Questions and Replies
18 June 2020 - NW1103
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Health
Following the announcement by the National Coronavirus Command Council on 2 April 2020 that South Africans may travel overseas to seek medical attention, what measures are in place to accommodate South Africans stranded in (a) Zimbabwe, (b) Mozambique, (c) Botswana and (d) Eswatini who need to be repatriated back to the Republic for health reasons?
Reply:
Measures have been put in place to allow all South Africans to be able to come back home, the below-mentioned is applicable to all countries including those listed (a) to (d):
Medical Evacuation processes have been developed to accomodate every person who requires to travel into South Africa for medical attention including foreign nationals. South Afrcians who are in need of medical attention may travel back into the country to obtain all necessary medical attention. This is managed through the embassies who then communicate through to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco). Depending on the condition or nature of illness of the person, they are allowed to enter the country by means of an ambulance or general transportation in cases that do not warrant ambulance services. The application process for medical evacuation is facilitated by the referring health facility or directly from the embassy in the case of outpatients.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW994
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether, with reference to his media release on 17 May 2020, in which he reported that a total number of 10 737 341 persons have been screened throughout the Republic for Covid-19, he can indicate (a) what number of persons have been screened in each province, (b) on what date(s) did the specified screening in each province take place, (c) in what areas and/or suburbs of each province the screening took place and (d) what period of time will it take to screen each and every citizen in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
(1) (a) As of 3 June 2020, 15,224,792 individuals have been screened for COVID19. The provincial breakdown is tabulated below:
Province |
Number of Individuals Screened |
Eastern Cape |
1,419,988 |
Free State |
1,914,289 |
Gauteng |
1,835,140 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
1,755,049 |
Limpopo |
3,098,840 |
Mpumalanga |
1,889,989 |
North West |
1,892,341 |
Northern Cape |
838,831 |
Western Cape |
580,325 |
National |
15,224,792 |
(b) The community screening campaign started on the 8th of April 2020 and continues to date, however a shift to a more targeted screening strategy commenced on the 18th of May 2020;
(c) The screening activities focussed in areas with confirmed CODIV-19 cases such as townships, villages, farms, suburbs including vulnerable groups such as old age homes, prisons, supermarkets etc. The number of people screened is highest in Limpopo Province as a result of careening even in districts with no confirmed COVID-19 cases. The list of areas where community screening was done received from GP,NW, EC and LIM is attached. Some provinces did not respond to the request on the areas covered through community screening;
(d) There is no evidence on the time it will take to physically screen every person in the country as this will be influenced by the distance and travel time between households, demographic structure, the number of household members per household and the working hours per each person doing screening. In order to reach others an application called Healthcheck was deployed. It can be used by anyone with a mobile phone to check and report symptoms. Between April 13 to June 3,922,626 users screened for symptoms through Healthcheck.
2. Statements are made on the screening activities as part of the media release on COVID-19.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW899
Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister of Social Development:
What are the reasons that women are not receiving food parcels in Ward 75 in (a) Lamontville Spingo and (b) KwaMashu hostels?
Reply:
Social Relief of Distress (SRD) is provided to an applicant, both male and female, who meets the eligibility requirements as set in the Social Assistance Act, 2004. SASSA has not issued food parcels only to males in the areas noted, as is illustrated in the summary below:
(a). WARD 75: ISIPINGO AND LAMONTVILLE:
1. PERIOD APRIL 2019 TO MAY 2020
Of the total of 152 citizens who received social relief of distress in this period, 77 were females, while 75 were males.
2. PERIOD APRIL 2020 TO MAY 2020:
During this period a total of 56 food parcels were issued by SASSA, Provincial Department of Social Development and Ethekwini Municipality. Of these, 48 went to females and only 8 were issued to males.
(b) KWAMASHU MENS HOSTEL: WARD 39:
1. PERIOD: MAY 2019 TO MARCH 2020:
For this period a total of 294 qualifying citizens received social relief of distress. Of this number, 150 were female and 144 were male.
2. PERIOD APRIL 2020 TO MAY 2020
For the period from April to May 2020 a total of 47 food parcels were issued, of which 32 were issued to females and 15 to males. The food parcels were issued by both SASSA and Ethekwini Municipality.
18 June 2020 - NW235
Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Communications
1. What number of times has the (a) SA Post Office (SAPO) Board and (b) SAPO board subcommittees met since the board’s appointment on 1 November 2019; 2. What (a) were the (i)(aa) dates and (bb) times that the meetings took place and (ii) names of the directors who attended the meetings, (b) was the purpose of each meeting and (c) total remuneration amount was paid to each director; 3. Did she and/or the Deputy Minister attend any of the meetings; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
I have been advised by SAPO as follows:
1. The SAPO Board and Committees met as follows:
SAPO Board & Committee meetings November 2019-February 2020 |
No of meetings |
|
(a) |
SAPO Board |
16 |
(b) |
SAPO Board committee meetings November 2019-Feb 2020 |
|
Docex Subsidiary Board |
2 |
|
Audit Committee |
3 |
|
Risk Committee |
1 |
|
IT Governance and Procurement Committee |
1 |
|
Strategic Turnaround & Investment Committee & Properties |
8 |
|
Govt service delivery and Corp Contracts Committee |
3 |
|
Remuneration and Performance Committee |
2 |
|
HR & Transformation Committee |
4 |
|
Social, Ethics and Stakeholder Committee |
4 |
|
Stamp Advisory Committee |
2 |
|
Oversight meetings with Departments by identified Board Members |
||
Financial meeting |
1 |
|
Debt Management meeting |
1 |
|
Operations meeting |
1 |
|
Distribution Network Optimisation Task Team |
2 |
2. (a)(i)(aa)(bb)(ii)(b)(c) Refer to the attached table.
3. The Minister and Deputy Minister only attended the Board induction meeting on 01 November 2019, as the Shareholder is not required to attend Board and Sub-Committee meetings.
MS STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
18 June 2020 - NW649
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What (a) criteria does her department use to determine which persons qualify to receive food parcels from the Government, (b) number of persons have received food parcels from the Government each day since 1 February 2020, (c) food and other goods does a standard food parcel contain and (d) is the cost of each food parcel; (2) what is the name(s) of the service provider(s) that was contracted to provide food parcels in each province; (3) whether her department collaborates with nongovernmental organisations to identify needy persons and distribute food parcels; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (4) what are the details of the plans her department has put in place to ensure that more needy persons receive food parcels, especially in light of the national lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic; (5) Whether her department took any steps to liaise with and mobilise civil society and businesses to assist the Government with hunger-relief initiatives; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) The regulation 9 of the Social Assistance Act 2004 indicates the following: A person in need of immediate temporary assistance qualifies for SRD if he or she:
i. has insufficient means;
ii. Is a South African citizen or permanent resident or a refugee
And complies with any of the following conditions-
(i) is awaiting payment of an approved social grant; or
The breadwinner -
i. has been assessed to be disabled for a period of less than six months
ii. of that household has died and an application is made within 12 months following the death of the breadwinner; or
iii. that household has been admitted to a public or private institution for at least one month
In addition to the above, Regulation 9(5) makes provision for social relief of distress to provide to persons where the households have been affected by a disaster (declared or undeclared). The above provisions are what informs the provision of any social relief of distress, including food parcels, by SASSA.
On the COVID-19 food parcels issued by DSD the following is considered:
- Households that have no source of income to buy food
- Households that were serviced by DSD centre based feeding programmes such as Community Nutrition and Development Centres (CNDCs), Drop-in Centres, Home Community Based Care Centres (HCBCC), Luncheon Clubs and etc that are closed due to lock-down,
- Households of orphans and vulnerable children needing support due to closure of the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP)
- Child-headed households
(b) The number of persons have received food parcels from the Government each month since 1 February 2020 (please note that information is not available for daily statistics) is indicated below:
Month |
No of food parcels (SASSA) |
February 2020 |
2,485 |
March 2020 |
5,378 |
April to 11May 2020 |
116 206 |
The Department started distributing food parcels specifically for COVID-19 through the Provinces on the 30th March 2020. Not all the provinces started on the same day due to procurement delays. The number of persons that have received food parcels from the Government each day since 1 February 2020 is as reflected on the table below:
DATES |
EC |
FS |
GP |
KZN |
Limp |
Mp |
NC |
NW |
WC |
TOTAL |
30-Mar |
0 |
0 |
514 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
514 |
31-Mar |
0 |
0 |
293 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
293 |
01-Apr |
0 |
0 |
451 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
451 |
02-Apr |
0 |
0 |
936 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
936 |
03-Apr |
0 |
0 |
1 385 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
105 |
0 |
0 |
1 490 |
04-Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
05-Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
06-Apr |
0 |
0 |
2 379 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 693 |
0 |
0 |
8 072 |
07-Apr |
0 |
0 |
2 438 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 056 |
0 |
0 |
3 494 |
08-Apr |
0 |
0 |
2 790 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 011 |
0 |
0 |
4 801 |
09-Apr |
0 |
0 |
2 303 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 570 |
0 |
0 |
3 873 |
10-Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
141 |
164 |
1 050 |
1 355 |
11-Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 751 |
495 |
1 121 |
164 |
2 000 |
5 531 |
12-Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
833 |
1 506 |
0 |
164 |
2 500 |
5 003 |
13-Apr |
0 |
0 |
1 843 |
0 |
2 000 |
351 |
0 |
1 310 |
1 500 |
7 004 |
14-Apr |
0 |
0 |
1 963 |
0 |
8 847 |
131 |
705 |
164 |
490 |
12 300 |
15-Apr |
0 |
0 |
2 952 |
0 |
1 500 |
0 |
1 018 |
164 |
2 020 |
7 654 |
16-Apr |
0 |
0 |
3 151 |
0 |
1 990 |
0 |
3 258 |
164 |
1 655 |
10 218 |
17-Apr |
354 |
0 |
3 126 |
0 |
1 990 |
2 627 |
1 161 |
0 |
750 |
10 008 |
18-Apr |
546 |
0 |
814 |
0 |
500 |
2 375 |
188 |
164 |
2 750 |
7 337 |
19-Apr |
890 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 990 |
2 627 |
0 |
164 |
486 |
6 157 |
20-Apr |
666 |
0 |
3 224 |
540 |
1 819 |
1 805 |
1 223 |
164 |
4 575 |
14 016 |
21-Apr |
400 |
0 |
2 680 |
1750 |
1 819 |
432 |
1225 |
164 |
1 080 |
9 550 |
22-Apr |
575 |
0 |
2 159 |
3 000 |
473 |
1 831 |
1 644 |
5 082 |
2 010 |
16 774 |
23-Apr |
1 010 |
0 |
2 440 |
2 000 |
3 277 |
82 |
1 523 |
0 |
576 |
10 908 |
24-Apr |
380 |
525 |
1 467 |
1 250 |
1 983 |
131 |
1 528 |
0 |
666 |
7 930 |
25-Apr |
875 |
782 |
617 |
2 500 |
1 000 |
4 352 |
364 |
856 |
3 400 |
14 746 |
26-Apr |
275 |
394 |
54 |
2 000 |
233 |
4 192 |
0 |
6 296 |
2 010 |
15 454 |
27-Apr |
369 |
434 |
855 |
2 500 |
1 500 |
1 943 |
0 |
1 206 |
5 200 |
14 007 |
28-Apr |
384 |
414 |
2 146 |
2 441 |
1 500 |
2 538 |
0 |
206 |
1 450 |
11 079 |
29-Apr |
1 000 |
443 |
12 058 |
1 300 |
267 |
83 |
0 |
1 338 |
4 700 |
21 189 |
30-Apr |
330 |
454 |
4 713 |
875 |
1 500 |
316 |
0 |
462 |
3 650 |
12 300 |
01-May |
530 |
309 |
5 163 |
335 |
1 000 |
0 |
0 |
412 |
2 355 |
10 104 |
02-May |
0 |
466 |
234 |
200 |
500 |
0 |
450 |
0 |
3 030 |
4 880 |
03-May |
141 |
503 |
3 936 |
450 |
1 322 |
0 |
100 |
0 |
2 015 |
8 467 |
04-May |
675 |
0 |
2 421 |
750 |
350 |
0 |
1 682 |
668 |
3 000 |
9 546 |
05-May |
2 289 |
918 |
2 983 |
2 300 |
1 300 |
138 |
2 502 |
1 030 |
342 |
13 802 |
06-May |
1 074 |
271 |
6 140 |
2 400 |
2 000 |
186 |
1 704 |
412 |
478 |
14 665 |
07-May |
2 400 |
148 |
3 729 |
575 |
1 200 |
133 |
1 786 |
618 |
450 |
11 039 |
08-May |
1 059 |
570 |
2 552 |
800 |
780 |
0 |
2 645 |
998 |
2 000 |
11 404 |
09-May |
2 300 |
875 |
2 081 |
875 |
650 |
0 |
913 |
750 |
1 950 |
10 394 |
10-May |
754 |
300 |
5 527 |
985 |
1 200 |
0 |
0 |
800 |
1 900 |
11 466 |
11-May |
898 |
243 |
4 965 |
1 075 |
1 000 |
0 |
2 421 |
650 |
2 700 |
13 952 |
12-May |
154 |
566 |
4 518 |
586 |
570 |
0 |
2 639 |
1 300 |
1 060 |
11 393 |
13-May |
0 |
639 |
3 634 |
789 |
380 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 500 |
6 942 |
TOTAL |
20 328 |
9 254 |
107 634 |
32 276 |
49 024 |
28 274 |
42 396 |
26 034 |
67 298 |
382 518 |
(c) The food parcels contains the following food and other goods/ none food items:
Food Group |
Items |
Unit |
Qty |
Indicative cost per unit |
Monthly cost (Rands) |
|
Starch |
Maize meal |
KG |
10 |
6 |
R60 |
R226 |
Rice |
KG |
8 |
12 |
R96 |
||
Potatoes |
KG |
7 |
10 |
R70 |
||
Protein |
Pilchards |
400g TIN |
6 |
20 |
R120 |
R350 |
Baked Beans |
410g TIN |
6 |
10 |
R60 |
||
Lentils |
KG |
2 |
20 |
R40 |
||
Milk Powder |
KG/Litres |
1 / 6 |
130 |
R130 |
||
Veg |
Butternut |
KG |
10 |
6 |
R60 |
R60 |
Seasoning |
Onions |
KG |
2 |
6 |
R12 |
R52 |
Oil |
LIT |
2 |
20 |
R40 |
||
Other |
Soap |
Bar |
2 |
8 |
R16 |
R16 |
Total monthly cost for food per month |
R704 |
R704 |
Please also see food parcel content attached as Annexure A for normal SASSA SRD food parcel
See Annexure B for an amended food parcel being provided as a response to the current disaster.
(d) The cost of the food parcel was determined through the tender process. The cost of a food parcel varies by supplier, but cannot exceed R1 500. However, the food parcels provided by SASSA, with the reduced content is R1 200.
The DSD cost of each food parcel is R700.00 per food parcel. This was done to create uniformity and reduce the levels of disparities between the SASSA SRD and the DSD Food Relief food parcels. This amount excludes the sourcing, handling & distribution costs and the SASSA amount is inclusive.
(2) The name(s) of the service provider(s) that was contracted to provide food parcels in each province are:
Province |
Name of service provider |
Eastern Cape |
Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) |
Free State |
Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) |
Gauteng |
Kagisano |
Believers Care Society |
|
Entokozweni Development |
|
Siyabonga Development |
|
Carol Shaw |
|
Bokamoso Development |
|
Rorisang PTY LTD |
|
Barath Chemicals & Engineering |
|
Mohlodi 247 Business Solutions |
|
Schutz Trading and Enterprise |
|
Chobokwane PTY LTD |
|
KwaZulu Natal |
Action Development Agency (ADA) |
Limpopo |
Makotse Womens Club |
Mpumalanga |
Kago Yabana Foundation |
Northern Cape |
Motswedi Wa Sechaba |
Islamic Relief South Africa |
|
Lunchbox |
|
North West |
Motswedi Wa Sechaba |
Wolrd Focus Projects |
|
Mekgwe Mobile Shop (PTY) LTD |
|
RXD Logistics 9 |
|
Re Thusa Botlhe Catering & Cleaning Services |
|
Mabogo Dinku Enterprise & Projects |
|
DM Mega Enterprise |
|
Mojero Trading |
|
Blink Of Africa Group of Companies |
|
Matshota Trading Enterprise |
|
Owabo Bonke Trading Projects |
|
Pefect Girlz |
|
Western Cape |
Ilitha Labantu |
Islamic Relief South Africa |
|
Mustadafin Foundation |
|
The South Africa Red Cross Society |
|
SANZAF |
The name(s) of the service provider(s) that have been contracted by SASSA to provide food parcels in each province are attached as Annexure C.
(3) The majority of the applicants for social relief are also self-referrals by citizens experiencing undue hardship. However, SASSA does work with a range of stakeholders in administering this programme. These stakeholders include the Department of Health and Department of Education for the zero hunger programme which supports nutritionally challenged children.
With regards to social relief in the form of food parcels provided as a response to the current disaster, SASSA is a member of the provincial coordinating structures (Provjocs) in all provinces where the provision of social relief of distress is jointly coordinated by different key stakeholders (Municipalities and Government departments). In addition, SASSA has received lists of citizens who have been unable to contact SASSA directly from various NGOs and civil society organisations. The citizens off these lists have been contacted and an application form completed for each one. Those applications which have been approved are then issued with food parcels.
The Departmental officials profile households to identity people in need of food assistance and refer those in need to various social development centres that provide social development services including food assistance.
A community member is then serviced by one of the following DSD centre based programmes depending on the age and other social needs of the individual: Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD), a Community Nutrition and Development Centre (CNDC), Drop-in Centre (DIC), Home Community Based Care Centre (HCBCC), or the Luncheon Club.
The Department collaborates with non-profit organisations to then service the identified persons in need of social services. All DSD centres are operated by non-profit organisations and food parcels were 1st provided to DSD centres with already profiled beneficiaries that were receiving food assistance even prior to lock-down.
During lock-down these beneficiaries would have been more vulnerable. The food parcels intervention targeted them through the DSD centre based programmes. Refer to the attached - list of CNDCs from the provinces operated by NPOs.
Another mechanism is the call centre, which was established in most provinces during COVID-19 lock-down for receiving more people in need of assistance beyond DSD centres and self-referrals.
Call-centres in Provinces:
The Provinces received requests for food relief through the Call Centre or provided email. The information is shared with Provincial DSD Team, which then cluster requests by District and service area. Teams are then allocated to respond to the requests. On assessment, the team on the ground makes the determination based on set assessment criteria. Food parcels then get delivered to the households by the officials.
(4) The demand for food parcels has definitely increased since the lock-down was announced. In trying to ensure the Department was able to respond to the increased demand, the application form for SRD was reduced, to capture only essential information and Ministerial Directions signed on 30 March 2020 enabling SASSA to take telephonic applications, so that the need for face to face interviews could be dispensed with.
The content of the relief parcel and price was reduced as a strategy to stretch the budget and provide assistance to as many deserving beneficiaries as possible. The fresh produce, samp (which requires a long time to cook which means increased energy costs for those already struggling) were excluded and each parcel was issued at a standardised price of R1 200 per food parcel in all provinces.
The qualifying criteria for SASSA applications was limited to include specific categories only, in an effort to prevent duplication with other organisations also providing food relief. The following categories of clients were identified for assistance by SASSA:
- People who did not receive grants in April 2020 because their grants were suspended: temporary disability grants;
- Children who turned 18 after lockdown
- Grant beneficiaries who experienced challenges in April to access the grants (card lost or faulty; failed bank verification; fraud; etc)
- People who should have applied but could not do so as a result of the lockdown (people who turn 60 years old; new born babies whose care givers would have applied for CSG)
- Persons experiencing undue hardship but do not fall into one of the above categories.
A number of the above categories of clients have been addressed through the latest Directions signed on 9 May – these include the reinstatement of temporary disability grants and care dependency grants and care dependency grants where the care dependent children turn 18 years of age in February, March and April 2020. The grant amounts have also been increased as from May 2020 has also been implemented to try and ensure that social grant beneficiaries are cushioned from the impact of the disaster.
The introduction of the special relief grant of R350 per month as from May has also addressed the last category – that is persons experiencing undue hardship.
(5) The Department and SASSA has, as indicated above, cooperated with various civil society organisations in receiving information about citizens who could potentially qualify for food relief. However, distribution was done by Departmental (SASSA & DSD) staff only to ensure accountability.
National Assembly written Reply: 649 of 2020
18 June 2020 - NW1030
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether in the past three years his department has come across any cases of the condition called Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome that is responsible for the hospitalisation of hundreds of children overseas; if so, (a) what number of cases and (b) where were they found; (2) whether his department has found that this condition is in some way linked to the coronavirus; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department is not aware of any cases of Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in South Africa. This is not unexpected. The condition remains very rare, and has only been documented in areas which have experienced a very high incidence of COVID-19 infection. In addition, most children have presented two to four weeks after the peak of the epidemic.
It is therefore likely that any cases which may occur in South Africa will present later in the year, during or after the expected peak in COVID-19 cases. It is however important that health care workers and parents remain alert as cases may be missed unless a high index of suspicion is maintained.
Any cases that are identified will be notified through the Notifiable Medical Conditions system, as well as to the World Health Organization clinical database.
(2) Evidence of past infection with coronavirus or exposure to someone with COVID-19 infection is part of the WHO case definition of the condition. The Department of Health currently uses the same case definition.
END.
Background
Most children with COVID-19 infection are asymptomatic or exhibit mild symptoms. However, in the last three months a small number of children have been identified who develop a significant systemic inflammatory response[1].
This rare syndrome shares common features with other paediatric inflammatory conditions including: Kawasaki disease, staphylococcal and streptococcal toxic shock syndromes, bacterial sepsis and macrophage activation syndromes. It can also present with unusual abdominal symptoms with excessive inflammatory markers. Affected children may require paediatric intensive care and input from paediatric infectious diseases, cardiology, and rheumatology specialists.
This syndrome has been named Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, and the World Health Organization has developed the following case definition[2]:
Children and adolescents 0–19 years of age with fever > 3 days AND two of the following:
- Rash or bilateral non-purulent conjunctivitis or muco-cutaneous inflammation signs (oral, hands or feet).
- Hypotension or shock.
- Features of myocardial dysfunction, pericarditis, valvulitis, or coronary abnormalities (including ECHO findings or elevated Troponin/NT-proBNP),
- Evidence of coagulopathy (by PT, PTT, elevated d-Dimers).
- Acute gastrointestinal problems (diarrhoea, vomiting, or abdominal pain).
AND
Elevated markers of inflammation such as ESR, C-reactive protein, or procalcitonin.
AND
No other obvious microbial cause of inflammation, including bacterial sepsis, staphylococcal or streptococcal shock syndromes.
AND
Evidence of COVID-19 (RT-PCR, antigen test or serology positive), or likely contact with patients with COVID-19.
As data on this condition remains very limited, clinicians have been requested to submit details of identified cases to a Global COVID-19 Clinical Data Platform.
-
Royal College of Paediatricians and Guidance: Paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19. https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/COVID-19-Paediatric-multisystem-%20inflammatory%20syndrome-20200501.pdf. Accessed 1st June 2020. ↑
-
World Health Organization. Scientific Brief: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents with COVID-19. Geneva, World Health Organization. 15th May 2020. https://www.who.int/publications-detail/multisystem-inflammatory-syndrome-in-children-and-adolescents-with-covid-19. Accessed: 1st June 2020. ↑
18 June 2020 - NW1031
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether his department has investigated the effects of wearing masks for long periods of time in view of reports of both adults and children fainting due to wearing the mask for long hours; if not, why not; if so, (2) whether, since it is now mandatory for citizens to wear masks when they leave the house, his department can and will take responsibility for persons who develop adverse health effects due to wearing of the masks for long periods of time; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. No, the Department has not undertaken any investigations on the effects of wearing masks for long periods as there is substantial published research on this important topic. The wearing of cloth masks by the general public for long-periods is commonplace in several countries prior to Covid-19. Similarly, the wearing of surgical masks by healthcare personnel for long periods is standard practice and has been found to be safe. Cloth masks are better tolerated than surgical masks or N95 respirators used by healthcare workers. Fainting may occur when the mask is worn incorrectly such that the nose and mouth are occluded, but as far as we have been able to ascertain, there are no peer-reviewed scientific reports of this. There are anecdotal accounts of people passing out from long-term use of N95 respirators;
2. Wearing of cloth masks has been shown in many reports to reduce community transmission of the virus and therefore is a necessary intervention like hand hygiene and social distancing. The National Department of Health will ensure that whether the person wears a mask or not, anyone in respiratory distress will be provided the best possible care in our healthcare facilities.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW1100
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)How does his department (a) choose and (b) allocate the service providers that provide food at each quarantine site; (2) whether the tenders to provide food at quarantine sites are advertised; if not, why not; if so, where are they advertised; (3) (a) on what basis are the service providers procured and (b) what amount is budgeted for the tenders?
Reply:
1. When private sites are procured to function as quarantine facilities, the rate negotiated includes all meals and forms part of the Service Level Agreement signed between the National Department of Public Works & Infrastructure and the facility. Where National or Provincial parks are being used, the park itself or tourism board provide catering. If such a site decides to outsource the service it is done based on their Supply Chain Management processes. For state-owned sites however, the processes for providing food is managed by the Provincial Department of Health and procured based on government Supply Chain Management processes;
2. There is an approved protocol agreement between the National Department of Public Works & Infrastructure and National Department of Health related to procurement of private facilities that include catering. Where the tenders or procurements are advertised for public facilities it would depend on the size of the contract and the normal Supply Chain Management processes the provincial departments follow;
3. (a) The service providers are procured as per standard Supply Chain Management principles;
(b) The budget for the provision of food is not fixed. It is need based and would vary based on the size of the site, the number of people that it needs to cater for, the duration that the food is to be supplied for and the basis for provisioning.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW1096
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
What (a)(i) assistance and/or (ii) funding will his department provide to technical and vocational education and training centres (TVETs) to ensure that they are able to implement Covid-19 national health protocols as they apply to tertiary institutions and (b) oversight will his department perform over TVETs to ensure that Covid-19 national health protocols as they apply to campuses are implemented across campuses?
Reply:
(a) Assistance is provided to TVET colleges through Higher Health, which conducts daily screening and provides health care volunteers on every campus. Capacity development webinars on the COVID-19 Post-School Education and Training (PSET) guidelines and protocols have been conducted for TVET management in all the regions. Higher Health facilitated these sessions and over 1 000 management staff at TVET colleges have been trained. Colleges have reprioritised their budgets to take the necessary measures in line with the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. Amongst others, college budgets have been redirected towards the procurement of personal protective equipment, sanitisers, facial masks, fumigation and the deep cleansing of campuses.
(b) The Department has been administering the TVET readiness assessment questionnaire on a weekly basis for the past four weeks. This was intended to assess the state of readiness of TVET colleges and report progress to the Department and Ministerial Task Team on COVID-19. Continuous monitoring, which includes on-site visits and the through the regional offices, the Department verifies the information provided by colleges. In addition, the Minister and Deputy Minister have recently visited several PSET institutions to assess and monitor the state of readiness for the phased return of students and staff to campuses under level 3.
18 June 2020 - NW1122
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With reference to the recent oversight visit to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where it was brought to our attention that there is a challenge with managing personal protective equipment (PPE) stock for workers, which is a challenge in many other hospitals, what has the department done to standardise stock control of PPEs (a) nationally, (b) provincially and (c) in local clinics; (2) whether the system differs per capacity of each facility; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) In order to standardize stock control of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) nationally, the Department of Health has taken measures as follows:
- Seventeen (17) PPE items were identified as minimum requirements for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19;
- Specifications for the identified 17 PPE items have been developed for use and adopted by Provincial Departments of Health and they are currently being used in procuring PPE equipment of acceptable quality;
- Prices were set for each PPE item in by National Department of Health in collaboration with National Treasury and issued under National Instruction Note 3 of 2020/21 and subsequently repealed and replaced by National Instruction Note 5 of 2020/21 in an attempt to prevent price exploitation or unnecessary price hike by manufacturers and distributors;
- The Department issued Infection Prevention Control (IPC) guidance to cover PPE use and change regimes. The correct use of PPE is key to forecasting PPE demand and ensure correct stock holding is secured at facilities;
- A Demand Forecasting Model was developed to ensure that the correct PPE items that are compliant with the set specifications are procured at the right price, right quantity and correct quality;
- Stock Visibility Systems (SVS) was expanded for it to cater for both PPE and Pharmaceutical products which is funded and procured by NDOH and distributed devices were rolled out to provinces. Currently facilities in the provinces can capture their stock levels using SVS;
- Another tool called PPE Reporting Tool (PPERT) was developed at National and was rolled out to provincial level to capture stock levels and order information of PPE at depot level;
- In cases of shortages, donations were used to augment stock levels at the facilities in the provinces;
- Training in the use of SVS were provided to provincial users and access to National Surveillance Centre (NSC) provided to empower provincial decision makers to access, interpret and take action regarding stock levels, distribution and logistics of PPE and sourcing and procurement of PPE items;
- A Supplier Mapping Portal was developed to provide Provincial Health departments access to information of PPE manufacturers and distributors available in their prospective provinces.
(b) In order to standardize stock control of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provincially, the Department of Health has taken measures as follows:
Ensure that each province appoints a dedicated Provincial PPE coordinator who monitors stock level continuously from depot to facilities so that they can be able to track the following:
- Provincial visibility of stock on hand;
- Stock use, quality and specification of PPE;
- Storage and distribution;
- Demand forecasting;
- Allocation of PPE stocks.
(c) In order to standardize stock control of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in local clinics, the Department of Health has taken measures as follows:
- Stock Visibility System (SVS) has been expanded and rolled out thereof to local clinics.
2. The stock management systems differ per province and per facility depending on the IT infrastructure in so far as monitoring the following activities:
- storage capacity;
- distribution method of PPE;
- stock ordering system, and
- replenishment methods;
- stock count procedures; and
- controls of PPE.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW704
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)(a) What number of foreign nationals are currently receiving grants from the SA Social Security Agency and (b) from which countries do they originate; (2) what number of (a) documented and (b) undocumented foreign nationals are currently receiving help from her department during the period of the national state of disaster?
Reply:
1(a) The number of foreign nationals in receipt of social grants as at January 2020 is 48 062.
(b) SASSA does not record the countries from which these citizens emanate, so is unable to provide that detail.
2(a) A total of 112 foreign nationals have received support in the form of social relief of distress (food parcels) since 1 April 2020.
(b) No undocumented foreign nationals have received assistance from SASSA during the period of the disaster.
18 June 2020 - NW1014
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What amount has been (a) made available for drought relief since 1 April 2016 and (b) spent in each province; (2) whether any funds have not been spent; if so, what were the reasons for that; (3) whether her department received any applications from provincial departments for drought-relief funding since 1 January 2020; if so, (a) which provinces applied for drought-relief funding, (b) what amount was requested, (c) what amount was allocated and (d) what was the money spent on?
Reply:
(1)(a),(b) Please refer to Annexure A.
(2) The grant allocations were spent.
(3)(a),(b),(c),(d) Drought relief applications were received from 7 provinces. Table below depicts the amounts applied by each specific province and the allocated amount as well as projects earmarked. Please refer to Annexure B.
ANNEXURE A OF NA-QUES 1014 OF 2020
ANNEXURE B OF NA-QUS 10 14 OF 2020 |
|||
|
|
(c) ALLOCATION R |
(d) PROJECTS EARMARKED |
2020/2021 |
2020/21 |
||
Eastern Cape |
395 000 000 |
35 000 000 |
Fodder production and boreholes |
KwaZulu-Natal |
Not specified |
4 000 000 |
Desilting of dams |
Limpopo |
117 000 000 |
18 500 000 |
Boreholes |
Mpumalanga |
400 000 000 |
12 500 000 |
Boreholes and fodder provision |
Northern Cape |
600 000 000 |
36 000 000 |
Removal of alien vegetation and provision of fodder |
North West |
252 000 000 |
8 000 000 |
Provision of fodder |
Western Cape |
123 000 000 |
25 000 000 |
Provision of fodder |
Province |
ALLOCATION R |
EXP |
ALLOCATION R |
EXP |
ALLOCATION R |
EXP |
2016/17 |
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
- |
|||
Eastern Cape |
29 000 000 |
29 000 000 |
20 000 000 |
20 000 000 |
- |
- |
Free State |
31 000 000 |
31 000 000 |
13 500 000 |
13 500 000 |
- |
- |
KwaZulu-Natal |
23 000 000 |
23 000 000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Limpopo |
28 000 000 |
28 000 000 |
10 000 000 |
10 000 000 |
9 000 000 |
9 000 000 |
Mpumalanga |
26 000 000 |
26 000 000 |
10 000 000 |
10 000 000 |
8 000 000 |
8 000 000 |
Northern Cape |
25 000 000 |
25 000 000 |
43 000 000 |
43 000 000 |
34 000 000 |
34 000 000 |
North West |
38 000 000 |
38 000 000 |
- |
- |
||
Western Cape |
12 000 000 |
12 000 000 |
170 000 000 |
170 000 000 |
||
Total |
R 212 000 000 |
R 212 000 000 |
R266 500 000 |
R266 500 000 |
R51 000 00 |
R51 000 00 |
18 June 2020 - NW1099
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What is the current average collection rate of medication at all public health facilities in each province; (2) in view of the fact that patients with tuberculosis and/or HIV/Aids are more susceptible to the coronavirus, what measures will his department put in place to (a) trace patients who have defaulted on their medication because of the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 and (b) assist in the distribution of the medication in each province?
Reply:
(1) There is variability in the average medicine collection rates overtime, taking into consideration public holidays and the number of months supplied to patients on chronic medication at various facilities. Based on the information available to the National Department of Health, the average rate of collection for the first four months of 2020 is depicted in the table below:
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
April* |
|
National |
89.9% |
92.6% |
86.7% |
84.8% |
Eastern Cape |
94.5% |
94.4% |
87.8% |
87.0% |
Free State |
94.6% |
96.9% |
87.0% |
75.9% |
Gauteng |
91.0% |
96.2% |
86.1% |
81.6% |
KwaZulu Natal |
92.3% |
94.4% |
88.0% |
85.5% |
Limpopo |
95.3% |
96.2% |
88.4% |
81.5% |
Mpumalanga |
93.1% |
97.2% |
91.8% |
87.5% |
North West |
95.6% |
96.1% |
83.1% |
85.6% |
Northern Cape |
94.5% |
93.4% |
77.1% |
78.9% |
2. (a) Tracing of patients who defaulted on their medication
- Tracking and tracing (telephonically and in-person) of clients lost to follow-up is ongoing in the majority of our facilities. District supporting partners and Community Health Workers (CHWs) assist with community tracking and tracing of patients; a list of missed appointments is drawn weekly from Tier.Net and those who missed appointments are contacted via SMS (by District support partners) and in some cases are delivered to patients directly;
- The Department of Health has developed messaging for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and people living with TB regarding the importance of treatment. These various messages have been circulated to clients through SMS and social media;
- The Adherence Guidelines SOP also provide the procedure to track and trace patients who defaulted.
(b) Distribution of medicines in each province
- The Department of Health has been implementing the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme, a National Department of Health (NDoH) initiative to improve access to chronic medicines to stable patients by enabling them to collect their repeat medicines prescriptions from a convenient collection point near their home or place of employment.
- Eligible patients (i.e. stable on treatment) on ARVs and other chronic medication collect their medicines for free from a convenient contracted pick-up point such as Dis-Chem, Clicks, Pick-n-Pay, Pharmacy, or even a local Spaza shop. The majority of these service providers have been open during the National lockdown, allowing clients to collect their treatment without interruption.
- In health facilities, before and during the lockdown, all stable patients are given two months TEE supply and three months TLD supply of ARVs.
- The Department of Health has also strengthened in-facility processes and support to PLHIV on ART in order to maintain adherence.
- For TB patients, the Department of Health has made arrangements for home delivery of TB medicines by Community Health Workers. The Community Health Workers also collect sputum from patients who require follow up testing.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW1029
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What oversight measuring tools does his department use to ensure that provincial health departments use the monies allocated to them adequately and appropriately; (2) whether he has found that each provincial department of health has used the allocated monies adequately in the past three financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The oversight measuring tools to strengthen health system effectiveness based on the use of cost-effective interventions that are rendered at an appropriate level of the health system, the Provincial Health Departments report monthly, quarterly, half yearly and annually to National Department as per Public Finance Management Act No.1 of 1999 as amended, section 40. The reports entails In-Year Monitoring, Division of Revenue Act (Conditional Grants) and Pre-determined sets of Non Negotiables.
The reports are tabled and discussed through the National Health Chief Financial Officers Forum, Technical National Health Council and National Health Council.
2. Yes, the allocated funds were used adequately.
The Provincial Departments of health spending for the past three years are as follows;
EASTERN CAPE
ll Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Qualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
24 026 752 |
22 337 081 |
20 650 214 |
19 033 530 |
17 714 926 |
Actual Expenditure |
24 472 665 |
22 275 458 |
20 506 290 |
18 957 776 |
17 549 854 |
Employee Compensation |
15 980 940 |
14 558 949 |
13 454 333 |
12 562 282 |
11 576 335 |
Goods and Services |
6 110 829 |
5 784 042 |
5 206 207 |
4 522 995 |
4 595 261 |
Capital Assets |
1 287 172 |
1 236 256 |
1 277 587 |
1 280 152 |
1 020 742 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
90 403 |
Irregular Expenditure |
295 570 |
176 117 |
241 |
946 |
91 209 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
1 224 |
998 |
6 855 |
2 161 |
1 819 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
48 005 |
52 246 |
45 140 |
45 140 |
43 210 |
Posts Filled |
41 519 |
40 424 |
40 282 |
40 225 |
39 216 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
FREE STATE
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
10 381 697 |
9 738 931 |
9 043 067 |
8 728 675 |
8 327 177 |
Actual Expenditure |
10 238 606 |
9 801 950 |
9 077 195 |
8 694 952 |
8 293 755 |
Employee Compensation |
6 678 866 |
6 262 519 |
5 814 798 |
5 539 463 |
5 258 723 |
Goods and Services |
2 586 120 |
2 647 858 |
2 365 315 |
2 375 189 |
2 287 592 |
Capital Assets |
686 059 |
654 221 |
714 398 |
621 435 |
648 642 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
- |
140 791 |
67 634 |
31 814 |
11 167 |
Irregular Expenditure |
359 511 |
324 525 |
300 966 |
56 055 |
16 707 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
32 910 |
1 171 |
662 |
691 |
7 966 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
22 902 |
21 629 |
21 596 |
20 952 |
23 930 |
Posts Filled |
17 781 |
17 371 |
17 329 |
17 810 |
17 916 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
GAUTENG
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Qualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
47 543 133 |
42 739 750 |
38 192 111 |
35 816 383 |
32 015 230 |
Actual Expenditure |
46 010 560 |
42 013 459 |
37 440 067 |
34 864 555 |
31 005 212 |
Employee Compensation |
26 902 299 |
25 085 331 |
23 289 574 |
20 648 000 |
18 654 909 |
Goods and Services |
15 229 603 |
13 583 390 |
11 078 374 |
11 257 325 |
9 735 281 |
Capital Assets |
1 572 106 |
1 476 113 |
1 582 158 |
1 481 189 |
1 031 499 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Irregular Expenditure |
2 292 068 |
1 352 204 |
1 860 020 |
493 155 |
- |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
26 682 |
37 918 |
- |
7 433 |
159 759 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
72 244 |
71 943 |
72 894 |
73 199 |
n/a |
Posts Filled |
63 962 |
66 124 |
67 467 |
65 118 |
n/a |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
KWAZULU-NATAL
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
42 850 312 |
40 228 250 |
37 337 104 |
34 213 586 |
31 409 398 |
Actual Expenditure |
42 549 830 |
39 911 321 |
37 026 397 |
34 110 724 |
31 245 510 |
Employee Compensation |
26 336 189 |
24 614 793 |
23 354 896 |
21 793 160 |
20 014 422 |
Goods and Services |
13 342 400 |
12 343 292 |
11 382 844 |
10 105 233 |
8 895 999 |
Capital Assets |
1 758 330 |
1 592 882 |
1 106 314 |
1 257 629 |
1 505 879 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
14 248 |
- |
18 997 |
147 119 |
127 693 |
Irregular Expenditure |
2 977 103 |
1 464 342 |
1 325 084 |
1 257 484 |
708 803 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
6 089 |
3 186 |
5 763 |
5 117 |
3 033 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
n/a |
74 080 |
79 087 |
78 669 |
81 226 |
Posts Filled |
n/a |
68 125 |
69 924 |
72 078 |
71 257 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
LIMPOPO
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Financially Unqualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
19 801 784 |
18 609 439 |
17 300 715 |
15 501 794 |
14 618 588 |
Actual Expenditure |
19 722 686 |
18 389 158 |
17 217 613 |
15 432 088 |
14 526 110 |
Employee Compensation |
14 199 041 |
12 978 967 |
12 218 486 |
11 352 270 |
10 336 806 |
Goods and Services |
4 839 161 |
4 259 771 |
3 785 515 |
3 012 337 |
3 122 861 |
Capital Assets |
425 597 |
457 016 |
421 877 |
499 136 |
493 679 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Irregular Expenditure |
80 243 |
165 956 |
217 342 |
259 062 |
544 881 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
1 728 |
3 523 |
3 378 |
15 901 |
43 356 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
64 343 |
63 460 |
63 640 |
63 460 |
63 460 |
Posts Filled |
32 908 |
33 848 |
34 613 |
35 552 |
35 202 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
MPUMALANGA
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
13 119 591 |
12 160 053 |
10 611 965 |
10 163 902 |
9 045 682 |
Actual Expenditure |
13 055 943 |
12 083 013 |
10 579 880 |
10 080 392 |
8 879 292 |
Employee Compensation |
7 662 953 |
7 217 105 |
6 686 678 |
6 102 017 |
5 537 663 |
Goods and Services |
3 913 891 |
3 439 974 |
3 064 888 |
2 902 264 |
2 639 473 |
Capital Assets |
1 028 712 |
1 057 356 |
509 496 |
595 955 |
434 074 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
- |
33 999 |
- |
- |
190 115 |
Irregular Expenditure |
138 899 |
309 920 |
1 552 623 |
1 919 578 |
1 918 896 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
487 |
317 |
2 306 |
1 007 |
3 614 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
22 338 |
22 516 |
21 970 |
21 670 |
31 277 |
Posts Filled |
20 412 |
20 421 |
20 288 |
20 090 |
19 244 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
|||||
Note |
NORTH WEST
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Financially Unqualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
n/a |
10 600 197 |
9 681 617 |
9 199 705 |
8 184 743 |
Actual Expenditure |
n/a |
10 303 417 |
9 767 254 |
9 042 677 |
8 372 853 |
Employee Compensation |
n/a |
6 412 002 |
6 051 077 |
5 609 901 |
5 389 881 |
Goods and Services |
n/a |
3 005 112 |
2 802 201 |
2 581 210 |
2 286 569 |
Capital Assets |
n/a |
641 097 |
600 349 |
675 411 |
579 777 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
n/a |
- |
99 647 |
- |
262 564 |
Irregular Expenditure |
n/a |
880 911 |
682 777 |
696 654 |
763 834 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
n/a |
1 770 |
1 501 |
15 254 |
20 374 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
n/a |
21 809 |
21 357 |
21 334 |
21 103 |
Posts Filled |
n/a |
17 536 |
17 310 |
17 946 |
18 929 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
n/a |
||||
Note |
NORTHERN CAPE
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
Qualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
4 858 837 |
4 631 443 |
4 494 185 |
4 228 961 |
3 758 130 |
Actual Expenditure |
4 839 637 |
4 567 470 |
4 369 138 |
4 168 520 |
3 714 324 |
Employee Compensation |
2 804 762 |
2 572 131 |
2 322 039 |
2 150 712 |
1 936 740 |
Goods and Services |
1 627 617 |
1 452 145 |
1 479 782 |
1 317 295 |
1 150 049 |
Capital Assets |
350 015 |
480 835 |
395 290 |
583 256 |
486 084 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
1 261 |
100 296 |
51 576 |
92 790 |
91 636 |
Irregular Expenditure |
714 939 |
412 379 |
574 183 |
805 906 |
537 169 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
5 394 |
5 270 |
10 537 |
4 392 |
6 212 |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
7 533 |
7 196 |
7 703 |
9 020 |
8 929 |
Posts Filled |
6 828 |
6 924 |
6 882 |
6 840 |
6 694 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
|||||
Note |
WESTERN CAPE
Financial Information
All Financial Values: R'000 |
2018/19 |
2017/18 |
2016/17 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
|||||
AUDIT OUTCOME |
Clean Audit |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
Financially Unqualified |
|
|||||
APPROPRIATION STATEMENT |
|||||
Total Final Appropriation |
23 215 861 |
21 738 171 |
20 234 419 |
19 154 794 |
17 552 380 |
Actual Expenditure |
23 045 811 |
21 498 184 |
20 080 640 |
18 740 193 |
17 307 548 |
Employee Compensation |
13 515 392 |
12 660 391 |
11 833 864 |
10 949 652 |
10 072 353 |
Goods and Services |
7 219 595 |
6 892 429 |
6 457 483 |
5 976 263 |
5 510 960 |
Capital Assets |
1 004 040 |
751 434 |
784 560 |
747 064 |
746 805 |
|
|||||
UIFW EXPENDITURE |
|||||
Unauthorised Expenditure |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Irregular Expenditure |
12 886 |
23 553 |
11 330 |
7 284 |
24 426 |
Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure |
- |
- |
7 |
- |
- |
|
|||||
HUMAN RESOURCES |
|||||
Posts Approved |
33 857 |
33 018 |
32 626 |
33 055 |
33 190 |
Posts Filled |
31 914 |
31 549 |
31 463 |
31 432 |
31 267 |
|
|||||
SOURCE |
END.
18 June 2020 - NW118
Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Why do residents in Wonderkop, Marikana, in the North West not have water?
Reply:
Honourable Member, I wish to first correct a very common misunderstanding. The Department of Water and Sanitation is responsible for ensuring water security for the whole country. This includes ensuring that water as a resource is allocated equitably and used beneficially in the public interest, while promoting environmental values. In accordance with the Water Services Act, 1997, Municipalities are responsible for ensuring that the right of access to basic water supply and sanitation which mandates that “everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation” is realised. Further, Section 11 of the Water Services Act mandates that “every Water Services Authority has the duty to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction to progressively ensure efficient, affordable, economical and sustainable access to water services.”
Rustenburg Local Municipality (LM) is a Water Service Authority (WSA) with a mandate to provide water and sanitation services within its jurisdiction, which includes areas such as Wonderkop and Marikana in the North West Province. The Department of Water and Sanitation has allocated R88 million through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to the Rustenburg Local Municipality for additional projects in the 2019/20 financial year.
The Rustenburg Local Municipality submitted their Business Plans for the three (3) projects listed below and funding was allocated accordingly by DWS.
No |
Project Name and Description |
Project Cost |
Allocation |
Progress |
1 |
Marikana Upgrading Marikana rising mains, conservancy tank, size of the pumps, pump station. |
R12 513 355,9 |
R12 513 355,9 |
The progress is at 67% |
2 |
Rustenburg DMA Zones Water audit, meter replacement, sub-zoning, advanced metering infrastructure, reservoir telemetry, repair and replacement of infrastructure, pressure management, water monitoring dashboard and water conservation campaigns. |
R37 000 000 |
R37 000 000 |
The progress is at 97% |
3 |
Rustenburg North Replacement of AC pipes with PVC pipes and aged water meters, fire hydrants, valves. |
R57 082 000 |
R38 486 645 |
The progress onsite is at 65% |
The Department of Water and Sanitation does not have a mandate for reticulation and the installation of water taps in local government areas.
Furthermore, it should also be noted that the Wonderkop informal settlement is situated on privately owned land which belongs to a mine. The other portion of Wonderkop is under the jurisdiction of the Madibeng and Rustenburg Local Municipalities. The Rustenburg Local Municipality is currently providing water through tankers in the Madihloka area where the informal settlement is situated.
The Rustenburg Local Municipality together with Magalies Water will be implementing a groundwater development project in Wonderkop in the current financial year. The project will entail drilling, testing, equipping of three (3) boreholes, elevated storage tank, pipe connections and installation of communal taps. Unfortunately the current Covid-19 lockdown has delayed this project.
18 June 2020 - NW973
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What are the names of the partners who work with the SA Social Security Agency to process (a) applications and (b) payments of the Covid-19 social relief grant system; (2) what (a) existing partnerships does GovChat have and/or work with and (b) role do the partners play; (3) (a) what will the collected data of persons who qualify for the Covid-19 social relief grant of R350 be used for once the payment of the grant is terminated and (b) who will have access and full rights to this data?
Reply:
1. (a) SASSA is utilising the services of:-
- Vodacom SA to provide the USSD channel for capturing the grant applications.
- GovChat to provide the WhatsApp channel for capturing the grants applications.
- Prosense Technology to provide the WebApp channel for capturing the grant applications, as well as the processing of applications and creation and reconciling of payment files for the Special Covid-19 social relief grant.
- National Treasury for Account verification and Cash flow Management
- Bankserv for processing of the payment files from SASSA as per the Industry EFT payments process.
- Banks for the payment of grants
(b) SASSA has used an existing contract and service provider, Prosense Technology, to leverage and expand on existing capabilities to assist to create and effect payments.
2. (a) SASSA is not privy to the partnerships which GovChat has and who they work with, but is aware that GovChat is also providing data service platforms to COGTA (since 2017) and the Department of Health.
(b) SASSA is not privy to the role that other partners play.
3. (a) Upon termination of the payment of the Covid-19 social relief grant of R350, the collected data will be stored or disposed of in terms of the applicable personal data protection laws.
(b) SASSA will have access and the full rights to the data will remain vested in the Data Subject as per the Protection of Personal Information Act. SASSA and GovChat have signed a Data Processing and Confidentiality Agreement which protects beneficiary data against access by any other party or sale of the beneficiary data or use for any other purpose other than for application for the special Covid 19 SRD grant.
18 June 2020 - NW1002
Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What total number of ventilators have been procured in the fight against Covid-19; (2) whether any of the total number of ventilators were and/or are being procured from local suppliers; if not, why not; if so, (a) what number of ventilators, (b) what are the names of the local suppliers they were and/or are being procured from and (c) on what date(s) in each case?
Reply:
1. As at 15 June 2020, a total of 1138 ventilators have been procured through Provincial Health Departments as well as National Department and they are all imported with a lead-time of minimum of 3 months and maximum of 9 months. Eastern Cape and Limpopo received 15 of the 60 and 3 of the 133 procured ventilators, respectively. The remaining 1120 ventilators are still to be delivered. Table below give a full illustration of all ventilators procured and the numbers that were delivered.
Province |
Current ventilator capacity |
No of Ventilators Procured |
Supplier |
Date of delivery |
National Procurement |
300 |
SSEM Mthembu |
Delivery expected on 1st week of August |
|
EC |
68 |
30 |
Mbuso Medical |
15 delivered. 15 will be delivered on 31-Jul-2020 |
|
30 |
SSEM Mthembu |
5 on 30-Jun-2020, 10 on 31-Jul-2020, 15 on 31 Aug 2020 |
|
EC Total |
68 |
60 |
|
|
FS |
200 |
50 |
Phoenix Neomed |
15 -31 July 2020
|
Mbuso Medical |
||||
SSEM Mthembu |
||||
Drager |
||||
Marquet |
||||
Medhold |
||||
Respiratory Care Africa |
||||
FS total |
200 |
50 |
|
|
GP total |
409 |
145 |
Drager |
An incorrect order was placed for 145 circuits instead of ventilators. This will be amended & an order for 145 ventilators will be processed on today (15 June 2020) |
KZN |
164 |
18 |
Drager |
26-Jun-20 |
SSEM Mthembu |
3 on 7 Jul 2020 |
|||
11 |
8 on 5 Aug 2020 |
|||
6 |
Marquet |
05-Aug-20 |
||
KZN Total |
164 |
35 |
|
|
LP |
78 |
3 |
|
Only 3 delivered |
30 |
SSEM Mthembu |
30-Jun-20 |
||
100 |
Mbuso Medical |
27 on 25-June-2020 |
||
73 on 21-July-2020 |
||||
LP Total |
78 |
133 |
|
|
MPU |
130 |
75 |
SSEM Mthembu |
31-Jul-20 |
50 |
Drager |
31-Aug-20 |
||
75 |
Marquet |
31-Aug-20 |
||
75 |
Mbuso Medical |
31-Aug-20 |
||
MPU total |
130 |
275 |
SSEM Mthembu |
Awaiting delivery |
NC total |
17 |
No ventilator ordered |
||
NW total |
59 |
40 |
Drager |
Jan-Mar 2021 - They are currently looking for another supplier who can deliver earlier |
125 |
70 |
Respiratory Care Africa |
31 July 2020 |
|
30 |
SSEM Mthembu |
15 July 2020 |
||
WC total |
125 |
100 |
||
Total |
1250 |
1138 |
|
18 delivered |
2. Yes, all are procured through local suppliers;
a) 1120 Ventilators are still to be delivered;
b) Local suppliers are SSEM Mthembu, Mbuso Medicals, Phoenix Neomed, Drager, Marquet, Medhold and Respiratory Care Africa;
c) Delivery dates are expected from end June to August 2020 and between January and March 2021.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW1097
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
(1)Whether his department has been informed that the Springfield Campus of Ethekwini College, although offering courses with practical components, has not been offering any practicals for students enrolled in engineering courses, despite these being advertised as part of the curriculum; if not, what is the position in this regard; (2) whether students are paying for the practical course from (a) their own funding and/or (b) the National Students Financial Aid Scheme; (3) whether his department has been informed that the Springfield Campus of Ethekwini College, is in a complete state of disrepair with collapsed perimeter fencing and/or walls, no access control and that entry to the campus is obscured by a dumpsite; if not, what steps will he take to investigate the matter; if so, how does his department plan to intervene?
Reply:
(1) The campus offers Engineering and Related Design (E&RD) NCV programmes where students are doing practical activities as part of the Internal Continuous Assessments (ICASS). For the students to qualify for entry into the examinations the ISAT (practical exam component) needs to be administered. The Campus yearly is conducting relevant practical tasks. We are not aware of any programme offered at Springfield Campus where practicals are supposed to be offered and they are not offered.
(2) ERD NCV programmes are paid for by NSFAS to all financial needy and qualifying students.
(3) Parts of the precast walls are missing due to thuggery from the neighboring informal settlements. Last year, in November 2019, missing precast walls were replaced, but the thuggery continued. Additional security is deployed to ensure the safety and security of the college property and its stakeholders. The dumpsite is a challenge as it is on an access road to the Campus. The municipality cleaning of the road is unsatisfactory and there is continuous engagement with the municipality to devise a permanent solution.
18 June 2020 - NW964
Phillips, Ms C to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether she will furnish Mrs C Phillips with a list containing the (a) names of each person who registered with her department to receive food parcels in the (i) Rustenburg and (ii) Kgetlengrivier Local Municipalities and (b) dates on which the specified persons received food parcels from her department?
Reply:
Yes.
The Attached list contains the (a) names of each person who registered with the department to receive food parcels in the (i) Rustenburg and (ii) Kgetlengrivier Local Municipalities and (b) dates on which the specified persons received food parcels
18 June 2020 - NW993
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether, with reference to his media release on 17 May 2020, in which he reported that a total number of 21 314 tests for Covid-19 were done on citizens throughout the Republic during the 24 hour period since 16 May 2020, he can indicate (a) what total number of test results are outstanding and still need to be finalised by public and private laboratories on a daily basis for Covid-19, (b) from what dates these test results are behind in each province and (c) what are the reasons for the (i) specified delays and (ii) Republic not being able to reach the stated goal of 30 000 tests per day; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
(1) (a) The total number of outstanding tests fluctuates on a daily basis, mainly due to the increased community screening that was undertaken in the provinces with corresponding increase in demand for testing for persons under investigation. The number of outstanding COVID-19 tests as at 16 June 2020 in the public sector is currently 54 901, obtaining data from the private sector is proving difficult. The weekly outstanding tests are tabulated below, with backlogs being cleared:
09/05/20 |
14/05/20 |
21/05/20 |
25/05/20 |
28/05/20 |
04/06/20 |
09/06/20 |
10/06/20 |
11/06/20 |
16/06/20 |
|
Total |
49 550 |
58 930 |
101 000 |
96 480 |
83 767 |
81 069 |
70 219 |
63 244 |
57 034 |
54 901 |
(b) Currently the outstanding tests are about 107 hours old, this is approximately 4 and a half days.
(c) (i) The outstanding tests started in the first week of May 2020 when demand exceeded supply, this was due to:
- A global shortage of extraction and high throughput kits for undertaking the tests;
- Logistical issues – interruptions with production, flights cancellations, customs delays;
- The number of tests allocated to the country is not determined by what the country ordered or needs but by what the supplier can provide.
(ii) The Republic has the capacity to undertake 30 000 tests per day, the key challenge being faced is the supply of chemicals and reagents to undertake the testing. Testing will be prioritised in the hotspot areas especially among the vulnerable persons (greater than 60 years of age and those with underlying medical conditions).
END.
18 June 2020 - NW995
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether, given the worldwide trend that statistics of positive cases and deaths due to Covid-19 are made available in terms of age, gender and race, he will consider to release statistics for positive cases and deaths in the Republic in terms of age, gender and race on a daily basis; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
1. We release data on Covid-19 daily. The following information is contained in the data daily reports to the public:
- Cumulative number of tests conducted by public and private sector laboratories;
- Daily new number of tests conducted by public and private sector laboratories;
- Cumulative number of positive cases identified by province;
- Cumulative number of recoveries by province;
- Cumulative number of deaths per province, including age and gender distribution of deaths; and
- We will indicate the issue of race classification later.
2. I am willing to make a statement in the House in this regard.
END.
18 June 2020 - NW1101
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
Whether any medical studies have been conducted on the effects of 5G radiation; if not, why not; if so, what (a) studies have been conducted and (b) are the effects thereof?
Reply:
a) Yes, several studies have been done internationally on the effects of 5G radiation and published in accredited scientific journals. Some of these studies are:
(i) Towards 5G communication systems: Are there health implications? International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health (2018);
(ii) 5G Radiation and COVID-19: The Non-Existent Connection. International Journal of Research in Electronics and Computer Engineering (2020);
(iii) 5G Wireless Communication and Health Effects—A Pragmatic Review Based on Available Studies Regarding 6 to 100 GHz. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2019);
(iv) 5G wireless telecommunications expansion: Public health and environmental implications. Environmental Research (2018);
(v) Adverse health effects of 5G mobile networking technology under real-life conditions. Toxicology Letters (2020);
The World Health Organisation (WHO): 5G mobile networks and health (February 2020) acknowledges two international bodies that have produced electromagnetic fields exposure guidelines that countries need adhere to: a) The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (2020) guidelines for limiting exposure to Electromagnetic Fields; and b) The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, through the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety has produced guidelines for radiofrequencies up to 300 GHz, including the frequencies under discussion for 5G.
b) According to the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection 2020 Guidelines, 5G is safe. These Guidelines are the revision of the 1998 Guidelines and provide protection for humans from exposure to Electro-Magnetic fields from 100 Kilo Hertz to 300 Giga Hertz. The only substantiated adverse health effects caused by exposure to radiofrequency Electro-magnetic Fields are nerve stimulation, changes in the permeability of cell membranes, and effects due to temperature elevation. Kostoff et al (2020), and Russell (2018) have argued that radiofrequency radiation (RF) used in 5G is increasingly being recognized as a new form of environmental pollution, and adverse systemic health effects beyond skin and eyes.
The WHO (2020) conclusion on 5G mobile networks and health was that no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies. Health-related conclusions were drawn from studies performed across the entire radio spectrum but, so far, only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5G. Tissue heating was identified as the main mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency fields and the human body. Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies resulted in negligible temperature rise in the human body. As the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the body tissues and absorption of the energy becomes more confined to the surface of the body (skin and eye). Provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no consequences for public health are anticipated.
END.
Annexure: Reply to Question No. 1101 References
Reference |
Abstract |
Findings |
1. Di Ciaula, A. (2018). Towards 5G communication systems: Are there health implications? International journal of hygiene and environmental health, 221(3), 367-375. |
Preliminary observations showed that MMW increase skin temperature, alter gene expression, promote cellular proliferation and synthesis of proteins linked with oxidative stress, inflammatory and metabolic processes, could generate ocular damages, affect neuro-muscular dynamics. Further studies are needed to better and independently explore the health effects of RF-EMF in general and of MMW in particular. However, available findings seem sufficient to demonstrate the existence of biomedical effects, to invoke the precautionary principle, to define exposed subjects as potentially vulnerable and to revise existing limits. |
|
2. Uthman, M., Shaibu, F. E., Bara’u Gafai Najashi, I. F., Labran, A. S., & Umar, U. S. A. (2020) 5G Radiation and COVID-19: The Non-Existent Connection. International Journal of Research in Electronics and Computer Engineering, Vol. 8 Issue 2 Apr.-June 2020 |
This paper presents an overview of the 5G mobile technology alongside an overview of coronavirus diseases and demonstrate that there is no connection between them by providing the scientific evidence of research carried out by international organizations in charge of 5G technology. |
From all the discussions it has been established that coronaviruses are not new disease pathogens but there have been various outbreaks of the disease over the years with various strains. The latest of which is COVID-19. 5G technology is still in development and has not been fully deployed around the world yet. As such, there is no correlation between COVID-19 and 5G technology. COVID-19 originate from animals (bats) and are transmitted to humans and subsequently spread from human to human, certainly not through 5G radiation. |
3. Simkó, M., & Mattsson, M. O. (2019). 5G Wireless Communication and Health Effects—A Pragmatic Review Based on Available Studies Regarding 6 to 100 GHz. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(18), 3406. |
This review analyzed 94 relevant publications performing in vivo or in vitro investigations. Each study was characterized for: study type (in vivo, in vitro), biological material (species, cell type, etc.), biological endpoint, exposure (frequency, exposure duration, power density), results, and certain quality criteria. |
In order to evaluate and summarize the 6–100 GHz data in this review, it draws the following conclusions: Regarding the health effects of MMW in the 6–100 GHz frequency range at power densities not exceeding the exposure guidelines the studies provide no clear evidence, due to contradictory information from the in vivo and in vitro investigations. Regarding the possibility of “non-thermal” effects, the available studies provide no clear explanation of any mode of action of observed effects. Regarding the quality of the presented studies, too few studies fulfil the minimal quality criteria to allow any further conclusions. |
4. The International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines (2020) |
The Germany-based scientific body that assesses the health risks of radio broadcasts, called for new guidelines for millimetre-wave 5G, the most high-frequency version of the telecommunications standard. |
5G is safe, according to the international body in charge of setting limits on exposure to radiation. |
5. Russell, C. L. (2018). 5G wireless telecommunications expansion: Public health and environmental implications. Environmental research, 165, 484-495. |
This article will reviews relevant electromagnetic frequencies, exposure standards and current scientific literature on the health implications of 2G, 3G, 4G exposure, including some of the available literature on 5G frequencies. |
5G technologies are far less studied for human or environmental effects. It is argued that the addition of this added high frequency 5G radiation to an already complex mix of lower frequencies, will contribute to a negative public health outcome both from both physical and mental health perspectives. Radiofrequency radiation (RF) is increasingly being recognized as a new form of environmental pollution. Like other common toxic exposures, the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF EMR) will be problematic if not impossible to sort out epidemiologically as there no longer remains an unexposed control group. |
6. International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. (2020). Guidelines for limiting exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz). Health Physics, 118(5), 483-524. |
This document presents the revised guidelines, which provide protection for humans from exposure to EMFs from 100 kHz to 300 GHz. |
The only substantiated adverse health effects caused by exposure to radiofrequency EMFs are nerve stimulation, changes in the permeability of cell membranes, and effects due to temperature elevation. There is no evidence of adverse health effects at exposure levels below the restriction levels in the ICNIRP (1998) guidelines and no evidence of an interaction mechanism that would predict that adverse health effects could occur due to radiofrequency EMF exposure below those restriction levels. |
7. Kostoff, R. N., Heroux, P., Aschner, M., & Tsatsakis, A. (2020). Adverse health effects of 5G mobile networking technology under real-life conditions. Toxicology Letters, 323, 35-40. |
This article identifies adverse effects of non-ionizing non-visible radiation (hereafter called wireless radiation) reported in the premier biomedical literature. |
|
8. World Health Organisation (5G mobile networks and health 27 February 2020 | Q&A) |
Two international bodies produce exposure guidelines on electromagnetic fields. Many countries currently adhere to the guidelines recommended by: The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, through the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety These guidelines are not technology-specific. They cover radiofrequencies up to 300 GHz, including the frequencies under discussion for 5G. |
To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies. Health-related conclusions are drawn from studies performed across the entire radio spectrum but, so far, only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5G. Tissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency fields and the human body. Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies result in negligible temperature rise in the human body. As the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the body tissues and absorption of the energy becomes more confined to the surface of the body (skin and eye). Provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no consequences for public health are anticipated. |
17 June 2020 - NW1084
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(a) What are the relevant details of the special arrangements that will be made to reopen schools for children with special needs and (b) by what date will the specified schools be opened?
Reply:
(a) Details on the arrangements for the reopening of schools for children with special educational needs are encapsulated in the Directions that were published in the Government Notice signed by the Minister on 1 June 2020 as well as in the Department of Basic Education’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
(b) The dates and other details are contained in the afore-mentioned Government Notice.
17 June 2020 - NW1044
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to question 102 on 13 February 2020, (a) a timeframe has been set for the 2020 collection of national dataset to be completed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department has any plans to get schools to reinstate Mathematics as one of the subjects to be offered; if not, what plans are in place to increase the number of learners taking Mathematics as a subject; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Response to Parliamentary question 1044
(1)
EMIS data is captured at source level (schools) on the transactional system called the South African School Administration and Management System (SA-SAMS) and uploaded to the National Data Repository called the Learner Unit Record Information and Management System (LURITS) from which statistical reporting takes place. The LURITS has built-in validation rules to verify data. This system was opened on 23 March 2020 for processing of the 2020 Enrolment Upload by the Provincial Education Departments and the initial closing date of LURITS uploads was planned for 30 June 2020. This date was reviewed to close LURITS on 12 June 2020 for 2020 Enrolment data in response to the growing need of updated data. There is a further verification exercise and process of approval from the Provincial Heads of Departments, prior to finalization of the data for reporting purposes. The 2020 data will therefore be finalised by end July 2020 for reporting.
2)
To increase learner participation and performance in the MST subjects, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has developed an Integrated Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) Strategy (2019-2030), in close collaboration with sister departments namely Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and Various directives from the Director-General regarding the mandatory offering, by all Public Ordinary Schools, of Mathematics or Technical Mathematics in Technical High Schools.
This was issued in Circular S13 of 2015, entitled, “THE MANDATORY OFFERING OF MATHEMATICS AS A CHOICE SUBJECT IN ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE(NSC)”. .
Since then, Circular S15 of 2015, Circular S1 of 2016 and Circular S6 of 2016 were issued regarding the implementation of Technical subjects including Technical Mathematics and Technical Science. The purpose of these directives was to reiterate the policy requirement of ensuring that all NSC pupils taking Technical subjects were to offer Technical Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy. In addition, the policy precludes NSC candidates from offering Mathematical Literacy in conjunction with Physical Science.
Interventions of the DBE include directed funding support to 1000 schools, provided to all Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), via the MST Conditional Grant which also specifically aims at supporting PED’s programmes that will increase the number of girls who take MST subjects.
To address the challenge posed by schools that are unable to recruit Mathematics teachers, the DBE, in 2016 concluded a MoU with TEACHSA.
This Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) recruits and trains recently graduated young men and women, termed TEACHSA Ambassadors, with MST-related degrees, who are then placed in ‘difficult to staff’ schools.
Since 2015, 289 TEACH Ambassadors have served school communities throughout the country. Their contributions have resulted in measurable increases in pupil enrolment as well as improving quality of outcomes. The work done by them has been recognised for its excellence, as evidenced by their receipt of accolades in the National Teacher Awards.
17 June 2020 - NW1161
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether her department has put any measures in place to ensure the safety of learners who (a) are asthmatic and (b) suffer from other underlying health conditions, including claustrophobia when wearing masks; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(a) and (b) The Department has sought and received advice from the Department of Health through the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 (MAC) on the medical conditions in children that place children at risk of severe COVID-19. Specifically, the MAC advisory is that children with well controlled asthma are NOT at high risk. Through the completed Learner Health Questionnaire that is submitted to schools, schools will be able to identify learners with medical conditions that pose a risk, and together with the parents/caregivers, agree on a plan to protect the health and on-going education of the child.
17 June 2020 - NW596
Ngwenya, Ms DB to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether, in view of the fact that an attempt to move social grant payments to different dates did not work, her department has considered going back to the previous normal dates and put practical measures around hygiene in place to assist grant recipients at pay points?
Reply:
The measure implemented to limit the numbers of beneficiaries who try to access their grants on the day the money becomes available will not be reversed and the payment dates agreed with National Treasury for the remainder of the financial year will stand. This means that SASSA will continue with the split payment files as it is believed that the numbers would have been significantly higher had this split not been done.
The measures which will be implemented to try and manage the numbers of beneficiaries who access their social grants are as follows:
- The grant payments will continue in accordance with the dates as agreed with National Treasury (namely 3rd of each month for older persons and persons with disabilities and 5th of each month for all child grants – except where the 3rd and 5th respectively fall on a weekend or public holiday, in which case that specific date will be moved forward to the next working day after the 3rd or the 5th)
- Further splitting of the file between the older persons and persons with disabilities is being considered for the July payment cycle. (This cannot be done in June, as we are still finalising the development for the payment of the care givers grants as well as the special relief grant)
- Every beneficiary has their grant paid into a bank account – regardless of whether the account is with their personal bank or the SASSA/SAPO card account. Communication to advise beneficiaries of the fact that their card is a bank account and can be used as a debit card to swipe to pay for purchases and that there is no need to withdraw cash will be strengthened. The communication will also emphasize the fact that, once the grant is paid into the account, it will not be taken back if not utilised immediately.
- SASSA is negotiating with the banking sector to introduce additional mobile banking ATMs in rural areas in an effort to limit the numbers of beneficiaries who have to travel to towns to access their money. However, issues such as the availability of the infrastructure and security still have to be finalised.
- SASSA is also engaging the retail sector to see how they can assist. However, it should be understood that the banking and retail sector are not SASSA pay points – they are access channels through which beneficiaries and all other South Africans transact. All retailers have been implementing the relevant hygiene protocols in their stores, and have also dedicated additional till points specifically for older persons on the first few days of grant payments, in an effort to manage the numbers of beneficiaries. The challenge remains outside the stores, in malls and other points which is extremely difficult to control.
- SASSA is working with other stakeholders, including local authorities, to ensure that there are marshals at the busier access points to help with queue management and the maintenance of social distancing while waiting to access the retail outlets, bank ATMS and post office premises.
- In the Eastern Cape, negotiations have been undertaken with SAPO for them to utilise community halls to distribute the cash from, rather than some of their post offices which were not designed to cater for large number of beneficiaries. These community halls are used as extensions of the post office over the counter service and has really assisted to reduce the queues outside the facilities.
- Eastern Cape has also identified specific communities where there is a concentration of infections and arranged for SAPO to go to these areas, to prevent the beneficiaries from going into the towns – supporting the need to self-quarantine
- SASSA will continue to service the 1 740 cash pay points in the rural areas. At these pay points, hygiene protocols and social distancing is managed directly by SASSA and challenges have not been experienced.
An appeal is made to all in leadership positions to support SASSA in trying to limit the numbers of beneficiaries who go to the various access channels to access their grants.
17 June 2020 - NW1033
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Tourism
With reference to the duties of the National Registrar of Tourist Guides, (a) what number of tourist guides were registered on the central database in each province in each month (aa) in each of the past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2020 and (b) what (i) number of tourist guides had their applications for registration rejected in the specified period in each province in each month and (ii) were the reasons for rejecting the applications in each case?
Reply:
(aa) 2017/2018
These figures show the total number of registered guides per province for the 2017/18 financial year.
PROVINCE |
AFRICAN |
COLOURED |
INDIAN |
WHITE |
TOTAL |
|||||
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
1. Gauteng |
610 |
284 |
14 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
1357 |
1193 |
1993 |
1490 |
2. Limpopo |
244 |
47 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
572 |
169 |
818 |
216 |
3. North West |
80 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
116 |
24 |
197 |
27 |
4. Mpumalanga |
758 |
109 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
1126 |
300 |
1894 |
410 |
5. Northern Cape |
22 |
22 |
32 |
27 |
0 |
1 |
83 |
52 |
137 |
101 |
6. Free State |
26 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
9 |
46 |
31 |
7. Eastern Cape |
218 |
103 |
60 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
454 |
181 |
732 |
304 |
8. KwaZulu- Natal |
191 |
66 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
249 |
87 |
443 |
158 |
9. Western Cape |
332 |
76 |
685 |
255 |
32 |
16 |
1414 |
945 |
2463 |
1292 |
Sub Total |
2481 |
732 |
798 |
309 |
53 |
29 |
5391 |
2960 |
8723 |
4029 |
Grand Total |
3213 |
1107 |
82 |
8351 |
12752 |
|||||
4402 Blacks |
8351 Whites |
(aa)2018/2019
These figures show the total number of registered guides per province for the 2018/19 financial year
PROVINCE |
AFRICAN |
COLOURED |
INDIAN |
WHITE |
TOTAL |
|||||
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
1. Gauteng |
614 |
287 |
14 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
1370 |
1197 |
2010 |
1497 |
2. Limpopo |
244 |
47 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
572 |
169 |
818 |
216 |
3. North West |
83 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
125 |
25 |
209 |
29 |
4. Mpumalanga |
787 |
116 |
7 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
1152 |
302 |
1951 |
419 |
5. Northern Cape |
25 |
23 |
36 |
33 |
0 |
1 |
91 |
60 |
152 |
117 |
6. Free State |
26 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
10 |
49 |
32 |
7. Eastern Cape |
218 |
103 |
60 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
454 |
181 |
732 |
304 |
8. KwaZulu- Natal |
204 |
67 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
261 |
89 |
469 |
161 |
9. Western Cape |
372 |
109 |
766 |
291 |
34 |
17 |
1528 |
997 |
2700 |
1414 |
Sub Total |
2573 |
778 |
885 |
351 |
56 |
30 |
5576 |
3030 |
9090 |
4189 |
Grand Total |
3351 |
1236 |
86 |
8606 |
13279 |
|||||
4673 Blacks |
8606 Whites |
(aa)2019/2020
Based on what was reported by Provincial Registrars in the last financial year, these figures show the number of new tourist guides registered monthly per province for the 2019/20 financial year.
PROVINCE |
Quarter 1 |
Quarter 2 |
Quarter 3 |
Quarter 4 |
TOTAL |
||||||||
|
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
ANNUAL |
Limpopo |
14 |
17 |
29 |
18 |
16 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
4 |
29 |
17 |
5 |
179 |
Mpumalanga |
22 |
18 |
4 |
9 |
19 |
8 |
10 |
8 |
4 |
9 |
17 |
5 |
133 |
Gauteng |
47 |
7 |
8 |
20 |
14 |
9 |
25 |
5 |
12 |
13 |
5 |
1 |
166 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
5 |
14 |
8 |
7 |
14 |
15 |
18 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
54 |
6 |
158 |
North West |
9 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
Eastern Cape |
3 |
0 |
14 |
21 |
9 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
2 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
89 |
Western Cape |
76 |
56 |
56 |
65 |
62 |
45 |
93 |
46 |
28 |
25 |
64 |
46 |
662 |
Northern Cape |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
Free State |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
11 |
MONTHLY SUB - TOTALS |
176 |
113 |
121 |
143 |
136 |
92 |
176 |
93 |
55 |
100 |
171 |
66 |
|
QUARTERLY TOTALS |
410 |
371 |
324 |
331 |
1436 |
(bb)2020/2021
Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, no new tourist guide registrations were processed between 01 April 2020 – 01 June 2020.
(b) (i) and (ii)
The Department does not maintain records in this regard. Those who feel aggrieved by the decisions taken by the Provincial Registrars are entitled to lodge appeals with the National Registrar as outlined in PQ 1034.
17 June 2020 - NW974
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What is the breakdown of the costs incurred by Government through the SA Social Security Agency for (a) procuring and (b) having the system operational to receive applications for social relief grant; (2) whether a new system was developed to process payments for the special social relief grant; if not, what is the position in this regard, if so, what is the breakdown of the costs involved; (3) what (a) business is a certain company (name furnished) doing with her department and (b) are the details of the costs involved in all business deals concluded with the specified company; (4) what are the reasons that her department decided to have a different WhatsApp number for applications which is now 082 046 8553, rather than continuing with the previous number used for the trial of the social relief grant applications? NW1263E
Reply:
1. The costs in terms of procurement to have the system operation are:
(a) The USSD application platform was procured through the National Treasury RT 15 Transversal Contract with an estimated usage value of R15m.
SASSA has used an existing contract and service provider, Prosense Technology, to leverage and expand on existing capabilities to create and effect payments. The same contractor also effected the development of a website to receive applications and for the secure upload of banking details for the special Covid 19 SRD grant. This also included the building of Applications Programme Interface (APIs) to interface with other government datasets for the purposes of validation. It also includes API’s and other interface mechanisms to do account verification and payments. The services was procured through the variation of this existing contract with Prosense Technologies to the value of R2.9 million which includes the development work as well as monthly support and maintenance of the environment till 31 March 2021.
(b) No other costs were incurred to have the system operational to receive applications.
2. SASSA has used an existing contract and service provider, Prosense Technology, to leverage and expand on existing capabilities to create and effect payments. The same contractor also effected the development of a website to receive applications and for the secure upload of banking details for the special Covid 19 SRD grant. This also included the building of Applications Programme Interface (APIs) to interface with other government datasets for the purposes of validation. It also includes API’s and other interface mechanisms to do account verification and payments. The services was procured through the variation of this existing contract with Prosense Technologies to the value of R2 967 000.00 which includes the development work as well as monthly support and maintenance of the environment till 31 March 2021.
3. SASSA has no contract with the company Capital Appreciation and therefor there is also no costs involved.
4. The initial number was used for test/pilot purposes. It became apparent that the anticipated numbers of applications would burden and overwhelm the Covid 19 Department of Health WhatsApp Hotline. SASSA was advised to apply for its own WhatsApp line which would have taken anything between 6 weeks and possibly several months to obtain. SASSA was then offered a free WhatsApp platform by GovChat.
15 June 2020 - NW541
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)What is the detailed list of all tenders awarded through the utilisation of drought-related funding transferred to municipalities across the Republic by her Department of Water and Sanitation since 1 January 2017; (2) (a) whether she will provide a list of which of the abovementioned tenders that were issued by municipalities in relation to water services, utilising funds transferred for the purposes of drought relief were awarded by means of a deviation from the (i) Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and/or (ii) Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, and (b) what are the relevant details of the (i) deviations respectively and (ii) related tenders and/or contracts; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department of Water and Sanitation is unable to provide the detailed list of tenders and how these were awarded by different municipalities as this responsibility is the mandate of municipalities to whom the funds have been transferred in terms of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). My department has the list of municipalities that benefited from the drought relief funds per province and it is appended as Annexure A.
2. Procurement was undertaken by the municipalities which benefited from the drought funding, therefore, the information relating to tenders should be sourced from the municipalities through the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
15 June 2020 - NW540
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Can she provide a list of the total amounts of drought-related funding pledged in each municipality in each province since 1 January 2017?
Reply:
Drought Relief funding is allocated by National Treasury through the Department of Water and Sanitation in accordance with the Division of Revenue Act. The funding is then transferred to provinces and municipalities. The total amounts transferred during the 2018/19 financial year are provided in Annexure A.
15 June 2020 - NW653
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(a) Who are currently the SA Delegates to the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, (b) what number of vacancies exist in the Commission, (c) what has been the period for which these vacancies existed and (d) what steps has she taken to fill the vacancies?
Reply:
(a) The posts occupied by South Africa’s Delegation to the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission are as follows:
- Chief Delegate, in an acting capacity
- Permanent Representative
- Delegate: Executive for Project Management and Implementation
- Three Alternate Delegates
Unfortunately, I am constrained and prohibited by the document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly” from providing the Honourable Member with the names of the SA Delegates to the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission. The document referred to states that:
“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”
(b) The post of the Chief Delegate in the Commission is vacant.
(c) The Chief Delegate’s post has been vacant since 19 May 2019.
(d) The vacant post was advertised on 12 January 2020 and the process of filling the post is well underway.
15 June 2020 - NW580
Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What measures has she put in place to ensure that persons in (a) Mothutlong in Madibeng and (b) Karee in Rustenburg receive water during the lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19?
Reply:
(a) I have been informed that in Mothutlung village, 2 X2 500 litres and 10X5 000 litres water tanks have been delivered and installed. A further 3X10 000 litre water tankers (trucks) have been deployed to assist with water provision during our Covid-19 intervention. The community is currently benefiting from these interventions.
(b) The Karee informal settlement is part of the areas where the Rustenburg Local Municipality (LM) has placed a total of 3X5 000 litre water tanks. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), through the Covid-19 integrated intervention is supplying water through water tankers. As part of the medium term intervention, the municipality is planning to connect the Karee informal settlement to the Rand Water line that is serving the Marikana community and the mine.
The Rustenburg Local Municipality is monitoring the supply of water to informal settlements. The municipality has been allocated 2 additional tanker trucks through my department and Magalies Water Board in order to meet the current water demand and to ensure that communities have access to water at all times.
15 June 2020 - NW1013
Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she received comments against some of the proposed animals that will be included under section 1(2) of the Meat Safety Act, Act 40 of 2000; if so, (a) what number of comments were received, (b) what number of comments were against the inclusion of some of these animals and (c) by what date will the final list be available?
Reply:
Yes.
(a) The Department has to date received almost 30 000 comments on the draft amendment to schedule 1 of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No. 40 of 2000).
(b) The analysis of the comments has not begun as the deadline for the comments was extended from the 30th April 2020 to the 30th June 2020 due to interruptions in communications and ability of citizens to respond due the COVID-19 lockdown.
(c) The final list will be compiled with effect from 01 July 2020 and after having looked at the comments made and consulted with relevant stakeholders.
15 June 2020 - NW656
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)What has she found to be the reasons that according to the annual reports of the Estate Agency Affairs Board for 2018 and 2019 the number of estate agents has increased by around 5% whereas the number of estate agencies decreased by about 9%; (2) whether she has found that, in view of the fact that the establishment and growth of small businesses are crucial to the economy, compliance issues and registration/audit challenges are preventing smaller firms from succeeding; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The reasons for the increase in the number of estate agents from 22 000 in 2018 to 25 000 in the 2019 financial year is mainly attributed to the implementation of the One Learner, One Estate Agency Youth Brigade Programme, which is funded by the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA). This is a programme that the Honourable Member should be familiar with having been on this portfolio for a year now and it is our response to the racially skewed nature of the industry.
The decrease in estate agency firms is due to a variety of reasons, among them being the market conditions in the property sector, the inaccessibility of markets by the smaller estate agencies and the non-compliance with the legislated requirements such as the submission of audited annual reports.
(2) There is no evidence that regulatory compliance prevents small firms from succeeding. It would be helpful if any available report in this regard could be provided to the department. The success of any business is informed by many factors some of which are non-regulatory. Market conditions alone account for many of the basis for the failure of businesses of any size. In the real estate sector for example, customer preferences are important. Many consumers view homeownership together with work mobility. This influences whether a consumer purchases or rents a home. In light of this, a proper market study can assist all of us so that we understand better the trends in our country.
15 June 2020 - NW153
Kohler-Barnard, Ms D to ask the Minister of State Security
With reference to the most recent break-in at the offices of the State Security Agency (SSA), what (a) number of instances of ((i) theft and (ii) fraud occurred at the SSA offices over the past 10 years and (b) is the estimated accumulated value of the specified instances; (2) Whether the cases were reported to the (a) SA Police Service and (b) Inspector General of Intelligence; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (3) What (a) number of (i) arrests and (ii) prosecutions have taken place and (b) total amount has been recovered?
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 logged.
15 June 2020 - NW1041
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What progress has her department made in (a) developing a policy framework on social and rental interventions and (b) the establishment of a Human Settlements Bank?
Reply:
(a) The Department of Human Settlements in collaboration with the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) commenced with a process to develop a policy framework on rental and social housing interventions as guided by the National Rental Housing Act (1999), the Social Housing Act (2008) and the Rental Amendment Act of (2014).
This work is aimed at addressing all other forms of rental such as backyard, private rental, large and small scale rental.
It is anticipated that the final draft of the policy framework will be concluded during the 2020/21 financial year after conducting a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) via the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME).
(b) The operating business model of the Human Settlements Development Bank (HSDB) has already been concluded and approved by National Treasury.
The consolidation of National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency (NURCHA) and the Rural Housing Loan Fund (RHLF) into the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) was finalized in October 2018, following the formal approval of the merger by MinMEC and National Treasury.
The Human Settlements Development Bank Bill is amongst the apex priorities of the Departmental 2020 Legislative Program that has been submitted to office of the Leader of Government Business.
The Office of the State Law Advisor has already been consulted on the contents of the draft HSDB Bill and a process is underway to incorporate the comments received for consideration by Cabinet. Once Cabinet approve the Bill, the next step would be to table it in Parliament for processing.
15 June 2020 - NW1042
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)Whether the military intelligence has found that there is potential for the increasing Islamic insurgent activities currently taking place in Northern Mozambique to spread to neighbouring Southern African Development Community states; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) does the SA National Defence Force have a contingency plan in response to the potential spread into the Republic of the increasing insurgent activities currently taking place in Northern Mozambique; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
1. Defence Intelligence can confirm that there is an increase of Islamic insurgency activities currently in the province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique and these has the potential to spread to other provinces and neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) states.
2. As the Islamic insurgency activities may affect some SADC states, the regional political and military approach has been recommended and to this effect plans are in place to discuss and concretize the approach.
12 June 2020 - NW285
Tafeni, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether his department has any plans to build a bridge in Govan Mbeki township in the Mbhashe Local Municipality; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Eastern Cape Provincial Department (ECPDOT) of Transport has plans to build a bridge in Govan Mbeki township in the Mbashe local Municipality in the next financial year, 2020/21.
In the Current financial year, 2019/2020, an assessment was conducted and revealed the estimated cost of R 2500 000 for building of the bridge in the Govan Mbeki township. The ECPDOT also established that there’s currently a minor culvert which overflows when there are heavy rains; hence the prioritization of this project in the next financial year.
12 June 2020 - NW655
Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
What are the reasons that (a) payments are not allocated resulting in Fidelity Fund Certificates not being issued to estate agents on time and (b) the eaab.org.za portal is down or unresponsive regularly due to a failing Information Technology system for years?
Reply:
a) The payments deposited by agents to the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) are currently being processed manually on the Systems Application Product (SAP) software. This has resulted in a backlog and the Fidelity Fund Certificates not being issued on time. To mitigate this challenge, additional temporary employees were appointed to assist with the manual capturing of bank statements. As at 23 April 2020, all payments were allocated and 42 719 Fidelity Fund Certificates have been issued.
The current SAP software that is used by the Estate Agency Affairs Board does have shortcomings, such as the issuing of Fidelity Fund Certificates for principals linked to more than one firm. The EAAB has appointed a SAP specialist to address the software-related issues which are delaying the issuance of Fidelity Fund Certificates.
b) The Estate Agency Affairs Board acknowledges the challenges related to its portal and has accordingly developed a two-pronged approach to address this matter;
(i) To utilise its internal capacity with the assistance of a service provider to stabilise the current system, as a short term measure.
(ii) In the long term, the Estate Agency Affairs Board will overhaul its entire Information Communications Technology system. To this end, a tender, RFP – ERP/2020/009, was advertised on 28 February 2020 and a briefing session was held on 10 March 2020. The closing date for the tender was scheduled for 30 March 2020, but the National Treasury subsequently advised that it be extended to 1 June 2020 in view of the National Lockdown.
12 June 2020 - NW684
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What number of passenger trains (a) are operating between (i) Germiston and Pretoria, (ii) Springs and Dunswart and (iii) Daveyton and Dunswart and (b) should be operating on the specified routes; (2) what are the reasons that only one train can operate at a time between Germiston and Elandsfontein?
Reply:
(a) There number of trains operating between:
i. Germiston and Pretoria: - There are 12 train trips {Passenger Trains} operated via a diesel locomotive to shuttle services between Johannesburg and Elandsfontein. This then connects with an electrical Metro between Elandsfontein and Centurion – 10 trips, then connecting with another diesel locomotive between Centurion and Pretoria) 10 trips.
ii. There are 24 train daily trips between Springs and Dunswart.
iii. There are no train services running between Daveyton and Dunswart due to theft of overhead cables affecting both lines.
(b) There number of passenger trains that should be operating between
(i) Germiston and Pretoria is 42 passenger train trips
(ii) Springs and Dunswart is 24 passenger train trips
(iii) Dunswart and Daveyton is 72 passenger train trips
2. There reason why there is only one train that can operate at a time between Germiston and Elandsfontein is because during December 2019, when the train service was halted to allow for the signalling works project at Germiston, there was overhead cable theft between Knights and Germiston on one of the only two lines in this area. An alternative method of working (called Pilot working) in accordance with the Train Working Rules had to be implemented. This method ensures safety when train runs UP and DOWN using the same track.
12 June 2020 - NW1022
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) failed to pay R23 million towards retirement fund benefits; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the (a) current situation and (b) solution for this?
Reply:
1. PRASA confirms that it has failed to pay R23 million towards the Transnet Retirement Fund (the Fund) benefits.
(a) The February and March 2020 membership contributions to the Fund is currently outstanding and engagements with the Fund are ongoing to agree on a payment plan to settle the outstanding amount without any risk to employee benefits.
(b) PRASA has written a letter to the Administrators of the Fund informing them of its current cash flow challenges. PRASA is yet to meet with the Administrators in order to discuss a payment plan of the outstanding amounts.
12 June 2020 - NW683
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)Whether Rand Water has a service level agreement with the City of Ekurhuleni in the provision of water to its residents; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether she will furnish Mr M Waters with a copy of the specified service level agreement, including documentation on the reliable and consistent provision of water to residents by Rand Water; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what are the reasons that the residents of Kempton Park have been subjected to sporadic and unreliable provision of water over the past 12 months; (4) whether the City of Ekurhuleni transgressed any of its service level obligations to the residents of Kempton Park in the provision of reliable and consistent provision of water; if so, what (a) number of times and (b) action has been taken by her department against the City of Ekurhuleni?
Reply:
(1) Yes, Rand Water has a service level agreement with the City of Ekurhuleni. The Bulk Water Supply contract details the provision of service rendered to the City of Ekurhuleni.
(2) It would be appreciated if the Honourable Member could ask specific questions.
(3) Rand Water supplies water to Kempton Park through the City of Ekurhuleni and has confirmed that there have been no sporadic and unreliable supply from Rand Water over the past 12 months within its network in Kempton Park.
(4) If there are consumer problems within Kempton Park that have been reported within area, the City of Ekurhuleni will be in a better position to respond.
12 June 2020 - NW629
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether he undertook to distribute (a) face masks and (b) sanitisers to mini-bus drivers; if so, (i) has he delivered these and (ii) where were these delivered?
Reply:
a) The Minister undertook to distribute masks and sanitizers to all provinces for drivers and marshals in the taxi industry to reduce infections
b) Masks, sanitisers and disinfectants have been procured and delivered in all provinces during April 2020. These materials were delivered to provincial Departments of Transport who subsequently distributed to the taxi industry in their respective provinces. The following have been delivered on 30 April 2020
Item |
Quantity |
Sanitizers (1 liter bottles) |
160 000 |
Sanitizers (20 liter bottles) |
2400 |
PPE Gear |
1000 |
Masks |
580 000 |
Gloves |
800 000 |
Vehicle disinfectant spray |
1200 |
12 June 2020 - NW533
Phillips, Ms C to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)Why was no provision made to supplement the existing water supply to the town Derby and/or Redirile in the North West when the size of the town has increased threefold (details furnished); (2) are there any plans to connect the towns up to a supply line from Randwater; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality (KRLM) recently increased the existing water supply of 1.1 Ml/d of water by drilling nine (9) boreholes in the Redirile Township. The boreholes are not yet connected to the Eskom network due to delays by Eskom. The new boreholes tested positive and will provide an additional 1.2 Ml/d as soon as they are functional. The municipality is investigating whether an additional three (3) boreholes could be drilled in the 2020/2021 financial year in order to meet the increasing water demand and mitigate water shortages in the area.
(2) The Local Municipality has appointed the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) to investigate possible solutions to provide sustainable water supply to the entire jurisdiction of the Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality area. Plans are underway to consider the feasibility of integrating the systems of the neighbouring towns and to connect it to the Rand Water supply pipeline.
The current water supply by Rand Water Board is approximately 1.8 Ml/d. The new informal settlements areas in the KRLM jurisdiction are served by boreholes. The Local Municipality is currently developing a Water Master Plan that will include a practicable solution to provide bulk water to Derby and Redirile.
12 June 2020 - NW222
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
Whether her department is assisting and strengthening the local municipality in accordance with section 154 of the Constitution of the Republic, 1996, with any plans to replace the old sewage pipes in Ward 11 in Tembisa, Gauteng; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Honourable Member would know that Tembisa falls under the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng. The grant conditions determined by the National Treasury do not allow that the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) be utilized to repair old sewage pipes in metropolitan areas.
11 June 2020 - NW997
Ngcobo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
(1)Given that Monday, 25 May 2020, is marked Africa day, and seeing that indigenous African languages are faced with the unique challenge of adapting to a fast-changing technological era, what steps has his department taken to promote the ideal of a multilingual society as espoused in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; (2) whether he has found that there are digitised efforts and carved-out spaces for indigenous languages within the digital space for them to not only survive, but also to thrive in the ever-changing technological era; if not, why not; if so, what are the full relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), through the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR), established the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR). SADiLaR has an enabling function, with a focus on all official languages of South Africa, supporting research and development in the domains of language technologies and language-related studies in the humanities and social sciences. The Centre supports the creation, management and distribution of digital language resources, as well as applicable software, which are freely available for research purposes through its online repository.
The resources include language datasets (for all official South African languages, including the indigenous languages) as well as high-level resources, such as natural language processing tools that are developed for use in applications, such as machine translation engines for local languages, automatic speech recognition systems, text-to-speech systems, speech-to speech translation systems, interactive communication systems, and a variety of text-related applications, such as grammar and spelling checkers, online electronic dictionaries, and so forth.
SADiLaR plays a strategic role in ensuring the constitutional imperative is achieved in the long term to ensure that the historically diminished use and status of the indigenous languages of the people of South African are redressed and positive measures are taken to elevate the status and advance the use of these languages.
The Recognition of Prior Learning is an initiative of the DSI, which through the implementation of the Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act No 6 of 2019, aims to recognise the skills of indigenous practitioners in various IKS domains. The initiative focuses on the development of a competency-based qualification to be registered on the National Qualifications Framework. The Department is currently working with IK practitioners (Traditional Health Practice IK domain), to scope their
competencies of their various cultural settings, and has so far documented competencies in isiZulu, Setswana and TshiVenda languages. The workshops with IK practitioners are conducted in the vernacular languages of the IK practitioners. To this end, the IK occupations and accompanying competencies that are documented in the vernacular languages serve as a principle and as a means to promote and preserve the languages of the knowledge systems in its own context.
The National Recordal System (NRS) of the DSI supports the Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act No 6 of 2019 (herein after referred as the IK Act) through the registration of IK. The initiative promotes the recording of IK in vernacular languages using multimedia technology (recording of audio, video, images and transcriptions of each recorded IK story), as a means to preserve IK for future generations so that the context is not lost. Further hereto, the aim is to protect the IK from biopiracy and misappropriation, and to enable the sharing of benefits to the local and rural communities who have registered such IK in the system, should the knowledge be used by any 3rd party, following the various legal prescripts of the IK Act, No 6 of 2019. A key element of the NRS in the promotion of the vernacular languages is by having IK recorders from the participating communities to implement the documentation of IK. In this way, the youth are exposed to the value of their community IK, and through using their languages they are able to capture extensions of the very rich IK that are held by their own communities. The registered IK is held in a digital repository that stores, provide access to, transmit, manage and secure the registered indigenous knowledge via the digital platform.
(2) The South African Centre for Digital Language Resources provides a digital space for language resources and tools as part of its online repository available at https://repo.sadilar.org/. SADiLaR, through its nodes, focuses on ensuring African Languages are digitised, relevant text and speech processing technologies are developed, terminology development is supported through the creation of wordnets (which are large lexical databases containing nouns, verbs, etc. and their relationships) and language testing and training projects.
SADiLaR funds and supports a range of projects related to indigenous languages in collaboration with SADiLaR’s nodes (consisting of University of Pretoria (Department of African Languages); University of South Africa (Department of African Languages); CSIR (HLT Research Group); North-West University (Centre for Text Technology); and Inter-Institutional Centre for Language Development and Assessment (ICELDA). Projects relate to digitization, semantics and terminology, language development and teaching resources, speech resources, and text resources and technologies.
Collaboration between the North-West University, University of Pretoria and the CSIR in the area of Human Language Technologies predates the establishment of the SADiLaR. The development of a Human language technologies (HLT) speech-activated multilingual service delivery platform was funded from the European Union Government Budget Support programme, between 2014 and 2017. The platform is aimed at providing technology tools necessary for delivering information and services to South African citizens in their language of choice, in an affordable and sustainable manner. The focus was on the development of core technologies in automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text to speech (TTS) using mobile phones as the primary communication channel, furthermore, providing an HLT-enabled solution for website accessibility to print-disabled and low literate end-users.
The aim of the solution was to enable access to information and promote multilingualism. The solution involved the integration of TTS voices in South African English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa with the Non-Visual Desktop Access screen reader. Cape Access (CA) of the Western Cape Government was identified as a possible government partner following a need expressed to make their websites more accessible. CA identified 11 eCentres in which to pilot this technology. A demographics survey was conducted at these eCentres to determine who the typical visitors to these eCentres are and how they operate. After this, eCentre managers were trained on how to use the technology and the technology was subsequently installed and piloted at these eCentres.
The HLT-enabled solution which was also piloted at Kaleidoscope SA (Institute for the Blind). This pilot aimed at allowing blind students to use the Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) screen reader with local languages as a basis for receiving training. Kaleidoscope SA offers formal qualifications (N4 & N5) in a number of fields to blind students.
Furthermore, an activity aimed at assessing communication practices and needs of multilingual persons using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) was undertaken. The research was undertaken in collaboration with the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) at the University of Pretoria and entailed the integration of CSIR Text-to-Speech (TTS) voices with AAC software. Two sets of evaluations were held and the local voices evaluated were South African English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans and Setswana.
The DSI is also currently funding the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Research (CAIR), which has a node at North West University. This particular node’s area of expertise is led by a Multilingual Speech Technologies (MuST) research group focused at the creation and use of speech technologies in the less-resourced languages.
SADiLaR, through its involvement with the UNESCO Year of Indigenous languages, reached more than 850 participants directly through language celebration events. These events created a space for academics, lecturers, students (undergraduates – postgraduates), broader public as well as profound contributors in the various languages to interact, and were held across South Africa at various universities in cooperation with the National Lexicography Units of South Africa. These events culminated in SADiLaR taking part in the Language Technologies for All conference with a focus on Enabling Linguistic Diversity and Multilingualism Worldwide, creating awareness of how the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap is directly contributing toward linguistic diversity and multilingualism through SADiLaR.
SADiLaR is also brainstorming its COVID-19 response, in particular to allow for “Rapid situational awareness in emerging situations like natural disasters or disease outbreaks”. This requires availability of Human Language Technology not only for the official languages of the country, but all languages spoken in South Africa.
11 June 2020 - NW845
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1) What number of nonprofit organisations (NPOs) that dealt with (a) children, (b) the elderly, (c) domestic violence and (d) substance abuse were registered in each of the past three financial years; (2) what number of the specified NPOs closed down for each category in each specified financial year?
Reply:
- The following are categories of registrations:
Area of service |
Theme |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
Family services |
Including Substance Abuse, family life/parent education, family violence shelters |
1107 |
1131 |
1271 |
Victim Support |
Victim violence shelters and services |
679 |
699 |
770 |
Services to Children |
49482 |
50538 |
53761 |
|
Adoption Services |
14 |
18 |
20 |
|
Child Protection |
314 |
308 |
331 |
|
Child welfare, child services, day care |
36927 |
35870 |
37536 |
|
Children’s Homes |
863 |
816 |
860 |
|
Community –Based Care Services for Children |
1813 |
1885 |
2128 |
|
ECD and Partial Care Centres |
7818 |
9700 |
10870 |
|
Homes for Children with Special Needs |
286 |
320 |
333 |
|
Schools of Industry/ Reform Schools |
480 |
412 |
413 |
|
Secure Care |
97 |
129 |
151 |
|
Temporary Safe Care/ Place of Safety |
870 |
1080 |
1119 |
|
Services to people with disabilities |
Homes, recreation and other specialized services for people with disabilities |
3423 |
3626 |
4162 |
Services to the elderly |
Elderly care; recreation, meal programs and other services geared towards senior citizens |
6941 |
7146 |
7360 |
2. The NPO Database captures those NPOs that opt to wind up and those that opt to Voluntary Deregister. Below is a total number:
Area of service |
Dissolved (wound up) in terms of section 23(2) |
Voluntary Deregistered: according to section 23(1) |
Family services |
4 |
1 |
Victim Support |
0 |
4 |
Services to Children |
3 |
46 |
Services to people with disabilities |
3 |
7 |
Services to the elderly |
1 |
12 |
Totals |
11 |
70 |
11 June 2020 - NW1016
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
(1)Given that the Vision of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) is to be a leading technology innovation agency that stimulates and supports technological innovation to improve the quality of life for all South Africans, what (a) are the details of five examples of technological innovation that have taken place in the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) that have been funded to provide them with science, engineering and technology support and (b) was the cost of funding for each SMME in the 2018-19 financial year; (2) which three products of developing indigenous knowledge into technologically innovative products does the TIA intend to develop; (3) whether the aim of TIA to invest in the translation and commercialisation of innovations is based upon a concrete plan; if not, why not; if so, by what date will the plan be made available; (4) whether the plan accords with international best practice; if not, why not; if so, what are the comparative examples that were used to develop the plan; (5) whether he will provide Prof B Bozzoli with the plan; if not, why not; if so, on what date?
Reply:
(1) Examples of five SMME projects that TIA funded in the 2018/19 financial year through its various funding instruments (including the Seed Fund, Technology Stations Programme and Technology Development Fund) are:
i. RIOT Network – RIOT has developed a wireless communications network technology that makes it easy for anyone to setup, operate and monetize public wireless broadband networks by agglomerating private network access devices of individuals (i.e. households) and very small businesses. The technology is useful for extending broadband coverage to underserviced areas, and it enables SMME to operate as local internet service providers (ISPs). The project is currently completing its technology development and received financial support of R3 451 700 in 2018/19.
The technology has been successfully tested and deployed in Olievenhoutbosch (an area plagues with break-ins), where a subset of the local community is using the technology to monitor theft in the area. This is achieved through artificial intelligence enabled IP cameras, that detects and alert residences of suspicious behaviour in the region. The cameras are interconnected and access through RIOT’s network infrastructure.
Currently the organisation employs ten people in high value engineering jobs. At full commercialisation the company will enable thousands of jobs as SMEs leverage the technology to set up and monetise local networks. The company has also attracted private investment that enables it to continue improving its technology and in preparation for scale. The company is 100% youth owned, 41% black owned and 18% female owned.
ii. SAMEC Engineering - TIA provided the company with an amount of R1 700 959.00 in the 2018/19 financial year out of an approved amount of R7 799 775.00 for the development of an air condition system using thermal storage to cool buildings (industrial and commercial) or temporary structures (e.g. a marquee). Thermal storage happens during off-peak periods when electricity is cheap and that energy is used to cool buildings during high peak periods when electricity is expensive. This will lead to cost savings and load reduction during peak periods.
The first tranche enabled the project to develop a demonstration unit which has been installed at Durban University of Technology and it serves as a data collection point to demonstrate the performance of the unit.
iii. AgriProtein Technologies (Pty) Ltd is a technology start-up company that successfully developed and piloted a nutrient recycling technology (converting organic waste to animal feed protein) to commercialise an insect-based protein feed in the animal feed industry. TIA, through its Bioeconomy Programme extended a loan of R11 968 573 to AgriProtein to carry out phase one of the project known as “Magmeal” as a low cost and environmentally sustainable animal feed.
To-date, AgriProtein has successfully developed an operational Generation 1 (G1) Production Facility employing a total of 141 employees, in Philippi an economically depressed area in Cape Town and has expanded to attract the international market. They secured about $105 million investment in 2018 to fund global expansion.
In a region characterised by low youth employment a total of 57% of permanent employees were under the age of 35. Over R 44 million was spent on local payroll in 2018 and directly supported a total of 139 permanently, decent jobs as December 2018, with a gender split of 30% females and 70 % males.
iv. Mkazi Concepts
TIA funded Mkazi Concepts (Pty) Ltd through the Technology Stations Programme for R502 000 towards development of a Hand-Hygiene Monitor with a RFID (radio frequency identification) badges or wrist bands that track and record on the number of times in-between user-wash per control area. The project falls within the Internet of Things (IoT); and Data Monitoring and Controls in decision making (i.e. Machine Learning) in the primary healthcare environment and other markets such hospitals, mobile health clinics, schools, food industry, etc.
The grant funding subsidised the Technology Station in Electronics hosted at Tshwane University of Technology and the Product Development Technology Station at Central University of Technology for engineering and technology support to assist the client from concept development, first-type prototype to Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with additional financial to conduct a demonstration in an open environment. This was done at a clinic in Windsor East in Gauteng, Johannesburg.
The project provided at least for job opportunities with a locally available intelligent product for the fourth industrial revolution (FIR).
The product intends to increase level of effectiveness of hand hygiene compliance which are currently at 40% nationally due to manual based hand-washing systems and lack of surveillance. In light of COVID 19 the product becomes more important for the implementation and controls of hand-hygiene intervention that are regarded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the lowest-costs with highest-impact for effectively preventing infections.
v. Smart Blade - SmartBlade Video
Laryngoscope is a medical device that
harnesses smartphone technology to provide
guided and more cost-effective method for
examining or inserting a tube through the
larynx. The process of inserting the tube
is called endotracheal intubation. SmartBlade
will thus enable single operators of varied skill
levels to intubate difficult airways in a cost-effective way. Currently the cost of video laryngoscopy is prohibitive to the individual clinician, small clinics and ambulance services.
TIA funded SmartBlade [http://smartblade.co.za] to the tune of R484 275 through its Seed Fund Programme for prototype development, premarket sample manufacturing and testing, market research, regulatory compliance research. This resulted in the filing of two (2) provisional patents and a design registration. Prototypes were manufactured and pre-clinical trials conducted using the SmartBlade technology and generated good results. The android app was developed and tested. The SMME managed to secure follow-on funding of R9,5 million from Savant Venture Fund in May 2019 for technology optimisation and commercialisation. In response to COVID 19 they have optimised the Video laryngoscopy technology to incorporate a disposable laryngoscope as a recommended intervention for COVID-19 patients.
(2) In line with its approved Strategic Plan 2020-2025 TIA, through its Bio-economy Programme, aims to support indigenous knowledge-based innovation in targeted areas. These include African Traditional Medicines, neutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals and health infusions. In respect of specific products, these will be solicited through TIA’s Call for Proposals during the financial year, from which specific products will be selected for funding.
(3) Yes. The plan will be made available by 15 July 2020.
(4) The current models accord with international best practice in some respects, specifically, the Technology Acquisition and Deployment Fund which was adapted from the Indian model that uses a similar approach to commercialisation. Secondly, the ecosystem approach has been widely used by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency responsible for supporting technology innovation together with other like-minded entities around the world, especially in Europe. Thirdly, the SBRI is a model that originates from the USA, subsequently adopted and successfully used by countries such as the UK, Netherlands, India, Australia, and now broadly adopted by the European Union.
The plan nevertheless is largely home-grown, based on TIA’s own understanding and knowledge of the RSA ecosystem, and specific dynamics that are peculiar to a developmental state and a maturing ecosystem.
(5) The Plan, once finalised, will be released publicly.
11 June 2020 - NW1015
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
What (a) number of entities reporting to him as well as entities within his department paid consultants to write their (i) strategic and/or (ii) annual performance plans, (b) amount did each consultant charge, (c) was the total cost to his department for outsourcing the plans and (d) were the reasons for outsourcing?
Reply:
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Entity: |
(a). Was there any paid consultants used to write the; (i) Strategic Plan, (ii) Annual Performance Plans? |
(b) Amount that each consultant charge? |
(c) What was the total cost to his department/entity for outsourcing the plans? |
(d) What were the reasons for outsourcing? |
CHE |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
INSETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
CHIETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
SAQA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
MerSETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
FP&M SETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
CHIETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
CETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
ETDP SETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
TETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
EWSETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
SASSETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
HWSETA |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
FoodBev SETA |
|
i. R40 250 ii. Not applicable |
|
There was no outsourcing of the developing of the plans however there was a facilitator who facilitated the board strategy session that led to the development of the strategic outcomes by the Board |
LGSETA |
The consultant was appointed and paid to facilitate the strategic planning session only for 2020/21 financial year. The development of the plans were done internally
Appointed Service provider: Simulation Consultants CC |
R145 000 |
R145 000 |
The consultant was appointed for facilitation of the strategic planning session only because he/she had to give an external perspective/insight on the review of the five year plans ensuring that the session addresses the new developmental goals assigned for our sector during the strategic planning session. |
AgriSETA |
Strategic Plan, Sector Skills Plan, Annual Report and Annual Performance Plan |
Regenesy -R93 100 Blackmoon Advertising – R283 426 |
R376 400
|
AgriSETA doesn’t appoint service provider for writing APP and Strategic plans, management write and prepare those documents
A consultant is only appointed to edit and design and layout, printing of the documents etc since we have no graphic designers internally. That part is outsourced because we have no graphic design and printing equipment to produce such documents including annual reports. |
MICT SETA |
Motif Capital Partner |
R 66 240 |
R 66 240 |
‒ The introduction of a new framework for the development of Strategic plans was quite different from the previous framework.
‒ The lateness of the introduction of the framework versus submission timelines. |
NSFAS |
YES |
R490 000.00 |
Refer (b) |
When the Entity was placed under Administration one of the major concerns and challenges was the substandard work that came from the Planning and Monitoring Unit in terms of the Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan. The onboarding of a specialist was to assist the Entity to meet this requirement. The mandate ranged from providing ad-hoc advice on the design of SMART indicators in relations to targets to the training of key staff on the design in order to avoid submitting a sub-standard work. |
QCTO |
The services of facilitators from Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) was engaged for supporting the development of the strategic plans. |
R 919 296.00 |
R 919 296.00 |
QCTO used GTAC as the new Framework for Medium Term Planning was introduced by DPME and the QCTO needed capacity building for management to develop plans that comply with the new framework. The process was not outsourced but GTAC facilitated and guided the process. QCTO management with full consultation of staff developed the plans across all levels of the organisation. |
FASSET |
Africa International Advisors |
R 115 000.00
|
R115 000 |
Due to internal capacity constraints and the new framework which was introduced. This was to ensure that we were able to adhere to the requirements of this new framework. |
CATHSSETA |
Yes |
R247 068 |
R247 068 |
1. Due to the DPME revised framework on SPs and APPs the CATHSSETA acquired the services of an experienced and reputable company to assist in the compilation of the documents. The framework had a lot of changes that required the SETA to appoint someone who is knowledgeable about the new planning needs etc. It must be noted that Ziko Consulting played a supportive role in the process and the CATHSSETA team managed the entire consultation and approval process. 2. The SETA is also challenged with capacity issues within the unit in terms of human resources, therefore a support structure is required for the short term to assist professional compilation of such these entity strategic do documents. |
W&RSETA |
W&RSETA contracted Underhill Corporate Solutions for the compilation of its Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan |
The contracted company (Underhill Corporate Solutions) assigned 4 of its employees to the project; and the total amount charged by the company was R489 670.00. |
R489 670.00. |
Limited resources as the unit only had one employee responsible for strategic planning. |
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
The entities reporting to the Minister did not outsource the writing of the Strategic Plans or Annual Performance Plans, and responded as follows:
(a) None. The Department of Science and Innovation, National Research Foundation, Academy of Science of South Africa, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Council, Human Sciences Research Council, National Advisory Council on Innovation and South African National Space Agency did not pay consultants to write the:
(i) Strategic Plan; and/or
(ii) Annual Performance Plan.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not Applicable (N/A).
(d) N/A.
11 June 2020 - NW1017
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology
(a) What number of cases of (i) employees and (ii) syndicates of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) suspected of fraud in each case have been handed to the Commercial Crime Unit of the SA Police Service, (b) on what dates were they handed to the unit, (c) what progress has the unit made in pursuing each case, (d) what was the total value of the suspected fraud in each case, (e) are there any outstanding cases which will still be handed over and (f) have all persons suspected of fraud been removed from the staff of NSFAS?
Reply:
(a) (i) Five cases of fraud involving NSFAS employees were registered with the Wynberg South African Police Services.
(ii) Following the arrest of three NSFAS employees on or about 9 October 2019, the NSFAS Chief Governance, Risk and Compliance Executive initiated a reconciliation project, which entailed extracting a history of all SBux purchases and withdrawal transactions concluded with merchants in the Western Cape specifically. The rationale being that there were no institutions on SBux in the Western Cape, yet transactions were being concluded daily, which pointed to the operation of a syndicate.
(b) The five cases registered with the Wynberg SAPS office between 2017 and 2019, were handed over to the Commercial Crimes Unit on or about 10 November 2019. A criminal inquiry under Case No: 200/08/2019 was also handed over at the same time.
(c) In the five cases of fraud involving NSFAS employees, the following progress has been made:
- Case No: 323/05/2017 – Warrant of arrest has been issued as the accused fled the province and his whereabouts are unknown.
- Case No: 80/11/2018 - Warrant of arrest has been issued as the accused fled the province and his whereabouts are unknown.
- Case No: 14/10/2019 – Allegations are being investigated.
- Case No: 200/08/2019 – The National Prosecuting Authority is negotiating a plea bargain.
- Case No: 82/10/2019 – The matter has been placed on the court roll for 7 July 2020 to view video footage obtained of the alleged fraudulent transaction.
The criminal inquiry registered under Case No: 200/08/2019 is being investigated. Given that the transactions at the Western Cape merchant stores were concluded during September 2019, and the criminal inquiry was officially opened in November 2019, the video footage at the specific merchant stores were only retained for a maximum of 14 days from the date of the incident, where after the video footage is deleted by the merchant store.
(d) In the five cases of fraud involving NSFAS employees, the total value of the suspected fraud is as follows:
- Case No: 323/05/2017 – R15 503.76
- Case No: 80/11/2018 - R86 135.41
- -Case No: 14/10/2019 – Contravening the provisions of the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act, No. 12 of 2019
- Case No: 200/08/2019 – R3 500.00
- Case No: 82/10/2019 – R8 000.00
The reconciliation project and subsequent criminal inquiry under Case No: 200/08/2019 revealed 508 individual transactions/fraudulent transactions were concluded, amounting to R354 595.65.
(e) & (f) There are currently internal disciplinary hearings underway and subject to the dismissal of the relevant employee(s), the NSFAS management team will consider pursuing criminal charges against the employee(s).