Questions and Replies

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

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.

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.

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:

(a) The Department is undertaking work on Open Access within the broader scope of the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper. The white paper policy will determine, amongst other things, the appropriate policy and regulatory remedies for the management and regulation of the open access framework. Should the white paper process determine that there is a need to publish open access regulations, the system protocols will be outlined as part of the functional specification that is defined to implement the regulations.

(b) The protocols have not been defined yet but would be defined as part of the work related to the implementation of the open access regulation.

(c) See response above

(d) Oversight over the development and implementation of the functional specifications would fall within the ambit of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)

Reply:

The Department is currently conducting further consultations with the province to establish why a forensic investigation was not commissioned as per the Council resolution. A reply on the matter will be provided once the information is available from the province.

Reply:

(a) Entrepreneurship is included in the National Curriculum Statement. The subject Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) is compulsory and is taught in the Senior Phase (Grade 7 – 9). EMS provides foundational skills and knowledge on entrepreneurship. The main topics taught in EMS are the Economy, Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship. These are integrated to assist learners to become economically and financially literate by the end of Grade 9 in the Senior Phase. EMS is a practical subject that:

• Equips learners with entrepreneurial knowledge and real-life skills for personal development and the development of the community;
• Deals with the efficient and effective use of different types of private, public and/or collective resources to satisfy people’s needs and wants;
• Introduces learners to the purpose, characteristics, context and functions of formal and informal businesses;
• Encourages learners to reflect critically on the impact of resource exploitation on the environment and on people; and
• Promotes sustainable development practices through teaching learners how to effectively manage scarce resources in order to maximise profit through entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and activities.

EMS also provides foundational knowledge and skills for the following subjects in the Further Education and Training (FET) Band Grades 10 to 12: Accounting; Business Studies; Economics; Hospitality Studies; Consumer Studies; Civil Technology; Electrical Technology; Mechanical Technology; Engineering Graphics and Design; and Mathematical Literacy. A key objective in Technology subjects (Grades 10 -12) is to provide entrepreneurial opportunities for learners.

(b) Learners who do not further their education through tertiary institutions have the opportunity to enrol at Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVET Colleges), apply to participate in Apprenticeships, or enter the world of work, including setting up their own business.

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………………………..

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.

 

Reply:

Question 1

• The 2012 NEEDU Report on Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3) was submitted to the Ministry in May 2013 and was launched in May 2013;
• The 2013 NEEDU Report (similar to the 2013 Report) on Intermediate Phase (Grades 4-6) was submitted to the Ministry in November 2013 and was released in May 2014; and
• The 2014 NEEDU Report on Further Education and Training Phase (Grades 10-12) is being finalised by NEEDU.

Question 2

Section 7(1) (g) of the Regulations for the Establishment of the Office of Standards and Compliance for Basic Education (OSCBE), currently known as NEEDU, provides that NEEDU must “prepare and submit to the Minister reports on the state of the education system.” These Regulations, which must still be approved by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) before they are finalised, do not obligate the Minister to publish NEEDU reports.

As contemplated in Section 7(1) (g) of the OSCBE Regulations, NEEDU prepares its annual reports and presents them to the Minister. The Minister publishes these reports at her discretion. The Minister published the first two NEEDU reports, as noted in Response 1 above. NEEDU is currently finalising its third annual report (the 2014 Report) and it will be submitted to the Minister on completion.

Question 3

The following is the NEEDU plan:

Year	Semester	Location	School Phase	Provinces	Districts	Schools
2012	2nd	Urban	Foundation	9	15	134
2013	1st	Rural monograde	Intermediate	9	16	99
	2nd	Rural multigrade	Multi-grade FP/ IP	9	18	120
2014	1st	Urban / rural	FET (G10-12)	9	12	93
	2nd	Urban / rural	Senior (G7-9)	9	13	90
2015	1st	Urban and rural	Follow up	9	26	158
	2nd	Urban and rural	SNE	9	29	180
2016	1st	Urban and rural	SNE

[FP = Foundation Phase; IP = Intermediate Phase; FET = Further Education and Training; SNE = Special Needs Education (incl. special and full service schools]

Question 4

Dr Taylor, the third Chief Executive Officer (CEO), left when his contract expired because of his desire to join his former employer, the JET Services. He had not resigned from the JET Services but was seconded to NEEDU.

Dr. Sibusiso Sithole, who has been the Chief Operational Officer and Deputy CEO since 2010, is currently the acting CEO. He is supported by the staff that was appointed in NEEDU since 2009, who played a vital role in assisting the former CEOs.

Question 5

The Minister supports the independence of NEEDU without any reservation, as follows:

• On 14 April 2014, the Minister wrote to the former Minister of Public Service and Administration, Minister Sisulu, MP, and the former Minister of Finance, Minister Gordhan, MP, requesting their written consent on the corporate form and funding requirements of the proposed government component so that OSCBE could be legally established in keeping with the requirements of the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation No. 103 of 1994 as amended by Act 20 of 2007).
• On 14 April 2014, the Minister also approved that the relevant Government Notice containing Regulations for the establishment, governance and functions of the OSCBE be published, once consent has been obtained from the Ministers of Finance and the Public Service and Administration.
• Ministers Sisulu and Gordhan had not responded to the Minister’s request by the time they were deployed to other portfolios after the General Elections in 2014. With the change of political leadership in the Departments of Public Service and Administration and Finance, on 23 July 2014, the Minister again wrote to the new Ministers of Public Service and Administration and Finance, Ministers Chabane, MP and Nene, MP, respectively requesting their support in the establishment of an independent NEEDU.
• Following the Minister’s correspondence with the Ministers of Finance and the Public Service and Administration, certain developments have transpired. These are as follows:
  • • Consultations with the National Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to establish NEEDU as an independent government component, under the title of Office of Standards and Compliance for Basic Education (OSCBE);
    • The formulation of the relevant documents with the support of the DPSA and the preparation of a business case with the support of the National Treasury;
    • The preparation of the Regulations for the establishment of the OSCBE for consideration and approval by the Minister;
    • The approval of the Regulations for the establishment of the OSCBE after close examination and scrutiny by the Chief State Law Advisor, who finally declared that “the draft Regulations are consistent with section 11 of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996)” in May 2015; and
    • The approval of the Regulations for the establishment of the OSCBE by the Minister in May 2015, after they were endorsed by the Chief State Law Advisor.
• What remains to be done includes the following activities:
  • • Approving the Regulations for the establishment of the OSCBE [by the CEM];
    • Declaring the establishment of the OSCBE through the promulgation of the Regulations (via the Government Notice) [by the Minister];
    • Submitting the updated business case and promulgated Regulations and Government Notice to the DPSA [by NEEDU];
    • Arranging a meeting of the Interdepartmental Assessment Committee to make recommendations on the organisational form for the OSCBE—with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) (NEEDU) participating as a member in the Committee and making a presentation to the members [by DPSA];
    • Preparing a submission to inform the Minister for Public Service and Administration and the Minister of Finance of the Committee's recommendation and to obtain the concurrence of the said Ministers for the establishment of the OSCBE as a government component [by DPSA]; and
    • Preparing (following concurrence from said Ministers) a Presidential Proclamation to list the OSCBE in Schedule 3 of the Public Service Act, so as to establish the OSCBE as a government component [by DPSA]. NW3582E

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.

Reply:

(a) Whilst the Eastcape Midlands Technical and Vocational Education and Training College (EMC) has been operating in a stable and violence-free environment since 9 March 2015, the unprotected strike continued due to delays in the disciplinary processes initiated by EMC against a number of employees.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) National Office Bearers, Department of Higher Education and Training and EMC Council signed a settlement agreement intended to restore and improve working relations between the parties on 7 August 2015. The strike was agreed to be called off with effect from 4 September 2015.

(b)  Regular classes have been conducted by appropriately qualified EMC employed lecturers and others engaged on short-term contracts via a temporary employment agency to replace striking or dismissed lecturers. The College participated in the interviews of the temporary lecturers to confirm that they were qualified as per the curriculum prescripts for the various programmes.

(c) (i) All employees, including dismissed employees who took part in the unprotected strike have been mandated to agree in writing on the settlement terms finalised on 7 August 2015 as a prerequisite to returning to work on 7 September 2015. The settlement agreement requires all employees who embarked in the unprotected strike to forfeit a month’s salary, repay any payments made to them while they were part of the unprotected strike, and accept a twelve month final written warning not to engage in any misconduct activities.

(ii) Students who participated in the strike action for a prolonged period of time have failed to meet the 80% attendance policy requirements for entry into trimester/semester final examinations. Therefore, they have been advised to deregister or return to the college in the following trimester/semester or the following year, depending on the programme for which they had registered.

(d)  Not only have the activities and threats to render the specified TVET college ungovernable, subsided but it has completely stopped.

 

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3208 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

The response below was provided by the municipality:

1. The Madibeng Local Municipality has appointed an external investigator to investigate the issues raised on the internal audit report. The investigation will also cover the payment made to Maximum Profit Recovery (Pty) Ltd. The investigation is expected to be finalised by the end of September 2015.

2. Maximum Profit Recovery (PTY) Ltd was appointed to render Value Added Tax (VAT) recovery service at a commission rate of 15% of the amount recovered from the South African Revenue Services (SARS). The outcome of the investigation will determine whether or not it was justifiable for the municipality to pay Maximum Profit Recovery (Pty) Ltd.

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:

The Minister of Public Works

(1) The names of the lessors for each of the 17 leased properties are listed in the table below

	LESSOR NAME	NAME OF BUILDING / PROPERTY	LESSOR TELEPHONE
1.	SAROSMA TRUST REPRESENTED BY DEDEKIND REAL ESTATE	HERON HOUSE, 131 MURCHISON STREET	(036) 637 2297
2.	L.KIRSTEN	104 LEICESTER STREET	(036) 631 2414
3.	EMNAMBITHI LADYSMITH MUNICIPALITY	WAGON HILL RIFLE RANGE UNSURVEYED PORTION OF ERF 1	(036)637 2231
4.	JANORA TRADING (PTY) LTD	33 KEATE STREET	(036) 637 2287
5.	BILLYGREEN INVESTMENTS (PTY) LTD	LADYKEATE BLDG 35-37 KEATE STREET	(036) 637 2989
6.	EMNAMBITHI LADYSMITH MUNICIPALITY	DRIEFONTEIN THUSONG CENTRE	(036) 637 2231
7.	THE ROSCO FAMILY TRUST	73 MURCHISON STREET	(036) 637 2989
8.	KZN PROV GOV-WORKS	OLD RTI SITE	(033) 355 5468
9.	JANORA TRADING (PTY) LTD	DEVANA FARM TRUST, OLD DURBAN ROAD- R103 NEXT TO TESTING GROUNDS	(036) 637 2287
10.	JANORA TRADING (PTY) LTD	388,6 square metre space at 35 BUCKINGHAM STREET	(036) 637 2287
11.	JANORA TRADING (PTY) LTD	500 square metre space at 35 BUCKINGHAM STREET	(036) 637 2287
12.	JANORA TRADING (PTY) LTD	24 BUCKINGHAM STREET	(036) 637 2287
13.	INDUSTRIAL LEASES (PTY) LTD	43 MURCHISON STREET	(031) 941 8132
14.	ETERNA TRUST LADYSMITH CC	284 MURCHISON STREET	(036) 637 2297
15.	JAZZ SPIRIT 140 PTY LTD	284 MURCHISON STREET	(036) 631 3211
16.	NATAL PARKHOMES	VLAK PLAATS - PARKHOMES DISTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING AREARS; GROENVLEI, WASBANK, CHARLESTOWN, ELANDSLAAGTE, VAN REENEN AND BESTES	(031) 701 4221
17	PEPWORTH BODY (PTY) LTD (50)	PT: FOURIESKRAAL FARM	(083) 620 0032

(2) No, the company is not a VAT vendor in terms of the regulations of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). It must be noted that SARS regulations stipulate that a company does not need to be registered for VAT if its annual turnover is below R1 million. The value of the Department’s lease with the said vendor is below R1 million. In addition, upon lease renewal, all landlords are required to submit their recent Tax Clearance Certificates, which indicate the VAT registration status of their companies.

The Department often engages such companies, particularly because in many small towns, there is a shortage of suitable accommodation for Government departments. Also, by engaging small companies the Department contributes to their development.

(3) The 80 square metres in Fourieskraal farm is used for the purpose of accommodating a South African Police Service (SAPS) Communication Tower.

(4) (a), b) and (i) Devana Farm is located alongside the Old Durban Road, which is a small dirt road leading off the R103 into the leased land which is used by SAPS as a garage. (Directions: from the N3 Highway from Durban, take exit at R103 Bergville/Colenso off ramp. Turn right very shortly thereafter onto the R103 – “Durban / Colenso”. Keep on this road until you join up with a larger road, Pass the Ladysmith testing grounds on the right the Garage is immediately next to the Ladysmith testing ground.)

(ii) The park homes are mobile units that can be moved, as per the client’s requirements. The park homes are leased from Natal Parkhomes and were were originally located in Vlakplaats, which is an area within the Ladysmith District. The mobile units used by SAPS were first placed at Ezakheni Police Station and were later relocated to other locations within the Ladysmith District, including the following areas: GROENVLEI, WASBANK, CHARLESTOWN, ELANDSLAAGTE, VAN REENEN AND BESTES.

(5) (a) SAPS is still in occupation of 43 Murchison Street and the lease is currently running on a month to month basis.

(b) (i) The lease has been identified for renewal within the prescripts of the 2nd National Treasury Dispensation on leases, which was recently granted to the Department in March 2015.

(ii) Internal processes dictate that once a Special Dispensation is received from National Treasury, an internal circular on the application of the Dispensation is to be drafted, approved and communicated to all departmental officials who will utilise the dispensation prior to the Dispensation being utilised.

The above lease expired before the issuing of the internal circular and in the interest of compliance and to ensure that the client department’s daily operations are not disrupted and was then renewed on a month to month basis, for a period not exceeding 12 months as an interim measure.

The internal circular on the application of the Dispensation from National treasury has since been approved and the process to renew the lease based on the Dispensation has begun, thus there are no details on the new lease as yet.

_________________________________________________________________

Reply:

COGTA has engaged with the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM) in order to obtain answers to these questions. The municipality has responded as follows:

1. The Project Management Unit (PMU) is an internal unit of the municipality. It has been established under the Technical Services Section within the municipality, as provided for in the PMU Guidelines developed by the Department of Cooperative Governance.

The appointment of the company was prompted by a critical shortage of technical staff in the municipality. This included a shortage of planning, engineering and project management expertise. This had resulted in the municipality failing to spend its allocated MIG and other funds for projects within specified timeframes.

Currently, the company has suspended its support to the municipality due to non-payment of outstanding invoices by the municipality.

(2)(a) The company was appointed by the municipality for a period of three years with effect from 2 September 2013, ending on 31 August 2016, to provide technical support to the PMU unit. The company was appointed to carry out the following tasks as contained in the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the appointment:

• Provision of quality technical support and advice over the Project Life Cycle, which includes inception, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting and close-out on the infrastructure programme in the municipality

• The development of contract briefs for submission to the Professional Service Providers appointed by the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM).

• In respect of each project, scrutinize, approve and verify the accuracy and correctness of all practical and final completion certificates and recommend approval by the Senior Manager of the PMU

• Verification of all technical and financial aspects of the Infrastructure Programme

• Preparation of all required documentation for submission to the departments responsible for conditional grants and any other required reporting.

(2)(b)The contract amount over this period is R21,6 million from the municipality’s Equitable Share budget. Given that the NMMDM receives approximately R300 million per annum from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), the municipality is within the 5% allowance for PMU costs in the MIG framework.

Reply:

1. There are no outstanding National Accredited Technical Diploma (NATED) Report 190/1 certificates, as these are issued within 3 months after the release of results as per the national policy.

There are however students who did not receive their National Certificate (Vocational) [NC (V)] certificates at the Thaba Nchu campus of Motheo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college for the period 2008 to 2010. The table below provides details on the number of outstanding NC (V) certificates:

Examination cycle	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Total
200811	2	8	0	10
200903	8	0	0	8
200911	6	13	5	24
201003	9	3	5	17
201011	27	9	19	55
Total	52	33	29	114

2)  Yes. The outstanding NC(V) certificates affect all public TVET and private colleges and are due to a consolidation error on the examinations Information Technology (IT) system managed and maintained by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). Through the intervention made by my Director-General and the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, SITA has sourced additional project management and technical capacity from an outside IT service provider to eliminate the backlog and ensure that it does not recur. In accordance with the project plan tabled to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training in August 2015, all outstanding NC (V) certificates will be available at TVET college examination centres by January 2016.

The Department is intervening, on behalf of graduates being denied access to the workplace and/or higher education study programmes due to outstanding certificates, respectively in the following manner:

• Letters of verification are issued on request;
• Employers are contacted on behalf of students; and
• Higher education institutions are contacted on behalf of students.

 

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Contact number:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3168 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

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:

Reply:

Yes ,the Director –General signed on 01 April to March 2015.

 

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.

Reply:

SER NO		CONTRACTOR	SERVICES PROVIDED	RELATED COST
		a	b	c
1 Mil
1		CSIR	Transfer of Facility Management functions from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Defence	R 32 392 866.00
2		Tectura Architects	Professional consultant services for the Refurbishment and Upgrading of the 1st floor at 1 Military Hospital	R 40 536 138.24
			a.   Project Management services
			b.   Architectural services
			c.   Mechanical Engineering services
			d.   Electrical Engineering services
			e.   Civil Engineering services
			f.   Structural Engineering services
			g.   Quantity Surveying services
RWU KZN
1	Treesaurus		Cutting of tree	R 2 900.00
2	Alu Solutions Glass & Aluminum		Replace rotten wooden door at 5 Bisley Close	R 4 750.00
3	Alu Solutions Glass & Aluminum		Replace old door at 22 Bisley Close	R 4 750.00
4	IZA Business Enterprise		Repair plugs lights, CBI breakers at 258 Bisley Close	R 4 820.00
5	Jacobs Roller Door		Install garage door at 258 Bisley Close	R 4 490.00
6	184 Alderberry Trading CC		Installation of cupboards at 85 Lagoon Drive	R 489 744.00
7	E Ramsamy T/A Bobby's Construction		Upgrading at 19 Anchetil	R 446 260.00
8	Kwa-Zulu Industrial Contractors CC		Renovation upgrade at 5 Parsons Rd	R 267 900.00
9	Kwa-Zulu Industrial Contractors CC		Renovation and repair at 55 Doble Rd	R 296 400.00
RWU EC
1	Laundromat		Laundry services	R 11 959.00
2	Steiner Hygiene		Sanitary/Cleaning/Fumigation	R 15 552.00
3	Chubb Security		Security services	R 12 597.00
4	The courier and Freight Group		Courier services	R 4 271.00
5	Konica Minolta		Photocopy Machine	R 59 979.00
6	Vuka Uvuthulule Trading		General Building - Geyser	R 23 060.00
7	Bhugane		General Building - Electrical	R 9 840.00
RWU FS
1	Prekko Trd CC		Replace damage slabs with new slabs	R 2 021.98
2	Prekko Trd CC		Construction of partitioning 7.3x2.8 including door and aluminum frame	R 14 400.00
3	Mamello Trading		Constructing and installing of wooden counter at building 576 as per scope of work	R 8 000.00
4	F. Esterhuizen		Paint of x3 Theaters at 3 Mil Hospital as per scope of work	R 53 000.00
5	Servilline 58 CC		Completing of project Tempe Church Project 20/2014, waterproofing repair of gutters	R 29 684.00
6	Zulu Portia Trading		Laundry services for Log section	R 19 965.00
7	F. Esterhuizen		Upgrading of building 155, DOD Mobilization Centre, Project no 49/2015 Tender 14/2015
WTS
1	Kurhula Events Management		Rendering catering services at DW Fmn, Works Training School, Attridgeville	R 4 092 449.67
2	Tradeworx 177 (PTY) Ltd T/A Sizani Gardens		Rendering garden services at DW Fmn, Works Training School, Attridgeville	R 1 723 439.00
3	Coltrane Mpho Supplies		Painting of walls and window frames at DW Fmn, Works Training School	R 279 864.00
4	Coltrane Mpho Supplies		Removal, Install and paint of walls & passages at DW Fmn, Works Training School	R 452 672.00
5	Dose Construction		Ready mix for recreational centre	R 145 000.00
DW Fmn HQ Unit
1	Khanyoz Trading and Projects		Rendering garden services at DW Fmn HQ Unit	R 498 018.94
2	LLH Properties		Installation of paving for DW Fmn HQ	R 998 375.00
3	Sanqa Trading		Tree felling at DW Fmn HQ Unit	R 12 000.00
4	Tshwane South College		Technical Training for artisans	R 32 278 697.08
5	AB Logistics		Vehicle Hire	R 56 941.64
6	G - Fleet		Vehicle Hire	R 4 442 471.62
RWU GP
1	AK - RV Trading		Refurbishment of 7 Koos van Zyl str, General Kemp Hill	R 198 726.85
2	Dose Construction		Installation of kitchen cupboards, 3 Magazine str, Salvokop, Pretoria	R 240 000.00
3	ML Nkosi Electrical CC		Installation of windows, 3 Magazine str, Salvokop, Pretoria	R 242 000.00
4	Mashva Group		Upgrading of Personnel Service School, Officers Mess	R 285 900.00
5	Amper Sand Investments (Wilcote Midrand)		Renovations and repair of Edwin Swales Residential Area - Air Force Base Waterkloof	R 1 130 037.74
6	Thebanane Trading		Procurement and installation of burglar bars for RWU GP	R 160 000.00
7	AK ARV Trading PTY Ltd		Installation of Kitchen cupboards at Chaplain's residence	R 94 860.00
8	Stanleb Construction Projects		Installation of tiles at PS School officers accommodation	R 197 000.00
9	Jackson & Clifford Trading PTY		Tiling of floor using carpet tiles at PS School officers mess	R 225 010.00
10	Carpet Supplies & Décor Centre		Fitting of carpets at Chaplain General's house	R 27 489.00
11	Rosa IT Solutions		Replace old windows  - project no 1	R 29 950.00
12	Jackson & Clifford Trading PTY		Installation of carpets at PS School officers Mess	R 29 500.00
RWU NW
1	Planet (PTY) Ltd		Partitioning of offices & conference room	R 98 500.00
RWU WC
1	Munathi Construction		Installation of palisade fencing and gates at building 99	R 28 500.00
DLM
1	Armscor (DDSI)		Logistics Policy Development: 4yr contract	RM18.5

 

REPLY:

 

Reply:

Both education and social security are constitutional rights. Section 27(1)(c) of the constitution provides that everyone has the right to have access to social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance. The South African Schools Act and accompanying regulations make schooling compulsory for all children, while the Social Assistance Act and regulations emphasizes the parental responsibilities of caregivers while making social work services available to those caregivers who are struggling. At present this seems to be working well with over 96% of social grant beneficiaries in school. The current legislation is developmental in nature; however the department is continuously reviewing it with the view of improving and giving better expression to the rights afforded to all in the Constitution. Well researched inputs that promote development without compromising the values of society, expressed in our constitution, are always welcomed.

From a fiscal stance the National Treasury does not seem to be worried about sustainability of the social grants, and they have publicly pronounced on this: “From a fiscal point of view, there is nothing unsustainable about the financing of the current system of social grants”.

(http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/2013/07/02/treasury-assures-on-south-africas-welfare-bubble). The department agrees with this view and has not seen any evidence suggesting any need to be alarmed. Furthermore, social grants remain one of government’s largest poverty alleviation programmes that also make a large impact on inequality. Both poverty and inequality is unsustainable in the long term.

Reply:

1. INTRODUCTION

The Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services (DTPS) is the custodian of schools’ connectivity and not the Department of Basic Education (DBE). However, considering the interest the DBE has in the matter, as a beneficiary like any other public institution, the DBE is working closely with the DTPS on this matter and the collaboration has been strengthened. For example, in implementing Government Gazette No. 3718 of 4 June, 2014, on the Universal Services and Access Obligation (USAO), the two Departments have been working closely with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to ensure that the four Network Operators (as per the Gazette), Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Neotel, fulfill their mandate in terms of schools’ connectivity.

2. How many schools in each province (a) have been connected, (b) through which service provider were the schools connected,

During 2014-15 financial year 1840 schools, including 1650 schools that were connected through the 2010 FIFA World Cup legacy project, were connected. The following is the breakdown per Province:

(a) 2010 FIFA World Cup school connectivity legacy project, for which Telkom was the Service Provider:

Province	VSAT	Diginet	ADSL	Total
Eastern Cape	191	13	9	213
Free State	67	48	35	150
Gauteng	53	92	45	190
KwaZulu-Natal	157	54	18	229
Limpopo	204	4	6	214
Mpumalanga	103	22	38	163
Northern Cape	74	13	11	98
North West	188	5	5	198
Western Cape	103	12	80	195
Total	1140	263	247	1650

(b)  The Universal Services and Access Obligation (USAO) – for which Vodacom was the service provider

• 61 schools in KwaZulu-Natal;
• 53 schools in Eastern Cape;
• 40 schools in Free State; and
• 6 schools in the Northern Cape.

Total: 150 schools

(c) Corporate Social Investment (Corporate Social Investment) initiatives

• 10 Schools in Eastern Cape through CSI (Vodacom);
• 10 Schools in Mpumalanga through CSI (Vodacom); and
• 20 Schools including 4 in Western Cape, 3 Eastern Cape, 5 KwaZulu-Natal, 2 Limpopo, 3 Mpumalanga, 1 North West by State Information Technology Agency (SITA) as Corporate Social Investment contribution(CSI);

Total: 40 schools

During the current financial year (2015-16), thus far, 327 schools have been connected by Vodacom as part of its USAO. The following is the breakdown per province:

• 10 schools in KwaZulu-Natal;
• 103 schools in the Eastern Cape;
• 48 schools in the Free State; and
• 16 Schools in the Northern Cape.

 

Total: 177 schools

3. What amount was budgeted by her department for ICT connection for the (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15 financial years and (d) how were these amounts spent in each specified period?

As indicated above, the DTPS is the custodian of schools’ connectivity as public Institutions. Therefore the DTPS in charge of any related budget. As a beneficiary, the DBE supports the DTPS in realising schools’ connectivity projects. With regard to projects referred to in this submission, while the cost of the current USAO rollout is undertaken by respective Network Operators, as an obligation for their license, the 2010 FIFA World Cup was funded by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Fund which was managed by the DTPS.

Reply:

This question should be re-directed to the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Affairs, which is the competent authority to respond.

Reply:

Not applicable.

 

 

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date………………………..

Reply:

The Commission for Gender Equality is a Chapter 9 institution which reports to parliament. The questions should therefore be directed to the CGE.

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date………………………..

Reply:

The response below was provided by the Provincial Treasury in Kwazulu Natal:

1. The investigation being conducted by Deloitte and Touche within the Umkhanyukude District Municipality is at various stages:

• Some of the allegations are already the subject of disciplinary enquiries within the municipality (with the assistance of Deloitte);
• Some of the allegations have been referred to the Province’s Anti-Corruption Task Team in order for a criminal case to be opened.

 

2. The Department is in consultation with the Province to determine whether or not the report is at a stage where it could be made available to the public;

3. The names of the people and the service providers implicated are covered in the report;

4. Depending on the outcome of the consultations with the Province, the names of the people and service providers implicated could be made available.

Reply:

The Department and its entities advertise in different media groups. The member is referred to the annual reports of the aforementioned financial years.

Reply:

Department of Defence

The following are in place:

Service Level Agreement between the DOD and Armscor concerning the services to be rendered by Armscor to the DOD.

Memorandum of Understanding between DOD and CSIR (DPSS) concerning the services to be rendered by CSIR.

Service Level Agreement between SITA and DOD concerning services to be rendered by SITA

Reply:

(1)(a) Intervention put in place are SA Connect a programme of government to connect 100% of the country to the internet.

(b)(i) Planned interventions are Broadband Infrastructure rollout, E-strategy, internet strategy and USAASA interventions, ICT Policy review

(ii) Broadband rollout to 8 district municipalities including associated digital opportunity programmes.

(2)(a) Yes. Through USAASA, there will be an initiative to subsidise schools, public access points and people in underserved areas.

(b) Yes, in areas where it is not economically viable for operators.

(c)(i-ii) No. The Department does not have plans to subsidise mobile data providers’ prices. The department will pursue policy interventions for the reduction of voice and data costs.

Reply:

1. With reference to public ordinary schools, how many Grade R teachers are (a) required and (b) employed by (i) provincial education departments and (ii) school governing bodies in each (aa) province and (bb) district;

1. (a) Grade R is currently not fully funded as part of the mainstream basic education system. Therefore, provisioning for Grade R in public schools is based on assessment of available resources including classroom space and other required resources, and thus mainly supply rather than demand-driven. Therefore, it would be difficult to determine the demand, that is, learners enrolled against teachers required.

(b) Currently, Grade R teachers are either fully employed by the state and thus in state paid posts, or employed by the School Governing Body (SGB) with their salaries subsidised by the state in the form of a stipend. Only the Limpopo and North West provinces have appointed Grade R teachers in fully-funded state posts. The following table shows information supplied by provinces on appointment by province. Information by district could not be obtained.

Province	(b) (i) (aa) Employed by the province	(b) (ii) (aa) Employed by the SGB
EC		4 765
FS		1 270
GP		2 710
KZN		6 486
LP	1 080
MP		2 065
NC		736
NW	1 323
WC		1 767
Total	2 403	19 799

Source: Information supplied by provincial education departments

(2) How many of the specified teachers are qualified at (a) NQF level 4 and (b) NQF level 6 in each (i) province and (ii) district?

The following table indicates the number of teachers qualified at (a) NQF Level 6 in each province. The information for districts is not available.

Province	(i) Level 4	(ii) NQF 6 & above
EC	3 907	429
FS	279	673
GP	108	1 165
KZN	4 800	1 103
LP	0	1 080
MP	785	372
NC	309	110
NW	0	1 323
WC	530	530
Total	11 545	5 429

Source: Information supplied by provincial education departments

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

Reply:

This question should be re-directed to the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Affairs, which is the competent authority to respond.

Reply:

(I) The response to no. I (a) (i) (i i) (aa) (bb) (cc) (b) (i) (i i) (iii) is attached on the excel spreadsheet as an annexure.

(2) In respect of each province, what percentage of (a) male and (b) female learners (i) repeated Grade 10

Attached find here: Table 1: Percentage of learners repeating Grade 10 in ordinary schools, by province, 2010-2014

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.

Reply:

(a) & (b) The question should be routed to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) for a response.

--ooOoo--

Reply:

(1) A significant challenge is that the Enhance Movement Control System (EMCS) is not integrated with other systems of the Department of Home Affairs. Every system has its own user- information, identifiers and business rules and as such provides data according to defined parameters. A single view of the traveler will only be possible once there is full system integration with EMCS. This requirement is identified within our Modernisation Programme being managed over a five-year strategic framework.

(2)(a) During and after implementation of the EMCS at a Port of Entry, officials from the Department’s Learning Academy as well as specialists on the EMCS system from our Port Control unit at Head Office are present to provide training and support to all users.

(2)(b) During the EMCS installation, technical teams are available to assist with implementation and support on the system. Prior to sign-off, on-site testing of the system is undertaken with immigration officials present to ensure it is operating efficiently and that information is successfully transferred between the port and the main server. In instances where there is a change of Legislation or within our Departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), the Learning Academy renders support with follow-up training on the system.

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.

Reply:

 

1. The Department has not as yet specifically interacted with the ICT Companies about employee retrenchments. The Department intends to hold consultations during the 3rd and 4th quarters to address the issues affecting employment in the sector.
2. The Department will communicate the format and objectives of the interactions once held. Outcomes will also be communicated.

Reply:

(1)(a), (b) and (2)(a) and (b)

The information requested is merely not readily available at the level of detail requested. Due to the number of transactions and various documentation to be analysed and consolidated it would be extremely time consuming and place an unreasonable burden on the resources of the Department to obtain the information requested.

Reply:

The matter has been reported to the NPA under Case Number 65/3/2012.  The matter is under investigation. CEF is not in the position to avail and/or request the content of the docket, such request should be directed to the NPA accordingly and a determination by the NPA in terms of their rules shall be made as to whether or not to avail such information on pending matters.

Reply:

The matter is still being looked at holistically as it deserves serious consideration; once the process is completed hopefully soon the Honorable Member will be furnished with full details.

Reply:

Yes, as soon as the policy adjustment process is completed and Cabinet approval is obtained.

Reply:

The question was responded to as Parliamentary question number 2454.The resolution of these outstanding matters coincided with the need to resolve Eskom’s funding model.

.

Reply:

(a)  All Ministers and Deputy Ministers have officials who are tasked to draft speaker notes. The Deputy Minister of Police did not deliver speaker notes; but a speech, which did not entail the alleged remarks as alluded. A factual recording of the Deputy Minister of Police’s speech is available upon request.

(b)  The Deputy Minister of Police always abides by the Constitution and Laws of the democratic Republic of South Africa; and respects all international conventions and instruments that South Africa is signatory to.

(c)  There are no grounds to reprimand the Deputy Minister of Police, thus, no action will be taken against her.

Reply:

Minister does not respond to hearsay.

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE

Reply:

(a) Yes.

(b) Cabinet approved the new model for Solar Water Heaters on 24 June 2015. An Inter-Ministerial Committee on Energy will finalise the model.

Reply:

(1) With reference to question 89 of 10 March 2015 the response was adequately provided and was addressing the average cost of installing a Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine at the cost of R9 500.00 (Nine thousand five hundred) that includes the top and underground structure, health and hygiene education, project management cost and construction costs, whereas the response to question 619 of 6 March 2015 was with regard to the Bucket Eradication Programme.

(2) The name of the contractors who built the 57 toilets in Makana Local Municipality: Eastern Cape is Tyolumnqa Civils and Andile Plant Hire. Construction was completed between November 2013 and March 2014 and payment was made to the contractor. The contract went out on tender for the construction of 737 toilets.

(3) The names of the contractors who built the 363 toilets in Sol Plaatjie Municipality: Northern Cape are Reyoko Construction and Designs and LFP Trading. Construction was completed in July 2014 and payment was made to the contractor. The contract went out on tender for the construction of 954 toilets.

The Rural Household Infrastructure Grant (RHIG) provides dry, on-site sanitation at an average cost of between R9 500 (Single pit toilet) and R11 500 (Double pit toilet) however, variations may occur from province to province and may marginally increase the cost due to location of the project and the availability of materials which at times will be imported or transported from other provinces, if adequate stock is not available from local suppliers.

With regard to Water Borne Sanitation, the cost of providing a new toilet structure in urban and peri-urban areas is between R12 000 to R15 000. This does not include the water and sewer reticulation network and other direct or indirect cost associated with the project. This programme does not provide sanitation in rural areas.

Requesting the Honorable Member to clarify on the referred calculated average cost of building a toilet at the cost of R96 491.00 and R40 943.00.

---00O00---

Reply:

The matter is being dealt with.

Reply:

The response to question 2507 remains. The Department did not spend money on consultants.

 

 

MR NN MUNZHELELE

DIRECTOR GENERAL [ACTING]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE:

MS AF MUTHAMBI (MP)

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

DATE: