Questions and Replies
15 April 2016 - NW745
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)Whether any theft of cables has taken place at the Sivermine Basis since 1 January 2011 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, (a) when the theft occurred, (b) what was stolen during the theft, (c) what the cost of each theft was and (d) whether any transgressors have been apprehended in connections with each theft; (2) (a) for which periods communication from the land and at sea were cut off and (b) what measures have been instituted to prevent similar incidents; (3) whether she will make a statement about the matter?
Reply:
1. (a) Four incidents of Cable theft occurred in the Silvermine area between 2012 and 2013.
(b) General items comprising mainly copper, were stolen
(c) Items stolen were valued at approximately R50 000-00.
(d) In March 2013 four suspects were apprehended by SANPARKS personnel icw the copper theft at the upper antenna farm at Silvermine and handed to the Muizenberg SAPS. They were later released by the SAPS when it was discovered that were all minors.
2. (a) At no stage was communications from land and sea cut off due to these incidents.
(b) Fences have been repaired in the upper antenna area and are in the process of being replaced in the lower antenna area. A camera monitoring and speaker warning system has been installed in the upper antenna area. Vehicle patrols have been stepped up. The SAN is attempting to acquire a wide area Intruder Detection System to increase monitoring and reduce response times in order to prevent future incidents of this nature.
(3) No
15 April 2016 - NW471
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With reference to her reply to question 3524 on 19 October 2015, and subsequent reports that the procurement of a new VIP jet by Armaments Corporation of SA for use by the President of the Republic, Mr Jacob G Zuma, has commenced, (a) what is the status of this procurement process and (b) when will the (i) Joint Standing Committee on Defence and (ii) the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans be briefed by her on the progress made with the procurement process to date; (2) whether the procurement of the specified VIP jet will be funded from the Special Defence Account; if not, how will the specified jet be funded; if so, what steps will be taken to ensure that the specified VIP jet will be procured at the lowest possible cost given the country’s current dire economic situation; (3) how much (a) has been budgeted for the new VIP jet and (b) will it cost?
Reply:
The Department established a Task Team comprising relevant units of the department, the Airforce and Armscor to advise on the most viable and suitable acquisition option including cost implications thereof for this project.
The Task Team already issued public communication on the progress in this regard during a press briefing in November 2015.
15 April 2016 - NW891
Mente-Nkuna, Ms NV to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)Has he earned any additional income from businesses, in particular businesses doing work for the Government, since his appointment as Minister; if so, (a) when, (b) how much did he earn, (c) from which businesses and (d) for what work; (2) whether his (a) spouse, (b) children and (c) close family earned income from businesses, in particular businesses doing work for the Government, through his 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:
- No. I have not earned any additional income from businesses, in particular business doing work for the Government, since appointment as Minister.
(a)(b)(c)(d) Falls away
(2) (a((b)(c) have not earned income from business, in particular business doing work for the Government, through my appointment as Minister.
(i)(ii)(iii)(iv) Falls away.
15 April 2016 - NW556
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether there has been (a) any agreement and/or (b) any meetings between her and the Amabutho Royal Defence Force; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(a) and (b) NO
15 April 2016 - NW749
Mncwango, Mr MA to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With reference to the soldiers who are deployed in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and the Kruger National Park, what are the set rules of engagement (a) if deployed soldiers should come face to face with poachers and (b) regarding the tracking of suspected poachers; (2) what distances along the fences and/or borders of the specified game parks do the soldiers patrol (a) during the day and (b) at night on duty; (3) whether an officer of higher rank is involved in each patrol in order to ensure that the specified soldiers carry out their duties?
Reply:
The questions raised here have potential to compromise the operational integrity of the SANDF with regard to force deployment; force movement and tactical planning.
It is however suffice to say that the SANDF deploys in the National Campaign against Rhino poaching in support of other government departments as part of its constitutional mandate.
15 April 2016 - NW143
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(a) What is the (i) status and (ii) capacity of each provincial office of her department and (b) why was there an under spending on provincial offices in the 2014-15 financial year?
Reply:
(a) (i) In each of the nine provinces, a Provincial Coordinator and Assistant have been appointed and they are placed in provinces. The challenge for the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) is the reliance on the Department of Public Works (DPW) for the procurement of office space. Since 2013 the DMV has been engaging with the DPW on office space.
In the interim, the DMV has submitted requests to various entities for the provision of office space. At present, the provincial coordinators are housed in various venues.
- Eastern Cape: The Provincial Offices are currenlty housed at the East London City Hall
- Free State: Temporarily housed in the DoD sick bay at Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein
- Gauteng: Temporarily housed at the DMV head office in Pretoria
- KwaZulu-Natal: The Provincial Coordinators are housed in a very small office at the sickbay in Pietermaritzburg
- Mpumalanga: Temporarily housed in an DoD military sick bay in Nelspruit
- Limpopo: Temporarily housed at the military base in Polokwane
- Northern Cape: Housed at the military base in Kimberley
- North West: Provincial Offices are temporarily in the old Premier’s Offices, Mafikeng
- Western Cape: Office of the Director-General (10 floor, Parliament Towers, Plein Street, Cape Town)
The DPW has reported that office space has been now sourced and secured in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces. The DMV national Office will visit the spaces during April 2016 to assess compliance with the DMV specifications and to determine occupancy date. Once this has been established, the DMV will commence with providing additional human resources and required office resources at these offices. The DMV shall do the same in other provinces as space becomes available.
(b) The underspend on provincial offices in the 2014-15 financial year was a result of the lack of adequate capacity in provincial offices.
15 April 2016 - NW541
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With regard to the SA National Defence Force members who were charged with various transgressions perpetrated while serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (a) how many were initially charged with transgressions, (b) how many were found guilty and (c) what sentences were handed down in each case; (2) (a) how many dismissals were issued, and (b) how many of the specified dismissals were (i) accepted and/or (ii) appealed against by the specified soldiers; (3) of the dismissals appealed against by the specified soldiers what is the status of these appeal processes; and (4) were any of the specified dismissals found to be unfair; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each specified case?
Reply:
The SANDF has been deployed in the DRC since 2001 and it would need more time to provide feedback on PQ541 for this period to date. In the light hereof the response will be narrowed down to the FY2015/2016.
Question 1(a). 90 members have been charged for transgressions over this period.
Question 1(b). 08 members were found guilty at an Officers Commanding Disciplinary Hearing over this period.
Question 1(c). In each of the 08 cases the maximum fine of R600.00 were handed down.
Question 2(a). 46 members out of the remaining 82 members were administratively discharged in terms of the Defence Act, Act 42 of 2002. None of the remaining 36 members could be tried by a court of (senior) military judge due to the non- assignment of military judges.
Question 2(b)(i). The dismissed members have approached the High Court for reinstatement.
Question 2(b)(ii). 32 out of the 46 members that were administratively discharged have lodged an application to the High Court challenging their discharge.
Question 3. The matter was removed from the court roll due to incorrect serving and placement thereof.
Question 4. Fair procedure was followed by the Department.
15 April 2016 - NW502
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1) (a) What are the details of the Service Level Agreement signed between her department and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to employ military veterans in the Elands Bay Infrastructure Improvement and Project Operational Phase of the Cederberg Fishing Infrastructure Development and Management Project on the West Coast in the Western Cape, (b)(i) what are the names of the military veterans who are employed in the specified project and (ii) to which former formations did they belong and (c) what are the relevant details of her department’s involvement in the specified project; (2) whether the specified military veterans (a) come from Elands Bay and (b) are verified on the National Military Veteran’s Database; if not, (i) why not and (ii) what are the further relevant details in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (3) whether her department requested an extension of employment for the specified military veterans working on the specified project; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The MOU is a broad based document and is not limited to the Elands Bay area. A key output of the MOU is for the provision of work and other economic opportunities for military veterans through DAFF.
The Cedarberg Fishing Infrastructure Development and Management Project (CFIDMP) is a separate project of DAFF and does not include the DMV. The DMV is aware that the service provider to the DAFF on the CFIDMP has been used to facilitate payment of the stipends for the military veterans on the anti-poaching project in the Hermanus area.
(b)
(i) A list of names is provided (REFER TO APPENDIX A)
(ii) The name list shows the former forces to which the project participants belonged. Two members have passed on since the beginning of the project and another has resigned from the project. Three members are dependants of military veterans
(c) The project in question predated the establishment of the DMV. Subsequent to the establishment of the DMV, the office of the Deputy Director-General: Empowerment and Stakeholder Management was called in to a meeting on the project to discuss challenges in employment the military veterans. Since the initial intervention, the Acting DDG:ESM was instrumental in assisting in developing a Memorandum of Understanding between the DMV and DAFF. The office of the Provincial Coordinator in the Western Cape has also been represented at meetings through the Assistant Provincial Coordinator.
Therefore, to date, the DMV has been represented by the Acting DDG and the Assistant Provincial Coordinator.
During the engagements with the process, it came to light that the military veterans on the project were requesting to be employed in the DAFF. At one point there were around 8 positions available within DAFF with the entire group requesting absorption onto DAFF staff. The various DDGs who have managed the project have repeatedly indiacted that the project is an EPWP initiative and as such, has a defined timeframe. However, the group was advised to establish a co-operative which could be considered as a possible service provider to provide the very services in anti-poaching that they currently provide to DAFF.
(1) The team did establish a co-operative and the DMV also submitted a letter of support for this business entity. The process was submitted to DAFF to consider taking on the group as a preferred service provider. As part of service offering, the DMV enlisted the assistance of the Chief Operating Officer of SANMVA to assist in training the group and incubating them since she had been part of the initial meetings with the group when the DMV became involved in the project in June 2013. The intervention did not yield much fruit.
The recently appointed DDG (DAFF) had also initiated a committee that would map out a strategy which would have guided the transition process that would have resulted in the co-operative taking on the programme as a fully fledged service provider. A meeting with this committee has been scheduled for 08 April 2016 in Cape Town to discuss the extension of the project to other coastal provinces.
The current project phase has been extended to 31July 2016.
(2)
- The group in the project come from various areas around the Cape Peninsula area including Hermanus, Langa and Bonteheuwel amongst others. DAFF has been providing transport for the team to get to work daily. None of the project members are from Elands Bay.
- A request for database verification has been submitted to the DMV military veterans database unit.
- It is noted that some of the group might not be bona fide military veterans. This matter has been constantly raised with the group. Therefore, the intention of the establishment of a cooperative was also to facilitate that whilst the military veterans would be catered for through the DMV support, those who are not military veterans could be retained as employees to the cooperative, to avoid depriving families of an income. This was noted because of the fact that the project had been initiated before the advent of the DMV and had been running for a while before the DMV was approached for assistance.
(3) The current employment has been extended to 31 July 2016 after discussions on the matter.
APPENDIX A (QUESTION 502)
NAMELIST FOR HERMANUS ANTI POACHING EMPLOYEES
MKMVA PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
No. |
SURNAME |
NAME |
ID NUMBER |
BIRTH DATE |
ETHNIC GROUP |
GENDER |
CELL NO |
FORCE NO |
1 |
Daweti |
Siyabulela (Deceased) |
7101255524084 |
25/01/1971 |
Black |
Male |
0780050504 |
95071981PV |
2 |
De Vos |
John Paul |
6906115791081 |
11/06/1969 |
Coloured |
Male |
0795523000 |
0746329/9 |
3 |
Fihlani |
Makhaya Douglas |
7111015321084 |
01/11/1971 |
Black |
Male |
0785375087 |
10871887 |
4 |
Genu |
Siviwe Abner |
6501295647086 |
29/01/1965 |
Black |
Male |
0736528408 |
94975844PE |
5 |
Gobo |
Lulamile Frederick |
6506185664083 |
18/06/1965 |
Black |
Male |
0734039336 |
|
6 |
Lonzi |
Simphiwe |
6708315496085 |
31/08/1967 |
Black |
Male |
0715109160 |
94096674PF |
7 |
Mamani |
Vuyani Moses (Now with PRASA) |
6803046225083 |
04/03/1968 |
Black |
Male |
0799822296 |
94672359 |
8 |
Mdlungu |
Makhaselina |
6504220711084 |
22/04/1965 |
Black |
Female |
0780294371 |
94075173P |
9 |
Mvulana |
Zongamele (Now with PRASA) |
6806035817083 |
03/06/1968 |
Black |
Male |
0788888020 |
94069739 |
10 |
November Mettler |
Venessa |
6904240171089 |
24/04/1969 |
Coloured |
Female |
0846221903 |
96072368 |
11 |
Snyman |
Bonakele Michael |
6911185733088 |
18/11/1969 |
Black |
Male |
0730082342 |
97652309 |
Sanqela |
Patrick |
6903076208080 |
07/03/1969 |
Black |
Male |
0736220313 |
98151822RFN |
|
Martin |
Amanda Beatrice |
7303210288081 |
21/03/1973 |
Coloured |
Female |
0782217812 |
||
May |
Ellen |
7507040081082 |
04/07/1975 |
Coloured |
Female |
0796679223 |
||
|
||||||||
Mfengwana |
Dumisa August |
5910165806089 |
16/10/1959 |
Black |
Male |
0736541174 |
||
Mkoko |
Wankie Lesley |
7610105632086 |
10/10/1976 |
Black |
Male |
0768899180 |
||
Mtimkulu |
Simphiwe |
7311035610086 |
03/11/1973 |
Black |
Male |
0835836924 |
||
Ndzabela |
Lizo |
7305245507088 |
24/05/1973 |
Black |
Male |
0733772601 |
||
Ngcime |
Simon |
6612166092086 |
16/12/1966 |
Black |
Male |
0833330887 |
||
Nokatywa |
Nomonde |
6311080300085 |
08/11/1963 |
Black |
Female |
0789389391 |
||
Snyman |
Bonakele Micheal |
6911185733088 |
18/11/1969 |
Black |
Male |
0730082342 |
||
Stofile |
Howard |
6509125388086 |
12/09/1965 |
Black |
Male |
0783866117 |
||
Xaga |
Jamangile |
6603255773082 |
25/03/1966 |
Black |
Male |
0731239688 |
||
Yola-Xundu |
Nomalungisa |
6405160675083 |
16/05/1964 |
Black |
Female |
0825364850 |
||
Arendse |
Christine Cheryl |
6506120771084 |
12/06/1965 |
Coloured |
Female |
0846270153 |
No F NO |
|
Cader |
Feroza |
6907240081083 |
24/07/1969 |
Coloured |
Female |
0730256698 |
||
Deniels |
Joan |
7207260191089 |
26/07/1972 |
Coloured |
Female |
0837285117 |
||
Dayimani |
Simon Mayibuye (MKMVA - Dependant) |
8609076476086 |
07/09/1986 |
Black |
Male |
0732747611 |
||
Dunga |
Joy |
6811201111089 |
20/11/1968 |
Black |
Female |
0824245710 |
||
Fihlani |
Makhaya Douglas |
7111015321084 |
01/11/1971 |
Black |
Male |
0785375087 |
10871887 |
|
Flotman |
Simon |
6501225304089 |
22/01/1965 |
Black |
Male |
0735785912 |
||
Fransch |
Donovan |
7306125163083 |
12/06/1973 |
Coloured |
Male |
0736673403 |
||
Jonkers |
Lilian |
6912160574083 |
16/12/1969 |
Coloured |
Female |
0832662647 |
||
Kapa |
Thabisa |
7511260535082 |
26/11/1975 |
Black |
Female |
0837422401 |
||
Le Roux |
David |
7212025856083 |
02/12/1972 |
Coloured |
Male |
0745271093 |
||
Minnie |
Mathews |
6101245626080 |
24/01/1961 |
Black |
Male |
0833647122 |
||
Maphuza |
Michael Nkululeko (MKMVA -Dependant) |
8102285414083 |
28/02/1981 |
Black |
Male |
0797658003 |
APLA MEMBERS
No. |
SURNAME |
NAME |
ID NUMBER |
BIRTH DATE |
ETHNIC GROUP |
GENDER |
CELL NO |
FORCE NO |
1 |
Maduba |
Siphiwo |
6406235728089 |
23/06/1964 |
Black |
Male |
0732441041 |
|
2 |
Magwentshu |
Nqaba (Dependant) |
8008195620088 |
19/08/1980 |
Black |
Male |
0783617548 |
|
3 |
Ngqisha |
Lindilekile (Has exited) |
7011165955089 |
16/11/1966 |
Black |
Male |
0735823214 |
|
4 |
Ntlabathi |
Desmond |
7005055603080 |
05/05/1970 |
Black |
Male |
0793993723 |
|
5 |
Ntsila |
Ndoda |
7312085350082 |
08/12/1973 |
Black |
Male |
0781353000 |
|
6 |
Qashani |
Witness |
7011115412082 |
11/11/1970 |
Black |
Male |
0732794308 |
|
7 |
Sidina |
Mzoxolo Arthur (Deceased) |
7104175549081 |
17/04/1971 |
Black |
Male |
0731288548 |
|
Smouse |
Simon |
6402095634087 |
09/02/1964 |
Black |
Male |
0785459964 |
||
Williams |
Mzwamadoda |
7503305412088 |
30/03/1975 |
Black |
Male |
0736242200 |
96845599 |
|
Madasi |
Vuyisile |
6911205896089 |
20/11/1969 |
Black |
Male |
0780782742 |
98001092 |
15 April 2016 - NW807
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)When is she going to institute an investigation into alleged transgressions of the provisions of the Defence Act, Act 42 of 2002, in respect of the (a) criteria used to employ persons as members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Reserve Force and (b)(i) process and (ii) procedures involved in being employed as a SANDF Reserve Force member; (2) (a) why are only certain SANDF Reserve Force members employed while others are not afforded an opportunity, (b) why are SANDF Reserve Force members who are in service not rotated and (c) how is the period of employment as a Reserve Force member determined; (3) whether principles of fairness are implemented in the employment of the SANDF Reserve Force members, or is there good cause to believe that discrimination has been practiced in this regard; (4) whether SANDF Reserve Force members are allowed to apply for military veterans’ benefits while not being employed by the SANDF; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. At this stage there is no intention to launch an investigation.
2. (a) The Services are in control of the Reserves and call-ups are managed according to specific requirements over a specified period of time and for a particular number of people or particular rank requirements as determined by the Services and some Divisions within the structures of the Department of Defence. Such call-ups are largely controlled by the availability of financial resources.
(b) Rotation of Reserve Force members is encouraged at all times and the departmental policies do make provision for such in order to give members a fair opportunity to receive a call-up. This requirement is not always met accordingly due to budgetary constraints.
(c) The period of call-ups is determined according to the purpose and type of call-up, whether it is on a continuous or non- continuous basis and for the duration. The duration for external deployments is normally over 12 months and internal deployments over 6 months. In both cases, a period for pre- deployment training is also scheduled. Specialist skills are utilised according to departmental needs.
3. Reserve Force service is a voluntary service and the department always strives for the principles of fairness as a rule regarding Reserve Force utilisation. However, the current economic situation and the high unemployment rate place pressure on the unemployed Reserve Force member to become desperate for a call-up and would therefore always be regarded as not being treated fairly with no call-up. The Services do have a monitoring system in place to review Reserve Force utilisation on a quarterly basis.
4. According to policy requirements, Reserve Force members that are active in service are not allowed to be part of the Military Veterans and are not entitled to such benefits. The current practice is that members who would like to be registered on the Military Veterans Database in order to be entitled to the benefits thereof would officially request to resign from active Reserve Force service or be removed from the Reserve Force database.
15 April 2016 - NW750
Mncwango, Mr MA to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With reference to the soldiers who are deployed in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and the Kruger National Park, who (a) has taken over the chain of command from a certain person (name and details furnished) in the Kruger National Park and (b) leads the military exercises in KwaZulu-Natal; (2) are the soldiers and rangers who are employed by the Government well-equipped to withstand a poacher’s bullet; (3) does the Government pay for life insurance for the specified soldiers and rangers who endanger their lives daily and who have families to care for; (4) (a) do the specified soldiers and rangers work from 8 am to 5 pm daily and (b) do they engage in any night patrols?
Reply:
The questions raised here have potential to compromise the operational integrity of the SANDF with regard to force deployment; force movement and tactical planning.
It is however suffice to say that the SANDF deploys in the National Campaign against Rhino poaching in support of other government departments as part of its constitutional mandate.
15 April 2016 - NW137
Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
What are the (a) names of the members of the Ministerial Task Team appointed by her to effect a turnaround strategy for her department, (b)(i) terms of reference and (ii) time frames for the specified task team and (c) cost implications for employing the specified task team?
Reply:
(a)
- Steering Committee
- Mr S. Majombozi
- Ms S. Rabkin
- Mr S. Sokhela
- Mr S. Hamilton
- Lt Gen (Ret) J. Nkonyane
- Resource Panel (part time)
- Ms S. Hlapolosa
- Mr T. Kubu
- Mr U.Abrahamse
- Brig Gen (Ret) M.R. Fihla
- Ms N. Motlhatlhane"
- Ms N. Mkwanazi
- Maj Gen (Ret) K. Mokoape
- Mr D. Nadison
- Dr S. Zikalala
(b) The turn-around strategy is to focus on the following areas: procurement; organisational structure of the Department; financial accounting and the legislative mandate in addition it has various work streams which deal with rolling out of benefits to military veterans.
e.g. 1)health and education,; 2, Policy development; 3 Cleaning up of the database.
(ii) The task team has been established from 01 September 2015 to 31 December 2016.
(c) The Steering Committee is paid on the basis of meetings bases on National Treasury determination which is amended annually.
15 April 2016 - NW557
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)Whether, with reference to her reply to oral question 488 on 28 October 2015, there are any plans in place to reintegrate former SA Cape Corps (SACC) members into the SA National Defence Force; if not, (a) why not and (b) what alternative remedy will be considered in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) what is the status of her department’s process to formally recognise the SACC as an official former military body and (b) by when is it expected to be finalised?
Reply:
At this stage nothing has changed, the integration process under the Termination of Integration Intake Act 2001 terminated on 31 March 2002.
14 April 2016 - NW934
Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
Has (a) he and/or (b) his 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 Gupta’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) and (b) (i) No
- Not applicable
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
EXT:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
QUESTION 934 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE:
14 April 2016 - NW478
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1) Whether, with reference to the SA Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) awarding of a bid (details furnished) to appoint a certain company (name and details furnished) as a service provider to conduct forensic investigations, the SASSA Bid Adjudication Committee recommended that the specified company be appointed as the preferred service provider; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the specified company was the highest scoring bidder in terms of the National Treasury’s Implementation Guide: Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2011; if not, (a) why was the specified company awarded the bid and (b) what are (i) the names of the companies that scored higher in this regard and (ii) their respective scores; if so, what was the specified company’s score; (3) whether all necessary approvals were obtained from the Auditor-General before the appointment of the specified company as the preferred bidder; if not, why not; if so, on what date was such approval obtained? NW532E
Reply:
(1), (2) (a), (b), (i), (ii) and 3. This matter is sub judice.
14 April 2016 - NW203
Esterhuizen, Mr JA to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
Whether his Ministry has any frozen vacant positions; if so, (a) how many of the specified positions are vacant, (b) what are the designations of the specified positions and (c) for how long have the specified positions been vacant?
Reply:
(a) No, Ministry does not have frozen vacant positions
(b) N/A
(C) N/A
Approved/not approved
Mr MJ Zwane, MP
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:-………………/………………/2016
14 April 2016 - NW90
Grootboom, Mr GA to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
Whether he has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019; if not, why not; if so, (a) which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement, (b) how many performance assessments has he undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed, (c) what progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF, (d) what are the key obstacles to implementation and (e) what is the plan to address such obstacles?
Reply:
There is a performance agreement in place that is binding on the Minister of Mineral Resources. This agreement has been signed with the President.
The Minister has recently been appointed and as a result has not done any assessment with the President.
Approved/not approved
Mr MJ Zwane
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:-………………/………………/2016
14 April 2016 - NW832
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)How many students will be funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in 2016, in respect of (a) (i) first year studies, (ii) undergraduate studies other than in first year, and (iii) postgraduate studies and (b) historic debt, (c) students who were either partially funded or not funded at all in the past three years and (d) any other purpose; (2) (a) how many individual students will cumulatively be funded by NSFAS in any number of respects this year and (b) how many students who qualify for NSFAS does his department estimate will not receive funding this year, despite the increased budgetary allocations?
Reply:
1 (a) (i) and (ii) National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding for the 2016 academic year has been allocated to the universities to administer on NSFAS’s behalf. Universities administering NSFAS funding through the non-student centred model will apply guidelines provided by NSFAS through the NSFAS Rules and Regulation Handbook for the selection of students and determining the actual loan or bursary value to be awarded to a student.
First-year students and other undergraduate students will be funded through the DHET General Loan programme funding (R3.2 billion), DHET Teacher Education loan programme (R124.3 million), DHET Final Year loan programme for final year students only (R1.2 billion), the National Skills Fund (R800 million) and a range of smaller bursary programmes whose beneficiaries are selected by the funder.
Universities are concluding allocation processes and information on the number of students within categories in 2016 is not yet available.
(iii) One funding category is made available for postgraduate studies and therefore the number of students funded is limited. The allocation for the 2016
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
EXT:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
QUESTION 832 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE:
12 April 2016 - NW619
Groenewald, Mr HB to ask the Minister of Transport
1)What is the reason why the roadworks to the R24, also called the P16/1, from Olifantsnek to Rustenburg were discontinued; (2) when (a) construction work to the road will be resumed and (b) is the planned completion date for the roadworks; (3) whether she will make a statement about the matter?
Reply:
1. The R24 (P16/1) from km 12, 5 (Olifantshoek) to km 0.0 (Buiten ST, Rustenburg) was split into two sections. Section One km 0.0 to km 4.9 (Project One) and km 4.9 to km 12 ,5 (Project Two). These projects were procured approximately 24 months apart.
2(a) Project One was awarded to DIP Civils in April 2013. In February 2014 the pace of construction slowed down considerably and it was evident that the Contractor was experiencing some financial problems that led into the contractor seeking for a and entered into Business Rescue in April 2014. Unfortunately the Business Rescue was not successful and a new contractor was appointed together with the Liquidator in October 2014. This project is scheduled to be completed by end April 2016.
(b) The Second Project commenced in March 2015 and is scheduled to be completed in September 2017. Currently progress is on schedule.
(3) As part of government’s key delivery programme being implemented by SANRAL, the Minister has no plans to single out this programme through any form of statement on this road.
12 April 2016 - NW751
McLoughlin, Mr AR to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)(a) What was the total number of telephone calls made from each municipal office in the country on (i)(aa) 7 March 2015 and (bb) 8 March 2015 and (ii)(aa) 5 March 2016 and (bb) 6 March 2016 respectively and (b) how much did the total amount of telephone calls for each day cost; (2) (a) what was the total number of pool vehicle journeys undertaken by all pool vehicles in each municipality in the country on (i)(aa) 7 March 2015 and (bb) 8 March 2015 and (ii)(aa) 5 March 2016 and (bb) 6 March 2016 respectively, (b) what was the total distance travelled by pool vehicles of each municipality and (c) how much did the total amount of pool vehicle journeys cost for each day?
Reply:
The question by the Honourable Member is more on operational matters which the Ministry at the national level, does not monitor. The question can therefore best be responded to by the Municipal Managers and the Honourable Member may consider using his representation in those councils.
12 April 2016 - NW796
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development
Did the Competition Commission investigate allegations of market dominance by VFS Global in the visa support services market to foreign embassies after the Commission was approached to do so; if not, why not; if so; what were the findings?
Reply:
On 29 February 2014 and 27 January 2016 the Commission received complaints related to a visa service provider.
The first complaint was that the visa service provider had allegedly concluded contracts with various foreign governments in terms of which it had been given exclusive rights to provide visa support services, and was charging excessive prices for its visa support services.
After investigating the complaint, the CC decided not to refer the matter to the Competition Tribunal, due to jurisdictional issues relating to the conduct of foreign governments. The Commission also found that the prices that were being charged were in fact aligned with the embassies’ own tendering frameworks.
The Commission did however engage in advocacy efforts with the embassies concerned, to make them aware that such practices could have anti-competitive effects.
On 27 January 2016, the Commission received a complaint that the same company was abusing its dominance in the provision of visa support services to international travellers to South Africa who have to use South African embassies abroad. This complaint is still under investigation by the Commission.
-END-
12 April 2016 - NW226
Chewane, Dr H to ask the Minister of Health
Has his department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by certain persons (names furnished) in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year, (i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount?
Reply:
No.
END.
12 April 2016 - NW569
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4093 on 8 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information from the metropolitan municipalities, if so, when will the information be made available as requested?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW500
Motau, Mr SC to ask the President of the Republic
What amount was spent in respect of each case on (a) appearance fees, (b) consulting fees and (c) any other related costs to procure the services of (i) certain legal representatives (names furnished) and (ii) any other legal (aa) representatives, (bb) advisors and (cc) consultants in the Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others and Democratic Alliance v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others case, heard on 9 February 2016, in the Constitutional Court?
Reply:
The matter was recently finalized by the Constitutional Court. The process that is followed in government regarding the payment of legal fees is as follows: Counsel would submit their bills to the State Attorney. The State Attorney is required to verify the bills and effect payment. Thereafter the Bills are submitted to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The Department of Justice invoices the relevant Departments for a refund, in this case, the Presidency. The Presidency will only be able to ascertain the amount spent after the above process is concluded.
12 April 2016 - NW587
Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4256 on 21 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information; if not, why not; if so, when will this information be made available as requested?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW779
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether any funding was made available in each metropolitan municipality as sponsorship for (a) sports and/or (b) cultural events in the (i) 2014-15 financial year and (ii) since 1 July 2015; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (a) which metropolitan municipality, (b) for what purpose and (c) what was the amount involved; (2) whether the return on investment was measured in each specified case; if not, why not; if so, what was the return on investment in each specified case; (3) whether any (a) councillor and/or (b) municipal official and/or (c) any family member of any (i) councillor and/or (ii) municipal official benefitted in any way from the specified sponsorships; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (aa) what action has been taken in this regard, if any, and (bb) what are the further relevant details in this regard?
Reply:
The question by the Honourable member should be directed to the National Treasury. The National Treasury manages the expenditure and the budgets of municipalities in line with the provisions in the Municipal Finance Management Act. Municipalities report budgetary matters in terms of s71 of the MFMA and are best placed to respond to matters relating to budget and expenditures of all municipalities.
12 April 2016 - NW308
Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Do (a) senior managers and (b) financial and supply chain personnel of each metropolitan municipality comply with the minimum competencies set out in the Municipal Finance Management Act; Act 56 of 2003, if not, (i) has each specified municipality notified the relevant MEC in the relevant province of the non-compliance and applied for an extension, (ii) what steps has each specified metropolitan municipality taken to comply with the minimum competencies and (iii) by when would each specified metropolitan municipality comply with the minimum requirements set out in the Municipal Finance Management Act?
Reply:
The requested information is not readily available within the department. We are however, collating the information from both the Provincial CoGTA departments and the Metropolitan Municipalities and will submit as soon as we have concluded. The Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW766
Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What has been the breakdown in expenditure on air ambulance services in the Northern Cape (a) in the (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 financial years and (b) since 1 April 2015 to the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) have third parties been used to provide such services; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) which third parties were used in each case and (b) what was the expenditure on each of the third parties (i) in the specified financial years and (ii) period; (3) are all air ambulance services in the Northern Cape operational; if not (a) why not and (b) when did the specified services stop?
Reply:
According to the Northern Cape Department of Health, the response is as follows:
1. (a) The breakdown in expenditure on air ambulance services
(i) 2012-2013: Unable to source information;
(ii) 2013-2014: R14,359,809.26;
(iii) 2014-2015: R11,768,985.19;
(b) 2015 – 18 March 2016: R10,851,059.19
2. Third parties were not used to provide such services.
3.The fixed wing aircraft, Aerocare (Ambulance Air Africa) is operational in the Northern Cape Province. The current contract operates on a month-to-month system until National Treasury finalises the new tender for aeromedical services.
END.
12 April 2016 - NW582
Rabotapi, Mr MW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4186 on 21 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information; if not, why not; if so, when will the specified information be made available?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW393
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether any municipality has (a) transferred any funds to any political party or (b) budgeted for funding of any political party in the (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16 and/or (iii) 2016-17 financial years; if so, in each municipality where this occurred, (aa) in terms of what legislation were these transfers or budgets made, (bb) which political parties received funding, and (cc) how much was budgeted or transferred in each case?
Reply:
The question by the Honourable member should be directed to the National Treasury. The National Treasury manages the expenditure and the budgets of municipalities in line with the provisions in the Municipal Finance Management Act. Municipalities report budgetary matters in terms of s71 of the MFMA and are best placed to respond to matters relating to budget and expenditures of all municipalities.
12 April 2016 - NW839
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Are the qualifications of teachers verified with the SA Qualifications Authority (SAQA) prior to their appointment to teaching posts; if not, why not; if so, how many teachers (a) have had their qualifications verified by SAQA (i) in the (aa) 2011, (bb) 2012, (cc) 2013, (dd) 2014 and (ee) 2015 academic years and (ii) since 1 January 2016 and (b) how many were found to have misrepresented their qualifications during the specified academic years and period?
Reply:
There is no requirement for the verification of national teacher education qualifications of South African Citizens by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
However, all teachers are required to submit their qualifications to education departments for evaluation to be employed in education. The policy on the Criteria for the Evaluation and Recognition for Qualifications for Employment in Education, former Department of Education, 2000, published in Notice No. 935, Government Gazette No. 21565 of 22 September, 2000 is in the process of being revised. This policy describes the process and procedures for the evaluation, approval and recognition of initial qualifications, advanced and postgraduate qualifications for employment in education and the assigning of Requirement Education Qualification Value (REQVs) to these qualifications.
The principal end users of this policy are evaluators of teacher qualifications in national and provincial departments of education and admissions officials at universities and higher education institutions that offer teacher education to ensure that teacher applicants are admitted to the correct and most appropriate qualification type and programme.
12 April 2016 - NW355
Bhanga, Mr BM to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What was the (a) salary and (b) performance bonus of each public school principal in 2015?
Reply:
What was the (a) salary and (b) performance bonus of each public school principal in 2015?
(a) The table below shows a summary of Principal annual and monthly basic salary. The annual and monthly salaries are summarised by the level of a principal and the number of principals on each salary notch. This is a summary of the position as at December 2015.
Annual Basic Salary (R) |
Monthly Basic Salary (R ) |
Number of Principal per level (level is determined by size of the school) |
||||||
Principal P1 |
Principal P2 |
Principal P3 |
Principal P4 |
Principal P5 |
Principal S1 |
Grand Total |
||
123 000 |
10 250 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
162 516 |
13 543 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
164 157 |
13 680 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
169 113 |
14 093 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
170 814 |
14 235 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
179 532 |
14 961 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
188 673 |
15 723 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
190 569 |
15 881 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
194 400 |
16 200 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
196 335 |
16 361 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
198 297 |
16 525 |
2 |
2 |
|||||
200 478 |
16 707 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
202 476 |
16 873 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
206 547 |
17 212 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
208 620 |
17 385 |
2 |
2 |
|||||
212 811 |
17 734 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
214 929 |
17 911 |
2 |
2 |
|||||
217 074 |
18 090 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
219 258 |
18 272 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
221 445 |
18 454 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
223 674 |
18 640 |
3 |
3 |
|||||
228 165 |
19 014 |
5 |
5 |
|||||
230 445 |
19 204 |
3 |
3 |
|||||
232 752 |
19 396 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
235 077 |
19 590 |
3 |
3 |
|||||
237 420 |
19 785 |
5 |
5 |
|||||
239 790 |
19 983 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
242 169 |
20 181 |
6 |
6 |
|||||
244 617 |
20 385 |
8 |
8 |
|||||
247 062 |
20 589 |
3 |
3 |
|||||
249 528 |
20 794 |
2 |
2 |
|||||
252 012 |
21 001 |
2 |
2 |
|||||
254 541 |
21 212 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
257 082 |
21 424 |
8 |
8 |
|||||
259 650 |
21 638 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
262 254 |
21 855 |
8 |
8 |
|||||
264 885 |
22 074 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
267 531 |
22 294 |
108 |
4 |
112 |
||||
270 195 |
22 516 |
43 |
5 |
48 |
||||
272 904 |
22 742 |
87 |
5 |
92 |
||||
275 622 |
22 969 |
65 |
8 |
73 |
||||
278 397 |
23 200 |
53 |
5 |
58 |
||||
281 157 |
23 430 |
27 |
1 |
28 |
||||
283 986 |
23 666 |
20 |
1 |
21 |
||||
286 815 |
23 901 |
5 |
5 |
|||||
289 698 |
24 142 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
||||
292 581 |
24 382 |
36 |
1 |
37 |
||||
297 114 |
24 760 |
21 |
21 |
|||||
300 087 |
25 007 |
21 |
1 |
22 |
||||
303 105 |
25 259 |
37 |
1 |
38 |
||||
306 111 |
25 509 |
72 |
4 |
76 |
||||
309 189 |
25 766 |
113 |
2 |
115 |
||||
312 267 |
26 022 |
84 |
4 |
88 |
||||
315 396 |
26 283 |
72 |
3 |
75 |
||||
318 543 |
26 545 |
69 |
814 |
4 |
887 |
|||
321 723 |
26 810 |
71 |
405 |
4 |
480 |
|||
324 957 |
27 080 |
66 |
566 |
4 |
636 |
|||
328 203 |
27 350 |
50 |
397 |
1 |
448 |
|||
331 494 |
27 625 |
41 |
395 |
1 |
437 |
|||
334 809 |
27 901 |
19 |
235 |
1 |
255 |
|||
338 163 |
28 180 |
19 |
98 |
1 |
118 |
|||
341 538 |
28 462 |
9 |
76 |
85 |
||||
344 946 |
28 746 |
11 |
95 |
106 |
||||
348 384 |
29 032 |
12 |
69 |
81 |
||||
351 870 |
29 323 |
9 |
107 |
116 |
||||
355 410 |
29 618 |
6 |
95 |
101 |
||||
358 956 |
29 913 |
6 |
132 |
138 |
||||
359 655 |
29 971 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
362 547 |
30 212 |
5 |
291 |
296 |
||||
366 159 |
30 513 |
7 |
419 |
1 |
427 |
|||
369 810 |
30 818 |
9 |
390 |
399 |
||||
373 524 |
31 127 |
12 |
432 |
444 |
||||
377 259 |
31 438 |
10 |
409 |
1 |
420 |
|||
381 027 |
31 752 |
4 |
404 |
691 |
1099 |
|||
384 831 |
32 069 |
4 |
341 |
376 |
721 |
|||
388 683 |
32 390 |
6 |
288 |
538 |
832 |
|||
392 574 |
32 715 |
5 |
203 |
480 |
1 |
689 |
||
396 510 |
33 043 |
5 |
149 |
393 |
547 |
|||
400 464 |
33 372 |
4 |
194 |
332 |
530 |
|||
404 451 |
33 704 |
3 |
142 |
100 |
245 |
|||
408 528 |
34 044 |
7 |
111 |
47 |
165 |
|||
412 596 |
34 383 |
5 |
110 |
62 |
177 |
|||
416 721 |
34 727 |
5 |
131 |
59 |
195 |
|||
420 894 |
35 075 |
3 |
156 |
123 |
282 |
|||
427 413 |
35 618 |
50 |
59 |
109 |
||||
431 691 |
35 974 |
37 |
91 |
128 |
||||
435 993 |
36 333 |
52 |
194 |
246 |
||||
440 364 |
36 697 |
35 |
267 |
477 |
779 |
|||
444 753 |
37 063 |
64 |
391 |
315 |
1 |
771 |
||
449 205 |
37 434 |
21 |
353 |
326 |
700 |
|||
453 714 |
37 810 |
4 |
319 |
336 |
659 |
|||
458 223 |
38 185 |
1 |
7 |
335 |
244 |
587 |
||
462 819 |
38 568 |
6 |
371 |
182 |
559 |
|||
467 448 |
38 954 |
13 |
299 |
48 |
360 |
|||
472 128 |
39 344 |
1 |
10 |
238 |
22 |
1 |
272 |
|
476 835 |
39 736 |
7 |
187 |
29 |
223 |
|||
481 602 |
40 134 |
13 |
151 |
38 |
202 |
|||
486 432 |
40 536 |
13 |
110 |
53 |
176 |
|||
491 301 |
40 942 |
14 |
107 |
42 |
163 |
|||
496 206 |
41 351 |
6 |
87 |
62 |
155 |
|||
501 168 |
41 764 |
11 |
78 |
101 |
190 |
|||
506 178 |
42 182 |
12 |
49 |
115 |
176 |
|||
511 245 |
42 604 |
10 |
49 |
154 |
213 |
|||
516 348 |
43 029 |
8 |
42 |
181 |
231 |
|||
521 517 |
43 460 |
7 |
49 |
196 |
252 |
|||
523 788 |
43 649 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
526 743 |
43 895 |
10 |
79 |
231 |
320 |
|||
531 999 |
44 333 |
11 |
52 |
218 |
281 |
|||
537 324 |
44 777 |
2 |
26 |
231 |
1 |
260 |
||
542 688 |
45 224 |
4 |
191 |
65 |
260 |
|||
548 112 |
45 676 |
1 |
4 |
172 |
47 |
224 |
||
553 614 |
46 135 |
6 |
88 |
45 |
139 |
|||
559 134 |
46 595 |
1 |
5 |
53 |
58 |
117 |
||
564 738 |
47 062 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
40 |
62 |
||
570 378 |
47 532 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
45 |
58 |
||
576 078 |
48 007 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
9 |
21 |
||
581 838 |
48 487 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
1 |
18 |
||
587 646 |
48 971 |
1 |
4 |
13 |
2 |
20 |
||
593 541 |
49 462 |
3 |
11 |
2 |
16 |
|||
599 460 |
49 955 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
11 |
|||
605 460 |
50 455 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
||||
611 517 |
50 960 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
11 |
|||
617 637 |
51 470 |
11 |
12 |
23 |
||||
623 793 |
51 983 |
3 |
19 |
22 |
||||
630 033 |
52 503 |
3 |
28 |
31 |
||||
636 330 |
53 028 |
1 |
28 |
29 |
||||
642 702 |
53 559 |
2 |
26 |
28 |
||||
649 149 |
54 096 |
19 |
19 |
|||||
655 635 |
54 636 |
2 |
20 |
22 |
||||
662 178 |
55 182 |
1 |
18 |
19 |
||||
668 814 |
55 735 |
4 |
4 |
|||||
675 501 |
56 292 |
3 |
3 |
|||||
682 236 |
56 853 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
768 762 |
64 064 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
Grand Total |
1 354 |
8 086 |
7 226 |
4 216 |
501 |
170 |
21 553 |
Source: PERSAL
(b) The current performance management dispensation for school-based educators does not provide for a performance bonus.
12 April 2016 - NW678
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
How many persons were suspended with full pay in (i) her department and (ii) each entity reporting to her, excluding the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, in the (aa) 2012-13, (bb) 2013-14 and (cc) 2014-15 financial years, (b) what amount was paid to each of the specified persons in each of the specified entities in each month in each of the specified financial years, (c) what were the reasons for (i) the suspensions, (ii) suspending the persons with full pay and (iii) the delays in resolving the suspensions in each case respectively and (d) what steps is she taking to resolve these suspensions?
Reply:
Department
a) How many persons have been suspended with full pay within (i) her department.
(aa) 2012/13 – None
(bb) 2013-14 – 1 X DDG for 10 months. The value for the duration is R983 851.49
(cc) 2014-15 financial years – Five (05) employees to the value of R1 015 228.91
- 2 Deputy Directors-General (3 Months and 15 days)
- 1 Director (3 months and 20 days)
- 1 Deputy Director (3 months and 20 days)
- 1 Assistant Director (4 months and 10 days)
(b) in each specified case, what (i) is the value of these payments for each month by her department
2013/2014 FINACIAL YEAR |
||
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES |
MONTH |
VALUE OF PAYMENTS |
One employee |
May 2013 |
R0 |
June |
R77 356.42 |
|
July |
R94 116.98 |
|
August |
R94 116.98 |
|
September |
R153 559.29 |
|
October |
R94 116.98 |
|
November |
R94 116.98 |
|
December |
R94 116.98 |
|
January 2014 |
R94 116.98 |
|
February |
R94 116.98 |
|
March |
R94 116.98 |
|
TOTAL |
R 983 851.49 |
|
2014/2015 FINACIAL YEAR |
||
Employee 1 |
April 2014 |
R138 386.61 |
TOTAL |
R138 386.61 |
|
Employee 2 |
July 2014 |
R118 521.91 |
August 2014 |
R124 311.78 |
|
September 2014 |
R53 130.51 |
|
TOTAL |
R295 964.20 |
|
Employee 3 |
October 2014 |
R27 974.57 |
November 2014 |
R70 907.76 |
|
December |
R70 907.76 |
|
January |
R70 907.76 |
|
February |
R23 312.74 |
|
TOTAL |
R264 010.00 |
|
Employee 4 |
October 2014 |
R16 478.74 |
November 2014 |
R41 769.04 |
|
December 2014 |
R41 769.04 |
|
January 2015 |
R41 769.04 |
|
February 2015 |
R13 732.29 |
|
Total |
R155 518.14 |
|
Employee 5 |
October 2014 |
R36 545.71 |
November 2014 |
R37 020.79 |
|
December 2014 |
R37 020.79 |
|
January 2015 |
R37 020.79 |
|
February 2015 |
R13 741.90 |
|
Total |
R161 349.96 |
|
Grand Total – 2014/15 |
R1 015 228.91 |
(c) what were the reasons for (i) these suspensions,
The officials committed serious allegations of misconduct that warranted precautionary suspension.
(ii) reasons for suspending the persons with full pay
Precautionary suspension is always with full pay in terms of Chapter 7, clause 2(b) of the Senior Management Service Handbook and clause 7.2 of the Disciplinary Code and Procedure (Resolution 1 of 2003).
(iii) the delay in resolving the suspension in each case respectively
The complexity of the investigations is the cause of the delay.
(d) what steps is she taking to resolve these suspensions?
All the above-mentioned cases were resolved.
Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited (ACSA)
(a)(ii) The Airports Company South Africa, placed employees under suspension with full pay pending investigation and possible disciplinary action during the financial years under review as follows:
(aa) 2012/13
During the period under review, nine (9) employees were placed under suspension with full pay for the average period of approximately three (3) months (92 days). The total value of the salaries paid to the nine (9) employees during the period under review for suspension with full pay amounted to R 286 889.90.
All cases were concluded, with outcomes reached within set timeframes of investigation, resolution and finalization of such matters.
(bb) 2013/14
During the financial year under review, nineteen (19) employees were placed on suspension with full pay for the average period of approximately three (3) months (95 days). The total amount of salaries paid to the nineteen (19) employees during the period of suspension under review amounted to R 880 462.11
All cases were concluded, with outcomes reached within set timeframes of investigation, resolution and finalization of such matters.
(cc) 2014/15
During the financial year under review, thirty four (34) employees were placed under suspension with full pay for the average period of below three (3) months (77 days). The total amount of salaries paid to the thirty four (34) employees during the period under review of suspension with full pay amounted to R 2 298 887.60
All cases were concluded, with outcomes reached within set timeframes for investigation, resolution and finalization of such matters.
(c)(i) and (ii) Reasons for suspension and disciplinary action during the requested review period
The reasons for suspensions to facilitate investigation and conclusion of matters during the period under review were many and varied as reflected in the list below:
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(iii) Conclusion of disciplinary action during the requested review period
All of the suspensions with full pay for the three (3) sets of financial years have been finalised and there were no delays in the investigation and finalisation of disciplinary processes. Outcomes of majority of the disciplinary processes mainly resulted in decisions of:
- Dismissal
- Acquittal and
- Final written warnings
(d) Solution for the reduction of suspensions with full pay
A benchmark has been set for resolution of suspensions with full pay within a period of three (3) months. Suspension of employees with full pay will be used as an action of last resort in deserving cases of serious financial and criminal misconduct. While some suspensions with full pay may be longer than others, the average period of three months (3) will be the guiding principle.
South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)
- (i) N/A (ii) the South African Civil Aviation Authority suspensions are listed below for (aa) there were none, for 2012/13, (bb) there were none for 2013/14, and (cc) for 2014/15 as per table below. (ii) (aa) (bb) (iii) and (iv) are stated in the table below.
Name Department |
No. of days suspended |
Reasons for suspension |
Payment value of suspension in rand per month |
Delay and Reasons |
Action taken to resolve the matters |
Accident and Incident Investigation Division |
90 days |
Serious misconduct relating to misrepresentation of qualifications |
R59,782.76 x3 months R179.348.28 |
No delay* |
An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed. |
Air Safety Operations Division |
90 days |
Serious Misconduct unethical conduct when doing inspection and audit. |
R70,654.22 x 3 months R211,962.66 |
No delay* |
An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed. |
Air Safety Operations Division |
90 days |
Serious misconduct relating to conflict of interest and contravention of Civil Aviation Act, section 98. |
R51,442.43 x 3 months R154,327.29 |
No delay* |
The employee resigned before the disciplinary hearing was held. |
Air Safety Operations Division |
14 days |
Serious misconduct relating to conviction on criminal case. |
N/A |
No delay* |
An internal disciplinary hearing was conducted and the charges against the employee were dismissed by the Chairperson of the hearing. |
Air Safety Operations Division |
120 days |
Serious misconduct relating misrepresentation of flying experience. |
R97,707.48 x 4 months R390,829.92 |
Under the control of external investigations. |
An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed. |
Air Safety Operations Division |
150 days |
Serious misconduct relating to misrepresentation of qualifications. |
R57,258.57 x 5 months R286,292.85 |
Some delay experienced during festive holidays. |
An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed. |
Total |
R1,222,761.00 |
Footnote: * means that the suspension was within the SACAA Disciplinary Management Policy.
Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Limited (ATNS)
Department |
Date Suspended |
Date Suspension Uplifted Termination |
Value of payment per month |
Total of payment whilst on suspension |
Reason for Suspension |
Reason for Delay in resolving matter |
What is being done to resolve |
Reason for suspension with full pay |
2012/2013 |
||||||||
ATNS |
25 September 2012 |
24 December 2012 |
R56 767.00 |
R163 307.00 |
KPMG Audit – Whistle blowing matter |
Matter was dealt with as expedient as possible taking the audit into consideration. |
Matter concluded |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
ATNS |
31 August 2012 |
14 September 2012 |
R20 833.33 |
R10 575.00 |
Gross Insubordination |
Non availability of internal qualified Chairman. |
Matter concluded. |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
ATNS |
25 September 2012 |
24 December 2012 |
R72 399.00 |
R211 618.00 |
KPMG Audit Whistle blowing matter |
Matter was dealt with as expedient as possible taking the audit into consideration. |
Matter concluded. |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
ATNS |
28 March 2013 |
1 August 2013 |
R153 333.00 |
R634 561.00 |
Gross Insubordination |
External legal team appointed based on seniority. |
Matter concluded. Employee dismissed. |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
2013/2014 |
||||||||
ATNS |
4 July 2013 |
5 September 2013 |
R128 808.00 |
R271 466.00 |
Gross dishonesty |
External legal team appointed due to seniority of employee. |
Matter concluded. |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
ATNS |
13 March 2014 |
25 July 2014 |
R80 424.00 |
R357 004.00 |
Gross Insubordination |
External legal team appointed due to the seniority of the employee. |
Matter concluded |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
2014/2015 |
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ATNS |
16 May 2014 |
31 October 2015 |
R111 435.00 |
R1 950 958.07 |
Whistle Blower on allegations of racism, discrimination, intimidation and victimisation of black employees. |
Extensive internal disciplinary hearing finalised. |
Matter Concluded. Employee resigned before finalization of disciplinary hearing. |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
ATNS |
16 May 2014 |
25 September 2015 |
R94 350.00 |
R1 557 411.00 |
Whistle Blower on allegations of racism, discrimination, intimidation and victimisation of black employees. |
Extensive internal disciplinary hearing finalized.
|
Matter Concluded. Employee dismissed. |
According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay |
Ports Regulator of South Africa
The Ports Regulator has never suspended any of its employees since starting operations in 2007.
South African Maritime Safety Authority ( SAMSA)
- (ii)
Number of persons suspended |
Number of months person suspended |
Amount p/m |
Reasons for suspension |
Why Suspension with full pay? |
Reasons for delays in resolving the matter |
What are the Steps to resolve the matter? |
2012-13 |
||||||
1 |
3 months |
R69 141.49 |
Misconduct |
Precautionary suspension |
CCMA process took long |
Resolved |
2013-14 |
||||||
1 |
1 month |
R28 818.12 |
Misconduct |
Precautionary suspension |
Hearing process |
Resolved |
2014-15 |
||||||
1 |
3 months |
R70 616.58 |
Misconduct |
Precautionary suspension |
Investigation |
Matter referred to the Labour Court |
1 |
6 months |
R18 853.99 |
Misconduct |
Precautionary suspension |
Sick leave by staff member & initiator |
Matter resolved |
Railway Safety Regulator (RSR)
ii. (aa) No persons were suspended during the 2012-13 reporting period.
ii. (cc) 2014/15 FINANCIAL YEAR
NO. OF PERSONS |
REASONS FOR SUSPENSION |
PERIOD OF SUSPENSION |
MONEY PAID DURING SUSPENSION |
1 |
Gross dishonesty, Financial misconduct, Insubordination and Breach of Duty of Trust. |
Four months |
R388, 700,96 |
1 |
Misconduct |
One month |
R42, 316 |
TOTAL |
|||
2 |
R431,016.96 |
||
(bb) 2013/14 FINANCIAL YEAR |
|||
NO. OF PERSONS |
REASONS FOR SUSPENSION |
PERIOD OF SUSPENSION |
MONEY PAID DURING SUSPENSION |
1 |
Misconduct |
One month |
R81, 433,50 |
1 |
Misconduct |
Two months |
R46, 474,64 |
TOTAL |
|||
2 |
R127, 908,14 |
(b)(iv) All the suspensions were conducted in compliance with the RSR’s Disciplinary Policy, which makes allowances for suspensions with full pay.
Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA)
(a)(ii) The CBRTA in the (aa) 2012-13 (bb), 2013-14 (cc) 14-15 financial years (b) suspended a total of eight (8) persons as outlined in the schedule of suspensions table listed below. (b) The amount was paid to each of the specified persons in each month in each of the specified financial years, (c) the reasons for (i) the suspensions and (iii) the delays in resolving the suspensions in each case respectively are all provided in the table below.
Position |
(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years |
Period |
(c)(i) (ii) Reason for suspension |
(c)(iii) Delay in resolving these matters |
(b) Monthly amount paid |
|
HR Generalist |
FY12/13 |
FY12/13 |
November 2012 - January 2013 Suspended for 65 days |
Alleged Misconduct. Recruitment process not followed for appointment of new hires. Verbal offers of employment extended before requisite approval. |
The matter was not delayed. The suspension was uplifted and an informal disciplinary hearing was conducted. |
R 36,744 |
Chief Road Transport Inspector |
FY12/13 |
FY13/14 |
February 2013 – April 2013 Suspended for 65 days |
Alleged misconduct. Making use of employer's resources for personal benefit. Leave without authorisation |
The matter was not delayed. Disciplinary hearing was conducted. |
R 38,133 |
Senior Manager Human Resources |
FY13/14 |
FY13/14 |
March 2013 – April 2013 Suspended for 43 days |
Alleged Misconduct. Unprofessional conduct, fraudulently changing performance score, failure to carry out responsibilities with recruitment of Road Transport Inspectors |
The matter was not delayed, the employee resigned pending disciplinary enquiry |
R 66,371 |
Position |
(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years |
Period |
(c)(i) (ii) Reason for suspension |
(c)(iii) Delay in resolving these matters |
(b) Monthly amount paid |
|
Senior Manager Law Enforcement |
FY 13/14 |
FY 14 / 15 |
November 2013 – November 2014 Suspended for 260 days |
Alleged misconduct. Gross Insubordination, unruly behaviour, gross negligence |
Delays with investigations due to unavailability of witnesses due to work pressures as well as year-end closure. |
R 75,467 |
Executive Manager: Human Resources & Administration |
FY13/14 |
FY14/15 |
February 2014 - July 2014 Suspended for 108 days |
Allegations of misconduct - Gross dereliction of duty, gross insubordination, and gross negligence |
Matter delayed by changes to external investigators. Finally a settlement agreement was entered into |
R 110,933 |
Executive Manager: Facilitation & Industry Development |
FY14/15 |
FY14/15 |
May 2014 - November 2014 Suspended for 130 days |
Allegations of misconduct - Gross insolence and undermining authority of superior |
The matter was not delayed. After further investigations, the matter was partly heard. The employee requested a settlement agreement |
R 131,098.50 |
Position |
(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years |
Period |
(c)(i) (ii) Reason for suspension |
(c)(iii) Delay in resolving these matters |
(b) Monthly amount paid |
|
Senior Data Administrator |
FY14/15 |
FY15/ 16 |
July 2014 – May 2015 Suspended for 216 days |
Allegations of misconduct - Frequent late-coming, Repeated absence without permission, Abscondment/desertion, Gross insubordination |
Suspension and hearing delayed on account of repeated failure by employee to respond to acknowledge receipt and/or to respond to disciplinary documentation, failure to attend the inquiry. |
R 31,951 |
Position |
(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years |
Period |
Reason for suspension |
Delay in resolving these matters |
Monthly amount paid |
|
Senior Manager Information Technology |
FY14/15 |
FY15/ 16 |
October 2014 – July 2015 Suspended for 216 days |
Allegations of misconduct - Intended fraud. |
Investigations into the alleged misconduct were lengthy and required extended time. |
R 79,679 |
(d)Mitigation against future costs related to employee suspensions:
The C-BRTA developed and adopted Management Guidelines for Employee Suspensions (as attached) that line management will now use when considering suspensions. The overall effect is that to date employee suspensions have become minimal and where there is a need to isolate an employee from operations while investigations are underway, the employee is placed in other non-related roles to best derive equitable value for the salary earned.
Road Accident Fund (RAF)
- (ii) The Road Accident Fund (RAF), who employs over 2500 people, suspended with full pay (aa) 9 employees in 2012-13, (bb) 20 employees in 2013-14, and (cc) 10 employees in the 2014-15 financial years,
- the value of the matters for each month in each financial year are:
(aa) 2012-13 |
(bb) 2013-14 |
(cc) 2014-15 |
|
April |
R 76 000.00 |
R 160 000.00 |
R 420 000.00 |
May |
R 45 000.00 |
R 215 000.00 |
R 465 000.00 |
June |
R 85 000.00 |
R 255 000.00 |
R 420 000.00 |
July |
R 85 000.00 |
R 245 000.00 |
R 450 000.00 |
August |
R 75 000.00 |
R 225 000.00 |
R 420 000.00 |
September |
R 90 000.00 |
R 125 000.00 |
R 550 000.00 |
October |
R 55 000.00 |
R 100 000.00 |
R 550 000.00 |
November |
R 30 000.00 |
R 205 000.00 |
R 430 000.00 |
December |
R 58 000.00 |
R 175 000.00 |
R 320 000.00 |
January |
R 92 000.00 |
R 200 000.00 |
R 130 000.00 |
February |
R 70 000.00 |
R 300 000.00 |
R 130 000.00 |
March |
R 70 000.00 |
R 420 000.00 |
R 130 000.00 |
- (i) the reasons for the suspensions, which relate to anything from misconduct to fraud, are to manage the risk of the employee to interfering with witnesses and/or evidence; where the continued presence of the employee presents a threat to life or property; or where the employee’s presence will have a disruptive effect on other employees, (ii) the CCMA and Labour Court generally consider suspension without pay an unfair labour practice, therefore the RAF Disciplinary Policy provides for the suspension of an employee on full pay in the aforementioned instances, (iii) delays in resolving the matters may be experienced due to any one or more reasons, including ongoing investigations that must be completed; the employee getting sick; CCMA referrals for unfair labour practices; and, requests for legal representation and determination, which if granted, impacts on the time taken to conclude hearings, and
- in order to resolve future matters the RAF is amending its Disciplinary Policy to curb the maximum period for which an employee may be suspended on full pay and requiring the employee be charged no later than one month after the suspension.
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)
(ii) Road Traffic Management Corporation
(aa) 2012 - 2013 = five (5) employees
(bb) 2013 – 2014 = Five (5) Employees
(cc) 2014 – 2015 = One (1) Employees
- 2012-2013
Employee |
Monthly salary |
No. 1 |
R 18 421.39 |
No. 2 |
R 13 961.89 |
No. 3 |
R 10 815.07 |
No. 4 |
R 35 980.71 |
No.5 |
R 14 383.92 |
2013-2014
Employee |
Monthly salary |
No. 1 |
R 38 565.30 |
No. 2 |
R28 490.88 |
No. 3 |
R 35 256.08 |
No. 4 |
R 14 171.32 |
No.5 |
14 383.92 |
2014-2015
Employee |
Monthly salary |
No. 1 |
R 35 256.08 |
- (i) The reasons for the suspension were that the acts of misconduct were very serious and another reason was to conduct the investigation free from possible interference by the employees, in terms of paragraph 9.2 (i) & (ii) of the Disciplinary Code and Procedures of the Corporation
(ii) The suspension of this kind is with full pay in terms of paragraph 9.2 (b) of the Disciplinary Code and Procedures of the Corporation.
(iii) The delays were caused due to the investigation which took longer than we expected. Charges are informed by the Investigation report and therefore if finalization of the investigation delays, then the process of charging the employee/s delays.
(d). As soon as the employee is suspended, processes will be put in place to ensure that the investigation unfolds immediately without any delay. This will ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the finalization of cases and suspensions.
Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA)
|
||
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
None |
None |
1 |
- R 261 541.15 for the period September 2014 to February 2015
Gross salary per month:
September 2014- R39 401.44
October 2014- R39 401.44
November 2014- R39 401.44
December 2014- R39 401.44
January 2015- R64 533.97
February 2015- R39 401.44
- Reason for suspension
- Misconduct;
- The suspension was with full pay; and
- A lengthy disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was given a final written warning
- The disciplinary hearing concluded the process.
South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)
None of the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Ltd (SANRAL) staff members were suspended during the years under review
12 April 2016 - NW565
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
With reference to his reply to question 4108 on 08 December 2015; has the outstanding information been received from the Tlokwe Local Municipality, if not, why not; if so, when will this information be made available as requested?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Tlokwe City Local Municipality. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW568
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4145 on 8 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information from the metropolitan municipalities, if so, when will the information be made available as requested?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW709
Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Police
(a) On which of the specific grounds applicable under section 35 of the South African Police Service Act, Act 68 of 1995, as amended, was the former National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Mr Anwa Dramat, the subject of a section 35 discharge and (b) what are the further relevant details in this regard?
Reply:
(a) Lieutenant General Dramat was discharged from the South African Police Service in terms of sect 35(b) of the SAPS Act (Act 68 of 1995)
(b) Further relevant details are as follows:
Lieutenant General Dramat through his lawyers requested the Minister of Police that he is desirous to vacate his post as the Head of the Directorate as provided for in Section 17DA (4)(b) of SAPS Amendment Act.
The Minister of Police allowed the request of the employee in terms of the powers conferred upon the Minister in terms of Sect 17DA (4)(b) to vacate his office earlier than the expiry of his tenure for reasons which the Minister deems sufficient.
The Lawyers of the Minister of Police and Lieutenant General Dramat’s Lawyers agreed that:
- Lieutenant General Dramat be granted permission to vacate his Office with immediate effect.
12 April 2016 - NW764
Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health
With regard to the five key recommendations made in the Ministerial Task Team’s Report on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) presented in October 2015, has the HPCSA Board agreed to any of these recommendations; if not, (a) why not and (b) what further action(s) will he take if the HPCSA rejects any or all of the recommendations; if so, (i) which recommendations did the HPCSA agree to and (ii) what time frames have been given for the implementation of the specified recommendations?
Reply:
The HPCSA is an independent organisation, as such, it has a legal obligation to adhere to all Constitutional and relevant legislative prescripts in the exercise of its mandate. The implementation of the recommendation made in the Ministerial Task Team Report on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is therefore subject to adherence to these prescripts. I am being kept informed by the HPCSA on the progress in this regard.
(a) At this point, I have not been informed by the HPCSA that any of the recommendations of the Ministerial Task Team have been rejected;
(b) Not applicable;
(i) Not applicable;
(ii) A final implementation report is expected by the end of April 2016
END.
12 April 2016 - NW75
Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether she has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019
Reply:
Whether she has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019
The Minister of Basic Education Mrs A Motshekga, MP, has signed her Performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma in December 2014.
a) Which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement
The indicators in the Agreement are as captured in the Outcome 1 MTSF chapter. In summary, these indicators come from the following areas:
- Impact Indicators – which come from the Action Plan to 2019
- Sub-Outcome 1: Teacher supply, development and effective utilisation
- Sub-Outcome 2: Provision of infrastructure
- Provision of Learning and Teaching Support Materials
- Sub-Outcome 3: Improving assessment (ANA)
- Sub-Outcome 4: Improving Grade R and extension of Early Childhood Development (ECD).
- Sub-Outcome 5: Strengthening accountability at schools and district level
- Sub-Outcome 6: Partnerships for education reform and improved quality
b) How many performance assessments has she undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed?
The Minister’s performance has been assessed through the Cabinet Memorandum which is tabled before Cabinet every quarter. In this financial year, two reports have been tabled at Cabinet, and the third quarterly report is being prepared for submission to the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation by March 2016.
c) What progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF?
Significant progress has been made for the 2015/16 financial year. As at the end of the second quarter, out of a total of 55 indicators, performance is as reflected below:
- Eleven (11) indicators were fully achieved;
- Forty (40) indicators were work in progress with the assurance that the targets for 2015/16 will be met by the end of the financial year;
- No indicators were under-performing due to reasons stated in question (d); and
- Four (4) indicators have not been reported because of lack of tools to collect the required data or information.
d) What are the key obstacles to implementation?
- Lack of Agreement, tool and regularity in the administration of the ANA;
(ii) Concurrent functions challenges in providing information required from provincial departments of education in the correct format timeously; and
(iii) Interdepartmental dependency in providing information, such as the ECD programmes, ICT and Teacher Development.
e) What is the plan to address such obstacles?
- The lack of Agreement, tool and regularity in the administration of the ANA:
- The Department is in the process of resuscitating the ELRC as a platform for engagement and,
- The Department has established a task team with representatives from teacher unions to deal with the instrument and the frequency of the administration of the ANA.
(ii) Concurrent functions challenges:
- The department has started developing the norms and standards, business processes and sector plans to be used to solicit the buy in of the provinces to comply with the key deliverables of the sector;
(iii) Interdepartmental dependency:
- These challenges are attended to at the Cabinet Cluster meetings, MINMECs and Minister’s Implementation Forum (MIF);
- The department’s Director General also holds bilateral meetings with the Director Generals of the affected departments.
NW75E
12 April 2016 - NW350
Davis, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What was the average National Senior Certificate pass rate in each (a) district and (b) province for quintile (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4 and (v) 5 schools in (aa) 2013, (bb) 2014, and (cc) 2015?
Reply:
In the attached Excel files, the performance in the NSC examinations, in terms of the nine provinces and the 81 districts is provided for each of the five quintiles. This data is provided for each of the three years i.e. 2013, 2014 and 2015 as requested.
There are six Excel files and each file focuses on the following sub-components of the question as identified in the question:
(a) (aa) See attached file Q350 (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (aa) - 2013 Districts Quintiles.
(a) (bb) See attached file Q350 (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (bb) - 2014 Districts Quintiles.
(a) (cc) See attached file Q350 (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (cc) - 2015 Districts Quintiles.
(b) (aa) See attached file Q350 (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (aa) - 2013 Province Quintiles.
(b) (bb) See attached file Q350 (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (bb) - 2014 Province Quintiles.
(b) (cc) See attached file Q350 (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (cc) - 2015 Province Quintiles.
12 April 2016 - NW313
Stander, Ms T to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Does each metropolitan municipality have an external bursary fund; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what is the value of each specified external bursary fund in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial year; (3) how many external bursaries did each specified municipality award in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years?
Reply:
The requested information is not readily available within the department. We are however, collating the information from the Metropolitan Municipalities and will submit as soon as we have concluded. The Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW834
Cassim, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)(a)What is the maximum loan amount that may be awarded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme in the 2016-17 financial year, (b) (i) when was it determined, (ii) by what body was it determined, (iii) under what legislative or regulatory provision and (iv) how was it determined; (2) whether he will provide the document recording its determination to Mr Y Cassim; if not, why not; if so, by when; (3) what is the average expected cost of study at universities for the 2016 academic year?
Reply:
(1) (a) The maximum loan amount that may be awarded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to a university student in the 2016 academic year is R71 800.
(b) (i) and (ii) The maximum loan awarded from the DHET general fund for university students is determined annually and approved by the NSFAS Board as part of the allocations process each year. For the 2016 academic year, the maximum loan amount was approved by the Board in the third quarter of 2015/16 and communicated to institutions in December 2015.
(iii) The university loan amount is determined based on the provisions within the NSFAS Act 56 of 1999 under Sections 4(a) and 4(b), which specifies that it is the function of NSFAS “to allocate funds for loans and bursaries to eligible students; to develop criteria and conditions for the granting of loans and bursaries to eligible students in consultation with the Minister”. It is further provided for under Section 19(1) that “Loans and bursaries granted by the board may be subject to such conditions as it may determine, either generally or in respect to a particular loan or bursary”.
(iv) The maximum loan is calculated by taking into consideration factors such as the increase received from the national budget process and weighted average full cost of study at universities.
(2) An extract of the NSFAS Board meeting minutes of 25 November 2015 is attached.
(3) According to data received from universities, the average full cost of study across the 26 universities was R70 679.11 and weighted average full cost of study was R71 878.40. Based on the weighted average full cost of study, the maximum-capped award was determined as R71 800.
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
EXT:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
QUESTION 834 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE:
12 April 2016 - NW746
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether, with reference to allegations (details furnished) of rhino poaching syndicates infiltrating the justice system, particularly the magistrates court benches in KwaZulu-Natal, he is considering instituting a commission or panel to review magisterial judgments handed down in respect of all rhino poaching matters in the provinces?
Reply:
No, the matter was referred to the Magistrate Commission for further handling and investigation.
12 April 2016 - NW572
Van Dalen, Mr P to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4095 on 8 December 2015, the requested information has been received from the Tlokwe Local Municipality; if so, when will the specified information be made available?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Tlokwe Local Municipalitie. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW549
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development
(1)With regard to the proposed amendments to the Price Preference System on the Exportation of Ferrous- and Non-Ferrous Waste and Scrap Metal, which were published in Government Gazette, Notice R.1211, on 11 December 2015, (a) what is the rationale for the proposed amendments and (b) why has Port Elizabeth been designated as the sole port of export for all waste and scrap metal; (2) has any consideration been given to the additional transportation costs that will be incurred by scrap metal dealers due to the proposed amendments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The rationale for the proposed amendments is to strengthen the administration of exports of scrap metal to achieve public policy objectives.
ITAC has published a notice requesting members of the public and interested parties to comment on a range of proposals in this regard.
One of the proposals related to the possible designation of one port to enable the concentration of resources to enable effective compliance. ITAC will need to take into account all relevant factors, including the additional costs on parties and weigh these against the likely benefits. A public call for comments assists ITAC to take all views into account.
-END-
12 April 2016 - NW902
Mbatha, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1)Has he earned any additional income from businesses, in particular businesses doing work for the Government, since his appointment as Minister; if so, (a) when, (b) how much did he earn, (c) from which businesses and (d) for what work; (2) whether his (a) spouse, (b) children and (c) close family earned income from businesses, in particular businesses doing work for the Government, through his 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:
(1) No
(a) - (d) Not applicable
(2) No
(a) - (c) Not applicable
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
EXT:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
QUESTION 902 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE:
12 April 2016 - NW341
Balindlela, Ms ZB to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
What measures are in place to ensure that each of the several hundred projects funded by the Construction Education and Training Authority is (a) compliant (i) with the correct procedures for approval and (ii) in the way it operates, (b) providing quality assured training of a high standard and (c) able to account for all of the funds it uses?
Reply:
a) The project allocation process is initiated by the Project Management Unit of the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA), which conducts a needs analysis, derived from the:
- National Skills Development Strategy;
- CETA Sector Skills Plan;
- CETA five-year Strategic Plan;
- CETA Annual Performance Plan; and
- Service Level Agreements.
(i) The grant allocation approval process is entirely transparent and meets the relevant supply chain management principles. The process involves the following:
- Applications are made through the CETA online application tool;
- Evaluations are done independently and recommendations are made to the CETA Board;
- After approval by the CETA Board, the CETA issues an offer to contract with the successful applicant, which is subject to various conditions, including a due diligence exercise to determine the ability of the approved applicants to implement their proposed projects; and
- CETA finally approves the relevant grants, only after applicants have satisfied CETA of its ability to implement their proposed projects.
The process that is followed in respect thereof ensures the integrity of the CETA’s project allocation.
(ii) Since the 2011/12 financial year, all payments to successful applicants were made in accordance with the CETA’s performance based payment system, in terms of which:
- Payments are made after submission and approval of compliant invoices and supporting documentation;
- All payments can accordingly be traced back to costs incurred in respect of specific learners, in accordance with the supporting documentation which entities are required to submit prior to receiving payment;
- The supporting information required before payments are made include, where applicable, learner attendance registers, proof of payment of stipends to learners and proof of receipt of learning materials received by the learners;
- No advance payments are made to any entities;
- As a consequence, entities who do not perform in accordance with their project planning will not receive their full grant allocation;
- Payments are only made in respect of services rendered or expenses incurred; and
- the CETA has strict invoicing processing compliance requirements in which payments are only made into approved bank accounts, or, in the instance of public entities, separate cost centres, allocated exclusively to the approved CETA project.
(b) Below are the three areas in which the CETA ensures quality:
- Accountability and conformance to standards;
- Maintaining and enhancing the quality of facilitation and learning by accredited Skills Development Providers; and
- Quality enhancement and continually improving practitioners, assessors, moderators and staff.
(c) The following measures are implemented to ensure that CETA accounts for all funds utilised:
- A commitment schedule, which is reviewed on a regular basis, is maintained;
- Monthly management reports are reviewed by the Finance Committee;
- Financial statements are prepared on a quarterly basis;
- Annual financial statements are reviewed by the Audit Committee; and
- Annual Financial Statements are audited by the Auditor-General who tests the accuracy, validity and completeness of financial information.
Compiler/contact persons:
Ext:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 341 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE:
12 April 2016 - NW231
Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Has her department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by certain persons (names furnished) in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year, (i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount?
Reply:
The Department did not award any contract to Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta during the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years.
12 April 2016 - NW444
Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Health
(1) Whether the Government is ready to announce immediate steps to deal with the health crisis resulting from an excessive intake of sugar by the population at large through the direct consumption of sugar, as well as an indirect consumption through a very wide range of processed foods with hidden high sugar content; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether his department will secure the rights to a certain documentary (name and details furnished) for the public broadcaster to air on all its channels; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether his department will introduce legislation requiring the full sugar content of any packaged food to be given in terms of a standardised teaspoon; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Yes, the Department acknowledges the increased health risks resulting from excessive sugar intake. The Department of Health, as well as our government partners, have already announced steps to deal with the excessive consumption of sugar by the population at large. For example the Treasury has recently announced a tax on sugar sweetened beverages that will come into effect in April 2016. The Department developed a multi-sectoral strategy to prevent and control obesity in South Africa. One of the actions in the strategy is to educate the public about healthy food choices including the risks of excessive sugar intake. The Department has developed a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) which will be used to assess and classify foods as having excessive amounts of sugar, salt and fats. The NPM together with the labelling regulations will ensure that consumers are educated on how to make informed choices.
However it is important to note that while sugar is an important contributor to the rising incidence of Non-communicable diseases is South Africa, it is by no means the only contributor and other dietary risk factors as well as lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use are also important risk factors. The Department of Health is thus dealing with the excess of sugar intake as part of a more comprehensive plan to deal with non-communicable diseases.
With respect to “indirect consumption” the Director General of Health has led a partnership with the Consumer Goods Council and its affiliates to ensure that the industry reformulates its products to be more healthy and that consumption patterns, including sugar consumption, decreases. Outcomes of these processes are expected to become evident soon.
2. No. It is the prerogative of the public broadcaster to secure the rights and air programmes and not that of the Department of Health.
The Good Life Network channel that was launched in December 2015 by the Department is one of the platforms used to inform and educate consumers about the importance of making Healthy food choices. Various other channels are being utilised where information is shared around the importance of healthy eating and the risks of excessive intake of sugar, salt and fat.
The Department of Health will be launching a public awareness campaign in late March for healthy lifestyles as part of World Health day activities under the theme “beat diabetes”.
3. Yes. Provision was made in the draft Food Labelling Regulations (R429/2014) for a front-of-pack labelling option, in addition to the fact that total sugars must always be declared in the table with nutritional information. The new Labelling Regulations will make Nutritional information mandatory for most foods (a few exemptions are allowed).
The following is an example of a front-of pack labelling, following the principles of the Traffic light system: red means dangerous, yellow means caution and green means safe:
This example could be further developed into a simpler format which simply include the traffic light colours, the name of the nutrient, e.g. sugar, or salt and if possible a graphic representation of a typical household measure such as a teaspoon. Further work is this regard is still being pursued with the food industry.
END.
12 April 2016 - NW570
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4090 on 8 December 2015, the requested information has been received from the metropolitan municipalities; if so, when will the specified information be made available?
Reply:
The question by the Honourable member should be directed to the National Treasury. The National Treasury manages the expenditure and the budgets of municipalities in line with the provisions in the Municipal Finance Management Act. Municipalities report budgetary matters in terms of s71 of the MFMA and are best placed to respond to matters relating to budget and expenditures of all municipalities.
12 April 2016 - NW566
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to the reply to question 4089 on 08 December 2015; has the outstanding information been received from the metropolitan municipalities, if not, why not; if so, when will this information be made available as requested?
Reply:
The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.
12 April 2016 - NW833
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(a) With reference to his reply to question 335 on 14 March 2016, what are the costs of damage caused to property at each affected university resulting from student protests since 1 February 2016, and (b) from which university budgets will these be paid for in each case?
Reply:
(a) With reference to my reply to question 335 on 14 March 2016, an update is provided on the costs of damage caused to property at North West University, University of Cape Town and University of the Free State resulting from student protests since 1 February 2016:
- University of Stellenbosch – R352 000.00
- North West University – R151 000 000.00 (updated)
- University of Limpopo – R1 786 294.52
- University of Johannesburg – R345 000.00
- University of the Western Cape – R46 544 446.00
- Walter Sisulu University – R351 287.19
- Tshwane University of Technology – R5 073 747.73
- University of KwaZulu-Natal – R82 000 000.00
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology – R689 850.14
- University of Cape Town – R3 200 000.00 (updated)
- University of Zululand – R 4 500 000.00
- Rhodes University – R250 000.00
- University of the Witwatersrand – R1 410 223.00
- University of the Free State – R2 800 000.00 (updated)
Total cost: R300 302 848.58 (updated)
The following universities submitted damage reports, however they did not provide estimates of the cost of damage, which will be requested from them:
- University of South Africa;
- Central University of Technology;
- Durban University of Technology; and
- University of Fort Hare.
The following universities reported no/minor incidents of damage on their campuses:
- Vaal University of Technology;
- Mangosuthu University of Technology;
- University of Venda;
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; and
- University of Pretoria –graffiti on walls, which have been repainted.
(b) The universities have not confirmed from which university budgets these damages will be recovered. However, certain damages will be paid or recovered from insurance claims.
COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:
EXT:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
QUESTION 833 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: