Questions and Replies

Reply:

The Department has a plan to assist deserving institutions to build student accommodation. A number is institutions have been identified and have been presented to National Treasury for approval:

Institution	Campus	Sector	No of Rooms	No of Beds
University of Limpopo	Turfloop	University	1925	3500
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)	Bellville	University	413	750
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)	District Six, West	University	330	600
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)	Mowbray	University	440	800
Central University of Technology (CUT)	Bloemfontein	University	550	1000
Central University of Technology (CUT)	Welkom	University	550	1000
Gert Sibanda TVET College	Sibanesetfu	TVET	495	900
Gert Sibanda TVET College	Perdekop	TVET	330	600
King Hintsa TVET College	Teko	TVET	462	840
Lephalale TVET College	Lephalale	TVET	660	1200
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)	Ga-Rankuwa	University	1100	2000
Sekhukhune TVET College	CS Barlow	TVET	440	800
Sekhukhune TVET College	CN Phatudi	TVET	385	700
Tshwane University of Technology	Ga -Rankuwa	University	330	600
Tshwane University of Technology	Pretoria West	University	990	1800
Tshwane University of Technology	Soshanguvhe	University	495	900
University of Johannesburg	Soweto	University	330	600
University of Johannesburg	Auckland Park	University	411	748
University of Johannesburg	Doornfontein	University	385	700
University of KwaZulu-Natal	Pietermaritzburg	University	825	1500
University of KwaZulu-Natal	Edgewood	University	330	600
University of KwaZulu-Natal	Westville	University	495	900
University of Limpopo	Turfloop	University	1925	3500
University of Zululand (UniZulu)	KwaDlangezwa	University	1925	3500
Institution	Campus	Sector	No of Rooms	No of Beds
University of Zululand (UniZulu)	KwaDlangezwa	University	210	400
Majuba TVET College	Newcastle	TVET	825	1500
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)	Nelson Mandela Drive Delivery Unit	University	330	600
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)	Zamukulungisa Delivery Unit	University	330	600
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)	Health Sciences Faculty Drive Delivery Unit	University	440	800
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)	Ibika	University	330	600
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)	Potsdam Delivery Unit	University	330	600
Northlink TVET College	Tygerberg	TVET	495	900
Northlink TVET College	Wingfield	TVET	330	600
Vhembe TVET College	Mashamba	TVET	385	700
Vhembe TVET College	Makwarela	TVET	330	600
Total			20856	37938

The funding for the programme is dependent on the funding allocation from National Treasury.

Reply:

1. NSFAS is able to assist students with applications where there is no stable network, however it should be noted that applications closed on 15 February 2024.
2. A team can be deployed to Magabheni Sizakele Centre through a formal request sent to NSFAS. NSFAS will then assess if similar challenges are experienced in surrounding areas so that its intervention is not confined to specific or limited areas, and is also implemented in a manner that seeks to manage public sector funds efficiently.

Reply:

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is fully aware of the skewed demographics in the senior academic ranks of universities and since 2018 embarked on a wide-ranging programme of sectoral redress to transform the social structure of our academic system.

In 2018, the Department of Higher Education and Training instituted the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) funded by the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG). This innovation was brought about around the time of the Summit on the Transformation of Higher Education in 2015.

The Staff Development component of the UCDP contributes to the creation of an academic pipeline that enables the recruitment, retention and progression of academics, particularly black and women academics, along the entire pipeline, including through enabling research development, teaching development, leadership development and professional development opportunities for academics and professional staff. A general requirement that is applied to all the sub-programmes of the UCDP is that 80% of the beneficiaries must be Black and/or women South African citizens.

One of the sub-programmes of the UCDP is the Future Professors Programme (FPP). It aims to recruit young academics into a structured and intense programme to accelerate their readiness for the professoriate. The FPP contributes to building demographically transformed, professional, and capable senior academics at public universities in South Africa across various disciplines. The programme is being implemented to address the deficiency in black and women professors, at South African public universities. Currently, 144 lecturers are supported in the programme with the rest to be onboarded in 2024/25. Of these, 68 (47%) are males and 76 (53%) are females, 126 (88%) are Black (African, Coloured and Indian) and 18 (12%) are White. A total of 87 academics have completed the programme with 52 of them promoted to Professorship and the rest rated through the National Research Foundation’s rating system. All 26 universities are participating in the programme. So far (up to the 2023/24 financial year), a total amount of R135 229 574 has been invested in supporting approximately 171 senior lecturers into a structured programme to develop them towards professorship positions.

In addition to the FPP that specifically focuses on the development of senior academics to be ready for Professorial positions, three programmes that act as the pipeline for the FPP are being implemented. These programmes include the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) which recruits candidates who are interested in pursuing an academic career and who hold an Honours degree or junior degree. These candidates are supported through a structured and developmental programme to acquire Master’s degrees and are granted an opportunity of a one-year academic internship at South African universities which prepares them to apply for academic positions at universities. This includes a full scholarship to acquire a Master’s degree (or starting from an Honours level) and a one-year internship at a South African university. So far, a total amount of R113 384 650 has been allocated to universities for the implementation of this programme since its inception and a total of 193 positions and scholarships have been awarded to universities.

Next in the pipeline is the New Generation of Academics Programme (the nGAP) which recruits new academics against carefully designed and balanced equity considerations and disciplinary areas of greatest need into permanent posts at universities and supports them through an intensive development programme that includes acquiring PhDs and development towards a fully-fledged academic. To date, the programme has allocated a total of 872 posts to universities which amounts to a total investment of R2 263 522 782. So far, 772 lecturers have been recruited and appointed to the universities permanently. Of this number, 415 (54%) are females and 357 (46%) are males, 22 (3%) are white and 750 (97%) are black. A total of 188 of these lecturers have acquired their PhDs, and of these 101 are females and 87 are males. All universities are benefitting from the programme.

The third programme that can serve as a feeder to the FPP is the University Staff Doctoral Programme (USDP). The USDP supports existing permanent academics and professional staff at universities to achieve doctoral degrees through full scholarships. So far, a total of R183 456 061 has been invested in the programme since its inception in 2018 to support a total of 420 academics in universities. A total number of 324 academics are currently pursuing the PhDs with 196 (60%) being female and 128 (40%) male. Black academics supported constitute 290 (90%) and 34 (10%) white. Eighty-seven (87) academics supported have completed their PhDs and the rest are in progress. The Department has also specifically supported university programs which foster collaboration between historically-white and historically black, and urban and rural-based institutions.

Although COVID-19 negatively affected the progress of many of the academics supported through these programmes, the UCDP interventions are in full swing and will carry on until the demographics in the academic system reflects the demographics of the population.

Reply:

1. The proposed funding model for the missing middle is a loan scheme linked to a credit guarantee.
2. 31 884 students.
3. The funding model allows for students to repay the loan once they are employed.

Reply:

In the first instance, the feasibility study for the establishment of the campus was delayed by more than 5 months (May to Mid-October) due to the Limpopo Department of Education (LDE) denying access to the site (former Giyani College of Education). The Department resolved this by escalating the matter to the Limpopo Office of the Premier (OTP). Subsequently, the Limpopo OTP organized a meeting with the Department and LDE on 16 October 2023 where LDE agreed to grant access to the site, and a site visit was carried out 01-02 November 2023.

In the second instance, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) was denied access (from mid-November 2023 to end of February 2024), the Department resolved the issue by once again escalating the matter to the Limpopo OTP. The Department’s Senior Management, led by the Director-General, held a meeting with the Director-General of Limpopo on 13 March 2024. The meeting was also attended by the Limpopo Department of Education (LDE), the Mopani District Municipality, the Giyani Local Municipality (led by the Mayor), and TUT. The Limpopo OTP undertook to ensure that the Department and TUT have access to the site. The meeting agreed on an establishment of a broader Project Steering Committee that includes the Limpopo Office of the Premier, LDE, Mopani District Municipality, Giyani Local Municipality, and Community Structures.

Reply:

(a) During the conceptualisation phase of the National Artisan Development Academy, a research committee was established with members from the University of the Free State (UFS), Central University of Technology (CUT), Services SETA and Motheo TVET College. The study employed a qualitative research design that involved desktop analysis of supply and demand of trades and related occupations.

The analyses involved:

1) the review of the Sector Skills Plans of six Sector Education and Training Authorities that provide funding for trade and related occupations (with particular attention paid to PIVOTAL lists, scarce and critical skills lists),

2) DHET’ s list of priority occupations and Department of Trade (DTI) Sector Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) scarce skills as well as applicable policy and legislative framework. The research activities described above resulted in a combined list of 36 possible trades. These were further grouped according to their levels of similarities. Based on these analyses, a total of 23 trades were extracted from scarce skills. Sixteen trades were common across scarce and pivotal lists. Seven trades were listed as scarce and not pivotal. Nine trades were listed as pivotal and not scarce. The trades were grouped according to similar practical equipment requirements. Nine groups could be identified, covering 31 trades. Five trades could be allocated into any group. The study recommended that Groups 1-6 be accommodated at the Academy, in addition to Hairdressing and Beauty Treatment which fall within the scope of the Services SETA is accommodated at the Academy.

(b) The National Artisan Development Academy have 3 hostels on the campus where we can accommodate a total of 192 students. Students who are in programmes which are funded by NSFAS like the Occupational Certificate: Hairdresser and Visual Art & Design N4 to N6 will be accommodated in these hostels. The Student Support Services (SSS) Unit is assisting the college with student housing at the Academy for students resides from outside Bloemfontein.

Reply:

Neither the Department or the universities are aware of newly developed assessment systems. Section 28 (1) of the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, as amended, provides for the establishment of a senate as a university governance structure accountable to the council for the academic and research function. In addition, the Department ensures that universities have developed policies which provide for transparent selection and admissions.

The systems used by the three universities have been in use for some time but are continuously enhanced as institutional policies evolve. The systems are set up according to the minimum admission requirements per programme and when final results are received the system matches these against the applicant, calculates the point score as per the policy of a particular university, checks for designated subjects and levels and determines if the applicant meets the requirements or not. If minimum requirements are met, the applicant is placed in a selection pool (for the programme applied for) for faculties to consider and if they do not meet the minimum they are declined (automatically). The pool is then ranked by the system from highest point score to lowest and faculties are then allowed to proceed with selections and view the fresults.

If an offer is made, the system sends out an offer via email and the applicant is given time to accept the offer which differs per institution. The system also sends a reminder email. Should the offer be accepted this is recorded and the applicants receive registration information. Should the offer not be accepted it is forfeited but can still be accepted by the faculty where late acceptance is permitted. For applicants that accept offers and do not register as per the designated deadlines, a faculty may revoke the offer. While there is some automation, selection is not automated and faculties still quality assure the results and make an offer or decline an applicant 

Reply:

1. Section 34 (1) of the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, as amended, (the Act) states that “the council of a public higher education institution must appoint the employees of the public higher education institution”. Furthermore, subparagraph (3) states that “the council must determine the conditions of service, disciplinary provisions, privileges and functions of the employees of the institution, subject to the applicable labour law.

2. In this regard the university advised that it extended the contract of its head of security on the basis of his 35 years’ experience. He holds Security Course Certificate Grade A, B, C, D and E.

Reply:

For both universities, the process is currently at the second phase of technical planning studies focusing on detailed technical, geospatial, campus infrastructure, ICT, equipment, staffing and student support services costs. The scope further extends to the following tasks:

• Conducting a detailed audit of the qualifications, expertise, and capacity of existing staff at Hammanskraal police academy to determine skills gaps and requirements for the new higher education institutions and developing a talent acquisition model;
• Exploring mechanisms for securing collaborative partnerships and/or a consortium with universities already offering postgraduate qualifications with various specialisations in crime and policing studies;
• Conducting international benchmarking to assess the enhancement of education and training through next generation technologies;
• Investigating the various modalities of articulation pathways between the TVET (technical, vocational, educational, and training) sector and the new higher education institutions; and

Exploring the development of articulation pathways at the postgraduate level between the new higher education institutions and partnering universities.

The results of Phase Two technical modelling will enable the Department of Higher Education and Training to align implementation and funding plans with the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework planning process.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet:

1. The Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigating the accident had a first sitting on 5th of February 2024 and held the last the sitting on the 19th of February 2024. The draft report has been circulated to all the BOI members for comments and will be signed off latest 22nd of March 2024.

The BOI report forms part of the TFR investigation process and it is an internal document which is confidential. The BOI findings and outcomes can be shared on request.

(b)(i) 2021-2022 6 collisions

2022-2023 3 collisions

2023-12 March 2024 1 collision

(b) (ii) One sabotage case, but seven (7) of the ten (10) collisions occurred under abnormal operating conditions as a result of theft and vandalism.

(b (iii)

Province	Operations Area	Financial Year	Operating conditions	Outcome (Causes)
Mpumalanga	Nelspruit	2021/22	Abnormal: Visual Display Unit not operational leading to inability to locate train position in the section	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Driver declared his train complete and clear whilst it was not.
Gauteng	Welgedag	2021/22	Abnormal: Visual Display Unit not operational leading to inability to locate train position in the section	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Driver mislead the Train Control Officer by confirming the wrong position of his train
Eastern Cape	Port Elizabeth	2021/22	Normal	Non-adherence to the Train Working Rules in that the Train Driver passed a signal at Danger/Red which he was not authorized to pass after being warned by a previous signal which was at caution/yellow
Gauteng	Vereeniging	2021/22	Abnormal: track circuits were down leading to inability to locate train position in the section	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Control Officer did not make sure that the line was clear of trains before authorizing another train to proceed on the same line
Northern Cape	Kimberley	2021/22	Normal	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Driver exceeded the point where he was authorized up to whilst on his way to assist a failed train on the same line
Gauteng	Vereeniging	2021/22	Abnormal: Visual Display Unit not operational leading to inability to locate train position in the section	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Control Officer authorized a train without ensuring that the previous train was complete and clear of the section
KwaZulu Natal	Bayhead	2022/23	Normal	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules by the Track inspector in that he did not couple machines together when they were moving as a train.
Limpopo	Nelspruit	2022/23	Abnormal: Visual Display Unit not operational leading to inability to locate train position in the section	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Driver mislead the Train Control Officer by confirming the wrong position of his train.
Mpumalanga	Nelspruit	2022/23	Sabotage: once the angle cock is closed the following wagons’ brakes are disabled.	The train parted and the subsequent train following collided with the wagons left on the line. The angle cock was found in closed position on the last wagon that parted.
KwaZulu Natal	Richards Bay	2023/24	Abnormal: Visual Display Unit not operational leading to inability to locate train position in the section	Non-adherence to Train Working Rules in that the Train Control Officer did not make sure that the line is clear of trains before authorizing the movement into an occupied line.

Table: Total Number of Collision incidents (2021/22 – 2023/24)

(b) (iv) Interventions

1. Filling of Train Control vacancies to ensure effective supervision and alleviate fatigue;
2. Network rationalization to reduce manual verbal authorizations;
3. Approach market to explore technology on ‘Electronic Train Order’ capability; and
4. Establish back-up capacity to deal with communications failure.
5. Improve security effectiveness through Outcome Based Security contracts.

The transparency of Transnet and the continued efforts to improve operational efficiency and reduce mishaps is to be applauded.

 

Reply:

The information requested by the honorable member is not readily available as registration of post-graduates is still underway. Once all universities have finalised registration, data will be collated and verified with confirmations from the National Research Foundation, the Services SETA, National Skills Fund, National Student Financial Aid Scheme and other fellow government departments as well as state owned enterprises who sponsor post-graduate studies of students. Enquiries will also be made on how funding is sourced from the latter institutions.

Reply:

(a) Motheo TVET college has been offering these programmes as skills programmes since 2001. The current administration of the college inherited these programmes, which were offered as unaccredited skills programmes registered by the former Industry Boards as Competency Based Modular Training (CBMT) Programmes were registered as shorter skills training programmes. Upon realising that these programmes were not accredited, the management of the college took a decision to accredit these programmes through the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) since 2019. For ease of reference the accreditation letters of these programmes is attached, as well as other programmes as received from the QCTO. The college has always marketed these programmes as skills programmes, and not as accredited programmes. (b) The colleges stands to be guided otherwise in terms of reimbursing students/parents for tuition that has been paid as these are legacy programmes registered with old industry boards as far back as technical colleges and manpower centres. (c) The occupational programmes in questioned are accredited with QCTO and the details are as follows:

• Upholstery is now OC: Furniture Upholstery
• And welding is now OC: Welder

This course has their workplace component included in the curriculum. The college is working with industry partners to place all students successfully with employers. Attached find the accreditation certificates for all these occupational programmes.

Reply:

Part 1: Prior to this Parliamentary Question, I was not informed of the amount charged by the Sol Plaatje University (SPU). This is because the accreditation of private student accommodation is carried out by the institutions in line with their own policies and processes.

In its response to the question, SPU indicates the following:

• It imposes a fee for the accreditation of off-campus accommodation for the purpose of ensuring that this accommodation meets the University’s standards for safety, quality, and student comfort.
• It charges between R500-R1500 per year for each facility.
• Following accreditation, a nominal monthly administration fee is charged for each student housed, covering ongoing oversight and support services.

Part 2 – Main Question: Yes, it is a standard practise for universities to be charged private accommodation owners a fee for the accreditation of their facilities.

Part 2 (a): SPU responded as follows:

• These funds reimburse the University for administrative tasks, including managing payments to landlords and covering associated costs such as banking fees.
• The revenue directly contributes to enhancing the living and learning environment of its students. Specifically, it offsets bank charges and supports the residence budget.
• Despite facing financial challenges in managing residence operations as detailed in its published financial statements, these efforts reflect the University’s commitment to providing quality student accommodation.
• The charges are pivotal for maintaining its high accommodation standards.

Part 2 (b): SPU reports that it introduced private student accommodation in 2023 and for the 2023 financial year, it raised an amount of R4.2 million.

Additional Information: In addition to the above, SPU indicates the following:

• The University is committed to ensuring the highest standards of off-campus accommodation for its students.
• In line with this commitment, the University implements an accreditation system accompanied by a structured fee model:

Reply:

1. (a) A total of 326 offenders were released from 27 October 2023 to 02 November 2023 which is the project end date. Of the 326 offenders released, 02 offenders reoffended.

1. (b) Crimes committed by each offender are as follows:

No.	Offences Committed
	House breaking with intention to steal and Theft
	Assault

2. Details of Inmates readmitted to Correctional Centres as follows:

Readmission Date	Correctional Centres
01 November 2023	Empangeni Remand Detention Facility
02 November 2023	Jansenville

END

Reply:

1. The number of suspected illegal foreign nationals that have been arrested in quarter 3 of the 2023-24 financial year is 32572.
2. The number of the released illegal foreign nationals during quarter 3 from Lindela Repatriation Centre is 69.
3. The number of deported foreign nationals is 5148.

END.

Reply:

1. The Multi-Disciplinary Task Team (MDTT) has identified sixty-one (61) officials for disciplinary action in respect of potential irregular activities as at 29 February 2024 and;
2. Two (2) criminal referrals to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) for investigation of potential unlawful activities.

END.

Reply:

The medical parole application of the mentioned offender was presented to the Medical Parole Advisory Board (MPAB) on 30 November 2023 and the application was not recommended based on his clinical state and current investigations which will allow for future treatment.

Reply:

(i) The official vehicles for the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services are purchased and managed by Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

(ii) The Department of Correctional Services manages official vehicles for the Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services responsible for Correctional Services. The details of official vehicles purchased for the Deputy Minister since 08 May 2019 are as follows:

(a)(ii) Make	(b)(ii) Model	(c)(ii) Year of manufacture	(d)(ii) Date of purchase	(e)(ii) Purchase price
Toyota	Fortuner 2.8d 4x4	2019	2019/09/02	R606 588.20
Ford	Everest XLT 2.0d 4x4	2019	2019/09/02	R 606 539.90
Toyota	Fortuner 2.8 GD6 4x4	2023	2023/10/18	R 763 619.55
Toyota	Fortuner 2.8 GD6 4x4	2023	2023/11/22	R 763 619.55

END

Reply:

(1)(a) In January, the Department of Home Affairs experienced a system downtime on the National Population Register (NPR) due to a glitch. SITA submitted an incident report and also took corrective actions to restore services. They are also replacing the infrastructure that contributed to the failure as part of their Modernisation program, which we believe will improve stability. The glitch was caused by a failure on the Telco equipment at the back-end of the system.

(1)(b) The NPR and LC (Live Capture) systems are currently responsive and accessible. However, due to power interruptions and bulk verifications, there may be some accessibility issues. To manage this, the Department is prioritising traffic between the systems and ensuring that bulk verifications are managed within the allotted thresholds.

(1)(c) SITA has started a Modernisation program for all its data center equipment, which hosts critical systems. Additionally, their primary mainframe and storage vendor is actively monitoring the performance of links on a 24/7 basis. SITA has also upgraded its mainframe hardware. Moreover, the Department and SITA are jointly developing an Application Programme Interface (API) to further manage and streamline the data verification process.

(2) The Department's Modernisation program aims to enhance the user experience and provide citizens with better access to Home Affairs-related services. To achieve this goal, critical applications and infrastructure are being upgraded, and access to and from these services is also being improved. Additionally, new channels, such as kiosks, mobile offices, mobile applications, and offices at banks and malls, are being introduced to facilitate ease of access to these services.

END.

Reply:

1. RAF has made no commitment with iHeart. The event was part of a pilot project to promote road safety.

2. RAF has not sponsored or made any donation to iHeart.

Reply:

a) OR Tambo International Airport.

b) The issue was caused by:

• the radio coverage challenges which caused the unavailability of forward relays at various Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) remote sites. ATNS relies on third-party telecommunications service providers to relay the data from the control centre to the forward relay and vice-versa;
• Vandalism and theft where backup power facilities are often stolen at the sites. These sites, due to their remote nature, have become susceptible to power failures as backup power facilities are prone to theft; and
• Load-shedding.

c) Mid-March 2024.

Reply:

Designation	(a) Make	(b) Model	(c) Year of manufacture	(d) Purchase date	(e) Purchase Price
(i) Former Minister Dlamini -Zuma	Volvo	XC60	2020	24 March 2020	R 806 699.96
(ii) Deputy Minister Tau Cape Town office	Toyota	Fortuner 2.8 GD6	2023	30 May 2023	R 692 347.15
(i) Minister Nkadimeng Cape Town office	BMW	X3 20D	2023	28 June 2023	R 786 295.01
(i) Minister Nkadimeng Pretoria office	BMW	X3 20D	2023	28 June 2023	R 786 295.01
(ii) Deputy Minister Tau Pretoria office	BMW	X3 20D	2023	28 June 2023	R 786 295.01
(iii) Deputy Minister Burns-Ncamashe Pretoria Office	BMW	X3 20D	2023	29 March 2023	R 788,795.00

End.

Reply:

(1) In Daveyton, where trains are currently not operational, commuters use taxis as the main mode of transport for both long and short distances. Daily commuters were paying R7,50 for a single trip on the train and in the taxi; the fare is R23 for a one-way/single trip. The average cost of taxi transport per month is nearly R1300.00 compared to rail transport, which costs an average of R 416.00 monthly.

The table below is a cost comparison for road vs rail transport:

Transport destinations	2020-2021	Train fare	2022-2024	Train fare
	Taxi		Taxi
Daveyton- Dunswart	R20.00	R7.50	R23.00	No service
Daveyton - Germiston	R23.00	R8.50	R25.00	No service
Daveyton - Johannesburg	R27.00	R11.50	R35.00	No service
Daveyton- Pretoria	R50.00	R12.50	R70.00	No service

(2) Rail commuter transport is a cost-effective means of transportation. It is affordable, Government subsidized, and accessible. It has the ability to move a large number of commuters at once, which makes it an efficient mass mover. This accessibility provides commuters with access to economic opportunities at an affordable rate

Reply:

a) There is no long term contractual relationship between RAF and Heart FM, the project was a once of agreement. It arises out of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Strategic intervention of promoting road safety. The RAF has developed a strategy to identify and explore environments where road users are present. Music festivals have been identified as one of such environments.

A pilot project was implemented with Heart FM to implement this mandate, as a partner to educate the road users (Heart FM listeners) and festival attendees on the importance of road safety. As road users are engaged on these platforms, although they attend such events to have fun, they must be mindful not to drink and drive. They are strongly encouraged to stay safe on the road.

b) The total budget was R1 091 779.80.

c) On the day of the music festival, the RAF had activations, where RAF were educating the target audience on road safety. Twenty-four complimentary tickets were given to the Marketing team to carry out their work on the day of the event. No one else received tickets. On the day of the event, RAF were able to interact with 2,500 people. The RAF had access to 700, 000 listeners from Heart FM for a period of two weeks daily. The organisation also gained digital exposure through social media platforms as well as Heart FM’s as RAF co-branded during that period.

d) None

Reply:

(1) (a) Daveyton Train Station has been non-operational since Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 to date.

(b) The station is still currently non-operational due to the severity of the theft and vandalism that occurred during Covid-19, with the station building’s rails, steel steps, doors, roof sheets, station gates, as well as overhead wires, signalling equipment, and all other equipment for basic functionality completely vandalised. However, the Rebuild and Recovery Programme for the Daveyton line is in progress, with the station scheduled to be open in the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.

(2) There are two (2) security guards deployed for each shift at the Daveyton Station for 24 hours and two (2) security guards deployed to guard the Relay Room, which is situated within the vicinity of the Station.

(3) (a) Commuters could travel from Daveyton to Johannesburg Park Station via Germiston Junction and nineteen (19) stations in between. The line offered critical junctions like Dunswart, where commuters could connect from the far east of the Springs and Germiston Junction / Station.

(b) The ticket prices were zonal with a minimum cost of R7-50 to a maximum of R12-50 for a single trip. Monthly tickets were selling at a minimum of R142-00 to a maximum of R252-00. However, it should be noted that Prasa has not yet provided for weekly and monthly ticket sales.

(4) Daveyton is one of the seven (7) ‘Supercore’ stations out of fifty-two (52) stations in the Eastern Corridor. The routes, as mentioned in 3(a) was profitable, generating a revenue of around R24 million per year, with around 1,2 million tickets sold/issued.

Reply:

Details for Daveyton's recommissioning plans:

(a) The recovery of the PRASA inbound logistics in the main, the infrastructure network, rolling stock and train stations, and maintenance and train operations depots are at the centre and form an integral part of the PRASA Service Recovery Programme (PSRP) to deliver Customer Value. The Daveyton – Germiston – Johannesburg link is included in the PSRP. PRASA developed a rehabilitation phased-in approach plan to restore rail services in Gauteng. The strategy adopted focused on prioritising lines quicker to rebuild to enable the resumption of rail operations. The rehabilitation programme is divided into phases based on short turnaround times and allocations of capital funds. 

Below are the main projects that PRASA is working on to recommission the line and those include: 

NO.	CRITICAL PROJECTS	STAGE	ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATES
1	Rehabilitation of the OHTE	Procurement: Approach to Market	Jan 2025
2	Rehabilitation of Substations	Procurement Re-advert: Approach to Market	Jan 2025
3	Rehabilitation of drainage	Procurement: Adjudication	Sep 2024
4	Supply and Installation of rails	Delivery	Aug 2024
5	Rebuilding of Boksburg Bridge	Construction	Jul 2024
6	Rehabilitation of train stations	Procurement	Sept 2024

(b) The Daveyton-Germiston line is anticipated to resume the limited train operations during Quarter 3 of the 2024/25 financial year, focusing on critical areas that include the civil and electrical infrastructure and train station upgrades offering basic functionality.

The Boksburg Gas-Tanker explosion disaster of December 2022 that damaged the Boksburg Rail-Over Road Bridge resulted in additional scope of work following the bridge collapse, which affected the OHTE and rail infrastructure.

4. RECOMMENDATION

4.1 It is recommended that the EA approves the reply should she concur with its content.

______________________

MR NGWAKO MAKAEPEA

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL: RAIL TRANSPORT

DATE:

______________________

ADV JAMES MLAWU

DIRECTOR-GENERAL: TRANSPORT

DATE:

DECISION

Reply:

(a) Daveyton station and the other stations on the same line before decommissioning due to theft and vandalism. The station was rated as Super Core because it generated over R1 million in revenue and had high patronage and a high frequency of trains that operated in the corridor to serve the high demand.

As a high-performing corridor, all stations were well-resourced and allocated with customer and protection service staff to effectively manage access to stations and trains by manning all entry points to allow only paying customers entry through the successful implementation of various revenue enhancement programmes like “iThikithi eSandleni” and “Home and Away” initiatives to ensure that all commuters paid for their train fares and verified before entering and exiting the stations. Daveyton station used to have infrastructural building facilities that complied with the universal access and the lifts that provided access to the platforms.

(b) The train service in Daveyton – Johannesburg last ran on 18 January 2020. The Springs to Johannesburg terminated on 05 February 2020, just before the introduction of the March 2020 lockdown. Below is the table that indicates the number of passenger trips for both the year 2018 and 2019 respectively:-

LINE	ACTUAL PASSENGER TRIPS	TERMINATION DATE
	2018	2019
Daveyton - Johannesburg	14 956	9 989	18 JAN 2020

Daveyton station was run by trained personnel from Customer Services. There were staff members responsible for station maintenance/cleanliness, ticket sales, customer care, etc. For the safety of commuters, PRASA had internal Protection Services members and contracted security officials responsible for the safety of personnel, commuters, the company’s assets and trains. For commuters to plan their trip, the station had noticeboards displaying train schedules.

Trains ran on schedule, and Train Control Officers monitored movement at the Gauteng Nerve Centre (GNC). Trains arrived and departed from designated platforms, numbered for easy identification. Train announcements were made over public address system, indicating train arrivals, departures, delays, and other important train service information. The station had safety measures implemented, where warning signs and safety announcements were made to ensure customers’ safety.

Customers purchased train tickets at the ticket office before boarding the train, including weekly and monthly tickets. The station had functional amenities such as restrooms, platform shelters, and benches for journey experience and comfort.

Reply:

(1) The Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC) is a non-profit organisation established in 1909. PIARC’s broad aim is to promote international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge on issues relating to roads, road infrastructure and road transport. With more than 125 member countries, PIARC brings together governments from all over the globe. Its members represent all levels of economic development and every region in the world. In addition to national governments, PIARC includes regional authorities, collective members, and individual members.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) represents South Africa and has been an active member and participant in PIARC since 1998. The works of PIARC are primarily done through Technical Committees on four-year cycles. The Technical Committees have representation from various countries from a wide cross section and spectrum around the world, including developed and developing nations. South Africa is an example of a member country with an economy in transition.

It is important for both developed and developing nations including those such as South Africa, that have a world class national road network, to have a voice on these PIARC Technical Committees, to represent the SADC region and the African continent, to ensure that the standards/specification and products produced are aligned to varying needs. The works of the Technical Committees generally culminate in best internal practices and experiences, which take the form of Literature Review Reports, Reports on the Collections of Case Studies for specific topics of interests and relevance, briefing notes, Technical Reports and Technical documents, as well as other technical documents on Technical events, all of which are road or road transport related. There are also various International Seminars held in various parts of the world on road and road transport topics depending on the needs of such countries or regions. These are coordinated by PIARC in conjunction with localised road authorities.

During the past four-year work cycle (2020-2023), SANRAL together with PIARC co-hosted Technical Committee meetings for two Technical Committees namely, TC 2.2 Accessibility and Mobility in Rural Areas and TC 3.1 Road Safety, as well as an International Seminar with SARF and the international Road Federation, in Oct 2022, as part of the knowledge exchange initiatives promoted by PIARC and its members. SANRAL showcased our commitment to Transformation, Skills Development, Engineering Excellence and Flagship projects.

2(a) SANRAL participation in PIARC is directly aligned to SANRAL’s strategic priorities as outlined in the SANRAL ACT 7 of 1998, section 26 which states:

(r) to liaise with bodies of professional persons performing work with regard to national roads in the Republic or similar roads elsewhere;

(s) to liaise and exchange information, knowledge and expertise with the official bodies or authorities entrusted with control over roads of a national or international character in other countries, and to participate in the conferences, seminars and workshops of those bodies or authorities and in the activities of any multinational or international association of those bodies or authorities;

2(b) The contribution of the SANRAL representatives/members on the various PIARC structures have been significant over the last four year cycle, as evident in the body of work and reports, and seminar proceedings, which are available and published on the PIARC official website (www.pairc.org).

It is clearly evident that South African PIARC Technical Committees members selected to the attend the final meetings and Congress, in addition to presentations made at the said World Road Congress (WRC) in Prague, have also made significant contributions to this international body of work. Their participation in the WRC is therefore a logical conclusion to share and receive feedback on the body of knowledge produced during the four-year cycle.

To further illustrate this point, South Africa had active representation on a number PIARC Technical Committees during the 2020-2023 cycle. The following reports have South African PIARC Technical Committee Members as part of the Author groups and/or acknowledged for their contributions. These include and are not limited to the following technical reports and products under the 4 primary Strategic Themes, namely:

Strategic Theme 1: Road Administrations

Technical Committee on Performance of Transport Administration produced:

• It´s All About People – Defining and Promoting Diversity and New Talent Management - Technical Report. ISBN: 978-2-84060-773-1
• Customer Experience and Public Value Creation – Technical Report. ISBN: 978-2-84060-748-9
• Diversity and Talent Management in Transport Administrations – The Road to Success. - Literature Review Report. ISBN: 978-2-84060-670-3

Technical Committee on Finance and Procurement produced:

• Best Practices in Funding and Financing of Road Infrastructure - Collection of Case Studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-688-8

Technical Committee on Disaster Management produced:

• Climate Change, Resilience and Disaster Management for Roads - Seminar ISBN: 978-2-84060-777-9
• A Study on Financial Management of Disasters in the International Arena - Briefing Note ISBN: 978-2-84060-694-9

Strategic Theme 2: Mobility

Technical Committee on Mobility in Urban Areas produced:

• Case Studies on Travel Behaviour Data Collection in Metropolitan Regions - Briefing Note ISBN: 978-2-84060-798-4

Technical Committee Accessibility and Mobility in Rural Areas produced:

• Rural Roads: Pillars of Rural Development - Case Studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-812-7

 

Technical Committee on Road Freight produced:

• Control and Enforcement Measures to Reduce Truck Overloading and Associated Infrastructure Damage on Road Networks - Collection of Case Studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-689-5

Technical Committee on Road Network Operation/ITS produced:

• Utilizing Data to Optimize Road Network Operations - Collection of Case Studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-684-0

Strategic Theme 3: Safety and Sustainability

Technical Committee on Road Safety produced:

• Specific Road Safety Issues for LMICs: Illustrative Examples - Collection of Case Studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-775-5

Strategic Theme 4: Resilient Infrastructure

Technical Committee on Road Pavements (Structural Design) produced:

• Innovative Pavement Maintenance and Repair Strategies - Collection of Case Studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-721-2
• Use of Recycled Materials in Pavements - Case studies ISBN: 978-2-84060-678-9

Technical Committee on Bridges produced:

• Road Bridges - New Rehabilitation Materials and Technologies - Technical Report ISBN: 978-2-84060-709-0

Technical Committee on Tunnels produced:

• Good Practices in Maintenance and Traffic Operation of Heavily Trafficked Urban Road Tunnels - Technical Report ISBN: 978-2-84060-734-2
• Improving Road Tunnel Resilience, Considering Safety and Availability - Literature Review ISBN: 978-2-84060-631-4

Technical Committee Road Design Standards produced:

• State of the Art in Road Design Standards - Literature Review ISBN: 978-2-84060-708-3

The congress, organised by PIARC and the Czech Road Society, brought together more than 6,000 participants from 120 countries, including 1,700 Czech and Slovak students, 4,000 delegates and 40 ministers and deputy ministers from around the world, who shared their views, policies and practices over five days. The Congress hosted 65 sessions, 16 workshops and 15 technical visits.

The insights gained from the above reports, presentations and discussions are then incorporated, where applicable, into the South African Committee of Transport Officials National Guidelines Series for South Africa, which consist of over 30 publications that are used to guide officials and industry consultants on the applicable best practices to be applied in South Africa.

Reply:

(1) (2) and (3) The question falls under the Executive Authority of the Members of the Executive Council (MECs) of the 9 Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). The Honourable Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MECs as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules. 

Reply:

(a) (i) Please see attached

(b) (c) (d) The requested information resides with the provinces. The Honourable member is kindly requested to direct the question to the Members of the Executive Council (MECs). 

Reply:

a) Reasons for dependency on external service providers by municipalities for the work that can be done internally have been investigated and documented in the State of Local Government Report (SOLG) as follows:

• Lack of adequate support from National and Provincial Government departments and other service delivery departments.
• High vacancies rates in key senior management positions within municipalities (especially distressed municipalities) has resulted in the increased reliance on external service providers in core services.
• The absence of CFOs in municipalities impact sound financial management and vacancies in the technical departments compromise service delivery.
• Revenue challenges in municipalities (especially dysfunctional municipalities) caused by negative economic position makes is difficult for them to attract and retain competent staff members.

b) Measures to build internal capacity to provide the core services required by the public:

a) The introduction of the Municipal Systems Act: Municipal Staff Regulations of 2021, in line with the Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000, laid a solid foundation for the achievement of the objective to strengthen the capacity of municipalities to perform their functions through recruitment and appointment of suitably qualified and competent persons, thereby professionalising local government and decreasing the use of external service providers for core functions.

b) Municipal Skill audits (Gapskill system):

Chapter 5 of the MSR obliges municipalities to conduct Skills development to:

• support the achievement of the municipality’s goals set out in the Integrated Development Plan by providing critical skills that ensure the delivery of quality services.
• promote the development and retention of competent municipal staff, including the development of technical, professional and specialist staff who have the required qualifications and skills.
• support the employment equity objectives of a municipality.
• be based on high quality provision and effective workplace learning and development practices, including coaching, mentoring, on-the-job learning and opportunities for the practical application of skills in the workplace.

Moreover, the department is finalizing the enhancement of the Gapskill system in order to assist municipalities to support staff members to:

• clarify the skills required for jobs, identifying relevant skills needs and develop opportunities to satisfy the skills needs.
• identify new skills and knowledge required by staff to support their career growth and progression.
• create learning opportunities which will allow their staff to develop the skills and expertise to enable them to compete effectively for placement in new or vacant posts; and
• ensure that skills development is a KPA in senior managers and supervisors performance agreements.

c) Professionalisation of the public services:

• The Department is participating in the implementation of the Professionalisation of public service through the setting of uniform standards for staff establishment, job competency framework, recruitment, selection and appointment, performance management, capacity building and skills development.
• To deal with the issue of bloated organograms, the Department developed prototypes staff establishments according to powers and functions of different categories of municipalities and is now in the process of piloting and validating the prototype staff establishments in all municipalities, over a period of 36 months. The implementation of the prototype staff establishments will result in the “fit for purpose” functional operating models of municipalities. Capacitated municipalities will no longer rely on service providers for core services.
• In 2016, the Department introduced competency assessment for senior managers in line with the Competency Framework as promulgated in 2014 with the Regulations on appointment and conditions of services for senior managers (Regulations). The Department has finalised the review of the current Local Government: Competency Framework and assessment batteries for different categories of municipal positions during the 2022/23 financial year and has embarked on the pilot and validation of competency assessment batteries during the 2023/24 financial year.

d) To strengthen the coordination of capacity building in local government, the in order to build internal capacity:

The NCBF of 2004 has been reviewed and resulted in the approval of the Integrated Local Government Capacity Building Strategy (ILGCBS&IP) in 2022. This aims to provide an overarching new framework strategy that incorporates all current existing capacity building strategies in local government. The ILGCBS&IP will decisively deal with the rise of well-intended, but uncoordinated short-term municipal capacity building interventions and ensure that all municipalities become adequately capacitated to take on their redistribution, transformation and developmental tasks in a viable, structured and affordable way, and within the shortest possible period of time (as directed in the Constitution).

Establishment of a Sector-wide National Capacity Building Coordinating Forum as a coordination mechanism - consists of key sector departments, provincial departments responsible for local government, state associated institutions (LGSETA, SALGA). It serves as single-window of capacity building coordination and a clearing house for any initiative that is earmarked for local government.

End

Reply:

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation has not planned any events to take place before 29 May 2024 in celebration of the 30 years of democracy in the Republic.

 

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Reply:

 

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Reply:

(a)(b),(c) Any member of the Communal Property Association (CPA), can make a request to the CPA executive to access CPA information. A request must be formally made to the CPA executive committee and the Department can assist if the Committee fail to provide the copy of the constitution, financial statements, and updated membership register.

(d) A request must be formally made to the Land Claims Commission to obtain copies of the title deeds.

Reply:

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Reply:

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Reply:

The Directive on Human Resources Management and Development for Public Service Professionalisation, Volume 1, ratified by the Minister for Public Service and Administration on 16 February 2024, specifies various support mechanisms to aid departments in implementing the National Framework for Public Sector Professionalisation. These mechanisms encompass, among numerous others, the following:

(a) Forms of Support Offered to Departments

In the context of forms of support offered to departments, the Directive specifies support in recruitment and selection, detailing requirements for the Senior Management Service (SMS), including the Nyukela Certificate, experience waiver for entry-level roles, and graduate recruitment programs. It obligates departments to train individuals appointed without experience, incorporating training, coaching, and mentorship for employee development. The Directive mandates that new employees undergo induction within six months of joining while existing staff must participate in re-orientation programs every five years. The Directive merges performance management with professional development, advocating for reporting tools to enhance impactful performance outcomes and link them to organisational goals. Furthermore, the Directive prescribes the maintenance of a qualifications database to align skills development with Human Resources plans and address the sector's skill shortages.

(b) Impact of Support on the Implementation of the Framework

Under the "impact of support on the implementation of the framework," it is imperative to note the Directive emphasises strict compliance and outlines legal consequences for non-compliance, aiming to enhance public sector proficiency and ethics through rigorous recruitment, comprehensive training, and ongoing professional development. This strategic approach is expected to have a positive ripple effect on the successful enactment of the Framework. With the official full-scale implementation date slated for 1 April 2024, and despite being nascent, proactive measures and preliminary applications of the Directive have already been set in motion. The implementation phase is reinforced by a meticulously designed monitoring framework, which employs systematic observation, in-depth analytical review, and the strategic leveraging of insights to strengthen accountability and transparency across the board. This methodology is finely tuned to align with the Directive's overarching goals, aiming to catalyse a transformative journey towards heightened excellence and professionalism within public service entities.

(c) Training and Workshopping of Heads of Department and Senior Management

Within the context of training and workshopping for heads of department and senior management, the Directive was extensively discussed at forums such as FOSAD, GSCID, and various inter-government committees, ensuring its comprehensive circulation for broad-based consultation and understanding. It was thoroughly workshopped with corporate leaders, encompassing senior managers and relevant officials, during the department’s routine monthly meetings with Heads of Corporate Services across the public service. Despite the Directive's formal effectuation date being 1 April 2024, proactive steps have been undertaken by the MPSA to roll out outreach and educational initiatives aimed at the actual implementers within the public service, as evidenced by the programmes already undertaken in the Mpumalanga province. These outreach and educational sessions to all provinces have been planned for the first quarter of the 2024/2025 reporting period, signifying ongoing efforts in this crucial implementation area.

End

Reply:

	(a) Make	(b) Model	(c) Year of manufacture	(d) Date of purchase	(e) Purchase price paid since 8 May 2019
(i) Minister	BMW	X3 XDRIVE 20D	2022	4 March 2024	R786 710
(ii) Deputy Minister	Audi	Q5 4.0 TDI	2023	13 October 2023	R795 000

Reply:

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Reply:

The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has approved a Manual in terms of section 14 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No.2 of 2000) (PAIA) which, amongst others, deals with and promotes the right to access records held by the DPSA, as a public body and sets out the procedures to be followed by members of the public to access records held by the DPSA.

Furthermore, the DPSA has published, on its website, a Notice in terms of section 15 of PAIA identifying categories of records of the department which are automatically available without a person having to request access in terms of the procedures contained in the Manual.

The Manual and section 15 Notice are available on the DPSA website at the following link: https://www.dpsa.gov.za/paia/

In so far as human resource data and any other information to enable external analysis, research and advice is concerned, such requests are considered and released subject to the provisions of the PAIA and the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013) with due regard to the lawful requirements for the further processing of personal information.

End

Reply:

The freeze dryer was not operational over the December period due to technical issues which required the services of a specialist service provider. Finding the specialist took some time with an appointment only made in January 2024. The freeze dryer has been operational since the third week of February 2024.

Six batches of vaccines have been freeze-dried to date. Production is continuing over seven days (every day of the week) to cover the production backlog.

Reply:

 

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Reply:

No, the Minister has not engaged with King Misizulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini and the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform because –

a) the administration of the Ingonyama Trust Act rests with the Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, who is in terms of the provisions of the Act, the competent Executive Authority regarding the affairs of the Ingonyama Trust.

b) The Minister is also not a competent authority in relation to the issue of the desirability of the King taking the Chairpersonship of the Trust. The composition of the Board falls within the purview of the Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

End.

Reply:

In terms of Proclamation R84 of 2022, gazetted on 5 August 2022, I authorised an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into certain allegations with respect to the affairs of the University of Fort Hare. The matters for investigation included allegations with respect to the awarding of honours degrees.

I am informed by the SIU that the investigation is ongoing.

The SIU proclamations issued by the President are not meant for specific individuals but are rather related to alleged maladministration and/or malpractices in connection with the affairs of a State institution.

Reply:

1 (a-b) and (b)

Section 197 (1) of the Constitution states that “within public administration there is a public service for the Republic, which must function, and be structured, in terms of national legislation, and which must loyally execute the lawful policies of the government of the day”. The Code of Conduct for Public Servants also state under Section 12(f) of the Public Service Regulations, 2016 that public servants “Shall not abuse his or her position in the public service to promote or prejudice the interest of any political party or interest group”. Section 13(k) states that public servants shall “refrain from party political activities in the workplace”.

The question by the Honourable Member is therefore unfortunate, as it has undertones of dragging public servants into party political work. This is wholly unethical and against the Constitution. The Public Service and Administration cannot and must not work on the basis of opinion polls, which we are not aware of their methodologies, limitations and biases. The professionalisation of the Public Service requires that public administration be protected from political interference and abuse. To this end, the Department has proposed through the amendments to the Public Service Act, a clear delineation of duties and responsibilities to improve accountability between the political and administrative sphere.

End

Reply:

(1) The AI Kuwait that docked in Cape Town was ferrying 17500 heads of cattle from Rio Grande, Brazil to Iraq. A South African Company, acting on behalf of their customer, approached the Department with a request to allow the vessel that was transporting 17500 heads of cattle to dock in Cape Town to load 2000 tons of animal feed. Detailed specifications of the vessel were provided, ensuring stringent measures to prevent contamination. Loading procedures for the feed were outlined, involving the use of conveyor belts. No livestock from South Africa was carried on this vessel.

Relating to the cases of exports from South Africa, the current laws, standards, and international norms and standards that are used for the exports of live animals from the Republic, already serve to provide assurances for animal welfare. The department is, however, working on beefing up the regulatory framework by introducing regulations for the export of animals by sea.

(2) Yes.

(a),(b) The first draft will be finalised by the end of April 2024. This will be followed by the formal legislation development processes including a socio-economic impact assessment, public consultation, and review of the comments from the public. Once the process has been completed, the document will be presented to the Minister for consideration and promulgation. It is envisaged that the second part of the process will be completed in the second quarter of the next financial year.

(i),(ii),(ii),(iv) The regulations will include the appropriate measures.

(3) Any possible prohibitions will be considered during the drafting of the regulations.

4. No.

Reply:

The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, implemented as the Basic Education Employment Initiative across all provinces has had four (4) successful Phases, of which Phase IV concluded in September 2023.  As there is no phase currently active, there are no teaching assistants employed in the Basic Education Sector. 

Reply:

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Reply:

It is our understanding that the transgressions (non-compliance with the Municipal Investment Regulations) in relation to the VBS investigations is currently before the courts. We are therefore unable to provide any comment in this regard at this point in time.

End.