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:

The Minister of Public Works

The State’s immovable asset portfolio consists of 99 249 buildings and other immovable assets nationally. It is not possible to inspect all the buildings on a regular basis with the current capacity of people, processes and systems. This has led to the Department’s current approach of prioritising the inspections of occupied buildings only.

Currently, the Department has 33 Officials in all eleven regions that are responsible for inspections of all properties, owned and leased. In addition, the Department employs lease Portfolio Managers in the 11 regional offices, ranging from a minimum of 5 per region to 12 per region, who are also required to regularly inspect buildings which form part of their portfolio.

In the 2014/15 financial year, 2 668 building inspections were conducted and 681 inspections have been conducted in quarter one of the current year 2015/16.

As part of the Turnaround Plan Phase 2 - Efficiency Enhancement - the business processes, systems and Departmental structure are being updated as part of the revision of the operating model. In the revised PMTE Business Processes, which are currently in draft, and upon National Treasury’s approval of funds, this responsibility will rest with area based portfolio managers, thus increasing visibility and access to buildings nationwide.

The roll out of Building Management Systems in 11 State-owned buildings over the MTEF period will also contribute largely to the better monitoring and management of State-owned facilities.

The Department also plans to re-open numerous Facilities Management Workshops nationally in order to ensure rapid responses to maintenance requirements.

The above mentioned initiatives along with various other planned interventions by the PMTE will ensure that the State’s immovable asset portfolio is well maintained and suitable for occupation.

____________________________________________________________________

 

Reply:

(1) The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is a tool to support quality assurance of ambient monitoring stations in South Africa. The department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SANAS with the view to ensuring that emission monitoring measurements from all point sources and all ambient monitoring stations in the country are accredited in terms of ISO 17025.

The accreditation process entails the development of accreditation procedures such as guidelines, assessment protocols, as well as the capability of technical staff responsible for running the monitoring stations and associated equipment. The department’s officials are members of the Ambient and Emissions Monitoring SANAS Technical Committee (STC), a body that provides technical advice to the SANAS Chief Executive Officer on various matters regarding ambient and emission monitoring accreditation.

(2) The department has submitted an application to SANAS for ISO 17025 accreditation for its three Air Quality Monitoring Stations located in the Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area and is currently awaiting the completion of the assessment of these stations by SANAS.

In the meantime, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) is in the processes of applying for SANAS accreditation for the monitoring stations in other Priority Areas (Vaal Triangle and Highveld) which it (SAWS) is managing on behalf of the department.

(3) It is envisaged that accreditation will be granted for all the stations in Waterberg, Highveld and Vaal Triangle networks by the end of 2015/16 financial year.

(4) With respect to other ambient monitoring networks nationwide, the department is providing technical support towards improved station and data management to all government-owned networks with the view to getting these networks to ultimately achieve SANAS accreditation into the future. To this end the department is working on the development of quality assurance (QA) systems to assist these government networks. These QA systems will form part of the Norms and Standards for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring and the standards are under development in the department.

Currently the City of Cape Town is ISO 17025 accredited for Sulphur Dioxide (SO2). There is a lack of expertise and resources at municipal level; hence the management of these stations is always outsourced to service providers. Furthermore, there are only few municipalities managing their stations in-house. The department is currently conducting a comprehensive Ambient Air Quality Monitoring course across all provinces (currently five provinces have been trained and those are; the Gauteng Province; the KwaZulu-Natal Province; the Northwest Province; the Northern Cape Province and the Free State Province).

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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) and (2) 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 MEC is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

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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:

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:

(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:

 

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:

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

Reply:

South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

1. (a)The South African Civil Aviation Authority conducted inspections at the SA Flying Training Academy in terms of two Air Operating Certificates (AOC) namely the Flight Operations Part 141 (Aviation Training Organisation) as well as the Aviation Maintenance Organisation (AMO) that maintains the fleet of the Part 141 Operations. The audits were conducted in (i) 2010 (ii) 2011 (iii) 2012 (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014. (b) listed below are a summary of the findings per year. (c) All Audit findings are signed off by an Airworthiness Review panel prior to any approval being granted.  

   (i) In 2010 the following audits were carried out:

  In the Flight Operations Part 141 unit - one (1) audit was conducted with no findings.

In the Airworthiness General Aircraft (AMO) unit - a total of six (6) audits were conducted which included a Surveillance audit; Amendment audit and Renewal audits, (b) a total of 27 findings were identified which comprised a lack of documentation, shortage of personnel and tools. Two (2) follow up inspections were called for by the Review board.

(ii) In 2011 the following audits were carried out:

In the Flight Operations Part 141 unit – one audit was conducted with no findings.

In the Airworthiness General Aircraft (AMO) unit - a total of 17 audits and inspections were conducted including Surveillance audits; Amendment audits, Renewal audits and Aircraft Inspections, (b) a total of 34 findings were identified. The type of findings included lack of documentation, shortage of personnel and tools as well as not closing previous audit findings. On Aircraft inspections it was found that defects were not being logged or repaired.

(iii) In 2012 the following audits were carried out:

In the Flight Operations Part 141 unit – two (2) audits were conducted and two (2) findings relating to lack of management and quality control.

In the Airworthiness General Aircraft unit - a total of seven (7) audits were conducted including Surveillance audits; Amendment audits, Renewal audits and Aircraft Inspections, (b) a total of 15 findings were identified. The type of findings identified included a lack of documentation and publications, shortage of personnel and tools as well as not closing previous audit findings. On Aircraft inspections it was found that defects were not being logged or repaired. Maintenance was not recorded correctly.

(iv)  In 2013 the following audits were carried out:

In the Flight Operations Part 141 unit - a total of 2 audits were conducted and seven (7) findings were identified including lack of management, documentation, publication and quality control.

In the Airworthiness General Aircraft unit – a total of six (6) audits including Surveillance audits, Amendment audits, Renewal audits and Aircraft Inspections, (b) a total of 21 findings were identified including lack of documentation, shortage of personnel and tools as well as not closing previous audit findings. On Aircraft inspections it was found that defects were not being logged or repaired. Maintenance was not recorded correctly.

(v) In 2014 The following audits were carried out:

In the Flight Operations Part 141 unit - a total of 1 audit was and 0 findings were recorded.

In the Airworthiness General Aircraft unit – a total of five (5) audits were conducted including Surveillance audits; Amendment audits, Renewal audits and Aircraft Inspections audits, (b) a total of 22 findings were identified including a lack of documentation and publications, shortage of personnel and tools as well as not closing previous audit findings. On Aircraft inspections it was found that defects were not being logged or repaired. Maintenance was not recorded correctly and a serious finding of an incorrect engine fitted to an aircraft. These can also be linked to Quality and Management control.

in cases where problems were identified by the CAA, (a) what recommendations were made to remedy the problems, (b) what records are there that the problems were indeed remedied, (c) who signed off on the reports of the problems and (d) what remedial action was taken?

(2) In cases where problems were identified by the SACAA, (a) the SACAA does not make recommendations but the following process ensues after an audit where findings are identified: the Civil Aviation Regulations requires that the operator submits a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) that outlines how and when the operator will close the identified findings. Should the SACAA be satisfied that the CAP addresses all deficiencies, they allow the operator to continue with closing the findings. If the findings are major the SACAA will schedule an ad hoc inspection to verify if the findings are closed however if the findings are regarded as minor then the SACAA will verify if they were addressed in their following annual audit. In the case of the Flight Operations Part 141 operations SAFTA didn’t present with any major findings and therefore no further action was taken. In 2010 when the AMO started up the lack of personnel was identified and follow up audits were conducted to ensure that the maintenance could be conducted on the SAFTA fleet. Throughout its existence, the same personnel shortage was noted and after each of these remedial plans were put into place to employ or contract more personnel. These contracts unfortunately didn’t last very long and the AMO suffered from a high staff turnover. In one particular case the QA manager was replaced three times in a period of 6 months. Currently they have only one certifying engineer left. In January 2015 a combined Flight Operations and Airworthiness in-depth surveillance was conducted at the facility. Seven (7) major findings and nine (9) findings were identified, which include process control and maintenance records, management responsibility and quality control, publications and documentation availability and utilisation, lack of defect rectification on aircraft. As with every audit a corrective action plan was submitted by the client to the SACAA. This action plan was found to be satisfactory in addressing identified findings.

In July 2015 surveillance was conducted on SAFTA following numerous Mandatory Occurrence Reports (MOR). During this surveillance 11 major findings and 2 findings were identified in the AMO of the SAFTA operations. These findings were similar in nature to those of the January audit but it was clear that the situation had deteriorated. As a remedial action a recommendation has been made to the enforcement department of the SACAA to suspend the operations of the AMO.

SAFTA’s Part 141 (Flight School) operations attracted 5 minor findings that will be addressed by the Instructors at the school. For the continued operations of the school, SAFTA will have to use an alternative and accredited AMO as there is no compelling evidence to close down the school.

(b) Records relating to these inspections are kept at the SACAA records management department.

(c) The reports are signed off firstly by the inspectors conducting the inspection or audit and thereafter the decision is verified by a Review Board or panel.

(d) In general the findings were similar in nature from all the inspections conducted, as required by the Promotion of Justice Act (Act 3 of 2000); approval holder was granted an opportunity to remedy the non-compliances discovered during our inspections. And this was indeed the case, however we have taken cognisance that the situation is deteriorating and we have now embarked on a much more comprehensive enforcement action against the AMO since our last inspection.

Reply:

The information requested by the Honourable Member is not readily available in the Department. The Department has, however, engaged the Provincial Department responsible for Local Government to solicit the relevant information from municipalities. The information will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is received.

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:

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:

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 MEC is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

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Reply:

(a) Red tape is considered to be an excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that are considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevent decision-making.

(b) (i) (aa) (aaa) The Department is always mindful of the impact of unnecessary bureaucracy on the economy and the service delivery to the public. The Department, on a continuous basis, reconsider processes and make them more efficient and effective in its day to day operations. The socio-economic impact assessments that government needs to conduct as part of the process when new policies and legislation are developed will also ensure that unnecessary red tape is avoided.

(bb) (aaa) The Department developed norms and standards to replace the requirement to apply for licenses for certain activities. It also develops other environmental management instruments that will have the effect that the environmental impact assessment process is shortened, be more cost effective, that fewer studies would be required and that decision-making would be based on better and standardised information. The setting of minimum information requirements for certain applications will ensure that the applicant will know up-front what information the competent authority will need to make a decision, and it would be the same whether the competent authority is the national Department or provincial Department. The thresholds for activities listed under the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, are periodically reconsidered as information on their impacts on the environment becomes known.

(bbb) The Department believes that the entities also have their own systems for addressing any red tapes that might be there.

(ii) (aa) (aaa) The Department is currently reviewing its business processes to ensure that the processes are effective and that delays are avoided or minimized. The reviewing and mapping processes identify bottlenecks, which can then be eliminated. Existing mapped processes are monitored and improved.

(bb) (aaa) The Department introduced electronic systems, such as National Environmental Authorisation System, Livelink Opentext and Waste information system; and it is busy developing an electronic licensing system called Integrated Permit Management System that will be rolled out in the near future. The Department is also developing a screening tool that would upfront identify the feasibility of a particular project for which an environmental authorization is applied.

(bbb) South African Weather Service implemented the National Air Quality Information System Phase I.

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Reply:

(1) and (2) 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 MEC is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

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Reply:

Not applicable.

 

 

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date………………………..

Reply:

1. The department’s Annual Performance Plan of 2015/16 indicates that, in this financial year, the Department will develop intervention plans for girls’ and young women’s access to STEM fields, and that from 2016/17, the target is to enable 2000 girls and young women to access STEM fields per year.

      (a) Funding sources for this intervention will be the private sector, NSFAS and various partners.

      (b) There are no projected funding figures as the project depends on sponsorships from the private sector, and partners.   

    2.  As we are aware that these students are sponsored mainly by the private sector, getting employment is guaranteed by the sponsor.

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date………………………..

Reply:

1. According to the revised Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan of the department the target of women who occupy senior management positions was set at 50%. As at 31st March 2015, the actual performance against this target was 85.8%.
2. (a) In terms of a 2003 Cabinet decision, all departments are required to have minimum anti-corruption capacity (MACC) requirements in place. It is therefore a government policy and not any suggestion of a rampant corruption in the department.

________________________

Approved by the Minister on

Date………………………..

Reply:

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 MEC is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

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Reply:

The Ministerial priorities that have been promulgated in the DOD Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 are related to Milestone 1 of the SA Defence Review 2014. It is emphasised that the priorities as reflected in the Strategic Plan for the fiscal years 2011/12 – 2015/16 are embedded in the following priorities which are as follows:

Strategic Leadership.

Defence Funding Model.

Organisational Renewal.

Human Resources Renewal.

Capability Renewal

Defence Industry.

Defence Commitments.

Prior to the promulgation of these latest Ministerial priorities, an assessment was made of all previous Ministerial priorities and their implementation progress. After such an assessment a determination was made that all the priorities that were not exhaustively implemented, be incorporated under the 2015 -2020 MOD&MV high level priorities.

No Ministerial priorities were dropped, but were however incorporated under the high level Ministerial priorities. The DOD will, at its presentation of the Defence Review Implementation Plan to Parliament, make this point visible.

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:

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:

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 MEC is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.

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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)(i)(ii)(b)(i)(ii)(aa)(bb)(aaa)(bbb) The Department of Public Service and Administration and the National School of Government do not have a standard definition for red tape besides the standard dictionary meaning which generally refers to excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that are considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinder or prevent action or decision-making.

There are continuous performance monitoring reviews with specific reference to reducing lead time and improve turn-around time against the Annual Operational Plans (AOPs) and/or the Annual Performance Plans (APPs).

In keeping with the prescripts that govern effective and efficient service delivery, the following have been put in place; service delivery charter and standards, complaints handling management policy, service delivery improvement plans, amongst others, which are in addition to the processes of monitoring individual programmes and institutional performance management.

To optimise the use of ICT in order to gain some efficiency in the operations and service culture, the National School of Government is currently reviewing its service systems architecture and ICT infrastructure towards ensuring seamless delivery of education and learning programmes and courses.

CENTRE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE INNOVATION (CPSI)

(a)(ii)(b)(i)(ii)(aa)(bb)(bbb) According to the CPSI, red tape emerges when formal rules, regulations and procedures related to the administration of service delivery are no longer effective in achieving the goal for which they were instituted and/or the cost of compliance is not justified by the benefit that citizens receives.

The CPSI Awards Programme annually unearths a number of innovations to improve turn-around time for effective and efficient public service delivery. Recent projects include the “Vota Quota” web-based procurement system of the IEC, the CFO Helpdesk at DTI, pharmacy automation in Gauteng that significantly reduces paperwork and queues, KZN’s Digital Pen for m-Health, and the Road Accident Fund’s “RAF on the Road” initiative that simplified RAF applications and pay outs.

For a more comprehensive analysis of red tape and examples of red tape reduction, please refer to the CPSI’s Future Watch publication “From Red Tape to Smart Tape: Easing the Administrative Burden of Public Service Delivery”, available from http://www.cpsi.co.za/archived-publications/ and attached herewith).

Given the size of the CPSI and its mandate, very little red tape exists within the organisation. New internal policies and processes prioritise simplified processes and the use of electronic forms and systems rather than paper-based solutions.

An example of an internal system where red tape was reduced within the CPSI is the new online system being used for travel bookings. Using the Travel Agent’s web-based system, designated staff members are doing bookings for the organisation. The system eliminates the need to use a travel consultant to make a booking on behalf of the CPSI, provides for electronic authorisation and offers access to more and cheaper options. The CPSI is already saving significant amounts using the system.

Reply:

(a) Yes.

(b)  The current salary level of the specified person is: SMS Grade C (salary level 15).

(c) The rank is derived from the prescripts contained in Regulation 8 of the South African Police Service Act (Act No 68 of 1995), as promulgated in Government Gazette Notice No 9252, dated 1 April 2010.

(d) A total number of 23 other Lieutenant Generals (Deputy National Commissioners/Provincial Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners) are on the establishment of the South African Police Service.

 

Reply:

(a-b) According to the Departmental Strategic Plan 2015–2020 the department has targeted to automate the registration of marriages, divorces, deaths and citizenship business processes by the end of the 2017/2018 financial year. Currently it has only committed to continue with automation of the ID smart card and passport system through live capture in the 2015/2016 financial year. At an appropriate time the department will make further announcement on the modernisation project.

Reply:

(1) We could not find any official record in the Department of Public Works of who authorized the allocation of State-owned accommodation to Mr Mac Maharaj.

(2) (a), (b) and (c) See the response to (1) above.

(3) Services rendered at the Bryntirion Estate are centralised and costs are not recovered from individual occupants.

(4) (a) and (b) State-owned accommodation at the Bryntirion Estate is not exclusively reserved for Ministers and Deputy Ministers. The Estate has different types of accommodation including houses and flats. Government officials are accommodated at the Estate as well.

Following the introduction of the Turnaround Strategy in 2012 the Department has embarked on a process of further refining the Prestige policy, which includes the allocation and occupation State-owned accommodation.

(5) (a) and (b) See response to (1) above.

_______________________________________________________________________

Reply:

(1) The Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development and of Correctional Services, are not responsible for the keeping of criminal records of previous convictions. This is a function of the South African Police Service (SAPS), in particular the Criminal Record Center of the SAPS (CRC). This question should therefore be referred to the Ministry of Police for an answer or input in this regard.

(2) The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development does not have specific information in this regard.

(3) No. (a) to (d) therefore fall away.

Please also find attached a copy of the Parliamentary Question answer No 2615 of the 7th August 2015, where-in the Honourable Member is informed that no pardon has been granted by the President to the person in question, because additional information is still being awaited.

Pardons are submitted for consideration by the President, when the person concerned, does not qualify to have his conviction expunged in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977. Applications for expungement are submitted to the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, where a convicted person has been convicted of an offence for which he/ she did not serve a term of direct imprisonment; the conviction happened more than 10 years ago; and he or she has not been found guilty of a sexual offence against a child or a mentally disabled person, which would then mean that such person’s details will be added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders in terms of Chapter 6 of the Criminal Law Amendment (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Act, 2007 (Act No 32 of 2007).

It is the responsibility of the person applying for a pardon and/or an expungement, to obtain a SAPS Clearance Certificate from the Criminal Record Centre him- or herself, to submit to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, for consideration of the expungement, if there was no direct term of imprisonment imposed, after 10 years have passed and the person has not been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a mentally disabled person. In the latter case, an expungement will not be granted and the only option for removal of a person’s criminal conviction/s, is to apply for a Presidential pardon.

 

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:

(1) In October 2012, as the Minister of Public Works I ordered an investigation into the conduct and management of security upgrades implemented by the Department of Public Works (DPW) at the President’s residence in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Task Team responsible for this investigation submitted their Report in January 2013 and made a number of recommendations that have a bearing on DPW. The Task Team, among other things, recommended that their report be referred to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for further investigation. As a result, the President issued Proclamation R59 of 2013 on 20 December 2013, to mandate the SIU to conduct an investigation into the affairs of the Department with respect to the security upgrades.

(2)(a) The Task Team’s Report did not make reference to the cost of individual houses in the police barracks. However, the investigation found that that the total cost of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Department of Defence (DOD) needs, which includes accommodation, the Clinic, Park Homes, Helipads, etc., amounted to approximately R125 000 000.00. The cost of R6 million per individual house is not the result of an official departmental cost apportionment, and the department is also not aware how this amount was arrived at.

(2)(b) The finding was that the price for the mentioned items was probably inflated.

(3)(a) Steps have been taken to determine who was responsible for the irregularities, including the costs.

(3)(b) The officials who did not comply with Supply Chain Management (SCM) prescripts in the appointment of the contractors have been charged with misconduct and the disciplinary hearings are pending. The loss as a result of the over-design of the facilities/inflation of the price is claimed by the SIU from the architect, Mr. Minenhle Makhanya. The civil matter for the recovery is pending in the High Court.

 

Reply:

(a) Students who graduated from the University of South Africa (UNISA) with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) before the programme’s accreditation status was changed to ‘not accredited’ by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) in June 2015, are not affected by the change. Therefore, only graduates in 2015 are affected but will be allowed to register with the South African Council on Social Service Practitioners. Students who are currently enrolled in the programme will be transferred to the new programme once accredited. The University has already commenced with the recurriculation of the programme and will submit the programme to CHE for accreditation before the end of 2015. No new enrolments in the BSW will be allowed at UNISA for 2016. Once new enrolments are allowed in 2017, current students will be transferred to the new accredited programme.

(b) The primary employer of BSW graduates is the Department of Social Development (DSD). The Department, DSD and UNISA met to discuss the implications of the de-accreditation. The primary employer is therefore aware of the processes going forward, with regard to the development and offering of a new accredited BSW at UNISA.

(c) Inadequacies are remedied through recurriculation. A communication and teach-out plan for current BSW students has been developed by UNISA. Transferring current students to other programmes, until the new BSW is accredited, is considered as an option. More resources will be allocated to the Department of Social Work at the University and additional staff will be headhunted.

(d) Sixteen BSW programmes were reviewed.

(e) Seven received full accreditation, five received accreditation with conditions, one with a notice of withdrawal, whilst three were de-accredited, including UNISA’s programme.

(f) The four primary concerns were about staff competencies, the theoretical underpinning and content of the programme, programme design, and the nature and extent of practical sessions in the programme.

 

 

Compiler/Contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 3139 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

Reply:

 

(a) There are six fraud cases have been concluded relating to leases / rentals, where officials have been implicated, during the period in question.

(b) In five of the cases wrongdoing was found on the part of Departmental officials.

Reply:

 (a) I wish to inform the Honourable Member that the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) considered sex work in its investigation into Sexual Offences: Adult Prostitution (Project 107). This investigation has now been finalized, and as required in terms of section 7(1) of the South African Law Reform Commission Act, 1973 (Act No 19 of 1973), the report has been submitted to me during July 2015 for my consideration.

(b) I am currently still considering the report and the recommendations contained therein. As soon as I finalize considering the report, further announcements will be made.  

Reply:

(a) The SIU has informed me that the following cases are currently being investigated: (1) National and all Provincial Departments of Social Development; (2) North-West Province Municipalities: (aa) Madibeng Local Municipality; (bb) Greater Taung Local Municipality; (cc) Mafikeng Local Municipality; (dd) Ventersdorp Local Municipality; (ee) Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality; (ff) Matlosana Local Municipality; (gg) Maquassi Hills Local Municipality; (hh) Tlokwe Local Municipality; (ii) Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality; (jj) Ditsobotla Local Municipality; (kk) Tswaing Local Municipality; (ll) Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality; (mm) Ratlou Local Municipality; (nn) Moses Kotane Local Municipality; (oo) Ketlengrivier Local Municipality; (pp) Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality; (qq) Rustenburg Local Municipality; (rr) Naledi Local Municipality; (ss) Kagisano Local Municipality; (tt) Molopo Local Municipality; (uu) Mamusa Local Municipality; (vv) Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality; (ww) Bojanala Platinum District Municipality; and (xx) Moretele Local Municipality. (3) Department of Health: Gauteng Province; (4) South African Social Security Agency (SASSA); (5) Department of Public Works; (6) South African Police Service (SAPS); (7) Department of Public Works for the KwaZulu-Natal Province; (8) Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (TMM): Gauteng Province; (9) Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM): Gauteng Province; (10) National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and its agents; (11) Midvaal Local Municipality: Gauteng Province; (12) Eskom Holdings Ltd; (13) Limpopo Province intervention: (aa) Provincial Treasury; (bb) Department of Health and Social Development; (cc) Department of Roads and Transport; (dd) Department of Education; (ee) Department of Public Works, Limpopo Province. (14) Department of Public Works (Security upgrade at Nkandla); (15) Department of Water Affairs (formerly the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry); (16) National Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA); (17) Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (formerly known as the Department of Land Affairs) in its national department, its provincial departments, its trading entities and their respective agencies (herein referred to as the DRDLR) and the State Information Technology Agency (PTY) Ltd (herein referred to as SITA); (18) Bushbuckridge Local Municipality: Mpumalanga Province; (19) Department of Communications; (20) USAASA (Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa); (21) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury; (22) Vhembe District Municipality; (23) Greater Tubatse Local Municipality; (24) State Information Technology Agency (Pty) Ltd (“SITA”); (25) National Department of Public Works: Prestige Directorate: Western Cape; (26) Department of Labour and the Compensation Fund; (27) National Department of Transport; (28) National Department of Public Works (Leases investigation); (29) Department of Communications; and (30) Eastern Cape Department of Education. (b) The SIU has informed me that the following civil matters are currently before court: (1) The Department of Public Works: The SIU caused summons to be issued out of the High Court at the KwaZulu-Natal local division under case number 6428/2015. The SIU (1st plaintiff) together with the Department of Public Works (2nd plaintiff) is pursuing an action for the recovery of approximately R2.3 million from the contractor as a consequence of an overcharge. The Plaintiffs are also seeking to recover the fees paid to the consultants (approximately R7 million) arising from their failure to carry out their mandate in terms of the contract concluded between the parties. The matter is currently being defended. (2) Department of Public Works (Security upgrade at Nkandla): The SIU instituted civil proceedings against Minenhle Makhanya and another in the High Court (KwaZulu-Natal Division – Pietermaritzburg) under case number 11107/14 in which the SIU is asking the court to order Mr Makhanya to pay approximately R155 million to the Department. This case is defended and on-going. (3) Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (formerly known as the Department of Land Affairs) in its national department, its provincial departments, its trading entities and their respective agencies (herein referred to as the DRDLR) and the State Information Technology Agency (PTY) Ltd (herein referred to as SITA): The SIU instituted civil proceedings against Gijima AST (Pty) Ltd and others in the High Court (Gauteng Division) under case number 88170/14 in which the SIU is asking the court to declare the tender and resulting contract unlawful and void ab initio. This case is defended and on-going. (4) Department of Communications: The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services and the SIU instituted civil proceedings against Media Corner (Pty) Ltd and others in the High Court (Gauteng Division) under case number 66037/14 in which the Department and the SIU are asking the court to declare the tender and resulting contract unlawful and void ab initio, while also claiming approximately R12.7 million from Media Corner and asking for a type of debating of accounts in respect of the remaining approximately R32.7 million. This case is defended and on-going. (5) USAASA (Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa): The SIU instituted civil proceedings against Mr Zami Nkosi, USAASA and others in the High Court (Gauteng Division) under case number 43250/14 in which the SIU is asking the court to declare the appointment of Mr Zami Nkosi as the Chief Executive Officer of the USAASA unlawful. This case is defended and on-going.

 

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works

Members of Parliament, Sessional Officials, and where appropriate, their dependents, are eligible to utilise the transport service to and from the Parliamentary Villages and Parliament.

___________________________________________________________________________

Reply:

(a) How many cases of human trafficking were reported to the SA Police Service in the (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15 financial years

 

PROVINCES	2010/2011 (i)	2011/2012 (ii)	2012/2013 (iii)	2013/2014 (iv)	2014/2015 (v)	TOTAL
KZN	05	05	01	01	00	12
WC	09	12	09	06	03	39
GP	01	01	06	06	01	15
NW	01	02	02	00	01	06
LIM	00	00	01	00	03	04
MP	01	00	01	00	01	03
FS	00	00	00	01	02	03
NC	00	00	00	02	01	03
EC	01	01	01	03	01	07
TOTALS	18	21	21	19	13	92

(b) How many of the specified cases involved (i) female and (ii) male victims in each case

PROVINCES	2010/2011	2011/2012	2012/2013	2013/2014	2014/2015	TOTAL
KZN	Case 1: 09 (f) Case 2: 03 (f) Case 3: 01 (f) 01 (m) Case 4: 01 (f) Case 5: 01 (f)	Case 1: 01 (f) Case 2: 00 Case 3: 01 (f) Case 4: 20 (f) Case 5: 00	Case 1: 01 (f) 01 (m)	Case1: 02 (f)	00	40 Females 02 Males
WC	Case 1: 06 (f) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 07 (f) Case 4: 06 (f) Case 5: 01 (f) Case 6: 01 (f) Case 7: 02 (f) Case 8: 01(f) Case 9: 01(f)	Case 1: 01 (f) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 03 (f) Case 4: 01 (f) Case 5: 01 (f) Case 6: 03 (f) Case 7: 01 (f) Case 8: 01(f) Case 9: 01(f) Case 10: 01 (f) Case 11:01(f) Case 12: 01(f)	Case 1: 01 (f) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 01 (f) Case 4: 01 (f) Case 5: 10 (f) Case 6: 01 (f) Case 7: 01 (f) Case 8: 01(f) Case 9: 01(f)	Case 1: 01 (f) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 02 (f) Case 4: 03 (f) Case 5: 02 (f) Case 6: 02 (f)	Case 1: 02 (f) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 01 (f)	75 Females
GP	Case 1: 05 (f)	Case 1: 09 (f)	Case 1: 14 (f) Case 2: 02 (f) Case 3: 01 (f) Case 4: 05 (f) Case 5: 02 (f) Case 6: 01 (f)	Case 1: 02 (f) Case 2: 03 (f) Case 3: 09 (m) Case 4: 03 (m) Case 5: 01 (f) Case 6: 01 (f)	Case 1:02(f)	48 Females 12 Males
NW	Case 1:01(f)	Case 1:01(f) Case 2:01 (f)	Case 1:03(f) Case 2:02 (f)	00	Case 1:01(f)	09 Females 00 Males
LIM	00	00	Case 1: 01 (m)	00	Case 1: 01 (m) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 19 (f)	02 Females 01 Males
MP	Case 1: 01 (f) 01 (m)	00	Case 1: 05 (f)	00	Case 1: 01 (f) Case 1: 01 (m)	07 Females 02 Males
FS	00	00	00	Case 1: 01(f)	Case 1: 01(f) Case 2: 01(f)	03 Females
NC	00	00	00	Case 1: 02 (f) Case 2: 04 (f)	Case 1:01 (f)	07 Females 00 Males
EC	Case 1: 02 (f)	Case 1: 00	Case 1: 05 (f)	Case 1: 02 (f) Case 2: 01 (f) Case 3: 03 (f)	Case 1:01 (f)	14 Females
TOTALS	Females: 49 Males: 2	Females: 45 Males: 00	Females: 50 Males: 1	Females: 28 Males: 12	Females: 11 Males: 1	Females: 183 Males: 16

(c) What was the nationality of the victims identified in each case

PROVINCES	2010/2011	2011/2012	2012/2013	2013/2014	2014/2015	TOTAL
KZN	Case 1: 09 SA Case 2: 03 SA Case 3: 02 SA Case 4: 01 SA Case 5: 01 SA	Case 1: 01 SA Case 2: 00 Case 3: 01 SA Case 4: 20 SA Case 5: 00	Case 1: 02 SA	Case1: 02 SA	00	42 South Africans
WC	Case 1: 06 SA Case 2: 01 SA Case 3: 07 SA Case 4: 06 SA Case 5: 01 SA Case 6: 01 Russian Case 7: 02 Chinese Case 8: 01 SA Case 9: 01SA	Case 1: 01SA Case 2: 01 SA Case 3: 03 Chinese Case 4: 01 SA Case 5: 01 SA Case 6: 03 Cameroonian Case 7: 01 Chinese Case 8: 01SA Case 9: 01 SA Case 10: 01 SA Case 11:01 SA Case 12: 01 SA	Case 1: 01 SA Case 2: 01 SA Case 3: 01 SA Case 4: 01 SA Case 5: 10 Cambodian Case 6: 01 SA Case 7: 01 SA Case 8: 01 SA Case 9: 01 SA	Case 1: 01 Nigerian Case 2: 01 Nigerian Case 3: 02 Thai Case 4: 03 SA Case 5: 02 Nigerian Case 6: 02 Nigerian	Case 1: 02 Nigerian Case 2: 01 SA Case 3: 01 SA	50 South Africans 6 Chinese 2 Thai 8 Nigerians 1 Russian 3 Cameroonian 10 Cambodian
GP	Case 1: 05 SA	Case 1: 09 Chinese	Case 1: 14 SA Case 2: 02 Lesotho Case 3: 01 SA Case 4: 02 Thai 01 Yugoslavian 01 Chinese 01 SA Case 5: 02 Thai Case 6: 01 SA	Case 1: 01 Chinese 01 Thai Case 2: 03 Chinese Case 3: 09 Bangladeshi Case 4: 03 Pakistani Case 5: 01 SA Case 6: 01 SA	Case 1:02 SA	26 South Africans 14 Chinese 02 Lesotho 05 Thai 01 Yugoslavian 09 Bangladeshi 03 Pakistani
NW	Case 1: 01 SA	Case 1: 01 SA Case 2: 01 SA	Case 1: 03 SA Case 2: 02 Chinese	00	Case 1: 01 SA	07 South Africans 02 Chinese
LIM	00	00	Case 1: 1 Zimbabwean	00	Case 1: 01 Ethiopian Male Case 2: 19 Ethiopians Case 3: 53 Malawians	20 Ethiopians 53 Malawians
MP	Case 1: 01 Mozambican 01 Mozambican	00	Case 1: 05 Mozambicans girls	00	Case 1: 01 SA Case 1: 01 SA	07 Mozambicans 02 South Africans
FS	00	00	00	Case 1: 01 SA	Case 1: 01 SA Case 2: 01 SA	03 South Africans
NC	00	00	00	Case 1: 02 SA Case 2: 04 SA	Case 1:01 SA	07 South Africans
EC	Case 1: 02 SA	Case 1: 00	Case 1: 05 SA	Case 1: 02 SA Case 2: 01 SA Case 3: 03 SA	Case 1:01 SA	14 South Africans
TOTALS	52 South Africans 02 Mozambican 02 Chinese 01 Russian	33 South Africans 13 Chinese 03 Cameroonian	35 South Africans 3 Chinese 05 Mozambicans 04 Thai 02 Lesotho 01 Yugoslavian 1 Zimbabwean 10 Cambodian	20 South Africans 4 Chinese 09 Bangladeshi 02 Thai 03 Pakistani 6 Nigerians	11 South Africans 53 Malawians 20 Ethiopians	151 South Africans 53 Malawians 20 Ethiopians 22 Chinese 10 Cambodian 09 Bangladeshi 08 Nigerians 07 Mozambicans 06 Thai 03 Pakistani 03 Cameroonian 02 Lesotho 01 Yugoslavian 01 Russian

Reply:

(1)(a) The South African Police Service acted promptly to protect the citizens when requested to do so. Throughout the strike action there has been continuous communication and engagement between SAPS and Municipal Manager. There has also been a continuous communication and engagement between Major General Mki, Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Operational Services from the Provincial Commissioner’s office and Mr Von Buchenroder M. (MPL, DA) and he had been kept abreast about the police actions pertaining to the strike. Consequent to these police actions, two criminal cases have been registered being Willowmore CAS 34/07/2015 Assault Common and Willowmore CAS 46/07/2015 Attempted Murder.

(1)(b) The South African Police Service did enforce the Court Order and the subsequent occupation of the Office of the Municipal Manager was through his permission on the misunderstanding that the group representing the strikers wanted to engage in negotiations in order to address the causes of the strike.

When it transpired later that this was not the intention, the Municipal Manager summoned the police who immediately removed the group. In instances where the strikers convened a gathering in contravention of the order, the police immediately broke up such gathering and criminal cases were registered.

A municipal truck that was parked at Steytlerville municipal premises was damaged during the night and the matter is still under investigation. Due to the above police actions, the following criminal cases have been registered being Steytlerville CAS 14/07/2015 Malicious Damage to Property, Willowmore CAS 47/07/2015 Intimidation and Willowmore CAS 43/07/2015 Illegal Gathering.

(2) No action is envisaged against the two officers. There is no evidence to substantiate the failure to act on their part in this situation but on the contrary criminal investigations have been instituted against the strikers and some cases have already referred to the prosecuting authority for decision.

Reply:

(a) (i) The Department of Science and Technology defines “red tape” as any process or administrative requirement that hinders the effective operation and implementation of policies, programmes that seek to deliver on the mandate of the department.

(ii) The response regarding the definition of red tape by entities is presented below:

Entities	Definition of red tape
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)	Process that entails some restrictive processes or hindrance that have to be followed or complied with in the performance of an activity.
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)	Rules, processes and procedures that impose unnecessary delay, and inaction or cost to the supplier(s) and/or potential beneficiaries.
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)	Unnecessary bureaucratic practices which adds no value to desired outcomes, but are imposed on processes nonetheless.
National Research Foundation (NRF)	Additional administrative measure, over and above the established policies and procedures of the organisation that are implemented through legislated authorities.
South African National Space Agency (SANSA)	Unnecessary and cumbersome rules, regulations, requirements, processes or procedures that result in unacceptable and unnecessary delays in business processes and decision making.
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)	Excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making.

(b) Response to the specific interventions and systems that have been implemented to identify and reduce red tape is provided below:

Entities/ Department	(i) Interventions	(ii) Systems
		(aa) Identify	(bb) Reduce	(aa) Identify	(bb) Reduce
		(aaa) Department	(bbb) Entities
Department of Science and Technology	Establishment of an Operations Committee to address operational matters.	Review of policies and procedures every two years (or as required) as part of continuous improvement or with the introduction of new/ legislative amendments.	Document adverse effects of policy implementation to inform future reviews and amendments. Development of standard operating procedures (as applicable) to maximise efficiencies.
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)	There are no specific interventions.			No systems to identify red tape.	No systems to reduce red tape.
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)	There are no specific interventions.			Continually review processes to incorporate improvements and to align to new legislative requirements.	Developed systems and processes to maximise its efficiencies and effectiveness.
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)	There are no specific interventions.			Identify these through internal consultation and by working closely with the Internal and External Auditors and then determine what is required to adhere to in order to remain compliant.	No systems to reduce red tape.
National Research Foundation (NRF)	There are no specific interventions.			No systems to identify red tape.	No systems to reduce red tape.
South African National Space Agency (SANSA)	There are no specific interventions.			Identify through service level standards or turnaround time targets that are set for key processes.	Regularly review policies, procedures and systems with a view to continually assess their effectiveness.
Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)	-Materiality framework was amended to enhance decision making and execution of decisions. -Delegation of authority was refined. -Revision of Investment framework policy. -Bi-monthly Exco meetings. -Special board meetings to expedite decisions made. -The operational team in the Supply Chain Management Unit has been expanded to meet business’ needs quicker and more efficient. -Employee culture survey. -Complaints review. -Customer satisfaction surveys.			Operational inefficiencies are identified through inadequate turnaround times of approval and payment of projects and expenditure. It is also identified through employee engagement surveys and customer satisfaction surveys.	Investment management system has been designed and implemented.

Reply:

1. No POP members were transferred to the Parliamentary Protection Service.

(1)(a) Not applicable.

(1)(b)(i) Not applicable.

(1)(b)(ii) Not applicable.

(1)(c)(i) Not applicable.

(1)(c)(ii) Not applicable.

(1)(d) Not applicable.

(2) No.

(2)(a) Not applicable.

(2)(b) Not applicable.

Reply:

(1) I wish to inform the Honourable Member that neither the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, nor the South African Law Reform Commission, has such pending legislation or research projects, in process.

(2) As the matter relates to international property rights, which are not in the jurisdiction of the Republic of South Africa, I would recommend that the Honourable Member address such question to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

Reply:

The figures provided herewith below have been extracted from PERSAL. These figures exclude the (i) department of Defence and the (ii) Security sector:

(a) Employees who retired or resigned before the prescribed retirement ages during the 2014/15 financial year

Employees who retired before their prescribed retirement ages	10 449
Resignations	39 194
Total	49 643

(b) Re - employment in the Public Service

Employees who retired before their prescribed retirement ages	92
Employees who have resigned	6 614
Total	6 706

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:

Reply:

1. The Board of Commissioners.
2. No.
3. No. The statement was signed off by all the 9 Provincial Commissioners.

(4)(a) None.

(4)(b) Not applicable.