cape
University of Witwatersrand	Gauteng	Anga Bokwe	[email protected]
University of Johannesburg	Gauteng
Vaal University of Technology	Gauteng
North West University	North West	Aqeelah Moss	[email protected]
Cape Peninsula University of Technology	Western Cape
Walter Sisulu University	Eastern Cape	Mthetheleli Ndaba	[email protected]
University of Fort Hare	Eastern Cape
Nelson Mandela University	Eastern Cape	Pinky Njemla	[email protected]
Rhodes University	Eastern Cape
University of Venda	Limpopo	Linda Mcetywa	[email protected]
University of Mpumalanga	Mpumalanga

Reply:

a) NSFAS has made payments in advance to all universities and as such; there should be no unpaid allowances to compliant students. Universities have their own payment processes to distribute allowances to students. The advance payments were made as an intervention to ensure that universities pay allowances to students, in a timely manner.

There are currently 179 068 UNISA students funded through the DHET Bursary Scheme.  Total disbursements to funded student amounted to R931, 8 million of which NSFAS provided an advance of R774.6 million and UNISA an amount of R102.9 million from their own funding. 170 564 students who qualify for the learning material allowance in terms of the 2021 DHET Guidelines received their allowances. 4 254 opted for the laptops. Incidental allowance has been paid for the months of Feb-July 2021 to 88 625 students who qualify in terms of the 2021 DHET Guidelines. Please note only those students who carry a course load of 10 and more qualify for the incidental allowances.

4 204 have not received allowances based on following reason:

-2020 results uploaded by funding not migrated to 2021

-N+ Rule: Higher Certificate students starting Degree/Diploma in 2021

-LLB students not migrated

-Pipeline National Diploma students, funding not migrated

-Students switching institutions

2 403 applications for NSFAS appeals for returning students were considered and 1 360 were recommended for further funding support. These students have not received allowances as UNISA are still waiting for final outcome from NSFAS.

(b)  The Department has scheduled the 2021 transfers for university and TVET college bursaries to NSFAS as shown in the table below, to ensure that NSFAS has the necessary cash flow resources.

April 2021 R’000	June 2021 R’000	August 2021 R’000	October 2021 R’000	Total
8 788 444	8 788 443	8 788 443	8 788 443	35 153 77

Reply:

1. Please refer to Annexure A.

2. Please refer to Annexure A. For the 2021/22 financial year it is work in progress.

(a) Falls away.

(b) Please refer to Annexure A. Local communities are mobilized to go and get registered as beneficiaries at the respective FPSU’s.

Reply:

(a)  During the past three financial years, CATHSSETA has partnered with the Department of Tourism to host the National Tourism Careers Expo to encourage learners in careers related to the tourism and hospitality sectors. Furthermore, the SETA partnered with the Department of Higher Education and Training, and other SETAs to host the annual Heritage Expo focusing on the Culture, Arts and Heritage subsector. This expo has been taking place since 2019. The 2021 expo was held on 7 May 2021 in Limpopo and 8 June 2021 in Cape Town. Over and above the aforesaid programmes, the SETA disburses discretionary grants to its stakeholders to fund bursaries, learnerships, skills programmes, artisans and work-integrated learning programmes.

(b) The SETA signs service level agreements with clear targets with the Department of Higher Education and Training on an annual basis to support occupationally directed programmes such as vocational qualifications. The targets for the following learning programmes have been agreed upon for the 2021/22 financial year with the SETA:

-   Bursaries for 263 learners;

-   Learnerships for 158 learners;

-   Skills programmes for 210 learners;

-   Work-integrated learning for 473 learners;

-   Artisanships for 261 learners; and

-   Internships for 173 learners.

All these interventions are aimed at addressing the occupational shortages identified in the Sector Skills Plan.

(c) The following achievements can be noted:

-   Number of workers completed Adult Education and Training               30

-   Number of university graduate placements completed                        54

-   Number of TVET graduate placements completed                               330

-   Number of graduate internships completed                                          183

-   Number of learners Completed skills programmes                               2 993

-   Number of learners completed learnerships                                         966

-   Number of learners who completed bursaries                                      127

(d) (i)   Programmes are delivered within a specific financial year that would have been agreed upon with the stakeholders or in line with the duration of the learning programmes.

      (ii)  Learners are placed in different establishments operating within the nine provinces' subsector for training and workplace exposure.

      (iii)   CATHSSETA programmes are attended by both employed and unemployed learners. CATHSSETA also supports labour unions, NGOs, Cooperatives, SMMEs and disabled people. 

      (iv)  Increasing access to high quality, relevant education, training and skills development opportunities.

(e) CATHSSETA conducts induction and project monitoring and evaluation visits at least once during the lifespan of a project. The SETA uses monthly project reports and meetings as tools to monitor project progress. The SETA is currently conducting a tracking study to trace where the learners that were trained previously by the SETA are to check the impact of training provided to them

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

I have been informed by the Department that the Department has identified eight (8) agricultural land parcels in the OR Tambo District Municipality in Eastern Cape that are registered in the name of the State; they are recorded and being disclosed in the Annual Financial Statements of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).

a) The identified eight (8) land parcels cover 306,53 hectares;

b) The land is vacant;

c) Falls away.

Reply:

Yes.

(a)(i),(ii) Please refer to the table below.

(i) Name of Consultant	(ii) Business of each consulting firm	Spent since 01 January 2019 to 31 May 2021
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Research And Advisory Services	R83,575,461
DATA WORLD	Research And Advisory Services	R33,245,315
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Implementation Of Kaonafatso Ya Dikgomo Scheme	R25,000,000
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Survey On Available Turfs In Provinces	R24,201,000
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Project Management	R16,967,000
J Maynard Pty Ltd	Project Management	R16,558,295
FEM PLAN	Project Management, Planning, Feasibilty And Detail Design And Cost Estimation	R16,087,482
THE DECIDUOUS FRUIT PRODUCERS' TRUST	Research And Advisory Services	R15,203,000
THE DECIDUOUS FRUIT PRODUCERS' TRUST	Research And Advisory Services	R14,410,000
UNDP Representative SA	Research	R13,174,000
NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION	Valuations Advisory Services	R11,618,400
SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE	Research And Advisory Services	R10,993,976
NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION	Implementation Of Research And Technology Fund Projects	R10,968,600
SIZEYA CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Project Management	R10,370,729
ESRI SA	Advisory Consulting Services	R9,853,684
ENTSIKA CONSULTING SERVICES	Project Management	R8,751,903
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN	Project Management	R8,553,606
BOIKGANTSHO CONSULTING AND EVENTS	Financial Management	R8,252,250
SEMH AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, CONSULTING AND TRAI	Research And Advisory Services	R6,137,000
BOIKGANTSHO CONSULTING AND EVENTS	Training	R5,950,875
Moses Kotane -NW	Research	R5,608,118
Forestry South Africa	For South African Sirex Control Programme	R5,560,000
SMEC SA	Project Management	R5,533,882
ESRI SA	Advisory Consulting Services	R4,926,842
THUSO ENVIRO AND AGRIC DEVELOPMENT	Research And Advisory Services	R4,721,500
FEM PLAN	Project Management	R4,535,132
FEVERTREE CONSULTING	Project Management	R4,118,387
Urban Econ Development Economist	Research	R3,723,163
GABHISA PLANNING INVESTMENTS	Research And Advisory Services	R3,335,804
CADRE PLAN	Research And Advisory Services	R3,266,797
ENTERPRISES UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA	Research	R3,042,775
ERNST AND YOUNG ADVISORY SERVICES	Business And Advisory Services	R3,016,817
ILIFA AFRICA ENGINEERS	Project Management	R2,923,144
FEM PLAN	Research And Advisory Services	R2,830,040
DATA WORLD	Valuations Advisory Services	R2,787,600
MDAVANZI FOODS	Project Management	R2,693,221
DATA WORLD	Advisory Consulting Services	R2,619,355
MASWANA JV	Research And Advisory Services	R2,564,389
ORI PROFESSIONALS	Advisory Consulting Services	R2,552,241
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA	Research And Advisory Services	R2,490,325
MVD KALAHARI	Research And Advisory Services	R2,414,713
NEMORANGO CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Project Management	R2,158,148
FEVERTREECONSULTING	Project Management	R2,153,574
BVI CONSULTING ENGINEERS KWAZULU-NATAL	Research And Advisory Services	R2,136,025
ARUP (USE D1649)	Research And Advisory Services	R2,118,292
CASNAN CIVILS	Project Management	R2,084,746
URBAN-ECON DEVELOPMENT ECONOMISTS	Research And Advisory Services	R2,082,273
UMBUSO TRAINING SERVICES	Research And Advisory Services	R2,013,650
WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION	Support Water Research Commission Projects In Water Management	R2,000,000
ELEMENT CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Research And Advisory Services	R1,925,064
THE SUPREME TRAINING ACADEMY	Research And Advisory Services	R1,880,500
ISIBUKO DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS	Advisory Consulting Services	R1,865,875
GFK CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Research And Advisory Services	R1,707,535
ENTERPRISES UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA	Research And Advisory Services	R1,674,842
ICT WORKS	Business And Advisory Services	R1,637,140
METROPLAN TOWN PLANNERS AND URBAN DESIGNERS	Research And Advisory Services	R1,610,000
TOKSEO	Research And Advisory Services	R1,560,629
Enterprise University Of Pretoria	Research	R1,552,270
KENA CONSULT	Research And Advisory Services	R1,550,000
AKANYA DEVELOPMENT SOLUTION	Valuations Advisory Services	R1,545,600
SETPLAN SETTLEMENT PLANNING SERV	Research And Advisory Services	R1,434,510
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Research And Advisory Services	R1,416,029
EVN AFRICA CONSULTING SERVICES	Research And Advisory Services	R1,368,149
TOWNSCAPE PLANNING SOLUTIONS	Research And Advisory Services	R1,321,925
PLANNING PARTNERS	Research And Advisory Services	R1,262,580
URBAN-ECON DEVELOPMENT ECONOMISTS	Project Management	R1,240,132
ISIBUKO DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS	Research And Advisory Services	R1,185,535
TSITELLO	Project Management	R1,183,474
FEMPLAN (PTY) LTD	Project Management	R1,111,337
EVN AFRICA CONSULTING SERVICES	Project Management	R1,044,552
Koma OO	Financial Management	R1,024,335
ZARON BUSINESS SOLUTIONS	Research And Advisory Services	R958,260
POAD CONSULTING	Project Management	R937,252
PHUNGA CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Research And Advisory Services	R921,590
M AND M EXECUTIVE CONSULTING SERVICES	Research And Advisory Services	R890,790
ISIKHUNGO SETHU ENVIRONMENTAL SER	Advisory Consulting Services	R860,310
FEM PLAN	Advisory Consulting Services	R850,865
MAYECON CONSULTING	Research And Advisory Services	R780,840
ELECTIONS FACILITATORS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA	Election Facilitators	R760,605
RAIN CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS	Financial Management	R755,741
TPS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS	Research And Advisory Services	R750,000
MACHAKA NC	Project Management	R714,604
DR JOHN LANGALIBALELE DUBE INSTITUTE	Research And Advisory Services	R660,000
ICT WORKS	Advisory Consulting Services	R654,856
Stellenbsoch University	Project Management	R623,213
MOILWA AND SONS RESOURCES	Project Management	R602,590
MASWANA INVESTMENT HOLDINGS	Advisory Consulting Services	R593,400
PLAN ASSOCIATES DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS	Research And Advisory Services	R586,475
URBAN DYNAMICS (FREE STATE)	Research And Advisory Services	R574,706
Rukuni M	Research	R537,385
MANEKWANE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE	Research And Advisory Services	R522,199
Chirwa P	Financial Management	R512,672
DELTA BUILT ENVIRONMENT CONS	Research And Advisory Services	R502,755
SK Development Research & Training	Research	R498,300
NOLINDELA TRADING ENTERPRISE	Project Management	R493,800
DIGES GROUP	Project Management	R479,218
MAXIM PLANNING SOLUTIONS	Research And Advisory Services	R475,000
MVD KALAHARI STADS-EN STREEKBEPLANNERS EN AANVERWA	Advisory Consulting Services	R446,637
GABHISA PLANNING INVESTMENTS	Research	R442,952
PLAN ASSOCIATES TOWN & REGIONAL	Advisory Consulting Services	R434,599
COASTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES	Enviromental Advisory Services	R433,076
MASWANA JV	Advisory Consulting Services	R432,354
PROJECTS ET AL HOLDINGS	Research And Advisory Services	R422,270
JG AFRIKA	Research And Advisory Services	R420,809
ALMENTA 203	Research And Advisory Services	R415,000
LADUMA TAPP	Advisory Consulting Services	R415,000
G-SQUARED SHEQ SOLUTIONS	Research And Advisory Services	R402,662
TOWNSCAPE PLANNING SOLUTIONS	Advisory Consulting Services	R400,775
Exclaim Innovations	Research	R393,913
EVN AFRICA CONSULTING SERVICE	Research And Advisory Services	R389,233
ENGINEERING ACES	Project Management	R385,006
Klein Inc	Research	R384,000
CUBIC TRADING	Research And Advisory Services	R374,063
PEGASYS STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT	Project Management	R365,096
IMPERATRIX	Research And Advisory Services	R350,000
KGOKAGANO TRADING	Research And Advisory Services	R346,481
DIKGABO CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Research And Advisory Services	R340,000
WEKNOW CONSULTANTS	Project Management	R329,902
UMBUSO TRAINING SERVICES	Project Management	R326,363
JST MANAGEMENT SERVICES	Research And Advisory Services	R320,850
PHAKAMA TRADING ENTERPRISES	Research And Advisory Services	R318,874
DUMAKUDE PROJECTS	Research And Advisory Services	R311,703
AGNOWIZ	Research And Advisory Services	R302,945
AES CONSULTING	Project Management	R272,252
SOUTH AFRICAN ONLINE INFORMATION SERVICES	Research And Advisory Services	R271,264
ZARON BUSINESS SOLUTIONS	Advisory Consulting Services	R265,000
FORT HARE TRADING SOLUTIONS	Research And Advisory Services	R259,767
INFRA CONSULT ENGINEERING	Project Management	R257,566
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Determining Infestation Of The Oriental Fruit Fly In Litchi, Mango And Guava	R245,000
ROYAL HASKONING DHV	Research And Advisory Services	R243,099
ASIKA CONSULTING	Research And Advisory Services	R240,030
ELECTIONS FACILITATORS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA	Election Facilitators	R234,979
ISIKHUNGO SETHU ENVIRONMENTAL SER	Research And Advisory Services	R234,630
MARIA MAGDALENA STEYN	Valuations Advisory Services	R234,198
MACHAKA NC	Research	R225,217
MVD KALAHARI	Advisory Consulting Services	R224,963
JOINTSHELF 1183	Research And Advisory Services	R222,600
PHAPHAMA RESOURCES	Research And Advisory Services	R222,340
MASWANA INVESTMENT HOLDINGS	Advisory Consulting Services	R220,800
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA	Project Management	R216,224
KHANYAICDD	Research And Advisory Services	R215,767
MAHLAGA INDUSTRIAL STRATEGISTS	Research And Advisory Services	R215,680
Mahlanga Industrial Strategist	Research	R215,680
Hydrid Innovation Solution	Organisational	R210,359
WORLEYPARSONS RSA	Project Management	R208,474
DITSAMAI INVESTMENTS AND PROJECTS	Research And Advisory Services	R208,150
LINDON CONSULTING CORPORATION	Project Management	R193,260
NKWALI HOLDINGS	Research And Advisory Services	R193,010
PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA	Environmental Consulting Services	R189,917
Mkhize Attorneys	Research	R187,671
FEVERTREECONSULTING	Project Management	R183,811
P W A RHEEDER PROFESSIONELE LANDMETERS	Land Surveyors	R178,676
AUTUMN RIDGE TRADING 29	Research And Advisory Services	R178,250
PHUHLISANI	Research And Advisory Services	R172,110
UNIVERSITY OF VENDA	Research And Advisory Services	R167,423
K 2M TECHNOLOGIES	Advisory Consulting Services	R164,450
WACO AFRICA PTY LTD	Project Management	R158,999
IDI TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS	Research And Advisory Services	R150,527
MVD KALAHARI STADS-EN STREEKBEPLANNERS EN AANVERWA	Research And Advisory Services	R148,879
SET SECONDMENTS	Research And Advisory Services	R130,479
SA QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY	Qualification Verification	R127,470
Khumalo MHO	Risk And Complaince Co	R124,760
Chirwa	Financial Management	R121,183
P W A RHEEDER PROFESSIONELE LANDMETERS	Valuations Advisory Services	R116,495
CADRE	Research And Advisory Services	R111,127
ACUTE CONSULTING	Project Management	R104,340
BVI CONSULTING ENGINEERS	Research And Advisory Services	R102,941
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Research And Advisory Services	R100,000
BLUE UNICORN	Research And Advisory Services	R99,670
UBUQOTHO INTEGRITY INSTITUTE	Research And Advisory Services	R98,866
K O R CONSULTING	Consulting And Advisory Services	R96,000
A AND SONS PROPERTY GROUP	Valuations Advisory Services	R95,450
UPTURN CONSULTING	Research And Advisory Services	R94,500
KBS BUSINESS CONSULTANTS	Project Management	R91,000
URBAN DYNAMICS	Business And Advisory Services	R89,332
URBAN DYNAMICS	Advisory Consulting Services	R89,332
COASTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES	Advisory Consulting Services	R89,112
PLAN ASSOCIATES DEVELOPMENT PLANNERS	Advisory Consulting Services	R87,500
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING CONSULTANTS	Research And Advisory Services	R84,565
MARBLESHARP 57	Valuations Advisory Services	R80,499
MB MABUZA LAND SURVEYORS	Monitoring And Evaluation	R77,611
Deeds Trading Account	Project Management	R75,958
K 2M TECHNOLOGIES	Advisory Consulting Services	R74,750
Raymond Mhlaba	Project Management	R74,733
Buthelezi BG	Risk And Complaince Co	R72,900
PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA	Consulting And Advisory Services	R71,219
LSB GROUP TRUST	Valuations Advisory Services	R70,992
Mavivate Attorney Incorporated	Project Management	R70,388
ZITHOLELE CONSULTING	Project Management	R70,161
BIGEN AFRICA SERVICES	Project Management	R61,122
SPECTRUM VALUATIONS AND ASSET SOLUTIONS	Valuations Advisory Services	R60,013
OMNIVAL VALUATIONS	Valuations Advisory Services	R58,150
TSHANI CONSULTING	Advisory Consulting Services	R55,128
SINFRA INVESTMENTS 344	Valuations Advisory Services	R52,697
WORLEYPARSONS RSA	Advisory Consulting Services	R52,283
KUFUMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS	Monitoring And Evaluation	R50,520
Moeeng TG	Risk And Complaince Co	R48,600
Reatswela Travel & Tours	Risk And Complaince Co	R48,600
Pro Active Public Service College	Project Management	R47,800
LAND REFORM INSTITUTION OF SOUTH AFRICA	Research And Advisory Services	R46,050
Mhlongo AN	Committees Membership	R46,016
WORK DYNAMICS	Research And Advisory Services	R46,000
DDP VALUERS	Monitoring And Evaluation	R45,564
Randall TL	Committees Membership	R42,752
KIMOPAX	Project Management	R42,520
Tasokodibane MJ	Rcc Chairperson	R39,364
AFRICOST JBFE PROJECT MANAGERS	Research And Advisory Services	R39,336
URBAN DYNAMICS	Research And Advisory Services	R38,859
Randall TL	Plant Production	R38,207
MANAGED INTEGRITY EVALUATION	Background Screening And Vetting	R37,512
NATIONAL PRIVATE SPECIFICATIONS	Research	R35,098
Randall TL	Risk And Complaince Co	R33,297
Managed Integrated Evaluation PTY LTD	Conduct Criminal Checks And Id Verifications	R31,212
CHELETE KE MOLLO	Research And Advisory Services	R25,800
KANYISA PROPERTY AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES	Valuations Advisory Services	R25,300
April H	Risk And Complaince Co	R24,300
MBB CONSULTING SERVICES	Research And Advisory Services	R23,666
SINFRA INVESTMENTS 345	Monitoring And Evaluation	R21,912
KANYISA PROPERTY AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES	Monitoring And Evaluation	R21,620
SPECTRUM VALUATIONS & ASSET SOL	Monitoring And Evaluation	R21,620
Thupane MJJ	Risk And Complaince Co	R19,440
SPECTRUM VALUATIONS & ASSET SOL	Valuations Advisory Services	R16,330
ZWAHULI VALUERS	Valuations Advisory Services	R16,180
DDP VALUATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES	Valuations Advisory Services	R16,174
INTELLIFRA HOLDINGS	Monitoring And Evaluation	R15,750
MOOKODI VALUERS	Valuations Advisory Services	R14,950
MILLS FITCHET AFRICA	Valuations Advisory Services	R14,835
MOHOHLO ATTORNEYS	Research And Advisory Services	R14,296
KHOTHULE	DLR Committee Membership	R13,686
WSP ENVIROMENTAL	Project Management	R13,398
ZWAHULI VALUERS	Valuations Advisory Services	R13,200
ONSITE INSIGHT CONFERENCING SOLUTIONS	Conferencing Solutions	R12,914
RAMOHOLI	DLR Committee Membership	R11,262
Randall TL	Member Of Risk And Compliance Co	R10,404
JACK AMOUR	DLR Committee Membership	R9,920
Makofane LJ	DAMC Committee Membership	R9,920
Maisela SJ	DAMC Committee Membership	R9,870
Sefoloshe PJ	DAMC Committee Membership	R9,870
RAMOHOLI	DLR Committee Membership	R9,385
Lodi NB	DAMC Committee Membership	R7,990
CAMPA M	Research And Advisory Services	R7,521
I.M KORDOM	DLR Committee Membership	R7,508
I.N THOBEDI	DLR Committee Membership	R7,508
L.S MARCH	DLR Committee Membership	R7,508
KWARENGE LANGUAGE SOLUTIONS	Translations And Transcriptions	R7,200
Monakedi AL	DAMC Committee Membership	R6,580
Jansen Van Rensburg K	Board And/Or Committees Membership	R6,318
EMAH SELEPE	Household Profiling	R6,300
EVODIA MAFATLE	Household Profiling	R6,300
KAGISO MARUMO	Household Profiling	R6,300
KOPA NEO	Household Profiling	R6,300
MIYA ALENA	Household Profiling	R6,300
MM NHLAPO	Household Profiling	R6,300
MOKOENA PALESA	Household Profiling	R6,300
MSIBI NHLAKANI	Household Profiling	R6,300
N NKOSINKULU	Household Profiling	R6,300
PAT SELEPE	Household Profiling	R6,300
SHEZI N	Household Profiling	R6,300
SIBEKO JONNY	Household Profiling	R6,300
SIBEKO SESI	Household Profiling	R6,300
TM MOLOI	Household Profiling	R6,300
TWALA MD	Household Profiling	R6,300
DHLAMINI SA	Household Profiling	R6,300
EM SELEPE	Household Profiling	R6,300
KUBHEKA SC	Household Profiling	R6,300
MAKHUBO NP	Household Profiling	R6,300
MALINGA PP	Household Profiling	R6,300
MOKOENA MOSIWA	Household Profiling	R6,300
MOKOENA NT	Household Profiling	R6,300
MOLOI BELINA	Household Profiling	R6,300
MORAJANE PINKI	Household Profiling	R6,300
MORAJANE TJ	Household Profiling	R6,300
MPHUTHI NL	Household Profiling	R6,300
NDABA PRECIOUS	Household Profiling	R6,300
NKABINDE SIFISO	Household Profiling	R6,300
PL MGABHI	Household Profiling	R6,300
POPPIE MKHONZA	Household Profiling	R6,300
RADEBE NE	Household Profiling	R6,300
RADEBE NG	Household Profiling	R6,300
SELEPE LEHLOHO	Household Profiling	R6,300
SELEPE THABO	Household Profiling	R6,300
SHEZI NP	Household Profiling	R6,300
SV SHEZI	Household Profiling	R6,300
TD MOKOENA	Household Profiling	R6,300
TJ MOSIKILI	Household Profiling	R6,300
TM KHUMALO	Household Profiling	R6,300
TSHABALALA DUDU	Household Profiling	R6,300
SIBEKO NP	Household Profiling	R5,950
Nyelisani PR	DAMC Committee Membership	R5,875
MOUTLOATSI SETLOGELO	DLR Committee Membership	R5,631
RADEBE J	Household Profiling	R5,600
Dokolwana Z	Research And Advisory Services	R4,900
DR SELEPE	Household Profiling	R4,900
MPIKA N	Household Profiling	R4,900
Myoywane MF	Household Profiling	R4,900
Ndesi BE	Household Profiling	R4,900
Ntabankulu X	Household Profiling	R4,900
Ranuga N	Household Profiling	R4,900
Sanguqu N	Household Profiling	R4,900
Sinxutu NE	Household Profiling	R4,900
Tshotyana NF	Household Profiling	R4,900
Vunda N	Household Profiling	R4,900
Ralepelle ME	DAMC Committee Membership	R4,720
PLAN ASSOCIATES TOWN & REGIONAL	Research And Advisory Services	R4,575
SR SELEPE	Household Profiling	R4,550
YABELA CONSTRUCTION AND TRADING	Research And Advisory Services	R4,408
Mokgomole MR	DAMC Committee Membership	R4,280
Ahrens GHF	DAMC Committee Membership	R4,220
MONARENG AM	Household Profiling	R4,200
XP KUBHEKA	Household Profiling	R4,200
Xaba SDM	DAMC Committee Membership	R3,510
Mabundadza FV	DAMC Committee Membership	R3,055
Mtsweni ZP	DAMC Committee Membership	R2,820
South African Qualifications Authority	Verifying Of Qualification	R2,635
Mulaudzi NE	DAMC Committee Membership	R2,145
Mabunda AP	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,950
Mpye J	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,886
Motaung G	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,714
SELEOANE	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,560
Chakache CD	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Chisale -Elniemua MM	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Deelie JJ	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Kgampe MS	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Khumalo JEK	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Khunou LM	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Kokota BS	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Matsoga JM	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Mosia MP	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Robela MA	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Sekobane MM	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Thebe AH	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Tshabalala SM	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,558
Nukeri	DAMC Committee Membership	R1,170
BEEF	DAMC Committee Membership	R944
BEEF WILLIE	DAMC Committee Membership	R944
HOSEA GAETSEWE	DAMC Committee Membership	R856
GAETSEWE	DAMC Committee Membership	R856
GAONGALELWE MOROKA	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
MASESE MOILWA	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
MODISE PHOLOANYANE	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
POO	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
BELEM THOMAS	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
CHANTELE BRUYN	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
DE BRYUN	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
KEFUWE POO	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
KODISANG	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
LENTORO	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
MABE	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
MALEHO KODISANG	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
MOFOTI	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
NKOE	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
PHOLOANYANE	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
PORTIA NK0E	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
RAYMOND JANSEN	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
TAUNYANE	DAMC Committee Membership	R780
ENTERPRISES UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA	Econometric And Economic Modelling Services, Partnering And Capacity Buildings	R746
Nghatsane LO	DAMC Committee Membership	R585
TEBOHO MACHAKELA	DAMC Committee Membership	R472
MABOTE BODULO	DAMC Committee Membership	R428
LAURETTE PHOOKO	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
LEBAKENG MOLEBELED	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
MATSHEDISO MORAKE	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
MITA MOLEMA	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
MMASENYA LEKAUTA	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
MOJALEFA KOTOPE	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
THEMBEKA HLEKO	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
TSOKOLO TELEKOA	DAMC Committee Membership	R390
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL	Research And Advisory Services	R358
Grand Total		R513,812,873

(b)(i),(ii) Please refer to the table below.

Consultants Items	(i) Budget	(ii) Expenditure	Variance
Board and Committees	R13,681,855	R13,681,855	-
Financial Management Consulting	R2,413,931	R2,413,931	-
Organisational Development	R5,519,172	R5,519,172	-
Project Management	R140,755,529	R140,755,529	-
Qualification Verification	R175,786	R175,698	R88
Research and Development	R345,323,164	R332,891,510	R12,431,654
Translations and Transcriptions	R16,396	R16,396	-
Valuation Services	R18,358,782	R18,358,782	-
Grand Total	R526,244,616	R513,812,873	R12,431,742

 

Reply:

Since the fall of the heavy rains and the cyclone Eloise, provinces reprioritised their equitable share and conditional grants in order to address the damages incurred by farmers. Mpumalanga made available an amount of R8 270 000.00, Free State R1 200 000.00 and Northern Cape R1 500 000.00. North West catered for the affected farmers in the 2021/22 Fetsa Tlala programme to be assisted with seeds. The intervention is provided through provision of seeds, crop seedlings and soil rehabilitation to support the affected farmers. Continuous monitoring is done while early warning information and advisories are being disseminated on a daily basis.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) I have been informed by the Department that the hearing was held on 08 March 2021 wherein parties agreed on the hearing dates of the 21-24 April 2021, and 04-06 May 2021 respectively. A pre-hearing meeting was held on 30th March 2021 between the employer’s party and the employees’ parties.

The hearing for Members of the Bid Adjudication Committee was scheduled for 21 – 24 April 2021 and the hearing proceeded with DPWI leading a witness for three consecutive days on procurement processes. The matter was postponed to 14, 15, 17 & 18 June 2021 for further testimony and cross examination of the witnesses.

The hearing of the Senior Officials was scheduled for 04 – 06 May 2021, however, the hearing was postponed on the first sitting due to the failure one of the official’s legal representative to attend the hearing. The said legal representative indicated that he is launching a court application to review the report and to stop the disciplinary enquiry. However, the Department argued that the matter should proceed and that the legal representative should be advised to attend the hearing on the next day, 05 May 2021, since there is no court order interdicting the disciplinary process and that DPWI has not been cited as a party to the aforementioned intended court application. The hearing was postponed to 05 May 2021 and proceeded accordingly. During the hearing one of the official’s legal representative served the chairperson and the department with the Court application to review the investigation report and also to stop the disciplinary enquiry. As a result thereof the chairperson of the hearing ruled that the disciplinary action is postponed indefinitely pending the finalization of the court application, because the Department will not suffer any prejudice if postponement is granted until finalization of the Court application and that the DPWI may proceed with the disciplinary action if the application is not granted. The Chairperson further ruled that the Court application for the review has a bearing on the current disciplinary action since the directive and the report giving rise to the process is the subject matter of the review and therefore the argument by DPWI that there is no Court Order prohibiting the continuation of disciplinary enquiry is without valid merits

b) In view of the aforesaid statement, no official has suffered any consequences. This is dependent on the outcome of the concluded disciplinary process which has been put on halt pending the outcome of the court application.

Reply:

(1)     According to HEMIS data (2019), overall there are still more male than female staff occupying instruction and research posts in the sector. African women are significantly under represented. The table below illustrates the breakdown of the numbers according to race and gender:

Table 1: Headcount of instruction and research staff in 2019:

Population Group	Instruction and Research
	Female	Male	Total
African	3 416	4 807	8 223
Coloured	792	655	1 447
Indian/Asian	888	731	1 619
White	4 397	3 807	8 204
Unknown	94	314	408
Total	9 587	10 314	19 901

 

The HEMIS data does not provide a breakdown according to field of specialisation. 

(2)     To address this, the Department is implementing the Staffing South Africa’s Universities’ Framework (SSAUF) as part of the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP). The UCDP is an implementation programme that is intended to enable an integrated approach to capacity development across three focal areas: student development, staff development and programme/curriculum development. For the purposes of the UCDP, staff development activities are activities that enable the development of university academic and professional staff in a range of roles, including teaching, researching, leading, managing and administering.

The SSUAF comprises sub-programmes that are designed to intervene at important transition points along the academic staffing career trajectory. There are five programmes focused on the recruitment of black (African) female academics, and these are the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP), the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP), the University Staff Doctoral Programme (USDP), the Future Professors Programme (FPP) and the Higher Education Leadership and Management Programme (HELMP).

The NESP aims to recruit honours graduates who demonstrate academic ability, who express an early interest in the possibility of an academic career and who might be lost to the system if structured, attractive prospects and opportunities for recruitment into academic positions do not exist. NESP Master's graduates then become a resource pool from which new academics can be recruited. The NESP is implemented in phases by the Department with Phase 1 having started with implementation in 2020 with 97 candidates supported through the programme. Five of these candidates were given an opportunity to study for Master's degrees in France and three of them are women. The rest will be confirmed this year. Each phase of the NESP will be a 3-year programme for all selected participants, comprising two stages. Stage 1 will comprise of a 2-year scholarship programme and Stage 2 is a compulsory 1-year internship programme at the recruiting university. The NESP was implemented for the first time in 2020.   

The nGAP involves the recruitment of highly capable scholars as new academics to be appointed in permanent posts at universities, against carefully designed and balanced equity considerations and in light of the disciplinary areas of greatest need. To date, seven phases (Phase 1 - 7) of the nGAP are being implemented, and posts have been awarded and continue to be filled by the universities. Phase 7 commenced in April 2021, and the recruitment and contracting for these posts must be concluded in March 2022. 

Out of a total of 542 nGAP lecturers in the system currently, 252 (46%) are appointed in STEM positions. Out of the 252, 140 (55.5%) are women and 112 (44.5%) are men.

The USDP, which supports existing permanent academics to obtain doctoral degrees, also follows suit with the majority (56 out of a total of 101) of participants in the programme being women.

The FPP, which supports lecturers and senior lectures who demonstrate academic leadership potential to transition to the professoriate, started implementation in 2019/20 with the majority of participants being women.

The HELMP seeks to build leadership and management capacity in the university system and has a special programme that focuses on the development of women as leaders in higher education.

All these programmes emphasise that of the selected candidates, 90% must be black South Africans and at least 55% of the beneficiaries must be women. The sustainability of these programmes is secured as these programmes form part of the annual performance targets of the Department and are allocated funds in the Ministerial Statement for University Funding each year.

These programmes are as per the need for each university with some of them demonstrating a need in the STEM subjects. However, due to a limited pool of qualifying female prospective candidates, recruitment of this group of the population is often difficult, a matter that the Department is trying to attend to.

Reply:

(1) The budget cuts to SASSA are as a result of the announcements made by the Minister of Finance in his 2021 Budget Speech, wherein he announced reductions in allocations across government departments, including the Department of Social Development.

(2) (a) In order to stay within the budget allocation, SASSA has no option but to implement below-inflation increases to the social grant amounts, while also implementing measures to achieve efficiencies in its operations and manage the wage bill. The Agency will consider initiatives to do more with less, such as encouraging grant beneficiaries to choose the most economical channel when withdrawing their grants to lower the cost of disbursing the grants, and review existing contracts and operations to identify areas where savings can be achieved.

(b) In due consideration of the Agency’s budget situation and to deal with budget pressures the following will be given attention:

• 1. Finalise the Business Process Re-engineering project to enhance future personnel and capacity planning.
  2. Reduce travel expenditure and encouraging the use of technology.
  3. Review of the existing contracts to assess their need in the current form.
  4. Improvement and strengthening of the controls in the management of assets e.g. fleet, telephones, etc.
  5. Implement cost containment measures on non-critical areas.
  6. Review prioritisation of projects/ activities to fund other key projects.

(c) SASSA will continue paying social grants to those who meet the qualifying criteria as set in the Social Assistance Act. Given the ever-shrinking financial allocation, SASSA will ensure that only qualifying persons receive the grants – this means that regular reviews of those already in the system will be strengthened; the application process must will be strengthened with external validations to confirm the means of those applying, and communication of the qualifying criteria will also be strengthened.

However, it should be noted that these measures will be undertaken without compromising the provision of social grants to qualifying persons, which is a constitutional right.

Reply:

1. (a) Yes, the department has funded social worker students through the scholarship programme in the 2020 academic year.

(b)Yes, the department is funding social work students through the scholarship programme in the 2021 academic year.

2. (a) Nine hundred and twenty five (925) social work students were funded through the scholarship programme in 2019.

(b) Three hundred and eighty nine (389) social work students were funded through the scholarship programme in 2020.

(c) One hundred and fifty six (156) social work students are funded through the scholarship programme in 2021.

3. The lesser number of students have been awarded scholarships since 2019/20 because of the reduction of funds. During the 2017-2019 MTEF period, the allocation for social worker scholarships was reduced to fund the conditional grant for employment of social work graduates. This grant was implemented over a period of three years (2017 – 2019), therefore the department suspended recruitment of new students in the scholarship programme. All students funded in 2019/2020, 2020/21 and 2021/22 are those who were previously funded and were in the process of completing their studies.

Reply:

The budget process of Government requires that all requests for roll-over on unspent funds be submitted to the relevant Treasuries. All provincial Departments of Social Development have applied for roll overs with their respective Provincial Treasuries for consideration. The Department has been engaging regularly with National Treasury to try and expedite this matter and make regular follow-ups, noting that all relevant process ought to be followed accordingly. Only once the roll overs requests are approved, the qualifying employees will receive their payment.

Reply:

1. The clause on payment of interest on the DSD Sector Funding Policy was considered as a result of initial engagements with the National Treasury and their Draft Guidelines on Management of Transfers that was developed in 2017. There has been further engagements with the National Treasury to review the clause and assess its practicality. Through the guidance received from National Treasury, it will not be feasible to implement the said clause and as such this will be reviewed by the Department.

(a) To date no interest has been paid to NPOs and;

(b) No budget has been set aside towards the payment of such interest.

(2) (a) the steps that the department has taken to consult with NPOs around the Sector Funding Policy included extensive consultative sessions throughout the nine Provinces that were held with the sector (NPOs) during the development of the Policy.

(b) The steps that have been taken by the Department to implement the policy included the development of the Sector Funding Guidelines and NPOs and departmental officials will be trained on the guidelines commencing in the second quarter, 2021/22 financial year.

 

Reply:

The Department working with other stakeholders is strengthening the implementation of the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan 2018-2023 developed as a response to the challenge of food insecurity and malnutrition in South Africa. This is implemented with diverse stakeholders including government departments; nongovernmental organisations; academic institutions and development partners working in unison to fight against hunger and the underlying causes.

DSD will continue to implement Strategic Objective 3 of the plan, which is about expanding targeted social protection measures and sustainable livelihood programmes to assist the poor and vulnerable.

This work is implemented by the National Interdepartmental Coordination Committee, led by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and DSD will play its part and mobilise provinces to also intensify their contribution on the same.

 

 

Reply:

SASSA does consider the marital status when assessing applications for any social grant. Proof of spousal relationship is required when applying for any social grant. In terms of Regulation 18(2) to the Social Assistance Act, the income of an applicant and his/her spouse must be taken into account irrespective of whether the couple is married in or out of community of property under the Marriage Act, or any provisions contained in an ante-nuptial contract.

Spouse is defined for the purposes of social grant applications as “a person who is the spouse or partner of a person in accordance with the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act no 25 of 1961), the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No 120 of 1998) or the Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act no 17 of 2006 or the tenets of any Asiatic religion…” This therefore covers all the marriage regimes applicable in South Africa.

Reply:

(a). Table 1 shows the number of persons who are benefitting from the State’s social grants as at 30 April 2021. The total number is 18 478 567.

Table 1: Number of social grants by grant type as at 30 April 2021

Region	Care Dependency Grant (CDG)	Child Support Grant (CSG)	Disability Grant (DG)	Foster Care Grant (FCG)	Grant-In-Aid (GIA)	Old Age Grant (OAG)	War Veteran’s Grant (WVG)	Grand Total
Eastern Cape	23 042	1 957 054	177 510	72 585	32 823	593 015	8	2 856 037
Free State	8 753	711 420	75 633	22 956	10 267	213 604		1 042 633
Gauteng	20 504	1 989 063	116 726	38 939	10 077	681 084	10	2 856 403
Kwazulu Natal	38 514	2 952 283	217 560	58 033	78 987	731 196	4	4 076 577
Limpopo	16 383	1 949 424	98 024	37 984	54 366	489 863	2	2 646 046
Mpumalanga	11 334	1 159 496	75 679	21 061	23 275	267 300		1 558 145
North West	9 752	899 905	63 829	25 242	17 047	279 105	1	1 294 881
Northern Cape	5 755	326 678	49 724	10 175	18 516	93 480	1	504 329
Western Cape	16 121	1 054 197	139 560	31 186	23 951	378 511	10	1 643 536
Total	150 158	12 999 520	1 014 245	318 161	269 309	3 727 158	36	18 478 587

(b). (i) Table 2a shows the age breakdown of people receiving child grants.

Table 2a: Age breakdown of persons receiving adult grants

(b). (i) Table 2b shows the age breakdown of people receiving child grants.

Table 2b: Age breakdown of persons receiving child grants

Child Age	Grant Type	Grand Total
	Care Dependency Grant	Child Support Grant	Foster Care Grant
0	444	546 717	141	547 302
1	1 715	744 641	650	747 003
2	2 848	750 091	1 338	754 266
3	3 831	728 832	2 116	734 757
4	4 508	710 442	2 812	717 728
5	5 763	724 330	4 174	734 209
6	7 039	785 798	5 587	798 349
7	7 803	782 103	7 171	796 969
8	8 520	779 319	9 308	797 018
9	9 216	779 117	11 501	799 676
10	10 047	759 839	14 503	784 192
11	10 777	748 303	17 917	776 740
12	11 923	772 218	22 562	806 373
13	12 843	745 274	27 078	784 752
14	13 320	731 030	32 099	775 889
15	13 683	703 467	36 422	752 984
16	14 138	673 022	40 864	727 332
17	11 735	534 977	40 758	586 832
18+			22 465	22 465
Grand Total	150 153	12 999 520	299 466	13 444 836

(b). (ii) Table 3 shows the number of social grants by gender.

Table 3: Number of social grants by gender as at 30 April 2021

b. (iii) race of each specified person?

SASSA does not collect information on the race of grant beneficiaries. Thus the information on the racial breakdown of grant beneficiaries is not available.

Reply:

1. SASSA has included in its operational plan for 2021/2022 financial year a target to interface with Labour (UIF), Government Pensions Administration Agency (Government Employees Pension Fund), National Student Financial Aid Scheme and Correctional Services established to verify income means. In addition, SASSA has commenced discussions with the Department of Cooperative Governance regarding access to data of municipal employees.

2 (a) SASSA first has to conclude Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with the targeted agencies followed by a formal process to confirm interface guidelines that will give input to the revised business processes and system implementation.

2(b) The process to formalise the MOA and interface guidelines with Department of Labour (UIF) and GPAA (GEPF) has started and planned to be finalised by the end of June 2021 followed by the same process with NSFAS and Department of Correctional Services by the end of September 2021.

The Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Cooperative Governance was concluded in May 2021.

By the end of the March 2022 SASSA will utilise the reports generated from the data sharing process to initiate a review process for existing beneficiaries.

Reply:

a) The current vacancy rate for all types of positions at the SA Social Security Agency is 1.7% for vacant and funded posts.

b) Breakdown of the numbers in each province are depicted in the table below:

Region/Office	Overall Number of vacancies
EASTERN CAPE	16
FREE STATE	13
GAUTENG	7
HEAD OFFICE	16
KWAZULU-NATAL	23
LIMPOPO	14
MPUMALANGA	8
NORTH WEST	19
NORTHERN CAPE	5
WESTERN CAPE	13
Grand Total	134

Number of vacancies per salary level:

Salary level	Numbers
Salary level 5	32
Salary level 7	27
Salary level 8	18
Salary level 9	3
Salary level 10	3
Salary level 11	18
Salary level 12	8
Salary level 13	19
Salary level 14	5
Salary level 15	1
Total	134

(c) Employees leave the organisation due to a number of reasons such as death, resignations, dismissal, retirement and ill-health.

(d) These 134 posts have been vacant for an average period of 12 months.

Reply:

(1)(2) The Department of Social Development has not engaged Cuban experts on the said matter during the said period.

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has requested the information from the South African Council for Educators (SACE); as they are the custodians of the database with the required information.  The DBE is awaiting the information, and will forward the response as soon as the data is received. 

Reply:

The total amount paid in legal fees by Government Printing Works for

(a) 2020/21 financial year = R90 123.13

(b) Since 01 April 2021 = R558 782.00

END

Reply:

(1) The total number of officials deployed by the Department of Home Affairs is three (3). There is support staff (locally recruited) employed by Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and placed in the Civic Services =six (6), Immigration Services =two (2) and Administration =two (2). The names and designations of the officials deployed by the Department of Home Affairs are as follows:

• Ms Elizabeth Nkone Aphane Counsellor: Immigration and Civic Services (Salary level 11)
• Mr Ramoshoane Adam Sethosa as Second Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services (Salary level 8)
• Ms Tshepiso Emma Kube as Second Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services (Salary level 8)

2. The office is currently fully operational, Ms E.N Aphane is currently on leave as of 24 May to 30 June 2021

3. Applications for Permanent Residence are suspended on a National level and will commence once the Department of Home Affairs declares the services open.

4. Operations are from 9h00 to 15H00. All appointments are from 9h00 to 13h00 and the office serve`s 10 clients per hour operating from 15 Whitehall, London sw1a 2DD. The High Commission do not occupy a property at the above post code.

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Reply:

The Department has undertaken to prioritize its services to those who have applied for their identity documents ahead of the general elections by issuing election enabling documents, i.e. Identity Documents, and also to issue Temporary Identification Certificates (TIC’s) on the spot to those whose identity documents are lost.

Furthermore, the Department has developed an ID distribution strategy that entails the following measures:

• Provinces in collaboration with stakeholder forums will embark on public awareness campaigns for the distribution and collection of ID’s.
• Provinces to work with Stakeholders to deploy mobile units for people to collect their Green Barcoded Identity Books.
• Targeted Communication intervention on uncollected Green Barcoded Identity Books and Smart Identity Cards.
• Provincial managers to make announcement making use of local media.
• Rescan all Green Barcoded Identity Books on hand on track and trace to reactivate the Short Message System (SMS) to clients informing them to collect IDs.
• Mobile Offices will be deployed to service a cluster of Voter Registration stations (Green Barcoded ID Books).
• A contingency plan to provide back office support services, where its front offices are experiencing problems with issuance of ID’s and TIC’s enabling documents.
• Clients to contact the Call Centre using 0800 60 11 90 to establish the status of their Identity Documents.

Lastly, the Department plans to extend its operational hours during the Voters Registration Weekend as well as on the scheduled Election day(s). It is against this backdrop that the Department has aligned its working hours with those announced by the Independent Electoral Commission(IEC). On the weekend of the 17th and 18th July 2021, all DHA offices will be opened from 8am until 5pm in order to fast track the processing of identity document applications and to ensure that all persons who are legible to vote are not excluded from participating in the next upcoming local government elections.

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Reply:

The Department is currently in the process of engaging various stakeholders on the possible way forward on dealing with the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) holders before their current ZEP permit expires. A final decision will be made within the next 2 months.

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