Questions and Replies

Reply:

a) all writs issued against the Road Accident Fund

b) all assets removed by the Sheriff from the Road Accident Fund including:

1. asset descriptions
2. asset values
3. dates of asset removals and

• Attachment 2 – “Asset Removals” refers to all the assets removed by the Sheriff for each region over the period 2017 to 2023. The information in attachment 2 includes the asset descriptions, value and removal dates to address parts (i), (ii), and (iii) above.
• Overall, across all the regions, 1,182 assets were removed by the Sheriff over the period. The value of these assets at the time of removal amounts to R417,261.

4. details of judgments in terms of which assets were removed for the period 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2023?

• Attachment 3 – “Removal Writs or Auctions Matters” refers to all the specific writs and / or auction matters with their details by region that resulted in the removal of assets.
  • Asset removals in EL were due to 2 writs
  • Asset removals in PTA were due to 2 separate auction notices and lists from the Pretoria East Sheriff. The notices can be made available.

Reply:

During the period 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019, no international travel trips undertaken by the Board of the Road Accident Fund.

The details of international trips undertaken by executive members and other employees of the Road Accident Fund during the period 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020 are detailed in the below table which indicates the (a) names of persons, (b) destinations, (c) dates of trips, (d) costs of trips and (e) purposes of each trip undertaken in each case.

(a) Name of Person	(b) Destination	(c) Date of Trip	(d) Cost of Trip (R)	(e) Purpose of Trip
Charakupa Itayi Mr	London	Jan-19	88 807,36	Attendance of Reinsurance Roadshow for reinsurance renewal
Molefe Motseoeme Mr
Komal Ravesh Mr	Kenya	Mar-19	60 817,68	Attendance of Trescon World Block Chain Summit and World AI Show
Ndima Gqwetha Vatiswasizeka Ms	China	Apr-19	63 117,68	Attendance of International Rehabilitation Forum
Baderoon Mogamat Mr	Namibia	May-19	114 477,52	To officiate interfund games with sister Funds of neighbouring countries
Kula Momelezi Mr
Majola Oupa Mr
Makopo Refilwe Miss
Mphahlele Itumeleng Mr
Petlele Lerato Ms
Rulashe Viwe Ms
Seabi Mokadi Mr
Tshetlho Keaobakabryson Mr
Zulu Phiwakonke Mr
Mvabaza Noluthando Ms	USA	May-19	84 496,12	Attendance of Corporate Citizenship Conference
Kula Momelezi Mr	Namibia	Jul-19	12 241,43	Attendance of International CEO's forum Strategy working committee meeting
Sotshede Sifiso Mr	USA	Jul-19	130 118,93	Attendance of International Internal Auditor's Conference
Mhlongo Mxolisi Mr	Germany	Aug-19	110 575,86	Attendance of Reimbursement Expert Symposium
Potelwa Toko Dr
Jabavu Lindelwa Mrs	Namibia	Sep-19	14 039,43	Attendance of Woman Road Safety Conference and Expo
Lukhwareni Phathutshedzo Mr	Swaziland	Nov-19	12 932,86	Attendance of CEO's forum
Petlele Lerato Ms
Komal Ravesh Mr	London	Dec-19	659 341,44	Benchmarking Claims Management Strategies and Systems internationally as part of Transformation Strategy of the RAF.
Kunene Ntsaoki Mrs
Manitshana Buntu Mr
Manyasha Prudence Mrs
Mulaudzi Arinao Mr
Peega Bridget Ms
Potelwa Toko Dr
Rambauli Maria Ms
Mankgane Ramadingwane Mr	Namibia	Jan-20	13 482,86	Attendance of Social and Digital Media Training
Peega Bridget Ms
Komal Ravesh Mr	Australia	Jan-20	1 446 499,44	Benchmarking Claims Management Strategies and Systems internationally as part of Transformation Strategy of the RAF.
Kunene Ntsaoki Mrs
Manitshana Buntu Mr
Manyasha Prudence Mrs
Mulaudzi Arinao Mr
Potelwa Toko Dr
Rambauli Maria Ms
Xingwanajabavu Lindelwa Mrs
Jabavu Lindelwa Mrs	Canada	Jan-20	2 294 234,86	Benchmarking Claims Management Strategies and Systems internationally as part of Transformation Strategy of the RAF.
Komal Ravesh Mr
Kunene Ntsaoki Mrs
Manitshana Buntu Mr
Manyasha Prudence Mrs
Potelwa Toko Dr
Rambauli Maria Ms
Charakupa Itayi Mr	London	Jan-20	598 271,65	Attendance of Reinsurance Roadshow for reinsurance renewal
Songelwa Victor Mr
Letsoalo Collins Mr
Lukhwareni Phathutshedzo Mr
Rambauli Maria Ms
Lukhwareni Phathutshedzo Mr	Botswana	Feb-20	13 094,43	Attendance of International Strategy Working Committee Multilateral meetings

Reply:

a) (i) The RAF does not possess record of DJ from 2017 until March 2021. The keeping of record for default judgements granted against the RAF was only initiated at the instance of the new executive, that joined the RAF in 2020. The new executive realised that there was an increasing number of default judgements being granted against the RAF. Flowing from the realisation mentioned above, a register was then created for the purpose of keeping record of all default judgements.

Below is the detail that dates back to April 2021:

Year& Month	No	Sum of Default Amount
2021	483	R 1 401 437 842,22
Apr	4	R 28 751 513,30
May	27	R 119 012 729,48
Jun	11	R 55 607 616,92
Jul	21	R 90 377 746,43
Aug	41	R 146 910 003,11
Sep	39	R 122 642 105,62
Oct	77	R 257 127 501,91
Nov	198	R 476 570 651,75
Dec	65	R 104 437 973,70
2022	1116	R2 983 787 854,79
Jan	77	R 178 089 717,77
Feb	162	R 425 187 398,43
Mar	147	R 326 862 619,76
Apr	110	R 220 372 106,44
May	148	R 398 263 543,41
Jun	79	R 250 938 385,61
Jul	52	R 117 963 549,89
Aug	111	R 352 593 108,84
Sep	84	R 258 276 693,58
Oct	67	R 186 170 005,05
Nov	72	R 259 405 584,30
Dec	7	R 9 665 141,72
2023	126	R 438 072 775,33
Jan	26	R 97 620 725,91
Feb	22	R 74 419 177,22
Mar	21	R 89 934 379,90
Apr	11	R21 408 483,22
May	26	R 90 919 466,89
Jun	12	R 31 614 116,41
Jul	5	R 16 622 242,61
Aug	2	R 6 941 966,17
Nov	1	R 8 592 217,00
Grand Total	1725	R4 823 298 472,34

(a)(ii) The names and details of claimants in whose favour default judgments will not be disclosed as per POPIA and risk of the claimant being put at risk of possible criminal attacks. Below is a list of the Default Judgments, and values per court.

Court Name (Province)	No of Judgements	Sum of Default Amount
Aberdeen Ec	1	R 3 290 048,75
Alexandria (Ec)	1	R 315 000,00
Belfast (Mp)	1	R 204 309,00
Benoni (G)	1	R 620 087,00
Bredasdorp (Wc)	1	R 136 604,39
Brits (Nw)	1	R 818 786,00
Cape High Court, Cape Town	7	R 27 870 652,00
Eastern Cape High Court, East London	4	R 18 623 748,31
Eastern Cape High Court, Port Elizabeth	2	R 11 659 579,81
Emakhazeni(M)	1	R 126 016,77
Emalahlani(M)	1	R 50 000,00
Ermelo (Mp)	2	R 490 949,50
Free State High Court, Bloemfontein	20	R 53 898 056,54
Ga-Kgapane (Bolobedu) (L)	1	R 29 600,00
Giyani (L)	1	R 40 500,00
Graskop (Mp)	1	R 383 878,00
Hlanganani (Vongani) (L)	1	R 100 000,00
Humansdorp (Ec)	1	R 30 800,00
Kempton Park (G)	1	R 30 020,00
Klerksdorp (Nw)	1	R 350 000,00
Klerksdorp Regional Court	38	R 10 425 560,30
Kwazulu-Natal High Court, Durban	7	R 21 419 873,39
Kwazulu-Nutal High Court, Pietermaritzburg	7	R 15 630 480,57
Lebowakgomo Regional Court	1	R 100 894,00
Limpopo High Court, Thohoyandou	35	R 88 311 995,22
Magistrate Court Johannesburg	1	R 382 068,40
Magistrate Court Pretoria	14	R 280 586,14
Mbombela High Court	31	R 76 556 622,60
Mdantsane (Ec)	1	R 5 000,00
Mpumalanga Circuit Court Middleburg	15	R 49 787 658,65
Namakgale (L)	1	R 46 808,00
Nebo (L)	1	R 54 481,55
Nkowankowa (L)	1	R 15 000,00
Polokwane Circuit Court)	64	R 202 512 664,58
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria	1193	R 3 590 000 197,08
North West High Court, Mafikeng	11	R 21 842 019,78
Northern Cape High Court, Kimberley	2	R 1 497 520,09
Ntuzuma (Kzn)	1	R 142 625,00
Port Elizabeth	3	R 94 534,57
Praktiseer (L)	1	R 12 500,00
Pretoria	101	R 229 985 837,49
Pretoria North (G)	7	R 24 959 648,01
Pretoria Regional Court	7	R 598 848,75
Queenstown Regional Court	2	R 227 904,16
Sekhukhune (L)	2	R 84 341,50
South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg	54	R 278 833 734,21
Tonga Regional Court	3	R 774 529,00
Uitenhage (Ec)	2	R 231 485,58
Vereeniging (G)	2	R 508 800,00
Verulam (Kzn)	2	R 38 400,90
Witbank (Mp)	1	R 60 000,00
Witsieshoek (Fs)	1	R 121 900,00
Bloemfontein (FS)	3	R 13 879 160,00
Burgersfort (L)	1	R 389 000,00
Durban (kzn)	1	R 263 808,55
East London Regional Court (Ec)	15	R 1 123 386,92
Cape Town (Wc)	2	R 303 820,00
Tzaneen Regional Court (L)	2	R 89 153,05
Welkom Regional Court (Fs)	2	R 78 580,00
Thohoyandou (L)	1	R 44 000,00
Grahamstown Regional Court (Ec)	1	R 7 050,00
Polokwane (L)	24	R 67 981 476,83
Mbombela Regional Court (Mp)	3	R 3 084 769,00
Mahwelereng (L)	3	R 1 075 201,50
Pietermaritzburg (Kzn)	3	R 332 320,10
New Brighton (Ec)	1	R 21 590,80
Phalaborwa (L)	1	R 12 000,00
Grand Total	1725	R 4 823 298 472,34

(a)(iii) (a-b) Total amounts of each default judgement award split by cost type:

Default Type	No	Sum of Default Amount
Capital	1688	R 4 727 467 418,25
Capital & Cost	13	R 45 879 063,99
Costs	15	R 40 729 436,74
Experts	2	R 2 651 674,24
Post-settlement	7	R 6 570 879,12
Grand Total	1725	R 4 823 298 472,34

(a)(iii)(c) Reasons for default judgements is mainly that the RAF elected not to defend legal action for claims that have become valid in terms of section 24(5) of the RAF Act. These are claims that become valid because they were not objected to within the stipulated 60 days.

The RAF does not want to incur further legal costs in defending valid claims, as a result the judgements are granted in default without incurring costs of defending attorney and counsel.

Reply:

The Department has confirmed that SANRAL is aware of the allegations Aqua Transport and Plant Hire (‘Aqua’) is facing.

However, according to information at SANRAL’s disposal, Aqua is neither blacklisted nor restricted on the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database and, as such, the company is not prohibited from doing business with government and/or its entities. Aqua is also not a blacklisted/restricted service provider on SANRAL’s database.

Aqua also provided all statutory information and secretarial information for a bidder which is in good standing with the relevant regulatory bodies. In the light of the above, there was no legal issue which prevented SANRAL from awarding the contract SANRAL N.003-010-2017/9: National Route 3 Section 1 from the Westville Viaduct (km 11.80) to Paradise Valley Interchange (km 17.54), in tendered amount of R4 726 396 217.26, to the Aqua/EXR joint venture as it was the highest scoring bidder in the evaluation and adjudication.

In consideration of the issues surrounding Aqua, SANRAL sought external legal advice to determine if there were any legal impediments to making the award in line with the tender outcome. Legal advice indicated that under South African law, Aqua directors are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and as such SANRAL was legally duty bound to award the tender to the Aqua/EXR joint venture as the highest scoring bidder.

 

To mitigate any possible risk down the line SANRAL has, however, built in an award provision that should the company’s directors be found guilty in a court of law, SANRAL reserves the right to terminate the contract.

The Department shall also monitor the developments and any future Court Rulings, with regards, Aqua and ensure that SANRAL complies with implementing the laws.

Reply:

Reference to RAF Security Policy 3. Policy statements The RAF has duty to establish, provide and maintain physical Security and safe secure occupational environment for its employee; to protect other persons as defined in the policy. Personal Security 7.5.2, the Physical protection of identified against violent, insults and life threats, as well as protection of information in possession such as persons against unauthorized exposure or disclosure to malicious/opposing/hostile elements or persons after SRTA is done to the individual by Security, SSA, SAPS Crime intelligent and or Security advisory services.

Security shall initiate develop and provide Close protection program for identified employees after threat and risk assessment. Limiting the probability of critical incidents which may result in physical harm and limiting the impact of any critical incidents through contingency planning in all spheres of operational activities.

Focus will be on securing the Executive against identified potential security threat related to their employment in the RAF. This will be done in terms individual personal protection plan approved by the EXCO.

Permanent protectors will be allocated for the CEO and Chairperson of the board, allocation of protector/s to other board members, Executive management and employees shall be dependent upon the identified potentials threats.

Security department shall set out guidelines that are required to render professional, effective, and accountable protective security services to the Executives, board and employees.

ANNEXURE A: PERSONNEL SECURITY PROTECTION FROM 1 APRIL 2017 TO 1 APRIL 2023

Name & Surname	Security Provider	Financial Year	Duration	Office	Description of the service	Amount
Justice Mdluli	Mphosha Security	2019/2020	1 months, 6 days	Head Office	1)Driver 2)Armed Close protector 3) 1 x Vehicle	R 165 137.49
Gontse Baloyi	Mphosha Security	2019/2020	25 days	Head Office	1)Driver 2)Armed Close protector 3)1x Vehicle	R 108 643.09
Nozipho Gumede	Mjayeli Security	2022/2023	4 days	Durban	1) 2x Security Officers	R4 465.38
Tshepo Moatshe	Siyefana Security	2022/2023	3 months	Menlyn	1)Driver 2)Armed Close protector 3) 1 x Vehicle	R107 626,00
Collins Letsoalo (RAF CEO)	Mjayeli Security	2021/2022	12 months	Head Office	1)Driver 2)Armed Close protector 3) 1x Vehicle 4) Static Guard	R 1 326 669
Collins Letsoalo (RAF CEO)	Mjayeli Security	2022/2023	13 months	Head Office	1) 2x Drivers armed 2) 2x Armed Close protector 3) 2x Vehicle 4) 2x Static Guard 5) 2x Rifle	R 3 917 027
Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of RAF Board	Mphosha Security	2022/2023	6 Months	RAF Board	1) 2x Driver armed 2) 2x Armed Close protector 3) 2x Vehicle 4) 4x Rifle	R 1 549 740

Reply:

a) To date from January 2023, a total of 3 974 posts of medical doctors were advertised and filled as compared to 2 053 medical doctors’ posts of the previous year (2022) for the same periods of employment. This means that an additional 1 921 posts for medical doctors were funded to accommodate unemployed medical doctors.

It is also acknowledged that not all unemployed medical doctors after completing community service, applied for these positions due to their different personal interests (e.g., Preference of urban areas rather than rural).

It remains the obligation for the Department of Health to ensure that sufficient platform is available for all eligible South African Citizens and Permanent Residents for medical internship and community service and after qualifying for independent practice, doctors are allowed to seek employment either in public or private sector.

The National Department of Health remains accessible/open to refer unemployed medical doctors, either individually or through their Associations, to Provinces for recruitment to available funded posts.

b) The National Department of Health has been working with the HPCSA throughout the process to ensure that all South African Citizens who studied abroad are eligible and given a fair opportunity to sit for the Medical Board examinations.

Following engagements with HPCSA, the Department can now confirm that the next schedule of exams will be held as follows:

• Theory Medical Board examinations: 25 October 2023.
• Practical/OSCE Medical Board examinations: Planned between 05 and 08 December 2023.
• HPCSA has since invited applicants who meet the requirements for these examinations.

END.

Reply:

a) The table below shows fatal crashes involving Motor vehicles since 2015. Due to data limitations crashes prior to 2015 cannot be provided.

	Motor Car or Station Wagon
PROVINCE	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
EC	577	666	577	662	24	526	696	326
FS	433	431	410	474	134	291	411	187
GP	1198	1467	1412	1592	389	1048	1418	618
KZN	984	1131	1039	1019	302	643	740	352
LP	637	649	709	730	51	495	688	321
MP	707	719	671	501	138	415	430	160
NC	170	164	198	164	54	108	163	65
NW	460	494	452	522	32	342	442	225
WC	552	607	578	521	56	365	472	187
	5718	6328	6046	6185	1180	4233	5460	2441

b) The table below shows fatal crashes involving Minibuses since 2015. Due to data limitations crashes prior to 2015 cannot be provided.

	Combi/Minibus
PROVINCE	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
EC	150	186	134	128	6	77	100	49
FS	66	57	69	61	12	26	30	13
GP	190	264	307	236	46	142	195	90
KZN	257	296	288	233	79	124	117	81
LP	106	137	118	80	4	62	69	45
MP	80	109	106	82	15	48	49	27
NC	19	27	20	6	8	11	13	6
NW	54	71	67	60	4	30	36	21
WC	108	113	112	83	9	64	86	30
Grand Total	1030	1260	1221	969	183	584	695	362

Reply:

(a) NSFAS delegated two teams led by senior officials to visit a sample of 10 universities and 20 TVET Colleges over a ten-day period from 11 September to 22 September with the objective of engaging students and institutions on the challenges they are confronting. NSFAS also established continuous engagements with student leaders in areas where issues persist.

(b) The reasons for withdrawing funding from students are as follows:

• Applications rejected after re-assessment of Financial Eligibility (FE) criteria using new SARS data,
• Applications rejected after updated Academic Eligibility (AE) assessment results, and
• Applications rejected because of exceeding the N+ rule.

(c) The number of students defunded since 01 January 2023 is 28378.

(d) Service providers charge students a fixed monthly fee of R12 for a specific bundle of transactions. Further, additional charges arise because of student transactional behaviour for transactions outside of the bundled transactions for example repeated viewing of balance of funds in the student account or excessive transactions.

Reply:

a) Capital Intervention Programme has been earmarked for fencing off the area identified. A budget allocation of an estimated value of R5,000,000-00 for the project has been set aside. The project is currently being scoped and anticipated to be advertised by the end of October 2023. The estimated project duration would be three (3) months.

PRASA Rail Protection Service Department has also confirmed that Protection Services Officials are posted at Benoni Station on a rotation shift of 24 hours.

b) A horticultural ‘As and When Maintenance’ contractor has been appointed for this Corridor. Safety Induction is currently being executed by the Risk and Compliance Department for the appointed contractor. The anticipated date of clearing the site should be no later than the 25th of September 2023.

c) The resumption of the train service at Benoni and other train stations in the Daveyton Corridor are largely dependent on the restoration of the Boksburg Bridge, which was damaged during the gas explosion accident late last year. Fortunately, the contractor has been appointed to restore the bridge and the work is expected to be completed by August 2024. With the anticipated completion date of August 2024, the upgrade and rehabilitation of stations including Benoni train Station, will also be aligned for completion at the end of 2024 to ensure full operation of the trains and stations thereof.

d) A budget has been set aside for this current financial year. For the construction of Benoni Station for basic functionality of the station, once the corridor has been resumed for operational service.

Reply:

(1) (a) The total number of Deputy Directors-General (DDGs) appointments, omitting the Defence and State Security Agency, from January 2019 to September 2023 are as follows (source: PERSAL):

(aa) (i) Provincial departments: 238.

(ii) National departments: 241.

(bb) From January 2019 to 31 August 2023, Heads of Department (HODs) are as follows:

• Provincial departments: 87.
• National departments: 33 (including contractual extensions and role transitions).

(1)(b) For an in-depth analysis, please refer to Annexures A through D, which provide a detailed breakdown of the specified numbers for each (i) provincial and (ii) national department.

2. Acting appointments refer to temporary roles filled for a limited period and cannot be obtained through the PERSAL system. By governance structures, the management of acting appointments falls under the purview of respective national and provincial departments. The exclusive authority for disseminating acting information resides with the executive authorities overseeing the filling of temporary roles within the national and provincial departments.

End

Reply:

a)  The Department of Water and Sanitation advises Honourable member to request the exact cause of illness of 78 primary school learners in City of Tshwane from Department of Health. The name of the Primary School concerned will assist to expedite response.

b) The Department Water and Sanitation collected water samples at strategic points for analysis after the cholera outbreak. The points were Rooiwal discharge point, Apies River abstraction points, water treatment plant, distribution network and points of use. The samples were taken by the Department as well as the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) took additional samples as an independent laboratory. The department laboratory results established that points of abstraction and point of use were compliant with the SANS 241:2015 standard. Therefore, in the absence of confirmation of the exact nature of the illness, the department hereby confirms that water provided through Rand Water pipeline and water tankers is fit for human consumption.

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Reply:

Per the Public Service Act (PSA) of 1994, the Public Service operates under a merit-based recruitment and selection system, rendering cadre deployment non-applicable in filling vacancies. The MPSA has devised a three-tiered strategy for ensuring equitable, fair, and transparent appointments. Firstly, the PSA grants an executive authority the latitude to make appointments within national and provincial departments, contingent upon compliance with Sections 9 and 11(2) concerning merit-based recruitment. Secondly, Sections 65 and 67 of the Public Service Regulations, 2016, provide further specification and governance for such appointments. Lastly, the Executive Protocol unambiguously outlines the rules for appointing Heads of Departments and Deputy Director-Generals. Strict compliance with these three strategic elements is obligatory for all National and Provincial Departments, thus precluding any form of cadre deployment.

End

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Although the Water Services Authorities have a duty to maintain a safe environment that is not harmful to people by managing and maintaining the sewerage systems and resolving sewer spillages into the environment, the state of sewerage systems is generally deteriorating, as shown in the 2023 Green Drop Report. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is also compelled by the Constitution to support municipalities and intervene where there is non-compliance with the compulsory national norms and standards.

The DWS has developed the Water Services Improvement Programme to guide, support and strengthen interventions measures that address the decline in water and sanitation services in municipalities. The Water Services Improvement Plan will be implemented within the existing legislative framework and regulations, and it consists of the following interventions amongst others:

a) DWS will issue updated and more comprehensive norms and standards for water and sanitation services in terms of section 9 of the Water Services Act.

b) DWS will publish a National Regulatory Dashboard showing the extent of compliance with national norms and standards for water and sanitation services for all Water Service Authorities, drawing on existing monitoring information, including from the Green Drop reports, National Treasury, and Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs reports. No new additional reporting requirements will be put on municipalities)

c) DWS will develop regional support and intervention plans based on the evidence in the Regulatory Dashboard and standards decision rules, in consultation with provincial governments, municipalities and District Development Model structures.

d) The support and intervention plans will draw on a range of support programmes which will be developed at national level.

e) DWS established the Water Partnerships Office to facilitate partnerships with the private sector in support of water and sanitation services.

The support provided to municipalities does not suspend this Department’s continuous compliance monitoring and enforcement function to deal with those municipalities that ignore their legal obligations in terms of sewer spillages. Stormwater management is the competency of the local government and this Department continues to offer support in strengthening the bylaws to ensure proper stormwater management.

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Reply:

Dikgatlong Local Municipality is a Water Service Authority and therefore is responsible for the provision of water and sanitation services to all communities within its area of jurisdiction, including Smith Mine which is a Communal Property Association (CPA). There is currently is no Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the CPA and Dikgatlong Municipality.

The municipality reported that the councilor is mediating for an SLA to be put in place to allow Dikgatlong to formally service these residents. Once the SLA is in finalised, formal arrangements will be made in terms of resources required from the Dikgatlong Local Municipality to provide water and sanitation services.

a) The Department supports the water services authority with construction, upgarde and refurbishment of infrastructure through conditional Water Services Iinfrastructure Grant (WSIG) and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) funding for project prioritised by Municpalities their water services development plans.

The Municipality and the Smith Mine community require a process of formalisation of the settlement into the township in order for the municipality to access the grant funding available for sanitation services.

b) The existing water infrastructure in the community was built by the mining company and is now under the custodianship of The Dikgatlong Local Municipality. The water supply system consists of boreholes and a reservoir in which chemical dosing was being done using a specialized purification system that is container based. The size of the reservoir is approximately 0.05ml/day, however, the municipality has reported that the purification plant was vandalised and is currently not functional. A case of vandalism and theft was opened by the Dikgatlong Local Municipality with SAPS. The Municipality has reported that procurement processess are currently underway for the repairs of the plant in order to restore water supply.

As an interim measure, the municipality is providing water to the residents of Smith Mine through water tankering from Barkley West Water Treatment Works. Two 10 000 litres water tanks are placed at strategic points and are filled by two 10 000 litre water trucks. The Municipality reports that water tanks are filled twice a week, and when necessary the ward councillor communicates any additional needs. The water tankering is fully funded by Dikgatlong.

In order for the municipality to access grant funding for water services refurbishment, augmentation or upgrading, the requirement is that the residential area be a formal township.

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Reply:

The Minister for Public Service and Administration (MPSA) has enacted a holistic strategy (measures and processes) through the 2016 Directive on Capacity Development, Compulsory Training Days, and Minimum Entry for the Senior Management Service (SMS). Serving as the cornerstone of the MPSA's initiatives, this Directive aims to infuse the public sector with agility and a focus on citizen welfare, underpinned by a steadfast commitment to the public good.

This Directive is a roadmap serving the norms and standards for fostering continual professional growth, giving precedence to robust human resource management and career progression across the multiple layers of public service. This emphasis is essential for sustaining a well-qualified and experienced senior management team. The Directive meticulously specifies the merit-based standards for entry into the SMS, including necessary qualifications, applicable experience, and the mandatory pre-entry certificate (Nyukela). These measures are expressly designed to embed appointments to SMS based on a balanced consideration of qualifications, skills, and work experience, resulting in an impartial, fair, and competent state administration.

END

Reply:

The department has not paid R65 million to contractors for water services in Emfuleni Local Municipality, and neither has Rand Water. Rand Water has been paying contractors to work on waste water treatment systems in Emfuleni. It is possible that Emfuleni Local Municipality might have appointed contractors to work on its water systems using its own funds, but DWS would not have this information.

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Reply:

a)  The Regulator Commission has eleven (11) members.

b) The Commission is not a separate entity. It is established as part of the internal systems to strengthen the regulatory autonomy in decision making. It is for this reason that the commission is provided for in the revised National Water Act and the Water Services Act.

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Reply:

As at 6 June 2023, what number of schools (a) in the Republic and (b) in each province (i) use only (aa) plain pit and bucket latrines and (bb) ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines and (ii) have (aa) plain pit and bucket latrines and other sanitation facilities on their premises and (bb) VIP latrines and other sanitation facilities on their premises?      

What number of schools (a) in the Republic and (b) in each province (i) use only

(aa) plain pit and bucket latrines

• In 2018, the Department of Basic Education launched the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE-2018) initiative.
• This programme focused on providing appropriate sanitation at schools dependent on basic pit toilets.
• There were initially 3 898 schools on the SAFE programme (This number decreased to 3 382).

(bb) ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines

• Of the 3 382 sanitation projects, 2 911 have been completed through SAFE.
• The remaining 471 sanitation projects are scheduled for completion in 2023/24.

What number of schools (a) in the Republic and (b) in each province (ii) have

(aa) plain pit and bucket latrines and other sanitation facilities on their premises

• In 2018, there were initially 3 898 schools on the SAFE programme (This number decreased to 3 382).

(bb) VIP latrines and other sanitation facilities on their premises? 

• Of the 3 382 sanitation projects, 2 911 have been completed through SAFE.
• The remaining 471 sanitation projects are scheduled for completion in 2023/24.

The table below provides requested information in each province.

 

Reply:

(a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) does not drill and equip boreholes in local or district municipalities. However, funding is allocated to prioritised district municipalities through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG), to accelerate backlog reduction and improve the sustainability of services particularly in rural municipalities.

(aa) In the 2020-2021 financial year, the DWS allocated R 471, 794,000 to various municipalities across the country, for the drilling and equipping of boreholes, mainly in the rural areas.

(bb) During the 2021-22 financial year the department further allocated R 537, 657, 000 towards projects for boreholes across various municipalities.

The funding provided by the DWS to municipalities for boreholes is meant to facilitate quick interventions where there are serious water shortages. It is also intended to ensure water availability in those areas where it is foreseen that construction of bulk infrastructure will take a long time.

However, it should be noted that there are instances where boreholes are drilled, tested, and found not to be viable due to the inability to yield enough water or where boreholes are operational for a limited period before drying up. These include instances where the water tables are low due to inadequate rainfall which prevents groundwater recharge or where localised drought causes a decline in groundwater available for extraction. The DWS may have in some instances funded boreholes in municipalities, which may have not yielded sufficient water to be viable or may have provided water for a limited period before drying up.

(b-c) The DWS can provide the details of funding transferred to municipalities for the drilling of boreholes but is not able to indicate the total volume of water supply added to each municipal jurisdiction through boreholes, due to the factors indicated above.

Information on municipalities that were funded by the DWS for the drilling of boreholes in each province is indicated in the table appended as Annexure A.

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ANNEXURE A:

No	Province	Municipalities funded for boreholes	Funding provided
		District Municipalities	Local Municipalities	2020/2021 fy	2021/2022 fy
	Eastern Cape	Amathole DM	Amahlathi, Great Kei, Mbhashe, Mnquma, Ngqushwa and Raymond Mhlaba	R21,984,000	R14,600
		Alfred Nzo DM	Ntabankulu, Matatiele, Mbizana	R69,000,000	R45,000,000
		Sarah Bartman District Municipality	Blue Crane Route	R5,499,000
		Chris Hani DM	Emalahleni, Engcobo	R18,200,000	R10,170,000
		Joe Gqabi DM	Senqu, Elundini, and Walter Sisulu	-	R10,000,000
		Sarah Bartman District Municipality	Makana	-	R5,000,000
		OR Tambo DM	Qumbu, Tsolo, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff, Libode, Ngqeleni, Port St Johns & Mqanduli	-	R7,140.000
		Sarah Bartman DM	Dr Beyers Naude	-	R11,999,000
	Free State	Xhariep DM	Letsemeng	R13,800,000	R13,800,000
		Thabo Mofutsanyana DM	Phumelela	R1,892,000
		Thabo Mofutsanyana DM	Maluti a Phofung		R14,127,000
		Lejweleputswa DM	Tokologo		R15,921,000
	KwaZulu -Natal	uMkhanyakude DM	uMhlabuyalingana Jozini	R37,164,000	R61,288,000
		Amajuba DM	eMadlangeni & Dannhauser	-	R3, 000,000
		Zululand DM	Ulundi	R11,347.000
		Umzinyathi DM	Msinga	-	R38,799,000
			Mzimkhulu, Ubuhlebezwe, Dr Nkosazane Dlamini Zuma	-	R65,274,000
		King Cetshwayo DM	Nkandla, uMfolozi	-	R18,652,000
	Limpopo	Capricorn DM	Blouberg	R27,784,000	R13,606,000
			Lepelle Nkumpi	R14,078,000	-
			Molemole	R27,983,000	R3,800,000
			Polokwane	R38,000,000	R20,976,000
		Mopani LM	Greater Giyani	R15,600,000	R13,984,000
			Greater Letaba	R15,000,000	R18,455,000
			Greater Tzaneen	R10,000,000	-
			Ba-Phalaborwa	R10,000,000	-
			Maruleng	R10,000,000	-
		Waterberg DM	Lephalale	-	R30,114,000
			Mogalakwena	-	R8,928,000
	Mpumalanga	Nkangala DM	Emakhazeni	R2,500,000	-
		Gert Sibande DM	Mkhondo	-	R23.685,000
	Northern Cape	John Taolo Gaetsewe DM	Ga-Segonyana	R16,640,000	R952,000
			Gamagara	R11,072,000	R5,700,000
			Joe Morolong	R50,998,000	-
		Namakwa DM	Hantam	R4,200,000	R4,000,000
			Kamiesberg	-	R4,000,000
			Richtersveld	R5,167,000	R11,151,000
			Karoo Hoogland	-	R4,000,000
		Pixley Ka Seme DM	Emthanjeni	-	R5,300,000
			Ubuntu	-	R4,000,000
		ZF Mgcawu DM	Dawid Kruiper	-	R5,186,000
			Tsantsabane	-	R4,000,000
	North West	Bojanala Platinum DM	Kgetlengrivier	R22,542,000	-
		Dr Ruth S Mompati DM	Greater Taung	R1,344,000	-
		Ngaka Modiri Molema DM	Ramotshere Moiloa		R11,050,000
	Western Cape	Garden Route District Municipality	Kannaland	R10,000,000	R10,000,000
TOTAL	R 471, 794,000	R 497, 657, 000

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is responsible for conducting the Blue and Green Drop assessments which audit water service providers (water and wastewater systems) nationally and compile reports for public consumption. The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is one of the 144 Water Services Authorities audited on its drinking water and wastewater systems countrywide.

1. The full departmental Blue and Green Drop audits are undertaken every two and in alternate years. In a year when the Blue Drop audit is done by the Department on all drinking water systems, the water service authorities conduct a Green Drop self-assessments to determine the risk rating that is reported as a Green Drop Progress Report. In the year when the Green Drop audit is done by the Department on all wastewater systems the water services authorities conduct a Blue Drop self-assessment to determine the risk rating that is reported as a Blue Drop Progress Report.

The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, together with all water services authorities, is required to monitor its drinking water quality in accordance with the national standards (SANS 241) and report the results on the DWS Integrated Regulatory Information System. Where there is non-compliance to the standard that poses a health risk to the community, they are required in terms of the Water Service Act and its norms and standards to notify the DWS as well as the Department of Health and to issue an advisory note to the areas affected. The Blue Drop audit verifies the adherence of water services authorities to these requirements.

The wastewater treatment works are regulated by water use authorisations and the National Water Act. The conditions of these authorisations set the performance conditions and reporting requirements. Compliance to these authorisations is monitored by the Compliance Monitoring unit within the DWS. The Green Drop audit incorporates a component of this work but looks at the complete system performance, financial aspects, and capacity of the water services Authority.

2. Complaints can be reported to the department via its toll-free number 0800 200 200, or email [email protected]. Complaints received are tracked in terms of the response and actions taken or to be taken. Reports are not prepared on these complaints, but the Department publishes the Blue and Green Drop Reports. In early October 2023, the Department will release its Blue Drop Report, the Green Drop Progress Report as well as its Compliance and Enforcement Annual report for 2022/23

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Reply:

The interventions that have been put in place by the Department of Water and Sanitation to assist the City of Tshwane (CoT) with the challenges relating to water services include the following interventions:

a) The Department has issued a directive to Magalies Water Board as per Section 41 of the Water Services Act,1997; for short to medium term measures to address water challenges in Hammaskraal while government is looking at a long-term solution.

b) Magalies Water Board has presented a proposal to the Department in the form of a business plan, which amongst others, proposes the construction of a water treatment package plant to provide immediate relief. The package plant will be situated at Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant premises.

c) The package plant will produce drinking water on a gradual basis water starting with 10 Ml/day up 40Ml/day which will be connected to the Temba water reticulation system. It is envisaged that the project will start delivering at least 10 Ml /day by end of March 2024.

d) An amount of R480 million has been availed by DWS through the budget adjustment (pending National Treasury approval) to ensure that this business plan is implemented by Magalies Water Board.

e) Furthermore, Magalies Water has applied to the DBSA for a loan for the remainder of the funding that is required to construct the package plant – this is pending approval from DBSA. In the meantime, Magalies Water is proceeding with planning and design work for the package plant to ensure that timeline committed is met.

f) As a result of the non-compliance of the Rooivaal waste water treatment works (WWTW) which might have resulted in the cholera outbreak, the city of Tshwane (CoT) has set aside R150 million in the 2023/24 financial year to upgrade and refurbish the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works. This will ensure that phase 1 of the Rooivaal Waste Water Treatment work upgrade is completed.

g) The CoT is finalising the appointment of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as the implementing agent for this phase of the project, while a technical team comprising of the DWS, CoT, Magalies and Rand Water is assessing the overall long-term plan to address the Rooivaal challenges and further improvements to the Temba water treatment works to ensure delivery of portable water which meets drinking water quality standards from the Temba water treatment work to Hamman kraal.

h) In the long term, the CoT is planning to upgrade the Rooivaal WWTW by an additional 80 Megalitres / day which requires close to R 2.5 bn. Currently there is no funding for available this. However, the CoT is approaching various funding institutions soliciting funding.

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Reply:

The response for NA 2230 previously submitted to the National Assembly, was specifically in relation to repairs to the Sterkwater Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and not all the WWTWs in the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM).

The municipality has indicated that although the programme to restore the Sterkwater WWTW back to functionality is behind schedule, the following progress has been made:

• The municipality is using security cameras and armed response and managed to arrest the crippling cable theft.
• The municipality has started primary treatment of sewers such as mechanical screens and the screw pumps.
• Electric cables have been ordered and will be installed upon arrival. The municipality will begin testing all the stagnant equipment that needs to be repaired. The secondary treatment is affected in the main by this.

The MMM has also reported that instability at senior management level (position of Chief Financial Officer and City Manager) is also contributing to delays in implementation of some of the projects.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) issued a Notice for intention to issue Directive in terms of Section 19(3) of the National Water Act, in July 2023 and will proceed to issue a Directive due to the fact that the Sterkwater WWTW has not been restored to functionality and sewer spillages continue to pollute the environment.

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Reply:

i) The contribution of Russia (a), China (b), India (c)and Brazil (d) to the BRICS Ministerial Meeting hosted in Cape Town on 1 June 2023:

a) Nil

b) Nil

c) Nil

d) Nil

ii) The Department was not involved in the BRICS Political Party Plus Dialogue as this event was organised by the governing party.

iii) The contribution of Russia (a), China (b), India (c) and Brazil (d) to the 15th BRICS Summit:

a) Nil

b) Nil

c) Nil

d) Nil

Reply:

a) The National and Provincial Departments allocate funds to NGOs that render prevention and support services to survivors of violence and crime, including gender-based violence as guided by Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. These are inclusive of those rendering immediate response services, shelter ss well as psycho-social support services.

In addition, the department has formed strategic partnerships with a number of funders such as the Global Fund, NEDLAC, Solidarity Fund, European Union, SANAC and the HWSETA. These partners availed resources for the recruitment, training and appointment of the different cadres such as volunteers, social workers and coordinators to provide and increase provision of psycho-social support services across the country. Refer to the table below for the budget allocation for implementation of Pillar 4: Response, Care, Support and Healing:

ITEMS	AMOUNT APPROX.
Criminal and Asset Recovery Account (CARA)	R 100 MIL
Global Fund/NACOSA	R 19.6 Mil
VEP Good and Services	R 16 Mil
GBVF Ambassadors HWSETA	R 4,3 Mil
Transfer Payments to National NGOs	R 4.2 Mil
Overall	R 144,1 Mil

b) There are many successes, including:

• Intersectoral Shelter Policy and Policy on Provision of Psycho-Social Support Services). Both policies are meant to standardise and strengthening services offered to victims of Gender Based Violence and Femicide. All nine provinces were reached through capacity building on both policies targeting different stakeholders including those from the JCPS Cluster.

• In partnership with the HWSETA, DSD secured a budget of 4.3 mil for the appointment and capacity building of GBVF ambassadors deployed in the thirty (30) National GBVF hotspots found in six (6) provinces which are (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, and North West)

• Ensured increased capacity in response, care, support and healing services through the facilitation of the establishment of shelters for abused women as part of response and prevention interventions that address socio-economic needs of women within shelters in the Free State (QwaQwa, Sasolburg and Koffiefontein).

• A partnership has been established between the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to identify public facilities that are re-purposed for use as shelters for GBV survivors. To date, a total of 95 public facilities have been earmarked for this purpose.

• Provided funding to 332 NGOs rendering psychosocial support services through transfer payments and CARA funding.

• Successfully appointed permanently over 200 Social Workers across all nine provinces to deal specifically with GBV cases. Through the Global Fund, the Department was able to deploy on contract 65 Social Workers dealing with GBV cases in the 30 National GBVF hotspots. The Department has also capacitated frontline workers including those from the NGOs in all nine provinces on GBV-related matters.

Reply:

1.  REPLY(a)

2. The overall work of the office is strengthened by putting the National Development Plan (NDP) at the centre of the work and programmes being implemented. The National Planning Commission (NPC) is critical in this process through the periodic reviews of different sectors and production of diagnostic reports identifying challenges and opportunities in order to register progress.
3. Furthermore, the Minister has signed a Performance Agreement with the President outlining the priority areas which she will be reporting to the President on. This serves as a strategic guideline in the work of the Ministry.
4. The work of the Ministry is strengthened by the coordination between the Office of the Minister, the Deputy Minister, the department through the Office of the Director-General, the NPC through the Office of the Secretary of the NPC. This ensures that all the components under the leadership of the Minister are in sync and complement each other in the execution of the mandate of the Minister and the Department at large. Regular meetings are held to monitor work such as strategic stakeholder engagements and other priority areas.
5. The Minister has appointed a competent team of core support staff, in line with the Ministerial handbook, to support her in the execution of her duties. In this regard the Minister has appointed two Special Advisors in line with the Section 12 of the Public Service Act:-

a) to advise the executive authority on the exercise or performance of the executive authority's powers and duties;

b) to advise the executive authority on the development of policy that will promote the relevant department's objectives; and

c) to perform such other tasks as may be appropriate in respect of the exercise or performance of the executive authority's powers and duties.

 

 

REPLY (b)

1. planning for development means we must pursue or implement an integrated, multi-sectoral process through which governmental institutions streamline social, economic and spatial growth and development.
2. The NDP defines the desired development outcomes to be achieved by 2030 and it also provides a strategic framework within which more detailed planning and budgeting takes place.
3. The Minister is advocating active citizenry for the private sector and civil society to play an active role in to promote and accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the NDP.
4. The framework to repurpose the department is being developed. Among others it will seek to initiate coordination of development agencies within a “hub” for coherence and clear articulation of the role and contribution of different sectors and stakeholders in achieving the outcomes envisaged in the NDP.
5. The Integrated Planning Framework Bill is being finalised and will be presented to Cabinet. The Bill when finalised and passed into legislation is intended to help government focus more on planning for development:
6. We are also conducting benchmarking with our counterparts on the continent and elsewhere in order to share experiences and ideas on how to optimise the department for development planning.

 

 

THANK YOU

 

Reply:

A preliminary analysis by the National Treasury considered that there was a significant depreciation in the rand against the US dollar in May 2023, as much as 2.4%. While this was in part due to the pronouncements of the US Ambassador to South Africa regarding the Lady R vessel, other variables would need to be considered to arrive at a monetary cost, such as concerns about high inflation, debt servicing costs and the impact of loadshedding. To assign a monetary value to a single event would therefore be speculative. There is no doubt, however, that the elevated geopolitical risk was to blame for the Rand’s further depreciation.

Following the allegations made by US Ambassador Reuben Brigety, he was démarched by DIRCO and admonished by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, who expressed her outrage and displeasure at the manner in which the allegations were made. There are prescribed diplomatic protocols which should have been used to convey any concerns of the US Government in relation to the Lady R vessel.

Reply:

The Industrial Development Corporation has not invested in copper smelting activities in the past three financials years being, FY2022/23, FY2021/22 and FY2020/21.

The Department does not have a dedicated funding facility for smelters in its budget, approved by Parliament, and no disbursements were made in the financial years concerned to copper smelters.

Tax incentives are announced by the Minister of Finance.

-END-

Reply:

In 2017, the Minister appointed the Advisory Committee on Provisioning for Learners with Visual Impairments, whose terms of reference include the following: 

• Identifying challenges related to the education of learners with visual impairment and advise on mediation, best practices, and resources;
• Advising on ongoing development, printing and delivery of Learning and Teaching Support Materials, including assistive technology and devices; and
• Advising on training programmes and resource toolkits to capacitate educators, teacher aides and school support staff to achieve excellence in the field of visual impairment.

In 2021, the DBE purchased over 26 master copies of Braille and Large Print language textbooks from Pioneer printers and Blind SA service providers. The master copies were uploaded on the DBE website for schools to download, reproduce or print for learners with visual impairment. Subsequently, the link was forwarded to provinces to ensure easy access for them to support schools. For the past six (6) years, the Department of Basic Education has provided Braille workbooks in Mathematics, Home Languages and Life Skills for Grades  1- 9. The Braille textbooks are procured by provinces directly from services providers. 

One of the priorities identified for special schools for the Blind has been the improvement of teacher competencies in Braille. For instance, in 2022/23, 84 teachers were trained in Braille. The training of teachers in specialised areas, such as Braille, is an indicator in the Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Basic Education.

Provinces continue to procure ICT-related gadgets that cater for learners with special educational needs.  The provinces that are doing so, are using a tranversal tender under the Chief Procurement Officer at National Treasury to procure identified ICT-related gadgets.  Constant training and support is provided to the provinces by the service providers of these ICT-related gadgets.

Reply:

The Child Support Grant was introduced specifically to ensure the best interest of the child at all times and to address child poverty, including malnutrition and stunting. The person who receives the CSG must be the primary caregiver of the child.

We encourage members of the public to report cases of the abuse of the CSG SASSA and social workers who will investigate and based on the findings, the grant may then be transferred to a new primary caregiver.

The Department has developed draft policies on integration of children’s grants with other services and maternal support. The two draft policies emphasise the need of building linkages between children’s grants and other developmental services for children amongst others education, health and early childhood development. We are currently preparing to initiate Cabinet approval processes for the policy, which will be followed by amendment of relevant legislation to enable the Department to share data with the Department of Health and Basic Education, amongst others. In this manner, the Department will be empowered to monitor and track health indicators including the prevention of stunting.

Reply:

I am advised that allegations relating to procurement irregularities and maladministration at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) are currently undergoing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) internal assessment processes.

Once the internal assessment processes are complete, the SIU will decide whether to submit a motivation to amend the scope of the proclamation.

Reply:

1. As the Honourable Member is aware, the Department has facilitated a number of meetings between the identified communities, including Mitchells Plain and potential funders such as the World Food Programme and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), with the view to support socio-economic projects targeting women, youth and persons with disabilities.

These projects identified for potential funding by development agencies that we work closely with include the peanut butter manufacturing cooperative in KwaZulu-Natal and the group of women interested in textile at Mitchells Plain. The partner organisations have taken keen interest in these projects as they have a huge potential to create sustainable job opportunities and to economically empower both women and youth.

2. Yes, during the Women’s Month I partnered with the National House of Traditional and Kho-San Leaders (NHTKL) focusing on youth and women empowerment programmes at Magadimana Ntweng Traditional Authority in Limpopo Province. We are looking at implementing a number of youth and women empowerment projects in the area.

Reply:

What are the relevant details of her department’s plans to ensure the improvement and/or demolition of the plain pit and bucket latrines identified by programmes such as (a) the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative, (b) the Sanitation Appropriate For Education initiative and (c) any other sanitation programmes?

What are the relevant details of her department’s plans to ensure the improvement and/or demolition of the plain pit and bucket latrines identified by programmes such as

(a) The Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative,

1. In 2011, the Department of Basic Education launched the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI-2011).  This programme focused on the following:
   • Providing appropriate building for schools made entirely of inappropriate materials.
   • Providing appropriate water supply to schools with no water.
   • Providing appropriate sanitation at schools with no toilets.
   • Providing appropriate electricity supply to schools with no electricity supply.
2. In 2011, there were initially 510 schools on the ASIDI programme made entirely of inappropriate materials. This number decreased to 332.
   1. Of the 332 schools made entirely of inappropriate materials, 330 have been replaced.
   2. The remaining 2 replacement schools are scheduled for completion in 2023/24.
3. In 2011, there were initially 1 117 schools on the ASIDI programme with no water supply. This number increased to 1 306.
   1. Of the 1 306 water supply projects, 1 292 have been completed.
   2. The remaining 14 water supply projects are scheduled for completion in 2023/24.
4. In 2011, there were initially 701 schools on the ASIDI programme with no toilets. This number increased to 1 087.
   1. All of the 1087 sanitation projects have been replaced.
5. In 2011, there were initially 902 schools on the ASIDI programme with no electricity. This number decreased to 373.
   1. All of the 373 electricity supply projects have been completed.

(b) The Sanitation Appropriate For Education initiative

1. In 2018, the Department of Basic Education launched the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE-2018) initiative.  This programme focused on providing appropriate sanitation at schools dependent on basic pit toilets.
2. There were initially 3 898 schools on the SAFE programme. This number reduced to 3 382, as some of the schools were either provided with approrpiate sanitation facilities, or the schools were due for rationalisation as they were found not to be viable.
3. Of the 3 382 sanitation projects, 2 911 have been completed through SAFE.
4. The remaining 471 sanitation projects are scheduled for completion in 2023/24.

(c) any other sanitation programmes?

Through Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG) Provincial Education Departments have ongoing programmes on Provision / Replacement of Sanitation.

Reply:

a) It is important to put the backlog into context. The current medical assessment backlog in the Western Cape comprises of persons who wish to apply for a disability-related grant for the first time, applications that have been previously rejected and or persons who were granted temporary Disability Grant (TDG).

To address the shortage of assessment doctors, SASSA WC has since inception, entered into Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with all districts of the Provincial Department of Health for the provision of medical assessment services. The implementation of the SLA Provincial is hampered by the shortage of doctors and other health practitioners who can perform proper medical assessments.

b) In July this year, SASSA embarked on a procurement process for Independent Health Practitioners. An advert for a three (3) year tender was issued with a closing date of 14th July 2023. SASSA WC is in the process of issuing award letters to fourteen (14) successful bidders. The appointed doctors will be provided with schedules to speed up medical assessments, with specific focus on areas where the need for medical assessments remain high.

Reply:

a) Whether her office has addressed the issues it had identified relating to security issues around the SA Social Security Agency cards and Post Office accounts?

Yes, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation conducted an extensive frontline monitoring at the paypoints and produced a report that has been shared with the Department of Social Development and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.

DPME made extensive recommendations to improve the payment mechanism. Engagements on this report is ongoing and will be considered in the review of the MTSF in preparations for the 7th administration. In the meantime, DPME continues to monitor the immediate interventions being introduced by the Department of Social Development and Department of Communications and Digital through their entities, SASSA and the Postbank.

B. Whether her office has found alternative mechanisms for making safe payments; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Yes, this is ongoing as the recommendations of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation are being discussed internally within government.

 

THANK YOU

Reply:

(a) What measures are being undertaken to assess the impact of the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework

Various interventions to assess the impact of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF)

1. Annual Performance Plans (APPs) analysis to ensure that they are aligned with the MTSF
2. Biannual reports that are submitted to the clusters and Cabinet with clear recommendations
3. Recommendations are considered in the Budget Prioritisation Framework
4. Frontline monitoring undertaken to validate implementation
5. Secondary data from Stats South Africa (Stats SA) and Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) and other state and non-state actors considered especially in relation to the views of South Africans
6. The National Planning Commission (NPC) also engages with the stakeholders.
7. There is a need to improve on this depending on the availability of resources.

(b) What progress can be highlighted as it is the last financial year of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework.

1. Management of Covid-19 including relief measures for vulnerable groups including business
2. Cabinet decisions on the professionalization of the public service and implementation ongoing
3. Stable performance management system of HODs/DGs even though it needs continuous evaluation and improvement.
4. Establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations of the Zondo Commission and the SIU.
5. Ministers performance agreements signed and assessments ongoing
6. Ongoing interventions to improve the performance of the electricity and logistics sectors led by the President and involving the private sector
7. Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) established and has commenced functioning to support municipalities to improve planning and implementation. Amongst others this focuses on rural roads and bridges.
8. Successful hosting of the 2023 BRICS Summit
9. Implementation of SA Connect to connect government buildings and communities ongoing. This follows the successful licensing of the radio frequency spectrum in 2022.
10. Presidential Employment Stimulus, since its launch in 2020, the Presidential Employment Stimulus initiative has achieved 86.7% of its target, with a total of 1.085 million opportunities created.
11. SMME support, as at 31 March 2023, a total of 809 products produced and services rendered by SMMEs and Co-operatives have been linked to domestic private sector markets. Furthermore, the Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme, which aims to build the industrial base for both the domestic and external markets, has disbursed R548 million to 74 SMMEs.

A total of 136 184 competitive small businesses and Co-operatives were supported through the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA) using their non-financial and financial instruments, exceeding the MTSF target to support 100 000 competitive small businesses and Co-operatives by 2024.

12. Black Industrialists support programme

13. Land given to entrepreneurs [ 700 000 hectors]

14. Natural Spatial Development Framework finalized. DPME and others aligning the NSDF with the District Development Model [DDM]

15. NHI Bill approved by the Portfolio Committee on Health. Second reading of the Bill in the National Assembly (NA) occurred in June 2023 and the Bill was approved by the NA.

16. Education -NSFAS has grown (numbers)

-Support for TVET and community colleges

-General access has grown

17. GBVF remains a priority of this government

18. Resources allocated to improve the performance of the South African Police Services [SAPS]

However, through our monitoring and evaluation we have identified some limitations on the capacity of the state to deliver services and achieve developmental outcomes. These include:

a) State of Local government i.e. 163 municipalities distressed and 66 municipalities dysfunctional

b) Challenges related to the intersphere coordination (Report to the Presidential Coordination committee which includes Cabinet, Premiers and the Executive Mayors of the Metros and SALGA

 

THANK YOU

Reply:

The current National Planning Commission (NPC) of which I am chair is the third Commission. As members know the first Commission drafted the NDP. The second commission started the process of institutionalising planning in government and undertook research into long-term trends, analysing implementation of short- to medium-term plans and recommended improvements to Government to inform policy and planning. This included a review of the NDP.

The current NPC’s mandate is, inter alia, to:

• Mobilise society to promote the acceleration in implementing the National Development Plan towards 2030, recognising the changes that have ensued since its initial adoption.
• Assist in forging a conversation among key stakeholders, leading to effective and impactful interventions on several key issues facing the country.
• Undertake research and build a body of evidence on critical matters for the long-term planning and development of South Africa. Strengthen the use of evidence and the quality of empirical data, generated from impact assessments for national planning.

In the short time that I have been the Minister responsible for the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation and Chair of NPC, I have had the opportunity to engage with the NPC, who displayed a passionate loyalty to seeing South Africa and all its people succeed.

They have done this by identifying objectives that will make a difference not only in terms of long-term planning by ensuring the implementation of the National Development Plan, but that can be implemented in the short-term. The work being undertaken relate to areas that cover social protection, which covers education, health, and social assistance, among others, growing the economy in an equitable and inclusive manner, and addressing governance broadly through developing state capacity.

In this regard, and through establishing partnerships, the NPC has welcomed the adoption of the National Framework Towards the Professionalisation of the Public Sector by Cabinet in October 2022; provided practical advice that has since been adopted by government with respect to alleviating the energy crisis; and has played an active role in guiding the implementation of the District Development Model.

The NPC will soon launch its Ten-Year Review of the NDP. This review interrogates the factors that affected the implementation of the NDP since its adoption, including consideration of domestic and international crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the civil unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021, and the Ukraine-Russia war. In particular, the review assesses the progress made with the key NDP targets of eliminating poverty and reducing inequality and unemployment. The analysis evaluates the extent to which planning has been institutionalised and the reform of the country’s planning system across all spheres of government following the adoption of the NDP.

Given the body of work I can only conclude by indicating that the Commission is having a positive impact in ensuring the implementation of the NDP

THANK YOU

 

Reply:

a) The total number of cases that were referred to each government department for the period of 2019 – 2023:

• All correspondence including telephone calls, emails from the presidency mailbox, walk-ins by citizens, complaints lodged by citizens during the Presidential Izimbizo to date are 51 278 cases.

b) How long did it take on average for the departments to acknowledge receipt and resolve those complaints?

• On average it took 179 days for Provinces to resolve 8 113 complaints out of 11 912.
• On average it took 112 days for a National government department to resolve 16 743 complaints out of 28 189. No information on acknowledge is available as the system is not design to report on it.
• On average it takes 18 days for Presidential Hotline team to resolve 10 717 cases out of 11 177.
• The acknowledgement of receipt by departments is done within 5 days upon receipt of cases as per the framework.

Interventions undertaken to date:

• Through participation on Presidential Izimbizo for citizens engagements. This has improved our reach and provided access to the citizen who are in rural areas, that has no access to government information
• National Public Liaison Officer’s forum, took place during 2022/23 and in May 2023, the next one scheduled is for October 2023. This is a peer learning platform where we share best practices and institutionalization of PH.
• Letters of engagement to non-performing departments were sent to accounting officers, in the 2022/23 Q4
• Presentation on department performance on case resolution was done at GSCID, in the 2022/23 Q3

 

THANK YOU

Reply:

1. (a) i and ii and (b) See Annexure 1

2. (a) i and ii and (b) See Annexure 2 (limited by the POPI Act we have as such provided office contact details of the various positions in the different offices)

3. (a) i and ii See Annexure 3

(b) There is progress currently in filling of vacancies across all regions in adherence with HR processes. Positions are advertised and filled as determined by the Critical Post Committee (CPC) within the limited available budget.

4. (a) and (b) refer to the table below:

EC Region payment trends
	202309
Methods of payment	Sum of Number Of Beneficiaries	Sum Amount
ABSA BANK	86,153	R153,674,039.00
ACCESS BANK (SOUTH AFRICA	3,461	R7,262,323.00
AFRICAN BANK	13,285	R23,285,919.00
BIDVEST BANK	5,897	R9,656,835.00
CAPITEC BANK	373,155	R561,245,938.00
DISCOVERY BANK	22	R38,179.00
FINBOND MUTUAL	5,646	R11,303,171.00
FINBOND NET1	208	R360,921.00
FIRSTRAND BANK	141,267	R261,672,748.00
GRINDROD BANK	186,623	R303,855,833.00
INVESTEC BANK LTD	4	R7,980.00
ITHALA	57	R113,380.00
NEDBANK LIMITED	94,238	R165,479,761.00
POSTBANK	730,238	R1,088,461,320.00
IGPS	726,294	R1,081,926,187.00
MZANSI	3,944	R6,535,133.00
STANDARD SA	90,869	R164,139,097.00
TYMEBANK	8,751	R12,429,224.00
Grand Total	1,739,874	R2,762,986,668.00

Reply:

I have been informed by South African Tourism that the details of the total number of vacancies, level of each position and timeframes to fill the vacancies, are contained in the table, below.

(a) Total number of vacant positions at the SA Tourism	(b) Level of each vacant position	(c) Time frames that have been put in place to the fill the vacancies
5	Executive	6 months
2	Senior Management	Work-in-progress
20	Management	Work-in-progress
6	Officer/administration	Work-in-progress

SAT will prioritise appointments for consideration by the Minister, following due process.

 

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Yes, the DMRE has established a Small-Scale mining component with officials at nine regional offices whose functions is to handle enquiries, guide and advice and assist with the application process. Furthermore, a policy was gazetted in 2022 to develop the mechanisms to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining operations and bring them within the mainstream economy.

Reply:

The National Treasury noted the presentation made by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to the Standing Committee on Public Accountants on Wednesday, 13 September 2023. The National Treasury will comprehensively respond to the matters raised in the referrals by the SIU to the National Treasury, after receipt of the SIU’s final report, including its entire set of supporting documents and annexures. The National Treasury will also fully co-operate with all law enforcement agencies.

Reply:

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

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

 

Reply:

1. Eskom removes sulphur dioxide (SO2), which is a by-product of fossil fuel combustion, from the flue gases. This SO2 is removed by means of a wet flue gas desulphurisation system. The flue gas flows through a spray of calcium carbonate (limestone) slurry and forms an end product of calcium sulphate (gypsum).

2. (2)(a) Therefore, no sulphur in its pure, corrosive form is extracted from the absorber, and no sulphur is being sold. The gypsum is currently disposed of on site in a designated area on the power station premises as per licence. The future plan is to sell the gypsum as it can be used in the industry.

(2)(b) No corrosive chemical is being stored and no revenue is being generated at this stage from gypsum.

 

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The Department does not have the authority to regulate the processing of residue deposits at the Jagersfontein dam. This is as a result of the De Beers court judgment over Jagersfontein mine residue deposits (De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd v Ataqua Mining (Pty) Ltd & others, case no. 3215/06, Free State Provincial Division, 13 December 2007). The judgement held that historical mine residue deposits (those created before the coming into operation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA) on the 01st of May 2004) are not minerals as contemplated in the MPRDA and such they are not regulated under provisions of the MPRDA. The processing of historical mine residue deposits does not constitute mining and the area where they are situated is not classified as a mine. This was again confirmed by the court judgment in the case of Ekapa Minerals (Pty) Ltd & Others vs Lucky Seekoei & Others (2057/2016) [2017] ZANCHC 5 (13 January 2017).

However, The Department engaged the Minerals Council South Africa to provide assistance to the affected community even though the facility is legally not a mining operation. About R2.75 million was spent by the Minerals Council on the following emergency relief through three Public Benefit Organisations, namely Gift of the Givers, Soul Provider and the Red Cross:

• Distributing 15,000 food parcels, each providing an average of 25 meals totalling 375,000 meals at a cost of R1,250,000. An estimated 4,500 people received nutritious meals for four months. The percentage of black South Africans benefiting from the programme is 100%.
• Providing running water from water boreholes at two schools for learners and the surrounding community at a cost of R1 million.
• Distributing mattresses, blankets, clothing, underwear, sanitary packs, water and cooking utensils at a cost of R500,000.

Following a series of meetings by the Minerals Council with the Kopanong Local Municipality and the Free State Government, 6 projects were initially earmarked. Further assessments identified 3 of the 6 projects being potentially sustainable and within the objectives and mandate of the Fund:

1. Working towards a sustainable water solution for the Jagersfontein community. The assistance does not include services that are the responsibility of local, provincial and national government.
2. Aiding local schools and learning centres to enhance learning and education in the community. The assistance does not include services that are the responsibility of local, provincial and national government.
3. Establish an internet and Wi-Fi service for the community at the Jagersfontein library.