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28 September 2015 - NW3395

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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 - NW3599

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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 - NW3634

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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 - NW3503

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Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform

When does he intend to issue regulations in terms of section 52 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, Act 16 of 2013?

Reply:

The final Regulations to the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013 were gazetted on 23 March 2015 as per Regulation Gazette Notice No 10397. As required in terms of Regulation 37, the commencement date for the regulations will be published in the government gazette.

 

28 September 2015 - NW3572

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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.

28 September 2015 - NW3393

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Lovemore, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Whether, since her reply to question 1404 on 25 September 2014, the Southern and East African Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality IV assessment report has been made available to her; if not, when does she expect to receive this report; if so, (a) why has it not been made available to the public and (b) when will it be available to the public?

Reply:

(a) No, the Southern and East African Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality (SACMEQ) IV assessment report has not been received by the Minister from the SACMEQ Coordinating Centre (SCC) which manages the release of scored data for each participating country.

(b) The SACMEQ IV achievement results will be made available to the public once the SACMEQ Ministers, the managing structure of SACMEQ, have received and endorsed the assessment reports at the Tenth Session of the SACMEQ Assembly of Ministers on 27 November 2015 in Botswana.

28 September 2015 - NW3460

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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 - NW3417

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Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)Whether she has found that teacher training programmes equip them with the capacity to deal with cases of (a) gender-based violence and (b) rape in schools; (2) whether her department has any plans in place to employ social workers in schools to deal with the learners who are the victims of gender-based violence and rape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what other mechanisms does her department have in place in order to inform learners and teachers about steps to take in instances where rape or sexual assault by a fellow learner or learners takes place?

Reply:

1. Whether teachers have the capacity to deal with cases of (a) gender-based violence and (b) rape in schools;

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has several programmes that coalesce to provide a comprehensive response to gender-based violence. These programmes have been institutionalised in the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) in the Life Orientation Curriculum across all grades and bands. The Department uses a human rights-based approach to address gender-based violence. Following are some of the programmes that the Department is undertaking in its response in dealing with gender based violence:

The Bill of Responsibilities (BOR): “Building a culture of humanity and accountability in schools”

This programme, which is captured as Rights and Responsibilities in the Life Orientation Curriculum, includes gender rights. The programme is supported by a Bill of Responsibilities that is premised on the Bill of Rights that each right comes with corresponding responsibilities. The programme is further supported by a teacher training manual that provides the content and activities for teachers to teach about rights and responsibilities. The programme has been supported by other Departments and many of our partners, including Faith-Based Organisations. Thus far all provinces have received training in the Bill of Responsibility.

Training of Master Trainers on Gender-Based Violence

During 2014/15, the Department undertook a national training programme targeting master trainers. The purpose of this training was to enable them to identify and respond to Violence against Women (VAW) and Violence against Children (VAC), including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), using the revised training manual called Opening Our Eyes. About 400 master trainers were reached. The training touched on the following topics:

• Gender-based violence: an introduction;

• Dealing with hate crimes at schools;

• Responding to situations of sexual abuse;

• Recognising harassment and taking action;

• Gender and HIV – the link;

• Educators as facilitators of healing;

• A school policy on GBV; and

• A whole school approach on GBV.

Challenging Homophobic Bullying in Schools

The Challenging Homophobic Bullying in Schools guide explains what homophobic bullying is and what teachers, parents and learners can do to make schools safer for all learners. It provides clear and simple steps that teachers and learners can take in challenging homophobic bullying in schools. Distribution of the manual has been done to all provinces, with the purpose to further deliver to schools.

The Department has completed training provincial master trainers on the roll out of the National School Safety Framework. The master trainers will cascade the training to schools.

2. Whether her department has any plans in place to employ social workers in schools to deal with the learners who are the victims of gender-based violence and rape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

Currently a limited number of social workers and psychologists have been employed by some Provincial Education Departments at district level. The Department of Basic Education is in the process of developing integrated norms for funding, staffing and infrastructure for inclusive education, including psycho-social support. These norms are aimed at ensuring an equitable distribution of these scarce resources in each district to serve the needs of learners with specialised needs in ordinary, full-service and special schools. It is recommended that support services be based at district level. These services will include support to victims and survivors of violence, including gender-based violence, in schools. The Department plans to complete the norms by March 2016 for incremental implementation up to 2019.

(3) What other mechanisms does her department have in place in order to inform learners and teachers about steps to take in instances where rape or sexual assault by a fellow learner or learners takes place?

Speak Out Against Abuse

The Department has developed an advocacy programme for learners that inform them of their rights and the course of action if they are sexually harassed or raped. The advocacy programme is supported by a comprehensive and learner friendly handbook entitled “Speak Out” Youth report sexual abuse-A handbook for learners, on how to prevent sexual abuse in public schools. The advocacy programme utilises school dialogues and role-playing to address gender-based violence in schools.

Prevent Violence in Schools Training focuses on enabling and supporting learners to take action to prevent violence in their own schools. About five hundred (500) master trainers have been trained across all provinces and they will, in turn, train learners. The following were the topics covered during training:

• Introduction to prevent violence in schools;

• Understanding violence;

• Gender Based Violence;

• Analysing violence;

• Reporting violence;

• My school, my reality; and

• Taking action.

 

25 September 2015 - NW3399

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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.

25 September 2015 - NW3219

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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 - 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.

 

23 September 2015 - NW3098

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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 - NW3095

Profile picture: Kalyan, Ms SV

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:

  1. (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

 

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 - NW3424

Profile picture: Lotriet, Prof  A

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 - NW3096

Profile picture: Kalyan, Ms SV

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 - NW2903

Profile picture: James, Dr WG

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 - NW3099

Profile picture: Jooste, Ms K

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:

  1. (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:

  1. Infection control measures;
  2. Preventive therapy is provided to inmates who are at high risk of developing the TB disease, especially those living with HIV;
  3. Screening all inmates for TB at least twice a year and testing those with TB symptoms using GeneXpert;
  4. All inmates with TB are retained on treatment until completion;
  5. Inmates living with TB and HIV are initiated on ARVs.

END.

23 September 2015 - NW3102

Profile picture: Walters, Mr TC

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 - NW3213

Profile picture: James, Dr WG

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 - NW3097

Profile picture: Kalyan, Ms SV

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:

  1. Number of people diagnosed with TB (exceeding 5,000 per year);
  2. Treatment success (below 80%);
  3. Defaulter Rate (exceeding 6.2%);
  4. Death Rate (exceeding 5.6%);
  5. Transferred Out Rate (exceeding 2.4%);
  6. Drug resistant TB burden;
  7. High concentration of (especially gold) mining

END.

23 September 2015 - NW2902

Profile picture: Volmink, Mr HC

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 - NW2637

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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

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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 - NW3106

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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:

  1. (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 - NW3094

Profile picture: Volmink, Mr HC

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

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

EASTERN CAPE

364

580

502

549

558

LIMPOPO

207

248

339

220

271

NORTH WEST

327

234

297

322

230

MPUMALANGA

216

140

120

197

145

GAUTENG

784

663

757

793

842

FREE STATE

182

174

147

174

153

KWAZULU NATAL

555

570

604

586

630

NORTHERN CAPE

62

56

3

0

0

WESTERN CAPE

269

301

456

420

392

OUTPUT 4YEAR PROGRAMME(2010-2014)UNIVERSITIES

 

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

81

24

109

72

94

NORTH WEST

18

44

60

57

64

MPUMALANGA

  0

  0

  0

 0

  0

GAUTENG

127

92

110

113

100

FREE STATE

47

33

49

35

32

KWAZULU NATAL

69

70

70

62

124

NORTHERN CAPE

0

  0

  0

  0

  0

WESTERN CAPE

168

191

227

170

179

EASTERN CAPE

119

136

127

142

147

           
 

OUTPUT MIDWIFERY PROGRAMME PUBLIC INSTITUTION 2010-2014

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

300

132

242

161

136

NORTH WEST

35

45

41

22

79

MPUMALANGA

163

93

122

180

102

GAUTENG

61

18

39

187

138

FREE STATE

44

63

22

74

18

KWAZULU NATAL

343

355

356

499

263

NORTHERN CAPE

  0

 0

19

26

8

WESTERN CAPE

10

5

0

0

70

EASTERN CAPE

118

87

81

69

77

           

OUTPUT MIDWIFERY PROGRAMME PRIVATE INSTITUTION 2010-2014

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

 

 

 

 

 

NORTH WEST

  0

  0

  0

 0

 0

MPUMALANGA

 0

0

 0

 0

  0

GAUTENG

  0

  0

  0

4

0

FREE STATE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

KWAZULU NATAL

22

40

36

52

53

NORTHERN CAPE

 

 

 

 

 

WESTERN CAPE

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

EASTERN CAPE

  0

  0

  0

3

1

           
           

OUTPUT NURSING AUXILIARIES PUBLIC COLLEGES 2010-2014

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

237

123

38

55

30

NORTH WEST

102

110

76

40

202

MPUMALANGA

43

137

107

68

7

GAUTENG

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

FREE STATE

106

165

180

190

110

KWAZULU NATAL

18

 

110

108

15

NORTHERN CAPE

7

  0

  0

  0

  0

WESTERN CAPE

40

50

53

53

64

EASTERN CAPE

346

380

323

666

539

           

OUTPUT NURSING AUXILIARIES PRIVATE COLLEGES 2010-2014

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

272

146

130

147

174

NORTH WEST

37

60

57

85

74

MPUMALANGA

93

186

243

276

305

GAUTENG

2276

2293

2253

2441

2696

FREE STATE

83

79

59

108

109

KWAZULU NATAL

929

993

959

1075

1134

NORTHERN CAPE

  0

  0

  0

  0

 0

WESTERN CAPE

454

405

361

436

478

EASTERN CAPE

82

105

60

161

204

OUTPUT ENROLLED NURSES PUBLIC COLLEGES 2010-2014

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

494

436

409

162

134

NORTH WEST

  0

  0

  0

23

41

MPUMALANGA

211

219

211

271

216

GAUTENG

401

396

540

802

394

FREE STATE

139

126

173

129

154

KWAZULU NATAL

413

524

536

634

297

NORTHERN CAPE

 0

  0

  0

 0

  0

WESTERN CAPE

257

164

119

212

164

EASTERN CAPE

399

368

501

416

377

           

OUTPUT ENROLLED NURSES PRIVATE COLLEGE 2010-2014

   

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

105

92

99

120

132

NORTH WEST

165

171

103

183

153

MPUMALANGA

12

34

34

46

25

GAUTENG

2099

2079

1978

2345

1998

FREE STATE

39

47

41

62

57

KWAZULU NATAL

2383

2278

2448

2951

2301

NORTHERN CAPE

  0

  0

  0

 0

 0

WESTERN CAPE

296

307

345

387

260

EASTERN CAPE

98

150

195

211

246

OUTPUT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING PROGRAMME 2010-2014 PUBLIC COLLEGES

 

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

LIMPOPO

  0

9

7

55

57

NORTH WEST

12

7

6

10

2

MPUMALANGA

0

0

0

0

0

GAUTENG

1

2

  0

6

16

FREE STATE

0

0

0

0

0

KWAZULU NATAL

14

37

28

35

37

NORTHERN CAPE

0

0

0

0

0

WESTERN CAPE

15

0

0

17

0

EASTERN CAPE

 

 

 

 

 

 

END.

23 September 2015 - NW3100

Profile picture: Walters, Mr TC

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:

  1. (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 - NW3380

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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 - NW2820

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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 - NW3134

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Whitfield, Mr AG to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)With reference to the section 139(1)(b) intervention in Makana Local Municipality, (a) why was the contract of a certain person (name and details furnished) not renewed, (b) what are the terms of reference for the newly appointed person (name and details furnished) to that position, (c) what are the relevant details of the specified person’s remuneration package and (d) has the appointment of the specified person been approved by (i) the National Council of Provinces and (ii) him; (2) whether the specified person is currently employed by his department; if so, what are the (a) relevant details of the specified person’s employment and (b) specified person’s (i) qualifications and (ii) professional work experience?

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 - NW2984

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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 - NW3343

Profile picture: Groenewald, Dr PJ

Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

(1) With reference to her reply to question 2926 on 25 August 2015, how many rail accidents involving (a) Spoornet, (b) Prasa and (c) Metrorail trains took place (i) in (aa) 2010, (bb) 2011, (cc) 2012, (dd) 2013 and (ee) 2014 and (ii) from 1 January 2015 until the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) (a) how many passengers in each accident in each separate year (i) were injured and (ii) died, (b) where did each specified accident take place and (c) what was the cause of each specified accident; (3) whether she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

It should be noted that with reference to the question on the number of accidents, the Honourable member, Dr PJ Groenewald (FF-Plus) is asking the same question he had asked in PQ 2926 and I have already provided a response in that regard. The only difference is that this time Dr Groenewald focuses on PASSENGERS whereas in the previous PQ on this matter, his focus was on PERSONS in general. For the record, the Honourable member should take note that Transnet does not operate passenger trains at all and questions related to the operations of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) should be referred to the Minister of Transport.




END

22 September 2015 - NW3350

Profile picture: Ollis, Mr IM

Ollis, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether any (a) specified board member, (b) specified executive management member and (c) any other employee of any specified state owned entities travelled to China in the 2014-15 financial year; if so, what was the (i) purpose of each specified visit and (ii)(aa) total cost and (bb) breakdown of such costs of each specified visit?

Reply:

ALEXKOR:

Dates travelled: 28 March 2014 to 03 April 2014

(a) Chairperson

(b) Chief Executive Officer and Chief Legal Officer

(c) None

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

diversification strategy.

(ii)    (aa) R231,475       TOTAL

        (bb) R167,961       Flights

R 63,514 Accommodation

R NIL Allowance

DENEL:

Dates travelled: 01 to 07 December 2014

(a) None

(b) Group Executive Business Development

(c) None

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

the UAE and Saudi Arabia on business projects.

(ii) (aa) R 69 300.00 TOTAL

     (bb) R 45 000.00 (ESTIMATE) Flights

R 18 500.00 Accommodation

R 5 800.00 Allowance

 

Dates travelled: 27 to 29 August 2014

(a) None

(b) Group Executive Business Development

(c) None

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

meet on Denel business with Poly Technologies.

(ii) (aa) R 56 300.00 TOTAL

     (bb) R 45 000.00 (ESTIMATE) Flights

R 8 500.00 Accommodation

R 2 800.00 Allowance

SAFCOL:

Dates travelled: 09 to 15 January 2015

(a) Chairperson

(b) Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer

(c) District Manager

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

company with the aim of exploring mutually beneficial projects.

(ii) (aa) R200 654.46 TOTAL

     (bb) R139 525.56 Flights

R NIL Accommodation

R 61 128.90 Allowance

SA EXPRESS:

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

TRANSNET:

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

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

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

ESKOM:

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

(a)(i) Not applicable.

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

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

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

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

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

(b)(ii)(aa) R42 658.83.

(b)(ii)(bb)

Flight ticket

Transport

Accommodation

Meals

R33 482.00

R0

R2 675.83

R6 501.00

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

(c)(i)

The following employees travelled to China for the following purpose:

Employee

reason for trip

1

Observe supplier audit

2

Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) outward mission

3

Factory evaluations

4

Intergovernmental meeting

5

Observe supplier audit

6

Factory Acceptance Testing for equipment for Ingula

7

Observe supplier audit

8

Factory accreditation

9

Attend DTI Nuclear Energy Investments

10

Official Visit – Accompanying Minister of Energy

11

Factory Acceptance Testing for equipment for Ingula

12

Global efficiency lighting forum

13

IMWA conference in China (sponsored)

14

Factory accreditation

15

High Voltage (HV) testing

16

Executive Committee + Conference

17

IHA board meeting

18

Factory Evaluations

19

Accompany Minister of Energy on an official visit

20

Observe Supplier Audit

21

Accompany Minister of Energy on an official visit

22

Factory evaluations

23

Accompany Department of Energy

(c)(ii)(aa) R 552 254.44

(c)(ii)(bb)

No of Employee

Flight ticket

(R)

Transport

(R)

Accommodation

(R)

Meals

(R)

Total

(R)

1

13 946.17

0

8 650.00

2 265.13

24 861.30

2

16 440.78

440.00

26 060.00

327.03

43 267.81

3

6 616.00

0

9 968.12

217.62

16 801.74

4

16 061.39

0

17 169.78

1 380.20

34 611.37

5

13 946.17

0

8 650.00

2 007.05

24 603.22

6

11 144.00

0

4 861.52

1 166.82

17 172.34

7

13 946.17

3 315.00

8 650.00

2 355.80

28 266.97

8

31 611.00

1 060.20

7 138.36

236.84

40 046.40

9

11 899.00

0

6 251.60

285.65

18 436.25

10

16061.39

0

4652.90***

0

20 714.29

11

10 706.00

0

8400.00

1 034.00

20 140.00

12

*

*

*

*

0

12

**

**

**

**

0

14

13 343.00

0

9560.00

0

22 903.00

15

6 616.00

4 635.60

7 112.54

743.69

19 107.83

16

9 177.00

396.94

10 596.68

815.35

20 985.97

17

13 528.00

0

22 881.99

0

36 409.99

18

6 616.00

0

8 605.35

535.68

15 757.03

19

16 061.39

0

17 169.78

1 436.93

34 668.10

20

13 946.17

0

8 650.00

0

22 596.17

21

16 061.39

0

17 169.78

1 596.20

34 827.37

22

6 616.00

1 095.72

9 579.60

5 415.70

22 707.02

23

16 061.39

0

17 169.78

139.10

33 370.27

TOTAL

280 404.41

10 943.46

238 947.78

21 958.79

552 254.44

*Sponsored by UNEP

**Sponsored by UFS

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


END

 

22 September 2015 - NW3187

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

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

Profile picture: Stubbe, Mr DJ

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 - NW3345

Profile picture: Groenewald, Dr PJ

Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

(1) Whether any insurance money was paid out due to damages sustained after pressure tests at the Duvha Power Station; if not, why not; if so, what (a) amount was paid out for repair work, (b) amount was paid out due to loss of business and (c) other amounts were paid out by the insurers; (2) whether the full amount that was paid out for repairs to the damaged units was, indeed, utilised for the specified repairs; if not, (a) why not, (b) what amount was utilised for the repairs and (c) what was the remaining money used for; (3) whether any repair work on the damaged units has already commenced; if not, why not; if so, when will the repair work be completed; (4) whether she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

(1) The insurance claim has not yet been concluded and no money has been paid out.

(2) Not applicable as no money has been paid to Eskom.

(3) The Duvha Unit 3 Recovery Project execution strategy has not yet been approved by the Eskom Board. Only preservation and site preparation work has commenced. Timelines into recovery will only be definite once a service provider has been appointed.

(4) The relevant stakeholders will be kept abreast of these developments as required.



END 

22 September 2015 - NW3081

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Mr TW

Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1) (a) How does (i) his department and (ii) entities reporting to him define red tape and (b) what (i) specific interventions and for (ii) systems have been implemented to (aa) identify and (bb) reduce red tape in (aaa) his department and (bbb) the entities reporting to him?

Reply:

Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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

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

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

South African Cities Network

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

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

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

South African Local Government Association (SALGA)

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

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

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

Municipal Demarcation Board (MOB)

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

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

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


(1)(a)(ii)

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

(b )(i)(bbb)

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

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

22 September 2015 - NW3382

Profile picture: Selfe, Mr J

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 - NW3270

Profile picture: Khawula, Ms MS

Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister in The Presidency: Women

(1) What (a) total amount did her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; (2) What is the total amount that her department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?

Reply:

(1) a) The total amount that the department spent on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year is R1, 442,598.01.

(b) The total number of return trips that were undertaken was 68.

(2) (a) The total amount spent by the department on accommodation in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year is R257, 626.03.

(b) The total amount spent by the department on car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year is R107, 251.02.

 

Approved by the Minister on
Date: 22/09/2015

22 September 2015 - NW2996

Profile picture: Motau, Mr SC

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

Profile picture: Vos, Mr J

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 - 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 - NW3402

Profile picture: Madisha, Mr WM

Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Whether he intends to immediately introduce amendments to the Public Protector Act, 1994 (Act No 23 of 1994), to ensure that information requested by the Public Protector from any organ of state is not (a) withheld to the extent that the Public Protector has to resort to the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No 2 of 2000), to get it, (b) made so difficult to access that it has to be clawed out in dribs and drabs as happened with the investigation into the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), (c) falsified or given in a manner that casts doubt on its authenticity, (d) given without proper authentication or certification and (e) delayed to the point that the report has to be finalized without the required information; if not, why not; if so, when does he propose to introduce such amendments to help facilitate the work of the Public Protector?

Reply:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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




END

22 September 2015 - NW3329

Profile picture: Matshobeni, Ms A

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:

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

              (ii) Trips undertaken                        27 trips

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

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

                     (aa) Cape Town R0.00

                     (bb) Pretoria R0.00

 

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

               (ii) Trips undertaken                         25 trips

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

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

                        (aa) Cape Town R0.00

                        (bb) Pretoria R0.00

END

22 September 2015 - NW3186

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

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 - NW3024

Profile picture: Lorimer, Mr JR

Lorimer, Mr JR to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources

(1)Does any of his department’s employees own (a) mining or (b) prospecting rights; (2) does his department have a policy regarding the issuing of the specified rights to its employees; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the specified policy?

Reply:

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

Approved/not approved

Adv N.A Ramatlhodi

Minister of Mineral Resources



END 

22 September 2015 - NW2938

Profile picture: Bhanga, Mr BM

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

Profile picture: Matsepe, Mr CD

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 - NW3198

Profile picture: Macpherson, Mr DW

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 - NW3474

Profile picture: Horn, Mr W

Horn, Mr W to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

(1)What is the official policy with regard to travel undertaken by (a) judge presidents and (b) deputy judge presidents of superior courts (i) domestically and (ii) internationally in respect of the (aa) number of trips which may be undertaken and (bb)(aaa) number and (bbb) position and/or status of persons forming part of such delegations; (2) (a) how many (i) domestic and (ii) international trips were undertaken by each specified judge president and deputy judge president in the past 12 months and (b) what (i) number of persons formed part of the delegation, (ii) was the position/status of each person in the delegation and (iii) was the total cost of each specified trip?

Reply:

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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



END

22 September 2015 - NW3212

Profile picture: Matsepe, Mr CD

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