Questions and Replies

Reply:

No, the current employment equity ratio for persons with disabilities is at 1.54%. In its recruitment strategy the department advertisement for posts encourages people with disability to apply for positions in the department, however in many cases those who do apply do not meet the minimum requirements for the posts. We are considering partnerships with organisations like Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) to try and mitigate this recruitment challenge.



END

Reply:

Honourable member, government is no longer building Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. RDP houses were discontinued as soon as Cabinet adopted the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements in 2004 setting new standards for housing typologies for government houses referred to as BNG houses.

(1) The information requested by the Honourable member on Breaking New Ground (BNG) houses built in the (a) Nama Khoi Local Municipality, (b) Kamiesberg Local Municipality, (c) Richtersveld Local Municipality and (d) Khai-Ma Municipality since 2009 is provided in the table below:

Local Municipality	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	TOTAL	(ii) location	(iv) all houses completed and signed off
	Sites	Units	Sites	Units	Sites	Units	Sites	Units	Sites	Units	Sites	Units	Sites	Units
	(i) Number of houses built
(a) Nama Khoi
Buffelsrivier	0											9	0	9	Buffelsrivier	All houses completed and signed off
Bulletrap	0					5							0	5	Bulletrap
Carolusberg	0			10									0	10	Carolus-berg
Concordia	0											15	0	15	Concordia
Fonteintjie	0					15							0	15	Springbok
Goodhouse	0					15							0	15	Goodhouse
Komaggas	0											26	0	26	Kommagas
Kouroep	0					5							0	5	Kouroep
Matjieskloof	0			100									0	100	Springbok
										50			0	50
	0											50	0	50
	0											1	0	1
Nababeep	0					20							0	20	Nababeep
	0											4	0	4
O'kiep				110									0	110	O'Kiep
						50							0	50
O'kiep	0											190	0	190	O'kiep	All houses completed and signed off
Rooiwal						20							0	20	Vioolsdrift
Rooiwinkel						5							0	5	Rooiwinkel
Vioolsdrift						11							0	11	Vioolsdrift
Sub-total	0	0	0	220	0	146	0	0	0	50	0	295	0	711
(b) Kamiesberg
Garies	0	1											0	1	Garies	All houses completed and signed off
Kharkams		2											0	2	Kharkams
Klipfontein												120	0	120	Klipfontein
Lepelsfontein				60									0	60	Lepels-fontein
Kamassies		3											0	3	Kamassies
Kheis										1			0	1	Kheis
Sub-total	0	6	0	60	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	120	0	187
(c) Richtersveld
Kuboes	0	1											0	1	Kuboes	All houses completed and signed off
Port Nolloth												100	0	100	Port Nolloth
Sanddrift						10							0	10	Sanddrift
												50	0	50
Eksteenfontein						1							0	1	Eksteen-fontein
Sub-total	0	1	0	0	0	11	0	0	0	0	0	150	0	162
(d) Khai-Ma
Pella	0	2											0	2	Pella	All houses completed and signed off
				8									0	8
												38	0	38
Pofadder												101	0	101	Pof-adder
Onseepkans				4									0	4	Onseep-kans
												5	0	5
												2	0	2
Sub-total	0	2	0	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	146	0	160
TOTAL	0	9	0	292	0	157	0	0	0	51	0	711	0	1,220

(2) We have been informed that the houses were not enrolled with the NHBRC and as such we do not have any information on the rectification of the houses.

(a) Falls away.

(b) Falls away.

(c) Falls away.

(d) Falls away.

Reply:

(1) & (2) The information requested by the Honourable member is provided in the 2014/15 annual report which will be tabled in Parliament before the end of September 2015.

The annual report will assist the Honourable member to get a full picture of departmental performance and expenditure. These public documents are important mechanisms through which departments account to Parliament and the citizens of the country so that they know how their money is spent. Accordingly, the Honourable member is advised to access all relevant information from these reports and report back to her constituency on what the government is doing.

Reply:

I wish to preface my reply by reminding the Honourable member that government is no longer building Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. RDP houses were discontinued as soon as Cabinet adopted the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements in 2004 setting new standards for housing typologies for government houses referred to as BNG houses.

Honourable Member, an online system is already in existence and it is called the National Housing Needs Register (NHNR).

The NHNR was developed in 2010 as a tool to be utilized at a provincial and municipal level to enable citizens to register their needs for adequate shelter/housing opportunities.

The household profile of citizens that registered their needs is recorded to assist provinces and municipalities to plan new housing projects that will address the needs of citizens. The following information is recorded per household on the NHNR system:

• Geographical details regarding, town, area, street address / house number and ward number;
• If the household is currently located in a hazardous area;
• Type of dwelling the household is currently living in;
• The main bathroom facility that the household has access to;
• The main water facility that the household has access to;
• The main energy type that the household has access to ;
• Monthly income ;
• Migration history;
• Preference regarding different housing opportunities;
• Per household member highest qualification attained;
• Per household member, where applicable, the sector In which sector they are employed;
• Per household member, where applicable, current employment status;
• Per household member, where applicable, social grant received from government and type of grant;
• Per household member, where applicable, type of disability and
• Per household member, where applicable, special needs e.g. Severe chronic disease /s (e.g. HIV/AIDS), Orphan / vulnerable child, Frail and infirm, Physical and mental disabilities, Older person

The NHNR also provides for the allocation of housing opportunities in a fair, transparent and auditable manner. The allocation portion of the NHNR has been implemented based on the Guidelines for the Allocation of Housing Opportunities Created through the National Housing Programmes that was developed by the national Department in 2009.

The allocation process is area based therefore households from various geographical areas can be selected based on the selection criteria relevant to the specific housing project, the following criteria is available:

• Women Headed Households
• Child Headed Households
• No Income
• Income above R3500
• Aged Members (+60 to 80 and beyond)
• Adult (35 to 59)
• Widows and Widowers
• Households with children
• Disabled Persons
• Persons with Special Needs
• Preference – House
• Preference – Stand e.g. the land that’s owned by tribal leaders

The selected criteria can be prioritized and based on that, a list of households will be drawn from the NHNR. The list can be committed on the NHNR after approval. The list will form the basis of inviting the selected households to complete housing subsidy application forms.

The NHNR provides provinces and municipalities with the ability to select a person (members of a specific household) or an area basis (geographical location) records to be validated against the:

• • Population Register (Home Affairs);
  • PERSAL;
  • UIF;
  • GEPF;
  • National Housing Subsidy Database (NHSDB) that contains records of beneficiaries that has been assisted or is in the process for assistance with a housing subsidy) and
  • Deeds Datasets.

The results returned from the validation process cannot be used to determine or make a decision whether a household qualifies for a housing subsidy or not. The formal qualification for a housing subsidy is done on the HSS (Housing Subsidy System) as the rules related to the various National Housing Programmes as contained in the National Housing Code are built into the HSS.

Various reports are also available on a provincial, municipal and town level. Currently the NHNR that contains information is about 1,607,223 households. The national Department is the custodian of the NHNR and provides support, training and Data quality services to the various provincial human settlements Departments and municipalities that have implemented the system.

In the process of ensuring that the NHNR Data is always credible, the national Department has just released a new version of the NHNR during the first week of September 2015 and the following new functionalities are available:

• Latest technology;
• The system can now run on a desktop, tablet or a smart phone;
• SMS service that will enable provincial human settlements to communicate with households that have registered their needs for adequate shelter/ housing opportunities and
• Linkage with the Housing Subsidy System that updates the status of households that have completed their housing subsidy applications.

Reply:

There is an interim investigation to establish whether there are merits in this case which warrant a full blown investigation.



END

Reply:

I’ve been advised by SAPO as follows;

Yes, the person in question was employed by the South African Post Office as the General Manager; and in 2003, internal disciplinary actions were instituted against him for two allegations relating to sexual harassment and intimidation.

(a) He was subjected to disciplinary actions on two charges of sexual harassment and intimidation.

(b) The person in question was found not guilty on both allegations.

Reply:

The National Department of Human Settlements has not been able to meet the set target of 2% for persons with disabilities. Currently, the department is at 1, 2% of persons with disabilities.

The reason for not achieving the set minimum disability target is multifaceted, for instance, the department has been faced with a challenge of retaining some of its employees with disabilities, as they left for positions in other departments as well as the private sector. This has resulted in a drop in the number of employees with disabilities employed in the department. However, this challenge is not peculiar to the department, but it is a government wide challenge that necessitated the government to conduct a survey in which the department participated, on the movement of people with disabilities in the Public Service in January 2015. It is hoped that the outcome of the survey will shed light on some of the challenges faced by government in general, and the Department of Human Settlements in particular.

Further, the Department has not been advertising due to the moratorium on the filling of vacant posts. But, my Department intends to address the mentioned challenges by establishing partnerships with Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) in order to advance the recruitment of suitably qualified people with disabilities. Furthermore, the training and development of employees with disabilities has been prioritised as a means of retaining and promoting their upward mobility. We intend to ensure that adequate assistive devices are provided.

Reply:

(1) & (2) The information requested by the Honourable member is provided in the 2014/15 annual report which will be tabled in Parliament before the end of September 2015.

The annual report will assist the Honourable member to get a full picture of departmental performance and expenditure. These public documents are important mechanisms through which departments account to Parliament and the citizens of the country so that they know how their money is spent. Accordingly, the Honourable member is advised to access all relevant information from these reports and report back to her constituency on what the government is doing.

Reply:

Honourable member, government is no longer building Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. RDP houses were discontinued as soon as Cabinet adopted the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements in 2004 setting new standards for housing typologies for government houses referred to as BNG houses.

(a) Subsidised houses that were completed in the 2013-14 financial year:

105 936 subsidised houses/units were completed (see Table1, below). This figure excludes 48 893 serviced sites that were completed during the same period.

(b) 84 459 houses/units were handed over to the beneficiaries or qualifying occupants by Provincial Departments of Human Settlements or their respective municipalities.

Table 1: Table depicting Houses Completed and Hand-over: 2013/14 Financial Year

2013/14	EC	FS	GP	KZN	LP	MP	NC	NW	WC	SA TOTAL
Houses completed	12,646	6,920	22,352	29,151	3,080	8,126	2,464	9,362	11,835	105,936
Houses handed over	8,346	4,986	8,924	29,151	2,972	6,419	2,464	9,362	11,835	84,459

Data Source: Provincial Departments: Human Settlements

We have been informed that some of the completed houses have not been allocated for various reasons. These vary from disputes arising out of the existence of more than one "Waiting List", de-registering of beneficiaries that had moved by the time of completion of the houses, refusal by beneficiaries to take occupation prior the connector services such as electricity have been installed. In some instance while these are sorted out, some houses would be illegally invaded.

Reply:

1. (a) The Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) work in accordance with the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training, thus responding to the National Development Plan (NDP). Earlier this year, the Department tabled in Parliament its Strategic Plan (2015-2020) which was developed on the basis of the vision espoused in the NDP, 2014 - 2019 Medium Term Strategic Framework, and policy imperatives of the White Paper, which gives the direction to the entire post-school education and training sector.

(b) Yes, the Skills Development Act, 97 of 1998 directs that SETAs must, in accordance with any requirements that may be prescribed; develop Sector Skills Plans within the framework of the national skills development strategy. Goal 5 of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) III focuses on encouraging better use of the workplace-based skills development, whereupon SETAs are required through mandatory and discretionary grants to support the training of employed workers as well as encourage employers to expand such training, in order to improve the overall productivity of the economy and address skills imbalances in the workforce and labour market. The Department is required in terms of the Skills Development Act to enter into Service Level Agreements with SETAs to ensure that goals enunciated in the NSDS III are implemented, including but not limited to skilling the workforce, monitored on a quarterly basis. All SETAs directly respond to the sector skills priorities, which are derived from the Sector Skills Plans. The Sector Skills Plans are developed using information received from the respective sector stakeholders hence, training interventions implemented by SETAs address skills that the country requires. I promulgated a national list of occupations in high demand on 4 November 2014 through Government Gazette No. 38174.

(c) Yes, SETAs are implementing PIVOTAL learning programmes as directed, amongst others, by the SETA Grant Regulations regarding monies received by a SETA and related matters, as published on 3 December 2012, which includes but is not limited to offering bursaries to learners at Universities, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges leading to part or full qualifications as recognised nationally, i.e. learnerships, internships, artisanship, work integrated learning, amongst others.

2. Whilst the SETA system has contributed positively in addressing challenges of skills development in the country, I have been upfront and on record in acknowledging the challenges facing the SETA system, hence I am in the process of reviewing the SETA system in accordance with the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training, NDP and other relevant government strategic policy documents.

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3314 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

The information is not readily available, therefore a request is hereby made for an extension of time in order for us to provide quality and correct information as soon as it is received, kindly note as well that the information required is depended on other divisions which must still be verified before submitted to you.

Reply:

I will make a determination once all offices have sufficient capacity to handle the volumes of applicants for Smart ID cards. Currently office managers were given permission to apply their own discretion and accept other categories of citizens based on the volumes in their offices.

 

 

END

Reply:

1. and (2) (a) Annexure A comprises of the names and allocation of the training projects that are currently funded by the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA).
2. (b) CETA works on a performance-based payment system. Therefore, CETA reimburses funded entities and does not make upfront payments. It only pays after training and/or services have been rendered.
3. Please refer to Annexure B attached to this response.
4. (a) and (b) All projects on the commitment schedule, as at 31 March 2015, were independently audited by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). The findings in respect of the selected programmes will be reported in the 2014/15 annual report.
5. (a) The CETA has an invoice processing unit which looks into compliance requirements that must be met by all approved entities before any payment can be made. Each funded learning pathway, e.g. Learnerships, has its own invoice compliance requirements to be met as per the approved budget. If the invoice is compliant, the Requestor signs the invoice and it is reviewed by the relevant Manager, endorsed by the Chief Financial Officer and approved by the Chief Executive Officer.

(b) The following positions have delegations of authority to sign-off payments:

• Projects Manager;
• Core Business Manager;
• Core Business Executive;
• Finance Manager;
• Chief Financial Officer; and
• Chief Executive Officer.

 

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3240 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

(a-b) The department is not significantly underspending on its budget allocations and continues to face serious budget pressures that constrain it from properly maintaining and improving its current office accommodation and expanding its footprint. These budget pressures also limit the department from refreshing its hardware and computer infrastructure on a planned basis. In this regard, it should be noted that the department utilised its full appropriation of R7,223 billion (100%) in the 2014/2015 financial year. This is an improvement on the expenditure outcome in the 2013/2014 financial year when 99,99% of the full appropriation of R6,994 billion was spent. National Treasury is engaged constantly to address the budget pressures the department faces. Treasury has in the past provide budget relief in the form of self-financing.


END

Reply:

I have been advised by SAPO as follows;

No retrenchment notices or voluntary severance packages have been effected for the period 1 March to 31 July 2015 because of lack of funding.

Reply:

1(a) The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation tabled Cabinet Memorandum No 14 of 2012 to Cabinet to submit proposals for the Implementation Plan to prepare for the Fifth BRICS Summit, which South Africa would host on 27 March 2014. Cabinet approved this Implementation Plan that included the establishment of i) a BRICS Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to provide strategic direction to the preparations for the hosting of the Fifth BRICS Summit ii) an Inter-departmental Technical Senior Officials’ Team (IDTSOT) to spearhead preparations for hosting the Fifth BRICS Summit and iii) an Inter-Departmental Logistics Committee (IDLC) to facilitate preparations for hosting the Fifth BRICS Summit. President JG Zuma decided to appoint 15 members of Cabinet as well as the Premier of Kwazulu-Natal as members of the BRICS Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC). The members of the IMC that were appointed included: Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation (Chairperson), Transport, Energy, Police, Communications, Finance, Mineral Resources, Trade and Industry, Public Enterprises, Economic Development, Science and Technology, Home Affairs, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, State Security, Defence and Military Veterans, Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration and Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation was appointed as Chairperson of the IMC. The IMC also considered and adopted Terms of Reference for its functioning.

 

A recommendation to review its mandate was considered at the 9th BRICS IMC on 4 July 2014. The IMC concluded that the BRICS Forum had become a strategic global engagement, which is central to initiatives to spearhead global governance reforms as well as the transition to a new global order, and it would therefore require continued strategic guidance from the side of the Executive. The Chairperson of the IMC obtained approval from the President for the IMC to continue to convene at a reduced scale, at least bi-annually, of which one meeting will precede the annual Summit to provide strategic guidance to preparations. The members of the reconstituted IMC that were appointed included: Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation (Chairperson), Energy, Finance, Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Science and Technology, State Security, and Higher Education and Training.

1(b) The mandate of the IMC initially was i) to provide strategic direction to South Africa’s tenure as BRICS Chairship for 2013 ii) to host all BRICS agreed sectoral mechanisms and to provide leadership during its Chairship iii) to ensure the implementation of the EThekwini Declaration and Action Plan and iv) to effectively communicate to the South African public, SADC and the African Continent the value of BRICS in advancing the African Agenda.

The mandate of the reconstituted IMC was aligned to the BRICS endorsed Terms of Reference of the BRICS Chairship, which BRICS adopted in 2013.

The additional mandate of the IMC during Chairship and as incoming Chair was highlighted, notably ensuring strategic leadership during SA’s tenure as BRICS Chair in close consultation with other members and to ensure implementation of Summit Declarations and Action Plan. The mandate of the incoming Chairship entails coordination in respect of the next annual Summit in consultation with all South African stakeholders, e.g. to select the Summit theme, propose the Summit programme/agenda and prepare draft Summit Declaration and Action Plan.

2(a) The BRICS IMC has convened on 12 occasions since its establishment in September 2012.

2(b) The most salient issues discussed during these meetings, include, inter alia, a briefing by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on the most recent substance related developments in BRICS and South Africa’s position on these issues and briefings by partner Departments on the various tracks in which they participate, including amongst others, National Treasury, Trade and Industry, Higher Education and Training, Science and Technology and State Security. Depending on the issues that require attention and guidance, the agenda may vary. It focuses on the implementation of annual Summit Declarations and Action Plans notably input for high level meetings. The minutes of the meetings are classified.

 

Additional items discussed during meetings of the reconstituted IMC, included a concept document of the African Regional Centre (ARC), the draft Terms of Reference of the New Development Bank African Regional Centre (NDB ARC) Local Steering Committee and the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership (which was adopted by the Leaders of the Seventh BRICS Summit).

UNQUOTE

Reply:

The Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) has been tasked to monitor implementation of both Resolutions 7 of 1998 & 12 of 2002 of the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) regarding past discriminatory practices. Therefore, enquiries in relation to reopening of the submissions of applications should be made to the PSCBC.

Reply:

Reply:

(1) (a)NAMES	(1) (b)DESIGNATIONS	ORGANISATIONS
AMB M Nkosi	Ambassador	Belgium and Luxembourg; and Mission to the European Union
Amb AK Bramdeo	Ambassador	Seconded by African Union to the European Union
Mr E Beck	Minister Plenipotentiary	Belgium and Luxembourg; and Mission to the European Union
Amb JNK Mamabolo	Ambassador	SA Permanent Mission in United Nations
Mr EL Mminele	Minister Plenipotentiary	SA Permanent Mission in United Nations
Amb TJ Seokolo	Ambassador	Vienna, Austria and Permanent Mission to the UN & International Organisations
Ms L Greyling	Minister Plenipotentiary	Vienna, Austria and Permanent Mission to the UN & International Organisations
Amb AS Minty	Ambassador	Geneva, Switzerland and Permanent Mission to the UN and other International Organisations
Ms NP Notutela	Minister Plenipotentiary	Geneva, Switzerland and Permanent Mission to the UN and other International Organisations
Amb X Carim	Ambassador	World Trade Organisation

(2) Yes.

NAMES	DESIGNATIONS	MISSION LEVEL
AMB M Nkosi	Ambassador	14
Mr E Beck	Minister Plenipotentiary	13
Amb JNK Mamabolo	Ambassador	14
Mr EL Mminele	Minister Plenipotentiary	13
Amb TJ Seokolo	Ambassador	14
Ms L Greyling	Minister Plenipotentiary	13
Amb AS Minty	Ambassador	14
Ms NP Notutela	Minister Plenipotentiary	13
Amb X Carim	Ambassador	14
*Amb AK Bramdeo	Ambassador	13

*Ambassador Bramdeo is remunerated partly by the AU and partly by the Department.

(3) The appointment process undergone by all reprsentatives abroad is done in terms of Section 84 (2) (i) of the Constitution, 1996, which provides: “that the President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation, appointing ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, and diplomatic and consular representatives”.

Ambassador Bramdeo, an official of the Department, is seconded by the AU to the EU.

(4) No. The appointment process is effected through the Constitution and does not prescribe academic qualifications and experience.

Reply:

1. (a) The roles of ASSAf and the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) have been clarified, with ASSAf being best positioned to provide formal scientific advice through its in-depth, evidence-based long-term studies, and NACI being more suited to provide informal, short-term advice that may be of a confidential and policy nature. ASSAf and NACI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect.
2. (b) Thirty-two Members were elected in 2013. They were inaugurated on 23 October 2013. Some details about the members are given below.

ASSAf NEW MEMBERS 2013

	NAME	GENDER	RACE	INSTITUTION
1	Prof Lee Berger	M	White	Wits
2	Prof William Bishai	M	White	Nelson R Mandela School of Health
3	Prof Claude Carignan	M	White	University of Cape Town
4	Prof Tilman Dedering	M	White	Unisa
5	Prof Tania Douglas	F	Black	University of Cape Town
6	Prof Themba Dube	M	Black	Unisa
7	Prof William Ellery	M	White	Rhodes University
8	Prof Kobus Eloff	M	White	University of Pretoria
9	Prof Andrew Forbes	M	White	CSIR
10	Prof Bao-Zhu Guo	M	Black	Wits
11	Prof Willem Hanekom	M	White	University of Cape Town
12	Prof Branislav Jeremic	M	White	Stellenbosch University
13	Prof Colin Kenyon	M	White	CSIR
14	Prof Anna Kramvis	F	White	Wits
15	Ass. Prof Delia Marshall	F	White	University of the Western Cape
16	Prof Ebrahim Momoniat	M	Black	Wits
17	Prof Kathryn Myburgh	F	White	Stellenbosch University
18	Prof Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni	M	Black	Unisa
19	Prof Marie-Louise Newell	F	White	Africa Centre for Health and Population
20	Prof Stella Nkomo	F	Black	University of Pretoria
21	Prof Ruksana Osman	F	Black	Wits
22	Prof Michael Pepper	M	White	University of Pretoria
23	Prof Francesco Petruccione	M	White	University of KwaZulu-Natal
24	Prof Wolfgang Preiser	M	White	Stellenbosch University
25	Prof Jeremy Seekings	M	White	University of Cape Town
26	Prof Dirk Smit	M	White	Stellenbosch University
27	Prof Mark Solms	M	White	University of Cape Town
28	Prof Gary Stevens	M	White	Stellenbosch University
29	Prof Caroline Tiemessen	F	White	National Institute of Communicable Diseases
30	Prof Louise Viljoen	F	White	Stellenbosch University
31	Prof Maria Watt	F	White	University of KwaZulu-Natal
32	Prof Derek Yach	M	White	The Vitality Group (Discovery Holdings)

2. In 2014, 23 new ASSAf Members were elected and these members were inaugurated at the Annual Awards ceremony on 14 October 2014 (their details are shown below):

ASSAf NEW MEMBERS 2014

	NAME	GENDER	RACE	INSTITUTION
1	Professor Marion Bamford	F	White	Wits
2	Professor Markus Böttcher	M	White	North West University
3	Professor Jeanet Conradie	F	White	University of the Free State
4	Professor Wim de Villiers	M	White	University of Cape Town
5	Professor Eno Ebenso	M	Black	North West University
6	Professor Liesel Ebersöhn	F	White	University of Pretoria
7	Professor Sabiha Essack	F	Black	University of Kwazulu-Natal
8	Professor Amanda Gouws	F	White	Stellenbosch University
9	Professor Shireen Hassim	F	Black	Wits
10	Professor Salomé Kruger	F	White	North West University
11	Professor Robert Mattes	M	White	University of Cape Town
12	Professor Dhayendre Moodley	M	Black	University of Kwazulu-Natal
13	Professor Linus Opara	M	Black	Stellenbosch University
14	Dr Nesri Padayatchi	M	Black	University of Kwazulu-Natal
15	Professor Laurence Piper	M	White	University of the Western Cape
16	Professor Sekhar Ray	M	Black	Unisa
17	Professor Neerish Revaprasadu	M	Black	University of Zululand
18	Professor Christian Rogerson	M	White	University of Johannesburg
19	Professor Mohamed Seedat	M	Black	Unisa
20	Professor Sheona Shackleton	F	White	Rhodes University
21	Professor Ivan Turok	M	White	HSRC
22	Professor Karel Viljoen	M	White	University of Johannesburg
23	Professor Charles Wiysonge	M	Black	Stellenbosch University

3. Mrs Lynette du Plessis was appointed as Human Resources Manager with effect from 1 January 2015.

4. Interns appointed were:

Ntambudzeni Tshiswaise 4 May 2015

Uve Gcilishe 1 April 2015

Mmaphuthi Mashiachidi 1 April 2015

Agatha Khanyisa 1 June 2015

5. Mr Stanley Maphosa was appointed as the policy and liaison manager with effect from 2 March 2015.

Reply:

No. The Department of Public Service and Administration (the DPSA) does not have a Regulatory Burden Reduction Strategy. The Minister for Public Service and Administration, issues Regulations that are required and necessary in terms of the Public Service Act, 1994 and no Regulations have been identified as burdensome to date.

 

Reply:

Government officials are expected to travel between Gauteng and the Western Cape to carry out official duties, including ministerial and department support to the Executive who carry out parliamentary duties according to the Parliamentary programme.

Costs incurred by Government officials are readily made available in Annual Reports which will be tabled in Parliament.

Reply:

1. (a) The total amount that DAFF spent on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees was R15 144 235.14.

(b) Total number of trips that were undertaken was 2561.

2. (a) The total amount spent on accommodation by DAFF during April 2014- March 2015 was R 2 879 035.45;

(b) The total amount spent on car rental for employees during April 2014 – March 2015 was R1 237 539.22.

The purpose of the trip is reflected on the trip authorization form but is not recorded on the invoice system. For the purposes of responding to this question, the actual expenditure as reflected on the invoice system is used. It will be a mammoth task to obtain the relevant information from the multitude of trip authorizations at hand. The trips to Cape Town are not only for Parliamentary business but also include visits to Regional Offices and meetings in the Western Cape.

Reply:

1. (a) and (b) Please refer to Annexure A which lists the total number of students trained and training periods thereof.
2. (a) The table below provides details of the duration and number of students trained and

qualified:

Learning Programmes	Learners Trained
Number of employed Learnerships entered (funded)	0
Number of employed Learnerships entered (unfunded)	78
Number of unemployed Learnerships entered (funded)	3 005
Number of unemployed Learnerships entered (unfunded)	350
Number of employed Bursaries entered	0
Number of unemployed Bursaries entered	581
Number of employed Skills Programmes entered (funded)	119
Number of employed Skills Programmes entered (unfunded)	67
Number of unemployed Skills Programmes entered (funded)	1 006
Number of unemployed Skills Programmes entered (unfunded)	97
Number of unemployed Internships entered (workplace experience)	686
TVET College Graduate Placement	58
Candidacy programmes entered	0
University Graduate Placement	342
Number of apprenticeships entered (unemployed)	2 982
Number of apprenticeships entered (employed)	0
Number of RPL programmes entered (employed)	0
Number of RPL programmes entered (unemployed)	1 218
Total	10 589

(b) The table below provides details on the duration of the programmes offered:

Learning Pathways	Duration
Apprenticeships	1 year
Learnerships	3 years
Short Skills Programmes	1 – 4 months
Internships	3 years
Candidacy	1 year

3. (a) and (b) Please refer to the response to questions 2 (a) and (b) above.

4. 50% of the grant amount was allocated towards the learner stipend, and the remaining 50% was for the actual implementation of the training.

Learning Pathways	Unit Cost
Apprenticeships	R46 350.00
Learnerships	R36 000.00
Short Skills Programme	R13 500.00
Recognition of Prior Learning	R3 500.00
Trade Tests	R3 500.00
Internships	R36 000.00
Work Placements	R36 000.00
Candidacy	R60 000.00
Bursaries	R60 000.00
Total	R294 850.00

 

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3241 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

The Honourable Member must refer to my previous reply to question 2725 on 04 September 2015 as this matter in which I have outlined all reasons.

Reply:

As per the response to question 232 on 25 February 2015, the SABC did commission a service provider to determine the accuracy of the above quoted amounts as a consequence of the AGSA qualifying the disclosure. The estimated costs for phase I is R4 million. The service provider is yet to finalise its work and the Department is unable to provide further information at this stage.

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

The Department could not source the funding for the Information and Empowerment Dialogues and these have been postponed indefinitely.

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

(a) DEPARTMENT

No

(b) ENTITIES

Brand South Africa

2008-09

1. R2 284 000
2. Ms Yvonne Johnston
3. Her contract was terminated by the Presidency.

Film and Publication Board (FPB)

The FPB did not pay out any employee contracts prior to the stipulated date of termination.

Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)

In 2014/15, ICASA had paid out four (4) Councillors for their extended 45 working days, subsequent to their contractually stipulated end of office dates, as stipulated by section 7 (4) of the ICASA Act.

1. (bb) ICASA has spent a collective once-off payout of R 437, 346.47 to the four Councillors.
2. These payouts were made to the following Councillors:

Councillor’s Name	Pay-out
Councillor William Currie	R 102, 357.69
Councillor Joseph Lebooa	R 102, 357.69
Councillor Ntombizodwa Ndhlovu	R 116, 315.55
Councillor William Stucke	R 116, 315.55

1. The contractual term of office for each Councillor had lapsed.

Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)

The MDDA employees have always been appointed on permanent contracts, except for the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer. Both the former Chief Executive Officer (Mr Lumko Mtimde) and the former Chief Financial Officer (Mr Mshiyeni Gungqisa) served their contractual terms accordingly.

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

Title	Full Names	Surname	Amount	Comments
Mr	Qabang Michael Solly Moeketsi	Mokoetle	R 3 800 000.00	12 month pay-out - Agreed separation
Adv	Daluxolo Christopher	Mpofu	R 6 700 000.00	Agreed separation, Additional payments - R4.4 m restraint of trade (funded by DoC), R2.1 m legal fees
Mrs	Lulama Patricia	Mokhobo	R 4 200 000.00	12 month pay-out - Agreed separation, Additional payment of R1.4 m restraint of trade
Mrs	Clarah Phumelele	Nzimande	R 2 600 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - separation agreement
Mr	Thabo Phillip	Molefe	R 4 900 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - settlement agreement
Mrs	Thabang Charlotte Christine	Mampane	R 4 300 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - separation agreement
Ms	Mantshebo Thelma	Melk	R 3 000 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - separation agreement
Ms	Zaiboonisha	Jones	R 1 700 000.00	6 month pay-out, including commission - separation agreement
Mr	Christopher Warren	David	R 800 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - separation agreement
Mr	Rapitse Peter	Montsho	R 1 200 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - separation agreement
Ms	Khulekelwe Glynnis	Mbonambi	R 623 000.00	6 month pay-out, CCMA Settlement agreement
Ms	Jacqueline Moepeng	Motsepe	R 882 000.00	Pay-out of remainder of contract - settlement agreement

 

 

MR N MUNZHELELE

[ACTING] DIRECTOR GENERAL

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

(a) GCIS advertises on various platfroms based on the objectives of the campaign and the target audience of the message. The department spent the below amounts on the two publications:

(i)(aa) No records of the detailed expenditure per publication are available during 2012/13 as media buying procurement was outsourced to a service provider that is now no longer trading.

(i)(bb) R181 798.66

(i)(cc) R483 821.86

(ii)(aa) No records of the detailed expenditure per publication are available during 2012/13 as media buying procurement was outsourced to a service provider that is now no longer trading.

(ii)(bb) R205 476.79

(ii)(cc) R221 310.20

 

 

MR D LIPHOKO

[ACTING] DIRECTOR GENERAL

GCIS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

1. Tourist guides operating illegally are in contravention of the Tourism Act, 2014, which states that it is a criminal offence to act as a tourist guide without a valid registration. Complaints of this nature must be reported to the relevant Provincial Registrar of Tourist Guides so that charges can be laid with the South African Police Services (SAPS) for further investigation. The Department of Tourism has implemented programmes to raise awareness about the use of registered tourist guides and the consequences of non-compliance. Initiatives have included inspections conducted at identified illegal guiding hotspots in collaboration with various law enforcement authorities and placing advertorials in both print and digital media.
2. The Department also has a dedicated Unit which facilitates the handling of all tourism-related complaints received. In addition, the Department has a call centre and a website facility where such complaints can be reported. The contact details are: Tourism Complaints Officer, [email protected] / [email protected]

Tel: +27 (0) 12 444 6314/6312

Toll free Line: +27 (0) 0860 121 929 or +27 (0)12 444 6000

 

Reply:

(1)(a),(b),(2)(a),(b) The required information is not immediately available in the categories requested. However the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is collating the information from its database and travel agents and will submit the requested information by 30 September 2015.

Reply:

The table below provides details of travel and accommodation costs between Gauteng and Pretoria during the 2014/15 financial year for the Deputy Minister and myself:

Executive Authority	Total amount spent	(ii) Number of trips undertaken
	(i) Travel	(i) Hotel	(aa) Residential in Cape Town	(bb) Residential in Pretoria
Minister	R128 065.00	R0.00	R0.00	R0.00	16
Deputy Minister	R203 463.00	R0.00	R0.00	R0.00	29
Total	R331 528.00	R0.00	R0.00	R0.00	45

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3290 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

1. (a) In the erstwhile Adult Education and Training (AET) centres, when reference is made to

‘salary payments’ the concept is also used to refer to other forms of payment such as claims and stipends. Claims for instance, are part-time and extra-ordinary payments, usually over and above the normal salary of a person. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) became responsible for the payment of salaries of staff members teaching in AET centres from 1 April 2015, and is unable to respond to delays in salaries, which may have occurred prior to the AET function shift when the function was still with the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). The response covers the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 August 2015. In view of the above, 2 540 staff members teaching at AET centres experienced delays in salaries during the transition from provincial to national competence.

(b) Table 1 below responds to the delays experienced by AET teachers of the Eastern Cape Province

Dates	Scale	Average length of delays
Month Affected	Date salary paid	Actual calendar days delay
April 2015	17 August 2015	119 days	10 AET teachers	17 days
May 2015	17 August 2015	88 days
June 2015	17 August 2015	48 days
July 2015	17 August 2015	17 days
August 2015	31 August 2015	0 days

The System Change Control (SCC) was not performed by the Eastern Cape PED which led to the appointment of AET teachers onto the DHET PERSAL on 1 June 2015 instead of 1 April 2015. The salaries of the affected AET teachers were backdated from 1 April 2015 to 31 July 2015 and paid on 17 August 2015, and their salaries for August 2015 were paid on 31 August 2015. Currently, there are no staff members teaching at Eastern Cape AET centres experiencing any delays in salary payments.

Tables 2 to 5 below outline the delays experienced by the Northern Cape, North-West, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape AET teachers with regards to payment of stipends and claims.

Table 2: Delays experienced by AET teachers of the Northern Cape Province

Dates	Scale	Average length of delays
Month Affected	Date salary paid	Actual calendar days delay
April 2015	30 June 2015	61 days	248 AET teachers paid stipends	45.5 days
May 2015	30 June 2015	30 days
June 2015	30 June 2015	0 days

In the Northern Cape and North West provinces, delays were experienced with the payment of stipends in April and May 2015 mainly because the appointment of AET teachers who are paid stipends could not be performed programmatically. AET teachers had to be uploaded manually onto the DHET’s PERSAL system. The stipends for April and May 2015 were paid on 30 June 2015 as supplementary payments together with stipends for June 2015. There have been no delays experienced with the payment of stipends since June 2015.

Table 3: Delays experienced by AET teachers of the North-West Province

Dates	Scale	Average length of delays
Month Affected	Date salary paid	Actual calendar days delay
April 2015	30 June 2015	61 days	1 340 AET teachers paid stipends	45.5 days
May 2015	30 June 2015	30 days
June 2015	30 June 2015	0 days

With regard to the stipends in the Northern Cape and the North-West Provinces the stipends will run automatically every month as fixed amounts per month have been loaded.

Table 4: Delays experienced by AET teachers of the Western Cape Province

Dates	Scale	Average length of delays
Month Affected	Date salary paid	Actual calendar days delay
April 2015	22 June 2015	53 days	400 AET teachers paid on a claim system	37.5 days
May 2015	22 June 2015	22 days

The reason for delay is the late submission of claim forms to the DHET by the PED. The payment of claims received from the Western Cape is up to date with exception of approximately forty-nine problematic cases which involve officials working in Community Learning Centres (CLCs) that are above the age as prescribed by the Public Service Act, 1994 or have taken severance packages during 1998 and 2001 and were only allowed to work for one (1) continuous year, or were previously dismissed from service. Such cases have been discussed with the Management of the Western Cape and contracts for these officials will end on 31 December 2015.

Table 5: Delays experienced by AET teachers of KwaZulu-Natal Province

Dates	Scale	Average length of delays
Month Affected	Date salary paid	Actual calendar days delay
April 2015	22 July 2015	83 days	542 AET teachers paid on a claim system	47.5 days
May 2015	28 July 2015	58 days
June 2015	2 September 2015	64 days
July 2015	30 September 2015	61 days
August 2015	Claims not yet received

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province used the claim system to pay AET teachers. As explained in my response to question 1, a claim is not a salary and in the case of KZN, these are extra-ordinary appointments because most of the AET teachers are already appointed as full-time teachers by the KZN PED. In order for any claim to be processed, the DHET has to verify the claim through the Centre Manager, the Regional Manager and the Vocational and Continuing Education and Training Programme Manager. The claims for April and May 2015 were submitted late in June 2015 by the KZN PED. DHET officials worked overtime to first appoint AET teachers onto the DHET PERSAL system and then verify claims and ultimately process payment of claims.

It should also be noted that for the claims method of payment, AET teachers who were transferred from PEDs had to be first appointed onto the PERSAL system before the claims could be processed. There are still cases whereby relevant documentation for appointment is still outstanding and on-going communication is taking place with the KZN Regional Office to rectify this, hence, payments for these claims are still outstanding. This delay affects approximately 542 AET teachers for the period between April and July 2015. These are mainstream teachers who have not completed and submitted the necessary Human Resources Management and Administration (HRMA) mandate documentation. This is due to the fact that they believed it is unnecessary as they are already employed full-time by the KZN PED. Such officials are being assisted by HRMA and the Acting Community Education and Training College Principal to complete and submit documentation for their appointment, processing and payment of their claims.

Other causes of the delays in the payment of claims in KZN is the non-appointment of AET teachers or non-payment of claims because of instances of negligence and/or irregularities in the forms that are submitted to the DHET for loading appointments and processing of payments. For most of the 542 outstanding cases, the DHET has not effected appointments or processed claims as doing so would be in contravention of the prescripts of both the PSA and the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (PFMA). Such cases include instances where:

• Documentation submitted to the DHET was incorrectly completed;
• AET teachers have not submitted original documents required to upload their appointment;
• An AET teacher signs as both the Claimant and Centre Manager on his/her own claim forms;
• Discrepancies are found between the hours claimed and the actual hours worked;
• The hours claimed far exceed the maximum hours the teacher is allowed to work per month;
• Information provided is not correct and relevant to the applicable officials, i.e. incorrect identity document numbers and PERSAL number were used; and
• Some documents submitted are not signed by the necessary delegated officials and incorrect calculations are made on the forms.

(c) There are no bridging funds that were provided as the PFMA does not allow for such.

(d) The DHET has not received any reports of teachers having been evicted from their homes.

2) No, there are no outstanding salary payments but there are outstanding payments of claims. The DHET is liaising with the Regional Offices to ensure that correct documentation, which are correctly and accurately completed, is submitted to enable uploading of appointments and processing of payments. The DHET is in the process of paying claims received on an on-going basis. Queries are received through the Rapid Response Team and escalated to the relevant managers for a solution.

 

 

Compiler/contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3209 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

Departments prepare and commission many investigations in the course of executing their sector responsibilities and mandates and not all of these reports are brought to my attention. The Outcome of these reports and investigations is however used by Departments to develop specific intervention programmes where appropriate.

In the Case of Madibeng, this Municipality has been placed under Administration, with effect from 23 March 2015, by the Provincial Government in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa with regard to the Water and Sanitation Functions of the Municipality. The key reasons for placing the Municipality under administration with regard to these services is due to:

• Poor water and sanitation services which often result in water supply disruptions and poor water quality;
• Poor maintenance and operations of water and sanitation infrastructure;
• Uneven provision of services to communities; and
• Project delays due to prolonged processes and possible fraud and corruption.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is working with the Provincial Government of North West to implement a programmatic intervention which is addressing the reasons for the intervention.

The Departments of Water and Sanitation and Co-operative Governance have developed and are implementing support programmes and interventions as part of the Back to Basics programme for prioritized municipalities across the country facing water and sanitation shortages and infrastructure disruptions. These support programmes also take into account the outcomes from the Municipal Strategic Self-assessment System (MuSSA), the Blue and Green Drop Assessments as well as the diagnostic reports conducted by the Provinces.

Reporting on progress and monitoring of the interventions is done through the CoGTA MINMEC, the Implementation Forum for Outcome 9 and the InterMinisterial Committee on Basic Services.

2. SUCCESSES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND INTERVENTIONS

The following progress has been made

• Makana;
  • Water supply has been stabilized and Grahamstown is now receiving water on a continuous basis. There is currently no disruption to educational institutions. The success has been largely due to the deployment of Amatola Water and support from the Department of Water Affairs in the Province;
  • Key interventions have been made to restore the supply of electrical, which has enhanced the capacity of pump stations; the refurbishment of raw water rising main; the restoration of plant capacity; and reduction and control of water losses.
  • A five year “turnaround plan/road map” was finalized following the Water and Sanitation Summit held in March 2015;

• Madibeng,
  • We have reinstated the water supply systems in Majakaneng which had not been working for eight years, through a very successful community based leak detection and repair programme under the management of Magalies Water;
  • The programme is now be rolled out to the broader Madibeng Municipality;
  • Twelve Water Forums have been established;
  • Good progress has been made to increase of the capacity and optimization of the Brits Water Treatment works;
  • A business plan has been finalized for the implementation of the five year “turnaround plan/road map”;

• Ngaka Modiri Molema
  • Sedibeng Water has taken over the operations of the former Botshelo Water Board and will support the retail services in Mahikeng for the next five years;
• We have seen the reduction of the water tanker services through the repair and reinstatement of infrastructure;
• A business plan has been finalized for the implementation of the five year “turnaround plan/road map”;

In addition to these specific actions a Programme Management Office (PMO) has been established by the Department of Cooperative Governance, coordinated by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency to specifically address the ongoing water and sanitation problems in the 27 identified Priority District Municipalities. A pipeline of projects is currently being compiled by the PMO for Amatola (EC) and Umzinyathi (KZN) District Municipalities. Bojanala and Sekhukhune District Municipalities will be addressed next.

3. The Department of Water and Sanitation is not specifically commissioning studies to determine the economic impact of prolonged water shortages) in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Madibeng. It is however closely monitoring the state of non-revenue water (and water losses) in these Water Services Authorities (WSAs), and the economic impact this has, and to see whether the WSAs are meeting their water conservation and demand management targets, which have set by the Department.

The Department also (annually) monitors the vulnerability of all WSA nationally through Municipal Strategic Self Assessments, and is currently developing Municipal Priority Actions with these WSAs, based on the outcomes of the assessments, which feed into the WSA Water Service Development Plans, Integrated Development Plans, and Service Delivery Business Improvement Plans, to ensure that the identified areas of extreme and high vulnerability are addressed.

The above findings are available on the Water Services Knowledge System which is accessible on the website of the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Reply:

1) The Department of Basic Education have requested responses from the nine Provincial Education Departments. However to date, only the following provinces have responded as stated below:

Gauteng Department of Education: In the 2015/16 financial year, no additional funding was transferred to full service schools. Additional support was provided through a provincially centralised provisioning process, including interventions such as the training of teachers and the provision of specialised Learner and Teacher Support Material and assistive devices.

North West Department of Education: The following budgets have been made available the 2015/16 financial year: Bojanala District: R1 151 462; Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District: R100 000; Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District: R100 000; Ngaka Modiri Molema: R100 000. An additional R8.4m budget has been made available for providing assistive devices to sixteen (16) newly identified full service schools.

Western Cape Department of Education: The additional funding paid to full service schools, over and above their norms and standards allocations, amounts to R48 000 per full service school for 2015, across all districts.

The responses from other Provincial Education Departments will be provided as soon as they are received.

2(a) Once learners are screened and categorised according to the nature of the disability, such information is entered in the post provisioning model and the appropriate weighting is used. There is, therefore, no need to apply for additional staff if all learners were included in the data supplied for the determination of the post establishment.

(b) The Department is not aware of any schools that that have requested additional staff in any (i) province and (ii) district. The Department has requested provinces to provide this information and once it is received, it will be submitted.

3(a) Provincial Education Departments have been requested to provide a response to this question. To date, the following responses were received:

Gauteng Department of Education: A sum of R6 894 300 was budgeted for in 2015/2016 to ensure schools in need of assistive devices are able to buy needed devices in order to increase support provisioning for learners.

Limpopo Department of Education: Provided Apex readers and tablets to schools for the visually impaired on to which textbooks and workbooks are downloaded. This was purchased to the value of R10 million.

Northern Cape Department of Education: The province has budgeted for the acquisition of assistive technology to the amount of R120 000.00 and learning and teaching support materials (LTSM) in accessible format such as Braille to the amount of R2 365 139.00.

North West Department of Education: The province have allocated a budget of R8 429 400 for assistive devices and R19 000 000 for LTSM.

Western Cape Department of Education (WCED): Braille equipment to the value of R4 200 000 has been given to the two schools for the Blind for the use of learners in the school and learners placed out from the school. The WCED has developed South African Sign Language (SASL) LTSM to the value of R500 000. Assistive technology was acquired to the amount of R960 000.00 and has been placed at 8 loan centres in the province, one in each district. These devices can be accessed by mainstream learners via the recommendation of the District Based Support Team (DBST) specialist staff or Inclusive Education outreach teams.

The Department of Basic Education is awaiting responses from other Provincial Education Departments.

Table 43: Number of remedial, learning support and special needs teachers in 2014

(b) The Department has the following information available for 2014. No new information for 2015 is available as yet.

Province	Number of Schools	Remedial Teachers	Special Needs Teachers	Learning Support Educators	Learning Support Teachers	Teacher Assistants/Aides
				(School-based)	(Itinerant)
EC	35	0	0	0	82	54
FS	251	421	268
GT	325	0	258	372	0	0
KZN	66	106	1 255	344	43	367
LP
MP
NC	2	0	1	1	13
NW	0	0	518	62	0	109
WC	1630	0	0	119	480	131
NATIONAL TOTAL:	2 309	527	2 300	898	254	661

Source: Information received from provinces in September 2014

Reply:

1. The Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board of the Construction Education Training Authority did not receive any petitions signed by staff members since 1 January 2013.
2. and (3) Not applicable.

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3243 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

(1) Disaster Management Procedures and Emergency Plans are basic requirements to ensure the safety of learners and teachers and should be drafted and implemented by all schools. (a and b) The Department does not have specific data as requested on how regular evacuation trials are practiced by schools;

(2) As mentioned above, Access Control Measures is also a basic requirement for school safety and should be implemented:

(a) By all schools for (i) learners (ii) educators and (iii) visitors;

(b) Searches and seizures are conducted on reasonable suspicion by the South African Police Services (SAPS), in conjunction with principals and senior management teams. Specific data regarding the number of schools implementing this requirement is not available to the Department and resides with the provinces.

Reply:

(1) (a) The Department spend R891 976.80 on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year.

(b) the total number of trips that were undertaken between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year was 170.

(2) (a) The total amount the Department spend on accommodation in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year was R180 823.50.

(b) The total amount the Department spend on car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year was R76 940.34.

Reply:

Question 1

PROVINCE	ENROLMENT GRADE 10 (2013)
Eastern Cape	154 920
Free State	60 643
Gauteng	201 341
Kwazulu-Natal	268 467
Limpopo	187 804
Mpumalanga	97 117
North West	70 032
Northern Cape	22 727
Western Cape	83 234
National	1 146 285

(Source: 2013 School Realities)

Question 2 and 3

	QUESTION 3	QUESTION 2
PROVINCE	PROGRESSION NO	TOTAL ENTERED
Eastern Cape	13 927	93 115
Free State	9 945	35 389
Gauteng	18 411	112 128
Kwazulu-Natal	10 614	171 714
Limpopo	18 202	102 633
Mpumalanga	4 082	56 104
North West	3 808	33 841
Northern Cape	2 055	12 732
Western Cape	4 813	56 576
National	85 857	674 232

(Source: IECS – 2015 Preliminary Examination Enrolment Data)

Reply:

On 09 May 2015, I undertook a working visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to attend the 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 (WWII). The visit was guided by South Africa’s bilateral relations with the Russian Federation, which are informed by political, economic, social, defence and security cooperation and all the relevant legal instruments and mechanisms that affirm the strategic relationship between the two countries.

We held talks on the margins of the event which included an assessment of bilateral cooperation, the status and implementation of SA-Russia ITEC (Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation) Agreements and preparations for the 13th SA-Russia ITEC Session to be hosted by the Russian Federation during the latter part of 2015.

We also discussed preparations for the 7th BRICS Summit which was hosted by Russia from 08 to 09 July 2015. We agreed on the need to intensify cooperation in various areas of cooperation.

Reply:

1. (a)(b) The following table (columns 2, 3 and 4) indicates the amounts spent on materials and stationery for the 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years. Columns 5 and 6 indicate the estimated costs for the 2015/16 and 216/17 financial years.

The Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign is managed nationally by the Department of Basic Education and hence all material and stationery is purchased nationally for the entire campaign. Information is therefore provided per province only as it is not available per district.

2. (a)(b) Columns 2, 3 and 4 in the table below indicate the actual number of volunteers who were employed on short term contracts on the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign and received a stipend in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Column 6 and 7 in the table indicates the target number of volunteers for 2015 and 2016 to be employed on short term contracts on the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign based on the Census 2011 and the available budget.

	2012 Actual Volunteers	2013 Actual Volunteers	2014 Actual Volunteers	Target volunteers 2015	Target volunteers 2016
Eastern Cape	10140	10055	6985	2608	2608
Free State	3436	3284	2713	348	348
Gauteng	5705	5847	7820	1687	1687
KwaZulu Natal	9294	9120	9040	8957	8957
Mpumalanga	3484	3477	5640	6128	6128
Northern Cape	521	918	1346	1660	1660
Limpopo	6793	7126	7474	7812	7812
North West	2229	2328	3017	5573	5573
Western Cape	1005	1093	1512	2213	2213
Total	42607	43248	45547	36986	36986

Reply:

The visit to the Russian Federation was on 08-09 May 2015. Seventy-nine (79) officials from the Presidency and other departments accompanied me. Air travel costs incurred by the Department of International Relations and cooperation and the Presidency amounted to R179 124.93, while the accommodation of the entire delegation costed R627 630.54. Ground transport costs were R149 893.67.

Reply:

(aa) and (bb) The following table provides details of all open bullet ins issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Education in 2015 for each of the rank categories

Province: Eastern Cape
Vacancies	Nr	Date of Vacancy List	Date for filling	Nr Posts filled End of July 2015
Principal	Vol 2/2015(305 posts) Vol 4/2015( 190 posts)	24 March 2015 17 July 2015	1 July 2015 1 October 2015	66
DP	Vol 1/20 15(292 posts) Addendum to Vol 1/2015( 137 posts) Vol 3/2015(502 posts)	3 Feb 2015 16 Feb 2015) 3 June2015	1 May 2015 1 May 2015 1 September 2015	270
HoD	Vol 1/2015(980 posts) Addendum to Vol 1/2015(426 posts) Vol 3/2015(502 posts)	3 Feb2015 16 Feb 2015 3 June 2015	1 May 2015 1 May 2015 1 September 2015	967
PL1	Critical PL1 vacancies (338 posts advertised)	28 Aug 2015	1 November 2015	Closing date on 18 September 2015

Source: ECDOE Report, August 2015

Reply:

1. Total amount spent by the department on the Minister’s travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in 2014-15 financial year;

a		b		aa	bb
i	ii	i	ii
R236 919,46	21	-	-	-	-

 

2. Total amount spent by the department on the Deputy Minister’s travel costs  between Gauteng and Cape Town in 2014-15 financial year?.

a		b		aa	bb
i	ii	i	ii
R236 919,46	21	-	-	-	-

 

Reply:

The Government is implementing a 365 days road safety plan to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the roads. Through the implementation of this plan, which includes road safety education, law enforcement, road engineering and evaluation we have seen a progressive year-on-year decline in road fatalities.

Year	Fatal Crashes	Percentage Increase/ Decrease	Fatalities	Percentage Increase/ Decrease
2010	10 837		13 967
2011	11 228	3,61%	13 954	-0,09%
2012	10 977	-2,24%	13 528	-3,05%
2013	10 170	-7,35%	11 844	-12,45%
2014	10 367	1,94%	12 702	7,24%

Figures for 2015 are still being compiled and this will be followed by quality assurance. These figures will be available at the end of the calendar year.

Reply:

1. The performance of educators includes, inter alia, the performance of learners.

a) The performance measurement of educators has always included, amongst others, learners’ performance as one of the important proxies. This is in view of the fact that there are many factors at play determining learners’ performance. Factors which influence learning include the learner’s background, school conditions and context, and the teaching quality and processes. International research overwhelmingly points to the learner’s socio-economic status as being a major determinant of learning achievement. The measurement of the performance of all educators is a condition of service as agreed to in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). Currently, all educators, including teachers in the Foundation Phase, are appraised in terms of the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS). Performance Standard 4 of the IQMS instrument measures Learner Assessment/Achievement.

b) Accountability for learner outcomes rests primarily with the Head of the school. In instances where there is under-performance of learners in the Foundation Phase, the Head of Department as well as the responsible teachers are co-accountable. According to the section 16 E of the South African Schools Act, the Principal of the school has to put in place a plan that would address any under-performance of learners at the school. The implementation of this plan will be monitored by the District and Provincial Department of Education, who report on the progress to the Head of Department in the province.

c) Not applicable.

2) (a) The purpose of Annual National Assessment (ANA) is to diagnose learning challenges and monitor the “health” of the education system. ANA is currently administered in only two subjects, language and mathematics, and on all learners at a particular period in a year. For that reason, individual teachers can use ANA results to measure progress of individual learners in their classes but that is not the primary purpose of ANA.

Through the introduction of the Annual National Assessments, known as ANA, the Department have focussed all officials, schools, teachers, and parents on learning and teaching performance in our country. The Department have utilised the diagnostic function of ANA in classrooms so that the Department have a means to assess performance of learners within our classrooms in relation to learners in the district and province. The Department have only just introduced the ANAs in the system in 2011, and like other countries, the Department recognise that the Department need to strengthen formative (school-based) assessment in our schools and how it can be used to improve learning and teaching in our classrooms. However, the Department do know that more can be done through improved school performance, and oversight of the curriculum in schools – especially in those schools which cater for children from poor households.

The Department has started work on refining the systemic assessment function of the ANA so as to accurately compare results across years and better monitor progress in the system. This process of strengthening systemic performance monitoring has taken over a decade in many countries and has required a dedicated effort and capacity from specialists, researchers and academics in the country and abroad. The National Development Plan (NDP) identifies this as a key issue to be resolved – and our Basic Education sector plan, Action Plan 2019: Towards the realisation of Schooling 2025 prioritises the ability to track performance, through an objective tool, as a priority. The Department will, of course, learn from provincial and international assessments such as the Systemic Assessments in the Western Cape and the Department’s participation in regional and international assessments.

The Department are also strengthening the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) administration so as to improve the performance management of teachers in schools and more carefully reflect the reality of what is going on at school level.

(b) (i)The efficacy of teachers is not specifically linked to performance of learners in the Annual National Assessment (ANA) results. The efficacy of all educators is measured in terms of the instrument in the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) as agreed to in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). Performance Standard 4 of the IQMS instrument measures Learner Assessment/Achievement.

(ii) Accountability for learner outcomes rests primarily with the Principal of the school. In instances where there is under-performance of learners in the ANA results, the Head of Department as well as the responsible teachers are co-accountable. According to the section 16 E of the South African Schools Act, the Principal of the school has to put in place a plan that would address any under-performance of learners based on the ANA diagnostic report of the school. The implementation of this plan will be monitored by the District and Provincial Department of Education, who report on the progress to the Head of Department in the province.

Reply:

(a) Yes, I travelled to China during the 2014/15 financial year

(b) Yes, officials from my office travelled with me to China

(i) The purpose was to embark on a State Visit on 04 and 05 December 2014, where the following issues were deliberated upon:

• to review the status of South Africa’s bilateral relations with China;
• to adopt the Five-to-Ten Year Strategic Programme for Cooperation;
• to commit China to South Africa’s industrialisation agenda development finance and request an increase in training slots;
• Discussing the high level Forum on Africa and China meeting that will take place in South Africa in December 2015;
• to encourage China to commit to assist in establishing the African Regional Centre on the New Development Bank; and

(ii) Conclude the 2014 year of South Africa in China.Total costs related to the logistics of the visit including accommodation and transport were R834, 868.64.

Reply:

1. There is no record of any official having made the said request to the Department of Public Works.
2. See 1 above
3. No
4. The Presidency does not allocate housing and therefore is not involved in rental arrangements..

Reply:

1. Since 2010, the Academy engages on average at least 100 young scientists in its various activities throughout the year (except in 2013 when ASSAf did not host a Young Scientists’ Conference).

Young scientists are engaged through the following:

• • The South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) and its various activities;
  • The ASSAf annual Young Scientists’ Conference;
  • Workshops, conferences and lectures that the Academy hosts;
  • Nominations to attend regional and international inter-academy network meetings;
  • Serve on ASSAf standing committees (health, poverty reduction, science education);
  • Serve on study panels - The Academy undertakes to ensure that young scientists are engaged within study panels and/or the convening activities that inform the products of the Academy; and
  • The organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World.

2.  The following is an indication of the number of young scientists who participated in meetings during the specified financial years:

• 2012/13: 263 (includes young scientists’ conference, nomination to IAMP and IAP meetings, and SAYAS membership);
• 2013/14: 35 (Lindau Laureate, IAP, IAMP, SAYAS and service on ASSAf activities – there was no YSC in 2013); and
• 2014/15: 130 (Lindau Laureate, IAP, IAMP, SAYAS, service on ASSAf activities, YSC, OWSD fellowship holders).

The drop in numbers can be explained by the fact that there has been much more focus on quality of work for participation in the Young Scientists’ Conference rather than a focus on increasing the number of participants.

Reply:

a) There are (i) no districts and (ii) schools that have been trained by the National Training Team on Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support policy per province yet. Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) are currently finalising training plans for submission to DBE.

b) The names of districts and schools will be made available as soon as the training has taken place at those levels.

Reply:

Find here: Response