Reply:

1. The circumstances surrounding the departure of Mr Shepherd Bushiri and Ms Mary Bushiri from South Africa is currently under investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and there is no indication at this stage that this is matter that requires an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.

2. The statement to which the Honourable Member refers reflects the current legal position, which the law enforcement agencies are required to – and which they continue to – enforce.

Reply:

The South African Government has entered into a government to government agreement with the Republic of Cuba. In the area of health, the collaboration focuses on the provision of qualified Cuban doctors to work in rural or disadvantaged areas of South Africa and medical training for young South Africans in Cuba.

In addition, a Cuban Health Brigade of 187 medical personnel arrived in South Africa in April 2020 to support the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under a bilateral agreement between Cuba and South Africa’s armed forces, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has a number of students who are studying in Cuba. This programme started in 2014 and is ongoing.

In June 2020, some of the SANDF students completed their studies. Due to travel restrictions in many parts of the world and because there were no commercial flights to or from Cuba, the SANDF chartered an aircraft from South African Airways to collect the students.

The aircraft also carried a consignment of goods, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitary towels and toiletries, to the SANDF students who had not completed their studies and were remaining in Cuba and to the South African medical students on behalf of the Department of Health.

The SANDF also received a request to transport a consignment of PPE that had been donated by private individuals in South Africa to the government of Cuba. Since there was space on the aircraft, the SANDF agreed to carry this consignment.

The South African government has not made any donation of personal protective equipment to the government of Cuba.

Neither the SANDF nor the Department of Health has details related to the involvement of a senior office bearer of a particular political party.

Reply:

A Ministerial Implementation Task Team (MITT) has been established in accordance with the recommendations of the High Level Review Panel (HLRP) report. The Ministerial Implementation Task Team was established on 28 July 2020.

The MITT is chaired by the Deputy Minister for the State Security Agency (SSA), Mr Zizi Kodwa, who is the political champion for the task team. The Deputy Chairperson is Mr Thabo Mokwena, who has qualifications in economics, corporate finance and strategy. Mr Mokwena has experience as an Accounting Officer for SALGA.

The MITT is also comprised of external professionals and experts. The external experts includes former members of the intelligence community, academics and other experts in the field of security, intelligence, policy, legal and legislative formulation. Once the process of vetting external members is concluded, their names will be made available.

The MITT further consists of internal experts from various branches within the SSA who among them have a range of strategic and analytical expertise in intelligence, policy, legal and human resources, among others.

The names of members of the SSA form part of the broader operational framework and therefore remain classified and privileged in accordance with Section 10 (4) (a) of the Intelligence Services Act 65 of 2002, as amended, which protects the identities of members of the Agency.

The mandate of the MITT is to unpack the recommendations of the Panel into a concrete plan of action and coordinate the implementation of the recommendations. It will develop a comprehensive strategy and business case for implementation. The MITT will also ensure the review of white paper, and finalise the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB) legislation.

Since its establishment, the MITT has met on the following dates:

• 5 August 2020 (MITT virtual meeting)
• 11 August 2020 (Technical task team meeting)
• 04 September 2020 (Workstream management meeting)

A draft Business Case and draft General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill has been developed and contain practical and other implications of architectural changes of the civilian intelligence structures. Furthermore, regulations and policies are being reviewed in this regard.

The MITT is mandated to advise and provide options on the nomenclature and the philosophical posture of the civilian intelligence services.

Reply:

The document entitled Economic transformation, inclusive growth, and competitiveness: A Contribution Towards a Growth Agenda for the South African Economy, prepared by the National Treasury, outlines a number of specific reforms that can promote economic transformation, inclusive growth and competitiveness.

This document provides a framework for government’s thinking about the critical structural reforms that are required to raise the potential growth rate of the South African economy.

The Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan that was presented in Parliament on 15 October 2020 sets out the vision and action plan to guide South Africa’s economic recovery and reconstruction effort.

The plan sets out a range of immediate and short-term measures that will be taken to rebuild confidence, kick-start the economy and continue to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. These measures are accompanied by a set of structural reforms that will enable faster, more inclusive growth and employment over the medium to long term.

Many of these reforms are drawn from the framework provided by the document entitled Economic Transformation, Inclusive Growth, and Competitiveness: A Contribution Towards a Growth Agenda for the South African Economy.

Reforms to modernise network industries, reduce barriers to entry, facilitate regional trade and integration, promote labour-absorbing sectors, and re-imagine our industrial policy are cornerstones of both documents.

Reply:

The report of the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) on the forced sterilisation of HIV positive women is deeply concerning and we condemn in the strongest terms the violation of all human rights, including the rights of people living with HIV.

The issue of the sterilisation of HIV positive women was handled directly by the National Department of Health and the CGE and reports have been submitted by the Department to the CGE.

Interventions to prevent the recurrence of the alleged coerced procedures include the revision of the policy on sterilisations, revision of the informed consent form (including translating the form into all official languages) and the inclusion of the informed consent form as part of the standard maternity record. 

The National Department of Health has also appointed an independent obstetrician to review the hospital records of each patient cited in the report and to provide an opinion on each case.

The matter of sterilisation in the form of tubal ligations is a health competence and there is a continuous interaction between the National Department of Health and the CGE.

I am confident that the Department of Health has the necessary competence to address this problem. 

Reply:

At the beginning of the COVID-19 national state of disaster, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) with the support of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), established the National Ventilator Project (NVP) to draw on expertise and know-how in South Africa to develop ventilators for use on COVID-19 patients.

This was necessitated by a global shortage of all types of ventilators and it also fitted in well with the re-imagined industrial strategy, which is focused on finding opportunities to manufacture product locally.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), which houses a number of engineers who are working on the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, was mandated to manage the national effort to design, develop and produce the respiratory ventilators to support the government’s response to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency was used because of the experience its engineers gained in the development of complex systems for the MeerKAT radio telescope system in the Karoo, the precursor to the SKA.

The project drew in many companies and public entities based in South Africa, from engineers, to automotive component manufacturers and production specialists.

Based on advice from clinicians, the project elected to focus in the initial phase on the production of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilators, which were identified as the ones most appropriate to support COVID-19 patients.

A total of 20,000 CPAP ventilators have now been produced in South Africa under the NVP. These ventilators have been produced by two locally licensed manufacturers, namely the state-owned Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the South African Ventilator Emergency Project (SAVE-P) – a consortium of companies.

Production began in late July 2020 and the final units were completed during the month of November 2020. The 20.000 units produced include the following:

• 18,000 Venturi-type CPAP devices manufactured through a contract with the CSIR; and
• 2,000 blender-type CPAP devices manufactured by SAVE-P.

The CSIR ventilator systems were assembled and packaged by Akacia Medical in the Western Cape. Individual components for the CPAP-ventilator were manufactured by a consortium of industry partners in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, including the Central University of Technology and firms such as Black Capital Systems, Andani Futuretech Manufacturing, UV Tooling, Sola Medical, Gabler Medical and Pitchline Engineering. All manufacturing was done for the CSIR.

The SAVE-P consortium incorporates manufacturers located in Cape Town, Pinetown, Durban, Midrand and Alberton, consisting of MCR Manufacturing, Reef Engineering, Bosch, Executive Engineering, Rhomberg Instruments, Dowclay Products, ISO Health SA, Pegasus Steel, NAACAM, AFRIT, Corruseal, New Age Medical Supplies, Aveti and Non-Ferrous Metal Works.

The development, production and procurement cost for the 20,000 units was funded through a R250 million donation from the Solidarity Fund.

On 24 August 2020, the Solidarity Fund handed over the first units to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. The project managers advised that units have already been distributed to 69 public healthcare facilities in each of the nine provinces. A list of those hospitals which have received CPAP devices are attached to this reply as Annexure A.

In addition to the 20,000 devices produced by CSIR and SAVE-P with funding support from the Solidarity Fund, a further 300 devices have been produced by Sabertek on a commercial basis. The project managers advise that 100 of these units have been purchased already, with some units exported to Malaysia and Namibia.

We are pleased that the combination of lockdown measures early in the pandemic, which flattened the curve of infection, and the National Ventilator Project enabled the health-care system to provide the necessary ventilation support when required. A longer-term legacy of the project is that there are now 20,000 more CPAP ventilators available for use than before the pandemic.

ANNEXURE A: List of public healthcare facilities which have received CPAP ventilators from the NVP

Province:	Facility name:
Eastern Cape	Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital
	Frere Hospital
	Livingstone Hospital
	Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital
	Cecilia Makiwane Hospital
	Frontier Hospital
	Dora Nginza Hospital
	Mthatha General Hospital
	St Elizabeth's Hospital
Free State	Universitas (C) Hospital
	Pelonomi Hospital
	Boitumelo Hospital
	Bongani Hospital
	Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Hospital
Gauteng	Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
	Pholosong Hospital
	Far East Rand Hospital
	Leratong Hospital
	Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
	Sebokeng Hospital
	Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital
	Dr George Mukhari Hospital
	Helen Joseph Hospital
	Tambo Memorial Hospital
	Steve Biko Academic Hospital
	Kalafong Hospital
	Tembisa Hospital
	Edenvale Hospital
	Rahima Moosa Hospital
	Mamelodi Hospital
	Qualihealth
KwaZulu-Natal	Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital
	King Edward VIII Hospital
	Ngwelezana Hospital
	Grey's Hospital
	Addington Hospital
	King Dinuzulu Hospital
	Mahatma Gandhi Hospital
	Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital
	RK Khan Hospital
	St Aidans Hospital
	Edendale Hospital
	Madadeni Hospital
	Newcastle Hospital
	Pixely Isaka ka Seme
	General Justice Gizenga Hospital
	Queen Nandi Regional Hospital
	Port Shepstone Hospital
	Ladysmith Hospital
Limpopo	Mankweng Hospital
	Pietersburg Hospital
	Letaba Hospital
	Philadelphia Hospital
	St Rita's Hospital
	Tshilidzini Hospital
	Mokopane Hospital
Mpumalanga	Rob Ferreira Hospital
	Witbank Hospital
	Mapulaneng Hospital
	Themba Hospital
	Ermelo Hospital
North West	Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital
	Klerksdorp-Tshepong Tertiary Hospital
	Mahikeng Provincial Hospital
	Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital
	Potchefstroom Hospital
Northern Cape	Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital
	Dr Harry Surtie Hospital
Western Cape	Groote Schuur Hospital

Reply:

Acting in my capacity as Chair of the African Union (AU), I appointed three AU Special Envoys to Ethiopia, namely, former Presidents Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) and Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa).

The Envoys visited Ethiopia on from 25 to 28 November 2020 where they met various senior Ethiopian Government officials including President Sahle-Work Zewde and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

The Envoys provided me with information pertaining to their visit through a Zoom meeting on 15 December 2020.

The Special Envoys were informed by the Ethiopian Government interlocutors, including the Prime Minister, that the attack by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on the Northern Command military base of the Ethiopian Federal Government, were acts of treason.

In response, the Special Envoys emphasised the need for an inclusive dialogue, with all stakeholders comprising the Prime Minister, all the political parties, including the TPLF and other institutions. The Special Envoys have also informed me that that the humanitarian situation is of serious concern.

During the conflict, all the borders were closed and UN agencies were not allowed to deliver the support needed. It was not only the people of Tigray who suffered, but also citizens in other areas. In one case, a UN convoy was attacked. The situation has now improved and aid has started to flow.

I have held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Abiy on the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue and also used this opportunity to also discuss the Tigray conflict.

Further to this, I will hold a follow-up meeting with the Special Envoys. It would likely be necessary for them to travel to Ethiopia again.

My involvement in this crisis is contingent upon South Africa’s Chairship of the African Union (AU), which will be relinquished in February 2021.

In conclusion, I wish to stress that the United Nations Secretary-General has deferred discussion on the Tigray crisis at the United Nations, including placing the issue on the agenda of the Security Council, to provide the African Union with an opportunity to deal with this matter.

Reply:

The Constitution provides that Ministers serve at the pleasure of the Head of the Executive. Section 91(2) of the Constitution empowers the President to appoint and dismiss them. Assignments to Ministers and decisions on their performance are within the President’s discretion.

I made clear that I disapproved of the Minister’s decision and actions, and therefore I applied the sanction in a manner that I deemed fit for her error in judgment.

As the President of the Republic I have no authority to sanction a political party for their actions. Decisions made within the political party are for the political party to communicate.

I understand that the Public Protector is investigating this matter.

The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for the entry and exit of persons to and from the Republic and for investigating if anything untoward occurred with respect to their responsibilities.

As the Honourable Member would be aware, not all international travel was prohibited during the period in question. Repatriation flights, travel by diplomats, travel by investors or business persons (after seeking due permission) was allowed.

The account of the costs involved was submitted to me, and to the Public Protector and made public, as was confirmation of payment by the political party in question, and I have no reason to doubt their accuracy.

Reply:

Consultations on a lifestyle audits framework are ongoing and being finalised.

In the meantime, all members of the Cabinet and Deputy Ministers have submitted the declarations of their financial interests to the Registrar of Executive Interests, the Secretary of the Cabinet, in line with the Executive Members’ Ethics Act and the Executive Ethics Code.

Reply:

The international trip undertaken by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans was approved by me on 8 September 2020. As I was not in Gauteng at the time of the receipt of the request, the approval was verbal and the relevant documentation was signed as soon as possible thereafter.

While the request did not comply with the requirement in the Guide for Members of the Executive that requests should be made at least two weeks prior to departure, this is, unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence due to the pressures of state work.

I do not intend to take any further action. I deem the reprimand given to the Minister, the directive that three months’ salary be donated to the Solidarity Fund, and the obligation to ensure that the costs of the trip are reimbursed by the political party (which has been done) sufficient sanction.

I was informed that the Minister would be travelling with 2 support staff as listed in her written request for permission to travel to Zimbabwe, submitted to me on 7 September 2020.

The information about the request for permission to travel by the Minister as well as my approval was made public on 1 October 2020, and can be accessed on the Presidency website.

Reply:

There is a high demand for skilled medical professionals in South Africa, as there is in most countries globally.

To address this problem, Government has, among other interventions, ensured the expansion of the training platform in South African medical schools and has increased the number of doctors graduating from South African universities.

Additionally, Government also increased the intake of students studying medicine within the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro Programme (NMFC), through an agreement between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Cuba. The programme has since added a total of 2,498 medical doctors to our health workforce in the public health sector, and is expected to add a further 649 by January 2021.

With reference to the “South African foreign qualified medical doctors”referred to by the Honourable Member, I am advised thatthis concerns citizens who hold foreign qualifications, are not registered as medical practitioners under a foreign registering authority, have not completed training as interns and therefore are not meeting all requirements for registration.

In other words, these citizens are foreign-qualified medical graduates. They are not registered as medical practitioners or doctors in the countries where they have received their medical education.

To assist these medical graduates to get clinical exposure and to complete training as interns, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) on 24 June 2020 approved the pathway that was referred to in the oral reply of the Minister of Health to Question 379 on 2 September 2020.

I am advised by the Minister of Health that the HPCSA Pathway is in line with the 2018 Policy Guidelines issued by the National Department of Health.

This will assist citizens who are qualified outside South Africa and are not, or were not, registered with a foreign registering authority and have not completed training as interns with a smooth integration into the South African healthcare system.

In view of the above, there is no need for my intervention.

Reply:

I am aware of the testimony given by Mr Sodi to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State. No finding has been made by the Commission in this regard. I will apply my mind to any actions that need to be taken once findings and recommendations in this regard are made.

Reply:

As I indicated in the National Assembly on 18 June 2020, in determining the appropriate response to the global coronavirus pandemic, government has been informed by the advice of scientists, by the experiences of other countries and from the guidance of the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

In planning its health response, government has made use of the work of the South African COVID-19 Modelling Consortium (SACMC). This is a group of researchers from academic, non-profit and government institutions coordinated by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

The SACMC has to date publicly released the following reports:

• Long-term projections from 6 May
• Short-term projections from 6 May
• Short-term projections from 12 June

The reports are available at:

https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/surveillance-reports.

Ithas also made the model codepublicly available at:

https://sacovid19mc.github.io.

Reply:

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services receives and considers applications forPresidential pardons. The Department undertakes an evaluation of the matter and prepares a recommendation to the President on whether or not it will be in the public interest to grant a pardon. All matters are considered on their own merit and the recommendation is forwarded by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to the President.

I have been informed that with regard to the matter of Mr Babeile, the Department of Justice does not have any record of such a matter being received and therefore have not prepared any recommendation for the President in respect of this matter.

Thus, there is no record of any application for pardon received from Mr Babeile and the President is not aware of his circumstances. His matter would be considered by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services upon receipt of a written application.

Reply:

The donation to the Solidarity Fund is a voluntary contribution that each Member of Cabinet and Deputy Minister chose to make in support of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Minister and Deputy Minister is responsible for making the necessary arrangements to contribute to the Fund.

Reply:

The practice of Parliamentary Questions to the Executive for written or oral reply is an important part of the exercise of accountability and transparency.

As my Parliamentary Counsellor, Dr Gerhard Koornhof indicated in his correspondence to the Honourable Member of 31 May 2020:

“Section 92(2) of the Constitution is clear that the Members of the Cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions.

“Similarly, Chapter 10 of the National Assembly Rules are clear on questions, including questions to Ministers, the monitoring of replies to questions, unanswered questions for oral reply, questions for oral reply standing over and questions for written reply.”

It is my understanding that Chapter 10 of the NA Rules is intended to ensure the effective functioning of this practice and to ensure that any problems are addressed between the Speaker and the Leader of Government Business.

I would therefore suggest that any matters relating to the reply to Parliamentary Questions be attended to in the manner prescribed in the Rules.

In addition, I have requested that these issues be raised for discussion in the next report to Cabinet by the Leader of Government Business.

Reply:

As I indicated in my reply to Question 419, I have not been provided with any grounds for the allegation that a certain person was taken on international trips without following standard procedure and regulations.

And as I said in my reply, if the Honourable Member or any other person has evidence of a violation of the relevant prescripts, they are requested to make such information available.

Reply:

The Cabinet member responsible for administering the Disaster Management Act was designated by President Thabo Mbeki on 25 March 2004 as the Minister for Provincial and Local Government.

The administration of the Act was transferred to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs by President Jacob Zuma on 22 June 2009.

The respective proclamations are attached.

Reply:

On the occasion of Africa Day 2020, the Presidency Twitter account posted several banners from the African Union (AU) paying tribute to African leaders who had been instrumental in the struggle for independence and continental unity.

In addition to the late President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, the Presidency joined the African Union in paying tribute to Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Ahmed Sekou Touré of Guinea, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Oliver Reginald Tambo of South Africa.

All of these leaders are deserving of recognition for their roles as leaders of national liberation and as champions of African independence, unity and development.

The slogan ‘Africa for Africans’ is rooted in the history of our continent. For centuries, the land, resources and even the people of Africa were exploited for the benefit of others. There was the transatlantic slave trade, where as many as 12 millions Africans were enslaved to enrich Europe and the Americas. There was the colonisation of the continent, in which the wealth of Africa was expropriated for the benefit of European colonial powers. In the latter part of the 20th century, Africa became a site of contestation between global powers during the Cold War.

‘Africa is for Africans’ is therefore an expression of the collective aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063, which is a call for African unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity. It is an expression of the call by Agenda 2063 for self-determination and for African progress that is ‘driven by its own citizens’.

Just as the South African Constitution declares that ‘South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity’, so it follows that Africa belongs to all who live in it, and it is they who should determine its destiny and benefit from its wealth.

If Africa is not for Africans, then who is it for?

Reply:

South Africa is a signatory of hundreds of multilateral and bilateral agreements. South Africa is active in the international community, as evidenced by its membership of the UN Security Council, BRICS, IBSA, G20, G77 + China, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), SADC, and various other multilateral bodies.

In this regard Ministers and Deputy Ministers travel to other countries to fulfil these international obligations. They do so in line with our commitment to a better Africa and a better world, and as a proud member of the family of nations.

Please find in the attached annexureinformation on travel byMinisters and Deputy Ministers for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Reply:

I have been informed that to ensure the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of residents and the provision of housing in Alexandra, several steps have been undertaken to unlock the obstacles that have hampered progress in the development of the area in the past.

 

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, working with the Provincial MEC for Human Settlements and the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, has undertaken several initiatives to resolve matters of access to and availability of land and housing.

These include:

(a) Approximately 562 hectares of land have been identified for the planning and development of housing, in which the residents of Greater Alexandra will receive the benefit. 

(b) Additional portions of land owned by the City of Johannesburg have been identified to allow for the resolution of the outstanding land restitution claims. Also, all available privately-owned land within the vicinity is being identified to provide additional relief to the shortage of housing and related development in the area. 

(c) Developments are being planned within a five kilometres radius of the inner core of Alexandra, and approximately 25,000 housing opportunities are planned in the developments, with specific reference to Linksfield and Frankenwald.

(d) Steps are being taken to overcome the long-standing legal, regulatory, funding and planning obstacles and delays, to ensure the transfer of ownership to approved households.

(e) The land and housing plans and interventions related to land, housing and human settlements form part of a comprehensive consolidated Greater Alexandra Master plan that is in the final stages of completion. This will ensure that all development in the Greater Alexandra is consolidated, comprehensive and integrated with the City of Johannesburg, province of Gauteng and National Government.

The various plans and interventions are based on the principle of consultation, which is managed and led by the Executive Mayor in the City of Johannesburg, in consultation with the provincial and national spheres of government.

The national Department of Human Settlements is the convenor of the Intergovernmental Human Settlements Technical Team, tasked with presenting progress reports on land and housing to an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Deputy President. This IMC oversees and monitors all the various socio-economic development plans and interventions being undertaken in Alexandra.  

Reply:

South Africa has a system of cooperative governance that informs a joint approach to planning. The Constitution and the Intergovernmental Relations FrameworkAct provides for cooperative governance. It provides for a framework for a coordinated and integrated alignment of developmental priorities and objectives between the three spheres of government. The District Development Model (DDM) approach is a practical realisation of this constitutional obligation.

The DDM draws from the White Paper on Local Government (1998), which describes local government as critical in “rebuilding local communities and environments, as the basis for a democratic,integrated, prosperous and truly non-racial society”.

TheDDM was discussedand endorsed by Cabinet on 12 August 2019 and by the President’s Coordinating Council on 20 August 2019.

The DDM is a practical intergovernmental relations mechanism for all three spheres of government to work jointly and to plan and act in unison, while creating a conducive environment for other development partners.

The DDM calls for collaborative planning at district and metropolitan level on the basis of a detailed, technically-driven consultative process within government and with communities and stakeholders. It is intended that this should result in a single integrated plan for each of the 44 districts and 8 metropolitan municipalities in the country.

These plans will be implemented in line with existing prescribed development, departmental, strategic and annual performance plans for which each sphere and state entity is responsible.

The decision to introduce District Champions was discussed and agreed to by the President’sCoordinating Council in May 2020.

The District Champions, which include Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior government officials,are meant to work with local, regional and provincial leadership to coordinate our response to COVID-19, avoiding duplication and wastage of resources. This is an enhanced form of integrated service delivery, meant to serve the people better.

To address the scourge of gender-based violence, Cabinet added this areato the mandate of the District Champions.

It is incumbent on all of us to work together to respond to the challenges people face in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

Reply:

No, I have not received the report.

In terms of a Presidential Minute dated 27 February 2020, I delegated to the Minister of Public Service and Administration the power to enquire if there was any improper conduct during the filling of a vacancy within the Department.

The final report of the investigation was submitted to the Presidency in late July, and the specified person was given an opportunity to make a submission on my intention to place him on precautionary suspension. Following receipt of his written representations, I have placed him on precautionary suspension with effect from 6 August 2020 pending a formal disciplinary hearing.

Reply:

1. The Presidential Hotline call centre received a total of 2978 cases since the lockdown on the 27th March 2020 to the 8th July 2020. Call Centre agents were classified an essential service during the complete Lockdown 5 so operations continued.
2. Thirty-seven (37) of the cases have been assigned to the relevant government department and are awaiting their attention. Four (4) cases have been acknowledged by the department and in the process of investigation towards resolution.
3. 2937 Cases were resolved and 41 remain unresolved. With the easing of the regulations, the cases are increasingly becoming not Covid-19 specific, requiring intervention from the relevant department.

DRAFTER OF THE REPLY

Name: Dr Neeta Behari

Designation: CD: Frontline Monitoring & Support Contacts: 072 1229696 [email protected]

Recommended /

Mr Robert Nkuna
Director General (DPME)
Date: 12/07/2020

Approved /

Hon Jackson Mthembu, MP
Minister in the Presidency|
Date: ../…/2020

Reply:

The Auditor-General of South Africa plays an important role in assisting government to safeguard its ability to account to its citizens in this time of need and crisis. We will continue to work with the Auditor-General to ensure that all funds allocated for the support package are spent in a responsible and accountable way.

The National Treasury, through Instruction 7 of 2020/21, has put in place a wide range of measures relating to COVID-19 expenditure to ensure that accounting officers and authorities strengthen their financial management, internal control, risk management and internal audit systems and ensure that these are transparent, effective and efficient.

The aforementioned National Treasury Instruction can be found online at:

http://www.treasury.gov.za/legislation/pfma/TreasuryInstruction/Natioal%20Treasury%20Instruction%20No.%207%20of%20202021%20Preventative%20Measures.pdf

Reply:

The Minister in the Presidency is not responsible for Small Business Development. The member is kindly advised to refer her question to the Minister of Small Business Development.

Approved / Not agreed

hon. Jackson Mthembu, MP

Minister in the Presidency
Date:

Reply:

The office of the Minister in the Presidency did not purchase any personal protection equipment since 1 February 2020

1. Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)

MDDA purchased masks, sanitisers, hand wash and wet wipes between the 16-18° March 2020 from Dischem, Clicks and a Pharmacy for R2000.00.

1. Brand South Africa has purchased the following personal protective equipment since 1 February 2020.

Purchase Date	Supplier Name	Item Description	Quantity	Amount	Branding	Distribution
30 March 2020		Mini Hand sanitisers	Approx. 70	R585,72	None	Head Office
30-Apr-2020	AE Du Chenne Ent Pty Ltd	Sanitising the building		R 6,844.11	None	Head office
04-May-2020	Biologica Pharmaceutical	Anti Bacterial Wipes 40 p/p	150	R14,826.00	None	Head office
04-May-2020	Supra Latex (Pty) Ltd t/a Suprahealthcare	3ply Mask - Covid - 50’s	396	R216,315.00	None	Head office
04-May-2020	Supra Latex (Pty) Ltd t/a Suprahealthcare	Rbt-ResiduaI Disinfectant - 1litre - 1’s	136	R23,303.60	None	Head office
04-May-2020	Supra Latex (Pty) Ltd t/a Suprahealthcare	Rbt-Residual Disinfectant - Slitre - 1's	50	R31,567.50	None	Head office
04-May-2020	Supra Latex (Pty) Ltd t/a Suprahealthcare	Thermometer Non- Contact Infrared - 1's	2	R3,450.00	None	Head office

1. Statistics South Africa

The attached schedules reflect procurement, from 1 February 2020 until 30 April 2020, of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) of R1 995 760.00 and disinfecting/cleaning services of offices for R550 697.31 in preparation for the staggered return to work of employees commencing in May 2020.

Approved / Not approved

Stats SA: Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Annexure A

A-312743	2020/04/02	Biologica	3 Ply Face Masks 50 in a box	No branding	200	R	1 332,50	R	266 500,00	Head Office/Provinces
A-312743	2020/04/02	KMO@]CD	Surgical gloves 100 in a box	No branding		R	460,00	R	46 000,00	Head Office
A-312743	2020/04/02	Biologica	Hand Sanitizers	No branding	100	R	350,00	R	35 000,00	Head Office
A-312744	2020/04/09	Be-sure Events	Temperature Scanners	The Infrared therometer ZF001	150	R	2 875,00	R	431 250,00	Head Office
A-312745	2020/04/16	Biologica	3 Ply Face Masks 50 in a box	No branding	300	R	460,00	R	138 000,00	Head Office
A-312745	2020/04/16	Biologica	Surgical glove5 100 in a box	No branding	600	R	1 332,50	R	799 500,00	Head Office
A-312605	2020/04/24	Chasandra Trading Enterprise	Face Masks-Limpopo	No branding	450	R	115,00	R	51 750,00	Limpopo Province
A-312607	2020/04/28	Label Lab	Face Masks NC	No branding	300	R	32,20	R	9 660,00	Northern Cape Province
A-312608	2020/04/30	Ammarentia Trading Pty Ltd	Face Masks Nonh West	No branding	360	R	40,00	R	14 400,00	North West Province
A-312610	2020/04/30	Global Hygenic CC	Face Masks Mpumalanga	No branding	400	R	58,25	R	23 300,00	Mpumalanga Province
A-312614	2020/04/30	The Divine Style	Face Masks	No branding	SOOO	R	35,00	R	175 000,00	Head Office
A-312617	2020/04/30	Kuhle Office Supplies	Empty spray bottles for hand sanitizer- Western Cape	No branding	200	R	27,00	R	5 400,00	Western Cape Province
Total amount purchased until 30 April 2020				R	1 995 760,00

Stats SA: Disinfectingfcleaning services Annexure e

A-312746	2020/04/21	Suskia Trading 1114 (PTY) Ltd	Sanitising offices and vehicles NC	No branding	not applicable	R	48 994,60	Northern Cape Province
A-312747	2020/04/Z1	Rentokil Intital	Sanitising offices and vehicles EC	Nobranding	not applicable	R	52 066,25	Eastern Cape Province
A-312748	2020/04/22	Zululand Pest Control	Sanitising offices Empangeni& Mhuze (KZN)	No branding	not applicable	R	16 387,50	Kwazulu Natal Province
A-312749	2020/04/22	Total Pest Management	Sanitising offices Ethekweni, Ugu & Ilembe( MN)	No branding		R	25 416,00	Kwazulu Natal Province
A-312750	2020/04/22	Service Master	Sanitising offices Umzinyahti,UthukeIa, Amajuba & Zululand( KZN)	No branding	not applicable	R	5 600,00	Kwazulu Natal Province
A-312601	2020/04/22	SWAT Exteminators	Sanitising offices Ixopo and Pietermarioburg( KZN)	No branding	not applicable	R	11 074,50	Kwazulu Natal Province
A-312602	2020/04/22	Rentokil lntital	Sanitising offices Limpopo	No branding	not applicable	R	27 082,50	Limpopo Province
A-312603	2020/04/24	Sthewetha Trading	Disinfection Benoni, Westrand, Sedibeng, Prov Office	No branding	not applicable	R	142 750,00	Gauteng Province
A-312606	2020/04/24	Happy Endings Plumbers	Disinfecting: Mpumalanga Offices	No branding	not applicable	R	67 439,45	Mpumalanga Province
A-312609	2020/04/30	Rentokil Initial	uis‹nrm›on wimaoatno, bus enourg, maeopane, Klerksdorp and Vryburg	No branding	not applicable	R	35 777,00	North West Province
A-312611	2020/04/30	Rentokil initial	Disinfection Free State Province buildings and vehicles	No branding	not applicable	R	37 637,20	Free State Province
A-312612	2020/04/30	Tikedi Holdings	Disinfection Piketberg Offices	No branding	not applicable	R	27 885,00	Western Cape Province
A-312615	2020/04/30	Savage Wear Production	Disinfection George D/O	No branding	not applicable	R	14 990,00	Western Cape Province
A-312616	2020/04/30	Think Smart Clean	Disinfection Prov Office, Metro 1 and 2	No branding	not applicable	R	22 897,31	Western Cape Province
A-312618	2020/04/30	Qeda Structual Peat Management	Pest control, deep cleaning and disinfecting KZN offices	No branding	not applicable	R	14 700,00	Kwazulu Natal Province
Total amount purchased until 30 April 2020				R550697,31

Reply:

The decision to promulgate the Disaster Management Regulations, including regulation 27 (of the Regulations), which prohibits the sale of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and related products was taken after careful consideration, not only of the submissions received, but also the relevant medical literature focusing inter alia on the effects of smoking on public and individual health, especially in the face of a respiratory illness such as Covid-19.

After my initial announcement on 23 April 2020, following representations that were made by various organisations and individuals and further consideration of relevant medical studies and advice, a different position was ultimately adopted by the National Coronavirus Command Council and thereafter by Cabinet before the regulations were promulgated.

At this stage, it is difficult to determine when the ban on the sale of tobacco and related products will be lifted. This will depend on such factors as the progression of the disease in South Africa, the readiness of our health systems and evolving knowledge on the nature and impact of the virus itself.

Reply:

1. The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) – originally known as the National Command Council (NCC) – was initially composed of the following members:

• President
• Deputy President
• Minister of Health
• Minister in the Presidency
• Minister of Basic Education
• Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
• Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
• Minister of Finance
• Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
• Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
• Minister of Home Affairs
• Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
• Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
• Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
• Minister of Police
• Minister of Public Service and Administration
• Minister of Social Development
• Minister of State Security
• Minister of Tourism
• Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
• Minister of Transport

Other members of Cabinet were subsequently invited to attend NCCC meetings. It is supported by the Cabinet Secretariat and the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints).

1. No.

Reply:

1. The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) – originally known as the NCC – was established as a committee of Cabinet by the Cabinet in its meeting of 15 March 2020.

1. No.

1. The NCCC coordinates government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCCC makes recommendations to Cabinet on measures required in terms of the national state of disaster. Cabinet makes the final decisions.

Reply:

I have reviewed the media report on which the question from the Honourable Member is based and have received a report from the Deputy Minister on this matter. There are no grounds that I can see for the allegation that a certain person was taken on international trips without following standard procedure and regulations.

If the Honourable Member or any other person has evidence of a violation of the relevant prescripts, they are requested to make such information available.

Reply:

The African Union (AU) is still in discussion with the Republic of Madagascar with a view to obtain technical data regarding the safety and efficacy of the herbal remedy. Once furnished with the details, the AU, through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, will review the scientific data and make a determination as to whether or not to give support.

South Africa has a robust research and innovation programme in indigenous knowledge systems, and thus supports the development of remedies based on indigenous African herbs.

Reply:

During my visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018, each of them pledged US$10 billion inward investment to South Africa. These investment pledges were premised on the presentation of projects by South Africa that would meet the requirements of each investor country.

Indications from Saudi Arabia were that its focus would be on the energy sector, specifically renewable and petrochemical infrastructure.

One of the projects identified as a major potential investment in South Africa by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a crude oil refinery and an associated petrochemical complex. This investment is expected to be in the order of $9 billion with Saudi Arabia committing to 50% of the estimated figure.

The Central Energy Fund and the National Oil Company of Saudi Arabia are developing the refinery project jointly. The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone has been identified as the location for the refinery project by the investor, Saudi Aramco.

The project is currently at pre-feasibility stage, which is expected to be presented for approval by June 2020. This will be followed by a fully-fledged feasibility study.

The UAE had proposed a Joint Investment Fund to collectively decide on the allocation of investment toward mutually agreed projects. In order to ensure the investments were secured, government had established a Task Team to identify the applicable and specific projects for each investment pledge, in accordance with the relevant economic policies and strategies.

President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China visited South Africa on a State Visit on 24 July 2018.

Pursuant to this visit, six government-to-government agreements were signed during the state visit, which are all accessible to the public on the website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (www.dirco.gov.za).

Two state owned enterprises – Eskom and Transnet – also entered into loan agreements with Chinese banks.

Eskom entered into a loan agreement with the China Development Bank for $2.5 billion to fund the construction of Kusile Power Station. The facility has a grace period of five years and thereafter the principal amount is repayable by Eskom in 20 instalments over a period of 10 years. There are no specific conditions for this loan.

Transnet entered into a R4 billion loan agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to finance the general operating activities and certain capital expenditure of Transnet. The facility is a five-year, rand denominated, quarterly amortising loan, at a floating and competitive interest rate. The loan came with terms and conditions that are standard for this type of loan.

In addition, various commercial agreements were signed between Chinese entities and South African companies. The conditions attached to each of these agreements are a matter between the respective parties.

With regard to the China investments, the signatories are responsible for servicing the terms of the respective agreements.

Reply:

The South African Government does not intend to withdraw from the Commonwealth. When South Africa re-joined the Commonwealth in 1994, shortly after its first democratic elections, the South African Government recognised the Commonwealth’s contribution to the global campaign to end apartheid. Since 1994, South Africa has played host to four Commonwealth meetings, including the biennial summit of the 1999 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Durban, where South Africa assumed the Chair until 2001.

Since its return to the Commonwealth, South Africa has participated in summits, ministerial meetings and the governing bodies of the Commonwealth and worked closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, contributing politically, financially and in terms of capacity and expertise to the work of the Organisation.

The work of the Commonwealth is in line with South Africa’s foreign policy commitments to human rights, democracy, good governance, justice and international law, peace, economic development, multilateralism and promoting the African Agenda. For South Africa, the Commonwealth provides a platform to forge common approaches to these matters of global importance and to promote trade, investment and the exchange of skills and knowledge between countries.

Reply:

1 (a)-(c)

Inter-Ministerial Committee	Date established	Meetings 2018-19
South African National AIDS Council	2000	3
Land and Agricultural Reform	June 2018	16
North West Intervention (changed to Inter Ministerial Task Team)	April 2018	15
Municipal Elections 2021	June 2019	Not met
Khawuleza District Development Model	August 2019	2
South African Airways	March 2020	2
State Funerals	2014	21*

* Since establishment in 2014

As part of a rationalisation process to improve coordination and functionality, 12 IMCs were abolished in 2018 and 39 IMCs were abolished in 2019.

2 (a)-(b)

The Land and Agricultural Reform Advisory Panel was established by the President to advise the Land and Agricultural Reform IMC. The members of the panel are:

1. Dr Vuyo Mahlati
2. Prof Ruth Hall
3. Dr Wandile Sihlobo
4. Bulelwa Mabasa
5. Thato Moagi
6. Prof Mohammed Karaan
7. Daniel Kriek
8. Adv Tembeka Ngcukaitobi
9. Dr Thandi Ngcobo
10. Nick Serfontein

 

The Land and Agricultural Reform Advisory Panel has met 14 times.

3 (a)

No IMCs have appointed consultants.

3 (b)

I am advised that the following payments were made in respect of the following IMCs:

IMC	(b) Contractors	(i) Date Appointed	(ii) Amount	(iii) Reason for Appointment
Land Panel	Birchwood Hotel	December 2018	R239,011	Venue hire, sound equipment and catering for consultative work in the form of the two national Colloquia, 11 roundtables and consultations with the National House of Traditional Leaders Design, Layout and Editing of the Final Report
	St Georges Hotel	February 2019	R476,967
	Sheraton Hotel	December 2019	R44,237
	Black Moon Design and Advertising	March 2019	R166,085
	Government Printing Works	June 2019	R71,415	Printing and publishing final report
North West Intervention	CSIR	July 2018	R1,417,143	The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to provide capacity for the coordination and technical support for the first six months of the intervention.

4 (a)

Generally IMCs are coordinating structures. They do not require extra funding beyond the normal operations of coordinating structures.

North West Intervention IMTT/IMC: The cost to the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for convening the IMTT for the North West Province is estimated to be R525,000. This calculation excludes costs related to the actual intervention in the North West province.

4 (b)

Land and Agricultural Reform Advisory Panel:

• Remuneration: R270,274
• Travel and accommodation: R324,595
• Catering for meetings and workshops: R26,044

Advisory Panel members were remunerated in accordance with the 2018 Service Benefit Packages for Office Bearers of certain Statutory and Other Institutions (National Treasury). Some Members of the Advisory Panel declined remuneration.

Reply:

The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared a global emergency crisis and is having a devastating impact on public health systems of many countries and the global economy.

Consequently, the African Union (AU) Bureau of Heads of State and Government, under the Chairship of President Cyril Ramaphosa, agreed to call upon the international community including the G20, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other regional institutions to use all the instruments available to help mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and provide relief to vital sectors of African economies.

To implement the AU Heads of State Bureau decision, the President as chair of the African union and supported by AU Heads of State Bureau established a panel of envoys of former finance ministers and prominent individuals with experience in the financial sector to mobilise support for Africa’s efforts to raise funds.

These envoys, who are drawn from different regions of the continent, are Mr Trevor Manuel, former Minister of Finance of South Africa; Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, former Minister of Finance of Nigeria; Dr Donald Kabureka, former President of the Africa Development Bank; Mr Tidjane Thiam, former Chief Executive of Credit Suisse; and Mr Benkhalfa Abderrahmane, former Finance Minister of Algeria.

Reply:

1. Government has announced a fiscal support package of R500 billion in order to manage the impact of the lockdown on households and business. The details of this package are available on: http://www.treasury.gov.za/comm_media/press/2020/20200428_COVID_Economic_Response_final.pdf

2. South Africa is a member in good standing of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, New Development bank (NDB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Part of the benefits afforded to members is borrowing at preferential rates. In light of the recent global crisis and elevated risk, the cost of funding has been significantly affected and government is exploring other alternative sources of funding to fund the government borrowing requirement and to lower the borrowing costs.

The government has approached the IMF, AfDB, World Bank and NDB for financial support related to the COVID-19 impact. The transactions are still being negotiated and the relevant details will be made available by the Minister of Finance once concluded.

Reply:

The state is committed to a sustainable wage bill. During the tabling of the 2020 budget, the Minister of Finance announced the reduction in compensation budgets by R160.2 billion over the 2020 MTEF. The reductions are distributed as follows: R37.8 billion in 2020/21 financial year, followed by reductions amounting to R54.9 billion in 2021/22 financial year and R67.5 billion in 2020/23 financial year.

Changes to the sovereign rating of the Republic by rating agencies and the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have created an unprecedented economic and social catastrophe at a local and global level. As a consequence, Cabinet will re-evaluate the impact this has had on the measures to reduce the public sector wage bill by R37.8 billion by 31 March 2021.

Government respects the process of collective bargaining.

I am informed that the Minister for Public Service and Administration has already commenced engagement with labour unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on the concomitant economic challenges and implications of the reductions with specific reference to the 2020/21 financial year.

We will continue to engage with labour unions at the PSCBC regarding measures to implement the reductions to the public sector wage bill.

Reply:

Projects completed

	Company Name	Nature of Project	Project Value	Location
1	Aberdare Cables	Cable manufacturing plant	R135,000,000	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
2	Adcock Ingram	Sterile eye-drop manufacturing and packing facility	R98,000,000	Clayville, Gauteng
3	Conlog	New electronics manufacturing capacity	R110,000,000	Dube Trade Port, KwaZulu-Natal
4	Hollard and Tokio Marine	Acquisition of Hollard Insurance Group SA and Hollard International	R5,000,000,000	Johannesburg, Gauteng
5	In2Food	Construction and operation of the largest food factory in the southern hemisphere	R241,000,000	OR Tambo SEZ, Gauteng
6	Komatsu	Establishing new parts distribution centre, headquarters, workshop, training centre and remanufacturing centre	R985,000,000	Germiston, Gauteng
7	Proctor and Gamble	Sanitary pad and diaper manufacturing facilities	R300,000,000	Kempton Park, Gauteng
8	Rexroth Bosch Company	New HQ building with production and warehouse facilities, expansion of Bosch value chain	R200,000,000	Kempton Park, Gauteng
9	Sumitomo Rubber Industries	Manufacturing facility for truck and bus radial tyres	R970,000,000	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
10	Mara	Smart mobile phone manufacturing	R1,500,000,000	Dube Trade Port, KwaZulu-Natal
		TOTAL	R9,539,000,000

Projects under construction

	Company Name	Nature of Project	Project Value	Location
1	Anglo American	On-going SIB capital and life extension capital	R71,640,000,000	North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga
2	Aspen Pharmacare	Manufacturing plant for anaesthetic products	R3,300,000,000	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
3	Bushveld	Vanadium mining and processing	R2,500,000,000	Brits, Mokopane, North West and Limpopo
4	Ivanplats	Development of a platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold and rhodium mine	R4,500,000,000	Mokopane, North West
5	McDonald's	Increasing restaurant chain outlets nationally	R3,000,000,000	National
6	Mondi	Mill upgrades and investment in associated forest assets	R8,000,000,000	Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
7	Naamsa OEM Investment Pledge	Investment by major auto OEMs for expansions and value chain development	R40,000,000,000	Various
8	Nestle	Capacity increase, maintenance, green technology conversion at a number of manufacturing facilities	R663,000,000	Harrismith, Hammanskraal and East London
9	Rain	5G ultra-high speed data network	R2,000,000,000	Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg
10	Vedanta	Development of an open cast zinc mine	R21,400,000,000	Kai Ma Northern Cape
11	Vodacom	Expansion and upgrade of Vodacom’s national IT infrastructure network.	R49,000,000,000	National
12	DBSA Green Climate Fund	Establishment of the Climate Finance Facility to co-fund projects that mitigate or adapt to climate change	R1,300,000,000	Various
13	IDC	Fund available for manufacturing projects	R3,600,000,000	Various
14	Multichoice	Broadcasting sector investment, local content and decoder manufacturing.	R1,000,000,000	National
15	Naspers	Start-up fund to back and support South African technology entrepreneurs	R4,600,000,000	Various
16	New Development Bank	Funding available to projects in clean energy, bulk water, social infrastructure and transport	R29,000,000,000	Various
17	Dalisu Holdings	Chemicals manufacturing plant	R254,000,000	Piet Retief, Mpumalanga
18	Legacy Group	Mixed-use development in Sandton	R3,000,000,000	Sandton, Gauteng
19	Main Street 800	Coal mining industry in Komatipoort	R193,000,000	Nkomazi, Mpumalanga
20	MSC (KZN Cruise Terminals)	New passenger cruise terminal at the port of Durban	R259,000,000	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
21	Mvelo Minerals	Platinum and vanadium mining in North West	R100,000,000	Rustenburg, North West
22	Naledi Inhlanganiso	Rail component manufacturing	R120,000,000	Vereeniging and Benoni, Gauteng
23	Renergen	Helium gas facility	R700,000,000	Virginia, Free State
24	Scaw metals	Expansion of steel manufacturing plant	R250,000,000	Germiston, Gauteng
25	Tomis Group	Meat production facility	R120,000,000	Hermon, Western Cape
26	Toyota	Investing in a new passenger vehicle	R2,430,000,000	Prospecton, KwaZulu-Natal
27	Triple Flag	Is investing with Royal Bafokeng Holdings in the platinum sector	R2,100,000,000	Phokeng, North West
		TOTAL	R255,029,000,000

Reply:

1. The decision to allow self generation by municipalities, industries and households is based on the fact that Eskom has insufficient capacity to generate enough energy to meet the needs of the economy. Its ageing power stations suffer regular breakdowns, which has resulted in load shedding. This has resulted in the need for additional energy.

The introduction of distributed electricity generation by industries and households mainly through renewable energy will lower demand for Eskom, thereby reducing its revenue. However, there will be a strong reliance on Eskom for the provision of base load.

The availability of reliable, lower cost electricity will contribute to greater economic activity and job creation, which, in turn, will increase demand for energy. It is therefore essential that Eskom is restructured and repositioned as a sustainable company within a transformed energy sector.

2. No further provisions have been made since the announcement last year by the Minister of Finance of a government support package of R230 billion over the next 10 years to provide Eskom relief and assist in servicing its debt.

3. Foreclosing Eskom is not part of Government’s plans.

Reply:

(1) The President did not employ the SANDF to patrol the streets of Kimberley in January 2020.

(2) There was no employment under section 201 of the Constitution.

Reply:

1. Decisions on whether or not to institute prosecutions, on what charges, and against whom, are within the sole purview of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The NPA is enjoined to act independently and impartially in executing its duties and therefore does not report on these matters to the President, neither would it be appropriate for the President to request any such report.

2. The Zondo Commission is yet to make any recommendations to me.

Reply:

I appointed four investment envoys in April 2018 and a further three, with sector-specific focus areas, in November 2019. These appointments are at the President’s discretion and may be modified and/or withdrawn should I deem it necessary.

Investment envoys, like all other citizens, are subject to the laws that obtain in the Republic, and as such, where any misdemeanours occur these would need to be dealt with in terms of the applicable laws.

I am informed that the investment envoys have incurred the following travel and conference-related costs since their appointment:

Special Envoys	2018	2019	2020
Mr Mcebisi Jonas	R872,511	R965,004	R180,429
Ms Phumzile Langeni
Mr Jaco Maree
Mr Trevor Manuel
Mr Jeff Radebe

Reply:

1. South Africa played a critical role during the development of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the sustainable development agendas of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and there are strong strategic linkages between these agendas and the National Development Plan (NDP).

Internationally, one of the critical success factors identified for effective domestic uptake of international development agendas is the establishment of a clear institutional mechanism for the alignment and coordination of various actors, with respect to monitoring and reporting, among others.

To this end, a process was initiated in 2015 among core departments within government and key stakeholders outside government towards the national coordination mechanism to promote the ‘domestication’ of the UN, AU and SADC development agendas, and for monitoring and reporting. In March 2019, the proposed coordination mechanism was submitted to Cabinet for approval, and Cabinet approved the establishment of the coordination mechanism on 27 March 2019.

The mechanism is in the process of being established, and the Presidency has convened meetings of the key departments and Ministers to coordinate preliminary reports to the United Nations High Level Political Forum on implementation of SDGs in July 2019, and to the African Union on Implementation of Agenda 2063 in February 2020. Further meetings will be convened for follow-up and lessons from these reports, and will include stakeholders outside government.

Coordination will also draw on the work of non-state and civil society stakeholders, and serve as the channel through which the activities and progress reports of various stakeholders are taken through government structures, while also facilitating regular dialogues between government and these stakeholders.

The envisaged coordination mechanism will work through existing structures within and outside government, and as such does not entail the appointment of individual persons to it.

2. With regard to consultations, in 2017, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) through the permanent mission in New York lodged a notification for South Africa to volunteer to present its Voluntary National Review (VNR) report at the July 2019 High level Political Forum under the UN Economic and Social Council. South Africa was one of 51 UN member States that volunteered to present their VNR report on implementation of SDGs.

The key principle the country followed in putting together the VNR was the inclusion of all national stakeholders, based on the SDG agenda’s spirit of ‘leaving no one behind’. In this regard, the process was consultative with written inputs from government, civil society organisations, the private sector and academia.

Statistics South Africa provided a critical basis for the process, through the collation and updating of baseline reporting data, in accordance with Stats SA’s mandate and its platforms for stakeholder engagement.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, through the National Planning Commission Secretariat, coordinated the VNR processes inside and outside government. The VNR process was compiled in accordance with UN guidelines, and was finalised under Inter-Ministerial and Cabinet supervision.

Reply:

The person to whom the question refers undertook an official trip to the United States and Switzerland in September 2019. As provided for in the Guide for Members of the Executive – which was came into effect on 8 June 2019 – she was accompanied by her spouse.

Should the Honourable Member or any other person have evidence of the misappropriation of public funds, they should provide that information to the relevant authorities.

Reply:

Of the 31 announcements made at the 2018 investment conference, 8 projects have been launched or are about to be launched.

A further 20 projects are in the implementation stage, meaning that either ground has been broken, construction has begun, equipment ordered and installed or, in the case of financial institutions like the IDC, DBSA and NDB, funds are being disbursed.

Of the 31 announcements, 3 are progressing more slowly due to regulatory and other challenges. Invest SA is working with these companies to unblock and resolve any challenges so that projects can be implemented.

ANNEXURE 1 contains the detail of the projects.

1617. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:

1. What (a) is the name of each investor who pledged funds at the 2019 investment conference, (b) amount did each investor pledge, (c) project was each pledge invested in, (d) is the time frame of each project and (e) number of jobs did each project create;

1. whether each project was new or an existing project in each case?

NW2973E

REPLY

Seventy companies announced investments at the second South Africa Investment Conference, held in Johannesburg from 5-7 November 2019. The total value of these commitments was just over R363 billion.

Invest SA is working with the companies that made announcements to categorise and determine the level of implementation and to provide assistance to unblock and fast-track these investments where necessary.

ANNEXURE 2 contains the details of the projects.

Reply:

1. In April 2018, I appointed four Presidential Envoys on Investment – Mr Trevor Manuel, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, Ms Phumzile Langeni and Mr Jacko Maree – to engage with domestic and foreign investors on the opportunities for investment in South Africa, and to understand any impediments they experience in pursuing those opportunities.

The Envoys do not have specific targets. Instead, their activities support the investment mobilisation drive which has a stated intention of ensuring an additional R1.2 trillion of investment in South Africa over five years.

The State is only responsible for the travel and associated expenses of the Envoys in carrying out these duties.

To strengthen the work of the Investment Envoys, the President in November 2019 appointed Mr Jeff Radebe, Mr Derek Hanekom and Ms Elizabeth Thabethe as new Presidential Envoys on Investment targeting specific areas, in addition to general investment promotion. Mr Radebe will drive investment promotion in the energy sector, focusing on oil and gas, while Mr Hanekom and Ms Thabethe will both be responsible for investment mobilisation in the tourism sector.

Details relating to these recent appointments are still in the process of being finalised.

2. The Special Envoys do not have any executive responsibilities and are not members of the Government. They are deployed to convey messages about the investment climate and to generate goodwill with investors. They are not responsible for the formulation or implementation of policy nor the exercise of any administrative authority.

Reply:

Brand South Africa did not incur any expenditure on the Right to Vote campaign on either of the platforms and in the identified financial years.

 

DRAFTER OF THE REPLY

Name: Ms Sithembile Ntombela

Designation: Chief Marketing Officer (Acting) Contacts: sithembilenG›brandsouthafrica.com

Recommended

Ms Thulisile Manzini

Chief Executive Officer (Acting)

Brand South Africa Date: 22/10/2019

Approved / not approved

Hon Jackson Mthembu, MP
Minister in the Presidency

Reply:

REPLY: GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (GCIS)

Reply:

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) is a normal government department which draws its mandate from the Statistics Act (Act 6 of 1999) and as such does not have a board of directors. In light of the above, this question is not applicable Stats SA.

DRAFTER OF THE REPLY

Name: Bheki Mathunjwa

Designation: Chief Financial Officer

Contacts: Landline: 012 310 4813 - Mobile: 082 888 2532

Recommended


Risenga Maluleke Statistician-General: Statistics South Africa
Date: 23/10/2019


Approved/Not approved

Hon Jackson Mthembu (MP)
Minister in the Presidency
Date: 24/10/2019