Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. The Department of Labour conducts regular inspections in all sectors, including the Wholesale and Retail sector, to test compliance with all the legislation that is applicable to DEL. Spaza Shops are part of the Wholesale and Retail Sector. Matters surrounding the running of Spaza shops, such as operating foreign nationals, are not in the jurisdiction of the DEL.
2. In response to the current happenings in the Spaza Shops, the DEL participated in the planning sessions to engage on joint intergovernmental interventions to be provided by various government departments. The lead and convening Department is Small Business Development. The DEL conducts inspections in the Wholesale and Retail sector on a continuous basis to regulate compliance with all the laws, including the National Minimum Wage Act.

Reply:

a) The office has not been removed it has been relocated. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, recognizing the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations. This decision replaced the Republic of China (RoC) / Taiwan with the PRC in the UN and its Security Council, effectively removing the recognition of Taiwan.

When South Africa became a member of the UN in 1994, it aligned with the international consensus by adhering to UN Resolutions, including Resolution 2758, and international law. In December 1997, the democratic government of South Africa severed its political and diplomatic relations with Taiwan. This downgrade allowed for non-diplomatic and non-political engagement limited to economic, scientific, trade, and other technical cooperation.

In January 1998, the South African Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding and established diplomatic relations with the PRC. This agreement committed South Africa to the One China Policy, recognizing that there is one China in the world and that the Government of the PRC is the sole legal representative of the whole of China. It also acknowledged the PRC’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, including the regions of Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau. South Africa’s Foreign Policy, as outlined in the 2012 White Paper on Foreign Policy and the 2020 Framework Document on National Interest, emphasizes the need for periodic review of national interests and adaptability in response to global shifts in geopolitics, economic powers, environmental factors, and regional security.

In 2016, the South African Government reassessed its relationship with Taipei regarding its non-political and non-diplomatic engagement, aligning with its commitment to the UN 2758. This reassessment reflected strategic economic and geopolitical considerations, particularly South Africa’s growing relationship with China.

In 2017, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) downgraded the level of representation in the Liaison Office of South Africa (LOSA) to a Deputy Director level. This was followed by a reduction in the number of transferred officials in 2019.

In December 2023 and April 2024, to further advance the practical implementation of the UN Resolution 2758, the South African Government, through DIRCO, informed the Taipei Liaison Office (TLO) both verbally and in writing to relocate from the capital, Pretoria, to Johannesburg. This move aligns with diplomatic practice, wherein embassies and high commissions are situated in the capital, while trade offices are located in economic hubs. Thus, the TLO will be appropriately positioned in Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub, alongside other trade offices.

The continual assessment of the international relations environment allows South Africa to align its Foreign Policy with the evolving global landscape, ensuring that its national interests remain relevant to current realities and effectively managing complex international relationships in line with its own interests.

(b) The Taipei Liaison Office will be rebranded as a Trade Office, reflecting the non-political and non-diplomatic nature of the relationship between the Republic of South Africa and Taipei, which is mainly economic. The Department shared with the Taipei Authorities a zero draft of a non-binding Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) addressing the future relationship between South Africa and Taipei, replacing the current framework document, Exchange of Notes of 1997. The South African Government values diplomatic and non-political ties with Taipei and intends to maintain these ties, within the parameters of non-diplomatic and non-political engagements focusing on consular, trade, investment, science & technology, and education.

Reply:

Since 2011, as part of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), the South African government has been implementing local content in the public procurement system as a strategic policy instrument to re-industrialise South Africa. That instrument has been carried out through the Re-imagined Industrial Policy in the last administration.

In order to firm up and institutionalise compliance on the local content requirements, local content verification was institutionalised as the post-tender award system under the auspices of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). In essence, this was meant to to make sure that there is compliance on the local content in terms of the actual production of designated products within the borders of South Africa.

The SABS is singled out and underlined since it has the technical capacity to verify the local production of tenders, which have been designated for local content. the dtic provides fiscal transfers to the SABS to verify tenders based on the value and volume of the awards. Only successful bidders are verified for compliance on local content requirements and this is based on the bidding documents submitted to the dtic by the procuring Organs of State.

Slightly over R80 billion worth of tenders and quotations with the local content requirements were awarded since the inception of the policy; and R927 million worth of tenders was reported for the 2022/2023 financial year.

Tenders with the local content requirements have supported local manufacturers in the value chains spanning from rail rolling stock, clothing and textiles, furniture, boats & working vessels, electric transformers and valves. Local content verification will still be implemented as a compliance instrument when the Public Procurement Act comes into effect.

-END-

Reply:

The National Gambling Board (NGB) has advised me as follows.

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

The information requested is within the purview of the Provincial Licensing Authorities (PLAs), as they are responsible for licensing gambling in the Republic.

2. The information requested is within the purview of the PLAs.

3. The information requested is within the purview of the PLAs.

-END-

Reply:

Indeed, the target for public procurement is set at 40% for women-owned businesses. The following are the strategic interventions to advance public procurement:

a) Branches within the department are encouraged, where feasible, to prioritize women-owned enterprises in their procurement of goods and services, in alignment with the government’s established goals. The procurement spend towards designated groups is analysed regularly.

b) (i) For the 2023/2024 financial year, the total approved contracts amount to R111, 802,839.66, with 42% (R46, 417,465.16) allocated to women-owned businesses.

(ii) In quarter two (Q2) of the 2024/2025 financial year reporting period, the department’s approved contracts total R68,415,205.24, of which 43% (R29,211,347.68) were awarded to women-owned businesses.

-END-

Reply:

(1)&(2)

The Department is currently implementing the following measures which are aimed at positioning the immigration system as an economic enabler while protecting our national security.

• Subsequent to the accenting of the Border Management Authority (BMA) Act (Act 2 of 2020) into law by the President, the BMA was established as a Schedule 3A entity with effect from 1 April 2023. The BMA was established to arrest fragmentation in the border environment as well as to provide a credible highly efficient, integrated, well-coordinated, and technology-driven border law enforcement services that contribute to national security and socio-economic development by inculcating a culture that empowers teams for service excellence. The BMA has included in its 2025/2029 Strategic Plan and 2024/25 Annual Performance Plan targets that are aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, and movement of goods and people while curbing illegal migration.
• The Department will be intensifying its law enforcement inspections in businesses that are prone to employing illegal migrants such as farms, transport and logistics companies, restaurants and spaza shops.

Indeed, the first country principle will not apply retroactively. The Department will continue to improve its processes for adjudicating asylum applications for asylum seekers who are already in the country, including clearing of the appeals backlog. All failed asylum seekers will be deported to their countries of origin.

END.

Reply:

The NDA is not aware of a collaboration between the National Treasury and the Department of Social Development on assessing the NDA to check its value and impact on poor people who benefit from the NDA mandate.

In so far as steps being taken or undertaken to assess the value and impact. Firstly, the current NDA Board approved a turnaround strategy in July 2024, this turnround strategy, which has been adopted as a blueprint for the 5-year NDA strategy focus on sustainable livelihoods and sustainable income for the poor, on a regular basis will measure income levels earned by poor people enrolled in the sustainable livelihoods’ interventions of the NDA and its partners.

Secondly, the monitoring tools for the NDA programmes will provide reliable and verifiable information on the poor people and families participating in the interventions and their income levels using the food poverty lines as a measure. This would allow the NDA to report on the value of the NDA sustainable livelihoods interventions across the country, with a focus on most deprived areas across South Africa.

Thirdly, the NDA will over the MTEF focus on undertaking through an independent evaluator, an evaluation on the outcomes and impact of NDA sustainable development programmes and the overall effect on poverty eradication.

 

Reply:

a) The Department promotes exports and market access in a range of sectors, including amongst others, automotive and components; rail equipment and services; chemicals and plastics; steel and metal fabrication; clothing, textiles, leather and footwear; meat and poultry; furniture; creative industries; ICT and software; defence and aerospace; capital equipment; mining and beneficiation equipment and services; agriculture and agro-processing; health and pharmaceuticals as well as engineering and infrastructure services.

b) In supporting exporters and their international competitiveness, the Department funds the participation of exporters in international exhibitions and missions to profile their products and services through the Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme. The Department also undertakes capacity building and export training initiatives to expand the Country’s exporter base, including through the Global Exporter Passport Programme (GEPP), which trains companies to be export-ready. Current support measures for export-led growth are inadequate and as such, the Department is assessing improvements in this regard for greater economic impact.

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Reply:

a) The Government of National Unity (GNU) is founded upon a Statement of Intent that commits the signatories to a set of foundational principles that include respect for constitutionalism; accountability, transparency and community participation in government; evidence-based policy and decision-making; professionalisation of the public service; integrity and good governance.

The parties to the GNU have agreed on priorities for this the 7^th Administration and the apex priority is the achievement of rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth to create jobs.

As President Ramaphosa stated in his address at the Opening of Parliament on the 18^th of July 2024, “the Medium-Term Development Plan will set out a well-defined vision and strategic plan that outlines clear goals and includes specific, measurable objectives and a roadmap for achieving them. In all this work, the National Development Plan Vision 2030 remains the defining blueprint for our country’s growth and development.”

As the dtic, we have participated actively in the development of the Economic Cluster’s Medium-term Development Plan (MTDP). The interventions contained in the MTDP are closely aligned to the NDP and the associated impact targets – such as GDP growth of 5.4% – are drawn from the NDP. Of course, it is important to emphasise that the NDP was developed when both the global and domestic economies were in much better shape.

Quite apart from the setback that South Africa faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also had to content with load-shedding, the floods in 2022, the pressure to de-carbonise domestic industries, and geo-political conflicts which impact SA in many ways.

Nevertheless, the dtic’s contribution to the MTDP, our Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plan all reflect NDP priorities. For example:

1. The NDP commits Government to higher levels of exports. This is a key commitment of the dtic and we have set ourselves the ambitious target of increasing exports by a cumulative R1 trillion over the course of the 7^th Administration.
2. The NDP requires an expanded skills base and the dtic supports this firstly through engaging the Department of Home Affairs on its critical skills list which facilitates access to global skills, and through targeted skills development programmes to increase the training of citizens in targeted, high demand skills.
3. The NDP requires higher rates of investment and the dtic is the main coordinator – through InvestSA – of private-sector investment. In addition, the dtic continues to provide both foreign and domestic investors with a suite of incentives including Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to encourage private-sector investment. These activities and associated incentives will be strengthened during the 7^th Administration.
4. The NDP rightly points to the need to develop sectors capable of creating jobs. Here too the dtic has an important role to play especially in the manufacturing sector. The Department deploys its support measures to both assist sectors in distress and to encourage new investment in labour-intensive value-chains such as agro-processing, furniture, metal products and clothing and textiles.

These examples illustrate how the dtic has aligned its current planning and strategy interventions to the NDP as well as the MTDP.

b) The Deputy Ministers, DG and I have been engaging with a wide cross-section of stakeholders since our appointment to the Executive. These engagements cover:

• Leading business associations such as Business Unity SA, Business Leadership SA, the Black Business Council, and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (SEIFSA);
• Many individual companies in the manufacturing sector and subsectors;
• Companies located in SEZs;
• Multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, BRICS+, WTO and the G20;
• Organised Labour; and
• Youth and community groups.

These engagements have provided critical opportunities for knowledge sharing, and have assisted greatly in identifying the ‘pain points’ of domestic firms and communities and therefore informing the Departmental priorities such as red-tape reduction to unlock investment and SMME growth, targeted skills programmes to ensure that availability of skills does not become a binding constraint to growth, and the creation of a transformation and youth fund to substantially increase funding to B-BEE firms, SMMEs and youth-owned enterprises.

In addition, the Department convenes the Trade and Industry Chamber of Nedlac and regularly provides feedback on the implementation of its key priorities including the Masterplans.

Finally, GNU parties have committed to an all-inclusive National Dialogue process - with political parties, civil society, labour, business and other sectors - to discuss the critical social and economic challenges facing the nation. The dtic will participate meaningfully in the National Dialogue process and this is expected to further enhance the relationship between the Department and its key stakeholders across a range of areas.

-END-

Reply:

1. (i)

• Service Delivery Areas (Local and Regional Offices)
  • Included security measures in the Departmental User Asset Management Plan submitted to Department of Infrastructure (Burglar Bars & Safety Gates and Fences)
  • Security contracts (level of security guards based on the risk level determine by a Safety and Security Risk Assessment done the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety
  • Daily check in with Police Stations
  • Alerts from State Security Agency and JoC in terms of safety risks
  • DSD local offices participating in ABTs where they get info on where current risks/hotspots are from LEAP and SAP
• Rendering services outside the offices
  • GG vehicles in hotspot areas – branding removed, Smash & Grab film on windows, removal of GG number plates and installation of trackers
  • Allow staff to use their own private vehicles and claim back
  • Buddy system
  • Collaboration with SAPS (Removal etc.)
  • Standing instruction for staff to not enter high risk situations/areas unless escorted by police
• Employee Health and Wellness programme in place
  • Staff encouraged to avoid taking GGs home, since this makes them a target, given many of the hijackings have occurred at or near their homes when returning from work.
  • Attendance of CPF meetings by Social Work Management & Supervisors
  • Engagements of Chief Director: Service Delivery Management & Coordination with CPF chair persons

(ii) - This is a matter for the Department of Justice to consider.

(b) - All incidents have been reported to SAPS and case numbers shared with the Provincial Police Commissioner for prioritisation.

(2) (a) Bursary programme

• • Bulk advertising of posts

(b) −Training aligned to latest legislative frameworks

−Engagement with Tertiary institutions to include regulatory frameworks in Curriculum

Reply:

a) (i) and (ii) (aa)

During the past financial year (2023/24) no companies or cooperatives were supported through the Aquaculture Development and Enhancement Programme (ADEP) in KwaZulu-Natal.

(i) and (ii) (bb)

During 2023/24, R19 million was committed to a rural-based beneficiary of the ADEP to expand existing operations in the Eastern Cape in the Amathole District. The company plans to invest R65 million over the next 2-5 years, create 20 new jobs and retain 272 existing jobs. Funding was disbursed to a company based in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality that received R1.18 million for investing R13.8 million. This company reported the creation of 13 new jobs and retained 17 existing jobs. No rural-based co-operatives were supported in the Eastern Cape.

b) During the 2023/24 financial year, beneficiaries of the ADEP supported across all provinces reported 33 new jobs created and retained 165 existing jobs.

Since 2016/17, ADEP funded companies, reported at the final claim stage, the creation of over 1 600 new jobs and the retention of approximately 2 000 existing jobs.

-END-

Reply:

(1) (a) There are 12 designated SEZs, located in 8 provinces.

(b) and (c) The response is summarised in the following table.

Table:

SEZ and Province	Number of Jobs	Investment Value (Rm)	No. of investors
Coega IDZ Eastern Cape Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality	10 527	R11 525 999 816	63
East London IDZ Eastern Cape Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality	4 418	R5 825 200 000	40
Maluti-A-Phofung IDZ Free State Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality	172	R1 025 000 000	4
OR Tambo IDZ Gauteng Ekurhuleni District Municipality	2 734	R993 500 000	15
Tshwane Automotive SEZ Gauteng Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality	3 334	R5 570 000 000	10
Dube Trade Port KwaZulu-Natal eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality	5 159	R3 010 062 737	57
Richards Bay IDZ KwaZulu-Natal King Cetshwayo District Municipality	147	R1 940 702 821	4
Atlantis SEZ Western Cape City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality	423	R815 000 000	7
Freeport Saldanha IDZ Western Cape West Coast District Municipality	107	R268 000 000	16
Musina-Makhado SEZ Limpopo Mopani District Municipality	N/A	Not Operational	-
Nkomazi SEZ Mpumalanga Gert Sibande District Municipality	N/A	Not Operational	-
Namaqua SEZ Northern Cape John Taolo Gaetsewe District	N/A	New Designated	-
Total	27 021	R 30 937 465, 374	208

2. (a)&(b) Applications have been received for the following proposed SEZs:

(i) Bojanala SEZ in the North West province - the proposed zone will be developed on 1,175 hectares including the Bodirelo industrial park, situated in Mogwase, in the Moses Kotane local Municipality. The Bojanala SEZ will focus largely on mineral beneficiation especially for platinum group metals, as well as manufacturing, including mining capital equipment supply, agro-processing and renewable energy.

(ii) Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ in the Limpopo province - the zone is located in the industrial hub of Steelpoort between two huge mining establishments, the Samancor smelter and the Lion ferrochrome smelter, which are strategic landmarks for the establishment of the SEZ. The zone is anticipated to become a centre of excellence for green energy manufacturing, agro-processing and mineral beneficiation.

(iii) Coega Pharmaceutical and Vaccine manufacturing precinct – this is an application by the Coega SEZ to develop a pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing precinct in the Eastern Cape.

(3) The Department has not undertaken feasibility studies on the designation of township SEZs.

(a) The basic concept of a SEZ, as defined by the SEZ Act and Policy, is that it includes several specific characteristics, which include:

(i) a geographically delimited area, usually physically secured;

(ii) a single management or administration;

(iii) offering benefits based on physical location within the zone; and

(iv) having a separate customs area (duty-free benefits) and streamlined procedures.

For a township to be considered as a SEZ, it would require the coordination of a number of government departments, timely adjustments to relevant policies and regulations, putting in place efficient regulatory and administrative system and reliable infrastructure, such as roads, water, electricity, sewerage, telephone, and ports; which will involve heavy government direct investments, especially in the initial stages.

(b) The Department is reviewing its model of support in terms the Industrial Zone Program to be in line with the district development model, spatial support, industrialization, export, township enterprise development and is willing to consider the designation of a township SEZ.

-END-

Reply:

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has advised as follows.

1. Before the advent of the new National Lotteries Commission (NLC) Board and management team, systems and processes were deliberately collapsed in order to render it impossible for malfeasance and corruption to be detected. The internal culture at that time was marked by a lack of accountability and lack of consequences for malfeasance, which was allowed to take root. The former Minister sought to have this addressed and a series of preventive actions were taken beginning with the appointment of an interim Board in 2022 and the appointment of the substantive Board in May 2023.
2. The new NLC Commissioner was appointed on the 1st of February 2023 to ensure the mandate of the Board is executed.
3. The Board established several Sub-Committees to deal with the various legislated mandates of the NLC’s work plus the terms of references and work plans were developed and implemented. Furthermore, the Board initiated a strategic planning process, developing a new Strategic Plan and the Board and Commissioner to instill a new strategic vision, values and organisational culture. This has been translated into the NLC Annual Operational Plan, the Commissioner and EXCO’s performance agreements.
4. In the 2023/24FY, the board undertook to review all organisational policies to ensure alignment with governing legislation. These included the code of conduct and the introduction of lifestyle audits.
5. The Social and Ethics Sub-Committee was restructured to be a stand-alone committee to promote ethical culture. A risk and ethics assessment was done and it Is being implemented by management.
6. The Audit and Risk Committee was restructured to be a stand-alone committee focusing on control deficiencies, audit and risk; whilst the Finance Sub-Committee focuses on the financial governance, compliance and oversight of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and NLC financial management.
7. The Board adopted a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption and remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring losses are recovered. A framework on anti-bribery, corruption and fraud has been developed and is being implemented aligned to ISO 37001. Fraud risk assessments were conducted and fraud risk registers updated. The Fraud Prevention Plan, Enterprise Risk Management Strategy and Risk Registers were reviewed and served at the Board and Board Sub-Committees.
8. A Non-Compliance Grantee policy was developed and approved and a special committee monitors previously funded NPOs with directors who have been implicated in corruption and who are non-compliant with the grant agreements.
9. The Board approved the NLC modernisation programme during 2023. The modernisation programme aims to encourage online application processes to enhance compliance standards rather than paper-based processes. The new model and system have built-in controls to improve compliance and reduce fraud and corruption practices. The Application Programming Interface (APIs) working in alignment with Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Department of Social Development (DSD), will enhance compliance controls. The programme is implemented in modules. The first two modules are being extensively tested and are already being implemented. All seven (7) modules should be concluded during 2025/26.
10. The Board approved the NLC’s Reparative Measures Initiative in 2024/25. The initiatives aim to address the plight of whistleblowers that came forward during the period of maladministration and seeks to restore community infrastructure not executed or partially completed due to fraud and corruption identified through the SIU investigation process. The individual reparative measures are set for conclusion by the end of the 2024/25 financial year. Community Infrastructure Projects will be rolled out over the next two to three financial years.
11. Additionally, the Board supported the Commissioner in capacitating the NLC Executive Structures and four (4) new Executive Managers were appointed, including the Chief Audit Executive, the Chief Risk Officer, the Executive for Legal Services and the Chief Financial Officer. The Internal Audit Division was substantially capacitated. Capacitation of both Risk and Legal divisions is underway.
12. Lastly, the board is working tirelessly with the SIU to ensure consequence management is taken against the previous board and managers who are implicated in corruption scandal. Where there are fraud or corruption charges and/or receipt of referral from the SIU, employees are immediately placed on precautionary suspension. Of the fourteen (14) cases to date, five (5) matters are not yet concluded. Where employees resigned, the NLC retains its right to initiate criminal or civil proceedings and recover funds.
13. Additional Controls introduced during 2023/24 included a moratorium on pro-active funding. The previous pro-active practices were replaced with a new grant policy on research-based funding (pro-active funding) and procedures to ensure that all identified organisations undergo vetting and capacity testing before they are considered to implement projects.

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Reply:

1. (a) The Hospitality sector, which includes restaurants, has a high noncompliance rate. Various laws are usually flouted. The sector employs largely vulnerable workers. There is a high number of complaints regarding the exploitation of workers.

(b) Consistent conduction of inspections, including follow-up inspections. Strengthening of Advocacy Initiatives. Effective enforcement in instances where there is noncompliance.

2. (a) Monies enforced (through enforcement notices) as a result of underpayment are paid back to the employees involved.

(b) Any illegal deductions that are made against workers, are recovered on behalf of workers, through the enforcement of notices.

3. The Gauteng Province will intensify on effective and sustainable enforcement mechanisms. Follow up inspections around the enforcement of Occupational Health and Safety are carried out after the expiry of notices. Where there is still noncompliance after the notices have expired, such would be referred for prosecution via the CCMA, National Prosecution Authority and Labour Courts. Advocacy will be intensified to educate workers about their rights and obligations.

Reply:

1. (a) As you aware, the dtic’s Strategy is pursued and implemented through its Industrial Parks (IPs) Programme to support State-Owned Industrial Parks. Provinces or Entities such as Ithala or the North West Development Corporation, are legislated to own and manage these Industrial Parks.

(b) Through the Industrial Parks Revitalisation Programme (IPRP), Provinces or Entities can submit applications for funding support subject to budget availability and to meeting the requirements of the Programme.

2. (a) The Industrial Parks Revitalisation Programme supports the following elements to stimulate manufacturing and services by SMEs from local industries:

• Assist companies locating and expanding their operations within Industrial Parks.
• Refurbishment of infrastructure, including electrical and water components.
• Bulk Infrastructure refurbishment and upgrade.
• Security features such as fences, cameras etc.
• Outside the Industrial Park, critical infrastructure may be supported through the Municipality or Entity application to the Critical Infrastructure Programme (CIP).

(b) (i)&(ii) Provinces or Entities, as part of the contract and procurement spend for construction, refurbishment or upgrade, make provision for local SMEs and Co-operatives.

3. Working together with Provinces and Entities, in terms of our Industrial Strategy, Master Plans and the District Development Model (DDM), we need to build value chains and eco-systems to ensure sustainability of Industrial Parks (IPs).

 

 

-END-

Reply:

1. The matter of international protocols falls within the mandate of the Department of International Relations and Corporation (DIRCO)
2. Engagements on the best mechanisms to implement the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection are ongoing. Cabinet approved the White Paper on 10 April 2024 as a policy that guides the drafting of new legislation and implementation of a new immigration and citizenship system.
3. The enactment of the new legislation will not exempt people who have committed violations of the immigration laws in our country.

END.

Reply:

(a-c)

Joint Operations/inspections are executed after intelligence has been gathered on modus operandi of a sector. As such, members that execute are not informed when intelligence is being gathered. Inspection plan is shared with members closer to the execution of the inspection. Similarly, e-hailing sector is inspected regularly during roadblocks, stop and search operation. The nature of e-hailing is always in motion, hence e-hailing drivers are targeted during stop and search. e-Commerce will be included in normal business inspections within operation Siyasebenta of Home Affairs, Blitz Operation of the Department of Employment and Labour and Operation Shanela of the SAPS.

END.

Reply:

Find here: Reply

Reply:

1. As you would appreciate, the dtic does not have an official forecast on the Day Zero scenario for the economy in the Gauteng province. However, the department is aware that South Africa is a water-scarce country as a result of inconsistent and insufficient rainfall. Therefore, the looming water crisis is a serious concern. The water which the Gauteng province receives is from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which supplies 780 million m³ (cubic meters) to the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), from which Rand Water supplies bulk water to municipalities in Gauteng.

The planned maintenance of the LHWP from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, will reasonably be disruptive to the South African economy, especially in Gauteng but the LHWP is necessary to ensure its long-term sustainability and integrity. Relying on the official updates from the Rand Water, the planned maintenance will result in 700 million m³ of water per annum being transferred in 2024, resulting in a shortfall of 80 million m³ from the normal annual transfer volume. The shortfall will be recovered after the maintenance period. The Department of Water and Sanitation, has assured Rand Water that the impact of the maintenance on the overall IVRS will be minimal considering that dams in the IVRS such as the Sterkfontein Dam and others are currently full. Rand Water projects that in the unlikelihood that the Vaal Dam drops to the minimum levels, there will be enough water to release from Sterkfontein Dam.

Rand Water has communicated to municipalities and other customers not to panic but to intensify their water conservation mechanisms and campaigns to curb the ongoing high consumption. the dtic also supports the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) through the national support programme that drives the transition of South African industry towards a green economy through appropriate resource efficient and cleaner production interventions. This includes improving water efficiency through wastewater management (e.g. treating, recycling and purifying wastewater), rainwater harvesting, boreholes, transforming industrial water use practices in order to reduce water consumption and improving industrial water quality.

2. In case the LHWP maintenance programme does not go according to the planned schedule, water intensive industrial sectors such as agro-processing, beverage, chemical, metal, meat production, textiles and clothing, automotive manufacturing as well as agriculture and mining, will be negatively affected. Water is used in these industries to process, cool, and clean products.

3. The National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) Programme of the dtic has developed special tools to assist industry wishing to improve their resource and water efficiency. These tools are freely available to share and make use of them as a resource.

Specific to water use and consumption, the NCPC Industrial Water Efficiency (IWE) Project promotes the transformation of industrial water use practices, to reduce water consumption and improve industrial water effluent quality. Through the development of tools, guides and training courses, the NCPC-SA has built capacity in industry to improve its water efficiency, whilst water assessments and implementation support are available to companies at a plant level.

https://www.industrialefficiency.co.za/guides-and-reports/

-END-

Reply:

The Department investigates the cases of identity theft and provide solutions which includes the issuance of the new ID number and clients are requested to open a case with the South African Police Services (SAPS).

Furthermore, all reported cases of corruption involving officials are analysed and investigated. Cases reported with elements of fraud and corruption are referred to SAPS for further handling. If misconduct is detected, the case is referred to Employee Engagement for disciplinary processes.

The Department is working with the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to probe fraudulent activities in relation to fraudulent activities on IDs and passports.

END.

Reply:

a) & (b)

Cabinet approved the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection on 10 April 2024 to guide drafting of new legislation in this area. However, the White Paper also includes recommendations related to South Africa’s membership of international conventions. The major outstanding challenge revolves around the legal mechanisms related to withdrawing and re-entering into various international protocols, as this is regarded as a step without international legal precedent. Engagements are ongoing with a view to find a way forward, as the matter of international conventions rightly falls within the mandate of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

END.

Reply:

(a), (b), (c)

Unemployment throughout the country is a major issue. From the perspective of the Department of Employment and Labour there are a number of measures that are undertaken to uplift all communities, including those in Northham and Jabulani.

These include the provision of free employment services to all those that require it, including the payment of unemployment insurance benefits to qualifying contributors.

Additional interventions include: -

Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme

TERS is an intervention by the Department of Employment and Labour that provides financial assistance to companies in distress for up to 12 months. The scheme enables employers to retain employees by covering their salaries while the company focuses on implementing a turnaround strategy to remain operational. During this period, employers are only required to cover employee social costs such as provident fund and medical aid contributions.

During TERS participation, affected employees may undergo SETA-funded upskilling or reskilling for up to 12 months, with wage costs covered by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), while employers handle only social contributions.

Labour Activation Programmes

The Labour Activation Programme (LAP) is a cornerstone initiative by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) under the Department of Employment and Labour. Designed to combat unemployment and skills deficits, LAP strategically funds and supports projects that generate employment and enhance workforce skills across South Africa. Its primary goal is to facilitate the transition of unemployed individuals into sustainable employment through structured programs, including skills training, job placement, and support for entrepreneurial ventures. The programme operates through a network of partners, each tasked with implementing projects that directly contribute to job creation and economic empowerment at a provincial and national level.

Reply:

The Department through South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) continuously monitors the experiences of beneficiaries who access social grants to ensure they are not subject to unfair treatment or exploitation. While no widespread issues have been identified regarding additional fees being charged for purchases, the Agency remains vigilant and takes a proactive approach in protecting the interest of beneficiaries.

Through Postbank's arrangement with the Agency , SASSA cardholders can withdraw cash for free at the merchants (such as retailers and spaza shops) and ATMs. Purchases made using the SASSA card at merchants’ points of sale are also free to the consumer, consistent with standard banking practices.

In the broader payment process, consumers are not charged for making purchases at any merchant. If a merchant is found to be charging consumers unjust fees for transactions, they may face penalties from the payment processors, which could include being blocked from processing card payments. This practice aligns with the Code of Banking Practice, which commits banks to treating customers fairly and protecting vulnerable groups from unfair charges.

Beneficiaries are also protected by the Consumer Protection Act,2008 (section 48) which prohibits unfair business practise, including excessive or unfair fees. They are allowed to contact a consumer protection organisation or a legal aid centre for help.

Reply:

a) The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) disbursed R1.1 billion towards 175 township and rural-based businesses. Of these businesses, 102 were based in townships (73 in rural areas), with a value of R704 million and 4,886 jobs located in those businesses. Two hundred and sixty-six million (R266 million) was disbursed to 66 of the businesses, which are women-owned and women-managed businesses. A total of R229 million of the investment was made to the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor-vehicles, personal and household goods, and hotels and restaurants division per the standard industrial code (SIC), while R88 million was invested in the manufacturing sector.

b) The NEF uses debt, mezzanine, and equity instruments to deploy funds into the economy. These instruments are offered at concessionary rates and terms whereby the interest rates are substantially lower than what is offered in the market with an extended tenure periods (e.g. moratoriums of up to 2 years and repayment terms of up to 8 years compared to 5 years and no moratoriums by the commercial banks).

c) The success rate of the NEF’s investments can be measured through the number of jobs in total of the businesses funded (4,886 jobs in the 102 businesses) and the collections rate (over 72%), which ensures further lending reaches more businesses. Furthermore, none of the transactions are in moratorium, which means the operations can afford the required level of funding. It is also important that the impairment rate on the NEF investments is 32%, which means that the vast majority of the funded businesses operate optimally.

-END-

Reply:

1. Section 7 of the SEZ Act of 2014, provides for the establishment of the SEZ Advisory Board and enables the board secretariat to conduct performance analyses of SEZs against an agreed-set of input and output KPIs. To this extent, the SEZ Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has been put in place to:

• standardise the key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting formats for SEZs; and
• Developing norms and standards for SEZ performance evaluations.

The framework seeks to ensure that analyses of SEZ performance are based on an agreed-set of KPIs which is used for purposes of determining outcomes against targets set. The KPIs are listed below:

Output KPIs

• Investment projects approved against target
• Job creation in investor companies against target
• Fixed assets investment by investor companies against target
• Land allocated against target
• Revenues raised against target
• Annual exports

Input KPIs

• Operator staff against target
• Infrastructure capital costs and timings against targets
• Top structures/factories costs and timings
• Operational costs against target

2. The Department has not undertaken feasibility studies on the designation of townships as Special Economic Zones. The request to establish an SEZ is applicant based and usually driven by a Province.

the dtic position is that, for a township to be considered as a SEZ, it would require the co-ordination of a number of Government Departments; timely adjustments to relevant policies and Regulations; putting-in place efficient regulatory and administrative systems; and reliable infrastructure, such as roads; water; electricity, sewerage; and ICT, which will involve dedicated Government fiscus investment, especially in the initial stages.

Furthermore, the involvement of the private sector which can assist in the planning development, operating and investment in SEZ real estate, are critically important. The Department is aware that in some regions around the world SEZs have been set-up as vehicles for developing poorer regions of a country. These SEZs are prone to fail due to a lack of infrastructure, limited access to skilled labour, distance from markets, etc. To overcome all these disadvantages, SEZs would have to offer extensive subsidies or require levels of investment in public infrastructure that are at this stage not economically viable.

-END-

Reply:

No, there are no inaccurate population statistics that affect our communities, safe to say, Stats SA assesses, evaluates and in some instances uses independent experts to do these verifications. Where they find the figures to be having biases/ not plausible, they either do not publish the variable concerned or they publish it with “health warning signs”, as done in the past censuses.

To date, Statistics South Africa and the South African Statistics Council through their independent work have shared with the public the process undertaken to conduct the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES), and the subsequent adjustments of the population made, which is a practice done even in the three previous censuses and it has been consistently applied. The PES is therefore not inaccurate, but an internationally acceptable practice done by countries that conduct the PES as an adjustment tool amongst other things. The start of the PES was not delayed. The PES enumeration is conducted immediately after the census enumeration. In this case, Census 2022 data collection was concluded on 31 May 2022 and the PES data collection was started on 01 June 2022.

Budgetary allocations are responsibility of the National Treasury; the role of Stats SA is to avail numbers to the National Treasury for the work they need to do.

 

Risenga Maluleke

Statistician-General

Date:

____________________________

Hon. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, MP

Minister in the Presidency

Date:

Reply:

Water Boards are Schedule 3B entities, as defined by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and referred to as "National Government Business Enterprises." Water Boards are commercially oriented and have a significant degree of operational autonomy, though they remain accountable to the Department (DWS) and National Treasury and are subject to financial oversight under the PFMA. This means that Water Boards should be self-financing entities by providing bulk water services to the Water Services Authorities.

DWS is not planning to provide subsidies to Water Boards, except in emergency cases where a water board is facing imminent financial bankruptcy. As a temporary measure, DWS and the water boards have recently standardized their debt collection processes. As part of these measures, equitable share allocations will be withheld from municipalities that fail to pay their current invoices. Additionally, the consistent enforcement of water restrictions is applied to non-paying municipalities, and legal proceedings, potentially leading to judgments against municipalities, are considered as a last resort.

Lastly, the Minister will continue to engage with municipal customers alongside Premiers and MECs for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as well as municipalities to ensure payment commitments are made. These engagements have led to positive outcomes, with several municipalities committing to pay current accounts and agreeing to structured payment arrangements on outstanding debt.

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Reply:

The allocation of powers and functions of municipalities, including authorisation and adjustments of Water Services Authority functions, is the role of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister guided by the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 Section 84 and 85. The Department of Water and Sanitation has the role of enforcing regulatory measures that ensure the provision of safe water and the effective management of wastewater.

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Reply:

The villages of Motseketla, Marotholong Ramogakwa, Moshongo and Sekgopo are all situated in Greater Letaba Local Municipality (LM) within Mopani District Municipality (DM).

Mopani DM is implementing Sekgopo Bulk Water Scheme Phase 1 project in Sekgopo village. The project scope involves drilling and testing of new boreholes as well as testing and equipping of 48 existing boreholes. Service providers were appointed by Mopani DM. This project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation for R8 million for the 2023/2024 financial year through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant.

A total of 41 boreholes have been tested, and 30 boreholes were found to have enough yield, equipped and housed. The water quality of some of the boreholes will require treatment before consumption, therefore a package plant will be provided for on-site water purification.

To meet the water demand for Sekgopo village, 10 new boreholes are required. The Mopani DM will revise the business plans for budget maintenance to request funding for the 10 additional boreholes.

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Reply:

The villages of Motseketla, Marotholong Ramogakwa, Moshongo and Sekgopo are all situated in the Greater Letaba Local Municipality (LM) within Mopani District Municipality (DM).

Mopani DM is implementing Sekgopo Bulk Water Scheme Phase 1 project in Sekgopo village. The project scope involves drilling and testing of new boreholes as well as testing and equipping of 48 existing boreholes. Service providers were appointed by the Mopani DM. This project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation for R8 million for the 2023/24 financial year through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant.

A total of 41 boreholes have been tested, and 30 boreholes were found to have enough yield, equipped and housed. The water quality of some of the boreholes will require treatment before consumption, as such a package plant will be provided for on-site water purification.

To meet the water demand for the Sekgopo village, 10 new boreholes are required. The Mopani DM will revise the business plans for budget maintenance to request funding for the 10 additional boreholes.

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Reply:

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Reply:

In the report the Public Service Commission (PSC) made the following recommendations for consideration by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and others in addressing the findings noted above:

• The DPSA should regulate the capturing of all qualifications information on PERSAL and this should be done within 12 months from the issuing of this report.
• The DPSA should compel departments to comply with the Ministerial Handbook/Guide for all Ministerial appointments and must take action against departments that deviate from the Handbook/Guide.
• The DPSA must issue guidelines on the management of transfers during organisational restructuring/reorganisation that will ensure that SMS members are placed in positions they qualify for or are properly capacitated to prepare them for their new roles.
• The DPSA must direct all departments with SMS members who still do not meet the minimum qualifications requirements to submit plans on how the gaps will be addressed with clear time frames to enable proper monitoring of those plans.
• Departments must complete the verification of qualifications before appointing potential employees within the Public Service, without exonerating employees from misrepresenting their qualifications.

The findings and recommendations in the report have been tabled with Parliament and shared with the DPSA as custodian of HR policy to take forward. The report was also circulated to departments and shared in the media for broader dissemination in the Public Service and beyond.

The DPSA issued a Directive on Human Resources Management and Development for the Public Service Professionalisation, Volume 1. The aforementioned Directive introduces a streamlined approach to professionalisation of the public service including on recruitment, formalised induction, performance and productivity and reorientation of existing public servants to assist them with further development where officials do not meet the requirements of the posts they occupy. The implementation of this Directive took effect in April 2024, and progress in this regard is being monitored by the DPSA and will be reported in 2025.

The DPSA is currently working on Volume 2 of the Directive which will largely address issues related to the leadership level of the public service such as performance management at the DDG and HOD levels, which further compels departments to address the recommendations made in the PSC report. To improve the ability of the DPSA to monitor and support departments, the DPSA has also submitted a request to National Treasury to be exempted from the IFMS moratorium. This will enable the DPSA to develop an Integrated Human Resources Information Management System, which will allow for improved data capturing and analysis of up-to-date information.

End

Reply:

a) In order to ensure a healthy and sound environment for inmates, the Department implements various measures as prescribed in Departmental Policies which include:

• Ensuring availability of water and sanitation facilities.
• Provision of clean clothing and bedding to inmates according to inclement weather conditions.
• Ensuring availability of facilities for washing and drying the clothing and bedding.
• Ensuring availability of facilities for washing of the dishes after use.
• Providing inmates with toiletries for maintenance of personal hygiene.
• Ensuring availability of disinfectants, cleaning materials and equipment to maintain environmental cleanliness.
• Health screening is conducted on admission, during incarceration and on release for early identification and treatment of communicable diseases.
• Isolation facilities are available to temporarily house inmates with suspected and confirmed communicable diseases to prevent spreading the disease to other inmates.
• Personal Protective Equipment (such as surgical masks) is provided to inmates with suspected and confirmed communicable diseases to prevent spreading the disease to other inmates and officials.
• Ensuring that general and health care waste is handled, stored, and disposed of safely in accordance with the law.
• Implementation of pest control methods to ensure protection from harmful insects and other pests that can cause public health issues.

b) In the case of employees, the Department is guided by the following approved wellness policies and procedures aligned to the Integrated Employee Health and Wellness (IEHW) Framework namely:

• Wellness Management Policy
• Health and Productivity Management
• Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Quality Management Policy
• HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Sexually Transmitted Infections Management Policy

In addition, wellness programmes are in place to promote a healthy, safe and sound working environment.

END.

Reply:

a) Please refer to Table 1 below.

b) The average period of failures lasts 12 to 16 hours.

c) Extended power outages and equipment failure.

(d) The cost of each product loss is indicated on the list below:

National Assembly Question 1623 of 2024

Year	2020/2021		2021/2022		2022/2023	2023/2024		2024/2025
Date of Occurrence	16 September 2020		22 June 2021, and 04 October 2021		None.	Date of occurrence 20 December 2023, and 15 January 2024		None
Non-Conformance Report Number	No. 20-051		No. 21-028 and No. 21-067		N/A	No. 23-095 and No. 23-096		N/A
Product Loss in Rands	Product Name	Batch No	Product Name	Batch No		Product Name	Batch No
	Asiatic African Redwater	598 R193 314 462 R194 467	Heartwater Anaplasmosis Anaplasmosis Heartwater African Redwater African Redwater African Redwater Anaplasmosis Anaplasmosis Anaplasmosis   Anaplasmosis Heartwater	327 R170 577 863 R167 858 868 R179 997 329 R191 001 463 R182 893 467 R179 456 468 R177 738 863 R167 858 865 R180 883 866 R179 490     867 R178 984 328 R175 498	No cold room failures.	African Redwater African Redwater African Redwater African Redwater African Redwater Heartwater Heartwater Asiatic Redwater Asiatic Redwater Asiatic Redwater     Heartwater	468 R177 736 475 R178 596 476 R179 456 477 R166 690 478 R171 968 337 R180 635 338 R186 601 620 R200 606 621 R199 505 623 R201 156         339 R176 385	No cold room failures.

Table 1:

Reply:

a)  The plan is to incorporate Unisa’s research and technological innovations into existing municipal water management practices through:

• Collaborating with municipalities to ensure that investments in the areas of pre-competitive research and technology development in the water sector are inclusive and aligned in support of the municipal water management needs and aligned to the national priorities;
• Identifying and supporting the co-supervision of postgraduate (Master’s, Doctorate) students and post-doctoral fellows in priority municipalities who will be engaged in various research agendas to respond to municipal issues.
• Collaborate with municipalities through the DWS Graduate Internship Programme/ Learning Academy for graduates to undertake or support research work undertaken as part of their professional registration journey

b) Measures that have been put in place to ensure that the findings from this partnership are effectively implemented at the local level to improve access to clean and safe drinking water include:

• Regular engagements with municipalities and civil society on matters relating to implementation of non-revenue water reduction programmes to ensure sustainability and water security
• Undertake community educations and awareness projects with relevant municipalities and industry partners so that all stakeholders all stakeholders work together to ensure that water is used more sparingly
• Collaborate with municipalities on seminars, workshops, and conferences to support the research agenda within a community of practice.

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Reply:

(1). The Census in the country occurs every 10 years, with budget allocations happening within the MTEF process. Those processes are still to unfold. However, Stats SA, post 2022 Census operations, have reviewed the causes of declining participations /responses rates amongst other things). They are already redesigning their Household Survey programme, bringing in the multi-modal collection tools as introduced in Census 2022, for further enhancement and publicising.

This household survey program redesign, becomes the 1^st of various tests and improvements Stats SA is embarking on to prepare for the next round of population and housing census. In addition, they are participating in the international expert group of the United Nations to review the last censuses while preparing guidelines for the next round of population and housing censuses.

(2). Yes, there will be experts brought on board as it was done with all past four Censuses in the democratic dispensation. Their involvement is on various phases of the project, depending on their area of expertise and specialty. Various experts are used throughout the phases of the project, including the evaluations done by South Africa and by the South African Statistics Council (independently) of each other.

(3). Stats SA, as part of their debriefing processes, identified areas of improvement (internally and externally), they are already looking at appointing a planning team to start with drafting plans and approaches for 2031, which will be inputs to the Medium Term Expenditure Framework process. During planning phase there are various stakeholder consultations that are conducted with the aim of improving methods, processes and instruments used.

Most importantly they have identified that advocacy approaches need more time and should be community-tailored, to improve public ownership and participation. Therefore, a lot of effort will also be given to educating communities so that they are comfortable to exercise their civic duty by participating and providing responses, having understood the importance of participating. Communities need to understand the negative impact of non-participation in such important national responsibilities (Heightened community leadership involvement and educating communities on exercising their civic responsibilities, will be key going forward).

Risenga Maluleke

Statistician-General

Date: 03 September 2024

__________________________

Hon. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, MP

Minister in the Presidency

Date:

Reply:

1)  The Department has made significant improvement on prevention of delays and cost overruns in the last three years. This can be attributed to oversight work performed by DWS, through the establishment of the Water and Sanitation Services Management branch with specific project management and civil engineering expertise to manage complex projects.

The Department appoints Implementing Agents (IAs) after determining the capacity and expertise to manage and oversee the implementation of infrastructure projects. The IAs who act on behalf of the Department, are responsible for the appointment of Professional Service Providers (PSPs) for design, engineering, and construction services. The IAs conduct project oversight together with DWS officials monitor project progress against agreed project milestones. Where the contractors are behind schedule, recovery plans are developed and agreed upon to mitigate the challenges. This continuous and regular oversight is done to ensure projects are implemented timeously, within budget and meet the necessary quality standards.

(2) The Department signs Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the IAs. SLAs contain and outline the expected performance obligations including the necessary recourse where there is no performance which includes termination of non-performing contractors and service providers. The SLA therefore serves as a performance monitoring tool including other project documentation to evaluate the performance of the IA. The Implementing Agent is monitored regularly to ensure compliance with the performance milestones. A few contractors and few professional service providers have been terminated on the ground of poor performance.

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Reply:

a) The weaknesses and shortcomings of TB treatment programme or of the larger system that affect the TB programme include:

• Late presentation of patients with TB, which leads to late diagnosis
• Late treatment initiation, due to late diagnosis
• Inadequate integration of services at key ‘entry points’ e.g., hospitals, HIV, child health, etc
• Low rates of TB testing in high-risk groups e.g., contacts
• Poor retention in care: high loss to follow-up due to various factors such as adverse events, patients feel better and decide to stop treatment before they are cured, transport to facilities for treatment
• Patients with low BMI are also at risk of lower treatment success. Analysis of some of our own programme data has shown that nearly half patients with recorded BMI data are underweight, and these are at higher risk of treatment interruption and death
• Recent studies have also shown the impact of extreme weather events on access to TB services. In the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, research has shown how weather events lead to a decline in TB service provision
• Lack of unique patient identifier and non-networked surveillance system make it hard to track patients as they move throughout the system to ensure continuity of care and assignment of correct outcomes in some instances (i.e., some patients that should be classified as successfully treatment are not).
• Lack of awareness and community involvement to strengthen adherence.

b) Plans to improve TB outcomes – these are outlined in different strategic documents, particularly the TB Recovery Plan, which is updated annually. Key interventions include:

1. Strengthen Social Behavioural Change Communication and advocacy (END TB Campaign)
2. Ramp up annual testing target from 3 M to 5 M annually in order to accelerate TUTT (targeted universal TB testing; find TB to end TB)
3. Strengthen integration of services, especially for PLHIV, and in hospitals
4. Strengthening adherence counselling
5. Scale up differentiated models of care
6. Rollout and scale up shorter treatment regimens, we already have local guidance on this for paediatric TB, as well as drug-resistant TB.
7. The development of an electronic medical record (EMR) is also underway and will come with the introduction of mandatory unique ID, which will strengthen the ability to monitor patients on treatment regardless of their movements, thereby improving treatment outcomes.
8. Collaboration with the Civil Society Forum such as South African Ex-Miners Association, People Living with HIV, under the banner of South African National AIDS Council.
9. TB Indaba to discuss and create awareness among all stakeholders.

END.

Reply:

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Reply:

The work of overhauling the national intelligence structures remains work in progress. 67% of the High-Level Review Panel recommendation which progress thereof is reported to the National Security Council (NSC) and the parliamentary committee - Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.

In addition to applicable legislation, the work of the national intelligence structures is now primarily directed by the National Security Strategy of 2024 and the National Intelligence Priorities 2024 - 2029 as approved by Cabinet in March 2024. This ensures the focus on the protection and promotion of national security interests.

Reply:

a) The University of Limpopo receives water supply from the Ebenezer Water Treatment Works (WTW) which is operated by Lepelle Northern Water Board (LNW) which also supplies the Mankweng Township, villages within Mankweng area and Polokwane City. The University of Limpopo receives 1.5 Ml/d from Mankweng Reservoir through a dedicated line to the University reservoir situated inside the campus.

The Ebenezer WTW is supplied with electricity by the Greater Tzaneen LM. The electrical supply line which passes through the mountainous areas of Magoebaskloof was damaged in a storm. The power failure resulted in the Ebenezer WTW not being operational on 28 and 29 October 2024. Eskom technical teams restored electrical supply to the plant on 30 October 2024 and water was released by LNW from the Rustfontein Reservoirs to restore water supply to the University and surrounding areas in Polokwane and Mankweng.

b) The University of Limpopo should increase the storage capacity within the campus so that in instances of water supply interruptions in the future the University should have reserves for at least 48-hours.

It should be noted that the LNW will implement a 36-hour shutdown of Ebenenzer WTW from 19-20 November 2024 to connect the new pipeline at Megoring and Thakgalang river crossing along Mankweng area. The planned shutdown has been communicated with all affected parties including the University of Limpopo. As a precautionary measure, the command reservoir of the University of Limpopo will be filled to ensure that services at the University are not affected.

Furthermore, to improve water supply to the areas of Mankweng and Polokwane, the Department of Water and Sanitation is currently implementing the Olifants/Ebenenzer Project through the Lepelle Northern Water Board (LNW). Phase 1 of the project will prioritise refurbishment of the existing supply systems to restore original production capacity of the supply system to 60Ml/day.

This includes refurbishment of high-risk sections of the bulk pipelines on both Ebenezer WTW and Olifantsproot WTW that are prone to pipe bursts/ leakages. The work will also include replacement of electromechanical components in the pump stations and commissioning of the vandalised 10Ml/d package plant at the Olifantspoort WTW. This work package is currently under construction. The project is funded through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) with a total cost estimated at R889 million. The overall progress is at 54% and the project is anticipated to be completed by July 2025.

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Reply:

a) Firstly, only employment, income, mortality and fertility were excluded from the release by Stats SA. So far they (Stats SA) have indicated the alternative data sources available to close the gap in this regard. Those alternative data sources are as follows. i) For Employment- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) is available. ii) For Income- Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) 2022/23 will be released in November 2024. iii) For Mortality and Causes of Death (MACOD) project gives more reliable figures on this variable. For Fertility- the mid-year population Estimates (MYPE), provide more plausible figures. A data evaluation exercise on the two demography themes, Mortality and Fertility, showed that estimates were characterised by reporting and coverage biases, so these themes have been excluded. Further data confrontation will be conducted after the 2022 mortality and cause of death data is released.

The 2022 Census micro-data were sampled from the latest Census database to meet the data needs of the research community, academia, and planners. In South Africa, for all four Censuses (1996, 2001, 2011, and 2022), the Census micro-data constitute a 10% sample of the Census data. In the 10% sample, the following were excluded:

• iv) unconventional households, (i.e. households that are attached to collective living quarters). These households are excluded from the 10% sample datasets. This Approach follows UN Principles and Recommendations on Housing and Population Censuses that have been applied across censuses However, users can access data on request.
• Conventional households published in Census 2011 and 2022 (those in private dwellings and converted hostels)

Type of living quarters	Census 2011	Census 2022
Housing unit	14 166 433	17 544 097
Converted hostels (e.g. family unit)	283 231	284 681
Total conventional households	14 449 664	17 828 778
Residential hotel	38 726	51 689
Homes for the aged	18 876	70 323
Other	477 801	1 303 383
Total households	14 985 068	19 254 174

v) The 10% sample dataset excludes homeless individuals, transients, and those living in institutions. However, data on these populations can be accessed upon request. As part of Phase 2 of Census dissemination, Stats SA is planning to publish a report on homelessness from the Census in February 2025.

(b) With the statistical adjustment of the data, using post enumeration survey (PES), as applied by stats SA, and the statement of council on the fit for purpose declaration, I am comfortable that Stats SA has demonstrated the veracity of their processes which affirms accuracy (usefulness) of the data.

 

Risenga Maluleke

Statistician-General

Date: 03 September 2024

__________________________

Hon. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, MP

Minister in the Presidency

Date:

Reply:

1. The budget allocated for the development of official languages is R20,200,000.00 for the current financial year.

2. (a). The Language Bursary project financially supports students who are studying languages through partnerships with the following nine universities: University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban University of Technology, Nelson Mandela University, University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch, University of the Witwatersrand, Tshwane University of Technology, University of the Free State and University of Venda.

• Human Language Technology projects: the following Human Language Technology projects are currently being rolled out by the Department:
• Python and Neural Natural Language Processing (NLP) for South African Languages – North-West University
• Applying voice computing technology to language literacy – Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
• Digitalising South African Sign Language – REAH Signs and Communicate
• Extending of Multilingual Corpus of Code-Switched South African Speech – Stellenbosch University
• Advancing South African Sign Language for 4IR Technological Development Using Place Names – University of Free State
• Online platform for the Immersive Learning of isiZulu – University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Lexicography for modern-day language use – University of South Africa
• An electronic isiZulu Cultural Dictionary – University of Zululand

Project details

Project name	Description
1. Applying voice computing technology to language literacy (for all official languages)	Development of a novel dynamic interface for foundation phase learners that allows them to engage with lesson content in interactive ways while guaranteeing grammatical and semantically correct multilingual natural language generation.
2. Python and Neural Natural Language Processing for South African Languages	Development of core technologies that will allow developers to access technologies for ten (10) official languages of South Africa in the Python programming language.
3. Extending of Multilingual Corpus of Code-Switched South African Speech	Development of speech recognition systems, including acoustic models, pronunciations, and language models, using the corpus. The corpus will be used as a baseline for other researchers who use the corpus to develop new techniques for the Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) of code-switched speech.
4. Digitalising the South African Sign Language	Development of a digitalised South African Sign Language Dictionary and Sign Language Interpreting system.
5. Advancing South African Sign Language for 4IR Technological Development Using Place Names	Development of a usable computer-readable data repository for South African Sign Language (SASL) topology so that technologies for SASL can be created and developed. The developed resources will be publicly accessible to researchers, stakeholders in the Deaf community, government agencies and the public of South Africa.
6. Online platform for the Immersive Learning of isiZulu	Development of an online platform for learning isiZulu which will serve as a prototype for the other Indigenous languages of South Africa.
7. An electronic isiZulu Cultural Dictionary	The project aims to preserve traditional knowledge and culture using technology.
8. Lexicography for modern-day language use	The project aims to address the dearth of documentation surrounding colloquial language in South Africa by creating a specialised, online dictionary platform. The project will capture and preserve the nuances of colloquial language expressions.

• Terminology Development projects: the following are currently being implemented by the Department:
• Multilingual Information Communication Technology Terminology
• Multilingual Indigenous Plants and Animals Terminology
• Multilingual Road Safety Terminology
• Multilingual Engineering and Construction Terminology

(b). Projects promoting multilingualism in general are as follows: –

• The National Language Stakeholder Engagement Forum and related activities with stakeholders: The NLSEF takes place in the third quarter – it brings together language practitioners working in the different spheres of government, legislatures, some academic institutions and language communities to discuss matters around implementation of language policies and pertinent issues that need the attention and intervention in the language sector.
• African Languages Week (21-28 February every year) including the International Mother Language Day (21 February every year) – coordination of projects that seek to create awareness and promote multilingualism in general.
• International Translation Day (30 September every year): draws attention to the importance of translators, terminologists, interpreters, and language practitioners in general, and acknowledges their contribution to multilingualism.
• Translation of official documents: this contributes to multilingualism by facilitating that government services, information and programs can be accessed in the citizens’ spoken languages of choice. Translation and/or editing is conducted internally by the different language practitioners. In cases where demand exceeds in-house capacity and/or the specific languages are not catered for in-house, the service is outsourced to freelance translators. The service is also available in foreign languages to enable the country to transact globally. The Department also offers free training workshops to language practitioners on how to use the following language technologies developed by the Department: Autshumato ITE, Autshumato Alignment Tool for Translation Memories, Machine Translation Systems, Omega - T Translation Tool and Terminology Management System.

Reply:

The SSA continues to act when incidences of irregularities and misconduct are detected. The actions include investigations undertaken and recommendations of which are being implemented. Some of the recommendations include disciplinary enquiries with concomitant sanctions and those of a criminal nature being. Referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies. The SSA is also improving its governance and internal controls to prevent the recurrence of the irregularities. In this regard, the SSA has an approved Fraud and Corruption Prevention Plan which is overseen by the Fraud and Corruption Prevention Committee.

Reply:

a)  The National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is responsible for water resource management and regulation of water and sanitation services in the country in terms of the Water Services Act. It also develops national water resource infrastructure and provides bulk water services to municipalities.

Water supply and sanitation services are a function over which municipalities have executive authority in terms of section 156 of the Constitution read together with Schedule 4 Part B and the relevant provisions of the Municipal Structures Act.

The responsibility for providing sanitation at school lies with the Departments of Basic Education. Provincial governments are provided with equitable share allocations to fund the provision of the services for which they are responsible. The provincial Department of Basic Education are also sometimes provided with grant funds by the National Department of Basic Education for school infrastructure, including through the Education infrastructure Grant and the School Infrastructure Backlogs Grant.

b) The Department of Water and Sanitation is not responsible for the timelines and milestones of sanitation projects in schools.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is spearheading several interventions to mitigate the high water consumption and ensure water conservation and security of supply. Below are some of the initiatives currently in place as outlined below:

• The Department has set up the Platform for a Water Secure Gauteng (PWSG). This involves business, civil society, Water Services Authorities particulary three Gauteng Metros and Universities. The aim of the platform is to:
  • reduce the average consumption per capita in Gauteng from 253 litres per day, closer to the world average of 173 litres per capita per day.
  • manage demand by reducing physical losses in municipal distribution systems.
  • reducing physical water losses on private property and improving efficiency in water use.

Through this platform, a dashboard has been developed where ordinary citizens can get water services information about their area. Currently the PWSG is rolling out a communications and awareness campaign which will empower citizens to reduce their household consumption and fix the household leaks. A similar platform is being set up in KZN for eThekwini Metropolitan.

• The Department is in the process of finalising the National Minimum Norms and Standards for Water Services provision. The norms require water conservation and demand management, and set standards for acceptable average per capita consumption, non-revenue water and water losses.
• DWS implements the No Drop incentive based regulatory programme. The No Drop programme is used as a tool to regulate municipal performance on water loss management and water use efficiency practices. The programme provides a guideline to water services institutions on what is required to manage water losses and improve efficiency. There is also a focus on the key requirements (water resource balance diagram, water balance, Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) Strategy) as building blocks for implementation of WC/WDM projects. The guideline has been workshopped on a national level and made available to municipalities.
• DWS is also partnering with National Treasury to jointly implement an urgent programme to facilitate private sector participation in non-revenue water reduction projects in the metropolitan municipalities, without going through the normal lengthy public private partnership (PPP) processes.
• The Department conducts education and awareness campaigns to promote water use efficiency practices. The Water Conservation and Water Demand Managment campaigns being implemented by DWS include:
• Community outreach campaigns together with municipal officials.
• Schools campaigns.
• Media campaigns.
• Private sector education and awareness campaigns to educate their employees.

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Water supply systems operated and owned by municipalities abstract water from the Vaal River then treat this water in Water Treatment Works. Municipalities are required by law to ensure that drinking water meets the standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards in South African National Standard (SANS) 241. Water Services Institutions are also required to conduct regular tests on the treated water to ensure that it complies with the standard. Cholera was detected in the raw water (river) in the Lower Vaal River downstream of Bloemhof dam, and not in the treated water.

SANS 241 prescribes the limits for microbiological determinants and physical parameters such as turbidity. These physical parameters have a direct relationship with microbiological determinants and therefore frequent monitoring is necessary to ensure adequacy and efficiency of treatment.

a) The cholera detected along the lower stream of the Vaal River has been identified as environmental cholera and not toxic cholera that has health risks. Municipalities abstract water from the resource, purify and distribute it to the users. During the purification process municipalities perform operational and point of use sampling to determine if the water meets SANS 241 standards. In cases where the samples do not meet SANS 241 requirements, municipalities were advised by DWS to issue notices to water users to boil water prior to consumption. This was done with the Phokwane, Magareng and Dikgatlong municipalities which have cooperated by implementing corrective action plans. The water quality at the municipalities is monitored in cooperation with Department of Health to ensure safe drinking water.

DWS met with the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality and Magalies Water Board on 24 October 2024. It was agreed that the projects to refurbish the WWTWs in the municipalities will be prioritised for completion to curb discharge of wastewater into the water resources and ultimately mitigate the risk of water contamination. The Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality was proactive and engaged with the Department on 30 October 2024 on measures that can be implemented to curb discharge of wastewater into the water resources.

(b) The municipalities that dispose of partially treated wastewater to resources have been directed to rectify their wastewater systems to ensure the environment and water resources are not contaminated. Criminal cases have been opened against those municipalities that have not compliant to the Directives including Lekwa Teemane and Sol Plaatje municipalities.

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Reply:

As reported in the latest Annual Report of the department, National Treasury has instituted proceedings in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria, for the judicial review of the final report of the SIU into the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) project.