Questions and Replies

Reply:

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Reply:

As part of information gathering process in preparation for the development of IRP 2019, the Department requested information on existing power plant generation capacity and performance projections. Eskom projected Komati to be performing at energy availability factor of 87 percent in year 2020. Komati power station has a design generation capacity of 1000 MW from a total of nine units. The repurposing of this power station has therefore led to the loss of this capacity.

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has drafted two documents awaiting approval by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM). These documents are:

1. Protocol for the Elimination of Unfair Discrimination in Schools
2. Guidelines for the Socio-educational Inclusion of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics- (SOGIESC) in Schools

The DBE is currently doing further developmental work on the two documents, following comments gathered at the Heads of Education Committee (HEDCOM) and will be made available to the Honourable Member in 2024, when the log of comments has been considered. 

The following engagement platforms of stakeholders were consulted:

1. Education Labour Relations Council Bargaining Meeting
2. National Consultative Forum
3. South African Principals’ Association (including KZN-specific)
4. District Directors’ Meeting with Minister
5. South African Council for Educators
6. National Alliance of Independent Schools Associations
7. HEDCOM Subcommittee of Legal and Legislative Services
8. Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign Interprovincial Forum
9. Education Management and Governance Interprovincial Forum
10. Safety in Education Interprovincial Forum
11. Social Cohesion, Values and Nation Building Interprovincial Forum
12. Care and Support in Schools Interprovincial Forum
13. Inclusive Education Interprovincial Forum
14. Provincial Education Departments and stakeholders
15. Education Districts and stakeholders

The following partners have provided advice and technical support to the DBE in the formulation of the two draft documents:

1. South African Human Rights Commission
2. Commission on Gender Equality
3. Equal Education Law Centre
4. Centre for Child Rights
5. Universities (Educational Psychology Departments)
6. Catholic Institute of Education
7. FOR SA
8. The Children’s Institute
9. UNESCO
10. UNICEF

The documents will not be published for public comment because they are not policies. They are guidelines and protocols to guide institutional governance and management practice.

Reply:

A total of 70 043 additional classes were identified from 8 133 over crowded school across all provinces. The special programme was put on hold when Treasury implemented cost containment measures. 

The building of additional classes will follow the normal infrastructure programmes until we are advised differently by Treasury.

The number of identified schools and classes per province are attached.

Reply:

The public service went through an administrative and structural transformation post the Democratic transition in 1994. The Government of the Republic of South Africa subsequently introduced a Personnel and Salaries Administration (PERSAL) system.

The PERSAL system is able to draw reports up to 2001 only, records for the period in question are not readily available, however, they may be sourced from the Archives and it will require more time.

END.

Reply:

The Reporting Regulations of June 2014 does not require the Universities in the Annual Reporting to the Department to specifically disclose Total Security Costs as part of the audited financial Statements of Comprehensive Income. However, the Outsourced Security costs are stipulated as part of the Supplementary Data which is verified by the external auditors of the University.

As per the audited supplementary data received and the universities’ audited financial statements, the total amount spent by each institution of higher learning for outsourced security services in the 2022 financial year is shown in the table below. The University of Cape Town, University of Fort Hare and University of South Africa have not as yet submitted their Annual Reports and Financial Statements, we are consequently unable to gauge how much they have allocated towards outsourced security services thus far.

Further, University of Limpopo has not as yet submitted their Supplementary Data and a follow up has been made. The Supplementary Data supplied by Sefako Makgatho University and Sol Plaatje University suggest that the universities have not incurred costs for outsourced security services.  University of Pretoria was billed R11 000 for an outsourced security services.

NAME OF INSTITUTION	SECURITY EXPENSES
Traditional Universities	R'000
North West University	65 082
Rhodes University	8 036
Stellenbosch University	50 092
University of Cape Town (no data provided)
University of Fort Hare (no data provided)
University of KwaZulu Natal	32 831
University of Limpopo (no data provided
University of Pretoria	11
University of the Free State	44 779
University of the Western Cape	78 971
University of Witwatersrand	13 862
Universities of Technology
Cape Peninsula University of Technology	971
Central University of Technology	17 826
Durban University of Technology	54 155
Mangosuthu University of Technology	26 671
Tshwane University of Technology	25 210
Vaal University of Technology	57 271
Comprehensive Universities
Nelson Mandela University	1 832
University of Johannesburg	38 990
University of South Africa (no data provided)
University of Venda	45 530
University of Zululand	30 737
Sol Plaatje University (no data provided)
University of Mpumalanga	22 137
Sefako Makgatho University (no data provided)
Walter Sisulu University	108 265

Where no data is provided, DHET will follow-up with the university concerned.

Reply:

Yes, my department is able to maintain and build heritage sites. The department allocates Capital Works budget over the MTEF for the maintenance and repairs of our heritage sites that fall under the management of this department’s (VOTE 37).

Through the User Asset Management Plan (UAMP), system, institutions send their maintenance and new construction plans to this department for approval by National Treasury. Once approved the department releases the CAPEX funds via allocation letters. These include recently developed and constructed museums that my department has, since inception of the National Legacy Project, in 1998, developed and constructed, such as the Luthuli Museum in Stanger, the O R Tambo Memorial Garden in Nkantolo, Matola Raid Museum in Maputo Mozambique, the Nelson Mandela Statue at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Samora Machel Monument in Mbuzini, Freedom Park in city of Pretoria, the restoration of the Winnie Madikizela Mandela House in Brandfort, Inqghuza Hill Museum in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape to name a few.

 

The department has also contributed towards the completion of the following heritage sites, the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg, and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Museum & Learning Centre in Graaff-Reinet. Currently, the department has responded to a call to stabilise Liliesleaf Museum which was closed due to Covid-19 and other internal operational challenges.

The department ensures the transformation of the heritage landscape to commemorate, celebrate, conserve, and preserve the history and heritage sites of the previously marginalized South Africans. The new heritage structures that are developed under the ambit of the National Legacy Project, and are reflective of the history of all our heroes, heroines and history are:

• DR. JL DUBE AMPHITHEATRE: Phase 1 of the project was completed by the 31st of March 2023. The completed scope includes the construction of the roof covering, staircases and ramp, spectator ablutions, electrification, parking areas, civil works around the facility, tuck-shop and storage area, and spectator seating area.
• Phase 2, a Professional Service Provider has been appointed to finalize design work. Phase 2 scope includes the construction of the ablution area, the waiting area, security guardhouse, fencing, theatre floor polishing, paving around the facility, landscaping and storm water management, stage roof, stage lighting and sound system, access road, bus parking area, and the installation of plastic chairs on the concrete seating.
• WINNIE MADIKIZELA MANDELA BOMBED CLINIC: The Professional Service Provider was appointed in January 2023. Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is in the process of appointing the contractor. The tender bid closed on the 26th of October 2023. The scope of work includes the construction of enclosure side walls (see-through glass wall and solid brick wall), construction of the cover roof, electrification of the facility, paved walkway, and development of the exhibition work.

Reply:

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Reply:

a) It should be noted that after the completion of the construction of the new generation Correctional Centre at Tzaneen, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) tasked the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to commence with the planning and design of the official staff accommodation on the existing site, in close proximity to the Correctional Centre. It is anticipated that the planning and design stages will be finalised during the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

b) Indeed, the Tswelopele Correctional Centre (TCC) was constructed without the inclusion of official staff accommodation, the need was communicated to the DPWI as there is existing state-owned land available for the construction of official staff accommodation. Currently, DCS is investigating funding strategies which includes the possibility of the District Development Model (DDM) to address housing challenges.

END.

Reply:

The foundation for shared values based on nonracialism and non-sexist, democracy, social justice, and a shared national identity was laid by the 1996 adoption of the Constitution as a national compact to transform and uproot our country from its divisive past. As a Compact, the Constitution set the democratic government on a path to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights.

The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, which oversees the implementation of the Priority 6 Social Cohesion Programme of Action, has several national identity-building and constitutional values-affirmation initiatives aimed at fostering national unity and a sense of pride in being South African.

To foster a national identity that is inclusive of all individuals and surpasses racial, ethnic, religious, and other social identity-related factors, the Department has implemented targeted initiatives to popularise national symbols like the flag in school projects, the #IamtheFlag campaign, awareness-raising workshops on national symbols and national orders based on our Passport of Patriotism, and the commemoration of all our national days. These initiatives offer prospects for genuine nation-building and a broad national identity, with national symbols serving as crucial markers for our shared identity that is founded on Constitutional values, cohesion, and pride in our country.

Further, the Department also implements several community engagement initiatives that are designed with the express purpose of reflecting and mobilising our communities around our shared values in our constitution. These programmes include the Community Conversations Programme, the Social Cohesion Advocates Programme, and the Moral Regeneration Programme. These programmes create opportunities for social dialogue around our constitutional values and the horizontality of human rights in our country. Further, these programmes create platforms for communities to address the social ills that are plaguing our communities such as Gender Based Violence and Femicide as well as the eroding levels of morality and values in our communities. They are also a platform for creating opportunities for interaction to create trust among those from diverse backgrounds, shared values, and a sense of belonging.

There is no doubt that our quest for a shared national identity which is a fundamental prerequisite for nation-building and social cohesion must necessarily be based on the iconography and overall heritage landscape that accurately reflects the demographics of our country as part of redress and restitution. In this regard, my department remains steered by the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to redress the past inequities, whilst integrating the previously marginalised heritage as a way to cultivate the prospects of authentic reconciliation and social cohesion. In this regard, the Department carries out the Heritage Legacy Project, whereby the Department has constructed several heritage sites and erected monuments and statues in pursuit of the transformation of the heritage landscape. For this MTSF period, these include the Sarah Baartmann Center of Remembrance; Winnie Mandela House in Brandfort; OR Tambo Legacy Project and the JL Dube Amphitheatre.

Further, through the South African Geographical Names Council, the Department continues to standardise the geographical names in South Africa as a way to redress, correct and transform our country with major towns recently changed such as Gqeberha from Port Elizabeth, Kariega from Uitenhage, Qonce from King Williamstown, and Winnie Mandela from Brandfort, and major airports having been recently changed that include the King Phalo from East London and Chief Dawid Stuurman from Port Elizabeth. These national identity-building initiatives are very important in guaranteeing that nation-building and social cohesion are not merely theoretical concepts without the potential to impact inherited racial inequality which is antithesis to the shared values as espoused in the Constitution of our republic.

In addition to the aforementioned programmes, which are essential for forging a national identity based on our shared values, the Department is currently finalising a National Social Compact for Social Cohesion and Nation Building in partnership with key stakeholders. Under this initiative, social actors from the public sector, labour, business, and civil society will engage in meaningful dialogue that will see each of the social partners playing a significant and meaningful role in promoting social cohesion and nation-building.

The Department and other important stakeholders are planning to present this social compact before the social partners at NEDLAC before bringing it before Cabinet for approval. It is expected that the resulting Social Compact will inspire the important sectors of our society such as business, media, and civil society to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building, with the understanding that these goals cannot be achieved solely by government and that a fundamental agreement outlining the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in society is necessary.

Reply:

1. The urgent interventions, with, are as follows:

• All the contacts of the index patient were traced and symptomatic patients were isolated while all asymptomatic contacts were quarantined;
• Several inmates have been placed in isolation as a precautionary measure;
• Case finding was conducted by sending throat swabs of all the contacts to National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) for testing;
• Antibiotics treatment was given to symptomatic contacts and antibiotics prophylaxis also given to all asymptomatic contacts;
• Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) administered to the confirmed cases;
• Diphtheria Booster vaccine was offered to both inmates and officials;
• Continued close monitoring of those in isolation and in quarantine;
• Stakeholder collaboration was established with the National and Western Cape Provincial Department of Health including but not limited to:
  • National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD)
  • National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)
  • Provincial Centre for Disease Control, City of Cape Town from the onset of the outbreak.
• Daily updates were provided to the relevant stakeholders;

In addition to the above all the regions were updated to be on high alert especially because an inmate had already succumbed to Diphtheria at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre.

END.

Reply:

(1). The Young Creatives Programme is creating 270 job opportunities for young people who are active in the Creative Industries. These Young Creatives are placed in Community Arts Centres across the country. They receive a monthly stipend of R4000.00 (Four thousand rands only) for 12 months. The Programme, as the National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) of the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, also gears participants towards employability and better self-confidence to be successful in getting a long-term job or setting up their own Creative Arts enterprise.

The NYSP is a government-led initiative that engages South African youth in community service activities, to strengthen service delivery, build patriotism, promote nation-building, foster social cohesion. In our case with The Young Creatives Programme, when we place these young people in Community Arts Centres to assist the youth to acquire occupational skills. At the same time, the monthly stipends they receive, creates a measure of sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The NYSP is currently said to be the single largest service programme for young people in the country. We are partnering on the Programme with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), to assist with management of stipend of these 270 participants.

I officially launched the programme in July 2023 in Gauteng, with young people from all nine provinces present.

Reply:

(1). Yes, CCIFSA is funded on an annual basis by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Budget allocations are as follows:

1. For 2020/21 no funding was given to CCIFSA.
2. R5 000 000.00 for 2021/22
3. R5 000 000.00 for 2022/23

(2). CCIFSA did not have an annual general meeting in the 2022/23 financial year due to its unfinished business of facilitating the hosting of the three outstanding Provincial Regional Conferences. To date, the following Provinces have hosted the Provincial Conferences namely Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Northwest.

(b) 2022/23 CCIFSA Audited Financial Statements are available at any time they a required through the Department.

(3). (a). CCIFSA Office bearers were elected on 21-23 August 2019

(b). The elections were conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

(c). The results were as follows:

• President: Ms Joy Mbewana (KZN
• Deputy President: Mr Johannes Msomi (MP)
• National Coordinator: Mr Luzuko Lukhohli (EC)
• Secretary General: Mr Ayanda Roda (FS)
• Deputy Secretary General: Mr Anenele Maki (WC)
• Treasury General: Mr Mangaliso Mtshula (NC)

Reply:

The question is based on a direct context of  Lulamelani Secondary School in the Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga. The question can therefore best responded by the the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Mpumalanga . The Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MEC for Free State as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules. 

Reply:

It is not mandatory for Minister to publish all reports, particularly after they have been tabled in parliament. Nonetheless the report is available on request. Furthermore, work is underway to ensure the report is published in the government gazette.

Reply:

Yes, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) does have functional agreements in addressing bullying and substance abuse amongst adolescents in schools. These agreements are as follows:
1. Inter-Departmental Campaign on the Prevention of Violence, Bullying, Corporal Punishment, Gender-Based Violence, Teenage Pregnancy, Drugs and Substance Abuse.

The Department and its partner Departments: Social Development, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, Health, Communications and Digital Technologies, Home Affairs, the Presidency and the South African Police Service have embarked on an Inter-Departmental Campaign on Violence Prevention.

This Campaign raises awareness on issues such as the prevention of bullying, corporal punishment, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, drugs and substance abuse in schools. The Campaign has been championed by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education and supported by other Deputy Ministers from the above-mentioned partner departments, and Executive Mayors. Additionally, it has also targeted districts with high levels of crime and violence known as hot spots throughout various provinces. The Campaign is also rolled out through a jamboree of career choices provided by various higher learning institutions (e.g Universities, T-VET Colleges and SETAs) and build up events that take groups of learners through priority content areas related to violence prevention; including bullying and substance abuse.

To date, the Campaign has been rolled out in six provinces such as Gauteng (Gauteng West District), Limpopo (Sekhukhune East District), Mpumalanga (Nkangala District) and the North-West (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District), as well as Eastern Cape (Nelson Mandela District) and KwaZulu-Natal (Pinetown District). In the new financial year of 2024, the Department plans to roll out the Campaign in the outstanding provinces, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

2. Partnership Protocol between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service (SAPS)

The Department has an established Protocol with SAPS to address crime and violence in schools, including drugs and substance abuse. The Protocol has enabled all schools to be linked to their local police stations. SAPS conduct searches and seizures in schools and also coordinate crime awareness campaigns in schools. Regularly, searches and seizures of illegal drugs and dangerous weapons are done in schools, as well as crime awareness campaigns discouraging gangsterism, bullying and theft amongst the adolescent.

3. Cyberbullying and Online Safety awareness campaigns in schools

The Department has an established relationship with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Films and Publication Board in conducting awareness campaigns on cyberbullying and online safety in schools including alerting the learners about online child sexual grooming, human trafficking, classification of content, exposure to adult online content and digital footprint through social media, as well as encouraging them to be good digital citizens. The FPB has used its Online Safety Youth Council Members, made up of 11 young people from the ages of 13 to 21 years old in conducting peer to peer awareness dialogues in schools. The awareness campaigns have reached various schools nationwide in 2023 and will continue to be implemented in 2024.

4. Central Drug Authority in addressing substance abuse.

The DBE serves on the board of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), which is a coordinating structure set up by the Department of Social Development to coordinate the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan 2019-2024, on addressing substance abuse in the country, by various departments.  The CDA comprises of officials from civil society organisations and departments such as Health, Higher Education, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, as well as National Treasury. Through the CDA, the Department continues to implement its National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of Alcohol and Drug Use Amongst Learners in Schools. Its approach is not a punitive one, instead it is restorative.  Schools are required to do the following to curb alcohol and drug use of learners:

• Establish school-based support teams;
• Establish or strengthen referral systems (e.g rehabilitation centres, social workers);
• Implement drug testing in schools;
• Implement Curriculum on drugs and substance abuse through the Life Orientation subject.

In terms of training on the National Strategy; provinces and districts continue to re-train schools.  This training is predominately intergraded with the training on the National School Safety Framework. Drug testing is at the centre of the training on the National Strategy for the Prevention and Management of Alcohol and Drug Use Amongst Learners in Schools.

 

1. National Technical Intersectoral Committee on Child Justice

The DBE serves on the National Technical Intersectoral Committee on Child Justice (ISCCJ), which is mandated to implement the Child Justice Act of 2008 nationwide, and manage children in conflict with the law.  The ISCCJ is championed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and supported by other departments and entities such as Social Development, Health, National Prosecuting Authority and SAPS. The DBE facilitates the provision of teaching and learning services in 34 Child and Youth Care Centres nationwide, as means to ensure the learners acquire skills, while DSD provides substance abuse and psychosocial support programmes in these centres, as means to rehabilitate the learners.

Reply:

(a). The Total costs incurred will be available once reconciliation of invoices and costs is finalised.

(b). I attended the Rugby World Cup to support the Springboks in the Semi-Finals and Finals, I also led the South African delegation to the 9th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 9) to the International convention against doping in sport, which took place in Paris, I attended this as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and Vice President of the International Conference of Ministers and senior officials responsible for physical education and Sport.

Reply:

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Reply:

Since 2019, the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund has provided aid to the following African countries:

a) Total aid provided by the ARF since 2019 to date is R406 439 351,32.

b) and c) The below table provides the information requested.

Name of the Country	Project Description	Value of the project
South Sudan	Humanitarian Assistance	R74 750 898,00
Republic of Zimbabwe	Humanitarian Assistance	R50 000 000,00
South Sudan	Prevention and Resolution of Conflict	R1 025 820,00
The Central African Republic	Promotion of Democracy and Good Governance	R18 554 240,00
AU Special Fund for COVID-19	Humanitarian Assistance	R72 711 439,04
South African contribution towards the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC).	Humanitarian Assistance	R36 344 440,13
The Kingdom of eSwatini	Humanitarian Assistance	R40 000 000,00
Central African Republic (CAR)	Prevention and resolution of conflict	R8 185 000,00
The Kingdom of Lesotho	Democracy and good governance	R32 396 231,00
Drought Relief in Namibia	Humanitarian assistance	R72 471 283,15
Total	R406 439 351,32

Reply:

(1) (a) The person was seconded to the Department on 1 August 2020;

(b) The person was seconded in terms of section 15 of the Public Service Act to support the Office of the Director-General;

(2) The person was seconded to the Department to provide policy coordination and support in the Office of the Director-General;

(3) The position the specified person currently holds was advertised on 16 October 2020;

(4) The person previously occupied a Director: Policy Advisor and Analyst post in the Gauteng Office of the Premier;

(5) The person’s secondment agreement was signed by the Director-General: Gauteng Office of the Premier.

End

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Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stakeholders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) (i) A total of 2 403 medical interns (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for medical internship positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

(ii) A total of 2 391 medical doctors community service (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for medical internship positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) (i) 2 354 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above and have since been notified of their placement outcomes.

Some outcomes were unfavourable to the applicants with reasons as follows:

• 113 have been declared not eligible for this Cycle by HPCSA
• 6 applicants to commence duty from 1 July 2024
• 1 applicant retracted his allocation due to other commitments

(ii) 2 387 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above and 2 158 have since been notified of their allocation. The remaining 229 applicants to commence duty from 1 March 2024 and will be allocated in January 2024

(c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

END.

Reply:

The data as requested is drawn from the Persal System and was extracted on 30 November 2023. Unfortunately, records on the Persal System are not able to provide granule data of each specialization as Specialists are not captured per specialization but per Professional Category.

(a)-(b) The table below responds to question (a) and (b) which is the data available on the Persal system. We do acknowledge that the Professional Councils also keep data of all specialities but with a limitation of not being able to still distinguish between employment status (public or private) as well as current location of practice (Nationally or Abroad).

Row Labels	EC	FS	GAU	KZN	LP	MPU	NW	NC	WC
Medical Specialist	163	127	1026	569	81	51	113	29	749
Registrar (Medical)	97	186	1265	334	94	4	44	2	630
Senior Registrar (Medical)	1	0	10	0	1	0	0	0	48
Professional Nurse (Specialised)	1448	596	2834	3605	1539	775	1265	150	1416
Dental Specialist	0	1	60	2	3	2	0	0	5
Grand Total	1709	910	5195	4510	1715	832	1422	181	2848

(c) Not able to provide information of specialist currently in the private sector as the Department is currently not collecting the data but still improving our Human Resource Information System to be operable with private sector.

END.

Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stake holders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) A total of 2 036 nurses (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for professional nurses community service positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) 2009 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above. All applicants have been allocated and notified.

c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

The deadline to finalize all allocations cannot be specified as the process is not punitive, however it unfolds until all eligible applicants have been allocated to positions, and duly appointed by Provincial Departments of Health.

END.

Reply:

(a)-(b) According to the HPCSA they have no records of doctors employed and practicing in public hospitals or Clinics. It is important to appreciate that before a doctor can be employed in the public healthcare sector and paid in the public healthcare system he/she must be registered on the PERSAL system which would include a requirement that the doctor provides evidence of registration with the HPCSA as a doctor. Given that there are no reports of doctors without proper qualifications being employed in the public healthcare sector there would be no need to take action against any official in this regard.

END.

Reply:

1. (a)(i),(ii) No Department within the Health Sector have blacklisted any company.

(b) Not applicable.

2. Not applicable.

END.

Reply:

a) The Department is currently ensuring compliance with the below processes required for the introduction of the draft Bill into Parliament:

• Submission of the draft Bill to the Speaker and the Chairperson of the council in terms of Joint Rule 159 and thereafter the Bill is referred to committees;
• Gazetting the notice of intention to introduce in terms of National Assembly Rule 276/ NCOP Rule 186;
• Certification of the draft Bill by OCSLA and submission to Parliament’s Bills Office for processing in terms of National Assembly Rule 279(2).

The Department has been in contact with the Bill’s Office in Parliament and currently working on the submission of the draft Bill as per the Joint Rule 159.

The supply chain processes are also underway for the gazetting of the intention to introduce the draft Bill in terms of National Assembly Rule 276/NCOP Rule 186.

The Office of the Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) has also been engaged on facilitating the process of obtaining the certification of the draft Bill through the Department of Justice as required by the National Assembly Rule 279(2).

b) Following the proclamation of the Amended Act into law by the President, the Department will implement the necessary processes for the establishment of the fully-fledged entity.

Reply:

According to the HPCSA:

1. (a)-(b) The Scope and Guideline document for “Board Examination for Foreign Medical Practitioners wishing to practice in South Africa and for the purpose restoration” issued by the HPCSA’s Medical and Dental Professions Board dated July 2023 provides details on the content, length, and format of the Theory Examination. It is stated in the guideline document that the theory examination time is two (2) hours, as such the candidates were duly informed about the duration of the examination. In addition, the University (UKZN) created a special website from which candidates could access information and directly engage the institution on any matter as they prepared for the exams. The time period for each examination is determined when the examination questions have been finalised so there is no deviation from a three-hour examination period.

2. (a) Foreign-qualified medical graduates need to comply with the standards determined by the MDB for the purposes of registration and clinical practice. Both medical interns and medical officers will enjoy the same scope of clinical practice therefore it is appropriate that their assessment should be the same. There is no rational basis for separate examinations for the two groups.

(b) Based on what has been provided above, there is no need for rectification of any situation.

END.

Reply:

The Department has no capped amount at which it will cease to provide financial relief to state-owned enterprises. Each request for financial relief is assessed on its own merit. The factors to be considered are diagnosis of the challenges the SOE is facing and the development of turnaround plan to remedy those challenges.

The Presidential State-Owned Enterprises (PSEC) was established by the President in 2020, of which the Department is the Secretariate. The task of PSEC is to reform, reposition and revitalise the SOE’s not only within the Department’s portfolio but others as well. The exercise will require some funding which may be from Government and/or from other sources including disposal of non-core assets, private sector participation amongst others. Funding will therefore be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

 

It must be emphasised that SOEs should not operate on the basis that they will always receive funding from the fiscus. In fact, SOEs must be viable in their own right as soon as possible.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

A comprehensive list of all South African Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates with contact details and addresses are available online through the website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation at www.dirco.gov.za/south-african-representation-abroad/. The contact details and addresses are updated on a regular basis when new Heads of Mission and officials assume their duties at these missions or when the location of the chancery has changed. In addition to consulting the Departmental website, contact details can also be obtained from our 24-hour switchboard number at +27 12 351 1000.

Reply:

1)(a). The South African Sport Awards were held on 25 March 2023.

b). A total of 1000 people attended the event.

c). The event was held at Sun City Superbowl.

2). The total amount for event management services (hosting the event) was R7,962,131.38. This covered the following services;

Invitation Management, Accreditation and Seating

Voting line

Presenters and Anchor of the Main Event

Set up and décor for Gala Dinner for 1000 people

Technical Production of the Show

Catering, meals, and refreshments (Set days)

Accommodation (Hosts, Anchors, Choreographers, Artists, and Crew)

Transportation (Hosts, Anchors, Choreographers, Artists, and Crew)

Safety and Security

Emergency and Medical Services and Public Liability Insurances

Photography and Videographer

Public Relations, Marketing and Collaterals

Trophies and Medallions

Nominees Blazers and Local Apparel

Coffee Table Book

Panel Members (including debriefing)

Operations Venue Requirements and equipment

Researchers

3)(a). The company that provided the event management services was Moila Vortex Solutions.

3)(b). The budget was sourced from Recognition Systems: Contractors

3(c). The budget was sourced from the 2022/2023 financial year.

Reply:

South Africa’s representatives and negotiators working on the World Health Organisation (WHO) convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (WHO Pandemic Agreement) have participated in the various iterations of the development of a draft negotiation’s text to prepare for the actual negotiations. The latest version of the document under discussion is titled the “Advanced unedited version of the WHO Pandemic Agreement” and is dated the 16 October 2023 (attached as Annexure to this response). The actual negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement have not yet commenced as there is still no agreement on the negotiation’s text and there are divergent views on the language and contents of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the WHO member states. The disagreements are on how the principle of Equity is to be operationalised throughout the Articles of the Agreement, to ensure that the mistakes made in responding to Covid-19 are not repeated as we move forward. The disagreements are based on developing countries requiring that lessons learnt for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response are provided for and that the provisions of the Agreement do not disadvantage member states from the global south. However, despite these divergent views, the following areas on sovereignty and conduct of pharmaceutical manufacturers are still being deliberated upon in developing a negotiations text for a future WHO Pandemic Agreement:

a) The “Advanced unedited version of the WHO Pandemic Agreement” has several articles addressing issues of protecting sovereignty of member states and on protecting members states against extortion by pharmaceutical manufacturers and other companies.

(i) On protection of sovereignty of state Parties to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the Preambular section and Article 3 on General Principles and Approaches addresses these concerns.

1. The Preamble reaffirms the principle of sovereignty of States Parties in addressing public health matters.
2. Article 3 affirms that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the general principles of international law, have the sovereign right to legislate and to implement legislation in pursuance of their health policies.

(ii) On protecting members states against extortion by pharmaceutical manufacturers, other companies and member states, Article 10 on “Sustainable Production” and Article 13 on “Global Supply Chain and Logistics” is meant to provide for mechanisms that must be deployed by state parties to prevent extortionary practices by pharmaceutical entities and member states in which they are domiciled. It must however be noted that pharmaceutical companies are not state parties, but that member states in which they are domiciled will be the state parties to the WHO Pandemic Agreement and this is where the challenge of operationalising equity arises as the member states often invoke free market principles and their inability to intervene:

• 1. Article 10 makes provision for state parties to be self-sufficient in providing for health products by ensuring that in the inter-pandemic period, there is achievement of more geographically and equitably distributed global production of pandemic-related products, and that member states increase the timely, fair and equitable access to safe, effective, quality and affordable pandemic-related products, and thereby reducing the gap between potential demand and supply at the time of a pandemic.
• 2. Article 13 (3) makes provision for the establishment of the WHO Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (the WHO SCL Network) which shall work with state parties to the agreement to ensure that it facilitates the negotiation and agreement of advance purchase commitments and procurement contracts for pandemic-related products; promotes transparency in cost, pricing and all other relevant contractual terms along the supply chain; and coordinates to avoid competition for resources among procuring entities, including within member states, regional organizations and/or mechanisms.
• 3. Articles 13 (5) and (6) further provide for each Party to the agreement to, at the earliest reasonable opportunity and in accordance with applicable law, make publicly available online the terms of government-funded purchase agreements for pandemic-related products in those instances in which the Party is directly entering into such purchase agreements and shall to the fullest extent possible and in accordance with applicable laws, exclude confidentiality provisions that serve to limit disclosure of terms and conditions of such purchases.

b) The provision for consequence management, including arbitration, should extortion occur, is described in Article 34 on “Settlement of Disputes” of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This Article provides for parties to resolve disputes through diplomatic channels by negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice, including good offices, mediation or conciliation.

Failure to reach a solution by good offices, mediation or conciliation will not absolve Parties to the dispute from the responsibility of continuing to seek to resolve it. However, the pharmaceutical companies as previously stated are not state parties and will not be signatories to Agreement. This is where the drafting of the negotiating text has stalled as currently there are diverging views from advanced economies and countries of the global north where most of these pharmaceutical companies are domiciled on how to resolve challenges that may arise out of the conduct of these companies. This has resulted in the inability to reach consensus with the representative member states from the developed countries from the global north.

END.

Reply:

1. The Department is not a competent authority to deal with coal siding and wash plant which is outside the mining area. This business operation as it falls outside of the mining area requires authorization from the departments of Forestry, Fisheries and Water and Sanitation.
2. Please see (1) above
3. Please see (1) above

Reply:

a) The number of employees of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation that faced disciplinary proceedings was 34.

b) The details of the employees that faced disciplinary hearings were as follows:

(i) Chief Directors: 4;

1. Directors: 7;
2. Deputy Directors: 3;
3. Assistant Directors:15;
4. Senior Administrator: 1; and
5. Level 7: 4

c) The reasons for the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:

(i) 25 employees were charged with financial misconduct;

(ii) Six (6) employees were charged with Insolence and disgraceful conduct;

(iii) Two (2) employees were charged with late coming and absence without authorisation; and

(iv) One (1) employee was charged with failure to submit a financial disclosure form.

d) The periods taken to resolve the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:

(i) 27 cases finalised in one to three months;

1. One (1) case finalised in four months and sixteen (16) days;
2. Two (2) cases finalised in nine to 12 months; and
3. Two (2) cases are still pending.

e) The number of employees suspended were 4.

f) The charges that led to the suspensions were:

(i) Two (2) employees were suspended for insolence and threatening behaviour; and

(ii) Two (2) employees were suspended for financial misconduct.

g) The number of employees dismissed was 2.

(h1) The reasons for the dismissal of the employees were:

(i) One (1) employee was dismissed for financial misconduct; and

1. One (1) employee was dismissed for absence without authorisation.

(h2) The number of employees suspended with full pay was 4.

(i)The periods of suspension with full pay were:

(i) One (1) official was suspended for six months and 9 days;

1. One (1) official was suspended for ten months and 19 days;
2. One (1) official was suspended for 10 months and 20 days; and
3. One (1) official is still on suspension (since 7 September 2022) pending the hearing outcome.

Reply:

a) (i),(ii),(iii) Donor funds

b) Total per each investment

a) (i) (ii) (iii)
DONOR'S NAME	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	Totals
b) Total: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention	492,075,883,56	366,677,054,80	42,708,867,45	20,730,070,29	26,843,267,28	949,035,143,38
b) Total: European Union	4,613,092,16	-	-	-	-	4,613,092,16
b) Total: Germany	5,455,047,89	877 636,52	-	-	-	6,332,684,41
b) Total: Global Fund	616,153,230,05	571 301 660,14	1,411,879,026,50	922 803 142,86	930 804 645,72	4,452,941,705,27

(c) The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) financial and technical support through the existing Cooperative Agreement, assists the NDoH to incorporate results of programme evaluations into operational disease prevention and control programmes.

• In Financial year 2019/2020, The CDC supported Community Services.
• In financial year 2020/2021 CDC supported procurement of HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs and TB Prevention therapy drugs. The drugs were distributed to provincial depots in 2021/2022. To date, in addition to the programmatic supports, the CDC Cooperative Agreement has been supporting the NDoH with key personnel within its directorates. Funded personnel are responsible for their respective areas of expertise, and all efforts contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB in the country. Additional funds were used to support payment of key personnel appointed in the HIV/AIDS and TB as well as Maternal Child and Women Health clusters.

END.

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

1. The District Development Model (DDM) promotes intergovernmental relations that enhance collaborative planning and implementation of local government programmes. Section 41(1) of the Constitution requires all spheres of government to cooperate with one another, support one another and foster friendly relations. Furthermore, in terms of section 154(1) of the Constitution, national and provincial governments, must support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities to perform their functions.

The DDM is informed by the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 2005 (Act 13 of 2005), which provides for coordinated and integrated alignment of developmental priorities between the three spheres of government. The DDM is integrated district-based approach to addressing service delivery challenges through, among others, localised procurement and job creation that promotes involvement of local communities. It calls for One District, One Plan, and One Budget. Plans are being developed in 52 districts to set out long term strategic framework that will guide the investment and service delivery. The One Plan being developed in each District captures all the necessary challenges, commitments, and resolutions service delivery challenges.

Water service delivery is classified as a functional area of concurrent national and provincial legislative competence in Schedule 4, Part B of the Constitution, 1996. This means that there are dimensions of water services that fall within the realm of both national and provincial governments. Therefore, co-operative governance on these matters is imperative. The DWS is collaborating with relevant national departments and municipalities towards alignment of projects and avoiding duplication which will maximise the resources available to address water services challenges, in line with the DDM. The advent of the DDM has made collaboration to be more effective and efficient as all the departments are being monitored by DDM Champions.

2. The Department has submitted all the key strategic water projects (under implementation and in planning stages) and budgetary allocations as part of the One Plans. These projects are monitored and reported to Steering Committees at each district. At this stage it is not possible to make a determination whether the DDM interventions have been successful or not but collaboration efforts between different role-players are progressing well.

To fast-track the provision of water and sanitation services, the Department provides financial support to municipalities, through conditional grants to develop infrastructure and address infrastructure backlogs. ​Approximately R153 billion has been set aside for the infrastructure investment over the next seven years (2030) as part of the SDG 6 drive to provide water to everyone by 2030. This includes the R105 billion which is aimed at ensuring water security for the country. Approximately 60% of national water resource infrastructure projects are funded by private sector as an initiative of the Department through Public Private Collaboration Agreements. The other additional R47,5 billion is earmarked for Water Services. This includes projects that will improve access to reliability of water supply and ultimately the SDG 6 targets by 2030

Fundamental reforms are required to arrest and turn around the decline in municipal water and sanitation services, including the following:

• The Department will soon issue updated and more comprehensive national norms and standards for water and sanitation services for public comment.
• The DWS will also publish a National Regulatory Dashboard showing compliance with national norms and standards as monitored and reported amongst others by Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop Results.
• The DWS has gazetted the Water Services Amendment Bill for public comment. The current Act distinguishes between roles of Water Services Authority (WSA) and Water Services Provider (WSP) in municipalities. The Bill clarifies functions of WSAs and WSPs, including that billing and revenue collection for water is a WSP function.
• The Amendment Bill introduces a compulsory operating license system for WSPs, to be managed by DWS as the national regulator. This will enable WSAs to ensure that WSPs have minimum competency, capability, and performance levels. The Bill will empower the Minister of Water and Sanitation to instruct a WSA to appoint a Water Services Provider that is licensed. The Bill will further provide for Minister to implement regulatory enforcement protocols (non-compliance notices, directives) for water services, and to make gross non-compliance an offence, similarly to the National Water Act.

---00O00---

Reply:

a) The total number of Environmental Health Practitioners (Health Inspectors) per Province is as outlined in the table below under column 4:

b) The vacancy rate per Province as listed below in the table under column 5.

c) The department is not responsible for filling the vacancies of Environmental Health Practitioners (Health Inspectors) because these officials are working directly under 44 Districts and 8 Metropolitan municipalities. The mandate to appoint EHPs lies with the Districts and Metropolitan municipalities.

Table depicting the total number of EHPs and the vacancy rate:

Province	Population as per Census 2022	Required EHPs (Inspectors) Per Ratio of 1: 10 100	Number of EHPs (Inspectors) per Province	Vacancy Rate per Province (vacant Funded Positions)
Eastern Cape	7230204	723	203	8.86%
Free State	2964411	296	71	21.13%
Gauteng	15099422	1510	437	14.42%
KwaZulu Natal	12423908	1242	287	10.45%
Limpopo	6572720	657	129	3.1%
Mpumalanga	5143324	514	81	3.70%
North West	3804546	380	76	28.95%
Northern Cape	1355945	136	55	50.9%
Western Cape	7433019	743	373	2.42%
RSA	62027499	6203	1712

END.

Reply:

1. Twenty-three project proposals have been received to date.

• Load Management (LM): 16 proposals received.
• Residential Load Management (RLM): zero proposals received.
• Energy Efficiency (EE): seven proposals received. (See tables in (2) for details).

Of the 23 projects received, 16 projects (11 LM and five EE) have met the programme criteria to proceed to the governance approval stages. (See the tables in (2) for details).

(2)

Eskom Distribution Demand Management Programme – Load Management Projects
Project number	Project name	Project type	Demand reduction (MW)	Project costs	Status	Project description
2023001	Cooke 4 Water Pumping System	Load Management	10.000	R30 000 000	Procurement phase	Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours
2023003	Driefontein 4 and 5 Fridge Plant	Load Management	5.000	R15 000 000	Procurement phase	Optimisation of underground mining refrigeration system to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours
2023008	LM Karee 4 – Water Pumping System	Load Management	1.000	R3 000 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours
2023009	LM Karee 4 – Compressed Air (CA)	Load Management	1.300	R3 900 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of underground mining compressed air network to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours
2023010	LM Samancor WCM Mooinooi CA	Load Management	1.000	R3 000 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of underground mining compressed air network to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours
2023011	LM Samancor MFC Mills Load Shifting	Load Management	1.440	R4 320 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of smelter-milling plant to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours
2023012	LM Samancor TAS Mills	Load Management	1.058	R3 174 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of smelter-milling plant to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours
2023014	LM Samancor ECM Doornbosch PC	Load Management	0.700	R2 100 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of air pressure control for the underground mine to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours
2023015	LM Samancor ECM Tweefontein PC	Load Management	1.000	R3 000 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of air pressure control for the underground mine to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours
2023016	LM Great Noligwa KOSH Pumping	Load Management	1.600	R4 800 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical load shift in the evening peak hours
2023017	LM Moab Khotsong Compressors	Load Management	0.800	R2 400 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Optimisation of underground compressor network to enable peak clipping of electrical load in the evening peak hours
			24.90	R74 694 000

 

Eskom Distribution Demand Management Programme – Energy Efficiency Projects
Project number	Project name	Project type	Demand reduction (MW)	Project costs	Status	Project description
2023004	Driefontein 5 Service Water Optimisation	Energy Efficiency	1.000	R3 000 000	Procurement phase	Optimisation of underground mining water pumping network to enable electrical energy savings between 06:00 and 20:00
2023005	Driefontein 5 Energy Recovery	Energy Efficiency	1.800	R5 400 000	Procurement phase	Commissioning of an underground turbine to break the water pressure feeding down the mine shaft to generate electricity, reducing the amount of electricity needed from Eskom
2023007	EE Limpopo Schools Lighting Project	Energy Efficiency	0.443	R1 329 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Replacing old fluorescent lights with energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting at 34 Limpopo public schools
2023018	EE Kusasalethu Turbines	Energy Efficiency	3.200	R9 600 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Commissioning of an underground turbine to break the water pressure feeding down the mine shaft to generate electricity, reducing the amount of electricity needed from Eskom
2023019	EE Shoprite T5 LED Retrofit	Energy Efficiency	0.640	R1 920 000	Investment phase submission for 8 December 2023	Replacing old fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting at 31 Shoprite Checkers supermarkets
			7.083	R21 249 000

(3)

No.	Possible barriers to uptake	Mitigation
1	The DDMP performance contracting programme participating criteria limit mid-segment consumers to participate, as the minimum criteria requirement targets larger projects.	Review programme participation requirements to attract medium to small customers to participate. Revise the engagement plan to address the missing middle segment.
2	Developers have challenges in securing upfront project funding from commercial funding institutions. The incentive is paid after project implementation and during the sustainability period.	Project developers have been encouraged to engage the public (Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), etc.) and private financial institutions for support in financing Energy Efficiency and Demand-Side Management (EEDSM) projects.
3	Project developers, customers, and funders require certainty in the markets when it comes to Demand-Side Management (DSM) incentives. How long will they be available so that they can plan on capital?	This is important to developers and customers, as it will assist them in the decision to invest. Eskom Integrated Demand Management (IDM) intends to run the DDMP after the Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD) 6 (the 2029 financial year) and to motivate the inclusion of DSM in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which will assist in enhancing certainty.
4	The skills shortage is a critical factor. Most customers do not have the necessary skills and resources to undertake DSM measures. This also has an impact on the assessment of benefits when it comes to DSM initiatives.	Eskom IDM and the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) have collaborated to assist customers who have the potential to participate. The NCPC has the resources to offer customer training on DSM and to conduct energy assessment audits.
5	DDMP's current engagements are held at executive customer level, and the information is not adequately passed on to on-site engineers to develop projects.	Engage engineers/energy managers at site level within the cluster.

(4) The following interventions are ongoing to improve the visibility of the DDMPs:

• Ongoing presentations to industry associations, such as the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and the Energy Services Company (ESCO) Association.
• Eskom has also presented the DDMP at the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) DSM Indabas (national, Western Cape (WC), and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Furthermore, Eskom participates in NECOM Work Stream 5 - DSM as a task team member.
• In addition, Eskom has held EEDSM symposiums and continues to engage with customers and stakeholders to promote and provide clarification on the DDMP performance contracting programmes.
• Eskom IDM management recently held meetings with large municipalities/metros (KZN and the WC) and is planning to engage other distributors.
• Eskom IDM management has decided to conduct roadshows in all provinces that address the missing middle (small- to medium-sized customers) to improve participation.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has a constitutional responsibility to support municipalities to carry out their water and sanitation functions. Secondly, as the regulator of the water sector it is required to set regulatory rules, norms and standards for municipal water and sanitation services in terms of the National Water Act and the Water Services Act.

Whilst the government has made great strides to improve access to water services since 1994, the demand for water has continued to escalate due to economic growth, population growth, urbanization, inefficient use (including increasing physical losses in municipal distribution systems), degradation of wetlands and the impacts of climate change. Another contributing factor to the ongoing water access challenges in the water sector is the fragmented planning and implementation of projects.

The Ministry is in ongoing engagements with municipalities that have severe challenges with the delivery of water services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces. In many of the most challenged municipalities, the DWS and municipal leadership have agreed on improvement plans which include the following:

• DWS financial support in the form of Regional Bulk Infrastructure and Water Services Grants, technical advice and management support from DWS and water boards.
• The development of 5-year reliability plans that seek to ensure that municipalities provide reliable water services 95% of the time. These plans will also assist municipalities in managing their assets coupled with shorter turnaround time to fix breakages.
• Through the District Development Model, the Department is working with municipalities by assisting with integrated planning for water supply projects being funded through the DWS grants and the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).
• The Blue and Green drop audits are another mechanism that the Department has put in place to ensure reliable water services, and these audits are able to identify plants that need urgent action from the municipalities. Based on the reports from these audits, municipalities are expected to develop action plans and allocate budgets to attend to the issues identified during the audits.

Furthermore, there are Departmental projects that have been completed, are ongoing or still in planning stages in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo as indicated in Annexure A below. These projects will contribute towards improving access to reliable water supply, address water supply backlogs and increase the capacity of water supply systems to meet current and future water demands.

---00O00---

WSA	Project Name	Implementing Agent	Area
LIMPOPO	Lepelle Northern Water Board
Vhembe DM & Mopani DM	NANDONI TO NSAMI REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME: Provision of Raw water pipeline from Nandoni to Nsami WTW, Provision of Clean Water Pipeline, Giyani Water Services, Upgrading on Nandoni WTW from 60Ml/day to 120Ml/day		Vhembe DM, Collins Chabane LM, Malamulele East (incl. Muswane & Mphambo). Mopani DM e.g. Giyani, Xikukwani and etc (55 villages_	Practical completion Nov 2023
Mopani DM	Giyani WTW Refurbishment (Phase 1) Giyani - Reticulation of 24 Villages (Phase 1)		Giyani, benefiting of 55 villages while Giyani (P1_ 24 Villages)	Jan 2023 to April 2024 (37 Contractors on-site)
Polokwane City & Capricon	OLIFANTSPOORT /EBENEZER WATER SUPPLY SCHEME Ebenezer/Olifants Bulk Water Scheme		Polokwane, Capricorn,	Aug 2023- Aug 2026
Masodi LM	MASODI WWTW - MLM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IVANPLATS PROPRIETARY LIMITED MINE -Masodi WWTW	Masodi LM		To complete by Dec 2023
Polokwane LM	Polokwane interventions	Polokwane LM	Polokwane, Seshego, Bloodriver and Perskebult	August 2023 - April 2025
Vhembe DM	MUSINA WATER SERVICES AUGMENTATION INTERVENTIONS: Transfer of water from Zimbabwe (medium term) Beitbridge-Musina Integrated Water Supply Scheme (BMIWSS).	DBSA/ DWS/ Lepelle Northern Water Board	Musina	Jan 2024-Jul 2026
Sekhukhune DM and Mogalakwena LM	DWS and Lebalelo Partnership Projects: The purpose of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project Phase 2 (ORWRDP-2) is to develop the infrastructure required in the Middle Olifants River (in the areas of Sekhukhune and Mogalakwena Districts of Limpopo) to meet the water demands in the area. This Includes the building of 2 dams (De Hoop and Flag Bashilo dams), and the construction of bulk pipelines and pump stations as part of the conveyance system. De Hoop Dam Scheme to Polokwane _(Phase 1)_38 Flag Boshielo Phase 2 (96)	Lebalelo Water Users Association	Sekhukhune DM and Mogalakwena LM	Jan 2023- 2030
Sekhukhune DM	Moutse East Water Scheme_ A sub-scheme to receive water from Loskop Bulk water scheme_ through construction of storage and pumpstation	Sekhukhune DM	Moutse East Community	Aug 2022 – Sept 2025
EASTERN CAPE
NMMB	NOOITGEDAGT COEGA LOW LEVEL SUPPLY SCHEME (NCLLS) phase three entails the construction of a flash mixer, two flocculation channels and settling tanks, six new filters (increasing the capacity of the WTW’s with 70Ml/day to 210Ml/day)	Amatola Water	NMBM	Completed June 2023
NMMB	Lower Sundays River GWS:The works are inclusive of earthworks, canal realignment, servitude rehabilitation, etc. This project is of major importance to the water security of Nelson Mandela Bay	DWS	NMBM	Sep 2023 – Sep 2025
Mbizana	GREATER MBIZANA REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME (GMRBWS) & Repair of Ludeke Dam Upgrade Nomlacu Water Treatment Plant from 10 Mℓ/day to 20 Mℓ/day,.	uMgeni Water Board	Mbizana	July 2023- June 2024
Mnquma Municipality	NQAMAKHWE REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME; To provide bulk water infrastructure to supply approx 78,000 people in 120 rural villages (wards 13-20 of Mnquma Municipality) with domestic water	Amatola Water Board	Ngamakhwe, Butterworth, Centane	Construction. Completion by April 2024
Ndlambe LM	NDLAMBE BWS PROJECT PROGRESS: The construction and commissioning of the 5 Mℓ/day Port Alfred RO-plant and 16 Mℓ reservoir, including the brine sea outfall pipeline, the construction of 2Mℓ reservoirs in Cannon Rocks	Ndlambe LM	Ndlambe	Construction. Completion Dec 2024
Makana LM	The augmentation of the existing 10 Mℓ/day James Kleynhans WTW by the construction of an additional 10 Mℓ/day WTW to 20Ml/day, along with associated works required to meet the bulk potable water needs for the Bulk Water Supply	Amatola Water Board	Grahamstown + Makhanda	July 2023 - March 2024 (31 August 2023 Practical Completion)
Makana LM	Emergency Repair & refurbish pumpstation @ Howlsons Poort Dam and commission water to Waainek WTW. Provision of O + M for Makana LM for Waainek WTW	Amatola Water Board	Grahamstown + Makhanda	Jun 2023 - Dec 2023

 

Reply:

Government decision to support or not support any bid to host major international sport events in country, including a bid by SARU, is based on the merits or demerits and motivating factors of the application as submitted at that time. All applications to host major sporting events in the country must be aligned with the bidding and hosting regulations.

(a). As part of the annual transfer, the Department provides financial support to SARU which is earmarked for programmes aimed at transformation in communities. These programmes include get into rugby, rugby for people for people with disability and the women’s rugby programmes.

(b). Through Club Development Programme, Rugby receives support in rural areas to support the leagues and train coaches and referees.

Each province makes provision through the conditional grant to support priority codes.

Rugby is one of the 16 priority codes that are part of the School Sport Programme. And as result, they receive support from provincial departments, through the Conditional Grant, to:

1. Conduct capacity building programmes, which are meant to empower educators to train as coaches and managers of Rugby, with the view to promote participation in Rugby in schools.
2. Participate at the district and provincial championships.
3. Also receives support to participate at the National School Sport Championships.
4. Benefits from the provision of equipment and attire to enable schools to participate.

 

Reply:

a) The correspondence from NEHAWU refers to a forensic investigation that was instituted by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to investigate the allegations levelled against the President of the HPCSA, Prof. M.S. Nemutandani.

It is important to appreciate the following:

• HESA appointed Prof Nemutandani to the Medical and Dental Professions Board (MDB) as per the Regulations relating to the Constitution of the MDB.
• As a Member of the MDB, Prof Nemutandani was one of those designated in terms of section 5(1)(a) of the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974 (“the Act”), to be a member of the HPCSA Council.
• Prof. Nemutandani was thereafter elected as President of the Council by the members of the Council per section 7(1) of the Act, and that is how Prof Nemutandani became the President of the HPCSA.

You would appreciate that the President of the Council is appointed by the Minister after being recommended by members of the Council. You would consequently appreciate why the forensic investigation report makes findings and recommendations for consideration by the HPCSA and not the Minister. It is the Council that should consider the report and make recommendations to the Minister on any action against the President of the HPCSA.

b) According to the Registrar of the HPCSA, the matter is currently serving before the Professional Conduct Committee of the Medical and Dental Professions Board. The Committee is tasked with adjudicating whether the acts that Prof Nemutandani is accused of constitute unprofessional conduct as defined in the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974. This matter was first set down for 22 September 2023 but subsequently postponed to 15 November 2023 to allow the respondent to secure a legal presentation as he needed to brief counsel. The matter could not proceed on 15 November 2023 on account of a request for further postponement by the respondent as he had a bereavement in his family. The postponement was granted by the Committee to February 27,28, and 29, 2024. The Minister will be provided with a report upon the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing.

Notwithstanding the abovementioned disciplinary process, which is ongoing, the Department is also taking legal advice in terms of any further steps with respect to the individuals mentioned and the findings of the investigation report because of the nature of the matter and the level of Prof. Nemutandani at the HPCSA.

END.

Reply:

The following posts in the Finance Division were tadvertised to address the high vacancy rate and are in various stages of the recruitment process:

• Chief Financial Officer post was filled with effect from 01 June 2023.
• Director: Financial Accounting post was filled with effect from 04 December 2023.
• Chief Director: Financial Management advertised on 20 August 2023 and is in process.
• Deputy Director: Budget Management advertised on 11 August 2023 and is in process.
• Deputy Director: Cash Flow Management advertised on 11 August 2023 and is in process.
• State Accountant (6 Posts) advertised on 12 September 2023 and is in process.

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Reply:

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) is a committee recognised as a national confederation in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act 110 of 2007.

No, there is no entity that is equivalent to SASCOC in the Creative and Cultural Sector, as the two are incomparable with SASCOC being a creation of a piece of legislation.

Reply:

The National Department of Health opened the Internship and Community Service Programme (ICSP) application site from 4 October until 23 October 2023. Applicants and all relevant stakeholders including students representatives by the form of Unions and Associations were informed accordingly.

As a result, it is appreciated that a total of 10 495 applicants headed a call and applied for medical internship and community service positions.

a) A total of 470 physiotherapist (i.e. South African Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals) applied for community service positions. However, priority for allocation of the applicants is in accordance with the South African employment Regulations and Acts (i.e. including the Immigration Act of 2004, as amended) that prioritizes allocations to South African Citizens and Permanent Residents into funded positions.

b) 463 applicants were eligible for placement based on the citizenship priority processes as mentioned above. Of those 424 have been allocated and notified, with the remaining 39 applicants still confirming their actual commencement dates.

c) The ICSP has two cycles, January and July intake, for allocation designed to accommodate applicants who complete and confirmed eligible at different intervals. As a result the department ensures that those that are eligible to assume duty on 1st January are duly allocated and appointed before commencing duty.

The department is considerate and mindful that the applicants need to make necessary arrangements, including travelling, hence ensuring that applicants are notified a month before the intake date.

The deadline to finalize all allocations cannot be specified as the process is not punitive, however it unfolds until all eligible applicants have been allocated to positions, and duly appointed by Provincial Departments of Health.

END.

Reply:

In preparation for the busy festive season the following measures have been put in place in hospitals:

• Contingency plans for the festive season are in place for all hospitals and Emergency Medical Services as is done annually.
• Contingency plan is in place for extra personnel in Accident and Emergency units, surgical and orthopaedic wards throughout the festive period due to expected increase in the number of patients requiring surgical intervention.
• Elective, non-urgent surgical procedures are not booked during festive period and theatre space is provided on a 24hour basis for emergencies.
• Leave is strictly monitored, senior managers on call on a 24-hour basis to oversee operations in hospitals during this period.
• In case of disasters, all hospitals are in constant alert and the hospital disaster plans will be activated which includes recalling of staff on leave, at any given time.
• Interprovincial collaborations on transfers are arranged in case of disasters to respond appropriately.
• Stable patients on chronic medication have been given 2 months’ supply of medication to decongest the hospitals.
• Stable patients are discharged home to avail beds for acutely ill and emergency cases.
• Stable patients are given Pass-out should they wish so.
• The Medical Depot ordered buffer stock to accommodate any eventuality.
• Hospitals in the same or close geographical areas have a divert operational policy in place as a mechanism to ensure access to emergency medical services.

END.

Reply:

According to the records as presented to Parliament responding to a similar parliamentary question number 3511, the table below provides (a) data of graduates from each medical school in the country for the 2018-2023 period.

South African Institutions of Higher Learning	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	TOTAL
University of Free State	114	130	179	176	167	173	939
University of KwaZulu Natal	159	78	229	150	281	130	1027
University of Limpopo			24	41	89	75	229
University of Pretoria	225	291	351	366	335	343	1911
University of Stellenbosch	231	295	294	310	306	295	1731
University of Witwatersrand	274	277	425	397	436	466	2275
Walter Sisulu University of Science and Technology	86	99	195	156	156	151	843
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (University of KwaZulu Natal)	5	143	77	178	64	200	667
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University	201	255	333	254	309	290	1642
University of Cape Town	191	237	213	207	231	241	1320
Total	1486	1805	2320	2235	2374	2364	12584

(b) The Department has it on record that all these graduates were placed for the mandatory community service, after completing their medical internship and were declared registerable as community service doctors by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

(c) The table below provide a breakdown of new Medical Officer appointments per province for the period 2018 to 2023. The appointments, includes doctors who post their medical community service applied for appointment in the public service.

Medical Officer's appointed from 2018 - 2019 in the Public Sector
	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	*2023	Total
EC	329	323	364	298	275	252	1841
FS	103	109	158	110	196	170	846
GP	328	421	587	605	658	568	3167
KZ	493	511	656	489	514	515	3178
LP	110	224	183	215	261	239	1232
MPY	62	59	150	55	112	124	562
NW	83	88	85	95	48	144	543
NC	34	20	167	46	190	54	511
WC	249	283	345	275	360	235	1747
Total	1791	2038	2695	2188	2614	2301	13627

*2023 Data is only available up to November 2023.

(d) The Department does not keep records of unemployment doctors after completing community service as they register as independent medical doctors and can opt to practice in the public service or the private sector.

END.

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