Questions and Replies
07 December 2020 - NW2631
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Finance
With reference to the presentation by the Special Investigating Unit to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on 20 October 2020, (a) what are the reasons that the municipal-level data on COVID-19 relief funds expenditure for April 2020 to August 2020 was not available at the time of the report, even though data on expenditure related to COVID-19 for 15 March 2020 to 2 October 2020 was already available on municipal level and (b) on what date will the municipal-level data on COVID-19 relief funds expenditure for April 2020 to August 2020 be available?
Reply:
a) According to the report from the presenters to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the information was available in the presentation pack. The graphs attached as an Annexure to this response illustrates the COVID-19 expenditure per category (Graph 1), expenditure by municipalities (Graph 2) and expenditure per province (Graph 3).
b) The information is available in the Annexure as Graph 1, 2 and 3 attached. National Treasury introduced a weekly reporting mechanism to track COVID-19 related expenditure. These numbers are not verified numbers. The 4th Quarter ending June 2020, Section 71 of MFMA report presents verified numbers and is published on the Treasury website and can be accessed on the link:
In addition, the National Treasury issued MFMA Circular 105 to municipalities on 25th of August 2020 which introduced further reporting requirements that municipalitiesmust adhere to, these are specific to procurement at the transaction level data. This circular requires municipalities to report on all their COVID-19 transactions on supplier level and items bought. The reports, received from the municipalities, are imported into the data warehouse and published on the Treasury website and can be accessed on the link:
http://ocpo.treasury.gov.za/COVID19/Pages/Reporting-Dashboard.aspx
Annexure
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3
04 December 2020 - NW2446
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What (a) total amount has her department received in appropriations for drought relief measures from the National Treasury since 1 April 2016 and (b) are the details of how the drought relief appropriations were used in each case?
Reply:
The total amount received by the Department of Water and Sanitation in appropriations for drought relief measures from the National Treasury since 1 April 2016 to date is appended as Annexure A. The table below provides a summary:
a) Total amount received in appropriations for drought relief measures from the National Treasury |
b) Details of how the drought relief appropriations were used in each case |
Financial year 2016/17 |
No allocation |
Financial year 2017/18 a total of R541 million was allocated |
Water tankering An amount of R500 million was received as additional budget in respect of unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditure for the implementation of:
Additional funding was used to address unplanned and unforeseen emergency drought interventions related to the water crisis experienced in Butterworth and Mnquma Local Municipality in the Amathole District. The envisaged interventions entailed the design, construction and commissioning of a raw water rising main between Tsomo River and the catchment area to Xilinxa dam as a short term solution to address the water crisis in Butterworth. |
Financial years 2018/19: R1 billion was allocated |
Conditional grants transferred to municipalities, including water tankering |
Financial years 2019/20: R473 million was allocated |
The Schedule 6B allocation of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) was earmarked for drought emergency interventions, drilling of new boreholes and resuscitations of old boreholes, water tankering, stock watering and project management fees. |
Financial years 2020/21 a total of R972 million was allocated |
The department has reprioritised the total amount of R666million from both Schedule 6B allocation of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) towards drought emergency interventions such as drilling of new boreholes and resuscitations of old boreholes, water tankering, stock watering and project management fees. The amount of R307 million was conditionally approved by the Minister of Finance, for inclusion in the second Adjustments Appropriation Bill, 2020, as roll-over of unspent funds from the 2019/20 financial year to the 2020/21 financial year for the country-wide COVID-19 and drought emergency interventions. The amount of R307 million is additional budget to the earmarked funds of R666 million towards drought emergency interventions. The amount of R307 million has been allocated budget to the Northern Cape region through Schedule 6B of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) as part of the presidential commitments made on drought emergency interventions. |
04 December 2020 - NW2689
Ngwezi, Mr X to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1)What is the status of the Giyani water project that was suspended following investigations into the Lepelle Northern Water and subsequent arrests; (2) whether the residents have access to a safe and continuous water source; if not, what is the (a) projected timeline for the specified project to resume and (b) earliest date that residents can expect to be given a sanitary and continuous water source; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
(1) Water supply to Giyani villages is not reliable due to ageing infrastructure and unauthorized connections. The condition of the infrastructure results in frequent pipe bursts and water leakages. This has necessitated interventions to replace the dilapidated of 325km bulk pipelines and the Nandoni to Nsami pipeline project to ensure sustainable water supply. The Giyani water services project has resumed following the deployment of Department of Water and Sanitation’s Construction North Unit (DWS: CN) during February 2019. The overall progress for the bulk water distribution pipelines is at 54%. In parallel, the construction of the bulk pipeline from Nandoni water supply scheme that will augment water supply deficiencies in Nsami Scheme is also under construction and currently at 35% overall completion.
(2) The Mopani District Municipality as the responsible Water Services Authority (WSA) is responsible for providing water to the residents of Giyani through existing infrastructure which is augmented by completed boreholes and water carting. The refurbishment of the bulk water distribution system to 55 villages is under construction as indicated above. Completion of the various stages of the project is anticipated from March 2021 until March 2022. Further details relating to projects in the Giyani area are as follows:
- 300km asbestos cement (AC) pipelines have been replaced with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipelines to curb water losses and enhance water supply efficiency. The installed bulk pipelines are not yet operational pending completion of ancillaries, pressure testing and commissioning for the completed sections.
- The bulk water pipeline that will convey water from Nandoni water supply scheme to augment water supply in Giyani is anticipated to be completed by August 2022.
- Two of the bulk distribution pipelines to Giyani town and 4 villages (Thomo, Mininginisi Block 2, Mhlava and Muyexe) are partially completed and operational. It is envisaged that these pipelines will be fully functional by March 2021.
04 December 2020 - NW2883
Mokgotho, Ms SM to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
With reference to her reply to oral question 68 on 11 March 2020, by what date will she ensure that the water supply project, that was started five years ago, is completed so that the communities of Giyani who are living in more than fifty villages that do not have water, can have a water supply?
Reply:
Mopani District Municipality as the Water Services Authority is responsible for providing water to the residents of Giyani through existing unreliable infrastructure augmented by completed boreholes and water carting. The replacement of the unreliable bulk water distribution system to 55 villages is in progress. Completion of the various projects is anticipated from March 2021 until March 2022. Two of the bulk distribution pipelines to Giyani town and 4 villages (Thomo, Mninginisi Block 2, Mhlava and Muyexe) are partially completed and under operation. These pipelines will be fully functional by March 2021. The bulk water pipeline that will convey water from Nandoni water supply scheme to augment water supply in Giyani is anticipated to be completed by August 2022.
It should be noted that the water supply to Giyani villages is not reliable due to ageing infrastructure and unauthorized connections. The condition of the infrastructure results in pipe bursts and water leakages. This has necessitated interventions to replace the dilapidated of 325km bulk pipelines and the Nandoni to Nsami pipeline project to ensure sustainable water supply. To date, 300km asbestos cement (AC) pipelines have been replaced with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipelines to curb water losses and enhance water supply efficiency. The installed bulk pipelines are not yet operational pending completion of ancillaries, pressure testing and commissioning for the completed sections.
04 December 2020 - NW2721
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1) Whether he will furnish Ms E L Powell with the names of all persons (a) currently (b) previously (i) permanently and/or (ii) temporarily employed as members of the National Rapid Response Task Teams (NRRTT) in the Departments of (aa) Water and Sanitation and (bb) Human Settlements since May 2019; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, on what date; (2) on what statutory ground were appointments to the NRRTT made; (3) what is the (a) total cost to company remuneration of each employee in each week, month and year and (b) expense allowance such as travel and cell phone allowance of each employee; (4) whether any bonuses were paid to any employees; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
(1) Honourable Member, the document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly” prohibits Members of Parliament, including Members of the Executive, from providing names of people or companies. The document referred to states that:
“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”
Department of Water and Sanitation:
(2) Members of the NRRTT for Water and Sanitation are appointed in terms of Section 76(1) of the National Water Services Act.
(3) No travel allowances are provided for members of the NRRTT. However, Members of the NRRTT can submit claims when they have utilised own transport to undertake official duties.
(4) No bonuses were paid to members of the NRRTT. They are only remunerated for the hours worked, in keeping with the rates determined by the Minister for Public Service and Administration.
Department of Human Settlements:
(2) Appointments were done additional to the establishment as per Public Services Regulations.
(3) The members are remunerated at a daily rate of R5 549 per day for a maximum of 20 days per month for the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson and at a daily rate of R4 317 per day for a maximum of 12 days per month for all the other members.
Each payable on submission of individual monthly claims, substantiated with meetings attended (register) and reports on actual work done.
The Department has made a cellular phone allowance available to the members on a monthly basis, to the value of R1 200.00 per month on submission of valid invoice within 30 days, as per Departmental Cellular Phone Policy.
(4) There are no bonuses applicable to members of the National Rapid Response Task Team on Human Settlements.
04 December 2020 - NW2525
Mohlala, Mr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)What (a) total number of mining companies have failed to adhere to strict water management practices, which includes the prevention of the pollution of groundwater resources and freshwater ecosystems and (b) are the names of the specified mining companies; (2) whether she has considered revoking their water use licences until the mining companies commit themselves to preventing the pollution of water resources; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Department of Water and Sanitation is regulating the mining companies through Water Use Authorisations (WUAs) as required by the National Water Act 36 of 1998. The WUAs impose conditions that promote sustainable and beneficial use of water resources. On an annual basis the Department undertakes compliance monitoring audits of the WUAs issued. The Department has developed a scoring system that is intended to assist in assessing compliance levels of the mining mines (see Table 1 below).
The level of compliance differs according to technical and administrative conditions. Mines that achieve scores of 50% or more are considered to be showing improvements in compliance. Mines that score less than 50% are regarded as having unacceptable level of compliance and are subjected to the enforcement process. The Department conducted compliance monitoring audits on four-hundred and seventy-six (476) mines from 2015/16 to 2019/20 financial years: Of the 476 mines audited, a total of one hundred and fifty-five (155) mines have scored less than 50% of compliance.
Table1: Score card
Score |
Condition |
Description |
75-100% |
Acceptable |
Technical conditions are met in most circumstances; few administration actions should be undertaken. Request proof of compliance electronically. |
50-74% |
Good but at risk |
The implementation of water use conditions are implemented with several actions still outstanding. Action plan required to ensure full compliance. Follow up audit required. |
25-49% |
Not acceptable |
Compliance meets less than half of the substantive implementation and administrative actions in the license. Action plan required to ensure full compliance. Follow up audit required. Decision to be taken on improvement of compliance. If so, follow-up audit scheduled, if not, hand over for enforcement action. |
0-24% |
Not acceptable |
User meets minimal conditions, both implementation and administrative actions in the license. Decision to be taken if non-compliance is potentially or detrimental or fatal to water resource. If fatal, hand over for enforcement action, if not an action plan required to ensure compliance. Follow up audit required and scheduled. |
(b) Honourable Member, the document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly” prohibits Members of Parliament, including Members of the Executive, from providing names of people or companies. The document referred to states that:
“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”
(2) Since April 2015, the DWS undertook numerous administrative enforcement actions against mines that were found to have contravened the requirements of the National Water Act. The Department also issued a total number of two hundred and twenty-six (226) administrative actions and opened nine (9) criminal cases against non-compliant mines. Only fifty-two (52) of the two hundred and twenty-six (226) mines issued with administrative actions have water use authorizations. Subsequent to the enforcement actions by the DWS, forty-five (45) mines are in compliance with the requirements of the administrative actions. To date, no water use entitlements have been suspended or revoked due to non-compliance. However, this remains an option in case the administrative, civil and criminal processes do not achieve desired compliance.
03 December 2020 - NW2796
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
(1)With reference to the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority and the online management system, (a) what are the reasons that a new system has not gone live to date and (b) on what date will registration commence; (2) what (a) information and data protection processes and mechanisms are in place that meets the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, and (b) are the reasons that these are not operable; (3) (a) what are the reasons that some legacy learner registrations reflect as new registrations and vice versa and (b) on what date will this be fixed; (4) what (a) is the turn-around time for learner approvals and (b) are the reasons that (i) a high number of approvals is pending and (ii) learners need to be approved in the first instance; (5) what are the reasons that an applicant’s identity number is not used to ascertain their age?
Reply:
The following responses were received from the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).
(1) (a) The system was implemented in the following phases:
- Human Resource Management modules commenced on 1 August 2019
- Finance module commenced on 1 September 2019
- Skills Development modules commenced on 1 August 2020
- Supply Chain Management module commenced on 1 November 2020
(b) CATHSSETA has successfully been registering learners on the system since the first quarter of 2020/21 as reported to the Department in its quarterly performance information report.
(2) (a) CATHSSETA has a Records Management and ICT Security Policy that regulates how both physical and electronic information should be accessed and handled. These policies are in line with the POPI Act. Furthermore, CATHSSETA has a records management procedure and a user account management process, which guide on how access to information, records and systems should be conducted. CATHSSETA uses a unique password for each user who accesses CATHSSETA systems and uses an encryption mechanism to secure access to electronic information and systems.
(b) CATHSSETA’s current policies, processes and mechanisms are operational.
(3) (a) CATHSSETA migrated the legacy data from the old information management system, as well as information that was reported through spreadsheets when the system was under development into the new system. One of the processes required to ensure that information transferred to the new system is credible was for providers and employers to confirm through an activation process the accuracy of the data. The date of activation is the only aspect that reflects as a new activation and not a new registration.
Employers/providers who had conducted training during the system development phase were not expected to register their learners as new. They were given an opportunity to submit a spreadsheet of historic data, which was uploaded on the system. Their responsibility in this aspect was to then activate the records as a means of confirming the credibility of the data.
When CATHSSETA was conducting training on the new system, there was confusion amongst providers on processes to be followed. This has been addressed through a memorandum that went out to stakeholders advising them of the two separate processes, i.e. one for registering new learners and another for activating legacy learners.
(b) Nothing needs to be fixed on the system; however, based on the need, training sessions are undertaken to capacitate stakeholders on the various system functionalities. Furthermore, inputs to enhance system functionality are being deployed based on the feedback received from stakeholders.
(4) (a) In terms of the Workplace Based Learning Programmes Regulations (Regulation 10(i)), CATHSSETA has 30 days to register a learner on a learning programme provided all requirements for the registration have been met.
(b) (i) From the information at the SETA’s disposal, there is no high number of approvals pending. Approvals are done in line with the provisions of the Regulations.
(ii) Learners need to be approved/registered in terms of the Workplace-Based Learning Programmes Regulations (Regulation 10) which requires SETAs to make a decision on whether or not to register (approve) learners.
(5) One of CATHSSETA’s requirements for learners’ registration are copies of a recently certified identity document. The SETA is therefore able to verify the authenticity of learners. Currently, the SETA is working with service providers to ensure that the system automatically calculates the learner’s age. It is one of the ongoing system enhancements that CATHSSETA and the service provider are engaged in. CATHSSETA remains committed to ensuring that it delivers an effective, efficient and user-friendly system.
03 December 2020 - NW2795
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
(1)With reference to the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority and the online management system, (a) what are the reasons that a new system was implemented and (b) on what date did the new system commence; (2) (a) to whom was the tender awarded to operate and maintain the new system, (b) how were they selected, (c) what criteria were used to select them and (d) what are the terms and conditions set out in the tender; (3) (a) what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that have to be met in each month, (b) what are the specified KPIs measured that are used to in each case and (c) how are the penalties that are imposed if KPIs are not met and (d) what criteria are used to terminate the tender?
Reply:
The following responses were received from the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).
(1) (a) The aim was to deploy an integrated system that will assist in integrating and automating most of CATHSSETA’s processes to eliminate duplication of efforts, improve business efficiency, comply with legislation and government policies, and promote good governance. The integrated modules of the system are:
- Finance
- Supply Chain Management
- Human Resource Management
- Skills Development (Education and Training Quality Assurance and Learning Programmes)
(b) The system was implemented in the following phases:
- Human Resource Management modules commenced on 1 August 2019
- Finance module commenced on 1 September 2019
- Skills Development modules commenced on 1 August 2020.
- Supply Chain Management module commenced on 1 November 2020
(2) (a) The tender was awarded to Dajo Technologies.
(b) A competitive bidding process was followed.
(c) Functionality, price and black economic empowerment criteria as per the attached terms of reference.
(d) The terms and conditions set out in the tender are as per the attached terms of reference, as well as the contract entered into between CATHSSETA and Dajo Technologies.
(3) (a) A project charter was developed and signed by both parties, which outlined project phases with specific deliverables per phase and expected delivery dates.
(b) The project phases with specific deliverables per phase and expected delivery dates are outlined in the project charter.
(c) In terms of the agreement between CATHSSETA and Dajo Technologies, the penalty clause empowers CATHSSETA to enforce penalties against the service provider for service delays and defects, particularly if the service provider solely causes the delays or defects. The penalties are guided by the project charter, which provides a detailed implementation plan with specific deliverables. Schedule 1 of the contract provides the details.
(d) The agreement between CATHSSETA and Dajo Technologies provides for termination based on specific conditions set out in the signed contract.
03 December 2020 - NW2718
Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
What were the job requirements for the position of Governance Risk and Compliance executive at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme?
Reply:
The following are the job requirements for the Governance Risk and Compliance Executive at the National Student Finance Aid Scheme.
Minimum
- An undergraduate qualification and a postgraduate qualification (NQF 8) in Commerce, Business Management or related fields.
- A solid understanding of governance risk and compliance processes and technology with demonstrated expertise and experience including strong governance, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.
- At least 10 years’ proven experience in governance, risk and compliance management at a senior level.
- At least 5 years’ experience at an executive level.
- Proven business and management skills.
- Demonstrated strategic leadership and people management skills.
- Broad computer literacy in organisation-wide ICT systems deployments.
Beneficial Skills
- MBA or related Masters qualification.
- Knowledge and understanding of the higher education policy environment.
- Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act and public entity standards.
- Knowledge and appreciation of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act.
Core Competencies
- Technical/professional knowledge and skill.
- Strategic and visionary leadership.
- Resource management, including people and performance management.
- Building interpersonal relationships.
- Decision-making and problem solving.
- Building strategic alliances and partnerships.
- Emotional intelligence and political sensitivity.
- Personal impact, stature and credibility.
03 December 2020 - NW2849
Mathulelwa, Ms B to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether there are any plans to eradicate pit toilets at Hardinburg Primary School in Maluti, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The school has been included as part of the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative. The project has been handed over to an implementing agent. Planning has been completed, and it is envisaged that construction will commence in the new financial year.
03 December 2020 - NW2033
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What total amount was spent by each provincial department of education on (a) masks, (b) sanitisers, (c) tanks and (d) the transportation of water since the declaration of a state of national disaster?
Reply:
(a) - (b) The costs were directly incurred by the Provinces, the Hon Member should refer the questions to the provinces.
Response to Items (c) and (d): A total amount of R222 million has been transferred to Rand Water for the purchase of tanks, installation of the tanks, and the delivery of water to the schools identified. This transferred amount, is still to be reconciled to the actual orders placed and the actual expenditure incurred. Then the final value will be available.
03 December 2020 - NW2800
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
With reference to the 2019-20 financial year’s budgetary review and recommendations report of the Auditor-General that was presented to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education that her department incurred R76 992 000 of wasteful expenditure most of which was as a result of noncompliance with procurement processes, what steps is her department taking to (a)(i) mitigate and/or (ii) monitor wasteful expenditure due to noncompliance with procurement procedures and/or (b) monitor irregular expenditure that is not being disclosed?
Reply:
a) What steps taken to:
(i) mitigate wasteful expenditure
Fruitless expenditure incurred is mainly due to inadequate planning and coordination between the national and provincial department, resulting in stopped immovable asset projects due to school mergers and rationalisation processes.
The Department will strengthen communications with Provincial education departments and ensure assessment reports on allocated projects provided by provincial departments are fully investigated to avoid projects being stopped after commencement.
(ii) monitor wasteful expenditure due to non-compliance with procurement procedures:
The Department will ensure that all instances of possible fruitless and wasteful expenditure are investigated as required by the PFMA section 38 to determine if disciplinary process needs to be taken and whether amounts needs to be recovered.
There will be regular reporting by the investigation committee to the accounting officer on the progress made by the investigation committee for oversight purposes.
The accounting officer will ensure that the validity of possible fruitless and wasteful expenditure is confirmed before the annual financial statements are submitted for audit purposes.
(b) what steps taken to monitor Irregular expenditure that is not being disclosed:
The Department will Improve oversight of implementing agents to ensure that representatives of the department are included in the implementing agents bid evaluation committee and bid adjudication committee to ensure that appropriate procurement processes are followed so as to avoid irregular expenditure being recorded by the department as required in terms of the guidelines on irregular expenditure issued by National Treasury.
Furthermore, additional staff (interns and in-house staff) will be employed to verify if all evaluations and adjudications which have already occurred are in line with all procurement processes, if department discover none compliance the expenditure will bel declare Irregular expenditure in the department's books.
03 December 2020 - NW2498
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What arrangements have been made to accommodate leaners from the schools that were closed in Gauteng for allegedly operating illegally?
Reply:
The details requested in the question are in the competence of the Executive Authority of Gauteng Department of Education, not the Minister of Basic Education.
02 December 2020 - NW2669
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
In light of the fact that the Gautrain is a smart public transport mode maintaining a high level of operational efficiency, what (a) total amount of profit did the Gautrain make in the 2019-20 financial year, (b) were the operational and maintenance costs and (c) total amount will Phase 2 cost?
Reply:
a) The Gautrain is a Public Private Partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government and a private sector consortium by the name of the Bombela Concession Company. In terms of this contract, the Gauteng Provincial Government does not make a financial profit from the project. Instead the Provincial Government maximizes the social and economic returns from having a well-run and efficient public transport system linking key economic nodes in Gauteng.
b) The operating and maintenance costs for the financial year ending March 2020 were R1,333 billion. During this period the revenue received from fare paying passengers and other sources such as advertising income totaled R971 million. There was an estimated R32 million loss of revenue in the month of March 2020 due to the reduced number of passengers travelling because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortfall was covered by the Patronage Guarantee paid by the Province of Gauteng as part of its ongoing contractual commitments in terms of the PPP agreement.
c) At this stage, the feasibility study for Phase 2 of the Gautrain is with the National Treasury and the estimated project costs can only be finalized once the input of Treasury is received and incorporated in the financial model.
02 December 2020 - NW2806
Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
(a) What is the budget for monitoring and evaluation of the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2030, (b) who will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the NYP 2030 in her department, (c) how will her department ensure that disaggregated data will be accessed, and (d) what is the monitoring and evaluation cycle process for completing the monitoring and evaluation plan and template?
Reply:
a) The budget for monitoring and evaluation of the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2030 is within the budget of the National Youth Development branch in the Department. The total budget for the National Youth Development branch is R10 523 000. Of that amount, R3 134 000 is for goods and services. The monitoring and evaluation budget is within the goods and services line item.
b) The National Youth Development branch and the Monitoring and Evaluation unit in the Department will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the NYP2030 and they will ensure collection, analysis and reporting of progress of high level output and outcome indicators tracking implementation of the National Youth Policy by government, civil society, and private sectors on a continuous basis. Data will be collated and the NYP2030 implementation reports will be consolidated on quarterly basis.
c) The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has monitoring and evaluation tools to be used to collect selected data that is disaggregated according to age, gender, disability status, geographic location, and racial grouping.
d) The monitoring and evaluation plan and templates will be completed together with the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework by the end of March 2021. They will be consulted with relevant stakeholders, before being processed to Cabinet for approval. Capacity building sessions will also be held in all provinces with targeted implementing agents.
02 December 2020 - NW2599
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What (a) is the name of the Chief Procurement Officer for the Housing Development Agency (HDA), (b) are the names and positions of all officials who are occupying acting positions at the HDA at the executive level, in respect of (i) the national HDA and (ii) all provincial HDA branches and (c) is the duration in which a specified position has not had a permanent incumbent?
Reply:
(a) The Housing Development Agency does not have a Chief Procurement Officer.
(b) At the HDA has an Acting Chief Executive Officer, Acting Senior Manager for Supply Chain, Acting Regional Manager for Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, and an Acting Provincial Manager for Limpopo.
I am constrained and prohibited by the document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly” from providing the Honourable Member with the names of the officials as requested. The document referred to states that:
“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”
(c) Chief Executive Officer: The position has been vacant since 31 December 2019.
Acting Senior Manager - Supply Chain: This position has been vacant since 1 August 2020.
Regional Manager – Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. The position has been vacant since 31 August 2020.
Provincial Manager – Limpopo: This position has been vacant since 2 October 2020.
02 December 2020 - NW2816
Lentit, Mr R to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether he will furnish details of the proposals for the development and the associated investments for each specified proposal of more than 12 new harbours in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape, as stated in the Medium-Term Budget Policy speech; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The development and associated investment in Small Harbours is the mandate of the Department of Public Works. The Department of Transport as mandated by the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy shall develop Regulatory Framework on the operating model, safety, security and marine environment protection.
02 December 2020 - NW2763
Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(a) What is the total number of cases of blocked identity documents (IDs) in his department and (b) how long does it take his department to investigate and resolve the matter of a blocked ID?
Reply:
a) The Department has eight hundred and thirteen thousand three hundred and forty-three (813 343) identified cases of blocked identity documents (IDs) under different categories. The afore-mentioned total includes cases that have to remain blocked as these cases are already investigated and/or marked for deletion so that they should not be used again as such.
The breakdown of the categories are as follows:
Description of Markers / Blocked IDs |
Number |
Immigrant does not qualify for automatic citizenship |
222 |
South West Africa (S.W.A) cases |
8214 |
Death - Correspondence file created (dead or alive cases or fraudulent death) |
17747 |
Illegal Immigrants |
145619 |
Duplicates (ID duplicates for one person having multiple identity numbers and 2 persons sharing same ID number) |
517240 |
Under Investigation for various reasons |
70323 |
Refer to Identification (to investigate fingerprint or biometric records) |
53978 |
Total |
813343 |
It has to be highlighted that when the Department delivers services to citizens and non-citizens of this country, it will come across cases of Identity theft, where an Identity document was acquired illegally, fraudulently, where supporting documents were falsified or inadvertently where identity numbers are duplicated. In all such cases markers are set on the National Population Register(NPR) as a means of ensuring the integrity and credibility of the National Population Register.
In addition, markers are set on identity numbers such as cases that are referred to as “under investigation” for various reasons or causes. When the Department receives cases of this nature, they first have to investigate these cases to establish if indeed the Identity document was acquired illegally, then those Identity numbers are definitely blocked. Where there is sufficient evidence provided to the contrary, markers are lifted accordingly.
The following reasons mainly attribute to why IDs are blocked and markers are set on the National Population Register:
- Where ID numbers are Duplicated
- Illegal Immigrants who obtained SA documents fraudulently
- False registration of Birth, Marriages and Death and;
- Investigation purposes of suspicious ID obtained fraudulently with falsified supporting documents
b) It takes the department approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks to resolve and to finalise blocked Identity documents, provided all required supporting documents to resolve these cases are obtained from the applicant. This includes the time when the client visits the front office and the receipt of all requested documentation to resolve the case in line with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
END
02 December 2020 - NW2838
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether he has been informed that settlements were paid immediately after being lodged by certain lawyers or legal firm (name furnished), but victims of road accidents were not paid and waited for more than 10 years to receive their money; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) was approached by the South African Police Services (SAPS) for information relating to its investigation into the alleged theft of trust funds by the legal firm (name furnished). The SAPS did not inform the RAF of a complaint, nor is the RAF aware of a complaint, relating to the early settlement by the RAF of claims lodged by the legal firm. In respect of the claim concerned, the claim was lodged with the RAF in 2013 and settled in 2018, which is certainly not indicative of early settlement. However, anyone with information in relation to the alleged early settlement of claims lodged by the legal firm is invited to contact the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation on 012 846 4590, or the RAF’s Forensic Investigation Department on 0800 005919. In the interim the RAF’s Forensic Investigation Department is investigating all matters lodged by the legal firm.
NW3662E
02 December 2020 - NW2804
Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
(1) With reference to the National Youth Policy 2030, what proportion of the consultation included youth who are not affiliated to organisations? (2) Whether she will furnish Mr L Mphithi with a summary table of all comments received during the 10-month consultation period; if not, why not? if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The majority of the consultations included youth who are not affiliated to any organisation, with the exception of one webinar which only targeted youth from political and student formations. In many consultation sessions, including the provincial ones and received written responses, the majority of young people participated in their personal capacities. These included youth from various parts of the country who saw it as a moral responsibility to participate in shaping this important advocacy tool.
Venue/ Type |
Dates |
No. of participants |
Target |
Physical Contact Sessions |
|||
Free State |
06 November 2019 |
103 |
Non-affiliated youth |
KwaZulu- Natal |
12 November 2019 |
70 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Mpumalanga |
15 November 2019 |
106 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Western Cape |
20 November 2019 |
74 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Eastern Cape |
23 November 2019 |
62 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Northern Cape |
05 December 2019 |
50 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Limpopo |
10 December 2019 |
91 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Gauteng |
12 December 2019 |
62 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Local Government stakeholders (Thaba Nchu) |
21-22 January 2020 |
60 |
Both affiliated and non-affiliated youth |
North West |
07 February 2020 |
55 |
Non-affiliated youth |
Other Consultations |
|||
Venue/ Type |
Dates |
Written comments received |
|
Gazette |
07 February – 16 March 2020 |
17 written submissions from individuals; and 59 written submissions from organisations |
|
Extension and newspaper advertisements |
16 March – 28 April 2020 |
||
Webinar on youth policy in the age of COVID-19 |
29 June 2020 |
Non-affiliated youth and the public at large |
|
Extension for written inputs |
01 August – 31 August 2020 |
Non-affiliated youth and the public at large |
|
Special webinar |
18 September 2020 |
Affiliated youth from political and student formations. The Portfolio Committee was invited. |
2) A summary of 42 pages of comments and inputs received would be sent directly to Hon. Mphithi.
02 December 2020 - NW2603
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether, with reference to the August 2015 report by the former Public Protector, Adv T N Madonsela, titled Derailed, into malfeasance at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, where she inter alia found a problem in the implementation of the supply chain management policy and also highlighted a problem with clause 11.3, he has found that the supply chain management policy has subsequently changed; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of how the specified policy has changed?
Reply:
The Supply Chain Management Policy, February 2009, Clause 11.3 Bidding Methods, was subsequently changed twice to align to 217 of the constitution and all legislative prescripts. These were effected as the Supply Chain Management Policy, November 2018, driven by the Board of Control, and further enhanced through the current PRASA Supply Chain Management 2020 policy. This has embedded controls and standardized on how the organization executes its procurement activities across the business.
02 December 2020 - NW2811
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)What are the (a) reasons and (b) statutory provisions for refusing to register (i) births and (ii) the names of both parents on the birth certificate in the case where parents are of the same gender (details furnished); (2) what (a) steps will he take and (b) measures will he implement in order to ensure the removal of any discriminatory practices being applied to same-sex parents; (3) what are the details of the immediate retroactive steps that will be taken in respect of affected couples so that they can ensure that both names of parents appear on the birth certificate?
Reply:
(1)(a) There should be no reasons for refusal to register birth.
(1)(b) There is no statutory provision for refusal to register birth that meet the requirements as per the Birth and Death Act, Act no. 51 of 1992.
(i) Every child Birth should be registered as per Birth and Death Act.
(ii) Both parent’s details will be reflected on the birth certificate as per Act.
(2)(a) Where there is non-compliance to the Law and the Department is aware, corrective measures will be taken against the official/s.
(2)(b) The Constitution of South Africa promotes equality. The state may not directly or indirectly discriminate against anyone on the grounds of gender, sex or sexual orientation. Refusal to register the birth of a child on the ground that both parents are of the same gender/sex is discriminatory and inconsistent with the constitution. Managers at all levels will ensure that information on birth registration is once more disseminated to all officials responsible for birth registration. No discrimination will be tolerated and if such occurs, the Department will take the necessary actions against the official
(3) The birth registration system allows and accepts the registration of birth of a child born of people of the same sex. The affected couples can approach the Office Manager in charge at the nearest Home Affairs office to get their child registered so that they can ensure that both names of parents appear on the birth certificate.
END
02 December 2020 - NW2847
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What are the reasons that his department declared a certain person (name and details furnished) deceased when he is still alive?
Reply:
The person who is declared dead even though he is still alive, is due to the sharing of the same identity number by two persons. The case of the person concerned as per details furnished was declared dead on 13 September 2014 at Vredendal, was received and referred to the relevant section for investigation.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the client had to submit an application with supporting documents to finalise the matter. On 12 November 2020, the documents were only forwarded to Head Office, Pretoria which will be used to verify the owner of the identity number and finalisation thereof.
The applicant will be informed accordingly once finalised.
END
02 December 2020 - NW2805
Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
Whether, with reference to the National Youth Policy 2030, a budget analysis has been conducted to evaluate the costs of implementing the National Youth Policy; if not, what are the (a) reasons and (b) relevant details; if so, will she furnish Mr L Mphithi with the budget analysis?
Reply:
A budget analysis has not been conducted to evaluate the costs of implementing the National Youth Policy:
a) The National Youth Policy specifies policy priorities for socio-economic development and empowerment of young people. An Integrated Youth Development Strategy (IYDS), which gives effect to the implementation of the National Youth Policy, is the one that would be costed.
b) The IYDS would be developed by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and finalised by the end of March 2021. The nature of youth programmes, projects, and activities aligned to the National Youth Policy priorities will be specified in the IYDS. These programmes, projects and activities are the ones to be costed. A budget analysis will be available once the strategy is finalized, costed and approved.
:
02 December 2020 - NW2453
Gumbi, Mr HS to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)(a) What is the total annual water allocation from the Oranje-Fish River Tunnel scheme that diverts water from the Gariep Dam to the Fish River Valley to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) and (b) who or what manages the specified water allocation to NMBMM; (2) whether the NMBMM utilises its full water allocation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there is any possibility that the NMBMM may receive an increased annual water allocation in future; if so, what infrastructure upgrades has she found could possibly ensure increased efficiency and reduce water losses in the system that supplies NMBMM?
Reply:
(1)(a) The total annual water allocation from the Orange River System through the Oranje-Fish Tunnel scheme that diverts water from the Gariep Dam to the Fish and Sundays Rivers to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) is 58,3 million m3/annum.
(b) The water allocation is ensured through the Annual Operating Analysis of the Orange River System as well as Algoa Water Supply System, of which the NMBMM is part of the Stakeholders Operating Forum (SOF). The NMBMM operates the relevant infrastructure that provides potable water to municipal users.
(2) The NMBM is utilising its full allocation at present.
(3)(a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) issued a license to NMBM to abstract a total of 58.3 million m3/a of water from the Orange River, with the proviso that the license could be reduced back to 22 million m3/a after 20 years (by 2031). However, NMBM has requested that the license be made permanent on account of its high capital investment. The potential for further allocation in line with potential efficiency savings, to be obtained along the OFS transfer route has been considered and can be considered further, depending on the success of efficiency measures introduced. An additional allocation of 18.25 million m3/a has been recommended, to be made available from water saved through efficiency measures introduced, which could potentially be developed as a Phase 4 of the Nooitgedagt Low Level Scheme.
(b) The Orange River Project/Nooitgedacht Low-Level Scheme is one of the interventions with the following upgrades to possibly ensure increased efficiency and reduce water losses in the system that supplies NMBMM:
- Concrete-lining of the 500 km of earth canals in the Great Fish River Water User Association (GFRWUA) area of jurisdiction by the Water Users Associations (WUA).
- Improved measuring and monitoring in the GFRWUA and Lower Sundays River Water User Association (LSRWUA) areas of jurisdiction by DWS for flow measurements and the WUAs on actual water use measurements.
- Removal of reeds along the Great Fish River by the WUAs and the working for programmes.
- Optimisation of operational releases made at the Elandsdrift and De Mistkraal weirs to be implemented in a step-wise manner by DWS – this involves a revival of the existing Real-Time model.
- Refurbishment of the Darlington Dam which is currently being evaluated by the Infrastructure unit of DWS.
01 December 2020 - NW2586
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Following her announcement that over 700 000 ha of State land would be redistributed, and taking into consideration the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy, (a) how is the Government going to support all those new farm applicants, given the stark decrease in the supplementary land reform budget, (b) from which budget line item will the training, recapitalisation and other costs be paid from and (c) what plans and/or mechanisms has the Government put in place to ensure equitable access to the State land it redistributes; (2) whether there are no interested land reform applicants in Gauteng and the Western Cape; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a)In line with the decrease in the supplementary Land Reform budget, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD)will consider a partnership model to enable support to all new farm applicants. Partners are critical and will enable DALRRD to leverage their (additional) funding.The following plans have also been put in place to support the productive use of state-land by successful applicants:
- Provision of conditional grants to enable access to production inputs, implements, on-farm infrastructure, training and mentorship, market access and South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA GAP) for those producing perishable products.
- Re-introduce blended funding and together with partners like the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), develop and support suitable land for high value, export-oriented products.
- Repurpose micro finance scheme to increase access to cheap loans through the Land Bank which are affordable as many will be start-up operations managed by women and youth.
- Furthermore, our partnerships with the commodity organizations will ensure that we provide specialised technical adviceandlinkbeneficiaries to existing markets and study groups;
b) Training, recapitalisation and other costs will be paid from the conditional grants budget line item of farmer support/post settlement.
c) The process of advertising the properties is done in a fair and equitable manner to ensure that all qualifying citizens are having an equal opportunity to access and submit their applications. This includes publishing in different platforms and in various official languages. The applications will be scrutinized by a committee to ensure proper allocation in line with the criteria outlined in the advert. The target groups for the project are women, youth and persons living with disabilities to aid in shaping the economy and agriculture for the future and to remedy the gaps for previously marginalised groups. Although persons falling outside these target groups may still apply, priority will be given to the above groups. Clear criteria and Standard Operating Procedures have been developed to ensure that applications across the country are treated consistently and fairly by applying the same standards.
2. No assessment was done to determine if there are interestedapplicants in Gauteng and Western Cape; however; there is also no state-land available to be released in the provinces of Gauteng and Western Cape. It should be noted that applicants from any province, including Gauteng and Western Cape may still apply for land in any of the provinces where land has been made available for agricultural leasing provided they are willing to relocate if appointed as lessees on such properties. Therefore, if there is interest from the residents in Gauteng or Western Cape, they can still apply in line with the current advert.
01 December 2020 - NW2762
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether, with reference to the community of Ward 18 Jojweni under Lower Ncora VD Nomadamba JSS VD in IntsikaYethu Municipality under Chris Hani Region, Eastern Cape, who heard for the first time in a community meeting that a certain person (name furnished) is registering a Communal Property Association (CPA) for them and this will result in the termination of the Amadleloproject that has leased their land for a dairy project, her department is informed of such a person registering a CPA for the affected community; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the reasons that her department is registering a CPA on land that belongs to the community and wanting to dictate on how their land be should used?
Reply:
No.The Department is not informed of such registration.However, the provincial office of the Department is currently updating themembership list of the existing Ncora-Qumanco CPA in 10 villages of Ncora in preparation of an AGM. The Project officer responsible for this CPA is Miranda Tengani based in the Queenstown office.
01 December 2020 - NW2747
Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether his department and/or the SA National Roads Agency has any plans to build roads in Phokwane in the Northern Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
SANRAL jurisdiction is limited to the declared national road network of South Africa. In terms of vicinity of Phokwane in the Northern Cape, National Route N18 Section 1 from Warrenton to the NC/NW Border with a total length of 54,6 km, falls under SANRAL.
The following two major development and improvement projects for this portion of N18/1 has been approved in SANRAL MTEF budget:
- N18 Section 1: Warrenton - Vaal-Harts (27,0 km in length) – Magareng Local Municipality
- N18 Section 1: Vaal-Harts - NC/NW Border (27.6 km in length) - Phokwane Local Municipality.
For both projects the procurement of Engineering Services will commence during the 2021/22 financial year. The design period is scheduled for 2 years, with construction commencing during the second half of 2023. The scope of works for both projects entail the reconstruction of road pavement layers, the widening of the road width to at least 13,4 metres, construction of passing lanes, the upgrade of all major intersections and the provision of non-motorised transport infrastructure such as formalised footpaths/cycleways and public transport drop off and pick up facilities. As with all SANRAL projects, each of these projects will also incorporate a community development project that focus on priorities identified based on inputs from the community.
The estimate costs of the projects are approximately R920 million (R460 million each), with minimum of 30% of work going to sub-contractors. It is anticipated that these projects will bring much needed economic opportunities and improved road safety to the Local Municipalities and surrounds.
01 December 2020 - NW2499
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Transport
On what date is it envisaged that his department will fix the MamelodiTsamaya Road in Tshwane that is riddled with potholes?
Reply:
I have taken note of the question from the Honourable Dr S SThembekwayo, and wish to confirm that the road in question is not part of the asset register of the national road network. As you may be aware that the planning, construction, maintenance and operations of all national roads are being managed by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).
My department has made enquires and were informed by the City of Tshwane that the construction of road k54 between k22 (old Bronkhorstspruit road) and k69 (Hans Strijdom, approximately 6.8km) as well as a section of road d2561 from k54 to Tsamaya road in Mamelodi (approximately 2.2km), CONTRACT NO: DRT 91/06/2016. King Civils were appointed as a main contractor. Project commenced on 22 January 2018. The Contractor is responsible for the area in which the reported potholes are concentrated and are responsible for day to day maintenance until they complete the doubling of the stretch of road as per their contractual obligations.
The contractual completion date is 4 November 2020
This will be met, due to legal matters that must be resolved to address the illegal invasion of the road reserve.
01 December 2020 - NW2377
Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Agriculture, LandReform and Rural Development
Whether, with reference to the tabling of the draft Expropriation Bill on 9 October 2020, the Government has conducted an audit of (a) land under the control of the State which can be redistributed without compensation and (b) unused land by owners living abroad; if not, what is the position in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) what (a) measures will be put in place to ensure that the beneficiaries of expropriated land have the requisite knowledge and skills to make that land profitable taking into account that much of the land that was given to black South Africans is now lying unproductive and most projects have failed because of lack of skills and (b) will be done to ensure the adoption of the Expropriation Bill does not result in lost investor confidence, particularly from the Republic’s main foreign investors?
Reply:
1. No. Government has not yet identified the land which can be redistributed without compensation andunused land by owners living abroad,and therefore such land audit has not been conducted.
(a),(b) Falls away.
2.
a) In line with the Beneficiary Selection Policy, all beneficiaries allocated the land are subjected to a compulsory training in line with their skills and knowledge needs.
b) Government through the relevant affected Departments, will provide a comprehensive communication strategy to address the concerns of the investors on the expropriation of land.
01 December 2020 - NW2319
Mabhena, Mr TB to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether, in light of a feasibility report of October 2014, with a directive that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) should submit a Treasury Approval 1 (TA 1) application to the National Treasury for funding considerations which Prasa subsequently submitted to the National Treasury on 30 October 2014, the TA 1 was approved by the National Treasury; (2) (a) with reference to his reply to question 526 on 12 September 2019, who formed part of the Political Oversight Committee and (b) what is the name of the chairperson?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), submitted the Moloto Rail Corridor, Public Private Partnership (PPP), Treasury Approval 1 application to National Treasury for consideration, on 30 October 2014. On 3 December 2015, the Director General of National Treasury responded to the CEO of PRASA informing him that the Treasury Approval 1 application was not granted.
(2)(a) Membership of the Political Oversight Committee (POC) consisted of political representatives at the level of Minister/Member of the Executive Council/Executive Mayor and representatives from Departments, as follows:
- Department of Economic Development;
- Department of Finance or National Treasury;
- Department of Trade and Industry;
- Department of Water and Environmental Affairs;
- Department of Rural Development & Land Reform
- Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport;
- Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport;
- Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport;
- Nkangala District Municipality;
- Sekhukhune District Municipality;
- City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality;
- Thembisile Hani Local Municipality
- Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality
- Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (PICC) – Strategic Infrastructure Project 1 (SIP1) Coordinator
(2)(b) The Chairperson of the Political Oversight Committee was the Minister of Transport.
01 December 2020 - NW2367
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and RuralDevelopment
What measures has her department put in place to support black women in the wine industry who recently protested in front of the Parliamentary precinct and handed over a petition under the banner of Black Wine Business complaining about the lack of support from the Government, particularly her department?
Reply:
A meeting was held with the Black Women and Youth Businesses in wine industry in August 2020. Subsequently, a task team was established that has engaged with role players in the wine industry during September 2020. The task team will followup on all issues raised and provide regular feedback to the wine industry accordingly.
Furthermore, as part of its transformation trajectory, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has introduced measures to empower and mainstream women in the sector, including women in the wine industry. The existing measures are as follows:
i) The Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation Policy seeks to ensure gender equality and inclusivity by unlocking access to land to the most marginalised and vulnerable groups, specifically to smallholder producers, women, youth and people with disabilities, rural and peri-urban residents and military veterans. This policy advocates for 50% women, 40% youth and 10% people with disabilities.
ii) Norms and Standards for the inclusion of Vulnerable Groups (NSVG) that is a tool used to influence and provide guidelines for setting measurable targets for departmental programmes to prioritize vulnerable groups and to articulate the precise targets and timeframes. The NSVGadvocates for the allocation of at least 50% support to women, 50% to youth (of which 50% are agricultural graduates) and 6% to people with disabilities.
iii) Draft Comprehensive Producer Development Support Policyaims toregulate and guide the provision of support to the various categories of producers, thereby contributing to a sustainable and competitive agricultural sector. Through this Policy, government commits to promoting conditions which enable allpreviously disadvantaged citizens and targeted groups (women, youth, people with disabilities and military veterans) to gain access to land. This will be achieved through ensuring no less than 50% allocation of agricultural farming land for smallholders under the Redistribution Programme to women, 40% to youth, and 10% to people living with disabilities.
01 December 2020 - NW2640
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
What (a) are the detailed reasons that the South African Consul General has still not found a satisfactory residence to stay in Los Angeles; and (b) are the details of the complaints with the last 20 properties that the Consul General was shown in Los Angeles; (2) What are the reasons that the property that was leased by the previous Consul General was not available for the incumbent?
Reply:
1. (a)The South African Consul-General arrived in Los Angels at the end of January 2020. While searching for a suitable residence for the CG, the lockdown (Stay-at-Home) Order was issued in Los Angeles in March 2020, which made it difficult to continue searching for and viewing properties.
(b) Although more than 20 properties were viewed in areas recommended by the local office of the US State Department, no suitable property was identified during this initial period. As part of the search, three properties deemed to be suitable were later identified, but the Mission lost the properties due to reasons related to the landlords’ decision.
(2) The previous CG vacated the property in July 2019, which is 5 months before the arrival of the incumbent CG, who arrived at the end of January 2020. In this regard, it was deciced that it was not cost effective to keep renting an unoccupied property (CG’s residence), so the contract was terminated or not renewed with a view that another property will be searched for as soon as the CG arrives.
01 December 2020 - NW2271
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport
(a) What total number of road accident claims that have been lodged against the Road Accident Fund have been awaiting settlement for more than (i) 10 years and (ii) five years, (b) on what date will the outstanding claims finally be settled and (c) what total amount would it take to settle all the claims?
Reply:
(a) The total number of road accident claims that have been lodged against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and have been awaiting settlement, as at 9 October 2020, for more than (i) 10 years is 6 933 and (ii) five years is 39 214,
(b) the date on which the outstanding claims will finally be settled is unknown at this time due to the multitude of variables that are inherent in the adversarial, common-law, claims dispensation administered by the RAF, which variables include but are not limited to, delays attributable to claimants’ attorneys, amongst others, failing to locate the claimant in order to take instructions, failing to accept the RAF’s tender, failing to set the matter down for trial, failing to pursue the quantum aspect of the claim after a judgment has been obtained in respect of the merits (the liability aspect of the claim), failing to submit financial records or other substantiating evidence in support of a claim, and failing to submit actuarial reports in support of a claim; the non-availability of medical experts to assess claimants, compile reports and, or, testify in court; the failure by expert witnesses to agree on important aspects of the claim; the long lead time to obtain a trial date; and, the investigation by the RAF into potential fraudulent aspects of the claim; and
(c) although the aggregated total amount claimed in respect of the claims referred to in paragraphs (a)(i) and (ii) above is R49 985 029 061, the total amount it would take to settle (pay) all of the aforementioned claims is unknown at this time due to the multitude of variables that are inherent in the adversarial, common-law, claims dispensation administered by the RAF, which variables include but are not limited to, the claimant succeeding in proving the merits of the claim (where the claim was repudiated by the RAF); the apportionment of fault as determined by the court (where the percentage contributory negligence was in dispute, or where a third party was joined on the basis of his, her or its alleged contributory negligence); amendment by the claimant of the claimed amount based on, inter alia, fresh medico-legal or other expert reports, or new medico-legal or other expert reports, or new case law, or amendments to legislation; receipt by the claimant of a collateral benefit, which may qualify for deduction from the claimed amount; receipt by the claimant of an accelerated benefit, which may qualify for deduction from the claimed amount; determination by the Compensation Commissioner of the workman’s claim, which may qualify for deduction from the claimed amount; a change in the employment status of the claimant, which may have a bearing on the basis of calculation of the claimed amount; a change in the rehabilitation outcome of the claimant, which may have a bearing on the basis of calculation of the claimed amount; the death of the claimant, prior to settlement or the court order; as regards a claim for non-pecuniary loss, the timing of the death of the claimant, prior to, or after, close of pleadings, which may have a bearing on the right to, and calculation, of amount claimed in respect of non-pecuniary loss; settlement reached between the RAF and the claimant and, or, the sum awarded by the court; the outcome of appeals and reviews, in respect of orders by the lower courts; the application of the statutory limit on the quantum of claims for loss of support or loss of income; adjustments to the amount claimed to provide for inflation; the issuing by the RAF of an undertaking, instead of making payment of a lump-sum in respect of the costs of future medical expenses; and, where agreed, the payment of loss of income or loss of support in instalments.
01 December 2020 - NW2469
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(a) What number of hectares of State land is registered in the name of the State and (b) on what date will the Government make all suitable agricultural State land available for land reform purposes?
Reply:
a) There are 9 778 241 hectares of state land registered under the custodianship of DALRRD in the name of the State.
b) The state will continually make agricultural land available through several processes such as disposal, allocation, leasehold etc.
01 December 2020 - NW2429
Mabhena, Mr TB to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What are the processes and procedures of the SA Civil Aviation Authority that are in place to ensure that (a) all licensing and (b) operating conditions are met; (2) whether the specified processes and procedures were followed in the case of a certain company (name furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will furnish Mr T B Mabhena with the evidence that the specified processes and procedures were followed in the specified case; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Reply:
South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)
The process for the approval of any aerodrome, inclusive of a heliport, is as follows:
a) The applicant applies to the SACAA by submitting an application form.
b) A preliminary/initial inspection is conducted by Inspectors from the SACAA, in this case comprising of an Infrastructure Inspector and a Flight Operations Inspector to assess the suitability of the proposed site for helicopter operations and a preliminary inspection report with recommendations is generated and forwarded to the applicant.
c) The application is published in Government Gazette (in this case Gazette #41871 of 12 September 2018) for public comment.
d) As soon as the recommendations have been implemented, the applicant forwards a request to the SACAA for a final inspection to be conducted.
e) The initial issue of the approval and restrictions thereof is subject to the applicant complying with the SACAA regulations as well as consideration of any public comments received through the publication process. (In this case there was no comments in relation to any environmental matter).
f) Licenses/approvals are issued for a period of up to 5 years, as provided for under the Civil Aviation Act, Act No 13 of 2009, and, during the interleading periods, compliance is monitored through surveillance inspections, as per international standard.
1. The specified process was followed with the Ultimate Heli application.
2. Third party information can only be released with the consent of the approval holder. The reports contain 3rd party proprietary and commercially sensitive information, is confidential in nature and may contain personal information, which was provided in confidence, and the SACAA does not have consent from the operator to release such.
27 November 2020 - NW2584
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
With reference to his reply to question 1293 on 18 November 2019, wherein he indicated that the second phase of the Ekandustria Revitalisation Programme has not been initiated yet pending funding approval, what (a) are the reasons that was no budget set aside in the 2019-20 financial year for the specified programme, (b) further phases and deliverables are planned in the (i) 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22 financial years, (c) are the budgetary estimates for expenditure in the (i) 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22 financial years and (d) is the quantum in Rand of funding that has been approved in the 2020-2021 financial year?
Reply:
I am advised by the Department as follows:
a) In the previous reply, the reference to “funding approval” refers to applications from the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency/Ekandustria Industrial Park for funding for the second phase, from funds available within the dtic budget. The application for funding for Ekandustria Industrial Park was presented to the dtic Critical Infrastructure programme and referred back on for the Industrial Parks Management - Mpumalanga Growth Agency (MEGA) to provide supporting information on a number of areas including the following:
- A maintenance plan for the industrial park;
- Investment promotion and potential investors pipeline;
- Security measures to be put in place to attend to continuous crime in the industrial park; and
- Progress on restoring the waste-water treatment plant which was revitalised in phase 1 and has since been decommissioned due to crime.
The Critical Infrastructure Programme referred back the Application for Phase 2 for Ekandustria on 3 July 2018, for additional information that was required. the dtic and the DBSA engaged the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency MEGA and sent written communication on 27 August, 2018. The revised application has since been received on 10 November, 2020.
The Ekandustria Industrial Park has had significant challenges with several service delivery protests that impacted the revitalization programme, resulting in work stoppages during the first phase and protests continued after the first phase had been completed. The management of MEGA decided to slow down the revitalization process during this time due to the risk that would impact on the assets, the staff of MEGA and the Construction team.
Should the application meet on the necessary requirements it will be presented to the next sitting of the Critical Infrastructure Programme for funding in the fourth quarter.
b) Further phases are dependent on the urgent needs of the industrial park and the programme responds to the applications submitted. A guide for the phases is as follows –
Phase 1: Security infrastructure upgrade, fencing, lighting, critical top structures and electrical requirements - The first phase requirements was requested by the industrial parks management agencies who have been experiencing high crime levels.
Phase 2: Compliance to regulatory requirements – Landfill sites; Waste and Water treatment plants, Fire, Health & Safety Requirements, and Renewable energy initiatives.
Phase 3: Engineering designs and construction of new and existing roads, bulk water supply and sewage treatment plants or industrial effluent control.
Phase 4: Upgrading electricity infrastructure, and build new top structures in line with the expansion programme of the Parks.
Phase 5: Development of vacant land and sustainable industrial clusters in the Parks.
(c)&(d) The budgetary estimates for expenditure and the quantum in Rand of funding approved in the 2020-2021 financial year is not available as the dtic has not approved any application for the Ekandustria Industrial Park yet.
-END-
27 November 2020 - NW2751
Mohlala, Mr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What are the details of her department’s short-term plan to ensure that the community of Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape has access to water, more especially that the draught has almost dried up the Orange River?
Reply:
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) does not consider the Orange River as being under drought conditions and there are no water restrictions imposed on water resource use in the upper Orange River catchment. Therefore, no special drought plans are under consideration. However, the Orange River does have seasonal variations in terms of flow, with lower flows experienced in late winter. Alternative sources such as boreholes and springs are developed and utilised as alternate standby sources.
The Department is aware that the Joe Gqabi District Municipality (JGDM) does have water distribution constraints to the extent that there is a moratorium on further developments until the water services are upgraded in line with the Aliwal North Water Master Plan. The Joe Gqabi District Municipality does have short and medium term plans to improve water services in the area as follows:
a) Two projects already commenced with are the construction of two raw water off-channel storage dams at the water works (MIG funded) and replacement of asbestos cement bulk pipeline and leaking valves (WSIG funded),
b) Funding is currently still being sought for further short term plans to:
- Build a new 2 Ml Clear Water Sump and install a high lift pump at the WTW,
- Build a 1,2Ml reservoir and a 400kl elevated tank at the springs; and install a high pressure gravity main.
c) Medium Term Plans:
- Upgrade of WTW by 2,5Ml and installation of a desalination/package plant at the springs,
- Replacement of the old 200mm asbestos cement rising main and upgrade of pump station and main reservoir at the springs.
27 November 2020 - NW2723
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) Whether the Astron Energy refinery in Milnerton intends to return to operational service in the near future; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, by what date is the refinery envisaged to return to full production capacity; (2) whether (a) a safety and (b) environmental inspection and/or audit will be conducted prior to the facility returning to operational status; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
- The Department does not have specific date at which the refinery is scheduled to start operating, what was shared with the Department from Astron Energy is that the assessments of the incident arestill ongoing and there is no firm date of when the refinery would come back to be operational.
- Safety and environmental inspectionsand/or audit do not fall within the ambit of the Department of Mineral, Resources and Energy.
27 November 2020 - NW2740
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) Whether any environmental audit and/or inspection has been conducted by his department and/or any other relevant government entity at the Astron refinery in Milnerton in the past nine months before and/or after the explosion on 2 July 2020 that caused the loss of two lives; if not, why not; if so, what (a) were the findings of the audit and/or inspection in each case and (b) actions have been taken based on the findings of the audit and/or inspection; (2) whether the refinery is still compliant with its licensing conditions; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department of Mineral, Resources and Energy does not conduct any environmental audits, as these fall under different departments.
2. The refinery is not operational at the moment, however in terms of the Petroleum Products Act, the refinery was compliant prior to the incident.
27 November 2020 - NW2820
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) For each storage facility owned, leased and/or operated by the Strategic Fuel Fund, (a) on what date was the last (i) maintenance and (ii) refurbishment undertaken on the storage tanks and (b) what was the cost of such maintenance and/or refurbishment in each case; (2) (a) on what date was each specified facility last audited for environmental compliance and (b) what were the findings of the last environmental audit in each case; (3) whether there are any indications of seepage into the ground and/or the groundwater table; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the seepage?
Reply:
1. Saldanha Terminal
(1) For each storage facility owned, leased and/or operated by the Strategic Fuel Fund, (a) on what date was the last (i) maintenance and (ii) refurbishment undertaken on the storage tanks and (b) what was the cost of such maintenance and/or refurbishment in each case;
- Saldanha Terminal is made of Concrete Underground Closed tanks which do not require maintenance or refurbishments on the Saldanha tanks. There are however scheduled inspections to test the tanks structure and roof supports. In all inspections done to date there were NO abnormalities that were detected. This include the tank settlement test that was done in 2016, where no discernible changes since commissioning were observed.
(2) (a) on what date was each specified facility last audited for environmental compliance and (b) what were the findings of the last environmental audit in each case;
(a) The last full recertification Audit was conducted by SABS on ISO14001 2015 on the 10TH to the 13TH March 2020
(b) One “minor” finding was issued and cleared by SFF Saldanha and we have thus been recertified under the new ISO 140001 2015 StandardCertificate}.
(3) whether there are any indications of seepage into the ground and/or the groundwater table; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are
the relevant details of the seepage?
A “Ground water sampling” exercise is done bi-annually and the last one was done in May 2019 and there is no seepage detected to date.
2. Milnerton Terminal
1. For each storage facility owned, leased and/or operated by the Strategic Fuel Fund;
a) on what date was the last Maintenance:
(i) Maintenance of the SFF Milnerton tank farm is an on-going exercise based on a schedule created as per the operating and manufacturers specification of a particular equipment. These schedules are distributed from the Maintenance planner’s office to the relevant staff (electrical or mechanical). Another form of maintenance is “adhoc” as and when a breakdown occurs it is attended to.
(ii) 1999 - 2002
- During this period 11 tanks were refurbished.
b) For each storage facility owned, leased and/or operated by the Strategic Fuel Fund, what was the cost of such maintenance and/or refurbishment in each case:
- SFF paid market related costs as obtained following its approved tender process.
2. On what date was each specified facility last audited for environmental compliance:
a) An “Environmental Legal Compliance Audit” is conducted bi-annually and the last audit was done in June 2019.
b) The results of these audit was 2 minor findings that were closed-off and terminal received certification.
3. Whether there are any indications of seepage into the ground and/or the groundwater table; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the seepage?
- A “Ground water sampling” exercise is done bi-annually and the last one was done in December 2019 and there is no seepage detected to date,
27 November 2020 - NW2708
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
1) (a)What number of audits has the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) conducted of the City of Ekurhuleni since its establishment, (b) on what date was each audit report submitted to the specified city, (c) what were the recommendations contained in each audit report and (d) what number of new electricity connections have taken place within the city since the last audit was conducted by NERSA; 2) Whether NERSA has ensured that its recommendations have been implemented by the city; if not, why not; if so, which recommendations have been implemented? NW3476E
Reply:
1.
a) An independent technical audit of Ekurhuleni was done in January 2006. Another audit was done in 2020 but the focus was on the business assessment.
b) The report on the independent technical audit was submitted in the same year in May 2006. Due to COVID induced travel restrictions that was in place when the business assessment was done, the site inspection on the audit conducted in 2020 will be done in early 2021.The draft report of the business assessment will be sent to the Licensee by the end of November 2020.
c) It was recommended that:
- There must be investment in the maintenance and the refurbishment of the networks and on skilled staff.
- The Department must operate as an integrated entity.
- The maintenance and refurbishment plans must also be integrated.
d) According to our knowledge, there were 45 intake points in 2005/6 and there are now 55 intake points.
Increased Infrastructure
The Department of Energy has since 2006 increased its infrastructure in the various Depots in Ekurhuleni as follows:-
Electrification of Subsidized Households |
High Mast Lights |
Street Lights |
Substations |
92 161 |
977 |
15 458 |
Upgrading/Construction of 13 Substations |
The 92 161 additional connections excludes town planning development connections for non-subsidized households, which also forms part of the electricity grid and infrastructure to be maintained by the Department.
2. NERSA requests all audited licensees to develop Corrective Action Plans so that this can be monitored. The same will happen with Ekurhuleni Metro when the site inspection has been done and a final report has been shared with the Licensee. One of the objectives of the NERSA audits is to encourage licensees to do self-monitoring so that the networks do not deteriorate.
27 November 2020 - NW2659
Mokgotho, Ms SM to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Whether she has been informed that the community of Wards 1, 5 and 6 in Madibeng Municipality, North West, does not have access to clean piped water and that this has been the case for years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, on what date is it envisaged that the specified wards will have access to clean piped water?
Reply:
Honourable Member, any assistance required by our communities is rendered by municipalities. Should a municipality have difficulties, it approaches the Water Board that services the area. In this case, Magalies Water would assist the municipality.
I wish to point out that the legislative mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation is to ensure that the country’s water resources are protected, managed, used, developed, conserved and controlled in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all people and the environment.
The Water Services Act, 1997 refers to municipalities as Water Service Authorities (WSAs) responsible for distribution (reticulation) of water and to supply sanitation services. The Water Services Act in section 3 outlines the right of access to basic water supply and sanitation which mandates that “everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation” and places the responsibility on Water Services Authorities to ensure that they develop a Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) to ensure the realisation of this right.
Section 11 of the Water Services Act, 1997 mandates that “every Water Services Authority has the duty to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction to progressively ensure efficient, affordable, economical and sustainable access to water services.”
.
27 November 2020 - NW2823
Mohlala, Mr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What measures has her department taken to assist (a) water boards and (b) municipalities to continue to supply clean and reliable drinking water to the residents with the tariff increase of 11,5% by her department?
Reply:
(a) There has been no increase (0%) on the Bulk Water Charges imposed on all Water Boards for the 2020/21 financial year. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has also committed R600m in relief funds that will be distributed to cash strapped Water Boards. These funds will also go some way in helping the Water Boards to absorb the increase in raw water charges.
(b) Significant concessions have been given to the Domestic and Industry Sector with regards to Raw Water Use Charges. In terms of Water Resource Management Charges (WRMC), if the charges had been approved in line with the policy (Raw Water Pricing Strategy), the charges would have been increased by a maximum of fifty-six percent (56%). In terms of Water Resource Infrastructure Charges (WRIC), a maximum increase of 16.5% would also have been approved. The Capital Unit Charge (CUC) which is the charged levied on users that take water from schemes that are funded off-budget has not been increased for the 2020/21 financial year. The zero percent (0%) increase has been imposed on those schemes that supply water to domestic users.
It is important to note that all these concessions have had a negative impact on the performance of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in relation to water resource management functions, water resource infrastructure development and maintenance. The DWS provides assistance to the municipalities through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant (MWIG) for the development of new infrastructure and refurbishment thereof to ensure provision of clean Water.
27 November 2020 - NW2657
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
(1)What total number of poultry farms that are 100% black-owned (a) will participate in the new localisation designation report and (b) are not affiliated with the SA Poultry Association? (2) What total number of 100% black-owned companies that produce poultry feed are assisted by the Government? [NW3372E]
Reply:
The Poultry Master Plan was developed with input from the African Farmers Association of SA (AFASA) and the SA Poultry Association (SAPA), together with other stakeholders such as organised labour, importers and public entities.
In the initial phase of the Master Plan implementation, the focus has been on tariff adjustments to protect the sector, accompanied by the expansion of domestic investment to increase output. The industry was set targets for promotion of black-owned poultry farms. In all three areas, progress has been made: poultry tariffs were increased in February 2020, investment of over R750 million has been put into the sector and local production of chickens has increased in the past eight months.
In the next phase of implementation, a proposal is being developed for a localisation designation to enable state-entities to ensure that poultry used within the state (eg at hospitals) is procured from local producers. Once this phase has been implemented, data on the levels of participation by poultry producers can be collected.
The Poultry Master Plan has the objective inter alia of promoting transformation across the full value-chain particularly among integrated producers, to ensure that the presence of black South Africans are not limited to poultry farming, where returns are in many cases modest. The DTIC has not in the past collected detailed data on ownership in the poultry feed sector – however, with the focus in the Master Plan on transformation, this will be done in future, bringing together information across different public entities and sister departments.
-END-
27 November 2020 - NW2707
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
What are thereasons that the (a) (i) City of Ekurhuleni is still operating on a temporary electricity license 20 years after it was established and (ii) National Energy Regulator of South Africa has failed to provide the specified city with a permanent license; and (b) legal implications for the city of operating with a temporary licence for 20 years? NW3475E
Reply:
a) (i) The temporary electricity distribution licence granted to City of Ekurhuleni is still valid as it has two extension letters of which the second extension letter, dated 8 May 2007, extents the licence until 36 months after the promulgation of the Licensing Regulation made under the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act. No 4 of 2006). Until the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy promulgates the Licensing Regulations, the temporary licences remain valid.
(ii)Refer to (i) above.
b) There are no legal implications for the City of Ekurhuleni operating with a temporary licence, as it was issued and extended by NERSA in line with section 4 (a) of the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act. No 4 of 2006).
27 November 2020 - NW2741
Nxumalo, Mr MN to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)With reference to the alleged poor workmanship by contractors appointed by her department on the Road P63-1 from Hebron Village running from the border of Gauteng and North West to Letlhabile near Brits as well as Road P34-6 from Jan Kempdorp to Christiana, for what amount were the contractors contracted to build the roads; (2) (a) what (i) amount will it cost to redo the specified roads and (ii) criteria were used to award the specified contracts to rebuild the roads and (b) how long is it envisaged that the completion of the roads will take?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
Road construction is the responsibility of the Provincial Department therefore the question should be referred to the MEC of the relevant Province.
27 November 2020 - NW2812
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) With reference to her reply to question 2561 on 6 November 2020, what is the breakdown of learners in each (a) grade and (b) province who have not been accounted for between 1 April 2020 and 1 October 2020; (2) whether the original total figure furnished in the reply includes those students who were given permission to be home-schooled; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) how has her department monitored those students who have decided to study from home versus those who have dropped out?
Reply:
(1) Please see attachment.
(2) Yes.
(3) The provinces are busy triangulating and verifying the information when learners sit for examination.
27 November 2020 - NW2623
Cuthbert, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition
(1)What (a) amount did his (i) department and/or (ii) Ministry spend on vehicle hire for (aa) himself and (bb) the Deputy Ministers (i) Ms N Gina and (ii) Mr F Z Majola and (b) are all the relevant details in each case; (2) whether he has found that hired vehicles have been used in place of ministerial vehicles assigned to (a) him and (b) the Deputy Ministers; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the (i) reasons and (ii) relevant details; (3) whether he will furnish Mr M J Cuthbert with a list of all of the service providers used to hire vehicles for him and the specified Deputy Ministers; if not, why not; if so, on what date? NW3337E
Reply:
As per the Ministerial Handbook, official vehicles are provided to Ministers and Deputy Ministers in order for them to carry out their official duties. In instances where official vehicles are not available, vehicles are then hired.
As per our records, cars were hired for Minister Ebrahim Patel for use in cities where no official vehicle was available, as follows:
Minister Ebrahim Patel
Place of hire |
Travel date |
Return date |
Amount (R) |
Supplier Name |
Port Elizabeth |
25-Jul-19 |
25-Jul-19 |
1 565,73 |
Phakisa world fleet Solutions Isando (Hwt.Pks) |
Durban |
12-Jul-19 |
13-Jul-19 |
1 771,81 |
Phakisa world fleet Solutions Isando (Hwt.Pks) |
Durban |
14-Sep-19 |
15-Sep-19 |
3 932,35 |
Woodford Car And Bakkie Hire (Hwt.Wch) |
Durban |
4-Oct-19 |
4-Oct-19 |
2 970,68 |
Woodford Car And Bakkie Hire (Hwt.Wch) |
Durban |
16-Oct-19 |
18-Oct-19 |
6 363,34 |
Woodford Car And Bakkie Hire (Hwt.Wch) |
Total |
16 603,91 |
|
The records for the Deputy Ministers are still being collated and will be provided as a supplementary reply as soon as possible.
-END-
27 November 2020 - NW2836
Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What are the details of the plan that her department has put in place to deal with safety and security in schools in Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo Province?
Reply:
1. The Honourable Member should know that our intervention regarding safety and security at schools are not localised, but are national. The National School Safety Framework (NSSF) remains our primary strategic response to school violence. It is a comprehensive approach that coordinates and consolidates all school safety interventions in the sector. The NSSF is based on a social ecological systems model which locates the school within its broader community. It relies on collaboration and partnership for more coordinated approach to responding to school violence.
2.The Department of Basic Education, through the School Safety Directorate has established a platform (What-App Group) for ongoing mentoring of schools.
3. The Department of Basic education through School Safety Committees and Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) is mobilising communities, including Mopani District communities towards ownership of schools as community centres and future plans include a move towards encouraging communities towards mobilizing the alumni to adopt the schools which they previously attended that contributed to their education foundation to rekindle the love of education by both the youth and the communities
4. The Department rolled out Bullying Prevention and Positive Discipline programmes in all Limpopo Education Districts, including Mopani District partnership with Active Education to address incidences of violence, homophobic bullying and cyber-bullying in particular.
5. Safety Committees at local levels and QLTC constantly run campaign to encourages the community participation to foster common identity and building social cohesion and make schools centres of our heritage
6. Communities are encouraged to protect the schools from criminal elements by participating in Community Policing Forums (CPFs), through the existing DBE Protocol Partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS).