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17 April 2018 - NW575

Profile picture: Moteka, Mr PG

Moteka, Mr PG to ask the Minister of Labour

(a) Why does the Government include the jobs created under the Expanded Public Works Programme in the number of jobs it has created while still paying a poverty wage, (b) is it her position that it is acceptable that the Government employs persons at R 11 an hour and (c) is the R 11 an hour rate in line with the Government's position of a living wage?

Reply:

a) The Expanded Public Works Programme is a programme that falls under the Department of Public Works’ remit therefore I would not be qualified to respond to this question.

b) Same as Above

c) Same as Above.

17 April 2018 - NW578

Profile picture: Matiase, Mr NS

Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Labour

Whether the proposed 1 Million jobs to be created over the next three years will include jobs in the Expanded Public Works Programme?

Reply:

The call by the President to create 1 million jobs in three years will involve multi-faceted government strategies covering a range of initiatives such as, sector-specific interventions in sectors like agriculture, forestry, clothing, tourism and aquaculture as key growth sectors and programmes such as the recent Youth Employment Services.

The full time equivalent jobs to be created under the Expanded Public Works Programme and other initiatives across other Departments may very well be part of the equation.

 

17 April 2018 - NW325

Profile picture: Cassim, Mr Y

Cassim, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Labour

What amount did (a) her department and (b) each entity reporting to her spend on the promotion or celebration of the Year of O R Tambo on the (i) Africa News Network 7 channel, (ii) SA Broadcasting Corporation (aa) television channels and (bb) radio stations, (iii) national commercial radio stations and (iv) community (aa) television and (bb) radio stations since 1 January 2017?

Reply:

What amount did (a) her department and (b) each entity reporting to her spent on the promotion or celebration of the Year of O R Tambo on the (i) Africa News Network 7 channel (ii) SA Broadcasting Corporation (aa) television channels and (bb) radio stations, (iii) national commercial radio stations and (iv) community (aa) television and (bb) radio stations since 1 January 2017? NW347E

Entity Name

(b)(i) Africa News Network 7 Channel

(b)(ii) SA Broadcasting Corporation

(aa) television channels

(bb) radio stations

(iii) national commercial radio stations

(iv)(aa) community television

(iv)(bb) community radio stations

DoL

NONE

NONE

N0NE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

CCMA

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

UIF

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

CF

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NEDLAC

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

SEE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

PSA

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

17 April 2018 - NW576

Profile picture: Moteka, Mr PG

Moteka, Mr PG to ask the Minister of Labour

Has her department engaged the Minister of Health and the Minister of Social Development about establishing a minimum wage for community care givers and community health workers?

Reply:

Government was represented in all the engagements towards establishing the modalities of a national minimum wage and this by extension included all departments.

The intended coverage of the National Minimum Wage of R20 per hour is intended for all workers in South Africa with the exception of Farm, Forestry, Domestic and Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers.

If Community health workers/ community caregivers are not under the EPWP programme, then they are covered.

END

17 April 2018 - NW839

Profile picture: Dreyer, Ms AM

Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

(1)Whether, with reference to the reply to question 3976 on 18 December 2017, the Electoral Commission of South Africa reported any offences contained in the Public Protector’s report to police officials in accordance with section (34) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details of each such report, (b) to whom was it reported, (c) who reported it and (d) what is the case number?

Reply:

1. The Electoral Commission (the Commission), can confirm that there was an investigation that was conducted by the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit in relation to the Public Protector’s Report. The Electoral Commission can also confirm that the Specialised Commercial Unit had finalised the investigation and indicated that there was no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution.

(a)-(c) The details of the report to the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, as well as the person to whom such report was filed, including the complainant in this matter is currently unknown to the Commission. The Commission has in the meantime requested such information from the Gauteng Regional Head of the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, and will furnish such information as soon as it is in receipt of same.

(d) The case number is Sunnyside CAS 738/09/2014.

17 April 2018 - NW739

Profile picture: Alberts, Mr ADW

Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Labour

(1)Whether affirmative action is a policy exception of her department regarding the principle of equality in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; if not, (2) whether the programme of affirmative action is an integral policy indicator of the principle of equality that will never be abolished; if not, in what manner and on what legal principle the programme is a permanent aspect of South African society; if so, (a) in terms of which criteria and which time line will the programme be concluded, (b) what are the legal grounds on which her department depends and (c) what measures will she institute to oppose certain negative aspects of affirmative action (details furnished); (3) whether she considers the creation of more posts based on economic growth more important than the replacement of blacks with whites in existing posts; if not, whether the replacement of whites by blacks addresses the unemployment problem in all existing posts; if so, what measures can the Government institute to accellerate economic growth; (4) whether this is an objective of affirmative action given the fact that in many cases in both the Public Service and the private sector whites are instructed to train black workers to take over their posts; if not, what is the postion in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW816E]

Reply:

1. In South Africa, though, not only did gender limit opportunities, but so too did

race. Aligning itself with our Constitution, which guarantees non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, political opinion and religious beliefs, amongst other things, employment equity’s overarching aim is to ensure equal opportunity for all, and, in so doing, ensuring that the discriminatory approach and practices of the past aren’t continued or repeated in future. These ideals of non-discrimination and equal opportunity are encapsulated in the Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998, and as further amended in the Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 47 of 2013.

Affirmative action falls under the Employment Equity Act but, unlike employment equity which takes the long-term view, affirmative action can be described as a short-term labour policy which is aimed at redressing the inequalities of the past and, in so doing, achieving a transformed workplace which is representative of the greater South African population. In short, the Employment Equity Act provides a framework for implementing affirmative action.

(2)      Equality will always be an integral policy indicator with affirmative action being one of the key ingredients for its achievement, especially with the Equality Principle entrenched in our Constitution. Every policy is subject to periodic

Review, so is the Affirmative Action

(3)      None of the above

(4)      None of the above

 

17 April 2018 - NW360

Profile picture: Kopane, Ms SP

Kopane, Ms SP to ask the Minister of Labour

What is the total amount that was (i) budgeted for and (ii) spent on her private office (aa) in each of the past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2017 and (b) what was the (i) remuneration, (ii) salary level, (iii) job title, (iv) qualification and (v) job description of each employee appointed in her private office in each of the specified periods?

Reply:

a) 

 

Compensation

Goods & Services

   
 

Budget R’000

Expenditure R’000

Budget R’000

Expenditure R’000

   

(aa)2014/2015

2015/2016

2016/2017

9 400

7 734

9 542

8 262

   
 

14 066

9 209

18 395

10 941

   
 

15 971

10 327

16 217

9 613

   

(bb)2017/2018

22 659

9 638

8 494

5 444

   

 

(b) The Ministerial Handbook provides guidelines on the appointment of the staff in the Private Office. It equally provides the recommended salary levels of each post. The salary levels are adjusted on an annual basis as prescribed in the Public Service Regulations.

The Office of the Minister has a staff complement of Nine (09) officials in line with the Ministerial Handbook. In line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPi) and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, I am unable to provide the members with such confidential information in the manner it is requested.

I however draw the honourable members to the department’s Annual Report wherein the organogram of the department provides the information required. Should it be insufficient, the department will make the personal files of the officials available for further scrutiny by the Auditor General as prescribed by the Act.

16 April 2018 - NW743

Profile picture: Mashabela, Ms N

Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

What role, if any, does South Africa continue to play in fighting for the sovereignty and freedom of Western Sahara?

Reply:

South Africa pursues a pan Africanist foreign policy, which amongst others seeks to promote the decolonisation of the African Continent. To this end, since 2004 South Africa recognized the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a full member of the African Union (AU). South Africa has been consistent in her support for the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence. South Africa’s support is consistent with the United Nations (UN) Declaration on Decolonization and in accordance with the UN Resolution 1514 of 1960 which emphasized on the inalienable right of the indigenous people of the Western Sahara to total independence as well as the AU Roadmap towards a speedy peaceful resolution to the conflict which was reaffirmed by the recent 30th AU Summit held in Addis Ababa in January 2018.

South Africa further supports the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, first as a State and later SADR’s admission to the African Union. South Africa’s solidarity with the SADR is not only historical and principled but practical. Since South Africa’s recognition of the SADR, South Africa continues to provide technical assistance and humanitarian support to the people of Western Sahara.

Furthermore, the South African and SADR governments on 29th March 2018 in Pretoria signed the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Assistance and Exchange of Notes on Humanitarian Assistance that will provide for the release of R10 million in humanitarian aid to assist in the provision of emergency shelter, nutrition, medical care, child protection and education in the Western Sahara refugee camps located in south-west Algeria as well as an annual R1, 771 000.00 for technical support to the SADR Embassy in Pretoria.

In addition, South Africa sponsored a decision for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to hold a solidarity conference on Western Sahara. The solidarity conference is expected to be convened during the course of this year.

16 April 2018 - NW932

Profile picture: Maynier, Mr D

Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance

(1)With regard to the expenditure cuts referred to in the 2018 Budget at the level of national departments, what is the total breakdown of cuts per (a) department, (b) programme and (c) subprogramme; (2) in view of the budget of 2018 which states that net debt is now projected to stabilise at 53,2% by 2023-24, what are the assumptions for each year leading up to and including 2023-24 for the net debt to stabilise, including the further specified details (details furnished)?

Reply:

2. See tables attached

(2) The macroeconomic forecast is underpinned by a set of assumptions shown in Table 1 below. The long-run macroeconomic forecast reflects expectations of potential growth based on investment and population growth as well as the state of the global economy. The combination of higher GDP growth, stronger currency, higher real bond yields, lower borrowing costs and a narrower deficit results in an improved debt-to-GDP outlook, with debt stabilising at 53.2 per cent of GDP in 2023/24.

Table 1 Budget 2018 long-run assumptions

Table 2 Budget 2018 long-run main budget framework

Reply to (1)

16 April 2018 - NW806

Profile picture: Van Der Walt, Ms D

Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

What amount has her department (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on the VIP (i) lounges and (ii) services at the (aa) O R Tambo, (bb) Cape Town and (cc) King Shaka International Airports (aaa) in each of the past five financial years and (bbb) since 1 April 2017?

Reply:

I wish to preface my reply by providing background information on services provided by the State Protocol Lounges (SPLs) which in essence is part (ii) of the Honourable Member’s question.

1. SPLs are facilities provided by the South African Government to facilitate the efficient arrival and departure during domestic and international transit of the President, Deputy President, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, as well as Foreign Heads of States. South African Ministers are facilitated during their international travels only. The State Protocol Lounges are located at OR Tambo (ORTIA), Cape Town (CTIA) and King Shaka (KSTIA) International Airports. The ORTIA and CTIA are rented facilities properties from ACSA and the King Shaka is government owned and the Department only pays the lease for land.

2. All three Lounges operate daily from 06h00-22h00. Arrivals and departures that fall outside the normal working hours are facilitated as per need. During major events e.g. Summits, Conferences, State and Official visits, the SPL work in collaboration with other Airport Stakeholders such as ACSA, SAPS, Immigration, Customs, etc. to ensure smooth facilitations.

3. The State Protocol Lounges services are rendered freely to the VIP. The Department, through the Directorate: SPL budgets for catering in all three Lounges. The budget is centralised in and not broken down per State Protocol Lounge. However, the budget for the rental and upkeep of the Lounges is with the Business Unit: Facilities Management, which also budgets for fuel and maintenance of service vehicles.

4. The services rendered by the State Protocol Lounges include; checking-in of VIPs, clearing of passports with Immigration during international travel, transportation to and from the lounge and the aircraft. The VIPs are also served non-alcoholic beverages.

5. In 2016/17, for instance, the facilitations conducted through all three State Protocol Lounges were 27 333. Figures for 2017/18 are indicated below:

  • In the 1st Quarter of 2017/18 faciltations conducted were 7 139.
  • In the 2nd quarter of 2017/18 faciltations conducted were 7 148.
  • In the 3rd quarter of 2017/18 facilitations conducted were 7 753.

The information requested by the Honourable Member is provided below:

(a) State Protocol Lounge Budget for:

(i) VIP Lounges (rental, utilities and cleaning services)

Lounge

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/2017

(aa) ORTIA

1 640 957

2 360 112

2 607 624

2 881 440

3 179 400

(bb) CTIA

1 647 939

1 818 660

1 976 608

2 148 708

2 335 560

(cc) KSIA

2 218 005

2 417 340

2 580 396

2 755 560

2 943 852

(ii) Services

The VIPs are chauffeured to and from the aircrafts on the airside. They are also provided with non-alcoholic beverages whilst waiting in the State Protocol Lounges. To this end, the total budget of all the services rendered at:

(aa) OR Tambo International Airport

(bb) Cape Town International Airport

(cc) King Shaka International Airport

 

Over the past five years is as follows:

(aaa)

Period

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

Groceries

100 008

138 356

192 602

194 575

294 936

Fuel

Total budget for fuel is centralised in the Transport Section.

(b) Expenditure on the VIP

(i) Lounges (rental, utilities and cleaning services)

 

Lounge

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/2017

(aa) ORTIA

2 136 037

2 360 112

2 607 624

2 881 440

3 179 400

(bb) CTIA

1 647 939

1 818 660

1 976 608

2 148 708

2 335 560

(cc) KSIA

2 218 005

2 417 340

2 580 396

2 755 560

2 943 852

(ii) Services

The VIPs are chauffeured to and from the aircrafts on the airside. They are also provided with non-alcoholic beverages whilst waiting in the State Protocol Lounge. To this end, the total expenditure of all the services rendered at:

(aa) OR Tambo International Airport

(bb) Cape Town International Airport

(cc) King Shaka International Airport

 

Over the past five years is reflected as follows:

Period

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

Catering

172 363

138 356

192 602

194 575

294 936

Period

20140301 – 20180226

Fuel

705 324.38

(bbb) Budget and Expenditure from 01 April 2017 to 28 February 2018

 

VIP Lounges

Lounge

Budget

Expenditure

ORTIA

3 519 312

3 519 312

CTIA

2 538 648

2 538 648

KSIA

3 146 330

3 146 330

Services

Item

Budget

Expenditure

Catering

206 177

107 711

16 April 2018 - NW704

Profile picture: Stander, Ms T

Stander, Ms T to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture

(1). Whether his department has a sexual harassment and assault policy in place; if not, (a) why not and (b) by what date will his department have such a policy in place; if so, (i) how are reports investigated and (ii) what are the details of the consequence management and sanctions stipulated by the policy; (2)(a).What is the total number of incidents of sexual harassment and assault that have been reported in his department (i) in each of the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2017, (b) what number of cases were (i) opened and concluded, (ii) withdrawn and (iii) remain open based on the incidents and (c) what sanctions were issued for each person who was found to have been guilty?

Reply:

1. Yes, my department has a sexual harassment and assault policy in place signed on 25 March 2013, copy attached for easy reference.

(i). The Chief Directorate Human Resource Management has been designated by the accounting officer of the department to deal with alleged cases of sexual harassment. According to the policy, an employee has two options to choose from to resolve the allegation, i.e. informal or formal procedure. See item 6.2 and 6.3 of the departmental policy.

(ii). Item 7.5 stipulate that the Employee Assistance unit shall provide a support structure for both the victim and the alleged perpetrator and recommend appropriate ways of dealing with the problem. Direct employees on how to access 24 hours counselling services as well as advising them on how to get legal support.

Item 7.6 stipulate that the Labor Relations officer shall inform both parties of their rights and ensure that a fair and just process ids followed in dealing with the complaint without compromising the urgency and confidentiality it deserves.

The accounting officer of the department will designate a person to deal with the alleged case of sexual harassment, appoint an investigating officer to establish the facts and made a decision based on the report of the investigating officer. He will also communicate the decision to the victim and instruct that the necessary action be taken against the perpetrator based on sufficient evidence.

2. To date the department has not received any complaint of sexual harassment from the employees.

16 April 2018 - NW977

Profile picture: Matsepe, Mr CD

Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

How much land does (a) her department and (b) the entities reporting to her (i) own, (ii) have exclusive rights to and/or (iii) lease from the State to (aa) use and/or (bb) occupy?

Reply:

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

The Department of Defence is the custodian of the Defence Endowment Property Portfolio with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans appointed as the trustee with ultimate ownership responsibility for all endowment property.The Department of Defence report on; and disclose this portfolio in the Departmental Annual Financial Statements.

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERANS

The Department of Military Veterans does not have exclusive rights to state land and does not own, occupy nor lease state land.

ARMSCOR

The table below details the land Armscor owns (i), (ii) have exclusive rights to and/or lease from the State:

 

 

Description of Property

Zoning / Potential Use

Land Size m² (hectares)

1

GEROTEK

Portion 171 of the farm Elandsfontein 352 JR, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

Current Zoning: Agricultural” with “Special” business use.

Potential Use:

Business Use

512 000.00

(512.00 ha)

2

ALKANTPAN

Section A - Lodge

Section B – Residential Dwellings

Section C – Testing Range

Current Zoning: Agricultural.

Potential Use:

Business Use

Section A: 14.73 ha

Section B: 1.65 ha

Section C: 85 000 ha

3

ERASMUSKLOOF

Sports Grounds – ERF 610

Current Zoning: Zone 21 for Private Open Space.

Potential  Use:

Business Use

50 389.00

(5.04 ha)

4

ERASMUSKLOOF

Vacant Land

ERF 684 – Extension 4

Current Zoning: Zone 2: Residential 2 and Zone 17: Agricultural

Potential Use:

Business Use

72 935.00 (7.29 ha)

5

TECHNO PARK, CENTURION

Erf 11 PORTION 2 HIGHVELD, CITY OF TSHWANE METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

Current Zoning: Industrial 2 Use.

11 978.00

(1,1978 ha)

 

(iii) IMT Simonstown

 

Description of Property

Zoning / Potential Use

Land Size m² (hectares)

1

INSTITUTE FOR MARITIME TECH FACILITIES (IMT)

ERF 3779 SIMON’S TOWN, CITY OF CAPE TOWN MUNICIPALITY

Lease through DPW

Current Zoning: Business use

10590.00

(1.5ha)


 

16 April 2018 - NW112

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

With reference to her reply to question 3874 on 27 November 2017, (a) what are the academic requirements to be a member of the pool of specialists within the Internal Audit section of the SA Army, especially to be in a leadership role of a unit consisting of accountants and Charted Accountants (CAs), (b) what are the reasons that a certain person (name furnished) was appointed to a leadership role in this unit taking into account that the specified person does not have a CA qualification but rather an MBA which is not an accountant or audit specialist and expert qualification, (c) what was the specified person’s actual work as reserve force member for the period 23 August to 17 November 2017, (d) what training and official courses did the specified person successfully complete to be a reserve force member, with specific reference to the apparent rank of Colonel and (e) what is the remuneration that was paid, or will be paid to the specified person for the reserve force service period 23 August to 17 November 2017?

Reply:

a) There are no specific academic qualifications prescribed to be a member of one of the categories in the Pool of Specialists although academic qualifications are one of the criteria when potential members are selected. In the internal Audit section it is preferred that members must be qualified as a Chartered Accountant (CA) although it is very difficult to recruit members with that type of qualification into the SA Army as reservists. When the requirement was identified for this section as part of the Pool of Specialists, the said member was the CEO of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and he recruited some of the CA's within the PIC on a voluntary basis to assist with the SA Army on a part time basis as and when required to perform certain tasks related to auditing and financial control. The said member had extensive experience in public finance.

b) A number of attributes are considered when members are appointed in the Pool of Specialists as Reserve members. The said member was appointed to be in control of this section based on his experience in the field of public finances as well as his demonstrated leadership role in National Treasury after 1994 and also based on his experience as the CEO of the PIC.

c) Col Molefe advised and assisted the Military Command Council wrt strategic SANDF issues in the asset management and financial structure and architecture domains. Although he was called up over period mentioned, he only reported for duty as and when necessitated by his allocated responsibilities and tasks.

(d) The said member was appointed as a Colonel in 2009, together with 33 other reserve officers, in terms of a regulation where former Ex-NSF members were appointed as Reserve Force members. This was done under Department of Defence Instruction: C Pers No 7/99 "Appointment of ex-NSF members in the Reserve Force" issued by CSANDF on 20 September 1999. This whole effort was based on a need that existed to establish a process for members of the non-statutory forces (ex-NSF) to apply to join the Res F by entering into an appropriate agreement with the SANDF. This was further based on a need to transform the leader group of the Reserve Force. Members falling into this category were recommended for a certain rank by a specifically constituted Selection and Staffing Board based on previous military as well as other experience and where they will be utilised. The appointment for these members was signed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. After appointment these Reserve Force members underwent an orientation course which included military etiquette and aspects of officers formative. Col Molefe was also appointed in 2011 as the honorary colonel of the SA Irish Regiment. He is one of two officers in the SANDF who serve as a Reserve Officer and also holds an appointment of Honorary Colonel.

e) The remuneration for a Colonel in the Reserve Force currently is R 1 857.00 per day. In the case of Col Molefe he was not paid anything for his service during that period. He preferred to do the work pro bono. In order to comply with DOD regulations regarding access to information and military cantonments, he was officially called up.

16 April 2018 - NW305

Profile picture: Waters, Mr M

Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

(1)What is the (a) monthly rental and (b) size of the (i) High Commission and (ii) Consulates situated in the United Kingdom; (2) when does the lease for the High Commission in London expire; (3) what is the (a) optimal and (b) actual staffing complement of the High Commission, including staff from all departments?

Reply:

(1) (a)(i) The monthly rental paid for the High Commission (South Africa House) is £1,560.00 This is a 99 year lease from the Crown where the South African Government owns the building but not the land.

(ii) The monthly rental paid for the Consulate (15 Whitehall) is £64,220.89 which is used for the Department of Home Affairs Offices.

(b)(i) South Africa House is comprised of six floors above ground and three floors below ground.

(ii) The 15 Whitehall is comprised of four floors.

(2) The 99 year lease for South Africa House expires on 10 October 2029.

(3) (a) The optimal staffing complement of the High Commission including staff from all departments should be 30 transferred officials and 60 Locally Recruited Staff.

(b) The actual staff complement of the High Commission including staff from all departments is 25 Transferred Officials and 57 Locally Recruited Staff.

13 April 2018 - NW46

Profile picture: Waters, Mr M

Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Cooperative and Traditional Affairs

What recommendations of the feasibility study (details furnished) compiled in July 2014, has the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council (a) implemented and (b) what was the cost of the feasibility study; (2) Have the (a) Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council and/or the (b) Department of Transport given any subsidies to a certain company (name furnished) in the (i) 2014/15, (ii) 2015/16, (iii) 2016/17 and (iv) 2017/18 financial years; (3) What was the operating expenditure of the specified company in the (i) 2014/15, (ii) 2015/16, (iii) 2016/17 and (iv) 2017/18 financial years?

Reply:

The information was provided by Gauteng provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

1. The City of Ekurhuleni (COE) undertook a review and development of the governance and delivery model for its entities in 2012. The process was undertaken in terms of the Bus Options Study which cost R1 439 517.85. The review assessed the financial governance status of the municipal entities as well as consideration of reconfiguring the Brakpan Bus Company (BBC) SOC Limited, to improve service delivery and maximize funding and financial efficiencies, including the consideration of re-absorbing the entity functions into the COE. A further study was triggered in terms of Section 78 of the Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000, with the view to review and improve operational effectiveness, governance efficiencies and to determine the most appropriate model to deliver bus services within the City. The outcomes of the study have been presented to the Executive, and should be approved by Council within the current financial year. The feasibility study was concluded and the City of Ekurhuleni is in the process of preparing an item to council for approval of the desired option.

2. The Brakpan Bus Company received a grant of R5 million per year from City of Ekurhuleni for three consecutive years which are 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. This amount is for covering the shortfall from the subsidy received from Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. In 2014/2015, financial year there was R7.7 million the City of Ekurhuleni has written off which emanate from expenses that Brakpan Bus Company was unable to pay in the financial year 2013/2014. These expenses are for services that City of Ekurhuleni supplies to Brakpan Bus Company which include diesel/fuel.

3. The operating expenditure of the Brakpan Bus Company for the financial years requested are as follows:

  • 2014/2015 R26 680 400 Audited financial statement
  • 2015/2016 R30 030 206 Audited financial statement
  • 2016/2017 R35 058 938 Audited financial statement
  • 2017/2018 R17 694 824 as per Q2 FS

13 April 2018 - NW664

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(a) What is the total number of staff members at Armscor who were granted (i) severance and/or (ii) special termination packages (aa) in each of the past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2017, (b) why was employment terminated in each case, (c) what was the rand value of each package and (d) how were the packages funded?

Reply:

a) The total number of staff members at Armscor who were granted severance or Special packages are as follow:

  • 2015/16 - 0
  • 2016/17 - 2
  • 2017/18 - 29

b) The Early Retirement and Voluntary Severance Packages were offered to employees aged 55 and above subject to the retention of skills, availability of successors for critical positions, non-compromise in meeting operational deliverables as well as the financial implications per employee.

Where the company could derive savings within three years of the total severance package, an offer was made for two weeks’ pay for every year of service plus company pension benefits up to 60 years age. A total of 23 employees accepted this package.

Where the company could not deliver savings within three of the total severance package one week counter-offer was made for every year of service plus company pension benefits up to 60 years of age. A total of 6 employees accepted this package.

This proposal was approved by the Board of Directors.

13 April 2018 - NW666

Profile picture: Esau, Mr S

Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether the shareholder position of a certain person (name and details furnished) in a certain company (name furnished) and its subsidiaries was disclosed to her department before any tenders were awarded to the specified company as a service provider to her department and Armscor; if so, (a) has she found that there was a potential conflict of interest and (b) what were the findings of the Auditor-General in respect of tenders that were awarded to the company?

Reply:

FeverTree Consulting is a Management Consulting firm. The company was appointed to assist Armscor in the co-management of a turnaround of the corporation. The company was appointed, through an open tender process conducted in accordance with applicable legislation, included the participation of other interested parties, to assist Armscor in the co-management of a turnaround of the corporation. Criteria in the Tender process were formulated in an order of the specialist competencies and experience that Armscor require for the corporate turnaround. FeverTree Consulting was the only company that complied with all of the criteria.

The status of Mr. Ramaphosa’s association with FeverTree Consulting (Pty) Ltd is as follows: At the time of the appointment of FeverTree Consulting by Armscor, Mr Ramaphosa had resigned on 25 June 2012 from FeverTree Consulting and had no interest in the company and was not in any way associated with the company by any direct or indirect means.

13 April 2018 - NW349

Profile picture: James, Ms LV

James, Ms LV to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(a) What is the total amount that was (i) budgeted for and (ii) spent on her private office (aa) in each of the past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2017 and (b) what was the (i) remuneration, (ii) salary level, (iii) job title, (iv) qualification and (v) job description of each employee appointed in her private office in each of the specified periods?

Reply:

The Ministerial Handbook provides guidelines on the appointment of the staff in the Private Office. It equally provides the recommended salary levels of each post. The salary levels are adjusted on an annual basis as prescribed in the Public Service Regulations.

The Office of the Minister has a full staff complement as defined in the Ministerial Handbook. In line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPi) and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act am unable to provide the members with such confidential information in the manner it is requested.

I however draw the honourable members to the department’s Annual Report wherein the organogram of the department provides the information required. Should it be insufficient, the department will make the personal files of the officials available for further scrutiny by the Auditor General as prescribed by the Act.

13 April 2018 - NW663

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1)What progress has her department made with the handing over of the dockyards to Denel; (2) has Denel’s financial challenges and the National Treasury requirements relating to the handing over of the dockyards been resolved; if not, (a) what are the persistent challenges, (b) how will they be resolved to ensure the commencement of the projects and (c) on what date will the projects commence; (3) whether there are any financial risks if the awarded tenders to two certain companies (names furnished) cannot commence; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what will the costs be in each case?

Reply:

Denel was given until the 28 February 2018 to meet the suspensive conditions of securing a strategic partner in the Dockyard Transfer. On the basis that the deadline was not met, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans determined that no further extensions be granted and that the transfer process be cancelled. Armscor continues to manage the Dockyard and deliver maintenance services of the SA Navy vessels. Armscor is now tasked with pursuing the renewal strategy of the Dockyard.

The two tenders relating to Project Hotel and Biro are standalone projects and have no interface with the Dockyard Transfer.

 

13 April 2018 - NW883

Profile picture: Ollis, Mr IM

Ollis, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

(a) What number of offenders are listed in the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) in 2018, (b) have all of the specified offenders been properly evaluated according to the requirements for placement on the NRSO, (c) what number of staff members are allocated for the maintenance of the NRSO and (d) which provincial education departments have requested access to the NRSO in the past two years for the purpose of vetting educators before employment?

Reply:

a) From 1 January 2018 to 27 March 2018, there are 487 convictions recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). However, to date, the total number of convictions recorded in the NRSO is 28 670.

b) The number of convictions recorded from 1 January 2018 to 27 March 2018 have been properly evaluated according to the required standards. The Department is in the process of reviewing all cases that were pending prior to 1 January 2018 at the Office of the Registrar to confirm the final court order.

As part of the review, the Department has also finalised the development of the new NRSO electronic system which will, upon implementation, lead to the achievement of the following functions:

  1. Ability to issue Vetting & Removal Certificates;
  2. Ability to scan the document’s Mandatory Fields Required from inception of processes;
  3. Ability to communicate more effectively via the system between the office of the National Registrar for Sex Offenders and the courts;
  4. Secure more reliable data synchronized with stakeholder Departments and stay in Sync via an integrated solution; and
  5. Allow easier tracking of cases/applications.

c) At national office, there are six (6) officials currently allocated for the maintenance of the NRSO, namely: one (1) Registrar; one (1) Senior State Law Advisor, one (1) Assistant Director and three (3) Data Capturers.

d) None of the provincial education departments requested access from the NRSO in the past two years for the purposes of vetting educators before employment.

It is also important to note that the information on the Register can only be accessed by way of application in writing by the following category of persons:

  1. Employers;
  2. A relevant Authority in terms of section 48(1) of the Act;
  3. An employee in respect of her own particulars;
  4. A person applying for a license or approval to manage or operate any entity -section 47(2) of the Act;
  5. A person applying to become a foster parent – section 48 (2); and
  6. Any person applying in respect of his or her own particulars.

Should any provincial education department wish to ascertain whether or not the name of any teacher appear in the NRSO, it must apply in writing to the Registrar of the National Register for Sex Offenders for the prescribed certificate.

.

13 April 2018 - NW665

Profile picture: Marais, Mr S

Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

What (a) are the details of the remuneration increases for the management at Armscor since 1 April 2017 and (b) were the reasons for the increases?

Reply:

Armscor implemented an efficient structure in order to respond to the objective of the Armscor Act, respond to the demands of the Department of Defence, to be cost effective and to achieve its Turnaround Strategy. A benchmarking study with similar organisations and state owned enterprises such as Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) was undertaken.

The restructuring of the executive management took into consideration the delegation and accountability by streamlining and strengthening the executive decision making to create fewer executive committee members with broader spans of control. Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) benchmarked the recommended remuneration and approval by the Board of Directors was obtained. No budgets were increased to fund new salaries and market benchmarks placed the salaries at the lower pay scale quartile which is below midpoint for executive management.

 

13 April 2018 - NW988

Profile picture: Horn, Mr W

Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

How much land does (a) his department and (b) the entities reporting to him (i) own, (ii) have exclusive rights to and/or (iii) lease from the State to (aa) use and/or (bb) occupy?

Reply:

a) The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) does not own any land or property. However it uses state owned properties that are under the custodianship of the National Department of Public Works.

In the effort of executing its mandate of administration of justice, the DoJ&CD’s Courts make use of physical assets in the form of courts and office buildings. The Department is accommodated in 672 state-owned properties and is leasing only 120 buildings mainly offices throughout the country. In an effort to strike a balance, the composition of the Departments portfolio lies within an acceptable ratio of 80% state owned and 20% leased building.

b) The entities reporting to me have reported as follows:

(i) LEGAL AID SOUTH AFRICA:

Legal Aid SA owns seven (7) pieces of land per the table below. All properties are used for as Legal Aid SA’s local offices.

No.

Local Office

Physical Address

ERF M2

Building M2

Usage

Gauteng Province

1.

National Office

ERF 4410

29 de Beer Street Braamfontein

1,490

8,289

Used as Legal Aid SA’s National Office

2.

Krugersdorp

ERF 1737
51 Burger Street Krugersdorp,
Mogale City
Gauteng
1740

495

1,298

Krugersdorp local office

(Refurbishment in progress and will be occupied on 01 June 2018)

3.

Benoni

ERF 884
18 Howard Avenue
Benoni
1501

595

1,696

Benoni local office. (Refurbishment will commence on 01 June 2018 and will be occupied on 01 October 2018)

 

North-West Province

4.

Litchenburg

ERF 1956
25 Bantjies Street
Litchenburg
2740

1,086

258

Lichtenburg local office

 

Free State Province

5.

Welkom

Archiquant Building
8 Heerent Street
Welkom
9460

373

1,073

Welkom local office

Mpumalanga Province

6.

Middleburg

ERF 408
Middleburg
Township Tshwete Local Municipality
1050

996

616

Middelburg local office

7.

Witbank

ERF 109
17 Botha Street, Witbank
Mpumalanga Province
1035

2,231

1,548

Witbank local office

N.B: The Polokwane and Mitchells Plain Offices operate directly from court buildings maintained by the State.

The Nelspruit Office will in the near future operate from a state owned court building.

(ii) SPECIAL INVESTIGATING UNIT

The Special Investigating Unit does not rent or/and have any exclusive rights on any State owned land.

13 April 2018 - NW853

Profile picture: Groenewald, Dr PJ

Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Whether his department has paid any legal costs since 2009 in cases in which the former President of South Africa, (Details furnished), was involved; if so, (a) for which case in each individual year has payment been made to date, (b) what was the cost regarding each case in each individual year, (c) what case was (i) finalised and (ii) not finalised in each individual year and (d) what number of legal representatives was used in each individual case; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

  1. Yes. The table below provides details of legal costs in respect to cases in which the former President of South Africa, was involved in since 2009:

File Reference Number

Case Number

Number of Legal Representatives/Advocates

Status of the Case

Amount

Individual Years

7313/16/Z75

79808/2016; 91139/2006

Three (3) Advocates

Client's instruction pending possible appeal

R 2 530 135.52

2006

2016

2751/17/Z75

24396/17 & SCA 664/2017

Three (3) Advocates

Appeal pending

R 1 247 617.82

2017

6043 & 6041/15/Z75

CCT143/15

Five (5) Advocates

Finalized

R 3 196 492.91

2015

5076 & 8286/15/Z14

62470/15 & 93043/15

Two (2) Advocates

Appeal pending

R 1 965 705.29

2015

0184/06/Z1 & 2295/09/Z65

CCT92/07; 13569/06; 14116/05; CCT91/07 & 19577/09 & SCA836/13

One (1) Private Attorney

Finalized

R 15 300 250.00

2007

2006

2007

2009

2013

TOTAL

R 24 240 201.54

 

12 April 2018 - NW529

Profile picture: Stubbe, Mr DJ

Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Health

With reference to his reply to question 3518 on 29 November 2017, (a) on what date was each of the 28 ambulances booked into the workshop, (b) what was the reason that each ambulance needed repairs, (c) what number of days was each ambulance in the workshop for and (d) what was the cost of the repairs for each ambulance?

Reply:

The attached table in Annexure 1 reflects the details in this regard.

END.

12 April 2018 - NW512

Profile picture: Wilson, Ms ER

Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Social Development

Whether her department’s nonprofit organisation (NPO) directorate was informed of Limpopo’s decision to cancel contracts with over 400 NPOs that would have provided home-based care for poor and vulnerable citizens for the 2018-19 financial year; if so, (a) on what date was the directorate advised of the specified decision and (b) did the directorate (i) approve this decision and (ii) provide guidance on the future plans to ensure that (aa) NPOs continue to provide effective services to the poor and vulnerable citizens in Limpopo and (bb) over 15 000 home-based care workers remain employed?

Reply:

Refer to the Department of Health.

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date……………………….

12 April 2018 - NW702

Profile picture: Mbhele, Mr ZN

Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Mr Z N Mbhele (DA) to ask the Minister of Police

What (a) policies and (b) minimum standards are currently in place for (i) police stations and (ii) police officers when dealing with (aa) sexual offences, (bb) domestic violence and (cc) child protection?

Reply:

(a){b)(i)(ii)(aa) National Instruction 3 of 2008, Sexual Offences, was issued in terms of Section 66(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No 32 of 2007). This National Instruction prescribes the policy and minimum standards (roles, responsibilities, procedures and processes) for dealing with sexual offences by all members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSP), has issued the Policy on Reducing Barriers to the Reporting of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence.

(a)(b)(i)(ii)(bb) National Instruction 7 of 1999, Domestic Violence, was issued in terms of Section 18(3) of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No 116 of 1998). This National Instruction prescribes the policy and minimum standards (roles, responsibilities, procedures and processes.) for dealing with cases relating to domestic violence by all members of the SAPS.

The CSP has issued the Policy on Reducing Barriers to the Reporting of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence.

(a)(b)(i)(ii)(cc) National Instruction 3 of 2010, Care and Protection of Children in terms of the Children's Act, was issued In terms of the Children's Act, 2005 (Act No 38 of 2005). This National Instruction prescribes the policy and minimum standards (roles, responsibilities, procedures and processes) for dealing with the care and protection of children by all members of the SAPS.

National Instruction 2 of 2010, Children in Conflict with the Law, was issued in terms of Section 97(5) of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act No 75 of 2008). This National Instruction prescribes the policy and minimum standards (roles, responsibilities, procedures and processes) for dealing with cases relating to children in conflict with the law by all members of the SAPS.

The Minister's Six Point Plan sets out the minimum standards for the service provided to a victim of gender-based violence.

Original signed MAJOR GENERAL

ACTING DIVISIONAL COMMISSIONER: DETECTIVE SERVICE

LMAGSON
Date: 15 March 2018

Reply to question 702 recommend


GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
Date: 2018-04-11

Reply to question 702 approved/not approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
BH CELE, MP
Date: 2018-04-11

12 April 2018 - NW551

Profile picture: Rawula, Mr T

Rawula, Mr T to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What is the (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) patient capacity of each hospital that does not offer gynaecology services and (b) what is the reason for this in each case?

Reply:

Honourable Member, there is no hospital that does not offer gynaecology services in this country.

END.

12 April 2018 - NW546

Profile picture: Nolutshungu, Ms N

Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What is the (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) patient capacity of each hospital that does not offer pharmaceutical services and (b) what is the reason for this in each case?

Reply:

Honourable Member, there is no hospital that does not offer pharmaceutical services in this country.

END.

12 April 2018 - NW908

Profile picture: Tshwaku, Mr M

Tshwaku, Mr M to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Whether she has been informed that there is a sewage spillage at Lindile Secondary School in Ermelo, Mpumalanga; if not, (a) what is the position in this regard and (b) what steps will she take to stop the spillage; if so, (i) by what date will the sewage problem be resolved and (ii) does her department have alternative plans to stop the spillage so that the children are not exposed to the sewage and the diseases it carries?

Reply:

a) The sewer spillage is from a Municipal sewer line that is traversing the school site. The sewer broke and spilled sewage into the school grounds up to the school building’s corridor and verandas. As a form of emergency intervention to ensure uninterrupted teaching and learning for the school, the Department instructed the Implementing Agent, the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT) to appoint a service provider to attend to the sewer spillage waste. The service provider will address the spillage starting from 24 March 2018, completing on 16 April 2018. The cleaning process involves application of sanitising chemicals around the school yard to kill pathogens that may cause diseases to the learners and educators.

b) Steps taken include engaging the responsible municipality. The Department is also engaging the municipality through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to re-direct the sewer pipe from the school site as a long term measure.

(i) Timeframes for the long-term solution are not yet in place as engagements are still taking place.

(ii) The alternative solution is the engagement with COGTA.

12 April 2018 - NW713

Profile picture: Stubbe, Mr DJ

Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Health

(1)Whether his department has a sexual harassment and assault policy in place; if not, (a) why not and (b) by what date will his department have such a policy in place; if so, (i) how are reports investigated and (ii) what are the details of the consequence management and sanctions stipulated by the policy; (2) (a) what is the total number of incidents of sexual harassment and assault that have been reported in his department (i) in each of the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2017, (b) what number of cases were (i) opened and concluded, (ii) withdrawn and (iii) remain open based on the incidents and (c) what sanctions were issued for each person who was found to have been guilty?

Reply:

The following tables reflects the details in this regard.

(1) Table 1.

(a)

(b)

(i)

(ii)

Yes

13 September 2017

Appoint an investigator to investigate the complaint formally

The policy stipulates that sexual harassment is a misconduct and all cases of sexual harassment will be handled in line with the disciplinary code and procedure and LRA

(2) Table 2

(a)(i)

(ii)

(b)(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(c)

0

1

1

0

1

Investigation still in progress

END.

12 April 2018 - NW1009

Profile picture: Khawula, Ms MS

Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What amount of funding is required to appoint teachers to fill (a) existing vacancies and (b) future vacancies that will be required to keep up with demand?

Reply:

a) Budgeting for provisioning of educators is done in terms of the normal government budgeting processes. On an annual basis, each Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education declares a basket of posts his/her Provincial Education Department based on the available budget for. Such posts are then distributed to schools using the post provisioning model. Therefore, vacancies that exist at any point are part of the declared post establishment and are funded. There is no additional amount of funding required to fill existing vacancies.

b) Trends in the growth of learners enrolled in public schools have shown a low annual growth of less than 1% per annum and is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Therefore, growth in the demand for educators as a result of growth in learner enrolment which will require creation of additional posts, is unlikely to outstrip the current budget growth trends.

12 April 2018 - NW749

Profile picture: Sonti, Ms NP

Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Social Development

(a) What is the name of the bank that is officially responsible to clear bank payments made by the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) to grant recipients as at 12 March 2017, (b) on what exact date was the specified bank appointed for this task and (c) what amount (i) has the bank received from SASSA to date and (ii) will SASSA have paid the bank by the date on which the contract expires?

Reply:

a) SASSA uses the Pay Master General Account held with the South African Reserve Bank.

b) 16 October 2017

c) (i) SARB – R0

Bankserv – R1 per transaction

(ii) SASSA pays all transaction fees at the agreed upon rate on a monthly basis.

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date……………………….

12 April 2018 - NW885

Profile picture: Ollis, Mr IM

Ollis, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Does her department have a policy position to support the declaration of a minimum service level for school staff by the Essential Services Committee in order to ensure that children are not left unsupervised, thereby compromising their safety, during school hours?

Reply:

Both international and South African law does not define education as an essential service. This is confirmed in the published list of essential services in South Africa by the Essential Service Committee (ESC), as established in the Labour Relations Act (LRA).

The Department of Basic Education has the view to support the declaration of a minimum service level agreement for school staff by the Essential Service Committee (ESC) when children are left unsupervised during school hours, but can only do so with the support of the teacher trade unions in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) and with a directive from the ESC, since the jurisdiction to do so lies with the ESC as determined in the LRA.

12 April 2018 - NW557

Profile picture: Paulsen, Mr N M

Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What is the (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) patient capacity of each hospital that does not offer paediatric services and (b) what is the reason for this in each case?

Reply:

Honourable Member, all hospitals in the country do offer paediatric services except specialised TB and Psychiatric hospitals which will offer services related to their speciality.

END.

12 April 2018 - NW542

Profile picture: Ketabahle, Ms V

Ketabahle, Ms V to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What is the (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) patient capacity of each clinic which does not offer gynaecology services and (b) why?

Reply:

Honourable Member, there is no clinic that does not offer gynaecology services in this country.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW802

Profile picture: Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP

Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)(a) What is the total amount that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) paid to each (i) university and (ii) technical and vocational education and training college as an upfront payment for the 2018 academic year in January 2018 and February 2018 and (b) what conditions are linked to the payments; (2) what is the total budget of NSFAS for each of the institutions for the 2018 academic year?

Reply:

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has provided the following responses to the questions posed.

1. (a) (i) Total amounts that the NSFAS paid to each university as upfront payments for the 2018 academic year in January 2018 and February 2018 are:

Institution

(2) Allocation

Upfront payment

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

655 156 838

58 502 138

Central University of Technology

392 452 939

32 901 049

Durban University of Technology

739 442 055

76 809 399

Mangosuthu University of Technology

215 982 827

20 361 272

Nelson Mandela University

552 806 749

50 958 353

North-West University

802 562 904

72 736 926

Rhodes University

104 906 961

9 157 806

Sefako Makgatho Health Science University

166 686 949

15 055 518

Sol Plaatjie University

40 143 195

3 794 397

Tshwane University of Technology

1 686 504 055

159 916 208

University of Cape Town

261 736 828

26 232 728

University of Fort Hare

428 181 033

45 967 899

University of Free State

1 087 128 657

94 706 148

University of Johannesburg

1 965 357 590

173 468 591

University of Kwazulu-Natal

1 032 677 361

103 120 630

University of Limpopo

728 349 374

74 108 015

University of Mpumalanga

68 869 849

5 728 795

University of Pretoria

593 675 472

58 152 577

University of South Africa

574 486 219

53 463 768

University of Stellenbosch

146 102 526

12 871 899

University of the Western Cape

319 978 970

32 819 196

University of the Witwatersrand

1 358 216 952

113 140 134

University of Venda

554 114 481

52 436 240

University of Zululand

611 236 012

64 710 296

Vaal University of Technology

463 906 016

45 299 186

Walter Sisulu University

875 337 188

91 572 582

Totals

16 426 000 000

  1. 547 991 750

(ii) Total amounts that the NSFAS paid to each Technical and Vocational Education and Training College as upfront payments for the 2018 academic year in January 2018 and February 2018 are:

College

(2) Allocation

Upfront payment

Boland

80 259 999

5 682 900

Buffalo City

74 232 979

5 256 150

Cape College

106 609 413

7 548 600

Capricorn

167 805 385

11 881 650

Central Johannesburg College

120 347 630

8 521 350

Coastal KwaZulu-Natal

181 977 887

12 885 150

Eastcape Midlands

83 261 858

5 895 450

Ehlazeni

87 174 655

6 172 500

Ekurhuleni East

121 563 626

8 607 450

Ekurhuleni West

169 637 853

12 011 400

Elangeni

133 236 344

9 433 950

Esayidi

126 546 246

8 960 250

False Bay

73 338 989

5 192 850

Flavius Mareka

47 328 529

3 351 150

Gert Sibande

117 714 383

8 334 900

Goldfields

56 819 233

4 023 150

Ikhala

52 107 776

3 689 550

Ingwe

82 289 485

5 826 600

King Hintsa

48 449 195

3 430 500

King Sabata

85 242 619

6 035 700

Lephalale

33 929 265

2 402 400

Letaba

68 627 532

4 859 250

Lovedale

45 570 207

3 226 650

Majuba

203 992 929

14 443 950

Maluti

92 176 340

6 526 650

Mnambithi

83 463 112

5 909 700

Mopani

85 384 556

6 045 750

Motheo

166 061 892

11 758 200

Mthashana

67 320 442

4 766 700

Northern Cape Rural

51 097 270

3 618 000

Northern Cape Urban

54 764 326

3 877 650

Nkangala

111 668 297

7 906 800

Northlink

145 936 516

10 333 200

Orbit

165 614 897

11 726 550

Port Elizabeth

86 439 549

6 120 450

Sedibeng

119 928 175

8 491 650

Sekhukhune

66 640 416

4 718 550

South cape

63 416 119

4 490 250

South west

189 203 956

13 396 800

Taletso

79 912 572

5 658 300

Thekwini

84 821 045

6 005 850

Tshwane North

170 997 905

12 107 700

Tshwane South

141 383 944

10 010 850

Umfolozi

143 252 426

10 143 150

Umgungundlovu

71 661 168

5 074 050

Vhembe

201 980 392

14 301 450

Vuselela

86 401 417

6 117 750

Waterberg

65 930 732

4 668 300

West Coast

88 502 930

6 266 550

Western

111 977 592

7 928 700

TOTALs

5 164 002 003

365 643 000

(b) A portion of the upfront payments should be allocated to NSFAS funded students to cover their living expenses.

2. See response to question 1 (i) and (ii) above.

11 April 2018 - NW571

Profile picture: Xalisa, Mr Z R

Xalisa, Mr Z R to ask the Minister of Health

What was the total monetary value of all government (a) goods and (b) equipment that were (i) lost, (ii) stolen and (iii) broken at each hospital with regard to its (aa) name, (bb) location and (cc) capacity?

Reply:

I am sorry Honourable Member I find the word "government goods" too wide and ambiguous. May the Honourable Member be a bit specific on actually what Honourable Member wants to know.

Which particular equipment does the Member want to know about? Is it clinical equipment, and if so which ones in particular. Or is it kitchen of environmental or terrain or building maintenance equipment. Surely the Honourable Member must be having something in mind which he wants to know about.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW538

Profile picture: Dlamini, Mr MM

Dlamini, Mr MM to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What is the (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) patient capacity of each clinic which does not offer HIV testing and counselling services and (b) why?

Reply:

Our policy is that all our clinics offer HIV Counselling and Testing and they have been offered resources to do so. If any experiences problems at any one day, it will be a momentary problem which can be resolved.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW570

Profile picture: Sonti, Ms NP

Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Health

What was the total monetary value of all government goods that were (a) lost, (b) stolen and (c) broken at each clinic with regard to its (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) capacity?

Reply:

I am sorry Honourable Member I find this question too wide and ambiguous. May the Honourable Member be a bit specific on actually what Honourable Member wants to know.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW496

Profile picture: Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP

Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)For each of the bids that closed on 17 June 2016 for the construction of 10 new technical vocational education and training college campuses, (a) where will each campus be situated, (b) what is the maximum number of students that will be accommodated at each campus, (c) what is the current status of the bids and/or the contracts and (d) what is the estimated cost of each bid; (2) on what date is it expected that each campus will be ready to enrol students; (3) has her department provided for the equipment and staff that will be needed to utilise the sites; if so, what is the estimated cost for (a) furnishing and/or equipping the training sites and (b) the annual operation of each campus?

Reply:

  1. (a ) - (d) Refer to Table 1 below.

Table 1: List of the 10 new TVET College Campuses

No.

TVET College

Campus

1 (a) Location of campuses

1 (b) Student Capacity

1 (c) Bid Status

1 (d) Estimated Cost (at the time of tender)

     

Municipality

Physical Address

     
 

Eastcape Midlands

Graaff-Reinet

Camdeboo Local

Cacadu District

Erf 9012, 4140 and 4150, Graaff-Reinet

365

Contract awarding in process

R 99 273 673

 

Ingwe

Ngqungqushe

Ngquza Hill Local

OR Tambo District

ERF 2786, Lusikisiki

470

Contract awarding in process

R 111 184 488

 

Ikhala

Sterkspruit

Senqu Local

Joe Gqabi District

Portion 11 of Farm 82, Herschell Road, Sterkspruit

470

Contract awarding in process

R 124 999 718

   

Aliwal North

Maletswai Local

Joe Gqabi District

Erven 3094, 3095, 3099 and 3100, Aliwal North

470

Contract awarding in process

R 108 128 554

 

Esayidi

Umzimkhulu

uMzimkhulu Local

Sisonke District

ERF 152 being ERF 1918, 1952 – 1960, 1920 – 1949 and 1951, Umzimkhulu

470

Contract awarding in process

R 94 554 838

 

Umfolozi

Nkandla B

Nkandla Local

uThungulu District

Portion of the Farm Reserve No.19, No.15839, Nkungumathe

470

Pending

R 116 564 134

 

Umgungundlovu

Greytown

uMvoti Local

uMzinyathi District

Erf 1455, situated in Greytown

470

Contract awarding in process

R 124 999 718

 

Umgungudlovu

Msinga

Msinga Local

uMzinyathi District

Portion 24 of the Farm Klip River Location No.4665 – GT, situated in Msinga

470

Contract awarding in process

R 127 157 312

 

Letaba

Giyani

Greater Giyani Local

Mopani District

Erf 1502, Giyani

532

Contract awarding in process

R 92 573 494

 

Gert Sibande

Balfour

Dipaleseng Local

Gert Sibande District

Portion 0 of the farm Balfour 557 IR, Balfour

470

Contract awarding in process

R 106 722 624

2. Construction of the 10 new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college campuses has an estimated completion period of 15 months per site from the date of site handover (barring unforeseen delays in construction relating to extension of time requests). At this stage, the Department cannot give an anticipated date for enrolments as 9 of the 10 new sites are currently engaged in the contract award phase and physical construction is yet to commence.

3. (a) Parallel to the construction of the sites is the process of securing operational budgets and start-up capital for the new campuses. At present, there is no funding in the base-line budget of the Department over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. In addition to requesting funding from National Treasury, the Department will be conducting a funding campaign by inviting the relevant end-users such as Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and industry to play a role in the development and utilisation of the new TVET college campuses. It is critical that role-players buy-in for the resourcing and utilisation of the new sites as part of their mainstream skills delivery planning.

(b) The indicative operational and start-up capital amounts for all 10 campuses are set out in Table 2 below.

Table 2: MTEF Indicative Operational and Start-up Capital for 10 new TVET Campuses:

 

Year 1

R ‘000

Year 2

R ‘000

Year 3

R ‘000

Total

R ‘000

Operations

R 151 712

R 320 111

R 675 435

R 1 147 258

Capital

R 915 789

R 144 000

R 12 000

R 1 180 789

Student Support

R 34 688

R 73 192

R 133 128

R 241 008

Total

R 1 102 189

R 537 303

R 929 563

R 2 569 055

11 April 2018 - NW691

Profile picture: Kopane, Ms SP

Kopane, Ms SP to ask the Minister of Health

Whether (a) his department and/or (b) the Free State department of health conduct regular checks on the Buthelezi Ambulance Service to ensure compliance with the provision of the National Health Act, Act 61 of 2003, specifically with regard to (i) being licensed, (ii) being supervised by a Medical Services Manager, (iii) operating from a specific location, (iv) having a communications system over which to receive service requests, backed by the ability to manage resources, (v) having access to sluice facilities for cleaning contaminated equipment and linen, (vi) having access to washing facilities, including medical-waste traps, (vii) having all the relevant equipment listed in the regulations and (viii) ensuring vehicles are clearly marked as ambulances; if not, in each case, why not; if so, how many checks were conducted in each case since the ambulance service was contracted and what were the findings in each case?

Reply:

Honourable Member, before even checking issues of compliance with the National Health Act, as far as the Buthelezi Ambulance Services in the Free State is concerned, I thought it is important to check first how this service was procured in the first place.

It looks like the procurement of this service breached several Treasury regulations and the PFMA.

On the 8th March 2018 I wrote to the Minister of Finance and requested that the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in the National Treasury investigate this matter. As soon as I get the outcome of the investigation I will revert back to you. I regard this matter as a scene of a crime and will wait for National Treasury to show direction and take it up from there.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW463

Profile picture: Van Der Walt, Ms D

Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Health

In light of the fact that the Hansard he refers to in his reply to question 356 on 8 May 2017 does not provide the requested information (details furnished), what is the (a) make, (b) model, (c) price and (d) date on which each vehicle was purchased for use by (i) him and (ii) his deputy (aa) in the (aaa) 2014-15, (bbb) 2015-16 and (ccc) 2016-17 financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2017?

Reply:

It should be noted that no vehicles were purchased neither for myself nor for the Deputy Minister, during the financial years 2014-15; 2016-17 and since 1 April 2017. The vehicles were bought in June 2015.

Two vehicles were purchased (one for each of us) and their details are as follows:

For myself:

(a) Make: Audi Q7

(b) Model: 4LB0GA

(c) Price: R717,492.06

(d) Date: 20 July 2015 (delivery date)

For the Deputy Minister:

(a) Make: Audi Q7

(b) Model: 4LB0GA

(c) Price: R717,492.06

(d) Date: 20 July 2015 (delivery date)

END.

11 April 2018 - NW213

Profile picture: Lekota, Mr M

Lekota, Mr M to ask the Minister of Health

(1)(a) What were the circumstances that led to the North West Department of Health awarding a three-year contract to a certain company (name furnished) for the provision of a mobile clinic, (b) what amount has been paid to the specified company to date and (c) on what legal provision did the North West Department of Health rely when it made the payments; (2) was the provision of the service planned and budgeted for; if not, what informed the procurement of the service; (3) were normal tender processes followed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Thank you Honourable Member for this important question.

I had visited the North West Department of Health and held a meeting with its senior staff at Ratlou Community Health Centre in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District on the 2nd March 2018.

I then had an opportunity to inspect two (2) of the mobile "clinics".

From what I could gather, I realised that this problem is much bigger than meets the eye and needs a very serious technical investigation.

Since this is a procurement function which is the purview of the provincial department, I wrote to the Minister of Finance on the 8th March 2018 and requested that the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in the National Treasury investigate this matter.

I also briefed the Minister of Finance. I am made to understand that this investigation is going on.

May the Honourable Member bear with me until the results of this investigation are released.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW647

Profile picture: Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP

Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)Whether she has found that the directive entitled Rules and Guidelines for the Administration and Management of the Department of Higher Education and Training Technical and Vocational Education and Training College Bursary Scheme for 2018 on 15 December 2017 was issued too late for institutions to properly plan and budget for the 2018 academic year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) What (a) caused the delay in issuing the directive, (b) is the latest date by which such a directive should ideally be issued in the future and (c) steps will she take to ensure that such important directives will be distributed in time in the future?

Reply:

1. The policy directive entitled Rules and Guidelines for the Administration and Management of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training College Bursary Scheme (hereafter referred to as the Bursary Rules and Guidelines) for 2018 was issued late in 2017 for TVET Colleges to plan and budget for the 2018 academic year with absolute accuracy ahead of the January 2018 intake of students. The Department revises and updates the Bursary Rules and Guidelines annually to ensure efficient administration of bursaries and to provide greater clarity to Colleges about bursary administration processes. This revision, however, is not a radical shift from year-to-year. Considered amendments are made based on feedback requested from Colleges in the course of the year to improve the administration of the College Bursary Scheme.

2. (a) Over and above the individual written College submissions which were received by the Department for the review of the Bursary Rules and Guidelines, the South African College Principals Organisation (SACPO) requested the Department to convene a consultative meeting of all relevant stakeholders to discuss certain matters that students often challenge in the application of the rules and guidelines. SACPO was of the view that colleges needed to discuss this collectively and then make inputs rather than individually.

The Departmental officials, College Principals, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Student Representative Councils (SRCs), South African Further Education and Training Students Association (SAFETSA), and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) attended the consultative meeting referred to above, which was the first of its nature for this purpose. Following this extensive consultative process, the Department was requested to clearly delineate the RULES as separate from the GUIDELINES in the Bursary Rules and Guidelines policy document. As a result of these amendments, which required careful consideration and approval within the Department, the 2018 Bursary Rules and Guidelines document was released on 15 December 2017. Shortly after the release of the 2018 Bursary Rules and Guidelines, the Presidential announcement of fee-free higher education and training for students from poor and working class families followed, which had further implications for administration of the bursary scheme in TVET Colleges. The amendments to the 2018 Bursary Rules and Guidelines that resulted from the fee-free education announcement, were approved in February 2018.

b) In terms of the annual plans, the Department first has to solicit inputs from all relevant stakeholders for the review, and this process usually culminates in the release of the updated Bursary Rules and Guidelines before the end of September each year for the following academic year.

c) The Department does not foresee a situation similar to the one that occurred in 2017. The Department plans to initiate the review process in May 2018 to ensure that there is sufficient time to finalise this important policy directive by no later than 30 September 2018.

11 April 2018 - NW395

Profile picture: Thembekwayo, Dr S

Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health

What (a) is the total number of cases of negligence by medical staff that were recorded at each hospital in the country, (b) is the name of each hospital, (c) are the details of each negligent act that occured, (d) is the name of each medical staff member who committed the negligent act, (e) is the name of the person who suffered as a result of the negligent act and (f) action was taken in response to the negligence?

Reply:

Honourable Member, I wish to strike an understanding with you that the concept of negligence by medical staff is not something that is just recorded at each hospital. It is rather a verdict that can only be arrived at by a Judicial or quasi judicial process.

As such, I will need to contact judicial and the quasi judicial structures in health, in this case the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), to get the correct information and will revert back to you as soon as I have it.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW537

Profile picture: Thembekwayo, Dr S

Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Health

(a) What is the (i) name, (ii) location and (iii) patient capacity of each clinic which does not offer TB treatment services and (b) why?

Reply:

(a) and (b) All public clinics do offer TB services as part of the routine services offered as a component of the primary health care package.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW692

Profile picture: Kopane, Ms SP

Kopane, Ms SP to ask the Minister of Health

Whether each operator employed by the Buthelezi Ambulance Service in the Free State holds the necessary qualifications, particularly the (a) Basic Ambulance Assistant Certificate, (b) Ambulance Emergency Assistant Certificate and (c) Critical Care Assistant Certificate; if not, in each case, (i) why not and (ii) how does his department and the Free State Department of Health allow the specified ambulance service to operate in the province without the necessary qualifications; if so, (aa) how was this verified by his department or the Free State department of health, (bb) how many ambulances are operational in the province and (cc) what are the qualifications of each operator and support staff respectively for each ambulance?

Reply:

Honourable Member, before even checking issues of compliance with qualifications of the Buthelezi Ambulance Services in the Free State, I want to know how this service was procured in the first place.

It looks like there has been a breach of several Treasury regulations and the PFMA itself.

Because this is a procurement matter at a Provincial level, the relevant authority to investigate this is the Treasury.

On the 8th March 2018 I wrote to the Minister of Finance and requested that the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in the National Treasury investigate this matter. As soon as I get the outcome of the investigation I will revert back to you. I regard this matter as a scene of a crime and will wait for National Treasury to show direction and take it up from there.

END.

11 April 2018 - NW511

Profile picture: Wilson, Ms ER

Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Social Development

(1)Why (a) was a request to host five events in KwaZulu-Natal for beneficiary education and beneficiary awareness campaigns on the new payment system and foster care mop-up project on 12 and 23 December 2017 approved within a day on 5 December 2017, (b) did beneficiary education and beneficiary awareness campaigns on the new payment system take place when a new payment system for the payment of social grants had not yet been finalised, (c) did all five events take place in KwaZulu-Natal and (d) was a total amount of R20 million approved for hosting the five events without an itemised breakdown of costs; (2) what are the relevant details of (a) each service provider that provided services for each event, (b) the detailed breakdown of all costs incurred for each event, (c) the number of beneficiaries that attended each event and (d) each (i) national and (ii) provincial representative from her department who attended each event?

Reply:

(1)(a) Submissions and other documents routed for CEO’s signature are attended based on her availability in office. The mentioned submission was signed on 5 December 2017 because ACEO was in office on that day.

(b) SASSA has an obligation to ensure that the payment of social grants is uninterrupted notwithstanding the phasing-in or phasing-out of services providers. Accordingly stakeholder management and constant communication becomes critical to prevent confusion amongst beneficiaries and their families

  • The beneficiary education and awareness campaigns are held to reassure clients of government’s commitment to continue with the provision of paying social grants without any interruptions
  • The campaigns are used as a platform to educate people on different types of grants e.g. Grant in aid; various SASSA projects e.g. Regulation 26A, Foster care backlog mop-up project. With regards to Reg 26A: SASSA has insourced the services to do direct funeral cover deductions on qualifying grants thus communication with beneficiaries was critical in order to allow beneficiaries opportunity to update their information, and to be within the legislation requirement of one policy per person and the policy not to be more that 10% of the grant amount.
  • The beneficiary and stakeholder engagement was critical due to the need to provide clarity on the SASSA card that was to expire December 2017 and to inform beneficiaries that it has been extended to December 2018.

(c) No, only three events took place at the following places:

1. Makhosini

2. Kwamakhutha

3. Matshensikazi

(d) At head office level regions are allocated amounts to spend per event and the breakdown of cost is done at the regional level as they do their procurement process.

(a) 1. MAKHOSINI

NAME OF SUPPLIER

SERVICE RENDERED

Silver Ark Projects

Main Marque

Mbengiwe

Flooring

Mxinwa

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence and Marshals

Thinasonke

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

Sweet Basil

Catering For Public , VIP and Officials

Skhova's

Transport

Pubag

Sound System

Barlon Suppliers and Projects

Gift & Promotional Items

2. KWAMAKHUTHA

NAME OF SUPPLIER

SERVICE RENDERED

Bright Cloud

Main Marque

Thingo Investment

Flooring

Thengokhulu

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence And Marshals

Summer Rock

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

Ethel Investment

Catering For Public , VIP And Officials

Platonic

Transport

Silver Solutions

Sound System

Mbombo Events

Gift & Promotional Items

3. MATSHENSIKAZI

Name Of Supplier

Service Rendered

Kokumo Holdings

Main Marque

White Dove Investment (Pty) Ltd

Flooring

Tito Whl Trading

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence and Marshals

Idlomo Production

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

Duma Suppliers Group (Pty) Ltd

Catering For Public , VIP and Officials

Oakgotla

Transport

Sbani Samagela Trading Enterprise

Sound System

Marujwane Trading And Projects

Gift & Promotions Items

(b) The detailed breakdown of all costs incurred for each event:

1. MAKHOSINI

Service Rendered

AMOUNT(R)

Main Marque

485,021.00

Flooring

482,653.92

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence and Marshals

490,000.00

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

487,230.90

Catering for Public , VIP and Officials

493,650.00

Transport

493,000.00

Sound System

492,853.80

Gift & Promotion Items

480,000.00

 

3,904,409.62

   

KWAMAKHUTHA

 

 

SERVICE RENDERED

AMOUNT(R)

Main Marque

487,398.00

Flooring

491,379.00

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence And Marshals

490,100.00

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

493,250.00

Catering For Public , VIP And Officials

490,750.30

Transport

494,500.00

Sound System

467,240.00

 Gift & Promotion Items

495,000.00

 

3,909,617.30

MATSHENSIKAZI

SERVICE RENDERED

AMOUNT(R)

Main Marque

467,021.00

Flooring

496,950.70

Mobile Toilets, Speed Fence And Marshals

488,399.50

Extras (chairs, generators, air conditioners and Decorations)

491,489.30

Catering For Public , VIP and Officials

493,728.00

Transport

494,478.15

Sound System

493,050.00

Gift & Promotions

352,470.00

 

3,777,586.65

(c) Approximately 3000 people attended per event

(d) SASSA does not keep a record of official who attend the events. Officials attending events include representatives from Head Office, Provincial Offices as well as District and Local Offices.

 

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date……………………….

11 April 2018 - NW804

Profile picture: Bozzoli, Prof B

Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

Whether her department has undertaken a survey of the quality of student accommodation at all (a) universities and (b) technical and vocational education and training colleges in the past three years; if not, (i) why not and (ii) is such an evaluation planned in future; if so, what were the relevant findings in each case?

Reply:

a) (i)-(ii) The Department has not undertaken a survey of the quality of student accommodation at all universities over the past three years, because a comprehensive review was done in 2010 at all university campuses. A Ministerial Committee undertook a review and issued a Report on the Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Provision of Student Housing at South African Universities, in September 2011. The report provided a comprehensive picture of the state of student accommodation at all universities as well as a projected shortfall of the number of beds at each university. Emanating from this review, the Policy on the Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing at Public Universities (hereafter referred to as Policy) was published in Government Gazette No. 39238 in September 2015. The Policy is still used to inform the development of new infrastructure and refurbishment of old infrastructure.

The Ministerial Review Report showed that the public university sector had sufficient spaces in university owned on-campus student accommodation for approximately 107 598 or 20% of the contact student population. The report estimated that 195 815 new beds were required to effectively house students who required accommodation. Between 2012/13 and 2014/15 the Department allocated R1.748 billion from infrastructure and efficiency funds towards the development of student housing.

The Ministerial Review Report recommended that universities should ideally be providing beds for 30% to 50% of contact students on campuses in urban areas where there is available and affordable off-campus accommodation, and 60% to 80% on rural campuses where there is less or inappropriate
off-campus accommodation. Over time, all student accommodation should meet the norms and standards for conducive living and learning spaces.

The Department is working on a long term plan to address the provision of student housing across the university sector that will enable the development of approximately 200 000 bed on-campus or close-to-campus student housing over the next ten years, depending on funding made available and the feasibility of new funding models to accelerate development.

The plan is already being implemented as described below:

  • Funding of R1.3 billion was allocated to 16 universities for student housing projects in 2015/16 and 2016/17.
  • A further R1.1 billion has been allocated towards student housing projects during 2017/18. The number of beds that will be provided through this funding has not as yet been determined.
  • The number of additional beds for 2020 onwards will only be known once the Minister approves the infrastructure and efficiency grant budget for the fifth funding cycle (2018/19 to 2020/21).

The Department is aware that many of the existing older student residences are not well maintained and require refurbishment. The Department has made funds available for backlog maintenance and universities are expected to make use of these funds, together with their own funds, for refurbishing residences that do not meet the minimum norms and standards as indicated in the Policy. In the case of private residences, universities undertake an accreditation process of the residences before students funded by NSFAS are placed in these residences.

b) (i)-(ii) The Department has undertaken a survey of the quality of student accommodation at all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the past three years.

Fifteen TVET colleges confirmed to have no student accommodation.
Thirty-five TVET colleges confirmed that 99 buildings were identified for student accommodation with an estimated 12 979 beds.

The reported conditions of the 99 buildings for student accommodation are summarised as follows:

  • 8 buildings are in a poor condition (not suitable for habitation);
  • 30 buildings are in a fair condition (functional but require maintenance/ refurbishment); and
  • 61 buildings are in a good condition (functional and in good working order).

11 April 2018 - NW860

Profile picture: Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP

Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)What number of the positions of principals at public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges are currently occupied by staff with relevant permanent appointment contracts; (2) (a) which public TVET colleges are currently operating with a staff member acting as principal and (b) for what period has each of the colleges been operating with an acting principal; (3) (a) what number of principal positions became vacant in the 2016 and 2017 academic years, (b) which of the specified positions that became vacant were due to retirement and (c) on what dates (i) was the department informed of such vacancies and (ii) were various offers of employment accepted; (4) what are the details and the timeline for the filling of the position of principal of the Boland College, including the date that her department was informed about the upcoming retirement of the previous principal and further relevant details; (5) whether she is concerned about the possible negative impact of the current turnaround time for the appointment of senior staff at public TVET colleges; if so, what (a) plans are in place to improve the specified situation and (b) has she found to be an appropriate period for the filling of the positions?

Reply:

1. There are forty-one (41) positions of principals appointed permanently at public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges.

2. The table below is showing the names of colleges, date of acting appointment and period of acting appointment:

Name of College

Date of acting appointment

Period of acting appointment

Boland TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/7/2017

The total period of acting is nine (9) months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

Capricorn TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/7/2017.

The total period of acting is nine (9) months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

Ingwe TVET College

The acting appointment was after the dismissal of the incumbent on 1/7/2016; the incumbent lodged a dispute at the GPSSBC.

The total perod is twenty-one (21) months, the post could not be advertised and filled permanently due to a dispute lodged by the dismissed incumbent on unfair dismissal.

Northern Cape Urban TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/5/2017.

The total period of acting is eleven (11) months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

Sedibeng TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/5/2017.

The total period of acting is eleven (11) months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

Orbit TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/5/2017.

The total period of acting is eleven (11) months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

Vhembe TVET College

The acting appointment was after the transfer of the Principal to the Regional Office on 1/7/2017 due to death threats.

The total period of acting is nine (9) months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

Vuselela TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/10/2017.

The total period of acting is six months, which was subject to an extension after a six months period.

West Coast TVET College

The acting appointment was after the retirement of the Principal on 1/1/2018.

The total period of acting is three (3) months.

3. (a) There is one (1) principal position that became vacant in 2016; and there are seven (7) principal positions that became vacant in 2017.

(b) The table below shows the positions that became vacant due to retirement,
(c) dates, (i) whether the department was informed of such vacancies and (ii) progress in respect to the recruitment and selection processes

(a) Principal vacancies due to retirement

(b) Date of retirement

(c)(i) Department informed of vacancies

(c)(ii) various offers of employment accepted

Boland TVET College

1 July 2017

Yes

The panel will be re-convened on
23 April 2018 to consider the results of the competency assessment and make a recommendation for consideration by the appointing authority.

Capricorn TVET College, the principal went on compulsory retirement

30 June 2017

Yes

The shortlisting was conducted on 27 March 2018 and the interviews will be conducted before 30 April 2018.

Northern Cape Urban TVET College, the principal went on compulsory retirement.

30 April 2017

Yes

The recruitment and selection process has been completed and a recommendation has been made for consideration by the relevant appointing authority.

Orbit TVET College, the principal went on compulsory retirement.

30 April 2017

Yes

The recruitment and selection process has been completed and a recommendation has been made for consideration by the relevant appointing authority.

Sedibeng TVET College the principal went on compulsory retirement.

1 April 2017

Yes

The recruitment and selection process has been completed and a recommendation has been made for consideration by the relevant appointing authority.

Vuselela TVET College, the principal went on normal retirement.

1 October 2017

Yes

The shortlisting was conducted on 23 March 2018 and the interviews will be conducted before 30 April 2018.

West Coast TVET College the principal went on compulsory retirement.

31 December 2017

Yes

The shortlisting will be conducted on 20 April 2018.

4. The timeline for the Department to fill the position of principal of Boland TVET College was 180 days from date of the advertisement. The Principal gave notice of her retirement on 31 March 2017 with effect from 30 June 2017. The post was advertised on 30 April 2017. The interviews were held on 09 November 2017. As required by the Public Service Regulations, competency assessments for the first two top candidates were conducted on 12 December 2017 and 27 February 2018. The panel is due to re-convene on 23 April 2018 to consider the results of the competency assessment.

5. (a) Yes, the Minister is concerned about the possible negative impact of the current turnaround time for the appointment of senior staff at public TVET colleges. The following have been put in place to improve the turnaround time for the filling of vacancies in the Department:

  • Lowering of the delegations of authority;
  • Appointing Branch Heads to manage and coordinate shortlisting and interviewing; and
  • Developing an e-recruitment system to advertise and ensure the efficient management of recruitment and selection processes.

(b) The 180 days or six months period to fill vacancies from the date of advertisement, as per the current Annual Performance Plan, is considered as an appropriate period for the filling of the positions. However, the Department has to ensure that the plan to improve recruitment and selection processes is implemented and adhered to.