Questions and Replies

Filter by year

12 April 2016 - NW341

Profile picture: Balindlela, Ms ZB

Balindlela, Ms ZB to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

What measures are in place to ensure that each of the several hundred projects funded by the Construction Education and Training Authority is (a) compliant (i) with the correct procedures for approval and (ii) in the way it operates, (b) providing quality assured training of a high standard and (c) able to account for all of the funds it uses?

Reply:

a) The project allocation process is initiated by the Project Management Unit of the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA), which conducts a needs analysis, derived from the:

  • National Skills Development Strategy;
  • CETA Sector Skills Plan;
  • CETA five-year Strategic Plan;
  • CETA Annual Performance Plan; and
  • Service Level Agreements.

   (i) The grant allocation approval process is entirely transparent and meets the relevant supply chain management principles. The process involves the following:

  • Applications are made through the CETA online application tool;
  • Evaluations are done independently and recommendations are made to the CETA Board;
  • After approval by the CETA Board, the CETA issues an offer to contract with the successful applicant, which is subject to various conditions, including a due diligence exercise to determine the ability of the approved applicants to implement their proposed projects; and
  • CETA finally approves the relevant grants, only after applicants have satisfied CETA of its ability to implement their proposed projects.

The process that is followed in respect thereof ensures the integrity of the CETA’s project allocation.

  (ii) Since the 2011/12 financial year, all payments to successful applicants were made in accordance with the CETA’s performance based payment system, in terms of which:

  • Payments are made after submission and approval of compliant invoices and supporting documentation;
  • All payments can accordingly be traced back to costs incurred in respect of specific learners, in accordance with the supporting documentation which entities are required to submit prior to receiving payment;
  • The supporting information required before payments are made include, where applicable, learner attendance registers, proof of payment of stipends to learners and proof of receipt of learning materials received by the learners;
  • No advance payments are made to any entities;
  • As a consequence, entities who do not perform in accordance with their project planning will not receive their full grant allocation;
  • Payments are only made in respect of services rendered or expenses incurred; and
  • the CETA has strict invoicing processing compliance requirements in which payments are only made into approved bank accounts, or, in the instance of public entities, separate cost centres, allocated exclusively to the approved CETA project.

(b) Below are the three areas in which the CETA ensures quality:

  • Accountability and conformance to standards;
  • Maintaining and enhancing the quality of facilitation and learning by accredited Skills Development Providers; and
  • Quality enhancement and continually improving practitioners, assessors, moderators and staff.

(c) The following measures are implemented to ensure that CETA accounts for all funds utilised:

  • A commitment schedule, which is reviewed on a regular basis, is maintained;
  • Monthly management reports are reviewed by the Finance Committee;
  • Financial statements are prepared on a quarterly basis;
  • Annual financial statements are reviewed by the Audit Committee; and
  • Annual Financial Statements are audited by the Auditor-General who tests the accuracy, validity and completeness of financial information.

 

Compiler/contact persons:

Ext:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

REPLY TO QUESTION 341 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

12 April 2016 - NW350

Profile picture: Davis, Mr GR

Davis, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What was the average National Senior Certificate pass rate in each (a) district and (b) province for quintile (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4 and (v) 5 schools in (aa) 2013, (bb) 2014, and (cc) 2015?

Reply:

In the attached Excel files, the performance in the NSC examinations, in terms of the nine provinces and the 81 districts is provided for each of the five quintiles. This data is provided for each of the three years i.e. 2013, 2014 and 2015 as requested.

There are six Excel files and each file focuses on the following sub-components of the question as identified in the question:

(a) (aa) See attached file Q350 (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (aa) - 2013 Districts Quintiles.

(a) (bb) See attached file Q350 (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (bb) - 2014 Districts Quintiles.

(a) (cc) See attached file Q350 (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (cc) - 2015 Districts Quintiles.

(b) (aa) See attached file Q350 (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (aa) - 2013 Province Quintiles.

(b) (bb) See attached file Q350 (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (bb) - 2014 Province Quintiles.

(b) (cc) See attached file Q350 (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (cc) - 2015 Province Quintiles.

12 April 2016 - NW834

Profile picture: Cassim, Mr Y

Cassim, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)(a)What is the maximum loan amount that may be awarded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme in the 2016-17 financial year, (b) (i) when was it determined, (ii) by what body was it determined, (iii) under what legislative or regulatory provision and (iv) how was it determined; (2) whether he will provide the document recording its determination to Mr Y Cassim; if not, why not; if so, by when; (3) what is the average expected cost of study at universities for the 2016 academic year?

Reply:

(1) (a) The maximum loan amount that may be awarded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to a university student in the 2016 academic year is R71 800.

(b) (i) and (ii) The maximum loan awarded from the DHET general fund for university students is determined annually and approved by the NSFAS Board as part of the allocations process each year. For the 2016 academic year, the maximum loan amount was approved by the Board in the third quarter of 2015/16 and communicated to institutions in December 2015.

(iii) The university loan amount is determined based on the provisions within the NSFAS Act 56 of 1999 under Sections 4(a) and 4(b), which specifies that it is the function of NSFAS “to allocate funds for loans and bursaries to eligible students; to develop criteria and conditions for the granting of loans and bursaries to eligible students in consultation with the Minister”. It is further provided for under Section 19(1) that “Loans and bursaries granted by the board may be subject to such conditions as it may determine, either generally or in respect to a particular loan or bursary”.

(iv) The maximum loan is calculated by taking into consideration factors such as the increase received from the national budget process and weighted average full cost of study at universities.

(2) An extract of the NSFAS Board meeting minutes of 25 November 2015 is attached.

(3) According to data received from universities, the average full cost of study across the 26 universities was R70 679.11 and weighted average full cost of study was R71 878.40. Based on the weighted average full cost of study, the maximum-capped award was determined as R71 800.

 

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 834 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

12 April 2016 - NW764

Profile picture: Volmink, Mr HC

Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health

With regard to the five key recommendations made in the Ministerial Task Team’s Report on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) presented in October 2015, has the HPCSA Board agreed to any of these recommendations; if not, (a) why not and (b) what further action(s) will he take if the HPCSA rejects any or all of the recommendations; if so, (i) which recommendations did the HPCSA agree to and (ii) what time frames have been given for the implementation of the specified recommendations?

Reply:

The HPCSA is an independent organisation, as such, it has a legal obligation to adhere to all Constitutional and relevant legislative prescripts in the exercise of its mandate. The implementation of the recommendation made in the Ministerial Task Team Report on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is therefore subject to adherence to these prescripts. I am being kept informed by the HPCSA on the progress in this regard.

 (a) At this point, I have not been informed by the HPCSA that any of the recommendations of the Ministerial Task Team have been rejected;

 (b) Not applicable;

 (i) Not applicable;

 (ii) A final implementation report is expected by the end of April 2016

END.

12 April 2016 - NW626

Profile picture: Gardee, Mr GA

Gardee, Mr GA to ask the President of the Republic

Has the Minister of Finance made any recommendations of potential candidates for the position of Commissioner of the SA Revenue Service?

Reply:

DRAFT REPLY

There is a sitting Commissioner of SARS, so there is no need to look at potential candidates when there is no vacancy.

12 April 2016 - NW449

Profile picture: Lekota, Mr M

Lekota, Mr M to ask the President of the Republic

(1)Whether, in view of the great necessity to have policy certainty in these dire economic times, he had canvassed various organisations (details furnished) to obtain their total and unreserved support for the (a) eight points he and the business leaders with whom he had been meeting in February 2016 had agreed to, (b) National Development Plan and (c) rapid elimination of convoluted bureaucracy impeding the functioning and expansion of small businesses; if not, why not; if so, what are the details of the agreements with each of the various organisations; (2) whether he will make a statement on his commitment to creating a business-friendly climate to prove that South Africa was indeed open for business?

Reply:

  1. The National Development Plan is supported by the vast majority of South Africans and many important stakeholders in our society. Government, working together with other societal sectors, is implementing the NDP through the Medium Term Strategic Framework. The meeting with the captains of industry in February 2016 reached a decision that the eight points you have alluded to in the question will be processed by a joint government-business task lead led by the Minister of Finance and the Chairperson of the board of Telkom, Mr Jabu Mabuza.
  2. I have said on many occasions that South Africa is open for business. This is the same message the South African delegation took to the World Economic Forum in Davos in January this year. Recently the Minister of Finance led a South African delegation of government, business and labour leaders on an international tour meeting with investors to communicate the message that South Africa is open for business and investment. I have also established an Inter- Ministerial Committee which I chair to look at ways in which investment can be attracted to our country and to remove obstacles to investments.

12 April 2016 - NW75

Profile picture: Brauteseth, Mr TJ

Brauteseth, Mr TJ to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Whether she has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019

Reply:

Whether she has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019

The Minister of Basic Education Mrs A Motshekga, MP, has signed her Performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma in December 2014.

a) Which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement

The indicators in the Agreement are as captured in the Outcome 1 MTSF chapter. In summary, these indicators come from the following areas:

  1. Impact Indicators – which come from the Action Plan to 2019
  2. Sub-Outcome 1: Teacher supply, development and effective utilisation
  3. Sub-Outcome 2: Provision of infrastructure
  4. Provision of Learning and Teaching Support Materials
  5. Sub-Outcome 3: Improving assessment (ANA)
  6. Sub-Outcome 4: Improving Grade R and extension of Early Childhood Development (ECD).
  7. Sub-Outcome 5: Strengthening accountability at schools and district level
  8. Sub-Outcome 6: Partnerships for education reform and improved quality

b) How many performance assessments has she undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed?

The Minister’s performance has been assessed through the Cabinet Memorandum which is tabled before Cabinet every quarter. In this financial year, two reports have been tabled at Cabinet, and the third quarterly report is being prepared for submission to the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation by March 2016.

c) What progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF?

Significant progress has been made for the 2015/16 financial year. As at the end of the second quarter, out of a total of 55 indicators, performance is as reflected below:

  1. Eleven (11) indicators were fully achieved;
  2. Forty (40) indicators were work in progress with the assurance that the targets for 2015/16 will be met by the end of the financial year;
  3. No indicators were under-performing due to reasons stated in question (d); and
  4. Four (4) indicators have not been reported because of lack of tools to collect the required data or information.

 

d) What are the key obstacles to implementation?

  1. Lack of Agreement, tool and regularity in the administration of the ANA;

(ii) Concurrent functions challenges in providing information required from provincial departments of education in the correct format timeously; and

(iii) Interdepartmental dependency in providing information, such as the ECD programmes, ICT and Teacher Development.

e) What is the plan to address such obstacles?

  1. The lack of Agreement, tool and regularity in the administration of the ANA:
  • The Department is in the process of resuscitating the ELRC as a platform for engagement and,
  • The Department has established a task team with representatives from teacher unions to deal with the instrument and the frequency of the administration of the ANA.

(ii) Concurrent functions challenges:

  • The department has started developing the norms and standards, business processes and sector plans to be used to solicit the buy in of the provinces to comply with the key deliverables of the sector;

(iii) Interdepartmental dependency:

  • These challenges are attended to at the Cabinet Cluster meetings, MINMECs and Minister’s Implementation Forum (MIF);
  • The department’s Director General also holds bilateral meetings with the Director Generals of the affected departments.

 

NW75E

12 April 2016 - NW313

Profile picture: Stander, Ms T

Stander, Ms T to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Does each metropolitan municipality have an external bursary fund; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what is the value of each specified external bursary fund in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial year; (3) how many external bursaries did each specified municipality award in the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 financial years?

Reply:

The requested information is not readily available within the department. We are however, collating the information from the Metropolitan Municipalities and will submit as soon as we have concluded. The Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

12 April 2016 - NW439

Profile picture: Malema, Mr J

Malema, Mr J to ask the President of the Republic

(1)Whether he intends to redeploy the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to the Ministry of Economic Development; if not, (2) whether he has found that the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has the appropriate experience to deal with the crisis that exist in local government?

Reply:

  1. I appointed the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in terms of section 91(2) of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996.

12 April 2016 - NW746

Profile picture: Singh, Mr N

Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Whether, with reference to allegations (details furnished) of rhino poaching syndicates infiltrating the justice system, particularly the magistrates court benches in KwaZulu-Natal, he is considering instituting a commission or panel to review magisterial judgments handed down in respect of all rhino poaching matters in the provinces?

Reply:

No, the matter was referred to the Magistrate Commission for further handling and investigation.

12 April 2016 - NW608

Profile picture: Carter, Ms D

Carter, Ms D to ask the President of the Republic

Whether, in line with his undertaking during the State of the Nation Address on 11 February 2016 to create political and policy certainty, and in line with the statement by the Presidency on 29 February 2016, he will articulate his full and unstinted support for the Minister of Finance and the fiscal consolidation that the Minister is seeking to achieve; if not, why not in each case; if so, what unambiguous and full statement is he willing to make for investors, rating agencies and the business community?

Reply:

I appointed the Minister of Finance because I have confidence in his ability to execute his responsibilities. The fiscal consolidation programme he announced in the Budget Speech was developed collectively by the Cabinet and is fully supported by the Cabinet.

12 April 2016 - NW572

Profile picture: Van Dalen, Mr P

Van Dalen, Mr P to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4095 on 8 December 2015, the requested information has been received from the Tlokwe Local Municipality; if so, when will the specified information be made available?

Reply:

The requested information is yet to be received from the Tlokwe Local Municipalitie. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

 

12 April 2016 - NW725

Profile picture: Carter, Ms D

Carter, Ms D to ask the President of the Republic

(1)Whether he met or was planning to meet with representatives of the different race, language and cultural groups of our country within the next 90 days to address the rapidly deepening racial polarisation in South Africa in a collective and inclusive manner and, in preparation of such a meeting, share with them up-to-date and high-quality research to facilitate dialogues and to adopt measures that would expeditiously and thoroughly help (a) address racial tension, (b) accelerate race reconciliation and nation building, (c) promote the attainment of a common national identity and (d) allow the principle of Ubuntu to manifest everywhere in the South African society; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he will make a statement on what the Government has been doing since 2009 to deal decisively with our country’s deteriorating race relations and the consequences thereof; if not, why not; if so, what are the details?

Reply:

1. I have not met with representatives of any specific race groups to discuss the resurgence of racism in our society. The matter has been discussed at various forums where I have met with various stakeholders, but I have not called a meeting of specific race groups to discuss the matter.

As you may be aware, I declared the Human Rights Month, March 2016, as the month to focus on fighting the scourge of racism. The campaigns and programmes that were undertaken during the month culminated in the Human Rights Day event at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, which had a strong focus on uniting society against racism.

2. Promoting national unity and social cohesion is a constitutional imperative. We have used every avenue to promote the unity of our people and to advance social cohesion. We have done this through the statements we have made during important National Days, and through implementing the government’s programme of transforming our country into a truly non-sexist and non-racial society.

We urge leaders of all sectors to play their part in building a non-racial society.

12 April 2016 - NW231

Profile picture: Mashabela, Ms N

Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Has her department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by certain persons (names furnished) in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year, (i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount?

Reply:

The Department did not award any contract to Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta during the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years.

12 April 2016 - NW346

Profile picture: Maynier, Mr D

Maynier, Mr D to ask the President of the Republic

(1) Whether he decided to remove the former Minister of Finance, Mr Nhlanhla Nene, from the finance portfolio on 9 December 2015; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, why was he removed; (2) whether he consulted any person (a) before the removal of Mr Nene and/or (b) after the removal of Mr Nene on 9 December 2015; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (i) what is the (aa) name and (bb) designation of each specified person consulted and (ii) why were the specified persons consulted; (3) whether the decision to remove Mr Nene had any implications for the state of the economy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

Reply:

1. It is a matter of public record that Mr Nhlanhla Nene was relieved from his duties as a Minister of Finance on 9 December 2015. It is the prerogative of a sitting President to appoint and change members of his/her Cabinet as he deems necessary. It is the same prerogative enshrined in the Constitution that I exercised on 9 December 2015.

2. Decisions to make changes to the Cabinet are made with the best intentions and for the public interest, including the economy.

12 April 2016 - NW444

Profile picture: Madisha, Mr WM

Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Health

(1) Whether the Government is ready to announce immediate steps to deal with the health crisis resulting from an excessive intake of sugar by the population at large through the direct consumption of sugar, as well as an indirect consumption through a very wide range of processed foods with hidden high sugar content; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether his department will secure the rights to a certain documentary (name and details furnished) for the public broadcaster to air on all its channels; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether his department will introduce legislation requiring the full sugar content of any packaged food to be given in terms of a standardised teaspoon; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. Yes, the Department acknowledges the increased health risks resulting from excessive sugar intake. The Department of Health, as well as our government partners, have already announced steps to deal with the excessive consumption of sugar by the population at large. For example the Treasury has recently announced a tax on sugar sweetened beverages that will come into effect in April 2016. The Department developed a multi-sectoral strategy to prevent and control obesity in South Africa. One of the actions in the strategy is to educate the public about healthy food choices including the risks of excessive sugar intake. The Department has developed a Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) which will be used to assess and classify foods as having excessive amounts of sugar, salt and fats. The NPM together with the labelling regulations will ensure that consumers are educated on how to make informed choices.

However it is important to note that while sugar is an important contributor to the rising incidence of Non-communicable diseases is South Africa, it is by no means the only contributor and other dietary risk factors as well as lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use are also important risk factors. The Department of Health is thus dealing with the excess of sugar intake as part of a more comprehensive plan to deal with non-communicable diseases.

With respect to “indirect consumption” the Director General of Health has led a partnership with the Consumer Goods Council and its affiliates to ensure that the industry reformulates its products to be more healthy and that consumption patterns, including sugar consumption, decreases. Outcomes of these processes are expected to become evident soon.

2. No. It is the prerogative of the public broadcaster to secure the rights and air programmes and not that of the Department of Health.

The Good Life Network channel that was launched in December 2015 by the Department is one of the platforms used to inform and educate consumers about the importance of making Healthy food choices. Various other channels are being utilised where information is shared around the importance of healthy eating and the risks of excessive intake of sugar, salt and fat.

The Department of Health will be launching a public awareness campaign in late March for healthy lifestyles as part of World Health day activities under the theme “beat diabetes”.

3. Yes. Provision was made in the draft Food Labelling Regulations (R429/2014) for a front-of-pack labelling option, in addition to the fact that total sugars must always be declared in the table with nutritional information.  The new Labelling Regulations will make Nutritional information mandatory for most foods (a few exemptions are allowed).

The following is an example of a front-of pack labelling, following the principles of the Traffic light system: red means dangerous, yellow means caution and green means safe:

This example could be further developed into a simpler format which simply include the traffic light colours, the name of the nutrient, e.g. sugar, or salt and if possible a graphic representation of a typical household measure such as a teaspoon.  Further work is this regard is still being pursued with the food industry.

 

END.

12 April 2016 - NW588

Profile picture: Motau, Mr SC

Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to the reply to question 4257 on 21 December 2015, he has received the outstanding information from the three specified municipalities; if not, why not; if so, when will this information be made available; if not, why not?

Reply:

The requested information is yet to be received from the remaining three Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

 

12 April 2016 - NW574

Profile picture: Topham , Mr B

Topham , Mr B to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4104 on 8 December 2015, the information has been received from the Tlokwe City Local Municipality; if so, when will this information be made available as requested?

Reply:

The requested information is yet to be received from the Tlokwe Local Municipalitie. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

 

12 April 2016 - NW793

Profile picture: Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI

Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)(a) Which Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) stations currently serve Wards (i) 9, (ii) 12, (iii) 19, (iv) 20, (v) 21, (vi) 22 and (vii) 22 in the City of Tshwane and (b) how many (i) officers and (ii) operational vehicles are at each of the specified stations; (2) whether there are any plans to establish a TMPD station to serve the community of Winterveldt in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Upon receipt of this question, we requested the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to provide information on this matter and are still awaiting. We will therefore keep the Honourable Member updated on progress.

12 April 2016 - NW833

Profile picture: Bozzoli, Prof B

Bozzoli, Prof B to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(a) With reference to his reply to question 335 on 14 March 2016, what are the costs of damage caused to property at each affected university resulting from student protests since 1 February 2016, and (b) from which university budgets will these be paid for in each case?

Reply:

(a) With reference to my reply to question 335 on 14 March 2016, an update is provided on the costs of damage caused to property at North West University, University of Cape Town and University of the Free State resulting from student protests since 1 February 2016:

  • University of Stellenbosch – R352 000.00
  • North West University – R151 000 000.00 (updated)
  • University of Limpopo – R1 786 294.52
  • University of Johannesburg – R345 000.00
  • University of the Western Cape – R46 544 446.00
  • Walter Sisulu University – R351 287.19
  • Tshwane University of Technology – R5 073 747.73
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal – R82 000 000.00
  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology – R689 850.14
  • University of Cape Town – R3 200 000.00 (updated)
  • University of Zululand – R 4 500 000.00
  • Rhodes University – R250 000.00
  • University of the Witwatersrand – R1 410 223.00
  • University of the Free State – R2 800 000.00 (updated)

Total cost: R300 302 848.58 (updated)

The following universities submitted damage reports, however they did not provide estimates of the cost of damage, which will be requested from them:

  • University of South Africa;
  • Central University of Technology;
  • Durban University of Technology; and
  • University of Fort Hare.

The following universities reported no/minor incidents of damage on their campuses:

  • Vaal University of Technology;
  • Mangosuthu University of Technology;
  • University of Venda;
  • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; and
  • University of Pretoria –graffiti on walls, which have been repainted.

(b) The universities have not confirmed from which university budgets these damages will be recovered. However, certain damages will be paid or recovered from insurance claims.

 

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 833 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

12 April 2016 - NW676

Profile picture: De Freitas, Mr MS

De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Transport

(a) What (i) processes, (ii) mechanisms and (iii) procedures exist within (aa) her department and (bb) each entity reporting to her to ensure that outcomes achieved are aligned to the National Development Plan, (b) how is this being (i) monitored, (ii) measured and (iii) coordinated and (c) who are the champions for (i) her department and (ii) each entity reporting to her respectively?

Reply:

Department

(a) (i) In July 2014, Cabinet adopted the 2014-2019 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) to be used as a comprehensive five-year implementation plan for the NDP 2030 vision and the commitments of the governing party’s Election Manifesto. This is the process through which all plans of Government institutions across the three spheres of Government are aligned to the NDP.

(ii) The MTSF is translated into the Ministers’ Delivery Agreement with the President of the Republic of South Africa. The DoT Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 and Annual Performance Plans are aligned with the Minister’s Delivery Agreement in order to ensure that all MTSF deliverables are budgeted for and fully implemented and monitored.

(iii) The DoT developed internal Planning, Monitoring and Reporting Guidelines, as an instrument that aims to provide minimum requirements for the achievement of deliverables as outlined in the APP of the Department. The Department initiates its planning process in May of each financial year through programme planning sessions, with the involvement of Entities and Provinces. These engagements inform deliberations of the DoT Executive Committee Lekgotla that is followed by the Department-wide Strategic Planning session. The Strategic Plan and APP are then consolidated, costed and tabled in Parliament in line with the National Treasury Framework.

(b) (i) On a quarterly basis, reporting templates are circulated to every programme to provide progress reports on all APP targets. Reports are consolidated, analysed against a prescribed criteria and interrogated against relevant supporting documents to ensure usefullness, consistency and reliability of information.

Each programme has a branch coordinator who is responsible for coordination of reporting for the entire programme. Branch coordinators provide dedicated support to their respective programmes and ensure that reporting complies with the prescripts. Once compiled, reports are quality assured by Programme Managers and submitted to the Chief Directorate: Strategic Planning & Cluster Coordination for consolidation and analysis. The report then gets interrogated at the DoT Executive Committee (EXCO), chaired by the Accounting Officer and the Strategic Management Committee (SMC) chaired by the Deputy Minister.

(ii) Reports are compiled against the DoT Annual Performance Plan and submitted on a quarterly basis and are guided by the sequence of quarterly targets as per the approved Annual Performance Plan and the approved Technical Indicator Descriptions. At all times, the reported information is supported by admissible evidence as predetermined in the Technical Indicator Description table.

(iii) Internal coordination commences with the engagements at programme level through interactions between the Chief Directorate: Strategic Planning & Cluster Coordination and respective branches. Upon consolidation of inputs, the final report is interrogated and validated by the DoT Executive Committee for reporting at the Strategic Management Committee. The Audit Committee and the Portfolio Committee on Transport receive the reports in line with their respective oversight obligations. The Report is also submitted to the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME). The Department also participates in the Outcomes Technical Implementation Delivery and Data Forums for effective Outcomes implementation. At the end of the financial year, the department compiles an Annual Report. All reports mentioned above are posted in the DoT website for public consumption.

(c) (i) The champion is the Accounting Officer, supported by Programme Managers.

Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited (ACSA)

    (a) Airports Company South Africa SOC Ltd (ACSA) strategy process is guided by the Minister of Transport’s vision, predetermined objectives and      goals which are underpinned by the National Development Plan.

   (bb) In response, ACSA has aligned its strategic objectives, outcomes, outputs, focus areas and strategic initiatives to the NDP. In turn, ACSA’s Corporate Plan outlines the predetermined objectives, key performance indicators and associated targets. ACSA applies the balanced scorecard philosophy, which directs and ensures that key performance indicators cover the breadth and spectrum of its business, people, society and environment.

   (b) (i) The performance monitoring process, within ACSA sits within the CEO’s Office – Strategic Planning Unit. The Group Manager: Strategic Planning is responsible for coordinating, measuring and monitoring the process.

      (ii) The key performance indicators and performance narrative are tracked and monitored monthly by the Executive Committee, and quarterly reviewed by the Board Audit and Risk Sub-Committee and subsequently, at Board level.

     (iii) Once approved, the quarterly report, as outlined in the PFMA, is submitted to the Department of Transport and Department of Treasury. Every quarter, after submitting the quarterly reports, the Department of Transport and ACSA meet to engage and discuss the company’s year to date (YTD) performance in relation to YTD Targets.

From an internal assurance perspective, the key performance indicators process, as it relates to performance against targets and the remedial action, are subject to a scheduled quarterly internal audit review and assurance process. The external auditor, currently the Auditor General, provides the external review and assurance of the SOC’s key performance indicators and annual performances.

(c) (ii) The Board of ACSA through the Chairman is the champion.

Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Limited (ATNS)

(a) ATNS is a schedule 2 state owned company incorporated in 1993 in terms of ATNS Company Act, Act 45 of 1993. Its mandate is to provide Air Traffic Management Solutions and associated services on behalf of the State in accordance with ICAO Standards, recommended practice as well as the South African Civil Aviation Regulations and Technical Standards.

(a) (i) and (iii) (bb) Processes and procedures

The development process of the three (3) year Corporate Plan is driven by the Departmental outcomes to demonstrate the entity’s contribution and support towards the national priorities as stipulated in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) and the National Development Plan (NDP).

  (a) (ii) (bb) Mechanism

The quarterly performance report is intended to provide feedback on the targets set in the Performance Agreement. The quarterly report is in a form of financial and non-financial performance indicators. Reporting on both financial and non-financial performance is important in measuring the performance of entities. While financial information (expenditure and revenue) is critical for determining the costs and efficiencies of programmes/objectives/activities, non-financial information is equally important for assessing progress towards predetermined performance targets.

The DoT has identified the following seven (7) key performance areas to assess progress towards ATNS achieving its targets.

  1. Transport Safety and Security
  2. Infrastructure Development and High-Level Investment Plan for Transport
  3. The Fight Against Fraud and Corruption
  4. Environmental Protection
  5. Training to Contribute to Job Creation
  6. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
  7. Employment Equity

(b) (i) The performance report is monitored on a quarterly basis.

(b) (ii) The Key Performance Indicators are measured and evaluated in accordance with the National Treasury performance management framework. This report is compiled and submitted to the DoT in accordance to the National Treasury Guidelines on the preparation of Quarterly Reports for Public Entities and Constitutional Institutions. Treasury Regulations 29.1.3(b) and 29.1.6(a)-(j) require public entities to report on a quarterly basis to their Executive Authority.

(b) (iii) The report is coordinated through the DoT Civil Aviation Oversight directorate.

  1. (i) The DoT Civil Aviation Branch is the champion for the department

(ii) The office of the CEO and Strategic Optimisation departments are champions at ATNS.

South African Civil Authority (SACAA)

(a) (i) (ii) (iii)

(aa) N/A

(bb) The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) as a Schedule 3A entity submits a five year Strategy and an Annual Performance Plan to the Department of Transport in compliance with the PFMA. The development process of the Strategy and APP ensures the alignment of the SACAA Strategic Objectives to both the National Development Plan and the Department of Transport Objectives and this alignment is clearly demonstrated in the same documents.

(b) (i) (ii) (iii) On an annual basis the various draft versions of the Strategy and APP are submitted three times to the Board and DoT during August, November and January of each year for approval. The APP includes a five year delivery plan and an annual quarterly delivery plan which incorporates SMART targets and this is monitored by submitting quarterly progress reports to the Board and ultimately to the Minister of Transport indicating what was achieved and how the SACAA plans on recovering on areas where there is non-delivery. On a quarterly basis the performance against targets is audited by the Internal Audit department and at the end of the financial year by the Auditor General. A portfolio of evidence is kept to prove achievement. An account of the annual performance is also included in the Annual Report of the SACAA which is submitted to Parliament during August/September each year.

(c) (i) N/A (ii) the champions of the process is the Director of Civil Aviation and the Board of the SACAA.

Railway Safety Regulator (RSR)

Given the RSR’s legislative mandate – to oversee, promote, enforce and monitor railway safety – its strategic objectives and respective outcomes contribute to the NDP’s broader social and economic development objectives and principles; assurance is provided for the safe conveyance of commuters and freight via rail. Alignment with the NDP’s broader objectives is ensured as follows:

(a) (i) (iii) Processes and procedures:

The RSR has regular engagement sessions with the DoT’s Rail Branch throughout each financial year when formulating its medium-term strategic framework (MTSF) and Annual Performance Plans (APP). As the Shareholder Department constructive input into the formulation of its outcomes-based MTSF and ensures that the entity contributes to the country’s NDP principles and objectives. Processes and procedures for input into the MTSF are contained in the RSR’s Guide for Strategy Development, which is PFMA compliant.

(a) (ii) Mechanisms:

DoT representation in the development of the RSR’s MTSF and Board approval of the MTSF.

(b) (i) Monitoring:

The DoT and the RSR’s Board monitors alignment. Quarterly organisational performance reports are quality controlled by the Board’s Audit and Risk Committee and presented to the Board for adoption. These reports are then submitted to the DoT for performance tracking. Annual and MTSF performance scores are compiled and submitted to the DoT where the former is used to track progress and the latter is used to assess the achievement of the entity’s strategic outcomes.

(b) (ii) Measurements:

Quarterly and annual organisational performance scores are used as measuring instruments. In addition, the annual State of Safety report is used as a tool to gauge the safety of the country’s railways and rail operations.

(b) (iii) The process is coordinated by the RSR’s Office of the CEO in collaboration with the DoT’s Rail Branch and the RSR’s Board Secretariat (with respect to Board input and guidance).

(c) (ii) The RSR’s Office of the CEO (wrt strategic targets and objectives) and Research Unit (wrt the State of Safety Report) within the Office of the COO.

Ports Regulator of SA (PRSA)

(a) (bb) The PRSA uses (i) the process of incorporating the NDP into the organisation’s Annual Performance Plan (APP) and its Strategic Plan via the (ii) mechanism of the MTSF which distils the first 5 year deliverables of the NDP into action items, as well as the Minister’s Performance agreement which she has shared with entities.

The DoT uses the (iii) procedure of Quarterly reporting on performance against APP targets, fulfilling:

(b) (i) monitoring by the department, in particular the Maritime Branch

(ii) measurement as overall percentage progress on the NDP aligned APP

(iii) detailed feedback by the Department to the entity on delivery progress on APP, thus effecting coordination.

(c) (ii) CEO and CFO

South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

  1. The Strategy and APP of the entity is aligned through an alignment matrix with the National Development Plan outcomes; the SONA 9 Point Plan and DoT Strategic objectives
  2. This is being monitored through quarterly management quality review actions; quarterly DoT oversight reporting documents to ensure APP alignment; annually through the Auditor General’s office to ensure the APP is delivering performance indicators and measures.
  3. The champion for SAMSA is the CEO Commander Tsietsi Mokhele.

Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)

(a) The process followed is as required by the PFMA in terms of the submission of the annual Corporate Plan of PRASA, a schedule 3B entity, with specific annual performance indicators and targets. The corporate plan with performance levels is presented to the Department and the Minister of Transport in February of each year. The performance levels agreed are incorporated into the Annual Shareholder Compact between the Board of PRASA and the Minister of Transport.

(b) As required by the PFMA and Treasury Regulations, PRASA reports to the Shareholder on a quarterly basis on the state of performance with reasons for variation and actions to improve performance.

(c) (ii) Chief Strategy Officer of PRASA: Mr Sipho Sithole

REPLY

(bb) Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA)

(a)(i)(ii)(iii) The Framework for Strategic and Annual Performance Plans guides the development of the medium term strategy and is set by the National Treasury. Therefore, (bb) the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) and), within the jurisdiction of its mandate when developing its five year Strategy (such as the 2015-2020 Strategy) has five (5) strategic outcome goals that are aligned to the National Development Plan.

(b) Monitoring is done through the use of quarterly performance reporting, which is submitted to the National Department of Transport. The submitted quarterly performance is (ii) measured against the set targets as per the approved Annual Performance Plan.

(c) Executive Managers, the CEO and the Board are the champions for the CBRTA

(bb) Road Accident Fund (RAF)

(a)(bb) To ensure that outcomes achieved by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) are aligned to the National Development Plan, the RAF’s

(i) processes, (ii) mechanisms and (iii) procedures are aligned to the Framework for Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans (the Framework) established by National Treasury to provide for: timeframes for the submission, tabling and reporting on Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans; clarification of the relationship between institutional plans, policy and budgets; details and definitions of key concepts and information to be reported on in specific sections of the Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans, placing the emphasis on performance information; and, templates that are used in drafting the Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans. Consequently, the strategic objectives and performance targets set out in the RAF’s Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans, are presented to the Department of Transport, and ties back to the National Development Plan,

(b) the outcomes achievement by the RAF in terms of its Annual Performance Plans are (i) monitored by the RAF’s Strategy, Risk and Compliance Department, Internal Audit Department and external auditors, and reported to the Board, the Department of Transport, the National Treasury and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (ii) the outcomes are measured against the respective performance indicators set out in the approved RAF’s Annual Performance Plans, and (iii) the measurement of such outcomes are internally coordinated by the RAF’s Strategy, Risk and Compliance Department, and

(c)(ii) Executive Managers, the CEO and the Board are the champions for the RAF

 

(bb) Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC

  1. (i) The RTMC aligns its strategic planning cycle to the set National Treasury Guidelines and ensures that all applicable legislation and policies are taken into consideration during planning. Workshops are and review sessions are held to ensure alignment of RTMC strategic plans with the National Development Plan.

(ii) Standardised scorecards and performance reviews are used to as mechanisms and procedures to ensure that outcomes are aligned to the National Development Plan.

  1. (i) Monthly internal performance reviews and quarterly performance reports are used to monitor performance against set objectives.

(ii) Road Traffic Information is used to measure performance against set targets.

(iii) Quarterly reviews by the Management Committee and reports to the Board are used as coordinating mechanisms to ensure sustained alignment with the National Development Plan.

  1. (i) Executive Managers, the CEO and the Board are the champions for the RTMC

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA);

(a)(ii) the Minister has instructed the Department to engage with the entities and identify the overlapping areas of their functional responsibilities with a view to strengthening the operations of all entities and the policy mandate of the department.

(b)(i) the department is required to provide a report on the status of the overlaps, as well as recommendations for the required interventions by the end of the second quarter of the 2016/17 financial year.

(b)(ii) the envisaged timelines for implementing the short-term interventions are the end of the 2016/17 financial year. For the long-term interventions and permanent solutions which would require the legislative amendments to the various Acts, the timelines are the 2017/18 financial year. The process is being coordinated through the office of the Deputy Director General: Roads, Transport

(c) (ii)the champion in the Road Traffic Infringement Agency is the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer.

South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL

(a) SANRAL’s Board and Management are conscious of the need to ensure the achievement of the vision of the NDP through its operations. The Board directs SANRAL strategy to enable this. SANRAL’s 6 Strategic Outcome Oriented Goals are directly aligned to 8 of the 14 MTSF outcomes, the main one being Outcome 6: An efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network. SANRAL’s mandate of the management of the national road network is encapsulated in this outcome.

(b) Monitoring, Measurement and Coordination of Performance Information

SANRAL has identified 9 Strategic Objectives to achieve the Strategic Goals. Performance to achieve the strategic objectives is monitored, measured and reported in terms of SANRAL’s Performance Management Policy. The attainment of the strategic objectives is monitored through key performance indicators within every objective. The key performance indicators have targets which must be attained annually. This is documented in SANRAL’s Annual Performance Plan (APP), which is developed every year, approved by the Board and finally approved by the Minister of Transport.

Performance is reported quarterly in the case of the majority of key performance indicators. The remainder are reported semi-annually or annually, determined by the type of indicator. The performance report is submitted quarterly to the Minister, following approval by SANRAL’s Board. This is checked by the Public Entity Oversight division of the Roads Branch in the DoT and a report is provided to the Minister of Transport.

The final performance information at the end of each financial year is audited by the Auditor General (AG) and then published in the Annual Report. Interim reports may also be audited by internal audit or the AG.

(c) SANRAL: Company Secretary

12 April 2016 - NW579

Profile picture: Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI

Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What were the legal costs incurred by each (a) local, (b) district and (c) metropolitan municipality in the 2014-15 financial year?

Reply:

The question by the Honourable member should be directed to the National Treasury. The National Treasury manages the expenditure and the budgets of municipalities in line with the provisions in the Municipal Finance Management Act. Municipalities report budgetary matters in terms of s71 of the MFMA and are best placed to respond to matters relating to budget and expenditures of all municipalities.

12 April 2016 - NW619

Profile picture: Groenewald, Mr HB

Groenewald, Mr HB to ask the Minister of Transport

1)What is the reason why the roadworks to the R24, also called the P16/1, from Olifantsnek to Rustenburg were discontinued; (2) when (a) construction work to the road will be resumed and (b) is the planned completion date for the roadworks; (3) whether she will make a statement about the matter?

Reply:

1. The R24 (P16/1) from km 12, 5 (Olifantshoek) to km 0.0 (Buiten ST, Rustenburg) was split into two sections. Section One km 0.0 to km 4.9 (Project One) and km 4.9 to km 12 ,5 (Project Two). These projects were procured approximately 24 months apart.

2(a) Project One was awarded to DIP Civils in April 2013. In February 2014 the pace of construction slowed down considerably and it was evident that the Contractor was experiencing some financial problems that led into the contractor seeking for a and entered into Business Rescue in April 2014. Unfortunately the Business Rescue was not successful and a new contractor was appointed together with the Liquidator in October 2014. This project is scheduled to be completed by end April 2016.

(b) The Second Project commenced in March 2015 and is scheduled to be completed in September 2017. Currently progress is on schedule.

(3) As part of government’s key delivery programme being implemented by SANRAL, the Minister has no plans to single out this programme through any form of statement on this road.

12 April 2016 - NW751

Profile picture: McLoughlin, Mr AR

McLoughlin, Mr AR to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)(a) What was the total number of telephone calls made from each municipal office in the country on (i)(aa) 7 March 2015 and (bb) 8 March 2015 and (ii)(aa) 5 March 2016 and (bb) 6 March 2016 respectively and (b) how much did the total amount of telephone calls for each day cost; (2) (a) what was the total number of pool vehicle journeys undertaken by all pool vehicles in each municipality in the country on (i)(aa) 7 March 2015 and (bb) 8 March 2015 and (ii)(aa) 5 March 2016 and (bb) 6 March 2016 respectively, (b) what was the total distance travelled by pool vehicles of each municipality and (c) how much did the total amount of pool vehicle journeys cost for each day?

Reply:

The question by the Honourable Member is more on operational matters which the Ministry at the national level, does not monitor. The question can therefore best be responded to by the Municipal Managers and the Honourable Member may consider using his representation in those councils.

12 April 2016 - NW716

Profile picture: Lekota, Mr M

Lekota, Mr M to ask the President of the Republic

(1)Whether, with reference to his address at the opening of the House of Traditional Leaders on 3 March 2016 wherein he stated that the very law that we have today regarding land restitution is lopsided against black persons, he has instructed his Executive to act immediately to rectify the specified law, informed by a new policy, so that both black persons and current land owners who are not black know exactly (a) how the Government intends to resolve the matter of land claims once and forever and (b) in what period of time; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant (i) details and (ii) time frames; (2) whether he will make a full statement on how the Government will radically increase the pace and the extent of land reform so that the aspirations of black persons are met and restitution is completed

Reply:

1. What I said when I addressed the National House of Traditional Leaders is that a vast number of black people in South Africa had already been dispossessed of their land when the Natives Land Act was passed in 1913. I then asked a question whether in view of this fact it made sense to have 1913 as the starting date for land restitution.

By posing the question mentioned above I was not saying the existing policy on land restitution in no longer operational. Should there be a need for a change of policy in this area, proper procedures of policy development will be followed, which will include consulting important stakeholders in the sector.

2. The pace of land reform has been very slow. One of the major contributors has been the matter of property valuations, which resulted to some landowners pricing the land under consideration for land redistribution very high. It is for this reason that we submitted to Parliament the Property Valuation Bill, which Parliament subsequently passed into law. One of the provisions of the Property Valuation Act is the establishment of the Office of the Valuer-General, which is tasked with the responsibility of valuating property that has been identified for expropriation and land reform purposes.

It is our belief that the establishment of this office will assist in accelerating the pace of land reform.

12 April 2016 - NW593

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Mr TW

Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4092 on 8 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information from the metropolitan municipalities; if not, why not; if so, when will the information be made available as requested?

Reply:

The requested information from Metropolitan Municipalities is yet to be received and the efforts are being made to follow up on them. The Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

12 April 2016 - NW796

Profile picture: Cardo, Dr MJ

Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Economic Development

Did the Competition Commission investigate allegations of market dominance by VFS Global in the visa support services market to foreign embassies after the Commission was approached to do so; if not, why not; if so; what were the findings?

Reply:

On 29 February 2014 and 27 January 2016 the Commission received complaints related to a visa service provider.

The first complaint was that the visa service provider had allegedly concluded contracts with various foreign governments in terms of which it had been given exclusive rights to provide visa support services, and was charging excessive prices for its visa support services.

After investigating the complaint, the CC decided not to refer the matter to the Competition Tribunal, due to jurisdictional issues relating to the conduct of foreign governments. The Commission also found that the prices that were being charged were in fact aligned with the embassies’ own tendering frameworks.

The Commission did however engage in advocacy efforts with the embassies concerned, to make them aware that such practices could have anti-competitive effects.

On 27 January 2016, the Commission received a complaint that the same company was abusing its dominance in the provision of visa support services to international travellers to South Africa who have to use South African embassies abroad. This complaint is still under investigation by the Commission.

-END-

12 April 2016 - NW226

Profile picture: Chewane, Dr H

Chewane, Dr H to ask the Minister of Health

Has his department awarded any contracts to companies indirectly or directly owned by certain persons (names furnished) in the (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 financial years; if so, in each specified financial year, (i) how many times were such contracts awarded and (ii) for what amount?

Reply:

No.

END.

12 April 2016 - NW347

Profile picture: Maynier, Mr D

Maynier, Mr D to ask the President of the Republic

(1)Whether he has offered the former Minister of Finance, Mr Nhlanhla Nene, another strategic position; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was the specified person offered the position and (b) what position was he offered; (2) whether he consulted the specified person about the specified strategic position prior to being removed from the finance portfolio; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the specified person has accepted the specified strategic position; if not, why did he reject the specified strategic position; if so, when did he accept the specified strategic position?

Reply:

  1. I have publicly stated on several occasions that South Africa nominated Mr Nhlanhla Nene for the position of head of the African Regional Centre of the New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS Bank. Processes to make an appointment to that position are underway under the aegis of the New Development Bank in Shanghai, China.
  2. See the reply to question 1 above.
  3. See the reply to question 1 above.

12 April 2016 - NW500

Profile picture: Motau, Mr SC

Motau, Mr SC to ask the President of the Republic

What amount was spent in respect of each case on (a) appearance fees, (b) consulting fees and (c) any other related costs to procure the services of (i) certain legal representatives (names furnished) and (ii) any other legal (aa) representatives, (bb) advisors and (cc) consultants in the Economic Freedom Fighters v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others and Democratic Alliance v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others case, heard on 9 February 2016, in the Constitutional Court?

Reply:

The matter was recently finalized by the Constitutional Court. The process that is followed in government regarding the payment of legal fees is as follows: Counsel would submit their bills to the State Attorney. The State Attorney is required to verify the bills and effect payment. Thereafter the Bills are submitted to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The Department of Justice invoices the relevant Departments for a refund, in this case, the Presidency. The Presidency will only be able to ascertain the amount spent after the above process is concluded.

12 April 2016 - NW587

Profile picture: Motau, Mr SC

Motau, Mr SC to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4256 on 21 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information; if not, why not; if so, when will this information be made available as requested?

Reply:

The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

 

12 April 2016 - NW779

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether any funding was made available in each metropolitan municipality as sponsorship for (a) sports and/or (b) cultural events in the (i) 2014-15 financial year and (ii) since 1 July 2015; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (a) which metropolitan municipality, (b) for what purpose and (c) what was the amount involved; (2) whether the return on investment was measured in each specified case; if not, why not; if so, what was the return on investment in each specified case; (3) whether any (a) councillor and/or (b) municipal official and/or (c) any family member of any (i) councillor and/or (ii) municipal official benefitted in any way from the specified sponsorships; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (aa) what action has been taken in this regard, if any, and (bb) what are the further relevant details in this regard?

Reply:

The question by the Honourable member should be directed to the National Treasury. The National Treasury manages the expenditure and the budgets of municipalities in line with the provisions in the Municipal Finance Management Act. Municipalities report budgetary matters in terms of s71 of the MFMA and are best placed to respond to matters relating to budget and expenditures of all municipalities.

12 April 2016 - NW521

Profile picture: Khubisa, Mr NM

Khubisa, Mr NM to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services

In view of the recent protracted strike by post office employees around the country, (a) how many post offices were part of the strike and in which provinces and districts are the post offices located and (b) how many employees in the post office joined the strike; (2) What are the relevant details of the grievances complained of by the post office employees, inter alia, salaries and working conditions; (3) Whether the specified grievances have been finally resolved; if so, what is the nature of resolutions and or settlement reached?

Reply:

 

SAPO has advised me as follows:

There has been no recent strike at SAPO, the last strike was in 2014.

(1)(a) 851 Post Offices (including 13 mail centres) were closed across the country at the start of the strike. In the third and fourth week 634 post offices (including 14 mail centres) and 714 post offices (including 9 mail centres) were respectively closed. The closures were mostly in the Gauteng Province followed by Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. These were mainly in; Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. The closures in other provinces were sporadic in nature.

(b) A total of 4656 employees were reported to be on strike. However the level of intimidation and violence that was experienced during the strike led to more employees not being at their workstations during the strike due to fears of intimidation and violence.

(2) The details of the grievances included:

    (i) Back pay for the 2014 salary increases

     (ii) Casual employees requesting full time employment with full benefits

     (iii) Permanent Part time employees (flexible labour contracts) requesting full time employment

     (iv) Equal work for equal pay

    (v) The 588 employees that were previously dismissed due to illegal strike but then re-employed in 2013 after agreements between SAPO and labour Unions demanded re-instatement of full benefits

(3) The Minister established the National Leadership Forum at SAPO in October 2014. This was used as a platform to re-establish the engagements between representatives of the organised labour and SAPO management with the Department attending as an observer. SAPO workforce forums were subsequently established and settlement agreements reached with labour representatives taking into account SAPO’s financial situation. These agreements included:

    (i) Back pay for 2014/2015 salary increases

    (ii) Conversion of casual and permanent part-time workers to permanent full time employees

    (iii) Equal pay for work of equal value

    (iv) 2015/2016 salary increases

Of the above agreements, the conversion of the temporary employees (casuals and flexible labour contracts) to permanent employees started in 2014 in a phased-in approach but was stopped due to financial constraints. Other settlements agreements were not honoured altogether due the entity’s continued constrained cash-flow position as the entity battled to recover financially post the strike action.

12 April 2016 - NW308

Profile picture: Schmidt, Adv H

Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Do (a) senior managers and (b) financial and supply chain personnel of each metropolitan municipality comply with the minimum competencies set out in the Municipal Finance Management Act; Act 56 of 2003, if not, (i) has each specified municipality notified the relevant MEC in the relevant province of the non-compliance and applied for an extension, (ii) what steps has each specified metropolitan municipality taken to comply with the minimum competencies and (iii) by when would each specified metropolitan municipality comply with the minimum requirements set out in the Municipal Finance Management Act?

Reply:

The requested information is not readily available within the department. We are however, collating the information from both the Provincial CoGTA departments and the Metropolitan Municipalities and will submit as soon as we have concluded. The Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

12 April 2016 - NW766

Profile picture: Volmink, Mr HC

Volmink, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Health

(1)What has been the breakdown in expenditure on air ambulance services in the Northern Cape (a) in the (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 financial years and (b) since 1 April 2015 to the latest specified date for which information is available; (2) have third parties been used to provide such services; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) which third parties were used in each case and (b) what was the expenditure on each of the third parties (i) in the specified financial years and (ii) period; (3) are all air ambulance services in the Northern Cape operational; if not (a) why not and (b) when did the specified services stop?

Reply:

According to the Northern Cape Department of Health, the response is as follows:

1. (a) The breakdown in expenditure on air ambulance services

    (i) 2012-2013: Unable to source information;

    (ii) 2013-2014: R14,359,809.26;

    (iii) 2014-2015: R11,768,985.19;

(b) 2015 – 18 March 2016: R10,851,059.19

2. Third parties were not used to provide such services.

3.The fixed wing aircraft, Aerocare (Ambulance Air Africa) is operational in the Northern Cape Province. The current contract operates on a month-to-month system until National Treasury finalises the new tender for aeromedical services.

END.

12 April 2016 - NW582

Profile picture: Rabotapi, Mr MW

Rabotapi, Mr MW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4186 on 21 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information; if not, why not; if so, when will the specified information be made available?

Reply:

The requested information is yet to be received from the Metropolitan Municipalities. We are however, making efforts to follow-up on it and the Honourable Member will therefore be updated on progress.

 

12 April 2016 - NW393

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether any municipality has (a) transferred any funds to any political party or (b) budgeted for funding of any political party in the (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16 and/or (iii) 2016-17 financial years; if so, in each municipality where this occurred, (aa) in terms of what legislation were these transfers or budgets made, (bb) which political parties received funding, and (cc) how much was budgeted or transferred in each case?

Reply:

The question by the Honourable member should be directed to the National Treasury. The National Treasury manages the expenditure and the budgets of municipalities in line with the provisions in the Municipal Finance Management Act. Municipalities report budgetary matters in terms of s71 of the MFMA and are best placed to respond to matters relating to budget and expenditures of all municipalities.

12 April 2016 - NW854

Profile picture: Mashabela, Ms N

Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What is the total number of children with disabilities who are in the schooling system in terms of (a) age, (b) province, (c) grade and (d) race in 2016?

Reply:

The Department is able to provide information for learners with disabilities in the schooling system for 2015. The Department is currently collating 2016 learner information. Below is the summary of information on learners with disabilities as reported by the Provincial Education Departments.

(a)(b)

Table 1: Number of learners with disabilities, in special schools, by age, in 2015 see link:

http://www.pmg.org.za/files/RNW854Province.docx

Source: Special Needs Education Centre’s SNAP 2015

(c)

Table 2: Number of learners with disabilities, in special schools, by grade, in 2015

Note1: Kindly note that not all Special Needs Education (SNE) centre’s learners are classified

into grade.

Grade

Total

Grade R

4 102

Grade 1

7 939

Grade 2

6 046

Grade 3

6 679

Grade 4

4 293

Grade 5

4 283

Grade 6

5 057

Grade 7

5 214

Grade 8

6 134

Grade 9

5 409

Grade 10

4 181

Grade 11

2 384

Grade 12

1 828

Special

55 097*

Total

118 645

Source: Special Needs Education Centre’s SNAP 2015

* Learners not classified according to the grade.

(d)

Table 3: Number of learners with disabilities, in special schools, by race, in 2015

RACE

TOTAL

AFRICABN/ BLACK

77 830

COLOURED

20 820

INDIAN/ASIANS

  2 377

OTHER

     263

WHITE

17 355

TOTAL

118 645

Source: Special Needs Education Centre’s SNAP 2015

12 April 2016 - NW830

Profile picture: Majola, Mr TR

Majola, Mr TR to ask the Minister of Police

Whether, with reference to his undertaking in his reply to question 3950 on 2 December 2015, he has provided to Parliament (a) the list of shortlisted candidates for the filling of the vacancy for the Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and (b) copies of their respective curricula vitae; if not, why not; if so, by when?

Reply:

Due to the court challenge relating to the appointment of the Head: DPCI which is currently before the High( Gauteng North).The list of shortlisted candidates and their curriculam vitae will be delivered to Parliament once that process is finalized.

12 April 2016 - NW839

Profile picture: Boshoff, Ms SH

Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Are the qualifications of teachers verified with the SA Qualifications Authority (SAQA) prior to their appointment to teaching posts; if not, why not; if so, how many teachers (a) have had their qualifications verified by SAQA (i) in the (aa) 2011, (bb) 2012, (cc) 2013, (dd) 2014 and (ee) 2015 academic years and (ii) since 1 January 2016 and (b) how many were found to have misrepresented their qualifications during the specified academic years and period?

Reply:

There is no requirement for the verification of national teacher education qualifications of South African Citizens by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

However, all teachers are required to submit their qualifications to education departments for evaluation to be employed in education. The policy on the Criteria for the Evaluation and Recognition for Qualifications for Employment in Education, former Department of Education, 2000, published in Notice No. 935, Government Gazette No. 21565 of 22 September, 2000 is in the process of being revised. This policy describes the process and procedures for the evaluation, approval and recognition of initial qualifications, advanced and postgraduate qualifications for employment in education and the assigning of Requirement Education Qualification Value (REQVs) to these qualifications.

The principal end users of this policy are evaluators of teacher qualifications in national and provincial departments of education and admissions officials at universities and higher education institutions that offer teacher education to ensure that teacher applicants are admitted to the correct and most appropriate qualification type and programme.

 

12 April 2016 - NW355

Profile picture: Bhanga, Mr BM

Bhanga, Mr BM to ask the Minister of Basic Education

What was the (a) salary and (b) performance bonus of each public school principal in 2015?

Reply:

What was the (a) salary and (b) performance bonus of each public school principal in 2015?

(a) The table below shows a summary of Principal annual and monthly basic salary. The annual and monthly salaries are summarised by the level of a principal and the number of principals on each salary notch. This is a summary of the position as at December 2015.

Annual Basic Salary (R)

Monthly Basic Salary (R )

Number of Principal per level

(level is determined by size of the school)

   

Principal P1

Principal P2

Principal P3

Principal P4

Principal P5

Principal S1

Grand Total

123 000

10 250

         

1

1

162 516

13 543

         

1

1

164 157

13 680

         

1

1

169 113

14 093

         

1

1

170 814

14 235

         

1

1

179 532

14 961

         

1

1

188 673

15 723

         

1

1

190 569

15 881

         

1

1

194 400

16 200

         

1

1

196 335

16 361

         

1

1

198 297

16 525

         

2

2

200 478

16 707

         

1

1

202 476

16 873

         

1

1

206 547

17 212

         

1

1

208 620

17 385

         

2

2

212 811

17 734

         

4

4

214 929

17 911

         

2

2

217 074

18 090

         

1

1

219 258

18 272

         

4

4

221 445

18 454

         

1

1

223 674

18 640

         

3

3

228 165

19 014

         

5

5

230 445

19 204

         

3

3

232 752

19 396

         

4

4

235 077

19 590

         

3

3

237 420

19 785

         

5

5

239 790

19 983

         

4

4

242 169

20 181

         

6

6

244 617

20 385

         

8

8

247 062

20 589

         

3

3

249 528

20 794

         

2

2

252 012

21 001

         

2

2

254 541

21 212

         

1

1

257 082

21 424

         

8

8

259 650

21 638

         

4

4

262 254

21 855

         

8

8

264 885

22 074

         

4

4

267 531

22 294

108

       

4

112

270 195

22 516

43

       

5

48

272 904

22 742

87

       

5

92

275 622

22 969

65

       

8

73

278 397

23 200

53

       

5

58

281 157

23 430

27

       

1

28

283 986

23 666

20

       

1

21

286 815

23 901

5

         

5

289 698

24 142

6

       

3

9

292 581

24 382

36

       

1

37

297 114

24 760

21

         

21

300 087

25 007

21

       

1

22

303 105

25 259

37

       

1

38

306 111

25 509

72

       

4

76

309 189

25 766

113

       

2

115

312 267

26 022

84

       

4

88

315 396

26 283

72

       

3

75

318 543

26 545

69

814

     

4

887

321 723

26 810

71

405

     

4

480

324 957

27 080

66

566

     

4

636

328 203

27 350

50

397

     

1

448

331 494

27 625

41

395

     

1

437

334 809

27 901

19

235

     

1

255

338 163

28 180

19

98

     

1

118

341 538

28 462

9

76

       

85

344 946

28 746

11

95

       

106

348 384

29 032

12

69

       

81

351 870

29 323

9

107

       

116

355 410

29 618

6

95

       

101

358 956

29 913

6

132

       

138

359 655

29 971

 

1

       

1

362 547

30 212

5

291

       

296

366 159

30 513

7

419

     

1

427

369 810

30 818

9

390

       

399

373 524

31 127

12

432

       

444

377 259

31 438

10

409

     

1

420

381 027

31 752

4

404

691

     

1099

384 831

32 069

4

341

376

     

721

388 683

32 390

6

288

538

     

832

392 574

32 715

5

203

480

1

   

689

396 510

33 043

5

149

393

     

547

400 464

33 372

4

194

332

     

530

404 451

33 704

3

142

100

     

245

408 528

34 044

7

111

47

     

165

412 596

34 383

5

110

62

     

177

416 721

34 727

5

131

59

     

195

420 894

35 075

3

156

123

     

282

427 413

35 618

 

50

59

     

109

431 691

35 974

 

37

91

     

128

435 993

36 333

 

52

194

     

246

440 364

36 697

 

35

267

477

   

779

444 753

37 063

 

64

391

315

 

1

771

449 205

37 434

 

21

353

326

   

700

453 714

37 810

 

4

319

336

   

659

458 223

38 185

1

7

335

244

   

587

462 819

38 568

 

6

371

182

   

559

467 448

38 954

 

13

299

48

   

360

472 128

39 344

1

10

238

22

 

1

272

476 835

39 736

 

7

187

29

   

223

481 602

40 134

 

13

151

38

   

202

486 432

40 536

 

13

110

53

   

176

491 301

40 942

 

14

107

42

   

163

496 206

41 351

 

6

87

62

   

155

501 168

41 764

 

11

78

101

   

190

506 178

42 182

 

12

49

115

   

176

511 245

42 604

 

10

49

154

   

213

516 348

43 029

 

8

42

181

   

231

521 517

43 460

 

7

49

196

   

252

523 788

43 649

   

1

     

1

526 743

43 895

 

10

79

231

   

320

531 999

44 333

 

11

52

218

   

281

537 324

44 777

 

2

26

231

1

 

260

542 688

45 224

   

4

191

65

 

260

548 112

45 676

 

1

4

172

47

 

224

553 614

46 135

   

6

88

45

 

139

559 134

46 595

 

1

5

53

58

 

117

564 738

47 062

 

1

2

19

40

 

62

570 378

47 532

 

1

2

10

45

 

58

576 078

48 007

 

1

2

9

9

 

21

581 838

48 487

 

2

3

12

1

 

18

587 646

48 971

 

1

4

13

2

 

20

593 541

49 462

   

3

11

2

 

16

599 460

49 955

   

1

8

2

 

11

605 460

50 455

     

1

3

 

4

611 517

50 960

   

3

5

3

 

11

617 637

51 470

     

11

12

 

23

623 793

51 983

     

3

19

 

22

630 033

52 503

     

3

28

 

31

636 330

53 028

   

1

 

28

 

29

642 702

53 559

     

2

26

 

28

649 149

54 096

       

19

 

19

655 635

54 636

     

2

20

 

22

662 178

55 182

     

1

18

 

19

668 814

55 735

       

4

 

4

675 501

56 292

       

3

 

3

682 236

56 853

       

1

 

1

768 762

64 064

   

1

     

1

Grand Total

 

1 354

8 086

7 226

4 216

501

170

21 553

Source: PERSAL

(b) The current performance management dispensation for school-based educators does not provide for a performance bonus.

12 April 2016 - NW678

Profile picture: Hunsinger, Dr CH

Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Transport

How many persons were suspended with full pay in (i) her department and (ii) each entity reporting to her, excluding the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, in the (aa) 2012-13, (bb) 2013-14 and (cc) 2014-15 financial years, (b) what amount was paid to each of the specified persons in each of the specified entities in each month in each of the specified financial years, (c) what were the reasons for (i) the suspensions, (ii) suspending the persons with full pay and (iii) the delays in resolving the suspensions in each case respectively and (d) what steps is she taking to resolve these suspensions?

Reply:

Department

a) How many persons have been suspended with full pay within (i) her department.

(aa) 2012/13 – None

(bb) 2013-14 – 1 X DDG for 10 months. The value for the duration is R983 851.49

(cc) 2014-15 financial years – Five (05) employees to the value of R1 015 228.91

  • 2 Deputy Directors-General (3 Months and 15 days)
  • 1 Director (3 months and 20 days)
  • 1 Deputy Director (3 months and 20 days)
  • 1 Assistant Director (4 months and 10 days)

(b) in each specified case, what (i) is the value of these payments for each month by her department

2013/2014 FINACIAL YEAR

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

MONTH

VALUE OF PAYMENTS

One employee

May 2013

R0

 

June

R77 356.42

 

July

R94 116.98

 

August

R94 116.98

 

September

R153 559.29

 

October

R94 116.98

 

November

R94 116.98

 

December

R94 116.98

 

January 2014

R94 116.98

 

February

R94 116.98

 

March

R94 116.98

TOTAL

R 983 851.49

2014/2015 FINACIAL YEAR

Employee 1

April 2014

R138 386.61

TOTAL

R138 386.61

   

Employee 2

July 2014

R118 521.91

 

August 2014

R124 311.78

 

September 2014

R53 130.51

TOTAL

 

R295 964.20

     

Employee 3

October 2014

R27 974.57

 

November 2014

R70 907.76

 

December

R70 907.76

 

January

R70 907.76

 

February

R23 312.74

TOTAL

 

R264 010.00

     

Employee 4

October 2014

R16 478.74

 

November 2014

R41 769.04

 

December 2014

R41 769.04

 

January 2015

R41 769.04

 

February 2015

R13 732.29

Total

 

R155 518.14

     

Employee 5

October 2014

R36 545.71

 

November 2014

R37 020.79

 

December 2014

R37 020.79

 

January 2015

R37 020.79

 

February 2015

R13 741.90

Total

 

R161 349.96

Grand Total – 2014/15

 

R1 015 228.91

(c) what were the reasons for (i) these suspensions,

The officials committed serious allegations of misconduct that warranted precautionary suspension.

(ii) reasons for suspending the persons with full pay

Precautionary suspension is always with full pay in terms of Chapter 7, clause 2(b) of the Senior Management Service Handbook and clause 7.2 of the Disciplinary Code and Procedure (Resolution 1 of 2003).

(iii) the delay in resolving the suspension in each case respectively

The complexity of the investigations is the cause of the delay.

(d) what steps is she taking to resolve these suspensions?

All the above-mentioned cases were resolved.

Airports Company South Africa SOC Limited (ACSA)

(a)(ii) The Airports Company South Africa, placed employees under suspension with full pay pending investigation and possible disciplinary action during the financial years under review as follows:

(aa) 2012/13

During the period under review, nine (9) employees were placed under suspension with full pay for the average period of approximately three (3) months (92 days). The total value of the salaries paid to the nine (9) employees during the period under review for suspension with full pay amounted to R 286 889.90.

All cases were concluded, with outcomes reached within set timeframes of investigation, resolution and finalization of such matters.

(bb) 2013/14

During the financial year under review, nineteen (19) employees were placed on suspension with full pay for the average period of approximately three (3) months (95 days). The total amount of salaries paid to the nineteen (19) employees during the period of suspension under review amounted to R 880 462.11

All cases were concluded, with outcomes reached within set timeframes of investigation, resolution and finalization of such matters.

(cc) 2014/15

During the financial year under review, thirty four (34) employees were placed under suspension with full pay for the average period of below three (3) months (77 days). The total amount of salaries paid to the thirty four (34) employees during the period under review of suspension with full pay amounted to R 2 298 887.60

All cases were concluded, with outcomes reached within set timeframes for investigation, resolution and finalization of such matters.

(c)(i) and (ii) Reasons for suspension and disciplinary action during the requested review period

The reasons for suspensions to facilitate investigation and conclusion of matters during the period under review were many and varied as reflected in the list below:

  • Assault
  • Breach of policy
  • Collusion
  • Concealment of information
  • Damage to property
  • Desertion of post
  • Dishonesty
  • Embezzlement of funds
  • Forging of sick note
  • Fraud
  • Gross negligence and/or competence, violation of policy.
  • Illegal micro lending
  • Insubordination
  • Intimidation, abusive and insulting
  • Misrepresentation
  • Misuse of property
  • Non-disclosure of criminal record
  • Sleeping on duty
  • Tempering
  • Theft
  • Unacceptable conduct
  • Unauthorised conduct
  • Use of foul and insulting language

(iii) Conclusion of disciplinary action during the requested review period

All of the suspensions with full pay for the three (3) sets of financial years have been finalised and there were no delays in the investigation and finalisation of disciplinary processes. Outcomes of majority of the disciplinary processes mainly resulted in decisions of:

  • Dismissal
  • Acquittal and
  • Final written warnings

(d) Solution for the reduction of suspensions with full pay

A benchmark has been set for resolution of suspensions with full pay within a period of three (3) months. Suspension of employees with full pay will be used as an action of last resort in deserving cases of serious financial and criminal misconduct. While some suspensions with full pay may be longer than others, the average period of three months (3) will be the guiding principle.

South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

  1. (i) N/A (ii) the South African Civil Aviation Authority suspensions are listed below for (aa) there were none, for 2012/13, (bb) there were none for 2013/14, and (cc) for 2014/15 as per table below. (ii) (aa) (bb) (iii) and (iv) are stated in the table below.

Name Department

No. of days suspended

Reasons for suspension

Payment value of suspension in rand per month

Delay and Reasons

Action taken to resolve the matters

Accident and Incident Investigation Division

90 days

Serious misconduct relating to misrepresentation of qualifications

R59,782.76 x3 months

R179.348.28

No delay*

An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed.

Air Safety Operations Division

90 days

Serious Misconduct unethical conduct when doing inspection and audit.

R70,654.22 x 3 months

R211,962.66

No delay*

An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed.

Air Safety Operations Division

90 days

Serious misconduct relating to conflict of interest and contravention of Civil Aviation Act, section 98.

R51,442.43 x 3 months

R154,327.29

No delay*

The employee resigned before the disciplinary hearing was held.

Air Safety Operations Division

14 days

Serious misconduct relating to conviction on criminal case.

N/A

No delay*

An internal disciplinary hearing was conducted and the charges against the employee were dismissed by the Chairperson of the hearing.

Air Safety Operations Division

120 days

Serious misconduct relating misrepresentation of flying experience.

R97,707.48 x 4 months

R390,829.92

Under the control of external investigations.

An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed.

Air Safety Operations Division

150 days

Serious misconduct relating to misrepresentation of qualifications.

R57,258.57 x 5 months

R286,292.85

Some delay experienced during festive holidays.

An internal disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was dismissed.

Total

   

R1,222,761.00

   

Footnote: * means that the suspension was within the SACAA Disciplinary Management Policy.

Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Limited (ATNS)

Department

Date Suspended

Date Suspension Uplifted Termination

Value of payment per month

Total of payment whilst on suspension

Reason for Suspension

Reason for Delay in resolving matter

What is being done to resolve

Reason for suspension with full pay

2012/2013

ATNS

25 September 2012

24 December 2012

R56 767.00

R163 307.00

KPMG Audit –

Whistle blowing matter

Matter was dealt with as expedient as possible taking the audit into consideration.

Matter concluded

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

ATNS

31 August 2012

14 September 2012

R20 833.33

R10 575.00

Gross Insubordination

Non availability of internal qualified Chairman.

Matter concluded.

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

ATNS

25 September 2012

24 December 2012

R72 399.00

R211 618.00

KPMG Audit

Whistle blowing matter

Matter was dealt with as expedient as possible taking the audit into consideration.

Matter concluded.

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

ATNS

28 March 2013

1 August 2013

R153 333.00

R634 561.00

Gross Insubordination

External legal team appointed based on seniority.

Matter concluded.

Employee dismissed.

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

2013/2014

ATNS

4 July 2013

5 September 2013

R128 808.00

R271 466.00

Gross dishonesty

External legal team appointed due to seniority of employee.

Matter concluded.

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

ATNS

13 March 2014

25 July 2014

R80 424.00

R357 004.00

Gross Insubordination

External legal team appointed due to the seniority of the employee.

Matter concluded

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

2014/2015

ATNS

16 May 2014

31 October 2015

R111 435.00

R1 950 958.07

Whistle Blower on allegations of racism, discrimination, intimidation and victimisation of black employees.

Extensive internal disciplinary hearing finalised.

Matter Concluded. Employee resigned before finalization of disciplinary hearing.

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

ATNS

16 May 2014

25 September 2015

R94 350.00

R1 557 411.00

Whistle Blower on allegations of racism, discrimination, intimidation and victimisation of black employees.

Extensive internal disciplinary hearing finalized.

 

Matter Concluded.

Employee dismissed.

According to the Labour Relations Act, a suspension preceding a disciplinary hearing is a preventative suspension and must always be with full pay

Ports Regulator of South Africa

The Ports Regulator has never suspended any of its employees since starting operations in 2007.

South African Maritime Safety Authority ( SAMSA)

  1. (ii)

Number of persons suspended

Number of months person suspended

Amount p/m

Reasons for suspension

Why Suspension with full pay?

Reasons for delays in resolving the matter

What are the Steps to resolve the matter?

2012-13

1

3 months

R69 141.49

Misconduct

Precautionary suspension

CCMA process took long

Resolved

2013-14

1

1 month

R28 818.12

Misconduct

Precautionary suspension

Hearing process

Resolved

2014-15

1

3 months

R70 616.58

Misconduct

Precautionary suspension

Investigation

Matter referred to the Labour Court

1

6 months

R18 853.99

Misconduct

Precautionary suspension

Sick leave by staff member & initiator

Matter resolved

Railway Safety Regulator (RSR)

ii. (aa) No persons were suspended during the 2012-13 reporting period.

ii. (cc) 2014/15 FINANCIAL YEAR

NO. OF PERSONS

REASONS FOR SUSPENSION

PERIOD OF SUSPENSION

MONEY PAID DURING SUSPENSION

1

Gross dishonesty, Financial misconduct, Insubordination and Breach of Duty of Trust.

Four months

R388, 700,96

1

Misconduct

One month

R42, 316

TOTAL

2

   

R431,016.96

(bb) 2013/14 FINANCIAL YEAR

NO. OF PERSONS

REASONS FOR SUSPENSION

PERIOD OF SUSPENSION

MONEY PAID DURING SUSPENSION

1

Misconduct

One month

R81, 433,50

1

Misconduct

Two months

R46, 474,64

TOTAL

2

   

R127, 908,14

(b)(iv) All the suspensions were conducted in compliance with the RSR’s Disciplinary Policy, which makes allowances for suspensions with full pay.

Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA)

(a)(ii) The CBRTA in the (aa) 2012-13 (bb), 2013-14 (cc) 14-15 financial years (b) suspended a total of eight (8) persons as outlined in the schedule of suspensions table listed below. (b) The amount was paid to each of the specified persons in each month in each of the specified financial years, (c) the reasons for (i) the suspensions and (iii) the delays in resolving the suspensions in each case respectively are all provided in the table below.

Position

(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years

Period

(c)(i) (ii)

Reason for suspension

(c)(iii) Delay in resolving these matters

(b) Monthly amount paid

HR Generalist

FY12/13

FY12/13

November 2012 - January 2013

Suspended for 65 days

Alleged Misconduct. Recruitment process not followed for appointment of new hires. Verbal offers of employment extended before requisite approval.

The matter was not delayed. The suspension was uplifted and an informal disciplinary hearing was conducted.

R 36,744

Chief Road Transport Inspector

FY12/13

FY13/14

February 2013 – April 2013

Suspended for 65 days

Alleged misconduct. Making use of employer's resources for personal benefit. Leave without authorisation

The matter was not delayed. Disciplinary hearing was conducted.

R 38,133

Senior Manager Human Resources

FY13/14

FY13/14

March 2013 – April 2013

Suspended for 43 days

Alleged Misconduct. Unprofessional conduct, fraudulently changing performance score, failure to carry out responsibilities with recruitment of Road Transport Inspectors

The matter was not delayed, the employee resigned pending disciplinary enquiry

R 66,371

Position

(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years

Period

(c)(i) (ii)

Reason for suspension

(c)(iii) Delay in resolving these matters

(b) Monthly amount paid

Senior Manager Law Enforcement

FY 13/14

FY 14 /

15

November 2013 – November 2014

Suspended for 260 days

Alleged misconduct. Gross Insubordination, unruly behaviour, gross negligence

Delays with investigations due to unavailability of witnesses due to work pressures as well as year-end closure.

Further delays with serving the employee with disciplinary hearing notice due to unavailability.

Postponement of disciplinary hearing on account of employee's request for more time to prepare.

First hearing adjourned on the basis of a technicality raised by the employee and his representative.

Still more delays for a few scheduled hearing dates due to unavailability of the employee's representative.

Eventually the case went to the CCMA for pre-dismissal arbitration.

The pre-dismissal arbitration was delayed among others due to ill health of the employee, unavailability of his representative, ill health of the Commissioner; interdict an application to the High Court by the employee.

The matter was settled on 3 November 2014.

R 75,467

Executive Manager: Human Resources & Administration

FY13/14

FY14/15

February 2014 - July 2014

Suspended for 108 days

Allegations of misconduct - Gross dereliction of duty, gross insubordination, and gross negligence

Matter delayed by changes to external investigators. Finally a settlement agreement was entered into

R 110,933

Executive Manager: Facilitation & Industry Development

FY14/15

FY14/15

May 2014 - November 2014

Suspended for 130 days

Allegations of misconduct - Gross insolence and undermining authority of superior

The matter was not delayed. After further investigations, the matter was partly heard. The employee requested a settlement agreement

R 131,098.50

Position

(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years

Period

(c)(i) (ii)

Reason for suspension

(c)(iii) Delay in resolving these matters

(b) Monthly amount paid

Senior Data Administrator

FY14/15

FY15/ 16

July 2014 – May 2015

Suspended for 216 days

Allegations of misconduct - Frequent late-coming, Repeated absence without permission, Abscondment/desertion, Gross insubordination

Suspension and hearing delayed on account of repeated failure by employee to respond to acknowledge receipt and/or to respond to disciplinary documentation, failure to attend the inquiry.

Unsuccessful use of the services of the Sheriff of the Court to serve documentation to employee.

1st hearing conducted in employee's absence which led to her dismissal.

Appeal chairperson granted that another hearing be conducted where she will be given an opportunity to state her case.

2nd hearing delayed due to unavailability of representative, ill-health of employee. Hearing finalised.

R 31,951

Position

(aa)(bb)(cc)Financial years

Period

Reason for suspension

Delay in resolving these matters

Monthly amount paid

Senior Manager Information Technology

FY14/15

FY15/ 16

October 2014 – July 2015

Suspended for 216 days

Allegations of misconduct - Intended fraud.

Investigations into the alleged misconduct were lengthy and required extended time.

When suspension was uplifted with intention to pursue hearing, employee resigned.

R 79,679

(d)Mitigation against future costs related to employee suspensions:

The C-BRTA developed and adopted Management Guidelines for Employee Suspensions (as attached) that line management will now use when considering suspensions. The overall effect is that to date employee suspensions have become minimal and where there is a need to isolate an employee from operations while investigations are underway, the employee is placed in other non-related roles to best derive equitable value for the salary earned.

Road Accident Fund (RAF)

  1. (ii) The Road Accident Fund (RAF), who employs over 2500 people, suspended with full pay (aa) 9 employees in 2012-13, (bb) 20 employees in 2013-14, and (cc) 10 employees in the 2014-15 financial years,
  1. the value of the matters for each month in each financial year are:
 

(aa) 2012-13

(bb) 2013-14

(cc) 2014-15

April

R 76 000.00

R 160 000.00

R 420 000.00

       

May

R 45 000.00

R 215 000.00

R 465 000.00

       

June

R 85 000.00

R 255 000.00

R 420 000.00

       

July

R 85 000.00

R 245 000.00

R 450 000.00

       

August

R 75 000.00

R 225 000.00

R 420 000.00

       

September

R 90 000.00

R 125 000.00

R 550 000.00

       

October

R 55 000.00

R 100 000.00

R 550 000.00

       

November

R 30 000.00

R 205 000.00

R 430 000.00

       

December

R 58 000.00

R 175 000.00

R 320 000.00

       

January

R 92 000.00

R 200 000.00

R 130 000.00

       

February

R 70 000.00

R 300 000.00

R 130 000.00

       

March

R 70 000.00

R 420 000.00

R 130 000.00

  1. (i) the reasons for the suspensions, which relate to anything from misconduct to fraud, are to manage the risk of the employee to interfering with witnesses and/or evidence; where the continued presence of the employee presents a threat to life or property; or where the employee’s presence will have a disruptive effect on other employees, (ii) the CCMA and Labour Court generally consider suspension without pay an unfair labour practice, therefore the RAF Disciplinary Policy provides for the suspension of an employee on full pay in the aforementioned instances, (iii) delays in resolving the matters may be experienced due to any one or more reasons, including ongoing investigations that must be completed; the employee getting sick; CCMA referrals for unfair labour practices; and, requests for legal representation and determination, which if granted, impacts on the time taken to conclude hearings, and
  1. in order to resolve future matters the RAF is amending its Disciplinary Policy to curb the maximum period for which an employee may be suspended on full pay and requiring the employee be charged no later than one month after the suspension.

Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)

(ii) Road Traffic Management Corporation

(aa) 2012 - 2013 = five (5) employees

(bb) 2013 – 2014 = Five (5) Employees

(cc) 2014 – 2015 = One (1) Employees

  1. 2012-2013

Employee

Monthly salary

No. 1

R 18 421.39

No. 2

R 13 961.89

No. 3

R 10 815.07

No. 4

R 35 980.71

No.5

R 14 383.92

2013-2014

Employee

Monthly salary

No. 1

R 38 565.30

No. 2

R28 490.88

No. 3

R 35 256.08

No. 4

R 14 171.32

No.5

14 383.92

2014-2015

Employee

Monthly salary

No. 1

R 35 256.08

  1. (i) The reasons for the suspension were that the acts of misconduct were very serious and another reason was to conduct the investigation free from possible interference by the employees, in terms of paragraph 9.2 (i) & (ii) of the Disciplinary Code and Procedures of the Corporation

(ii) The suspension of this kind is with full pay in terms of paragraph 9.2 (b) of the Disciplinary Code and Procedures of the Corporation.

(iii) The delays were caused due to the investigation which took longer than we expected. Charges are informed by the Investigation report and therefore if finalization of the investigation delays, then the process of charging the employee/s delays.

(d). As soon as the employee is suspended, processes will be put in place to ensure that the investigation unfolds immediately without any delay. This will ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the finalization of cases and suspensions.

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA)

  1. (ii) Suspensions with Full Pay

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

None

None

1

  1. R 261 541.15 for the period September 2014 to February 2015

Gross salary per month:

September 2014- R39 401.44

October 2014- R39 401.44

November 2014- R39 401.44

December 2014- R39 401.44

January 2015- R64 533.97

February 2015- R39 401.44

  1. Reason for suspension
  1. Misconduct;
  2. The suspension was with full pay; and
  3. A lengthy disciplinary process was undertaken and the employee was given a final written warning
  1. The disciplinary hearing concluded the process.

South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)

None of the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Ltd (SANRAL) staff members were suspended during the years under review

12 April 2016 - NW83

Profile picture: Cardo, Dr MJ

Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Health

Whether he has entered into a performance agreement with the President, Mr Jacob G Zuma, with regard to the implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014-2019; if not, why not; if so, (a) which key indicators and targets from the MTSF are reflected in the agreement, (b) how many performance assessments has he undertaken in consultation with the President since the agreement was signed, (c) what progress has been made in meeting the key indicators and targets from the MTSF, (d) what are the key obstacles to implementation and (e) what is the plan to address such obstacles?

Reply:

(a) There are 53 key indicators for the ten Medium-Term Strategic Framework Outcomes, namely a) Universal Health coverage progressively achieved through implementation of National Health Insurance; b) Improved quality of health care; c) Implement the re-engineering of Primary Health Care; d) Reduced health care costs; e) Improved human resources for health; f) Improved health management and leadership; g) Improved health facility planning and infrastructure delivery; h) HIV & AIDS and Tuberculosis prevented and successfully managed; i) Maternal, infant and child mortality reduced; and j) Efficient Health Management Information System developed and implemented for improved decision-making

The result of the above work is aimed at improving of the health status of South Africans. The impact indicators and targets are: see the link: http://www.pmg.org.za/files/RNW83Table.docx

(b) Cabinet, chaired by the President, monitors performance on the Programme of Action which includes MTSF outcome Two, and its sub-outcomes for every quarter of the financial year (i.e. four times per financial year).

(c) The Minister accounts to Cabinet on a quarterly basis on these key indicators. Some of the high level indicator achievements for this MTSF period against set targets are as follows:

  • The Life expectancy at birth (which has a target of 63 years in March 2019) has increased from 60 years in 2012 to 62.9 years in 2014.
  • Maternal Mortality ratio (which has a target of < 100 per 100,000 live births by March 2019) reduced from 269 per 100,000 live births in 2012 to 155 per 100,000 live births in 2014.
  • The Under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) significantly decreased from 56 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009, to 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014. The health system is working towards a further 25% reduction of child mortality with a target of 30 per 1000 live births by 2019.
  • The infant mortality rate (IMR) decreased from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009, to 28 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014.
  • The Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) also declined from 14 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009 to 11 per 1,000 live births in 2014. It has remained stable at 11 per 1,000 live births for the past 3 years.

(Source: The Rapid Mortality Surveillance Report, 2015)

More information on progress made on the Programme of Action is published on the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation website.

(d) The targets of the MTSF sub-outcomes are set as annual and five-year targets but monitored quarterly. Impact indicators do not change much within a year. On a quarterly basis, performance of some MTSF sub-outcome indicators has been below planned annual targets due to data inaccuracies, poor recording at health facility levels and incomplete reporting by health facilities. For example, low coverage of long-acting contraceptive methods and inappropriate recording of the oral method have been found in some areas. This is resulting to quarterly Couple Year Protection Rates lower than the planned annual MSTF target. Similarly, poor data recording is also causing sub-optimal in-year performance of planned MTSF targets for multi-resistant TB and male medical circumcisions. For example, currently only male medical circumcision performed among men between the ages of 15 and 49 years is reported. Data systems on male medical circumcisions performed is being developed for young boys between ages of 10 to 14 years and men who are 50 years and above.

(e) Annual Performance Plans of the National and Provincial Department of Health are largely aligned to MTSF outcome and sub-outcomes. Remedial actions to challenges of implementation are therefore captured and recorded through the quarterly reporting system of the Annual Performance Plans. These actions are then taken through the various national policy and strategic forums at national level which are filtered down at provincial levels. For example with the regard to Couple Year Protection Rate data, re-training of providers has been undertaken.

Implementing partners have also committed to assist with addressing data capturing issues on MDR-TB indicators. Partners are assisting with addressing the data quality issues with regards to male medical circumcisions. The Department is strengthening data collection systems for these developing programmes through the development of patient-based information system and implementation e-Health strategy.

END.

12 April 2016 - NW853

Profile picture: Mbatha, Mr MS

Mbatha, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)Did the North West University Council approve the unauthorised and irregular expenditure of R10 million of university funds that happened under the watch of a certain person (name and details furnished) without investigation; (2) what are the details which led to the Council approving the specified expenditure in spite of the investigation?

Reply:

  1. Authorisation for the amount in question from the University Council was not required as Dr T Eloff, the former Vice-Chancellor, was authorised in terms of the delegations of authority of the North-West University (NWU), to approve all expenditure up to the value of R10 million. The Vice-Chancellor’s authorisation of the expenditure is therefore not deemed irregular or unauthorised.
  2. However, the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor ND Kgwadi, reported in the 2014 Annual Report that the public benefit trust, the North West Higher Education Trust (NWHET), which was established as a mechanism for receiving all philanthropic donations, was scrutinised in order to address a need to clarify the relationship between the NWU and the NWHET.

The University has also provided an update to the Department on the decisions made by Council following the inquiry initiated into alleged fraud by the former Vice-Chancellor.

The Council deliberated extensively on the matter at a meeting held on 19 June 2015 and resolved that:

  • The establishment of the North-West Higher Education Trust (NWHET) was an endowment fund with the aim of raising money by commercial investments for the North-West University and other selected higher education institutions in the North West Province;
  • Accepted that there had been no improper motive on the part of the former Vice-Chancellor, Dr Eloff, in approving a university donation of R10 million to the Trust;
  • Acknowledged that Dr Eloff consulted widely with responsible University officials regarding the viability and feasibility of the NWHET initiative;
  • Acknowledge that the Trust had been registered as such in accordance with legal requirements;
  • Recommend that all purported projects linked to, or evolving from the Trust, be terminated with immediate effect;
  • Steps be taken to recover the full amount of R10 million from the NWHET; and
  • The process according to which the amount of R10 million is to be recovered is still underway.

 

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 853 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

12 April 2016 - NW709

Profile picture: Mbhele, Mr ZN

Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Police

(a) On which of the specific grounds applicable under section 35 of the South African Police Service Act, Act 68 of 1995, as amended, was the former National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Mr Anwa Dramat, the subject of a section 35 discharge and (b) what are the further relevant details in this regard?

Reply:

(a) Lieutenant General Dramat was discharged from the South African Police Service in terms of sect 35(b) of the SAPS Act (Act 68 of 1995)

(b) Further relevant details are as follows:

Lieutenant General Dramat through his lawyers requested the Minister of Police that he is desirous to vacate his post as the Head of the Directorate as provided for in Section 17DA (4)(b) of SAPS Amendment Act.

The Minister of Police allowed the request of the employee in terms of the powers conferred upon the Minister in terms of Sect 17DA (4)(b) to vacate his office earlier than the expiry of his tenure for reasons which the Minister deems sufficient.

The Lawyers of the Minister of Police and Lieutenant General Dramat’s Lawyers agreed that:

  • Lieutenant General Dramat be granted permission to vacate his Office with immediate effect.

11 April 2016 - NW584

Profile picture: Ollis, Mr IM

Ollis, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4258 on 21 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information; if not, why not; if so, when will the specified information be made available?

Reply:


Find here: Reply

11 April 2016 - NW826

Profile picture: Mbhele, Mr ZN

Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Police

(a) Why, since his reply to question 2669 on 25 August 2015, has he not yet appointed a permanent Secretary of the Civilian Secretariat for Police in accordance with section 7 of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act, Act 2 of 2011, (b) when will he do so and (c) what recruitment processes are underway to appoint someone permanently to the specified position?

Reply:

The initial advert of 2014 did not attract a suitable candidate. In the intervening period an acting person was put in place. The post has since been re-advertised and the closing date was 18 March 2016. The applications received are still being processed.

11 April 2016 - NW592

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Mr TW

Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

Whether, with reference to his department's reply to question 4097 on 8 December 2015, his department has received the outstanding information from the Tlokwe Local Municipality; if not, why not; if so, when will the information be made available as requested?

Reply:

The following information was provided by the Tlokwe Local Municipality:

Below is the response regarding the amounts spent by Tlokwe Local Municipality on print media, radio, television, online and outdoors during the 2014/15 financial year and since July 2015:

Amount spent and purpose on advertising by Tlokwe Local Municipality for 2014/15

(a) Print Media

(i) Local Community Newspapers

MEDIA

PURPOSE

COST

Mooivaal Media

The purpose of the advertisements was to inform the communities about public meetings relating to progress on

11 959

lzindwe Marketing

 

82 100

lzindwe Marketing

service delivery and unexpected interruptions to services

29 000

Total

123 059


Please find here: (ii) National Magazines

11 April 2016 - NW368

Profile picture: Chance, Mr T

Chance, Mr T to ask the Minister of Health

With reference to President Jacob G Zuma’s undertaking in his State of the Nation Address delivered on 12 February 2015, that the Government will set aside 30% of appropriate categories of state procurement for purchasing from Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs), co-operatives, as well as township and rural enterprises, what percentage of the total procurement of (a) his department and (b) every entity reporting to him went to (i) SMMEs and (ii) co-operatives from 1 April 2015 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

Reply:

(a) (i) 60.1%

(ii) Bid documents do not make provision for suppliers to indicate whether they are SMME’s or Co-operatives. The procurement was thus done with consideration of BEE levels.

 

(b) (i) South Africa Medical Research Council (31.4%)

National Health Laboratories Services (22.5%)

Office of Standard Health Compliance (70%)

 

(ii) Bid documents do not make provision for suppliers to indicate whether they are SMME’s or Co-operatives. The procurement was thus done with consideration of BEE levels.

END.

11 April 2016 - NW720

Profile picture: Madisha, Mr WM

Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether he has gone to (a) Ga-Rankuwa or (b) any other area where violent protests were taking place at present, in the period since his appointment to his new post, to (i) bring fed-up protesters and slack local government authorities together around a table to address long simmering community grievances quickly, effectively and efficiently and (ii) protect the image of South Africa in the face of a regular showing on TV screens around the world that South Africa was a violent and dangerous country with ordinary people being at odds with local government and angry at national government for not being responsive and caring; if not, why not; if so, what has he achieved through his direct involvement in resolving the long-simmering dispute at GaRankuwa or anywhere else where protests have recently been flaring up because of unresolved grievances?

Reply:

(a) No, the Minister has not visited Ga-Rankuwa.
(b) The Minister visited the Tlokwe Local Municipality, since his appointment.
(i)
The Minister has taken steps to address community grievances. These include:

• Ensuring that the department continues to implement the Back-to-Basics (B2B) programme that addresses challenges in the local government sphere

• Directing the department's provincial 828 coordinators to focus on areas where violent protests are taking place, to address community grievances;

(ii) The City of Tshwane is involved in addressing concerns raised by the residents of GaRankuwa.
The Back to Basics provincial teams have identified municipalities where violent protests are taking place and are working at resolving the challenges in these municipalities.
The teams report back to the Minister regularly.