Questions and Replies

Reply:

(i) Late Minister Chabane.

1. Make: Volkswagen
2. Model: Touareg 3.0
3. Price: R 755 720.82
4. Purchased date: 25 July 2014

aa) None

aaa) 2014-15 Financial Year

bbb) None

bb) None

NB: Subsequently written off due to accident.

(i) Minister Ramatlhodi.

a) Make: Ford

b) Model: Everest 3.2D LTD 4X4 6At

c) Price: 714 500.40

d) Purchased date: 18 April 2016

aa) None

aaa) None

bbb) None

bb) 2016-17 Financial Year

(ii) Deputy Minister Dlodlo.

1. Make: Audi
2. Model: Audi A8 3.0 TDI QuatrroTip-tronic
3. Price: 750 000.00
4. Purchased order date: 02 June 2016

aa) None

aaa) None

bbb) None

bb) 2016-17 Financial Year

(ii) Deputy Minister Dlodlo.

1. Make: Audi
2. Model: Audi A7 Sportback3.0 TDI Tip-tronic
3. Price: 735 700.00
4. Purchased order date: 20 June 2016

aa) None

aaa) None

bbb) None

bb) 2016-17 Financial Year

END

Reply:

(a) The requested statistics of the number of people who died whilst in custody at Lindela is as follows:-

2007 – 10

2008 - 5

2009 - 1

2010 - 3

2011 - 3

2012 - 4

2013 - 2

2014 - 6

2015 - 7

2016 – 6

All these deaths occurred after the deportees were referred by the clinic at Lindela to the Leratong hospital in Krugersdorp. Only one person actually died within the facility in 2016 shortly after arrival at the facility. The person did not show visible signs of illness.

(b) The police cells at the South African Police Services (SAPS) are utilised for the detention of suspected or confirmed illegal immigrants, pending their direct deportation to their countries of origin or transferred to the Lindela Holding Facility. The SAPS statistics for any deaths in detention are not available to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

Prior to the proclamation of the “Determination of Places of Detention of Illegal Foreigners pending deportation” in Government Gazette No.534 in terms of s34 (1) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 on 22 June 2015, illegal immigrants were also held in correctional facilities. The statistics of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for the period prior to the declaration are not available to the DHA.

Reply:

1.   The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has undertaken two backlog projects in 2001 and 2006 with a view of reducing the backlog. While these projects were able to resolve most outstanding claims, they were not able to prevent the re-occurrence of the backlog. The problem is complex and as a result of many interlinked causes.

To address the existing backlog of appeal hearings it is necessary to contextualize the backlog: -

• In terms of section 13 of the Refugee Act (No 130 of 1998), the Refugee Appeal Board (RAB) must consist of a Chairperson and at least two other members. In the past members of the RAB would hear matters individually for each appeal.
• As explained under question 2649 (b) in the Harerimana v Chairperson of the RAB and others the honourable Judge Dennis Davis ordered RAB to sit as a quorum of 50 percent of members plus one of the members for each appeal hearing or at least two members.

• Apart from the capacity constraints the subsequent dilemma is if only two members sit to hear an appeal and they disagree they cannot come to a decision. As a consequence, RAB was advised to sit as a quorum consisting of the three members (at this point the Chairperson and two members) which will then be properly constituted. The main rationale appears to be that sitting as a quorum of three facilitates the process of decision-making.
• As at the end of January 2017, RAB consisted of one member based in Cape Town and an acting Chairperson based in Pretoria. This chronic incapacity was as a result, of the end of contract of the previous RAB Chairperson as well as the resignation of three RAB members around the same time in middle 2016.
• The DHA has about 90 Refugee Status Determination Offices (RSDO’s) based at the five Refugee Reception Offices on average these RSDO’s may hear and determine between four and seven applications per day. If the applicant is rejected as unfounded by the RSDO, he or she has a right to appeal to the RAB within 30 days. Most applicants for asylum are rejected as “unfounded” and almost all such rejections are appealed against. This further strains the backlog.

In order to address the immediate challenges of the incapacity, the Minister of Home Affairs appointed a new Chairperson for RAB on 07 February 2017. As a matter of urgency, RAB re-started appeal hearings on 20 February 2017 on the basis that it is now properly constituted. All three current members are conducting these appeal hearings sitting as a quorum.

There is also an imminent appointment of two additional members by the Minister of Home Affairs. These two members are going through the internal interview and vetting processes. The Minister will in this regard also make the appointment after the conclusion of these internal processes. (It must be noted that there is challenges in attracting qualified legal refugee experts to a mandate with such a high backlog and low salary band). As soon as the interview and vetting process is completed, it is planned that the members be based at the Durban and Musina Refugee Reception Centres, respectively. It is also planned, that the Chairperson and another member, as may be required, will travel to these centres to hold appeal hearings as an interim measure in anticipation of the adoption of the new amendments in particular related to the quorum requirements.

According to RAB statistics there are 1287 judicial review cases that were served on RAB to date. This is another capacity constraint.

Year -	No of cases
2013 to 2014	132
2014 to 2015	230
2015 to 2016	663
2016 to 2017	262 (to date)

The reasons for the high number of reviews are the following, firstly, the decisions taken by RAB as an individual member after the Harerimana case was decided in November 2011. At the time, the previous Chairperson of RAB failed to apply the judgement and continued with hearings as individual members in some instances. Secondly, reviews are submitted in order for RAB to provide a hearing date. These reviews are mainly to compel the extension of the asylum seekers permit and to order RAB to provide a hearing date.

In this regard, RAB has undertaken an open dialogue with legal representatives of the appellants to prioritise certain cases. These cases include legal challenges to demand a hearing date and cases where a single member in contravention of the quorum requirements took decisions. This process is ongoing and intended to reduce the number of legal proceedings against RAB. RAB also intends to approach organisations such as Lawyers for Human Rights, Wits Law Clinic, UCT Law Clinic and other interested representatives to open this dialogue. (It should be noted, that at this stage there are very few of these reviews based on the merits of the case.)

During July 2015, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and representatives of South Africa had a high-level bilateral meeting in Geneva. The parties had agreed to develop a backlog project to address the outstanding RAB appeal cases. The project has not taken off due to the incapacity constraints listed above and financial constraints on both sides. The project was to run for three years ending in 2019.

RAB is continuing the dialogue with the UNHCR under the above agreement. RAB has approached the UNHCR and reopened discussion about the backlog project and its implementation. In this regard, the UNHCR was also approached to assist RAB with the development and financing of a comprehensive case management system. This system will be central to the management of any backlog project and will streamline the management of individual cases. The system will also provide a means to undertake a proactive approach to avoid a re-occurring backlog. The discussion is ongoing but promising.

At this stage, RAB is conducting hearings on an average of five to ten cases per day dependent on the complexity of cases. It has an estimated backlog of 258 232 cases with 92 535 active and 165 697 inactive cases. The institutional incapacity in this regard is evident and multifaceted. The institutional incapacity cannot be a problem that the DHA can alleviate on its own. Therefore, we are in discussion with all interested parties. This is in its infant stage.

2.   Yes, as discussed above the legislative amendments will play a key role in alleviating the current incapacity and thus assist in management of the backlog. Although the legislative changes is important there is more to be done in order to address the specified backlog and to manage the caseload proactively. For example, another key requirement in proactive management of the backlog is a case management system (discussed above). This will strengthen resource management and can pinpoint how to address institutional incapacity.

3.  (a) Since May 2016, no decision was taken by RAB members due to the resignation of three members and the end of contract of the previous Chairperson. It is unclear in how many appeal hearings RAB was improperly constituted.

3.  (b) The impact is not measurable at this point, however, as a result of the improperly constituted RAB hearings this has opened the RAB decisions to judicial review and these reviews are likely to be successful if submitted to a High Court. As mentioned above the total number of reviews on hand is 1287 cases. A percentage of this number is reviews based on the lack of a quorum. This percentage will have a marginal effect on the backlog, compared with the total backlog, if these matters are referred back to RAB.

Reply:

1.  Processes of the Commission

The restitution process is carried out in 6 steps or phases as follows:

2.  Lodgement and Registration of a claim

The lodgment of land claims is the first step in the restitution process. The Commission is required to assist the claimants in the lodgement of the claims. The current deadline to lodge claims is 31 December 1998.

On 27 March 2014 the National Council of Provinces passed the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill.

A claim may be lodged by (1) a person that was dispossessed, (2) the direct descendants of the person (where such person is deceased), (3) an estate, or (4) a community.

The qualification criteria for claims are that a person, direct descendant of a person, estate, or community must have:

1. Been dispossessed;
2. Of a right in land;
3. After 19 June 1913;
4. As a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices;
5. Has lodged a claim before the cut-off date for lodgement of claims;
6. Was not, at the time of dispossession, paid compensation or any other consideration that is just and equitable (as determined in terms of section 25 (3) of the Constitution.
7. Screening and Categorisation

Once a claim is lodged it is screened to determine whether all the information required to lodge a claim was submitted, the type of the claim, the location of the claimed land, etc.

3.  Research / Investigation

In terms of the current Rules Regulating Procedure in the Commission, research takes place in two phases.

The first phase involves a determination of whether a claim is not excluded by the requirements of restitution. Where a claim is not excluded, it is accepted for further investigation and details of the claim are published in the Government Gazette. Where a claim is excluded, the Commission may reject that claim if it is frivolous and vexatious. Claims that are frivolous or vexatious are claims that do not have substance, or which are patently bogus.

The second phase involves a more thorough research that determines whether the claim meets the requirements for restitution. Claims that meet the requirements will proceed to the next stage. Where it is discovered at this stage that the claim does not meet the requirements, the claim will be de-gazetted (i.e. the publication of the details of the claims will be withdrawn).

4.  Negotiations

All parties to a claim (including current owner of claimed land, claimant and other right holder on the claimed land) are convened and discussions held about how a claim will be settled. This will involve provision of all information to the affected parties; and the claimant being required to indicate the form of restitution (i.e. restoration of land, alternative land, or financial compensation, or a combination of the above). Where the claimant choses financial compensation, the current owner of the claimed land ceases to become an interested party. Where the claimant has opted for the restoration of the land discussions will be held for the acquisition of the land by the State (on the basis of a valuation).

5.  Settlement or Referral to Court

Where no agreement can be reached on settlement the claim is referred to the Land Claims Court. If there is an agreement, the settlement is referred to the Minister.

6.  Implementation

If an award is made by the Minister (on the basis of the agreement that was reached) or Court (through an order) the award or order is implemented by the acquisition of the land and its transfer to the claimant or payment of financial compensation where the award is for payment of financial compensation. Development assistance is provided where land is awarded.

1. The qualification criteria for claims are that a person, direct descendant of a person, estate, or community must have:

• Been dispossessed;
• Of a right in land;
• After 19 June 1913;
• As a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices;
• Has lodged a claim before the cut-off date for lodgement of claims;

Was not, at the time of dispossession, paid compensation or any other consideration that is just and equitable (as determined in terms of section 25 (3) of the Constitution.

7.  The claim is become invalid if those not meet the requirement of the restitution act.Where a claim is excluded, the Commission may reject that claim if it is frivolous and vexatious. Claims that are frivolous or vexatious are claims that do not have substance, or which are patently bogus.

Reply:

1. The matter was assigned to a Senior State Advocate within the Special Commercial Crime Unit who was tasked with the review of the report.

2. (a) Yes,

  (b) The National Prosecuting Authority is currently preparing its own report based on the findings of the curator. It is this report which will indicate what the next course of action should be. It is not possible to say at this stage whether or not the matter will be referred for further investigation as that will be dependent on the recommendations to be made in the said report. The finalisation of the said report took extraordinarily long because the report of the curator is quite voluminous. However, the indications are that the report is reaching its final stages, and will be concluded within a short space of time.

Reply:

(a) (b) (c) (d) (i) (aaa) (bbb) (bb) 

Minister Davies

No vehicles were purchased for Minister Davies during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years. New vehicles were purchased in the 2016-17 financial year due to the fact that the existing vehicles had exceeded 120 000 kilometers and were deemed to be in violation of the security regulation and transport policy for Executive Authorities.

Make	Model	Price	Purchase Date
Toyota Fortuner	2016	R625 718.94	28 July 2016
Toyota Fortuner	2016	R623 788.94	28 July 2016

(a) (b) (c) (d) (ii) (aa) (aaa) (bbb) (bb)

Deputy Minister Masina

No vehicles were purchased for Deputy Minister Masina for the 2014-15 financial years. The vehicles below were purchased in the 2015-16 financial year. No other vehicles were purchased after 1 April 2016.

Make	Model	Price	Purchase Date
BMW X5	2014	R966 112.14	27 November 2015
BMW X5	2015	R900 309.48	22 December 2015

 

Reply:

The reply in question was 

(a) Submitted on the 14 November 2016 to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence for tabling.

Reply:

A. The statement was made on the understanding that no one is above the law and traffic law enforcement officers should apply existing laws equally to all the people in the country. No additional plans are required to apply already existing law without fear, favour or prejudice.

B. (i) This will be measured by the number of people caught breaking road traffic regulations.

    (ii) The law prescribes sufficient detailson punitive measures to be imposed on the road traffic offenders. These measures must be imposed to all offenders without any exception.

Reply:

Reference must be made rather to Roving road blocks and not roving traffic Hotspots. The roving road blocks are also known as Mini Road side check points as opposed to fully fleshed road blocks with all the Road Traffic Signs displayed as prescribed in the Road Block Manual.

(a) The coordination of these roving road blocks is done within the provincial coordinating structures and Law Enforcement Technical Committee (LETCOM) to optimize the use and sharing of limited resources.

(b) The objectives of operations are to reduce road crashes and make road safe; target un-roadworthy vehicles and unfit drivers such as drunk drivers; and increase visibility of officers on the road.

(c) Number of Road blocks is (i) 74 382

(ii) The Road Blocks were conducted in all provinces.

(d) These operations are informed by the Road Traffic Intelligence report and situational analysis per area.

(e)Successes and failures are determined by number of crashes in the province, and number of arrests of drunk drivers.

(f) (i) Lesson learned is that there is a need for stronger coordination of joint operationsto be guided from national level and provincewith identified critical locations to be assisted through the deployment of the National Traffic Police resources from time to time.

(ii) Each province is currently establishing coordinating structures to plan and optimize coordination.

Reply:

(1) The Department does not prescribe specific student textbooks per subject in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges as this is not a suitable model to use in a post-school vocational learning environment.

Students in TVET colleges do not pay for their textbooks. It is a requirement that colleges must provide every student with a minimum of one textbook per subject per level until the student has passed the subject. This is funded through the Voted Funds transferred to colleges. This principle applies to all the Ministerially-funded programmes and qualifications offered in TVET colleges.

I am aware of the high cost of knowledge resources (including prescribed textbooks, academic books, journals and e-journals and databases) relating to university education. While there is no specific initiative to deal with prescribed textbooks on their own, there have been two related initiatives linked to the issue of creating efficiencies and bringing down the costs of such resources. These are:

1. engagements with National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service around the issue of Value Added Tax and other taxes on knowledge resources; and
2. a process for enabling national negotiations with publishers on e-resources (initially e-journals and databases) with the long-term aim of to enable the establishment of a national digital library, including e-text books.

(2) The Department has an ongoing relationship with all publishers of student textbooks, actively involved in the college market, since 2006. Regular written and oral communication takes place between the relevant branch of the Department and related publishers in the form of correspondence and meetings to address specific needs and requirements for student textbooks.

TVET colleges have access to lists and prices of textbooks available in the sector and subject committees in these institutions select textbooks based on set criteria.

Most colleges procure student textbooks directly from publishers, to reduce the knock-on cost along the distribution value chain, although booksellers sometimes play an important role to relieve the burden on colleges to procure a wide variety of student textbooks needed for a range of programmes being offered in these institutions.

No significant annual increase in prices of student textbooks happened since 2006. In some instances, the increase has been as little as R5 per textbook costing in the region of R200. In 2016, one publisher dropped their prices as a result of healthy competition amongst publishers in a relatively small market compared to the schools market.

To date colleges have not complained about the cost of textbooks. Currently, what could pose a problem is the over-enrolment of students in colleges, which may lead to cash flow challenges resulting in institutions avoiding purchasing new textbooks for all students. The Department is aware of such challenges and is currently dealing with these as urgent cases and attention is given for immediate resolution.

I am prepared to engage with universities and the publishing industry. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has started this process through a focus on national site licenses for e-journals and databases which are prohibitively expensive and are not accessible to all universities and their students. Currently, universities and science councils purchase individual licenses to access electronic databases, with many not being in a position to afford the associated fees to enable an effective range of resources to support high level teaching, learning and research. Between 2014 and 2016, the Department commissioned the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) to investigate and assist with evaluating options for implementing national site licenses for access to electronic journals and databases. The investigation, which was jointly overseen by the Department and DST, has recently been concluded. The investigation suggests that the establishment of national site licenses, through a high level national negotiating team, would bring about substantial savings, while at the same time improve equity of access to e-journals and databases across the university and science sectors. A process for taking this work forward is currently being worked on.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 240 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

In 2007 the Council on Higher Education (CHE) conducted a review of academic and professional programmes in education. The outcome of this review for the University of Zululand (UniZulu) for the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Foundation/Intermediate Phase was that it was accredited with conditions and the programme was put on notice of withdrawal. At the time, the university was required to review its education programmes and resubmit them for evaluation. Partly in response to the CHE review, the Department reviewed the teacher education policy and published a new policy (The Policy on Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications in 2011). UniZulu, like all other universities, was required to redevelop all their teacher education qualifications to meet the requirements of the new policy. UniZulu redeveloped its B.Ed and submitted to the CHE.

1. The CHE has evaluated the new Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) aligned Bachelor of Education degree designed in line with the new policy on teacher education qualifications offered by the University of Zululand. The Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the CHE accredited all the submitted B.Ed programmes on 9 February 2017, with between one to four short-term conditions. These conditions must be met within three months of the accreditation letter. The institution is permitted to offer the qualification and register students on the new HEQSF aligned programme in 2017.
2. (a) In 2015, there were 5 052 enrolments for the B Ed qualification at UniZulu and in 2016, there were 5 076 enrolments (preliminary 2016 data - still to be audited).  (b) It is not possible to provide 2017 enrolments at this time.
3. (a) Not applicable. (b) Accreditation has been granted for new qualifications as specified above. These new HEQSF aligned B.Ed programmes may only be offered after 9 February 2017. These specific qualifications may not be retrospectively awarded. Students registered in prior years were registered on the old Norms and Standards for Educators (2000) aligned qualifications. The accreditation of the old B.Ed qualifications, while on notice of withdrawal, were never disaccredited by the HEQC. Therefore all B.Ed students registered at UniZulu prior to 2017 were enrolled in accredited programmes and were not disadvantaged.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 254 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

(1) (a) For damages caused by protesting students in the 2015 academic year, an amount of R40.496 million was budgeted as follows: University of Fort Hare (R8 million), University of Zululand (R4.5 million), University of the Western Cape (R25.858 million), Walter Sisulu University (R351 287) and University of Limpopo (R1.786 million). No additional funding was provided to any other university. Some universities have claimed or are in the process of claiming from their insurance or have used their own funds to cover the repairs required.

(b) Government’s contribution for the zero percent fee increase for the 2016 academic year amounted to R1.935 billion and was allocated and paid to universities as indicated in the table below.

 

2016 Zero percent fee increase

University	Government's Contribution (2016) R'000
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)	78 489
Central University of Technology (CUT)	22 521
Durban University of Technology (DUT)	49 837
University of Free State (UFS)	56 950
University of Mpumalanga (UMP)	5 055
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)	36 400
North West University (NWU)	134 180
University of Pretoria (UP)	132 123
Rhodes University (RU)	42 903
Sol Plaatje University (SPU)	5 340
Stellenbosch University (SU)	79 274
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)	148 953
University of Cape Town (UCT)	134 572
University of Johannesburg (UJ)	139 868
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)	125 000
University of South Africa (UNISA)	202 323
Vaal University of Technology (VUT)	35 095
University of Witwatersrand (WITS)	145 428
University of Fort Hare (UFH)	42 932
University of Limpopo (UL)	46 621
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)	39 540
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)	23 089
University of Zululand (UNIZULU)	35 050
University of Western Cape (UWC)	56 000
University of Venda (UNIVEN)	33 904
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)	83 933
Grand total	1 935 380

(c) The amount to cover fee increases up to a cap of 8% for students from families with an income of up to R600 000 for the 2017 academic year amounts to R2.460 billion. This was not a zero percent increase. These funds are not in the Department’s budget baseline but has been reprioritised from the National Skills Fund (NSF). Upfront payments to universities amounting to R1.045 billion will be transferred in three equal payments before 31 March 2017. This amount is equal to 50% of the upfront payments that universities received in January 2016 for the 0% fee increase allocation. The balance of the allocation will be paid to universities once the process of identifying missing middle students has been finalised with universities. The transfer of the balance of the funding will only be done upon the receipt of the database of the poor and missing middle cohort (ID, name, student number, 2017 tuition fees, 2017 accommodation fees and fees adjustment) as agreed with the universities. The table below shows the amount to be transferred to each university up to the end of March 2017.

University	Government’s Contribution (2016) R’000	Upfront payment – January – 31 March 2017
		Allocation R’000	2 February 2017 R’000	28 February 2017 R’000	31 March 2017 R’000
Eighteen universities – 50% of 2016 allocation
CPUT	78 489	39 245	13 081	13 081	13 083
CUT	22 521	11 261	3 753	3 753	3 755
DUT	49 837	24 919	8 306	8 306	8 307
UFS	56 950	28 475	9 491	9 491	9 493
UMP	5 055	2 528	842	842	844
NMMU	36 400	18 200	6 066	6 066	6 068
NWU	134 180	67 090	22 363	22 363	22 364
UP	132 123	66 061	22 020	22 020	22 021
RU	42 903	21 452	7 150	7 150	7 152
SPU	5 340	2 670	890	890	890
SU	79 274	39 637	13 212	13 212	13 213
TUT	148 953	74 476	24 825	24 825	24 826
UCT	134 572	67 286	22 428	22 428	22 430
UJ	139 868	69 934	23 311	23 311	23 312
UKZN	125 000	62 500	20 833	20 833	20 834
UNISA	202 323	101 161	33 720	33 720	33 721
VUT	35 095	17 547	5 849	5 849	5 849
WITS	145 428	72 714	24 238	24 238	24 238
Historically Disadvantaged Universities – 75% of 2016 allocation
UFH	42 932	32 199	10 733	10 733	10 733
UL	46 621	34 966	11 655	11 655	11 656
MUT	39 540	29 655	9 885	9 885	9 885
*SMU	23 089	4 500	1 500	1 500	1 500
UNIZULU	35 050	26 288	8 762	8 762	8 764
UWC	56 000	42 000	14 000	14 000	14 000
UNIVEN	33 904	25 428	8 476	8 476	8 476
WSU	83 933	62 950	20 983	20 983	20 984
GRAND TOTAL	1 935 380	1 045 142	348 372	348 372	348 398

*SMU had a 0% fee increase, however an allocation was made for the increase in their residence fee.

(2) All amounts indicated for each university for damages caused by protesting students and the zero percent fee increase for 2016 have been transferred. For the fee increases for students from a family with an income of up to R600 000 for the 2017 academic year, R352.652 million was released at the end of January 2017 and the other two equal tranches will be released at the end of February and March 2017. The balance of the allocation will be paid to universities once the process to identify missing middle students has been finalised as per the process map and the quantum of funding per university is officially communicated to the Department.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 165 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

1. Yes, there are external moderation and examination processes in place at all institutions. This is a programme accreditation prerequisite as stated by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) in accordance with its programme accreditation criteria (refer to Criteria for Programme Accreditation, CHE, 2004).

Student Evaluation and Assessment Procedures must be explicitly stated in the Student Assessment Policies and Procedures of each university in accordance with Criterion 6, which states: “External moderation of students’ learning achievements by appropriately qualified personnel. Moderators are appointed in terms of clear criteria and procedures and conduct their responsibilities in terms of clear guidelines.”

In addition, Criterion 13 (CHE, 2004: 19-20) states:

“The programme has effective assessment practices which include internal (or external) assessment, as well as internal and external moderation.” Criterion 13 explicitly states that, in order for a programme to be accredited and offered by a university. The learning achievements of students on the exit level of a qualification are externally moderated by appropriately qualified people who have been appointed according to clear criteria and procedures and who conduct their responsibilities in terms of clear guidelines. External moderation includes the following:

• External moderators are recommended by the examining academic department, are independent experts in their fields, have qualifications at least on the same level as the qualification being examined, are changed regularly, are not appointed as part of reciprocal arrangements (where possible), and are approved by and responsible to Senate/equivalent body.
• The institution provides information on the curriculum and on continuous assessment, and guidelines to assist external moderators in the completion of their reports.
• External moderators mark fully at the exit level of the programme at least 10 percent of the examination scripts for each paper written and do random checks of at least 20 percent of examination scripts for each paper.
• Completed external moderator reports are returned to the lecturer concerned and also to the programme coordinator or head of department/school. Problems are discussed with the lecturer concerned and the programme coordinator monitors the implementation of agreed improvements. External moderators approve the final marks list for the qualification concerned.
• External moderators are expected to comment on the validity of the assessment instruments, the quality of student performance and the standard of student attainment, the reliability of the marking process, and any concerns or irregularities with respect to the observation of institutional/professional regulations.”

(2) (a) Academics from South African as well as from (b) international universities are utilised as external examiners. Such external examiners and moderators must adhere to the minimum criteria for examiners as set by the CHE in its Criteria for Programme Accreditation. At least one external examiner must be utilised for the examination and moderation of dissertations and theses. Their expertise to serve as external examiners is in accordance with the criteria for programme accreditation.

(b) The actual external examiners change and evolve continuously, regardless of whether they are from South African or international institutions. The Department does not collect information on the institutions from which external examiners are drawn. Examiners are used in all exit level examinations in major fields of study in programmes at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Levels 7 to 10. This is a quality assurance requirement.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 164 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

1.  Based on the third quarter of 2016/17 financial year statistical reports received from provinces and national departments, there are:

2.  (a) (i) 45 employees who are on precautionary suspension in national departments; and

(ii) 24 employees who are on precautionary suspension in provincial departments.

(b) In the provinces, of the 24 employees on precautionary suspension in 2(a)(ii), 23 employees were suspended for the period requested, as follows:

(i) Fourteen (14) precautionary suspensions that are more than six month but less than one year;

(ii) Four (4) precautionary suspensions are more than one year but less than two years; and

(iii) Five (5) precautionary suspensions for two years and more.

3.  Based on the reports received from provinces and national departments, the total cost of precautionary suspensions since 1 April 2016 is:

(a) R24 001 864.08 in national departments; and

(b) R112 465 834.37 in provincial departments.

END

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over the NSC Examinations processes including Standardisation of the NSC Results therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited (ACSA)

 (a) (i)(ii)(iii) The issues of missing luggage are handled by individual airlines and the Department of Transport will therefore not have the information requested.

 (b) (c) (i)(ii)(iii) Falls away

(d) (i)(ii)(iii) Falls away

Reply:

a)  The Pedestrian road safety programmes focus mainly on those factors that lead to pedestrians being involved in road crashes and those are in the main:

• Impaired walking, this focuses on drinking and walking. People who drink and walk are at a greater risk of being involved in a crash as their ability to act swiftly to avoid a crash is impaired. As such a need is there to educate people about the dangers inherent in drinking and walking.

• Dangerous walking – specifically jay walking. There is a disturbing trend of people who walk freely on national and provincial roads that have high volumes of traffic and multi lanes. This is notwithstanding those who jay walk in built up areas. Our statistics show that quite a substantial number of pedestrians are victims of jaywalking.

• Distracted walking, this relates walking while using a cell phone or listening to music on one’s headphones. It mostly applies to the youth. This results in the person not having a full appreciation of the happening around him or her. Thus rendering them vulnerable to a potential crash. The pedestrians are then educated and made aware of this danger.

b)  where have these campaigns taken place in each month in the past three financial years,

Year	2014	2015	2016
Month		Location		Province
	Hoffman Square, Bloemfontein	Tumahole, Parys		Free State
January	Vosloorus; Pretoria			Gauteng
Year	2014	2015	2016
Month	Location	Province
	Colesburg; Noupoort	Colesburg&Noupoort		Northern Cape
	Tlhabane			North West
February	Paledi Spar, Polokwane			Limpopo
		Klerksdorp		North West
		De Aar; Haartswater		Northern Cape
		Bree Street, Johannesburg		Gauteng
March		Paarl		Western Cape
		Parys; Kroonstad		Free State
		Midrand		Gauteng
		Pietermaritzburg		KwaZulu-Natal
	Cradock			Eastern Cape
		Bloemfontein; March		Free State
		Ratanda		Gauteng
			Galeshewe	Northern Cape
			Phagameng, Modimolle	Limpopo
		Rustenburg		North West
April	Athlone			Western Cape
			Pietrmaritzburg	KwaZulu-Natal
			Alzu	Mpumalanga
	Cradock			Eastern Cape
	Modimolle		Phalaborwa; Giyani	Limpopo
	Valhalla, Pretoria			Gauteng
	Ficksburg	Sasolburg		Free State
			Galeshewe	Northern Cape
May	Chatsworth; Edendale			KwaZulu-Natal
	Randfontein		Chiawelo, Soweto	Gauteng
	Du Noon			Western Cape
			Galeshewe	Northern Cape
Year	2014	2015	2016
Month	Location	Province
			Thohoyandou	Limpopo
June	Gugulethu		Khayelitsha; Goodwood	Western Cape
	Mthatha; Cofimvaba		East London	Eastern Cape
	Dobsonville, Soweto	Thokoza Park, Soweto	Hammanskraal; Dlamini and Chiawelo	Gauteng
			Mperebere; Mogwase	North West
			Modimolle	Limpopo
			Bloemfontein	Free State
			John Daka, Kimberley	Northern Cape
			Market Square, Pietermaritzburg	KwaZulu-Natal
			eMalahleni	Mpumalanga
July	Delft		Rondebosch	Western Cape
			Alice	Eastern Cape
	Montrose	Bloemfontein	Bloemfontein	Free State
			Belabela	Limpopo
			Caledon	Western Cape
		Middleburg	Alzu	Mpumalanga
	Kenilworth			KwaZulu-Natal
August	Middleburg		eMalahleni	Mpumalanga
		Klerksdorp; Rustenburg	Ikageng, Potchefstroom	North West
	Richardsbay		Portshepstone	KwaZulu-Natal
	Kranskop		Mashaba	Limpopo
	Midrand			Gauteng
		Kiwane		Eastern Cape
		Kimberley	De Aar	Northern Cape
September		University of Free State	Kroonstad	Free State
	Modimolle; Polokwane	Sibasa	Polokwane	Limpopo
	Volksrust		Nghodwana	Mpumalanga
		Gugulethu	Overberg	Western Cape
October	Benoni			Gauteng
	Sasolburg	Kroonstad		Free State
			Polokwane	Limpopo
Year	2014	2015	2016
Month	Location	Province
November		Hazyview; Bushbuckridge	Kuruman	Nortern Cape
			Caledon	Western Cape
			Lichtenburg; Potchefstroom	North West
	Hazyview; Bushbuckridge	Middleburg		Mpumalanga
	Heidelburg	Heidleburg		Gauteng
	Ethekwini	Ethekwini		KwaZulu-Natal
December			GraafReinet	Eastern Cape
			Alzu	Mpumalanga
		Modimolle	Belabela; Kranskop	Limpopo
			Equestria; Pretoria	Gauteng
			Portshepstone	KwaZulu-Natal
		Bloemfontein; Kroonstad

c)  The department through the RTMC monitors the implementation and evaluates the impact of the programmes. The findings are then used to enhance the implementation so as to ensure effective and efficient utilisation of resource. The RTMC also reports on the crash data and this also depicts the situation as it pertains to the performance of road safety programmes. Thus assessing the effectiveness of the campaigns.

d)  The spending on these campaigns in the past three financial years

2014: R9 million

2015: R5 million

2016: R21 million

(e)  The department, provinces, municipalities and the road entities in line with their legislative mandate. There are instances where the department and its entities have entered into partnerships with the private sector for this purpose. This is premised on the notion that road safety is everybody’s responsibility.

Reply:

SA-SAMS cannot print differentiated reports currently. It generates (a) progress reports and (b) promotion schedules for each grade and lists both Mainstream and Special need learners on the same schedule.

Provisions for differentiated reports are included in the request list to SITA.

Reply:

Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited (ACSA)

The decision was made based on a Board Evaluation Report and Skills Matrix as commissioned by the Board with a view to identify skills gaps within the Board, and consequently to capacitate the Board to enable it to properly discharge its duties to the best interest of the organization. The said analysis wasmapped against the requirements of Board Composition from the Institute of Directors South Africa (IODSA) together with the requirements of the Company within its sphere of operation.

The retired directors either did not respond to the request to furnish their skills set or areas of development for the purposes of the skills analysis; or did not have the required skills and/or did not furnish all the requested information.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators reports, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

(a) According to the third quarter of 2016/17 financial year statistical reports received from national and provincial departments the total number of court cases in:

(i) national departments is 53, where 8 cases have been finalised and 45 cases are still pending, and

(ii) in provinces is 125, where 6 cases are finalised and 119 cases still pending.

(b) The duration of the pending court cases is determined by the processes as each case unfolds in court. The longest pending case was lodged 4 years ago in February 2013 whilst the shortest pending case was lodged in December 2016.

REPLY ORIGINATOR

Name: Koos Shabangu

Designation: Deputy Director

Contacts: 012-336 1274

E-Mail: [email protected]

Recommended / Not recommended

__________________

Director General:

Date: _____________

Recommended / Not Recommended

_____________________

Ms Ayanda Dlodlo, MP

Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration

Date:______________

Approved/ Not approved

________________________

Adv. Ngoako Ramatlhodi, MP

Minister for the Public Service and Administration

Date:________

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over NSC external moderators reports, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

 

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

QUESTION NO NA 225 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

COMPILER: MS P OGUBANJO

DIRECTOR: EXAMS

EXT: X 3909

MR SG PADAYACHEE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: PLANNING, INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENT

DATE:

MR HM MWELI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

DATE:

QUESTION NO NA 225 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

MR ME SURTY, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER

DATE:

MRS AM MOTSHEKGA, MP

MINISTER

DATE:

Reply:

1.    (a) Security to the then Acting Chief Executive Officer was provided by a private company at a cost R158 118 per month

       (b) Security to the current CEO of the RTMC is provided by members of the National Traffic Police, who are already employees of the Corporation. The Corporation incurs only their salary and related costs.

 

2.     (a) The details of risk assessment are available and can be accessed from the relevant law enforcement agency that conducted the assessment.

        (b) The assessment was conducted by the South African Police Crime Intelligence.

Reply:

A.  (i)(ii) The current contract for e-toll operations is still valid. As a result, no renewal has taken place. The applicable time periods for the operational contract, as was awarded historically are as follow:

• ORT Operations : 96 Calendar Months
• TCH Operations : 60 Calendar Months
• VPC Operations : 60 Calendar Months

These time periods apply from 3 December 2013, when toll collection for the Gauteng freeways commenced.

B.  Not applicable

C.  Not applicable

D.  SANRAL uses the FIDIC Gold Contract as a basis for monitoring the performance of the contractor.

E.  Not Applicable

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over NSC external moderators reports, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

1.      Yes.

Non-payment of toll is a violation in terms of the SANRAL Act No 7 of 1998 and not in terms of the AARTO Act or NRTA. The actual unpaid toll amount is also recoverable in terms of the SANRAL Act.

Disobeying the regulatory toll sign is however an infringement in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 and prosecution will be in terms of the provisions of the NRTA.

There are two processes in place for the prosecution of traffic offences, the Criminal Procedure system in SA, excluding Tshwane and Johannesburg where the AARTO system is in place.

If a prosecution is instituted in terms of the SANRAL Act, the Criminal Procedure System will also be used as AARTO does not currently accommodate offences other than traffic related offences.

If the prosecution is instituted in terms of the offence of disobeying a toll sign, the AARTO system must be used, as it is the system regulating traffic offences in Johannesburg and Tshwane. Due to all toll payments being processed in the district of Tshwane, the AARTO system will apply.

2.     Please provide more details about the “specified plans”. I am not aware of any specification. A legal opinion is not required as the provisions of the AARTO Act are clear. If a person fails to comply with the infringement notice and courtesy letters issued to him or her and an enforcement order is issued for the infringement, the NaTIS system will block the issuing of NaTIS documents until such enforcement order is paid or otherwise resolved.

3.     See (2) above.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over NSC external moderators reports, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

1.  The RTIA Annual Report is very high resolution document that cannot be reduced to be a small size by even splitting it. A small portion of it is actual conversion to PDF while majority is in high resolution graphics. Website couldn’t accept it. We are making means to upload the aforementioned document to our website.

2.  Latest date is Friday, 03 March 2017 to be posted onto our website.

3.  The RTIA Policy on Performance Information management provides that the audited annual report should be approved by the Board (Audit and Risk Committee) be submitted to the Department of Transport, National Treasury and the Auditor-General. After such approvals it is presented to the Minister of Transport at the Annual General Meeting where after it is tabled at Parliament. Once, the Annual Report has been tabled at Parliament, the Agency then can publish it onto the website.

Reply:

1.    The largest contributors to the reduction in the ACSA tariff in 2016/17 are the following:

(i)   Durban International Airport (DIA) proceeds; and

(ii)  The Claw back

This causes a temporary reduction in the tariff while the amounts are being returned to the users. Once these amounts have been returned to the users, there will be an increase in the tariff in 2020/21. The Regulating Committee has noted that this should be considered during the next Permission application.

2.     The Regulating Committee to ACSA and ATNS applies a regulatory approach for the determination of revenues for ACSA which results in airport charges. The regulatory approach allows for a return on capital invested. This can be effected by claw backs i.e. historical capital expenditure claw back.The Regulating Committee has concluded that only 50% of the proceeds relating to the DIA should be returned to the users. The tariff reduction was calculated using ACSA’s model, where ACSA had inserted a tariff reduction in 2015/16 and 2016/17 as a result of the capex under spend.

3.    It will result in a reduction in tariffs in years 2017/18 and a subsequent increase in the tariff in 2020/21 will in excess of CPI once the claw-back and DIA proceeds have been returned to the users. The reduction is a temporary measure over 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20. Thereafter there will be an increase returning the tariffs more in line with ACSA’s long-term historical capital expenditure claw back.

4.     The reduction in charges is temporary in nature. ACSA’s model shows certain key financial ratios that were considered by the Regulating Committee to determine affordability. Furthermore, the Department of Transport has developed a roadmap for the review of the economic regulatory framework for ACSA and ATNS to address issues of predictability, transparency and long term sustainability of ACSA and the aviation industry at large. This involves amendments to the Airports Company Act and agreement amongst industry stakeholders of an appropriate funding model.

Reply:

1. (a) 14 343 Students were granted bursaries from the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme in the 2016 academic year;

(b) Placement of Funza Lushaka graduates is an ongoing process as it part of the processes of the filling of posts in schools. As at the middle of February 2017, the placement status in each province was as follows:

PED	Placed	Unplaced	Total Allocation
Eastern Cape	433	128	561
Free State	294	6	300
Gauteng	810	44	854
KwaZulu-Natal	996	45	1 041
Limpopo	377	10	387
Mpumalanga	375	5	380
North West	216	0	216
Northern Cape	137	6	143
Western Cape	430	219	649
Grand Total	4 068	463	4 531

 

(2) The determination of the educator post basket for each province is an annual process which is determined by balancing both the curriculum needs and the available budget or affordability. An affordable post basket is then allocated accordingly also taking into account factors such as prevailing allocation levels and targeted learners to educator ratios. All posts are distributed to schools using the post provisioning model and there is no specific allocation for new teachers. It is also important to note that the process of declaring posts is subject to consultation with the Teacher Unions and School Governing Bodies.

(3) The National Department does not routinely collect this operational data as it is not required to report on the indicators prioritised for monitoring at national level. The information will be requested from provinces and supplied accordingly once obtained.

(4) The standard practice for tax calculation is to calculate tax based on a monthly salary. This is to ensure income is placed in an appropriate tax bracket.

 

Reply:

1. (a) The Objectives of the 3rd Annual Road Safety Summit held in November 2016:

The overall objective is to follow-up on the implementation progress of the previous Summit Resolutions. The Road Safety Summit is an annual Summit which the Department uses as a monitoring tool to assess progress and what interventions are required in the implementation of the previous Resolutions.

The following are the objectives that speak to the different components of the Summit:

• Review results of the 365 day road safety programme detailing successes and failures including devising strategies how best these programmes can be achieved collectively
• Refocus on how best set targets in the road safety strategy can be met through a collaborative effort among all stakeholders
• Strengthening of law enforcement authorities among these being the increase of law enforcement officers
• Focus on the review of existing legislation particularly the National Road Traffic Act and AARTO Amendment Bill
• road structural challenges and educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness about road safety hazards among motorists, passengers and pedestrians
• AARTO national rollout and points demerit system
• Tackling corruption and bribery mainly in the licensing testing stations and driving schools
• Improve road user behavior and attitude by involving communities
• Improve driving skills and abilities of drivers
• map out and devise funding strategies for road safety programmes between government, business, Ngos and communities
• work out implementation mechanism of Summit resolutions at national, provincial, district, metro and municipal levels of government to ensure effective implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2014/19 to derive tangible and measurable results
• Improve coordination of road safety managment

(b) (i) which objectives were met

The following objectives were met while others remain work-in-progress

• Tackling corruption and bribery mainly in the licensing testing stations and driving schools
• Review results of the 365 day road safety programme detailing successes and failures including devising strategies how best these programmes can be achieved collectively
• Strengthening of law enforcement authorities among these being the increase of law enforcement officers
• Improve road user behavior and attitude by involving communities
• Improve driving skills and abilities of drivers
• Improve coordination of road safety management

(ii) The objectives are measured based on the following Key Performance Indicators:

• Development of national anti-fraud policy for implementation by all entities in all regions by 2018
• Number of anti-corruption training interventions rolled out to government officials and members of the public
• Number of officials trained on anti-corruption
• Number of members of the public trained on anti-corruption
• Number of incidents of fraud and corruption reported, charges investigated, prosecuted successfully

Number of new systems and processes introduced to address fraud and corruption.

• Number of educational/road safety awareness campaigns initiated
• Incorporation of specific road safety content in basic education curriculum by 2017

Improved road safety knowledge of South Africans year-on-year (measured through surveys)

• Number of traffic violations occurred
• Development of intelligence-led enforcement campaigns for national implementation
• Increased visibility of traffic police, 24/7 (measured by surveys)
• Successful implementation of AARTO - Implement systems to identify repeat offenders by 2018
• Number of Vulnerable Road User (VRU) crash statistics: cyclists; motor passengers, , pedestrians etc.
• Number of educational programmes, activities to promote community discussion and involvement in road safety at school and community levels
• Number of learners and community members engaged in road safety programmes
• Number of incentives developed for good driving/road user behaviour
• Development of bi-annual conference for youth on road safety

Number of youth role models included in Road Safety Ambassador programme

• Regulate driving schools by 2019
• Introduction of driver re-testing by 2022

Number of drivers re-tested periodically

• Establishment of inter-departmental National Roads Safety Council (NRSC) with fixed scheduled meetings by 2017
• Adherence to defined meeting schedule

(iii) what objectives have not yet been met from the previous summits

• AARTO national rollout and points demerit system
• map out and devise funding strategies for road safety programmes between government, business, Ngos and communities
• Refocus on how best set targets in the road safety strategy can be met through a collaborative effort among all stakeholders
• map out and devise funding strategies for road safety programmes between government, business, Ngos and communities
• work out implementation mechanism of Summit resolutions at national, provincial, district, metro and municipal levels of government to ensure effective implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2014/19 to derive tangible and measurable results

(iv) what is being done to meet each objective that has not been met

The respective Roads entities of the Department have incorporated the above in their annual performance plans to ensure that measures are in place to implement these objectives as well as concrete synchronisation of plans with Metro and Municipal to ensure effective implementation of the Road Safety strategy to derive tangible and measurable results.

A special Funding and Implementation committee has been established whose sole role is to establish a funding model strategy which will speak to the implementation of the overall National Road Safety Strategy.

(v) what was the total cost of the summit

R431 297.00

2.  (a) (i) Invitations were sent to more than 350 people and also used the Word of Mouth at the targeted audience

(ii) About 550 people attended the Summit

(b)(i) The Minister of Transport, senior officials from the Department of Transport, MEC of Transport in KZN province, MEC of Social Development in the KZN Province, CEOs of state owned entities of Transport, officials from the entities of state owned entities

(ii) The Provincial Governments of Transport, Basic Education, Social Development, Health and Community Safety, the National Government Department of Transport, private sector companies, NGO representatives, Youth sector representatives, Faith based representatives, Driving Schools representatives, Taxi and Bus industry representatives, Provincial Legislature members, South African Roads federation representatives, Zoleka Mandela Foundation, Global Road Safety Projects representative, Women in Transport representative, Community based organisations and Media houses

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over NSC external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

South African Airways has provided the following response;

(a) - (c) please refer to attached Annexure

Reply:

(a) (i) What are the details of the festive season road-safety campaign, including dates and activities

The focus was mainly on drivers, passengers and pedestrians, although cyclists contribute a minimal percentage to the road fatalities, they were also targeted.

Road User Group	Venue	Province
Drivers, Passengers, Pedestrians Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Drivers, Passengers Stray animals Stray animals Stray animals Stray animals Stray animals Interfaith	Launch - Eldoradopark Alzu   Petroport NI Shell Ultra City Graaf Reinet Launch EC Festive Ngodwana, N4 Newcastle Taxi Rank N12 and Potchefstroom Taxi Rank Kuruman Taxi Rank Motswako Galeshewe Engen Kranskop and tollgate Bela Bela Taxi rank Engen Bloemfontein and Tollgate Kwaggafontein Complex Port Edward Margate Taxi Rank Ikageng Gate, Potchefstroom Potchefstroom Taxi Rank Lichtenburg Taxi Rank Nkomazi Elokwatini Seoding Village, Kuruman Nkangala Kagung, Kuruman Maruping Village, Mothibistad, Kuruman	Gauteng Mpumalanga    Gauteng Eastern Cape Mpumalanga KZN North West Northern Cape Limpopo Free State Mpumalanga KZN North West Mpumalanga Mpumalanga Northern Cape Mpumalanga Northern Cape Northern Cape

(ii) on what basis was the campaign designed

This is informed by our crash data that the majority of people who die on our roads are vulnerable road users. Thus the campaign sort to reach out passengers and pedestrians. It is common cause that during the festive season people travel long distances on the road, hence the campaign was also developed and targeted drivers as well.

(b) (i) how was the success of this campaign measured

This was through determining the number of people that were reached through our campaigns using various mediums. As well as through the feedback we received while engaging road users.

(ii) what factors emerged that showed statistics to be worse this festive season than the previous one

Factors that emerged to make this year’s statistics worse than the previous one include the rainy conditions that conditions that prevailed over this period. The festive season was also characterised by three successive long weekends. This encourage the consumption of alcohol and lond distance traveling.

(c) what plans are in place to rectify this?

Road Safety Education planned a more intense 365 Day Road Safety Plan. The Department, provinces and all the Roads Entities are gearing up to implementing the National Road Safety Strategy once approved by Cabinet. In the meantime efforts are being put in place to enhance the work that is being done through law enforcement, education and awareness campaigns as well as media campaigns. These programmes focus on the following:

• Driver programme which includes dangerous driving, impaired driving, distracted driving and roadworthiness of vehicles
• Passenger programme which includes seatbelt usage, child restraints, distracted behaviour
• Pedestrian programme which includes impaired walking, distracted walking, dangerous walking and visibility
• Cyclist programme which include impaired cycling, distracted cycling and dangerous cycling and visibility
• Youth driver programme which was directed specifically to the youth driver Youth at Institutions of Higher Learning which was directed to youth at Universities and colleges
• Stray animal programme which was directed to cattle owners and how to look after the cattle, visibility
• Interfaith programme which was directed to churches

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

1. (a) The main objectives of the First National Traffic Indaba were to bring together traffic law enforcement officers from all entities in the country to discuss:

• Improved and integrated law enforcement
• Best practices in the law enforcement fraternity
• Economic impact of road carnages
• Norms and standards of law enforcement
• New technologies to improve efficiency in law enforcement
• Improved working conditions for traffic law enforcement officers
• Quality of licensed drivers

(b)  (i) All the objectives were met

(ii) The objectives were measured through the quality of papers presented, the quality of engagements in at the breakaway sessions and the commitment to declaration adopted at the end of the Indaba.

(c) R7,4 m

(d) (i) 1200 people were invited

(ii) 1300 attended

2.   (a) The difference between the indaba and road safety summit is that the indaba aimed at getting traffic law enforcers to discuss and share experiences among themselves on matters that impede them in the execution of their duties and how these can be improved.

On the other hand the Road Safety Summit brings together government agencies and civil society representatives to discuss on the cross-cutting issues of road safety and community-based initiatives that can be implemented to reduce road crashes.

(b) The two could not be combined because the indaba was focussed exclusively on professional issues facing traffic law enforcers in the country whereas the summit focusses on the issues confronted by the general public.

Reply:

1.  (a) (b) (i) (ii) The Department made inquiries with the relevant province where the alleged incident took place. The provincial department advised that they had no knowledge of the incident.

2.  (a) (b) As a result of the above no investigation is taking place.

3.  In relation to other crimes, an investigation is conducted whilst the perpetrator is put ona precautionary suspension whilst the investigation is being conducted.

Additional information for the Minister

The Department made inquiries with the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport. We were informed that the Limpopo Department had made inquiries with the provincial traffic station in the Matoks area and it was confirmed that no one had been shot. As a result of this they are not aware of any investigation that is taking place.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

Please see table below: which answers questions a,b,c,d (i) (ii) e (i)

(e) (ii) The future cost of running the specified stations have not been calculated as yet.

ANNEXURE A

1. Gauteng Metrorail

A total of eleven (11) stations / halts are closed. The following is the detailed information:

	(a)STATION	TYPE	(b)REASON	(c)ALTERNATIVE STATION	(d)(i)(ii)COST OF RUNNING	(e)(i)FUTURE PLAN
1	Union (1989)	Station	Never opened	-	R0	None
2	Avenue (1990)	Station	Very low revenue, isolated station, robberies, commuter safety	Dunswart (1 km) and Northmead (2km)	R0	None. Current alternative stations within acceptable radius.
3	Golf (2008)	Halt	Closed due to safety	Schutte (1 km) and Technikon (1 km)	R7 000 p.m	None. Current alternative stations within acceptable radius.
4	Fountain (2008)	Halt	Only two trains stopping for workers	Kloofsig (1 km)	R7 000 p.m	None. Current alternative stations within acceptable radius.
5	Newclaire (2014)	Station	Burned by residents due to community unrest	Bosmont (1km) and Westbury (1 km)	R 80 000 p.m	To be rebuilt in 2017/18 financial year
6	Village Main (2016)	Station	No revenue generated	Booysens (1km) and Farraday (1 km)	R 15 000 p.m	None. Current alternative stations within acceptable radius.
7	Grosvenor (2016)	Halt	Closed due to safety	Langlaagte (1 km) and Mayfair (1 km)	R 7000 p.m	None. Current alternative stations within acceptable radius.
8	Mears (2016)	Halt	Closed due to stray current project	Train re-routed via Capital Park	R 7 000 p.m	Station will be reopened after stray current project in June 2017
9	Devinish (2016)	Halt	Closed due to stray current project	Train re-routed via Capital Park	R 7 000 p.m	Station will be reopened after stray current project in June 2017
10	Walker (2016)	Halt	Closed due to stray current project	Train re-routed via Capital Park	R 7 000 p. m	Station will be reopened after stray current project in June 2017
11	Loftus (2016)	Station	Closed due to stray current project	Train re-routed via Capital Park	R70 000 p m	Station will be reopened after stray current project in June 2017

2.   Western Cape Metrorail

One (1) station in the Western Cape is closed.

	STATION	TYPE	REASON	ALTERNATIVE STATION	COST OF RUNNING	FUTURE PLAN
1	Gouda (2016) Transnet station	Station	Station closed as a result of the Prohibition Notice issued by the Railway Safety Regulator. The Prohibition Notice relates to the platform height, shelter, lighting and ablution facilities.	Wellington Station Gouda commuters transported by busses to Wellington Station.	R0 Cost of hiring busses R417 414.84 p.m	PRASA will upgrade the current infrastructure according to specific capital projects and implement corrective actions submitted to Railway Safety Regulator.

3.   Kwa-Zulu Natal Metrorail

All stations are operational.

4.    Eastern Cape Metrorail

All stations are operational.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators reports, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

Umalusi Council is a statutory body that is formed in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework Act No 67 of 2008 and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act No 58 of 2001 and has jurisdiction over external moderators, therefore the question has been referred to Umalusi and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

a) The Minister has had engagements with the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), and the Board of Airlines Representatives of South Africa (BARSA) in 2015 and 2016 to discuss common issues affecting tourism and airlift. These engagements emphasised the need for accessible air transportation and ensuring air connectivity to tourism products throughout the country. Although airfares are determined by market forces (including oil prices), the department has consistently engaged civil aviation stakeholders to ensure transparency in the determination of the cost of airport user charges, air navigation and surveillance cost which contributes to the setting of airfares.

b) The Department of Tourism continuously engages on matters of air transport strategy with the Department of Transport, who is responsible for the Aviation mandate, and participates in forums led by the Department of Transport to advance the tourism agenda. These include the Strategy Planning Committee and the National Facilitation Committee meetings which are responsible for implementation of civil aviation strategy and planning for intermodal transportation systems respectively. The Department also plays a supportive role to the Department of Transport with regards to their participation, on behalf of South Africa as a member state, in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

c) As both airfares and airlift are not the direct mandate of the Department of Tourism there are no specific projects and therefore no project timelines. The Department of Tourism in collaboration with SA Tourism remains committed to working with all stakeholders involved with the air transport strategy and engages with them timeously if new matters arise that might have an impact on tourism.

Reply:

a) Staffing structures in the department.

	(aa) in senior management positions; and	(bb) as regular staff members
(i) How many persons are employed	65	432
(ii) How many vacancies are there	3	35

	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16
(iii) What is the total annual spend on salaries for the past three financial years	R202,371 million	R231,504 million	R252,906 million

b) Staffing structures in SA Tourism

	(aa) in senior management positions; and	(bb) as regular staff members
(i) How many persons are employed	6 in top management	170 151 regular permanent staff members 19 contract employees 5 interns
(ii) How many vacancies are there	0 in top management	45, of which 19 are filled with contract employees *** see note

	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16
(iii) What is the total annual spend on salaries for the past three financial years	R 169 476 million (including Home Office and Country Offices)	R 179 557 million (including Home Office and In-Country Offices)	R 170 297 million (including Home Office and In-Country Offices)

***Note:

The 19 contract employees are due to the current organisational review process. SA Tourism cannot appoint people permanently while redesigning the entire organisation to be fit for purpose.

The contract employees and interns fulfil the necessary roles for the mandate and the strategy of SA Tourism. The organisational design process will be completed by the end of Quarter 1 2017/2018.

Reply:

The department has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Environmental Affairs to co-operate in different areas that support the development and growth of tourism.

The department has been engaging with SANParks regarding discounted rates for specific groups and these have been included in the social tourism directory, which is distributed to NGOs, schools and Stockvels.

In addition, annually the parks continue to host open parks week during tourism month as part of promoting inclusive participation, targeting surrounding communities and South Africans broadly.

Provincial parks are under the control of their respective provincial authorities.

Reply:

(1) The allegations as purported by the Hon. Member as claimed to have been reported in the media constitute spurious allegations and the Minister would not want to entertain such.

(2) If the Hon. Member has evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of the Minister or the Department, he is encouraged to approach the relevant authorities to report same.

Reply:

The amount of R32 billion announced by the President, which was reprioritised within the Government baselines to support higher education, has been allocated as follows:

• The provision of the zero percent student fee increase for the 2016 academic year and the carry-through cost thereof (R8.013 billion);
• The allocation for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for outstanding student debt (R8.256 billion);
• NSFAS unfunded students from the 2016 academic year (R5.324 billion); and
• The provision of the zero percent student fee increase for the 2017 academic year and the carry-through cost thereof (R10.381 billion).

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 255 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE: