Questions and Replies

Reply:

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

Advanced Quality Titima Medical 2015011616_PMS FEB 2015

Advanced Quality Titima Medical 2015010602_PMS JAN 2015

Advanced Quality Titima Medical 201501 615_PMS FEB 2015


(2)

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

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

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

2014071401

2014071701

2014080101

2014090221

2014091821

2014092308

2014112702

2014121510

2014122409

Total of 9 batches distributed to date.

 

END.

Reply:

The Department and its entities do not sit and define “red-tape”. However, they have mechanisms to deal with unnecessary delays in their operational processes such as regular reviews of rules, regulations, protocols and legal framework to improve effectiveness and efficiency in achieving our outcomes.

Amongst others, I would like to refer the member to annual reports, strategic plans and quarterly reports of the entities and the Department.



END

Reply:

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

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

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

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

(i) Falls away

(ii) Falls away




END

Reply:

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

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

 

 

END


 

Reply:

 

 

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

 

 

END

Reply:

The Advisory Panel as announced in 2010 met formally on 25 May 2010, 14 July 2010 and 16 January 2011 to provide advice and information relevant to the conclusion of the New Growth Path policy document of government as well as on ways to step up industrial funding, promote the green economy and develop pro-employment measures.

After the completion of this first phase of the Panel’s work, from which we benefitted in a number of ways, I engaged with individual members of the Panel on an ‘as needed’ basis on matters connected to economic development.

These included engagements on a number of occasions with Professor Joseph Stiglitz on matters as diverse as global economic developments relevant to South Africa; and on the terms of the final submission of a competitor supplier fund proposal to the Competition Appeal Court in the Walmart merger. In this latter instance, this contributed to the final decision of the Court to impose a R240 million Fund to promote the Walmart local and small-business supply chain.

In addition, I have benefitted from the insights of Michael Power on the emergence of new economic powers; the changing role of China and its impact on the global economy; and the trade-offs inherent in different exchange-rate policies, among others.

Other members of the Panel provided their insights on contemporary economic policy matters as requested from time to time.

-END-

Reply:

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

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

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

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

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

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

END.

Reply:

MINISTER OF LABOUR REPLIED:

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

END

Reply:

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

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

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

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

-END-

Reply:

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

END

Reply:

During the period from 1 January 2014 until 15 September 2015, a total of 18 days were spent outside the country (excluding travel time) on official trips to the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United States and Switzerland, to meet investors or to showcase examples from South Africa to other policy-makers.

In the course of such engagement, both parties normally share national experiences. The observations of the experience of other countries help to shape the refinement and implementation of our policies. In none of these cases did we take an existing policy or practice from another country and simply implement it, which limits the assessment of their impact on our domestic economy.

Investor feedback has been helpful however in confirming the value of actions taken in respect of the export of scrap metal, the renewable energy programme and the shift of focus of skills training to technical and artisanal skills. In addition, valuable insights have been gained on the importance of infrastructure investment for economic development.

-END-

Reply:

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

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



END

Reply:

 

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

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

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

Official trip to Seychelles

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

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

Official trip to Korea

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

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

Official trip to France, Italy, Russia and Germany

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

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

Official trips to Ghana and Mozambique

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

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

Official trip to Mauritius

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

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

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

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

Official trip to Benin

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

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

Official trips to Germany, United Kingdom, Norway

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

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

Official trip to Tanzania

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

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

Official trips to Malaysia, Qatar and Singapore

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

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

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

Official trip to Nigeria

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

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

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




END

Reply:

Yes, the Department of Health is aware of the water problem in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District in the Northern Cape, but it is not in most facilities as claimed by the question. The problem is in 10 out of 42 Primary Health Care facilities (PHCs). Most of these facilities are located in the deep rural areas of the District where there is no connection to the municipality’s water supply source. In areas where there is a connection it has been difficult for the municipality to meet the demand.

The District engaged the municipality to supply water tanks and fill them regularly with water. Interruptions have been very minimal.

The following were done as remedial action:

1. Skilled technical officials have been appointed by the Department;
2. An action plan has been developed;
3. The District and the Department are in the process of procuring service providers to erect boreholes to supplement water supply;
4. Approval has been granted to procure 5 000 litre water tanks for all 10 facilities; and
5. The procurement process was anticipated to commence in the week of 24 August 2015.

END.

Reply:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-END-

Reply:

REPLY:

 

The Department is not involved in research regarding the new nuclear build programme in the country since the nuclear technology option/choice is yet to be decided on.  However, there are existing initiatives in support of nuclear energy industry that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is involved in for the development of know-how and technologies in the nuclear technologies fields.

 

These include the Nuclear Engineering Research Chair at North West University; Carbon Materials and Technology Chair at the University of Pretoria; Advanced Materials Initiative (AMI); South African Nuclear Human Asset Research Programme (SANHARP); Masters in Accelerator and Nuclear Science (MANUS) and Masters in Material Science (MatSci) programme, involving the University of Zululand, the University of the Western Cape and iThemba Labs.

 

The focus of the work is as follows:

• Nuclear safety, which includes radiation effects of mining and routine discharges of Koeberg nuclear power station and also radiation standards and regulations;
• Nuclear materials beneficiation;
• Carbon technologies research with emphasis on nuclear graphite technology to support nuclear power generation;
• Reactor technology research on modelling and simulation of nuclear reactors and their associated power plants and process applications. These models are applied in the analysis, design and optimisation of pressurised water reactors and high temperature reactors;
• Nuclear project management, nuclear energy economics; and
• Collaborative research on system analysis of passive safe small modular high temperature gas cooled reactors.
  
  
  
  
  END

 

Reply:

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


END

Reply:

REPLY:

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

• 2014/2015: R 439 893.90

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

• 2014/2015: 75 Trips

 

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

• 2014/2015: R 210 542.21

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

• 2014/2015: R 115 795.21

END

Reply:

The Office of the Chief Justice received its own budget vote with effect from 1 April 2015. I can report that to date the employment equity rate for the employment of persons with disabilities in the Office of the Chief Justice is at 1.2% which is below the national target of 2% by 0.8%.



END

Reply:

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

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

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

END

Reply:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




END

Reply:

(1)(a) An amount of R642 886-72 was spent on air travel in the financial year 2014/2015 for employees attending Parliamentary business during 2014-2015; and (b) 120 trips were undertaken;

(2)(a) An amount of R128 994-48 was spent on accommodation; and

(b) an amount of R55 007-56 was spent on car rentals, for employees attending Parliamentary business in Cape Town for the 2014/15 financial year.


END

Reply:

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



END

Reply:

As responded to in PQ3010 submitted on 27 August 2015, the ex gratia payments made by Transnet to qualifying pensioners of the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund and the Transnet Sub Fund of the Transport Pension Fund are discretionary amounts. No decision has been taken by Transnet to make a payment in the 2015 calendar year.




END

 

Reply:

1.   Eskom’s financial issues are responsible for load shedding in as far as limited funding for maintenance and restrictions on diesel purchases for Open Cycle Gas Turbines are concerned.

​2.  In the main load shedding has been caused by maintenance deferred in the past which resulted in a backlog of maintenance and decline in plant reliability.



END

Reply:

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

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

END.

Reply:

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

END

Reply:

REPLY: MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

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


END

Reply:

 

MINISTER’S REPLY

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

Reply:

(1)(a) (i) The Department spent R479 694 on my air travel costs between Pretoria and Cape Town for the 2014/15 financial year; and R508 844 for car rentals, which comes to a total of R988 538;

        (ii) I undertook 47 trips between Cape Town and Gauteng to attend Parliamentary business in Cape Town for the specified financial year;

(b)(i) I spent R32 023 on hotel accommodation; and

   (ii) regarding residential and other accommodation, this information is not readily available, as I live in my own house in Pretoria, Gauteng when in Pretoria; and I live in the Parliamentary Village in Cape Town when in Parliamentary session in Cape Town.

(2)(a)(i) Regarding the costs of the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department spent an amount of R202 926 on air travel for 2014/15 and R154 662 for car rentals, which comes to a total of R357 588;

(ii) 67 trips were undertaken between Cape Town and Gauteng by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development;

(b)(i) An amount of R972.00 was spent on hotel accommodation for the relevant Deputy Minister; and

(ii) regarding residential and other accommodation, this information is not readily available, as the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development lives in his own house in Gauteng; and he lives in the Parliamentary Village in Cape Town when in Parliamentary session in Cape Town.


END 

 

Reply:

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

END.

Reply:

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

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

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

(i) (bb) Not applicable.

(ii) (bb) Not applicable

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

Reply:

a)     The Commercial Crimes Investigation Units are currently investigating Common law and Statutory Crimes relating to Fraud, Electronic Banking Crimes , Municipal Fraud, Theft ,Corruption ,Money Laundering ;Counterfeit Goods Act , Prevention Of Organised Crime Act; Exchange Control Regulations Act ;Companies Act; National Credit Act; Forgery and Uttering; Advanced Fee Fraud ;Copyright Act; Customs & Excise Act, Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, Income Tax Act, Tobacco Control Amendment Act, Tobacco Products Control Act, Value Added Tax Act ;Social Assistance Act.

b)      A total of 4726 cases are currently in court.

Reply:

 

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

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

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

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

 

Reply:

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

END.

Reply:

Yes.

Reply:

MINISTER RESPONSE:

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


END

Reply:

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE MINISTER

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

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

SANRAL has supplied the following additional information:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Reply:

I have been advised by the Department as follows:-

No. The department is currently at 1.8% representivity.

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



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Reply:

 

1. Regulations in terms of the Magistrates Act, 1993 (Act No 90 of 1993) does not prescribe the number of trips that may be undertaken domestically or internationally. Furthermore neither does the said regulation advocate the number as well as position and/or status of persons forming part of such delegations.

Regulation 47 reads as follows:

(i) All official journeys of which itineraries are submitted shall be authorised by the head of office who shall ensure that the journeys are necessary and in the interest of the administration of justice”

(ii) The head of office referred to in subregulation (1) shall consider each application for an official journey, having regard to costs, availability of transport, route, timespan and any other relevant circumstances.

With the exclusion of the Director-General, Deputy Directors-General and persons holding equivalent ranks, paragraph 8.4.10.5.1 of the Departmental Financial Instructions (DFI) limits the number of employees travelling on official duty to address the same matter to three (3).

In addition paragraph 8.4.10.12 of the DFI specifies the following with regards to international travel:

“International travel must be limited to meetings or events that are considered absolutely critical and the number of employees attending such meetings or events must be limited to those employees that are directly involved in the subject matter related to such meetings or events”.

Paragraph 8.4.10.5.3 prescribes that prior approval from the Minister is required for magistrates’ travelling abroad.

2.  (i) domestic trips: please see attached.

    (ii) The Magistrates Commission only dealt with one application by a Regional Court President to travel abroad in the past 12 months from Regional Court President J Wessels.  She received an invitation by UN: Women And UNFPA In Partnership With UNDP And UNODC To The Global Technical Consultation On The Police And Justice Sector’s Response To Violence Against Women And Girls - Marrakech, 1 to 4 July 2014. 

Travel to and accommodation in Marrakech were carried by the organisers.  

The Magistrates Commission also indicated that Ms Wessels took no delegation with her. There was therefore no expenditure by the Regional Court Presidents on overseas trips



END

 

Reply:

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


END

Reply:

1. (a) R 723 000.00

    (b) 120 Trips

2. (a) R 92 000.00

    (b) R 44 000.00

END

Reply:

 

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

Reply:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(4)(b) Investigations and outcomes:

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

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

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

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

END

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

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

• Improved systems and training of staff members

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

______________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Reply:

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

-END-

Reply:

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

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

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




END

Reply:

MINISTER OF LABOURS RESPONSE:

No, I will not consider abolishing Affirmative Action (AA), in the Public Service as the Affirmative Action is not a Public Service Sectoral Determination but a National dispensation. If the Public Service is broadly representative, that should be an inspiration to other sectors and not the reason to abolish the policy.

The preamble of the Constitution sums up the constitutional rationale of the need for Affirmative Action.

END

Reply:

(a)   (i-ii) The immigration officials working on the borders of Lesotho and Swaziland have not reported any cases specifically relating to human trafficking in the mentioned financial years.


END

Reply:

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



END