Reply:

There have been exports in terms of Section 14 which were authorised by the NCACC to foreign countries in the years 2010; 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014.The reporting cycle is on a calendar year basis and not on financial year basis, in line with section 23 of the NCAC Act. Therefore the reports are from January to December of each year. This means that the 2015 export report will only be available in 2016.

The NCACC considers all applications against set criteria in terms of section 15 as provided for in the NCAC Act and this occurs after a deliberate process by various Government Departments.

The Reports on Transfers of controlled items are compiled quarterly (4 quarters), as well as annually and are tabled in Parliament through the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. These reports are subsequently referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.

These exports are further reported on to the United Nations in line with International obligations of South Africa in terms of Treaties and Conventions, in accordance with International Law.

From the ensuing, it is the intention of South Africa to ensure that arms transferred do not end up with rogue elements elsewhere in the world. South Africa is committed to contributing to Peace and Security in the world.

Lastly, the NCACC activities are subject to the Auditor-General (AG) of South Africa, who perform annual evaluations and assessments on qualitative aspects of the work undertaken, per given period. The past period performance of the NCACC by the AG in this regard was found to be without qualification.

 

Approved / Not Approved

Mr J T Radebe, MP

Minister in The Presidency

Date:

Reply:

a) The National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper will be tabled in Cabinet for approval by the end of the financial year.

b) The Department intends to gazette the draft National e-Strategy before the end of the financial year.

c) SAPO currently needs financial assistance from Government.

SAPO has been given a guarantee of R1.67 billion in the past financial year and R2.5 billion in the current financial year. The Post Office uses these guarantees to raise cash from the financial markets.

Moving forward SAPO's Strategic Turnaround Plan (STP) has been developed and approved by Cabinet. Its effective implementation requires effective leadership and funding. As part of supporting SAPO's turnaround, the Department has recognised the need to stabilise SAPO's leadership. The board and the Group CEO have been appointed. To date, there has been more focus on the implementation of cost cutting initiatives. There is currently a need to implement revenue generation initiatives and these require funding. Effective implementation of the STP will enable the entity to be economically viable.

 

Reply:

A pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) was conducted by the IDC in August 2012.

The key findings of the PFS include:

• A new low cost iron and steel plant with annual capacity of 2.5 million tons based on low cost iron ore and coal resources in South Africa, is viable.
• The preferred process route would be the Rotary Hearth Furnace (“RHF”) technology. The primary advantage of this technology is that it does not require coking coal and subsequently has the lowest operating cost. The downside is the high capital cost of an RHF project and relative high electricity consumption.
• The second best option is Blast Furnace (“BF”) technology. Although it is the most proven route worldwide for iron making, it requires coking coal which is not currently available in South Africa and was therefore considered second best to RHF.
• Beneficiation of the magnetite could be done at a facility at Phalaborwa.
• Middelburg would be a suitable location (and significantly better than Phalaborwa) based on availability of coal, raw material transport logistics, infrastructure including water, rail and electricity as well as proximity to inland domestic market.

After the PFS was concluded, IDC embarked on a process to find a strategic equity partner which led to the Memorandum of Understanding executed with China’s Hebei Iron & Steel Group (HBIS) in September 2014.

HBIS’s participation is conditional upon using their core competence which is based on BF technology as well as to increase the target size of the project to 5mtpa of which a substantial portion will be exported, to other Sub-Saharan African markets. The BF process necessitates the use of coking coal that would need to be imported (possibly from Mozambique). The capacity change, new markets identified and raw material import requirements may put an inland site such as Middelburg at a competitive disadvantage. Therefore, they are considering a coastal site as an alternative.

HBIS and IDC are currently conducting additional prefeasibility studies to assess the economic viability of BF technology, increased size and the project location. Depending on the outcome of these additional prefeasibility studies, a detailed feasibility study will be conducted before a final investment decision is made.

-END-

Reply:

1. I am not going to provide security sensitive information about the movement of the President
2. No

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 08 DECEMBER 2015

Reply:

The information can be processed through the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans in the new year, as the beneficiaries names are considered confidential.

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 08 DECEMBER 2015

Reply:

This information has been requested from Tlokwe Local Municipality and will be communicated to the Honorable Member when it is available.

 

Reply:

Due to the voluminous nature of the information requested, I would recommend that the member approaches the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans and request to have this information tabled in a meeting of the Portfolio Committee in one of their sessions in 2016

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 08 DECEMBER 2015

Reply:

In responding to the question the assumption is made that the Honourable Member is referring to daily maximum demand. The table below indicates the customer daily energy demand from 1 March 2015 to 29 November 2015.

Date	Customer Demand MWh
2015/03/01	615 989
2015/03/02	669 051
2015/03/03	674 638
2015/03/04	675 675
2015/03/05	678 546
2015/03/06	678 138
2015/03/07	644 353
2015/03/08	622 464
2015/03/09	677 087
2015/03/10	685 801
2015/03/11	687 776
2015/03/12	688 292
2015/03/13	689 000
2015/03/14	650 059
2015/03/15	625 750
2015/03/16	677 776
2015/03/17	684 592
2015/03/18	686 001
2015/03/19	687 755
2015/03/20	682 914
2015/03/21	644 010
2015/03/22	630 664
2015/03/23	683 404
2015/03/24	687 956
2015/03/25	685 945
2015/03/26	690 873
2015/03/27	669 502
2015/03/28	632 650
2015/03/29	608 103
2015/03/30	661 626
2015/03/31	669 967
2015/04/01	668 627
2015/04/02	651 398
2015/04/03	594 235
2015/04/04	590 128
2015/04/05	579 514
2015/04/06	589 727
2015/04/07	655 740
2015/04/08	666 176
2015/04/09	672 502
2015/04/10	672 108
2015/04/11	637 678
2015/04/12	619 241
2015/04/13	663 577
2015/04/14	677 597
2015/04/15	677 271
2015/04/16	679 907
2015/04/17	671 634
2015/04/18	645 426
2015/04/19	630 322
2015/04/20	669 247
2015/04/21	679 860
2015/04/22	683 606
2015/04/23	679 504
2015/04/24	680 109
2015/04/25	635 071
2015/04/26	611 130
2015/04/27	624 250
2015/04/28	666 329
2015/04/29	668 547
2015/04/30	663 547
2015/05/01	617 955
2015/05/02	612 217
2015/05/03	617 004
2015/05/04	662 729
2015/05/05	679 554
2015/05/06	675 633
2015/05/07	686 368
2015/05/08	683 972
2015/05/09	653 427
2015/05/10	630 569
2015/05/11	680 763
2015/05/12	684 688
2015/05/13	683 584
2015/05/14	683 452
2015/05/15	680 843
2015/05/16	652 459
2015/05/17	627 987
2015/05/18	672 777
2015/05/19	682 316
2015/05/20	680 819
2015/05/21	684 597
2015/05/22	678 270
2015/05/23	649 686
2015/05/24	636 941
2015/05/25	680 562
2015/05/26	691 093
2015/05/27	689 785
2015/05/28	687 883
2015/05/29	678 297
2015/05/30	636 299
2015/05/31	624 217
2015/06/01	663 832
2015/06/02	678 966
2015/06/03	687 834
2015/06/04	699 092
2015/06/05	702 533
2015/06/06	677 867
2015/06/07	653 802
2015/06/08	694 948
2015/06/09	703 928
2015/06/10	716 499
2015/06/11	716 836
2015/06/12	714 953
2015/06/13	661 765
2015/06/14	640 077
2015/06/15	673 059
2015/06/16	650 032
2015/06/17	706 515
2015/06/18	711 768
2015/06/19	705 245
2015/06/20	669 921
2015/06/21	650 940
2015/06/22	697 149
2015/06/23	706 460
2015/06/24	706 658
2015/06/25	706 221
2015/06/26	697 005
2015/06/27	672 992
2015/06/28	651 838
2015/06/29	688 460
2015/06/30	698 407
2015/07/01	692 949
2015/07/02	693 312
2015/07/03	690 260
2015/07/04	653 354
2015/07/05	637 854
2015/07/06	679 880
2015/07/07	698 275
2015/07/08	692 722
2015/07/09	686 403
2015/07/10	682 469
2015/07/11	655 458
2015/07/12	635 239
2015/07/13	685 843
2015/07/14	698 754
2015/07/15	695 409
2015/07/16	691 166
2015/07/17	696 565
2015/07/18	660 855
2015/07/19	646 471
2015/07/20	683 527
2015/07/21	690 396
2015/07/22	699 851
2015/07/23	708 383
2015/07/24	701 131
2015/07/25	670 257
2015/07/26	651 721
2015/07/27	694 919
2015/07/28	700 715
2015/07/29	704 311
2015/07/30	698 663
2015/07/31	703 594
2015/08/01	661 007
2015/08/02	636 444
2015/08/03	682 407
2015/08/04	689 477
2015/08/05	692 994
2015/08/06	690 907
2015/08/07	678 144
2015/08/08	638 883
2015/08/09	614 219
2015/08/10	628 776
2015/08/11	681 094
2015/08/12	685 460
2015/08/13	679 649
2015/08/14	677 149
2015/08/15	634 823
2015/08/16	607 120
2015/08/17	652 403
2015/08/18	660 354
2015/08/19	657 677
2015/08/20	657 116
2015/08/21	647 200
2015/08/22	617 489
2015/08/23	604 102
2015/08/24	644 647
2015/08/25	645 891
2015/08/26	646 045
2015/08/27	644 655
2015/08/28	634 684
2015/08/29	601 424
2015/08/30	591 426
2015/08/31	632 223
2015/09/01	669 042
2015/09/02	676 263
2015/09/03	682 373
2015/09/04	700 260
2015/09/05	661 441
2015/09/06	636 233
2015/09/07	675 372
2015/09/08	687 079
2015/09/09	677 477
2015/09/10	678 821
2015/09/11	678 059
2015/09/12	653 847
2015/09/13	629 895
2015/09/14	670 489
2015/09/15	679 680
2015/09/16	675 104
2015/09/17	676 985
2015/09/18	682 142
2015/09/19	653 659
2015/09/20	637 410
2015/09/21	688 762
2015/09/22	683 341
2015/09/23	673 321
2015/09/24	633 573
2015/09/25	650 464
2015/09/26	629 960
2015/09/27	617 185
2015/09/28	661 945
2015/09/29	675 770
2015/09/30	675 378
2015/10/01	662 080
2015/10/02	665 036
2015/10/03	630 343
2015/10/04	611 024
2015/10/05	658 813
2015/10/06	669 966
2015/10/07	670 396
2015/10/08	668 657
2015/10/09	670 214
2015/10/10	633 378
2015/10/11	615 977
2015/10/12	662 540
2015/10/13	671 910
2015/10/14	673 013
2015/10/15	667 974
2015/10/16	666 560
2015/10/17	633 974
2015/10/18	608 772
2015/10/19	660 891
2015/10/20	666 228
2015/10/21	668 833
2015/10/22	673 724
2015/10/23	665 720
2015/10/24	629 230
2015/10/25	608 906
2015/10/26	660 869
2015/10/27	664 197
2015/10/28	669 483
2015/10/29	674 863
2015/10/30	668 504
2015/10/31	627 524
2015/11/01	604 362
2015/11/02	645 209
2015/11/03	656 034
2015/11/04	653 911
2015/11/05	659 857
2015/11/06	659 962
2015/11/07	628 519
2015/11/08	609 244
2015/11/09	664 576
2015/11/10	666 367
2015/11/11	671 344
2015/11/12	676 683
2015/11/13	673 616
2015/11/14	632 639
2015/11/15	603 480
2015/11/16	652 420
2015/11/17	654 575
2015/11/18	655 851
2015/11/19	642 153
2015/11/20	645 569
2015/11/21	610 940
2015/11/22	588 569
2015/11/23	641 785
2015/11/24	660 352
2015/11/25	665 091
2015/11/26	663 060
2015/11/27	657 316
2015/11/28	615 845
2015/11/29	607 541

Reply:

1.Yes.

(a) In November 2015, the University of Fort Hare (UFH) informed the Department that it has continued to experience financial strain and requested approval to utilise R35 million of its earmarked infrastructure grant to enable short-term relief. Approval was granted and the University must reimburse this amount from its subsidy in April 2016. This will not negatively impact on the progress of projects.

(b) Operating deficits are projected for UFH in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years.

(c) The University was requested to provide a turnaround strategy to manage the cash flow constraints and bring it onto a sound financial footing.

2. The Department does not provide bailouts to universities. The Annual Ministerial Statement on University Funding deals with the funding instruments to steer the university sector, and is issued in accordance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act 101 of 1997 as amended) and the funding framework for universities (Government Gazette, No 25824 of 9 December 2003). All universities are funded as explained in this statement.

3. No. As indicated, the allocation of the total funding available to universities is articulated in the approved Annual Ministerial Statement on University Funding. The 2014 statement for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years is available on the Departmental website.

 

 

Compiler/contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3983 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

This information has been requested from the metropolitan municipalities and will be communicated to the Honorable Member when it is available.

 

Reply:

1. The Memorandum of Understanding was executed in September 2014.

a) The terms of reference include undertaking and completing a pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for a new low cost steel production facility in South Africa (the “Project”) that will meet international environmental compliant standards using raw materials that are locally and regionally available. The envisage Project had to be a profitable low cost producer of a broad spectrum of steel products required by the South African and Sub-Saharan markets

Furthermore, it envisages the establishment of a down-stream industrial park to process some of the steel products to finished goods for domestic and export markets.

b) The estimated total capital outlay of the envisage plant is USD 5 billion which is R70 billion at R14/$. The Project will be funded partly with debt (up to 60%) and partly with equity (40%). The objective of the IDC is to play a catalytical role in the establishment of the facility and not to have a controlling interest in the project.

c) The plant will be designed to have a capacity of 5 million tons of steel per annum. During the detailed feasibility study, consideration will be given to the option to build the Project in two phases of approximately 2.5 million tons each.

d) The labour force to construct the Project is estimated to peak at around 11000 and construction will span over a period of at least 42 months. The operational labour requirement for the Project is estimated at 3 500.

An earlier pre-feasibility study was completed, based on the use of a Rotary Hearth Furnace (“RHF”) technology. Since Hebei seeks to use a different technology, further pre-feasibility studies will be conducted. For details of the earlier pre-feasibility study outcomes, the attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the reply submitted to Parliamentary Question 4138.

-END-

Reply:

This information has been requested from Tlokwe Local Municipality and will be communicated to the Honorable Member when it is available.

 

Reply:

This information has been requested from the metropolitan municipalities and will be communicated to the Honorable Member when it is available.

 

Reply:

This information has been requested from the Mbombela Local Municipality and will be communicated to the Honorable Member when it is available.

The Honorable Member should provide CoGTA with any concrete information in his possession that could assist in any investigation – which will be initiated if there is a prima facie basis in existence.

 

Reply:

1. National Treasury was requested by the Chairperson of the MDB on 16 March 2015 to submit information on the potential impact on municipal viability of several proposed boundary redeterminations. A report providing this information was submitted to the MDB on 6 August 2015. Honourable van Lingen wrote to the Minister of Finance on 27 August 2015 and requested a copy of this report. In a reply dated 26 October 2015, the Minister of Finance informed Honourable van Lingen that it was not possible to share this report before the budget is tabled as it includes information on budget allocations to affected municipalities and all budget information is embargoed prior to the tabling of the budget. As such no report was presented to the Select Committee on Appropriations.
2. As outlined above, no report was presented to the Select Committee on Appropriations.

Reply:

(a) The amount of irregular expenditure incurred by the Department of Home Affairs increased from R730 000 in the 2013/14 financial year to R1 809 000 in the 2014/15 financial year. The reasons for the increase in the amount disclosed as irregular expenditure are:

• Use of single quotation without approval for a deviation;
• Motivation for a deviation was considered not justifiable by the Auditor General;
• Failure to incorporate local content component in the bid for the office furniture; and
• The controls that have been introduced by the department to effectively detect and report all irregular expenditure. In this regard, it should be noted that the department itself identified 50% of the irregular expenditure disclosed in the 2014/15 financial year.

(b) Details of the irregular expenditure for 2014/2015 financial year are attached as Annexure A.

Reply:

The Department is currently sourcing the information required.

Reply:

(1) The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has not received a complaint from Mr. Abraham.

(2) The complaint was lodged with his previous employer, the Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal. The DPSA will investigate and also respond once the Department of Social Development has furnished the DPSA with details of the complaint.

Reply:

Government does not have a binding policy for setting the level of disaster relief contingency funding. Disaster relief funding is mainly included on budget, in conditional grants to municipalities and provinces, and also in the baselines of certain departments, like the Departments of Social Development and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Where disaster relief grants are insufficient, government can draw down on the national contingency reserve. Historically, immediate disaster relief transfers to provincial and local governments have been less than the provision on budget.

Once a disaster occurs, government distinguishes between two levels of disaster funding: 1) immediate disaster relief and 2) long term disaster reparations relating to infrastructure.

For immediate disaster relief (food, temporary shelter and temporary access roads), government introduced two conditional grants in 2011/12 – the Municipal Disaster Grant and the Provincial Disaster Grant – which allow for the release of funds within a 100-day period from a disaster being declared. Other government grants may also be reprioritised to focus funding in response to immediate disaster needs. The Disaster Grants are included in the baseline of the Department of Cooperative Governance. For 2015/16, the municipal disaster grant amounts to R261.1 million and the provincial disaster grant amounts to R103.2 million. Funds from these two grants have remained underspent for the past 3 years, as the full grant amounts were not required for disaster response. In 2014/15, R197.4 million was allocated to the Provincial Disaster Grant of which R85.9 million was transferred to provinces. For the same period R363.6 million was allocated to the Municipal Disaster Grant, of which R121.4 million was transferred to municipalities.

Required medium term disaster responses are dealt with using the normal MTEF budget process. This is done through the reprioritisation of budgeted funds, mainly within existing government infrastructure grants, or through draw downs on the national contingency reserve. The Department of Cooperative Governance administers the Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant for rehabilitation and reconstruction of disaster damaged municipal infrastructure.

Draw-downs from the contingency reserve are part of the in-year budget process, and need to be tabled by vote. This was done in 2013/14 for floods in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape (R111.5 million from the contingency reserve) and in 2014/15 for infrastructure reconstruction in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape (R157 million from the contingency reserve). The 2016 MTEF budget process is in progress, with the national contingency reserve standing at R2.5 billion in 2016/17, R9 billion in 2017/18, and R15 billion in 2018/19. Depending on the severity of the current drought, after sector budget reprioritisation, part of the contingency reserve in each year may be allocated for additional disaster relief in the 2016 Budget and / or the 2016/17 Adjustments Budget.

Reply:

a) No. It is not possible to share this report before the budget is tabled as it includes information on budget allocations to affected municipalities and all budget information is embargoed prior to the tabling of the budget. As such no report was presented to the Select Committee on Appropriations.

b) This report was shared with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs when it was submitted to the Municipal Demarcation Board, for information purposes.

Reply:

(1) Yes. In terms of the Directive on Service Delivery Improvements Plans dated 30 October 2008, issued by the Minister for Public Service and Administration, the national and provincial departments are required to submit their Service Delivery Improvement Plans by 31 March every three years and to report on the progress made annually to the Department of Public Service and Administration.

The Service Delivery Improvements Plans should be aligned to the Public Access Information Act (PAIA) and to the Public Administrative and Justice Act (PAJA) and should also provide an indication on how Service Delivery Improvements Plans are cascaded to service points. The Service Delivery Improvements Plans must be signed-off by Head of the Department (HOD) and also the Executive Authority.

(2) (a) The assessment process of the Service Delivery Improvement Plans include; (i) scrutinizing preliminary scoring using an assessment tool, (ii) structured peer and/or sector assessments for verification and validation of scoring by the cross-cutting teams using the same assessment tool, (iii) provision of preliminary feedback to the participants by the Department of Public Service and Administration.

(b) The standards used to assess the value of the specified plan are based on critical compliance areas of the Service Delivery Improvements Plans Assessment Tool and include;

(i) Openness & transparency on the process followed in developing the Service Delivery Improvement Plans (SDIP).

1. Meaningful utilization of a situation analysis in identifying the critical service areas that should be addressed in the SDIP.
2. Process mapping, human resources and Unit costing that should lead to a problem statement to be addressed through the mandatory SDIP template.

(c) The cluster and sector of the SDIP assessment and the capacity building workshops organized by the DPSA assist departments to identify their weaknesses, develop and implement corrective measures to address the unacceptable SDIPs developed by the departments.

The workshops provide a platform for technical support, capacity building and practical solutions with departmental cross cutting teams in order to develop realistic, credible and effective SDIPs.

(3) Monitoring and reporting of compliance with commitments is undertaken through annual progress reporting and Annual Operational Plans. Service Delivery Improvement Plan monitoring follow-ups are made through the Khaedu programme and Public Service Month programme.

National and Provincial departments have also put in place internal processes and system to monitor compliance with commitments in the service delivery plans, including reporting to internal departmental structures and eventually to the DPSA in line with the legislative framework.

(4) The Service Delivery Improvements Plan is currently an Internally Driven Plan. However, it is not a confidential document and can be made available on request.

Reply:

(a) Disciplinary action has been taken against the official who was responsible for part of the growth of irregular expenditure from R74,3 million in the 2013-14 financial year to R80,6 million in the 2014-15 financial year (b) Disciplinary action has been taken against the official who was implicated in some of the fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R5,5 million in 2013-14 and R330 000 during the 2014-15 period My department has since appointed the service provider to investigate the irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful expenditure in order to establish the extent of transgression and deal with consequent management. Since the investigation report has not yet been released, the recommendations to take disciplinary action against the transgressors have not yet been implemented.

Reply:

Ministerial commitments are ongoing in nature. The assessment as to whether these commitments were implemented or are still in progress is done by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). Until such time as the department obtains a clean audit outcome, the AGSA is likely to report that these ongoing Ministerial commitments will remain work in progress. Clearly the onus rests on the department to convince the AGSA that it has improved its asset management, accountability of reporting from the regions, leadership, financial accountability, record keeping and has implemented proper financial management processes and credible action plans before the AGSA will agree that these commitments were fully implemented.

Reply:

Yes, my department has made significant progress with respect of the 2014 – 2019 MTSF goals to achieve Nation Building and Social Cohesion in order to realize the objective of Outcome 14, namely South Africa achieving a diverse, socially cohesive society with a national identity.

The department has been able to successfully coordinate the various Outcome 14 government departments to develop the outcome 14 MTSF strategic targets in line with the five pillars of chapter 15 of the National Development Plan and quarterly progress reports have been submitted to Cabinet.

Outcome 14 has five (5) broad sub outcomes that direct its ultimate goal of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa, namely: fostering constitutional values, equal opportunities, inclusion and redress, promoting social cohesion across all levels in society, promoting active citizenry and leadership and fostering a social compact.

The progress against outcomes include:

Support to the Moral Regeneration Movement in terms of the promotion of the Code of Positive Values.

We continue to leverage on the national days as key platforms through which to instil constitutional values, build and promote unity and reconciliation.

The report back Summit held in March 2015 offered partners an opportunity to give feedback and renew discussions on matters discussed at the Social Cohesion Summit held in 2012.

The department’s resolve to ensure a generation is raised that knows the history of our country is driven by our visibility in schools as we install flags in schools and educate learners on how to hoist the flag and driving the understanding of the meaning of the preamble as they recite it at assemblies.

The opening of the Matola Monument in September of this year and the Liberation Heritage Route that has been approved by cabinet further emphasis the strides being made in ensuring we tell the correct history of our country.

Reply:

(a) (i) A total of 11 252 houses were delivered in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality since 2011 (01 April 2011 to 31 October 2015) with budgets allocated from the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG).

(ii) Preliminary information indicates that at least 440 houses were completed in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality from 01 April 2015 to 31 October 2015.

The table below provides information on deliverable versus the targets for each year, where available:

FINANCIAL YEAR	HOUSES - TARGET	HOUSES DELIVERED
2011-12	Information is not available	2 983
2012-13	Information is not available	1 560
2013-14	3 978	3 973
2014-15	3 079	3 079
2015-16	2 778	440 (April to October)
Total houses delivered		11 252

1. While the average annual target for houses over the last three years for Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and for which the information is readily available was 3 278 houses, the municipal level information was included in the HSDG provincial business plan only from 2013-14.

The delivery targets (houses only) per year since 2011-12 were:

(i) 2011-12: Information not available (Municipal level target not catered for at in the HSDG provincial business plan);

(ii) 2012-13: Information not available (Municipal level target not catered for at in the HSDG provincial business plan);

(iii) 2013-14: 3 978 houses;

(iv) 2014-15: 3 079 houses;

(v) 2015-16: 2 778 houses.

Reply:

The department was informed by the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism that an administrative enforcement notice was issued to the management of the Modimolle landfill site and that a criminal investigation was initiated, at the Thabazimbi landfill site, by Environmental Management Inspectors within the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism and this case is currently under investigation.

(ii) The Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism is the licensing authority for general landfill sites in the Limpopo Province. For this reason, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism is also the competent authority for undertaking compliance and enforcement activities in relation to non-compliance that is detected at the landfills that the enquiry relates to. Given that the function is a constitutionally concurrent function, the Department of Environmental Affairs is mindful of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism’s regulatory obligations in this regard. The Department of Environmental Affairs will provide the necessary assistance and support if this is required or requested, but will always first engage with the provincial authority (which in this case is the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism) before any form of enforcement action is taken in instances where the competence to undertake the necessary compliance and enforcement action lies with the provincial authority.

(ii)(aa) As indicated above, the Department of Environmental Affairs will not encroach into the regulatory space of various competent authorities which regulate the environment unless a specific request is received. However, and in response to the growing environmental concerns around general landfill sites across the country, Working Group IV included in its 2014/2015 work programme a national general landfill site compliance and enforcement blitz in order to understand what the exact compliance status is in relation to sites which were flagged as problematic; and

(bb) Upon request of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism, the Department of Environmental Affairs will undertake the necessary enforcement action. However, and as indicated above, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism is currently undertaking various actions at each of these landfills, and where no action is noted the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism indicated that these facilities, namely, Vaalwater, Bela-Bela and Mookgophong will be included in their inspection programme for this financial year.

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Reply:

(1)(a)The most recent pH level test conducted on the Olifants River was in September
2015.

(1)(b) The results range on average from 5.5 to 8.5.

(2) The cause of the high acidity levels of the specified river can generally be attributed to agricultural, mining and industrial activities.

(3) Yes, my Department is conducting routine and targeted compliance monitoring inspections and audits on a regular basis, and where a transgressor is found, enforcement actions are undertaken. The classification, determination of the Resource Quality Objectives (RQOs) and the reserve of the Olifants River is being determined.

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Reply:

(1) Refer to Annexure A for the list of notices that were issued for non-compliance by Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Area in the 2014-15 financial year.

(2) Refer to Annexure B for the list of directives that were issued for non-compliance in the 2014-15 financial year.

(3)(a)(i) One (1) notice of compliance was issued during the period 1 May to 30 September 2015.

(3)(a)(ii) No directives were issued during the date in question.

(3)(b) The notice was issued against Mbombela LM (SembcorpSilulumanzi).

(3)(c) The matter is not yet resolved.

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Annexure A

	NOTICES 2014/2015
No.	(a) Name of institution	(b) Outcome
1	Barberton Mine: Sheba Gold Mine: Discharge of partially treated sewage and engaging in unlawful water use activity	Not Resolved
2	York Timber Sabie Mill: Discharge of partially treated wastewater	Not Resolved
3	Chief Albert Luthuli LM: Elukwatini WWTW Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
4	Msukaligwa LM: Breyton WWTW Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
5	Bushbuckridge LM: Dwarsloop WWTW Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
6	Bushbuckridge LM: Shopping Complex Sewer pipeline overflow	Resolved
7	Mbombela LM: Hillsview pump station sewer overflow	Resolved
8	Mbombela LM: Hazyview WWTW Discharge of partially treated sewage	Resolved
9	Department of Public Works: Tonga Hospital WWTW	Not Resolved
10	Mbombela LM: Manhole overflow at Hillsview	Resolved
11	NKK Colliery: Failing to take measures to prevent pollution	Not Resolved
12	Bushbuckridge LM: Acornhoek Ponds, blockage of sewer pipeline	Resolved
13	Bushbuckridge LM: Acornhoek Police Station Ponds sewer line	Resolved
14	Chief Albert Luthuli LM: Carolina WWTW pump station sewer overflow	Not Resolved
15	ThabaChweu LM: Manhole overflow along the railway line	Resolved
16	Bushbuckridge LM: Thulamahashi Section manhole overflow	Resolved
17	Chief Albert Luthuli LM: Silobela pump station overflow	Not Resolved
18	Bushbuckridge LM: Thulamahashi Section A sewer pipeline overflow	Resolved
19	Mbombela LM: Telkom Pumpstation sewage spillage	Resolved however sewer line still poses challenges
20	National Dept of Public Works: Barberton Prison Farm WWTW: irrigating with waste	Not Resolved
21	Dept of Public Works: Bongani Hospital WWTW: Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
22	Dayzenza Plaza WWTW: Discharge of effluent to a wetland	Not Resolved
23	Sembcorp Silulumanzi: Kingsvale WWTW: Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
24	Chief Albert Luthuli LM: Ekulindeni WWTW raw sewage overflow from a manhole	Not Resolved
25	Barberton Mines: Sheba Gold Mine: failing to take measures to prevent pollution	Not Resolved
26	Barberton Mines: Fairview Mines: engaging in water use activities without authorisation	Not Resolved
27	Exxaro Coal: Strathrae Colliery: failing to take measure to prevent pollution	Not Resolved
28	Nkomati Anthracite: Madadeni operations: failure to take reasonable measures to prevent pollution	Not Resolved
29	Sappi Ngodwana: failure to comply to license condition regarding the effluent quality used for irrigation	Not Resolved
30	Transnet Freight Rail: diesel spillage	Resolved

Annexure B

	DIRECTIVES 2014/2015
No.	(a) Name of institution	(b) Outcome
1	Department of Public Works: Louiville WWTW	Not Resolved
2	Bushbuckridge LM: Mkhuhlu WWTW	Not Resolved
3	Dept of Public Works: Shongwe Hospital WWTW	Not Resolved
4	Bushbuckridge LM: Mangwazi Bio disk WWTW	Not Resolved
5	Emakhazeni LM: EmakhazeniWWTw	Not Resolved
6	Bushbuckridge LM: Maviljane Ponds	Not Resolved
7	Transnet Fright Rail: Rock Phosphate Spillage	Resolved
8	Marrian Industrial Estate: Diesel Spillage	Resolved
9	Bushbuckridge LM: Maviljane township Manhole overflow	Resolved
10	Eastside Coal company: discharge of polluted water from the RWD into the SwartwaterSpruit	Partially Resolved
11	Droogvallei Rail Siding Company: overflow of pollution control dam	Resolved
12	Nkomazi LM: Sewage overflow from manhole	Resolved
13	Jab Dried Fruits Products, illegal wastewater discharge
14	Pembani Coal Carolina: Backfilling a pit with discard	Resolved
15	Bushbuckridge LM: Thulamashi WWTW discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
16	Bushbuckridge LM: Tintswalo WWTW: Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
17	Msukaligwa LM: Breyten WWTW discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
18	National Dept of Public works. Oshoek WWTW: Discharge of partially treated sewage	Resolved
19	Public Works: Shongwe Hospital, Sewage overflow from the ponds to the river	Not Resolved
20	Mbombela LM: Hazyview WWTW, discharge of partially treated sewage	Resolved
21	Chief Albert Luthuli LM: sewage spillage at Silobela pump station	Not Resolved
22	Mbombela LM: Kabokweni Ridge and Bhejukufa pump station overflow	Resolved
23	ThabaChweu LM: Graskop WWTW: raw sewage leakage	Resolved
24	Dept of public works: Tonga Hospital: Discharge of partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
25	Chief Albert Luthuli LM: Carolina Wastewater pump station: Overflow of raw sewage	Not Resolved
26	Ilanga Eggs: disposal of waste into the environment	Not Resolved
27	Mbombela Local Municipality: Rocky’s drift WWTW: discharging partially treated sewage	Not Resolved
28	Pembani Coal Mine: Directive to put measures to prevent pollution	Not Resolved
29	Jab Dried Fruit Product: Illegal Discharge of Effluent	Not Resolved
30	Mbombela LM: Municipal sewer line spillage at Bhejukufa	Resolved
31	Bushbuckridge LM: Dwarsloop WWTW: Discharge of partially treated effluent	Not Resolved

Reply:

1. Currently, four provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape, and Limpopo) have declared states of disaster and processes are underway to declare a state of disaster in Mpumalanga province. Requests for drought relief have been made to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) in the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG). An allocation of R364.3 million in 2015/16 was made to the department for disaster relief grant transfers for provinces. The Eastern Cape has also indicated that it is in the process of finalising a request (a)The NDMC is currently working together with the affected sector departments to verify and finalise the funding requests. In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is also engaging with provinces and the NDMC and the National Treasury to finalise the funding requirements. This process will determine the extent to which financial resources are required over and above the already available disaster relief grant, as well as the extent to which other budgets and allocations can be reprioritised for drought relief assistance. Further details may be obtained from the NDMC, which is responsible for the technical assessment process(i) Requests are being processed and verified by the NDMC (ii) Allocations will be determined on the basis of the outcomes of the NDMC’s process. Otherwise, the existing allocation of R364.3 million that is already within the NDMC/DCOG budget was made at the beginning of the year and is available (b) It is anticipated that the funding requested will mainly be used for supply of water tankers, drilling, testing and equipping of boreholes (for both animal and human consumption) and supply of animal feed.

2. Funding for disaster relief is based on the verified damages and cost of repairs by the provinces and the NDMC. Once the disaster has been declared, the province will make an assessment of what damages occurred and what the cost of the repairs will be. This assessment is then sent to the NDMC, in the department of Cooperative Governance, which verifies the damages and the cost of repairs. After the verification, the NDMC will make a submission for funding to the National Treasury. However, the NDMC may decide that due to the urgency and seriousness of an event, the already available allocation can (in consultation with the Treasury) be made available immediately to assist with relief efforts while a full assessment is underway, as provided by the Division of Revenue Act, In addition the province may, as provided for in section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act (and provided that the legal provisions are complied with), urgently reprioritise funds towards an urgent disaster response while a final assessment is being finalised.

Reply:

1. Government borrows money to finance the main budget balance and maturing debt. As government is running budget deficits it will not be in a position to pay down its existing stock of debt. This will only be possible once government runs budget surpluses.

However, government has a strategy to mitigate sharp increases in debt repayments over the medium term whereby short-dated debt is exchanged for longer-dated debt. In 2015/16 and 2016/17, government will refinance the maturing domestic loans of R85 billion and foreign loans of R16 billion.

• (a) Details on loan repayments are available in Table A.7 on page 49 of the 2015 MTBPS.
• (b) Government finances its gross borrowing requirement through issuing domestic short- and long-term loans, foreign loans and also draw downs on its cash balances.

The term structure of debt is not necessarily an indicator of intergenerational equity. Intergenerational equity is about ensuring that future generations are not unfairly burdened by the fiscal decisions taken today. Swapping shorter-dated debt for longer-dated debt helps government to manage the risk of default and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability of its social programmes. Similarly, issuing long-dated debt for projects with long-term benefits (e.g. infrastructure) can enhance intergenerational equity.

2. Table A.7 on page 49 of the 2015 MTBPS discloses detail on the financing of national government’s borrowing requirement which includes maturing debt.

Reply:

(1) (a) The scope of investigation covers the supply chain processes followed by the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa in the appointment of Ernest and Young to oversee the procurement process and companies to supply digital terrestrial (DTT), direct to home (DTH), satellite dishes and antennas.

(b)(i) & (ii) The investigation is expected to be finalised by end December 2015.

(2) The sensitivities regarding the information contained in the final report will determine whether the report will be made public or not.

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(a)(i) According to the National Immigration Information System (NIIS) system there are around 144 200 appeal cases defined as backlog, and around 80 315 of these cases appear to be active on the system.

(a)(ii) The causes of the delay in the adjudication of appeal cases is as follows:

• Presently there are five Refugee Appeal Board Members, including the Chairperson, serving five Refugee Reception Offices (Pretoria, Musina, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town) in the whole of South Africa. Most of the applications from these offices are rejected as unfounded and they end up at the Refugee Appeal Board.

 

• In the past members of the Refugee Appeal Board (RAB) used to seat as single members for each appeal hearing. However, following a number of judicial review applications challenging composition of the Board members in the appeal hearing, the RAB is now compelled to seat as a quorum for hearings. Being five members of the Board, three members must be seated to constitute a quorum for each appeal hearing.

• It is also not helping that previous RAB decisions, back-dating before the Western Cape High Court case of Harerimana in December 2013, are challenged on the quorum issue and end up being settled out of court on condition that they are reheard before a properly constituted quorum, and there are many such cases.

- Present legislation (the Refugee Act 130,1998) does not make provision for appointment of part time Board Members, so it is not legally possible to appoint part-time Board Members for backlog projects.

- As much as the Board makes efforts to adjudicate appeals already heard, there is also a high number of appeals scheduled to be heard by the Board. The RAB tries to balance the number of cases it hears with those that are adjudicated.

- The decision making process requires extensive research on latest possible country of origin information, International Refugee Law and Case Law because of the complexity of most cases that have to be adjudicated and it is not always easy to get access to these sources of information.

- The RAB decisions need to be carefully constructed because sensitive human rights issues are being dealt with; some of which in their nature are matters of life and death. The RAB has to apply its mind to the facts of each case in compliance with Public Administrative Justice Act, The Constitution, The Refugee Act, International Refugee Law and other Human Rights Instruments before coming to a particular decision.

(b) It is presently not possible to provide a time-frame because the appeal cases dealt with differ in terms of their profiles and complexity. Some appeal cases are simple and straightforward and some are high profile and complicated cases that require in-depth research and legal consultation.

However, during the RSA-UNHCR High Level Bilateral Meeting in Geneva, in July 2015, the two parties agreed to development of a backlog project to address the outstanding appeal cases pending with the RAB. Provided enough human capacity and financial resources are made available, the backlog could be cleared by financial year end in March 2019.

Reply:

(a). On Friday, the 17 April 2015, I convened a National Consultative Meeting to deal with the challenges facing the transformation of the heritage sector with a focus on statues, place names and symbols that define our public spaces. Amongst the decisions of this meeting was the creation of a special purpose task team to assist with conceptualization, implementation and monitoring as well as impact assessment of a rapid process of transformation of the heritage landscape towards nation-building. The above-mentioned Task Team has been appointed and has conducted consultation workshops in all nine provinces.

 

Botshabelo Mission is a Provincial heritage site which was first protected on the 26th of February 1965. After successful land claim, the site was for some time managed with the assistance of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality until it was completely transferred to the Botshabelo Community Development Trust which was appointed by the Botshabelo Community to run the affairs of the site as both a heritage site and a tourist attraction. The Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Arts and Culture established a Task Team that will put together a report and recommendations in terms of ensuring the salvaging of the site from total collapse.

This Task Team includes members of the Botshabelo Community, the Department and both Local and District Municipalities. The Task Team has since removed valuable artifacts from the site to a place of safety. The Task Team also recommended the services of a Conservation Architect to evaluate the state of structures/ buildings and the probable costs to repair. Furthermore, the Provincial Department of Arts and Culture has since 2008 assisted the Botshabelo Community Development Trust to solicit funding from the National Lottery. The funding was frozen amid disagreements and infighting among members of the Botshabelo Community.

The Department is now in the process of ensuring the establishment of a legitimate and stable board so that those funds can be released for the restoration and management of the site.

(b). In accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act, a person may be found guilty or liable to pay a fine or imprisonment for defacing a statue.

Reply:

(1) & (2) The Department is unable to provide exact details of a formalised communications relations agreement with Vietnam because it has not entered into any agreement with Vietnam.

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

1. The Municipal Demarcation Transition Grant was introduced in the 2015 Division of Revenue Act to subsidise the additional institutional and administrative costs that result from the implementation of major boundary redeterminations. The grant is allocated R139 million over the 2015 MTEF. In the 2015 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement it was announced that this grant will receive increased allocations in 2016/17 and 2017/18. These increases include provision for the boundary redeterminations that were finalised by the Municipal Demarcation Board in 2015. Details of the increases will only be made public when the 2016 Budget is tabled.

The Municipal Demarcation Transition Grant only provides funding for operational costs that relate directly to the implementation of major boundary redeterminations. The capital investment needed to eradicate backlogs and upgrade services in these municipalities will continue to be funded through conditional grants in the same manner as they are funded in other municipalities. The data used to determine allocations for conditional grants and the local government equitable share will be updated to reflect the new boundaries.

2. Provincial departments responsible for cooperative governance are accountable for overseeing the implementation of boundary redeterminations in their respective provinces. These departments will be providing support-in-kind to affected municipalities and in some cases provinces may also provide financial support to municipalities. Details of any financial support provided should be published in provincial budgets once these are tabled.

Reply:

(a) A proposal has been presented to SABC for consideration

(b) Discussions on this issue are being held with SABC

(c) A decision is pending consideration and ratification by the SABC

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

 

Reply:

I am not sure what the Honourable Member means about a tax revolt in our country, as most South Africans pay their taxes, and I thank them for doing so. The Government continually takes steps to improve tax morality in South Africa, as Government regards taxation as an essential component of nation-building, with taxation a form of social contract with all residents in exchange for public services and the realisation of developmental objectives.

A tax revolt could be interpreted as a condition that is manifested by (very) low tax morale and low tax compliance. South Africa does not exhibit such conditions. Despite weak economic growth, tax revenue has remained relatively buoyant over the past 4 years. In particular, personal income tax has performed well, with actual collections surpassing forecasts.

Government is continually focused on improving tax morality, and recognises that it is negatively influenced by incidences, or even perceptions of, corruption and wasteful expenditure. Government is undertaking a range of measures to improve the quality of spending and reduce corruption. Specifically, government, in 2012, introduced cost savings measures that place restrictions on air travel, car hire, accommodation, catering, entertainment and conferencing budgets. Procurement reforms are being rolled out to improve efficiency, reduce red tape and stamp out corruption. The Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, established in 2013, has introduced a range of reforms to make supply chain management processes more efficient and transparent. Government is also taking active steps to improve tax compliance including combating base erosion, profit shifting and misuse of transfer pricing.

Most importantly, our system of taxation, borrowing and spending are subject to annual auditing processes, with all organs of state accountable to Parliament, a provincial legislature or municipal council. The Constitution outlines the role of the Auditor-General to compel the auditing of all public funds, and lays the basis for laws like the Public Finance Management Act and Municipal Financial Management Act which provide the foundation for the accountability system. We recognize the challenges of poor financial management as outlined by the Auditor-General in his various reports and recognize that more needs to be done to bring those responsible for non-compliance or corruption to book.

Reply:

No. Leave regulations, and in particular sick leave, are a transversal conditions of service which are largely determined at central level for the whole public service. This applies to both normal sick leave which provides for 36 days in a three year cycle; and incapacity leave which provides for short-term and long-term incapacity in addition to the normal sick leave.

In the case of absence due to incapacity leave, a substitute teacher is temporarily appointed. As indicated in the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit’s report referred to, days taken as sick leave by teachers are within the regulations. The only possible form of abuse, which is not only limited to teachers, is when employees deliberately plan to exhaust all the allocated normal sick leave days. All Provincial Education Departments are aware of the practice and are continuously seeking to improve the management of leave at school level to ensure that teachers comply with the regulations including submission of all necessary documentation. Other factors such as job satisfaction and improved working conditions are critical in ensuring that employees do not abuse sick leave.

Reply:

The ideal would be for the department to have an electronic Document Management System. An electronic system for all applications for visas, permits and refugee IDs and travel documents would obviate the need to keep paper applications since applications would be scanned. All applications would be electronically available for processing and used when needed. This will also alleviate filing space constraints currently a problem at head office.

In line with the above vision, the department has recently introduced an electronic application process for visas and permits, which allows for applications and supporting documents to be scanned and be available in electronic format, thus easing the process of retrieval of records. It also facilitates obtaining statistics on operations and performance. Whilst there are some implementation glitches, which are being addressed as and when they occur, the department expects the system to be fully embedded during the next financial year. 

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) The upgrading of the Mkhondo Local Municipality’s waste water treatment plant (WWTP) in Mpumalanga commenced on 29 June 2012.

(1)(a)(ii) The plant was completed on 30 October 2015.

(1)(b) (i) The total cost of the upgrade to date is R 65 980 058.23.

(1)(b)(ii) The total expected cost for the upgrading of the plant is R 59 159 095.50.

(1)(c) The upgraded category of the plant Inlet works and screw pump station includes the following:

• Transfer pipeline and distribution chamber
• Biological Reactor
• Secondary sedimentation tanks
• Return activated sludge (RAS) and scum pump station
• Chlorine contract channels and dosing facility
• Sludge handling and treatment
• Anaerobic digesters

(2) No. The municipality is in the process of appointing a consultant for operation and maintenance for the period of two years which shall ensure sustainability and skill transfer to eight (8) process controllers for Mkhondo Waste Water Treatment Works.

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Reply:

Yes. The Human Resource Development Strategic Framework Vision 2015 and the Skills Development Act, 1998, provide for the placement of young people in Learnership and Internship programmes in the national and provincial departments. The intention is to establish an effective and efficient internship programme aimed at bridging the gap between academic study and competent performance in the workplace by offering structured internship opportunities to students and unemployed youths. The intended outcome of this internship programme is to enable school leavers and unemployed graduates to gain practical work experience over a maximum period of 12 months.

In 2009, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration issued a Determination on the Internship Programmes and Implementation Guidelines for Public Service.

Flowing from the signing of the National Skills Accord in October 2011 and a Youth Employment Accord in April 2013, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) issued a Circular directing the scaling up of internship, learnership and apprenticeship programmes in the public service. Through the same Circular, the scope of internship programmes in the public service was expanded to include graduates, learners seeking work-integrated learning (experiential learners), graduates seeking to meet statutory requirements for professional registration and those seeking minimum work experience for employment purposes both within the public service and other sectors.

The annual target for internship, learnership and apprenticeship programmes is five (5) percent of the departments’ fixed staff establishment on an annual basis.

During 2009-2012, annual target for the public service was 25 000 for each financial years. The following numbers were reported:

(a) 4002 in 2009/10;

(b) 19 278 in 2010/11; and

(c) 20 370 in 2011/12.

For the 2012-2015 period, the target was revised to 50 000. The target for 2012/13 and 2013/14 was 15 000 and 20 000 for the 2014/15 financial year. The following numbers were reported:

1. 17 820 in 2012/2013;
2. 27 351 in 2013/14; and
3. 40 891 in 2014/15.

As at 30 September 2015, a total of 9 320 interns, learners and apprentices have been reported to have been recruited since 1 April 2015.

For the period since January 2012 to 30 September 2015 a total of 50 988 candidates who had been recruited as either interns, learners or apprentices have been absorbed into departments on a permanent or contract employment.

The DPSA has initiated a review of the Determination issued in 2009 to address concerns raised by departments regarding amongst others, the duration of the internship programme, especially for individuals involved in regulated programmes, and to facilitate recruitment and retention of scarce skills.

The outcome of a feasibility study on the development and piloting of a graduate recruitment scheme as recommended by the National Development Plan is currently underway and consultation is also taking place with the national and provincial departments.

Proposals have been made to amend the Public Service Regulations to accommodate the retention of individuals recruited into the public service via internship, learnership and apprenticeship programmes when filling entry levels posts.

Reply:

Not being the fire Department, we do not have a register of the fires but we have a register of all support given. The Department keep track of these incidents through its interaction with municipalities and provinces as well as through reports in the media. An important source of information, which the Department relies upon, is the published reports of the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa (FPASA). Currently, published information by the FPASA is available for four years being 2010 until 2013 as indicated in table 1 below. The 2014 statistics will be available in March 2016 and the 2015 statistics will be available in March 2017.

(a) & (b) Table 1: 2010 - 2013 Fire Incidents Report from the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa:

Year	No of fire incidents	Financial damage/losses	Highest Causes
	Formal	Informal	Formal	Informal	Formal	Informal
2010	2 578	2 590	R 525 406 578	R 64 719 575	Undetermined	Undetermined
2011	3 943	4 046	R 576 242 642	R 102 389 740	Undetermined	Undetermined
2012	4 593	4 516	R 556 062 426	R 114 556 248	Undetermined	Undetermined
2013	4 859	4 886	R 770 392 753	R 117 693 080	Undetermined	Undetermined

2010- Narrative of Fire Incidents

Most of the fire incidents occurred in the Metropolitan Municipalities with Ethekwini leading with 490 formal and 508 informal settlements fire incidents, followed by Tshwane with 562 formal and 287 informal dwellings, in third place is Ekurhuleni with 321 formal 385 informal dwellings affected by fire incidents, the City of Johannesburg is fourth place with 264 formal and 239 informal incidents recoded, the City of Cape Town recorded 190 formal and 172 informal dwelling fore incidents, Nelson Mandela recorded 122 formal and 212 informal dwelling fire incidents and Mangaung recorded 128 formal and 129 informal dwelling fire incidents.

The rest of the fire incidents are shared between other District and Local Municipalities. The total damage in rand value cutting across formal & informal dwellings, flats, furniture shops, restaurants, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, warehouses, cinemas and night clubs was worth approximately R 1, 3 billion in 2010.

The causes of the fire incidents vary between formal and informal dwellings. For both formal and informal dwellings, a significant portion of the causes of the incidents were undetermined, with a record of 739 and 965 respectively. In formal dwellings most of the determined causes in order of frequency were electrical, open flames and cooking. In the informal sector most (734) were as a result of open flames, cooking incidents were 249, electrical were 220, arson recoded incidents were 151 followed by heating at 112 incidents and 64 were due to smoking.

The rest of the incidents are minor in terms of frequency and range between welding, lightning, unrest and other.

The Honourable member will no doubt remember that in 2005 we had committed ourselves, through the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), that we would have adhered to the desired goals to eradicate informal settlements by the year 2014. President Mbeki signed these on behalf of the country, a commitment which is in line with the founding policy document of the ANC – The Freedom Charter, which proclaims that there shall be no slum.

2011- Narrative of Fire Incidents

A large portion of the causes of these fire incidents were undetermined but others in order of highest incidents recorded ranges from open flames, electrical faults, cooking, heating and arson. The total damage in rand value cutting across formal & informal dwellings, flats, furniture shops, restaurants, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, warehouses, cinemas, night clubs etc. is worth just above R 2, billion in 2011.

In this financial year, the City of Cape Town leads with the number of incidents with 905 formal and 1007 informal dwelling fire incidents, followed by EThekwini Metro with 559 formal 526 informal dwelling fire incidents, in third place is Tshwane Metro with 689 formal and 346 informal dwelling fire incidents, Ekurhuleni is fourth place with 395 formal 418 informal dwelling fire incidents, the City of Johannesburg recorded 390 formal 345 informal dwelling fire incidents, Mangaung recorded 133 formal and 143 informal dwelling fire incidents, Buffalo City recorded 68 formal 172 informal dwelling fire incidents and last was Nelson Mandela with a record of 18 formal and 34 informal dwelling fire incidents. The rest of the incidents are minor in terms of frequency and range between welding, lightning, unrest and other.

2012- Narrative of Fire Incidents

The total damage of the fire incidents was R 3, 1 billion in the 2012/13 financial year. The causes of the fire incidents vary between formal and informal dwellings. For both formal and informal dwellings, a significant portion of the causes of the incidents were undetermined, with a record of 1248 and 1685 respectively. In formal dwellings most of the determined causes in order of frequency were electrical (934), open flames (744), cooking (486) and heating (298). In the informal sector most (1154) were as a result of open flames, electrical were 506, cooking incidents were 385, arson recoded incidents were 289 followed by heating at 200 incidents and 88 were due to smoking. The rest of the incidents are minor in terms of frequency and range between welding, lightning, unrest and other.

The fire incidents are largely prevalent in Metropolitan areas and again the City of Cape Town leads for the 2nd consecutive year with 1310 formal and 1169 informal dwelling fire incidents, followed by Ethekwini with 588 formal and 508 informal dwelling fire incidents, in third place is the Tshwane Metro with 652 formal and 374 informal dwelling fire incidents, In fourth place is the City of Johannesburg Metro with 372 formal and 353 informal dwelling fire incidents, followed by Ekurhuleni Metro in fifth place with 305 formal and 345 informal dwelling fire incidents, at sixth place is Buffalo City with 82 formal and 177 informal dwelling fire incidents, the Mangaung Metro recorded 134 formal and 122 informal dwelling fire incidents followed in last place by the Nelson Mandela Bay with 19 formal and 25 informal dwelling fire incidents.

2013 – Narrative of Fire Incidents

The direct fire losses in 2013 were in excess of R 2 billion. The fire incidents in 2013 within the formal and informal dwellings resulted in 106 deaths. In this period still, a significant portion of the incident causes were undetermined. As in the previous financial years, the highest determined cause of fire incidents in the formal sector is electrical (925) and in the informal sector it is open flames with a record of 1177 in 2013.

The undetermined causes in the formal dwellings were 1540 and 1926 in informal dwellings.

In terms of highest numbers recorded in the formal dwellings were electrical followed by open flames incidents were 805, cooking incidents were 388, arson incidents were 340, heating incidents were 287 and smoking incidents were 128.

In the informal sector, most determined fire incidents were caused by open flames followed by 511 electrical incidents, 444 arson incidents, 349 cooking incidents, 181 heating incidents and 94 smoking incidents. The rest of the incidents are minor in terms of frequency and range between welding, lightning, unrest and other.

The City of Cape Town recorded the highest number of fire incidents with 1097 formal and 1118 informal dwelling incidents, followed by Tshwane Metro with 713 formal and 393 informal dwelling incidents, in third place is Ethekwini Metro with 577 formal and 532 informal dwelling incidents, in fourth place is Nelson Mandela Bay with 435 formal and 537 informal dwelling incident, followed by Ekurhuleni in fifth place with 404 formal and 461 informal dwelling incidents, the City of Johannesburg recorded 412 formal and 373 informal dwelling fire incidents and lastly is Mangaung with a record of 135 formal and 173 informal dwelling fire incidents.

(c) The Department has the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme (ISUP) whose primary objective is to cater for improving the basic infrastructure and dwelling standards and quality of life of households living in informal settlements. The ISUP for the current MTSF aims to ensure that 750 000 households living in 2200 informal settlements benefit from improved living conditions, and this include preventative measures from the threats and causes of fires.

There is grant funding allocated for this purpose to assist the municipalities in fast tracking the provision of security of tenure, basic municipal services, social and economic amenities and the empowerment of residents in informal settlements to take control of housing development directly applicable to them. The grants include the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) as well as the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG).

In the Metropolitan areas the Department in conjunction with the Metropolitan Municipalities are funding the roll-out of solar lighting as well as improved cooking facilities for households, in order to limit the use of fossil fuels and liquid fuels, which are a major cause of fires in informal settlements

The ISUP includes, as a measure of last resort, and exceptional circumstances, the possible relocation and resettlement of households on a voluntary and co-operative basis as a result of the implementation of upgrading projects. The ISUP is instituted in terms of Section 3(4) (g) of the Housing Act, 1997 (Act No.107 of 1997)

(d) All Provinces and Metropolitan Municipalities are implementing the ISUP. Provinces implement the ISUP in the District and Local Municipalities as well.

(e) The Department has a Monitoring and Evaluation unit that is responsible for programme and project oversight. In addition, to project level verification, the Department convenes quarterly financial and non-financial performance assessment on Provinces and its Metropolitan Municipalities on all programmes in the Housing Code, including the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme.

As a result of reports and recommendations of the monitoring and evaluation process, the Department has initiated a National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP) to provide support to Provinces and Municipalities to fast track the planning to implement the ISUP programmes. In addition the work of the Department also forms part of the Monitoring and Evaluation programmes and process of the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation, and a focus area is the ISUP.

Reply:

(1) (a) The total number of applications lodged at the 18 SKA area branches up to 30 November 2015 amounts to 2, 336 in total.

(b) (i) A total of 2, 074 qualifying applications has been processed up to 30 November 2015.

(ii) A total of 262 non-qualifying applications has been processed up to 30 November 2015

(iii) A total of 274 applications for the period ending 30 November 2015 stills needs to be processed.

(2) The reasons for the 262 non-qualifying applications to date are the following:

(a) Foreign ID’s (Total: 1)

(b) Unknown address (Total: 207)

(c) Total household income above income threshold of R3200 pm (Total: 54)

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(a). The Department of Arts and Culture has not outsourced the management of the Artist in School programme. The programme is implemented in partnership with organizations that specialize in arts, culture and heritage matters, such as community arts organisations, to

• Recruit and provide regular training of the contracted arts practitioners;
• Partake in identifying and negotiations’ processes with relevant officials at school Principals, Teachers, creative arts subject advisors and Provincial Department of basic Education and Departments of Sports Recreation, Arts and Culture level before any placement of arts practitioners can take place;
• Lesson planning and teaching of the subject (genres);
• Monitoring the individual arts practitioners to ensure that they execute their functions in a very desirable way and in line with the policy prescript of DBE
• Hosting of the Provincial Schools Festivals;
• Project Management (stipend allowances, conflict resolutions, report writing and all the relevant logistical arrangements that enables the successful implementation of the Project;

(b). The Department of Arts and Culture is not aware of any of the Department’s supported Artists in Schools programme that employs people with no background or training to teach arts in the Schools. Recruitment of the Artists in Schools take place at a local level through the identified arts, culture and heritage organisations to ensure that artists with the necessary skills and experience are appointed, and are placed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. It would be appreciated if any such individual or individuals could be reported to the Department.

Reply:

(1) (a) The target of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) is to conduct a Citizen Report Card survey every 3 years or so. The DPSA aims to deepen the Citizen Report Card (CRC) methodology in the departments and the municipalities. At this stage, DPSA is focusing on assisting the departments in the development of the Improvement Plans and the implementation of the interventions geared to improving service delivery. The DPSA is also in the process of setting up a mechanism for ongoing reporting and assessment of implementation of interventions. Once implementation of interventions has taken root in the departments, another CRC survey will be undertaken and its purpose will be to assess progress made against the baseline.

(b) The Citizen Report Card by definition reflects the performance of government from the perspective of the citizens. The citizens through focus group discussions and interviews get involved in the entire CRC process. The determination of the service delivery areas to be assessed and the eventual design of the questionnaire is a direct result of the consultative process. Flowing from the design of the questionnaire, a pilot survey gets conducted whose purpose is to further refine and finalise the questionnaire before full deployment.

The deployment of the questionnaire is preceded by the development of a sampling plan to ensure that specific randomly selected households and qualifying random respondents are identified. To ensure successful execution of the sample plan and administration of the questionnaire, carefully selected data collectors or field workers are thoroughly trained in understanding the content of the questionnaire and the broader research objectives of the CRC survey.

It should be noted that right at the beginning of the CRC process there are engagements with the various stakeholders in the community to ensure buy-in and support throughout the entire process. The stakeholders key to the process are the traditional authority, Municipal leadership, Non-Governmental Organisations and other organised interest groups in the areas of assessment.

(2) The Citizen Report Card survey is available to the public and can be accessed through the departmental website.

Reply:

(1) The residents of the Mhlaba Village in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality who extended their Breaking New Ground (BNG) government subsidised houses did not qualify for the Rectification Programme because the Rectification Policy clearly states that, “Under no circumstances shall alterations to the original dwellings qualify for rectification nor be included in the rectification programme.”

(2) The National Housing Programme for the rectification of subsidised houses that were built during the period 15 March 1994 and 1 April 2002, was specifically introduced to address cases where dwellings had structurally failed due to design flaws, problematic geotechnical conditions which were not catered for in the specification of the houses or to repair houses that were damaged before occupation by the approved housing subsidy beneficiaries. These affected houses were not enrolled under the National Home Builders Registration Council’s (NHBRC) warranty scheme and the relevant houses were pre-identified and recorded in a register. No additions to the register were allowed. The Rectification Programme is not applicable in cases where lack of general maintenance or neglect has led to the deterioration of the dwellings.

Secondly, the Programme prescripts only apply to the original superstructure that was constructed with the housing subsidy funding; structural failures of any additions or improvements to the houses that were affected by the beneficiaries are thus excluded from the scope of the rectification work.

Honourable Member, I am amazed that this question is even raised. We all know that we are working tirelessly against an ever increasing backlog and diminishing resources. Surely, we should not encourage total dependency in the State. If people are able to incrementally improve their houses, it suggest that they have the means. We should focus on those who are still waiting for shelter. It is a responsible thing to do."

Reply:

1. (a) (i) (aa)(bb) The Citizen Report Cards (CRC) were compiled for the following:

• Department of Basic Education;
• Department of Health:
• Department of Home Affairs;
• South African Police Service; and
• South African Social Security Agency.

(ii) (aa)(bb) The Citizen Report Cards were compiled for the following:

• Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality;
• Mookgopong Local Municipality;
• Okhahlamba Local Municipality;
• Matatiele Local Municipality;
• Emalahleni Local Municipality;
• Moretele Local Municipality;
• City of Mangaung (Botshabelo);
• City of Johannesburg (Diepsloot and Alexandra); and
• City of Cape Town (Gugulethu and Khayelitsha).

(cc) None. The Citizen Report Card survey was conducted in the 2013-14 financial year and the subsequent reports were finalised in the 2014-15 financial year.

(b) The selection was based on the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) priorities, which set out key focus areas of the departments over the MTSF period. One municipality per province was chosen to benefit from the survey and the selection of the municipality in every province was based on the readiness of the municipality to accommodate the study within the set timelines.

(2) (a) (i) The overall scores for each department and municipality are shown herewith below on figure 1 and figure 2 respectively:

Figure 1: Overall Ranking of Departments

Figure 2: Overall Ranking of Municipalities

(2) (a) (ii) The scores are reflected on figure 3 and figure 4 herewith below. The departments were assessed on Accessibility, Reliability, Quality of Service, Staff Performance, Transparency and Openness and also Avenue for Redress whilst the municipalities were assessed using the Batho Pele principles. The satisfaction of citizens against a range of municipal basic services was also assessed.

Figure 3: Ranking of Departments against service delivery attributes

 

Figure 4: Performance of municipalities against Batho Pele principles

(2) (b) (i) The benchmarks reflected in figure 1 and figure 2 above were on the following:

 

• Minimum level of service expected and
• Ideal level of service required.

 

	Minimum service expected	Ideal level of service required
Departments	73.78%	87.78%
Municipalities	67.00%	89.40%

 

(ii) The benchmarks indicated above are considered acceptable as they were sourced from the citizens regarding the level of service they expected and required from the assessed government departments and municipalities..

(c) Action taken was the development of Service Delivery Improvement Plans, which entail interventions to improve performance.

Reply:

1. (a) As part of an exercise undertaken by the North West Office of the Premier to determine the cost drivers of the wage bill in the Province, misinterpretation of employee information lead to the reports in the media about the 36 000 ghost workers in the Province. After realisation of this misunderstanding the Director-General of the North West Office of the Premier, Dr Keneilwe Sebego issued a media statement, early in November 2015, indicating that there were no ghost workers in North West, but that non-permanent type of appointments were erroneously labelled as ghost workers. This was also officially confirmed in a letter, dated 13 November 2015, addressed to the Director-General of the DPSA in response to enquiries made to the North West Office of the Premier.

(b) Taking the information in (a) above into consideration, there was no fraud or financial loss in the North West Provincial Administration since the payments made to these non-permanent type of appointments were made legitimately.

(c) The non-permanent appointees themselves benefited from the salaries legitimately paid to them.

(d) The DPSA is not aware of any disciplinary action taken as a result of the misunderstanding. The Office of the Premier in North West indicated that it will continue to monitor appointments in the Provincial Administration.

(2) The management and employment of public servants at national and provincial level are managed through a decentralized Human Resource Management framework where Heads of Department and Executive Authorities are responsible for the employment and management of their own employees. Departments’ employee numbers and payroll fall under the purview of the respective Executive Authorities and are audited by the Auditor-General.

(a) The Public Finance Management Act, 1999; Treasury Regulations and other legal prescripts contain provisions to deal with monitoring of payments to employees in the Public Service. Fraud and non-compliance to these measures are managed through the disciplinary processes in the Public Service.

(b) See the reply to (a) above.

Reply:

Refer to Annexure A for arrears owed to water boards for the financial years 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13; 2013/14 and 2014/15 and the overdue amounts in terms of each specified municipality in each specified period.

---00O00---

Annexure A

1. Amatola Water

a)(i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	aa) 2010/11	bb) 2011/12	cc) 2012/13	dd) 2013/14	ee) 2014/15
	b) (i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
	Amathole DM		Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-	502 890, 56	502 890, 56	-	-
Buffalo City			Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-			5 264, 60	5 264, 60
	Joe Gqabi DM		Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	6 942, 14	6 942, 14	432 329, 37	432 329, 37	-	-
		Makana LM	Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 368 767, 75	6 368 767, 75
		Ndlambe LM	Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	176 362, 56	176 362, 56	-	-	3 185 568, 21	3 185 568, 21
	OR Tambo DM		Eastern Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3 878 657, 28	3 878 657, 28
		Blue Crane Route LM	Eastern Cape	-	-	415 329, 45	415 329, 45	-	-	-	-	-	-
TOTAL	-	-	415 329, 45	415 329, 45	183 304, 70	183 304, 70	935 219, 93	935 219, 93	13 438 257, 84	13 438 257, 84			13 438 257, 84

2. Bloem Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
Mangaung			Free State	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	46 383 541, 63	46 383 541, 63
		Kopanong LM	Free State	13 069 448, 36	13 069 448, 36	7 927 858, 57	7 927 858, 57	17 830 428, 47	17 830 428, 47	22 028 023, 23	22 028 023, 23	31 015 030, 69	31 015 030, 69
		Mantsopa LM	Free State	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	144 911, 63	144 911, 63
		Naledi LM	Free State	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1 261 355, 86	1 261 355, 86
TOTAL	13 069 448, 36	13 069 448, 36	7 927 858, 57	7 927 858, 57	17 830 428, 47	17 830 428, 47	22 028 023, 23	22 028 023, 23	63 244 636, 77	63 244 636, 77			63 244 636, 77

3. Lepelle Northern Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
		Polokwane LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	12 986 883, 16	12 986 883, 16
		Mogalakwena LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 677 481, 72	2 677 481, 72
	Capricorn DM		Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3 256 776, 27	3 256 776, 27
	Mopani DM		Limpopo	7 552 828, 66	7 552 828, 66	9 341 166, 95	9 341 166, 95	10 135 166, 14	10 135 166, 14	64 135 849, 47	64 135 849, 47	9 169 249, 92	135 380 659, 81
	Sekhukhuni DM (Fetakgomo)		Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	24 000 000, 00	24 000 000, 00	1 009 889, 62	4 144 805, 04
	Sekhukhuni DM (Makhuduthamakga)		Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 568 796, 28	14 112 917, 78
		Marble Hall LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	141 480, 04	1 003 765, 37
		Ba-Phalaborwa LM	Limpopo	182 759 933,00	182 759 933,00	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	182 759 933, 90
		Greater Letaba LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1 155 028, 19	1 155 028, 19
		Greater Tzaneen LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	67 815, 15	67 815, 15
		Lepelle-Nkumpi LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	985 009, 28	985 009, 28
		Greater Tubatsi LM	Limpopo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2 104 684, 52	11 077 581, 55
TOTAL	25 828 821, 66	25 828 821, 66	9 341 166, 95	9 341 166, 95	10 135 166, 14	10 135 166, 14	88 135 849, 47	88 135 849, 47	36 123 094, 15	369 608 657, 22

4. Magalies Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
City of Tshwane			Gauteng	10 239 531, 17	7 348 018, 60	5 446 600, 72	3 707 601, 88	5 078 109, 68	3 156 529, 33	7 367 985, 49	-	3 915 793, 78	3 915 793, 78
		Rustenburg LM	North West	1 721 247, 87	18 664, 69	2 327 478, 87	-	2 633 112, 02	-	2 295 830, 14	-	2 750 952, 94	2 750 952, 94
		Thabazimbi LM	North West	7 048 455, 89	5 789 805, 61	13 776 320, 68	12 243 363, 41	12 549 904, 07	10 668 192, 80	22 293 895, 62	19 966 547, 04	21 938 457, 62	21 938 457, 62
		Moses Kotane LM	North West	3 703 312, 21	-	4 417 074, 39	-	5 326 971, 39	-	6 249 475, 22	-	7 671 363, 30	7 671 363, 30
		Modimolle LM	North West	1 546 512, 18	1 026 136, 33	528 700, 70	-	818 488, 18	-	633 857, 89	-	2 177 568, 61	2 177 568, 61
		Moretele LM	North West	705 998, 09	-	1 739 558, 69	839 075, 17	3 731 282, 82	2 506 850, 75	3 310 838, 12	2 673 951, 18	1 792 971, 45	1 792 971, 45
		Bela-Bela LM	North West	828 541, 10	381 917, 78	2 012 950, 81	1 438 208, 04	1 326 517, 06	666 660, 27	813 765, 31	-	1 046 378, 03	1 046 378, 03
		Kgetleng LM	North West	429 293, 99	-	1 404 747, 23	599 806, 96	3 588 897, 47	3 373 510, 32	3 137 565, 86	3 114 380, 61	3 437 631, 92	3 437 631, 92
		Madibeng LM	North West	6 882 756, 86	5 180 702, 90	8 449 517, 70	7 818 301, 13	9 272 762, 90	8 662 654, 78	4 659 765, 83	2 806 296, 11	3 114 100, 97	3 114 100, 97
TOTAL	33 105 649, 36	19 745 245, 91	40 102 949, 79	26 646 356, 59	44 326 045, 59	29 034 398, 25	50 762 979, 48	28 561 174, 94	47 845 218, 62	47 845 218, 62			47 845 218, 62

5. Mhlathuze Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
		uMhlathuze LM	KwaZulu-Natal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	27 720, 00
	Gert Sibande DM		KwaZulu-Natal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1 068, 00
	Amajuba DM		KwaZulu-Natal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	uThungulu DM		KwaZulu-Natal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
TOTAL	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	28 788, 00

6. Overberg Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
		Theewaterskloof LM	Western Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-	286 100, 00	1 993 698, 47	992 835, 52	1 000 862, 95
		Hassequa LM	Western Cape	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	TOTAL	-	-	-	-	-	-	286 100, 00	1 993 698, 47	992 835, 52	1 000 862, 95

7. Rand Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
City of Tshwane			Gauteng	7 940 276, 49	7 940 276, 49	2 601 261, 06	2 601 261, 06	6 720 777, 05	6 720 777, 05	3 054 550, 10	3 054 550, 10	1 857 610, 77	1 857 610, 77
Mangaung Metro			Free State	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15	1 902 787, 15
Ekurhuleni Metro			Gauteng	809 412, 12	809 412, 12
	Sekhukhune DM		Mpumalanga	634 256, 34	634 256, 34
		Bushbuckridge LM	Mpumalanga	-	-					360 689 131, 26	360 689 131, 26	470 921 289, 72	470 921 289, 72
		Chief Albert Luthuli LM	Mpumalangaq	-	-							2 833 847, 23	2 833 847, 23
		Dipaleseng LM		-	-
		Emalahleni LM		-	-	1 009 566, 06	1 009 566, 06	1 009 566, 06	1 009 566, 06	1 009 566, 06	1 009 566, 06	32 496 896, 03	32 496 896, 03
		Emfuleni Lm	Gauteng	32 116 219, 39	32 116 219, 39	9 225 961, 63	9 225 961, 63	51 699 996, 91	51 699 996, 91	74 032 097, 61	74 032 097, 61	137 530 809, 02	137 530 809, 02
	Gert Sibande DM		Mpumalanga	-	-
		Goven Mbeki LM	Mpumalanga	17 844 893, 69	17 844 893, 69	1 287 372, 86	1 287 372, 86
		Kungwini LM	Gauteng	13 210 869, 02	13 210 869, 02	7 593 445, 62	7 593 445, 62	7 593 445, 62	7 593 445, 62	14 094 136, 38	14 094 136, 38	2 805 675, 28	2 805 675, 28
		Lekwa LM	Gauteng	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6 199 101, 99	6 199 101, 99
		Lesedi LM	Gauteng	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3 938 278, 84	3 938 278, 84
		Madibeng LM	North West	-	-	1 176 444, 04	1 176 444, 04	1 037 095, 71	1 037 095, 71	2 658 665, 72	2 658 665, 72	139 980, 63	139 980, 63
		Mbombela LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	662 669, 47	662 669, 47	-	-	-	-	7 775 251, 47	7 775 251, 47
		Merafong LM	Gauteng	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	13 090 0456, 22	13 090 0456, 22
		Metsimaholo LM	Free State	-	-	-	-	4 928 874, 11	4 928 874, 11	9 326 866, 38	9 326 866, 38	-	-
		Midvaal LM	Gauteng	5 207 621, 89	5 207 621, 89	-	-	-	-	28 478, 34	28 478, 34	301 125, 46	301 125, 46
		Mkhondo LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1 659 865, 05	1 659 865, 05
		Mogale LM	Gauteng	6 503 898, 06	6 503 898, 06	13 442 138, 12	13 442 138, 12	1 171 524, 42	1 171 524, 42	1 171 524, 42	1 171 524, 42	12 197 117, 14	12 197 117, 14
		Msukaligwa LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	-	-	-	-	558 263, 56	558 263, 56	-	-
		Ngwathe LM	Free State	85 921, 41	85 921, 41	288 373, 74	288 373, 74	1 513 660, 01	1 513 660, 01	1 371 300, 43	1 371 300, 43	-	-
		Nkomazi LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7 458 805, 36	7 458 805, 36
		Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14 454 379, 84	14 454 379, 84
		Randfontein LM	Gauteng	42 875, 35	42 875, 35	4 482 138, 49	4 482 138, 49	-	-	-	-	-	-
		Royal Bafokeng LM	North West	-	-	-	-	2 567 806, 26	2 567 806, 26	-	-	-	-
		Thembisile LM	Mpumalanga	7 104 133, 79	7 104 133, 79	6 028 194, 03	6 028 194, 03	6 141 560, 61	6 141 560, 61	6 969 240, 72	6 969 240, 72	34 756 353, 85	34 756 353, 85
		Umjindi LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3 512 803, 07	3 512 803, 07
		Victor Khanye LM	Mpumalanga	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4 826 726, 29	4 826 726, 29
		Westonaria LM	Gauteng	-	-	2 755 265, 70	2 755 265, 70	17 336 889, 94	17 336 889, 94	9 869 412, 49	9 869 412, 49	7 684 265, 72	7 684 265, 72
TOTAL	93 403 164, 70	93 403 164, 70	52 455 617, 97	52 455 617, 97	103 623 983, 85	103 623 983,85	486 736 020,62	486 736 020, 62	768 343 015,13	768 343 015, 13

8. Sedibeng Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
	Dr Ruth S Mompati DM		Northern Cape	10 331 772	7 340 812	16 360 781	11 807 293	32 772 420	28 253 059	40 568 091	36 956 571	69 121 670	59 571 346
	Ngaka Modiri Molema DM		North West	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	171 662 841	171 479 675
		Matjhabeng LM	Free State	310 772 160	288 998 373	478 329 661	452 387 926	588 398 597	564 464 674	867 786 155	836 881 474	1 218 182 660	1 181 667 926
		Maquassi Hills LM	North West	17 792 293	15 354 056	28 195 513	25 455 921	41 061 185	38 020 402	49 188 194	45 683 162	77 194 939	73 242 725
		Phokwane LM	Northern Cape	5 762 558	4 593 732	5 762 558	4 593 732	4 042 075	2 873 249	4 042 075	2 345 341	12 322 945	10 406 153
		Ditsobotla LM	North West	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	39 914 648	33 561 358
		Mahikeng LM	North West	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	182 751 485	178 660 199
		Nama-Khoi LM	Northern Cape	7 310 477	5 774 169	22 816 982	19 046 076	40 762 755	38 623 115	58 445 314	57 012 844	77 819 232	76 523 394
		Dikgatlong LM	Northern Cape	8 584 742	8 352 717	5 103 899	4 915 847	4 117 556	3 869 097	2 033 549	1 688 218	5 908 463	5 093 833
		Nala LM	Free State	32 813 089	30 273 702	53 971 644	51 018 741	55 696 901	52 965 702	66 734 541	63 674 871	86 338 919	82 990 344
TOTAL	393 367 091	360 687 561	610 541 038	569 225 536	766 851 490	729 069 298	1 088 797 919	1 044 242 481	1 941 217 802	1 873 196 953

9. Umgeni Water

a)( i) Metro	a)(ii) District	a)(iii) Local municipality	Province	a)(aa) 2010/11	a)(bb) 2011/12	a)(cc) 2012/13	a)(dd) 2013/14	a)(ee) 2014/15
	(b)(i) owed R	b)(ii) Overdue	b)(i) Owed R	b)(ii) R	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)	b)(i)	b)(ii)
eThekwini			KwaZulu-Natal	100 628, 00	100 628, 00	99 685, 00	99 685, 00	-	-	144 612, 00	144 612, 00	157 059, 00	157 059, 00
-		iLembe LM	KwaZulu-Natal	4 105, 00	4 105, 00	4 448, 00	4 448, 00	-	-	15 684, 00	15 684, 00	29 817, 00	29 817, 00
		Msunduzi LM	KwaZulu-Natal	29 772, 00	29 772, 00	30 736, 00	30 736, 00	-	-	36 059, 00	36 059, 00	39 915, 00	39 915, 00
	Ugu DM		KwaZulu-Natal	8 003, 00	8 003, 00	6 325, 00	6 325, 00	-	-	7 114, 00	7 114, 00	5 303, 00	5 303, 00
	Harry Gwala DM		KwaZulu-Natal	4 531, 00	4 531, 00	4 039, 00	4 039, 00	4 087, 00	4 087, 00	6 616, 00	6 616, 00	7 600, 00	7 600, 00
		uMgungundlovu LM	KwaZulu-Natal	690, 00	690, 00	601, 00	601, 00	-	-	1 015, 00	1 015, 00	1 570, 00	1 570, 00
		Siza Water	KwaZulu-Natal	3 455, 00	3 455, 00	2 989, 00	2 989, 00	1 780, 00	1 780, 00	4 309, 00	4 309, 00	3 983, 00	3 983, 00
TOTAL	151 184, 00	151 184, 00	148 823, 00	148 823, 00	151 184, 00	151 184, 00	148 823, 00	148 823, 00	245 247, 00	245 247, 00

Reply:

1. The Riverside Office Park lease contract was determined to be irregular in the year ended 31 March 2011 and the rental and operating costs relating to the lease for the year then ended were disclosed in the annual financial statements for that year. In terms of the rules relating to irregular expenditure however, the expenditure needs to be incurred before it can be determined to be irregular, and as the lease is a 10 year agreement further irregular expenditure will be incurred and disclosed in each year until such time as the lease expires or is set aside. Each year, as is required, National Treasury is notified of the irregular expenditure incurred.

2. In line with the recommendations as contained in the Public Protector’s Report, a disciplinary process was instituted against the implicated officials. The respective officials sought to review the rulings of the Chairperson of the disciplinary committee made at the commencement of the disciplinary enquiry.

The review was heard in the Labour Court on 15 September 2015 and on 1 October 2015. The officials’ application was dismissed with no order as to costs. The disciplinary proceeding was then scheduled to be continued from 9-13 November 2015. However, the officials filed an application for leave to appeal the judgment of 1 October 2015. Lawyers have been instructed to oppose the application for leave to appeal and have done so.

The officials’ lawyer in the appeal papers requested the judge to consider the matter in chambers, but prior thereto, furnish the parties with dates by when the parties’ heads of arguments must be filed. The parties now wait for directions from judge.

3. The Commission seeks relief for review and set aside of the lease agreement and addenda thereto. The Commission also seeks to institute a new procurement process to conclude a new lease for the premises and to suspend the existing one (assuming the court finds the procurement process was flawed) upon finalisation of a new procurement process.

The Commission is further addressing this matter through its Risk Management Committee.