Questions and Replies

Reply:

(1) (a) How many new appointments were made at the Airports Company South Africa in the (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14 financial years and (b) in each case, (i) what are the names of the appointees and (ii) in which positions were they appointed;

(a) The Airports Company South Africa appointed various people in different positions during the period under review.

(i) Appointments 2011 -12 were, 375
(ii) Appointments 2012 -13 were, 379
(iii) Appointments 2013 -14 were, 413

Detail of appointments per financial year, per position and employee is attached for reference as requested.

(2) were (a) the positions advertised in the press and (b) standard recruitment processes followed; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (i) how many applications were received for each advertised position, (ii) what was the highest qualification for the persons who were appointed and (iii) what level of remuneration will be paid to the persons who were appointed;

(a) The Company resourcing is approached in line with the approved policy, regulating recruitment, selection and appointments. (b) A copy of the policy is included for reference. Recruitment for positions that are vacant and should be filled is done according to policy requirements.

(3) whether vacant posts were also advertised internally; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many positions were filled internally and (b) what are the names of the incumbents:

In line with the policy as attached, all vacant positions that should be filled are advertised internally. The promotions for each year are reflected below:

(b) (i) Promotions 2011 -12 were, 22
(ii) Promotions 2012 -13 were, 108
(iii) Promotions 2013 -14 were, 158

The detail about each promotion is included in the attached sheet for each year under review.

(4) (a) how many staff members are currently in an acting capacity and (b) in each case, (i) in what positions are they acting and (ii) for what reason? NW485E

The Company approaches absence from people in supervisory and management positions, by requiring a person to Act in such capacity during periods of absence. This allows for business continuity and does expose individuals to gain experience in a different role as well.

The record of people acting during the period mainly December 2014- January 2015, which accumulated to 144 instances, is attached for reference.

Reply:

Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS)

(1) (a) How many new appointments were made at the Air Traffic and Navigation Services in the (i) 2011-12 - 137(6 Professionally qualified; 120 Skilled Technical Workers and Junior Managers; 11 Semi-skilled and Discretionary Decision positions)
(ii) 2012-13 - 107(10 Professionally qualified; 81 Skilled Technical Workers and Junior Managers; 6 Semi-skilled Technical Workers and 10 Unskilled and Defined Decision Making positions)
(iii) 2013-14 - 146(4 Professionally qualified, 128 Skilled Technical Workers and Junior Managers; 12 Semi-skilled Technical Workers and 2 Unskilled and Defined Decision Making Positions

(2) (a) the positions advertised in the press -Yes, depending on the position ATNS does use the press if the position requires this recruitment method. Not all positions are advertised via the press.

(b) Yes, all positions are filled as per recruitment process and policy.

(i) Average 10 (again this is very subjective, as it largely depends on the level and qualification of the position).

(ii) what was the highest qualification for the persons who were appointed - As per minimum requirements of each advertised position. Again this varies from entry to top levels in the Company.

(iii) ATNS benchmarks all our remuneration against the South African market. Ail remuneration offered is in line with the market benchmark based on the grade of the position.

(3) Yes

Reply:

Find here: Reply attached
 

Reply:

http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/RNW346annexureA.pdf
 

Reply:

(1)

▪ The Department of Basic Education (DBE) conducted an intensive diagnostic analysis of learner performance in the Grade 9 Mathematics ANA tests. The findings have been succinctly documented in the 2014 ANA Diagnostic Report.
▪ Copies of the 2014 Diagnostic report highlighting challenges that learners are experiencing in terms of Grade 9 Mathematics content have been printed and distributed to all public and independent schools.
▪ The DBE is currently conducting roadshows with all provincial and district officials involving the mediation of the 2014 ANA diagnostic report in Mathematics.
▪ Further, the DBE is currently hosting General Education and Training (GET) Mathematics subject committee meetings to focus on subject improvement plans in grade 9 Mathematics based on the findings of the 2014 ANA Diagnostic Report in Mathematics.
▪ The DEE in partnership with the Sasol lnzalo foundation has developed material in key content areas of Grade 9 Mathematics which has been mediated to all Senior Phase Mathematics subject advisors.
▪ The 1+4 Intervention Model is one of the key features of the Framework for improving performance in the Senior Phase.

(2) (b) There is an MST Roundtable that is scheduled for the 19 March 2015 in the Department of Basic Education. A total of 80 representatives from the NGO sector, universities, DHET, DST and DBE that support and/or have interest on issues relating to the MST in Education in the country are envisaged to be invited to attend the 3d MST in Education Roundtable. The purpose of the MST Roundtable is for the Minister to outline the Strategic Direction of Government in Enhancing MST Performance.

Reply:

I . My Department does not have such detailed and disaggregated information of schools as you have requested in your questions. The possession of drugs, alcohol. firearms. knives and other weapons would be serious transgressions in terms of the Code of Conduct for Learners at schools and will be managed at a school level in collaboration with SAPS.

2. All schools have Incident Reporting Registers to record incidents related to the use and abuse of illegal substances. This information remains with the school for the purposes of District Monitoring. The Department is not in a position to determine the number of learners affected nationally by substance abuse.

Reply:

1. (a) According to information received from the province, the contractor who was appointed in May 2013 and had been progressing slowly eventually abandoned the site and all the works stopped in June 2014. He was behind on the project and was facing penalties according to the Joint Buildina Contracts Committee contract (JBCC). The implementing agent (IDT) terminated the contractor after the site was abandoned at the roof level in July 2014. The implementing agent then re-advertised the project and has replaced this contractor.

(b) The initial contractor was Shota Engineering cc.

(c) The initial contractor (Shota Engineering cc) was paid R 2,151,727.42.

(d) The contract was terminated and the implementing agent then re-advertised the project and has replaced this contractor.

Reply:

The question has been referred to the province and the response will be forwarded as soon as it is received.

Reply:

(1) Whether primary schools in the Eastern Cape have had one of their assigned posts allocated for a teacher of an African language and for isiXhosa, in particular; if so, does this post assignment apply to all primary schools in the province;

The introduction of IsiXhosa in Grades 1 and 8 in 201 5 in the Eastern Cape is a provincial initiative which complements the national HAL programme. The posts are only allocated to schools that are currently not offering an African Language or isixhosa, that is, mainly the former Model C schools. The number of posts to be allocated is determined in terms of the post provisioning process. Affected schools are allocated an additional post(s) from the pool of ad-hoc posts, determined as part of the total post basket of the province.

Reply:

The Department of Women is still in the process of establishing its own systems and processes that will enable it to gather, capture, store and use such data as one of the tools to curb violence against women in our society.

Approved by the Minister on
Date: 24/02/2015

Reply:

The Department of Women is a new department which has just been established. It is for this reason that the question is not applicable to it.

 

Approved by the Minister on
Date: 26/02/2015.

Reply:

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has entered into a Collaborative Partnership Protocol with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 2011. The Protocol is an acknowledgement that safety is a shared responsibility between both the Departments. Officials from both Departments have committed themselves to promote the safety of everyone at school and to combat school violence as captured in the delivery agreement of both Ministries. Action Plan 2019 (Goal 10) is also enhanced through this partnership as it ensures that children remain effectively in schools until they turn 15 years old. One of the commitments of the Partnership Protocol is to prevent and manage alcohol and drug use amongst learners in schools.

1. According to information received from SAPS two learners were arrested (a) for the possession of illegal drugs (b) and none for dealing in illegal substances (i) during 2012 and (ii) 2013 academic years.

2. The two learners were from Edenglen High School and Don Materra Child and Youth Care Centre.

3. Both learners were arrested for possession of illegal drugs and both cases were withdrawn at Court. The learner from Edenglen High School was suspended and the learner from Don Materra Child and Youth Care Centre was transferred to another institution.

Reply:

(1) Which schools in Malamulele, Limpopo, were prevented from opening for the 2015 academic year as a result of protests;

Approximately 149 schools were prevented from opening for the 201 5 academic year. A list ofthe affected schools is attached. The impasse at Malamulele has, however, now been resolved. Schools in the area have opened for the first time in 201 5 allowing for learning and teaching to commence in the hundred and forty nine (149) schools that were affected.

(2) In each school, what is the number of affected learners in each grade?

A list of schools and the number of learners that were affected per grade is captured in the table attached. The information on learners is however based on 2014 statistics as the schools have only just reopened and statistics for 2015 are currently being verified.

(3) in each school, what measures will be taken to ensure that all learners who have not attended schools since the beginning of January 2015 will be provided with an opportunity to attend a catch-up programme, and (b) when will she start taking these measures;

The Provincial Department of Education has developed a catch up plan to make up for lost time.

(4) When will the catch-up programmes begin?

The commencement date for the Catch-up Programme is not yet finalised.

(5) What measures will be taken to prevent protestors from closing schools in Malamulele in the future? NW48E

The Department of Basic Education will continue to work with School Governing Bodies and communities to ensure that all schools are protected at all times. The situation in Malamulele is however unique in that the community is at the centre of the activities that pose a threat to schooling and schools.

Reply:

(a) Dowerglen High School is a fee-charging school ranked in quintile 5 with an enrolment of 422. The school has been ranked by the Gauteng Department of Education according to the relative poverty of the community surrounding the school. The school received an allocation of R530 per learner for 2014/15. This allocation was above the national 2014 quintile 5 per learner benchmark of R183. The total allocation paid to the school for 2014/15 is R223.660.

The school can apply to the Gauteng Department of Education to be re-ranked, or to be voluntarily declared a no-fee school in order for their allocation to be more than what they are receiving now.

Reply:

In terms of the National School Nutrition Programme Conditional Grant Framework in the Division of Revenue Act (DORA), the Department has a mandate to provide meals to all learners in quintile I to 3 primary and secondary schools, as well as identified special schools in line with the specified budget allocated by National Treasury. Dowerglen High School is a quintile 5 school and currently falls outside the mandate of the NSNP.

Reply:

(a) The SABC owns the venue that was used for the announcement of the NSC 2014 results. The SABC, as a host organisation, therefore determines who represents the SABC at the event.

(b) The statement, in this particular instance, is taken out of context and therefore the Minister has no position on it.

(2) The National Senior Certificate is the most important qualification in the schooling sector and the Department of Basic Education is the custodian of this qualification and therefore the question posed in this case is irrelevant.

Reply:

The above questions are addressed in the annexure provided as the response is composed of extensive lists of schools as requested by the parliamentary query.

Attached find here: Annexure A

Reply:

To date nothing has been brought the attention of the department about possible industrial action as a result of non-approval of probations and payment of pay progression. However, if there are disputes emanating from the violation of some of the clauses in the conditions of service of employees, there are processes to be followed, which will enable for such issues to be resolved.

Reply:

Sick leave

(a)(i) 2011-12 = 56 165.5 days

(a)(ii) 2012-13 = 49 790 days

(a)(iii) 2013-14 = 71 094 days

Strike action

(b)(i)

(b)(ii)

(b)(iii)

2011-12 = 6 working days

2012-13 = 0 working days

2013-14 = 0 working days

Reply:

(1) (a)(b) Yes, the revised disciplinary code and procedure has been tabled for negotiation at the Public Service Bargaining Council during the negotiation, a decision on this matter can be expected when the negotiation is concluded.

(2) Yes, we are confident that the revised code will improve the turnaround time for concluding disciplinary cases in the public service, improvement will be reflected when the revised disciplinary code is fully implemented.

Reply:

Attached find here: Response

Reply:

The Department is in the process of putting together a policy framework to enable effective implementation of the Use of Official Language Policy Act within the Department. It is envisaged that the policy will be adopted and implemented at the beginning of 2015

Reply:

Yes, all the key recommendations made in the Ministerial Committee on Rural Education Report of 2005 have been implemented through the various programmes that the Department is rolling out in all provinces.

Reply:

(I) The Department of Basic Education has developed a comprehensive plan aimed at guiding the Provincial Education Departments on the Upgrading of Grade R practitioners. The plan clearly indicates options available for practitioners in different NQF levels and provides the admission requirement for each option.

PEDs have since identified practitioners and their qualification levels. From a total of 15 000 practitioners that are under-qualified, the DBE has set a target of 5 000 new practitioners per year to be supported to complete a qualification (either a BEd Foundation Phase or Diploma in grade R teaching). Currently. 3 400 (68%) practitioners have been enrolled in institutions to complete either the BEd or Diploma in Grade R teaching.

To increase the capacity of HEIs to offer the Diploma in Grade R teaching. The DBE has approached HE!s in each province the Provincial Teacher Education and Development Committees to offer the diploma. UNlSA, University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria are in the process of developing this qualification. Currently. only four (4) institutions offer this qualification namely North West University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, SANTS and Lyceum.

(2) The source of funding the expansion of Grade R has historically been the national fiscus and will continue to be so going forward. This funding is included in the equitable share transfers to provinces. Provinces are expected to, amongst others; prioritize the expansion of Grade R \Vi thin their provincial education budgets.

Reply:

The Act is not yet implemented

The Department of Arts and Culture has extended the date of implementation to 2 May 2015.

The Act will probably be implemented on the above date.

Reply:

(a) The Department captured (lost) the following number of sick leave days in the years as indicated below:

(i) 15 767 in 2011/2012 financial year.

(ii) 15 646 in 2012/2013 financial year.

(iii) 21 214 in 2013/2014 financial year.

(b) The Department was not affected by any strike action during the periods indicated above.

 

Adv N.A Ramatlhodi
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:· .. ........ .. .. ./. ................ ./2014

Reply:

(a)(b) Government is in a process of revising the Public Service Disciplinary Code and Procedure and also Chapter 7 of the SMS Handbook. This Disciplinary Code and Procedure has been tabled for negotiations at the Bargaining Council, (i)(ii) the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) working with the National Treasury will ensure that the PERSAL system respond to this kind of a need to ensure that public servants who commit acts of misconduct are precluded from entering the public service, including state institutions.

Reply:

I) I support the principle behind the twinning of schools. The rationale behind the twinning is that it is the quickest way of addressing the inequalities that exist in the sector in terms of resources and skills transfer of principals, teachers and school governors.

2) Section 588 (4)and (5) provide the Head of Department (HOD) with wide powers to deal with underperforming schools. Section 58(4) specifically provides that the HOD must take all reasonable steps to assist a school indentified in terms of subsection ( I) in addressing the underperformance. Section 58(5), although indicating which specific steps the Head of Department must consider. does not limit the steps that the HOD can take to remedy the underperfom1ance at a school. Twinning of a school is one of the options that could be considered.

3) The twinning project is at the moment still a Gauteng initiative. The Council of Education Ministers and I have not yet explored its possibilities. It is an initiative that requires research, massive stakeholder consultation and review of legislation before considering it as a possibility.

4) Yes, social cohesion. although not a core function of the department, is part of the department's delivery of Outcome 14 in the MTSF (2014-2019). It is promoted by the department through Curriculum. Teacher Development and Care and Support Branches.

Why? Schools are increasingly being recognized as a key contributor to promoting national unity and solidarity among the different social groups in a country. Given the legacy of apartheid and the high prevalence of social problems challenging our current democratic state, schooling can contribute to achieving cohesive communities that are more effective in supporting education, and achieving social and economic goals. The NDP tasks schools to promote social cohesion, constitutional values, active citizenry and appreciation of diversity.