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15 March 2016 - NW392

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether Municipal Assessment Tool reports were generated in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years; if not, why not; if so, (i) when were the specified reports completed, (ii) why have the specified reports not been tabled to the relevant portfolio committees, and (iii) why has his department not posted the specified reports on the website of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation? NW404E

Reply:

The Municipal Assessment Tool falls within the mandate of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and, in collaboration with various stakeholders, developed and manage this tool. It is thus recommended that the Honourable member direct his question to the DPME to provide detailed information and a comprehensive answer to the question. 

15 March 2016 - NW78

Profile picture: Steenkamp, Ms J

Steenkamp, Ms J to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether she has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019; if not, why not; if so, (a) which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement, (b) how many performance assessments has she undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed, (c) what progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF, (d) what are the key obstacles to implementation and (e) what is the plan to address such obstacles?

Reply:

Yes, all Ministers are subject to Performance Agreements with the President.

(a) The Performance Management Framework (MTSF) fpr 2014-2019, which is the first 5-year implementation plan of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. The performance targets and indicators are derived from 14 outcomes which government seeks to achieve.

These outcomes and targets constitute government’s Programme of Actio (POA), against which performance is tracked and reported at least on a quartely basis. POA reports are publicly available on the govenments web site.

(b) to (e) Cabinet closely monitors the implementation of the NDP 2030/MTSF 2014-2019 through POA reports. The reports are tabled before an Implementation Forum of a Cluster of Ministers collectively responsible for MTSF outcomes, and then submitted to Cabinet, where progress is noted, bottlenecks to implementation are discussed, and recommendations to address bottlenecks are considered and approved.

SUBMITTED ON: 15 MARCH 2016

15 March 2016 - NW445

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Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

Whether his department is proactively ensuring that in accordance with the ruling of the Constitutional Court the Electoral Commission will be in a position to draw up voters’ rolls for the local government elections this year where the valid addresses of all registered voters will appear as required; if not, why not; if so, what steps are being taken by his department, in conjunction with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to ensure that wards in informal settlements in particular have identifiable and officially recognised street names and house numbers?

Reply:

The order of the Constitutional Court directs the Electoral Commission to provide a voters’ roll with addresses to political parties contesting elections where such addresses are available. This order affirms a standing statutory provision in section 16 (3) of the Electoral Act (27 of 1998) which provides as follows:

“…………………., the chief electoral officer must, on payment of the prescribed fee, provide copies of the voters’ roll or a segment thereof, which includes the addresses of voters, where such addresses are available, to all registered parties contesting the elections.”

Therefore the judicial and statutory dependency to the provision of a voters’ roll with addresses to contesting parties is where such addresses are available.

The Electoral Commission has nonetheless, taken a decision to proactively procure addresses of voters where such are not on their records. In this regard, a number of initiatives are either underway or about to be implemented. I presented below some of these initiatives:

  • A communication campaign was initiated in the period leading up to the voter registration weekend of 5-6 March 2016, for all voters to inspect the voters’ roll with a particular focus on the address details and providing same necessary;
  • Re-focusing the communication campaign for the second registration weekend on the 9-10 April to highlight the need for voters to furnish addresses at the registration stations;
  • Procuring address data from a variety of data sources such as municipalities, other state agencies and commercial providers;
  • Changing the response message on the Short Message System (SMS - 32810) to indicate to voters to furnish address details where such are not on the records of the Electoral Commission; and
  • Conducting a voting district based field work to visit persons whose addresses details are not on record.

15 March 2016 - NW33

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Mncwango, Mr MA to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether her Ministry has any frozen vacant positions; if so, (a) how many of the specified positions are vacant, (b) what are the designations of the specified positions and (c) for how long have the specified positions been vacant?

Reply:

There are no frozen posts at the moment all posts are active and funded.

SUBMITTED ON: 15 MARCH 2016

15 March 2016 - NW307

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Ross, Mr DC to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

How much was spent on major road upgrades in each metropolitan municipality in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years; (2) How many kilometres of municipal roads were resurfaced in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years; (3) How many kilometres of municipal gravel roads were tarred in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years; (4) How many potholes were repaired per square metre in (a) the 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years?

Reply:

1 (a) and (b); 2(a) and (b); 3(a) and (b) and 4 (a) and (b):

It is not clear whether questions 2, 3 and 4 refer to all municipalities or metropolitan municipalities only. To collect this information from all municipalities in the country is a major task which we have initiated but is not yet complete. The Metropolitan Municipalities have this information in their annual reports but many other municipalities do not have this information in their annual reports.

According to the Metropolitan Municipalities’ Annual Reports for 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years, the answers to these questions for the Metropolitan Municipalities are provided in the table below:

Name of Metropolitan Municipality

Total amount spent on major roads upgrades

Kilometres of roads resurfaced

Kilometres of gravel roads tarred

Square metres of potholes repaired

Year:

2013/14

2014/15

2013/14

2014/15

2013/14

2014/15

2013/14

2014/15

Buffalo City

R65m

R130m

4.9km

33.7km

28.99

59.1

149 000

161 389

City of Cape Town

R2.9bn

R3bn

13.2km

15km

2

3

450 000

550 000

City of JHB

R57.7m

R60.0m

623km

654km

7.05

8.1

87 075

91 234

City of Tshwane

R1.6 bn

R303m

131km

154km

658.97

121,4

65 100

75 233

Ekurhuleni

R404m

R173m

93km

25km

93

25

29 025

31 234

eThekwini

R69.6m

R141.9m

315km

184.5km

11.6

23.65

114 000

202 000

Mangaung

R28.02

R51.0m

35km

40.5km

4.67

8.5

387 754

398 894

Nelson Mandela Bay

R106.86

R66.0m

20.4km

25.3km

17.81

11

30 123

35 234

Reference: All Metropolitan Municipalities’ annual reports for 2013/14 and 2014/15

15 March 2016 - NW135

Profile picture: Esau, Mr S

Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Why did her department underspend with (a) 42,2% on its Goods and Services and (b) 56,8% on its Payment of Capital Assets?

Reply:

Programme classification

Goods and services

Payment for capital assets

Reasons for underspending on goods and services

Reasons for underspending on capital assets

Administration

94.3%

38.7%

The underspending was mainly because of billing not received from the Department of Public Works for infrastructure and property management

The department budgeted for furniture for the new employees but because of limited space capacity the process of purchasing the furniture was withheld.

         

Socio Economic Support

16.0%

29.3%

Dependency on other departments to roll out benefits

The department budgeted for furniture for the new employees but because of limited space capacity the process of purchasing the furniture was withheld.

         

Empowerment and Stakeholder Management

78.9%

100%

Dependency on other departments to roll out benefits

The programme spent its budget accordingly

TOTAL

51.8%

43.2%

   

15 March 2016 - NW142

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Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1)Is a letter of authorisation still required in order for a bona fide registered and verified military veteran to access medical healthcare; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether a military veteran, that may access healthcare from a general hospital, a day hospital and local clinic as an ordinary citizen, may only access a military hospital as a bona fide registered and verified military veteran; (3) whether a military veteran may resort to private medical practices to receive the necessary treatment where a military hospital and public medical healthcare facilities are not available and may only be reimbursed by her department if he/she is duly registered and verified on the National Military Veterans Database; (4) whether she has found that the incomplete database of military veterans has become a serious threat to the health of deserving military veterans who are not registered and verified?

Reply:

(1) According to Regulations in terms of the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011, a bonafide registered military veteran must apply for all benefits of which healthcare is one of them. Upon application, DMV will issue a once off  authorization letter to the South African Military Healthcare Services (SAMHS) in order to capture the details of the approved military veteran. The military veteran will then have access to healthcare for life at SAMHS and SAMHS approved private facilities.

(2) A military veteran has accesss to health care as outlined in the Constitution of South Africa. Military Veterans are free to access healthcare at the public institution and military hospitals.

(3) The military veteran can access private medical practice only when authorised to do so either by DMV through  SAMHS and /or authorised directly by the SAMHS.

(4) NO. Section 5 benefits are provided to registered and/or verified military veterans.

15 March 2016 - NW240

Profile picture: Khoza, Mr NP

Khoza, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether she and/or her department has bought advertising space in The New Age in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, (i) what number of times and (ii) for what amount in each specified financial year?

Reply:

The Department of Defence did not spend on any advertisement in the New Age newspaper during the above mentioned period.

SUBMITTED ON: 15 MARCH 2016

15 March 2016 - NW210

Profile picture: Ketabahle, Ms V

Ketabahle, Ms V to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services

Has his department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by certain persons (names furnished) in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year, (i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount?

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:-

(a) & (b) Not Applicable: The department was not in existence during the years in question.

(c) No: The department did not award any contract to the persons in question.

15 March 2016 - NW476

Profile picture: Basson, Ms J

Basson, Ms J to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs

(1)(a) How many delegates from South Africa attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 21st Annual Conference of Parties held in Paris in France from 30 November 2015 to 12 December 2015; and (b) what are their (i) surnames, (ii) official designation and (iii) reasons for attending the conference; (2) (a) what was the total cost for the South African delegation’s attendance of the specified conference in terms of (i) flights, (ii) accommodation and (iii) any other relevant expense; and (b) who paid the specified costs in each case?

Reply:

1. (a) The South African delegation comprised of representatives of all key national departments, local and provincial government, Members of Parliament and other key stakeholder groupings – such as business, civil society, and youth. In total, there were 134 South African delegates, including the Presidency team which only attended the Head of State High Level Session, held on 30 November 2015.

(b) (i) and (ii)

The list of names and official designation is attached as Annexure A.

(iii) South Africa negotiated in the UNFCCC COP21 meeting in its national capacity, played a role in the Africa Group and was the Chair of the Group of 77 and China. The formal negotiations had more than 76 agenda items, excluding those on the sub-agenda, which required South Africa’s engagement. African countries with smaller delegations cannot attend all the meetings, meaning that their needs and national interests are not adequately addressed. South Africa, as a member of the Africa Group, is therefore playing a larger role of also supporting the negotiation capacity of the Sothern African Developing Communities region and the broader Africa Group. In addition, South Africa was leading Africa in the negotiations under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) and numerous other issues. South Africa was also the chair of the Group of 77 and China, the negotiating group for 134 developing countries.

Dealing with the global challenge of climate change and securing a binding multilateral agreement that is ambitious, fair and effective in keeping global temperature increase to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius; that balances development and environmental imperatives; and that enables developing countries to transition to lower carbon and climate resilient economies and societies is extremely complex. Each and every delegate that attended the COP 21 meeting played their part in ensuring an outcome of a universal agreement that is ambitious, fair and effective legally binding outcome.

2. (a) As the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) it would be difficult to give an exact figure of how much the total cost for South African delegation’s attendance.

(i), (ii) and (iii)

COST ESTIMATES FOR COP21: DEA DELEGATION

ITEM

COST

Accommodation for DEA Officials

R2 578 935.00

Rental for SA Delegation Operational Room and Meeting Rooms

R992 642.00

Furniture and Equipment Rental

R359 186.40

Flights (R21 139.72 approx. per person)

R697 610.76

Ground Transport in SA (R1 000.00 approx. per person)

R33 000.00

Ground Transport in Paris

R32 756.81

TOTAL: R4 694 131.00

(b) The Department of Environmental Affairs paid only for its officials as it was not responsible for the cost of travel for the whole South African delegation. Each Department, Province, Local Government and other organisations were responsible for their travel cost, accommodation and other expenses.

---ooOoo---

15 March 2016 - NW310

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Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

1. With reference to his reply to question 960 on 10 April 2015, which municipalities conducted customer satisfaction surveys in the (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-2014 financial years; 2. Whether he can provide the comprehensive database of all municipalities who have undertaken customer satisfaction surveys; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. Below is a list of municipalities that have conducted Customer Satisfaction Surveys in the (a) 2012-2013 and (b) 2013-2014 financial years.

(a) Municipalities that have conducted Customer Satisfaction Surveys in 2012-2013 financial year are as follows:
i. City of Cape Town Metro
ii. Nelson Mandela Metro
iii. City of T shwane Metro
iv. EThekwini Metro
v. Maluti a Phofung local municipality in Free State
vi. Ekurhuleni Metro
vii. Baviaans Local Municipality in Eastern Cape
vii i. Swartland Local Municipality in Western Cape

(b) Municipalities that have conducted Customer Satisfaction Surveys in 201 3-2014 financial year are as follows:

i. Mangaung Metro
ii. Joburg Metro
iii. City of Tshwane Metro
iv. EThekwini Metro

2. Attached at (Tag A) is a database of municipalities that have conducted Customer Satisfaction Surveys in the (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-2014 financial years.

Notably, some of the local and district municipalities did not conduct the customer satisfaction survey in the period indicated based on capacity constraints in terms of personnel and budget. Most local and district municipalities rely on the surveys conducted by the Metros and provincial departments in their respective provinces

Attached please find here: Status of Citizens Satisfaction Surveys Conducted Currently

15 March 2016 - NW291

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Mr TW

Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether each metropolitan municipality has installed any toll-free lines for citizens to make contact with the specified municipalities; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many, in each case, (b) in which areas are they situated and (c) how many calls on average from the toll-free lines reach each specified municipality in each month?

Reply:

Refer to the response to PQ293

Reply:

The responses below were received from the metropolitan municipalities:

( a ) 6 out of the 8 metropolitan municipalities operates independent fraud / corruption hotlines. The table below illustrates the response per municipality:

Metropolitan Municipality

Details regarding fraud / corruption hotline

Buffalo City

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

City of Cape Town

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

City of Johannesburg

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

City of Tshwane

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

Ekurhuleni

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

eThekwini

The municipality operates an independent anti-corruption hotline.

Mangaung

The municipality does not operate an independent fraud hotline.

Nelson Mandela Bay

The municipality is finalising the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the service provider with regard to the fraud hotline. As soon as the SLA agreed and signed by relevant parties, the hotline will be operational.

( b ) All the 6 independent fraud hotlines are not connected to the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH). There is no requirement for the independent fraud / corruption hotlines to be connected to the NACH.

15 March 2016 - NW141

Profile picture: Kruger, Mr HC

Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(a) Who are the members of her department’s Advisory Council and (b) what is their current capacity?

Reply:

The following are the members of the Advisory Council Members and their capacity:

Mr T. Magingxa (Chairperson)

Members

Dr P.P Dyantyi

Mr A. Apleni

Mr K. Bokala

Col (ret) P.M Kubu

Brig Gen (Ret) M. Fihla

Mr O. Mabena

Ms D. Phama

Mr M. Vena

Ms N. Khwezi

Dr S. Zikalala

Mr Mika Xayiya

Dr T. Ndlovu-Molokwane

Ms Vuyiswa Lieta

Dr A. Mahapa

15 March 2016 - NW294

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Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1) Whether each metropolitan municipality has a programme to assist unemployed matriculants or young people to gain employment; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details, (b) what is the budget of the programme for the 2015-16 financial year and (c) how many young people have been assisted by each specified municipality since 1 January 2015?

Reply:


Yes, all Metropolitan Municipalities have programmes to assist unemployed matriculants or young people to gain employment. The details are as follows:

Attached please find here: All Metropolitan Municipalities

15 March 2016 - NW289

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Mr TW

Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

(1) Whether each metropolitan municipality has an informal trading policy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether each specified metropolitan municipality licenses informal traders operating in public spaces; if so; (a) how many licensed informal traders are in each such municipality, (b) does each specified metropolitan municipality receive licence fees from informal traders and (c) what is the cost of obtaining an informal trading licence; (3) Whether each specified metropolitan municipality provides any services to informal traders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Reply:

(1) The following Cities have approved informal trading policies: Cape Town; EThekwini; Johannesburg; Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. Nelson Mandela Metro has a final draft policy for informal trading which is currently under review. Buffalo City and Mangaung do not have informal trading policies but have By-laws on Street Trading.

(2) Yes, all Metropolitan Municipalities licenses informal traders operating in public spaces. The details are as follows:

Metropolitan Municipality

Number of licenses

Whether Municipality receives license fees

Cost of informal trading license

Cape Town

3701

Yes

R70 up to R465

EThekwini

10 000

Yes

R40.00 up to R1200.00

Johannesburg

9740

Yes

R80 - R 500

Ekurhuleni

3,000

No

No fee charged

Tshwane

1 500

Yes

R138,40

Nelson Mandela Bay

72

Yes

R90,00

Buffalo City

179

Yes

R513.00

Mangaung

178

Yes

R30.00


(3) Yes, all Metropolitan Municipalities provide services to informal traders as follows:
 

Metropolitan Municipality

Services provided

Cape Town

Hard surfacing of trading bays; provision of roof structures; Kiosks; training and development opportunities; access to markets through events; Area cleansing; Environmental Health and developing trading plans; education; training and trading permits.

EThekwini

Water; ablution facilities; storage facilities; trading shelters, 24 hour security and capacity building I training programmes.

Johannesburg

Maintenance and cleaning of the markets and streets, training and By-law education, workshops on business management and By-law enforcement to illegal traders who violate informal trading By-laws.

Ekurhuleni

Space and facilities including traders' market stalls and operational support such as compliance procedures and training.

Tshwane

Training and mentorship; personal and life-skills; business growth and success factors and appropriate business development support including training; and instruments to facilitate co-operatives' bulk buying.

Nelson Mandela Bay

Litter bins; refuse removal bags; storage facilities; ablutions; electricity and water/sinks.

Buffalo City

Umbrellas & training opportunities.

Mangaung

Training and skills development programmes focusing on Customer Care; Financial skills; Environmental Health - Food Preparation, Fire Dept. - Training to Informal Traders, Waste management and Street Traders By-law








 

15 March 2016 - NW450

Profile picture: Dudley, Ms C

Dudley, Ms C to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

1)Whether with reference to the urgent plea of a certain mother whose baby had been criminalised after he could not be furnished with the necessary permits (details furnished) he has been made aware of the mother’s urgent plea for assistance; if so, 2) whether his department has investigated the circumstances of this matter; if so, what are the relevant details; if not, (3) whether his department will conduct an investigation and assist the mother on a way forward; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

(1) I have now been made aware of this matter.

(2) The department has not as yet conducted any investigation.

(3) The department will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this matter and will inform the client of the outcome.

15 March 2016 - NW360

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Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Basic Education

With reference to President Jacob G Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015 that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) co-operatives. as well as township and rural enterprises What percentage of the total procurement of (a) her department and (b) every entity repo11ing to her went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from I April 2015 up to the latest specified date for \\'hich information is available?

Reply:


(a) 2% of the Department of Basic Education's procurement budget went to Small Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives during the period in question.
 

(b) ENTITIES

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL PROCUREMENT FROM SMME’S AND CO-OPERATIVES FORM 1 APRIL 2015 TO LATEST SPECIFIED DATE

 
  1. SMME’S

(ii) CO-OPERATIVES

SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL OF EDUCATORS (SACE)

56.61%

0%

     

UMALUSI

18%

0%

15 March 2016 - NW436

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Dlamini, Mr MM to ask the Minister of Public Works

Whether his department has found the necessary supporting documents which reportedly could not be found by the Auditor-General for leases to the tune of R800 million; if not, why not; if so, (a) for which buildings were the value leases, (b) for which departments were the buildings rented and (c) who owns the buildings?

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

(a), (b) and (c):-

It must be noted that the stated R800 million lease worth reported by the Auditor – General is a figure which was calculated for outstanding documents over a period of more than one financial year and goes back to about 5 years.

In 2013, the Department of Public Works launched a special lease review intervention aimed at identifying all active private leases and verifying lease validity for leases registered on the Department’s property management information system (PMIS).

In 2014, a second special lease review intervention was launched with the aim of consolidating information and matching documentation (lease agreements).

As a result of the above-mentioned lease interventions, all 2619 active leases have valid lease documents and are on a master database.

15 March 2016 - NW385

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Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of State Security

With reference to President Jacob Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the National Address delivered on 12 February 2016, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

Reply:

Our expenditure to date indicates that we are already on par with the presidential pronouncement that expenditure to SMMEs must be at 30% of our procurement spent.

This figure is expected to increase with the finalization of all procurement contracts by the end of financial year 2015/16.

57% (R18M) of the current finalized procurement contracts are awarded to level 1 and 2 BBBEE companies, of which 55% (R10M) there-of is awarded to SMMEs.

15 March 2016 - NW140

Profile picture: Kruger, Mr HC

Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(a) Who are the members of her department’s Appeals Board and (b) what is their current capacity?

Reply:

The following are the members of the Appeals Board Members and their capacity:

Mr M Msimang (Chairperson)

Mr F Hartzenburg (Member)

Adv C.O Morolo (Member)

Ms N.E Mkhwanazi (Member)

Adv M.A Tshivhase (Member)

15 March 2016 - NW309

Profile picture: Schmidt, Adv H

Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether each metropolitan municipality, (a) operates an independent fraud line and (b) is connected to the National Anti-Corruption Hotline; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Reply:

The responses below were received from the metropolitan municipalities:

( a ) 6 out of the 8 metropolitan municipalities operates independent fraud / corruption hotlines. The table below illustrates the response per municipality:

Metropolitan Municipality

Details regarding fraud / corruption hotline

Buffalo City

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

City of Cape Town

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

City of Johannesburg

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

City of Tshwane

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

Ekurhuleni

The municipality operates an independent fraud hotline.

eThekwini

The municipality operates an independent anti-corruption hotline.

Mangaung

The municipality does not operate an independent fraud hotline.

Nelson Mandela Bay

The municipality is finalising the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the service provider with regard to the fraud hotline. As soon as the SLA agreed and signed by relevant parties, the hotline will be operational.

( b ) All the 6 independent fraud hotlines are not connected to the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH). There is no requirement for the independent fraud / corruption hotlines to be connected to the NACH.

15 March 2016 - NW188

Profile picture: Matsepe, Mr CD

Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With reference to the statement by Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Councillor Parks Tau, that 46% of household water supply in Johannesburg is used for gardening, (a) what exact method and data was used to calculate this percentage and (b) when was this percentage calculated?

Reply:


The information was provided by the Gauteng Provincial Head of Department: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

The 46% figure is based on a number of published studies, notably a local one published by HE Jacobs, LC Geustyn and BF Loubser in 2005 entitled "Water - How is it used at home?". The study found that water consumption through garden irrigation makes up a significant amount of water losses. Water losses attributed to garden irrigation found to be at 46% of the total residential annual use.


Recommended by:

MR M RANGATE MR T FOSI
Chief Director: Improvement Programme Deputy Director-General: LGSIM
Date: 22/02/2016 Date: 29/02/2016

RECOMMENDED/.................................


MR V MADONSELA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE: 29/02/2016


SUPPORTED/.....................

MR A NEL, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER
DATE: 2/03/2016


APPROVED/......................


DES VAN ROOYEN, MP
MINISTER
DATE: 02/03/2016
 

15 March 2016 - NW451

Profile picture: Dudley, Ms C

Dudley, Ms C to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

Whether he will (a) enquire into the situation of a certain person (details furnished) that was declared undesirable through no fault of his own and (b) advise on (i) if and (ii) how the status of undesirable can be reversed?

Reply:

(a) I will ensure the department looks into this matter.

(b)(i) The status of undesirability can be reversed by appealing against the decision.

(b)(ii) The appeal can be sent to [email protected].

15 March 2016 - NW232

Profile picture: Ntlangwini, Ms EN

Ntlangwini, Ms EN to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture

Has his department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by certain persons (GUPTAS FAMILY) in the (a) 2012-13,(b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year,(i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount? (

Reply:

1.Yes, the Department has bought advertising space in The New Age in the 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years;

i) Number of times; and

ii) The amount in each specified financial years.

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE

Advertisements

Date

Cost

Heritage Month

September 2012

R75 360.00

Freedom Month

April 2012

R56 520.00

Africa Month

May 2012

R42 955.20

Nelson Mandela Day

July 2012

R28 636.80

Nelson Mandela Day

July 2012

R28 636.80

Visual Arts Indaba

October 2012

R66 572 00

Advertisement

April 2013

R40 929.42

Advertisement

June 2014

R35 803.98

Advertisement

November 2014

R8 997.61

Advertisement

March 2015

R6 791.30

2. The advertisements that were placed through GCIS are as follows:

Adverts placed through GCIS:

DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE THROUGH GCIS

     

Reconciliation Month

December 2014

R31 710.00

     

15 March 2016 - NW77

Profile picture: Brauteseth, Mr TJ

Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether he has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019; if not, why not; if so, (a) which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement, (b) how many performance assessments has he undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed, (c) what progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF, (d) what are the key obstacles to implementation and (e) what is the plan to address such obstacles?

Reply:

1. Whether he has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019; if not, why not; if so,

The Performance Management Framework for Ministers is the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) for 2014-2019, which is the first 5-year implementation plan of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. The performance targets and indicators are derived from the 14 Outcomes which government seeks to achieve.

These Outcomes and targets constitute government’s Programme of Action (POA), against which performance is tracked and reported at least on a quarterly basis. POA reports are publicly available on the government’s website.

(a) Which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement?

Key targets for the MTSF include:

  • Increase in the percentage of households with access to a functional water service from 85% in 2013 to 90% by 2019.
  • Increase in the percentage of households with access to a functional sanitation service from 84% in 2013 to 90% by 2019, including elimination of bucket sanitation in the formal areas.
  • 1.4 million Additional households to be connected to the grid between 2014 and 2019, and 105 000 additional non-grid connections.
  • An increase in the level of public trust and confidence in local government from 51% in 2012 to 65% in 2019, as measured by the IPSOS survey.
  • An improvement in overall municipal audit outcomes, with at least 75% of municipalities receiving unqualified audits by 2019.
  • Income support to the unemployed through expansion of the Community Work Programme to reach 1 million participants in 2019.

(b) How many performance assessments has he undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed?

Cabinet closely monitors the implementation of the NDP 2030/MTSF 2014-2019 through POA reports. These reports are tabled before an Implementation Forum of a Cluster of Ministers collectively responsible for MTSF Outcomes and then submitted to Cabinet, where progress is noted, bottlenecks to implementation are discussed and recommendations to address bottlenecks are considered and approved.

(c) What progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF?

This response is based on information received from Department of Water and Sanitation, Energy, Environmental Affairs, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and National Treasury and Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS). Progress provided hereunder on basic services is as at April 2015. The impact of the key indicators and targets is measured annually by sector departments. As a result, the latest measurement as at end of March 2016 on the key indicators and targets will be provided to the honourable member as soon as it has been finalised by respective Outcome 9 delivery partners.

Indicator

Baseline

Target

Progress

Progress rating

Number or percentage of hhs with access to a functional service at acceptable levels as per norms and standards

Water: 85% operational service

65% reliable service as benchmarked by Census 2011 (this equates to 85% operational service)

90% by 2019

Access to Water Infrastructure increased from 96.2% in April 2015 to 96.5% in December 2015, which constitutes an estimated 85 000 households that have been served with water supply infrastructure during the first 3 quarters of 2015/16 financial year.

66% households have access to reliable services, i.e. access to water services without frequent and lengthy interruptions in supply.

 
 

Sanitation: 84%

New baseline proposed by Sanitation of 74%

90% by 2019

Sanitation delivery through the Rural Household Infrastructure Grant and Municipal Infrastructure Grant was 133 508 households served cumulatively since April 2015. This translates to a 0, 7% annual increase.

 
 

HHs using bucket sanitation 88127 in formal areas

 

88127 buckets eradicated in formal areas by 2015.

32 500 buckets eradicated in formal settlements by March 2016

As at June 2015, bucket sanitation has been removed in 24 559 households over the past year against the initial target of 88 000.

The Department has planned to replace 32 500 buckets by the end March 2016

 

Indicator

Baseline

Target

Progress

Progress rating

 

Electricity: 12,8 million hhs connected to grid

1.4 million additional HHs connected by 2019

Access to electricity (grid) increased from 88.13% in April 2014 to 88.23% in April 2015. This percentage increase constitutes 233 455 households connected to grid from.

 
 

Refuse: 72%

80% by 2019

According to the General Household Survey results, access to refuse removal increased from 74.5% in July 2013 to 74.6% in July 2014.

The percentage increase constitute 162 046 households with access to waste collection services. The GHS is conducted annually and the results are release in July every year. The latest report will be released in July 2016.

 

Public trust and confidence in local government

51% (Ipsos 2012)

65% by 2019

Decreased from 55% in November 2014 to 49% in November 2016. This is according to a survey conducted by Ipsos.

 

Number of municipalities that improve their audit outcomes

20% adverse and disclaimers

25% qualified audits

50% unqualified audits (2014)

Number of municipalities with disclaimers and adverse opinions

Maximum of 25% municipalities with Qualified audits

At least 75% of municipalities with unqualified audit opinions by 2019

The audit outcomes for the MFMA 2013/14 Financial Year are as follows:

17% of municipalities and entities had disclaimers and adverse, which is a reduction of 6% from 23%.

22% of municipalities and entities had qualified opinions

58% municipalities and entities had unqualified opinions. As at 17% of municipalities and entities had disclaimers and adverse opinion

The 2014/15 preliminary audit results for 2014/15 were released by the Auditor-General in December 2015. The final consolidated report will be released in June 2016. The improvement in audit outcomes can only be measured after the release of the consolidated AG report.

 

Number of participants reached

172 000 (actual participation rate end March 2014)

1 million participants by 2019

The total CWP participation rate as at end of December 2015 was 214 013 cumulatively

 

 

(d) What are the key obstacles to implementation?

  • The provision of reliable services remains a challenge across all services due to backlogs in infrastructure refurbishment and neglect of operation and maintenance and asset management. There are no proper investments for infrastructure maintenance, which results in service interruptions.
  • The challenge of connecting households in rural areas, to bulk electricity infrastructure remains an issue. Most of these connections are concentrated in remote areas far from the grid, which necessitates installation of additional bulk infrastructure to connect these households. Installation of new bulk infrastructure necessitates environmental impact assessments, acquiring servitudes and project design functions, which have long lead times, to complete leading to delays in reticulation.

(e) What is the plan to address such obstacles?

  • Improving service delivery performance requires a programme management approach to proactively address the planning, coordination and institutional constraints experienced in the 27 priority districts. In this regard, a Service Delivery Business Strategy (Attached) was developed and approved by Cabinet on 02 June 2015 which entailed the establishment of a Programme Management Office (PMO) which is currently being coordinated by MISA and comprises key sector departments (DWS, DoT, DEA, DOE, NT, DCoG, & DPME).
  • To date, the PMO has completed the diagnostic assessments at the Amathole District to determine and confirm the status quo of the backlogs on access to reliable services. Umzinyathi, Sekhukhune and Bojanala Districts municipalities are currently being assessed.

 

  • The Department of Energy has recognized the need to enhance performance through project management of the electrification programme, to establish stakeholder forums aimed at managing expectations and to ensure alignment with planned electrification targets. Separate funding from Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) will be allocated to address bulk infrastructure requirements for targeted electricity connections specifically in deep rural areas.

 

15 March 2016 - NW437

Profile picture: Mkhaliphi, Ms HO

Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

(a) How many officials of his department across the country were suspended due to allegations of (i) fraud and (ii) corruption in the 2013-2014 and 2014-15 financial years and (b) (i) from which offices were the specified officials and (ii) which positions did they hold; (2) how many officials of his department across the country had their employment contracts terminated due to fraud and corruption in the specified financial years?

Reply:

(1)(a-b) For 2013-2014 financial year 52 officials were placed on precautionary suspension whilst allegations of fraud and corruption were investigated. The table below indicates the offices and the rank (positions) held.

Office

Rank (Position)

BRAKPAN

2

Front Office Clerk

2

BVR

1

Senior Admin Clerk

1

CALEDONSPOORT

6

Control Immigration Officer

1

Immigration Officer

5

CARLETONVILLE

1

Local Office Manager

1

JEPPE'S REEF

2

Control Immigration Officer

1

Immigration Officer

1

KING WILLIAMS TOWN

1

Front Office Clerk

1

MARABASTAD REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE

4

Immigration Officer

1

Refugee Status Determination Officer

3

O R TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

12

Control Immigration Officer

1

Immigration Officer

11

OSHOEK

2

Immigration Officer

2

PHALABRWA

1

Senior Admin Clerk

1

POLOKWANE REGIONAL OFFICE

1

Immigration Officer

1

PORT ELIZABETH REGIONAL OFFICE

1

Control Immigration Officer

1

PORT ELIZABETH REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE

10

Refugee Reception Officer

5

Refugee Status Determination Officer

2

Refugee Status Determination Manager

1

Senior Admin Clerk

1

SECURITY OFFICER

1

PRETORIA: LARGE OFFICE

1

MOBILE TRUCK DRIVER

1

PROSPECTON

1

Front Office Clerk

1

TIRRO REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE

1

Refugee Reception Officer

1

VANDERBIJLPARK

1

Immigration Officer

1

WITBANK

3

Immigration Officer

3

ZULULAND LOCAL OFFICE

1

Front Office Clerk

1

Grand Total

52

For 2014-2015 financial year 22 officials were placed on precautionary suspension whilst allegations of fraud and corruption were investigated. The table below indicates the offices and the rank (positions) held.

Office

Rank (Position)

BRAKPAN

2

Front Office Clerk

2

CHIEF DIRECTORATE: EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

1

Director

1

KING WILLIAMS TOWN

1

Front Office Clerk

1

KOKSTAD

2

Immigration Officer

2

MARABASTAD REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE

1

Immigration Officer

1

O R TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

5

Immigration Officer

5

OSHOEK

2

Immigration Officer

2

PRETORIA: LARGE OFFICE

1

Mobile Truck Driver

1

PRETORIA:LARGE OFFICE

2

Immigration Officer

2

SASOLBURG

1

Chief Admin Clerk

1

WITBANK

3

Immigration Officer

3

ZULULAND LARGE OFFICE

1

Front Office Clerk

1

Grand Total

22

(2) For the 2013-2014 financial year, 57 employees were dismissed for fraud and corruption related misconduct. For the 2014-2015 financial year, 45 employees were dismissed for fraud and corruption related misconduct.

15 March 2016 - NW277

Profile picture: Carter, Ms D

Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Whether her department continues to benchmark the performance of grade 12 learners in mathematics, science and home language with top performing countries in the world to determine where our learners stood in terms of knowledge, analytical skills, proficiency, problem solving and readiness for tertiary education: if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Benchmarking is regarded as integral part of standard setting and standard maintenance in the National Senior Certificate examinations. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has benchmarked the seven key subjects with three of the most highly acclaimed examination bodies internationally and these include: the Cambridge International Examination (CIE), the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and the Board of Studies. New South Wales (BSNSW). The subjects that were benchmarked include: Accounting, English (FAL), Geography, History, Life Science, Mathematics and Physical Science. The benchmarking was done in 2007, 2011 and 2013 and will be repeated with the 2015 question papers. The question papers were evaluated by the University South Africa (formerly HESA). The comments from all these institutions are taken very seriously and considered in the review process, which is done by the examining panel at the commencement of the setting process.

15 March 2016 - NW263

Profile picture: Mbatha, Mr MS

Mbatha, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Economic Development

Whether he and/or his department has bought advertising space in The New Age in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, (i) what number of times and (ii) for what amount in each specified financial year?

Reply:

During 2012-13, adverts were placed in New Age by recruitment companies totalling R102 146 for staff posts advertised by the department. This constituted 0,65% of the total advertising costs of the department for the year. Other media outlets used in this period included the Star, Mail & Guardian, City Press, Business Day and Sunday Times.

During 2013-14, infrastructure marketing was placed by Brand SA on behalf of EDD in various media outlets, which included newspapers, radio and television. Adverts and marketing were placed in Sowetan, the Star, Cape Times, Pretoria News, Mercury, Mail & Guardian, Business Day, City Press and the Sunday Times. No advertisements or marketing was placed with the New Age in this period and the amount was accordingly nil.

During 2014-15, infrastructure marketing was placed by Brand SA on behalf of EDD in various media outlets. Adverts for this as well as normal departmental advertising were placed in City Press, The Star, Pretoria News, Cape Times, Mercury, the New Age and Sunday Times. A separate partnership between KPMG and EDD was done, involving the M&G, at no cost to EDD. A sum of R100 000 was paid by EDD to Brand SA for advertisements in the New Age, which was equivalent to 1,6% of EDD’s total advertising spend for the financial year.

-END-

15 March 2016 - NW197

Profile picture: van der Merwe, Ms LL

van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Service

Whether his Ministry has any frozen vacant positions; if so, (a) how many of the specified positions are vacant, (b) what are the designations of the specified positions and (c) for how long have the specified positions been vacant?

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:-

There are no frozen vacant positions.

a) Not applicable

b) Not applicable

c) Not applicable

15 March 2016 - NW387

Profile picture: Krumbock, Mr GR

Krumbock, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Tourism

With reference to President Jacob G Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

Reply:

(a) Department

(i) 44.1% from 1 April 2015 to 30 November 2015

(ii) None

(b) South Africa Tourism

(i) 6% of total procurement spend is spent on SMMEs in South Africa. This excludes foreign spend.

(ii) None. There is no procurement expenditure in the co-operatives category of suppliers.

15 March 2016 - NW160

Profile picture: Macpherson, Mr DW

Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1)(a) How many (i) military vehicles are in the ambit of the (aa) SA National Defence Force and (bb) Armaments Corporation of South Africa and (ii) of the specified vehicles, are (aa) officially in operation, (bb) actually in usable condition but not operational and (cc) in storage, both serviceable and unserviceable and (b) what is the detailed breakdown of each of the specified vehicles; (2) whether any strategies are in place to optimise the usability of specified vehicles, especially the vehicles that are in storage; if not, why not; if so, how will South African (a) companies and (b) workers benefit from this in terms of (i) business and entrepreneurship opportunities, (ii) training and (iii) job creation?

Reply:

Any question which relates to the capacity or capabilities within the defence force shall not be made available to the public and therefore we are not able to answer this question.

15 March 2016 - NW329

Profile picture: Steyn, Ms A

Steyn, Ms A to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1) How many times did the National Disaster Management Advisory Forum meet since 1 January 2009;

Reply:


The National Disaster Management Advisory Forum meets on a quarterly basis every year.
The National Disaster Management Advisory Forum has met 27 times since 2009 as follows:

Year

National Disaster Management Advisory Forum Meeting Dates

Number of Meetings

2009

12 February 2009

3

 

13 August 2009

 
 

12 November 2009

 

2010

11 February 2010

4

 

13 May 2010

 
 

12 August 2010

 
 

11 November 2010

 

2011

10 March 2011

4

 

2 June 2011

 
 

8 September 2011

 
 

10 November

 


Attached please find here: Reply

15 March 2016 - NW438

Profile picture: Ketabahle, Ms V

Ketabahle, Ms V to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services

When does he intend to release the Public Service Commission inquiry related to the Director-General’s conduct?

Reply:

I have been advised as follows:-

After considering the contents of the report and applying my mind to the matter, I notified the PSC on 23 February 2016 that I have accepted the report without any amendments. The report is available to the affected parties.

15 March 2016 - NW364

Profile picture: Cardo, Dr MJ

Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development

With reference to President Jacob G Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

Reply:

a) For the period 1 April 2015 to date, 26.8% of the department’s total procurement spent was allocated to SMME’s including Co-operatives. This amounts to R5 926 304.97.

b) The entities total procurement spent allocated to SMME’s is as follows:

IDC

The IDC has awarded procurement contracts to the value of R78 951 498.00 during 1 April 2015 to 29 February 2016 of which 57% of the total contract value was awarded to SMME’s.

ITAC

ITAC total spent on SMMEs is 31%, at a total value of R5 227 410.49

Competition Commission

Due to the nature of the Commission’s business being an investigative and prosecutorial agency, the majority of its procurement is on legal counsel, economists and experts. The total spent from 1 April 2015 until 30 September 2015 is at 4% at a total value of R63,7 million.

Competition Tribunal

The Competition tribunal does not currently keep statistics with regard to procurement from SMME’s or co-operatives. EDD has now requested that such data be collected in future.

-END-

15 March 2016 - NW362

Profile picture: Brauteseth, Mr TJ

Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With reference to President Jacob Zuma's undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), Co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) Co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?NW374E

Reply:

(a) (b) (i)(ii)

The Department:
The percentage of the department's procurement from SMME's for the period 1 April 2015 to 26 February 2016 equals 88%. This percentage includes procurement from township enterprises. The department did not procure any goods or services from co-operatives.

Entities:
South African Local Government Association (SALGA)
The percentage of SALGA's procurement from SMME's (Levels 1 to 4) for the period April 2015 to February 2016 equals 35%. This percentage includes procurement from township and rural enterprises. The SALGA did not procure any goods or services from co-operatives.

South African Cities Network (SACN)
The percentage of the SACN procurement from SMMEs for the period April 2015 to February 2016 equals 46%.The SACN did not procure any goods or services from co-operatives.

Municipal Demarcation Board (MOB)
The percentage of the MDB procurement from SMME's (Levels 1 to 4) for the period April 2015 to February 2016 equals 29.64%.The MDB did not procure any goods or services from co-operatives.

 

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NUMBER: PQ2016/362

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19 FEBRUARY 2016

Herewith a reply drafted by:

MS D SNYMAN
Acting Deputy Director-General: Financial Services
Date: 2016/03/26

RECOMMENDED/...............

MR V MADONSELA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE: 02.03/2016

SUPPORTED/.................

ANRIES NEL, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER
DATE: 03/03/2016

APPROVED/...................

DES VAN ROOYEN, MP
MINISTER
DATE: 10/03/2016
 

15 March 2016 - NW293

Profile picture: Mokgalapa, Mr S

Mokgalapa, Mr S to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

1. Whether each metropolitan municipality has a call centre to deal with queries around municipal services and accounts; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many calls are received by each specified call centre each day, (b) how many queries are successfully dealt with each day and (c) how many staff members are employed by each specified call centre; 2. Whether each specified municipality reports on the performance of the call centre; if not, why not; if so, what have been the (a) failures and (b) successes in the last reporting period?NW301E

Reply:

1. All metropolitan municipalities have indicated that they have call centres or toll free numbers to deal with customer queries related to service delivery issues which include issues related to customer accounts queries.

(a) The number of calls received are between 200 - 4000 calls per day and all queries are resolved successfully.

(b) About 85% of queries and complaints are resolved on first contact. The remaining 15% is referred to relevant departments.

(c) Information on the number of staff employed by municipalities is still being sourced from municipalities.

2. All metropolitan municipalities present their call centre reports to provincial service delivery forums i.e. war room, operation Sukuma Sakhe (KwaZulu Natal) and Ntirisano (Gauteng).

(a) No failures on the call centres have been reported on.

(b) All municipalities have reported that the call centres are fully operational and most of the queries are being responded to effectively and efficiently.

15 March 2016 - NW185

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

(1) Whether Mpumalanga's traditional leaders recently received new vehicles from the provincial government; if so, (a) what was the total cost of the new vehicles, (b) how many vehicles were bought and (c) with regard to each vehicle, (i) what is the (aa) make, (bb) model and (cc) cost and (ii) who was the recipient of the vehicle; (2) (a) what was the (i) age, (ii) make and (iii) model of each vehicle that was replaced by the new fleet and (b) what was done with all the vehicles that were replaced; (3) whether the specified traditional leaders also received any cattle; if so, (a) what are the details of the animals awarded to each traditional leader, (b) what was the total cost and (c) why were the traditional leaders awarded these animals?

Reply:


Please find here: Reply

15 March 2016 - NW45

Profile picture: Maynier, Mr D

Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance

(1)Whether (a) he, (b) the Deputy Minister, (c) the director-general and/or (d) any officials from his department attended a certain political party (name furnished) Lekgotla which took place between 25-27 January 2016; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) why did the (aa) director-general and (bb) officials attend and (ii) what is the (aa) name and (bb) designation of each specified official who attended; (2) whether his department incurred any expenditure as a result of the specified Lekgotla if not, why not; if so, what was the (a) total cost and (b) a breakdown of such cost?

Reply:

1. (a) & (b) & (c) & (d): Yes

(aa) Mr. Lungisa Fuzile is an ANC Member and he attended in his personal capacity.

(bb) Mr. Michael Sachs, Deputy Director General: Budget Office also attended in his personal capacity.

All officials who attended; attended in their personal capacity as Members of the ANC.

2. No expenditure was incurred by the National Treasury in terms of the Lekgotla.

15 March 2016 - NW532

Profile picture: Whitfield, Mr AG

Whitfield, Mr AG to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What is the current status of proposed testing of matric markers nationwide?

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education ([)BE) has not excluded from its considerations for the future the testing of matric markers. The DBE is commit1ed to ensuring that the most competent educators are appointed for the marking process and. therefore. this option will be pursued based on more extensive consultation with the teacher formation s. that are vital to the success of this initiative. In view of the concern expressed by one of the major Unions in the country, it was therefore considered necessary to consult more widely with all the national teacher Unions on this very important measure that will be used to evaluate the competency level of the educators appointed.

However. it also needs to be noted that the implementation or the competency test will not resolve all the quality issues relating to marking. The competency test is only but one measure to improve the quality of marking. The Department is embarking on a whole range of initiatives to improve the accuracy and reliability of marking for which Umalusi has commended the Department.

These quality assurance measures include the following:

(a) Markers are appointed based on stringent criteria relating to teaching experience and qualification. and this is accompanied by a report on the Grade 12 performance of the prospective marker and his/her performance in the previous marking session/s.

(b) The DBE has conducted and ''ill continue to conduct an audit of al l marker appointments across all Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) to ensure that all PEDs comply strictly with the criteria for appointing markers.

(c) During the training of markers, markers are presented with the actual learner scripts and markers are authorised to mark only if they demonstrate they are capable of complying with the tolerance range allowed for specific paper.

(d) The tolerance Range is also used during the moderation process whereby the mark awarded by the moderator and the marker should not vary beyond an agreed range.

(c) Marking is followed b) an intensive moderation process which ensures that script are moderated by a senior marker who is in turn, overseen by the Deputy Chief Marker and the final quality control is the responsibility of the Chief Marker.
 

15 March 2016 - NW139

Profile picture: Kruger, Mr HC

Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1)What are the exact powers, roles and responsibilities of the SA National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA), vis-à-vis the powers, roles and responsibilities of her department; (2) whether her department has aborted the special purpose vehicle to co-ordinate business opportunities for military veterans; if so, has SANMVA assumed this role; (3) (a) what are the detailed expenses incurred by SANMVA in this regard and (b) how much of the specified expenses were covered by her department; (4) does SANMVA (a) receive a budget allocation from her department and (b) manage its own budget; (5) did SANMVA comply with its mandate and submit its statutory annual report to her?

Reply:

(1) The South African National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA) has been established to function as an entity that will assist the Department to reach its goals in servicing military veterans. Its core function is to mobilise military veterans across all individual associations and to ensure that all military veterans are aware of all of the benefits that are provided by the Department of Military Veterans and other government Departments.

(2) The Department has not aborted the special purpose vehicle (SPV). At present, a process is underway to probe the best possible solution towards establishing an SPV that would function efffectively and make sure that it does provide the intended benefit to all military veterans. Explorations include probing whether or not the provision of funding to military veterans will be in the form of a grant or loan and what the criteria would be in each instance. The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is in full support of an SPV and has recommended that the Department continues to establish the SPV to give effect to a process that will be of benefit to military veterans to the extent that they necome self sufficient and are able to become less relaint on funding from the Department.

SANMVA has not assumed the role of an SPV. On the contrary, the Department is beginning to benefit from interventions wherein SANMVA engages with the private sector to open up business and employment opportunities for military veterans. Such opportunities are fed back to the Department for implementation. One such engagement has resulted in the Department beginning to pilot the training of military veterans in the installations of Set Top Boxes in conjunction with Ellies, one of the companies that has been awarded a contract to implement the Government’s Digital Migration programme under the Department of Communications. The roles are more complimentary rather than SANMVA assuming a role of the Department.

(3

(a) To give effect to its functions, SANMVA requests assistance in the form of transport and accommodation, where required.

(b) The Department covers all requests when funds are available.

(4)

(a) The Department does make a budget allocation for SANMVA activities under the Chief Directorate: Provincial Offices and Stakeholder Management.

(b) No funds have been transferred to SANMVA to date for personal managemrent by SANMVA. The mechanism for this has not yet been instituted.

(5) SANMVA has submitted one annual report to the office of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, to date, since the establishment of SANMVA under the new Military Veterans Act, No 18, of 2011.

15 March 2016 - NW158

Profile picture: Mackay, Mr G

Mackay, Mr G to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

What (a) plans and (b) strategies have been put in place for the (i) Armaments Corporation of South Africa and (ii) South African defence industry to benefit from the predicted growth in total sector revenues of the global aerospace and defence industry in 2016?

Reply:

Armscor’s Strategy departs from the premises as indicated below and contains objectives as indicated.

  1. The SANDF is Armscor’s client and as such Armscor must firstly focus on the SANDF’s requirements as defined and scheduled by them.
  2. Armscor is, however, also sensitive to the greater socio-economic issues that come into play with defence expenditure. In this regard Armscor had studies conducted to assess the socio-economic impact of different types of acquisition programs related to the requirements of the Defence Review.  The insights from these studies are used to advise the SANDF, to try and position the local defence industry for optimal socio-economic impact in the RSA or to define the required characteristics of agreements with international suppliers where necessary, for example to protect the balance of payments and to transfer skills to the RSA.  
  3. Armscor is also in consultation with the Departments of Science and Technology and Trade and Industry to optimize possible defence expenditure with their departmental initiatives.
  4. Armscor is not the representative body for the local defence industry (AMD), but it is cooperating with the body to define and implement initiatives to strengthen the local defence industry.
  5. In addition to existing support to marketing events such as the upcoming Africa Aerospace Defence (an international and continental) event, Armscor reacts to opportunities as they show themselves within the relevant oversight policies. The approach is not only reactive but also proactive as Armscor Research and Development is involved in forums that are aimed at optimizing the continent’s military output through improved logistic support and interoperability. Armscor Research and Development is also providing insights to the focusing of technology development to ensure an ability to react to opportunities.

SUBMITTED ON: 15 MARCH 2016

15 March 2016 - NW227

Profile picture: Ntobongwana, Ms P

Ntobongwana, Ms P to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs

Has her department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year, (i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount?

Reply:

(a) (b) (c) (i) (ii)

The information requested in the format that appears in the aforementioned question is not available as only the particulars of companies are recorded within the financial systems in the Department and not the details of any directors.

 

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15 March 2016 - NW133

Profile picture: Esau, Mr S

Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Whether any skills audit of her department’s employees was conducted to urgently address the high risk of a lack of competent and professional staff in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and/or (c) 2014-15 financial years; if not, why not; if so, what were the outcomes in each case?

Reply:

During the indicated financial year, skills audit was not conducted due to capacity challenges however gaps were identified and all employees per branches were identified according to their placement, qualification, skills and knowledge.

Process is underway regarding the skills audit project. Therefore skills audit will be conducted before the end of the financial year 2016/17.

14 March 2016 - NW498

Profile picture: Van Dalen, Mr P

Van Dalen, Mr P to ask the Minister of Finance

Whether the National Treasury plays any oversight role in the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s tariff determinations to ensure the long term financial viability of Eskom; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The National Treasury plays an oversight role with regard to levy increases / decreases for the gas and petroleum pipeline levies in terms of both the Gas Regulator Levies Act and Petroleum Pipelines Act.

The Minister of Energy’s permission is required to prescribe a levy on licensed electricity generators as per the Electricity Act of 1987.

With regards to the electricity tariff, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, prior to making any determination, undertakes a public consultation process on any proposed adjustment of Eskom’s tariffs. As part of this process, the National Treasury provides extensive written inputs to NERSA, which amongst others, considers the long term viability of Eskom.

14 March 2016 - NW513

Profile picture: Mbhele, Mr ZN

Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Police

(1)What proportion of each police station’s budget in the (a) City of Tshwane Metropolitan, (b) Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan, (c) City of Johannesburg Metropolitan, (d) Ekurhuleni Metropolitan and (e) Buffalo City Metropolitan municipalities has been (i) allocated and  (ii) spent on training (aa) in the (aaa) 2012-13, (bbb) 2013-14 and (ccc) 2014-15 financial years and (bb) from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) what type of training has been provided at each police station in each of the specified metropolitan municipalities in each of the specified financial years; (3) (a) how many SA Police Service officers have been trained and (b) on what dates was the training provided at each police station in each of the specified metropolitan municipalities in the specified financial years?

Reply:

1. The South African Police Service is a National Department and not demarcated in Metropoles but in Divisions and Provinces. Training records are kept at National level per Province on a computerised system (Training Administration System). The budget for training interventions is allocated to the Division Human Resource Development who is responsible for training and the funding of training in SAPS and not per station.

2. Due to the number of training and available training interventions provided, this answer cannot be given in print as it contains more than 1800 pages. Attached herewith is an electronic copy of a spreadsheet containing the following:

  • a) Total number of SAPS officials trained per station per Gauteng and Eastern Cape Province in which the city of Tshwane Metropolitan, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan, City Of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni Metrpolitan and Buffalo City Metropolitan are situated for the 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 3rd quarter financial years as per Training Administration System.
  • b) The type of training is given per member per station trained per financial year for the two applicable Provinces.

3. The (a) number of officials trained per station is as per the provided spreadsheet and (b) the training was finalized in the year that the report indicates.

14 March 2016 - NW512

Profile picture: Mbhele, Mr ZN

Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Police

(a) How many SA Police Service officers were deployed for police operations (i) before and (ii) during the 2016 State of the Nation Address and (b) what effect did this have on police stations in the City of Cape Town?

Reply:

(a)(i) 231

(a)(ii) 640

(b) There was no negative effect on the deployment of members at police stations in the Metropoles.

14 March 2016 - NW495

Profile picture: Bagraim, Mr M

Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister of Police

(a) How many sectors does the Primrose Police Service station have, (b) which suburbs fall within each sector, (c) what is the size of the population of the precinct, (d) how many visible police officers are there for each sector and (e) how many shifts are there for visible policing?

Reply:

a) Primrose police station has three sectors.

b) The following suburbs fall within the sectors:

  • Sector 1: Makause, Marathon, Delport and Rasta informal settlements, Primrose East, Woodmere, Marlands and Primrose central business districts.
  • Sector 2: Activia Park, Homestead, Sunnyridge, Solheim, Fishershill, Symhurst and Primrose central business district.
  • Sector 3: Dawnview, Simmerfield, Primrose Hill, Wychwood, Malvern East and Creston Hill.

c) The estimated population size is 71 000.

d) There are four visible policing officers per sector and one Sector Commander per sector.

e) There are four shifts for visible policing.

14 March 2016 - NW496

Profile picture: Bagraim, Mr M

Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister of Police

(a) How many sectors does the Bedfordview Police Service station have, (b) which suburbs fall within each sector, (c) what is the size of the population of the precinct, (d) how many visible police officers are there for each sector and (e) how many shifts are there for visible policing?

Reply:

(a) The Bedfordview policing area has three sectors.

(b) The following suburbs fall within the sectors:

  • Sector 1: Senderwood,Essexwold,Morning Hill,Bedford Gardens and Oriel Park.
  • Sector 2: Wilbart and Bedfordview central business development.
  • Sector 3: Meadowbrook,Meadowdale,Tunney,Elandsfontein,Kruinhof, Rastvia, Harmelia Ext 1 and Klopperpark.

(c) The population size of the policing area is 14 000.

(d) There are two visible policing officers and one Sector Commander per sector.

(e) There are four shifts for visible policing.

S

14 March 2016 - NW497

Profile picture: Brauteseth, Mr TJ

Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Police

(a) How many sectors does the Boksburg North Police Service station have, (b) which suburbs fall within each sector, (c) what is the size of the population of the precinct, (d) how many visible police officers are there for each sector and (e) how many shifts are there for visible policing?

Reply:

(a) Boksburg North police station has four sectors.

(b) The following suburbs fall within the sectors:

  • Sector 1: Impala Park, Witkoppie Ridge, Park Haven, Atlasville, Bartlette and Bardene.
  • Sector 2: Jet Park, Hughes, Bartlett AH, Bardene and Jansen Park
  • Sector 3: Ravensky, Ravensklip, Witfield, Hughes Extion, Rosedene, Lillianton, Berton Park, ERPM Golf Course, Boksburg West, Comet, Morganridge and Dayanglen.
  • Sector 4: Everleigh, BeyersPark, Westwood SH, Ravenswood, Anderbolt, Muswelldale and Boksburg North.

(c) The estimated population size is 120 000.

(d) There are four visible policing officers per sector and one Sector Commander per sector.

(e) There are four shifts for visible policing.

14 March 2016 - NW492

Profile picture: Waters, Mr M

Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Police

(1)(a) How many sectors does the Sebenza Police Station have, (b) which suburbs fall within each sector, (c) what is the size of the population of the precinct, (d) how many visible police officers are there for each sector and (e) how many shifts are there for visible policing; (2) whether there are any minimum standards for visible policing with regard to the ratios of (a) visible policing to the population and (b) the number of sectors in relation to the population being serviced by any police station; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Reply:

(1) (a) Sebenza police station has two sectors.

(b) The following suburbs fall within the sectors:

  • Sector 1: Chloorkop, Cresslawn, Esther Park, Kelvin Estates, Kempton Park West, Spartan.
  • Sector 2: Croydon, Edenglen, Foundersview, Longmeadow, Modderfontein, Sebenza, Spartan Ext. 7.

(c) The population size of the policing area is 19 970.

(d) There are eight visible policing officers for each sector and one Sector Commander per sector.

(e) There are four shifts for visible policing.

(2) (a) The downward adjustment of the population since the promulgation of areas demarcated to Nokem Park and Edenvale Policing areas respectively affected the current allocation of posts to the Visible Policing environment.

The allocation/distribution of human resources is informed by a number of variables including the SAPS’s funded establishment, departmental priorities and human resource requirements of the different disciplines within the SAPS.

(b) Minimum standards for the number of sectors in relation to the population was not determined. The implementation of Sector Policing is prescribed in National Instruction 3/2013, which determines that a policing area must at least be divided into two sectors. All facets of visible policing, including crime prevention, attending to complaints as well as crime prevention operations are addressed as part of the operational deployment of members in the sectors in accordance with the Crime Pattern and Threat analysis. The main aim of Sector Policing as policing approach, is to facilitate community partcipation and mobilisation in support of preventing crime in the policing area in order to strehgthen the implementation of Community Policing.

The minimum standards utilised to calculate the human resource requirement in the visible policing environment, with specific reference to sector policing at police stations, utilises the following determinants which were taken into consideration to determine the number of theoretical personnel for crime prevention activities: reported crimes, population density, social and economic factors, contingency allowances and environmental factors.

Therefore, to build the methodology on population only can never be utilised because it ignores the basic principles of organisational design/strategy.