Questions and Replies

Reply:

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) recorded its first case of COVID-19 in early March. As of 18 May, 2020 all the sixteen (16) SADC Member States have been affected by COVID-19.

In this regard, South Africa continues to share information aimed at slowing down the transmission and thus reducing mortality associated with COVID-19, with the ultimate aim of reaching and maintaining a state of low-level or no transmission.

Some of the short term measures that have been collectively undertaken by SADC Member States, include, but are not limited to:

a) facilitate the protection of frontline healthcare staff through the provision of protective equipment and promotion of best practices across the region’s healthcare facilities;

b) provide the necessary tools and equipment to support SADC Member States’ health care facilities with intensive care and ventilation needs for COVID-19 patients;

c) conduct needs assessment including existing human, financial and material resources; to promote awareness through the provision of information materials, guidelines and information kits; and

d) extend safety nets in form of food handouts, unemployment benefits and water and sanitation facilities.

In the medium term, the region will:

a) assess the socio-economic impact of the pandemic and develop a recovery plan; and

b) assess the effectiveness of existing frameworks and mechanisms for dealing with crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and propose ways of improving them.

This is based on principles of solidarity, reciprocity, and the common good.

African Union (AU)

Since the Outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has thus far resulted in over 300 000 deaths globally, with close to 3000 deaths in the Continent, President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union for 2020 has expressed in several platforms, to voice concern about the devastating impact of the pandemic in the Continent and has underscored that the fight against the pandemic will require a coordinated and collaborative approach amongst Member States.

The Bureau of the AU, under the leadership of President Ramaphosa has also undertaken the following interventions which are aimed at 1) ensuring that the spread of COVID-19 is contained and 2) ensure that the are measures in place to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.

On 26 March 2020 President convened teleconference meeting of the Bureau of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union to discuss AU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and, ahead of the G-20 virtual Summit held on 27 March 2020.The first Bureau meeting was followed by another teleconference meeting held on 3 April 2020. Both meetings discussed the impact of the COVID-19 virus in the Continent and agreed to establish a joint Continental strategy in response to COVID-19 as well as, the COVID-19 Response Fund. The meeting also agreed to mobilise support for the comprehensive economic stimulus package which will held to mitigate the economic risks that will affect the Continent as result of the virus. The meeting further express support for the waiver of debt and interest repayment in order to provide the African countries the fiscus space to deal effectively with the virus.

On 12 April 2020, the President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Chair of the AU, appointed Special Envoys whose responsibility will be to reach out to the G-20 and the EU to solicit rapid and concrete assistance to help Africa in dealing with the scourge.In line with the decisions of the Bureau meeting held on 3 April 2020, the Bureau of the AU met with the Business Leader’s Forum of the African Union. During the the meeting the business leaders expressed support for the AU’s Continental strategy to combat the COVID-19 virus.

The Bureau of the AU met with chairpersons of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to discuss collaborative efforts between the AU and RECs in addressing the impact of COVID-19 on 29 April 2020. In addition, President Ramaphosa held numerous consultations with other world leaders, including the EU, the G-20 countries. The President also held discussions with leading organisations in the development space such as the World Bank Group, galvanising support for Africa’s and AU’s efforts to tackle the impact of the virus.

A virtual conference of the AU Bureau under the leadership and the Chairship of South Africa was held to look at ways and means to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, while also looking and gaging the needed support to the existing mechanisms of the Union to fight pandemics like this. President Ramaphosa made the following pledges which have been fulfilled by South Africa:

(a) Special Fund for COVID 19: R 71 200 000 towards the establishment of the COVID 19 Fund for Africa

(b)  Africa Centre for Disease Control:   R 35 600 000 to assist in the emergency response in the health care systems for AU member states

Reply:

1. Yes, the Republic has recorded positive cases  of Covid-19 in its foreign missions. There are two positive cases of transferred officials as well as two of locally recruited personnel.

2. No.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure:

1. (a) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is the lead Department with the provision of the borderline infrastructure. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is involved as the user client and is responsible in terms of the Defence Management Act to patrol the borderline fence.

(b) The Department is currently in a planning phase for the upgrading and reconstruction of patrol road and fencing on the borderline between the Republic of South Africa and neighbouring countries.

The following planning activities are currently being undertaken:

• ± 556km of borderline infrastructure: Site Clearance process for the upgrading and reconstruction of patrol roads and fencing on the borderline between RSA, Swaziland and Mozambique.
• ±700km of borderline infrastructure: Site Clearance process for the upgrading and reconstruction of patrol roads and fencing on the borderline between RSA, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
• ±500km of borderline infrastructure: Site Clearance process for the upgrading and reconstruction of patrol roads and fencing on the borderline between RSA and Lesotho.

(c) Upon confirmation of funding, construction activities within eah of the above mentioned projects will be implemented.

2. Yes , I will provide additional information in due course after further engagement with the relevant departments including National Treasury.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1. (a) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has informed me the specifications for the border fence were designed and the material was quality checked by the Engineer for compliance.

(b) Yes, the Project was signed-off by the Engineer

(c) (d) The Department has requested the supplier’s warranty, and I will provide additional information in due course after receiving the information from the Department.

 

2. (a) The fence comprised of components available in the market and was based on off the shelf products from the suppliers.

(b), (c) (i) This item falls away as these were off the shelf products.

(c) (ii) The installation was done in accordance with the specification.

(iii) (iv) The details of the supplier’s warranty will be provided, as stated above. The contractor has a 12 months defects liability which covers material and quality defects.

Reply:

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

1. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has informed me from the list of 39 facilities that the DPWI has made available from its immovable asset register; only two were approved as meeting the basic requirements set by the Department of Health.

Both facilities were repaired and refurbished. Beds and linen were procured. The Gauteng Provincial Department of Health in the process of activating the two sites so that they may begin to operate as quarantine sites.

All identified private facilities are made available to the Department of Health. These are assessed by the Department of Health, and if found to be suitable for use as quarantine or isolation sites, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is informed to consider contracting with the owners. Therefore, the responsibility to ensure that the private sector facilities are compliant and ready to serve as quarantine or isolation sites lies with the Department of Health.

2. DPWI has two sites which were approved by Department of Health as suitable to serve as quarantine or isolation sites, and both will be equipped with (a) sufficient water (b) electricity (c) new beds and linen upon activation by the Department of Health. (d) However, the provision of food is the sole responsibility of the Department of Health.

3. Yes, the inspection was conducted for facilities that were identified and availed by DPWI across the country. DPWI was part of the assessment team. However, the inspection of private facilities was done by the team as directed in paragraph 4.1 of the guideline document for quarantine and isolation in relation to COVID-19. The composition of the facility assessment team does not include DPWI.

4. (a) The Department of Health decides which facilities will have COVID 19 infected patients. Thus has no obligation to reveal this information to the Department. The Department only provides facilities for use as quarantine facilities or isolation sites. It has no knowledge of whether the patients are positive or not.

5. No.

Reply:

1. I was informed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as at 12 May 2020 no additional funding has been allocated to the Department from National Treasury for DPWI to deal with Covid-19.

2. Not applicable, as the Department was not allocated the additional funding.

3. Not applicable, as the Department was not allocated the additional funding.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

The amounts owed by client departments to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) Property Management Trading Entity as at:

(a) As at 31 March 2018, the gross outstanding balance was R3.478 billion that included an amount of R2.367 billion for impairment. The amount disclosed in the annual report was a net balance of R1.111 billion. (Annexure A)

(b) As at 31 March 2019, the gross outstanding balance was R4.172 billion that included an amount of R2.590 billion for impairment. The amount disclosed in the annual report was a net balance of R1.582 billion.

(c) As at 28 February 2020, the gross outstanding balance (before impairment) was R7.282 billion that included an amount of R2.590 billion that was impaired on the 31 March 2019. The impairment amount for the year ended 31 March 2020 has not been calculated yet and will be calculated and disclosed in the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020.

Impairment is an accounting requirement that requires the Entity to evaluate whether objective evidence exists as a result of one or more events (a loss event) that may impact on the recoverability of the amounts due and calculate an impairment loss based on future expected cash flows. It must be noted that amounts impaired do not mean that they have been written off by the Entity. There is continuous engagement with client departments to ensure that they pay the gross outstanding debt.

The details of the amount owed for 31 March 2018, 31 March 2019 and 28 February 2020 are listed in Annexure A attached.

(i) The details of each client with respect of their, (aa) names, (bb) contact details and (cc) accounting officers’ names, are attached as (Annexure B).

(ii) and (iii) the Table A below reflect the period in which the payments were made on behalf of each client and the expenditure incurred and paid for on behalf of each client.

Table A:

Ageing bracket	Amount
Current (0-30 days outstanding)	R 1 199 303 174.83
30 days	R 1 187 276 619.08
60 days	R 514 491 484.74
90 days	R 362 236 122.09
<1 year	R 1 507 012 265.46
1-3 years	R 1 622 432 217.30
3- 5 years	R 328 926 973.56
> 5 years	R 560 054 849.53
TOTAL	R 7 281 733 706.59

The current approved business model of the Entity is that expenditure is incurred on behalf of client department after which the amount is claimed. The expenditure that is incurred on behalf of client departments is for private leases, municipal services, client infrastructure spending (Capital allocation) and other recoverable infrastructure projects (referred to as PACE and CA). At the end of the month, all payment made are then consolidated as a claim/invoice and sent to each client department to reimburse the Entity within 30 days as prescribed by Treasury Regulations 8.2.3. The current model has been revised and communicated to all user departments, where each user department must sign Billing Agreement to pay quarterly in advance for certain services.

(iv) As at 28 February 2020, an amount of R7,282 billion was outstanding from national departments and other organs of the state (Annexure C). Some of the reasons cited by client departments not to pay the Department is due to:

• user departments dispute occupation,

• lack or insufficient budget;

• budget cuts by National Treasury;

In line with established inter-governmental framework principles, below are some of the intervention that the Department has put in place to recover the outstanding from client departments:

• Request to National Treasury to intervene on clients that do not pay within 30 days;
• The Minister wrote letters to her counterparts requesting them to ensure that their departments pay the outstanding balances;
• An intergovernmental framework on billing and recovery has been implemented to address the outstanding debt; dispute resolution and advance billing for services rendered;
• The Department has resolved to devolve municipal services to the client departments; and
• National Treasury was requested to issue an instruction note for all user departments to pay quarterly in advance, ring-fence the budget for accommodation and consider allocating infrastructure and accommodation budget to the DPWI. National Treasury is still processing the request of the Department.

Annexure B

	NAME OF DEPARTMENT	DIRECTOR-GENERAL	PHONE	FAX	E-MAIL
	Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries	Mr Mzamo Michael Mlengana	(012) 319 6503	(012) 319 7135	Phone 012 319 6503 Fax 012 319 7135 Email [email protected]
	Arts and Culture	Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize Director-General	(012) 441 3027	012 441 3735	[email protected]
	Basic Education	Mr Hubert Mathanzima Mweli Director-General	(012) 357 4504	(012) 323 5837 0862 070 149	[email protected];
	Communications	Qinisile Delwa (Acting DG)	(012)  473 0418 (012) 473 0469		[email protected]
	Cooperative Governance	Mr Dan Metlana Mashitisho Director-General	(012) 334 0518 (021) 469 6735	086 293 4966	[email protected]
	Correctional Services	Arthur Fraser, Mr National Commissioner	(012) 305 8841	(012) 323 6149	[email protected]
	Civilian Secretariat for Police	Mr Alvin Rapea Secretary of Police	(012) 393 2520	(012) 393 2536/8	[email protected]
	Defence	Dr Sam Gulube Secretary for Defence 082 078 7707	(012) 355 6219 (012) 355 6220	(012) 347 7445	[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]
	Economic Development	Mr Monde Tom (Acting DG)	(012)  394 1045 012 394 5664		[email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]
	Energy	Zulu Thabane, Mr Director-General	(012)  406 7672	(012)  643 0932	[email protected];
	Environmental Affairs	Ms Nosipho Ngcaba Director-General	(012)  310 3017	(012)  322 4832	[email protected]
	GCIS	Ms Pumla Williams (Acting DG: GCIS)	(012)  473 0245 012 473 0163		[email protected];
	Health	Anban Pillay, Dr Acting Director-General	(012) 395 9150	(012)  395 8422	[email protected];
	Higher Education & Training	Mr Gwebinkundla Qonde Director-General 082 705 9457	(012) 312 6349 /6350 012 312 5429	(012) 323 0291	[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
	Home Affairs	Mr Jackie McKay Director-General (Acting)	(012)  406 7070	086 512 7864	[email protected]
	Human Settlements	Mr Mbulelo Tshangana Director-General 082 801 9708	(012)  421 1486 012 421 1486	086 546 0490	[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
	Independent Police Investigative Directorate	Patrick Setshedi,Mr Executive Director (Acting)	(012)  399 0026 (012) 399 0070	(012)  399 0144 086 630 0617 (012) 399 0144	[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
	International Relations & Cooperation	Mr Kgabo E Mahoai Director-General	(012) 351 0363 (012)  351 0296	(012)  329 2242 (012) 329 2242	[email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]
	Justice and Constitutional Development	Director-General JB Skosana (Acting), Adv	(012) 406 4701 (012) 406 4706/4	086 644 6406	[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected];
	Labour	Mr Thobile Lamati Director-General 082 467 4315 082 886 2604	(012) 309 4126	(012) 309 4620	[email protected]; [email protected]
	Military Veterans	Director-General Derrick Mgwebi (Acting), Mr	(012)  671 4783 (012) 264 3280	(012) 671 1108	[email protected]; [email protected];
	Mineral Resources	Adv Thabo Mokoena Director-General	(012) 444 3880	(012) 643 0932	[email protected] [email protected];
	National School of Government	Principal Busani Ngcaweni, Mr	(012) 441 6079 012 441 6133	(012) 441 6044	[email protected]; [email protected]
	National Treasury	Mr Dondo Mogajane Director-General	(012)  351 5904	(012)  328 5145	[email protected] [email protected];
	Planning Monitoring & Evaluation	Ms Nompumelelo Mpofu Director-General 071 267 8748 Mr Tsediso Matona Secretary for National Planning	(012) 312 0014 (012) 312 2261		[email protected]; [email protected]
	Public Enterprises	Director-General Kgathatso (Acting) Tlhakudi, Mr	(012) 431 1035 021 469 6776	(012) 431 1040	[email protected]
	Public Service and Administration	Ms Yoliswa Makhasi Director-General	012 336 1279 012 469 5485 (012) 336 1088	086 632 2028	[email protected] [email protected]; [email protected];
	Public Service Commission	Dr Dovhani Mamphiswana Director-General 082 773 0432 082 261 8809	(012)  352 1025 (012) 352 1200	(012) 325 8322 086 647 9746	[email protected];
	Public Works	Adv Sam Vukela Director-General	(012)  406 1988	(012)  328 4217 (021)  465 1244	[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected];
	Rural Development and Land Reform	Director-General Mdu Shabane, Mr	(012)  312 8503 (012) 312 8867	(012) 312 6072 (012) 323 6072	[email protected]
	Science and Technology	Dr Phil Mjwara Director-General 082 889 0971	(012 )843 6815	086 681 0006	[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected];
	Small Business Development	Acting Director-General Lindokuhle Mkhumane, Mr	012 394 1433		[email protected]
	Social Development	Director-General Mzolisi Toni (Acting), Mr	(012) 312 7647		[email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]   [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
	South African Police Service (SAPS)	General KJ Sitole National Police Commissioner 082 450 9206	012 400 6583 012 400 6890		[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
	South African Revenue Services (SARS)	Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, Mr	012 422 5174	(012) 422 5205 (012) 422 5160 012 452 9676	[email protected] [email protected];
	Sport and Recreation South Africa	Director-General Sumayya Khan, Ms	(012)  304 5149	086 5748 039	[email protected]
	Statistics South Africa	Mr Risenga Maluleke Statistician-General	(012)  310 8075	(012)  321 7343	[email protected]; [email protected];
	Telecommunications & Postal Services	Mr Robert Nkuna Director-General	012) 427 8031 012 427 8167	(012) 427 8016	[email protected] [email protected];
	The Presidency	Dr Cassius Lubisi Director-General	(012)  300 5354	086 683 5354	[email protected]; [email protected];
	Tourism	Mr Victor Tharage Director-General 083 387 3300	(012 ) 444 6379 (012) 444 6721	(012) 444 7040	[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
	Trade and Industry	Mr Lionel October Director-General 071 356 1135	(012) 394 3075	(012)  394 0323	[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
	Traditional Affairs	Mr Mashwahle Diphofa Director-General	(012) 334 4918	086 616 7586	[email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]
	Transport	Director-General Alec Moemi, Mr	(012) 309 3172	(012) 328 5926	[email protected] [email protected];
	Water & Sanitation	Director-General Deborah Mochotlhi (Acting), Ms	(012) 336 8152	(012) 336 8850	[email protected]
	Women	Director-General Shoki Tshabalala (Acting), Ms	(012) 359 0071	(012) 323 5954	[email protected]
	Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA)	Chief Executive Officer Krishen Sukdev, Mr	012 319 1007	012 326 2507	[email protected]
	Government Printing Works	Chief Executive Officer(Acting) Thandi Moyo, Ms	012 748 6213	012 323 9746	[email protected]

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

1(a) Initially the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) decided to recruit a youth brigade to assist at quarantine site. Over a period of a few weeks, the Department of Health requested the EPWP to assist with additional activities. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), considering the resources available to itself and its entities, decided to assist the Department of Health through Non-State Sector (NSS) Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) programme. This programme has been implemented by the Independent Development Trust (IDT) on behalf of DPWI for the past 10 years. The IDT was appointed to implement this project for three months while DPWI continues to make the necessary arrangement to implement the NSS: NPO programme inhouse. My approval for use of the IDT to implement this intiative, in the main, is premised on the fact that the budget to implement work through the NSS NPOs programme is still classified as a transfer to IDT. With the current fiscal constraints the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure could not fund the Department of Health request for assistance through any other budget allocation.

1(b) Over the MTEF 2020/21 to 2022/23 period, the budget to implement the NSS: NPOs programme is an earmarked transfer allocation to the IDT. For the 2020/21 financial year, a budget of R745.361 million is allocated for wage costs while the amount of R33.123 million is earmarked for the non-wage costs. Non-wage costs cover costs of the personal protective equipment (PPEs), NPO administration costs, etc. It is therefore through this allocation that the IDT will cover the expenses related to the implementation of the EPWP COVID-19 response to assist the Department of Health.

2. The Department has informed me that not all participants were paid. As at 1 February 2020, eighteen (18) out of 339 NPOs had not paid their participants’ stipends. Since then, the IDT assisted NPOs in correcting the reasons for non-payment and committed to paying these NPOs by 8 May 2020.

(a) The delays in the payment of these NPOs has been linked to (1) late submission of supporting documentation such as invoices by the NPOs prior to the lockdown period; (2) errors contained on invoices submitted by NPOs which were rejected by the payment system; (3) NPOs submitting invoices with amounts higher than their Purchase Order balances; and (4) NPO delays in re-submitting corrected documents according to the identified errors.

(b) As at the end of March 2020, a total amount of R189 529 797,45 was paid to 321 NPOs out of the 339 contracted NPOs. Eighteen (18) NPOs, through the assistance of IDT, have resolved the non-payment matters and IDT has begun a process to pay these NPOs the outstanding R6 919 447, 00 before the 08 May 2020.

(c)  This answer is provided in 2(a) above.

Reply:

The Umsobomvu Youth Fund was established in January 2001 with a mandate to create a platform for job creation, skills development and transfer for South Africa’s young people.

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Act which was passed by Parliament in 2008 formed the NYDA as a merger between the Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF) and the National Youth Commission (NYC) and in terms of section 21 of the Act dissolved the UYF and NYC.

  (1)  The balances of the Umsobomvu Youth Fund were therefore transferred into the NYDA as per section 21 of the NYDA Act. The UYF has therefore been dissolved and has a balance of zero.

 2. Links to the annual reports of the UYF which can be found online which will specify beneficiaries, amounts paid and outcomes are indicated below. Copies of the annual reports from 2001 – 2008 can be forwarded to the Honourable member upon request.

https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/8674/

https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/8495/

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/43412530/umsobomvu-youth-fund-annual-report-2006-nyda

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure(DPWI) has informed me as follows:

1. (a) The timeframe to repair the damaged fence was one month.

(b) The tenders sum of the contractor was a projected R37 176 843.50

(c) (i) Town Planning Services issued a Provisional Site Clearance Certificate to allow for the maintenance of the fence. The existing fence was in bad condition, and it comprises of a fence with Razor Mesh, Coil Strips and Posts etc.

(ii) The particular project addresses the maintenance of the existing fence. The fence comprises of Tension Posts, Intermediate Posts, Straining wires, razor mesh and razor coils etc.

2. My Department has communicated as follows on the vandalism:

• The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is responsible for security at the border fence.
• Following a breach of security, whereby the contractor’s material was allegedly stolen, I wrote a letter to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans (dated 4 April 2020), requesting her assistance in assigning SANDF officials to patrol the border fence line.
• The response from the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans came through a letter dated 7 April 2020, and it states that the C SANDF has undertaken to direct the SANDF Joint Operations Division, to address this security challenge on an urgent basis. This will cover the area where the fence is being erected and reinforce the existing private security elements on site.
• The Director-General of DPWI wrote a letter to Secretary-General of Defence dated 15 April 2020 supplemented the Ministerial correspondences, requesting DOD Top Management to expedite patrol measures at this borderline
• A follow-up letter from the Director-General of DPWI to Secretary-General of Defence dated 27 April 2020, requested the DOD to intensify patrol at the borderline fence between RSA and Zimbabwe.

3. Yes, I will consider in due course. The South African National Defence Force is responsible in terms of the Defence Management Act.

Reply:

1. No, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities will not offer any form of Covid-19 financial or other relief to small businesses, as this is not the Department’s mandate.

2. The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities does not have a financial allocation within its budget to offer financial relief to SMME’s.

 

Reply:

The precise nature of the tax benefits available to persons who donate land in terms of the proposed Draft National Policy for Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation will depend on the final form the policy takes, as well as the implementation of the policy. The benefits that may be available are an exemption from donations tax on donations of land, the disregarding of capital gains and losses on donations of land and a deduction of the lower of the fair market value or cost of the land on the date of donation. The potentially applicable provisions are summarised below.

Section 54 of the Income Tax Act, 1962, (the Act) stipulates that donations tax is payable on the value of any property disposed of under any donation by any resident. Section 56(1), however, provides for the exemption of the payment of donations tax in certain circumstances. For purposes of this reply, the following paragraphs are relevant.

• Paragraph (h) exempts from donations tax, any donation of property by or to persons listed in sections 10(1)(a), (cA), (cE), cN), (cO), (d) or (e). This includes, among others, the national, provincial or local sphere of government, certain institutions, boards or bodies and qualifying public benefit organisations (PBOs).
• Paragraph (o) exempts from donations tax, a donation of property consisting of the full ownership in immovable property and meeting the following requirements:

• • the immovable property must be acquired by any beneficiary entitled to any grant or services in terms of the Land Reform Programme, as contemplated in the White Paper on South African Land Policy, 1997, in terms of a project that has been approved by the Minister of Land Affairs or a duly designated person; or
  • the donation of immovable property must have been made under land reform initiatives by virtue of the measures contemplated in Chapter 6 of the National Development Plan: Vision 2030 of 11 November 2011, released by the National Planning Commission, Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Paragraph 62(a) of the Eighth Schedule to the Act provides that a person must disregard a capital gain or capital loss determined in respect of the donation or bequest of any asset by that person to the government in the national, provincial or local sphere. Paragraph 64D of the Eighth Schedule provides that a person must disregard any capital gain or capital loss in respect of a donation of land or right to land under a land reform initiative contemplated in Chapter 6 of the National Development Plan: Vision 2030 of 11 November 2011.

A bona fide donation of land made may qualify as an income tax deduction under section 18A of the Act if all the legislated requirements are met and, in particular:

• if the donation is made to a PBO, the PBO has been approved under sections 18A and 30;
• if the donation is made to a department of government in the national, provincial or local sphere, the department has been approved under section 18A; and
• the recipient of the donation actively carries on a listed public benefit activity (PBA) and applies such donations solely for the purposes of the PBA.

Part II of the Ninth Schedule to the Act lists a PBA under the heading “Land and Housing” in paragraph 5(e) that reads as follows.

“The promotion, facilitation and support of access to land and use of land, housing infrastructural development for promoting official land reform programmes.”

This PBA is broader and more multifaceted than the donation of land resulting from an official land reform programme.

Reply:

1. The tables below show the year on year rand amount increases/decreases and growth rates for the five municipalities.

(b) Factors used to determine allocations to municipalities

Standard determining factors

With respect to the formula allocations, demographic and other data is used to determine each municipality’s portion of the local government equitable share.

• The proportion of households below the affordability threshold in each municipality is based on 2011 Census data. Using data from the annual General Household Survey, the total number of households in each municipality is then adjusted every year.
• Bulk water costs are updated based on the average increase in bulk tariffs charged by water boards.
• Bulk electricity costs are updated based on the bulk price determination approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
• All other costs are updated based on the National Treasury’s inflation projections.

A detailed explanation of the above can be found in Annexure W1 of the Division of Revenue Bill, 2019 and more details of how costs are estimated can be found in the ‘discussion paper on the proposed structure of the new local government equitable share formula’ (published in 2013). All of this information available on the National Treasury website. All of the data used in each year’s calculation of the LGES allocations is also published in a summary spreadsheet.

Decline of allocations to Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality between 2015/16 and 2017/18

The decline of the allocations to the Dr Beyers Naudé municipality between 2015/16 and 2017/18 is largely a result of the 2016 re-demarcations, which saw the merger of Camdeboo, Baviaans and Ikwezi local municipalities into this municipality. Some elements in the structure of the local government equitable share (LGES) formula and related allocations resulted in allocations to the newly merged municipality being less than the sum of the allocations to the preceding, separate municipalities:

• The institutional component of the LGES formula includes a fixed base allocation for all municipalities. In 2016/17, this meant the newly formed municipality received a single base allocation of R5.9 million, not 3 (R17.7 million) as they would have as separate municipalities.

• The subsidisation of the salaries of councilors (calculated outside of the LGES formula) is at a sliding scale, with the highest level of support provided to grade 1 municipalities. As these municipalities were previously grades 3, 2 and 1 respectively, the newly merged municipality, which was graded at level 3, has a smaller number of councilors than the 3 previous municipalities and therefore receives less special support for councilor remuneration and ward committees.

Reply:

1. A decision on an additional opportunity for artists to reapply is not under consideration for now. An engagement with industry stakeholders has taken place, which has contributed in guiding the approach. On 6th May 2020, we met with industry stakeholders, and the industry unanimously proposed that the Department finilise those that had initially applied but could not make it. Only after these agreed-upon processes are concluded, will additional steps be considered.

2. There is an appeal panel tasked with such responsibility.

(a) Note the response above

(b) Yes. We have appointed Advocate Steve Kekana, Advocate Nakedi Ribane and Ms Sibongile Nzimande to the appeal panel; they are seized with this task. An email address for appeals was set up and communicated as part of feedback to applicants.

3. (a) The Minister selected the panels

(b) Panelists were drawn from different backgrounds and as expertise in the Sports, Arts and Culture domains

(c) (i) All the people who will be recommended by the adjudication panel will receive funding

(ii) The criteria was made available from the commencement of the process of the COVID-19 relief fund. The criteria is broad-ranging and the full criteria is included, as an addendum, to this reply

(d) The total number will depend on the total number of artists who applied and succeeded

(e) (i)–(ii) The lists will be made available as and when the process is completed, or towards completion.

Reply:

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

Thank you

Reply:

1. No.

When a person resigns as a councillor, he or she may submit their resignation to the municipality, or to the political party to which the councillor may belong to, for the party to then submits the resignation to the municipality, where after a vacancy is declared.

 

Thank you

Reply:

1. One of the endeavours to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Minister consulted the range of Traditional Leaders, through CONTRALESA, the National House of Traditional Leaders and the Provincial Houses who agreed to suspend customary initiations.  The Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders and Provincial Houses launched a media campaign regarding the suspension of the initiation.

2. Provincial Initiation Task Teams will monitor and ensure that no customary initiation takes place.

Thank you

Reply:

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

Thank you

Reply:

                                                                                                    

School connectivity is the mandate of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT). Since the financial year 2014/201, the then Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services placed obligations on Network Operators to connect schools as part of their licensing obligations. A total of 5 250 schools were to be connected by 2019/2020 April. This number included ordinary schools and special schools. All the ordinary schools under these obligations, have been connected; and work has started to bring connectivity into special schools. This connectivity did not include provision of Wi-Fi into schools.

Department of Basic Education (DBE) will consider engaging the DCDT to instal Wi-Fi in schools in the next phase of connectivity rollouts to schools. We hope and believe that DCDT fully understands the technological advancements that include Wi-Fi Technologies. 

Reply:

The question has been referred to the Gauteng Department of Education and a response will be submitted as soon as it is received from the province.

Reply:

1. Government has announced a fiscal support package of R500 billion in order to manage the impact of the lockdown on households and business. The details of this package are available on: http://www.treasury.gov.za/comm_media/press/2020/20200428_COVID_Economic_Response_final.pdf

2. South Africa is a member in good standing of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, New Development bank (NDB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Part of the benefits afforded to members is borrowing at preferential rates. In light of the recent global crisis and elevated risk, the cost of funding has been significantly affected and government is exploring other alternative sources of funding to fund the government borrowing requirement and to lower the borrowing costs.

The government has approached the IMF, AfDB, World Bank and NDB for financial support related to the COVID-19 impact. The transactions are still being negotiated and the relevant details will be made available by the Minister of Finance once concluded.

Reply:

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

Thank you

Reply:

                                                                                                        

Response

The question has been referred to the Gauteng Department of Education and a response will be provided as soon as it is received from the province

Reply:

a) The total amount set aside for the arts segment in the R500 billion rescue package has not been determined, however, the Department recently finalised its budget needs for consideration to be part of the rescue package

b) See (a) above

Reply:

To ensure that learners continue to be supported while they are at home during the Lockdown, the sector put the following measures in place: 

1. Schools and teachers distributed and issued learners with printed materials that included workbooks as well as work sheet to learners before the official closure of schools by government under Covid 19.
2. Teachers planned work for learners and learners were issued with work to be done while they are not at school. A call was made to parents to support, assist and supervise the learners to do their work during this period of uncertainty.
3. To ensure that learners in underserved and remotest areas are not left out we have taken advantage of Radio as a mass media tool, we are to this end working with 110 radio stations to broadcast lessons in all 11 official languages, for all grades and  subjects on specific topics.
4. Of these 110 Radio Stations are 10 National Radio Stations, 10 Regional Radio Stations as well as 90 Community Radio Stations across all 9 provinces. This approach ensures that the most disadvantaged learner in terms of socioeconomic status and well as geographic location sis not left behind. These radio stations have listenership that runs into Millions. The Broadcast Schedules have been developed. 
5.  Our approach in intervening as a Sector, as evidenced through Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) interventions is cross cutting as it does not only include Radio Broadcast Lessons but also include, distribution of Printed materials, Websites with online content, dedicated portals, Online schools, TV Broadcast Lessons as well as live streaming of lessons on a daily basis.
6. A special TV channel has been designated, in partnership with eMedia Investments, to broadcast educational support for learners and teachers, with special focus on Grade 12 on the OpenView HD (OVHD) platform – channel 122. This channel is available free of any subscriptions and will broadcast for a period of six months starting from 01 April to 30 September 2020.
7. Educational content has been curated and uploaded on the DBE website in such a manner that it is visible and clearly accessible when a user lands on the website

Reply:

The South African Government does not intend to withdraw from the Commonwealth. When South Africa re-joined the Commonwealth in 1994, shortly after its first democratic elections, the South African Government recognised the Commonwealth’s contribution to the global campaign to end apartheid. Since 1994, South Africa has played host to four Commonwealth meetings, including the biennial summit of the 1999 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Durban, where South Africa assumed the Chair until 2001.

Since its return to the Commonwealth, South Africa has participated in summits, ministerial meetings and the governing bodies of the Commonwealth and worked closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, contributing politically, financially and in terms of capacity and expertise to the work of the Organisation.

The work of the Commonwealth is in line with South Africa’s foreign policy commitments to human rights, democracy, good governance, justice and international law, peace, economic development, multilateralism and promoting the African Agenda. For South Africa, the Commonwealth provides a platform to forge common approaches to these matters of global importance and to promote trade, investment and the exchange of skills and knowledge between countries.

Reply:

(a) Yes, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has plans to construct water boreholes for the communities in Mbhashe Local Municipal Area in the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 12 boreholes have been drilled through the Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) drought allocation of R 6,2 Million that was allocated from the 2019/20 financial year for drought relief programme for the Mbashe Local Municipality. The project of drilling, testing and equipping the boreholes is expected to be completed by the end of June 2020.

Furthermore, the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has also allocated in the 2019/20 budget adjustment an amount of R 2 000 000.00 (Two Million Rands only) from their Eastern Cape Drought Funding Allocation to the Amathole District Municipality which is allocated to Mbhashe Local Municipality, for the drilling and equipping of boreholes for hand pumps at Dwesa and connecting to the existing reticulation system as part of drought intervention plans.

(b) Yes, my Department has made plans for Mnquma Local Municipality to construct water boreholes for the communities. A total of 49 boreholes have been drilled through the Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) Drought allocation of R 57,929 million that was allocated for Drought Relief Programme for the Mnquma Local Municipality. A total of 31 boreholes are operational while a total of 10 boreholes are currently being tested and a total of 8 boreholes are being equipped. The project of drilling, testing and equipping the boreholes is expected to be completed by the end of June 2020.

In addition, DWS through the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) funding has allocated an amount of R 40 Million and has appointed the Amatola Water Board from 1 April 2020 (for a period of three years 2023) as an Implementing Agent to drill more boreholes (in addition to the 49 mentioned above) to cover the Mnquma, Adelaide, Bedford and Peddie areas. The number of boreholes to be drilled will be determined by the need and currently the Amatole Water Board is conducting an assessment in those areas to determine the needs. It is anticipated that the drilling will commence by the end of March 2020, followed by testing, yield, and water quality. The design of infrastructure pumps, pipes, reservoirs and construction will commence by mid - April 2020.

In summary, I have prepared a table with details of drilled boreholes that the Department has been and is still busy with as part of the DWS’ drought relief intervention to respond to Mnquma and Mbashe Local Municipalities.

MBASHE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
No	Local Municipality	Town/Area	Description	No. of Boreholes	24 hour yield L/S	Comments
1	Mbashe	Dwesa	Dwesa	2		Still to be equipped, quality poor
2	Mbashe	Idutywa Town	Idutywa Town	6	23	Still to be equipped. Requiring R55 million to equip and pipe back to Idutywa.
3	Mbashe	Idutywa Town	Idutywa Town	4	Newly drilled	Newly drilled, awaiting water quality results. Still to be equipped.
	Total 12 Boreholes- Mbashe LM
MNQUMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
No	Local Municipality	Town/Area	Description	No. of Boreholes	24 hour yield L/S	Comments
1	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Borehole 1 Golf Course	1	2	Equipped with a submersible pump and generator. Supplying private individuals. Operating 12 hours per day
2	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Borehole 2 Golf Course	1	2	Equipped with a submersible pump and the generator. Currently operating 12 hours per day
3	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Borehole 2 -Golf Course	10	Currently being tested	Currently being tested
4	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Hospital Borehole	1	0.4	Equipped with a submersible pump and generator and supplying hospital only. Insufficient to meet full hospital
5	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Low yield, shallow borehole	24	<1	Equipped with hand pumps – 4 are fit for human consumption and 20 are not fit for human consumption.
6	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Teko Fihla Boreholes	4	14	Equipped with a submersible pumps and generator. Currently operating 12 hours per day
7	Mnquma LM	Butterworth	Teko Fihla Boreholes	8	27	Still being equipped. Project expected to be completed before June 2020. Water to be pumped to Ibika Reservoirs
	Total 49 Boreholes –Mnquma Local Municipality

Reply:

a) The number of schools earmarked for each province are as follows:

	SAFE and EIG	ASIDI
EC	1598	61
FS	156
KZN	1365	11
LIM	507	97
NW	145
MPU	127

b.    The allocation was not made to provinces but to the programme.

• 2018/19: No allocation at all.
• 2019/20: An allocation of R700 million was made available.

c.    Donations

• No donated funds have been managed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). The donors are allocated schools, given guidance on the Sector Norms and Standards of Infrastructure provisioning as well as a standard designs. The Site Development Plans (SDPs) are then approved by the Department following which the donor can construct the facility before finally handing over the finished product to the DBE / Provincial Education Department (PED).
• An allocation of R2.8 billion has been made for the SAFE Initiative over the MTEF, as follows: 2019/20 : R700 000 000, 2020/21 : R800 000 000 & 2021/22 : R1 300 000 000.
• No independently raised funds have been managed by the DBE.

d.    45 schools have been provided with appropriate sanitation through donations. As for the allocation of R700 million, it is planned that 606 schools will be provided with appropriate sanitation. These projects are all at tender stage. The concurrence approval,  to evaluate the procurement process to see whether it is compliant in terms of the PPPFA 2017, Section 38 (a), (i) and (iii) of the PFMA, is in progress. On completion of the evaluation, the contractors will be appointed.

Reply:

The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared a global emergency crisis and is having a devastating impact on public health systems of many countries and the global economy.

Consequently, the African Union (AU) Bureau of Heads of State and Government, under the Chairship of President Cyril Ramaphosa, agreed to call upon the international community including the G20, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other regional institutions to use all the instruments available to help mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and provide relief to vital sectors of African economies.

To implement the AU Heads of State Bureau decision, the President as chair of the African union and supported by AU Heads of State Bureau established a panel of envoys of former finance ministers and prominent individuals with experience in the financial sector to mobilise support for Africa’s efforts to raise funds.

These envoys, who are drawn from different regions of the continent, are Mr Trevor Manuel, former Minister of Finance of South Africa; Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, former Minister of Finance of Nigeria; Dr Donald Kabureka, former President of the Africa Development Bank; Mr Tidjane Thiam, former Chief Executive of Credit Suisse; and Mr Benkhalfa Abderrahmane, former Finance Minister of Algeria.

Reply:

1. SASCOC not in the horse racing business.

(a) According to the SASCOC; the listing of Phumelela Gaming on the stock exchange was conditional on shares being issued as part of an empowerment requirement. SASCOC was identified as one of the beneficiaries of these issues, which shares were issued at no cost to SASCOC.

A special vehicle investment company, Gride Investments (Pty) Ltd was formed by SASCOC to receive and hold the shares in Phumelela.

(b) The directors for the 2018/2020 financial year as reported are:-

• Mr GN Sam (SASACOC Board President - resigned 31 December 2019)
• Mrs MSI King (SASCOC Board member - resigned January 2020)
• Mr JC Ellis (Independent)

(c) Gride Investment (Pty) Ltd has been audited every year in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-sized Entities and the requirements of the Companies Act of South Africa. The annual financial statements are published and approved by the General Assembly

2. SASCOC indicated that there is no reason why the horse racing and the jockey association cannot fall under the auspices of the SA Equestrian Federation. The federation has for some time been engaging to bring under its auspices, as an associate member, horse racing and the jockey association. This engagement is continuing

Reply:

1. The decision to allow self generation by municipalities, industries and households is based on the fact that Eskom has insufficient capacity to generate enough energy to meet the needs of the economy. Its ageing power stations suffer regular breakdowns, which has resulted in load shedding. This has resulted in the need for additional energy.

The introduction of distributed electricity generation by industries and households mainly through renewable energy will lower demand for Eskom, thereby reducing its revenue. However, there will be a strong reliance on Eskom for the provision of base load.

The availability of reliable, lower cost electricity will contribute to greater economic activity and job creation, which, in turn, will increase demand for energy. It is therefore essential that Eskom is restructured and repositioned as a sustainable company within a transformed energy sector.

2. No further provisions have been made since the announcement last year by the Minister of Finance of a government support package of R230 billion over the next 10 years to provide Eskom relief and assist in servicing its debt.

3. Foreclosing Eskom is not part of Government’s plans.

Reply:

                                                                                                                           

Response

The Department of Basic Education has signed a Protocol with the South African Police Service to provide support regarding crime perpetrated by communities towards schools.  The South African Police Service are busy with these investigations and are pursuing criminal charges against the perpetrators where schools have opened cases at their local police stations.

Reply:

1. Litigation costs from 1 January 2017 to date are as follows:

Year	Amount
2017	R 71, 383.70
2018	R 1, 807, 468.98
2019	R 2, 314, 626.18
2020	R 3, 901, 436.20
Total	R 8, 094, 915.15

 

2. The legal cost for each labour dispute are as follows:

Year	Litigation	Amount in Rands
October 2018 - September 2019	NLSA vs Executive Director: Corporate Services	R 579, 902.39
January 2018 - November 2019	NLSA vs Director: Centre for the Book	R 1, 696,950.27
April 2019 - August 2019	NLSA vs former National Librarian and CEO	R 1,663, 094.00
April 2018 to Date	NLSA vs Director: Human Resources	R 152, 121.96
April 2017 - August 2019	NLSA vs Director: Bibliographic Services and Collections Management	R 2, 798, 522.75
Total	R 6, 890, 591.37

3. The CCMA ruled in favor of the employee for Unfair Suspension.

Details of the ruling: The National Library of South Africa, the respondent has perpetrated an unfair labour practice in terms of section (186) (2)(b) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 as amended.

4. (a) On 30 September 2019 at conciliation, the employee withdrew his case after an agreement was reached that he would return to work on 01 November 2019.

(b) On 28 October 2019 the Board ruled that the employee’s return date would be deferred to 1 April 2020 in light of representation and resistance received by Management from internal and external stakeholders including Organised Labour.

(c) The total cost for the above matter is R 1 696 950.27.

Reply:

1. According to the Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC); Board members do not receive a salary but an allowance as approved by the General Assembly. These allowances are to compensate board members for costs incurred in attending to board matters. Board members that are in an acting position do not receive an acting allowance and continue to receive their normal allowance

(a) The elected board members continue to receive their monthly allowances as follows: -

• President: Nil (currently vacant)
• 1st Vice President: R22 024.97
• 2nd Vice President: Nil (currently vacant)
• Ordinary Board Member: R18 354.14 (8 members)
• The IOC and IPC representatives that serve on the board have waivered their entitlement to receive an allowance and do not receive same
• Total Monthly allowances for board members: R168 858.12

(b) As required by reporting standards, these amounts are disclosed in the annual financial statement

2. SASCOC has indicated that:

• The organization is in a critical stage of need of funding to fully deliver on its mandates.
• The reduction of funding from the National Lotteries Commission of R100m (due to the change in their own distribution criteria) has severely impacted on SASCOC’s financial needs as this funding requirement was part of the budgetary requirements of SASCOC that was submitted to the Commission. The annual allocation for the 2019/2020 financial year from the Commission was R8m.
• The total annual funds inflow (which include government, the NLC, IOC, IPC and IOC/IPC Top sponsors) expected for the 2020/2021 financial year is R39m.
• The funding needs for SASCOC to meet its commitments for the 2020/2021 financial year is R47m. This amount excludes funding required for games delivery
• SASCOC is unable the deliver on its games programmes or unfunded mandates without additional special funding.

Reply:

The Ekurhuleni Development Agency does not report to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Thank you

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education has signed a Protocol on School Safety with the South African Police Service. See Attached Annexure A. Several criminal cases have been opened with the Police across the various provinces. The Police Service is investigating these acts of vandalism and criminality and the Department of Basic Education has called for the maximum sentences to be imposed on those found to be responsible for the wanton destruction of school infrastructure. 

Reply:

1. No disciplinary action was taken.

2. No action was taken against anyone in this regards. The Board noted the specific comments made by the Presiding Officer as they could not be substantiated.

3. No action has been taken against anyone, as indicated above. This matter was handled as a result of a grievance lodged by staff and management felt that there was no malicious intent.

4. The NLSA’s Recruitment Policy requires that all vacant positions must be advertised.

Reply:

The state is committed to a sustainable wage bill. During the tabling of the 2020 budget, the Minister of Finance announced the reduction in compensation budgets by R160.2 billion over the 2020 MTEF. The reductions are distributed as follows: R37.8 billion in 2020/21 financial year, followed by reductions amounting to R54.9 billion in 2021/22 financial year and R67.5 billion in 2020/23 financial year.

Changes to the sovereign rating of the Republic by rating agencies and the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have created an unprecedented economic and social catastrophe at a local and global level. As a consequence, Cabinet will re-evaluate the impact this has had on the measures to reduce the public sector wage bill by R37.8 billion by 31 March 2021.

Government respects the process of collective bargaining.

I am informed that the Minister for Public Service and Administration has already commenced engagement with labour unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on the concomitant economic challenges and implications of the reductions with specific reference to the 2020/21 financial year.

We will continue to engage with labour unions at the PSCBC regarding measures to implement the reductions to the public sector wage bill.

Reply:

(a)&(b)According to the information received from the Msukaligwa Local Municipality, plans are already in place to build houses in Kakati, Ward 17 for the 2020/21 financial year. The quantity of houses to be constructed will be informed by the number qualifying beneficiaries and available resources.

In addition, projects that are currently being implemented in Kakati Ward 17 include the upgrading of Mavundla Street (80% complete), Motau and Tutu Streets (98.5% complete).

Reply:

The Department is working in collaboration with the national and provincial Departments of Social Development (DSD) through the National Food and Nutrition Security Task Team led by the Presidency, through which agreement was reached that DSD will include learners from the National Nutrition Programme in their Disaster Relief and Social Relief Management Programme when distributing food parcels to households. The Department 's social and corporate partners were encouraged and referred to use the DSD distribution centres.

Reply:

Honourable Member, in my Budget Vote speech on 7 May 2015 I announced the creation of a National Rapid Response Task Team and explained its purpose as follows:

“Communications and outreach programmes are part of our frontline services to ensure that the correct messages reach our people, in order to reduce the social distance referred to. I have decided to appoint a National Rapid Response Task Team that will help us communicate with our communities before implementing any policies, so that they understand the benefits, who would qualify and who would not, etc. This, we believe will lessen the tension that always arise when there is a development. This Task Team will also assist us understand where there is a problem and allow us to rapidly respond to problems as they arise.”

The Rapid Response Task Team has been in existence since 2015 and their main responsibilities are to address sector related challenges including:

• • • Community engagements, before any policy implementation, to enable better understanding of citizenry criteria and benefits on sector subsidies;
    • Proactive and responsive intervention to community needs to identify incidents/ issues before they reach the media, leading to public protests;
    • Proactive alerts on problems, for prompt and rapid response, before and as when they arise in order to lessen potential tensions during housing developments;
    • Liaison and engagement with various communities and key stakeholders in areas identified as hotspots in which there are pending and/or outstanding human settlements challenges, and to reduce social distance/ communication gaps between Government and communities;
    • Provide reports on proposed investigations on concerns and allegations of irregularities and malpractices in implementation and delivery of human settlement programmes and report findings with recommendations to the Minister;
    • Identify appropriate steps and actions to improve implementation and delivery of human settlements programmes and provision of support to distressed communities and make recommendations to the Minister.

In line with the above, in the Budget Vote of 10 May 2018 the former Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Noma-India Mfeketo, announced that,

“These are protests of communities who are crying for services and houses. It is therefore important that we act swiftly to resolve the challenges faced by our communities. The solution to these protests lies in a well-coordinated cooperative government intervention involving all spheres of government and multi-sector departments.  We will immediately deploy the National Rapid Response Team to engage the affected communities, while we also coordinate the integrated government intervention to address the community challenges.”

Since 2019 my new portfolio now includes Water and Sanitation, resulting in an increased scope of work, which require further intensified community and stakeholder interactions, consultations and coordination.

In order to achieve these objectives, we have since 2015 appointed persons with the necessary skills and competencies, taking into account their respective track records, experience, knowledge and expertise.

Reply:

1. Yes, the person is suing the National Library of South Africa

(a)(i) The lawsuit is for alleged defamation of character

(ii) R 10 million

(b) The matter is at the High Court awaiting a trial date.

2. The NLSA accepted the summons and are defending the matter.

3. In light of the above, the lawyer has not withdrawn and is still the NLSA’s attorney of record.

Reply:

Response

(1) (a) Eastern Cape: 9 338; Free State: 6 375; Gauteng: 44 861; KwaZulu-Natal: 19 811; Limpopo: 8 626; Mpumalanga: 4 075; Northern Cape: 1 966; North West: 8 335; Western Cape: 17 797. 

    (b) The file: Disability type per province is attached below.

(2) 501 

(3) a) The file: Masterlist of Special schools is attached below. 

     b) The file: Masterlist of Special Schools is attached below. 

     c) The file: Masterlist of Special Schools is attached below. 

Attached Annexure A

Attached Annexure B

Reply:

1. (a) (i) The National Librarian and CEO

(ii) The Acting Director: Centre for the Book

(b). The decision to publish the manuscript was in-line with the Community Publishing Grant’s Guidelines for Special Projects. While the Community Publishing Grant focuses on fiction works, the Special Projects focus on non-fiction work that capture the history of our country not captured in conventional history books.

(c) The decision to published 1000 copies was dictated by the potential demand for the book in the market.

2. The biography falls within the scope of the Community Publishing Grant’s Special Projects as it focuses on non-fiction work that capture the history of our country not captured in conventional history books.

3. The biography tells the story of Father Laurence McDonnell, fondly known as Larry and his relationship with South African liberation struggle heroes.

Reply:

Response

There are two (2)  Mceula Primary Schools in the Chris Hani Municipality:

Response:

(1) and (2) 

MceulaPrimariy School, EMIS number: 200600469 had received 14 toilets for 265 learners and 5 teachers on the 23rd November 2012 and therefore it has not been prioritised. The school will not be on the SAFE Initiative because it has a sufficient number of toilets. The fixing of classrooms, is delegated to the school under the maintenance budget.  A works inspector will be dispatched to the school to ensure the effective utilisation of the maintenance budget. The annual maintenance budget for the school, is R47,955.00

 

Response:

(1) and (2)  Mceula Primary School, EMIS number: 200600468) is on the SAFE Initiative project list. The project has been allocated to an Implementing agent.  The concurrence to appoint a contractor has been granted by the DBE,and work will commence once the lockdown has been lifted.  the amount allocated for the project is R726 912.59.  The fixing of classrooms is delegated to the school under the maintenance budget.  A  works inspector will be dispatched to the school to ensure the effective utilisation of the maintenance budget. The annual maintenance budget for the is R45,522.50

Reply:

RESPONSE

1. (a) In terms of the announcement made by the Minister on 30 April 2020, the intention is to phase in the resumption of schooling, which will be determined by the readiness of the schools to ensure that learners, teachers and support staff are not exposed to any risk of infection. Hence, the planned date is 1 June 2020 for learners in Grade 12 and Grade 7; and 18 May 2020 for all teachers. The resumption of schooling will be subject to all safety precautionary measures implemented in schools. The other grades will be systematically phased-in, depending on the readiness of the schools.

(b)       The time lost will be recovered by resorting to the following measures -

• The June vacation will be reduced to a week;
• The September holiday will reduced to a long weekend;
• The December holidays will be reduced by a week;
• The June examination will be scrapped to allow for more teaching and learning time; and
• If necessary the school day will be extended for the Intermediate Phase (30min); Senior Phase (1 hour) and Grade 12 (2hours).

In addition to the above, the Department has already commenced with the trimming and re-organisation of the school curriculum to ensure that the core content areas are covered in preparation for the next grade. This will also alleviate the pressure on both learners and teachers.

1. In terms of the writing of the National Senior Certificate examination, if the Grade 12 learners resume schooling on 1 June 2020, the National Senior Certificate examination will take place as scheduled extending into December 2020. The time lost will be recovered as outlined in (1)(b) above. The processing and standardisation of the results will be delayed until January 2021 and the results would be released by the middle of January 2021.

Reply:

a) The Department is not using the said federation to manage the distribution of funds to artists

b) and (c) falls off, as the Department is not using the federation

Reply:

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

Thank you

Reply:

1. Yes, the staff member was dismissed on 7 August 2019. The staff member appealed the decision and it was ruled in the staff member’s favour.

(a) Allegations include acts of sexual harassment, victimisation and intimidation.

(b) Six months

(c) Yes

2. Yes, the person was reinstated

(a) The person was reinstated as a result of the outcome of the appeal

(b) The NLSA Regulation of 1998 in Section 16, number 9 states that the decision of the appeal authority is final.

(c) The total cost for the case is R 1 696 950.27

3. The institution is not facing any law suits in this respect.

Reply:

Projects completed

	Company Name	Nature of Project	Project Value	Location
1	Aberdare Cables	Cable manufacturing plant	R135,000,000	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
2	Adcock Ingram	Sterile eye-drop manufacturing and packing facility	R98,000,000	Clayville, Gauteng
3	Conlog	New electronics manufacturing capacity	R110,000,000	Dube Trade Port, KwaZulu-Natal
4	Hollard and Tokio Marine	Acquisition of Hollard Insurance Group SA and Hollard International	R5,000,000,000	Johannesburg, Gauteng
5	In2Food	Construction and operation of the largest food factory in the southern hemisphere	R241,000,000	OR Tambo SEZ, Gauteng
6	Komatsu	Establishing new parts distribution centre, headquarters, workshop, training centre and remanufacturing centre	R985,000,000	Germiston, Gauteng
7	Proctor and Gamble	Sanitary pad and diaper manufacturing facilities	R300,000,000	Kempton Park, Gauteng
8	Rexroth Bosch Company	New HQ building with production and warehouse facilities, expansion of Bosch value chain	R200,000,000	Kempton Park, Gauteng
9	Sumitomo Rubber Industries	Manufacturing facility for truck and bus radial tyres	R970,000,000	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
10	Mara	Smart mobile phone manufacturing	R1,500,000,000	Dube Trade Port, KwaZulu-Natal
		TOTAL	R9,539,000,000

Projects under construction

	Company Name	Nature of Project	Project Value	Location
1	Anglo American	On-going SIB capital and life extension capital	R71,640,000,000	North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga
2	Aspen Pharmacare	Manufacturing plant for anaesthetic products	R3,300,000,000	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
3	Bushveld	Vanadium mining and processing	R2,500,000,000	Brits, Mokopane, North West and Limpopo
4	Ivanplats	Development of a platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold and rhodium mine	R4,500,000,000	Mokopane, North West
5	McDonald's	Increasing restaurant chain outlets nationally	R3,000,000,000	National
6	Mondi	Mill upgrades and investment in associated forest assets	R8,000,000,000	Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
7	Naamsa OEM Investment Pledge	Investment by major auto OEMs for expansions and value chain development	R40,000,000,000	Various
8	Nestle	Capacity increase, maintenance, green technology conversion at a number of manufacturing facilities	R663,000,000	Harrismith, Hammanskraal and East London
9	Rain	5G ultra-high speed data network	R2,000,000,000	Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg
10	Vedanta	Development of an open cast zinc mine	R21,400,000,000	Kai Ma Northern Cape
11	Vodacom	Expansion and upgrade of Vodacom’s national IT infrastructure network.	R49,000,000,000	National
12	DBSA Green Climate Fund	Establishment of the Climate Finance Facility to co-fund projects that mitigate or adapt to climate change	R1,300,000,000	Various
13	IDC	Fund available for manufacturing projects	R3,600,000,000	Various
14	Multichoice	Broadcasting sector investment, local content and decoder manufacturing.	R1,000,000,000	National
15	Naspers	Start-up fund to back and support South African technology entrepreneurs	R4,600,000,000	Various
16	New Development Bank	Funding available to projects in clean energy, bulk water, social infrastructure and transport	R29,000,000,000	Various
17	Dalisu Holdings	Chemicals manufacturing plant	R254,000,000	Piet Retief, Mpumalanga
18	Legacy Group	Mixed-use development in Sandton	R3,000,000,000	Sandton, Gauteng
19	Main Street 800	Coal mining industry in Komatipoort	R193,000,000	Nkomazi, Mpumalanga
20	MSC (KZN Cruise Terminals)	New passenger cruise terminal at the port of Durban	R259,000,000	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
21	Mvelo Minerals	Platinum and vanadium mining in North West	R100,000,000	Rustenburg, North West
22	Naledi Inhlanganiso	Rail component manufacturing	R120,000,000	Vereeniging and Benoni, Gauteng
23	Renergen	Helium gas facility	R700,000,000	Virginia, Free State
24	Scaw metals	Expansion of steel manufacturing plant	R250,000,000	Germiston, Gauteng
25	Tomis Group	Meat production facility	R120,000,000	Hermon, Western Cape
26	Toyota	Investing in a new passenger vehicle	R2,430,000,000	Prospecton, KwaZulu-Natal
27	Triple Flag	Is investing with Royal Bafokeng Holdings in the platinum sector	R2,100,000,000	Phokeng, North West
		TOTAL	R255,029,000,000