Questions and Replies
17 August 2023 - NW2523
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1) With regard to the findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as reported in the Final Consolidated Report for Proclamation R23 of 2020, dated 10 December 2021, in particular the findings of the SIU on the City of Cape Town (CCT) (details furnished), what progress has been made by the SIU regarding instructions to the State Attorney; (2) whether any civil action has been instituted following the report of the SIU; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date and (b) what is the current status of such action; (3) whether the SIU informed the CCT that the (a) expenditure was regarded as irregular and (b) service provider profited excessively; if not, why not, in each case; if so, on what date was the CCT informed; (4) whether the SIU had directed and/or expected of the City Manager (CM) to take any steps; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps (5) whether the SIU report found that the CM had taken the specified steps; if not, what are the consequences set out in the report of not taking the steps; if so, on what date did the SIU find that the CM took the steps?
Reply:
(1) With regard to the findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as reported in the Final Consolidated Report for Proclamation R23 of 2020, dated 10 December 2021, in particular the findings of the SIU on the City of Cape Town (CCT) (details furnished), what progress has been made by the SIU regarding instructions to the State Attorney;
The SIU briefed the Office of The State Attorney, who in turn briefed suitable Senior Counsel on 25 November 2022.
(2) whether any civil action has been instituted following the report of the SIU; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date and (b) what is the current status of such action;
Papers have been drafted and the institution of civil proceedings is imminent. Whereas the SIU is currently involved in discussions with the CCT’s attorneys regarding certain technical issues pertaining to the proceedings, this will not preclude the institution of the proceedings.
(3) whether the SIU informed the CCT that the (a) expenditure was regarded as irregular and (b) service provider profited excessively; if not, why not, in each case; if so, on what date was the CCT informed;
The CCT and/or its attorneys are aware of the SIU’s findings in the above regard. In view of the pending institution of litigation and the related current discussions between with the SIU and CCT’s attorneys, the disclosure of further detail is considered confidential at this stage.
(4) whether the SIU had directed and/or expected of the City Manager (CM) to take any steps; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps
The SIU has not directed and/or pertinently required of the City Manager to take any specific steps.
(5) whether the SIU report found that the CM had taken the specified steps; if not, what are the consequences set out in the report of not taking the steps; if so, on what date did the SIU find that the CM took the steps?
As indicated above, the SIU has not directed and/or pertinently required of the City Manager to take any specific steps.
17 August 2023 - NW2442
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Considering that the President, Mr MC Ramaphosa, recently authorised the Special Investigating Unit to investigate allegations of serious maladministration in the affairs of a certain Office (details furnished), which was identified by reports of the Auditor-General of South Africa, (a) how long will the specified investigation take, (b) what total budget has been set aside and (c) what are the expected outcomes?
Reply:
a) How long will the specified investigation take
It is estimated that the investigation will take approximately 12 months. However, given the nature of forensic investigation(s), it may be finalised sooner or be extended, depending on the evidence uncovered during the investigation.
b) What total budget has been set aside
The Special Investigating Unit is not in a position to say whether any budget has been set aside by the relevant entity. However, it is estimated that the investigation will cost R4 880 554.24.
c) What are the expected outcomes
It is expected that the investigation should produce inter alia the following outcomes, provided that sufficient evidence be uncovered during the investigation to support these outcomes:
- The recovery of losses suffered by the state through the institution of civil proceedings;
- Referral of evidence of misconduct for the institution of disciplinary or corrective action;
- Referral of evidence indicating, or pointing to a criminal offence to the National Prosecuting Authority;
- Identify systemic gaps and make systemic recommendations to avoid identified instances of maladministration from occurring in future;
- Closure reports on all sub-investigations conducted as per the proclamation; and
- Submit Presidential Reports, as envisaged in sections 4(1)(f) and (g) of the SIU Act.
Given the nature of forensic investigation(s), the SIU cannot warrant that its investigations or its forensic services will result in the detection of impropriety, malpractice or criminal conduct, or in any successful remedial civil or disciplinary proceedings or criminal prosecutions. The outcomes of forensic investigations are unpredictable and the success of the legal outcomes, in particular civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution, are largely dependent on other entities, such as the National Prosecuting Authority, Office of the State Attorney, the South African Police Service, the Special Tribunal, the courts and the judicial system.
END
16 August 2023 - NW889
Kohler-Barnard, Ms D to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
(1) What progress has her Office made in incrementally eliminating wasteful and fruitless expenditure in public sector institutions; (2) whether she will furnish Ms D Kohler with the amount lost in each year due to wasteful and irregular expenditure since 1 January 2019 to date; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether her Office is on track to achieve a 75% reduction in qualified audits in the public sector by 31 March 2024; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) has been working with other departments to improve financial management within the public sector. Some of the measures to this end include the implementation of the Heads of Department Performance Management and Development System (HoD PMDS), which includes the prevention of fruitless and wasteful expenditure as one of the Key Government Focus Areas that are assessed. This and other measures complement the amendments to the Public Audit Act, which empowers the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) to issue a certificate of debt for failure to implement the remedial action if financial loss was involved. Data shows that these measures are beginning to make an impact, as reflected in the 2021/22 report of the AGSA, which shows that there has been a decline in the number of institutions that incur fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
2. The 2021-22 report of the AGSA shows that public sector institutions disclosed fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R5,83 billion over the past three years of the current administration. In 2020-21 financial year public sector instituions incurred R1,72 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. This was a decline from the 2019-20 financial year when R2,23 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure was incurred. Whilst challenges persist, the report notes that a descernible improvement trajectory has been established.
(3) According to the 2021-22 report of the AGSA, audit outcomes have shown a gradual upward trend since the previous administration’s term ended, with 114 institutions improving whilst 46 regressed. During the 2021-22 financial year, 312 out of 424 public sector institutions achieved unqualified audit opinion (128 clean and 184 unqualified with findings). This translates into 74% (30% clean and 44 unqualified with findings). If this trend can be maintained the target of 75% of auditees achieving an unqualified audit opinion would be achieved by 2024.
THANK YOU
16 August 2023 - NW209
Mbabama, Ms TM to ask the Minister in the Presidency
(1) What are the details of the (a) destination and (b) total costs for (i) accommodation, (ii) travel and (iii) any other costs incurred for international travel of each (aa) Minister and (bb) Deputy Ministers of his Office since 1 June 2019; (2) what is the total cost incurred for domestic air travel for each (a) Minister and (b) Deputy Minister of his Office since 1 June 2019? NW209E
Reply:
The Presidency did not have the Minister in The Presidency under (Vote 1) from 1 June 2019 to 06 March 2023. The Minister in The Presidency was located under Vote 09 (Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation).
On 6 March 2023, The President announced the appointment of the Minister in the Presidency (Vote 1), Ms. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. The Minister is supported by two Deputy Ministers, Mr Kenneth Morolong and Ms. Nomasonto Motaung. The Minister in the Presidency (Khumbudzo Ntshavheni) costs are covered by the State Security Agency.
1. (aa) Minister in The Presidency (Khumbudzo Ntshavheni)
(a) Destination N/A
(b) Total cost for R0
(i) Accomodation (International ) R0
(ii) Travel and other costs (International) R0
(bb) Deputy Minister Kenneth Morolong
(a) Destination N/A
(b) Total cost for R0
(i) Accomodation (International ) R0
(ii) Travel and other costs (International) R0
(bb) Deputy Minister Nomasonto Motaung
(a) Destination N/A
(b) Total cost for R0
(i) Accomodation (International ) R0
(ii) Travel and other costs (International) R0
2. Domestic Air Travel
(a) Minister in the Presidency (Khumbudzo Ntshavheni) R0
(b) Deputy Minister Kenneth Morolong R22 928
(c) Deputy Minister Nomasonto Motaung R73 075
NAME OF THE DRAFTER: Mr K Mashapha
DESIGNATION : Acting Chief Financial Officer
CONTACT DETAILS : 012 300 5998
SIGNATURE : ____________________________
____________________
Phindile Baleni (Ms.)
Director-General and Secretary of the Cabinet
Date:
APPROVED/NOT APPROVED
______________________________
Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Minister in The Presidency
Date:
16 August 2023 - NW1687
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister in the Presidency
Whether she will furnish Mr H C C Krüger with a comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation of (a) her Office and (b) every entity reporting to her in terms of the percentages allocated to (i) small-, medium- and micro-enterprises, (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises with a view to evaluating the effectiveness of the set-aside policy of the Government in fostering an inclusive and diverse economic landscape (details furnished) in the (aa) 2021-22 financial year and (bb) since 1 April 2023?
Reply:
The Presidency did not have the Minister in The Presidency under (Vote 1) until 06 March 2023. The Minister in The Presidency was located under Vote 08 (Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation).
There is currently no budget allocation linked directly to the office of the Minister
Procurement allocation is based on the Procurement Plan, which caters for the needs of The Presidency including the Ministries. There are no spending or allocations to the Minister for the period under review.
NAME OF THE DRAFTER : Dineo Kau
DESIGNATION : Acting Chief Financial Officer
CONTACT DETAILS : 063 669 1968
SIGNATURE : ____________________________
_____________________________
Phindile Baleni (Ms)
Director General and Secretary of Cabinet
Date:
__________________________
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Minister in the Presidency
Date:
16 August 2023 - NW616
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister in the Presidency
How much progress has the Red Tape Unit made in implementing a red tape regulatory framework that will ease the regulatory burden on small businesses?
Reply:
The DSBD was requested to provide input on the Framework that has been put in place to address the issue of Red Tape.
The Department has indeed assessed measures nationally, provincial and locally. There are a multitude of legislative and regulatory criteria that small businesses need to comply with, not all of them are “onerous”, but still it provides a good indication that our regulatory frameworks are not well coordinated and synchronised, and are often duplicatory, placing both a cost and time burden on small businesses. The DSBD has prioritised twenty-nine (29) pieces of legislation (and related regulations, and by-laws, etc) that impact on SMME growth and development. This is summarised in Figure 2.
Names of legislation and Relevant Details
The twenty-nine (29) pieces affect informal sector, small, medium micro enterprises and cooperatives
across the spectrum. Regarding cooperatives, we have noted that CIPC reporting under the Co-operatives Development Act, is onerous as most co-ops are required to submit audited financial statements. That imposes a considerable expense, which does not apply to any other small enterprise. This contrasts with the Company’s Act which has specified thresholds over which enterprises are required to submit audited annual financial statements.
The Department has put out a request for quotations to enlist private sector red tape and small business development “experts” to conduct an analysis of these twenty-nine pieces of legislation and regulations, as well as other targeted sources of red tape like CIPC reporting for cooperatives. We have already however analysed several areas of “red tape” and ease of doing business challenges over the past few years and group these into the following categories:
- Business Registration & Reporting;
- State Procurement;
- Construction Industry; and
- Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment.
The Pilot Administrative Simplification Programme (PASP) focuses on institutionalising the best practices and learnings made by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and is focused on local government - its interventions target Districts/Secondary Cities and Local Municipalities. The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) is by no means the sole player in this ecosystem for measuring impact of the red tape reduction ecosystem:
- The Investment Climate Reform Programme (formerly, the National Ease of Doing Business Programme) follows and focuses on improving the Investment Climate within the country. The key focus of the National Programme is starting a business, paying taxes, registering property, Construction Permits and trading across borders. The programme is located within the dtic and falls under its InvestSA branch.
- The Sub National Doing Business Programme finds expression through the National Treasury’s Cities Support Programme targeting metros, and focusing on Construction Permits, registering property, enforcing contracts and getting electricity.
- In addition to the Doing Business Survey, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) vigorously pursues the tracking of MTSF Priority 2 targets, monitoring 40% of the indicators, as well as focusing on the expansion of access to procurement opportunities to SMMEs, youth and women.
- The integration of the MFMA, Circular 88 sector and economic indicators (including electricity) is thematic and provides a level of integration between traditional indicators measured in local government, and those that have been shown effective in National and Sub National Doing Business Programmes.
Measuring the Impact of the DSBD Red Tape Reduction PASP
The key focus of the PASP is measuring the impact of seven (7) Red Tape Reduction dimensions identified by the Guidelines approved in 2014:
- Improving Municipal Service Delivery: Citizen Service Charters and Complaints Notification Systems (CNS).
- Improving Municipal-Business Communication and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
- Improving Municipal Policies, By-laws, and Regulations.
- Improving Supply Chain Management Processes.
- Speeding up Land Development Processes and Time Frames - Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).
- Speeding up Building Plan Approval Processes and Time Frames.
- Better Management of Informal Trading.
The following is a multi-level strategy driven by the DSBD, that has been put in place for measuring the impact of the programme:
- Questionnaires on compliance for managers, e.g., Supply Chain Manager, Building Plans Approval Manager, etc. for the seven (7) key red tape indicators.
- Survey of SMMEs on the seven (7) key indicators of Red Tape challenges.
- Focus groups with SMMEs to get clarity of the challenges they identified through the surveys conducted.
- Assessment of Compliance for “good practise” in the above seven (7) areas of a municipality.
- Functionality Assessment of compliance measures.
- Action Plans developed to address performance deficits across the seven (7) key red tape indicators.
- Action Plan Registers to Monitor Progress on the implementation of interventions contained on the seven (7) key red tape indicators of the Action Plans recommended.
- Reports on the above.
The Presidency communicated to Premiers, in November 2022, to establish Red Tape Reduction Units in their respective provinces. There is continuous engagement with the provinces by the Presidency to facilitate the establishment of the Red Tape Reduction units in each province. The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) continues to engage the Presidency to get feedback on the progress made on the matter.
It is anticipated that the business units responsible for the red tape in the provinces, especially in offices of the Premiers, will act as Red Tape Reduction Champions at the highest level in the respective provinces as something that is sorely needed to galvanize the entire SMMEs and cooperatives sector at the provincial level. This will be complementary to the work that is being done by the Departmental and Presidential red tape reduction business units.
NAME OF THE DRAFTER : ____________________________
DESIGNATION : ____________________________
CONTACT DETAILS : ____________________________
SIGNATURE : ____________________________
16 August 2023 - NW2348
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What are the details of the (a) reasons that the Pretoria Deeds Office has moved offices, (b) dates that her department knew about the need to move offices, (c) registration targets that were achieved by the Pretoria office in each month, (d) project plan of the relocation of offices and (e) reasons for failure to provide (i) deeds registry services during the relocation of offices and (ii) comprehensive plans to catch up with lost productivity days?
Reply:
a) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) took a decision to consolidate all offices into a single building to improve access to services and service delivery.
b) September 2022.
c) 89% of deeds made available within 7 days from lodgement to registration against a target of 95%; and
99% of deeds are made available within 10 days from registration to delivery against a target of 95%.
d) Please refer to Annexure A for the Deeds Office project plan and communication to clients and the public.
e) (i) The Deeds Office did not fail to provide registry services during the relocation; the deeds office provided limited services i.e. only lodgement of deeds was suspended, and registration services proceeded as normal.
(ii) There is no need for a catch-up plan as the Deeds office was proactive and obtained approval for overtime before moving the office to ensure sustained productivity.
16 August 2023 - NW1517
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister in the Presidency
With reference to the Public Service Commission Amendment Bill [B 21D of 2015], about which the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration was recently informed by the Public Service Commission that the Bill is currently sitting with the Office of the President, on what date will the Bill be brought before Parliament?
Reply:
The Public Service Commission Amendment Bill [B 21D of 2015], has already been assented to by the President on 19 September 2019. The Bill was published in government gazette No. 42742 of 03 October 2019 as Act No. 10 of 2019.
The Department of Public Service and Administration is however currently processing another amendment to the Public Service Commission Act, the amendment was approved by Cabinet and published, by the Minister of Public Service and Administration, for public comments in the government gazette of 9 June 2023. The Minister of Public Service and Administration is the relevant Cabinet Minister responsible for the processing of the Bill to Parliament, as such it will be difficult for me to give an answer as to on what date the Bill will brought before Parliament.
NAME OF THE DRAFTER: Geofrey Mphaphuli
DESIGNATION : Principal State Law Adviser
CONTACT DETAILS : Ext 5403
SIGNATURE : ____________________________
_____________________________
Phindile Baleni (Ms)
Director General and Secretary of Cabinet
Date:
_____________________________
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Minister in the Presidency
Date:
15 August 2023 - NW1325
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether he has engaged Justice Cameron to ascertain the reasons he decided to disclose the escape of Thabo Bester to GroundUp; if not, why not; if so, what are the reasons that he never informed him and/or Parliament on his suspicions about the matter? NW1490E
Reply:
No,
The Portfolio Committee in its meeting on this matter thoroughly examined the issue; amongst other things, as to why Justice Cameron chose to disclose the details of the escape incident to the media in the way that he did. Therefore, there is no need to probe the matter further.
15 August 2023 - NW1008
Tambo, Mr S to ask the Minister in Presidency
a) What is the level of advertising spend by the out of home media business sector based on racial demographics? b) Does he intend to put measures in place to ensure more diversity in the market itself, to compel large agencies to participate in promoting black owned entities?
Reply:
Time Period |
Total ad spend on Out of Home |
Spend on 100% black owned companies |
Spend on 100% white owned companies |
Spend on other races |
2019/20 – 2022/23 |
R182 461 332.10 |
R150 142 904.05 |
R31 439 248.53 |
R5 353 440.00 (Indian owned) |
Percentage share |
82% |
17% |
1% |
b) GCIS has established the Marketing and Advertising Council (MAC), through which transformation in the Advertising and Marketing industry is at the top of the agenda. The council will conduct regular assessment and monitoring for compliance to the BEE code, to ensure that the entire industry comply and meet the minimum requirements,
Drafter of the Reply:
Name: Regomoditswe Mavimbela
Designation: DDG: Content Processing and Dissemination
Recommended/Not Recommended:
Ms Nomonde Mnukwa
Acting Director-General
Date: 10 August 2023
Approved / Not approved
______________________
Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, MP
Minister in The Presidency
14 August 2023 - NW2004
Mathulelwa, Ms B to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What (a) time frames has she determined for the eradication of pit toilets in all schools in Matatiele and (b) are the reasons that there have been so many delays in the process of eradicating such toilets?
Reply:
1. There are 3388 schools that are dependent on basic pit toilets on the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE) programme.
2. The balance of schools on the 3388 schools, sanitation projects at 2767 schools have already progressed to practical completion.
3. The target of the schools on the SAFE programme is scheduled to achieve practical completion by the end of 2023/24.
4. With regards to schools in Matatiele, DBE has provided 78 schools with Sanitation facilities and will provide sanitation facilities to the outstanding 4 schools in Matatiele by end of 2023/2024 financial year.
08 August 2023 - NW2286
Shelembe, Mr ML to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1) What are the reasons for the failure of her Department of Military Veterans to finalise the long-awaited subsidies public transport strategy for military veterans; (2) whether she taken any steps to keep military veterans informed of the specified reasons for the delays in finalizing the specified strategy; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Find here: Reply
07 August 2023 - NW2383
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Police
(1) with reference to each farm attach reported in Gauteng during the period 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2023, (a) on what exact date did each incident take place, (b) at which police precinct was each incident reported and (c) what (i) is the CAS number and (ii) classification of each incident; (2) whether there is an investigation underway in respect of any of the incidents; if not, why not; if so, by what date is it envisaged that each investigation will be completed; (3) whether any arrests have been made; if not, why not; if so, what is the status of criminal prosecution against the perpetrator in each case?
Reply:
Find here: Reply
07 August 2023 - NW294
Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether, given that during the State of the Nation Address on 9 February 2023, the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa, mentioned that approximately R600 million would be allocated towards Infrastructure South Africa for project preparation, with more focus in rural and under-resourced areas, her department intends to make use of the local skills pool in such rural and under-resourced areas in the specified project to provide residents in those communities with employment opportunities; if not, why not; if so, by what date can the residents expect such employment opportunities?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
South Africa has seen declining fixed capital investment and economic performance over the past decade. Analysis of this widening investment gap to National Development Plan targeted growth levels, shows that an additional R1.6 trillion in public sector infrastructure investment is required by 2030, over and above that forecasted for current public sector entities. Delivering an effective infrastructure-led economic recovery plan will require the government to overcome various challenges currently faced in the infrastructure ecosystem, including but not limited to infrastructure under-spend due to poor project preparation and lack of capability and capacity in the public sector.
The pipeline of well-prepared projects is scarce, therefore limiting investment opportunities. Given the risks and uncertainties of project preparation, private sector has understandably been hesitant to get involved during the early stages of infrastructure projects or programme. It is important that government invests in project preparation. The intended objective of the project preparation funding is to:
- unleash significant quanta of private sector investment for catalytic public sector infrastructure projects;
- ensure viable, efficient and bankable project portfolio;
- augment the technical and financial engineering capacity in under resourced provinces and municipalities; and
- enable economic and social development impact through projects that are brought to financial close
Infrastructure South Africa has a pipeline of projects and programmes, a significant number of these projects are not sufficiently prepared and packaged such that funding and financing decisions can be made. Moreover, the majority of these projects are submitted by less-resourced municipalities. The R600 million allocated to Infrastructure South Africa is over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. That is, R200 million is allocated in the 2023/24 FY; R200 million in 2024/25 FY and R200 million in the 2025/26 FY. The funding will be directed to preparing and packaging infrastructure investment projects and programmes in priority sectors such as water and sanitation, rural and municipal roads, energy, education and health infrastructure projects and programmes.
Infrastructure South Africa does not own projects, the relevant projects owners, when procuring and implementing their infrastructure projects must ensure that partnership opportunities in relation to promoting gender and race transformation as well as technical capabilities by growing the community of skilled black professionals and companies in the built environment. In addition, the project sponsors need to ensure that where appropriated, the use of locally manufactured materials are used when the assets are built.
Infrastructure South Africa will provide continuous oversight and monitoring of the projects that benefit from the project preparation funds to support the successful execution of projects beyond preparation stages. Through the Infrastructure South Africa Centre of Excellence, the impact of the infrastructure projects will be monitored closely to quantify the extent to which, inter alia, job opportunities in the local area were realised and the value to society and economy that is derived from the infrastructure asset.
07 August 2023 - NW596
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)Whether her department has received the final proposed budget for the community profiling of the Greydell community located at Farm 871/1 Greydell/Bhongweni in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality; if not, what is the proposed time frame for this; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what (a) progress has been made with regard to the transfer of the land in question to the specified municipality, (b) further interventions has her department committed to making, (c) are the expected time frames in this regard and (d) are the expected costs? NW667E
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
The recent PQ 596 is the related to PQ 255, which was published in IQP No. 02 on 17 February 2023. (See attached) Below here is the same reply that was provided for PQ 255, which serves as the response also to the recent PQ 596.
1. Yes, the Department has recently received the proposed budget requirement for the profiling of the Greydell community from the Buffalo City Municipality; the estimated cost is R600 000.00 and the estimated timeframe is 3 months to complete including compilation of the report. It is expected the profiling will commence in the new financial year in consultation with political leadership and subsequent to funding approval processes.
2.
(a) The Department is currently surveying the land in question with a view to subdividing it for disposal to relevant identified stakeholders, inter alia, a portion to the HDA for BCM Human settlement purposes, a portion to ACSA for the extension of the runway and a portion to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for incorporation into the Umtiza Nature Reserve.
(b) The Department is currently engaging other stakeholders on the Greydell resettlement program with a view to finalise an intergovernmental solution to the invaded land.
(c) Timeframes for the interventions are being determined at present; and
(d) Costs for the interventions are being determined at present.
04 August 2023 - NW2488
Marais, Ms P to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Whether he has been informed that the tap water in Ward 5, Riemvasmaak in the Kou-Kamma Local Municipality, is brown and dirty, and that residents are complaining of stomach pains and diarrhoea; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) is the position in this regard and (b) interventions have been provided in this regard?
Reply:
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has not been informed of the tap water in Ward 5, Riemvasmaak in the Kou-Kamma Local Municipality (LM). The Kou-Kamma LM has not captured water sampling results on the Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS) of DWS, which led to regulatory notices being issued to Kou-Kamma LM.
a) Following an investigation, it was found that the Riemvasmaak is a community of about 40 informal houses within Woodlands the area. The community is served by one stand-pipe tap linked to the reticulation of the Woodlands Water Treatment Works (WTW). Kou-Kamma LM officials have provided copies of sample results for Woodlands WTW and water supply area. Results from water samples taken on each of the following dates 08 March, 12 April and 10 May 2023 showed that each test result complied with the microbiological health parameters of E.coli, total coliforms and total bacteria. The chemical results from March showed a lower pH (on acidic side) and levels of dissolved Iron and Manganese exceeding the aesthetic limits and dissolved Manganese exceeding the chronic health limit (SANS 241:2015). This dissolved Iron & Manganese could be the cause of brown discoloration.
b) Kou-Kamma officials reported that contact with the Clinic serving Woodlands and Riemvasmaak areas has not observed or recorded any increase of diarrhoeal cases. The following measures are put in place:
- A tender for laboratory analysis to increase monitoring,
- Commitment to capture monitoring results on Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS).
- Investigation into the reason for; and treatment options, to remove the Iron & Manganese found at the Woodlands WTW.
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04 August 2023 - NW2481
Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1) What steps has his department taken to intervene to improve the quality of drinking water in the Musina Local Municipality, Limpopo, following the direct pumping of water from the river to residences due to load shedding (2)(a) at what intervals is the water tested and (b) what are the relevant details of the contaminants that were found to include high quantities of pollutants?
Reply:
A water quality monitoring programme is being implemented by the Musina Local Municipality in relation to the compliance to South Africa National Standard 241(SANS 241) following the visit by the Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation to Musina in 2022. The following measures were implemented to improve the drinking water quality:
- Cleaning of reservoirs
- Chlorination/disinfection of water before distribution
- Monitoring programme of water quality was initiated from 26 May 2022 at seven monitoring points including Oorplaas, Musina Municipal Main Office, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9, Venetia Guesthouse, Musina Hospital, Gateway Ext 8, and Beitbrige.
The outcome of the water quality compliance monitoring indicated the following:
- Microbiological - three sampling points complied (Oorplaas, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9 and Beitbridge)
- Chemical - all sampling points complied
- Physical - six sampling points complied (Oorplaas, Musina Municipal Main Office, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9, Venetia Guesthouse, Messina Hospital, and Gateway extension 8)
Recommendations to correct the failing sampling points were made to the municipality by the Department of Water and Sanitation. A follow up was done on 29 June 2022 to check progress made at the Musina Intermodal Terminal, Gateway Primary School, Bergview Reservoir, Messina Municipality, Messina Borehole, Messina Hospital, Messina Borehole, Venetia Guest House, Oorplas, Oorplas Inlet, Beitbridge PS. The outcome of the water quality compliance indicated the following:
- Microbiological- seven sampling points complied (Gateway Primary School, Bergview Reservoir, Messina Municipality, Messina Borehole, Messina Hospital, Messina Borehole, Oorplas, Beitbridge PS)
- Chemical- All sampling points complied
- Physical – All sampling points complied
As indicated above, water quality results indicate that there has been improvement on the microbiological compliance as a result of the remedial actions implemented by the municipality.
(2) (a) The municipality continues to monitor water quality on a monthly basis on Conductivity, Chloride, E.coli, Fluoride, Free Chlorine, Iron, Manganese, pH, Sulfate, Total Coliforms, Total Dissolve Solids and Turbidity since the establishment of the monitoring programme.
(2) (b) Tests conducted during May 2023 found that free chlorine was lower than the range of 0,2mg/l and 0,5mg/l. This non-compliance does not pose any health risk since the municipality is compliant with regard to microbiological compliance.
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04 August 2023 - NW2401
Ceza, Mr K to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
What (a) is the breakdown of the costs of hired water tankers in the 44 district municipalities, (b) are the time frames for sustainable potable water distribution and (c) steps of intervention have been put in place to eliminate the water tanker mafia?
Reply:
a) The costs for water tanks that are hired by municipalities are borne by the municipalities as Water Service Authorities. DWS does not have this information.
b) The StatsSA General Household Survey (GHS) showed that 89% of households have access to operational services, while reliability is only at 63%.
The Department is embarking on the development Five Year Reliable Water and Sanitation Services Delivery Implementation Plans for all 44 DMS that will, after completion, produce a pipeline of projects for each WSA with the associated schedule and costing. National grant funding programmes will then be aligned with these needs.
Currently, the Department is spearheading the progressive implementation of various water and sanitation projects through the various programmes such as the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). It is estimated that the water and sanitation sector requires R90 billion per year for the next 10 years in order to achieve 100% reliable water and sanitation service provision in South Africa.
c) Water tankering is meant to be a temporary measure utilised by municipalities to ensure that communities are provided with water where there are water supply interruptions resulting from disasters such as floods or droughts or other temporary challenges. However, in many instances, the use of tankers to supplement inadequate water supply by municipalities has become part of the ‘normal’ system to supply communities with water. In some instances, there are allegations that infrastructure is vandalised to facilitate continuation of business opportunities via provision of water tankers to municipalities. Municipalities have been advised by the DWS secure water infrastructure and prevent vandalism and theft of infrastructure which causes water supply interruptions.
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03 August 2023 - NW2363
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
What is the detailed breakdown of the total amount spent on the (a) public hearings and (b) parliamentary process for the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18-2020] to date?
Reply:
a) As the Honourable Member is aware, the legislative making process is guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. One of the key activities in the legislative making process is public consultation/ hearings that are conducted by the relevant Portfolio Committee across the country to solicit public inputs on a matter of national interest. This is called participatory democracy. Costs associated with public hearings are borne by Parliament through the relevant Parliamentary Committee, which in this case is the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. Given the foregoing, the Secretariat of the Portfolio Committee or relevant function within Parliament is better placed to respond to this question.
b) Refer to (a)
02 August 2023 - NW1443
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(a) What total (i) number of remand detainees are in custody because they cannot afford the bail amount granted by courts and (ii) amount is being spent by his department on the upkeep of the specified category of detainees and (b) in what way has he found is the continued detention of such detainees a contributing factor to the overcrowding of prisons?
Reply:
a) (i) it should be noted that no information is available that explicitly confirms that the remand detainees granted bail are still in detention due to inability to pay bail.
as at 31 March 2023, the total population of remand detainees was 55 745, of this number 4 495 were detained with the option of bail which constitutes of the total remand detainee population. A total of 2 728 were granted bail of R1000 and less while 1 767 were granted bail that ranged from more than R1000 up to R4 million.
END
02 August 2023 - NW2296
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With reference to the strengthening of prosecutorial authority requiring specialised training and with state capture and white-collar crimes requiring such specialisation, what steps has his department taken to strengthen the work of the National Prosecuting Authority in state capture crimes?
Reply:
In the anti-corruption sphere, we significantly expanded the capacity of the Investigating Directorate (ID) and are institutionalising its operations as an integral part of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The ID has enrolled eighteen (18) new matters this financial year, meaning a total of thirty-four (34) matters have been enrolled with 203 accused over the last four (4) years. Thirteen (13) new investigations were authorised, totalling ninety-seven (97) matters authorised over the last four (4) years.
A significant success of the ID during the financial year was its contribution to the recovery of R2.5 billion, which was paid into Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA). Whilst it is acknowledged that there is still a long way to go, this represents a significant milestone in the recovery of assets that were illegally obtained through state capture.
Over the last year, the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) secured freezing orders valued at R570 million as part of its strategy to pursue the monies stolen by the perpetrators of corruption and the enablers and facilitators of state capture. The finalisation of two (2) high value corruption cases contributed to the AFU obtaining recoveries in corruption and related matters to the value of R2.83 billion during the financial year.
Cumulatively, R10.2 billion has been frozen over the past four (4) years of the five-year Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. The NPA has recovered R2.55 billion in state capture cases alone.
An Integrated Task Force chaired by the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions (DNDPP): NPS was introduced early in 2022 to coordinate the response of the NPA and DPCI to the recommendations of the Zondo Commission. The establishment of an Advisory Panel of experienced prosecutors and investigators to hear and advise on cases has been a very successful initiative, increasing the confidence of prosecutors and investigators dealing with complex matters.
Following additional funding from National Treasury, the NPA establishment was increased from 4 967 to 5 353. The capacitation of specialised units, especially the SCCU and the ID, remained a priority as a response to the Zondo Commission. The filling of the Aspirant Prosecutor posts and newly appointed Prosecutors allowed for more experienced staff to be promoted to specialised areas such as the ID, Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) and Specialised Tax Units.
With the assistance of the Office of the Chief Justice and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD)’s Capacity Enhancement Committee, the SCCU set up dedicated Specialised Commercial Crime Courts (SCCCs) in regions that did not have such courts. There are currently twenty-two (22) dedicated courts throughout the country with a footprint of dedicated commercial crime courts in all Provinces – Limpopo, North-West, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga previously in 2019 did not have such courts. SCCU Prosecutors increased from 105 to 225. Support staff stand at thirty-seven (37) with additional twelve (12) posts created between 31 December 2019 and 31 March 2023.
The additional SCCCs allowed the NPA to focus on backlog cases resulting in a 2% decrease (from 823 to 808) in the past financial year. This represents a 22% decrease from the end of the 2021 financial year (1 040 to 808).
In the 2022/2023 financial year, the DoJ&CD took steps to enhance six (6) of the SCCC with technological tools to enable virtual testimony and the receipt of digital evidence. This will go some way to avoiding postponements that may arise when witnesses, etc are not physically available. In the 2023/2024 financial year, a further two (2) SCCC will be enhanced in the same manner.
The focus on old cases had a slightly negative impact on the conviction rate as there were challenges with some of these cases. However, the additional courts did result in a 5.8% increase in the number of cases finalised, from 344 to 364. An increase in percentage of accused being sent to direct imprisonment from 29.2% in 2020/21, then to 34.9% in 2021/22 and now currently at 38.2% has also been significant in the fight against serious commercial crimes. Furthermore, an increase in compensation orders granted, from 39 in 2020/21 to 65 by the end of March 2023, was also noted.
The SCCU actively participated in the Fusion Centre, which serves as a good example of stakeholder collaboration. As a result, thirty-four (34) cases of fraud and related offences related to COVID-19 and South African Social Security Agency grants have been enrolled in the past year.
On the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) Priority List of identified cases, seventy-nine (79) cases are enrolled with 363 accused (21 enrolled in High courts). Nineteen (19) of these cases are already partly heard.
With effect from 1 April 2022, a Special Director of Public Prosecutions responsible for the General Prosecutions and Specialist Tax Component portfolios was appointed in the NPA. The regional capacity of the Specialist Tax Component has increased in the past financial year. The approved establishment throughout the country has grown to hundred (100) posts, of which eighty-five (85) are filled. The upward performance trajectory of the Unit continued. Prosecutors finalised 138 cases and achieved a conviction rate of 96.4%. This success is underpinned by the component’s ability to attract and retain highly experienced staff.
The impact of COVID-19 during the 2020/21 financial year can be seen in the Table below. However, since middle of 2020, a remarkable improvement in all areas of corruption and fraud related matters has been recorded.
Although significant impact can already be seen, a lot of work is still in progress with refinement and changes to be effected. The ID still needs to broaden its establishment and be capacitated as a permanent structure. I have already approved Regulations that bestow peace officer powers on ID Investigators. These Regulations are significant as they provide investigators with the necessary powers to conduct their work prior to arresting suspects.
Details of specific inroads to arrests, prosecutions and convictions will be released in the Annual Report of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
Training is an important aspect within the National Prosecutions Service and a national Training Forum coordinates the planning and implementation of training schedules across the country with assistance of regional coordinators. Regional training coordinators are also established within specialised prosecution areas to ensure that all needs for further development are being addressed. Some of the specialist training envisaged for the next three months include training topics on Beneficial Ownership, Anti-Corruption, Search Warrants (on Cyber Crime Act), Procurement Fraud, amongst others.
Past training provided include training topics such as the detection and investigation of foreign bribery offences, financial analysis, forensic investigations, organised crime, money laundering, investment fraud, Mutual Legal Assistance, tax offences related to commercial crime, amongst others.
Various other training programmes and sessions are as follows:
- Sexual offences and vulnerable groups (18);
- Specialised prosecutorial areas (48) that includes search and seizure;
- Rules of evidence, general training, etc (54); and
- Leads training (8).
02 August 2023 - NW2399
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What total number of farm schools were closed in each province in the (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23 financial years?
Reply:
NUMBER OF CLOSED RURAL SCHOOLS |
||
PROVINCE |
# Rural Schools Closed (2021- 2022) |
# Rural Schools Closed (2022 - 2023) |
Eastern Cape |
39 |
39 |
Free State |
89 |
6 |
Gauteng |
0 |
0 |
KwaZulu Natal |
- |
230 |
Limpopo |
52 |
51 |
Mpumalanga |
16 |
27 |
Northern Cape |
0 |
0 |
North West |
7 |
6 |
Western Cape |
6 |
0 |
NATIONAL |
209 |
359 |
31 July 2023 - NW1924
Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Social Development
What (a) are the reasons that there has been a delay in the filling of the vacancy of the director-general in her department and (b) time frames have been put in place in this regard?
Reply:
(a)The delays were occasioned by a number of reasons, including the finalisation of the organisational structure, the national macro organisation of the state process which resulted in the transfer of function from the Department of Social Development e.g. the transfer of disability and early childhood development as well as the change management readiness survey.
(b) Plans are underway to fill the position in the second quarter of the current financial year.
31 July 2023 - NW2438
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)With reference to the expiry date of the gold cards of the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) being postponed until 31 December 2023, what process do SASSA beneficiaries need to follow in order to renew their SASSA gold cards; (2) whether any plans are in place to roll out the renewal process of the gold cards before 31 December 2023; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether any plans are in place to prevent thousands of beneficiaries from running out of time to renew their gold cards; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what steps should those SASSA beneficiaries take who wish to replace their gold cards early?
Reply:
1. Currently, SASSA is notifying all grants beneficiaries of the card expiration date. In addition, beneficiaries are informed of their right to either renew their cards or open an account at any bank of their choice. The target is to ensure the renewal of cards that are due to expire at the end of December 2023 to avoid inconvenience.
2. Yes, Postbank team has prepared a SASSA Card Replacement Distribution Plan. This will serve as a framework upon which the card replacement program roll-out will be undertaken throughout the country.
3. The SASSA Card Replacement Distribution Plan seeks to mitigate such challenges and ensure timely information is shared with the public within a reasonable period of time. This will allow all beneficiaries enough time to collect their cards before 31 December 2023. Postbank plans to allocate approximately 2000 employees to card the replacement activities.
4. Postbank will communicate the introduction of the new card following consultations with the South African Reserve Bank and the industry. Beneficiaries will be notified on time to utilize identified channels in a staggered approach to replace their gold card. All the gold cards will be replaced with black cards and this will be communicated to the public. All efforts are currently being made to ensure that Postbank is ready to issue the cards before December 2023.
31 July 2023 - NW1874
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
Whether her department has put in place regular communication workshops to take the Public Service for training to ensure that they represent the views of the Government and to avoid situations like the one that recently took place in Witbank, Mpumalanga, where a mayor insulted her constituency; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The National School of Government, under the band, Senior Management and Professional Development has developed the Mastering the Art of Government Communications course. This course is intended to ensure training of officials to ensure that the view of government is represented and to avoid situations such as the one that took place in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
The purpose of the course is to equip communication practitioners and managers in the public sector and State Owned Enterprises with the necessary knowledge, skills, and capability to engender a service-oriented culture and ethos by enhancing the understanding of communication processes in government, promoting the production of useful information about how the departments work, encouraging public sector officials to perform professionally, honestly, considerately, and to implement the policies and programmes of Government to improve service delivery.
This course is intended for communicators who are employed in the public sector and state-owned enterprises of South Africa.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and policy framework governing the work of government communicators.
- Implement communication strategies in a developmental state.
- Implement media ethics and values.
- Understand how to use different communication platforms to promote authentic and
transparent government communication towards building citizens’ trust.
This course is non-credit bearing. The duration of this course is 7 days i.e. 5 days online and contact sessions presented over 2 working days
The National School of Government also offers the e-Learning Ethics in the Public Service course.
The purpose of the course it to help build an ethical culture in the Public Service.
The course is applicable to all public servants.
By the end of this course participants should be able to:
- Reflect on and gain insight into their own values;
- Recognise ethical dilemmas in the work place;
- Apply values, principles and standards contained in Public Service prescripts; and
- Uphold and promote professional ethics in the workplace.
This course is non-credit bearing. Once all course requirements have been met participants will receive a Certificate of Successful Completion
The National School of Government also offers the Know your Constitution online course. This course promotes awareness of the Constitutional provisions in relation to the rights of citizens and obligations and public servants on the provision of public services.
The course is targeted at all officials who are tasked with delivering public servants at all spheres of government.
By the end of this course participants should be able to:
- Explain the intent of the Constitution;
- Appreciate the rights available to all who live in South Africa;
- Describe how government is organised to give effect to human rights;
- Describe and meet the human rights relevant to a job role; and
- Explain how State institutions protect and promote governance and democracy.
The course is available throughout the year and is on a self-enrolment and self-paced delivery mode.
Finally, the National School of Government offers the Public Service Re-Orientation Programme which seeks to remind officials of their constitutional obligations and their mandate as public servants, with the view to build a citizen-centered service ethos, an enthusiasm for public duty and a commitment to improve public service delivery.
Officials who have been in the service for three years or longer are targeted for the course.
By the end of this course participants should be able to:
-Demonstrate an understanding of how global, national and regional events affect service delivery;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of unblocking service delivery challenges;
- Apply developmental values, Constitutional principles and citizen-centered approaches in service delivery;
- Demonstrate an understanding of applicable regulatory frameworks, and
-Commit to work with zeal to implement government priorities
The course is not credit bearing and aims to provide a cost-effective, flexible online learning opportunity to large numbers of public servants to develop knowledge, improve competency and enhance practice in the workplace. Participants receive a Certificate of Successful Completion.
It is intended that the above suite of course offerings will close the gap that currently exists in adequately representing the view of the government.
End
31 July 2023 - NW2225
Maotwe, Ms OMC to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What (a) number of assets has each state-owned company sold since he took office, (b) was the value of each asset sold, (c) amount was each of the assets sold for and (d) are the relevant details of the assets that were sold?
Reply:
According to Information Received from SOCs
ALEXKOR:
a) 2018 FY- Vehicles
2019 FY- Plant and machinery
- Motor vehicles
- Furniture and fixtures
- Computer equipment
2020 FY- Motor vehicles
- Furniture and fixtures
2021 FY-Plant and machinery
- Motor vehicles
- Furniture and fixtures
- Computer equipment
2022 FY- No disposals
2023 FY- No disposals
b) Year Type Value Number of assets sold
2018 FY - Motor vehicles R 120 125 1
2019 FY - Plant and machinery R1 623 504 3
- Motor vehicles R 337 248 5
- Furniture and fixtures R 8 441 2
- Computer equipment R 91 906 6
2020 FY - Motor vehicles R 57 520 1
- Furniture and fixtures R 120 890 26
- Plant and machinery R 81 136 1
- Capital work in progress R 22 110 1
2021 FY -Plant and machinery R 26 119 1
- Motor vehicles R 248 509 5
- Furniture and fixtures R 30 878 12
- IT equipment R 2 866 1
2022 FY - No disposals
2023 FY - No disposals
c) 2018 FY - Motor vehicle R 229 301
2019 FY - All R 71 400
2020 FY - All R 155 400
2021 FY - All R 1 168 811
2022 FY - No disposals
2023 FY - No disposals
*** The information provided is provisional. Alexkor is in the process of reconciling assets to records, including disposals as there has been a lack adequate asset management and monitoring systems for the past five years.
d) List of assets sold Gereedskapwerks winkel |
Lifting bags |
Booster pump-grundfos |
Toyota hilux s/cab bzd791nc model 2003 |
Toyota quantum 2.5 d4d chf836nc |
Toyota hilux 3.0 d4d 4x xtra cab |
Apple imac 21.5 2.7ghz computer |
Managerial work station - 1800x80x22mm worktop |
Mecer computer with 18.5 samsung monitor |
Adobe acrobat professional |
Swivel chair CEO office Joburg |
4200x1200mm boardroom table Inc conflex leg system |
PA workstation 100x800x22mm worktop and credenza |
Chairs x36 black mesh, fixed arms, back bar, black base |
Round table 1800 steel base with teak top |
Computer mecer pentium 4 |
Union screen 1 |
Union screen plant 2 |
Infieldscreen upgrade |
Toyota hilux double cab cdd520nc |
Truck mounted crane |
Toyota fortuner 30 d4d 4x4 2007 cdr052nc |
Toyota hilux 2.5 d4d chd206nc Ben Kotze |
Isuzu kb diesel kb 250 regular cab |
Toyota corolla quest 1.6 |
Nissan np300 hardbody 4x4 SC |
Toyota Quantum minibus 2.5D |
Nissan NP200 1.68V |
Toyota fortuner 2.4gd-6 |
Reconditioned samil 100 6x6. |
DENEL:
(a) 753
(b) Book value R15.6m
(c) R32.6m
(d) Computers, furniture, vehicles, and equipment surplus to operational requirements or beyond economic repair.
ESKOM:
- Eskom has sold 4 169 assets since 2018.
- The total value of all 4169 assets at the time of sale was R269 052 207.
- The total proceeds received from the sale of these assets were R463 309 568.
- The types of assets sold can be seen in the table below.
South African Airways:
SAA has disposed of the following assets post business rescue:
(a)(b)(c)(d)
Property at the previous Durban airport precinct was sold to Transnet. The selling price was slightly above the value placed on it by an independent valuer.
x A340 aircraft (4 x A340-600’s and 3 x A340-300’s) that are no longer part of SAA’s fleet requirements were sold via a tender process. These aircraft were dully depreciated by SAA and fetched market related prices according to the age and condition of the aircraft.
As a result of the business rescue plan, a few SAA offices were closed in countries across the globe and the office furniture and equipment was disposed of in the respective country. Generally, these items had little value and were fully depreciated in SAA’s books.
SAFCOL:
From 2018 to 2023, the South African Forestry Company SOC Ltd (SAFCOL) has not sold any assets. The company however, has assets on the non-current asset list that are ready to be auctioned off to workers and the public through an external auction.
TRANSNET:
(a) There is a total of 24 disposals of non-core properties, six (6) sold and registered, and fourteen (18) approved but still in the process of registration. Details of the disposals are contained below:
Table 1: List of registered properties (assets) sold
Property |
Purchase Price |
Date Registered |
|
1 |
Erf 940 Ext. 7 Mandini |
R 610 000 |
13 July 2018 |
2 |
Erf 550 Vryheid |
R 450 000 |
16 November 2018 |
3 |
Portion 3 of Erf 265, Piet Retief |
R 605 000 |
4 December 2019 |
4 |
Erf 8719 Richards Bay |
R 25 000 000 |
7 February 2020 |
5 |
Erf 369, Wasbank |
R 165 000 |
15 February 2018 |
6 |
Erf 1979, Edendale (Mbali Lodge) |
R 60 000 000 |
8 March 2022 |
Table 2: List of properties sold – registration pending
No |
Property |
Purchase Price |
Date of Sale |
1 |
Transfer of Erf 16600, 16601, 16463 Vredenburg |
R 27 490 |
May 2019 |
2 |
Transfer of Ptn of Rem of Erf 4668 Montague Gardens |
R 1 050 000 |
July 2019 |
3 |
Transfer of Ptn of Erf 2409 Barberton |
R 300 000 |
August 2019 |
4 |
Transfer of Ptn 781, 782 & 783 of farm Doornfontein |
R 5 300 000 |
September 2019 |
5 |
Transfer of Ptn 45, 46, 47 of the farm Kaapmuiden, Mpumalanga |
R 18 810 |
December 2019 |
6 |
Transfer of 24x vacant stands in Crosby |
R 5 100 000 |
September 2020 |
7 |
Ptn 165 (Ptn of Ptn 53) of the Farm Nelspruit |
R 3 450 230 |
March 2021 |
8 |
Ptn of Erf 2315 Rustenburg |
R 120 320 |
July 2021 |
9 |
Ptn of Rem of Erf 21, Ptn of Erf 80, Ptn of Erf 8, Erf 11, Erf 79, Erf 7 Kaalbaskraal, Western Cape |
R 2 000 000 |
March 2022 |
10 |
Erf 470 Kalbaskraal |
R 350 000 |
August 2022 |
11 |
Erf 1277 Stellenbosch |
R 1 980 000 |
June 2022 |
12 |
Erf 964 and 965 Stellenbosch |
R 850 000 |
April 2023 |
13 |
Naval Hill - Bloemfontein |
R 25 800 000 |
April 2022 |
14 |
Willow Bridge |
R 120 000 000 |
April 2023 |
15 |
Park Chambers - Johannesburg |
R 10 240 000 |
May 2023 |
16 |
Stella Mansion - Johannesburg |
R 4 330 000 |
May 2023 |
17 |
Ptn of Rem of Erf 4668 Montague Gardens |
R 943 200 |
March 2023 |
18 |
Montclair Lodge - Durban |
R 34 200 000 |
March 2023 |
(1) (b)(c) (d) as per Tables 1 & 2.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
31 July 2023 - NW2364
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What are the details of all (a) judicial support and (b) mentorship provided to (i) aspiring judges and (ii) acting judges to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality judgements? [
Reply:
The question relates to the performing of judicial functions, which falls under the purview of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice. It is advised that information relating to the performing of judicial functions, be directed to the Chief Justice.
31 July 2023 - NW2005
Shembeni, Mr HA to ask the Minister of Police
What total number of litigation matters are being referred to the State Attorney on average in each of the five past financial years by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate?
Reply:
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has referred 55 matters to State Attorney over the past 5 (five) financial years. This translates into an average of 11 (eleven) matters per annum.
31 July 2023 - NW1376
Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What is the total number of (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions obtained in the courts over the past five years in respect of offences related to the selling of sexual acts by adult persons to other adult persons; (2) what is the total number of (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions obtained in the courts over the past five years in respect of offences related to the buying of sexual acts by adult persons from other adult persons?
Reply:
The questions asked relate to contraventions of either the Sexual Offences Act 32 of 1957 or of Section 11 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007. The NPA does not keep offence-specific statistics for all offences and both contraventions of Act 32 of 1957, as well as Section 11 of Act 32 of 2007, fall in this category. It is therefore not possible to provide the requested statistics.
The NPA relies on SAPS to present dockets for decision and/or prosecution, some of which are withdrawn by the NPA. Internal dialogue in the NPA however indicates a very low percentage of cases or even zero prosecutions relating to the prosecution of adult sex workers in South Africa. Offences relating to human trafficking were excluded from the above dialogue.
31 July 2023 - NW2450
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
With reference to surveys emailed to passengers who had recently travelled with SA Airways, (a) how (i) are the responses to completed surveys analysed and (ii) is the information used and (b) what is the average turnaround time between receipt of survey responses and the collation of the information?
Reply:
According to the information received from SAA
(a)(i) All the response are analysed using PowerBI tool which allows SAA to gain deeper insights, accurate reports, and route analysis.
(a)(ii) The information is used to measure Customer Satisfaction and Net Promoter Score and guides customer service improvements.
(b) It takes about 2 days to collate the information and investigate where necessary.
Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
28 July 2023 - NW2359
Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether the National Register for Sex Offenders is up to date; if not, what (a) are the reasons for the backlog, (b) is the total number of days that constitute the backlog and (c) measures have been taken to improve the accuracy and completeness of the National Register for Sex Offenders; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) was established to curb sexual offending and re-offending in the country. In response to the demands made by women who marched under the umbrella of #TheTotalShutDown Movement in August 2018, the particulars of all convicted sex offenders are now entered into the Register. Before then, only entries of sex offenders convicted of sex crimes involving child survivors and survivors with mental disabilities were made. With the recent legal developments, the scope of protection afforded by the NRSO has been extended to vulnerable persons.
Whether the National Register for Sex Offenders is up to date
The Register is up to date, as it is built on the integrated case management system, which instantaneously captures cases as and when the court convicts the offender of a sexual offence. With this system, the Registrar is able to know all pending cases of sexual offences, of which the particulars of the offenders can be potentially entered into the Register.
(a) Are there reasons for the backlog?
As stated there is no backlog on entries on the register. However, there is a backlog for clearance certificates caused by the malware attack in 2021. Since 2022/2023 financial year, the Department has included an indicator in the Annual Performance Plan to eliminate this backlog, and the plan is to achieve this goal in this financial year.
(b) What is the total number of days that constitute a backlog?
As indicated above, the only backlog is on the applications for the NRSO clearance certificates. In terms of Regulation 18 of the National Register for Sex Offenders, the Registrar is required to issue a clearance certificate as soon as is reasonably practicable, but within 10 working days after the receipt of application. Any application that is still not considered beyond 10 working days after the date of receipt is classified as a backlog application.
(c) What measures have been taken to improve the accuracy and completeness of the National Register for Sex Offenders; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Register used to have inaccurate and incomplete entries until 2018 when the Department upgraded the integrated case management system for the Register to include SMART functionalities that automatically detect wrong entries. To address the inaccuracies entered prior to 2018, the Department introduced a Data Verification Project and employed data capturers to clean up the data. On 31 March 2018, the Data Verification Project was finalised and over 19 668 ring-fenced cases were validated as the NRSO entries. The NRSO was subsequently audited by the office of the AG in 2019 and its information was found to be Complete, Accurate and Valid.
28 July 2023 - NW2295
Ramolobeng, Ms A to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
In view of the silo approach by departments in the prevention and combatting of crime being one of the weaknesses of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster, following the aftermath of Mr Thabo Bester’s escape, what steps is his department taking to strengthen its relations with sister departments within the JCPS cluster to ensure that such an incident never takes place again?
Reply:
The department has a programme called the Integrated Justice System (IJS) Programme which is a government initiative that strives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the South African criminal justice process. It is driving a multi-department effort to increase the probability of successful investigation, prosecution, punishment, and ultimately the rehabilitation of offenders and their restoration back into society to realize a national objective that all South Africans are and feel safe.
As part of the IJS programme, the department has been working on a number of key strategic interventions seeking to ensure an Integrated Management of a person in the Criminal Justice System (CJS).
This has been done through the upgrade and refresh of the Home Affairs National Information System (HANIS) into a new system called Automatic Biometric Information System (ABIS). ABIS phase 1 development and testing have been completed. The system is currently into production.
Key off note are ABIS Phase 1 modalities, these are:
- Unique Person Identifier
- Facial recognition
- Fingerprint Search
- Latent Searches
It should be noted that the provision of a unique person identifier for a person will be essential for the CJS to obtain a holistic view of a person, their current custody status, and associated case history, whilst combatting any potential identity fraud by suspects, alleged accused and convicted criminals.
ABIS Phase 2 is currently being executed. This phase will comprise of modalities like:
- Iris
- Infant Footprint
- Palm Print
Both ABIS Phase 1 & 2 will ensure the Criminal Justice System (CJS) obtains the holistic view of a person and ensure robust person identification across the CJS value chain.
The IJS programme has also completed the development of the Person Identification and Verification Application (PIVA) which provides a solution for IJS departments to verify the identity of an individual using their fingerprints which are checked against Department of Home Affairs (DHA) records. Person Identification and Verification Application (PIVA) provides a solution for IJS departments to verify the identity of an individual using their fingerprints which are checked against Department of Home Affairs (DHA) records. Identity verification is a common requirement across all IJS member departments, and the development of this application was a combined effort. The SAPS is the CJS entry point and was the first department to implement PIVA in 2017. This solution has been rolled out to 1069 out of 1156 (92%) police stations across nine provinces. In the last financial year, the solution successfully verified the identify of 203 138 persons, of which 60 981 (30%) had previous SAPS records, and 5371 (2.6%) were identified as wanted persons.
As part of the IJS programme, the SAPS is currently executing an integrated booking solution which forms part of the Integrated Person Management (IPM) project. The IPM project is 97% complete and is ahead of schedule. Pilot for Release 1 (Person Booked & Verified), Release 2 (Unique Identified Person), Release 3(Tracked Person), and release 4 (Person Booked into holding facility) was conducted successfully during the 2022/23 financial year in the Johannesburg central police station. Release 5 (Person booked into holding facility) & 6 (Safeguard & manage person) rolled into production in Brooklyn. Development of Release 7 (Safeguard & Manage Person) is currently 85% complete
26 July 2023 - NW412
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Police
1. What total number of members of the SA Police Service (SAPS) that were arrested in each of the (a) 2029-20, (b) 2020-21, (c) 2021-22 and (d) 2022-23 financial years were involved in crime; 2. What number of the abovmentioned number of SAPS members were arrested in each specified financial year for (a) stock theft, (b) farm murder, (c) cash in transit heist and (d) kidnapping; 3. Whether he will make a statement on the matter
Reply:
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26 July 2023 - NW510
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Police
1. What total number of members of the SA Police Service (SAPS) who were arrested in each of the (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21, (c) 2021-22 and (d) 2022-23 financial years, were involved in crime; 2. What number of the specified number of SAPS members were arrested in each specified financial year for (a) murder, (be) robbery and (c) rape; 3. Whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
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26 July 2023 - NW1795
Madokwe, Ms P to ask the Minister of Police
What are the (a) statistics of SA Police Service officers found on the wrong side of the law in the past five years in each province and (b) crimes that were allegedly committed by the officers?
Reply:
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26 July 2023 - NW2241
Madokwe, Ms P to ask the Minister of Police
What (a) total number of (i) police officers and (ii) civilian officials were investigated for criminal activities in the past five years, (b) were the charges and (c) number was successfully prosecuted and removed from the police service?
Reply:
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24 July 2023 - NW2257
Hlonyana, Ms NKF to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Whether there are any plans to supply the 100 households of Eric’s Ville Community in Ward 11 in the Nkomazi Local Municipality with water, as the community has been without water since it was established in 2014; if not, why not; if so, when?
Reply:
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Nkomazi Local Municipality (LM) conducted a site inspection that included Ericsville and surrounding villages including Ericsville, Ka-Hhoyi, Goba and Mbangwane. The inspection covered six reservoirs (three concrete and three elevated steel tanks) as well as the Masibekela Water Treatment Works.
The water scheme comprises of three phases of 7ML/day per phase producing a total of 21ML/day. The Nkomazi LM reported that 10.5ML of water is supplied to the eastern side of the scheme, which Ericsville is part of, and 10ML of water is supplied though the Sibande Water Supply Scheme on the western side.
However, the Masibekela Water Supply Scheme was damaged by the February 2023 floods which resulted in about 90% of the raw pumping house being submerged in the Komati River. More damage was caused to the two 55kw water pumps were damaged which were subsequently replaced with one emergency 37kw water pump. Due to the reduced capacity of the Masibekela scheme, the Nkomazi LM currently relies on the three 7ML concrete reservoirs that are on southern side of Mbangwane to store and supply water to the community.
The municipality reported that Ericsville has grown rapidly over the years and that the water supply status in the area is as follows:
- There are portions of Ericsville that are reticulated but are not receiving water on a daily basis due to damage sustained by the Masibekela water supply scheme in February 2023.
- The new extension of Ericsville where the 100 households are located, is not yet reticulated and is part of 10 other villages that are supplied by a 18 000L water tanker owned by the municipality.
- The bulk line that supplies reservoirs at Mbangwane also has illegal connections which also contribute to water shortages in Ericsville.
- There are plans for the municipality has plans to procure two more water tankers in the 2023/24 financial year as a short term measure to address water supply shortages.
The municipality also reported that it has received disaster funds R8 million to restore the pumpstation at Masibekela so that can operate at full capacity. While this will not eliminate water shortages for all the households in Ericsville, it will assist the communities that are reticulated to receive water more frequently.
The municipality indicated that it requires R740 million to implement long term interventions to upgrade the water treatment works, bulk and associated infrastructure to ensure the communities in Masibekela are supplied with water sustainably. The DWS will provide financial support of R90 million for reticulation projects in the municipality over the medium term through the Water Supply Infrastructure Grant. The municipality will have to apply to the DWS to access Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant funding for the upgrade of the Masibekela water supply scheme and associated bulk water infrastructure projects.
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24 July 2023 - NW2264
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Which (a) initiatives has he taken to investigate the alleged impact of corruption with regard to the cholera outbreaks in the Republic and (b) measures have been taken to deter the impact of corrupt practices on the quality and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure?
Reply:
a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) monitors the condition of municipal water and sanitation infrastructure through three incentive-based regulatory mechanisms:
- The Green Drop Report, which focuses on sanitation (waste-water treatment systems and effluent quality)
- The Blue Drop Report, which focuses on water (water treatment and water quality)
- The No Drop Report, which focuses on non-revenue water and water losses through leakages
The Blue and Green Drop Assessments results have shown that numerous municipalities lack the financial and technical capacity to manage water services adequately. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has a constitutional obligation to support municipalities, as well as to regulate the provision of water and sanitation services. The Minister has crisscrossed the country visiting those municipalities with severe challenges with water and sanitation services. In many of the worst performing municipalities, Minister and municipal leadership have agreed on improvement plans. In certain instances, the Minister has set-up both Political and Technical Committees comprising of various institutions to oversee and drive the implementations of these plans/projects.
b) Based on the Blue and Green Drop assessment findings, municipalities are required to develop and submit corrective action plans to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). The improvement plans include a range of short, medium, and long-term projects to improve water and sanitation infrastructure.
Furthermore, the DWS together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Department of Human Settlement and National Treasury are in the process of developing the National Action Plan to implement the corrective or improvement plans.
Both these plans will be funded through the DWS’ Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) and CoGTA’s Municipal Infrastructure Grant.
Furthermore, the Minister is strengthening the capacity of Water Boards to assist municipalities to implement these improvement plans. There are a number of projects that are being implemented throughout the country with the assistance of Water Boards and the DWs’ Construction Unit.
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24 July 2023 - NW2265
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
In light of the recent alarming reports of cholera contamination in the Vaal River and his department’s warning for residents to avoid tap water, what (a) immediate measures will his department take to address the cholera outbreak in the Vaal River and ensure the safety of the affected residents, (b) are the details of how his department will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to effectively contain and treat the outbreak and (c) are the details of the resources that will be allocated to support the efforts?
Reply:
Outbreaks of cholera are caused either by people ingesting sewage-polluted water, or by faecal-oral means - through poor hygiene, eating contaminated food or by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. Sewage pollution of rivers can result in cholera bacteria entered the rivers via the faeces of an infected person or people.
DWS released its Green Drop report in 2022, which indicated that the performance of many municipal wastewater treatment systems is deteriorating. The report identified 334 wastewater systems in a critical state of performance, in 90 municipalities. This means that many municipalities are discharging effluent from their wastewater (sewage) treatment works which does not meet the specified treatment levels, which in turn is resulting in pollution of rivers. The Vaal River is one of the worst polluted rivers in South Africa.
DWS has been carrying out weekly tests for cholera in the Vaal River at the point in Ngwathe where AfriForum tests initially indicated the presence of cholera bacteria, which was as a result of the proximity of a sewage-spilling manhole situated near the watercourse. DWS tests at the
site have not yet identified cholera bacteria. However, this does not mean that the AfriForum tests were incorrect. Cholera-infected faeces can be present at a particular point in the river at a particular time but may later flow downstream. DWS will conduct further tests downstream.
DWS has been informing members of the public that rivers, dams, and streams contain raw (untreated) water, and this water is not suitable for human consumption. Members of the public are therefore urged to avoid consuming untreated water sourced from such water bodies unless it is first disinfected. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has also set out guidelines that should be followed regarding safe drinking water.
Municipalities are required by law to carry out regular tests of treated drinking water before it is provided to communities. Drinking water provided by municipalities is safe to drink if municipalities are carrying out the tests as required and if the tests show that the water meets the standards for drinking water as set by the South African Bureau of Standards.
Beyond producing the Blue, Green and No Drop monitoring reports, DWS is engaged in several initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of pollution of rivers by municipal wastewater treatment works. Firstly, the Minister has agreed on action plans to address infrastructural deficiencies in many of the worst performing municipalities, and DWS is assisting municipalities with funding from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to address these deficiencies. Secondly, DWS is taking regulatory action in terms of the National Water Act, including issuing non-compliance notices, directives, taking civil action, and as a last resort, laying criminal charges against polluting municipalities. Thirdly, DWS is drafting amendments to the Water Services Act to strengthen its role as the regulator of municipal water and sanitation services and to enable the Minister to intervene effectively when there is non-compliance with directives to stop pollution.
a) Since the announcement of the cholera outbreak in the Free State Province in May 2023, in the Ngwathe Local Municipality (Vredefort and Parys), DWS has been collecting water samples on weekly basis to ensure that communities are receiving drinking water which is compliant to the South African National Standard (SANS) 241 and is safe for human consumption. Water samples were also collected at drinking water sources such as:
- Boreholes and Water Treatment Works (WTW) from the 2 towns (Parys and Vredefort)
- Raw water at the inlet into both Parys and Vredefort WTW
- Effluent discharged back into the Vaal River from both the Parys and Vredefort Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).
b) The DWS has been working with all relevant stakeholders to deal with the cholera outbreak in Free State and is is part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) established to deal with the cholera outbreak in Ngwathe Local Municipality (LM). The team includes the Ngwathe LM, Fezile Dabi District Municipality (DM), and Department of Health. This team meets twice a week a week and the RRT briefs the Member of Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Health in the Free State on a number of issues including water supply and quality issues every Sunday evening.
To maximise the impact on the ground in terms interventions, a task team has also been established to coordinate the responses specifically on the improvement of water quality. This team is led by the DWS, and includes the Department of Health, Fezile Dabi DM, and Ngwathe LM. Sample collection is carried out as follows:
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- The DWS collects samples from all the drinking water sources (boreholes and WTW) in Vredefort and Parys, raw water at the inlet at the Parys and Vredefort WTW, and
Wastewater final effluent discharged back into the Vaal River from both the Parys and Vredefort Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).
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- The Fezile Dabi DM collects samples in the distribution network for the Vredefort and Parys towns including the water tanks.
- The Ngwathe LM continues with their operational monitoring including parts of the distribution network.
c) DWS has been providing financial support to the Ngwathe LM with water and Sanitation projects through its grants. There is a project to refurbish the Parys WTW intended to bring relief to the area and ensure that water quality is compliant with norms and standards. For the 2023/24 financial year, the DWS has allocated R50 million under RBIG and R14,021 million under WSIG for water and sanitation interventions in Ngwathe LM.
The DWS also established a War Room with the Ngwathe LM to deal with all the water supply and water quality challenges in the municipality so that immediate interventions can be implemented. The War Room is comprised of the Ngwathe LM, Fezile Dabi DM, the DWS, CoGTA and MISA. The meetings are held twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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24 July 2023 - NW2158
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Considering that her department has been advocating that it will eradicate pit latrines in schools throughout the Republic by 31 March 2023, yet noting that there are schools such as the Lekgwareng Primary School in Limpopo whose ailing toilets were built more than 23 years ago, which not only disrupts effective teaching and learning, but also endangers the lives of school-going children, what new, updated and actionable plan has her department adopted to ensure that it delivers on its promise of schools without pit latrines?
Reply:
- The Limpopo Department of Education has addressed 2339 sanitation challenges, out of a total of sanitation challenges at 3589 schools, leaving a remainder of 1250 schools, which will be addressed during the 2023/24 financial year.
- The Limpopo Department of Education reported that 2339 schools have already been served with appropriate toilets.
- According to our records, there are 380 learners in Lekgwareng Primary School in Limpopo.
- In order to conform to the minimum uniform norms and standards for school infrastructure, the school require 24 appropriate toilets.
- Limpopo Department of Education reported that there are only 4 appropriate toilets and 10 basic pits at the school.
- Limpopo Department of Education reported that the sanitation project for additional toilets at this school is scheduled for tender in August 2023, with construction to start in January 2024.
24 July 2023 - NW2333
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What monitoring measures has her department adopted to ensure that the construction and renovation projects of schools, including Ndzalama Primary School, Dingamanzi Primary School, Chameti Secondary School, and Bvuma Primary School are completed on time?
Reply:
The Limpopo Department of Education has allocated the projects to the Independent Development Trust (IDT) to implement. The IDT is currently busy with procurement processes for the appointment of contractors. The following monitoring mechanisms are implemented by the province to ensure that the projects are completed on time
- Bi- weekly technical and progress meetings to monitor progress at site level.:
- Monthly meetings with all the implementing agents to review progress on all the projects under their management.
- For IDT specifically there is an additional monthly progress review meeting which includes PSPs and contractors.
- The HODs office hold quarterly meetings with IAs to review performance and to discuss specific project issues
24 July 2023 - NW2503
Thembekwayo, Dr S to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether she has been informed that the Letlhabile High School in Mamelodi have broken toilets due to ageing infrastructure; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the intervention that she will initiate in this regard?
Reply:
The question falls under the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Gauteng. The Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MEC for Gauteng as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules.
24 July 2023 - NW1975
Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
What long-term measures have been put in place by his department to deal with the sewerage spillage in Ward 6 in Bloemfontein in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, where residents continue to live amongst sewerage?
Reply:
The Department of Water and Sanitation office regularly conducts inspections and audits on the operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Collector Systems (WWCS) including wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and sewer networks in all Water Services Institution (WSIs) in the Free State Province including the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The inspections are intended to assess if WWCS are operated and maintained in a manner that does not pose risks contamination of water resources thus increasing risks to human health and the environment.
The final effluent released back to the water resource is also monitored to ensure compliance with water use authorization conditions or general authorization limits where water use authorization is not available. Administrative Enforcement by issuing of non-compliance notices or directives is done to the WSIs. This is to ensure that there is improvement on the status of sanitation infrastructure operation and maintenance and the quality final effluent released back to the water resources. In areas where there are material breaches, DWS can follow the civil or criminal measures.
Ward 6 in Mangaung is served by the Sterkwater WWTW and Bloemspruit WWTW. The Sterkwater WWTW is non-operational while the Bloemspruit WWTW is partially operational. The non-functionality of the wastewater systems affects sewer network and causes sewer spillages in. The DWS issued with Directive in 2021 by DWS for poor operation and maintenance which causes sewer spillages with respect to the Bloemspruit WWTW.
The DWS is in the process of issuing with a Notice for intention to issue a Directive with respect to the Sterkwater wastewater plant. During routine inspections, Sterkwater WWTW was found to be operational albeit with some operation and maintenance problems. Upon follow up in July 2022, the plant was found to be non-functional.
The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) was funded with R100 million through the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) in February 2023 to address the refurbishment of WWTWs and pump stations and eradicate sewer spillages amongst other municipal challenges. The scope of work for the water and sanitation projects included the following:
- Condition assessment and refurbishment of sewer pumpstations, WWTW as well as bulk and reticulation sewer networks.
- Preventative maintenance on the sewer network components
- Emergency attendance to sewer infrastructure blockages and failures
Based on the report submitted by MMM to DWS in June 2023, the status of the project to refurbish the Bloemspruit WWTW was at 50% while the status for the project Sterkwater WWTW project was at 35%.
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24 July 2023 - NW2327
Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Considering that his department recently announced that the residents of the cholera-affected Hammanskraal can expect clean, drinkable water from taps only by March next year, and noting that the issue of a lack of clean, drinkable water is not new, nor is it happening only in Hammanskraal, what steps has his department taken to date in other areas that are facing a similar problem in order to prevent the specified issue from spreading?
Reply:
Raw water is drawn from rivers and dams and treated in Water Treatment Works by either water boards or municipalities before it is supplied to households. The treated water is required by law to meet drinking water standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards in South African National Standard (SANS) 241. Municipalities and water boards are also required to conduct regular tests on the treated water to ensure that it complies with the standard.
After the water has been utilised by households, it goes through the sewer system to municipal Waste Water Treatment Works. The Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) processes the sewage and effluent is discharged into the rivers. The effluent from WWTW is also required to meet minimum standards, set by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
In terms of SANS241 and the norms and standards issued by DWS under the Water Services Act, when the tests carried out by a municipality indicate that the water supplied poses a health risk, the municipality must inform its consumers that the quality of the water that it supplies poses a health risk. To date, the original sources of the cholera infections in different parts of the country have not been located.
It is important to note that cholera is not only spread through polluted water. Outbreaks of cholera are caused either by people ingesting sewage-polluted water, or by faecal-oral means; through poor hygiene, eating contaminated food, or by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. Sewage pollution of rivers can also result in cholera bacteria entering the rivers via the faeces of an infected person or people.
In terms of the National Water Act, the Department issues compliance Notices and Directives to municipalities that are not compliant with norms and standards, instructing them to remedy the non-compliance. Where the Notices and Directives are not acted upon, the Department institutes legal action against the municipalities.
The Department is also supporting and intervening in many municipalities across the country with grant funding to address infrastructure deficits and improve water and sanitation services. The Department, collaborating with Water Boards is also assisting the municipalities with technical expertise and management support.
The Department is in the process of strengthening its role as the regulator of water services. This includes developing more comprehensive and more stringent norms and standards for water service and standardising its regulatory processes so that it is more consistent with its regulatory actions.
To conclude, the results of the 2023 Watch Reports also indicate that legislative reforms may be required to ensure that water service providers are professionally managed, capable, efficient and financially viable institutions. The Department is in the process of consulting with water sector stakeholders regarding such reforms.
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21 July 2023 - NW2282
Engelbrecht, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What total number of (a) applications for parole from qualifying inmates serving life sentences has he received since 1 January 2022 and (b) the specified applications have not been processed at the latest date for which information is available?
Reply:
a) There were 2 294 lifer profile reports that were considered by the Minister between 1 January 2022 and 31 May 2023.
b) There are 146 lifer profile reports that are still being processed.
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CDC: INCARCERATION AND CORRECTIONS
DATE
20 July 2023 - NW2252
Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What (a) has she found to be the impact of rising food prices on (i) farmers, (ii) producers and (iii) emerging small-scale farmers and (b) steps of intervention has she taken to insulate poor households from hunger and chronic poverty due to the volatility of soaring prices?
Reply:
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) as the custodian of agriculture, gears its efforts to ensure the attainment of sustainable food security in the country. Rising food prices is regarded by DALRRD as one of the major drivers for food access challenges in the country. As such, tracking the trends of food prices, deriving insights for the prevailing trends that drive food and commodity price margins is critical for the Department towards identifying actions when food security is threatened. Vigilance is ensured through assessments that are continuously conducted by the Food Price Monitoring Committee at the National Agriculture Marketing Council (NAMC). According to the NAMC’s monthly food price monitor, the nominal cost of the 28-item urban food basket increased by 10,1% in May 2023 compared to May 2022, costing R1 182,76 versus R1 073,86 in 2023. During this period, vegetables contributed the most to the observed food inflation followed by dairy and eggs. Food inflation has a particular negative impact on the poor who spend a greater proportion of their income on food, even when they consume the cheapest options.
(a),(i),(ii),(ii) The South African producers / farmers at various scales of production have generally been affected by the high agricultural production inputs costs. These include the price trends for domestic fertilizers that were experienced building up to the summer crops production season in 2022. Fertilizer prices increased drastically and fluctuated throughout the summer crops production season due to the global markets price volatility in response to lower global supply. Energy insecurity further exacerbates the situation of high inputs costs. This eventually translates to lower profit margins from farm gate prices for the producers, especially for those that are at the small scale, yet it also translates to higher prices paid by consumers from retailers. However, on the positive note for consumers, including small scale producers as consumers of other food items that they do not produce; the RSA food inflation is anticipated to reduce in the coming months due to the new good local grain stocks being harvested.
(b) Interventions to insulate poor households from hunger and chronic poverty: DALRRD remains committed to supporting agricultural producers with several programmes that are implemented as a deliberate effort to cushion households against hunger and food insecurity in the country. The overall objective of these programmes is to expand domestic food production through strengthening subsistence (vulnerable and household producers), smallholder and medium commercial producers to ensure basic food availability and livelihoods resilience at household level as well as to retain self-employment in agriculture sector.
In addition to the annual support that is provided by DALRRD through the Comprehensive Producer Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima Letsema, DALRRD is currently supporting subsistence producers through the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES). The support is rendered through provision of agricultural production inputs or vouchers for commodities such as fruits & vegetables, grains, poultry, small and large stock. The support targets the women, youth, child-headed households, people living with disabilities and Military Veterans. The provision of inputs to this category of producers has cushioned several producers against the high inputs prices and has strengthened the household’s livelihoods and resilience against shocks and hazards.
20 July 2023 - NW1681
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
1. With reference to the controversial visit by the sanctioned vessel, the Lady-R, in early December 2022 when she was allowed to berth in the Simonstown Naval Base, what are the reasons that the (a) specified vessel was not docked in any Portnet commercial port to offload her cargo and reload goods and (b) commercial Russian vessel was allowed to dock in the Simonstown harbour which is the biggest naval base in the Republic and a national strategic key point; 2. (a) who authorised the berthing of the vessel and (b) what criteria were used to allow the berthing; 3. whether any investigations have been conducted into the authorisation and/or possible irregularities; if not, why not; if so, (a) has any person been held accountable and charged since and (b) what are the relevant details; 4. what (a) are the reasons that she never issued any statement in December 2022 or thereafter on the controversial visit and nature of the goods offloaded from and loaded onto the Lady-R and (b) is the nature and description of the cargo offloaded during night hours from the Lady-R and transported in containers on trucks arranged by AB-Logistics from the naval base; 5. Whether she will furnish Mr S J F Marais with copies of the relevant import, export and transport permits; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) – (5) As stated in many previous public statements and I reiterate that nothing was loaded onto Lady R, but rather, Lady R was delivering equipment that was ordered by SANDF pre –Covid in 2018/19. When the pandemic struck it affected every aspect of our lives and things came to a standstill. Thus the delay delivery of the equipment. We want to reiterate that the order for such a delivery stands and that there was no export of anything from our entities through Lady R.
The President of the country and Commander in Chief of the South African National Defence Force, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed an independent panel under the chairmanship of Judge Mojapelo to conduct an inquiry into the Russian ship, Lady R.
Any disclosure could reasonably prejudice the investigation or may result in a contravention or possible contravention of the law, on conclusion of the inquiry which is about to commence or is in progress.
It is therefore prudent that the panel be granted space and time to finilize its investigation and to bring this matter to its ultimate conclusion within its mandate.
(T.R. MODISE)
MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS: MP
20 July 2023 - NW1811
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1) With reference to the controversial visit by the sanctioned vessel, the Lady-R, in early December 2022 when she was allowed to berth in the Simon’s Town Naval Base, what is the (a) nature, (b) description and (c) purpose of the goods loaded onto the vessel at the time; (2) whether she will furnish Mr S J F Marais with copies of the valid export permit that were issued for an accompanied the goods loaded onto the vessel; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether all legislative requirements were met regarding the importation of munitions and/or any other cargo offloaded from and reloaded onto the vessel, including import and export permits, transport permits of munitions and hazardous goods, customs clearance and Reserve Bank compliance; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
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20 July 2023 - NW2160
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether, the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa’s appointment of a three-member independent panel to lead the inquiry into the allegations of arms loaded onto the Russian vessel Lady R which were raised by the United States ambassador to the Republic, follows after her department failed to conduct a clear and concise investigation into the specified incident; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
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20 July 2023 - NW2382
Kohler-Barnard, Ms D to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1) Whether she will make a submission to the panel probing the Lady R docking; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) who will be held accountable for the inaction of SANDF Defence Intelligence Division regarding the docking of the Lady R in Simon’s Town, and the alleged loading and transportation of arms to Russia?
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