Questions and Replies
22 September 2015 - NW3175
Mulder, Dr PW to ask the Minister of Tourism
Whether special buildings and other facilities have been erected to receive visitors to the Vredefort Dome, and to brief and assist them; if not, why not; if so, (a) what did the total cost of the complex or information centre amount to and (b) whether the buildings are currently being utilised; if so (i) how many staff members of staff have been appointed and (ii) what are their official working hours?
Reply:
(a) Yes, the Vredefort Interpretation Centre was designed to include a reception area for visitors. An amount of R11,7 million was budgeted for the Vredefort Interpretation Centre but was not completed due to the structural defects on the building and a budget shortfall. According to an independent engineer, the main building (interpretation centre) started to show cracks, leaks and structural defects as a result of the weak panels supporting the structure which would endanger the lives of any person entering the building.
The project proposal was prepared in 2004 and the cost norms and standards applicable at the time were used to determine the project budget. The actual construction work only commenced in 2006 which under normal circumstances would have included escalation to accommodate increased costs. The allocation of budget by the department did not take into account the time lapses and associated cost escalations.
The project was implemented in two phases and the building in question was one of the many deliverables. The building was done in phase 1 and the budget for the project included other deliverables such as stalls, kitchen, ablution block, fencing, bulk electricity and water supply.
(b) No, the Department of Tourism is in the process of completing the project.
(i) Falls away
(ii) Falls away
END
22 September 2015 - NW3194
Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)What was the (a) total amount spent and (b) breakdown of the specified expenditure on each specified foreign Defence Attaché Residents in the 2014-15 financial year; (2) what was the (a) total amount spent and (b) breakdown of the specified expenditure on all foreign Defence Attaché Residents in the 2014-15 financial year?
Reply:
(1)&(2) The information requested is depicted in the Table hereunder:
Defence Attaché Residents |
Total Expenditure FY 14/15 |
Rental |
Household Furniture |
Municipal Services |
43 |
32 228 545.00 |
27 143 511.00 |
105 480.00 |
4 979 554.00 |
END
22 September 2015 - NW3263
Ntobongwana, Ms P to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)What (a) total amount did her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; (2) What is the total amount that her department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
(1) & (2) The information requested by the Honourable member is provided in the 2014/15 annual report of the Department which has already been tabled in Parliament on 28 August 2015.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3355
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development
Is his advisory panel that was announced in 2010 (details furnished) still in existence; if not, why not; if so, (a) who are the members of the specified advisory panel, (b) how often has the specified advisory panel met since 1 January 2010 and (c) what recommendations has the specified advisory panel made on (i) economic growth and (ii) employment?
Reply:
The Advisory Panel as announced in 2010 met formally on 25 May 2010, 14 July 2010 and 16 January 2011 to provide advice and information relevant to the conclusion of the New Growth Path policy document of government as well as on ways to step up industrial funding, promote the green economy and develop pro-employment measures.
After the completion of this first phase of the Panel’s work, from which we benefitted in a number of ways, I engaged with individual members of the Panel on an ‘as needed’ basis on matters connected to economic development.
These included engagements on a number of occasions with Professor Joseph Stiglitz on matters as diverse as global economic developments relevant to South Africa; and on the terms of the final submission of a competitor supplier fund proposal to the Competition Appeal Court in the Walmart merger. In this latter instance, this contributed to the final decision of the Court to impose a R240 million Fund to promote the Walmart local and small-business supply chain.
In addition, I have benefitted from the insights of Michael Power on the emergence of new economic powers; the changing role of China and its impact on the global economy; and the trade-offs inherent in different exchange-rate policies, among others.
Other members of the Panel provided their insights on contemporary economic policy matters as requested from time to time.
-END-
22 September 2015 - NW2906
Dudley, Ms C to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether the country is winning the fight against tuberculosis (TB); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he has found that the current reality with regard to TB indicates that measures currently in place are adequate; if not, (a) what is being done to re-assess the situation urgently and (b) what urgent steps are being taken to bring the situation under control; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (3) how do these measures compare with best practice in other countries?
Reply:
1. Yes Honourable Member, the Department has definitely made serious strides in the war against TB. The treatment success was 76% in 2009 and it is 89% now. By 2009 70 000 people were dying of TB per annum but now the figure has dropped to 40 000. However, TB still remains the biggest killer in our country.
2. Yes the measures are doing well but we need to do more to eradicate TB. Hence the President announced in the State of the Nation Address this year that we are going to focus on TB.
The Deputy President launched a massive TB screening campaign on 24 March this year, focusing on high prevalence districts, the mineworkers and the inmates in Correctional Service facilities.
We used to have only 9 centralised treatment centres to treat MDR-TB and XDR-TB. Now we have 298 decentralised sites, 272 satellite sites and 150 injection teams to help decentralise management of MDR-TB and XDR-TB.
We have trained 1 700 nurses to manage MDR-TB and 230 of them can even initiate treatment of MDR-TB in the absence of a doctor.
3. According to Stop TB Partnership, the measures in South Africa are far ahead of many countries, for instance there are 700 patients globally who are on Bedaquiline treatment. A total of 400 of these are in South Africa alone. The remainder is scattered all over the world. We are now putting 3 000 on Bedaquiline this financial year.
END.
22 September 2015 - NW3435
Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister of Labour
Whether, considering reports that South Africa could face as many as 60 000 job losses in 2015, mainly in mining and steel industries, she has put plans in place to turn the situation around?
Reply:
MINISTER OF LABOUR REPLIED:
Both the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Labour are handling this matter in terms of applicable legislations, viz; Section 189A of the Labour Relations Act and Section 52 of MPRDA. The CCMA is also fully engaged on this matter.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3186
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What is the basis of the cost of collection of the contract with a certain company (name furnished) and/or its subsidiaries for the installation, maintenance, management and vending related to smart electricity meters in the City of Tshwane, as (a) calculated by the metro and (b) presented to the Council by the specified company and/or its subsidiaries; (2) who calculated the cost of collection on which the actual contract is based; (3) whether the actual cost of collection matches the costs presented in the initial proposal; if not, (a) why not and (b) what is the actual cost of collection?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the City of Tshwane to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3188
Hill-Lewis, Mr GG to ask the Minister of Economic Development
(1)What is the underlying formula or formulae for the calculation of the prices published under the Price Preference System (PPS) for scrap metal; (2) has his department conducted an impact study to examine the economic impact of the PPS since its introduction in September 2013?
Reply:
The formulae for the calculation of prices under the Price Preference System for scrap metal is detailed and can be found as follows on the ITAC website:
Government Gazette no 37992 Notice Number R714 published on 12 September 2014 can be accessed at http://www.itac.org.za/upload/gg37992_nn714.pdf
ITAC’s Report No 490, Review of the Discount Rates in the Price Preference System for Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Waste and Scrap, which may be accessed at http://www.itac.org.za/upload/Report%20No%20490.pdf .
Whilst a formal impact study is scheduled for April 2016, the Department monitors the impact of the regulations on the level of exports of scrap metal.
-END-
22 September 2015 - NW2998
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister in the Presidency
With the increasing number of youth in need of financial assistance on the one hand and limited resources on the other and the waste of resources together with corruption resulting in the National Youth Development Agency applying for R4,8 million preservation orders, in respect of forfeiture of assets of employees who committed fraudulent activities, (a) why were these employees who committed fraudulent activities not arrested and (b) has the money been recovered; if not, why not; if so, how much?
Reply:
All citizens have the responsibility to report cases of fraud and crime to the South African Police Services. The Honourable Member is encouraged to do the same. The Police will investigate and if there is sufficient evidence, they will arrest those who commit these crimes. The Courts are tasked with the responsibility to test the evidence and pass judgement regarding those who are found guilty.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3202
Figg, Mr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development
(1) Considering the usefulness of visiting other countries and learning lessons from their practices and experiences, (a) what is the total number of days that he has spent out of the country in (i) 2014 and (ii) from 1 January 2015 up to the latest date for which information is available, (b) which countries did he visit and (c) what useful lessons did he learn; (2) has he put the lessons he has learnt into practice; if so, (3) did the specified lessons yield positive results; if not, why not; if so, what were the results?
Reply:
During the period from 1 January 2014 until 15 September 2015, a total of 18 days were spent outside the country (excluding travel time) on official trips to the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United States and Switzerland, to meet investors or to showcase examples from South Africa to other policy-makers.
In the course of such engagement, both parties normally share national experiences. The observations of the experience of other countries help to shape the refinement and implementation of our policies. In none of these cases did we take an existing policy or practice from another country and simply implement it, which limits the assessment of their impact on our domestic economy.
Investor feedback has been helpful however in confirming the value of actions taken in respect of the export of scrap metal, the renewable energy programme and the shift of focus of skills training to technical and artisanal skills. In addition, valuable insights have been gained on the importance of infrastructure investment for economic development.
-END-
22 September 2015 - NW3185
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What progress has been made in the (a) investigation and/or (b) prosecution in a certain matter (details furnished) which was formerly investigated by the Specialised Investigating Unit and which is currently with the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit in Pretoria?
Reply:
a) I wish to inform the Honourable Member that the investigation is at an advanced stage after suffering delays when both the lead investigator in the South African Police Services and prosecutor in the National Prosecuting Authority left the case in the middle before the investigation was completed.
b) The investigation is anticipated to be finalised during the course of this year (2015).
END
22 September 2015 - NW3183
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What amount has been spent on the traveling costs of the (a) Chief Justice and (b) his entourage, including the breakdown of the names of persons and their specific ranks, in the (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14 financial years?
Reply:
(a) (i) During the period 2012-13, the Chief Justice travelled on official international trips to the Seychelles, Korea, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, Ghana, Mozambique and Mauritius. The total costs for these official trips amounted to R677 214.21
(a) (ii) In the year 2013-14, the Chief Justice travelled on official international trips to Benin, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, Tanzania, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore and Nigeria. The total costs for these trips amounted to R879 073.72
(b) (i) 2012-13 - Chief Justice’s entourage
Official trip to Seychelles
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following Judicial Officers and officials:
- Justice Y Mokgoro, retired Judge of the Constitutional Court
- Justice L Theron, Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal
- Dr G Moshoeu, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Judicial Education Institute
- Mr A Slingers, Executive Aid to the Chief Justice
Official trip to Korea
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following persons:
- Mrs A Mogoeng, Chief Justice’s spouse
- Mr A Slingers, Executive Aid to the Chief Justice
Official trip to France, Italy, Russia and Germany
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following Judicial Officers and officials:
- President L Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All four countries)
- Justice C Jafta, Justice of the Constitutional Court (All four countries)
- Dr K De Wee, Acting Secretary General of the Office of the Chief Justice (As he was then) (All four countries)
- Ms M Sejosengwe, Chief Director: Court Services (As she was then) (All four countries)
- Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support (All four countries)
Official trips to Ghana and Mozambique
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following officials:
- Ms M Sejosengwe, Chief Director: Court Services (As she was then)
- Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support
Official trip to Mauritius
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following persons:
-
- Mrs A Mogoeng, Chief Justice’s Spouse
- Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support
- Ms R Leyds, Executive Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice.
The costs for the Chief Justice’s entourage for all the official international trips for the period 2012-13 amounted to R1 122 751. 28.
(b) (ii) 2013-14 - Chief Justice’s entourage
Official trip to Benin
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following officials:
- Mr S Chiloane, Acting Chief Director: Judicial Policy and Research
- Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice
- Mr M Mama, Security Coordinator
Official trips to Germany, United Kingdom, Norway
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following Judicial Officers and officials:
- President L Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All three countries)
- Deputy President K Mthiyane, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All three countries)
- Justice J Van Der Westhuizen, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
- Justice S Khampepe, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
- Justice J Froneman, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
- Justice C Jafta, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
- Justice R Zondo, Justice of the Constitutional Court (Germany only)
- Judge President M Leeuw, Judge President of the North West Division of the High Court (United Kingdom and Norway)
- Judge President D Mlambo, Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court (United Kingdom only)
- Ms M Sejosengwe, Secretary General of the Office of the Chief Justice (United Kingdom and Norway)
- Mr S Chiloane, Acting Chief Director: Judicial Policy and Research (All three countries)
- Mr S Masisi, Director: Executive Support (United Kingdom and Norway)
- Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice (All three countries)
- Mr Z Jekeqa, Protocol Coordinator (All three countries)
Official trip to Tanzania
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following officials:
- Mr S Chiloane, Acting Chief Director: Judicial Policy and Research
- Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice
- Mr Z Ntswanti, Deputy Director: Research
Official trips to Malaysia, Qatar and Singapore
The Chief Justice’s entourage for the consisted of the following Judicial officers and officials:
- President L Mpati, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (All three)
- Deputy President K Mthiyane, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Justice S Majiedt, Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Judge President M Leeuw, Judge President of the North West Division of the High Court (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Judge President D Mlambo, Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Judge M Rampai, Acting Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court, (as he was then) (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Judge N Erasmus, Judge of the Western Cape Division of the High Court (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Judge A Jappie, Judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court (All three countries)
- Mr K Nqadala, Regional Court President (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Mr D Niar, Chief Magistrate (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Dr G Moshoeu, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Judicial Education Institute (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Mr M Doralingo, Chief Director: Court Administration (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Mr P Gagai, Director: Judicial Policy (All three countries)
- Adv E Seema, Director: Superior Courts (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Mr S Ntsimane, Executive Manager, Information, Communication and Technology (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Mr G Lesiba, Chairperson of the Integrated Justice System Board (Malaysia and Singapore)
- Mr A Slingers, Executive Aide to the Chief Justice (All three countries)
- Mr Z Jekeqa, Protocol Coordinator (Malaysia and Singapore)
Official trip to Nigeria
The Chief Justice’s entourage consisted of the following persons:
- Mrs A Mogoeng, Chief Justice’s spouse
- Mr M Mama, Security Coordinator
The costs for the Chief Justice’s entourage for all the international trips for the period 2013-14 amounted to R4 287 509. 48.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3509
Leader of Opposition (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Has her Department extended an invitation to the President of Sudan, Mr Omar al-Bashir, to attend the sixth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation which will be hosted in the country on 4 and 5 December 2015; if not, when does her department intend to do so; if so, who authorised the invitation?
Reply:
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation does not extend invitations to Presidents.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2907
Chewane, Dr H to ask the Minister of Health
Whether he is aware of the lack of water in most health facilities in John Taolo Gaetsewe district in the Northern Cape, which resulted in some important procedures not being performed; if so, what is he doing to ensure that the poor people in the specified district, who depend on the public healthcare system, are not compromised by the lack of water?
Reply:
Yes, the Department of Health is aware of the water problem in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District in the Northern Cape, but it is not in most facilities as claimed by the question. The problem is in 10 out of 42 Primary Health Care facilities (PHCs). Most of these facilities are located in the deep rural areas of the District where there is no connection to the municipality’s water supply source. In areas where there is a connection it has been difficult for the municipality to meet the demand.
The District engaged the municipality to supply water tanks and fill them regularly with water. Interruptions have been very minimal.
The following were done as remedial action:
- Skilled technical officials have been appointed by the Department;
- An action plan has been developed;
- The District and the Department are in the process of procuring service providers to erect boreholes to supplement water supply;
- Approval has been granted to procure 5 000 litre water tanks for all 10 facilities; and
- The procurement process was anticipated to commence in the week of 24 August 2015.
END.
22 September 2015 - NW3069
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Economic Development
(a) How does (i) his department and (ii) entities reporting to him define red tape and (b) what (i) specific interventions and/or (ii) systems have been implemented to (aa) identify and (bb) reduce red tape in (aaa) his department and (bbb) the entities reporting to him?
Reply:
Red tape is typically defined as rules, regulations and/or official procedures and processes which are excessively complex and which impose unnecessary delays, inaction and/or costs which exceed their benefits and/or is no longer effective in achieving the purpose for which they were originally created.
There are three areas of red-tape reduction relevant to the Department:
- Internal red-tape
- Red-tape in the Department that affects members of the public and
- Red-tape outside the Department (entities and other government bodies) that affect the public and indeed the effectiveness of government itself.
To address internal red-tape that back-office functions (eg IT, Finance, Supply-chain or Human Resources sections) impose on front-line parts of EDD, a user-survey has been introduced in the current financial year and it is helping to reorient the back-office sections to becoming outcome-driven. Unnecessary requirements are being eliminated.
Because the Department does not render a range of public services that require adherence to regulations and rules, the scope to decrease red-tape for the public is limited.
To address red-tape outside the Department, EDD has undertaken the following:
a) Training to officials in Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni Metros on red-tape reduction and the implementation of the new impact-assessment tool, namely the Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIAS)
b) Ministerial engagement with entities to review their internal processes and make these simpler and more effective. These have assisted to set maximum timeframe targets for consideration of applications and a dashboard against which entities report on their adherence to these targets
c) Support to unblock regulatory approvals by other Departments, for example on expediting water-use licences and environmental impact assessments.
The Industrial Development Corporation has revised its internal processes to address and finalise decisions on non-complex funding applications. This has assisted to bring down the waiting periods considerably.
ITAC has reviewed its tariff investigations regulations and redrafted its questionnaires to make them clearer and reduce the burden of unnecessary information. Turnaround times for tariff applications have been redesigned and these are now much swifter that before.
The Competition Commission has set performance targets to expedite consideration of mergers and cartel investigations.
The Competition Tribunal has simplified its procedures for non-lawyers, including through a ‘frequently asked questions’ section on its website, a consolidation of rules and procedures for easy reference and by making facilities available to unrepresented individuals at hearings (including through advice from Tribunal members on procedure and a pro bono arrangement negotiated with one of the Law Societies).
-END-
22 September 2015 - NW3270
Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister in The Presidency: Women
(1) What (a) total amount did her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; (2) What is the total amount that her department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
(1) a) The total amount that the department spent on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year is R1, 442,598.01.
(b) The total number of return trips that were undertaken was 68.
(2) (a) The total amount spent by the department on accommodation in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year is R257, 626.03.
(b) The total amount spent by the department on car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year is R107, 251.02.
Approved by the Minister on
Date: 22/09/2015
22 September 2015 - NW3273
Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
(1) What (a) total amount did her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; (2) What is the total amount that her department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
REPLY:
1(a) The total amount her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year were as follows:
- 2014/2015: R 439 893.90
1(b) the total number of trips that were undertaken was as follows;
- 2014/2015: 75 Trips
2(a) the total amount that her department spent on accommodation was as follows:
- 2014/2015: R 210 542.21
2(b) the total amount that her department spent car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year were as follows
- 2014/2015: R 115 795.21
END
22 September 2015 - NW3207
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1) What is the failure rate in each subject constituting the Emergency Medical Care and Rescue Diploma at the Central University of Technology in the Free State; (2) have there been student protests concerning aspects of the specified failure rate, if so, what are the relevant details of these protests; (3) is the University aware that the life of one of the lecturers (name furnished), who is in charge of one or more of these courses has been threatened; (4) (a) has the University received and taken cognisance of (i) a petition requesting the specified person to be removed from the course and (ii) numerous affidavits from signatories to that petition stating that it was signed under false pretences and (b) is the specified person continuing to teach the course; (5) Has the University intervened at any stage in the programme or any of its component courses in order to alter the pass rate after these protests; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department does not manage the affairs of any university and the following responses to the above questions have been obtained from the Central University of Technology (CUT):
- The success rate of the Emergency Medical Care (EMC) programme is currently below 50% compared to the university average of 76%. Ten students graduated on 4 September 2015 with the Diploma in EMC with 87 students at years two and three levels in the programme.
- No student protests have occurred, however some of the students reported the challenges experienced in the programme to the media. The Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic and Research, Acting Dean and Head of Department (HOD) engaged with the students and staff to discuss and put strategies in place to address the concerns raised by students and staff.
- Yes, the university is aware that the life of Mr RG Campbell, one of the lecturers in charge of one or more of these courses, has been threatened. The University has put processes in place to deal with the matter according to its internal policies.
- Yes, the university took cognisance of this petition and alleged false pretences. The Dean, HOD and Director of Human Resources have had several engagements with the particular staff member and students. This matter has been resolved and the lecturer has continued lecturing from July 2015.
- The following interventions were implemented by the university during 2014/15:
- A task team was established to monitor the EMC programme at a strategic level for the period January to June 2015;
- Accreditation by the Professional Board for Emergency Care;
- Appointment of an Internal Review Panel;
- Improvement of the staffing situation in the EMC programme;
- Strengthening of student academic support;
- Increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of the Work-Integrated Learning programme to ensure that sufficient placement opportunities for students are secured;
- Improvement in communication structures;
- Regular meetings between CUT and the Professional Board;
- Interventions by Senate; and
- Regular interventions by university management.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2686
Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether (a) she, (b) her Deputy Minister and (c) any officials in her department travelled to China in the 2014-15 financial year; if so, what was the (i) purpose of each specified visit and (ii)(aa) total cost and (bb) breakdown of such costs of each specified visit?
Reply:
The information on international visits undertaken by both the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans are contained in the Annual Report that was tabled in Parliament.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3167
Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(a) Which (i) department, (ii) government entity, (iii) company and (iv) independent consultant aided in the development of the Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan, (b) at what cost was the specified plan developed, (c) what are the details of the plan, (d) how will the specified strategy be implemented, (e) how will the implementing agency be chosen, (f) what is the budget for this media strategy and (g) what are its (i) objectives and (ii) deliverables over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan was developed internally by DTPS. It must be noted that Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan is informed by the Cybersecurity Awareness Strategy of 2012 which was developed in consultation with stakeholders that included academia, the Internet Service Providers’ Association, the Wireless Application Service Providers Association and civil society.
(b) The Plan was developed in-house utilising internal skills and resources. Other than the internal resources, the Cybersecurity Awareness Implementation Plan did not have any additional costs.
(c) The details of the Plan focuses on the following four broad channels: Public Relations, Advertising, Stakeholder Communication and Social/Community mobilisation.
(d) The strategy will be implemented in phases. The strategy entails mass communications.
(e) The Department will leverage GCIS’s bulk buying power to maximise the impact of the rollout of the Cybersecurity Awareness Programme.
(f) The budget for this media strategy is R1 869 600.00 for this Financial Year.
(g) (i) In line with the JCPS Cluster outcome 3, the objectives of the media plan are to ensure that all people in South Africa are and feel safe; to influence South Africans to be vigilant about practicing safer online habits; and to provide the public with resources, tips and tools to adopt safer online behaviour. ii) Deliverables over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework are subject to budget availability. The primary target will be private sector, public sector and communities (school children, youth, and parents).
END
22 September 2015 - NW3198
Macpherson, Mr DW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, with reference to the appointment of a certain person (name and details furnished), who was found guilty by a forensic audit of nepotism, intimidation of external auditors and irregular investment and procurement transactions at the Technology Innovation Agency, he will take steps to ensure the City Manager terminates the specified person’s contract; if not, why not?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We are, however, still investigating the matter and the Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as we get it.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3285
Mhlongo, Mr P to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
1. What(a) total amount did his department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliamentary business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; 2. What is the total amount that his department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
(1)(a) An amount of R642 886-72 was spent on air travel in the financial year 2014/2015 for employees attending Parliamentary business during 2014-2015; and (b) 120 trips were undertaken;
(2)(a) An amount of R128 994-48 was spent on accommodation; and
(b) an amount of R55 007-56 was spent on car rentals, for employees attending Parliamentary business in Cape Town for the 2014/15 financial year.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2938
Bhanga, Mr BM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)What is the scope of the section 139(1)(b) intervention at Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West; (2) (a) what will be the cost of rehabilitating the water and sanitation infrastructure in the specified municipality and (b) how will this be funded; (3) whether income from water and sanitation to the specified municipality will be ring-fenced; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the North West Provincial Government to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3341
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
Why did Transnet not pay out the bonus expected by the middle of 2015 to pensioners who are members of the Transport Pension Fund and the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund and are drawing a pension of R15 000 or less per year?
Reply:
As responded to in PQ3010 submitted on 27 August 2015, the ex gratia payments made by Transnet to qualifying pensioners of the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund and the Transnet Sub Fund of the Transport Pension Fund are discretionary amounts. No decision has been taken by Transnet to make a payment in the 2015 calendar year.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3170
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(1) What is her department’s position in respect of the statement by Eskom’s spokesperson that Eskom’s financial issues were only partly responsible for the country’s rolling blackouts; (2) whether this is an indication of a greater Government culpability in respect of the blackouts; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Eskom’s financial issues are responsible for load shedding in as far as limited funding for maintenance and restrictions on diesel purchases for Open Cycle Gas Turbines are concerned.
2. In the main load shedding has been caused by maintenance deferred in the past which resulted in a backlog of maintenance and decline in plant reliability.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3319
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
1. Whether, with reference to his reply to question 2649 on 18 August 2015, he has any scientific facts at hand which prove that English as a medium of instruction will offer all persons access to institutions of higher education, given that there are many areas in the country where the persons are not at all proficient or have very poor communication skills in English; (2) whether he will endeavour to protect all the indigenous official languages, including Afrikaans, against the dominant nature of English in order to prevent English from eventually displacing the other languages, which will lead to entirely English-speaking institutions of higher education, as is the case with the University of Johannesburg; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
- There is no need for scientific facts to validate the response provided in my reply to question 2649. The response is validated by the fact that all schools in South Africa teach English, either as a first language or second language, whilst other African languages, including Afrikaans, are also taught as a first or second language, depending on the geographical area or school types. This therefore makes English a common or cross cutting language for all matriculants entering University, something that cannot be said for all other African languages. As mentioned previously, this does not detract from the development of all African languages, which is a necessary process. The fact that some students are not proficient in English is a separate matter, however the fact remains that they have been exposed to English in comparison to other African languages.
- I would like to indicate that a similar parliamentary question, published in internal question paper no. 25 of 2014, was posed to me. Therefore, the honourable member should refer to my response to question 2319 of November 2014.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3211
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether the requisite supply chain management processes were followed in the appointment of a certain company (name and details furnished) by the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality in Limpopo; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether the specified company’s tax compliance status was verified with the SA Revenue Service; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) (a) on what date was the specified company appointed by the specified municipality, (b) what amount has been paid by the municipality to the specified company since its appointment and (c) why was it deemed necessary to appoint a company to render the specified service; (4) why are the services of the specified company still needed considering that all the game on the farm have already been sold off; (5) why did the specified security company not prevent the cutting and flattening of the fence around the farm, which resulted in nearby hawkers clearing trees on the farm for firewood?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2511
Rabotapi, Mr MW to ask the Minister of Communications
(a) What amounts did the Tshwane TV receive from the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (a) in the form of sponsorships and (b)(i) for advertising and (ii) any other specified service it provided to the specified metropolitan municipality in the 2013-14 financial year?
Reply:
REPLY: MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Department has no knowledge of support received by Tshwane TV from the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3437
Bagraim, Mr M to ask the Minister of Labour
Will (a) the suspension of a certain person (name and details furnished)be lifted and/or (b) a disciplinary hearing take place; if so, (i) when in each case and (ii) what are the relevant details?
Reply:
MINISTER’S REPLY
- The certain person is not on suspension and as such the question in its entirety is not relevant.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3281
Chewane, Dr H to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What (a) total amount did his department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; (2) what is the total amount that his department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
(1) (a) The Department spent R2 424 728 on air travel for a total of 62 employees attending Parliament business on different occasions during that financial year.
(b) Undertook 31 trips.
(2) (a) Spent R339 663 on accommodation
(b) Spent R41 200 on car rental
END.
22 September 2015 - NW3295
Malema, Mr J to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1) (a)(i) What total amount did his department spend on his travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did he undertake between Cape Town and Gauteng in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did his department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for him in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year; (2) (a)(i) what total amount did his department spend on each Deputy Minister’s travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips between Gauteng and Cape Town did each Deputy Minister undertake in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did his department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for each Deputy Minister in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year?
Reply:
(1)(a) (i) The Department spent R479 694 on my air travel costs between Pretoria and Cape Town for the 2014/15 financial year; and R508 844 for car rentals, which comes to a total of R988 538;
(ii) I undertook 47 trips between Cape Town and Gauteng to attend Parliamentary business in Cape Town for the specified financial year;
(b)(i) I spent R32 023 on hotel accommodation; and
(ii) regarding residential and other accommodation, this information is not readily available, as I live in my own house in Pretoria, Gauteng when in Pretoria; and I live in the Parliamentary Village in Cape Town when in Parliamentary session in Cape Town.
(2)(a)(i) Regarding the costs of the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department spent an amount of R202 926 on air travel for 2014/15 and R154 662 for car rentals, which comes to a total of R357 588;
(ii) 67 trips were undertaken between Cape Town and Gauteng by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development;
(b)(i) An amount of R972.00 was spent on hotel accommodation for the relevant Deputy Minister; and
(ii) regarding residential and other accommodation, this information is not readily available, as the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development lives in his own house in Gauteng; and he lives in the Parliamentary Village in Cape Town when in Parliamentary session in Cape Town.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2802
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Health
Whether his department meets the Government’s 2% employment equity target for the employment of persons with disabilities that was set in 2005; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No, the Department has not yet met this target. However, the Department has disabled people who refuse to be classified as such. Hence the Department dropped below 1% on this target.
END.
22 September 2015 - NW3212
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality has contracted any person or company to provide refuse removal services in the municipality; if so, (a) what is the name of the person or company and (b) what is the (i) value and (ii) duration of the specified contract; (2) whether the specified contractor uses (a) tools, (b) vehicles and (c) fuel owned by (i) drivers and (ii) labourers employed by the specified municipality when undertaking the refuse removal services; if not, does the specified contractor only use its own equipment and staff; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2820
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether a closeout report has been submitted for the term of a certain person (name furnished) as administrator of Makana Local Municipality; if not, (a) why not and (b) when can such a report be expected; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether, if such a report has been submitted, each key objective as identified in the person’s letter of appointment was achieved; if not, why not; if so, what is the current status thereof; (3) what is the current financial status of the municipality as at the end of the administration period in terms of (a) creditors in each aging category, (b) debtors in each aging category and (c) cash-on-hand; (4) what was the financial status of the municipality at the start of the administration period in terms of (a) creditors in each aging category, (b) debtors in each aging category and (c) cash-on-hand?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the Eastern Cape Provincial Government to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3626
Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister of Police
(a) What cases are currently being investigated by the various Specialised Commercial Crimes Units across the country and (b) which of the specified cases are currently before the courts?
Reply:
a) The Commercial Crimes Investigation Units are currently investigating Common law and Statutory Crimes relating to Fraud, Electronic Banking Crimes , Municipal Fraud, Theft ,Corruption ,Money Laundering ;Counterfeit Goods Act , Prevention Of Organised Crime Act; Exchange Control Regulations Act ;Companies Act; National Credit Act; Forgery and Uttering; Advanced Fee Fraud ;Copyright Act; Customs & Excise Act, Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, Income Tax Act, Tobacco Control Amendment Act, Tobacco Products Control Act, Value Added Tax Act ;Social Assistance Act.
b) A total of 4726 cases are currently in court.
22 September 2015 - NW3184
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Did he advise the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, of the request of the former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Mxolisi Nxasana, to have (a) Ms Nomgcobo Jiba and (b) Mr Lawrence Mwrebi suspended or removed from office?
Reply:
Yes.
22 September 2015 - NW3187
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether a cost-benefit analysis was conducted on the installation of smart electricity meters in the City of Tshwane by a certain company (name furnished) and/or any of its subsidiaries; if not, why not; if so, did the specified analysis indicate financial threats or challenges arising from the proposal; (2) (a) what are the cost implications of the withdrawal by the municipality from the specified contract and (b) what amount (i) has been spent on this contract to date and (ii) is anticipated to be spent in terms of future costs associated with the specified contract; (3) whether (a) he, (b) his department or (c) the National Treasury issued any advice with regard to the specified contract; if so, (i) what was the nature of the advice and (ii) did the municipality followed the advice given; (4) whether he will instruct or advise the municipality and/or the municipal council to take any action against the mayor and/or the municipal manager of Tshwane to (a) recover the funds which have been spent to date and (b) initiate the necessary disciplinary action in this regard; if not, what steps will he take to minimise such expenditure in future; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, since requested the City of Tshwane to provide this information.
The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3438
Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Transpor
(1) Has the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal been determined; if so, (a) what are the details of the specified new route, (b) when will tenders for its construction (i) open and (ii) close, (c) when will construction begin, (d) when is the construction of the specified new route expected to be completed and (e) what will be the cost of constructing the specified new route; (2) will the proposed new route require the purchase of land; if so, (a) from whom, (b) have the current land owners agreed to sell the required land, (c) what are the relevant details, including title deed descriptions, of the specified land to be purchased and (d) what are the relevant details of the specified purchase price(s) of the land to be purchased; (3) have the current land owners agreed to the specified purchase price(s) offered to them; if not, what steps does her department intend to take to reach an agreement(s) on the specified purchase price(s); (4) what are the relevant details of the road to be built along the proposed new route; (5) will the new road be tolled; if so, (a) what method of tolling will be used and (b) what will the cost of the specified tolling method be?
Reply:
- The proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal is in the basic planning phase. Prior to finalizing the route - including the land required - an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken to establish the feasibility of the various options (route locations).
(a) As such, the route has not been finalized.
(b), (c) & (d) Tenders for construction cannot be called for until such time that all the prior steps have been completed. Forward planning is underway regarding this project.
(e) The construction cost can only be estimated once the work prior to the construction phase has been completed. The route has not been chosen, nor have any of the environmental impact studies been undertaken.
(2) The portion of the N11 under question will be developed as a greenfield project and, as such, will require land to be purchased.
a) As the project is still in the basic planning phase, it is not yet known which specific and/or how much land will be required for the road.
b) Once the land requirements for the construction project have been assessed, the affected land owners will be contacted directly regarding the sale of the required land.
(c) & (d) The project is still in basic planning phase and it is not yet known which specific land will be required for the road.
3. The project is still in basic planning phase and it is not yet known which specific land will be required for the road. Transactions between the buyer and the seller will be within the bounds of the applicable legislation.
4. The details of the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal have not yet been determined. Given the current growth of traffic and adopting a prudent growth scenario, it is envisaged that the ultimate solution will comprise a dual carriageway that will be constructed in phases.
5 The funding requirements for the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal have not yet been determined, as the project is still in the basic planning phase. The decision on the funding method will be taken once the initial cost estimates have been completed.
(a) & (b) The funding method for this road has not been decided upon yet.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE MINISTER
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION BY MR R A LEES (DA) FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Mr R A Lees from the DA requested information regarding the proposed new route of the N11 through and/or around Ladysmith, Kwazulu-Natal.
SANRAL has supplied the following additional information:
The delivery of road infrastructure that meets the needs of a growing country requires forward planning.
In the planning of roads, sustainable land use poses a challenge as to how to deal with the conflict that arises between people’s future needs and the present infrastructure and land use. The road network itself is a form of land use, and the planning of this network strongly depends on the other land uses. Land for human development uses rely heavily on this network.
It is with this in mind that the current exercise with respect to the N11, through and/or around Ladysmith, is underway. The project is in the basic planning phase and the route is not finalized.
Prior to finalizing the route - including the land required - an environmental impact assessment will be undertaken to establish the feasibility of the various options (route locations). Thus there is still a long road to travel.
Tenders for construction cannot be called for until such time that all the prior steps have been completed. Forward planning is underway. The cost of construction can only be estimated when the prior work has been completed.
A road network developed as a greenfield project, as the portion of the N11 under question will be, will require land to be purchased. All affected landowners will be contacted on completion of the various studies still to be undertaken. It would be premature to contact landowners at this stage, since it is not yet known which specific and/or how much land will be required for the road. The affected parties will be directly contacted once the land requirements have been assessed. However, the public in the area have been informed of the potential future developments that may take place with respect to a new road.
All transactions by SANRAL when purchasing land for road requirements are made within the bounds of the applicable legislation. The land is acquired on the basis of the willing seller, willing buyer principle. Independent valuers determine the price, all land is acquired at market related prices; the purchase price includes economic, if any, losses of the willing seller.
The details of the road to be built have not yet been determined. Given the current growth of traffic and adopting a prudent growth scenario, it is envisaged that the ultimate solution will comprise a dual carriageway that will be constructed in phases.
The funding requirements for this route have not been determined as yet. Given the constraints on the fiscus, all financial instruments must be considered. This includes the application of the ‘user-pay’ principle as espoused in the National Development Plan. The funding method has not been decided upon yet. The decision on the funding method will be taken once the initial cost estimates have been completed.
22 September 2015 - NW3176
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Telecommunication and Postal Services
Whether his department meets the Government’s 2% employment equity target for the employment of persons with disabilities that was set in 2005; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
I have been advised by the Department as follows:-
No. The department is currently at 1.8% representivity.
The department has had difficulty in attracting persons with disabilities, who comply with the requirements of the positions. The departmental Human Resources and Employment Equity plans have however addressed this specific requirement. It is important to note that currently the department is merely short of one official with a disability on a SMS level to achieve its 2% employment equity target.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3473
None to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
(1) What is the official policy with regard to travel undertaken by regional court presidents (a) domestically and (b) internationally in respect of the (i) number of trips which may be undertaken and (ii)(aa) number and (bb) position and/or status of persons forming part of such delegations; (2)(a) how many (i) domestic and (ii) international trips were undertaken by each regional court president in the past 12 months and (b) what (i) number of persons formed part of the delegation, (ii) was the position and/or status of each person in the delegation and (iii) was the total cost of the trip?
Reply:
1. Regulations in terms of the Magistrates Act, 1993 (Act No 90 of 1993) does not prescribe the number of trips that may be undertaken domestically or internationally. Furthermore neither does the said regulation advocate the number as well as position and/or status of persons forming part of such delegations.
Regulation 47 reads as follows:
(i) All official journeys of which itineraries are submitted shall be authorised by the head of office who shall ensure that the journeys are necessary and in the interest of the administration of justice”
(ii) The head of office referred to in subregulation (1) shall consider each application for an official journey, having regard to costs, availability of transport, route, timespan and any other relevant circumstances.
With the exclusion of the Director-General, Deputy Directors-General and persons holding equivalent ranks, paragraph 8.4.10.5.1 of the Departmental Financial Instructions (DFI) limits the number of employees travelling on official duty to address the same matter to three (3).
In addition paragraph 8.4.10.12 of the DFI specifies the following with regards to international travel:
“International travel must be limited to meetings or events that are considered absolutely critical and the number of employees attending such meetings or events must be limited to those employees that are directly involved in the subject matter related to such meetings or events”.
Paragraph 8.4.10.5.3 prescribes that prior approval from the Minister is required for magistrates’ travelling abroad.
2. (i) domestic trips: please see attached.
(ii) The Magistrates Commission only dealt with one application by a Regional Court President to travel abroad in the past 12 months from Regional Court President J Wessels. She received an invitation by UN: Women And UNFPA In Partnership With UNDP And UNODC To The Global Technical Consultation On The Police And Justice Sector’s Response To Violence Against Women And Girls - Marrakech, 1 to 4 July 2014.
Travel to and accommodation in Marrakech were carried by the organisers.
The Magistrates Commission also indicated that Ms Wessels took no delegation with her. There was therefore no expenditure by the Regional Court Presidents on overseas trips
END
22 September 2015 - NW2996
Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister in the Presidency
How many (a) government departments have systems in place to promote ethical behaviour in order to comply with Management Performance Assessment Tool Standard, Assessment of Policies and Systems to Ensure Professional Ethics and (b) of the specified departments meet the specified standard at Level 3 or higher?
Reply:
The Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) standard on assessment of Policies and Systems to ensure Professional Ethics seeks to promote:
- compliance with chapters 2 and 3 of the Public Service Regulations, 2001;
- chapter 9 of the SMS Handbook (2003);
- Financial Disclosure Framework;
- section 6 of the Public Sector Integrity Management Framework;
- section 195 of the Constitution; and
- the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, Act 3 of 2000.
The elements that are assessed in the standards are on:
- whether members of the Senior Management Service (SMS) in departments are complying with the requirements to submit their financial disclosures by 31 May of each financial year; and
- whether disciplinary action is taken against SMS members who do not comply with these requirements.
- In addition, the standard assesses whether departments have mechanisms of communicating sections or provisions of the Public Service Code of Conduct to new and existing employees on an annual basis.
a) Whilst the 2014 MPAT assessment results are still being finalised, the results show that there was a notable improvement between 2012 and 2013 assessments, with the average compliance moving from 1.8 in 2012 to 2.8 in 2013. The total number of departments that complied with this standard are 118 out of a total of 152 departments.
b) 90 departments (24 national and 66 provincial) met the level 3 requirements of the standard whilst 28 departments (9 national and 19 provincial) exceeded the requirements.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3262
Moteka, Mr PG to ask the Minister of Labour
(1) What (a) total amount did her department spent on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014 - 15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken? (2) what is the total amount that her department spent on accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
The Annual Report of the Department that I tabled during September 2015 provides information on the expenses incurred by the Department including travelling and accommodation both locally and abroad by all our officials. The Auditor General audited all this information. The Annual Financial Statements format did not however allow us to provide a breakdown of this information in the manner that the Honourable member requires.
22 September 2015 - NW3306
Ntobongwana, Ms P to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)(a)(i) What total amount did her department spend on her travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did she undertake between Gauteng and Cape Town in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did her department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for her in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year; (2) (a)(i) What total amount did her department spend on the Deputy Minister’s travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did the Deputy Minister undertake between Gauteng and Cape Town in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did her department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for the Deputy Minister in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year?
Reply:
I wish to refer the Honourable Member to the unqualified Annual Report (2014/2015) and audited clean Financial Statements of my department that were tabled in Parliament on 28 August 2015 and published in the ATC dated 28 August 2015, wherein travel costs are reflected under the item ‘Travel and Subsistence’.
In regard to accommodation, I wish to remind the Honourable Member that accommodation of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in Cape Town and Gauteng is provided through the Department of Public Works.
END
22 September 2015 - NW2967
Redelinghuys, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Police
(1)Whether the SA Police Service(SAPS) has policies or guidelines for enforcing legislation on sex work and suspected sex workers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether SAPS members are trained about the specified policies or guidelines; (3) whether the specified training includes (a) apprehending suspected sex workers, (b) searching their person and (c) identifying suspected sex workers; (4) (a) how many complaints against SAPS members regarding (i) assault and/or (ii) abuse of suspected sex workers have been received in the (aa) 2012-13, (bb) 2013-14 and (cc) 2014-15 financial years and (b)(i) what were the outcomes of the specified investigations and (ii) what action has been taken against the specified SAPS members?
Reply:
- Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
- Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
- Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
- The following replies are provided based on the information retrieved:
(4)(a) Complaints against SAPS members regarding:
(4)(a)(i) Assault complaints:
(4)(a)(i)(aa) 2012/2013 = 1
(4)(a)(i)(bb) 2013/2014 = 13
(4)(a)(i)(cc) 2014/2015 = 2
(4)(a)(ii) Abuse of suspected sex workers:
(4)(a)(ii)(aa) 2012/2013 = 2
(4)(a)(ii)(bb) 2013/2014 = 4 (including unlawful arrest)
(4)(a)(ii)(cc) 2014/2015 = 8
(4)(b) Investigations and outcomes:
(4)(b)(i) Outcomes of the specified investigations:
Of the 32 allegations/complaints against members, seven criminal cases were registered. Of the seven cases registered against members, three were withdrawn in court, two were still being investigated by IPID, one was finalized as nolle proseque while the remaining one is still on the court roll.
(4)(b)(ii) Action has been taken against the specified SAPS members:
One member received a written warning (Mufuleni - DR 32/2014) and findings against other two members were that departmental steps were not required (Cape Town DR 308 and 309/2014).
END
22 September 2015 - NW2995
Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister in the Presidency
How many (a) government departments have established measures to combat corruption in order to comply with Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) Standard Prevention of Fraud and Corruption and (b) of the specified departments comply with the specified standard at Level 3 or higher?
Reply:
The Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) standard on prevention of Fraud and Corruption assesses whether department have measures and requisite capacity in place to prevent and combat corruption. Elements that are assessed in the standard are on:
- whether departments have fraud prevention plans and whistle blowing policies minimum anti-corruption capacity to prevent fraud and corruption;
- whether departments are providing feedback on anti-corruption hotline cases to the Office of the Public Service Commission (OPSC); and
- whether disciplinary and criminal procedures are being instituted where fraud and corruption occurs.
a) Whereas the 2014 MPAT assessments results are in the process of being finalised, the 2013 results showed a total number of 55 departments (25 national and 30 provincial) are compliant with this standard.
b) The 2013 results also shows that twenty five (25) departments (11 national and 14 provincial) met the level 3 compliance requirements, whilst 30 exceeded the requirements (14 national and 16 provincial).
END
22 September 2015 - NW3343
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(1) With reference to her reply to question 2926 on 25 August 2015, how many rail accidents involving (a) Spoornet, (b) Prasa and (c) Metrorail trains took place (i) in (aa) 2010, (bb) 2011, (cc) 2012, (dd) 2013 and (ee) 2014 and (ii) from 1 January 2015 until the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) (a) how many passengers in each accident in each separate year (i) were injured and (ii) died, (b) where did each specified accident take place and (c) what was the cause of each specified accident; (3) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
It should be noted that with reference to the question on the number of accidents, the Honourable member, Dr PJ Groenewald (FF-Plus) is asking the same question he had asked in PQ 2926 and I have already provided a response in that regard. The only difference is that this time Dr Groenewald focuses on PASSENGERS whereas in the previous PQ on this matter, his focus was on PERSONS in general. For the record, the Honourable member should take note that Transnet does not operate passenger trains at all and questions related to the operations of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) should be referred to the Minister of Transport.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3345
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(1) Whether any insurance money was paid out due to damages sustained after pressure tests at the Duvha Power Station; if not, why not; if so, what (a) amount was paid out for repair work, (b) amount was paid out due to loss of business and (c) other amounts were paid out by the insurers; (2) whether the full amount that was paid out for repairs to the damaged units was, indeed, utilised for the specified repairs; if not, (a) why not, (b) what amount was utilised for the repairs and (c) what was the remaining money used for; (3) whether any repair work on the damaged units has already commenced; if not, why not; if so, when will the repair work be completed; (4) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
(1) The insurance claim has not yet been concluded and no money has been paid out.
(2) Not applicable as no money has been paid to Eskom.
(3) The Duvha Unit 3 Recovery Project execution strategy has not yet been approved by the Eskom Board. Only preservation and site preparation work has commenced. Timelines into recovery will only be definite once a service provider has been appointed.
(4) The relevant stakeholders will be kept abreast of these developments as required.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3579
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Transport
Why are applications of members of the public for vehicle license renewal refused if they have outstanding e-toll amounts?
Reply:
Currently there is no legal instrument that links the non-payment of tolls to the renewal of vehicle licences.
I am not aware of any instances where vehicle licenses have not been renewed for the non-payment of toll. I urge the honourable member to bring all such instances to the attention of the relevant authority.
However, as the honourable member is aware it is an offense as stated in Act No 7 of 1998 not to pay toll fees.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3149
Robinson, Ms D to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
How many (a) cases of human trafficking did immigration officials on the borders of (i) Lesotho and (ii) Swaziland detect in the (aa) 2010-11, (bb) 2011-12, (cc) 2012-13, (dd) 2013-14 and (ee) 2014-15 financial years and (b) of the specified instances involved female victims?
Reply:
(a) (i-ii) The immigration officials working on the borders of Lesotho and Swaziland have not reported any cases specifically relating to human trafficking in the mentioned financial years.
END
22 September 2015 - NW3275
Mhlongo, Mr P to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)What (a) total amount did her department spend on air travel between Gauteng and Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the 2014-15 financial year and (b) is the total number of trips that were undertaken; (2) what is the total amount that her department spent on (a) accommodation and (b) car rental in Cape Town for employees attending Parliament business in the specified financial year?
Reply:
The information on travel costs in both the Departments of Defence and Military Veterans is contained in their respective Annual Reports for the Financial Year 2014-15 that were tabled in Parliament.
END