Questions and Replies

Reply:

1) No person is allowed entry/ departure which does not relate to essential services.

2) Yes, the number of arrests by SANDF is increasing. In April 2020, twenty-two (22) undocumented foreigners were arrested and by May 2020, the number of arrests has increased to three hundred and fifty-seven (357) undocumented nationals. The department is finalising deportation processes in this regard.

3) The Department of Home Affairs was not involved in the procurement of the border fence and a response should be requested from DPWI.

END

Reply:

Customary marriages are regulated by the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 (Act No. 120 of 1998) which provides for requirements for a valid customary marriage and registration thereof. In this regard, there is no power vested on Government to extend the provision of the Act to other types of marriages, as doing so will be acting ultra vires. A marriage entered into in terms of Muslim rites is thus far not recognised in the South Africa. In this regard, the Department has embarked on discussions throughout the Republic regarding the development of a policy on marriages in order to find possible means to deal with all types of marriages and enact legislation that addresses some of the types of marriages or practices that may not be recognised as marriages. This process will culminate in a legislative process to address certain issues relating to different types of marriages.

END

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Mr J W McKay Dr PA Motsoaledi, MP

A/Director-General Minister of Home Affairs

Date: Date:

Reply:

I have not been informed of any criminal charges having been laid against any person currently serving on the National Rapid Response Task Team.

Reply:

1. a) None.

b) There are 118 842 asylum seekers with a permit expiry date after 4 May 2020.

2. a) As at 31 March 2020 there were 80 758 refugees with active section 24 certificates recorded on the National Immigration Information System (NIIS).

b)

Country	Total
Afghanistan	8
Algeria	4
Angola	25
Bahamas	1
Bangladesh	206
Benin	3
Bulgaria	5
Burundi	2737
Cambodia	1
Cameroon	341
Central African Republic	9
Chad	3
Comoros	2
Congo	4668
DRC	24033
East Timor	1
Egypt	7
Eritrea	1625
Estonia	3
Ethiopia	15853
Gabon	1
Ghana	7
Guinea Bissau	1
India	4
Iran	1
Iraq	15
Ivory Coast	28
Jordan	3
Kenya	142
Lebanon	1
Liberia	48
Macau	2
Malawi	8
Mali	5
Morocco	4
Niger	3
Nigeria	11
Oman	2
Pakistan	11
Palestine	40
Russia	10
Rwanda	1128
Saint Kitts and Nevis	1
Senegal	3
Serbia	1
Sierra Leone	21
Solomon Islands	7
Somalia	24972
Sri Lanka	11
Sudan	99
Swaziland	7
Sweden	1
Syria	42
Tanzania	35
Togo	12
Turkey	5
Uganda	468
Ukraine	3
Yemen	3
Zambia	60
Zimbabwe	3997
Grand Total	80758

END

Reply:

No, the programme has not started yet as it was planned to start on 28th March 2020 but had to be suspended due to the pronouncement of the lockdown by the President on 23 March 2020.

(a) The programme will resume as soon as the lockdown levels reach an acceptable level to open for such services.

(b) It will start with Free State Province as this was the Province that was earmarked for the pilot before the lockdown.

END

Reply:

1) The unit price differed per supplier and per quantity / per unit of measured but it ranged as follows in terms of the attached spreadsheet:

a) mask (R2.13 - R2 450.00)

b) sanitiser (R9.65- R4025.00)

c) pair of gloves (R0.52- R13.85)

2) Each Home Affairs office in each province were provided with Personal Protective Equipment for each official.

END

Reply:

1. No, it is not within the mandate of the Department of Home Affairs to offer Covid-19 or other relief to small businesses.

2. Not applicable.

END

Reply:

The Republic of South Africa has three pieces of legislation of regulating solemnisation and registration of marriages (a) Marriage Act, 1961 (Act No. 25 of 1961), (b) Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 998 (Act No. 120 of 1998) and (c) Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act No. 17 of 2006). The Department would not have powers to indicate that a person is married in the death certificate, whereas such is not the case in terms of the law. A marriage entered into in terms of Muslim rites is thus far not recognised in the South Africa. In this regard, the Department has embarked on discussions throughout the Republic regarding the development of a policy on marriages in order to find possible means to deal with all types of marriages and enact legislation that addresses some of the types of marriages or practices that may not be recognised as marriages. This process will culminate in a legislative process to address certain issues relating to different types of marriages.

The issue of rights to benefits may best be dealt with by the courts in the circumstances as it is beyond the Home Affairs portfolio.

END

 

Reply:

Asylum seekers who make new applications on arrival reside in local communities. If there are new applicants who have entered the Republic as lockdown was declared, they will receive assistance in the communities where they reside.

It should be noted that the Republic has not abdicated its international obligations, especially to those who will declare their intention to apply for asylum, the principle of non-refoulment is fully applicable even under these circumstances we currently face and therefore Immigration Officials are expected to assist such persons should they encounter them during law enforcement operations.

END

Reply:

During my visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2018, each of them pledged US$10 billion inward investment to South Africa. These investment pledges were premised on the presentation of projects by South Africa that would meet the requirements of each investor country.

Indications from Saudi Arabia were that its focus would be on the energy sector, specifically renewable and petrochemical infrastructure.

One of the projects identified as a major potential investment in South Africa by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a crude oil refinery and an associated petrochemical complex. This investment is expected to be in the order of $9 billion with Saudi Arabia committing to 50% of the estimated figure.

The Central Energy Fund and the National Oil Company of Saudi Arabia are developing the refinery project jointly. The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone has been identified as the location for the refinery project by the investor, Saudi Aramco.

The project is currently at pre-feasibility stage, which is expected to be presented for approval by June 2020. This will be followed by a fully-fledged feasibility study.

The UAE had proposed a Joint Investment Fund to collectively decide on the allocation of investment toward mutually agreed projects. In order to ensure the investments were secured, government had established a Task Team to identify the applicable and specific projects for each investment pledge, in accordance with the relevant economic policies and strategies.

President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China visited South Africa on a State Visit on 24 July 2018.

Pursuant to this visit, six government-to-government agreements were signed during the state visit, which are all accessible to the public on the website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (www.dirco.gov.za).

Two state owned enterprises – Eskom and Transnet – also entered into loan agreements with Chinese banks.

Eskom entered into a loan agreement with the China Development Bank for $2.5 billion to fund the construction of Kusile Power Station. The facility has a grace period of five years and thereafter the principal amount is repayable by Eskom in 20 instalments over a period of 10 years. There are no specific conditions for this loan.

Transnet entered into a R4 billion loan agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to finance the general operating activities and certain capital expenditure of Transnet. The facility is a five-year, rand denominated, quarterly amortising loan, at a floating and competitive interest rate. The loan came with terms and conditions that are standard for this type of loan.

In addition, various commercial agreements were signed between Chinese entities and South African companies. The conditions attached to each of these agreements are a matter between the respective parties.

With regard to the China investments, the signatories are responsible for servicing the terms of the respective agreements.

Reply:

a) It is incorrect of the Honourable Member to suggest that there is no form of acknowledgement when a person is applying for the social relief grant using the stated number.

b) There is an acknowledgement in the form of unique reference number that is sent to all successful applicants.

Reply:

1. a) The registration and issuance of birth certificates are regulated by the Births and Deaths Act (Act No 51 of 1992). The Births and Deaths Act requires births to be registered within 30 days. When the nation was under level 5 Lockdown, birth registration was temporarily suspended from 27 March to 03 May 2020. However, birth certificates were issued to those who are already registered on the system during the reporting period.

b) The Department set out a plan for children born from 26 February to 03 May 2020 to be registered at the Front Offices (backlog) and children that are born from 04 May 2020 onwards are registered at Health Facilities.

2) a) Medical aids were consulted and they confirmed there is no need.

b) The decision was taken to add birth registration to form part of Level 3 which then covers the plight by insurance companies.

END

Reply:

The Department has not provided any funding for the building of (i) museum and (ii) academy since 1994.

We are working on the National Training Centre which will be located in Bloemfontein, Free State Province, However, the Honourable Member this is not an academy but a High Performance Centre.

Reply:

1. SASCOC requires more time retrieve this information which is made difficult by the lockdown.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available

Thank you

Reply:

I am advised as follows:

The COVID-19 Black Business Fund administered by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) received over 250 applications totalling R700 million with approximately 30% of the applications from Gauteng, 20% from the Western Cape, 20% from KwaZulu-Natal and the balance from the other 6 provinces. A total of 12 applications valued at R78 million have been approved since inception of the Fund - of which 4 of the applications are from Gauteng; 5 from KwaZulu-Natal; and 3 from the Western Cape. Transactions valued at approximately R400 million have been declined for various reasons including applicants not being manufacturers of essential products.

Table 1 below outlines the performance of the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP) COVID-19 Essential Supplies and COVID-19 Distress Funding administered by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) since inception up to 08 May 2020.

Table 1

-END-

Reply:

1. The Department has consulted with organised labour and organised business regarding the possible impact of COVID-19 in the mining sector.

2. The Department has made inputs into the recent amendments of the Regulations of the Disaster Management Act (DMA), issued in terms of Section 27(2) of the same Act and published by the Minister of COGTA on the 17th April 2020. Please take particular note of the insertion of Regulation 11K which deals with Mining Operations.

2.1 Regulation 11K.(1) of DMA states:

Mining operations, as referred to in paragraph 22 of Part B of Annexure B, must be conducted at a reduced capacity of not more than 50% during the period of lockdown, and thereafter at increasing capacity as determined by direction issued by the Cabinet member responsible for mineral resources and energy.

2.2 Regulation 11K.(2) of DMA states:

The following conditions apply to the starting and increasing of capacity:

a) A rigorous screening and testing program must be implemented as employees return to work;

b) The mining industry must provide quarantine facilities for employees who have tested positive for the COVID-19;

c) Data collected during the screening and testing programme must be submitted to the relevant authority;

d) Mining companies must make arrangements to transport their South African employees from their homes to their respective areas of operations;

e) Workers from neighbouring Southern African Development Community countries must be recalled to their place of employment at the end of lockdown in their respective countries in accordance with these Regulations and regulations applicable in those countries.

2.3 Regulation 11K.(3) of DMA states:

The monitoring and impact assessment of seismicity through the Council for Geoscience must be intensified with immediate effect.

3. The Department through the Chief Inspector of Mines has also directed the South African Mining Industry (SAMI) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the following communique issued to mining companies:

3.1 Guiding principles on prevention & management of COVID-19 in SAMI

3.2 Request for protocol on prevention & management of COVID-19 in SAMI

3.3 Safe start-up procedure of mines by employers and employees.

4. The Department has identified all Inspectors of Mines as essential service and were issued with Lockdown Permits to ensure that health and safety of mineworkers is not compromised even during this pandemic.

5. Inspectors of Mines remain on duty during the lockdown and conduct mainly unannounced visits at various mines particularly at high risk mines, to check the mines compliance to the Mine Health and Safety Act and other relevant prescripts such as “Lockdown” regulations.

Chief Inspector Mines

Date:

Recommended / Not Recommended

Advocate T S Mokoena

Director General: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy

………………/………………/2020

Approved/Not Approved

Mr SG Mantashe, MP

Minister of Mineral Resource and Energy

Date Submitted:-……………/………………/2020

Reply:

The National Federations are unable to provide the requested information due to the lockdown as they need to retrieve the information from the archives and records.

Reply:

Please refer to my reply to question 247.

Reply:

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

 

On 18 March 2020 Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs issued regulations of Section 27 (2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 and new regulations were published on 29 April 2020.

Regulation 7(3) of the Regulations published on 29 April 2020 mandates the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure concurrently with the Members of the Executive Council responsible for Public Works and the accounting officers of municipalities to identify and make available sites to be used as isolation and quarantine facilities as the need arises.

1. (i) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is responsible for repairing and refurbishing sites from the Department’s immovable asset register which have been approved by Department of Health (DoH) as meeting the basic requirements to serve as quarantine or isolation site. Provinces and Municipalities are responsible for sites they identify. The DoH ensure the suitability of privately owned sites.

1. DPWI upgrades identified sites from the Department’s immovable asset register which have been approved by the DoH to ensure habitability. The Department only executes the upgrading project upon approval of the site by the DoH as meeting the basic requirements.

1. DPWI provide beds and linen for sites from the Department’s immovable asset register that have been assessed and approved by the Department of Health as suitable to be used as quarantine or isolation sites.

1. From the list of 39 sites, two were approved by the Department of Health and the total costs associated with:

• repair and refurbishment is R4 266 453.64
• provision of beds and linen is R737 291.45

Reply:

1. (a)(b)(c) (2)

The Department did not award any tender for COVID-19 pandemic. Personnel Protective Clothing to fight against COVID-19 is provided for in an existing contract for hygiene and cleaning services which was awarded on the 1st of April 2018 and ending on the 31st of May 2021.

The Department did not deviate from standard supply chain management procedures in awarding of tender/s in connection with COVID-19.

3. Not applicable.

4. Not applicable.

Reply:

(1) The Commission is financed from money appropriated by Parliament for the Commission and any money lawfully received from any other source. The B-BBEE Regulations permit the Commission to charge a reasonable fee for services rendered by its office, except for complaints, after publishing a schedule of fees by notice in the Gazette.

During the first three years of operation, the Commission focused on putting in place systems and processes to promote, advocate and raise awareness of the B-BBEE Act and its requirements and to support proper implementation of the legislation.

This was done at no cost during this period in order to promote the understanding of the B-BBEE Act and its requirements to encourage voluntary compliance.

I am advised that the Commission has therefore not published the schedule of fees yet, which means the services directly rendered by the Commission is currently free.

The Commission planned to commence consultation processes for the publication of the schedule of fees for its services in this financial year.

(2) Section 1 of the B-BBEE Act refers to the appointment of a B-BBEE Verification Professional Regulator by the Minister, which is a body that is responsible for accreditation and authorisation of a B-BBEE Verification Professionals.

The B-BBEE Act has in section 1 further defined a B-BBEE Verification Professional as a person who performs any work in connection with rating the status of enterprises in terms of B-BBEE compliance on the authority of, or for a rating agency accredited by, a B-BBEE Verification Regulator.

Therefore, by definition consultants are excluded from conducting any B-BBEE verification and/or issuing of B-BBEE Certificates.

The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) currently serves as the B-BBEE Verification Professional Regulator.

There is currently no regulation of fees charged by B-BBEE Verification Professionals

It is only the Construction Sector Charter Council that has issued a guideline around nominal fees that can be charged for construction-based entities that fall within the category of Exempted Micro-Enterprise (EME) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs).

(3) B-BBEE Certificates are valid for twelve (12) months.

Regarding the relief of costs of verification for small enterprises, the B-BBEE Act through the Codes has already granted an exemption to EMEs (entities with an annual turnover of less than R10 million) by indicating that they are not to be subjected to a B-BBEE verification process, as part of government’s initiative to ease the cost of doing business for small businesses.

Such entities receive automatic B-BBEE recognition levels and are only required to use a B-BBEE sworn affidavit or a certificate issued by the Companies and Intellectual Property (CIPC) confirming their turnover and level of black ownership. Such recognition is at no cost to the enterprises concerned.

In addition, 51% and 100% black owned and controlled QSEs (entities with an annual turnover of above R10 million but less R50 million) have also been exempted from being subjected to a B-BBEE verification process, and only use a sworn affidavit. The CIPC certificate option is currently not available to 51% and 100% black owned QSEs. It is only EMEs and start-up enterprises that can obtain a CIPC certificate.

Therefore, the costs of B-BBEE verification only apply to QSEs that are less than 51% black owned as well as large entities (entities with an annual turnover of R50 million and above).

In light of the above, I will request advice regarding the proposal for the extension of the validity of the 2019 certificates to cover 2020 and revert to the Honourable Member.

-END-

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available

Thank you

Reply:

The sabbatical and travel policies of the two Departments that merged to form the DTIC, were developed and approved prior to the current administration and will be reviewed in due course in line with Government’s oveall policy position.

In respect of the specific questions posed, I have been advised by the Department that the following applies:

(1) The Department’s sabbatical leave is regulated in terms of the Bursary Policy which is an internal document.

The purpose of sabbatical leave is to provide employees with special leave opportunities for a maximum period of twelve (12) months to enable them to prepare for examinations, complete theses or projects in partial fulfilment of their studies. Operational requirements are considered and the line of studies should support the Department’s strategic objectives.

An employee who has been granted sabbatical leave is expected to enter into a contract to serve the Department for a period twice the sabbatical leave. This leave provision has positioned the Department as a learning organisation that promotes continuous learning and development of its employees. Another advantage arising from this provision is the retention of institutional skills and capabilities.

(2) The table below provides details of sabbatical leave since 1 January 2019. No officials from the Economic Development Department (EDD) were granted sabbatical leave.

(a)   Officials who have taken sabbatical leave since 1 January 2019	(b)   Period each official has taken off from work and details
	Period	Duration	Details
Employee 1	1 February 2018 to 31 January 2019	12 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Masters in Industrial/Organi-sational Psychology
Employee 2	9 February 2018 to 8 February 2019	12 months	Attendance of classes towards a MBA
Employee 3	1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019	12 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a PhD
Employee 4	16 January 2019 to 31 March 2019	2½ months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Masters in Public Administration
Employee 5	3 April 2018 to 3 April 2019	12 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a PhD
Employee 6	1 August 2019 to 31 October 2019	3 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Masters in Public Management
Employee 7	16 August 2019 to 15 November 2019	3 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation
Employee 8	1 March 2019 to 30 November 2019	9 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards an MBA
Employee 9	1 April 2019 to 30 November 2019	8 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards an MBA
Employee 10	1 May 2019 to 30 November 2019	7 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards an MBA
Employee 11	1 September 2019 to 31 December 2019	4 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Masters in Law
Employee 12	26 July 2019 to 25 January 2020	6 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards an MBA
Employee 13	1 October 2019 to 28 February 2020	5 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Masters in Management (Public Policy)
Employee 14	1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020	12 months	Doctorate in Business Administration
Employee 15	1 October 2019 to 31 August 2020	10 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a Masters in Business Management
Employee 16	1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021	12 months	Research and writing a dissertation towards a PhD

3) This information is disclosed in the dti’s Annual Report as part of the Goods and Services note to the Annual Financial Statements. All travel is in line with the Travel and Subsistence Policy of the department as well as National Treasury’s Instruction Note No. 04 of 2017/2018 on Cost Containment.

4) The dti had a total of 192 transactional business class tickets booked for officials at a total cost of R7 869 924. EDD had a total of 42 transactional domestic business class tickets booked for officials at a total cost of R395 472.

-END-

Reply:

The AfCFTA is a significant step towards the objective of African economic integration. The AfCFTA, as one of the flagship projects of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to build an integrated market in Africa of over 1 billion people, with a growing GDP.

The AfCFTA, the market integration component of a wider African development agenda, combines market integration with infrastructure development and, industrial development to promote intra-Africa trade and sustainable economic growth. Initially, implementation of the AfCFTA will increase opportunities for trade amongst African countries in both goods and services. In Phase 2 rules for Investment, Intellectual Property and Competition will be developed.

The AfCFTA is intended to cover 55 African countries. All African Union Member States, except Eritrea, have signed the Agreement. The Agreement entered into force on 30 May 2019 and 28 countries have now ratified the AfCFTA.

The 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 9-10 February 2020 endorsed an intensive and focused work programme to ensure that all substantive outstanding negotiating issues necessary for the commencement of preferential trading under the AfCFTA are concluded.

The 33rd AU Assembly also endorsed an Extra-Ordinary Summit on the AfCFTA in May 2020 in South Africa to adopt the concluded rules of origin, tariff schedules and services schedules, for the commencement of trade under the AfCFTA preferences by 1 July 2020.

South Africa is engaged in ongoing consultations nationally and within SACU to ensure that we meet the obligations of a 90% tariff offer for the commencement of negotiations with trading partners on the continent and the finalisation of the Schedules of Tariff Concessions. In terms of Trade in Services, South Africa has submitted an initial services offer on the five priority sectors in preparation for the services negotiations under the AfCFTA, which will be subject to reciprocity.

We also need to anchor the Agreement in a wider context and work programme of structural transformation and industrial development to promote diversification, beneficiation and value-addition in order to realise the opportunities that will arise from a more open continental market.

Effective rules of origin are critical in any free trade agreement to define the extent of local processing and manufacturing of any product is needed to qualify for liberalised trade under the agreement. In this way, the rules of origin ensure that the parties to the agreement are the main beneficiaries of the agreement.

In addition to establishing effective rules of origin to encourage local content, it is also essential to have the necessary capacity in all customs services across the Continent, including in the South African Revenue Service, to monitor and enforce the rules of origin.

Such enforcement is necessary to ensure that non-parties do not take advantage of the more open trade regime on the continent. While SARS has demonstrated its capacity to perform these tasks, including in the SADC context, it is engaged in a process to upscale its enforcement capacity to meet the requirements of more open trade once the AfCFTA is fully operational.

South Africa has finalised sectoral masterplans on clothing and textiles and the poultry sectors to ensure that the country is able to utilise the opportunities presented through the AfCFTA. We are also developing more Master Plans, in traditional sectors like the steel industry, and the sugar industry which is a key livelihood for rural communities; furniture, as well as in new economy sectors such as the digital economy, with its opportunities for young people; and the green economy, to industrialise through a greener growth path.

-END-

Reply:

 

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(1) (a) As at 27 April 2020, a total of 22 013 participants were recruited in all nine provinces in the country to participate in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) COVID-19 response, to assist the Department of Health. The majority of the participants recruited represents the youth category (16 – 35years). However, in exceptional cases, persons outside of the youth category were recruited as the Non-Profit Organisations were unable to get sufficient numbers of youth participants targeted in the programme. Of the participants recruited, 21 379 are youth with the remaining 634 outside of the youth category.

Of the 22 013 participants recruited 15 012 are female, and 7001 are male. The table below provides further detail of the 22 013 educational/qualification level.

Qualifications	Number of participants
Grade 10	1911
Grade 11	3460
Grade 12	16321
Post-school Certificates Including N levels	238
Diploma	44
Degree	39
Total	22 013

(1) (b) Yes, the 191 NPOs to be contracted to cover the 44 districts and 8 Metropolitan Municipalities in the country. In line with the EPWP Recruitment Guidelines, all the NPOs are required to recruit participants close to their place of residence.

2(a) (i) It was agreed, and it is a requirement, prior to EPWP participants beginning work, the Department of Health (DoH) will train EPWP participants. DoH officials stationed within the respective Public Health Centres, where the participants will be deployed, will undertake the training. Training will also include infection prevention control.

(ii) There is no cost to the training provided by the DOH.

(iii) The training is provided by the Department of Health and is ongoing.

(2)(b) Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been procured for about five weeks of work. Pending approval of budget requests from National Treasury, the remainder of the PPEs will be acquired. PPEs, including hand sanitisers, masks and gloves. The use of PPEs is mandatory.

(2)(c)(i) The project start date is still to be confirmed by the DoH after finalising logistical processes, including the notification of Provincial Health MECs and Executive Mayors.

(ii) The duration of the project is for three (3) months.

(2)(d)(i) The DPWI EPWP COVID-19 response participants will be paid by the DPWI through the EPWP NSS: NPO programme budget for 2020/21.

(ii) A daily wage of R101.00 will be paid to each participant. This is in line with a daily wage rate of the EPWP NSS NPO programme for 2020/21 financial year.

Reply:

a) There are 36 South African National Standards (SANS) and 2 South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) referenced in the Mine Health and Safety Act No 29 of 1996, as amended. The list is in Annexure 1.

b) The monitoring and enforcement is done by the Department’s Engineering Inspectors.

c) (i) The total number of compliance inspections conducted in 2016/2017 was 9 363 which included the mine equipment inspections.

(ii) Similarly, the total number of compliance inspections conducted in 2017/2018 was 9 425.

(iii) The total number of inspections conducted in 2018/2019 was 8567.

d) Where there were non-compliances observed during the inspections, to deal with dangerous conditions or non-compliance with mine standards or provisions under the Act, Inspectors issued sections 55 and 54 instructions as per the Mine Health and Safety Act, No. 29 of 1996 as amended. For instance, during the reporting period 2018/2019, there were 1399 section 55 instructions and 963 section 54 instructions issued, respectively.

Chief Inspector Mines

Date:

Recommended / Not Recommended

Advocate T S Mokoena

Director General: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy

………………/………………/2020

Approved/Not Approved

Mr SG Mantashe, MP

Minister of Mineral Resource and Energy

Date Submitted:-……………/………………/2020

Reply:

(1) (a) In response to the recent protests that occurred in January 2020 regarding addressing challenges of water availability in QwaQwa in the Free State I had committed to the following:

• Sedibeng Water would be appointed as the implementing agent with regard to all issues related to water challenges.
• A total amount of R220 million will be ring fenced to address water challenges faced by the community of Qwaqwa.
• A total of 5000 water tanks to be procured to increase the number of water tankers (trucks) on the ground
• Equip boreholes to provide water relief
• Explore new technologies to address water challenges
• Establish a Hotline and Call Centre to deal with immediate challenges related to water.
• Sedibeng Water to establish the War Room.

(b) Progress made with regard to the commitments made by the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation are as follows:

• Sedibeng Water was appointed as the Implementing Agent for drought intervention in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.
• R54 million was allocated in the financial year ending March 2020. More funds are to be allocated in this financial year.
• Seventeen (17) boreholes were equipped with submersible pumps and hand pumps and a total of five (5) boreholes were equipped and connected to the network.
• Potential service providers were invited and presented their technologies which included:
  • • • Package Water Treatment Works that can be installed quicker than the conventional Water Treatment Works.
      • Pumps that do not use electricity.
• A Steering Committee was established and consists of various stakeholders from the community and government representatives.
• Stakeholders Forum has been established and is chaired by the Free State MEC COGTA.
• Maluti-A-Phofung Drought Intervention Programme War Room has also been established by the Sedibeng Water Board.
• A call centre has been equipped and resourced and an application done to Telkom for a hotline which will be operational once Telkom has finalised the installation.
• 136 units of 5,000 litres (5 kL) water tanks have been distributed.
• 30 units of 10,000 litre (10 kL) tanks have been distributed.
• Construction of masonry tank stands has commenced in Ward 28 (Leribe, Theosane, Mabolela and Mabolela Central) and Ward 15 (Thabang, Masimong, Madimong, Sekgutlong).
• 25 Water Tankers of 16 000 litre capacity are delivering water to the affected areas.
• The Maluti-A-Phofung LM has hired 29 trucks from the local contractors.

(2) Progress is as indicated in (1)(b) above.

Reply:

As per the attached, this is the response to Parliamentary question 71 and does not correspond with the narrative as contained in question 582.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available

Thank you

Reply:

The information provide to me by my two departments is as follows:

Department of Human Settlements (DHS):

(a) The National Department of Human Settlements contracted the services of one of the companies referred to by the Honourable Member on 10 December 2015.

• The contract costs were R 2, 166 912.00;
• The duration of the contract was seven (7) weeks;
• The bid/ tender number is VA 49/516; and the order number is DH- 023574 and
• The purpose of contracting the services of Foresight Advisory Services was to conduct an investigation of fraud, corruption and financial misconduct in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), related to housing and human settlements matters.

(b) No contract/tender was awarded to the second company referred to in the question.

Department of Water and Sanitation:

None

Reply:

1. The call for applications for the Relief Fund for artists included individuals, organisations and SMMEs.  SMMEs were not excluded from this call and therefore there has been an opportunity for small businesses to receive relief.

2. The COVID-19 relief fund was for all applicants and was not limited to small businesses governed by the BBBEE Act as specified in the question.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(a) (b)(i)(ii) (c) (d) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has worked with National Command Council on COVID-19 (NCC) and the several work streams in the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) to ensure the construction industry reopens as soon as possible. This included permitting all public works to resume in Level 4 and resuming construction industry on a greater scale during Level 3 from 1 June

The DPWI together with the Presidency’s Infrastructure and Investment Office is currently in the process of drafting an infrastructure economic recovery plan. This plan is aimed to stimulate and transform the construction industry increasing investment and economic participation, while investing in South Africa’s infrastructure.

As for DPWI’s entities:

AGREMENT SOUTH AFRICA

The entity has developed protocols for the return of staff members to the office. The protocols incorporate the requirement for staff to wear masks all the time; the suspension of physical meetings; screening of staff upon entry to the premises; and also managing the office space by making configurations to allow for physical distancing around common areas.

Agrement SA staff will for the most part continue to work remotely. The entity will apply the Business Continuity Plan, which incorporates the use of digital platforms to hold meetings, and applying digital options for various areas of the organisation’s operations. The organisation is exploring the feasibility of using electronic media to conduct scheduled quality inspection at sites where Agrement SA approved products are being used.

Council for the Built Environment (CBE)

The enity has developed Covid-19 Risk Mitigation measures for its employees which incorporate the following:

• Provising suitable cleaning materials and protective personal equipment for the cleaning staff.
• Provision of individual sanitizing products to staff members.
• Notices around the office space with warning for staff to ensure that they keep their masks on and to sanitize their hands frequently.
• Provision is also being made for all meetings to observe physical distancing requirements.

There have been interactions with key industry role players through their voluntary associations to develop plans to prevent infections on sites (although currently these sites are not yet opened due to the requirement for the construction sector to open up only at level 2 in terms of the Disaster Management Act regulations.)

The Professional Coucils have made preparations for the reopening of offices with phased return of staff to the office. Preparation have also been made for the office spaces to be Covid-19 safe, including deep cleaning of the offices, making a requirement for staff to wear masks all the time and sanitizing their hands frequently.

Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB)

On the phased reopening of the sector:

The CIDB will develop emergency procurement tools to fast track the backlogs in the infrastructure projects by helping clients to develop emergency procurement policies. Plans are underway for cidb and National Treasury to develop prescripts for advance payments on construction projects. The intention by cidb and National Treasury is to issue instructions to public sector clients to waive deposits for construction tenders.

A further planned intervention is the establishment of framework contracts to shorten the solicitation and evaluation periods. There will be additional support for the cidb Standard for Uniformity in Construction Procurement provisions through the categorisation of projects for streamlined and simplified evaluation criteria.

The cidb has implemented provisions to support contractors in terms of their registration with the cidb. Registration expiry dates have been extended. This enables contractors to be able to access opportunities during the lockdown and immediately after the lockdown.

The cidb has also developed a Covid-19 survey in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg to investigate the impact of the pandemic on the construction industry. This will assist the cidb in finding ways to help contractors mitigate the effect of the lockdown on their companies.

The drafting, implementation and enforcement of risk and mitigation plans sector-wide to prevent infections on sites:

The construction industry is known to be well organized and commitments by industry have been made. The Construction Health and Safety Accord signed by Government, Organised Labour and Organised Business further reinforces the considerations to prevent infections on sites.

Despite having and complying with the occupational health and safety laws and regulations, the industry will put additional measures in place to ensure the health and safety of employees on sites.

The mitigation measures relate to the following risks:

• Travelling to work on public transport

• Site access by non-employees

• Personal Hygiene on sites

• Adequacy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Safety at Site meetings

The specific risk mitigation measures include:

• Keeping contractors informed of all new safety related legislations.

• Constant Health and safety presentations, seminars and conferences.

• Inform industry and the Department of Labour of relevant incident/accident statistics including costs and recommend preventative action.

• Assist and advise contractors on how to improve their safety management programme.

• Arrange safety related training courses for contractors and their employees off site.

• Assist contractors as and when required with incident and accident investigations and reports.

Independent Development Trust (IDT)

The IDT has developed and is already implementing a Back to Work Readiness Plan with clearly articulated guidelines for all its staff. The plan entails, among others, preparing and resourcing of the workplace to ensure that it is fully compliant with the published Department of Employment and Labour’s Workplace Preparedness guidelines. As part of the Plan, the return of staff to work is being staggered, augmented by remote work arrangements for certain categories of staff, where deemed necessary. The entity also has a Steering Committee in place that is monitoring and assessing daily the implementation of the Back to Work Readiness Plan.

Reply:

The Department does not currently collect data on the location of taverns, shebeens and liquor outlets, as the regulation of such entities is the responsibility of provincial authorities.

The macro manufacturing and distribution of liquor in terms of the Liquor Act, 2003 (Act No. 59 of 2003) is regulated by the dtic; whereas the Provincial Liquor Boards are mandated to regulate the micro manufacturing and retail liquor sector in terms of their specified legislation. In terms of the relevant legislation the responsibility of closing down taverns, shebeens and liquor outlets is the responsibility of Provincial Liquor Boards.

Having given the matter consideration, I have now requested the Department to contact the provincial regulators and ask for information to be compiled on the matter and for the Department to provide me with advice regarding further steps that national government may need to take in light of such information.

-END-

Reply:

The table below indicates the summary of amounts owed by the municipalities to Water Boards as at 31 January 2020. Refer to Annexure A for the detailed report.

WATER BOARD	OUTSTANDING BALANCE	CURRENT	DAYS 30	DAYS 60	DAYS 90	DAYS 120+
Amatola Water	242 050 981	34 340 308	12 617 533	10 929 010	12 108 892	172 055 239
Bloem Water	1 111 729 213	90 805 933	82 244 725	89 102 028	84 450 529	765 125 998
Lepelle Northern Water	512 173 103	46 856 414	45 563 021	20 876 981	24 967 387	373 909 300
Magalies Water	156 673 829	48 245 931	16 412 377	16 725 197	6 421 343	69 446 900
Mhlathuze Water	42 208 385	28 321 793	1 679 271	88 303	37 375	12 081 643
Overberg Water	1 905 184	1 905 184	0	0	0	0
Sedibeng Water	4 469 871 627	116 232 131	81 966 710	91 799 381	100 594 643	4 079 278 761
Rand Water	2 909 873 142	1 591 241 639	228 186 486	176 184 365	182 628 323	731 632 328
Umgeni Water	765 184 819	479 062	472 926	719 057	457 768	3 096 988
TOTAL	10 211 670 283	1 958 428 395	469 143 048	406 424 321	411 666 260	6 206 627 158

ANNEXURE A

The table below indicates the amount owed by the Municipality to Water Boards:

(a) DETAILS OF EACH MUNICIPALITY	(b) DETAILS OF EACH WATER BOARD	(c) AGE OF EACH OUTSTANDING DEBT OWED
		CURRENT	DAYS 30	DAYS 60	DAYS 90	DAYS 120+
Buffalo City Municipality	AMATOLA WATER	22 336 028	-	-	-	-
Amathole DM		11 049 871	11 633 383	10 929 010	12 108 892	172 055 239
Ndlambe LM		954 409	984 149	-	-	-
TOTAL	34 340 307,93	12 617 532,70	10 929 009,64	12 108 891,55	172 055 239,48
Mangaung LM	BLOEM WATER	83 505 758	75 346 147	81 701 232	77597505	436 508 084
Kopanong LM		7 195 169	6 839 613	7 381 679	6 820 463	327 205 165
Mantsopa (Excelsior)		105 006	58965	19 118	32 561	1 412 750
TOTAL	90 805 932,64	82 244 724,70	89 102 028,08	84 450 529,09	765 125 998,46
Capricorn DM	LEPELLE NORTHERN WATER	6 425 157,18
Greater Letaba Mun		1 562 548,52				-31 460,33
Greater Tzaneen Mun		163 164,65				(174,42)
Fetakgomo LM		1 169 074	1 340 998	995 446	787 748	4 317 686
Makhuduthamaga LM		2 342 862	3 769 171	3 491 223	3 390 803	7 372 468
Marble Hall Mun		785 771	951 149	821 653	827 466	1 108 683
Mogalakwena LM		1 666 454,73	2 272 587,96			(3 828,04)
Mopani DM		11 332 459,78	13 090 194,23	11 465 943,00	15 337 761,00	276 440 746,57
Polokwane Mun		17 129 979,28	19 621 060,75			288 363,04
Greater Tubatse LM		3 655 488	3 889 805	3 463 652	3 984 545	6 368 542
TOTAL	46 856 414,44	45 563 020,94	20 876 981,00	24 967 387,00	373 909 299,77
Thabazimbi TLC	MAGALIES WATER	3 234 590,57	2 945 767,03	2 995 079,84	3 110 088,73	50 475 597,58
Moses Kotane LM		6 936 480,24	10 089 754,80	10 682 376,35	904 165,49	1 907 227,59
Tshwane Metro (Zeekoeigat)		8 368 007,72
Modimolle Mun		2 025 641,23	1 254 991,37	1 482 417,06	1 199 246,38	12 096 077,04
Bela-Bela Mun		2 593 933,64	1 788 487,99	1 565 323,67	1 207 842,49	4 967 998,12
Rand Water		19 597 891,03	333 375,56
TOTAL	48 245 930,72	16 412 376,75	16 725 196,92	6 421 343,09	69 446 900,33
uMhlathuze LM	MHLATHUZE WATER	28 157 356	1 668 737	87 812	36 472	12 075 434
Gert Sibande DM		164 437	10 534	491	903	5 529
King Cetshwayo District Municipality		0	0	0	0	680
TOTAL	28 321 793,00	1 679 271,00	88 303,00	37 375,00	12 081 643,00
Hessequa	OVERBERG WATER	613 067,95	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Theewaterskloof		1 292 115,84	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
TOTAL	1 905 183,79	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Matjhabeng LM	SEDIBENG WATER	82 137 299	57 370 463	64 228 022	72 112 537	3 091 853 206
Maquassi Hills LM		6 515 983	4 837 408	5 384 189	5 838 291	174 158 636
Nala LM		6 159 253	4 375 787	5 100 149	5 557 645	180 571 114
Joe Morolong LM		704 149	423 560	708 256	-	-
Dikgatlong LM		797 746	496 601	612 601	809 575	12 168 944
Gamagara-Khathu LM		1 316 345	562 424	-	-	9 439 962
Tsantsabane LM		2 220 870	1 510 701	1 611 703	2 246 244	44 119 780
Ditsobotla LM		459 282	461 935	468 010	449 526	56 136 530
Mahikeng LM		8 016 122	7 700 421	8 779 099	8 358 631	291 014 332
Ngaka Modiri Molema LM		1 378 918	757 751	-	-	62 142 831
Khai-Ma LM		525 640	237 351	424 398	467 951	4 239 069
Nama-Khoi LM		6 000 523	3 232 310	4 482 955	4 754 244	153 434 359
TOTAL	116 232 131,27	81 966 710,35	91 799 381,06	100 594 642,82	4 079 278 761,29
Johannesburg Water (Soc) Pty	RAND WATER	601 946 620	-	-	-	-
Ekurhuleni Metro		357 322 287	40 188	-	-	-
Tshwane Metro		284 818 162	-	-	-	-
Emfuleni LM		113 949 087	104 607 948	104 380 961	116 833 568	246 835 517
Mogale City LM		33 753 159	30 033 659	50 183	-	-
Metsimaholo LM		17 911 937	-	-	-	-
Rustenburg LM		32 580 535	43 287	-	-	-
Govan Mbeki Municipality		38 615 065	33 568 470	32 737 163	34 187 132	121 837 632
Midvaal LM		12 930 575	-	-	-	-
Merafong City LM		23 548 220	21 272 619	21 260 446	12 853 138	2 445 845
Randwest City LM		28 195 393	21 551 884	8 569 040	8 759 454	1 744 405
Lesedi LM		8 313 922	(14 180)	-	-	-
Ngwathe LM		2 816 117	2 578 609	-	-	-
Victor Khanye LM		8 822 373	7 890 581	7 673 382	8 631 490	111 497 787
Royal Bafokeng Nation		6 590 241	10 173	-	-	-
Madibeng LM		5 193 436	5 170 117	138 114	-	-
Thembisile LM		12 488 849	-	-	-	-
Bushbuckridge LM		1 445 661	1 433 132	1 375 076	1 363 541	247 271 142
TOTAL	1 591 241 639,41	228 186 485,90	176 184 364,94	182 628 323,40	731 632 327,93
Ethekwini Municipality	UMGENI WATER (Water Sales)	248 858 903,41	0,00	0,02	0,01	0,00
Msunduzi Municipality		55 298 774,66	266,15	137,34	0,00	0,00
Umgungundlovu Municipality		16 448 729,85	18 025 166,54	22 828,51	14 108,61	139 112,02
Ugu DM		10 590 849,90	11 389 020,78	10 922 525,82	10 741 339,93	7 110 726,02
Ilembe DM		14 543 196,33	0,01	-0,06	0,00	0,00
Harry Gwala DM		959 447,04	1 010 811,95	922 650,73	928,59	0,00
Siza Water		3 768 417,82	4 175 617,24	837 412,22	956 666,85	33 080 238,18
Uthukela DM		10 596 176,78	9 739 275,91	11 225 107,67	12 145 680,57	68 705 797,49
Ethekwini Municipality M	UMGENI WATER CUC	48 833 795,52	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Msunduzi Municipality M		10 530 392,37	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Umgungundlovu Municipality M		3 161 164,90	3 464 913,01	0,00	0,00	0,00
Ugu District Municipality M		1 881 422,69	2 057 014,05	1 955 519,45	1 932 943,49	8 724 994,61
Ilembe District Municipality M		2 795 719,91	2 863 316,90	2 649 934,66	2 703 557,16	50 540 257,94
Harry Gwala District Municipality M		182 797,43	192 789,09	177 365,74	0,00	0,00
Siza Water		551 250,25	610 816,05	512 436,06	585 411,38	7 379 956,60
Ethekwini Municipality	UMGENI WATER MBWS	4 950 604,06	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Msunduzi Municipality		1 099 940,47	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Umgungundlovu Municipality		327 089,93	358 519,11	0,00	0,00	0,00
Ugu DM		194 673,25	212 841,95	202 340,16	200 004,22	1 343 065,46
Ilembe DM		289 276,75	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Harry Gwala DM		18 914,30	19 948,14	18 352,26	0,00	0,00
Siza Water		75 070,12	83 181,89	69 784,35	79 722,27	2 151 694,61
Msunduzi Municipality Darvill Management Fee	UMGENI WATER COMMERCIAL	14 221 877,50	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Msunduzi Municipality - Lynnfield WWTW		201 638,29	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Msunduzi Municipality - Darvill Fixed Charged		289 572,01	0,00	0,00	0,00	0,00
Harry Gwala Municipality - Management Fee		676 293,95	676 068,58	675 763,74	0,00	304,64
Harry Gwala Municipality		706,86	348,72	95 973,19	0,00	0,00
Harry Gwala Municipality - Water Quality		138 956,46	207 713,64	265 566,18	60,84	44,81
Umgungundlovu Municipality - Management Fee		5 190 031,70	5 580 586,51	10 740,83	0,00	205 512,10
Umgungundlovu - Early Warning Flood System		10 036,89	9 593,63	9 284,16	9 593,63	1 373 272,05
Ethekwini Municipality - Water Quality		1 876,95	69 898,71	33 681,83	1,50	522,26
Ethekwini Municipality - Training & capacity Building		88 382,04	62 677,89	12 000 000,00	0,00	0,00
UGU - Water Quality		499 964,85	489 417,13	514 499,41	479 061,59	4 729 696,11
Alfred Nzo District Municipality - Analysis		303 935,70	15,05	0,00	0,00	0,00
	TOTAL	479 061,59	472 925,55	719 056,64	457 768,45	3 096 987,65

Reply:

(1) No, there is no provision in the departmental budget for relief to small businesses. The Department's mandate does not include the provision of relief to small businesses

(2) N/A

(a) N/A

(b) N/A

Reply:

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has supported the work of Government in reviewing submissions which were received during the public consultation process. In particular, the dtic reviewed a number of submissions received from individual businesses, business associations and trade union.

Officials from the DTIC were given access to review submissions received from individual businesses, business associations and trade unions, largely directed to the [email protected] email address. A team of officials from the Department, including from InvestSA and the Industrial Development Division were assigned to review such submissions.

A number of changes were made to the schedule of services which were phased in under Alert Level 4 and for the schedule recommended for Alert level 3. These changes were based on the feedback received both from individual businesses, business associations, trade unions and from the public. In some cases, the submissions required further consultations with businesses and trade unions. Some of the submissions were in favour of specific proposals and these were taken into account in the process.

To illustrate with a few examples:

1. Changes were made in the wording of some sector descriptions and arrangements (for example in agriculture);
2. Certain sectors or activities were more explicitly addressed in the framework covering those goods which could be manufactured at different levels of employment
3. Value-chain linkages were more clearly addressed
4. The minimum level of manufacturing enabled in level 4 was increased as a result of the submissions
5. The sale of hardware, components and supplies were made more widely available to all consumers; and
6. The opening up of eCommerce to sell goods other than those available in retail stores was also provided

In addition to these changes effected in Level 4, the submissions assisted Government in the drafting of the framework for level 3.

The incremental opening of certain sectors of the economy is intended to limit the spread of the virus, and to ensure that any spikes in infections can be identified and managed. In addition, it has enabled a greater level of preparedness in society and in the health system than was the case at the start of the pandemic in South Africa.

The dtic has been working closely with industry from manufacturing, construction and retail to get updates on infections and to identify solutions which can be rolled out to the industry.

The success of each level proposed, and the allocation of economic sectors in particular levels, is measured by the contribution to containing the spread of the virus and flattening of the curve of infections. Where necessary, changes are made to the extent of economic activity to the wider objectives of saving lives and protecting livelihoods.

The industry classification system was explained at a joint meeting of Parliamentary Committees on 1 May 2020, setting out criteria and the application of the three systems in the country moving from Level 5 to Level 4. The President announced recently that the country would move to Alert level 3, which will enable additional industrial sectors to return to full production.

Government has engaged with a number of organisations, from business associations, trade unions, political parties, premiers of provinces, individual businesses and religious institutions to receive feedback on the systems and to consider representations on proposed changes.

These have contributed to finalising the economic activity which will be enabled under Level 3.

-END-

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available

Thank you

Reply:

1. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is responsible for the payment to be made to the private hotels and accommodation establishment that have been identified and contracted by the Department based on the requirements of National Department of Health for use as quarantine facilities. No payment has been made thus far for any facility.

2. No intermediaries are used. The Departments Supply Chain Management Logistics Section is utilised for booking the hotels. The SCM unit utilises a DPWI Master Database List to identify quarantine facilities and invite quotes.

3. Government is not paying the full rates for sites.

(a) The rates paid by government have been negotiated between National Treasury, Department of Tourism, Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and the Industry represented by Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA). These rates are discounted and below the standard rate offered to government as per Star grading of the sites. Rates are per room.

aa. 1 Star R850-00 single and R1035-00 sharing (exclu VAT)

bb. 2 Star R950-00 single and R1135-00 sharing (exclu VAT)

cc. 3 Star R1050-00 single and R1235-00 sharing (exclu VAT)

dd. 4 Star R1200-00 single and R1385-00 sharing (exclu VAT)

 

(b) Services offered are dinner, lunch and breakfast included in the above rates.

Reply:

The person referred to by the Honourable Member is a member of the Advisory Committee on the Stabilisation and Efficient Functioning of the Water Sector appointed by the Minister in terms of chapter 9 of the National Water Act (Act no 36 of 1998) to advise the Minister and the acting Director-General on the following:

1. The financial management and functioning of institutions within the Water Sector;
2. The effective and efficient functioning of supply chain management within institutions in the Water Sector;
3. Investigations into maladministration, fraud and corruption, audit findings and any other misconduct related matters;
4. General human resource and governance related matters;
5. General labour relation matters, including the fast tracking of outstanding, pending and new disciplinary cases;
6. Analysis, development and advice on the introduction of policy, systems, business processes and standard operation processes that contribute to the stabilisation and efficient functioning of identified areas or components; and
7. To advise the Minister or Director General on any matter that is referred to the Advisory Committee by the Minister or Director General that will promote the effective and efficient functioning of institutions and components of institutions within the Water Sector.

Reply:

The CIPC is not empowered to authorize companies to operate during the lockdown period. It provided a service to companies registered under the Companies Act, to lodge their details as an essential service during the lockdown, based on self-declaration.

A certificate was issued to companies which registered, which enables easier identification of companies whose management believes they are services permitted to operate during periods when the Regulations issued under the Disaster Management Act limited such types of services.

The CIPC websites and certificates were required to state that registration (and possession of the certificate) does not constitute proof of compliance with the Regulations, but was simply proof that the management believed they comply with Regulations as set out above.

Some false or incorrect declarations were made and when these were brought to the attention of the CIPC, the certificates were rescinded.

I am advised that in the matter of Uzalo, the certificate was revoked on 3 May 2020.

-END-

Reply:

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

I have been provided with the following reply by the IDC:

1. & (c)

(b)

Black women
Sector	Value of approvals (R'm)	Number of approvals
	>25%	>50%	>25%	>50%
Agro Processing & Agriculture	324	66	14	6
Basic Metals and Mining	5,643	1,847	15	6
Clothing & Textiles	121	4	18	5
Basic & Speciality Chemicals	725	508	13	8
Chemical Products & Pharmaceuticals	204	66	17	10
Machinery & Equipment	948	635	20	12
Automotive & Transport Equipment	684	356	14	8
Heavy Manufacturing	459	202	21	9
Light Manufacturing & Tourism	1,030	699	19	13
Industrial Infrastructure	808	127	11	5
Media and Audio Visual	585	89	12	6
Other	110	110	3	3
Total	11,642	4,708	177	91

(c)

Refer to above.

 

____________________

Mr L October

Director-General: Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)

_____/_____/2020

Supported / Not Supported

____________________

Mr E Patel

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

____/____/2020

Approved / Not Approved

Reply:

Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant expansion in the number of black South Africans who were able to access business opportunities or skills enhancement, as a result of BB-BEE programmes.

These included programmes such as

• The Black Industrialist programme promoted by the DTIC and the IDC (Industrial Development Corporation).
• Sector Charters and BEE Codes
• Development Funds introduced through settlements under the Competition Act
• Equity-equivalent programmes introduced for multinational corporations
• Preferential policies used in state procurement
• Support rendered to businesses by the National Empowerment Fund

I have requested that detailed information aggregating the impact of the various policies be prepared for public release and initial results were made available at a public conference hosted by the Black Business Council in March this year. It showed very large levels of funds deployed to promoting wider empowerment across the society.

I intend to release an updated version of the study during the Budget Vote of the Department.

Taken as a whole, while there has been enormous progress in expanding the base of the economy, there are still significant gaps and much remains to be done to build a truly inclusive economy.

Young people are disproportionately represented in the ranks of the unemployed. The presence of women in core productive sectors remain well below what is needed for the country to fully utilize the talents of one half of the population.

Levels of economic concentration remain unusually high in a number of sectors and recent changes in the competition laws are intended to address these.

For the period ahead, we need to:

• improve the implementation of existing policy, including through strengthening the quality of the BEE ‘book’ through stronger business support services and maintaining transparency on beneficiaries.
• scale up the successes of public policy in promoting sustainable empowerment, with resources allocated from the Budget to achieve this
• address challenges in the structure of the economy and the practices that inhibit the participation of SMMES and black entrepreneurs in the economy.

The new Competition Act focuses for the first time on market structure, and the high levels of economic concentration in many parts of the economy. It does not prohibit economic concentration or seek to break up large companies, because in a globalised world and indeed for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the continent will need industrial champions with the scale and size to be successful and to compete with the world’s large US, German, Chinese and Indian companies.

The new provisions of the Competition Act places the impact of structure or concentration of markets, on the entry of SMEs and Black South Africans in a sector. Where concentration acts as an inhibitor that prevents of limits entry and participation, the law now gives the Competition Commission the power to effect remedies.

The law has also been changed to address problems where large suppliers discriminate against SMEs on prices and unfair trading conditions. For example, if a large bakery sells bread at a significantly cheaper price to a large retailer with stores in a township, and sells the same bread at a much higher price to spaza shops and if the effect of this is to prevent a class of small businesses from participating in the market, it would be subject to investigation and remedy.

The law now addresses abuse of power by dominant firms who are buyers: for example retailers in relation to small suppliers; or insurance companies in relation to the panels of authorised panel-beaters.

The price-discrimination and buyer power provisions are intended to assist black-owned companies that have less than 20% of any given market.

These measures are directed at addressing both structural barriers, and conduct of dominant firms that inhibit smaller, newer and in many cases, black-owned firms from gaining a foothold in the market and then expanding.

-END-

Reply:

It is a fundamental pillar of current Government policy to support and nurture local manufacturing and support local jobs. This applies to both industrial as well as trade policy interventions.

There are two critical concerns relating to trade between South Africa and the People’s Republic of China (PRC):

• First, the composition of trade between the two countries, which has generally been composed of exports by SA of raw materials (particularly minerals) and import of finished goods (consumer and capital goods). This impacts negatively on local value-addition and job creation.
• Second, high levels of under-invoicing and invoice-fraud by SA importers on goods sourced from other countries, including China, which results in a flood of imports of goods, damages local industries, deprives the fiscus of taxes due to it and distorts accuracy of trade data.

These concerns have been followed up with the Government of the PRC.

In respect of the first area, increased Chinese investment in SA manufacturing can assist to create a more sustainable trade composition. Examples of such investment in SA by Chinese investors that have been facilitated includes manufacturing operations in appliance manufacturing, truck and car assembly and high-voltage cable manufacturing.

In regard to the second concern, Government has stepped up actions against illegal imports, including seizing such goods.

Data distortions due in large part to under-invoicing (as well as some product data which does not show up in SA’s bilateral trade data) mean that trade surplus/deficit data needs to be used with some caution. We compare SA data with those from trading partners to develop a fuller picture of trade-flows.

In respect of quotas, there are restrictions to what WTO members may apply in trade with each other.

Government is actively engaged in a range of measures to boost the competitiveness of the domestic industry. Tariff or trade remedies measures are utilised after a process of needs analysis confirms the necessity to implement such measures.

It is not considered appropriate to make a statement at this stage beyond the comments noted herein.

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Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available

Thank you

Reply:

I am advised that a total of 149 companies have been approved under the Black Industrialist Scheme (BIS) since inception to 31 January 2020, supporting 22 176 jobs. This excludes the IDC’s programme.

The list of all approved enterprises and projects across all incentives has been published in the 2018/19 which can be accessed from the Department’s website: http://www.thedtic.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2018-2019_Annual_Incentive_Report.pdf

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Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available

Thank you

Reply:

(a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) had on 05 December 2019 issued a Notice of Intention to Issue a Directive in terms of Section 19 (3) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) to UMgungundlovu District Municipality (UMDM); the Notice was alerting the UMgungundlovu District Municipality about the contraventions of polluting water resources and the remedial actions that need to be undertaken.

• A follow up inspection was undertaken on 24 January 2020 to ensure compliance with the issued Notice and it was found that the manholes that were blocked and overflowing were fixed.

• There are still recurrences due to insufficient capacity of the existing system and challenges with aging infrastructure. To rectify this, UMgungundlovu District Municipality has commenced with a project of upgrading the Mpophomeni sewer reticulation system on 1 April 2020. This project is separate from the Mpophomeni WWTW upgrade and will be undertaken in parallel.

(b) The upgrade of Mpophomeni WWTW commenced in January 2020 and will be completed in the course of 2022.

Reply:

1. Yes. The Directive was gazetted. The Director General had a meeting with the CEOs of Performing Arts Institutions and the legal team on the 9th May 2020 to address implementation.

2. Yes, if they have their own content or projects they need to implement. They will bring these to the attention of the Department; some have done so already, for consideration and inclusion in the relief programme of the Department.

3. Not yet, however engagements have been initiated and are ongoing in line with promotion of local content. The DG has held meetings and also wrote letters in this regard to all broadcasters.

Reply:

The Solidarity Fund was created on 23 March 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in South Africa. It is a platform for the general public, civil society and the public and private sector to contribute to the consolidated effort to fund various initiatives.

Ms Gloria Serobe is the Chairperson, Mr Adrian Enthoven serves as the Deputy Chairperson and Ms Nomkhita Nqweni is the interim CEO.

The Fund works closely with government and business, but it is independent of both of them. It is responsible for and controls the funds donated and is accountable for them, with Old Mutual administering the funds on a pro bono basis.

Full governance documentation can be found on the website of the fund at https://www.solidarityfund.co.za/Solidarity_Fund_Governance_Overview_V20200419.1.pdf.

Contributions to the Fund are utilised for four purposes, namely to

• Prevent the spread of the infection by supporting campaigns and communication measures to flatten the curve
• Detect and understand the magnitude of the disease through the supply of testing kits and research
• Care for those in hospital or medical care by ensuring a supply of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and
• Support those whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic through the support of feeding and shelter programmes across the country.

The Honourable Member is encouraged to direct the question of the policies of the Fund to its Chief Executive Officer or to the Chairperson of the Fund.

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