Questions and Replies

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department as follows:

(a) With regard to all the entities reporting to me, no request was issued inviting applications for board positions.

Applications for appointment to the National Cybersecurity Advisory Council (NCAC) opened mid-April 2017.

(b) Applications for appointment to the National Cybersecurity Advisory Council (NCAC closed on the 30th April 2017 and the Department received 34 applications.

Reply:

1. (a) VBS Mutual Bank was established in 1982 and initially operated as the Venda Building Society in the former Venda Homeland. VBS Mutual Bank (VBS) is registered with the South African Reserve Bank and operates under banking license No. 1051 in terms of the Mutual Banks Act of 1993. The bank was granted a permanent Mutual Bank license on 11 October 2000.

(b) VBS Mutual Bank is not registered under the Banks Act of 1990 and therefore does not have a commercial banking license. It is one of three banks currently registered as mutual banks in South Africa. However, as stated in the MFMA, municipalities are free to use the banking services of any of the 17 banks licensed in terms of the Banks Act of 1990, but not with a bank operating in terms of the Mutual Banks Act of 1993.

2. VBS is allowed to accept deposit in terms of section 54(1) (a) of the Mutual Banks Act, 1993 which reads as follows, “A mutual bank may, subject to the provision of this Act and such directives as may from time to time be issued by the Registrar- a) accept deposits and grant loans, advances or other credit in the Republic.”

The National Treasury will communicate with specific municipalities, in this regard.

Reply:

1. (a) The number of Protective Service Officers (PSO) is determined by the Threat and Risk Assessment (TRA) which is compiled in advance by South African Police. By divulging the number protectors allotted to the Commissioner will bridge security measures currently in place.

Total expenditure is dependent on the employee grade see breakdown below:

Period: 2013/14	Minimum of grade 4B pa	Midpoint of grade 4B pa	Maximum of grade 4B pa
01 April ‘13-31 March 2014	202 608	270 144	337 668
Cell Phone	R650
Uniform Allowance	R4,765

Period: 2014/15	Minimum of grade 4B pa	Midpoint of grade 4B pa	Maximum of grade 4B pa
1 April 2014–31 March 2015	215 508	295 212	374 916
Cell phone	R650
Uniform Allowance	R5 060.43

Period: 2015/16	Minimum of grade 4B pa	Midpoint of grade 4B pa	Maximum of grade 4B pa
1April 2015–31 March 2016	228 504	313 008	397 524
Cell Phone	R500
Uniform Allowance	R 5 313.58

Period: 2016/17	Minimum of grade 4B pa	Midpoint of grade 4B pa	Maximum of grade 4B pa
1April 2016–31 March 2017	237 984	317 316	396 648
Cell Phone	R400
Uniform Allowance	R 7 226.47

b) The total expenditure for this service in (b) since 1 April 2017.

Period: 2017	Minimum of grade 4B pa	Midpoint of grade 4B pa	Maximum of grade 4B pa
1April 2016–31 March 2017	R237 984	R336 024	R396 648
Cell phone	R500
Uniform Allowance	Not yet paid

(2) With regard to protective service officers allotted to (a) the spouse of the Commissioner and (b) staff members of SARS, please refer to the response at 1(a) and (b) above.

(3) (a) The South African Revenue Service does not conduct Threat and Risk Assessments (TRA) either (i) for the Commissioner and (ii) the Commissioner’s spouse. (b) The TRA is compiled in advance by the South African Police Services; SARS is therefore unable to confirm when each case is set to be reviewed.

Reply:

The opening and closing dates for the advertisement for vacancies for the Board positions for entities and councils reporting to the Minister of Finance was:

a) 11 June 2017

b) 23 June 2017

Reply:

The National Treasury provided various types of support to municipalities for the implementation of mSCOA. The following initiatives were undertaken in preparation of the affected environment, with a specific focus on the Gauteng province:

1. After promulgation of the mSCOA Regulations, the mSCOA chart was rigorously tested and refined by piloting in selected municipalities. Gauteng pilot municipalities were Cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

2. A dedicated website was established to assist municipalities in understanding, educating and implementation of mSCOA, including information such as the project summary document, chart versions, Municipal SCOA circulars, presentations, etc:

http://mfma.treasury.gov.za/RegulationsandGazettes/MunicipalRegulationsOnAStandardChartOfAccountsFinal/Pages/default.aspx

3. The mSCOA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Portal was established, an internet based database tool for logging and responding to mSCOA related queries in March 2015 and is available to all municipalities.

4. Ongoing technical guidance and support to municipalities in the form of Circulars:

• mSCOA Circulars No. 1 to 6 provided guidance on mSCOA implementation; and

• MFMA Circular No. 80 and its addendum set out the proposed minimum ICT and business process functionality to enable transacting against mSCOA with effect 1 July 2017.

5. All the circulars were extensively consulted and also published on the National Treasury website.

6. The Transversal Tender: Local Government Financial Management and Internal Control Systems (RT25-2016 in the Government Tender Bulletin of 4 March 2016) was issued to support all municipalities that decided to make any system change(s) and / or upgrade(s).

7. Support provided through various mSCOA National and provincial forums, including mSCOA work groups, vendor forum(s) / platforms and a National Integrated Communication Forum involving the Gauteng Provincial Treasury and Gauteng pilot municipalities. These sessions were duplicated by the Gauteng Provincial Treasury in mSCOA, CFO and other relevant provincial forums.

8. Provided training across the affected environment, which included:

• A one-day training initiative: ‘Demystifying mSCOA’, which was attended by 118 Gauteng officials on 8 December 2014;

• 2-day non-accredited mSCOA training sessions was rolled-out for piloting municipalities, system vendors, and provincial treasuries. Gauteng delegates participated on 5 and 6 May 2015, with concurrent metro specific sessions facilitated with the Cities of Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Tshwane;

• 3-day non-accredited sessions for all non-pilot municipalities was rolled-out to ensure that all non-pilot municipalities have a clear understanding of mSCOA and impact this will have on their respective municipalities. The training was attended by 71 officials in Gauteng comprising of 39 and 29 from municipalities and provincial treasury respectively.

• Drawing closer to phase 4 project-end, a strategic partnership was concluded resulting in the future outsourcing of all project related training (accredited and- non-accredited) through a strategic partnership with the Certified Institute of Government Finance Audit and Risk Officers (CIGFARO (previously IMFO)) in cooperation with SALGA with effect 01 December 2016.

• Dedicated support through the placement of a mSCOA Advisor as part of mSCOA project phase 4 (01 February 2016 to 31 March 2017) for project phase 5 (01 June 2017 to 31 March 2020) to the Gauteng Provincial Treasury to support municipalities in the province.

(a) & (b) The current status of implementation in Gauteng can be summarised as follows:

 (i) All Gauteng municipalities successfully submitted both their tabled and adopted budgets in the mSCOA data string to the Local Government Database hosted by the National Treasury;

(ii) 3 of the 11 Gauteng municipalities (City of Johanesburg, Ekurhuleni and Midvaal) successfully submitted MFMA section 71 reports in the mSCOA data strings;

(iii) 5 of the 11 Gauteng municipalities (City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Emfuleni, Rand West City and Sedibeng) successfully submitted their integrated development plans in the mSCOA data string format;

(iv) The recent mSCOA transaction verification assessments conducted by the National Treasury and Gauteng Provincial Treasury on whether municipalities are transacting across selected test areas refers. Verification was completed for 7 municipalities, none of the verified municipalities in Gauteng is transacting across all the 8 selected test areas. The verified municipalities are partially transacting across some test areas. Each municipality not fully transacting across the 8 areas assessed, National Treasury and Gauteng Treasury are engaging all affected municipalities individually on their project plan to reach full transacting together with concurrent hands-on-support.

Reply:

This reply provides additional information to supplement the information provided in the reply to the above question, dated 12 September 2017. The first reply focussed mainly on the preliminary outcome for 2016/17 and the first 5 months of the 2017/18 financial year. In the tables below data is provided from 2013/14, the base year for the introduction of the cost containment measures. Data for 2017/18 has been updated with the latest spending data as at 31 August 2017. Historical data has been extracted from the financial systems of government and might differ from the published financial statements of departments, as all data has been mapped to the 2017/18 version of the chart of accounts.

1. Total expenditure by national departments on items that relate to the mandatory cost containment measures decreased in nominal terms by R2.1 billion from 2013/14 to 2016/17, an average annual decrease of 5.4 per cent. This implies a real decline of R4.5 billion (in 2016 Rands) or a real average annual percentage decrease, after taking the effect of inflation into account, of 10.5 per cent. Table 1 below provides a consolidated summary of expenditure items related to the cost containment instruction note for national government. Details by national department is provided in the attached annexure A. The table provides actual expenditure for the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 financial years, (mapped to the 2017/18 version of the chart of accounts), as well as the preliminary outcome for 2016/17 and data for the first 5 months of 2017/18.

 

Table 1: Summary of expenditure on cost containment related items: National departments 1 see the link below: 

http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/RNW2623Table1-170926.pdf   

1. Excludes Parliament

Total expenditure by provinces on items that relate to the mandatory cost containment measures increased in nominal terms by R182.2 million from 2013/14 to 2016/17, an average annual increase of 0.6 per cent. However, this implies a real decline of R1.7 billion (in 2016 Rands) or a real average annual percentage decrease, after taking the effect of inflation into account, of 4.8 per cent. Table 2 below provides a consolidated summary of expenditure items related to the cost containment instruction note for all provinces. Details by province is provided in the attached annexure B. The table below provides actual expenditure for the 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 financial years, (mapped to the 2017/18 version of the chart of accounts), as well as the preliminary outcome for 2016/17 and data for the first 5 months of 2017/18.

As indicated in the previous response, expenditure information on these spending items is not available for constitutional institutions and public entities listed in Schedules 2 and 3 to the PFMA since these institutions utilise different entity controlled financial systems for their payments.

 

Table 2: Summary of expenditure on cost containment related items: All provinces see the link below: 

http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/RNW2623Table2-170926.pdf

2. The total expenditure in relation to (a) consultants, (b) travel and subsistence (c) catering (d) entertainment (e) advertising (f) newspapers and publications (g) conferences and (h) other related expenditure for the 2016/2017 financial year amounts to R11.5 billion for national departments and R10.4 billion for provinces, as indicated in Tables 1 and 2 above. Corresponding expenditure from 1 April 2017 to 31 August 2017 amounts to R4.2 billion for national departments and R4.7 billion for provinces. Details of expenditure by national department is provided in annexure A and a summary of expenditure by province is provided in annexure B.

See the link for AnnexureA and B: http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/RNW2623Annexure_-170926.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reply:

(a)(i) SEFA has been supporting SEF’s activities since the days of Khula Enterprise Finance. The basis of the support was a thoroughly conducted due diligence (investigation) to determine the appropriateness of their model to discharge the Government mandate to expand and strengthen microenterprises in South Africa. SEF has raised facilities with SEFA since 2005 when it borrowed R9,6 million until recently when it borrowed R30 million. Each time SEF has gone to SEFA for loans, a new due diligence that interrogates SEF’s business model has been conducted, with the findings contained in the submission to SEFA’s Executive Committee for consideration.

(ii) SEFA has a balanced scorecard that it strives to achieve through its activities and partnerships. The scorecard includes the following:

• Facilities disbursed in priority Provinces (Numbers and Rand Values)

• Facilities disbursed to Youth (18 – 35 years of age) (Numbers and Rand Values)

• Facilities disbursed to Women (Numbers and Rand Values)

• Facilities disbursed to Blacks (Numbers and Rand Values)

• Facilities disbursed to entrepreneurs with disability (Numbers and Rand Values)

• Number of jobs facilitated (created and maintained)

Whenever a funding proposal is submitted to SEFA, the subsequent due diligence interrogates the performance of the applicant against this scorecard. SEF has continually been assessed against these parameters and confirmed to have a huge impact on almost all of them except the facilities to people with disabilities. In addition, as part of the monthly reporting protocol for all approved funding applicants, monthly performance data is submitted to SEFA and is strictly monitored by SEFA’s Post Investment and Monitoring (PIM) Division.

SEF’s development statistics are also collected according to this process. Furthermore, SEFA conducts random monitoring visits that include interviewing SEF’s clients to determine the impact of the loans extended to them. The feedback obtained has further highlighted the impact of the government funding to women channelled through SEF. Currently, SEF operates in five (5) priority Provinces of Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. Over 99% of their portfolio is to women. More than 60% of all development statistics reported by SEFA on an annual basis are achieved through partnership with SEF.

(b) The SEF business model derives from the iconic Grameen Bank lending model. It utilizes solidarity groups made of up to five (5) women each. Seven of these groups get together to form a “centre”. The “centre” becomes the administrative machinery for not only assessing and recommending loans to members, but also the authority to ensure that all loans are collected. Other benefits that come from the “centres” include peer support for both business and social purposes. In many countries, the “centres” become the mechanism to empower women on a number of other social matters including HIV/AIDS education, nutrition and sanitation. SEF interacts with its clients through the group and “centre” meetings and provides the essential business education for strengthening the microenterprises.

Given the success of SEF and similarly structured programmes here in South Africa and elsewhere, it has been established that SEF’s business model is absolutely appropriate for providing large scale financial support for women-owned small-medium- and micro-sized businesses.

Reply:

(a) The South African Social Security Agency issues blankets to deserving beneficiaries under the Social Relief of Distress programme, and as part of promotional items within communications and marketing. When blankets are issues as promotional items, they are targeted towards older persons, in recognition of the contribution they have made to building a democratic South Africa, and ensuring cohesion in local communities.

SASSA manages the social relief of distress programme in line with the provisions as legislated in the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (as amended). The legislation empowers SASSA to provide social relief of distress to South African citizens, permanent residents and refugees, where they meet certain criteria. One of the criteria is that social relief of distress may be provided where communities are affected by a disaster, even where that area is not declared a disaster area. This enables SASSA to respond to localized incidents such as floods, fire and other disasters.

The social relief of distress may be issued in the form of food vouchers, food parcels, school uniforms or cash, depending on the reason for the issuing of the social relief of distress, as well as the specific arrangements made in the affected province. Where social relief of distress is provided as a response to disasters, the assistance may take the form of pre-cooked hot meals, meal packs, blankets, dignity packs and/or mattresses. The actual assistance provided depends on the specific needs of the affected communities. In addition to the immediate humanitarian assistance provided, in instances where the affected community lost all their possessions, for instance in the case of fire, the families may be provided with a once off cash amount when they are ready to return to their homes. This is to assist in buying some of the household items which were lost in the disaster. However, SASSA does not provide household items as part of the social relief of distress programme.

(b) The table link below reflects the amount spent on blankets issued per province for the financial years: 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17.

http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/RNW2127Table-170913.pdf

Reply:

1. Government has tabled the discussion paper on Comprehensive Social Security in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) where it is currently engaging with social partners on the recommendations in the tabled discussion paper, one of which, is the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The NEDLAC MANCO Task Team on Comprehensive Social Security requested 12 months (approximately until March 2018) to debate these complex issues, with a review after six months to decide on whether more time will be needed (amongst other things).

As part of their terms of references, social partners will agree on the implementation plan which will also inform the timelines for the establishment of the National Social Security Fund. On conclusion of these processes, Government will announce the proposed implementation plans.

2. It is proposed that all workers will need to make mandatory payroll contributions of at least 12% to the NSSF, which will be shared between the employer and employee, for incomes up to the income of ceiling of R178 464 per annum (which is aligned to the Unemployment Insurance Fund threshold). This includes unemployment insurance, which will continue to be paid at the rate of 2%, and the 10% is meant for retirement and risk benefits. Government proposes to subsidise the contributions of low-income workers. This is the initial proposal by government, and will form part of the negotiations of the NEDLAC Task Team (referred to above).

Reply:

1. The Department has not set aside any funds for the recent Avian Influenza outbreak. The Department has however requested Ministers Committee on the Budget (MINCOMBUD) for funds to be allocated for the control of the outbreak and for paying compensation.

2. (a) (b) The industries have been advised to improve their biosecurity measures to prevent introduction of avian influenza into their establishments through direct and indirect contact with wild birds.

The Department has a Contingency Plan (attachment A) for the control of Avian Influenza which was signed into effect in 2009; there has been slight modification in the implementation considering the evolution of science in the last 7 years.

As soon as Avian Influenza cases were reported in Zimbabwe, a meeting was held with the poultry vets and companies on 9 June 2017 to discuss the then situation in Zimbabwe and sharpen our preparedness; it was highlighted in this meeting that all facilities need to improve their biosecurity measures.

Another meeting was held with the Poultry vets on 29 June 2017 following the first two cases in South Africa where the contingency plan was discussed.

The Directorate continues to meet with the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), the Poultry Disease Management Agency of SAPA and the executive of the South African Veterinary Association’s poultry interest group on a weekly basis (unless members are not available). These meetings focus on pertinent issues with regards to the control measures, market access, etc.

At the beginning of the outbreak, the Department had suspended the sale and distribution of culls in an attempt to curb further spread of the disease since layer farms had been affected, and the extent of the outbreak was not yet known at that time. The necessary control measures have subsequently been put in place with the help of the South African Poultry Association.

Attached are letters (attachment B and C) which have been sent to the Provincial Directors outlining the control measures.

3. (a) (b)The Department will not compensate birds culled which are infected or have been in contact with poultry infected with HPAI. Chickens infected with HPAI show an extremely high mortality rate within a very short period and no part of the carcasses can be used for any purpose except for the production of compost on site. The value of infected poultry is zero. Eggs from infected sites must be destroyed as per the instruction on the quarantine notice and such eggs are also considered to have no value.

Detailed guidelines on how compensation will be applied for the culling of uninfected birds are currently being developed.

Reply:

No - The Early Childhood Development Centre, Thembalihle Creche and Pre-school with NPO registration Number 051-912does not receive funds from the Department of Social Development. No information is available on the funding by the government department.

Reply:

1. The social relief of distress is an on-going, legislated programme which is implemented every year in every province in response to identified needs. This programme provides material assistance to citizens who experience a crisis, which is beyond their ability to deal with within their own resources. The assistance is provided for a temporary period only. This period may vary from one to three months, which may be extended to six months, under certain circumstances.

SASSA manages the social relief of distress programme in line with the provisions as legislated in the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (as amended). The legislation empowers SASSA to provide social relief of distress to South African citizens, permanent residents and refugees, where they meet certain criteria. One of the criteria is that social relief of distress may be provided where communities are affected by a disaster, even where that area is not declared a disaster area. This enables SASSA to respond to localized incidents such as floods, fire and other disasters.

The social relief of distress may be issued in the form of food vouchers, food parcels, school uniforms or cash, depending on the reason for the issuing of the social relief of distress, as well as the specific arrangements made in the affected province. Where social relief of distress is provided as a response to disasters, the assistance may take the form of pre-cooked hot meals, meal packs, blankets, dignity packs and/or mattresses. The actual assistance provided will depend on the specific needs of the affected communities. In addition to the immediate humanitarian assistance provided, in instances where the affected community lost all their possessions, for example in the case of fire, the families may be provided with a once off cash amount when they are ready to return to their homes. This is to assist in buying some of the household items which were lost in the disaster. However, SASSA does not provide household items as part of the social relief of distress programme.

Within the social relief of distress programme, there are projects such as zero hunger which targets children with limited nutritional resources, seasonal farm workers to support seasonal farm workers during their lay- off period, school uniforms for children whose families cannot afford to buy the uniforms.

For every citizen assisted with social relief of distress, there is an application process followed, to ensure eligibility for the assistance. For humanitarian assistance provided in response to disasters, SASSA provides the relief off lists provided by the local disaster response team in the municipality.

The tables below reflect the amounts spent on social relief of distress for the financial year 2016/2017 and 2017(April to August)

Social relief of distress expenditure per region for the financial year 2016/17

Region	Budget amount	Amount spent
Eastern Cape	116 000 000	94 447 000
Free State	35 000 000	33 401 000
Gauteng	78 000 000	66 674 000
KwaZulu-Natal	132 000 000	124 247 000
Limpopo	82 000 000	81 213 000
Mpumalanga	48 000 000	47 518 000
Northern Cape	50 000 000	18 477 000
North West	46 000 000	43 906 000
Western Cape	93 000 000	76 309 000
	680 000 000	587 192 000

 

Social relief of distress expenditure per region for the financial year 2017/18

(April to July 2017)

Region	Budget amount	Amount spent
Eastern Cape	96 000 000	9 187 743
Free State	36 000 000	7 504 300
Gauteng	80 000 000	13 321 756
KwaZulu-Natal	100 000 000	14 709 053
Limpopo	84 000 000	16 509 652
Mpumalanga	50 000 000	8 074 750
Northern Cape	25 000 000	6 663 536
North West	45 000 000	2 087 575
Western Cape	84 000 000	7 067 466
Total	600 000 000	85 125 832

No of food parcels issued April 2016 to July 2017

Region	No of food parcels issued 2016/03 to 2017/07
Eastern Cape	103 801
Free State	47,035
Gauteng	51,548
KwaZulu Natal	69,310
Limpopo	74,263
Mpumalanga	39,937
Northern Cape	26,988
North West	9,080
Western Cape	22,246
Total	444,208

2. SASSA manages the social relief of distress programme in line with the provisions as legislated in the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (as amended). The legislation empowers SASSA to provide social relief of distress to South African citizens, permanent residents and refugees, where they meet qualifying criteria.

 

 

Reply:

The beneficiaries of the Food and Nutrition Security Programme are identified through the profilling of househlods by Community Development Practitioners (CDPs). This is an exercise that is undertaken to identify needy households and programme beneficiaries for planning to devise strategies to alleviate poverty and improve service delivery. The most poor and vulnerable household with no source of income and food are identified and referred to relevant programme interventions including appropriate nutrition support.

Reply:

a) A complaint was lodged with the Office of the Deputy Minister Skwatsha by beneficiaries about the trust selling the land.

b) Mr Max Ozinsky was chief of staff in the office of Deputy Minister Skwatsha.

Reply:

1. Progress Made:

Governments’ response to gender based violence:

An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Violence against women and children (VAWC); which is led by the Department of Social Development, was established on the 3rd May in 2012. The IMC on VAWC comprised of seven (7) state departments, namely DSD, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development; Department of Women, Home Affairs; South African Police Services, Health and Basic Education.

A comprehensive strategy to address the scourge of violence against women and children which is the Integrated Programme of Action addressing violence against women and children (POA- VAWC; 2013-2018) was developed in 2013. The aim of the POA- VAWC is to eliminate of all forms of violence against women and children. The programme is an important foundation in a longer journey to realize the long term vision of all women and children living free from violence in South Africa. The framework for the realization of this vision is articulated in the three pillars namely (1) Prevention and Protection, (2) Response, as well as (3) Care and Support.

Progress since 1 August 2016- 31 August 2017:

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

Child Protection System Review, finalized in November 2016; this review strengthens the response to child protection.

Children’s dialogues are conducted with community based plans developed, seeking solutions on how to improve services to children.

National dialogues conducted by the department of social development and women on gender based violence.

Children’s Parliament, Child Protection Week, Human Trafficking week, 16 Days on no violence against women and children, National Children’s Day and Orange Day are observed on the 25th of each month.

Strengthening of family support through Parenting programmes as well as Fatherhood and Men’s Care programme

Gender Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) has established technical task team looking at integration of systems and capabilities of being connect.

The Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini and the Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bagopane-Zulu successfully launched the GBVCC enhancements to cater for People with Disabilities on the 2nd of December 2016:

• The Centre operates an Emergency Line number- 0800 428 428
• A Skype Line (Helpme GBV) for members of the deaf community.
• An SMS Based Line (31531) for persons with disability.

National Emergency Response Team (NERT) is established - 24 hour response on trauma- rendered to the victim/family, provide crisis intervention and refer to provinces for further interventions. The team is manned by highly skilled social workers and psychologist trained on management of trauma.

Advocacy and awareness campaign is undertaken through Government Communication Information Systems (GCIS); communication messages around reporting and available services for victims of gender based violence is shared with victims and the public e.g services rendered by the Gender Based Violence Command Centre.

A total number of 1371 people reached by NERT in provinces between April 2016 July 2017 for immediate trauma counselling, psychosocial support to both individuals and family members and dialogues with entire community when need arises.

NERT will continue with provision of emergency interventions in all GBV related incidences and provide immediate trauma counselling in institutions of higher learning.

Awareness campaign against Ukuthwala of girl child in the following provinces –Free State, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo.

Prevention of Violence at Institutions of Higher Learning

Ndabezitha Izimbizo against Domestic Violence in Rural Communities of Ga-Mphahlele- Limpopo, Peddie- Eastern Cape, eDumbe- KZN; Batlokoa Ba Mokgalong (Vrede) in Free State; Sokhulumi (Bronkhorstspruit) in Gauteng

Prevention of Violence at Institutions of Higher Learning

Establishment of Everyday Heroes Ambassadors in provinces as change agents for gender based violence.

Consultations in all provinces with Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transsexual, Intersex community

Deputy Minister of Social Development launched GBV Enhancement.

Launch of POWA-APP linked to the Gender Based Violence Command Centre.

DSD developed a Policy of VEP Support Services. A draft Bill on Victim Support Services has been developed and is certified by State Law Advisor. Socio Economic Impact Assessment report certified by the DPME.

The table below indicates the number of GBV cases that have been referred with incidences, intervention, and referral and follow up.

The GBV Command Centre statistics for the period August 2016 to July 2017 are listed in the table below:

Incident Type	Number of Calls Received
	August	September	October	November	December	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	Total
Abandoned Children	1	2	7	1	13	3	2	3	2	3	12	3	52
Indecent Assault	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	0	2	1	9
Physical Violence	67	52	92	58	103	58	19	79	37	46	98	83	792
Rape	6	8	19	11	17	12	8	26	12	19	44	24	206
Verbal Abuse	7	3	15	12	7	1	3	10	3	6	23	12	102
Other GBV Incident *	109	27	135	58	144	72	50	124	49	79	147	109	1103
Other Type of Incident**	526	445	1350	414	1000	1146	523	1416	312	410	932	535	9009
Total	716	539	1618	554	1285	1292	605	1661	415	563	1258	767	11273

(Total figures represent tickets opened on the GBV CCIS)

• Includes other types of GBV, not specifically listed on the GBV Command Centre Information System ( CCIS): Stalking, economic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual harassment, forced marriages, forced prostitution, forced abortion, human trafficking, child marriage, exploitation of domestic workers, bride kidnapping, violence against foreign nationals, grade 12 related queries, intimidation and assault, substance abuse, child neglect, abuse of elderly citizens, family disputes, protection order enquiries, bullying, child custody incest etc.

2. (a) The department and the national cluster departments have made strides in terms of responding by providing trauma counselling, conducting awareness campaigns, information sessions and other emergency services

An integrated system that captures data for all people affected by violence has not yet been finalized hence it’s difficult to confirm whether the number is increasing or decreasing of people affected by the scourge of violence.

The monitoring electronic integrated system is envisaged to be operational in the new financial year.

At this stage it is not possible to tell if the number of people affected by the scourge decreases.

(b) South African society is perceived to be having one of the highest prevalence of violence and violence-related injury in the world. The high levels of violence against women and children are particularly alarming and continue to have devastating and lasting effects on survivors. Thus measuring the notable decrease in the number of people affected by this scourge needs to be on a National level rather than a departmental level. The aim of the department is to sensitize the community to speak up and not be silent about things that matter to them.

Reply:

At the time of responding to the questionnaire according to the set deadline, no inputs had been received from the relevant provinces since this provinces do not report information in this disaggregated manner to the national office.

Reply:

Yes official do have close protection.

SASSA pays for close protection.

2016/17 : R1 922 460.16

2017/18 : April, May and June : R438 606.68

Reply:

(1)(a) Ms Pearl Bengu was appointed on the basis of her qualifications and vast experience as the most suitable Executive to act in the vacant position of CEO and to SASSA in the interim while the process of filling the position is underway. The educational qualifications, experience and competency profile of all Regional Executive Managers were considered and Ms P Bengu has been identified as the most suitable candidate to be appointed to act in the post of Chief Executive Officer of the South African Social Security Agency.

(1)(b) There are no business dealings between the Acting CEO and family of the Executive Authority.

(2) The advertisement of the vacant post of the CEO of SASSA has been approved by the Executive Authority. Recruitment process has commenced.

Reply:

Yes, the department has determined estimates for the universalisation of the old age and child support grants.

(a) Three universalisation options are being considered for the old age grant to align tax policy with social assistance policy

1. Universalisation at the age of 60 years aligned to social assistance policy will cost an estimated R23 billion
2. Universalisation at the age of 65 year aligned to tax policy will cost an estimated R13 billion
3. Universalisation at the age of 75 (both tax and social assistance have over 75 benefits) will cost an estimated R6 billion.

(b) The estimated cost for universalisation of the Child Support Grant is R23 billion. This is the amount required additional to the expenditure of the grant in its current form.

The Comprehensive Social Security Paper, which is currently in discussion at NEDLAC, suggests that these proposals be done in fiscal neutral manner. In other words, currently poor people below the means test are supported by social grant and wealthier people, above the tax threshold are supported by Tax Expenditure Subsidies and Tax rebates, with a few people in between these thresholds getting neither a grant nor support through the tax system. The principle around universalisation is to unite these fragmented systems and utilise the available funding for the benefit of everyone.

Reply:

a) There is no contract between SAPO and SASSA.

b) Not applicable.

c) Not applicable.

Reply:

(1) (a) At the time of responding to the questionnaire according to the set deadline, the national Department of Social Development had not yet received inputs from the provinces since the parliamentary question needs provincial inputs.

(1) (b) (i) The Department is funding R15 per child per day in 8 provinces and R17 per child in KwaZulu-Natal.

1. (b) (ii) The funding is meant to provide for the following:
   1. Nutritional meals for children (50%)
   2. Educational material for the stimulation of children (30%)
   3. Subsidize salaries of ECD practitioners (20%).

(2) All centres that are receiving a subsidy for funding, provide meals for the children. The Department of Social Development works in collaboration with the Department of Health to assist in the provisioning of a set menu for the ECD centres.

Reply:

1. The Department of Social Development has proposed an amendment to the Social Assistance Act to make provisions for funeral benefits. This amendment Bill has gone out for public comments, which have been considered. The department will approach Cabinet in the course of the next few months for approval to take the amendment to Parliament. If parliament approves the Social Assistance amendment Bill that makes provisions for the Funeral Benefit, the department will develop a set of regulations outlining the administration and other criteria of the benefit. The department is currently conducting consultations in preparation for the drafting of the regulations. The benefit levels will be determined at implementation and annually; and will be gazetted as with the other social grants.

2. Regulation 26A provides for a maximum of 10% to be deducted from an Older Persons’ grant, a Disability Grant or a War Veteran’s grant, for funeral insurance. This applies only to private insurance companies (not the state), to allow beneficiaries to access funeral insurance in the absence of the state providing such benefits.

Reply:

Yes, the Motau Task Team has finalised its work. I am still reviewing the findings of the report and will furnish Parliament with the report in due course.

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Reply:

(1) Yes, the asset register of my Department contains that information of all infrastructures that existed before 1994.

(2) Yes, in 2007, my Department launched a project called “verification and valuation of all major water resource infrastructure” and produced an asset register. On an annual basis, verification is performed mainly to include assets that were not included in the 2007 verification exercise.

(3) Yes, the verification and valuation exercise of 2007 included all national water resource infrastructures including the former Bantustan water infrastructure.

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Reply:

a) No, the Minister was not aware that a certain official went to Dubai, UAE and was only alerted to this allegation through the media.

b) No, the Minister did not give any permission, instruction or task to the official to meet with any members of such family.

Reply:

(1)(a) The application dates (a) opening and (b) closing for the board positions of all the Entities/Councils reporting to him are as follows:

(A) Agricultural Research Council (ARC)

1. 22 May 2016
2. 10 June 2016

(B) National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)

1. 6 September 2015
2. 25 September 2015

(C) Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)

1. 6 May 2016
2. 24 October 2016

Second date

1. 5 August 2016
2. 19 August 2016

(D) Onderstepoort Biological Products (SOC) Limited (OBP)

1. 16 October 2016
2. 24 October 2016

Second date

1. 19 February 2017
2. 3 March 2017

Other Boards/Councils reporting to the Minister

(A) Wine and Spirit Board

1. 19 April 2013
2. 18 May 2013

-

(B) South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

1. 4 April 2016
2. 22 April 2016

(C) Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC)

1. 5 September 2016
2. 30 September 2016

Reply:

No. The Board did not issue an instruction to Dentons to curtail the scope of the investigation. Upon receipt of the preliminary findings from Dentons, the Board found that the issues identified by Dentons were not unfamiliar to it. Given the time constraints and running costs, a decision was taken by the Eskom Board to rather curtail the duration of the investigation in order that the report presented so far may be used, to attend to areas of concern. The curtailment was by no means implying that any further investigations in areas of specificity will not in the future be carried out by the Board.

(1)(a)

Not applicable

(1)(b)

Not applicable

(2)

No

(2)(a)

Not applicable

(2)(b)

It is incorrect to state that a version(s) of the Dentons report was destroyed. Based on the need to protect the sanctity of the report during its draft phase against possible leaks (which would have had a devastating impact) copies, and not the actual draft report, were destroyed. While evidence had not been corroborated, people’s names had been mentioned and therefore Eskom provided copies to Board member only. These copies were recalled and destroyed as a form of control to ensure that the copies provided would not be leaked. There is distinct difference between a copy circulated to members to peruse and the actual report itself.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Mr. Mogokare Richard Seleke Ms. Lynne Brown, MP

Director-General Minister of Public Enterprises

Date: Date:

Reply:

(1) (a) and ((b)

The Department has issued a permit for the selling of rhino horn, ordinary permit number: O28640 was issued for 264 horns. Seven (7) permits were issued authorising the buying of rhino horn (Ordinary permit numbers: O29851; O29852; O29854; O29855; O29856; O29859; O29860).

(2) No. This is due to the nature of any domestic trade where no limits have been placed. It should be remembered that rhino horn trade is governed by CITES which is only about international trade and not domestic.

Furthermore Section 57(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004)(NEMBA) provide that a person may not carry out a restricted activity involving a specimen of a listed threatened or protected species without a permit issued in terms of Chapter 7 of NEMBA. The NEMBA and the Threatened or Protected Species Regulations, 2007 does not provide a quota for the number of permit that could be issued. However, in terms of 92A (1)(b) of NEMBA an issuing authority may refuse a permit if the applicant has been convicted of an offence in terms of NEMBA. Furthermore, Section 88(2)(e) of NEMBA provide that the issuing authority may defer a decision to issue a permit if the applicant is under investigation for the contravention or failure to comply with any provision of NEMBA.

(3) No

Section 57(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004)(NEMBA) provide that a person may not carry out a restricted activity involving a specimen of a listed threatened or protected species without a permit issued in terms of Chapter 7 of NEMBA. NEMBA and the Threatened or Protected Species Regulations, 2007 does not provide a limitation on the number of horns to be traded with however, in terms of 92A (1)(b) of NEMBA an issuing authority may refuse a permit if the applicant has been convicted of an offence in terms of NEMBA. Section 88(2)(e) of NEMBA provides that the issuing authority may defer a decision to issue a permit if the applicant is under investigation for the contravention or failure to comply with any provision of NEMBA. In terms of Section 88(2)(b) of NEMBA, the Issuing Authority may require the applicant to comply with conditions as it may impose.

The permit authorising the sale of rhino horn was issued with conditions, including the following:

• The permit holder can only sell rhino horn to a person who has a permit issued in terms of NEMBA authorising such buying;
• The international trade remains banned;
• The permit holder must provide the Department of Environmental Affairs with a register of bidders prior to the auction;
• The permit holder (seller or buyer of possession) must inform the registered bidders that they must apply for a permit to buy in terms of NEMBA;
• If it is an ordinary auction and if it is online, DEA must have access to the process.
• After the auction, the permit holder must provide a list of successful bidders to the Department of Environmental Affairs;
• The permit holder, the permit seller and the possession holder must grant an official of the Department of Environmental Affairs access to the website for an online auction.

The permit authorising the domestic sale of rhino horn was issued with conditions, including the following:

• The buyer’s permit authorises the person to buy only the rhino horn authorised to be sold through ordinary permit number: O28640 through the auction taking place from 23 – 25 August 2017;
• The permit does not authorise the possession or transport of rhinoceros horn;
• The permit does not authorise the export or re-export of rhino horn;
• Until the actual transfer has happened legally after the sale, the seller will require another permit.

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Reply:

1. (a) The employee is currently suspended from work pending an investigation related to the theft and unauthorised possession of the South African National Parks’ (SANParks) property;

(b) The employee held the position of Security Supervisor since 1999; and

(c) The employee was assigned to both Phabeni and Numbi Gates.

2. The investigation is still on-going but has not as yet established or confirmed whether the employee is linked to any involvement in rhino poaching or any other type of poaching activity.

3. The employee has been formally charged according to SANParks’ Disciplinary Code on matters related to theft of SANParks’ property. He has also been formally charged by the South African Police Service for being in possession of ammunition and suspected stolen property. He is currently out on bail pending his criminal case.

He was found in possession of the following items:

(a) SANPARKS property consisting of

• operational uniforms (greens) and accessories, shirts, trousers, bush jackets, boots, stable belts, caps, jerseys and socks.
• SA Police Services uniforms, trousers, shirts, caps, stable belt, boots along with a blue strobe light;
• 240 rolls of toilet paper, an aluminium ladder, a black dustbin and a 48kg gas bottle;

(b) Unlicensed ammunition belonging to an unknown owner consisting of

• fifteen x 9mm parabellum rounds, 2 x 9mm sort rounds, one 9.25 mm round, thirty four 5.56 mm rounds, a R5 magazine and a 9mm magazine.

(4) The employee is currently suspended from work and is residing outside the park until his internal disciplinary hearing is held

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Reply:

No, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has not conducted any research into alternative means to clean tidal pools because no negative impacts have been observed yet in the way the two tidal pools are being cleaned. The City of Cape Town is responsible for cleaning most of the tidal pools on the False Bay coast line and it has its own cleaning and mitigation regime. There are only two tidal pools at the Cape Point that SANParks is responsible for.

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Reply:

(a) Boards

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI): 24 August 2017

South African National Parks (SANParks): 01 September 2017.

iSimangaliso Wetlands Park Authority (iSimangaliso): Not Applicable

South African Weather Service (SAWS): Not Applicable

Councils

Not Applicable

(b) Boards

SANBI: 26 September 2017

SANParks: 03 October 2017

iSimangaliso: Not Applicable.

SAWS: Not Applicable

Councils

Not Applicable

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Reply:

The GEPF is currently a respondent in a court application brought against it by a member on the application of the “clean break principle” where many of the issues canvassed in this question are involved. It is therefore not appropriate to answer these questions at this time.

Reply:

1. (a) It is important to understand that there is no debt in the conventional sense of the word. The GEPF provides affected divorced members with a funding mechanism to replenish their benefit after paying out the non-member spouse without adversely affecting other members of the Fund.

(b) (i) as explained in (a) above, it is not correct to consider the so-called divorce debt in the GEPF context as conventional debt that accumulates. Divorced members choose to replenish their benefits or not.

(ii) The GEPF does not keep statistics of members who object as the use of this mechanism to replenish their benefit is a member’s choice. However, the GEPF is a respondent in a court application by a member on the application of the “clean break principle.”

2 Although there are no obvious negative effects of the current application of the clean break principle, it confuses members, and the Board has already decided to discard the current application of the clean break principle in its current form. After the GEPF consulted the employer and employee representative through the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), the PSCBC has taken a resolution, Resolution 1 of 2017, to make the necessary changes to the GEP Law and rules. This is subject to the normal process of changing laws in the country

(i) The current mechanism for implementing the clean break principle will be replaced with a reduction of the member’s years of service commensurate with the amount paid to the non-member spouse in terms of the divorce decree.

(iii) Members who have already used the current the clean break principle mechanism to replenish their benefit will be given the option to have their years of service reduced commensurate with the amount paid to the non-member spouse in terms of the divorce decree.

2. Although there are no obvious negative effects of the current application of the clean break principle, it confuses members, and the Board has already decided to discard the current application of the clean break principle in its current form. After the GEPF consulted the employer and employee representative through the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), the PSCBC has taken a resolution, Resolution 1 of 2017, to make the necessary changes to the GEP Law and rules. This is subject to the normal process of changing laws in the country.

Reply:

a) R103 is Main Road P1-9 which is 34km long under Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal

(i) Departmental has been maintaining the road by means of the following activities:

• Verge Maintenance is being done on regular basis;
• Pothole Patching has been done by the Departmental internal team when it is required;

b) i) Main Road P1-9 from km 18 to km 34 is due for Heavy Rehabilitation and design for that section has been approved and project has been added to the KZN Departmental Rehabilitation Business Plan for 2018-19 financial year. The team has started with the compilation of the tender document for the rehabilitation of the section and anticipated to be advertise in November 2017.

   (ii) The construction is anticipated to commence in April 2018 during the 2018-19 financial year and estimated contract duration is 15 months which will take contract to 2019/20 financial year.

c) The project cost estimate is R 120 million for the Rehabilitation of Main Road P1-9 from km 18 to km 34. Contract will be implemented in two financial year (2018-19 and 2019-20)

Reply:

a) (i) The Department of Energy does not fund including by way of discretionary funding any institution of research and development, and/or (ii) Internationally, all entities reporting to the Department with exception of PetroSA a subsidiary of CEF and SANEDI does not fund institution of research and development, and does not have a discretionary funding.

(aa) Not applicable

(aaa) Not applicable

(bbb) Not applicable

(bb) Not applicable

(cc) Not applicable

(b) CEF SOC Ltd-PetroSA

(i) Domestically: Yes

(ii) Internationally: No

(i)(aa)(aaa) PetroSA Synthetic Fuels Innovation Centre (PSFIC) UWC.

(bbb) Development of Conversion of Olefins to Distillate (COD) Technology- Development of human capital for the South African Oil and Gas industry. (bb) Since 2011, contract extends to 2020

(cc) Currently R4.5m per annum

(b) SANEDI

(i) Domestically: Yes

(ii) Internationally: No

(i)(aa)(aaa) University of Venda- Centre for Renewable Studies, (bbb) Implementation of Sustainable Energy Greening Solutions in selected rural areas, (bb) period of funding was from 2017-2019 (cc) for the amount of R800,000.00.

(i)(aa)(aaa University of Fort Hare- Centre for Renewable Studies: (bbb)Implementation of Sustainable Energy Greening Solutions in selected rural areas, (bb) period from 2013-2015 and (cc) for R3,742,760.00.

(i)(aa)(aaa) University of Cape Town, (bbb) Transport energy modelling (bb) from 2015-2017 (cc) for R6, 000,000.00.

(i)(aa)(aaa) University of Pretoria, (bbb) Smart Grids, (bb) from 2016-2017 for (cc) R9, 000,000.00.

Reply:

1. All the entities under direct reporting of Minister of Small Business Development have boards in place and the Minister is responsible for appointment these boards.

SMALL ENTERPRISE FINANCE AGENCY (SEFA)
BOARD MEMBERS	GENDER	RACE	APPOINTMENT DATE	EXPIRY DATE
Ms Hlonela Lupuwana-Pemba, (Chairperson)	Female	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Ms Happy Ralinala	Female	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Ms Kate Moloto	Female	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Ms Charmaine Groves	Female	Coloured	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Ms Nomcebo Dlamini	Female	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Mr Kholofelo Molewa	Male	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Mr Phakamile Mark Mainganya	Male	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Mr Nazir Ahmed Osman	Male	Indian	01 October 2016	30 September 2019
Mr Lawrence Mabundla	Male	Black	01 October 2016	30 September 2019

SMALL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SEDA)
BOARD MEMBERS	GENDER	RACE	APPOINTMENT DATE	EXPIRY DATE
Dr Ivor Zwane (Chairperson)	Male	Black	01 September 2010 - 31 August 2013 01 November 2013 -31 October 2016	31 August 2017 (Extension)
Dr Marius Venter	Male	White	13 December 2010 -01 September 2013 01 September 2013 - 31 August 2016	31 August 2017 (Extension)
Mr Mojalefa Mohoto	Male	Black	01 September 2010 to 31 August 2016 01 September 2013- 31 August 2016	31 August 2017 (Extension)
Mr Dennis Thabaneng	Male	Black	01 September 2008- 31 September 2011 01 November 2011- 31 October 2014	31 August 2017 (Extension)
Ms Precious Lugayeni	Female	Black	01 September 2008- 31 September 2011 01 November 2011- 31 October 2014	31 August 2017 ( Extension)
Ms Anjue Hirachund	Female	Indian	01 September 2015	31 August 2018
Ms Zanele Monnakgotla	Female	Black	01 September 2015	31 August 2018
Mr Thakhani Makhuvha	Male	Black	01 November 2013	Linked to the term of Office as the CEO of sefa

2. Not applicable.

Reply:

Eskom’s plans to decommission some of its power stations first came to the Department’s attention during its applications for postponement of compliance timeframes with minimum emission standards (MES). In its applications for postponement, Eskom indicated the life-span of each of the power stations, and this information was factored in the postponement decisions. Since the life-span of the power stations was factored in the postponement decisions, the Department expects Eskom to live up to these commitments. In the event that non-compliances take place, the Department will address them following the current procedures of compliance monitoring and enforcement.

Although the Minister responsible for Environmental Affairs and/or her Department may not take any particular steps towards the decommissioning of Eskom’s oldest plants which are due for decommissioning in the next three years; it should be noted that such decommissioning would have benefits for air quality management and climate change. This is in the sense that there would be reduction of Eskom’s contribution to air pollution upon decommissioning of some plants as it would be with any other source that is discontinued.

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Reply:

a) Yes, the received deviations by the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer are indicated in the table below.

b) Yes, the received deviations by the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer are indicated in the table below.

(i) Name of Department	(ii) When was each deviation	(iii)The nature of each specified deviation requested	(iv) The motivation for requesting each deviation	(v) Why was the specified deviation request approved and/or denied in each case
	(aa) Requested	(bb) Approved and/or denied
Department of Military Veterans	19 June 2017	Approved	Business Class travel Require guidance on travel provisions for members of the DMV’s Appeals Board and Advisory Council that are appointed in terms of sections 9 and 19 of the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011 and not in terms of Section 12A of the Public Service Act of 1994 as was previously indicated.	An appeal Board and Advisory Council on Military Veterans was established to attend to the interests of military veterans. The Advisory Council is responsible to the Minister. The department requested further clarity because they initially said the members of the Appeals Board and Advisory Council were appointed in terms of s12A of the Public Service Act but later realised that they were appointed in terms of the Military Veterans Act.	The National Travel Policy Framework (National Treasury Instruction 02 of 2017/18) and the current cost containment instruction (NT Instruction 04 of 2017/18) applies to all travellers travelling on Official Business associated with performing the Institution’s functions in terms of their mandate and strategic, operational and performance plans. The definition of a Traveller “is a person travelling at the behest of the Institution on Official Business. Institutions may include, but not limited to, other categories of employees, executives, other policy beneficiaries in line with applicable employment conditions, e.g. Institution bereavement, wellness and recruitment policies; Research collaboration support such as researchers, postgraduate students, utilising shared research platforms, Non-executive members, appointed members of a Committee, appointed members of a Commission of Enquiry, persons appointed as advisors on grounds of policy considerations in terms of section 12A of the Public Service Act of 1994, interview candidates and other government employees where an employer-employee relationship exists as defined in the Labour Relations Act or similar, e.g. International Labour law (in the case of employees based in foreign countries) and other applicable legislation, invited guests, care attendants to a Traveller with a disability” After reviewing the Military Veterans Act with regards to the establishment of the Advisory Council and the Appeals Board, the power and duties, the appointment requirements and the composition of these governance structures, it is apparent that their functions are similar to that of persons appointed as advisors on grounds of policy considerations in terms of section 12A of the Public Service Act of 1994. It is for this reason that NT approved that Members of the DMV’s Advisory Council and Appeals Board be treated the same as persons appointed as advisors on grounds of policy considerations in terms of section 12A of the Public Service Act of 1994 for travel provisions as set out in the two Instructions mentioned above.
The Presidency	31 March 2017	Not approved	Request to exceed the maximum allowance rate per star grading for domestic hotel accommodation	Special Advisors, Officials in the private office of the Presidency and Deputy Presidency, Office of the Director General, Office of the Chief Operations Officer, support staff of former principals, protocol officers, spousal support staff and presidential aides are required to travel to Cape Town and other provinces in support of principals during official engagements. The Domestic Accommodation Rate Grid determines the maximum allowance rate per star grading within which an employee is allowed to be accommodated in accordance with an employee’s salary level. This poses a challenge as some of the hotel rates do not fall within the maximum allowed rates.	National Treasury does not give blanket approvals to deviate from cost containment measures.
The Presidency	29 August 2017	Under review	Request for deviation from Instruction Note No. 4 of 2017/18 for essential core staff to travel in the same class when accompanying the President and Deputy-President on commercial flights.	Arrangement of commercial air travel on occasion, including accommodating of essential core staff travelling with principals.	In efforts to minimise cost, the Presidency will on occasion arrange for commercial air travel for the President and Deputy President. On such occasions, it is critical that essential core staff traveling with the Principals be accommodated in the same class during the flights. The core staff comprises, but is not limited to, Private/Assistant Private Secretary, Presidential Aide, Medical Doctor and two Close Protectors. The National Treasury Instruction Note No. 4 of 2017/18 makes provision for business class travel for certain ranks. However, this excludes the core support staff of the Principals due to ranks not covered, irrespective of duration of travel.
Department of Labour	20 July 2017	Approved on condition that the newspapers are not procured for personal use of employees	Procurement of newspapers and magazines	The newspapers are for comprehensive monitoring of the mass media, the development of media analysis and research solutions and delivering of most appropriate interventions as a key element of the strategic management function.	Newspapers are for comprehensive monitoring of the mass media, the development of media analysis and research solutions and delivering of most appropriate interventions as this is a key element of the strategic management function.

Reply:

1.  The Schools Infrastructure Backlog Grant (SIBG) funds the ASIDI portfolio.

2. The DBE is responsible for the implementation of ASIDI projects. In the implementation of these projects, the DBE has commissioned Implementing Agents such as Development Bank of Southern Africa, Independent Development Trust, Coega Development Cooperation to implement the projects on behalf of the Department. Other Provincial Education Departments like the Free State and the Western Cape, also implement on behalf of the DBE. In the planning and implementation of the projects, provinces work with the DBE in identifying schools/ projects, monitoring the implementation, liasing with communities and schools and on completion of the projects, the completed schools are handed back to the respective provinces, who are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the completed assets.

Reply:

The following boards were open on 11 June 2017 and closed 25 June 2017

South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)

Cross-Border Road Transport (C-BRTA)

Road Accident Fund (RAF)

South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACCA)

The following boards’ applications opened on 27 August 2017 and will close on the 11 September 2017

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA)

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)

Reply:

On 8 August 2017, there was a break-in at the offices of the Competition Commission during which laptops containing details of current investigationsa by the Commission, were stolen. The Commission reported the matter to the SAPS and obtained case number CAS 293/8/2017 from the Sunnyside SAPS station. The matter was raised by the Minister of Economic Development with the Minister of Police. The case is being transferred to the Hawks.

Evidence in the possession of the Commission relating to the break-in have been handed over to the police to aid their investigation. No laptops have as been recovered.

Steps have been taken by the Commission following the break-in to improve security. I am sure the Honourable Member will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to place details of such measures in the public domain, nor furnish more information as the matter is currently under investigation by the law enforcement authorities.

-END-

Reply:

(a) 371 drug-related cases went to court, from the Kempton Park Police Station, in Gauteng.

(b) 36 drug-related cases ended in successful convictions, in the 2016/2017 financial year.

Reply:

The report titled Schools that Work II - Lessons from the Ground will be formally presented to the Minister, and subsequently, to the Council of Education Ministers in September 2017. Thereafter, it will be made available to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education.

Reply:

1. R110 Billion Portfolio

2. (a)(i) R1,577,304

 (ii) R801,126

(b)(i)The assumption is based on the Fund’s annual actuarial valuation report as at 31 March 2017. Additional allowance for unemployment claims were made due to higher expected future unemployment rates. As per the quarterly labour force survey of 2017 Q1, unemployment increased by 1.2% over most recent quarter (from 26.5% to 27.7%). It is expected that this trend will persist for another 4 quarters so that the total increase in unemployment benefits is likely to be around 5%. As unemployment represent 80% of the total benefits paid by the Fund, we expect a 4% increase in benefit payments overall.

(ii) The estimation in (a) above is based on the Monetary Policy Committee’s economic growth forecast made on 25 May 2017 that growth of 1% is expected for 2017 after which it is expected to increase to 1.5% in 2018. It was also assumed that total salaries on which contributions are based will increase at inflation plus the economic growth forecast as set out above.

Reply:

Of the nine Provincial Departments of Human Settlements, only the Eastern Cape and the Gauteng province confirmed that there were contractors who initiated legal action for non-payment within the prescribed 30 days. All other provinces indicated “none” to the question posed by the Honourable member.

The Honourable Member should take note that I cannot provide much detail pertaining to these matters for the following reasons:

1. Some of the matters are before courts the and therefore sub judice.
2. The document titled “Guide to Parliamentary Questions in the National Assembly” prohibits Members of Parliament, including the Executive, from providing names when responding to parliamentary questions. The document referred to states that:

“Questions are to be framed as concisely as possible. All unnecessary adjectives, references and quotations are omitted. Names of persons, bodies and, for example, newspapers are only used in questions if the facts surrounding the case have been proven. As the mere mention of such names could be construed as publicity for or against them, it should be clear that this practice is highly undesirable. If a question will be unintelligible without mentioning such names, the Departments concerned are notified of the name (-s) and this phrase is used: ".......a certain person (name furnished)”

In the tables below, please find information provided by the Eastern Cape and the Gauteng Province:

Eastern Cape

(a) The number of contractors who initiated legal action:	(d) current status of each contract (paid or not paid)
(i) Black	(ii) White	(iii) Female-owned contractors
The cases were mostly with subcontractors that have no direct contract with the Department of Human Settlements and therefore we do not have detailed information on them, including their BBEE Codes	Matter finalized .Department ordered to pay the claim with interest and costs. The department settled the amount.
	Department settled the amount as per court order. Contract ended 18 May 2017 and extension of time requested
	Parties are exchanging pleadings. Contract ended 23 March 2013
	Matter pending before court. Parties are exchanging pleadings.
	Matter pending before court. Parties are exchanging pleadings.
	Matter still pending at court. Contract extended up to 31st March 2018
	Matter still pending at court. The Extended contract ended 11 February 2016

Gauteng Province

(a) How many contractors initiated legal action:	(d) current status of each contract (paid or not paid)
(i) Black	(ii) White	(iii) Female-owned contractors
Black		Male	The matter is pending before a court of law
Black		Male	The matter is pending before a court of law
Black		Male	The matter is pending before a court of law
	White	Female	The matter is pending before a court of law
Black		Male	The Department has received a letter from the company concerned informing the Department that it is withdrawing the case against the Department. We have requested it to request his attorneys to file a formal withdrawal notice in court. We will close the file once a formal withdrawal has been served to the Department
Black		Female	State Attorney was instructed to enter an appearance to defend as there is no contractual relationship between the Plaintiff and the Department.
Black		Male	The matter is pending before a court of law
	White	Male	The matter is pending before a court of law
	The Department has settled the outstanding amount and the Plaintiff has been requested to formally file a withdrawal Notice in court.
	White	Male	The dispute related to the amount of claim for damages as a result of terminating the contract and interest for late payment of the capital amount. The Department has since effected payment to settle the claim.

Reply:

(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)(i)(ii) On 5 August 2017, the information was as follows:

	(a)	(b)(i)	(b)(ii)	(b)(iii)	(c)(i)	(c)(ii)
Province	Number of vehicles	Operational	Non-operational	About to be boarded	Ideal ratio	Current ratio
EASTERN CAPE	5 533	4 288	918	327	4.51:1	3,87
FREE STATE	3 381	2 579	462	340	4.51:1	3,85
GAUTENG	9 216	7 185	1 377	654	4.51:1	3,92
HEAD OFFICE	5 751	4 744	778	229	4.51:1	4,84
KWAZULU-NATAL	7 164	5 564	1 174	426	4.51:1	3,81
LIMPOPO	3 074	2 540	466	68	4.51:1	4,34
MPUMALANGA	2 554	2 110	243	201	4.51:1	4,61
NORTH WEST	2 947	2 419	338	190	4.51:1	3,63
NORTHERN CAPE	2 227	1 762	337	128	4.51:1	3,8
WESTERN CAPE	6 100	5 234	701	165	4.51:1	3,81
Grand Total	47 947	38 425	6 794	2 728	4.51:1	4.03

The above excludes the bulk of vehicles still to be delivered during 2017/2018.

Reply:

(a) Applications for South African Tourism Board positions will open for a period of 30 days in October 2017.

(b) Applications for South African Tourism Board positions will close in November 2017.

Reply:

(a)(i)(ii) Nil.

(b)(i)(ii) Nil.

Reply:

I have been furnished with a reply by the CEO of the IDC, Mr Geoffrey Qhena, to the question, which follows below.

1. “The circumstances resulting in the IDC laying criminal charges against the client are as a result of an audit finding which found that there was a material misrepresentation made by the company in its request for funding to the IDC, which amounted to fraud. Details of the case cannot however be disclosed, as the matter is still under investigation by the South African Police Services.

2. According to our records, IDC monitored matters related to the loan, including conditions attached thereto, according to applicable internal processes.

3. The loan to the business/company of the said businessperson, was processed and approved by the IDC in accordance with applicable IDC internal processes.”

-END-

Reply:

The question has been forwarded to the PEDs for response and information will be made available as soon as the responses from PEDs have been received.