Questions and Replies

Reply:

1. The Department is responsible for the processing of all incoming and outgoing requests for mutual legal assistance and extraditions to and from foreign states. Although detailed records are kept of all cases processed by the Department, due to the nature of these matters, some cases cannot be divulged due to the confidentiality and sensitive nature thereof and the fact that the matter has not yet been finalised.

2. Since August 2022, the Department received 78 new requests for extradition and mutual legal assistance.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

a) The Generator Programme is aimed at rolling out 80 new generator installations at various courts in Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces respectively. The projects are currently in the planning and design phase which entails the site inspections, status quo reporting, drawings, specifications and approvals including municipal approvals. The market prices and cost breakdowns are determined upon the conclusion of the procurement process which will take place upon the approval of the 2023/24 procurement plan, anticipated at 30 April 2023 and the completion of the planning and design phase. The anticipated cost estimates range from R400 000 to R2 000 000, which varies per facility. The size of the facility and cabling length to the main supply are some of the parameters that determine the cost, which varies per facility.

b) The detailed list of the 80 generator installations are shown below:

PROVINCE	REGIONAL OFFICE	DESCRIPTION	WCS NO
FREE STATE PROVINCE	BLOEMFONTEIN	REVISED PI : BLOEMFONTEIN HIGH COURT: UPGRADING AND RENOVATING OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING BACK UP GENERATOR AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM	54928
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR: VANDERBILJPARK, SEBOKENG AND VEREENIGING	54987
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLEY	KIMBERLY HIGH COURT: APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANT FOR PRE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR	55044
FREE STATE	BLOEMFONTEIN	TSEKI: MAGISTRATE OFFICE: INSTALLATION OF BACK UP GENERATOR	55377
PROVINCE	BLOEMFONTEIN	FICKSBURG MAGISTRATE OFFICE: UPGRADING OF DB BOARD AND ELECTRICITY AND INSTALLATION OF AIR CONS SPILT UNITS AND BACK UP GENERATOR	055496
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO CARNAVON, WILLISTON, BRITSTOWN SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056551
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO PORT NOLLOTH, KENHARDT SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056549
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO HANOVER, DE AAR, NOUPORT, RICHMOND SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056526
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO SUTHERLAND, VICTORIA WEST SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056502
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO HARTSWATER SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056563
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO GRIEKWASTAD PRIESKA, DOUGLAS, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056561
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO BLUE DOWNS, MITCHELL'S PLAIN SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056570
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO GRABOUW HERMANUS GEORGE SOMERSET WEST UNIONDALE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056573
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO BISHOP LAVIS, KUILS RIVIER SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056565
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO SWELLENDAM, MONTAGUE, HEIDELBERG, CALEDON, MOSSELBAY, ROBERTSON, BONNIEVALE. LADISMITH SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056566
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO KATHU, OLIFANTSHOEK SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056564
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	GALESHEWE MAGISTRATE COURT: A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER BE APPOINTED TO CONDUCT A COMPLETE STATUS QUO REPORT OF THE COURT AND A COST ESTIMATE FOR NEW MAJOR REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS	056669
KWA-ZULU NATAL PROVINCE	DURBAN	PIETERMARITZBURG HIGH COURT: INSTALLATION OF A GENERATOR	056689
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	LENASIA MAGISTRATE COURT: INSTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATOR	056676
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 3- MPUMALANGA PROVINCE- INTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT SABIE, ACORNHOEK, BUSHBUCKRIDGE MAGISTRATE COURTS:	056683
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 2- MPUMALANGA PROVINCE- INTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT SECUNDA AND OGIES MAGISTRATE COURTS	056682
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	CLUSTER 2 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS AT CALITZDORP AND BEAUFORT WEST MAGISTRATE OFFICE	056686
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	CLUSTER 4 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GERERATORS AT VANRHYSDORP AND VREDENDAL MAGISTRATE OFFICE	056690
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 2: MPUMALANGA PROVINCE: INSTALLATION OFBACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT OGIES AND SECUNDA MAGISTRATE COURTS	056682
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	CLUSTER 1 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS AT BLUE DOWNS AND BISHOP LAVIS MAGISTRATE COURTS	056565
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS AT GRABOUW MAGISTRATE COURT	056573
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	CLUSTER 3 WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS AT GEORGE AND UNIONDALE MAGISTRATE COURTS	056687
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	MPUMALANGA	CLUSTER MPUMALANGA PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT PIET RETIEF AMSTERDAM CAROLINA AND ERMELO MAGISTRATE COURTS	056681
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	GAUTENG PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF BACK UP GENERATOR AT JEPPE MAGISTRATE OFFICE	056713
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	BOKSBURG MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS AND UPGRADING OF ELECTRICITY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR	054596
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	VARIOUS CENTRES (JOHANNESBURG REGION) MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATORS:VANDERBIJLPARK SEBOKENG AND VEREENIGING	054987
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	VARIOUS CENTRES (JOHANNESBURG REGION) MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR: SPRINGS,NIGEL, HILLBROW,DAVEYTON AND HEIDELBURG	054990
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	VARIOUS CENTRES (JOHANNESBURG REGION) MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR: SPRINGS,NIGEL, HILLBROW,DAVEYTON AND HEIDELBURG	054990
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	VARIOUS CENTRES (JOHANNESBURG REGION) MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR: SPRINGS,NIGEL, HILLBROW,DAVEYTON AND HEIDELBURG	054990
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	VARIOUS CENTRES (JOHANNESBURG REGION) MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR: SPRINGS,NIGEL, HILLBROW,DAVEYTON AND HEIDELBURG	054990
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	POLOKWANE	POLOKWANE HIGH COURT INTERIM MAINTENANCE FOR LIFTS, GENERATORS,FIRE DETECTION AND AIR CONDITIONERS
LIMPOPO PROVINCE	HEAD OFFICE (D: CPM)	POLOKWANE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE RECONSTRUCTION OF OFFICES, REPLACEMENT OF GENERATOR, FIRE EQUIPMENT, AIR CONDITIONERS,DAMAGED BY FIRE	055206
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLEY	KUDUMANE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE UPGRADING,REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF WTER TANKS WITH ELECTRICAL PUMP AND GENERATOR SET	053756
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLEY	CALVINIA MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR	053762
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLEY	KURUMAN MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATOR	053764
FREE STATE PROVINCE	BLOEMFONTEIN	SASOLBURG MAGISTRATE COURT. INSTALLATION OF A GENERATOR	056519
FREE STATE PROVINCE	BLOEMFONTEIN	BETHLEHEM MAGISTRATE COURT. INSTALLATION OF A GENERATOR	056519
FREE STATE PROVINCE	BLOEMFONTEIN	KROONSTAD MAGISTRATE COURT. INSTALLATION OF A GEGERATOR	056520
FREE STATE PROVINCE	BLOEMFONTEIN	HARRISMITH MAGISTRATE COURT. INSTALLATION OF A GENERATOR	056521
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO CLANWILLIAM, ATLANTIS, MALMESBURY, VREDENBURG, VAN RHYNSDORP, VREDENDALE MOORREESBURG SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056571
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO BLUE DOWNS, MITCHELL'S PLAIN SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056570
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO GRABOUW HERMANUS GEORGE SOMERSET WEST UNIONDALE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056573
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO SWELLENDAM, MONTAGUE, HEIDELBERG, CALEDON, MOSSELBAY, ROBERTSON, BONNIEVALE. LADISMITH SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056566
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO SWELLENDAM, MONTAGUE, HEIDELBERG, CALEDON, MOSSELBAY, ROBERTSON, BONNIEVALE. LADISMITH SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056566
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO SWELLENDAM, MONTAGUE, HEIDELBERG, CALEDON, MOSSELBAY, ROBERTSON, BONNIEVALE. LADISMITH SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056566
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO SWELLENDAM, MONTAGUE, HEIDELBERG, CALEDON, MOSSELBAY, ROBERTSON, BONNIEVALE. LADISMITH SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056566
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	VARIOUS MO SWELLENDAM, MONTAGUE, HEIDELBERG, CALEDON, MOSSELBAY, ROBERTSON, BONNIEVALE. LADISMITH SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056566
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLEY	ADDENDUM VARIOUS MO WARRINGTON, PAMPIERSTAD SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056563
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLEY	VARIOUS MO KATHU, OLIFANTSHOEK SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	WCS 056564
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 3- MPUMALANGA PROVINCE- INTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT SABIE, ACORNHOEK, BUSHBUCKRIDGE MAGISTRATE COURTS:	056681
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 3- MPUMALANGA PROVINCE- INTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT SABIE, ACORNHOEK, BUSHBUCKRIDGE MAGISTRATE COURTS:	056681
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 3- MPUMALANGA PROVINCE- INTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT SABIE, ACORNHOEK, BUSHBUCKRIDGE MAGISTRATE COURTS:	056681
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 2- MPUMALANGA PROVINCE- INTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT SECUNDA AND OGIES MAGISTRATE COURTS	056682
		POMEROY MAGISTRATE COURT OFFICE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDIDTIONAL ACCOMMODATION REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS AND INSTALLATION OF A GENERATOR	056667
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER 2: MPUMALANGA PROVINCE: INSTALLATION OFBACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT OGIES AND SECUNDA MAGISTRATE COURTS	056682
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS AT GRABOUW MAGISTRATE COURT	056573
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER MPUMALANGA PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT PIET RETIEF AMSTERDAM CAROLINA AND ERMELO MAGISTRATE COURTS	056683
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO CARNAVON, WILLISTON, BRITSTOWN SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056551
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO CARNAVON, WILLISTON, BRITSTOWN SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056551
GAUTENG PROVINCE	JOHANNESBURG	VARIOUS CENTRES (JOHANNESBURG REGION) MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY GENERATORS:VANDERBIJLPARK SEBOKENG AND VEREENIGING	054987
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE	CAPE TOWN	WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS AT GRABOUW MAGISTRATE COURT	056573
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO PORT NOLLOTH, KENHARDT SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056549
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO HANOVER, DE AAR, NOUPORT, RICHMOND SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056526
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO HANOVER, DE AAR, NOUPORT, RICHMOND SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056526
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO HANOVER, DE AAR, NOUPORT, RICHMOND SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056526
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO SUTHERLAND, VICTORIA WEST SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056502
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE	KIMBERLY	VARIOUS MO GRIEKWASTAD PRIESKA, DOUGLAS, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF GENERATORS	056561
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER MPUMALANGA PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT PIET RETIEF AMSTERDAM CAROLINA AND ERMELO MAGISTRATE COURTS	056683
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER MPUMALANGA PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT PIET RETIEF AMSTERDAM CAROLINA AND ERMELO MAGISTRATE COURTS	056683
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE	NELSPRUIT	CLUSTER MPUMALANGA PROVINCE INSTALLATION OF BACKUP GENERATORS AND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM AT PIET RETIEF AMSTERDAM CAROLINA AND ERMELO MAGISTRATE COURTS	056683

Reply:

1. As stated previously, the details of the partnership between Eskom and South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) could best be responded to by the relevant department. In so far as the JETP, the department continues to work with the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) and provides comments as and when it is necessary to do so.

2. The department is on record in saying that the transition programme is not an event but a process that should not be rushed as it has to adequately respond to the needs of the people, central to which is the issues of retention of jobs, skills and reskilling of people and ensuring that no one is worse of. To this effect, the department is conducting analysis on social impacts not only understand the extent of the impact, but to also inform the decision-making process on the protection of jobs, and the required skills and reskilling, including the issues of health.

3. The department has developed a Just Energy Transition Framework which forms the basis for developing indicators for monitoring the socio-economic impacts of the transition.

4. The analysis we are currently conducting on socio-economic impacts and the definition of indicators to monitor such impacts will outline the details of what actions the department will be taking in the next financial year.

5. Similarly, the analysis should inform us on this by the end of this financial year.

Reply:

a) The National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998 (NEMA) provides for regulation of activities which cannot be undertaken without an Environmental Authorisation, such listed activities includes mining and prospecting activities. If any person conducts a listed activity without an approved Environmental Authorisation they are committing an offense in terms of section 49A of NEMA and can be prosecuted following an investigation.

b) The Department is working with law enforcement authorities to deal with the scourge of illegal mining. There are several multi-disciplinary and intelligence led operations which include the Depart of Home Affairs (Immigration) that have been successfully undertaken in various provinces in this financial year.

c) It should also be noted, especially with recent experiences in illegal mining, that the scourge has become an organised crime often led by sophisticated crime syndicates. Further operations are being planned together with law enforcement authorities to respond to challenges caused by illegal mining activities in the country.

d) The South African Police Service has also set up the Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) which role is to address the scourge of crimes within the non-ferrous metals, essential infrastructure, critical infrastructure, extortion, and illegal mining. The Department of Minerals and Energy is working together with the envisaged unit with the immigration teams.

Reply:

Honourable Mkhonto, firstly, let me indicate to you that on this matter we do share the same concern. Secondly, let me thank you for making follow up on this issue after the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour conducted an oversight visit to the Eastern Cape Province. Sometimes, matters of this nature benefit from progress after the investment of some consistency on them.

It is also important to state, adding to our shared view above, that as a Minister of Employment and Labour, I consistently visit all our Labour Centres found in every corner of our country. And as I supposed to do, I intervene in so many matters, some of them right on the spot.

I must say that there are many of those that are a model in particular for the Department, in general for the government and the country. But as you perhaps know by now, that we are so transparent and open that we hide no weaknesses, that may hold back the progress that we all must work towards.

I happen to know one of the Labour Centres where you witnessed, what is in your question. In the East London Labour Centre the route of getting sponsorship from business became unviable. Then, in that Labour Centre, they started a procurement process for 3m x 6m Heavy Duty PVS Gazibo x 8. This happened in October 2022. As the procurement process was underway budgetary constraints held it back. But it has now resumed in 2023/2024 Financial Year. Administrative and operational processes of that are at an advance stage, to such an extent that 500 chairs for those whom the Department has to provide services to, have been procured and distributed to all Labour Centres, including East London Labour Centre.

On days when there is inclement weather, the East London Labour Centre accommodates workers and others at the basement. Let me conclude replying to your question by stating that, for me the approach on many of these matters is not one of dealing with the symptoms but the other of digging deep up until the root-causes are found and uprooted, and more often than not, this particular course necessary and desperately needed as it might be, seldom deliver immediate desired results, with outcome and impact that would have been envisaged. One of its challenges is that some parts of the solution lie on partners that can only be persuaded to cooperate. But with all of that stated, we are on course Honourable Mkhonto.

Once again, thank you for your question.

 

Reply:

a) The Court Recording Technology (CRT), software and/or hardware licences belongs to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The Maintenance and Support contract has been outsourced to an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company, namely, Datacentrix (PTY) Ltd. All court proceedings will always be recorded using this technology (CRT).

b) The current maintenance and support contract with Datacentrix came to an end on 26 June 2023, and has been renewed on a month to month basis until November 2023, so as to ensure that service delivery is not impacted, whilst awaiting the procurement processes to unfold for the longer term contract.

c) The longer term two-year maintenance and support contract is procured via SITA. SITA delays have been experienced in this regard and in mitigation the Department’s executive had met with SITA executive in February 2023. SITA executive had undertaken to fast track the procurement and provide regular feedback.

d) The bid (SITA RFB 2713-2022 ) was subsequently advertised and initially meant to close on 31 March 2023, however, due to an erratum that had to be issued by SITA, the bid closing date had to be extended to 05 May 2023. The bid has since been evaluated and is undergoing SITA quality assurance processes.

e) SITA has provided a project plan indicating that the final recommendation for award by the Department, will be submitted to the Department by 06 November 2023.

f) The existing contract has therefore been renewed on a month to month basis until November 2023, so as to ensure that service delivery is not impacted, whilst awaiting the SITA procurement processes to unfold.

Reply:

1. (aa) Minister

(a)Destination	(b)(i) Accommodation cost	(ii) Travel cost (Flights)	(iii) Other costs (S & T, Incidental, DIRCO Expenditure: Road Transport,)
16th international inter-ministerial conference on South Africa cooperation in Pop Dev 30 August – 05 September 2019 Tunis, Tunisia	R 14 594.63	R 31 300.00	R 13 353.15
The Nairobi Summit on the International Conference on Development (ICPD25) 10 -14 November 2019 Nairobi, Kenya	R 43 995.94	R 27 268.97	R 154 424.72
Global Entrepreneurship Congress 27 – 30 March 2022 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	R 39 475.14	R 137 885.00	R 52 186.29
SheDecides+5 Event and Nexus High-level Roundtable. 19 – 20 May 2022 Brussels, Belgium	R 56 400.00	R 82 543.00	R 59 727.84
3rd session of the specialized technical committee (STC) on health population and drug control. 12 – 13 September 2022 Geneva, Switzerland	R 29 226.89	R 150 862.00	R 86 250.35
Meeting with Maryland sister state committee members and Co-Host Side event on driving entrepreneurship agenda for Africa on the margins of the 77th United Nations General Assembly 18 – 23 September 2022 New York, USA	R 42 519.88 (this is for the Washington trip that happened at the same time as New York) R 133 751.04 (this amount is for the New York leg of the USA trip)	R 9 827.00
High-level commission on the Nairobi summit 7 – 12 November 2022 Zanzibar, Tanzania	The Minister’s Travel arrangements were sponsored and paid for by UNFPA.

1. (bb) Deputy Minister

(a)Destination	(b)(i) Accommodation cost	(ii) Travel cost	(iii) Other costs (S & T, Incidental, DIRCO Expenditure: Road Transport,)
The 3rd Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Health, Population, and Drug Control, 26 July - 04 August 2019 Cairo, Egypt	R 7330.69	R 95 990.00	R 30 063.12
24th International AIDS Conference from 26 July- 04 August 2022 Montreal, Canada	R 496 600.00	R 98 841.00	-
15th Conference of State to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 14-22 June 2022. New York	R 1 193 149.00	R 111 700.00	R 561 094.56
TOTAL

(2)

	Domestic Travel
Minister	R 910 240.
Deputy Minister	R 270 428.00

Reply:

The office of the Chief Procurement Officer within the National Treasury has provided the following information:

1. (a) The total number of tenders that Eskom awarded using deviations was 49. Details are attached as Annexure A. Please note that the list ends on 31 March 2022 as from 1 April 2022, organs of the state were not required to seek approval from the National Treasury.

(b) Details of tenders [(i) approved and (ii) not approved)] are attached as Annexure A.

1. (a) Details of each tender’s monetary value (R76 266 103 275,27) are attached in Annexure A.

(b) Details of each service on awarded tenders are attached in Annexure A.

(c) Details of each entity awarded tender/s are attached in Annexure A.

Reply:

1. The Honourable Member is asking a very vague question. All departments and public entities must act in terms of the law, and the law may have both economic and non-economic objectives, like social or developmental objectives, as well as constitutional objectives. So, for example, spending on school education or health is necessary, and cannot be regarded as “mis-aligned” because it is not directly related to an economic policy programme.  The Honourable Member is therefore requested to be more precise when asking such a question.

2. Not applicable, refer to (a) on the need for the question to be more precise.

Reply:

Government has taken a number of steps since the era of state capture to strengthen the anti-corruption system, but even with such improvements, no system can be watertight against corruption. It is a fact that corruption has become deeply entrenched in all three spheres of government, at national, provincial and local government level and in public entities. We need to do more as a country to improve governance and oversight systems, but most importantly, to ensure that all accounting officers ensure that they always act in the public interest and spend funds for the purposes budgeted for. More broadly, that all in the public service in all three spheres of government, be it political office-bearers, legislators, councilors, accounting officers and authorities, and all officials and employees in the public sector, act honestly and with integrity at all times.

The President submitted to Parliament the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Zondo Commission, or more formally, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, on 22 October 2022. Many of these proposals are in the process of being implemented, and it is my view that both Parliament and Cabinet need to be more involved in overseeing its implementation. Government has also recognized that corruption is one of the highest risks facing any procurement process, and that we need to strengthen our planning, preventive and internal control systems, to reduce the scope of such corruption. In this respect, we are modernizing our procurement system, and also introduced a new Public Procurement Bill to give effect to the procurement-related recommendations of the Commission.

The Office of the Chief Procurement Office is also working closely with numerous stakeholders and partners such as the World Bank and OECD to learn the best lessons internationally and commencing with a review in collaboration with the OECD on the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS) to guide the modernisation process, by identifying areas of deficiencies and vulnerabilities in the current system. The National Treasury also maintains the Central Supplier Database for the government and has made improvements to improve compliance with regulations for state employees and restricted suppliers not to do business with the state. A transparency initiative was launched through the eTender portal where procurement opportunities and procurement data are shared with members of the public. The initial phase of Open Contract Data Standards has been implemented enabling civil society to have access to procurement data in an international standard making it easier for interpretation. Transparency improves accountability and the National Treasury is continuing to implement transparency initiatives for reducing corruption and improving oversight on procurement activities.

Accounting officers and authorities are at the heart of our spending and reporting system. Section 38(1)(a)(i) of the PFMA (and similarly section xxx of the MFMA) requires accounting officers and authorities to develop and maintain an effective, efficient, and transparent system of financial, risk management and internal control. Whilst it is the responsibility of accounting officers and authorities to ensure that funds appropriated or under their control are not misused, the National Treasury monitors the spending patterns of national departments monthly and reports to Parliament on a quarterly basis to assist Parliament and oversight committees of government with their oversight role. There are similar reporting responsibilities on provincial treasuries and for municipalities.

Aside from the executive in each government in any sphere improving its oversight system over their accounting officers and authorities, it is also important for Parliament and all other legislatures to better use the reporting system to strengthen the system of oversight and accountability, especially given that they are the last line of accountability for our oversight and monitoring system. It is also important that all accounting officers and authorities (and elected office-bearers) be accountable, and have effective risk management and internal control systems, as well as their audit committees, to assist them to identify corrupt or suspicious transactions. It is also critical that post-financial year mechanisms like the audit process focus on potential fraud and suspicious transactions, particularly in the procurement system, and differentiate between corruption and minor compliance transgressions that do not involve financial losses.

Below are some specific recent initiatives undertaken by the National Treasury in addressing corruption, misuse of funds, building capacity and ensuring that proper governance systems are developed and implemented by departments.

Capacity building initiatives

• Chief Financial Officers accelerated programme – In recognising the capacity challenges in departments, the National Treasury developed a competency framework for financial management to build capacity of officials in technical and behavioural competencies. An accelerated programmes for Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) was developed and piloted with the objective of enhancing the skills of CFOs and to equip new entrants from the private sector with public sector competencies. A Supply Chain Management Executive programme was also developed with the aim of providing an understanding of the key roles and responsibilities of all heads of procurement and CEOs. To improve governance, two capacity-building short learning programmes aimed at improving public sector internal auditors’ competencies in the ‘Development of Risk-Based Audit Plans’ and their ability to conduct Audit of Information Technology General Controls was developed and piloted.

• Chartered Accountants Academy – The National Treasury continued to support the development of accounting professionals through the Chartered Accountants Academy (CAA). To date, the Academy has produced seventy-six (76) chartered accountants and National Treasury in partnership with the National School of Government is embarking on the journey to professionalize the public sector.

 

• Public Sector Audit Committee Forum – National Treasury has continuously maintained its partnership with the Public Sector Audit Committee Forum (PSACF) which has developed several position papers and hosted virtual round table discussions to assist Audit Committee members to fulfil their roles effectively, efficiently, and independently.

• Internal audit support – The National Treasury remains committed to advancing good governance through stakeholder engagements, provision of technical advice and implementation of legislative prescripts. The information sharing platform with chief audit executives and academia was convened to reflect on improving accountability and transparency in the South African public sector through continuous assurance. The standing MoU between the National Treasury and the Institute of Internal Auditors (South Africa) has made it possible for the National Treasury to participate in the latest review of the Global Internal Auditing Standards (public sector input) impacting the role and responsibilities of internal auditors and audit committees.

Specialised Audit Services

The National Treasury conducts specialised performance audits and forensic investigations to enforce financial management prescripts, ensure accountability, effective, efficient, and economical use of resources. The National Treasury assists the law enforcement agencies to investigate allegations of fraud and corruption and institute charges and assist with recovering proceeds of crime.

Reply:

The Department has not been exposed to challenges with duplicate funding related to identity document fraud in the years 2021-2023 financial years. This may be attributed to the fact that NSFAS application processes confirm an applicant’s identity details with assistance of the Department of Home Affairs.

Reply:

The calculations referred to relate to the potential financial and macroeconomic impact of the market response following the comments by US Ambassador R E Brigety on 11 May 2023. The National Treasury conducted a preliminary analysis of the possible macro-fiscal impact of South Africa’s geopolitical tensions related to SA-US relations, focusing primarily on the impact on the current fiscal framework. The analysis considered that there was a significant depreciation in the rand against the US dollar in May 2023, in part due to the pronouncements of the US Ambassador to South Africa regarding the Lady R vessel. The analysis considered the possible negative consequences of this on key macroeconomic variables including higher inflation rates, borrowing costs and, subsequently, bond yields – all of which weaken the fiscal position. A protracted materialization of the events assessed in this analysis will require the Minister and the National Treasury to consider possible measures in mitigation. An analysis of a potential loss of benefits under AGOA and/or the risk of secondary sanctions is being considered; however, given this work’s nature and required detail, this is expected to take some time.

Reply:

The Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) has been working towards finding mechanisms to address the scourge of violence on campuses. The work on the development of safety and security blueprint for universities which will serve as a framework for universities to have minimum norms and standards on the provision of safety and security measures at the universities is underway. The department is prioritising this project as soon the framework is adopted by all stakeholders it will be implemented even before the 2024-25 financial year.

In addition, there has been continuous engagements with universities to assess and understand the different threats experienced by universities and identify urgent matters that need to be addressed at institutions, including the need to improve protection of staff members and students. Funds have been made available in the Infrastructure Efficiency Grant (IEG) for safety and security projects submitted by universities to the Department. These include upgrading of universities security systems.

I also committed to establish a National Task Force (NTF) which will assist in the development of intervention strategies to assist with campus safety and security measures.

Reply:

The strategic interventions put in place by the Minister to combat gender violence and femicide in the sector include the publication of the Policy Framework to address Gender-Based Violence in the Post-School Education and Training System. The framework compels all PSET institutions to raise awareness about GBV; prevent the occurrence of GBV; and support survivors by having procedures for reporting and dealing with GBV.

Higher Health, which is the entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training has released a set of instruments that further strengthen the realisation of this policy framework. These include Procedural Guidelines on GBV, Sexual and Gender Related Misconduct in PSET Institutions; Protocol on Rape and Sexual Assault Cases in the PSET campuses; and Protocol on the PSET Code of Ethics. These instruments also serve as directives to all institutions to put the necessary infrastructure towards a comprehensive response on cases of sexual and gender misconduct, rape, sexual assaults across all our campuses.

All universities work cooperatively with Higher Health in implementing programmes towards addressing the challenges of sexual and gender-based violence within the PSET system. Its programme of implementation incorporates prevention, systems strengthening, capacity and skills building, care and support. In addition, I established the multisectoral PSET Gender-based Violence Technical Task Team to ensure the effective and coordinated implementation of the DHET GBV Policy Framework.

Funds have been made available in the Infrastructure Efficiency Grant (IEG) for safety and security projects submitted by universities to the Department. These include upgrading of universities security systems. I also committed to establish a National Task Force (NTF) which will assist in the development of intervention strategies to assist with campus safety and security measures.

With regards to the case of a student murdered at Nelson Mandela University, the university has confirmed that that perpetrator was arrested. The university with the assistance of Higher Health provided psychosocial support to affected students and staff.

Reply:

I have shared the Report with the Council of the University, as required by the Higher Education Act No 101 of 1997 as amended; and requested the Council to respond to the findings and recommendations of the Report.

I will then consider the response of the Council; and decide on the appropriate action as provided for and guided by the Higher Education Act, considering the interests of the Central University Technology (CUT) as a public higher education institution.

The Council of the University is the employer, and by law, it determines the conditions of service, disciplinary provisions, privileges, and functions of the employees of the public higher education institution, subject to the applicable labour law. Thus, I cannot respond to how and when the employees will be held accountable.

Notwithstanding above, the Act provides various mechanisms through which the Minister can intervene following the Report of the Independent Assessor; and ensuring that the findings are addressed, and recommendations are implemented. However, that process will follow receipt and proper consideration of the Response of the Council.

Reply:

It is not possible to answer this question accurately as the payment system does not contain such classifications for size of business. What we can provide is our own estimate, which is that the total percentage of spending by the National Treasury on small-medium and micro enterprises is estimated to be 20% versus big businesses at 80% for all transactions in the 2021-22 financial year.

Reply:

1. The department has reviewed the policy based on the inputs received following the publishing and tabling of the draft regulations in Parliament in December 2022. The department has aligned the policy to the final 2023 Regulations following inputs received after gazetting the Regulations on the 25 April 2023.

2. The Military Veterans as defined in the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011 will be eligible to apply for a military veteran's pension. The eligibility criteria has been defined as follows in the Regulations that were gazzeted on the 25 April 2023.

An individual must:-

a. meet the requirements of the definition in the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011

b. be listed in the Military Veterans database

c. be a citizen of the Republic of South Africa

d. not be receiving any other state provided pension or social grant, unless

the pension currently being received is lower than the proposed amount

to be paid in the military veterans pension.

Reply:

Not all of the following specified goals in the Budget Vote in 2022 have been met yet:

• The allocation of R50,6 billion through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) over the MTSF.
• The delivery of basic services, roads, and social infrastructure for poor households in 218 municipalities through the MIG.
• Directing 10% of the MIG at fulfilling the gap as it relates to repairs and maintenance and;
• 5% of the MIG addressing Infrastructure Asset Management Planning.

The medium term expenditure figure is divided as follows:

2022/23 R‘000	2023/24 R’000	2024/25 R’000	Total R‘000
17 545 049	18 330 970	19 150 183	55 026 202

The first specified goal above is on track as R17 545 049 000 was allocated and disbursed to municipalities in 2022/23 financial year. As the municipal financial year ended at the end of June 2023, the assessment of the rest of the specied goals above, which is the performance of the MIG in 2022/23 year, is currently underway to be finalised at the end of this quarter as required in terms of Section 10 (8) of the Division of Revenue Act (DoRA), 2023.

1. The following are some of the common barriers to meeting the specified goals on the MIG programme in particular, and service delivery in general:

• Challenges with the political leadership and environment, governance, institutional management, financial management. The assessment of the state of local government in 2021 and repeated in 2022 highlighted that all these challenges contribute to poor service delivery and implementation of programmes like the MIG.
• Lack of capacity in municipalities especially professionally registered built environment practitioners to effectively manage infrastructure development remains a challenge.
• Uncoordinated support to municipalities in terms of section 154 of the Constitution
• Consequence management to non-MIG performers lead to communities being deprived of services when the non spent portion of the MIG grant is re-allocated to the spending municipalities.

1. A number of interventions and measures were put in place to deal with the above-mentioned barriers including the following:

• The implementation of the Municipal Support and Intervention Plan (MSIP) that was developed as a response to the State of Local Government Report of 2021. The MSIP provides action plans for all pillars that affect service delivery mentioned above and the implementation thereof, is done by all of government including provincial and national departments.
• The Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG) continues to deploy technical professionals through the Municipal Infrastructure support Agent (MISA) to support municipalities with infrastructure development throughout the project life cycle. To-date MISA has deployed 103 built environment professionals (86 of which are professionally registered with Statutory bodies as engineers and town planners) across all 9 provinces.
• The implementation of the District Development Model (DDM) is beginning to bear fruit in the coordinated support towards local government. This is evidenced, among other iniatiatives, by the resuscitation of the Green Drop and Blue Drop programmes by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and consequent joint development of improvement plans for dysfunctional municipalities. The Green Drop Report was released in 2022 while the Blue Drop Watch Report was released in June 2023 by DWS. This assists in joint infrastructure grants management like the MIG and those administered by DWS like the Water Services Infrastructure Grant. This joint collaboration aims to ensure that over the MTSF the specified goals are met especially related to Asset Management Planning and repairs and maintenance.
• The creation of the MIG 6B indirect grant has been included in the MIG Framework as a instrument aimed at ensuring that deserving communities are not disadvantaged by non-performing MIG receiving municipalities. This will see DCOG implementing projects on behalf of those perennial non-performing municipalities as a contribution towards specified goals.

End.

Reply:

1. The SA Army gave approval for the completion of Phase 1 (Development) and the acceptance of the indicated specification deviations, as well as acceptance of the already manufactured 4 Section Variants Pre-Production Models (PPM’s) updated to the latest status.

2. The next step will be Phase 2 (Industrialisation/Production) that entails the initial delivery of 1 Battalion (88 Badger ICV vehicles) to the SA Army.
 

Reply:

1. The Ministers haven’t met as yet. The two engagements held recently was the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements and the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans during the Human Settlements MINMEC session in Cape Town.

2. Following the Deputy Ministers’ engagement the two Departments teams held a two days strategic session on the 08th to 09th (Thursday and Friday) June 2023. Among issues discussed were;

a. upfront identification of the services sites during the national planning cycles

b. Linking the sites to the applicants when quantifying Annual performance plans

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

(a) The countries where the SANDF soldiers have been deployed in the past years are Lesotho, Burundi, Mozambique and Sudan.(b) Total number of:

(i) Soldiers deployed

a. Lesotho – 465

b. Burundi – 1 200

c. Sudan – 820

(ii) Costs incurred (period FY2000/01 to date) – Rb 5 325 961.

(c) Total number of fatalities the SANDF incurred during Peace Support Operations (PSO) deployments in 55. The fatalities incurred include personnel losses due to combat situations, illness, as well as vehicle accidents.

Reply:

The modernisation of the SANDF prime mission equipment is a process that is within the planned and budgeted for capital acquisition programmes. Whilst there are considerations for the modernisation of the SANDF, there has been no approaches to Russia for such.

There is however in existence bilateral defence relations within the context of the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation, within which the two countries’ defence establishments meet and have exchanges at various levels, including bilateral visits. All these are governed by the Defence Committee (DefCom), which is stipulated in the MoU referred to.

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

1) Section 5(2) of the Military Veterans Pension Benefit Regulations state that. Upon the death of a Military Veteran, a qualifying dependent / widow / widowers of a Military Veteran who immediately prior to his or her death, was in receipt of a pension benefit, may receive up to 50% of the pension benefit with effect from the first day of the month following immediately on the month in which the Military Veteran died, provided they are not receiving any form of State pension above the mentioned 50% threshold from the Military Veteran pension benefit.

2) This benefit is applicable to the main member as stipulated in Act 18 of 2011 in section S. (1) (h) of the benefits relating to a military veteran

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

Find here: Reply

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

1. The Board of Inquiry (BOI) on Umzimvubu Regiment is with C SANDF’s legal office for review and assessment on the recommendations made by C Army, details of which can only be divulged on the conclusion of the review process.

2. The members have not yet been paid because the BOI is still with C SANDF’s legal office for a review process, which will give guidance as to future administrative actions to be implemented, including payment to deserving members.

Reply:

(a) Mozambique – R984 368 057.00.

(b) Democratic Republic of Congo – R 1 004 241 271.00.

Reply:

a) SAMHS has received Rm188 (and not R18,2) that was reprioritized from compensation of employees (overtime) for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). These funds are ring-fenced for the procurement of Main Medical Equipment and Prime Mission Equipment (Ambulances, Diagnostic Medical Equipment [X-ray] and Deployable Medical Equipment).

Rm60 is ring fenced for FY2023/24, Rm62 for FY2024/25 and Rm65 for FY2025/26.The procurement plan for the FY2023/23 is approved and the acquisition of specified equipment is in process. The process is being monitored by the Surgeon General and quarterly progress reports will be provided to the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (CSANDF) and National Treasury.

This allocation will help the SAMHS improve its overall combat readiness and to achieve better health outcomes.

b) Steps being taken, are the following: SAMHS is introducing more stringent control measures on overtime work. It is implementing a monitoring tool that (automatically) tracks overtime performance (how much time employees work and what they spent that time doing). By tracking overtime metrics, the organisation will get more insights into the impact of overtime on service delivery. The organisation is also reviewing the structure at each of its health care facilities to ensure that it has the required number of Health Care Professionals and support personnel (Current capacity levels do not allow for the provision of a 24hrs service without the use overtime dispensation). The process is expected to be completed before end of June 2024.

Reply:

The department does not have record of the water and electricity losses recorded for each municipality. The monitoring of water losses is done by Department of Water and Sanitation working with Municipalities. The monitoring of electricity losses is done by National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

End.

Reply:

a) The illegal money-lending business is prevalent and has been detected across the provinces. The following are some of the instances of arrests of people who were found in possession of several SASSA cards. The table below shows a breakdown of the successes achieved to date:

TABLE 1: BREAKDOWN OF CASESREGARDING POSSESSION OF SASSA CARD(S)

NO	DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES	NUMBER OF SASSA/ POSTBANK CARDS	DATE OF ARREST/ SENTENCING
1.	KwaZulu Natal: On 11 October 2020, SAPS arrested two suspects in a Pietermaritzburg operation and seized 495 SAPO/SASSA cards.	495	11th October 2020
2.	KwaZulu-Natal: Three (3) suspected moneylenders were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal with 50 SAPO/SASSA cards, 20 SAPO EasyPay cards and R34,000 cash in Umkomaas.	50	03rd June 2022
3.	Western Cape: On 09t February 2021, the Cape ‘fraud syndicate’ was busted after 49 SAPO/SASSA cards were found hidden in a chocolate box. The suspects were arrested in Mitchells Plain and Bo-Kaap by members of the Special Operations Team. Further investigation of the suspects led the Special Operations team members to an address in Albow Gardens in Rugby where a further 191 SAPO/SASSA cards were seized.	240	09th February 2021
4.	Western Cape: One (1) suspected moneylender was arrested in Malmesbury, for possession of SAPO/SASSA cards.	40	27th June 2022
5.	Gauteng: On 01 May 2020 police arrested seven suspects in Tshwane with 91 SAPO/SASSA cards and nearly R191 671 in cash.	91	1st May 2020
6.	Gauteng: 31 suspected moneylenders were arrested in Springs, Gauteng with 256 SAPO/SASSA cards and 151 various bank cards. The suspects were found in possession of R100, 000 in cash.	256 and 151 various bank cards.	04th August 2022
7.	Gauteng: Five (5) suspected moneylenders were arrested in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng with 1 X SAPO/SASSA card and 6 various bank cards. The suspects were found in possession of R36,270.00 in cash.	One (1) and 6 various bank cards.	02nd November 2022
8.	Gauteng: Five suspects were arrested in Brixton, Gauteng for being in possession of 250 SAPO/SASSA cards.	250	21st June 2023
9.	Eastern Cape: During May 2023, a multi-disciplinary team comprising of stakeholders focusing on loan sharks, led by the National Credit Regulator, involving SASSA, Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and South African Police Services (SAPS) conducted an operation targeting loan sharks, with the sole aim of preventing illegal withholding of banking cards and identity documents. The operation led to the arrest of 17 suspects and the seizing of 106 SAPO/SASSA cards with cash of R401 800.00. Similar operations will be conducted nationally.	106	1st to 5th May 2023

b) As on record, the SASSA/SAPO card is owned and managed by the South African Postbank according to the South African Reserve Bank designation.

SASSA has no control over beneficiaries who encumber their grants nor does SASSA condone this act.

The practice of beneficiaries giving loan sharks and or loan sharks taking beneficiary cards is a contravention of Section 20 of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 which states “a grant may not be transferred, ceded, pledged or in any other way encumbered or disposed of unless the Minister on good grounds in writing consents thereto”, and also read in conjunction with Section 133, Section 90(2) (l) and Section 91(b) of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005.

This matter is regulated by section 35 of the Act, which prohibits credit providers and other persons conducting and marketing credit provider services within areas of Agency Offices and pay points. Section 35 of the Act (1) subject to the provisions of section 10(1) and (2) of the Act states;

a) a person must not market or offer any form of credit , whether or not that person is registered as a credit provider, within any Agency offices or pay-point for the purpose of soliciting or enticing a beneficiary to engage in any form of credit granting, funeral scheme or life insurance scheme; b) the card must not be ceded, pledged or retained to secure a loan, repayment of loan debt or payment of a funeral or insurance premium.

Specifically in response to the question, an ongoing collaborative effort led by the National Credit Regulator in the main, involving the SAPS, Postbank and SASSA has culminated in several arrests of suspected loan sharks who were found in possession of SASSA cards (as detailed under paragraph number (a)/ or above). Additional measures, in the form of programmes, are detailed herein under.

c) Besides efforts of participating in a multidisciplinary enforcement mechanism as indicated above (paragraph b), SASSA continuously communicates with social grants beneficiaries through various channels to discourage them from dealing with loan sharks. There are ongoing media awareness campaigns directed at all social grant beneficiaries not to hand over their SAPO/SASSA cards to anyone.

SASSA also conducts awareness sessions among its employees so that they can share the information with grant beneficiaries and the broader public.

In tandem with the above, measures to combat the phenomenon of loan sharks preying on social grant beneficiaries and to prevent this type of fraud, corruption and contravention of the Social Assistance Act, SASSA takes concerted steps to coordinate and approach this task under the leadership of the National Credit Regulator, with the involvement of stakeholders, such as, Postbank and SAPS, among others, to appraise them of the gravity of the money lending activities and request that stiff sentences, within the ambit of the law, are meted out by the courts.

Reply:

Children’s Services

The contracted consultant is required to transfer its skills to the staff.

a) The contracted consultant will provide mentorship and training on how to conduct research to two (2) early career staff within the department.

b) The mentorship and training indicated in (a) will be conducted for a period of eight (8) months.

c) Two (2) staff members from the Department of Social Development will benefit from this process.

Children’s Legislation

a) The consultant appointed to develop a costed Implementation Plan for the National Child Care and Protection Policy will transfer skills for data collection approaches, and processes for developing implementation plans to the project manager. The consultant will further transfer skills to identified officials through capacity building session workshop.

The consultant appointed to develop Regulations for the Children’s Amendment Act transferred skills for legislative drafting to different business Units through focus group sessions.

b) The workshop for skills transfer for the development of costed Implementation Plan will take one day. Skills transfer for the drafting of Regulations has been completed.

c) The total number of officials impacted for skills transfer on the development of a costed Implementation Plan is six (6). The total number of staff impacted for skills transfer for developing regulations is 70.

Services to Families

(a) The consultant appointed for the development of the policy on homelessness will transfer skills through workshops, meetings, project documents, and public consultations with the key stakeholders working closely with the project team. Skills transfer and methodology have been included in the terms of reference.

The skills to be transferred include data collection and analysis; facilitation skills; project management; policy development, writing, and analysis skills; stakeholder analysis, engagement, and management; literature review; etc

(b) This process will be linked to the duration of the contract, which in this case is one (1) year

(c) Close to 30 officials, from both the task team and the technical team, will benefit from this process by the end of the project and this includes officials from other key national departments, provinces, and officials from National DSD. Yes, this is linked to a & b

Recruitment and Retention Strategy for SSP’s

1. Skills transfer by consultants will be done through project team meetings, which are held after development of each deliverable for quality assurance purposes.
2. The process is ongoing during the design and development phases and conducted over a period of three sessions per project (there are currently two projects) and each is allocated one day for skills transfer purposes.
3. Three staff members will benefit from the skills transfer process (social work policy manager, social work policy developer and scholarship project coordinator).

Service Standards

(a) The consultant appointed to conduct a Readiness Assessment on the Implementation of the White Paper on Social Development will transfer skills to the project team through project engagement meetings on a continuous basis.

(b) The consultant will further transfer skills to identified officials within the national department of DSD through a training workshop. The workshop for skills transfer for the Readiness Assessment will take one day.

Four officials from the national department of DSD will be impacted.

(c) The consultant appointed for refining and editing the White Paper on Social Development will transfer skills to the project team on a continuous basis through project engagement meetings officials.

The consultant for refining and editing the White Paper on Social Development will further transfer skills to identified officials within the national department of DSD through a training workshop. The workshop for skills transfers for the Readiness Assessment will take one day.

Four officials from the national department of DSD will be impacted.

Reply:

1. In order to contribute towards eradicating poverty, the NDA utilises Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as a vehicle to implement programmes, aimed at meeting the most critical development needs of poor communities. By capacitation, empowerment and engagements with CSOs, the NDA enhances the ability of CSOs to deliver a myriad of developmental interventions to communities they are located in, aimed at reducing levels of poverty and creating sustainable communities. The NDA’s aim is to create a functional, efficient, and integrated CSO sector through cooperation and strategic partnerships within the sector, aimed at benefiting CSOs, with the ultimate beneficiaries being individuals served by the CSOs.

Furthermore, the NDA’s strategic plan provides for it to collaborate and coordinate with the Department of Social Development, the South African Social Security Agency as well as other government departments and entities, funding organisation’s and the private sector to contribute effectively towards poverty eradication in poor communities.

(2) (a) There was no specific criteria to identify these CSOs. However, the 24 783 CSOs are part of our database which was created through the following interventions and activities:

• Community Profiling;
• Walk-ins to the NDA offices country-wide;
• CSOs who have participated in NDA capacity building sessions and other events;
• CSOs who participate in government wide events such as Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programmes (ICROP); and
• Referrals from other departments and stakeholders.

(2) (b) Indeed, the first step is engagement with CSOs at a local level to identify developmental needs, possible interventions, referrals to other departments and supporting communities to develop community structures or formations to organise themselves.

The assessment process also includes classification of CSOs based on assessed needs as well as types and levels of interventions required to improve operations of the CSO.

3. There was no country-wide call for proposals by the NDA for grant funding, due to the limited budget allocated for grant funding, lest expectations be created in the sector. Instead, the NDA used programme formulation method to develop proposals for grant funding. Programme formulation is a grant making approach whereby the NDA engages communities in social facilitation with the view of creating grassroots structures that will ultimately be the mechanism for implementation of projects. The approach targets specific areas and sectors based on primary research on priority poverty pockets. The process is driven by the NDA staff in provinces, based on the assessment of the institutional capability and competencies of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and NGOs in identified localities. The NDA Development Practitioners assume an active role in the conceptualization and planning of projects. The approach is used mainly for CSOs funded through NDA’s resources.

Notwithstanding the above mentioned, the country-wide call for proposals was used specifically in soliciting proposals to implement the following projects:

• The CARA Victim Empowerment Programme in the 2019/2020 financial year; and
• The Presidential Employment Stimulus Package (PESP) Volunteer Programme.

(4) (a) In the last four Financial Years, the NDA has grant-funded 289 CSOs enabling them to address poverty relief to the vulnerable and poor in communities. Through the funding, the NDA makes inroads in ridding the society of the dire effects of poverty, especially in areas where these CSOs operate. The grant funding programme focuses on assisting CSOs with seed funding that enables them to provide services to communities. The funding specifically targets CSOs that do not meet funding requirements of most funding institutions. NDA aims to unlock their potential for more funding and increase their sustainability.

As a result of the NDA Grant funding, the following was achived:

• Children within ECD Centres were able to access ECD services which meet the norms and standards of the sector. This increased their development prospects and provided an opportunity for caregivers to be involved in economic activities;

• Household food security has been improved through support to communal food gardens and small-holder farmers;

• Household income from the funded CSOs and Co-operatives involved in economic activities has been increased thereby increasing the asset base in their respective communities;

Through the grant funding programme the NDA created work opportunities. These work opportunities ensure that economically disadvantaged families have their quality of life improved through participation in the NDA supported community projects.

4) (b) A total budget of R50 173 746 in grant funding was disbursed to CSOs as per provincial and annual breakdown in the table below.

(4) (c) there is no amount still to be disbursed to CSOs except what is in the budget for the current financial year 2023/2024 i.e. R 9 396 829.

Reply:

1) The queue management project team is currently at the follow-up and evaluation stage of the project, post GO-LIVE. During this stage, the team is performing ongoing monitoring and system performance evaluation to provide support, additional training, and adjustments to local offices who have implemented the queue management system. This process will allow the team to establish the baseline in terms of current waiting times and be able to measure the effectiveness of the system.

However, it is important to note that a queue management system is about improving the efficiency of managing queues in the local office. These efficiencies mainly contribute to maintain order within the local office and may have a spill over effect on time spent in the office.

This collectively with other systems – such as the online application system (which reduces demand), the self-help kiosk that are to be rolled out later (to reduce the need for human interaction through self-service), express queues, as well as the ongoing capacitation offices with alternative energy supplier – are all part of the larger strategies to reduce times spent in queues.

(2) In 2022/23 SASSA did a pilot implementation of the system at approximately 23 offices and intends to extend this to another 27 offices in the current financial year. Different use-cases and scenarios are being evaluated. Part of this exercise will be a full costing for roll out at all the 422 local offices, however high-level costing suggest that it will cost approximately R52 million. This cost is for the hardware (computers, screens and printers) and consumables (paper, etc), thus the plan is to roll this out progressively over time within the existing baseline of the Agency.

Reply:

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements approved and signed a contract with First Metro Housing Company in March 2001 to build 213 institutional housing units in Ethekwini Municipality. The project claims were processed between January 2002 to March 2006 in the amount of R 4,785,725.10.

Attached are the project claims related to the Howell Road Project.

Reply:

The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the National School of Government (NSG), each have their own budget vote. The Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) is allocated its funds through transfers from the DPSA.

The Department for Public Service and Administration does not allocate a percentage budget for procurement for (i) Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, (ii) Cooperatives, (iii) Township Enterprises and (iv) Rural Enterprises as the Department engages with National and Provincial Departments as clientele from a mandate perspective.

The National School of Government responded as follows:

(aa) Procurement in terms of percentages allocated to during 2021-22 financial year:

i) Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises

Total Procurement spent= R94 272 720.02

Procurement spent on SMME = R24 362 398.28

Procurement percentage spent on SMME = 25,84%

(ii) Cooperatives = 0%

(iii) Township enterprises = 0%

(iv) Rural enterprises = 0%

(bb)Procurement in terms of percentages allocated since 1 April 2023:

i) Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises

Total Procurement spent= R4 508 676.54

Procurement spent on SMME = R223 383.38

Procurement percentage spent on SMME = 4.95%

ii) Cooperatives = 0%

iii) Township enterprises = 0%

iv) Rural enterprises = 0%

The Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) does not have any procurement allocation in terms of the percentages allocated to (i) small-, medium- and micro-enterprises, (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises with a view to evaluating the effectiveness of the set-aside policy of the Government in fostering an inclusive and diverse economic landscape (details furnished) in the (aa) 2021-22 financial year and (bb) since 1 April 2023

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is an independent Constitutional body, accountable to the National Assembly. It is therefore not an entity or body reporting to the Minister for Public Service and Administration (MPSA). Its budget was, prior to 2020/21 financial year, appropriated through the MPSA. With effect from 1 April 2020, the PSC’s budget is appropriated through the PSC allocated vote, and not through the MPSA.

The percentages allocated are as follows:

(aa) 2021-2022 financial year:

(i) 170 orders out of 219 orders were issued to small-, medium- and micro-enterprises which constitutes to 77%;

(ii) no orders were issued to cooperatives;

(iii) 15 orders out of the 170 orders issued to small-, medium and micro-enterprises were issued to township enterprises which constitutes to 8.82%; and

(iv) 9 orders out of the 170 orders issued to small-, medium- and micro-enterprises were issued to rural enterprises which constitutes to 5.29%.

(bb) 2023-2024 financial year:

The response for 2023/24 will only be available at the end of 2023/24 financial year.

End

Reply:

(1)(2)(3) The Department of Health monitors Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) cases through the National Health Information Management System. The member is advised to refer the question to the relevant Ministry of Health.

(4) South Africa has developed and implements an integrated and comprehensive National Food and Nutrition Security Plan for South Africa, which holistically addresses food and nutrition issues, focusing on the pre-conception period, the first 1000 days of life, Early Childhood Development, and appropriate feeding of vulnerable children in poor schools (quantile 1–3).

The Food Security and Nutrition Plan for South Africa reflects a common vision across government departments, with a unified goal, objectives, indicators and targets for monitoring progress. Under this plan various programmes under Strategic Objective 4, which relates to “Scaling up of high impact nutrition specific interventions targeting nutritionally vulnerable groups across the life cycle” are implemented.

This is to enable the country to address problems such as hunger, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies that affect physical growth and cognitive development, especially among children, as directed by the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy.

The Department implements targeted social protection measures, which includes the provision of nutrition support services to the poor and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, social grants are paid in line with the social assistance act, 2004 (Act No. 13 of 2004) to alleviate the plight of most impoverished and vulnerable people in the country. More than 60 % expenditure on grants is used to buy food and this assist many households to not go to bed hungry.

DSD has Centre based feeding programmes most registered and funded as NPOs that support vulnerable groups through nutrition support and provide other psychosocial services as well. These includes Community Nutrition and Development Centres (CNDCs), Home Community Based Care Centres (HCBCs, Luncheon Clubs (LCs) etc.

Reply:

(1)(a) A beneficiary can cancel the COVID SRD grant by logging onto the platform (https://srd.sassa.gov.za) which they used to apply for the grant, select the cancel option and follow the prompts for cancellation. The cancellation is not based on a month, but a permanent cancellation. If cancelled, the client will need to reapply for the grant, if they need it in future.

(1)(b)(i), (1)(b)(ii), (1)(b)(iii) The number of grants which were stopped due to cancellations received for the years under this enquiry are:

(i) 2021 – 341 896

(ii) 2022 – 435 432

(iii) 2023 – 211 814

It should be noted that despite canceling the grants, quite a number of clients re-instate their grants at a later period in the same year. In this regard, SASSA is not able to indicate which of the above numbers were reinstated again as their might have been multiple cancellations and re-instatements per client.

Given the aforementioned explanation, SASSA unfortunately cannot answer this question without a significant amount of analysis of tens of millions of records, which will take a considerable amount of time. Given that the grant is not permanent and a client can receive it one month, then stop for a month or two due to them receiving other forms of assistance, (as alluded to above) and then qualify again for a few months; the analysis of the data is further complicated.

1 (c) the number of cancellations which have been (i) received

(aa) April 2023 – 169 635

(bb) May 2023 – 181 867

(ii) Successfully cancelled for

(aa) April 2023 - 169 635

(bb) May 2023 - 181 867

(2) There is an option to cancel the grant for April and May 2023 on the website. As indicated in 1(a), a beneficiary can cancel the COVID SRD grant by logging onto the platform (https://srd.sassa.gov.za) which they used to apply for the grant, select the cancel option and follow the prompts for cancellation.

(3) As indicated it is possible for clients to cancel their grants. Despite this, unfortunately there is no way for SASSA to know if a client no longer needs the grant and wants to cancel it, unless they inform SASSA. The process to cancel the grant is as easy as the process to apply, if not easier, and remains the responsibility of the beneficiary to notify SASSA if their circumstances change.

It is very likely that the reason why clients who no longer need the grant can be because they are receiving income. This will be picked up when SASSA checks income on a monthly basis before approving the grant for that month. Hence the numbers for “declined”, may be skewed by those who should have cancelled their grant. However, given the current economic situation in the country, these numbers are likely to be small, even negligible.

Reply:

DSD

The National Department of Social Development made provisions in terms of the allocation of its procurement spend in terms of the following procurement spend categories:

• Black Owned businesses
• Women-owned businesses
• Youth-owned businesses
• Businesses in Rural or Township areas
• Businesses owned by persons living with disabilities

The table below depicts the percentage spent and the rand value for the 2022/23 financial year for each of the categories indicated above.

Year	Total spend	Black Owned	Women Owned	Youth Owned	Disability	Rural/Township
21/22	R358,75	146,620 000	R71,830 000	R24, 100 000	R510 000	R10 530 000
		40,9%	20%	6,7%	0,1%	2,9%
22/23	R383,2 Mil	R150,770 000	R 103,620 000	R 16,850 000	R 400 000	R 10,590 000
		39,3%	27%	4,3%	0,1%	2,8%
23/24	31,86 Mil	R9,830 000	R5,150 000	R1, 730 000	R120 000	R2,710 000
		30,8%	16,1%	5,4%	0,4%	8,5%

NB for 2023/24 the amounts included are up to 13 June 2023.

SASSA

SASSA did not make provision for procurement allocation in respect of the three (3) categories as specified in the above question, NAPQ 1707 of 2023. However, the below figures depict the total expenditure towards the below designated groups. The total percentage spent for the designated groups in the 2022/2023 Financial Year is nine percent (9%).

Please note that National Treasury Practice Note Number SCM 2 of 2006, on the prohibition of set-asides was only repealed with effect from 16 January 2023, to align with Regulations, 2022. 

(i) Total SMME/ EME expenditure is R 334,206,197.88

(ii) National Treasury Central Supplier Database does not make provision for Cooperatives as a category.

(iii) Total Township enterprise expenditure is R 281,214,251.33

(iv) Total rural expenditure is R 22,698,907.28

NDA

b) The procurement percentage allocation was against a total of R 26 574 444 and R 30 234 710 for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 financial years respectively. It is broken down as follows:

(i) R 23 908 290 and R 22 421 761 were allocated towards Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises which constitute 79,1% and 84,4% for the aa) 2021-22 and bb) 2022-23 financial years respectively.

(ii) R 124 942 and R 10 735 were allocated towards Cooperatives which constitutes 0,4% and 0,04% for the aa) 2021-22 and bb) 2022-23 financial years respectively.

(iii) R 845 319 and R 1 977 836 was allocated towards Township Enterprises which constitutes 2,8% and 7,4% for the aa) 2021-22 and bb) 2022-23 financial years respectively; and

(iv) R 504 377 and R 723 234 were allocated towards Rural Enterprises which constitutes 1,7% and 2,7% for the aa) 2021-22 and bb) 2022-23 financial years respectively.

The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the procurement spend per category for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 financial years.

 

Reply:

The department has not identified areas to be allocated for housing across all provinces. The identification of suitable land and the development of that land is an ongoing collaborative effort amongst relevant organs of state, i.e. provincial and local government, Human Settlements and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as per their respective legislated mandates. The department through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) together with the Provincial Disaster Management Centres across the country continues to provide support to relevant organs of state in the implementation of sustainable interventions including the identification of suitable land for rebuilding and settlement of communities for building back better, to promote resilience, prevent or minimise the impacts of flooding incidents. The organs of state are further supported in the development of Disaster Management Contingency Plans and implementation of the plans thereof.

End

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

1. Yes, the list for all damaged infrastructure as received from the respective provinces have been furnished for roads and bridges damaged by floods in (i) KwaZulu-Natal and (ii) Eastern Cape. Below table sumarises the damaged infrastructure:

Table: Summaries for Eastern Cape & KwaZulu-Natal

Infrastructure	Eastern Cape	KwaZulu-Natal	Totals
Number of Roads submitted by the province	153	1 329	1 482
Number of roads funded by the NDMC	21	1 329	1 350
Number of bridges submitted by the province	14	153	167
Number of bridges funded by the NDMC	04	153	157

1. (a) Fixing of damaged roads and bridges is the responsibility of the affected provinces and municipalities as per their respective legislated mandate. However, following the applications by these affected organs state, DCOG allocated an amount of R3.1 billion (R3 060 038 000 for KZN and R113 511 000 for EC) from the disaster grants to augment the resources of the affected organs of state to fix the damaged infrastructure that included roads and bridges in the EC and KZN respectively. (i) A total of 1507 roads and bridges respectively were funded by DCOG to be fixed by the responsible organs of state (4 bridges in the EC and 153 bridges in KZN) (21 roads in the EC and 1 350 roads in KZN). (ii) The fixing of the damaged infrastructure that could not be funded from the disaster grants is the responsibility of the affected organs of state through existing programmes and arrangements as per the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002 (Act 57 of 2002) (b) the time frames for fixing infrastructure still not yet fixed are determined by the responsible organs of state inline with their existing arrangements.

End

Reply:

1. The Minister receives reports on appointments of senior managers including Chief Financial Officers (CFO) and Municipal Managers (MMs) on periodic basis in terms of section 54A(3) and section 56(2)(a) of the Municipal Systems Act, (Act No.32 of 2000) as amended in 2022, read together with Regulation 17 of the Local Government: Regulations on Appointment and Conditions of Employment of Senior Managers (Government gazettee No. 37245) ,
2. (i) and (ii) The Municipal Regulations on minimum competency levels as promulgated in Government Gazette No. 29967 and amended by Government Gazette No. 41996 of 2018 in terms of Municipal Finance Management Act, (Act 56 of 2003) is administered by the Minister of Finance.
3. According to information received from provinces, the following are the total number of filled and vacant positions for municipal managers and chief financial officers as at end March 2023:

Position	Total filled	Total vacant	Not submitted	Total
Municipal Manager	194	62	1	257
Chief Financial Officer	178	78	1

1. To ensure effective use of consultants, the Minister of Finance promulgated the Local Government: Municipal Cost Containment Regulations and these Regulations introduced a requirement for the development of a consultancy reduction plan. The development of this consultancy reduction plan is now a prerequisite and needs to be approved by the municipal council before any consultant can be appointed, especially in instances where capacity exist within a specific municpality. Compliance with this Regulation is monitored by the National Treasury and hence it is suggested that the specific question relating to consultancy usage is reffered to the Minister of Finance.

End.

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

1. Yes, the BRICS Summit will be hosted by South Africa.
2. The subject of President Putin's attendance and the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court are matters under consideration by the Government of South Africa. The President will make an announcement on this matter once a decision is finalised.

Reply:

1. In the past three years, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) implemented sixty (60) infrastructure projects, thirty eight (38) were not completed according to initial schedule. The projects were completed after extension of time for several reasons including the lack of availability of materials that were vastly experienced in year 2020 during the COVID19 lockdown periods. There were four (4) projects, included in the 38 mentioned above, where the contracts of service providers were terminated due to poor performance of service providers and replacement contractors appointed resulting in delays.
2. (i) Section 106 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, is applied to municipalities. It is therefore not applicable to the national sphere of government.

(ii) The response is as per (b) (i) above.

End.