Reply:

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

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

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

Reply:

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

Visible Policing:

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

Must undergo psychometric testing.

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

A minimum of one year investigation experience.

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

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

May be subjected to a Lifestyle Audit at any time.

Vetting at the level of secret to be done.

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

Detective Service:

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

Commanders should have undergone a Detective Commanders Course.

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

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

Reply to question 1043 recommended

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

Reply to question 1043 approved/not approved

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

:

 

e8c8

Reply:

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

Reply to question 1126 recommended

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

Reply to question 1126 approved/not approved

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

 

Reply:

(1)(a)(b)(i){ìì)(iii)

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

 

Reply:

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

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

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

Reply to question 1139 recommended

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

Reply to question 1139 approved/not approved

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

Reply:

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

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

Reply:

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

Reply to question 1040 recommended

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

Reply to question 1040 approved

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

Reply:

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

Reply to question 1022 recommended

Reply:

A number of institutions have put in place mechanisms to provide electronic devices to students. The extent to which students who needed laptops were supported to obtain these varied widely across universities, from 0% or close thereto for three institutions, to over 70% for 18 institutions. The average across the system in February 2021 was that 74% of students who required laptops were supported to obtain one, including 66% of NSFAS students. This was reported by institutions in the bi-monthly monitoring reports submitted to the Department.

In addition, the NSFAS has ordered the first batch of 170 000 laptops for NSFAS funded university and TVET college students. The timeline for the delivery of laptops has been hampered by the worldwide shortage of components to build laptops. Despite this, 7 300 laptops have been received and distribution will commence in the second week of June 2021. A consignment of 63 000 laptops are expected throughout June 2021.

Reply:

a) The department will never know the total number of unregistered children in the country, in each Province whether born to nationals or non-nationals. This is because the Department plays no role in the birth of children. Children are born in hospitals and at home and the Department does not conduct any censors in that regard.

The Department depends on individual parents, guardians or authorised person bringing their children for registration. Even with Home Affairs offices being opened in hospitals, it is still the responsibility of a parent to submit their child for registration.

bThe department registers birth within 30 days in terms of Birth and Death Registration Act. There are 412 frontline line offices, and 391 health facilities wherein parents, guardians or any authorised person can register birth and collect certificates on the spots. There is a plan to connect 1 445 by 2023/2024 financial year.

END

Reply:

(a)  After due consideration, the College and Council have established that the relocation of the campus is not feasible due to the following reasons:

- no public land or suitable buildings are available within a viable distance of the current campus;
- no funding is available to purchase private land and construct an equivalent site; 
- any such move would in reality take 3 to 4 years and the challenge needs an immediate intervention; and
- the landfill is in fact closed and the challenges being experienced are due to a lack of management by the municipality in enforcing its closure.

(b) The Department has commenced with an intergovernmental process to secure the effective enforcement of the closure of the site. This process is being coordinated via the Office of the Minister.

Reply:

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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

Reply:

(a) Students can change courses as continuing NSFAS funding is based on the NSFAS funding criteria.  In terms of the criteria, continued funding is based on academic eligibility testing, which includes the N+ rule.  N is the minimum qualification completion time, also known as regulation time specified by the institution for a programme of study funded by NSFAS.  N+1 applies to first-time entering students first registered after December 2017, whilst N+2 applies to students who first registered before January 2018. If a student has transferred from any other public university, regardless of whether they were funded at that university, the number of years already registered for the qualification must be counted as part of the minimum qualification completion time.

(b) No, NSFAS does not stop funding because students change institutions.  NSFAS funding stops when the student fails to meet the academic eligibility criteria and the N+ rule.

(c) A student contravenes the rules when they no longer meet academic eligibility requirements, exceed their N+ time, and move between institutions without declaring this. The expectations of students are outlined in the bursary guidelines. 

Reply:

(a) The Department was not informed that the Thekwini TVET College, Springfield Campus is experiencing issues with the landfill site adjacent to the campus. The matter has been escalated to an intergovernmental process that will involve the Municipality and Provincial COGTA coordinated by the Office of the Minister.

(b) As the matter has now been brought to the attention of the Department, an urgent intervention is underway to deter the illegal dumping on and around the site, which will in turn deter the burning of refuse by the illegal persons accessing the site.

Reply:

1. The clinical trials referred to in this context are often funded by philanthropic groups, international product development partnerships, other governments (such as US funds for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN)). Multinational corporations (MNC) generally make a contribution by providing the study product for free in the clinical trial, and fund the trials in some countries. Public funds in South Africa are generally used as a contribution to focus attention on the South African-specific situation (e.g. efficacy/safety in HIV-infected individuals), to ensure clinical data is obtained to ensure regulatory compliance in South Africa. Funding allocation for health R&D is informed by the objectives and priorities of the Bio-Economy Strategy.

2. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) contributed R4,5 million towards the ChAdOx1 trial (AstraZeneca vaccine) to ensure that HIV positive persons were enrolled in the clinical trial, as this is a particular need within the South African environment. In addition, the DSI contributed an amount of R1 million towards the use of local clinical trial sites for the World Health Organization Global Solidarity Trial.

3. The clinical trials referred to above generally do not result in new intellectual property (IP) as the purpose is to obtain safety and efficacy data on an existing product (owned by the MNC). If, in the unlikely event that IP is developed, the Intellectual Property from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act applies in South Africa (i.e. if the research is not paid at full cost, this will result in IP ownership by the university conducting the work. In such circumstances the product owner/MNC often gets some rights in terms of either co-ownership or first rights to license the IP).

Reply:

(a)  It should be noted that universities have generally reported high levels of student participation in teaching and learning, with no university reporting percentages higher than 10% for students not engaged and 4 universities reporting higher than 5% for students not engaged. Universities' teaching and learning plans included the following:

• Development and delivery of online teaching and learning materials: synchronous and asynchronous methods were utilised;
• Development of print-based teaching and learning materials, and delivery to students;
• Uploading of teaching and learning materials to USBs and delivery to students;
• Development and delivery of alternative assessment strategies; and
• Catch-up programmes as students returned to campus.
  There are many students who lost funding because they exceeded the N+2 rule for various reasons. During the 2020 funding cycle, the Minister approved a concession in the application of the N+2 rule for 2020. This concession was applied as follows:
• Where students cancelled their enrolment in the first semester, the particular year will not add to the N+ calculation.
• Where students provided medical or psycho-social evidence that they had to cancel their studies, that year will not be counted.
• Students in their final year that exceeded the N+2 provisions would be funded to teach them out of the system in that year.
  (b) 22 832 NSFAS funded continuing students in 2021 exceeded the N+ rule and were unfunded.

Reply:

(a) NSFAS is not aware of 5 000 students that have been excluded financially. On engagement with the university management and SRC, this information could not be verified. NSFAS funded students are not required to pay registration fees.

(b) NSFAS has made advance payments to institutions covering two months and is not aware of, and does not expect any funded student to not have received their allowances. Universities are also expected, in terms of the 2021 guidelines for the DHET Bursary Scheme for university students, to keep a database of all single use accommodation providers for NSFAS students who provided a lease agreement and engage providers where challenges are identified with regards to the payment of accommodation allowances.

Reply:

The Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD)  continues to contribute and strategically guide on the inclusion of women into the mainstream economy, by promoting the meaningful participation of women into all socio-economic activities of the country and ensuring that this is done comprehensively and in a financially inclusive manner.

It does this in the following ways:

1. Promoting an all-inclusive approach to Women’s Financial Inclusion;
2. Facilitating an enabling operating environment for mainstreaming women’s financial inclusion in government and private sector institutions;
3. Promoting financial inclusivity through equitable access to ownership and control  of all economic activities for women;

1. Lobbying the private sector, non-government organisations and international organisations to incorporate the inclusion of women in their policies, programmes, projects and products;
2. Mobilising resources to support campaigns and programmes that promote the inclusion of women in the economy;
3. Coordinating, collecting and disseminating information  on best practices  relating to the inclusion of women across all sectors of our economy;
4. Strengthening the capacity of women in leadership, management, control and entrepreneurship.
5. Sharing best practices relating to the economic emancipation of women

To this effect the DWYPD has undertaken the following economic empowerment and participation interventions in the previous FY:

DWYPD held a webinar with DFl’s and the ESEID cluster to promote the financial inclusion of women, facilitated the coordination of an Integrated Entrepreneurship Development Programme (IEEDP) to streamline programmes of implementing departments, hosted a capacity building workshop on opportunities within the Sanitary Dignity Programmes Economic Value Chain and coordinated an Enterprise Trade Fair for Women to not only promote inclusivity but further sustainability of Women Owned Businesses.

In the 2021/2022, the department would be embarking on a National Radio Talk Show. It is envisaged to be an impactful awareness raising tool which will reach over 30 million listeners, especially those from communities in rural and township areas. The shows would emphasize the importance of compliance with requirements for business operations in the country as well as raise awareness of opportunities for women owned businesses within public procurement.

Approved by:
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP
Minister
Date: 28 May 2021

Reply:

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is currently investigating several matters in collaboration with the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI) with respect to the National Lotteries Commission. Due to the fact that investigations are ongoing, there have as yet been no arrests, no charges have been brought against any persons, and no assets have been seized.

The SIU is preparing to refer evidence pointing to criminal action to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and to approach the Special Tribunal in order to freeze assets belonging to several individuals.

Due to the large number of matters identified for investigation, the SIU has divided the investigation into phases. The first phase, consisting of 14 investigation focus areas, is likely to be completed by 30 June 2021. The second and final phase of the investigation is likely to be completed by 31 December 2021.

Reply:

(a) (i) The research entails details findings on experience of persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown regulations. Furthermore, the research report entails how South African government has performed in ensuring promotion, safety and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all measures introduced during the COVID-19 state of national disaster.
(ii) The outcomes of the research are available in the form of recommendations which outlines interventions and measures which must be put in place by government spheres to mitigate challenges faced by persons with disabilities during and for future state of national disasters.

1. The research project was entirely funded by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, no financial contributions from DWYPD and below is the breakdown of expenditure:

Consultancy fee: R139 200 Transport fees: R67 200

Incentives: respondents / participants: R114 000 Airtime & data: R6 000

Equipments (Tape recorder): R600
Sign Language Interpreters: R10 000 Braille printing: R1000
Incidental costs: R2000

• • TOTAL: R340 000

Approved by:
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP Minister
Date: 28 May 2021

 

Reply:

South Africa has recently issued a number of media statements strongly condemning the actions of the Israeli Government, where casualties have been mostly innocent civillians, children, women and the elderly.

South Africa recalled its Ambassador accredited to the State of Israel, Mr Sisa Ngombane, in May 2018.

The Government remains seized with the modalities related to its diplomatic relations with the State of Israel. The Department will communicate any further actions still under consideration.

Reply:

Subsequent to the killing of Mr Lindani Myeni in Hawaii on 14 April 2021, the Department fulfilled its obligation by rendering the necessary consular assistance to the surviving spouse and the family of Mr Myeni in order to ensure the timely return of his mortal remains to South Africa and to follow up on related matters.

Upon learning about the death of Mr Myeni, the Consul-General in Los Angeles immediately informed the South African Ambassador in Washington DC. The Consulate then liaised with the Consular division at the Department to request guidance on the type of assistance that should be rendered by the Mission, after which the Consul-General liaised with Mrs Myeni to brief her accordingly.

The Consulate further communicated with the regional Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) to request a police report, including the return of the personal belongings of Mr Myeni from the Honululu Police Department (HPD). Following a delay in the return of Mr Myeni’s personal belongings by the HPD, the Mission liaised with Mrs Myeni’s attorney and also requested the intervention of the Embassy in Washington regarding this matter. The Embassy forwarded a Diplomatic Note to the State Department on 18 April 2021, in which the serious concerns of the South African Government around the circumstances of the killing of Mr Myeni was conveyed, including a request for full transparency and the release of all available information, including the 911 call that precipitated the shooting.

The South African Ambassador in Washington subsequently had a telecon with the Deputy Assisstant Secretary (DAS) in the Bureau for African Affairs in the State Department who offered his assistance to the Embassy, including to liaise with the City of Honolulu.

The Consul-General in Los Angeles was also in contact with the funeral home where Mr Myeni’s mortal remains were being kept in order to process the required documentation to obtain the death certificate to facilitate the repatriation of Mr Myeni’s remains. The Consular division at Head Office liaised with the Department of Health to process the required import permit and the Consul-General further liaised with the Provincial Government in Kwa-Zulu Natal to update them on the status of the processes underway to return the remains of Mr Myeni. The mortal remains of Mr Myeni arrived in South Africa on 30 April 2021, where it was received by the family and representatives from the Department and the Government.

The Department also conveyed to the US Embassy in Pretoria the concerns of the Government about the lack of a comprehensive report on the circumstances that led to the death of Mr Myeni and the utterances by the Mayor of Honolulu that the police had acted correctly. A request was made that the State Department should intervene to obtain a report as soon as possible and that the personal belongings of Mr Myeni should be returned to the family. A follow up request was later made to the US Embassy for Mr Myeni’s belongings, inluding his mobile phone, to be returned to his family without further delay.

As of 25 May 2021, the Consul-General in Los Angeles reported that the requested police report was still outstanding. The lawyers of Mrs Myeni undertook to inform the Consul-General once there are new developments on the matter.

Reply:

1. The ERAP was a short-term intervention implemented over six months to deal with the heightened levels of GBVF whilst the Interim GBVF Steering Committee (IGBVF-SC) was developing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF (NSP on GBVF). The Department was mainly responsible for playing an oversight, catalytic and supportive role to assist the process of successful implementation of ERAP projects; working in collaboration with the Interim GBVF Steering Committee (IGBVF-SC), including relevant departments. Over and above this, the department had to coordinate the urgent finalisation of the NSP on GBVF to allow for a smooth transition from the ERAP to the NSP on GBVF 2020-2030.
   
   The targets allocated to the department under Thematic Area 4 had long term interventions that could not be implemented within the 6-months ERAP timeframe. Moreover, budget constraints further hindered the execution of the targets. Some of the targets were started as pilots. For example, in partnership with UN Women, the Interim GBVF Steering Committee (IGBVF-SC) piloted the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) in the Eastern Cape as a potential vehicle through which to build and expand rapid response to GBVF cases in communities. As we institutionalize the NSP on GBVF, the model is being used by some provinces to establish or strengthen existing RRTs in line with the principles of the NSP on GBVF.
   
   Conceptualisation and design of a Multisectoral Coordination Structure formed part of the NSP on GBVF development process approved by Cabinet in March, 2020; and now included in chapter 5 of the NSP on GBVF. The multisectoral coordination could not be established before approval of the proposed model by Cabinet.

1. The ERAP targets that were not met were phased and integrated into the NSP on GBVF; and necessary revisions were made as some of the targets were outside the ambits of my department’s mandate. My department is currently coordinating the establishment and alignment of GBVF structures at province, district and local municipality levels. A lot of progress has been made with most provinces showing urgency in establishing or revitalizing GBVF multisectoral provincial structures; Rapid Response Teams (RRTs); developing implementation plans; and coordinating reporting on progress. The status of the institutionalisation of the NSP on GBVF as it relates to multisectoral structures is illustrated in the below table:

	Standard Provincial NSP on GBVF Implementation Plan finalised	Established & Functional GBVF Coordination Teams	Established GBVF Provincial Task Teams but not yet functional	Finalised Provincial NSP on GBVF Implementation Plans	Developing Provincial NSP on GBVF Implementation Plans	Have civil society in Provincial Structures & are submitting reports
DWYPD	YES	YES	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Western Cape	N/A	YES	N/A	YES	YES	YES
Eastern Cape	N/A	YES	N/A	NO	YES	NO
Northern Cape	N/A	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO
Free State	N/A	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO
KwaZuIu-Natal	N/A	YES	N/A	YES	N/A	YES
North West	N/A	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO
Gauteng	N/A	YES	N/A	YES	N/A	YES
Mpumalanga	N/A	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO
Limpopo	N/A	NO	NO	YES	N/A	YES

(2). A situational analysis of the reporting on the ERAP and NSP on GBVF was conducted as an initial step towards developing an appropriate Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system. A draft M&E implementation plan for the medium term (2020-2024) is developed for the NSP on GBVF. The M&E plan forms the basis for a functional, seamless, robust, comprehensive, and well-coordinated M&E system. The M&E Plan describes all M&E activities in an M&E system, including: indicators and targets; data collection tools; data flow mechanisms; reporting timelines; roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders; procedures to be implemented to determine whether or not the objectives are met; and expected results of the program and how they relate to goals and objectives.

Since 2020, the department has focused on the institutionalisation of the NSP on GBVF. GBVF is now a standing agenda item in all DG and Cabinet Clusters; and the Parliamentary Oversight Framework for the NSP on GBVF will contribute immensely towards reporting progress on implementation of the NSP on GBVF.

It is noted that for the year 2020, NSP on GBVF priorities were not optimally integrated into strategic plans and Annual Performance Plans (APPs) of national

departments. This made it difficult to monitor the implementation of the NSP on

GBVF. As we are in the new performance cycle, the NSP on GBVF priorities are likely to be prioritised in the Strategic Plans and APPs. In terms of progress, approximately 15 national departments have finalised refinement and integration of allocated NSP on GBVF targets for 2020-2024; and a total of 21 out of 30 national departments submitted progress reports in April 2021. We remain hopeful that as the culture of reporting is inculcated, M&E mechanisms will become much more seamless and systematic.

In addition, the DWYPD in partnership with UN Women and civil society partners has established a multisectoral implementation Collaborative Platform (CP) to foster monitoring and reporting systems. The Collaborative Platform is an organic structure that creates a voluntary platform to mainly facilitate multisectoral engagement and give impetus to the ownership and implementation of the NSP on GBVF. Six Pillar- based teams comprising government and its agencies; private sector, labour federations, research institutions, academia and civil society were established to enhance and assist in fast tracking implementation of the NSP on GBVF. The work of the Collaborative Platform feeds into the progress reports on the NSP on GBVF. The Collaborative Platform has developed a website as a one stop centre for documents and submission of progress reports by the respective pillar teams.

Approved by:
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP
Minister
Date: 28 May 2021

Reply:

1. The Department has been informed about the protest of students at Esayidi TVET College, Umzimkulu Campus. However, the students were not protesting over non-payment of allowances but rather over their dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Bursary Rules and Guidelines, particularly the provision on the 60/40 split regarding the awards for travel and accommodation allowances. It should be noted that the matter has been resolved and students are back in class after it was addressed by the college management and the Central Student Representative Council (SRC) together with the campus SRC. 

(a) The majority of student allowances at the college have been paid to qualifying students with the exception of approximately 500 students. These exceptions are being attended to by an official from NSFAS who visited the college during the week of 17 to 21 May 2021 to help the college's financial aid office.

(b)  NSFAS is currently making weekly allowance payments, instead of the usual monthly payments, to reduce the backlog.

(c) The college uses various platforms to share information with students on the administration of NSFAS including through the college financial aid committee, which includes representation of the SRC.  

(2) According to NSFAS, the procurement of laptops has been completed and will be distributed in batches as of May 2021 to all eligible TVET college students. 

Reply:

The Minister released directions in the Government Gazette No. 44342, dated 29 March 2021 (attached) to guide public and private higher education institutions for the 2021 academic year.

The directions provide high-level guidance through a national framework and criteria to all institutions in managing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work builds on previous guidance provided in 2020 during the initial lockdown period and over the period that students and staff returned to campus as part of a phased-in approach. It is anticipated that the directions will be utilised by institutions during the academic year, in conjunction with any relevant directions issued as part of the national state of disaster.

In terms of the directions, institutions must maintain institutional plans for the effective management of operations during the pandemic and have in place a COVID-19 response Task Team. Each public higher education institution has also developed a teaching and learning plan, which considers the different circumstances that may arise during the pandemic, drawing on lessons from the 2020 academic year.

In addition, the Department is supported by Higher Health, which works closely with all public post-school institutions to provide guidelines and advice on the management of teaching and learning, and institutional operations during the pandemic and provides many other forms of support, including training and communication on key matters relating to the pandemic, and supporting institutions in the event of cluster outbreaks.

In the case of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, students are continuing with the blended modality of learning, which involves a mix of face-to-face tuition and guided self-study. In short, the protocols put in place during lockdown level 3 are still in place for teaching and learning, and for the conduct of examinations. Both these processes were successfully managed in the 2020 academic year and will continue in 2021. Higher Health is actively involved in colleges to assist with symptomatic staff and students, and the management of positive cases when these are identified. Where the incidence of positive cases is of concern, colleges are given the flexibility to shut down the affected campus for a limited period, in agreement with their respective Councils and Regional Offices, and provide a catch-up timetable for the days lost.

Teaching and learning at Community Education and Training (CET) colleges:

• The Department has reviewed the 2020 Curriculum Recovery Plan for CET colleges and will adjust in relation to COVID directives.
• The Department is aware that the implementation of the recovery plan will necessitate amendments to the CET college calendar to ensure that students cover the curriculum. This has financial and labour implications (time for tuition will be increasingly informed by the time lost, implying more hours worked by lecturers) which the Department will deal with internally, e.g. engaging labour organisations and the reprioritisation of the budget.
• An extra R45 million has been allocated by National Treasury to CET colleges for ensuring the safety of students and staff in compliance with COVID-19 regulations; provision of personal protective equipment, sanitisers and rotation of attendance to ensure social distancing.

Reply:

At the iftar dinner in Athlone on 6 May 2021, Mr Solly Noor handed the President an award from Global Islam Finance that Mr Noor had collected on the President’s behalf and a letter from Islamia College, where the event was held, thanking the President for his attendance.

No other gifts were received by the President at that occasion.

Reply:

The ERAP was resourced through a reprioritization exercise by relevant government departments to the tune of R1,6 Billion. The departments and entities identified approximately R1,6 billion on baseline spending for 2019/20 relevant to the emergency action plan. This was higher than the R1,1 Billion costing for the ERAP. Below is a table of the baseline allocations breakdown across the 5 pillars of the ERAP:

ERAP	Departments and Agencies Baseline Allocation
Intervention Pillar	Estimated Budget	Total Baseline Allocation Per Intervention	Baseline Allocation Breakdown
Access to justice for victims and survivors	R 394 849 207	R 881 885 000	DoJ&CD	R 10 515 000
			NPA	R 871 370 000
	R 179 188 480	R 481 153 000	GCIS	R 5 715 000

Change norms and behaviour through high- level prevention efforts			SRSA	R 178 174 000
			DSAC	R 12 950 000
			DBE	R 46 594 000
			DHET	R 750 000
			DSD	R 66 000 000
			Provinces & Sport Federations	R 170 970 000
			Communications	R 0
Improved access to care, support and prevention services and interventions	R 517 000 000	R 251 377 000	CARA Projects	R 7 108 000
			DSD	R 244 269 000
			DoH	R 0
Strengthen accountability and architecture to adequately respond to the scourge of GBV	R 20 038 412	R 0	DWYPD	R 0
Total	R 1 111 076 099	R 1 614 415 000

Approved by:
Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP
Minister
Date: 28 May 2021

Reply:

Please refer to Annexure A for responses to part (a) and (b) of the question

Approved by:

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Minister

Date: 28 May 2021

Reply:

 

1. The National Youth Development Agency, an entity of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities implemented the following programs in the financial year 1 April 2020 — 31 March 2021.
   • A total of over 2200 youth owned enterprises were supported through the NYDA Grant Programme compared to a target of 1500. The number was accelerated by the 1100 youth enterprises assisted by the Youth Micro Enterprise Relief Fund.
   • Over 2665 beneficiaries were supported with business development support services offered by the NYDA.
   • More than 8047 jobs were created and sustained through supporting business entrepreneurs.
   • 5078 jobs were facilitated through placements in job opportunities.
   • Over 2445 young people were capacitated with skills to enter the job market.

In addition to the above, the NYDA has supported the rollout of Phase 1 of the Employment Stimulus which has resulted in the following outcomes as at 30 April 2021:

• • The Department of Basic Education has supported 313 000 young people with jobs who were enrolled as Teacher Assistants and General Assistants in 26 000 public schools between December 2020 — April 2021.
  • The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development supported 74 426 small scale farmers and 2000 agriculture graduates were utilised to verify 130 000 applicants claims.
  • The Department of Social Development is supporting 25 000 Early Childhood Development Centres.
  • The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has supported 8 000 jobs in the Business Process Outsourcing Sector.
  • The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has appointed 1 886 young people in rural bridges and other programs.

1. Phase 2 of the Employment Stimulus will commence in June 2021.

Approved by:

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Minister Date: 28 May 2021

Reply:

(1) The Department does not provide funding to any organisation of persons with disabilities, however the partnerships with other departments and International agencies assist regularly to a lesser extent. Each department has to fund programmes and initiatives for persons with disabilities according to its mandate, service delivery value chain and specific individual needs of those organisations.

(2)

1. Plans have been developed and included in the Strategic plan of the Department and will be implemented from the 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

1. (i) The Department has developed an operational plan to accommodate Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and the Annual Performance Plan also have specific target where the Department must report on a quarterly basis. The plans include the following:

The development of the frameworks to implement the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (Self-Representation and Awareness Raising Campaigns Frameworks)
Constant ongoing consultation with the disability rights sector on the development of Disability Rights Legislation.
Covid-19 response efforts through the work streams of the NCCC. The 365 Awareness Raising Campaigns on disability rights.
Coordination of the Presidential Working Group on Disability and the National Disability Rights Machinery
Compliance reports on inclusion of persons with disabilities in plans of the Department, compliance reports with National and International protocols and analysis of strategic plans of Departments.
Regular consultation with individual categories of disability e.g. Albinism, Deafness, visual impairment and Mental Health.

(ii) The Department is allocated money by Treasury for its own work and activities.

Approved by:

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Minister
Date: 28 May 2021

Reply:

2018

(a) (i) See table (a) – Column A

(a) (ii) (aa) See table (a) – Column B

(a) (ii) (bb) See table (a) – Column C

(a) (ii) (cc) See table (a) - Column D. 

(a) (iii) Response provided below.

2019

(b) (i) See table (b) – Column A

(b) (ii) (aa) See table (b) – Column B

(b) (ii) (bb) See table (b) – Column C

(b) (ii) (cc) See table (b) - Column D

(b) (iii) Response provided below.

2020

(c) (i) See table (c) – Column A

(c) (ii) (aa) See table (c) – Column B

(c) (ii) (bb) See table (c) – Column C

(c) (ii) (cc) See table (c) - Column D

(c) (iii) Response provided below.

				A	B			C	D
Exam Date	Province	District	Centre No	Centre Name	Total Entered	Total Wrote	Total Achieved	Repeaters	Total did not write
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	AMAJUBA	5213141	GROENVLEI COMBINED	26	8	0	0	18
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	ZULULAND	5112421	KWAMPUNZI COMBINED	9	7	0	0	2
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	UMZINYATHI	5212110	MAWENI H	12	7	0	0	5
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	UMZINYATHI	5212223	MPIKAYIZEKANYE SS	27	18	0	0	9
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	UMZINYATHI	5212419	MZONIWE JS	14	8	0	0	6
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	ZULULAND	5112136	NCWECWE SS	2	2	0	0	0
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	ZULULAND	5112233	NENDE SS	10	10	0	0	0
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	ILEMBE	5413332	SIBONGINHLANHLA SS	10	1	0	0	9
201811	KWAZULU-NATAL	KING CETSHWAYO	5113347	VULEKA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF	9	4	0	0	5
201811	LIMPOPO	CAPRICORN 2	7042303	LETSHEGA-MALOKWANE SECONDARY	14	12	0	3	2
201811	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE 2	7103306	RAMOROKE SECONDARY	5	2	0	0	3
201811	LIMPOPO	MOGALAKWENA	7021210	SENWANE SECONDARY	15	12	0	0	3

Response to Question (a)(iii); (b)(iii); (c)(iii) 

In each case, the school was visited by a team comprising of the provincial head office and the district, and an audit was conducted and the reasons for the exceptionally poor performance was established and a turn-around plan would have been established for each school.  The turn-around plan would address each aspect of teaching and learning that would have resulted in the dismal performance.  This plan would have been monitored by both the district and the province in regular accountability sessions and on-site visits, to ensure that the elements of the plan are implemented.  Where there is slow or no improvements, more drastic measures would have been implemented; e.g., replacement of the school principal, or members of the Senior Management Team; and/or the replacement of educators.    

Note:

In terms of question (a)(ii)(cc); (b)(ii)(cc); (c)(ii)(cc), i.e. "the number of learners that left school in each year without completing Grade 12", the data provided refer to candidates who registered to write the examination at the beginning of the year, but did not pitch to write the examination.  It is assumed that these candidates dropped out of school, but it could also imply that these learners were absent from the examination for a valid reason; and would have therefore, registered to write the June examination of the following academic year.  Therefore, the numbers provided in Column D, are estimate figures, and the correct figures can only be determined if an audit is done of each candidate that registered and did not write the final examination.  

Table (a): NSC 2018

 

Table (b): NSC 2019

				A	B			C	D
Exam Date	Province	District	Centre No	Centre Name	Total Entered	Total Wrote	Total Achieved	Repeaters	Total did not write
201911	EASTERN CAPE	CHRIS HANI EAST	4261011	DOLOPHINI SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL	57	14	0	0	43
201911	EASTERN CAPE	BUFFALO CITY	4321038	HOHO SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL	46	22	0	0	24
201911	EASTERN CAPE	AMATHOLE EAST	4301060	NGUBESIZWE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL	8	8	0	0	0
201911	EASTERN CAPE	CHRIS HANI EAST	4261057	ZWELIVUMILE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL	107	7	0	0	100
201911	GAUTENG	EKURHULENI SOUTH	8800008	DESIGNATED CENTRE GALLWAY PRIM SCH	6	4	0	0	2
201911	GAUTENG	TSHWANE SOUTH	8400444	ROSTEC TECHNICAL COLLEGE - PRETORIA	26	6	0	0	20
201911	KWAZULU-NATAL	UGU	5312107	FINGQINDLELA S	3	2	0	0	1
201911	KWAZULU-NATAL	UMZINYATHI	5212217	MAHLOKOHLOKO S	8	2	0	0	6
201911	KWAZULU-NATAL	KING CETSHWAYO	5113339	PHINDIZWE H	10	9	0	0	1
201911	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE EAST	7091408	KANAMA SECONDARY	5	5	0	1	0
201911	LIMPOPO	MOGALAKWENA	7023311	KGABEDI SECONDARY	13	13	0	0	0
201911	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE SOUTH	7102307	MAHLABA SECONDARY	15	13	0	4	2
201911	LIMPOPO	CAPRICORN NORTH	7043307	MAKAMA SECONDARY SCHOOL	10	3	0	3	7
201911	LIMPOPO	CAPRICORN NORTH	7042206	MAKOBATENG SECONDARY	8	8	0	0	0
201911	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE EAST	7092301	MANAWE SENIOR SECONDARY	14	6	0	0	8
201911	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE SOUTH	7101207	MATSEBE SECONDARY	7	6	0	0	1
201911	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE EAST	7093202	MOKHULWANE SECONDARY	1	1	0	1	0
201911	LIMPOPO	WATERBERG 2	7011104	ROEDTAN COMBINED	12	10	0	1	2

 

Table (c):  NSC 2020

				A	B			C	D
Exam Date	Province	District	Centre No	Centre Name	Total Entered	Total Wrote	Total Achieved	Repeaters	Total did not write
202011	EASTERN CAPE	OR TAMBO INLAND	4292104	KHANYA PRIVATE SCHOOL	10	4	0	1	6
202011	EASTERN CAPE	NELSON MANDELA METRO	4343099	REUBEN BIRIN SPECIAL SCHOOL	3	3	0	0	0
202011	EASTERN CAPE	NELSON MANDELA METRO	4345514	ST JUDES ACADEMY	17	15	0	0	2
202011	FREE STATE	Lejweleputswa	3182008	ED-U-COLLEGE WELKOM CI/S	6	5	0	0	1
202011	KWAZULU-NATAL	HARRY GWALA	5313322	RAMAROBI S	9	6	0	0	3
202011	KWAZULU-NATAL	UMZINYATHI	5212255	SINOTHANDO SECONDARY SCHOOL	7	7	0	0	0
202011	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE EAST	7091408	KANAMA SECONDARY	9	9	0	2	0
202011	LIMPOPO	MOPANI WEST	7081131	KHESETHWANE REPEAT PART-TIME	22	22	0	1	0
202011	LIMPOPO	MOGALAKWENA	7023306	KUBUSHE SECONDARY	15	15	0	5	0
202011	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE EAST	7091411	MAKIDI SECONDARY	5	5	0	2	0
202011	LIMPOPO	MOGALAKWENA	7023203	MASHUBASHUBA SECONDARY	7	7	0	3	0
202011	LIMPOPO	CAPRICORN SOUTH	7031211	MMADITHAKADU SECONDARY	9	9	0	0	0
202011	LIMPOPO	SEKHUKHUNE SOUTH	7103412	NGOATOANAPE SECONDARY	6	6	0	0	0

 

Reply:

a) The recently released Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) Report (2019) indicates that 29% of Grade 5 learners and 18% of Grade 9 learners reported being bullied on a weekly basis. The most cited form of bullying is verbal, followed by physical, and then cyber bullying.

b) The National School Safety Framework remains the basic education sector's primary strategic response to violence and bullying prevention in schools.  The Department of Basic Education is also rolling out crime awareness campaigns, working with Community Policing Forums and the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign.  Newly elected School Governing Bodies are trained, in order to strengthen School Safety Committees, as well as Codes of Conduct for learners.  The Department of Basic Education is currently implementing a bullying prevention programme, together with a range of government and civil society actors to address the scourge of bullying, including cyber-bullying, in our schools.

Reply:

a) The application for a temporary residence visa, Ref: TRR3123279 is currently finalised, captured and dispatched on 18 May 2021.

b) The application was delayed due to the backlog that the office is faced with in the processing of temporal residence visas. The unintended consequences of the provisions of the Disaster Management Act and regulations in respect of quarantine by persons infected by Covid, isolation by the contacts thereof and the numerous evacuations of the building has also impacted on the operating capacity of the office.

c) The application was adjudicated on the 11 May 2021, Printed on 12 May 2021 captured on relevant systems and dispatched on 18 May 2021.

END

Reply:

There were no rewards issued to schools as incentives. 

Reply:

1. Whether she has found that the current criteria used to determine the quintile of a school reflect the true circumstances, if so, what are the relevant details?

The Department has, since 2011, been in the process of reviewing the use of the quintile system, as it relates to the funding of public schools, inclusive of no-fee schools.  A study in 2009 has revealed that there are a noteworthy number of quintile 4 and 5 school principals, who are interested in their school becoming no-fee schools.  This study also revealed that, if public funding, through the school allocation and fee revenue are added, then a large number of quintile 4 and quintile 5 experiences a level of funding that is below the no-fee threshold.  This confirms the reality of a group of schools that is not regarded to be poor enough to attract the higher level of public funding; but on the other hand, is not rich enough to fill the gap with sufficient fee revenue.  Inappropriate quintile classification may be a contributing factor to this situation.  These schools are under constant fiscal pressure, since it has all the financial and administrative obligations of other schools (no-fee as well as fee paying) but are not able to attract the necessary level of funding.

2. Whether her department will revise the criteria for each quintile; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

The following activities were achieved to give effect to the proposed review of the use of the quintile system, and the ultimate phasing out the use of quintiles in relation to the school allocation are the following:

1. Collapsing of Quintiles 1, 2 and 3; i.e., all no fee schools to be funded at the same (Q1) level.
2. A choice to fee charging schools (Quintiles 4 and 5) to be voluntarily reclassified as no-fee schools.  This would effectively result in there being only two categories of schools for allocation purposes; i.e., no-fee schools and fee charging schools.

In terms of voluntary reclassification of quintiles 4 and 5 schools, as no-fee schools (2. above); up to now no additional funding could be secured.  Some provinces (GP and WC) have however, to a limited degree, and from their existing funding, offered a choice to selected schools in quintiles 4 and 5 to be voluntarily declared no-fee schools.  Given the current fiscal environment, the proposed voluntary reclassification of Quintile 4 and 5 schools as no fee will, in the absence of securing additional funding, be difficult to implement nationally.

In order to address the challenge, some of the measures implemented by Provincial Education Departments are:

(a)    All Provincial Education Departments are accommodating more learners in no-fee schools than have been provided for by the policy. In 2021, approximately 87% of all schools have been declared as no fee schools, accommodating approximately 82% of all learners nationally; and

(b)  Some Provincial Education Departments are currently providing a funding allocation, which is above that, which is prescribed by the funding policy, to some of their quintiles 4 and 5 schools.

In the absence of additional funding, schools should use the normal communication channels to apply for re-classification to another quintile or to become no fee in line with paragraph 106 of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding.  The Head of Department considers each case on its merits, and provides a formal response.  Schools in Quintiles 4 and 5 can apply in writing to the Head of Department to challenge the quintile allocation.  The continued application of these measures however, depends on the available budget within the Provincial Education Department.

The school will be required to submit an appeal in writing on a school letterhead, signed by the principal and SGB chairperson to their relevant district office.  The appeal should clearly indicate the purpose of their appeal; i.e., no-fee status and/or quintile status.  The appeal should be well-motivated including the factors that are placing the school in financial difficulties.  Furthermore, detail must also be provided on the action that has been taken by the school to address these factors.  The application should be sent to the relevant Circuit Manager at the District office.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

I have been informed by the Department that:

1. The subject properties are owned and managed by the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
2. The responsibility to maintain and ensure safety within the aforementioned parks is within the ambit of the Municipality.
3. N/A

Reply:

a) (i) South African Tourism has never had any suppliers that defaulted in any of the contracts from the past three years and since 1 April 2021.

      (ii) Not applicable

b) Not applicable

c) Not applicable since no suppliers defaulted for the past three years and since 1 April 2021.

d) Not Applicable

e) No financial losses have been incurred in the past three financial years and since 1 April 2021

Reply:

1. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) are engaged in two separate processes, albeit related. In the first instance, the Minister of Home Affairs approached the SALRC in 2013 to investigate the possible adoption of a single marriage statute for South Africa. This was prompted by the realisation that Marriages in South Africa are regulated through different pieces of legislation, namely:

a) The Marriage Act, 25 of 1961 (monogamous marriage for opposite sex couples);

b) The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 120 of 1998 (polygamous marriages for opposite sex couples who are black South Africans); and

c) The Civil Union Act, 17 of 2006 (monogamous partnerships for both same and opposite sex couples).

However, the current marriage legislation doesn’t enable all South Africans of different religious and cultural persuasions to conclude legal marriages that accords with the Constitutional values of equality, non-discrimination and human dignity. The SALRC's brief or focal area is therefore, to investigate the possibility of having a single statute dealing with all marriages in South Africa. The SALRC conducted a pre-investigation. In April 2019 the Commission of the SALRC approved the first paper of its investigation, namely Issue Paper 35, which was published in April 2019 for general information and comment. Comments were received from respondents which enabled the development of a discussion paper on the matter. In December 2020, the Commission approved the draft discussion paper 152 on the possible adoption of a single marriage statute which was subsequently published for general information and comment in January 2021.

Notwithstanding the mandate assigned to the SALRC, it then transpired that the legislation that regulates marriages in South Africa is not informed by a primary policy, which prompted the DHA to initiate the development of a marriage policy, which policy can then lead to legislation. However, the department is working closely with the SALRC to ensure harmony and synergy between the two processes to inform policy positions and proposals that are aligned and compatible with one another.

2. During the 2019/2020 financial year, the DHA hosted country-wide Ministerial dialogues with various interest groups with the purpose of stimulating discussions and soliciting inputs on the key issues that should be addressed by the Marriage Policy. Following government processes that guides the development of a public policy, the Department produced a Policy Paper (Green Paper) which was taken through the relevant Clusters for approval by Cabinet. The Green Paper on Marriage Policy was approved by Cabinet on 21 April 2021 for public comments, and published in the government gazette on 04 May 2021. The roadmap towards the implementation of the Marriage Policy is as follows:

a) Gazetting of the draft Marriage Policy for public comments by 30 April 2021

b) Submission of the Marriage Policy to Cabinet for approval by 31 March 2022

c) Submission of the Marriage Bill to Cabinet for approval by 31 March 2023

d) Submission of the Marriage Bill to Parliament for approval by 31 March 2024

END

Reply:

1. The department has not 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;

(a)–(d) Not Applicable

2. (a) – (b) Not Applicable

Reply:

As the majority of 4-year olds attend pre-Grade R in Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres, the responsibility of funding is still with the Department of Social Development.  The Department of Basic Education will only be responsible for this age group, once the ECD programme has been relocated from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education.

Reply:

(1) The total number of fidelity fund certificates issued by the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) in each month in the period 01 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 is as follows:

Month	Number
January	4 431
February	2 298
March	1 234
April	2 027
May	1 613
June	1 259
July	1 048
August	1 352
September	1 942
October	9 573
November	15 429
December	6 819
Grand Total	49 025

(2)(a)&(b) The total number of incoming calls picked up by the automated welcome voice message and those answered by staff members are as follows:

 

Period	2(a) Number of calls picked up by the automated welcome voice message	2(b) Number of calls answered by staff members
January 2020	19 984	11 684
February 2020	19 306	10 922
March 2020	0	0
April 2020	0	0
May 2020	3 806	3 526
June 2020	13 759	12 643
July 2020	17 425	15 592
August 2020	15 859	14 218
September 2020	19 681	16 319
October 2020	23 393	18 412
November 2020	19 750	14 706
December 2020	13 097	9 780
Total	166 060	127 802

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

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

Reply:

a) With regard to (a) (i) to (iv), and further to information previously supplied on qualifying bidders in response NO1192E, the list of unsuccessful bidders under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is as follows:

Qualifying Bidders who were unsuccessful on the basis of Price Evaluation

Project Number	Price Bid (ZAR)	Capacity bid (MW)	Earliest anticipated SCOD	Technology
Bidder 1	2 504.68	217.40	31 December 2022	LPG Gas Turbines and Solar Photovoltaic
Bidder 2	2 661.00	61.00	1 September 2022	LPG Gas Turbines and Solar Photovoltaic
Bidder 3	2 836.65	399.34	1 December 2022	LPG Gas Turbines and Solar Photovoltaic
Bidder 4	2 871.00	112.00	31 December 2022	LPG Gas Turbines, Battery Storage and Solar Photovoltaic
Bidder 5	3 165.00	62.00	1 September 2022	LPG Gas Turbines, Battery Storage and Solar Photovoltaic
Bidder 6	3 414.00	197.40	31 December 2022	LNG Gas Turbines and Solar Photovoltaic

Unsuccessful Bidders that failed to meet Qualification Criteria

Project Number	Price Bid (ZAR)	Capacity bid (MW)	Earliest anticipated SCOD	Technology
Bidder 7	2 737.17	50.00	1 December 2022	Solar PV, BESS & Thermal
Bidder 8	2 839.00	75.00	31 December 2022	Solar + Thermal Hybrid
Bidder 9	1 300.00	55.00	1 October 2022	Solar PV, BESS, Gas
Bidder 10	1 466.00	55.00	1 October 2022	Solar PV + BESS, Gas
Bidder 11	2 049.37	80.00	1 November 2022	Solar PV & BESS
Bidder 12	2 531.18	80.00	1 November 2022	Wind, Solar PV and BESS
Bidder 13	2 196.76	80.00	1 November 2022	Solar + BESS
Bidder 14	2 519.29	414.72	1 October 2022	Gas fired reciprocating engines
Bidder 15	2 509.76	414.72	1 October 2022	Gas fired reciprocating engines
Bidder 16	2 506.92	414.72	1 October 2022	Gas fired reciprocating engines
Bidder 17	2 613.48	315.40	1 September 2022	Various (LPG to power; wind; solar PV; BESS

b) With regard to Bidders who failed the meet the Qualification Criteria, the reasons were among others as follows:

• Failure to comply with the Land and Environmental qualification criteria (did not have the necessary permits, authorisations, land rights or Final Scoping Reports for environmental purposes);
• Failure to meet all the Financial qualification criteria such as debt track records or letters of commitment from the ultimate providers of equity;
• Failing to meet Technical qualification criteria such as demonstration of secure fuel supply agreements; and
• Failure to meet the Economic Development criteria such as proof of substantiating the South African Entity Participation or contributor status level and failure to meet designated local content.

Reply:

1. No, the department has not concluded any work exchange and/or employment agreements with any entity of the Republic of Cuba from 2010/ 2011 up to and including 2020/2021 financial year.
2. See (1) above.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

I have been informed by the Department that the project in question was done by the KZN Provincial Department of Public Works, thus DPWI does not have details of the project as it was not done by them. It is therefore recommended that Questions office should re-refer the question to the relevant MEC.

Reply:

a) The allocation of NSNP funds to provinces are based on the poverty index / distribution, and the number of learners in no-fee schools.  Provinces, such as KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and Eastern Cape, with high levels of poverty, and which are predominantly rural, receive the largest share of the NSNP Grant allocation. 

b) The table below shows provincial allocation over the past three financial years (2018/19 -2020/21)

Provinces(Allocation)	2018/19  (R'000)	2019/20 (R'000)	2020/21 (R'000)
Eastern Cape	1 216 559	1 278 365	1 376 343
Free State	379 369	400 727	431 851
Gauteng	807  454	849 075	905 006
KwaZulu-Natal	1 534  878	1 621 292	1 717 512
Limpopo	1 229 299	1 292 010	1 369 485
Mpumalanga	651 036	687 691	734 414
Northern Cape	170 211	189 224	202 614
North West	456 176	481 859	516 114
Western Cape	357 097	385 202	412 548

 

Reply:

The question has been referred to the Eastern Cape Department of Education, and a response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

The department has introduced a programme called the Tourism Monitors programme. This programme forms part of the Proactive theme of the now finalised National Tourism Safety Strategy. The programme entails the recruitment, training and deployment of young people at key tourist attractions and sites. Some of the key functions of these Tourism Monitors is to;

• Enhance tourism safety awareness at key tourism attractions/sites;
• Raise awareness and reduce crime incidents that are directed at tourists who are visiting provinces and the communities that host them.
• Reduce tourist vulnerabilities and eliminate opportunities for violent crime aimed at tourist operations.
• Integrate current tourism safety and awareness initiatives into a strategies implemented by the public and private sectors, as well as communities.

Upon recruitment, these young people are vetted through the assistance of SAPS and part of the plan is to also link them with the various Community Policing Forums (CPF) and Provincial SAPS Command centres. SAPS has through the MoU signed with the department also informed their various provincial command centres to work closely with the Tourism Monitors.

Over and above the Tourism Monitors programme, the department also participates at the various safety awareness sessions that SAPS schedules, especially during the festive season and around other major national peak holiday periods like the Easter weekends. The department distributes tourism safety leaflets during such occasions.

As part of the signed MoU between the department and SAPS, a call for police reservists is done especially during the December holiday period, where the Police reservists are deployed in some of the key routes and sites used by tourists.

Reply:

1. Yes, the Department of Basic Education, together with the Eastern Cape Department of Education, are working together with the South African Police Service to investigate the incident.  A report is expected by the 31 May 2021. The Department will determine the next steps once the report has been studied in detail.

2. It is anticipated that the preliminary investigation which is currently underway will provide clarity in this regard.

3. It is also anticipated that the report from the preliminary investigation which is currently underway will provide clarity in this regard.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

The responsibility to monitor the operation of the Gautrain and any other mode of public transport is within the ambit of the National Department of Transport. It is therefore, recommended that Questions office should re-refer this question accordingly.

Reply:

 

a) b) The Department has not instituted a forensic investigation nor disciplinary action. The official that was responsible for the execution of this task and who took all the final decisions has left the Department.

Regards

MS B D CREECY, MP

MINISTER OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES ACID THE ENVIRONMENT
Date: 28/05/2021