Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. The Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is currently focusing on the establishment of six (6) Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) sites, instead of five (5). Despite the lockdown regulations that hampered finalisation of the tender process, the process of selecting sites was finalised with stakeholders, and the procurement of park homes (where required) is on schedule. The refurbishment process of the park homes and health facilities was unfortunately also hampered by the lockdown restrictions but is currently on-track. We are working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that these sites become operational by March 2021.

2. TCCs are based at health care facilities so that the TCC services remain accessible to victims. During Alert Level 5 lockdown, everyone was confined due to the Disaster Management Regulations, and the staff was required to work on rotational basis to ensure continued service delivery to victims. The TCCs have been acknowledged as an essential service and to this end, TCCs sites remained open during the period of lockdown.

It is noted that in the first months of lockdown, the number of matters reported decreased, however as the lockdown levels were lifted and public awareness initiatives were implemented by the SOCA Unit during August and September 2020, we specifically noted an increase in the number of matters reported at the TCCs sites during this period. In Quarter 2 of the current financial year, 7 336 matters were reported at TCCs sites, which is a 45.2% increase from Quarter 1 when 5 050 matters were reported.

Various forms of editorial media engagements, including national and local radio and TV stations, webinars, community events and social media platforms are utilised to inform communities regarding related services at the TCCs sites, thus there are no budget implications. The current 55 operational sites are covered in the NPA voted funds.

Reply:

(i) will be youth with no criminal record  

The Department, working together with Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), acknowledges the need for the youth employed in schools, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package, to be members of society, without criminal records.  As such, the Implementation Framework for the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) makes it mandatory for all youth employed in schools to submit a copy of their most recent Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS).  The Department has taken into account that the processing of PCCs takes time to be finalised.  As such, PEDs have been advised to inform School Principals to request youth appointed in their schools to submit confirmation that they have made an application for a PCC.  All participants are required to have submitted their PCCs by January 2021.

In addition to this measure, PEDs are required to work with their counterparts, the provincial Departments of Social Development (DSD), to run the IDs of incumbents against the Sexual Offenders’ Register.  This is meant to protect our learners, as well as to ensure that schools remain as protective environments for our children to the extent necessary.

A further measure put in place is for the youth to have submitted testimonials, affirming their standing in their communities, as part of the documentation required to finalise appointments.

 

(ii) will be effectively inducted into the codes of conduct of the schools? 

All schools are required to use the period following immediately after finalising appointments to rollout an induction and orientation programme.  To facilitate this, the Department has finalised an orientation manual for Education Assistants and General School Assistants.  This manual has been mediated through the training of District Directors, Circuit Managers and School Principals.

Once the youth have taken up their positions, Principals are required to ensure that induction and orientation are provided to all.  The DBE orientation manual should be augmented with programmes designed by schools, supported by their Circuits.

 

(b) What selection criteria will be utilised to determine who will be chosen

        The following standard criteria have been discussed and agreed with PEDs: 

• that the recruits are 18 – 35 years old;  
• that they reside in the community where the school is located;
• a special dispensation is provided for Schools for Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN).  PEDs have been advised to inform such schools that when they undertake recruitment processes, they should target their former learners who are suited to work in the schools;
• a minimum of NQF Level 4 qualification for Education Assistants and General School Assistants; and
• Since Education Assistants will be required to work with teachers and learners in classrooms, having an NQF level 7 qualification will be an added advantage.

 

(c) What form of skills transfer can the recipients expect to gain from participating in this programme             

        The Department has developed an inventory of training programmes, with the following five focus areas:

• Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCW) to provide Psychosocial Support to learners;
• Curriculum to claw-back on the losses imposed by the outbreak of COVID-19;
• Reading Champions to respond to one of the key Sector priorities;
• Infrastructure to support critical school infrastructure maintenance, and

to conduct an infrastructure condition assessments that will inform future maintenance work; and

• e-Cadre programme to support schools and teachers with the following

ICT related activities - Basic ICT equipment troubleshooting, use of ICT in lesson planning, ICT school management Tools (SASAMS),

Integration of ICT in Teaching and Learning, Audit of schools for ICT readiness, and Loading Open Educational Resources on teacher and

learner devices to be used in the classrooms.

 The training programme will be provided in collaboration with various partners.

Reply:

The department, not any of entities reporting to me, did receive donations of personal protection equipment in the form of (1540 litres of hand sanitisers; Hand soap 2000 litres; x216 hand sanitisers 250ml; and x20 5litres surface sanitiser) in the period indicated. The details are the following:

a) Date	b) Donor	c) Value	d) Branding	e) Distribution
30 April 2020	United Nations	Not known	Sheer Elegance waterless hand sanitiser. 70% alcohol	Distributed to shelters during Minister’s visits.
30 April 2020	United Nations	Not known	Cleaning Warehouse	Distributed to shelters during Minister’s visits.
7 May 2020	SACSSP/ HWSETA	Not known	Sticker written hand Sanitizer Composition 75% Alcohol	DSD Staff
7 May 2020	SACSSP/ HWSETA	Not known	Steri Guard 70% alcohol waterless hand sanitiser	DSD Staff

Reply:

According to the Public Service Act 103 of 1994, as amended, any information relating to the norms and standards of the Public Service functions, organizational, and governance arrangements, conditions of service and employment practices as well as information Management is the responsibility of the Minister of Public Service and Administration.

Therefore, my colleague, Minister Senzo Mchunu is at the apex of government information on Human Resource employment practices in the Public Service as well as monitoring thereof. I would suggest that this Parliamentary question be re-directed to the relevant institution.

Thank you.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. (a) In Pretoria there are 63 houses for Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and in Cape Town there are 70 houses for Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

(b)(i) In Pretoria there is one house and in Cape Town there is none.

(ii) In Pretoria is former Deputy Minister Mr Gert Oosthuizen. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s acting Director General has written to Mr Oosthuizen to vacate the property by end of January 2021.

2. The valuation of the market related rental that the former Deputy Minister has paid so far R240 000.

3. In Pretoria there are nine houses that are vacant, two of the houses will be reallocated, one is reserved for the President of the Pan African Parliament and one house is reserved for decanting purposes.

In Cape Town there are seven vacant houses, three houses will be reallocated and one house has been reserved for decanting.

4. In Pretoria one house has been rented out to a Section 9 institution at a market rent of R60 000 a month.

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department and Entities as follows:

DEPARTMENT:

(a) None

(i) Not Applicable

(ii) Not Applicable

(iii) Nil

(iv) Not Applicable

(v) Not Applicable

(vi) Not Applicable

(vii) Not Applicable

(b) The South African Post Office; Postbank; South African Broadcasting Corporation; Film and Publication Board and NEMISA did not sponsor any event in the last two financial years.

Broadband Infraco (BBI) does not actively sponsor events, however it does entertain sponsorships, if able to, that are aligned with the BBI mandate and are developmental oriented and enable a platform for engaging with their customers.

The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) did not sponsor any events in the 2018/2019 financial year, however it did in 2019/20.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) did not sponsor any events in the past two financial years, however it supported the Department in the ITU campaign in 2018. South Africa was voted back into the ITU Council following a four-year absence. This event was funded from the International Relations Conferences Budget as it was in line with the mandate of ICASA.

Entity	(i)Nature	(ii)Date held	(iii)Total Amount Paid	(iv)Purpose	(v)Budget funds derived from	(vi)Expected Benefits	(vii)Actual Benefits derived
BBI	SITA GovTech Golf Day	26 October 2019	R26 086	The event provided a platform for networking with ICT industry executives, suppliers and stakeholders, including the shareholder and other regulatory bodies.	Own generated funds were used, as BBI does not receive any Treasury allocations	N/A	The expected benefits were achieved during the event.
State Information Technology Agency (SITA)	Conference specifically targets SMMEs.	3 – 4 April 2018	Trade Zone 123 t/a Imbizo Events R216 600.00	SMME in ICT and Expo Summit	SITA 2018/19 BUDGET	None
	A biannual conference hosted by ARMSCO, DoD and SITA	18 May 2018	Military Basis Wonderboom Fonds  R82 500.00	MICSSA Conference	SITA 2018/19 BUDGET	None
	ICT Publication. Provides SITA profiling in the ICT industry	13 June 2018	My Broadband Events R172 500.00	MyBroadband Cloud Conference 2018	SITA 2018/19 BUDGET	None
	SITA invited to represent Public Sector ICT	19 – 20 June 2018	Manufacturing Indaba R230 000.00	Manufacturing Indaba 2018	SITA 2018/19 BUDGET	None
	Stakeholder Relations	5 October 2018	SENTECH SOC LTD R65 000.00	SENTECH Chairperson’s Charity Golf Day	SITA 2018/19 BUDGET	None
	Stakeholder Relations	29 October 2018	MSG IT Solutions R50 000.00	Woman in ICT Conference /Awards	SITA 2018/19 BUDGET	None
	Customer Relations	31 October – 3 November 2018	Kimberley Golf Club R35 200.00	Barney Barnato Golf Tournament	SITA 2018/19 budget
	Annual ICT Summit hosted in the Eastern Cape, SITA exhibited services and a speaking opportunity as the Lead ICT Agency for Government	20 - 22 November 2018	Trade Zone 123 t/a Imbizo Events R552 000	Eastern Cape 14th Annual ICT Summit 2018	SITA 2018/19 budget	None
	Annual ICT Summit hosted in the Eastern Cape, SITA exhibited services and speaking opportunity as the Lead ICT Agency for Government	20 – 21 November 2019	Trade Zone 123 t/a Imbizo Events R287 500	Eastern Cape 15th Annual ICT Summit 2019	SITA 2019/20 budget	None
ICASA	SA Reception	02 November 2018	R 300 000	To ensure that delegates were able to hear the SA proposal to be voted back into the ITU Council as well as Board Member for the Radio Regulations Board (RRB)	International Relations Conferences Budget	SA to be voted back into the ITU Council	SA was voted back into the ITU Council following a four year absence
Sentech	Attached as Annexure
USAASA	SITA GovTech 2019 conference to be held at the Durban ICC	27 – 30 October 2019	R 145 000.00	The Conference bringing together Government, Industry and Business on a multi-layered engagement. SITA provides a platform that not only showcases the latest technologies, solutions and trends, but also brings together diverse stakeholders across the public and private sectors.	Stakeholder Engagement and Communications	The conference assists USAASA to build successful private public partnership for USAF projects that are implemented by the Agency through exhibition, attendance of sessions and networking opportunities.	Sponsorship through Exhibition space and Marketing opportunity pre, during and post conference
	The 15th Annual ICT Summit hosted by Imbizo Events at the East London International Convention Centre in East London, Eastern Cape	19 - 21 November 2019	R 30 000.00	The Summit is a platform that aims to showcase the latest trends and discuss solutions and issues, innovative ideas, and online communications within the industry across South Africa with a focus on the Eastern Cape	Stakeholder Engagement and Communications	The Agency has interests in ICT Solutions highlighting latest developments, policies and growth in the ICT Industry to develop South Africa, As such this summit provides an opportunity to network with Government, the public sector Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Private Sector to solicit partnerships for projects in the Eastern Cape	Sponsorship through Exhibition space Networking and Marketing opportunity pre, during and post Summit
zaDNA	iWeek	21-23 August 2018 26-28 August 2019	R 49 205.87	For ZADNA to market its services to the core internet audience (stakeholders) in South Africa	ZADNA’s annual iWeek budget item	Yes	Yes

Notes: (vii) SITA - Note that whereas the activity is called sponsorship, it is actually payment for participation in the event, by exhibition of services, attendance of the event, in most cases summits or conferences by SITA representatives and SITA’s speaking slot and branding. The events are strategically targeted and aimed at promoting SITA services and the brand.

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

a) None of the Child and Youth Care Centres is registered to render drug treatment services. Such children are referred to registered treatment centres. Section 28 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act 70 of 2008) states that children that are dependent on substances must be treated in separate facilities and apart from adults, whether within treatment centres or facilities designated for children. It further states that any Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) that seeks to render treatment services to children who are dependent on substances must comply with conditions for registration, norms and standards for the establishment of treatment centres.

b) Children in the Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCC) specifically Secure Care Programme are children detained in terms of section 191 (2) (h) and (j) who are awaiting trial and or on compulsory residential diversion, sentencing and are receiving therapeutic intervention and Secure care programme as referred through the Child Justice Act, 75 of 2008. The therapeutic interventions are in line to section 191 (3) (b) that is therapeutic and developmental programmes.

In order to select interventions that appear likely to respond to the crime and social problem (s) identified, it important to look at the effective crime prevention practices that have yielded positive results. This is done through the developmental assessment approach wherein the arrested children are assessed by Probation Officers and Social Service Professionals in the secure care programme for identification of their individual personal needs to determine proper intervention either as part of awaiting trial, or compulsory residential diversion and sentencing.

c) The above-mentioned questions are therefore not applicable to children in CYCC, specifically Secure Care programme as the centres are not registered in terms of section 191 (3) ( c) of the Children’s Act which is treatment of children for addiction to dependence-producing substance. This service is already provided for in terms of section 28 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act 70 of 2008) for children and must not be duplicated.

Reply:

a) The following municipalities have active Local Drug Action Committees:

Northern Cape Province

Municipality	Date committee was established	Number of times committee met since 1 January 2018	Contact details of committee secretariat	Reasons some municipalities don’t have committee
Kai Garib Municipality	Established and constituted in April 2019	The committee has met two times per quarter since April 2019, the last meeting was February 2020.	Name of the LDAC: Kenhardt Chairperson: Estelle Fritz Contact Details: 073 257 0024	None
Tsantsabane Municipality	Established and constituted in April 2019	The committee has met two times per quarter since April 2019, the last meeting was February 2020.	Name of the LDAC: Postmasburg No number provided	None
J.T.G District Ga Segonyana/Joe Morolong Municipality	Established and constituted in 2009	The committee has met on a quarterly basis since 2018, the last meeting was held in 18 October 2020.	Chairperson: Segomotsi Pule Contact Details: 079 8750 231	None
Francis Baard District Phokwane Municipality	Established and constituted in 2012.	The committee has met on a quarterly basis since 2018. Dates of their last meetings: 17 May 2020 12 August 2020 15 November 2020	Name of the LDAC: Pampierstadt Chairperson: Gloria Shuping Contact Details: 072 499 5205	None
Namakwa District Nama Khoi Municipality	Established and constituted in June 2019.	The committee has met on a monthly basis since June 2019, the last meeting was 6 March 2020.	Name of LDAC: Komaggas Welfare Forum Chairperson: Ms. Christine Cloete Contact Details: 076 715 9666	None
Karoo Hoogland Municipality:	Established and constituted in 2018.	The last meeting was in February 2020.	Name of LDAC: Williston Welfare Forum Chairperson: Ms. M. Klaaste Contact Details: 053 391 3025	None

e) Pixley Ka Seme District:

Currently no established LDAC Committee

The sub-program coordinator reported the following reasons that led to non-establishment of LDAC in the district. Programs aimed at community development with regards substance abuse were held integrated with Stakeholders i.e. Carnarvon Community (Kareeberg Municipality) and Richmond Community (Ubuntu Municipality) and Prieska (Siyathemba Municipality). During preparatory meetings it was decided that LDAC needs to be established to ensure follow up on issues raised but no commitment was showed by the very stakeholders who sat in those meetings, especially the Special Programs in the Office of the Mayor.

Failure to get support to the Office of the Mayor creates challenges for the Coordinator and in most instances, they will always show reluctance or lengthy of excuses or even postponement of meetings planned.

The Covid-19 pandemic also brought about its challenges and made it impossible to make follow ups as planned.

North West Province

Municipality	Date committee was established	Number of times committee met since 1 January 2018	Contact details of committee secretariat	Reasons some municipalities don’t have committee
Moretele municipality	18 July 2018	Once a quarter 24 May 2019 18 July 2019 15 November 2019 21 February 2020 AGM 13 MMARCH 2020	Social Development 082 0417 092	The meetings were not held quarterly during to COVID 19.
Moses Kotane municipality	The committee was revived in 2018 and 2019	The committee met in the following dates: 14/08/2018 26/09/2019 09/10/2019 20/11/2019	Social Development 0820431162	None
Kgetleng Municipality	Date LDAC was established 15 March 2020	Number of times committee met since 2018 15/03/2020 10/05/2018 14/06/2018 12/07/2018 03/04/2019 05/06/2019 03/07/2019 07/08/2019 04/09/2019 04/03/2020	Chairperson- Ms Joyce Thoane- 0820443357 Secretariat is circulating	The meetings were not held in 2020 due to Covid 19 and other competing activities. The office will revive the LDAC in 2021/22
Rustenburg municipalaity	Date LDAC was established 2012	Number of times committee met since 2018 2018 May was last meeting	Ms Motshegoa - 0820462538	It is established although meetings have not been held as forums were not active due to Covid 19 Lockdown levels

e) Madibeng municipality: The office intended to have an integrated forum during 2020 but was not able to convene meetings.

LIMPOPO PROVINCE

Municipality	Date committee was established	Number of times committee met since 1 January 2018	Contact details of committee secretariat	Reasons some municipalities don’t have committee
Thulamela municipality	established on 7 June 2017	committee has met ten times since January 2018	The Secretariat is Ms Dudu Baloyi at 076 482 8277.	None
Bela –Bela municipality	The committee was established in September 2016	The committee met six times.	Ms K Nkuna at 014 736 6482.	None
Mogalakwena municipality	The committee was established in June 2016	The committee met six times.	contact person is Mr F Mmola at 079 079 8442.	None
Mookgopong municipality	The committee was established in May 2015	The committee met four times.	contact person is Ms Khomotso Mogotlane at 082 397 5550	None
Tubatse municipality	The committee was established in September 2017	The committee has met four times.	Contact person is Ms Ntsoaki Nkadimeng at 072 177 4747.	None
Makhuduthamaga municipality	The committee was established in September 2017	The committee met four times.	contact person is Mr S Matswetji at 079 913 8409.	None
Elias Motsoaledi municipality	The committee was established in 2017	The committee met four times.	The contact person is Ms Beauty Mamaru at 072 746 6610.	None
Ephraim Mogale municipality	The committee was established in 2017.	The committee met four times.	The contact person is Ms Nancy Lenonyane at 078 732 7374.

e) The province is currently struggling to constitute and sustain the Local Drug Action committees (LDACs) mainly due to lack of cooperation from other stakeholders and lack of clarity in terms of resource allocation. LDACs are not yet on board in all municipalities and as such have not yet budgeted for the establishment and allocated personnel or other resources.

Structures that have been established over time could not be sustained and were not led by municipalities.

The Province embarked on programme to resuscitate and establish the LDACs through a process of establishing interim District committees charged with the responsibility and springboard structure for the establishment of LDACs. The meeting to kick-start the process was held on 13 November 2019 and the progress made is as follows:

Capricorn District: A meeting to establish district structures was held on 6 December 2019, but could not finalise the process as stakeholders felt they needed clear mandates from their principals and follow – up meeting was held on 3 March 2020 to constitute the structure. An interim structure was established with plan drafted to capacitate members and allocate responsibilities. The process was interrupted by COVID1 pandemic.

Vhembe District: Meeting to establish an interim district structure was convened on 30 January 2020 but failed to quorate with proper representivity of all relevant stakeholders. The meeting was postponed, but could not reconvene due to COVID-19.

Mopani District: There is no functional LDAC in the district and the meeting to establish the interim committee was held in March 2020, but unfortunately the process was interrupted by COVID -19.

The following provinces did not respond comprehensively:

Western Cape

Province	Name	Contact	Email
Western Cape	Ms Chantelle Pepper	Tel: (+27)21 483 4155 +27 76 398 9662	[email protected]

Eastern Cape Province: Provincial Substance Abuse Coordinator

Province	Name	Contact Details	Email
Eastern Cape	Mr Nkosinathi Gceya	043 605 5194 /083 610 9276	[email protected]

Free State Province: Provincial Substance Abuse Coordinator

Province	Name	Contact details	Email
Free State	Mr Leloko Matsenyane Mr Charles Makappa	051 409 0545 /083 443 9029 051 409 0668 /083 443 8076	[email protected] [email protected]

Gauteng Province: Municipal Substance Abuse Coordinators

City of Johannesburg Municipality	Aletta	Mzimela	158 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein	[email protected]
City of Tshwane Municipality	Maureen	Digamela	PO BOX 440, Pretoria,0001	[email protected]
Ekurhuleni Municipality	Thabo	Tonga	P/BAG X1069, Germiston, 1400	[email protected]
Merafong Local Municipality	Tshepo	Maloisane	P.O BOX 3, Carletonville, 2500	[email protected]
Mogale City Local Municipality	Nomvula	Mjuja	PO BOX 94, Krugersdorp, 1740	[email protected]
Rand West City Local Municipality	Norah	Tsholetsane	Cnr Sutherland & Pollock Streets	[email protected]
Emfuleni Local Municipality	Rebecca	Letsoenyo	PO BOX 3,Vanderbijlpark,1900	[email protected]
Midvaal Local Municipality	Sello	Tlhake	PO BOX 9, Meyerton, 1960	[email protected]
Lesedi Local Municipality	Corrie	Venster	PO BOX 201, Heidelberg,1438	[email protected]
City of Johannesburg Municipality	Aletta	Mzimela	158 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein	[email protected]
City of Tshwane Municipality	Maureen	Digamela	PO BOX 440, Pretoria,0001	[email protected]
Ekurhuleni Municipality	Thabo	Tonga	P/BAG X1069, Germiston, 1400	[email protected]

KwaZulu Natal Province: Substance Abuse Provincial Coordinator

Province	Name	Contact	Email
Kwa Zulu Natal	Ms Cleopatra Dlamini	Tel: 033 341 7925 060 999 0440	[email protected]

Limpopo Province: Substance Abuse Provincial Coordinator

Province	Name	Contact	Email
Limpopo	Mr Tshepo Maxwell Rangata	015 230 4420/082 421 6954	[email protected]

Mpumalanga Province: Substance Abuse Provincial Coordinator

Province	Name	Contact	Email
Mpumalanga	Ms Isabella Makushe	013 766 3158/072 226 3460	[email protected]

Going forward, the plan is to establish Local Drug Action Committees in line with the District Development Model.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has been working with various law enforcement agencies including the Hawks, SAPS, SIU, Assets Forfeiture Unit and the NPA. A Task Team consisting of members from these institutions has been established. The main responsibility of the Task Team is to ensure that the Department’s criminal referrals are prosecuted by NPA. The Department has been providing the list of criminal referrals to the Task Team for monitoring purposes. The Department further provides an update on the disciplinary cases to the Task Team for their noting and monitoring. The Task Team is also responsible for ensuring that there is no duplication of investigations. In the past, different organs of state would investigate the same matters without being aware of this. The Task Team sits once every quarter to discuss the progress on criminal referrals. The Task Team has also been reviewing some of the cases that were closed by NPA without the Department being informed of such a decision. The SIU is responsible for coordinating the meetings of the Task Team.

Reply:

(1)(a) DCS has not entered into any contracts for the supply and/or operation of electronic monitoring devices in the last three (03) Financial Years.

(b) N/A

(2) (a) N/A

(b) N/A

(3) N/A

END.

Reply:

1(a)(i) SA Airways: The Minister wrote to the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairperson of National Council of Provinces on 23 November 2020, informing Parliament that SA Airways is under business rescue. The Auditor-General suspended the audit when the airline was placed in business rescue. The audit will be finalised once the airline recommences operations and the annual report and annual financial statements will thereafter be tabled.

(ii) Denel: The Minister wrote to the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairperson of National Council of Provinces on 30 November 2020. The Department wrote to Parliament as soon as Denel had confirmed to the Department that it was unable to finalize its audit challenges with its external auditors, the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), prior to 30 November 2020. Denel Board and Management are engaging with the AGSA to resolve certain audit ISSUES. It is anticipated that the annual financial statements and integrated report will be tabled in January 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter, once the above- mentioned issues are resolved.

(iii) Transnet’s 2020 Integrated Report and audited Annual Financial Statements were tabled by the Minister in Parliament on 09 November 2020. The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises received a briefing from Transnet on 18 November 2020.

(iv) Eskom’s Integrated Report and audited Annual Financial Statements were tabled by the Minister on 12 November 2020. The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises received a briefing from Eskom on 25 November 2020.

(v) Alexkor: The Minister wrote to the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairperson of National Council of Provinces on 30 November 2020, to inform Parliament that Alexkor would not be in a position to table its Annual Financial Statements, Integrated Report and Audit Report due to serious going concern and other audit concerns. The Department wrote to Parliament once it was able to confirm with Alexkor that it was unable to finalize its audit challenges with its external auditors and prepare its AGM documentation prior to 30 November 2020. It is anticipated that the annual financial statements and integrated report will be tabled in January 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter, once the above- mentioned concerns are resolved.

2 As indicated above Denel, Alexkor, and SAA would not be able to submit the 2020 Integrated Reports and audited annual financial statements to the Minister prior to 30 November 2020 for the reasons set out above. The reports will be tabled in Parliament as soon as the companies are able to submit these reports.

Reply:

According to available data from the North West Provincial Department of Social Development, 422 support packages (which includes PPEs) wee procured and distributed to 59 ECD centres in and around Mafikeng Service Point (see the attached list). In addition, the Provincial Department:

• Advised ECD centres to conduct self- assessment in line with the published directions. The Department also provided support to ECDs which experienced challenges in conducting electronic self- assessments by means of providing them hard copies of the self- assessment documents.

• Conducted verification of ECD centres and programmes to ensure compliance with COVID-19 regulations.

NAME OF CENTRE

1. Driehoek crèche 2. Kganya E.L.C 3. Wise Guys ECD 4. Mpha Lesedi E.L.C 5. Ramothibe E.L.C 6. Repholositswe E.L.C 7. Olorato E.L.C 8. Kebadiretse E.L.C 9. Reitshupile E.L.C 10. Lore E.L.C 11. Roma Kideo Day Care Centre 12. Tsibogang Learning Centre 13. Tsibogang M 14. Morwa E.L.C 15. Segai E.L.C 16. Makgabana E.L.C 17. Segoele E.L.C 18. Matsheke E.L.C 19. Maphoana E.L.C 20. Mothusi E.L.C 21. Kelesitse E.L.C 22.. Ntshalele le Ngwana E.L.C 23. Joyland 24. Tshipidi Day Care Centre 25. Gola Monnye E.L.C 26 Mmadinonyane E.L.C 27. Tiroyabone E.L.C 28. Tlhabo Ya Letsatsi Pre School 29 Reatlamela Day Care 30. Tsetse E.L.C 31. Pepeletso E.L.C 32. Marang E.L.C 33. Mmangwana E.L.C 34. Lesedi La Podile E.L.C 35. Lonely Park E.L.C 36. Ramookeng E.L.C 37. Khulani E.L.C 38. Emmanuel E.L.C 39. Karabo & Rea 40. Ntutobolole Creche 41. Kgodisang E.L.C 42. Ngwana Sejo E.L.C 43. Moralo E.L.C 44. Ntataise E.L.C 45. Rotary E.L.C 46. Setumo Park Day Care Centre 47. Tshireletso Day Care Centre 48. Kopano Day Care Centre 49. Marang E.L.C 50. Lonika E.L.C 51. Letlanang E.L.C 52. Victorious E.L.C 53. Mmasehume E.L.C 54. Lerato La Motsadi E.L.C 55. Tsela Ya Botlhe Pre School 56. Mphela Bana E.L.C 57. Lomanyaneng E.L.C 58. Kago E.L.C

Reply:

(a) The Department continued with the payment of subsidies and the ongoing monitoring and support to NPOs albeit with delays in some provinces which have now been addressed.1. 

(b) (i) The funding delays were caused by technicalities such as migration from BAS to Central Supplier Database, slow network and lock down interruptions in the finalisation of Service Level Agreements, amongst others. All provinces have addressed the delays, with the exception of North West which is still experiencing technicalities with the migration to the Central Supplier Database.

(ii) I have not been made aware of any funding withdrawal in any of the 9 provinces.

(c) The affected Provinces have consulted the relevant NPO network structures on delays and budget cuts soon after it was communicated by the Provincial Treasuries.

2. Amongst some of the measures to expedite the payment of NPOs, the department is undertaking a rapid assessment survey to determine the causes for the delays and to come up with stringent monitoring mechanisms and steps to remedy this situation. The National Department has since stringently monitored progress on NPO payments and taking drastic steps to remedy this situation.

In addition, the Department has sought approval from National Treasury to seek approval to change from a quarterly to a two-tranche payment system to NPOs through a risk-adjusted differentiated approach that is aimed at reducing administrative burden on the transfer system.

The two-tranche payment system will be implemented at the beginning of the 20210-2022 financial year, as it must be incorporated in the department’s beginning of year projections that are submitted in line with section 40(4)(a) of the PFMA. However, for the new two-tranche payment system to be effective, NPOs need to be compliant as this system runs a risk of either increasing current levels of underspending or NPOs keeping large reserve funds that are not used at the end of the financial year. To date almost all the Provinces have paid up the first and the second quarter payments to eligible organizations that are compliant, thus they are in line with the payment targets. For the third quarter, the status of funding is as follows:

Name of Province	Total No of NPOs Eligible	Total No of NPOs Paid	Total % of NPOs Paid	Pending NPO Payments
W Cape	1 819	1 819	100%	0
N Cape	1 014	722	71%	292
Limpopo	2 917	2 635	90%	282
Gauteng	3 326	3 079	92%	247
Free State	1 826	1 821	99.70%	5
Mpumalanga	1 713	1 639	96%	74
E Cape	4 029	4 023	99%	6
KZN	3 586	2 798	76%	788
N West	924	647	70%	277
TOTAL	21 154	19 183	91%	1 972

For the remaining 1 972 NPOs that have not been paid, the reasons are varying, but mainly due to the following:

a) Late submission of claims by NPOs.

b) Non-compliance by NPOs

c) For KwaZulu Natal and Northern Cape, claims were processed at 50% where there was no attendance at Service Centres.

• For Gauteng, specific delays relate to payment of ECDs, particularly in Tshwane which has been identified as having challenges due to changes in the municipal by-law. This is a matter that continues to receive attention both nationally and at the Province.

• For other provinces, in relation to ECD, the provinces are implementing a special project on payment of outstanding subsidies in compliance with the SA CHILDCARE (PTY) LTD & OTHERS High Court Judgement handed on 20 October 2020.

Reply:

According to the Public Service Act 103 of 1994, as amended, any information relating to the norms and standards of the Public Service functions, organizational, and governance arrangements, conditions of service and employment practices as well as information Management is the responsibility of the Minister of Public Service and Administration.

Therefore, my colleague, Minister Senzo Mchunu is at the apex of government information on Human Resource employment practices in the Public Service as well as monitoring thereof. I would suggest that this Parliamentary question be re-directed to the relevant institution.

Thank you.

 

Reply:

1. Yes. There were concerns about issues of non-compliance. However, the Acting Director-General has since reviewed the decision and granted the organisation in a conditional accreditation for two years, subject to compliance with the Accreditation Guidelines.

2. Yes, the reasons for the de-accreditation are sufficiently in line with the Accreditation Guidelines, which upholds the principle of the best interest of children. Any organisation is required, without exception to comply with these Guidelines.

3. (a) Four Child Protection Organisations were declined accreditation. (b) The reason thereof is none of these organisations were rendering direct services to clients/beneficiaries.

Reply:

(a) The detailed beneficiary list of food parcels recipients including all the categories enquired about (i) older persons, (ii) persons with disabilities and (iii) child-headed households to which some are combination of the above categories; in each province are kept by provinces and SASSA where food parcels distribution is delivered. All beneficiaries of the relief signed as acknowledgement of receipt upon collection of food parcels. It is important to note that the Department of Social Development partnered with Solidarity Fund so this was not a Solidarity Fund project.

(b) The officials keep the portfolio of evidence in the form of signed registers for all reported food parcels to confirm that food parcels were received by the reported recipients.

Reply:

(1)(a) Please refer to the table below.

Breakdown of the R1,3 billion	(a) Items
R 100 million	Land Bank
R 400 million	Production Support (Stimulus Package)
R 20 million	Hygiene
R 1 million	Communication
R 745 million	Production Support (Smallholder & Communal Farmers support)
R 4.1 million	OCR Hardware

(b) There is no breakdown of allocations per province.

2. No. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) sourced personal protective equipment by means of quotations and transversal contracts through emergency procurement process as outlined in National Treasury Instruction Notes No.8 of 2019/2020 and No. 5 of 2020/21.

(a),(b),(c) Falls away.

3. Yes. Please refer to Annexure A.

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

(c) Minister is unable to divulge the contact details of each farmer without their knowledge and consent.

Reply:

Responses from the State-Owned Companies are attached as Annexure A

According to the information received from Alexkor

Name	Designation	Date of appointment	Highest qualification obtained	Age	Gender	Race
Mr Lemogang Pitso	Alexkor Chief Executive Officer	01/12/2017	Master in Business Leadership	49	Male	Black
Mr Deon Bowers	PSJV Act General Mine Manager	01/11/20	BSc Honors (Geological Science)	47	Male	Coloured

Demographics	Alexkor	PSJV
Male African	104	557
Male European	5	121
Male Asian		2
Female African	47	51
Female European	3	11
Female Asian		0

According to the information received from DENEL SOC LTD

Name of Executive	Designation	Date of appointment	Highest qualification obtained	Age	Gender	Race
Mr. Talib Sadik	Acting Group CEO	17 August 2020	B.Com/DIP Accounting/CA(SA)/ AMP (Insead)	55	Male	Indian
Ms. Carmen Le Grange	Group CFO	01 September 2019	B.Com/DIP Accounting/CA(SA)	47	Female	Coloured
Mr. William Hlakoane	Group COO	01 July 2019	MBA, ND: Mech Engineering/B:Tech Mech Engineering	48	Male	Black
Ms. Mercia Ngema	Group HR & Transformation	01 July 2019	MBA, Honours Degree in HR Management	46	Female	Black
Mr. Sello Ntshihlele	CEO: Denel Dynamics	01 August 2019	MBA, M. Eng (Electrical and Electronic)	56	Male	Black
Mr. Phaladi Petje	CEO: PMP	01 May 2013	BA(Hons) Economics PDM Business Admin Executive Development Programs	55	Male	Black
Mr. Mxolisi Makhathini	CEO: DLS/DVS	01 August 2019	Bsc (Electronic Eng)	47	Male	Black
Mr. Mike Kgobe	CEO: Denel Aeronautics	01 March 2010	Master Degree: Aeronautical Production & Maintenance	52	Male	Black

According to the information received from ESKOM SOC LTD

NAME	DESIGNATION	DATE OF APPOINTMENT	HIGHEST QUALIFICATIONS	AGE	GENDER	RACE
Mr Bala Monde ludovick	Group executive (distribution)	19970101	Master of Engineering Graduate Diploma in Engineering Industrial Engineering	47	Male	African
Ms Burn Faith	Chief information officer	20200515	Bsc maths; BSC Hons Maths Master of Science Maths Masters of Business Leadership	52	Female	Coloured
Mr Cassim Calib	Chief financial officer	20020211	Master of Business Leadership Bachelor of Commerce Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science chartered accountant	49	Male	Coloured
Mr De ruyter Andre marinus	Group chief executive	20200106	Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Civil Law Bachelor of Arts	52	Male	White
Mr Dukashe Phillip	General manager- eskom rotek industries	19940101	Bsc Degree: Engineering Post Grad Diploma: Engineering	50	Male	African
Mr Etzinger Andrew	General manager-risk and sustainability	19891211	Bsc Maths; BSC Hons Mathematical Statistics; BSC Hons Operations Research; Executive programme London Business School	52	Male	White
Mr Hewu Nqaba bartlett	Group executive legal and compliance (contractor)	20180326	Bachelor of Law Baccalaureus Legum Tax Law Extracurricular Higher Diploma Law	45	Male	African
Mr Manjingolo Mlawuli	Company secretary	20200701	Ba law; LLB; Higher Diploma Company and Labour Law	52	Male	African
Mr Mathebula Rhulani	Group executive- generation (acting)	20031001	National Diploma Analytical Chemistry Btech: Business Administration	40	Male	African
Mr Mflathelwa Mziwoxolo	General manager-strategy and planning	20100301	Bachelor of Engineering (mechanical)	35	Male	African
Mr Minyuku Nthato	Group executive (government and regulatory affairs)	20201015	Master of City Planning and Urban Design Bachelor of Architectural Studies	42	Female	African
Ms Nxumalo Bhekizitha johannes	Group executive (group capital)	20170501	Master of Business Administration National higher diploma (chemical engineering) National Diploma (chemical engineering)	52	Male	African
Mr Oberholzer Jan albert	Chief operating officer	20180706	Master of Business Leadership Bachelor of Engineering (electrical) Electrical Engineers Certificate of Competency	62	Male	White
Ms Pule Elsie mamolatelo	Group executive (human resources)	20121201	Master of Science in Engineering Business Management Bachelor of Arts and Social Work BA Hons Psychology	53	Female	African
Mr Scheppers Segomoco Martin	Group executive (transmission)	19930809	Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Science in Engineering Graduate Diploma in Engineering	57	Male	African
Mr Sookrajh Bob	General manager- audit and forensics (acting)	19940401	B.Com Hons; Chartered Internal Auditor Post Graduate Advanced Diploma Taxation	54	Male	Asian
Mr Tshitangano Solly	Chief procurement officer	20190101	B.Com Hons	58	Male	African
Mr Tuku Vuyolwethu	Group executive (transformation management office)	20200701	Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Science in Engineering	45	Male	African

According to the information received from TRANSNET SOC LTD

SURNAME AND NAME	DESIGNATION	DATE OF APPOINTMENT	ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION	GENDER	AGE	RACE
Derby Portia	Group Chief Executive	2020/02/01	Master’s Degree	Female	50	African
Kgomo Lucas Makoma (Brian)	Chief Audit Executive	2020/06/01	Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Masters of Philosophy in Internal Audit, B.Com Accounting	Male	53	African
Shaw Andrew	Group Chief Strategy Officer	2020/07/01	PhD (Transport Economics), MBA, BSc and MSc (Engineering)	Male	53	White
Kani Yolisa	Group Chief Business Development Officer	2020/05/01	BSc Applied Science Honours in Transportation Engineering	Female	45	African
Dlamini Nonkululeko	Group Chief Financial Officer	2020/05/01	CA (SA), Higher Diploma in Accounting (CTA) and a B-Comm degree	Female	46	African
Coetzee Sandra Adv	Group Chief Legal Counsel	2020/05/01	Admitted Advocate, BLC, LLB and Senior Leadership Programme	Female	58	White
Munyai Pandelani	Chief Information Officer	2020/04/01	Master of Business Leadership, Master of Electronic Engineering, a BSc Electrical Engineering, BSc Physics and Mathematics	Male	51	African
Nemukula Vuledzani	Group Chief Procurement Officer	2020/04/01	BSc; MBA; Advanced Business Management Programme (AMP), Advanced Management Programme from INSEAD and Oxford Executive Leadership Programme (OELP)	Male	52	African
Mzimela Sizakele	Chief Executive: Transnet Freight Rail	2020/04/01	BA Economics and Statistics, a Certificate in Management from Henley College and a Certificate of the Transnet Executive Development Programme from GIBS	Female	55	African
Mills Ralph	Chief Executive: Transnet Engineering	2020/05/01	Bachelor’s degree in Military Science and an MBL.	Male	56	White
Velile Dube	Chief Executive: Transnet Port Terminals	2009/11/01	BA in Communications and a BA (Hons) in English Literature, Program Leadership Certificate, certificate in Leadership from the Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS).	Male	59	African
Michelle Phillips	Chief Executive: Transnet Pipelines	1999/11/16	Admitted Advocate of the High Court with a B Juris LLB, Executive Development leadership programmes, certificates for several International Terminal Operations Management Programmes from Antwerp, Rotterdam, Paris and Le Havre.	Female	49	Coloured
Khayalethu Ngema	Chief of People	2017/07/01	BA in Law and Industrial Sociology, A Public and Development Management Diploma and a postgraduate diploma in Public Policy and Development , Certificate for a Senior Executive Program	Male	50	African
Kapei Phahlamohlaka	Chief Executive: Transnet Property	2020/09/01	Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Master of Business Administration (MBA)	Male	44	African
Mninawe Silinga	Chief Executive: Transnet National Ports Authority	2020/09/01	BSc in Civil Engineering, Master of Engineering, MBA, AMP, Chartered Director [IoD-UK]. Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering	Male	55	African

According to the information received from SAFCOL

Name and Surname	DESIGNATION	(b) Date of Appointment	(c) Highest Qualification	(d) Age	(e) Gender	(f) Race
Mr Tsepo Monaheng	Chief Executive Officer (CEO)	01/12/2017	MBA BSc in Electrical Engineering BSc in Physics and Mathematics	57	Male	African
Mr John Maruma	Acting Chief Financial Officer (ACFO)	01/03/2020	MBA (In progress) CA (SA) Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (CTA) B. Com (Hons) in Banking Leadership Development Programme	37	Male	African
Mr Sibalo Dlamini	Chief Operating Officer (COO)	05/10/2020	Masters in Engineering Management BSc in Chemical Engineering BSc in Chemistry and Biology Registered Professional Engineer (PrEng) Leadership Development Programme	54	Male	African
Mr Vishal Harichund Executive:	Strategy and Commercial	01/06/2020	LLB LLM Admitted Attorney	42	Male	African
Mr Siyabonga Mpontshana	Executive: Legal	01/06/2018	B Accounting Sciences Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) IIASA	44	Male	African
Ms Dimakatso Motseko	Executive Human Capital	02/01/2018	MBL BSc (hon) in Industrial Psychology BSc in Industrial Psychology Advanced Programme in Organisational Development Registered Psychometrics	47	Female	African
Ms Christelle Marias	Chief Risk Officer	01/06/2020	MBA B.Iuris Certified Director (IoDSA Cert. Dir.) Certified Risk Management Professional (IRMSA CRM Prof.)	49	Female	White

According to the information received from SAA

Position	Date of Appointment	Highest qualification	Age	Gender	Race
Chief Executive Officer (vacant)	-	-	-	-	-
Interim Chief Financial Officer	15 October 2018	CA (SA)	60	M	C
Chief Commercial Officer	19 August 2019	MA TV Journalism	53	M	W
Acting General Manager Operations	01 July 2019	Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management	52	M	B
Head of Loyalty/Voyager	01 April 2014	US BSc. Business Administration, Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilot License	50	F	W
Acting General Manager Cargo	01 June 2018	B. Com Hons (Transport Economics), Masters in Business Administration, IATA Diploma in Air Cargo Transportation	55	M	B
Acting General Manager Human Resources	03 October 2019	B. Com	52	M	W
Acting Chief Information Officer	01 October 2019	Masters in Business Administration	49	M	W
Acting Head Customer Services	01 October 2019	Management Advanced Programme (MAP), Diploma in Public Relations	47	F	B
Acting Chief Legal Officer	01 May 2020	Bachelor of Laws	40	M	B
Acting Chief Internal Auditor	01 October 2019	B. Com Hons (Accounting)	37	F	B
Company Secretary	01 February 2009	BA. Hons. (Economics and Social Administration), CIS Diploma, Bachelor of Laws	58	F	B
CEO	Vacant
Acting Chief Financial Officer	01 October 2020	B. Com Hons. Accounting	43	M	B
Acting HOD - Base Maintenance	01 September 2019	NTC 4 Aircraft Technology	48	M	B
Acting HOD- Marketing and Sales	01 May 2018	Aircraft Avionics Technician (Olifantsfontein)	44	M	B
Acting HOD- Workshops	01 September 2019	National Technical Certificate Part 3 (N3)	57	M	W
General Manager Engineering and Support Sevices	01 December 2019	Masters Airworthiness & Aviation Safety	49	M	B
General Manager Human Resources	01 November 2019	Executive MBA	49	M	B
General Manager Quality and Risk	01 December 2019	M.Sc Business and Strategic Leadership	45	M	B
HOD- Line Maintenance	01 February 2012	Senior Management Development Programme NQF 8	44	M	B
HOD- Security	01 December 2019	M. Tech Degree Policing	57	M	B
HOD-Business Excellence	04 November 2019	Masters Project Management	37	M	B
Chief Executive Officer	01 November 2013	B. Com	52	M	W
Chief Financial Officer	03 June 2019	B. Com Honours, CA (SA)	37	M	B
Acting General Manager Commercial	01 May 2018	Diploma in Hospitality Management	34	F	B
General Manager Operations	01 September 2019	Management Advanced Programme (MAP), National Diploma in Tourism Management	43	M	B
General Manager Human Resources	19 January 2015	Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources	43	F	B
Head of Quality, Safety and Environment	01 July 2015	BSc. Human Ecology	41	F	B
Head of Coastal	01 September 2017	BSc. Hons. Dietetics, Management Development Programme	47	F	B

Reply:

The Honourable Member is advised that the question asked would require the collation of the latest information from provinces to ensure that a comprehensive response is provided. Accordingly, the Department of Traditional Affairs has written to its Provincial counterparts for them to furnish us with the requested information. The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information once it has been availed by Provinces.

Reply:

Section 57 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, 2008 specifically provides that the MECs must establish Provincial Substance Abuse Forums for their respective provinces. This is not a delegated power but a conferred power by the Act and the Minister cannot interfere with the powers conferred by legislation to her provincial counterparts as this would be in conflict with section 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa read with the Intergovernmental Relations Framework.

In terms of the same Act, the Minister is only empowered to establish the Central Drug Authority (CDA), which represents the national sphere of government. The Minister therefore does not have any executive or legislative mandate to establish Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees.

Provincial MECs are better placed to respond to this question.

Reply:

a) I must point out that AGSA had access to other databases which SASSA did not have at the time AGSA conducted the validations.

SASSA promptly suspended all accounts that were flagged by AGSA and suspected to be fraudulent. All the suspected accounts are currently under investigation. This will be followed by a recovery process, if it is indeed found that some of those paid were illegible for the Special COVID-19 SRD Grant. It is also worth repeating and bringing it to the attention of the Honourable Member that there were some discrepancies in the AGSA findings, which SASSA highlighted to them. Most of these could be attributed to a time difference between the time the assessment was done by SASSA and when AGSA considered the data. AGSA has acknowledged these findings.

b) From the inception of the grant, we were committed to ensuring that only eligible applicants receive it, considering the unprecedented socio-economic difficulties confronting many individuals and households.

In cases where applicants may have been erroneously excluded, SASSA has reconsidered every application every month. However, every applicant who has been declined has the right to request SASSA to reconsider the decision, should he/she believe that the decision made was incorrect.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

The President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr MC Ramaphosa, has mandated the Minister in the Presidency, Mr Jackson Mthembu, to attend to the matter relating to Director-General Adv Sam Vukela. Minister Mthembu is best placed to provide an update on the matter.

Reply:

1. (a) 2016-2017 City of Ekurhuleni recorded 640 cable theft incidents.

(b) 2017-2018 City of Ekurhuleni recorded 601 cable theft incidents.

c) 2018-2019 City of Ekurhuleni recorded 627 cable theft incidents.

d) Since 1 April 2019 estimated theft incidents are in excess of 1000.

2. (a) See attached.  

b) See attached.

3. The insurance cover for cable theft is included in the first kilometre from the insured premises, and the insurance broker does require a case number.

The policy wording on transmission and distribution lines reads that all equipment and transmission lines other than those on or within one kilometre from the insured structure/premises are excluded from the cover.

Reply:

The Honourable Member is advised that the question asked would require the collation of the latest information from provinces to ensure that a comprehensive response is provided. Accordingly, the Department of Traditional Affairs has written to its Provincial counterparts for them to furnish us with the requested information. The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information once it has been availed by Provinces.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) I was informed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) that:

(a) As at March 2020, there were 2265 properties that the DPWI was renting from private landlords to house government departments and/or institutions; and

(b) total payments on those buildings for the financial year ended 31 March 2020 amounted to R5 billion. (See ANNEXURE A - a register of payments for each lease.)

(2) I was informed by the Department that when the DPWI migrated to new system to accommodate the lease-in functionality, there have been instances where overpayments occurred. The number of leases affected as a result of the overpayments were 305 with a total value of R66 million. From the R66 million overpayment an amount of R55 million has already been recovered and the balance of R11 million is being recovered.

Reply:

(1) In response to these challenges, the Department has reviewed the Vetting policy to include continuous screening and integrity testing of personnel through the implementation of the Voice Stress Analysis.

The Voice Stress Analysis (VSA) is considered as a professional non-invasive investigation system tool used in various risk management processes for emotion detection, personality and risk assessment and investigations. It is also a security investigation tool utilised to gather information in identifying internal fraud, smuggling activities, stop theft of merchandise (Stores), equipment and company funds.

In addition, the Department has a Gang management strategy in place and is currently reviewing the strategy into a Gang Combating Strategy which will be accompanied by implementation plan to counter strategies and new techniques used by the gangs. Amongst the interventions, there is consultation and collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies under the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.

This effective collaboration has shown success in combating gangsterism in our facilities and has yielded positive results in management areas with high numbers of incarcerated gang members such as the St Albans Management Area.

Our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place which include conducting searches in correctional facilities. Confiscated Contraband such as sim-cards and cellular phones are handed over to Crime Intelligence for further operationalization. Through this collaborative initiatives, numerous officials were arrested for being linked to gangs. We are also in the process of reviewing DCS Security Protocol through the review of B-Order and enhancing such protocol.

Therefore in addressing the challenge at hand, officials are sensitized to comply with Security policies and procedures by ensuring that proper and regular searches of inmates, officials, visitors and services providers are conducted at Access Control points. For any non-compliance, consequence management must be undertaken and criminal cases opened with the SAPS.

The Department is in a process of implementation of Body Scanners in the identified Correctional Facilities within six (6) Management Areas. The aim of the Scanners in question is a threat detection solution which combines ultra-low radiation with maximum visibility, therefore addressing the challenges of smuggling of contrabands i.e. cell phones and drugs among others. It will detect any hidden metals, weapons and drugs in a body of a person. The scanner will be able to search all body cavities without compromising the privacy of individuals and reduce the time taken to manually search inmates, officials and visitors.

Body Scanners have been installed across big facilities, this include:

1. Gauteng: (Kgosi Mampuru II, Local CC and Johannesburg Med A and B);
2. Western Cape: (Pollsmoor Max and access control);
3. Free State: (Groenpunt Max and access control);
4. Eastern Cape: (St. Albans Max and Medium A);
5. KwaZulu-Natal (Durban Med A and B); and
6. Mpumalanga (Barberton Max).

(2) Non adherence to policies and Standard Operating Procedures

(3) The total number of cases of this nature involving the practice recorded in the past 12 months in each province are as follows:

REGION	TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
EC	17
LMN	9
KZN	14
GP	121
WC	13
FSNC	7
NATIONAL	181

END

The deployment of the use of VSA will aid as a force multiplier and a deterrent to criminal activities and misconduct by officials and would be perpetrators which will ultimately results in the eradication of contrabands in DCS Correctional Centers. It will further more ensure a security competent workforce and the integrity of the Department and State.

END.

Reply:

The medicine supply chain is long and complex, with interruptions at any point in the supply chain affecting medicine availability at the facility. These interruptions may relate to, inter alia, the shortage of the active ingredients, regulatory issues affecting formulation, logistical challenges, inadequate volumes produced relative to the ordered quantity and inadequate quantities being ordered. Medicine shortages is a global problem affecting all countries for the reasons outlined above.

South Africa has experienced constrained supply of psychiatric medicines. The challenges precede the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The reason for the shortage of each drug differs and includes a shortage of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the manufacturer is unable to supply ordered quantities within the contracted timelines, production problems, and industrial action at local production facilities.

(a) The shortages are considered to be very serious.

(b) Steps taken in mitigation include sourcing of stock from alternative suppliers, where possible, as well as the issuing of circulars recommending use of available alternative agents that are considered to be therapeutically equivalent. Where partial deliveries are made by contracted suppliers availability is managed at the district level through stock rotation among facilities.

The supply issues related to the availability of Citalopram and Fluoxetine; have been resolved. However, South Africa is experiencing shortages of four drugs (Amitriptyline, Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol and Olanzapine).

END.

Reply:

1. The details of the dates and names of persons that travelled are outlined in the table below. However only nine Members of the Executive Councils (MECs) attended and not 12 as stated in the question.

	TURKEY	THAILAND	UNITED KINGDOM	TOTAL
DATE	2nd - 6th Dec 2019	27th Jan - 3rd Feb 2020	25th -29th Nov 2019
MEC	Dr Bandile Masuku (GP) Ms Sasekani Manzini (MPU) Dr Phophi C Ramathuba (LP)	Ms Nomafrench Mbombo (WC) Ms Montseng Tsiu (FS) Ms Nomagugu Simelane- Zulu (KZN) Mr Madoda Sambatha (NW)	MEC Mase Manapole (NC) MEC Sindiswa Gomba (EC)	9
HOD	Ms Jeanette Hunter (NW) Ms Priscilla Monyobo(FS) (Acting) Dr Sandile Tshabalala (KZN)	Dr Thobile Mbengashe (EC) Dr Keith Cloete (WC) (Acting HoD) Dr Steven Jonkers (NC)	Prof. Mkhululi Lukhele (GP) Dr Beth Engelbrecht (WC)	8
DISTRICT MANAGEMENT	Ms Puleng Malefakgotla (NW) Mr Papi Maarohanye (FS) Mr A Hlongwane (KZN) Mr Simon Kaye (WC) Dr Alastair Kantani (NC)	Ms Nomathemba Mazibuko (NC) Dr Zolela Ngcwabe (GP) (Travel cancelled and replaced by Dr Adiel Chikobvu) Ms Sindiswa Gede (EC) Ms Nanana Hlatshwayo (MPU) Dr NM Ndwambi (LP) (Travel not approved at last minute by HoD)	Dr Ariel Torres ( Free State) Dr Lenyatso Modisane (GP) Dr David Leburu (NW)	13
NDOH OFICIALS	Mr Mbulelo Cabuko Ms Nellie Malefetse	Dr Aquina Thulare Ms Nellie Malefetse Mr Mbulelo Cabuko (Health Information System)	Ms Nellie Malefetse	3
SPECIAL ADVISORS		Dr Qiniso Langisa (Special Advisor to KZN MEC)	Dr Bayeni Special Advisor to MEC Eastern Cape	(2)

(ii) The programme and plans were considered by the National Health Council on the 25th July 2019 and finally approved for implementation on 15th August 2019.

(2) The study tour report was submitted to the National Department of Health as per standard operating procedures. The report is of an operational nature and still has to be fully considered by the National Health Council. It will be shared with the Portfolio Committee as soon as it has been presented to the National Health Council.

END.

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:

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 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 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:

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:

1. DATCOV data provides us with Case Fatality Ratio among Covid-19 admissions with chronic cardiac disease, by province, South Africa, 5 March-28 November 2020, n=2097

Province	Died	Total admissions	CFR (%)
Eastern Cape	132	294	44,9
Free State	64	208	30,8
Gauteng	175	531	33,0
Kwazulu-Natal	169	482	35,1
Limpopo	8	32	25,0
Mpumalanga	15	37	40,5
North West	27	94	28,7
Northern Cape	26	67	38,8
Western Cape	113	352	32,1
SOUTH AFRICA	729	2097	34,8

*Note*: The surveillance platform does not include fields on myocardial infarction (heart attacks) as a complication of CovidD-19.

2. Assessment of cause of heart attack, and association of medication as a contributing factor would need to be done on a per patient basis. Many clinical considerations around the patient’s condition, history, and medication management would need to be considered. It is thus difficult to comment broadly on this issue.

South Africa has an adverse drug reporting process, whereby medication associated adverse effects are reported to a central point and important trends are captured to inform future use of products.

Cardiotoxicity is the occurrence of heart electrophysiology dysfunction or muscle damage. The heart becomes weaker and is not as efficient in pumping and circulating blood. Certain medications can cause cardiotoxicity. On the question of whether there was a specific medication administered, that she is concerned about, the Honourable Member is requested to supply this detail for us to investigate.

The Clinical Management Guidelines, version 5, August 2020 outlines the management of Covid-19, as well as, medications that can be used. These can be accessed at: http://www.health.gov.za/index.php/component/phocadownload/category/628. Management of Covid-19 is generally supportive, however key medications used in hospitalised Covid-19 patients with specific indications are: dexamethasone or heparin, which are not associated with known Cardiotoxicity.

As part of the overall management of the patient, the clinicians and team balance risk and benefits of all treatments used to ensure the patient, based on their clinical state, has the best expected outcome.

3. A detailed of assessment of individual patients will be needed to assess any drug causality, and any similarity of traits.

END.

Reply:

According to the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health –

a) The treatment of the patient was as a result of miscommunication between the patient and the junior doctors. The patient presented at J Dumane clinic on 18 October 2020 with a history of diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and cerebral atrophy. The patient is on chronic medication for the medical conditions stated above. He was transferred to Thelle Mogoerane Hospital through an ambulance. The paramedics who transferred the patient reported that the patient was unable to walk at the date of admission at Thelle Mogoerane Hospital. The patient was admitted at the Hospital and was seen on a daily basis by the internal medicine team. The patient was discharged on 09 November 2020 with a follow-up date for medical outpatient department of 25 November 2020 and was given medicine to take home.

b) (i) Following a complaint which was lodged, a team of clinicians from the province and the district held a meeting with the family of the patient on 02 December 2020. During this meeting, the doctor provided clarity to the family about the diagnosis and the condition of the patient including interventions that were made. During the discussions it was discovered that there was miscommunication between the junior doctor and the family and an apology was conveyed to the family through the doctor. This was done as part of redress for the patient and the family.

(ii) With regards to the treatment given to the patient, the department has since appointed a social worker to ensure that the patient is placed at Steppingstone Hospice in Alberton. The Social Worker discussed this arrangement with the family. The doctor and the social worker have planned for the patient to be transferred to the hospital for medical review on the set date. The district has provided the patient with a wheelchair. The province and district have identified the need to strengthen communication between families and clinicians and to ensure that there is an adequate patient discharge plan which includes district services of this nature to ensure appropriate continuity of care. From the discussion between the family and the clinical team including with the Social Worker, the family accepted the intervention made by the Department and therefore there is no need for compensation.

END.

Reply:

(1) The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on human resources in health since the first positive case in the Republic has been enormous. As on 31 October 2020, there were 35 145 confirmed cases of health workers in the public sector of which 25% were in the Eastern Cape, followed by 24% in Gauteng and 18 % in KwaZulu-Natal. During this time 339 public sector health workers died in hospital. Of these 26% was from Eastern Cape, 24% from KwaZulu-Natal and 15% from Gauteng. As a result, as the Ministry, we developed a Strategy to protect the health and safety of health workers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objectives of the Strategy amongst others include the following:

1. Protect the physical health of health care workers through prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 infections
2. Promote mental health of healthcare workers through psychological support
3. Provide social support for health workers
4. Education and training of health workers in screening, clinical management and care of Covid-19 suspect or positive persons and occupational health and safety, including training in Infection prevention and control in accordance with national guidelines
5. Maintain / establish ongoing communication with health workers.

(2) (a) (i) The PERSAL table below indicates the total number of South African citizen doctors that have been appointed from March 2020 up until October 2020

Medical Officer (SA's) Appointed from March 2020 - October 2020
Job Title Description	Total
MEDICAL OFFICER	1863
MEDICAL OFFICER (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	233
MEDICAL OFFICER (INTERN)	276
MEDICAL OFFICER (SESSIONS)	3
MEDICAL SPECIALIST (SUB-SPECIALITY) GRADE 1	13
MEDICAL SPECIALIST	352
MEDICAL SPECIALIST (REGISTRAR)	1
REGISTRAR (MEDICAL)	185
Total	2926

(ii) The PERSAL table below indicates the total number of South African citizen Nurses that have been appointed from March 2020 up until October 2020

Nurses (SA's) Appointed from March 2020 - October 2020
Job Title Description	Total
ASSISTANT MANAGER NURSING (HEAD NURSING SERV)	2
ASSISTANT MANAGER NURSING (PRIMARY H CARE)	9
ASSISTANT MANAGER NURSING (SPECIALITY UNIT)	9
ASSISTANT MANAGER NURSING AREA	12
CLINICAL NURSE PRACTITIONER (PRIM H CARE)	194
DEPUTY MANAGER NURSING (LEVEL 1 & 2 HOSPITAL)	3
LEARNERSHIP (NURSING)	2
LECTURER NURSING	52
MANAGER NURSING (LEVEL 3 HOSPITAL)	14
NURSE STUDENT	72
NURSING ASSISTANT	3574
OPERATIONAL MANAGER NURSING (PRIMARY H CARE)	75
OPERATIONAL MANAGER NURSING (SPECIALITY UNIT)	28
PRINCIPAL NURSING COLLEGE (SINGLE NURSING CA)	1
PROFESSIONAL NURSE (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	649
PROFESSIONAL NURSE (GENERAL NURSING)	4887
PROFESSIONAL NURSE (SPECIALITY NURSING)	365
STAFF NURSE	4284
Total	14232

(iii) The PERSAL table below indicates the total number of South African citizen Community Healthcare Workers that have been appointed from March 2020 up until October 2020.

Community Healthcare Workers (SA's) Appointed from March 2020 - October 2020
Job Title Description	Total
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER	31203
Total	31203

(iv) The PERSAL table below indicates the total number of South African citizen other healthcare professionals have been appointed from March 2020 up until October 2020

Other Health Related Professions (SA's) Appointed from March 2020 - October 2020
Job Title Description	Total
ARCHITECT PRODUCTION GRADE A	1
ARTISAN PRODUCTION GRADE A	18
ASD: PHARMACOVIGILANCE	2
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GRADE 1	2
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY GRADE 2	1
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RADIOGRAPHY GRADE 1	1
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: CLINICAL SUPPORT L9	2
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: EPIDERMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH	1
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: TECHNICAL SUPPORT L9	1
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-SENIOR: CLINICAL SUPPORT L10	1
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-SENIOR: HEALTH L10	27
AUDIOLOGIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	2
AUDIOLOGIST GRADE 1	12
BOARD MEMBER	5
BOARD OF SURVEY COMMITTEE: MEMBER	18
CARE GIVER	164
CASE MANAGER	2
CHIEF AUDIOLOGIST GRADE 1	1
CHIEF DIETICIAN GRADE 1	1
CHIEF DIRECTOR: HEALTH FACILITIES L14	1
CHIEF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST GRADE 1	1
CHIEF PHYSIOTHERAPIST GRADE 1	4
CHIEF RADIOGRAPHER GRADE 1	8
CHILD MINDER	2
CLINICAL ASSOCIATES	64
CLINICAL ENGINEER TECHNICIAN ASSISTANT	1
CLINICAL MANAGER (DENTAL) GRADE 1	1
CLINICAL MANAGER (MEDICAL)	14
CLINICAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR GRADE 1	21
CLINICAL TECHNOLOGIST GRADE 1	13
COMM LIAISON OFFICER	1
COMMUNITH HEALTH COUNCELLOR	96
COMMUNITY CARE CCG(SUPERVISOR)	15
COMMUNITY CARE GIVER	1106
COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER	60
COUNCILLOR	15
COVID 19: SCREENER	7
COVID-SPRAYERS	159
DD: COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES	1
DENTAL ASSISTANT GRADE 1	39
DENTAL PRACTITIONER	1
DENTAL SPECIALIST	7
DENTAL TECHNICIAN	2
DENTAL THERAPIST GRADE 1	2
DENTIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	3
DENTIST GRADE 1	69
DEPUTY DIRECTOR DQIM	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: WOMENS HEALTH	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY L12	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES POLICY DEVELO	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: HEALTH PROGRAMMES L11	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: HOSPITALS L11	2
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: LSA MANAGEMENT (HEAD OFFICE) L11	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: SPEECH THERAPIST & AUDIOLOGIST L11	18
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: TB HOSPITALS L12	22
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: TB SERVICES L11	3
DEPUTY DIRECTOR- SENIOR: CLINICAL SUPPORT L12	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR- SENIOR: HEALTH L12	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR- SENIOR: ORTHOTIC & PROSTHETIC L12	1
DEVELOPMENTAL YOUTH	1110
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHER (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	7
DIETICIAN	40
DIETICIAN (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	2
DIR: COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES	1
ECM SCANNING OPERATOR	4
ELECTRO ENCEPHALOGRAPHIC ASSISTANT GRADE 1	1
EMERGENCY CALL CENTRE AGENT	5
EMERGENCY CARE OFFICER	841
EMERGENCY CARE TECHNICIAN	24
EMS COURSE CO-ORDINATOR GRADE 4	1
EMS LECTURER (PARAMEDIC)	11
EMS SHIFT LEADER GRADE 4	1
EMS STATION MANAGER GRADE 3	1
ENGINEER CANDIDATE	1
ENGINEER PRODUCTION GRADE A	1
ENGINEER PRODUCTION GRADE C	1
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN CANDIDATE	1
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN PRODUCTION GRADE A	3
ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN PRODUCTION GRADE C	1
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST PRODUCTION GRADE A	1
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER (COMMUNITY SERV)	292
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER GRADE 1	76
EPWP WORKER HAST	1
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY OFFICER	97
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST	2
GISC TECHNOLOGIST PRODUCTION GRADE A	1
GRADUATE	6
HEAD CLINICAL DEPARTMENT (MEDICAL) GRADE 1	2
HEAD CLINICAL UNIT (DENTAL) GRADE 1	1
HEAD CLINICAL UNIT (MEDICAL) GRADE 1	14
HEALTH CARE WORKER ASSISTANT	1
HEALTH PROMOTERS	12
HOME BASED CARER	7259
HOSPITAL BOARD MEMBER	54
HTS COUNSELLOR	209
INDUSTRIAL TECHNICIAN GENERAL ENGINEERING PROD	2
INDUSTRIAL TECHNICIAN SUPERVISOR CLINICAL ENGINEER	1
INTERN - LEARNERSHIP	598
INTERN (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRADUATE)	2
INTERN: EPWP OPERATOR	232
INTERNSHIP (CARPENTRY) L6	2
INTERNSHIP (PLUMBING) L6	4
INVIGILATOR	1
LAY COUNCELLOR	1590
LEARNER	84
LEARNERSHIP (CARPENTRY) L2	16
LEARNERSHIP (ELECTRICITY) L2	2
LEARNERSHIP (PHARMACY) L4	4
LEARNERSHIP (PLUMBING) L2	7
MALARIA SPRAYER	386
MAMMOGRAPHY RADIOGRAPHER GRADE 1	1
MEDICAL ORTHOTIST & PROSTHETIST GRADE 1	10
MEDICAL PHYSICIST GRADE 1	3
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST	6
MEMBER OF HOSPITAL BOARD	7
MIDDLE MANAGER (SOCIAL WORKER)	1
MIDDLE MANAGER CLINICAL SUPPORT L11	1
MMC TRADITIONAL COORDINATOR	44
MORTUARY ASSISTANT	20
MORTUARY ATTENDANT	4
NUCLEAR MEDICINE RADIOGRAPHER	4
NUTRITIONIST GRADE 1	4
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER	1
OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST GRADE 1	2
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST	40
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	10
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TECHNICIAN	3
OPTOMETRIST	7
ORAL HYGIENIST	10
ORTHOPAEDIC FOOTWEAR TECHNICIAN	2
PARAMEDIC	31
PATIENT CARE ASSISTANT	2
PATIENT TRACER & HEALTH AWARENESS MOBILISER	265
PHARMACIST	123
PHARMACIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	82
PHARMACIST (INTERN)	45
PHARMACIST ASSISTANT (BASIC)	39
PHARMACIST ASSISTANT (POST-BASIC)	276
PHARMACOLOGIST(CLINICAL)	1
PHARMACY SUPERVISOR GRADE 1	4
PHYSIOTHERAPIST	58
PHYSIOTHERAPIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	6
PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSISTANT GRADE 1	2
PHYSIOTHERAPY TECHNICIAN GRADE 1	3
PODIATRIST GRADE 1	7
PSYCHOLOGIST	59
PSYCHOLOGIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	26
PSYCHOLOGIST (INTERN)	3
RADIATION ONCOLOGY RADIOGRAPHER	7
RADIOGRAPHER	140
REGISTRAR (DENTAL)	5
REVIEW BOARD MEMBER	6
SAFETY OFFICER SENIOR L8	1
SOCIAL AUXILIARY WORKER GRADE 1	9
SOCIAL WORKER	106
SPECIAL ADVISOR	1
SPECIALISED AUXILIARY SERVICES OFFICER	2
SPECIALISED AUXILIARY WORKER (DENTAL)	12
SPECIALISED AUXILIARY WORKER (LABS)	1
SPECIALISED AUXILIARY WORKER (MORTUARY)	2
SPECIALISED AUXILIARY WORKER (PHYSIO)	1
SPECIALIST FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR	1
SPECIALIST PSYCHIATRY PRINCIPAL L13	1
SPEECH THERAPIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	1
SPEECH THERAPIST AND AUDIOLOGIST	18
SPEECH THERAPIST AND AUDIOLOGIST (COMMUNITY SERV)	1
SPEECH THERAPIST GRADE 1	19
SPEECH THERAPY ASSISTANT GRADE 1	2
SPRAY OPERATOR	354
STERILIZATION OPERATOR PRODUCTION	8
STERILIZATION OPERATOR: SUPERVISOR	1
STOMATOLOGIST	2
STUDENT: RADIOGRAPHY	1
TECHNICAL SPECIALIST	1
TECHNICIAN/TECHNOLOGIST(IT)	1
THERAPEUTIC & MEDICAL SUP SERV PROGRAMME CO GR1	1
TRADESMAN AID	20
ULTRASOUND RADIOGRAPHER GRADE 1	7
VOCATIONAL COUNSELLOR PRINCIPAL L8	1
WORK INSPECTOR INFRASTRACTURE	5
Total	16995

(v) The table below indicates the total of Foreign National healthcare and related professionals that have been employed since from March 2020 up until October 2020.

Foreign Citizenship Health Related Professions: Appointed from March 2020 - October 2020
Job Title Description	Total
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER SENIOR	1
ASD: BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER	1
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ADMIN RELATED	5
ASSISTANT MANAGER BIOMEDICAL ENGENEER	4
ASSISTANT MANAGER MEDICAL PHYSICS	1
BIO MEDICAL ENGINEER	3
BOARD OF SURVEY COMMITTEE: MEMBER	2
CLINICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST	3
CLINICAL MANAGER (MEDICAL) GRADE 1	6
CLINICAL TECHNOLOGIST	3
COMMUNITH HEALTH WORKER	17
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER PRODUCTION GRADE A	1
CONSULTANT	1
DD: BIOSTATISTICS	1
DD: BIOSTATISTICS TECHNOLOGY	1
DD: EPIDEMIOLOGY & DISEASE SURVEILLANCE	3
DD: EPIDEMIOLOGY TECHNOLOGY	3
DENTIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	2
DENTIST GRADE 3	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FINANCE	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	2
DEPUTY DIRECTOR MEDICAL TECHNICAL SERV GRADE 1	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT	3
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (BIOSTATICS	3
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: INFORMATION	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT(EPIDEMIOL)	1
DEPUTY DIRECTOR:IT MANAGEMENT L11	2
DEPUTY DIRECTOR_ADMIN RELATED	2
DEPUTY MANAGER HYGIENE&EPIDEMOLOGY	2
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHER (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	1
ENGINEER	3
EPIDEMIOLOGIST	1
EPIDEMIOLOGY TECHNOLOGIST (NON-OSD)	4
FAULT MANAGEMENT CONTROLLER	1
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGIST	1
HEAD CLINICAL UNIT (MEDICAL)	2
HEALTH TECHNOLOGIST	4
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY (NON-OSD)	3
HYGIENE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY	1
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (BIOSTATICS)	1
MAMMOGRAPHY RADIOGRAPHER GRADE 2	1
MANAGER ADMINISTRATION	1
MEDICAL OFFICER (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	14
MEDICAL OFFICER (INTERN)	10
MEDICAL OFFICER	519
MEDICAL SPECIALIST (SUB-SPECIALITY) GRADE 1	1
MEDICAL SPECIALIST	30
MIDDLE MANAGER(ADMINISTRATION)	4
MIDDLE MANAGER(HEALTH)	1
MIDDLE MANAGER (HUMAN RESOURCE)	2
NA1 NURSING ASSISTANT GRADE 1	4
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST GRADE 1	1
OPTOMETRIST GRADE 1	1
PHARMACIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	21
PHARMACIST (INTERN)	2
PHARMACIST ASSISTANT (POST-BASIC) GRADE 1	3
PHARMACIST GRADE 1	13
PHARMACY SUPERVISOR GRADE 1	1
PHYSIOTHERAPIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	1
PHYSIOTHERAPIST GRADE 1	2
PNA1 PROFESSIONAL NURSE (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	5
PROFESSIONAL NURSE (GENERAL NURSING)	25
PNA5 OPERATIONAL MANAGER NURSING GRADE 1 GENERAL	1
PNB1 CLINICAL NURSE PRACTITIONER GR 1 PRIM H CARE	1
PNB1 PROFESSIONAL NURSE GRADE 1 SPECIALITY NURSING	5
PND1 LECTURER NURSING GRADE 1	1
PROVISIONING ADMINISTRATION CLERK GRADE II SENIOR	1
PSYCHOLOGIST (COMMUNITY SERVICE)	1
PSYCHOLOGIST GRADE 1	2
QUANTITY SURVEYOR CHIEF GRADE B	1
RADIOGRAPHER GRADE 1	2
REGISTRAR (DENTAL)	1
REGISTRAR (MEDICAL)	16
SN1 STAFF NURSE GRADE 1	3
STUDENT NURSE	1
Grand Total	797

(b) At the time of reporting, the Provinces were not in a position to upfront indicate the numbers of health care workers who will be retained as that is reliant on the service delivery needs and availability of budget.

END.

Reply:

1. Yes currently there are three research studies that have been conducted through collaboration between the Department of Health research sectors and universities.

a) Parker et al (2020) study findings suggested that PLHIV with COVID-19 might have a high probability of admission to hospital, but had similar presentations, comorbidities and outcomes when compared with the HIV-negative study population.

b) Boule et al. (2020) Collaboration between Western Cape Department of Health and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (2020) study suggested consideration of people with HIV and tuberculosis as being at elevated risk of severe COVID-19. Additionally the study also suggested that HIV was associated with a doubling of COVID-19 mortality risk.

c) Pillay et al (2020) analysis showed that HIV and TB were not the most common comorbidities in individuals who died from COVID-19.

2. It should be noted that HIV is not a notifiable condition, it is not reported in the death certificate. The National Department of Health currently is not collecting any COVID-19 related co-morbidity details. All deaths are reported to the Department of Home Affairs; the cause of death is recorded in the death certificate.

References

a) Parker A, Koegelenberg C.F.N, Moolla M.S et al. 2020. High HIV prevalence in an early cohort of hospital admissions with COVID-19 in Cape Town, South Africa. S Afr Med J 2020; 110(6):463-465. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2020v110i6.14809

b) Boule A, Davies M, Hussey, H et al. 2020. Western Cape Department of Health & NICD. 2020. HIV and risk of COVID-19 death: a population cohort study from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Clinical infectious diseases, ciaa198. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1198. Published 29 August 2020.

c) Pillay-van Wyk,V, Bradshaw D, Groenewald P. 2020. COVID-19 deaths in South Africa: 99 days since South Africa’s first death. S Afr Med J 2020; 110(11):1093-1099. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i11.15249

END.

Reply:

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

	Forensic Chemistry Laboratory Cape Town	Forensic Chemistry Laboratory Johannesburg	Forensic Chemistry Laboratory Pretoria	Total
(a) the total backlog of toxicological reports at the laboratories at present	5474	10335*	12 372	28,181
(b) total number of reports outstanding for (i) more than 10 years,	1030	6333	526	7,889
(b) total number of reports outstanding for (ii) 10-9 years,	139	842	1294	2,275
(b) total number of reports outstanding for (iii) 9-8 years,	376	854	1519	2,749
(b) total number of reports outstanding for (iv) 8-5 years,	430	2370	2925	5,725
(b) total number of reports outstanding for (v) 5-1 years;	2484	4132	6108	12,724

*As at 30 September 2020

2. (a) The reasons for the backlogs are:

(i) The number of unprocessed samples indicated in the table above, include approximately 12,315 cases (multiple samples per case) without SAPS CAS (Case Administration System) numbers. The mandate of the Forensic Chemistry Laboratories (FCLs) is to analyse only samples with SAPS CAS numbers – these cases will thus only be tested upon request of the SAPS Investigating Officer or relevant Forensic Pathologist.

(ii) Of the 28,181 unprocessed cases as at 30 November 2020, only 16,550 cases contain CAS numbers.

(b) The following measures are employed to address the backlog:

• The laboratories are working overtime on weekends in order to decrease the backlog.

• Cases are prioritized for Court purposes, to assist families of the deceased to finalize insurance claims, or when children are involved.

• In terms of the Toxicology samples without CAS numbers, another engagement with Pathologists will take place to further discuss this matter with them. It should be seriously considered to destroy the toxicology cases that do not have CAS numbers.

• Urgent filling of crucial vacancies.

• There will be an engagement with the National Treasury to source additional funding for a building for the Pretoria Forensic Chemistry Laboratory. There were discussions with the CSIR which has space, however, the issue is lack of funding.

3. I will make a statement at the appropriate time.

END.

Reply:

1. The Department has observed the increasing Covid-19 positive numbers in the two Provinces, as you may be aware I have personally visited Eastern Cape and Western Cape, met with the leadership in both Provinces, jointly agreed on measures to be taken.

The Department has placed WHO experts in the two Provinces to assist with the resurgence. I have also deployed teams from National to work with the various provinces including Eastern Cape and Western Cape to develop resurgence plans.

 

In Eastern Cape additional doctors and nurses were employed to address Human Resource shortages. Further in Eastern Cape, specifically in Nelson Mandela Bay and Sara Baartman, community testing sites have been established, and these have increased access to testing for many communities.

Compliance monitoring has been strengthened including Environmental Health Practitioners and other law enforcement agencies are monitoring non-compliant outlets and closing down those found to be non-compliant.

• Curfew between 10pm and 4am
• Alcohol sale has been restricted to Monday to Thursday.

Additional measures

Evidence is showing us that gatherings provide an opportunity for the virus to spread, with social gathering recorded as super spreaders.

Drastically reducing numbers or stopping social gatherings should be considered to ease the pressure in our hospitals.

All patients on chronic medication are urged to adhere to their treatment to reduce emergency admissions due to non-adherence to treatment.

Stricter measures are being taken in Taxis or busses and trains if passengers and drivers are not wearing masks. Passengers also have a responsibility to demand a safe environment.

2. A decision on whether or not to reintroduce a hard lockdown is taken after careful consideration and in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, keeping in mind the health of the nation as a priority, as well as the socioeconomic impact such a decision would have to the country.

END.

Reply:

The question asked by the Honourable Member is acknowledged. However, given the nature of the details required in terms of (a) cost of (air tickets, (ii) transport, and (iii) VIP transport for the officials that travelled including (b) total subsistence and (c) cost of the accommodation for the trip, the National Department of Health is still in the process of collating this detail from the relevant provincial Departments of Health. Once fully collated, the information will be submitted for the Honourable Member’s consideration.

END.

Reply:

a) What documents have been received.

1. A memorandum from the Restaurants Association of South Africa (RASA), National Liquor Traders Council (NLTC), Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) and Liquor Traders Association of South Africa (LTASA)

b) On what dates the documents were received.

21 July 2020

c) From which individuals and/or organisations the documents were received.

2. Wendy Alberts, CEO of Restaurant Association of South Africa

3. Lucky Ntimane, Convener of the National Liquor Traders Council

4. Sean Robinson, Chairperson of the Liquor Traders Association of South Africa

d) What the detailed content of the documents were.

See Annexure A (the memrandum from RASA and others)

e) (i) What steps were taken by the department with regard to the documents.

Though the Minister went to recieve the memorandum and also copied on the memorandum, the submission was addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Therefore, regarding any action that would have been taken only the Presidency can provide clarification.

(ii) On what dates were such steps taken.

See (i) above.

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:

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:

The department conducted the study on Ukuthwala: Baseline Assessment on the Prevalence and Perceptions about Harmful Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children in the OR Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (November 2011 and will be updated in 2020).

The study revealed the following impacts on young girls in the Eastern Cape:

Health: Young girls may be married to an older more experienced partners and therefore get exposed to sexually transmitted infection including HIV – partners who are less likely to test for HIV before the incident of ukuthwala. Girls below the age of 18 have small pelvises and are not ready for child-bearing, this puts them at risk hence higher morbidity and mortality rates. There is poor access to sexual reproductive health services and delayed testing for HIV during pregnancy resulting to late enrolment to Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Prevention program.

Education: Early school dropout by child brides may lead to increased economic dependency to the male partner. Early school dropout further perpetuates discrimination and low status of women and girls.

Emotional: Isolation and depression as a result of unrealistic expectations from the family and the husband to assume makoti duties while she is physically and emotionally not ready for this responsibility.

(a) Ukuthwala was found to be amongst practices that are prevalent in OR Tambo district and widely practiced although respondents were not clear about its origins however they participated in the practice. The frequencies of occurrence of these practices vary with the practice some occurring daily others weekly and monthly while others occur every six months and yearly. The findings also show that the majority of the people in OR Tambo district do not know the decision makers on these cultural practices. Men were identified as key decision makers when it comes to Ukuthwala.

The research found that it is not clear how the decision makers got their powers but the findings seem to suggest that only a small proportion of the population have knowledge on how decision makers got the powers to determine when these practices should happen. Ukuthwala was identified as one of the practices that is mostly disliked by the communities. The findings suggest that cultural marriages are more commonly practiced than civil marriages.

(b) The following institutions have been engaged in public education:

Office of the Premier (OTP); the Chapter 9 Institutions: CRL Rights Commission; The Public Protector; Commission for Gender Commission and the SA Human Rights Commission.

Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders; the Civil Society Organizations; the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund; the Children’s Institute; South African Council for Educators; Traditional Leaders in the Province; Government Departments and a joint program implemented by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that was funded by the Department for International Development was implemented and output three of this program focused on social change interventions conducted through community dialogues. The program also invested in building the capacity of traditional leaders on their role in gender based violence prevention efforts.

UNFPA also took a delegation from OR Tambo District led by the then Executive Mayor Zoleka Chapha with a provincial delegation from the House of Traditional leaders, OTP and COGTA to Amhara Region Ethiopia on a South-South learning exchange. Ethiopia had previously had a similar challenge but had been able to reverse this picture through social behavior change programs and social change program.

An integrated approach was used utilising key community leadership, government Departments, civil society organizations from 2009 in OR Tambo District. This involved door to door visits, community dialogues and focus groups discussions.

The purpose was to discuss the practice of ukuthwala and to find out how communities at different age groups feel about the practice.

Household profiling conducted in June 2012 reaching 396 households in the following sub-locations – Buthulo, Mathambo and Gqibelana Locations and Hlabathi J.S.S.

Awareness Campaign on promotion of safety and healthy lifestyle was conducted in June 2012 during June 16 Youth Celebrations.

A Family Resource Centre was established to educate women and families about Human Rights and Children’s rights and to address all gender and family issues.

There is after school program for orphaned and vulnerable children in the area. The program provides life skills to the children and the volunteers assist with homework and holiday programs.

Conclusion: During 2021-2022 this subject has emerged as the focus again and this will be dealt with through a social norms change program that will be technically supported by partners like UNFPA. This will also extend the focus districts to OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo. It is also worth noting that this practice is a hidden practice and it happens in the furthest and left behind populations, these are the populations that will be prioritized in the coming financial year.

Reply:

All women and children are assessed and provided with psychosocial support and social relief if needed. Part of the process is also to try and reunify them with their families.

During lockdown, the Western Cape Department of Social Development established a 60 bed family shelter, specifically focusing on single women/parents and their children that are homeless. The Department is planning on expanding it to 90 bed spaces by the end of March 2021.

Reply:

The Honourable Member to indicate the place where the said organisation is situated in order for the Department to provide a response.

Reply:

The Honourable Member to indicate the place where the said organisation is situated in order for the Department to provide a response.

Reply:

(1) a) A total of 1 374 post offices provide disbursement services for the social grants. The provincial split is indicated in the table below:

Branch Summary
Region	Branches
Eastern Cape	166
Gauteng	302
KwaZulu-Natal	213
Free State	115
North West	112
Limpopo	141
Mpumalanga	99
Northern Cape	65
Western Cape	161
Total	1,374

(b) The list is attached as Annexure A

2(a) Social grants are paid by SASSA. All social grants are paid through a direct deposit into the beneficiary bank accounts, regardless of whether this is a private bank account or the SASSA card account. SAPO is responsible for the disbursement of social grants for those clients who access their grants using the SASSA card. The total number of persons who use the SASSA card to access their grant is 8,105,671.

(b) The breakdown per province is as follows:

SAPO is responsible, in terms of the contract to ensure multiple access channels for grant beneficiaries to access their grants. Of the total number using the SASSA card to access their grants, approximately 93% access their grants through the National Payment System – that is at bank ATMs and retailer point of sale devices; while 5% access their grants over the counter at post offices, and 2% access their grants through the remaining 1 740 cash pay points.

The actual numbers fluctuate monthly, as beneficiaries have the right to choose which channel they utilise. There are no designated cash beneficiaries.

The table below indicates the numbers of clients who use the SASSA card to access their grants through the various channels. There is unfortunately no provincial breakdown of these numbers.

PAYMENT CHANNELS STATISTICS
Month	SAPO Branches	NPS ( Retailers)	NPS (ATM)	Cash Pay Points	Total
April	315 716	2 396 250	5 184 787	96 910	7 993 663
May	287 537	2 367 234	5 153 083	254 051	8 061 905
June	327 439	2 322 316	5 225 329	225 926	8 101 010

3(a) SASSA pays a total of 11 509 390 social grant beneficiaries monthly (as at December 2020). The breakdown per province is as follows:

(b)(i) The number of beneficiaries who have chosen to receive their grants through SAPO by using the SASSA card total 8,105,671 while 3,403,719 or 29,6% receive the grants directly into their private bank accounts.

(ii) The percentage who have chosen to receive their grants through SAPO is 70.4%

4(a) Every beneficiary receives their social grant directly into their bank accounts. As indicated above, 8 105 671 receive their grants directly into their SASSA cards.

(b) The percentage of SASSA cards used in the payment environment is 70,4% of the total beneficiary population.

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:

On 09 September 2020, Cabinet, approved the publication of the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audio-Visual Content Services Policy Framework: A New Vision for South Africa 2020, for public consultation and comments. The department has since gazetted the Draft White Paper (No. 43797, Vol. 664) for public comments which has now been extended till 15 February 2021 to give the stakeholders enough time to engage with the complex proposals raised within the Policy Framework.

Section 4.2.2.3. of the draft White Paper, with reference to the SABC and licence matters propose that:

”provisions of the financial matters and staffing of the Corporation are necessary, although they require review and consequential amendments to the TV licence fee section to broaden the definition and collection system for television licences and to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and penalties of non-payment”.

Achievement of the above will be determined by the submissions expected from all South Africans towards the draft White Paper.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

The table below indicates the numbers of grant recipients per year as at 31 March of each year, from 1996/97, expressed as a percentage of the populations estimates. Unfortunately, the data from 1994 is not available, as this had not yet been consolidated into a single database, but was managed provincially.

FINANCIAL YEAR	Daily Stats as at 31 March	Population Estimates	% Share
1996/97	3 018 909	41 226 700	7%
1997/98	2 832 156	42 130 500	7%
1998/99	2 923 718	43 054 306	7%
1999/00	3 034 381	43 685 699	7%
2000/01	3 864 463	44 560 644	9%
2001/02	4 033 384	45 454 211	9%
2002/03	4 969 666	46 429 823	11%
2003/04	6 494 115	46 586 607	14%
2004/05	9 421 654	46 888 200	20%
2005/06	10 974 076	47 390 900	23%
2006/07	12 015 059	47 850 700	25%
2007/08	12 423 739	48 687 000	26%
2008/09	13 072 173	49 320 500	27%
2009/10	14 057 365	49 991 300	28%
2010/11	14 935 832	50 586 757	30%
2011/12	15 407 194	50 586 757	30%
2012/13	16 106 110	52 982 000	30%
2013/14	15 932 473	54 002 000	30%
2014/15	16 642 643	54 956 900	30%
2015/16	16 991 634	55 908 900	30%
2016/17	17 200 525	56 521 900	30%
2017/18	17 509 995	57 725 600	30%
2018/19	17 811 745	58 775 022	30%
2019/20	18 290 592	59 622 350	31%