Questions and Replies
14 September 2015 - NW2975
Lovemore, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)(a) In respect of each (i) province and (ii) district, (aa) how many and (bb) what percentage of Grade 10 learners in public ordinary schools are targeted to study mathematics in the (aaa) 2015, (bbb) 2016, (ccc) 2020 and (ddd) 2030 academic years and (b) what are the relevant details of her plans to achieve her targets of mathematics uptake for the Further Education and Training (FET) phase; (2) in respect of each province, (a) how many FET phase mathematics teachers will be required in public ordinary schools for the specified academic years, (b) how many FET phase teachers are currently employed in public ordinary schools teaching FET phase mathematics and (c) what are the relevant details of her plans to achieve her targets for FET phase mathematics teachers?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i)(ii)(aa)(bb)(aaa)(bbb)(ccc)(ddd) 50% of learners in Grade 10 in 2015 are expected to offer Mathematics while 60% of learners in 2016 is expected to offer Mathematics in Grade 10 in 2016. For these two cohorts, their targets were calculated based on the actual number of learners in Grades 9 and Grade 8 for 2015 and 2016 respectively. The same formula was used on actual figures for Grade 4 learners released in 2014, to set the target for 2020. 4% of learners was added to the 2020 target to establish the target for 2030. The data released by the Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) for 2014 learners’ enrolments was used to formulate the targets.
Province |
Actual No learners in Grade 9 in 2014 |
Actual No learners in Grade 8 in 2014 |
Actual No learners in Grade 4 in 2014 |
Target for Grade 10 learners for 2015 |
Target for Grade 10 learners for 2016 |
Target for Grade 10 learners for 2020 |
Target for Grade 10 learners for 2030 |
EC |
137744 |
133581 |
157243 |
68872 |
80149 |
86484 |
89943 |
FS |
65456 |
47326 |
57458 |
32728 |
28396 |
31602 |
32866 |
GP |
153074 |
142693 |
164011 |
76537 |
85616 |
90206 |
93814 |
KZN |
222267 |
218781 |
221758 |
111134 |
131269 |
121967 |
126846 |
LP |
178040 |
113336 |
125977 |
89020 |
68002 |
69287 |
72059 |
MP |
82106 |
84508 |
83712 |
41053 |
50705 |
46042 |
47884 |
NC |
22623 |
23026 |
25360 |
11312 |
13816 |
13948 |
14506 |
NW |
67746 |
59030 |
69413 |
33873 |
35418 |
38177 |
39704 |
WC |
82993 |
75517 |
90587 |
41497 |
45310 |
49823 |
51816 |
|
1012049 |
897798 |
995519 |
506026 |
538681 |
547536 |
569438 |
(1)(b) The Department of Basic Education has a three year plan to train teachers who are offering Mathematics in Grade 10 in 2015, Grade 11 in 2016 and Grade 12 in 2017. The training is focusing on capacitating teachers on the Mathematics content as a whole. The aim is to cover all topics which are taught at a particular Grade.
This process is building teachers’ confidence in delivering quality content to the learners. Teachers are more encouraged to solve more problems on their own. New skills and techniques to solve mathematical problems are dealt with.
Follow up in-house support is also given by subject advisors and trainers themselves, to see if the skills sets acquired during the training are being utilised.
(2)(a)(b) As was indicated previously, the Department is currently engaged in a project to profile the qualifications of all teachers including what they are qualified to teach, and what they are actually teaching. The information is critical, not only for the determination and management of current teacher utilisation, but also for future planning for demand and supply. Once the information on the current provisioning levels has been finalised and verified, more accurate future projections that will take into account, among other factors, the current provisioning, will be made. Furthermore, this will enable the Department to determine targets for provisioning.
(2)(c)It should be noted that simplified projections on the needs can be calculated based on the number of learners and an ideal class size (currently and projected). However, such projections will be less accurate, given the other factors such as teaching across phases and grades and actual class size that affect the actual provisioning of teachers.
14 September 2015 - NW3403
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) With reference to her reply to question 2976 on 24 August 2015, in respect of each province, (a) what amount did volunteers for the Kha Ri Gude centres receive on average in stipends in the (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 financial years and {b) was the maximum amount received in stipends by an individual volunteer in the {i) 2012-13, {ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 financial years; (2) In respect of each province, (a) how many individuals on average did each volunteer for the specified centers train for the (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 financial years and (b) what was the lowest number of individuals trained by an individual volunteer in the {i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 financial years? NW4063E
Reply:
Find here: Response
14 September 2015 - NW3234
Terblanche, Ms JF to ask the Minister of Science and Technology
(1)What is the current situation with reference to the retention of human resources within the Human Sciences Research Council; (2) What attempts has she and her department made to ensure that (a) staff is adequately remunerated, (b) working conditions are improved and (c) policies are established to support and facilitate human capital development?”
Reply:
(1) There is currently a problem with staff retention, specifically at Executive level.
(2) a) The HSRC periodically undertakes a remunerative review, which
benchmarks salary packages with similar entities within the Science system and universities. The next exercise will be undertaken in 2016.
b) A climate survey, commissioned by the HSRC Board will be undertaken in the third quarter of the current financial year to assess the satisfaction of staff relative to remuneration and working conditions. Recommendations from this survey will inform the revision of any related policies.
c) A human resources strategy, accompanied by a number of recruitment, retention and talent management strategies is being developed.
8/3/1
14 September 2015 - NW3248
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) When (a) did her department commence with the review of the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, and the admissions policy and (b) will the specified review be finalised : (2) will the specified review be (a) in line with the promulgated Policy on Screening. Identification, Assessment and Support and (b) tabled in the National Assembly for approval?
Reply:
(1) (a) and (b)The Minister appointed a task team to review all education legislation including the South African Schools Act, 84 of 1996. The task team commenced on 24 February 2013 and concluded its work on 30 October 2014. On the basis of the work of the task team, the Department then drafted a Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, together with the Memorandum on the Objects of the Bill .The Bill must still go through the internal consultation processes before it can be published for public comment.
The review of the admission policy commenced in June last year and was concluded in May of this year. The amendments must be subjected to a Socio Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS). This is a new requirement that was introduced by the Presidency this year for all new legislation and policies as well as amendments to legislation and policies.
(2) (a) The review took into account all related policy developments.
(b) We foresee that the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill will be submitted to Parliament towards the middle of next year.
14 September 2015 - NW3028
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Basic Education
With reference to Raeleng Middle Secondary School in Bela-Bela, Limpopo, (a) why was norms and standards funding cut by almost 50%, (b) was the school notified (i) in time and (ii) in writing of the reasons why the specified funding was decreased and (c) what measures are put in place to ensure that this school will in future receive their full norms and standards funding?
Reply:
The Limpopo Department of Education provided the response as follows:
(a) The norms and standards funding was reduced due to funding constraints. The budget was insufficient to cover the national norm.
(b) Schools were notified around 25 May 2015.
(c) The Limpopo Department of Education is working on the funding of schools as a priority; the intention is to work towards funding schools according to the National Target amounts.
14 September 2015 - NW3238
Terblanche, Ms JF to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:
(1) Is the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) experiencing difficulties in attracting donors and/ or funding; if so, (a) to what extent and (b) what influence does it have on the research agenda; (2) What portion of the total funds available to the HSRC is sourced from the (a) private sector and (b) government; (3) Do the private sector dictate the research agenda of the HSRC; if so, how?” FOR WRITTEN REPLY QUESTION NO (3238) DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: (04 SEPTEMBER 2015) (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 32-2015) “ Ms JF Terblanche (DA)to ask the Minister of Science and Technology: (1)Is the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) experiencing difficulties in attracting donors and/ or funding; if so, (a) to what extent and (b) what influence does it have on the research agenda; (2)What portion of the total funds available to the HSRC is sourced from the (a) private sector and (b) government; (3)Do the private sector dictate the research agenda of the HSRC; if so, how?” (3238) REPLY: (1)a) In the previous year (2014/15), as opposed to the previous two years, the HSRC has experienced difficulty in reaching its financial targets. These targets are particularly subject to changes in funder research imperatives and demands. b) The HSRC is guided by its mandate as articulated in the HSRC Act, as well as national government priorities when deciding the research agenda for a year. A process of consultation is undertaken with stakeholders as well as the HSRC Board annually where the strategic focus of research is agreed upon. (2)Aside from the Parliamentary grant and international funders (including international government agencies), the HSRC also receives funding from: a) Local Private sector funders – R4 197 000 b) Other Government Departments/Agencies – R48 114 000 No, the private sector does not dictate the research agenda of the HSRC.
Reply:
(1) a) In the previous year (2014/15), as opposed to the previous two years, the HSRC has experienced difficulty in reaching its financial targets. These targets are particularly subject to changes in funder research imperatives and demands.
b) The HSRC is guided by its mandate as articulated in the HSRC Act, as well
as national government priorities when deciding the research agenda for a year. A process of consultation is undertaken with stakeholders as well as the HSRC Board annually where the strategic focus of research is agreed upon.
(2) Aside from the Parliamentary grant and international funders (including international government agencies), the HSRC also receives funding from:
a) Local Private sector funders – R4 197 000
b) Other Government Departments/Agencies – R48 114 000
(3) No, the private sector does not dictate the research agenda of the HSRC.
14 September 2015 - NW3032
James, Ms LV to ask the Minister of Basic Education
With reference to the presentation by her department to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on 28 July 2015, focusing on Kha Ri Gude which used the 2001 Census statistics, has her department compared its outcomes with the latest census statistics released in 2011; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department did use the census statistics released in 2011 in planning for the future years.
As indicated in the table below, the National Census of October 2011 indicates that South Africa is now at a 8.62% illiteracy rate compared to the 17.9% illiteracy rate of 2001. This will ensure the fulfillment of the Dakar Agreement which arose from the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, in April 2000 to reduce illiteracy by 50%.
2001 |
2011 |
|||
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
|
No education |
4 567 498 |
17.90 |
2 665 874 |
8.62 |
Some primary |
4 083 742 |
16.00 |
3 790 134 |
12.26 |
Completed Primary |
1 623 467 |
6.40 |
1 413 895 |
4.57 |
Some secondary |
7 846 125 |
30.80 |
10 481 577 |
33.9 |
Matric |
5 200 602 |
20.40 |
8 919 608 |
28.85 |
Higher |
2 151 226 |
8.40 |
3 644 617 |
11.79 |
Source: Stats SA, Census 2011 results (Highest level of education for individuals aged 20 years and above)
When taking into account the outcomes of the National Census of October 2011 in respect of the provincial illiteracy rate, the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign adjusted the provincial targets for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
This meant that the resources and activities of the Campaign will decrease in some provinces and increase in other provinces to address the provincial illiteracy rate.
The table below indicates the remaining target according to the Census 2011:
Province |
2011 Census (aged 15 years and above) |
2012 Campaign (Enrolled) |
2013 Campaign (Enrolled) |
2014 Campaign (Enrolled) |
Remaining target according to Census 2011 |
1-Eastern Cape |
384 104 |
129 999 |
114 647 |
61 419 |
78 039 |
2-Free State |
117 105 |
49 834 |
45 601 |
24 519 |
-2 849 |
3-Gauteng |
307 102 |
86 402 |
87 497 |
79 239 |
53 964 |
4-KwaZulu-Natal |
633 050 |
129 357 |
119 886 |
92 627 |
291 180 |
5-Mpumalanga |
504 396 |
50 894 |
47 761 |
48 162 |
357 579 |
6-Northern Cape |
329 949 |
8 785 |
14 098 |
11 526 |
295 540 |
7-Limpopo |
252 966 |
97 164 |
90 283 |
67 542 |
-2 023 |
8-North West |
78 100 |
32 685 |
32 157 |
27 932 |
-14 674 |
9-Western Cape |
104 648 |
15 044 |
14 434 |
16 539 |
58 631 |
Total |
2 711 420 |
600 164 |
566 364 |
429 505 |
1 115 387 |
The following table shows the number of learners reached to date (2008 – 2014) and the targets for 2015 and 2016 in order to achieve the 50% target based on the 2001 census data.
Province |
2008-2014 (Enrolled) |
Target learners in 2015 |
Target learners in 2016 |
Number of illiterates learners reached |
1-Eastern Cape |
835 722 |
40 199 |
40 198 |
916 119 |
2-Free State |
294 873 |
5 428 |
5 427 |
305 728 |
3-Gauteng |
538 703 |
26 782 |
26 781 |
592 266 |
4-KwaZulu-Natal |
826 179 |
139 868 |
139 868 |
1 105 915 |
5-Mpumalanga |
341 596 |
92 010 |
92 010 |
525 616 |
6-Northern Cape |
95 592 |
21 894 |
21 893 |
139 379 |
7-Limpopo |
605 562 |
125 261 |
125 260 |
856 083 |
8-North West |
225 033 |
80 621 |
80 620 |
386 274 |
9-Western Cape |
99 368 |
29 659 |
29 658 |
158 685 |
Total |
3 862 628 |
561 722 |
561 715 |
4 986 065 |
14 September 2015 - NW3190
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
With reference to his replies to questions 340 and 1292 on 8 April 2015 and 6 May 2015 respectively, whether the National Treasury has concluded the assessment of the (a) financial costs, (b) financial implications and/or (c) economic implications of (i) the nuclear build programme and (ii) the nuclear build programme compared to any other specified alternative energy generation option(s); if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each specified case?
Reply:
National Treasury is currently assessing the relative financial costs, financial implications, and economic implications of a nuclear build programme with the Department of Energy. The recommendations are expected to be submitted to Cabinet once this work has been concluded.
14 September 2015 - NW3029
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)What (a) is the purpose of norms and standards funds paid to schools and (b) criteria were used to determine the amount paid to every school; (2) (a) when are norms and standard funds transferred to schools, (b) who has the authority to decrease the norms and standards funds payable to schools and (c) what criteria are to be used when norms and standards are changed?
Reply:
(1) (a) According to paragraph 95 of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding, 2006 (NNSSF), the school allocations are intended to cover non-personnel recurrent items and small capital items required by the school as well as normal repairs and maintenance to all the physical infrastructure of the school. Schools can, therefore, use their allocations to pay for Learner and Teacher Support Material (e.g. textbooks and stationery), day-to-day maintenance of the school grounds and buildings, as well as for services provided to the school (e.g. municipal services and maintenance of equipment).
(b) The amount of funding allocated to a school is determined by its quintile classification, the provincial allocation amount per learner for the relevant quintile and the number of learners enrolled in the school.
(2) (a) Paragraph 121A of the NNSSF determines that Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) must make transfer payments to public ordinary schools on or before 15 May, and on or before 15 November each year.
(b) Each PED determines the amount it is able to make available for the school allocation, as part of their overall education budgetary process. Paragraph 114 of the NNSSF determines that each PED must, as part of its ongoing MTEF budgeting process, calculate the school allocation budget implied by the national targets, and compare this amount to the actual school allocation budget amount available in the MTEF budgets. Approval of the education budget, including the level of the provincial school allocation and whether it is increased or decreased, is done by the Member of the Executive Council for Education in the province.
(c) The national target amounts for the school allocation are annually adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index. When Provincial Education Departments adjust their norms and standards allocation to schools they are guided by these nationally determined target amounts, as well as the budgets they can afford to make available. An individual school’s indicative allocation may also be adjusted if there is a significant change in the number of learners enrolled at the school when the final allocation amount is determined.
14 September 2015 - NW3031
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether her department’s data on the Learner Unit Record Information and Tracking System includes information of learners at (a) Setotolwane Secondary School for the Deaf and Blind in Mashashane, Limpopo, and (b) Lebaka Primary School in Mohlabaneng, Limpopo; if so, what are the relevant details of all learners in respect of each specified school?
Reply:
(a) Setotolwane Secondary School for the Deaf and Blind in Mashashane, Limpopo, and (b) Lebaka Primary School in Mohlabaneng, Limpopo; if so, what are the relevant details of all learners in respect of each specified school?
Table 1: Number of learners in Setotolwane Secondary School, by disability and gender, in 2015
Province |
Emis Number |
Institution Name |
Street Address |
Gender |
Disability |
||
BLIND |
DEAF |
Total |
|||||
Limpopo |
922223479 |
SETOTOLWANE SECONDARY |
SETOTOLWANE; NEWLANDS; MASHAHANE DISTRICT |
Female |
35 |
66 |
101 |
Male |
43 |
105 |
148 |
||||
Total |
78 |
171 |
249 |
Source: LURITS 2015: 1st quarter upload
Table 2: Number of learners in Lebaka primary Schools, by gender, in 2015
Province |
Emis Number |
Institution Name |
Institution Type |
Gender |
Number Learner |
Disability |
Limpopo |
918520511 |
LEBAKA PRIMARY |
Ordinary School |
Female |
470 |
None |
Male |
458 |
None |
||||
Total |
928 |
None |
Source: LURITS 2015: 1st quarter upload
14 September 2015 - NW3236
Terblanche, Ms JF to ask the Minister of Science and Technology
(1)Are there measures that are put in place to protect the reputation of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in order to ensure that evidence-based output remains independent and authoritative in all spheres; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) What additional steps is the HSRC taking to preserve its autonomy
Reply:
(1) Yes. The HSRC’s approved Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan (2015/16, page 26) makes reference to the key risk of “undue donor/funder influence on the research agenda and pressure to secure income” as a key risk affecting its research programme.
The HSRC depends on a combination of government funding (through its Parliamentary Grant) and external income (in the research context, secured through competitive tender processes, contracts and grants). An over-dependence on a source of funding does carry the risk of potential influence by funders in terms of the issues addressed or not addressed through research, and the way in which research findings are presented.
The following measures are listed as mitigating the above-mentioned risk (ibid.):
- “Engagement between the Board and/or executive team and DST, with a view to securing an additional increase in the parliamentary grant – specifically for innovative research;
- Commitment to science prescripts, whereby the HSRC’s work is defined by the rules of science, rather than political allegiance;
- Broadening the funding portfolio through a concerted effort by the executive team, with Business Development’s support towards expanding HSRC sources of funding to EU countries and possibly East Asia.”
(2) The HSRC has very clear mandated objectives as outlined in its founding legislation, the Human Sciences Research Council Act, Act 17 of 2008. These mandated objectives serve as an enabling framework but also as a source of reference when research opportunities and requests are considered.
When opportunities to undertake externally-funded research are considered, the conditions set by potential funders are considered before a decision is made to respond to that opportunity, or not. The HSRC’s legal department also provides a vetting service for research contracts and will help to safeguard the autonomy as well as intellectual property of the HSRC.
Governance structures of the HSRC benefit from the involvement of independent experts. This does not only refer to statutory structures such as the HSRC Board and its subcommittees, but also to committees such as the HSRC Research Ethics Committee and HSRC Press Board whose Chairpersons and several of the expert members are employed outside the HSRC. At the same time, internal members are also experts in their own right, adding value to discussions and review of submitted documents.
The HSRC places great value on the independent review of research outputs. Researchers are strongly encouraged to publish research in internationally recognised, peer reviewed journals. Other outputs, such as policy briefs and book publications, are also externally reviewed before they are published.
14 September 2015 - NW3038
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(a) Which districts in each province have converted schools for children with special educational needs to resource centres, (b) what are the names of the specified schools, (c) what is the enrolment number in each school, (d) how many educators have been appointed in each specified school and (e) how many support staff such as (i) therapists, (ii) school sisters and/or nurses, (iii) administrative staff, (iv) janitors, (v) general assistants and (vi) class aids have been appointed in each specified school?
Reply:
The information about:
(a) The districts that have converted schools for children with special educational needs to resource centres;
(b) Names of the resource centres;
(c) Enrolment in each school; and
(d) The number of:
i) (Therapists;
ii) School sisters/or nurses;
iii) Administrative staff;
iv) Janitors;
v) General assistants; as well as
vi) Class assistants appointed at each school are all provided in the annexure.
ANNEXURE A
Statistics required in questions (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)
Sources:
- The statistics on enrolment have been made available by Provincial EMIS Directorates from the 2014 Annual Special School Survey
- Statistics on Staffing has been made available by Provincial Human Resource Planning and Inclusive Education Directorates.
Province |
|
Names of Resource Centres |
Learner Enrolment |
Number of Educators Appointed |
(e)(i) Number of Therapists appointed (Specify) |
(e)(ii) Number of Professional Nurses/Number of Staff Nurses |
(e)(iii) Number of Administrative Staff |
(e)(iv) Number of Security Staff (Janitor) |
(e)(v) Number of General Assistants (School) |
(e)(vi) Number of General Assistants (Hostel) |
(e)(vii) Number of Class Aids |
EC |
Port Elizabeth |
Cape Recife |
Information to be provided by EMIS |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Information to be provided by HR Planning |
Port Elizabeth |
Merryvale |
||||||||||
Port Elizabeth |
Quest |
||||||||||
Port Elizabeth |
Reubin Birin |
||||||||||
Port Elizabeth |
Khanyisa PE |
||||||||||
Qumbu |
Tsolo |
||||||||||
Mbizana |
Zamokuhle |
||||||||||
Mthatha |
Ikhwezi Lokusa |
||||||||||
Mbizana |
Vukuzenzele |
||||||||||
Mbizana |
Nompulanga |
||||||||||
East London |
Vukuhambe |
||||||||||
FS |
Thabo Mofutsanyana |
Maluti Hoogland |
379 |
34 |
03 |
01 |
04 |
0 |
18 |
10 |
03 |
Motheo |
Martie du Plessis |
527 |
42 |
20 |
01 |
03 |
06 |
11 |
09 |
06 |
|
Thabo Mofutsanyana |
Thiboloha |
364 |
49 |
01 |
01 |
02 |
06 |
30 |
43 |
26 |
|
Motheo |
Tswellang |
297 |
30 |
13 |
03 |
03 |
04 |
10 |
08 |
10 |
|
GT |
Ekurhuleni North |
Con Amore Belvedere |
339 736 |
24 47 |
07 08 |
01 0 |
03 03 |
To be provided by HR Planning |
03 04 |
0 |
05 0 |
Ekurhuleni South |
Ezibeleni Isipho Sethu |
262 626 |
21 44 |
03 05 |
02 0 |
03 03 |
03 04 |
03 |
05 0 |
||
Gauteng East |
Phelang Muriel Brand |
387 495 |
28 37 |
03 09 |
01 01 |
02 03 |
02 03 |
03 |
04 06 |
||
Gauteng North |
Sizanani |
264 |
22 |
0 |
01 |
02 |
02 |
03 |
02 |
||
Gauteng West |
Itumeleng Wesrand |
257 320 |
21 24 |
06 08 |
0 01 |
02 03 |
02 03 |
03 |
0 05 |
||
Jhb Central |
Phillip Kushlick Don Mattera |
451 185 |
37 18 |
13 03 |
01 01 |
03 02 |
04 03 |
04 0 |
|||
Jhb East |
Nokuthula Gresswold |
341 841 |
24 51 |
06 07 |
01 0 |
03 04 |
03 04 |
03 |
06 0 |
||
Jhb North |
Delta Park Randburg |
567 176 |
46 18 |
13 02 |
01 01 |
03 02 |
03 02 |
02 |
0 03 |
||
Jhb South |
Jiswa MC Karbhai |
522 422 |
40 37 |
06 04 |
01 01 |
03 03 |
03 03 |
03 |
07 07 |
||
Jhb West |
Roodepark Sizwile |
765 355 |
48 33 |
04 04 |
0 01 |
03 03 |
03 02 |
03 |
0 07 |
||
Sedibeng East |
Krugerlaan |
629 |
45 |
02 |
0 |
03 |
03 |
02 |
0 |
||
Sedibeng West |
Thabo Vuyo |
420 |
39 |
06 |
01 |
02 |
03 |
04 |
|||
Tshwane North |
Dominican Prospectus Novus |
681 404 |
49 40 |
07 07 |
02 01 |
04 03 |
03 03 |
04 |
12 0 |
||
Tshwane South |
Unica Via Nova |
149 551 |
21 44 |
06 12 |
01 02 |
03 03 |
02 03 |
03 |
08 06 |
||
Tshwane West |
Reinotswe Pretoria School for CP |
237 481 |
21 43 |
02 11 |
01 02 |
02 04 |
03 04 |
01 12 |
|||
KZN |
Umkhanyakude |
Khulani |
288 |
14 |
00 |
00 |
03 |
02 |
02 |
04 |
02 |
Uthungulu |
Thuthukani |
356 |
21 |
04 |
02 |
04 |
01 |
07 |
00 |
08 |
|
Zululand |
Zamimpilo Inkanyiso |
105 399 |
06 37 |
02 03 |
00 01 |
01 01 |
02 02 |
02 05 |
00 04 |
02 02 |
|
Amajuba |
Vumanisabelo YWCA |
491 461 |
38 28 |
00 00 |
00 00 |
01 01 |
02 02 |
05 04 |
05 00 |
04 08 |
|
Uthukela |
Inkanyezi |
428 |
31 |
02 |
00 |
01 |
02 |
04 |
00 |
09 |
|
Umzinyathi |
Pro Nobis |
260 |
23 |
03 |
00 |
01 |
02 |
02 |
00 |
17 |
|
Ilembe |
Stanger |
223 |
25 |
02 |
00 |
01 |
02 |
04 |
04 |
05 |
|
Umgungundlovu |
Open Gate |
271 |
20 |
02 |
01 |
02 |
02 |
24 |
00 |
09 |
|
Sisonke |
Daniel Mzamo Vulekani |
301 251 |
13 |
00 |
00 |
00 |
02 |
06 |
04 |
09 |
|
Ugu |
Schola Amoris |
259 |
24 |
00 |
00 |
01 |
02 |
03 |
00 |
08 |
|
Pinetown |
Khalipha Tongaat The Browns |
269 157 366 |
13 07 34 |
01 00 14 |
00 00 01 |
01 01 03 |
02 01 02 |
05 04 05 |
05 02 07 |
00 10 02 |
|
Umlazi |
St Raphaels Open Air |
235 307 |
23 16 |
08 02 |
01 01 |
01 02 |
02 02 |
02 14 |
00 04 |
05 08 |
|
LP |
No information available |
||||||||||
MPU |
Bohlabela |
Estralita Special School |
222 |
22 |
1 (Occupational therapist) 1 Professional nurse |
1 |
1 |
PRIVATELY PAID (2/SHIFT) |
1 |
16 House-hold Super-visors and General Assistants |
18 |
Gert Sibande |
Jim van Tonder school |
547 |
39 |
1 Occupational Therapist |
0 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
24 |
0 |
|
Ehlanzeni |
Kamagugu Inclusive |
336 |
28 |
3 (2 x Occupational Therapist & 1 x Social Worker) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
|
Nkangala |
Pelonolo |
85 |
9 |
1 Professional nurse |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
NC |
Frances Baard |
Boitumelo |
0 |
01 |
1 |
0 |
|||||
Elizabeth Conradie |
381 |
43 |
0 |
2-Prof Nurses 2-Auxilliary Nurses |
3 |
0 |
20 |
6 |
0 |
||
Kimberley Training Centre |
105 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
||
Re Tlameleng |
169 |
22 |
0 |
1-Auxilliary Nurse |
1 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
1 |
||
NW |
Bojanala |
Kutlwanong |
323 |
42 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
Meerhof |
262 |
35 |
3- OT 1-Physio 1-Speech |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
15 |
||
Kenneth Kaunda |
Ikalafeng |
294 |
25 |
2-OT |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
11 |
|
Janie Schneider |
134 |
13 |
1-OT 1-Seech |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
12 |
||
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati |
MM Sebitloane |
237 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Temoso |
127 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
||
Ngaka Modiri Molema |
Tlamelang |
182 |
23 |
1-Physio |
1 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
45 |
10 |
|
Retlametswe |
155 |
12 |
1-Physio |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
||
WC |
South |
Agapeskool |
208 |
18 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
Overberg |
Agulhas School Of Skills |
175 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
0 |
|
Central |
Astra Skool |
249 |
23 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
18 |
0 |
|
North |
Athlone Skool Vir Blindes |
313 |
43 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
11 |
|
South |
Blouvlei Skool |
163 |
14 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
|
North |
Carel Du Toit Sentrum. |
156 |
16 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Eden & Central Karoo |
Carpe Diem Skool |
266 |
25 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
3 |
|
North |
Chere Botha Skool |
228 |
19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Cape Winelands |
De La Bat-Skool |
172 |
25 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
20 |
2 |
|
Eden & Central Karoo |
Eljada-Kairos Skool |
231 |
26 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
31 |
9 |
|
North |
Filia Skool |
171 |
15 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
|
East |
Jan Kriel-Skool |
496 |
46 |
13 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
38 |
17 |
|
West Coast |
Karitas Skool |
150 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
|
Cape Winelands |
Langerugskool |
123 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
|
Central |
Mary Harding Skool |
261 |
23 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
11 |
|
East |
Mitchell's Plain School Of Skills |
431 |
35 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
East |
Noluthando Sch. For The Deaf |
306 |
34 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
||
West Coast |
Paarl-Skool C |
334 |
31 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
4 |
|
East |
Riebeeck Valley Special School |
237 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
3 |
|
North |
Rusthof Skool |
152 |
13 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
6 |
|
Central |
Tafelbergskool |
349 |
31 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Central |
Tembaletu |
179 |
21 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
Central |
Vera-School |
137 |
19 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
10 |
|
West Coast |
Vista Nova-School |
418 |
40 |
11 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
Weskus Spesiale Skool |
324 |
26 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
0 |
14 September 2015 - NW3030
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)With reference to the Getting the Nation to Read Campaign (a) who are the members on the steering committee of the 1 000 libraries project and (b) what expertise does each specified member possess which is relevant to libraries and reading; (2) what (a) are the contents of each trolley to be delivered and (b) is the cost of each trolley; (3) who was awarded the contract for the delivery of trolleys to schools?
Reply:
(1) With reference to the Getting the Nation to Read Campaign (a) who are the members on the steering committee of the 1 000 libraries project and (b) what expertise does each specified member possess which is relevant to libraries and reading;
- (a) The team is led by the Deputy Director General (DDG) for Teacher and Professional Development.
(b) In addition to the Senior Managers who support the DDG: Teacher and Professional Development, an official with extensive knowledge and experience of school libraries was appointed on contract for the project.
(2) What (a) are the contents of each trolley to be delivered and (b) is the cost of each trolley;
(a) Each trolley library contains 250 library books in English, 250 library books in IsiZulu, teacher resources on CD and DVD, a television and a DVD player.
(b) Each trolley, with its resources, costs R17 000.
(3) Who was awarded the contract for the delivery of trolleys to schools?
EBMS Trading cc. was awarded the contract to deliver the trolley libraries.
14 September 2015 - NW2784
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether he is considering any plans whereby private and public pension funds will be compelled to invest more money in development projects; if not, whether any consideration will be given to this in the future; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No, I am not considering any plans whereby we compel private or public pension funds how to invest. The key point to note is that it is the trustees of a pension fund who have to determine the investment strategy for a pension fund, taking into account its assets and liabilities, and the need for long-term growth. All that government does is to provide a broad framework to protect members of retirement funds, by reducing risks to their funds, like concentration risks when investing (refer to maximum investment limits in Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act (1956)), poor governance practices or high and opaque charges.
Since 2011 when Regulation 28 was revised, trustees of retirement funds now have to consider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles before determining their investment policies and strategies. The principle is meant to encourage retirement funds to actively consider investments that might be of a developmental or infrastructural nature, without compromising returns in the long-term. Indeed, in the aggregate, retirement funds already have significant exposure to Government and State Owned Companies’ bonds, which, by their nature are developmental. In 2014, for example, 32 percent of Government issued bonds, excluding state owned company bonds, were held by local retirement funds (Budget Review 2015). Furthermore, according to the South African Reserve Bank’s Quarterly Bulletin March 2015, about 37.1 percent of total retirement fund assets are invested in public sector bonds (Government, state companies, and local government).
The nature of retirement funds means that they should invest for the long term. This implies that they do not necessarily have to be compelled to realise this long term objective to provide decent retirement savings for their members. Further, retirement funds, through their trustees, are in the best position to assess the retirement needs of their members and to decide how best to achieve this through various investment and asset-liability matching approaches. The National Treasury is also engaging with various stakeholders to unlock any funding bottlenecks for infrastructure projects and enable an environment which will facilitate more investment in public infrastructure.
14 September 2015 - NW3239
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Science and Technology
(1)What is the current status of the maintenance and upgrade of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) building in Pretoria; (2) Does the Pretoria HSRC building comply with the requirements set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993; if not why not; (3) Did her department request infrastructure funding from the National Treasury; if not; if so, what was the outcome?
Reply:
(1) The HSRC has a plan for the maintenance and upgrade of the building. Financial constraints, however, limit the capacity to effect the full-scale implementation of the plan. Attention is given to the most urgent needs on a priority basis.
(2) Yes, the HSRC is compliant with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
(3) Yes, funding submissions for infrastructure have been submitted via the Department of Science and Technology annually since 2009. None of these submissions have been successful.
14 September 2015 - NW3138
Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(a) What is the rationale for only giving Funza Lushaka bursaries for teacher training to students who have a third language or for giving preference to students who are doing an African language at the Foundation Phase training level, (b) is his department aware that this de facto, although not de jure, excludes most so-called coloured, Indian and white students from the specified bursaries regardless of their financial circumstances, particularly those who attend colleges which do not offer African languages and (c) how many students from so-called coloured, Indian, white and black backgrounds respectively have received Funza Lushaka bursaries at each level of training in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014?
Reply:
a) The Funza Lushaka Bursary programme does not have a specific focus on students who have a third language. However, the bursary programme does give preference to students who will be able to teach in an African Language in the Foundation Phase. The rationale for this is teacher supply and demand statistics of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) that corroborate the shortage of Foundation Phase teachers and emphasise the importance of recruiting Foundation Phase teachers who are trained to teach in an African Indigenous Language. More teachers who teach in African Indigenous Languages are needed to promote mother tongue instruction at the Foundation Phase level (DBE & DHET, 2011), particularly in light of the Initial Introduction of African Languages Policy. A report released by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (March 2015) also highlights the shortage of new teacher graduates in the Foundation Phase, whose mother tongue is an indigenous African Language.
b) No. The Funza Lushaka Bursary programme aims to attract academically deserving, suitable South African students, including Afrikaans and English speaking students, to become competent teachers in identified priority, scarce skills subjects and phases.
c)(i) (ii) (iii) and (iv) The table below reflects the number of bursaries awarded by race:
Year |
African |
Coloured |
Indian |
White |
Not Indicated |
Total |
2010 |
5 806 |
1 267 |
326 |
2 573 |
101 |
10 073 |
2011 |
4 955 |
1 124 |
298 |
2 242 |
6 |
8 625 |
2012 |
6 988 |
1 553 |
345 |
2 722 |
10 |
11 618 |
2013 |
9 170 |
1 723 |
407 |
2 971 |
29 |
14 300 |
2014 |
9 639 |
1 632 |
368 |
2 692 |
18 |
14 349 |
Source: Funza Lushaka Awards Data
14 September 2015 - NW3026
Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Can the norms and standards funds be used to pay the salaries of (a) educators and (b) other staff members; if so, what amount from the funds was used to pay the specified salaries in each province?
Reply:
(a) (b)
Paragraph 99 of the National Norms and Standards for School Funding, 2006 (NNSSF) determines that the school allocation may not be used to cover the cost of personnel and new buildings. The norms and standards funds should, therefore, not be used by schools to pay for salaries of educators or other staff members. According to paragraph 95 of the NNSSF, the school allocations are intended to cover non-personnel recurrent items and small capital items required by the school, as well as normal repairs and maintenance to the physical infrastructure of the school. Schools should therefore use their allocations to pay for items such as Learner and Teacher Support Material (e.g. textbooks and stationery), day-to-day maintenance of the school grounds and buildings, and services provided to the school (e.g. municipal services and maintenance of equipment).
12 September 2015 - NW3653
Gqada, Ms T to ask the Minister of Transport
(1) Has the enquiry set up by her department into the train crash that occurred in Denver, in Johannesburg, on 28 April 2015, been concluded; if so, what were the (a) findings of the specified enquiry and (b) costs associated with the damage arising from the specified incident;(2) have any of the recommendations arising from the specified enquiry been implemented to date? (2) have any of the recommendations arising from the specified enquiry been implemented to date? NW4319E
Reply:
RSR RESPONSE
1 a) The Board of Enquiry set up into the train accident at Denver Station has concluded its work. The main finding of the Board of Enquiry is that the driver of the Express Train passed the 'signal at danger', and rear ended train number 0600 that was stationery at Denver train station.
b) The cost of the damage is R22 million.
2. PRASA has started implementing the recommendations of the Board of Enquiry, in order to prevent a recurrence of an incident of a similar nature.
11 September 2015 - NW3178
Esterhuizen, Mr JA to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
With regard to his department’s new regulations that call upon surface mines to enhance safety for all trackless mobile machinery apart from reducing mining accidents how (a) effective will the specified regulations be and (b) will it reduce (i) capital expenditure and (ii) the cost of maintenance?
Reply:
The trackless mobile machinery accidents are also the major contributor of fatalities, disabilities and injuries in the mining sector. In this regard, the Department has been implementing measures including reviewing the relevant legal provisions to protect the health and safety of the mineworkers.
The new regulations require the employer to ensure that pedestrians are prevented from being injured as a result of a collision between the trackless mobile machines or vehicles and persons, where there is a significant risk of such a collision.
(a) These regulations are expected to be effective and should result in decreased fatalities and injuries. The department will monitor the situation continuously.
(b) (i) and (ii)
Yes, it is envisaged that the prevention of accidents as a result of compliance to the regulations will ultimately reduce capital expenditure and cost of maintenance because there will be far less production interruptions and less money spent to repair vehicles that have collided. However the loss of life is of utmost importance and cannot be equated to costs or profit at the mine.
11 September 2015 - NW2710
America, Mr D to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
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 Deputy Minister and I, including officials in the department, did not travel to China in the 2014-15 financial year.
11 September 2015 - NW3196
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister in the Presidency
Has the Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill, which is currently awaiting the President’s assent, been assessed through the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System in his Office to (a) ensure alignment with the National Development Plan and (b) reduce the risk of unintended consequences; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant findings?
Reply:
The Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Bill has not been subjected to the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIAS). SEIAS was only introduced this year after approval by Cabinet in February 2015. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) conducted a series of awareness and inductions between April and June 2015 for departments to institutionalise the SEIAS. About 136 officials in 33 departments were trained on SEIAS application.
The implementation of SEIAS for developing or amending policies, legislations and regulations came into effect from 01 July 2015.
11 September 2015 - NW3302
Morapela, Mr K to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(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) 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)(i) The total amount spent on air travel between Cape Town and Pretoria is R301968.46.
(ii) 45 trips have been undertaken by the Minister between Cape Town and Pretoria.
(1)(b)(i)(aa) Total amount spent on accommodation in Pretoria is R56 687.20.
(aa)(bb) No expenditure for her residence in Pretoria as the Department is not responsible for the maintenance thereof.
2(a)(i) The total amount spent on air travel by the Deputy Minister between Cape Town and
Pretoria is R353 601.69.
(ii) 65 trips have been undertaken by the Deputy Minister between Cape Town and
Pretoria.
(b)(i) No hotel accommodation was booked for the Deputy Minister in Cape Town and Pretoria.
(ii) (aa)(bb) No expenditure was incurred for the residence of the Deputy Minister in
Pretoria and Cape Town as the Department is not responsible for the maintenance thereof.
11 September 2015 - NW3180
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
(1)How many (a) flight stewards/stewardesses and (b) pilots of the SA Airways have been apprehended (i) in (aa) 2011, (bb) 2012, (cc) 2013 and (dd) 2014 and (ii) during the period 1 January 2015 up until the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) (a) in which countries were the specified (i) flight stewards/stewardesses and (ii) pilots apprehended in each specified year (b) for which crimes were said persons (i) convicted or (ii) acquitted and (c) which cases have not yet been finalised; (3) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
As the Honorable Member is most probably aware, SAA currently reports to National Treasury. The Honorable Member is thus advised to redirect her question to the Minister Finance.
11 September 2015 - NW3143
Kopane, Ms SP to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(1)(a) When was a certain company (name furnished) appointed to manage the Masimong 4 Estate in Welkom and (b) what is the (i) duration of the contract awarded, (ii) value of the contract awarded to the company and (iii) exact nature of the services expected from the contract; (2) whether the management of the estate will be transferred to either the (a) Free State provincial Department of Human Settlements or (b) Matjhabeng Local Municipality; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (i) when will the transfer take place and (ii) what are the motivating reasons for the delay in the transfer?
Reply:
(1) (a) The appointment of the company referred to in the question, as the property manager of Masimong 4 Estate emanated from the Tripartite Agreement which was concluded in November 2010 by Matjhabeng Local Municipality, the Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements and Harmony Gold Mining Company.
(b) (i) The contracted period was for two (2) years. During this period it was agreed that the Matjhabeng Local Municipality Human Settlements functionaries will work with the company to allow transfer property management skills between the two parties.
(ii) The appointed company was to be paid for services for management of the Masimong Estate, from a portion of the rentals collected every month and this amounted to R 35 000 – 00 per month.
(iii) The appointed company provides management services which included:
Administrative and Management Functions:
Keeping of records of all documentation including; application forms; lease agreements; individual files for each tenant; orientation/capacitation of tenants.
Technical and Infrastructural Services:
Making arrangements and co-ordinating the provision of Municipal Services; initialising of municipal utility accounts for all tenants; maintain and repair breakages to the units; reactive and planned maintenance of the units.
Maintenance and cleaning services:
General maintenance of complex grounds and gardens; facilitate the collection of waste and refuse removal; management of the dedicated refuse areas.
Financial services:
Issuing of monthly invoices and statements; issuing of payment reminder letters; delivery of monthly invoices and statements; receipt of payments from tenants; reconciliation of tenant accounts, coordination with municipal departments in respect of water meter readings; payment for services; discontinuation of services; evictions.
(2) (a) The management of Masimong 4 Estate in terms of the Community Residential Units (CRU) Programme guidelines be transferred to Matjhabeng Local Municipality as the lawful owner. The Municipality may choose to manage Masimong 4 Estate internally or may choose to outsource the property management.
(b) The Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements is currently rendering support to Matjhabeng Local Municipality in order to ensure that:
- Masimong 4 Estate is well managed and governed:
- Matjhabeng Local Municipality Human Settlements officials gain property management skills from the caretaker entity that will, with the concurrence of Matjhabeng Local Municipality, manage the property for two to three years whilst transferring skills to the said officials; and
- The government investment in Masimong 4 Estate is protected and serves the purpose for which it was developed.
(i) In a period of two to three years the Matjhabeng Local Municipality Human Settlements Officials shall have gained sufficient property management skills, to allow the Municipality to opt to manage Masimong 4 Estate internally or to outsource the property management.
(ii) During Masimong 4 Project Steering Committee meetings, the Matjhabeng Local Municipality representatives informed the Committee that they do not have the capacity to manage a property portfolio the size of Masimong 4 and that the Municipality would rather outsource this function. It is on that basis that a clause in the Tripartite Agreement was inserted to make provision for the outsourcing of Masimong Estate for two (2) years after its completion whilst Municipal Human Settlements officials underwent training hence the Free State Department of Human Settlements, in an effort to protect the investment made in Masimong 4 Estate opted to assist the municipality, by appointing a property management company to manage the Estate and at the same time ensure the capacitation of Municipal Human Settlements Officials in property management skills.
The matter was then delayed by the residents of Masimong 4 Estate who opposed payment of rentals and appointment of the property management company.
11 September 2015 - NW3309
Mente-Nkuna, Ms NV to ask the Minister in the Presidency
(1)(a)(i) What total amount did The Presidency spend on his travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did he undertake in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did The Presidency 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 The Presidency 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 The Presidency 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?
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 2 September 2015 and published in the ATC of 7 September 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.
11 September 2015 - NW3197
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister in the Presidency
Were the Immigration Regulations that were introduced in 2014 assessed through the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System in his Office to (a) ensure alignment with the National Development Plan and (b) reduce the risk of unintended consequences; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant findings?
Reply:
The above Bill and Regulations have not been subjected to the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIAS). SEIAS was only introduced this year after approval by Cabinet in February 2015. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) conducted series of awareness and inductions between April and June 2015 for departments to institutionalise the SEIAS.
The implementation of SEIAS for developing or amending policies, legislations and regulations came into effect from 01 July 2015.
11 September 2015 - NW3173
Alberts, Mr ADW to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(1) How many no-go zones, where no mining activities may take place, has his department (a) approved and (b) rejected since the coming into force of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002; (2) (a) which areas have been declared as no-go zones, (b) on what date was (i) each application submitted and (ii) approval given and (c) what were the reasons for approval in each separate case; (3) (a) for which areas were such applications rejected, (b) on what date was (i) each application submitted and (ii) approved and (c) what were the reasons for the rejection in each separate case; (4) whether her department has received an application to declare the Lake Chrissie area in Mpumalanga as a no-go zone; if so, what is the status of the specified application?
Reply:
- (a) One (1)
(b) None
2. (a) Chrissiesmeer Biodiversity Site
(b) (i) 31 August 2009
(ii) 04 March 2011
(c) The national interest to protect the sensitive environment of areas around Lake Chrissie, commonly known as the Chrissiesmeer Biodiversity Site.
3. (a) (b) (i) (ii) (c) None
4. Yes, the area was declared on 04 March 2011 for a period of 3 years. The declaration has since lapsed and an application for extension was lodged with the Department and it is still under consideration.
11 September 2015 - NW2828
Figlan, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
(1) Has her department conducted any studies into the overall economic contribution that small businesses owned by foreign nationals make to the local economy; if not, why not; if so, what results have these studies shown; (2) has her department experienced any challenges in relation to the registration of small businesses owned by foreign nationals since its establishment; if so, what (a) are these challenges and (b) measures are in place to deal with these challenges; (3) whether, since the violent xenophobic attacks that targeted many small businesses owned by foreign nationals and foreign business owners, her department has engaged with any foreign-owned small business organisations and/or diplomatic representatives from various countries; if so, what was the outcome of these engagements; (4) does her department have any plans in place to develop specific legislation to (a) regulate or (b) promote the growth of small businesses owned by foreign nationals; if so, what are the relevant details of these plans? NW3301E
Reply:
(1) The Department of Small Business Development has not conducted a study of that nature. Conducting such a study would require a process of profiling foreign nationals. As things stand, the mandate of the Department of Small Business Development does not extend to collecting and analysing small businesses’ and entrepreneurs’ demographic information according to their countries of origin.
(2) There is no legislative basis providing for the Department of Small Business Development to register informal and small businesses according to their owners’ countries of origin.
(3) Following the outbreak of incidents of violence in January 2015, I conducted a series of beneficial discussions with leaders of various foreign nationals’ communities who are resident in South Africa and whose members were affected by the recent incidents of violence.
Alongside these, on 23 January 2015, I established an inter-departmental National Task Team on Violent Incidents Associated with Local- and Foreign-owned Informal and Small Businesses that I assigned to, among others: undertake broad-based consultations with representatives of affected persons and communities, relevant communities, and business interest formations, subject matter experts from different spheres and departments of government, and academic and independent researchers.
Moreover, on 24 April 2015, I was part of President Jacob Zuma’s delegation that conducted frank and in-depth discussions with a wider representation of foreign nationals’ communities who are resident in South Africa.
In all of the above instances, government and the foreign nationals’ representatives who were in attendance committed themselves to upholding the laws of the land as well as promoting social harmony among all.
In as far as the work of the inter-departmental National Task Team on Violent Incidents Associated with Local- and Foreign-owned Informal and Small Businesses is concerned; individuals and representatives of foreign nationals’ business interest formations from different countries have made representations.
Further, the National Task Team remains accessible to all informal or small business entrepreneurs who have been affected by the recent incidents of violence, or their business interest formations, and have the need to either make submissions to or representations before it.
(4) Currently, the Department of Small Business Development does not have intentions
to specifically design legislation to regulate and promote small businesses owned by
foreign nationals who reside in South Africa.
11 September 2015 - NW3023
Lorimer, Mr JR to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
(1) How many prosecutions for illegal sand mining has his department initiated in each province in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; (2) (a) how many convictions have been secured and (b) what are the relevant details of each specified penalty imposed; (3) has there been any rectifications performed; if not, why not; if so, (a) what rectification and (b) in which areas? (2)(a) how many convictions have been secured and (b) what are the relevant details of each specified penalty imposed; (3)has there been any rectifications performed; if not, why not; if so, (a) what rectification and (b) in which areas?NW3563E Reply (a) 2012 – 13 :- 07 Limpopo Region, 05 KwaZulu-Natal, and 01 Eastern Cape (b) 2013 – 14 :- 0 (c) 2014 – 15 :-17 Limpopo Region (2) (a) one (1) and (b) sanctions included three (3) years imprisonment suspended for five (5) years. (a)(b) Illegal miners were advised to apply for mining permits and follow up inspections were conducted.
Reply:
- (a) 2012 – 13 :- 07 Limpopo Region, 05 KwaZulu-Natal, and 01 Eastern Cape
(b) 2013 – 14 :- 0
(c) 2014 – 15 :-17 Limpopo Region
(2) (a) one (1) and (b) sanctions included three (3) years imprisonment suspended for five (5) years.
(3) (a)(b) Illegal miners were advised to apply for mining permits and follow up inspections were conducted.
11 September 2015 - NW2910
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
Whether, with reference to the residents of Mamelodi West who were evicted from the hostels and placed in temporary structures since 2005, her department has any plans in place to provide the specified residents with houses; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The residents of Mamelodi West were not evicted from the hostel but relocated to temporary units in 2005 during the construction of rental units. A total of one hundred and forty eight (148) units were completed in the 2009/10 financial year after which they were handed over to the City of Tshwane for allocation to qualifying beneficiaries. Before the allocation could be commenced with, all 148 units were illegally occupied and subsequently vandalised. As a result, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements was unable to conclude the process of installing electrical distribution boxes.
The Department then requested the City of Tshwane to institute and expedite the process of evictions in order to regularise the situation at the Mamelodi West Hostel but was met with formal correspondence from the City asking them to withdraw from the said project.
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the City were to embark on a socio-economic audit to establish the profile of the former hostel residents. The results of the audit would have provided information which would enable the City of Tshwane Gauteng Department of Human Settlements to distinguish which beneficiaries qualified for the rental accommodation and those who qualified for BNG houses. Beneficiaries would have been right sized to the human settlement product for which they qualified.
The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has also allocated funding in their business plan to undertake the process of planning for the refurbishment of these vandalised hostel units. However, until the illegal occupiers have been evicted, the Department is unable to gain access into the hostels to commence with corrective work.
09 September 2015 - NW1131
Kalyan, Ms SV to ask the MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
(1) What amount did (i) her department and (ii) state entities reporting to her spend on each newspaper subscription in each month (aa) in the (aaa) 2011-12, (bbb) 2012-13 and (ccc) 2013-14 financial years and (bb) during the period l April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) how many copies of each newspaper were ordered on each day of the week (i) in each specified financial year and (ii) during the period 1 April 2014 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?
Reply:
(a) The amount that the Department spent on newspaper subscription in each month was as follows:
(aaa) 2011/2012: R 164 092 per month
(bbb) 2012/2013: R 186 486 per month
(CCC) 2013/2014: R 155 975 per month
(bb) 2014/2015: R 112 122 per month
(b) The number of newspapers ordered on each day of the week was as follows:
(i) 201112012: 792
2012/2013: 808
2013/2014: 762
(ii) 2014/2015: 485
Attached please find here: Table of financial years
09 September 2015 - NW3401
Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
Whether the Government has taken any concrete steps since 1 January 2010 to ensure the continued viability of South Africa’s steel industry in view of the self-evident fact that cheap imports of steel from China were putting the local steel industry under immense pressure and that the export of scrap steel was seriously exacerbating that problem; if not, (a) why not and (b) what has been the consequence of not taking any timely and concrete action; if so, (i) what steps has the Government taken in the past seven years to ensure the viability of the steel industry and (ii)(aa) to what extent and (bb) in what manner has the Government succeeded in this regard?
Reply:
(i) Government has responded in a number of ways to ensure the long-term viability of the strategic iron-ore and steel industry in SA since 2010. Therefore (a) and (b) above do not apply.
Government convened an interdepartmental task team on iron and steel (IDTT) in 2010, to develop a set of inter-related policy instruments and interventions. These included;
- A process to secure a domestically produced steel price in the lowest global quartile of steel prices, working in close collaboration with stakeholders, especially the largest domestic steel producer Arcelor-Mittal. In so doing to ensure that domestic comparative advantages at the time, especially a cost plus price for iron ore, was passed on to downstream users of steel,
- Processes to increase competition in the domestic steel industry to support the same objective,
- An intervention to curtail the unencumbered export of scrap metal to ensure security of scrap metal supply to domestic steel producers at competitive prices; prevent the associated illegal export of precious metals; limit the extent to which the associated theft of critical infrastructure such as cables was carried out and lower the carbon intensity of the economy,
- All these and other measures were designed to ensure both security of supply and competitive steel prices in support of downstream manufacturing and value addition as a competitive advantage for domestic, labour intensive manufacturing.
Arising from the work, Cabinet approved a set of recommendations made by the IDTT in December 2012. These included:
- A process led by the DMR to amend the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Development Act (MPRDA) to secure a competitive advantage for the manufacturing sector arising from South Africa’s enormous resource endowment, especially in key value chains; inclusive of iron ore and steel.
- A process led by the EDD to utilise the International Trade Administration Act to safeguard the supply of affordable scrap metal to domestic mills and curtail the abuse of export of scrap metal.
- A process to amend the Competition Act led by EDD to ensure that iron ore price concessions are indeed passed on to downstream users, and
- An Industrial Development Corporation led process to secure new steel investments to increase domestic capacity and strengthen competition in the steel sector.
(ii) (aa) and (bb) Significant progress has been secured in many of the above areas. This is despite the fact that there was, over an extended period, a sub-optimal level of cooperation from the major steel producer. This during a period which coincided with the global commodity boom, where market conditions included both high demand and high prices for steel which in turn translated into high margins and profits as well as the fact that input costs for the major steel producer were relatively low. Finally and most critically a set of circumstances which included the fact that, notwithstanding favourable market conditions, there was very little maintenance and capital investment in plant and machinery carried out by the major domestic steel producer over an extended period of time. This was a contributing factor to at least seven significant plant breakdowns of AMSA facilities across the country. These latter factors combined, clearly constituted a significant danger to the competiveness, including with respect to technology issues, of the domestic steel sector.
Notwithstanding this major constraint, progress has in fact been registered and will find reflection in significant new and collaborative approaches and platforms, which will place the sector on a firmer foundation going forward. These include the following;
- In September 2013 the Price Preference System for scrap metal was introduced, compelling all SA scrap dealers who wished to export scrap metal, to offer this firstly to local users at a pre-determined price less 20 percent. Export permits are only granted when ITAC is satisfied that there have been no offers from local users. Although this measure was widely supported, there have been challenges with the current system including resistance and circumvention by scrap dealers. Government is therefore examining options to introduce further measures to curtail the unencumbered export of scrap metal, cognisant of South Africa’s obligations under the World Trade Organisation and its bi and multi-lateral trade agreements. An announcement in this regard will be made in due course.
- Led by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) government has embarked on the Masorini Project, aimed at securing a multi-billion rand investment in a new steel production facility in SA, for both the local and regional market. The IDC has completed a pre-feasibility study and government is in discussions with a potential operating partner. The project is proceeding according to plan and the long time-lines commonly associated with a major investment of this type. The next phase in the project cycle will be to negotiate the terms and conditions for the investment, inclusive of those set out in the feasibility study, and involving technology specifications, the range of products to be produced; regulatory issues such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements and the infrastructure support required for a multi-billion investment of this nature. Further announcements will be made in this regard in due course.
- Processes have reached an advanced stage to secure a competitive iron-ore advantage for local steel producers. the dti and DMR will define the conditions for the allocation of a significant mining right which will mean that a cost plus iron-ore advantage will be ‘passed through’ the steel production process to provide a competitive price advantage to downstream manufacturers.
- Government has also registered significant progress in its efforts to address a range of issues with Arcelor-Mittal (AMSA), in the context of far less favourable steel market conditions. Government is currently negotiating an integrated set of both policy and industry reform measures that would have to be adopted to achieve the objective of a sustainable steel industry in SA, inclusive of the specific needs and interests of the small steel producers and the downstream manufacturing sectors. In this context it is important that the independence and integrity of the processes underway involving the Independent Tariff Administration Commission (ITAC) and the Competition Commission, be respected. Working within these parameters and in close collaboration with the Economic Development Department (under whose authority both institutions fall), the dti will ensure that such supply side protective and support measures are conditional on a competitive pricing policy, increased levels of maintenance and investments, a potential rebate system that will support downstream manufacturers as well as transformation and BBBEE commitments. Announcements in this regard will be made in due course.
the dti is fully cognisant of the extremely adverse conditions in the global steel market characterised mainly by significant oversupply and declining demand and which, taken together with other factors summarised above, constitute a threat to the viability of the domestic steel sector.
Therefore as a first step in the broader process set out above, I have approved the ITAC recommendation for tariff increases on certain steel product lines. In addition a number of other applications for tariff protection and anti-dumping duties are in the pipeline and will be given urgent consideration in the context of a set of conditions set out in summary above and which are the subject of urgent and on-going consultation between all the stakeholders.
09 September 2015 - NW2788
Lekota, Mr M to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether the Government has (a) successfully prosecuted and shut down any pyramid or Ponzi scheme in the period 1 June 2014 to 30 June 2015, (b) ensured that an inspectorate was checking that all popular advertisements attracting investors had a legitimate financial service provider (FSP) number on it and acting at once against those who were advertising without an FSP number and (c) has substantially or totally reduced the proliferation of Ponzi and pyramid scams in the past year through all the means at its disposal; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? .
Reply:
(a) Yes. The Bank Supervision Department of South African Reserve Bank (BSD) has successfully shut down many Ponzi schemes both in the period 1 June 2014 to 30 June 2015 and before this period. Altogether, the BSD has investigated 40 from 1 January 2014 to 30 June 2015, of which the investigations for 30 schemes were finalised and 10 schemes are still current. It should be noted that all schemes where the investigation is finalised and that have contravened the Banks Act are referred to the South African Police Services for criminal investigations. The decision to prosecution any of operators of these schemes resides with the National Prosecuting Authority.
(b) Current financial sector laws address Ponzi and pyramid schemes in different ways, depending on which Act may be transgressed. The Reserve Bank can act against such activities if there is illegal deposit taking involved, through enforcement in terms of the Banks Act. The Financial Services Board (FSB) investigates instances of possible unregistered financial services business that might be conducted as an ancillary activity to a Ponzi scheme, or under the guise of a legitimate provider of financial services, and will take action against such contraventions in terms of the various Acts (eg Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002) enforced by the FSB. Where there are gaps in the current law, queries and complaints about Ponzi schemes made to the FSB are generally referred through to the Bank Supervision Department of the SARB and the South African Police Services: (Commercial Branch). Outside financial sector legislation, the National Consumer Commissioner (NCC) investigates certain Ponzi or pyramid schemes in terms of the Consumer Protection Act, and such queries and complaints can therefore also be referred to the NCC.
This illustrates the importance of the Twin Peaks reform currently underway (through the Financial Sector Regulation Bill), which will establish a market conduct regulator with flexible, system-wide powers that will, amongst other things, close the net on Ponzi schemes. Under this law, Ponzi schemes may be directly “prohibited” which means that the activity itself can lead to investigation and prosecution by the new Financial Sector Conduct Authority, rather than the current situation where a combination of other laws are required to indirectly reach alleged Ponzi operations.
With specific reference to advertising, the FSB is, as part of its Treating Customers Fairly approach, focusing on advertising across the financial sector, to ensure that advertising is not misleading and does not promote unfair customer treatment. This increased focus on fair advertising in the financial sector will help identify instances where advertising may be promoting illegal activities. Under current legislation, action may then be taken as described above if Ponzi or pyramid schemes, are identified in this manner. Currently, the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS Act) requires that an entity licensed by the FSB, must contain a reference to the fact that a licence is held in advertisements and promotional material, but it is not a requirement that an advertisement should reflect an FSP number. This again highlights the need for the Twin Peaks reform, to ensure that activities cannot fall outside of regulation. Currently, supervising advertising standards generally, rather than for FSP numbers specifically would better identify Ponzi schemes.
(c) Yes, action has been taken to counter instances of Ponzi and pyramid schemes. At this stage, the regulators in the financial sector are only able to take reactive action once such activities have been operating, and in some cases action are taken on ancillary aspects of Ponzi and pyramid schemes, such as, unregistered financial services or illegal deposit taking, rather than on the activity itself being illegal.
The proposed Twin Peaks reform of financial sector legislation aims to significantly strengthen financial sector regulation, so regulators may be more proactive and prevent such activities from occurring in the first place, and ensure better customer protection. The law will be more comprehensive, and will minimise instances of financial products or services falling outside of the legislative framework. It will allow for tougher action to be taken, including banning activities like Ponzi and pyramid schemes outright, and taking direct swift and harsh enforcement action against those who contravene the banning.
09 September 2015 - NW2844
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)With reference to (a) his reply to question 2473 on 24 July 2015 in which he stated that the National Treasury will not be conducting any forensic audit at the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality at that stage as the information at hand indicated that the Office of the Public Protector was in the process of conducting an investigation at the specified municipality and that the National Treasury will await the outcome thereof and (b) a letter from the Office of the Public Protector (details furnished) which clearly indicates that the specified municipality is refusing to co-operate with the Office of the Public Protector despite giving assurances that it would, what action does he intend taking to compel the municipality to comply with the requests of the Office of the Public Protector; (2) whether he will reconsider conducting a forensic audit of the specified municipality; if not, why not?
Reply:
Please refer to my reply to PQ 2843
08 September 2015 - NW3132
Majola, Mr TR to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(1)(a) What interactions has his (i) department or (ii) the SA Connect project office had with (aa) national and (bb) provincial government departments to determine and audit what information technology infrastructure projects are in process or being planned and (b) in each case, what are the relevant details of (i) departments, (ii) their projects and (iii) the budgeted costs over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework; (2) What strategy is being developed by the SA Connect project office in the case where no interactions have been held to ensure compliance by all government departments with the protocols of SA Connect?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Department has engaged all provinces, particularly those that will form part of Phase 1 of the broadband rollout programme. The purpose of the engagements was to ensure alignment between provincial initiatives and the SA Connect; communicate the intentions of the Departments with respect to Phase 1 of SA Connect; ensure that that there is optimum coordination between provincial line departments and the service providers who may rollout the programme.
(b) Only two provinces have funding for Broadband Projects, Gauteng (R1.2bn over 5 years) and Western Cape (R1.3bn over 7 years). Other provinces have broadband plans that do not have dedicated funding.
(2) The Department has established Provincial Broadband Steering Committees (PBSC). The PBSCs are provincially based structures that will support the co-ordination, alignment and increased professionalism of broadband implementation in the provinces. In order to fully achieve the effects of well managed broadband initiatives, the management of a combined approach between provinces and municipalities have been recognised.
Priority was given to provinces that are targeted for the first phase of Digital Development implementation. Gauteng and Western Cape Provinces will also be engaged on how to collaborate for the development of the implementation plans of facilities in the respective provinces.
08 September 2015 - NW3150
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister in the Presidency: Presidency
Is her department, in co-operation with the Minister of Police, working on (a) policy documents and/or (b) strategic plans to address the issues of (i) domestic violence, (ii) gender-based violence, (iii) crimes against members of the National Intervention Strategy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community, particularly women living in urban informal settlements and (iv) femicide; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of the specified policy documents and/or strategic plans?
Reply:
Government has adopted a multi-sectoral approach to addressing Gender based violence which includes the department as well as the Justice Crime Prevention and Security cluster departments under the leadership of the Department of Social Development. This multi-sectoral approach takes into account existing policies, strategic plans, relevant legislation and is focused on implementation of the Integrated Program of Action on Violence Against Women.
The government has also established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender Based Violence which takes into account violence against all women and children regardless of their sexual orientation and geographic location. The government Programme of Action on Violence against women and children requires that communities are engaged which would be in urban, peri-urban as well as rural area.
________________________
Approved by the Minister on
Date………………………..
08 September 2015 - NW3129
Shinn, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(a) Who heads his department’s South Africa Connect project office, (b) how many full-time staff members work in the specified office, (c) what are their roles, (d) what is the budgeted cost of the specified office over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period and (e) what (i) is the mandate and (ii) are the (aa) deliverable targets and (bb) deadlines?
Reply:
I have been advised the Department as follows:-
(a)(i) Mr. Kefilwe Madingoane heads the Department’s South Africa Connect project office
(b) The project office comprises of eighteen (18) full time departmental staff members.
(c) Their roles include:
• Broadband infrastructure gap analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools
• High-level broadband technical planning to determine appropriate technology options and to develop the technical specification
• Stakeholder engagement at a National Government level to ensure coordination of the rollout plan with the requirements of the line Departments
• Stakeholder engagement at Provincial and Local Government level to ensure that there is coordination between the rollout programme and the readiness of the targeted facilities. Also to assist Provincial Governments with setting up appropriate provincial broadband steering committees to drive the rollout programme at the provincial and local government level.
• Development of relevant business cases to secure funding for the rollout of broadband initiatives.
• Coordination with stakeholders such as State-Owned Companies and the private sector to ensure alignment with public and private sector initiatives.
(d) The budgeted cost for the office over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework is as shown below. The budget includes broadband rollout, remuneration, goods and service and professional services.
Financial Year (over MTEF) |
Budget:R’000 |
2015/16 |
R 227,150 |
2016/17 |
R 380,181 |
2017/18 |
R 390,361 |
(e)(i)(ii)(iii) The mandate is to execute on the four (4) strategies of the SA Connect Policy. The deliverable target is to achieve 100% broadband penetration by 2020 as per Outcome 6 of Medium Term Strategic Framework.
08 September 2015 - NW3076
Rabotapi, Mr MW to ask the MINISTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE:
(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) entities reporting to him? NW3617E REPLY: Guidelines for Reducing Municipal Red Tape, 2012 define red tape as rules, regulations, and / or bureaucratic procedures and processes which are excessively complex and which impose unnecessary delay(s), inaction and / or costs which exceed their benefits, and / or is no longer effective in achieving the purpose for which they were originally created. Red tape results in undesirable economic, business and / or social impacts or outcomes as a result of negatively impacting on productivity. Red tape involves excessive, or unevenly enforced, regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents effective action or decision-making. Government recognizes the need to review its policy and regulatory environment that continue to hinder the development, growth and competitiveness of small businesses. Government has requested all spheres to institutionalise the guidelines aimed at reducing red tape at local government level. Government sets-aside 30% of appropriate categories of State procurement for purchasing from SMMEs, cooperatives as well as township and rural enterprises. It’s proposed that the design of a National Red Tape Reduction Programme, with coordinated implementation by the Presidency’s Office, will be informed by lessons learnt from recent and current national red tape initiatives designed to accelerate national competitiveness & economic growth by setting targets to reduce the total costs of government imposed regulations on business. Other Specific interventions by Government Enacted Policies, Regulations and Legislation i. e. (the 30 days payment policy). Establishment of the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation located in the Presidency The National Development Plan –vision 2030 Institutionalizing of Performance management System across all spheres of government Development of Risk assessment strategies by all departments and entities Establishment of Fraud and Corruption fighting mechanisms and many more
Reply:
Guidelines for Reducing Municipal Red Tape, 2012 define red tape as rules, regulations, and / or bureaucratic procedures and processes which are excessively complex and which impose unnecessary delay(s), inaction and / or costs which exceed their benefits, and / or is no longer effective in achieving the purpose for which they were originally created. Red tape results in undesirable economic, business and / or social impacts or outcomes as a result of negatively impacting on productivity. Red tape involves excessive, or unevenly enforced, regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents effective action or decision-making.
Government recognizes the need to review its policy and regulatory environment that continue to hinder the development, growth and competitiveness of small businesses. Government has requested all spheres to institutionalise the guidelines aimed at reducing red tape at local government level.
Government sets-aside 30% of appropriate categories of State procurement for purchasing from SMMEs, cooperatives as well as township and rural enterprises.
It’s proposed that the design of a National Red Tape Reduction Programme, with coordinated implementation by the Presidency’s Office, will be informed by lessons learnt from recent and current national red tape initiatives designed to accelerate national competitiveness & economic growth by setting targets to reduce the total costs of government imposed regulations on business.
Other Specific interventions by Government
- Enacted Policies, Regulations and Legislation i. e. (the 30 days payment policy).
- Establishment of the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation located in the Presidency
- The National Development Plan –vision 2030
- Institutionalizing of Performance management System across all spheres of government
- Development of Risk assessment strategies by all departments and entities
- Establishment of Fraud and Corruption fighting mechanisms and many more
08 September 2015 - NW2225
Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)Whether, since her reply to question 249 on 18 March 2014, the Commission of Inquiry into the Dakota Air Disaster of 5 December 2012, in which the aircraft crashed into Giant’s Castle, has now been finalised; if not, why not; if so, what were the findings of the investigation; (2) whether the aircraft concerned deviated from its flight route; if so, what was the reason for this; (3) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
- Yes the inquiry was finalised on 28 March 2014, and the findings are as follows:
- The Dakota Cargo crashed because it was flown at an altitude to low to provide sufficient terrain clearance and in weather that made visibility marginal.
- The route flown also contributed to the accident as it did not ensure that the aircraft remain clear of the Drakensberg Mountains.
- It was found that it was highly unlikely that a proper pre-flight crew briefing was held, which should have identified the flaws in the selected flight plan.
- The aircraft was serviceable prior to the accident with no history of significant defects, and therefore did not contribute to the accident.
2. No, the Dakota aircraft did not deviate from the flight route.
3. No
08 September 2015 - NW3009
Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture
Whether the Government is taking steps to ensure that more resources are being ploughed into the uptake of sign language training, considering that more than a million South Africans are afflicted with deafness and that, as a result of more persons learning sign language and being able to communicate in sign language, it would make it possible for deaf persons to have wider engagement in society and broader opportunities; if not, why not; if so, what are the (a) relevant details and (b) outcomes thereof?
Reply:
(a). Yes, my department, as part of the broad programme of government to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous country, we are taking steps to ensure that more resources are being ploughed into the uptake of sign language training, by promoting, and creating conditions for the development of South African Sign Language (SASL) through funding and training projects that focus on the development and use of SASL.The department is also awarding language bursaries to Universities which are offering the training of the South African Sign Language as one of their courses.
(b). By funding training projects and awarding language bursaries we create a pool of professional sign language interpreters. Through sign language interpreters, communities are able to communicate with deaf people at a societal level.
08 September 2015 - NW3245
Lovemore, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
With reference to the summary report entitled An Examination of Aspects of Initial Teacher Education Curricula at Five Higher Education Institutions in The Initial Teacher Education Research Project, compiled by JET Education Services and issued in August 2014, for each of the key findings, what are the details of the action which (a) has already been taken and (b) will be taken to rectify the shortcomings in the university education of intermediate phase teachers identified in each of the key findings?
Reply:
The Initial Teacher Education Research Project (ITERP) that is currently being conducted by JET Education Services is a partnership project between JET, the Education Deans Forum and Departments of Basic Education, and Higher Education and Training. It is a longitudinal project, which is investigating initial teacher education programme delivery at a selected sample of universities. It is also tracking new teacher graduates as they take up posts in schools in an attempt to understand their readiness as beginning teachers and their ability to make the transition from teacher education into teaching.
The ITERP was conceptualised and is being implemented as part of efforts to strengthen teacher education and is not separate from this. The project findings are fed directly back to universities through engagements with individual universities and regular reporting on findings at the quarterly meetings of the Education Deans Forum.
It must be noted that the ITERP is researching the initial teacher education programmes that were designed and implemented in line with the former teacher education qualifications policy, i.e. the Norms and Standards for Educators in Schooling of 2000. All teacher education programmes have to be redesigned to align with the new standards set by the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework of 2007, revised in 2013 and the Policy on Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ) of 2011, revised in 2015. One of the main purposes of the ITERP is to inform the design of new teacher education programmes.
The MRTEQ sets standards for teacher education at the programme level. Initial teacher education programmes have to meet the standards set for teaching specialisations in terms of knowledge mix, credits and levels. This will assist to respond to one of the key findings that emerged from the ITERP and the degree of variation between programmes offered by different universities.
The MRTEQ also, more closely, regulates the teaching practice component of teacher education programmes to strengthen this component of initial teacher education programmes. It sets standards regarding the nature of schools to be used for teaching practice, the nature of the teaching practice component within initial teacher education programmes, and the time spent in schools.
A national Teacher Education Programme Evaluation Committee (TEPEC) has been set up, chaired by the Department of Higher Education and Training, involving the participation of the Department of Basic Education, South African Council of Educators and Education and the Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA). This committee reviews all teacher education programmes to ensure that they meet the requirements stipulated in the Policy on Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications.
In addition to the policy measures that have been put in place to strengthen teacher education, the Department of Higher Education and Training is implementing a 5 year (2015/16 – 2019/20) Teaching and Learning Development Capacity Improvement Programme (TLDCIP) that will support universities to strengthen teacher education programmes at the level of curriculum structure and curriculum delivery.
A specific project in the TLDCIP will focus on strengthening university capacity for primary teacher education. It will involve the implementation of a range of activities to strengthen the capacity and capability of universities for the delivery of quality primary school teacher education programmes, including the following:
- Establish new initial teacher education programmes at universities where specific specialisations are not yet offered but which are needed and which the university is interested to offer;
- Develop and roll-out a national advocacy campaign for teaching generally, specifically Foundation Phase teaching as a viable and attractive career choice;
- Support academic communities of practice focused on priority teaching subject specialisations (Mathematics, Languages, Science and Technology), which would have the responsibility to understand university practices across the system with respect to the specialisation, with a view towards the development of knowledge and practice standards for the teaching specialisation, which could assist to achieve greater convergence and rigour in teacher education curricula;
- Support appropriate research, programme development and material development activities that will improve the quality of initial teacher education programme delivery;
- Finalise norms and standards for professional practice and teaching schools as well as mechanisms for their establishment;
- Develop a national database of schools that will be developed as professional practice schools;
- Support universities to develop business plans for the establishment of teaching schools;
- Develop a national programme to support the professional development of school teachers that act as tutors and mentors to initial teacher education students, which can be delivered in a blended mode, with a significant online component; and
- Develop an online platform/course for the teaching practice/work-integrated learning component of teacher education programmes.
Compiler/Contact persons:
Ext:
DIRECTOR – GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 3245 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE:
08 September 2015 - NW3140
Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Did the State Information and Technology Agency play any role in the broadband projects planned and implemented by (a) the City of Johannesburg, (b) the City of Tshwane, (c) the City of Pietermaritzburg, and (d) the City of Cape Town; if so, in what form did this take place?
Reply:
I have been advised by SITA as follows:-
(a-d) No, SITA did not play a role in planning or implementation of the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, City of Pietermaritzburg and the City of Cape Town broadband projects.
08 September 2015 - NW2999
Matlhoko, Mr AM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
With regard to the National Treasury's capital expenditure report on infrastructure that amounts to R19, 1 billion or 30.6% of the main capital budget of R62,5 billion which is a clear indication that roads are not being build, water taps are running dry and infrastructure is unattended, (a) what is the current infrastructure backlog in municipalities, in particular with regard to the infrastructure of (i) roads and (ii) water and sanitation and (b) what amount of the budget is made available for infrastructure backlogs for municipalities in the 2015-16 financial year?
Reply:
(a) (i) According to Stats SA, in 2011 condition data was only available for 64% of the metropolitan roads network, and 80% of paved roads and 12% of gravel metropolitan roads were in a fairly good condition. Outside of the metropolitan areas, the Department of Transport indicates that road condition data is only available for approximately 4% of the municipal roads. In 2014 the South African National Roads Agency estimated the extent of the municipal roads network to be approximately 250 000 km. It estimated that R32 billion would be required to rehabilitate paved municipal roads and to re-gravel municipal roads. The cost of paving all the unpaved municipal roads is not known.
(ii) According to research carried out by the Department of Water and Sanitation, of the 1622 water supply schemes under municipal management, 9% are dysfunctional and 48% require urgent refurbishment and improved maintenance. According to the DWS 2013 Strategic Overview of the Water Sector in SA, 64% of Municipal Waste Water Treatment Works required urgent refurbishment and improved maintenance. The Department of Water and Sanitation has estimated the required national intervention cost of the backlog of municipal water infrastructure, excluding the metropolitan municipalities, to be R79 billion. The Department of Water and Sanitation has estimated the value of the backlog of sanitation infrastructure, excluding the metropolitan municipalities, to be in the order of R50 billion. Both include backlogs of a capital nature and backlogs of maintenance.
(b) The total Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocation for 2015/16 is R15 billion. This is for capital and refurbishment projects only. Municipalities are expected to fund maintenance from their own revenue and their equitable share allocation.
08 September 2015 - NW3130
Shinn, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(1) (a) What is the mandate of the implementing agency for the digital implementation plan, (b) how is the appointment process being conducted, (c) who are the stakeholders being consulted, (d) when will the appointment be made and (e) what is the cost of the specified agency over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
Reply:
I have been advised by the Department as follows:-
(1) (a) The implementing agency will lead and coordinate State-Owned Companies in the rollout of broadband infrastructure in the identified areas to facilitate government connectivity.
(b) The Department is following the relevant treasury regulation and supply chain management processes.
(c) Cabinet; the Economic Sectors, Employment and Infrastructure Development (ESEID) Cluster; and State Information Technology Agency (SITA) will be consulted.
(d) The appointment will be made once due process has been followed and Cabinet, National Treasury and the Auditor General have been informed.
(e) The agency will not incur any cost for the Department. The operational expenditure of the agency over the MTEF will not be attributed to the Department.
08 September 2015 - NW3128
Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(1)(a) When was the Child Online Protection (COP) programme developed and (b) who developed the specified programme; (2) (a) what public participation process was held, (b) with whom was the specified process held, (c) on what date(s) and (d) where was the specified process held; (3) Whether the COP programme was published for public comment; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was it published, (b) where was it published and (c) how many responses were received; (4) (a) in which provinces was the COP programme launched, (b) who is responsible for implementing the COP programme in the specified provinces and (c) how is it being (i) implemented and (ii) monitored; (5) What is the plan for implementing the COP programme in other provinces?
Reply:
(1)(a) In 2010
(1)(b) It emanates from a resolution of the International Telecommunications Union that was taken in 2009 and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) responded as a Member State of the ITU by developing the Child Online Protection Programme that was developed in 2010.
(2)(a) Consultation workshops took place in all provinces on the Children Strategy which included the Online Protection Programme.
(2)(b) Children’s Rights Organisations; Children’s Organisations that work in the ICT Sector; State-Owned Companies, Department of Basic Education, Department of Social Development, National Prosecuting Authority, South African Police Service, the former Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities; and International Bodies such as Unicef and the ITU.
(2)(c) During the financial years 2010/2011 and 2011/12.
(2)(d) Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), Free State Province, North West Province, Gauteng, Northern Cape Province and the Eastern Cape Province.
(3) No, but an advertisement ran on national television and radio. Further, a Webpage was set up for the programme;
(4)(a) On 19 August 2015 in KZN as part of the launch of the Children and ICT Strategy;
(4)(b) The DTPS and Non-Profit Organisations namely; Resources Aimed at Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention; Childline South Africa, Disabled Children’s Action Group (DICAG); and the Film and Publication Board.
(4)(b)(i) Through School-based Awareness Workshops and in this regard we have conducted (5) five workshops in the Eastern Cape, KZN, Western Cape, and North West Province.
(4)(b)(ii) Evaluation workshops are conducted with the schools where the programme is implemented and in this regard we have done one evaluation workshop in KZN this year.
08 September 2015 - NW3292
Matshobeni, Ms A to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture”
1.(a)(i) What total amount did his department spend on his travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips did he undertake between Cape Town and Gauteng in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did his department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for him in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year; 2.(a)(i) What total amount did his department spend on the Deputy Minister’s travel costs between Gauteng and Cape Town in the 2014-15 financial year and (ii) how many trips between Gauteng and Cape Town did the Deputy Minister undertake in the specified financial year and (b) what total amount did his department spend on (i) hotel and (ii) residential or other accommodation for the Deputy Minister in (aa) Cape Town and (bb) Pretoria in the 2014-15 financial year? (NW3896E) REPLY Ministers and Deputy Ministers are expected to travel between Gauteng and the Western Cape to carry out official duties, including parliamentary duties according the Parliamentary Programme. Costs incurred during the execution of the tasks outlined above are readily made available in Annual Reports which will be tabled in Parliament no later than the end of this month.
Reply:
Ministers and Deputy Ministers are expected to travel between Gauteng and the Western Cape to carry out official duties, including parliamentary duties according the Parliamentary Programme. Costs incurred during the execution of the tasks outlined above are readily made available in Annual Reports which will be tabled in Parliament no later than the end of this month. |
08 September 2015 - NW2340
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)(a) How (i) effective is her department’s communication and marketing strategy and (ii) is this measured objectively and (b) why have targets in respect of the specified strategy been amended from the previous year; (2) what (a) challenges have been experienced in respect of implementing the specified strategy and (b) has her department’s performance been with respect to implementing the specified strategy from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; (3) what (a) human resources have been allocated to each provincial office for implementing the strategy, (b) systems and processes are implemented at each provincial office, (c) are the office hours of each provincial office, (d) materials and information are accessible from each provincial office and (e) are the qualifications of the staff members employed to implement the strategy; (4) whether any further training and development is being provided by her department with regard to the strategy; if so, what are the related costs; (5) (a) what are the current financial implications for each provincial office toward the implementation of the strategy, (b) why has Provincial Offices: Its Capacity and Accessibility not been listed as a key performance indicator and (c) how is the increase from R4 481 million to R8 780 million on communication being applied?
Reply:
- (1) (a) How (i)
The communications strategy is being rolled out and making some impact in so far as sharing information primarily through direct engagements using roadshows, stakeholder briefings with Military Veterans Associations including SANMVA the umbrella body as well as use of means such as media the website and publications. The fact that there is no national footprint and limitation of the communications structure limits capacity to reach the desired impact.
- Yes
- Targets were not amended. According to the Annual Performance Plan targets per Quarter, it is only the implementation and monitoring of the strategy.
(2)(a) The Department is currently the Department has a challenge with the organisational structure. This has limited the implementation of the Communication Strategy.
(2)(b) The Department is currently finalising its Q1 Performance review which will include amongst others, the implementation of the communication strategy. Furthermore, the Department is also running a communication campaign through GCIS. This communication campaign is focused at promoting the progress made by the Department thus far.
3.
(a) The current approved structure does not have communications staff members in provinces ,
(b) The current mode of communication with the provinces is through emails and telephones. The ICT is currently preparing for an intranet that will serve as a platform for internal communications at national and provincial level to assist in quicker relay of information to military veterans. The website capacity is also being beefed up.
(c) 07:30 – 16:30 pm are the official working hours though the officials go an extra mile and works on many occasions overtime and on weekends to cover and profile the departmental events.
(d) In the absence of physical structure of offices in provinces information is disseminated through Head Office.
(e) Not applicable
4. There is training and development planned for management and provincial coordinators to assist in the communication and marketing strategy implementation. The dates for training through a course with the School of Governance (former PALAMA) are between the 29th of July and the middle of August 2015. The current costs are R27 000
5.(a) Currently there is None.
(b) DMV is in a process of revisiting and reviewing the key performance indicators that will include that.
(c) The increase has been based on the DMV Annual Performance Plan as well as supporting key deliverables of the Department and the corporate communications programmes and activities. These include media engagements, advertorials, stakeholder engagements, use of own publications and media, branding and marketing as well as internal communications programmes. The budget is being reviewed to ensure that advertorials and other means such as social media are utilised more.
08 September 2015 - NW3085
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1) Whether the municipal manager of Maruleng Local Municipality in Limpopo was suspended at a special council meeting held on 5 August 2015; if so, (a) on what grounds was the municipal manager suspended and (b) was the council meeting legally constituted in terms of the requisite notice of the council meeting having been provided and the agenda circulated; if not, what was the purpose of the council meeting; (2) (a) how many special council meetings have been held by the Maruleng Local Municipality since 1 January 2015 and (b) for each meeting, (i) what was the purpose of the meeting and (ii) what notice was given of the meeting; (3) was an agenda circulated for each specified meeting; if not, why not?
Reply:
The response below is based on information received from the Maruleng Local Municipality:
(1) Yes, the municipal manager of Maruleng Local Municipality in Limpopo was suspended at a special council meeting held on 5 August 2015.
(a) Misconduct
(b) Yes, the Council meeting was legally constituted.
(2) (a) Five (5) special council meetings have been held by the Maruleng Local Municipality since 1 January 2015.
(b) (i)
• 25 January 2015: The acting allowance for the Chief Traffic Officer, the acting allowance for the Director: Corporate Services, the suspension of employees and the informal settlement upgrading by Housing Development.
• 9 February 2015: Approval of adjustment budget.
• 29 May 2015: 2015/16 budget approval.
• 23 July 2015: Notice of suspension of the municipal manager.
• 5 August 2015: Suspension of the municipal manager.
(ii) Invitations were issued.
(3) Yes, the agenda for each specified meeting was circulated
08 September 2015 - NW3284
Matshobeni, Ms A to ask the “A Matshobeni (EFF) to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture”
(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? (NW3887E)
Reply:
Government officials are expected to travel between Gauteng and the Western Cape to carry out official duties, including ministerial and department support to the Executive who carry out parliamentary duties according the Parliamentary Programme. Costs incurred by Government Officials are readily made available in Annual Reports which will be tabled in Parliament. |
08 September 2015 - NW2312
Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Have tenders been called by Sentech for the R185 million equipment upgrade; if so, in each case, (a) what were the relevant details of the tender and (b) on what (i) date and (ii) under which Government Gazette number were the tender proposals published?
Reply:
I have been advised by Sentech as follows:-
No, Sentech has not called tenders for equipment upgrade to the value of R185 million.
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not Applicable
(c) Not Applicable