Questions and Replies
22 June 2021 - NW1695
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether her department has funded bursaries for social workers in the (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 academic years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) What number of bursaries have been allocated for the (a) 2019, (b) 2020 and (c) 2021 academic years; (3) Whether a lesser number of bursaries were awarded in the specified academic years; if so, what are the reasons for the decline in the number of bursaries awarded?
Reply:
1. (a) Yes, the department has funded social worker students through the scholarship programme in the 2020 academic year.
(b)Yes, the department is funding social work students through the scholarship programme in the 2021 academic year.
2. (a) Nine hundred and twenty five (925) social work students were funded through the scholarship programme in 2019.
(b) Three hundred and eighty nine (389) social work students were funded through the scholarship programme in 2020.
(c) One hundred and fifty six (156) social work students are funded through the scholarship programme in 2021.
3. The lesser number of students have been awarded scholarships since 2019/20 because of the reduction of funds. During the 2017-2019 MTEF period, the allocation for social worker scholarships was reduced to fund the conditional grant for employment of social work graduates. This grant was implemented over a period of three years (2017 – 2019), therefore the department suspended recruitment of new students in the scholarship programme. All students funded in 2019/2020, 2020/21 and 2021/22 are those who were previously funded and were in the process of completing their studies.
22 June 2021 - NW1541
Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether her department considers marital status when processing grant applications; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the impact of the various marriage regimes in processing grant applications?
Reply:
SASSA does consider the marital status when assessing applications for any social grant. Proof of spousal relationship is required when applying for any social grant. In terms of Regulation 18(2) to the Social Assistance Act, the income of an applicant and his/her spouse must be taken into account irrespective of whether the couple is married in or out of community of property under the Marriage Act, or any provisions contained in an ante-nuptial contract.
Spouse is defined for the purposes of social grant applications as “a person who is the spouse or partner of a person in accordance with the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act no 25 of 1961), the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No 120 of 1998) or the Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act no 17 of 2006 or the tenets of any Asiatic religion…” This therefore covers all the marriage regimes applicable in South Africa.
22 June 2021 - NW1386
Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Social Development
What (a) total number of persons are beneficiaries of the State’s social welfare grants and (b) are the relevant details of the (i) age, (ii) gender and (iii) race of each specified person?
Reply:
(a). Table 1 shows the number of persons who are benefitting from the State’s social grants as at 30 April 2021. The total number is 18 478 567.
Table 1: Number of social grants by grant type as at 30 April 2021
Region |
Care Dependency Grant (CDG) |
Child Support Grant (CSG) |
Disability Grant (DG) |
Foster Care Grant (FCG) |
Grant-In-Aid (GIA) |
Old Age Grant (OAG) |
War Veteran’s Grant (WVG) |
Grand Total |
Eastern Cape |
23 042 |
1 957 054 |
177 510 |
72 585 |
32 823 |
593 015 |
8 |
2 856 037 |
Free State |
8 753 |
711 420 |
75 633 |
22 956 |
10 267 |
213 604 |
|
1 042 633 |
Gauteng |
20 504 |
1 989 063 |
116 726 |
38 939 |
10 077 |
681 084 |
10 |
2 856 403 |
Kwazulu Natal |
38 514 |
2 952 283 |
217 560 |
58 033 |
78 987 |
731 196 |
4 |
4 076 577 |
Limpopo |
16 383 |
1 949 424 |
98 024 |
37 984 |
54 366 |
489 863 |
2 |
2 646 046 |
Mpumalanga |
11 334 |
1 159 496 |
75 679 |
21 061 |
23 275 |
267 300 |
|
1 558 145 |
North West |
9 752 |
899 905 |
63 829 |
25 242 |
17 047 |
279 105 |
1 |
1 294 881 |
Northern Cape |
5 755 |
326 678 |
49 724 |
10 175 |
18 516 |
93 480 |
1 |
504 329 |
Western Cape |
16 121 |
1 054 197 |
139 560 |
31 186 |
23 951 |
378 511 |
10 |
1 643 536 |
Total |
150 158 |
12 999 520 |
1 014 245 |
318 161 |
269 309 |
3 727 158 |
36 |
18 478 587 |
(b). (i) Table 2a shows the age breakdown of people receiving child grants.
Table 2a: Age breakdown of persons receiving adult grants
(b). (i) Table 2b shows the age breakdown of people receiving child grants.
Table 2b: Age breakdown of persons receiving child grants
Child Age |
Grant Type |
Grand Total |
||
Care Dependency Grant |
Child Support Grant |
Foster Care Grant |
||
0 |
444 |
546 717 |
141 |
547 302 |
1 |
1 715 |
744 641 |
650 |
747 003 |
2 |
2 848 |
750 091 |
1 338 |
754 266 |
3 |
3 831 |
728 832 |
2 116 |
734 757 |
4 |
4 508 |
710 442 |
2 812 |
717 728 |
5 |
5 763 |
724 330 |
4 174 |
734 209 |
6 |
7 039 |
785 798 |
5 587 |
798 349 |
7 |
7 803 |
782 103 |
7 171 |
796 969 |
8 |
8 520 |
779 319 |
9 308 |
797 018 |
9 |
9 216 |
779 117 |
11 501 |
799 676 |
10 |
10 047 |
759 839 |
14 503 |
784 192 |
11 |
10 777 |
748 303 |
17 917 |
776 740 |
12 |
11 923 |
772 218 |
22 562 |
806 373 |
13 |
12 843 |
745 274 |
27 078 |
784 752 |
14 |
13 320 |
731 030 |
32 099 |
775 889 |
15 |
13 683 |
703 467 |
36 422 |
752 984 |
16 |
14 138 |
673 022 |
40 864 |
727 332 |
17 |
11 735 |
534 977 |
40 758 |
586 832 |
18+ |
|
|
22 465 |
22 465 |
Grand Total |
150 153 |
12 999 520 |
299 466 |
13 444 836 |
(b). (ii) Table 3 shows the number of social grants by gender.
Table 3: Number of social grants by gender as at 30 April 2021
b. (iii) race of each specified person?
SASSA does not collect information on the race of grant beneficiaries. Thus the information on the racial breakdown of grant beneficiaries is not available.
22 June 2021 - NW1486
McGluwa, Mr JJ to ask the Minister of Social Development
(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:
(1)(2) The Department of Social Development has not engaged Cuban experts on the said matter during the said period.
22 June 2021 - NW1573
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, the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) is planning to introduce measures other than the access to PERSAL and PE RSOL databases to prevent public service employees from unlawfully and fraudulently applying for and receiving social grants; (2) (a) how and (b) by what date will SASSA ensure that its systems are integrated with other government departments in an effort to prevent public service employees from applying for any SASSA administered grants?
Reply:
1. SASSA has included in its operational plan for 2021/2022 financial year a target to interface with Labour (UIF), Government Pensions Administration Agency (Government Employees Pension Fund), National Student Financial Aid Scheme and Correctional Services established to verify income means. In addition, SASSA has commenced discussions with the Department of Cooperative Governance regarding access to data of municipal employees.
2 (a) SASSA first has to conclude Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with the targeted agencies followed by a formal process to confirm interface guidelines that will give input to the revised business processes and system implementation.
2(b) The process to formalise the MOA and interface guidelines with Department of Labour (UIF) and GPAA (GEPF) has started and planned to be finalised by the end of June 2021 followed by the same process with NSFAS and Department of Correctional Services by the end of September 2021.
The Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Cooperative Governance was concluded in May 2021.
By the end of the March 2022 SASSA will utilise the reports generated from the data sharing process to initiate a review process for existing beneficiaries.
22 June 2021 - NW1305
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(a) What is the vacancy rate for all types of positions at the SA Social Security Agency, (b) what is the breakdown of the numbers in each province, (c) what are the reasons for the vacancies and (d) for how long have the positions been vacant?
Reply:
a) The current vacancy rate for all types of positions at the SA Social Security Agency is 1.7% for vacant and funded posts.
b) Breakdown of the numbers in each province are depicted in the table below:
Region/Office |
Overall Number of vacancies |
EASTERN CAPE |
16 |
FREE STATE |
13 |
GAUTENG |
7 |
HEAD OFFICE |
16 |
KWAZULU-NATAL |
23 |
LIMPOPO |
14 |
MPUMALANGA |
8 |
NORTH WEST |
19 |
NORTHERN CAPE |
5 |
WESTERN CAPE |
13 |
Grand Total |
134 |
Number of vacancies per salary level:
Salary level |
Numbers |
Salary level 5 |
32 |
Salary level 7 |
27 |
Salary level 8 |
18 |
Salary level 9 |
3 |
Salary level 10 |
3 |
Salary level 11 |
18 |
Salary level 12 |
8 |
Salary level 13 |
19 |
Salary level 14 |
5 |
Salary level 15 |
1 |
Total |
134 |
(c) Employees leave the organisation due to a number of reasons such as death, resignations, dismissal, retirement and ill-health.
(d) These 134 posts have been vacant for an average period of 12 months.
22 June 2021 - NW1537
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Given that the Financial Sector Policy states that her department will pay interest at SA Revenue Service rates on all delayed transfers to nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), what total amount (a) in interest has her department paid to date and (b) have they budgeted towards this; (2) what steps (a) has her department taken to consult with NGOs around the Financial Sector Policy and (b) are being taken by her department to implement the specified policy?
Reply:
1. The clause on payment of interest on the DSD Sector Funding Policy was considered as a result of initial engagements with the National Treasury and their Draft Guidelines on Management of Transfers that was developed in 2017. There has been further engagements with the National Treasury to review the clause and assess its practicality. Through the guidance received from National Treasury, it will not be feasible to implement the said clause and as such this will be reviewed by the Department.
(a) To date no interest has been paid to NPOs and;
(b) No budget has been set aside towards the payment of such interest.
(2) (a) the steps that the department has taken to consult with NPOs around the Sector Funding Policy included extensive consultative sessions throughout the nine Provinces that were held with the sector (NPOs) during the development of the Policy.
(b) The steps that have been taken by the Department to implement the policy included the development of the Sector Funding Guidelines and NPOs and departmental officials will be trained on the guidelines commencing in the second quarter, 2021/22 financial year.
22 June 2021 - NW1375
Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Social Development
What steps has she taken to resolve the non-payment of grants due to early childhood development practitioners in the Republic?
Reply:
The budget process of Government requires that all requests for roll-over on unspent funds be submitted to the relevant Treasuries. All provincial Departments of Social Development have applied for roll overs with their respective Provincial Treasuries for consideration. The Department has been engaging regularly with National Treasury to try and expedite this matter and make regular follow-ups, noting that all relevant process ought to be followed accordingly. Only once the roll overs requests are approved, the qualifying employees will receive their payment.
22 June 2021 - NW1440
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What are the reasons for the 11, 44% cut in the budget of the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA), which is the most crucial department for the poor and vulnerable; (2) How does SASSA intend to (a) alleviate the pressure on the budget in the 2021-22 financial year, (b) sustain the R1 billion budget cut in this Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and (c) ensure no person lives below the extreme poverty line in the nine years to 2030, taking into account the drastic budget cuts?
Reply:
(1) The budget cuts to SASSA are as a result of the announcements made by the Minister of Finance in his 2021 Budget Speech, wherein he announced reductions in allocations across government departments, including the Department of Social Development.
(2) (a) In order to stay within the budget allocation, SASSA has no option but to implement below-inflation increases to the social grant amounts, while also implementing measures to achieve efficiencies in its operations and manage the wage bill. The Agency will consider initiatives to do more with less, such as encouraging grant beneficiaries to choose the most economical channel when withdrawing their grants to lower the cost of disbursing the grants, and review existing contracts and operations to identify areas where savings can be achieved.
(b) In due consideration of the Agency’s budget situation and to deal with budget pressures the following will be given attention:
-
- Finalise the Business Process Re-engineering project to enhance future personnel and capacity planning.
- Reduce travel expenditure and encouraging the use of technology.
- Review of the existing contracts to assess their need in the current form.
- Improvement and strengthening of the controls in the management of assets e.g. fleet, telephones, etc.
- Implement cost containment measures on non-critical areas.
- Review prioritisation of projects/ activities to fund other key projects.
(c) SASSA will continue paying social grants to those who meet the qualifying criteria as set in the Social Assistance Act. Given the ever-shrinking financial allocation, SASSA will ensure that only qualifying persons receive the grants – this means that regular reviews of those already in the system will be strengthened; the application process must will be strengthened with external validations to confirm the means of those applying, and communication of the qualifying criteria will also be strengthened.
However, it should be noted that these measures will be undertaken without compromising the provision of social grants to qualifying persons, which is a constitutional right.
21 June 2021 - NW1749
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What measures has he put in place to fast-track the processing of identity document applications, in order not to exclude persons from participating in the upcoming local government elections?
Reply:
The Department has undertaken to prioritize its services to those who have applied for their identity documents ahead of the general elections by issuing election enabling documents, i.e. Identity Documents, and also to issue Temporary Identification Certificates (TIC’s) on the spot to those whose identity documents are lost.
Furthermore, the Department has developed an ID distribution strategy that entails the following measures:
- Provinces in collaboration with stakeholder forums will embark on public awareness campaigns for the distribution and collection of ID’s.
- Provinces to work with Stakeholders to deploy mobile units for people to collect their Green Barcoded Identity Books.
- Targeted Communication intervention on uncollected Green Barcoded Identity Books and Smart Identity Cards.
- Provincial managers to make announcement making use of local media.
- Rescan all Green Barcoded Identity Books on hand on track and trace to reactivate the Short Message System (SMS) to clients informing them to collect IDs.
- Mobile Offices will be deployed to service a cluster of Voter Registration stations (Green Barcoded ID Books).
- A contingency plan to provide back office support services, where its front offices are experiencing problems with issuance of ID’s and TIC’s enabling documents.
- Clients to contact the Call Centre using 0800 60 11 90 to establish the status of their Identity Documents.
Lastly, the Department plans to extend its operational hours during the Voters Registration Weekend as well as on the scheduled Election day(s). It is against this backdrop that the Department has aligned its working hours with those announced by the Independent Electoral Commission(IEC). On the weekend of the 17th and 18th July 2021, all DHA offices will be opened from 8am until 5pm in order to fast track the processing of identity document applications and to ensure that all persons who are legible to vote are not excluded from participating in the next upcoming local government elections.
END
21 June 2021 - NW1368
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What steps has she taken to (a) transform the property development and management sector since she took office and, specifically, (b) ensure that there are more black estate agents in the Republic?
Reply:
Honourable Member, the transformation of the property sector is well underway. I am proud that we amended the Estate Agency Affairs Act of 1976 and it will be replaced by the Property Practitioners Act, 2019, once it comes into operation. The 1976 Act was amended to ensure we have a healthy property market that restores the dignity of all South Africans through the basic constitutional right to ownership of an immovable property through security of tenure.
The Property Practitioners Act seeks to transform the property market by ensuring that it reflects the SA demographics, and requires that:
- The Authority should set aside a portion of the Fidelity Fund for purposes of implementing transformation programmes such as enterprise development of historically disadvantaged and consumer education and awareness;
- Government across all levels is compelled to comply with BBBEE and employment equity legislation and the Authority should monitor transformation property market trends within government;
- The Authority should establish a transformation fund to aggressively accelerate transformation within the sector;
- The establishment of the Research Centre to conduct property market research
Further, in 2019, the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) issued Practice Note PDI01/2019. The purpose of the PDI01/2019 is to regulate the position of Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDIs) who were previously registered as estate agents by the EAAB, and issued with valid Fidelity Fund Certificates (FFCs). These registered estate agents are currently disqualified and are prevented from operating & being issued with FFCs due to non-compliance.
In terms of the Estate Agency Affairs Board Act (112 of 1976), it is required that every estate agent and estate agency firm must obtain a Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) from the (EAAB). It is illegal for Estate Agents to operate without a valid FFC (being issued by the EAAB) and/ or educational requirements that are prescribed by the Standard of Training of Estate Agents Regulations (2008).
There is an amnesty programme for PDI applicants who previously practised as estate agents and now need or require to re-enter the sector. The PDI applicants are given a special dispensation not to pay any monies due to EAAB relating to previous debt.
To date, two hundred and sixty-seven (267) applications have been received for this amnesty programme. Of these, one hundred and ninety (190) have been assessed by the Committee and one hundred and eighty (180) applications have been successful.
The EAAB has also advertised an invitation for PDIs to submit applications to be part of a Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) incubation programme. The aim is to empower PDIs within the real estate sector.
In addition to the above, the EAAB is working on a programme in terms of which twenty-five (25) SMME’s will be awarded an amount of R500 000, of which 50% will be a loan and the balance will be converted into grant funding. This programme will also include a benefit in terms of which the beneficiary SMME’s will be assisted with marketing their businesses and be given access to properties (stock) that is earmarked for selling.
The EAAB has created and implemented the “One Learner - One Estate Agency” Empowerment Programme that focuses on the placement of youth, women and people with disabilities in the real estate sector. Through this programme, over two thousand (2 000) interns have been placed with the real estate industry host employers.
The EAAB has also created and implemented the Principalisation Programme to capacitate principal estate agents. A specific intervention of this programme is directed towards encouraging and capacitating black women to act as principal estate agents.
21 June 2021 - NW1719
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What is the total amount in Rand of legal fees paid by the Government Printing Works (a) in the 2020-21 financial year and (b) since 1 April 2021?
Reply:
The total amount paid in legal fees by Government Printing Works for
(a) 2020/21 financial year = R90 123.13
(b) Since 01 April 2021 = R558 782.00
END
21 June 2021 - NW1544
Mthenjane, Mr DF to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
What (a) engagements has she had with small businesses in Cape Town townships in order to understand the full impact of the growing practice of gangs demanding protection fees from small businesses and (b) has she found is the full impact of the specified practice on small businesses?”
Reply:
The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), through the District Development Model initiative, has held a series of discussion sessions across the Western Cape District Municipalities, engaging SMMEs and Co-operatives on various matters that have an impact on their businesses and also focusing on the interventions that the Department has to offer the small businesses with the view of assisting them financially and non-financially. The Deputy Minister of Small Business Development led some of these engagements, particularly in Cape Town.
The growing practice of gangs demanding protection fee, not only from small businesses but from businesses in general is a serious matter that Government as a whole is acutely aware of and is attending to it with the seriousness it deserves. The DSBD, through the Government Cluster system has supported for the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster to look into developing a holistic strategy to address this phenomenon; and this is a process that is currently underway. This process will assist in determining the full impact of this specified practice on South African businesses, especially small businesses.
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
21 June 2021 - NW1725
McGluwa, Mr JJ to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What (a) is the total number of staff members employed Home Affairs office in London and (b)(i) are the names and (ii) designation of each staff member; (2) whether the office is currently fully operational with all staff on duty full-time; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether all mandated services are currently being provided by the office; if not, (a) what services are not being provided and (b) on what date will the services resume; (4) what (a) are the operating hours of the office, (b) is the reason that appointments for passports and birth registration are only conducted between 11h00 and 14h00 and (c) is the duration of each appointment?
Reply:
(1) The total number of officials deployed by the Department of Home Affairs is three (3). There is support staff (locally recruited) employed by Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and placed in the Civic Services =six (6), Immigration Services =two (2) and Administration =two (2). The names and designations of the officials deployed by the Department of Home Affairs are as follows:
- Ms Elizabeth Nkone Aphane Counsellor: Immigration and Civic Services (Salary level 11)
- Mr Ramoshoane Adam Sethosa as Second Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services (Salary level 8)
- Ms Tshepiso Emma Kube as Second Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services (Salary level 8)
2. The office is currently fully operational, Ms E.N Aphane is currently on leave as of 24 May to 30 June 2021
3. Applications for Permanent Residence are suspended on a National level and will commence once the Department of Home Affairs declares the services open.
4. Operations are from 9h00 to 15H00. All appointments are from 9h00 to 13h00 and the office serve`s 10 clients per hour operating from 15 Whitehall, London sw1a 2DD. The High Commission do not occupy a property at the above post code.
END
21 June 2021 - NW1702
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)With reference to the Alliance Extension 9 Housing Project in Ward 71, City of Ekurhuleni, what (a) is the total number of units that have been completed of the 1629 units that were promised and (b) are the (i) reasons that the contracts of several contractors have been terminated and (ii) reasons for the termination of the contract in each case; (2) what (a) are the full names and details of the persons appointed as contractors at present, (b) is the (i) scope of their work and (ii) duration of their contracts and (c)(i) is the total cost of the project and (ii) amount of the assigned budget has been spent thus far?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlements indicated that the housing project being referred to is Alliance Extension 1 and not Extension 9. To date 150 houses have been completed and the process of installing solar geysers stands at a 90% completion rate.
(b) The contracts of two contractors were terminated as a result of poor performance as they deviated from their construction programme due to cash flow challenges.
(2)(a)&(b) The newly appointed contractors have been appointed for the completion of 419 houses which are currently at various stages of completion. The contract period for both contractors is three months effective from 1 April 2021 and will end on 30 June 2021.
With regards to the request for name(s) of contractors involved in the housing project referred to in this question, I am constrained and prohibited by the document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly” from providing the Honourable Member with the name of the contractor. The document referred to states that:
“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”
(c) (i) The total cost of the project is R88 653 998.62
(ii) No invoices have been submitted thus far.
21 June 2021 - NW1193
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
Whether, with reference to the Digital Transformation Index 2020 report compiled by Dell Technologies that the COVID-19 pandemic has seen local organisations accelerate digital transformation in the Republic, and in order to take full advantage of the digital transformation that is underway, her department has a plan in place to supplement an enabling policy framework with swift infrastructure improvements to support small-, medium- and micro-enterprises; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?”
Reply:
Government through the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is in the process of developing the Digital Economy Master Plan, which will look into the entire digital ecosystem, including the digital core, infrastructure, technologies and services. Government is approaching digitisation in a holistic rather than on a piecemeal approach as suggested in this question. The Department of Small Business Development is part of the Team lead by DCDT on the Digital Economy Master Plan with a definitive focus on its impact on SMMEs and Co-operatives.
Furthermore, enhancing access requires affordable pricing mechanisms based on telecoms policies that reflect wide digital network and sound broad band strategies, specifically reaching remote areas such as townships, rural areas, and villages. Small enterprises based within the afore-mentioned areas may not necessarily have access to same digital environment. In this regard, the DSBD is in collaboration with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) whose mandate is to ensure provision of inclusive communications services. The partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technology (DCDT) is positioning the SA Entrepreneurship Ecosystem for the digital change and transformation through the investment in needed infrastructure like broadband fibre connectivity to all support hubs (Incubators, Accelerators, Centres for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator [CFERIs], Township and Digital Hubs) and high end computing and Rapid Prototyping facilities (3D printers, scanners, CNC and Laser cutting equipment) as shared facilities in all our TVET and University based CFERIs and new Digital Hubs.
The Department is also finalising agreements and engaging various stakeholders in the technology sector for the provision of supporting technological services and offerings to innovate and transition SMMEs and Cooperatives into the Digital era.
On the ICT side, Seda supported 13 Tech base Incubators and Accelerators and established 22 youth based CFERIs in underserviced TVETs and Universities in the 2020/21 financial year to the drive that transformation and support to Tech Start-ups to help build local technology solutions to solve both Social and Industry challenges.
The 13 Tech Incubators have recorded the following performance results in 2020/21 FY:
- 303 Tech Start-ups and SMMEs were supported.
- R49 284 220.16 in revenue was generated by the start-ups and SMMEs in portfolio.
- 441 of the total ICT related jobs in 2019/20 FY were sustained.
- 676 new jobs were created.
As part of our vision for township and rural economies in the digital sector Seda has established four (4) township based hubs in Mabopane in Tshwane, Kraaifontein in the Western Cape, Mogwase in the North West, and Thembalethu in the George. The new hubs will focus on building start-ups in the Gaming, Animation, E-Sports, Coding and Data Science, 3-D Printing, Hard and Software development, robotics, and Electronics. The hubs have taken in their first start-up cohorts in the fourth quarter of the 2020/21 financial year.
These hubs will be supported by the 6 new Digital Hubs that are positioned to lead SA charge in the 4IR space. The new Digital Hubs will endeavour to create start-up and digital business that can compete in local, regional and international markets while remaining locally relevant. The hubs will render support to young Grassroots innovators and start-ups providing needed shared infrastructure, industry collaborations, Enterprise supplier linkage, access to funding at pre-seed, seed and series A and B funding, private sector investor linkage. Also, the hubs will build firm level teams, revenue or paths to revenue, high touch mentoring and coaching aimed at building strong leadership, disruptive, scalable and smart business models poised for Rapid growth in sectors like EdTech, Fintech, E-commerce, HealthTech, Water, Energy and Agri.
Seda is focusing its efforts and have also approved four (4) new University based CFERIs:
- University of Johannesburg, Soweto - will focus on building young tech start-ups in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain
- Nelson Mandela Bay University - will focus on start-ups in new technologies in water, oceans economy and Electronic Vehicles and Battery technologies.
- University of Venda - focusing on new Hardware, software, IOT and AgriTech start-ups.
- Rhodes University – start-ups in the Creative Industry.
The new CFERIs will be fully established before the end of the current financial year (2021/22).
_________________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
21 June 2021 - NW1367
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Whether her department has made any COVID-19 rental relief grant available to beneficiaries; if not, why not; if so, what (a) total amount has been paid to beneficiaries to date and (b) are the names of the specified beneficiaries?
Reply:
Honourable Member, during the budget vote debate of the Department of Human Settlements (Vote 33) on 18 May 2021 I said;
“I wish to take this opportunity to restate what I said last year in this House about Social Housing and the Affordable Rental Relief Programme. I indicated in 2020 that this rental relief is solely aimed at assisting tenants in formal affordable rental housing to meet their monthly rent obligations. Of course, means testing will form part of necessary criteria to determine those who can be assisted. R600 million is allocated for this purpose”.
For those who might not be familiar with the language that we use, affordable rental housing is government subsidised rental housing, managed through the Social Housing Regulatory Authority. It cannot, as some has tried to interpret, mean the private rental space. So the category that we identified is the affordable rental sector. The private sector has no project for affordable rental housing and we have no jurisdiction over the private sector housing rental. When you hear the term affordable rental housing, it is our rental programme managed by the Social Housing Regulatory Authority. We did indeed request R600 million to assist those who find themselves in distress in our housing institutions. This we did in our 2020 budget.
However, the Minister of Finance, in his Adjustments Appropriation approved R300 million to SHRA and the remaining R300 million to the NHFC/ Housing Bank. These amounts have now been transferred to the two entities. Therefore, R300 million to assist those who rent from the State to offset the impediments caused by the pandemic. The policies and qualifications are available from SHRA.
Similarly, R300 million was allocated to the NHFC to offset the debt incurred by its own clients. The amounts were not allocated to these two institutions to use for rental relief in the private sector. I want to emphasis, we cannot and do not regulate rental for the private sector. We regulate that which is under our jurisdiction. Our people should not allow those who are ignorant to mislead them”.
21 June 2021 - NW714
Malatsi, Mr MS to ask the Minister in the Presidency
(1) What are the details of the number of paid-for interviews the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) aired on community radio stations in each province since 1 January 2020; (2) what was the (a) date of the interview, (b) name of the community radio station the interview was aired, (c) name of the person(s) who appeared on the interview and (d) cost of airing the interview in each case; (3) whether the GCIS (a) paid for and/or (b) promoted interviews conducted with any person who is not an employee of any national, provincial or local government department or entity in the specified period; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the full relevant details in each case?
Reply:
1. Community Radio remains one of the most effective mediums made use of by the GCIS Provincial and District offices for conveying messages and information, especially in very remote and deep rural areas. These platforms are enjoying a good listenership from their respective communities.
GCIS implemented 296 paid for radio interviews or talk shows during the period under review to unpack government communication and programmes and to create an awareness around government programmes. The total expenditure for the interviews is R1 627 515.77. The table below provides a broad spread of the interview per province.
# |
PROVINCE |
RADIO INTERVIEWS |
TOTAL COST |
Free State |
12 paid for Radio interview implemented |
R60 000.00 |
|
Eastern Cape |
24 paid for Radio interviews |
R168 115.00 |
|
Northern Cape |
07 paid for Radio interviews |
R44 795.60 |
|
Gauteng |
15 paid for Radio interviews |
R119 215.75 |
|
North West |
24 paid for Radio interviews implemented |
R258 288.00 |
|
Mpumalanga |
40 Radio programmes implemented. 30 were paid for radio interviews and 10 were done as valued add. |
R110 300,00 |
|
Western Cape |
59 paid for Radio interviews implemented. |
R287 700.00 |
|
Limpopo |
11 Radio programmes implemented through engagements with Community Radio Stations bearing no cost. |
R0.00 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
104 paid for Radio interviews implemented |
R579 101.42 |
|
TOTAL |
296 paid for radio interviews |
R1 627 515.77 |
2. The GCIS uses councillors/ community-based leaders, mayors, traditional leaders, community-based leaders and government spokes persons or subject matters specialists at local or district level.
Thank You.
21 June 2021 - NW1761
Motsepe, Ms CCS to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What (a) is the backlog of teacher applications to the SA Council for Educators and (b) has she found to be the causes of the delays in the processing of the applications?
Reply:
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has requested the information from the South African Council for Educators (SACE); as they are the custodians of the database with the required information. The DBE is awaiting the information, and will forward the response as soon as the data is received.
21 June 2021 - NW1736
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Whether the Government intends to renew the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits when they expire at the end of 2021; if not, what considerations informed that decision; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
The Department is currently in the process of engaging various stakeholders on the possible way forward on dealing with the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) holders before their current ZEP permit expires. A final decision will be made within the next 2 months.
END
21 June 2021 - NW1703
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)What (a) are the time frames for the completion of the Alliance Extension 9 Housing Project in Ward 71 in the City of Ekurhuleni and (b) number of beneficiaries have been approved for the specified project; (2) whether she will provide Mr M J Cuthbert with a detailed list of the names of the beneficiaries who were approved for the project; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date and (b) what are the relevant details; (3) what (a) number of residents were declined for the project, (b) were the reasons for them being declined and (c) alternatives are given by her department to assist residents who have been declined from benefiting from the project?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlements indicated that the housing project referred to is Alliance Extension 1 and not Alliance Extension 9, and that the project will be completed by 30 June 2021.
(b) A total of 410 beneficiaries have been approved for the project to date.
(2)(a) The detailed beneficiary list of the project contain confidential information which cannot be made public. It includes the following information:
- First names and surname of beneficiary
- Housing Subsidy System Status
- Date subsidy approved
- Site number
- Township – Alliance extension 1
(b) Approval dates of individual subsidy applications are reflected in the information which I had already indicated in (a) above that it is confidential.
(3)(a) The total number of beneficiaries declined is 98.
(b) The applicants were declined for the following reasons:
- Some of the applicants did not declare their monthly income;
- Some of the applicants did not declare their marital statuses;
- Incorrect and missing information on subsidy applications (Beneficiaries are contacted to submit the correct and complete information), and
- Applicants who have already previously benefitted from government housing subsidies
- It was established that some of the applicants already own property.
(c) The applicants that were declined as a result of their monthly income being more than the maximum R3 501.00 were advised to apply for other interventions/ programs such as the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP), Affordable Rental Housing and/or the Rapid Land Release Programme (RLRP).
21 June 2021 - NW1705
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether, with reference to his reply to question 169 on 19 March 2021, he will furnish Ms T A Khanyile with the details of the employee wellness programmes that are offered within his department to deal with gender-based violence (GBV); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) what is the format and/or nature of the specified programmes, (b) where are the programmes presented, (c) who runs and/or conducts the programmes and (d) what issues do the programmes address; (3) (a) how do the programmes address GBV in the workplace and (b) since he signed the Performance Agreement with the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa, what (i) number of GBV awareness campaigns have been conducted within his department and (ii) is the detailed breakdown of the campaigns that have taken place in each province, including but not limited to dates, venues and costs involved?
Reply:
(1) The Department has appointed ICAS as a Health and Wellness Services Supplier to provide emotional support to employees and their immediate family members.
(2)(a) Telephone and face-to-face counselling services (trauma, loss, sexual harassment, etc.), e-Care services (Online services by qualified professionals).
(b) It is a national programme accessible throughout all Provinces. Affected employees are serviced at their preferred venue nearer the workplace or home.
(c) Professional psychologists, social workers and registered counsellors.
(d) Personal and work related health and wellness issues affecting employees and their immediate family members (Stress, GBV, abuse, financial wellness, trauma debriefing, marital problems, parenting).
(3)(a) Awareness campaigns conducted through life management services through webinars to empower employees with coping mechanisms.
(b) (i) To date, the Department has hosted 6 webinars across the country.
(b) (ii) Webinars were held in Northern Cape, (1); Western Cape (1); Gauteng (1); and Head Office (3). Topics were: Sexual Offences; Implementation of National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence & Femicide.
END
21 June 2021 - NW1161
Basson, Mr LJ to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
With reference to the agreement between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Cuba on co-operation in the field of water resource management, which she signed on 7 February 2021, what (a) number of Cuban nationals are (i) currently employed and (ii) will be employed by her department, (b) specific work roles are envisaged for the Cuban nationals, (c) are the specific skills set of each of the Cuban nationals that are not possessed by South African nationals (i) currently employed and (ii) will be employed by her department, (d) are the details of the process followed to ensure that the same skills set was and/or is not available in the Republic and amongst South African citizens and (e) is the total cost of the (i) employment and/or (ii) prospective employment of such Cuban nationals?
Reply:
(a) In terms of the agreement between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Cuba on co-operation in the field of water resource management the details are as follows:
(i) 25 Cuban Nationals are currently deployed.
(ii) No decision has been made in this regard.
(b) The Cuban nationals are responsible for the following functions, among others;
- Evaluation of Operations and Maintenance of water infrastructure within clusters and area offices in different provinces as follows:
- Northern Cluster – Limpopo, Part of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and part of North West
- Eastern Cluster – KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Part of Eastern Cape and part of Free State
- Central Operations – Parts of N Cape, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free state
- Southern Cluster – W Cape, part of Eastern Cape and part of Northern Cape
- Eastern Cluster – KZN, part of Eastern Cape and part of Free State
- Central Operations – parts of Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free state
- Evaluation of infrastructure assets of the department including dams, bulk water infrastructure, irrigation canals and pump stations
- Evaluation and verification of quality control of maintenance as well as refurbishment of water infrastructure.
- Scoping of waste water treatment systems.
- Project management for grant funded infrastructure projects implemented by municipalities
- Verification and analysis of bulk infrastructure applications and business plans from municipalities to the DWS.
(c) The areas of specialisation and skills possessed by Cuban Nationals include the following:
NO. |
Qualification |
Area of Specialization |
Mechanical Engineering |
Mechanical Engineer |
|
Engineer Hydrologist |
Surface Water Hydrology. |
|
Electrical Engineering |
Electrical Engineering |
|
Geophysics Engineer & Master in Science Geophysics |
Civil/ Hydrological/Geophysical |
|
Civil Engineering |
Design, Maintenance and Operation of Water Infrastructure |
|
Hydraulic Engineering, Master of Science: Hydraulic Engineering |
Water Treatment Plants |
|
Hydraulics and Structural Engineering |
Experience Civil/ Hydraulic Engineer |
|
Engineering in Automatic Control |
Engineer with specialization in Automatic Control |
|
Technologist Engineer |
Technologist Engineer in Hydraulics and Water Treatment |
|
Agricultural Mechanization Engineering |
Trained as Mechanical Engineer and works as Investment Manager |
|
Irrigation and Drainage Engineering |
Irrigation and Drainage Engineer with extensive experience in Planning and Design |
|
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering & Master Mechanical Engineering |
Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology |
(d) The deployment of Cuban nationals will not negatively affect jobs which could be offered to South Africans. There are job opportunities in the same fields which are still offered to suitably qualified South Africans, including through the Graduate Programme being implemented by the DWS.
(e) The total estimated cost of employment for financial year are as follows, this includes the operational budget which is based on estimates prior to the COVID-19 realities, meaning that a significant reduction in actual cost is anticipated;
ITEM |
EXPENDITURE |
Compensation of Employees |
R34 031 413,00 |
Goods and Services (Operations Budget) |
R30 591 587,00 |
TOTAL BUDGET |
R64 623 000,00 |
21 June 2021 - NW1704
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)(a) How will beneficiaries who qualify be allocated to their units in the Alliance Extension 9 Housing Project in Ward 71 in the City of Ekurhuleni and (b) by what date will the units be allocated; (2) what are the reasons that local sub-contractors and general workers have not been paid for a period of more than three months; (3) whether her department has any other projects in the pipeline for the Lindelani Informal Settlement in terms of providing electricity, water and sanitation; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlements has advised that they are only aware of a housing project referred to as Alliance Extension 1 and not Extension 9.
Beneficiaries are verified against the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) and if approved, applicants will be linked to the stand numbers in the project. On completion of the construction of the houses, beneficiaries are notified to visit the site on a specific date set aside for housing allocations. Beneficiaries are informed to bring their original Identity Documents (IDs) as well as three copies for verification purposes. The beneficiaries are then requested to sign the consumer agreements with the City of Ekurhuleni (Finance Department), where after they are issued with allocation and “happy” letters. The three ID copies are attached to the 1. Consumer agreement 2. Allocation letter and 3. Happy letter and after that they are presented with the keys to their houses.
(b) I am have been informed that the allocation of the first 150 houses commenced on 8 June 2021, and that the next batch of completed houses will be allocated by the end of June 2021.
(2) The Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlements has advised that the services of two contractors were terminated. Both contractors did not complete some milestones and their claims were thus rejected.
(3) The Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlements has indicated that the Lindelani Informal Settlement has been earmarked to benefit from the on-going Alliance Extension 1 project, the Helderwyk Mega Project and the proposed Dalpark Extension 25 project, all of which will have electricity, water and sanitation connections.
21 June 2021 - NW1592
Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) What was the total number of applications that were submitted to her department by the Equal Education Law Centre, also known as the Equal Education, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, in the past three years; (2) in the past three years, what was the total number of (a) letters demanding detailed information that her department has received from Equal Education and (b) legal proceedings that have been instituted against her department by Equal Education; (3) what (a) was the total number of protests led by Equal Education that her department has attended (i) in the past two years and (ii) since 1 January 2021 and (b) number of the specified protests was prior notice received by her department?
Reply:
(1) What was the total number of applications that were submitted to her department by the Equal Education Law Centre, also known as the Equal Education, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, in the past three years;
Answer: The Department received seven (7) requests for information from the Equal Education Law Centre.
(2) in the past three years, what was the total number of (a) letters demanding detailed information that her department has received from Equal Education and (b) legal proceedings that have been instituted against her department by Equal Education;
Answer to 2(a): The Department of Basic Education had received a total of 10 letters from the Equal Education Law centre - two (2) leathers in 2019; six (6) letters in 2020; and two (2) letters in 2021.
Answer to 2(b): The Department was served with one (1) application, where Equal Education was the Applicant. The Department was served with another application, where the Equal Education Law Centre was the attorneys of record for the Applicant.
(3) what (a) was the total number of protests led by Equal Education that her department has attended (i) in the past two years and (ii) since 1 January 2021 and (b) number of the specified protests was prior notice received by her department?
Answer to 3(a): There were no protest marches led by Equal Education (i) in the past two years; and (ii) since 1 January 2021; and (b) no prior notice was received by the Department of Basic Education as there has not been any protests.
21 June 2021 - NW1186
Nxumalo, Mr MN to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
Whether she has found that her department’s Debt Relief Finance Scheme for small, medium and micro-enterprise affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was executed transparently and effectively; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the details of the measures that her department put in place to promote fairness?”
Reply:
The Department of Small Business Development has designed and implemented the SMMEs Debt Relief Facility to assist small business that were impacted negatively by Covid-19 pandemic. This main aim of this intervention was to protect the investment already made in the businesses involved, save jobs and prevent business closure.
To ensure that the Facility is executed efficiently and in a transparent manner, numerous control measures were put in place. These measures include heightening awareness about the Facility by publishing information, including the funding criteria on the websites of the Department and its agencies, Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa); and issuing of press releases. Furthermore, the information on all funded beneficiaries was published on the DSBD website for the consumption of the members of the public.
The SMMEs Debt Relief Facility was also subjected to an audit process. The audit performed by the independent auditors (Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo) awarded the Facility an unqualified audit opinion. In light of the above, the Department can provide a reasonable assurance that the principle of transparency and fairness were upheld in rolling out the SMMEs Debt Relief Facility.
_________________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
21 June 2021 - NW1706
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With reference to his reply to question 169 on 19 March 2021, what (a) is the funding allocation for the Mens’ Forum which was regarded as an agent for change to address gender-based violence in the workplace and (b) number of awareness campaigns has the forum implemented in each province in the (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2021-22 financial years?
Reply:
a) The Department has allocated R1 million for the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
b) (i) 2019/20: Two (2) Seminars on Men Against GBV in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape
(ii) 2020/21: Convened a virtual Disability Forum Workshop
(iii) 2021/22: There are two (2) planned interventions in August and December 2021.
END
18 June 2021 - NW1286
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
Whether a certain person (name and details furnished) is an employee of any government (a) department, (b) agency and/or (c) state-owned entity in any capacity whatsoever in the national and/or provincial sphere of government; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
(a)(b) & (c) No, the said person is not an employee in the Department of Public Service and Administration; any departmental agency nor a state-owned entity reporting to the Ministry of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) portfolio. Consequently, there are no further relevant details that can be provided.
According to records on the Public Service payroll system (PERSAL) is currently NOT an employee of any national or provincial department or government component. The person was last employed in the South African Police Service between November 2005 and November 2020.
End
17 June 2021 - NW1682
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
What (a) are the reasons that (i) no applications for tour guides have been processed since the implementation of the new computer system of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority and (ii) the system is (aa) hard copy and (bb) online driven and (b) is being done to fix the challenges in each case?
Reply:
(a) (i) According to the CATHSSETA report, there were 778 tour guide learner applications from the legacy data, which was transferred into the new system. 1 230 New applications of tour guide learners were processed on the new system.
(ii) Training providers were requested to upload documents to the system, as well as submit hard copies as a security measure during the implementation of the system. At that stage, CATHSSETA needed to ensure that the system functioned properly in relation to the management of learner documents.
(b) The SETA is considering the physical submission of documents to be optional and stakeholders will be advised accordingly.
17 June 2021 - NW1616
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(a) Which technical vocational education and training colleges breached the funding claims regulations in (i) 2020 and (ii) 2021 and (b) what measures are in place to address this?
Reply:
(a) The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) pays allowances directly to students enrolled at 44 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges through the wallet system. Furthermore, NSFAS transfers funds for the allowances of qualifying students enrolled at six colleges that are responsible for making payments to their respective students. The following TVET colleges make allowance payments to their NSFAS students:
- College of Cape Town;
- Northlink;
- False Bay;
- Boland;
- West Coast; and
- South Cape.
The below responses are based on data obtained from NSFAS, as the Department is still in the process of obtaining the necessary information from the six colleges responsible for disbursing allowances.
(i) 2020
In terms of the NSFAS report, 12 colleges contravened the Bursary Rules and Guidelines by lodging student claims for tuition fees exceeding their respective tuition allocations. Furthermore, 26 colleges contravened the bursary policy by lodging claims for accommodation for more than 40% of its NSFAS recipients. Given the broad geographic footprint of TVET colleges with 265 campuses across the country, the Bursary Rules and Guidelines stipulates that colleges may lodge accommodation allowances to a maximum of 40% of its NSFAS recipients.
(ii) 2021
In terms of the latest NSFAS report, allowances have been paid to all qualifying students. The report indicates that 22 colleges are not complying with the requirement on claims for accommodation, as their claims exceeded 40% of their NSFAS recipients.
(b) The Department has introduced various measures to address these challenges and issued a communique in March 2021 compelling colleges to ensure that the awards for allowances are made within the available budget, as the funds earmarked for allowances have been fully allocated to colleges for 2021. The Department, together with NSFAS, convened a meeting on 13 May 2021, with colleges exceeding the stipulated percentage regarding student claims for accommodation. These colleges were urged to work on a strategy that will ensure their compliance with the Bursary Rules and Guidelines in respect of the awards for allowances. Some of these colleges have already shared the strategies they are putting in place to manage the excessive demand for accommodation allowances.
17 June 2021 - NW1671
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1)With reference to the Ministerial Advisory Team appointed by him and his response toquestion 967 on 15 April 2021 that the members of the team are being paid from the Mzansi Golden Economy Fund and in light of the fact that all grants due to artists from the Mzansi Golden Economy Fund were cancelled in 2020, how is the fund currently being utilised if artists could not benefit from it; (2) what (a) amount has (i) been set aside for the Ministerial Advisory Team and (ii) been paid to each member to date and (b) processes are being followed by the members of the team to consult with or report to the sector about their team work since they are representatives of the sector
Reply:
1. The Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAT) is not compensated from the MGE grant funding but the MGE Goods and Services budget. Last year’s funding was reprioritized for the Relief Funds precisely to benefit arts practitioners.
2 (a) (i) The total budget allocated to the established Ministerial Advisory Team (MAT) amounts to three million (R3 million)
(ii) To- date a total number of 28 meetings were held and a total amount of R 256,840.22 has been paid to the MAT.
b) The MAT has been in operation since end of February 2021, to date the engagements have primarily been strategizing and consulting with various stakeholders on areas of intervention that the Department will like to embark on.
To this end, a feedback session has been schedule for later in June 2021 to provide information on the developments thus far.
17 June 2021 - NW1618
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Whether, with regard to the National Arts Council Act, Act 56 of 1997, which requires public participation in the appointment of members to the governing council of the National Arts Council (NAC), and in light of the fact that his department did not publicise the names of the four new members appointed to the NAC and call for public comment which is irregular, he will follow the proper process and advertise the names of the persons for public comment, as the four new members may not operate as council members without their names having been published and a public participation process having unfolded; if not, why not; if so, on what date will he advertise?
Reply:
The members referred to were appointed to fill the vacancies that were created when other Council members resigned. The four Council members who were appointed to replace those that resigned were part of the process which was presided over by an independent panel. These members were interviewed in public, their names were published for public to comment, and no objections were received against them.
The names of Council members who replaced those that resigned are Ms Linda Mvanana, Ms Layla Swart, and Ms Marion Mbina-Mthembu. There is no additional legal requirement that these members’ names be published for public comments. The appointment of these members was made in terms of section 4 of the National Arts Council Act, as amended, and as such, they are not precluded from operating as Council members.
Due to the challenges of the National Arts Council and the fact that it is currently facing legal challenges, the Minister decided to appoint one additional Council member (Advocate Steve Kekana) who has legal expertise to join the Council of the National Arts Council to boost the legal capacity of Council.
17 June 2021 - NW1653
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Whether the Mandela House has been closed down; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the reasons for the closure and (b) how will it be resolved?
Reply:
No, the Mandela House is operating.
(a). The Mandela House is operating under normal trading under the management of the liquidators.
(b). Not applicable as the museum is operating.
17 June 2021 - NW1517
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Whether (a) the Msunduzi Local Municipality, (b) the Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Department of Human Settlements and/or (c) her department have any plans to (i) formalise, (ii) undertake an upgrading of informal settlement programme and (iii) provide relief to the residents of Jika Joe Informal Settlement in Ward 33 of the Msunduzi Local Municipality; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(i) Honourable Member, the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Department of Human Settlements and Msunduzi Local Municipality confirmed that plans are afoot to formalise the Jika Joe informal settlements.
(ii) I have been informed that the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Department of Human Settlements will undertake an upgrading of informal settlement programme within Msudunzi Local Municipality, which will include the Jika Joe informal settlement. The Municipality has identified Ethembeni and Signal Hill Housing Projects, which are at Planning Stage, for the potential beneficiaries who will not qualify to rent in the Community Residential Units.
(iii) The Kwazulu Natal Provincial Department of Human Settlements provided relief for people whose shacks were destroyed by a fire. The 174 beneficiaries were given materials in 2020 to rebuild their dwellings. It must also be noted that more than 350 temporary structures were built from 2014 to cater for the people whose shacks were affected by fire and those who were on the flood line and under power lines.
17 June 2021 - NW1673
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(a). Who are the beneficiaries of the R45 million that has been paid for professional services for the building of the Limpopo theatre, (b) what are the actual services that were rendered and (c) who, from the theatre sector, has been appointed as a professional consultant to the project to ensure that the theatre meets the needs of the sector?
Reply:
a) The Limpopo Creative Economy Practitioner and local services providers will be the beneficiaries as the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will be transferring R45 000 000.00 over a period of three financial years to the Provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
b) The professional services rendered so far by the Limpopo Creative Economy Practitioners, has been in terms of conceptualization, designing, implementation and professional management of the entire construction of the Limpopo Theatre. The construction of the Theatre is expected to commence in February 2022.
c) The Provincial Department as the custodian of the project has consulted with Practitioners in the sector on the concept, design and construction of the Limpopo Theatre.
17 June 2021 - NW1485
McGluwa, Mr JJ to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
(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? NW1691E
Reply:
The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) did not have any work exchange programme with the Republic of Cuba and has not employed any Cuban Nationals. There are no plans in the pipeline in this regard.
- Not applicable.
- Not applicable.
_________________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
17 June 2021 - NW1418
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
(1)Whether (a) her department and/or (b) entities reporting to her funded/contributed to the supply and/or installation of the production line for the manufacture of protective masks at a certain factory (name and details furnished); if so, (a) to what value and (b) on what date; (2) whether her department has awarded any tenders for the supply of (a) masks or (b) shoes to the specified factory; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) what is the (aa) value, (bb) extent and (cc) number of each tender and (ii) on what date was each tender awarded?” NW1615E
Reply:
(1)(a)&(b) The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), nor its agencies – the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agencies (sefa), have not funded /contributed to the supply and/or installation of the production line for the manufacture of protective masks from the Dick Whittington Shoe Factory in Pietermaritzburg.
(2) The Department has not awarded any tender to any factory for the supply of masks. The masks procured in March 2020 were procured through a quotation process.
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
17 June 2021 - NW1556
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:”
What steps has his department taken to date regarding the slow progress of the Memorandum of Understanding on School Sport between Sport and Recreation South Africa and the Department of Basic Education?
Reply:
THE Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture has met with the Minister of Basic Education to review the MOU. Both Directors- General have been tasked with the review of the MOU.
The review process is underway. Consultations have taken place internally in the Department and with the colleagues at the Department of Basic Education.
A first draft that integrate all areas of the Department’s programmes that need or are executed in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education has been finalised. This is still work in progress towards further consultation within the two Departments Executive management, Provincial Departments and other stakeholders in the Sport, Arts and Culture and Education Sector.
17 June 2021 - NW1722
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
What (a) is the total number of staff that is employed in the Office of the SA High Commission in London and (b) are the (i) names and (ii) designation of the persons employed in the specified office; (2) Whether the office is currently fully operational with all staff on duty full time; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details, (3) What services are currently being provided by the office; (4) Whether any services are currently not being provided ; if so, (a) what services and (b) on what date will they resume;
Reply:
1 (a) 18 Transferred officials and 5 vacant posts.
(b) (i) Not Applicable
(ii) Designation
Position 1 - Deputy High Commissioner
Position 2 – Counsellor Bilateral
Position 3 – Counsellor Multilateral
Position 4 – State Security
Position 5 – Political Secretary
Position 6 - Political Secretary
Position 7 - Corporate Services Manger – Vacant since December 2019, waiting for a replacement
Position 8 – First Secretary Administration ( Acting Corporate Services Manager)
Position 9 – Third Secretary Administration
Position 10 – Third Secretary Administration
Position 11 – Counsellor ICT
Position 12 – First Secretary ICT
Position 13 - First Secretary ICT – Vacant since December 2020
Partner Departments:
Department of Home Affairs ( DHA)
Position 14 – Counsellor: Immigration and Civic Services
Position 15 – Second Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services
Position 16 - Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services
Position 17 - Second Secretary: Immigration and Civic Services – Vacant since December 2018 State Security:
Position 18 – Counsellor: Political
Position 19 - Political Secretary – Vacant since November 2019
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Position 20 – Minister: DTI
Department of Transport
Position 21 – Minister Transport
South African Police Service ( SAPS)
Position 22 – Counsellor : SAPS
South Africa's National Defence Force
Position 23 - Defence & Air Advisor – Vacant since January 2020
Position 24 - Deputy Defence & Air Advisor – since August 2020
Position 25 - Defence Office Chief Clerk
(2) Yes, the Mission is fully operational.
(3) The services being provided by the office are Civic and Immigration services
which are rendered from 09h00 until 15h00 at Whitehall, SW1A 2DD.
All Consular services are rendered such as:
- The processing of legal documents for members of the public for use in South Africa. (mainly buying and selling property and banking matters)
- Support for the Department of Justice in matters relating to the UK. (Child maintenance, Service of Process, Extradition etc.)
- Supporting South Africans in distress according to the Consular handbook in matters relating to the death of a family member. (Contacting police, hospital, coroner etc. and arranging quotes for repatriation of remains.
Dealing with the Department of Health to arrange permits).
- Facilitating visas for diplomats travelling to South Africa.
(4) All services are currently being provided.
(a) and (b) Not applicable
17 June 2021 - NW1672
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Whether he will furnish details regarding the (a) timeline and (b) processes that will lead to the PE Opera House being gazetted as a cultural institution as he reported a year ago and recently during budget vote 37 that it will be awarded the status according to the cultural institutions act, act 119 of 1998; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(a) & (b). Mandela Bay Theatre Complex previously known as PE Opera House has been gazetted and declared as a Cultural Institution. The declaration was signed by Minister and announced on 31 May 2021; it was then published on June 4, 2021.
17 June 2021 - NW1049
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Whether she will provide Ms E L Powell with the (a) tax invoices and (b) signed proof of delivery of items as procured by her department from certain service providers (names and details furnished) during the period 1 March to 1 October 2020; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
The Honourable Member is well aware that the document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly”, prohibits Members of Parliament, including the Executive, from providing names in parliamentary questions and responses to questions. The document referred to states that:
“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”
I am therefore unable to provide the information requested by the Honourable Member as it contains company names and other confidential inform
17 June 2021 - NW1683
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(a) How are tour guide trainers and educators assessed by the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority as qualified, (b) what criteria are used to ensure that trainers meet the highest standards, (c) what are the set standards, (d) what qualifications are required in order for a person to qualify as a trainer and/or educator, (e) on what date was the curriculum updated and improved (i) in the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 January 2021, (f) what were the updates and improvements and (g) who assessed and concluded the updates and improvements in each case?
Reply:
(a) The Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) accredits tour guide trainers based on the 8-core criteria document that was developed by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
(b) The eight core criteria are used to ensure that trainers meet the highest standards. Trainers must submit the following policies and procedures:
- Policy Statement: The organisation’s aims, objectives and purpose.
- Quality Management System: Outline procedures that implement quality management.
- Review Mechanisms: Outline how the implementation of policies would be monitored.
- Programme Delivery: Outline how learning programmes would be developed, delivered and evaluated.
- Staff Policies: Outline policies and procedures for staff selection, appraisal and development.
- Learner Policies: Policies and procedures for the selection of learners are outlined, and learners are given guidance and support.
- Assessment Policies: Outline policies and procedures for forms of assessments that are used and how they are managed.
- Management System and Policies: Indicate the financial, administrative and physical structures and resources of the organisation, and procedures of accountability within the organisation.
(c) The set standards are the qualifications that are on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). There are two guiding qualifications, i.e. National Certificate: Tourism: Guiding, NQF level 2, SAQA ID 17174; and Further Education and Training Certificate: Tourist Guiding, NQF level 4, SAQA ID 71549. There are also skills programmes for Culture, Nature and Adventure Guiding.
(d) Over and above the trainers being tour guides themselves, they must be trained on the following unit standards:
- Conduct outcomes-based assessment – SAQA ID 115753
- Conduct moderation of outcomes-based assessments – SAQA ID 115759
(e) – (g) In the past three financial years there have been no improvements or changes to the qualifications as the industry has not requested them. However, there has been a need to re-align the qualifications to meet the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations standards, i.e. occupational qualifications. The curriculum is not improved by the SETA but by the accredited trainers. The SETA’s responsibility is to improve the set standards, i.e. the qualifications that are on the NQF with input from the guiding industry.
17 June 2021 - NW1332
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
Whether she has formally submitted the final justification and draft legislation regarding the merger of the Small Enterprise Finance Agency and the Small Enterprise Development Agency into a single entity to the Minister of Public Service and Administration and the Minister of Finance for consultation and inputs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The business case has been submitted to the relevant Ministers for inputs. The Department is currently taking the draft business case through government structures to get Cabinet endorsement on the preferred option first before finalisation of the business case which will then be followed by the drafting of the relevant legislation.
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
17 June 2021 - NW1554
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)Whether the residents of Jika Joe Informal Settlement will benefit from the council rental units (CRU) that are currently under construction in Ward 33, in Msunduzi, which will be known as Tathum Mews CRU’s; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) how will the allocation of the Tathum Mews CRU’s in Ward 33 be managed, (b) what are the rental costs for each CRU at Tathum Mews and (c) by what date will (i) such allocations and (ii) rental agreements be concluded; (3) whether the beneficiary list for persons qualifying for council rental assistance from the Msunduzi Local Municipality in respect of Tathum Mews has been finalised; if not, why not; if so, will she furnish Ms E L Powell with the beneficiary list?
Reply:
(1) Honourable Member, I have been informed that the residents of Jika Joe Informal Settlements will benefit from the rental units under construction in Msunduzi Local Municipality. They are the primary beneficiaries of the new development as per the target market of the CRU Policy. The project is still in the first phase of construction.
(2) (a) The process of allocation has commenced per the Tenant Management Plan approved by Council and in line with the CRU Allocation Policy. Several community engagements have been held, requesting people to register at the office located at the CRU Complex.
(b) The rental charges range from R500 to R800 per month and are calculated at 30% of income.
(c) (i) It is anticipated that the first occupation will take place by 1 July 2021.
(ii) Rental agreements are expected to be concluded by the end of June 2021.
(3) A social survey of residents of the informal settlements was undertaken in 2018 and the information was updated in February 2021. The list of prospective tenants for the CRU project is available, however, we are not in a position to share it as it contains confidential individual personal details.
17 June 2021 - NW1620
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
With reference to his Budget Vote speech in Parliament on 13 May 2021, wherein he made reference to R10 million for the Debut Fund for emerging professionals, (a) what are the processes for administering the fund, (b) who adjudicates the applications and (c) what are the criteria for qualifying for the fund?
Reply:
(a). What are the processes for administering the fund?
Department administration:
The department administers the R10 million allocated to BASA for three years through a Memorandum of Agreement. R3 million was distributed in 2020/21, R5 million in 2021/22 and R2 million in 2022/23 with each amount distributed in tranches quarterly following submission of the progress report to the department. This administration is coupled with meetings with BASA and monitoring the process by the Project Manager.
As a requirement, BASA submits a detailed annual report with expenditure to the departments regarding the debut fund programme.
BASA’s administration:
- Participation in immersion workshops and activities including submission of tasks.
- Adjudication and selection of submissions by an external panel.
- Announcement and communication to participants.
- Mentorship and Participant support by Mentor/Facilitators and Provincial Liaisons (2 per province).
- A final list of recipients whose documents have all been submitted, as well as the relevant documents for each individual is sent to the BASA Accounts department.
- Accounts verifies that all documents have been submitted. These include: ID Copy, Proof of banking, SARS tax Registration and signed agreement.
- A payment schedule is drawn up for each province and sent to BASA’s Finance Manager (FM) for review.
- BASA’s FM verifies each recipient's banking details and ID numbers with the bank. Once details are verified, the payment schedule is sent to BASA’s Head of Programmes, CEO and a Board representative, usually the deputy chair or the chairperson. Each must review the schedules and sign for approval.
- Once they have all signed, payments are then loaded and released from the bank.
- All signed payment schedules and proof of payments are filed accordingly.
Key to note: Participants receive 70% of their grants at the beginning. They are required to participate in the activities of the next phase and to submit a report on the first tranche. Once this has been reviewed, they then receive the 30% balance. Report includes the narrative as well as the expenditure component.
(b) Who adjudicates the applications:
Participants’ applications and submissions are evaluated by an external adjudication panel. Below is a list of the diverse individuals who have assisted with applications and the submissions of tasks.
Name |
Languages |
Brief Profile |
Tshepiso Shikwambane |
Xitsonga, IsiZulu, English |
Actor, director, voiceover artist. Director and co-founder of Phandicraft Active Drama |
Aifheli Makhwanya |
Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, English |
Independent researcher and consultant for the cultural and creative industries. Managing Director of Dzanda Consulting & Events |
Onthatile Ditshego |
Setswana, Sepedi, Sesotho, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, English, Afrikaans, Siswati |
Programme Manager at the Trevor Noah Foundation |
David April |
Setswana, Sepedi, Afrikaans, English |
Director, teacher, choreographer, and lobbyist |
Dimakatso Motholo |
Sesotho, Setswana IsiZulu |
Stage manager, performing artist, researcher, administrator, and project manager |
(c) What is the criteria for qualifying for the fund?
Target Audience:
- Emerging artists working in all disciplines, in all provinces
- Between the ages of 18-35 years old
- Individuals from Rural/Peri-urban communities are given first preference
Applicants submit WhatsApp videos of who they are and why they want to join the Programme.
Adjudicators first check against the key requirements as per the above, including whether:
- The participant showed potential to develop further/alignment with programme objectives
- Reason(s) for wanting to join the programme
- Their ability to articulate their need for entrepreneurial /business skills and how they will utilise these skills
Access to funding within the programme:
For participants to make it to the next phase(s) of the Debut Programme and to receive funding they are required to complete all required tasks/activities in the relevant phase and then to submit a formal application for their business ideas or ventures, using the knowledge gained during the Workshops.
Criteria:
- Viability: How viable participants’ business ideas/ventures were
- Market Knowledge: How well the participant understands their market
- Finance: How well the participant understands the financial aspects of their business idea/venture
- Coherence: How coherent is the participant's overall submission?
- Translation: How well did the participant outline their business idea onto the Lean Model Canvas?
NB: Participants are required to meet the deadline in time for the adjudication.
17 June 2021 - NW1511
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
Whether her department has (a) made and/or (b) implemented any plans to assist small-, medium- and micro-enterprises to avert the cybersecurity risks they might be vulnerable to in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of cybercrimes; if not, why not; if so, what are the full relevant details?”
Reply:
The Department is well sensitised to the potential threats and risks posed to small enterprises. It is however important to note that the use of technology by small enterprises cannot be directly managed by the Department as this is an individual entity’s responsibility. Where the Department’s accountability lies is within the technology it exposes to small enterprises through its online platforms; and within this area, the Department has increased its own security measures and performs regular monitoring on potential breaches. Regular updates to the public via social media is maintained to inform of any risks or scams related to the Department.
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
_______________________
MR LINDOKUHLE MKHUMANE
DIRECTOR GENERAL: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________
MS ROSEMARY CAPA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
_______________________________________________________________________________
RESPONSE APPROVED BY:
_________________________
MS KHUMBUDZO NTSHAVHENI, MP
MINISTER FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
DATE:
17 June 2021 - NW1557
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). Whether his department has reviewed the mandate of loveLife since its inception; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what are the reasons that (a) his department continues to fund loveLife despite it has not having achieved its strategic objectives (details furnished) for over 10 years and (b) Love life is organising sport events given that sport is not its core mandate?
Reply:
(1). loveLife responded to indicate that having consulted the then Department of Sport and Recreation SA, the mandate of loveLife was reviewed in 2010.
From 2011, the loveLife mandate included the assistance the department in encouraging recreation at community and school level (for the schools not part of the Schools Sport Programme) by having loveLife ground-BREAKERs (youth implementers) organise sport and recreational activities that encompass youth health messaging to foster behavioural change among young people to steer them away from risky behaviour like alcohol abuse, gangsterism, violence, etc. and also encourage physical activity as a way to combat non-communicable diseases that are made worse by inactivity.
(2)(a). The strategic objectives referred to were from the inception of the organisation in 1999 to the 2010. These objectives ended with the “love to be there” campaign that was run by loveLife to encourage young people to be part of the history-making 2010 World Cup that was hosted by South Africa. A study done in 2012 shows that loveLife did achieve their strategic objective in that period which was to respond to the number of youth contracting HIV by increasing knowledge as that was what loveLife’s mandate was based on, the increased knowledge among young people about HIV, and all Sexual and Reproductive and Health related information. (SRHR)
(2)(b). The NSRP strategic outcomes advocates for the department to take a lead with regard to the implementation of the Mass Participation related programmes. As an active nation pillar, this programme is implemented together with the Federations and other NGO’s whose mandate is aligned to the strategic objectives of the department. The partnership with loveLife and NGO has been revised to ensure that it aligns to the mandate of the department. Of critical importance to this partnership, is the fact that loveLife mainly targets the Youth in school and out-of-school, to address among others, lifeskills and health and behavioural aspects. To do this they have a programme groundBREAKERS, who are themselves, young people who help deliver the programme. These groundBREAKERS, are skilled both in lifeskills and coaching, with the aim of ensuring that they can use sport to communicate positive value to the youth.
This loveLife as a strategic partner of DSAC, forms part of the NGO’s that are able to work with the Sport Stakeholders to roll-out sport and recreation activities in their centres.
15 June 2021 - NW1662
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether, with reference to the qualifications of a certain person (name and details furnished), more specifically the insignias the specified person was wearing on the left and right chest when the Commander-in-Chief announced the person’s new appointment in the SA National Defence Force, the person completed the academic and practical training in order to wear the insignias of a Special Forces operator, as well as a qualified paratrooper; if not, (a) what are the reasons that the person wore the two insignias, (b) what qualified the person to wear it on the left and right chest and (c) who awarded the person the right to wear the insignias; if so, (i) on what dates did the person complete the required training, (ii) what total number of Special Forces operations did the person take part in and (iii) what total number of parachute jumps has the person completed?
Reply:
1. (a) and (b)The member completed similar courses in Cuba in 1983.
(c) and (i)On a parade officiated by erstwhile C J Ops on 24 March 2006, the member was awarded honorary Special Force (SpecF) insignia; and again on a parade hosted by then Officer Commanding 44 Parachute Regiment on 05 September 2016, he was awarded honorary Dispatcher wings.
(ii) SpecF operations is a top secret matter.
(iii) Only operators currently executing SpecF tasks are required to maintain a jump log, it is not applicable to the member being enquired on.
15 June 2021 - NW1741
Nxumalo, Mr MN to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(a) What other strategies, besides new stipulations on courses funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, is the Government adopting and implementing to encourage the uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and related courses in 2021 and (b) how are such strategies expected to influence (i) universities in general and (ii) the offering of social sciences and humanities in particular?
Reply:
(a) Since the introduction of the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation System in 2010 and subsequent Medium-Term Strategic Framework, the Department has been engaging with universities through enrolment planning on their targets for scarce skills areas. In the new enrolment planning cycle, the targets for first time entering students into the scarce skills areas of engineering, life and physical sciences, human health, animal health and vet science, and teacher education are indicated in Table 1 below:
TABLE 1: 2020 to 2025 Proposed targets for first time entering students in scarce skills |
||||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Engineering |
16 152 |
16 647 |
17 085 |
17 639 |
18 100 |
18 317 |
Life and Physical Science |
16 948 |
17 161 |
17 584 |
17 391 |
17 459 |
17 614 |
Human Health |
9 796 |
10 155 |
10 418 |
10 838 |
11 155 |
11 516 |
Animal and Veterinary Science |
1 116 |
1 154 |
1 194 |
1 209 |
1 229 |
1 257 |
Initial Teacher Education |
22 752 |
22 746 |
22 788 |
22 855 |
22 951 |
23 380 |
The targets for all undergraduate enrolments for the scarce skills are in Table 2 below:
TABLE 2: 2020 to 2025 Proposed targets for all undergraduate qualifications in scarce skills |
||||||
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Engineering |
77 062 |
77 003 |
77 158 |
78 916 |
80 796 |
83 019 |
Life and Physical Science |
58 267 |
59 240 |
60 613 |
61 218 |
62 092 |
62 890 |
Human Health |
47 411 |
47 488 |
47 597 |
49 120 |
50 406 |
51 926 |
Animal and Veterinary Science |
5 001 |
5 208 |
5 343 |
5 469 |
5 592 |
5 729 |
Initial Teacher Education |
136 272 |
139 733 |
142 893 |
144 791 |
147 471 |
150 117 |
(b) (i) Universities are funded through Teaching Input Units (TIUs) based on their approved enrolment plans. If the universities adhere to the agreed upon targets, they will receive their full funding in terms of their approved TIUs. If they are more than 2% under-enrolled, universities will be penalised financially and if they are more than 2% over-enrolled in their first-time entering enrolments, they will also be penalised due to the impact which over-enrolment has on the sector.
(ii) The above-mentioned strategy is not expected to have a significant impact on the Social and Human Sciences as the enrolment plan targets are also set in terms of the percentage in the Human Sciences (includes Social Sciences). The targets are reflected in Table 3 below:
15 June 2021 - NW1603
Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(1)In view of the latest Language Policy Framework for Higher Education Institutions, published by his department on 30 October 2020, which uses a certain definition to define indigenous languages in the Republic (details furnished), Afrikaans and all Khoe- and San languages, such as Khoekhoegowab, are excluded thereby effectively designating the specified languages to the status of being non-indigenous, on what factual basis does the policy exclude both Afrikaans and Khoekhoegowab from the definition of indigenous South African languages, thereby effectively designating the languages as non-indigenous; (2) whether, since the policy regards both Afrikaans and Khoekhoegowab as foreign and/or non-indigenous languages in the Republic, he will indicate in which countries the specified languages are indigenous; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether, since the policy explicitly states that an indigenous language is a language that is native to a region or country and spoken by indigenous people, the Government regards the speakers of Afrikaans and Khoekhoegowab as foreign, alien or otherwise non-indigenous to the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The definition of indigenous languages in the "Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions" (2020) was developed following broad consultations with different language practitioners and stakeholders in the country. In line with the Higher Education Act, the Department relied heavily on the advice from the Council on Higher Education, which made substantive input on the content of the policy, including the list of definitions included in the policy's initial draft. The Department also sought consistency in the use of terms with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which uses the term "indigenous languages", to underscore the importance of recognising and developing historically marginalised languages of the people of South Africa.
Alternatively, the policy framework could have used the terminology "indigenous African languages" as commonly used in literature. However, this expression could easily have been construed as excluding Afrikaans as it emphasizes the "Bantu" origins of the languages and their wide usage by the native population. The definition of the term "indigenous languages" in the policy is used purely to highlight the historical marginalisation of African languages as a result of both colonial and apartheid legacies, and the need to develop these languages for scholarly ends.
The policy framework does not in any way exclude or disadvantage Afrikaans or any other South African language, for that matter, as the need to develop all official South African languages other than English is well articulated in the policy, and in fact is, its underlying motive. The main objective of the policy is not to argue or settle the debate around the issue of indigeneity or otherwise of languages, but rather to highlight the fact of historical marginalisation of African languages in academia and propose ways and mechanisms in which this historical injustice could be corrected.
In terms of the Khoi language, the definition includes the following “an indigenous language is a language that is native to a region or country and spoken by indigenous people”. It, therefore, includes the Khoi language family.
These definitions should be read in the context of the policy and its aims. The policy aims “to contribute to transformation in higher education with specific reference to universities through enhancing the status and roles of previously marginalised South African languages to foster institutional inclusivity and social cohesion”. This policy does in no way, imply that Afrikaans must be removed/or not further developed. It simply aims to achieve the aspirations of Section 29(2) of the Constitution by making sure that all previously marginalised languages enjoy parity of esteem and that language is not an obstacle to access for all South Africans.
As indicated above, the Policy Framework does not exclude Afrikaans and San languages as indigenous languages. The definition adopted in the Policy when read correctly within the broader context of the framework is meant to highlight the colonial and apartheid history of the exclusion of indigenous African languages or simply indigenous languages of Bantu origin. At no point is the Policy intended to settle the debate of the indigeneity or otherwise of Afrikaans or any other language.