Questions and Replies
20 May 2016 - NW1264
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With reference to the reply of the Minister of Home Affairs to question 1006 on 26 April 2016, (a) where did the selection panel of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) hold the interviews to fill the vacancy at the IEC and (b) what were the costs associated with conducting the specified interviews in terms of (i) travel, (ii)(aa) accommodation and (bb) catering costs, (iii) remuneration of any persons and (iv) any other specified costs?
Reply:
The interviews for the vacant position at the Electoral Commission were conducted by a Panel chaired by the Chief Justice comprising of the representatives of the South African Human Rights Commission, Commission for Gender Equality and the Public Protector, and constituted in terms of section 6 of the Electoral Commission Act, on 17 February 2016.
(a) The interviews were held at the Southern Sun, OR Tambo International Airport, Gauteng.
(b) (i) Travelling costs: There were four candidates who were based outside of
Gauteng and their travelling costs inclusive of air travel and shuttle amounted to R27 657.00.
(ii) (aa) Accommodation costs and (bb) catering costs: The four candidates who are referred to in (i) were the only persons who were provided with accommodation at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport. The costs that were expended in relation to accommodation, conferencing and catering amounted to R32 497.70.
(iii) Remuneration of any persons: There were no costs associated with remuneration of any persons.
(iv) The other costs incurred relates to recording and transcription which
amounted to R16 484.80.
The total amount incurred for the interviews was R76 639.50.
20 May 2016 - NW256
Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether she and/or her department has bought advertising space in The New Age in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, (i) what number of times and (ii) for what amount in each specified financial year?
Reply:
(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii) Yes, the Department bought space for recruitment advertising in The New Age for the period only in 2014-15 and the total amount is R67 125.02
20 May 2016 - NW1315
Gqada, Ms T to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
How many drug-related cases from the Tembisa Park Police Station in Gauteng (a) went to court and (b) ended in successful convictions in the (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16 financial years?
Reply:
The Honourable Member should note that the Police are the custodians of all dockets and have record of decisions taken by the courts on matters referred to the respective courts. Therefore, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority do not keep such statistics.
20 May 2016 - NW114
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What has been the effect of the recent severe drought on the vulnerable groups in South Africa in terms of (a) food insecurity, (b) escalating food prices and (c) household water shortages for especially the elderly in rural areas who cannot walk long distances to fetch water; (2) whether her department has put any measures in place to support the specified groups during the drought; if not, why not; if so, what measures has her department put in place to support the specified groups; (3) whether any plans have been put in place to compensate grant recipients for the projected increases in food prices due to the drought; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The recent severe drought has had a severe impact on the vulnerable groups in South Africa in terms of (a) food insecurity, (b) escalating food prices and (c) household water shortages.
According to the Issue 3 - March 2016 Food Basket Price Monthly report from the National Agricultural Marketing Council and the Food Price Monitoring Committee using the Stats SA data, In February 2016 the price a basic 22 item food basket increased by approximately R56 (+10.86%) in nominal terms from R510 to R566.
It is projected that South Africa will need to import an estimated five million tons of maize between May this year and April 2017, which will weigh heavily on the trade deficit.
Water shortages were reported across various Provinces, Districts, Local Municipalities and Communities. The drought disaster declared areas were supported with various measures including the supply of water using water tankers in Local Municipalities and the affected communities.
2. The Social Assistance Act, Act 13 of 2004 mandates the Department through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to provide social relief of distress (SRD) to any person in need of immediate relief, provided they meet certain prescribed criteria. One such criterion is that the person has been affected by a disaster as defined in the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).
During this drought period SASSA has continued to provide SRD to affected households. By December 2015, the following beneficieries were supported:
- 2 271 SRD disbursed in a form of cash
- 49 387 SRD disbursed in a form of food parcels
- 46 681 SRD disbursed in a form of vouchers
Over and above SRD provision DSD also continue to implement various programmes that seek to provide relief to the food insecure and vulnerable households, incliding the drought affected households. Below is the overview of other interventions that provide food relief to the effected specified groups, the number of beneficieries and the projected budget allocation to the programmes:
PROGRAMME |
TOTAL NUMBER |
BUDGET |
Community Nutrition & Development Centres (CNDCs) |
166 CNDCs reaching about 1,901 952 beneficiaries |
R175 million (FY 16/17) |
Drop Inn Centres (DIC) |
678 DICs |
R1, 7 million |
Social Relief of Distress (SRD) |
263 057 beneficiaries |
R 450 million |
Early Childhood Development Centres (registered) |
26 553 ECDs & 1.5million children |
R1,9 Billion |
Social assistance |
16 million social grant beneficiaries in SA |
R130 Billion per year, |
3. In the financial year 2016/17 budget speech the Minister of Finance announced the the social grants increase as follows:
- The old age, disability and care dependency grants will rise by R80 to R1 500 in April 2016 and by a further R10 to R1 510 in October.
- The child support grant will rise by R20 to R350 in April and the foster care grant by R30 to R890.
This overall increased expenditure on social assistance from R129 billion to R165 billion in 2018/19 reflects a decisive intention to curb food insecurity challenges amongst the poor and vulnerable people in our country. This will also curb the impact of drought amongst food insecure and vulnerable citizens.
20 May 2016 - NW1313
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
How many drug-related cases from the Tembisa South Police Station in Gauteng (a) went to court and (b) ended in successful convictions in the (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16 financial years?
Reply:
The Honourable Member should note that the Police are the custodians of all dockets and have record of decisions taken by the courts on matters referred to the respective courts. Therefore, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority do not keep such statistics.
20 May 2016 - NW1223
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
On what date a certain person (details furnished) rightfully qualifies to apply for parole?
Reply:
The mentioned person was eligible for parole on 16 June 2015 and was placed for parole supervision on 18 June 2015.
20 May 2016 - NW899
Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Has she earned any additional income from businesses, in particular businesses doing work for the Government, since her appointment as Minister; if so, (a) when, (b) how much did she earn, (c) from which businesses and (d) for what work; (2) whether her (a) spouse, (b) children and (c) close family earned income from businesses, in particular businesses doing work for the Government, through her appointment as Minister; if so, in respect of each case, (i) when, (ii) how much did each earn, (iii) from which businesses and (iv) for what work?
Reply:
I wish to refer the Honourable Member to the Office of Registrar of Member’s Interest in Parliament where I have made submissions since becoming a Minister and a Member of Parliament.
20 May 2016 - NW1458
Groenewald, Mr HB to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(a) How many (i) Chief Executive Officers and (ii) Chief Financial Officers has the SA Airways (SAA) had since 1 January 2005, (b) who are the persons in each case, (c) what is the date on which each specified person (i) assumed duty and (ii) left duty, (d) what is/are the reason/reasons that each specified person left the service of the SAA, (e) (i) which persons did not complete their periods of service and (ii) what was/were the reason/reasons in this regard, (f) what was the remuneration package of each specified person, (g) what remuneration did each specified person receive upon leaving each post and (h) what was the reason that each specified person received the specified remuneration?
Reply:
SAA currently reports to National Treasury. The Honorable Member is advised to direct his question to the Minister Finance.
20 May 2016 - NW1312
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
How many drug-related cases from the Kempton Park Police Station in Gauteng (a) went to court and (b) ended in successful convictions in the (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16 financial years?
Reply:
The Honourable Member should note that the Police are the custodians of all dockets and have record of decisions taken by the courts on matters referred to the respective courts. Therefore, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority do not keep such statistics.
20 May 2016 - NW152
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1) What amount did her department transfer to the SA Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; 2) what was the rationale behind the (a) financial transfer or (b) nontransfer to the SACSSP in each specified financial year; (3) what was the audit opinion received by the SACSSP for each specified financial year?
Reply:
1. The Department of Social Development transfered the following amounts respectively:
(a) 2012-13 : Amount transfered was R1 550 000.00
(b) 2013-14 : Amount transferred was R1 628 000.00; and
(c) 2014-15 : The Council was not funded for this financial year
2. (a)
The SACSSP is a statutory body established in terms of the Social Service Professions Act, (Act 110 of 1978) as amended. It has the primary aim of guiding and regulating practitioners within the sector and protecting the interest of the public at large.
The SACSSP has been funded in line with the Policy on Financial Awards to Service Providers for the development, management and implementation of projects linked to the departmental mandate and key strategic objectives.
As the lead employing organ of state and key role player in planning, supporting and ensuring that there is adequate workforce to provide services, the Department has to ensure support to the Council in order for it to meet its statutory obligations.
For the financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14, the Council was funded in order to implement the current Social Service Professions Act, (Act 110 of 1978), deliver on its core mandate, priorities and ensure effective regulation of the Social Service Practitioners.
(b) the rationale behind the non-transfer of funds to the SACSSP in respect of the 2014-15 financial year was mainly to allow the SACSSP an opportunity to finalise the implementation of objectives funded in the previous financial years, utilizing funds rolled over to the 2014/15 financial year but also to develop and present an expenditure plan linked to the said funds. The Department continued to monitor compliance and performance in the 2014/15 financial year.
3. The audit opinions received by the SACSSP for each specified financial years were as follows:
2012-13 financial year
The opinion received on the financial performance of the Council presented a fair view on the financial performance of the Council in accordance with the accepted accounting principles.
2013-14 and 2014-15
For both specified financial years, the Council received qualified audit opinions although the financial statements presented a fairly financial position of the SACSSP in line with the accepted accounting principles.
20 May 2016 - NW1168
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
With reference to her reply to question 544 on 4 November 2015, how many (a) SA Social Security Agency senior officials, (b) Net1 Cash Paymaster Services’ officials and (c) other officials have been (i) suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charged and (iv) convicted in each province for being implicated in illegal deductions on social grants in the (aa) 2011-12, (bb) 2012-13, (cc) 2013-14, (dd) 2014-15 and (ee) 2015-16 financial years?
Reply:
(a) No SASSA senior officials have been (i) suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charged or (iv) convicted for being implicated in illegal deductions in any province for any of the years indicated. There is currently an investigation underway in the Eastern Cape (Port Elizabeth) and Western Cape (Athlone) provinces.
(b) No Cash Paymaster Services official have been (i)suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charges or (iv) convicted for being implicated in illegal deductions in any of the provinces for the periods indicated.
(c) No other officials have been (i) suspended, (ii) investigated, (iii) criminally charged or (iv) convicted for being implicated in illegal deductions in any of the provinces for any of the years indicated. However, in 2015/16 a criminal case was opened in Western Cape following syndicated fraud activity affecting in excess of 8 000 social grant beneficiary accounts. This investigation is still underway and no further details are available at this time.
20 May 2016 - NW1275
Robertson, Mr K to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether docket CAS 31/12/2015 opened in Mpumalanga has been submitted for prosecution yet; if not, (a) is the specified case still being discussed at the National Prosecuting Authority in Nelspruit and (b) what progress has been made with regard to establishing the course of action for this high profile case; if so, what (i) is the charge against the accused and (ii) progress has been made with the specified prosecution to date?
Reply:
I wish to inform the Honourable Member that the National Prosecuting Authority requests further particulars in relation to this matter in order to locate it within its system. Please provide the name of the specific police station where the docket was opened, the name of the suspect and the nature of the charges being investigated.
20 May 2016 - NW1203
Mazzone, Ms NW to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(1) (a) On what grounds was the contract of employment of a suspended Chief Executive Officer (Mr Riaz Saloojee) terminated on or around 14 April 2016 and (b) what are the further relevant details in this regard; (2) whether any investigation into the specified person’s suspension was conducted; if not, why not; if so, what are the detailed outcomes of the specified investigation?
Reply:
(1) (a) The contract of employment of the Chief Executive Officer was due to terminate on 31 January 2017. The Board decided to bring forward the termination date and pay out the balance of the contract. The decision was precipitated by the fact that the relationship between the Board and CEO was irreconcilable and had irretrievably broken down.
(b) None
(2) Yes, there was an investigation. I am not in a position to share the results of the investigation as there are disciplinary hearings involving other employees unfolding and at this stage there is a likelihood of further legal action.
20 May 2016 - NW1270
Selfe, Mr J to ask the Minister of Correctional Services
(1)Whether the Barberton Correctional Services facility in the Umjindi Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has been without any water supply in the period 01 January 2016 up to the latest date for which information is available; if so, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what dates and (b) for how long was the specified facility without a water supply; (2) (a) what steps are (i) his department and/or (ii) any other (aa) national and/or (bb) provincial department taking to resolve water supply issues at the specified facility caused by low levels of the Lomati Dam, which supplies water to Barberton and (b) by when will the water supply issues at the specified facility be resolved?
Reply:
1. Yes, on 05 February 2016 a request was received from the municipality to reduce water supply. The municipality also requested the centre to likewise reduce the pressure to the centres and households.
It should be mentioned that from 15 December 2013 Umjindi Municipality started reducing the water pressure to the farm because of the water demands from the local community and the available water supply.
(1)(a) Period without Water |
(1)(b) Duration |
08 to 27 Feb 2016 |
20 Days |
12 to 14 March 2016 |
03 Days |
15 to 30 March 2016 |
16 Days |
02 April 2016 |
1 Day |
16 to 22 April 2016 |
07 Days |
27 April to 10 May 2016 |
14 Days |
(2)(a)(i) The Department has granted approval to the centre to procure its own water tank truck as well as JoJo tanks to supply water to the facilities and households.
Department of Correctional Services has requested the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) to investigate the possibility of boreholes on the farm and funds have been made available to implement a borehole water system
(2)(ii)(aa) Arrangements are in place between Department of Correctional Services and Umjindi Municipality with the assistance of Sappi to transport water to the centres using a tank truck.
(2)(ii)(bb) The water challenges of the province have been registered nationally due to the fact that the entire area is subjected to severe drought and the municipality reservoir is also empty
2(b) Procurement of the water tank truck will be through a Transversal Contract with National Treasury.
The borehole water system is dependent on the availability of under- ground water levels fed by rainfall, but National Department of Public Works has already started with the investigation process.
20 May 2016 - NW981
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Social Development
What immediate steps is her department taking to address illegal deductions from social grants through the SA Social Services Agency?
Reply:
It should be noted that the only permissible deduction form a social grant is that which is done in terms of Regulation 26A to the Social Assistance Act, 2004. This provides for deductions from a social grant, before it is paid into the SASSA card, and is for funeral insurance only. There are limitations on the amount which may be deducted. There are currently approximately 778 000 such deductions taking place monthly.
All other “deductions” are in fact EFT debits, which come off the social grant once it is paid into a bank account. Again, not all of these are illegal as many are done with the express consent of beneficiaries. However, both the Department and SASSA are alarmed at the reported increase of disputed deductions.
The Ministerial Task Team, appointed to look at the whole issue of deductions from social grants, and make recommendations as to how this can be addressed, has been working from February 2014 and is still active. This Task team is comprised of representatives from the Department, SASSA and civil society. The Team has recently completed its second report, with recommendations which are currently under consideration.
Currently the Department is involved in two court cases on deductions, with a third pending; the outcome of which will have an impact on how deductions are dealt with in the future.
The Department has also published proposed amendments to the regulations to the Social Assistance Act, 2004 for public comment, which will allow for better control and limit most kinds of deductions. The closing date for public comments was 15 April and the Department has received a wide range of comments from various stakeholders, including the industry itself. There is now a process to work through these comments, before the proposed amendments are finalized and published for implementation.
SASSA implemented a recourse mechanism in 2015. The mechanism was developed after consultation with various stakeholders, including civil society. SASSA staff have been trained on the implementation of this mechanism, and follow up training and implementation monitoring is being done in all provinces.
Any beneficiary experiencing a problem with his/her grant, whether this be related to deductions in terms of Regulation 26A or EFT debits off the social grant once this has been paid into the bank account should contact the nearest SASSA office or phone the SASSA call centre on 0800 60 10 11, CPS 0800 60 01 60 or the GBV 0800 428 428. The beneficiary will be expected to complete an affidavit confirming that he/she never gave authority for the deduction and SASSA is then responsible to work with the relevant role players to resolve this query. Where it is confirmed that the deduction has been implemented without authority, arrangements are made to refund the money to the beneficiary.
In addition to the above, SASSA has embarked on an active communication campaign to educate and raise awareness about this problem. Community leaders are requested to assist in this task, so that every beneficiary understands that they should not give their card or PIN to anyone, it is their responsibility to safeguard their SASSA card, and that they should not respond to tele-marketing or SMS marketing offering financial services or products at all.
20 May 2016 - NW1269
Selfe, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1)Whether he has received a parole request file of a certain person (details furnished) who was incarcerated for a life sentence at the Grootvlei Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State in 2002, from his department’s Correctional Supervision and Parole Board chairperson; if not, why not; if so, (2) Has he considered the specified offender’s request for parole; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date(s) and (b) what were the outcomes; (3) (a) why have all the appointments the specified offender had scheduled with a psychiatrist as a prerequisite for parole consideration either been (i) cancelled and/or (ii) postponed indefinitely since October 2014 and (b) when will the specified offender be afforded the opportunity to meet with a psychiatrist?
Reply:
(1) No, the mentioned offender was sentenced to 2 sentences of life incarceration on 20 March 2002 for multiple offences relating to murder, possession of firearms and ammunition as well as assault.
This implies that he completed 14 years of his sentence and his parole consideration is due after maximum credits were allocated to him as well as the granting of special remission of sentence.
His parole consideration documents (G326 parole profile report) have been prepared by the Case Management Committee but have not yet been submitted as a result of an outstanding Psychologist report.
(2) The Minister has not received the parole profile report of the offender in question and has not considered the offender for placement on parole.
(3)(a)(i) & (ii) No, appointments with a psychiatrist were cancelled or postponed.
(3)(b) The offender has been scheduled to be seen by a psychologist as from 9 May 2016. Once the comprehensive report has been prepared by the psychologist, the Case Management Committee will submit a recommendation to the Minister via the Parole Board.
20 May 2016 - NW855
Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)How many cases of unauthorised, illegal and falsified deductions of old age pensions in each province have been reported to her department since 2013; (2) how many of the reported cases (a) have been finalised and (b) are still being investigated since 2013; (3) how many (a) of the reported cases that were investigated involved SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) officials and (b) SASSA employees have been arrested in this regard since 1 January 2013?
Reply:
(1) It is difficult to isolate the number of unauthorized, illegal and falsified deductions which have been effected, as not all deductions are unauthorized and illegal. There are many deductions taking place which have been authorized by the beneficiaries. However, since 2014, when SASSA started recording and tracking the disputes, a total of 21 466 disputes have been recorded. In addition, during January 2016, syndicate fraud affecting approximately 8 000 social grant beneficiary accounts was uncovered originating in the Western Cape. For all these cases, the beneficiaries have been refunded the amounts deducted and a criminal investigation is underway.
(2) Of these 21 466, a total of (a) 12 160 have been resolved and (b) 9 094 are still under investigation.
(3) (a) None of the cases under investigation involve SASSA officials. Deductions occur once the social grant money has been paid into the bank account, and generally involve the beneficiary responding to SMS (mobile) marketing or taking a loan from a micro-lender.
(b) Since the practice does not involve SASSA officials, no SASSA official has been arrested in this regard.
20 May 2016 - NW979
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)Whether she is aware of the challenging conditions under which social workers in the Free State work; if not, why not; if so, what plans are in place to correct the situation; (2) (a) in how many other provinces are social workers facing similar challenging conditions, (b) what are the relevant details in each case and (c) what plans, if any, have been put in place by her department to alleviate the plight of these social workers and ultimately their clients?
Reply:
1. Yes, I am aware of the working conditions of social workers in the Free State. During 2014/15; I initiated district dialogues across the province where social workers identified and discussed issues pertaining to working conditions impacting on social work practice. This was in preparation for the National Social Work Indaba held in March 2015, where working conditions was identified as a theme for discussion. Feedback from Free State district dialogues was incorporated into a consolidated report on provincial dialogues, which was presented at the Indaba. Resolutions, inclusive of improvement of working conditions were adopted to guide the development of a National Action Plan to respond to the plight of social workers. Through the support of the department, the Provincial Department of Social Development in the Free State is developing a provincial Action Plan to respond to the situation.
2. (a) I am also aware of the situation in all other provinces.
(b) There are similar challenges to working conditions of social workers in all provinces, and these include inadequate tools of trade, inadequate office accommodation and poor office infrastructure, limited support staff (e.g. receptionists) and inadequate transport for social workers.
(c) Based on information collated from district and provincial dialogues I hosted a National Social Workers Indaba in March 2015 with the theme “Revitalising Social Work Practice in South Africa” providing a platform for further discussions and identification of solutions to alleviate poor working conditions of social workers. A consolidated report on working conditions was presented at the Indaba to inform discussions and resolutions. Based on resolutions adopted, a National Action Plan on the Social Work was developed to guide development of province specific plans. The Department is monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan in all provinces. Furthermore, implementation of the Action Plan is a standing agenda point of MINMEC to ensure monitoring thereof by senior managers within the department.
19 May 2016 - NW609
Shivambu, Mr F to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)What was the cost incurred by the SA Revenue Services of paying the many lawyers in particular a certain law firm and a certain company, contracted to work on a certain person’s tax matter; (2) was an open tender process followed in appointing the specified lawyers; if not, why not; if so, what were the terms of reference?
Reply:
The South African Revenue Service has submitted the following information. Please note that the Minister is unable to verify the content.
(1) Due to the secrecy provisions contained in Section 69 of the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011, SARS is prohibited from disclosing any taxpayer information (Including whether or not a taxpayer is subject to an audit/ investigation) to any person other than a SARS official.
(2) In terms of Procurement processes SARS is guided by the PFMA and the Treasury Regulations. These requirements form the framework and basis of all practices and processes relating to procurement within the organisation.
19 May 2016 - NW730
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether his Deputy Minister, Mr Mcebisi H Jonas, met with any (a) member, (b) employee and/or (c) close associate of the Gupta family since being appointed as Deputy Minister; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, in each specified case, (i) what are the names of the persons whom the Deputy Minister met at each meeting, (ii)(aa) when and (bb) where did each such meeting take place and (iii) what was the purpose of each specified meeting; (2) whether the Deputy Minister reported to him the contents of each specified meeting; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (a) to whom and (b) when was it reported; (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
The details that the Deputy Minister made public is contained in the media statement released on the 16 March 2016. Please see the media statement attached. The Deputy Minister advises that he is obtaining further legal advice on the matter.
19 May 2016 - NW731
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether he was briefed on the allegation that his Deputy Minister, Mr Mcebisi H Jonas, (a) met members of the Gupta family and/or (b) was offered any inducement(s) to accept the position of Minister of Finance on or about 27 November 2015; if so, in each specified case (i) when was he briefed, (ii) by whom and (iii) what action did he take, if any; (2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
The details that the Deputy Minister made public is contained in the media statement released on the 16 March 2016. Please see the media statement attached. The Deputy Minister advises that he is obtaining further legal advice on the matter.
19 May 2016 - NW991
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, has provided him with any further particulars concerning the allegation that he, as Deputy Minister of Finance, was offered the position of Minister of Finance by members of the Gupta family as set out in the Deputy Minister’s official media statement dated 16 March 2016; if not, why not; if so, (a) when were the particulars provided, (b) what particulars were provided and (c) why were the particulars provided?
Reply:
The details that the Deputy Minister made public is contained in the media statement released on the 16 March 2016. Please see the media statement attached. The Deputy Minister advises that he is obtaining further legal advice on the matter.
19 May 2016 - NW1086
Shivambu, Mr F to ask the Minister of Finance
(a) Has any senior officials in the National Treasury met with certain persons (names furnished) during the period 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015 and (b) has any of the entities reporting to the National Treasury awarded any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media in the specified period; if so, what (i) are the relevant details and (ii) is the amount of each specified contract?
Reply:
The National Treasury is not aware of any senior officials from the level of Director-General downwards to have met with the persons mentioned in the Parliamentary question during the period 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015.
19 May 2016 - NW465
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(1) Whether consultants were employed to advise on the restructuring of the SA Revenue Service (SARS); if so, what was the (a) name of the consulting firm and (b)(i) total cost and (ii) breakdown of the cost of employing the specified firm; (2) what is the (a) estimated cost and (b) breakdown of the estimated cost of restructuring SARS?
Reply:
The South African Revenue Service has submitted the following information. Please note that the Minister is unable to verify the content.
1. The South African Revenue Service did employ consulting firms to advise on the SARS restructuring. These were Bain Consulting and Gartner Ltd.
(a) These were Bain Consulting and
(i) Total order = R155,125,728.00 (including contingency claims of 10% so far only R700 000 has been claimed). Paid to date R = R103,609.629.40
(b) Gartner Ltd.
(ii) Total order = R157,442,590.00 (including contingencies of 10%). Paid to date = R60,555,640.00
2. The total contracted figure is R312,569,318.00
Contracts with service providers were concluded based on fixed amounts for services to be rendered. That being said, the overall cost of the restructuring of SARS cannot be estimated at this point in time as the process is still underway.
19 May 2016 - NW1171
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
What effect did the decision of the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, to remove the former Minister of Finance, Mr Nhlanhla Nene, on 9 December 2015 have on the value of assets under management of the (a) Government Employees Pension Fund, (b) Unemployment Insurance Fund, (c) Compensation Commissioners Fund, (d) Compensation Commissioners Pension Fund, (e) Associated Institutions Pension Fund and (f) Public Investment Corporation in (i) rands and (ii) percent in each case?
Reply:
The total decrease in Asset Under Management (AuM) over the period 08 December 2015 to 12 December 2015 amounted to R99 107 867 476, 76. Table 1 below provides detailed information as per requested institution.
Table 1: AuM per institution
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE PENSION FUND |
||||
Start date |
End date |
End Market Value (Rands) |
Change in Rands |
Change in Percentage |
2015/12/08 |
2015/12/09 |
1 578 842 958 575,68 |
||
2015/12/09 |
2015/12/10 |
1 533 030 433 903,16 |
-45 812 524 672,52 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/10 |
2015/12/11 |
1 492 840 656 310,47 |
-40 189 777 592,69 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/11 |
2015/12/12 |
1 492 952 420 399,11 |
111 764 088,64 |
0,00 |
2015/12/12 |
2015/12/13 |
1 492 954 477 051,57 |
2 056 652,46 |
0,00 |
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND |
||||
Start date |
End date |
End Market Value(Rands) |
Change in Rands |
Change in Percentage |
2015/12/08 |
2015/12/09 |
118 539 328 931,11 |
||
2015/12/09 |
2015/12/10 |
113 622 850 706,82 |
-4 916 478 224,29 |
-0,04 |
2015/12/10 |
2015/12/11 |
110 538 549 728,88 |
-3 084 300 977,94 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/11 |
2015/12/12 |
110 553 868 800,92 |
15 319 072,04 |
0,00 |
2015/12/12 |
2015/12/13 |
110 555 818 779,42 |
1 949 978,50 |
0,00 |
COMPENSATION COMMISSIONER FUND |
||||
Start date |
End date |
End Market Value(Rands) |
Change in Rands |
Change in Percentage |
2015/12/08 |
2015/12/09 |
34 722 690 994,32 |
||
2015/12/09 |
2015/12/10 |
32 550 500 181,82 |
-2 172 190 812,50 |
-0,06 |
2015/12/10 |
2015/12/11 |
31 615 296 174,48 |
-935 204 007,34 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/11 |
2015/12/12 |
31 627 883 140,02 |
12 586 965,54 |
0,00 |
2015/12/12 |
2015/12/13 |
31 628 048 616,55 |
165 476,53 |
0,00 |
COMPENSATION COMMISSIONERS PENSION FUND |
||||
Start date |
End date |
End Market Value(Rands) |
Change in Rands |
Change in Percentage |
2015/12/08 |
2015/12/09 |
16 943 272 754,78 |
||
2015/12/09 |
2015/12/10 |
16 271 781 984,86 |
-671 490 769,92 |
-0,04 |
2015/12/10 |
2015/12/11 |
15 809 698 426,57 |
-462 083 558,29 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/11 |
2015/12/12 |
15 811 843 053,26 |
2 144 626,69 |
0,00 |
2015/12/12 |
2015/12/13 |
15 812 007 764,12 |
164 710,86 |
0,00 |
ASSOCIATED INSTITUTION PENSION FUND |
||||
Start date |
End date |
End Market Value(Rands) |
Change in Rands |
Change in Percentage |
2015/12/08 |
2015/12/09 |
14 106 965 858,19 |
||
2015/12/09 |
2015/12/10 |
13 361 805 139,24 |
-745 160 718,95 |
-0,05 |
2015/12/10 |
2015/12/11 |
13 055 814 127,87 |
-305 991 011,37 |
-0,02 |
2015/12/11 |
2015/12/12 |
13 059 366 371,64 |
3 552 243,77 |
0,00 |
2015/12/12 |
2015/12/13 |
13 059 853 104,81 |
486 733,17 |
0,00 |
PIC FUNDS UNDER MANAGEMENT |
||||
Start date |
End date |
End Market Value(Rands) |
Change in Rands |
Change in Percentage |
2015/12/08 |
2015/12/09 |
1 791 426 488 177,86 |
||
2015/12/09 |
2015/12/10 |
1 737 191 207 615,39 |
-54 235 280 562,47 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/10 |
2015/12/11 |
1 692 157 213 606,73 |
-45 033 994 008,66 |
-0,03 |
2015/12/11 |
2015/12/12 |
1 692 309 150 164,43 |
151 936 557,70 |
0,00 |
2015/12/12 |
2015/12/13 |
1 692 318 620 701,10 |
9 470 536,67 |
0,00 |
19 May 2016 - NW612
Shivambu, Mr F to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)What was the cost incurred in employing the services of a certain company for the SA Revenue Services Transformation or Operating Model Review; (2) Was there an open tender process for the appointment of the specified company; if not, why not; if so, what were the terms of reference? NW725E
Reply:
The South African Revenue Service has submitted the following information. Please note that the Minister is unable to verify the content.
1. The cost incurred for the mandated work was:
- Bain Consulting:
-
-
- Total Order: R155,125,728.00 (including contingency claims of 10% so far only R700 000 has been claimed).
- Paid to date: R103, 609, 629.40
-
-
2. No, SARS used an already existing panel that was previously appointed through an open tender process in terms of paragraph 4.9 of the National Treasury Supply Chain Management – A guide for accounting officers/ authorities – February 2004. SARS further ran a close tender process within the panel which resulted in Bain being the successful bidder.
19 May 2016 - NW1150
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(a) What are the full relevant details of the Expenditure Reductions for the 2016 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, as highlighted in Table 3.3 on page 31 of the 2016 Budget Review, in terms of the source of the specified reductions in the (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19 financial years in each (aa) national department, (bb) province and (cc) municipality and (b) what percentage do the specified amounts represent in each case in respect of the (i) reductions at each level, (ii) total reduction and (iii) total reduction in each specified financial year?
Reply:
The reductions of R10 billion in 2017/18 and R15 billion in 2018/19 were effected on compensation budgets at the national and provincial levels of government. These were allocated based on the proportion of non-occupational specific dispensation (OSD) positions in a department. This ensures that the impact on service delivery is minimised, as the bulk of the reductions will apply to managerial and administrative staff. Of these amounts, national departments carried 53 per cent of the cuts and provincial governments carried 47 per cent, based on the proportions on non-OSD staff at both levels. Provincial reductions were effected through the provincial equitable share (PES).
Table 1: Summary of expenditure cuts at the national level
Table 2: Summary of expenditure cuts at the provincial level
19 May 2016 - NW1126
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether, in light of his official statement on 1 April 2016, he is undertaking concrete actions to (a) map a path for higher economic growth and (b) preserve the country’s investment grade rating; if not, why not in each case; if so, in respect of each concrete action relating to (i) economic growth and (ii) the country’s investment rating, (aa) what is the objective, (bb) who is responsible for implementation, (cc) what is the deadline for implementation and (dd) when was it approved by Cabinet; (2) does a plan exist to monitor the implementation of the concrete actions relating to (a) economic growth and (b) the country’s investment rating; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1.Yes, concrete actions are being undertaken.
South Africa needs to achieve higher levels of inclusive growth that raises employment, reduces inequality and eliminates poverty. Higher growth is also critical to help maintain South Africa’s investment grade rating.
The National Development Plan is the framework followed by all government departments to address structural constraints in the economy and achieve higher growth. The 2016 Budget Review outlines actions taken to promote private investment, address infrastructure bottlenecks, labour relations, improving policy certainty and coordination and on improving the ease of doing business (pg 25 – 27).
To further support efforts and implementation to foster higher economic growth, the president tasked the Ministry of Finance and Mr Jabu Mabuza to lead coordination with business, government and labour. Work from various work streams has focused on:
- preserving South Africa’s sovereign credit rating, which include joint roadshows to present a united front to rating agencies and international community, recommendations on reducing policy uncertainty and necessary fiscal and economic reforms.
- finding opportunities for co-investment, such as the launch of the SME Fund announced on 9 May, and
- resolving blockages in key sectors which can accelerate growth and investment, with ongoing task teams working within agriculture and tourism.
2. Monitoring progress is critical to ensure we are on the right path. Demonstrating concrete progress on our stated commitments to reform state owned companies, to catalyse growth and to maintain sound public finances is critical not only for ratings agencies, but for confidence in South Africa more broadly.
Government’s progress in implementing the NDP is monitored through the medium-term strategic framework (MTSF), which provides detailed reporting on individual programmes, including targets, timelines, and indicators to measure performance and the Minister/s responsible for each outcome. The process is managed and monitored by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
19 May 2016 - NW65
Atkinson, Mr P to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)(a) How many persons attended the 2016 World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland, as part of the delegation of the National Treasury and (b) what are their (i) names and (ii) formal designations or positions in Government; (2) (a) how many of the specified persons in the delegation of the National Treasury paid the full £29 000 conference fee and (b) what was the total cost of the specified delegation’s visit to the specified conference in terms of amounts paid for (i) conference fees, (ii) accommodation, (iii) subsistence and (iv) travel costs; (3) whether any rebates were negotiated for additional members; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether any family members of delegates travelled with them to Switzerland at the state’s expense; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are their names and (b) who did they accompany
Reply:
(1a) The Minister and four delegates from the National Treasury attended WEF Davos in 2016. National Treasury is the appointed coordinator of the government wide delegation to WEF Davos and so two of these officials attended in this capacity.
(1b) (i&ii) Ministerial delegation:
Minister Gordhan – Minister of Finance
Monale Ratsoma – Deputy Director-General: Economic Policy
Busi Sokhulu – Personal Assistant: Office of the Minister of Finance
WEF Coordinators:
Ofentse Lekwape – Assistant Director: International and Regional Economic Policy
Rebecca Murdoch – Deputy Director: International and Regional Economic Policy
(2a) None of the persons specified were required to pay fees to attend the conference, with the exception of a EUR50 fee for access badges for three of the delegates (see table 1).
(2b) The total cost of the five National Treasury delegates that travelled to WEF Davos was R549 383.72. A breakdown of these costs is in Table 1.
Table 1: Breakdown of costs for WEF
(i) conference fees1 |
(ii) accommodation |
(iii) subsistence |
(iv) travel costs2 |
|
Minister Gordhan |
0 |
R40 145 |
R7 983 |
R66 217 |
Busi Sokhulu |
R850 |
R73 900 |
R7 579 |
R29 963.72 |
Monale Ratsoma |
0 |
R38 484 |
R10 428 |
R63 670 |
Ofentse Lekwape3 |
0 |
R74 680 |
R23 386 |
R26 786 |
Rebecca Murdoch3 |
R850 |
R74 680 |
R23 386 |
R26 786 |
TOTAL |
R1 700 |
R301 889 |
R62 334 |
R183 459.72 |
1 Fee for access badges (EUR50).
2 Travel costs consist mainly of flights as National Treasury delegates used the complimentary WEF vehicles and shuttles to travel in and around Davos. VIP airport lounge services for Minister Gordhan, Ms Sokhulu; Mr Ratsoma are included in ‘travel costs’.
3 Mr Lekwape and Ms Murdoch were required to travel ahead of the conference as they were responsible for the coordination of the government delegation to WEF which accounts for their higher accommodation and subsistence costs.
(3) Not applicable: there were no additional members attending WEF from the National Treasury.
(4) No family members
19 May 2016 - NW939
Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Labour
Has (a) she and/or (b) her Deputy Minister ever (i) met with any (aa) member, (bb) employee and/or (cc) close associate of the Gupta family and/or (ii) attended any meeting with the specified persons (aa) at the Gupts’s Saxonwold Estate in Johannesburg or (bb) anywhere else since taking office; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, in each specified case, (aaa) what are the names of the persons who were present at each meeting, (bbb)(aaaa) when and (bbbb) where did each such meeting take place and (ccc) what was the purpose of each specified meeting?
Reply:
(a) No
(b) Not informed of
(i)(aa) No
(bb) No
(cc) No
(ii) (aa) No
(bb) No
(aaa) Irrelevant
(bbb)(aaaa) Irrelevant
(bbbb) Irrelevant
(ccc) Irrelevant
19 May 2016 - NW1235
McLoughlin, Mr AR to ask the Minister of Labour
With reference to the presentation of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation to the Standing Committee on Appropriations on 19 April 2016, which revealed that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has a surplus in excess of R100 billion, a) What is the exact figure of the UIF’s surplus as at the latest audit date; b) Who is currently in control of the specified funds and c) Who is the legal owner of the specified funds; NW1383E 2. Whether any UIF surplus funds are available as cash; if not, what is the position in this regard and a) In what form is it held; if so, where are the surplus funds held?
Reply:
1. The Unemployment Insurance Fund’s as its name denotes, is an Insurance fund paid for by monies deducted from salaries of workers and from the employers’ payroll. The fund is there to take care of workers in the event that they lose their jobs. The accumulated surplus, after setting aside the actuarial reserves of about R90billion as at 31 March 2015, has technically about R19billion that could be termed surplus in the literal sense of the word.
2. The Unemployment Insurance Fund is set up and governed by the Act of Parliament in the name of the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act, No 32 of 2003.
3. The Unemployment Insurance Fund is an insurance policy that caters for workers and their beneficiaries in the event of them losing their jobs or death. For all intends and purposes the Unemployment Insurance Fund is there to fulfil a need therefore the question of who owns it can be gleaned from the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act, No 32 of 2003.
4. Some of the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s surplus is available as cash in order to meet its legislative obligations and these are spelt out in the Act.
5. The money of the Fund, other than money required to meet the current expenditure of the Fund, may be deposited on behalf of the Fund by the Director-General with the Public Investment Commissioners to be invested in terms of the Public Investment Commissioners Act, 1984 (Act No. 45 of 1984) The PIC invests, manages and administers the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s investments according to the set terms and conditions of the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s investment mandate.
19 May 2016 - NW1085
Rawula, Mr T to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(a) Has any of her senior officials met with certain persons (Atul Gupta, Ajay Gupta, Rajesh Gupta and Duduzane Zuma) during the period 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015 and (b) Has any of the entities reporting to her awarded any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investmnets, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusiwe Media in the specified period; if so, what (i) are the relevant details and (ii) is the amount of each specified contract?
Reply:
(a) Since my appointment to date as the Minister of Public Enterprises by the President, I have not officially tasked, directed or instructed directly or indirectly any of the officials in the Department of Public Enterprises to meet with any of the individuals mentioned in the question.
(b) The awarding of contracts between our State Owned Companies (SOCs) and different companies, the nature of these contracts, and the contractual relationships between SOCs and different companies are commercially sensitive.
19 May 2016 - NW610
Ntlangwini, Ms EN to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)What is the cost incurred by the SA Revenue Services for employing the services of a certain company as at the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) was an open tender system followed in appointing the specified company; if not, why not in each specified case?
Reply:
The South African Revenue Service has submitted the following information. Please note that the Minister is unable to verify the content.
1.The cost incurred for the mandated work was:
- Gartner:
-
-
- Total Order: R157,442,590.00 (including contingencies of 10%)
- Paid to date: R60, 555, 640.00
-
-
2. No, an open tender was not followed for continuity, the Project was in two phases,
(a) in phase 1(diagnostic) of the project, the Gartner services were procured on the basis of an agreement for IT Consultancy services between SITA and Gartner.
(b) In phase 2 of the project, the services of Gartner were procured in terms of National Treasury regulation 16A6.4 read together with paragraph 10.5.2 of the Supply Chain Management practice note number 3/ 2003 for continuity purposes.
18 May 2016 - NW1240
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister in the Presidency
(1)With reference to his reply to question 2372 on 24 July 2015, (a) what are the names of the 18 learners from Stellenbosch who enrolled in the National Youth Development Agency’s (NYDA) Matric 2nd Chance Project and (b) how many of the specified learners (i) have since then qualified for a National Senior Certificate and (ii) are now able to access higher education opportunities; (2) Whether any of the specified learners are currently being assisted through the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund; if so, (a) who and (b) what are the further relevant details; (3) Whether the NYDA’s 2nd Chance Project will offer financial assistance to learners who have to travel long distances to attend the specified programme in the future; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Names of Learners are available on request.
one of the above Learners from Stellenbosch were awarded the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship. Only one Learner (Ms Sihle Mxosana) from NSC 2nd Chance in the Western Cape was awarded. She is currently studying ND: Sports Management at CPUT. Other 9 Learners who were awarded the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship on the NSC 2nd Chance were from other Provinces.
The Matric Rewrite – NYDA NSC 2nd Chance model does not cover financial assistance given the limited financial resource of the organization. However, the programme offers young people the following at no cost:
- Learners are registered with the Department of Basic Education to sit and rewrite their October/November examination;
- Learners receive a minimum of 52 contact hours per subject registered;
- Learners receive study guides per subject registered;
- Learners receive examination preparation tool kits which includes past examination papers and memorandums; and
- Learners receive career guidance and life skills training as NYDA value-add services.
Approved/Not approved
Mr J T Radebe, MP
Minister in The Presidency
Date:
18 May 2016 - NW1241
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister in the Presidency
(1)With reference to his reply to question 2381 on 24 July 2015, (a) how many of the eight indicated students of the first cohort of bursary holders supported by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) graduated or completed their studies at the end of 2015 as expected and (b) how many learners that enrolled for the first time in the 2013 academic year were supported with funding from the NYDA (2) Of the learners that enrolled in the second cohort of bursary holders supported by the NYDA, how many (a) graduated, (b) are still studying, (c) found other forms of financial support and/or (d) dropped out of their studies since enrolling in 2013 (3) Whether any plans have been put in place to ensure a higher success rate of learners benefitting from the specified funding; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
All eight students referred to graduated in 2015. The NYDA recruited 70 students in 2015 under the NYDA Bursary Scheme, and 10 more students under ‘Scholarship Funding’. Therefore, the combined number of students starting their studies in 2015 was 80.
Scholarship Funding was established in 2013 as a pilot study for the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund which started in 2014. The Scholarship Funding was therefore a precursor to the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund which currently covers for registration fees, tuition fees, accommodation, meals and books for 406 students.
Out of the 80 students recruited in 2013:
41 have graduated
25 are still in the programme (mainly in longer studies such as Medicine)
2 got other funding offers
12 dropped from the programme
Since the year 2013, NYDA’s Clinical Psychologist visited the universities at least twice a year to assist with mentoring, counselling and coaching of students to ensure a higher success rate. Since the NYDA restructuring process in 2015, the Clinical Psychologist position did no longer exist. In 2016, a Service Provider has been engaged who takes over the coaching and mentoring of the students with a focus on facilitating the transition from school to university.
18 May 2016 - NW1414
Mokgalapa, Mr S to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
Whether (a) his department and (b) all entities reporting to him are running development programmes for (i) small businesses and (ii) co-operatives; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (aa) what are the relevant details, (bb) what amount has been budgeted and (cc) how many jobs will be created through the specified development programmes in the 2016-17 financial year?
Reply:
All programmes specifically targeting small enterprise development administered by the dti were transferred to the Department of Small Business Development in 2014. In carrying out its mandate to broaden economic participation, the dti encourages other businesses to do business with small business in the implementation of programmes such as the BBBEE codes of good practice, local procurement and export support.
Response from the Entities
Only the four entities listed here under provide support to small business.
Entity |
b(i) |
b(ii) |
(aa) |
(bb) |
(cc) |
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) |
The CIPC does not run any development programmes for small business |
The CIPC does not run any development programmes for co-operatives |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) |
The ECIC does run development programmes for small business |
The ECIC does not run any development programmes for co-operatives |
ECIC is runing an enterprise and supplier development programme for its suppliers since 2014. The development offered was that of SME related training. |
R14m |
At this current stage the number of sustained jobs is 133 as reported by the SMEs. ECIC have no indication of how many jobs will be created in 2016/17 FY. It is however anticipated that as the SMEs grow they will create more jobs. |
National Empowerment Fund (NEF) |
The NEF does run development programmes for small business |
The NEF does run development programmes for co-operatives |
The NEF provide financial and non-financial support through its two funds namely iMbewu Fund (iMbewu) and Rural and Community Development Fund (RCDF) |
iMbewu – R346m RCDF – R150m |
iMbewu – 2 700 RCDF – 1200 |
National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) |
The NMISA does run development programmes for small business |
The NMISA does run development programmes for co-operatives |
NMISA has a dedicated programme to assist SMEs to understand Technical Infrastructure issues in their organisations and to measure the level of impact quality infrastructure (QI) has on their specific business. A Measurement Toolkit is used to both train the SMEs in QI and to gauge the level of intervention needed. Focused intervention is then performed with specific SMEs (and Cooperatives). |
R1,6m |
NMISA has no mechanism to determine the number of jobs created through this activity. If internationally developed guidelines are used to convert investment in QI into job creation, the activity supports approximately 7 000 jobs. |
South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) |
The SABS does run development programmes for small business |
The SABS does run development programmes for co-operatives |
Certification and Testing - The SABS work with SME’s in the development and implementation of quality management system, testing of product and certification. |
Funding is provided by the various provincial departments and agencies such as SEDA |
Direct impact on jobs is estimated by funding agencies themselves |
Design and Innovation interventions - The SABS Design Institute provides development and support to entrepreneurs and SMME using design thinking and methodologies to improve competitiveness. |
Funding for these activities is also provided by various government agencies and departments. |
Direct impact on jobs is estimated by funding agencies themselves |
18 May 2016 - NW966
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)What was the status of (a) cash-on-hand, (b) debtors book and age analysis, (c) collection ratio, (d) monthly operating (i) income and (ii) expenditure and (e) creditors book and age analysis of Makana Local Municipality Eastern Cape (i) for the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) since 1 April 2015; (2) (a) what capital grants have been awarded to the specified municipality in the 2015-16 financial year and (b) in each case, what amount was spent; (3) whether the funds for any capital grant have been utilised to finance operational expenditure; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) are the details thereof and (b) steps have been taken in this regard?
Reply:
1. The Honourable Member should note that this question should be referred to the relevant municipality or sourced from their Budget documents or annual reports (including audited financial statements). Only a municipality can verify such information.
The National Treasury collects budget, financial and other information as a consolidated resource center for the public but cannot verify the information. The National Treasury publishes annually by November the Budgets of all municipalities in terms of Section 17 of MFMA. In addition, the National Treasury also publishes detailed quarterly reports submitted by all municipalities as per the Section 71 of the MFMA. The latest publication available for the 2015/16 municipal financial year can be found on our website. The accuracy of the reports can only be confirmed by the respective municipality. The quarterly reports have been available since 2006/07 on the National Treasury Website.
http://mfma.treasury.gov.za/Media_Releases/s71/Pages/default.aspx
I refer the Honourable Member to the page or table in the latest report published on 4 March 2016 as follows:
(a) Cash-on-hand
See Part 3 of the 2-page summary per municipality
OR
Refer to the cash flow summary on C7 in the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulation (MBRR) formats.
(b) Debtor’s analysis
See Part 4 of the 2-page summary per municipality
(c) Collection rate
Refer to the high level summary on C1 in the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulation (MBRR) formats.
(d) Operation revenue and expenditure
See Part 1 of the 2-page summary per municipality
OR
Refer to the Statement of financial performance on C4 in the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulation (MBRR) formats.
(e) Creditor’s analysis
See Part 5 of the 2-page summary per municipality
2. In terms of the information required regarding Capital grants, refer to the conditional grant summaries per municipality as well as the Summary per program / grant.
AND
Part 2 of the 2-page summary per municipality.
3. The National Treasury is not in a position to confirm whether Makana municipality spent its capital grant for operational purposes, reason being our reporting system does not provide detail to that level. However, the national department responsible for administering of the capital grant would be in a better position to provide required detail. It should be noted however, that Makana Municipality is allowed by law (DoRA) to use a portion of capital grant allocation for operational purposes within the threshold prescribed by the national department responsible for the grant.
As noted in the 2015 Division of Revenue Act, Makana municipality received one capital grant being Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) administered by the department of Corporative Governance. The MIG provides that municipalities can use a maximum of 5% of the grant allocation for operational purposes.
17 May 2016 - NW1341
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
(a) How many applications for title deeds have been received for Lakeside in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, since 1 January 1996, (b) how many of the specified title deeds have been issued to date, (c) how many outstanding title deeds still need to be issued and (d) when will the outstanding title deeds be issued?
Reply:
a) The township Lakeside comprises of various extensions which are registered in the name of Merbuild Proprietary Limited and the Gauteng Provincial Government. The Gauteng Provincial Government is registered owner of only Lakeside Extension 4 Township. The total number of erven/stands in the township is 10977 of which 10363 have, since 1 January 1996, been transferred by the township owners to various parties.
b) The number of erven that have been transferred by the township owners, and held by means of separate title deeds, to date is 10363.
c) The number of erven still held by the township owners under various township title deeds is 614.
d) The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is not in a position to know when the township owners will transfer the remaining erven, as it is the prerogative of the township owners to transfer erven still held under various township title deeds.
17 May 2016 - NW845
Ollis, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Labour
(a) what action has she taken to re-open the Central Johannesburg Labour Centre since it was close 18 months ago, as the members of the public still arrive every hour to assisted at the specified office, (b) when will the specified office be re-opened , (c) what is delaying the re-opening of the specified office, (d) what is the closest office to the specified office where members of the public can get assistance and (e) why is this not publicised on (i) her department’s website and (ii) a notice on the door of the closed office?
Reply:
a) The current building has been condemned by the Johannesburg Emergency Services in July 2015, and all tenants had to vacate the building.
The Department of Labour is engaging with the Department of Public Works on procuring alternative accommodation. The Department of Public Works has identified land on which a building could be erected for the Johannesburg Labour Centre.
We are aware that this will take some time and we are engaging the Department of Public Works to identify suitable alternative premises that could be used in the interim. The request for alternative premises was sent to the Department of Public Works on 2 November 2015.
b) At this stage we do not have a date for re-opening of the office because alternative accommodation has not been identified. We will also first have to bring such accommodation up to standard and provide necessary infrastructure.
c) The office was due to re-open in June 2015, but unfortunately a fire broke out in the basement of the building which resulted in the closure and condemning of the entire building by the Johannesburg Emergency Services.
d) Closest offices are as following;
- Germiston Labour Centre situated at Number 141 Victoria Street.
- Alberton Labour Centre situated at Number 89 Voortrekker Street.
- Soweto Labour Centre situated at Number 2 Khumalo Stret
- Roodepoort Labour Centre situated at Number 125 Albertina Sisulu Road, Technikon .
- Randburg Labour Centre situated at corner Oak and Hill Streets.
- Sandton Labour Centre situated at Number 424 9th Street, Marlboro.
e) Notices were placed on the doors of the Johannesburg Labour Centre office, but normally removed by unknown persons. We have communicated through the media and also respond to all media enquires on the matter.
17 May 2016 - NW973
James, Ms LV to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(a) How many Breaking New Ground houses will be built in the Ekuphumleni housing development project in the Ndlambe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, (b) by what date will the specified houses be completed and (c) what is the total amount of funding allocated to the specified project?
Reply:
(a) A total of 564 houses are to be built in the Ekuphumleni housing project in the Ndlambe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape;
(b) The estimated completion date is 31st March 2017;
(c) The budget allocated for the project is R89m.
17 May 2016 - NW370
Steenkamp, Ms J to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
With reference to President Jacob G Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) her department and (b) every entity reporting to her went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?
Reply:
(a) The total percentage spent by the National Department of Human Settlements for procurement from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) for the period 01 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 is 32%.
(b) (i) The information related to Entities on Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises is as per the table below:
Entities |
% Spent on SMME's |
HDA |
30.41% |
NHBRC |
45% |
NHFC |
45% |
RHLF |
35.35% |
NURCHA |
15.81% |
EAAB |
49% |
CSOS |
45% |
Provinces
The Provinces are spending on average 66 % of the Human Settlements Development Grant on Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME’s) of total procurement for the 2015/16 financial year ending 31 March 2016.Limpopo and Free State have spent more than 90% whilst Western Cape and Gauteng are spending the lowest at 46% and 32% respectively to their Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises.
Provinces |
% Spent on SMME's |
Eastern Cape |
- |
Free State |
90% |
Gauteng |
32% |
KwaZulu Natal |
55% |
Limpopo |
97% |
Mpumalanga |
63% |
Northern Cape |
70% |
North West |
71% |
Western Cape |
46% |
The percentages are 100% of the total procurement by provinces and it is as at 31/03/2016
(ii) Cooperatives
The Department is promoting and supporting the establishment of Cooperatives within the human settlements delivery chain. To this end, the Department (through People’s Housing Process Directorate) has partnered with the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the following has been achieved:
- Approximately 65 different Cooperatives have been established in six (6) Provinces, namely KZN, Gauteng, Free State, North West, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape
- Housing or human settlements Cooperatives serves as a catalyst for the establishment of other Cooperatives. The housing Cooperatives ranges from Construction Cooperatives, brick-making, window/door frame making Cooperatives, carpentry, plumbing, transport, electricity, painting etc.
- Other livelihood Cooperatives formed will focus on agriculture, sewing, catering, poultry, shoe-making etc.
- Most of these Cooperatives are led by Women and Youth and there is one Cooperative established in the Free State led by Disabled people
- A Military Veterans Cooperative called Matrosov was also established in the Eastern Cape for the Chatty 491 project in Port Elizabeth
- Delivered pre-formation and Cooperatives workshops in the six (6) Provinces
- Assessed the state of readiness for the Cooperatives Incentive Scheme (CIS) registration application for registered Cooperatives in KZN and Free State. The main objective of the CIS registration is to enable the Cooperatives to access grant funding from the DSBD as part of the start-up capital
- In partnership with DSBD, delivered CIS workshop to the registered Cooperatives in the Free State who have now applied for the CIS Grant from DSBD
- Through the partnership with DSBD, a project will be identified as a pilot under the new Cooperatives Incubator Programme led by DSBD
- The Department will be sourcing Training and Skills development initiatives for the registered Cooperatives through NHBRC, SEDA and other similar institutions
17 May 2016 - NW1055
Gqada, Ms T to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
Whether her department is still included in the Rural Household Infrastructure Grant budget; if not, why not; if so, how much funding was allocated to her department from the specified grant (a) in the (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iii) 2013-14 and (iv) 2014-15 financial years and (b) since 1 April 2016? W1188E
Reply:
No. The Rural Households Infrastructure Grant (RHIG) is no longer part of the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) allocation. This grant was transferred to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in 2014 when this new Department was established as part of the National Macro Organisation of the State (NMOS).
(a) The Rural Household Infrastructure Grant was allocated the following amounts while still managed by the Department:
(i) R231.5 million in the 2011/12 financial year
(ii) R479.5 million in the 2012/13 financial year
(iii) R106.7 million in the 2013/14 financial year
(iv) R113.1 million in the 2014/15 financial year. The whole allocation was transferred to the Department of Water & Sanitation during the mid-term budget process
(b) The Department of Human Settlement has not been allocated any RHIG funding in 2016/17 financial year and over the MTEF period.
17 May 2016 - NW605
Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(1)Whether she has issued or was in the process of issuing any invitation to a parliamentary delegation, comprising Members of Parliament from the different political parties, to accompany her and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on an in loco inspection of townships in two or three of South Africa’s richest provinces to get a view of life and the living conditions in such townships 21 years after the advent of democracy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she will make a statement on the current physical environment of the apartheid-era established townships and to what extent these had remained the same or have substantially been transformed and improved to accord dignity to those who lived there?
Reply:
(1) I hope the Honourable member is not suggesting that he awaits my invitation for him (or his party) to undertake his oversight responsibility. The Honourable member should ensure that his party is represented, if that is not the case, in the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements or the Select Committee on Social Services. Both Committees have undertaken oversight visits to various provinces and made valuable recommendations to the National and Provincial Departments of Human Settlements. I encourage the Honourable member to do the same and partner with us in ensuring that we provide the much needed sustainable human settlements.
I must emphasize that as political representatives it is incumbent upon us to remain connected with our constituencies, thus we must and should always be aware of the living conditions of our citizens. In my view the entire days, weeks, months and years of a political representative must and should in fact constitute inspection-in- loco oversight of the impact of our work and what still remains to be done.
As part of our Ministerial outreach programmes, the Deputy Minister and I had on a regular basis undertaken oversight visits to areas referred to by the Honourable Member.
Notwithstanding, one of the key development focus areas of government has been to ensure that the previous Black dormitory residential areas comprising African, Coloured, Indian households, are transformed by providing all the essential infrastructure and services to ensure households quality of life is improved but also integrated with the mainly White residential areas and other economic infrastructure and services including retail, industrial, commercial, educational, technological, innovation and transport. This is a task carried out as a multi-sectoral and spherical government area of development and includes private business and communities as partners.
Since the dawn of democracy, the National, Provincial and Municipal spheres of government have planned and implemented various programmes and projects in the Black residential townships established prior and post 1994. These include the various Special Presidential Programmes, Special Provincial and Municipal Programmes and projects, which have been implemented and include amongst others but not limited to the Kathorus and Alexandra Special Presidential Projects in Gauteng, the INK Programme in Ethekwini in KZN, the Special Presidential Projects implemented in Khayalitsha and Mitchells Plan, in the City Of Cape Town, the focused infrastructure programme implemented in Soweto, in the City of Johannesburg and more recently the focused programmes implemented in Botshabelo in the Free State and Umtata in the Eastern Cape.
It is also important that we are reminded of our continued infrastructure and services grants which include the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, the Urban Settlements Development Grant, the Integrated Energy Grant, the Neighbourhood Development Grant as well as the Regional and Bulk Infrastructure Grant for water bulk and link infrastructure, are also applied in the goal of achieving the sustainable development transformation of inherited dislocated and apartheid created dormitory residential areas.
(2) The Honourable member is referred to my reply to question 279 wherein I indicated that;
“Indeed Honourable member, we have taken considerable strides in transforming apartheid established townships and we are determined to do more still in order to reverse the apartheid spatial planning and its legacy. For instance, in Soweto we have provided sports facilities, built malls, and paved roads. I invite the Honourable member to visit Cosmo City, which is one amongst our success stories. Evidence of our projects can be seen in many apartheid established townships nationally, places like Kwa-Mashu, Umlazi, Langa, Khayelitsha, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville are a few examples where our footprint can be seen.
We have managed to transform approximately 98% of all our projects to be representative of a human settlement, which includes access to amenities like schools, medical facilities, shopping centres, places of worship, points of transportation and access to roads.
The table below indicates the Human Settlements’ footprint.
Number of projects reflecting characteristics of a Human Settlements |
||||||
|
Number of projects being implemented (2014/15) |
Amenities: |
Access to roads |
|||
Province |
1 km |
5km Radius |
10km Radius |
1km Radius |
5km Radius |
|
EC |
977 |
829 |
941 |
942 |
904 |
942 |
FS |
1538 |
1282 |
1507 |
1521 |
1476 |
1521 |
GP |
1276 |
1156 |
1274 |
1274 |
1266 |
1274 |
KZN |
942 |
735 |
924 |
925 |
877 |
925 |
LP |
1251 |
882 |
1198 |
1224 |
1070 |
1224 |
MP |
1666 |
1208 |
1563 |
1581 |
1499 |
1583 |
NC |
573 |
354 |
433 |
448 |
430 |
467 |
NW |
473 |
436 |
544 |
555 |
542 |
560 |
WC |
1540 |
1438 |
1511 |
1516 |
1494 |
1516 |
Total |
10236 |
8320 |
9895 |
9986 |
9558 |
10012 |
% of projects within specific distances from the project, with characteristics of a human settlement |
|
81% |
97% |
98% |
93% |
98% |
It is further important to note that out of a total of 10 236 projects, only 70 projects (0.68%), fall outside a designated town boundary. That is due to the fact that they are projects that focus on rural communities and self-help projects (PHP).
Additionally, we have referenced and profiled a few of the largest towns in the country in relation to the above analysis (Annexure A). From this list there are none of these large towns that cannot be classified as a human settlement based on the definition of a human settlement”.
16 May 2016 - NW1080
Ndlozi, Dr MQ to ask the Minister Communications
(a) Has any of her senior officials met with certain persons (names furnished) during the period 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015 and (b) has any of the entities reporting to her awarded any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media in the specified period; if so, what (i) are the relevant details and (ii) is the amount of each specified contract?
Reply:
GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GCIS):
(a) To the knowledge of the Accounting Officers of both the Department of Communications and the GCIS, senior managers of the departments did not meet with the above-mentioned people on their official capacity, between 2009 and 2015.
(b) No contracts were entered into with Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investment, Islandsite Investment, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, TNA Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media between 2009 and 2015 outside of normal procurement transactions.
Yes, there has been transactions with TNA Media to procure advertising. Payments made from the budget appropriated to Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) to TNA Media are detailed below:
DEPARTMENT |
FISCAL 2011-2012 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
GCIS |
Protection of Information Bill |
R132 526.37 |
SONA |
R153 900.00 |
|
SONA |
R1 700 000.00 |
|
Information Dissemination |
R874 888.00 |
|
GCIS Total |
R2 861 314.37 |
|
FISCAL 2012-2013 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
|
GCIS |
National Orders |
R450 000.00 |
Orders of Companions of OR Tambo |
R77 319.00 |
|
SONA |
R893 475.29 |
|
State Funeral |
R92 836.93 |
|
GCIS Total |
R1 513 631.12 |
|
FISCAL 2013-2014 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
|
Mandela Memorial Campaign: State Funeral |
R62 928.00 |
|
Recruitment |
R50 068.80 |
|
SONA |
R821 128.32 |
|
GCIS Total |
R934 125.12 |
|
|
FISCAL 2014-2015 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) |
Database registration |
R 14 945.40 |
|
Profiling Campaign |
R 720 990.72 |
|
Recruitment |
R 301 195.75 |
|
Recruitment Phase 3 |
R 57 078.43 |
|
SONA 2014 |
R 100 137.60 |
|
SONA 2015 |
R 101 888.64 |
GCIS Total |
|
R 1 296 236.54 |
|
FISCAL 2015/2016 |
|
GCIS |
SONA 2016 |
R 145 555.20 |
|
Voter Education |
R 81 874.80 |
GCIS Total |
|
R227 430.00 |
ENTITIES REPORTING TO DOC:
ICASA did not award any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media during 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015.
Brand South Africa did not award any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media during 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015.
Media Diversity and Development Agency did not award any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media during 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015.
South African Broadcasting Corporation
(a) N/A
(b) Yes, The New Age Media.
(i) 1. Newspaper subscriptions
2. The SABC and The New Age (TNA) have an agreement that the SABC will cover live all the TNA Business Breakfasts. This agreement is for a period of three years. The agreement stipulates that the TNA will arrange and organise the Business Breakfasts by providing the venue (as well as catering) and secure the participants. The SABC in turn broadcasts the event. The advantage for the SABC is the acquisition of content.
(ii) 1. R 733,930.
2. Nil
Film and Publications Board did not award any contracts to Sahara Holdings, Comair, Oakbay Investments, Islandsite Investments, Afripalm Horizons Stakes, The New Age Media, JIC Mining Services and Vusizwe Media during 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015.
MR NN MUNZHELELE
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
MR D LIPHOKO
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM
DATE:
MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
16 May 2016 - NW1045
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Communications
Whether she, her department and/or any entities reporting to her (a) awarded any tenders to and/or (b) concluded any contracts and/or financial transactions with (i) Sahara Holdings, (ii) Oakbay Investments, (iii) The New Age Media, (iv) Vusizwe Media, (v) Mabengela, (vi) Islandsite Investments 255, (vii) Afripalm Horizons Stakes, (viii) Dunrose Investments and/or (ix) JIC Mining Services since 1 May 2014; if so, (aa) which company or entity, (bb) what are the relevant details of the value of each specified tender, contract and/or financial transaction and (cc) what are the names of the companies who were unsuccessful for each specified tender, contract and/or financial transaction that was awarded?
Reply:
DoC and GCIS:
(a) Both the Department of Communications and GCIS - considering shared procurement systems in the initial year of the DoC’s operation - have not entered into contracts with the above mentioned companies since 1 May 2014, outside of normal procurement transactions.
(b) Yes, the Departments transacted with TNA Media to procure advertising. Payments made are detailed below:
DEPARTMENT |
FISCAL 2011-2012 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
GCIS |
Protection of Information Bill |
R132 526.37 |
SONA |
R153 900.00 |
|
SONA |
R1 700 000.00 |
|
Information Dissemination |
R874 888.00 |
|
GCIS Total |
R2 861 314.37 |
|
FISCAL 2012-2013 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
|
GCIS |
National Orders |
R450 000.00 |
Orders of Companions of OR Tambo |
R77 319.00 |
|
SONA |
R893 475.29 |
|
State Funeral |
R92 836.93 |
|
GCIS Total |
R1 513 631.12 |
|
FISCAL 2013-2014 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
|
Mandela Memorial Campaign: State Funeral |
R62 928.00 |
|
Recruitment |
R50 068.80 |
|
SONA |
R821 128.32 |
|
GCIS Total |
R934 125.12 |
|
|
FISCAL 2014-2015 |
INVOICE AMOUNT |
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) |
Database registration |
R 14 945.40 |
|
Profiling Campaign |
R 720 990.72 |
|
Recruitment |
R 301 195.75 |
|
Recruitment Phase 3 |
R 57 078.43 |
|
SONA 2014 |
R 100 137.60 |
|
SONA 2015 |
R 101 888.64 |
GCIS Total |
|
R 1 296 236.54 |
|
FISCAL 2015/2016 |
|
GCIS |
SONA 2016 |
R 145 555.20 |
|
Voter Education |
R 81 874.80 |
GCIS Total |
|
R227 430.00 |
ICASA has not (a) awarded any tenders to and/or (b) concluded any contracts and/or financial transactions with (i) Sahara Holdings, (ii) Oakbay Investments, (iii) The New Age Media, (iv) Vusizwe Media, (v) Mabengela, (vi) Islandsite Investments 255, (vii) Afripalm Horizons Stakes, (viii) Dunrose Investments and/or (ix) JIC Mining Services since 1 May 2014.
MDDA has not (a) awarded any tenders to and/or (b) concluded any contracts and/or financial transactions with (i) Sahara Holdings, (ii) Oakbay Investments, (iii) The New Age Media, (iv) Vusizwe Media, (v) Mabengela, (vi) Islandsite Investments 255, (vii) Afripalm Horizons Stakes, (viii) Dunrose Investments and/or (ix) JIC Mining Services since 1 May 2014.
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC):
(a) SABC has not awarded any tenders to (i) Sahara Holdings, (ii) Oakbay Investments, (iii) The New Age Media, (iv) Vusizwe Media, (v) Mabengela, (vi) Islandsite Investments 255, (vii) Afripalm Horizons Stakes, (viii) Dunrose Investments and/or (ix) JIC Mining Services since 1 May 2014.
(b) SABC concluded contracts with The New Age Media for Newspaper subscriptions at a cost of R733,930 since 1 May 2014.
Brand South Africa has not (a) awarded any tenders to and/or (b) concluded any contracts and/or financial transactions with (i) Sahara Holdings, (ii) Oakbay Investments, (iii) The New Age Media, (iv) Vusizwe Media, (v) Mabengela, (vi) Islandsite Investments 255, (vii) Afripalm Horizons Stakes, (viii) Dunrose Investments and/or (ix) JIC Mining Services since 1 May 2014.
Film and Publications Board has not (a) awarded any tenders to and/or (b) concluded any contracts and/or financial transactions with (i) Sahara Holdings, (ii) Oakbay Investments, (iii) The New Age Media, (iv) Vusizwe Media, (v) Mabengela, (vi) Islandsite Investments 255, (vii) Afripalm Horizons Stakes, (viii) Dunrose Investments and/or (ix) JIC Mining Services since 1 May 2014.
MR NN MUNZHELELE
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
MR D LIPHOKO
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM
DATE:
MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
16 May 2016 - NW1038
Van Damme, Ms PT to ask the Minister of Communications
(1) What is the full job description of the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC); (2) whether the COO of the SABC has signed a performance agreement with her; if not; why not; if so, (a) when was the specified agreement signed and (b) what are the COO's key deliverables as per the specified agreement?
Reply:
(1) The COO’s job description is herein attached.
(2) No. The Executive Directors of the SABC sign performance agreements with the SABC Board, not the Minister.
MR NN MUNZHELELE
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE
ANNEXURE A
Below is the job description of the SABC COO, as advertised on 15 February 2013, Ref.94358/2:
Key accountabilities: As a member of the Board and reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer, with full day-to-day operating responsibility for the economic, content and platform performance of the SABC, the successful candidate will: ▪Ensure adherence to key performance areas, ie revenue, cost and quality ▪Ensure that the corporate strategy and the operational plans work in tandem and are geared towards positioning the SABC best in class public broadcaster ▪Work closely with the Group Chief Executive Officer and take direct corporate strategy for the operational growth of the corporation in order to improve profitability and quality of the service offering ▪Build the digital and new media capabilities of the organisation ▪Lead the various cross-functional teams across the organisation.
16 May 2016 - NW697
Van Damme, Ms PT to ask the Minister of Communications
(1) Whether (a) her department and (b) any entities reporting to her sponsored any organisations in the (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16 financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (aa) which organisations were sponsored, (bb) by what amount and (cc) what were the activities sponsored in each case in each of the specified financial years; (2) whether (a) her department and (b) any entities reporting to her intend to sponsor any organisations in the 2016-17 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) which organisations will be sponsored, (ii) by what amount and (iii) what activities will be sponsored in the specified financial year?
Reply:
(1)(a)The Department has not sponsored any organisations in the 2015-16 financial year, and was yet to be established in the 2014-15 financial year.
(1)(b) Brand SA has not sponsored any organisations in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years.
FPB has not sponsored any organisations in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years and will enter into partnerships with various institutions to save costs and for marketing benefits. The said partnerships are herein attached as Annexure A.
MDDA has sponsored the MTN Radio Awards 2015 to an amount of R 78 300 ex Vat. The sponsorship was for an Award category and was in support of the recognition given to the community radio stations by the Awards. As a partnership between the MDDA and MTN, the MDDA branding was incorporated in the promotion of the Awards.
ICASA has not sponsored any organisations in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years.
SABC
1(b) (i) Yes.
(ii) Yes.
(aa) 2014/15 - Writers Guild of South Africa.
2015/16 - Writers Guild of South Africa (Muse Awards).
(bb) 2014/15 - Writers Guild of South Africa: R37 000.
2015/16 - Writers Guild of South Africa (Muse Awards): R50 000.
(cc) 2014/15 - 15 Previously disadvantaged youth with the creative writing flair got an opportunity to attend a two day workshop where they had an opportunity to have one-on-one sessions with Andrew Welsh who assisted them with turning their ideas into tangible concepts. They also received course materials which they could use for future idea development.
2015/16 – Support of the local independent production industry. The annual awards celebrate South African drama writers.
(2)(a) The Department does not intend to sponsor any organisations in the 2016- 17 financial year due to budgetary constraints.
(1)(b) Brand SA does not intend to sponsor any organisations in the 2016-17 financial year.
FPB does not intend to sponsor any organisations in the 2016-17 financial year.
MDDA does not intend to sponsor any organisations in the 2015-2016 financial year. Sponsorships are only considered where they will directly benefit community media and encourage media diversity and the MDDA does not anticipate that approaches for sponsorship that meet these criteria will materialise.
ICASA does not intend to sponsor any organisations in the 2016-17 financial year.
SABC intends to sponsor the Durban International Film Festival & Durban Film Mart in the 2016-17 financial year.
MR NN MUNZHELELE
DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DATE:
13 May 2016 - NW1079
Mokause, Ms MO to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(1) Was he in Dubai at any time in December 2015; if so, (a) when and (b) what was the purpose of his visit;(2) whether he held any meetings while in Dubai; if so, (a) what was the purpose of the specified meetings and (b) was any of the specified meetings with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma? (2) whether he held any meetings while in Dubai; if so, (a) what was the purpose of the specified meetings and (b) was any of the specified meetings with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma?
Reply:
(1) Yes, Official trip to promote mining and investment opportunities in South Africa. The trip was also as opportunity to be apprised about the work done with African countries on matters pertaining to stemming the flow of illicit diamonds, and precious metals.
(2) Yes (a) To promote mining investment opportunities, as well as South Africa, as a preferred destination; (b) No.
Approved/not approved
Mr MJ Zwane, MP
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted: 11/05/2016
12 May 2016 - NW718 - Amended
Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether Durban or any other city in the country is regarded as an environmental hotspot on account of (a) a lack of proper and adequate sanitation, (b) overexploitation and depletion of natural resources, (c) soil or beach erosion of one type or the other, (d) diminishing water availability and compromised water quality and (e) destruction of highly prized and unique eco-systems; if not, why not; if so, (i) which cities are regarded as environmental hotspots in respect of the aforementioned, (ii) what steps has the Government taken to address the specified problems proactively and aggressively in order to remedy the situation and (iii) what measure of success is being achieved in rectifying the specified problems?
Reply:
(a) This needs to be responded by the Department of Water and Sanitation
(b) The situation described below and under (a) is not applicable to Durban or any specific city but is in general applicable to most cities. Given their population density and sheer intensity of economic activity, cities are a major source of overexploitation and depletion of natural resources. As was noted in the recent OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050, the number of people living in cities will increase to around 6.4 billion by 2050, or approximately 70% of the total world population (OECD 2012).
Therefore all cities can be considered environmental hotspots– this shear density of humanity means that cities are huge sinks for food, water, energy and other natural resources as well as being significant sources of waste, effluent, heat and atmospheric emissions (often mostly vehicle emissions).
Loss of natural habitat is the biggest single cause of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the terrestrial environment. Outright loss of natural habitat takes place mainly as a result of conversion of natural vegetation for necessary infrastructure development and urban development, which means that patterns of land use have a great impact on the health and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in impacts on their ecological functioning and viability, particularly in the context of climate change.
Furthermore, waste generated by urban settlements generates water pollution, soil pollution and air pollution, impacting on ecosystems, species and ecological processes (National Biodiversity Assessment, 2011).
Nothwithstanding the above, Durban like any other city in South Africa is subject to environmental laws of the country. This city has a dedicated environmental and planning institutional arrangement that is meant to mitigate and manage potential environmental impacts. Part of their environmental vision, the eThekwini Metropolitan city, advocates for conserving biodiversity and the ecosystem goods and services.
Operation Phakisa led by the Department of Environmental Affairs has key focus areas on Marine Protection Services and Governance that include key initiatives addressing overexploitation and depletion of natural resources or marine living species. These include a network of Marine Protected Areas and Coordinated enforcement programs.
The monitoring and evaluation of local authorities’ performance is the mandate of COGTA.
(c) (i), (ii) and (iii)
The Department is in the process of conducting a National Coastal Assessment which will identify such hotspots.
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii)
Coastal cities by their nature are potential environmental hotspots with respect to water quality. As an example, some of recreational beaches in Durban had lost their Blue Flag status due to poor water quality but have since regained this Blue Flag Status.
The Department has tools that aim to assist municipalities to better manage water quality.
(e) (i), (ii) and (iii)
All cities contain highly prized ecosystems, but continue to face pressing needs of ever expanding need to provide for housing and other land uses. However, most of the more advanced metropolitan areas and bigger cities entertain these pressures through proper land use planning. Conservation plans and other tools are in place to indicate where the environmental hotspots are located. Planning of infrastructure takes these hotspots into consideration. Designing these cities consider environmental impacts and is dedicated to the minimization of the required inputs of energy, water and food, waste output and water pollution.
A number of conservation and legislative tools to ensure conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity have been developed.
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12 May 2016 - NW868
Carter, Ms D to ask the MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
Whether the Government is working with international partners to help end the siege of Gaza and push for a rapprochement between Gaza and Israel so that the conflict in the Middle East could find a resolution and come to an end in the region which is creating huge problems for neighbouring countries and the world; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Government is not only working with international partners and stakeholders regarding the “siege of Gaza and push for a rapprochement between Gaza and Israel”, but to address the full spectrum of challenges between Palestine and Israel, including those in the occupied territories and Jerusalem.The South African Government interacts on this issue with the international community in many structures, including the United Nations, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and BRICS.
In addition this issue also forms part of discussions in our bilateral relations.This process of engaging international partners and stakeholders is further facilitated through the appointment in 2014, of the Special Envoys for the Middle East Peace Process, former Minister Skweyiya and Former Deputy Minister Pahad. Since their appointment, the Special Envoys have visited Palestine, Israel and neighbouring countries to convey President Zuma’s grave concern over the then escalating violence, the civilian displacement and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
More recently visits included high-level discussions to understand the impact of conflict in the broader Middle East region on the Middle East Peace Process and to assess a possible South African contribution. The Envoys intend briefing all structures of Parliament as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made.Similarly, DIRCO will also brief Parliamentary structures.
UNQUOTE