Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. The following are the projects financially supported in the year under review.

LIST OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PROJECTS FUNDED DURING 2020/21
#	Name & surname	Date of Approval	Budget	Duration of the Project	Active/Non Active
1	Mr Barney Mokgatle	18/05/2020	R300.000	Not yet started	Non-Active
2	Mr Molaodi Sekake	18/05/2020	R100.000	18/03/2021 – 30/09/2021	Active
3	Ms Rosemary Gray	18/05/2020	R100 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
4	Mr Barney Mokgatle	18/05/2020	R300 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
5	Mr Mandlakayise Dube	18/05/2020	R350 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
6	Ms Fikile Hlatshwayo	18/05/2020	R300 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
7	Mr Mothobi Mutloatse	18/05/2020	R380 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
8	Mr Reedwaan Vally / New Africa Books	18/05/2020	R1,100 000	20/09/2020 – 31/03/2021	Active
9	Congress Mahlangu and Andre Marais / Reading Incubator SOECA	18/05/2020	R1 000 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
10	South African Book Development Council (SABDC)	18/05/2020 Has received annual funding for the period under review	R 2 500 000	20/12/2020 – 25/02/2021	Active
11	Nonhlanhla Matshazi / Londilox	18/05/2020	R2 000 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
12	South African Literary Awards (Raks Seakhoa)	13/03/2020 Has received annual funding for the period under review	R1 500 000	20/12/2020 – 31/03/2021	Active
13	Roshnie Moonsammy (Afro Arts SA) / African Women Writers Network project	13/03/2020 Has received funding in the period under review	R750 000	Not yet started	Non-Active
14	UKZN Time of the Writer Festival	13/03/2020	R800 000	01/07/2020 – 31/12/2020	Active
15	KZN Music Imbizo	24/08/2020	R1060,000	31/03/2021	Completed
16	Crown Gospel Awards	22/08/2020	R2000,000	31/03/2021	Active
17	Africa Rising International Film Festival (Streamed)	25/06/2019	R1,200,000	03/2019 – 05/2021 (2 yrs)	Active
18	Fashion Industry Awards (online launch)	01/09/2020	R500,000	15/02/2021	Active
19	Groovafest	17/12/2020	R1 000 000	31/03/2021	Active
20	Fashion Heritage Social Entrepreneur capacity building (online program)	01/09/2020	R1000 000	31/03/2021	Active
21	Content Creation/Innovative Hubs (Animation)		R 3 000 000	Not Started	Non Active
23	Emerging Creatives capacity building program (virtual & steamed)	22/09/2020	R1190 000	31/03/2021	Active
24	Dr Wally Serote Reading Incubator		R 1 000 000		Active
25	BOM Music Development Incubator Programme		R1 000 00		Completed
26	Playhouse company Incubator		R1 000 000		Active
27	Arts in Motion Incubator Programme		R1 000 000		Completed
28	Arts Cape Incubator		R1 000 000	Not started	Non Active
29	Reading Incubator & Athlone Hub		R 700 000		Active
30	Training program (Amambazo Mobile Academy)	16/07/2018	R12 million	30/06/2021	Non Active
31	INDONI SA		R10 milliom	Not Strated	Non Active
32	Covid Book and Women Network	-	R840 000	Not sarted	Non Active
33	South African Roadies Association (SARA) International Relations	21/12/2020	R1,265,000	31/03/2023	Active
34	CCIFSA	08/05/2020	R2.5millin	31/03/2021	Active
36	Northern Cape Provincial CADP		0.00		Active
37	Eastern Cape Provincial CADP	26/02/2020	450,000	31/03/2021	Active
38	Western Cape CADP	09/03/2021	450,000	31.04/2021	Active
39	Limpopo Provincial CADP	01/11/2019	0.00	30/05/2021	Active
41	North West CADP	08/03/2020	300,000	30/04/2021	Active
42	Gauteng Provincial CADP	10/03/2020	300,000	31/03/2021	Active
43	Mpumalanga Provincial CADP	01/11/2019	0.00	30/05/2021	Active
44	Free State Provincial CADP	01/11/2019	0.00	30/05/2021	Acrive
45	KZN Provincial CADP	26/02/2021	450,000	31/03/2021	Active
47	National Arts Festival		R3,5 million		Completed
48	Mai Mai	17/11/2020	R2. million	31/03/2021	Active
49	South African National Book Development Policy Consultative Session (s)	-	R1 300 000	Not started	Non Active
50	Downtown Studios	15/06/2020	R6 million	31/03/2020	Active
51	District Six	-	R3 million	Not started	Non Active
52	African Book Design Fair	-	R300 000	Not Started	Non Active
53	Spoken Word Youth Performance Poetry ( Hear my Voice)		R500 000		Active
54	Public Art project in Tembisa, Gauteng	30/06/2020	R250,000	31/03/2020	Active
55	Public Art project at Emakhazeni, Mpumalanga	30/06/2020	R500,000	31/03/2020	Active
56	SAMIC Conference	-	R604 000	Not Started	Non Active
57	Public Art project at Salt River, Western Cape	30/06/2020	R400,000	31/03/2021	Active
58	Public Art project at Eluthuthu, Eastern Cape	30/06/2020	R500,000	31/03/2021	Active
59	Gateways Public Art at Several Municipalities	30/06/2020	R500,000	31/03/2021	Active
60	KZN_ Wushini		R400 000	Not started	Non Active
61	LP_TLZ Development Projects		R400 000	Not stared	Non Active
62	MPUMALANGA_ Emthojeni			Not started	Non Active
65	Writers Guild of South Africa	October 19	R700 000	2019 -2021	Active
66	Siters Working in Film and TV	0ctober 2019	R246 000	2019 -2021	Active
67	South African Guild of Actors	19/07/2019	R300 000	31/03/2021	Active
68	South African Screen Federation (SASFED	19/07/2-19	R1 000 000	31/03/2021	Active
69	Independent Black Filmmakers Collective (IBFC)	1+9/07/2019	R964 750	31/03/2021	Active
70	South African Arts & Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF)	03=09=2019	R1,7 million	31/03/2020	Completed
71	Open Design Afrika	02/09/2020	R300 000	31/03/2021	Completed
72	The Village Knockout Foundation	22/11/2021	R516 850	31/03/2021	Active
73.	Marang Youth Development	22/11/2021	R600 000	31/03/2021	Active
74.	Somelezi Development & Project	22/11/2021	R638 000	31/03/2021	Active
75.	The Filed Band Foundation	22/11/2021	R700 000	31/03/2021	Active
76	Sizovelela Community Development	22/11/2021	R572 000	31/03/2021	Active
77.	Make It Happen (NPO)	22/11/2021	R500 000	31/03/2021	Active
78.	Unity and Cultural Diversity Council (NPO)	22/11/2021	R554 000	31/03/2021	Active
79.	Steelpan and Marimba Youth Development	03/02/2021	R590 000	31/03/2021	completed
80.	Ndwanenhle Rural Development	15/12/2020	R583 150	31/03/2021	Completed

2 . (a) 44 applications / projects are still active and the (b) names are reflected in the table above

Reply:

(a) The tender specification of Travel With Flair (TWF) is attached as Annexure A.

(b) The tender was awarded to Travel with Flair on 16 October 2017.

(c) & (d) From the commencement date of the tender until to date the department paid R401 113 751.00. This is a total amount spent inclusive of local accommodation provided, international accommodation provided, local air transport, international air transport, local land transport, community events management, conferences, seminars, departmental functions, information sessions, training sessions, departmental management meetings (away from department’s offices and usually with other spheres of government), travel agency service fees, travel agency back office processing fees and travel agency conference and events management fees.

(e) to (h) There were no deviations processed. The personal protective equipment paid for were part of the costs of community events the company coordinated or managed on behalf of the department. This was to ensure that the events comply with requirements of the guidelines issued by the Department of Health and SAPS as well as the disaster management regulations on Covid-19 issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,

 

Reply:

1. The engagements with the medical schemes industry have been coordinated and managed by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), which is the body mandated with oversight of the industry as per the provisions of the Medical Schemes Act (No. 131 of 1998). One of the core provisions of the Act is the need for all medical schemes to cover Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), except for those that have applied and qualified for specific exemptions. By definition, PMBs are a set of predefined conditions which, anyone who is part of a medical scheme, no matter what benefit option they are on, can receive treatment for 270 hospital-based and 25 chronic conditions, and the price of these will be covered in full. The aim of PMB cover is to ensure that the wellbeing and health of South African medical scheme members is safeguarded, and that private healthcare is more affordable. PMBs also cover any kind of emergency treatment and include certain out-of-hospital treatments.

To ensure that the population is adequately covered for COVID-19, the CMS included it as part of the PMB conditions in May 2020. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccines were also included as a benefit in December 2020. These two inclusions were done in concurrence between the Minister of Health and the Council for Medical Schemes in line with the provisions of the Act. This essentially implies that each medical scheme is compelled to cover the full costs of testing, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of COVID-19 related conditions. This also includes covering all clinical adverse events as well as any complications that may arise because of being inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine.

2. All medical schemes are legally obliged through the amendments that have been made to the PMB regulations to cover the full costs of any side effects that their members may experience due to having being inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine.

3. There are several requirements when governments and or international entities engage with manufacturers and suppliers of vaccines globally. In the engagements that we have been having regarding access to and supply of COVID-19 vaccines, some of the core requirements include the need for countries to make (a) upfront payments for vaccines prior to receiving delivery of their orders; (b) compliance with all contractual confidentiality clauses for a period of up to 10 years; (c) the establishment of No-Fault Compensation systems to indemnify manufacturers from any adverse events that may occur as a result of administering the vaccines; (d) the demand for Ministers to sign contracts and not DGs; and (e) the change in delivery terms without negotiating with the purchasing country and no penalties to be imposed in instances where that occurs.

The National Department of Health is in full support of the no-fault compensation fund mentioned by the Finance Minister in his recent Budget Speech. To this effect, the Department has initiated a few actions to support the expedited establishment of the no-fault compensation fund. We are proposing the establishment of a National Immunisation Safety Committee (NISEC) to be chaired by a Retired Judge. The NISEC would be charged with determining causality in terms of the adverse events. It would be supported by an Adjudication Committee which will look into the severity of the injury suffered by the claiming party and also determine the appropriate level of compensation. An Appeals Committee will also be created to handle all appeals and an Administrator would be in place to manage all matters pertaining to records keeping, communication with claimants, processing and payment of claims and all other relevant administration matters. The administration could be under an entity similar to SASRIA. Standard operating procedures would be in place to follow clear steps that ensure appropriate adjudication of claims, and also providing opportunity for claimants to accept or reject the recommended compensation.

END.

Reply:

Honourable Member, the said Regulations do not make provision for a National Procurement Officer.

Rand Water was appointed to provide programme management for the provision of water tanks, water tankers and augmentation of water resources such as the equipping of boreholes as part of the COVID-19 intervention. Rand Water utilised its internal staff for the procurement of all goods and services for the implementation of the COVID-19 Intervention Project on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation. Further, Rand Water’s emergency procurement processes were applied for the procurement of goods as per the Disaster Management Act, 2002 and the Water and Sanitation Emergency Procurement Covid-19 Disaster Response Directions issued in terms of Regulation 10(8) of the Regulations issued under section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002). The Government Gazette containing the Directions referred to is attached as Annexure A.

Reply:

1. Nature and purpose  of vents:

Honourable Member community outreach engagements are part of our work, each Member of Parliament is accountable to the public. These sessions are meant to raise awareness and afford us an opportunity to account directly to our communities. The Community Outreach drive is done in partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to raise awareness on Informal Settlements Upgrading, Emergency Housing, and the COVID-19 pandemic and its implication on affected communities throughout the country.

 

 

 (b)       Full cost of the events:                         

Total Costs

R487 735.00

R431 710.00

R496 715.20

R272 005.00

R492 595.00

R199 105.00

 

(c)        Total number of persons in attendance, including the attendance register:

Based on a headcount by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) and our Security Management, the number of community members gathered varied between 50 and 100.  The figures varied based on the number of people allowed as per the different Gazetted COVID-19 Lockdown Levels.

(d)       A copy of the report tabled at the Portfolio Committee has been attached.

(e) to (j) The information requested by the Honourable Member is available on the departmental website, and is public information. Further, alerts are sent out before events and media statements are issued afterwards. The Honourable Member is encouraged to join us to have first-hand information of the work we do. We also publicise our work, including events, in our Breaking New Ground (BNG) Journal.  

Reply:

(a). (i)(ii). Attached is the list of all towns and cities whose names have been changed since 1994.

(b). The timeframes for names standardisation vary from province to province but is estimated at nine months for each name. This estimated period includes the consultation period by the Provincial Geographical Names Committees, the sitting of the South African Geographical Names Council, and the gazetting of the names by the Government Printers.

(c) The costs for geographical names standardisation are budgeted for both at the provincial and national Departments responsible for Sport, Arts and Culture.

NO	NEW NAMNEW NAME	PREVIOUS NAME OR STATUS CHANGE.	PROVINCE	FEATURE	DATE GAZETTED
	Gqeberha	Change of name from Port Elizabeth	Eastern Cape	City	2021/02/22
	Kariega	Change of name from Uitenhage	Eastern Cape	City	2021/02/22
	Ntabozuko	Change of name from Berlin	Eastern Cape	Town	2021/02/22
	Nqanqarhu	Change of name from MaClear Town	Eastern Cape	Town	2021/02/22
	Makhanda	change of name from Grahamstown	Eastern Cape.	Town	2018/06/29
	eMthonjaneni	Change of name Melomoth	KZN	Town	2017/12/15
	Cacadu	Change of name from Lady Frere	Eastern Cape	Town	2016/02/09
	Komani	change of name from Queenstown	Eastern Cape	Town	2016/02/09
	Khowa	change of name from Elliot	Eastern Cape	Town	2016/02/09
	KwaBhaca	change of name from Mount Frere	Eastern Cape	Town	2016/02/09
	Dikeni	change of name from Alice	Eastern Cape	Town, Post Office and Railway Station	2016/06/17
	Qumrhra	correction of spelling from Komga	Eastern Cape	Town	2015/05/15
	Maletswai	Change of name from Aliwal North	Eastern Cape	Town	2015/09/11
	James Calata	Change of name from Jamestown	Eastern Cape	Town	2015/09/11
	Hlohlolwane	change of name from Clocolan	Free State	Town	2015/12/09
	Makhado	change of name from Louis Trichardt	Limpopo	Town	2014/11/25
	Nthorwane	change of name Greylingstad	Mpumalanga	Town	2013/03/28
	Thaba-Kgwali	change of name from Grootvlei	Mpumalanga	Town	2013/03/28
	Mbizana	Correction of spelling from Bhizana	Eastern Cape	Town, River and Post Office in the Mhlonto Municipality in the Eastern Cape	2013/08/08
	eMuziwezinto	correction of spelling from Mzinto	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2013/10/02
	Mamafubedu	change of name from Petrus Steyn	Free State	Town	2012/11/02
	Makhado	change of name from Louis Trichardt	Limpopo	Town	2011/10/14
	eMkhuze	correction of spelling from Mkuze	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2011/10/07
	Nokakgolo	new name	Free State	Town	2011/10/07
	eMdloti	correction of spelling from Town Umdloti	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2010/10/01
	eManzimtoti	correction of spelling Town from Amanzimtotl	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2010/10/01
	KwaKhangela	correction of spelling from Congella	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2010/10/01
	Tshwane	registration of a Town in Gauteng Municipal Council name as a geographical feature	Gauteng	City	2010/01/29
	eMkhondo	change of name from Town in Mpumalanga Piet Ritief	Mpumalanga	Town	2010/01/29
	eManzana eManzana (Change of name from A town in Badplaas in Mpumalanga 8adplaas)	Change of name from A town in Badplaas in Mpumalanga adplaas	Mpumalanga	Town	2009/09/18
	Bhisho	Correction of spelling from Bisho	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Boardwalk Meander	Registration of new settlement	Free State	Town	2006/07/27
	Centane	Correction of spelling from Kantane	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Dutywa	Correction of Spelling from Idutywa	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Early Dawn	Registration of new settlement	North West	Town	2006/07/27
	EMalahleni	Formerly Witbank	Mpumalanga	Town	2006/07/27
	Emshinini	Formerly Lydenburg	Mpumalanga	Town	2006/07/27
	Hammanskraal West	Registration of existing settlement	Free State	Town	2006/07/27
	Khumula Estate	Registration of new settlement	Mpumalanga	Town	2005/05/01
	KwaDukuza	change of name from Stanger	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2006/07/27
	Lakeside Estates	Registration of new settlement	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Malalane	correction of spelling from Malelane	Mpumalanga	Town	2006/07/27
	Midstream Estate	Correction of spelling	Gauteng	Town	2006/07/27
	Modjadjiskloof	Change of name from Duiwelskloof	Limpopo	Town	2006/07/27
	Mookgophong	Former Naboomspruit	Limpopo	Town	2006/07/27
	Mthatha	Correction of Spelling from Mtata	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Mvane	Correction of Spelling from Imvani	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Ngcobo	Correction of Spelling from Engcobo	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Ngqamakhwe	Correction of Spelling from Nqamakwe	Eastern Cape	Town	2006/07/27
	Orlando Ekhaya	Registration of existing settlement	Gauteng	Town	2006/06/30
	Wigwam	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2004/04/08
	Magobe Extension 1	Registration of existing settlement	Northern Cape	Town	2005/02/25
	Ntabankulu	Correction of Spelling from Tabankulu	Eastern Cape	Town	2005/02/25
	Pirintsho	Correction of Spelling from Pirintsu	Eastern Cape	Town	2005/07/01
	Riverside Township	Registration of new settlement	Gauteng	Town	2005/07/01
	Summerfields	Change of name from Crystal Park Ext 17	Gauteng	Town	2005/05/27
	Lethabong	Formerly Hartbeesfontein	North West	Town	2004/05/28
	Thembani	Registration of existing settlement	Eastern Cape	Town	2004/10/01
	Umhlanga Gateway	Not indicated on the gazette	KwaZulu-Natal	Town	2003/06/06
	Lephalale	Ellisras	Limpopo	Town	2002/05/01
	Modimolle	Formerly Nylstroom	Limpopo	Town	2002/05/01
	Bela-Bela	Change of name from Warmbaths	Limpopo	Town	2002/06/14
	Mogwadi	Dendron	Limpopo	Town	2002/10/01
	Mokopane	Formerly Potgietersrus	Limpopo	Town	2002/05/01
	Ormonde View	Registration of new settlement	Gauteng	Town	2002/11/08
	Musina	Formerly Messina	Limpopo	Town	2002/05/01
	Polokwane	Formerly Pietersburg	Limpopo	Town	2002/05/01
	Boardwalk Manor	Registration of new settlement	Gauteng	Residential Town	2001/04/09
	Boshoek	Registration of existing setllement	North West	Town	2001/04/09
	Isisekelo	Registration of new settlement	Gauteng	Town	2001/10/29
	N12 Highway Park	Registration of new settlement	Gauteng	Town	2001/02/16
	Ditshoka	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Freedom Park	Registration of new settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Reagile	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Nkaikela	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Mmaleupa	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Mantsie	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Kgosing	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Go-Nkwe	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Goedgevonden	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Ga-Seane	Registration of existing settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Freedom Park	Registration of new settlement	North West	Town	2001/11/16
	Chief A Luthuli Park	Registration of new settlement	Gauteng	Town	2000/09/22

Reply:

(1)(a) 35 795

(b) 1875

(2)(a) 120

(b) 0

(3) This is as a result of the observation by the Department of a high number of staff being affected in the wake of the second wave of the COVID-19 variant, followed by front offices being temporarily closed due to decontamination and sanitising thereof. This then necessitated and made it imperative for the Department to reduce some of its operational services as part of an attempt to reduce the number of clients who visit our offices who may further exacerbate the spread of Covid-19 among clients and staff.

The Department thereby made a determination to prioritise key services and to offer critical and mandatory enabling documents such as registration of births, death and identity documents. This strategy would not perpetuate high client volumes with the enduring queues, hence the COVID-19 administrative protocols applied as a containment measure to limit the further spread of the virus.

(4) The Department will from time to time conduct a review and consult with relevant structures including the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC). When the situation improves, a determination will then be made to resume pending services including determination and retention applications, in a phased approach and will then be pronounced, as a result.

END

Reply:

(1)(a).The total budget allocated to the established Ministerial Advisory Team (MAT) amounts to three million (R3 million)

(b). The budget is sourced from the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Goods and Services allocations.

(2). Yes, the sectors in the industry were consulted during several meeting at Freedom Park addressing the challenges faced by the sector.

(3) CCIFSA was established to address challenges of fragmentation in the arts and culture sector. The Department only provided the necessary support for the establishment. CCIFSA is therefore an industry body that was established to lead activism in cultural and creative policy development, and to guarantee coherent implementation of developmental programs. For this, CCIFSA is a structure that is independent from the DSAC and government.

(b)(i). The Department has provided financial support to CCIFSA in the past years, including in this financial year. Given our mandate, it is only reasonable to continue supporting CCIFSA for the benefit of the sector.

(ii) MAT was established not to replace CCIFSA but to assist with the current challenges faced by the sector as a result of COVID-19 impact on the sector. The new challenges warrant new or different approaches to ensure stability and sustainability in the sector; MAT will approach these challenges by employing five (5) work streams to ensure that practitioners are taken care of during the pandemic, as we are not sure as to when the world will return to the usual normal. CCIFSA is part of MAT, responsible for one of the five work streams, namely Wellness Programme working closely with DSAC and service providers to develop well-structured communication between practitioners and implementers of desired services.

Reply:

In order to respond to this Question, information must be sourced from the provinces. The Department is still in the process of sourcing this information and as soon as all the information is received, the Minister will provide the response to the Question.

END.

Reply:

The R6 600 was applicable in the 2ND Wave of Covid-19 Relief funding cycle and was never broken down over three months.

a) Total amount made available was R20 million split equally between BASA and NAC.

b) (i) The applications opened on 17 August 2020 and closed on 11th September 2020.

(ii) 2809 applications were received.

c) (i) See attached list

(ii) All applicants applied within the window period of 17 August 2020 to 11th September 2020.

(iii) So far, 582 approved applicants were each paid R6 600.

 

Reply:

a) The amount spent by the Department of Human Settlements on the Breaking New Ground (BNG) television show hosted by the SA Broadcast Corporation (SABC) was R11 417 699.00 for the 2020/21 financial year.

No	Description	Amount (Rands)
	SABC 2 Airtime through GCIS	7,335 199.00
	BNG TV Production through GCIS	4,082 500.00
	TOTAL	11, 417 699.00

(b) Tsalena Media was appointed through the Government Communication Information System (GCIS). The terms of the agreement can be obtained from GCIS.

Reply:

The following information has been received from the Provincial Departments of Health:

1. The following table reflects the details in this regard:

PROVINCES	(a) number of the specified KN95 masks were imported for use and/or supply to SA healthcare workers	(b) total amount paid to the suppliers of these masks during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Eastern Cape	900,000	R38,270,000.00
Free State	450,000	R20,501,000.00
Gauteng	12,165,760	R114,863,550.03
KwaZulu-Natal	The only KN95 masks received were all donated stock.	R0.00
Limpopo	600,002	R16,500,025.00
Mpumalanga	450,000	R20,501,000.00
Northern Cape	280,000	R11,028,800.00
North West	165,000	R2,863,500.00
Western Cape	600,000	R28,715,000.00

(2) During the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic the only supplier contracted as part of the transversal contract was for Respirators that complied with the N95 (United States NIOSH-42CFR84) standard. The USA government during this period placed an embargo on the exportation of N95 respirators due to the demand for these in the USA. This situation impacted on the availability of N95 respirators in South Africa.

To manage the procurement of PPE, in this case respirators within the context of a global shortage, Treasury Notes 3 and 5 of 2020/21 made special provisions for the procurement of PPE in an emergency. National Treasury issued Treasury Note 3 of 2020/21 to allow for a central procurement mechanism which would have assisted provinces. However due to objections raised by stakeholders this note was repealed and replaced by Treasury Note 5 of 2020/21. Treasury Note 5 of 2020/218 then enabled local procurement of PPE within the framework of emergency procurement under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), as amended, and up to a value of R30 million on a decentralised basis by provinces.

(3) The Infection Prevention and Control guidelines developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic recommends the use of respirators in environments where aerosol generating procedures are performed.

These respirators or filtering facepiece respirators (FFR), are subject to various regulatory standards around the world. These standards specify certain required physical properties and performance characteristics for respirators to claim compliance with the particular standard.

• N95 (United States NIOSH-42CFR84)
• FFP2 (Europe EN 149-2001)
• KN95 (China GB2626-2006)

Noting that all of the above standards are comparable as per the below table.

The National Department of Health Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) policy includes Class B devices as registered by SAHPRA and specifically references half face particulate respirators as Class B: “N95”, “KN95”, “FFP2”, and “FFP3” single use disposable filtering facepiece respirators categorised as Class B medical devices by SAHPRA.

All respirators either procured or donated were submitted to the Protechnik Laboratory to assess their compliance with the equivalent South Africa standard: SANS1866-2:2018, SANS50149:2003, SANS50143:2003. Respirators that did not comply with the specified standard were repurposed to be used as surgical masks in low risk infectious areas or in instances where these were purchased the supplier claimed to meet these standards the respirators were returned to the supplier for possible replacement or refund. Any of the respirators that were inadvertently distributed to a setting where it was recommended that a respirator was required these were recalled and replaced with respirators that were compliant with the specified standard. Noting that the laboratory test results were used to assess the compliance of respirators that claimed compliance of the KN95 (China GB2626-2006) specified standard and not all KN95 were found to be non-compliant.

(4) The National Department of Health: Policy for the Regulation of Quality Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Supply in Healthcare, August 2020 makes the following provision, in accordance with SAHPRA requirements, for all licensed establishments to conduct post marketing surveillance.

“Prior to use of respirators purchased, a minimum of 10 respirators per 1000 (or part thereof) and at least 100 units of 10000 should be randomly picked by the purchaser from the boxes in their possession and sent at a minimum for a Particulate Filter Penetration test at a published accredited South African test laboratory (to sodium chloride) which test must indicate that the respirator has passed the minimum specification. This cost is borne by the seller (incorporated into cost of sale) and selection of respirators for testing is conducted by the purchaser to maintain integrity of random selection, testing and reporting to the purchaser.

• 1. If respirators pass this test, all respirators in the same production batch may be used, in the same purchase and having been delivered, and in possession of the purchaser.
  2. Failed tests require a second batch of randomly selected (or the same) respirators be sent for formal testing as per point 6.
  3. The final result of the testing must be reported to the supplier and a copy supplied to SAHPRA and the NRCS. The supplier is then required by the regulators to report (as per pharmaceutical batch recalls), on a publicly accessible portal for the particular batch affected (as per many other global regulatory agency standards for quality testing) at a minimum on SAHPRA and NRCS websites (or a link from one to the other).
  4. Publication will only reference the manufacturer, batch failed and test results. The implication should not necessarily be that all respirators from the manufacturer are defective.”

END.

Reply:

(a)(i). The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture was allocated R665 million of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP).

(ii). Out the allocation, the National Arts Council (NAC) was allocated R300 Million to implement the PESP focusing on job retention and job creation to the arts, culture and heritage sector. 

• R200 million was allocated for job creation 
• R100 million was allocated for job retention 
• 5 % (per cent) of the total allocation was set aside for administration 

(b). The call was made on 31 October 2020 and closed on 27 November 2020, the contract was signed by on 3 November and payment effected on 30 November 2020.  

(c). Ddetails of the distribution are attached in ANNEXURE B with a list of over 1200 beneficiaries. 

Reply:

According to the Provincial Departments of Health in the country –

(a) Most (4,601 including hospitals, clinics, mobiles and correctional centres report to DHIS) facilities have full capacity for ART treatment for HIV/AIDS in the Republic. All primary health care facilities and hospitals have full capacity for anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS in the Republic. However, small facilities often do not have more than 1 person trained to provide anti-retroviral treatment. Mobile health facilities do not have the full capacity for ART.

The table below indicate the number of Mobile health facilities per province.

Province	Number of mobile health facilities
Eastern Cape	177
Free State	135
Gauteng	106
KwaZulu-Natal	193
Limpopo	144
Mpumalanga	114
Northern Cape	54
North West	54
Western Cape	174
TOTAL	1,151

Where, mobile clinic facilities are not providing service, clients are referred to the nearest facility that provides for this service.

(b) (i) No patients were turned away from health care facilities without ARV treatment.

(ii) No facilities were affected in the country.

(c) All patients who visited health facilities received ART.

END.

Reply:

Honourable Member, it is important to distinguish the functions of various government departments and the different spheres of government when it comes to access to water and sanitation services.

• The Department of Water and Sanitation is the custodian of water and in terms of the National Water Act is responsible for ensuring that water as a resource is allocated equitably and used beneficially in the public interest, while promoting environmental values.
• Schedule 4B of the Constitution places the function of provision of water services to local government (municipalities).
• Section 154 of the Constitution places a responsibility on national and provincial government to support and regulate local government in carrying out this mandate.
• Section 3 of the Water Services Act outlines the right of access to basic water supply and sanitation which mandates that “everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation” and places the responsibility on Water Services Authorities to ensure that they develop a Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) to ensure the realisation of this right.
• Section 4 of the Water Services Act sets conditions for the provision of water services.
• Section 9 of the Water Services Act prescribes that the Minister may from time to time develop compulsory national norms and standards for water services which outline the exact levels of services that municipalities must provide.
• Section 10 of the Water Services Act provides norms and standards for setting tariffs for the provision of water services.
• Section 11 of the Water Services Act mandates that “every Water Services Authority has the duty to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction to progressively ensure efficient, affordable, economical and sustainable access to water services.”
• Section 84(1) d of the Municipal Structures Act mandates that municipalities are responsible for the provision of potable water and domestic waste water disposal systems.

1. Phase 1 of the Driefontein Scheme was implemented by uThukela District Municipality and is now complete, whilePhase 2 is in progress. Phase 3 (i.e. Spioenkop-Ladysmith Scheme) consists of both economic and social components and requires contributions from beneficiaries of the project who are able to pay for services. As the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) does not cover costs pertaining to the economic component, the municipality had to come up with about R1 billion co-funding.

The municipality entered into negotiations with Umgeni Water with the aim to secure assistance with co-funding and the implementation of the project. After conducting due diligence, Umgeni Water decided to conduct further detailed feasibility studies on the project. To this end, Umgeni Water has appointed a professional service provider to undertake the pre-feasibility study. The detailed feasibility study of the uThukela DM Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme (uTDM RBWSS) will include:

• Water resource modelling for the Upper uThukela Catchment,
• A pre-feasibility analysis to identify options for supply
• A detailed Feasibility Study of the most appropriate option for future bulk water supply to uThukela District Municipality.

(a) The total costs for the project can only be determined once the detailed feasibility study has been concluded because the information required to calculate costs will be obtained from the outcomes of the study.

 

(b-c) The funding allocations and the source of funding will be determined from information generated during the implementation readiness study. The implementation readiness study is dependent on conclusion of the detailed feasibility study will be determined once the total costs have been determined.

(d-g) The information on the proposed period of construction, including completion dates of a bulk raw water pipeline and the source of raw water and proposals for the filtration of the bulk raw water can only be determined once the detailed feasibility study has been concluded.

(2) The expenditure on water distribution infrastructure from inception up to 31 January 2021 is R102 400 021.

(3) The sources for the bulk distribution network are nine (9) production boreholes. The boreholes are being used as an interim source until long-term sustainable bulk water resource has been developed.

 

(4) The Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant allocations given to the Driefontein Water Complex Project since the 2010-11 financial year are as follows:

Financial year	Allocations
2010/11	R 11 470 200
2011/12	R 22 302 100
2012/13	R 16 308 355
2013/14	R 56 726 749
2014/15	R 80 977 114
2015/16	R 20 801 030
2016/17	R 64 000 000
2017/18	R 28 000 000
2018/19	R 45 000 000
2019/20	R 10 000 000
2020/21	R 39 399 000
Total	R394 984 548

Reply:

The 20 water trucks (tankers) referred to by the Honourable Member were procured through Amatola Water as part of the Drought Intervention Programme for the entire Eastern Cape Province.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is currently implementing a number of long-term projects that seek to resolve the water crisis in Amathole District Municipality that are funded through government conditional grants, including the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) as well as Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG).

Projects that are funded under RBIG are:

• The Xhora Bulk Water Supply Scheme which includes a number of components, namely; the raw water supply system (river weir, pump stations and off-channel dam), the Xhora water treatment plant, and the treated water supply system. To date, 21 500 people have access to water. An additional 12 500 residents should have access to clean water in the next 3 months when the next phase is commissioned.

• The Ngqamakhwe Regional Water Supply Scheme Phase 5A, referred to as the Butterworth Emergency Water Supply Scheme, will transfer raw water from the Tsomo River to the upper reaches of the Xilinxa River Dam catchment to augment the water supply to Butterworth. The existing water treatment works (WTW) downstream of the Xilinxa Dam will be used to supply treated water to Butterworth. This project will then be integrated into the Ngqamakhwe Regional Water Supply Scheme (RWSS) and will be used to distribute potable water once the Tsomo WTW has been commissioned. The contractor has established the site and construction has commenced. The anticipated completion date is 23rd of September 2023

District Wide Refurbishment projects that include a variety of refurbishment work of water treatment works, waste water treatment works, sewer pump stations, boreholes and bulk infrastructure in the towns of Adelaide, Bedford, Butterworth and Idutywa are as follows:

• Bedford & Adelaide Town - Refurbishment of Adelaide & Bedford WTW currently under construction. The project is 50% complete and the anticipated completion date is 30th June 2021

• Butterworth Town - Augmentation of Butterworth Water supply from Teko Kona Boreholes currently under construction. The project is 90% complete and the anticipated completion date on the 30th of June 2021.

• Idutywa Town - The Amathole District Municipality will be equipping boreholes for the Augmentation of water supply around iDutywa area. The projects are to commence in 2022/23

• Water Conservation and Demand Management (WCDM) teams have been established to deal with the implementation of various WCDM strategies aimed at reducing non-revenue water within Amathole District Municipality. The Water Loss Reduction Programmes are being implemented in the Amahlathi, Great Kei, Mbashe, Mnquma, Ngqushwa and Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipalities. The projects include:
• Monthly billing analysis,
• Retrofitting of internal plumbing
• Leak Detection and repairs
• Reservoir repairs
• Dam repairs
• Meter Installations and replacements
• Water Balance Reports, and
• Pressure Management and Water Restrictions

• District Wide Water Supply which entails the provision of bulk water supply and reticulation with standpipes and/or drilling and equipping of boreholes and refurbishment of existing infrastructure.

• West Victoria East Water Supply phase 3 - The project is for the provision of water supply extension to all the local villages.

• Rural Household Sanitation for Provision of basic sanitation services - 218 Ventilated Pit Latrines to be provided in order to address the sanitation backlog within the Municipal area of Mnquma ward 11 and 4. To date, 121 VIP structures have been constructed in the villages of Mnquma, Ward 11.

• There are also Drought Intervention Projects which include projects for siting, drilling and testing of boreholes and ad-hoc emergency drought related works such as equipping of boreholes, refurbishing of pumps and generators throughout the District (Mnquma LM, Mbashe LM, Raymond Mhlaba, Adelaide, Bedford and Hogsback). Progress in this regard is as follows:
• Equipping of Goshen Borehole = 100% complete
• Construction of Butterworth Water Treatment Works Backwash recovery system = 70% complete
• Equipping of Wartburg Borehole = 45% complete

The Projects that are funded under WSIG drought funding, rolled over from the 2018/19 financial year are:

• Butterworth Water Supply - Water Treatment works backwash water recovery.
• Butterworth Water Supply - Augmentation of bulk water to Ibika from Teko Kona boreholes.

The table below shows the breakdown of the allocations per programme for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial year allocation to ADM:

Programme	2018/19 Allocation	2019/20 Allocation	2020/21 Allocation
RBIG	R 66 500 000	R 99 694 000	R106 366 000
WSIG	R100 000 000	R102 000 000	R 80 000 000
WSIG Drought	R 64 000 000	R 64 000 000	-
Total	R230 500 000	R201 6294 000	R186 366 000

Reply:

(a) Government is currently undertaking a process to look at repositioning its public entities including South African Tourism (SA Tourism). Recommendations emanating from this process will be discussed and approved by Cabinet hence SA Tourism has not initiated rebranding of the entity.

(b)- (e) Not applicable

Reply:

(1). Yes, the list has been attached with the above details as requested.

(2). Stream 1, is not yet completed as it was also affected by the guiding figure of R10 800 across the board. The list of beneficiaries that have been paid thus far is also attached. The value of Stream 1 is R 23 896 665, 76.

(3). Contracting process is in progress for stream 2 beneficiaries. The NAC continues to engage those that received addendum contracts to sign in order to finalise the payment processes. All the beneficiaries that are approved have received their grant notification letters. The process announcing approved applicants is finalised and all names of fully compliant applicants are published on the NAC website.

 

Reply:

The findings outlined in the Interim Report into Allegations of Racial Discrimination by Medical Schemes are very disconcerting. As part of the processes to better understand the findings, the recommendations emanating from these and also to determine the most appropriate actions required to ensure that the findings do not occur again, we had a briefing session with the Section 59 Panel on the 22nd December 2020. Given the nature of the findings and that the report is interim, there are no immediate actions being implemented. However, once all stakeholders have made their inputs and comments on the report and it is then finalised by the Panel, it is expected that the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) will submit the final report to the Department.

One of the proposed interventions identified in the Interim Report is that the Department has to ensure that the CMS and the Boards of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) determine the action plans they would be considering, particularly in relation to the Panel’s recommendations as to the two regulatory authorities and their areas of lack of oversight and guidance on matters pertaining to Fraud, Waste and Abuse. Additionally, it is expected that the CMS would investigate the provisions of Section 59 of the Medical Schemes Act, and where necessary propose legislative amendments (including supporting regulations) pertaining to schemes and administrators. This includes providing clear and consistent guidance to their regulated entities on current procedures followed by schemes to enforce their rights in terms of section 59 of the Act. I will also be requesting the CMS Board to provide me with regular updates on all actions taken to address the findings and progress on interventions implemented.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) and (b)

Yes consideration was given to concerns raised not only by the Portfolio Committee but previously by the Minister and the Defence Force Service Commission.

Combat Boots

The SA Army engaged the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the improvement projects of uniform and combat boots. The boot project of Special Forces was revived and improved as it was found to be suited for use by the SA Army. Development of the proposed boot for the SA Army with wearer trials of the new combat boot commenced on 01 December 2020.

The new boot roll-out will commence from 01 July 2021 to all SA Army members within the SANDF with priority given to operationally deployed Units and Individuals, replacing the current combat boot. This roll-out is pending the availability of funding to support and implement this project.

(1) (b): Camouflage Uniform

The improvement of the textile used for the cut, manufacture and trim of camouflage uniform is also being done in collaboration with the CSIR.

The first concept uniform designs will be presented to the SA Army Council by 30 March 2021 for approval.

Wearer trials for the new uniform design will commence from end June 2021 and a phased full roll-out is scheduled from December 2021 pending the availability of funding for this project.

A well-deserved funding injection of the budgetary allocation to the SA Army will aid in addressing the replacement of the current combat dress system with the quality available within the market through collaboration with the CSIR.

Reply:

According to the North West Provincial Department of Health, Mokgareng Clinic has never been without medicines.

The Clinic has enough glucometers to assist diabetic patients. There may be times when one glucometer may be without batteries and because there is enough of them, the staff is able to continue with the work while the dead batteries of one glucometer are being replaced. The National Department of Health, working with the Provincial Department and the District will continue to monitor medicine as well as equipment availability in all facilities including for Mokgareng Clinic.

END.

Reply:

The functions and operations of the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) are provided for in the provisions of the Medical Schemes Act (131 of 1998). The primary function of the CMS is to provide regulatory oversight over the medical schemes industry. The CMS’ annual performance plan, including the targets outlined in this plan, are developed and finalised by the CMS’ executive team in full consultation with the Board. These plans are intended to address the challenges that the industry is facing, especially beneficiaries. The budget for the CMS is determined through an analysis of the previous year’s expenditure including any emergent projects – this budget is based on the provisions of the CMS Levies Act (58 of 2000). The CMS budget is based on the quantum of the levy that they can raise based on the number of principal members registered with medical schemes; and the number of medical schemes members is causally linked to the level of economic growth and performance.

The resource constraints plaguing the CMS are multifaceted and include a funding model that is heavily reliant on levies, regulatory tariffs that have not kept pace with consumer price index increases over time and the overall poor performance of the economy in recent years. To assist the CMS in addressing their budgetary constraints, the National Department of Health has been engaging with CMS to develop a new funding model that is more sustainable and reduces reliance on the fiscus, innovatively minimises reliance on medical scheme member levies and progressively increases the quantum of the budget that comes from regulatory tariffs (i.e. fees charged for accreditation of administrators, managed care organisations and registration of schemes and rules). Other innovative revenue generation considerations include raising additional revenues from Board of Trustee and Principal Officer training sessions as well as from webinars and conferences.

 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to correct the impression that Government is considering medical schemes for facilitating National Health Insurance (NHI). The administration of National Health Insurance (NHI) is not going to be outsourced. There is no contemplation of subcontracting any administrator/s or schemes to manage the affairs of the NHI Fund.

END.

Reply:

The North West Provincial Department of Human Settlements indicated that it has purchased suitable land for human settlements development through the Housing Development Agency (HDA). Regrettably, after the HDA completed its valuations of some land parcels with a potential for human settlements development, some of the private landowners became be reluctant to sell, while others are charging exorbitant amounts for identified portions of land. It is for this reason that the Provincial Department has approved the expropriation process which is currently underway. The Provincial Department continue to engage with private landowners to persuade them to sell portions of their land to be incorporated into an integrated housing development within the Greater Marikana Area.

The process of township establishment is currently being undertaken for those portions of land acquired through the HDA. The target is to complete the planning phase for these land portions and the expropriation process by March 2022.

Reply:

In order to respond to this Question, information must be sourced from the provinces. The Department is still in the process of sourcing this information and as soon as all the information is received, the Minister will provide the response to the Question.

END.

Reply:

This question was previously responded to during a Portfolio Committee meeting. Nevertheless let us repeat our previous explanation as it suggests there is a lack of understanding of scientific terminology.

Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between the total number of deaths reported in a specific time period and “expected” number of deaths in the same time periods.

The total number of deaths refers to the total number of people that died during a defined period of natural causes. The expected number of natural deaths is an estimate derived through modelling data, so it is not based on any confirmation of the actual cause of death. The model basically assumes that the trend in the number of deaths due to natural causes is similar to pre-COVID. Hence the excess deaths is an estimate as the difference between the total number of natural deaths and the estimated number of natural deaths. This exercise is useful for the purposes of assessing trends in mortality but cannot be used as an official statistics since it is based on an estimate. In the excess deaths estimate we cannot identify actual persons that may have died due to COVID.

(a) The Minister cannot update the official COVID death statistics based on an estimate of deaths. The official statistics is based on deaths of persons that are confirmed to have died due to COVID. This statistics is not an estimate.

(b) The official statistics of deaths due to COVID is an accurate representation of deaths in the country as each death reported is linked to the identity of a specific individual that died due to COVID. The excess deaths report from the MRC is an estimate that cannot be linked to the identity of a specific individual hence cannot form part of the official statistics.

END.

Reply:

1. Honourable Member, as you have correctly indicated, the challenges in the Ndlambe Local Municipality (LM) are as a result of a debilitating drought in that area of the Eastern Cape. The Department of Water Sanitation (DWS) is engaged in ongoing efforts to assist the municipality with challenges relating to the provision of water. To this end, there are ongoing bilaterals with the municipality through a Joint Operations Committee (JOC) and Project Steering Committee (PSC).

The DWS has provided financial support of R80 million to the municipality to alleviate the impact of the drought for the following projects which are expected to be completed by June 2021:

• Construction of a 2Ml/day Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant (SWRO)
• Construction of a 3Ml/day Waste Water Reclamation (WWR) plant next to the current Waste Water Treatment Works in Port Alfred.

Further, the DWS has allocated R5.19 million for the supply and delivery of standby generators at strategic points to lessen water interruptions when there are power failures in the area. The funds will be utilised for:

• • Retrofitting and plumbing at households to try and minimize the water losses
  • installation of zonal water meters
  • installation of valves and pressure regulating valves that are to do water balances and pressure regulation which will also lessen water losses
  • Construction of a 4.4km pipeline WTW emergency water supply scheme for Bathurst

A further amount of R30 million has also been allocated to finish the work on the Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) plant in Port Alfred which was designed to purify the brackish water from the Sarel Hayward Dam as well as to complete the work on the pipelines from Cannon Rocks to Alexandria which will assist in pumping more water to Alexandria.

It is important to note that in addition to funding received from the DWS, the Ndlambe LM also receives funding through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG). The municipality is implementing a separate project to refurbish Alexandria’s current well field resources and to construct a BWRO plant at Cannon Rocks which will augment Alexandria’s water by 1Ml/day.

2. Amatola Water was appointed as an Implementing Agent by the Ndlambe LM to construct and complete the BWRO plant, and the pipelines from Cannon Rocks to Alexandria. The Water Board has not been appointed to do augmentation of water resources and they are not doing any work on Bathurst. The entity is providing water to Bushmans River and Kenton on Sea by means of well fields and a Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant (SWRO) plant located at the Bushmans River.

The Amatola Water Board has approached the DWS to initiate a feasibility study for water augmentation throughout the Ndlambe LM area of jurisdiction, which is still under consideration. The Water Board is also implementing a Rapid Response Project in Alexandria utilising drought funding allocated by the DWS. The aim of the project is to find additional ground water for Alexandria and to connect it to the water distribution system.

3. An investigation was done in 2004, which considered sourcing water from the Fish River as part of a holistic study, the Albany Coast Situation Assessment. The recommended option was for the Glen Melville (Fish River) to be considered as a last resort, and only in the long term when local resources have been fully exploited, and also only if sea water desalination is not economical at that stage. Therefore, the current plan is to consider other alternative possible water sources for Ndlambe Local Municipality.

4. As indicated above, the DWS is currently funding the construction of the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) and Waste Water Reclamation (WWR) plant to augment water supply to Port Alfred and Bathurst.

The construction of the WWR plant is a pilot project for future water resources for the rest of the province of the Eastern Cape. At least two thirds of the water augmented by a municipality should reach the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW’s) and be reclaimed, and be purified to acceptable quality for domestic use. The cost of reclamation and purification of waste water is far less than the cost of purification of sea water. If this pilot project proves to be successful it may be implemented at all the towns within the Ndlambe Local Municipality.

(a) A Waste Water Reclamation plant costs about R7 per 1ml/day and the running cost is in the order of R7/m³. Therefore, the total cost depends on the size plant needed.

(b) The design and tender processes may take up to 6 months and the construction time estimation is 4 to 6 months, depending on the size of the plant and where it is situated; which would add up to an estimated 12 months for the whole process.

Reply:

1. The Department appointed Indingliz Advertising and Marketing for the service.

(b) It was appointed for a three year period to the total amount of R 14 912 901.00 vat inclusive.

(c) The supply chain management tender processes was followed.

(d) Artists will benefit through a platform for accessing assistance and professional

services for dealing with matters related to lifestyle management, financial management, mental health management, substance abuse management and legal advice. This in attempt to extend the strategies that the Department is continuously employing to provide a holistic conducive environment within which the arts and its practitioners must thrive.

(e) The amount used for refreshments, transport and venue during the launch is R60 592.50 as per the itemized billing from the appointed service provider. The Venue came at no cost.

(f) The guest speakers were 1. Ms Lilian Dube 2. Adv.Nakedi Ribane 3. Mr Jack Devnarain 4. Ms Gigi Lamayne 5. Mr Gaby Le Roux 6. Ms Joy Mbewana 7. Ms Mathapelo Voster 8. Ms Shudufhadzo Musida (pre recorded) 9. Advocate Steve Kekana.

(g) List of invitees to the lauch is as follows Media (provide detail) Panelist (as above) List of invitees attached.

(h) The attendance was controlled and confined to the covid-19 regulations for level 3 social gatherings as a result, reliance was on virtual viewing of the live stream. Physically, 73 people including artists attended the launch (lists and attendance register attached).

ILAPHA WELLNESS INTERVENTION PROGRAMME LAUNCH
NAME	SURNAME	MEDIA HOUSE	STAKEHOLDER	EMAIL	CONTACT NUMBER	SIGNATURE
Gabi	LeRoux	Panelist
Steve	Kekana	Panelist
Tshepiso	Mahlangu	Humbledrop productions		[email protected]	084 215 1742
Lilian	Dube	Panelist
Nozipho	Dlamini	Sisterhood			082 966 6500
Joy	Mbewana	Panelist
Natacia	Pakarnist	Interpreter			079 848 5281
Gigi	La Mayne	Panelist			078 129 7480
Natacia	Manni				067 125 6450
Nakedi	Ribane				082 789 2163
Dimakatso					084 324 3957
Mandla	Maeko	Seniorgroup			074 754 4477
Vuyi	Mothlabane	indingilizi			063 877 5697
Madimetja	Moleba	DSAC			066 301 4675
Jack	Devaeain	SAGA			082 467 8925
Mandla	Ntlatlane	NTLAKS			076 478 9972
Victor	Malaza	Indingilizi
Xenia	Malaza	Indingilizi
Cetshwayo	Ntuli	Indingillizi
Mavis	Chauke	Indingilizi
Dikeleli	Chabalala	Indingilizi
Tholakele	Temane
Frennie	Shivambu	Gallo images
Kgalalelo	`Tlhoaele				068 5842050
Joseph	Nkhumise	Steve Kekana Foundation			071 419 5743
Thulani	Mahlangu	Steve Kekana Foundation			082 081 2972
Bongane	Mkhatshwa	Breath of art			082 051 828
Thabo	Nkosi	Breath of Art			079 040 3702
Esau	Dlamini	Soweto TV
Sandile	Zikalala	Soweto TV
Dumsani	Mbatha	Soweto TV
IPELENG	MTWA	Ditshego Media			0115133244
Thuto	Ditshego	Ditshego media			0115133244
Zama	Mkhize	Gigi Lamaynes crew			072 496 1305
Tholakele	Temane	Indingilizi
Dikeledi	Ledwaba	Indingilizi
Lorraine	Mataboge	Magakwa Youth Developer
Joseph	Komani	Act café			067 794 8882
Mapule	Rafuthu	Makakwa Youth Dev
Masike	Lesego	Makakwa Youth Dev
Otshepeng	Mozima	Makakwa Youth Dev
Lebogang	Basiretsi	Makakwa Youth Dev
Boipelo	Dibopu	Makakwa Youth Dev
Mogomotsi	Seabelo	Makakwa Youth Dev
Lot	Modise	Makakwa Youth Dev
Tebogo	Mahaba	Makakwa Youth Dev
Tshegofatso	Mpete	Makakwa Youth Dev
Tshegofatso	Kgosinkwe	Makakwa Youth Dev
Victoria	Muelose	Makakwa Youth Dev
Kabelo	Mpete	Makakwa Youth Dev
Paris	Manalo	Makakwa Youth Dev
Stanley	Letebele	Makakwa Youth Dev
Vincent	Stephen	PRIDA ART
Lesego	Mogole	Prida Art

SILAPHA WELLNESS INTERVENTION PROGRAMME LAUNCH
NAME	SURNAME	MEDIA HOUSE	STAKEHOLDER	EMAIL	CONTACT NUMBER	SIGNATURE
Gabi	LeRoux	Panelist
Steve	Kekana	Panelist
Tshepiso	Mahlangu	Humbledrop productions		[email protected]	084 215 1742
Lilian	Dube	Panelist
Nozipho	Dlamini	Sisterhood			082 966 6500
Joy	Mbewana	Panelist
Natacia	Pakarnist	Interpreter			079 848 5281
Gigi	La Mayne	Panelist			078 129 7480
Natacia	Manni				067 125 6450
Nakedi	Ribane				082 789 2163
Dimakatso					084 324 3957
Mandla	Maeko	Seniorgroup			074 754 4477
Vuyi	Mothlabane	indingilizi			063 877 5697
Madimetja	Moleba	DSAC			066 301 4675
Jack	Devaeain	SAGA			082 467 8925
Mandla	Ntlatlane	NTLAKS			076 478 9972
Victor	Malaza	Indingilizi
Xenia	Malaza	Indingilizi
Cetshwayo	Ntuli	Indingillizi
Mavis	Chauke	Indingilizi
Dikeleli	Chabalala	Indingilizi
Tholakele	Temane
Frennie	Shivambu	Gallo images
Kgalalelo	`Tlhoaele				068 5842050
Joseph	Nkhumise	Steve Kekana Foundation			071 419 5743
Thulani	Mahlangu	Steve Kekana Foundation			082 081 2972
Bongane	Mkhatshwa	Breath of art			082 051 828
Thabo	Nkosi	Breath of Art			079 040 3702
Esau	Dlamini	Soweto TV
Sandile	Zikalala	Soweto TV
Dumsani	Mbatha	Soweto TV
IPELENG	MTWA	Ditshego Media			0115133244
Thuto	Ditshego	Ditshego media			0115133244
Zama	Mkhize	Gigi Lamaynes crew			072 496 1305
Tholakele	Temane	Indingilizi
Dikeledi	Ledwaba	Indingilizi
Lorraine	Mataboge	Magakwa Youth Developer
Joseph	Komani	Act café			067 794 8882
Mapule	Rafuthu	Makakwa Youth Dev
Masike	Lesego	Makakwa Youth Dev
Otshepeng	Mozima	Makakwa Youth Dev
Lebogang	Basiretsi	Makakwa Youth Dev
Boipelo	Dibopu	Makakwa Youth Dev
Mogomotsi	Seabelo	Makakwa Youth Dev
Lot	Modise	Makakwa Youth Dev
Tebogo	Mahaba	Makakwa Youth Dev
Tshegofatso	Mpete	Makakwa Youth Dev
Tshegofatso	Kgosinkwe	Makakwa Youth Dev
Victoria	Muelose	Makakwa Youth Dev
Kabelo	Mpete	Makakwa Youth Dev
Paris	Manalo	Makakwa Youth Dev
Stanley	Letebele	Makakwa Youth Dev
Vincent	Stephen	PRIDA ART
Lesego	Mogole	Prida Art

Reply:

1. The Commander in Chief requested medical support from the Republic of Cuba to assist in curving the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. In response to the Commander in Chief’s request, the Cuban Government offered a team that consisted of a Medical Health Care Brigade. The Department of Defence (DOD) was allocated with military health care professionals. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chattered an aircraft to transport the Cuban medical practitioners, who arrived in South Africa on 27 April 2020.

In adherence to the World Health Organisation COVID-19 regulations, the DOD established a quarantine centre for personnel entering the borders of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The Cuban Medical Health Brigade was quarantined at the identified centre. On completion of the quarantine, there was a delay in securing accommodation in the different Provinces due to the Level 5 national lockdown.

Consequently both military and the civilian Medical Health Brigade from Cuba were transported in the SANDF chattered aircraft at the cost of R8, 227, 060. 00, and on arrival they were accommodated and quarantined at the identified quarantine centre at the cost of R22, 000, 000.

2. The DOD chattered an aircraft to transport the Cuban Medical Brigade in order to assist with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic within the SANDF. Therefore with the pandemic having affected the whole country, the department carried the cost. In the interest of the national objective to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOD paid for accommodation, chattering and quarantine.

Reply:

(a). The R6 600 was applicable to the 2nd Wave of relief funding. Unsuccessful applicants get informed accordingly, however, there was subsequently a 3rd Wave relief funding cycle to which the same artists were not prohibited from applying.

(b). The Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme is focused on job creation opportunities as well as job retention as opposed to the individual requests that were applicable to the relief of R 6 600 of the second wave. Any artist’s formations and organisations were allowed, in accordance with the prescribed criteria, to apply for the (PESP)

(c). The 2nd Wave was administered through the NAC and BASA and each entity provided responses to the applicants and where there were enquiries for the R6 600, there was a contact person and details for BASA [email protected] and 066 314 3374 whilst at NAC it was [email protected]

Reply:

I have been informed that the Housing Development Agency responded to a request for information by the Honourable Member on 9 April 2021.

 

Reply:

The following tables reflect the details in this regard.

NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (NDOH)

NAME OF COMPANY	PURPOSE OF CONTRACT	VALUE OF CONTRACT	DURATION OF CONTRACT
RRA TRADING	Security Guarding	R13 366 618.60	36 Months - All Forensic laboratories and MBOD/CCOD (01 April 2020 – 31 March 2023) 12 Months - Civitas Building ( 01 April 2020 – 31 July 2021)

NATIONAL HEALTH LABOTORY SERVICE (NHLS)

NAME OF COMPANY	PURPOSE OF CONTRACT	VALUE OF CONTRACT	DURATION OF CONTRACT
Eldna Security Services	Not Applicable (NHLS insourced the security from February and March 2018)	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

OFFICE OF HEALTH STANDARDS COMPLIANCE (OHSC)

NAME OF COMPANY	PURPOSE OF CONTRACT	VALUE OF CONTRACT	DURATION OF CONTRACT
Eldna Security Services	Security Guarding	R2 765 088.00	36 Months (10 October 2020 – 10 October 2023)

SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTH PRODUCTS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (SAHPRA)

NAME OF COMPANY	PURPOSE OF CONTRACT	VALUE OF CONTRACT	DURATION OF CONTRACT
Tyeks Security Services	Security Guarding	In a process of procuring security service for 2021/2022 financial year	Not Applicable

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

NAME OF COMPANY	PURPOSE OF CONTRACT	VALUE OF CONTRACT	DURATION OF CONTRACT
Fidelity Services Group	Security Guarding	R 32 000 000.00	36 Months (01 June 2019 – 31 May 2022)

END.

Reply:

(a) There are permanent boards for the Amatola Water, Bloem Water, Mhlathuze Water, Overberg Water and Rand Water. The terms of these Water Boards are indicated in the table below:

Water Board	Term of office of the Board
Amatola Water	Appointed in 1 March 2021 with term ending at the end February 2025
Bloem Water	Appointed in April 2019 with term ending at the end of March 2023
Mhlathuze Water	Appointed in December 2018 with term ending at the end of November 2022
Overberg Water	Appointed in April 2019 with term ending at the end of March 2023
Rand Water	Appointed in October 2018 with term ending in September 2022

(b) The selection processes of members of permanent Boards for Lepelle Northern Water, Magalies Water, Sedibeng Water and Umgeni Water are underway. It is envisaged that the appointment processes will be finalised by the end of June 2021, should Cabinet concur with the recommendations tabled before it. The current status of the interim boards and selection processes of permanent boards is indicated below:

Water Board	Current Leadership Status	Measures in place to appoint permanent Boards
Lepelle Northern Water	Interim Board was appointed in May 2020	The selection process is underway and due to be finalised by end of June 2021
Magalies Water	Interim Board was appointed in July 2020	The selection process is underway and due to be finalised by end of June 2021
Sedibeng Water	Interim Board was appointed in May 2020	The selection process is underway and due to be finalised by end of June 2021
Umgeni Water	Interim Board was appointed in August 2020.	The selection process is underway and due to be finalised by end of June 2021

Reply:

1. (a) The agreements with manufacturers contain a confidentiality clause which precludes the sharing of contract terms. This includes the price of the vaccines. We have approached manufacturers to highlight the transparency requirements as enshrined in our constitution for the purposes of oversight. We hope that our representation would allow the Department to be released from the non-disclsoure clauses of the agreement.

(b) the first phase of the programme involves healthcare workers and commenced on the 17 February 2021 while the second phase is scheduled to start on the 17 May 2021. The groups targeted in each phase may be vaccinated in subsequent phases hence nobody will excluded from vaccination.

2. Transport costs are dependent on the Incoterms contained in the contract. In these contracts the manufacturers will be responsible for transportation of vaccines to South Africa. Once in the country, the Department of Health is responsible for warehousing and distribution costs of vaccines.

END.

Reply:

a) There was an elaborate process that culminated in a narrow criterion, determining whether the property was vacant or underutilised (partially vacant). The process involved a desktop spatial analysis; physical verification; desktop agricultural potential analysis; verification of land restitution claims; and final verification utilising local departmental knowledge. Each one of these steps contain detailed activities that can be outlined should that be considered necessary. The focus, for purposes of this question, will be restricted to the desktop spatial analysis.

The desktop spatial analysis included the identification and sourcing of data sets; definition of the terms vacant and partially vacant (underutilised); defining the parameters to identify vacant and partially vacant agricultural state land; mapping agricultural state land; and performing a desktop Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis on the data.

Identification and Sourcing of Data

The datasets listed below were identified and obtained from the identified data custodians:

• Cadastral data from Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development;
• Deeds Registration data from Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development;
• Land parcels identified as vacant by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure;
• National Land Cover for the year 2017 from Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development;
• South African Protected Areas Database for the year 2018 from Environment, Forestry and Fisheries;
• Indigenous Forests Inventory from Environment, Forestry and Fisheries;
• Land Capability (Terrain Capability) from Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; and
• Traditional community boundaries from Traditional Affairs.

Definition of Terms and Parameters for determining Vacant Land

• The term vacant refers to a piece of land that is not occupied or not being used for any specific purpose whilst the term partially vacant refers to a property when only parts of it have been classified as vacant.
• The 2017 Land Cover dataset, which was used, is a national land cover classification generated using multispectral satellite imagery with a multi-temporal analysis technique, produced by National Geospatial Information within Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
• The table below shows the selected land cover classes from the national land cover data which were utilised to identify agricultural land as vacant or not vacant.

Selected Land Cover Classes, 2017

No	Land Cover Class	Classification
1	Natural wooded	Vacant
2	Shrubland	Vacant
3	Grassland	Vacant
4	Waterbodies	Not vacant (depending on coverage)
5	Wetlands	Not vacant (depending on coverage)
6	Barren land	Vacant
7	Cultivated	Not vacant
8	Built-up	Not vacant
9	Mines and quarry	Not vacant
10	Planted Forest	Not vacant

• Indigenous forest dataset was used to classify properties located in indigenous forest as not vacant.
• The Protected Areas Database was used to classify properties located within these areas as not vacant.
• Although terrain capability is one of three building blocks (soil, climate and terrain) for land capability, only terrain capability was used in this analysis. Terrain capability includes aspects such as slope gradient, slope direction, slope shape, ground roughness, altitude and streams (drainage network). Land with a terrain capability value between “Very Low and Low to Moderate” was subtracted from vacant and partially vacant land.
• Land that is located within traditional community boundaries was regarded as not vacant.
• State land acquired in terms of the Pro-active Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) and by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, was regarded as not available for redistribution.
• Land that is claimed in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act was regarded as not available for redistribution, depending on the phase of the claim and options selected by the claimants.

Criteria Used

• In view of what has been explained above, the ultimate criteria that was determined is that:
  • • • • The land cover class is either grassland, barren land, shrubland or natural wooded;
        • the property is located on suitable terrain capability;
        • the property is less than 10% within an indigenous forest;
        • the property is less than 10% within a protected area;
        • the property is not located in an area which is likely being used for communal grazing;
        • the property is not part of Pro-active Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) land or State land acquired by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights for settlement of claims;
        • the land parcel is not un-registered;
        • the aggregated vacant or partially vacant land available per property is bigger than 50 hectares; and
        • The property is not claimed in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act.

b) The final list was a product of collaboration amongst various business units of the Department in the manner outlined in the table below:

Desktop Spatial Analysis:	Chief Directorate: Property Management and Advisory Services
Desktop Agricultural Potential Analysis:	Directorate: Land Use and Soil Management
Verification of Land Restitution Claims:	Commission on Restitution of Land Rights
Final Verification utilising local departmental knowledge	Provincial Shared Services Centres

c) No personal communication was sent out to farmers, however there were media briefings that were generally accessible to the public.

Reply:

(1) The total number of the officials of the department that were allocated to front offices, who are not on sick leave but are off work due to restrictions related to COVID-19 as at 11 March 2021 are 108.

(2) No, these officials all fall within the category of persons with one or more of the underlying commonly encountered chronic medical conditions that are not well controlled. Assigning such officials to manage queues may heighten exposure and place them at a higher risk of complications or death than other employees if infected with COVID 19, considering the environment and observation of physical distancing protocols in queues.

The Department however deploys other officials as well as Supervisors and Office Managers to assist with queue management. COVID-19 Compliance officers are appointed in writing to manage the queues as well as Immigration Officers who add to the capacity to manage the queues. Furthermore, strategies including utilisation of different channels have been developed by the Department to put measures in place to deal effectively with long queues in Home Affairs offices country wide. Officials are thereby deployed to health facilities, banks and mobile units to reduce long queues. Some offices are assisted by the municipalities with (Expanded Public Works Programme) EPWP staff to assist DHA in managing the queues.

END

 

Reply:

a) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development supplied 400 000 disposable masks, 200 000 reusable masks and 400 000 bars of soap for farmworkers.

(b)(i) The total number of black farmers who benefitted is unknown as the masks and bars of soap were mainly given to Organised Agricultural formations to distribute to farming operations irrespective of the race of farmers involved.

(ii) The expenditure was as follows: R13 700 000.00 – Masks.

R4 052 000.00 – Bars of soap.

Reply:

I have been advised by the SAPO as follows:

1. (a) The Reygersdal branch’s electricity was disconnected due to cable theft in the area.

(b) The electricity was disconnected in mid-January 2021.

2. The electricity has since been restored.

3. The disconnection of electricity due to cable theft can not be predicted and planned for due to its nature. However, in instances where cable theft unexpectedly occurs, the Municipality is contacted to ensure urgent restorative maintanance to avoid prolonged disruption of services.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

The pollution of the Vaal River System is a consequence of poor maintenance of sanitation infrastructure by a number of municipalities located along the Vaal River including the Provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State and North West. The Emfuleni Local Municipality (LM) contributes a significant amount to this pollution. The water and sanitation infrastructure challenges in the Emfuleni LM which the provincial and national government interventions are focusing upon are as follows:

a) Operations and Maintenance

b) Refurbishment

c) Upgrade

The Honourable Member will be aware that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) published its report titled “Final Report of the Gauteng Provincial Inquiry Into the Sewage Problem of the Vaal River” on 17 February 2021. Immediately thereafter we started consultations with the relevant stakeholders in accordance with the Water Services Act.

I have had meetings with my colleague, the Minister of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs, the Premier of Gauteng and the Gauteng MEC of COGTA as well as the Emfuleni Local Municipality to solicit inputs that will be incorporated into the intervention plan. 

A task team comprising senior officials of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Water and Sanitation Advisory Panels, NRRTT and other technical experts have been established to manage the implementation of the intervention plan.

I shall be approaching Cabinet to brief it on the SAHRC Report and to present the intervention plan for support and approval as soon as the necessary consultations are completed.

Reply:

a) The vaccination programme is aims reduce the morbidity and mortality of Covid-19. Fundamentally, it is to ensure community survival and manage economic survival. It will do through two main objectives. In the short term it is to manage severity of disease and reduce mortality by vaccinating the most vulnerable (health care workers, elderly and those with co-morbilidies); and in the medium term to build herd immunity by vaccinating everyone else.

(i) Phase 1 of the programme is targeting health care workers. This phase will be completed by end April 2021. Phase 2 of the Programme will be completed by the end of quarter 2 of the 2021/22 financial year. Phase 3 of the Programme will be completed by the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

(ii) We are estimating that on average we would vaccinate 50,000 persons per day in quarter 1; progressively increasing to on average vaccinating 135,000 persons per day in quarter 4.

b) The National Department of Health promulgated the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Regulations in December 2017. These regulations make provision for a licensing and inspectorate processes and also stipulate the minimum requirements to become an EMS provider for both the public and private sectors. The process of accreditation of EMS providers in compliance with the EMS Regulations is ongoing at provincial level. Only those EMS providers and ambulance units that meet the requirements are issued license token and allowed to operate within the respective health districts.

In addition, the National Department of Health (NDOH) together with the Office of Health Standards and Compliance (OHSC), in consultation with the National Committee for EMS (Provincial EMS Managers) developed the draft Regulations relating to Standards for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to facilitate standardization and equitable services in the provision of public and private EMS countrywide by all accredited EMS providers – now published for public comment. The proposed regulation will not only maintain a standard of service delivery but will also improve the quality of service as well as maintaining a minimum standard of service delivery. It will enhance the EMS Regulation, by detailing the standards required in the provision of a high quality EMS. It will also assist in refining the licensing and inspection process of the EMS Regulations by the respective provincial Licensing and Inspectorate Authorities.

A 5 year quality improvement plan is embedded in the assessment tool – the Ideal EMS Framework – with systems in place for district, provincial and national monitoring which includes the Office of Health Standards Compliance when these regulations are promulgated.

EMS will also form an integral part of the Quality Learning Centres (QLCs) envisaged in the Presidential National Quality Improvement Plan to create centres of excellence in each province. These QLCs are the spearhead for improving service delivery in preparation for NHI.

END.

Reply:

(1). Yes, the list has been attached with the above details as requested.

(2). (a). The NAC has committed itself to resolve the process speedily.

(b). the entity has been hard at work to conclude the contracting process and paying the beneficiaries.

(c)(d). All applicants that have been approved are notified and no pending decision for the outstanding applicants except to send them decline letter which will be finalised soon.

(3). The NAC consulted with the sector as follows:

• 23 February 2021, 5 March 2021, 12 March 2021, and on the 19 March 2021

4. (a)(b). The NAC Council took a decision to revise the guiding figures for stream and stream that saw the initial approved amount cut by over 56 per cent. Those that were affected by the decision challenged the decision that resulted in the sit in at the NAC.

The Department met with protesting artists and we are looking at various interventions to address the matter of the shortfall. We will make the necessary updates as we make progress on the matter.

Reply:

Honourable Member there were no packages of personal protective equipment given to (i) councillors, (ii) government officials, (iii) National Rapid Response Task Team Members and (iv) Advisory Committee Members at the community outreach events.

 

Reply:

PHASE ONE

a) (i) R80 044 284,14 was paid to beneficiaries

(ii) 4166 (including 319 from Sport sector) received funding

PHASE TWO

(i) R 5 543 800 was paid to beneficiaries including the partnership between

DSAC/DSBD.

(ii) 4110 (including 88 from Sport sector) beneficiaries received funding.

PHASE THREE

c) (i) No beneficiaries have been paid yet in the third phase.

(ii). Still to be determined

Reply:

In order to respond to this Question, information must be sourced from the provinces. The Department is still in the process of sourcing this information and as soon as all the information is received, the Minister will provide the response to the Question.

END.

Reply:

According to NAC:

(1)(a)(i). In 2019, the National Arts Council initiated a mentorship programme for specific approved beneficiaries. However, the programme did not proceed as there was no policy developed for it.

(ii) The mentorship was proposed for projects in marginalised and rural areas that needed support in implementing projects. The amount was meant to be 25% of identified projects’ allocation.

(b)(i) There was no procurement process followed as the programme did not continue.

(ii) There were no mentors nominated

(c)(i) None as the programme did not proceed, mentorship fees were not allocated.

(ii) Nothing is reflected as there were no payments done to mentors

(d) Ten (10)

(ii) The money is still in the NAC’s account

(2). The money remaining will be allocated to funding of bursaries and projects through an open call for funding.

Reply:

As it stands all appointments made by this person were performed in line with the law and delegations and therefore they are all valid until declared invalid by a court of law. In addition, each appointment made creates a contract of employment and rights for employees in terms of the Labour Relations Act of 1995 and other labour legislation. The individual employees’ rights cannot be diminished by just one incident that has no bearing on their employment.

The dismissal of the person is regarded as a deterrent to all employees to act within the prescribed legislative framework and the organisation cannot conduct a witch-hunt where no allegation or evidence of wrong-doing exist. Such an approach will have a destabilising effect on the organisation. In this regard, it should be kept in mind that the recruitment and selection process is not undertaken by a single person, but by a Selection Committee comprising of at least three members and is guided by the Public Service Regulations, 2016, as amended, and the Departmental Policy on Recruitment and Selection. When the allegations came to the attention of the Executive Authority, the former employee was removed from all recruitment and selection processes within the organisation.

Since the dismissal of the former employee, the organisation has been at pains to institute additional controls in the human resources management environment to overcome the challenges identified in the recruitment and selection process, this includes but is not limited to a comprehensive legislative and policy framework checklist that accompanies each recruitment and selection process, as well as the review of human resources management policies.

Whistle-blowing Guidelines are in place to encourage and enable employees to raise serious concerns about fraud and corruption within the organisation or with the independent Audit Committee. All complaints are handled professionally and in line with the prevailing prescripts.

Reply:

Yes, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that is currently being used to vaccinate healthcare workers is still part of a study.

The vaccine was used in a large international Phase 3 study which enrolled nearly 40,000 participants. The study showed that, in South Africa where we have the 501Y.V2 variant, the vaccine reduced severe disease by 81.7% and moderate disease by 64%. The Phase 3a study provided evidence of efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Because there is often a time lapse between a Phase 3 study being successfully completed, and the registration of a product for use outside of a clinical trial, an open label study is often used to bridge this gap. Phase 3b studies, the context in which this vaccine is being used, allows for early access to the vaccine and also enables the collection of additional data on safety, efficacy and how to introduce a new product. In a phase 3b study, although evidence of safety and efficacy is confirmed, informed consent must be obtained. In a phase 3b study, placebo is not used in the study and does not involve experimentation with any unproven vaccines.

A medicine is registered based on the evidence of safety and efficacy obtained from Phase 3 studies. The use of a registered medicine does not require informed consent, although as with any medicine, patients must understand what the vaccine is for, whether there are any specific side effects, and they must be willing to take it.

A phase 3b study and a vaccine roll-out both involve wide-scale implementation of Covid-19 vaccines, they differ only insofar as the type of regulatory approval required as well as the informed consent and information collected from those being vaccinated

END.

Reply:

I have been informed by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality that the main cause of the water outages in eThekwini in early January 2021 was the lack of capacity within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to deal with mechanical and electrical failures. There was a delay in the awarding of the maintenance contracts which are now in the final stages of procurement and should be awarded within the next month.

I am further informed that electricity outages result in a shortage of supply when there is load shedding. Therefore, the unit that deals with electricity issues in the municipality has been approached to find a way of excluding Wiggins and Durban Heights Waterworks from load shedding. I have been advised that it has now been agreed that the two works will be excluded from load shedding when ESKOM imposes levels below Level 3 load shedding.  

Reply:

(a)​  The overall percentage (%) rate for vacant posts in State Hospitals is 13%. The table below indicates the (%) rate of vacant posts in State Hospitals per Province as at end February 2021.

Province	% Vacant posts in Hospitals
Eastern Cape	13%
Free State	21%
Gauteng	11%
KwaZulu Natal	14%
Limpopo Province	7%
Mpumalanga	12%
North West	14%
Northern Cape	17%
Western Cape	15%
Overall Total	13%

(b) The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients without comorbidities reported as at 14 April 2021 is as below, please note that the comorbidities indicator is not covered as the current reporting classification does not include it:

 

PROVINCE	TOTAL RECOVERIES
	14 April 2021
Eastern Cape	184,064
Free State	79,579
Gauteng	405,110
KwaZulu-Natal	319,830
Limpopo	60,970
Mpumalanga	74,225
North West	61,631
Northern Cape	33,215
Western Cape	268,249
Total	1,486,873

END

Reply:

(a)(b) (i)(ii) Refer Annexure A

Reply:

1. Mr Mooketsi an employee of the Department of Education, Gauteng who was out on bail for an unrelated armed robbery case was arrested  in Springs in possession of an R4 Assault Rifle and 3 x empty R4 magazines. 

2. Mr Mooketsi was charged and appeared at the Springs Magistrate Court on February and April 2020 respectively.  He was remanded in custody pending his next court appearance on 04 May 2020.  The case was then postponed to 20 August 2020 for trial.  The accused was found guilty and sentence to 6 years imprisonment.”