Questions and Replies

Reply:

(1) Only one complaint was received from an organisation representing women in farming. The Organisation is of the view that certain chemicals are banned in Europe and is lobbying very hard to have the same chemicals banned in South Africa as they argue it has disastrous effects even with PPE.

(2) Yes – we received complaints regarding non adherence to our legislations including use of hazardous chemical agents from:

a) Worker in the agriculture sector

b) Non-profit organisation and

c) Labour unions

Farmers are encouraged to conduct the spraying before the wind reaches a certain strength and that normally happens at night and Organisations are of the view that some farmers are not concerned about the wind which then contribute to higher exposure especially to residents staying close to the farms.

(3) Re-active inspections conducted = 109

Compliant = 92

Non – compliant = 17 (All served with enforcement notice)

Proactive inspections = 1319

Compliant = 686

Non-compliant = 633 (All served with enforcement notice)

(4) Findings – These vary from each workplace (farm), when inspectors visit workplaces; they typically wouldn’t just concentrate on one area but they would cover all our employment laws. Even when an inspection would be triggered by a complaint relating to use of hazardous chemical agents, the inspector verifies level of compliance on all regulations that are applicable to that particular workplace.

(5) 20 employers (farms) failed to comply with the served enforcement notices and prosecution was recommended.

Reply:

(1) The question falls under the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Kwa Zulu Natal. The Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MEC for Kwa Zulu Natal as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules. 

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department:

	2020-21	2021-22	2022-2023	1 April 2023
(a) What establishments have been assisted (i) in each of the past three financial years and/or (ii) from 1 April 2023 up to the latest specified date for which information is available	MASP: None, since MASP was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. TGSP: 1 454 accommodation and meeting venue establishments supported. GTIP: 14 applications approved of which all were accommodation establishments. TTF: No applications approved due to COVID-19.	MASP: None since MASP was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. TGSP: 2 647 accommodation and meeting venue establishments supported. GTIP: 52 applications approved of which 51 were accommodation establishments and 1 was an activity operator. TTF: 2 applications approved both of which were accommodation establishments.	MASP: 30 Enterprises supported including 15 accommodation establishments; 1 Destination Management Company, 1 Incentives Travel Organiser, 11 Tour Operators and 2 Travel Agents TGSP: 3 738 accommodation and meeting venue establishments supported. GTIP: 31 applications approved of which 30 were accommodation establishments and 1 was an activity operator. TTF: 3 applications approved of which all were accommodation establishments.	MASP: 22 Enterprises supported to date including 3 accommodation establishments, 3 Destination Management Companies, 1 Tourism Marketing Agency, 14 Tour Operators and 1 Travel Agents. TGSP: No verified information available yet. GTIP: 7 applications approved to date of which all were accommodation establishments. TTF: 1 application approved for an accommodation establishment.
(b) Where are the specified establishments located in each case	MASP: N/a TGSP: Eastern Cape: 229 Free State: 61 Gauteng: 217 KwaZulu Natal: 202 Limpopo: 94 Mpumalanga: 102 North West: 64 Northern Cape: 49 Western Cape: 436 GTIP: Gauteng: 4 KwaZulu Natal: 4 Limpopo: 1 North West: 2 Northern Cape: 1 Western Cape: 2 TTF: N/a	MASP: N/a TGSP: Eastern Cape: 450 Free State: 101 Gauteng: 362 Kwazulu Natal: 369 Limpopo: 166 Mpumalanga:233 North West: 119 Northern Cape:95 Western Cape: 752 GTIP: Eastern Cape: 12 Gauteng: 9 KwaZulu Natal: 5 Limpopo: 6 Mpumalanga: 2 North West: 4 Northern Cape: 1 Western Cape: 13 TTF: Eastern Cape: 1 Free State: 1	MASP: Free State: 2 Gauteng: 8 KwaZulu Natal: 8 Limpopo: 6 Mpumalanga: 3 North West: 1 Northern Cape: 1 Western Cape: 1 TGSP: Eastern Cape: 618 Free State: 141 Gauteng: 515 KwaZulu Natal:556 Limpopo: 247 Mpumalanga:267 North West: 197 Northern Cape: 263 Western Cape: 934 GTIP: Eastern Cape: 10 Free State: 1 Gauteng: 1 KwaZulu Natal: 2 Limpopo: 2 Mpumalanga: 2 North West: 2 Northern Cape: 3 Western Cape: 31 TTF: Eastern Cape: 1 Limpopo: 2	MASP: Eastern Cape: 1 Free State: 1 Gauteng: 5 KwaZulu Natal: 2 Limpopo: 1 Mpumalanga: 1 Western Cape: 11 TGSP: No verified information available yet. GTIP: Eastern Cape: 2 Gauteng: 1 KwaZulu Natal: 1 Limpopo: 1 Mpumalanga: 1 Western Cape: 1 TTF: Eastern Cape: 1
(c) (i) What is the Rand value of the assistance provided	MASP: N/a TGSP: R5 650 214,60 GTIP: R7 184 677 TTF: N/a	MASP: N/a TGSP: R13 012 370,90 GTIP: R32 824 256 TTF: R8 043 000	MASP: R1 970 257, 91 TGSP: R15 874 587,50 GTIP: R20 817 937 TTF: R11 832 313	MASP: R3 736 242, 77 TGSP: No verified information available yet. GTIP: R5 371 299 TTF: R5 000 000
(c) (ii) In what form was the assistance provided to each establishment in each specified financial year and/or period	MASP: N/a TGSP: Discounts on grading assessment fees. GTIP: Capped contribution towards the cost of installing energy and water efficiency solutions. TTF: Combination of debt finance and grant funding for majority black-owned capital investment projects in tourism.	MASP: N/a TGSP: Discounts on grading assessment fees. GTIP: Capped contribution towards the cost of installing energy and water efficiency solutions. TTF: Combination of debt finance and grant funding for majority black-owned capital investment projects in tourism.	MASP: Contribution towards the cost of return, economy airfare, accommodation, exhibition space and in-destination ground transports. TGSP: Discounts on grading assessment fees. GTIP: Capped contribution towards the cost of installing energy and water efficiency solutions. TTF: Combination of debt finance and grant funding for majority black-owned capital investment projects in tourism.	MASP: Contribution towards the cost of return, economy airfare, accommodation, exhibition space and in-destination ground transports. TGSP: No verified information available yet. GTIP: Capped contribution towards the cost of installing energy and water efficiency solutions. TTF: Combination of debt finance and grant funding for majority black-owned capital investment projects in tourism.
(c) (iii) What criteria was used to ascertain assistance to each establishment in each financial year and/or period	MASP: N/a TGSP: TGSP applicants must provide supporting documents to prove: tax compliance in accordance with the regulations of the South African Revenue Service (SARS); business registration or ID document; B-BBEE status (certificate for QSEs or sworn affidavit for EMEs); and evidence of public liability cover. GTIP: Phase 1: Energy & Water Efficiency Audit Prospective GTIP applicants must: be an existing or new privately-owned tourism-specific establishment; be an EME or QSE in line with Tourism B-BBEE Codes; commit to a resource efficiency audit/ review. provide 12 months consumption data and occupancy records. Phase 2: Funding Application GTIP applicants must: have completed Phase 1 and demonstrate economic viability; submit a resource efficiency audit report; submit 2 years audited/ reviewed AFS; submit most recent management accounts; submit 3 years budget/forecast; submit a B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit; submit FICA documentation; submit proof of ownership/ a valid lease agreement; and quotations and details of potential service providers/installers. TTF: TTF Applicants must: submit an NEF application form, TTF checklist and relevant supporting documents (RSA registration, Tax clearance, valid Tourism B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit, etc); provide services to tourists as its direct clients; have an annual turnover below R45 million (EME/ QSE) be at least majority (51%) black-owned. be black management controlled. have shareholders that are operationally involved in the business. prove commercial viability and sustainability as per the NEF due diligence; and be able to contribute a reasonable percentage of the total funding applied for as own contribution.	MASP: N/a TGSP: TGSP applicants must provide supporting documents to prove: tax compliance in accordance with the regulations of the South African Revenue Service (SARS); business registration or ID document; B-BBEE status (certificate for QSEs or sworn affidavit for EMEs); and evidence of public liability cover. GTIP: Phase 1: Energy & Water Efficiency Audit Prospective GTIP applicants must: be an existing or new privately-owned tourism-specific establishment; be an EME or QSE in line with Tourism B-BBEE Codes; commit to a resource efficiency audit/ review. provide 12 months consumption data and occupancy records. Phase 2: Funding Application GTIP applicants must: have completed Phase 1 and demonstrate economic viability; submit a resource efficiency audit report; submit 2 years audited/ reviewed AFS; submit most recent management accounts; submit 3 years budget/forecast; submit a B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit; submit FICA documentation; submit proof of ownership/ a valid lease agreement; and quotations and details of potential service providers/installers. TTF: TTF Applicants must: submit an NEF application form, TTF checklist and relevant supporting documents (RSA registration, Tax clearance, valid Tourism B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit, etc); provide services to tourists as its direct clients; have an annual turnover below R45 million (EME/ QSE) be at least majority (51%) black-owned. be black management controlled. have shareholders that are operationally involved in the business. prove commercial viability and sustainability as per the NEF due diligence; and be able to contribute a reasonable percentage of the total funding applied for as own contribution.	MASP: MASP applicants must be: a registered legal entity in South Africa in terms of the Companies Act 1973 (as amended) or the Companies Act, 2008, the Close Corporations Act, 1984 (as amended) or the Co-operatives Act 2005 (as amended); a majority South African owned inbound tourism enterprise that offer integrated and packaged experiences; products and or services, with an annual turnover not exceeding R45 million; tax compliant in accordance with the regulations of the South African Revenue Service (SARS); an EME or QSE in line with and compliant with the Amended Tourism B-BBEE sector codes; appropriately insured through insurance cover applicable to the relevant tourism sub-sector; and in operation for at least one calendar year. TGSP: TGSP applicants must provide supporting documents to prove: tax compliance in accordance with the regulations of the South African Revenue Service (SARS); business registration or ID document; B-BBEE status (certificate for QSEs or sworn affidavit for EMEs); and evidence of public liability cover. GTIP: Phase 1: Energy & Water Efficiency Audit Prospective GTIP applicants must: be an existing or new privately-owned tourism-specific establishment; be an EME or QSE in line with Tourism B-BBEE Codes; commit to a resource efficiency audit/ review. provide 12 months consumption data and occupancy records. Phase 2: Funding Application GTIP applicants must: have completed Phase 1 and demonstrate economic viability; submit a resource efficiency audit report; submit 2 years audited/ reviewed AFS; submit most recent management accounts; submit 3 years budget/forecast; submit a B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit; submit FICA documentation; submit proof of ownership/ a valid lease agreement; and quotations and details of potential service providers/installers. TTF: TTF Applicants must: submit an NEF application form, TTF checklist and relevant supporting documents (RSA registration, Tax clearance, valid Tourism B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit, etc); provide services to tourists as its direct clients; have an annual turnover below R45 million (EME/ QSE) be at least majority (51%) black-owned. be black management controlled. have shareholders that are operationally involved in the business. prove commercial viability and sustainability as per the NEF due diligence; and be able to contribute a reasonable percentage of the total funding applied for as own contribution.	MASP: MASP applicants must be: a registered legal entity in South Africa in terms of the Companies Act 1973 (as amended) or the Companies Act, 2008, the Close Corporations Act, 1984 (as amended) or the Co-operatives Act 2005 (as amended); a majority South African owned inbound tourism enterprise that offer integrated and packaged experiences; products and or services, with an annual turnover not exceeding R45 million; tax compliant in accordance with the regulations of the South African Revenue Service (SARS); an EME or QSE in line with and compliant with the Amended Tourism B-BBEE sector codes; appropriately insured through insurance cover applicable to the relevant tourism sub-sector; and in operation for at least one calendar year. TGSP: No verified information available yet. GTIP: Phase 1: Energy & Water Efficiency Audit Prospective GTIP applicants must: be an existing or new privately-owned tourism-specific establishment; be an EME or QSE in line with Tourism B-BBEE Codes; commit to a resource efficiency audit/ review. provide 12 months consumption data and occupancy records. Phase 2: Funding Application GTIP applicants must: have completed Phase 1 and demonstrate economic viability; submit a resource efficiency audit report; submit 2 years audited/ reviewed AFS; submit most recent management accounts; submit 3 years budget/forecast; submit a B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit; submit FICA documentation; submit proof of ownership/ a valid lease agreement; and quotations and details of potential service providers/installers. TTF: TTF Applicants must: submit an NEF application form, TTF checklist and relevant supporting documents (RSA registration, Tax clearance, valid Tourism B-BBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit, etc); provide services to tourists as its direct clients; have an annual turnover below R45 million (EME/ QSE) be at least majority (51%) black-owned. be black management controlled. have shareholders that are operationally involved in the business. prove commercial viability and sustainability as per the NEF due diligence; and be able to contribute a reasonable percentage of the total funding applied for as own contribution.

ACRONYMS:

MASP: Market Access Support Programme

TGSP: Tourism Grading Support Programme

GTIP Green Tourism Incentive Programme

TTF: Tourism Transformation Fund

SA Tourism:

SA Tourism implements the Tourism Grading Support Programme (TGSP) on behalf of the department. The information pertaining to the TGSP is provided in the table above.

Reply:

1. The Department has been informed of the unfortunate incident. Preliminary investigations shows that the area where the incident happened falls outside coordinates of any Licensed mine. The Mining company in the vicinity decided to assist on purely humanitarian grounds and this assistance has also been acknowledged by the child’s family. The Department remains seizes with this matter to prevent the occurrence of such an incidence from happening again.

2. The Department has the database of mines that need rehabilitation. These are legacy mines that have been abandoned by the previous mine owners prior to the introduction of the Minerals Act (1991) and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA, 2002). To this end, the department has prioritized the rehabilitation of these Derelict and Ownerless (D&O) mines.

Reply:

The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), through its offices and entities, is actively involved in a number of interventions aimed at assisting work seekers to access employment opportunities, creating public employment, saving employment, providing income support, employment safety and employment peace and dialogue as all these complements employment creation.

The Department of Employment and Labour assists work seekers particularly young people to access work opportunities through its 126 labour centres and employment centres, 450 visiting points that we use mobile units to access them. As from the 1st April 2023 to end of July 2023, Public Employment Services registered 334, 088 new work seekers on its ESSA database and 77,357 work opportunities. A total of 32,444 work seekers were placed against registered opportunities.

A further 142,648 work seekers were provided with life skills and employment counselling interventions to help them transition to the labour market.

A total of 995 People with Disabilities were retained across 12 Supported Employment Enterprises that we have across the country through the transfers that we made and sale of goods that they manufacture during the 1st Quarter of the year, to provide special employment to People with Disabilities

A total of 1056 People with Disabilities were also retained across 09 Designated National Organizations and Workshops for People with Disabilities that we subsidize

Working closely with the Presidency in its employment drive, we have concluded a partnership agreement with the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) towards the implementation of the National Pathway Management Network to make more opportunities available to unemployed young people.

A total of 108,061, earning opportunities have been secured for youth. The partners that we also work closely with, the Youth Employment Service, a private sector initiative, placed 10 695 youth in workplace experience opportunities, and further 47 000 youth gained insight into different fields of work through the revitalised youth service. A total of 139 young interns were retained within the Department to support other work seekers as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative,

The Compensation Fund also actively contributes to the workforce by providing financial assistance to those in need through bursaries. In the current fiscal year alone, . The Compensation Fund has successfully paid bursaries for 1 865 students who cover diverse range of this entity’s beneficiaries, and People with disabilities, an initiative aimed at integrating them into employment.

A total of 1 325 new employment opportunities were created through the COIDA investment arm.

The Presidential Comprehensive Youth Employment interventions have also contributed to job creation, specifically 135 jobs.

The Compensation Fund's provision of bursaries has made a tangible impact on the workforce by assisting those in need, creating job opportunities, and empowering marginalised youth.

The CCMA also assisted with the prevention of 6008 job losses, against a total of 16 239 workers likely to be retrenched and a total of 9 754 that were ultimately retrenched.

2023/24	YTD	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR
Employee Likely To Be Retrenched	16239	4433	3491	3854	4461
Job Saved	6008	1825	1347	964	1872
Total Retrenchments	9754	2347	2061	2823	2523
%	37%	41%	39%	25%	42%

Productivity South Africa’s Competitiveness Improvement Services (CIS) supported 420 enterprises within 20 districts contributing to 3500 jobs. Trained a total of 667 Entrepreneurs, managers and workers, and capacitated 247 Productivity Champions. Demographics of Entrepreneurs, Workers and Managers trained indicates that of the 667 people trained, 201 are youth, 289 are women and 487 are Black Entrepreneurs.

The Business Turnaround and Recovery, Productivity SA Programme has intervened in 30 new companies from April 2023 to date and saved 2076 jobs of which 1088 (52%) are youth.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) through its Labour Activation Programmes has placed 8 523 beneficiaries into employment opportunities. 5 723 of them were youth and people belonging to vulnerable groups.

The Department of Employment and Labour has convened a number of Intergovernmental Collaboration Sessions with other government departments in an attempt to mobilise and to effectively utilize the limited available resources to place more unemployed people into employment and to assist others to start their own enterprises.

Reply:

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has furnished me with the following response to the question, received from Adv R Voller:

“(1) Prior to 2016, SAMPRA was accredited as a Collecting Society for owners of sound recordings in terms of Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Regulations on Collecting Societies. It was in 2016 that SAMPRA transited into a Collecting Society representing both owners of sound recordings and performers in terms of Regulation 3(1)(c) of the Regulations on Collecting Societies.

During such period of changing its representation, an interim board was established representing both performers and owners of sound recordings. The interim board served to approve all business activities of the Collecting Society.

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is not aware of any situation that might have availed a conflict of interest especially that the interim board constituted of two chairpersons representing the interests of all members (the performers and owners of sound recordings).

Further, there was no complaint or request directed to CIPC to investigate such conflict of interest. The SAMPRA as an accredited Collecting Society is also subjecting itself to auditing by its auditors.

(2) The CIPC is not aware of any information indicating that SAMPRA absorbed losses incurred by RISA as a result of 2016 edition of SAMA but should such information be brought to its attention, it will investigate the matter accordingly.

(3) During the transitioning period, the interim board was established to approve the business affairs and transactions at SAMPRA. The CIPC is therefore not aware of any sponsorship amount of R600 000 approved by SAMPRA – RISA Chairman, which belonged to SAMPRA.

If there is any information indicating that SAMPRA monies were approved contrary to the parameters of the Regulations on Collecting Societies, CIPC is prepared to investigate such allegations, as mentioned above. The SAMPRA has been consistently deducting its 20% administration costs in accordance with the Regulations.”
-END-

Reply:

The Department of Employment and Labour undertakes labour inspections at all workplaces including domestic households and on farms and agricultural establishments. Such labour inspections are undertaken on a pro-active basis as well as re-active basis (based on complaints received).

Advocacy initiatives are undertaken using local newspapers and radio stations (in the local languages) across all Provinces in South Africa where compliance to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is advocated and where awareness is raised about the rights of workers.

Effective stakeholder relations are also fostered where the Department also participates in local and regional structures (District Development Model – DDM) where compliance to the NMW is advocated to various government departments and municipalities stakeholder programmes. Imbizos by traditional leadership are also one forum where the NMW is advocated and awareness raised to communities and workers. Furthermore, the department adopts a joint stakeholder approach to communicate its message to workers and the community.

The Department also have a programme called “Taking Services to the People” where all employment and labour legislation including the NMW are advocated to both urban, semi-rural and rural communities.

The Department has signed a MOU with the South African Domestic Workers Union (SADSAWU) to undertake joint advocacy programmes within the domestic workers-sector. To this end, a number of advocacy sessions have already been held throughout the country.

Further efforts and special focus is on the agricultural sector where the NMW is currently being advocated to farmers / employers.

There are constant ongoing advocacy and stakeholder partnerships being fostered to mainstream the NMW into the consciousness of the South African Labour Market. Strategic Stakeholder Partnerships with universities deemed to be in rural provinces are currently being entered into where Law Students will be utilised to advocate compliance to the NMW in rural areas thus raising awareness of the NMW in rural areas of our country.

In instances whereby there’s no compliance with employment laws (including the NMWA); notices are served to employers. In instances where employers fail to honour these notices; the inspectorate would refer such to the CCMA for prosecution.

Reply:

Yes, The Minister of Water and Sanitation invoked Section 63 of the Water Services Act (108 of 1997) in July 2021 and subsequently appointed Rand Water as the Implementing Agent (IA) to conduct the assessment and implement the necessary intervention to gradually address challenges. The Water and Sanitation Masterplan was compiled with the implementation protocol to guide with infrastructure management, refurbishment, upgrades, operation and maintenance. The implementation protocol involves Rand Water, Emfuleni Local Municipality, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Rand Water is currently assisting Emfuleni Local Municipality to improve revenue collection and debt management as part of the Section 63 intervention. Rand Water is assisting the Municipality with water conservation and demand management (WCWDM) and with capacitation of the water and sanitation department of the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

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Reply:

a)  Rand Water has an allotment of water for each municipality as summarized in the table below:

Municipality	Allocated amount (Ml/d)
1.	City of Johannesburg Metro	1356
2.	City of Ekurhuleni Metro	1022
3.	City of Tshwane Metro	667
4.	Emfuleni Local Municipality	239
5.	Mogale City Local Municipality	93
6.	Metsimaholo Local Municipality	51
7.	Rustenburg Local Municipality	68
8.	Govan Mbeki Local Municipality	106
9.	Midvaal Local Municipality	28
10.	Merafong Local Municipality	86
11.	Rand West Local Municipality	91
12.	Lesedi Local Municipality	23
13.	Ngwathe Local Municipality	7
14.	Victor Khanye Local Municipality	17
15.	Royal Bafokeng Administration	10
16.	Madibeng Local Municipality	8
17.	Thembisile Hani Local Municipality	31

(b) The total amount used by each municipality from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2023 is as follows:

Actual Average Monthly Consumption (Ml/d)
Municipality	Jan ‘23	Feb ‘23	Mar ‘23	Apr ‘23	May ‘23	Jun ‘23
City of Johannesburg Metro	1751	1738	1731	1735	1751	1750
City of Ekurhuleni Metro	1009	987	1019	989	982	980
City of Tshwane Metro	765	754	790	784	789	796
Emfuleni Local Municipality	299	308	304	291	285	288
Mogale City Local Municipality	102	95	94	97	98	99
Metsimaholo Local Municipality	45	39	39	40	39	41
Rustenburg Local Municipality	96	91	97	96	97	97
Govan Mbeki Local Municipality	93	93	83	84	87	87
Midvaal Local Municipality	36	35	37	35	34	32
Merafong Local Municipality	75	71	80	74	74	72
Rand West Local Municipality	78	76	76	75	77	78
Lesedi Local Municipality	23	24	21	19	23	22
Ngwathe Local Municipality	8	8	8	7	9	8
Victor Khanye Local Municipality	18	18	17	16	11	16
Royal Bafokeng Administration	16	13	18	17	15	16
Madibeng Local Municipality	15	14	12	12	12	13
Thembisile Hani Local Municipality	33	32	29	30	31	33
Grand Total	4461	4396	4453	4401	4415	4426

c) The allocated amounts per municipality are the optimal amounts needed by each municipality. Any demand above the allotted amounts renders Rand Water non-compliant with the abstraction conditions imposed by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

(d) The main reasons for the allotment are to:

• Encourage the municipalities to improve their water use efficiencies and reduce their demand in line with the current abstraction conditions.
• Assist Rand Water to comply with the abstraction conditions from the DWS.
• Ensure sustainable abstraction of water from the resource (Integrated Vaal River System)

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Reply:

 

 

a)  The root cause for most municipalities being non-compliant is poor management and leadership that do not prioritise budgets for maintenance and operation; as well as poor billing and revenue collection leading to deterioration of infrastructure. Non-adherence to standard operating processes for drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment is caused by municipalities failing to hire the necessary staff with the correct skills and qualifications.

Rapid rural-urban migration coupled with housing developments, has also resulted in increased connections to water-borne sewage systems. However, many municipalities have not invested in upgrading their sewage collection and treatment infrastructure to cater for this increase, and many wastewater treatment systems lack the capacity to deal with the increased sewage load. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has estimated that it would require approximately R50 billion to address this backlog in wastewater treatment system capacity.

b) The Department has initiated an action plan to address the worst performing municipalities (scoring less than 10%) in terms of the Blue and Green Drop Watch reports. In developing this plan together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and National Treasury (NT) it was established that half of the 30 municipalities which scored less than 10% in the Green Drop and / or Blue Drop assessments are also on COGTA’s list of 66 dysfunctional municipalities.

A quarter of the 30 municipalities are also on National Treasury’s list of 79 municipalities in service delivery and financial crisis or in serious financial trouble and requiring intervention. NT has recommended that Provinces implement mandatory interventions in terms of Section 139(5) of the Constitution and Chapter 13 of the MFMA for these municipalities. Whilst national interventions are provided for in the Constitution, the capacity to intervene at national level is limited and Provinces must lead such interventions.

c) The Department has commenced with the amendment of the Water Services Act to strengthen its water services regulatory framework and its ability to effectively rectify contraventions. This will be done through the introduction of an operating license system for Water Service Providers (WSP), to be managed by DWS as the national regulator. This will require that water services only be provided by an entity (municipality or other entity) that has an operating license. This will enable WSAs to ensure that WSPs have minimum competency, capability, and performance levels to provide the required standard of water services.

A further amendment will be made to Section 63 of the Act, which currently only provides for an intervention under the Constitution, to enable the Minister, to issue administrative action similar to the National Water Act but additionally, as a last resort, to force separation of the water services function from the municipal administration where there is persistent failure to meet license conditions. In such instances, the Water Services Authority will be required to contract with a licensed Water Service Provides (after a S78 Systems Act process). The appointed licensed WSP will take over all the functions related to providing the water service, including billing and revenue collection, Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management. Currently S63 is impractical because it does not provide for all these functions to be taken over – the amendments will enable the licensed WSP to be funded. This amendment Bill is en-route to Cabinet for approval to embark on public consultations.

 

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Reply:

1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is aware of water supply challenges being experienced in the Ugu District Municipality (DM) on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The water demands in the Umtamvuna water supply system exceed the available treated water primarily due to a shortage of power to pump and treat sufficient water. Due to constraints in the power grid in the area in KwaZulu-Natal, negotiations are currently underway to secure additional power from the Eastern Cape. The DWS is unaware of sewage issues in the Banners Rest area. This matter will be investigated.

2. The DWS has intervened in the area by participating in a technical task team and establishing a War Room to monitor the implementation of turnaround plans and projects that will improve water supply for the communities of the district. The DWS is very concerned about the impact of water supply interruptions on tourism, business, and the communities and has allocated an additional R150m of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant to the Ugu DM to implement interventions. The WSIG allocation to the Ugu DM is R327,35 million over the medium-term expenditure framework.

The additional R150 million will be utilized to provide operational stability through improved bulk metering, valve refurbishment and telemetry, pipeline replacement and an emergency borehole programme, with over 20 boreholes already pumping clean drinking water to communities. In addition, the DWS is supporting the Ugu DM with the detailed planning for other regional bulk water supply projects including Harding Weza, Umtamvuna and Vulamehlo regional schemes. It is anticipated that this planning will take about 12 months to complete.

In the longer term, to ensure there is sufficient water resources to supply the area, the Minister of Water and Sanitation has issued a Directive to Umngeni-Uthukela Water Board to fund and implement the Cwabeni Dam, an off-channel storage dam with a capacity of approximately 70 million cubic meters to augment the Bhobhoi / Mzimkhulu supply system in Port Shepstone and surrounding areas. The project involves the construction of a dam, as well as associated infrastructure such as spillways, a water treatment plant, and a pipeline to convey water to the existing water supply system. The project is expected to cost R1.8 billion and is planned to be completed by 2033.

In relation to sewer spillages, in other parts of the Ugu DM, the DWS issued a Directive to the municipality on 13 May 2022 following the April 2022 floods. The War Room mentioned above is also aimed at addressing sanitation challenges in the area. Furthermore, each instance of pollution reported to the Department is investigated and communication sent to the municipality.

3. The DWS is working hard to support the Ugu DM to ensure that they fulfil their constitutional responsibility of water service provision. The DWS is confident that the support projects and the capacity support provided by CoGTA has already resulted in improvements in water supply in some areas. Unfortunately, not all interventions will yield immediate improvements, however, the DWS is providing significant financial support and technical oversight in the Ugu District Municipality and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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Reply:

a)  The Green, Blue and No Drop reports are released every two years after the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) conducts comprehensive assessments of Water Treatment Works and municipal water distribution systems as well as wastewater systems in the country. Interim reports which are progress reports are released in the alternate year. The progress reports focus on the progress of municipalities in addressing the findings of the full Green, Blue and No Drop reports.

The intention of these uniquely South African regulatory tools is to improve municipal drinking water quality, wastewater management as well as water conservation and demand management. The Green, Blue and No Drop reports keep the public and stakeholders informed and updated with credible data and information about the state of water and sanitation services in the country. Water services institutions that achieve compliance and excellence in providing such services are also recognised for excellence. This serves as an incentive for water services institutions to improve their performance.

The reports identify what needs to be done to address each of the shortcomings identified in the reports. In this regard, the reports are a support mechanism, in addition to being a regulatory mechanism, because they provide the owners of the infrastructure (municipalities) with advice and guidance to improve water and sanitation services.

Beyond the comprehensive assessments of water and wastewater systems by the DWS and the continuous monitoring of progress made by municipalities, there are other mechanisms that Water Service Providers (WSP), including Water Boards and Water Service Authorities (WSA) must put in place to ensure compliance with the National Standards. Some of these include, amongst others:

• Municipalities and water boards are required by law to meet drinking water standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards in South African National Standard (SANS) 241 and must conduct regular tests on their treated water to ensure compliance with the standard. A water service provider or municipality must be agile and responsive when their tests indicate a challenge with the water quality compliance.

• The effluent from Wastewater Treatment Works which goes into rivers is also required to meet minimum standards, set by the DWS. Monitoring frequencies of these conditions are much higher than the Green Drop Assessments and water services providers must monitor compliance and provide corrective measures when required.

• WSAs and WSPs need to ensure proper metering, monitor and be responsive to reported water leaks to ensure timeous repairs of their infrastructure to reduce losses.

b) The following is being done to by DWS ensure compliance and provide support to municipalities and to improve the effectiveness of the monitoring tools:

• The Minister has agreed on action plans to address infrastructural deficiencies in many of the worst performing municipalities, and DWS is assisting municipalities with funding from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to address these deficiencies.

• DWS is taking regulatory action in terms of the National Water Act, including issuing non-compliance notices, directives, taking civil action, and as a last resort, laying criminal charges against polluting municipalities that are non-responsive to regulatory actions taken by the DWS.

• DWS is drafting amendments to the Water Services Act to strengthen its role as the regulator of municipal water and sanitation services and to enable the Minister to intervene effectively when there is non-compliance with directives to stop pollution.

---00O00---

Reply:

The Department and entities have responded as follows:

(i) Department of Home Affairs (DHA)

(a)(aa) 2020-21: R340 400

(a)(bb) 2021-22: R309 350

(a)(cc) 2022-23: R222 710

(b) 2020-21: Government Printing Works

2021-22: Government Printing Works

2022-23: Makgoka Consulting provide the editing, layout and design while Government Printing Works provided the printing services.

(c) 2020-21: 1000

2021-22: 500

2022-23: Intended number to print is 100

(ii) Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

(a)(aa) 2020-21: R146 520

(a)(bb) 2021-22: R 97 128

(a)(cc) 2022-23: Still in progress

(b) 2020-21: Inside Data South (Pty) provided the service

2021-22: Fine Art Printers provided the service

2022-23: Still in progress

(c) 2020-21: 800

2021-22: 600

2022-23: Still in progress

(iii) Government Printing Works (GPW)

(a)(aa) 2020-21: The GPW Annual Report was designed internally and a PDF copy produced for tabling in Parliament and Publishing on the GPW’s website. No hardcopies of the Annual Report were printed.

(a)(bb) 2021-22: The GPW Annual Report has been designed internally and a PDF copy produced for tabling in Parliament and Publishing on the GPW’s website. No hardcopies of the Annual Report were printed.

(a)(cc) 2022-23: The 2022/23 Annual Report is not yet produced due to an audit that has just commenced in August 2023, by the Auditor General of South Africa.

(b) 2020-21: Annual Reports were designed internally by GPW and PDF copies produced.

2021-22: No hardcopies of the Annual Reports were printed as only PDF copies were produced.

2022-23: In progress

(c) 2020-21: GPW did not print any hard copies of its annual report except development of the PDF copy.

2021-22: GPW did not print any hard copies of its annual report except development of the PDF copy.

2022-23: Annual Report is not yet produced due to an audit by the Auditor General of South Africa that has just commenced in August 2023. that has just commenced in August 2023.

END

 

Reply:

The demarcation or re-demarcation of municipal boundaries (including amalgamations) is the responsibility of the Municipal Demarcation Board (“the Board”) in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 1998 (“the Demarcation Act”). The amalgamation of municipalities that took effect after the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGEs) was finalised by the Board after applying section 24 and 25 of the Demarcation Act and other relevant provisions.

The Demarcation Act affords the member of the public the opportunity to make proposals for determination and redetermination of municipal boundaries. Therefore, the honourable member may also make submission to the Board should there be a need for redetermination of these boundaries as permissible in terms of the Demarcation Act.

End.

Reply:

1. (a) The tool will contribute towards strengthening child protection system as data collected will enable the Department to identify current strengths, opportunities, gaps and limitations on the protection processes or mechanisms undertaken. The tool act as a yardstick as it measures if the desired outcomes of the intersectoral protocol have been achieved.

b) The tool will improve monitoring and evaluation of services rendered whilst also standardising reporting on the different pillars of the monitoring tool. The outcomes and impact of the monitoring tool is measured through the analysis of the provincial reports submitted by provinces on quarterly basis.

c) The Children’s Act 38/2005, section 4 and 5, promotes the Intersectoral collaboration in rendering Child Protection Services, in an integrated, coordinated, and uniform manner.

d) Social Development is the lead department for the child protection system, and other departments such as the Departments of Health, Department of Basic Education, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, South African Police Service, Department of Home Affairs. The civil society organisations are represented by the Designated Child Protection Organisations, etc., which provide services to children and families which directly influence their protection.

e) Currently, the tool is paper-based and accessible to all the child protection stakeholders who are expected to report on it on a quarterly basis for all services rendered to children.

f) All key stakeholders in the child protection field were consulted, as well as during the development of the monitoring tool, and they were also involved when the tool was piloted in three (3) provinces, i.e., Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Free State respectively.

(g) The consultations included the National and provincial Designated Child Protection Organisations such as CWSA (Child Welfare South Africa), Childline SA, Tutela, SAVF (Suid Afrikaanse Vroue Fedarasie), and ACVV (Afrikaanse Christelike Vrouevereniging) to name a few.

(2) Yes, the monitoring tool is fully operational and forms part of the Annual Performance Plan where all the nine (9) provinces are expected to report on a quarterly basis.In addition, the national department of Social Development is conducting the capacity-building on both the intersectoral protocol and its monitoring tool in order to strengthen case management and data collection on services, as well as accountability amongst all stakeholders within the child protection field.

National Assembly written Reply: 2673 of 2023

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

(1)(a) I issued a Notice calling upon nominations for appointment of individuals to the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (the “Panel”). Nominations have been received and the nominations are currently being analysed. As required, under section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act, 2023 (Act No. 1 of 2023) (the “Amendment Act”), the Minister is enjoined to establish the Panel in consultation with the Independent Electoral Commission (the “IEC”). Further, as contemplated in section 23(8)(b) of the Amendment Act, the Minister must appoint nine (9) members to the Panel.

(1)(b) The Minister is still considering the nominations received. The Minister is required to consult with the IEC. It is also important to indicate that section 23(8)(b) of the Amendment Act enjoins the Minister to appoint members of the Panel after approval of the candidates by the National Assembly.

(1)(c) Section 23(14)(b) of the Amendment Act requires the Minister to determine the remunerations and allowances in consultation with the Minister of Finance. The Minister will consult with the Minister of Finance in this regard.

2. The Minister has not, as yet, established the Panel. The Minister is still considering the nominations received.

3. The work relating to Coalition Government is done through the Office of the President.

END

Reply:

Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) play a vital role in the provision of services uplift communities throughout the country. The advantage of working with NGOs is that they have a wider reach and respond directly to the needs of communities in which they operate.

Due to financial constraints, the Department of Social Development can only provide financial support to a limited number of NGOs. Currently, the Department spends over 7 billion in financial support to NGOs across the country. While this is not enough to meet the growing need for funding on the ground, it keeps many NGOs running and enables them to continue providing the much-needed services in their communities.

The Department also provides capacity building and grant funding to NGOs through the National Development Agency (NDA). Through strategic partnerships with development agencies and private sector, the Department mobilises resources to support NGOs.

 

National Assembly written Reply: 2544 of 2023

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

1. No, the Department of Social Development does not maintain a database of persons with disabilities in need of assistive devices, including wheelchairs because that is the primary mandate of the Department of Health as per the National Rehabilitation Policy. However, the Department provides a collaborative process through its social workers, auxiliary social workers and supported NGOs that render social work and support services to vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
2. No, refer to the reply above. The Department funds and supports NGOs providing social work and support services to persons with disabilities.
3. As guided by the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Department collaborates with other departments, including the Departments of Health, Basic Education and Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to ensure a whole-of-Government and society approach to disability mainstreaming.

National Assembly written Reply: 2630 of 2023

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

The Honourable Member is herewith informed that Diplomatic passports are issued according to the South African Diplomatic Passport Policy and that the Department of Home Affairs is not the custodian of this policy, and similarly not responsible for the application(s) as well as the issuance of this category of passports whatsoever. Hence it is requested that any information relating to Diplomatic Passports should be addressed to the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO).

END

Reply:

a) Teenage pregnancy is a crosscutting issue that no single department or entity can resolve on its own. Government has developed the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) championed by the Departments of Basic Education and Health. As part of the multisectoral strategy, DSD developed its own social behaviour change and prevention programme, which is implemented in schools across all 52 districts. The programme brings together all key partners—family, community, NGOs and faith-based organisations to comprehensively address this matter.

b) The services that the Department renders are guided by the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Departments of Health and Basic Education. Services include social workers collaborating with educators to identification and early interventions for learners in need of care and support and attending to referrals made by School Health Teams or School Based Support Teams.

Specific interventions include the implementation of Social and Behaviour Change programmes in schools, such as, You Only Live Once (YOLO) and ChommY that are school-based programmes. These programmes seek to create a safe and enabling environment in which young people can safely engage in discussion about HIV prevention and teenage pregnancy, and where positive values and quality decisions related to the sexuality of young people can emerge.

Information sharing, communication and awareness-facilitating dialogues with children and parents (in and out of school) through the Families Matter Programme, school debates on teenage pregnancy and its implications, as well as what could be done to curb teenage pregnancy.

National Assembly written Reply: 2580 of 2023

________________________

Approved by the Minister of Social Development

Date……………………….

Reply:

1. There have been some calls for the Act to be reviewed, particularly in the context of governance challenges over the years. Some of the issues and proposals are as follows:

• The current Act is seen to limit the framing of the Code of Conduct of councils to principles and practices for avoiding conflicts of interest. Provisions for Council to discipline members for misconduct beyond matters of conflict of interest should be formulated.
• Some of the governance challenges have been attributed to the way councils are structured. Proposed solution included reductio of the current maximum of 30.
• Consideration must be given to other intervention measures, in addition to issuing a directive, appointing an independent assessor, and appointing an administrator.
• The current economic environment, the underfunding of universities, the massification of higher education without matching funding, amongst others, has led universities to establish entities with a view to increase and diversify their third-stream income generation. However, the Act is silent on the establishment and regulation of such entities.
• Section 38 provides for public higher education institutions to co-operate with each other in any manner to achieve the optimal utilisation of resources and the performance of their functions, and to establish national and regional structures to facilitate the cooperation and collaboration initiatives. However, it does not include partnerships and cooperation between and among private HEIs inter se; and between public and private HEIs.
• The issue of alignment of definitions of various terms with other Acts such as NQF Act has also been identified as requiring the Higher Education Act to be amended.

2. The proposed review has not included tenderpreneuring in the sector and capacity of the department. The question of tenderpreneuring should ordinarily be addressed in the Audit and Risk Committee of the universities. With regards to the capacity in the Department, an organisational review is underway with the intent to address the capacity of the department, and alignment of the structure with the Act and White Paper. It is not immediately clear that the latter process will have to be factored in the review of the Act.

Reply:

The Department is preparing for next year's academic period for higher learning institutions and skills development expansion planning in various ways. The details of preparations are provided below:

1. Enrolments for the 2024 academic year

The enrolment applications for TVET colleges for the 2024 academic year opened on 1 September 2023. All TVET colleges will use online application system to enrol new and returning students. This process will be completed by December 2023. When colleges re-open on 8 January 2024, colleges will go through the final administrative procedures to confirm registration for the admitted new and returning students.

2. Academic calendars for the 2024 and 2025 academic years

The TVET 2024 and 2025 academic calendars have been drafted and will be distributed to colleges by the end of September 2023 to enhance colleges' planning and preparations.

3. Student enrolment numbers for the 2024/2025 academic years

The TVET Colleges Fiscus budget allocation remains constrained over the MTEF and does not align to the envisaged growth trajectory as set out in the National Development Plan to 1.25 million full time equivalent enrolment. It will therefore remain imperative for the Department to apply a capped enrolment to approximately 500 000 TVET enrolments for 2024/25, as the budget does not allow for further expansion. The preliminary TVET Fiscus budget allocation is indicated below:

Draft CoE 2024/25 R'OOO	2024/25 Draft Direct Transfer R'OOO	2024/25 Draft Opex for new Campuses R'OOO	2024125 Draft NSFAS Tuition allocation R'OOO	2024/25 Draft Total allocation R'OOO
7 781 234	3 991 421	444 132	3 054 196	15 270 983

The impact of the latest Public Sector wage increase has a detrimental impact on the overall fiscus position, as the increase in student numbers must be absorbed within the existing baselines. Thus, no additional funding will be received from the National Treasury, which is further limiting any further expansion. Without a drastic budgetary increase into the TVET colleges, expanding access to TVET colleges will be a serious challenge.

4. Strategic planning

All colleges have commenced planning for 2024 enrolment and will submit their strategic and annual performance plans by the end of September 2023 to the Department for the Minister's approval. The department through its institutional support Chief Directorate provides colleges with continuous capacity building support and quality checks the planning documents both during the process of preparation and submission.

5. Expansion of skills provision

Considering the current economic situation and the budgetary constraints faced by higher education in general and the TVET sector in particular, the Minister is urging the Department to consider mobilising the private sector and other development sectors to expand the size and shape of the TVET sector. This growth and expansion strategy focuses on the following four (4) key pillars:

1. Utilising excess physical infrastructure.
2. Digitisation strategy.
3. Responsive curriculum and relevant programme qualification mix (PQM).
4. Mobilisation of the private sector.

The strategy that outlines these key pillars is being finalised. This strategy will be promoted and shared with all key stakeholders.

6. A responsive TVET sector

Since 2018 the Department has embarked on a plan to review and update programmes and qualifications offered at TVET colleges to align them with the needs of the rapidly changing economy and society.

Through monitoring and evaluation of TVET Colleges' strategic plans and PQMs, the Department is trying to encourage college to transition from qualifications that are oversubscribed in the labour market and towards offering those programmes and qualifications linked to priority skills sectors.

TVET Colleges are encouraged to focus on expanding their offering in programmes that support the interventions in the South African Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP), Occupations in High Demand and those in the Critical Skills lists. These skills are mainly in the Manufacturing/Engineering, ICT, Transportation and Logistics, Tourism and Hospitality, Entrepreneurship and Agriculture.

7. Revision and updating of subject content

The Department has since 2018 updated curricula in at least 60 subjects of the NATED Report 191 programmes covering Engineering, Business and Services studies. The implementation of these revised/updated curricula started in January 2021. At least 10 subjects are identified for revision and update in the current year.

8. Occupations in high demand

The DHET through the Labour Market Intelligence research programme publishes a list of Occupations in High Demand (OIHD) every two years. This list consists of occupations that show relatively strong employment growth or experience shortages in the labour market.

9. Reviewing of learning materials

The learning material for reviewed subjects in the NATED: Farming Management and Mechanisation N6 and those of NCV: IT & Computer Science (Programming and Robotics) L3 will be introduced in January 2024. Currently the review is being screened and will be ready for TVET colleges to start ordering at the beginning of October 2023.

Site evaluations for new programme applications (2024 implementation) have been planned for the month of September 2023 and the outcomes will be communicated in the 1 st week of October 2023.

10. Teaching and learning capacity building

The following measures have been implemented to build capacity of lecturers at TVET Colleges:

A total of 1220 lecturing staff from all TVET colleges have been trained in digital skills to empower them to use a variety of digital methodologies and technologies.

1. The training of lecturers in project-based learning methods in electrical, plumbing, welding and mechanical and the infusion of entrepreneurial skills and culture will continue in 2024.
2. Managers from 22 colleges will be trained to develop plans and strategies for digital transformation of colleges.
3. Fifty (50) lecturers from colleges that have rolled out coding and robotics in NCV will be trained in 2024.
4. Thirty (30) lecturers from colleges that were accredited to roll out the renewable energy technologies in NCV Level 2 (September 2023); Level 3 in January 2024; and Level 4 in June 2024 will be trained in 2024.

The Department is supporting and monitoring colleges in their plans to place lecturers in industry for exposure and upskilling in line with latest industry technologies and practices.

University Education Preparation for 2024 academic year.

In preparation for 2024 academic year the Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) has planned a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders including University Registrars, Finance Executives, the South African Union of Students and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The purpose is to discuss the preparedness of universities for the 2024 registration and start of the academic year.

In addition, the Department has designed a questionnaire to be completed by universities at the start of the registration period which will serve as a baseline for data collection. This will provide an opportunity to identify key areas requiring national intervention, and to see where specific support may be required.

The Director-General requested the Department to adopt a different approach in ensuring effective monitoring of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in relation to their preparedness for 2024 academic year. It is planned that during registration the Department will visit all twenty-six universities as part of the monitoring approach. The purpose is to assess the activities on the ground across all institutions to ascertain whether the registration processes are proceeding as planned or if a sector approach is required to deal with any matters needing immediate attention. The exercise will also provide an opportunity to deal with campus-based matters.

Across the sector, there continues to be growing demand for university places, as more students qualify for admission to universities and there are limited spaces to accommodate all students that have applied. The Department has made the Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) available to prospective students who have not been able to secure a study space at a university or TVET College. The prospective student signs up on the CACH Portal by visiting https://cach.cas.ac.za.  Once the prospective student has successfully signed or automatically loaded on to CACH an email is sent confirming them of the signup. Where places exist and prospective students meet the requirements, institutions make offers to them through the CACH system and contact them directly once they have accepted the offer on the CACH system. The placement through CACH minimise the number of walk-ins at PSET institutions thus eliminating potential problems that may be experienced.

Throughout the year the Department will work very closely with universities to ensure that the academic year proceeds as planned.

Skills development expansion

Skills development expansion planning forms part of the enrolment planning process. Universities are required to align the plans to the broader institutional strategic plans and policies, national plans, and the human resource development strategy of the country. The Department has an enrolment planning tool that is used to identify areas which may require focused attention and where targeted enrolment strategies should be implemented to produce better quality graduates who will contribute to the economy of the country. In the current enrolment planning cycle, the following are the strategic fields of study identified as areas where growth is required to be responsive to the strategic priorities of South Africa:

1. human health,
2. agriculture and food security,
3. maritime studies,
4. mining,
5. engineering and
6. initial teacher education.

In addition, massification of skills development will continue in the 2024/25 financial year as follows:

• Annual number of learners or students placed in WBL programs to increase 110 500 to 190 000;
• Number of learners registered in skills development programs annually to increase from 149 000 to 150 000;
• Number of learners entering artisanal programs annually to increase from 23 000 to 36 375;
• Number of artisans found competent annually to increase from 21 000 to 26 500;
• Number of learners who completed learnerships annually to increase from 32 550 to 53 000;
• Number of learners who completed internships annually to increase from 6 450 to 11 000;
• Number of learners who completed skills programs annually to increase from 105,000 to 128,000.

Reply:

The Independent Assessor’ s report is lengthy (316 pages) and makes reference to the following concerns, amongst others:

• Governance Structures: Council functioning found not to be optimal with an outdated statute, bloated committee structure and excessive meetings over the years. The student governance model found not to be optimal with an outdated SRC Constitution, SRC structure not fit for purpose, the centralised model is a disservice to students since all students are based in the regions, and excessive benefits to SRC members. The principle of co-operative governance appears to have been abused and weaponised, thus creating a difficult environment for those entrusted to manage the institution.
• The functioning and efficacy of management is not optimal, with the members working as a coherent team; and in a number instances, they too constitute part of the problem.
• The Registrar’s Portfolio in relation to the management of academic affairs, registration and certification matters: the Report describes a number of systemic and structural challenges that point to the dysfunctionality of the Office. These include the size of the portfolio, staffing and poor consequence management; outdated policies; very little evidence of a student centric culture at UNISA with substandard levels of service delivery across most functions from application to qualification audits; high levels of student frustrations stemming from a poor student support environment; poor change management around the transition to online examinations and assessments in response to Covid-19; poor enrolment management resulting in R186 million in a 5 year period over-spent; poor data management as demonstrated in UNISA’s failure to protect students’ data exposing students to exploitation by fraudulent tutors.
• Financial management, supply chain management, and procurement: The report mentions SCM policy violations, financial irregularities, internal control weaknesses, fraud and, possibly, criminality. When malfeasance is uncovered, disciplinary action is either not forthcoming, or slow to implement. Instances of tender manipulation, overpayments and double payment for the same work, backdating of contracts, tender splitting and related misdemeanours are described in the report. The Report also noted the under-utilisation of the Infrastructure and Efficiency Grant, and the unacceptable state of maintenance in some regions, as well as payment of services that were not rendered.
• Human Resources Matters: confusion around the review of the organisational structure, irregular recruitment practices, prevalent acting and secondment appointments with many cases of persons seconded or appointed to act into positions up to 3 post levels higher than their substantive positions, and non-compliance with HR policies. The University is rife with a culture of fear, intimidation and bullying, the poor functioning of the Unisa Bargaining Forum (UBF), undue influence of unions in appointments, and a culture of lack of consequence management.
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT): instability of leadership in the ICT environment, implementation challenges of the newly approved strategy to improve the ICT environment, poor contract management resulting in UNISA losing licences, and outdated ICT infrastructure, are some of the observations in the report.

The above, amongst others, was compounded by leakage of documents and negative media reports which have negatively affected the reputation of UNISA.

Reply:

(1) (a) My Department, which is the Department of Higher Education and Training, has identified nine (9) illegal institutions of higher learning in the past financial year and (b) all 9 of them were closed down because they were (i) (aa) operating without registration with the Department as either Private Higher Education Institutions in terms of the Higher Education (HE) Act 101 of 1997 or Private Colleges as required by the Continuing Education and Training (CET) Act 16 of 2006, (bb) neither were they accredited by the Sector Education and Training Authorities and / or accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations in its capacity as the custodian of Occupational Qualifications on the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework.

(ii) The nine institutions were defrauding parents and learners while offering qualifications without registration by the Department and/or without accreditation by the Quality Councils such as the Council on Higher Education, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations and Umalusi.

(2) The Department has a dedicated Directorate which ensures that private institutions of higher learning are registered with the Department and meet the minimum requirements for registration as set out in both the HE Act and the CET Act and their attendant Regulations. This Directorate works very closely with the Quality Councils mentioned herein to ensure that private institutions are accredited for the qualifications they propose to offer and that the qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework managed by the South African Qualifications Authority. To ensure that parents and students do not fall prey to unregistered and/or unaccredited private institutions, the Department, through its Career Development Services and in conjunction with the Quality Councils, consistently embarks on campaigns such as KHETA – Apply Now, Nelson Mandela Career Guidance Day and others to raise awareness among the parents and students on what they must look out for before they enrol at private institutions.

Reply:

No, the Department does not intend to put measures in place in this regard as the salaries of Public Office Bearers including that of Kings/Queens is determined by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. On 16 August 2023, the Commission issued a proclamation determining salaries for Kings/Queens, Principal Traditional Leaders, Senior Traditional Leaders as well as Headmen and Headwomen.

Based on the latest determination, all Kings/Queens are equally remunerated a salary of R 1 315 429. The department is not aware of any King that is remunerated higher than the other Kings.

End.

Reply:

The steps taken are in line with the Concession Agreement contract between Department and SACM.

The Contracting parties are regulated by means of the signed Agreement and Schedule D Goal 7 Part 2 (B) of this Agreement deals primarily with the Standard of Requirements that needs to be complied with by the Centre.

According to the Clause of the signed Agreement the Standard Requirements are satisfied by compliance in the following categories.

• Security
• Cell Environment
• Essential Services
• Minimum staffing Level

If any of the above categories are not met, then the bed(s) will be deemed unavailable and the service provider will not be paid.

END.

Reply:

The Independent Assessor Reports over the years have highlighted a number of factors that contribute to governance failures. These range from the inability of councils, and in some cases the chairperson and deputy chairperson in particular, to provide strategic leadership and direction resulting in the abdication of its responsibilities to the Management; role confusion and contestation; fraught relationships between Council and Management; the phenomenon of the inability of council members nominated by internal/external constituencies to distinguish between the interests of the constituencies and the interests of the institution; the misunderstanding of the principle of cooperative governance; unacceptable and counter-productive conduct by some council members; non-adherence to good-governance practices, institutional rules and procedures.

Some of the systemic interventions that are being considered besides those provided for by the Higher Education Act, 101 of 1997 as amended include:

• The Resuscitatation of the role of the University Council Chair Forum (UCCF-SA)
• A sectorially-coordinated capacity building initiatives for induction of members. There is a council capacity development programme developed by the Department in partnership with UCCF-SA on offering induction and continuous development of members. This programme was envisaged to include two streams, the Basic and Advanced level. The basic training designed for new members of council, would explore the roles and responsibilities of Councils, the legislative and policy framework, as well as the distinctive context of academic institutions. The advanced training level designed for council members who have already attended the basic training or serving a second term, would explore various themes, namely institutional autonomy vs. accountability; council relationship with other governance structures and management; chairing of university councils; governance and management performance and evaluation; financial management and reporting etc. It may be important to make these compulsory for serving or potential members of councils.
• Development of a code of Good Governance for HEIs and a Governance Oversight Framework consisting of modern, transparent, and accountable governance arrangements.

• Ensuring that each member of Council is a paid member if the IODSA and any deregistered members be assumed not a member in good standing.
• Regular Ethics workshops and assessments to gauge the ethical standing of the member.

Reply:

a) Minister is awaiting the final report of the panel that is investigating various matters at the university. Notwithstanding, Minister’s authority regarding none-disclosure agreements is explained in section 41 of the Higher Education Act read with Regulations 6 and 7 of the Regulations for Reporting by Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Based on the latter, Minister has the legal right to request the Council to furnish him with the information contained in the none-disclosure agreement. He can also verify the financial component of the none-disclosure agreement by studying the audited annual financial statements contained in the Annual Report once the report is submitted to the Department.

b) All relevant information will be available in the Annual Report of the university - all annual reports are accessible to the public.

.

Reply:

(1)(a) A total of 3 021 offenders were transferred to different centres as per the below table

Receiving region	Receiving management area	Receiving correctional centre	Total offenders transferred
Limpopo, Mpumalanga & North West	Barberton	Barberton Medium A	386
		Nelspruit	100
	Bethal	Standerton	120
	Polokwane	Modimolle	20
		Polokwane	68
	Rooigrond	Medium A	363
	Rustenburg	Losperfontein	162
		Mogwase	15
		Rustenburg Medium A	96
	Thohoyandou	Makhado	63
		Thohoyandou Medium A	299
	Witbank	Witbank Medium A	408
Free State & Northern Cape	Groenpunt	Groenpunt	351
Gauteng	Baviaanspoort	Baviaanspoort	30
Gauteng	Kgosi Mamapuru II	C-Max	15
	Zonderwater	Zonderwater	49
	Leeuwkop	Leeuwkop	16
	Johannesburg	Johannesburg	90
Western Cape	Drakenstein	Drakenstein	20
	Helderstroom	Helderstroom	100
	Brandvlei	Brandvlei	250
TOTAL	3 021

(1)(b) DCS issued an observation notice against the Management of South African Custodial Management (SACM) with regards to improper handling of grievances as per the Concession Contract.

(1)(c) The Management of SACM has written a report to DCS with a number of grievances that they claim to have addressed which are inclusive to the following:

• Food issue;
• Dysfunctional health care system;
• Lack of transfers;
• Assault and torture;
• Ethnic language or group of people;
• Sodomy; &
• DCS Controller and Prison Director.

2. The Department endeavours to detain inmates in proximity of their areas of origin however due to overcrowding across the DCS it is not always possible to do so and it is therefore applied based on availability of bed spaces in any given facility.

END.

Reply:

(1)(a) The total number of offenders who applied for medical parole in the past three years is 214.

(1)(b)(i) The total number of offenders who applied for medical parole and recommended for medical parole by the Medical Parole Advisory Board in the past three financial years is 100.

(1)(b)(ii) The total number of offenders who applied for medical parole and not recommended by the Medical Parole Advisory Board in the past three financial years is 91.

It should be noted that a total of fifteen (15) offenders passed on (before the medical parole application process could be finalised), six (06) for review and two (02) were released on normal parole. The above-mentioned information is summarized as follows:

FINANCIAL YEAR	NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS	RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS	APPLICATIONS NOT RECOMMENDED	NUMBER DIED	NUMBER FOR REVIEW	NUMBER RELEASED ON NORMAL PAROLE
2020/21	65	30	31	03	0	01
2021/22	60	24	29	06	0	01
2022/23	89	46	31	06	06	0
TOTAL	214	100	91	15	06	02

2)(a) The total number of offenders who were denied medical parole and have since passed on is as follows:

Period	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
Total	13	08	04

(2)(b) The total number of offenders who were granted parole and have since passed on is as follows:

REGION	2020/21	2021/2022	2022/2023
EC	149	164	279
FSNC	99	213	138
GP	161	155	210
LMN	382	225	234
KZN	238	197	257
WC	92	150	218
TOTAL	1 121	1 104	1 336

END.

Reply:

The issue of unmarked assignments is amongst the numerous issues reported in the Report of the Independent Assessor, which is largely due to the systemic and administrative weaknesses at the University which existed for some time and have remained unaddressed. The contemplated decision to appoint an administrator is to address the findings of the Assessor Report.

Reply:

Following several engagements with the sector the Department undertook to develop a programme of engagement with all relevant stakeholders with the aim of developing strategic partnerships across the sector to address issues of violence and violent cultures on campuses. This work was progressed through the workshop on safety and security held with universities and Universities South Africa (USAf). The purpose of this engagement was to understand and assess the different threats experienced by universities and identify urgent matters that need to be addressed at the institutions, including identifying areas of collaboration with different stakeholders to improve the capacity of universities to keep campuses safe.

As part of the outcomes of these engagements the Department identified a need to develop a framework at national level in a form of a blueprint for universities which will serve as a guide to standardise the systems on physical security measures across the sector. The blueprint will guide on minimum norms and standards on the provision of safety and security measures at the universities. This work is done in collaboration with the South African Police Services.

Thus far the Department has also:-

1. Developed blueprint for technical and vocational education and training colleges with the assistance of the South African Police Services (SAPS).
2. It held a workshop for the heads of security of the universities, and subsequently directed all universities on 23 June 2023 to ensure that they have developed safety and security policies aligned to the norms advanced by SAPS. Where universities sought additional assistance, this was provided by the Department. The intention of the department is to ensure that all universities incrementally and progressively exhibit uniform policies and supporting infrastructure through grants provided by the Department.

Reply:

1. Minister is contemplating placing the University of South Africa under administration. However, it should be noted that Minister can only make his final decision once he has followed due process as per Section 49(B)(1A) of the Higher Education Act which requires that the Minister must, before appointing an administrator,

1. give written notice to the council of the higher education institution concerned of his or her intention to make such an appointment;
2. provide the council concerned with the reasons for the appointment;
3. give the council a reasonable opportunity to make written representations; and
4. consider the representations.

The Minister issued a notice to the Council for the appointment of an administrator. The contemplated decision was on the basis that the Independent Assessor Report reveals financial and other maladministration of a serious nature and serious undermining of the effective functioning of UNISA. The Report also reveals that the appointment of an administrator is in the best interest of UNISA and of higher education in an open and democratic society. The findings and recommendations of the Independent Assessor are largely consistent with those reached by the Report of the Ministerial Task Team on the Strategic Review of UNISA. The Minister’s observation, after having carefully considered the Council response to the IA Report, was that it does not sufficiently demonstrate that the Council is disposed and committed to successfully address the serious issues raised in the Report.

2. Once a university is placed under an Administrator, the Administrator:

1. takes over the role, powers, functions and duties of the council concerned;
2. carries out the role, exercises the powers, perform the functions and executes the duties of the council concerned to the extent that such role, powers, functions and duties relate to governance;
3. takes over and executes the management of the public higher education institution concerned;
4. identifies and initiates processes and initiatives that restore proper governance and management; and
5. ensures that a new council for the higher education institution concerned is appointed and constituted in accordance with the institutional statute as soon as is practicable.

Therefore, operational matters pertaining to student enrolment, graduates, management, and daily operations of the university placed under administration remains the function of management under the directive of the Administrator.

Reply:

The College campuses are mainly in rural areas and most of the landlords are the rural villagers.

In as much as the college assists in the type of accommodation when the students do their application for accommodation, however the college is not in control of the accommodation because students will finally choose the place where they want to reside, and it is the students who will submit the required documentation to NSFAS.

The college assists the students to apply for accommodation in the following manner:

• by checking that they are staying 10 kilometres away from the college based on their proof of home address. The 10 kilometres is a threshold by NSFAS to determine whether students qualify for 2023 accommodation or travel allowance.
• The following documents are submitted by the students when applying for the accommodation allowance,
  • signed form attached with the proof of home address,
  • student ID copy,
  • the landlord ID copy and
  • lease agreement or rental agreement.

Accommodation allowance is paid directly to student after all the requirements have been met as quality assured by NSFAS.

Letaba TVET College is currently not having accredited accommodation or college residential accommodation.

NSFAS is in the process of identifying accommodation services providers. The service providers will be accredited by NSFAS as per their student’s accommodation specifications. After receiving the list of the NSFAS accredited accommodation services providers, it is only then that the college will direct the students to only utilize the accredited accommodation service providers. Currently the college does not have control over where the students should have accommodation as it is subject to the assessment criterion at NSFAS before the award is made to the successful student.

Letaba TVET College is currently in a process of renovating Maake and Modjadji campuses student’s resident. It is also looking for funds to build College students residents for Giyani and Tzaneen Campus.

The College has no proof of students that are funded by NSFAS and are currently residing at informal settlements.

Reply:

a) The intergovernmental One Plans are the implementation tools of the District Development Model, which provides the framework for how service delivery challenges will be responded to by government. One Plans therefore contain budgetary commitments, performance and implementation targets, milestones and timeframes, by all of government that are confirmed and agreed upon at the various intergovernmental structures and platforms that are already in place across the three spheres of government.

b) Intergovernmental commitments made in One Plans are monitored and tracked through the work of the established intergovernmental structures and platforms across the three spheres of government as well as through the DDM Information Management System produced by the Department and individual provinces. These mechanisms are also complimented by the quarterly reports produced by the DDM political champions and the hosting of Presidential DDM imbizos in all provinces and in selected districts, where the Executive engage with citizens on not only service delivery challenges but also progress made in this regard.

End.

Reply:

1. No recommendation was made to move the Summit to China. Instead, there was a focus on options that would maintain South Africa as the host of the Summit (being the Chair of BRICS in 2023) inside the borders of the country, whether in hybrid, or in-person format, to fully capitalise on the historic opportunity provided by the BRICS bloc expansion and the geo-political environment.

2. The total costs incurred for the hosting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers was ZAR 9, 848 909.51.    

Reply:

(1) (a) 1 646 966 UI Act claims applications were lodged from the 1st of April 2023 to date; and

(b) 138 337 COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) claims applications were lodged from the 1st of April 2023 to date.

(i) 10 644 COVIDTERS claims were allocated to the audit firms and 4 384 were audited so far; and

(ii) 6 260 COVIDTERS claims are still to be audited;

(2) (a) 161 COVID-19 TERS Relief Scheme were processed (from 2020), declined and unpaid due to the following reasons:

2 (b) The applications where previously processed and declined due to various validation reasons. The applicable response errors were communicated (automatically) with employers to rectify the relevant applications so that the system can re-adjudicate (again) so that employees’ benefits can be approved and paid-out. It should be noted that ALL the application within different iterations were processed and currently UIF is re-processing any updated/ corrected employer applications. Out of the total applications received for the period above, the outlined below provides the breakdown of incorrect employer application errors:

• 22 are not paid due to invalid ID numbers;
• 30 are not paid due to unverified foreign nationals
• 45 are not paid due to Employees not declared.

 

Reply:

The land use management function in municipalities is regulated in chapter 5 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act No. 08 of 2013 (SPLUMA). The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is the custodian of SPLUMA and therefore responsible for supporting the land use function in municipalities.

However, the Department of Cooperative Governance as the coordinator of the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) is implementing two key projects which have an impact on the land use management function in municipalities, namely, the development of Capital Expenditure Frameworks (CEFs) in intermediate city municipalities (ICMs), and the implementation of the Small-Town Regeneration (STR) strategy. The Department has to date supported 9 of the 39 ICMs with the development of CEFs.

The Small Towns Regeneration strategy, which entails the development of precinct plans for the towns, is currently being piloted in Piketberg (Bergrevier Local Municipality), Modimolle (Modimolle-Moookgopong Local Municipality), and Senegal (Setsoto Local Municipality).

End.

Reply:

Find here: Reply

Reply:

The Department is already working with the National Treasury on several local government reforms which include the development or review of municipal regulations, MFMA circulars, grants frameworks etc. which seeks to enhance the capacity in municipalities. There are also established intergovernmental structures i.e. budget forums, MFMA coordinators meetings etc. where the collaborative model is further entrenched.

Sound financial management requires stability within the administration from a governance perspective, therefore, as a response hereto, the Department has rolled out the following programmes to augment what the National Treasury is doing, as part of the collaborative strategy to support municipalities:

• promulgated the municipal staff regulations, which became effective from July 2022. To give effect to the implementation of municipal staff regulations, the Department is in the process of piloting the prototype staff establishment, which deals with review of organogram, which will enable municipalities to have a fit for purpose structure.
• Support to MPACs and other council committees to ensure their functionality;
• The department has also promulgated the Code of Conduct for Councillors Regulations to support the implementation of Schedule 7 in the Municipal Structures Act. This will contribute towards the stability at a council committee but also ensure that there is action in the event where there is instability or unwanted behaviour.
• Development of the Integrated Local Government Capacity Building Strategy which seek to introduce a strategy on how to address the skills deficiencies at municipalities to reduce the reliance on consultants.
• The department is also reviewing its support strategy which includes amongst others, how to better utilize Municipal Systems Improvement Grant (MSIG) to improve internal controls within municipalities and overall governance.
• The Department, through MISA, support municipalities on among others, the placement of civil and electrical engineers to assist with capacity building in the municipal project management unit.
• Data Management (Revenue)- aimed at assisting municipalities to improve accuracy and completeness of billing and address revenue leakages.
• Cost of supply study on water services- aimed at assisting municipalities to determine cost of providing trading services, revenue requirements and tariff design.
• Records management- aimed at assisting municipalities to improve records management, assist with the stabilisation of the administration and promote culture of accountability.

The above, together with support from the National Treasury will go a long way towards assisting municipalities to address the weaknesses identified by the Auditor-General. It is however important that this be looked at within the context of section 154 of the Constitution, meaning that municipalities still ultimately remain responsible and accountable to manage their own affairs. So by implication, the support initiatives is there to support municipalities but their success is highly dependent on the receptiveness thereto by the leadership within the municipality.

End.

Reply:

a) Firstly, I would like to state that stipends for participants and salaries for Site Management staff have been paid on time for the past three months i.e. participants payment date being 25th of each month and Site Management Staff being the last day of each month. Queries of non-payment relates to bank account changes and these participants are very few.

b) I am aware of the challenge of inadequate Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) for Participants intended to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. This challenge is largely as a result of delayed procurement processes by Implementing Agents (IAs) and further exacerbated by the discontinuation of their contract in March 2023.

c) The source of this PPE challenge was an attempt on the part of the department to promote value for money procurement by IAs. The department introduced a requirement that enjoins IAs to submit all intended procurement for approval.

d) The unintended consequence was that this requirement imposed additional strain on an already overstretched Finance unit resulting in delays in the procurement and distribution of PPE.

e) The provision of PPE for Participants is not a nice to have, but a compliance issue that the department must ensure is observed in accordance to the prescripts of the Occupational Health and Safety Act monitored by the Department of Employment and Labour.

f) It is for this reason that Site Audits are currently underway to determine the PPE needs of each Participant with the intention to expedite the procurement process and ensure compliance with the prescripts of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

End.

Reply:

None of the passengers aboard the chartered aircraft to Warsaw, Poland, on 15 and 16 June 2023 were officials of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Reply:

With the conclusion of the National Dialogue on Coalition Governments hosted by the Office of the Deputy President on 04 and 05 August 2023 at the University of the Western Cape, the Department of Cooperative Governance will now commence with its consultative processes on the proposed draft amendments to the Municipal Structures Act.

We will endeavour to have this in place before the commencement of our next term of local government in 2026.

Some of the aspects to be addressed in the legislation relate to (i) encouraging amendments to the section 12 Notices to change from Mayoral Executive System to a Collective Executive System to create an environment of “political inclusivity”, (ii) professionalising the administration, (iii) limitation on motions of no confidence through the introduction of a ‘2-year’ cooling-off period to force the focus on the functionality of council and service delivery, (iv) creation and publication of coalition agreements, (v) enabling the party with the highest number of seats to be given first preference to form a coalition with clear timeframes and (vi) enabling the party with the highest number of seats to be given first preference for the appoint of the Mayor (as appointed from the EXCO).

I wish to also acknowledge the ongoing discourse on this subject on various platforms, but also the work done by various stakeholders, and we believe that the knowledge generated from these engagements will lay a good foundation to build on towards the regulatory framework to guide coalition arrangements in municipal councils, including whether or not and how the municipal electoral system may need to change to ensure greater stability.

In the meantime, we urge all political parties to prioritise the needs of our people, to put their differences aside, and ensure that we have councils that are stable, functional and delivering services to all our communities.

End.

Reply:

1. During the 2021/2022 cycle, Ambassador Mfeketo was on annual leave for 24 days, (18 October – 12 November 2021 = 20 days, and 28 December – 31 December 2021 = 4 days compulsory leave).

The Ambassador was also on sick leave for 39 days:  06 - 10 March 2023 = 5 days; 11 - 16 April 2023 = 4 days and 17 April – 31 May 2023 = 32 days.

Approval was granted by the Department for the Ambassador to take leave.

2. During the Ambassador’s absence, the Embassy remained open during all official working hours to the public. The Deputy Chief of Mission was appointed as Chargé d’ Affaires to manage the Embassy.

Reply:

Six out of the eight targets and milestones in the agreed MoA between the department and the Development Bank of Southern Africa as it programme implementation agent in these three pilot sites, were achieved by 30 April 2023, when the MoA was terminated. The one target and milestone not completely achieved, which stood at 85% achieved, relates to the filling of certain identified vacancies within the three DDM technical support hubs due to recruitment delays and the premature termination of the MoA. The other target and milestone not completely achieved, which also stood at 85% achieved, was the convening of scheduled Executive Steering Committee (ESC) and Operations Steering Committee (OSC) meetings on time as planned due to other priority commitments by both parties.

End.

Reply:

The DDM implementation update reports produced by the department confirms that the DDM is now fully incorporated into the agendas of the various intergovernmental structures and platforms across the government. These reports also indicate that implementation of various One Plan projects are being implemented by the different government partners and stakeholders, which are further demonstrated in the site visits under taken by the Honourable President of the Republic and members of the Executive during Presidential DDM imbizos. For example the Tsomo river abstraction and water treatment plant in the Chris Hani District that will benefit 40 000 households and was constructed at a cost of R215 million and created 1692 jobs during construction and where locally based SMMEs were used. As well as the “Vlakkeland housing project” in the town of Paarl in the Cape Winelands District which is earmarked for mixed use development consisting of subsidy, GAP and social housing as well as social facilities. To date, R248 million has been spent on the completion of 432 houses and the construction of a further 323 units are underway. More than 180 local workers are employed at this site.

End.

Reply:

1 Total Number of unprocessed Payments

(a) (i)Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) = 89366

(b) (i)COVID-19 Ters = 215557 (Includes corrections and unqualified)

(ii) Employees still awaiting payment since start of Covid-19 Pandemic-

From first month of Pandemic – Mar/Apr 2020 – 3259 employees were never paid due to incorrect applications.

(2) (a) It should be noted that UIF processed all the applications for all the lockdown periods and the outstanding applications are those that were rejected as the applications failed validations and awaiting corrections from employers. UIF payments have turn around to be finalised within 3 days and this turn-around is always achieved for over 95% of the payments. However, payments with outstanding information leverage delays and a guaranteed date to finalise such payments are difficult to commit.

(b) COVID-19 TERS – Applications that were corrected by employers are currently being processed and paid. This continuous processing is done by UIF to ensure that all the employers and employees receive their due benefits upon corrections from employers. The time-frame of when all these applications will be paid is heavily dependent on employers providing accurate and corrected employees information.

Reply:

The Department has not been advised of any sports field project where services were procured with no construction taking place in the eDumbe local municipality. A sport field project (Mashekelela Sports Field) was completed in the 2022/2023 FY for a budget of R3 million funded through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant.

End.

Reply:

1. Some of the proposed changes relate to (i) encouraging amendments to the section 12 Notices to change from Mayoral Executive System to a Collective Executive System to create an environment of “political inclusivity”, (ii) professionalising the administration, (iii) limitation on motions of no confidence through the introduction of a ‘2-year’ cooling-off period to force the focus on the functionality of council and service delivery, (iv) creation and publication of coalition agreements, (v) enabling the party with the highest number of seats to be given first preference to form a coalition with clear timeframes, (vi) enabling the party with the highest number of seats to be given first preference for the appoint of the Mayor (as appointed from the EXCO) and (vii) the introduction of a 1% threshold that will require parties to receive at least 1% of the votes casted to qualify for a seat on the municipal council.

2. Note that the department did not pre-empt the National Dialogue, in fact, the department was in the process of hosting a similar type of engagement but decided to halt its plans since government through the Deputy President’s office planned to host a session, albeit from a much broader perspective.

End.

Reply:

The participation of Traditional Leaders in municipal council meetings is regulated by section 81 of the Municipal Structures Act, which was amended by the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019 (Act No. 3 of 2019). The amendment came into operation on 1 April 2021. More specifically, Section 81(4) of the Municipal Structures Act, provides that participating traditional leaders may participate in the proceedings of the relevant local, district or metropolitan municipality and may submit motions, make proposals and ask questions. A participating traditional leader may also address the municipal council on any matter directly or indirectly affecting traditional or Khoi-San leadership or the relevant traditional or Khoi-San council or community. More details of the roles of participating leaders in municipal council proceedings are found in section 81(8).

End.