Questions and Replies

Reply:

(a) The reporting of death relating to COVID-19 does not seek to check whether the deceased had comorbidities or not. Attached are the COVID-19 related fatalities as reported by the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs)

(b) The Department of Basic Education does not collect the requested data. 

Reply:

a) Honourable Member would recall that Statistics South Africa is responsible for collection, collating and releasing of the official employment statistics through the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) and the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES).

The number of jobs lost in the mining industry since the beginning of the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 is not yet available because the QLSF 2nd Quarter will be released around the dates of 29th September 2020 and the QES will be released around the 15th of October 2020.

We will therefore request that we humbly await the publication of the official data in the country.

Reply:

Partner	Number of Projects	Completed to date
Assupol	10	10
Adopt-a-school/AFRISAM	4	4
AVBOB	6	4
LONMIN	13	0
Department of Environment Affairs	30	19
Department of Water and Sanitation	3	0
Nelson Mandela Foundation	1	1
NORCOS	5	1
Tiger Brands	5	4
Unilever	3	2
Total	80	45

The financial contributors were allocated schools; at which the contributors conducted the necessary condition assessments, compile the scope of work for the sanitation infrastructure, aligned to the Norms and Standards, and proceed to construct the sanitation infrastructure.  No funding was managed by the department. Upon the completion of the ablution facilities, the completed assets were officially handed to the department and the school.

Reply:

Municipalities’ employees are legible to apply for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)benefits if the employer has registered them using a reference number.

UIF Covid-19 TERS, are funds that a meant for employees who have been temporary laid-off due to lockdown as everybody is adhering to health and safety protocols having occasioned by the outbreak of devastating Covid-19. Attempting to curb the spread of Covid-19 and flatten the curve, many employees had to stay at home, so, to mitigate against the hardship of not earning whilst staying at home, employers on behalf of employees or employees themselves had to apply for UIF Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).Ifworkers were on strike and notat work it would not be possible for them to qualify for COVID-19 TERS benefits.

The employees could qualify for other UIF benefits as and when they getunemployed, dismissed, retrenched deceased, on maternity leave etc.

Municipalities have the right to register for the Unemployment Insurance and pay contribution to the Fund.

Reply:

(1) The performance of Denel against contracts for the DOD is currently being hindered to a great extent as a result of their financial distress which is impeding the procurement of subsystems and components required for meeting their contractual deliveries, as well as a significant loss of capability in certain critical areas.

Armscor and the DOD have developed alternative options with respect to the future of Denel, which will be presented for consideration by decision makers within government. It is clear that, without a significant bailout by Government, Denel will not be in a position to exist in its current form, nor will it be in a position to meet its contractual obligations to Armscor.

Denel possesses specific critical strategic and sovereign capabilities that are not duplicated elsewhere in the RSA, and the proposed options for going forward are aimed at maintaining at least those identified strategic and sovereign capabilities.

At present there is no imperative to restructure Armscor. Armscor recently completed a turnaround process which resulted in a restructuring that was aimed at optimising the performance of the organisation and which furthermore focussed on increased revenue generation in view of the decrease in the Defence budget and anticipated decreases in the transfer payment allocated to Armscor.

(2) Over the past few years, Project Hoefyster has suffered from significant delays and Denel is currently reneging on their contractual deliveries on this project. During 2018, Denel formally indicated to Armscor that it cannot complete the project within timescales, specifications or within budget, and requested a reset of the contract.

Armscor has presented several options with respect to going forward with the project to all relevant forums within the DOD. These options were thoroughly considered by both Armscor and the DOD, and a preferred option of deferment of the project was further developed and motivated. This option was supported by the SA Army, and has been presented to the respective governance forums within the DOD and was eventually recommended to the Armaments Acquisition Council (AAC) which is chaired by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. The AAC is the final decision making authority on projects, and it will provide guidance with respect to the preferred option regarding going forward with the project.

(3) In spite of the decline in the Capital Budget of the DOD which forms part of the Special Defence Account, sufficient funding is available to fund both projects Biro and Hotel. Neither of the projects will thus be delayed as a result of insufficient funding and Armscor will not be defaulting on any of the contractual payments. The worsening Rate of Exchange of the South African Rand against the Euro and other major currencies is placing significant pressure on the available budget for both projects, but the DOD has to date been able to provide sufficient funding to maintain the required budget for the projects.

Some delays on both projects have however been incurred as a result of the COVID-19 Lockdown and the resultant inability to import certain critical subsystems, but both projects are endeavouring to make up the delays that have been suffered. At present, project Biro is still expected to deliver the first vessel on time (January 2020), while a number of the contractual deliverables on project Hotel have been completed ahead of time.

In this regard, it is not expected that there will be any negative impact on the management of the anticipated Dockyard activities.

Reply:

(a)(b)and (c)

In line with the reply provided in Question 829, SASSA’s proposed operating model has not been implemented. However, the three existing Regional Executive Managers have been seconded on a temporary basis to manage additional Regions each for a period of six months. The secondments are in line with the Staffing Practices Policy of SASSA.

The full names and titles of the current managers at each specified office, and (c) the reporting lines for the managers in the offices are listed on the attached list (Annexures A1-A10)

The current Organisational Structure as approved by the Minister of Social Development comprises of Head Office (Pretoria) and nine (9) Regional Offices.The Agency’s organogram caters for 9 Regional (Provincial) Executive Managers that report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of SASSA (i.e., 1 Regional Executive Manager for each province). For ease of reference, the Organisational structure is attached below.

In each province/region there are a number of District Managers that are appointed and they report to the Regional Executive of the province/region. The diagram below depicts the high-level structure as approved which includes 9 provincial/regional offices. Attached are organograms demonstrating reporting lines of all the regional,provincial and districts offices, including reporting lines for managers.

Vacant posts;

• Ms Dunkerley is managing functions of Grants operations and Policy implementation
• Vacant Regional Executive Managers posts (6) have the 3 Regional Managers seconded as incumbents acting in clusters positions
• GM Office of the CEO position is vacant, but has been advertised.
• The position of COO is identified as a key and critical position,and funded, but currently vacant.

d) Physical Addresses Regional, Provincial and District Offices, please refer to (Annexure B)

National Assembly Written Reply: 1983 of 2020

_______________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

 

1. (a) In 2007, Transnet divested its interest in SA Express when the airline was established in terms of the SA Express Act (No. 34 of 2007), promulgated in December 2007, which provided for the transfer of SA Express shares and interests from Transnet to the state. The Act further granted the conversion of SA Express into a public company with share capital. In 2009, Government took 100% shareholding in SA Express.

 

The Company is a pre-existing company as contemplated in Item 2 of Schedule 5 of the Companies Act, (No 71 of 2008), as amended, and was incorporated in accordance with the Legal Succession to the South African Transport Services Act No. 9 of 1989 to and, in terms of its enabling legislation.

(b) There are no private shareholders who currently hold shares in SA Express. The company is also subject to the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, (PFMA) as amended. The government is the sole shareholder of the shares in the company and the rights attached to those shares are exercised by the Minister of Public Enterprises.

 

1. The Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) provides that the company is authorised to issue 1000 (one thousand) Shares. The 2013 MOI provides that the shares in issue are 452 (four hundred and fifty two) ordinary shares, all of which are held by the shareholder, as represented by the Minister of Public Enterprises.
   1. shares traded where 102 shares
   2. share seller was Transnet

c). share purchaser was Government, represented by the Minister of Public Enterprises

d) amount paid was R140 million.

The company received a total of R1 549 000 000.00 during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 financial years. The company was required to provide the Minister with a commensurate request to increase the authorised and issued shares, accordingly. The process was not finalised and the provisional liquidator will only be able to address the matter, subject to prescribed requirements.

Reply:

1. I am advised that according to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) records, the specified person travelled overseas as detailed below and that all trips undertaken were aligned to the functions for which the official is responsible and were duly authorised by the delegated authority.

No	Destination (b)	Date	Cost (a) in Rand (R)	Purpose of each trip (c)
1	Boston	Oct 2011	73 727,00	Learning and development intervention.
2	Beijing and Shanghai	Nov 2011	61 661,00	Attended the SA EXPO in Beijing and Shanghai as part of the Dept’s trade promotion programme.
3	Boston	Mar 2012	73 596,00	Learning and development intervention.
4	Boston	Apr 2013	63 296,00	Attended the 2013 Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Summit.
5	Kuala Lumpur	Jun 2013	35 454,00	Invited to attend The Global Summit for Women 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
6	Brazil	Aug 2013	57 077,00	Conducted an international benchmarking study in Brazil pertaining to Public Entities and Statutory Institutions.
7	Washington	Nov 2013	75 843,00	Attended the 17th Annual KM World Conference & Exposition in Washington.
8	Paris	Jun 2014	59 026,00	Attended the Global Summit of Women in Paris.
9	Washington	Jul 2014	77 898,00	Attended and participated in the AGOA Forum and the business engagements on the margins of US-Africa Leaders’ Summit. Provided support to the Minister.
10	Brazil	Oct 2014	69 708,00	Led the delegation for the 6th Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) in Brazil.
11	Washington	Nov 2014	96 567,39	Learning and Development Conference in Washington.
12	Atlanta and Santa Fe	Jul 2015	100 311,72	Trade promotion programme to Atlanta & Santa Fe. Supported the Deputy Minister.
13	California and St Louis	Oct 2015	104 453,72	Learning and Development intervention. Also met with Showroom Management Company regarding the trade promotion Hub in Atlanta.
14	Hong Kong	Mar 2016	60 916,72	Participated in the Trade Promotion Expo.
15	Atlanta	Jul 2016	119 081,23	Participated and attended the trade promotion programme in Atlanta.
16	Moscow	Sept 2016	48 688,23	Attended and participated in the national Pavilion in Moscow.
17	Washington	Nov 2016	64 713,23	Learning and development intervention.
18	Atlanta and Miami	Nov 2016	100 375,23	Participated in the trade promotion programme.
19	San Diego	Apr 2017	125 456,23	Meeting with institutional buyers regarding the trade promotion programme.
20	Doha Qatar	Apr 2017	60 793,23	Attended the International Conference on Chemical Disarmament and Security as part of council function.
21	Atlanta	Jul 2017	97 586,29	Participated in the Trade Promotion programme.
22	Atlanta	Jan 2018	80 163,29	Participated in the Trade Promotion programme.
23	Atlanta	Jul 2018	64 021,68	Participated in the Trade Promotion programme.
24	New York, Philadelphia and Orlando	Oct 2018	119 116,68	Participated in the outward mission as part of the Trade Promotion programme.
25	Atlanta	Sept 2019	90 927,93	Facilitated the Trade Promotion project closure.
26	Geneva, Germany and the United Kingdom	Nov 2019	101 427,93	Part of SABS administration function to address a session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardisation Policies and undertook benchmarking visits to the British Standards Institute (BSI), German National Standards Body (DIN) and Swiss Standards Body (SNV).

2. The specified person received the following gifts from Ithuba in 2016 when representing the Department at the launch of Ithuba’s new “Raffle” game:

• 1 box of chocolates;
• Two wine glasses;
• 1 pair of Jenna Clifford earrings; and
• Soap.

3. I am advised that the gifts were disclosed to the Department in 2016.

-END-

Reply:

(1)(a) As on24 June 2020 the total number offenders released was4138.

(1)(b) & (2) The breakdown of releases and percentage per region and correctional centre is as follows:

EASTERN CAPE REGION
Correctional Centre	(1)(b)Total releases DUE TO SPECIAL PAROLE DISPENSATION 24 JUNE 2020	(2)(a) Percentage of overcrowding before releases	(2)(b)Percentage of overcrowding after releases 24 JUNE 2020
Fort Beaufort	6	25.60%	22.02%
Grahamstown	12	158.25%	151.78%
King William's Town	0	136.57%	136.38%
Middledrift	13	177.71%	174.61%
Stutterheim	3	78.00%	64.00%
East London Medium. A	0	162.56%	161.84%
East London Medium. B	0	178.82%	169.98%
East London Medium. C	13	93.77%	79.12%
Mdantsane	29	214.09%	205.50%
Graaff-Reinet	0	242.86%	223.81%
Jansenville	15	90.32%	41.94%
Kirkwood	12	133.04%	125.79%
Somerset-East	13	91.62%	71.26%
Bizana	1	229.79%	234.04%
Elliotdale	0	30.61%	30.61%
Flagstaff	4	221.62%	200.00%
Lusikisiki	3	265.14%	260.55%
Mount Ayliff	2	158.82%	156.47%
Mount Fletcher	0	196.51%	194.19%
Mount Frere	3	193.75%	181.25%
Mqanduli	4	99.07%	95.33%
Nqgeleni	1	107.41%	102.78%
Tabankulu	3	164.06%	150.00%
Mthatha Remand	0	198.11%	200.47%
Mthatha Medium	0	215.14%	212.08%
Barkly-East	0	116.42%	104.48%
Burgersdorp	7	292.62%	259.73%
Butterworth	0	104.14%	92.48%
Cofimvaba	5	33.66%	24.75%
Cradock	13	168.77%	154.94%
Dodrecht	7	142.39%	127.17%
Engcobo	1	121.21%	114.14%
Idutywa	2	240.32%	233.87%
Lady Frere	0	71.74%	50.00%
Middelburg	12	149.84%	145.11%
Nqamakwe	0	0.00%	0.00%
Queenstown	0	275.20%	236.00%
Sada	3	165.52%	162.84%
Sterkspruit	8	62.90%	24.19%
Willowvale	20	107.69%	55.77%
St Albans Maximum	0	128.61%	128.81%
St Albans Medium A	1	235.13%	214.16%
St Albans Medium B	34	136.17%	132.29%
Patensie	29	84.42%	73.65%
Port Elizabeth	50	91.36%	78.72%
Regional Total	329	150%	147.80%

GAUTENG REGION
Correctional Centre	(1)(b)Total releases DUE TO SPECIAL PAROLE DISPENSATION 24 JUNE 2020	(2)(a) Percentage of overcrowding before releases	(2)(b)Percentage of overcrowding after releases 24 JUNE 2020
Baviaanspoort Maximum	0	148.48%	148.25%
Baviaanspoort Medium	14	129.64%	124.37%
Emthonjeni	32	31.88%	26.88%
Boksburg Medium A	46	139.45%	132.15%
Boksburg Juveniles	0	146.35%	141.61%
Heidelberg Male	25	96.75%	86.26%
Johannesburg Medium A	7	248.90%	247.11%
Johannesburg Medium B	42	159.97%	157.43%
Johannesburg Medium C	0	141.74%	141.45%
Johannesburg Female	31	155.79%	144.21%
Krugersdorp	74	164.92%	165.48%
Leeuwkop Max	42	151.08%	151.46%
Leeuwkop Med A	37	102.20%	98.03%
Leeuwkop Med B	7	113.74%	106.80%
Leeuwkop Med C	0	148.93%	147.50%
Modderbee	27	167.34%	164.33%
Devon	40	24.45%	16.05%
Nigel	33	118.02%	115.02%
KgošiMampuru II Maximum	0	99.65%	98.59%
KgošiMampuru II Local	3	173.24%	162.41%
KgošiMampuru II Central	35	142.39%	141.28%
KgošiMampuru II Female	33	145.78%	123.49%
ODI	43	118.17%	112.42%
Atteridgeville	102	96.06%	67.82%
Zonderwater Medium A	0	149.54%	149.54%
Zonderwater Medium B	57	121.73%	114.10%
Grand Total	730	149.03%	144.09%

KWAZULU NATAL REGION
Correctional Centre	(1)(b)Total releases DUE TO SPECIAL PAROLE DISPENSATION 24 JUNE 2020	(2)(a) Percentage of overcrowding before releases	(2)(b)Percentage of overcrowding after releases 24 JUNE 2020
Durban Medium A	0	172.13%	165.33%
Durban Medium B	28	151.95%	150.23%
Durban Medium C	33	59.51%	41.94%
Durban Female	39	142.63%	121.12%
Durban Youth	44	49.76%	41.02%
Umzinto	22	129.77%	120.55%
Ingwavuma	4	42.20%	41.28%
Mtunzini	16	47.83%	39.13%
Stanger	10	56.39%	45.86%
Maphumulo	3	54.55%	46.75%
Eshowe	28	114.66%	109.58%
Empangeni	68	60.9%	50.81%
Qalakabusha	53	148.46%	137.63%
Glencoe	51	113.06%	110.36%
Dundee	26	42.48%	28.32%
Pomeroy	10	33.33%	17.24%
Ladysmith	11	188.66%	170.06%
Bergville	19	113.79%	86.21%
Greytown	21	55.24%	29.52%
Estcourt	7	52.34%	50.00%
Kranskop	5	46.49%	42.11%
Ebongweni	0	74.4%	73.33%
Port Shepstone	35	80%	52.00%
Kokstad Medium	30	133.24%	127.94%
Matatiele	10	79.5%	63.86%
Nongoma	13	120.37%	100.00%
Ncome Medium A	9	160.37%	157.29%
Ncome Medium B	18	128.82%	125.10%
Melmoth	18	117.39%	93.48%
Vryheid	21	146.89%	133.33%
Nkandla	4	111.11%	100.00%
Pietermaritzburg Medium A	28	142.25%	137.39%
Pietermaritzburg Medium B	40	70.2%	68.26%
Sevontein	19	128.83%	124.52%
New Hanover	12	101.30%	93.51%
Ixopo	26	81.8%	66.67%
Waterval Medium A	45	142.29%	133.50%
Waterval Medium B	15	89.6%	83.41%
Uthrect	15	48.78%	43.90%
Newcastle	5	142.21%	125.10%
Ekuseni	21	27.83%	24.33%
Grand Total	882	119.73%	112.87%

LIMPOPO/MPUMALANG/NORTH WEST REGION
Correctional Centre	(1)(b)Total releases DUE TO SPECIAL PAROLE DISPENSATION 24 JUNE 2020	(2)(a) Percentage of overcrowding before releases	(2)(b)Percentage of overcrowding after releases 24 JUNE 2020
Rooigrond Medium B	10	135.71%	156.02%
Lichtenburg	5	60.82%	67.35%
Zeerust	15	123.08%	159.35%
Mafikeng	0	129.63%	74.07%
Losperfontein	14	117.33%	126.49%
Rustenburg	29	102.83%	60%
Rustenburg COE	13	44.19%	38.60%
Mogwase	18	122.33%	132.28%
Bethal	56	137.48%	137.48%
Ermelo	28	142.15%	123.78%
Piet Retief	38	142.15%	159.39%
Standerton	20	132.48%	125.48%
Volkrust	13	122.75%	111.85%
Modimolle	21	136.54%	126.10%
Polokwane	33	166.80%	182.65%
Tzaneen	18	34.33%	44.78%
Thohoyandou Medium A	14	143.13%	137.92%
Thohoyandou Females/Juveniles	32	115.67%	114.18%
MakhadoCoE	27	152.47%	148.46%
Belfast	5	37.93%	29.31%
Carolina	6	20.00%	52.85%
Middelburg	9	104.42%	85.80%
Witbank	2	134.57%	130.24%
Wolmaransstad	9	99.07%	36.11%
Christiana	6	90.65%	100%
Potchefstroom RDF	18	230.33%	219.15%
Klerksdorp	25	127.50%	126.23%
Barberton Maximum	0	150.65%	150.77%
Barberton Medium A	0	0.00%	0%
Barberton Medium B	45	166.88%	166.24%
Barberton Town	19	102.42%	94.62%
Lydenburg	17	160.49%	158.02%
Grand Total	565	133.84%	129.23%

FREE STATE / NORTHERN CAPE REGION
Correctional Centre	(1)(b) Total releases DUE TO SPECIAL PAROLE DISPENSATION 24 JUNE 2020	(2)(a) Percentage of overcrowding before releases	(2)(b) Percentage of overcrowding after releases 24 JUNE 2020
Colesberg	19	106.45%	97.31%
De Aar Male	63	122.35%	89.77%
De Aar Female	3	93.94%	81.82%
Hopetown	12	85.94%	73.44%
Richmond	13	116.28%	95.35%
Victoria West	22	165.22%	133.33%
Goedemoed A	34	87.21%	81.06%
Goedemoed B	37	96.47%	88.68%
Bethulie	3	123.53%	103.92%
Edenburg	5	89.80%	73.47%
Fauresmith	5	71.93%	56.14%
Zastron	1	20.31%	42.19%
Groenpunt Maximum	3	143.02%	142.95%
Groenpunt Medium	7	71.29%	71.97%
Groenpunt Youth	6	72.60%	70.82%
Frankfort	13	52.44%	50.00%
Heilbron	5	116.67%	113.64%
Parys	6	82.76%	89.66%
Sasolburg	11	122.11%	105.26%
Vereeniging	0	132.32%	129.26%
Grootvlei A	14	172.99%	170.54%
Grootvlei B	1	120.08%	118.44%
Brandfort	13	42.55%	4.96%
Boshof	6	83.33%	63.33%
Ladybrand	1	103.70%	74.07%
Wepener	11	36.05%	23.13%
Winburg	13	69.59%	60.81%
Mangaung	0	100.00%	100.00%
Kimberley	18	121.97%	104.12%
Tswelopele	25	75.50%	73.25%
Barkley West	9	32.79%	47.54%
Douglas	11	84.85%	72.05%
BizzaMakhate A	17	82.50%	75.61%
BizzaMakhate B	2	100.19%	106.44%
BizzaMakhate C	38	137.50%	120.83%
BizzaMakhate D	0	0.00%	0.00%
Bethlehem	12	148.89%	141.67%
Ficksburg	6	139.08%	132.18%
Harrismith	33	146.8%	130.53%
Hennenman	18	49.05%	36.19%
Hoopstad	0	35.86%	26.21%
Lindley	7	58.54%	31.71%
Odendaalsrus	0	160.49%	142.38%
Senekal	8	49.25%	42.54%
Venterburg	6	70.87%	55.91%
Virginia	33	84.83%	98.60%
Upington Males	45	73.04%	65.67%
Upington Females	3	50.68%	39.73%
Kuruman	12	125.91%	100.24%
Springbok	4	62.67%	50.67%
Grand Total	634	99.15%	93.61%

WESTERN CAPE REGION
Correctional centres	(1)(b)Total releases DUE TO SPECIAL PAROLE DISPENSATION 24 JUNE 2020	(2)(a) Percentage of overcrowding before releases	(2)(b)Percentage of overcrowding after releases 24 JUNE 2020
Allandale	38	226.79%	238.10%
Hawequa	7	105.29%	14.42%
Obiqua	39	117.52%	117.52%
Paardeberg	43	134.87%	106.90%
Brandvlei (New Centre)	2	95.37%	71.36%
Brandvlei Medium C	86	95.00%	64.21%
Brandvlei Youth	41	103.76%	108.33%
Drakenstein Medium A	39	132.37%	109.03%
Drakenstein Medium B	32	112.03%	117.30%
Drakenstein Maximum	1	148.96%	153.37%
Stellenbosch	3	211.27%	121.13%
Beaufort-West	10	239.47%	188.16%
George	26	187.03%	184.72%
Knysna	13	177.65%	145.25%
Ladismith	2	205.56%	185.19%
Mosselbaai	68	128.32%	136.99%
Oudtshoorn Medium A	43	186.33%	155.33%
Oudtshoorn Medium B (f)	19	153.85%	91.03%
Prince Albert	8	157.69%	86.54%
Uniondale	9	150.00%	140.38%
Goodwood	38	156.85%	121.09%
Buffeljagsrivier	23	144.49%	134.69%
Caledon RDF	6	196.69%	154.88%
Helderstroom Medium A	51	129.54%	128.48%
Helderstroom Maximum	0	143.80%	145.16%
Malmesbury Medium A	39	97.84%	98.49%
Malmesbury RDF	4	229.21%	253.37%
Riebeeck-Wes	1	29.76%	6.34%
Pollsmoor RDF	5	177.27%	173.57%
Pollsmoor Medium A	1	153.66%	131.50%
Pollsmoor Medium B	100	161.02%	177.35%
Pollsmoor Medium C	38	83.54%	34.66%
Pollsmoor Females	46	186.12%	79.79%
Calvinia	1	100.00%	121.95%
Vanrhynsdorp Males	12	265.24%	100.20%
Vanrhynsdorp Females	0	128.00%	93.75%
Voorberg Medium A	25	56.32%	48.50%
Voorberg Medium B (new)	4	110.13%	107.95%
Dwarsrivier	27	136.36%	130.80%
Robertson	19	102.14%	87.61%
Warmbokkeveld	21	199.56%	73.85%
Worcester Males	1	180.67%	186.91%
Worcester Females	7	180.00%	161.97%
Grant Total	998	140.15%	120.15%

Overcrowding level –

The percentage of inmates in excess to the available bed space in percentage.

Occupancy level –

The number of occupied bed space at a given timecompared to the total number of bed space available in percentage.

(3) There are 1854 officials employed at community corrections to deal with the current situation. Officials are rotated within priority tasks that are presented by the pandemic at this time.195 vacant positions are still to be filled through human resource process.

The increased strategic partnerships within communities and in Government (District Delivery Model (DDM) model assist in this regard.

There are 958 service points established nationally through partnerships with external stakeholders to enhance the accessibility of community corrections services for parolees and probationers.

Twenty one (21) halfway houses were established through partnerships in order to successfully reintegrate probationers and parolees.

(4)

Filled	Offender caseload 28 May 2020	Ratio: number of Offenders per Official	Ratio: number of Offenders per Social Worker
1854	55882	1:30	1:485
Filled	Offender caseload 28 May 2020 PLUS 19 000 releases	Ratio No of offenders per Official	Ratio No of offenders per Social Worker
1854	74882	1:40	1:651
Percentage increase	25.37% caseload increase	25% per correctional official	25.49 % increase Per Social Worker

END

Reply:

1. Customary law is mostly unwritten, with no dedicated body of persons tasked with making rules or with the authority to define its norms. This body of law covers all matters regulating personal and family life, and only certain aspects of customary law have been codified, for example the recognition of customary marriages, and parts of the law on succession, especially that dealing with the abolition of the principle of primogeniture. Often, this codification emanates from court orders on disputes lodged with the courts.

 

2. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act,1998(Act No. 120 of 1998) defines customary law as the customs and usages traditionally observed among the indigenous African peoples of South Africa and form part of the culture of those peoples. Section 211 protects those institutions that are unique to customary law. It follows from this that customary law must be interpreted by the courts, as first and foremost answering to the contents of the Constitution. Specifically, section 211(3) of the Constitution orders the application of customary law by the courts, where this law is applicable. Customary law is protected by and subject to the Constitution in its own right, and may be tested only against the Constitution, and not the common law or legislation. While many South Africans subscribe to and live according to customary law, sections 30 and 31 of the Constitution provide for the right to cultural diversity. The recognition and application of customary law rests on the right to culture of the particular community. Customary law in South Africa is tied to ethnicity, therefore the law regulating the lives of people will differ across communities, ethnicities and provinces.

3. Living customary law exists in the system of living norms that regulate everyday lives of people who live according to customary law. This type of customary law is seen as dynamic, evolving and context specific as it changes in the beliefs and circumstances it applies to.

4. Also, in Pilane and Another v Pilane and Another 2013 (4) BCLR 431(CC) the Constitutional Court confirmed the notion of living customary law as follows:

‘the true nature of customary law is as a living body of law, active and dynamic, with an inherent capacity to evolve in keeping with the changing lives of the people whom it governs’.

5. Since the advent of democracy, the Department has through the South African Law Reform Commission, codified certain Branches of customary law, and this includes Customary Marriages and the Law that relates to the Customary Marriages Act.

6. The Traditional Courts Bill which seeks to create a uniform traditional court system, is currently with the National Council of Provinces, after having been passed by the National Assembly.

This is part of the ongoing Project of Transformation of Customary Law, because customary law is living law. Codification is not do-able in a once-off project.

 

Reply:

No I have not been informed about the allegations referred to in the question. The Honourable Member is requested to urgently report the matter to the nearby police station and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. Further, the Member is requested to provide me with details of this alleged crime.

I wish to state categorically that we are enjoined to deliver a service to our people and for a greater good. As public representatives, the duty of our office requires that we must take legal action against the wrong doing when brought to our attention and not wait for sharing such information through parliamentary questions. In doing so, we run the risk of losing crucial evidence that law enforcement agencies might require. If proven to be true, this is a serious offence and it will not be tolerated.

Reply:

a) The total number of food parcels distributed by SASSA and DSD in the City of Ekurhuleni since 26 March 2020 is 73 089 as reflected below, 2 929 by SASSA and 70 160by DSD.

b) Breakdown per ward of SASSA food parcels distributed is detailed in the table below:

Local Office Name	Number of parcels = 2929	Ward Number(s) or Local Office
Germiston	9	W33=1,W35=1, W38=1, W40=1, W41=1, W42=2, W45=2
Benoni	12	Benoni/Daveyton
Tsakane	30	Tsakane
Vosloorus	43	W44=16, W46=11, W47=9, W107=7
Thokoza	118	W40=8, W47=6, W50=13, W54=14, W56=19, W58=21, W60=18, W109=19
Benoni	24	Benoni/Daveyton
Germiston	27	W21=4, W41=4, W43=12, W93=7,
Tsakane	86	W84=86
Thokoza	66	W40=1, W45=1, W48=11, W49=4, W50=2, W51=12, W56=6, W57=5, W60=24
Benoni	19	Benoni/Daveyton
Tembisa	50	W91=5, W13=9, W6=23, W104=7, W10=6
Germiston	27	W35=19 , W42=3, W93=5
Germiston	18	W34=1 , W35=13 , W41=3, W45=1
Benoni	30	Benoni/Daveyton
Springs	44	Springs
Kwa-Thema	62	Kwa-Thema
Thokoza	115	W37=4, W40=5, W48=9, W50=7, W51=10, W52=6, W53=6, W54=8, W57=9, W58=12, W60=7  (Thokoza)
Tembisa	40	W1=6, W91=8, W104=4, W5=22
Germiston	28	W21=14 , W34=3, W35=7, W36=2, W45=1, W32=1
Benoni	38	Benoni/Daveyton
Vosloorus	135	W35=1, W41=3, W43=4, W44=39,W45=25, W46=2,W48=10,W47=2, W50=2,W58=1,W60=1, W64=3, W95=22   (Vosloorus/Zonkezizwe)
Tsakane	22	W83=5, W82=7, W81=10,
Springs	16	W75=16
Kwa-Thema	11	W75=11
Duduza	21	W86=9, W87=7, W89=5
Vosloorus	72	Vosloorus/Zonkezizwe
Tembisa	37	W104=23, W14=4, W91=2, W13=4, W5=3, W7=1
Tembisa	47	W6=34, W14=5, W2=1, W11=1, W10=2, W102=1, W91=1, W1=1, W10=1
Thokoza	130	W37=3, W40=3, W48=9, W49=24,W50=24, W51=1,W52=20,W53=2, W54=6,W55=1,W56=4, W57=4, W58=2, W60=13, W61=7, W63=1, W103=2, W107=4
Germiston	42	W21=10, W33=13, W34=10, W35=3, W40=1, W42=2, W53=1, W93=2
Benoni	21	W24=1, W25=2, W28=1, W29=1, W31=2, W68=2, W69=4, W70=3, W90=1, Benoni/Daveyton
Germiston	35	W21=12, W35=3, W38=1, W40=16, W93=2, W99=1
Tembisa	73	W2=3, W11=4, W14=20, W6=10, W12=9, W19=2, W90=2, W104=17, W5=3, W3=3, W9=2  (Tembisa)
Duduza	6	Duduza/Nigel
Tsakane	39	Tsakane
Kwa-Thema	17	W78=7, W79=10
Springs	37	Springs
Benoni	46	W24=1, W28=3, W29=9, W30=3, W31=5, W65=3, W66=1, W69=14, Benoni/Daveyton/Actonville
Vosloorus	62	Vosloorus/Zonkezizwe
Vosloorus	130	W95=31, W107=22, W41=8, W47=4, W45=10, W65=5, W63=1, W62=1, W61=1, (Vosloorus/Zonkezizwe)
Tembisa	61	W9=14, W5=4, W11=2, W91=17, W3=3, W6=3, W2=3, W1=6, W14=1, W4=4, W12=1, w9=3
Thokoza	139	W47=1, W48=5, W49=5, W50=40, W52=7, W55=7, W58=16, W63=45, W95=1, W103=1, W107=11   (Thokoza)
Germiston	27	W21=8, W34=3, W35=5, W38=1, W40=3, W41=2, W42=1, W93=1, (Germiston/Reiger Park/Primrose)
Duduza	7	Duduza/Nigel
Kwa-Thema	8	Kwa-Thema
Springs	18	Springs
Tsakane	21	Tsakane
Benoni	35	W24=4, W35=2, W28=3, W29=2, W30=10, W65=6, W69=4, W71=2, W92=1, W125=1
Thokoza	57	W56=57
Vosloorus	71	W61=50, W62=21
Vosloorus	54	W95=54
Germiston	37	W15=1, W19=1, W21=3, W32=3, W34=5, W35=2, W39=2, W40=4, W41=1, W42=1, W53=1, W93=2, W99=4, (Germiston/Primrose/Reiger Park/Boksburg)
Germiston	39	W32=1, W35=14, W40=15, W41=1, (Germiston/Primrose/Reiger Park/Boksburg)
Benoni	26	Benoni/Daveyton/Actonville
Benoni	60	W24=1, W25=1, W28=5, W29=5, W30=23, W31=1, W32=1, W65=8, W69=14, Benoni/Daveyton/Actonville
Germiston	9	W18=1, W21=2, W33=1, W35=2, W34=1, W40=2
Thokoza	40	Thokoza/Katlehong/Palm Ridge
Thokoza	50	Thokoza/Katlehong
Thokoza	50	Thokoza/Katlehong/Palm Ridge
Thokoza	50	Eden Park/Thokoza
Thokoza	52	Eden Park/Thokoza
Vosloorus	49	Vosloorus/Zonkezizwe
Vosloorus	84	Vosloorus/Zonkezizwe

Total number of food parcels delivered	Ward Number(s)
883	1	3	4	5
7853	2	6	7	9	10	11
323	8
200	11
93	12
404	13	66
27	14
745	15	16	17	90	106
158	15	91
68	17
446	18	19
769	21	20
353	21	33
430	22	32	73
50	22
99	23
766	24	110	108
511	25	96	100
1205	25
598	25
5895	26	69
136	27	28	29
935	30
442	33	93	34
1040	33
885	34
552	35
2745	36	35	93
332	36
50	37
173	39	35
441	40	41
940	40
883	41	95
2554	41
25	42
1998	43
3485	44	64	45	94	102	47
33	49
1836	52	50	51	56	59
372	53
200	54
358	57
1441	58	111
102	60
1481	61	62
600	62
1052	68	67	70	26	65
254	69
21	70
110	71
554	72	75
250	76
793	77	80
498	78	77	112
319	78	109
684	79
3479	81	85	84	83	86
755	82
1246	84	87	98
919	88	104
1657	89	49	103	102	94	52	58	57	40
7568	89	57	55	63	58	40	49	46	48
871	92
439	93
123	94
891	95
394	97	105	74
912	99
50	101
200	107
206	110
70 160	Total Number of Food Parcels Distributed from April 2020- July 2020

National Assembly written Reply: 1350 of 2020

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

I am advised by the Department that:

1. The sabbatical leave was not taken. The employee in question was granted an International Scholarship and sabbatical leave was approved for this purpose for the period 1 October 2017 until 30 September 2018. Due to personal circumstances, the employee could not take up the scholarship and returned to work on 27 November 2017 and the sabbatical leave for the period 1 October 2017 until 24 November 2017 was subsequently converted to unpaid leave and is being recovered.

2. The sabbatical leave for the period 9 February 2018 to 8 February 2019 was approved in line with the Departmental policy on sabbatical leave as the Department of Public Service and Administration does not specifically provide for sabbatical leave, but allows departments to determine their own sabbatical leave policies.

a) The original approval was granted for a period of 12 months, from 9 February 2018 until 8 February 2019. The Accouting Officer did, however, approve a deviation from the 12 months consecutive sabbatical leave to allow for taking the leave in non-consecutive intervals as and when required, provided that the total period of leave taken does not exceed 12 months (261 working days). However, the employee took 249 working days out of the 261 working days; and

b) A breakdown of each period taken is provided in the table below:

2018
Period	No. of working days
09.02.2018 – 22.02.2018	10
27.02.2018 – 07.03.2018	7
29.03.2018 – 10.05.2018	27
01.06.2018 – 22.06.2018	16
02.07.2018 – 06.07.2018	5
13.08.2018 – 31.08.2018	15
10.09.2018 – 18.09.2018	7
12.11.2018 – 26.11.2018	11
	98 working days
2019
21.01.2019 – 08.02.2019	15
18.02.2019 – 29.03.2019	29
08.04.2019 – 16.04.2019	7
06.05.2019 – 14.05.2019	6
10.06.2019 – 21.06.2019	9
26.06.2019 – 28.06.2019	3
08.07.2019 - 30.07.2019	17
31.07.2019 – 04.09.2019	25
06.09.2019 – 20.09.2019	11
23.09.2019	1
25.09.2019	1
03.10.2019 – 08.11.2019	27
	151 working days
Total working days taken	249 working days

-END-

Reply:

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development offers assistance to child victims of sexual violence in a number of ways.

Over the years, the justice system has moved towards an approach tailored to prevent and minimize any further hardships and trauma often encountered by child victims of sex crimes when seeking redress for violation of their rights.

Since 2013, the Department has been establishing Sexual Offences Courts founded on a best practice model that offers a wide range of child support services. This model seeks to give children a court experience that is age-appropriate, caring, and responsive to their needs for dignity, respect and privacy.

In line with the 2019 Presidential Summit Declaration against Gender-based Violence and Femicide, the Department facilitated a process which, in February 2020, culminated in the promulgation of section 55A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act of 2007 and accompanying Regulations. The Regulations provide for required facilities, devices, equipment, and services that these courts have to offer to be a designated Sexual Offences Court.

The Regulations provide for a range of victim support services - amongst these are services for children which include the court preparation service, the pre-trial and post-trial emotional containment service, the child-friendly private waiting room service, the private testifying service, the intermediary service, counseling services, as well as travelling and food allowances. This package also offers support to children with disabilities. The Regulations further incorporate the court support and accompaniment services, mostly offered by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to children.

The Sexual Offences Courts offer these services in a sequential value process to prevent any incidence of secondary traumatization. The child is kept safe in a private waiting room which is furnished to respond to the psychosomatic needs of the child. The room offers a play area to keep the child entertained, and is also attached to a private toilet facility to protect the child from exposure to the accused person and other court users.

From a private room, the child testifies with the assistance of an intermediary via a dual-view closed circuit TV (CCTV) system. The goal is to save the child from hearing communication directly from the courtroom. The intermediary therefore serves as the conduit between the courtroom and the child, and conveys questions to the child. When the child is tired during testimony, the court adjourns for the child to take a nap on a custom-made sofa-bed provided for in the testifying room.

The Regulations also make provision for the use of anatomical dolls for use by the prosecutor and the intermediary.

Provision is also made for a court preparation programme which is programme developed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and accredited with the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority which is aimed at familiarizing complainants and witnesses in sexual offence cases with the court environment, with a view to preparing them to testify in court and providing assistance and support to them.

Services are also offered at the Thuthuzela Care Centres and victim assistance officers are employed on the establishment of the National Prosecuting Authority and attached to a Thuthuzela Care Centre.

The Department and the NPA progressively improve these services to ensure that child victims of sexual offences receive the support they need.

Reply:

Following my reply to PQ 737, I requested the Department to contact the provincial regulators and ask for information to advise on further steps that national government may need to take.

Information was received from the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces. I am advised that no information was received as yet from the Free State and Northern Cape.

The provincial liquor regulators form part of the National Liquor Regulators Forum (NLRF), which also consist of the South African Police Services (SAPS). SAPS indicated that in order to address liquor abuse as a contributor to contact crime as well as serious violent crimes, the National Crime Combatting Forum (NCCF) Instruction 2 of 2019 was issued to address the policing of the legal and illegal liquor trade from 01 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.

All provinces were instructed to plan and execute joint liquor control operations to ensure compliance by liquor traders with the provisions of national and provincial liquor legislation, focusing specifically on licensed liquor premises and illegal liquor outlets in close proximity of schools. This focused operational approach ensured the termination of illegal liquor trade at 2 279 unlicensed liquor outlets which were located in close proximity of schools.

With the country now at Level 1 and with the return of full government functions, further steps will be taken to request the outstanding information from the two provinces. The replies from provinces will form the basis for consideration by national government and where challenges were identified (e.g. the need for a clear and empowering legislative framework to enable provinces to take additional action), this is currently under consideration. On completion of these processes, a report will be prepared.

-END-

Reply:

a) According to our records, the number and percentage of backlog cases in the District and Regional Magistrates’ Courts as at the end of July 2020. It is to be noted that the total percentage (%) of backlog cases in the District Courts stands at 39% whereas the percentage in the Regional Courts stands at 75%.

The tables below provide details of the cases on the court roll exceeding nine (9) months from end of July 2020 in District and Regional Courts:

District Courts
Admin Region	Backlog	Outstanding	% Backlog
Administrative Region 05 (Gauteng) Pretoria	8 44	2 537	33%
Administrative Region 05A (Gauteng) Johannesburg	7229	20 546	35%
Administrative Region 08 (Mpumalanga) Nelspruit	3 336	9 608	35%
Administrative Region 09 (North West) Mmabatho	2 955	7 204	41%
Administrative Region 1 (Eastern Cape A) Port Elizabeth	7 133	15 513	46%
Administrative Region 10 (Northern Cape) Kimberley	1 178	3 988	30%
Administrative Region 11 (Limpopo) Polokwane	4 719	11 986	39%
Administrative Region 12 (Western Cape A) Cape Town	6 124	12 300	50%
Administrative Region 13 (Western Cape B) Wynberg	8 599	18 699	46%
Administrative Region 2 (Eastern Cape B) Mthatha	3 730	7 786	48%
Administrative Region 3 (Free State A) Bloemfontein	1 412	4 578	31%
Administrative Region 4 (Free State B) Welkom	830	3 780	22%
Administrative Region 6 (KwaZulu Natal A) Durban	5 430	17 314	31%
Administrative Region 7 (KwaZulu Natal B) Pietermaritzburg	2 439	7 991	31%
Grand Total	55 958	143 830	39%

Regional Courts
Region	Backlog	Open	% Backlog
Eastern Cape	5 172	6 135	84%
Free State	1 827	2 881	63%
Gauteng	7 233	11 525	63%
KwaZulu Natal	5 103	6 415	80%
Limpopo	2 563	3 067	84%
Mpumalanga	2 424	3 042	80%
North West	2 698	3 155	86%
Northern Cape	1 014	1 516	67%
Western Cape	6 661	8 342	80%
Grand Total	34 695	46 078	75%

b) The Covid-19 context has posed many challenges for court efficiency with 268 courts having to close down, as at end of July 2020, for days at a time for decontamination when one (1) or more positive COVID-19 cases are detected, leading to self-isolation and/or self–quarantine for a period of time. Due to an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases, some of the courts had to close more than once. The same challenges are being equally experienced by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), South African Police Service (SAPS) and Legal Aid South Africa (SA). It must be understood that ‘business as usual’ has not been possible since the declaration of the State of Disaster due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Department has sought to optimize court efficiency in order to reduce the number of backlog criminal cases. Engagements with the Lower Court Judicial Forums, Regional Court Heads, NPA, Legal Aid SA, SAPS, and Department of Correctional Services have taken place to identify and resolve blockages impeding the processing of criminal cases. These engagements have been formalized under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, and will continue to take place on a frequent basis.

Projects are underway to facilitate court processes through digitalization, and many of these are at a developed stage which will soon proceed to roll-out. Protocols have been developed to ensure that courts operate as optimally as possible in the current Covid-19 context, and these include guidance on when and for how long court closures should take place.

A national plan to manage these backlogs is in the process of being developed in order to address the backlog.

Reply:

I am advised by the Director-General that the Department has not received any allegations of the awarding of incentives through the Industrial Financing Branch to family members of the officials mentioned.Therefore, no investigations have been necessary.

-END-

Reply:

a) In September 2019, President Ramaphosa announced a 5-point emergency plan to tackle gender-based violence and one of the key elements is enhancing the legal framework in order to strengthen the response of the State to GBV.

With this in mind, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is intensifying the fight against GBV and femicide and have prepared three pieces of draft legislation. The three Bills were approved by Cabinet on the 5th of August and will be introduced into Parliament soon.

The Bills are aimed at amending a number of Acts to prevent and combat GBV and offences committed against vulnerable persons, and to provide for additional procedures to reduce secondary victimisation of vulnerable persons in court proceedings. These Bills are -

1. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Bill:

This Bill seeks to give further effect to the 5-point emergency plan by, amongst others, introducing a new offence of sexual intimidation.

Currently the law provides that there is an obligation to report to the police the commission of a sexual offence against a child or a person who is mentally disabled. A person who has “knowledge” that a sexual offence was committed against a child must immediately report such knowledge. On the other hand, a person who has “knowledge, reasonable belief or suspicion” that a sexual offence was committed against a person who is mentally disabled must immediately report it to the police. The Bill now aims to ensure that the reporting duty is the same in respect of both groups.

With regards to the National Register for Sex Offenders (“the NRSO”), the law currently provides that the particulars of persons who have been convicted of sexual offences against children and persons who are mentally disabled, are to be registered on the NRSO and it prohibits persons whose particulars are on the NRSO from working with or having access to children or persons who are mentally disabled.

The Bill expands the scope of the NRSO to include the particulars of all sex offenders, in other words not only sex offenders against children and persons who are mentally disabled. It expands the ambit to include other vulnerable persons, such as female persons between the ages of 18 and 25, persons with disabilities and persons who are 60 years of age or older who, for example, receive community based care and support services.

It also makes provision for certain particulars of persons who have been convicted of sexual offences to be made publicly available and increases the periods for which sex offenders’ particulars must remain on the NRSO before they can be removed.

2. The Domestic Violence Amendment Bill

In 1999 the Domestic Violence Act was lauded as a progressive tool in the armoury against the abuse of women, but since then challenges relating to implementation of the Act have been identified.

This Amendment Bill will amend the Domestic Violence Act, in order to address practical challenges, gaps and anomalies which have been identified in practice during the implementation of the Act. It aims to optimise collaboration between relevant functionaries to streamline the provision of services to survivors. Interventions included in the Bill are the mandatory reporting of cases of domestic violence, screening, counseling, a referral to suitable shelters and the provision of medical treatment.

It also introduces electronic applications for protection orders which will allow for applications for protection orders to be made outside of ordinary court hours, thereby giving complainants of domestic violence speedy relief.

It also extends the protection for domestic violence to the elderly, places a duty on anyone who is aware that an act of domestic violence has been committed to report it, provides for mandatory arrest and prosecution where there is physical violence or a weapon is used, and increases the penalties for convictions for offences emanating from domestic violence.

Alcohol abuse fuels domestic violence. The Amendment Bill obliges a court to order the seizure of any weapon, recognises the role that alcohol plays in violence and enables the court to hold an enquiry whereby a perpetrator can be referred for treatment. It further aligns itself with mirror provisions in the Protection from Harassment Act.

3. The Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill:

This Amendment Bill seeks to amend numerous Acts intended to address GBV and offences committed against vulnerable persons and aims to reduce secondary victimization of vulnerable persons in court proceedings.

Currently, the intermediary service is available to a child witness or complainant in criminal proceedings. The intermediary service is currently not available to any other witness or complainant who may be exposed to similar undue mental stress or trauma. The proposed new amendments aim to extend the intermediary service.

It provides that a presiding judicial officer may appoint an intermediary in order to enable a witness under the biological or mental age of eighteen years, a witness who suffers from a physical, psychological, mental or emotional condition, or a witness who is an older person to give their evidence through that intermediary, if it appears to the court that the proceedings would expose the witness to undue stress, trauma or suffering if he or she testifies.

The Bill further provides that in respect of an offence against a person in a domestic relationship an accused may not be released on bail before his or her first appearance in a lower court. The definition of a "domestic relationship" is wide and provides for many different types of relationships.

The Bill further tightens up provisions relating to the granting of bail in respect of such offences, the placement of a person who has been sentenced in respect of such offences on parole, the powers of the State to appeal inadequate sentences that are imposed for such offences, the ability of the SAPS to arrest, the prescribed discretionary minimum sentences that may be imposed for such offences, and the protection of victims of such offences against victimisation during legal proceedings.

b) GBV comes in different forms, depending on the circumstances of each case. It can therefore take the form of various different offences, such as assault, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, intimidation, stalking, various sexual offences and so forth. The different offences will therefore fall under different Schedules in the legislation.

What is important to note is that the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill aims to ensure that the discretionary minimum sentences dispensation would apply, amongst others, to the offences of murder, where the death of the victim resulted from physical or sexual abuse as contemplated in the definition of “domestic violence”.

Reply:

1. No dedicated COVID-19 Anti-Corruption Unit has been established.

2. Instead, the President has requested the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster to consider establishing measures through which corruption emanating from COVID-19, both in terms of procurement as well as the implementation of the COVID-19 stimulus package announced by the President, could be dealt with.

a) The NatJoints Command Centre which comprises Directors-General in the Security Cluster and the Directors-General from other Departments directly affected by COVID-19, including National Treasury, have discussed measures meant to prioritize measures aimed at COVID-19 Anti-Corruption cases. The coordination is done through the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT).

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Financial Intelligence Centre and the National Prosecuting Authority, are members of the ACTT.

b) In addition, the SIU has requested that the President issue a Proclamation to enable the SIU to investigate COVID-19 related corruption.

It can therefore be deduced from the work under way that the existing law enforcement agencies have the ability and the competence to deal with COVID-19 related corruption.

Therefore, there is no compelling reason for the establishment of a Special COVID-19 Anti-Corruption Unit at this stage.

Reply:

(1) No the Department of Public Enterprises and its entities do not provide free basic electricity under programmes other than the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme.

(1)(a) Not applicable (1)(b) Not applicable

(2)(a) Under the FBE programme, installation and maintenance of electricity prepaid meters is not subsidised.

(2)(a)(i) and (ii) Not applicable

(2)(b)(i) and (ii) The installation of electricity prepaid meters is free under the Government’s Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP). INEP is funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy as per the Division of Revenue Act, 2013 (Act No.2 of 2013) schedule 6.

Eskom maintains prepaid electricity meters. Eskom has a maintenance budget for repairs and maintenance for its infrastructure and this is allocated from the tariff.

(3) Eskom does not prescribe electricity tariffs and rates to any of its customers but charge all its customers tariffs approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). The Electricity Regulation Act prohibits Eskom from charging its customers any other tariffs other than those approved by NERSA.

(3) (a) Not Applicable

(3) (b) Not Applicable

Reply:

According to the information received from Eskom

(a) The Grievance was attended to in line with the Eskom HR Management priscipts and the outcome was provided to the aggrieved employee.

(b) The advert that had been provided initially was the copy of the working draft. The error was corrected when it was posted out. There were no material differences between the working draft and final version published.

 

Table 1: Comparison of pdf copy of the advert vs advert on the Eskom recruitment site

 

Advert on the pdf copy

Advert  on       the  Eskom        recruitment portal

Position: GM TREASURY Position Task Grade: EEE – GENERAL MANAGER Purpose: Ensure Eskom has necessary policies, strategies, processes and systems to optimize Eskom’s financial liquidity through providing an effective Treasury function. Business Unit: Office of the CE/Chairman Location: Megawatt Park Reference Number: 041120191 Closing Date: 07 November 2019 Line Manager: Jabu Mabuza

Position : GM Treasury Task Grade : E-Band Area of Specialization: Ensure Eskom has necessary policies, strategies, processes and systems to optimize Eskom’s financial liquidity through providing an effective Treasury function. Department : Chief Financial Officer Business Unit : Office of the CFO              Location : South Africa (Gauteng)              Reference Number : 041120191 Closing Date : Monday, 11 November 2019

 

(c) The Eskom recruitment and selection process make provision for a subject matter expect to form part of an interview panel. Ms Ramos was brought in on this basis.

None of the candidates of the candidates interviewed expressed discomfort or objected to discomfort with the composition of the interview panel.

Reply:

For the month of May the following represents the applications received and paid:

Many applications and queries were received after the special relief grant was announced, but after all duplicate applications were removed, 6 605 445 applications remained that represented a single, complete application per applicant.

These 6 605 445 applications were all validated against databases such as UIF, NSFAS, IRP-5, National Population Register, Social Grants, and Correctional Services. After reconsideration, 2 180 725 applications were rejected as they were found on the aforementioned databases as provided by the relevant Departments.

SASSA approved 4 424 720 applications to receive the grant.(The just over 5 million approved in the above question is only from June 2020). Clients whose applications failed as the personal information did not match that held by Home Affairs were then requested to correct their personal details (it must be reflected as per the National Population Register) and to provide their banking preferences. Once the clients provided their banking preferences the bank details are verified through National Treasury with the Banks. The delay in providing either updated personal details or banking details delays the payment process.

A number of clients requested their money to be paid into the accounts of other people (family members or spouses). SASSA can only pay into an account which is registered to the client. In an attempt to expedite matters, SASSA requested Post Bank to open accounts for the clients where the account details could not be verified.

Challenges experienced with the provision of banking details include the capturing of incorrect banking details (wrong account numbers, which could be attributed to finger faults or wrong account types). Unfortunately this delays the process of being able to pay the clients.

To date SASSA has paid 4 423 387 clients of the 4 424 720 approved for May. There are currently 1 333 clients who qualify for payment for the month of May which SASSA still needs to pay. The breakdown of this number is as follows:

826 clients who have recently provided SASSA with their banking details are with National Treasury for account verification with the banks.

The 507 remaining clients for May have been sent to a team of SASSA officials who are currently actively assisting these clients to provide SASSA with their banking details and correct personal details. They will be paid as and when the required information has been received and verified.

It is extremely important to note that the number of May applicants who are approved and paid for the grant might still increase as more applicants correct their banking information or even as SASSA proceeds with its reconsideration process. It therefor does not mean that SASSA did not pay all people months later, but should rather be seen as SASSA being able to increase the accessibility to the grant as SASSA assists these clients through reconsideration.

The validation process for every application is redone monthly, to ensure that everyone paid does indeed qualify for the grant.

National AssemblyWritten Reply: 1853 of 2020

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

a) The Government does not intend to ratify the Budapest Convention, despite the fact that South Africa (SA) participated in negotiations on the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, and signed the instrument on 23 November 2001. The Government took the decision to not ratify this instrument on the basis that the country’s policy on cybercrime did not comply with the provisions of the Convention. Even with the recent adoption of the Cybercrimes Bill by both Houses of Parliament, SA will not ratify this regional instrument, as a matter of principle, as the country would have little influence of shaping the instrument because non-EU members are only allowed to make submissions which the CoE considers in their absence. This is a position held by all Government departments.

b) Not applicable.

Reply:

Various role players contribute to tourism. Tourism will always benefit from any maintenances, upgrades or new developments to any infrastructure.

Road infrastructure is not the competency of the Department of Tourism nor does the department keep the requested information pertaining to the road infrastructure of the country.The Honourable member may refer the question to the Minister of Transport.

(a) to (e) Not applicable.

Reply:

Every effort is made to minimize and prevent any secondary trauma of the victim and a number of procedures and measures are in place to prevent this.

However, whilst the prosecution guard against additional statements from the same witness, in some instances there may be a need for supplementary statements to be provided and filed in the relevant police docket. This is to ensure that a comprehensive and detailed investigated docket and trial-ready case is put forward for prosecution where a prima facie case exists.

All relevant stakeholders in relation to Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) matters – such as for the South African Police Service in respect to investigations, Department of Social Development and non-governmental organisations on trauma containment services, the Department of Health regarding forensic medical examinations, National Prosecuting Authority as the prosecution, and the judiciary – all play a crucial collective role towards enhancing a victim-centric approach and minimising secondary victimisation.

The following initiatives, as implemented by the NPA, play a specific role towards minimizing any secondary victimization and ensuring a victim-centric approach in improving service delivery and support to victims of GBV:

The Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) have specifically been established as a mechanism to minimize secondary victimization, as the objective of the TCC model is to provide all related services (medical, psycho-social, statement taking, follow-up services) at a 24-hour One Stop Centre. There are currently 55 TCC-sites nationally, with six (6) additional sites in the process of being added to the list.

Measures such as quality trauma containment assistance to victims, forensic medical examinations, specifically designed court preparation programmes to collectively increase the quality of prosecutions and achieve higher conviction rates all play a role.

 

The current court preparation model provides essential services to all witnesses to appear in courts, and 50% of their focus is specifically on victims of sexual offences.

In addition, the NPA Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit has developed a comprehensive training module (as part of the advanced sexual offences training curriculum) dealing with all related aspects on social context sensitivity awareness in a prosecutorial decision-making environment. The training manual specifically includes a module on secondary victimisation, its possible impact and how prosecutors should avoid it in GBVF matters.

Our dedicated Sexual Offences Courts make use of a number of interventions to reduce secondary trauma for victims, such as preparation services, pre-and post-trial trauma debriefing services, intermediary services, private testifying room/closed court services (via a closed-circuit TV system) and private waiting rooms for adult and child victims.

The aforementioned initiatives and activities are specifically aimed at constantly improving service delivery, which includes minimising any secondary victimization.

The recently promulgated Regulations give further impetus to section 55A of the Sexual Offences Act, 2007 and provide for the required facilities, devices, equipment, and services that these courts have to offer to be a designated Sexual Offences Court. All these measures are aimed at reducing secondary victimization.

In addition thereto, we are pleased to inform this House that three new Bills pertaining to preventing and combating GBV have recently been approved by Cabinet for introduction into Parliament and these Bills, once passed, will go a long way in further reducing and preventing secondary victimization.

Reply:

(a) The Rand Merchant Bank had been appointed as transaction advisor to oversee the Strategic Equity Partner (SEP) transaction of Air Chefs by SAA, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) expanded the scope in line with procurement prescripts to include a similar scope on the SAA group, in line with Treasury Regulation 16A6.6.

(b)The contract value is capped at R12 million as retainer fee and R25 million as success fee for concluding a partnership for S

(c) The deliverables are;
i. Initial evaluation
ii. Due diligence and agreeing heads of agreement
iii. Final Due Diligence, definitive Transaction agreements, Transaction approvals and closing

(d) The timeline for the contract is 12 months. But the project may be concluded earlier due to the urgency of the matter, and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has an option of exiting within 15 days, a month’s notice or by mutual agreement.

Reply:

The Department does not provide support to organisations.

(a) to (g) not applicable

Reply:

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a social ill which continues to plaque South Africa and Government and civil society have to remain committed to making our country safe for women across ages, gender and sexual identities, disability and geographic location. Cases of GBV are reported to service delivery departments such as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Social Development.

In March 2020 Cabinet approved the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence (NSPGBVF) and the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities was tasked to Chair an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the implementation of the NSP on GBVF and the National Council for GBVF (NCGBVF). Further, the IMC also include the Ministers of Justice and Correctional Services, Police, Pubic Service and Administration Social Development and Finance.

The IMC is responsible for providing leadership, enforcing and coordinating all efforts towards the implementation of NSPGBVF by all government departments. The Departments of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation have put in place a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan which ensures that weekly reports on GBVF are provided to the President.

Through the Emergency Response Action Plan (ERAPP) that was launched by the President towards the end of 2019, the number of shelters and care centres for GBV survivors were increased, the capacity of the police to deal with crimes of sexual violence as well as services to women who have to go through the criminal justice system were improved. All efforts are contributing in protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.

Since May 2020 the IMC have started implementing the NSPGBVF and all government departments will be accountable to Parliament on implementing the NSPGBVF.

Reply:

a) In Alert level 3 taxis and buses were allowed to carry 100% of their licensed capacity, there were no limitations.

PRASA resumed its Metrorail Operation on 01 July 2020, in all Regions (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng) in line with the level 3 lockdown regulations, governed by the risk adjustment strategy implemented by the Government in an attempt to limit the spread of Corona virus pandemic. The Metrorail services resumed in the following corridors at 30% capacity in line with the regulations:

Western Cape: Cape Town - Retreat (Wynberg)

KwaZulu-Natal: Durban – Umlazi, Durban - Kwamashu

Gauteng Pienaarspoort - Pretoria

Eastern Cape Port Elizabeth –Uitenhage and East London - Berlin

In response to the increase in public transport demand the loading capacity of Metrorail has been increased from 50% to 70% on 22 July 2020.The provision of Metrorail services has, however, been constraint due to the high level of vandalism and theft of rail infrastructure and assets.

Metrorail services will gradually resume in line with the PRASA adopted infrastructure and security plan and in compliance with COVID-19 Directions. The focus will be on corridors with high passenger demand and with less repair work required on vandalised infrastructure and station facilities.

Reply:

a) The number of security officers to be insourced are 3100; and

b) The existing number of insourced security officials are 2420.

Reply:

I have been advised by the SOEs as follows:

zaDNA indicated that there were no purchases made on the credit card issued.

All other entities reporting to the department did not issue credit cards to their staff members.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

           

Reply:

1. (a) List of Countries from which donations were received

• Peoples Republic of China
• Germany
• Denmark
• United Arab Emirates
• Republic of Korea
• United States of America
• Turkey
• France

(b) List of organisations from whom donations were received

• The African Union
• Naspers
• First National Bank
• United Pharmaceutical Distributers
• Gift of the Givers
• European Union
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Ford Motor Company
• Solidarity Fund
• S A Society of Anaesthesiology
• Motsepe Foundation
• Jack Ma Foundation
• Bank of Republic of China
• Province of Hannan
• Hikvision (Pty) Ltd S A
• Right to Care (CHW Programme)
• AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd
• The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Days
• Old Mutual
• Luke International
• Syntech Love Technology
• Huawei
• UVEX Safety SA (PTY) LTD
• Frasers
• Phillips
• KFW
• Global Energy Interconnection Dev & Co-op
• The Foundation for Professional Development (funded by KFW German Development Bank)
• Individual donors

(2) (a)-(b) The link table belows reflect the details in this regard.

https://pmg.org.za/files/RNW1965Table.pdf

(3) Yes, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) donated nasopharyngeal swabs and viral transport media to Namibia

a) extent of the donation	b) details of the donation
5 000	Nasopharyngeal swabs
2 000	Viral transport media

(4) No, no material received was diverted to other countries as foreign aid.

a) Not applicable

bb) Not applicable

(5) We do make statements when receiving donations and we will continue doing so as and when required.

END.

Reply:

(1) Most of the ammunition at the depot is old, but the ammunition is however not unstable. The life cycle of ammunition is not given in years, and it cannot be predetermined when ammunition reaches the end of life, or even when it will start to become unstable. For that reason annual inspections and functional testing are executed by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Various factors however influence the time span on how ammunition age and potentially become unsafe. The two worst case environments for explosives are heat and humidity, and therefore the controlled storage inside the licensed ammunition warehouses is. Annual inspections and testing are executed against specifications, designed for each type and configuration of ammunition to ensure both functioning as well as safety. Furthermore unserviceable ammunition is ammunition that is not functioning within specification, but it is still safe for storage, handling and transport. There are serviceable and unserviceable ammunition in the depot, where the backlog on disposal is on the unserviceable ammunition. There is no unstable ammunition in the depot. As soon as there is an indication from the annual testing and inspection that the possibility of ammunition become unsafe is there, these ammunition is destroyed or even sold back to the original equipment manufacturer before it could become unstable, in order to ensure that there is no safety implication from old ammunition in the depots.

At 97 Ammunition Depot there are approximately 8 000 tons (Nett Explosive Content) of unserviceable ammunition, measured in the explosive weight of the ammunition. This is primarily made up of small arms ammunition, mortar ammunition, hand and rifle grenades, aircraft bombs, artillery shells and medium calibre ammunition. The tonnage changes on a daily basis as ammunition is sold or destroyed, or as ammunition are regraded due to the inspections and dynamic testing. The phase out of weapon systems also has an influence on these tonnages.

(2) Ammunition is stored according to predetermined safety groupings in various designed for and licenced ammunition warehouses. These are designed to contain a possible explosion to those specific warehouses, and are thus traversed with a minimum safety distance to the next warehouse. The licence of each warehouse will indicate what types of ammunition can be stored there, as well as the maximum quantity of each type, in order to ensure the containment of a possible explosion. There are also an outside safety distance, taking into account all ammunition and explosives in all warehouses, to ensure the safety of personnel and infrastructure outside the depot. There is furthermore no ammunition or explosives stored in field storage, which could nullify this safety distances.

The department will carry on with the following steps to manage and reduce the ageing of ammunition. While the under mentioned steps will drastically reduce the old ammunition in the depot during the next 8 years, the ammunition will be able to be stored, handled and transported safely due to the storage conditions and annual management and prioritisation of the ammunition processes :

a. Continue with the annual inspections and dynamic testing in order to prioritise the disposal of potential unsafe ammunition.

b. Continue with the annual surveillance and chemical analyses of the propellant program, as was done for more than 10 years already, in conjunction with the industry.

c. Continue with ammunition disposal of approximately 1000 tons a year by means of sales through Armscor, which include aircraft bombs, 68mm

obsolete rockets, medium calibre ammunition and 90mm redundant ammunition, as well as conventional destruction of all other types of ammunition.

d. The conclusion of the upgrading and maintenance contract of the inert deforming facility, which was done over the past three years, followed by the already planned expansion of the facility to include explosive filled breakdown of ammunition, with the 140mm ammunition as a pilot project, over the next 4 years.

e. The rework of the mortar bombs on a new charge and tail configuration, which will upgrade the bombs from an obsolete and unserviceable condition to a serviceable condition for force preparation and force employment.

f. The placement of a destruction contract for small arms ammunition on the original equipment manufacturer is also in process as was twice done in the past.

(3) All ammunition depots and installations are to meet the requirements in terms of SANS Code of Practice 10313 of 2012, in conjunction with SANS 62305 and IEC Standards. Currently the lightning conductors are not certified. During April 2019 a process commenced to rectify these requirements. A Scope of Work and motivations were submitted to the Procurement Board, and service providers were invited on various occasions during 2020 for quotations in order to certify the lightning conductors. All three ammunition depots’ contracts have been approved for the annual service of the lightning conductors, and contractors has thus already been appointed. All funding has been put in place for these contracts, and all lightning conductors at the various depots will be certified and serviceable after the completion of this process by the contracted supplier. The Department of Defence is in the process of outsourcing the training of members in the assessment, testing, repair, maintenance and certification of the lightning conductors within the Department. The capability would thus be beneficial to the Department in the long term, as all other facilities would also be internally serviced in terms of laid down prescripts. This training should be completed in the next academic year.

(4) At the depot there is an outside perimeter fence, a three tier high security fence, guards as well as a two lock system on each of the ammunition warehouses, with all ammunition locked in warehouses. The high security fence consists of a three tier fence system, of which the middle fence is an electrical fence. The lapse of a maintenance contract entails that electricity of this fence is shut down. The three tier fence, inclusive of the gates, are however still serviceable and in working condition. Additional guards have been put in place to enhance security while the electrical fence is switched off. The maintenance of the high security fence is currently effectively executed by SANDF personnel. Once the project to upgrade the high security fences is finalised, a maintenance contract for the new fences and systems will be awarded again, as the SANDF does not have the capability to manage the electrical fence.

Reply:

1. No, the Auditor General has not conducted an audit of the 32 Battalion Trust Fund. The office of the Auditor General does not have auspices over such Non-Public Fund (NPF) entities. The 32 Battalion Trust Fund was facilitated by the SA Army Foundation (an NPF entity); any tenuous association ceased when the funds were paid over to the 32 Battalion Veterans’ Association on 24 November 2005.

Reply:

1. No, as no ministerial authority has been obtained, yet. (a) there can be no closure of 4 Parachute Battalion as it was never established in Bofulanare, Mafikeng and (b) No, the establishment of a Parachute Battalion in Bulembu, Eastern Cape, is yet to obtain ministerial authority, the project is currently at a feasibility study stage and its strategic benefits will be made visible on the conclusion of the feasibility study.

2. While the SANDF is cognisant of the prevailing budgetary constraints, it has the Constitutional mandate to deliver on the protection of the country, its territorial integrity and its people, therefore, the conduct of this feasibility study is in the spirit of fulfilling this mandate.

Reply:

I have been advised by the SOEs as follows:

1.

Entity	Details of official credit card issued
zaDNA	The official credit card issued to Mr Peter Madavhu in his capacity as Acting CEO
SAPO	No official credit card issued to any employee
Postbank	No official credit card issued to any employee
Nemisa	No official credit card issued to any employee
USAASA	No official credit card issued to employees
FPB	No official credit card issued to any employee
BBI	No official credit card issued to any employee
SITA	No official credit card issued to any employee
ICASA	No official credit card issued to any employee
SABC	No official credit card issued to any employee
Sentech	No official credit card issued to any employee

2. (a)

Entity	(i)Name	(ii)Organogram	(iii)	(iv)
zaDNA	Mr Peter Madavhu	Acting CEO	Never used	R200 000
USAASA	Not applicable
Nemisa	Not applicable
BBI	Not applicable
SABC	Not applicable
ICASA	Not applicable
Postbank	Not Applicable
FPB	Not Applicable
Sentech	Not applicable
SITA	Not applicable
SAPO	Not applicable

(b) (i) (ii) zaDNA indicated that the official credit card was never utilised by Mr Madavhu who was the Acting CEO. This section of the Parliamentary Question is not applicable to other entities based on their response to number 1.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

1. Unknown. The 32 Battalion Trust Fund was under facilitation of the SA Army Foundation for a short duration as a Non-Profit Fund (NPF). This remote connotation with the Trust Fund ceased on 24 November 2005 with the payment of all monies of the Trust Fund to the 32 Battalion Veterans’ Association. The SA Army had no insight nor provided any direction to the Trust Fund management on its financial aspects, including the purposes of the fund and/ or its expenditure, prior to or following this payment and cessation of the relationship.

2. (a) The 32 Battalion Trust Fund was established on 01 April 1993 as a Non-Public Fund (NPF) and was managed by the 32 Battalion Veterans’ Association.

(b) and (c) It is not known to the SA Army what amount of monies were administered by the 32 Battalion Veterans’ Association as the 32 Battalion Trust Fund is not under any purvey of the SA Army since 24 November 2005, when a payment of R954,218.12 was made by the SA Army Foundation to the 32 Battalion Veterans’ Association (in the name of Miracle Mile Investments 39 (Pty) Ltd.). The SA Army was never privy to the management of the 32 Battalion Trust Fund.

Reply:

Pacaltsdorp Clinic is centrally located in Pacaltsdorp and provides a comprehensive service to a community of about 23 000 people.

Plans are afoot to upgrade the facility through the NHI project funded by the National Department of Health. In the proposed new clinic, the following upgrading will be included: eleven (11) consultation rooms, a pharmacy with a chronic dispensing unit, an emergency room and a multi-purpose room for meetings. These will all form part of the project. It is envisaged that the upgrades to the facility will extend infrastructure capacity to continue providing quality comprehensive primary health services to the community.

END.

Reply:

a) The estimated time-frame for the completion of the project is 6-8 months including the planning, budget allocation, approval of drawings, submission and approval of site development plans to the City of Tshwane.

b) The Project Initiation report (PIR) was submitted to the end-user for approval in early 2020 with several subsequent revisions. The plan at this time includes an Onsite birthing unit, short stay ward and 24-hour clinic with a Radiology unit. Currently the final PIR is drafted following meetings held with the end-users and some concept drawings that were provided to the end-user for approval. The final draft of the PIR was submitted to the end-user for approval on the 10th September 2020. The planned unit will be a modular Alternative Built Technology structure. The budget allocation will only be approved once the PIR is approved by the HOD.

END.

Reply:

The proposal of using taxes from alcohol to fund healthcare services is referring to as earmarking. The earmarking is usually legislated and would usually lead to all or a portion of the funds being used to finance healthcare services in general or a specific aspect of healthcare, e.g messaging on the harmful effects of alcohol. This legislative mandate lies with the Minister of Finance.

Historically the National Department of Health has raised the earmarking of sin taxes (alcohol, tobacco, sugar) as an option with the National Treasury. The National Treasury has been reluctant to accept the earmarking proposal citing the following reasons:

• It introduces rigidities in the budgetary process, limiting availability of funds for alternative and (sometimes) more urgent purposes;
• Can lead to waste of resources when not carefully planned by recipient institution/ programme;
• When tax revenue collection is low then the dependent programme will be negatively affected;
• This may result in fragmentation of pooling and similar demands from other sectors;
• Will eventually shrink as consumption of harmful/unhealthy products declines.

END.

Reply:

COVID-19 testing of the deceased persons is not conducted in mortuaries, however, specimen collection is done at mortuaries according to the Guidelines for COVID-19 Postmortem Testing. The specimens for COVID-19 Postmortem Testing are transported to the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) for testing.

The testing of the deceased persons applies only to persons that have died of natural causes outside of a health facility where their COVID status is not known. The reason for performing this test is to protect the close contacts of the deceased should the person have been positive then the close contacts may be infected. Secondly our death statistics for COVID do not include persons that had died of COVID outside of a health facility since nobody was aware if they were infected with COVID or not. This data will allow us to include deaths of persons outside of health facilities that are COVID positive.

According to the data from the NHLS there were 75 COVID-19 tests performed on deceased persons to date, of which 12 tests were positive.

END.

Reply:

(a) The total number of Medical Doctors in the Public Health Sector, reported by the Provincial Departments of Health as being over the age of 60 is 810, and the number of doctors that are over the age of 60 and/or have underlying illnesses that make them vulnerable to Covid-19 is 250;

(b) The table outlines the steps taken by Provinces in each affected District/Regions to replace them:

 

EASTERN CAPE

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
Alfred Ndzo	2	During this Covid-19 pandemic period the Province appointed an additional 81 (on either permanent or short term contract) medical doctors to strengthen services during Surge.
Joe Gqabi:	2
Dora Nginza Regional Hospital:	1
TOTAL	5

FREE STATE

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
Free State Province	0	Not applicable
Total	0

GAUTENG

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
Gauteng Province	102	During this Covid-19 pandemic period the Province appointed an additional 473 (on either permanent or short term contract) medical doctors to strengthen services during Surge.
Total	102

KWAZULU NATAL

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
KwaZulu Natal	0	Not applicable
Total	0

LIMPOPO

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
Limpopo	0	Not applicable
Total	0

MPUMALANGA

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
Mpumalanga Province	0	Not applicable
Total	0

NORTH WEST

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
NgakaModiriMolema	3	During this Covid-19 pandemic period the Province appointed an additional 128 (on either permanent or short term contract) medical doctors to strengthen services during Surge.
Bojanala	17
Dr KK	1
Dr RSM	0
Total	21

NORTHERN CAPE

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
PixleyKaSeme District	1	During this Covid-19 pandemic period the Province appointed an additional 166 (on either permanent or short term contract) medical doctors to strengthen services during Surge.
Total	1

WESTERN CAPE

Institution/District/Region	Total number of doctors recorded	Steps taken to replace them:
GENSES and EMS	6	During this Covid-19 pandemic period the Province appointed an additional 82 (on either permanent or short term contract) medical doctors to strengthen services during Surge.
GSH	20
Metro	29
Rural	29
RXH	14
Tygerberg Hospital	23
Total	121

END.

Reply:

The Surgeon General was arrested and charged for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on 17 May 2020. It was later found that the firearm was licenced and belonged to his late father who had passed away four weeks prior the incident. Through his legal representative, the Surgeon General provided all the proof needed by the prosecuting authority which included the following:

The deceased licence of firearm.

His father’s death certificate.

Proof that he was nominated as the executor of his late father’s estate.

The above, and also the fact that all this occurred at a time during which there was a firearm amnesty for the handing over of any illegal firearms to the South African Police Service, prompted the Senior Prosecutor to withdraw the charges against the Surgeon General for lack of evidence to prosecute.

The Surgeon General appeared in court after the day of arrest and was due to appear again on the 7th of August 2020, but due to COVID-19, could not attend and the case was postponed to 20 August 2020. It was on this date that the charges against the Surgeon General were formally withdrawn.

The Surgeon General is currently on sick leave and he is still in full service and has never been put on special leave.

Reply:

I have been advised by the SOEs as follows:

Except for .zaDNA, the entities have indicated that credit cards were not issued to staff members. The .zaDNA credit card was never used.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

           

Reply:

1. Unknown. The SA Army cannot pronounce itself on the functioning of the 32 Battalion Trust Fund or its continuation after 24 November 2005 when it ceased to be administered by the SA Army Foundation.

Reply:

(1) (a)-(b) (i) The testing of deceased persons applies only to persons that have died of natural causes outside of a health facility where their COVID status is not known. The reason for performing this test is to protect the close contacts of the deceased should the person have been positive then the close contacts may be infected. Secondly our death statistics for COVID do not include persons that had died of COVID outside of a health facility since nobody was aware if they were infected with COVID. This data will allow us to include deaths of persons outside of health facilities that are COVID positive.

(b) (ii) The NHLS informs us that there were 86 tests performed on deceased persons to date, of which 13 tests were positive.

(2) The practice cannot be considered to be a waste of resources given that testing a deceased person for COVID-19 would assist in halting the spread of the infection from their contacts to others.

END.

Reply:

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

(a) & (b) The Minister and SITA were not informed of the two tenders. The South African Tourism (SAT) is not bound by the SITA Act and is not obliged by the Act to procure from or through SITA unless SAT request to do so.

(i) No, SITA has not participated in these tenders.

(ii) Not applicable.

 

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

          

Reply:

a) The Department has made provision in the Health Directions published on the 17 July 2020, paragraph 9(5) which states that: “once in the hospital or private mortuary, the body bag may be opened for family members (one at a time) to view the human remains”. This provision allows family members to view their loved ones and the current standard of labelling human remains still applies and there should not be challenges if everyone plays their roles. The normal practice of viewing human remains at home out of the mortuary is considered high risk and therefore prohibited to protect the funeral attendees.

b) All funeral undetakers are required to have a certificate of competence in order to operate. This certificate ensures that mortuary premises meet the minimum standards provided in the regulations. Government cannot provide security services to these facilities as they are privately operated but owners can provide such security services. Government mortuaries are within health facilities and most of these facilites have access control.

END.

Reply:

1. Provincial Departments of Health must order PPEs from suppliers listed on the Central Supplier Database in accordance with National Treasury guidelines on specifications and price. The National Department of Health does not order or pay for the PPEs ordered.

The information on link below was extracted from the provincial stock visibility system from the North West Province. The table includes the quantities of the various PPEs by facility as at 11 September 2020.

https://pmg.org.za/files/RNW2027Table.pdf

END.

Reply:

1. 4 Parachute Battalion was never established in 2014, members of 44 Parachute Regiment were sent to the North West from Bloemfontein as part of the team to compile a feasibility study for the establishment of 4 Parachute Battalion, (a) and (b) all members of the SANDF, on enrolment into the organisation, are fully aware that they will be utilised where the organisation requires their services and cannot be declared area-bound.

2. Whenever the ministerial authority is obtained for the establishment of 4 Parachute Battalion, or any other unit, anywhere in the Republic, members have access, through HR policies to resettle their families, within prescripts of the DOD. Resettlement benefits to which members are entitled to include: subsistence and travel expenses for the official and one direct member of his/her family to the new place of work prior to the date of transfer; subsistence and travel of the official and the household arising from the transfer to the new place of work; removal of household and personal effects from the old place of work to the new workplace in the Republic, resettlement costs; transfer fees and bond cost, if the official purchases a dwelling or building site at the new place of work within the same metropolitan area (subject to policy requirements); for each school-going child who must change school and who is dependent on the official, the DOD may provide a once-off amount for new school uniforms (clothing and footwear); interim accommodation, if the official and the immediate family must rent interim furnished accommodation at the old and/or new place of work; travel expenses of dependent schoolchildren and 50% financial assistance with boarding school and lodging fees on transfer, if the child must remain in a school near the official’s former place of work.