Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. SARS cannot speak to the specifics of a particular case. However, the legal position is that a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) approved by the Commissioner under section 30 of the Income Tax Act, must conduct one or more Public Benefit Activities (PBAs). These activities are listed in the Ninth Schedule to the ITA. In general, these activities must be conducted in a manner referred to in section 30 of the ITA i.e.

• In a non-profit manner and with an altruistic and philanthropic intent;
• Should not be intended to promote the economic self-interest of anyone beyond reasonable remuneration; and
• Should be widely accessible to the general public at large (not small and exclusive groups).

In determining whether a PBO is conducting the activities as required in law, SARS will consider the merits of each case on the facts and within the framework of the legal provisions available.

2. to reassure the Honourable member that SARS addresses all non-compliance irrespective of who the taxpayer may be without fear, favour or prejudice. Again, SARS cannot speak to the specifics of a particular case. However, where it is discovered that any PBO has contravened the conditions of its approval as stated in law, its exemption will be taken on review and, if necessary, withdrawn and subjected to related tax consequences. All other sanctions available to SARS through the Tax Administration Act also apply to PBOs. Such measures available to SARS include conducting of audits and other administrative actions. In executing its legal mandate, SARS deals with all acts of non-compliance by any PBO without fear, favour or prejudice.

Reply:

(a) (b) Yes, inspections have been conducted.

(i) 1737 mining inspections and 1188 petroleum inspections were conducted during period January till September 2023 to monitor compliance to legislative requirements.

(ii) Inspections took place in all nine provinces of the Republic of South Africa.

(iii) Total amount spent thus far on inspections is R4 379 264.46

Reply:

Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)

(1) As of the conclusion of the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023/2024, all state departments and public entities participating in the Government Employees Pension Fund have been diligent in remitting their monthly contributions on behalf of their employees to the Fund. The data indicates that 99.90% of the total monthly pension contributions due were received and reconciled punctually as mandated by the relevant legislation.

(a)

(i) The minor discrepancy of 0.10% does not reflect arrears from any particular state department or public entity but rather pertains to adjustments necessitated by various scenarios such as service termination or changes in service conditions.

(ii) Consequently, there are no specific public entities identified as being in arrears with contributions.

(b) Given the nature of the discrepancy, it does not affect a quantifiable number of employees in a manner that would result from arrears in contributions.

(c) The financial impact represented by the 0.10% discrepancy is being analysed and resolved on a regular basis. The administrator conducts a reconciliation process which is a routine and rigorous part of ensuring compliance and accuracy in the contributions made to the Fund.

(d) To rectify the matter and ensure complete reconciliation:

- A robust process of reconciliation is conducted monthly to address any discrepancies and ensure that contributions reflect the accurate service conditions of all employees.

- Any adjustments required are being handled expeditiously, with a standard resolution timeframe of 30 days.

- Continuous monitoring and engagement with all participating employers are being maintained to ensure timely payment and accurate reporting of contributions, thus fostering a culture of compliance and transparency.

(2) No. All the concerned state departments and public entities have maintained a consistent track record of timely contributions, irrespective of the fiscal situation

South African Revenue Service (SARS)

1. From an employer point of view, SARS pays all statutory contributions on behalf of its employees to third parties such as Government Employees Pension Fund, Medical Schemes and the South African Revenue Service (PAYE, UIF and SDL) in full on a monthly basis. The current CC measures has no negative impact on the monthly commitments for the current staff establishment covered by the grant allocation.

From a Revenue Administration point of view, SARS is responsible for the collection of PAYE, UIF and SDL part of the payroll creditors (contributions) from respective employers. Pension and Medical Aid contributions are paid directly to the respective fund administrators.

(a) Of the 5,303 Departments and Public entities, 4,899 (92%) pay their PAYE, VAT and other tax obligation on time. In observing taxpayer confidentially provision of the Tax Administration Act, we are unable to provide any further specific taxpayer information including the list of the defaulting taxpayers as prompted by the question, it should be noted further that the specific entities can provide directly to the parliamentary oversight bodies such information.

(b) SARS information is limited to Employer account and the defaulting taxpayer debt is at an aggregate entity level. Information on the affected Employees is not yet available from the current Tax Administration data.

(c) The balance of 404 entities (from the total of 5,303) owe SARS R5.9bn in debt for the 2023/24 fiscal year comprised of PAYE R2.4bn, VAT R3.5bn. Of the R5.9bn debt R1bn is under dispute leaving a balance of R4.9bn undisputed of which R2.9bn is older than 3 years.

(d) SARS debt collection processes are employed to follow up on defaulting taxpayers and arrangements made to enforce that the debt is settled within reasonable time where feasible. Engagements with National Treasury to deduct from Grants the necessary amounts to settle taxes owed to SARS have been evoked as the last resort following lack of cooperation or lack of positive response from defaulting taxpayers. It is genuinely concerning for State Organs not to comply with the very tax laws that generate revenue that enables them to exist in order to delivery on their respective mandates of rendering public service to SA citizens who are the taxpaying community.

2. Prior to the Cost Containment measures coming into effect, SARS records have over the years noted an increasing level of Departments and SOCs indebtedness to SARS. There is no correlation between the current Cost Containment measures and the increase in the Departments and SOCs inability to pay their tax obligations over to SARS. This will be monitored closely in the coming months to observe trends post the implementation of the Cost Containment measures.

(a) Not applicable

(b) (i) Not applicable.

(b)(ii) Not applicable

 

Reply:

(1). The South African Geographical Names Act 118 of 1998 does not specify a threshold requirement for the support for a name change. The Provincial Geographical Names Committees in the provinces where the name concerned is located always host public consultation meetings in the local communities. These meetings are advertised in advance and minutes and attendance registers are kept. The decisions are taken based on the count of a simple majority of people who attended the public consultation meetings where the proposed names are put to the attendees.

(2). Individual South African citizens or a group of citizens can propose a name change in terms of the South African Geographical Council Act, Act No 118 of 1998. The Minister considers the application together with relevant accompanying details including the motivation for the name change, the evidence of public consultation and where applicable, written permission from the family after whom the geographical feature is proposed to be named.

(3). All geographical features approved by the Minister for change are done in terms of the SAGNC Act 118 of 1998. The Handbook is a users’ guide derived from the Act. All names changed do follow the guidance of the Handbook on Geographical Names. In instances where the proposed name is that of a person, written permission from the affected family is required before the name change is submitted to the Minister for his consideration.

(4)(a). The POPIA Act is also invoked when a PAIA request or Parliamentary Question is made to the Department that includes personal details of applicants, informants in relation to a geographical feature application.

(b). When a geographical feature or place name is proposed for change, a prescribed South African Geographical Names Council application form needs to be completed by the applicant who must be a South African citizen. The application form is submitted to the relevant Provincial Geographical Names Committee (PGNC) in the relevant province. The PGNC will do desktop research to check if the proposed name is a

national feature, is not a duplication of an existing name, is not undesirable in terms of race, gender. The PGNC will then put out local advertisements in community radio stations and local print media informing the local community of public consultation meetings with details like the dates, venues, and times for the public consultation meetings. The PGNC will host the public consultation meetings during which the community will discuss the proposed name changes. Attendance registers and minutes are kept during these meetings. In instances the new name is the name of a person, the family of the person after whom the geographical feature will be named, written permission from that family is required. It is desirable that the local municipality concerned is also consulted in order for it to indicate its support for the name change.

A simple majority of meeting attendees is required for the name change to be supported at the local community level. Once the PGNC is satisfied that there is community support for the name change and that all required documentation like proof of community meetings, with attendance registers and minutes, the information is submitted to the South African Geographical Names Council. The SAGNC sits once a quarter to consider all geographical names applications submitted to it. The SAGNC reviews all the documentation including the application form, evidence of public consultations, attendance registers and minutes of meetings. The SAGNC will also require PGNCs to provide evidence that public consultation meetings were advertised to local communities.

Letters from affected family members will also be reviewed. Once the SAGNC is satisfied that the due process was followed and that all documentation is provided, it will recommend the name change to the Minister. The relevant documentation will be submitted to the Minister who will apply his mind before taking the decision to either approve or not approve the name change application. Once the Minister has taken a decision, the name is put in the government gazette for public information. The public has thirty days after the gazetting of a name change to submit objections in writing to the Minister. This is in terms of section 10 of the SAGNC Act 118 of 1998. The Minister

will consider all objections and respond to all objectors in writing whether to reverse the name change or sustain his initial decision to approve the name change. This concludes the process.

 

 

Reply:

(1). Insofar as nation-building and reconciliation do not imply preserving the inherited vestiges of the unjust society characterised by racial discrimination, repression, and flagrant violations of human rights against the majority, or ignoring the necessity of guaranteeing that race, ethnicity, and/or political persuasion is not a determining factor in the material conditions of South Africans as they did in the past, the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture continues to spearhead and coordinate the Government’s Priority 6 Social Cohesion Programme of Action as part of a rallying call to transform the material conditions of our country in order to foster conditions that are favourable for genuine reconciliation, social cohesion, and nation-building.

As should be expected, the Department, through its various Departmental programmes, contributes significantly to nation-building and reconciliation among South Africans of all races, ethnicities, and other social enclaves. Among key programmes coordinated under this Priority Area is National Days Programme through which the Department continues to pursue social cohesion, reconciliation, and national

unity. This has been accomplished by deliberately making sure that the National Day is observed not just on its actual day but also for the entire month that it falls within.

This has made it possible for the National Days Programme to be diversified throughout the month by including a range of build-up or post-national day initiatives such as dialogues, seminars, and sports and arts activities. In this manner, even South Africans who do not prefer the traditional rally format in stadiums which is ordinarily employed for National Days are accommodated and do fully participate in the celebrations and are involved in the discourse around nation-building that comes at the back of our National Days given their link to our liberation history.

Additionally, the Department also utilises its Public Entities to reach as many South Africans as possible through the National Days programme. Utilising initiatives such as theatre, exhibitions and dialogues, the Public Entities play a significant role in the National Days programme by making sure that the programme reaches their niche audiences, thereby contributing significantly to the diversity of reach of the programme. This guarantees that National Days are celebrated on an intercultural basis fully inclusive of all South Africans and serve as a platform for introspection on our past and current concerns around nation-building, freedom, unity, and reconciliation.

The Department also implements several established community engagement initiatives that are designed with the express purpose of reflecting and mobilising our communities in the efforts of our country to address numerous challenges related to social cohesion and nation-building. These programmes include:

• The Social Cohesion Advocates Programme – This programme consists of a cohort of eminent persons in our society who create platforms to promote unity, peacebuilding reconciliation, and social cohesion in our communities. Given their expertise as, among others, peacebuilders, facilitators, and general experts in promoting social cohesion, nation-building, and reconciliation, the Social Cohesion

• Advocates continue to work with various stakeholders such as civil society, faith-based organizations, and Traditional Leaders throughout our country to promote
• peaceful coexistence and respond to events that put the stability of our communities and country in jeopardy.
• Community Conversations programme – This programme is meant to bridge existing divisions, among others, along race, class, gender, religion, culture, and other social contours to foster social integration and inclusion. The Department has adopted the Community Capacity Enhancement approach to Community Conversations, which promotes the use of dialogue and deliberation skills by communities in response to challenges rather than the recent wave of violent protests and social eruptions. This programme also deepens understanding of the “other” and fosters intergroup connections, all with the aim of strengthening social cohesion, nation-building, and reconciliation in our communities and country.

To guarantee that nation-building, social cohesion, and reconciliation are not merely theoretical concepts without the potential to impact inherited racial inequality, the Department remains steered by the recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to redress the past inequities, whilst integrating the previously marginalised heritage to cultivate the prospects of authentic reconciliation and social cohesion. To this end, the Department carries out the Heritage Legacy Project, whereby the Department has constructed several heritage sites and erected monuments and statues in pursuit of the transformation of the heritage landscape. For this MTSF period, these include the Sarah Baartmann Center of Remembrance; Winnie Mandela House in Brandfort; OR Tambo Legacy Project; JL Dube Amphitheatre.

The Department has further repatriated and reburied the human remains of several South Africans who were victims of our racist and brutal past such as Sarah Baartman, J B Marks, Moses Kotane and Klaas and Trooi Pienaar.

Through the South African Geographical Names Council, the Department continues to standardise the geographical names in South Africa to redress, correct and

transform our country with major towns recently changed such as Gqeberha from Port Elizabeth, Kariega from Uitenhage, Qonce from King Williamstown, and Winnie Mandela from Brandfort, and major airports having been recently changed that include the King Phalo from East London and Chief Dawid Stuurman from Port Elizabeth.

To create a national identity that is inclusive of all people and transcends racial, ethnic, religious, and other aspects of social identity, the Department has specific programmes to popularise national symbols such as the flag in every school project, the #IamtheFlag campaign, and workshops that raise awareness of national symbols based on our Passport of Patriotism. These initiatives, just to name a few, insofar as heritage is concerned, offer genuine prospects for genuine nation-building and reconciliation, and an overarching national identity that is based on the iconography that accurately reflects the demographic dynamics of our country.

The Department has specific Sports and Arts - in particular performing arts – programmes that are geared towards uniting people and building a cohesive nation where race, ethnicity and other social enclaves are not a determining factor to the life circumstances of South Africans. Sport brings people of different cultures, languages, religions, and ages together to celebrate one event, one sport, or just sport. The Department continues to promote sport as a crucial platform for promoting initiatives like prevention of GBVF, promotion of human rights, inclusion, non-racism, non-sexism, and many other important issues in society. In fact, through the Service Level Agreements, the Department has instructed different Sporting Codes to align with the National Priorities.

The results of this can be seen with the Soccer Premier League which has continued broadcasting messages calling for the end of gender-based violence, which has persisted as a worrying plague in our nation.

School sport has also proven to be a very important vehicle for promoting non-racialism and non-sexism as it brings learners from different backgrounds to interact across diverse enclaves of our society. During the MTSF period, over R1 billion has been spent on the School Sport programme, with a reach of over 419 472 learners who have participated in district championships across the country, thus creating an apt opportunity for interaction and promotion of non-racialism and non-sexism.

In the main, the Department takes particularly serious its role lead in fostering social cohesion and nation-building. This work remains critical as the legacy of colonialism and apartheid still lingers on and thus continues to texture social circumstances even in the current context of constitutional democratic order. Through the Mzansi Golden Economy Program, and in keeping with the third objective of the Priority 6 Social Cohesion Programme of Action, which is to promote social cohesion through increased interaction across space and class, the Department continues to support several arts initiatives that aim to draw diverse races and social enclaves of our country, thereby fostering unity, reconciliation, and trust in one another. These initiatives include, among others:

1. Joy of Jazz in Johannesburg, Gauteng

2. Innibos Afrikaans festival in Nelpruit, Mpumalanga

3. National Arts Festival in Makhanda, Eastern Cape

4. Johannesburg Comedy Festival – Johannesburg

These initiatives continue to be crucial in fostering not only interaction but also trust among those from diverse backgrounds. In the main, trust between people fosters the cohesion required for the promotion of genuine conditions for reconciliation and nation building thereby lowering the undesirable instances of, among others, racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.

(2). The South African Constitution has an important principle called the separation of Powers meaning the power of the state is divided between three but interdependent components. In the case of Afriforum vs Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the court made a ruling on the matter and Members of Parliament advised to be guide by that decision. The singing of the song Dubul’ ibhunu - “Kill the Boer - Kill the Farmer” - was not hate speech, Judge Edwin Molahlehi, sitting as an Equality Court in the High Court in Johannesburg,

Reply:

(a),(b) Please refer to the table below.

 

2020/2021
(a)	(b)
PROVINCE	HECTARES	CALENDAR MONTH(S)
EC	4 046	Mid-June 2020 to early July 2020.
FS	100 000	October 2021.
GP	No Report	No Report.
KZN	52 088	Calendar month not specified.
LP	No Report	No Report.
MP	57 809	July to October.
NC	103 924	Calendar month not specified.
NW	No Report	No Report
WC	No Report	No Report
TOTAL	317867
2021/2022
EC	4046	June 2021 to July 2021.
FS	100 536	Calendar month not specified.
GP	No Report	No Report.
KZN	27 149	Calendar month not specified.
LP	No Report	No Report.
MP	489 929	July to October.
NC	752 871	Calendar month not specified.
NW	738 302	Calendar month not specified.
WC	No Report	No Report.
TOTAL	2 112 833
2022/2023
EC	No Report	No Report.
FS	76 943	Calendar month not specified.
GP	No Report	No Report.
KZN	14 535	Calendar month not specified.
LP	No Report	No Report.
MP	403 373	July to October.
NC	754 024	Calendar month not specified.
NW	483 453	Calendar month not specified.
WC	No Report	No Report.
TOTAL	1 732 328
2023
EC	10321	September.
FS	106 000	September.
GP	5 000	June to August.
KZN	12 332	September
LP	619	August.
MP	34 291	August.
NC	76 178	September.
NW	367 902	September.
WC	No Report	No Report.
TOTAL	612 643

Reply:

(1). A reliable response regarding this question is dependent on the availability of the existence of a national sport facilities database that can filter data as per the required variables such as province, towns, and suburbs, schools, and coordinates of the exact site where the facility is located.

As a department, we have previously made efforts to ensure establishment of such database by trying to mobilise resources required to conduct a facility audit that will, among others, identify locations of all sport facilities in the country, including in terms of province, towns, suburbs, and schools.

These efforts included engagements with provinces to allocate resources from their budgets for this purpose, but budget availability was also a constraint for them. Another effort included submission of a request for R20 million under the second wave of Presidential Economic Stimulus Programme (PESP) to conduct this audit and use

it to drive employment creation among young people, but unfortunately that application was not successful.

As a result, national department has not yet conducted this audit and does not have the information as requested. However, it has engaged with Swimming South Africa (SSA) to establish a possibility of availability of this information.

Fortunately, the Federation provided a report for an audit of swimming pool facilities in Mpumalanga province conducted in 2015 which, at the least, give an idea of the minimum number of facilities that exist in the province. While the other limitation of the report is that it does not provide information to a level of town and suburb, but it gives

the total number of swimming pools in the province, as well as the district and local municipalities where they are located.

In summary, by 2015 Mpumalanga had 61 swimming pools that are accessible to the public. For a provincial distribution of these facilities kindly refer to the attached Swimming Facility Audit Report of Mpumalanga. Department is still awaiting reports covering other provinces from the Federation and they will also be shared as soon as they become available.

(2). As indicated in the response above that due to lack of facility audit conducted by the department, reliance was placed on audit conducted by Swimming South Africa, and they have so far provided a covering Mpumalanga province only. However, report reveals that of the total sixty-one swimming pools in the province, only fourteen are in good conditions and fifteen are not usable. The remaining twenty-six was in average conditions and six in poor conditions, respectively.

Reply:

a) The Ekurhuleni based institution is anticipated to open its doors in 2026; and

b) The Hammanskraal based institution is also anticipated to open its doors in 2026.

Reply:

A reliable response regarding this question is dependent on the availability of the existence of a national sport facilities database that can filter data as per the required variables such

as province, towns, and suburbs, schools, and coordinates of the exact site where the facility is located.

As a department, we have previously made efforts to ensure establishment of such database by trying to mobilise resources required to conduct a facility audit that will, among others, identify locations of all sport facilities in the country, including in terms of province, towns, suburbs, and schools.

These efforts included engagements with provinces to allocate resources from their budgets for this purpose, but budget availability was also a constraint for them. Another effort included submission of a request for R20 million under the second wave of Presidential Economic Stimulus Programme (PESP) to conduct this audit and use it to drive employment creation among young people, but unfortunately that application was not successful.

As a result, national department has not yet conducted this audit and does not have the information as requested. However, it has engaged with Swimming South Africa (SSA) to establish a possibility of availability of this information.

Fortunately, the Federation provided a report for an audit of swimming pool facilities in Mpumalanga province conducted in 2015 which, at the least, give an idea of the minimum

number of facilities that exist in the province. While the other limitation of the report is that it does not provide information to a level of town, suburb, and public schools, it however

provides a total of 26 swimming pools for both public and private schools. Unfortunately name of schools, their towns and suburbs are not provided.

 

Reply:

Hon. Mkhonto, let me repeat what I stated in the Portfolio Committee meeting. On Wednesday, afternoon of 18 October 2023, I received the letter of intention to resign by the 30 November 2023 from the department’s Director General.

I have then processed the letter containing the intention to resign from the position of the Department of Employment and Labour Director General by and from Mr Thobile Lamati.

The Director General was then informed to expect the evolution of his letter with the intention to resign.

Reply:

1. Comprehensive Student Funding Model
2. As soon as it is approved by cabinet in November.
3. The seed funding behind the initiative will be sourced from the National Skills Fund (NSF), SETA’s, BBBEE Code 300 skills fund as prescribed in legislation, and banks.
4. It is estimated that about 11% of university students constitute the missing middle who are not eligible for state funding, although some non-funded NSFAS students can also be defined as the missing middle.

Reply:

(a). The slow pace of change to the names of our towns, cities and streets can be attributed to many factors. The South African Geographical Names Act 118 of 1998 does not provide for government at national level to actively propose name changes as the Minister has to take decisions on names submitted to him by applicants. Local communities are prioritising service delivery matters like housing, employment, water, and electricity over the transformation of our naming landscape. The cut in the budget allocations for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture makes it increasingly difficult to conduct major public awareness campaigns on radio, television, and the social media.

(b). The pace of name changes in the Free State has been very slow. The South African Geographical Names Council held an awareness campaign in Bloemfontein on the 28 of June 2023.

During the awareness campaign all district municipalities and the Provincial Geographical Names Committee were given information on the process that needs to be followed when names of streets, towns and cities are proposed to be changed. This process includes public consultation with the local communities. This awareness

workshop was livestreamed to the public in the Free State to create community awareness on the urgency to transform South Africa’s naming landscape.

Reply:

(a) Please refer to Annexure A

(b)(i) The farmers were not given any equipment except for the 200 x 2 500 litres water tanks.

(ii) The process of selecting beneficiaries was done in two ways. One hundred (100) beneficiaries were food security/ subsistence/ backyard farmers identified by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through Matlala and Moletji service centres. The focus was on farmers producing at a small scale mainly for subsistence and have no access to water for their gardens. The other hundred (100) beneficiaries were indigent households who were identified by Moletji and Matlala Traditional Councils. The tanks will be used for rainwater harvesting.

(iii) Tents, podium, chairs and the sound system were hired, as well as catering for those who were in attendance.

(c)(i) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) participated in the establishment of the Rural Safety Strategy that is led by the South African Police services (SAPS) and remains an active member of the safety strategy established in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, under a visible policing programme which is currently implemented in terms of the Rural Safety Strategy. This is an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that aims to mobilize rural communities to create a safe, secure and crime free environment that is conducive to food security, prevention of stock theft as well as social and economic stability. Members of the SAPS stock theft unit have access to DALRRD’s animal identification system, this enables relevant SAPS members to monitor stock theft including verification of animal ownership and sale of animals at auctions.

(ii)(aa),(bb) The Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) provides for conditional grants to Provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDAs) which caters for animal fencing as part of animal production projects. Furthermore, the Department, through its collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) provides for agricultural infrastructure such as construct camps, fences etc on communal land to secure livestock in rural areas. However, this work is not exclusively the responsibility of DALRRD; there are other departments and agencies who also play a role in this area.

(d)(i) The supplier of the 200 water tanks is Manekwane Business Enterprise.

    (ii) R 800 000 for 200 water tanks at R 4 000.00 each.

 

ANNEXURE A TO NA-QUES 2985 OF 2023

a) Expenses incurred for each event during the minister’s engagements with the villagers of Moletji and Matlala.

Date	Name of event	Purpose	No of persons	Expenditure
				Item	Amount
11/04/2023	Career Guidance, Mahoai High School	Career Guidance	250 (Learners and Departmental Officials from DALRRD, PDARD, LEDET and Department of Education)	Marquee, structural engineering, etc.	R95 000
				Artificial lawn, stage, sound, generator, public liability, etc.	R219 255
				Catering for 250 people	R55 000
				Service Fee	R20 613.75
				Sub-Total	R389 868.75
11/04/2023	Minister’s visit to Kgoshi Matlala	Courtesy visit and listen to concerns raised by Kgoshi Matlala	Minister and Departmental Officials	None
13/04/2023	Minister visit to Kgoshi Moloto III	Courtesy visit and listen to concerns raised by Kgoshi Moloto III as the area is Minister’s constituency	Minister and Departmental Officials	None
14/04/2023	Tibane Shopping Centre Flea Market	Minister engages farmers and facilitate conversation between farmers and centre manager/shop owners	60 Exhibitors and Departmental Officials	Tent, gazebos, ablution, tables, chairs, generator, etc Service fee	R58 607 R3 271.75
				Catering 100 people Service fee	R30 385.00 R1 696.25
				Sound system Service fee	R26 028.10 R1 453.03
				Sub-Total	R121 441.13
17/04/2023	Farmers Day Moletji Moshate	Minister/departmental officials direct engagement with backyard farmers and handing over of water tanks	550 community members, including backyard farmers	Item	Amount
				Catering 550 people Service fee	R167 117.50 R9 329.38
				Sound and podium Service fee	R152 212.99 R 8 497.33
				Marquee (incl. ablution, chairs, tables, stage, VIP tent, deco, generator, etc.) Service fee	R734 256.10 R 40 990.03
				Media (Radio) Service fee	R69 010.00 R3 852.50
				Sub-Total	R1 185 265.83
17/04/2023	Farmers Day Moletji Moshate	Procurement of 200 Water Tanks		200 water tanks	R800 000.00
GRAND TOTAL	R 2 496 575.71

Reply:

South Africa and Palestine are currently working on formulating practical strategies towards taking up the Palestinian cause to the ICC and ICJ to declare Israel as an apartheid state. South Africa will directly petition the ICJ to give advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

On the continental level, South Africa was instrumental in lobbying for Israel to not being granted an observer status to the African Union. In February 2023, South Africa welcomed the suspension of Israel’s observer status at the African Union. South Africa objected against the unilateral granting of official observer status by the Chairperson African Union (AU) Commissioner, on 22 July 2021. This action came at a time when the Israeli oppression became more brutal, the oppressed people of Palestine were and are subjected to bombardments and continued illegal settlements on their land, further hampering any efforts to the peace process.

On the global level, South Africa supports Palestinian efforts for membership of the United Nations and the creation of positive, credible, and lasting international mechanisms to address the Palestinian cause based on international law.

On the domestic level, the South African Parliament voted on 7 March 2023 in favour of a motion to downgrade its Embassy in Israel, to a Liaison Office. Since the recall of South Africa’s Ambassador to Tel Aviv in 2018, the South African Embassy in Israel has been headed by a Charge d’ Affaires.

Reply:

1. There are no dysfunctional Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs). In the Free State the Springbokfontein Agri-Hub is experiencing conflict within the existing cooperative, which will be resolved by registering a new cooperative. This however does not indicate that the Agri-Hub is a failure or dysfunctional.

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

The Agri-parks programme is comprised of three legs, i.e, the Farmer Production Support Unit (FPSU), where mechanisation and production inputs are provided; the Agri-Hub where production is collated with a little bit of value addition; and Rural-Urban Markets where the produce is sold. Currently, the Department is implementing only the first leg of the programme, which is the Farmer Support Programme (FPSU). The diagram below depicts a typical Agri-park.

There are two (2) major components in the establishment of a Farmer Production Support Unit, (FPSU) namely: Infrastructure and Operations. The functionality of the FPSU is determined or defined by the FPSUs ability to provide any of the following to producers towards agricultural production and market access:

• Governance structure;
• Production inputs;
• Mechanisation support;
• Human resources support; and
• Producer registration.

(2) Yes. Please refer to Annexure A.

Reply:

1. (a) The total amount expended against the Departmental budget for the 2023/24 financial year as at 30 September 2023, is

R91 864.945 million which includes R10 947.497 million in relation to Direct Charges.

(b) The main expenditure programmes are:

• Programme 1: Administration at R234.802 million or 45.4%
• Programme 6: Community Education and Training at R1 406.590 or 52.7%
• Programme 5: Skills Development at R142.148 million or 32.9%
• Programme 4: Technical and Vocational Education and Training at R6 144.052 million or 48.2%
• Programme 3: University Education at R72 071.195 million or 77.8%
• Programme 2: Planning, Policy and Strategy at R918.661 million or 52.1%

2. To date, our 26 public universities have outstanding infrastructure projects from previous cycles amounting to R9.416 billion. A summary of outstanding infrastructure projects with breakdown of costs and envisaged implementation dates is shown in Table 1 below

Table 1: Summary of universities’ outstanding infrastructure projects

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
CPUT	Extension and Alteration of Old Education Building in Bellville Campus (Phase 1)	75 000	162 530	May-23	Aug-23	Dec-24
	Conversion of Freedom Square Residence from Catering to Self-Catering	17 530		Aug-22	Dec-22	Mar-24
	Construction of an Applied Science Building in Bellville Campus	70 000		Jun-22	Jul-23	Feb-25
CUT	New Management Building: Bloemfontein Campus	67 924	376 398	DEFERRED	DEFERRED	DEFERRED
	New Jewellery School Building: Bloemfontein Campus	24 231		TBC	TBC	TBC
	New Teachers Education Building: Welkom Campus	78 215		Apr-23	TBC	Oct-25
	New Multi-Purpose Hall: Welkom Campus	28 203		Apr-23	TBC	Mar-25
	Construction of 400-beds student residence: Welkom Campus	111 072		28-Feb-23	Sep-23	01-Aug-25
	Construction of 260-beds student residence: Bloemfontein Campus	66 754		Mar-23	TBC	Oct-25
DUT	Replacement of steel windows, built cupboards and painting on Indumiso	8 000	394 162	08-Oct-22	07-Feb-23	06-Dec-23
	Midland Campuses - Disability Access: Toilets and access ramps	1 650		01-Nov-20	02-Feb-23	01-Feb-24
	Indumiso urban campus: Replacement of netball, tennis and volleyball courts	3 300		Jun-23	TBC	Jun-24
	New Student Centre and Centre for Entrepreneurship	149 572		Sep-19	Sep-19	Dec-23
	New Engineering Building -PHASE 2	231 640		Sep-19	Sep-19	Dec-23
MUT	Construction New Block E TV Room & Study Area at MUT Residences	7 660	354 785	Feb-20	Oct-22	Oct-23
	Repairs and Renovations to the Existing Block E Student residences	18 246		Apr-23	May-23	Mar-24
	Construction of the New 57 Bed Residence Block	31 906		Oct-23	Oct-23	Apr-25
	Refurbishment of Existing C45, C46 & C47 Computer Labs at MUT Main Campus	3 300		May-23	Jun-23	Aug-23

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
	MUT Soccer field Upgrades Including Athletic Tracks	23 248		Mar-23	May-23	Jan-24
	Main Library Lift Upgrade	9 397		Mar-23	May-23	Feb-24
	Refurbishment to Faculty of Natural Sciences Ablution	6 605		Jun-22	Jul-22	Sep-22
	Upgrade to MUT Seme Road	12 888		Jun-23	Jun-23	Feb-24
	Supply and installation of new water storage tanks	23 192		May-23	May-23	Feb-24
	Refurbishment of electrical infrastructure	4 272		May-23	May-23	Mar-24
	ICT business continuity and security upgrade	3 675		May-23	May-23	Feb-24
	Upgrade of the existing CCTV surveillance system	3 146		Sep-22	Sep-22	Apr-23
	E-learning and purchasing of Ithala Building	65 260		TBC	TBC	TBC
	Refurbishment of Biomedical Technology Lab	10 000		Jan-23	Jan-23	Jul-23
	Construction of a Tunnel Link	41 220		Jan-24	Jan-24	Oct-25
	Replacement of Roof	31 210		May-23	Jun-23	Feb-24
	Completion of a 135-bed student residence	29 070		Jan-19	Feb-20	Mar-23
	New 100-bed student residence	30 492		Oct-23	Oct-23	Jan-25
NMU	Ocean Sciences (Science Centre & Block E Extension)	85 459	344 059	15-Jan-21	15-Jan-21	20-Dec-23
	Construction of 2000-beds SHIP student residences: Completion of the last 2 Blocks (approximately 280 Beds) on the Summerstrand Campus	258 600		01-Nov-23	01-Nov-23	TBC
NWU	New laboratory spaces for Education - PC	47 844	187 680	11-Jan-23	11-Jan-23	30-Apr-24
	New building for Psychosocial Health - VC	47 770		18-Oct-22	18-Oct-22	02-Feb-24
	Refurbish Building 24 for multipurpose hall - VC	29 504		05-Jul-22	05-Jul-22	29-Mar-24
	Refurbishment of spaces for the Schools of Biological and Geospatial Sciences - PC	62 562		14-Sep-22	14-Sep-22	14-Apr-24
RU	Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation (INI)	86 700	502 105	04-Jul-22	04-Jul-22	20-Nov-23
	Refurbishment of the Chemistry/Pharmacy building Phase 1	129 958		21-Nov-22	21-Nov-22	29-Feb-24
	Refurbishment of the Chemistry/Pharmacy building Phase 2	90 000		01-Dec-23	01-Dec-23	28-Feb-25
	Electrical MV modernization project	30 000		15-Jan-24	15-Jan-24	20-Dec-25

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
	Fire safety compliance project (remainder of campus)	39 000
	Main Admin building complex	126 447
SMU	Water Reticulation	77 000	1 173 992	31-Aug-21	31-Aug-21	20-Nov-24
	New University Boundary Wall	23 346		30-Oct-20	30-Oct-20	20-Jul-24
	ICT Network Refresher Project - Network upgrades, data centre upgrade and hardware	420 151		07-Feb-21	07-Feb-21	31-Dec-23
	Main Library Building	28 691		16-Jan-21	16-Jan-21	31-Jan-24
	Construction of 2000-beds SHIP student residence	295 398		12-Jul-21	12-Jul-21	31-Dec-24
	Construction of an 800-bed student residence	290 598		13-Jan-22	TBC	TBC
	Deferred Maintenance: Residences 1C & 2B	38 809		14-Jun-22	14-Jun-22	30-Nov-23
SPU	C009 - Academic - Education	60 989	554 173	07-Jul-21	07-Jul-21	30-Jun-24
	Project 3: Defects (Letter dated 19/07/2017)	5 000		01-Dec-23	TBC	31-Mar-25
	Project 4: Contingency (Letter dated 19/07/2017)	5 000		01-Dec-23	TBC	31-Mar-25
	Furniture, Fittings & Equipment (various buildings)	91 276		01-Dec-23	TBC	31-Mar-25
	BX00, SX00 & NX01 - Bulk Infrastructure	86 983		08-Sep-21	09-Sep-21	31-Mar-25
	N001 - Erf 1 Construction (Oppenheimer Garden)	23 000		11-Oct-21	11-Oct-21	31-Aug-24
	Erf 1 Design Development and Approval	2 000		21-Oct-21	21-Oct-21	31-Aug-24
	P008 - Infrastructure Capacity Building	7 500		21-Nov-22	21-Nov-22	31-Mar-25
	P009 - Forward Planning and Design	3 000		21-Nov-22	21-Nov-22	31-Mar-25
	P001 - P007 (PMT & Planning)	27 309		21-Nov-22	21-Nov-22	31-Mar-25
	D001 - 6: ICT Core Platform	53 924		21-Nov-22	21-Nov-22	31-Mar-25
	Project Insurance	1 505		21-Nov-22	21-Nov-22	31-Mar-25
	N002 - Academic/Residential/Shared (Great Hall, Info Centre and Student Admissions)	38 767		18-Oct-21	18-Oct-21	31-Aug-24
	C010 - Heritage Studies and Humanities Building	65 893		14-Jun-21	14-Jun-21	03-Oct-23
	S008 - Residential	40 571		21-Aug-22	21-Aug-22	31-Aug-24
	S009 - Residential	41 456		21-Aug-22	21-Aug-22	31-Aug-24
SUN	Upgrading of electrical infrastructure	60 350	60 350	14-May-21	14-May-21	30-Nov-23

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
TUT	New Multipurpose Teacher Education Building	57 705	767 144	10-Feb-20	10-Feb-20	Mar-23
	New Auditorium Building	71 461		24-Jan-20	24-Jan-20	TBC
	New Classrooms Building	74 871		27-Jul-21	27-Jul-21	TBC
	Multipurpose Examination Halls & Lecturing Venues	170 044		Sep-23	TBC	Dec-24
	New Multipurpose ICT & ERC Centre (Phase 1 And 2)	14 390		Sep-23	TBC	Dec-24
	New Film School: Arts Campus (Phase 1)	31 425		Jul-23	TBC	Jan-25
	Extension of the Library (Phase 1)	5 057		Aug-23	TBC	TBC
	Structural Refurbishment of Building 4	1 965		Oct-23	Oct-23	Feb-24
	Refurbishment of Roof Structure of Building 25	3 104		Oct-23	Oct-23	Feb-24
	Refurbishment of Gencor Hall	7 014		Jul-23	Aug-23	TBC
	Refurbishment of Building 15 and Rehabilitation of Unstable Asbestos Panels	5 131		Oct-23	Oct-23	Feb-24
	Construction of new student residences: 250-beds at Soshanguve Campus and 250-beds at Garankuwa Campus	134 164		24-May-18	24-May-18	TBC
	Construction of new student residences: 500-beds at eMalahleni Campus and 600-beds at Soshanguve Campus	110 000		16-Aug-21	16-Aug-21	TBC
	Construction of a 500-bed residence: eMalahleni Campus	65 000		16-Aug-21	16-Aug-21	TBC
	Shortfall: New eMalahleni Campus student residence (PA-50)	5 694		16-Aug-21	16-Aug-21	TBC
	Shortfall: New Soshanguve Campus student residence (PA-51)	3 382		16-Aug-21	16-Aug-21	TBC
	Shortfall: New Ga-Rankuwa Campus student residence (GM-14)	2 500		24-May-18	24-May-18	TBC
	Shortfall: Ga-Rankuwa Campus student residence (PK24)	4 238		24-May-18	24-May-18	TBC
UCT	Water Sustainability Projects	70 000	70 000	13-Jun-19	13-Jun-19	31-Dec-23

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
UFH	Deferred Maintenance Projects	76 625		13-Jun-19	13-Jun-19	31-May-24
	HDI Infrastructure Backlog FC10: Chemistry lab, network and telephone systems	30 200		14-Jun-23	14-Jun-23	14-Dec-23
	Eskom Connection	19 073		15-Aug-23	15-Aug-23	30-Nov-23
	Replacing the Obsolete Substation	12 903		16-Aug-23	TBC	TBC
	Early Childhood Development Centre: East London Campus	53 699	534 194	30-Mar-23	TBC	31-Jul-24
	Student Centre & Parkade: East London Campus	63 059		16-Aug-23	TBC	01-Jul-25
	Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades - Alice Campus	56 240		16-Aug-23	TBC	20-Dec-24
	Occupational Health & Safety Compliance: All Campuses	55 850		16-Jul-23	TBC	01-Jul-25
	Disability Access: All Campuses	36 546		16-Aug-23	TBC	01-Jul-25
	Alice Water and Sanitation Project	130 000		13-Mar-23	TBC	30-Jun-24
	Backlog Maintenance (5th Cycle)	20 000		13-Jul-23	13-Jul-23	15-Dec-25
UJ	Disability Access Projects	5 000	30 000	15-Jun-23	15-Jun-23	31-Dec-24
	Upgrade of Lecture Venues	5 000		15-Apr-23	15-Apr-23	31-Dec-23
	Additional offices and lab space at Blocks E & F	15 000		15-Apr-22	15-Apr-22	31-Oct-23
	Construction of New Tutorial Building	70 000		16-Nov-23	TBC	31-Dec-25
	Refurbishment of Oval Residence: Westville Campus (4th IEG cycle)	15 200		DEFERRED	DEFERRED	DEFERRED
UKZN	Construction of a new 194-bed residence: Medical Campus	60 000	299 200	TBC	TBC	30-Nov-25
	Acquisition and/or development of 400 beds off- campus: UKZN wide	120 000		TBC	TBC	31-Dec-24
	Refurbishment of wet works Oval Residence: Westville Campus (5th IEG cycle)	9 000		DEFERRED	DEFERRED	DEFERRED
	Conversion of Charles Smith Hall to 54-bed student residence: Howard College	10 000		15-Sep-22	15-Sep-22	19-Dec-23
UL	Deferred Maintenance	135 539	791 633	15-Aug-17	15-Aug-17	31-Dec-25

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
	New Earth Sciences Building	183 022		09-Feb-23	09-Feb-23	31-Oct-24
	Extension to Library including ICT space, Phase 1	108 882		09-Feb-23	09-Feb-23	30-Apr-24
	3500-beds SHIP student residence	364 190		TBC	TBC	31-Dec-25
UMP	NBP0015 - Lower Campus D725 Northern Entrances	87 950	87 950	01-Aug-22	15-Oct-22	31-Oct-23
UNISA	FC1: Disability Centre of excellence	20 585	334 657	Apr-23	Sep-23	Jun-24
	Statutory Compliance Projects	20 000		09-Mar-23	09-Mar-23	31-Dec-23
	Universal Access Projects	24 000		May-23	May-23	May-24
	Sustainability Projects	6 000		Apr-23	Mar-23	Jan-24
	Sunnyside Perimeter Wall	9 600		Mar-23	Mar-23	Jul-24
	Sunnyside Development: Phase 1	60 178		Apr-23	Aug-23	Apr-25
	Sunnyside Development: Phase 2	12 042		Apr-23	Sep-23	May-25
	Sunnyside Development: Phase 5	40 752		Aug-23	Oct-23	Nov-25
	Florida Gas OHS Renovation	134 300		Feb-23	Apr-23	Jun-25
	HVAC Chillers Replacement	7 200		Dec-22	Feb-23	May-23
UNIVEN	Disable Student Unit Centre: fire regulations compliance, servicing of electrical installations, and improvement of universal access	630	325 931	12-Aug-22	31-Mar-23	31-Oct-23
	School of Environmental Sciences: Upgrades	2 600		29-Nov-22	30-Mar-23	29-Jul-23
	Construction of a simulation laboratory	11 630		15-Oct-22	15-Aug-23	30-Oct-24
	Perimenter fencing	22 155		07 March 2021	29-Aug-22	31-Oct-23
	Punda Maria Road	27 297		24-Nov-22	13-Feb-23	13-Oct-24
	Completion of the School of Health Sciences Building	62 117		29-Jun-21	17-Apr-22	17-Aug-23
	Completion of the 1800-beds DBSA funded student residences	190 000		14-Sep-22	14-Sep-22	15-Dec-23
	Replacement of asbestos roofing: Riverside Student Residence	5 475		15-Oct-22	29-Nov-22	29-Aug-23
	Replacement of asbestos roofing: B Ncube Student Residence	1 847		15-Oct-22	29-Nov-22	29-Aug-23

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
	Replacement of asbestos roofing: Mangogroove Residence	2 180		15-Oct-22	29-Nov-22	29-Aug-23
UNIZULU	New Student Centre	55 000	1 008 521	01-Aug-22	26-Oct-22	31-Mar-24
	New multi-purpose centre with media centre, language labs, seminar rooms & staff offices	80 448		28-Mar-24	TBC	28-Oct-25
	Perimeter Fence	27 846
	New Student Administration block	106 132		28-Apr-24	TBC	28-Nov-25
	Rehabilitation of Internal Roads	5 355		Awaiting Virement approval
	New Agricultural Building	21 420		Awaiting Virement approval
	Phase 1 and 2 Sports Facility	9 638		15-Nov-21	28-Oct-22	28-Apr-24
	Manufacture and install 12 x LV panels for substations	4 080		15-Oct-22	28-Feb-23	28-Apr-24
	Electrical infrastructure upgrade (replacing high tension cables)	3 000		15-Nov-22	28-Mar-23	28-Jul-24
	Installation new lift: Natural Sciences building	700		15-Oct-23	TBC	28-Mar-24
	Upgrade of Wastewater reticulation	8 000		Awaiting Virement approval
	Storm water management system	6 500		28-Mar-24	TBC	28-Oct-25
	Development of Engineering Building: Richards bay Campus	90 000		08-Apr-22	08-Apr-22	22-Aug-24
	Development of new Multi-Purpose lecture theatres	45 000		28-Mar-24	TBC	28-Oct-25
	New Academic building: Depts of Social Work, Law and Music	40 500		Awaiting Virement approval
	Refurbishment of East Residence Plant Room: Kwa- Dlangezwa Campus	6 600		28-Mar-24	TBC	22-Aug-24
	Installation of East Residence heat pumps: Kwa- Dlangezwa Campus	7 000		28-Mar-24	TBC	22-Aug-24
	Installation of East Residence water tanks: Kwa- Dlangezwa Campus	9 000		Awaiting Virement approval
	Installation of West Residence heat pumps: Kwa- Dlangezwa Campus	8 800		28-Mar-24	TBC	22-Aug-24

	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
Institution		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
	Installation of West Residence water tanks: Kwa- Dlangezwa Campus	13 502		Awaiting Virement approval
	Major Refurbishment of Existing Student Residences (Mtshali, Nikiza, New York, Richard Bay)	225 000		09-Jun-22	30-Jun-22	14-Aug-24
	3500-beds SHIP student residences: Kwa-Dlangezwa and Richards Bay Campuses	235 000		09-May-22	09-May-22	28-Mar-24
UP	Capacity Infrastructure Upgrade	84 350	126 350	15-Aug-21	15-Oct-21	28-Oct-25
	Deferred Maintenance	42 000		15-Jun-22	15-May-23	28-Aug-24
	South Campus renewal and repurposing for Education	86 744		Mar-23	TBC	Nov-25
UWC	Renewal & repurposing: Senate Building space vacated by CHS	73 063	217 542	Jan-24	TBC	Jul-25
	Renewal & repurposing: Education Building	57 735		Mar-23	TBC	Nov-25
	Renovation of Laboratories	12 700		Mar-24	TBC	Apr-25
	Renovation of Lecture Halls	20 356		31-Jan-23	31-Jan-23	30-Nov-23
	Renovation of Ablutions	9 949		20-Jan-23	20-Jan-23	16-Dec-23
	Disability External	5 800		01-May-23	01-May-23	28-Feb-24
	Disability Internal	6 600		01-May-23	01-May-23	28-Feb-24
	Engineering Teaching Equipment	45 275		15-Sep-24	15-Sep-24	15-Dec-24
	Engineering Extension Building	15 063		24-Aug-17	24-Aug-17	31-Oct-24
	Engineering Teaching Furnishing	3 000		15-Sep-24	15-Sep-24	15-Dec-24
VUT	Life & Physical Science Equipment	14 232	460 248	24-Jul-24	24-Jul-24	01-Nov-24
	Life & Physical Science Renewal Lab	3 050		24-Jul-24	24-Jul-24	01-Nov-24
	Life & Physical Science Building	124 910		24-Jul-16	24-Jul-16	01-Aug-24
	Life & Physical Science Furnishings	514		24-Jul-24	24-Jul-24	01-Nov-24
	Teacher Education Building	33 735		24-May-17	24-May-17	30-Nov-24
	Teacher Education Furnishings	677		10-Oct-24	10-Oct-24	31-Dec-24
	Teacher Education Equipment	2 455		10-Oct-24	10-Oct-24	31-Dec-24
	Sciences and research laboratories	78 017		15-Feb-24	15-Feb-24	6-Dec-25
	Renovation of various student residences	37 680		15-Mar-23	15-Mar-23	6-Mar-24

Institution	Project Name/Description	Funding (R' 000)
		Total/Project	Total/Institution	Estimated Construction Start Date	Construction Start Date	Estimated Project Completion Date
	Refurbishment of various student residences	46 235		15-May-23	15-May-23	6-Jun-24
WITS	Campus Sustainability: Energy Efficiency Programme	5 000		10-May-22	10-May-22	20-Feb-24
	Wits School of the Arts: Fine Arts Studio Development	23 985		15-Jan-21	15-Jan-21	30-Jun-24
	Built Environment Precinct Expansion and Redevelopment	45 769		16-Jul-21	16-Jul-21	31-Dec-23
	Wits Test & Examination Centre: Part 2 - Solomon Mahlangu House West Wing Drawing Hall	7 346	90 576	20-Apr-23	20-Apr-23	30-Jun-24
	Thembalethu Large Teaching Venues	4 649		1-May-23	1-May-23	30-Jun-24
	Lecture and Teaching Venue Audio Visual Equipment Upgrade	3 828		18-Apr-23	18-Apr-23	28-Feb-24
WSU	Faculty Consolidation Furniture and equipment	4 320		Still struggling to find a site
	Faculty Consolidation Institutional Office	14 346		Still struggling to find a site
	Faculty Consolidation Provisional sums	5 167		Still struggling to find a site
	Faculty Consolidation Escalations and professional fees	14 016		Still struggling to find a site
	Renewable energy initiatives	9 000	162 149	24 May 23	24 May 23	28-Jul-24
	Upgrade & Expansion to Dwesa Research Station	9 000		23 Apr 23	23 Apr 23	05 Dec 23
	Small Enterprise development centre for Agricultural businesses	6 300		20-Jan-23	TBC	13-Oct-24
	Refurbishment of Zamukulungisa Student Residence: Mthatha Campus	100 000		17 Mar 22	17 Mar 22	17 Nov 23
Total/Source	9 416 331	9 416 331
Grand-Total

Reply:

a) (i) Restitution: 5 315.

(ii) Redistribution: 5 172.

(i) Restitution
In each province since 1 January 2006
Province	Total
Eastern Cape	115
Free State	55
Gauteng	57
KwaZulu Natal	899
Limpopo	1284
Mpumalanga	1225
North West	1479
Northern Cape	170
Western Cape	31
Grand Total	5315
In each district since 1 January 2006
District Municipality	Number of Properties
!Kheis	1
Amajuba	41
Amathole	18
Bedford	1
Bizana	2
Bojanala Platinum	777
Buffalo City Metro	5
Bushbuckridge	28
Capricorn	242
Capricorn and Waterberg	1
City of Tshwane Metro	73
Dlambe	1
Dr Kenneth Kaunda	145
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	118
Ehlanzeni	559
Elliot	44
Ethekwini	5
Fezile Dabi	1
Frances Baard	29
Garden Route (Eden)	17
Gert Sibande	252
Grahamstown	1
Harry Gwala	18
Humansdorp	7
Ilembe	210
Inxuba Yethemba	1
John Taolo Gaetsewe	35
Kagisano-Molopo	1
Kai !Garib	1
King Cetshwayo	71
King Williams Town	9
Lejweleputswa	6
Lephalale	1
Mangaung Metro	13
Mopani	258
Mzinyathi	100
Namakwa	33
Ngaka Modiri Molema	394
Nkangala	300
Pixely Ka Seme	29
Polokwane	3
Ramotshere Moiloa	44
Sarah Baartman	19
Sedibeng	14
Sekhukhune	197
Sekhukhune and Waterberg	5
Tabankulu	1
Thabo Mofutsanyana	24
Ugu	64
Uitenhage	1
Umgungundlovu	106
Umkhanyakude	20
Umzimvubu	3
Uthukela	86
Vhembe	305
Waterberg	320
Waterberg and Capricorn	4
West Coast	14
West Rand	2
Xhariep	11
ZF Mgcawu	42
Zululand	178
OR Tambo	1
Amahlati	1
Emalahleni	2
Grand Total	5315
(ii) Redistribution
In each province since 1 January 2006
Province	Total
Eastern Cape	817
Free State	658
Gauteng	442
KwaZulu Natal	871
Limpopo	263
Mpumalanga	886
North West	678
Northern Cape	278
Western Cape	279
Grand Total	5172
In each district since 1 January 2006
District Municipality	Number of Properties
Alfred Nzo	22
Amajuba	115
Amathole	109
Bojanala Platinum	112
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality	49
Cacadu	333
Cape Winelands	55
Capricorn	64
Central Karoo	30
Chris Hani	188
City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality	19
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality	18
City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality	96
Dr Kenneth Kaunda	156
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	188
Eden	108
Ehlanzeni	88
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality	9
Fezile Dabi	91
Frances Baard	40
Gert Sibande	603
iLembe	13
Joe Gqabi	95
John Taolo Gaetsewe	22
Lejweleputswa	146
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality	80
Mopani	38
Namakwa	62
Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality	10
Ngaka Modiri Molema	228
Nkangala	194
Overberg	15
Pixley ka Seme	66
Sarah Baartman	16
Sedibeng	157
Sekhukhune	17
Sisonke	68
Thabo Mofutsanyana	212
Ugu	16
uMgungundlovu	113
uMkhanyakude	18
uMzinyathi	75
uThukela	170
uThungulu	99
Vhembe	10
Waterberg	144
West Coast	54
West Rand	135
Xhariep	131
ZF Mgcawu	88
Zululand	187
Grand Total	5172

(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)(aa)(bb).

Information regarding personal details of beneficiaries allocated in respect of part (a) above cannot be shared as it would contravene the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act No. 4 of 2013, which prescribes that the collection of personal information must be for a specifically defined, lawful purpose related to a function of the responsible party; the data subject must be aware of the purpose of collecting data and that the purpose for processing personal information must be clear.

Reply:

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND

During the period 2022/23 the Unemployment Insurance Fund issued Intent to Discipline letters to eight (8) SMS members for the Fund’s poor performance in Quarter 2 (decline in performance from Quarter 1 to Quarter 2). This resulted in improved performance in Quarter 3. In addition, one (1) SMS member was disciplined for poor performance and dereliction of duties and issued with a Final Written Warning.

COMPENSATION FUND

For the current financial year 2023/2024, the Fund routed two separate submissions to the DG to approve the intention to institute progressive discipline action against two Senior Managers found to be performing poorly in their respective responsibilities. As per the disciplinary protocols in public sector the disciplinary letters will inform the employees of the respective charge and will afford them right of reply. The reply will be reviewed and further action will be taken. The compensation fund is awaiting the approval of the submission. The Fund has also had a 50% resignation of Chief directors and Directors end of 2022 before disciplinary action could be taken for poor performance

In terms of the Chapter 7 of the senior management handbook and the Public Service Act. The pieces of legislation do not make provision for the employer to take steps to ensure that no person is employed pending investigation. The only issue that is commonly practiced in the public service is that once the investigation is complete with recommendations to institute disciplinary action against the said officer, the report should be forwarded to a new employer to implement the recommendations or to request that the new employer continue with the investigation if the process of investigation was not completed by the former employer due to the officer resigned. When the former Commissioner resigned there was no investigation into his performance.

Reply:

A similar request was received by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in 2022 and which response is attached hereto. Since the NPA were not keeping the data, engagements and the feasibility of obtaining the important information has been undertaken.

The NPA has arranged with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the interim to share information with the NPA from SAPS in order to interrogate and monitor child-specific cases. The Crime Registrar of the South African Police Service keeps record of the relevant information. To have access to the information held by the South African Police Services, a formal request must be submitted to the National Commissioner of SAPS.

As Indicated previously, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prioritises all Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) matters and more especially where the victims are children. The Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit within the NPA is tasked with, inter alia, ensuring increased access to justice for victims of GBV as well as optimal management of these matters in a victim responsive manner, in line with the Strategic Plan of the NPA.

This is done by providing pre-trial and court preparation services, often in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSO), at its sixty-three (63) Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) across the country. These one-stop centres provide a variety of essential psycho-social, medical, and legal services thus creating a safe space for child victims to report offences against them and receive services that are empowering them to transform into survivors.

Specialised training is also provided to prosecutors in dealing with child victims and their testimonies. Whilst prosecutors in court are prioritising these matters, data is not kept for offences committed against children specifically. Prosecutors also work closely the investigating officers of these cases and guide the investigations as and when required to do so.

When prosecutors address the court on extenuating or aggravating circumstances, the fact that a child may have been the victim of the crime is one of the various aspects highlighted when the court is addressed before the passing of sentence.

Reply:

a) Onderstepoort Biological Products (SOC) Ltd met with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to submit information relating to the GMP construction facility contracts during 2022. After the initial meeting, OBP forwarded to the SIU information at its disposal. Interviews were conducted with senior OBP officials who were employed at OBP at the time of the procurement. No feedback has been received from the SIU since then.

b) Full details on the matter are as outlined above and there has been no development since that exchange of information.

Reply:

The matter of intimidation, attacks and violence against Intercape’s operations in parts of the Eastern Cape is currently servicing before the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division in Makhanda. Intercape argues that it has been deliberately subjected to sustained acts of intimidation and violence allegedly by some taxi associations. They also alluded to the fact that these acts of violence were reported to the South African Police Services for investigation and bringing perpetrators to book. The outcome of these processes would expose the root cause of the problem.

Reply:

a (i), Details of The RAF Post-Retirement Medical Aid Benefit (PRMA);

PRMA is a historical condition of service benefit provided to employees who were permanently employed with RAF (Fund) prior to 01 May 1998.

In terms of this benefit, the RAF would subsidize 50% (fifty percent) towards the medical aid contributions on/and throughout the retirement of such employees until the death of the retired employee or voluntary termination by the employee.

(a)(ii)

The post-retirement medical aid benefit was discontinued due to not only the dire financial status of the Fund but also the long-term unsustainable financial liability that such a benefit would have on the RAF.

The total estimated liability on this scheme has grown from R2 300 000 (two million three hundred thousand rands) (in April 1998 to an estimated R55 609 000 (fifty-five million six hundred and nine thousand rands) as of 31 March 2021 as per the actuarial valuation report.

The 31 March 2021 actuarial valuation report further projected a substantial increase in this liability to sixty-two million four hundred and sixty thousand rands (R62 460 000) as of 31 March 2022 This figure would continue to escalate exponentially considering changes in mortality rates and high inflation.

The RAF management with due and careful consideration of the above factors and the current financial sustainability of the RAF resolved that it was not viable to continue with the benefit.

The benefit was therefore discontinued with effect from 01 October 2021 for all eligible and active employees.

Moreover, this termination further ensures that the provision of benefits is consistently applied, uniformly across the board, benefitting all employees. Whereas only a few employees benefited from this benefit in the past it is now applied equitably and affordably amongst all employees. The Fund therefore sought to apply benefits to all its employees, not just a few.

(b)There is no alternative or equivalent benefit provided to the affected employees due to cost containment measures.

All employees are remunerated on total employee costs (TEC) and this ensures a uniform and equitable pay structure for all RAF employees.

All employees are equally responsible for ensuring medical cover post-retirement.

(2)(a) Upon confirmation of the Fund’s legal recourse in terms of its obligation and rights, an extensive and transparent consultation process was undertaken with affected parties. This included written correspondence with affected parties and consultation with current and those employees eligible for the benefit.

Following that, consultations with individual employees, and notice of termination letter(s) were issued to all affected employees on October 2021.

(2)(b)Of the 107 (one hundred and seven) employees, 8 (eight) employees have since retired post the October 2021 and are not receiving the benefit.

(3)(a) There were 107 (one hundred and seven) active employees who would have qualified and were affected by the cancellation of this medical benefit for the financial year ended 31 March 2022.

Of the 107(one hundred and seven) employees, 8 (eight)have since retired and did not receive the benefit as this was terminated before their retirement date. 3(three) took voluntary severance package, 3(three) deceased, 3 (three)resigned and 1(one) dismissed.

There are currently 88 (eighty-eight) employees in service affected by the cancellation.

There are currently 22 (twenty-two) employees who have the benefit as they retired before the benefit was terminated on 01 October 2021.

(3)(b)The total estimated liability on this scheme has grown from R2 300 000 (two million three hundred thousand rands) in April 1998 to an estimated R55 609 000 (fifty-five million six hundred and nine thousand rands) as of 31 March 2021 confirmed by the actuarial valuation report.

This actuarial valuation report further projected a substantial increase in liability to increase to R62 460 000 sixty-two million four hundred and sixty thousand rands at 31 March 2022.

(4) Letters were issued to all affected employees

(5)The CCMA has postponed the matter indefinitely at the request of the employees. The

matter will be set down only when the employees revert to the CCMA.

Reply:

PROVINCE	Potholes Patched (m2)	Labour: internal	Budget Allocation	Six-month Expenditure	Total
				Quarter 0ne	Quarter Two	Six-month Expenditure
E. Cape	112 286	Internal & external	R2 057 539 888	227 085 055	245 691 706	472 776 761
Free State	20 000	Internal	R1 337 642 000	95 073 000	252 226 000	347 299 000
Gauteng	213 321	Internal	R 680 058 000	30 516 948	30 594 076	61 111 024
KZN	500 000	Internal	R3 309 978 000	405 005 809	268 494 643	673 500 452
Limpopo	139 925	Internal	R1 280 899 865	269 965 632	281 861 021	551 826 653
Mpumalanga	141 186	Internal & external	R 905 915 000	178 421 690	93 662 392	272 084 082
N. Cape	23 676	Internal	R1 064 972 000	354 819 058	137 040 441	491 859 499
North West	94 996	Internal	R1 068 127 000	177 595 892	88 145 659	265 741 551
W. Cape	46 052	Internal	R 960 309 000	181 432 000	332 620 000	514 052 000
TOTAL	1 291 442		R12 665 440 753	1 919 915 084	1 730 335 938	3 650 251 022

a) The total number of potholes on roads that fall under her administration repaired in each province in the past six months is 1 291 442 (m2) of blacktop patching including pothole repairs as indicated in the table below:

(b) There was no specific budget allocated for the pothole repair/maintenance of the provincial road network for the six-month period, however, provinces are allocated the maintenance budget as provided in the table above of which blacktop patching and pothole repairs forms part of 2022/23 financial year.

(c) The total amount spent for the maintenance of the provincial roads through PRMG over the six months (Q1 and Q2) is R3 650 251 022, and as indicate above, this budget covers the entire maintenance of provincial Strategic and Secondary roads networks inclusive of blacktop patching and pothole repairs.

Reply:

a)  The October Transport Month Campaign is a flagship programme of the Department that is implemented every year to celebrate the achievements of the Department, its entities and provincial departments of transport, municipalities and other achievements of the sector. The campaign celebrates contributions that enable the realisation of government’s economic recovery objectives in the aftermath of the ravages of the COVID 19 pandemic, which we have achieved through transport infrastructure build and maintenance projects; this includes improvement of transport services delivered and we celebrate the innovation that improves efficiencies in the delivery of services and/or propels sustainable infrastructure build that is cutting edge, while, highlighting areas of success in transport safety and security, development of transport skills, jobs created and growing transport industries and enterprises.

The campaign also aims to influence perceptions towards the transport brand and deepen awareness of transport policies and plans.

b) Following from the above exposition, what we aim to achieve through the OTM Campaign 2023 therefore, is a better positioning of the department and its entities to the public and our stakeholders, where the positioning implies:

1. Having fulfilled commitments to deliver transport infrastructure and services resulting in job creation and economic development;
2. A strong brand with a service delivery track record and the will to attend to challenges;
3. Increased awareness on the DoT’s programmes and improved public perceptions about our work across spheres and thus growing our credibility as capable of delivering on promises made;
4. Increased awareness on the measures taken to improve safety and security across all modes of transport; and
5. Demonstrating work being done to improve the public transport system towards better access, affordability, increased efficiency and reliability of services, and improving overall safety and security across all modes of public transport with better awareness of key policy decisions made to enhance services.

Secondly, the campaign will also have enhanced the direct unmediated interaction with stakeholders, mobilised society and consolidated social partnerships in our work. It will therefore enhance citizen-centred participatory interactions in mobilising social compacts and consensus while showing how we have enabled job creation and improved service delivery.

Thirdly, the campaign would have won over members of the communities, business, and civil society as transport brand ambassadors and it would allow for greater cooperation across all spheres of government.

 

Reply:

1. One of the key problems identified in the current public transport system in South Africa, which is being attended to, is the lack of integration. This is manifested in the current subsidy regime that is still mode specific i.e. rail and bus. Recently, great emphasis has been sought to introduce subsidies for the minibus-taxi operators. Unfortunately, the mode linked operations and subsidy approach prevents the planning for and implementation of efficient services to commuters

2. As a result, the Department is developing a public transport subsidy policy that will locate the subsidisation of minibus taxi users within the wider, multi-modal subsidy framework as part of the public transport funding reforms. The draft subsidy policy proposes a move away from mode specific subsidisation to a position where a subsidised network will be serviced by a combination of modes to minimise the cost of transport. Integrated transport plans will be used to design the most efficient public transport systems irrespective of modes. There are a number of different subsidy models being considered and explored that includes the minibus taxi industry based on applicable integrated transport plans.

3. The draft public transport subsidy policy is being processed for submission to Cabinet for consideration and approval for a public consultation process. Only when the final policy is approved by Cabinet will it be implemented.

Reply:

The RAF, over the past 3 years, implemented quality assurance processes. These include checking for: i) payments made induplicate, ii) mortality of claimants, iii) foreign claimants are in the country legally and iv) if tax affairs of the claimant representative attorney are in order. Quality assurance processes are in line with the PFMA, the Immigrations Act, Treasury Regulations and any other applicable framework.

Out of this exercise, a number of challenges were identified and are being rooted out.

Also, the RAF obtained Judgement in terms of Rule 45A to suspend all court orders not older than 180 days as a means to have equitable and systematic payment process. In this regard older claims are prioritised.

Implementation of quality assurance processes together with obtaining Rule 45A judgement saw the RNYP reduce to below R10 billion in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.

RAF has since been able to make payment to all claims which have been quality assured.

Reply:

The property in question relates to a historic matter where the landowner signed an agreement with SANRAL and agreed to the transfer of the road portion to SANRAL’s name without compensation. The portion of property falls within the road reserve of N14 section 11 that was taken over from the Province and declared as a National Route in 2006 under Declaration 217 of 2006. The N14 has been in existence for more than 25 years as a provincial road before its declaration a National Road in 2006. The transfer relates to a process where SANRAL transferred the road reserve (between road fence boundaries) of roads that were ceded to SANRAL by the Province or Municipalities. In nearly all instances a lifetime right was acquired by the previous Roads Authority but the road reserve portion (between road fence boundaries) was never separated or subdivided from the original owner’s property. The landowner has no control or use of the road reserve portion (between road fence boundaries) as he cannot lawfully prevent the public from using the road, hence it is considered a bare dominium to him. This is also to the benefit of the landowner as he/she will now pay rates on a smaller portion of land that excludes the road reserve portion.

Landowners are not compensated for the road reserve portion during the transfer process because they were compensated for their land by the previous Roads Authority that ceded the road to SANRAL.

Although the landowner originally agreed, the issue of compensation later became a major contention from the landowner and was never resolved as no agreement could be reached with him in this regard.

Despite numerous engagements, the landowner was unwilling to sign transfer documents and was served with a notice informing him about the matter and that it was going to be referred to the Minister of Transport for expropriation of the road reserve portion (between road fence boundaries) if he did not sign the necessary transfer documents. The matter will be referred to the Minister of Transport for expropriation as per SANRAL Act..

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Reply:

1. (a) Municipal- and executive mayors are generally not charged in matters against the local or district municipality as they are not accounting officers. Municipal Managers are also not as a general rule charged in their personal capacity, but the Municipal Manager is cited as the accounting officer in civil and charged in criminal matters as the head of the municipality (corporate entity). Should gross negligence or misconduct be reported or detected we are obliged to investigate and these individuals including the mayors can be charged. The matters below are cases against municipalities where the Municipal Manager has not been charged in their personal capacity. The Department of Water and Sanitation together with Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment has however recently had a successful engagement with the National Director Public Prosecutions to reinstate and charge the delinquent Municipal Manager of Lephalale Local Municipality. There are also three contempt of court applications for Lekwa LM, Mookgopong LM and Dr Ruth Segomotsi DM where the Municipal Managers will be held personally liable.

Criminal Enforcement Actions Taken Against Non-Compliant Municipalities
Sector	2021 – 2022 financial year	2022 – 2023 financial year	1 April 2023 onwards
Local Government [WSA/WSP]	3	10	11
Total	3	10	11

2. (a) The criminal charges instituted against municipalities and their municipal managers vary on a case by case basis. Based on section 151(1) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act no. 36 of 1998) this can include subsection (a) use of water other than permitted under this Act; subsection (c) failure to comply with any condition attached to a permitted water use under this Act; subsection (d) failure to comply with a directive issued under section 19, 20, 53; subsection (i) unlawfully and intentionally or negligently committing any act or omission which pollutes or is likely to pollute a water resource. Cases opened in the 2023/ 2024 financial year are listed in the table below:

Wastewater Treatment Works	Municipality	SAPS CAS Number
Bushkoppies and Goudkoppies WWTW	City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality	62/07/2023 & 423/07/2023
Hoedspruit WWTW	Maruleng LM	10/10/2023
Percy Stewart WWTW	Mogale City	76/08/2023
Hlelo Lunathi Hendrina	Nkangala District Municipality	108/08/2023
Thabazimbi WWTW	Thabazimbi LM	112/08/2023
Lindley WWTW	Nketoana LM	116/09/2023
Koffiefontein WWTW	Letsemeng LM	12/09/2023
Zandspruit pumpstation	Johannesburg Water	127/09/2023
Giyani WWTW	Mopani District Municipality	404/10/2023
Ermelo WWTW diversion	Msukaligwa LM	108/10/2023

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Reply:

Table 1: Number of learners  above 18 who received social grant, in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, in 2022

Province	Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
EC	834	3 018	4 552	6 063
FS	370	2 023	1 973	2 764
GT	76	636	914	1 563
KZN	1 420	7 225	12 321	12 655
LP	677	3 330	4 539	7 074
MP	607	2 785	4 443	5 817
NC	97	810	809	1 120
NW	355	1 978	2 175	2 905
WC	205	2 462	4 318	7 632
Grand Total	4 641	24 267	36 044	47 593

Source 2022 LURITS

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Reply:

1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has not issued a Water Use License (WUL) to the Serendipity Truck wash because no WUL application was received from the client.

2. No other licenses have been issued to the Serendipity Truck wash because as there were applications received by the DWS.

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Reply:

According to the National Water Act (Act No.36 of 1998), [Section 37 (I)], spiral plants are not considered to be a controlled activity. However, Section 38 (1) allows the Minister to declare any activity as controlled if it is deemed to have detrimental impact on water resources.

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Reply:

1. In terms of administrative justice, prior to the issuance of an administrative directive, a notice of intent has to be issued indicating suspected non-compliance and what actions the transgressor will be expected to take should the directive be issued. Upon receipt of the notice the alleged transgressor must respond within a stipulated timeframe and provide a response or plan to rectify the non-compliance. Should no response or representation be received or if the plan submitted is not acceptable, a directive is issued. If the representation brings other facts to light and illustrates that there is no transgression, or an acceptable plan is tabled, then the process does not proceed to the issuance of a directive and the department continues to monitor compliance.

(i)(aa) During the 2021/2022 financial year, the Department had issued a total of 75 Notices of Intention to Issue a Directive in response to identified contraventions related to requirements stipulated under Sections 19 (3) and 22 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). The Department also issued 36 Directives in response to contraventions. These administrative actions pertain to instances where sewer systems failed to contain wastewater, or treated wastewater insufficiently resulting in water pollution, and also water users that are engaging in unlawful water uses.

Enforcement Actions taken against non-compliant Municipalities *from April 2021 to March 2022
Sector	NWA Notices Issued	NWA Directives Issued
Local Government [WSA/WSP]	71	33
Government (National/Province]	4	3
Total	75	36

(bb) During the 2022/2023 financial year, the Department had issued 67 Notices of Intention to Issue a Directive and 25 Directives in response to contraventions in response to identified contraventions related to requirements stipulated under Sections 19 (3) and 22 of the National Water Act. These administrative actions pertain to instances where sewer systems failed to contain wastewater, or treated wastewater insufficiently resulting in water pollution and unauthorised water uses.

Enforcement Actions taken against non-compliant Municipalities *from April 2022 to March 2023
Sector	NWA Notices Issued	NWA Directives Issued
Local Government [WSA/WSP]	62	23
Government [National/Province]	5	2
Total	67	25

From 1 April 2023 to date, the Department had issued 22 Notices of Intention to Issue a Directive and 5 Directives in response to identified contraventions related to requirements stipulated under Sections 19 (3) and 22 of the National Water Act. These administrative actions pertain to instances where sewer systems failed to contain wastewater, or treated wastewater insufficiently resulting in water pollution and unauthorised water uses.

(ii) Eight (8) public entities have fully complied with the administrative enforcement actions taken by the Department for the period 2021-22, 2022-23 and current financial year. There was partial compliance in other instances which has led to criminal charges being laid against public entities that did not comply.

2. The Department has laid 25 criminal charges against public entities that have not complied with the directives issued to compel their compliance with the provisions of the NWA. The Department obtained 3 Plea Sentencing Agreements against Rand West City Local Municipality (LM), Thaba Chweu LM and Lekwa LM for contravening NWA provisions. Criminal charges including causing pollution of water resources were laid, and the municipalities pleaded guilty on all counts. Fines were imposed on each Local Municipalities. The Department is actively monitoring the implementation of compliance with the plea sentencing agreement.

Enforcement Actions taken against non-compliant Municipalities in the past three FYs
Sectors	Cases Registered at SAPS	Plea Sentencing Agreement
	FY 21/22	FY 22/23	FY 23/24	FY 21/22	FY 22/23	FY 23/24
Local Government [WSA/WSP]	3	10	11	-	2	1
Government [National/Prov]	-	1	-	-	-	-
Total	3	11	11	0	2	1

Furthermore, the Department obtained a court order against Msukaligwa LM. The Department will continue to monitor the implementation of the court order.

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Reply:

a) The transmission losses are the difference between the total energy that came into the transmission network from the generating sources and the energy delivered to Transmission customers. These are purely technical losses incurred in the transportation of energy. In the 2022/23 financial year, the transmission losses were 4 700 GWh or 2.32%. There are meters at all transmission boundaries to ensure accurate accounting of energy flows. There are processes in place to ensure that this data is accurate, which include routine maintenance of meters and associated infrastructure, and data validation processes to identify errors.

The losses are affected by the generating pattern, as they are sensitive to the proximity between sources and loads. Independent power producers (IPPs) have an overall positive impact because of the way that they are distributed. The usage of open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) has a positive impact as well. Network strengthening projects also have a positive impact on losses.

b) Maintenance and data verification processes are normal operational processes, so there are no additional costs.

Generation dispatch is done to optimise overall system energy costs. Network strengthening is done according to the Transmission Development Plan (TDP).

(c) Conductor theft is one of the primary security threats that face the Eskom network and critical infrastructure. Transmission Security has embedded a strategy to reduce network theft by dealing with the product (precious metals), the market (scrap metal dealers), and the thief (crime syndicates).

The following security operations have been initiated:

• Weekly operations meetings are held with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to visit illegal and legal scrap metal dealers to enforce the Second-Hand Goods Act. Fines are issued to non-compliant vendors, and illegal vendors are arrested. The operations deter the illegal purchase of Eskom material.
• A specialised investigation contract has been procured to deal with high-profile cases and organised crime.
• Transmission incident management is conducted via the Mission Area Joint Operation Centre (MAJOC SAPS) to ensure that all reported criminal cases that affect Transmission critical infrastructure receive immediate attention.
• Technology (vibration sensors) is being rolled out on high-risk lines for early warning, as well as improved security systems at high-risk substations, to ensure deterrence, detection, delay, and response.

Reply:

The Donation of emergency power equipment by the People’s Republic of China to South Africa is a consolidation of the strategic diplomatic partnership between the respect Republics, in an attempt to resolve the energy crisis, which presently besets South Africa.

The donation is in the form of emergency power equipment procured and supplied by the Chinese government, which will be distributed/dispatched in line with the differentiated energy demands in public facilities, in particular, public heath, educational and justice facilities to mitigate the impact during loadshedding.

Reply:

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Reply:

a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) established twelve (12) new bulk water projects in various provinces since June 2022. The details are provided in the table below;

Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant Projects

No	Province	(c) Municipality	Project Name	(b) Amount Spent (April 2022 to October 2023) R’000
1.	Eastern Cape	Nelson Mandela	Nelson Mandela Bay - Water Security Programme	R71,840
2.	Free State	Maluti a Phofung LM	Maluti-a-Phofung BWS - Intervention	R72,660
3.	Free State	Matjhabeng Local Municipality	Matjhabeng Bulk Sewer (Welkom)	R106,561
4.	KwaZulu Natal	Zululand District Municipality	Mandlakazi Bulk Water Supply - Intervention	R240,015
5.	Limpopo	Polokwane	Ebenezer & Olifantspoort Scheme	R422,000
6.	Mpumalanga	Thembisile Hani Local Municipality	Thembisile Water Scheme (Loskop)	R419,472
7.	Mpumalanga	Lekwa Local Municipality	Lekwa Water Services and Sewer - Interventions	R41,676
8.	Northern Cape	Hantam Local Municipality	Calvinia Bulk Water Supply Project	R60,000
9.	North West	Moses Kotane Local Municipality	Pilanesberg South Bulk Water Supply Phase 2	R421,972
10.	North West	Moretele Local Municipality	Moretele North Bulk Water Supply	R421,972
11.	North West	Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality	Kagisano Molopo Bulk Water Supply	R145,000
12.	Western Cape	Drakenstein Local Municipality	Drakenstein Local Municipality - Sanitation Infrastructure Project	R9,100

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) manages use of water resources by commercial afforestation where this activity is declared as engaging in a streamflow reduction activity (SFRA) as contemplated in s36(1) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) (NWA) from the water use authorisation process. Upon receipt of a water use licence application for s21(d) water use (SFRA), the Department undertakes technical assessment to estimate the impacts associated with the activity on the water resource and any decision to issue a water use licence is based on sustainable water availability. The application must satisfy the requirements of the Reserve, both ecological and basic human needs, and where a water use licence is granted, conditions are attached to ensure that efficiency, equity, and sustainability in the use of water resources are promoted throughout the project’s lifetime.

The impact of commercial forestry plantations on surface water resources has been researched extensively, and impact assessment tools have been developed and are being applied in the water use authorisation processes. However, in recent decades, researchers have also shown interest of studying the impact of commercial forestry plantations on groundwater resources. These studies show that commercial afforestation trees may influence evapotranspiration rates and deep roots, lowering groundwater water tables. These studies make recommendations which are considered in the authorisation process.

The other factors considered when authorising a water use for commercial forestry plantations are found in s27(1) of the NWA, where factors, including the need to redress the results of past racial and gender discrimination, and efficient and beneficial use of water in the public interest are considered. These factors ensure that when allocating water resources, the principle of fair allocation is considered for equitable water allocation.

Water use authorisation instruments issued by the Department are continuously monitored for compliance by the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement component of the Department to ensure that water users comply with the conditions attached to their water use entitlements and any best management practices (SFRA best management practices) recommended for the sector. Compliance is assessed via the auditing process and corrective actions are addressed as enabled by the NWA.

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Reply:

The Border Management Authority has as part of its strategic enterprise risk management process, identified seven (07) strategic enterprise/organisational risks of which ‘Fraud and Corruption’ is one. As a mitigation strategy to curb this risk, and given the lack of capacity within the BMA, the Authority has already commenced the process towards appointment of various service providers to “conduct the lifestyle audit of its employees” starting with critical areas which may be susceptible to fraud and corruption such as employees at all Ports of Entry, deployed at the borderline, SCM and HR units. The BMA is guided by the risk assessment and no employee of the BMA is immune to the lifestyle audit.

The request for issuance of the Request for Proposal or Expression of Interest has already been submitted to the BMA’s Supply Chain Management Unit to source the service providers with vast experience in conducting the exercise of this nature.

END

Reply:

Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) project are “behind the meter” solutions and not subject to regulator approval, but simply require a generator to register with the Regulator. The financial viability of SSEG projects is subject to a generator securing a concomitant power purchase agreement with a prospective buyer of the electricity produced.

Where the electricity is required to be wheeled, the wheeling agreements are subject to approval by the respective distributor (Municipality or Eskom) through whose distribution infrastructure the energy is evacuated from the point of production to the point of consumption.

To assist municipalities/Eskom to structure and price wheeling agreements, a National Wheeling Framework has been developed and is currently being reviewed by NERSA

Reply:

(a) the 100MW threshold has been lifted as part of the deregulation of the energy sector. Currently, no limit exists for embedded generation.

The pipeline of confirmed private sector generation projects has increased to 126 projects representing more than 12 GW of new capacity since the amendment of Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act to remove the licensing threshold for generation facilities. 1338 MW is expected to connect to the grid in 2023 and 3081 MW in 2024. A survey by Eskom showed that the total number of projects in the pipeline is 66 GW.

(b) All Generators are required to Register their Projects with the National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

Reply:

Section 16(1)(a) read with section 16(2) of the Public Administration Management Act, 2014 (PAMA) provides for the Minister to issue minimum norms and standards regarding the promotion of values and principles referred to in section 195(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa subject to the approval by all relevant executive authorities, which includes all municipal councils. The latter provision has created challenges in the issuing of such norms and standards under the PAMA as obtaining the consent of all municipal council is impractical. Therefore, the Department has, as part of the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill currently before Parliament, proposed amendments in respect of section 16(2) to assist with the issuing of those norms and standards. Once the Amendment Bill is passed, the Department will be better placed to develop norms and standards regarding the promotion of values and principles referred to in section 195(1) of the Constitution that traverses all three spheres of government.

In any event, the Department has and continues to promote the values and principles espoused in section 195 of the Constitution in all the norms and standards that it develops. In addition, the Department is working to institutionalise the Service Charter adopted in Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council Resolution 1 of 2013 and to reaffirm the Batho Pele Principles.

End

Reply:

Municipalities can purchase electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPP) through the Small Scale Embedded Generation Project, subject to section 217(1) of the Constitution, read with their respective Supply Chain Management Policies.

Further, Municipalities may apply to the Minister in the Presidency for Electricity under s34(1)(d) of the ELECTRICITY REGULATION ACT 4 OF 2006, as amended, for a determination that will enable a Municipality to purchase energy from an IPP.

Reply:

1. (a) It is estimated that more than R390 billion will be required over the next decade to meet the demand for grid capacity, largely due to the increase in generation capacity through renewable energy projects and insufficient grid capacity following the various Bid Windows.

Eskom’s current financial position places significant limitations on its ability to attract sufficient capital towards expanding the transmission grid, with the delivery of transmission infrastructure taking, on average, between 7 to 10 years. It is estimated this delivery rate needs to be scaled-up by eight times to connect the energy generation required for energy security by 2030.

It is anticipated that the transmission gridbuild rate needs to increase from 300km to 2300km per year with a greater rate of investment and delivery required through to 2050.

The Ministry in the Presidency for Electricity co-hosted a Transmission Financing Seminar with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is currently finalising a cabinet submission on transmission financing pathways aimed at fast-tracking transmission infrastructure investments to support the anticipated growth in generation capacity and secure long-term energy security.

1 (b) The generation supply gap will be addressed through a combination of base-load and renewable technologies, acting in concert to close the demand/supply deficit whilst maintaining frequency control in the management of the National grid. Closing South Africa’s supply gap will, therefore, require a balance between these technologies and not a choice between one or the other. The Eskom Winter 2023 demand analysis projected a maximum demand of 34 000 MW, and supply for the period June 2023 to October 2023 averaged at around 28 400 MW. This suggests a supply deficit (based on peak demand) of around 6000 MW. In the medium term, accounting for growth based on an industrial-intensive path will increase the demand for baseload supply to guarantee energy security.

2 (a) Refer to 1(a) above.

2 (b) REfer to 1(a) above.

Reply:

The supply of South Africa’s energy demand is broadly determined by the energy mix as set out in The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019. Based on the 2019 IRP, Coal constitutes 43% of installed capacity followed by Wind (22.53) Solar PV (10.5) CSP (0, 76) Nuclear (2,36) and Gas and Diesel (8.1) Hydro (5.84).

Whilst the IRP is currently being reviewed, Coal, Nuclear and Gas is expected to continue to be significant contributors to SA’s base load demand in the foreseeable future, with investments in cleaner technologies to mitigate negative environmental impacts, coupled with and battery storage to neutralise and solar/wind hybrid solutions to stabilise the intermittency challenges of renewables.

Reply:

1. A Water Use License is required to operate a washing plant. The License largely depends on the location of the site, but the following water uses in terms of section 21 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) could be applicable:

(a) taking water from a water resource:

(b) storing water:

(c) impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse:

(e) engaging in a stream flow reduction activity contemplated in section 36; engaging in a controlled activity identified as such in section 37(1) or declared under section 38(1):

(f) discharging waste or water containing waste into a water resource through a pipe, canal. sewer. sea outfall or other conduit:

(g) disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact on a water resource; disposing in any manner of water which contains waste from

(i) altering the bed, banks. course or characteristics of a watercourse.

2. (a) In cases of non-compliance with water use authorisations; the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has enforcement tools in place to address transgressions and manage unlawful water use. This ensures that a set of actions (administrative, criminal, and civil) are taken against non-compliance with the provisions of the National Water Act (NWA) through various measures including notices, directives, and legal action.

(b) The frequency of inspections of authorised wash plants varies across Water Management Areas (WMA) or Provinces. Some Provinces have a higher concentration of wash plants compared to others leading to more frequent inspections. Generally, some inspections occur quarterly or annually depending on the priorities or plans of WMAs. Furthermore, it is important to note that other provinces like Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape do not have coal and chrome wash plants. Eastern Cape has one coal wash plant which is currently not operational.

Furthermore, unauthorized wash plants are being investigated on a continuous basis when reported or detected. Where enforcement action has been initiated, follow-up is conducted to assess progress on implementation of instructions/requirements stipulated in the notices, directives issued and/or action plans.

(c)(i) The table below depicts the number of reported non-compliant coal and chrome wash plants that have been found in other provinces and (ii) wash plant in the past three years and

(d) the table below also depicts actions taken to rectify the contraventions.

Table 1: Number of non-compliant cases related to Coal and Chrome Wash Plants investigated since April 2021

(c)(i) Province	Number of reported non-compliance cases investigated	Administrative Enforcement Action (i.e. Notices and Directives	Administrative Enforcement Actions currently in Process -	Number of Criminal Cases Opened	Wash Plant Closed as result of Enforcement Action taken
Gauteng	1	1	-	-	-
KwaZulu Natal	9	9	-	-	-
Mpumalanga	21	19	-	2	-
North-West	22	11	8	-	2
(c)(i) Total	53	40	8	2	2

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