Reply:

(a) No

(b) Yes

(c) (i) & (ii) Yes

(aa) (bb) & (cc) (aaa) & (bbb)

Date	Place and Reason for Meeting	Names Designation
14 April 2016:	National Treasury Discuss Budget for the Future Payment model National Treasury Offices	Ms V Petersen: Former CEO of SASSA Mr T Chauke: CFO SASSA Ms R Ramokgopa : Executive Manager: SASSA Mr Schalk Human National Treasury Mr Solly Tshitangano National Treasury Mr Mark Blecher : National Treasury Ms Lindi Mzankomo: National Treasury
28 July 2016:	NT had budget bilateral with SASSA on 28 July 2016, in which SASSA was required to indicate what plans it has in place for taking over the payment function. SASSA Offices	Ms R Ramokgopa: Acting CEO Mr T Chauke: CFO Ms D Dunkerley EM Grants & Benefits Ms Z Mvulane: EM Special Projects Mr Schalk Human National Treasury Mr Mark Blecher : National Treasury Ms Lindi Mzankomo: National Treasury
23 & 24 November 2016:	Workshop was held where SASSA presented its future plan on the institutionalization of the payment of grants SASSA/ National Treasury Offices	Mr Shaun Rayfield Chairperson –SARB Mr Khulekani Mathe- Banking Association of South Africa Ms Chantal Smal-Banking Association of South Africa Mr Brenton van Vrede DDG-Department of Social Development Ms Lindi Mzankomo- National Treasury Ms Ngoni Mangoyi-National Treasury Mr Pierre Coetzee-Payments Association of South Africa Ms Marie Smit-Payments Association of South Africa Ms Margaret Olivier-South African Reserve Bank Ms Annah Mangani-South African Reserve Bank Ms Jeannie Weilbach-South African Reserve Bank Mr Jonathan Maphosa-South African Reserve Bank Mr Jana van Staden-South African Reserve Bank Ms Pearl Malumane-South African Reserve Bank Ms Cindy Paulse -South African Reserve Bank Ms Zodwa Mvulane-EM Special Projects SASSA Mr Abraham Mahlangu: CIO –SASSA Mr Caesar Vundule: GM ICT -SASSA Ms Busisiwe Mahlobogoana- GM Legal SASSA Mr Jabulani Makondo: GM ICT -SASSA Ms Carin Koster GM –APM SASSA Mr Kamenthren Govender: SM ICT -SASSA Ms Este Lohrentz : Senior System Administrator SASSA Mr Warwick Metcalfe-Rangewave Consulting. Mr Julius Segole -Rangewave Consulting Mr Manie van Wyk Rangewave Consulting Mr Senzo Ndlovu -Rangewave Consulting Mr Tim Sukazi-Tim Sukazi Incorporates
19 January 2017:	Meeting chaired by NT DG held with SASSA. Task team established to analyse all available options for payment.   National Treasury Offices	Mr T Magwaza: CEO of SASSA Ms Zodwa Mvulane: SASSA Ms Ramokgopa: SASSA Mr T Chauke: SASSA Ms Dianne Dunkerley; SASSA Mr Z Dangor: DG DSD Mr B Vrede: DDG DSD Ms Busisiwe Mahlobogoana: SASSA Mr Lungisa Fuzile DG National Treasury Mr Schalk Human National Treasury Mr Solly Tshitangano National Treasury Mr Mark Blecher : National Treasury Mr Lindi Mzankomo: National Treasury
20 January 2017	SASSA Payment Options National Treasury National Treasury Offices	Mr Dondo Mogajane Mr Brenton Van Vrede Mr Maicerk Blecher Mr Schalk Human Mr Ngoni Mangoyi Mr Vukani Ndaba Mr Solly Tshitangano Ms Lindi Mzankomo Mr Shaun Rayfield MsJeannie Weilbach Mr Tsakeriwa Chauke MrZodwa Mvulane
7& 13 Feb 2017:	Joint task team delivers report with six options. Task team meetings held with 6 options evaluated: SASSA Head Office	Mr T. Rakhibane: Bankserve Mr Chris Smith: Bankserve Ms Estee Lahretz (SASSA) Mr B van Vrede (DSD Ms J Weilbach SARB Mr T Matjeni: National Treasury Ms L Labuschagne: NT Mr Mangoyi NT Ms L Mashigo NT Mr K Singh NT Ms L Mzankomo NT Mr Elija Mashhiga : SASSA Ms D Dunkerley SASSA Mr Manie van Wyk Rangewave Mr W Metcalf : Rangewave Ms R. Nkwinika Secretariat –SASSA Mr M Sikhauli Secretariat –SASSA Ms Z Mvulane -SASSA Ms R Ramokgopa- SASSA Mr T Chauke- SASSA
13 Feb 2017	Meeting between SASSA, Bankserve, National Treasury and SARB SASSA Head Office	Mr T. Rakhibane: Bankserve Ms Estee Lahretz (SASSA) Mr B van Vrede (DSD Ms J Weilbach; SARB Mr T Matjeni: NT Ms L Labuschagne: NT Mr N Mangoyi: NT Ms L Mashigo: NT Mr K Singh: NT Ms L Mzankomo: NT Mr Elija Mashego: SASSA Ms D Dunkerley: SASSA Mr Manie van Wyk: Rangewave Mr W Metcalf Rangewave Ms R. Nkwinika :Secretariat –SASSA Mr M Sikhauli Secretariat –SASSA
7 Feb 2017:	SASSA requested Treasury concurrence and requested approval of a deviation for extension of CPS contract. National Treasury Offices	Mr Schalk Human: NT Mr Solly Tshitangano: NT Mr Mark Blecher: NT Ms Lindi Mzankomo: NT Mr Tsakeriwa Chauke : SASSA Ms Zodwa Mvulane: SASSA
8 Feb 2017:	The OCPO responded that it could not do this without ConCourt approval thus did not support the SASSA’s request for deviation with a letter National Treasury Offices	Mr Schalk Human Mr Solly Tshitangano Mr Mark Blecher Mr Tsakeriwa Chauke Ms Zodwa Mvulane

 

 

 

Reply:

No.

Reply:

(a) & (b) No, there is no contractual obligation with SAPO

Reply:

(1) Please refer, to the paragraph 4.1 of the Confirmatory Affidavit deposed to by the Honourable Minister B.O Dlamini on 13 March 2017.

(2) Refer to paragraph 4.3 of the Confirmatory Affidavit referred to above.

Reply:

The addendum to the 2012 contract will be availed to the Committee once signed by the both parties.

Reply:

(1) Yes, since it’s an extension of the 2012 contract with the same terms and conditions the 2012 signed contract it’s still binding except for the conditions stipulated by the Constitutional Court. An addendum stating out the conditions by the Constitutional Court has been drafted for both partners to sign.

(2) Yes the agreement is lawful.

Reply:

The amount reflected below relates mainly to legal fees on social assistance appeals.

(a) Full Amount	(b)(i)Year
R10 297 837.54	(aa) 2013-2014
R12 994 173.95	(bb) 2014-2015
R3 382 845.97	(cc) 2015-16
R3 568 041.93	(ii) since 1 April 2016

Reply:

The Director-General, Mr Z Dangor cited a breakdown in the working relationship with the Minister of Social Development, Ms BO Dlamini, in his resignation.

Reply:

Yes,

 (a) The Department is planning to conduct the baseline survey on substance abuse in the country.

 (b) The Department has prioritized the survey as it plays a crucial role especially for the importance of provision of the updated data on the nature, extent and patterns of substance abuse. The project will commence during 2017/2018 financial year.

Reply:

(1) There are no delays in issuing Article 17 of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, 1993, by the SA Central Authority, for placing adoptable children with screened and approved intercountry prospective adoptive families except in cases where there are issues that needs further intervention.

(2) Intercountry placements are for all children including those with disabilities or special needs.

(3) The Department as the Central Authority did not refuse to issue Article 17 approval on a six year old child with disabilities. It is ensuring that all avenues in placing the child nationally are explored and exhausted before intercountry adoption is considered as this is in the best interest of the child to be placed locally.

(4) The department did not refuse to accept orders by a court regarding adoptability and termination of biological parents, or consents properly given in court by biological parents. The department is obliged to ensure that the subsidiarity principle is adhered to and reserves the right to question any decision of any party in the context for the fulfilment and the realization of children’s rights.

Reply:

(1) The Department is not aware of closing down of any Frail Care Centre.

All movements that relate to what has just befallen our country in Gauteng has been temporarily suspended more particularly in frail care centers and mental health institutions. The Department advised MECs not to continue with this up until an amicable solution is found. While other Departments address issues of financial challenges, the Department of Social Development does its best to provide care and support.

The Department however is aware that the contract between Eastern Cape Frail Care (Pty) Limited and the Department of Social Development, Eastern Cape has come to an end on 31 December 2016. It was agreed that the service provider continues rendering the service on a month-to-month interim arrangement until 31 March 2017.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Office of the Department advertised a call for proposals on 19 October 2016 in accordance with the National NPO Financing Guidelines and closed the advert on 21 November 2016. Six NPOs responded to the call and none qualified. The Department then re-advertised for new proposals on 23 January 2017 which closed on 17 February 2017. Only one NPO responded to this call, the same NPO which was disqualified in the previous evaluation process. The Department has re-advertised and called for proposals for the third time in the local media to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.

(2) The protection of the rights of Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities is paramount in the Department’s approach to handle the situation. The Department is currently working on a contingency plan. Prescripts of the Policy on Financial Awards, PFMA and National Treasury Regulations will be adhered to. If there is a need to negotiate with the current service provider, viz. Eastern Cape Frail Care (Pty) Limited, the Department will do so.

(3)(a) The Department has an obligation under section 16 of the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 to inform the residents and families within 30 days of a proposed transfer or discharge. On 14 November 2016 a meeting was held with service offices, requesting them to visit the next of kin of all residents, to notify and prepare them for the possible transfer of residents as prescribed in Section 16 of the Older Persons Act, 2006. On 16 November 2016, the service offices started visiting families. 128 families were visited in the Nelson Mandela Metro; of which 87 families signed the notifications for relocations of residents to suitable alternative facilities, 30 families refused to sign the notifications, 3 families indicated that they wanted to take the beneficiaries home, 8 families were untraceable and 21 beneficiaries had been abandoned with no family. 1 family was visited in the O.R Tambo Metro, and the family signed the notification. 10 families were visited in the Sarah Baartman Metro, all of whom signed the notification. 8 families were visited in the Buffalo City Metro, all of whom signed the notification. The Department is still tracing families in the Chris Hani and Amathole Districts. On 18 November 2016, the social workers notified the residents of the centres regarding possible relocation. On 1 December 2016 and 4 December 2016, the Department also conducted group sessions with families at Uitenhage and Ibhayi building respectively to clarify concerns of the families, and to inform them that the Department would continue to provide the services to the beneficiaries. The Department of Health conducted Health Assessment to all beneficiaries in preparation for the possible re-location.

(b) Alternate accommodation is not necessary for now as the same service provider is still continuing with rendering the service. Once suitable NPOs have been identified to take over the service, accommodation will be provided by the NPOs.

(c & d) The Department does not have a plan to move beneficiaries far from their homes. The Department would like families to continue visiting their older persons in residential facilities. This promotes the rights of older persons to keep contact with their families.

(4) (a) Yes, next of kin will be advised of the transfer before residents are moved. The Older Persons Act, 2006 further mandates that Older Persons must be prepared accordingly, i.e. psychologically and as the need determines.

(b)(i) Yes, The Department will choose only those NPOs which meet the Norms and Standards of the Older Persons Act, 2006 and relevant pieces of Legislative Frameworks that impact on older persons who reside in residential care facilities, e.g. National Health Act, 2004, National Environmental Management Act, 1998 etc. to relocate beneficiaries.

(ii) Furthermore NPOs must be registered as residential facilities in terms of the Older Persons Act No 13 of 2006.

(c) Yes, proper arrangements to transport residents will be conducted in consultation with the Department of Health.

Reply:

1. (a) Azande Consulting CC

(b) The service contract was signed on 22 July 2016

(c) R392 725 988

(d) The contract will run for three (3) years with effect from 1 July 2016

(e) The tender received 23 bid proposals

(f) The highest bid received was R4 304 354 475.00

The lowest bid received was R 20 734 680.60. However, this bidder did not meet the minimum required score for the functionality score and was therefore not considered.

(g) The Service Provider must develop a detailed implementation plan for the project and:

• Consolidate monthly reports from the household door-to-door surveys within the identified wards;
• Co-ordinate and provide logistical support on ICROP services as and when required by SASSA to do so;
• Electronic data capturing system for recording questionnaires with an E-business solution for reporting purposes and the system must be compatible with SASSA systems; and
• Provide a training plan and report for all the recruited youth workers.

2. Yes, the Service Level Agreement was signed after extensive consultation with different parties.

3. The Service Provider must conduct door-to-door surveys in all the identified wards and use following methods such as:

• Application of the SASSA customer satisfaction survey
• Print and distribute questionnaires for customer satisfaction survey to selected households in different wards
• Action research through door-to-door services to identify the potential beneficiaries and supporting them to access SASSA services
• Design and implement the detailed door-to-door project plan
• Recruit and appoint youth workers from the locality where the research is taking place as a mechanism to create job opportunities
• Train, manage and remunerate youth workers to administer the surveys
• Design and implement the training and development programme
• Capture, consolidate and analyze the collected surveys and household profiling reports and
• Develop capacity in the youth workers in areas such as interpersonal, interviewing, communication and administration skills

The benefits of this programme should not be under-estimated. In addition to taking services to communities, to ensure that all citizens who qualify for social grants actually are able to access services and receive the grants to which they are entitled, the project has also provided invaluable information on local communities through the profiling and door-to-door research. This enables the social development sector, and not only SASSA to provide services that are required. In addition, benefits of the programme are with the co-ordination of government services, in that other Departments are also included when ICROP services are brought to local communities. This includes services such as Home Affairs, for the provision of identity documents, social workers for services related to foster child grants and other social ills, South African Police Services for the commissioning of affidavits; Department of Health for medical assessments for social grant applications and other NGO’s active in the community being served, to ensure that their services are made known to community members.

Other benefits include the creation of job opportunities for unemployed youth from the areas being served and the transfer of skills, which will assist these young people to compete for employment after the conclusion of this contract.

4. The above details provide an overview of the specified actions required in terms of this contract. Additional detail which may be provided to the Honourable Member on request includes the list of wards already provided with ICROP services; details of the achievements realized during these engagements; as well as confirmation of the youth workers contracted.

Reply:

a) The total number of state run rehabilitation centres is 7 (Seven)

b) All the 7 (seven specified centres are operational

c) The centres are located as follows:

Province	Name of Treatment Centre	(b) Location	d) Persons Accommodated
Eastern Cape	Ernest Malgas	Port Elizabeth	38
Gauteng	Dr Fabian & Florence Reibero	Cullinan	300
KwaZulu Natal	Newlands Park centre	New Land West	98
	Madadeni Rehabilitation Centre	Madadeni Township	32
Mpumalanga	Swartfontein Treatment Centre	White River	50
North West	Witrand Substance Rehabilitation Centre	Potchefstroom	40
Western Cape	De Novo Treatment Centre	Kraaifontein	40

e) Provinces have been requested to provide statistics on number of patients that are currently in state run drug rehabilitation centres.

Reply:

The Department’s response is as indicated below:

Service Providers	(i) Services Procured	(ii) The total cost	(iii) The detailed breakdown of such costs	(iv) The total amount paid	(v) The purpose of the payments	(vi) The detailed breakdown of such payments in each case
(a) Mr. Mzwanele Manyi	No services procured	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nothing procured	Nil
(b) The Progressive Professionals Forum	No services procured	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nothing procured	Nil
(c) The Decolonisation Fund	No services procured	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nothing procured	Nil
(d)The Black Business Council	No services procured	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nothing procured	Nil

Reply:

(a)

1. 30.7%
2. 31.7%
3. 21.6%
4. 22.2%
5. 24.6%

(b) 14.3%

Upon realization that NPO noncompliance rate has been incremental over the past years, the department has employed the following intervention approaches:

• Introduced a text message system to communicate efficiently to the NPOs and constantly reminding them of the outstanding reports and compliance status

• Conducted NPO Roadshows to over 200 local municipalities in the past two financial years (2014/2015 and 2015/2016). This initiate has enabled us to go to different communities and assist NPOs in submitting the required reports.

• The department has intensified its capacity building programme, training over 3000 organisations per annum on compliance.

• In all Ministerial and outreach programmes of the department, all NPO services have been and continue to be visible as part of mitigating the noncompliance status.

• At the center of the exorbitant noncompliance rate is the legislation (Non-Profit Organisation Act, Act 71 of 1997) governing the NPO sector. The department’s position is that the legislation needs to be subjected to a thorough review process, taking into consideration the current and evolving country dynamics. The department is therefore in its final phase of the mentioned review assessment, and it is envisaged that the final amended legislation should be able to eliminate the structural challenges which contribute to the increasing NPO noncompliance.

The impact of the above stated interventions, will go a long way in reducing high noncompliance statistics. It is the same reason why the department has institutionalized the mention programmes, to sustain the NPO compliance campaign in the next coming years.

 

Reply:

1. The amount referred to as payment contractors in the reply to question 2220 actually refers to:

(a) The budget for expenditure incurred towards the contractor for disbursement of grant monies (Cash handling Fees). Expenditure to date (end February 2017) for 2017/18 is R 1,889,541,996

(b) The budgeted amounts for the disbursement of grant monies is as follows:

R’000	2015/16	2016/17	2017/18	2018/19
Budgeted Amount	2,211,551	2,145,984	2,258,674	2,257,024

2. Following approval by the National Treasury for the South African Social

Security Agency to retain its cash surplus the Agency will utilise the cash surplus for the purpose of funding internal capacity for the takeover of the administration of the payment of social grants. The table below shows the budgeted amounts from the retained cash surplus and not necessarily from the baseline.

R'000
2015/16	2016/17	2017/18	2018/19
66,050	132,669	248,000	14,000

Reply:

(1) (a) Tsalena Media.

(b) 06 June 2016.

(c) The total cost is R 44 404 385.10 inclusive of value added tax (vat).

(d) The contract period is for twelve (12) months.

(e) The agency received eleven (11) bids.

(f) (i) The highest bid received was R47 675 511.36 vat inclusive.

(ii) The lowest bid received was R 44 404 385.10 vat inclusive the lowest bidder met the minimum required score for functionality criteria.

(g) The service provider is expected to provide the following deliverables, media planning and bulk buying, develop a measurement and reporting tool; a brand communication strategy as well as events management strategy

(2) Yes, the service provider signed a service level agreement with SASSA.

Reply:

The function of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) was to review a broad number of elements relating to the payment systems for social security benefits distribution or payments, taking into account the accessibility of services; payment infrastructure requirements - the current level of South Africa’s infrastructure development and affordability; legislative and general regulatory environment; cost to state and to beneficiaries; and the macroeconomic environment.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee concluded its work in December 2014.

The workstream leaders were appointed in 2016 to facilitate the implementation of the recommendation of the Ministerial Advisory Committee.

(i) List of Ministerial Advisory Committee Members

(aa) (bb)

Name	Qualification (s)
Mr. Themba Langa	LLB
Mr. Mark Davids	National Higher Diploma: Electrical Engineering
Mr. Sipho Majombozi	B Ed
Mr. Tim Masela	BComm
Mr. Patrick Monyeki	MBA
Mr. Sizwe Shezi	MA in Social Policy
Dr. Makhozi Khoza	PHD Administration
Ms. Tankiso Parkies	Honours in Sociology
Prof Ann Skelton	PHD Degree in law restorative and child justice
Mr. Sanjiv Mital	Engineering Degree Information Technology / Management Degree
Mr. Barend Petersen	Honours B Compt
Mr. Tim Sukazi	LLM in Commercial Law
Mr. Andile Nyhonyha	LLB

(ii) The workstream leaders appointed so far are:-

Mr Tim Sukazi: Legislative and Policy Requirements Management.

Ms Tankiso Pakkies: Benefits and Local Economic Development and

Mr Patrick Monyeki: Business information, Banking Services and Project Management

Over and above the workstream services, SASSA has a database of accredited service providers e.g. Actuaries, Risk and Security management etc. whose services will be utilized in the course on concluding this work.

(iii) Mr Sukazi will lead the process that review regulatory requirements including the SASSA act to obtain understanding of the legal operating environment.

Ms Mpolokeng Tankiso Parkies is responsible for identifying the benefits and Local Economic initiatives to be implemented with the delivery of the Social Security Assistance.

Mr Patrick Monyeki is responsible to develop system requirements to meet the recommended insourcing payment model while reviewing both the current CPS and SASSA systems for enhancement and systems integration.

(iv) (aa) work stream lead(s) accounts for the services rendered by companies they lead,

(bb) the work stream lead(s) lead their individual companies.

Reply:

a) The Minster will ensure SASSA follows appropriate process to contract CPS for the interim period.

1. The workstreams had recommended that SASSA do not extend:
2. an invalid contract
3. but negotiate new terms
4. that will favour an agreement and increase its grip on grant payments.

b) Government is reevaluating its approach to the insourcing of payment services within SASSA. An approach has been developed by the workstreams to ensure that management are all clear about their roles in taking over the distribution of social grants...

Reply:

1. Yes.

(a) Currently there is one (1) outstanding case.

(b) Wandisa Adoption Agency

(c) The child is 4 years 6 months old

(d) The request was submitted on 04 July 2016

(e) Yes, the child has special needs

(2) (a) 7 - 14 days

(b) Yes. Written and telephonic reasons are furnished to the relevant party in each case.

(3) No.The issuing of Article 17 by the Central Authority is regulated by The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (28 May 1993), Children’s Act 38 of 2005 Regulations In terms of the Children’s Act and Intercountry Adoption Guidelines.

Reply:

1. (a) Yes,

(b) Yes

(i) 1 case

(ii) The officials are guided by national and International legislation in the execution of their duties. If and when is required officials will take longer to ensure compliance in all instances.

(iii) The Department complies with the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption with regard to children and families taking into account the Subsidiarity principle. According to The Hague Convention each State should take, as a matter of priority, appropriate measures to enable the child to remain in the care of his or her family of origin.

2. (a) No, the department’s employees did not refuse to accept the legal validity and status of a court orders terminating the rights of biological parents. The officials followed the guidelines and are obliged to ensure that the subsidiarity principle is adhered to. The department reserves the right to question any decision of any party in the context for the fulfillment and the realization of all Children’s rights.

(b) The department remains committed to the implementation of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

(c) The department remains committed to the implementation of The Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption, including the protection of the rights of all parties concerned including those of biological parents.

Reply:

a) The department as the Central Authority on intercountry adoption, does not delay in issuing Article 17 for prospective adoptive parents who have been matched with children from foreign countries to be adopted by South Africans

b) The department as the Central Authority on intercountry adoption ensures that all avenues in placing the child nationally are exhausted before intercountry adoption can be considered taking into consideration the best interest of the child.

Reply:

No, the Department of Social Development is not aware of schools that request child grant beneficiaries to purchase stationary and uniforms at the beginning of the school year. The Child Support Grant (CSG) is one of many social protection instruments aimed at supporting children. The Department of Basic Education provides schooling and related learner support materials to support the educational needs of children. Where needed, SASSA also provides support to learners with school uniform needs through Social Relief of Distress.

Reply:

a) The 9th African Union Gender Pre-Summit on ‘Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the youth by empowering young people, especially young women for leadership and civic participation.

b) Ms Ingrid Mohai – Parliamentary Officer

    Ms Lumka Oliphant – Chief Director: Communications

c) Social Development covered costs for transport, accommodation, flights and S&T advance.

Reply:

1.(a) (i) the electricity supply was cut off once to SASSA Tlokwe Local Office.

(ii) during the month of February 2017.

(aa) the electricity supply was never cut for the period 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016

(bb) 14 February 2017

(b) The Department of Public Works (DPW) used to be responsible for the payment of this account at this office until April 2016. SASSA and the DPW signed an agreement whereby SASSA was to take over payment of the electricity account and to settle all outstanding electricity amounts with the municipality. SASSA made a payment agreement with the municipality to settle all outstanding electricity amounts for the periods December 2016 to January 2017. Due to non-payment the electricity was cut on the 14 February 2017.

2. No, SASSA official has been held accountable, this matter is still under investigation.

3. Yes, measures had been put in place to ensure that there is a clear oversight of monitoring the payments of all water and electricity accounts at SASSA offices in the province. A desktop monitoring tool has been developed which shall be presented for implementation to management. This is to ensure that the line unit responsible must monitor the payments of these accounts.

In an effort to prevent future electricity cuts to the SASSA offices, the municipality made a commitments that will also email the invoices instead of using only the post office. on a monthly basis to dedicated officials of SASSA. The names of the officials and their contact’s details were already forwarded to the municipality

4. The electricity was cut off on the 27 January 2017 at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Office by the new landlord for non-payment of the outstanding electricity bills for the past three financial years. The previous landlord who passed away was not submitting invoices regularly despite the fact that SASSA was making follow ups on a monthly basis.

SASSA was also ensuring that confirmation of services received was prepared and submitted to our Supply Chain Management Unit for receipting into the system to ensure that funds are reserved for payment processing as to and when the invoices are submitted.

The landlord suggested that SASSA did not paid their electricity account, it emerged that the new landlord could not balance his books (reconcile) in relation to electricity payments. Meetings were held between the landlord and SASSA. And the officials presented proof of payments. The landlord reconnected electricity

Reply:

a) What was the total amount that was spent on:

(i) Total amount for local travel in the 2015-16 financial year - R105,410,016.10

(ii) Total amount for international travel by her department in the 2015-16 financial year – R16,142,714.50

(b) what is the breakdown of each trip undertaken in terms of

(i) when the trip took place – information provided in the attached document

(ii) the total number of persons who were part of the delegation – information provided in the attached document

(iii) the cost of flights – information provided in the attached document

(iv) the cost of accommodation, including which hotels were used – information provided in the attached document

(v) the total subsistence and travel allowance approved for each member of each delegation on each trip– information provided in the attached document

(vi) the cost of special vehicles and/or chauffeur driven transport – information provided in the attached document

 

 

Reply:

1. 

(i) The Ministerial Advisory Committee recommended the establishment of 6 workstreams. To date, three (3) work streams leaders have been appointed to ensure the effective takeover of the payment of social grants by the SA Social Security Agency,

(ii) (aa) & (bb) Mr Tim Sukazi, Mr Patrick Monyeki and Ms Tangkiso Pakkies.

Mr Tim Sukazi qualifications are: B. Proc, LLB and LLM (Commercial Law).

Mr Patrick Monyeki qualifications are: BSC, Higher Education Diploma, BSC Honours and MBA.

Ms Tangkiso Pakkies qualifications are: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours in Sociology), and Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management.

Ms Dumisile Ndlovu: Human Resource management (Internal SASSA official responsible for Corporate Services)

Communication and change management team is supported by Mr Sgwili Gumede and the internal SASSA staff.

(iii) Mr Tim Sukazi: Legislative and Policy Requirements Management. Ms Tangkiso Pakkies: Benefits and Local Economic Development. Mr Patrick Monyeki: Business information, Banking Services and Project Management.

(iv) SASSA procured the services of these work stream leads through their companies therefor the agency has no knowledge what their respective companies are paying them:

• Patrick Monyeki (Rangewave) = R 35 879 645.01
• Tim Sukazi (Tim Sukazi inc)= R7 620 227.40
• Tangkiso Parkies = R4 381 726.00

The budget(s) for services rendered by the work stream has been sourced from the retained surplus budget;

2. (a) and (b) The services required were not advertised. The services were procured through a supply chain management deviation in terms of Section 16 (A) of the Treasury Regulations. The nature of the service and deliverables required dictated a need for retainment of collective knowledge and institutional memory of the key members from the Ministerial Advisory Committee discharged in December 2014.

Reply:

1. (a) The successful service provider that won the bid is Selizwe Leadership Academy (Pty) Ltd.

(b) The contract was signed with Selizwe Leadership Academy on the 1 July 2016.

(c) The total cost of the tender is R 2 271 200.00 inclusive of value added tax (vat).

(d) The contract period is for eight (8) months.

(e) The Agency received nine (9) bids.

(f) (i) The highest bid received was R23 252 960.36 vat inclusive.

(ii) Lowest bid received is R 1 226 897.85 vat inclusive. The lowest bidder did not meet the minimum required score for functionality criteria.

(g) (i) There are guidelines across several government departments that guide the development of public facilities such standards for disability access in the Department of Health, standards for physical access to facilities in the Department of Public Works, the standards for occupational safety in the Department of Labour etc. The service provider is to obtain a comprehensive list of these guidelines that they will use as a guide to assess extent to which facilities used as service points comply. (This is evidence based evaluation).

The service provider is expected to provide a detailed assessment on the models of service point development in local areas in each district, in each of the 9 Regions.

(ii) Assess how service points are resourced, and its resource impact on service delivery at local offices and on the citizens targeted for

the service.

(iii) Develop a set of standards that will be used to monitor services rendered at service points.

(iv) Develop a dashboard for the measurement of the standards.

2. Yes. The service provider signed a service level agreement with SASSA.

Reply:

1.(a) One (1) Regional Executive Manager

(b) She received threats by staff who are mostly subjected to disciplinary hearings for fraud and agents responsible for defrauding the systems, including what appears to be kingpins.

(c) 3 June 2014 and 17 June 2014

(d) Former Chief Executive Officer Dr Virginia Petersen

2. Yes, the Regional Executive Manager (REM) of KZN and Darius Nysschens (Manager in KZN) did receive death threats.

The report cannot be made available as it will put the lives of the affected officials and their families at risk.

3. (a) R118 333.04 per month inclusive of four protectors and two cars.

(b) SASSA security budget

4. The services provider is contracted on ad-hoc basis and will end when the threat to the REM and the manager has ceased

Reply:

1. The Agency has submitted its request to the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) to facilitate the process of acquiring permanent office accommodation for the Kempton Park area. The Department of Public Works reported that a lack of responses from potential service providers initially delayed the process.

However, the Department of Public Works has reported that the procurement process is now at an advanced stage as the submission for entering into a lease agreement with the recommended service provider has been routed to the Director General for approval/disapproval. SASSA now awaits feedback from the Department.

SASSA has in the meantime been rendering services from a temporary service office situated at the Ekurhuleni Municipality Camp Gallery side hall in Kempton Park, three times a week on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to ensure that the beneficiaries of Kempton Park are not negatively affected by the slow pace of procurement. This service office has been operational since September 2014.

2. (a) The Kempton Park Office was closed on 28 February 2012.

(b) The permanent office will be opened once all procurement processes have been completed. However, it should be noted that beneficiaries have continuing to be assisted through the service office.

Reply:

GAUTENG

1 (a) Yes, the Department of Social Development has budgeted funds for social workers to place advertisements.

(b) (i), (aa), (bb), (cc) and (ii)

Financial Year	Amount
2013/2014	R 487 000
2014/2015	R 674 357
2015/2016	R 1 332 882
Since April 2016	R 2 773 000

2. The funds are sufficient for the financial year however it increases annually due to the increase in demand. The Regions have been allocated budgets and they have entered into contracts with local newspapers. The following newspapers are also used Sowetan and Daily Sun.

The process involves the Social Workers conducting assessments and in cases where the biological parents are reported unknown, then the advert is placed on the newspaper as per Regulations 56.

The finalization of the court process is reconvened two weeks after the placement of the advert.

3. There were no instances were children’s court Enquiries were not finalized due to non-compliance with Regulations.

EASTERN CAPE

1 (a) N/A

(b) Funding only made available for 2016 which was R400 000.00

2. Funds are not sufficient due to the budget-cut/financial constraints. This is however, one of the priorities of the Sub-directorate Child Care and Protection priorities when advocating for funds to Treasury.

3. None – the Provincial Team (between DSD, SASSA & Districts) that is monitoring Foster Care management services including backlog has since engaged DoJ & CD Presiding Officers and was agreed that in all cases Children’s interest must be paramount in line with Section 28 of the Constitution and Section 2 (a – f) of the Children’s Act No 38 of 2005 as amended.

 

Reply:

No, the Department of Social Development has not developed a system to collect data on the number of persons who access substance abuse services, however the department keeps manual records of persons who access substance abuse services. The department is currently working on a system that will be piloted in 2017/18 financial year.

Reply:

Question 1	Question 2
(a)ICT Service Providers	(b)Tender Advertisement Date	(c)(i)Contract duration	(c)(ii)Contract Value	Services Being Offered	Is SLA Signed
MTN	October 2015	5 years	R100,289,905.00	Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Datacenter Services Internet	YES
EOH	07 November 2014	2 years	R87, 934,360.92	Support Services (Front Office, Back Office and LAN)	YES
EOH	24 August 2012	3 years	R11,781,378.27	Migration from Novell to Microsoft Netware Platform	YES
Telkom	Sole Service Provider (Government to Government)	5 years	R131,485, 175.40	Last mile fixed line connectivity	YES
Info Guardian	January 2015	3 years	R10, 312, 123.33	Intrusion Prevention Services (Tipping Points)	YES
Gijima	20 November 2015	3 years	R6, 046, 233.71	LAN Monitoring and Management Tool (Provision of Entuity of Eye of the Storm)	YES
SITA	Government Services offered through SITA as government entity	3 years	R331,535, 042.40	SOCPEN Hosting	YES
SITA	Government Services offered through SITA as government entity	3 years	R1, 218, 325.79	BAS/Persal Hosting	YES
SITA	Government Services offered through SITA as government entity	3 years	R14, 406, 711.17	Common Access Point	YES
SITA	Government Services offered through SITA as government entity	3 years	R244, 790.59	Server Housing	YES
SITA (Microsoft)	Government Transversal Contract offered through SITA Enterprise Agreement as government entity	3 years	R53,924,677.17	Microsoft Licenses	YES
Datacentrix	29 January 2016	2 years	R1, 928, 880.00	Antivirus Software and Licenses	YES
EOH Mthombo	February 2015	3 years	R109,437,963.00	Implementation of the SASSA Scanning Solution	YES
Microsoft SA	September 2014	3 years	R37 282 421.68	Development and implementation of the Enterprise Business Intelligence Solution	YES
Datacentrix	February 2016	2 years	R28,205,902.00	Support of the Livelink/CLM Records Management System	YES
SITA	February 2016 Procured through SITA BA.	3 years	R1,612,000.00	Gartner research subscription service	YES
LexisNexis	February 2015	3 years	R1,592,836.00	Subscription to Legal Services database	YES
SITA	Procured through SITA BA 1 April 2016	3 years	R71, 748, 875.00	Technical Application Support for SocPen	YES
SITA	Procured through SITA BA 1 April 2016	3 years	R23, 315, 345.00	Functional Application Support for SocPen	YES
SITA	Procured through SITA BA 1 April 2016	3 years	R55, 119, 447.00	Training services for SocPen	YES
SITA	Procured through SITA BA 1 April 2016	3 years	R4, 055, 357.00	Technical and Functional Support for GIS Services	YES
GP VAN NIEKERK ONDERNEMINGS	Sole Service Provider-Annual Renewal for Software Licenses Support	Annual	R557, 612.00	Emulation Software Support for SocPen	YES
ELCB Information Services (Pty) Ltd	13 February 2015	1 year	R18,891,375.48	Technical and Functional Support for the MIS system	YES
EOH Mthombo PTY LTD	November 2014	3 years	R90,780,480.00	ERP Help Desk, Technical-, Functional- and Training support	YES
Oracle	Sole Service Provider-Annual Renewal for Software Licenses Support	Annual	R6,904,178.08	Oracle OEM Support Services (Knowledge Base, Enhancements, Patches, bug fixes etc.)	YES
Bankserv	Sole Service Provider-Annual Renewal for Software	Annual	R30,000.00	Annual fee for sending payment files from ERP	YES
Excel4apps	Annual Renewal for Software Licenses Support	Annual	R 202, 239.36	Oracle General Ledger drill down	YES

Reply:

1. The business case has not yet been presented to National Treasury and it will be presented in due course and National Treasury will be consulted for a suitable date.

(a) Not applicable 

(b) Not applicable

2. No, it will be source from the current budget while a business is presented to National Treasury for the 2018/19 budget adjustment and 2018/19 budget bid.

3. (a) and (b) Not Applicable , National Treasury has cut the budget for the financial years: 2016/2017 by R 158 Million,  2017/18 R 210 Million and 2018/19 R 116 Million.

Reply:

As of the 13th March 2017 the number of non-profit organisations that are registered with the Department of Social Development under the NPO Act is 171 493. And this is a moving target due to the fact that the Department register NPOs on a daily basis.

Provincial breakdown is as follows:

Province	Registered
Eastern Cape	15 530
Free State	8 432
Gauteng	53 987
Kwazulu Natal	31 813
Limpopo	17 633
Mpumalanga	12 645
North West	10 763
Northern Cape	3 349
Western Cape	17 341
Total	171 493

Sector breakdown is as follows:

Sector	Registered
Social Services	67 202
Religion	22 866
Education and Research	10 268
Law, Advocacy, and Politics	3 963
Development and Housing	38 116
Culture and Recreation	10 987
Environment	1 877
Health	12 900
International	107
Business and Professional Associations, Unions	1 696
Philanthropic intermediaries and voluntarism promotion	1 511
Total	171 493

Reply:

1. The Department of Social Development provides subsidy to some NPOs based on the submitted business plans according to the Policy on Financial Awards. The salaries of employees including Social workers in the NPO sector are determined by individual NPOs. It is important to note that salaries and condition of service in the Public Service are not the same as salaries and condition of service in the NGO/NPO sector, because the Public Services Act, Regulations and collective agreements are not applicable in the NGO/NPO sector.

2. (a) Social workers employed by NPOs over the three years period is 4134 for 2013/14, 2907 for 2014/15 and 3507 for 2015/16.

  (b) Social workers employed by the Department of Social Development over the three years period is 8118 for 2013/14, 8900 for 2014/15, 9538 for 2015/16 and 9527 for 2016/17

Reply:

Yes, the Department is placing the best interests of the child first as guided by the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, 1993

Reply:

The Department of Social Development (DSD) and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) are members to the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Both DSD and SASSA through their membership to ISSA have access to specialized events and expert advice from social security professionals worldwide.

Through this membership, DSD and SASSA effectively have access to the full range of ISSA services including their conferences and meetings. This membership also gives DSD and SASSA the opportunity to network and collaborate with other leaders and administrators in promoting the values of social security worldwide.

The South African Social Security Agency CEO, is the Vice- Chairperson of the Technical Commissions (TC) on Family Benefits. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons constitute the Steering Committee of the Technical Commissions.

The Vice- Chairpersons play an important role in assisting the Chairperson  to plan and guide the activities of the Technical Commissions by ensuring its focus on priority issues  and contribute to ISSA overall work programme and objectives.

1. (a) The Department of Social Development (DSD) and SASSA attended the International Social Security Association (ISSA) World Security Forum: 14 – 18 November 2016, Panama City, Panama:  

 (i) the ACEO was leading the SASSA delegation and,

 (ii)  the incoming CEO as Acting Director General represented DSD

(b)  & (c) (i), (ii) and (iii)

 

DSD Delegation	(ii) Travel	(ii) S& T	(ii) & (ii) accommodation & Vehicle Hire
Mr T Magwaza: Acting Director General	R121 135.00	R11 684.00	R26 352 was paid as an advance to DIRCO
Mr Z Dangor: Special Advisor to the Minister	R136 644.00
SASSA Delegation
Ms. R Ramokgopa: Acting CEO	R126 575.23	R6 800.00	Advanced Payment was made to DIRCO
Ms.  Pearl Bengu: (KZN Regional Executive Manager)	R126 575.23	R6 800.00	Advance Payment was made to DIRCO
Mr   Armstrong Malope: (Mpumalanga  Acting Regional Executive Manager)	R126 575.23	R6 800.00	Advance Payment was made to DIRCO
Mr Sonwabo Koliti : (General Manager: Customer Care)	R126 575.23	R6 800.00	Payment was made to DIRCO
Total	R 506 300.92	R 27 200.00	R 191 352.00

           

(ii) A total of R191 352 was advanced to DIRCO to cover accommodation and shuttle for the 6 delegates. We have not yet received the claim refunds.

2. Yes, the report is available and can be presented to the Portfolio Committee if requested. 

3. The invitation of the Portfolio Committee came long after the delegation has been confirmed with ISSA and travel arrangements were finalised. Both Mr Dangor and Ms Ramokgopa were panelists.  Cancellation would have resulted in wasteful expenditure and would have required ISSA to change the programme in last minutes.

Reply:

(1) In terms of the SASSA Staffing Practices Policy, the secondment of employees may be considered under the following circumstances:

• The transfer of skills within the organization; and
• When the need exists to temporarily fill the vacant funded post.

Yes, there were three (3) Senior Managers that were seconded to vacant funded positions outside their residential provinces, for the period 01 April 2015 until 31 January 2017. For the period 01 February 2017 to-date, there are three (3) senior managers seconded to vacant funded posts outside their residential provinces. However, there were four (4) senior managers seconded to fill positions in different environments to gain more experience and strengthen their management capabilities and such secondments ended on the 31 January 2017.

Five (5) Executive Managers were seconded outside their residential provinces:

Three (3) were seconded to vacant posts to head Grant Administration operations and various Regional offices, for the period 01 September 2016 until 31 January 2017. However, two (2) were seconded to head office to manage the special projects, for the period 01 April 2015 until 31 January 2017.

With effect from 01 February 2017, there is only one (1) Executive Manager who is seconded to Head Office special project.

 (a) The Western Cape General Manager: Finance post has been vacant for twelve (12) months, Eastern Cape General Manager: Finance for eleven (11) months whereas the Northern Cape position has been vacant for twenty five (25) months. The Regional Executive Manager: Free State has been vacant for one month.

(b) General Manager Posts were advertised for the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, and no suitable candidates were found and the posts had to be re-advertised, including the post for Regional Manager: Northern Cape. The post of Regional Executive Manager: Free State is in the process of being advertised. These posts is will be filled in the 2017/18 financial year

(2) The total of acting allowances to-date is R 927 390.75.

Reply:

1. Yes,

 (i) The South African Social Security Agency ( SASSA) was established in terms of the Social Security Agency Act, 2004 to perform the following functions in giving effect to Section 3 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004;

 (ii) Administer social assistance and perform any other function delegated to it under the Social Assistance Act.

 (iii) Collect , collate, maintain and administer such information as is necessary for the payment of social security, as well as for the central reconciliation and management of payment of transfer funds in a national database of all applicants for and beneficiaries of social assistance.

 (iv) SASSA has adopted a two phase approach regarding the takeover of grants. In preparation of this approach the agency have to prepare its personnel for such a function, which include the following; capacity building, strategic placements of its current personnel including the regional executives and executives. This approach necessitated the agency also to identify other senior managers with the potential of exposing them in various areas in the agency as part of their capacity building drive.

 (v) SMS’s were seconded in an acting capacity to gain more experience and strengthen their managerial capabilities in preparation for the transitional period.

1. (a) 14 (14 for the period 01 April 2015 until 31 January 2017 and 4 for the period 01 February 2017 to date).

(b) 2 (12 for the period 01 April 2015 until 31 January 2017and 4 for the period 01 February 2017 to date).

(2) Yes, accommodation has been provided for in terms of the SASSA Staffing Practice Policy which requires of SASSA to provide such for secondment(s).

(a) They are all accommodated in hotels and furnished apartments where it is cost effective.

(b) The total estimated costs to-date for accommodation for all of them is R3 097 998.67.

(c) The savings from the Compensation of Employees and leases have been used in this regard.

(3) All senior managers affected are using their own transport except two, who is provided for by SASSA in according with the SASSA Staffing Policy on secondment(s). The total estimated costs to-date is R213 782.00.

(4) No

Reply:

(1) I would like to inform the Honourable Member that the SASSA beneficiary card has two encryptions, namely the UPS encryption which expires in March 2017 and the MasterCard encryption which expires in December 2017.

(2) With regard to the transitional plans, I have already informed the Honourable Member of the work currently underway through the five work streams to oversee this process and to ensure a smooth transition that will ensure a seamless transition and that no single beneficiary will be negatively affected by this transition.

Reply:

I would like to refer the Honourable Member to my reply to Parliamentary Question 2106 of 2016 asked by Honourable EJ Marais on a similar matter.

Reply:

(a),

The National Department of Social Development did not pay any money to advertise on (i) Africa News Network 7 channel, (ii) SA Broadcasting Corporation (aa) television channels and (bb) radio stations, (iii) national commercial radio stations and (iv) community (aa) television and (bb) radio stations (aaa) in the 2016-16 financial year and (bbb) since 1 April 2016.

(b),

This SASSA nationwide expenditure for the said financial years relates to the following:

• Ongoing beneficiary education regarding unauthorized deductions
• Radio advertisements on early grant payments before local government elections.
• Outside radio broadcast services during outreach programmes

Suppliers	Payment starting date: 01 Apr 2015- 31 Mar 2016	Payment starting date: 01 Apr 2016
(i) Africa News Network	R 000.00	R 000.00
(ii) SA Broadcasting Corporation (aa) Television channels (bb) Radio stations	R 4 839 403.60 R 000.00 R 4 839 403.60	R 192 227.41 R 000.00 R 192 227.41
(iii) National commercial radio stations	R 784 197.92	R 000.00
(iv)(aa) Community television	R 000.00	R 000.00
(bb) Community Radio Stations	R5 199 460.39	R 1 166 501.68
Total	R 10 823 061.91	R 1 358 729.09

The National Development Agency did not pay any money to advertise on (i) Africa News Network 7 channel, (ii) SA Broadcasting Corporation (aa) television channels and (bb) radio stations, (iii) national commercial radio stations and (iv) community (aa) television and (bb) radio stations (aaa) in the 2016-16 financial year and (bbb) since 1 April 2016.

Reply:

(a), (b) No.

(i) and (ii) The reason therefore is that neither the Department nor SASSA has been made aware or approached for assistance. If the Honourable Member can furnish me with relevant details of the school and the leaners that need assistance.

The Department will liaise with the Provincial Department of Social Development to check if they have rendered any form of assistance to the school as provincial departments have their own Social Relief of Distress programmes.

Reply:

(1) Yes. The Acting DG has signed the Performance Agreement. I would like to inform the Honourable Member that HODs sign Performance Agreements with provincial MECs not the Minister and the question must therefore be directed to them.

(a)(b)(c) (d)(i)(ii) Not Applicable

(2)(a)(b) Not Applicable

(3) (a)(b) Not Applicable

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) With the exception of the 12 June 2016 for which I have already provided a response to the Honourable Member, the only other time I stayed at this hotel was in March 2015 during the Social Work Indaba for four nights at a cheaper Government rate.

(1)(a)(ii) The Deputy Minister did not stay at this hotel

(1)(b) The purpose of the stay was for the official business of the Department of Social Development.

(1)(c) R16 403 .99 for four nights at a cheaper Government rate.

(2) No official of the Department stayed at the Oyster Box as per National Treasury instruction.

(3) Yes, the bookings were made through the service providers appointed to render official travel and accommodation services for the Department of Social Development, namely Wings Naledi and Duma Travel.

Reply:

The South African delegation attended the 45th Annual Rainbow Push Coalition Convention upon Ministerial invitation by Reverend Jesse Jackson, a founder and President of the Rainbow Push Coalition. It must remembered that Rev Jackson is one of the human rights activists who contributed immensely to the liberation struggle in Africa, and South Africa in particular.

The 45th Session of the conference provided a unique platform for the South African delegation to learn international best practices in respect of various social development areas such as racial, social and economic justice and social cohesion. Others includes strategies to address homelessness, the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse; violence against women and children, particularly in African American communities, youth development and improvement of access to education for disadvantaged communities. The delegation interacted and exchange ideas with young men and women from different countries including African Americans and the Diaspora.

(b) (i) The delegation was comprised as follows:

• Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP Honorable Minister of Social Development;
• Ms Constance Nxumalo Deputy Director-General: Welfare Services;
• Mr Oupa Ramachela Acting Deputy Director-General: Corporate Services;
• Mr Abram Phahlamohlaka: Chief of Staff
• Ms Mamokoena Mefolo: Director: Protocol Services.

(b) (ii) The two Deputy Directors-General provided support to the Minister on substantive issues while the Chief of Staff provided speech writing and administrative expertise to the Minister and the Director: Protocol Services provided both the secretariat and protocol support services.

(c) The cost came out of the Ministry budget. In an effort to contain the expenditure for international travel, particularly given the weak rand-dollar exchange rate, the Minister and the delegation utilised a cheaper airline and accommodation recommended by the Mission. The total cost of inclusive of airline tickets for the Minister and delegation, accommodation and ground transport was R547 413.19.

(d) The Minister and the entire delegation were accommodated at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, which is the hotel where the conference was held. The hotel rates for all delegates were negotiated by the conference organisers, the Rainbow Push Coalition.

Reply:

(a) Each year grant projections are done by the Department of Social Development together the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and National Treasury. These projections are based on a number of factors, including historical trends and micro-simulation which takes into account the demographics and economic circumstances of the country. The Department had targeted some 16.97 million beneficiaries across all grants for the 2015/16 financial year and reached 16.83 million beneficiaries, which is 99.1% of its projected target.

(b) SASSA is successfully meeting its targets. The 140 thousand difference between those projected and those reached falls within the 1% margin of error that the Department had set itself during the financial year for the projections. Similarly, more than 99% of the total R130 billion social grants budget was utilised, resulting in the R1 billion savings (which is less than 0.77%).

(c) In addition to the very vast footprint of SASSA which comprises of 389 offices and 1 163 service offices across the country, the following initiatives aim to ensure that every citizen has access to social grants. These include:

• The Department of Social Development together with SASSA and the National Development Agency implement the Mikondzo programme. This programme focuses on taking all social development programmes to the people, through engagement with communities. This programme includes door-to-door interventions to identify and assist any citizens who could qualify for services, including social grants.

• The ICROP programme. This is a planned outreach programme where SASSA services are taken to areas which are under-serviced or where the distance to the nearest SASSA office is very far. This ensures that everyone has access to SASSA services

• The Regulations to the Social Assistance Act, 2004 were amended in 2008, to allow for applications for social grants to be taken for citizens who do not have identity documents or birth certificates for the children under their care.

• SASSA has a programme which focuses on the uptake of child support grants for children aged between 0 – 1 years of age. This is done as all research has indicated that the earlier the child support grant is paid, the better the long term benefits for the child.

• Communication programmes are constantly run to publicise the requirements for social grants, in particular the requirements of the means test.

 

Reply:

(a)(i) The Chief Financial Officer possesses a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Post graduate Diploma in Business Administration and Masters in Business Administration Degree.

(b)(ii) The acting Director-General possesses a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration and Master of Philosophy Degree.