Questions and Replies
28 September 2015 - NW3395
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)What percentage of learners at schools have been (a) threatened with violence, (b) assaulted, (c) sexually abused and (d) exposed to corporal punishment by a person at the relevant school in each (i) province and (ii) district in the 2013-14 financial year; (2) which schools in each (a) province and (b) district have implemented the Early Warning System which is a guide and management tool that was designed by her department in conjunction with the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention for school management teams, school governing bodies and teachers and learners to identify and report on risks and threats at schools; (3) which schools in each (a) province and (b) district are still aligned to the Safety in Education Partnership Protocol between her department and the SA Police Service signed in 2011 to reduce crime and violence in schools and in communities; (4) which schools in each (a) province and (b) district are utilising the SA School Administration and Management System to report on behavioural transgressions, crimes and violence; (5) how many schools in each (a) province and (b) district have established Safe School Committees?
Reply:
1. Extrapolated from the National School Violence Study of 2012 (released in 2013) amongst randomly selected secondary schools from all provinces (of which the sample comprised of 5939 learners, 121 principals and 239 educators),
(a) 12, 2% had been threatened with violence by someone at school;
(b) 6. 3% have been assaulted;
(c) 4, 7% had been sexually assaulted or raped;
(d) in terms of the National School Violence study of 2012, an overall of 49,8% of learners claimed to have been caned or spanked by an educator or principal.
Provincial rates of corporal punishment ranged from 22.4% to 73.7%, with the highest levels of corporal punishment observed in KwaZulu-Natal (73.7%).
When assessing the rates per province, the data shows increases as well as decreases in the rates of corporal punishment by schools across the country.
Increases in the use of corporal punishment over the past four years were noted for Mpumalanga (rates increased from 43.6% in 2008 to 63.5% in 2012), the Eastern Cape (rates increased from 58.5% in 2008 to 66.9% in 2012), KwaZulu-Natal (rates increased from 48.7% in 2008 to 73.7% in 2012) and the Western Cape (rates increased from 17.1% in 2008 to 22.4% in 2012).
The most significant decrease in the rates of corporal punishment reported by learners was observed for Gauteng, with rates dropping from 61% in 2008 to 22.8% in 2012.
The use of corporal punishment as a means of discipline was also less frequently reported in Limpopo, the Free State, the North West and the Northern Cape in the 2012 wave of the study.
While the difference between male and female learners was not significant, males (50.4%) did report fractionally higher levels of corporal or physical punishment than female (49.4%) learners
(2) The Early Warning System (currently referred to as the National School Safety Framework) was approved in April 2015 and the training of Provincial Master Trainers commenced on 1 June 2015 and was completed on 27 August 2015. The roll out of school-based training workshops by the trained Provincial Master Trainers will commence in January 2016. Therefore no statistical data is available regarding implementation in (a) provinces and (b) district.
(3) The Partnership Protocol between Department of Basic Education and South African Police Services (SAPS) is still valid and schools linked to local police stations are collaborating with police officials in terms of combatting crime and violence in schools.
(4) Training workshops conducted by Information Management Systems are currently underway (a) in provinces and (b) districts on the utilization of the South African School Administration and Management System (SA-SAMS) to report on behavioural transgressions, crimes and violence.
(5) As part of the Partnership Protocol between the Department and SAPS 16603 (verified data) schools have been link to local police stations and established School Safety Committees.
28 September 2015 - NW2944
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Science and Technology
(1)Whether her department is in any way involved in research regarding the new nuclear build programme in the country; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?”
Reply:
The Department is not involved in research regarding the new nuclear build programme in the country since the nuclear technology option/choice is yet to be decided on. However, there are existing initiatives in support of nuclear energy industry that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is involved in for the development of know-how and technologies in the nuclear technologies fields.
These include the Nuclear Engineering Research Chair at North West University; Carbon Materials and Technology Chair at the University of Pretoria; Advanced Materials Initiative (AMI); South African Nuclear Human Asset Research Programme (SANHARP); Masters in Accelerator and Nuclear Science (MANUS) and Masters in Material Science (MatSci) programme, involving the University of Zululand, the University of the Western Cape and iThemba Labs.
The focus of the work is as follows:
- Nuclear safety, which includes radiation effects of mining and routine discharges of Koeberg nuclear power station and also radiation standards and regulations;
- Nuclear materials beneficiation;
- Carbon technologies research with emphasis on nuclear graphite technology to support nuclear power generation;
- Reactor technology research on modelling and simulation of nuclear reactors and their associated power plants and process applications. These models are applied in the analysis, design and optimisation of pressurised water reactors and high temperature reactors;
- Nuclear project management, nuclear energy economics; and
- Collaborative research on system analysis of passive safe small modular high temperature gas cooled reactors.
28 September 2015 - NW3460
Walters, Mr TC to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
Whether, with regard to a certain law firm (name furnished) that deals with eviction issues on behalf of his department, (a) his department funds the specified law firm entirely with regard to litigation in eviction matters, (b) how many cases have been handled by the specified law firm since its appointment, (c) what amount has been spent by his department on average in respect of each case and (d) how many of the specified cases were successful in the sense that the court ruled against landowners in claims for eviction in terms of (i) the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, Act 62 of 1997 and (ii) the Land Reform Act, Act 3 of 1996; (2) on what basis does his department exclude persons from being represented by the (a) specified law firm and/or (b) approved members of the panel of the specified law firm; (3) what criteria does his department utilise to determine who qualifies for legal support that is provided by the specified firm; (4) does his department have an agreement that the specified law firm must appoint private law firms to represent land occupiers; if so, (a) what are the reasons for allowing the specified appointments at the Government’s expense and (b) on what relevant legislative provision does his department rely when it allows the specified appointments to be made; (5) does his department have an agreement that the specified firm appoint branches of the Legal Aid Board to represent land occupiers; if so, on what legislative provisions does his department rely when it allows the specified appointment to be made?
Reply:
(1) (a) Yes.
(b) 1145
(c) R57 284.34
(d) (i) 134
(ii) 0
(2)(a),(b) If persons do not meet the definition of the relevant legislation and or if they fall outside the qualifying threshold of R5000.00 gross income in terms of ESTA Regulations or a Means Test.
(3) Same response as Question 2 above.
(4) Yes.
(a) Same response as in Question 2 above.
(b) The Department relies on the judgement of Nkuzi Development Association and the Government of the Republic of South Africa.
(5) No.
28 September 2015 - NW3461
Walters, Mr TC to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
What proactive measures are in place to ensure that the state fulfils its constitutional duties in terms of section 26(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, read together with chapter 2 of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, Act 62 of 1997, when his department and local municipalities are notified of the statutory prescribed form of the intended eviction proceeding in terms of section 9(2)(d)(ii) and (iii) of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, Act 62 of 1997?
Reply:
Through district offices, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) on receipt of such notifications always attempts to negotiate a settlement using internal capacity by calling upon affected parties and stakeholders such as relevant Municipalities to find a solution. If these internal interventions fail, external assistance through the Land Rights Management Facility is sought either for further mediation and or litigation. Depending on the outcome, DRDLR may negotiate an on or off farm settlement for occupiers in terms of section 4 of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, 1997 (Act No. 62 of 1997).
28 September 2015 - NW3634
Esterhuizen, Mr JA to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
(1)In view of our outbound foreign direct investment which grew by 17% this year, in contrast to foreign direct investment into the country which has fallen by 24%, can he provide an explanation as to why there seems to be an overarching desire by South African businesses to grow offshore than to invest locally; (2) what steps is his department taking in order to foster an environment which will attract foreign capital investment in the country? NW4211E
Reply:
(1) According to the World Investment Report released by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in June 2015 aggregate global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows declined by 16% in 2014 as a result of the continued uneven and weak recovery of the global economy after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Not surprisingly, South Africa was also impacted and FDI inflows slowed from US$8.3 billion in 2013. The fdi report 2015 by fdi intelligence which tracks investment projects also reports a decline in greenfield fdi projects globally.
Nevertheless, South Africa still attracted a substantial US$ 5.7 billion in 2014. By comparison, Nigeria attracted US$ 4.6 billion, Mozambique US$4.9 billion, Kenya US$ 900 million and Mauritius US$ 418 million. In 2014, South Africa was again the largest recipient of FDI on the African continent. South Africa remains an attractive investment destination as per the latest Ernest and Young attractive destination survey launched in June 2015. According to the EY survey South Africa remains the top destination in Africa for fdi projects. Over the past five years South Africa received twice as many fdi projects as any African country. Multinationals have affirmed South Africa as a regional manufacturing hub and have retained and expanded their investments in new plants. Companies such as Unilever have invested R 4 billion in expansions, upgrades and new plants in South Africa.
In addition to South Africa being a destination for FDI, we are now also a leading source of FDI on the African continent. As this Government has stated on many occasions, our domestic market is simply too small to – on its own – sustain high economic growth rates over the long-term. The African continent is now widely acknowledged as the next growth frontier and South Africa is in the fortunate position of having identified the growth opportunities in Africa many years ago already.
This is why our trade policy prioritises regional development through the Southern African Development Community (SADC); the Tripartite Free Trade Area (T-FTA) signed in June 2015 in Sharm el-Sheikh and the Continental Free Trade Area (C-FTA).
These Agreements do not only open the door to South African exporters. They also provide investment opportunities for companies owned by South Africans or domiciled in South Africa.
Companies such as Vodacom, MTN, SAB-Miller, Standard Bank, Pick n Pay, Shoprite-Checkers, Woolworths, Nando’s and mining companies are just a few of the many South African brands which have become instantly recognisable across Africa. These investments partly account for FDI outflows from South Africa and show the extent to which South African entrepreneurs and companies have become serious participants in the global economy. In most cases, these outward investments draw on their South African value-chains, expertise and financial resources.
These outward investments are positive and should be celebrated. Market opportunities are arising as Africa’s population urbanises and consumer demand grows off a low base in many African countries. We encourage our firms to seize these opportunities, noting that their ability to do so is precisely because they are able to leverage off the financial resources and market successes in South Africa.
Such investments by South African companies contribute to Regional Integration, Infrastructure Development and Industrialisation of the African such as Scaw Metals investment in Ghana.
(2) President Zuma during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), 12th February 2015 announced a nine point plan to push the economy forward, ignite growth and create jobs. Government is also committed to improving the investment climate and ease of doing business. Also announced during the SONA was the establishment of a one stop Inter-Departmental Clearing House to attend to investor complaints and problems. the dti has given effect to the Inter- Departmental Clearing House and has established a dedicated division for investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare. Specialised capacity is been added that will fast track, unblock and reduce red tape in Government. Investors are encouraged to contact the dti investment unit for this clearing house service.
28 September 2015 - NW3599
Robinson, Ms D to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
Is his department currently working on any (a) financial and/or (b) economic empowerment initiatives in collaboration with the Department of Women in The Presidency; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the specified initiatives?
Reply:
- The dti fully recognises the challenges that women face in society and in the economy. The department recognises that women tend to face more barriers that hinder them from contributing meaningfully and effectively to the country’s economic aspiration of becoming a globally competitive industrial economy. It is for this reason that one of the objectives of our industrial policy is to promote increasing participation of previously marginalised citizens and regions in the mainstream industrial economy.
- Currently, the dti does not have any collaboration or joint projects with the Department for Women in the Presidency. The department is, however, open to such collaborations should the opportunity arise.
- The dti continues to provide a wide range of measures aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs and increasing their participation in the economy. Our wide range of incentives provides support to entrepreneurs and industrialists, including women. These incentives include those that support women entrepreneurs (e.g. Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme, National Exporter Development Programme, Film, Incubation), women students and researchers (THRIP and SPII) and job placement of women graduates (ITUKISE). Some selected achievements include the placement of 645 women graduates in jobs through ITUKISE Programme in 2015; employment of over 14 700 women through the Business Processing Services incentives in 2015; supporting 574 women-owned companies through EMIA between 2011 and 2014; supporting 351 women-owned companies through the Exporter Development Programme between 2013 and 2015. To date, THRIP has supported 585 female students and 335 women researchers. However, the dti recognises that more can be done and, indeed, more will be done.
- When the President established the Department for Small Business Development, some of the functions of the dti were transferred to the new Department. Women and Gender Programmes, together with all responsible officials and business units, were also transferred.
- However, the dti has since established a new Women Empowerment Chief Directorate to drive women empowerment. A Chief Director has been appointed and has started to develop women empowerment programmes and initiatives. Once these programmes and initiatives have been finalised and concretised, we will gladly share them with you and the public.
28 September 2015 - NW3391
Lovemore, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)How many applications by (a) educators and (b) non-teaching staff employed by each provincial department of education are still awaiting processing for (i) incapacity leave and (ii) retirement on the grounds of ill-health; (2) with reference specifically to employees of each provincial department of education, what is the (a) average and (b) maximum time that lapses between the date of application and the date of processing the application for (i) incapacity leave and (ii) retirement on the grounds of ill-health; (3) (a) why is there a backlog in respect of the processing of incapacity leave and applications for retirement on the grounds of ill-health, (b) what is being done to address the backlog in each province and (c) by when will the backlog be cleared; (4) has she made the Minister of Public Service and Administration aware of the backlogs; if not, why not; (5) has the Minister of Public Service and Administration communicated any action that he has taken in respect of the specified backlogs; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) How many applications by (a) educators and (b) non-educators employed by provincial departments of education are still awaiting processing for (i) incapacity leave and (ii) ill-health retirement in each province?
1 (a) (b) (i) and (ii)
The table below captures the number of educator and non-educator applications for i) incapacity and ii) ill health retirement per province.
Outstanding Incapacity Leave and Ill-Health Retirement Applications- Jan 2006 - May 2015 |
||||
PED |
Educators |
Non-teaching Staff |
||
Incapacity Leave |
Ill-Health Retirement |
Incapacity Leave |
Ill-Health Retirement |
|
EC |
12 375 |
126 |
2 924 |
8 |
FS |
1 682 |
11 |
577 |
0 |
GP |
140 |
1 |
35 |
2 |
KZN |
6 929 |
6 |
1 556 |
2 |
LIM |
1 943 |
6 |
219 |
1 |
MP |
3 198 |
96 |
498 |
5 |
NC |
1 579 |
8 |
631 |
0 |
NW |
873 |
5 |
191 |
4 |
WC |
2 444 |
4 |
443 |
5 |
(2) with reference specifically to employees of each provincial department of education, what is the (a) average and (b) maximum time that lapses between the date of application and the date of processing the application for (i) incapacity leave and (ii) retirement on the grounds of ill-health;
Details on the turnaround times regarding the processing of applications are currently not available nor collected in the normal process of monitoring by the Department. This information will be requested from the provinces and will be provided accordingly.
(3) (a) why is there a backlog in respect of the processing of incapacity leave and applications for retirement on the grounds of ill-health, (b) what is being done to address the backlog in each province and (c) by when will the backlog be cleared;
(a) The processing and finalisation of an application for incapacity leave involves many steps and procedures and involves various entities, that is, the employer, the employee, the Health Risk Manager and Health Practitioners. It also involves the submission of various documentation. Delays, mainly administrative, can happen at any stage of the process thus leading to backlogs.
b) The Department of Basic Education (DBE) decided, as part of the plan to address underlying pressures that affect quality teaching and learning, that the nature and extent of backlogged PILIR cases be examined and resolved through direct involvement with Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). The DBE visited all PEDs to discuss the nature and extent of backlogged PILIR cases; discussed challenges and possible ways of resolving the blockages and formulated a management plan to resolve the backlogged PILIR cases. Subsequently, the DBE draws reports from PERSAL to monitor whether the management and administration of PILIR is improving. These reports are shared with the PEDs.
(c) The administrative and infrastructure complexities within Provinces prevent the PEDs from providing a definitive deadline as to when all backlogs will be cleared. This is a continuing process that has the commitment of all PEDs.
(4) has she made the Minister of Public Service and Administration aware of the backlogs; if not, why not;
The Minister of Basic Education has been communicating regularly with the Minister of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) since January 2013, informing her of the growing backlogs and their impact on the sector. This included explaining that, due to the imperative that there must be a teacher in every classroom, the PEDs have to appoint substitute teachers whilst teachers were sick for long periods, and this was exerting further pressure on already stretched compensation budgets.
(5) has the Minister of Public Service and Administration communicated any action that he has taken in respect of the specified backlogs; if so, what are the relevant details?
No direct response to the Minister of Basic Education has been received from the Minister of Public Service and Administration with respect to PILIR backlogs. However, the Department of Public Service and Administration communicates regularly with all government departments on PILIR matters through circulars to all Heads of Department.
28 September 2015 - NW3396
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)In respect of each province and each district, (a) how many identified Provincial Master Trainers have been trained on the National School Safety Framework and (b) when will these trainers train (i) school governing bodies, (ii) senior management teams and (iii) other relevant educators and support staff; (2) in respect of each province and each district, (a) what are the minimum standards for safety at schools and (b) who determines what these standards should be; (3) in respect of each province and each district, (a) how many schools conduct risk assessments twice per annum and (b) are these reports (i) forwarded to the relevant provincial education departments, (ii) provided to her department and (iii) available to the public?
Reply:
1. Training workshops for provincial master trainers on the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) have been conducted in all nine provinces in collaboration with the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP), supported by UNICEF. These workshops started on 27 June and were completed on 27 August 2015;
In respect of each province and each district, (a) Provincial Coordinators for School Safety were responsible for the identification and selection of the relevant trainees at provincial and district levels. The Trained Master Trainers are obligated to roll out school-based training workshops in all schools (b) starting at the beginning of 2016, which will (i) include training for school governing bodies, (ii) senior management teams and (iii) other relevant educators and support staff;
2. The NSSF is located within a range of international and national laws and policies that recognize the safety of learners and educators as a prerequisite for quality teaching and learning. In terms of provinces and districts the following minimum standards have been identified (a) minimum school-level policies and procedures are implemented and enforced; safety audits are undertaken annually; safety plans are formulated, adopted, submitted and revised annually; consistent engagement with community structures and actors; school safety teams are established and functional; Codes of conduct have been formulated, adopted and implemented; reporting and response systems are developed, utilised, and reviewed continuously; and referral systems and networks are established and functional,
3. In terms of the NSSF risk assessments have to be conducted at school-level after which school safety plans have to be drawn up and executed. As mentioned the roll out of the NSSF will commence in 2016 and with respect to provinces and districts, (a) schools must conduct risk assessments twice per annum to be used internally to identify risks and threats in terms of violence in schools and to draft a school-based Safety Plan (b) and forward these School Safety Plans (i) to the relevant district (School Safety Coordinator) and provincial (School Safety Coordinator), (ii) it is expected that from the school safety plans provinces will be able to identify the prevalence and trends of incidences of violence and work collaboratively with schools, districts and all relevant stakeholders to address violence in schools. (ii) the risk assessments implemented at a school-based level and are internally used to determine risks and threats and to develop programmes to address specific issues related to violence. .
NW4055E
28 September 2015 - NW3572
Figg, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
(1) Considering the usefulness of visiting other countries and learning lessons from their practices and experiences, (a) how many days has he spent out of the country in (i) 2014 and (ii) since 1 January 2015, (b) which countries did he visit and (c) what useful lessons did he learn; (2) (a) have any of the useful lessons learnt been implemented in South Africa and (b) did the specified lessons yield positive results; if not, why not in each case; if so, what were the results in each case? NW4239E
Reply:
(1) and (2) After years of international isolation because of Apartheid policies, South Africa was accepted into the global community with the onset of democracy in 1994. Responding to these new opportunities was a strategic imperative of the new democratic government in order to build mutually beneficial regional and global relations to advance South Africa’s trade, industrial policy and economic development objectives. All the working visits detailed below in Annexure A were undertaken in support of this strategic imperative; which in turn yielded a number of notable outcomes.
For further detailed information regarding the working visits and these outcomes, the Honourable Member is advised to consult the dti Annual Report 2013/2014 and several previous Parliamentary Questions on the same matter.
25 September 2015 - NW3083
21 AUGUST 2015Mr S M Gana to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(a) How does (i) her department and (ii) entities reporting to her define red tape and (b) what (i) specific interventions and/or (ii) systems have been implemented to (aa) identify and (bb) reduce red tape in (aaa) her department and (bbb) the entities reporting to her?
Reply:
(i) & (ii) The Department and the entities who report to the Minister of Human Settlements define red tape to, inter alia, include:
- Excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that are bureaucratic, and hinder or prevent action or decision-making. This includes the collection or sequence of forms and procedures required to gain bureaucratic approval for something, that is complex and time-consuming, to be addressed as per prescribed procedures
- Series of actions or complicated tasks that seem unnecessary but that a government or organization requires you to do in order to get or do something;
- Processes that are onerous to navigate when one is trying to get some service, usually from Government.
- Certain legislative and policy compliance aspects and processes being too excessive when dealing with various compliance matters which are aligned to and is complemented by founding legislation and organisational policies governing specific processes of Government.
(b)(i)(aa) &b (ii)(bb) The following specific interventions and/or systems have been implemented to identify and reduce red tape in the department and the entities reporting to the Minister and include:
- The Department and entities interact with officials and have meetings with those especially involved in transactions. The minutes are kept of these meetings as a record of discussions and resolutions taken; when excessive problems are apparent they are escalated to senior management or even to board members;
- Entities including NHFC utlilize their own internal qualified personnel, but also has access to external resources when required. They have efficient administrative processes to avoid delays; they also communicate with the officials within the Department and National Treasury to get clarity on what is required (where applicable) if there is uncertainty; others utilise processes that are prescribed in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) and the Treasury Regulations to address matters if they are unnecessarily protracted;
- The CSoS utilizes a dispute Resolution Model to receive and resolve complaints on an end-to-end basis. They also make use of an Enterprise Resource Planning system which includes facilities for self-service / self-tracking of complaints lodged. This system allows citizens to keep track or the progress on their particular cases and complaints, monitor the turn-around times, as well as register and escalate complaints where the service provided is slower than promised;
- The EAAB continuously embarks on stakeholder awareness activities and educational programmes, they have optimised certain processes by creating online options and electronic means for stakeholders to use in their interactions with the entity; other processes employed to protect the interests of the consumer, include internal control measures, regulations, policy and other procedures as defined by legislative and policy prescripts;
- The SHRA support in capacitating Social Housing Institution’s and making social housing projects ready for awarding the Restructuring Capital Grant is regarded as an intervention in identifying and reducing red tape.
- The HDA has all the necessary policies and procedures in place to ensure the smooth, complaint and on-going delivery of targets, systems as envisaged in the Public Finance Management Act and complementary legislation are employed.
25 September 2015 - NW3219
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(1)Whether her department has withheld or caused to be withheld any grants to (a) local, (b) district or (c) metropolitan municipalities (i) in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) since 1 April 2015; if so, in respect of each specified case, (aa) what amount was withheld, (bb) what were the reasons for withholding the grant and (cc) in terms of which legislation and/or regulations was the grant withheld; (2) whether her department consulted with the National Treasury in respect of each specified case; if not, why not; if so, what was the National Treasury’s advice in this regard; (3) whether her department notified the affected municipalities properly of her department’s intentions; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department of Human Settlements transfers the allocations for grants to nine Provinces and eight Metropolitan Municipalities. The Department does not transfer allocations for any grant to district municipalities as implied in the Honourable member’s question.
During the 2014/15 financial year, the department withheld the Municipal Human Settlements Capacity Grant (MHSCG) to six metropolitan municipalities until such time that Metropolitan Municipalities had demonstrated that they had spent this conditional grant for the purpose for which it was intended as envisaged in the relevant prescripts, in particular the Division of Revenue Act (DORA).
In actual fact Honourable member, the grant referred to in the question is not the only one giving my MECs and I sleepless nights. The misuse of the Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) is also worrisome. We need to review the grants framework to address serious anomalies. To illustrate my point, the USDG was introduced as a conditional grant to ensure the provision of bulk connector, link and internal services; well-located land and public amenities because we realised that these plagued the optimum performance of the human settlements sector. Metropolitan municipalities spend the USDG on other things such as roads, street lighting and social facilities when there are still bulk infrastructure constraints. This is frustrating to say the least.
The Honourable should be interested how this grant is used by the City of Cape Town allocated the USDG funds for 2014/15 financial year as indicated below:
Description |
Allocated Budget |
% Total Available Funds |
Spent by Municipality |
% Spent |
Variance |
% Unspent |
R’00 |
R’00 |
R’00 |
||||
Electricity |
231 698 |
14.1 |
189 286 |
81.7 |
42 412 |
18.3 |
Solid Waste Management |
50 000 |
3.0 |
50 000 |
100.0 |
|
0.0 |
Water and Sanitation |
195923 |
11.9 |
182 885 |
93.3 |
13 038 |
6.7 |
City Parks |
30 595 |
1.9 |
24 797 |
81.0 |
5 798 |
19.0 |
Sport, Recreation and Amenities |
41 636 |
2.5 |
34 423 |
82.7 |
7 213 |
17.3 |
Library and Information Services |
23 644 |
1.4 |
23 644 |
100.0 |
|
0.0 |
Assets Management and Maintenance (Transport) |
262 765 |
16.0 |
195 118 |
74.3 |
67 647 |
25.7 |
City Health Sub Districts |
7 467 |
0.5 |
7 391 |
99.0 |
76 |
1.0 |
HS Development & Delivery |
120 608 |
7.3 |
97 695 |
81.0 |
22 913 |
19.0 |
HS Planning and National Housing Programmes Development |
419 900 |
25.5 |
416 727 |
99.2 |
3 173 |
0.8 |
Public Housing and Customer Services |
42 674 |
2.6 |
27 853 |
65.3 |
14 821 |
34.7 |
HS Urbanisation |
92 332 |
5.6 |
79 003 |
85.6 |
13 329 |
14.4 |
Disaster Risk Management |
5 500 |
0.3 |
5 492 |
99.9 |
8 |
0.1 |
Spatial Planning and Urban Design |
1 230 |
0.1 |
1 230 |
100.0 |
|
0.0 |
Provincial Allocation |
49 048 |
3.0 |
49 048 |
100.0 |
|
0.0 |
Project Pre-Planning |
68 405 |
4.2 |
24 964 |
36.5 |
43 441 |
63.5 |
Human Settlements - Title Deeds |
500 |
0.0 |
343 |
68.6 |
157 |
31.4 |
Project Managemnet |
1 500 |
0.1 |
|
|
1 500 |
100.0 |
VAT |
|
|
72 031 |
|
- 72 031 |
|
Total |
1 645 425 |
100.0 |
1 481 930 |
90.1 |
235 526 |
14.3 |
In summary, the table indicates the following:
- From the R1.6 billion total allocated budget, Human Settlements Planning is allocated a larger portion of R419.9 million or 25.5% whereas 99.2% of those funds were spent. The expenditure is attributable to land purchase amounting to R416.7 million.
- The second highest allocation is on Assets Management and Maintenance at R262.8 million or 16% of the total allocated budget of which only 74.3% of those funds were spent.
- At least four of the services spent 100% of their budget at year end i.e. Solid Waste Management, Library/Information Services, Spatial Planning/Urban Design and Provincial Allocations.
We are required intervene to ensure that we provide the much needed houses for our people. I will certainly not abdicate my responsibilities by not acting when funds are not spent in line with the DORA. Not a cent from the USDG should be used for amenities or stadium construction while housing infrastructure is lacking or in some cases is non-existent.
25 September 2015 - NW3399
Lekota, Mr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
Whether, in the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2015, her department had (a) to contend with any community-organised housing protests either in demand for houses and/or to draw attention to corrupt practices or shoddy construction, (b) substantially addressed the accommodation needs of backyarders, especially in townships where congestion was so acute as to make fire hazards and disease a serious and constant danger, (c) done anything substantial to address the accommodation needs of people living in informal settlements and/or at the very least provided such communities with proper planning and adequate services, (d) worked harmoniously and co-operatively with provincial and municipal governments in each province to accelerate housing delivery and (e) worked in partnership with the private sector to develop affordable housing for the working class where income did not exceed a certain threshold; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
(a) The National Department in terms of the Constitution as well as relevant policies and legislation is not directly responsible for the programme and project planning, prioritisation and implementation of National Housing Programmes, as contained in the National Housing Code.
The mandate to plan and implement human settlements and housing projects in terms of the various National Housing Programmes vests with the nine Provincial Governments and the Municipalities. The various community organised protests, as they may be related to human settlements and housing, are therefore by and large organised and directed to local municipalities and/or the provincial departments. There are isolated cased community protests that are directed to national department offices.
(b) Each human settlement development project is unique and requires tailored and specific planning and design to meet the prevailing circumstances and housing specific needs and priorities. The Provinces and Municipalities endeavour to follow a balanced, integrated and developmental approach in the targeting of the most vulnerable households that require housing assistance. This means that projects will, where possible and required, be designed to accommodate predetermined percentages of households from the diversity of the housing backlog in an area, including households residing in informal backyard rental units, who wish to relocate to permanent ownership housing financed properties when such becomes available.
(c) The upgrading, relocation and redevelopment of informal settlements remains a priority developmental objective of Government. The Provinces allocate the majority of the annual Human Settlement Development Grant (HSDG) allocation for informal settlement upgrading projects and the Government remains committed to improve the lives of our communities who are residing in these areas on a priority basis. In the case of the Metropolitan Municipalities, the Department during the 2011/12 financial year introduced the Urban Settlements Development Grant with the object of prioritisation of funding allocations for land development and servicing aimed at households residing in informal settlements. The first phase intervention under the National Housing Programme for the Upgrading of informal Settlements is the identification of provision of emergency services needs and the design and deployment of such emergency services to curtail any health and life threatening situations.
A fundamental objective of the Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme is the participation, involvement and consultation with targeted communities in all aspects of the planning and implementation of their housing development solutions.
(d) The Department and the nine provincial human settlement departments and the metropolitan municipalities are collaborating in the planning and implementation of priority development areas. The Department is furthermore conducting quarterly performance reviews in collaboration with the provinces and municipalities to ensure that planned targets are pursued and to address any constraints where such is encountered.
(e) The Department has recently initiated an enhanced housing programme for the provision of assistance to households who are able to access mortgage finance and the rollout of the programme was aided by the important role that was fulfilled by the National Housing Finance Corporation as the National Programme Management Agent. The Department is furthermore continuously monitoring the implementation of the National Housing Programme in collaboration with the private sector and further enhancements to the programme are already in an advance stage of development.
23 September 2015 - NW3095
Kalyan, Ms SV to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) What are the categories of specialty for nurses in South Africa and (b) how many registered nurses are there in each category; (2) which training institutions offer nurses training in each category of specialty; (3) whether nurses specialising in neonatal care are trained at any type of institution; if not, why not; if so, (a) at which institutions and (b) how many nurses specialising in neonatal care have been trained since 1 January 2009?
Reply:
- (a), (b) and (2)
The categories of nurse and midwife specialists and production is covered in the template provided below depicting Universities and Public Colleges that offered such specializations.
UNIVERSITIES
|
|||||||
NURISNG EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS |
PROGRAMME |
YEAR OBTAINED
|
|||||
|
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
TOTAL |
CPUT |
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
15 |
12 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
41 |
|
Treatment and Care |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Occupational Health Nursing |
28 |
21 |
28 |
21 |
0 |
98 |
|
Oncology |
12 |
6 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
36 |
|
Nursing Administration |
39 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
39 |
118 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA |
Nursing Education |
6 |
10 |
19 |
10 |
19 |
64 |
|
Nursing Administration |
8 |
23 |
84 |
25 |
78 |
218 |
|
Community Nursing |
28 |
43 |
117 |
28 |
100 |
316 |
|
Operating Theatre Nursing |
10 |
3 |
14 |
3 |
12 |
42 |
|
Nursing Science: Neonatal Nursing |
0 |
|
27 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
|
Advanced Psychiatric Nursing |
7 |
3 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF STELLEBOSCH |
Advanced Psychiatric Nursing |
14 |
13 |
14 |
12 |
13 |
66 |
|
Nursing Administration |
8 |
61 |
18 |
12 |
25 |
124 |
|
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
58 |
142 |
58 |
34 |
45 |
337 |
|
Treatment and Care |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nursing Education |
42 |
26 |
59 |
42 |
36 |
205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TUT |
Occupational Health Nursing |
62 |
99 |
25 |
35 |
24 |
245 |
|
Oncology |
23 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
20 |
80 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
Nursing Administration |
54 |
25 |
46 |
34 |
|
159 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF VENDA |
Nursing Administration & Community Health |
23 |
16 |
15 |
23 |
26 |
103 |
|
Psychiatric Nursing |
15 |
31 |
73 |
34 |
13 |
166 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNISA |
BA Cur Health Science Education & community |
18 |
63 |
164 |
45 |
32 |
322 |
|
Specializing in Occupational Health |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BA Cur Health Science Education & Health Service |
7 |
36 |
42 |
48 |
23 |
156 |
|
Management |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Science Education, Community Health Nursing |
58 |
48 |
36 |
40 |
41 |
223 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WITS UNIVERSITY |
Nephrology Nursing |
6 |
10 |
13 |
10 |
8 |
47 |
|
Nursing Education |
1 |
2 |
10 |
5 |
7 |
25 |
|
Nursing Administration |
5 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
25 |
|
Trauma & Emergency Nursing |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Occupational Health |
11 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KZN UNIVERSITY |
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
3 |
24 |
70 |
68 |
73 |
238 |
|
Treatment and Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nursing Administration |
55 |
42 |
25 |
38 |
40 |
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DURBAN UNIV OF TECHNOLOGY |
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
3 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
20 |
|
Treatment and Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN |
Nephrology Nursing |
9 |
11 |
15 |
14 |
19 |
68 |
UNIVERSITY |
Nursing Education |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Critical Care Nursing |
4 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
25 |
|
Advanced Midwifery& Neonatal Nursing Science |
4 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
33 |
|
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
2 |
5 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
33 |
|
Treatment and Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Psychiatric Nursing |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
|
Nursing Administration |
5 |
8 |
9 |
5 |
12 |
39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF FREE STATE |
PSYC (880) |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
29 |
|
PSYC (212) |
3 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
18 |
|
Occupational Health Nursing |
32 |
26 |
29 |
24 |
23 |
134 |
|
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
80 |
25 |
44 |
45 |
40 |
234 |
|
Treatment and Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Child Nursing Science |
12 |
14 |
2 |
8 |
12 |
48 |
|
Critical Care |
8 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
27 |
|
Advanced Midwifery& Neonatal Nursing |
7 |
17 |
9 |
9 |
6 |
48 |
|
Operating Theatre |
17 |
14 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
52 |
|
Nursing Administration |
81 |
15 |
22 |
26 |
23 |
167 |
|
Nursing Education |
10 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
17 |
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
POTCHEFSTROOM UNIVERSITY |
Nursing Management |
50 |
141 |
21 |
34 |
22 |
268 |
|
Nursing Education |
82 |
23 |
23 |
26 |
25 |
179 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diploma: Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, |
13 |
10 |
9 |
13 |
15 |
60 |
|
Treatment and Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Midwifery & Neonatal Nursing Science |
2 |
14 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
32 |
|
|
12 |
35 |
26 |
19 |
20 |
112 |
|
Occupational Health Nursing |
22 |
35 |
31 |
25 |
32 |
145 |
|
Nursing Administration |
13 |
38 |
16 |
17 |
20 |
104 |
|
Nursing Education |
12 |
14 |
15 |
18 |
16 |
75 |
|
Community Health Nursing |
5 |
6 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
25 |
|
Medical & Surgical Nursing Science Critical care |
1 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
20 |
|
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Science |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NURSING COLLEGES
NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS |
PROGRAMME |
YEAR OBTAINED |
|||||
|
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
TOTAL |
NET CARE EDUCATION |
Critical Care Nursing: General |
12 |
6 |
7 |
13 |
10 |
48 |
|
Operating Room Nursing |
8 |
9 |
11 |
11 |
14 |
53 |
|
Trauma and Emergency Nursing |
14 |
17 |
4 |
4 |
18 |
57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SG LOURENS NURSING COLLEGE |
Psychiatric Nursing Science |
15 |
17 |
19 |
32 |
10 |
93 |
|
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment |
32 |
29 |
28 |
89 |
45 |
223 |
|
Treatment & Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BARAGWANATH NURSING SCIENCE |
Nephrology Nursing Science |
12 |
10 |
3 |
25 |
15 |
65 |
|
Child Nursing Science |
12 |
12 |
6 |
30 |
30 |
90 |
|
Critical Care Nursing: General |
|
35 |
8 |
43 |
34 |
120 |
|
Ophthalmic Nursing Science |
16 |
13 |
5 |
34 |
15 |
83 |
|
Trauma and Emergency |
21 |
13 |
3 |
37 |
22 |
96 |
|
Oncology Nursing Science |
6 |
12 |
2 |
20 |
13 |
53 |
|
Operating Theatre Nursing Science |
17 |
20 |
2 |
39 |
17 |
95 |
|
Orthopeadic Nursing Science |
17 |
10 |
6 |
33 |
28 |
94 |
|
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment |
45 |
23 |
5 |
73 |
56 |
202 |
|
Treatment & Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advanced Midwifery & Neonatal Nursing |
35 |
25 |
16 |
76 |
23 |
175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FREE STATE COLLEGE |
Critical Care Nursing |
11 |
12 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MCCORD HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING |
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment |
45 |
38 |
43 |
42 |
36 |
204 |
|
Diagnosis, Treatment & Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LILITHA COLLEGE OF NURSING |
Ophthalmological Nursing Science |
9 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
16 |
57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orthopeadic Nursing Science |
12 |
8 |
13 |
11 |
14 |
58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIFE COLLEGE |
Operating Theatre Nursing |
6 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
8 |
40 |
|
Emergency Nursing |
19 |
13 |
10 |
29 |
12 |
83 |
|
Critical Care Nursing: General |
5 |
14 |
10 |
19 |
13 |
61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KZN COLLEGE OF NURSING |
Critical Care Nursing Science |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
75 |
|
Child Nursing Science |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
70 |
|
Orthopeadic Nursing Science |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
75 |
|
Midwifery & Neonatal Nursing Science |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
120 |
|
Child Nursing Science |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
80 |
|
Ophthalmic Nursing Science |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANN LATSKY NURSING COLLEGE |
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment |
61 |
59 |
44 |
53 |
41 |
258 |
|
Treatment & Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GA-RANKUWA |
Midwifery & Neonatal Nursing Science |
35 |
32 |
36 |
23 |
20 |
146 |
|
Child Nursing Science |
30 |
21 |
20 |
12 |
23 |
106 |
|
Operating Theatre Nursing |
20 |
18 |
12 |
12 |
16 |
78 |
|
Critical Care Nursing: General |
18 |
12 |
12 |
16 |
15 |
73 |
|
Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment |
18 |
16 |
27 |
30 |
23 |
114 |
|
Treatment & Care |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUMMARY PRODUCTION OF SPECIALIST NURSES: NURSING COLLEGES
PROGRAME |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Advanced Midwifery& Neonatal Nursing Science |
94 |
77 |
76 |
123 |
67 |
Advanced Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing Science |
15 |
17 |
19 |
32 |
10 |
Child Nursing Science |
72 |
63 |
62 |
54 |
62 |
Clinical Nursing Science Health Assessment Treatment & Care |
201 |
165 |
147 |
287 |
201 |
Community Nursing Science |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Critical Care General |
61 |
94 |
69 |
121 |
108 |
Critical Care Trauma |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Critical Care Trauma & Emergency |
14 |
17 |
4 |
4 |
18 |
Nephrology Nursing Science |
87 |
36 |
16 |
81 |
55 |
Nursing Administration |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nursing Education |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Occupational Health Nursing Science |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Oncology Nursing Science |
6 |
12 |
2 |
20 |
13 |
Operating Theatre Nursing |
51 |
51 |
34 |
86 |
100 |
Ophthalmological Nursing Science |
24 |
27 |
25 |
25 |
72 |
Orthopaedic Nursing Science |
27 |
23 |
28 |
26 |
73 |
SUMMARY PRODUCTION OF SPECIALIST NURSES: UNIVERSITIES
PROGRAME |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Advanced Midwifery& Neonatal Nursing Science |
13 |
39 |
50 |
21 |
17 |
Advanced Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing Science |
48 |
63 |
110 |
68 |
48 |
Child Nursing Science |
12 |
14 |
2 |
8 |
12 |
Clinical Nursing Science Health Assessment Treatment & Care |
169 |
219 |
182 |
238 |
176 |
Community Nursing Science |
62 |
73 |
136 |
84 |
126 |
Critical Care General |
13 |
10 |
16 |
19 |
14 |
Critical Care Trauma |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Critical Care Trauma & Emergency |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Nephrology Nursing Science |
15 |
21 |
28 |
24 |
27 |
Nursing Administration |
290 |
366 |
260 |
225 |
263 |
Nursing Education |
162 |
125 |
218 |
139 |
136 |
Occupational Health Nursing Science |
155 |
185 |
113 |
105 |
79 |
Oncology Nursing Science |
35 |
16 |
14 |
25 |
26 |
Operating Theatre Nursing |
27 |
17 |
19 |
10 |
21 |
Ophthalmological Nursing Science |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Orthopaedic Nursing Science |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(3) (a) Yes, the University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria;
(b) A total of 310 since 1 January 2009, however, this programme has been discontinued after it was identified that there were no Regulations related to the offering of such programme. It should also be noted that candidates who underwent such training were duly registered based on Council resolution.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW2903
James, Dr WG to ask the Minister of Health
(1)For each pilot district of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHI), what have been the major (a) successes and (b) failures of the implementation of the NHI in that specific pilot site; (2) how many private general practitioners have contracted with the State to work in the pilot districts?
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.
23 September 2015 - NW2902
Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health
Whether the country will meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 relating to health this year; if not, (a) which of the goals and/or targets will not be met, (b) why will the specified goals and/or targets not be met, (c) who will be held accountable for the missed goals and/or targets and (d) what measures has he implemented to ensure that missed goals and/or targets are met?
Reply:
(a), (b), (c) and (d) Honourable Member, the final target for MDGs is end of September 2015. The United Nations General Assembly is meeting then to finalise and release the final results for each country. You may have to be a bit patient until that final moment. But generally the United Nations is of the view that MDGs 4, 5 and 6 are going to be included in the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3424
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Science and Technology
Whether any measures have been put in place to ensure that there is further growth of the Southern African Large Telescope and its instruments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? ˮ
Reply:
The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is an international facility with South Africa holding a 33% share. In 2012, the SALT Board resolved to start a R75m Development Fund for the purpose of providing the resources necessary for continued development of the telescope and its instruments. Each of the partners in the telescope consortium had committed to pay a pro-rata share of the fund in proportion to its shareholding in the telescope and the contributions are meant to be made by May 2016. South Africa’s contribution amounts to R25m and this amount has already been paid. To date approximately R33m, both in-kind and in cash, has been received from the SALT partners, and this matter is raised at each meeting of the SALT directors. The DST is using its bilateral inter-governmental engagements with the relevant countries to solicit higher levels of government support to the respective consortium partners so that they may contribute their outstanding share to the development fund. In addition, the DST and NRF are actively seeking new partners to extend and recapitalise the consortium.
23 September 2015 - NW3099
Jooste, Ms K to ask the Minister of Health
(1)(a) What is the total number of prisoners in correctional facilities who have (i) tuberculosis and (ii) multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and (b) which facilities have the highest number of prisoners infected with tuberculosis; (2) whether he has implemented any infection control measures at the specified correctional facilities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether there is a national database for prisoners infected with tuberculosis in the country’s correctional facilities; (4) whether there are guidelines for tuberculosis (a) diagnosis and (b) care in the country’s correctional facilities; (5) whether he has put any specific measures in place to combat (a) tuberculosis and (b) multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the country’s correctional facilities?
Reply:
- (a) A total of 127,830 tests were conducted from October 2013, the time the Department of Health got involved with the management of TB in Correctional Services, until August 2015. Those confirmed with TB were 6,273 (4.9%) of whom, 263 (4.2%) had MDR-TB. The yearly breakdown is indicated in the Table below.
(b) There are 8 Management Areas with the highest number of inmates with TB disease. The list of these management areas by region are shown in the table below.
Region |
Department of Correctional Services Management Areas with highest number of inmates infected with TB |
Eastern Cape |
St Albans |
Mthatha |
|
Free State |
Groenpunt |
Northern Cape |
Kimberly |
Gauteng |
Kgoši Mampuru |
Johannesburg |
|
KZN |
Durban Westville |
Pietermaritzburg |
|
Western cape |
Pollsmoor |
Allandale |
(2) The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Justice and Correctional Services, has conducted infection risk assessments in selected correctional facilities to determine the risk for the spread of TB infection. There is routine screening of inmates for TB. Inmates with TB are isolated until they are non infectious. Inmates are also provided with education/information about TB, including information on how TB is spread and the symptoms of TB.
(3) Information about inmates with TB is contained in relevant TB registers kept at the respective correctional facilities.
(4) The National Department of Health developed “Guidelines for the Management of Tuberculosis (TB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Correctional Facilities” and were launched by the Deputy President in March 2013.
(5) The following interventions are implemented in correctional facilities to combat tuberculosis and MDR-TB:
- Infection control measures;
- Preventive therapy is provided to inmates who are at high risk of developing the TB disease, especially those living with HIV;
- Screening all inmates for TB at least twice a year and testing those with TB symptoms using GeneXpert;
- All inmates with TB are retained on treatment until completion;
- Inmates living with TB and HIV are initiated on ARVs.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW2637
Dudley, Ms C to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What is his department’s policy and regulations regarding the disposal of foetuses in (a) public hospitals and (b) abortion clinics; (2) which companies in each of the provinces have contracts to dispose of foetuses aborted at (a) public hospitals and (b) clinics. (3) (a) what are the laws and regulations regarding foetuses being used for experimental purposes and (b) how is this practice monitored?
Reply:
1. Public Hospitals use the following regulations as stipulated in the National Health Act No. 61 of 2003 to dispose of foetuses:
(i) R. 177 Regulations relating to the use of human biological material Section 2. In terms of section 68 of the Act, - regulates who should remove human biological material from health institutions.
(ii) R. 180 Regulations regarding the general control of human bodies, tissue, blood, blood products and gametes, Section 68(1) – regulates handling of deceased bodies/human biological material.
(iii) R. No. Regulations relating to health care waste management in health establishments – the Environmental Health Directorate within the National Department of Health has developed the above mentioned regulation and it has just been approved.
2. (a)-(b) Contracted companies for disposal of foetuses in both public hospitals and abortion clinics are:
Province |
Company |
Eastern Cape |
Compass Waste Management Services |
Free State |
Solid Waste Management Services |
Gauteng |
Buhle Waste Management Services |
KwaZulu-Natal |
Compass Waste Management Services |
Limpopo |
Buhle Waste Management Services |
Mpumalanga |
Buhle Waste Management Services |
North West |
Buhle Waste Management Services |
Northern Cape |
Tshenolo Waste Management Services |
Western Cape |
Solid Waste Management Services |
3. (a) The Department of Health is currently guided by the following regulation:
- R. 180 Regulations regarding the general control of human bodies, tissue, blood, blood products and gametes section 68 (1) in conjunction with section 90 of the National Health Act stating
“Any person who acquires the body of a deceased person or any tissue, blood or gamete by virtue of any provision of the Act and these regulations, shall, subject to any restrictions in terms of the Act or any other law and provided she or he uses the body, tissue, blood or gamete for the purposes for which it has been donated, handed over or supplied to her or to him, on receipt of that body, tissue, blood or gamete acquire exclusive rights in respect thereof.”
(b) The National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) is a statutory body established in terms of The National Health Act (NHA) to set norms and standards for conducting research on humans, to monitor and institute appropriate disciplinary actions in cases of violation of ethics and human rights. It monitors ethical conduct in research, including the use of fetuses for experimental purposes. Section 72(7) particularly makes provision for “clinical trials” which includes experiments involving human subjects for research purposes. (NHA s 73(1)) requires that every organisation/institution, health agency and health establishment at which health and health-related research involving human participants must have access to a registered Human Research Ethics Committee (REC) that review research involving human participants must be assessed and register with the NHREC (NHA s 73(1)). The NHA (s 72(1)) requires that proposals to conduct ‘health research’ must undergo independent ethics review before the research is commenced.
- Section 3.3.5 of the 2015 Ethics Guidelines relates to Restrictions on collection of biological materials. The document highlights certain persons who are specially protected. The guidelines explains that without Ministerial permission, biological materials may not be taken from mentally ill persons; biological materials that are not naturally replaceable may not be taken from a minor; no gametes may be taken from a minor; and no fetal biological material except for umbilical cord progenitor cells may be collected from anyone. These restrictions are absolute which means that research with the categories of person mentioned requires special permission. RECs must satisfy themselves that the necessary special permission has been obtained, where appropriate.
Furthermore, the Department has established a National Health Research Database (NHRD) to register and monitor all research being conducted in the country. All research studies have to be approved by the Ethics committee and registered in the database before commencement.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW2898
Jooste, Ms K to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he or officials of his department are aware of the key findings of an investigation conducted by a team of professionals in the built environment and the Special Investigating Unit into possible financial mismanagement and corrupt practises that may have taken place and resulted in the delayed completion of the construction of the new mental health facility in Kimberley, Northern Cape?
Reply:
We are indeed aware of the findings. This investigation was in fact initiated by the National Department of Health. The investigations you refer to forms part of a more holistic assessment of the project. The initial phase of the investigation, focussed on technical issues, has been concluded. The team is now busy with an assessment of procedural and contractual issues. For obvious reasons, we cannot at this stage discuss the detail of the findings, as this will jeopardise the balance of the investigation.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3098
Jooste, Ms K to ask the Minister of Health
(a) How many GeneXpert instruments have been rolled out across the country and (b) where are the specified instruments situated?
Reply:
a) A total of 309 Xpert instruments of varying sizes (GX4: 110; GX16:190; GX48: 3; GX80:8) have been placed in 221 sites. The placement includes seven Correctional Service facilities and six mobile vans.
b) The Table 1 below reflects the details in this regard
Province and District |
GX4 |
GX16 |
Infinity GX48 |
Infinity GX80 |
Total |
Eastern Cape |
15 |
27 |
2 |
44 |
|
Alfred Nzo |
4 |
4 |
|||
Amathole |
3 |
6 |
1 |
10 |
|
Cacadu |
3 |
1 |
4 |
||
Chris Hani |
3 |
5 |
8 |
||
Nelson Mandela Bay Metro |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
O.R Tambo |
3 |
4 |
7 |
||
O.R. Tambo |
3 |
3 |
|||
Ukhahlamba |
3 |
2 |
5 |
||
Free State |
8 |
10 |
1 |
19 |
|
Fezile Dabi |
2 |
2 |
|||
Lejweleputswa |
6 |
1 |
7 |
||
Motheo |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
Thabo Mofutsanyane |
6 |
6 |
|||
Groenpunt Correctional Facility |
1 |
1 |
|||
Gauteng |
12 |
28 |
2 |
42 |
|
City of Johannesburg |
5 |
8 |
1 |
14 |
|
City of Tshwane |
3 |
8 |
11 |
||
Ekurhuleni |
2 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
|
Sedibeng |
3 |
3 |
|||
West Rand |
6 |
6 |
|||
Westrand |
2 |
2 |
|||
Kwazulu-Natal |
34 |
49 |
1 |
1 |
85 |
Amajuba |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
eThekwini |
9 |
13 |
1 |
23 |
|
iLembe |
2 |
4 |
6 |
||
Sisonke |
4 |
3 |
7 |
||
Ugu |
4 |
4 |
|||
uMgungundlovu |
1 |
6 |
7 |
||
Umkhanyakude |
4 |
4 |
8 |
||
Umzinyathi |
4 |
4 |
|||
Uthukela |
3 |
3 |
6 |
||
Uthungulu |
8 |
2 |
1 |
11 |
|
Zululand |
2 |
4 |
6 |
||
Limpopo |
15 |
25 |
40 |
||
Capricorn |
1 |
7 |
8 |
||
Greater Sekhukhune |
1 |
5 |
6 |
||
Mopani |
3 |
4 |
7 |
||
Sekhukhune |
2 |
2 |
|||
Vhembe |
2 |
5 |
7 |
||
Waterberg |
6 |
4 |
10 |
||
Mpumalanga |
4 |
14 |
1 |
19 |
|
Ehlanzeni |
2 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
|
Gert Sibande |
2 |
3 |
5 |
||
Nkangala |
5 |
5 |
|||
North West |
6 |
16 |
22 |
||
Bojanala Platinum |
3 |
4 |
7 |
||
Dr Kenneth Kaunda (Southern) |
2 |
5 |
7 |
||
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (Bophirima) |
1 |
3 |
4 |
||
Ngaka Modiri Molema (Central) |
4 |
4 |
|||
Northern Cape |
3 |
3 |
|||
Frances Baard |
2 |
2 |
|||
John Taolo Gaetsewe (Kgalagadi) |
1 |
1 |
|||
Nothern Cape |
2 |
3 |
5 |
||
Namakwa |
2 |
2 |
|||
Pixley ka Seme |
1 |
1 |
|||
Siyanda |
2 |
2 |
|||
Western Cape |
16 |
13 |
1 |
30 |
|
Cape Winelands |
4 |
4 |
|||
City of Cape Town |
11 |
5 |
1 |
17 |
|
Eden |
3 |
3 |
6 |
||
Karoo |
1 |
1 |
|||
West Coast |
2 |
2 |
|||
Grand Total |
112 |
188 |
1 |
8 |
309 |
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3102
Walters, Mr TC to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With regard to his reply to question 441 on 8 June 2015, in respect of each province, (a) how many new clinics or community health centres will be built in accordance with the relevant infrastructure plan, (b) where will they be located and (c) what are the relevant time frames for the building of each clinic; (2) in respect of each province, (a) what are the names of the clinics and community health centres that require refurbishment, (b) where are they located and (c) what are the relevant time frames of the refurbishment of each clinic?
Reply:
1. (a) In the NHI Pilot Districts 16 clinics and 5 CHCs will be built in accordance with the relevant infrastructure plan.
(b) The clinics are located as follows: Limpopo Province (Magwedzha, Makonde, Mulenzhe, Thengwe and Kutama), Free State Province (Borwa, Clocolan and Lusuka) and Eastern Cape Province (Lusikisiki, Sakhele, Nolita, Genqe, Lutubeni, Maxwele, Lotana and Nkanga). The CHCs are located in Mpumalanga (Mkhondo, Msukaligwa, Nhlazatshe 6, Vukuzakhe, Balfour).
(c) Relevant timeframes for building clinics range from 12 to 18 months.
2. (a) The Department of Health is busy with the repair and upgrade of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in the Pilot Districts of the NHI programme. The first phase currently of the programme includes the implementation of a multi-disciplinary building condition technical assessment and to establish the status-quo of the relevant services and installations, recommend appropriate remedial interventions, where required, prioritise these in terms of criticality, and determine the associated cost estimates. This will put the Department in a position to appoint contractors to do repairs to PHC facilities and to plan any facility upgrades and/or replacements within annual allocated funding.
(b) The Department intends to repair and upgrade all the health facilities in the NHI pilot districts to a set standard.
(c) Relevant timeframes for the refurbishment of each clinic can range from 1 to 12 months.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3106
James, Dr WG to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What is the brand name of the rapid HIV test kits provided by each of the suppliers who were awarded a contract by his department; (2) whether the specified test kits provided by the different suppliers are from the same manufacturer; if so, why was there no attempt to diversify the types of HIV test kits that were made available in the country?
Reply:
- (a) ADVANCED QUALITY ONE STEP ANTI-HIV (1&2) Test (InTec Products Inc): Used for screening;
(b) ABON HIV 1/2/O Tri-Line Human Immunodeficiency Virus Rapid Test (ABON Biopharm Hangzhou Co., Ltd): Used for confirmatory;
2. No, the specified test kits are not from the same manufacturer as specified below:
ADVANCED QUALITY is used for screening and ABON is used for is used for confirmatory. ADVANCED QUALITY is supplied by 2 suppliers because it is used for screening and needed in large quantities, while ABON is supplied by another different supplier and is from a different manufacturer.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3213
James, Dr WG to ask the Minister of Health
Whether the Advanced Quality HIV rapid test kit supplied by certain companies (names furnished) to his department since 1 April 2014 is a World Health Organisation approved test; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Advanced Quality met all the specifications for award as per the advert. This included two pre-qualifications by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3096
Kalyan, Ms SV to ask the Minister of Health
Whether there are any (a) hospitals, (b) hospital wards, (c) clinics and/or (d) any other health facilities dedicated to treating patients with (i) tuberculosis and (ii) multi-drug or extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis; if not, why not; if so, (aa) what are the names of the specified facilities, (bb) where are they situated and (cc) what is the treatment capacity of each specified facility?
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.
23 September 2015 - NW3094
Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health
How many nurses qualified at each type of training institution in each province in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014?
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
OUTPUT 4YEAR PROGRAMME(2010-2014)UNIVERSITIES
|
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3100
Walters, Mr TC to ask the Minister of Health
(1)With reference to his reply to question 442 on 26 May 2015, what is the maternal mortality ratio per 100 000 live births in each province in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; (2) whether his department has identified the main causes of the high maternal mortality ratio; if not, why not; if so, what (a) are the relevant details and (b) steps has he taken to address the main causes since 1 June 2014?
Reply:
- (a)-(c) The latest data for maternal mortality ratio was published in 2013, by the Medical Research Council in the Rapid Mortality Surveillance Report. The maternal mortality ratio in 2011 was estimated to be 197 per 100,000 live births.
The National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths monitors maternal deaths that occur within health facilities. The most recent data from this Committee is reflected below.
Institutional Maternal Mortality Ratio (Saving Mothers report 2011-2013)
PROVINCE |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
||
Eastern Cape |
164.74 |
153.71 |
172.73 |
||
Free State |
246.84 |
149.34 |
185.08 |
||
Gauteng |
136.44 |
163.67 |
114.99 |
||
KwaZulu-Natal |
197.60 |
170.19 |
146.54 |
||
Limpopo |
196.40 |
192.89 |
201.21 |
||
Mpumalanga |
199.74 |
177.39 |
150.25 |
||
North West |
173.05 |
164.80 |
168.48 |
||
North West |
193.62 |
166.53 |
158.32 |
||
Western Cape |
62.64 |
81.81 |
83.91 |
||
South Africa |
174.56 |
157.81 |
153.50 |
||
2. Yes the causes are known through the work done by National Committee on Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Death (NCCEMD) established by the Minister of Health.
a) The main causes of Maternal Mortality according to the latest NCCEMD triennial, 2011-2013 report are as follows:
- HIV/AIDS which accounts for 50% of the deaths;
- Obstetric Hemorrhages;
- Hypertension;
- Health professional training;
- Health system strengthening
(b) Interventions to address the main causes of maternal deaths being implemented include:
(i) Option B plus to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV
This policy was adopted and implemented from 01 January 2015. The policy stipulates that all HIV pregnant and breastfeeding women must be initiated on lifelong antiretroviral treatment (ART) for the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and their own health regardless of CD4 count and on diagnosis.
(ii) Essential Steps in the Management of Obstetric Emergencies (ESMOE) and Emergency Obstetric Simulation Training (EOST)
- ESMOE are trainings for doctors and midwives to improve their skills to manage, among others, hemorrhage and hypertension and are currently being done in all facilities rendering maternity care;
- EOST are fire drills to simulate the real obstetric emergency situations to refine and reinforce the clinical skills;
- To date, 1937 doctors and 5110 professional nurses have been trained on ESMOE. This has led to a 30% decline in maternal mortality due to improved health care providers’ skills in the management of mothers, neonates and children in the districts that we have conducted ESMOE training in;
(iii) Community mobilization efforts
- Mom-Connect services which is an electronic cellular system to give health messages to pregnant women to help them access care early in pregnancy as well as post delivery. Currently over 508 000 women have been registered and receive weekly messages about their pregnancy and care for the infant post delivery;
(iv) Efforts of Health System Strengthening
- The District Specialist Teams (DCST’s) include specialists in maternal, newborn and child care, have been appointed in all 52 districts. This team is responsible for clinical governance within all public facilities and specifically focusing on Maternal Neonatal and Child Health;
(v) Efforts to address access to services
- Maternity waiting homes: Currently there are 81 maternity waiting homes + 18 on site beds nationally;
- Nationally there are 241 dedicated obstetric ambulances to improve access to health facilities;
(vi) Family planning
The launching of the family planning campaign in 2014 and introduction of sub-dermal implant as a long term method of family planning had a positive impact on family planning practices. The Couple Year Protection Rate has improved from 37.7% in F/Y 2013/2014 to 52.7% in F/Y 2014/15. Improvement of family planning strategies assists in preventing unwanted pregnancies as well as teenage pregnancies which may lead to maternal mortality.
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3097
Kalyan, Ms SV to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether his department has identified certain areas as tuberculosis hot spots; if so, which areas have been identified; (2) what criteria were used to identify the specified areas as tuberculosis hot spots?
Reply:
(1) The Department has identified 17 districts as TB hotpsots for enhanced intervention (See Table 1).
Table 1: TB hotspots
Province |
TB Hotspots Districts |
Eastern Cape |
Buffalo City |
Cacadu |
|
Chris Hani |
|
Free Sate |
Lejweleputswa |
Gauteng |
Johannesburg Metro |
West Rand |
|
KwaZulu Natal |
eThekwini |
Limpopo |
Sekhukhune |
Waterberg |
|
Mpumalanga |
Ehlanzeni |
North West |
Bojanala |
Dr Kenneth Kaunda |
|
Western Cape |
City of Cape Town |
West Coast |
(2) The following criteria were used to identify TB hotspots:
- Number of people diagnosed with TB (exceeding 5,000 per year);
- Treatment success (below 80%);
- Defaulter Rate (exceeding 6.2%);
- Death Rate (exceeding 5.6%);
- Transferred Out Rate (exceeding 2.4%);
- Drug resistant TB burden;
- High concentration of (especially gold) mining
END.
23 September 2015 - NW3380
James, Dr WG to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What is the estimated timeline for the appointment of a permanent chief executive officer (CEO) for the National Health Laboratory Service; (2) whether a certain official of his department (name and details furnished) was or is in any way involved with the appointment process; if so, what is the extent of the specified official’s involvement; (3) whether the specified official (a) attended any of the interviews for the vacant CEO position and/or (b) gave any instruction to the selection interview panel; if so, (i) why and (ii) what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Ms. Joyce Mogale was appointed as the full-time CEO of the NHLS on the 28th of August 2015.
2. Three officials were involved with the recruitment process, namely Mr Andre Venter and Dr Devanand Moonasar – in their capacity as Members of the Board of the NHLS, and Ms Malebone Precious Matsoso in her capacity as an independent technical expert;
3. Ms. Matsoso attended the second round of interviews, but provided no instruction to the Selection Panel. Ms. Matsoso as the Director-General: Health did not participate in any discussion or process that resulted in a preferred candidate being identified.
The process of appointing the CEO of the NHLS was as follows:
The NHLS placed an advert in the Mail and Guardian for a CEO on a 5-year contract in November 2015. The NHLS board determined that a selection panel would oversee the recruitment process, from the short-listing through to interviews and making a recommendation to the NHLS board on a preferred candidate. Mr. Andre Venter as the chair of the Finance Committee of the NHLS and a NHLS Board member was appointed as a member of the selection panel.
Both Mr. Venter and Dr Moonasar participated in the shortlisting process. During the shortlisting 8 candidates were identified as meeting the requirements as advertised.
A first round of interviews was conducted. The panel established constituted the selection panel as well as any other board members who were available. Both Mr. Venter and Dr Moonasar participated in the first round of interviews.
The result of the first round of interviews was that the top 4 candidates were called in for a second round of interviews. In addition to the selection panel members, any NHLS board member who was available was invited to participate in the interviews.
In the second round, the Director-General: Health (Ms MP Matsoso) was the only official from the NDOH that participated. Mr Venter (due to ill health) and Dr Moonasar (prior commitments) did not attend.
Ms Matsoso’s role was only to provide an external assessment of the candidates, and upon completion of the interviews she excused herself from the process. The Selection panel, after the departure of Ms Matsoso, consolidated the scores of each candidate.
The selection panel made a recommendation to the NHLS Board, that the top 2 candidates are subject to a proficiency assessment. Following which, a teleconference was convened to inform all those present during the second round interviews of the outcome of the proficiency testing. Ms Matsoso and Mr. Venter participated in this teleconference.
Following the disclosure of the results of the proficiency test, Ms. Matsoso informed the NHLS chairperson, that her role was complete and asked to be excused. The Chairperson thanked Ms Matsoso for her contribution and confirmed that she was excused. Once Ms Matsoso was excused, the selection panel deliberated on the interview and proficiency results. A recommendation was then drafted and tabled to the NHLS board at the meeting held on the 29th of July 2015. Mr. Venter participated in the in drafting of the recommendation.
The NHLS board mandated the NHLS Chairperson to inform the Minister of Health of the outcome of the selection process. Both Mr. Venter and Dr Moonasar participated in the Board meeting in their capacity as Board Members of the NHLS.
The Minister of Health duly noted the outcome and was satisfied that the Board had followed a fair and rigorous process. As such, the Minister supported the recommendation of the NHLS Board to appoint Ms. Mogale as the CEO of the NHLS on a 5-year contract.
END.
22 September 2015 - NW3326
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development
Has it at any stage since 11 May 2009 been his policy position for a devaluation of the rand by the SA Reserve Bank?
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-
22 September 2015 - NW3194
Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)What was the (a) total amount spent and (b) breakdown of the specified expenditure on each specified foreign Defence Attaché Residents in the 2014-15 financial year; (2) what was the (a) total amount spent and (b) breakdown of the specified expenditure on all foreign Defence Attaché Residents in the 2014-15 financial year?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3186
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What is the basis of the cost of collection of the contract with a certain company (name furnished) and/or its subsidiaries for the installation, maintenance, management and vending related to smart electricity meters in the City of Tshwane, as (a) calculated by the metro and (b) presented to the Council by the specified company and/or its subsidiaries; (2) who calculated the cost of collection on which the actual contract is based; (3) whether the actual cost of collection matches the costs presented in the initial proposal; if not, (a) why not and (b) what is the actual cost of collection?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3509
Leader of Opposition (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Has her Department extended an invitation to the President of Sudan, Mr Omar al-Bashir, to attend the sixth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation which will be hosted in the country on 4 and 5 December 2015; if not, when does her department intend to do so; if so, who authorised the invitation?
Reply:
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation does not extend invitations to Presidents.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2907
Chewane, Dr H to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he is aware of the lack of water in most health facilities in John Taolo Gaetsewe district in the Northern Cape, which resulted in some important procedures not being performed; if so, what is he doing to ensure that the poor people in the specified district, who depend on the public healthcare system, are not compromised by the lack of water?
Reply:
Yes, the Department of Health is aware of the water problem in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District in the Northern Cape, but it is not in most facilities as claimed by the question. The problem is in 10 out of 42 Primary Health Care facilities (PHCs). Most of these facilities are located in the deep rural areas of the District where there is no connection to the municipality’s water supply source. In areas where there is a connection it has been difficult for the municipality to meet the demand.
The District engaged the municipality to supply water tanks and fill them regularly with water. Interruptions have been very minimal.
The following were done as remedial action:
- Skilled technical officials have been appointed by the Department;
- An action plan has been developed;
- The District and the Department are in the process of procuring service providers to erect boreholes to supplement water supply;
- Approval has been granted to procure 5 000 litre water tanks for all 10 facilities; and
- The procurement process was anticipated to commence in the week of 24 August 2015.
END.
22 September 2015 - NW2994
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Science and Technology
Whether her department is in any way involved in research regarding the new nuclear build programme in the country; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
REPLY:
The Department is not involved in research regarding the new nuclear build programme in the country since the nuclear technology option/choice is yet to be decided on. However, there are existing initiatives in support of nuclear energy industry that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is involved in for the development of know-how and technologies in the nuclear technologies fields.
These include the Nuclear Engineering Research Chair at North West University; Carbon Materials and Technology Chair at the University of Pretoria; Advanced Materials Initiative (AMI); South African Nuclear Human Asset Research Programme (SANHARP); Masters in Accelerator and Nuclear Science (MANUS) and Masters in Material Science (MatSci) programme, involving the University of Zululand, the University of the Western Cape and iThemba Labs.
The focus of the work is as follows:
- Nuclear safety, which includes radiation effects of mining and routine discharges of Koeberg nuclear power station and also radiation standards and regulations;
- Nuclear materials beneficiation;
- Carbon technologies research with emphasis on nuclear graphite technology to support nuclear power generation;
- Reactor technology research on modelling and simulation of nuclear reactors and their associated power plants and process applications. These models are applied in the analysis, design and optimisation of pressurised water reactors and high temperature reactors;
- Nuclear project management, nuclear energy economics; and
- Collaborative research on system analysis of passive safe small modular high temperature gas cooled reactors.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3079
Van Dalen, Mr P to ask the Minister of Energy
(a) How does (i) her department and (ii) entities reporting to her define red tape and (b) what (i) specific interventions and/or (ii) systems have been implemented to (aa) identify and (bb) reduce red tape in (aaa) her department and (bbb) the entities reporting to her?
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
22 September 2015 - NW2984
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether the Cool Air Community Hall in Cool Air, Kwazulu-Natal, was owned by the former Services Board before 1994; if so, (a) when was the hall transferred to the uMshwathi Local Municipality and (b) what process was followed; (2) what arrangements have been put in place for Cool Air Secondary School to make use of the hall?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the uMshwathi Local Municipality to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3167
Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(a) Which (i) department, (ii) government entity, (iii) company and (iv) independent consultant aided in the development of the Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan, (b) at what cost was the specified plan developed, (c) what are the details of the plan, (d) how will the specified strategy be implemented, (e) how will the implementing agency be chosen, (f) what is the budget for this media strategy and (g) what are its (i) objectives and (ii) deliverables over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3198
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to the appointment of a certain person (name and details furnished), who was found guilty by a forensic audit of nepotism, intimidation of external auditors and irregular investment and procurement transactions at the Technology Innovation Agency, he will take steps to ensure the City Manager terminates the specified person’s contract; if not, why not?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We are, however, still investigating the matter and the Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as we get it.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3329
Matshobeni, Ms A to ask the Minister of Tourism
(1)(a)(i) What total amount did his department spend on his travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did he undertake between Cape Town and Gauteng in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did his department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for him in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year; (2) (a)(i) what total amount did his department spend on the Deputy Minister’s travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips between Gauteng and Cape Town did the Deputy Minister undertake in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did his department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for the Deputy Minister in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year?
Reply:
- (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
22 September 2015 - NW2938
Bhanga, Mr BM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What is the scope of the section 139(1)(b) intervention at Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West; (2) (a) what will be the cost of rehabilitating the water and sanitation infrastructure in the specified municipality and (b) how will this be funded; (3) whether income from water and sanitation to the specified municipality will be ring-fenced; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the North West 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
22 September 2015 - NW3211
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether the requisite supply chain management processes were followed in the appointment of a certain company (name and details furnished) by the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality in Limpopo; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the specified company’s tax compliance status was verified with the SA Revenue Service; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) (a) on what date was the specified company appointed by the specified municipality, (b) what amount has been paid by the municipality to the specified company since its appointment and (c) why was it deemed necessary to appoint a company to render the specified service; (4) why are the services of the specified company still needed considering that all the game on the farm have already been sold off; (5) why did the specified security company not prevent the cutting and flattening of the fence around the farm, which resulted in nearby hawkers clearing trees on the farm for firewood?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3330
Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister of Women in the Presidency
(a)(i) What total amount did her department spend on her travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did she undertake between Gauteng and Cape Town in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did her department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for her in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3212
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality has contracted any person or company to provide refuse removal services in the municipality; if so, (a) what is the name of the person or company and (b) what is the (i) value and (ii) duration of the specified contract; (2) whether the specified contractor uses (a) tools, (b) vehicles and (c) fuel owned by (i) drivers and (ii) labourers employed by the specified municipality when undertaking the refuse removal services; if not, does the specified contractor only use its own equipment and staff; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2820
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether a closeout report has been submitted for the term of a certain person (name furnished) as administrator of Makana Local Municipality; if not, (a) why not and (b) when can such a report be expected; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether, if such a report has been submitted, each key objective as identified in the person’s letter of appointment was achieved; if not, why not; if so, what is the current status thereof; (3) what is the current financial status of the municipality as at the end of the administration period in terms of (a) creditors in each aging category, (b) debtors in each aging category and (c) cash-on-hand; (4) what was the financial status of the municipality at the start of the administration period in terms of (a) creditors in each aging category, (b) debtors in each aging category and (c) cash-on-hand?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3187
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted on the installation of smart electricity meters in the City of Tshwane by a certain company (name furnished) and/or any of its subsidiaries; if not, why not; if so, did the specified analysis indicate financial threats or challenges arising from the proposal; (2) (a) what are the cost implications of the withdrawal by the municipality from the specified contract and (b) what amount (i) has been spent on this contract to date and (ii) is anticipated to be spent in terms of future costs associated with the specified contract; (3) whether (a) he, (b) his department or (c) the National Treasury issued any advice with regard to the specified contract; if so, (i) what was the nature of the advice and (ii) did the municipality followed the advice given; (4) whether he will instruct or advise the municipality and/or the municipal council to take any action against the mayor and/or the municipal manager of Tshwane to (a) recover the funds which have been spent to date and (b) initiate the necessary disciplinary action in this regard; if not, what steps will he take to minimise such expenditure in future; if so, what are the relevant details?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3379
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(a) How many registered farms are owned by each of the 25 municipalities in the Northern Cape and (b) what is the (i) name and (ii) size of each farm?
Reply:
This question can better be responded to by Rural Development and Land Reform as the competent authority.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3382
Selfe, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether, in light of paragraph 39 of the judgment of Judge President D Mlambo in the case of the SA Litigation Centre versus the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and 11 others, case number 27740/2015, the National Director of Public Prosecutions will institute criminal proceedings against any individuals; if not, why not; if so, (a) which individuals, (b) what will they be charged with and (c) when will they be charged?
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
22 September 2015 - NW2996
Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister in the Presidency
How many (a) government departments have systems in place to promote ethical behaviour in order to comply with Management Performance Assessment Tool Standard, Assessment of Policies and Systems to Ensure Professional Ethics and (b) of the specified departments meet the specified standard at Level 3 or higher?
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
22 September 2015 - NW3364
Vos, Mr J to ask the Minister of Tourism
(a) What amount has his department spent on overseas travel for (i) the Deputy Minister (ii) the Director-General and (iii) the Deputy Directors-General. In the period 1 May 2014 until 1 September 2015 (b) what was the purpose of each specified visit in each case. (c) what were the destinations and (d) what amount was spent on (i) flights (ii) accommodation and (iii) daily allowances?
Reply:
(a) How much was spent |
(b) Purpose of the Visit |
(c) Destination |
(d) (i) Flights |
(d) (ii) Accommodation |
(d) (iii) Daily allowances |
|
(i) Deputy Minister |
Total: R 191 764.88 |
To attend the China Incentives. Business Travel & Meetings (CIBTM) in China and World Youth & Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) in Dublin. |
China: Beijing Date: 17 - 19 September 2014 Ireland: Dublin Date: 22 - 25 September 2014 |
Flight: R 114 212.00 |
Accommodation: R 51 917.79 |
Allowance: R 25 635.09 |
Total: R 73 390.97 |
To attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association(IORA) First Tourism and Travel Mart in Seychelles |
Seychelles: Mahe Date: 21 - 22 November 2014 |
Flight: R 59 603.39 |
Accommodation: Complementary |
Allowance: R 13 787.58 |
|
Total: R 73 291.04 |
To attend the World Exhibition for Incentive Travel. Meeting and Events (IMEX) 2015 and to participate in the IMEX Politicians Forum to be held in Villa Kennedy Hotel in Frankfurt |
Germany: Frankfurt Date: 19 - 21 May 2015 |
Flight : R 67 436.72 |
Accommodation: Complementary |
Allowance R 5 854.32 |
|
Total: R 122 651.19 |
To attend a South East Asia Tourism Trade Roadshow in Malaysia. Singapore and Indonesia. |
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Date:16 - 17 August 2015 City: Singapore: Date: 17 August 2015 Indonesia: Jakarta Date: 18 - 19 August 2015 |
Flight: R 84 960.72 |
Accommodation: R 28 600.00 |
Advance: R 9 090.47 |
|
(ii) Director General |
Not applicable |
The DG did not travel overseas for the period 1 May 2014 - 1 September 2015 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
(iii) Deputy Director-General Policy and Knowledge Management |
Not applicable |
The DDG: PKS did not travel overseas for the period 1 May 2014 -- 1 September 2015 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
(iii) Deputy Director General Domestic Tourism Management |
Total: R 97 842.95 |
To attend the 5th Carnival International de Victoria in Seychelles |
Seychelles: Mahe Date: 22 - 27 April 2015 |
Flight: R 49 904.72 |
Accommodation: R 33 120.00 |
Allowance: R 14 818.23 |
Total: R 73 338.01 |
Attended the Home Stay Study Tour in Malaysia |
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur 15 - 22 August 2015 |
Flight: R66 341.72 |
Accommodation: R 2000.00 |
Allowance: R 4 996.29 |
|
(iii) Deputy Director General International Tourism Management |
Total: R 99 856.37 |
To attend IMEX and related side meeting |
Germany. Frankfurt 17 - 23 May 2014 |
Flight: R 61 624.00 |
Accommodation: R 30 462.07 |
Allowance: R 7 770.30 |
Total: R 24 879.70 |
To attend the SADC Meeting |
Zambia: Livingstone 17 - 21 June 2014 |
Flight: R 6 924.00 |
Accommodation: R 13 616.00 |
Allowance: R 4 339.70 |
|
Total: R 105 135.84 |
To attend the World Youth Student Conference where South Africa was announced as the host for the 2015 Conference |
Ireland. Dublin 21 - 28 September 2014 |
Flight: R 68 966.00 |
Accommodation: R 17 500.85 |
Allowance: R 18 668.99 |
|
Total: R135 193.82 |
To attend the World Travel Market |
United Kingdom: London 02 - 07 November 2014 |
Flight: R 84 475.39 |
Accommodation: R 37 999.98 |
Allowance: R 12 718.45 |
|
Total: R 76 984.48 |
To attend and present a paper at the 13th Global Forum on Tourism Statistics and UNWTO Special Workshop on Tourism Statistics |
Japan: Nara 14 - 21 November 2014 |
Flight: R62 385.39 |
Accommodation: R 6 115.47 |
Allowance: R 8 483.62 |
|
Total: R 18 618.15 |
To attend the Extra Ordinary SADC Meeting |
Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls 25 - 29 November 2014 |
Flight: R 7 122.39 |
Accommodation: R 7 530.89 |
Allowance: R 3 964.87 |
|
Total: R 97 927.03 |
To attend the ITB and visit SA Tourism’s offices |
Germany: Berlin Italy. Milan 02 - 08 March 2015 |
Flight: R 65 358.39 |
Accommodation: R 23 996.76 |
Allowance: R 8 571.88 |
|
Total: R108 888.15 |
To attend the 100th UNWTO Executive Council meeting. South Africa through the National Department of Tourism was elected to serve on the Executive Council of the UNWTO for the period 2014- 2017. |
Croatia: Rovinj 25 - 29 May 2015 |
Flight: R 83 938.72 |
Accommodation: R 17 564.99 |
Allowance: R 7 384.44 |
|
Total: R 26 064.40 |
To attend the 54th RETOSA Board and Annual General meetings |
Malawi: Lilongwe 28 July 2015 |
Flight: R 14 520.72 |
Accommodation: R 8 920.00 |
Allowance: R 2 623.68 |
|
(iii) Deputy Director General/ Chief Operations Officer |
Not applicable |
The COO did not travel overseas for the period 1 May 2014 -1 September 2015 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
22 September 2015 - NW3011
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Labour
Whether, given the fact that the Public Service is already broadly representative of the demography of the country, she will consider abolishing affirmative action in the Public Service; if not, (a) why not and (b) what constitutional prescripts compel the Government to continue applying affirmative action when the requirement that the Public Service should be broadly representative of the national demography has already been attained; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
MINISTER OF LABOURS RESPONSE:
No, I will not consider abolishing Affirmative Action (AA), in the Public Service as the Affirmative Action is not a Public Service Sectoral Determination but a National dispensation. If the Public Service is broadly representative, that should be an inspiration to other sectors and not the reason to abolish the policy.
The preamble of the Constitution sums up the constitutional rationale of the need for Affirmative Action.
END