Questions and Replies

Reply:

Yes. The Draft Guidelines on the Employment of Foreign Educators in South Africa (public schools) were approved by the Heads of Education Departments Committee. The guidelines are currently being implemented by Provincial Education Departments (PEDs).

Reply:

(1) (a) Since 2011, 613 reservations for a total of 36 299 persons were made.

(b) Since 2011, revenue has been R16, 358 million excluding Vat and the amount indicated is a net profit. The Conference Centre was built as a preparation to test the market for the Skukuza Lodge. It is envisaged that Conference Centre will make significant profits once the construction of the Skukuza Lodge is finalised and the Lodge is open for business. SANParks also anticipates that the Skukuza Lodge will break even in the first year of operation because of the attraction generated by the Nombolo Conference facilities. The plan is to have the two facilities co-existing and complimenting each other.

(2) Yes.

(3) (a) The construction cost for the Nombolo Conference Centre was R 27,3 million.

(b) Yes.

---ooOoo---

Reply:

1. (a) No

(b) Provincial Education Departments are autonomous. DBE does not have access or control over their procurement processes.

(i) N/A

(ii) N/A.

2. None.

Reply:

1. (a) (i) 2014-15: 14

         (ii) 2015-16: 44

         (iii) 2016-17: 148

(b) 2016/2017: R116 148 679.00 and 2017/2018: R112 013 603.00.

2. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife does have anti-poaching plans, and these are aligned to the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Strategy (National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations in South Africa); and the Cabinet approved Integrated Strategic Approach for the Management of Rhinoceros, as well as the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Joints Instruction 3/2011 of 17 February 2011).

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has a three year strategy, 2014–2017, which is presently being reviewed, with assistance of Provincial Cabinet Task Team, six months review and assessment February to July 2017. The Strategy covers the following:

• Program Oversight.
• Liaison Strategic Liaison.
• Rhino Reserve Standard Operating Procedures.
• Rhino Awareness.
• Rhino Reserve Security Assessments.
• Operational Data and Information Systems Analysis.
• Population Analysis.
• Poaching Information Monitoring and Analysis.
• Horn Stockpile Management.
• Investigations and Case Management.
• Joint Crime Prevention Operations.
• Supplementary Funding and Administration.
• Reporting.

Furthermore, Ezemvelo KZN WIldlife has a specific objective to manage the poaching mortality rate of endangered species (rhino), and this includes an Annual Operation Plan as follows:

• Special Data Investigations Information and Intelligence.
• Special Operations on Project Investigations and Disruptive Operations.
• Prevention of Crime Access.
• Education and Awareness.
• Detectives Investigation Services.

The use of technology to support counter poaching and disruption operations is critical, as the majority of poaching is undertaken in the dark hours, even during no moon periods. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has identified the need to expand its technical ability to react to and detect incursions at night, which requires specialist technology and equipment for staff to operate at night. Whilst some of this technology is being supported by donors in its development and test phases, there is a need for a sustainable budget in order to operate and maintain the systems. These technologies focus on the early detection and rapid response in dark hours.

3. (a) (i) and (ii)

Ezemvelo does work with the private sector at a national, provincial and local level. This liaison does have a formal status with the Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA).

The private rhino owners are represented on the SAPS Provincial Priority Committee Rhino Poaching, which facilitates state security capacity.

Monthly tactical operations planning meetings are held with all rhino reserve managers, including private sector, for the alignment of joint operations, and/or to address high risk areas.

(iii) Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife does work with, and has agreements with, a number of Non-Government and/or Profit Organisations that fund and implement identified projects. The key agreements in place are with:

• Peace Parks Foundation;
• Wildlands Conservation Trust;
• African Wildlife Foundation; and
• Project Rhino.

Equipment has also been donated to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife on an ad hoc basis to address specific needs, for example, by the GEF-UNEP Rhino Programme (managed by the DEA and funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

(b) Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife forms part of the SAPS Operation Rhino Mission Area Joint Operations Command (MAJOC), which is a NATJOINTS (National Security and Joint Operational Structure) project that focusses on assisting with operations outside protected areas, and mainly on disruption and crime prevention operations and reactions. This MAJOC also assists with law enforcement along the corridor roads in KwaZulu-Natal’s rhino reserves.

ooOoo

Reply:

The Department has forwarded the question to the nine Provincial Education Departments and is awaiting the response. The response will be forwarded as soon as the Department receives it.

Reply:

(a) and (b)

The following tables indicate the number of un-and underqualified educators per district in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Overall, the numbers of un-and under-qualified educators has been reducing over the last three (3) years.

On average, about 60% of all un-and-under-qualified educators are appointment in KwaZulu-Natal with a significant number in the rural districts such as Zululand, uThukela and uThungulu.

Table 1: Number of un-and underqualified educators per district in 2014

(b) PROVINCE/DISTRICT/CIRCUIT	Number of Teachers
EASTERN CAPE	370
BIZANA DISTRICT OFFICE	70
BUTTERWORTH	10
COFIMVABA	21
CRADOCK	2
DUTYWA EDUCATION	20
EAST LONDON	6
FORT BEAUFORT	1
GRAAFF REINET	1
GRAHAMSTOWN	5
KING WILLIAM'S TOWN	9
LADY FRERE	6
LIBODE	27
LUSIKISIKI	34
MALUTI	19
MOUNT FLETCHER	6
MOUNT FRERE	40
MTHATHA	27
NGCOBO	16
PORT ELIZABETH	3
QUEENSTOWN	10
QUMBU	14
STERKSPRUIT	6
UITENHAGE	17
FREE STATE	274
FREE STATE: EDUCATION	274
GAUTENG	435
D3 TSWANE NORTH	15
D9 JOHANNESBURG EAST	2
EN: EKURHULENI NORTH INSTITUTION	18
ES: EKURHULENI SOUTH INSTITUTION	76
GE: GAUTENG EAST INSTITUTIONS	78
GN: GAUTENG NORTH INSTITUTIONS	3
GW: GAUTENG WEST INSTITUTIONS	80
JC: JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS	23
JE: JOHANNESBURG EAST INSTITUTIONS	38
JN: JOHANNESBURG NORTH INSTITUTIONS	13
JS: JOHANNESBURG SOUTH INSTITUTIONS	29
JW: JOHANNESBURG WEST INSTITUTIONS	14
SE: SEDIBENG EAST INSTITUTIONS	15
SW: SEDIBENG WEST INSTITUTIONS	6
TN: TSHWANE NORTH INSTITUTIONS	1
TS: TSHWANE SOUTH INSTITUTIONS	1
TW: TSHWANE WEST INSTITUTIONS	23
KWAZULU/NATAL	4558
SISONKE DISTRICT	446
UMKHANYAKUDE DISTR	443
UMLAZI DISTRICT	163
AMAJUBA DISTRICT	97
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT	508
PINETOWN DISTRICT	244
ZULULAND DISTRICT	957
UGU DISTRICT	290
UMZINYATHI DISTRICT	405
UTHUKELA DISTRICT	512
ILEMBE DISTRICT	291
UMGUNGUNDLOVU DISTRICT	202
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	19
BALTIMORE CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
DWAALBOOM CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
ELLISRAS CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
GROBLERSDAL CIRCUIT OFFICE	5
MAPELA CIRCUIT OFFICE	3
MOUTSE CENTRAL CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
NGWAABE CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
NGWARITSI CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
NYLSTROOM CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
TUBATSE CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
WARMBATHS CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
MPUMALANGA	265
MDE BOHLABELA INSTITUTIONS	5
MDE EHLANZENI INSTITUTIONS	52
MDE GERT SIBANDE INSTITUTIONS	174
MDE NKANGALA INSTITUTIONS	34
NORTH WEST	209
DR.KENNETH KAUNDA DISTRICT	4
DR RSM	99
NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA	100
BOJANALA	6
NORTHERN CAPE	388
FRANCIS BAARD	46
JOHN TAOLE GAETSEWE	147
NAMAQUA	13
PIXLEY KA SEME	55
SIYANDA	127
WESTERN CAPE	201
CAPE WINELANDS EDUCATION DISTRICT	18
EDEN & CENTRAL KAROO EDUCATION DISTRICT	31
METRO CENTRAL EDUCATION DISTRICT	38
METRO EAST EDUCATION DISTRICT	12
METRO NORTH EDUCATION DISTRICT	64
METRO SOUTH EDUCATION DISTRICT	26
OVERBERG EDUCATION DISTRICT	2
WEST COAST EDUCATION DISTRICT	10
Grand Total	6719

Table 2: Number of un-and underqualified educators per district in 2015

(b) PROVINCE/DISTRICT/CIRCUIT	Number of Teachers
EASTERN CAPE	339
BIZANA DISTRICT OFFICE	58
BUTTERWORTH	13
COFIMVABA	18
CRADOCK	2
DUTYWA EDUCATION	18
EAST LONDON	4
FORT BEAUFORT	1
GRAAFF REINET	2
GRAHAMSTOWN	6
KING WILLIAM'S TOWN	10
LADY FRERE	4
LIBODE	24
LUSIKISIKI	22
MALUTI	13
MOUNT FLETCHER	7
MOUNT FRERE	54
MTHATHA	27
NGCOBO	12
PORT ELIZABETH	2
QUEENSTOWN	8
QUMBU	12
STERKSPRUIT	6
UITENHAGE	16
FREE STATE	285
FREE STATE: EDUCATION	285
GAUTENG	461
D3 TSWANE NORTH	17
EN: EKURHULENI NORTH INSTITUTION	20
ES: EKURHULENI SOUTH INSTITUTION	58
GE: GAUTENG EAST INSTITUTIONS	78
GE: GAUTENG EAST OFFICE	2
GW: GAUTENG WEST INSTITUTIONS	94
JC: JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS	28
JE: JOHANNESBURG EAST INSTITUTIONS	35
JN: JOHANNESBURG NORTH INSTITUTIONS	17
JS: JOHANNESBURG SOUTH INSTITUTIONS	26
JW: JOHANNESBURG WEST INSTITUTIONS	9
SE: SEDIBENG EAST INSTITUTIONS	16
SW: SEDIBENG WEST INSTITUTIONS	6
TS: TSHWANE SOUTH INSTITUTIONS	1
TW: TSHWANE WEST INSTITUTIONS	54
KWAZULU/NATAL	3629
AMATHUBA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	176
BAMBANANI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	189
BERGVILLE CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	151
BHEKUZULU CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	163
DANHAUSER CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	78
DURBAN CENTRAL CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	48
DURBAN NORTH-WEST CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	72
EMTSHEZI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	274
HLABISA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	237
INGWAVUMA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	143
IXOPO CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	270
MAFUKUZELA-GHANDHI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	114
MAHLABATHINI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	130
MAPHUMULO CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	157
NDWEDWE CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	63
NONGOMA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	183
PAULPIETERSBURG CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	259
PHOLELA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	98
PHUMELELA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	64
SAYIDI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	99
SCOTTBURGH CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	152
UBUMBANO CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	33
UMNGENI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	59
UMSUNDUZI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	49
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT : CLUSTER A	213
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT : CLUSTER B	68
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT : CLUSTER C	87
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	14
BALTIMORE CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
DWAALBOOM CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
ELLISRAS CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
GROBLERSDAL CIRCUIT OFFICE	3
HLOGOTLOU CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
MAPELA CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
MOUTSE CENTRAL CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
NYLSTROOM CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
WARMBATHS CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
MPUMALANGA	276
MDE BOHLABELA INSTITUTIONS	36
MDE EHLANZENI INSTITUTIONS	46
MDE GERT SIBANDE INSTITUTIONS	160
MDE NKANGALA INSTITUTIONS	34
NORTH WEST	310
BOJANALA	4
DR KENNETH KAUNDA	11
DR RSM	115
NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA	180
NORTHERN CAPE	394
FRANCIS BAARD	61
JOHN TAOLE GAETSEWE	146
NAMAQUA	13
PIXLEY KA SEME	47
SIYANDA	127
WESTERN CAPE	322
CAPE WINELANDS EDUCATION DISTRICT	23
EDEN & CENTRAL KAROO EDUCATION DISTRICT	46
METRO CENTRAL EDUCATION DISTRICT	48
METRO EAST EDUCATION DISTRICT	22
METRO NORTH EDUCATION DISTRICT	82
METRO SOUTH EDUCATION DISTRICT	73
OVERBERG EDUCATION DISTRICT	11
WEST COAST EDUCATION DISTRICT	16
WESTERN CAPE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT:HEAD OFFICE	1
Grand Total	6030

Table 3: Number of un-and underqualified educators per district in 2016

(b) PROVINCE/DISTRICT/CIRCUIT	Number of Teachers
EASTERN CAPE	261
BIZANA DISTRICT OFFICE	37
BUTTERWORTH	12
COFIMVABA	17
CRADOCK	2
DUTYWA EDUCATION	14
EAST LONDON	3
FORT BEAUFORT	1
GRAHAMSTOWN	4
KING WILLIAM'S TOWN	10
LADY FRERE	2
LIBODE	12
LUSIKISIKI	21
MALUTI	7
MOUNT FLETCHER	7
MOUNT FRERE	46
MTHATHA	21
NGCOBO	10
QUEENSTOWN	8
QUMBU	8
STERKSPRUIT	4
UITENHAGE	15
FREE STATE	303
FREE STATE: EDUCATION	303
GAUTENG	293
D3 TSWANE NORTH	26
D9 JOHANNESBURG EAST	2
EN: EKURHULENI NORTH INSTITUTION	10
ES: EKURHULENI SOUTH INSTITUTION	35
GE: GAUTENG EAST INSTITUTIONS	32
GW: GAUTENG WEST INSTITUTIONS	47
JC: JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS	24
JE: JOHANNESBURG EAST INSTITUTIONS	23
JN: JOHANNESBURG NORTH INSTITUTIONS	17
JS: JOHANNESBURG SOUTH INSTITUTIONS	18
JW: JOHANNESBURG WEST INSTITUTIONS	2
SE: SEDIBENG EAST INSTITUTIONS	7
SW: SEDIBENG WEST INSTITUTIONS	3
TS: TSHWANE SOUTH INSTITUTIONS	1
TW: TSHWANE WEST INSTITUTIONS	46
KWAZULU/NATAL	2875
AMATHUBA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	131
BAMBANANI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	132
BERGVILLE CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	113
BHEKUZULU CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	118
DANHAUSER CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	64
DURBAN CENTRAL CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	34
DURBAN NORTH-WEST CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	55
EMTSHEZI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	231
HLABISA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	193
INGWAVUMA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	107
IXOPO CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	219
MAFUKUZELA-GHANDHI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	84
MAHLABATHINI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	109
MAPHUMULO CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	124
MNAMBITHI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	1
NDWEDWE CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	45
NONGOMA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	151
PAULPIETERSBURG CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	228
PHOLELA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	82
PHUMELELA CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	33
SAYIDI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	84
SCOTTBURGH CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	117
UBUMBANO CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	27
UMNGENI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	45
UMSUNDUZI CIRCUIT MANAGEMENT	39
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT : CLUSTER A	163
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT : CLUSTER B	69
UTHUNGULU DISTRICT : CLUSTER C	77
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	15
DWAALBOOM CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
ELLISRAS CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
MAPELA CIRCUIT OFFICE	2
NGWAABE CIRCUIT OFFICE	3
NYLSTROOM CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
PIETERSBURG CIRCUIT OFFICE	4
WARMBATHS CIRCUIT OFFICE	1
MPUMALANGA	223
MDE BOHLABELA INSTITUTIONS	17
MDE EHLANZENI INSTITUTIONS	40
MDE GERT SIBANDE INSTITUTIONS	134
MDE NKANGALA INSTITUTIONS	32
NORTH WEST	432
NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA	218
DR RSM	201
BOJANALA	5
DR KENNETH KAUNDA	8
NORTHERN CAPE	400
FRANCIS BAARD	56
JOHN TAOLE GAETSEWE	172
NAMAQUA	10
PIXLEY KA SEME	47
ZF MGCAWU	115
WESTERN CAPE	337
CAPE WINELANDS EDUCATION DISTRICT	29
EDEN & CENTRAL KAROO EDUCATION DISTRICT	42
METRO CENTRAL EDUCATION DISTRICT	42
METRO EAST EDUCATION DISTRICT	43
METRO NORTH EDUCATION DISTRICT	82
METRO SOUTH EDUCATION DISTRICT	73
OVERBERG EDUCATION DISTRICT	9
WEST COAST EDUCATION DISTRICT	15
WESTERN CAPE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT:HEAD OFFICE	2
Grand Total	5139

(c) Which subjects are most affected?

The subjects most affected include Mathematics, Sciences and Technology at all levels and African Language teaching, particularly at Foundation Phase.

(d) What action has her department taken to address the problem?

The focus of the Department, at a national level, is to address the supply of educators through various initiatives.

These include the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme which focuses on Mathematics, Sciences, Technology and African Languages, and the appointment of foreign educators qualified to teach scarce skills.

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:

No official report was compiled after the Mexico visit in December 2016. The purpose of the visit was to understand how Mexico established and operated their wholesale open access wireless network called Red Compartida. The visit follwed several months after the approval of the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper in September 2016.

(a) No key findings were made as the delegation focused on understanding Red Compartida.

(b) Not applicable.

Reply:

(a) The estimated construction cost (2017) for the Shangoni Entrance Gate, tourism facilities (Camping site, tented site and picnic site) and tar road is R263 million.

(b) The current funding available is R25 million.

(c) Yes, the roads will be tarred.

(d) The new Shangoni Entrance gate will be used for (i) entry and (ii) exit of all nationals visiting the park.

ooOoo

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:

There is no legislation in terms of which the National ICT Forum is conducting ICT stakeholder engagements in seeking input for the policy.

Reply:

The Council on Higher Education has agreed that the Minister may release its Higher Education Quality Committee’s draft report on the National Review of Bachelor of Law (LLB) Programmes (2016 - 2017) offered at South African universities, which is attached as Annexure A.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS: Dr D Parker

EXT: 6214/5

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 975 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

(a) No

(b) No

 (i) (aa – cc) No

 (ii) (aa-bb)

(aaa – bbb) Not applicable

Reply:

I am being advised by the Department as follows:

1. .The matter between the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is still pending in the High Court. The application consisted of two parts:, Part A, the High Court granted an order interdicting and preventing ICASA from implementing the licensing steps and processes referred or contemplated in the Invitation to Apply. In respect of Part B, namely the review application, this part is pending.

2. Yes, the Department is engaging ICASA on the implementation of the Integrated ICT Policy White Paper.

Reply:

I am being advised by the Department as follows:

No, the Department did not appoint a service provider or consultant to develop the structure and implementation of the proposed ICT sector Regulator as contained in the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper.

Reply:

1. The Department of Higher Education and Training is supporting the transfer of the two properties, i.e. the Mokopane and Abel Teacher Training Colleges to the respective colleges.

(a) The process to effect the transfer is underway. The first step of discussions with the Limpopo Department of Education have commenced. In addition, the Limpopo Provincial Department of Public Works has conducted an assessment of utilisation and ownership which has concluded with the following recommendations:

• In the short-term, a Task Team should be established made up of officials from the Department of Basic Education, Department of Higher Education and Training, National Department of Public Works, Limpopo Department of Public Works and Roads and Infrastructure to facilitate the process of sharing of facilities given the needs of both the Departments of Basic Education and Higher Education and Training.
• In the medium to long-term, measures should be put into place for the Limpopo Provincial Government to formally transfer all former colleges of education facilities throughout the Province to National Government for use by the Department of Higher Education and Training, provided that there are plans to that effect.
• The next step of the process will be to action the short-term recommendations with the signing of a Joint Memoranda of Agreement on sharing the facilities.

(b) The process has taken a while but increased impetus is required from all parties to avoid undue delays.

(c) The Director responsible for College Infrastructure Projects will lead from the side of the Department of Higher Education and Training.

2. There has been no signing of a formal Memorandum of Agreement to date. A generic draft has been prepared and is being consulted with the respective authority.

(a) At present, the colleges are utilising the sites based on a mutual agreement with the Limpopo Department of Education. In effect, the colleges have control over certain parts of the site and requests access to other parts on a needs basis.

(b) (i) For the Waterberg TVET College, the Mokopane site has been shared with the Limpopo Provincial Department of Education since January 2008 and the site is also utilised by the Limpopo Provincial Department of Economic Development.

 (ii) For the Sekhukhune TVET College, the Abel site has been shared with the Limpopo Provincial Department Education since February 2016 when the college took occupation and the site is also utilised by the Sekhukhune District Municipal Water Affairs Division.

 

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS: Mr S Mommen

EXT: 5311

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 968 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

1. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is currently the main employer of the lecturing staff in the public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college sector. The Department implements remuneration levels and conditions of service determined in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) and relevant sectoral bargaining councils. Together, the Department and TVET colleges take steps that create conducive environments that would attract and enhance the retention of competent lecturers. Such conditions include amongst others, job stability and satisfaction, housing, pension, medical aid benefits, salary/pay progression, 13th cheques, bursaries to further their studies and other development funds that are applicable within the public service sectors. The Department will soon start exploring an Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) unique to TVET college lecturers intended to introduce improved service conditions and remuneration packages that can be catered for within the current and future voted budgets. Currently, TVET college lecturers are allowed to partake in teaching self-sustainable, part-time classes within the sector. Lecturers are also remunerated for participating in setting of examination question papers and marking of these external examination papers. Some TVET colleges recognise the good performance of their lecturing staff and award them incentives and/or tokens of appreciation in terms of their policies and availability of financial resources.

2. No, the Department has not yet taken steps to allocate posts to TVET colleges at post levels that will allow public colleges to attract staff with scarce skills that are also in high demand in private sector. It should be noted that since the Department was established in 2009 and started operating on 1 April 2010, the public TVET colleges were employers and remunerated the larger portion of their staff from their own payroll systems, whereas the Provinces maintained salary payments for staff that were already in colleges prior to 1 January 2006 as a result of the implementation of the Further Education and Training Act 16 of 2006 (now the CET Act 16 of 2006 as amended). Staff members in all colleges were only transferred to the Department on 1 April 2015. The Department took over approximately 18 000 staff members and a host of liabilities. Since April 2010, the Department has been hard at work to bring parity and standardisation of systems throughout the sector and amongst staff members within the sector. Remuneration of staff members is guided by the current Public Service legislation and resolutions taken in the bargaining councils. However, in terms of the CET Act 16 of 2006 as amended, College Councils are allowed to appoint and remunerate additional college staff and subject them to conditions of service that are not lower than what is offered by the Department. This implies that colleges are allowed to give additional incentives to staff providing scarce skills in order to attract and retain them.

3. The Department has on 28 March 2017, transferred a total amount of R31.899 million of the skills levy to the 50 TVET colleges within the country, for the 2016/17 financial year. This allocation was in support of the colleges’ skills development plans, which were approved through the 2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework planning process. The allocation has further been earmarked as a national priority project, which will address the critical skills shortage in the TVET sector.

It is expected that colleges must submit to the Department, skills development plans processed through their Academic Boards before they are authorised to spend the funds. This practice of transferring skills development levy funds to colleges will be sustained annually pending proper reporting to account for the utilisation of such funds.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS: Mr SL Sethusha

EXT: 6167

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 970 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

I am advised by the Department as follows:

No, the Department did not appoint a service provider or consultant to develop the structure and implementation of the proposed Digital Development Fund as contained in the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper.

Reply:

1. The current funding model does not explicitly provide for any additional costs of rural colleges. In terms of the current National Norms and Standards for Funding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NNSF TVET) colleges, the Department of Higher Education and Training provides funding to TVET colleges based on formula funding for ministerial approved programmes, where the formula takes into account a range of service delivery issues, including the types of programmes being offered (National Certificate (Vocational) and NATED Report 191 programmes as approved in a national register), Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) students, cost of delivery including staff, capital infrastructure requirements and the ability of colleges to utilise resources efficiently.

The formula funding works as follows:

• The Department sets a national funding base rate, in rand terms, describing the cost of delivering a basic TVET college programme;
• The Department also sets a funding weight for each programme eligible for formula funding, i.e. Ministerial approved programmes, where this weight indicates how much more than the funding base rate it costs to deliver a particular programme;
• An assumed fee level, representing the cost that college fees can be expected to cover, is assigned to each programme and the individual students per programme are multiplied by the programme duration in order to obtain the full-time equivalent students;
• An applied total funding weight is calculated for each programme in each college, representing public funding to be received for each full-time equivalent student. This weight takes into account expected fees. The weight is multiplied by the full-time equivalent students to obtain the programme weight of each programme; and
• The sum of all programme weights, the college programme weight, is multiplied by the funding base rate in order to obtain a college allocation.

It must be noted that the previous TVET college allocations were calculated through the NNSF TVET within the specific provincial budget allocations as determined through the equitable share formula applied by the National Treasury. These provincial allocations formed part of the provincial equitable share and was published in the Provincial Budget Statements.

With these functions now being a national competence, it has a direct impact on the TVET college allocations as a national budget must be applied opposed to the previous provincial budgets as determined by National Treasury. Unless more voted funds are made available, the inherited allocations per college will remain.

It is our intention to consider the rural context when additional funds become available.

2. The current funding model for public TVET colleges is implemented in full.

3. The Department appointed a Ministerial Committee to review the funding model and propose the new funding framework for TVET and Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, which will be used to revise the current funding model. The final recommendation report was received in April 2017. The new funding model is envisaged to be finalised and implemented in April 2018 after going through all the due processes of public comments and concurrence by the Minister of Finance.

 

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 967 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

(a) what has he found to be the root cause of Sars’ loss of

   (i) institutional capacity

• SARS is unable to respond to comments made in the conference, however, the staff attrition rates over the last nine years have remained fairly constant between 6.59 in 2008/9 and 3.97% in 2016/17 (Feb. YTD) per annum.

Attrition Rate 2008/09	Attrition Rate 2009/10	Attrition Rate 2010/11	Attrition Rate 2011/12	Attrition Rate 2012/13	Attrition Rate 2013/14	Attrition Rate 2014/15	Attrition Rate 2015/16	Attrition Rate 2016/17 (Feb. 2017 YTD)
6.59%	4.12%	4.36%	4.18%	4.82%	6.01%	5.97%	4.61%	3.97%

 

(ii) its integrity

• The current public perception of loss of institutional capacity is not supported by the data, as can be gleaned from the above

(b) what actions should be taken in the national interest to rectify the situation?

SARS continues with the implementation and achievement of its strategic outcomes and objectives as articulated in the Strategic Plan tabled in Parliament. The revised Operating Model is being embedded to address the reviw.

Reply:

No formal disciplinary processes have been implemented to date, however the sanction of not paying the claims is effected. It is incorrect to state that the Department blames the delays in the payment of examination markers on questionable claim forms.

If Hon Mr D America (DA) is able to provide me with the names of markers who are contesting their payments, I will request the Department to look into the matter.

An analysis of the claims received reveals some of the types of misrepresentation as:

• Inflation of kilometres travelled;
• Dates and time on the claim form and attendance register do not correspond;
• Three officials travel in one car and all three claim for the total distance travelled;
• One marker pays for three people sharing a room at a guesthouse but all three claim the total invoice amount for the accommodation;
• Hours worked or scripts marked are inflated; and
• One marker marks at more than one marking centre.

With regards to the processing of claim forms, the following should be noted:

• All claims are processed in accordance with the approved Travel Policy of the Department;
• All distances claimed are verified using Google maps, questionable accommodation invoices are verified and all claims are checked against attendance registers and log sheets to check the number of scripts marked; and
• Claims are returned to marking centres if discrepancies are found, which prolongs the payment of claims.

The following interventions have been implemented:

• The national examinations function embarked on a road show to support markers in the correct procedures to complete claim forms;
• A Deputy Marking Centre Manager: Claims has been appointed at each marking centre to ensure claims are filled in correctly;
• A capturing tool has been developed to capture the claims at the marking centre to speed up the turnaround time for payment;
• Marking centres are monitored by national examinations officials during marking sessions to ensure that claims are correctly processed; and
• Examination Assistants are appointed during the processing of claims to assist with the verification of claims to expedite the process.

The turnaround time for payment is between 30 - 40 days after receipt of correctly completed claim forms.

The Department will be amending the examinations policy to provide for disciplinary actions or the charging markers and other personnel with fraud. This will formalise sanctions such as the blacklisting of markers found guilty of submitting fraudulent claims.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS: Ms N Pote/Mr FY Patel

EXT: 5458

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 969 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

I have being advised by the Department as follows:

Yes. The Department is required by law to engage ICASA. The Department has engaged ICASA on the implementation of the
National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper. These discussions were initially led by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of ICASA

(i) Issues discussed:-

• Legislative programme to implement the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper;
• Cost to Communicate Programme;
• Compilation of National ICT indicators to support policy development and regulation making; and
• Wireless Open Access Network and the assignment of high demand spectrum.

(ii) To solicit ICASA’s input on the Implementation Framework as the regulator will be expected to implement policy, including the integration of the plan into their future Annual Performance Plans. Discussions are on-going.

 

Reply:

I have being advised by the Department as follows:

a) No

b) No

(i) & (ii) The model contemplated in the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper, does not envisage Government funding for the establishment of the network but provides that Government may provide incentives to support wireless open access. These include the allocation of some funds from the fund responsible for rural and under-serviced areas. At the appropriate time, the Universal Service and Access Fund or its successor contemplated in the White Paper, the Digital Development Fund, may allocate some funds if money is appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.

The White Paper stipulates that the Wireless Open Access Network will be a public-private sector-owned and managed consortium, and will consist of entities that are interested in participating. Participants may include, but not be limited to, current holders of electronic communications service (ECS) and electronic communications network service (ECNS) licenses, infrastructure companies, private equity investors, Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Over-the-Top (OTT) players and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), State-Owned Companies and Development Financial Institutions.

Reply:

(1)(a) and (b) At the outset it should be stated that any changes in the Government Employees Pension Fund’s (GEPF) Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) cannot be implemented in a short period of time due to the size of the GEPF Portfolio. It is also for this reason that PIC clients provide the PIC with transition benchmarks, which are more dynamic benchmarks that reflect the SAA over a shorter term and are used during the period of transitioning a portfolio following mandate changes and changes in the SAA.

The revision of the 2007 GEPF Mandate in 2009 introduced new asset classes with new SAA ranges for these different asset classes. The effect was that there were breaches of the new SAA during the transition period when the GEPF Portfolio was being aligned with the revised GEPF Mandate. A similar situation occurred in 2011 when there was a further revision by the GEPF of its Mandate to the PIC and the portfolio had to be transitioned from the old to the newly revised mandate.

There are also from time to time technical breaches to the SAA due to market movements and currency fluctuations in different asset classes.

(2) As per point 5 of former Finance Minister Gordhan’s reply to Parliamentary Question 2375 of 30 November 2016, these breaches were reported to the GEPF’s Investment Committee and they were condoned and / or rectified.

Reply:

No, the National Treasury did not procure any services and has not made any payments. (a) (b) (c) (d), (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) and (vi) are not applicable.

Reply:

The total amount of financial losses suffered by the SA Airways as a result of the cancellation of flights due to the strike by the South African Cabin Crew Association on 26 April 2017 is R31 781 701.00.

Reply:

1. The National Treasury encourages constructive dialogue on PFMA related matters between Executive authorities, State Owned Companies and the National Treasury to avoid a situation where the matters are to be resolved with the intervention of the court. It is therefore regrettable that Denel has resorted to approaching the High Court for clarity on the Denel Asia and VR Laser Asia joint venture. Section 41(1)(h) of the Constitution states that

“All spheres of government and all organs of state within each sphere must---- co-operate with one another in mutual trust and good faith by

(i) fostering friendly relations;

(ii) assisting and supporting one another;

(iii) informing one another of, and consulting one another on, matters of common interest;

(iv) co-ordinating their actions and legislation with one another;

(v) adhering to agreed procedures; and

(vi) avoiding legal proceedings against one another.”

2. No, the National Treasury has not approached the courts.

3. Response to a, b and c is discussed below

30 October 2015: Submission by Denel SOC ltd. to the National Treasury (NT) with the title “PFMA Section 54 (2) pre notification: Proposed formation of Denel Asia”.

The intention of the letter was to inform the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) of Denel’s intention to establish an incorporated joint venture company in Hong Kong for purposes of exploiting opportunities in the Asia Defense market.

11 December 2015: Submission by Denel SOC ltd. to the NT with the title “FORMAL APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL IN TERMS OF SECTION 51(1)(G) OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1 OF 1999- PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF DENEL ASIA SOC LIMITED” addressed to Minister D Van Rooyen.

05 February 2016: The NT - Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) writes to Denel on the information they have received that Denel has established a JV agreement with VR laser in order to find a market for world class products in Asia. The purpose of the letter was to seek clarity on whether government prescripts were complied with when finalizing the JV agreement.

10 February 2016: Denel responds to the OCPO letter indicating that they will revert back by the 19 February 2016 with the requested information.

13 April 2016: Denel responds to the letter from OCPO dated 05 February 2016, indicating that Section 51(g) of the PFMA requires that the National Treasury be allowed a reasonable time to submit its decision prior to formal establishment of the joint venture. The further indicated that section 51 (g) read together with 51 (2) defines a reasonable time as 30 days from the date of submission which in the case of Denel Asia was 11 December 2015, 30 days thus expiring on 11 January 2016. This lead TO Denel assuming approval by both the Executive Authority as well as National Treasury which lead to the establishment of the joint venture.

18 April 2016: Letter from NT requesting additional information from Denel, which would assist in comprehensively assessing the application.

21 April 2016: Denel responded to NT’s letter and requested further clarity with regards to the information required.

26 April 2016: NT responded to Denel, providing the necessary clarity as requested by Denel.

11 May 2016: Denel still had not provided NT with the requested information; the Director-General (DG) wrote to Denel enquiring about the delay and offered his assistance in resolving any unanticipated obstacles. The DG further stated NT’s commitment to fast-tracking consideration of the application and the importance of Denel submitting the additional information in order for NT to be in a position to comprehensively assess all aspects of the application before reaching a decision was underlined. However, there was no response from Denel and the information was still not forthcoming.

10 June 2016: The Minister of Finance wrote to the Chairperson of Denel as well as the MPE requiring that the Board of Denel submit all the information that had been requested by 31 May 2016, as per the provisions of Section 54(1) of the PFMA. In addition, the letter highlighted that, in the event that the Board fails to submit the information, the Board, as the accounting authority of Denel, would be in breach of its fiduciary duties under the PFMA and must report its inability together with the reasons for failing to comply by no later than 28 June 2016.

28 June 2016: The Acting CEO (ACEO) of Denel, Mr Zwelakhe Ntshepe, sent a letter to the DG requesting that the deadline of 28 June 2016 be extended to 4 July 2016 citing that the extension will ensure that they provide a more comprehensive response to the request made by NT.

28 June 2016: The Chairperson of Denel sent a letter to the Minister of Finance and the MPE reiterating their position with regards to the Denel Asia transaction that all the relevant approvals were received. Denel further indicated that they would provide NT with the required information soon and underlined that it should be noted that the requested information would not be provided for the purpose of approval of the transaction but merely to comply with NT request as it is their view that the necessary approval(s) were obtained.

29 June 2016: NT grants Denel the requested extension to the 4th July 2016.

14 July 2016: The Acting CEO of Denel wrote to the DG responding to the request for information that had originally been sent on 18 April 2016. The letter stated that “in Denel’s view the approval process has been concluded as allowed for by the PFMA and thus provision of any information on the establishment of Denel Asia is purely for informational purposes”.

01 September 2016: NT sends a letter to Denel on the Sunday Time’s media statement asking Denel to share the letter with NT which was supposedly sent to them and made them react the way they did on the 31 August on the media.

05 September 2016: Denel responds to the NT letter dated 01 September 2016 to NT indicating that they also do not have the letter or the information quoted on the 28 August Sunday Times article.

24 November 2016: Denel writes to NT indicating that Denel Asia is dormant until such time two that the Ministers have reached consensus and Denel received an instruction to proceed from DPE.

Reply:

It is a matter of public knowledge that the Constitutional Court has extended the CPS contract with SASSA for the payment of social grants for a period of twelve months, until 31 March 2018 on the same terms and conditions as those of the initial contract signed in 2012. The Court further ordered that the Minister and SASSA report on affidavit every three months on how they plan to ensure the payment of social grants after the expiry of the extended contract in March 2018.

The first report to the Constitutional Court is due next month (June). The report will set out the exact details, including the timeframes on how the Agency intends to ensure the payment of social grants beyond the current contract.

We will therefore furnish the Honourable Member with such report once it has been completed and submitted to the Constitutional Court as per the judgment.

Reply:

1. Honourable Dr Makhosini Busisiwe Khoza was never appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of Social Development, Ms BO Dlamini.

2. None.

Reply:

a) Sustainable Entrepreneur Accelerator (SEA) Africa was not appointed by Department of Small Business Development (DSBD). The organisation took the initiative of bidding for South Africa to host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) to be held in Johannesburg in 2017. The Minister responsible for Small Business Development was requested by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) to receive the award when the City of Johannesburg was announced as the winner of the bid and subsequently requested her to be the Patron of the event.

b) The programme was finalised and circulated to all stakeholders. The Cabinet Memo regarding the GEC was tabled for information by the Minister in February 2017.

c) The City of Johannesburg was part of the team responsible for organising the event and represented in the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

Reply:

Yes, the Department of Social Development (National) has funded Non-Profit- Organisations (NPOs) that specialise in (a) mental health (b) disabilities and (c) substance abuse in the 2015/2016 financial year.

(a) and (b) The following Non-Profit Organisations that specialise in Mental Health and Disabilities were funded at National level for the specified period (2015/16 financial year).

ORGANISATION	KNOWN AS	FUNDING
1. South African federation for Mental Health	SAFMH	R 801 000.00
2. Deaf Federation of South Africa	DEAFSA	R 500 000.00
3. Epilepsy South Africa	Epilepsy SA	R 500 000.00
4. Disabled Children Action Group	DICAG	R 750 000.00
5. Albinism Society of South Africa	ASSA	R 700 000.00
6. Autism South Africa	Autism SA	R 500 000.00
TOTAL	R 3 751 000.00

(c) The following Non-Profit Organisations that specialise in Substance Abuse were funded at National level for the specified period (2015/16 financial year).

ORGANISATION	KNOWN AS	FUNDING
1. The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.	SANCA
2. South African Depression and Anxiety Group	SADAG
TOTAL VALUE		R2,887,000.00

1. The following is a provincial breakdown of the total number of NPOs, delivering mental health, disability and substance abuse services that were funded during the 2015/16 financial year.

PROVINCE	MENTAL HEALTH	DISABILITIES	SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Free State	4	91	53
Western Cape	114	217	49
North West	3	30	12
Mpumalanga	7	133	6
Northern Cape	2	12 (14 OFFICES)	1 (2 OFFICES)
Gauteng	The Department of Social Development does not fund the Mental Health organisations in Gauteng province. These are funded by the Department of Health.	116	48
Eastern Cape	2	22 - Residential Facilities 13 - Welfare Organisations 22 - Protective Workshops 18 - Community Based Rehabilitation projects. 26 - Special Day Care Centres	5
Limpopo	1 23 – stimulation centres	3 - Homes 15 -Community based rehabilitation 49- protective workshop	1 21 - programmes
Kwa-Zulu Natal	0	4	0
TOTAL	156	773	197

(ii) Total financial value

PROVINCE	MENTAL HEALTH	DISABILITY	SUBSTANCE ABUSE	VALUE (R) TOTAL
Free State	-	-	-	26,562,985.91
Western Cape	48,000,000.00	129,000,000.00	56,600,000.00	233,600,000.00
North West	2,075,643.00	14,615,000.00	6,622,000.00	23,312,643.00
Mpumalanga	4,211,721.00	30,971,279.00	10,971,000.00	46,154,000.00
Northern Cape	1,009,456.98	6,348,170.09	410,771.90	7,768,398.97
Gauteng	The Department of Social Development does not fund the Mental Health organisations in Gauteng province. These are funded by the Department of Health.	63,082,175.00	60,320,466.00	123,402,641.00
Eastern Cape	0	31,577,345.00	4,244,555.35	35,821,900.35
Limpopo	3,560,000.00	12,500,000.00	4,600,000.00	20,660,000.00
Kwa-Zulu Natal	0	932,400.00	0	932,400.00
TOTAL	588,856,825.98	289,026,369.09	143,768,793.25	518,214,969.23

(iii) Percentage of compliance with the NPO Act 71 of 1997.

PROVINCE	MENTAL HEALTH	DISABILITY	SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Free State	100%	100%	100%
Western Cape	99%	100%	100%
North West	100%	100%	100%
Mpumalanga	100%	100%	100%
Northern Cape	100%	100%	100%
Gauteng	The Department of Social Development does not fund the Mental Health organisations in Gauteng province. These are funded by the Department of Health.	100%	100%
Eastern Cape	55%	100%	44%
Limpopo	100%	100%	100%
Kwa-Zulu Natal	100%	100%	100%

Reply:

Yes, the Department considers the following three poverty lines developed by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

Food poverty line: the Rand value below which individuals are unable to consume enough food to supply them with minimum per-person-per-day energy requirements for good health (about 2 100 kilocalories) per capita per month.

Lower-bound poverty line: stipulates the threshold below which one has to sacrifice some food to obtain some basic non-food items. It is a sum of the FPL and the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose total expenditure is equal to the food poverty line; and

Upper-bound poverty line: the unambiguous threshold of relative deprivation below which people cannot afford the minimum lifestyle desired by most South Africans. It is a sum of the FPL and the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose food expenditure is equal to the food poverty line.

Based on the national poverty lines above, data from Stats SA shows that between the period 2006 and 2011, there was a decline in poverty levels in the country for all three lines. The proportion of the population living below a food poverty line decreased from 28.4% in 2006 to 21.7% in 2011 whilst the proportion living below the lower bound poverty line decreased from 51.0% 2006 to 37.0% in 2011 and with regards to the upper bound poverty line, the proportion declined from 66.6% in 2006 to 53.8% in 2011.

A report entitled Poverty Trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 and 2011 attributed the main source of decline in poverty to social wage package through services such as free primary health care, no-fee paying schools and school nutrition programme, social grants (most notably the Old Age and Child Support Grants, RDP housing and the provision of basic services to poor households namely water, electricity and sanitation.

Reply:

(1) No funding has been allocated to the West Coast Technical and Vocational Education and Training College over the past three financial years.

(2) No site visit was conducted as the organisation has not been funded.

(3) As mentioned above no amount has been transferred to the West Coast Technical and Vocational Education and Training College over the past three financial years.

Reply:

This matter is still before the Gauteng High Court.

Reply:

Today we pride ourselves on having reached out to the poorest of the poorer. We have proved to be a developmental state that has been able to take decisive action to support more than 12 million children through the social grant system. When the policy on the Child Support Grant (CSG) was developed, the Lund committee (1996) recommended a small amount (R70) derived from the Household Subsistence Level for food and clothing for children. Drawing on the Committee’s recommendations, Cabinet approved the CSG at a higher amount of R100 when implemented in 1998. This amount has been increased by inflation since then. Government is continuously faced with the policy question as to whether the value of the grant should be increased (above inflation) to be in line with more recent food nutritional indexes, or to expand the reach of the grant. In the last two decades, Government has focused mainly on extending the reach of the CSG to poor children. Currently our focus is on ensuring that the low take up between 0-1 is addressed through programs such as the Integrated Community Outreach Programme (ICROP) and Mikondzo, which target areas of greater deprivation. This is in line with the objectives set in the National Development Plan and the Medium Terms Strategic Framework for 2019.

Historically only a few children accessed social assistance through the State Maintenance Grant. Today the vast majority of children in need of assistance is able to access the support, not only through the grant but through a range of other government interventions.

This is also in line with the Taylor Committee report (2002) that assessed the effectiveness of the CSG in relation to nutrition. The Committee recommended that the CSG be supplemented by an appropriate nutrition programme. To this effect, Government provides essential services for example, food nutrition programme to poor children through the Department of Basic Education and other free basic municipal services at reduced and controlled costs to impoverished households. In addition Government has ensured that basic food items such as brown bread, maize meal, vegetables, fruits, eggs, samp, mealie rice and milk are zero-rated, meaning the 14% VAT is not paid on these goods.

Reply:

(1) (a) The budget allocation was (i) R17.5 million and (ii) R18.4 million which was allocated for operational expenditure only. No funds were provided for infrastructure.

      (b) None

(2) (a) No

      (b) The external bulk electrical works tender has been issued on 6 April 2017 and will commence shortly.

Reply:

This matter is still before the Gauteng High Court.

Reply:

1. (a) The tasks of the workstreams are the following:

1. The legislative Policy Requirements Management is to provide comprehensive legal advice to SASSA and other in relation to the future workstream payment system focusing on legislative management policy requirements, contract development and design of the new system.
2. Information and Business System and Banking Services is to facilitate for the insourcing of an ICT platform that will integrate the application of payment management system for social assistance and related social security benefits.
3. The Benefits and Local Economic Development is to identify the benefits and economic development initiatives to be implemented with delivery of the comprehensive security system
4. Change and Stakeholder Management workstream; is to provide guidance to the change management and stakeholder engagement.
5. Human resource Management workstream is to facilitate for the development of the organisational organogram and skills training programme that will support the new proposed functions to be institutionalized within SASSA.

(b) Three ( 3 ) workstream leaders were appointed with 14 additional support staff members.

(2) Yes

 (i) Mr Patrick Monyeki is the workstream leader for Information and Business System and Banking Services and the following personnel is employed by him.

• Mr Warwick Metcalfe: Programme Manager
• Mr Julius Segole: BIS Project Manager
• Ms.Colleen Armstrong: PMO Project Manager
• Mr Manie Van Wyk: Banking Project Manager
• Mr Christian Nyakanyanga: Security Architect
• Ms.Laecoln Snayman: Project Administrator
• Mr Senzo Derrick Ndlovu: Business Analyst
• Ms. Nombuso Zuma :Business Analyst
• Mr Nazeem Ally: Architect
• Mr Aboobaker Ashis: Architect
• Mr Ronald Barnes: Architect
• Mr Maneesh Singh Architect
• Mr Jaco Moller: Quality and Risk Manager

The Steering Committee comprises of DSD and SASSA officials.

• Mr Tim Sukazi is the team leader for the Legislative and Policy Workstream and supported by Ms Ziyanda Nyanda

(ii) Ms. Tankiso Parkies is the Benefits and Local Economic Development workstream leader. The leader is supported by the alternative pay-points assessment and merchants suitability assessment teams established within SASSA. Other members of the team:

• Mr Dominic Nsele
• Ms Unathi Mguye
• Ms June Mabhida
• Ms Ngobese

(iii) Human Resource management: Dumisile Ndlovu (SASSA official)

(iv) Communication and change management team is supported by Mr Sgwili Gumede and the internal SASSA staff

(b) Mr P Monyeki R35 897 645.01/ Mr T Sukazi R7 620 227.40 and Ms. T Parkies R4 381 726.00

2.  The due diligence that are being conducted include the following:

• ICT Infrastructure
• Data Integration system
• Transaction data analysis capability

Reply:

The last time the Department purchased official vehicles for both the Deputy Minister and the Minister was in 2009 after their appointment in their respective positions. The purchase of official vehicles for political principals is guided by the prescripts and regulations of the National Treasury concerning vehicle fleet replacement and are also clearly stipulated in the Ministerial Handbook.

In terms of the aforementioned prescripts, Departments may purchase official vehicle/s directly from manufacturers and/or their dealerships only when the currently provided official vehicle for that office has reached 120 000 km or 5 years, whichever comes first. The Ministerial Handbook clearly states in Chapter 5 No 1.2.1:

Members at national level may be provided with one vehicle for use in Cape Town and one vehicle for use in Pretoria. The total purchase price of the vehicle may not exceed 70% of the inclusive annual remuneration package of a Minister as may be amended from time to time on recommendation of the Commission for the Remuneration of Political Members

The official Pretoria based vehicles allocated to the Minister and the Deputy Minister in 2009 have far exceeded the prescribed 120 000 km and the five year period. The Minister’s vehicle reached 161 523 km and the Deputy Minister’s vehicle 143 652 km. As such the purchase of new official vehicles became unavoidable and needed replacement due to high maintenance costs and security reasons.

One official vehicle in Cape Town has also far exceeded the prescribed 120 000 km (151 062 km for the Minister) and the five-year period. In compliance with the National Treasury’s cost containment measures, the Department has delayed the purchase of official vehicles for Cape Town. Although the money for the purchase of the new official vehicles for the Deputy Minister and Minister was budgeted for in the 2014/15 financial year, the following official vehicles were only purchased in the 2016/2017 financial year.

	( a) Make	(b ) Model	(c ) Price	(d ) Date on which the vehicle was purchased
(i)Minister
(aaa) 2014-15	-	-	-	-
(bbb) 2015-16	-	-	-	-
(bb) since 01 April 2016	BMW	B 7A22 740l	R1 302 525	13.10.2016
(ii) Deputy Minister
(aaa) 2014-15	-	-	-	-
(bbb) 2015-16	-	-	-
(bb) since 01 April 2016	Jeep Grand Cherokkee	HEMI SRT8 6.4L	R1 161 687	25.07.2016

Reply:

1. Ms Khoza was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) from the 2 September 2013 until 21st May 2107 when she resigned from the committee following her appointment as a Member of Parliament. She was paid for the hours she worked both as the chairperson and committee member of the MAC.

The total amount paid for her services is R 601 066.55 (inclusive of meetings, travel domestic and international and S&T allowances).

2. (a) & (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) No

Reply:

(a) A total of 13 005 475 additional enrolments were performed by Cash Paymaster Services.

(b) The additional enrolments were not charged for at a unit cost, but rather the cost were calculated using the actual costs incurred as a result of the additional re-registrations which had to be performed over the period from January to July 2013. The costs incurred related to transport; infrastructure hire costs (use of halls and other venues for the re-registration); security service; travel and accommodation and staff costs, amongst others.

Reply:

1(a) The DPSA is not aware of the reasons why the Department did not appoint a Health Risk Manager for the period 1 October 2013 to 31 December 2018.

1(b) In terms of Regulation 48 of the Public Service Regulations, 2016, the Head of Department is tasked with the responsibility to manage leave in the department.

(2) No, the PILIR has not been replaced by a different system and is still in effect.

PILIR is implemented in accordance with clause 7.5 of Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) Resolution 7 of 2000 as amended by PSCBC Resolutions 5 of 2001, 15 of 2002 and 1 of 2012 respectively.

According to the resolutions, an employee whose normal sick leave credits in a cycle have been exhausted and who, according to the relevant practitioner, requires to be absent from work due to a disability which is not permanent, may be granted sick leave on full pay.

The DPSA issued the Policy and Procedure on Incapacity Leave and Ill-health Retirement on the implementation of PILIR in November 2005.

(3) All departments are implementing PILIR. The Gauteng Department of Health is the only department not to appoint a Health Risk Manager for the period
     1 October 2013 to 31 December 2018.

     My office has issued correspondence to the new MEC of Health in Gauteng, to apprise her of the non-appointment of Health Risk Managers in the        Gauteng Department of Health for her immediate intervention.

END

Reply:

The biometric standard has been finalized and adopted by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) for use in the banking environment.

(a) SASSA did not cover the total cost, but initiated the process with the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). During engagements with South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and PASA, SARB issued an instruction to PASA to develop an industry standard for biometrics. SASSA then stopped work on the industry standard, but continued with work on the value of biometrics in social grant payments. The amount paid to CSIR was R 482 964.42 inclusive of VAT.

(b) There were not individual consultants used. SASSA contracted CSIR, a government agency, to undertake the research and development.

(c) CSIR was contracted for a number of work packages, related to the payment of social grants. The total amount of the contract for the development of a biometric enrolment and authentication system was R 3 323 066.94 inclusive of VAT.

Reply:

1. No
2. Please refer to the attached media statement that was issued by the Ministry of Public Works on 23 April 2017.
3. See the reply above (2).

Reply:

(a) and (b) Yes,

  (i) Yes, (aa), (bb) and (cc)

2014
Dates	(aaa) Who was Present at the meeting?	(bbb) What was the reason for the meeting?	(ccc) Where did it take place?
26-08-2014	Mr F Earl (SASSA) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Ms A Lewington(CPS)	Card Replacements and Pin Reset Management Reports KZN scanning Scanning of re-registration documents Sort and sort plan	SASSA: Head Office
10-09-2014	Mr T Malumedza(CSIR) Mr E Dube (CSIR) Mr D Mathekga(CSIR) Mr F Dinisio (CSIR) Mr F Earl (SASSA) Ms F Talane (SASSA) Ms G Maphophe (SASSA) Mr S Belamant: CEO (NET1) Ms A Lewington ( CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS)	CPS presentation on grants payment process –Cash flow	Net1 Offices: Rosebank
15-09-2014	Mr C Pakade :DG (DSD) Mr Z Dangor Special Adviser to the Minister –(DSD) Mr T Magwaza DDG (DSD) Ms V.L Petersen: CEO (SASSA) Mr F. Earl -EM (SASSA) Mr H Kotze :CFO ( CPS/Net1) Mr S Belamant: CEO (CPS/Net1)	The review of SLA, direct deductions on SASSA cards and review of biometric voice	SASSA : Head Office
4.10-10-2014	Mr F Earl: EM (SASSA)	Inputs into the draft SLA Grants transfer and reconciliation process. KZN data and feedback on CSIR visit	Net1Offices :Rosebank
2015
26-02-2015	Mr F. Earl- EM (SASSA) Mr E Matshiga –Senior Manager (SASSA) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Ms A Lewington (CPS)	Review of the Enrolment Strategy In SASSA Local: Business Rules/ Audit Of Enrolment Sites Development Of A Card Management Strategy: Mitigation Of Risk Monthly Reports Beneficiaries Children And Procurators not registered Cash Requirements: April 2015 And December 2015 December Pay Cycle Audit Of The Nedbank Accounts DSD Audit Findings Exemption 17 Breaches : Confirmation Of Proposed Meeting With The Registrar Feedback On Regional Grants Operational Meeting	Net 1 Offices : Rosebank
09-11-2015	Ms F Talane (SASSA) Mr T Matlou (SASSA) Mr S Koliti (SASSA) Mr N Pillay ( CPS) Ms A Lewington( CPS)	Discussions on Customer Care working relations	Net1 Offices: Rosebank
2016
1.30-03-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Mr J Skhosana: (SASSA) Mr S Budaza: (SASSA) Mr A Segafa: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby-(SASSA) Ms A Lewington: (CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: ( CPS/Net 1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	SASSA: Head Office
2.26-04-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Ms G Maphophe: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby: (SASSA) Mr K Tlou: (SASSA) Ms A Lewington:(CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: (CPS/Net1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net 1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	Net1 Offices :Rosebank
3.26-05-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Mr J Skhosana: (SASSA) Mr S Budaza: (SASSA) Mr A Segafa: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby-(SASSA) Ms A Lewington: (CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: ( CPS/Net 1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	SASSA: Head Office
4.29-08-2016	Ms S Mawelele: (SASSA) Ms G Maphophe: (SASSA) Mr R Willoughby: (SASSA) Ms A Lewington: ( CPS/Net1) Ms T Du Toit: ( CPS/ Net1) Ms Carol-Anne Savides: (CPS/Net1)	Customer Care Operational meeting	Net 1 Offices-Rosebank
5. 04-11-2016	Mr T Matlou: ( EM SASSA) Mr G Maphophe (SASSA) Mr M Sethosa : (SASSA) Mr M Nhlangothi: (GM: SASSA) Mr N Pillay: ( CPS/ Net1) Ms A Lewington: (CPS/ Net1)	National Steercom to address operational challenges encountered by regions during payment of grants.	Net1 Offices –Rosebank
6. 22-08-2016	Ms Z Mvulane (EM: SASSA) Ms T Parkies (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe(Workstream) Mr J Segole(Workstream) Mr M Van Wyk(Workstream) Mr T Sukazi (Workstream) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Dr Serge Belamant (CPS)	Due diligence Information Technology BIN Migration Card Security Features Biometric Functionality	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
7. 18-10.2016	Ms Z Mvulane (EM: SASSA) Ms T Parkies (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe(Workstream) Mr J Segole (Workstream) Mr M Van Wyk(Workstream) Mr T Sukazi (Workstream) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Dr Serge Belamant (CPS)	Phase-in Phase-out Biometric System Integration Merchants Management Call Center Integration Reconciliation	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
8. 28-10-2016	Ms Z Mvulane Ms T Parkies Mr W Metcalfe Mr J Segole Mr M Van Wyk Mr T Sukazi Mr N Pillay Dr Serge Belamant	Business continuity Card Life Extension Merchant Management Introduction of the Special Account 4. Improvement of SASSA payment file.	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
2017
1. 01-03-2017	Ms T Mzobe (SASSA) Ms Z Mvulane (SASSA) Ms R Ramokgopa (SASSA) Ms D Ndlovu (SASSA) Mr T Chauke (SASSA) Mr A Mahlangu (SASSA) Mr B Van Vrede (DSD) Dr W Magasela (DSD) Dr S Belamant (CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Mr T Jonger (CPS) Mr H Kotze (CPS) (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe Mr Manie V Wyk	SASSA and CPS Negotiation	Protea Hotel
2. 02-03-2017	Mr A Mahlangu (SASSA) Mr B Van Vrede (DSD) Dr W Magasela (DSD) Dr S Belamant (CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Mr T Jonger (CPS) Mr H Kotze (CPS) (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe Mr Manie V Wyk Mr Julias Sehole	SASSA – CPS Technical Negotiations	Net1 Offices-Rosebank
3. 03-03-2017	Ms T Mzobe (Acting CEO SASSA) Ms Z Mvulane (SASSA) Ms R Ramokgopa (SASSA) Ms D Ndlovu (SASSA) Mr T Chauke (SASSA) Mr A Mahlangu (SASSA) Mr B Van Vrede (DSD) Dr W Magasela (DSD) Dr S Belamant (CPS) Mr N Pillay (CPS) Mr T Jonger (CPS) Mr H Kotze (CPS) (Workstream) Mr W Metcalfe Mr Manie V Wyk	SASSA and CPS Negotiation	Protea Hotel

Reply:

(1) The matter has not yet been finalized by the North Gauteng High Court.

Reply:

1) Yes, and addendum to the 2012 contract has been signed

 (a) It has been finalized as per the National Treasury instruction of 2016/17

 (b) (i) is R16.44 per beneficiary projected annual cost of R1 170 080 000.00 calculated at 11 000 000.00 number of beneficiaries

     (ii) 12 months

    (iii)

Types of Grants	Amount (R)
Older Person’s grant	R1 600.00
Older Person’s grant (above 75)	R1 620.00
Disability grant	R1 600.00
War Veteran’s grant	R1 620.00
Child support grant	R380.00
Foster Child grant	R920.00
Care Dependency grant	R1 600.00
Grant-i-aid	R380.00

(2) None. However, the Constitutional Court set out a process for CPS to approach National Treasury for an increase in the transaction costs, should this be necessary to court will make a final decision.

Reply:

SASSA Gauteng Region, through the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) is in the process of acquiring permanent office accommodation for the Kempton Park area.

The procurement process is at an advanced stage as the submission for entering into a lease agreement with the recommended service provider has been routed to the Director General of NDPW for approval/disapproval, we now await feedback from his office.

Several engagements have been made seeking progress in this regard, to date no tangible response is forthcoming. As the Agency we are committed to finalizing this process however we rely on our counterpart of which is the National Department of Public Works.

The Agency will continue to engage with the National Department of Public until the process is finalized.

 

Reply:

(i) No vehicle was purchased for the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.

(ii) The details of the vehicle purchased for the Deputy Minister in the period(s) in question are:

(a) Audi

(b) Q7

(c) R746 361, 28

(d) 01 September 2014.

(ii) Deputy Minister.

(aaa) 2014-15.

(bbb) None.

(bb) None.

Reply:

The response below were provided by the two municipalities:

Yes, investigations have been launched with regard to the financial mismanagement by the (a) Sekhukhune District Municipality and (b) Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in Limpopo. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been mandated to investigate the allegations, as contemplated in Section 2(2) of the SIU Act, in respect of the affairs of (a) the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality and (b) the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality as authorized by Proclamation R59 of 2016 published in Government Gazette No. 40348 dated 14 October 2016.

(i) The terms of reference are published in Government Gazette No. 40348 dated 14 October 2016 (Annexure A).

(ii) The Department is still engaging with the SIU regarding the anticipated finalisation date of the investigation.

Reply:

The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements indicated that;

(a) Illegal miners were not identified, however if and when identified, the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and the South African Police Service will be engaged (b). The department has not provided information on the action taken to ensure that the lives of the residents are not put in danger.

 

 

Reply:

The information requested by the Hon Member is not readily available within the Department, however, we have requested the office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal to assist and will submit to you as soon as it becomes available.