Questions and Replies

Reply:

(a) The MDDA has funded 103 Community Radio Stations since 2004 in 57 district municipalities in South Africa.

(b) Of the 103 community radio stations currently on the MDDA’s disbursement profile, ninety nine (99) are fully operational.

(c) Four (4) out of 103 three stations currently on MDDA’s disbursement profile are not operational.

They are as follows:

i Franchoek FM (Western Cape – Cape Wine Lands District Municipality)

ii Motsitle Community Radio (North West – Bojanala District Municipality)

iii Qwa Qwa FM (Free State – Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality)

iv Blouberg Community Radio (Limpopo Province – Capricorn District Municipality)

(d) During the grant funding cycle, MDDA pays for the insurance of broadcast equipment. Once the grant funding agreement expires, stations are supposed to continue with the insurance.

(e) (i) Cumulatively grants totalling R 280 million have been awarded since 2004 to date.

(ii) 55 community radio stations have received digital broadcast infrastructure to the value of R47, 236,885.00

(iii) Not applicable.

(f) Currently all radio stations are operational, however in terms of the Grant in Aid Agreement and the NPO Act/ including the constitutions of the entities MDDA funds there is a clause that provides for such equipment to be transferred to a project of similar objectives.

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

(a). Cabinet has already approved that the two Departments appoint a Joint Technical Task Team (JTTT) to spearhead the process and modalities for the transfer. The JTTT has been officially appointed and has started working on the processes.

(b). The transfer of Colleges to the Department of Higher Education and Training is a Cabinet decision. My responsibility is to facilitate the implementation of the decision together with the Minister of Higher Education and Training.

Reply:

(a)  MDDA developed and distributed 1500 toolkits for Media Advertising and Marketing for both radio and another 1500 for print. In addition the MDDA has also produced an “easy to use” Corporate Governance Toolkit

(b) Participants at the workshops were all provided the toolkits:

Toolkits Workshops	Area	Beneficiaries	Period
Marketing and Advertising	Mpumalanga Provincial Workshop	6 Community Radio Stations and 7 Publishers	August 2011
	Northern Cape Provincial Workshop	5 Community Radio Stations and 1 Publisher	August 2011
	Gauteng Provincial Workshop	20 Community Radio Stations, 1 Community TV and 3 Publishers	August 2011
	KwaZulu Natal Provincial Workshop	14 Community Radio Stations, 1 Community TV and 10 Publishers	August 2011
Corporate Governance	National Workshop	37 Publishers and 11 Community Radio Stations.	May 2012
	National Workshop	10 community Radio Stations, 3 Community TV and 6 Publishers.	February 2013
Starting Your School Newspaper	Provincial Annual Media Literacy Workshops	100 Learners per annum	Annually since 2012 Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape

These toolkits are subsequently distributed in all workshops and Learning Forum where MDDA beneficiaries participate.

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL ACTING

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(a) The MDDA has a grant funding cycle that that runs from 12 to 18 months. Projects are monitored twice during the project funding cycle. Funding is allocated in four tranches and each tranche is released after satisfactory reporting and compliance with the Grant in Aid Agreement and monitoring. Due to cost saving, site visits are conducted once during the life cycle of projects. Project report on quarterly basis, this is another form of close monitoring.

(b)  All Radio Stations are monitored on the following:

i. Attainment of intended project objectives as of inception

ii. Governance and institutional stability

iii. Financial Management

iv. Financial Sustainability and revenue generation

v. Community Participation

vi. Partnerships

vii. Compliance and non-compliance with the Grant in Aid Agreement

(c) i. MDDA conducts monitoring on all the funded community radio stations. The dates for monitoring are determined based on the status quo of the projects, funds disbursed and the reporting cycle of each project. Due to cost saving, site visits are conducted once during the life cycle of a project (Average project lifecycle would normally be 14 months). Oversight monitoring is conducted if there is delayed reporting.

ii. In the previous three financial years the projects have been monitored through:

1. Desktop monitoring
2. Site visits monitoring and evaluation
3. Project reporting
4. Annual evaluation using different methodologies such as formative, summative and clarificative where required
5. Board Members undertake Provincial site visit on a random basis

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(a) National Treasury makes significant efforts to communicate publicly its fiscal strategy and implications for the debt outlook. Extensive budget information is released to the legislature and the public in general. According to the international Open Budget Index survey, South Africa ranks as one of the top countries for transparency and accountability. Parliament holds public hearings after the tabling of each Budget Review and Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. As part of its budget outreach programme, National Treasury representatives travel around South Africa presenting the fiscal outlook to universities and civil society organisations. The National Treasury conducts domestic investor roadshows and communicates regularly with the media on the implications of the fiscal framework for the national debt outlook.

The debt that government will incur over the coming decade is set out in the publicly available budget documents tabled in parliament in February each year. Provisions are made for debt that is falling due, with the details outlined in chapter 7 of 2015 Budget Review. A more detailed breakdown is published in the annual Debt Management Report, which is available on the National Treasury website.

(b) Government manages the debt outlook by narrowing the deficit over time while mitigating refinancing risk (i.e. the risk that government will not be able to raise money to finance the budget deficit and repay debt at any scheduled point, or will have to do so at high cost). In order to close the deficit, government has raised taxes and reduced the rate of expenditure growth. The budget also aims to change the composition of borrowing, in order to ensure that government debt is used to fund infrastructure spending with a positive long-term impact.

The medium-term borrowing strategy focuses on mitigating the risks presented by the sharp increase in loan repayments in 2017/18 and beyond. To meet these high loan repayments, cash has been generated from higher long-term borrowing in 2014/15. Over the medium term, the cash will be used to pay down short-term borrowing. Government also makes use of a bond-switch programme to ease pressure on targeted areas of the bond redemption profile by exchanging short-term for longer-term debt.

Reply:

Although I am fully aware of the ILO study on farm workers living and working conditions in South Africa, the report that was issued in February 2015 was just a draft for input by affected stakeholders. The ILO final report on farm workers living and working conditions in South Africa was only finalized and published on 21 July 2015.

I am arranging a briefing from the International Labour Organisation on the findings of the study. Consequently, I will interact with Ministers of Labour and Rural Development and Land Reform to have an integrated approach to the recommendations of the report. We will then consult with relevant stakeholders in the agriculture sector to discuss and develop a sector action plan to address challenges addressed in the report.

Reply:

(a) (i), (ii), (aa), (bb), (cc), (dd).

The Department of Communications did not commission any consultants or external third parties to undertake the task of revising and drafting the Policy amendments that were submitted in February 2015 and finally adopted by Cabinet on the 4th of March 2015. The task was undertaken by the internal Policy Unit personnel of the DoC and the DTT PMO under the supervision of the Acting Director-General and the leadership of the Minister.

(b) (i), (ii) and (c)

The only point at which external parties were engaged in the formulation of the policy amendments was to solicit the inputs from the consultation session that was held with industry and various stakeholders in the broadcasting sector. This mainly occurred at a workshop called by the Minister to revive the Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) Policy and to assist the DTT PMO team to finalise the Policy amendments and attended by several representatives of companies and industry groups from the electronic manufacturing sector.  The details are as follows: 

Date            : Thursday 06 November 2014

Venue       : Auditorium, Ground Floor, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Francis Baard, Hatfield, Pretoria

Time           : 09H00

Attendance register is attached.

Numerous working sessions were held to process the inputs between the period November 2014 and February 2015. The final output of these working sessions was a draft Policy amendments submitted in February 2015 and approved by Cabinet on the 4th of March 2015.

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

In 2009, my Department conducted a study to assess the level of compliance of the twelve Colleges against the approved Norms and Standards the Governance and Financing Framework for ATIs. The assessment study report revealed that no single College complied fully with the established Norms and Standards albeit in differing degrees. Flowing from the approved Norms and Standards and the Governance and Financing Framework for ATIs including the findings of the compliance study, a Revitalisation Plan for the Colleges of Agriculture was developed.

The Colleges Revitalization Plan (CRP) is guided by the following critical pillars:

• Pillar 1: Improvement of Infrastructure and equipment
• Pillar 2: Curriculum review with emphasis on value addition
• Pillar 3: Accreditation and registration of Colleges
• Pillar 4: Leadership development and change management
• Pillar 5: Strengthening of Information and Communication Technology including Colleges Governance

In support of the process of revitalizing the Colleges of Agriculture, my Department approached the National Treasury in 2009/10 to present the case of the twelve Colleges and to solicit funding for their improvement. My Department commenced with its National Treasury approved and funded Colleges Revitalization Plan in 2011/12 financial year. Since then, my Department has been allocating a substantial amount of money to Colleges to augment their equitable budget.

A total amount of R2 236 705 009.00 (two billion two hundred and thirty six million seven hundred and five thousand and nine rand only) has been spent on Colleges of Agriculture between 2009 and January 2015.

A total amount of R1 907 356 342.00 (one billion nine hundred and seven million three hundred and fifty six thousand and three hundred and forty two rand only) has been spent on Goods and Services and Compensation of Employees (Annexure A).

A total amount of R329 348 667.00 (three hundred and twenty nine million three hundred and forty eight thousand and six hundred and sixty seven rand only) has been spent on Colleges of Agriculture since 2011/12 through Colleges Revitalization Plan (Annexure B).

Annexure C presents a list of major infrastructure support provided to Colleges by my Department through the Colleges Revitalization Plan since 2011/12.

Reply:

The department did not set up a SABC Task Team.

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(a) What are the relevant details of the biogas initiatives in the country that are led by the Government?

The Department and the ARC completed a pilot phase of the Biodigester project in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District (Free State province) that started in June 2012 and just concluded in June 2015 as part of the mitigation and adaptation to climate variability and change in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District (Free State Province). This project was rolled-out in Thabo Mofutsanyane District with a number of beneficiaries, mainly community livestock farmers who received training and had the biodigesters equipment purchased for them. 

The ultimate goal of the project was to enhance agricultural productivity by promoting the adoption of an integrated crop-livestock system that effectively mitigates, adapts to and reduces vulnerabilities to climate change. It is also aimed at introducing and encouraging agricultural practices in rural communities that have the potential of mitigating climate change and adapting to adverse effects of climate change and the use of biogas for domestic cooking and electricity purposes.

About 13 biogas digesters for generation of bio-gas for cooking and/lighting from livestock manure were installed and they are operational. The farmer training was conducted and provided an opportunity to promote renewable energies and inform farmers on the possibility of self-energy generation. Capacity building and job creation was achieved through training of the local youth on biogas digester installation. Relevant weather and climate information was distributed to farmers during the planning and implementation of their agricultural activities via sms. The findings of this pilot project will assist with the climate change adaptation and mitigation measures (in the form of strategies and/or polices) for the country.

(b)  How extensive is the roll-out of the specified initiatives in the country’s rural population?

This pilot project is currently been rolled out to three Provinces namely: Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo targeting ten (10) small scale farmers per Province from the financial year 2015/16 to 2017/18. The project aims at raising awareness of climate change among different stakeholders in the agricultural community. It will promote the integrated crop-livestock production system. The beneficiaries in these provinces, mainly livestock farmers will be trained and have biodegesters purchased for them and installed. 

Biogas could be used to generate a large portion of the peaking power required and thereby effect very large cost savings for the country. More funding and resources are however, needed to roll it out at a larger scale.

Reply:

The Minister of Communications received the report from the National Communication Task Team (NCTT). The report is currently being evaluated. All matters relating to the NCTT will be responded to once the Minister concludes with the evaluation and expresses her opinion on how the process will be carried forward.

 

 

MR N MUNZHELELE

[ACTING] DIRECTOR GENERAL

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

Reply:

Community radio stations in ‘financial distress’ are defined as stations that have requested and been funded by the MDDA on more than one occasion upon completion of the original grant. These are the stations that request for more funds towards strengthening on areas that are still lacking. For instance, a station might request funds for salaries, transmission costs, Outside Broadcast Equipment and Back-Up Power Supply (Generator or Solar Power).

The stations that have been funded more than once are as follows:

1. Inanda FM
2. Emalahleni FM
3. Vukani FM
4. Bush Radio
5. Inkonjane Community Radio
6. Voice of Tembisa
7. Aganang Community Radio
8. Sekhukhune Community Radio
9. ICORA
10. Radio Khwezi
11. Maputaland Community Radio
12. Moletjie Community Radio
13. Greater Tzaneen
14. Kanyamazane Community Radio
15. Star FM
16. N FM
17. Radio Riverside
18. Radio Namakwaland
19. Radio Zibonele

A majority of these Community Radio Stations are in communities whose socio economic standards directly affect self-sustainability of the projects post the grant period. They solely rely on advertising revenue which is invested back into operational costs. All stations face a challenge of delayed payment for services rendered particularly from government and this has an adverse impact on their income and cash flow.

(b)  The MDDA has provided financial support for salaries, infrastructure refurbishment, transmission costs, Outside Broadcast Equipment, Back-Up Power Supply (Generator or Solar Power). The MDDA also lobbies national, provincial and local government to support community radio stations through advertising. The MDDA is further working closely with the GCIS media buying unit in order to ensure investment to the sector.

 

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(1). Currently Agricultural Colleges do not have language policies, but their academic rules and procedures clearly state their respective mediums of instruction, the following Colleges Glen, Owen Sithole, Cedara, Taung, Fort Cox, Tsolo, Madzivhandila and Tompi Seleka use English as their medium of instruction.

Elsenburg and Potchefstroom Colleges use a 50/50 (English or Afrikaans) medium of instruction; this is due to the fact that almost all classes are multilingual. The practice is that the lecturer teaches in either English or Afrikaans or both. The audio- visual aids are in the other language that is not being used by the lecturer i.e. English or Afrikaans. The class notes and student guides are available in both English and Afrikaans.

Grootfontein College uses a parallel mode of instruction where tuition is in English to one group (non-Afrikaans) and Afrikaans to the other group.

(2). There is no change expected in the language policy or guidelines of the following Colleges Glen, Owen Sithole, Cedara, Taung, Potchefstroom, Fort Cox, Tsolo, Madzivhandila and Tompi Seleka as they are experiencing no challenges in their respective Institutions regarding the medium of instruction.

Elsenburg College is overseeing a process to inform and sensitise staff and the student body on best practice regarding the current language approach. A Task Team has been established to consult with corresponding institutions on matters related to language policies, options and plans. The College Council will thereafter present a framework to the Department for consideration. A process of consultation with stakeholders, including students and industry representative bodies, regarding the proposed policy framework is envisaged after which a process to draft and adopt a language policy and plan for the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute will be initiated, in accordance with the approved framework.

My Department has initiated processes of amending the current medium of instruction at Grootfontein College with the aim of developing a language policy which will introduce English as a new medium of instruction.

(3). Breakdown of home language spoken by students at each of the specified Colleges is presented on Attachment A;

Reply:

(a) Yes, from 29 November - 06 December 2014

(b) No

(c) Yes

(i) State Visit to the People’s Republic of China

(ii) (a) R163 199.30

(ii) (b) Airfare: R149 459.00

S&T Advance: R 13 740.30

DIRCO has not submitted the invoices for Accommodation, Translators and Ground transport.

(c) (i) see table below

(ii) (a) R582 771.48

(b) See table below

Passenger	Purpose of visit (c) (i)	Travel Date	Breakdown of Costs (c) (ii) (b)
Mr Mkhacani Godfrey Maluleke	Integrated Border Management Agency During September and October 2015 (BMA)	18-27 October 2014	Airfares: R 71 764.00 Daily Allowance: R 8 683.65 Accommodation: Waiting for invoices from DIRCO Ground transport: Waiting for invoices from DIRCO Total Amount: R80 447.65
Ms Keitumetse Mathibe	State Visit to the People’s Republic of China	29 November - 06 December 2014	Airfares: R149 459 Daily Allowance: R 12 491.20 Accommodation: Waiting for invoices from DIRCO Total: R161 950.20
Ms Lesego Ntsieni	State Visit to the People’s Republic of China	29 November - 06 December 2014	Airfares: R149 459 Daily Allowance: R 12 491.20 Accommodation: Waiting for invoices from DIRCO Total: R161 950.20
Mr Mawethu Vilana	State Visit to the People’s Republic of China	29 November 2014	Airfare: R62 446 Advance: R 12 575.32 Accommodation: Waiting for invoices from DIRCO Total: R75 021.32
Mr P Mohan	Cross Border Road Transport study Tour to China	7-13 March 2015	Airfares: R 72 332.14 Accommodation: R 15 670.00 Daily Allowance: R 15 400.00 Total Amount: R 103 402.14
TOTAL COST			R582 771.48

Reply:

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is the body responsible for issuing electronic communications regulations in South Africa. ICASA will be in a position to issue the Rapid Deployment Regulations in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Electronic Communications Act No 36 of 2005 after the Cabinet has approved the Rapid Deployment Policy.

Reply:

The National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has no record of an application for environmental authorisation for the above-mentioned project. The application was lodged with the provincial department of environmental affairs, the Gauteng Department of Rural Development (GDARD), for which the Member of Executive Council is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

(a) and (b)(i), (ii) and (iii) Not applicable

--ooOoo--

Reply:

(1) The suspension of the mining license at Optimum Colliery’s commenced on Monday 3 August 2015 and was lifted on Friday 7 August 2015. As part of the normal contingency plans at all coal fired Power Stations, supply is supplemented from other sources. The specific details of supplemental suppliers are confidential.

(2) Yes.

(a) There is over 30 coal stock days at Hendrina Power Station (levels vary daily).

(b) Coal is transported by conveyor belt from Optimum Colliery and is trucked in from the supplementary sources.

(c) This information is commercially sensitive and it is subject to standard confidentiality clauses in Eskom’s agreements with suppliers. Therefore it cannot be disclosed.

(d) This information is commercially sensitive and it is subject to standard confidentiality clauses in Eskom’s agreements with suppliers. Therefore it cannot be disclosed.

(3) If the supply of coal is maintained through other sources then the generating capacity will stay the same.

Reply:

1.  The National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has no record of an application for environmental authorisation for the abovementioned project. The application was lodged with the provincial department of environmental affairs, the Gauteng Department of Rural Development (GDARD), for which the Member of Executive Council is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

(a) and (b) Not applicable

2.  Not applicable

--ooOoo--

Reply:

I do not have the information regarding sub-questions (1), (2) and (3).

The MEC responsible for Local Government in Free State, is being requested to commission an investigation into the matter.

Reply:

The Minister visited China to attend the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of New Champions 2014, in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China from 10 to 12 September 2014. Minister used this opportunity to honour a long standing invitation to pay an official visit to China from Minister Li Bin, the Minister of Health and Family Planning of the People’s Republic of China. This official visit took place on the 9th of September 2014.

He was accompanied by Dr Anban Pillay: Deputy Director General: Health Regulation and Compliance Management and PA, Ms M Sethosa.

Return Air Tickets: R 316 576.00

Accommodation: R 78 000.00

Daily allowances: R 35 249.34

Vehicles: R 75 000.00

VIP Lounges: R 20 000.00

The total cost for the visit was R 524 825.34.

 

Another delegation of Senior Officials visited China from 18 to 22 August 2014 to attend the Global Health Diplomacy Executive Training Course in Beijing, China. The delegation consisted of Deputy Director-General: International Health Development and Support, Ms MK Matsau, Mr M Modisenyane, Director: Africa Relations and the Deputy-Director: South-South Relations, Ms T Khosa.

Return Air Tickets: R 135 108.00

Accommodation: R 24 717.00

Daily allowances: R 16 756.20

The total cost for the visit was R 176 581.20

Please note that the trip was sponsored, tickets, accommodation and local transport were paid for by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of the People’s Republic of China.

END.

Reply:

Extensive discussions have been held with stakeholders in both the government and private sectors.

These include:

National Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Rural Development and Land Reform; Environmental Affairs; Economic Development; Public Enterprises; Transport; Water Affairs; Performance Monitoring and Evaluation; Office of the Chief State Law Adviser; the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA); South African Local Government Association (SALGA); Broadband Infraco; Cell C; Dark Fibre Africa; Fibreco; Internet Solutions; Dimension Data; Link Africa; Liquid Telecoms; MTN; Neotel; Sentech; Telkom; Vodacom; Vumatel; Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Council; Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Association; Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA); South African Communications Forum (SACF); Wireless Access Providers’ Association (WAPA); Eskom; Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA); South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL); State Information Technology Agency (SITA); Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Transnet; Cape Town Municipality; Ekurhuleni Municipality; Tshwane Municipality and ATC South Africa.

Following these engagements, the Department of Transport, ICASA, Office of the Chief State Law Adviser and Telkom provided further information in writing. Based on these engagements a discussion paper highlighting the policy issues has been developed and circulated to stakeholders.

The Discussion Paper is also available on the Department’s website. This Discussion Paper has been workshopped with stakeholders on 21 August 2015, the draft Rapid Deployment Policy will be developed based on the input derived therefrom.

Reply:

(1) (a)(i)
In 2014. the Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign enrolled 2 048 Blind learners that were taught how to read and vvTite using Braille. In addition, 1 084 deaf learners were taught to communicate using the South African Sign Language (SASL).

There is a challenge with regard to finding qualified unemployed educators to teach Braille and SASL. Therefore the campaign did not recruit learners in the Northern Cape. Unfortunately, the programme was unable to recruit blind and deaf learners in the Northern Cape and blind learners in the Western Cape.

The Campaign has implemented plans to recruit a suitable volunteer in both these provinces for the 2015 Campaign to ensure that these learners are included in the campaign.

Attached find here: Provinces

Reply:

(a) No, and the rest of the questions fall off.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, requested the Province and eThekwini Municipality, to provide the information.

The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.

Reply:

(a); (i), (ii), (b), (c), (d). According to information received from Gauteng Department of Education, no educational sites have been provided during the town planning of the area mentioned. Rietfontein falls within the border of the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipalities and is surrounded by areas such as Greenstone, Linksfield, Modderfontein and Edenvale. At this point there are no sites earmarked for public schooling within the area and no schools are presently planned to be built on the specified sites.

Reply:

1. (a) The Local Government: Regulations on Appointment and Conditions of Employment of Senior Managers, which came into effect on 17 January 2014, requires that a person appointed as the municipal manager of a municipality must have a Bachelor degree in Public Administration/ Social Sciences/ Law, or equivalent. According to information at the disposal of the Department, the municipal manager of Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality holds a National Diploma in Town and Regional Planning, Certificate in Local Government Finance Management and a short course certificate in Public Management and Governance. As it stands, the Minister is not able to make a conclusive decision whether the qualifications of the municipal manager comply with the prescribed requirements due to lack of evidence or proof that his qualifications were subjected to an evaluation by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) to determine if his qualifications are equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.

   (b)  The MEC for local government in the North-West Province has been requested to investigate this matter, which will include an evaluation of the municipal manager’s qualifications by SAQA. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the MEC will submit a formal report to the Minister in terms of section 54A(7)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act, whereafter the Minister will determine the course of action, if any.

  (i)   National Diploma in Town and Regional Planning, Certificate in Local Government Finance Management and a short course certificate in Public Management and Governance.

(ii) The process followed in the municipal manager’s appointment will be determined once a full report on the appointment of the municipal manager has been received from the MEC.

2.  The total annual remuneration package of the Municipal Manager of Lekwa Teemane is R970 920-00.

3.   Yes, the total remuneration of the Municipal Manager is within the upper limits for the total remuneration payable to municipal managers, inclusive of the 20% market premium allowance as provided for in clause 10(4) of the Notice on upper limits of the total remuneration packages payable to senior managers under Government Notice No. 225 as published in Government Notice No. 37500 of 29 March 2014.

4.   Section 57 of the Municipal Systems Act requires that a person may be appointed as a municipal manager of a municipality only in terms of a written employment contract with the municipality complying with the provisions of this section and that the employment contract be entered into with the municipality represented by the mayor or executive mayor. On 3 March 2015, the Lekwa Teemane municipal council resolved to appoint a successful candidate and further directed that the employment contract be entered into between the successful candidate and the municipality represented by the mayor.

 (a)  There is no legal requirement for the employment contract to be tabled before council prior to the signing thereof.

 (b) (i) and (ii) Not applicable.

      (iii) The employment contract was signed on 16 April 2015.

     (iv) The contract was entered into between the municipal manager and municipality represented by the mayor.

Reply:

(a)(i) Yes, an Intervention Team that worked under the supervision of the Administrator did a comprehensive diagnostic work into the difficulties / challenges faced by the South African Post Office (SAPO). The work resulted in a Turn-around plan, which has been approved by Cabinet and proposes a new business model. This Strategic Turnaround plan is being implemented.

(ii) The diagnosis undertaken paid specific attention to the financial difficulties of SAPO and proposed specific interventions to deal with these.

(b) Government is not considering selling either part or the whole of SAPO as the company still has value to offer to the citizens especially those residing in the underservice parts of the country especially the rural areas.

Reply:

1. The Department of Health has not commissioned any studies on the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, the Department participates in the regulatory systems of GMOs.

The safety of Genetically Modified Organisms is regulated in terms of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997), (GMO Act), which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The GMO Act provides for safety of human and animal health, as well as the environment. There are specific regulatory systems which have been set up for the rigorous evaluation of GMOs and Genetically Modified foodstuffs, so as to ensure access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. These regulatory systems evaluate both human health and the impact that these organisms may have. The regulatory system consists of scientists, including food safety experts, who conduct food safety assessments before the GMO crops are approved for human consumption. The Department of Health participates in this regulatory system which also focuses on risk assessments of GMOs.

2. All GMO foodstuffs approved by government are safe to eat.

All foodstuffs from GMOs are thoroughly assessed during the developmental phase to ensure that they are safe for animal and human consumption. This is done before they are made available to the public. The safety assessments of Genetically Modified foodstuffs are based on guidelines and principles developed by Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), an international body involved in food safety, under the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. The Codex guidelines and principles include the need for a case-by-case safety assessment, i.e., the use of scientific risk-based assessment methods that would take into consideration the newly introduced genetic material in crops, including new proteins and other characteristics of the Genetically Modified foodstuffs. This is also done in comparison with conventionally produced foods. All the Genetically Modified foodstuffs that are on the market have been approved by government and are considered as safe as their conventional counterparts.

The details of all the GMOs approved in South Africa are as a result of the safety assessment by scientists who are experts in fields related to GMOs as appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in terms of the GMO Act and evaluate risk assessments (scientific data relating to food, feed and environmental impact). The decisions for approval are by the Executive Council, which consists of officials from six government departments responsible for matters relating to Agriculture, Health, the Environment, Labour, Trade and Industry and Science and Technology, as well as the chairperson of the Advisory Committee.

END.

Reply:

(i) Registration of Co-operatives

The Department of Military Veterans has been tasked with ensuring that the registration of effective co-operatives continues to be deliverable for the Department in the 2015/16 financial year. In this regard, the Department has set a target for the establishment of at least 40 new co-operatives by the end of the financial year. The task involves the conducting of workshops to advise military veterans on the requirements for establishment of co-operatives. Thereafter, those interested are provided with a training workshop after which they are provided with the requisite documentation to allow for them to independently call their proposed co-operatives members together, complete the Constitution and applications forms and then to submit all the required documents to the DMV for registration of the co-operatives. In the interim, the DMV is engaging in discussion with various stakeholders for potential opportunities for economic participation and job opportunities for military veterans. All workshops and training of Co-operatives is done in conjunction with the Department of Small Business Development’s Small Enterprise Development Agency. A further critical opportunity identified is for the funding of small and medium enterprises and co-operatives of military veterans through the Small Enterprise Financing Agency, with whom the DMV has a signed MOU.

(ii) Alienation of Disposable Products from the Department of Defence

The Minister has identified a critical opportunity for Military Veterans to take part in the process for the disposal of old and non-usable stock from the Department of Defence. Through this opportunity, it is envisaged that many work opportunities and possibility for economic participation can be identified for military veterans. The DMV has been tasked with developing an entity to house the programme so that it is carefully managed to derive maximum benefit to all military veterans, SANMVA shall play a role as a stakeholder to this entity. At present, in planning towards achieving on this goal, the DMV has identified at least 31 military veterans to be trained as auctioneers, in conjunction with the Department of Defence, so that military veterans would have a clear knowledge of the different steps in the alienation of disposable materials from the Department of Defence. The training of the auctioneers is expected to commence before the end of August 2015. It is envisaged that a large proportion of the co-operatives currently listed on the business development and support register would be able to derive benefit from the Department of Defence Programme.

(iii) Training through MERSETA and SASSETA

(b) The Critical Opportunities Identified

(i) Department of Defence alienation of obsolete materials

The Department of Defence programme on the alienation of obsolete is a key initiative being negotiated by the Minister on behalf of Military Veterans as indicated above.

Reply:

I have been advised by Broadband Infraco as follows:

(a) Six (6) employees have resigned from Broadband Infraco in the period from 30 September 2014 to 30 June 2015.

(b) The table below referred to questions (b)(i)-(iii)

Termination from September 2014 to June 2015
Number of resignations	Termination date	Termination Service	Positions	Skills	Job Grade	Annual TCTC
1	2014/09/12	Resignation	Technician	Infrastructure maintenance	Peterson C2 Lower	R354 660
2.	2015/01/31	Resignation	Manager for performance Information Monitoring	Business Performance Monitoring and Reporting	Peterson D3 Lower	R504 534
3.	2014/02/01	Resignation	Manager Legal	Commercial Law	Peterson D3 Lower	R800 000
4.	2015/05/31	Resignation	Snr Engineer Transmission	Network Design	Peterson D3 Lower	R711 207
5.	2015/06/12	Resignation	Payroll Account	Payroll reconciliation and payment	Peterson D1 Lower	R355 200
6.	2015/06/30	Resignation	Specialist Maintenance	Infrastructure Maintenance	Peterson D1 Lower	R759 384

Reply:

(a)(i) National Department of Health (NDOH) has rolled out connectivity in 34 of the 50 targeted for the NHI Pilot. The solution will dovetail and align with SA Connect once the service rollout commences following the appointment of a service provider.

(ii) At provincial level, only the Gauteng provincial government and the Western Cape provincial government have financed broadband plans

(iii) At local government level, there are various initiatives by Government and the private sector to provide Wi-Fi hotspot infrastructure and access to the public. Initiative from Tshwane and Lusikisiki are good examples were WiFi infrastructure was financed. The rollout in Tshwane cost in the order of R77, 000 per Wi-Fi site.

(b) The rollout programme of the DTPS will focus on broadband infrastructure and services for government facilities. The DTPS will aggregate government demand to ensure that there is a compelling business case for infrastructure to be extended to the rural areas. The national, provincial and local government departments will then compliment the efforts of the DTPS by focusing on the provisioning of end-user devises and equipment, applications, relevant content and the training of users of the technology. The DTPS has worked with provincial departments to establish provincial broadband steering committees that are used to ensure alignment of the DTPS programme and provincial plans.

Reply:

1. The Minister requested a meeting with organisations which are involved in lion hunting in South Africa in response to mounting public concern around captive breeding of lion and, in particular, to address claims of allegedly widespread so-called canned hunting of lion in South Africa. This meeting was then convened on 14 July 2015.

The Department identified organisations in attendance through the National Wildlife Forum, which is a forum established by the Minister in 2005 to address policy, permitting and legislation issues that affect the wildlife sector.

2. No, The Minister still intends to invite civil society, non-governmental organisations and other interested members of the public to discuss the allegedly widespread so-called canned hunting of lion in South Africa.

The following organisations which were directly affected were invited:

• Professional Hunters Association of South Africa
• South African Predators Association
• Wildlife Ranching South Africa
• National Shooting Association
• Wildlife Translocation Association
• The National Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa
• South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association
• Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

 

The following organisations attended the meeting:

• Professional Hunters Association of South Africa
• South African Predators Association
• The National Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa
• South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association
• Provincial Conservation Authorities
• Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

3. The Minister of Environmental Affairs from time to time receives requests to meet. And she also requests meetings with various stakeholders on a range of issues within the Department’s mandate; ranging from biodiversity and conservation, air quality, climate change, to general matters around environmental protection. All such meetings and their respective agendas are diarised.

The meeting with stakeholders in the hunting industry forms part of regular interaction between the Minister and industry. The Department’s Chief Directorate: Communications regularly releases statements on such meetings, which may be found on the Department’s website.

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Reply:

The monies will be used to provide broadband connectivity services to the targeted government sites in the Phase 1 districts.

Reply:

1. South Africa has not ratified the Southern African Development Community Model Law on Electronic -Transactions and Electronic-Commerce Model Law; Data Protection Model Law; and Cybercrime Model Law.

These SADC Model Laws were developed under the Harmonization of ICT Policies in the Sub-Sahara Africa (HIPSSA) project to assist and to build a comprehensive regional framework for the development of the information society and the knowledge economy in SADC; and to guide the SADC Member States to draft or update their corresponding national legislations.

The SADC Model Laws were adopted as framework, not as binding agreement. Ratification is not applicable.

2. The SADC Model Laws are included in the following:

   (a) None.

   (b) The National ICT Policy.

(i) To be determined on finalization of the National ICT Policy White Paper.

(ii) To be determined by the National ICT Policy White Paper.

Reply:

(a)  Only one meeting was held by the Governance and Security Chamber. The Social Chamber meeting is scheduled to take place on 21 August 2015, the Economic Chamber for 26 August 2015 and the ICTs and Disability Chamber in the first week of September 2015.

(b)  Governance and Security Chamber meeting was held on 17 August 2015.

(c)  Yes, the meeting did quorate.

(d) The following decisions were made by the meeting:

• The terms of reference of the Chamber were developed and adopted.
• A clear Scope of Work was developed and adopted.
• Working Groups were established in three areas, namely, cybersecurity, internet governance and e-commerce.
• Convenors of the Working Groups were nominated and confirmed.
• Each Working Group will develop a specific action plan to be implemented by the Chamber.

Reply:

(a) Yes, the department has studied the latest report of the Auditor-General in respect of municipalities.

(b)  The Minister cannot directly take any action before a municipality is given time to do so as prescribed in the Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003 (MFMA). The Minister has, however, initiated the following measures:

 (i)  Introduced an item in the MinMEC meeting’s agenda, whereby the MECs report on how municipalities, in their respective provinces, are performing on the five pillars of Back to Basics (B2B), which if not performed will result into issues in the audit reports.

(ii)  Giving special attention to the fifty (50) municipalities that received disclaimed audit opinion, with particular emphasis on 25 disclaimers in the past five consecutive years.

(iii)  Partnering with the National Treasury to roll out the Financial Management Capacity Maturity Model to understand gaps to ensure support measures are targeted and customised accordingly.

(iv)  Ensure that the competency regulations are complied with.

Reply:

The amendment of the ECT Act was taking place in parallel to the ICT Policy review process. It was decided to halt the amendments of the ECT Act pending the finalisation of the review. This was to ensure alignment and coherence with the outcomes of the policy review.

Reply:

The draft Rapid Deployment Policy is scheduled to be processed by the Department at the end of September 2015. The draft Policy will then be gazetted for public comment in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005. The final Rapid Deployment Policy will then be developed taking into account the submissions made on the draft Policy. The final Rapid Deployment Policy will then be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

Reply:

1. Yes
2. These reports on the payment model are being discussed at SASSA executive management level.
3. Currently there are no planned international trips but this does not preclude the Agency or the Department to do so when the need arises.

Reply:

(1) (a) (i) 2010 = 3 train accidents

(ii) 2011 = 2 train accidents

(iii) 2012 = 3 train accidents

(iv) 2013 = 11 train accidents

(v) 2014 = 6 train accidents

(b) 7 train accidents.

(2 ) (a) (i) * 2010 = 3 employee injuries

* 2011 = no injuries

* 2012 = no injuries

* 2013 = 7 employee injuries

* 2014 = no injuries

since 1 January 2015 = 58 injuries (3 employee injuries and 55 3rd party injuries)

(ii) * 2010 = 6 employee fatalities

* 2011 = 2 employee fatalities

* 2012 = no fatalities

* 2013 = 3 employee fatalities

* 2014 = no fatalities

since 1 January 2015 = two 3rd party fatalities

(b) See annexure A

(c) See annexure A

(3) No, the Minister will not make a statement on the matter.

 

Reply:

Research studies undertaken in other economies and the experience of a number of countries have established strong and positive relationships between internet access, job creation and economic development.

The benefit of internet access is clear for individuals and enterprises.

For individuals, the internet provides access to a vast array of information through which citizens and workers can become more productive and effective at their workplaces. Businesses are often dependent on the opportunities that can be accessed through the internet inter alia to access information or market, buy or sell their products (e-commerce) and through improving business processes that enhances productivity. The benefits are not confined to large enterprises: many small companies are able to cut costs and improve their product offerings through access to the internet.

A study by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) of the impact of broadband on the economy noted the following

"The economic impact of broadband manifests itself through four types of effects.

The first effect results from the construction of broadband networks. In a way similar to any infrastructure project, the deployment of broadband networks creates jobs and acts over the economy by means of multipliers. The second effect results from the “spill-over” externalities, which impact both enterprises and consumers. The adoption of broadband within firms leads to a multifactor productivity gain, which in turn contributes to growth of GDP. On the other hand, residential adoption drives an increase in household real income as a function of a multiplier. Beyond these direct benefits, which contribute to GDP growth, residential users receive a benefit in terms of consumer surplus, defined as the difference between what they would be willing to pay for broadband service and its price. This last parameter, while not being captured in the GDP statistics, can be significant, insofar that it represents benefits in terms of enhanced access to information, entertainment and public services."

UNCTAD publishes annual reviews of the information economy that set international benchmarks and challenges.

Because the positive link between internet access and economic performance is so well-established. EDD has focused on advocacy of, and supporting measures to, enable more South Africans to have access to quality, affordable internet access, instead of conducting more research to simply confirm that positive relationship.

Access to the internet is a function of the backbone infrastructure laid by the public and private sectors, as well as the 'last-mile' connectivity that brings internet access to users and support for ICT-intensive industries.

There has been a significant increase in access to the internet in both urban and rural areas, through the availability of increased broadband facilities that has led greater broadband penetration (through lower prices and better quality of access) and improvement in smart-phone technologies that enables handset access to the internet.

Since 2009, 41 a significant of cable have been laid and maintained principally by Telkom, Eskom Transmission, Dark Fibre Africa, Broadband Infraco, FibreCo and the NLD Consortium. Broadband rollout is now monitored and supported through the work of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. The CSIR has been appointed to coordinate the work of Strategic Integrated Project 15 on Information and Communication Technologies

According to the 2014 General Household Survey, 37% of South African households have access to mobile broadband, and 11% have fixed broadband. But the figures vary substantially by area. While 43% of people in the urban areas have access to mobile broadband and 15% to fixed, in the rural areas the figures are just 3% mobile and 25% fixed.

Many South Africans access the internet from their phones, personal computers (using home telephone or data lines) and portable devices such as laptops (using 3G and 4G cards). Though prices fell, cost is still a constraint for a considerable number of potential users.

In order to avoid the development of a digital divide where access is only available to those who can access private facilities, government has partnered to provide greater levels of public access to broadband. Though such initiatives are still fairly new, they have provided access points at schools, universities and some public transport and government facilities. We provide a few examples below.

A partnership between the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS),Telkom and the Department of Basic Education has resulted in 1650Dinalediand District schools connected (as at December 2014) at a cost of R375 million. By March 2015, 1148 of the targeted schools (70% of the total) are using the connection points.

USAASA is charged with extending broadband coverage and installs connection points to clinics, TVET colleges and libraries in rural areas with limited internet and television access. In the past two financial years, four rural municipalities with 493lic access to broadband. Though such iMorolong (Northern Cape); Ratlou (North West); Msinga (KwaZulu Natal) and Emalahleni (Eastern Cape). USAASA provided a subsidy of R46,7million. In 2015/16, a further two municipalities - Mutale in Limpopo and Albert Luthuli in Mpumalanga - will be connected, at a cost of R23 million, to provide coverage to 277 000 people.

A number of municipalities are extending broadband to their citizens. For instance, Tshwane has 673 live sites in schools, clinics and other public buildings, with 72023 million, to 493lic access to broadband. Though shrough smartphones.

A further priority is to ensure that broadband supports higher education and knowledge management. For this reason, government has prioritised improving ICT for universities.

Almost a million students at South African public universities have access to the Internet, either through their own computers or through the computer labs at the universities.

The current South African National Research Network (SANReN) backbone consists of a 10Gbps ring between Tshwane, Johannesburg, Mangaung, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London and eThekwini, extensions to more remote towns with university campuses, and several metropolitan rings.

All 26 public universities are connected to the internet.

During the 2014/2015 financial year the CSIR was tasked by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to expand the SANReN (South African Research Network) reach by 25 new connections and upgrade the networketworkchnology (DST) to expand the sburg, Mangaung, the computer labs aGbps) per connected site. Construction and commissioning work on 29 new broadband connections are also currently in various stages of completion.

The activation and backhauling of two 10Gbps channels of the recently procured West African Cable System (WACS) capacity right-of-use was completed in August 2014. This effectively doubled the available capacity for all South African universities and science organisations connected to the SANReN to transfer data between South Africa and the rest of the world.

In order to achieve more of the digital dividend for the economy, the National Infrastructure Plan provides for an increase in the rollout of broadband through additional fibre-optic networks.

-END-

Reply:

The Honourable Member must refer to question 300 on 28 April 2015 and question 1650 on 09 June 2015 in which I replied to these questions in details.

 

Reply:

(1) (a) Presentations were held on the 21 August 2014 and 27 November

2014.

(b) Presentation were held at the DTPS offices

(c) For the meeting of the 21 August 2014, six members of the NBAC Working Group, four members from the department and a representative from Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) were in attendance. For the meeting of the 27 November 2014, five members of the NBAC Working Group were in attendance as well as six members of the department. Viasat and the Gauteng Broadband Network (GBN) were invited to deliver presentations at the meeting of 27th November 2014 but only Viasat managed to deliver the presentation on the day.

(2) The Minister will meet the Chairperson of the NBAC to map a way forward with regards to the continuing role of the NBAC as well as the work plan that will guide the NBAC going forward.

(3) Since the work plan is expected to be a dynamic document, it will not be gazetted to allow for flexible adaptation of the document to the rapidly changing ICT environment and to ensure that the work of the NBAC remains relevant.

Reply:

(1) No.

Reply:

(a) The modernization of stations in the country is occurring according to the programme of implementation.

   (i) Of the total of 135 stations identified for modernization, 25 are located in KZN

   (ii) Duffs Road station is the only station in KZN in the current financial year undergoing modernization at a cost of R143 095 385, with expenditure to date being R82 114 808.

(b) The expected date of service of the KZN Business Express between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in early November 2015.

Reply:

The new board members will be appointed before the expiry time of the current board members.

Reply:

1. (a) The draft policy direction has already been prepared and consultation with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa commenced.

(b) The draft policy direction was drafted by the Department.

(2) After finalising consultation with ICASA, public consultation will commence in accordance with section 3(5) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 that requires that the text of a policy direction must be published in the Gazette for 30 days to obtain the views of interested persons.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, requested all the Provinces, to provide the information.

The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available within the Department. We have, however, requested the Province and Mantsopa Local Municipality, to provide the information.

The Honourable Member will be provided with the requested information as soon as it is submitted to us.

Reply:

Hammerhead and Broadnose Sevengill sharks are commercially exploited by fishers. The latter species is targeted by linefishers and are a major source of income for fishing villages in the Western Cape. This species is also targeted by the demersal longline fishery and, therefore, they have a commercial value and need sustainable management rather than prohibiting all catches.

In addition, not all the species/groups listed in the question have “dwindling numbers”. According to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Bather Protection Programme catch rates, there is evidence for declines of Spotted Raggedtooth sharks, Bull sharks and Scalloped and Great Hammerhead sharks, but increases in Tiger sharks and Smooth Hammerheads. Other studies indicate that for the east coast of South Africa the Spotted Raggedtooth shark population is stable, but generally for the species mentioned there is a lack of suitable data for assessing trends outside of KZN.

Also it should be noted that Hammerhead sharks are now CITES listed, which affects international trade in these species but not local trade. Since 2011, retention of hammerhead sharks by the pelagic longline fishery has been prohibited in the Cape. The demersal longline fishery is prohibited from targeting Bull sharks.

Furthermore, for the first time, marine species are being included in the national Threatened or Protected (ToPS) list. The Tiger shark, Raggedtooth shark and the Scalloped Hammerhead and Great Hammerhead sharks are all among the marine species that are listed on the draft ToPS list that went out for public comment in March 2015.

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