Questions and Replies

Reply:

END.

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still awaiting information from the University of Pretoria, to enable the Minister to respond to this question. The response will be provided to Parliament as soon as information has been received from the University of Pretoria.

END.

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still awaiting information from the University of Pretoria, to enable the Minister to respond to this question. The response will be provided to Parliament as soon as information has been received from the University of Pretoria.

END.

Reply:

a) Race is not a data element recorded nor collected as part of the vaccination record for vaccinees.

b) Total number of Vaccinations as at 9 May 2021 at 15h30 total 382 568.

• Number of Male Vaccinees = 93 220 which represents 24.4 % of the total number of Vaccinees

• Number of Female Vaccinees = 382568 which represents 75.4 % of the total number of Vaccinees

END.

Reply:

a) South Africa’s national COVID-19 vaccination strategy is designed along the principles of equitable access, social solidarity and fair pricing. Our main priority as government is to ensure that we have the most rational approach to procuring, distributing and administering the vaccine to all members of the national population, irrespective of whether they have medical scheme cover or not.

Medical schemes, as per the provisions of the Medical Schemes Act and its enabling regulations, are mandated to fund for all their members’ costs associated with the diagnosis, treatment, management and vaccination for COVID-19. These costs are to be paid for in full as per the categorization of COVID-19 as a Prescribed Minimum Benefit. Government has also put into place a mechanism to support medical schemes, and their administrators, in establishing accredited COVID-19 vaccination sites across the country. This is intended to expand the number of sites that medical scheme members and non-members can access in order for them to receive their vaccination as per their registration and scheduling on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS).

b) Government position is that the effective, fair and sustainable achievement of the targets outlined in the vaccination plan requires a collaborative effort involving a number of partners. Private hospitals, including general practitioner as well as community and corporate pharmacies, are playing a role in the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy. The National Department of Health, in liaison with the South African Pharmacy Council, has determined clear criteria that all facilities must comply with (such as having the appropriate cold change facilities and trained personnel to administer the vaccines) in order to receive accreditation as a vaccination site. Therefore, private hospitals would also need to comply with these requirements to be able to participate in the roll-out. Private hospitals and private pharmacies are already participating in the vaccines roll-out program.

END.

Reply:

The National Department of Health is still awaiting information from the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health, to enable the Minister to respond to this question. The response will be provided to Parliament as soon as information has been received from the Provincial Department of Health.

END.

Reply:

The online booking system for disability grant medical assessments is being piloted in the Western Cape, but will be rolled out to all provinces for use by all applicants for disability-related grants.

However, this does not replace the face-to-face service which is offered to SASSA clients at local offices. For those persons who do not have access to devices to make online bookings, the option remains for them to report to the SASSA local office. There the staff will use the same system to book their medical assessments. This should speed up the service provided, as bookings can be made for people while they are still in the queue, thus reducing the need for everyone to only be served inside the office.

SASSA still retains a total number of 389 local offices throughout the country. All are staffed with staff who can attend to the citizens.

Reply:

The Free State Province has 5 shelters for gender based violence and 1 safe house (white door). Their bed capacity and funding is detailed below:

NAME OF THE SHELTER	TOWN	BED CAPACITY	FUNDING OVER 5 YEARS	COMMENTS
Goldfields Family Advice Organization	Welkom	16	R 1 927 242	Funded over 4 years
Phelononofa Shelter	Bothaville	28	R 3 183 783	Funded over 4 years
Wepener Shelter(Child Welfare SA)	Wepener	10	R 3 641 978	Funded over 3 years
Child Welfare SA (shelter)	Bethlehem	8	R 1 878 939	Funded over 4 years
Thusanang Advice Centre	QwaQwa	10	R 2 375 363	Funded over 5 years
NAME OF THE SHELTER	TOWN	BED CAPACITY	FUNDING OVER 5 YEARS	COMMENTS
Tumahole Victim Support shelter	Parys	10	R 8 28927	Funded over 3 years and a quarter due to non-compliance they could not be funded for the remaining 3 quarters

WHITE DOOR
NAME OF THE SHELTER	TOWN	BED CAPACITY	FUNDING OVER 5 YEARS	COMMENTS
Reaphela Safe House	Bloemfontein	10	R1  336 404	Provides safety for 72 hours yet there cases when victims stays longer
Total	6	81	R 14343 709

Western Cape

(a) The Western Cape Department of Social Development has zero government-run night shelters

(b) Western Cape Social Development subsidize 2031 bed spaces to 32 NPO Homeless shelters.

(c) 20/21 – R26, 156 million

19/20 – R20, 205 million

18/19 – R19, 397 million

17/18 – R18, 621 million

16/17 – R17, 876 million

Northern Cape

a) There are no Government-run night Shelters in the Northern Cape Province.

The focus is on locating families of persons on the street and focussing on family re-unification programs.

Children on the street are assisted as prescribed in the Children’s Act 37 of 2005, Chapter 9

b) Not applicable

c) Not applicable

Gauteng

The Gauteng Department of Social Development does not have Government run ‘Night Shelters’.  However, the Department provides NPO funding and monitors Shelters for Homeless and Shelters for Women that operates 24 hours and is not specifically a ‘Night Shelter’.

Limpopo

(a) There are two shelters one run by government and one privately run

b) Huis Maroela in Phalaborwa with a bed capacity of 10 and Khuseleka One Stop Centre in

Polokwane with a bed capacity of 40.

c)

Funding allocation in the past 5 years
2015/16	2016/17	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20
R 4 800 000	R 7 746 000	R3 718 000	R4 947 000	R4 467 000
Huis Maroela
R 317 500	R 317 500	R317 500	R317 500	R317 500

North West

1. There are two (2) shelters in the province of which one (1) is state run and the other is NPO run.

(b) Bed space capacity

State-run = 40

NPO-run = 30

(c) Government funding allocation for the past five financial years?

• State – run = The state-run was taken over from NPO management in 2019 and received R1 900 000 for operational cost and R 5.7m. Prior to 2019 the facility was run by an NPO for

• NPO-run = For the past five years, the NPO received a funding of, R900 000 for 2016/17, R870 000 for 2017/18, R1 000 000 for 2018/19 and R 1 200 000 for 2019/20 R1 300 000 for 2020/21 for rendering the Victim Support Services.

• Funded NPO-run crisis centres

2016/17 : 10 130 000 (24 centres)

2017/18 : 10 869 000 (22 centres)

2018/19 : 12 488 955 (22 centres)

2019/20 : 18 094 000 (20)

2020/21: 18 656 000 (20)

Eastern Cape

a) The total number of shelters,

Currently there are 4 shelters for homeless people that are still operational in the province which are located in Buffalo City Metro, Sarah Baartman and Nelson Mandela Metro. This number has dropped from a total of 42 shelters across the province during the Level 5 Covid 19 Lockdown.

b) Bed space capacity

The total bed capacity of the current shelters is 171.

c) Government funding allocation for the past five financial years?

There was no government funding during the past 5 years as all shelters for homeless people were established during the Covid 19 Lockdown which came into effect during the 2020/21 financial year. Shelters were established to accommodate homeless people and assist them to comply with the Lockdown Regulations.

Reply:

Only a marginal reduction in efficacy has been noted the elderly (>60-65 years) in the trials conducted to date. With regards to comorbidities, current trials have shown no difference in efficacy compared to persons without comorbidities. Theoretically they may be less effective in persons with decreased immune system, however the limited trials to date have not shown this.  

There is currently no data on how long the vaccines will provide protection against re-infection.

END.

Reply:

According to the information received from Eskom:

On 17 March 2021, Government requested Eskom to suspend load shedding for the duration of King Goodwill Zwelithini’s memorial service on 18 March 2021 from 10:00 to 14:00. The System Operator evaluated the request and concluded that this was technically possible without putting the power system at risk and would not result in a higher stage of load shedding either before or after the memorial service.

The following was taken onto account:

• The stage of load shedding before and after the memorial service would not be increased from Stage 2 load shedding that was being implemented at the time.

• The load shedding that was being implemented was necessary to ration the remaining fuel at the pumped storage and OCGT power stations, as these resources were running low on diesel and water in the top reservoirs.  The suspension of load shedding would require additional generators at these power stations to be dispatched utilising some additional fuel.
• The duration of the suspension of load shedding was only four hours.
• Load curtailment of industrial customers would not be suspended.
• The suspension of load shedding would take place during the late morning and early afternoon when there was a reduction in demand.
• The event was considered to be in the national interest and is allowed by NRS048-9, the standard that governs load shedding in South Africa.
• A number of generating units were expected to return to service that afternoon and early evening.

In order to supply the additional demand due to the suspension of load shedding, the System Operator dispatched four additional OCGTs from 09:42 until 14:10.  These OCGTs supplied 2 404 MWh (approximately R8.5 million) during this period with a maximum output reaching 610 MW.  Furthermore, pumped storage generation was dispatched and supplied an estimated additional 2 240 MWh with a maximum additional capacity of 626 MW dispatched.  Between 12:00 and 14:00, four coal-fired generators returned to service adding 1 935 MW of capacity to the system, although it takes many hours to ramp these generators to their maximum capacity.

Eskom has the technical capacity and expertise to evaluate each situation and make a sound, technical decision.

I trust that the Honourable Member is not opposed to efforts such as these being made, when appropriate and technically possible?

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Kgathatso Tlhakudi Pravin Gordhan, MP

Director-General Minister of Public Enterprises

Date: Date:

Reply:

The Gamaleya Institute is still undergoing investigations into the effectiveness of the Sputnik V in the presence of the 501Y.V2 (B.1.351, or Beta) variant, which is the main circulating strain of COVID-19 in South Africa. The published results do not represent the effectiveness of this vaccine against this variant. Also, concern was raised with regards to the second booster dose which uses the Ad5 vector, where previous work in the Phamibili study showed that using this vector may increase the acquisition of HIV, particularly in males. 

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccines has been engaging with the Gameleya Institute to investigate these matters further.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. I have been informed by the Department that Excelsior Court has not been handed back to DPWI from the South African Police Services. The SAPS has reported that a court process is underway to evict the illegal occupants. The Department is still waiting for SAPS to finalise their eviction process.

2. (a) The Department does not have records of occupants of the building and is unable to provide accurate number thereof.

(b) SAPS Legal Services is in the process of evicting the illegal occupants through the Court Process.

3. The Department has not commenced with the assessment of the building due to illegal occupation.

(a) Several attempts were made to conduct routine maintenance on the property, but unfortunately property/items are repeatedly being vandalised and damaged by the occupants. DPWI is unable to take full responsibility in safe-guarding the property and it has no control over management due to continuous intimidation by the occupants. The SAPS was requested to prohibit persons from walking in the danger zone.

(b) The Department is unable to accurately respond on the time frame due to the court process on eviction of illegal occupants pursued by the SAPS.

(c) Upon finalisation of eviction process, the Department shall embark on an exercise to determine the highest and best use of the facility.

(d) (i) The Department does not have plans to alienate the property.

(ii) The Department shall conduct a full condition assessment of the facility once the eviction process is concluded by SAPS.

Reply:

I have been furnished information of the 3 replies. Below are the supplementary replies received by the Commissioner of the NLC, Ms Mampane:

PQ 196 - Reply from the National Lotteries Commission:

“1 (a) The NLC can fully account for the R13 332 300 that was granted to the beneficiary. With reference to Parliamentary Question 2803, the NLC responded to the direct questions posed by honourable member wherein he enquired specifically around the accountability for funding for workshops and infrastructure.

• The NLC responded that the amount that was utilised for workshops was R801 000 accounted for as detailed in PQ 2803.
• In terms of infrastructure, it was confirmed that no infrastructure was funded under this project number.

With respect to PQ 196, the NLC responds as follows:

• The remaining amount of R12 531 300 was for project activities related to the Cape Minstrels Carnival.
• The NLC funded the following project activities amongst others Sound and Stage, Transportation, Apparel, Security, Catering and Administration.

(b) The NLC received a progress report from the beneficiary and it was found to be satisfactory and all requirements pertaining to the grant that was made to the organisation have been fulfilled and the project was subsequently closed. The funds were accounted for inline with what was reported in paragraph 1(a) above, therefore no missing funds identified.

(c) There was no funding for infrastructure.

2 (a) Reporting requirements for beneficiaries are contained in the signed Grant Agreement. The NLC received and reviewed the interim and final progress report in line with the signed Grant Agreement. The amounts were spent as indicated in paragraph 1(a) above.

(b) The NLC does not audit the finances of beneficiaries however conduct reviews as stipulated in the Grant Agreement in relation to the funded project. The NLC reviewed all interim reports and final report that were submitted by the beneficiary on the following dates:

• 13 January 2013
• 29 April 2013
• 4 June 2013
• 24 June 2013
• 8 August 2013

(c) The NLC found that all reporting requirements pertaining to the NLC grant were fulfilled. This is supported by the letter from NLC to the beneficiary.”

PQ 197 – Reply from the National Lotteries Commission:

“(1)(a) With reference to answer provided to Parliamentary Question 2802, the NLC indicated that an amount of R 5 000 000 was allocated for the building of Carnival Heritage Museum out of a grant of R 27 320 758, 64. The R 22 320 758 was accounted for as the allocation included amongst others the following: Minstrel Carnival Planning; Minstrel Carnival Rehearsal; Minstrel Carnival; and Minstrel Carnival New Year.

(b)(i) R1 700 000.00

(ii) R1 700 000.00

(c) The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association.

(2) a) The spending for the project was for the following main line items: Minstrel Carnival Planning; Minstrel Carnival Rehearsal; Minstrel Carnival; and Minstrel Carnival New Year. The total spending was R 27 320 758, 64.

(b) Information on the current rental being paid is not available as the project currently closed and a closeout report was issued.”

PQ 198 – Reply from the National Lotteries Commission:

“(1)(a) The National Lotteries Commission does not audit the financial statements of the funded organisation. It conducts monitoring and evaluations on funded projects and assess the progress reports submitted to ascertain whether the project yielded the envisaged return on that investment. Three (3) reports were submitted by the organisation in question on the following dates:

• 5 May 2014;
• 25 June 2014; and
• 24 August 2015

In terms of the report submitted, a total amount of about R 8 290 000.00 was spent on the magazine. The amount includes amongst others the procurement of transport equipment, marketing costs, printer costs, cost of operational equipment, design and publishing, distribution and logistics.

(1)(b) The report submitted does not provide the number of publication and only quantifies the costs associated with the publishing of magazines

(1)(c) The report submitted does not provide the number of copies printed and only quantifies the costs associated with printing of the magazine

(2) a) The report submitted did not have the copies of each magazine and project. After receipt of a satisfactory progress report, the project was subsequently closed.

(2)(b) The National Lotteries Commission does not audit the financial statements of the funded organisation. It conducts monitoring and evaluations on funded projects and assess the progress reports submitted to ascertain whether the project yielded the envisaged return on that investment. In terms of the report submitted, indicated that a total of about R 5 460 000.00 was spent in conducting the socioeconomic cohesion symposium. The amount is inclusive of all operational costs and personnel costs for the project.”

-END-

Reply:

a) The applicants receive the relief package as and when they pass the verification process. Currently eight thousand and eighty-seven (8 083) ECD services with thirty-three thousand five hundred and twenty three thousand and seventy nine (23 079) employees have been paid.

b) (i) A total of 28,283 applications were received.

Eastern Cape	3778
Free state	1493
Gauteng	6023
KwaZulu-Natal	5415
Limpopo	4250
Mpumalanga	1928
North West	1478
Northern Cape	749
Western Cape	3169

 

(ii) The applicants received are either fully/conditionally registered or unregistered.

(iii) 39% of applications falls within poor wards according to the Statistics SA Multidimensional Poverty Index. The breakdown according to provinces:

Province	% Applications in Poor Wards	% Wards that are poverty declared
Eastern Cape	67%	72%
Free State	4%	8%
Gauteng	12%	10%
KwaZulu-Natal	55%	74%
Limpopo	84%	82%
Mpumalanga	37%	17%
North West	53%	43%
Northern Cape	22%	12%
Western Cape	0%	0%

(iv) (aa) A total of 108 833 ECD employees is targeted to benefit, however after the verification based on the applications received 116 578.

(bb) There are over 450 000 children who attend the ECD programmes since reopening of ECD services in July 2020. It is not immediately possible

to have the accurate numbers.

(cc) Every applicant committed to re-open within 60 days after receipt of funding as it was one of the requirements.

Reply:

National Assembly Written Reply: 1089 of 2021

a) The following are performance areas which contributed to the decline in performance during the third quarter. There has been significant progress made in meeting some of the targets that could not be met at the end of the third quarter:

• Entity Oversight: At the time of reporting, The Entity Governance and Oversight Framework could not be presented at governance structures as anticipated. DSD Management decided that the framework be finalized using internal expertise. As a result, DSD has since finalized the Framework and it was approved before end of March 2021. The implementation of the Framework will continue in the new financial year.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): The Analysis of existing M&E tools within Social Sector Programmes was not achieved at the time of reporting. More substantial work has since been concluded including the draft “as-is report” on all existing M&E tools in the Sector as well as a draft M&E Framework with indicators for 5 priority programmes within DSD.
• Human Capital Management: The Sector Human Resources Plan was to be presented in the relevant Departmental management structures. The Plan did not serve on time as planned because critical inputs were being incorporated and the targets were also to be presented in the 4th quarter. To date, the Sector Human Resource Plan (SHRP) has been finalised and has been approved by Departmental Management Committee and a forum of all Heads of Social Development on 9 March 2021.
• Social Assistance: The target of Monthly transfers of funds to SASSA was not achieved, since the DSD does not “transfer’ the funds, but the funds are provided in monthly allocations to SASSA to pay social grants. The Auditor-General has advised that the use of the word “transfer” is inaccurate, which means the target will never be achieved. The DSD has revised the indicator in its 2021/22 APP to address the ambiguity.
• Social Security: The Regulations to the Social Assistance Amendment Act were not approved for public comment until early January 2021. The Regulations were subsequently published for public comments with the closing date of 24 February 2021. The Regulations were revised and completed based on public comments. The Regulations will be finalised during the first quarter of 2021/22 financial year.
• Early Childhood Development (ECD): The target to employ 36 111 compliance monitors to monitor the norms and standards and COVID-19 compliance in DSD managed and supported facilities was not achieved. This was due to funds being allocated towards the ECD Stimulus Relief Fund instead of appointment of compliance monitors. However, many ECDs will be supported through the allocated R496 million for the ECD Presidential Employment Stimulus Relief Fund, which seeks to provide employment protection for an additional 80 000 employees in the ECD sector.
• Families: The Framework for review of the White Paper on Families was not completed due to misalignment between the third quarter APP target and the set process to achieve the annual target. To date, consultations have been completed and the review of the White Paper has been completed.
• Professional Social Services: The Draft Social Service Practitioners Bill could not be submitted to the Office of Chief State Law Advisor (OCSLA) for precertification due to lack of capacity to support the drafting process at the National office. Provincial departments have assisted with the redrafting of the Bill and the Bill has been submitted to the office of Chief State Law Advisor for Pre-Certification.
• Population and Development: The annual target of Research report on Youth perception survey on Socio-economic, health, & gender on Impact of COVID19 was not achieved. The appointment of a Research Institution to conduct this study required approval from National Treasury, which was only granted in October 2020. Other procurement and contract management processes had to follow after receipt of National Treasury approval. The remaining time was not sufficient to complete the final study reports as planned. The timelines of the study have been adjusted to ensure that the study is completed in the new financial year.

b) The Department held intensive Programme Performance Review meetings in February 2021 to interrogate the root causes of decline in performance. During these Review Meetings, Management committed to implement various corrective actions to ensure improvement in performance for all areas where targets were not achieved in the third quarter. Preliminary analysis of the year-end performance of the Department shows improvement in achievement of set targets as compared to the third quarter. This improved performance may be attributed to the intensive Branch Performance Review Sessions and corrective actions which were implemented during the last quarter of the financial year.

Reply:

a) The combined total number (both public and private) of vehicle testing stations in the Republic is 540 (five hundred and forty)

b) The number of the specified vehicle testing stations are privately owned is 380 (three hundred and eighty)

c) (i) Race

The National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996 and Regulations does not define race as a criteria for application for a private vehicle testing station and the information available to the Department only relates to the nationality of persons.

The Following information was received manually from the provinces:

 

Province	African	Coloured	Asian	White
Eastern Cape	14	6	36	28
Free State	5	0	1	7
Gauteng	19	0	57	59
KwaZulu-Natal	3	1	36	18
Limpopo	18	0	3	11
Mpumalanga	6	0	6	13
North West	6	1	2	9
Northern Cape	0	0	1	5
Western Cape	0	27	0	24

(ii) Gender demography of all privately owned VTSs

The National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996 and Regulations does not define Gender as a criteria for application for a private vehicle testing station. However, as part of the registration of a business on the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) the nature of the organisation and the proxy must be identified.

The gender dispensation for the proxies of privately-owned vehicle testing stations are as follows:

Province	Female	Male
Eastern Cape	13	59
Free State	2	17
Gauteng	37	149
KwaZulu-Natal	14	75
Limpopo	9	42
Mpumalanga	13	31
North West	8	12
Northern Cape	4	4
Western Cape	12	102

 

 

Reply:

a) To date a total of 9 998 879 applications have been received for the relief grant. The numbers approved per month varied as validation of every application was done monthly. The number approved per month for the duration of this grant is indicated below:

May 4 424 449

June 5 061 088

July 5 570 962

August 5 963 465

September 6 037 809

October 6 135 121

November 6 088 879

December 5 930 154

January 5 934 216

February 5 924 709

March 5 780 422

April 5 917 068

b) The department has conducted a Rapid Assessment of the Covid-19 R350 grant and has also reviewed other independent studies conducted on relief measures. All studies confirm that the relief measures have made significant impact on the livelihoods of not only those receiving the grant, but also those in a household of a grant recipient. From our rapid assessment study we found that around 88% of recipients of the COVID SRD grant pooled the grant with their other household incomes to take care of the needs of everyone in the household; thereby confirming that the reach of the grant to reduce poverty, thus goes far beyond just the recipient. It is estimated that between the CSG Caregivers allowance and the COVID SRD grant of R350, approximately 36 million individuals benefited from these both directly and indirectly.

Our utilisation surveys also confirms that the grant was mainly used for the purchase of food. This triangulates well with other research indicating that hunger declined during the period May to October 2020 when the relief package was at its maximum level and then increased from November onwards when part of the relief package, and notably the care givers allowance, was withdrawn. It is expected that with the withdrawal of the last portion of the relief package, whilst in 3rd wave of the pandemic, more households and individuals will become vulnerable to hunger.

The research findings by The National Income Dynamics Study - Corona Virus Mobile Survey, 2020 (NIDS CRAM) confirms that the special COVID-19 grant has brought millions of previously unreached individuals into the system, and application for and receipt of the grant has been relatively pro-poor. This is further confirmed by the department’s rapid assessment study:

• Over 6 million new applicants accessed this grant, the majority being youth.
• Most found the application process relatively easy to navigate.
• Of those who received the grant, the majority are in low-income households.
• 30% of those who were retrenched between February and April report no household-level grant protection at all; and hence the new COVID SRD grant was able to provide them with some form income support.

In terms of poverty and inequality, microsimulation work done by Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic development (SATIED), a collaboration between National Treasury, UNIWIDER, SARS, TIPS and others; found that poverty measured at the Food Poverty line would have increased from 20.6% of the population living below the food poverty line to 32.1% if there were no COVID social relief interventions. However with these interventions, not only were we able to prevent further deepening of food poverty, but also decrease this from 20.6% to 18.8%. Similar results were found at the lower and upper bound poverty lines.

Similarly with inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, without the relief measures, inequality would have increased from 0.64 to 0.67, however with the relief measures our Gini coefficient has declined to 0.61.

The policy brief on the distributional impact of COVID-19 and the state emergency packages in South Africa by SA-TIED provide recommendations that is important to note that comprehensive social security helps protect people from economic shocks by operating as an automatic stabiliser that is built into the tax-benefit system and that there is an urgent need to establish social assistance for poor people of working age, as a permanent rather than temporary feature of the system

c) The evidence provided by the various research, and analysis, confirms the assumption that ending relief programmes will reduce household demand as well as increase hunger and social alienation. These factors will add to social and political stress, which in turn will slow down the economic recovery over the coming year or two at least.

 

Reply:

a) According to records on the Internship and Community Service Placement (ISCP) online System, 257 medical students were confirmed to have met the requirements to be allocated for medical internship as at end of April 2021 (i.e. 138 NMFC students who passed the Cuban National Exam; 26 passed the HPCSA Medical Board Exam; and 93 completed their blocks in local universities which made them eligible for medical internship posts, (i) 0 has been allocated on medical interns on 1 April 2021, as there are only two allocation cycle for medical internship, which are 1 January and 1 July of each year and (ii) 257 are still waiting for allocation and will be allocated during June to take up positions on 1 July 2021 and (b) (i) there was no delay as the applicants were not yet eligible for medical internship at the time (ii) the ICSP online System will opened applications from 14 May 2021. Only after the application process is closed, the actual application numbers will be confirmed as more students are becoming eligible (i.e. completing blocks).

b) Due to increased number of qualifying applicants for medical internship posts the Public health sector remains challenged by budget cuts to fund additional internship posts and to accredit excessive number of medical internship posts in health facilities as it requires additional resources (appointment of additional specialists and senior medical doctors).

END.

Reply:

1. District Hubs have been established in the Waterberg and OR Tambo Districts and in eThekwini Metro. In the Financial Year for 2021/22, the Department plans to establish District Hubs in the 21 District Municipalities who are water services authorities. The remaining 28 District Hubs will be established during the 2022/23 Financial Year, provided funding is made available.
2. It is not the responsibility of District and Metropolitan Municipalities nor Provincial CoGTAs to set up Hubs. It is a national CoGTA function to ensure that the DDM is effectively implemented with a government-wide focus. Existing institutional arrangements and practices in different provinces will inform the setting up of Hubs and their operations. The Hubs are not municipal structures falling under municipal administration. They may be physically located at district or metropolitan level but not within the municipality. They are accountable to national CoGTA but have to be inclusive and collaborative thus steered by intergovernmental district/metropolitan level steering committees having participation of respective municipalities, provincial CoGTAs and key national and/or provincial departments. The Hubs are aimed primarily at facilitating intergovernmental joint planning and as needed and in a differentiated way will support Local Government capacity building and coordinate capacity building programmes. Shared Services functions will not be performed by the Hubs as these need to be done through direct agreements between respective municipalities. The Hubs may support these processes as may be appropriate or necessary.A DDM Hub is conceived as a functional network of support and a facilitation system for Intergovernmental Planning in relation to a specific district or metropolitan space or a combination of district spaces or metropolitan spaces.
3. The District Hub itself does not necessarily physically constitute the full range of people and resources required to be effective but enables a platform for networking, linking and connecting with various resources and processes located at various levels of government and outside of government. A minimum resource requirement would be a DDM Hub Manager as a senior, strategic person that can build the necessary networks and partnerships around successful facilitation of the One Plan. (b) The money will be allocated through the MTEF. CoGTA continues to mobilise support and capacity building opportunities through partnerships with private sector partners.

Reply:

a) Normal practice is that SASSA does not pay people who do not qualify for the different type of grants. SASSA only pays recipients who are deemed to have met the qualification criteria for the different types of grants. However, SASSA may under exceptional circumstances end up paying people who do not qualify, where there is misrepresentation from the grant applicant.

During 2020 SASSA detected possible fraud involving the following:

(i) 1 768 SAPO employees who were receiving social grants. The grants were suspended saving SASSA approximately R1.5 million per month.

(ii) 4 726 grant beneficiaries who transacted outside South Africa during the lockdown period when the international borders were closed. The grants were suspended saving SASSA approximately R7 million per month.

(iii) 105 active Correctional Services inmates who were receiving social grants. These grants were cancelled saving SASSA approximately R196 000 per month.

b) The Social Pensions System is configured in such a way that double dipping between different social grants can be detected and prevented. Thus there have been no incidents of double dipping that have been detected within the social grants system administered within SASSA.

The Auditor General of South Africa has identified incidents of double dipping involving the applicants of the special COVID 19 SRD grant who also applied for other COVID 19 relief measures administered by other government entities. While AGSA identified a total of 80 117 cases in the first 3 months of this grant, on confirming information, 25 088 people were identified with a value of R8 780 800 as having received the R350 grant to which they were not entitled. Debts are being raised for these citizens. It should also be noted that, as soon as the anomalies were identified by AGSA, payment of the special relief grant to these clients was stopped, thus limiting the loss to the state.

National Assembly Written Reply: 1079 of 2021

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

(a) SASSA Online Grants application system has been progressively implemented as of 14 September 2020. The system is used by applicants for the older persons grant, child support grant and foster child grant. The system is continuously updated based on feedback that is received from members of the public and system users.

(b) All applications for all social grant types are captured directly on the SOCPEN system during in person applications. However, the online application system does not currently interface directly with SOCPEN and applications submitted online have to be captured manually on the SOCPEN system. The integration between the Socpen system and the online application system is development which is being attended to. The future vision is to ensure that the information provided through the online system is automatically updated to Socpen as it is submitted, for staff only to quality assure the information provided.

(c) A total of 23 732 online grant applications were received since September, of which 21 401 have been captured and processed on Socpen system. The balance are in process.

National Assembly Written Reply: 1118 of 2021

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

PROVINCE	(a) total number of early childhood development (ECD) centres are equipped to handle disabled children in the Republic	(b)Measures taken to ensure that the needs of disabled children are provided for in ECD centres
EC	The Eastern Cape has 34 Special Day Care Centres for Children living with Disabilities.	The 34 Special Day Care Centres for Children living with Disability has been funded for 2021/22 financial year.
FS	There are 10 ECD centres equiped to handle children with disabilities. All these centres are equiped with ramps, rails and disablitiy accesable toilet facilities.	A 5% of the subsidy is utilised to procure stimulation material that includes children with disablities. In ECD centres where children with disablities are admitted, the Department in partnership with the Department of Education and Health provides appropriate care and support using the strategy on scerening, idenfication and Support (SIAS) to assess in order to curb the unnecasessary placement in day care centres thereby promoting mainstreaming. The ECD classrooms are made approriate and play equipment adapted to accomodate children with Disabilities.
GP	There are 73 ECD centres that are currently accomodating children with disabilities.	The province has partnered with a Sector on Persons with Disabilities to capacitate ECD Practitioners on the identification, learning and stimulation of children with special needs to promote inclusion.The indicator is on the Province APP to ensure inclusion of children with disabilities in the sector.
KZN	All the funded ECD centers in KwaZulu Natal are equipped to handle disabled children.	The educators in ECD Centers were trained to handle children with disabilities. The Province did revamps in the ECD Centers for easy access by children with disabilities.
LP	There are hundred and two (102) centres	There are on-going capacity building sessions on management of children with disabilities offered by a multi-disciplinary team (Primary Health Care Practitioners, Occupational, speech and hearing therapists) from the Department of Health. A 5% of the subsidy is utilised to procure stimulation material.
NC	The centres are not fully equipped to render ECD services to all children with disabilities. The Northern-Cape Province had seven (7) ECD Facilities registered as centres providing ECD services to children with disabilities, but two (2) of the seven (7) centres closed and two (2) decided to mainstream due to poor attendance of children younger than seven (7) years.	parents and practitioners are supported and capacitated through programmes rendered by Uhambo, an NGO appointed by the Department of Health and Occupational Therapists stationed at clinics and some appointed by DBE to stimulate the children at the centres and at home.
NW	The Provincial Social Development has equipped 150 ECD centres through training of ECD Practitioners on Inclusive Education for children with special needs during 2019/20 financial year	The Department is continuously Conducting workshops on the minimum Norms and Standards that provides guidance on the accessibility of Partial Care and ECD Centres to children with disabilities. A total number of 400 parents and caregivers were trained on parenting programme to enable them to provide Early Childhood Development services for children with special needs. Training was also conducted in partnership with the Department of Health on the Nutrition Guideline for ECD practitioners from 134 ECD Centres.
WC	5 Registered facilities accommodates children with disabilities.	The focus on children with disabilities is an imperative. To this end, the Department is piloting the registration of partial care facilities/day care centres for children with disabilities to give effect to the legislative mandate prescribed by Chapter 5 of the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005.  One registration was concluded already. In addition, the department funds two social service organisations to provide capacity to ECD practitioners to encourage inclusion of children with special needs using the inclusive education and persona dolls approaches.

National Assembly Written Reply: 633 of 2021

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

a) The closure of the borders globally had a negative impact to international travel in every country or tourist destination around the world. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), global tourism suffered its worst year on record in 2020, with international arrivals dropping by 74%. Destinations worldwide welcomed 1 billion fewer international arrivals in 2020 than in the previous year, due to an unprecedented fall in demand and widespread travel restrictions.

According Statistics South Africa, in 2020, the volume of tourists decreased by 72.6% from 10.2 million in 2019 to 2.8 million in 2020. The distribution of tourists by region of residence shows that 74.8% of the tourists who arrived in South Africa in 2020 were residents of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and 1.5% were from ‘other’ African countries. It is therefore, evident the impact of restrictions on international was consistent with global impact of the decline in travel.

b) See (a)

c) The devastating impact of the pandemic is a global phenomenon and no country or tourist destination was spared from this disruption. It therefore stands to reason that countries around the world need to work together to reopen international travel so that the sector can embark on a sustainable road to recovery.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. I have been informed by the Department that:

(a) It has been confirmed that there are no outstanding amounts.

(b) It has been confirmed that there are no outstanding amounts.

(c) N/A

2. The facility is currently allocated to the South African Police Services (SAPS) for purposes of residential accommodation. The SAPS wishes to hand back the facility to DPWI upon vacation of all their members. The SAPS is currently engaging in this process.

Subsequently, DPWI will allocate the facility to the Department of Defense (DoD) which has a need for residential accommodation for the SANDF. The SANDF Regional Facilities Interface Management (RFIM) office in Durban has verbally expressed their interest in the property and conducted a site visit in early 2020. They thereafter indicated that they will be engaging with their Headquarters to formally express their interest to DPWI and secure funding for renovations to the facility.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(a) I am informed by the Department that it is in the process of assessing the extent of the damage to the building. On 17 February 2021 the Department initiated the process to undertake an Investment Analysis in order to ascertain the future utilization of the property as well as a Structural Report which will provide a full assessment of the damages.

(b) The cost for the repair and refurbishment of the dwelling will be established once the aforesaid reports have been finalised.

(i) The future of the property will be based on the outcome of the Investment Analysis.

ii) The Investment Analysis will be finalised by the end of June 2021. This will provide an investment solution for the property.

iii) Although the outcome of the Investment Analysis will provide a final way forward, the option of donating the building to a non-profit organisation and/or non-government organisation for use as a shelter or other public benefit could be a possibility.

aa) The costs are not yet known.

bb) The outcome of the Investment Analysis will provide a way forward.

cc) Timeframes can only be provided once a decision on the future of the property has been made.

dd) The future plans of the property will be based on the outcome of the Investment Analysis.

Reply:

1. The Department of Employment and Labour issued an improvement and contravention notice to the Forensic Chemistry Laboratory at 271 Visagie Street, Pretoria on 8 October 2018. The laboratory began immediately with the compliance requirement in the improvement notice under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993. Copies of all relevant Acts and Regulations have been made available at the laboratory. Posters are also visible on the walls of the corridors of the laboratory. All DB boards in the laboratory have warning signs attached to them. This was done by the laboratory in October 2018.

2. The risk assessments and medical surveillance program of employees were part of a tender awarded to a service provider in 2019 to cover the National Department of Health and its decentralised units including the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories. The service provider was due to start the risk assessments and medical surveillance of employees in March 2020. Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic response the service provider undertook risk assessments related to Covid-19 only and not general health and safety assessments. In addition, many employees were not at work or undergoing rotational shifts in line with DPSA guidelines and thus the medical surveillance programme was placed on hold. It is envisaged that the risk assessments will be conducted in the third quarter of the 2021/22 financial year. Medical surveillance will be undertaken in the fourth quarter of the 2021/22 financial year after the risk assessments in order to link risk assessments to medical surveillance of individual employees.

Afrox was not able to assist the laboratory with the Certificate of Compliance for gases. The laboratory is following up with Afrox to take responsibility and provide a Certificate of Compliance.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was contacted on the 23 October 2018 and to date despite follow up by the laboratory manager on multiple occasions has not responded on the contravention notice covering infrastructure, electrical and mechanical requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993.

3. The laboratory does not have any details or specific dates on when to expect the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to attend to the request. The Director-General will write to the Director-General of Public Works and Infrastructure later this month requesting feedback and intervention.

END.

Reply:

I have submitted the question to the National Lotteries Commission for a reply.

In a letter dated 14 May 2021, NLC Commissioner, Ms T Mampane advised me that “The report is a confidential disclosure to Parliament in terms of Regulation 8 of the Lotteries Act, No. 57 of 1997, as amended. This document is intended for the internal use of NLC only and may not be distributed externally or reproduced for external distribution in any form without express written permission of the NLC and the service provider”.

The Department will be securing advice on the approach of the NLC on the Parliamentary Question.

-END-

Reply:

(a) The reports recommended disciplinary action against all implicated Officials. Out of (12) twelve implicated Officials, 9 (nine) are on suspension with pay. (1) One Official resigned, one passed on.

Out of (9) nine implicated officials (1) one official could not be charged due to lack of evidence.

Eight (8) implicated officials were served with charges and appeared before the Presiding Officer. One case has been finalised, seven cases are under subjudicare.

(b) 1) The Department has and maintains an approved Policy on management of fraud, corruption and theft, which seeks to:

a) Establish the zero-tolerance stance of the Department against fraud, corruption and theft;

2) In addition to this policy, the Department maintains the Whistle-blowing policy which further seeks to:

a) Encourage and enable employees to disclose information relating to suspected or alleged criminal or other irregular conduct within the Department.

b) Provide avenues for employees to disclose information relating to suspected criminal activities and receive feedback on any action taken; and

c) Re-assure staff that they will be protected from reprisals or victimisation for whistle blowing in good faith.

3) The Department also maintains the Fraud Prevention Plan which outlines the three strategies which are:

a) Prevention;

b) Detection; and

c) Investigate.

4) Allegations that needs to be investigated are reported to Provincial Anti-corruption hotline and directly to the Department.

5) The Department constantly conduct anti-fraud and anti- corruption awareness campaigns to its employees and stakeholders such as funded NPOs

6) Where there is manifestation of allegations of fraudulent and corrupt activities within the Department and to funded NPOs, the Department sanction investigations to probe those allegations and fully implement recommendation of investigation.

7) Lastly the Department also conducts fraud risk assessment with the aim of identifying new fraud risk areas.

Reply:

a) Government procurement of vaccines is supported by the allocation of funds from National Treasury to the National Department of Health as earmarked funds.

b) (i) As sole procurer of vaccines from manufacturers, all the vaccines are purchased by the National Department of Health

(ii)-(iii) The vaccines are supplied to vaccination sites in the private and public sector who administer vaccines. Private sector sites buy the vaccine from the NDOH and will claim from medical schemes for the vaccine and administration of vaccines to the insured patients. For uninsured patients, the vaccination sites will claim from the Department

END.

Reply:

(1)(a)(b)(i){ìì)(iii)

with reference to the reply to question 99, on 4 March 2021, the detail regaling the total number of cases that were reposed to each Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual offences Unit (FCS) and that ended in a successful conviction, in the 2617/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial year, is reflected in the table below:

 

Reply:

a) A date cannot be determined because this claim is settled in phases with a total extent of the land claimed and accepted being 87175.8062. To date the office has settled 42824.4330 and transferred 40255.1375 to the Restitution beneficiaries registered at Borolong boo Maiketso CPA.

The Commission is still continuing to engage with the various stakeholders towards the finalisation of the claim. It is important to note that the outstanding hectares under claim are owned by multiple landowners and the office is settling outstanding portions based on progressive discussions with the various landowners.

b) Since the land restitution administrative process is dependent on those land owners who are willing to sell their properties for the settlement of the claim, and are not contesting the validity of the claim the process is delayed by those farmers who are contesting validity on the outstanding hectares due for settlement. Some of the parcels will be referred to the Land Claims Court in terms of section 14 of the Restitution Act for determination.

END

Reply:

1. Yes, a protocol is in place.

Tip-offs are typically reported to the 08600 10111 Crime Stop share-call number, a police station or the Rural Safety Coordinator, attached to a police station.

The protocol entails that information relating to an impending farm attack, which is shared w1h a Crime Stop Line agent, will be communicated to the 10111 Centre or the Police Station nearest to the farm or smallholding where the incident might occur, for an emergency response.

Any tip on reported to a police station or its Rural Safety Coordinator, will be directed to the Station Commander, to activate an integrated operational response.

The reviewed National Rural Safety Strategy also makes provision for an early warning system and a crime intelligence capacity in the exiting Operational Command Centre (OCC), at national, provincial, district and police station levels.

The OCC was established, to ensure enhanced command and control at the functional operational levels, through the elective reporting functioning and coordination of activities, on a 24-hour basis.

The role of the OCC is to support the crime combating operations of the SAPS its stabilisation and normalisation plans to effect crime reduction, focused intelligence-led policing, enhanced incident response and the activation and coordination of specialised capacities, within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

In the event that a crime has already been committed, the existing 72-hour activation plan, comes into effect. The plan is activated immediately after a serious and noteworthy violent crime has been committed, by mobilising the integrated operational environment of the SAPS to speedily track, trace and apprehend/arrest the suspect/s, within 72 hours.

1. The Minister of Police will decide if he will make a statement, in this regard.

Reply to question 1197 recommend

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
DATE: 2021/05/24

Reply to question 1197 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
DATE: 30/05/202

Reply:

The SAP 6 document is the source document from which the crime statistics are derived, hence provision of this document will be in direct violation of the cabinet decision which approved that crime statistics be released in accordance with a pre- release calendar provided by the minister of police to cabinet.

Reply to question 1299 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
DATE: 30/05/2021

Reply:

(1) According to the data on the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) captured by the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements, twelve projects were delivered with 189 serviced sites and 510 housing units completed for the period between 01 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

(i) The assessed and approved Eastern Cape Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) Business Plan for the period 2021/22 financial year indicates that there are projects planned to deliver houses and serviced sites within the Buffalo City Metro geographic areas as indicated hereunder:

Figure 1: Projects planned in Buffalo City Metro in 2021/22

(ii) PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR THE 2022/23 FINANCIAL YEAR IN BUFALLO

CITY METRO

Figure 2: Proposed Projects for the 2022/23 financial year in BCM

(iii) In respect of the 2023/24 financial year (April 2023 to March 2024), Information in the Eastern Cape HSDG Business Plan indicates that Projects for houses and serviced sites are proposed, but not yet approved, for the following geographic areas within Buffalo City Metro:

Figure 3: Proposed Projects for 2023/24 financial year in BCM

(2) Blue cards have been replaced nationally by the National Housing Needs Register and it is accessible to all Municipalities.

Reply:

1. No.

(a)(i),(ii)(b),(c),(d) Falls away.

2. No.

(a),(b) Falls away.

Reply:

(1) The member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is known to the Management of the Tonga Police Station and is authorised to utilise the state vehicle, which is allocated to the Crime Information Management Centre (CIMAC), to attend to the duties associated with this post.
(2) The member has not been authorised to  utilise the state vehicle for personal use. Should any substantiated allegation of the misuse of the state vehicle be brought to the attention of management, with any form of relevant detail provided, disciplinary steps will be taken, in terms of the SAPS Disciplinary Regulations, 2016.

The SAPS member uses the state vehicle to attend to duties in the capacity of a CIMAC official and is tasked with the responsibility of analysing crime scenes, identifying crime hotspot areas and presenting analysis reports to the Station Crime Combating Forum, on a daily basis. In the interest of service delivery, the member was periodically granted authority to utilise the state vehicle in question, after hours and was accordingly issued with an approved garaging authority, by the Police Station Management.

Reply to question 1219 recommended

NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE
DATE:

 

 

Reply to question 1219 approved/n

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
DATE: 30/05/2021

Reply:

(1) The information requested was provided in my reply to question 1154 attached.

(2) The details requested by the Honourable Member are as follows

2(a) Number of calls picked up by the automated welcome voice message	2(a)(i) Location	2(a)(ii) Month	2(b) Number of calls answered by staff members	2(b)(i) Location	2(b)(ii) Month
19 984	Sandton	January 2020	11 684	Sandton	January 2020
19 306	Sandton	February 2020	10 922	Sandton	February 2020
0	Sandton	March 2020	0	Sandton	March 2020
0	Sandton	April 2020	0	Sandton	April 2020
3 806	Randburg	May 2020	3 526	Randburg	May 2020
13 759	Randburg	June 2020	12 643	Randburg	June 2020
17 425	Randburg	July 2020	15 592	Randburg	July 2020
15 859	Randburg	August 2020	14 218	Randburg	August 2020
19 681	Randburg	September 2020	16 319	Randburg	September 2020
23 393	Randburg	October 2020	18 412	Randburg	October 2020
19 750	Randburg	November 2020	14 706	Randburg	November 2020
13 097	Randburg	December 2020	9 780	Randburg	December 2020

It should be noted that on 13 March 2020, the staff of the EAAB and officials from the call centre had to evacuate their respective buildings after personnel members had contracted the COVID-19, which resulted in the suspension of services. The call centre was supposed resume its operations in May 2020, however this coincided with arrangements made to relocate offices from Sandton to Randburg. This explains the zeros for March and April 2020.

The EAAB also makes use of a general email address, namely [email protected] and its online query management system for stakeholders to send their complaints and enquiries.

(3) The Board has advised that its investigation into the matter is not yet complete.

Reply:

(1)(a),(b) Please refer to Annexure A.

(2)(a),(b),(c)(i),(ii) Yes. Please refer to Annexure A.

Reply:

The requested information is not readily available and needs to be sourced from all the provincial commissioners. Therefore, an extension of 14 days is requested, in which to provide the response.

Reply to question 1022 recommended

Reply:

(a) There were no challenges associated with this project that were raised by the Auditor General. The Department funded initiatives to enhance the tourism experience at the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains prior to the listing of the site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). The project was initiated in 2010 and completed in 2014 with a total budget of R 24 784 279. The project was implemented by the Barberton Chamber of Business. The Barberton Tourism and Biodiversity Corridor programme was supported by the provincial tourism department, Umjindi Local Municipality, Chief Albert Luthuli municipality, Nkomazi municipality, tourism businesses, research academics and the Department of Environmental Affairs. The project was successfully completed and handed over to the owning entity.

(b) Not applicable

Reply:

Yes. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has the Commercialisation Strategy and the newly reviewed Blended Funding Scheme to support farmers.

(a)(i) These are a combination of grants and loan funding to support production.

(ii) The budget for commercialising small-scale farmers is a joint partnership between the Jobs Fund and the DALRRD wherein each partner contributed R300 million each totalling to R600 million. The Blended Funding Scheme is being implemented in partnership with Fund Managers including the IDC. DALRRD will make an annual contribution of R200 million towards the implementation of the BFS, which will be determined from time to time based on uptake and as per National Treasury approval.

(b) Over and above these interventions, DALRRD continues to provide effective agricultural support services to farmers through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima/Letsema conditional grants. The support provided is intended to promote and facilitate agricultural development to all producers throughout the value chain for domestic use and export purposes. In support of agricultural production for the 2021/22 financial year a total amount of R1.4billion has been allocated for CASP and R597million allocated for Ilima/Letsema. DALRRD supports farmers with Extension Support Services inclusive of new technologies and one of the key extension approach towards market access is the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Programme (SHEP). Through this approach, farmers are encouraged to change their mindset from “grow and sell” for their products to “grow to sell” which boosts income levels of farmers. The Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and all the nine Members of the Executive Committee (MECs) held a series of joint SHEP webinars from the 12th April starting with Mpumalanga and the last was held with Free State on the 6th of May 2021. DALRRD is also finalizing the draft policy on comprehensive producer development support which will be the overall national policy framework for the agriculture sector in South Africa and shall guide interventions (support) provided to the various categories of producers.

Reply:

Yes.

a) As of the 21 May 2021, the Deeds Registry: Pietermaritzburg has 7727 deeds awaiting transfer. Date of deeds examined: on Junior Examination: 4th and 5th May 2021 and on Senior Examination: 23rd and 24th April 2021.

b) The following measure are in place:

• Overtime was approved for Examination, Data and Scanning which is currently being done;
• Measures have been put in place to allow conveyancers to request expediting of all deeds that have been on the system for two weeks or longer where rates certificates will be expiring soon; and
• There are ongoing discussions with unions to try and address the rotational issues. 25% of examiners work on rotational basis.

Reply:

1. Yes. Section 42D was settled on the 12th of December 1999.

2. Yes. The CPA was regularized on the 30th of November 2019 and the following members of the Executive Committee of the Communal Property Association were elected:

1. Chairperson- Gobusamang Shole
2. Deputy Chairperson-Mothusiemang Moromane
3. Secretary- Sello Tatai
4. Deputy Secretary – Ntesang Makgeledisa
5. Treasurer – Salome Motsumi
6. Additional Members

• Desmond Manyapelo
• Asuf Mosenogi
• Gaopalelwe Tsatsimpe
• Mathews Mongale
• Oupakie Legwase
• Baby Makgeledise

3. Development grants to the value of R5 506 050.00 was approved; an amount of R57,336.00 was spent for the appointment of a Service Provider for capacity building for Putfontein CPA in 2005. The outstanding balance is R5 448 714,00.

END

Reply:

(1). The relevant details of the backlog, related to forensic cases of gender-based violence at forensic laboratories, as at 10 May 2021, is reflected in the table below.
 

	Registered	Finalised	In Process	Backlog
Ballistic	61	85	224	1806
Biology	1588	520	17281	79369
Chemistry	12	3	45	409
Scientific Analysis	19	8	9	10
Questioned Documents	1	0	2	1
Victim Identification Centre	2	0	1	1
National	1683	616	17562	81596

(2)(a) The South African Police Service (SAPS), does not have dedicated learning programmes that with the guidelines of the management of survivors of sexual violence. However, the following learning programmes incorporate the guidelines of the management of survivors of sexual violence:
 

Reply:

(1) and (2) Yes, screening is taking place and includes profiling, disciplinary screening, criminal record screening and an lnkwazi search. The following minimum requirements/criteria are applicable for the placement of members, in the Anti-Gang Units:

Visible Policing:

Must be in possession of a valid driver's licence.

Must undergo psychometric testing.

Competence In system-related courses (Investigation Case Docket Management System (ICDMS)/Case Administration System (CAS), Circulations/Criminal Record Information Management (CRIM) System/firearm competence, etc.).

A minimum of one year investigation experience.

Placement is subject to six month’s probation, where screening of the member wlll be compulsory;

Must be subjected to a Net Worth Analysis and Financial Disclosure is compulsory.

May be subjected to a Lifestyle Audit at any time.

Vetting at the level of secret to be done.

Must not be a member of a gang or have any gang-related tattoos.

Detective Service:

Same as above for visible Policing, with the Inclusion of the following requirements:
Must be a Detective with Detective Service Training (Detective Course, Dete4ive Learning Programme (DLP), Resolving of Crime (ROC), etc.

Commanders should have undergone a Detective Commanders Course.

Commanders should have a minimum of three years management experience within the Detective Service;

(3) Various media statements have been made, pertaining to the establishment of the Anti-Gang Units and I the need arises, further statements to this effect, will be released.

Reply to question 1043 recommended

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-05-24

Reply to question 1043 approved/not approved

GENERAL BH CELE, MP
MINISTER OF POLICE
Date: 30/05/2021

:

 

e8c8

Reply:

(a) Unfortunately, the information provided in the question is insufficient, therefore the South African Police Service (SAPS) IS unable to furnish an immediate response. A request is made for an extension to be granted, until 13 July 2021, in order to thoroughly peruse all records and to verify the details of the 108 employees and determine the reason why they remain sewing employees.

Reply to question 1126 recommended

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2021-05-24

Reply to question 1126 approved/not approved

GENERAL BH CELE, MP
MINISTER OF POLICE
Date: 30/05/2021

 

Reply:

Reply to this Parliamentary Question has been logged with the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) in Parliament

Reply:

(1)(a)(i)(ii)(iii) and (2)(a)(b)

With reference to the reply by the Minister of Public Service and Administration, to question 152, on 7 April 2021, the South African Police Service (SAPS), deems it necessary to indicate that the information was provided, by the Department: Public Service and Administration (DPSA), to the Minister of Public Service and Administration, without prior engagement with the SAPS.

The DPSA will be approached to provide the SAPS with the particulars of the relevant members of the Senior Management Service (SMS), for verification, after which the issues raised above, will be replied to. The SAPS needs time to verify the position of every affected member of the SMS and 1 is requested that a period of two months be allowed for the process to unfold.

Reply to question 1139 recommended

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date:

Reply to question 1139 approved/not approved

GENERAL BH CELE, MP
MINISTER OF POLICE
Date: 30/05/2021

Reply:

(a) and (b) The requested information is not readily available and needs to be drawn from a live system. Therefore, an extension of 14 days is requested, in which to provide the response.

Reply to question 1040 recommended

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOGE)
Date:

Reply to question 1040 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 30/05/2021

Reply:

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

I thank the Honourable Mr. Nxumalo for highlighting the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world. In terms of cybersecurity skills, the focus of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is on research and development and high-level skills. With respect to R&D and skills, the DSI has, over the last 10 years, implemented a few programmes contributing to high-level human capital development, the development of innovative Information Security products for improved service delivery and self-reliance, and the provision of state-of-the-art RD-enabling infrastructure.

With respect to high-level human capital development, the DSI funded an intervention at the CSIR to develop a critical mass of skills in Information Security competency. The programme was targeted at MSc and PhD level. In order to grow the pool of women practitioners in the Information Security field, there was deliberate focus on recruiting and supporting young, Black female undergraduate students.

Through a High-end infrastructure grant, the DSI also funded the Network Simulation and Emulation Laboratory (NSEL) at the CSIR. This facility/ platform is used by the CSIR to provide training in various aspects of cybersecurity. Besides university students, the platform was also used to deliver training to governments agencies such as the Defence Intelligence and interns.

Research, development and innovation projects that contributed to service delivery and self-reliance include:-

• An optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based contactless fingerprint acquisition device (FPAD) and investigated the feasibility of the technology for lifting latent fingerprints for forensics. The results of the latent fingerprint investigation have indicated that it is possible to use this technology for fingerprint forensics. This is the course the CSIR is pursuing currently.
• The development of a prototype for biometric recognition system for minors.

Moving forward, cybersecurity has been identified as a key foundational digital technology in the decadal plan on science, technology and innovation. More detailed implementation planning is underway to put in place a more ambitious R&D and high-level skills development programme for the next 10 years. This programme will include R&D in blockchain-based solutions that are beyond cryptocurrencies with the related science and innovation instruments being geared towards their enablement.

It is anticipated that these solutions will be implemented within the emerging national cybersecurity framework in both the public and private sectors.

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA)
(a) Plans in place	(b) Initiatives to provide cybersecurity learning to address the global deficit in the cybersecurity workforce	If not, why not	If so, what are the relevant details?
To develop an Occupational Certificate: Cyber Security Analyst To implement the programme for unemployed, retrenched and those in the workforce	The qualifications have been developed and submitted to QCTO for verification and submission to SAQA.		The qualification will cover the following components: Knowledge module NQF Level 4 Practical skills module NQF Level 5 Work experience module NQF Level 5 Once approved the qualification will be implemented for a period of 12 months.
To develop a skills programme in Cyber Security	The process of development is underway		Once approved the skills programme will be implemented for two weeks.
To raise cyber security awareness within MICT SETA	MICT SETA will continue to raise cyber security awareness through campaigns and training to its personnel.		Some of the plans and initiatives which were started and will continue to be practised include: Cyber security awareness talks/sessions hosted by the Chief Information Officer, and Marketing and Communications Directorate inviting an external stakeholder to educate and create awareness on cyber security to MICT SETA personnel. Cyber security awareness communication to all MICT SETA personnel through email systems. Training of ICT personnel on cyber security.
Cyber Security Learning Programme	In progress.		MICT SETA is currently funding the Cyber Security Short Programme for 43 learners.
Cyber Security Learning Programme	In progress.		MICT SETA is currently funding the Cyber Security Graduate Internship Programme for 10 Interns.