Questions and Replies

Reply:

The NLC has advised that there is no basis for an investigation into the named individual.

The Department requested further information from the NLC and will provide such information in a supplementary reply.

-END-

Reply:

(a) The Grant Proposal Evaluation Team comprising of NDA, DoSD, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Interim Steering Committee evaluated 589 qualifying proposals received in response to the NDA’s call for proposals from CSOs rendering services to support victims of gender-based violence and femicide. The Team short-listed and recommended 312 emerging and established CSOs for funding to the value of R 86,100,000, for the NDA Board’s approval. Table 1 below outlines the outcome of the evaluation process per Province.

(b) The following criteria was used to make a decision on the proposals submitted:

1. Financial and operational capacity- this looked at whether the applicant organisation has experience and capacity to manage the project. The financial and governance capacity of the organisation was also examined. The applicant needed to indicate how the programme would address vulnerable groups such as women, children, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+.

2. Relevance. The relevance was to demonstrate how the proposed programme responds to the Emergency Response Plan (ERAP) to expedite the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). Additionally the application was to demonstrate how clearly defined and strategically chosen are those involved (intermediaries, final beneficiaries, target groups)?

(c) 168 organisations received their first tranche payments to date. 10 of these organisations have received their second and final tranche.

(d) The names of the organisations that receivedfunding are attached separately.

Reply:

1. Requested information related to Uprising Youth Development (NPO 153-198), as follows:

(a) Constitution which is also a founding document, is attached as annexure (i)

(b) The names of the Office Bearers and the (c) registered address of the NPO as listed in the NPO Registeris attached as annexure (ii)

(c) For the financial year 2017 and 2019: the organisation submitted affidavits with reference to financial disclosure attached annexure (iii).

(d) The organisation submitted narrative reports of its activities for the financial year 2017 and 2019 attached annexure (iv).

(2) The compliance details of the organisation are as follows:

(a) The organisation failed to submit financial and narrative reports for 2018 and 2020.

(b) Steps to ensure compliance; the Department is encouraging non-compliant organisations like this Uprising Youth Development (NPO 153-198)to submit annual reports through a campaign known as “know your NPO status”

(c) The Department recognises that some of the organisations that are due for reporting are not able to do so due to the impact of COVID-19; however; the Department has De-registration program which will be implemented effective 01st April 2021.

(d) Therefore; should Uprising Youth Development (NPO 153-198) fail to submit outstanding reports it will be deregistered.

Reply:

I am advised by the Director General of the DTIC as follows:

1. The Department has been advised by the official that she was married to Mr Hangwani Mulaudzi’s brother until 2013. There is currently no family relationship.

2. The Department advised me that the official is not involved in the work of the Department relating to NLC matters; and that in any event, the NLC’s funding processes and decisions are administered by the NLC independent from the Department. Based on the above, no conflict of interest was detected.

-END-

Reply:

(1)(a) A total number of forty eight (48) allegations of sexual misconduct cases were reported in the SANDF from the different Arms of Service since 01 January 2020.

(b)(i)(ii) Of the 48 cases, eight (8) cases have been finalised (five [5] guilty verdicts, one [1] acquittal and two [2] withdrawn). Forty (40) cases are still in progress, with four (4) awaiting court dates, four (4) referred to SAPS and thirty two (32) still under investigation.

(2) The report of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) isis currently being printed and will be presented to the Minister shortly.The MTT mandate ends end of December 2020. 

Reply:

South Africa as Chair of the African Union (AU) continues to follow with close interest the successful conclusion of the meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Tunis, Tunisia, that took place on 15 November 2020. South Africa is committed to the establishment of peace and security throughout Libya, hence South Africa’s robust support for the Ceasefire Agreement signed in Geneva on 23 October 2020 and our continued commitment to strengthen AU and UN cooperation in order to work with common purpose to end the conflict in Libya and by extension, throughout the continent. South Africa continues to play a prominent and influential role in the work of the AU High-Level Committee on Libya (AU HLC) as well as the Contact Group of Libya since their establishment as mechanisms for supporting a sustainable and lasting political solution to the protracted crisis in Libya. Regarding Libya, South Africa, as a member of the AU HLC will be in the position to ensure stronger management, control and oversight of the on-going peace process in that country. Meetings of the AU HLC are convened at the level of Heads of State and Government and Minister.

Furthermore, South Africa, during the 14th Extraordinary Summit on Silencing the Guns, reiterated that it is imperative that the African Union (AU) and its peace and security architecture supports vulnerable countries by focusing particular attention on the issue of post conflict-reconstruction and development (PCRD), through institutional capacity building, the rule of law and security sector reform, which are core elements for a lasting peace, in line with the guiding principles of African Union Master Roadmap and Agenda 2063.

Reply:

a) Over the past five (5) years the department has not received back deposits from 101 properties that have been rented abroad.

b) The total amount of the deposit is R9 393 429.44.

c) Reasons for not receiving back the deposits are:

• Damages to properties
• Deposits used by the landlord for the maintenance work and repairs of damages.
• Lease terminated by mission outside the terms and conditions of contract e.g. late notice

Reply:

(1) Ms NN Mapisa-Nqakula, Ms LD Zulu, Ms NP Mokonyane, Mr E Godongwana, Mr A Magashule, Mr MD Legoete, Mr TS Yengeni, Ms NG Gqirana, Mr B Ngobese, Dr MM Chabedi, Dr SMB Makwela.

(2) (a)(i) Ms NN Mapisa-Nqakula, Ms LD Zulu, Ms NG Gqirana, Mr B Ngobese, Dr MM Chabedi and Dr SMB Makwela were on an official visit to Zimbabwe. (ii) and (b) The remainder of the passengers were not on an official Government visit but joined the flight at my invitation.

(3) (a) The Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe are both currently members of the SADC Troika. South Africa, as a troop contributing country to the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been seized over the last two months together with other SADC members and especially the Troika members with discussions on the way forward in regard to the continued existence and composition of the FIB in light of recent changes proposed by the UN. As countries neighbouring Mozambique we have also been engaged bi-laterally and through the meetings of the SADC Troika and SADC as a whole with the disturbing reports emanating from that country in relation to alleged insurgencies and terrorist activities. It is in the context of the above background that I contacted my counterpart, Ms Oppah Chamu Zvipange Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans in the Republic of Zimbabwe to request an official visit to allow us to conduct a bi-lateral meeting to focus on these matters at hand.

(b) The SAAF calculated the total cost of the flight as R232 200.00

(4) No.

Reply:

(1)

(b)

National Department of Social Development as well as all Welfare Services Facilities being subsidized by the Department.

(2)

No.

The procurement of PPE’s for ECD’s was decentralized to the Provincial departments of Social Development and the funding thereof has been provided for as part of the 2020 Special Adjusted Estimates for the division of revenue.

Reply:

1. Requested information related to Mpumalanga Uprising Youth Development (NPO 240-128), is as follows:

(a) Constitution which is also a founding document, is attached as annexure (i)

(b) The names of the Office Bearers and the (c) registered address of the NPO as listed in the NPO Registeris attached as annexure (ii)

(c) The organisation is newly registered and can only submit annual financial statements and narrative reports after it has completed a full year circle of its financial year, therefore it is due for reporting in the year 2021 September.

(2) The compliance details of the organisation are as follows:

(a) The organisation is still compliant in terms of NPO Act as it is not yet due for reporting.

Reply:

(1) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) provides financial support to the Ugu District Municipality in the form of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to deal with its water supply challenges. Since the inception of the WSIG in the 2015/16 financial year up to the 2020/21 financial year, the DWS has allocated R378.68 million to the municipality.

An allocation of R50 million was provided to the municipality in the current financial year to implement the Non-Revenue Water Reduction Project aimed at reducing water losses. It is envisaged that the project will be completed by June 2021.

In addition the DWS is working with the Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Umgeni Water to support the Ugu DM in conducting an assessment of the most suitable water services provision arrangements in the area.

(2) The provincial CoGTA department is conducting an assessment of water services infrastructure to determine the refurbishment requirements and is in the process of developing a Provincial Water Master plan. These interventions will assist in aligning and prioritizing grant funding to effectively address the challenges being experienced. In order to address the significant challenges facing water services in the Ugu DM area, a task team has also recently been established.

Reply:

According to the information received from Provincial Departments of Human Settlements, Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) have been delivered as per the table below:

Reply:

Cabinet has not taken any decision on the conversion of the special COVID-19 SRD into unemployment.

Reply:

I have been furnished with a reply to the question submitted, by Ms Thabang Mampane, Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission.

Ms Mampane’s reply as received is reproduced below:

a) “(i) The allocation (R21 08 623, 21) was for training camps, license fees and development, advertisement, admin including international competition.

(ii) The allocation of 24 million was for the send-off and it included accommodation in 9 provinces, advertising, admin fees, travel costs, medical assistance, security, sport wear including catering.

(iii) Funding decisions were made by the relevant distribution agencies with due consideration of all the information placed before them including availability of budget.”

-END-

Reply:

1. The Sensor Strategy is completed and is in the process of final approval by higher authority.

2. The implementation timelines can be confirmed if and when the Sensor Implementation Plan is funded.

3. In terms of the threat analysis all borders and ports of entry are prioritised.

Reply:

1. Requested information related to Uprising Youth Development Project (NPO 058-127), is as follows:

(a) Constitution which is also a founding document, is attached as annexure (i)

(b) The names of the Office Bearers and the (c) registered address of the NPO as listed in the NPO Registeris attached as annexure (ii)

(c) The organisation has never made contact with the Department since its registration date.

(2) The compliance details of the organisation are as follows:

(a) The organisation is non-compliant because it failed to submit financial and narrative reports from year since registration.

(b) Steps to ensure compliance; the Department is encouraging non-compliant organisations like this Uprising Youth Development Project (NPO 058-127)to submit annual reports through a campaign known as “know your NPO status”

(c) The Department recognises that some of the organisations that are due for reporting are not able to do so due to the impact of COVID-19; however; the Department has De-registration program which will be implemented effective 01st April 2021.

(d) Therefore; should Uprising Youth Development Project (NPO 058-127) fail to submit outstanding reports it will be deregistered.

Reply:

I have been furnished with a reply to the question submitted, by Ms Thabang Mampane, Commissioner of the National Lotteries Commission.

Ms Mampane’s reply is as follows:

(a)“(i) A total amount of about R 8 290 000.00 was spent on the magazine. In terms of the report this amount is inclusive of procurement of transport equipment, marketing costs, procurement of operational equipment including personnel costs.

(ii) The organization was funded to conduct the socioeconomic cohesion symposium in two different areas/regions namely the metropole as well as the Western Cape region. A total amount of about R 5 460000.00 was spent in executing the project. This cost is inclusive of all operational costs and personnel costs for both regions/areas.

(iii) The cultural awareness campaign would have been part of the socio-cohesion programme.

b) The report submitted does not provide the number of publications and only quantifies the costs associated with publishing the magazine.

c) The report submitted only quantifies costs related to the execution and does not mention the names of the speakers.

d) The report submitted only quantifies costs related to the execution and does not indicate the number of people in attendance.

e) It was held in the Western Cape in the areas as defined in (a)(ii).

f) The purpose of the cultural awareness campaign was to set a foundation to integrate communities who were still operating within the boundaries of the previous dispensation according to race and socioeconomic status.”

-END-

Reply:

Government has identified public procurement as one of the economic policy instruments to re-industrialise the economy. In this regard, the Preferential Procurement Regulations make it mandatory for organs of state, including state owned companies (SOCs) to implement local production and content in the procurement of goods designated for such purpose in the public procurement system.

To date, a number of products have been designated for local production.

The National Treasury, being the custodian of supply chain policy in government has circulated the instruction notes/circulars which regulate the environment within which government departments, public entities and SOCs may procure designated products.

In addition to this, I am advised of work by the dtic across a number of initiatives, to strengthen compliance, as detailed below.

To promote compliance with the local content requirements, Proudly South African (PSA) working closely with the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (the dtic) has instituted a tender monitoring system which monitor tenders for compliance on local content and production on a regular basis.

Where there are incidences of non-compliance, the dticrequests organs of state to rectify this through either amending or canceling tenders. Some of the non-compliant tenders are referred to the National Treasury’s Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) for intervention.

I am advised that the dtic is also working closely with the Office of the Auditor General to scale up the auditing of tenders designated for local production; audit opinions are being issued in this matter. The dtic is also working with the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) in making sure that the biggest SOCs reporting to it such as Denel, Eskom and Transnet implement local content requirements in their tenders.

Regular training is also provided to other departments and SOCs on the implementation of local content.

Finally, the dtichas made submissions on the draft Public Procurement Bill on the tightening of measures dealing with non-compliance on the local content requirements.

-END-

Reply:

I am awaiting conclusion of the current forensic investigation process and when this is done, due consideration will be given to any other information that emerged either in the process or through information made available to the public, including from Members of Parliament.

-END-

Reply:

With reference to Capacity Building and training programmes the Honourable member is also referred to the tabled Parliamentary Question no 1104 of 23 September 2020. In addition to the programmes explained in the response the department also implement the following programmes:

(g)What is the total number of graduates who were employed within the sector after completing each programme. –

Not applicable.

(h) How are all the capacity building programmes monitoredQuarterly reports ?

The Department uses various methods and tools to monitor these programmes.Where relevant, site inspections, attendance registers and reports on learnings and the skills offered are used.

Reply:

National AssemblyWritten Reply: 1982 of 2020

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

Honourable member, government is no longer building Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. RDP houses were discontinued as soon as Cabinet adopted the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements in 2004 setting new standards for housing typologies for government houses referred to as BNG houses.

(a) The National Department of Human Settlements has developed and instituted systems and measures to verify all subsidised housing subsidy applications against subsidy scheme qualification criteria, which ensures that a successful housing subsidy applicant is not approved to receive more than one subsidised housing opportunity.

The measures and systems in place referred to above include the Housing Subsidy System, which verifies all subsidised housing subsidy applications against a range of data sets, and the National Housing Subsidy Data Base (NHSDB), on which all successful housing subsidy applications are recorded. It is therefore not possible to obtain more than one subsidised housing subsidy opportunity. All subsidised housing applications are verified against the National Population Register, The Deeds Offices’ Title Deeds Register, the Government Unemployment Register, Government Employee Pension Fund, the Public Service PERSAL System and the NHSDB.

(b) Based on the abovementioned measures, there are no measures required.

Reply:

a) SASSA has already assumed responsibility for the payment of social grants. All social grants are processed and extracted for payment off Socpen, which is the mainframe system owned by SASSA, but hosted and maintained by SITA.

The payment of social grants is done by SASSA. Each and every social grant beneficiary has a bank account, into which the grants are paid on a monthly basis. The bank account may be with a commercial bank or Postbank through the SASSA card. The payments all follow the standard bank processes to credit the accounts. Once the account has been credited, the social grant has been paid.

The contract SASSA has with the South African Post Office is for the distribution of the grant payments, through various channels, which include bank ATMs, retailers, post offices and cash pay points.

b) The Department of Social Development and SASSA have been engaging both the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the South African Post Office to address the challenges in the Post Office environment. The risks are being actively addressed with the political and administrative leadership, to ensure that this does not impact on the distribution of social grants.

Reply:

(a) The social housing rental projects and/or schemes that have been constructed in municipalities in Gauteng are indicated below:

• City of Tshwane – Three (3) namely Akasia, Little Manhattan and Castle Crest.
• City of Ekhurhuleni – Two (2) namely Delville and Germiston Fire Station, Kempton Village, Carnival Gardens and Sondela
• City Of Johannesburg – Six (6) namely Dobsonville, Plein Street, Turffontein, Devland Extension Two and City Deep,

(i) A total of 14 959 units were completed in twenty (20) projects across the country for the period April 2015 to March 2020.

(ii) Since 1 April 2020, no units were delivered, based on the delays which occurred as a result of the declaration of the National State of Disaster and various associated lockdowns. Further, the period for a development to complete all planning and funding approvals is approximately eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) months. Post this period a project is implemented, and actual delivery and handover of a unit to a beneficiary takes approximately another twelve (12) months.

(b)(i) The number of the Social Rental Housing projects that were;

(aa) Completed is none as a result of the impact of the declaration of the National State of Disaster.

(bb) Since 01st April 2020 no occupation of units were possible due to the impact of the National State of Disaster. Post the declaration of alert level one, project implementation will continue and once units are completed, they will be tenanted.

(ii) The Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) have been requested to collate all the information required, and it will be sent to the Honourable Member, as soon as it is received

(c) The current policy requires that 30% of units in a project is allocated to primary beneficiaries which are households with an income of below R5 500. The Social Housing Institution (SHI) is required in terms of the Consolidate Capital Grant to submit tenant audits to the SHRA for verification, which is to ensure that occupation or tenanting of units complies with policy. A SHI is required to advertise the availability of accommodation using various media and communication platforms to allow for qualifying tenants and/or households, to then make application to be provided with an opportunity to rent. All applications are vetted according to the social housing qualification criteria in line with the Social Housing Act and the terms and conditions of the grant award contract.

(d) The unit size allocation versus the household income always creates challenges. The tenants would sign a lease agreement clearly stipulating that the social housing programme is for rental in perpetuity. However, the tenants would demand ownership which is not in keeping the social housing programme.

Reply:

1. The SASSA cards are actually bank cards issued by the South African Post Office on behalf of Postbank to approved applicants who choose to collect their social grants through the post office. The cards are not managed by SASSA at all.

In 2019, SASSA was alerted to the fact that the master keys for the cards had been compromised in the bank environment. The South African Reserve Bank as the responsible entity for the National Payment System then issued an instruction late in 2019 that all the current SASSA cards would have to be replaced as they are potentially compromised. However, the SARB also set conditions for the improvement of controls within the Postbank environment related to card manufacturing, storage and issuing. These have been addressed by Postbank.

Given the need to replace the cards in circulation, SASSA took a decision not to issue any more of the existing cards, as the need to replace them within a very short period would inconvenience social grant beneficiaries.

Discussions are underway with SAPO and Postbank to ensure that the replacement of the cards is done with the least disruption to the clients.

It must be noted that the potentially compromised cards did not result in any social grant beneficiary losing any social grant money. The fraud that has been experienced by social grant clients has been as a result of poor implementation of controls in the management of the cards within the post office environment, and not because of the security of the card itself.

b) The security lapse for the master keys of the SASSA cards is not something which happened within the past few months, but right at the start of the payment contract with SAPO. It took some time to surface and, once made public, was addressed by the South African Reserve Bank.

c) As explained, SASSA is not the custodian of the cards. These are banking instruments which are managed within a banking environment. Fighting crime and corruption, including the detection of fraud, is a key national priority and SASSA is committed to play its part.

Reply:

The Eastern Cape is phasing-in Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education per district.  All districts are implementing the programme in a phased-in manner across all districts in 2004 schools.  A report on Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education was disseminated in 2019/2020.

Reply:

The matter raised in the question falls in the jurisdiction of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Mpumalanga not the Minister of Basic Education. Investigation on the matter and holding the Principal accountable can only be done by the MEC of Mpumalanga. 

Reply:

a) My Department in its effort to nurture and support the development of athletes particularly from the disadvantaged communities has an Athlete Support Programme. Each athlete on the programme receives support towards coaching fees, tournament fees, medical and scientific support, attire and sport equipment. In addition, the Department has a Bursary Programme, which caters for athletes who are identified at the School Sport Championships. These athletes are placed at the Sport Focus Schools in their respective Provinces where they receive sport specific support. Through this programme, the athletes receive support towards tuition, coaching, equipment basic subsistence costs.

There is also a Mass Participation and Sports Development programmes, wherein Provinces receives conditional grant to implement this programme in partnership with other stakeholders. The main objective is to provide access and exposure to all school going children and members within those communities. Norms and standards in partnership with stakeholders have been set.

Again there is Active Recreation Programme were the youth from different races participate in National Youth Camps which include indigenous games tournaments. The Department has also identified the Club Development Programme that promotes participation in sport activities as well as the identification of talent at grass roots level through the formalisation of sporting communities. A platform for the identification of talent is therefore generated, with emphasis on marginalised communities, providing the necessary mechanisms to channel talented individuals into mainstream sporting opportunities. Local leagues are supported by providing clubs with equipment has and or attire and Club coordinators are remunerated.

In response to the needs of youth living in rural and township areas, DSAC lobbied Parliament to ring-fence 5% of the Sport Infrastructure in the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to ensure that local sport infrastructure is catered for by the local municipality. The purpose of this intervention was precisely to respond to the needs of young people living in rural and township with talents and aspiration that need to be supported and nurtured by providing adequate sport facilities.

(b). In line with its performance indicator on provision of technical and managerial support to municipalities, the Department has a dedicated Infrastructure Support Unit that provides support to municipalities during implementation of these sport infrastructure projects, including monitoring and ensuring compliance with applicable Norms and Standards.

Reply:

(a). The criteria for assessment for individual monuments and memorials is necessary to establish their cultural significance and suitability to the current South African Context. SAHRA has created four broad categories of assessment namely: community desirability; historical, social and political value; artistic or aesthetic value; and environmental and spatial qualities.

Cultural significance, as based on the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act 25 of 1999.

(b). There is growing recognition that cultural heritage can benefit Nation Building and Social Cohesion, especially in the formation of personal or collective identities. Community participation then becomes an indispensable component of contemporary preservation practice.

The key focus beyond the materiality and desirability of the statue or memorial will be community participation. SAHRA will be following the legal prescripts as set out in the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act 25 of 1999) which ensures that meaningful participation take place during decision-making.

Furthermore, SAHRA will be making all decisions in consultation with the relevant Provincial Heritage Resources Authority, local authority and all interested parties.

Reply:

a) The SAFE programme (Sanitation Appropriate For Education) was launched to address the sanitation at 3 898 schools that reportedly were still dependent on basic pit toilets.  Of these 3898 schools, 427 have subsequently been closed (mostly due to rationalisation).  A further 725 of these schools have been assessed and the sanitation has been confirmed to be of an appropriate standard, though some of these sanitation facilities require some form of maintenance.  The remaining 2 747 schools require intervention to eradicate the dependency on basic pit toilets.  These schools are located in EC (997), FS (123), KZN (1 168), LP (298), MP (106), and NW (55).   Of these 2 747 schools, the work has progressed to practical completion at 612 schools.  There are current construction projects at a further 420 of the 2747 schools.

b) The plan is to eradicate the dependency on basic pit toilets at the identified schools by March 2022.    

Reply:

The applications in this regard were considered by the Department in terms of Section 4(3) of the South African Citizenship Act and out of six (6) applications, five (5) were conditionally approved and 1 was rejected. The outcome letters were forwarded to their respective legal representatives/attorneys.

The outcome letters clearly outlined that the successful applicants are directed to approach their local front office of the Department to sign declaration of allegiance forms upon which they would be issued with naturalisation certificates. Upon receipt of the naturalisation certificates the applicants would thereafter be eligible to apply for registration of birth and receive birth certificates allocated with identity numbers, successively they would apply for identity documents as a result.

(a) The Department would issue identity documents subsequent to receipt of applications in this regard, in the prescribed manner.

(b) The date to be issued identity documents will be determined by date of receipt of applications in this respect, with the turnaround times currently set at 54 days for the first issue of a green barcoded ID book.

END

Reply:

Honourable Member this is a very complex and sensitive matter best left to the South African National Defence Force, Military Intelligence and State Security Agency.

END

Reply:

1. The Curriculum for Coding and Robotics Curriculum for Grades R-9 has been developed as a stand-alone subject for the following reasons:

• There is not enough space in NS & T as well as in Technology to include enough of the new content without removing too much content in NS&T and Technology which is necessary for learners to acquire.
• Infusing Coding and Robotics in the existing subject might require reducing the content of the other subjects that might affect the articulation, flow and progression of the subject
• The notional hours are linked to Annual Teaching Plan (ATP), the content and assessment, new content will interrupt the flow of the content
• Teachers may fall back to what they are comfortable with, meaning that the new content in the curriculum may never reach the learners effectively if we infuse it
• Infusing into Life Skills, NS & T and Technology would involve updating three different curriculums as opposed to creating one new one
• The Coding and Robotics curriculum is more skills focused than theory focused, meaning there is still a large need for the theory knowledge contained in NS & T and Technology
• The 4IR needs more skills taught to learners and not just a change in focus of subjects that are already offered - more time is needed to prepare learners.

2. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) initiated a process of developing the draft curriculum and Policy Statement for Coding and Robotics for Grade R-9. The development process was highly inclusive of DBE and PED specialists, and stakeholders with expertise and knowledge in the field of Coding and Robotics from business and sistergovernment departments, NAPTOSA, NATU, PEU, SADTU, SAOU, Academia (5 Universities) and NGO Sector.

The Draft Coding and Robotics Curriculum for Grades R -9 was presented and approved at Heads of Education Committee (HEDCOM) and Council of Education Ministers (CEM) and has been submitted to UMALUSI for Evaluation and Quality Assurance. The Draft Curriculum and Assessment Policy statements (CAPS) documents for Coding and Robotics for Grades R-3, Grades 4-6, and Grades 7-9 are developed. A process of gazetting the draft CAPS documents for public comments is underway.

The draft CAPS for Grades R-3 and Grade 7 for Coding and Robotics curriculum will be piloted in 2021-2024 for Grades R-3 in two hundred (200) schools and for Grade7-9 in one thousand (1000) schools. Full implementation in will commence in 2025.

(b)The Department of Basic Education has secured funding for the Grades R-3 from ETDP-SETA and the amount secured is seven million (R7 000 000). A business plan was submitted to the National Treasury requesting funding for the strengthening of Technology subject in Grades4-9 through integration of Coding and Robotics. The amount approved by National Treasury for the request was sixty million R60 000 000.

Reply:

a) There is no post identified to be filled as critical in the De Aar office as currently all vacant posts are unfunded. It should be highlighted that there is currently a moratorium for filling of posts in the Department due to the budgetary constraints on compensation of employees as per the recent announcement by National Treasury.

b) The Renosterberg municipality is one of four local municipalities that is serviced by the De Aar office. These areas are serviced through Mobile office outreach visits. The mobile itinerary is communicated to the Community Development Workers(CDW’s) and the Department of Social Services amongst other government entities on a monthly basis. This assists us to identify clients in need of our services. The mobile itinerary for December 2020 is as communicated, below:

END

Reply:

(a): Over the past three financial years, the following number of learners enrolled for the Second Chance Matric Programme:

(b): Over the past three financial years, the following number of learners were supported to complete their enrolled subjects and/ or their National Senior Certificate:

* It should be noted that the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) also aims to support adult learners to achieve subject passes, which may not necessarily result in the completion of matric with every learner. For an example, a learner who has already obtained matric but have a Maths level 3, may enrol for the Programme so that she may improve her Maths passes. After receiving the support of the SCMP, such a learner may obtain an improved pass of level 5 and thereby qualify for an academic programme in an institution of higher learning. Such learners are not included in the information above (Table B).

Reply:

1. My department has noted the concern of players not being paid throughout the COSAFA tournament, however, it should be understood that remuneration of players is an administrative matter, which falls within the ambit of the Federation.

Involvement in such administrative matters by the Ministry is provided for and guided by section 13 of the National Sport and Recreation Act. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has also indicated that the payment and contractual relationship with the Team is an internal matter they are seized with.

(2)(a). Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13 of National Sport and Recreation Act, DSAC is in the process of developing a National Policy to address carious affecting Woman Sport in general, not only in football.

(b). The Department does not deal with code specific matters as this falls within the administrative ambit of the respective Federations. However, SAFA has indicated that the lack of financial support for Women Sport in South Africa is well known and documented. The National Policy developed by DSAC seeks to address such issues, including sponsorships for Women Sport.

Reply:

a) b)  c) (i) (aa) (bb) & (ii)

Note1: Data for 2016-17 financial year is substituted by recent data for 2020

Note2: Data reported is based on academic year instead of financial year.

Reply:

1)(2) and (3) The Department is further consulting to get more information on this matter.

However, the South African Football Association (SAFA) when consulted indicated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup was an event that was fully funded by FIFA. SAFA indicated that they will send the questions to FIFA for a response.

In addition, they indicated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup operations were closed in 9 years ago in 2011.

Reply:

Efforts to get the responses from Netball SA regarding the said Parliamentary Question has been unsuccessful. The Department continues to follow up with Netball SA.

In November of 2020, I wrote a letter to SASCOC impressing upon them the importance to respond to all Parliamentary questions with honesty and on time. I will direct SASCOC to copy all sport federation this letter.

Reply:

The South African Football Association in its response indicated the following;

1. a) and b) That the revenue for the operation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was in a form of a grant from FIFA where all expenditure and accounts were approved by FIFA. In addition, the 2010 FIFA World Cup LOC closed in 2011 having accounted to the funder and owners of the tournament, FIFA.

c) i) ii) iii) and iv) That the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust has no assets.

2. That the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust is a Trust established by FIFA. The Trustees include FIFA's CFO; Head of Development and Head of Sustainability. The Trust accounts to the Trustees therefore will revert after presenting its financial report to the trustees

Reply:

(a). My Department has not been informed about the Cultural village in question and there is no correspondence forwarded to the department to this effect.

The honorable member is advised to approach the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture regarding the unfinished cultural village for assistance.

Reply:

No, the registration or change of registration status for schools is a provincial function. 

Reply:

The Department received the question, reviewed its contents against its mandate and has determined that the most appropriate respondent should be the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Reply:

The Table below represents the number of Multiple Examination Opportunity (MEO) candidates that did not write all six subjects in November 2017 and November 2018. These candidates would have written the remaining subjects in the  subsequent examination in June 2018 and June 2019. The candidates that opted for the Multiple Examination opportunity in November 2019, would have written the remaining subjects in the June 2020 examination. However this examination due to COVID-19, has been combined with the November 2020 examination and the examination is currently in progress.

Hence the table below represents the number of MEO learners that enrolled in November 2017 and November 2018 and the number that achieved the NSC after completing their examination in June 2018 and June 2019, respectively.

Reply:

1)(2) and (3) The South African Football Association (SAFA) in its response indicated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup was an event that was fully funded by FIFA.

SAFA indicated that they would send the honourable member’s questions to FIFA for a response. In addition, it indicated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup operations were closed 9 years ago in 2011.

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education has established a National Investigation Team comprising of the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA); Universities South Africa (USAf), Umalusi as observer, the Department of Basic Education, one member of the National Examinations Irregularities Committee (NEIC) and an independent Examinations Consultant. The National Investigation Task Team (NITT) has been mandated to determine the extent of the spread of the leakage, the origin of the leak and measures that will be taken to ensure the credibility of the 2020 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination and prevent a future occurrence of this nature. The investigation is ongoing and the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has also been engaged and they are at an advanced stage of the investigation.   

(a) in terms of ensuring that this does not happen in the future, the Department has commenced with an audit of the entire value chain from origination of question papers to the delivery of question papers to examination centres. The purpose of this audit is to establish the weak points in the system with a view to strengthening these weak points and the  security will be doubled at all points in the system. The DBE will also appoint an independent Investigator to conduct a comprehensive audit of the entire examination system, inclusive of the Information Technology systems that are used to evaluate what new technologies can be utilised in future years to improve and modernise the examination system.

(b) In terms of the integrity of the 2020 NSC examinations, the Department has made a decision to rewrite nationally the question papers in Mathematics Paper 2 and Physical Science Paper 2. Umalusi has indicated based on a preliminary investigation report  that these two question papers have been compromised and therefore to restore the integrity of the examination in these two question papers, the decision to rewrite both these question papers on 15 December 2020 and 17 December 2020, has been taken.        

Reply:

(a – b) Follow-up to my Budget Vote statement on 10 July 2019, the Department of Home Affairs embarked on a large-scale project to roll-out online birth registration system in all 1445 health facilities. The project roll-out plan was adopted as outlined below:

The activities of the project involve optimisation of existing health facilities with DHA presence with the aim of enhancing network connectivity and space. The project commenced with the optimisaiton of 47 priority 1 (high actual births delivered) health facilities which were completed during 2019/2020 financial year. The next stage is the roll-out of 210 priority 2 and priority 3 health facilities which will be completed by the end of 2021/22 financial year. Due to COVID-19 regulations, the department could not implement the second stage of the project this financial year and had to roll the stage over to the next financial year. The third stage involves rolling out of online birth registration in 127 priority 4 and 5 health facilities and 1067 priority 5 health facilities will be completed in 2024/25 financial year.

The Department of Home Affairs depended heavily on network connectivity for the registration of birth and this project incorporated provision of uninterruptable network in all 1445 health facilities. The department has provided uninterruptable network, in a form of a router and UPS, in 160 health facilities and is in the process of procuring the services of the service provider to provide network in the remaining 1285 health facilities by the end of 2024/25 financial year. The process of connecting the 1285 health facilities has been with SITA to publish the Bid for the connection. The Business case for the Specification for the Health facilities has already been sent to SITA for the Publication of the Bid.

END

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education makes R400 000 000 (four hundred million Rands) available to the nine (9) Provincial Education Departments (PEDS) by means of ring-fenced funding as the Mathematics, Science and Technology Conditional Grant. Programmes funded by the MST Grant are implemented by the PEDs; and are intended to increase learner participation rate as well as to improve the quality of learner performance.  In addition, provision is made for interventions specifically aimed at supporting girl learners.  In the event a PED has difficulty recruiting teachers of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, the DBE has, for almost a decade, also partnered with TEACH SA to provide good quality university graduates who can be deployed where needed.  The placement of these young graduates reduces the likelihood of learners dropping Mathematics and Physical Sciences. This programme ensures provision of an academically qualified person to schools that may otherwise would not have  been able to employ a teacher of these subjects.

Reply:

a) The number of learners that have returned and benefitting from the school nutrition programme were 9 057 395 as at 23 October 2020.  

b) Provincial statistics show that the number of learners that received meals (October) was 9 057 395.

Reply:

(a) (b) (c) (d) The attached report indicates the number of schools which still have asbestos classrooms, the names of the schools, number of asbestos classrooms in each school and the estimated dated for the replacement of  these classrooms.