Questions and Replies

Reply:

 

 (a) (i) Total Travel Costs R 263 445.00

(ii) 47 Trips

(b) (i) Hotel – No costs

(ii) Residential and Accomodation – No Costs

(aa) In Cape Town – No Costs

(bb) In Pretoria – No Costs

(2) (a) (i) Total Travel Costs R 220 317.00

(ii) 26 Trips

(b) (i) Hotel R 26 007.00

(ii) Residential and Accomodation – No Costs

(aa) In Cape Town R26 007.00

(bb) In Pretoria – No Costs

 

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF LABOUR’S RESPONSE: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO. 3328 (NW3917E)

In respect of the Minister: Labour the following expenditure was incurred for travel

1. (a) (i) Total Travel Costs R263 445.00

(ii) 47 Trips

(b) (i) Hotel – No Costs

(ii) Residential/ Accommodation – No Costs

(aa) In Cape Town – No Costs

(bb) In Pretoria – No Costs

In respect of the Deputy Minister: Labour the following expenditure was incurred for travel

2. (a) (i) Total Travel Costs R483 617.00

(ii) 26 Trips

(b) (1) Hotel – R26 007.00

(ii) Residential/Accommodation – No Costs

(aa) In Cape Town - R26 007.00

(bb) In Pretoria – No Costs

Reply:

The specified EU agreement will be tabled in Parliament as time permits.

Reply:

a) Two One Stop Centres were opened in April 2014 in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape and Carletonville in Gauteng and are currently operational. Two further One Stop Service Centres will be opened in this financial year in Burgerfort in Limpopo and Kuruman in the Northern Cape and are at an advanced stage of planning.

b) (i) As at the end of September 2015, a total of 4 165 ex-mineworkers were assessed at the Mthatha facility and 4 013 ex-mineworkers at the Carletonville facility.

(ii) The Mthatha facility referred 1 456 claimant files and the Carletonville facility referred 1 474 claimant files to the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD). A total of 413 claimant files were processed at the MBOD and 6 were paid by the Compensation Commissioner for Occupational Diseases (CCOD). There are substantial backlogs in the claims assessment, processing and payment of claimant files at the MBOD and CCOD.

The management of the MBOD and CCOD, with the support of the Chamber of Mines is making interventions to improve the claims management process by deployment of medical personnel seconded from the mining sector, ensuring access to records of service from the mining companies and development of an electronic database of claimant records.

END.

Reply:

1. As at 10 September 2015 there was a total of two thousand two hundred and fifty eight (2258) persons who are sentenced to life imprisonment and who qualify for consideration for parole.
2. Yes, at the outset it is important that the Honourable member takes note that members of the National Council for Correctional Services are professionals appointed by the Minister in terms of Section 83 of the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act 111 of 1998). They are not in full time employment of Correctional Services.

As a result of the backlog created by the Van Wyk Judgment (case nr: 40915/10 in the North Gauteng High Court Pretoria) the newly appointed NCCS meets on a regular basis; meetings have been scheduled on a two weekly basis.

The consideration of offenders for parole is not a matter that can be dealt with lightly. Considerable time and effort is put into the deliberation of individual cases before a recommendation is made to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services. Approximately thirty (30) cases are considered during a one day meeting and fifty (50) during a two day meeting. As at 10 September 2015 a total of three hundred and eighty eight (388) of the specified persons has not yet been considered by the National Council for Correctional Services.

3. Yes; Regular meetings are scheduled in an attempt to deal with the backlog.

Reply:

ITAC published a notice in the Government Gazette on 19 December 2014, requesting public comments on proposed duty increases on specified steel products, following receipt of an application by steel-makers, who cited global and domestic steel-market conditions.

It received written submissions from companies in the sector.

In all, 30 companies provided written submissions. ITAC consulted with representatives of 19 downstream companies as well as with a business association representing the views of automotive customer companies. The downstream producers were also provided with an opportunity to make oral representations on 20 May 2015.

The companies in the downstream industries generally did not favour tariff increases to protect upstream producers, citing the impact it will have on their businesses and noting challenges with the price, quality and availability of product from local steel-makers.

In addition to the two applicant companies who requested a tariff increase, ten other companies supported the increase in duties.

ITAC took account of the views of all the parties as well as of the global circumstances and pressures in the domestic market, in its consideration of the request for tariff-increases made by the steel-makers.

-END-

Reply:

1. The Supply Chain Management work stream focused on how to improve supply chain management system at clinic level. The first phase is focused on essential items (Pharmaceuticals). Once the roll out of the system is complete, functional and fully effective, non essential items (toiletry, cleaning material etc) will be introduced.

Details of the system and progress

a) Implement SVS (Stock Visibility System) in all clinics and develop additional functionality of SVS (namely order receiving). SVS is a device (like a cellphone) that is used by the clinic to update the stock received and stock issued. The system feeds the information to Rx Solution which calculates the number of items to be ordered. Orders are placed at a central point and delivery is done directly to the facility.

b) To integrate SVS data into Rx Solution to automate order calculation and generation – and automate sign off authority. Finalise delegations at facility, sub-district and district level. Authorization and delegations of authority need to be reviewed and tools developed to support the expediting of approvals.

c) Agree on products to load onto SVS (contract versus non-contracted items). Currently, only Pharmaceuticals are included.

d) Address sustainability and support for Rx – access source code. Unlock bottlenecks encountered with Rx Solution. Finalise the issue of ownership of Rx Solution.

e) The PMPU (Procurement Unit) will facilitate the procurement of items, ensure correct allocation coding linked on BAS, contract management.

f) Develop cross dock model and processes and trial – direct from manufacturer OR direct from wholesaler/”retailer”.

g) Decision still has to be made whether to convert the current Depots to cross docks.

h) Spend analysis needs to be carried out

(i) A categorization exercise needs to take place to identify which products we move to contract and which do we procure direct;

(ii) Decide on procurement model based on financial and non financial benefits (Contract with manufacturer wholesaler/retailer);

(iii) Contract terms need to be defined and measurements implemented;

(iv) Spend analysis needs to be carried out.

(v) Develop catalogue specifications (pricing, specifications and coding)

(vi) Supplier scorecard to be developed and published monthly

Below is a graphical representation of how the system will work

Challenges

a) Dependent on partners for implementation of processes and systems – sustainability;

b) SVS business model needs to be defined (Vodacom has financed it to date through their Foundation);

c) Facility compliance to reporting of stock on hand;

d) Authorization and delegations of authority need to be reviewed and tools developed to support the expediting of approvals;

e) Codification standard for all items

• 1. Adherence to contract procurement by facilities;

• 1. Monitoring systems to review contract/off contract spend at facility/PHC level

2. Yes, There is a progress in the project as the SVS has been rolled out to facilities in Limpopo, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and City of Johannesburg.

Summary of activity that are in progress and activities still to be initiated (as stated above)

1. Roll out of SVS (in progress)
2. Trial “informed push” model (in progress)
3. Develop cross dock model (not started yet)
4. Identify items for contracts (not started yet)
5. Develop SOP’s for push model (in progress)
6. Agree on delegations (not started yet)

It should be noted that once the system is fully effective it will be rolled out to all facilities and provinces and non essential items will be added.

As the system progresses, a determination will still be made as to whether this system will include the items such as maintenance of facilities and whether there the system be able to integrate with LOGIS to cater for Non Essential items.

A phased approach has been adopted to roll out the system and it is expected that by 2018/19, the system will be fully functional in all provinces and in all 3500 clinics in South Africa.

END.

Reply:

(1)(a) Total amount spent on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town: R436 339.20

(1)(b) Total number of trips undertaken: 63

(2)(a) Total amount spent on accommodation in Cape Town: R131 421.98

(2)(b) Total amount spent on car hire in Cape Town: R86 601 .25

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

This matter has been discussed at various levels. We are in the process of ascertaining information and we will provide it to the Honourable Member as soon as it becomes available.

____________________________________________________________________

Reply:

The reports were commisioned by the Department of Energy to inform the decision making process of the Energy Security Cabinet Subcommittee on the Nuclear New Build Programme.

Reply:

a) I wish to inform the Honourable Member that the investigation is at an advanced stage after suffering delays which both the lead investigator in the South African Police Services and prosecutor in the National Prosecuting Authority left the case in the middle before the investigation was completed.

b) The investigation is anticipated to be finalised during the course of this year (2015).

Reply:

a) The process to develop the policy is currently underway.

b) Yes, the consultative meeting with stakeholders was held on 14 April 2015 in accordance with the annual performance plan.

Key relevant details discussed are as follows:

The stakeholder’s meeting was attended by clinical, technical and NHLS experts in cervical cancer.

In summary the team agreed that there should be three documents, namely:

• A policy document;
• Clinical guidelines; and
• Desk aid for nurses.

END.

Reply:

Records show that there are no court orders issued against the Department to rectify short payment of any correctional officials.
 

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, requested the Northern Cape Provincial Department to provide this information.

The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.

Reply:

All the three trips were working visits. The Department awaits outstanding information from South Africa’s mission in China.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

The extent of the information required in this question demands that Departmental officials go back to historical records, which is a huge task. Also, an in loco inspection must be conducted at the Estate to ascertain the work that was done. We will endeavour to provide the information required in the question as soon as possible.

Reply:

(a) (i) During the period 2012-13, the Chief Justice travelled on official international trips to the Seychelles, Korea, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, Ghana, Mozambique and Mauritius. The total costs for these official trips amounted to R677 214.21

(a) (ii) In the year 2013-14, the Chief Justice travelled on official international trips to Benin, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, Tanzania, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore and Nigeria. The total costs for these trips amounted to R879 073.72

(b) (i) 2012-13 - Chief Justice’s entourage

Official trip to Seychelles

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following Judicial Officers and officials:

• Justice Y Mokgoro, retired Judge of the Constitutional Court
• Justice L Theron, Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal
• Dr G Moshoeu, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Judicial Education Institute
• Mr A Slingers, Executive Aid to the Chief Justice

Official trip to Korea

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following persons:

• Mrs A Mogoeng, Chief Justice’s spouse
• Mr A Slingers, Executive Aid to the Chief Justice

Official trip to France, Italy, Russia and Germany

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following Judicial Officers and officials:

• President L Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All four countries)
• Justice C Jafta, Justice of the Constitutional Court (All four countries)
• Dr K De Wee, Acting Secretary General of the Office of the Chief Justice (As he was then) (All four countries)
• Ms M Sejosengwe, Chief Director: Court Services (As she was then) (All four countries)
• Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support (All four countries)

Official trips to Ghana and Mozambique

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following officials:

• Ms M Sejosengwe, Chief Director: Court Services (As she was then)
• Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support

Official trip to Mauritius

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following persons:

• • Mrs A Mogoeng, Chief Justice’s Spouse
• Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support
• Ms R Leyds, Executive Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice.

The costs for the Chief Justice’s entourage for all the official international trips for the period 2012-13 amounted to R1 122 751. 28.

(b) (ii) 2013-14 - Chief Justice’s entourage

Official trip to Benin

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following officials:

• Mr S Chiloane, Acting Chief Director: Judicial Policy and Research
• Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice
• Mr M Mama, Security Coordinator

Official trips to Germany, United Kingdom, Norway

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following Judicial Officers and officials:

• President L Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All three countries)
• Deputy President K Mthiyane, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All three countries)
• Justice J Van Der Westhuizen, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
• Justice S Khampepe, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
• Justice J Froneman, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
• Justice C Jafta, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
• Justice R Zondo, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
• Judge President M Leeuw, Judge President of the North West Division of the High Court (United Kingdom and Norway)
• Judge President D Mlambo, Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court (United Kingdom only)
• Ms M Sejosengwe, Secretary General of the Office of the Chief Justice (United Kingdom and Norway)
• Mr S Chiloane, Acting Chief Director: Judicial Policy and Research (All three countries)
• Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support (United Kingdom and Norway)
• Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice (All three countries)
• Mr Z Jekeqa, Protocol Coordinator (All three countries)

Official trip to Tanzania

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following officials:

• Mr S Chiloane, Acting Chief Director: Judicial Policy and Research
• Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice
• Mr Z Ntswanti, Deputy Director: Research

Official trips to Malaysia, Qatar and Singapore

The Chief Justice’s entourage for the consisted of the following Judicial officers and officials:

• President L Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All three)
• Deputy President K Mthiyane, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Justice S Majiedt, Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Judge President M Leeuw, Judge President of the North West Division of the High Court (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Judge President D Mlambo, Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Judge M Rampai, Acting Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court, (as he was then) (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Judge N Erasmus, Judge of the Western Cape Division of the High Court (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Judge A Jappie, Judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court (All three countries)
• Mr K Nqadala, Regional Court President (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Mr D Niar, Chief Magistrate (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Dr G Moshoeu, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Judicial Education Institute (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Mr M Doralingo, Chief Director: Court Administration (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Mr P Gagai, Director: Judicial Policy (All three countries)
• Adv E Seema, Director: Superior Courts (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Mr S Ntsimane, Executive Manager, Information, Communication and Technology (Malaysia and Singapore)

• Mr G Lesiba, Chairperson of the Integrated Justice System Board (Malaysia and Singapore)
• Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice (All three countries)
• Mr Z Jekeqa, Protocol Coordinator (Malaysia and Singapore)

Official trip to Nigeria

The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following persons:

• Mrs A Mogoeng, Chief Justice’s spouse
• Mr M Mama, Security Coordinator

The costs for the Chief Justice’s entourage for all the international trips for the period 2013-14 amounted to R4 287 509. 48.

Reply:

a) The organisation of the 15th Annual National Teaching Awards (NTA) Ceremony was awarded to Travel with Flair who is the Professional Conference Organiser for the Department of Basic Education. Travel with Flair was appointed by the Department through a tender process.

b) The breakdown of the expenditure is as follows:

• Venue and Catering = R1, 663 003. 95
• Event Production and Advocacy = R15 764 783.01
• Accommodation = R330 451.82
• Flights = R2 155 679.52
• Ground Transport and Shuttle = R311 103.85

c) There were no items sponsored for the gift bags.

d) Due to the fact that there were no items for the gift bags this question is not applicable.

e) R609,900.00 (incl. VAT)

f) The Department, under the newly appointed Director-General, will ensure that an adequate budget will be allocated for this important national activity that focuses on the outstanding work of teachers in each province and, if there is a need for any additional funding, this will be done within the financial prescripts.

 

 

 

COMPILER: MRS C HAAK

ACTING DIRECTOR: COMMUNICATION AND RESEARCH

DATE:

EXT: X 3772

MR E MHLANGA

CHIEF DIRECTOR: MEDIA LIAISON AND NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATION

DATE:

MS N MOLALEKOA

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

DATE:

MR A SCHOEMAN

DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

DATE

MS VC CARELSE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

DATE:

MR HM MWELI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

DATE:

QUESTION NO. 3036 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

MR ME SURTY, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER

DATE:

MRS AM MOTSHEKGA, MP

MINISTER

DATE:

Reply:

1. I wish to inform the Hon Member that the Regulations promulgated in terms of the Magistrates Act, 1993, and the relevant Financial Prescripts, do not prescribe the number of domestic and international trips which may be undertaken by a Regional Court President or any of their support staff or persons forming part of such delegations. Regional Court Presidents will undertake each official journey having regard to the purpose, the costs, availability of transport, route, timespan and other relevant circumstances. Regional Court Presidents travel economy class in terms of the current prescripts.

In terms of domestic travel, Regional Court Presidents, as Judicial Heads of the Regional Courts, will, from time to time, be required to travel to attend to various judicial and other statutory obligations. For example, attending meetings of the Regional Court Presidents Forum, Case Flow Management, the Magistrates Commission and its Committees, the South African Judicial Education Council and its Committees, the Rules Board for Courts of Law and its Committees, the Lower Courts Remuneration Committee, the Interpreters Review Committee, the National Efficiency Enhancement Committee, the National Operations Committee, the Development Committee, the Child Justice Forum, the Lower Courts Monitoring Committee and the Library Committee.

For international trips, the Regional Court President (as well as any other magistrate) must submit the request to the Magistrates Commission for consideration. The application must contain full particulars of the conference/ programme to be attended such as location, duration, costs involved, etc. It should furthermore contain information whether the applicant has attended any conferences outside the country and, if so, dates and details of all such conferences. The Chairperson of the Commission will then submit the application, together with his recommendation to the Chief Justice for consideration and approval.

2. The following domestic and international trips were undertaken by each of the Regional Court Presidents for the period 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015:

Regional Court President	Domestic Trips	International Trips
Limpopo	36	1*
Eastern Cape	37	0
Western Cape	20	0
Kwazulu- Natal	11	0
Free State	9	0
Northern Cape	8	0
Gauteng	5	0
North West	4	0
Mpumalanga	2	0

In the Eastern Cape the Judge President, the Regional Head and the Regional Court President are located in different cities/towns and it is very often more cost effective to fly from Port Elizabeth to East London for meetings whilst in Limpopo the Regional Court President will most of the time have to take two flights to reach her destination if the meeting is not in Gauteng

*The Regional Court President of Limpopo was invited by the UN Women and UNFPA, in partnership with the UNDP and UNODC, to the Global Technical Consultation on the Police and Justice Sector’s Response to Violence Against Women and Girls in Marrakech form 1 to 4 July 2014. Travel and accommodation were carried by the organizers and the Regional Court President was not supported by any delegation from her office.

2.(a)(iii). The total cost for domestic flights, including accommodation, car rental and transfer fees, amounted to R1,212,129.

Reply:

Yes. The relevant information is published in The Report on Renewable Energy in South Africa.

Reply:

The response is based on the information provided by Provincial COGTAs.

(a) A total of 29 out of 238 municipal manager posts have been filled by women, representing 12% nationally.

(b) The table below provides the names of municipalities that appointed female Municipal Managers.
 

Province	Municipality
Eastern Cape	Ntabankulu Local Municipality
	Nyandeni Local Municipality
	Lukhanji Local Municipality
Free State	Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality
	Fezile Dabi District Municipality
	Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
	Kopanong Local Municipality
	Lejweleputswa District Municipality
Gauteng	None
KwaZulu Natal	Umdoni Local Municipality
	Umtshezi Local Municipality
	Emadlangeni Local Municipality
	Ulundi Local Municipality
	Harry Gwala District Municipality
	KwaSani Local Municipality
Limpopo	Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality
	Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality
	Sekhukhune District Municipality
	Lephalale Local Municipality
	Greater Letaba Local Municipality
Mpumalanga	Nkangala District Municipality
Northern Cape	John Taolo District Municipality
	Richtersveld Local Municipality
	!Kheis Local Municipality
	Frances Baard District Municipality
North West	Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality
	Moses Kotane Local Municipality
	Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality
	Tlokwe Local Municipality
Western Cape	Mossel Bay Local Municipality
	Stellenbosch Local Municipality

Reply:

We are still trying to source information and consulting with the Department of Basic Education on this matter and the information required is not readily available

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

Yes, a company was awarded a contract to renovate flats in Acacia Park parliamentary village during the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013. Details thereof are being prepared by the departmental officials. We will provide this information as soon as it is complete.

____________________________________________________________________

Reply:

(1) I cannot reply to the question as the information asked is by nature sensitive as it pertains to the movement of the Deputy President. I will provide the information in a closed briefing of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence when it is duly convened.

Reply:

Audited data on travel that have been properly verified are contained in the Department’s Annual Report tabled in Parliament. From unaudited data made available by the Department, the following applies in respect of combined travel by the Minister and Deputy Minister:

Trips (return): 77

Airfare and accommodation costs: R873 764.

Accommodation was incurred by the Deputy Minister only for the period until he was allocated an official residence.

-END-

Reply:

Audited data that have been properly verified are contained in the Department’s Annual Report tabled in Parliament. From unaudited data made available by the Department, the following applies in respect of travel by Departmental staff, excluding the Ministry:

Flights: R718 694

Accommodation: R153 077

Car rental: R59 201

-END-

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

The Department of Public Works has not recorded instances of paranormal activity or ‘ghosts’ haunting any of the buildings under its custodianship.

Thus the answer to parts (a) and (b) (i) and (ii) is: None.

____________________________________________________________________

Reply:

a) In the current financial year (1 April 2015 up to 15 September 2015), the Assets Forfeiture Unit has obtained 128 preservation/restraint orders and 173 forfeiture/confiscation orders.

b) As on 15 September 2015, 89 applications (preservation/restraint or forfeiture/confiscation) were filed but must still be heard in court.

In addition, as on 15 September 2015, 1 698 cases are being investigated and documents drafted but have not been filed in court.

Reply:

1. (a) Since 01 April 2015, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) and the Cancer Registry have been directly funded;

(b) The proposal was discussed with the National Treasury. At the Budget Council meeting in January 2015, it was agreed that the Department of Health and National Treasury should work on a completely new funding model for implementation as of 01 April 2016;

(c) The National Treasury, in funding National Functions directly has made provision in the National Department of Health budget for a transfer payment to cover the costs associated with teaching and training undertaken by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).

2. The Interim Management Team was appointed to investigate the billing issues reported. Below are the technical challenges that resulted in disputed debtor’s amounts:

• Unbundling of group tests (profile tests);
• Padding (grouping of tests);
• Wrong accounts (non Gauteng Department of Health and KwaZulu Natal Department of Health);
• Incorrect coding;
• Duplication of tests and billing;
• Multiple units billing (histology blocks);
• Missing demographics.

Unbundling of group tests

• This refers to the request for multiple individual tests instead of a group test resulting in the sum costs being more than the group test. The clinicians have an option to request some tests as a group or a single test. The approved Electronic Gate Keeping (EGK) rules state that the full profile of test can be done on admission of a patient then abnormal parameters to be repeated as required. The NHLS has also proposed that when individual or multiple tests within a profile are requested, and the cost of these tests exceeds the cost of the profile, the NHLS bill the profile cost to the Department of Health.

Padding of tests

• This occurs where an individual test that is included in a group test is billed with the group test. This should never happen under the normal circumstances. The NHLS has implemented measures to eliminate this error.

Wrong accounts (non Gauteng Department of Health)

• The NHLS and the Provinces are working together to identify and eliminate any incorrect locations billed through the reconciliation of monthly bills. Substantial progress has been achieved thus far.

Incorrect coding of tests

• This refers to the tariff codes used by the NHLS not being consistent with the coding lists of the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF), the National Pathology Group (NPG) and the South African Medical Association (SAMA).

Duplication and Multiple units billing

• This relates to billing one test more than once on one specimen. Multiple units billing mainly happens in anatomical pathology where additional blocks of stains are made in order to get to the final diagnosis. This is an acceptable practice.

Missing Demographics

• These relate to invoices or tests done with missing demographic data. This creates problems in terms of verifying the information and could render the transactions invalid. The NHLS had already started the process of addressing this by determining the minimum clinical data sets (MCDS) required for NHLS to continue processing the specimen. The NHLS does not conduct tests if there is no compliance with MCDS.

3. The details are as follows:

• The status of debts receivable from Gauteng Department of Health and KwaZulu Natal Department of Health as at 18 September 2015 is totalling R5.1 billion;
• The breakdown is reflected in Table 1 below;
• This represents 95% of the total debts receivable from provinces amounting to R5.5 billion.

Table 1

Region	Outstanding amount 2015/16	Outstanding amount 2014/15	Prior amount outstanding	Total outstanding
Gauteng	197,419,209	328,955,740	922,495,933	1,448,870,882
KwaZulu Natal	110,053,771	702,643,913	2,866,174,418	3,678,872,101

4. The Bill has been prepared and it in the Cabinet process. It is pending approval by Cabinet, for it to be published for public comment.

5. The National Public Health Institute of South Africa (NAPHISA) Bill makes provision for the establishment of the Institute for Non-Communicable Diseases and Violence and Injury. These institutes will be established when the Bill is promulgated.

END.

Reply:

The Respondents are appealing the matter. Judgment in the application for leave to appeal is awaited. As such, we deem it prudent for the appeal processes to be finalised before we consider the matter.

Reply:

(a) The total cost as at 31 August 2015 is R113, 232 million.

(b) The table below provides the breakdown of the expenditure up to 31 August 2015:

 

Reply:

(a)(i) Both Commissioners are Judges from the High Court and are therefore not remunerated by the Commission.

(ii) The total cost for the evidence leaders, the research consultant and the forensic auditor from 27 October 2012 to 31 August 2015, is R73, 240 million, broken down as follows:

 

Reply:

Refer to: Annexure 1 .

Reply:

The information is in the Annual Report of the Department.

Reply:

No, the Department has no intention to develop (a) regulations and (b) legislation for virginity testing on young women. Virginity testing is already regulated by the Children’s Act, Act No. 38 of 2005. In terms of section 12(4) of this Act, virginity testing of children under the age of 16 is prohibited. In terms of section 12(5) of the Act, virginity testing of children older than 16 may be done but only if the child has given consent to such testing and after proper counselling of the child. Section 12(6) of the Act further determines that the results of a virginity test may not be disclosed without the consent of the child. It should also be noted that section 12(7) prohibits the marking of the body of the child who has undergone virginity testing.

Reply:

The Regulations seek to ensure a captured market for locally manufactured biofuels and will therefore assist in promoting the blending of biofuels with mineral fuels in the country, thereby supporting the achievement of the objectives of the Biofuels Industrial Strategy of 2007.

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department of Home Affairs that 9821 marriages were solemnized in terms of the Civil Union Act for the period 2006 to 2015. The number of divorces granted in terms of the Civil Union Act, are currently not kept separately from other divorces. For example, statistics of divorces in the High Courts are captured as “opposed’’ and ‘’unopposed’’ divorces and do not differentiate between persons divorced in terms of the Marriage Act and the Civil Union Act. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is also in the process of improving the information systems in the Regional Courts for the capturing of divorces.

(2) No Honourable Member I will not make a statement as it is not necessary

Reply:

1. No 40-bed mobile hospital was set up in Sierra Leone by the Department as there were sufficient Ebola treatment units put in place by other countries and the subsequent request by the Government of Sierra Leone, the African Union and other partner countries was for health professionals to staff the Ebola treatment units. The Department sent 5 professional nurses and 1 medical doctor for 1 month initially and 16 professional nurses and 3 emergency health professionals for 6 months to Sierra Leone under the African Union response to the Ebola outbreak.
2. The Department had considerable support from the private sector in South Africa with initial meetings with the mining, retail, financial services and mobile communication sectors about the movement of their personnel from South Africa to West Africa and especially to the affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. A meeting held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange 16 listed companies and non-governmental organisations realised cash and in-kind donations of personal protective equipment, ambulances, scooters, food and drugs amounting to approximately R10 million for the external response to the affected countries.

3. South Africa set up a field Ebola Molecular Diagnostic Facility in August 2014 with laboratory infrastructure, technical and personnel support from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. A total of 8 teams of 2 to 5 members from the NICD rotated through the facility in Sierra Leone every 4 to 6 weeks between August 2014 and March 2015. The unit assisted with the laboratory diagnosis of Ebola in patient blood and buccal swab specimens.

4. (a) The Department convened a committee known as the Multi-sectoral National Outbreak Response Team (MNORT) which comprised the following departments, supported by the private health sector, development partners and multilateral agencies:

1. Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
2. Department of Basic Education;
3. Department of Communications;
4. Department of Correctional Services;
5. Department of Defence and Military Veterans;
6. Department of Finance;
7. Department of Higher Education and Training;
8. Department of Home Affairs;
9. Department of International Relations and Cooperation;
10. Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs;
11. Department of Safety and Security;
12. Department of Social Development;
13. Department of Sport and Recreation;
14. Department of Tourism;
15. Department of Transport;
16. Department of Water and Sanitation.

(b) The University of the Witwatersrand ‘Wits Health Consortium’ coordinated the external response effort of receiving goods and cash donations to the affected countries with the deployment of health professionals to Sierra Leone, supported by “Right to Care”, the African Union and the World Health Organisation. The laboratory professionals’ travel and logistics were coordinated by the Wits Health Consortium, the NICD and the World Health Organisation.

(c) The flights of all the personnel from South Africa to Ghana were supported by a major South African private sector financial services partner and travel agency with flights from Ghana to Sierra Leone supported by the United Nations response. The donated goods were transported by road to Durban from the warehouse in Centurion and shipped to the 3 affected countries through a partnership with a major international shipping company that provided free transportation from Durban.

5. The total monetary value of the country’s contribution in the fight against the Ebola epidemic since 1 December 2013 cannot be quantified as it comprises the domestic response which covered provincial departments of health and national departments’ interventions.

These included border protection interventions such as installation of thermal scanners at designated ports of entry into South Africa, recruitment and deployment of additional Port Health Officers and introduction of screening questionnaires at ports of entry, training of immigration, airline and port health staff in South Africa and also for SADC countries, health professionals and support personnel in the management of Ebola suspect and infected patients and bio-hazardous waste management, provision of an Emergency Operations Response Centre operating on a 24-hour basis, enhancing health screening and surveillance systems and laboratory diagnostic support for South Africa and the SADC Region. The external response to the affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone comprised the donation of personal protection equipment by the Department and donation of other goods by the private sector and provision of laboratory support and deployment of health professionals in Sierra Leone. Some South African companies contributed to the Ebola response by direct contributions to the African Union response or to the affected countries directly.

In addition, various Committees such as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Ebola, the Multi-sectoral National Outbreak Response Team (MNORT) and the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ebola outbreak in West Africa were set up to support the country’s efforts in the domestic and external response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Communication to the public, various stakeholders and role players was maintained at all times through media releases presentations.

END.

Reply:

1. In July 2015, a total of 760,000 doses of BCG vaccine were received from Statens Serum Institute in Denmark (registered supplier in South Africa) and were distributed to provinces. Currently, the stock is in facilities and as such very difficult to quantify.
2. (a) The Department of Health applied for Section 21 Permit from the Medicines Control Council (MCC) to procure 166,000 vials which translates to 3,320,000 doses of BCG vaccine from Serum Institute of India;

(b) The BCG vaccine arrived in the country on the 28 September 2015;

(c) Serum Institute of India.

3. Statens Serum Institute of Denmark has informed the Department that 600,000 BCG vaccine doses will be delivered in October 2015 and 800,000 doses will be delivered in November 2015. In addition the Department will apply for another Section 21 Permit to procure more BCG vaccines as a further precaution.

END.

Reply:

1. The average waiting times for Odi District Hospital in Mabopane for the 1st and 2nd quarter of 2015/16 are as follows:

(a) (i) Registration ( opening or retrieving of a file): 30 minutes

    (ii) Waiting time in OPD: 130 minutes

    (iii) Waiting time at the Pharmacy: 100 minutes

   (iv) Waiting time Casualty depends on the Priority of the Patient. The average of non serious patients is 120 minutes.

b) The following are measures that the hospital has introduced improve long waiting times:

(i) The CEO and Hospital management conduct daily walkabouts to check patient’s queues, but also how the hospital staff deal with clients/patients.

(ii) The hospital has in place courtesy managers who are always at the frontline to closely monitor queues and how clients/ patients are assisted

The following are future plans for the Hospital:

(iii) To renovate the Pharmacy by adding more dispensing windows

(iv) To add additional staff to records so that clients are assisted timely

(v) To engage and educate the community to use Primary Health Care and Community Health Centres and the importance of appropriate referral.

(2) Odi Hospital falls under Region 1 of Tshwane Health District. Currently there are Emergency Medical Services Stations in the region namely Odi, Rosslyn, Jabulani and Ga-Rankuwa. There are 24 ambulances which are operational however by end of September 2015, a total of 16 ambulances out of the 24 ambulances were operational. A total of 8 of the ambulances had either gone for regular service, breakdown repairs or accident damage.

(3) Gauteng Province EMS is currently in the process of procuring 160 ambulances for the 2015/16 financial year. These ambulances will be distributed equitably throughout the Province.

END.

Reply:

1. NHLS Headcount at end of August 2015

Job Title	Count
Total Staff Headcount	6776
Pathologist	210
Medical Technician	862
Medical Technologist	1385
Vacancies appearing as vacant on Oracle system today on 21 September 2015
Total	1246

2. YEAR	2 011	2 012	2 013	2 014	2 015
Pathologist	225	218	235	231	210
Medical Technologist	1 415	1 388	1 382	1 399	1 385
Medical Technician	652	639	771	810	862

3. There are 302 NHLS laboratories.

Province	Number of Labs
EC	67
FS	15
GP	43
KZN	56
LP	37
MP	21
NC	9
NW	15
WC	39
TOTAL	302

END.

Reply:

As indicated in my reply to question 2502, the three former Non-Executive Directors of the SABC were removed by the Board of Directors of the SABC in terms of section 71 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008. In my reply, I also indicated that in making any appointment, I apply my mind to all aspects deserving consideration.

I would also like to bring to your attention that the issue of governance in the SABC is an issue which is now before the court in the following two applications: Ronny Lubisi vs SABC and others and S.O.S Support Public Broadcasting Coalition vs SABC and others.

I would therefore not like to comment further on a matter that is before a court of law.

Reply:

(a) Yes, a report on conditions in the remand detainee section of the Pollsmoor Prison compiled by Justice Edwin Cameron was received by the Department on 07 August 2015.

(b) A detailed action plan was developed by the Department and progress of the implementation thereof is still to be furnished with the Minister.

Reply:

(1) My Department has taken note of the question and has attempted to investigate how it could respond to it. However, we found the question to be unclear in that, it does not identify the exact piece of land and whether it is under municipal administration or state forestry operations. Accordingly, it will be appreciated if the Honourable Member could provide further details on the piece of land in question.

(2) As per the above.

(3) As per the above.

Answer tabled in Parliament on:

DAFF'S RESPONSE:

CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL

SUBJECT: QUESTION NO. 3622 FOR ORAL REPLY TO MS A STEYN (DA) TO THE MINISTER OF

AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

Reply:

1. The infrastructure spending referred to in the previous reply was principally in the following infrastructure programmes and projects:

• Energy covering energy generation, transmission and distribution
• Transport (road, rail and port)
• Water, including dams and pipelines
• Sanitation
• Broadband rollout by the state
• Education (universities, colleges and schools)
• Health (clinics and hospitals)
• Provincial housing (for FY 2014/15)

2. The data is for all four financial years since 1 April 2011 (except as otherwise indicated) and for the three spheres of government and state-owned companies, using audited data for the first three years and estimates for the fourth year.

3. The nature of the investment in infrastructure includes spending on new and refurbishment or revitalization of existing infrastructure assets.

4. Additional spending on areas covered by the National Infrastructure Plan, not covered in the above figure, are:

• Renewable energy programmes worth R145 billion, from funding committed by development finance institutions (IDC and DBSA), and private investors (foreign and local, equity and loans).
• Infrastructure provided by the private sector either through a private-public partnership or through a public concession
• Housing build-programmes, financed by the public subsidy, except for FY 2014/15
• Development finance institutions’ direct investment in infrastructure

5. The infrastructure programme is the most ambitious yet for South Africa, with spending exceeding in real terms the levels spent in past decades

-END-

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

The Departmental officials are in the process of compiling the information for this question. The challenge is that the information lies with various regional offices of the Department of Public Works. Such information is being collected, collated and analysed in order to provide accurate information. We will endeavour to provide this information as soon as possible.

____________________________________________________________________

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, requested the uMgungundlovu District Municipality to provide this information.

The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.

Reply:

I wish to inform the Honourable Member that (a) neither I nor the former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development travelled to China during 2014-15;

(b) the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development did not travel to China during 2014-2015; and

(c) I have been informed that no officials from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development or from the Office of the Chief Justice, travelled to China during the 2014-15 financial year.

(i) and (ii) therefore fall away.

Reply:

1. Yes, the department currently employs 10 persons with disabilities which represent 2.1% of the staff complement.

Reply:

The Minister intervened in terms of section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act by requesting the MEC for local government in the Free State Provincial Government to investigate this matter.

According to the information received from Nala Local Municipality, the municipality has entered into an arrangement with affected councillors to recover the monies overpaid to them.

Reply:

The importance of community arts and the development and upgrading of community arts infrastructure has been recognised as a driver of social cohesion and nation building in Outcome 14: Nation Building and Social Cohesion. The community arts programme is a contributor to the Sub-Outcome: Equal Opportunities, Inclusion and Redress. Approved by Cabinet, Outcome 14 stipulates that the Department of Arts and Culture, within the 5 year Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), will build 15 new community arts centres, refurbish 80 centres and activate 500 community arts programmes by 2018/19. The focus of this work will be rural and township areas.