Questions and Replies
29 June 2021 - NW148
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
In view of the Republic’s gender-based violence (GBV) that is peaking and children that are being used as bargaining tools by perpetrators of violence against women once the victim opens a case, what (a) protection does a protection order that is filed against an alleged perpetrator of GBV provide for children in such a case and (b) rights does the victim have to retain custody of the child until the said court dates; (2) what is his department doing to assist victims, especially female victims, to avoid alleged perpetrators of GBV from taking their children away as revenge for opening a case against them?
Reply:
1. (a) The Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. 116 of 1998) was enacted to address and combat domestic violence. An applicant can apply to court for a protection order against the perpetrator’s abuse, in terms of the Domestic Violence Act.
The court may, if it is satisfied that it is in the best interest of any child:
- by means of an order, refuse the respondent (alleged perpetrator) contact with such child
- order contact with such child on conditions as it may consider appropriate
- prohibit the respondent (alleged perpetrator) from entering the residence shared by the complainant and the respondent (alleged perpetrator), provided it is in the best interest of the applicant.
- The applicant can apply for an order for temporary placement of children in care facilities.
- Further, the domestic violence court may not refuse to issue a protection order or impose any condition or make any order which is competent to impose or make merely on the grounds that other legal remedies are available to the complainant.
In providing the necessary relief, the court considers the facts presented before
it. The court, in making any order where it affects placement of children or removal of the respondent (alleged perpetrator), depending on the facts and application before it, will consider the best interests of the child, including safety, health, the well-being, perceived risk of further harm or violence, personal and material interests of both the applicant and the children and the best interests of the child.
The best interests of the child, in addition to that of the applicant, is emphasised to demonstrate that in all matters of gender-based violence where children are affected, the court will probe the details of a case in order to have all facts before it, so as to make an appropriate order. In this regard, the court may, where circumstances permit, in terms of the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987, refer such matters to the Office of the Family Advocate for the court to obtain the Family Advocate’s report containing the recommendations on the best interests of children affected by the domestic violence.
The Family Advocate will conduct an investigation into the welfare of the children and make such recommendation that will first identify the risks and factors that have a direct and an indirect impact on the wellbeing of the children, and then recommend the necessary safety nets to mitigate such risk pending the finalization of the domestic violence case. These recommendations may include supervised contact between the children and the alleged perpetrator, in appropriate circumstances.
The Domestic Violence Act also provides for the court to consider an application brought before it by a child under this Act and if it deems fit, grant the interim protection order. In addition, if the court finds that the applicant child is in need of care, that child will be referred to the children’s court for further intervention.
The provision above demonstrates that minor children have to be protected and can deviate from the norm of a minor having to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, as an order can still be sought against either. The court will respond to any emergency application before it and grant the temporary relief sought, after considering all facts before it and the rights of children affected.
Where the perpetrator contravenes the interim order or removes the children against the court order, that will amount to contempt of court. Legal consequences ensue and the warrant of arrest by the domestic violence court is immediately given effect to. It must be noted that these are immediate orders which are interim pending the return date for further hearing, including that of the alleged perpetrator, for either the confirmation thereof or any order appropriate.
The Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit of the national prosecuting Authority provides regular training on the Domestic Violence Act to prosecutors and other partners in the criminal justice system to ensure that the intention of the Domestic Violence Act is fully realized.
(b) Where the victim of domestic violence is a primary care giver of the children (the
victim resides with the children) they will still retain the primary care of the children pending the finalization of the matter. The right that the victim has is that they can request assistance from the Office of the Family Advocate with regards to the drafting of a Parenting Plan. In the Parenting Plan they can set out arrangements as regards the children’s residence as well as the contact regime (how they will continue having contact with the alleged perpetrator) pending the finalization of the case. The victim can also request the Office of the Family Advocate to assist with assessments of the children, interactional analysis as well as observation of the children to ensure that they retain the custody of the children.
2. Children cannot be uprooted from their stable environment without any lawful reason. In the case where a child is unlawfully removed from their stable environment, that is they are removed without a court order or any form of agreement between their parents, the primary caregiver, in this case, the victim of domestic violence has a right to launch an application at the Children’s Court to have the children returned to their primary residence.
During such proceedings, the court will as a way of preserving the best interests of children, make an order to the effect that an investigation be conducted by the Office of the Family Advocate so as to provide the court with the recommendations on the best interests of the children given the prevailing circumstances.
29 June 2021 - NW1634
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
What sustainable measures have been taken to ensure that there is a sustainable resolution to e-toll challenges, considering widespread non-payment of e-toll bills and payment delays being blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic?
Reply:
SANRAL participated in the Technical Task team, led by the Director-General of Transport, to present various options to Ministerial Committee, which was led by the President and included the Ministers of Finance and Transport as well as the Premier of Gauteng. The Technical Task team concluded their work some time before lockdown in 2020. The decision is now in the hands of Cabinet.
In the meantime, SANRAL has to continue to operate within existing financial constraints and in line with National Treasury budget approval.
29 June 2021 - NW1644
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Given current successes on the implementation of virtual courts and the opportunities offered by technological advancements in enhancing access to justice through a hybrid system of courts involving physical and virtual courts, what support does the Government intend to offer the judiciary, within the lawful bounds of the separation of powers, in enhancing its modernisation to cater for virtual courts in a post-pandemic era?
Reply:
The Department is in a process of finalising technical integration designs and procuring a court audio visual solution that will be used for court participant’s interviews and testimony in cases where direct contact is not feasible or very expensive, as well as in cases where expert witnesses are required in court. This will also allow victims and witnesses to easily get in touch and communicate with the CJS practitioners that are responsible for their case. This includes Interpreters, Witnesses, SAPS & DHA Laboratory Experts, Sexual Offence Facilitation and External Experts. This is initially related to virtual court appearances integrating to court recording solution for the court record, however it will be expanded to cater for virtual courts eliminating the physical appearance of all parties in courts and the adjudication of the case online.
The current Annual Performance Plan target for the Court Audio Visual Solution is the implementation of 45 identified sites for the current financial year.
a) As part of the digital transformation of courts and court processes, the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) in the spirit of the modernization approach has leveraged digital and virtual opportunities to ensure efficiency and continuity in court services and led by the Judiciary is in the process of developing and implementing Court Online, an advanced cloud-based collaboration solution aimed at providing a platform for the filing of court documents electronically (E-Filing) over the Internet from anywhere. Court Online is an E-Filing, Digital Case Management and Evidence Management system for the High Courts of South Africa. It provides Law Practitioners with the opportunity to file documentation electronically online anywhere and anytime without being physically present at court. It also affords Law Practitioners the ease of managing their court appearance diaries and court evidence instantaneously online.
Within the court room and chambers, Judges shall make use of the Court Online system to adjudicate disputes electronically. Office of the Chief Justice has partially implemented the Court Online system in the Gauteng Division of the High Court. Case-Lines as a stand-alone solution for evidence management was successfully piloted in these courts. The aim is to roll-out this electronic platform to other service centres during the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) period.
b) Provision for virtual hearings have further been made in the Directives issued by the Heads of Court/Judges President in line with the Superior Courts Act, 2013.
c) The Draft Court Online (E-Filing) Court Rules, drafted by the Judiciary and supported by the Office of the Chief Justice, are currently before the Rules Board. These rules will institutionalize Court Online (E-Filing) and are a major step in the digital transformation of courts and court processes.
d) The Office of the Chief Justice has further provided Judges and officials with ICT solutions to enable the courts to operate virtually. Amongst others, these measures included the provision of enhanced end user equipment, increased bandwidth for internet as well as increased data access.
e) Licenses have been provided for modern enterprise video communications/video conferencing platforms such as MS Teams or Zoom, along with concomitant storage space for the recording of proceedings, to enable virtual hearings to be conducted at the Superior Courts.
f) To improve network access, Wi-Fi was expanded at all Superior Courts.
g) All Constitutional Court hearings are currently livestreamed on the Judiciary YouTube channels.
h) In order to assist with readiness for digital transformation and improved service delivery, the Office of the Chief Justice is implementing the ICT Infrastructure Refresh Project, which would focus on the replacement of old hardware infrastructure. It is further supported by the recently installed Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems which ensures continuous availability of ICT systems and virtual platforms during power interruptions.
29 June 2021 - NW1255
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether he has adopted any strategies to rebuild the crumbling rail infrastructure, especially in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, since many persons were not using public transportation for some time during the lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) how does he intend to protect existing infrastructure from further deterioration and destruction?
Reply:
1. There are plans in place to rehabilitate the rail infrastructure in various corridors across the country. In the City of Cape Town specifically, the Central Line Corridor which carries the majority of residents in the city from their places of residence to work is a flagship project announced by the President where the entire line is earmarked for major rehabilitation covering the following:
- Removal of illegal settlements from rail servitude;
- Rehabilitation of the Power Supply System;
- Rehabilitation of the Perway Infrastructure;
- Modernisation of the Signalling Infrastructure;
- Repair of station facilities for customers.
Apart from the Central Line the following corridors are also earmarked for resumption of services and rehabilitation of infrastructure:
- Cape Town – Simonstown (WNB & ATL)
- Cape Town – Strand
In Johannesburg a number of corridors are also being rehabilitated for the MTEF period:
- Leralla – Johannesburg
- Johannesburg – Naledi
- Residensia – New Canada
- Kwesine – Germiston
- Randfontein – Johannesburg
2. In order to protect the existing infrastructure from further deterioration and destruction the following preventative measures will also be put in place to address recurrence:
- Close off the corridor through Walling
- Provision of Street to Street access to pedestrians to cross the railway line
- Upgrade of the Security Interventions across the corridor incorporating the community involvement approach where community members volunteer their services to provide intelligence to the SAPS, CPF and PRASA Protection Services on crime incidents along our corridors.
29 June 2021 - NW1076
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(a)(i) What is the precise nature of the contractual dispute between his Department of Justice and Lexis Nexis to which the Deputy Director-General of his Department of Justice referred to on 12 March 2021 when he informed the department of the unavailability of the online Lexis Nexis publications and (ii) by what date is it expected to be resolved, (b) what contingencies are in place to assist them until the matter is resolved and (c) how are court officials particularly expected to function fully without such access?
Reply:
a) (i) The dispute between LexisNexis and the Department is with regard to the interpretation of clause 12.19 of RFB 2019 03 which requires the service provider to provide a shared one license accessible from all domains (DOJ&CD, OCJ, Constitutional Court, Legal Aid SA, NPA, The Public Protector and the Special Investigating Unit) for online (internet) services.
LexisNexis interpreted clause 12.19 of the bid to require a shared license from all domains which in their view is different from a concurrent user access which is attached to a domain.
The Department’s interpretation is that clause 12.19 of the bid required a shared one license accessible from all domains for online (internet) services which was clearly explained during the briefing session (question and answer session) to mean a concurrent user access attached to a domain. These questions and answers were provided by the Department in writing to all the bidders including LexisNexis.
(ii) The Department engaged with LexisNexis on the 12 March 2021 and urged them to restore the services and the services were restored on the same date.
b) The services were restored with immediate effect and there was no need for any contingencies.
c) The services were restored with immediate effect and officials have access.
29 June 2021 - NW1645
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether the Government has any strategy to bring stability and peace to the logistics sector which is currently facing violence regarding alleged disparities in the hiring of foreign and local drivers of trucks; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department of Employment and Labour can amplify the reply further but it suffices to state that our President, Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, established an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) led by the Department of Employment and Labour, which amongst others has been tasked with the responsibilities of dealing with challenges facing the Road Freight Industry Logistics.
As the Department of Transport, we have published Government Gazette 44484 dated 23 April 2021 proposing an insertion of Regulation 116A into the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2000. For ease of reference, the aforesaid draft provides as follows:
116A. Authority of a Professional Driving Permit issued in a foreign Country
(1) the Authority provided by a professional driving permit issued in a foreign country shall apply in respect of a vehicle registered in the country that issued any such permit.
(2) A permit referred to in sub-regulation(1), shall not apply to a vehicle registered in the republic.
The Draft Amendments will therefore effectively ban drivers who hold a Public Drivers Permit (PDP) issued by a foreign country from operating vehicles registered in South Africa.
29 June 2021 - NW1638
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What total number of cases emanating from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (a) does the National Prosecuting Authority intend to refer and/or (b) has it already referred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI); (2) which criteria are used to determine what cases are ultimately referred to the DPCI; (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
- As at 25 May 2021, 55 TRC cases have been referred to the DPP Offices in the jurisdictions where the crimes were committed. These cases are all being investigated by the DPCI. A further 59 cases have been identified as warranting investigation, which will be referred to the regions once there is the necessary capacity in the NPA / DPP Offices.
- Cases are referred to the DPCI either because of the public interest which they attract or due to requests being made by relatives of the victims or other interested parties. The cases are referred merely upon request and are not subject to any pre-evaluation process.
- Yes, I will make a statement.
29 June 2021 - NW1044
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether the Magistrates Commission has taken any steps against a certain person (name and details furnished) in 2018 or thereafter with regard to serious claims of misconduct; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the steps that were taken; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
1. The Magistrates Commission confirms that it has received a number of serious complaints against KwaZulu Natal Regional Court President. On 31 August 2018, the Commission resolved to charge him. A charge sheet with 50 counts of misconduct was personally served on the KZN Regional Court President on 04 September 2018. An amended charge sheet with a total of 162 charges was served on him via his attorney on 30 March 2021. He has been provisionally suspended from office which suspension was confirmed by Parliament on 9 October 2018. He is subjected to a disciplinary hearing which will be commencing within the next two months.
(a) No.
28 June 2021 - NW1716
Hill-Lewis, Mr GG to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)What are the full detailed reasons that the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has abandoned the inquiry into the loss of nearly R1 billion through the investment in the American MUSA Group in 2015; (2) whether the PIC will take any further legal steps to recover the specified investment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has not abandoned its inquiry into Musa Group. The section 417 enquiry is chaired by a Commissioner and run by legal teams on behalf of the liquidators. Currently the forensic accountant is analysing the information gathered during the first part of the enquiry.
(2) Following the completion of the section 417 enquiry and the receipt of the Commissioner’s report, the liquidators and the PIC will be in a position to decide what legal and other steps should be taken.
28 June 2021 - NW1436
Winkler-Lidgett, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether, with reference to the reply of the Minister of Tourism to question 205 on 24 February 2021 regarding the unsubsidised charter and tourism bus industry that have not been able to work for a single day to utilise their tourism and charter permits since 26 March 2020, whereas many operators have paid their prepaid licence fees for the year March 2020 to March 2021, permit holders will be required to pay for the 2021-22 financial year even if they paid for the 2020-21 financial year whereas they did not operate at all; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what engagements has his department undertaken to discuss and resolve the issue to reimburse the prepaid license fee; (2) whether his department has engaged in any discussion and/or meeting to resolve and/or plan a way forward to assist the charter and tourism bus industry with their query on prepaid licensing fees; if not, on what date is it envisaged that (a) his department will meet with any other department and (b) the issue of the license fees will be addressed; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
1. Matters related to vehicle licensing falls under Schedule 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and are therefore within the purview of provinces. The Department must first seek concurrence of the respective provinces on this matter and only then can a decision be taken accordingly.
2. In view of the above, the Department recently held a meeting with the Committee of Provincial Heads of Departments of Transport and the Private Charter Passenger Association (PCPA). The latter made a broad representation regarding the impact of Covid19 on the Charter and Coach operators due to lockdowns and subsequent travel restrictions. As part of their submissions, they alleged their members were unable to generate any income during lockdown level 5 and 4, since all borders were closed and tourism activities suspended. The Department sought concurrence of the respective provinces, since vehicle licensing matters are provincial in scope. Once concurrence has been received from provinces, if at all, the Department will only then proceed to issue a Direction under regulations 4(7) made under section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).
28 June 2021 - NW1241
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether his department made allocations to provincial departments for the specific purpose of supporting private bus companies to acquire personal protective equipment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the specified allocation to each provincial department; (2) whether there has been any monitoring on how the funds were allocated to private companies; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the list of (a) all such companies that may have benefited and (b) the amounts allocated to each; (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
1. The Department allowed provinces to utilise up to 5% of the Public Transport Operations Grant funds reprioritised to respond to Covid-19 pandemic for the sanitisation of public transport vehicles and other public transport facilities, including the provision of personal protective equipment for public transport workers and hand sanitisers for passengers. For the 2020/21 the maximum amount provinces could utilise for the acquisition of personal protective equipment totalled R337 480 000 broken down as follows:
Eastern Cape: R13 450 000
Free State: R14 871 000
Gauteng: R129 965 000
Kwazulu Natal: R62 318 000
Limpopo: R20 102 000
Mpumalanga: R33 847 000
Northern Cape: R3 026 000
North West: R6 221 000
Western Cape: R53 680 000
2. Provinces are responsible for determining how these funds are distributed to individual operators and ensure that expenditure is within the allocated amount. The Department only receives high level consolidated monthly performance reports from provinces in line with the requirements of the grant framework. Specific details relating to names of operators/companies and precise amounts are retained by provinces.
(3) All grant related information including allocations, grant conditions and past performance are gazetted in the annual Division of Revenue Act and its Framework hence there is no need for an announcement.
28 June 2021 - NW1681
George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether the impact on schooling of the disabled children was assessed in view of the SA Revenue Service limiting tax relief on fees for schools for children with special needs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Yes. The draft 2021 “List of Qualifying Physical Impairment or Disability Expenditure” (draft 2021 Disability List) was prepared by SARS following proposals made by a stakeholder who represents a special needs school for learners with disabilities and, in addition, represents an association of independent schools. These independent schools provide general education together with interventions required as per the disability of each learner.
The guiding principle for qualifying expenses has always been to determine what additional expenses the person with a disability would incur, without which the person would not be able to perform activities of daily living. The amendments proposed in the draft 2021 Disability List were intended to assist schools and parents in more accurately drawing the distinction between expenses for education in the ordinary course, which would be incurred irrespective of whether the learner was living with a disability or not, and expenses for interventions required in consequence of disability, the latter of which would enjoy a tax privileged status under the Income Tax Act, 1962.
The stakeholder put forward the proposition that it was feasible for the schools to itemise their invoices and/or provide a letter to SARS separating the expenses for general education from those incurred in consequence of a disability, with the latter qualifying for tax relief. This appeared reasonable from the facts presented and the draft 2021 Disability List was accordingly prepared and workshopped with various stakeholders representing persons with disabilities before being published for general public comments.
Concerns were, however, raised by the public at large and some other schools. SARS has always been empathetic insofar as expenses required in consequence of disability are concerned and so decided to withdraw the draft 2021 Disability List in order to permit more time to engage with relevant stakeholders, consider the comments/suggestions raised, and clarify the intent behind the draft changes. It is only once this process has concluded that a further draft may be published.
28 June 2021 - NW1560
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Finance
(1) Whether, with reference to the letter dated 8 October 2020, to which no response was received to date, he has received the specified letter; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the reasons for not responding to the letter; (2) whether, given the recent confirmation of the additional landing and on-board entertainment costs, he will confirm, with reference to the letter of 8 October 2020, that he was consulted by Minister N Mapisa-Nqakula in terms of the Defence Act, Act 42 of 2002; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, on what date; (3) whether he has approved the amount to be invoiced to a certain organisation (name furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what action steps (a) have been and (b) will be taken by the National Treasury to remedy the apparent transgressions and obvious omissions by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans?
Reply:
1. After liaising with my officials, I confirm that the letter referred to was received and not responded due to the transition from manual processing of documentation to electronic.
2. The National Treasury was not consulted with prior to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans undertaking the visit to Zimbabwe with the ANC delegation using the SAAF Falcon 900.
3. Furthermore, the National Treasury was not part of the determination of the costs to be paid by the ANC but did receive proof that R105 545 was paid to the Department of Defence for this purpose.
4. The National Treasury has and will always engage departments and entities to ensure that they comply with the provisions of legislation that require consultation and concurrence of the National Treasury. As you may be aware, this matter has been handled and finalised by the President in terms of remedial actions.
28 June 2021 - NW65
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What are the full relevant details of the damage suffered by Metrorail due to (a) theft and (b) vandalism in each (i) province, (ii) district and (iii) local municipality to date; (2) what measures are in place to ensure the safety of all passengers at all times given all that has transpired in the past year including, but not limited to, the COVID-19 pandemic?
Reply:
1. PRASA’s business model does not devolve the operation of train services to a district or local municipality level in terms of the municipal demarcations framework but is based on a corridor approach managed at a Regional (Provincial) level. Therefore, the assessment of damages suffered will follow a corridor based model.
Thus, the full relevant details of the damages suffered by Metrorail due to (a) theft, (b) vandalism in (i) each (Region) province, to date are listed in the tables below.
Narrative for Crimes Related Incidents – 2019/2020
Narrative for Crimes Related Incidents – 2020/2021
2. The measures which are in place to ensure the safety of all passengers at all times is:
- Insourcing of security services to replace irregular contracts that were terminated in 2020;
- Joint operations with South African Police Services within the rail operational tunnel as well as disruptive operations at second-hand dealers to arrest those that buy stolen goods;
- Commuter Policing Forum deployment in home-based (township) stations;
- Increased train patrols on identified problematic trains in effort to arrest perpetrators;
- Line-based closures / stop-and-search with South African Police Service to search for stolen property that is being transported by train; and
- Commuter Forum engagement to share intelligence information that may assist in improving commuter experience.
28 June 2021 - NW1282
George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether the National Treasury has ever drawn up a consolidated balance sheet for Government; if not, why not; if so, will he furnish Dr D T George with a copy of the balance sheet; (2) whether the National Treasury is planning to draw a consolidated balance sheet for Government in future; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The National Treasury, annually as required by section 8 of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999 (PFMA), prepares consolidated financial statements (that include a statement of financial position or balance sheet) for national departments and Parliament (including the National Revenue Fund, State Debt and Loans Accounts) as well as for National public entities separately and these two sets of consolidated financial statements are then audited and tabled in Parliament. The consolidated financial statements are prepared separately for both national departments and public entities since these two types of institutions use two separate accounting frameworks. The latest sets of consolidated financial statements that were tabled in Parliament are for the 2019/2020 financial year. The consolidated financial statements are published on the Office of the Accountant-General website and can be obtained from https://oag.treasury.gov.za/Publications/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2FPublications%2F04%2E%20Consolidated%20Financial%20Statements&FolderCTID=0x0120007EBBC03F454D95408FB944B7B07F6166&View={EA6E6B15-593D-4839-A804-A91A49CB20A0}
28 June 2021 - NW779
Motsepe, Ms CCS to ask the Minister of Finance
What total amount has his department recouped over the past five financial years from the pension funds of public servants who were fired for defrauding the State?
Reply:
It is not a function of the National Treasury to recover such amounts but well that of the related department. Once any formal processes in such cases have been concluded, and if it has been found that the department is to recoup monies from an individual or entity, then a debt must be recorded by the department on its financial system. It is only when such records are contained in systems controlled by the National Treasury that some report can be provided but again the correctness and completeness of such report will rely solely on the full and correct information submitted by the department itself.
Of such systems that National Treasury maintain, 84 individuals were identified from 17 National and Provincial Departments for the financial years 2016/17 – 2020/21 where cases were recorded on the Personnel and Salary System (Persal) where it relates to financial misconduct. The total amount of R 23 449 484,48 was recorded during this period on Persal where it relates to these cases where 13 individuals were dismissed.
The data for these cases and related individuals identified through Persal as per the above was then used to identify the appropriate recording of the related debt on the Basic Accounting System (BAS). Information for 46 officials of the 84 identified in Persal was captured in BAS with a debt take on amount of R 479 801,28. Of the take on amount recorded in BAS, R 385 697,91 has been recovered. The information is based on the appropriate recording of the data on BAS. And it must be emphasised that the correctness and completeness of this information is based on the appropriate recording of the data by the related institutions.
28 June 2021 - NW1723
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Whether there are currently any staff members who are the subject of a disciplinary process at the SA High Commission in London (2) if not, what is the position in this regard (3) if so, in each case , (a) what number of staff, (b) for what reason in each case and (c) for how long have the specified disciplinary processes been underway (4)Whether there are currently any disputes between staff and the High Commissioner; (5) if so, (a) what is the total number of disputes, (b) what is the subject of the specified disputes, (c) (i) for how long have the specified disputes been on the table and (ii) what are the relevant details in each case and (d) what is the status quo of each of these disciplinary process and/ or disputes? NW1934E
Reply:
- None
- Disciplinary processes are implemented in conjunction with Labour Relations at Head Office and through the Desk as and when a transgression arises.
- There are currently no pending cases of any nature
- There are currently no disputes
- There are currently no disputes
25 June 2021 - NW1664
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
With reference to Erf 292 Butterworth in the Mnquma Local Municipality that houses a hardware store that has been on-site for 30 years, (a) what is the size of the specified erf, (b) is there a lease agreement between her department and the occupant and (c) what is the monthly rental on the property; (2) whether any rent is outstanding; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what total amount, (b) from what date has it been outstanding and (c) what steps have been taken to collect the arrears; (3) whether there are any arrears on the property owing to the specified municipality from her department; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what total amount is in arrears, (b) from what date has it been outstanding and (c) by what date will the arrears be paid?
Reply:
1. (a) The size of Erf 292 Butterworth in the Mnquma Local Municipality is 595 m2
(b) No. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) does not have a lease agreement with anyone on Erf 292.
(c) Falls away.
2. (a),(b),(c) Falls away.
3. Yes.
- a) The total amount of R 11 134.64 is in arrears.
- b) The invoice indicated that the outstanding amount is for April 2021.
- c) The outstanding amount will be paid as soon as an engagement between DALRRD, Provincial Department of Public Works and the Municipality had reached an agreement.
25 June 2021 - NW1472
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
(1)Whether his department has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) whether his department took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?
Reply:
South African Ministry of Employment and Labour concluded a Bilateral Agreement with the Cuban Ministry of Employment, Social Security and Occupational Health and Safety in Cape Town on the 1st March 2004 that is renewable unless terminated by either party through diplomatic channels. This agreement remains in force and forms part of the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Cuba relations.
The rest of the questions posed by Honourable Mrs N I Tarabella Marchesi with regard to employment of Cubans locally are not applicable under this agreement.
The agreement with the Cubans only confines itself to cooperation in the fields of “Employment, Social security and Occupational Health and Safety on the basis of equality and mutual benefits, taking into account the experience of specialists in these fields and possibilities of cooperation available in each country” Each country bears its own costs in implementing the agreement.
25 June 2021 - NW1411
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What is the (a) extent of the commonage land in Mpumalanga and (b) current usage of the commonage land; (2) whether the commonage land has water rights to allow farming to take place; if not, what steps will her department take to ensure that there are water rights; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there are farming activities taking place on the commonage land; if not, why not; if so, what farming activities are taking place on the pieces of land; (4) (a) whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with the relevant information regarding land that has been invaded and (b) the action(s) that were taken regarding the situation; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Reply:
My department requested the Provincial department to provide a details in relation to question raised by the honourable member. The reply will be updated with the information as it becomes available.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
25 June 2021 - NW1325
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs held on 1 April 2021, wherein an official from her department indicated that a review of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, Act 13 of 2005, is currently underway to enable the Government to implement the District Development Model (DDM)(details furnished), she has found that certain provisions of the existing legislation will hinder the implementation of the DDM; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the legislative provisions concerned; (2) Whether a review of legislation is currently underway to facilitate the implementation of the DDM; if not, why not; if so, what are the details of the review process? NW1521E
Reply:
1. The District Development Model (DDM) as a approach towards ensuring improved intergovernmental coordination and cooperation is premised on utlising enabling levers within existing legislation, policies, and experiences within the government and non governmental space. The Intergovernmental Relations Act, 13 of 2005 (IGRFA), is one such piece of legislation that contains several enabling provisions that are used to frame the design, institutionalisation, and implementation of the DDM. More specifically section 47. Currently Regulations as required and specified under section 47(1)(b) of the IGRFA are being drafted that will, once gazetted and approved provide a legal framework for the institutionalisation and implementation of the DDM. The draft Regulations as it stands is a culmination of extensive intergovernmental consultations and dialogues that were facilitated by my Department over the course of the 2020/21 financial year. Further consultations and dialogues will continue during the 1st quarter of this financial year that will provide further insights to the strengthening and finalisation of the Regulations.
2. Constant dialogues on the relevance and impact of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 13 of 2005, have been facilitated by my Department since 2015 (marking the 10 years of enactment of the Act), which were also complimented by various research studies. One key finding that came out from these studies and dialogues was a need to review the Act as a whole in order to discern which sections are still relevant, which sections need to be refined,and what additional sections could be added in a amended Act. At the end of the 2020/21 financial year a discussion document outlining several proposals for amendment was produced through several intergovernmental dialogues, which will continue during the course of the 1st and 2nd quarters of this financial year. The build-up and collected experiences gained from the implementation of the DDM will therefore compliment the review of the IGRFA where needed for future implementation. It therefore should be indicated that the review have been undertaken before the advent of the DDM as a continuos process.
25 June 2021 - NW1637
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Police
(1) In what total number of the murder cases that took place in the (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20 and (d) 2020-21 financial years, the murders were committed in each case with (i) legal and/or licensed firearms, (ii) illegal and/or unlicensed firearms, (iii) knives and/or (v) other sharp objects; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matters?
Reply:
(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
(1)(a) 2017/2018 |
(1)(b) 2018/2019 |
(1)© 2019/2020 |
(1)(d) 2020/2021 |
||
& (ii) |
Firearms |
6669 |
7373 |
7752 |
8388 |
Knives |
4902 |
4772 |
4553 |
3675 |
|
Other sharp objects |
2571 |
2330 |
2415 |
2097 |
* It is not possible to differentiate between legal and/or /licensed firearms and illegal and/or unlicensed firearms, as the type of weapon used is one reflected as “Firearm‘ on the Crime Administration System (CAS)/investigation Case Docket Management System(ICDMS).
(2) The Minister of Police will decide if he will make a statement. in this regard
Reply to question 1637 recommended
GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
DATE: 2021-07-01
Reply to question 1637 approved
MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE., MP
DATE: 22/07/2021
25 June 2021 - NW1711
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Police
(a) What number of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units exist in North West, (b) for which police stations is each unit responsible and (c) where Is each FCS unit situated; what (a) is the (i) optimal and (ii) actual number of Investigating officers working at each FCS unit, (b) number of the investigating officers have (i) attended and (ii) passed all the required courses needed to investigate the specified serious crimes and (c) number of dockets does each investigating officer have as st 1 June 2021; what number of (a) vehicles does each FCS unit have and (b) the specified vehicles are currently in working order?
25 June 2021 - NW1278
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister in the Presidency
(1)Whether, with respect to the moratorium placed on filling vacancies pending the reconfiguration of Brand SA, SA Tourism and Invest South Africa, the moratorium was placed on all three entities or only on Brand SA; if the moratorium was placed only on Brand SA, what were the reasons; (2) whether there are plans in place to lift the moratorium in order to allow for the filling of critical posts at an executive level in the specified entities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. I can only be able to respond on the Brand SA which is under my authority. The temporary moratorium was put in place, whilst the work assigned towards establishing an effective and streamlined entity out of the three mentioned entities. The mentioned entities will drive an international marketing programme of the country.
2. Whether there are plans in place to lift the moratorium in order to allow for the filling of critical posts at an executive level in the specified entities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
- In December 2020 my predecessor lifted the moratorium on critical posts, to be filled on a contract basis whilst this work continues.
- I have also met with the Board of the Brand SA to discuss their Annual Performance Plan (APP) for 2021/22. These discussions are continuing with the Director General of the GCIS to guide me on the posts that might need to be filled urgently whilst the work of rationalizing these entities continue.
Thank You.
25 June 2021 - NW1577
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)(a) What is the total revenue that is currently generated by the National Development Agency (NDA) through strategic partnerships and (b) how will the NDA generate the projected R500 million to capacitate civil society organisations (CSOs) through public-private partnerships; (2) what total number of the 1500 CSOs have been linked to sustainable resource opportunities since 1 January 2017; (3) whether the NDA footprint increased through the Mikondzo service delivery approach; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of how much the footprint has increased?
Reply:
1. (a) The NDA raised an amount of R399 485 000 since 2016/17 to date (Three hundred and ninety nine million four hundred and eighty five thousand rand) towards support to civil society organisations. The funds were raised through strategic partnerships such as DoSD (National and Provincial), SASSA, Unemployment Insurance Fund, CARA and National Lotteries Commission.
(b) The revenue generation will be anchored on partnerships with strategic private sector partners such as Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the Solidarity Fund and the Jobs Fund in order to establish high yielding collaborative partnerships in the fight against poverty. Within government, the NDA will seek to establish partnerships within the three spheres of government with regards to co-ordination of community-based development efforts. The NDA will also employ cross referral strategies with other funding agencies such as the National Lotteries Commission, NYDA and SEDA whereby unsuccessful applicant CSOs can be referred to the NDA for further capacitation.
2. The NDA has created linkages and ensured access to markets for 978 co-operatives through SASSA which provide social relief to poor communities through the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) programme. This programme procures uniforms, including sanitary pads for children and they provide nutritious food for families identified to be in social distress.
3. The Mikondzo approach affirmed the critical role that NDA has to play in building the capacities of the NGOs working in the most deprived wards and municipalities. As a result, the NDA adopted a decentralized approach that would be achieved through establishing district offices to bring its services closer to the communities. Nine District offices were then established with 52 additional Development Officers hired to work in the Districts across the country. In the process over 25 550 CSOs were profiled and formed the database of the NDA.
25 June 2021 - NW1708
Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Police
(a) What number of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence6 (FCS) units exist in Western Cape, (b) for which police stations is each unit responsible and (c) where is each FCS unit situated; what (a) is the (i) optimal and (ii) actual number of investigating officers working at each FCS unit, (b) number of the investigating officers have (i) attended and (ii) passed all the required courses needed to investigate the specified serious crimes and (c) number of dockets does each investigating officer have as at 1 June 2021; what number of (a) vehicles does each FCS unit have and (b) the specified vehicles are currently in working order’?
25 June 2021 - NW1345
Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether, with reference to the oversight visit of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to the waste water treatment plant in the Naledi Local Municipality in the North West on 6 May 2021, (a) she has been informed of allegations made by officials of the specified municipality that the operation of the plant has been outsourced to a service provider that is completely incapable of fulfilling the relevant licencing conditions, leading to the pollution of natural water sources; if not, why not; if so, (2) whether she intends to take steps to ensure that there is co-operation between stakeholders such as the North West provincial government, the municipality and the district municipality in respect of ensuring access to potable water by the community and the proper functioning of the waste water treatment plant in the Naledi Local Municipality; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
My department requested the North West Provincial department, and the line department for sanitation to provide a detailed report in relation to question raised by the honourable member. MISA will provide the necessary technical support. The reply will be updated with the information as it becomes available.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
25 June 2021 - NW1470
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether her department has concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) total number of Cuban nationals (i) have been employed in each of the specified financial years and/or (ii) are due to be employed in the 2021-23 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, (b) are the details of the work that each of the specified Cuban nationals was and/or will be employed to perform, (c) are the details of the specific skills sets that each of the specified Cuban nationals possessed and/or will possess that South African nationals did or will not possess and (d) are the details of the total cost of employing each of the specified Cuban nationals in each case; (2) whether her department took any steps to ensure that the specific skills set of the specified Cuban nationals were and/or will not be available in the Republic amongst South African citizens; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the (a) steps taken and (b) outcomes of the steps taken in this regard?
Reply:
No. The department has not concluded work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from the 2010-11 financial year up to the 2020-21 financial year.
25 June 2021 - NW1285
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What is the (a) extent of the commonage land in the Eastern Cape and (b) current usage of the commonage land; (2) whether the commonage land has water rights to allow farming to take place; if not, what steps will her department take to ensure that there are water rights; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there are farming activities taking place on the commonage land; if not, why not; if so, what farming activities are taking place on the pieces of land; (4) whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with the relevant information regarding (a) land that has been invaded and (b) the action(s) that were taken regarding the situation; if not, why not; if so, by what date? NW1324E
Reply:
To redirect the question to: Department of Agriculture, Land and Rural Development
Matters relating to the commonage land and farming activities are managed and administered by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. The Honourable member is advised to re-direct the aforementioned department.
25 June 2021 - NW1709
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Police
(1) (a) What number of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units exist in Mpumalanga, (b) for which police stations is each unit responsible and (c) where is each FCS unit situated; (2) what (a) is the(i) optimal and (ii) actual number of investigating officers working at each FCS unit, (b) number of the investigating officers have (i) attended and (il) passed all the required courses needed to investigate the 9pecified serious crimes and (c) number of dockets does each investigating officer have as at 1 June 2021; (3) what number of (a) vehicles does each FCS unit have and (b) the specified vehicles are currently in working order?
25 June 2021 - NW1149
Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What steps will municipalities take to protect poor and indigent households following the 16% Eskom tariff increase; (2) whether electricity tariff subsidies will be extended to households which lost income due to job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department provides support and guidance to all municipalities with regards to the provision of FBE to indigent households, through the regular monitoring of monthly FBE executive summary reports reflecting transactions for that particular month, quarterly reports reflecting a list of municipalities that are in arrears on their FBE accounts and quarterly reports reflecting details of access/collection of FBE tokens per municipality. This assists with identifying municipalities that are constantly in arrears especially in light of the annual rate increment and enable the necessary interventions to be effected. It further assists with the identification of indigent households not collecting their FBE thus not benefiting from the provision of FBE and enable the necessary interventions to be effected.
The Department works closely with Eskom (where Eskom is the licensed service provider), Provincial COGTAs and Municipalities; with the objective being to ensure that municipalities provides FBE to all qualifying indigent households receive FBE guided by the FBE Funding Agreement.
2. No, there is no specific electricity tariff subsidy to the households that lost their jobs due to Covid-19 Pandemic. However, any household that requires subsidy for basic services is required to register at the municipality for free basic services subject to them meeting the criteria utilized for eligibility to receive the subsidy.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The government’s intention is to provide support to municipalities by facilitating the provision of free basic services, namely: free basic water, free basic electricity, free basic sewerage and sanitation, and free basic solid waste management services to all qualifying households/consumers. The Electricity Basic Services Support Tariff (EBSST) policy introduced by the Department of Energy prescribes that 50kWh per provided to indigent households connected to the national grid on a monthly basis. The provision of FBE is funded through the Local Government Equitable Share (LGES) which augments municipal own revenues, to assist municipalities in providing free basic services to indigent housholds.
The Department of Cooperative Governance’s (DCoG) monitoring of the provision of FBE in Eskom supply areas is based on the FBE Funding Agreement between Eskom and the respective municipalities. Eskom is a licensed service provider to provide FBE to 213 municipalities across the country. It is critical to note that the absence of signed Funding Agreements or SLAs makes it difficult for the DCoG to intervene when there are disputes, such as delays by municipalities in paying for services rendered by Eskom as well as the identification of indigent households not collecting their FBE tokens. This has a negative impact on the provision of FBE.
The current three-year contract cycle commenced on 1July 2018 and will end on 30 June 2021. The Department and Eskom are busy engaging on processes to facilitate the renewal fo the current multi-year Funding Agreement that is due to commence from 1 July 2021 and end 30 June 2024.
The increase in municipal debt and its effects has been reiterated by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and has been declared as an enormous challenge that has resulted in the disconnection of electricity of some indigent households. Poor communities are the ones who are affected the most by these disconnections and are deprived of their basic needs as reflected in the National Development Plan. Municipalities with escalating outstanding are constantly encouraged by the Department, to settle their FBE debt on time to avoid disputes and disconnections. It must be emphasized that municipalities, need to equally pay Eskom for the services rendered on their behalf for the provision of FBE to indigent households within their municipal jurisdiction.
25 June 2021 - NW1677
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsQUESTION
What are the: (a) full relevant details of the various agreements signed by her and her predecessors over the past 10 financial years on behalf of the Government with the Republic of Cuba, (b) reasons and (c) total amounts paid to any Cuban entity in the past 10 financial years by (i) her department and (ii) any entity reporting to her?
Reply:
a) The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has not signed any agreements on behalf of the South African Government over the past 10 financial years with the Republic of Cuba.
b) The question is not applicable due to the response provided in (a).
c) There are no amounts of money paid to any Cuban entities in the past 10 financial years by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs or any entities reporting to the Minister of COGTA.
25 June 2021 - NW1456
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether her department has any agricultural land registered in the name of the State in the OR Tambo District Municipality in Eastern Cape; if so, (a) what number of hectares, (b) who is currently occupying the land and (c) what is it being used for?
Reply:
Yes.
a) 365.3609 hectares.
b) The Payne and Qelana communities.
c) Crops production and grazing.
25 June 2021 - NW1572
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether, with reference to her replies to questions 696 and 697 on 23 March 2021, she will furnish Dr M M Gondwe with a breakdown of the total number of implicated public service employees in each government department; if not, why not; if so, on what date; 2) by what date will the outstanding investigations be concluded; (3) whether the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) will be soliciting any assistance from any other government agencies in an effort to expedite the finalisation and/or conclusion of the investigations; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, who will SASSA solicit assistance from?
Reply:
1. The following Table shows the breakdown of implicated public service employees in each government department
Name of Department |
Number of employees |
Agriculture And Rural Development |
1 |
Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development |
4 |
Cooperative Governance And Traditional Affairs |
2 |
Correctional Services |
2 |
Culture Sport And Recreation |
1 |
Economic Development Environment Conservation &Tourism |
13 |
Education |
75 |
Health |
71 |
Justice And Constitutional Development |
3 |
Offices Of The Premier |
7 |
Police |
1 |
Public Works |
7 |
Public Works and Infrastructure |
1 |
Roads And Public Works |
1 |
SANDF |
1 |
Social Development |
5 |
South African National Biodiversity Institute |
1 |
Statistics South Africa |
1 |
Transport |
45 |
2. The target date for the conclusion of the outstanding investigations is March 2022.
3. SASSA wrote to the Heads of the affected Departments on 1 April 2021. The 19 departments that have been listed in the response to question 1 have been approached to assist with the recovery of the monies that were paid and the disciplinary process.
SASSA has also elicited the assistance of the Department of Public Service and Administration.
The matter of government employees who benefitted from Covid 19 relief funds is also being investigated by the Fusion Centre.
25 June 2021 - NW1538
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
(a) What total amount did each provincial department of social development return unspent to the National Treasury at the end of the 2020-21 financial year and (b) how has their underspending affected the budgets available to welfare programmes?
Reply:
Nr |
Province |
(a)Unspent Amount |
(b) How has their underspending affected the budgets available to welfare programmes? |
Eastern Cape |
R262 293 000 |
The amount of effect in the Welfare programmes is that, a big quantum of the beneficiaries could not get the food relief meant to be funded by the funding referred to. The employees in the ECD centres could not access the stimulus package meant by the conditional grant (Presidential stimulus package). |
|
Free State |
R 50 870 000 |
The Programme for Children and Families is the worst affected in that R48.432 million was not spent. The under expenditure is mainly as a result of additional funding amounting to R38,880 million for Early Childhood Development (ECD) received late in the year (third quarter) during the adjustment budget process. The application and verification process for the stimulus package by National DSD was slow and it took longer than anticipated; as a result, the bulk of the funds were not spent. Furthermore, some ECD`s were partially paid and some not paid due to COVID-19 restrictions. A roll-over has been requested. |
|
Gauteng |
R438 000 000 |
Programme 2: Social Welfare Services Food parcels at Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) clinics were not distributed as planned and the HIV Social and Behaviour change programme was not fully implemented by the end of the financial year. Programme 3: Children & Families Beneficiaries of Presidential ECD Employment Stimulus Relief Fund (ECD-ESRF) were not paid as the verification process took longer than anticipated. The underspending also affected the distribution of school uniform to identified learners because the production of school uniform was not finalized on time by the appointed cooperatives. In addition, the funding of ECD centres was affected by the changes of some of the municipalities by-laws. Programme 4: Restorative Services The underspending affected the implementation of substance abuse mobile services. Delays were caused by lockdown restriction and the Department contracted with NPOs from the third quarter after the easing of lockdown regulations. Programme 5: Development & Research The underspending in this programme was mainly recorded on dignity packs. Thus, the Department did not distribute the number of dignity packs planned by the end of the financial year. Roll-over of unspent funds The Department requested the roll-over of unspent funds from the 2020/21 to 2021/22 financial year on both equitable shares and conditional grant. A total of R 158 586 013 was requested to be rolled over to fund the commitments as per the signed Service Level Agreement and Purchase Order created. |
|
Kwazulu Natal |
R97 627 000 |
If the rollover of R91,242 million is not approved, the Department will have no funds to pay for ECD practitioners, whose applications have been approved. The underspending did not affect the budgets available to welfare programmes to be offered in 2021/2022 but the budget cuts of R223 million will result in limited services made available to the needy communities. |
|
Limpopo |
R 45 444 000 |
The ECD Employment Stimulus Relief Fund has its own allocation and has not affected budget for other Welfare programmes. |
|
Mpumalanga |
R 44 836 000 |
The underspending affected Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme in that not all batches of claims received from Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) eligible and approved to benefit from the funding were not processed for payment. Roll over application request amounting to R30.495 million of the unspent funds of Presidential Employment Initiative has been made to the Provincial Treasury. |
|
North West |
R144 100 000 |
The budget available to welfare programme will be for sustenance of existing programs and projects. Expansion of services will be visible on COVID-19 relief initiatives e.g. Provision of food parcels to vulnerable households and care and services to the homeless. The rollover of R28million for stimulus package has been requested to fund ECD practitioners who applied before the end of the financial year in question |
|
Northern Cape |
R 53 059 000 |
Programme 1: R3.786 million Programme 1 incurred a saving of R3.786 million. The Department will request a roll-over of R3.479 million for Buildings and Administration for the construction of office buildings in Daniëlskuil. Programme 2: R3.786 million The underspending did not have a negative effect on welfare programmes because the reason for the underspending was due to the following:
Programme 3: R40 464 of which R39 300 million was for the Presidential Stimulus ECD Fund. The unspent budgets did not negatively affect welfare programmes due to the following:
Since claims submitted are based on occupancy of the centres, the underspending of reflects this exceptional situation. Programme 5: R5.331 million Saving incurred due to the closure of Soup Kitchens based on Covid-19. |
|
Western Cape |
R5 067 000 |
The department was able to deliver on its services but was not able to expand their services to the extent which it planned to, due to fewer facilities than anticipated applying for funding, and because of non-compliant facilities. |
25 June 2021 - NW1639
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Police
What total number of (a) private firearm owners are currently in the Republic and (b) firearms are in private ownership; what number of the specified firearms have been (a) acquired for personal self- defence and/or protection and (b) bought by (i) black persons, (ii) white persons, (iii) brown persons and (iv) Indians; what is the total number of illegal firearms in the Republic currently; whether he will make a statement on the matter’? NW1844E
Reply:
(1)(a) The total number of private firearm owners, in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is 1 614 291.
(1)(b) The total number of firearms, in private ownership, is 2 718 300.
(2)(a) The number of firearms, which have been acquired for personal self-defence and/or protection, is reflected in the table below:
Application reason |
Type of firearm |
Number of firearms |
|||
SECTION 13 |
COMBINATION |
417 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
LIGHT MACHINE GUN |
1 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
MAIN FIREARM COMPONENT |
15 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
PISTOL |
825 617 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
REVOLVER RIFLE |
236 285 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
24 582 |
||||
SECTION 13 |
S/L: PISTOL CAL - RIFLE/CARB |
1 241 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
S/L: RIFLE CAL- RIFLE/CARBINE SHOTGUN |
449 |
|||
SECTION 13 |
28 649 |
||||
Source. Enhanced Firearm Registration System (EFRS), as at 2021-06-10
(2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) The data, which is recorded on the EFRS, is not categorised, in terms of race or gender. The information, pertaining to black persons, white persons, brown per9one and Indians is, therefore, not available on the EFRS.
(3) The South African Police Service (SAPS) does not have a record of the number of illegal firearms, in the RSA. Illegal firearms are only recovered through policing activities.
(4) The Minister of Police will decide, whether to make a statement, in this regard.
Reply to question 1639 recommended/
GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 202107-31
Reply to question 1639 approved/not approved
MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 04/08/2021
25 June 2021 - NW1576
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
With reference to the State of the Nation Address on 11 February 2021 in which the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa, stated that the Government was going to forge ahead with efforts to provide greater opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in the economy and in society in general, (a) what are the exact details of how the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) envisages bringing about economic liberty for persons living with disabilities and (b) on what specific plans will SASSA embark to achieve the goal?
Reply:
a) SASSA currently links all children benefiting from social grants who are in matric to the Departments of Basic Education and Higher Education, so that they can be considered for NSFAS funding for further education. This is done in an effort to foster economic independence and break the inter-generational dependence on social grants.
With regard to citizens who receive disability grants, the ability to link them to opportunities is slightly more challenging. One of the qualifying criteria for a person to receive a disability grant is that the disability must be such that it prevents the person from being employed or able to support him/herself. The persons who receive permanent disability grants are effectively excluded from the open labour market. However, those who receive temporary disability grants, where the condition is likely to improve to the extent that it does not prevent the person from being employed, should be the target for opportunities.
In addition to SASSA interventions, DSD continues to support Persons with Disabilities in improving their socio-economic conditions with the following programmes:
- Protective Workshops
This programme seeks to improve and enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities through socio-economic development programme, in order to ensure their full and equal inclusion into mainstream society and economy. The key elements of this programme are psycho-social developmental services, inclusion of persons with disabilities as important role-players in mainstream socio-economic growth and development and promoting income generating programmes through business partnerships between government departments, the business sector and protective workshops, functioning under the auspices of the NGOs.
- Residential Facilities
Residential facilities provide protection, support, stimulation, skills development and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities who are unable to live independently, making provision for the ultimate re-integration back to the community, where possible. Most residential facilities have protective workshops empowering residents and persons with disabilities from surrounding communities through psycho-social programme, skills development and business skills. DSD will continue to support and subside these protective workshops, residential facilities and Independent Living facilities and Supported Living facilities through the country.
- Disability Mainstreaming
This programme is implemented through a two-pronged approach:
- The provincial departments implement disability mainstreaming services within the Welfare services to facilitate the mainstreaming of disability across all services.
- Through a technical cooperation project implemented since 2012 in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop approaches on the empowerment of persons with disabilities and disability mainstreaming (the DEM approach) towards the promotion of social participation of
Persons with Disabilities in South Africa.
- The above-mentioned DEM project engages key departments, including local government and other stakeholders to identify and address disabling barriers, negative attitude and exclusion, as well as ensuring that persons with disabilities play central role in creating an inclusive society as change agents in order to improve their quality of life in line with the vision of the National Development Plan (NDP).
- Capacity Building/Training Programme on Covid-19
Children with disabilities and their parents have faced difficulties in accessing significant information such as COVID-19 news, especially in rural areas. As a measure against COVID-19, DSD in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) plans to conduct training for children with disabilities and their parents to deliver information effectively on COVID-19 in a train-the-trainer format.
b) The creation of opportunities for persons with disabilities is not a SASSA or Social Development sector responsibility alone, but requires a whole of government response.
Applicants for the R350 social relief grant who self-declared disabilities totalled 1 405 824. An initiative which has already been implemented is to try and link the applicants for the social relief grant who are aged between 18 and 35 with opportunities through cooperation with the Presidency. A project has been implemented in cooperation with both the public and private sector to list opportunities for employment and training for youth on the Youth.mobi website. SASSA sent approximately 6,5 million SMS notifications to the youth who had applied for the social relief grant (including those who self-reported disabilities) to advise them to register on the website.
The other initiative to provide opportunities for persons with disabilities is through direct employment. SASSA has a target to ensure that a minimum of 3% of the labour force comprises people with disabilities. We currently have achieved a total of 2.2%.
In addition to SASSA’s interventions, DSD has several plans including the following to enable persons with disabilities to achieve economic liberation:
- Protective Workshops and Residential Facilities
DSD has developed a Delivery Model for Protective Workshops that recognizes a need to identify beneficiaries’ barriers impeding their development and growth. An experiential learning will be conducted in nine provinces focussing on the following components of this Model:
- Psychosocial and Personal skills, including assessment, social services, self-care, life skills and assistive devices.
- Workplace Skills Development focusing on technical skills, job coaching, vocational, ABET, financial management, business skills, entrepreneurship and simulations.
- Supported Employment, including job placement, internships, job coaching, contract work, apprenticeship and learnership.
The key determinant factor for the successful implementation of the delivery model is collaboration with key and relevant stakeholders such as the Departments of Health, Trade and Industry, Small Business Development, Education, Labour, disabled people’s organizations and private sector partners.
DSD plans to identify residential facilities that have good practice protective workshops that have established partnerships with the private sector implementing economic empowerment programmes and contributing to the independent living of persons with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons Disabilities.
- Disability Mainstreaming
DSD is planning to roll out the DSD/ JICA’s Guidelines on Empowerment of Persons with disabilities and Disability Mainstreaming (DEM) that were implemented Limpopo, KZN, Eastern Cape, Free State in Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces in 2021-2022 financial year, as follows:-
- Create a platform to roll out disability mainstreaming through supportive partnerships and cooperation among provincial governments, municipalities, relevant departments, NGOs, Disabled People Organizations (DPOs), national and international organizations.
- Empowering persons with disabilities through leadership training and strengthening the capacity of disabled people organizations and mainstreaming through creating barrier free environments to ensure the active participation of persons with disabilities in society.
- Establishing partnership with government departments that have shown interest in utilising the DEM guidelines to enhance the integration of disability considerations in government services.
- Consultation with SALGA and COGTA to develop a programme to train municipalities on the Guidelines are at an advance stage.
- Training in Covid-19
The planned DSD/ Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Covid-19 Training project for 9 provinces will focus on obtaining knowledge and skills on prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 and consists of the following two capacity development programmes:
- Training of Trainers for social workers in DSD and NGOs.
- Workshop for persons with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities.
Capacitated persons with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities will be able to share knowledge and skills obtained with their families, friends and communities, including participating in the rolling out of the training. They will subsequently be able to participate and benefit from mainstream economy, despite the adverse impact of this pandemic.
25 June 2021 - NW1666
Whitfield, Mr AG to ask the Minister of Police
What is the total number of firearms in circulation for each year since the 2015-16 financial year with regard to (a) Individual owners, (b) official institutions and (c) non- official institutions?
Reply:
(a)(b) and (c)
Financial years |
Total number of firearms, per owners category |
||
Individual owners |
Official institutions |
Non-official institutions |
|
2020-2021 |
2727620 |
3467398 |
163980 |
2019-2020 |
2819004 |
3330083 |
163653 |
2018-2019 |
2791972 |
3286576 |
159917 |
2017-2018 |
2993425 |
3228,946 |
152385 |
2016-2017 |
2993425 |
2965282 |
147824 |
2015-2016 |
3 002 858 |
No record on the EFRS |
141400 |
Source: Enhanced Firearm Register System(EFRS)
Reply to question 1666 recommended
GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 202107-31
Reply to question 1666 approved/not approved
MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 04/08/2021
25 June 2021 - NW1318
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)With reference to the presentation of the Auditor-General to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (a) with what amount did the debtors balance increase due to the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant overpayments and (b) what number of ineligible beneficiaries received food parcels and vouchers due to poor policies and procedures; 2. (a) what are the reasons behind the slow progress in finalising cases under investigation in the SA Social Security Agency and (b) what is the impact of the slow progress of finalising cases on consequence management; (3) what are the reasons that not all contracts were listed in the procurement plan of the National Development Agency? NW1513E
Reply:
1(a) The total amount paid to beneficiaries who were not eligible for the Special COVID-19 SRD Grant is R11 175 950.
(b) All people who received food parcels from SASSA met the broad qualifying criteria as set in the Social Assistance Act, which, under Regulation 9(2) stipulates that a person may qualify for social relief of distress “if refusal of the application may cause undue hardship…”
While some of the citizens who received a food parcel may have also been in receipt of a social grant (largely one of the child grants), this is also permitted in terms of Regulation 16A which allows for the provision of social relief of distress to a child already benefitting from a social grant, “where the prevailing economic circumstances warrants the provision of social relief of distress.”
In addition, Regulation 9(5) to the Social Assistance Act provides for the provision of social relief of distress to citizens who are affected by a declared or undeclared disaster. The COVID pandemic has been the largest declared disaster faced by this country and the number of citizens requiring assistance increased significantly during this period.
The assistance provided by SASSA was provided in accordance with the requirements of the Social Assistance Act and Regulations. However, SASSA was not the only instance providing assistance in the form of food parcels.
(2) (a) what are the reasons behind the slow progress in finalising cases under investigation in the SA Social Security Agency
The total number of exceptions that were identified by the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) is 67670. Most of these exceptions were mainly as a result of SASSA not having access to the databases that the AGSA had. SASSA immediately stopped payments to all the cases flagged by the AGSA.
The number of exceptions identified by the AGSA are as follows:
Table: Exceptions identified by the AGSA and action taken by SASSA
Category |
Number of exceptions |
SASSA action |
PERSAL/ PERSOL |
15711 |
SASSA has SASSA has commenced the process of recovering money from public servants who received the Covid 19 SRD grant. In addition SASSA has referred the implicated public servants to the relevant departments for disciplinary action. The Fusion Centre is working with the Department of Public Service and Administration to ensure that all implicated public servants are pursued. |
UIF |
15069 |
People who benefitted from the Covid SRD grant and UIF were referred to the Fusion Centre for further investigation. |
UIF-TERS |
2119 |
People who benefitted from the Covid SRD grant and UIF were referred to the Fusion Centre for further investigation. |
Social Pension |
15062 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose from timing differences in the validation databases that were used by SASSA and AGSA. |
NSFAS |
10358 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose from timing differences in the validation databases that were used by SASSA and AGSA. |
Internships |
6562 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the internships databases. |
Department of Agriculture vouchers |
1281 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the Department of Agriculture database on recipients of their vouchers. |
Spaza support |
372 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the Spaza support database. |
Inmates |
332 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose from timing differences in the validation databases that were used by SASSA and AGSA. |
GEPF |
312 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the GEPF database. |
PLAS farmers |
289 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose from timing differences in the validation databases that were used by SASSA and AGSA. |
Artists |
111 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the Department of Arts database. |
IDC Debt Relief |
65 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the IDC database. |
Sport applicants |
27 |
SASSA has stopped payments to these cases, which mainly arose because SASSA did not have access to the Department of Arts database. |
TOTAL |
67670 |
SASSA has referred the suspected fraudulent cases to the Fusion Centre (which consists of the Financial Intelligence Centre, Special Investigating Unit, State Security Agency, National Prosecuting Authority, South African Police Service) for further investigation. The Fusion Centre is still busy with the investigations.
(b) what is the impact of the slow progress of finalising cases on consequence management;
It should be noted that the Covid SRD grant applications were processed electronically by matching information from various databases and systems. There is thus no consequence management that needs to be pursued on officials. However SASSA has commenced the process of recovering money paid to the implicated government employees. SASSA has in addition referred the implicated government employees to their departments for disciplinary action.
(3) With reference to the 2020-21 procurement plan, 14 (fourteen) contracts of the 19 contracts planned as per the 5th (fifth) amendment of the procurement plan were awarded by financial year end. The two contracts referred to by the Auditor-General, as not being included on the 2020-21 procurement plan, were for the Western Cape Provincial office space, and the Mpumalanga - Hazyview District office space. These contracts were extended briefly during the 2020-21 financial year, to accommodate the removal of furniture and equipment, and were then terminated, in accordance with a decision taken by management, early in the financial year, to rationalise the costs for leased premises. These contracts were however listed in the 2019-20 procurement plan, a tender for office space was issued in that financial year, and adjudicated in April 2020. It was subsequently cancelled to align with management’s decision to terminate the lease contracts for Western Cape and Mpumalanga –Hazyview, and these contracts were therefore not included in the 2020-21 procurement plan.
25 June 2021 - NW1629
Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, in light of the upcoming imbizo called by the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Member of the Executive Committee and their aides to address the recent spate of killings of Izinduna, Amakhosi and their aides, her department, on its own or in collaboration with other departments such as the SA Police Service, has taken any action to facilitate safety in rural areas over the years to safeguard the lives of traditional leaders and the broader rural community; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
The South African Police Services (SAPS) in partnership with the National House of Traditional and KhoiSan Leaders (NHTKL) and other stakeholders coordinate the implementation of the Rural Safety Strategy. The strategy primarily focuses on rural safety, including safety in traditional community areas.
In addition, the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has advised that it has undertaken the following steps to address the recent killings of traditional leaders:
a) The Department entered into a Memorandum of Outstanding on 26 November 2020 with the Department of Safety and Liaison to foster safety and security in rural communities.
b) The Department of CoGTA met with the acting Provincial Commissioner, Mr. Zondi on 5 February 2021 to discuss progress on traditional leaders’ murder cases.
c) There are workshops planned for July 2021 that will be conducted for all local houses in partnerships with the Department of Safety and Liaison with the intent to create awareness on rural community safety strategies.
d) The Executive Council has also been apprised of the rampant killings of traditional leaders, which is a matter of concern.
e) An Imbizo has been planned and will soon be convened to communicate government interventions on Amakhosi and Izinduna killings.
25 June 2021 - NW1710
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Police
(a) What number of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units axist in Northern Cape, (b) for which police stations is each unit re9ponsible and (c) where In each FCS unit situated; what (a) is the (i) optimal and (ii) actual number of inve6tlgating officers working at each FCS unit, (b) number of the investigating officers have (i) attended and passed all the required courses needed to investigate the specified serious crimes and (c) number of dockets does each investigating officer have as at 1 June 2021; what number of (a) vehicles does each FCS unit have and (b) the specified vehicles are currently in working order? NW1919E
25 June 2021 - NW1168
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, in light of the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the different levels of lockdown in the Republic, the Government has ever conducted and/or outsourced a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of every lockdown level in order to determine whether the costs of the various lockdown levels outweighed the benefits or not, where such costs and benefits are defined in terms of years of life lost and gained, respectively; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details of the analysis?
Reply:
No, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) did not conduct a cost-benefit analysis relating to these aspects as the underlying economic and medical considerations that will inform such an analysis fall within the purview and expertise of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the National Treasury and the Department of Health. As such, these deaprtments are best placed to respond to the question.
25 June 2021 - NW1694
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What is the total number of social workers who (a) graduated in 2020 and (b) have been absorbed by her department in each province in each case; (2) What (a) are the monthly costs to employ one social worker and (b) is their monthly salary in each province in each case; (3) What is the total number of vacancies for social workers in each province?
Reply:
(a) The total number of social workers who graduated in 2020 is 284.
(b)
No of Social Workers absorbed |
2020-2021 |
Gauteng |
86 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
150 |
Northern Cape |
53 |
Mpumalanga |
128 |
Limpopo |
180 |
North West |
13 |
Free State |
92 |
Western Cape |
118 |
Eastern Cape |
128 |
TOTAL |
948 |
2. (a) The monthly salary of a Social Worker is R29 408, 42 at an entry level (inclusive of service benefits).
(b) The monthly salary is R29 408, 42 which is the same across provinces (inclusive of service benefits).
3. The number of vacancies for social workers:
Province |
Vacancies |
Gauteng |
356 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
155 |
Northern Cape |
158 |
Mpumalanga |
72 |
Limpopo |
5 |
North West |
178 |
Free State |
117 |
Western Cape |
313 |
Eastern Cape |
136 |
25 June 2021 - NW1656
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What is the (a) total number of veterinarians in the Eastern Cape and (b)(i) current vacancy rate and (ii) date by which the specified province intends to fill the vacant positions; (2) what is the total number of veterinarians per livestock unit; (3) whether her department has implemented the compulsory service; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what were the (a) prevailing animal diseases during the past financial year and (b) interventions to treat them?
Reply:
1. (a)The total number of veterinarians in the Eastern Cape is 34.
(b) (i) The vacancies is 12, which gives us a current vacancy rate of 26 %.
(ii) The intended date to fill the vacant positions is 1 August 2021.
2. Livestock census as per National livestock statistics are as follows:
Cattle = 3 050 m which is equivalent to 3.050 m LSU
Sheep = 6 513 m which is equivalent to 1.085 m LSU
Goats = 1 991 m which is equivalent to 0.331 m LSU
Therefore, total Live Stock Unit (LSU) = 4.466 million which is equivalent to 131 352 LSU per veterinarian. The international norm is 100 000 LSU per veterinarian. (SOUTH AFRICAN VETERINARY STRATEGY (2016-2026, p26: FAO). There are therefore fewer veterinarians per livestock unit than desired.
3. Compulsory Community Service for Veterinarians is a National driven program, which is implemented in all provinces including the Eastern Cape. For 2021/2022 financial year, the Eastern Cape has been allocated 22 CCS veterinarians. These have been distributed to the six (06) districts of the Eastern Cape.
4. (a) Prevailing animal diseases during the past financial year are Rabies and African Swine Fever.
(b) Awareness and vaccinations were carried out in areas with Rabies outbreaks. Awareness and surveillance were carried out in areas with African Swine Fever outbreak.
25 June 2021 - NW1319
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)With reference to the presentation of the Auditor-General to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (a) what led to the increase in irregular expenditure in the National Development Agency (NDA) and (b) what are the reasons that investigations into irregular expenditure from previous financial years are still not finalised; (2) on what date will a formal policy or Standard Operating Procedure be in place for officials in the NDA regarding irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure; (3) what are the relevant details of (a) the person who is liable for the R983 billion that was lost by her department due to overpriced goods and services and (b) what number of preliminary investigations have been conducted in this regard; (4) (a) which service providers overpriced goods and (b) what remedial action was taken to recoup some of the R983 million that was lost in the 2018-19 financial year?
Reply:
1. (a) The main contributors to the increase in irregular expenditure in the 2019-20 financial year (R39m), were the irregular contracting of the training service providers to implement the UIF third party contract (R23,3m), as well as lease costs related to the NDA’s head office (R5,9m), where the contract had expired, and was not extended on time. The training contract was terminated, and replaced by new service providers after a competitive bidding process was followed. National Treasury approved a deviation to continue with the head office lease for a further period of 5 years, thus regularizing this contract.
Up to the end of the third quarter of the 2020-21 financial year, the main contributors to the increase in irregular expenditure of R1,9m, were the internet services contract, the insurance contract, and lease contracts for the Western Cape and Gauteng provincial offices. The internet services contract had expired, and was extended irregularly in the past. This irregular contract was replaced in the 4th quarter, thus terminating the previous contract. The insurance contract was advertised for tender in April 2021, and will be regularised in the 2021-22 financial year. The lease contracts for office space were terminated in July 2020, thus curtailing the irregular expenditure.
1. (b)
(i) . In previous years the NDA experienced a high turn-over of staff and some instability in the Chief Financial Officer position, which resulted in this work not receiving the necessary attention.
(ii) The other contributing factor in the slow pace of implementing consequence management was the lack of capacity particularly in both Legal and HR Units.
(iii) However, the assessment of all cases from prior years done in 2020/21 financial year has revealed that there is no need for a formal investigation because such transactions do not raise ay suspicion of fraud fraudulent, corrupt or other criminal conduct.
The prior years’ irregular expenditure cases emanate from contracts which were concluded by officials who are no longer NDA’s employees. The individuals concerned are therefore no longer subject to the NDA’s Disciplinary Code and Grievance Procedures (“Disciplinary”).
The amounts involved have been included in the condonation application, which is currently under consideration by National Treasury
(2) Formal policies for Irregular and Fruitless and Wasteful expenditure were drafted and approved by the Board for implementation in November 2020.
(3) (a) The Department has never incurred a liable of R983 billion. (b)Therefore, does not have any information with regards to an investigation.
(4) (a)Not applicable to the Department of Social Development. (b)Therefore, does not have any information of any remedial actions taken.
25 June 2021 - NW1460
Ngcobo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether her department has put any measures in place to monitor non-governmental organisations in the disability sector that are funded by the Government; if not, why not; if so, what are the details of the measures?
Reply:
Yes, all funded Non-Governmental Organizations, including those in the disability sector are monitored in line with the Public Finance Management Act as detailed below:
1. First and foremost, for the organization to be funded, it must provide the information requested by the relevant department to demonstrate that it has the necessary capability and understanding to provide services according to the specified minimum norms and standards for that particular service, in this case, disability services.
2. Secondly, before the funds are transferred to any organization (including those rendering disability services), the Department obtains a written assurance from the organization that confirms that the organization implements effective, efficient and transparent financial management and internal control systems. The purpose of this assurance is to ensure that throughout the funding period, the organization is monitored towards adherence to its internal control systems as these are reviewed and tested on an ongoing basis during the funding cycle.
3. Lastly, as part of monitoring the organizations; appropriate measures are maintained to ensure that subsidies to organizations are used for their intended purpose in line with the norms and standards of that particular service. Such measures include-
- regular progress and annual reporting procedures on performance in line with the objectives and specifications i.e. for disability services – in this instance,
- analysis of the submitted progress reports to monitor performance and achievement of quarterly targets. This is also aimed at determining the release of the next tranche,
- internal and external audit requirements and, where appropriate, submission of audited statements; and
- regular monitoring procedures; which include both scheduled and unscheduled on-site visits to review whether the agreed upon objectives are attained or not.
4. All-in all, the organizations are monitored against the service level agreements that they enter into with the relevant department in terms of compliance, performance, financial management and reporting requirements.
25 June 2021 - NW1763
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
Whether, with the price of cooking oil having risen by 70%, he intends to introduce a price ceiling or to take any action to protect South Africans from the increasing cost; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? [
Reply:
Price controls on cooking oil is not part of the country’s legal framework. However, we are concerned at spikes in food prices, including what was witnessed recently. For this reason, the Competition Commission has been monitoring prices to determine whether these increases are a result of the existence of monopolies or dominant firms abusing market power or through cartels colluding to raise prices.
The Competition Commission has recently noted global reports relating to oil producing crop shortages internationally, including sunflower, palm, soya and canola. It has provided me with a briefing on its observations, which I reflect in this reply.
In the Competition Commission’s preliminary view, the increases currently seen in the prices for cooking oil in the local market could be influenced by the global developments. Domestic wholesale prices for vegetable oil and retail prices for cooking oil (sunflower and canola), as seen from StatsSA data, shows a recent increasing trend in these prices.
Various commodity outlook reports have cited reasons for the recent surge in global oil prices including slow production and supply shortages in the large oil crop production regions including Malaysia and Indonesia (driven by poor weather and pandemic-led worker shortages), as well as stronger-than-expected consumption patterns from the main consumer nations of oil seed products such as China and India, further adding to global supply strains. In terms of soy oil, prices have risen off the back of global soybean shortages and shipment delays mainly due to the drought being experienced in the primary soybean crop areas like Argentina and Brazil. Furthermore, reports note that some countries have also lowered import tariffs or raised export tariffs on domestically produced vegetable oils in order to lessen the higher costs for vegetable oils.
Within the context of oil crop prices rising in global markets for the reasons outlined above, these price increases are feeding into domestic markets which appears to be flowing through into higher retail prices for cooking oil as South Africa imports a substantial portion of its oil seed requirements. In this regard, the Competition Commission will continue to monitor developments and may institute enforcement action should the information point to abuse of market power in the pricing.
In addition to the above, I have also asked the Consumer Commission to consider the rising prices and provide me with a report on its causes and any remedial action that may be required.
-END-
25 June 2021 - NW1737
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether, in light of the loss of life due to COVID-19, her department has been able to identify children orphaned by the pandemic from 1 January 2021 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, what is the Government strategy to address the gap; if so, (a) what is the total number of children identified, (b) what kind of support has her department rendered to such children and (c) how long after the identification have the children received Government support?
Reply:
(a) No. The Department renders services to orphand and vulnerable children irrespective of the cause of orphanhood.
(b) The department has developed a core package of services (CPS), which are central to the delivery of Community-Based Prevention and Early Intervention services (CBPEI). This core package of services is provided to all orphaned and vulnerable children a irrespective of the cause of the vulnerability to address different needs that they are presenting. The CPS was developed to operationalise community-based services by identifying and mobilizing the protective resources within children, families and communities to reduce risks and build resilient children.
(c) The department utilise the Prioritisation Framework of the CPS to identify the level of risk children find themselves in. This Framework provides guidance on the risk categorisation, expected actions and timeframes for service initiation based on escalating seriousness of the circumstances of the child. The Framework also ensures continuous support to children receiving CBPEI services form the time they are identified as being at risk and requiring services to the time they exit the system. Continuous assessment is done throughout the process of rendering services to establish their level of resilience.
25 June 2021 - NW1267
Gumbi, Mr HS to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
What is the total (a) number of water tankers that operated in the Inanda area since 2010 and (b) amount spent on (i) water tankers and (ii) bulk infrastructure in the specified area in each specified year?
Reply:
1267
Financial year |
Description |
Project No. |
YTD Actuals (at 30 April 2021) |
Total per FY in Rm |
2020-21 |
INANDA NEWTOWN C SEWER RETICUL |
Y8136D |
0.818 |
|
|
INANDA B-SINAMUVA DRIVE SEWER |
Y8783D |
0.228 |
|
|
|
1.046 |
1.046 |
|
2019-20 |
Umbhayi Housing Development |
X8224 |
0.152 |
|
|
INANDA NEWTON C SEWER RETICULATION |
Y8136B |
5.630 |
|
|
INANDA NEWTOWN C SEWER RETICUL |
Y8136C |
- |
|
|
INANDA NEWTOWN C SEWER RETICUL |
Y8136C |
- |
|
|
|
5.782 |
5.782 |
|
2018-19 |
INANDA NEWTON C SEWER RETICULATION |
Y8136B |
0.186 |
|
|
Inanda B Sinamuva drive sewer |
Y8783 |
0.268 |
|
|
|
0.454 |
0.454 |
|
2017-18 |
Inanda Newtown 'C' Sewer Reticulation |
Y8136B |
0.138 |
|
|
|
0.138 |
0.138 |
|
2016-17 |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
2015-16 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
2014-15 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
2013-14 |
Inanda Glebe Sewer Reticulation |
Y6459 |
0.079 |
|
|
|
0.079 |
0.079 |
|
2012-13 |
Etafuleni phrase1 and 2 collector |
Y6523 |
2.871 |
|
|
|
2.871 |
2.871 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grand total |
|
|
|
10.3698 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
It is to be noted that parliamentary question require information since 2010, however information submitted by the Ethekwini Metro is for period since 2012/13 financial year. According to the Metro, information before 2012/13 is not readily available and therefore will require more time to be extracted and submitted.
25 June 2021 - NW1707
Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Police
(a) What number of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units exist in KwaZulu-Natal, (b) for which police stations is each unit responsible and (c) where is each FCS unit situated; what (a) is the (i) optimal and (i) actual number of investigating officers working at each FCS unit, (b) number of the Investigating officers have (i) attended and (ii) pas9ed all the required courses needed to investigate the specified serious crimes and (c) number of dockets does each investigating officer have as at 1 June 2021; what number of (a) vehicles does each FCS unit have and (b) the specified vehicles are currently in working order? NW1916E