Questions and Replies

Reply:

1(a) SASSA, working together with SAPO, is still exploring possible alternatives to the cash pay points. No final decision has been made yet and no date has been set for implementation.

(b) All parties involved in the grant payment process agree that it is important that we move away from cash payments due to the security issues and the high cost of delivering cash to pay points. The only viable alternative that is been seriously considered is exploring the move to existing and future cashless payment platforms such as more use of cards at ATMs, Point of Sale platforms and Mobile solutions. No alternative payment channel will be introduced until it has been tested and confirmed that it is fit for purpose.

2(a) (i) and (ii) SAPO uses Fidelity Security Service (Pty) Ltd to pay beneficiaries at Cash Pay Points.

(b) Two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were issued to appoint a service provider for the provision of cash at pay points:

Interim Solution

RFP/26/18/19/ Cash Conveyance and Handling/RA – this RFP was issued as an interim measure (using cash bags) whilst the long -time process (using cash dispensers) was in the process.

A close RFP was issued on 16 August 2018 to five companies. The close bid process was approved by National Treasury. Four of the five companies that were invited indicated that they will not participate in the RFP process some indicating that they did not have the capacity to provide the service.

Fidelity Security Services (Pty) Ltd was the only bidder that responded and the tender was awarded to them. The contract was for a period of six months commencing from 1 October 2018 up until 31 March 2019 to allow for the long-term solution to be finalised.

Long-Term Solution

RFP/18/19/36 Cash Conveyance and Handling Processing and Dispensing Service for SASSA Grant Payouts/KN .

An open tender process was advertised on the National Treasury e-Tender portal on 13 August 2018. Only two bidders submitted proposals (G4S Cash Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd and Fidelity Security Services (Pty) Ltd).

G4S Cash Management Solutions (Pty) Ltd was disqualified due to not complying fully with the tender requirements. The tender was awarded to Fidelity Security Services (Pty) Ltd for the period of two years commencing on 1 May 2019 up until 30 April 2021.

3. (a) All tenders above R10m falls within the delegation of the Board of Directors for approval. However on the 10 November 2017 the Board of Directors resolved that The GCEO (Mr Mark Barnes) and the GCOO (Ms Lindiwe Kwele) were duly authorised to engage, negotiate, take decisions and sign any documents relating to the provision of payment services and systems for social assistance without referring back to the Board of Directors for guidance. The appointment of the CIT Company for both Interim and Long term solutions was therefore duly approved by the two delegated officials.

3. (b) The contracts for both RFP/26/18/19/ Cash Conveyance and Handling/RA and RFP/18/19/36 Cash Conveyance and Handling Processing and Dispensing Service for SASSA Grant Payouts/KN are attached.

 

Reply:

1. The foster care orders that were due to lapse on 28 November 2019 for the respective provinces are as follows:

E. Cape: 896

Free State: 2041

Gauteng: 4 281

KZN: 12 445

Limpopo: 3 051

Mpumalanga:486

N. Cape: 345

N. West: 2 045

W. Cape: 4 888

These orders are now deemed to be valid by the North Gauteng High Court Order that was issued on 26 November 2019 therefore, there is no backlog of lapsed foster care orders.

2. Foster care orders that will be completed before the new deadline of November 2020;

EASTERN CAPE:

The Eastern Cape Province will ensure extension of all foster care orders affected by the NGHCO, before it expires on 26 November 2020. As already indicated above on the interpretation and implementation of the North Gauteng High Court Order and the Eastern Cape Province intersectoral position on the management of these foster care orders so as to avoid having all the affected orders lapsing on the same day when the NGHCO expires on 26 November 2020. Intersectoral collaboration and provision of tools of trade to social workers at service offices brought about the success in relation to the 2017 Judgement. The following measures which will ensure extension of foster care orders beyond 26 November 2020 will continue:

• Case-flow Meetings with Presiding Officers and Social Workers / Case Managers.
• Monthly engagements with Department of Social Development and SASSA Senior Management as well as Judicial Cluster Heads with their Sub Cluster Heads for strategic decisions and monitoring on implementation of resolutions taken for management of foster care.
• DSD – Social Workers to approach courts with a social work report and the required documentation as provided for in the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 as amended with all the relevant parties appearing before the Presiding Officer as required.
• Allocation of court dates and issuing of orders for child protection matters
• Judiciary to prioritize issuing of court orders affected by North Gauteng High Court.
• DSD Social Workers to ensure that all orders issued by courts are collected and submitted to SASSA, captured and updated on the system by SASSA
• South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) expedite capturing and updating of all orders issued by the courts and submitted to them by DSD respectively.
• The three entities at local level will continue meeting on a weekly basis to ensure reconciliation of figures, jointly looking at the draft final report to be submitted to the Provincial Office as well as ensuring that all orders due to lapse are extended and updated on SOCPEN.
• Sharing of resources by the three entities when the need arise.
• Funding of Designated Child Protection Organisations rendering child protection services.
• Implementation of s186 of the Children’s Act (that allows long term placement until the child turns 18) which will subsequently ease the current high caseloads of orders due for extension.
• Form 30 Applications (for screening of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents against Part B of the Child Protection Register) continue to be sent to National DSD timeously to ensure a shortened response time by National DSD.
• Timeous submission of a list of all children who have applied for Unabridged Birth Certificates to National DSD for possible exemption from paying as well as expediting processing by the Department of Home Affairs.
• The Province will continuously ensure that the budget is available for advertisements in line with Regulation 56 of the Children’s Act (tracing parents of children found to be in need of care and protection which is a key requirement for all alternative care placements including foster care order extensions).
• Eastern Cape Province will continue addressing shortages of social workers and social work supervisors, filling Departmental vacant funded posts as well as funding of Designated Child Protection Organizations (DCPOs).
• The Province will continue with its efforts in providing tools of trade for social workers at service office level.

FREE STATE:

At the time of the expiry of the North Gauteng High Court Order, 2041 orders were due to lapse, but all these orders are deemed valid in line with the North Gauteng High Court Order extension. The Provincial and District Plans are reviewed to ensure the management of the extension of foster care orders in the Province.

GAUTENG:

Gauteng Province is committed to finalise all lapsed orders by end of November 2020. However, the extension of the foster care orders is dependent on other Stakeholders including, Department of Justice, Home Affairs, etc.

Furthermore, there are challenges experienced from some of the Stakeholders, such as:

• Different interpretation of the High Court ruling
• Requirement of a Police Clearance Certificate for extension of Orders which has cost implications for the client.
• Delay in getting court dates.
• Requirement of an Unabridged Birth Certificate which has cost implications for the client.

KZN:

The Province of KwaZulu-Natal has implemented various strategies to ensure effective implementation of the North Gauteng High Court Order Interim Regime issued 26 November 2019 in order to meet the new deadline date. The strategies include amongst others:

• Facilitation of the Foster Care Mondays by District Directors and Foster Care Fridays facilitated by the Service Office Managers that will take form of working sessions between Social Development and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) with the following outputs at the end of each working session:
• Number of foster care orders captured
• Reconciled foster care statistics
• Weekly Report on Foster Care for onward submission at Head Office.

• Monthly foster care meetings to be facilitated by the Chief Director, Social Welfare Services to track and monitor implementation of the North Gauteng High Court Order Interim Regime issued 26 November 2019.

• Provincial Intersectoral Foster Care meetings quarterly to be facilitated by the Acting Deputy Director General, Developmental Welfare Services between Department of Justice, Department of Home Affairs for purposes of identifying challenges that might have a negative impact towards effective implementation of the North Gauteng High Court Order Interim Regime issued 26 November 2019 and development of integrated interventions to address the identified challenges.

LIMPOPO:

All the foster care cases covered by North Gauteng High Court Order will have been completed by November 2020. The Province has developed action plans in the districts which are monitored on weekly basis to ensure that the cases are attended to.

MPUMALANGA:

All court orders projected to lapse by November 2020 will be attended to before the expiry of the

North Gauteng High Court Order on Foster Care.

NORTHERN CAPE:

The Northern Cape, Department of Social Development, has systems in place to monitor the implementation of the NGHCO. There is a good working relationship between DSD, SASSA and Department of Justice. The Department of Social Development in the Northern Cape Province resolve to implement the provisions of the Children’s Act in full.

NORTH WEST:

The Province will ensure the review of all the foster care orders that are due to lapse in 2020 and extend all eligible placement s through intensifying monthly monitoring of performance at all levels and capacitating all 18 alternative care units.

WESTERN CAPE:

The North Gauteng High Court Order granted on the 26th of November 2019 deemed all foster care orders valid until 25 November 2020.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development has a provincial foster care management plan in place to manage foster care in the province to ensure that orders are extended before the termination of the current High Court Order. This plan is dependent on the other processes in collaboration with other departments namely:

a) Social workers to approach the children's coats with any timelines to obtain foster care orders for the full duration of the two years or beyond in terms of section 186 of the Children's Act 38 of 2005.

b) Regions were cautioned against issuing confirmation letters for the duration of the current North Gauteng High Court Order to prevent a repetition of a large number of foster care orders lapsing simultaneously on 25 November 2020.

c) The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to extend foster care orders for two years or beyond.

d)Form 30 notifications are to be issued within the required timeframe by the National Department of Social Development.

e) Birth certificates of children in the alternative care system to be issued timelessly by the Department of Home Affairs.

f) Foster care orders to be submitted to SASSA timeously to ensure the continuation of the foster child grants.

The Western Cape remains committed to ensure the care and protection of children in the alternative care system

Reply:

The DSD has been in constant engagement with the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) in terms of providing general the status update on the issues that were raised by the report.

The Department has developed a draft Intersectoral policy framework on the provision of sheltering services. The policy is meant to address amongst others the various roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders in the provision of the sheltering services. The Victim Support Service (VSS) Bill and Policy that were presented to Cabinet and approved in December 2019, are part of the legislation frameworks that are key in the responding to issues of sheltering services. The VSS Bill is in progress to be published for public comments.

It is critical to highlight that the Department is continuing with the partnership forged with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The partnership is meant to increase the numbers of shelters across the country. So far, infrastructures/buildings considered to be provide sheltering services for abused women and children have been identified in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

It is critical to highlight that most of the deadlines indicated in the areas forming part of the report, have been drastically effected by the COVID-19 situation that is facing the country.

The deadlines that were proposed will now be reviewed to execute this activities in 2020/2021.Below are the specifics in terms of the areas raised by the report that the Department is addressing:

The late payment of tranches severely undermines the functioning of shelters. In turn, the CGE recommends that urgent action on the part of DSD is taken to instil safeguards within its contract management system wherein it provides clear pre-warning of required payments and in turn accountability of those officials responsible for effecting the payments whom do so late. The DSD is afforded the ambit to devise its own safeguard. Although, it must be effective and able to be rolled out throughout the nine provinces. The safeguard including time frames for roll out to the nine provinces must be provided to the CGE within three months of release of this report.

The DSD has developed a draft Sector Funding Policy that is meant to provide guidance across all nine provinces in terms standardised funding and implementation of funding model that is consistence across all province.

The draft Sector Funding Policy has been presented for consideration and approval to Minister and Members of Executive Council (MINMEC) meeting that was held in the current quarter. The MINMEC will make inputs and the approval of the policy will take place in last quarter of this financial year.

The National DSD in the current 2019/20 resume the implementation of the multi-year (3yrs) contract with National NGOs of which is another way of fast-tracking payment to services provider. This approach going forward will be proposed to provinces as it will cut-down on administration burden that are often resulting in delays.

The DSD to finalise its policy regarding GBV Prevention Programme for LGBTIQA+ Persons within six months from the date of release of this report, including clear directives to shelters to comply and not unfairly disseminate against LGBTIQA+ persons, including a clearly communicated complaints process for survivors to report any discriminatory action on the part of a shelter.

DSD has conducted consultations in 2017/18 which included various stakeholders across all nine province on the development of GBV prevention guideline for LGBTIQ+ persons. The document has been presented in the first and second quarters of this financial year to the Provincial and National Task Team for LGBTI led by the Department for Justice for endorsement. In quarter three and four the document will be presented to other stakeholders for inputs and endorsement. DSD funded shelters were consulted widely on the guideline document.

An admission criteria that will be LGBTIQ+ friendly will be included on the guideline document to be finalised by 31 March 2021. Furthermore, the DSD will identify and support three Shelters that will be piloted as LGBTIQ+ friendly shelter to create a model that can be replicated across the country.

Provincial DSDs have been motivated across all nine provinces to incorporate in their funding criteria preference of funding NGOs that are prioritising services to LGBTIQ+ persons. For example, Gauteng DSD in the current financial year is funding organisation (BadumetseBatho centre) that is providing services to LGBTI community in the Sedibeng areas and the following are the components funded: 1 Social Work post, 1 Social Auxiliary Work post and 20 volunteers for the NGO.

The guideline document is in the last phase of development whereby it is presented to various stakeholders for inputs. This is done through internal DSD workforce with a number of other competing demands. Hence it has not yet been finalized as per the CGE proposed timeline of six months. It will be available a refined draft by 31 March 2020.

DSD after consulting key stakeholders to provide the CGE with:

A standardised policy detailing the manner and criteria to fulfil when survivors wish to apply for extension at a shelter. This should also include a costing analysis wherein the costs of extensions are forecast and budgeted for and a clear complaints mechanism for survivors to appeal any negative decision.

The DSD in the current financial year is developing an Intersectoral Policy on sheltering services and it will include a detailed criteria to be fulfilled in instance where a victim/survivor need to apply for an extension of stay at a shelter. A draft Policy on Sheltering service will be available for consultation by 31 March 2020.

The Department has undertaken a process of costing analysis on the implementation of the Policy and Bill on Victim Support Services and that process covers cost analysis of the shelters. Deloitte was appointed as a service provider and by 31 March 2020 a cost analysis report that covers shelters will be available.

A standardised policy detailing the monitoring of survivors after existing the shelter including clear indicators to determine if the survivor is adjusting favourably.

The DSD has developed a draft Victim Support Services Policy and Bill that were presented to Cabinet on 03 December 2019 for endorsement to gazette for public comments by March 2020. Both the VSS Policy and Bill are designed to serve the purpose of monitoring and evaluation of Victim Support Services including shelters across all nine provinces. Both documents will incorporate monitoring and evaluation of services at different levels, by district office, provinces and national office. The oversight will also be conducted by other different stakeholders including Chapter Nine Institutions and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). DSD provinces will be monitored through the monthly and quarterly reports on indicators that they are implementing.

The aspect of monitoring the victim/survivor favourable adjustment will be prioritised in the development of the monitoring tools.

The two policies as per recommendations 4.1 and 4.2 must be provided to the CGE within six months after release of the investigative report.

Both Policies: Intersectoral Policy on Sheltering Services and Victim Support Services Policy will be shared with CGE by 31 March 2020 as draft documents. They are both still in development phases hence and need to undergo approval processes hence the department could not share them as per the timeline of six month proposed.

DSD in consultation with key stakeholders:

1. To standardise salaries and/or stipends of persons employed by shelters, including detailing criteria. Such standardisation must be taken into account during the budget allocation provided to shelters.

2. Detail and set the educational requirements and core skills needed for the requisite job roles in shelters.

Skills Development in Provinces for Shelters are not Accredited

The Department developed the Victim Support Services (VSS) Policy and Bill which were approved by Cabinet in December 2019. The VSS Policy and Bill, amongst other elements, will be addressing the regulation of the provision of sheltering services, registration of Victim Support Services facilities and accreditation of programmes rendered in the shelters including skills development programmes in shelters.

Furthermore, the Department has embarked on the project of ensuring that skills development programmes that are rendered in shelters across all nine provinces are accredited. This exercise is conducted in consultation with various SETAs including the Department line function SETA, the Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA). A draft capacity building plan for the sector will be in place by 31 March 2020 developed by the National VEP Technical which will cover proposed accredited training for shelters.

The deployment of 200 social workers are not recognising previous experience and not looking at unemployment of current NGO service providers

The DSD appointed in December and January 200 social workers across all nine provinces to deal with the fight against GBV. They were all provided with training on trauma debriefing and psychosocial support services. All provinces resumed the processes of permanent appointment however, some were affected by the lockdown period to conclude permanent appointments. Therefore, all 200 Social Workers appointment will be finalized post the lockdown period.

The Department failed to implement the NAWONGO judgement and an explanation needs to be provided in this regard

Post the Nawongo judgement, the Department acknowledged that it requires additional capacity to assist with implementation of the 2014 court approved policy, as the policy required a change of organisational functions, systems, processes and structures. The Free State Department therefore approached KPMG, who assisted in drafting of the funding policy and costing models in line with the 2014 court approved policy.

These were sent to court and the court accepted them as working progress. This was aimed at supporting the Department with the implementation of the policy.

There were extensive consultations between the national and provincial departments of social development, more specifically DSD Free State and National and Provincial Treasuries; as well as with the NPO sector, on how the Court approved policy will be implemented.

These reforms were prescribed around the time where provincial budgets were negatively affected by the global economic crises, resulting to no additional funds becoming available to the provinces since the 2010/11 financial year. Most provinces were affected by means of a declining budget growth rate which was more or less in line with the inflation over the years thus leaving no room for expansion or response to budget pressures. The sluggish growth of the provincial budget happened in the midst of increasing demand to fund improvement in conditions of service (annual salary adjustments) as well compensation of employees’ pressures from core service delivery departments such as Education and Health. In prior years funding for annual salary adjustments was catered for by National Treasury, however over the last few years; provinces were and are still expected to fund such adjustments within their own constrained allocations.

A case in point is with the commencement of the 2019/20 budget processes, where National and Provincial Treasuries already alluded that there will be no additional funding over the MTEF, as National Treasury indicated to the province that growth is fragile and that there is a subdued growth in tax revenue.

Given the above, the challenges that led to the Department not fully implementing the NAWONGO Court judgement are as follows:

a) Implementation of the 2014 Policy was objectively impossible without the unqualified support and financial backing of National Treasury.

b) Funding for welfare services must still take place within the budgeting process which is beyond the relevant department’s control.

c) The current NPO budget which does not cover the core costs of even one service (i.e. out of 11 statutory services and 29 other services) and

d) The NPO budget has decreased in real terms each year since the court case and therefore, the provisions of the Nawongo Court judgement could not be realized in terms of the core cost of services.

e) The costing model that was developed in partnership with KPMG was rejected by the National Treasury as it was declared to be expensive, in light of the budget constraints and therefore it could not be implemented.

Only increased funding for transfers to NPOs will ensure the full compliance with the court order. The implication is that there are other parties that are necessary to increase the funding of the Department, i.e. the Executive Council of Provinces, Provincial Treasuries, and the National Treasury.

The Commission is concerned about The Department’s ability to monitor and evaluate provinces

The Victim Support Services Policy and Bill caters for monitoring and evaluation of Victim Support Services facilities including shelters in provinces, development of monitoring tools and systems. It also includes monitoring and evaluation of these services at different levels, by district office, provinces and national office. The oversight will also be conducted by other different stakeholders including Chapter Nine Institutions and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). Provinces are monitored through the monthly and quarterly reports on indicators that they are implementing.

 

Reply:

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 29/05/2020

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18/2020

1024. Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1)       Whether her department received any funds for the Expanded Public Works Programme in the past four financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details

(1) EPWP funds received are as follows:

2016/17	R369 045 000.00
2017/18	R112 997 000.00
2018/19	R0.00
2019/20	R0.00

(2) The funds were allocated for Kha Ri Gude Food handlers

(a) Not applicable

(b) Not applicable

(c) Not applicable

(d) Not applicable

 

(3) Not applicable

(4) Not applicable

(5) Not applicable                    

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education has not provided teachers with laptops. The Provincial Education Departments were responsible for the provision of laptops to teachers; and are therefore, the custodians of this information. The Honourable Members is also reminded that the Provincial Education Departments are the employers of educators by law.  Therefore. matters related to the provision of teaching support materials are the responsibility of the Provincial Education Departments.

Reply:

1. No. The position taken by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development was to provide a COVID-19 Support Relief to qualifying Small-holder and Communal farmers. This was a grant process where qualifying farmers would be issued a voucher. The department procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through either a price quotation process or Transversal Contracts in line with National Treasury Instruction Note 08 of 2019/2020 and Instruction Note 05 of 2020/2021: Emergency Procurement in Response to the National State of Disaster.

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

2. No.

(a),(b) Falls away.

3. Falls away.

4. No.

Reply:

·Provide mobile classrooms

(a) (b)The Department of Basic Education developed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Containment and Management of COVID-19, for childcare facilities, schools and school communities, to guide provinces in responding to COVID-19. These include, measures to enforce social distancing for learners; as well as compliance with good hygiene practices to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus amongst learners. In order to address social distancing protocols during the phasing-in and full opening of schools, provinces are providing mobile classrooms for additional spaces, as well  as identifying additional spaces like school halls to address any additional needs for space.  In addition, a vriety of options for timetabling are being considered.

Reply:

In terms of current policy, as articulated in the Regulations on the Conduct, Administration and Management of the National Senior Certificate Examinations,15 (2),  the candidate, unless otherwise stated, must respond to the question paper in the language of learning and teaching. Currently, at the Grade 12 level, the learner is either taught through the medium of English or Afrikaans. Hence, provision is currently made only for learners to respond in English or Afrikaans, in their non-language subjects.

However, the Department is currently investigating the option of providing candidates with question papers that are presented both in the language of learning and teaching and in the mother tongue of the learner. This option will first be piloted in either Grade 10 or Grade 11; and based on the outcome in this pilot, it will considered for implementation in the  high stakes Grade 12 examination.                 

Reply:

Background

This Laersdrift Bus Road Project is a project is being implemented by the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality and not by the Department of its Transports or its Entities. The MIG registered amount for the project is R23 593 338.00 VAT Inclusive. The project has been implemented in two phases during 2016/17 and 2018/19 financial years.

Phase 1A

Entailed 600m of asphalt road in Laersdrift with concrete v-drain on one side of the road and kerbing on the other side, storm water culvert crossings including road furniture. The project was completed in the 2016/17 FY at a cost of R5 000 000.00 for both construction and professional fees.

Phase1B

Entails 1.62km of asphalt road in Laersdrift with concrete v-drain on one side of the road and kerbing on the other side, storm water culvert crossings including road furniture. This includes construction of a connection to the R555 provincial road as per SANRAL standards. The project commenced in the 2018/19 FY and overlapped to the 2019/20 FY at a cost of R 13 692 298.31 VAT Inclusive (Both Construction and Professional fees) in the 2018/19 FY and R 3 083 323.78 VAT Inclusive (Both Construction and Professional fees) to date. The current progress is 95% complete overall.

a) (i) According to data received, this is a multiyear project still in progress and egistered for R23 593 338 million, of which R16, 036, 210 million was spent as at the end of 15 May 2020.

b) (i) Phase 1 A : Consulting Engineers: Dikgabo Consulting Engineers

Main contractor: AL Mphago JV /HM Eyethu

Subcontractors:

1. Matlapeng Mahuma Construction
2. BJM Transport
3. Phehli Trading Enterprise (Pty)Ltd
4. Marula Tubatse

Phase 2B: Consulting Engineers: Dikgabo Consulting Engineers

Main contractor: Mothage Phadima Construction

Subcontractors:

1. Ndlamama Transport and Projects

(c) According to the data extracted from Expanded Public Works Project (EPWP) office:

• Two (2) Full Time Equivalent Jobs (FTE) was created for the 2018/2019, the breakdown being eleven (11) Job Opportunities, of which six (6) job opportunities were for women and nine (9) job opportunities were youth.
• During the 2019/2020, it was reported nine (9) Full Time Equivalent Jobs (FTE) was created, the breakdown being twenty nine (29) Job Opportunities, of which nine (9) job opportunities were for women and twenty nine(26) job opportunities were youth.
• No data is currently available for the 2020/2021 financial year.

Reply:

1. (a) The number of train stations that have been vandalised over the past three financial years, including signal equipment, substations, cables and any other operational equipment is:

Incidents (vandalised)	2018	2019	2020	TOTAL
Stations	37	42	94	173
Signal equipment	298	469	221	988
Substations	7	15	20	42
Cables	760	585	488	1833

(b) Theft and vandalism has been increasing over the years and the cost to restore the vandalized equipment is in excess of R2bn. This cost covers the following:

• Both Conventional and Modern Signalling System
• Signals and Train Detection Cables including Battery Banks at Signalling Equipment Rooms
• Multiple spans of Contact and Catenary wire Overhead Track Equipment (OHTE)
• Transformers, Rectifiers and various components at substations

2. (a) Train lines which have been impacted are:

Gauteng West	Gauteng East	Gauteng North
Vereeniging via Midway	Daveyton – Dunswart both lines 24	Mabopane – Pretoria
Westgate	Springs – Germiston all lines 24	De Wildt – Pretoria
Faraday	Germiston – Katlehong via India & Germiston East 34	Saulsville – Pretoria
Naledi to New Canada	Germiston – Knights – Elandsfontein 12	Pretoria – Pienaarspoort
Randfontein line	Germiston – Johannesburg all lines 12	Pretoria – Johannesburg
Midway – Oberholzer
New Canada – George Goch

(b) (i) Optimal train service was:

Gauteng West	Gauteng East	Gauteng North
Vereeniging via Midway 66 trips weekday	Daveyton – Dunswart both lines 24 trips per weekday	Mabopane – Pretoria 103 trips per weekday
Westgate 16 trips weekday	Springs – Germiston all lines 24 trips per weekday	De Wildt – Pretoria 42 trips per weekday
Faraday 20 trips weekday	Germiston – Johannesburg all lines 12 trips per weekday	Saulsville – Pretoria 48 trips per weekday
Naledi to New Canada 144 trips weekday	Germiston - Kwesine	Pretoria – Pienaarspoort 127 trips per weekday
Randfontein line 46 trips weekday		Pretoria – Johannesburg 68 trips per weekday
Midway – Oberholzer 14 trips weekday
New Canada – George Goch Included in Vereenigin & Naledi trips

(ii) Current Service – pre lockdown train trips and during lockdown no services are running

Gauteng West	Gauteng East	Gauteng North
Vereeniging via Midway 0 trips per day	Daveyton – Dunswart No train service due to all lines not available	Mabopane – Pretoria 0 trips per day
Westgate 0 trips per day	Springs – Dunswart Single line working up and down 24 trips per weekday	De Wildt – Pretoria 0 trips per day
Faraday 0 trips per day	Germiston – Johannesburg Shuttle hauled by diesel locomotive	Saulsville – Pretoria 0 trips per day
Naledi to New Canada 74 trips per day (before lockdown vandalism)	Elandsfontein – Germiston – Johannesburg Shuttle hauled by diesel locomotive to connect with the Pretoria train service at Elandsfontein	Pretoria – Pienaarspoort 69 trips per weekday
Randfontein line 26 trips per day	Germiston – Kwesine A service between Elsburg – Kwesine was implemented. Commuters connected trains to Germiston with the Meyerton – Vereeniging service at Elsburg	Pretoria – Johannesburg 10 trips per day
Midway – Oberholzer 0 trips per day 6 shuttle (express) trips between Randfontein and Oberholzer per day
New Canada – George Goch 0 trips per day All trains are travelling via Langlaagte

c) Based on the 2018 census, the number of commuters making use of each affected train line daily, are:

Gauteng West	Gauteng East	Gauteng North
Vereeniging via Midway 95 686	Olifantsfontein – Elandsfontein 95 921	Mabopane – Pretoria 154 512
Westgate 2 508	Daveyton – Germiston 108 543	De Wildt – Pretoria 1 679
Faraday 194	Germiston – Johannesburg 37 711	Saulsville – Pretoria 38 162
Naledi to New Canada 78,277	Germiston – Kwesine 43 200	Pretoria – Pienaarspoort 147 800
Randfontein line 46 260		Pretoria – Johannesburg 21 388
Midway – Oberholzer 2 620
New Canada – George Goch 5 109

d) For every incident where trains were reduced, Metrorail Marketing and Communications Department notified employees, commuters and the public at large via media. Please note that the information below is based on a single incident. This is then replicated in other areas when the train service in that area/corridor is also reduced.

When the train service is reduced, Metrorail employs the following platforms to notify affected commuters and the public at large:

• E-mail
• Media statement / alert
• Metrorail Gauteng Facebook page
• Twitter - @metrorailgp
• Go Metro (no longer operational since November 2019, but was used before when it was active)
• Face-to-face meetings with Commuter Forums
• Information Offices at stations
• Radio train traffic updates (free slots)
• In-house produced posters
• Commuter WhatsApp groups
• Commuters can also call stations and Information Centers
• Train service information updates also posted at some stations

e) Per region in Gauteng the following alternative transport arrangements were made for commuters:

Gauteng West:

Buses are used as alternative transport, but the service could not be sustained due to operational constraints and budget challenges at Autopax. Between Randfontein and Oberholzer a shuttle is running.

Gauteng East:

Alternative transport could not be provided due to budget being depleted to acquire buses from Autopax and the magnitude of the corridors to be provided for was really high in terms of demand and availability.

Gauteng North:

Diesel locomotive shuttle services were introduced but could not be sustained and could not cover all the corridors due to insufficient numbers of diesel locomotives available as well as continuous theft that resulted in hanging wires all over on different places on different days.

3. The estimated daily loss in revenue, based on the 2019/2020 Revenue Budget (excluding Covid-19 Lockdown), for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa is:

Gauteng West	Amount	Gauteng East	Amount	Gauteng North	Amount
Vereeniging via Midway	R77,429	Olifantsfontein – Elandsfontein	R65,607	Mabopane – Pretoria *	R95,125
West Gate	R1,425	Daveyton - Germiston	R53,856	De Wildt – Pretoria *	R15,223
Faraday	R465	Germiston – Johannesburg	R10,178	Saulsville – Pretoria **	R35,212
Naledi to New Canada	R70,290	Germiston – Kwesine	R36,684	Pretoria – Pienaarspoort	R85,255
Randfontein line	R25,766			Pretoria – Johannesburg	R14,556
Midway to Oberholzer	R6,476
New Canada to George Goch	R870
Johannesburg	R61,593
Total	R244,314	Total	R166,325	Total	R245,371

Total estimated daily loss in revenue is R656,010

* Mabopane and De Wildt Corridors were suspended in December 2019

** Saulsville corridor was suspended in March 2020 before the Covid-19 Lockdown was implemented

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) informed me that the matter of security on all material remained the responsibility of the contractor and the contractor covered the costs. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) remains responsible for securing the border.

b) The Department further informed me the mitigating measure was premised on the fact that the tender went through a competitive bidding process. With reference to the published tenders on the DPWI website, the tender for Beitbridge land port of entry (WCS052500) was awarded in October 2016. The costing was also premised on 2016 baseline. The rates are complex as they are inclusive, and the contractor covered the costs.

Reply:

1. It is unquestionable that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about and at some point exacerbated the challenges faced by the country and the world in totality. Thus, it is necessary that integrated solutions are found and implemented to navigate through the Covid-19 virus and its impact to the overall society. As such the South African Government is providing leadership by putting in place the integrated mechanisms to help to directly and indirectly deal with this unprecedented pandemic and its impact to the economy. This is exhibited by stimulus package announced by our President and is further unpacked below.

In general and currently, the Department is not intending to create a special Covid-19 financial relief fund for small businesses in the transport sector because these entities registered through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) are eligible and qualify to apply to existing Government Covid-19 relief programmes. However, the Government will, through the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) provide relief to all SMMEs. This financial relief is provided through the R500billion Covid-19 relief financial interventions highlighted in the preceding paragraph. It is intended to provide business owners particularly of small enterprises with funding or payment relief and opportunities to help them navigate and thrive through this tough time.

These programmes are and not limited to:

• Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Covid-19 relief fund is to benefit all employees and employers including small enterprises functioning within the transport sector. This is an emergency relief for employers to be able to pay employees who have been temporarily laid off as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown measures;
• The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) Covid-19 relief fund is for businesses, which are negatively affected, directly or indirectly, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It is important to note that the creation and existence of this Department is to put in place mechanisms that will create an environment in which small enterprises across the economy of South Africa inclusive of the transport s sector operate in a fair and conducive environment;
• The DSBD Business Growth Resilience Facilities is for enterprises geared to take advantage of supply opportunities resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic or shortage of goods in the local market.
• SMME Relief Finance Scheme. This is a soft-loan funding for businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 virus for all businesses with a turnover of less than R300 million; and
• Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) Debt Restructuring is for businesses that are currently Sefa-funded are able to apply for a moratorium on loan repayments if the COVID-19 virus has negatively affected them.

An exception is with the Taxi Industry as you are all aware that it provides public transport for approximately 60% of passengers. As part of the relief measures for small businesses in distress, taxis financed by the National Taxi Finance administered by SEFA will be granted a 3 months repayment holiday. The dire effects of the lockdown on the taxi industry is noted and intergovernmental consultations on a Taxi Industry Relief Efforts are at an advanced stage. The Departments of Transport, Small Business Development, Employment and Labour, Trade Industry and Competition as well as National Treasury have agreed to support the industry and are currently looking at various modalities of assistance. At the time the lockdown was declared, we were in the process of finalizing our plans for the hosting of the National Taxi Indaba, which will be held sometime later this year. The aim is to address a number of critical economic issues confronting the industry. Among the key issues to be considered by the Indaba is a sustainable economic empowerment model for the taxi industry. This will include a public transport-funding model, which must include a possible subsidy regime, in which the taxi industry is a full participant. It is of paramount importance to note that the SANTACO, the governing structure of the taxi industry in the country under the governance of the Department, announced a R3.5 billion relief funds to help cushion the industry through the Covid-19 pandemic.

In view of the above Government interventions, it is important for Government to pool limited resources to ensure most enterprises are cushioned through these tough and unprecedented times. All Government interventions should aim towards providing integrated Covid-19 financial reliefs. In addition, it is vital to avoid duplicating efforts and ensure that double dipping by individuals and enterprises is avoided at all cost. Secondly, the Department will continue to support efforts of creating a conducive environment for small enterprises in the transport sector. Thus, the legislation of Government including the Broad-Based Black Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act 53 of 203 as amended will be applied to help small enterprises and to facilitate transformation of the transport sector. I must acknowledge that not all these Covid-19 virus relief funds may be enough. In the next phase, Government must look at options to increasing these financial support mechanisms to rebuild and stimulate the economy.

(2) whether the Covid-19 financial or other relief will only be allocated to qualifying small businesses according to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, Act 53 of 2003, as amended; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what statutory grounds and/or provisions does he or his department rely to allocate Covid-19 financial or other relief only to small businesses according to the specified Act and (b) what form of Covid-19 financial or other relief, if any, will be made available to other small businesses?

Response

For more details, see question 1 response above. Of course, my Department would like to emphasize that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and supported by laws such the B-BBEE Act will be implemented to create an inclusive growing economy and to transform the transport sector particularly the aviation, road freight and maritime industries. The Covid-19 crisis provides an opportunity for the Department to work towards speeding-up the process to re-instituting the Transport Sector B-BBEE Council to facilitate transformation of the transport sector so that equal opportunities are created for black women, black people with disabilities and black youth. The process to re-institute the Council is at the advance stage. The Council will spearhead the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of B-BBEE and transformation in the transport sector. It is important to note that Government will not compromise the provision of the constitution and will continue to ensure compliance to relevant legislation.

Let me take this opportunity to provide my total support to my colleague, the Minister of Tourism, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane in support of the Black Business Council for implementing the B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003 as amended even though there are some distractors in the country. The intention of this Government is to achieve the envisioned 2030 goals set by the National Development Plan that 9 out of 10 new jobs will be generated by micro, small and medium businesses. Hence, all our efforts should make use of every opportunity inclusive of the Covid-19 crisis to transform the overall economic society of South Africa and create a conducive environment for micro, small and medium enterprises to help or economy.

Reply:

1. The upsurge in the number of domestic violence cases has been globally reported as one of the serious ramifications of the COVID-19 lockdown. As expounded by the Executive Director of UN Women, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, ‘Confinement is fostering the tension and strain created by security, health, and money worries. It is increasing isolation for women with violent partners, separating them from the people and resources that can best help them. It’s a perfect storm for controlling and violent behaviour behind closed doors. And in parallel, as health systems are stretching to breaking point, domestic violence shelters are also reaching capacity, a service deficit made worse when centres are repurposed for additional Covid-19 response.’

2. In anticipation of domestic violence cases taking a dramatic upswing during the national lockdown, on 30 March 2020, I have issued Alert Level 5 of COVID-19 Directions for court operations, which listed domestic violence applications for protection orders among the justice essential services. However, the Level 5 Directions restricted courts from conducting criminal proceedings, unless for bail applications and reviews thereof. During the period 26 March to 30 April 2020, the district courts dealt with the following applications:

PROTECTION ORDERS APPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT, 1998 (ACT NO. 116 OF 1998): PERIOD 26 MARCH TO 30 APRIL 2020
Province	Total Caseload Considered	Outcome
	Number of New Applications Registered (26 March – 30 April 2020)	Number of Applications Pending before 26 March 2020	Number of Interim Protection Orders Granted	Number of Summons Issued	Number of Final Orders issued	Total Number of Applications Considered
EC	1 580	507	1 143	565	379	2 087
FS	762	379	466	363	312	1 141
GP	3 159	284	1 632	810	1 001	3 443
KZN	1 474	268	1 108	110	524	1 742
LIMP	982	861	750	287	806	1 843
MP	626	297	528	175	220	923
NC	165	163	229	43	56	328
NW	706	214	375	42	75	492
WC	810	252	545	317	200	1 062
TOTAL	10 264	3 225	6 776	2 712	3 573	13 061

 

3. As against the global trend, it has been recently reported that South Africa has in fact taken a divergent experience in this area. In April 2020, the South African Medical Research Council modelling suggested that the hospital trauma admissions have declined by 66% since the alcohol-free national lockdown[1]. The rate of patients admitted for injuries inflicted as a result of violent crimes has drastically gone down in South Africa. Just recently, SAPS also reported a steep decline in the number of reported domestic violence cases. On 22 April 2020, the Minister of Police, Mr Bheki Cele announced that ‘The national picture reflects a decrease by 69.4% from 9 990 cases between 29 March and 22 April last year (2019) to 3,061 since the lockdown until 20 April 2020, meaning a difference of 6,929.’[2]

 

4. Similarly, our courts registered a further decline in the number of new applications for domestic violence protection orders received during the COVID-19 Lockdown:

New Applications for the Domestic Violence Protection Orders
All Provinces	January 2020	February 2020	March 2020	26 March to 30 April 2020
	22 211	18 112	14 404	10 264

Note: From these figures, since January 2020, our courts have been experiencing a persistent drop in the number of these new applications. Therefore, the ban of alcohol during the lockdown may not be the only contributor to the decrease of domestic violence cases.

5. Despite this sudden unexplainable drop in the domestic violence cases, the Department has introduced in our courts a number of measures to address the domestic violence epidemic:

a) In March 2020, shortly before the national lockdown, the Department introduced the Justice Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) to fast-track the finalisation of domestic violence matters and most importantly, to provide a catalogue of victim-support services aimed at creating a victim-centric justice experience, which is more caring, fast and effective. Due to the COVID-19 National Lockdown restrictions, the RRI is currently in operation, but in a minimal scale. The RRI is championed by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr John Jeffery, and the plan is to increase its footprint to more district courts post-COVID-19 epidemic.

b) There’s a chronic tendency among certain victims of domestic violence to minimize the experience of abuse due to a number of emotional challenges which include denial, shame, embarrassment and fear of exposure. Ambivalence often drives these victims out of the court system back into the cycle of violence where they would stay trapped until they die. In curbing potential femicide cases, the Department has introduced the Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment Tool in courts which provides a set of questions intended to open the eyes of the victim to the harmful realities and the fatal consequences of violence in his/her relationship, and to take appropriate actions. The tool was developed with government stakeholders, including SAPS, and also with the participation of the civil society. It is also available in our website.

c) It is often not easy for a victim of domestic violence to leave an abusive relationship. In an effort to protect their lives whilst leaving with their abusers during this Lockdown period, the Department has distributed to courts the booklet titled: My Safety Plan against Domestic Violence, which encourages the victims to make their personalized safety plans. The Plan guides the victims in identifying measures of safety, i.e. at the shared residence, during a violent attack, when planning to escape from the shared residence, etc. These include identifying trustworthy rescue persons, removing items from the house which might be used as dangerous weapons, packing an escape bag, identifying the safe escape route from the house, and selecting a safe house or shelter to where the planned escape will be made. The Department is in a process of distributing the Safety Plan to shelters to ensure that no survivor leaves the shelter without having planned. The Safety Plan can also be accessed from the Department’s website.

d) With the increasing figures of reported cases of violence in domestic relationships and femicide, the need for the review of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. 116 of 1998) became more pressing. The Department has published the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) Amendment Bill for public comments. The Bill seeks to amend the DVA to, inter alia, tighten safety measures of a protection order, and to introduce obligations to other government functionaries so as to increase stakeholder support and cooperation in the implementation of the Act.

The closing date for comments was on 24 April 2020. The Department is now considering comments for incorporation into the Bill. The Bill will be introduced in Parliament in the current financial year.

1. Prof Charles Perry, SAMRC: Opinion by Bhekisisa: ‘Could SA’s Lockdown ‘Experiment’ help chart a path to a sober, les violent country?’ ↑

2. Daily Maverick: Gender-based violence during lockdown in SA: Looking for answersWhy is South Africa not showing the rise in domestic violence cases reported elsewhere in the world? Chandre Gould is a Senior Research Fellow, Justice and Violence Prevention, ISS Pretoria; 11 May 2020 ↑

Reply:

I wish to inform the Honourable Member that I am not aware of any business transaction involving the purchase of shares through a loan advanced by Public Investment Corporation.

Reply:

Yes, the Department procured personal protective equipment in an effort to combat the spread of the COVID19 virus.  All details of the purchases are provided in Annexure 01.

Reply:

The Department did not for see the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the commencement of the previous financial year and had therefore not budgeted for the pandemic. The department has however approached the National Treasury to solicit an approval for the reprioritization of the budget to provide for the non-pharmaceutical interventions to respond to the pandemic and to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus. Approval is awaited for the request from the National Treasury

Reply:

1. (a) The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) does not keep crime statistics specifically for crimes committed by children or crimes against children. The NPA only collate diversion statistics with respect to offences committed by children in line with the Child Justice Act.

(b) The registrars or clerks of the court have submitted 2458 names to the Department of Social Development in terms of section 114 of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005) for placement onto Part A of the Child Protection Register (Form 25).

Year	Number of Form 25s submitted
2013/2014	70
2014/2015	330
2015/2016	453
2016/2017	412
2017/2018	424
2018/2019	411
2019/2020 to date	358
Total	2458

The Children’s Act, 2005 came into operation on 1 April 2010 expecting clerks of the court to forward the names of children in terms of section 114 of the Children’s Act, 2005 for placement onto Part A of the Child Protection Register (Form 25) to the Registrar of the National Child Protection Register. The Department of Social Development reported that this section was not fully implemented by the courts. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development issued Circular 61of 2013 in 2013 to the courts to ensure compliance and to perform quality checks on the information submitted to the Registrar of the National Child Protection Register for placement on the Register. There may be instances where the numbers submitted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to the Registrar differ from the numbers recorded on the Register and this is due to the fact that the Registrar receive information from various sources as provided for in section 114(1)(a) of the Children’s Act, 2005).

(2) The Registrars or clerks of the court have submitted 662 names to the Department of Social Development in terms of section 122 of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005) for placement onto Part B of the Child Protection Register (Form 28).

Year	Number of Form 28s submitted
2013/2014	44
2014/2015	69
2015/2016	59
2016/2017	67
2017/2018	145
2018/2019	135
2019/2020 to date	143
Total	662

There may be instances where the numbers submitted by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to the Registrar of the National Child Protection differ from the numbers recorded on the Register and this is due to the fact that the Registrar receive information from various sources, such as the South African Council of Educators (SACE) as provided for in section 120(1)(c) of the Children’s Act, 2005).

The Registrar of the National Child Protection Register reported in 2017/18 to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development that some courts were submitting information on Forms 28 in instances where no finding was made in relation to unsuitability to work with children. The Department responded by conducting refresher training in 2018/19 on the submission of information to the Registrar of the National Child Protection Register in conjunction with the Registrar of the National Child Protection Register, the latter conducted the training. The training sessions were conducted as follows:

Province	Date
Western Cape	26 and 27 July 2018
Limpopo	7 August 2018
Gauteng	10 October and 13 August 2018
Eastern Cape	23 August 2018
Mpumalanga	21 August 2018
Northern Cape	23 October 2018
Free State	25 and 26 October 2018
North West	31 October 2018
KwaZulu-Natal	2017/2018

Reply:

I wish to inform the Honourable Member that I regard the finalization of the organizational re-alignment process of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development as of critical importance, and I have therefore directed the Acting Director-General to appoint a designated official in his office to manage this in consultation with the Human Resources Management Unit, which has done a lot of incremental work in this regard.

It is a worrying fact that the Departmental organisational structure has not been reviewed for a period of decade. This has had a negative effect in the Department’s ability and capability to meet its performance targets. I have discussed sharply with the Acting Director-General regarding the delay in reviewing the structure and the high vacancy rate in the Senior Management echelon which I have explained in a separate related Parliamentary Question.

I can report that several critical Senior Management vacancies were in the process of being filled or advertised immediately before the processes were halted due to the declaration of the national state of disaster and the subsequent national lockdown. Amongst these is the acting appointment of the Solicitor-General which we were able to conclude just few days before the announcement of the lockdown by the President. Mr Fhedzisani Pandelani has been appointed for three (3) years, and this will allow the Department enough time to reconfigure the Offices of the Solicitor-General and those of the State Attorneys to address the current capacity challenges in this important institution which are well documented.

We have also resumed some of the processes to fill some of the vacant posts which we are able to do during the current level four (4) lockdown phase. The Department has also solicited services of the Government Technical Assistance Centre (GTAC), an agency of the National Treasury, to provide the requisite technical skills to review the Department’s structure.

In terms of the Project Charter which the Department received from GTAC, the complete review of the structure will be finalised by November 2020. This will enable the Department to implement the new structure from the beginning of 2021.

Reply:

1. The Department did not award any tenders connected to the Covid-19 pandemic. Items procured such as masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and decontamination of premises (office buildings) were below R500 000 and supply chain processes were followed.

(a) None

(b) N/A

(c) N/A

2. No deviations from the standard supply chain management procedures.

(a) None

(b) N/A

3. N/A

4. N/A

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, including its Property Management Trading Entity (PMTE), collectively referred to as “the Department”, has incurred, and continues to incur, both ordinary and extraordinary expenditure in line with its mandate the provision of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), the cleaning of its facilities, decontamination of facilities (including Presidency and courts) and quarantine facilities as requested by Department of Health (DOH). To date, an amount of R 47 049 676 has been spent.

b) The money was sourced from various line items of the budget after taking into consideration the lower expenditure on items due to the lockdown. These included budget items on travel, recruitment, goods and services and infrastructure projects due to low or no expenditure due to lockdown. The funds were shifted in terms of the Disaster Management Act and its Regulations.

c) The expenditure was authorised in line with the Department’s finance delegations of authority at various branches at Head Office and the eleven (11) Regional Offices.

d) The impact is negligible, if any, as funds were shifted from programmes that had no activities due to inter alia the restrictions imposed by the national lockdown.

Reply:

5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology network adopted by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a standards organisation which develops protocols for mobile telecommunications. 5G is a new globally accepted standard of technology after 3G, 4G and LTE/LTE advanced. 5G is identified by the following use cases: enhanced mobile broadband communications, massive machine type communications, ultra-reliable and low latency communications, and Internet of Things that virtually connects everything and everyone.

 

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

I was advised by the Department and entities as follows:

(a)& (b) The Department and entities did not sponsor any political parties in the 2018/19 financial year.

1. None
2. None
3. None

(aa) N/A

(bb) N/A

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

I was advised by the department and entities as follows:

1(a),(b)&(c) The Ministry, Department and entities have indicated that the specified person did not attended any official meetings and/or gatherings.

2(a) Not applicable

(b) Not applicable

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

1. No, I have not been informed of such meeting. Any individual meetings between a Judge and/or members of the public, would not be reported to my office.
2. Neither have I been informed of any appointment to any position, accordingly.
3. I have no power to take disciplinary action against Judges. This is done by the Judicial Service Commission.

Reply:

The Department did not foresee the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the commencement of the previous financial year and had therefore not budgeted for the pandemic nor planned for any tenders in the Annual Procurement Plan related hereto. However, the department had followed all the available prescripts by the National Treasury in the COVID-19 procurement processes.

Quotations were sourced in line with the provisions of the relevant Treasury Instructions and a process of a multiple award approach was utilised to meet the necessary volumes requested in the distribution for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Wear. Accordingly the following suppliers were part of the multiple award total R24 731 292.41

i. Ecko-Green Environmental Services

ii. C Square Consumer Connectedness

iii. Mistralog

The following Products were supplied by the companies in this award:

i. PENDO-FOG disinfectant fogging machine;

ii. 20/25 Liter Disinfectant refil for the PENDO-FOG

iii. 1 Liter Sanitizers bottles

iv. 20 Liter Sanitizer refill

v. PPE Disposable Coveralls

vi. Surgical Masks

vii. Surgival gloves (only in round 1)

(2) There was no deviation made on the standard Emergency Procurment Prescripts

a) He reason for acquisition of the products was that an urgent intervention was required to assist in providing the taxi industry (driver’s and Marshall) with COVID-19 related goods, to curb the spead of the virus in the Public transport environment.

b) Quotations were sourced from multiple companies, evaluated in terms of normal procurement prescripts relating to CSD registration, tax compliance etc, and awarded as a multiple award to curb cost. There has been full compliance with the National Treasury Prescripts in terms of National Treasury Instruction Note Nr.3 of 2016/201/Section 8.1 and 8.2

(3) Companies first had to comply with prescribed procurement processes, including registration on CSD and tax compliance. Qualified bidders were then evaluated on price, per specific item.

(4) If deemed necessary by the house.

Reply:

1. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s position is that criminal investigations and consideration for prosecution is a parallel process and is not reliant on the completion of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture (“Zondo Commission”). There have been some challenges regarding the sharing of evidence, which the NPA is trying to address.

2. There are considerations to amend the regulations of the State Capture Commission to facility the sharing of information between the Commission and the Independent Directorate.

The NPA would welcome interim reports from the Commission so that the Investigating Directorate (ID) would be able to assess the evidence, relevant to ID investigations, that has been collected by the Commission.

3. Several investigations are currently underway and there are matters that are under consideration for prosecution. The following matters are before courts:

i. State Owned Enterprises (SOE) Cases

Eskom (Kusile Power Station) – Former Eskom executives (Mr Hlakudi and Mr Masango) and co-accused were arrested and appeared in court in December 2019. Their next court appearance date is 25 May 2020.

ii. High Level Public and Private Corruption

Bosasa – Mr Angelo Agrizzi and Mr Andries van Tonder (former Chief Operations Officer (COO) and COO of Bosasa, respectively), Mr Linda Mti (former National Commissioner of Correctional Services) and Mr Patrick Gillingham (former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Department of Correctional Services [DCS]), were arrested and charged with corruption, money laundering and fraud related to tender contracts at the DCS in February 2019.

iii. Security Sector Cases

a) SAPS – Manthata and Others - appeared before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge on 17 March 2020, on charges of fraud and corruption as well as contravention of the PFMA. Case postponed to 5 May 2020 for disclosure. The case relates to allegations of fraud and corruption committed towards the SAPS during procurement of blue lights.

b) SAPS – S v T Khoza (Shezi Matter) Lt Gen Shezi was arrested and the matter was placed on the roll in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria in December 2019. The matter will be before court on 27 March 2020 to set a trial date. Disclosure has been made and charges have been drafted. The matter relates to allegations of corruption.

c) NPA – Ms Jackie Lepinka appeared before court and matter postponed to 24 April 2020. The accused is charged with Theft, Fraud, Unauthorised access to or modification of computer material, in contravention of section 40(a)(2)(a) of the NPA Act; and unlawful disclosure in contravention of section 41 (6)(b) of the NPA Act.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1)(a) My role was limited to issuing a directive for the emergency securing of the South African Border to the Director General, Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Director General: Construction Management. The first focus was on the Beitbridge Border Post and identified hotspots at this borderline between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

(b) The delegated authority for tender approval was the National Bid Adjudication Committee (NBAC).

(2) I received regular updates on the construction until completion. I also requested the Auditor-General of South Africa to do an independent audit and also asked the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s Internal Anti-Corruption Unit to do an investigation.

Reply:

1. There were a number of prosecutions conducted under the provisions of Section 173 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), Act No. 56 of 2003 in the period from 1 January 2006, as outlined in the table below:

(a)(i) Number of persons prosecuted in terms of section 173 of the MFMA	67
ii) Names of Municipalities involved	Eastern Cape a) Mbizana Local Municipality b) Cacadu Municipality c) Senqu Local Municipality d) Koukamma Municipality e) Amahlati Local Municipality f) Buffalo City Municipality g) Nelson Mandela Bay Metro h) Ikwezi Local Municipality 2. Northern Cape Hoogland Municipality 3. Gauteng West Rand District Municipality 4. Western Cape a) Oudsthoorn Municipality b) George/ Eden Municipality c) ClanWilliam/Cederberg Municipality d) Swellendam Municipality e) Paarl Municipality 5. Free State a) Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality b) Dihlabeng Local Municipality c) Moqhaka Local Municipality d) The Nala Local Municipality
(b)(i) Municipalities where prosecutions were withdrawn	a) Mbizana Local Municipality b) Oudtshoorn Municipality c) ClanWilliam Municipality d) Swellendam Municipality e) Paarl Municipality
(ii) and c) Municipalities and cases where convictions were attained, and sentences imposed	a) Cacadu Municipality, in S v Khanyisa Majokweni and another i The 2 accused were convicted for contravening section 173 of the MFMA. ii.  Accused 1 was sentenced to a fine of R 1 500.00 or 90-days imprisonment, which was wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years. iii. Accused 2 was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years. b) Senqu Local Municipality in re S v Mxolisi Yawa and 6 others i. 5 of the 7 accused were convicted for contravening section 173 of the MFMA ii. Accused 1 was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years iii. Accused 2 was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years iv. Accused 5 was sentenced to a fine of R5000 wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years v. Accused 6 was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years vi. Accused 7 was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment wholly and conditionally suspended for 5 years c) Hoogland Municipality, in re S v Marius Botha i. The accused was convicted for contravening section 173 of the MFMA ii. He was sentenced to a fine of R5 000.00 or 12 months imprisonment. d) Oudtshoorn Municipality, in re S v Pietersen i. The accused was convicted for contravening section 173 of the MFMA ii. He was sentenced to 5 direct years imprisonment, which was reduced to 2 years direct imprisonment on appeal to the Western Cape High Court iii. Applications to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court were dismissed.
Municipalities and cases where there were acquittals	a) Senqu Local Municipality, in re S v Mxolisi Yawa and 6 others (2 persons were acquitted) b) Koukamma Municipality, in re S v Sinaw Amandla Construction and 3 others c) Oudtshoorn Municipality, in re S v Pietersen and 5 others
Municipalities and cases which are partly heard before court	a) Hoogland Municipality, in re S v Marius Botha b) West Rand Municipality, in re S v TZ Mokhatla and 2 others c) George/ Eden Municipality, in re S v Cecil Afrika d) Amahlati Local Municipality, in re S v Mlonzi and 2 others e) Buffalo City Municipality, in re i S v Zambodla and another, and ii. S v Ndzele and 5 others f. Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, in re S v Mkaza and 5 others g. Ikwezi Local Municipality, in re S v Gutas h. Cacadu Municipality, in re S v Diniso and 5 others i. Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality, in re S v Tsupa and 8 others j. Dihlabeng Local Municipality, in re S v Molatseli and 2 others k) Moqhaka Local Municipality, in re S v Mqwati and 3 others l) The Nala Local Municipality, in re S v Christopher Mokomela and 3 others

2. No person has been prosecuted under the provisions of section 119 of the Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000.

Reply:

a) The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected many small businesses and most of them are struggling to stay afloat because they either cannot operate under the lockdown or the volume of their passenger numbers has significantly decreased. In this regard, government has established multiple relief funds under the Department of Small Business Development (and its entities) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (and its entities) aimed at t providing financial relief and assistance to business in distress. The Department of Transport has been encouraging the unsubsidized small bus operators to approach these schemes for relief.

Reply:

The Honourable Member is kindly referred to the Parliament Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) where a reply to this Parliamentary Question has been logdged.

Reply:

The question has been referred to Provincial Departments of Education and a consolidated response will be provided as soon as it is received.

Reply:

(1)(a) No, responsible professional bodies such as the Department of Basic Education (DBE) are responsible for the development of curriculum/policy (National Education Policy Act, 27 of 1996)

(1)(b)(i) UMALUSI is not responsible for the development of new qualifications, but it is the responsibility of the DBE, and UMALUSI quality assures qualifications after which it submits them to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for registration on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

(1)(b)(ii) DBE is responsible for introducing a new qualification that it has developed.

(1)(c) As indicated above, the DBE is responsible for the development of curricula for new qualifications and not UMALUSI. The latter is responsible for the quality assurance of both the curricula and qualifications.

(2) There is no uncertainty regarding the statutory mandate of UMALUSI and the Department of Basic Education regarding independent schools. The Regulations regarding the criteria for the Quality Assurance, Accreditation, Monitoring of Independent Schools and Private Assessment Bodies, published in Government Gazette no.41206 of 27 October 2017, clearly stipulates the role of UMALUSI and the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). The PEDs are responsible for the registration of independent schools which gives them the approval to operate as a school and thereafter they must be subjected to the accreditation process of UMALUSI which determines whether the independent school has the capacity to offer and manage the relevant qualification and the related curriculum. The Department has also developed Guidelines for the Registration and Accreditation of Independent Schools, which has been endorsed by Heads of Education Committee (HEDCOM) and needs to be approved by Council of Education Ministers (CEM) and this will further assist independent schools in understanding the relationship between registration and accreditation. The independent schools are supported by both the PEDs and UMALUSI to meet the criteria for registration as an independent school and to be accredited to offer the qualification. The DBE has also established a HEDCOM sub-committee for Independent Schools which addresses all concerns of the independent schooling sector at a national level.                     

Reply:

There have been claims of false positive results, however, it is difficult to confirm the claims because the same sample needs to be tested to determine if there are inconsistent results. The results are determined by the amount of virus in the sample and this can differ if samples are taken at different times. The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) will conduct external quality assurance and proficiency testing schemes to determine the quality of results. Proficiency testing schemes are performed by providing participants with test samples for analysis and determine how closely their results agree with the accepted values. Regular participation in a proficiency testing scheme provides staff with an insight into their laboratory’s performance, benchmark performance with that of the other participant laboratories and demonstrate to end user of analytical data, regulatory bodies and accreditation bodies that there is a commitment to measuring quality.

END.

Reply:

The problems encountered by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee have been well documented with the solutions clearly articulated in the Zulman Committee of Enquiry Report.

It is evident that the effectiveness and efficiency of the SASCOC has consequently been adversely affected by the administrative lapses articulated in the report. A view which has been held by the Ministry upon acceptance of the Zulman Committee of Enquiry Report.

It is on this basis that the Department has invested its efforts in working with SASCOC with a view of turning around the fortunes of the organisation in order to set it on a sound administrative position geared towards effective delivery of its mandate and betterment of South African high performance sport and sport in general.

Whilst progress has been made in terms of the implementation of critical reforms within SASCOC due cognisance is given to the fact that the most critical milestone of the Quadrennial General Meeting is still outstanding. It is the Department’s conviction that this would usher in an era of stability for the organisation.

Reply:

The pandemic together with the impact that it has on the economy is placing consumers, workers, firms and vulnerable members of society under enormous pressure.

In order to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19 as effective as possible and limit the damage to the economy, Government has taken a number of measures that have been publicised. Further measures continue to be under consideration.

During the course of addressing both the pandemic and the destructive and other effects of the disaster, the Ministry and Department has been reviewing provisions of legislation within its mandate, including the Competition Act and the National Credit Act, to identify measures that can be taken responsibly to support families and businesses in distress.

On 20 March 2020, I gazetted an exemption from sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act, to enable banks to meet and agree on terms to support consumers and small businesses in distress. This includes payment holidays and debt relief for businesses and individuals in financial distress; limitations set on asset repossessions of businesses and individuals in financial distress; and the extension of credit lines to individuals and businesses in financial distress.

In respect of the National Credit Act, while the Act imposes prudent measures to mitigate against reckless lending by credit providers, it also contains provisions that are aimed at assisting distressed consumers in cases of disaster or other unforeseen emergencies. These include both the emergency loan provisions; and the public interest loan provisions in the Act. I am advised that, in terms of the Act, the provisions relating to reckless credit equally do not apply to either emergency loans or public interest credit agreements.

In the initial discussion with the Department and the Credit Regulator, there was a recognition of the need for additional finance and facilities that would be required over the period of the COVID-19 national disaster; at the same time, both entities were concerned about the risk of over-indebtedness to vulnerable consumers which may result from reckless lending.

Officials from the Department thus engaged with a range of industry stakeholders on the most appropriate measures to provide additional access to finance to consumers in need, while mitigating any risks which may exist. These engagements included the following:

• Ms Nomsa Motsegare, CEO of the National Credit Regulator;
• Mr Kuben Naidoo, Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and CEO of the Prudential Authority;
• Mr Lungisa Fuzile, CEO of Standard Bank South Africa;
• Mr. Cas Coovadia, Managing Director of the Banking Association of South Africa at the time;
• Ms. Marguerite Jacobs, General Manager responsible for Legislation & Regulatory Oversight for the Banking Association of South Africa;
• Mr Abdul Waheed Patel of Ethicore, in their capacity as advisors to Microfinance South Africa; and
• Mr Michael Lawrence, Executive Director of the National Clothing Retail Federation.

The National Credit Regulator also engaged with the South African Reserve Bank and relevant Government entities on the matter.

In the course of the discussion with stakeholders, it was clear that the provisions of the National Credit Act were not the only, nor the most important challenge for financial institutions to provide additional credit. Banks in such circumstances are concerned about the repayment of loans advanced. This was a key rationale for the launch of the R200 billion Loan Guarantee Scheme, as a joint effort by the Government, the SARB and commercial banks.

During the consultations, industry stakeholders advised that the emergency loan provisions of the Act would achieve similar objectives to the public interest credit agreement provisions; however further guidelines on the use of the emergency loan provisions would aid the industry.

In terms of the Act, an emergency loan is defined as a credit agreement entered into by a consumer to finance costs arising from or associated with—

• a death, illness or medical condition;
• unexpected loss or interruption of income; or
• catastrophic loss of or damage to home or property due to fire, theft, or natural disaster,

affecting the consumer, a person who is dependent upon the consumer or a person for whom the consumer is financially responsible.

In terms of the Act, no further regulation is required to enable use of the emergency loan provisions, however “reasonable proof of the existence of the emergency” must be obtained and retained by the credit provider. While such “reasonable proof” is not defined in the Act, the National Credit Regulator published a circular on 21 May 2020, to provide guidelines to credit providers on the issuance of emergency loans, and the documentation which constitute “reasonable proof”. These guidelines can be found on the website of the NCR at https://ncr.org.za/documents/Circulars/Circular-05-of-2020-%20Emergency%20Loan%20Guideline.pdf.

The emergency loan definition provides for relief for many of the challenges which consumers will be experiencing during this Covid-19 national disaster, and which may have been specified in any regulation or declaration regarding section 11. Following consultation, I have accepted advice that the emergency loan provisions should be utilised as it requires no additional legislation.

Subsequent to the publication of the emergency loans guidelines, officials from the Department have further engaged with credit providers. I am advised that credit providers have welcomed the guidelines published by the NCR and that BASA have reported that banks have begun to use the emergency loan provisions.

The Department will continue to engage with the sector on the efficacy on these measures. Should the emergency loan provisions in the Act fail to address the challenges which consumers are facing, I may consider which other measures would contribute, and this may include relooking the value of invoking section 11 of the Act to define certain credit agreements as public interest credit agreements.

-- END --

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) Subsequent to the Directive of 26 March 2020 and the Clarification Note of 29 March 2020 issued by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, on 13 May 2020 the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure issued a further Clarification Notes aligning the payment of EPWP workers with the Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (C19 TERS) benefit. This benefit is applicable for the duration of the lock down, subject to a valid EPWP contract in place and the conditions of C 19 TERS. The Clarification Note of 13 May 2020 was issued to all Accounting Officers coordinating and implementing the EPWP across all the three spheres of government advising the Accounting Officers of the applicability of the C19 TERS benefit. The circular clarified that participants who had valid contracts during the lockdown period whether paid or not in at work during the lockdown may claim through C19 TERS. This was to ensure that public bodies, who were financially under pressure, and could not pay the participants would now be in a position to pay the said participants.

(2) Yes. EPWP participants are entitled to Unemployment Insurance Fund benefits, subject to the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act, No. 63 of 2001. UIF can be claimed by participants in the event the EPWP contract had or will come to an ended and such participants are eligible for UIF benefits. In the event a valid contract exists, C 19 TERS applies.

(a) C 19 TERS, provides for the employer to claim on behalf of its employees. C19 TERS is not compulsory. It is a benefit to assist employers to pay employees during the lock down, protecting the employees from the adverse impact such as the loss of income or are required to take annual leave in terms of section 20 (10) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997.

(b) In the event an EPWP participant is not eligible for C 19 TERS and UIF benefits, then the participant may apply for the Social Relief of Distress Grant through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

(3) The payment of EPWP participants is addressed in point 1 and point 2 of this response.

(a) The monitoring of compliance by public bodies paying EPWP participants during the lockdown period has been developed and onc it would be institutionalised and public bodies informed through, a circular, on how to report this information in the EPWP Reporting System.

(b) (i) and (ii) The EPWP Ministerial Determination, section 13, places the responsibility of payments to EPWP participants on the employers. Section 12 and 13 of the EPWP Ministerial Determination further stipulates that all employers must keep a record of all payments made to workers. Thus, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), as the coordinator of the EPWP, is not mandated nor empowered to take any measures against companies or public body (employer) that have not paid their EPWP employees during the lockdown.

(c) The EPWP Ministerial Determination is sub-regulation to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997. The enforcement of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 and its sub-regulation is the mandate of the Department of Employment and Labour.

Reply:

The Federations have indicated that they are unable to provide information required. They cannot access the records at their offices owing to the lockdown. Most organisations are still closed due to National Lock Down due to Covid19

Reply:

The Minister has not been informed of any coaches who have been charged with sexual misconduct against players of Netball South Africa.

The Minister has not been informed of an incident of sexual misconduct involving a KwaZulu-Natal coach in 2018.

The Minister is not aware of any formal complaint that was lodged against the KwaZulu-Natal coach.

These are matters of conduct of the members of the federations which invariably make them administrative in nature. Therefore, fall within the ambit of the Federation to deal with. However as with any case of sexual misconduct, the Ministry condemn any such behaviour and urge the federations to take appropriate action to protect athletes and all involved in sport.

Reply:

1. Yes, the Department has awarded tenders connected to the Covid-19 pandemic.

(a) The names of the businesses to whom these tenders were awarded are:

• Pixely Entropy: Live Streaming Management Services
• Roadshow Marketing – Logistics and Event Management Services; and
• VWV Group (PTY) LTD – TV Production Management Services

(b) The amounts of each tender awarded are:

• Pixely Entropy - R 488 750.00
• Roadshow Marketing - R 824 300.00
• VWV Group (PTY) LTD - R 1 483 113.88

(c) Services to be rendered by each business are:

Service provider 1: Live streaming service provider

Live streaming

• A web-based TV portal platform for showcasing current and past events of DSAC;
• A live stream platform which will become the go to link to drive regular audiences to the same “live venue” for all DSAC events;
• A management of the loading of the live events before and after they happen; and
• A management of the transmission of the live event ensuring the public has seamless reach and access to the platform.

Website Development and Management

• To develop a web-based TV portal platform where live stream content will be housed and maintained;
• To ensure the up keeping of content and advertising up-coming events on the website to the public;
• To drive awareness of the platform’s content even when there are no live events scheduled; and
• To ensure alignment between TV production and event management team regarding the sharing of footage needing to be live streamed.

Revenue Streams Generation Platforms

• A network deal where data bundles promotion is offered to the public so that they access the content cheaper during the time that events are hosted;
• Platform for packaging digital albums of live streamed events;
• Ensuring provision of agnostic platforms (platforms which are not restricting access based on which network you are in) re. selling of artists’ content via digital platforms;
• Selling of digital albums of live performances allowing artists to make money for every download or live streaming of their content post the event;
• Promotion of content live streamed after the event so as to increase interest in the buying of digital albums produced after the event; and
• Drive commercialization opportunities of getting more brands on board as sponsors thus enticing more audiences to visit the platform.

Service provider 2: Logistics and event management service provider

Green Room & Stage Technical Rider:

• To identify and secure Green Room for hosting the live stream event;
• To equip green room with the sound and visual technical rider and stage requirements for live performances (DJ set or singer’s requirements);
• To provide audio set up requirements for hosting MC in the green room;
• To provide audio and visual requirements for conducting live interviews through video/ Skype/ Instagram (or preferable mode) interviews in the green room; and
• To provide the operational system for ensuring that social media content as event happens is streamed live to the green walls of the venue.

Booking Management of Artists and Catering

• To directly liaise with and source and book artists to be featured for that event;
• To engage with the artists/practitioners who want to live stream an event and arrange the event on DSAC’s behalf engaging with Live stream service provider as well as the TV production crew; and
• To provide MC and up to 10 people catering requirements when needed.

Service provider 3: TV production management service provider

Recording of Live Events:

• To provide camera crew for recording live performances in the green room;
• To provide post production services of editing the content live streamed final cut of digital album; and
• To ensure alignment between live stream service provider and camera crew providing footage of content during live stream.

Post Production of Digital Albums

• To edit live stream material and produce digital album post event;
• To supply material to live stream web-based portal; and
• To supply material to network service provider for digital albums to be sold.

(2) There were no deviations from the standard supply chain management procedures in the awarding of the tender

(3) The businesses were awarded tenders for the following reasons:

• Service provider 1: Live streaming service provider
• Service provider 2: Logistics and event management service provider
• service provider 3: TV production management service provider

(4) No, the I will not make a statement on the matter.

Reply:

a) The Federation has indicated that it requires more time to retrieve the information due to the lockdown.

Reply:

Despite numerous reminders, SASCOC has not been able to furnish the Department with information required to respond to this question. . Most organisations are still closed due to National Lock Down due to Covid19

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

a) Yes, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) informed me that an assessment was done for the +700km borderline fencing and patrol roads as part of town planning/ site clearance process for the integrated reconstruction of borderline fencing and patrol roads along the South Africa-Zimbabwe borderline.

b) Historically, the function to repair, maintain and construct border fences has been undertaken by various Government stakeholders which resulted in a fragmented planning for borderline fencing based on border incursion at the time A comprehensive approach to the entire border fencing scenario for South Africa is currently being informed as a priority by conducting a Site Assessment and Clearance, which will support feasibilities and the overall strategic plan to deal with the repair, maintenance and construction of borderline fences in totality.

(i) Based on the condition assessments undertaken during the site clearance processes, the overall condition of the borderline fences is considered poor and porous.

(ii) Yes, according to the assessment mentioned above done there are hotspot areas that require maintenance and replacement of fencing where there are illegal crossings. From historical reports, the other areas of concern have been agricultural fences around portions of Lesotho (to stem livestock theft) as well as a portion of the northern border with Zimbabwe, a part of the border between South Africa and Mozambique adjacent to the Kruger National Park as well as portions of border between SA and Swaziland (for illegal entry to South Africa).

(iii) The total budget allocation for the repair to border fences in the 2020-21 financial year is R 21 million.

Reply:

(a)(i) On what date and (ii) how was the National Registrar of Tour Guides appointed?

Ms Morongoe Ramphele, the National Registrar of Tourist Guides was appointed on 01 July 2017 by the Minister of Tourism and gazetted accordingly as per notice 768 of 2017.

(b) What are the details of other candidates who were available to be appointed as Registrar?

Not applicable. This is a designation and not an appointment that requires applications

(c) What criteria were used to appoint the Registrar?

Minister is empowered to designate an official of the department to serve as a Registrar of Tourist Guides in terms of Section 48 (1) of the Tourism Act., no 3 of 2014

(d) Why was the incumbent chosen as Registrar?

Section 48 (1) of the Tourism Act, no. 3 of 2014 states that the Minister must appoint a suitably qualified officer in the Department as the National Registrar and publish his or her name in the Government Gazette. There is a greater alignment between the Branch Tourism Sector Support Services, and the advancement of Tourist Guides’ development, promotion and governance of their work, hence the designation of the DDG thereof.

(e) On what date (i) did the term of the current Registrar commence and (ii) will the term end?

(i) 01 July 2017 (ii) Not applicable

(f) What remuneration, infrastructure and facilities are provided for the Registrar?

 

No additional remuneration infrastructure and facilities for the Registrar as it is a designation of an official

However, the Directorate: Tourist Guiding Management is responsible for the implementation of the guiding mandate with access to all the necessary infrastructure and facilities provided to all staff in the Department.

Reply:

a) The Federation presents information including the financial statements upon invitation by the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture

Reply:

(1) The perception about the so-called “one-size-fits-all” approach to education that is alleged to be used by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) may have to have its merit put under scrutiny and be engaged on further. The DBE remains committed to engaging with whosoever displays a potential to contribute meaningfully in the quest for quality basic education provisioning in the country.

(2) The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training is an autonomous entity and any intentions of engaging with it may have to be addressed directly to it.

Reply:

The Federation has indicated that it requires more time to retrieve the information due to the lockdown.

Reply:

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is implemented through the Life Skills and Life Orientation subjects. In light of the disruptions of the school calendar due to COVID-19, CSE implementation in the pilot schools will be revised according to the amended Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) after re-opening. .

Reply:

Despite numerous reminders, SASCOC has not been able to furnish the Department with information required to respond to this question. . Most organisations are still closed due to National Lock Down due to Covid19

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(a) I have instituted investigations into this matter, and the Director-General for Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Adv. Sam Vukela, has appointed an investigator. The investigation is currently underway.

(b) The DPWI procured the following hotels for the repatriates on the day,

• Capital Menlyn Maine Hotel

• Radisson Blu-Gautrain Hotel

(c) The Department of Health reportedly allocated the passengers to the available rooms at the following facilities;

• Eskom (70 rooms),

• Transnet Esselen park (80 rooms) and

• Telkom (30 rooms).

(d) (i) Negotiated cost per room for the Capital Menlyn Maine Hotel is R1138.50, and for the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel is R1000.00

(ii) DPWI did not contract with public facilities.

(e) (i) The Department informed me that DPWI did not incur any losses as no monies were paid in advance to the two hotels.

Reply:

1 (a) Prompted by what was perceived to be poor performance of the South African Team at the 2000 Olympic Games, the then Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Ngconde Balfour convened a session of Stakeholders on 27th of November 2000. The result of this session was the appointment of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) which was charged with the responsibility of investigating High Performance Sport in South Africa, identifying shortcomings in the system and formulate possible interventions. The outcome of this process saw the dissolution of the South African Sports Commission, Disability Sport South Africa, United School Sport Association of South Africa and the National Olympic Committee of South Africa to create the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee. This with the fundamental rationale of streamlining the sport structures in South Africa.

(b) In November 2011 the entire sport and recreation fraternity converged in Midrand to review the sport landscape and its pillars. This process resulted in the affirmation of the existing sport structures. The sector emerged with the National Sport and Recreation Plan which has guided sport and recreation development in the country thus far.

(c) It therefore follows that empirical evidence and a well thought out process would guide future review of the institutional and structural arrangement in sport with the sole purpose of optimizing administrative effectiveness and efficiency in order to promote performance of athletes and teams.

2) The Ministry has not been presented with any information and or tangible evidence relating to the use of R70,000,000 that NOCSA had in the bank account when changed to SASCOC that warrants an investigation including forensic audit.