Questions and Replies

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. The Department thus made a request to Metropolitan Municipalities to provide the relevant information. Information was received from the following Metropolitan Municipalities:

ETHEKWINI METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

1. (a) Once a week

           (b) Yes

      2. None

BUFFALO CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

1. (a) Once a week

          (b) Yes

   2. Yes, there were disruptions of services in BCMM Solid Waste Department

      (a) Disruptions were caused by frequent breakdowns of Refuse Compactor Trucks and labour unrests;

     (b) The Department of Solid Waste usually addresses the labour issues that arise with the assistance of Corporate Services.

CITY OF TSHWANE

1. (a) Once a week

          (b) Yes

2. The collection trucks were mostly on schedule but there may have been 1 or 2 days where some areas experienced delays.

    (a) The delays would typically be due to a break-down of a vehicle or a workers strike.

     (b) The collection continues into the following day or days so that there are no backlogs when the following week starts.

MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

1. (a) Once a week

        (b) Yes

2. Yes, there were disruptions and late removal of waste since 1 January 2015.

     (a) There is often a shortage of vehicles due to vehicles breaking down.

     (b) The municipality utilises a pool of SMMEs who have been appointed to render emergency door to door waste collection as and when necessary.

NELSON MANDELA BAY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

1. The NMBM is collecting refuse from 99.98% of households within the urban edge, excluding informal areas on privately owned erven not earmarked for Human Settlements development. Almost one third of the households waste is collected bi-weekly and the remaining two-thirds are collected weekly. The NMBM is in the process of converting all bi-weekly refuse collection to a weekly service by June 2016.

2.   Yes, there were instances of late removal of waste since 1 January 2015.

     (a) The capacity to render efficient Waste Collection Services is often hampered by breakdowns in refuse trucks due to ageing fleet and turnaround time on repairs and maintenance. This leads to refuse being collected later than usual, in certain communities. Nonetheless, the refuse is collected on the same day of refuse collection schedule even if it is late during the day.

     (b) The NMBM has embarked on a process of recapitalisation of old fleet. New refuse trucks have been purchased and other trucks are scheduled to be purchased in the next financial year. In the meantime, the NMBM is hiring externally through the existing Municipal contract in order to supplement its service delivery demands.

 

Reply:

Telkom has provided me with the following response:-

(1)- (3) Telkom as a listed company must comply with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) rules.

In terms of the JSE rules, information that is of financial nature has to be disclosed to all shareholders at once during an open period (reporting period). The company is currently in a closed period.

Furthermore, the information required, requires Telkom to reveal information which is of a commercial nature. The information therefore cannot be shared as it is competitive sensitive.

 

Reply:

(1)(a) The DTPS will increase the number of schools per province from one (1) to two (2) as reflected in quarterly targets in the 2016/17 Business Plan. The Child Online Protection Programme also includes the e-Parenting Programme and in this regard the DTPS intends to develop an interactive e-platform for parents and an e-guide for parents to capacitate them to cope with issues of exposure of the children to harmful content online.

(1)(b) The Child Online Protection Programme will be implemented in all nine provinces and in two towns in each province. The e-Parenting Interactive Sessions will be held in all provinces except the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal as these provinces were covered in the 2015/2016 financial year.

(2)(a)(i)The DTPS will be hosting School based Awareness Workshops in eighteen (18) schools with grade 9 to 11 learners, at least two hundred and fifty (250) learners per school, and their respective teachers, at least six (6) teachers per school. The content of the workshops includes the following topics: Dangers of being Online, Safety Tips for being Online, Cyberbulling and Sexting, Identity Theft and the impact of creating a negative or positive digital footprint for the individual and the country.

(2)(a)(ii) No training workshops are planned to be implemented in private schools.

(2)(b)(i) The learners and teachers are given content and information in terms of web based resources that may be accessed in order to assist them to mitigate against the online abuse of children.

(2)(b)(ii) No training support is planned to be given to educators in private schools.

Reply:

According to the information provided by Tlokwe City Local Municipality:

1. Amounts of Capital budget spent on refurbishment of infrastructure:

(a) 2013/2014 – R27 722 428.12

(b) 2014/2015 – R63 549 878.94

2. Details of the refurbishment projects as well as the amount spent on each project are as per the table hereafter.

Tlokwe City Local Municipality Capital budget spent on refurbishment of infrastructure
2013 - 2014	PROJECT	BUDGET	SPENT
WATER
	Refurbish sand filters at the water treatment works	1,000,000.00	231,192.00	Multi year project
	Refurbished mechanical equipment at the Water Treatment Works	500,000.00	482,475.92	EMERGENCY MAINTAINANCE
		1,500,000.00	713,667.92
SANITATION
	Refurbished mechanical equipment at the Sewer Treatment Works	1,000,000.00	836,512.94	EMERGENCY MAINTAINANCE
	Upgrade the Chris Hani Pump Station	5,000,000.00	119,118.60
	1260 m main outfall sewer to be upgraded - Ikageng Proper	6,996,396.00	7,722,848.76	Multi year project
		12,996,396.00	8,678,480.30
ELECTRICITY
	Upgrade protection and switchgear in 5 main substations	7,872,000.00	7,070,734.50
	Upgrade Electrical Network in Bailliepark	3,000,000.00	1,739,820.48	Multi year project
		10,872,000.00	8,810,554.98
ROADS
	1 000m² roads to be resealed in the Tlokwe Municipality jurisdiction	14,130,578.00	9,519,724.92	Multi year project
		14,130,578.00	9,519,724.92
	GRAND TOTAL	39,498,974.00	27,722,428.12

2014 - 2015	PROJECT	BUDGET	SPENT
WATER
	Refurbish sand filters at the water treatment works	2,768,808.00	3,088,291.10	Multi year project
	Purchase and refurbish pumps, gearboxes and motors at the treatment plants	1,005,355.00	220,966.70	EMERGENCY MAINTAINANCE
	2.2km of 450 rising main to be upgraded from WTW to Ventersdorp Road Reservoir.	5,000,000.00	4,020,628.16	Multi year project
	Replacement of 90kw motors for pumps	160,964.58	160,964.58
	Replacement of 55kw motors for pumps	111,094.14	111,094.14
	To re-sleeve Water pumping line of 450mm steel with 170m underneath the runway at airport and 950m in Ikageng Road	4,895,687.00	5,581,084.27
	Replacement of water & sewer lines in the following streets: Otto, Cronje , Mael, Mooivalleipark,Water Sisulu, MC Roode & James Morake Ave	5,331,660.00	3,807,836.50	Multi year project
	To reline water pipes to the Promosa Reservoir	2,963,737.00	3,189,379.14
	Replacement of motors and pumps at the Vyfhoek Res Pump station	831,858.00	831,858.00
	To replace telemetry system at all water reservoirs	1,800,000.00	1,800,000.00
		24,869,163.72	22,812,102.59
SANITATION
	Purchase and refurbish pumps, gearboxes and motors at the treatment plants	1,005,355.00	220,966.70	EMERGENCY MAINTAINANCE
	Replacement of water & sewer lines in the following streets: Otto, Cronje , Mael, Mooivalleipark,Water Sisulu, MC Roode & James Morake Ave	5,331,660.00	3,807,836.50	Multi year project
		6,337,015.00	4,028,803.20
ELECTRICITY
	Upgrade 66KV protection and 11Kv switch gear in main substations	28,848,084.00	19,386,695.18	Multi year project
	Upgrade the electricity network in the Bult area	2,000,000.00	1,999,791.14
	Upgrading and maintain SCADA system in electrical substation	5,000,000.00	4,438,293.65
		35,848,084.00	25,824,779.97
ROADS
	1500m² roads resealed	15,000,000.00	9,697,463.11	Multi year project
	Widen Chief Luthili Drive between Govan Mbeki and Walter Sisulu Avenue	4,020,000.00	1,186,730.07	Multi year project
		19,020,000.00	10,884,193.18
	GRANT TOTAL	86,074,262.72	63,549,878.94

3. No part of this amount was used to pay salaries to municipal employees.

Reply:

I have been advised by ICASA and the Department as follows:

(1)(a) ICASA does not have this information. We rely on map data provided by the operators as we do not have the resources to independently verify coverage of operators on a nationwide scale, although we can verify coverage in a specified location through measurement.

(b) The Authority has information regarding which operator has the largest coverage by the type of technology. However, this information has been submitted on a confidential basis therefore the Authority would have to request for permission to disclose it.

(2)(a)The roll-out of broadband does not affect the cell phone spectrum. Spectrum is an enabler for broadband roll out. It should however be noted the release of digital dividend spectrum after the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting will be critical in ensuring broadband rural deployments.

(b) Cell phone operators are dependent on spectrum to roll out broadband but not solely on analogue spectrum currently being held by broadcasters. The analogue spectrum will not be made available through the roll-out of broadband. It will be made available through digital switchover, a process of migrating analogue TV broadcasting to digital transmission, and analogue switch off, a process to complete switch-off of analogue TV services and freeing-up of spectrum. Thus, this spectrum would be available for broadband roll-out.

(3)(a) Both Kamiesberg and Richtersveld areas in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape were not monitored for the availability of Coverage. The Authority relies on the on coverage complaints it receives from the people in the area to conduct such monitoring.

(b) The areas of Namaqualand will be covered in the 2016/2017 financial year. It should be noted that Operators are not obligated to provide coverage in all areas as long as their total coverage remains within their licence conditions.

 

 

Reply:

Maize:

Grain SA submitted an application for an increase in the dollar based reference price for maize in December 2015. ITAC engaged with stakeholders and solicited comments from 25 interested parties. ITAC staff is now evaluating the application. The preliminary submission will be submitted to the Commissioners of ITAC during the Commission meeting of May 2016 for consideration.

Wheat:

Wheat tariffs are determined by a variable tariff formula based on US dollars. At the request of producers, when the conditions were met for an upward tariff trigger, ITAC applied the formula and tariff increases were accordingly applied. This resulted in an increase of customs duties on wheat from 91.12c/kg to 122.43c/kg and wheaten flour from 136.68c/kg to 183.65c/kg.

However, in light of the drought, the current exchange rate and the impact on food prices, government has requested a review of the variable import duty formula to ensure that consumer needs are properly taken into account.

-END-

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

(1) Since, my reply to question number 471 for oral reply on 09 September 2015 the Department of Public Works has not received any requests from any Government departments regarding further security upgrades at the President’s private residence in Nkandla.

(2) The Department has not worked on a costing exercise, as the request for the security upgrades has not been received. An estimation or calculation of costs will only be done pursuant to a security assessment and the identification of requirements for the installation of security measures by the relevant departments in the security cluster.

____________________________________________________________________

Reply:

(a) The anticipated total costs of producing and installing the 5 million subsidized STBs, as appropriated, is R2.45 billion.

(b) Over the MTEF period the National Treasury has allocated R1.1 billion.

(c) The funds will be drawn from the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services’ vote.

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

1. The following table represents commercial, industrial and residential building plan submissions per Metro in the 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years

Building Plans:2013-14
Metro	Commercial	Industrial	Residential	Total
City of Tshwane	94	97	12 323	12 514
Ekurhuleni	50	190	5062	5302
City of Johannesburg	104	72	11977	12153
City of Cape Town	330	7904	8234
Nelson Mandela Bay	95	86	7734	7915
Buffalo City	83	96	2461	2640
Mangaung	45	17	2283	2345
eThekwini Municipality	927	408	9618	10953
Building Plans:2014-15
Metro	Commercial	Industrial	Residential	Total
City of Tshwane	128	87	12 883	13 098
Ekurhuleni	33	241	5382	5656
City of Johannesburg	41	79	12963	13083
City of Cape Town	353	8985	9342
Nelson Mandela Bay	87	94	9530	9711
Buffalo City	84	86	2370	2540
Mangaung	35	24	2069	2108
eThekwini Municipality	1363	601	12740	14704

2. The following table represents building plans that were approved by each municipality in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years

Municipality	YEAR
	2013-14	2014-15
City of Tshwane	10 654	9 554
Ekurhuleni	4550	5272
City of Johannesburg	11247	11934
City of Cape Town	8407	9859
Nelson Mandela Bay	2475	3724
Buffalo City	2314	2207
Mangaung	3083	2173
eThekwini Municipality	5748	6044

3. The table below represents the time indicated by each metro on the response time to acknowledge receipt of building plans

Municipality	Response time to acknowledge receipt of Building Plans
City of Tshwane	Application is acknowledged as soon as it is received and the necessary fees are paid.
Ekurhuleni	Upon submission and payment of necessary fees.
City of Johannesburg	Upon receipt and payment of necessary fees.
City of Cape Town	Application is acknowledged as soon as it is received and necessary fees are paid.
Nelson Mandela Bay	Upon submission the application is issued with an invoice.
Buffalo City	1 week
Mangaung	Immediately after submission and payment of the requisite building plan fees.
eThekwini Municipality	Immediately on submission and payment of the prescribed tariff where applicable.

4. The information below represents response time each municipality takes to finalise building plan submissions.

Municipality	Time taken to finalise Building Plan Submissions
City of Tshwane	Building Plans 500m² and less: 30 days Building Plans 501m² and more: 60 days
Ekurhuleni
City of Johannesburg	As per the legislated time period, namely 30 days for building plans smaller that 500m² and 60 days for plans larger than 500m².
City of Cape Town	Building Plans 500m² and less: 30 days Building Plans 501m² and more: 60 days
Nelson Mandela Bay	Eight (8) days from date of submission if application has all necessary supporting documents
Buffalo City	22 days
Mangaung	The general norm is as per the legislated time period, namely 30 days for building plans smaller that 500m² and 60 days for plans larger than 500m².   In most cases Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality complies.
eThekwini Municipality	In terms of timeframes expressed as a percentage the performance has been 98.1% (2013/14) and 99.9% (2014/15).

Reply:

(1) (a) and (b)

The number of ambulances indicated below serve Mabopane, Ga-rankuwa, Winterveldt and Soshanguve. These ambulances are stationed next to Odi Hospital and serve Odi and Dr George Mukhari Hospitals, all clinics, all Community Health Centres in the Northern Sub-district of Tshwane including house calls.

Type of Vehicles	Number of Allocated Vehicles	Number Operational	Number Not Operational
Ambulances	13	8	5 at workshop
Obstetrics Vehicle	2	1	1 at workshop
Response Vehicle	2	2	0
Planned Patient Transport	4	2	2 at workshop
Rescue Vehicle	1	1	0
Logistic Vehicle	1	0	1 at workshop
TOTAL	23	14	9

(2) (a) Approval has been granted for 7 ambulances to be procured in the 2016/2017 financial year, i.e. 2 Obstetrics and 5 Ambulances. The new ambulances will replace ambulances identified for disposal and to add to the existing fleet.

(b) Ambulance procurement will be completed by the second quarter of 2016/2017.

(3) The average waiting time is as follows:

(a) (i) trauma - green - 57 minutes

(ii) trauma – yellow - 18 minutes

(iii) trauma - red - 13 minutes

(b) OPD referred from clinics - 65 minutes

(c) OPD follow up - 48 minutes

CHALLENGES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF WAITING TIMES

• There is is a general population growth in the surrounding areas.
• Odi District Hospital serves both Gauteng and North West communities and the communities are growing.
• There are a growing number of self-referrals, hence the OPD overflows daily and this affects waiting time.
• There is no regional or tertiary hospital between Odi and DGMA hospital, hence referral to a higher level becomes a challenge and the hospital is required to manage the many patients it cannot refer.
• Patients are reluctant to use the nearby clinics and return to the hospital despite being referred to their respective clinic.
• Most patients with chronic conditions come to the hospital after hours to use the Emergency Centre instead of the OPD during the day; hence the higher patient load and impact on the Emergency Centre.
• Patients with chronic conditions who attend the Emergency Centre after hours complain about long waiting time because acutely ill or injured patients are given priority attention.
• Turnover of clinical and nursing staff is high as they are attracted to higher level hospitals or resign due to pension and this also impacts negatively on waiting time.
• Space in the Emergency Centres and OPD is limited due to infrastructural challenges. Consulting rooms are few so patients cannot be accommodated in comfort while waiting.

END.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. The Department thus made a request to Metropolitan Municipalities to provide the relevant information. Information was received from the following Metropolitan Municipalities:

BUFFALO CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (BCMM)

The BCMM does not provide Primary Health Care Services, hence there is no service level agreement with the relevant provincial department of health. This function was provincialized and devolved to the Eastern Cape Province, Department of Health.

CITY OF TSHWANE (CoT)

1. A Service Level Agreement between the Gauteng Department of Health and the CoT for the provision of Primary Health Care is available and signed.

     (a) The City is rendering Primary Health Care services in 26 fixed facilities; Operating hours are from 07:30 – 16:00, Monday to Friday; 2 mobile units and 1 satellite clinic; Extended service hours are rendered on Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:00 in a selected 13 facilities to accommodate those clients that could not manage to visit the clinic during week days.

     (b) Full comprehensive PHC package is rendered in 26 facilities.

     (c) 9 Clinics were built and upgraded, namely: Lotus, Danville, Doornpoort, Gazankulu, Pretorius Park, Stanza Bopape, Olievenhoutbosch, Zithobeni and Soshanguve JJ.

     (d) The CoT allocated R43 million towards the construction and upgrade of three clinics, namely: Soshunguwe, Gazankulu and Zithobeni during the 2015-16 financial year. The projects are all in the final phase of construction and upgrading.

EKURHULENI METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

a) The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality manages ninety one (91) Primary Health Care Services as at February 2016 as indicated in the table below.

All Community Health Centres and Medical Male Circumcision Sites are managed by the Gauteng Department of Health.

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES BOTH PROVINCIAL AND EKURHULENI EXCLUDING MALE MEDICAL CIRCUMCISION SITES
FACILITY TYPE	EMM	GDoH	GRAND TOTAL
Community Day Centre		2	2
Community Health Centre (24-Hours)		7	7
Clinic	78	3	81
Satellite Clinic	1		1
Mobile Clinic	12	2	14
Grand Total	91	14	105

b) The Primary Health Care Facilities managed by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality render health services relevant for the type of facility as defined in the Primary Health Care Core Package of Services, namely:

Clinics: Render the basic range of Primary Health Care Services as follows:

• Child Health Services:
• Expanded Programme on Immunization;
• Vitamin A supplementation;
• Protein Energy Malnutrition Programme;
• Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses; and
• Growth monitoring and developmental screening.

• Women and Maternal Health Services:
• Reproductive Health including Family Planning;
• Cervical cancer screening;
• Antenatal Care Services;
• Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV;
• Postnatal Care Services; and
• Counselling and referral for Termination of Pregnancy.

• Men’s’ Reproductive Health:
• Prostate cancer screening (Selected facilities).

• HIV, AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis Programme:
• Health and HIV Counselling and Testing;
• Elimination of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV;
• Antiretroviral Therapy;
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis;
• Comprehensive Care, Management and Treatment of HIV Positive clients and treatment of opportunistic infections;
• Management of Sexually Transmitted infections; and
• Tuberculosis Control Programme.

• Acute and Chronic Diseases Management:
• Acute Curative Care;
• Management of Chronic Diseases.

• Specialised Services:
• Primary Mental Health Services; and
• Secondary Level Mental Health Services (Selected facilities);

• Health Information, Education and Communication

• Multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS Programme:
• Door-to-Door Ward-based HIV/AIDS Education and awareness programme;
• Stakeholder engagements including traditional health practitioners and vulnerable and marginalized groups;
• Health awareness and screening programme; and
• AIDS Council.

c) Twenty-one (21) new clinics, as listed in the table below, were built and they are all operational. In the current financial year (2015-16), six (6) clinics are under construction.

NEW PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES 2011 TO DECEMBER 2015
Number	Facility Name	Year opened	Ward	Address
1	Katlehong North Clinic	2011	52	2098 Khotso street Katlehong
2	Phutanang Clinic	2011	84	7522 Kgaga street  Tsakane
3	Reedville Clinic	2011	74	Stands 604 + 605 Ottawa Street, Reedville
4	Slovo Park Clinic	2011	75	Erf 1932,1933 + 1954 Durban Drive, Slovo Park
5	Tsakane Ext 10 Clinic	2011	86	Stand 45522 & 45523, Simelane Street, Tsakane
6	Wannenburg Clinic	2011	21	C/o Pretoria and Mimosa Road, Primrose
7	Ethafeni Clinic	2012	14	43 Bennin Steet, Ethafeni Section, Ethafeni Park
8	Itireleng Clinic	2012	13	2959 Posmor & Inauguration Road, Phomolong Section, Chloorkop Ext 52, Tembisa
9	Tsakane Clinic (Ward 83)	2012	83	33334 Fingo Street, Tsakane
10	Vosloorus Poly Clinic	2012	47	New: Vosloorus ERF30, EXT1, Vosloorus
11	Alrapark Ext 3 Clinic	2014	88	Cnr Sasstri and Molopo street Ext 3 Alra Park
12	Joy Clinic	2014	67	Erf 1343 Etwatwa West
13	Ramaphosa Clinic	2014	42	Ingwamza Street, Reiger Park Ext 5
14	Springs Clinic	2014	75	Middle Six and Plantation Road, Springs
15	Tamaho Clinic	2014	51	Erf 2141 Nhlapo Section, Cnr. Sokele and Matsose Street, Katlehong
16	White City Clinic	2014	79	Thema Road, Kwa -Thema, Springs
17	Daveyton East Clinic	2015	68	Stand No 869, Chris Hani, Ext 9 Daveyton East
18	Motsamai Clinic	2015	50	260 Motsamai Section Katlehong
19	Palmridge Clinic	2015	58	RE 41 Palmridge Road, Palmridge Community Centre, Palmridge
20	Tswelopele Clinic	2015	44	22 Lusika Street, Eastfield, Vosloorus
21	Villa Lisa Clinic	2015	43	22 Camel Street, Villa Liza
	TOTAL			21

d) The budget for health infrastructure upgrades for 2015/16 is R96 727 171(ninety-six million, seven hundred and twenty-seven thousand, and one-hundred and seventy-one rand).

MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

There is no Service Level Agreement between the Municipal Health Services of the Mangaung Metro and the Provincial Department of Health.

NELSON MANDELA BAY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (NMBM)

Since July 2012 the NMBM is no longer providing Primary Health Care Services following the provincialisation of these services. There is no Service Level Agreement in place since the above-mentioned date. The only clinic service rendered by the NMBM is for Occupational Health Services for Municipal employees.

Reply:

(1) (a) All provinces have introduced measures to reduce expenditure, including the freezing of non critical posts. Medical posts are not frozen.

(b) Not applicable, see (1) (a) above.

(2) No.

END.

Reply:

a) Yes, the GCIS has placed advertising in The New Age in 2012-13, regarding (i) and (ii), insertions detailed in table below.

b) Yes, the GCIS has placed advertising in The New Age in 2013-14, regarding (i) and (ii), insertions detailed in table below.

c) Yes, the GCIS has placed advertising in The New Age in 2014-15, regarding (i) and (ii), insertions detailed in table below. In the period October 2014 – April 2015, the GCIS merged with the Department of Communications to facilitate the start-up of the Department of Communication, hence the reference to Department of Communications.

	2012-2013
DEPARTMENT	CAMPAIGN NAME	INVOICE AMOUNT
GCIS	National Orders	R 450 000.00
	Orders of Companions of OR Tambo	R 77 319.36
	SONA	R 893 475.29
	State Funeral	R 92 836.93
GCIS Total		R 1 513 631.58
	2013/2014
GCIS	Mandela Memorial campaign: State Funeral	R62 928.00
	Recruitment	R50 068.80
	SONA	R821 128.32
GCIS Total		R934 125.12
	2014/2015
Communications	Database Registration	R 14 945.40
	Profiling Campaign	R 720 990.72
	Recruitment	R 301 195.75
	Recruitment Phase 3	R 57 078.43
	SONA 2014	R 100 137.60
	SONA 2015	R 101 888.64
Total Communications		R 1 296 236.54

 

 

MR DONALD LIPHOKO

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

(1) There are no incentives provided to encourage the legal use of electricity. Eskom makes use of the Operation Khanyisa Campaign to inform and educate customers about how to better manage electricity usage.

(2)(a) We assume all non-technical energy loss to be attributed to theft. Non-technical losses in Eskom amounted to R4.7bn for 2014/15 FY.

(b) The amount stated in (2)(a) above represents the collective loss across all provinces. Eskom estimates non-technical losses at a national level, a breakdown per province therefore not available.

Reply:

(1) Yes. The concerns were received and acknowledged by the Ministry of Health. A further acknowledgement and assurance of the fact that the concern is being attended to was done by the Chief Directorate: Environmental Health and Port Health Services on the 08th of February 2016 to the complainant.

(2) Yes. The Department of Health conducted an investigation. The Department of Agriculture which is responsible for conducting chemical analysis for a range of chemical residues in food products (poultry, hens, eggs, bovine, ovine, porcine, etc.) whether imported into the country or produced inland, was engaged.

Food samples were taken by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the poultry products were found to be complying to the country's legal requirements and therefore it has been released to the market.

The role of the Department of Health will be to make sure that the poultry and its products are safe for human consumption through required monitoring processes. All Food Premises handling imported poultry products will be monitored. The two departments are working very closely in sharing information about consignments received and the destination for further handling which may include resale, repackaging, processing, etc.

Poultry products are handled, packaged and sealed at the point/country of origin and certified by the local inspectorate authority. All preservatives used should be indicated on the label and only approved preservatives can be used at approved levels (in terms of the CODEX Alimentarius list). The poultry products from the USA are preserved with Acetic Acid which is vinegar and kept under controlled temperature. South Africa conducts several tests on the poultry product including testing for preservatives. Consignments are transported in a sealed temperature controlled container at -18 ̊C and the seal is broken on arrival at the cold storage in South Africa. Temperature control is monitored and can be tested on arrival to see the trend throughout the voyage; a report can be generated to give an indication if there were any temperature issues during the transportation.

Additional tests are conducted to identify if there are any micro organisms in the poultry product being imported into the country. Aerobic plate count process is used as a screening measure. Further tests are done if there is an indication that the meat product is not fresh.

The National Department of Health is of the view that the identified risk can be contained through the normal processes of Environmental Health monitoring activities done by the Department of Health, Districts and Metropolitan Municipalities. Necessary steps will be taken to address any issues arising from the monitoring process. All role players are taking all necessary steps within the South African legislative provisions to deal with all perceived risks.

END.

Reply:

(a) (i) 60.1%

(ii) Bid documents do not make provision for suppliers to indicate whether they are SMME’s or Co-operatives. The procurement was thus done with consideration of BEE levels.

 

(b) (i) South Africa Medical Research Council (31.4%)

National Health Laboratories Services (22.5%)

Office of Standard Health Compliance (70%)

 

(ii) Bid documents do not make provision for suppliers to indicate whether they are SMME’s or Co-operatives. The procurement was thus done with consideration of BEE levels.

END.

Reply:

a) The process to be followed by provinces is as outlined in Section 12 of the Municipal Structures Act, which requires the MEC for local government in a province to establish a municipality in each municipal area which the Municipal Demarcation Board demarcates, and which establishment takes effect at the commencement of the first election of the council of that municipality.

Section 14(5) of the Municipal Structures further provides that the MEC, by notice in the Provincial Gazette, may make provision for transitional measures to facilitate the disestablishment of an existing municipality and the establishment of a new municipality.

The different transition matters are discussed and processed through various transitional structures at the provincial and municipal spheres, as well as reported at the Municipal Demarcation Transition Committee which is convened by the Department of Cooperative Governance.

b) The Section 14(5) Notices also provide for the establishment of Municipal Political Change Management Committees and Municipal Technical Change Management Committees.

The Municipal Political Change Management Committees are constituted by the mayors, speakers, members of the executive or mayoral committees and traditional leaders from the affected local and district municipalities.

The Municipal Technical Change Management Committees are constituted by the municipal managers and heads of department from the affected local and district municipalities, as well as representatives from organised labour and the South African Local Government Association.

The Section 14(5) Notices deal with matters relating to budgets, organograms, systems and processes, assets and equipment, integrated development planning, communications and other institutional systems and processes.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. The Department thus made a request to Metropolitan Municipalities to provide the relevant information. Information was received from the following Metropolitan Municipalities:

BUFFALO CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (BCMM)

1. The BCMM does not have a Metropolitan Police Department. BCMM is in the process of establishing a Metropolitan Police Department with its implementation date being scheduled for 2016/17.

2. Not applicable

3. Not applicable

CITY OF TSHWANE (CoT)

1. (a) The Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) was established on 04 April 2002. It functions independently from the South African Police, funded by and accountable to the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, as per the South African Police Service Act, 1995 and 1998, as amended (Act No. 68 of 1995 and Act No. 83 of 1998). The Act prescribes the functions of a Municipal Police Service per Section 64E, as follows:

    Traffic policing, subject to any legislation relating to road traffic (Road Policing);

    The policing of municipal by-laws and regulations which are the responsibility of the municipality in question;

    The prevention of crime.

(b)  The TMPD Staff Establishment is listed within the table below:

Designation	ESTABLISHMENT
	Approved Posts as per structure	Posts filled as per Migration and Placement process	Vacancies	Current warm bodies	Proposed vacancies to be filled in 2015/16	Male	Female	Operational	Admin	Occupational   level
						A	C	I	W	A	C	I	W
Admin Officer	289	167	122	143	0	22	1	0	6	65	8	2	39	0	143	5
Cashier	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
Chief of Police	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Chief Security Evaluator	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	3
Chief Security Officer (GR A): Internal Security	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
Commander	36	21	15	21	0	8	1	0	9	2	0	0	1	21	0	2
Constable / Sergeant	2601	1533	1068	1531	0	824	48	5	108	518	10	0	18	1531	0	5
Constable Gr III				1875		1032	24	0	3	812	4	0	0	1875		5
Deputy Chief of Police	5	2	3	2	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
Deputy Director	15	10	5	10	0	5	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	1	9	2
Director	13	11	2	11	0	7	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	4	7	2
Driver	8	2	6	2	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5
Driver Messenger	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
Examiner	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4
Executive Commitments Tracking Specialist	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
Executive Secretary	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	4
Executive Support Specialist	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
Functional Head	41	19	22	19	0	4	1	0	6	5	1	0	2	2	17	3
Functional Head/ Snr Superintendent	8	2	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	3
General Worker	22	14	8	14	0	10	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	14	6
Human Resource Officer	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4
Inspector	350	230	120	230	70	97	5	1	65	57	1	0	4	230	0	4
Law Enforcement officer	80	73	7	73	0	42	3	0	0	28	0	0	0	73	0	5
Liaison Officer	7	1	6	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
License Officer	0	0	0	9	0	3	0	0	0	4	0	0	2	0	9	5
Librarian	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Management / Strategic Support Officer	3	2	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	3
Messenger	2	2	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6
Operator Radio Control	40	18	22	18	0	3	0	0	2	12	0	0	1	18	0	5
Personal Assistant	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	3
Regional Director	7	5	2	5	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	5	0	2
Secretary	20	3	17	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	4
Security Evaluator	8	2	6	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	5
Security Officer (GR C)	120	1	119	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5
Snr Admin Officer	56	34	22	33	0	5	0	0	3	12	2	0	11	0	33	4
Snr Secretary	5	4	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	4	4
Snr Security Evaluator	4	3	1	3	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	0	4
Snr Security Officer (GR B)	18	4	14	4	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0	5
Snr Superintendent	88	55	33	55	0	25	1	0	15	9	0	0	5	55	0	3
Strategic Support Specialist	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Superintendent	146	87	59	87	0	34	2	0	14	32	0	0	4	87	0	3
Supervisor (Worker)	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6
Support Service Officer	22	5	17	5	0	2	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	5	4
System Officer	8	5	3	5	0	0	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	5	4
Technical Officer	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	5
Waiter	3	3	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	6
Warden	52	27	25	27	0	22	1	0	4	0	0	0	0	27	0	5
Total	4095	2354	1741	4212	75	2165	91	6	245	1575	27	2	100	3941	271
														4212
			Sergeant	866		429	17	4	83	317	3	0	13
			Constable	665		395	31	1	25	201	7	0	5
				1531

(c)         The Tshwane Metro Police Fleet vehicles are listed within the table below:

Type	Total
BUS	11
CAR	187
KOMBI	72
LDV	192
MOTORBIKE	142
TRACTOR	1
TRAILER	47
TRUCK	25
TOTAL	677

2. The Tshwane Metro Police’s Special Project Team assists with drug enforcement, as per the initiative implemented by the Chief of Police since January 2015. The unit consists of seven (7) members and one Supervisor who has sixteen (16) years’ experience relevant to the enforcement of illegal substance abuse. Tshwane does not have a problem of gangs as such, but the department however works closely with the SAPS to deal with crime prevention in general.

3. (a) The current TMPD system (manually) assists with monitoring calls and call time intervals. The TMPD Nodal Point (331) dispatches complaints to the regions, after which the regions contact members via cell phones or radio to attend to complaints.

    (b) Status quo on dispatch is 00:01:39 (1 Minute and 39 seconds from receipt of a call until dispatched to operational members).

MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality does not have a Metro Police Department.

NELSON MANDELA BAY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (NMBM)

NMBM is currently busy with the planning and physical establishment process of a Metro Police Department.

 

Reply:

1. SAPO is cooperating and implementing the recommendations of both the Public Protector and the SIU Reports.
2. The Minister through our department is monitoring that SAPO complies with the recommendations of the Reports.

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:-

(a) The funds reflected under the Consultants: Business and advisory services line item are not funds that will be used to procure consultancy services. National Treasury allocated Phase 1 roll-out funding under the Economic classification (Goods and Services: Consultants: Business and advisory services) line item. These funds will be used to procure connectivity services for the facilities targeted for the Phase 1 roll-out over the MTEF period.

The increase in the allocation is due to additional funds that National Treasury allocated towards the SA Connect Phase 1 implementation.

(b) Additional funding was allocated by National Treasury in 2017/18 and 2018/19 as it was envisaged that lessons learnt from the Phase 1 pilot will allow for a ramp up of the project in the outer years. This funding is in addition to the partial funding that was allocated for the Phase 1 roll-out during the 2014 MTEF allocation period, covering the 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial years.

(c) There will not be any consultants procured using the funds allocated for the roll-out.

(d) Refer to (c)

 

Reply:

As per attached table.

Reply:

Yes, Government is pursuing a vigorous policy for the early detection of Glaucoma and provision of medical intervention for those who already have the condition. As part of Government’s response to the 1999 Vision 2020 Initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and IAPB, guidelines for Eye Health were developed prioritising the five leading causes of blindness and visual impairment in South Africa, that is Cataract, Glaucoma, Diabetic retinopathy, Childhood blindness and Retractive errors. The following services/activities have taken place as part of a strategy to minimize the impact of eye health conditions and Glaucoma specifically:

• A symptom-based integrated clinical management Primary Care (PC101) guideline incorporates the detection and management of Glaucoma and other eye care conditions at a Primary Health Care (PHC) level;

• Eye Health has been integrated with all other programmes to ensure that eye health is addressed holistically and not as a vertical programme. This allows for the screening of Glaucoma on patients with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension;

• Every year, provinces organise a Glaucoma awareness week to raise awareness about the impact of Glaucoma. During the week, screening and health education on Glaucoma is provided. Different mainstream and social media are also utilised to educate the public on Glaucoma. In 2016, Glaucoma awareness week was commemorated during the week of the 6th to the 12th March 2016; and

• The following services are regularly provided at different facilities:

• Primary level - screening is conducted by PHC nurses, ophthalmic nurses and optometrists. Suspected cases of Glaucoma are referred to hospitals for further assessments and management;

• Secondary level – Ophthalmologists and Optometrists screen the eye and provide management for all Glaucoma cases that are detected. Low vision and rehabilitative services are provided to people whose vision has been irreparably damaged.

• Government has appointed a dedicated eye health person at the National Department of Health to prioritise eye health and develop strategies to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment including the early detection of Glaucoma.

No records are available on specific year on year programmes run during the period 01 June 2009 to 29 February 2016.

END.

Reply:

1. The clinic at Senekal, OR Tambo Section, in the Eastern Free State province, was not completed because the contractor failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the contract, and as such was never handed over to the provincial department of health, and as such it could not be opened.
2. The damage, due to the vandalism of the facility, is a responsibility the contractor because it was never handed over to the provincial department of health.

END.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

The investigation into alleged irregularities at the Independent Development Trust (IDT) was not conducted by the Auditor-General of South Africa. The IDT Board of Trustees appointed Gobodo Forensic and Investigative Accounting (PTY) Ltd. (GFIA) to conduct a preliminary investigation into the allegations of irregularities in the procurement of goods and services.

A preliminary report, which was presented to the IDT Board of Trustees, revealed serious irregularities in the supply chain management processes within the IDT and further recommended that certain significant findings required further investigation.

The Board then took a proactive step and referred such an investigation to the Specialised Audit Services Unit (SAS) within the Office of the Accountant-General at the National Treasury. This Unit conducts all its investigations in collaboration with all the law enforcement agencies of Government, including the South African Police Service under the auspices of Anti-Corruption Task Team.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. The Department thus made a request to Metropolitan Municipalities to provide the relevant information. Information was received from the following Metropolitan Municipalities:

BUFFALO CITY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

The BCMM does not offer any support to neighbourhood watch initiatives other than the BCMM Law Enforcement Services and Traffic Services.

CITY OF TSHWANE

The functions of the Tshwane Metro Police include Crime Prevention, By-Laws and Road Policing. The Crime Prevention and Social Crime Prevention Units do assist neighbourhood watches as and when needed. Tshwane is divided into Regions and Regional Policing offices attend meetings at South African Police Stations whereby the community is assisted through the Community Police Forum Meetings.

MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

Not applicable

NELSON MANDELA BAY METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (NMBMM)

Metro Police not yet established. The SAPS currently provides support to neighbourhood watch initiatives.

 

Reply:

1. No, NERSA develops rules not regulations. We are in the process of developing Licensing Regulations, which will enable NERSA to implement Small-Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG) rules that they have developed.
2. (a) It is the responsibility of the Department to ensure organised development in the electricity industry and the development of licensing regulations is meant to facilitate government policy objectives. Incidentally, it is municipal constraints relating to the wheeling of power that pose the biggest risk to SSEG.

(b) The Regulations are still under development and are expected to be published for public comments.

Reply:

NO	(b), (c)Period:	(i) What No of Times	(ii) Amount:
A	April 2012 to March 2013	1	R45,131.18
B	April 2013 to March 2014	2	R1,038,466.70
C	April 2014 to March 2015	1	R305,208.41

Grand total R1 388 806.29

Reply:

The Chief Executive Officer of the IDC was quoted in a local newspaper in February 2016, as noting that the IDC needs to restructure some of the debt that it holds.

This restructuring would be on the asset, not liability side of the IDC’s balance sheet, ie money owed to the Corporation by local companies.

The purpose of the debt restructuring is to assist IDC clients and business partners that are affected by the downturn in the macro-economic environment, particularly those that are negatively impacted by the slump in commodity prices. In this regard further details will be provided in my budget vote speech, or as soon as the IDC has completed the technical work on the matter.

-END-

Reply:

1. NERSA does not use the marginal cost based method for electricity tariffs but rather the revenue requirement method. The Electricity Regulation Act requires that NERSA allow an efficient operator to recover its cost plus a reasonable return. This method is applied fully for Eskom. In case of Municipalities, this method has just been approved for implementation. It has therefore not been applied for municipal regulation. The cost of supply studies will be performed by municipalities and submitted to NERSA for review and consideration when municipal tariff applications are considered.
2. Please refer to (1) above.

Reply:

According to information received from Tlokwe City Local Municipality, as at Dec 2015.

(1) (a) Two (2) officials are currently on suspension.

(b) (i) (aa) Position of suspended official	(bb) Reason for suspension	(ii) Period of suspension	(iii) Total remuneration during period of suspension
Senior Librarian	Harassment and intimidation of subordinates, failure to report theft by a subordinate and gross misconduct (abuse of power).	One (1) month (27 October 2015)	R 49 762.30
Senior Admin Officer	Disruption of normal operations of the employer, displaying rude and aggressive behaviour to fellow employees, wilful absence from performing tasks and responsibilities allocated to him.	One (1) month (2 October 2015)	R 39 172.29

(2) No severance packages were paid to any municipal official.

Reply:

a) The department is only responsible for managing the local government equitable share which provides for the subsidization of the provision of basic services to poor households. In the Local Government Equitable Share formula a monthly household income equal to two old age pensioners’ grant of R2 300 per month is used to define the formula’s affordability threshold. It should be noted that the threshold is not an official poverty line or a required level to be used by municipalities in their own indigent policies. However, should municipalities choose to provide fewer households with free basic services than they are funded for through the local government equitable share, their budget documentation should clearly indicate why they have made this choice and how they have consulted with their community during the budget process.

b) With regard to the Local Government Equitable Share (LGES) formula, the basic services component of the formula provides for the subsidisation of the provision of basic services to poor households. The subsidy includes funding for the provision of free basic water (6 kiloliters per household per month), energy (50 kilowatt-hours per household per month) and sanitation and refuse (based on the service levels as defined national policy). The basic services component provides a subsidy of R313.76 per month in 2015/16 for the cost of providing basic services to each of these households. The monthly amount provided to each service is provided in the Explanatory Memorandum to the 2015 Division of Revenue Bill.

c) According to the STATSSA Non-Financial Census released in August 2015, the total nationwide number of indigent households registered with municipalities is 3 482 260. The table below captures registered indigent households per metro:

Table 1: Total Number of Indigent Households Registered in each Metropolitan Municipality

Province	Metropolitan Municipality	Indigent Households
Gauteng	City of Johannesburg	288, 209
	Tshwane	96, 883
	Ekurhuleni	36,526
Free State	Mangaung	20, 105
KwaZulu Natal	Ethekwini	589, 605
Eastern Cape	Buffalo City	61, 960
	Nelson Mandela Bay	85,022
Western Cape	City of Cape Town	288, 724
Total		1,467,034

d) The basic services component of the local government equitable share is worth
R33.3 billion in 2015/16 financial year and accounts for 74.9 per cent of the total value of the local government equitable share.

e)

• • 1. The eligibility for indigent subsidy is determined via application. All households who qualify in terms of the criteria set by the municipality visit municipal offices and/ or other registration points established by the municipality to complete and lodge applications for subsidy consideration.
    2. The eligibility for indigent subsidy is not determined automatically via Property valuation. Instead, it is determined via application process as in (i) above. Property valuation is just but one of the many targeting methods that municipalities can use to target indigent households as spelt out in the national indigent Policy framework and the implementation guidelines.

Reply:

a) Yes, the current installed capacity of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (REIPP) Programme is 2.48 GW and the maximum simultaneous contribution recorded is 1.59 GW.

b) Yes, the REIPP programme has been run and is delivering in a world class way comparable to the best in the world. Time expectations have been met and although there is not a “budget” in the strictest sense of the word, the energy prices for the programme have come down via the competitive tendering process, exceeding expectations. There is significant confidence in the industry, which can be seen in the large amounts of money being invested.

c) No, it was never an objective of the REIPP programme to make a case for or against the argument that renewable energy will not meet base load. The decisions around the requirements for base load or peaking energy is made in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. At the same time it can be stated that the country’s electricity demand profile requires a large portion of base-load generation, which is generation that is predictably available throughout the day for every day of the week. Unfortunately, renewables cannot supply this base load as they are inherently extremely variable and large scale storage, to smooth out this variability, is not yet economically viable. Either nuclear or fossil (coal or gas) or hydro (unfortunately only in a limited way in South Africa) generation must provide this base load. Put differently, a large scale renewable wind programme can provide a degree of base load if geographically well diversified but will need to be supplemented with storage and other dispatchable generation technologies. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) can provide base load if built with enough storage but the cost of this far exceeds the other base load options.

d) Yes, the REIPP programme has already demonstrated its viability. From an integrated power system point of view, the renewable energy contributed to the grid every day, significantly reducing the need for Eskom to use open cycle gas turbines and as such is preventing load shedding as well.

e) Yes, the electricity supplied from renewables is currently being used by all customers and is thus suitable and available for all. The nature of the country’s integrated power system is such that all generation, regardless of technology or origin, is effectively pooled and all customers draw from this pool. It is not impossible for any customer to determine the generator(s) sourcing its electricity.

Reply:

(1) An unused sub-site on the Government Communication and Information System website that housed a redundant contact database was hacked exploiting an SQL injection vulnerability.

(a) No restricted area of the website was accessed. All the information on the sub-site database is public information and the log files of the content management system (CMS) of the sub-site database indicate that none of the exposed user information was used to log onto the CMS before the vulnerability was closed.

(b) No data was lost.

(c) The vulnerability was removed, all redundant accounts on the user table were locked and active accounts were reset.

(2) The Department’s website and the websites of the entities reporting to it have not been hacked over the past 12 months.

 

 

MR DONALD LIPHOKO

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

DATE:

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

1. During the period 1 July 2015 to 31 January 2016, GCIS placed advertisements to the value of R153 138 655.73 on behalf of its clients (national and provincial departments and entities reporting to these departments). R22 187 761.61 of this advertising expenditure was allocated to community media (community radio stations, community print media, community television stations and small commercial publications), representing 14% of the allocated budget. A detailed breakdown follows below:

(a)(i) 13% of advertising allocated by national departments as listed in the accompanying table

(ii) 12% of advertising allocated by provincial departments as listed in the accompanying table

(b) 18% of advertising allocated by all entities reporting to specified departments as listed in the accompanying table

2. Community media offers government the opportunity to direct communications messages at specific and highly localised audiences. Whilst this is adequate for tactical interventions on community print or community television, interactive campaigns requiring the targeting of multiple communities simultaneously are best suited to community radio.

The Government Communication and Information System primarily focuses on such high reach multi-site campaigns which often use interactive phone-in community radio programmes. In this advertising format, a minimum of 75 community radio stations are connected via satellite to enable a single interview to be broadcast to multiple community radio stations. In turn, listeners resident in the broadcast footprint of any of the participating community radio stations can call in to the GCIS studio and interact live with the studio guests.

This capability is not available on other forms of community media as detailed in the question.

MR D LIPHOKO

[ACTING] DIRECTOR GENERAL

GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

The Economic Development Department is not involved in this project. The Gauteng Department of Economic Development is overseeing the project.

-END-

Reply:

(a) Minister was not invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

 

(b) (i) not applicable

(ii) not applicable

 

(c) (i) not applicable

(ii) not applicable

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the department. We will however engage the affected provincial department responsible, to solicit the relevant information from the municipality. The Honourable Member will be kept updated on the process.

Reply:

a) Kurara FM received a total grant funding of R 1,575,946.59 from the Media Development & Diversity Agency in October 2010 which was to cover the Purchasing of a digital broadcast studio; Transmission costs; Stipends; and Operational costs. The allocated funds were to be disbursed to the station on a tranche payment basis, meaning for every tranche of the funds released, the station was or is contractually obligated to submit a comprehensive financial and narrative report accompanied by supporting documents. The station could not adequately report on the first tranche of the funds and the Agency sent an official to the station to assist with the report. As a result, the station was then able to receive its second of the four tranche payments.

Subsequently, as contractually required, the station once again could not submit a thorough report and the Agency once more visited the station to intervene and assist the station. Upon the Agency’s engagement with the project, it learnt that the station had undergone a change in management and the management, together with its board, declared that the station had no records of the funds. As such, it claimed, it could not furnish the Agency with the required report, a key prerequisite before any further funds could be disbursed to the project. In light of this impasse, the Agency has since advised the station to request that the grant be written-off and reapply for another grant with the Agency. The station is yet to respond after the last engagement with the Agency. It should be noted that the recommendation to the station from the Agency’s officials is based on the fact that the station has declared that it cannot account for and has no record whatsoever of the funds in question.

Radio Teemaneng received a total grant funding of R 954,773.62 from the Media Development & Diversity Agency in July 2011 which was to cover Equipment and Operational costs. The station has so far received two payments of the four tranches as per its contract with the Agency. While the Agency has tried to assist the station to adequately report on the latest funds it received, the contract the station has with the Agency lapsed as a result of slow reporting from the station. It also emerged that the station could not provide the Agency with a valid tax clearance certificate. As part of requirements, before any payment can be made to any entity or beneficiary, a valid tax clearance must be submitted to the Agency, and the station is yet to do so do date. As it stands, the Agency has given the station an opportunity to resolve its tax certificate issues with SARS before any further payment can be made. The process will also require that the station’s contract with the Agency be extended, provided that the station can adequately report on its previous tranche and also provide a valid tax clearance certificate.

(b)(i) A total number of 57 community radio stations have been assisted by the Media Development & Diversity Agency from the period 1st January 2012 to 31st of December 2015, as follows: Limpopo (10); North West (9); KZN (12); Eastern Cape (5); Western Cape (4); Free State (3); Mpumalanga (7); Northern Cape (3); Gauteng (4).

(ii) The stations were funded for various line items and the breakdown per province is as follows:

Limpopo Province

1. Maruleng FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Giyani Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends, Programme Production)
3. Greater Tzaneen FM ((Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, and stipends)
4. Sekhukhune FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. Botlokwa FM (Programme production)
6. Lephalale Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Mohodi FM (Programme Production and stipends)
8. Malamulele FM (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs and stipends)
9. Tshepo ya Sechaba Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
10. Hlanganani FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs and stipends)

North West

1. Kgatleng FM (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Madibogo Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Mafikeng Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Mmabatho FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. Radio Mafisa (Transmission equipment, operational cost)
6. Village FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Motsitle Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
8. Aganang Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, stipends and programme production)
9. Star FM (Operational Costs, Office Equipments, Salaries and Programme production)

KwaZulu Natal

1. ICORA (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Ngquthu Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Nqubeko Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Umgungundlovu Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. KZN Capital Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
6. Inanda FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Ugu Youth Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
8. Siyathuthuka Community Radio ( Transmission equipment, operational costs and stipends)
9. Maputaland Community Radio
10. Vibe FM ((Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs and power back- up)
11. Radio Khwezi (Programme Production)
12. Nongoma FM(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

Eastern Cape

1. Mdantsane FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Kumkani FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Izwilethemba Community Christian Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Isajonisi Youth Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
5. LA FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

 

Western Cape

1. Radio KC (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, security costs, marketing costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Bush Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio and stipends)
3. Radio Kaapsepunt (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
4. Radio Namakwaland (Programme production)

Free State

1. Koepel Stereo (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
2. Naledi Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Mozolo Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

Mpumalanga

1. Mash FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs and stipends)
2. Emalahleni Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, stipends and Programme production)
3. Bushbuckridge Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios and signage)
4. Nkangala Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs and operational costs)
5. MP East Community Radio (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
6. Nkomazi FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
7. Kanyamazane Community Radio(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, stipends and Programme production)

Northern Cape

1. Radio Riverside (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming, stipends and audio streaming)
2. N FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming, stipends and audio streaming)
3. Revival FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)

Gauteng

1. Eldos (Digital broadcasting equipment, Transmitter, Training and Operational Costs)
2. Hweletsa Hope FM (Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs, audio streaming and stipends)
3. Ekasi Connexion (Power back up, Digital Broadcasting Equipment)
4. Bagaka FM(Digital broadcast studios, transmission costs, operational costs)

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

1. No.

South Africa enjoys a strong cordial relationship with the US. Various channels of communication are open for both sides should they see the need to discuss any issue. The two Ministers normally do so under the auspices of Strategic Dialogue which they co-chair.

2. No.

 

UNQUOTE

Reply:

Since the advent of load shedding and the creation of the war room in 2014, the DoE commissioned a study in conjunction with the CSIR to quantify the extent of the cost savings emanating from the deployment of renewable energy technology, including solar, in the place of diesel and this was estimated at R3.6bn.

The DoE made a proposal to accelerate the cheaper alternative of using solar technology to replace diesel-fired power generation. This alternative is based on the generation of solar energy using solar plants that have been procured under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPPP). The DoE further made a determination under Section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act to procure additional solar generation capacity through an expedited procurement process given that there was evidence that this option would assist in reducing the cost of generation of diesel fired turbines, especially during peak periods.

The process for the expedited procurement of an addition 1800MW of solar power generation was concluded under the REIPPP with bid submissions closing on 11 November 2015. The commissioning of these power stations is expected within two years and it can therefore be expected that less and less diesel will be required during periods when solar power is generated.

Reply:

a)  The Department does support SMMEs, Co-operatives, as well as Township and rural enterprises through their procurement spent.

b) The procurement spent for SOEs was mainly on SMMEs and they are detailed below as follows.

Entity	Report
NNR	15% of R51 million total Expenditure year to date on goods & services
SANEDI	R3,313770.00 being 19% of total cash and accrued operating expenses
CEF	R 3,847,260,039.37 spent on BBEE including SMME (CEF Group does not report specifically on SMMEs and Co-operatives or categories these suppliers separate from the BEE spend.
NECSA	37% of the total procurement spend (R 86 million) was spent on Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs= Annual revenue of less than 10 million 25% of the total procurement spend ( R 58 million ) was spent on Exempt Micro Enterprises (EME=Annual revenue of less that R 50 million ) NB: In terms of the BBBEE Act, SMME’s are now referred to as QSEs and EMEs.
NERSA	More than 40% of R60 million (NERSA’s procurement spend for 2015/16) went to service providers with a BBBEE Level 3 and above.
NRWDI	NRWDI is not yet operational; this is not applicable to the Institute.

Reply:

1. Yes, the Minister requested the SARS Commissioner to discontinue the restructuring of SARS operational restructuring to enable him to review and consult with the team on the matter.
2. The National Treasury does not have an oversight role of SARS.

Reply:

(a) Vhembe District Municipality has been identified as one of the municipalities that is supported in terms of Back to Basics programme. Support that is currently provided by the department includes filling of vacant senior management positions, namely: (1) Municipal Manager; (2) Director: Community Services; and (3) Director: Technical services.

(b) According to the information received from the Limpopo Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, the Vhembe District municipal council resolved that the employment of the municipal manager should not continue as she refused to sign an employment contract. The Council indicated that the terms of the employment contract which the municipal manager refused to agree with are reasonable and in the best interest of the municipality. The department is in the process of seconding an acting municipal manager as requested by the municipal council.
 

Reply:

According to the report compiled by the National Treasury in terms of section 71 of the MFMA, as at September 2015, the categories of debtors set out below have arrears on electricity and other services including sewerage, refuse removal and water. The debtor amounts reflected below are exclusive of interest.

1. (a) Individuals

Service	Arrears on service fees excluding interest (R ‘000)
Electricity	R3,772,823 billion
Any other services (excluding property rates)	R20,110,377 billion

(1) (b) Businesses

Service	Arrears on service fees excluding interest (R ‘000)
Electricity	R5,102,455 billion
Any other services (excluding property rates)	R2,983,647 billion

(1) (c) Sate Institutions

Service	Arrears service fees excluding interest (R ‘000)
Electricity	602,587 million
Any other services (excluding property rates)	989,179 million

2. My department, in consultation with other stakeholders, has taken various initiatives to curtail the non-payment of municipal arrear debt. These initiatives include auditing and verification of the outstanding government debt, the verification entails confirming whether invoices that are contested by government departments are correct. The team is also ensuring that municipalities have enforceable credit control policies and by-laws.

I will consider whether or not to make a statement in due course.

Reply:

(1) (a) Eskom has issued nine public notifications of partial disconnection of electricity supply by 31 December 2015. (b) There are no municipalities that have received notices from the Waterboards due to non-payment.

(ii)The following municipalities are affected have been issued with disconnection notices by Eskom. The detailed breakdown of debt owed by each is illustrated in the table below:

PROVINCE	MUNICIPALITY	TOTAL DEBT OWED R’000 (Million)
Eastern Cape	Gariep	R56.8
	Maletswai	R59.2
	Nxuba	R43
	Ikwezi	R13.9
Northern Cape	Kha-ima	R5.7
	Dikgatlong	R23.1
	Ubuntu	R16.8
	Thembelihle	R22.7
	Magareng	R17.5

(iii) Aligned to the approach taken by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (COGTA) Public Enterprises (DPE) and SALGA, Eskom in conjunction with the national task team is visiting affected municipalities, as well as those that were disconnected in December 2015 and January 2016. The objective is to assess the challenges faced by the municipalities and provide Eskom with the opportunity to enter into sustainable payment arrangements.

(2) I have not yet considered an intervention in the defaulting municipalities, in terms of section 139(5) of the Constitution, the power to intervene in municipalities rests with the relevant provincial executives. It is only when a provincial executive cannot or does not adequately exercise the powers or perform the functions referred to in subsection (5) that the national executive is permitted to intervene in a municipality.

Reply:

(1) Sections 51, 52, 53 and 54 of the Financial Management Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2009 (Act No. 10 of 2009), as amended (herein called “the Act”), took effect on 19 April 2009. The Act was amended by the Financial Management of Parliament Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 34 of 2014), which took effect on 1 April 2015. The mentioned sections of the Act were not amended by Act No. 34 of 2014.

(2) The Act does not confer authority on the National Treasury to grant exemptions from compliance with any of its provisions to Parliament. The National Treasury is not seized with the administration of the Act and ensuring compliance with its provisions. Sections 51 to 53 of the Act impose obligations on the Accounting Officer of Parliament, i.e. the Secretary to Parliament, while section 54 of the Act imposes obligations on the Executing Authority of Parliament, i.e. the presiding officers of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, acting jointly, and also on Parliament. The oversight mechanism envisaged in section 4 of the Act is tasked with maintaining oversight of the financial management of Parliament.

 

Reply:

Yes, the response with respect to each metropolitan municipality is as reflected in the tables below.

Given that the granting of rate rebates is one of the three instruments municipalities utilise in granting relief to property owners, for completeness we have included information pertaining to the granting of reductions on the market values of properties and exemptions where applicable. This is because municipalities use any combination of these three relief measures (according to their individual preference). Thus, by merely looking at only one of these three relief measures in isolation of the other two, one cannot get a full picture as to how each metropolitan municipality approaches the issue of granting relief to property owners.

The information below is sourced from municipal rates policies and other relevant municipal budget related documents which contain detailed information (such indigent policies and resolutions levying rates), and therefore this response does not provide all detailed information (e.g. with respect to criteria) as reflected in those documents because to do so would amount to duplicating information in those municipal documents which are ordinarily published in municipal websites for any interested person to obtain detailed information without the risk of these being summarised by someone else (as is the case now by the Department) in a manner which can fail to do justice to those detailed public documents.

Buffalo City

Rebates

(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Be the owner of a property categorized as residential Occupy the property as his/her primary residence Must apply for the rebate Must be in receipt of gross monthly income (excluding medical contributions) not exceeding R10,500.00 from all sources including income of spouse Must be at least 60 years of age on 1 July of the financial year concerned, and If the applicant turns 60 in that financial year the rebate will be granted on a pro rata basis from the date on which the applicant turns 60 (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate : Income R0 - R3000 85% rebate : Income R3001 – R4500 70% rebate : Income R4501 – R6000 55% rebate : Income R6001 – R7500 40% rebate : Income R7501 – R9000 25% rebate : Income R9000 – R10500 (b) People with disability: (i) Criteria The first 4 bullets in (a) above applies Disabled persons must be in receipt of a disability grant and submit proof e.g. letter from SASSA (ii) Relief in each specified case Same as in (a) above. (c) Low income property owners: (i) Criteria The owner may not own any property in addition to the property in respect of which indigent support is provided Property of indigent household may be inspected annually to determine validity of application or indigency The property must be categorized as residential (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate if the value of the property does not exceed R120, 000. (d) Other persons and/or organisations: 1. Newly developed commercial/industrial properties (i) Criteria The property must be categorized as commercial/industrial in the valuation roll The property must be developed The value of the development must be R50,000,000.00 or above (this requirement does not apply to East London Industrial Development zone property owners). (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate is phased out over a period of 5 years Year 1 – 50% Year 2 – 40% Year 3 – 30% Year 4 – 20% Year 5 – 10%, thereafter, full rates will be payable 2. Differential rebate (i) Criteria Areas where some or all of the services are not offered by the municipality (ii) Relief in each specified case Water – 22.50% rebate Electricity – 15.00% rebate Sewerage – 15.00% rebate Refuse – 7.50% rebate Constructed roads – 15.00% rebate 3. Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) (i) Criteria Various properties owned by PBOs, for example, used exclusively as a home catering for persons with disabilities, a hospital, clinic, metal institution, frail care centre, orphanage, old age homes or any other benevolent institutions, provided that any profits from the use of such properties are used entirely for the benefit of the institution. (ii) Relief in each case May qualify for 100% rebate on application.

Exemptions

The following properties are exempted from rating: Municipal owned properties non-rateable Religious or places of places of public worship and special property (e.g. museums, libraries) Rural communal land

Ekurhuleni

Rebates	(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Owner reached the age of 60 years or more Own property concerned which must be residential farm property used for residential purposes smallholdings used for residential purposes total monthly income from all sources including income of spouse of owner must not exceed an amount determined by the Council from time to time (see table below for amounts) Once-off application for the duration of valuation roll Not be in receipt of indigent assessment rate rebate Must reside permanently on the concerned property Property must consist of one dwelling only and no part thereof is sub-let (ii) Relief in each specified case Additional reduction of R150,000 of the market value of property Additional rebate based on household income: Average monthly earnings in respect of preceding 12 months Rebate in percentage on assessment rates R0.00 – R2,700.00 (2 x state pensions) 100% R2,700.01 – R5,250.00 85% R5,250.01 – R6,840.00 70% R6,840.01 – R8,470.00 55% R8,470.01 – R12,750.00 40%   (b) People with disability: 1. Disability grantees and/or medically boarded persons (i) Criteria Same as (a) above. (ii) Relief in each specified case Additional reduction of R150,000 of the market value of property Additional rebate based on household income: Average monthly earnings in respect of preceding 12 months Rebate in percentage on assessment rates R0.00 – R2,700.00 (2 x state pensions) 100% R2,700.01 – R5,250.00 85% R5,250.01 – R6,840.00 70% R6,840.01 – R8,470.00 55% R8,470.01 – R12,750.00 40% (c) Low income property owners Refer to reductions and exemptions below. (d) Other persons and/or organisations: 1. Natural disasters (i) Criteria Property damaged by a natural disaster as defined in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002 Apply to the Council (ii) Relief in each specified case Council may fully or partially suspend the levying or rates 2. Sporting bodies (i) Criteria Apply to be granted a rebate For purposes of amateur sport and any social activities which are connected to sport Subject to existing agreements between club and Council (ii) Relief in each specified case 90% rebate 3. Public and private schools, universities and colleges (i) Criteria Public schools which are state funded Private schools not funded in terms of South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996 and are registered as independent schools Universities Technical and other colleges (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate on private (independent) primary and secondary schools is in accordance with percentage after net profit: Net profit after tax Rebate 0.00% – 10.00% 100% 10.01% – 20.00% 90% 20.01% – 30.00% 80% 30.01% – 40.00% 70% 20% rebate on private (independent) universities and colleges, registered as educational institutions not subsidized by state 100% rebate on crèches registered as educational institutions 4. Vacant unimproved land (i) Criteria Dwelling units being constructed which will be used for residential purposes Rebate granted for a maximum period of eighteen months from the date the approved building plan is supplied Occupation certificate be supplied at the end of the eighteen months period Failure to supply the occupational certificate will result in reversal of rebate already granted (ii) Relief in each specified case 75% rebate
Reductions	(a) The elderly, (b) people with disability, (c) low income property owners, (d) other persons and/or organisations (i) Criteria Residential property (ii) Relief in each specified case The first R150, 000 of the market value of property is deducted.
Exemptions	(c) Low income property owners: 1. Indigent households (i) Criteria Own residential property Apply to access the relief provided the combined household income of all occupants/ residents and/or dependents residing on the property and are over the age of 18 years, is less than two (2) state monthly pension grants. (ii) Relief in each specified case Exempted if property does not exceed maximum value of R150 000. 2. Child headed households (i) Criteria Headed by child and registered in terms of Council’s approved indigent policy Apply to access the relief provided the combined household income of all occupants/ residents and/or dependents residing on the property and are over the age of 18 years, is less than two (2) state monthly pension grants. (ii) Relief in each specified case Exempted if property does not exceed maximum value of R150 000. (d) Other persons and/or organisations   1. Public benefit organisation / non-governmental organization and cultural organisations (i) Criteria May be exempted from paying rates if fall within: welfare and humanitarian institutions animal welfare cultural Once-off application for the duration of valuation roll (ii) Relief in each specified case Exempted

eThekwini

Rebates	(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Owner reached age of 60 years or more during financial year Own residential property concerned or property owned solely by either spouse The property being a primary residential Value of property must not exceed R3 million Apply for renewal of rebate annually (ii) Relief in each specified case A rebate not exceeding R3, 623 or such lesser amount (b) People with disability: 1. Disability grantees or medically boarded persons (i) Criteria Owner physically or mentally disabled Own residential property concerned or property owned solely by either spouse Reside in the property concerned Annually apply for a rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case A rebate not exceeding R3, 623 or such lesser amount (c) Low income property owners: 1. Child headed households (i) Criteria Property headed by a minor (person under age of 21) Property owned by terminally ill parent or a child or deceased estate of the parent Value of property must not exceed a value determined by Council at its annual budget Minors must reside permanently on the property Apply for renewal of rebate annually (ii) Relief in each specified case A rebate not exceeding R3, 623 or such lesser amount (d) other persons and/or organisations: 1. Life rights schemes and retirement villages/complexes (i) Criteria The scheme must be registered in terms of Housing Development Scheme for Retired Persons Act, 65 of 1988 The Scheme must be registered with and regulated by the South African Association of Homes for the Aged (SAHA) Title deeds of the property must be appropriately endorsed Apply for a rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 25% rebate 2. Commercial accommodation (i) Criteria Owner of property must permanently reside on the property Bed and breakfast, guesthouses, and back-packers lodges must have a valid registration certificate issued by the Municipality Apply for a rebate annually (ii) Relief in each specified case 50% rebate for bed and breakfast 25% rebate for guesthouses Rebate not exceeding 50% for backpacker lodges, holiday accommodation and student accommodation with up to 40 beds available Rebate not exceeding 25% for backpacker lodges, holiday accommodation and student accommodation with up to 80 beds available 25% rebate for property let-out for purposes of holiday accommodation for reward 25% rebate for property let-out for purposes of student accommodation (learners of higher education and above) 3. Schools not for gain (i) Criteria The schools not for gain on the business and commercial category Use of land or buildings, or any part thereof shall not be for the private pecuniary benefit of any individual whether as a shareholder in a company or otherwise Apply for a rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 50% rebate 4. Natural and other disasters (i) Criteria Property damaged by a natural disaster as defined in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002 Property damaged by causes other than that defined by the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002 and such damage renders the property uninhabitable Damage to property caused by arson is excluded Apply for a rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 75% temporary rebate for a period of six months or a portion thereof Thereafter, a further 75% temporary rebate for a period not exceeding six months 5. Economic development (i) Criteria Developments as indicated in the Incentive Policy of Council Rebates shall be for defined period Developer shall be under contractual obligation to complete property within a defined period Apply for a rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case Green field development and brown field development receive rebates: Value of development R (Millions) Rebate on rates payable in percentage 0 – 50 15% 51 – 150 25% 151 – 300 50% 301 and above 65%
Reductions	(a) the elderly, (b) people with disability, (c) low income property owners, (d) other persons and/or organisations (i) Criteria Residential property (ii) Relief in each specified case The first R120, 000 of the market value for property exceeding R185, 000 (d) other persons and/or organisations 1. Vacant land (i) Criteria Land outside the urban development phasing line which is vacant (ii) Relief in each specified case Reduction of R30, 000
Exemptions	(d) other persons and/or organisations 1. Residential property with a value of up to R185,000 is exempted. 2. Public benefit organisations (i) Criteria May be exempted from paying rates if fall within: welfare and humanitarian institutions health care institutions animal welfare Schools and organisations for the mentally and physically challenged cemeteries heritage sites Use of land or buildings, or any part thereof shall not be for the private pecuniary benefit of any individual whether as a shareholder in a company or otherwise Apply for exemption (ii) Relief in each specified case Exempted 3. sporting bodies (i) Criteria Apply for exemption, and aapplicants must produce a tax exemption certificate issued by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) as contemplated in Part 1 of the Ninth Schedule of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act 58 of 1962). (ii) Relief in each specified case Rated on value of building area only The building area shall exclude change rooms and store rooms necessary for the sport.

City of Cape Town

Rebates	(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Occupy the property as his/her primary residence Must be at least 60 years of age Must apply Must be in receipt of gross monthly household income not exceeding R12,000.00 The applicant and/or spouse and/or life partner should not be the owner of more than one property nationally (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate : Income R0 – R3500 95% rebate : Income R3501 – R5000 90% rebate : Income R5001 – R6000 80% rebate : Income R6001 – R7000 70% rebate : Income R7001 – R8000 60% rebate : Income R8001 – R8500 50% rebate : Income R8501 – R9000 40% rebate : Income R9001 – R9500 30% rebate : Income R9501 – R10000 20% rebate : Income R10001 – R11000 10% rebate : Income R11001 - R12000 (b) People with disability: (i) Criteria Same as (a) above. (ii) Relief in each specified case Same as (a) above. (c) Low income property owners: (i) Criteria Same as (a) above. (ii) Relief in each specified case May qualify for 100% rebate. (d) Other persons and/or organisations: 1. Agricultural properties (i) Criteria Bona fide farming properties Contribute to the local economy Assists in meeting the service delivery and development obligations of the city Contribution to the social and economic welfare of farm workers Must apply for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 80% rebate on the rate levied on residential properties 2. Nature reserves, special nature reserves and national parks (i) Criteria May apply for the rebate Private property contracted into the Table Mountain National Park in terms of the Protected Areas Act Private property exhibiting sensitive ecological areas/features, identified by the City’s Environmental Management Resources Department Owners of properties with formal in perpetuity conservation agreements of over 10 hectares (ii) Relief in each specified case May be granted a 100% rebate 3. Religious organisations (i) Criteria Property used primarily as an office of a religious organization Property used as parking facilities, halls used for religious purposes Accommodation for missionaries, camping sites not operated for gain and cemeteries for that religious community (ii) Relief in each specified case May be granted a 100% rebate 4. Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs)/ Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) (i) Criteria Must have a constitution which does not preclude any resident of the City from being a member Must be open to the general public May apply for the rebate Be registered as NPOs under the Non-Profit Organisations Act or be PBO that qualify for tax exemption as contemplated by Part 1 of section 30 of the Ninth Schedule of the Income Tax Act Must be organisations with limited resources Health and welfare institutions Educational institutions National/Provincial/ Local Heritage Site /Historical Monuments Charitable institutions Cemeteries and crematoria Cultural institutions Museums, libraries, art galleries and botanical gardens War veterans organisations Youth development organisations Animal protection Sporting bodies Homeless people shelters Early childhood development (ii) Relief in each specified case May be granted a 100% rebate
Reductions	Criteria Residential properties Relief in each specified case Maximum reduction of up to R200,000.00 granted to every individually-valued residential property
Exemptions	Criteria Any private road or any other property where the market value of the property is equal to or less than R50,000.00

City of Johannesburg

Rebates

(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Owner reached age of 60 years Own and occupy property concerned Value of property may not exceed R2, 000, 000 Apply to Council for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate if pensioner receives National Social Security Grant 100% rebate if pensioner is age 70 years and above irrespective of income 100% rebate if pensioner has gross monthly income below or equal to R7, 850 50% rebate if pensioner has gross monthly income above R7, 850 but less than or equal to R13, 458 (b) People with disability: 1. Emanating from injury (i) Criteria Must have been injured on duty serving: South African National Defence Force South African Policy Service Emergency Services Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Own and occupy property concerned Value of property may not exceed R2, 000, 000 Apply to Council for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate if pensioner receives National Social Security Grant 100% rebate if pensioner is age 70 years and above irrespective of income 100% rebate if pensioner has gross monthly income below or equal to R7, 850 provided pensioner is at least 60 years of age 50% rebate if pensioner has gross monthly income above R7, 850 but less than or equal to R13, 458 provided pensioner is at least 60 years of age (c) Low income property owners: 1. Extended social package (i) Criteria Apply to municipality every six months Own and occupy property concerned Property value not exceeding R450, 000 (ii) Relief in each specified case 70% rebate of current monthly rates when Johannesburg Poverty Index is greater than zero but not exceeding 34 points 100% rebate of current monthly rates when Johannesburg Poverty Index is greater than 35 points 2. State’s Social Security Grant (i) Criteria Own and occupy residential property concerned Owner is dependent on a State’s Social Security Grant in terms of Social Assistance Act, 59 of 1992 State’s Social Security Grant is their sole source of income (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate 3. Child headed households (i) Criteria Property occupied by a household headed by a minor Value of property may not exceed R2, 000, 000 Property owned by terminally ill parent or a child or deceased estate of the parent Terminally ill parent or their child must apply annually for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate shall be maximum of 100% of the current monthly rates (d) other persons and/or organisations: 1. Heritage properties (i) Criteria Declared heritage site in terms of section 27 of the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999 Designated as protected areas in terms of section 28 of the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999 Designated as heritage area in terms of section 31 of the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999 Apply to Council for approval of rebate annually (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate shall be maximum of 20% of the current monthly rates 2. Residential sectional title (i) Criteria High density residential development including sectional title units (ii) Relief in each specified case 5% rebate of the currently monthly rates 3. Protection of animals (i) Criteria Property registered in the name of any institution or organization which has as its exclusive objective the protection of animals Apply to Council for approval of rebate/exemption (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate shall be maximum of 100% of the current monthly rates 4. Disaster areas (i) Criteria Property situated within an area affected by a disaster within the meaning of the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002 Apply to Council for approval of rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate shall be maximum of 100% of the current monthly rates 5. Vacant land (i) Criteria Land outside the urban development boundary which is vacant Rebate only available if property could not be developed due to unavailability of bulk infrastructure and/or bulk services Apply to Council for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate shall be maximum of 50% of the current monthly rates 6. Housing development schemes for retired persons (i) Criteria Properties owned by juristic persons that fall under the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act, 65 of 1988 as amended Owner of property shall pass on the benefits of the rates rebate to the registered holder/s of the right to occupation in the Scheme (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate shall be maximum of 50% of the current monthly rates 7. Registered social landlords (i) Criteria Properties owned by individuals or entities designated as Registered Social Landlords under the Registered landlord Policy of the City (ii) Relief in each specified case 40% rebate on the current monthly rates where property is zoned for commercial use and is rated accordingly 8. New building incentive (i) Criteria New building development that would take place within the identified Corridors of Freedom in line with the Growth and Development Strategy 2040 Development must be in line with the development requirements set out by the City Proposed developments must follow all planning by-laws (ii) Relief in each specified case Property owner will pay a quarter of the rate as per the category of land for a period not exceeding two years during the construction Property owner will pay half the rates on the first year of operation as per the category of land 9. Private sports club (i) Criteria Owned by private sports club Used primarily for sporting purposes (ii) Relief in each specified case 40% rebate 10. Provision and/or promotion of youth development (i) Criteria Property registered in the name of any institution or organization which has as its exclusive objective the provision and/or promotion of youth development (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate

Reductions

(a) The elderly, (b) people with disability, (c) low income property owners, (d) other persons and/or organisations (i) Criteria Residential property Properties used for multiple purposes, provided one or more components of the property are used for residential purpose (ii) Relief in each specified case The first R200, 000 of the market value of the property.

Mangaung

Rebates	(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria The property must be registered in the name of the applicant Must be at least 60 years of age Must occupy the relevant property In a case of a semi-detached house, of which a section is rented out, only rates paid for that section occupied by the owner is subject to rebates If the owner due to medical reasons had to take early retirement the age requirement of 60 years will not apply The property owner must apply (ii) Relief in each specified case The rebate on the first R250,000.00 of the rateable value for residential properties of qualifying senior citizens will only be applicable on properties with a value that does not exceed R2 ,000,000.00 (b) People with disability: (i) Criteria Same as (a) above. Must be in receipt of a disability pension from the Department of Welfare and Population Development (ii) Relief in each specified case The rebate on the first R250,000.00 of the rateable value for residential properties of qualifying disabled persons will only be applicable on properties with a value that does not exceed R2 ,000,000.00 (c) Low income property owners: (i) Criteria Occupy the property as his/her primary residence and must be registered as indigents in terms of the adopted indigent policy of the municipality The rebate will automatically apply and no further application is thus required (ii) Relief in each specified case May qualify for 100% rebate (d) Other persons and/or organisations: 1. Child headed families (i) Criteria The head of the child headed family must occupy the property as his/her normal residence Must not be older than 18 years of age Must still be a scholar or jobless Must be in receipt of a total monthly income from all sources not exceeding an amount to be determined by the municipality Must apply for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case May qualify for 100% rebate
Reductions	Disaster related matters Criteria Partial or total destruction of a property Disasters as defined in the Disaster Management Act Owner must apply Relief Maximum reduction of 80% Residential properties Criteria No requirement for lodging an application. Relief in each specified case In addition to the mandated first R15,000.00 of the market value of residential properties, and additional R55,000.00 reduction is applicable to all residential properties
Exemptions	Public Benefit organisations (PBOs) Criteria Property owned by public benefit organisations and used for any specified public benefit activity listed in item 1(welfare and humanitarian), item 2 (health care) and item 4 (education and development) of part 1 of the Ninth Schedule to the Income Tax Act Must apply PBO must attach a SARS tax exemption certificate issued by the South African Revenue Services Relief May be exempted

Nelson Mandela Bay

Rebates	(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Be a natural person Be the owner of the property Occupy the property as his/her normal residence Must be at least 60 years of age on 1 July of the financial year concerned, or if the owner turns 60 during the year the rebate will be granted on a pro rata basis from the date on which the applicant turned 60 Submit pension statements Not be a receipt of an indigent subsidy Ensure that his/her accounts are not in arrears before applying for a rebate Be in receipt of a total gross annual income not exceeding R118,700 (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebate is based on the total annual household income 85% rebate : Income between two state pensions and R54,000 70% rebate : Income between R54,001 and R66,900 55% rebate : Income between R66,901 and R79,800 40% rebate : Income between R79,801 and R92,800 25% rebate : Income between R92,801 and R105,700 10% rebate : income between R105,701 and R118,700 (b) People with disability: (i) Criteria Same as (a) above. Must be in receipt of a disability grant/pension and submit proof and nature of disability, and submit SASSA statements with the application. (ii) Relief in each specified case Same as (a) above. (c) Low income property owners (i) Criteria The household income of applicants, from all sources, shall not exceed the equivalent of two State welfare pensions The applicant must be an account holder and must reside on the property in respect of which assistance is sought and must apply in person. The applicant must not own more than one fixed property within the metro (ii) Relief in each specified case A full credit for property rates. (d) Other persons and/or organisations: 1. Sporting bodies (Professional) (i) Criteria Property must be owned/leased for sporting purposes May be for gain and not-for -gain Profits earned must be invested in the betterment of the organization and not be for private gain Must apply for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case May qualify for 40% rebate 2. Social Housing (i) Criteria Property registered in the name of an institution accredited in terms of the Social Housing Act 16 of 2008 which provides or intends to provide rental of cooperative housing options for households with a gross monthly household income less than the maximum housing subsidy Accounts of the applicant must be up to date or arrangements must be made to pay outstanding balances before any rebate will be granted (ii) Relief in each specified case May qualify to be rated at the same rate as public benefit organisations in terms of the Rate Ratios Regulations Between Residential and Non-Residential Properties.
Reductions	None, and for properties affected by disasters, such properties are re-valued to get the revised their market values for rating purposes.
Exemptions	Sporting bodies (Amateur) Criteria Property must be owned/leased for sporting purposes May be for gain and not-for -gain Profits earned must be invested in the betterment of the organization and not be for private gain Must apply for the rebate Relief in each specified case May be exempted PBOs and Not For Gain institutions or organisations Criteria Must apply for the exemption Properties used exclusively as hospitals, clinics, mental hospitals, orphanages, retirement villages, old age homes or any other benevolent institutions Properties belonging to not-for-gain institutions (organisations) that perform charitable work Land used exclusively for cemeteries and crematoriums Properties owned by a declared institution in terms of the Cultural Institutions Act Museums, libraries, art galleries and botanical gardens registered in the name of private persons and open to the public Properties registered in the name of a trust/trusts and/or organisations as defined in the Social Aid Act Properties owned/used by youth organisations for the promotion and development of the youth Properties owned, or used by institutions or organisations the exclusive aim of which is to protect birds, reptiles, fish and animals not-for-gain Properties registered in the name of and used primarily as a place of public worship by a religious community Relief May be exempted

Tshwane

Rebates	(a) The elderly: (i) Criteria Owner reached age of 60 years or more during financial year Own residential property concerned Property concerned must be occupied only by the pensioner and his/her spouse, if any, and by dependents without income (ii) Relief in each specified case A further maximum/total rebate of 50% (on the remaining property rates, after the applicable residential rebates have been granted) if total gross income of the pensioner and/or spouse does not exceed an amount equal to twice the annual state pension (2 x R1,410 or 2 x R1,430 if older than 75) for a financial year A further maximum/total rebate of 40% (on the remaining property rates, after the applicable residential rebates have been granted) if joint income of the pensioner and/or spouse does not exceed R130, 000 for a financial year (b) People with disability: 1. Physically or mentally disabled (i) Criteria Owner physically or mentally disabled Own residential property concerned Property concerned must be occupied only by the pensioner and his/her spouse, if any, and by dependents without income (ii) Relief in each specified case A further maximum/total rebate of 50% subject to total gross annual social pension for a financial year, which amount may be reviewed during the City’s annual budget process A further maximum/total rebate of 40% if joint income of the pensioner and/or spouse exceeds an amount equal to twice the annual state pension (2 x R1,410 or 2 x R1,430 if older than 75) for a financial year, but does not to exceed R130, 000 for a financial year (c) Low income property owners: 1. Indigent households (i) Criteria Gross monthly income of all members of the household does not exceed the joint amount of two state old age pensions excluding child support grant and foster care grant Applicant as well as any other member of the household does not own other fixed property than one in which they reside (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate 2. Owner temporarily without income: indigent criteria may be applied in terms of Indigent Policy of City of Tshwane (i) Criteria Same as indigent households above. (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate (d) Other persons and/or organisations: 1. Grants-in-aid (i) Criteria Registered in the name of an institution or organization in terms of Non-profit Organizations Act, 71 of 1997 Hospitals, clinics and institutions for mentally ill person which are not operated with intention to make profit Cemeteries and crematoriums which are registered in the name of private persons and which are used exclusively for burials and cremations Museum, art galleries, libraries and botanical gardens which are registered in the name of private persons and which are open to public, whether admission is charged or not Rateable property registered in the name of a trustee or any organization which is being maintained for the welfare of war veterans as defined in section 1 of the Social Aid Act (House of Assembly), 37 of 1989 Sports grounds used for the purpose of amateur sport and any social activities which are connected with the sport Rateable property registered in the name of the Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Sea Scouts, Voortrekkers or any organization which is in the opinion of the municipality similar or, any rateable property let by a municipality to any such organization Rateable property registered in the name of a declared institution as defined in section 1 of the Cultural Institutions Act, 29 of 1969, or the cultural Institutions Act (House of Assembly), 66 of 1989 Apply to Chief Financial Officer (ii) Relief in each specified case 100% rebate 2. Owners of land alienated by the municipality after January 2015 (i) Criteria Owners of land alienated by the municipality (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebates in terms of the Development Investment Incentive Policy of the City 3. Owners of catalytic investment properties (i) Criteria Owners of catalytic investment properies (ii) Relief in each specified case Rebates in terms of the Development Investment Incentive Policy of the City 4. Independent school (i) Criteria Application does not meet the criteria for Public Benefit Organisation property as defined Apply for the rebate (ii) Relief in each specified case 20% rebate
Reductions	(a) the elderly, (b) people with disability, (c) low income property owners, (d) other persons and/or organisations (i) Criteria Residential property (ii) Relief in each specified case First part of value of property up to R75, 000 of the market value
Exemptions	(d) Other persons and/or organisations 1. Public Service infrastructure 2. Places of public worship 3. Protected areas 4. State trust land