Questions and Replies

Reply:

The Department of Health is in the process of integrating traditional health practitioners as registered health practitioners. This process is at the advanced stage through the establishment of the Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council.

(a) The Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa was appointed in February 2013 to provide for the management and control over the registration, training and conduct of practitioners as mandated by the Traditional Health Practitioners Act 2007(Act No. 22 of 2007). Council appointed the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer in September 2017 to facilitate the registration process and other regulatory mandates. The Department is currently providing assistance in the form of institutional support and capacitating the office of the Registrar for Council to deliver on its mandate.

(b) Registration of Traditional Health Practitioners will start in the next financial year following the appointment of the key staff members and management systems in the office of the registrar.

END.

Reply:

The remuneration of medical practitioners in the Public Health Sector, together with all health professionals including Nurses and other frontline staff, is determined in accordance with the agreements that both organised labour and the State as the employer negotiate and sign at the Public Service Coordination Bargaining Council (PSCBC) and Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council (PHSDSBC). The PSCBC agreements determine those matters that are regulated by uniform rules, norms and standards that apply across the public service such as salaries, leaves and benefits. The PHSDSBC agreements determine those matters that are health sector specific and that do not apply in other sectors.

The PHSDSBC signed Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) Resolutions: viz 2 of 2007; 3 of 2009 and 1 of 2010 etc, whereby individual skills and experiences are recognised and acknowledged to place the said health professionals in the relevant bracket of remuneration.

Apart from remuneration, the performance of Health Professionals is incentivised in accordance with the PMDS system in terms of which they may receive an incentive bonus, and an annual increase.

Based on the above deliberation, it needs to be noted that any salary increases is a subject of negotiations at the Bargaining Council, by parties. Currently, there is a process of consultation between the Department of Health and organised labour on a “token of appreciation” for all essential and frontline employees who are working and will continue to work during the Covid-19 crisis. This process will be concluded in due course.

END.

Reply:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN QUSSYION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NUMBER:

DATE OF PUBLICATIONS: 24 April 2020

687. Ms PT van Damme (DA) to ask the Minister in The Presidency:

1. What total amount has the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) spent on advertising in the past two financial years on (a) community radio stations, (b) community print media entities, (c) community television stations and (d) small commercial publications:

In the past 2 years the GCIS has been in charge of implementing advertising campaigns for 41 client departments and entities. The GCIS has spent the below listed amounts on behalf of these clients.

Total Community Ad spend 2018/2019 & 2019/2020
Community Print	R 8 220 052,13
Community Radio	R 24 742 178.81
Community TV	R 6 299 219.02
Small Commercial Publications	R 137 747.00

(2) what Individual amounts were spent on each specified (a) community radio station, (b) community print media entity, (c) community televi6ion station and (d) small commercial publication;

1. The list of the stations is attached as annexure A
2. It needs to be noted that GCIS has put in place a panel of agencies which represent community publications. This panel was put in place to ensure that the sector is supported and that publications are not left out due to compliance related matters as was the case previously .The below agencies were appointed by the respective publications and GCIS constituted the panel through a tender process. The 6 agencies represent over 200 community newspapers across the country.

COMMUNITY PRINT ENTITIES
R 3 218 500.00	Channelled Energy
R 923 037,34	CNI
R 814 000.00	Eastern Province Community Print Media
R 740 748,00	Gauteng News
R 195 872,16	Mambo
R 1 685 345.00	Spark Media

C) GCIS also books campaign on television stations through intermediaries which the stations have appointed. Below Is the list of the agents.

 

COMMUNITY TV
Mediamark (Cape Town TV)	R 823 408.73
Zallywood (Tshwane and Gau TV)	R 1 455 000.00
Tiso Blackstar (1KZN & Soweto TV)	R 3 920 810.29
Bay TV	R 100 000.00

 

d)

SMALL COMMECIAL PUBLICATIONA
Highbury Safika	R 137 747.00
TOTAL	R 137 747.00

 

(3) On what dates were the specified adverts placed;

The dates for the various placements are attached as annexure B.

(4) What percentage of the GClS’s advertising budget is spent on

(a) Community media – 13% ( R40 399 196.96)

(b) Commercial media – 87% (R399 647 699.76)

DRAFTER OF THE REPLY

Name: Ace Mlisa
Designation: Director: Media Buying
Contacts: 012 473 0287 / 074 8177 927 [email protected]

Recommended / Not recommended

Ms Phumla Williams
Acting Director-General (GCIS)
Date: 21/05/20

Approved/not approved

Hon Jackson Mthembu, MP
Minister in the Presidency
Date: 26/05/2020

Reply:

(a) It is not true that the clinic in Makolokwe ward 29 is dysfunctional. Makolokwe health post is not a fully-fledged clinic and as such it operates for limited number of days. This health post is visited by a mobile clinic twice per week. It is supported by Bethanie clinic which is about 7km away which provides 24 hour services. Due to the small catchment population and its proximity to Bethanie clinic the facility could not be made a fully-fledged clinic. The structure is a health post that was built in 2004-2005 financial year.

(b) The costs for the structure at the time was approximately R 450 000.

(c) The Department is currently investigating the details of the service provider because this facility was built 15 years ago.

END.

Reply:

(1) No, fibroids are common but do not necessarily pose a health problem unless it is associated with any other underlying condition such as infertility or abnormal vaginal bleeding.

(2) Fibroids do not necessarily need treatment. Women are often diagnosed with fibroids when they are investigated for other gynaecological symptoms they are presenting with. The treatment is therefore symptomatic and will range from management of anaemia, surgical intervention to treat infertility and pain management with antibiotics to treat lower abdominal pains.

(3) No, because fibroids were not counted routinely as one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. They are asymptomatic thus it’s not easy to identify and there is no routine screening and management protocol just for fibroids.

END.

Reply:

The scenario of unallocated COVID-19 positive patients was present at the beginning of the epidemic in the country and this was due to the submission of incomplete data by the Laboratories and the information systems processes the data.

The Department has implemented measures to improve the situation and the non-allocation of positive COVID-19 persons is the exception to the rule currently.

Measures include,

1. The strengthening of the information systems for Notifiable Medical Conditions at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has resulted in the quality of reporting.
2. The interactions with the Laboratories has improved the quality and completeness of the data submitted by the laboratories to the NICD.
3. The COVID-19 tracing teams at a district level have been expanded. There are 8446 tracers that follow up with COVID-19 cases, and their contacts.

END.

Reply:

The following table reflects the details in this regard.

KwaZulu-Natal Districts	(a)(i) Serviceable ambulances	(a)(ii) Fully equipped ambulances	In each (aa) district, (bb) local municipality in the public health sector in the Province	(b) Area in square kilometres each ambulance service
ILembe	463	36	36	3 269
Ugu		25	25	4 791
Umzinyathi		43	43	8 652
King Cetswayo		40	40	8 213
Ethekwini		70	70	2 556
Amajuba		23	23	7 102
Uthukela		32	32	11 134
Harry Gwala		48	48	10 386
Umgungundlovu		37	37	9 602
Umkhanyakude		53	53	13 855
Zululand		37	37	14 799

END.

Reply:

1. The total cost to the Department for attending the Public Hearings on the NHI Bill is R841,521.64;

2. (a) The table below gives the provincial breakdown of the cost to the Department for attending the public hearing on the NHI Bill;

(b) The breakdown to municipal level is complex as travel and accommodation was arranged at central locations and in most cases not in the specific locations of where the hearing was conducted. Thus making it difficult to ascribe specific costs to individual municipalities.

Table 1.

DATE	PROVINCE	AIR TRAVEL	ACCOMODATION	GROUND TRANSPORT CAR HIRE	S&T CLAIMS	KILOMETRE CLAIMS	TOTAL
25-29 Oct 2019	Mpumalanga N = 8	35,866.77	44,000.00	12,743.05	66,434.04	5,266.37	164,310.23
1- 4 Nov 2019	Northern Cape N = 6	24,600.00	27,000.00	26,500.00	52,260.00	-	130,360.00
15-19 Nov 2019	Limpopo N = 6	6,756.00	27,439.58	20,696.11	40,313.72	429.24	95,634.65
22-26 Nov 2019	Kwa-Zulu Natal N = 5	2,901.00	10,260.50	31,051.74	41,069.23	429.24	85,711.71
29 Nov-03 Dec 2019	Eastern Cape N = 6	23,449.32	31,029.43	26,872.28	40,324.36	214.62	121,890.01
27 Jan- 01 Feb 2020	Free State & North West N = 5	10,398.52	14,266.10	31,093.05	79,209.78	-	134,967.45
04- 09 Feb 2020	Western Cape N = 6	13,408.32	33,330.00	-	39,982.88	-	86,721.20
21-23 Feb 2020	Gauteng N = 6	-	-	20,000.00	-	1,926.39	21,926.39
	Total	117,379.93	187,325.61	168,956.23	359,594.01	8,265.86	841,521.64

N = Number of Participants

END.

Reply:

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

b) As announced by government, employers who cannot pay their employees during the lockdown can apply to access financial assistance from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) through the Covid-19 Temporary Employer Employee Relief Scheme. This will apply to public transport operators who contribute to the UIF.

c) A Relief scheme for taxis is also under consideration and discussions by the National Treasury.

Reply:

1. According to the ICASA’s State of ICT Sector in South Africa 2019, the penetration of smartphones countrywide is 81, 72% as at the end of September 2018, compared to 43, 5% in September 2016 and 74, 2% in September 2017.

ICASA recorded smartphones subscriptions at 46, 9 million as at 30 September 2018. According to ICASA that total number of 4G/LTE devices in 2018, was 12 644 364 million countrywide with GP being the highest at 4 304 758; KwaZulu-Natal at 1 859 095; Western Cape at 1 562 239; Limpopo 1 532 666; Mpumalanga at 1 310 633; Eastern Cape at 745 272; North West at 664 362; Free State at 444 639; and Northern Cape at 220 700.

The data does not into account socio-economic factors.

(2) (a) The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) is a body which commissions and oversees the delivery of radio and television audience measurement research for broadcasters. According to the latest BRC TAMS report for the period July 2018 to June 2019: 14 577 947 television households.

(b) The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa (BRC) is a body which commissions and oversees the delivery of radio and television audience measurement research for broadcasters. The BRC RAM™ figures released in February 2020, and covering the period January 2019 to December 2019, reveal that radio reach countrywide is:

1. 92% weekly with 37.5 million listeners listening at any given time during the week.
2. 73% daily (Monday to Friday) with 29.9 million listeners, on average each weekday.

The data does not take into account socio-economic factors.

 

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

Yes, the department purchased personal protective equipment as follows:

	(b) Name of supplier	(c) Monetary value	(d) Branding that appeared on the equipment
(a) Date purchased				(e)(i) how was the purchased equipment distributed?	(e) (ii) where was the purchased equipment distributed?
18/03/2020	BARRS Pharmaceutical Industries	99,311.09	none	Supplier delivered to NDoH office in Pretoria	Collected by departmental staff for use in offices, NDoH clinic, entrances, at meetings, etc.
18/03/2020	Unicore Holdings (Pty) Ltd	353,527.82	none	Supplier delivered to NDoH office in Pretoria	Couriered to all ports of entry
30/03/2020	Mr. First Aid (Pty) Ltd	1,342,952.75	none	Supplier delivered directly to the site	The Ranch Hotel
TOTAL	1,795,791.66

Yes, the Entities purchase personal protective equipment as follows:

Public Entities	(a) the date on which the equipment was purchased	(b) the name of the supplier where the equipment was purchased	(c) the monetary value of the purchase	(d) the branding that appeared on the purchased equipment, including the branding of any political party	(e)(i) how and (ii) where was the purchased equipment distributed
Council for Medical Schemes (CMS)	March 2020	Rentokil Initial	R25196.75	Supplier name	Fixture to all /CMS offices
	March 2020	Rentokil Initial	R12725.00	None	Still to be distributed to all staff at CMS offices
	March 2020	House of Clean	R3875.00	None	To cleaning staff at CMS offices
	March 2020	House of Clean	R450.00	None	To cleaning staff at CMS offices
	March 2020	Roterteck	R575.00	None	To security guard at CMS offices
	April 2020	Rentokil Initial	R17250.00	None	CMS offices
	April 2020	Takealot	R525.00	None	To cleaning staff at CMS offices
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)	07/02/2020	Inqaba Biotechnical Industries	R 8527.71	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	10/02/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R1518.00	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	13/02/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R3167.10	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	13/02/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R577.88	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	14/02/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R143.52	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	19/02/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R683.10	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	26/03/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R1242.00	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	06/04/2020	Inqaba Biotechnical Industries	R14453.58	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	07/04/2020	Promed Technologies	R57856.50	None	SAMRC KZN Office
	09/04/2020	Mzansi Medical And Laboratory Supplies	R12793.75	None	SAMRC KZN Office
	14/04/2020	Laborem Lab Supplies	R1725.00	None	SAMRC Cape Town Office
	15/04/2020	Mzansi Medical and Laboratory Supplies	R40664.00	None	SAMRC KZN Office
	15/04/2020	Mzansi Medical and Laboratory Supplies	R99484.20	None	SAMRC KZN Office
	16/04/2020	Mzansi Medical and Laboratory Supplies	R31567.50	None	SAMRC KZN Office
	17/04/2020	Mzansi Medical and Laboratory Supplies	R58885.74	None	All SAMRC Offices
	20/04/2020	Axiology Labs	R36542.40	None	All SAMRC Offices
	23/04/2020	Mzansi Medical and Laboratory Supplies	R90907.50	None	SAMRC KZN Office
	23/04/2020	Mzansi Medical and Laboratory Supplies	R16882.00	None	All SAMRC Offices
	24/04/2020	Lasec Sa	R32457.60	None	All SAMRC Offices
National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)	2020/04/17	Abompetha (Pty) Ltd	R17 465 000	None	All items will be distributed across the country, to all NHLS laboratories and offices
	2020/04/17	Alfonzo Business Enterprise	R44 700 000	None
	2020/04/21	B2P Group (Pty) Ltd	R436 000	None
	2020/04/03	Baitsekago Projects (Pty) Ltd	R56 855 900	None
	2020/04/06	Bitz Medical Supplies	R23 700 000	None
	2020/04/20	Boitumelojwarona Projects (Pty) Ltd	R874 000	None
	2020/04/17	Bugatti Security Projects(Pty) Ltd	R17 832 500	None
	2020/04/15	Dayseven Group	R2 500 000	None
	2020/04/10	Feliham (Pty) Ltd	R14 475 000	None
	2020/04/24	First Garment Rental (Johannesburg)	R150 000	None
	2020/04/08	Harvest Medical Hygiene	R14 750 000	None
	2020/04/20	Hlakabele Trading & Projects (Pty) Ltd	R30 000	None
	2020/04/09	Incapeace Trading & Project 159 cc	R15 299 750	None
	2020/03/27	JD Strategic Investments cc	R33 880 000	None
	2020/03/26	Joritans Logistics	R6 999 000	None
	2020/04/06	Kgodumo Mokone Trading Enterprise	R35 625 000	None
	2020/04/16	KNO Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd	R1 225 000	None
	2020/03/18	Labex (Pty) Ltd	R2 415 000	None
	2020/04/15	Les and Sons (Pty) Ltd	R32 230 000	None
	2020/04/17	Makgale Makgale Developments (Pty) Ltd	R30 000	None
	2020/04/06	Mantso Projects and supplies	R26 520 044	None
	2020/04/24	Medkem	R132 000	None
	2020/04/20	Mok Plus One	R17 850 000	None
	2020/04/15	Mulalo Business Enterprise cc	R13 500 000	None
	2020/04/06	Neneketso Trading (Pty) Ltd	R4 730 000	None
	2020/04/15	Noko Health Care cc	R8 585 355	None
	2020/04/14	Nu-Psyc Market cc	R13 800 000	None
	2020/04/14	Oak Medical And Laboratory Supplies CC	R5 769 000	None
	2020/03/25	Ongumame Medical Solutions	R15 854 000	None
	2020/04/09	Persto (Pty)Ltd	R15 065 000	None
	2020/04/17	Pharmaways Health (Pty) Ltd	R1 771 570	None
	2020/04/17	Phumelele Occupational Health and Medical services (Pty) Ltd	R1 331 484	None
	2020/04/09	Reitumetse M Trading Projects cc	R34 405 000	None
	2020/04/09	Rombot Labs (Pty) Ltd	R619 200	None
	2020/04/09	Seila Business Enterprise cc	R6 206 500	None
	2020/04/14	Setesign (Pty) Ltd	R16 015 000	None
	2020/03/24	Sinawe Medical and surgical supplies (Pty) Ltd	R 25 000 000	None
	2020/03/24	Splendid Marketing and Communication	R21 250 000	None
	2020/04/08	Stripform Packaging (Pty) Ltd	R381 060	None
	2020/04/15	Therapy on the Go	R6 000 000	None
	2020/04/06	Thula Sizwe Trading cc	R7 500 000	None
	2020/04/14	Tiki Healthcare	R741 500	None
	2020/04/15	Tripharma (Pty)Ltd	R8 212 110	None
	2020/03/24	Tshimologo Omolemo Projects (Pty) Ltd	R8 568 000	None
	2020/04/15	Xopam Services (Pty) Ltd	R400 000,00	None
	2020/04/03	Zanenza holding (Pty) Ltd	R20 755 000,00	None
	2020/03/20	Zans African Medical	R51 492,00	None
Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC)	31/03/2020	Libera Management Services	R15 585.92	Branding name called KPRG Cleanquip	The service providers delivered the purchased equipment at the OHSC offices in Pretoria
	22/04/2020	the ViSS (PTY) LTD	R95 313.96	Gloves - Branding name called Triple – D
				Thermometer - Branding name called LEPU
				Blood pressure monitor - Branding name called Rossmax Monitoring
				Disposable sheets - Branding name called Rossmax Monitoring
				Medical waste plastics - Branding name called Rossmax Monitoring
				Sanitizer holders - Branding name called Rossmax Monitoring
				Disposable pillowcases - Branding name called Rossmax Monitoring
				Disposable cups – Branding name called Cupmates
				Pedal bins - Branding name called Rossmax Monitoring
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)	March 2020	Dischem	R600	None	Distributed at SAHPRA Office for use by staff
	April 2020	City Fashions Manufacturers	R13,800	None	Distributed at SAHPRA Office for use by staff
	April 2020	South Collection	R960	None	Distributed at SAHPRA Office for use by staff

 

END.

Reply:

a)  (i) The Department supplied the personal protective equipment to Tweelaagte clinic for healthcare workers on the 29th of April 2020 as follows:

• Thirty-five (35) Masks N95,
• One hundred and fifty (150) Surgical masks,
• Two hundred and two (202) boxes of gloves and,
• One hundred and thirty (130) Plastic aprons.

(ii) Sanitizers supplied to the clinic for healthcare workers are follows;

• one (1) X 5 Litre of sanitizer,
• thirty (30) sachets of biocide and,
• five (5) X 500 ml of hand cleanser.

b) The Department does not have Lonely Park Hospital in Moses Kotane Municipality.

END.

Reply:

Yes. It is imperative to ensure that as the Country is responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are sufficient skilled health professionals to attend to the patient continuum from screening services to hospitalisation. In accordance with the South African Regulations, consideration is first given to South African Citizen health professionals that are available and if numbers are insufficient, foreign nationals are considered in a systematic order.

First is through Government-to-Government Agreements looking at required skills from foreign nationals. In this process the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is engaged to check the quality of training and skills of these foreign nationals.

In the same spirit, individual foreign nationals who wish to practice their medical trade in South Africa are given an opportunity in accordance with the Immigration Act on condition that they fulfil all the requirements as outlined by the HPCSA.

South Africa has since approached China, Cuba and Russia through existing Government-to-Government agreements for assistance.

To date the Republic of Cuba has availed 187 Medical Specialists (i.e. Biostatistics, Epidemiologists, Family Physicians, Health Technologists) where the Country is unable to produce enough, who will be assisting in the response to Covid-19.

In all other cases, foreign health professionals who wish to assist during Covid-19, such health professionals must first meet the HPCSA requirements to be considered.

END.

Reply:

Date	Employee Submissions	Total Number of Employees	% Compliance
28-Mar-18	3045	3578	85.1
31-Mar-19	3402	3,460	98.3
02-Mar-20	1836	3,039	60.4

2. Refer to annexures A and B.

3. Refer to annexures A and B.

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

(1) I am advised by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) of the following:

The PIC, on behalf of its client, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), acquired a 60% undivided share in a property development in the City of Matlosana (Klerksdorp), named the N12 Development. A consortium approached the PIC for funding to buy the land. Since vacant land is not income generating, an investment of this nature by the PIC was impermissible as it would not generate cash flows to service debt. The PIC decided to participate as an equity investor, and acquired the undivided share and will use the development to grow the GEPF’s investment portfolio.

The development consists of two sites on the northern and southern sides of the N12 between Klerksdorp and Stilfontein of approximately 426.5ha and 979ha, respectively. 90% of the land has approval for the establishment of a township consisting of Business Rights (retail, office, car dealerships, etc.), Residential (low and medium density), Industrial, a school and a hospital.

The PIC records that it conducted a full due diligence process on the acquisition of the land. The due diligence was done by independent service providers and included the following:

• Land Valuations; and
• Town Planning.

Further to this, the PIC conducted Legal-, Risk and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) evaluations.

The Valuator used the comparable sales method of valuation that incorporated various development models. The Valuator concluded that the land be valued at an average of R2100/ha with a combined total of R2.010 billion for both portions of land. The PIC acquired a 60% undivided share in the development at a purchase price of R510 million (excluding VAT) – well below the R1.2 billion valuation for a 60% share, in terms of the independent market evaluation.

An amount of R306 million of the purchase price is being retained in an escrow account, to ensure that the developer can contribute their 40% of the development costs, as and when needed.

Isago@N12Development (PTY) Ltd., the co-owner and developer, entered into an agreement with the South African National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA) in terms of which SANMVA acquired a 1% shareholding in the investment. That shareholding and their 40% undivided share was transferred from Isago@N12Develoment (Pty) Ltd. to Isago Holdings (Pty) Ltd .

2) From the information recorded and provided by the PIC, as set out above, I have no basis to suspect any impropriety with the transaction.

Reply:

(a) Yes, the Minister did attend training on media.

(i) This was an in-house training conducted by the GCIS.

(ii) There were no financial implications.

(iii) One session.

(b) Yes, the Deputy Minister did attend training on media.

(i) This was an in-house training conducted by the GCIS.

(ii) There were no financial implications.

(iii) One session.

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

(a)(i) One judgement was delivered against the Department during the year 2017/2018.

(b)(i) None

(a)(ii) One judgment was delivered against the Department during the year 2018/2019.

(b)(ii) None

(b) The Department has two judgements, meaning that the matters have been finalised through court proceeding or arbitration, for the financial years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 and no court orders.

(b)(i) Both judgments, one issued by the Labour Court in Paris (France) and one award issued by the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa, were implemented.

(b)(ii) The Department has no judgment or order that awaits implementation.

(c) Judgment issued against the Department during 2017/20

In the matter between Ms Terry Crawford (“Ms Crawford”) and the Republic of South Africa (Paris Mission), Ms Crawford instituted legal proceeding in the Labour Court (Paris) for compensation for the termination of her employment contract, psychological harassment, the payment of her leave credits and reimbursement of cost incurred for the litigious matter, amounting to 513 416.48 Euro. The Labour Court found that Crawford was not dismissed without actual or serious basis as she claimed.

Crawford was employed as a switchboard operator by the Embassy on 21 January 1991. During 1999 the Embassy opened a new section to represent the Department of Communications and Ms Crawford was employed as an Administrative Assistant to support the official seconded to the Embassy. Subsequently, the Department took a decision to close the Communications Section which resulted in the official seconded to the Embassy returning to South Africa. Ms Crawford’s position became redundant and the Embassy offered her an alternative position as Accounts Clerk. Ms Crawford was dissatisfied with the position offered to her and instituted legal proceedings where she cited, amongst others, unilateral termination of her employment contract on 19 September 2012. During the hearing Crawford disclosed confidential information and was dismissed on 11 August 2014, after she failed to attend a disciplinary enquiry.

On 10 July 2017 the Labour Court (Paris) ordered that Crawford be paid an amount of 16 252.57 Euros as compensation, representing the minimum amount to be paid for the termination of the contract, instead of the 513 416.48 which Crawford claimed.

The judgment was furnished to the Department on 8 March 2018, the date on which Crawford’s’ legal representatives furnished the Department’s legal representative, with same. Payment in the amount of R236 891.77 was made on 28 March 2018.

Judgment issued against the Department during 2018/2019

Following a procurement process, the Department of Communications (DoC) entered into an agreement Draft FCB Africa (FCB), who was the successful bidder to conceptualise, develop and implement a comprehensive three-year public awareness strategy for Broadcasting Digital Migration on 24 February 2009. The effective duration of the agreement was from 1 November 2008 for a period of three years, same to terminate on 31 October 2011. The initial total price tendered for was R399,078,495.84 but the evaluation committee removed certain items not required and brought the tender price down to an amount of R282,500,000.00.

The DoC, terminated the contract on 3 May 2010 and withdrew the termination notice on 30 June 2010, indicating that “the department intends to review the contract for the sake of progress of the matter”. Thereafter FCB stopped rendering services to the former DoC due to payment delays after it failed to submit signed off timesheets of consultants that worked on the project. FCB instituted court proceeding against the DoC during December 2011 and the matter remained dormant for a period of almost three years, whereafter same was subjected to arbitration. On the advice of SC, the Director-General appealed the arbitration award issued on 30 September 2017.

On 4 June 2018, the Office of the State Attorney informed the Department that the Appeals Panel has now concluded the appeal and issued a final arbitration award against the Minister of Communications and the Director-General of DoC ordering them to pay to FCB Africa an amount of R45,064,990.84.

The Department notified National Treasury of the award on 5 June 2018 and on the advice of National Treasury, a meeting was held with FCB Africa on 12 June 2018, wherein the Department explained that it lacked the funding to satisfy the award and requested indulgence to execute the award on or before 31 January 2019, after the budgetary adjustment processes of Government has been concluded. Payment of an amount of R18 940 000.00 was made on 7 February 2019, and the balance of R26 572 515.51 was paid on 3 April 2019.

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

a) Tenders for pharmaceuticals are awarded at a National level. Provinces, as participants to the contract, procure pharmaceuticals using the National contract. The contract information for all pharmaceuticals are available on the Department of Health’s website. The contract details for psychiatric medicines is attached as Annexure A.

b) The medicine selection process is an evidence-based clinical peer review process aimed at determining which medicines are most appropriate for use in South Africa. The Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List available as an application for your cell phone provides guidance to clinical practitioners on the safe and appropriate use of medicines for specific indications. There are chapters that are dedicated to psychiatry in the Standard Treatment Guidelines.

In preparation for the award of tenders, forecasting is done in collaboration with provinces using a defined methodology. The tender forecast is enriched using epidemiological data often in consultation with content experts such as psychiatrists. Furthermore, in accordance with the conditions of contract, suppliers are obliged to maintain two months of buffer. Additionally, there are contract managers who actively manage supplier performance to ensure that medicines are available.

Electronic stock management systems have also been implemented at facilities that provide the necessary information to managers at appropriate levels to intervene should the need arise.

END.

Reply:

1. Yes. The Department of Health identified the role that Traditional Health Practitioners could play to render assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Realising the need to have the Traditional Health Practitioners incorporated into the interventions with regards to the Covoid-19 response, the Department developed and approved the guidelines for Traditional Health Practitioners in dealing with the practice of the Traditional Health Practitioners during Covid-19 lockdown. The guidelines were developed in consultation with key representatives of the traditional health practitioners as well the Ministerial Advisory Committee. These guidelines allow Traditional Health Practitioners to continue with the provision of their essential services to the majority of South Africans within this period of Covid-19 and lockdown.

2. Yes. Traditional Health Practitioners were engaged during the development of the guidelines and engagement process is ongoing with regards to related matters. It is through the successful engagement that a product in the form of the guidelines was issued by the Department.

END.

Reply:

(a) Yes

(b) No

(a)(i) Mr Thabiso Kenneth Thukani

(a)(ii) 29 August 2019

(a)(iii) The duties of the special adviser are the following:

(i) Provide strategic advice to the Minister in the development of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy and regulatory framework, including monitoring implementation as well as its impact on the wellbeing of the citizens of South Africa;

(ii) Provide specialist advice to the Ministry in executing the mandates of Departments of Communications (DoC), Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) and its State-Owned Entities (SOEs);

(iii) Assist with developing appropriate relationships with the sector, academia, caucus, and civil society groups in order to facilitate progress of policy and legislation within the Minister's portfolio of responsibilities;

(iv) Review submissions going to the Minister, drawing attention to any aspect which has policy/political implications, and ensuring that sensitive political issues are addressed accordingly;

(v) Speechwriting, thought leadership and related research, including ensuring that relevant overarching government policies are reflected in material prepared by the Department.

(a)(iv) Compensation level III

(a)(v) Salary level 15

(a)(vi) 12 months

(a)(vii) To advise the Executive Authority on the exercise or performance of the Executive Authority’s powers and duties, and on the development of policy that will promote the Department’s objectives.

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

1.(a) No furniture was ordered/or purchased for the Minister.

(b) No furniture was ordered/or purchased for Deputy Minister.

(c) No furniture was ordered/or purchased for Officials in the Ministry.

2. (a) (i) N/A

(ii) N/A

(b) N/A

(c) N/A

3. None

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

The Department received donations as follows;

The Department distributed the donations as follows;

The Entities received donations as follows;

Public Entities	(a)	(b) the name of the donor	c) the monetary value of the donation	(d) the branding that appeared on the donated equipment, including the branding of any political party	e)(i) how	e(ii) where was the donated equipment distributed
	Whether his entity reporting to him received any donation of personal protection equipment since 1 February 2020;	if so, in each case, what are the relevant details of (a) the date on which the donation was received
Council for Medical Schemes (CMS)	No donations of personal protection equipment received since 1 February 2020	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)	No donations of personal protection equipment received since 1 February 2020	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)	01 April 2020 -	207 Sansure Biotech testing kits	Jack Ma foundation	Price not known	All the items listed had no branding	All items will be distributed across the country	To all NHLS laboratories and offices.
		200 FFP masks	Gift of the Givers	R 18 380
		36 Dermarub Sanitizers		R 4 345,20
		200 Kimberley Clark Masks		R 18 380
		200 Curity Gloves		R 1 014
		Face Shields – 3 744	Right to Care	R 374 400
	09 April 2020	KN95 - 100 000 masks	Orlando Pirates/Kaizer Chiefs and Multichoice	R 7 883 000
		Surgical masks – 200 000 items		R 4 060 000
		Gloves – 100 000 items		R 507 000
		Protective overalls – 10 000 items		R 1 613 300
		Wipes – 10 000 items		R 5 000 000
		Shoe covers – 100 000 items		R 579 000
Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC)	No donations of personal protection equipment received since 1 February 2020	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)	25 March 2020	3 X 25L hand and surface sanitizer	CSIR (by virtue of being a tenant)	Unknown	None	Utilised by SAHPRA Staff	At SAHPRA Offices
	14 April 2020	17L hand sanitizer	Mintek	Unknown	Mintek	Utilised by SAHPRA Staff	At SAHPRA Offices

END.

Reply:

1. The Department did not issue any credit card issue to:

(a) Minister

(b) Ministry staff

(c) Deputy Minister

(i) (aa) N/A

(bb) N/A

(ii) (aa) N/A

(bb) N/A

(cc) N/A

(2) (a) (i) N/A

(ii) N/A

(b) N/A

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

At present, no formal proposals have been made to the Board of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the PIC management or to any client of the PIC, with respect to writing down Eskom’s debt, and therefore the Board cannot comment on this matter. However, it should be stated that as an asset manager, the PIC’s investment function is governed by specific terms in each of its clients’ investment mandates that are designed to further each client’s investment goals. In discharging its fiduciary duty to clients, the PIC assesses any investment proposal in line with client mandates. Investment decisions by the PIC, are based on the mandate-fit and the merits of each investment proposal, and aim to generate risk-adjusted financial and social returns for its clients.

Reply:

(a) SASSA currently pays grants to 579 beneficiaries in Namibia, broken down as follows:

     59 disability grants

     520 grants for older persons.

However, at this stage, SASSA is unable to confirm how many of the above beneficiaries carry dual citizenship as the grant is paid on the South African identity number. A review project is planned for the 2020/21 financial year to determine this and to confirm whether approval was obtained to retain the South African citizenship prior to taking Namibian citizenship as is required in terms of the South African Citizenship Act, Act 88 of 1995.

2. SASSA does not service any pay points in Namibia. Social grants are paid through direct deposit into the beneficiaries’ personal bank accounts or in cash through Nampost at the post office in Walvis Bay.

Reply:

1. The 2017 White Paper on NHI states that NHI will cover comprehensive health care services that are determined by The Benefits Advisory Committee. These services will be delivered through certified and accredited health care providers located closest to the covered population. South Africans will be able to access personal health care services to achieve allocative efficiency, affordability and sustainability using a Primary Health Care (PHC) Approach. Currently there is no package of benefits that is being offered through NHI to intended beneficiaries. The reasons for this are as follows:

a) The package of health care benefits must first be determined by the Benefits Advisory Committee as outlined in Clauses 4(1) and 7(1) of the NHI Bill. The NHI Fund, in consultation with the Minister must purchase health care services, determined by the Benefits Advisory Committee, for the benefit of users. Clause 6 (a) further outlines that intended beneficiaries can receive necessary quality health care services free at the point of care from an accredited health care provider or health establishment upon proof of registration with the Fund. Clause 25(5)(a) of the Bill further outlines that the Benefits Advisory Committee must determine and review the health care service benefits and types of services to be reimbursed at each level of care at primary health care facilities and at district, regional and tertiary hospitals.

b) The intended beneficiaries of NHI are yet to be concluded but as outlined in Clause 4 (4) of the Bill, must be registered as a user of the Fund as provided for in Section 5 of the Bill, and must present proof of such registration to the health care service provider or health establishment in order to secure the health care service benefits to which he or she is entitled. Currently this has not materialised as it is still awaiting the approval of the Bill by Parliament;

Therefore, the package of benefits can only be determined and offered once the Benefits Advisory Committee has been established for intended beneficiaries that have been registered with the NHI Fund.

2. The National Department of Health is undertaking preparatory work with specific reference the development of the NHI Information Platform as outlined in section 40 of the NHI Bill and section 57 (2) (iii) on transitional arrangements. This is also guided by section 74 (1) and (2) of the National Health Act, that stipulates how coordination of the Health Information Systems must be undertaken. Further to the above the integration of existing and future health records of all patients will take into account the provision of the Protection of Personal Information Act number 4 of 2013.

The integration of patient records will require a digital platform that uses a Health Normative Standards Framework for Interoperability supported by a Health Information Exchange. Interventions to achieve this are outlined in Pillar 9 of the Presidential Health Compact and include:

(a) The development of procedures and systems for the identity verification of users of the health system.

(b) Establishment of a patient registry through the implementation of a Master Patient Index.

3. The preamble of the NHI Bill states that the objective of NHI is to ensure continuity and portability of financing and services throughout the Republic.

Section 40 (6) (b) of the NHI Bill states that the information platform and architecture must facilitate the portability and continuity of health care available to users. This will be facilitated by the development and implementation of a shared Electronic Health Record (EHR).

The key components of a shared Electronic Health Record, that also include accurate medicine records, are the Master Patient Index, Interoperability Norms and Standards and the Health Information Exchange as referred to in the response( 2) above.

4. The country will achieve the integration of records by the creation and implementation of a digital platform and architecture for a shared Electronic Health Record.

The Department has published the Digital Health Strategy 2019-2024 which guides intervention towards the integration of Health Records. The focus areas include:

• a complete Electronic Health Record, which will improve patient management
• the digitisation of health systems business processes
• establishing an integrated platform and architecture for the health sector information system, which will ensure interoperability and linkage of existing patient-based information systems
• the development of digital health knowledge workers

END.

Reply:

Yes, measures are in place to screen and respond to persons suspected of Corona Virus (COVID-19) from entering the Republic at border posts, this includes air, sea and land ports of entry.

	(a) Port of Entry	Screening Conducted
Land Ports
1	Kopfontein	Yes
2	Ramatlabama	Yes
3	Skilpadshek	Yes
4	Groblersbrug	Yes
5	Nakop	Yes
6	Vioolsdrift	Yes
7	Beitbridge	Yes
8	Ficksburg	Yes
9	Maseru	Yes
10	Caledonspoort	Yes
11	Van Rooyensgate	Yes
12	Qasha’s Nek	Yes
13	Lebombo	Yes
14	Kosi Bay	Yes
15	Oshoek	Yes
16	Mahamba	Yes
17	Mananga	Yes
18	Jeppes Reef	Yes
19	Golela	Yes
b(i) Airports
20	OR Tambo International Airport	Yes
21	Cape Town International Airport	Yes
22	King Shaka International Airport	Yes
23	Lanseria International Airport	Yes
24	Port Elizabeth International Airport	Yes
25	Waterkloof Airforce Base	Yes
26	Gateway International Airport	Yes
27	Pilansberg International Airport	Yes
28	Bram Fischer International Airport	Yes
29	Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport	Yes
30	Upington International Airport	Yes
b(ii) Seaports
31	Durban Harbour	Yes
32	Richardsbay Harbour	Yes
33	Cape Town Harbour	Yes
34	Port Elizabeth Harbour	Yes
35	Port of Nqcura	Yes
36	East London Harbour	Yes

END.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MINISTER

Measures are in place to screen and respond to persons suspected of Corona Virus (COVID-19) from entering the Republic at border posts, this includes air, sea and land ports of entry.

The department has employed officials as Port Health Officials (PHOs) deployed at ports of entry to early detect a traveller who may be infected with COVID-19. The measures implemented to ensure early detection are as follows:

1. Land Borders

Health officials conduct an interview with operator to determine if a sick passenger is onboard. If sick passenger/s is onboard/identified, health officials conducts interview with sick passenger . If found that passenger/s displayed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and consistent with the case definition, passenger/s are kept in isolation and transported to a designated health facility by ambulance.

2. Airports

Screening measures for airports are three, done in a three-phased approach :

• The recieval and analyses of documentation signed by the conveyance operator, declaring if any sick passenger/s are onboard the aircraft, which is in line with requirements of the International Health Regulations (2005).
• The interview of crew members before disembarkation to confirm whether any sick passengers are onboard.
• In line with WHO and International Civil Aviation Authority (IATA), pilots must inform the port of entry of arrival beforehand of any sick passenger onboard.

If any sick passenger/s are onboard an aircraft, PHO’s will be notified and screening of travellers conducted before disembarkation. Screening includes conducting interviews and medical assessment of sick traveller/s and identifying contacts. The sick passenger/s is/are then transported to a designated health facility by ambulance if found to be displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

3. Sea Ports

Ship operators apply for pratique(permission granted to a ship to enter a port after declaring a clean bill of health of all on board) to port health before docking on the Republic’s shore. If the Captain indicates there is a sick passenger onboard, Port Health notifies Emergency Medical Services and the designated health facility. On arrival prior to disembarkation, health officials conduct interviews and medical assessment of sick traveller/s and contacts identified. The sick passenger is then transported to a designated health facility by ambulance if found to be displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

Though the Health measures have been increased to deal with the current Public Health Emergency of International Concern it is important to note that Port Health Services are rendered on an ongoing basis even outside of Public Health Emergency of International Concern, what has been provided for is an increase of existing measures through addition of resources and modification in operational screening activities.

END.

Reply:

1. The following table reflects the details in this regard.

1	MTS CREATIONS PROJECTS (PTY)LTD
2	PHETHEDI CONSTRUCTION
3	SHELA CIVIL
4	CAPS M TRADING & PROJECTS
5	NAKISENI BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
6	MAMPULANE TRADING CC
7	SEROMAKO TRADING ENTERPRISE
8	MAKGABO GENERAL PROJECTS
9	KSR TRADING ENTERPRISE (PTY) LTD
10	MJM GROUP (PTY) LTD
11	MADAKALONI TRADING (PTY)LTD
12	HAPPY & HERBAT TRADING 48
13	MPOLOFU GENERAL TRADING 88
14	NARE A NGWATO TRADING ENTERPRISE
15	KAGISHANO TRADING
16	MATSHUKUDU TRADING ENTERPRISE
17	PYROCA 101
18	SENATLA TRADING ENTERPRISE
19	SOMPHETE KE GO FETE TRADING PROJECTS
20	JULY PENCIL TRADING TRADING & PROJECTS (PTY)LTD
21	MAUPA CLEANING SERVICES
22	MAKHUDU OFFICE TECH
23	KEKANA SUPPLIERS
24	TSHINDIPHO TRADING ENTERPRISE
25	SPRING FOREST AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
26	BATSHOROMA DISTRIBUTORS
27	POINTER ABLE TRADING (PTY) LTD

2. The following table reflects the details in this regard.

VHEMBE	SILOAM	DONALD FRASER	LOUIS TRICHARDT	HAYANI	MUSINA
SERVICE PROVIDER	KEKANA SUPPLIERS	TSHINDIPHO TRADING ENTERPRISE	SPRING FOREST AGRICULTURAL SERVICES	BATSHOROMA DISTRIBUTORS	POINTER ABLE TRADING (PTY) LTD
ITEM DESCRIPTION	PRICE
BREAD
White Bread (700g) sliced	R17.67	R 18.85	R25.13	R22.73	R18.18
Brown Bread (700g) sliced	R13.30	R 13.61	R24.08	R22.73	R20.64
CONFECTIONERY
White long bread rolls (± 150mm)	R22.80	R 17.80	R29.47	R21.40	R25.98
Whole wheat, round bread buns	R18.85	R 13.61	R29.47	R21.40	R27.84

MOPANI	KGAPANE	DR CN PHATUDI	MAPHUTHA MALATJI
SERVICE PROVIDERS	TOSSEL TRADE 1003	THEPE GENERAL TRADING	VHUTHU TRADING ENTERPRISE & SECURITY SERVICES
ITEM DESCRIPTION	PRICE
BREAD
White Bread (700g) sliced	R22.67	R 18.00	R25.85
Brown Bread (700g) sliced	R22.67	R 17.00	R22.48
CONFECTIONERY
White long bread rolls (± 150mm)	R11.87	R 17.00	R28.10
Whole wheat, round bread buns	R12.19	R 20.00	R28.10

WATERBERG	VOORTREKKER	GEORGE MASEBE	THABAZIMBI	WITPOORT	ELLISRAS	FH ODENDAAL	WARMBATH	MOKOPANE
SERVICE PROVIDERS	MTS CREATIONS PROJECTS (PTY)LTD	PHETHEDI CONSTRUCTION	SHELA CIVIL	CAPS M TRADING & PROJECTS	NAKISENI BUSINESS ENTERPRISE	MAMPULANE TRADING CC	SEROMAKO TRADING ENTERPRISE	MAKGABO GENERAL PROJECTS
ITEM DESCRIPTION	PRICE
BREAD
White Bread (700g) sliced	R15.71	R 16.88	R18.85	R18.85	R20.07	R19.37	R14.24	R14.13
Brown Bread (700g) sliced	R15.71	R 14.94	R12.56	R18.85	R20.07	R14.45	R12.91	R13.61
CONFECTIONERY
White long bread rolls (± 150mm)	R16.75	R 16.51	R19.89	R18.85	R10.78	R19.74	R17.13	R13.93
Whole wheat, round bread buns	R19.89	R 16.66	R24.08	R18.85	R21.57	R20.00	R17.13	R16.80

CAPRICORN	MANKWENG	PIETERSBURG	SESHEGO	FW KNOBEL	HELENE FRANZ	LEBOWAKGOMO	ZEBEDIELA	BOTLOKWA
SERVICE PROVIDERS	KSR TRADING ENTERPRISE (PTY) LTD	MJM GROUP (PTY) LTD	MADAKALONI TRADING (PTY)LTD	HAPPY & HERBAT TRADING 48	MPOLOFU GENERAL TRADING 88	NARE A NGWATO TRADING ENTERPRISE	KAGISHANO TRADING	MATSHUKUDU TRADING ENTERPRISE
ITEM DESCRIPTION	PRICE
BREAD
White Bread (700g) sliced	R15.67	R 15.69	R12.23	R16.74	R10.84	R14.34	R16.23	R16.75
Brown Bread (700g) sliced	R13.74	R 13.76	R14.00	R15.69	R9.58	R12.75	R14.13	R14.66
CONFECTIONERY
White long bread rolls (± 150mm)	R11.08	R 11.13	R12.65	R15.69	R9.58	R14.01	R15.18	R15.71
Whole wheat, round bread buns	R11.08	R 11.13	R25.51	R18.84	R32.04	R18.42	R19.37	R19.89

SEKHUKHUNE	ST RITAS	JANE FURSE	MECKLENBURG	DILOKONG	GROBLERSDAL	MATLALA
SERVICE PROVIDER	PYROCA 101	SENATLA TRADING ENTERPRISE	SOMPHETE KE GO FETE TRADING PROJECTS	JULY PENCIL TRADING TRADING & PROJECTS (PTY)LTD	MAUPA CLEANING SERVICES	MAKHUDU OFFICE TECH
ITEM DESCRIPTION	PRICE
BREAD
White Bread (700g) sliced	R18.78	R 25.63	R21.38	R18.49	R22.20	R21.54
Brown Bread (700g) sliced	R17.74	R 21.19	R16.09	R19.48	R22.20	R20.21
CONFECTIONERY
White long bread rolls (± 150mm)	R19.79	R 16.23	R27.60	R17.08	R24.71	R25.98
Whole wheat, round bread buns	R22.67	R 21.31	R27.60	R30.75	R24.71	R25.53

(3) Since the inception of the contracts, the department never experienced short supply or additional requirements of bread and as such surcharge or price increase has been experienced to date.

END.

Reply:

1. The Department did not issue any credit card issue to:

(a) Minister

(b) Ministry Staff

(c) Deputy Minister

(2) (a) (i) N/A

(ii) N/A

(b) (i) N/A

(ii) N/A

(c) N/A

(d) N/A

MR J MTHEMBU, MP

ACTING MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Reply:

Directions on e-Commerce were gazetted on 14 May 2020 (gazette no 43321).

The directions provide clarity on what goods may be transacted and the protocols which must be observed by retailers, courier and delivery services used by e-commerce retailers.

A copy of the Directions may be accessed from the Department’s website.

-END-

Reply:

1.	1 (a) (i)	1 (a) (ii)	1 (b)
Shifting of earmarked funds (historic debt)	R1.963 billion		In the process of being written off.
Disbursements with respect to NOCLAR		R4.359 billion	This should be closed out during the 2020/21 financial year, including recoveries.
Disbursements in excess of contract amounts			NSFAS has applied to the Credit Regulator for a waiver to this legislative requirement.
Other	R6 million		The investigation is complete and findings indicate that no was loss incurred but it was rather a compliance matter only.

.

(2) The key performance areas of the Administrator are:

• Finalise the close out of the 2017/18 student funding cycle, including the finalisation of all data exchange and final payments. - Ensure the effective close out of the 2019 funding cycle and provision of accurate data to the Department.
• Ensure effective preparation for, and implementation of, the 2020 student funding cycle in consultation with the Department.
• Ensure that the entity pays adequate attention to both TVET colleges and universities in all aspects of its core business processes.
• Maintain a close and productive working relationship between NSFAS and the universities and TVET colleges.
• Put in place the necessary management and governance controls to ensure that all risks of the 2020 student funding cycle are appropriately managed, with the support of the Department and institutions as necessary.
• Manage the day-to-day work of the entity and steer NSFAS to address its operational challenges fully.
• Oversee the process of appointing new executive staff at NSFAS, in terms of a process agreed with the Department.
• Ensure a smooth transition between the administration and the new executive staff. - Oversee all forensic and other investigations necessary for the effective operation and management of the entity and any follow up required.
• Provide support to the Ministerial Task Team appointed by the Minister.

(3) The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation does not intend to extend the term of office of the Administrator unless conditions dictates otherwise. The process to finalise the appointments of vacant senior executive management posts, including the appointment of the Executive Officer is underway. The terms of reference of the Administrator states that he must ensure a smooth transition between the administration and the new executive staff. The Minister is in the process of initiating the appointment of a new Board in terms of Section 5 of the NSFAS Act 56 of 1999.

Reply:

(a) The number of applications received is 2244,

(b) The number of applications approved across all provinces province is 72

Outcome	EASREN CAPE	FREE STATE	GAUTENG	KWA/ZULU NATAL	MPUMALANGA	Unknown	WESTERN CAPE	Grand Total
Invalid	76	30	803	91	13		148	1161
Unknown	3	3	25	8	2	465	5	511
Partially allow	4	7	234	13			35	293
disallow	2	1	139	28			7	177
Allowed	2	2	49	13			6	72
Withdraw			27					27
Reject			2					2
Accept			1					1
Grand total	87	43	128	153	15	465	201	2244

(c) Unfortunately we cannot provide the rand value at this point of time, as the cases do not show for which period/tax year the request was. An extract for the journals from our core systems would have to be requested and this will take some time.

Reply:

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION:

1. The Department of Science and Innovation has not awarded any goods or services exceeding R500 000 (tenders) at this stage. All the Covid-19 related purchases have been below R500 000, procurement was done through quotations;
2. Not applicable;
3. Not applicable;
4. Not applicable.

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1. Procurement in excess of R500 000 per case is considered as a tender, hence no single tender was awarded in respect of COVID-19 to date;
2. None;
3. Not applicable;
4. Not applicable.

Reply:

(a)(b)(c) The president announced that SARS will fast track VAT refunds and we have not received any specific requests for such.

SARS has since made amendments in terms of the number of returns that we can expect in a specific cycle to allow vendors qualifying for refunds to submit a return monthly instead of every two months thus enabling a quicker waiting period for refunds.

The turnaround time for refunds compared to same period last year has decreased by 4.4 days.

Reply:

 

1 (a)

Taxpayer individual	FY_2015	FY_2016	FY_2017	FY_2018	FY_2019	FY_2020
Current_Year_Return	4 827 959	4 721 183	4 704 719	4 832 388	4 896 582	4 174 319
Old_Year_Return	1 308 214	2 055 927	1 788 207	1 642 393	1 892 757	1 208 070
Total	6 136 173	6 777 110	6 492 926	6 474 781	6 789 339	5 382 389

1 (b)

Tax Type	Actual 2014/15	Actual 2015/2016	Actual 2016/2017	Actual 2017/2018	Actual 2018/2019	Actual 2019/2020
Employees Tax	344 508 431 931	376 176 139 489	410 829 910 456	446 274 167 825	477 503 062 436	518 242 315 966
Employees  Tax Refund	-656 619	-11 780 364	-23 020 983	-0	0	0
ETI Credit Granted Against Payment	-2 450 071 285	-3 999 574 019	-4 595 098 741	-4 095 757 274	-3 564 122 029	-4 150 348 513
ETI Credit- Refunds	-1 492 538	-63 648 080	-61 110 359	-220 788 445	-947 993 912	603 878 868
PAYE	342 056 193 490	372 101 137 025	406 150 680 373	441 957 622 106	472 990 964 494	513 488 088 585
Interest on Overdue Tax: Individual	961 608 288	1 177 316 828	1 378 825 754	1 950 291 288	1 745 876 240	1 539 852 562
PIT Admin Penatly Tax	478 382 997	519 475 641	466 141 781	595 809 471	794 257 165	660 084 696
PIT Assessment Tax	8 904 145 338	10 127 476 560	12 252 686 156	15 404 896 170	13 873 604 107	13 508 246 188
PIT Provisional Tax	21 960 745 346	26 101 480 544	28 640 569 890	29 795 850 581	34 934 982 092	31 337 460 943
PIT Refund	-20 475 084 345	-20 747 184 861	-22 964 837 321	-26 801 336 863	-30 510 886 144	-31 363 927 525
PIT	11 837 797 625	17 178 564 713	19 773 386 258	20 945 510 646	20 837 833 461	15 481 716 864

2 (a)

Taxpayer individual	FY_2015	FY_2016	FY_2017	FY_2018	FY_2019	FY_2020
Companies	909 555	886 304	992 857	1 004 116	1 341 419	1 226 619

2 (b)

Tax Type	Actual 2014/15	Actual 2015/2016	Actual 2016/2017	Actual 2017/2018	Actual 2018/2019	Actual 2019/2020
CIT	186 636 020 665	193 385 299 773	207 027 292 710	220 238 556 048	214 388 388 377 089	214 984 363 608
CIT Admin Penalty	17 316 924	11 524 956	999 163	559 882	951 197	24 433 686
CIT Assessment Tax	10 447 512 425	10 827 296 647	12 198 961 590	11 804 711 753	12 993 743 440	12 758 800 290
CIT Provisional Tax	184 897 124 092	190 587 195 684	204 761 897 589	218 612 829 088	220 838 532 302	217 443 799 717
CIT Refund	-10 732 346 757	-10 759 398 997	-12 993 896 501	-13 587 950 231	-22 389 301 719	-19 324 507 691
Interest on Overdue Tax: Companies	1 698 766 574	2 233 656 821	2 595 530 097	2 826 509 856	2 342 325 589	3 463 834 423
Royalties	304 647 407	455 024 662	463 800 771	581 895 700	602 126 281	618 003 183
Tax Credits Certificates	-	-	-	-	-	-
VAT	261 419 105 799	281 084 824 365	289 077 227 960	297 997 586 561	324 765 977 900	346 747 694 248
Diesel Refund Off Set	-	1 108 025 243	1 274 885 672	860 141 007	1 223 782 365	2 092 452 806
Domestic VAT	286 840 372 013	296 287 812 461	320 111 119 134	335 419 329 227	377 508 869 004	397 188 847 188
VAT on Imports	136 570 055 698	150 744 532 766	149 265 484 253	152 788 760 372	175 184 585 320	179 987 356 577
VAT Refunds	-161 991 321 912	-167 055 546 105	-181 574 261 099	-191 070 644 045	-299 151 258 789	-232 520 962 323

Reply:

1. I am advised by the Director-General that no tenders were awarded. To address the safety of staff and utilizing the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was procured through a quotation process. Masks, gloves and sanitizers were bought to the total value of R188 794.

2. The Department advised that standard supply chain management procedures were followed with no deviation and further that all procurement procedures followed the relevant National Treasury prescripts.  

3.  In light of the above, it seems that no statement is required; but should circumstances require a statement to be made, I do so.

-END-

Reply:

a) We estimate that 492 386 employees will benefit from the tax subsidy of R500 per month. The table below is breakdown per province.

Province	Total Number
EASTERN CAPE	23 658
FREE STATE	12 063
GAUTENG	260 264
KWA-ZULU NATAL	60 586
LIMPOPO	9 390
MPUMALANGA	17 963
NORTH WEST	10 124
NORTHERN CAPE	4 935
WESTERN CAPE	93 403
Grand Total	492 386

b) 10 223 companies have thus far made use of the wage subsidy for employees earning less than R6 500 per month. The table below is a breakdown of this figure per province.

Province	Grand Total
EASTERN CAPE	548
FREE STATE	360
GAUTENG	4 890
KWA-ZULU NATAL	1 144
LARGE BUSINESS CENTRE	192
LIMPOPO	120
MPUMALANGA	258
NORTH WEST	155
WESTERN CAPE	2 556
Grand Total	10 223

Reply:

The number of names added to (a) Part A and (b) Part B of the Child Protection Register in each year since its establishment

Year	2004/5	2005/6	2006/7	2007/8	2008/9
	4 442	2 610	3 593	1 965	3 636

Year	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13
	1 956	1 348	4 474	4 477

Year	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16	2016/17
	3 874	2 879	3 050	7 607

Year	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	Total
	3 206	9 153	7 313	65 583

 

(b) Part B: Persons found unsuitable to work with children

Year	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16
	45	260	212	87	99

Year	2016/17	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	Total
	281	23	509	144	1 660

Reply:

1. (i) An overall average of 137 576 beneficiaries per month. Regional breakdown is illustrated in the table below.

(ii) An average of R 1.44 billion per month or R5.77 billion over the four month period. Regional breakdown is illustrated in the table below.

2. The four-month holiday (non- payment) for skills development levy contributions (1 per cent of monthly payroll) made by employers, began on 1 May 2020 and ends on 31 August 2020

May returns (202005) is only due on June 7, 2020 and is therefore not yet available.

Reply:

The Department started undertaking national cohort studies, including a specific study on NSFAS funded students in the 2016/17 financial year. The database of students who had received NSFAS funding in all previous years of study was mapped to the HEMIS dataset. The NSFAS cohort study considers any student who received NSFAS funding at any point in time during their studies. The NSFAS cohort study published on 13 March 2017 considered all cohorts that entered the public higher education sector, i.e. universities, for the first time from the 2000 to 2014 academic years. This report and subsequent reports show that students who have been funded by NSFAS perform better than the national cohort.  It should be noted that there is insufficient data to determine how the students on the new bursary scheme are performing, as at least 4 years of data would be required for 3-year qualifications and 5 years of data for 4-year qualifications.  This cohort only commenced their studies in the 2018 academic year. It should also be noted that the national cohort includes students funded by NSFAS. 

The 2000 to 2014 first time entering undergraduate cohort studies for public higher education institutions, published in March 2017, shows that the dropout and throughput rates for the 2006 cohort are as follows for the:

• national cohort, 38.2% and 54.4% respectively;  
• DHET NSFAS cohort, 28.5% and 62.5% respectively; and 
• Thuthuka cohort, 10.4% and 85.8% respectively.

The 2000 to 2015 first time entering undergraduate cohort studies for public higher education institutions, published in March 2018, shows that the dropout and throughput rates for the 2007 cohort are as follows for the:

• national cohort, 37.9% and 55.6% respectively; 
• DHET NSFAS cohort, 25.9% and 66.2% respectively; and 
• Thuthuka cohort, 13.0% and 81.2% respectively. 

The 2000 to 2016 first time entering undergraduate cohort studies for public higher education institutions, published in March 2019, shows that the dropout and throughput rates for the 2008 cohort are as follows for the:

• national cohort, 34.6% and 58.0% respectively; 
• DHET NSFAS cohort, 22.4% and 68.9% respectively; 
• Thuthuka cohort, 12.3% and 83.1% respectively; and 
• Funza Lushaka cohort 8.2% and 87.0% respectively

The 2000 to 2017 first time entering undergraduate cohort studies for public higher education institutions, published in March 2020, shows that the dropout and throughput rates for the 2009 cohort are as follows for the:

• national cohort, 31.3% and 61.1% respectively; 
• DHET NSFAS cohort, 22.2% and 69.7% respectively; 
• for the Thuthuka cohort, 11.0% and 84.6% respectively; and 
• Funza Lushaka cohort 8.6% and 86.8% respectively 

It should be noted that the NSFAS cohorts in every cohort study have performed better than the national cohort. These cohorts of NSFAS funded students were from poor families earning up to R1220 000 per annum, and the students in the scheme did not necessarily receive full cost of study funding, as funding was capped and there was an expected family contribution.

In comparison, the Thuthuka cohort are students entering accounting studies and in general would include high performing students from the basic education sector. These students have also received full cost of study funding and tailored 'wrap around' support. 

The Funza Lushaka cohort is also a selected (competitive) cohort and has always been fully funded for all aspects of their study.   

The cohort study published by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on 13 March 2017 did not focus on performance of NSFAS recipients in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. The Department has been working closely with NSFAS to improve the capacity of NSFAS to administer and disburse bursaries to TVET college students and to respond to the uniqueness of the TVET college sector. NSFAS systems and processes require specific enhancements to adequately cater for the TVET college sector, especially the numerous and somewhat shorter academic cycles. This intervention will ultimately enable NSFAS to effectively report on performance of recipients in the TVET college sector with its numerous academic cycles. Notwithstanding this intervention, the Department has started gathering data on performance of NSFAS recipients in TVET colleges. However, this information is not readily available now as its analysis is still being undertaken.

Reply:

1. There is no requirements for the revision of the code of conduct and ethics annually unless there is policy shift or amendment of Legislation that necessitates for such amendment.

(i)Years	(a)What Codes of conduct and ethics have been prepared	(b) What dates were the codes tabled	(b) What dates were comments called for and published in each case
2017/2018	No new code of conduct and ethics was prepared	N/A	N/A
2018/2019	No new code of conduct and ethics was prepared	N/A	N/A
2019/2020	No new code of conduct and ethics was prepared	N/A	N/A
(ii)Since April 2020	No new code of conduct and ethics was prepared	N/A	N/A

(2) 2017/2018

(i)Months	(a)What number of appeals and reviews has been received in each month	(b) what was the nature of the specified appeals and reviews in each case,	(c) what was the outcome in each case	(d) On what date was each appeal and review concluded in each case	(e) what number of (i) revisions have taken place in each month as a result of the appeals	(e)(ii) What number of reviews per month to date in the specified period	(f) what was the nature of the revisions in each instance?
April	1	Appeal was against the decision of the Provincial Registrar who declined the registration of applicant due to incorrect visa submitted.	National Registrar confirmed the decision taken by the Provincial Registrar	7 April 2017	0	0	N/A
May	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
June	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
July	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
August	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
September	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
October	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
November	1	Appeal was against the decision of the Provincial Registrar to charge guide with misconduct.	National Registrar confirmed the decision taken by the Provincial Registrar.	20 December 2017	N/A	N/A	N/A
December	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
January	1	Appeal was against the decision of the Provincial Registrar who declined the registration of the applicant due to an invalid working visa.	National Registrar confirmed the decision taken by the Provincial Registrar.	28 January 2018	N/A	N/A	N/A
February	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
March	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

2018/2019

(i)Months	(a)What number of appeals and reviews has been received in each month	(b) what was the nature of the specified appeals and reviews in each case,	(c) what was the outcome in each case	(d) On what date was each appeal and review concluded in each case	(e) what number of (i) revisions have taken place in each month as a result of the appeals	(e)(ii) What number of reviews per month to date in the specified period	(f) what was the nature of the revisions in each instance?
April	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
May	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
June	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
July	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
August	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
September	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
October	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
November	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
December	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
January	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
February	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
March	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

2019/2020

(i)Months	(a)What number of appeals and reviews has been received in each month	(b) what was the nature of the specified appeals and reviews in each case,	(c) what was the outcome in each case	(d) On what date was each appeal and review concluded in each case	(e) what number of (i) revisions have taken place in each month as a result of the appeals	(e)(ii) What number of reviews per month to date in the specified period	(f) what was the nature of the revisions in each instance?
April	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
May	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
June	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
July	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
August	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
September	1	Appeal was against the decision of the Provincial Registrar who declined the registration of the applicant due to visa requirements not being met.	The National Registrar amended the decision of the Provincial Registrar and allowed the registration to proceed.	01 November 2019	0	0	N/A
October	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
November	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
December	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
January	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
February	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
March	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

2020/2021

(i)Months	(a)What number of appeals and reviews has been received in each month	(b) what was the nature of the specified appeals and reviews in each case,	(c) what was the outcome in each case	(d) On what date was each appeal and review concluded in each case	(e) what number of (i) revisions have taken place in each month as a result of the appeals	(e)(ii) What number of reviews per month to date in the specified period	(f) what was the nature of the revisions in each instance?
April	1	Appeal was against the decision of the Provincial Registrar who declined the registration of the applicant due to visa requirements not being met.	The National Registrar confirmed the decision of the Provincial Registrar	15 April 2020	0	0	N/A
May	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
June	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

Background

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has informed me that it was in the early stages in the process of appointing a service provider prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, after the SANDF stated that their strategic borderline infrastructure is in a bad condition.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on 15 March 2020 on the Covid-19 pandemic and the simultaneous declaration of a National State of Disaster

In accordance with Section 27(2) (L) of the Disaster Management Act, No 57 of 2002, I, issued a directive on 16 March 2020 for the emergency securing of the South African Border Posts.

Recognising the Ministerial Directive a site visit was held by DPWI and DOD officials on the 17 March 2020 at the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry resolved that:

• The borderline fence was surveyed and it was evident that there entire fence line is won and parts are not structurally sound
• The focus area for the borderline infrastructure installation will be 40kms (20kms on either side of Beitbridge)
• Consideration that the existing service provider had a BOQ activities of a fence line and scheduled rates.

DPWI informed me that several options to meet the set deadline were discussed under emergency criteria.

The National Treasury’s Instruction Note No. 08 of 2019/2020 Emergency Procurement Covid-19 in paragraph 3.5.1 (i) provides for the invocation of emergency procedures.

The Department informed me the emergency procurement process that entails the appointment of the required service providers through a negotiated procedure that was approved by National Bid Adjudication Committee (NBAC).

As the Minister, I have requested the Auditor-General to investigate whether due process was followed.

To reply to your question, see the refly below

(a) The Department informed me that the DPWI’s emergency procurement process to appoint the service provider was used as indicated above.

(b), (c) The motivation or reasons for appointment are as follows:

• • • Recognising the declaration of the National State of Disaster, and the subsequent Ministerial Directive on this matter it was deemed prudent to invoke the Departmental Emergency Procurement processes that entail the appointment of the required service provider through a negotiated procedure that has prior approval of the duly Accounting Officers’ delegated authority being the NBAC
    • The service provider is currently appointed at the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry (LPOE), which is closest to the proposed Beitbridge borderline fence project
    • The contractor is experienced and holds a CIDB grading of 8CE
    • The contractor is already established onsite, and there will be no financial implications for establishment.
    • The consideration that the existing service provider had scheduled rates.

(d) The Department informed that the contractor’s track record is as follows:

WCS No	Client Description	Project Description	Status Description
048176	DPW – LPOE	Department Of Public Works: Land Ports Of Entry: Ramatlabama Bray And Makgobistad: Maintainance And Servicing Of Civil Mechanical And Electrical Installations.	Service Completed
048182	DPW-LPOE	Swartkopfontein Gate Port Of Entry: Maintenance And Servicing Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical And Electrical Installations.	Service Completed
048183	DPW-LPOE	Dpw: Kosi Bay Port Of Entry: Appointment Of Contractors: Maintenance And Servicing Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical And Electrical Installation	Service Completed
45604	CORRECTIONAL SERVICES	Repair , Maintenance And Operations Of Water Sewerage Service	Final Delivery Stage
047935	DPW – LPOE	FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, SERVICE CONTRACTS : Maintenance And Servicing Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Infrastructure And Installations	Service Completed
049251	DPW – LPOE	Skilpadshek: Bcocc: Maintenance And Upgrading Of Bui Ldings, Civil Infrastructure, Electrical Installations And M Mechanical Equipment.	Service Completed
049254	DPW – LPOE	Mahamba,Bothashoop And Emahlathini Poe. Bcocc: Mainte Nace And Upgrading Of Buildings,Civil Infrastructure,Electri Cal Installations And Mechanical Equipment.	Service Completed
049255	DPW – LPOE	Bcocc: Maintenance And Servicing Of Buildings,Civil,Electrical And Mechanical Installations And Infrastructure.	Final Delivery Stage
052500	DPW - LPOE	Maintenance And Servicing Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical An D Electrical Infrstructure Installations	Construction Stage
052734	DPW – LPOE	Land Ports Of Entry: Groblers Bridge And Stockpoort: Appoint Ment Of Consultants: Maintenance And Servicing Of Building, Civil Mechanical And Electrical Infrastructure And Installa	Construction Stage
052982	DPW – LPOE	Bray, Makgobistad And Swartkopfontein: Maintenance, Servicin G And Repair Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical And Electrical Infrastructure And Installations	Construction Stage
052983	DPW – LPOE	Ramatlabama, Kopfontein And Derdepoort: 36 Months Maintenanc E, Servicing And Repair Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical And Electrical Infrastructure And Installations	Practical Completion Stage
053365	DPW – LPOE	Maintanance,Servicing And Repairs Of Buildings, Civil, Mechanical And Electrical Infrastructure And Installations	Construction Stage
054631	DPW – LPOE	36 Months Repairs, Maintenance And Servicing Of Buildings, C Ivil, Mechanical And Electrical Infrastructure And Installat Ions	Construction Stage
055769	DPW – LPOE	Beitbridge Borderline Base: :Sandf 40km Borderline Fence Infrastructure And Installation On The Borders Between Rsa And Zimbabwe	Construction Stage

(e) No, the contractor is not a preferred service provider. The Department has many projects, with several service providers.

(f) The DPWI informed me that scoping and pricing were prior to the appointment.

(g) The Department informed me that scoping was done at the site visit held by DPWI and DOD officials on the 17 March 2020 at the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry. The pricing was done using the Bill of Quantities as the pricing strategy.

Reply:

(1) (a)(i) A total of 10469 learners were recruited for the War on Leaks Programme. It should however be noted that 1445 learners were lost to attrition.

(ii) A total of 148 water agents and artisans are currently employed on a permanent basis by national government departments and entities, municipalities and private companies.

(b) The learners were trained as follows:

• Water Agents - 4671
• Artisans and plumbers - 1292

(2) There are still 3117 learners remaining in the system who are expected to complete the programme in 2020.

Attempts were made to attach learners that completed the programme to municipalities but the uptake from the municipalities has been limited. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is exploring various opportunities to place learners that have completed the programme as follows:

• Absorption through regional bulk infrastructure projects to facilitate water conservation;
• Absorption through water services infrastructure projects for advocacy, communication and basic leak detection;
• Engagements with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) through the District Development Model;
• Engagements with NEDLAC to assist with job opportunities.

Reply:

​​ The Department of Home Affairs has a constitutional obligation to provide equitable and quality service to the population of the Republic of South Africa residing in both rural and urban areas. The Department through its footprint development and optimisation strategy adopted a multi-channel strategy to deliver its services and this strategy utilizes the combination of traditional distribution channels (Physical Infrastructure), non-traditional channels (Mobile Units), partnerships with Public and Private organizations and the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver on its services as well as to improve Geographic access to its service and quality of services the department delivers. The department established its distribution channels through the utilization of a scientific method to assess the provision and location of its services which includes the Geographic information system that assist the department to determine the optimal number and locations of traditional channels it requires to meet the service delivery needs of the population residing in both rural and urban areas.

• The provision of the Department’s distribution channels is determined by the Accessibility models that the department utilises in order to determine optimal locations to establish its facilities.

• The Department is currently conducting a geographical accessibility study which commenced in April 2019, to assess the provision and geographic locations of its service points in relation to where people live and work with the ultimate goal of improving geographic access to its services. The findings of the project are used to develop the department’s access model which will clearly outline the geographical areas which are under-served, poorly served and well-served by the department’s available footprint.

• Furthermore, the DHA Access Model will provide the number of service points that are required to provide optimum levels of services and access to beneficiaries, potential optimum, sites for new facilities and areas that should be given priority. The Department of Home Affairs will utilise the DHA Access Model to:
•  Set targets for reducing distances that people travel to access our services
• Assess what is affordable for fixed offices and what can be done by mobile or other means to extend access and affordability
• Consult with provincial and local authorities on their spatial development frameworks to identify sites that are suitable for DHA facilities, coordinating planning and investment in new facilities.

• The implementation of the Department’s Access Model will commence during 2020/21 financial year. The department utilises geographic information system software to also assess the provision of its service points as well as the total population that are covered by its service points. The preliminary DHA Access Model shows that the department requires approximately 261 front offices and 183 mobile visiting points to deliver optimal services to the population as depicted in the table below.

• The Department has dedicated offices, in the form of mobile units, which are used to visit communities to render services. These mobile offices are managed by Mobile Office Managers and all tools of trade required are kept in those mobile offices.

• Furthermore, Stakeholder Forum platforms enable the Department to reach out to far flung communities by having community leaders in the persons of the Ward Councilors, Ward Committees, Community Development Workers (CDWs) to bring us needy, undocumented community members, who would require documentation in all its forms, by informing them of the documentation requirements for them to know what to bring when requiring Home Affairs services. The regular Stakeholder Forum meetings, in conjunction with the Departmental officials, that are held bi-monthly, craft Itineraries for different Wards, or localities with dates, and times, stating the requirements, or supporting documents that must be brought along by the clients.

• Programs are distributed to our stakeholders, including Speakers and ward Councillors, during Stakeholder Forums before the actual day of rendering services to a particular area to allow communities to prepare themselves in advance. Our Mobile Offices also play a meaningful role by visiting such communities to sensitize them about our visits and also place our programs at prominent areas for public consumption.

• The Department does not have a prescribed set of visits. Visits are normally informed by the volume of clients who require services at a particular place. Ward councilors normally accumulate the information on the services required by their communities; this will then inform the Department when developing community visit programs with regard to the number of visits to a particular area.

• The Department has put in place the Service Delivery Charter that provides the turnaround times for services it delivers in all its offices. The Service Charter also provides the redress mechanisms that are put in place in order to address the services that are not delivered within turnaround times as stipulated in the Service Delivery Charter.

• These mechanisms including the Department’s contact centre and the complaints and suggestion boxes that are placed within all front offices of the department of home affairs. The details of the contact centre is provided on the Service Charters that are displayed in all front offices where clients are able to call the contact centre and enquire about their applications. The contact centre of the Department of Home Affairs, given the status of the application has the capacity to resolve complaints and cases to the finalisation of the application.
• Furthermore, queries and complaints that are logged through the complaints and suggestion boxes in all front offices of the Department are attended by District Managers: Operations, and they implement appropriate remedial actions to address the situation. Premier/ Ministerial complaints are attended at Head Office through Provincial Manager’s office.

END

Reply:

1. (a) Entsika was appointed as part of the consortium which had technical agricultural experts to analyses the agricultural projects.

(b) The Land Bank did not submit a proposal from the advertised bid.

(c) (i),(ii) See Annexure A.

(d) Cabinet approved the Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation Policy for publication in the government gazette for public comments which ended on 3 March 2020.

2 No. Commercial viability was used as one of the criteria for selection of stimulus package projects.

Reply:

(a) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is not aware of this project.

(b),(c) Falls away.

Reply:

Yes, there is a signed lease. According to the current CPA Chairperson, Ms Mantsha Mosito, the lease was signed by her predecessors before she became the chairperson in 2012. The Department has established from Mr Ryan Sabatier, who signed the contract on behalf of a family company that the lease was signed in 2010, to run for a period of 15 years and will expire in 2025. Mr Sabatier left the company under the control of his father, Mr Peter Sabatier. Both Ms Mosito and Mr Ryan Sabatier confirmed that Mr Peter Sabatier has started to breach terms of the contract. He is no longer paying rent and is sub-letting the farm. Both acts are a violation of the signed contract.

It was reported in the 2018-2019 CPA Annual Report that this CPA was not fully compliant with the Act. During the 2019-2020 financial year, the Department undertook to train 900 Communal Property Associations across the country to assist them to be complaint with the Act, of which this CPA was also targeted since the current committee has been in office since 2012 and are beyond their term of office. The Limpopo PSSC invited them for training in October 2019, however, the committee failed to attend the training.

The Department is continuing with the training to ensure all CPAs are compliant with the Act and undertakes to ensure that this CPA will be assisted.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1); (2) The work to finalise measures and guidelines is still in progress and meetings between myself and the Minister in the Presidency ongoing. The guidelines will be completed and first presented to the Cabinet for consideration before it is implemented.

(3) (a) The Department developed ‘Cost norms and standard for the provision of infrastructure for State and Official Funerals’ document that is aligned to the State, Official and Provincial Official Funeral Policy Manual. The manual was sent to the Presidency for input and sign-off. However, the Department already started to implement the limits and caps on costs for State and Official funerals. Once Cabinet has approved the new funeral policy, it will be applied.

(4) (a) The total number of funerals that the Department paid for in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial years is 15.

(b) The amount that was spent on each of the funeral is:

FUNERAL	DATE	AMOUNT SPENT
Mr Kgositsile	03/02/2018	R9 000 349.00
Ms Madikizela-Mandela	14/04/2018	R35 731 835.85
Mr Skweyiya	28/04/2018	R28 967 791.37
Mr Modise	28/06/2018	R11 440 661.84
Mrs Sobukwe	25/06/2018	R9 836 239.80
Minister Molelwa	06/10/2018	R4 798 163.30
Mr Mtshali	21/10/2018	R2 904 426.89
Ms Msimang	26/10/2018	R752 221.70
Mr Msimang	15/12/2018	R1 296 275.10
Mr Khumalo	26/02/2019	R863 942.10
General Maphoto	26/06/2018	R880 891.95
Mr Vincent Dube	07/09/2018	R497 651.00
Deputy Minister Hlongwe	21/09/2019	R972 237.53
Dr Richard Maponya	22/01/2020	R211 338.00
Dr Joseph Shabalala	23/02/2020	R391 230.00
TOTAL		R105 640829.02

(5) (a) (i) I was informed by the DPWI that the expenditure had not been subjected to all the necessary due diligence which apply within the Department for it to be correctly categorised.

FUNERAL	ACTUAL EXPENDITURE	5(a)(ii) DEVIATION	5(b) DIFF BTWN QUOTED AMOUNT AND ACUTAL EXP
Mr Kgositsile	R9 000 349.00	None	None
Ms Madikizela-Mandela	R35 731 835.85	R16 781 441.17	R1 980 614.48
Mr Skweyiya	R28 967 791.37	R4 162 078.90	R3 320 152.07
Mr Modise	R11 440 661.84	R3 870 198.50	R77 165.00
Mrs Sobukwe	R9 836 239.80	R160 813.30	R124 315.00
Minister Molelwa	R4 798 163.30	None	None
Mr Mtshali	R2 904 426.89	R53 130.00	R364 975.50
Ms Msimang	R752 221.70	None	None
Mr Msimang	R1 296 275.10	None	None
Mr Khumalo	R863 942.10	None	None
General Maphoto	R880 891.95	None	None
Mr Vincent Dube	R497 651.00	None	None
Deputy Minister Hlongwe	R972 237.53	None	None
Dr Richard Maponya	R211 338.00	None	None
Dr Joseph Shabalala	R391 230.00	None	None

 

Reply:

1. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has not distributed food parcels to needy persons as this is the mandate that was undertaken by the Department of Social Development (DSD). DALRRD received food sponsorships from willing partners within the Agriculture sector during this COVID 19 outbreak. The distribution of such sponsored food items was agreed upon with the relevant sponsor, based on their prioritised areas in collaboration with DALRRD.

(a) The food parcels that were sponsored by volunteers within the Agricultural sector were distributed in accordance with the sponsors’ preferences.

(b) DALRRD did not distribute food parcels except those that were received from sponsors of food items [Golden Harvest donated 5 000 fruit and vegetable packs to communities in the Western Cape].

(c) The sponsored packs had fruits and vegetables.

(d) There were no costs to DALRRD as these packs were donated.

(2) What is the name(s) of the service provider(s) that was contracted to provide food parcels in each province;

REPLY:

There were no service providers contracted by DALRRD to provide food parcels in provinces.

(3) 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;

REPLY:

Though the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) was not directly involved in the distribution of food parcels DALRRD has been monitoring the availability and stability of supply for food in the food value chain and together with its State Owned Entities (SOEs) monitoring the prices of the basic food items using the 28 item Basic Food Basket and the 35 item zero rated food basket. DALRRD has further re-prioritised funding of up to R1.2billion to support small-scale producers that are in production of poultry, vegetables and fruits, livestock and field crops.

(4) Whether her department took any steps to liaise with and mobilise civil society and businesses to assist her department with hunger relief initiatives; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW852E

REPLY:

Before the pronouncement of the lockdown by the President the DALRRD Ministry established Task Teams between the Sector Industry partners (from production, processing and retail), its SOEs and Senior Officials in the DALRRD. The Task Team was established to ensure food availability and food price monitoring occurs more frequently than usual. The process of monitoring food availability and stability is being conducted through an End-to-end Agricultural value chain tracker developed in partnership with Industry partners, which is a 24 to 48-hour reporting cycle, this was to address the challenge of panic buying by consumers who would end up using all their money. The prioritised funding to support small-scale producers is specifically in support of COVID 19 as the department has its usual support programmes such as Ilima/Letsema, CASP, LandCare, Land Acquisition Grants that are intended to support all producers.

Reply:

1. Yes. The Department embarked on a process to identify CPAs with properties that are leased to third parties. According to the records of the Directorate of Communal Property Institutions in the Department, there are 505 properties currently leased from CPAs. A service provider is in the process of being appointed to verify this information, amongst other things.

2. Yes. Communal Property Associations are established in terms of an Act of Parliament, to acquire, hold and manage the property on behalf of the members of beneficiary communities. The Department has identified challenges in the functioning of these entities, and therefore, a strategy has been developed to tighten governance systems and other areas that need scrutiny to ensure that CPAs as land and property holding entities are compliant with the regulatory requirements, efficient and functional. Currently, there is no researched evidence which confirms that CPAs are not the best model for communal land ownership.

The Department constantly reviews its legislation to address challenges and enhance its efficacy. The CPA Amendment Bill that was passed by Parliament in December 2018 (currently awaiting assent by the President) provides for the establishment of the Office of the Registrar of Communal Property Associations with the relevant human resource capacity at both national and provincial levels to enforce governance and compliance with the Act.