Questions and Replies

Reply:

The production of nurses and midwives are provided in the template below indicating the Public Colleges, Universities and Private Colleges from 2010-2014.

OUTPUT 4-YEAR PROGRAMME (2010-2014) NURSING COLLEGES

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 EASTERN CAPE 364 580 502 549 558 LIMPOPO 207 248 339 220 271 NORTH WEST 327 234 297 322 230 MPUMALANGA 216 140 120 197 145 GAUTENG 784 663 757 793 842 FREE STATE 182 174 147 174 153 KWAZULU NATAL 555 570 604 586 630 NORTHERN CAPE 62 56 3 0 0 WESTERN CAPE 269 301 456 420 392 OUTPUT 4YEAR PROGRAMME(2010-2014)UNIVERSITIES     2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO 81 24 109 72 94 NORTH WEST 18 44 60 57 64 MPUMALANGA   0   0   0  0   0 GAUTENG 127 92 110 113 100 FREE STATE 47 33 49 35 32 KWAZULU NATAL 69 70 70 62 124 NORTHERN CAPE 0   0   0   0   0 WESTERN CAPE 168 191 227 170 179 EASTERN CAPE 119 136 127 142 147 OUTPUT MIDWIFERY PROGRAMME PUBLIC INSTITUTION 2010-2014   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO 300 132 242 161 136 NORTH WEST 35 45 41 22 79 MPUMALANGA 163 93 122 180 102 GAUTENG 61 18 39 187 138 FREE STATE 44 63 22 74 18 KWAZULU NATAL 343 355 356 499 263 NORTHERN CAPE   0  0 19 26 8 WESTERN CAPE 10 5 0 0 70 EASTERN CAPE 118 87 81 69 77             OUTPUT MIDWIFERY PROGRAMME PRIVATE INSTITUTION 2010-2014   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO           NORTH WEST   0   0   0  0  0 MPUMALANGA  0 0  0  0   0 GAUTENG   0   0   0 4 0 FREE STATE   0   0   0   0   0 KWAZULU NATAL 22 40 36 52 53 NORTHERN CAPE           WESTERN CAPE   0   0   0   0   0 EASTERN CAPE   0   0   0 3 1                         OUTPUT NURSING AUXILIARIES PUBLIC COLLEGES 2010-2014   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO 237 123 38 55 30 NORTH WEST 102 110 76 40 202 MPUMALANGA 43 137 107 68 7 GAUTENG   0   0   0   0   0 FREE STATE 106 165 180 190 110 KWAZULU NATAL 18   110 108 15 NORTHERN CAPE 7   0   0   0   0 WESTERN CAPE 40 50 53 53 64 EASTERN CAPE 346 380 323 666 539             OUTPUT NURSING AUXILIARIES PRIVATE COLLEGES 2010-2014   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO 272 146 130 147 174 NORTH WEST 37 60 57 85 74 MPUMALANGA 93 186 243 276 305 GAUTENG 2276 2293 2253 2441 2696 FREE STATE 83 79 59 108 109 KWAZULU NATAL 929 993 959 1075 1134 NORTHERN CAPE   0   0   0   0  0 WESTERN CAPE 454 405 361 436 478 EASTERN CAPE 82 105 60 161 204 OUTPUT ENROLLED NURSES PUBLIC COLLEGES 2010-2014   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO 494 436 409 162 134 NORTH WEST   0   0   0 23 41 MPUMALANGA 211 219 211 271 216 GAUTENG 401 396 540 802 394 FREE STATE 139 126 173 129 154 KWAZULU NATAL 413 524 536 634 297 NORTHERN CAPE  0   0   0  0   0 WESTERN CAPE 257 164 119 212 164 EASTERN CAPE 399 368 501 416 377             OUTPUT ENROLLED NURSES PRIVATE COLLEGE 2010-2014       2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO 105 92 99 120 132 NORTH WEST 165 171 103 183 153 MPUMALANGA 12 34 34 46 25 GAUTENG 2099 2079 1978 2345 1998 FREE STATE 39 47 41 62 57 KWAZULU NATAL 2383 2278 2448 2951 2301 NORTHERN CAPE   0   0   0  0  0 WESTERN CAPE 296 307 345 387 260 EASTERN CAPE 98 150 195 211 246 OUTPUT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING PROGRAMME 2010-2014 PUBLIC COLLEGES   2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 LIMPOPO   0 9 7 55 57 NORTH WEST 12 7 6 10 2 MPUMALANGA 0 0 0 0 0 GAUTENG 1 2   0 6 16 FREE STATE 0 0 0 0 0 KWAZULU NATAL 14 37 28 35 37 NORTHERN CAPE 0 0 0 0 0 WESTERN CAPE 15 0 0 17 0 EASTERN CAPE

END.

Reply:

1.   The National Health Insurance pilot districts are significantly varied in terms of institutional and organizational capacity. This variability is partly due to the selection methodology that was applied but also reflective of the geographic areas within which they are located.
​
​a)   Nonetheless, many of the programmes that have been piloted in the past few years have recorded significant successes such as establishment of fully functional Primary Health Care (PHC), namely Municipal Ward-based Outreach, District Clinical Specialists and Integrated School Health teams; strengthening of monitoring and evaluation capacity through appointment of key personnel; improved coordination and oversight of district planning through appointment of the provincial NHI coordinators; improved infrastructure maintenance and planning through involvement in the Operation Phakisa Ideal Clinic Realisation project; innovation dispensing and distribution of chronic medication as well as making steady progress towards e-Health-based patient registration systems, among many others.

b)    Given the nature of the pilot districts, it is anticipated that challenges will exist in some districts, such as OR Tambo and Pixley Ka Seme, the ability to attract key health personnel to form part of the District Clinical Specialist Teams. Weak supply chain management systems and unforeseen delays in procuring key items is a key challenge that characterizes majority of the districts.

2.   To date, 307 health practitioners have been contracted to render health services in public clinics across the pilot districts.

END.

Reply:

(1)&(2) The information requested is depicted in the Table hereunder:

Defence Attaché Residents	Total Expenditure FY 14/15	Rental	Household Furniture	Municipal Services
43	32 228 545.00	27 143 511.00	105 480.00	4 979 554.00

 

 

END


 

Reply:

 

 

(1) & (2) The information requested by the Honourable member is provided in the 2014/15 annual report of the Department which has already been tabled in Parliament on 28 August 2015.

 

 

END

Reply:

1. Yes Honourable Member, the Department has definitely made serious strides in the war against TB. The treatment success was 76% in 2009 and it is 89% now. By 2009 70 000 people were dying of TB per annum but now the figure has dropped to 40 000. However, TB still remains the biggest killer in our country.

2. Yes the measures are doing well but we need to do more to eradicate TB. Hence the President announced in the State of the Nation Address this year that we are going to focus on TB.

The Deputy President launched a massive TB screening campaign on 24 March this year, focusing on high prevalence districts, the mineworkers and the inmates in Correctional Service facilities.

We used to have only 9 centralised treatment centres to treat MDR-TB and XDR-TB. Now we have 298 decentralised sites, 272 satellite sites and 150 injection teams to help decentralise management of MDR-TB and XDR-TB.

We have trained 1 700 nurses to manage MDR-TB and 230 of them can even initiate treatment of MDR-TB in the absence of a doctor.

3. According to Stop TB Partnership, the measures in South Africa are far ahead of many countries, for instance there are 700 patients globally who are on Bedaquiline treatment. A total of 400 of these are in South Africa alone. The remainder is scattered all over the world. We are now putting 3 000 on Bedaquiline this financial year.

END.

Reply:

MINISTER OF LABOUR REPLIED:

Both the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Labour are handling this matter in terms of applicable legislations, viz; Section 189A of the Labour Relations Act and Section 52 of MPRDA. The CCMA is also fully engaged on this matter.

END

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the City of Tshwane to provide this information.

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



END

Reply:

The formulae for the calculation of prices under the Price Preference System for scrap metal is detailed and can be found as follows on the ITAC website:

Government Gazette no 37992 Notice Number R714 published on 12 September 2014 can be accessed at http://www.itac.org.za/upload/gg37992_nn714.pdf

ITAC’s Report No 490, Review of the Discount Rates in the Price Preference System for Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Waste and Scrap, which may be accessed at http://www.itac.org.za/upload/Report%20No%20490.pdf .

Whilst a formal impact study is scheduled for April 2016, the Department monitors the impact of the regulations on the level of exports of scrap metal.

-END-

Reply:

All citizens have the responsibility to report cases of fraud and crime to the South African Police Services. The Honourable Member is encouraged to do the same. The Police will investigate and if there is sufficient evidence, they will arrest those who commit these crimes. The Courts are tasked with the responsibility to test the evidence and pass judgement regarding those who are found guilty.

END

Reply:

Red tape is typically defined as rules, regulations and/or official procedures and processes which are excessively complex and which impose unnecessary delays, inaction and/or costs which exceed their benefits and/or is no longer effective in achieving the purpose for which they were originally created.

There are three areas of red-tape reduction relevant to the Department:

• Internal red-tape
• Red-tape in the Department that affects members of the public and
• Red-tape outside the Department (entities and other government bodies) that affect the public and indeed the effectiveness of government itself.

To address internal red-tape that back-office functions (eg IT, Finance, Supply-chain or Human Resources sections) impose on front-line parts of EDD, a user-survey has been introduced in the current financial year and it is helping to reorient the back-office sections to becoming outcome-driven. Unnecessary requirements are being eliminated.

Because the Department does not render a range of public services that require adherence to regulations and rules, the scope to decrease red-tape for the public is limited.

To address red-tape outside the Department, EDD has undertaken the following:

a)     Training to officials in Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni Metros on red-tape reduction and the implementation of the new impact-assessment tool, namely the Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIAS)

b)     Ministerial engagement with entities to review their internal processes and make these simpler and more effective. These have assisted to set maximum timeframe targets for consideration of applications and a dashboard against which entities report on their adherence to these targets

c)     Support to unblock regulatory approvals by other Departments, for example on expediting water-use licences and environmental impact assessments.

The Industrial Development Corporation has revised its internal processes to address and finalise decisions on non-complex funding applications. This has assisted to bring down the waiting periods considerably.

ITAC has reviewed its tariff investigations regulations and redrafted its questionnaires to make them clearer and reduce the burden of unnecessary information. Turnaround times for tariff applications have been redesigned and these are now much swifter that before.

The Competition Commission has set performance targets to expedite consideration of mergers and cartel investigations.

The Competition Tribunal has simplified its procedures for non-lawyers, including through a ‘frequently asked questions’ section on its website, a consolidation of rules and procedures for easy reference and by making facilities available to unrepresented individuals at hearings (including through advice from Tribunal members on procedure and a pro bono arrangement negotiated with one of the Law Societies).

-END-

Reply:

The Department of Energy’s processes are subject to due diligence that is informed by the Public Financial Management Act of 2000, The Treasury Regulations and the National Treasury instruction notes. These are to ensure transparency, accountability and compliance and cannot be regarded as bureaucratic processes.


END

Reply:

ALEXKOR:

Dates travelled: 28 March 2014 to 03 April 2014

(a) Chairperson

(b) Chief Executive Officer and Chief Legal Officer

(c) None

(i) To explore and source funding on a potential collaboration project relating to Alexkor’s

diversification strategy.

(ii)    (aa) R231,475       TOTAL

        (bb) R167,961       Flights

R 63,514 Accommodation

R NIL Allowance

DENEL:

Dates travelled: 01 to 07 December 2014

(a) None

(b) Group Executive Business Development

(c) None

(i) Represented Denel as part of Presidential visit, combined with a follow-up visit to

the UAE and Saudi Arabia on business projects.

(ii) (aa) R 69 300.00 TOTAL

     (bb) R 45 000.00 (ESTIMATE) Flights

R 18 500.00 Accommodation

R 5 800.00 Allowance

 

Dates travelled: 27 to 29 August 2014

(a) None

(b) Group Executive Business Development

(c) None

(i) Represented Denel as part of the official Defence Committee meeting and to

meet on Denel business with Poly Technologies.

(ii) (aa) R 56 300.00 TOTAL

     (bb) R 45 000.00 (ESTIMATE) Flights

R 8 500.00 Accommodation

R 2 800.00 Allowance

SAFCOL:

Dates travelled: 09 to 15 January 2015

(a) Chairperson

(b) Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer

(c) District Manager

(i) The purpose of the trip was to visit China FOMA, a Chinese State Owned

company with the aim of exploring mutually beneficial projects.

(ii) (aa) R200 654.46 TOTAL

     (bb) R139 525.56 Flights

R NIL Accommodation

R 61 128.90 Allowance

SA EXPRESS:

a)  None
b)  None
c)  None
(i) R0
(ii)   (aa) R0
       (bb) R0

TRANSNET:

Two members from the Acquisition and Disposals Committee (a sub-committee of the Board) accompanied by five members of Transnet’s Executive Management travelled to China to, inter alia, confirm the facilities of locomotive bidders, commission locomotive prototypes and meet Transnet employees who were spending long periods of time in training and capacity building initiatives in China in line with the skills transfer clauses in the contract.

Approximately 185 trainees have been exposed to the training as a consequence of the locomotive contracts in China.

All costs related to such travel are capitalised as per the contract and are included in the cost of the contracts as announced.

ESKOM:

(a) No board member travelled to China in the 2014-15 financial year.

(a)(i) Not applicable.

(a)(ii)(aa) Not applicable.

(a)(ii)(bb) Not applicable.

(b) Yes, 1 executive member travelled to China in the 2014-15 financial years.

(b)(i) The executive member travelled to China to attend the Annual GO2015 (organization for

large power grid operators, in excess of 50GW).

(b)(ii)(aa) R42 658.83.

(b)(ii)(bb)

Flight ticket	Transport	Accommodation	Meals
R33 482.00	R0	R2 675.83	R6 501.00

(c) Yes, 23 employees travelled to China in the 2014-15 financial years.

(c)(i)

The following employees travelled to China for the following purpose:

Employee	reason for trip
1	Observe supplier audit
2	Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) outward mission
3	Factory evaluations
4	Intergovernmental meeting
5	Observe supplier audit
6	Factory Acceptance Testing for equipment for Ingula
7	Observe supplier audit
8	Factory accreditation
9	Attend DTI Nuclear Energy Investments
10	Official Visit – Accompanying Minister of Energy
11	Factory Acceptance Testing for equipment for Ingula
12	Global efficiency lighting forum
13	IMWA conference in China (sponsored)
14	Factory accreditation
15	High Voltage (HV) testing
16	Executive Committee + Conference
17	IHA board meeting
18	Factory Evaluations
19	Accompany Minister of Energy on an official visit
20	Observe Supplier Audit
21	Accompany Minister of Energy on an official visit
22	Factory evaluations
23	Accompany Department of Energy

(c)(ii)(aa) R 552 254.44

(c)(ii)(bb)

No of Employee	Flight ticket (R)	Transport (R)	Accommodation (R)	Meals (R)	Total (R)
1	13 946.17	0	8 650.00	2 265.13	24 861.30
2	16 440.78	440.00	26 060.00	327.03	43 267.81
3	6 616.00	0	9 968.12	217.62	16 801.74
4	16 061.39	0	17 169.78	1 380.20	34 611.37
5	13 946.17	0	8 650.00	2 007.05	24 603.22
6	11 144.00	0	4 861.52	1 166.82	17 172.34
7	13 946.17	3 315.00	8 650.00	2 355.80	28 266.97
8	31 611.00	1 060.20	7 138.36	236.84	40 046.40
9	11 899.00	0	6 251.60	285.65	18 436.25
10	16061.39	0	4652.90***	0	20 714.29
11	10 706.00	0	8400.00	1 034.00	20 140.00
12	*	*	*	*	0
12	**	**	**	**	0
14	13 343.00	0	9560.00	0	22 903.00
15	6 616.00	4 635.60	7 112.54	743.69	19 107.83
16	9 177.00	396.94	10 596.68	815.35	20 985.97
17	13 528.00	0	22 881.99	0	36 409.99
18	6 616.00	0	8 605.35	535.68	15 757.03
19	16 061.39	0	17 169.78	1 436.93	34 668.10
20	13 946.17	0	8 650.00	0	22 596.17
21	16 061.39	0	17 169.78	1 596.20	34 827.37
22	6 616.00	1 095.72	9 579.60	5 415.70	22 707.02
23	16 061.39	0	17 169.78	139.10	33 370.27
TOTAL	280 404.41	10 943.46	238 947.78	21 958.79	552 254.44

*Sponsored by UNEP

**Sponsored by UFS

***This amount was deducted from the employee’s salary.


END

 

Reply:

REPLY:

1(a) The total amount her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year were as follows:

• 2014/2015: R 439 893.90

1(b) the total number of trips that were undertaken was as follows;

• 2014/2015: 75 Trips

 

2(a) the total amount that her department spent on accommodation was as follows:

• 2014/2015: R 210 542.21

2(b) the total amount that her department spent car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year were as follows

• 2014/2015: R 115 795.21

END

Reply:

The Department does not manage the affairs of any university and the following responses to the above questions have been obtained from the Central University of Technology (CUT):

1. The success rate of the Emergency Medical Care (EMC) programme is currently below 50% compared to the university average of 76%. Ten students graduated on 4 September 2015 with the Diploma in EMC with 87 students at years two and three levels in the programme.
2. No student protests have occurred, however some of the students reported the challenges experienced in the programme to the media. The Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic and Research, Acting Dean and Head of Department (HOD) engaged with the students and staff to discuss and put strategies in place to address the concerns raised by students and staff.
3. Yes, the university is aware that the life of Mr RG Campbell, one of the lecturers in charge of one or more of these courses, has been threatened. The University has put processes in place to deal with the matter according to its internal policies.
4. Yes, the university took cognisance of this petition and alleged false pretences. The Dean, HOD and Director of Human Resources have had several engagements with the particular staff member and students. This matter has been resolved and the lecturer has continued lecturing from July 2015.
5. The following interventions were implemented by the university during 2014/15:

• A task team was established to monitor the EMC programme at a strategic level for the period January to June 2015;
• Accreditation by the Professional Board for Emergency Care;
• Appointment of an Internal Review Panel;
• Improvement of the staffing situation in the EMC programme;
• Strengthening of student academic support;
• Increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of the Work-Integrated Learning programme to ensure that sufficient placement opportunities for students are secured;
• Improvement in communication structures;
• Regular meetings between CUT and the Professional Board;
• Interventions by Senate; and
• Regular interventions by university management.

END

Reply:

(1)(a) The Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan was developed internally by DTPS. It must be noted that Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan is informed by the Cybersecurity Awareness Strategy of 2012 which was developed in consultation with stakeholders that included academia, the Internet Service Providers’ Association, the Wireless Application Service Providers Association and civil society.

(b) The Plan was developed in-house utilising internal skills and resources. Other than the internal resources, the Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan did not have any additional costs.

(c) The details of the Plan focuses on the following four broad channels: Public Relations, Advertising, Stakeholder Communication and Social/Community mobilisation.

(d) The strategy will be implemented in phases. The strategy entails mass communications.

(e) The Department will leverage GCIS’s bulk buying power to maximise the impact of the rollout of the Cybersecurity Awareness Programme.

(f) The budget for this media strategy is R1 869 600.00 for this Financial Year.

(g) (i) In line with the JCPS Cluster outcome 3, the objectives of the media plan are to ensure that all people in South Africa are and feel safe; to influence South Africans to be vigilant about practicing safer online habits; and to provide the public with resources, tips and tools to adopt safer online behaviour. ii) Deliverables over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework are subject to budget availability. The primary target will be private sector, public sector and communities (school children, youth, and parents).




END

Reply:

1. (a) (b) No
2. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) policy provides that all employees shall declare all remunerative work done outside the department and the Head of the Department shall approve.

Approved/not approved

Adv N.A Ramatlhodi

Minister of Mineral Resources

END 

Reply:

1. (a) (i) Spent on travel                          R184 543.72

              (ii) Trips undertaken                        27 trips

          (b) (i) Total amount spent on hotel       R0.00

              (ii) Total amount spent on residential or other accommodation:

                     (aa) Cape Town R0.00

                     (bb) Pretoria R0.00

 

     2.   (a) (i) Deputy Minister spent on travel    R160 358.38

               (ii) Trips undertaken                         25 trips

           (b) (i) Total amount spent on hotel         R0.00

               (ii) Total amount spent on residential or other accommodation:

                        (aa) Cape Town R0.00

                        (bb) Pretoria R0.00

END

Reply:

The Minister of Energy and the Deputy Minister travel to Gauteng and Cape Town as per official government responsibilities.



END

Reply:

The Workload Indicators for Staffing Norms (WISN) method is an evidence-based Human Resource planning and management tool developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This tool was applied in sampled facilities located within the NHI pilot sites to determine the number of health workers of a particular category required to cope with the workload of the given health facility. The findings from this work were subsequently used to develop health workforce normative guides and standards for Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities.

Implementation guidelines of health workforce normative guides and standards for fixed PHC facilities are available. This guideline will be used in the process of determining staffing requirements in all fixed PHC facilities by benchmarking facility staffing against normative guides using facility headcount as a proxy of workload.

END.

Reply:

1. There is no need for scientific facts to validate the response provided in my reply to question 2649. The response is validated by the fact that all schools in South Africa teach English, either as a first language or second language, whilst other African languages, including Afrikaans, are also taught as a first or second language, depending on the geographical area or school types. This therefore makes English a common or cross cutting language for all matriculants entering University, something that cannot be said for all other African languages. As mentioned previously, this does not detract from the development of all African languages, which is a necessary process. The fact that some students are not proficient in English is a separate matter, however the fact remains that they have been exposed to English in comparison to other African languages.
    
2. I would like to indicate that a similar parliamentary question, published in internal question paper no. 25 of 2014, was posed to me. Therefore, the honourable member should refer to my response to question 2319 of November 2014.

END

Reply:

REPLY: MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Department has no knowledge of support received by Tshwane TV from the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.


END

Reply:

 

MINISTER’S REPLY

1. The certain person is not on suspension and as such the question in its entirety is not relevant.
   
   
   
   END

Reply:

(1) (a) The Department spent R2 424 728 on air travel for a total of 62 employees attending Parliament business on different occasions during that financial year.

     (b) Undertook 31 trips.

(2) (a) Spent R339 663 on accommodation

     (b) Spent R41 200 on car rental

 

END.

Reply:

No, the Department has not yet met this target. However, the Department has disabled people who refuse to be classified as such. Hence the Department dropped below 1% on this target.

END.

Reply:

(a) (i) The department spent R275, 905 on travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year for the Minister.

(ii) The Minister undertook 27 trips between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year

(b) (i) (aa) Not applicable.
(ii) (aa) Not applicable.

(i) (bb) Not applicable.

(ii) (bb) Not applicable

Approved by the Minister on
Date: 18/09/2015

Reply:

 

1.  (a) The total amount spent on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town on officials of the Department of Public Works attending official Parliamentary business during the 2014/15 financial year is R238 670.94

     (b) The total number of trips undertaken is 48.

2.  (a) The total amount spent on accommodation is R79 666.50

     (b) The total cost of car rental was R25 844.61

 

Reply:

Patients with Tuberculosis are diagnosed and started on treatment in all public sector hospitals and clinics as well as 154 facilities in the private sctor and 243 owned by the South African Military Health Services and NGOs. Patients with MDR and XDR TB are treated in 9 specialised central hospitals and 298 decentralised sites and 272 satellite sites. There are also 150 injection teams that manage some of the patients at home (on an ambulatory basis).

END.

Reply:

MINISTER RESPONSE:

The Department and Entities reporting to the Minister have, to the best of my knowledge, not officially complained or reported any red tape.


END

Reply:

A total of 11 224 applications were received between September 2013 and June 2015. Of these,

• 10 571 were approved
• 374 are pending or have been withdrawn (in part because a local buyer has been found or the application does not meet the requirements for an export licence) and
• 279 have been declined.

These figures exclude any successful voluntary negotiations between sellers and local industry, made in anticipation of the conditions applicable through the Price Preference System.

-END-

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the City of Tshwane to provide this information.

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



END

Reply:

1. The proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal is in the basic planning phase.  Prior to finalizing the route - including the land required - an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken to establish the feasibility of the various options (route locations).

(a)                        As such, the route has not been finalized.

(b), (c) & (d)         Tenders for construction cannot be called for until such time that all the prior steps have been completed.  Forward planning is underway regarding this project.

(e)                        The construction cost can only be estimated once the work prior to the construction phase has been completed.  The route has not been chosen, nor have any of the environmental impact studies been undertaken.

(2)   The portion of the N11 under question will be developed as a greenfield project and, as such, will require land to be purchased.

a)    As the project is still in the basic planning phase, it is not yet known which specific and/or how much land will be required for the road.

 

b)    Once the land requirements for the construction project have been assessed, the affected land owners will be contacted directly regarding the sale of the required land.

(c) & (d)               The project is still in basic planning phase and it is not yet known which specific land will be required for the road.

3.    The project is still in basic planning phase and it is not yet known which specific land will be required for the road.  Transactions between the buyer and the seller will be within the bounds of the applicable legislation.

4.    The details of the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal have not yet been determined.  Given the current growth of traffic and adopting a prudent growth scenario, it is envisaged that the ultimate solution will comprise a dual carriageway that will be constructed in phases.

5     The funding requirements for the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal have not yet been determined, as the project is still in the basic planning phase.  The decision on the funding method will be taken once the initial cost estimates have been completed.

(a) & (b)               The funding method for this road has not been decided upon yet.


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE MINISTER

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION BY MR R A LEES (DA) FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Mr R A Lees from the DA requested information regarding the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal.

SANRAL has supplied the following additional information:

The delivery of road infrastructure that meets the needs of a growing country requires forward planning. 

In the planning of roads, sustainable land use poses a challenge as to how to deal with the conflict that arises between people’s future needs and the present infrastructure and land use.  The road network itself is a form of land use, and the planning of this network strongly depends on the other land uses.  Land for human development uses rely heavily on this network.

It is with this in mind that the current exercise with respect to the N11, through and/or around Ladysmith, is underway.  The project is in the basic planning phase and the route is not finalized. 

Prior to finalizing the route - including the land required - an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken to establish the feasibility of the various options (route locations).  Thus there is still a long road to travel.

Tenders for construction cannot be called for until such time that all the prior steps have been completed.  Forward planning is underway. The cost of construction can only be estimated when the prior work has been completed.

A road network developed as a greenfield project, as the portion of the N11 under question will be, will require land to be purchased.  All affected landowners will be contacted on completion of the various studies still to be undertaken.  It would be premature to contact landowners at this stage, since it is not yet known which specific and/or how much land will be required for the road.  The affected parties will be directly contacted once the land requirements have been assessed.  However, the public in the area have been informed of the potential future developments that may take place with respect to a new road.

All transactions by SANRAL when purchasing land for road requirements are made within the bounds of the applicable legislation.  The land is acquired on the basis of the willing seller, willing buyer principle.  Independent valuers determine the price, all land is acquired at market related prices; the purchase price includes economic, if any, losses of the willing seller.

The details of the road to be built have not yet been determined.  Given the current growth of traffic and adopting a prudent growth scenario, it is envisaged that the ultimate solution will comprise a dual carriageway that will be constructed in phases.

The funding requirements for this route have not been determined as yet.  Given the constraints on the fiscus, all financial instruments must be considered.  This includes the application of the ‘user-pay’ principle as espoused in the National Development Plan.  The funding method has not been decided upon yet.  The decision on the funding method will be taken once the initial cost estimates have been completed.

 

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:-

No. The department is currently at 1.8% representivity.

The department has had difficulty in attracting persons with disabilities, who comply with the requirements of the positions. The departmental Human Resources and Employment Equity plans have however addressed this specific requirement. It is important to note that currently the department is merely short of one official with a disability on a SMS level to achieve its 2% employment equity target.



END

Reply:

Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

a) Red Tape refers to unduly strict regulations that often make it difficult for small emerging enterprises to thrive and hinders aggressive competition with medium and macro enterprises that do business with government. It also refers to rules, regulations, and I or bureaucratic procedures and processes which are excessively complex and which impose unnecessary delay(s), inaction and I or costs which exceed their benefits, and I or is no longer effective in achieving the purpose for which they were originally created. Red tape results in undesirable economic, business and I or social impacts or outcomes as a result of negatively impacting on productivity.

(b) (i) The department has implemented key actions to facilitate a progressive improvement in the payment of suppliers, within the prescribed 30-day period, such as the centralisation of the receipt and recording of invoices as well as an integrated order and payment tracking system.

In addition to the above, the Departments are currently implementing parts of the Shared Services Model between DCOG, OTA and MISA and are working together with National Treasury's Technical Assistance Unit to enhance and refine the model. Lastly, the department is also implementing the automated submission system, which will improve efficiency in decision making processes within the departments.

South African Cities Network

1. The South African Cities Network (SACN) (ii) defines red tape as an expression used to describe rigid conformity to formal rules that may hinder or slow down the decision-making process.

(b)(i) The SACN believes in early submission of documentation that requires approval to allow enough time for the recipient to thoroughly engage with the documentation without compromising the deadlines

(ii) The Annual Performance Plan assists in forward planning and eventual execution of tasks and this is reviewed on a monthly basis to ensure we are still working within the correct timeframes.

South African Local Government Association (SALGA)

1. (ii) Red tape refers to excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making.

(b)(i) Development of an automated procurement system to eliminate the lengthy manual processes to ease decision-making and action or implementation.

(c) (ii)(aa)(bb) Systems implemented to enhance efficiencies without compromising on compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Automated requests, workflows, approvals and reporting have been implemented to ensure effective service delivery.

Municipal Demarcation Board (MOB)

1. (a)(ii) Defines Red tape as the excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making.

(b)(i) No specific interventions have been implemented;
(b)(ii) (aa) and (bb) Systems and processes have been implemented to enhance efficiency without compromising on compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Applicable work processes, public and stakeholder consultation forums, reporting and approval structures have been implemented to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission)

(1)(a)(ii)

The CRL Rights Commission defines red tape as the duplication of processes that lead to waste of resources and strict adherence to official rules and formalities.

(b )(i)(bbb)

The Commission has streamlined its internal process and developed Standard Operating Procedures with the view of improving efficiency. Furthermore, these were processed through internal governance structures of the Entity and communicated to general staff.

The CRL Rights Commission utilise the strategic plan and annual performance plan to ensure that there are no duplication in functions and that every program deliver on a unique specialisation in the mandate of the Commission. In planning ahead it helps the Commission to be able to reach its goals without having to deal with unplanned and other issues that just crop up.

Reply:

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




END

Reply:

The information on travel and accommodation costs requested is contained in the respective 2014-15 Annual Report of the Department of Defence that was tabled in Parliament.


END

Reply:

The Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) standard on assessment of Policies and Systems to ensure Professional Ethics seeks to promote:

• compliance with chapters 2 and 3 of the Public Service Regulations, 2001;
• chapter 9 of the SMS Handbook (2003);
• Financial Disclosure Framework;
• section 6 of the Public Sector Integrity Management Framework;
• section 195 of the Constitution; and
• the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, Act 3 of 2000.

The elements that are assessed in the standards are on:

• whether members of the Senior Management Service (SMS) in departments are complying with the requirements to submit their financial disclosures by 31 May of each financial year; and
• whether disciplinary action is taken against SMS members who do not comply with these requirements.
• In addition, the standard assesses whether departments have mechanisms of communicating sections or provisions of the Public Service Code of Conduct to new and existing employees on an annual basis.
  
  a)   Whilst the 2014 MPAT assessment results are still being finalised, the results show that there was a notable improvement between 2012 and 2013 assessments, with the average compliance moving from 1.8 in 2012 to 2.8 in 2013. The total number of departments that complied with this standard are 118 out of a total of 152 departments.
  
  b)   90 departments (24 national and 66 provincial) met the level 3 requirements of the standard whilst 28 departments (9 national and 19 provincial) exceeded the requirements.
  
  END

Reply:

1. (a) R 723 000.00

    (b) 120 Trips

2. (a) R 92 000.00

    (b) R 44 000.00

END

Reply:

 

The Annual Report of the Department that I tabled during September 2015 provides information on the expenses incurred by the Department including travelling and accommodation both locally and abroad by all our officials. The Auditor General audited all this information. The Annual Financial Statements format did not however allow us to provide a breakdown of this information in the manner that the Honourable member requires.

Reply:

I wish to refer the Honourable Member to the unqualified Annual Report (2014/2015) and audited clean Financial Statements of my department that were tabled in Parliament on 28 August 2015 and published in the ATC dated 28 August 2015, wherein travel costs are reflected under the item ‘Travel and Subsistence’.

In regard to accommodation, I wish to remind the Honourable Member that accommodation of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in Cape Town and Gauteng is provided through the Department of Public Works.

 

END

Reply:

1. Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
2. Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
3. Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
4. The following replies are provided based on the information retrieved:

(4)(a) Complaints against SAPS members regarding:

(4)(a)(i) Assault complaints:

(4)(a)(i)(aa) 2012/2013 = 1

(4)(a)(i)(bb) 2013/2014 = 13

(4)(a)(i)(cc) 2014/2015 = 2

(4)(a)(ii) Abuse of suspected sex workers:

(4)(a)(ii)(aa) 2012/2013 = 2

(4)(a)(ii)(bb) 2013/2014 = 4 (including unlawful arrest)

(4)(a)(ii)(cc) 2014/2015 = 8

(4)(b) Investigations and outcomes:

(4)(b)(i) Outcomes of the specified investigations:

Of the 32 allegations/complaints against members, seven criminal cases were registered. Of the seven cases registered against members, three were withdrawn in court, two were still being investigated by IPID, one was finalized as nolle proseque while the remaining one is still on the court roll.

(4)(b)(ii) Action has been taken against the specified SAPS members:

One member received a written warning (Mufuleni - DR 32/2014) and findings against other two members were that departmental steps were not required (Cape Town DR 308 and 309/2014).

END

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

(1) (a), (b) and (c) (i) The Department of Public Works has taken the following remedial action:

• Improved systems and training of staff members

• Appropriate delegation of authority to Regional Offices was implemented to ensure operational effectiveness in service delivery. As a form of control to ensure that Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes are adhered to, all successful tenders awarded by Regional Offices are now reviewed at the Head Office by the Compliance Inspectorate to check for compliance with the SCM framework prior to being confirmed.

• A change management programme is being implemented in the Department that seeks to build on three fundamentals underlying infrastructure delivery. These include business process re-engineering through the implementation of the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS), human resource capacity development, as well as governance and accountability improvements.

          The IDMS, which was developed in partnership between the Public Works sector (national and provincial), along with             National Treasury, is a best practice methodology for the delivery of infrastructure. Its implementation will result in                 improved achievement of infrastructure delivery targets with respect to time, quality and budget.

• The Department of Public Works, with the assistance of the State Security Agency (SSA), has embarked on a vetting project of all its SCM officials. The vetting of SCM officials at the Head Office has been prioritized, as well as at the Regional Offices that have a significant portfolio of Prestige projects (Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria Regional Office).

• As part of the overall DPW Turnaround Strategy, the Department has concluded a detailed review of its business processes, which resulted in extensive business process re-engineering to vastly improve the SCM system. The 7-year reform path for SCM business processes began with a phase of the correction of inefficiencies to stabilisation (2014 – 2017) and will move ultimately to standardization, integration and optimization of the SCM business process (to take place during the period 2017 – 2020). This will ensure that DPW supply chain management is fully compliant with the regulatory framework and will also be able to meet its business requirements effectively. The SCM reform initiatives are pursued in collaboration with National Treasury’s Chief Procurement Office. The Department of Public Works was selected by the Minister of Finance as a pilot site for the implementation of general procurement reforms in the public sector.

• The DPW has reviewed its SCM Policy, which now promotes stricter governance and compliance. The SCM policy is to be reviewed annually. For every SCM activity that is performed, there is a mapped out process flow with activity checklists, templates and reports. Utilisation of the mentioned documentation now enhances compliance, thereby contributing to reducing irregular expenditure.

• The organizational structure of SCM has also been reviewed and a new structure was developed to meet business requirements. The structure is geared to focus on the support of the various functional streams of the Department through the correct mix of skills sets and competencies. The new structure provides for adequate segregation of duties and thus conflicts of interest will be avoided.

• The Department’s Inspectorate and Compliance Unit is now a key role player in SCM processes prior to the award of every bid or quotation. This unit verifies that every SCM activity leading up to the recommendation of the bid has been complied with. Only upon receipt of the approved compliance checklist, will the bid be forwarded to the relevant committee for approval.

• The Department is examining the guidelines, policies, norms and standards for the implementation of security measures at the private and official residences of the Executive and the Legislature in general, as well as certain administrative buildings, for consultation with the security cluster departments. It is envisaged that these consultations as well as those planned with the Department of Public Service and Administration will result in a refined procedural framework with respect to the implementation of physical security measures for tabling before Cabinet.

(ii) The following disciplinary action has been taken against the staff in DPW:

• The investigation by Special Investigating Unit (SIU) indicated that 12 employees or former employees of the Department were probably guilty of misconduct due to acts and omissions in 30 separate matters related to the appointment of contractors for the security upgrades at President’s residence in Nkandla.

• The Department has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the 12 officials. One official has since pleaded guilty with a sanction of two months suspension without pay and a final written warning and barred from participating in procurement processes for three years until he has undergone training. Disciplinary cases with respect to the remaining 11 employees are still on hold pending the high court application for media access to the disciplinary hearings by various media houses.

(iii) (aa) and (bb) No other action has been taken against officials or staff of the Department of Public Works.

(2) (a) (i), (ii) and (iii) The SIU investigation into the conduct of contractors/service providers has provided a basis for civil action against the architect, Mr M Makhanya for the recovery of R155 million. As the Principal Agent, Mr Makhanya bore the overall responsibility for the project.

The civil claim against the Principal Agent was instituted by the SIU on 11 August 2014 for the recovery of R155 324 516.49, being the amount of losses suffered by the Department for over-billing. The matter is before court and the hearing is pending.

(3) See the paragraph (2) (a) (i), (ii) and (iii) above. There is currently no basis in terms of a finding to warrant recovery of money from any staff member of DPW.

______________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Reply:

No. I believe the provisions of the Public Protector Act, Act 23 of 1994, has adequate provisions to deal with the issues the Hon Member raises.

Section 7 deals with investigations by the Public Protector, some of the relevant provisions being –

(a) subsection (3)(a) which provides that the Public Protector may request any person at any level of government or performing a public function to assist him or her in the performance of his or her functions with regard to any particular investigation;

(b) subsection (4)(a) which provides that the Public Protector may, by subpoena, direct any person to submit an affidavit or to appear before him or her to give evidence or to produce any document in his or her possession or under his or her control which has a bearing on the matter being investigated; and

(c) subsection (4) (b) which empowers the Public Protector to request an explanation from any person whom he or she reasonably suspects of having information which has a bearing on the matter being investigated.

 

Section 7A deals with entering upon premises by the Public Protector. It provides, among others, that the Public Protector is competent, subject to the authority of a warrant issued by a magistrate or judge, to enter, or authorize another person to enter, any premises and to make such investigation or inquiry as may be necessary and to seize anything which may have a bearing on an investigation. This section even recognises the need to use force to gain entry should the need arise.

Section 9 deals with contempt of the Public Protector and provides that no person may insult the Public Protector or do anything in connection with an investigation which, if the investigation had been proceedings in a court of law, the conduct in question would have amounted to contempt of court.

Section 11 provides for offences and penalties. In terms of section 11(1) a person who contravenes section 9, referred to above, or who interferes with the functioning of the office of the Public Protector as contemplated in section 181(4), referred to above, is guilty of an offence. In terms of section 11(3) any person who, without just cause, refuses or fails to comply with a direction or request under section 7(4), referred to above, or refuses to answer any question put to him or her or who gives an answer which to his or her knowledge is false, is guilty of an offence. The penalty for these offences is a fine not exceeding R40 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

END

Reply:

Since October 2010, Cabinet has supported a more competitive and stable exchange rate. This does not involve a “devaluation of the rand by the SA Reserve Bank”.

-END-

Reply:

 

 

(1) The Judges Remuneration and Conditions of Employment Act & Regulations, 2001, does not prescribe the number of trips that may be undertaken domestically or internationally and the number, position and status of persons forming part of such delegations. However, Paragraph 8.4.11.5.3.(i) of the Departmental Financial Instructions of the Office of the Chief Justice provides that “official travelling of Judicial Officers to foreign countries must be approved by the Chief Justice”.

In line with the above, the established practice is that the relevant Judge who wishes to travel abroad must first approach the Head of Court with the request. The Head of Court will apply his/her mind and formally agree that the Judge may travel abroad accordingly provided that (1) the allocation of cases onto the court roll will be managed accordingly; and (2) the administration of justice will not be negatively affected. Such permission from the Head of Court as well as the detailed request by the Judge who wishes to travel, are then presented to the Chief Justice for consideration and approval.

2. (a) (i) The following domestic trips (air flights) were undertaken by Judges President and Deputy Judges President from 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2015:

• L Mpati: President of the SCA – 1 trip
• B Waglay: JP – 15 trips
• CT Sangoni: JP – 4 trips
• AS Jappie: JP – 9 trips
• M Molemela: JP – 7 trips
• F Kgomo: JP – 4 trips
• M Leeuw: JP – 1 trip
• M Hlope: JP – 1Trip
• Y Meer: AJP – 9 trips
• M Mojapelo: DJP – 4 trips
• J Traverso: DJP -1 trip
• A Ledwaba: DJP – 1 trip

(ii) No international trips were undertaken by Judges President or Deputy Judges President during the period.

(b) No officials were part of any delegation for any Judge President or Deputy Judge President.



END

Reply:

The Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) standard on prevention of Fraud and Corruption assesses whether department have measures and requisite capacity in place to prevent and combat corruption. Elements that are assessed in the standard are on:

• whether departments have fraud prevention plans and whistle blowing policies minimum anti-corruption capacity to prevent fraud and corruption;
• whether departments are providing feedback on anti-corruption hotline cases to the Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC); and
• whether disciplinary and criminal procedures are being instituted where fraud and corruption occurs.
  
  a) Whereas the 2014 MPAT assessments results are in the process of being finalised, the 2013 results showed a total number of 55 departments (25 national and 30 provincial) are compliant with this standard.
  
  b) The 2013 results also shows that twenty five (25) departments (11 national and 14 provincial) met the level 3 compliance requirements, whilst 30 exceeded the requirements (14 national and 16 provincial).
  
  
  END

Reply:

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

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




END

Reply:

Currently there is no legal instrument that links the non-payment of tolls to the renewal of vehicle licences.

I am not aware of any instances where vehicle licenses have not been renewed for the non-payment of toll. I urge the honourable member to bring all such instances to the attention of the relevant authority.

However, as the honourable member is aware it is an offense as stated in Act No 7 of 1998 not to pay toll fees.




END

Reply:

(1) Yes the batches were tested by the NICD prior to distribution. Pre distribution reports attached. At the time of initial testing, the batches met the requirements.

Advanced Quality Titima Medical 2015011616_PMS FEB 2015

Advanced Quality Titima Medical 2015010602_PMS JAN 2015

Advanced Quality Titima Medical 201501 615_PMS FEB 2015


(2)

	SUPPLIER	NO. OF BATCHES RECEIVED AND TESTED
	ABON	26
	TITIMA MEDICAL	13
	ADVANCED QUALITY ARMADA	9

(3) (a)-(c) Reports attached with batch numbers. All reports met the required specifications.

Herewith the batches distributed by Armada / Advanced Quality as from the start of the new tender in 2014:

2014071401

2014071701

2014080101

2014090221

2014091821

2014092308

2014112702

2014121510

2014122409

Total of 9 batches distributed to date.

 

END.

Reply:

The information on travel costs in both the Departments of Defence and Military Veterans is contained in their respective Annual Reports for the Financial Year 2014-15 that were tabled in Parliament.



END

Reply:

(a) Yes, the Vredefort Interpretation Centre was designed to include a reception area for visitors. An amount of R11,7 million was budgeted for the Vredefort Interpretation Centre but was not completed due to the structural defects on the building and a budget shortfall. According to an independent engineer, the main building (interpretation centre) started to show cracks, leaks and structural defects as a result of the weak panels supporting the structure which would endanger the lives of any person entering the building.

The project proposal was prepared in 2004 and the cost norms and standards applicable at the time were used to determine the project budget. The actual construction work only commenced in 2006 which under normal circumstances would have included escalation to accommodate increased costs. The allocation of budget by the department did not take into account the time lapses and associated cost escalations.

The project was implemented in two phases and the building in question was one of the many deliverables. The building was done in phase 1 and the budget for the project included other deliverables such as stalls, kitchen, ablution block, fencing, bulk electricity and water supply.

(b) No, the Department of Tourism is in the process of completing the project.

(i) Falls away

(ii) Falls away




END