Questions and Replies

MPs to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources

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QUESTION NUMBER 2055

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) How many (a) applications did her department receive for (i) prospecting rights, (ii) mining rights, (iii) mining permits and (iv) conversions of prospecting and mining rights in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, and (b) of these applications were still outstanding as at 1 October 2009;

(2) how many (a) appeals has she and her director-general received in terms of section 96 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, as a result of refusals between 1 May 2004 and 30 April 2009 and (b) of these appeals were still outstanding on 1 October 2009;

(3) how many applications for judicial review have been instituted against her or her department as a result of their refusal to grant (a) prospecting rights, (b) mining rights or (c) the conversion of prospecting and mining rights;

(4) (a) how many of these judicial review applications were granted, settled or refused by the High Court and (b) what was the value of the cost orders made by the court against either her or her department in respect of every judicial review? NW2709E

REPLY

(1) Since the promulgation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) on the 1st of May 2004, the Department has received over 20 000 applications for prospecting rights, mining rights and mining permits. In terms of the timeframes set out in the Act, applications for prospecting rights are processed within 6 months from the date of acceptance and mining rights within 12 months from the date of acceptance. There is no time frame within which the conversions of old order rights must be processed. Therefore, only those applications whose timeframe have not elapsed still stand to be finalized.

(2) The Department has since the promulgation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act received about approximately 780 appeals. This is in contrast to approximately 4500 prospecting rights and mining rights which have been refused.

(3) The Department has received approximately 180 applications for judicial review.

(4) Granted 21, settled 45 and refused 2.

QUESTION NO 529

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 JULY 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether any function was organised to mark the occasion of the delivery of her budget vote in 2009; if so, (a) what total amount was spent on this function, (b) from which budget was the money allocated, (c) what amount was spent on (i) food and refreshments, (ii) venue, (iii) entertainment, (iv) staff and (v) transport and (d) how many persons were invited to attend this function?

REPLY

Yes

(a) The overall amount spent for the function was R412 077.72

(b) The budget was from DME and our partners

(ii) R25 252.27 (paid by DME)

(iii) R99 475.00 (paid by partners)

(iv) 13 DME staff

(v) R77 149.00

(d) 250 invited guests

QUESTION NUMBER 362

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 25)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources: [Written Question No 1335]

(1) How many applications for (a) prospecting, (b) mining and (c) other types of applications were lodged with her department in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, for each type of mineral;

(2) how many applications for (a) prospecting, (b) mining and (c) other types of applications that were lodged with her department in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, for each type of mineral since 1 September 2009 have not been processed;

(3) how many applications for (a) prospecting, (b) mining and (c) other types of applications that were lodged with her department before 1 September 2009 in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, have not been finalised yet in each regional office? NW1684E

REPLY

1) In respect of (1) and (2) above, all applications for prospecting rights or mining rights must in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) be processed. Therefore we do not understand the question in relation to applications not being processed

2) See 1 above

3) Only those application which are within the prescribed timeframe and the conversion applications which still have to comply with the prescribed requirements have not been finalised

QUESTION NUMBER 1126

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 4 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 14)

Mr P D Dexter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether the computers purchased at the value of R50 million in the past four years by the previous joint Ministry of Minerals and Energy are to be inherited by her department; if not, (a) what computers are these, (b) how will it be apportioned and utilised and (c) what would happen to the R75 million that has been approved for further purchases of computers; if so, what will her department do with such an enormous computer capacity? NW1391E

REPLY

In actual fact, the Department of Minerals and Energy spending on computer equipment in the past four years was R 16,658,316.20 which comprises

 R4, 843,902.99 for 2008/09;

 R3, 527,433.27 for 2007/08;

 R4, 023,517.27 for 2006/07 and

 R4, 263,462.67 for 2005/06.

These amounts are also available in the audited Annual Financial Statements which are contained in the annual reports for the respective periods..

(a) The above amounts include the following major items

· Desktops and Laptops for use by departmental officials

· Servers and related infrastructure

· Printers and other computer equipment

(b) The Desktops and Laptops are allocated to positions which will continue to exist in the new Department of Mineral Resources and Department of Energy. This will therefore be apportioned and utilised in line with the new structures of the two departments. The existing servers will be allocated to either Mineral Resource or Energy based on the technical specifications and the requirements of each department

QUESTION NUMBER 2057

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) How many (a)(i) ownerless and (ii) abandoned mines have been found to exist as at 1 October 2009;

(2) whether her department has a plan to deal with these mines; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(3) whether her department has made this plan available for public comment; if not,

(4) whether this plan will be made public in the future; if not, why not; if so, when? NW2711E

REPLY

(1) (i) approximately 70 sites

(ii) Not applicable

(2) The Department is in the process of developing an inclusive strategy in addressing derelict and ownerless mine sites

(3) Refer to 2 above

(4) Not applicable for now.

QUESTION NUMBER 2056

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether the water ingress and regional mine closure strategy for the Witwatersrand and Klerksdorp-Orkney-Stilfontein-Hartebeestfontein (KOSH) area has been made available for public comment; if not, (a) when will such documents be made available and (b) why has there been a delay in publicising the relevant documents? NW2710E

REPLY

Yes. The draft Regional Mine Closure Strategy (RMCS) documents for both Klerksdorp-Orkney-Stilfontein Hartebeesfontein (KOSH) and Witwatersrand Basins (namely Western, Far Western Eastern and Central basin) were made available for public comments. The Council for Geosciences (CGS), which had been contracted by the Department of Mineral Resources to develop the RMCS, posted the Regional Mine Closure Strategy documents on its website for public comment from the 15th December 2008 to the 31stof January 2009. In addition, an invitation to all interested and affected parties was circulated on the 15th of December 2008, urging them to view and comment on the documents. The period for commenting on the documents was extended to the 28th of February 2009.

a) Falls off

b) Falls off

QUESTION NUMBER 2012

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)

Mr E J Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) What total amount in respect of advertising has her department and all specified entities reporting to it (a) budgeted for and (b) spent (i) in the 2008-09 financial year and (ii) during the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2) (a) what total number of advertisements for her department and each entity reporting to it (i) appeared in the print media and (ii) were broadcast on (aa) radio and (bb) television, (b) how much did each advertisement cost and (c) what was the purpose of each advertisement?

REPLY:

(1) (a) N/A

(b) (i) N/A.

(ii) For the period May until October 2009 an amount of R 535 542,18 on the advertisement posts

2(a) (i) 24 posts were advertised, in the department alone (not including public entities)

(ii) (aa) N/A

(bb) N/A

(b) Each advertisement cost between R20 000 and R25 000 per advertisement

QUESTION NUMBER 1723

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 22)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) What amount was spent by her department on (a) hotel accommodation, (b) restaurant expenses and (c) travel costs (i) in the 2008-09 financial year and (ii) during the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, for (aa) her, (bb) specified officials of her department and (cc) any other specified individuals;

(2) why did each individual use the specified accommodation in each case? NW2215E

REPLY

1. (a) Hotel accommodation

(i) Not applicable, the Department of Mineral Resources only came into existence during the 2009/10 financial year

(ii) for 2009/10

(aa) R 42 278.45

(bb) R0

(cc) R0

(b) Restaurant expenses

(i) N/A see (a) (i)

(ii) 2009/10

(aa) R 20 720.26

(bb) R0

(cc) R0

(i) N/A see (a) (i)

(ii) for 2009/10

(aa) R213 327.51

(bb) R0

(cc) R 47 835.70

Each individual used the specified accommodation in each case for business purpose where they were required as part of their normal duties to be away from their normal place of work.

QUESTION NUMBER 2127

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Mr E J Marais(DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether mining licences are approved before inputs from other spheres of government have been received; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether any mining licences have been issued before zoning and environmental impact assessments (EIA) have been completed; if so, (a) how many licences, (b) in how many cases did the applicants withdraw the zoning and the EIA applications after the licences were issued and (c) what steps is her department taking to ensure that zoning and EIA are done?

REPLY

(1) There is no provision in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) provides for the issuing of mining licenses. However, sections 17, 23 and 27 of the MPRDA empower the Minister to grant prospecting rights, mining rights and mining permits. Section 40(1) of the Act states that "When considering an environmental management plan or environmental management programme in terms of section 39, the Minister must consult with any State department which administers any law relating to matters affecting the environment."

(2) There is no provision in the MPRDA that calls upon the Minister to grant prospecting or mining rights subject to zoning requirements of a local government. As far as EIAs are concerned they are conducted during the EMP process.

QUESTION NO 504

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 JULY 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6)

Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) With reference to her reply to question no 71 on 2 July 2009, what is a negative environmental impact;

(2) whether acid mine drainage is regarded as having a negative environmental impact, considering the effect it has on the environment; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, why can funds held by her department for the rehabilitation of mines not be used for dealing with acid mine drainage? NW567E

REPLY

(1) Negative environmental impact, implies an activity or action or event that adversely impacts and influences the environment.

(2) If not managed properly, acid mine drainage can have negative impact on the environment.

QUESTION NUMBER 2256

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 28)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether the Peak Quarry in Eersterivier have an Environmental Management Programme Report (EPMR); if not, why not; if so, (a) when was it approved, (b) when did the quarry first commence operations, (c) in what year is expected to stop operations, (d) how many times has inspectors from her department visited the mine since January 2008 and (e) what was the date of each visit;

(2) Whether any directives have been issued against the mine for non-compliance on any matters relating to the EMPR since it commenced operations; if so, what are relevant details?

(3) What are provisions in EMPR that relate to how the quarry operators need to manage (a) noise and (b) dust?

REPLY

1 (a) Yes, the mine has an approved Environmental Management Programme Report (EMPR), approved on 12 June 2000 in terms of the repealed Minerals Act, 1991 (Act 50 of 1991).

(b) A mining authorization was issued on 22 July 1994 in terms of the repealed Minerals Act, 1991, but the mine was in operation long before that time, in terms of legislation prior to the Minerals Act, 1991.

(d) Inspections are conducted in accordance with an inspection plan. As such a total of 6 mine health inspection have been conducted.

(e) Inspections were conducted as per the inspection plans.

(2) No.

(3) The information relating to noise and dust levels is contained in the approved Environmental Management Programme Report, as amended. The noise provision addresses noise within and outside the perimeter of the mine.

QUESTION NUMBER 270

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 25)

Ms F C Bikani (ANC) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources

(a) What progress has been made in establishing a state-owned mining company and (b) what would be its primary purpose? NO2595E

REPLY

The State Owned Mining Company was established prior to the democratic dispensation, with the aim of ensuring security of supply of strategic energy commodities for local consumption. At the time of its establishment, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act was not in existence, which means the company was operating under a different regulatory regime, which did not embrace the transformation agenda. The resuscitation of this company under the current regulatory environment is intended to continue ensuring security of strategic commodities, particularly energy commodities, while effecting the developmental agenda of Government.

The primary purpose of the company is to acquire and hold rights in respect of energy related and other strategic minerals on behalf of the State and develop these mineral commodities for national interest.

QUESTION NUMBER 261

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 25)

Adv A de W Alberts (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether she intends proposing an amendment to the policy regarding the private ownership of mines; if so, (a) why and (b) what are the Government's proposals in this regard? NO2583E

REPLY

a) Falls off

b) Falls off

QUESTION NUMBER 269

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 25)

Mr V V Magagula (ANC) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources

What programmes of assistance and/or strategic plans are in place to encourage and develop small-scale miners in the country? NO2594E

REPLY

The department has identified small scale mining as a prospect of critical intervention to uplift rural communities. As a result the department is developing a small scale mining strategy, which will be implemented in the next financial year

QUESTION NUMBER 1248

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 16)

ADV H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) What (a) are the reasons for the Cabinet's decision to suspend the disposal of State-owned mining assets, (b) is the purpose of the suspension and (c) entities and/or departments are responsible for the audit of the mining assets;
(2) whether an investigation into the regulatory environment within the mining sector pertaining to the suspension of the disposal of mining assets has been mandated; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) what will be the duration of the suspension? NW1590E

REPLY

(1) (a) and (b) The Cabinet approved suspension of disposal of mining assets to allow the Minister of Mineral Resources adequate time to finalise an audit of mining interests held directly or indirectly by the State.
(c) DMR is Responsible

(2) Yes, through Cabinet's decision

(3) Cannot indicate the duration but intend to report to cabinet soon after finalisation of the audit

QUESTION NUMBER 1980

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)

Mr M Waters (DA to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether, with reference to a reply to Question 588 on 26 May 2008, any inspectors have visited the Witfontein R/33/151R mining site; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will this be done; if so, (i) when, (ii) who were the inspectors and (iii) what were their findings;

(2) whether any inspection has been conducted to determine whether regulation 17(6) of the Mine Health and Safety Act, Act 29 of 1996, is being adhered to; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will this be done; if so, when;

(3) whether there are any laws or regulations that stipulate the number of inspections that should be carried out by her department at mining sites per year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether such obligations have been met with regard to the abovementioned mining site; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2463E

REPLY

(1) Yes, Inspections were conducted on 20th and 31st October 2008 by Senior Inspector FJ Nkuna of the Gauteng Region Office as well as on 18th November 2008 by Senior Inspector F Barradas and Inspector J Kearney of the Directorate: Mine Surveying, Head Office, Pretoria.

During these inspections it was found that regulation 17(6) was not applicable as the mine was established in 1983 whilst the township, according to the deeds office, was only proclaimed in 2003. There was also no evidence found that the developer of the township of Glen Erasmia Extensions 4 & 5, which has been established within a horizontal distance of 100 metres from the boundary of the quarry, had submitted an application for comment to my Department, nor had the developer complied with Regulations 17(7)(b) or 17(8)(b) of the Mine Health and Safety Act, Act 29 of 1996, which stipulate that no structures may be erected within a horizontal distance of 100 metres from a mine without prior submission of a risk assessment to, and approval from, the Chief Inspector of Mines.

(2) Yes, the aforementioned inspections were carried out, inter-alia, to investigate compliance of regulation 17(6) as well as compliance with regulations 17(7)(b) and 17(8)(b).

(3) No, there are no laws or regulations that stipulate the number of inspections to be carried out per year. The Annual Business Plan of the Mine Safety Inspectorate, however, determines the risk value of underground and surface mining operations, which in turn, determines the frequency of visits to individual mining sites.

(4) Yes, the obligations were met on 31st October and 14th November 2008 which were routine inspections. All relevant details regarding the legal standing between the mine and the adjacent township have been addressed in my reply of question 1 above.

QUESTION NUMBER 1856

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 24)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether (a) she, (b) any specified officials and (c) any other persons have been issued with a government or official credit card; if so, what are the relevant details for her and each holder of a credit card in respect of the (i) name, (ii) job title, (iii) credit limit, (iv) outstanding amount as at the latest specified date for which information is available, (v) monthly expenses incurred for each month since receiving the credit card, (vi) reason for such persons being issued with a credit card and (vii) uses that such a credit card is intended for;

(2) whether any such credit cards are over their credit limit; if so, (a) whose credit cards are over the limit and (b) what is the reason for the credit cards exceeding the limit;

(3) whether any action has been taken against such persons for exceeding their credit card limits; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2416E

REPLY

(1) (a) No. The Minister has not been issued with a government or official credit card by 30 September 2009.

(b) Yes. Other specified official has been issued with an official credit card.

(a) (i) Not applicable

(b) (i) Advocate Sandile Nogxina

(ii) Director General

(iii) The limit is R10 000.00

(iv) R663.00 was outstanding as at 30 September 2009

(v) June 2008 – R143.39; July/August 2008 – R433.39; September 2008 – R1 169.70; October 2008 – R1 727.30; November 2008 – R5 546.42; December 2008 – R304.29; January/February 2009 – R2 065.50; March 2009 – R2 508.79; April 2009 – Nil; May 2009 – R663.00; June 2009 – Nil; July 2009 – Nil; August 2009 – R1 159.70; September 2009 – R663.00.

(vi) To ensure that the Director General is not financially prejudiced when executing official duties outside the normal work station.

(vii) To enable direct payment of other departmental activities such as refreshments/entertainment and other incidental expenses that takes place outside the normal work station.

(2) No. The card is not over the credit limit.

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable.

(3) Not applicable.

QUESTION NUMBER 1855

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 24)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) In respect of each version of the 2008-09 annual report of her department and the annual reports of each statutory and other entity reporting to her department, (a) what was the (i) budgeted cost, (ii) actual cost and (iii) breakdown of cost in respect of (aa) printing, (bb) graphic design, (cc) other costs and (dd) unit cost of each annual report and (b) how many copies of each were (i) produced and (ii) distributed;

(2) whether any version of the abovementioned reports was retracted or withdrawn; if so, (a) how many times were each annual report withdrawn or retracted, (b) what (i) were the reasons for each withdrawal or retraction and (ii) was the amount spent on each version and (c) how many copies were withdrawn in each case;

(3) how was the decision taken to award the contract to the (a) graphic design company and (b) printing company;

(4) whether (a) her department or (b) any of those public entities that fall under her department held a function on tabling their 2008-09 annual report; if so, in each case (i) what was the name of the public entity, (ii) how much did the function cost, (iii) what is the breakdown of that cost, (iv) where was the function held and (v) how many guests were invited? NW2415E

REPLY

(1)

(a) (i) R200,000.00

(ii) R 281,380.50

(iii) (aa) R 137,297.00

(bb) R 82,600.00

(cc) R 26 928.00

(dd) R137.30

(2) No

(a) N/A

(b) (i) (ii) N/A

(3) In terms of the PPPFA.

(4) (a) No

(b) No

(i) N/A

(ii) N/A

(iii) N/A

(iv) N/A

(v) N/A

QUESTION NUMBER 1854

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 24)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether any mining company or entity that operated and mined resources which were granted mining rights before the commencement of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, who have failed to submit their applications for mining rights on 2 May 2009 and on 15 October 2009, are still continuing to operate and mine resources; if so, what are their names? NW2414E

REPLY

It is not clear what honourable member Adv H C Schmidt is referring to by "mined resources". No mining company was granted mining rights prior to 01 May 2004.

QUESTION NUMBER 1159

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009

Mr E J Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether her department uses temporary employment services and/or labour brokers; if so, (a) why, (b) how many positions have been filled by temporary employment services in the (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09 financial years, (c) what percentage of the total staff complement did temporary employment services contribute in each of these years and (d) how much money has been spent on temporary employment services in each year?

REPLY

QUESTION NO 471

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 03 JULY 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) With reference to her reply to question no 112 on 2 July 2009, what were the reported causes of (a) deaths of legal mine workers and (b) accidents causing injuries to legal mine workers during the period 1 June 2008 to 1 June 2009;

(2) whether her department (a) has taken any steps in addition to implementing the Mine Health and Safety Act, Act 29 of 1996 and (b) will introduce any additional measures to stop or reduce the (i) illegal mining activities and (ii) fatal mining incidents whilst on duty; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NW532E

1(a) and (b) The reported causes of both injuries and deaths of legal miners are ranked as follows:

1. Falls of ground (caused by gravity 60% and 40% seismicity).

2. Trackless Mobile Machinery (Truck accidents).

3. Railbound Transport (Underground train derailments).

4. Falling from Heights.

5. Electricity.

6. Explosives.

2(a) The Department conducted countrywide Presidential Mine health Safety Audits to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Mine Health and Safety Act and to eliminate or reduce mine employee fatal accidents. A report depicting the overall performance by the mining industry was compiled which included recommendations for enhancing mine health and safety.

A Mine Health and Safety Tripartite Summit, lead by the former Minister of the Department of Minerals and Energy, was also held to consider sustainable measures that would enhance health and safety at the mines. All the respective principals of the State, Labour and Employer stakeholders together agreed on the action steps which would be adopted for eliminating or reducing cases of ill health, fatalities and injuries in the industry.

In addition, meetings are held with the CEOs of the respective mining companies to ensure that effective health and safety management systems are implemented to prevent harm. Critical measures, including mine stoppages, are also taken where necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.

2(b)(i) Illegal mining is not regulated

(b)(ii) The Mine Health and Safety Act was amended to strengthen the enforcement provisions and the Department's capacity for ensuring effective coverage of the mines.

QUESTION NUMBER 2193

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Mrs P de Lille (ID) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether commercial companies that mine sand must comply with the conditions of the Land Use Planning Ordinance Amendment Act, Act 64 of 1992; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2901E

REPLY

The Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act 28 of 2002) is the statutory instrument passed by Parliament (the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces) to regulate the minerals and mining sector in South Africa. There is no provision in the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 which stipulates that decision taken in terms of this Act are subject to provisions of a local government.

QUESTION NUMBER 2186

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA)to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether, any state-owned mining company/entity has been awarded prospecting and/or mining rights or permits in the 2008-09 financial year; if so, (a) for which minerals in each case and (b) what is the name of the mining company/entity in each case? NW2894E

REPLY

All applicants for prospecting rights, mining rights or mining permits are treated equally in terms of the provisions of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 and other legislation. Therefore, it is not proper nor correct for private information of any applicant to be divulged to the public.

The existing direct and indirect t state-owned prospecting and mining companies are Alexkor (Ptd) Ltd, Foskor (Pty) Ltd and African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (Pty) Ltd.

QUESTION NUMBER 2185

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA)to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether any mineral has been declared a strategic mineral in terms of the applicable legislation in the 2008-09 financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what minerals, (b) on what date in each case and (c) for what reason in each case? NW2893E

REPLY

(a) Falls off

(b) Falls off

Background Information

The interpretation of the question is that it flows from the previous oral response in respect of State Owned Mining Company, in which the department indicated that the company will focus on strategic minerals. There are currently no provisions in legislation for declaration of any mineral as strategic, other than the inference on uranium as a strategic mineral in the Nuclear Policy of June 2008 as well as Minister Sonjica's and Alec Erwin statements in parliament at the time.

In light of challenges of energy deficit, priority of classification of minerals as strategic is currently on energy commodities, viz. coal, uranium, fluorspar, thorium, zirconium and platinum. To this extent, the department has drafted strategies on both uranium and coal and is prioritising finalisation of these strategies, which will be translated into the minerals being declared strategic.

It is the intention of the department to declare all minerals of the people of the Republic of South Africa strategic to support government programmes such as Beneficiation, Infrastructure Development and National Industrial Policy Framework.

QUESTION NUMBER 2193

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Mrs P de Lille (ID) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

REPLY

QUESTION NUMBER 2186

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA)to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

REPLY

The existing direct and indirect t state-owned prospecting and mining companies are Alexkor (Ptd) Ltd, Foskor (Pty) Ltd and African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (Pty) Ltd.

QUESTION NUMBER 2185

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 27)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA)to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

REPLY

(a) Falls off

(b) Falls off

Background Information

QUESTION NUMBER 97

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 8 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 15)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) What steps have been taken to develop institutional mechanisms and structures in order to give support to historically disadvantaged persons in respect of transforming the mining industry;

(2) whether her department and/or any other department or institution will be responsible for the implementation of these steps; if so, (a) when and (b) what are the further relevant details? NO1428E

REPLY

1 My department developed the first mechanism of implementing the transformation agenda with the precursor charter, the mining charter, which Charter sets out specific targets for transformation of the industry, with particular emphasis on extending the benefits to the historically disadvantaged South Africans, including, albeit not limited to community benefits, ownership and management participation. The vesting of custodianship of mineral rights to State has enabled my department to attach conditions to the issuing of mining rights, which seek to effectively drive the transformation agenda. This meant that as companies apply for mining rights (including conversions of old order rights), their commitment in relation to the transformation pillars of the Charter are scrutinised and for the basis of the conditions of their license.

2 My Department is implementing this legislation

a. Already in progress, having started from the 2004 May 1st.

b. Not applicable

QUESTION NUMBER 2349

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 NOVEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 29)

Mr E J Marais(DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether, with reference to her reply to written Question 415 on 17 July 2009, she has purchased a new vehicle; if not, (a) when will she purchase a new vehicle and (b) what is the value of the vehicle she is currently using; if so, (i) why, (ii) what make and model is the vehicle, (iii) what did the vehicle cost and (iv) what (aa) accessories were included in excess of the vehicle's purchase price and (bb) was the cost of such accessories? NW3062E

REPLY

I have not purchased a new vehicle.

(a) I have not made a decision to buy a new vehicle yet..

(b) I am currently using a leased vehicle and therefore value cannot be put on such vehicle.

(i) Falls away

(ii) Falls away

(iii) Falls away

(iv) Falls away

(aa) Falls away

(bb) Falls away

QUESTION NO 415

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 03 JULY 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 5)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether she purchased a new vehicle on her appointment to office; if so, (a) why, (b) what make and model is the vehicle, (c) what did the vehicle cost and (d)(i) what accessories were included in excess of the vehicle's purchase price and (ii) what was the cost of such accessories; if not,

(2) whether she inherited an existing vehicle; if so, (a) what was the make and model and (b) how old is the vehicle? NW476E

REPLY

(1) No, I have not yet purchased a vehicle since my appointment. I am currently making use of loan vehicles from BMW in terms of the arrangement between BMW and the Department of Transport.

(2) Falls away. Refer to the explanation above.

QUESTION NUMBER 1797

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 22)

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) (a) How many of her department's officials are dedicated to environmental protection and monitoring,(b) what are their respective designations, (c) how many vacancies currently exist for such officials and (d) for low long has each of these positions been vacant;

(2) what was the budget for environmental protection and monitoring for the 2008-09 financial year;

(3) (a) how many mines were found to be in transgression of their environmental management programmes in the 2008-09 financial year, (b) what was the nature of the transgression in each case and (c) what action did her department take in each case?

REPLY

(1) Seventy eight (78) of the Department's officials are dedicated to environmental protection and monitoring,

Thirteen (13) vacancies (of which 12 became vacant since June 2009) currently exist for such officials.

(2) What was the budget for environmental protection and monitoring for the 2008-09 financial year?

Each regional office of the Department of Mineral Resources has a global integrated budget from which funds are sourced by interalia the officials referred to in question 1 above.

(3) (a) Two hundred and fifteen (215) cases of transgression of environmental management requirements were found in the 2008-09 financial year,

(b) Transgressions cover a wide spectrum varying from minor issues to more significant issues.

(c) Actions undertaken by the department are as follows:

Action was taken by the Department in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002(Act 28 0f 2002).

QUESTION NUMBER 1063

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 4 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 14)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether approval has been granted to any mining company or other applicant during the period 1 July 2008 to the present for the construction of new mine tailings storage facilities; if so, (a) where will it be located, (b) the date on which date was approval granted, (c) for which time period is such storage facility to be constructed, (d) when will it become operational and (e) what is the extent of the land surface it is to occupy;

(2) whether agricultural land will be the site on which the storage facilities will be built; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the name of the successful applicant and/or mining company?

REPLY

(1) No approval has been granted to any mining company for the construction of new mine tailing storage facilities by the Department of Mineral Resources and no application for the said facility was submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources.

(a) NA

(b) NA

(d) NA

(e) NA

2. NA

QUESTION NUMBER 1062

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 4 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 14)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether approval has been granted to a certain mining company (name furnished) for the construction of a storage facility (details furnished); if so, (a) where will it be located, (b) the date on which approval was granted, (c) the time period during which such storage facility is to be constructed, (d) when will it become operational and (e) the extent of the land surface it is to occupy;

(2) whether agricultural land will be the site on which the storage facility will be built; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1323E

REPLY

Please refer to the response to question 1063.

QUESTION NUMBER 1189

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 16)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

In light of the appointment of a certain company (name furnished) to conduct an assessment of compliance in respect of the Mining Charter, (a) what is its mandate, (b) what is the date on which it must present its report to the department, (c) who are the (i) directors and (ii) members of this company and (d) what is the cost of commissioning the report?

REPLY

(a) The mandate of the company is to undertake an independent assessment of the cumulative progress (by the mining industry) against the targets of the Mining Charter, as agreed upon by all stakeholders prior to implementation of this Charter.

(b) End of September, 2009.

(ii) Not applicable

(d) The report is commissioned at a total cost of R 3,659,172.00.

QUESTION NUMBER 1608

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 20)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) (1)Whether her department developed and adopted a policy providing guidelines for the appointment of persons with a criminal record; if so, (a) when was the policy (i) developed and (ii) adopted and (b) where can a copy of the policy be obtained; if not,

(2) Whether her department has any plans in place to develop and adopt such a policy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) Whether her department does any pre-employment screening of potential employees for criminal records; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) Whether any employees with criminal records are currently employed by her department; if so, (a) how many and (b) what is their (i) job level and (ii) occupational category? NW2014E

REPLY

(1) Yes,

(a) (i) in 2002 under DME

(ii) in 2004

(b) The Policy and the DME Vetting Strategy is available on request.

(2) Not applicable

(3) Yes, all potential employees are sent for pre-employment screening before the approval is granted for the appointment. The pre-employment screening of the Department covers the following: Criminal record checks, citizenship status, credit worthiness, previous employment and qualification verification.

(4) No

(a) Not applicable

(b) (i) Not applicable

(ii) Not applicable

QUESTION NUMBER 1678

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16 OCTOBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 22)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

Whether, since her appointment in May 2009 any renovations or alterations were done at state owned and private residences of her or any other specified official of her department; if so, (a) where she and the occupants of each such residence were accommodated during the renovations and (b) at what cost to his department in each case? NW2134E

REPLY

No.

(a) Falls away

(b) Falls away

QUESTION NO 552

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 JULY 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2008;

(2) whether these firms are used on a contractual basis; if so, (a) how many contracts did her department take out in this regard in 2008, (b) with which firms were these contracts taken out, (c) for what specific purpose was each contract taken out and (d) what was the value of the contract in each case;

(3) why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security?

REPLY

(1) Yes, the Department makes use private security firms. The money spent the security firms in 2008 is R186 435.60.

(2) Yes the firms are used on contractual basis.

(a) Two firms were contracted in 2008

(b) Siyashesha Security Services and Enforce Armed Response System

(c) Siyashesha Security Services for Physical security at Olifantsfontein training centre and Enforce Security Services for Armed Response System at Durban regional office

(d) The department paid R186 435.60 per annum for Siyashesha Security Services and paid R4 035 to Enforce Security Services

(3) It is government policy.

QUESTION NO 569

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 JULY 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 6)

Mr AM Figlan (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

(1) (a) How many sand mining operations have been authorised by her department (i) in or (ii) adjacent to the Umgeni River system and (b) what is the name of the entity that has been awarded approval to mine in each case;

(2) whether the sand mining operation run by an entity called Crossmore near the Anthurium Place access road in eThekwini has been authorised by her department; if not, what action will be taken against this operation; if so, when was the application granted;

(3) whether steps are being taken to ensure that the operation complies with the Environmental Management Plan; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether any directives have been issued against the operation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW633E

REPLY

1. The following mining permits have been issued on the Umgeni river:

(a) (i) 12

(b) (ii) 4

1. X Moor Transport cc 379MP

2. X Moor Transport cc 74MP

3. BHD Zuma 218MP

4. M A Hall 246MP

5. C N Shabalala 216MP

6. Ziyasha Logistics (Pty) Ltd 204MP

7. A B Sibisi 260MP

8. Very Nice Trading (Pty) Ltd 168MP

9. P T Dube 254MP

10. Little Rock Trading 45cc 147MP

11. Quebeka Euzils Building Material Suppliers cc 355MP

12. Uzuzinikela Trading 9 cc 233MP

13. Versatex 486 (Pty) Ltd 58MP

14. Invincible Panther Co-operative Limited 141MP

15. Tack it Trading cc 370MP

16. Gamelihle Sand and Pebble Suppliers cc 169MP

(ii) The following rights/permits have been issued adjacent to the Umgeni River

system:

1. K Lutchman (Tributary adjacent to Umgeni River) 232MR

2. V Govender 45MP

3. Kovacs Investments (Pty) Ltd (Qala Quarry – adjacent to Umgeni River System) -

102MR

4. Invincible Panther Co-operative Limited (Granite Quarry adjacent to Umgeni river) -

146MR

2. From the Department's records there is no company by the name of Crossmore which is a holder of any permit or rights

3. Question not applicable, see Question 2 reply.

4. Question not applicable, see Question 2 reply.

24 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 151 to 175

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1701 to 1725

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 126 to 150

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 76 to 100

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 101 to 125

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 26 to 50

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1 to 25

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 51 to 75

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1726 to 1750

31 December 2008 - Questions: Minister of Mineral and Energy

MPs to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy

Source
Link

Reply:

Question no. 376

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 07 March 2008

376: Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

(1) Between 1 May 2004 and 29 February 2008 the Department received 8196 prospecting rights (ii) mining rights-1359,(iii) mining permits-4244, (iv) (aa) the period for conversion of prospecting rights expired in April 2006, a total of 378 conversions were received.(bb) mining rights conversions -549

(1) (b) (i) and (ii) A total of 504 appeals were received during the aforementioned period. What is however important to note at this stage, is that the majority of so-called appeals received by the Department, has been processed in terms of section103(4)(b) of the MPRDA, as it relates to Ministerial decisions taken under delegated authority, which as a result rendered an appeal in terms of section 96 of the Act, incompetent.

The remainder of the appeals were either withdrawn (38), suspended pending litigation (32) or negotiations (48) or still pending (315).

2. (i) The department has not identified quality of decisions as a cause for settlement with parties, settlement is as per agreement between the Applicants and the Department, thus meaning that the matters were in effect settled between the parties.

(ii) As referred in 2(i) majority of matters not opposed is because of the agreements between the parties.

Question no. 1219

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 01 August 2008

1219: Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

With reference to her reply to Question 653 on 17 July 2008, how many applications for (a) prospecting rights, (b) mining (i) rights and (ii) permits and (c) conversions of (i) prospecting and (ii) mining rights did her department return to the applicants after acceptance of the application for purposes of further details and/or information and/or completion submitted in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002?

The Department does not return applications to applicants after acceptance, applications are only returned to applicants if they were rejected. After acceptance the department as stipulated in the Act, have to inform the applicant of such acceptance and request the applicant to consult with interested and affected parties and submit the results of such consultation and to submit an Environmental Management Plan/Programme within the specified time frames. Therefore the Department request information on all the accepted applications.

Question no. 1220

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 01 August 2008

1220Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

With reference to her reply to Question 653 on 17 July 2008, and the fact that no mining right conversions were refused, on what grounds were the judicial reviews instituted against her department based on applications for mining rights submitted in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002?

The grounds on which the judicial reviews were instituted in respect of conversion applications referred to in the reply to question 653 did not concern the merits of the applications per se. In two of the judicial review proceedings, the parties held different views on the interpretation of the time period for the lodgement of conversion of prospecting right application as per the transitional provisions of the MPRDA. The Court ruled in favour of the interpretation of the applicant. The third review which is still pending, essentially relates to a dispute between two parties, which arose subsequent to the granting of a conversion application to the Respondent in this matter. The Department has no material interest in the outcome of the review proceedings.

Question no.551

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 28March 2008

551: Mr. W D Spies (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

Whether an increase in electricity tariffs will also come into force on 1 April 2008 for neighboring countries to which South Africa supplies electricity; if not, why not; if so, what is the (a) current tariff and (b) percentage increase for (i) Namibia, (ii) Botswana, (iii) Mozambique, (iv) Lesotho, (v) Swaziland

RESPONSE:

The electricity tariffs to neighbouring utilities escalate at the agreed rates in their supply agreements. In most cases this escalation is equal to or higher than the NERSA approved escalation and comes into effect from 1 April each year. In some instances however agreements allow escalation linked to other indices such as PPI and escalation dates of 1 January each year.

The specific detail requested per country is confidential information and therefore cannot be disclosed publicly. Should the Honourable Member require further clarity in this regard, he is welcome to contact the Honourable Minister of Minerals and Energy.

Question no.588

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 28 March 2008

588: Mr. M Waters (DA) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

(1) What are the co-ordinates with regard to the mining rights on a certain farm in the Kempton Park area (Witfontein )R/33/151R

whether there are any restrictions which prohibit any mining from taking place near residential dwellings; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) up to what distance from residential dwellings can mining take place?

REPLY:

Co ordinates on the remainder of the farm Witfontein No 15IR, wherein a mining permit has been issued.

DATUM: WGS 84

LO-Y	LO-X
70766.789	2883463.934
70676.433	2883953.612
70691.011	2884122.129
70780.737	2884125.445
70766.789	2883963.934

2(a) Yes, Section 48(1) of the MPRDA, restricts mining or prospecting in respect of land comprising a residential area, however Section 48(2) provides powers to the Minister to issue a right in respect of land mentioned above, if the Minister is satisfied that-

Having regard to the sustainable development of the mineral resources involved and national interest, it is desirable to issue it.

The right/permit will take place within the framework of national environmental management policies, norms and standards.

(b) Regulation 17(6)of Mine Health and Safety Act, provides that no mining operations are carried out under or within a horizontal distances of 100 metres from buildings, roads, railways, reserves, mine boundaries, any structure whatsoever.

Question no.551

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 28March 2008

551: Mr. W D Spies (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

RESPONSE:

QUESTION NUMBER 1189

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 16)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:

REPLY

(b) End of September, 2009.

(ii) Not applicable

(d) The report is commissioned at a total cost of R 3,659,172.00.

Question No. 1515

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Response by Hon. Buyelwa Sonjica. Minister of Minerals and Energy. To Adv HC Schmidt's

Parliamentarv Question No. 1515

A. Question:

Following recent allegations that PetroSA signed oil deals with associates of Mugabe,(sic) whether the Minister can indicate (a) when was the deal between Middle East South Africa Energy (MESA) and PetroSA entered into; (b) what the specific terms 0 the deal were; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (c) whether PetroSA was aware of the UN Final Report by the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploration of Natural Resources and other forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; if not, why not?

B. Response:

a) The agreement was signed by both parties on 17 June 2004 – effective for two years, commencing on 1 August 2004.

b) The agreement stipulates that MESA will supply condensate as a feedstock for the Mossel Bay Refinery at price that are dependent on the grade of condensate that would have been supplied to PetroSA.

BACKGROUND

After the aforesaid condensate deal, MESA subsequently successfully bid for other spot deals for Reformate, amongst others, all of which had nothing to do with DRC.

Recent News

On 24th August 2008 the Sunday Times newspaper published a story in its business section that insinuates that PetroSA knowingly "dished out oil deals" to a consortium partly owned by foreign businessmen accused of being fronts for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

PetroSA then placed it on record that in 2004 they concluded a tender wherein MESA Energy, a majority-owned South African company, was contracted to supply them with gas condensate. At the time three separate South African companies owned 51% of MESA. A Mauritian-registered company Pegasus Energy (Ltd) owned the remaining 49%.

A forensic audit to verify the legal and BEE status of MESA was conducted in accordance with PetroSA's policies. The decision to award MESA Energy this highly competitive tender, was based on PetroSA's stringent selection criteria, which considered factors such as pricing, BEE participation levels, and the ability to introduce various condensate grades.

It is also true that in January 2008, PetroSA purchased a spot cargo of Reformate from MESA.

Throughout these transactions PetroSA has conducted itself with professional integrity, putting at the forefront the best interests of South Africa. At no time before or after the two deals, was PetroSA ever informed of any allegations of impropriety concerning MESA or any of its partners.

It is therefore mischievous of the Sunday Times to insinuate that PetroSA knowingly conducted business in defiance of United Nations resolutions or sanctions. A fact is that PetroSA, in good faith, concluded two deals with .

Mesa Energy. Both deals were conducted in full compliance with PetroSA's internal processes which are aligned with PFMA Act.

Possible link between the "UN Final Report by the Panel of Experts on the illegal Exploration of Natural Resources and other forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo" and MESA http://www .natural-resources.ora/minerals/law/docs/pdf/ N0262179.pd

Among the Government departments interviewed by the Panel of Experts was the Department of Minerals and Energy of South Africa (p.54 of the UN Final Report). However, no names of officials interviewed were provided.

The central focus of the Panel's work was gathering information about politically and economically powerful groups involved in the exploitation activities / illegal exploration of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which are often highly criminalized. The UN Report's main focus is on the micro conflicts that have been provoked by the DRC civil war that have resulted in some groups, politically connected persons and high-ranking government officials from states involved in the conflict criminally exploiting the situation for self enrichment.

The report then goes further to explain the modus operandi of the said groups but has no specific mention of MESA Energy.

The person posing the questions seems to be of the opinion that there is a link between MESA (shareholders or individuals within MESA) and the entities alleged to be involved in the illegal dealings in DRC (from a Zimbabwe front) as shown in the extracts of the Report below. Unfortunately, a detailed investigation could not be conducted to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there is no such link.

Extracts from the Report that could be relevant to the questions posed are as follows:

"12. The regional conflict that drew the armies of seven African States into the Democratic Republic of the Congo has diminished in intensity, but the overlapping micro conflicts that it provoked continue. These conflicts are fought over minerals, farm produce, land and even tax revenues. Criminal groups linked to the armies of Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have benefited from the micro conflicts. Those groups will not disband voluntarily even as the foreign military forces continue their withdrawals. They have built up a self-financing war economy centred on mineral exploitation.

13. Facilitated by South Africa and Angola, the Pretoria and Luanda Agreements have prompted the recent troop withdrawals from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Welcome as they may be, these withdrawals are unlikely to alter the determination of Rwanda and Zimbabwe, and Ugandan individuals, to exercise economic control over portions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The departure of their forces will do little to reduce economic control, or the means of achieving it, since the use of national armies is only one among many means for exercising it. All three countries have anticipated the day when pressure from the international community would make it impossible to maintain large forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Governments of Rwanda and Zimbabwe, as well as powerful individuals in Uganda, have adopted other strategies for maintaining the mechanisms for revenue generation, many of which involve criminal activities, once their troops have departed.

17. Although troops of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have been a major guarantor of the security of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo against regional rivals, its senior officers have enriched themselves from the country's mineral assets under the pretext of arrangements set up to repay Zimbabwe for military services. Now ZDF is establishing new companies and contractual arrangements to defend its economic interests in the longer term should there be a complete withdrawal of ZDF troops. New trade and service agreements were signed between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe just prior to the announced withdrawal of ZDF troops from the diamond centre of Mbuji Mayi late in August 2002.

18. Towards the end of its mandate, the Panel received a copy of a memorandum dated August 2002 from the Defence Minister, Sidney Sekeramayi, to President Robert Mugabe, proposing that a joint Zimbabwe-Democratic Republic of the Congo company be set up in Mauritius to disguise the continuing economic interests of ZDF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The memorandum states: "Your Excellency would be aware of the wave of negative publicity and criticism that the DRC-Zimbabwe joint ventures have attracted, which tends to inform the current United Nations Panel investigations into our commercial activities." It also refers to plans to set up a private Zimbabwean military company to guard Zimbabwe's economic investments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the planned withdrawal of ZDF troops. It states that this company was formed to operate alongside a new military company owned by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

19. At the same time, local militias and local politicians have supplemented the role that State armies previously played in ensuring access to and control of valuable resources and diverting State revenue. The 'looting that was previously conducted by the armies themselves has been replaced with organized systems of embezzlement, tax fraud, extortion, the use of stock options as kickbacks and diversion of State funds conducted by groups that closely resemble criminal organizations.

20. Such activities have become increasingly prominent in the techniques of exploitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Panel has identified three distinct groups engaged in activities in three different areas and refers to them as elite networks. These elite networks have control over a range of commercial activities involving the exploitation of natural resources, diversion of taxes and other revenue generation activities in the three separate areas controlled by the Government of the' Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, respectively."

22. The elite network of Congolese and Zimbabwean political, military and commercial interests seeks to maintain its grip on the main mineral resources - diamonds, cobalt, copper, germanium - of the Government-controlled area. This network has transferred ownership of at least US$ 5 billion of assets from the State mining sector to private companies under its control in the past three years with no compensation or benefit for the State treasury of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

23. This network benefits from instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its representatives in the Kinshasa Government and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have fuelled instability by supporting armed groups opposing Rwanda and Burundi.

24. Even if present moves towards peace lead to a complete withdrawal of Zimbabwean forces, the network's grip on the richest mineral assets of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and related businesses will remain.

Zimbabwe's political-military elite signed six major trade and service agreements in August 2002 with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reliable sources have told the Panel about plans to set up new holding companies to disguise the continuing ZDF commercial operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a ZDF-controlled private military company to be deployed in the country to guard those assets

27. The key strategist for the Zimbabwean branch of the elite network is the Speaker of the Parliament and former National Security Minister, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. Mr. Mnangagwa has won strong support from senior military and intelligence officers for an aggressive policy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His key ally is a Commander of ZDF and Executive Chairman of COSLEG, General Vitalis Musunga Gava Zvinavashe. The General and his family have been involved in diamond trading and supply contracts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A long-time ally of President Mugabe, Air Marshal Perence Shiri, has been involved in military procurement and organizing air support for the pro- Kinshasa armed groups fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is also part of the inner circle of ZDF diamond traders who have turned Harare into a significant illicit diamond-trading centre.

28. Other prominent Zimbabwean members of the network include Brigadier General Sibusiso Busi Moyo, who is Director General of COSLEG. Brigadier Moyo advised both Tremalt and Oryx Natural Resources, which represented covert Zimbabwean military financial interests in negotiations with State mining companies of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Air Commodore Mike Tichafa Karakadzai is Deputy Secretary of COSLEG, directing policy and procurement. He played a key role in arranging the Tremalt cobalt and copper deal. Colonel Simpson Sikhulile Nyathi is Director of defence policy for COSLEG. The Minister of Defence and former Security Minister, Sidney Sekeramayi, coordinates with the military leadership and is a shareholder in COSLEG. The Panel has a copy of a letter from Mr. Sekeramayi thanking the Chief Executive of Oryx Natural Resources, Thamer Bin Said Ahmed AIShanfari, for his material and moral support during the parliamentary elections of 2000. Such contributions violate Zimbabwean law.

29. In June 2002, the Panel learned of a secret new ZDF diamond mining operation in Kalobo in Kasai Occidental run by Dube Associates. This company is linked, according to banking documents, through Colonel Tshinga Dube of Zimbabwe Defence Industries to the Ukrainian diamond and arms dealer Leonid Minim, who currently faces smuggling charges in Italy. The diamond mining operations have been conducted in great secrecy.

31. The techniques used by Mr. Forrest have since been replicated by Zimbabwean-backed entrepreneurs John Arnold Bredenkamp and Mr. AIShanfari. Mr. Bredenkamp, who has an estimated personal net worth of over $500 million, is experienced in setting up clandestine companies and sanctions-busting operations. Mr. AI-Shanfari has gained privileged access to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its diamond concessions in exchange for raising capital from some powerful entrepreneurs in the Gulf such as Issa a/-Kawari who manages the fortune of the deposed Amir of Qatar. Also working with ZDF is a convicted criminal based in South Africa, Nico Shefer, who has arranged for Zimbabwean officers to be trained in diamond valuation in Johannesburg. Mr. Shefer's company, Tandan Holdings, has a 50 per cent stake in Thorntree Industries, a joint venture diamond-trading company with ZDF.

32. Zimbabwean Billy Rautenbach headed a joint venture cobalt-mining company and was Chief Executive of Gecamines from November 1998 to March 2000. Although stripped of his cobalt concessions in Katanga, Mr. Rautenbach told the Panel that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had offered his company, Ridgepointe International, mining rights to Gecamines concessions at Shinkolobwe, which include substantial deposits of uranium, copper and cobalt. Mr. Rautenbach's representatives said that any new agreement would be subject to the new mining code of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and any uranium mining operations would be open to inspections by the International Atomic Energy

QUESTION NO: 1539

NATIONAL ASSEMBLYINTERNAL QUESTION PAPER

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY

1539. Mr LW (I D) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

(1) Whether public participation processeswere conducted regarding the Government's decision to build new nuclear power plant stations; if not, why not if so, how many submissions were received from public;

(2) Whether her department has considered the submissions; if not, whynot; if so, what are relevant details?

RESPONSES:

(1) No, this is OPE and DEAT's responsibility.

QUESTION 1544

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY

1544. Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

(1) Whether her department is currently running a wind source atlas programme if so (a) when did the programme start and (b) when will a comprehensive wind atlas be available to the public'

(2) Whether there have been any delays in the programme; if so what were the reasons for the delays?

Response:

1 (a) Yes, the programme started in May 2008

(b) The 1stiteration of the wind atlas, covering coastal areas of the Northern Western and Eastern provinces is planned for November 2009. The final comprehensive version (reports, facts sheets, web site, and database) of the atlas is planned for the 3rdquarter of 2012.

2. No delays

26 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Cooperative Governance

MPs to ask the Minister of Provincial and Local Government

Source
Link

Reply:

QUESTION NO. 1433

(Internal Question Paper No 24 – 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

With regard to each municipality, (a) what was the (i) total number of staff, (ii) total number of days taken for (aa) sick leave and (bb) annual leave and (iii) rate of absenteeism, (b) (i) what total amount was spent on consultants and (ii) what was the (aa) nature of the work done by the consultants, (bb) duration of their contracts or work done and (cc) hourly rates charged by these consultants during the 2007-08 financial year and (c) what total amount was spent by each of these municipalities on (i) parties and (ii) any other social events in each of the past three financial years up to and including 15 August 2008?

ANSWER

This question requires that information covering all the two hundred and eighty-three municipalities, be made available. The information sought also covers a wide range of issues.

The National Assembly Guide to Procedure, 2004 provides that members of the National Assembly "may not raise questions which would require an impractically extensive answer". This question falls within this category. Consequently, it is not possible to respond to the question.

QUESTION NO. 1436

(Internal Question Paper No 24 - 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

What is the breakdown of the (a) actual number of engineer posts and (b) the number of these posts that are vacant in each municipality as at 1 August 2008?

ANSWER

The Honourable Member will note that information has been obtained from Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The outstanding information from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West province will be made available to the Honourable Member as soon as it has been received.

See the tables here: http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1436tables.pdf

QUESTION NO. 1519

(Internal Question Paper No 25 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

(1) (a) How many posts on senior management level are currently vacant in each of the 283 municipalities and (b) how long have each of these posts been vacant

(2) whether each of these vacancies have been budgeted for; if not; why not; if so, (a) how much will be spent in filling these vacancies and (b) when will they be filled?

ANSWER

The Honourable Member will note that information has been obtained from Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The outstanding information from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West province will be made available to the Honourable Member as soon as it has been received.

See tables here: http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1519tables.pdf

QUESTION NO. 1543

(Internal Question Paper No 27 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

(1) What (a) were the reasons for the abolishment of the Regional Services Council (RSC) levies and (b) was the total amount owed to municipalities when the RSC levies were abolished;

(2) whether municipalities were given a date by which to collect the moneys owed to them; if not. what is the position in this regard; if so, what was the deadline;

(3) whether municipalities have been successful in recovering those moneys; if not, what are the challenges they are facing; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether his department has any plans to help those municipalities that could not recover the moneys owed to them at the time when RSC levies were abolished; if not, why not; if so, what plans;

(5) whether he has been informed of any legal action by a municipality or an individual representing a municipality against (a) organisations, (b) government departments. (c) private enterprises and (d) individuals over moneys owed to Regional Services Councils; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

ANSWER

The RSC levies were administered by the Minister of Finance and their abolishment were also done by the Minister of Finance, and the related matters of collections also have interface with the South African Revenue Services (SARS) which also report to the Minster of Finance. Accordingly, this Parliamentary Question should be directed to the Minister of Finance not the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

QUESTION NO. 802

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Moulana M R Sayedali-Shah (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What procedures are followed when meetings of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) and Directorate Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) are not held in terms of the approval process for urgent applications and (b) who from the NCACC attended the meetings of the Scrutiny Committee in terms of the regulations?

ANSWER

(a) As a general rule, meetings of the NCACC are scheduled to take place on a monthly basis throughout the year. At its meetings, it considers a number of matters placed before it. When taking decisions, the NCACC takes into account the recommendations placed before it by the Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Committee is a committee comprising all representatives of review departments. This committee has a duty to undertake general spade work for the NCACC. After considering the Scrutiny Committee's recommendations, the NCACC may decide to accept or reject the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.

In the event that the NCACC cannot convene, the Chairperson of the NCACC and the Minister of Defence consider and decide on matters that are urgent. In considering and deciding on urgent matters, the NCACC takes into account the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee. The decisions taken by the Chairperson and the Minister of Defence under these circumstances are, as a matter of principle, ratified by the next ensuing meeting of the NCACC.

The Directorate: Conventional Arms Control does not hold meetings to decide on urgent applications. What the Directorate does is to facilitate the holding of meetings by the Scrutiny Committee and the NCACC. The Directorate also executes and implements the decisions that have been taken by the NCACC.

Since the Scrutiny Committee was established and functioned as a subcommittee of the NCACC, no member of the NCACC has ever attended its meetings. This failure to have a member of the NCACC attending the Scrutiny Committee meetings is due to practical reasons only. It is because of these practical challenges that the NCACC has proposed an amendment to the Act relating to the establishment and functioning of the Scrutiny Committee.

QUESTION NO. 803

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether there are National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC)-approved processes for the Directorate Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) to follow when scrutinising and assessing applications for the issuing of a permit, besides the Chairperson delegating for the signing of permits; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

The Directorate uses clearly defined procedures when handling conventional arms permit

applications. The procedures deal with the following aspects:

(a) reflection on the international arms control regimes that have a bearing on the South African arms control system;

(b) structures established in terms of the law to implement conventional arms control in South Africa;

(d) procedures to be followed when handling different kinds of permit applications. These include registration permits, marketing permits, contracting permits, export permits, import permits, transit permits and end-user certificates.

In conducting all its work, the Directorate follows, and is guided by, these procedures.

QUESTION NO. 804

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) delegated the decision to issue permits; if so,

(2) whether minutes are kept of such decisions to delegate in respect of (a) who made the decision in each case to delegate, (b) when such decisions were made and (c) the basis on which each decision was made in the past 24 months; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) As a general rule, the transfer of conventional arms takes place on a daily basis. For such transfers to take place, the transfers have to be authorised by the NCACC. In order to facilitate this authorisation, the NCACC has delegated authority to the Directorate: Conventional Arms to handle these transactions. The delegated authority of the Directorate is not exercised in a vacuum, but within the context of NCACC guidelines. Further, the delegated authority of the Directorate has to be exercised after taking into account inputs by the various review departments. The delegated authority of the Directorate is exercised in respect of all kinds of permits, save for the contracting permits that are only authorised by the NCACC. Within the Directorate, the permit signing powers are carried out by the Director of the Directorate and the Deputy Director.

(2) The authority delegated to the Directorate was assigned in writing in respect of all permits, except contracting permits. All permits issued by the Directorate are recorded and are presented to the NCACC on a monthly basis for ratification. The basis for the issuing of permits are the provisions of the relevant Act, guidelines of the NCACC and inputs of various departments. All records of issued permits and the associated details are kept by the Directorate.

QUESTION NO. 805

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Moulana M R Sayedali-Shah (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether the Government received a diplomatic note from the Chinese and/or Zimbabwean government as part of the application for a conveyance permit with regard to the weapons for Zimbabwe carried by the Chinese ship that docked in the Durban harbour in April 2008; if so, (a) who authorised the permit and (b) who signed off the granting of the permit;

(2) whether he consulted the President in this process; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether a quorum was obtained when the decision was taken to issue the conveyance permit for the shipment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) what are the relevant details regarding the minutes kept of all meetings pertaining to the issuing of a conveyance permit to the Chinese shipment carrying weapons for Zimbabwe in respect of (a)(i) dates and (ii) times, (b) venues, (c) attendees and (d) decisions taken;

(5) whether the SA National Defence Force assisted with the refueling of the Chinese ship; if so, (a) how and (b) under whose order?

ANSWER

(1) As part of the transit permit application documentation, the NCACC (National Conventional Arms Control Committee) Directorate received a Diplomatic Note from the Zimbabwean Government, a copy of the Zimbabwean End User Certificate in respect of the consignment and a copy of a document from the Chinese Port Authority in respect of the consignment. After considering the documents, the Directorate consulted the various review departments, after which the matter was referred to the Chairperson of the NCACC for consideration and decision by the members of the NCACC. After due consideration, the NCACC authorised the Directorate to issue the permit. Subsequent to this authorisation, the Directorate issued the permit. The permit was signed by the delegated Deputy Director in the Directorate. It is worth mentioning though that the said Deputy Director signed the permit on specific instructions from the Director of the Directorate, who in turn was giving effect to the decision of the NCACC.

(2) The NCACC is an organ of state and has a full mandate in terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act (Act 41 of 2002), to regulate the transfer of conventional arms in South Africa. The NCACC considers and decides on all matters before it on the basis of this mandate. This approach was the followed without exception when the Zimbabwean transit permit application was dealt with.

(3) As a matter of practice, all transit permits are dealt with by the Directorate on the basis of the delegated powers, the guidelines of the NCACC and the inputs of review departments. Where the Directorate is not certain, the Directorate seeks, as a general rule, the advice of the NCACC through the office of the Chairperson. This was the case in respect of the transit permit under focus. After the transit permit application had been brought to the attention of the Chairperson of the NCACC, the Chairperson consulted members of the NCACC. After this consultation, a decision was taken to authorise the permit.

(4) As indicated in response to question (3) above, no specific meeting was held by the NCACC to consider this matter. Normal consultation was conducted by the Chairperson after which a decision was made to issue the permit.

(5) This question should be directed to the Department of Defence as the SANDF falls under that Department.

QUESTION NO. 823

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department will cease making allocations to the SA Local Government Association (Salga) since it has received three qualified reports from the Auditor-General in the past three financial years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether his department has any plans in place to help Salga resolve its financial problems; if not, why not; if so, (a) what plans; (b) when will they be implemented, (c) how long will it take to implement them and (d) how much will it cost to implement them;

(3) what (a) were the total amounts of State allocations to Salga and (b) was Salga's actual expenditure in each of the past five financial years;

(4) whether Salga overspent its budget in each of the past five financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, by how much in each case;

(5) whether the overexpenditure was accounted for in each of the past five financial years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) No. SALGA is mandated by the 1996 Constitution, and by the Municipal Systems Act (2000) and the Organised Local Government Act (1997), to assist with the transformation of local government in South Africa in line with the values and vision upheld by the government. The allocations to SALGA are appropriated through the annual Appropriation Act which is voted for in Parliament.

(2) Yes. The department has plans in place (a) to review SALGA's funding model, together with the National Treasury and SALGA, (b) over the duration of the 2009 MTEC process, (c) will depend on the recommendations of the MTEC, (d) there will be no cost implications as the work is being done by the dplg, SALGA and the National Treasury.

(3) The information relating to allocations is available from the 2008 (Vote 29) Estimates of National Expenditure document, and the information relating to actual expenditure is available from the Annual Report of SALGA. These documents have been tabled in Parliament.

(4) No. SALGA has not overspent on its budget over the last five financial years. The table appearing below presents the net cash flow for the last five financial years. The position over the last five years is as follows:

	June 2003	June 2004	June 2005	June 2006	June 2007
Actual Net Operating Result	R 4 911.500	(R 2 549 043)	(R 10 930 150)	(R 63 120 913)	R 1 899 245
Add: Non-cash Flow items
Depreciation	R 257 186	R 266 047	R 1 341 644	R 1 914 068	R 2 144 462
Provision for impairment of trade receivables	-	R 5 295 625	R 62 984 226	R 43 499 461	(R 18 372 282)
Fair value adjustment	-	-	-	R 19 082 415	R 17 103 772
Actual adjustment Net Operating Results	R 5 168 668	R 3 012 629	R 53 395 720	R 1 375 031	R 2 775 197

Budgeted Net Operating Results	0	0	0	0	0

Variance	+R 5 168 668	+R 3 012 629	+R 53 395 720	+ R 1 375 031	+R 2 775 197.

(5) Falls away.

QUESTION NO. 832

(Internal Question Paper No 15 – 2008)

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether he will ensure that his department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

(2) whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to him; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) what is the estimated cost of all such (i) reports and (ii) publications per annum in the case of these agencies and all other working documents of his department and (b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of his department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices?

ANSWER

(1) (a) and (b) The Department of Public Works is leading the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Strategy in respect of all government buildings.

(2) The agencies or councils referred to report to Parliament, and not to the Minister.

(3) (a) (i) & (ii) Fall away. However, an amount of R 4,468,710 has been spent on all publications for the 2007/2008 financial year by the dplg.

(b) (i) Electricity.

(ii) Energy saving measures being implemented are the following:

1.1

· All lights in the dplg buildings, including parking areas, are to be switched off between 19h00 and 05h00. Lights in passages, lift lobbies and some lights at the foyer will not be switched off for security reasons. Timer switches will be installed on each floor to regulate electricity.

· All geysers will be switched off between 19h00 and 05h00.

· Air-conditioning systems in our buildings have been programmed to automatically switch off at 18h00 and switch on at 06h00.

· Staff members are to switch off all electrical appliances and equipment when not in use.

· Disciplinary steps will be taken against all staff members who fail to comply with the energy saving measures.

QUESTION NO. 850

(Internal Question Paper No 15 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) How many (i) professionals and (ii) managers have been deployed under Project Consolidate in (aa) 2005, (bb) 2006 and (cc) 2007, (b) to how many of the 136 municipalities have they been deployed, (c) for how long have they been deployed, (d) what are their fields of expertise and (e) from where were they sourced?

ANSWER

(a) (i) and (ii) (aa), (bb) and (cc), and (b):

Project Consolidate Deployments

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

Number of professionals and managers deployed

210 deployments

359 deployments

1 134 deployments

Number of Project Consolidate (PC), municipalities

69 municipalities

105 municipalities

268 municipalities

(including all 139 PC municipalities).

(c)The duration of deployment differs from one deploying agent to the next. Generally, deployments have ranged from one year to three years.

(d) Deployments have focused on the following skills areas:

engineering;
finance;
town-planning;
project management; and
human resource development.

(e) Support for Project Consolidate has been mobilised from a range of stakeholders and partners, including business and professional organizations, state owned enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and development and donor agencies. Some of these stakeholders include the First National Bank, the Business Trust, AHI, IDT, INCA Capacity Building Fund, GTZ, KFW, DFID (UK), USAID, the South African Planning Institution (SAPI) and the Old Mutual Group.

All firearm licence applications received for the period 20042007 have been fully processed on the Enhanced Firearms Register System. Contributory factors such as outstanding documentation from applicants, safe inspections, availability of applicants for safe inspections result in a situation where a final decision could not be made on the outstanding applications during that specific year. As the outstanding information is received, the applications are considered and finalized.

QUESTION NO. 1159

(Internal Question Paper No 20 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether his department has an anti-corruption unit to assist municipalities in the fight against corruption; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many people are involved in this unit, (b) what strategy to fight corruption has been developed by this unit, (c) what assistance have they had from municipalities and (d) what successes have they had in municipalities?

ANSWER

Yes, the Department has established a Chief Directorate which focuses on the implementation of anti-corruption measures within local government.

(a) Three Managers are driving the programme within the Chief Directorate.

(b) The Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy was developed by the Chief Directorate in the year 2006 to fight corruption within municipalities.

(c) Municipalities are cooperating, and have been assisted with the development of systems, policies and procedures to prevent corruption. It should also be noted that both the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID), have provided support to the Department from 2004 and 2006, respectively, with the roll-out of a local government anti-corruption programme.

(d) The impact of the strategy has not been assessed as the strategy is still being rolled out within municipalities. However, regarding the raising of awareness within municipalities, the strategy has had an impact, as local communities are now exposing and reporting corruption, where it occurs.

QUESTION NO. 1161

(Internal Question Paper No 20 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether his department has introduced any measures to assist municipalities in (a) collecting revenue and (b) spending their capital budgets; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(a) The dplg is working with the National Treasury, SALGA, Provincial Departments of Local Government and Provincial Treasuries to provide financial management support, which includes tools and systems for revenue collection. Apart from the legislative measures embodied in the Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act, the dplg has provided some municipalities with grant funding to address billing systems, data cleansing, development and the implementation of credit control policies. The dplg has also developed a model credit control policy and by-laws, in conjunction with SALGA. These are aimed at assisting municipalities with revenue management and collection.

With a view to supporting municipal revenue management, section 64(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), requires an accounting officer of a municipality to immediately inform the National Treasury of any payments for municipal tax or municipal services by government departments that are regularly in arrears for periods of more than 30 days. This provision assists in ensuring that such government departments are pressurised, through Provincial Treasuries and local government, to settle their outstanding accounts with municipalities.

(b) Regarding spending of the capital budgets, the dplg, in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, has deployed technical and financial experts within municipalities. The experts include engineers deployed to support municipalities with project management and the implementation of capital projects. This facilitates the spending of capital budgets.

QUESTION NO. 1167

(Internal Question Paper No 20 - 2008)

Mr. M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) (a) What was the total rand value of (i) hotel accommodation procured for his departmental officials and (ii) conferencing facilities hired by his department during period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and (b) in each case, what percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council:

(2) whether there are any barriers to making use of graded establishments; if not, why is the use of graded facilities not higher; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

The total Rand value of hotel accommodation procured and conferencing facilities hired, for the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008, amounted to:

(1) (a) (i) Hotel accommodation: R 6.027 million

(ii) Conferencing facilities: R 2.250 million

The percentage spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council Is as follows:

(b) 1 % on 2 star hotels;

27% on 3 star hotels;

66% on 4 star hotels;

3% on 5 star hotels; and

3% on lodges, guest houses and tour operators.

(2) There were no barriers when making use of the graded establishments as 97% of expenditure is spent on graded hotels as indicated in (b) above.

QUESTION NO. 1205

(Internal Question Paper No 21 – 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What amount was owed to each local and district municipality, (b) how many debtors were (i) residential properties, (ii) commercial enterprises, (iii) government departments and (iv) other entities in respect of each of the local and district municipality, (c) what amounts have been outstanding for more than (i) 6, (ii) 12, and (iii) 24 months in each case as at 1 July 2008 and (d) what amount was owed to each local and district municipality for (i) rates, (ii) water, (iii) electricity, (iv) sewerage and (v) refuse during this period?

ANSWER

(a) The total amount owed to local and district municipalities as at the end of June 2008 stood at R18, 407,490 billion.

(b) According to the 2008 Local Government Budgets and Expenditure Review, 2003/04 – 2009/10, residential properties owe approximately 60% (R10,8 billion), government departments owe approximately 20% (R3,6 billion) and commercial enterprises and other entities owe approximately 20% (R3,6 billion).

(c) Of the total debt, R15 billion has been outstanding for over 90 days. Further details appear in the Table and in the Appendix hereto. Information per municipality is available on the National Treasury website – www.treasury.gov.za/legislation/mfma/media releases/section71 4th 0708

TABLE

Provincial Debt Aggregate: 2007/08

DEBTOR AGE ANALYSIS FOR ALL PROVINCES AS AT JUNE 2008

Province	30 Days	60 Days	90 Days	Over 90 Days	TOTAL
Eastern Cape	427,313	133,947	78,376	2,472,393	3,112,029
Free State	357,844	192,110	117,460	3,202,105	3,869,519
Gauteng	3,003,286	1,014,796	690,043	17,085,904	21,794,029
KwaZulu-Natal	1,111,143	297,242	209,099	3,988,935	5,606,419
Limpopo	28,898	14,939	41,389	720,405	805,631
Mpumalanga	179,964	65,753	60,891	1,642,721	1,949,329
Northern Cape	100,270	25,869	21,982	627,849	775,970
North West	189,515	89,105	79,603	1,999,469	2,357,692
Western Cape	956,464	181,306	183,092	3,470,189	4,791,051
TOTAL (including Metros)	R6,354,697	R2,015,067	R1,481,935	R35,209,970	R45,061,669
Debt owed to Metros	R4,426,440	R1,279,187	R855,337	R20,093,213	R26,654,179
TOTAL (District & Local Munics)	R1,928,257	R735,880	R626,598	R15,116,757	R18,407,490

Source: The National Treasury database: 2007/08

APPENDIX

Debtor Age Analysis of municipalities in all 9 provinces

(1) Eastern Cape

(2) Free State

(3) Gauteng

(4) KwaZulu-Natal

(5) Limpopo

(6) Mpumalanga

(7) Northern Cape

(8) North West

(9) Western Cape

QUESTION NO. 1233

(Internal Question Paper No 21 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

With regard to the White Paper on the System of Provincial and Local Government, (a) what amount has been (i) budgeted and (ii) spent on research papers or projects commissioned or to be commissioned, (b) what topics have been covered by these research papers and (c) when will these research papers be made available to the public?

ANSWER

(a)(i) The Department of Provincial and Local Government (dplg), has budgeted the following amounts for this process:

· 2007/8: R1,5 million;

· 2008/9: R1,5 million; and

· 2009/10: R2 million.

(ii) R6,023,787.74 (the full amount has been funded by donors).

(b) The following research papers appearing in tables 1 and 2 were commissioned by the dplg. They focuson the assessment of the state of local government, provincial government and cooperative governance, and also on specific sectors. There is also an overview paper summarising all the sector issues. A cross-cutting paper was also commissioned on capacity building.

QUESTION NO. 1234

(Internal Question Paper No 21 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What amount has been (i) budgeted and (ii) spent to assist the local government in the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) on what were these funds spent?

ANSWER

(a) and (b) Since the 2005/06 financial year, the dplg has budgeted an amount of R280, 000, 00 to support the Democratic Republic of Congo with the process of decentralization. The amount spent during this period is R278, 931, 00. The specific items on which the money was spent are as follows:

Items	Amount

Flights	R100,415.00
Accommodation	R 90,374.00
Ground Transport	R 17,015.00
Foreign Daily Allowance	R 71,127.00

Total Expenditure	R 278,931.00.

The dplg also received an amount of R2, 000,000.00 in the 2005/06 financial year from the African Renaissance Fund (ARF) managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to support the implementation of the Agreement on Decentralization signed on 16 March 2006 between the Department of Provincial and Local Government and the Ministry of Interior, Decentralization and Security in the DRC. This amount was spent as follows:

Items	Amount
Professional and Special Services	R 978,262.00
Translation and Transcription	R 328,475.00
Transport and Subsistence	R 557,635.00
Venues and Facilities	R 117,731.00
Other expenditure	R 17,897.00
Total Expenditure	R 2,000,000.00.

QUESTION NO. 1235

(Internal Question Paper No 21 - 2008)

Mr. W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether his department has developed or intends developing a policy for free basic services of (a) sanitation and (b) refuse removal: if not, why not; If so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(a) and (b) The Department has not developed, and has no intention of developing, a policy on free basic sanitation and free basic refuse removal.

The responsibility for the development of policies relating to free basic services lies with the respective sector departments. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is in the process of developing the Free Basic Sanitation Policy and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is in the process of developing the Free Basic Refuse Removal Policy. The role of the Department of Provincial and Local Government is to advise the respective sector departments on policy issues, and to coordinate and oversee the Implementation of free basic services.

QUESTION NO. 1897

(Internal Question Paper No 33- 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) Which municipalities in each province had a municipal manager under suspension as at 31 October 2008, (b) for how long and (c) what was the main reason in each case?

ANSWER

The Information as requested is not readily available within the dplg. Provinces and Municipalities have been requested to provide this information. The Honourable member will be provided with a response as soon as the information is received

ANSWER

According to the 2003/04 Auditor General Report, only 95 of the 283 audits had been finalised by 30 April 2005. Of the 95 audited twenty seven were unqualified (39%). forty five were qualified (47%), three were disclaimers (3%), and ten had an adverse audit opinion (11 %).

The department has detailed information for the past three financial years (ie. 2004/06; 2005/06 & 2006/07). Details are attached as Annexure A.

(2) Detailed information on the nature of audit opinions is contained in the attached as Annexure B.

(3) Details on the audit analysis are attached as Annexure C. The interpretations is as follows:

(i) There has been a 1 % increase in the unqualified audit outcomes, comparing 2005/06 & 2006/07 audit periods.

(ii) Comparing the 2005/06 & 2006/07 audit period, the number of municipalities with qualified audit outcomes increased by 3%.

(iii)The number of municipalities with disclaimers reduced by 6% during the same period 2005/06 & 2006/07.

(iv) There has been a 1% decrease In the adverse audit opinion during the periods under review.

QUESTION NO. 1276

(Internal Question Paper No 22 – 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

With regard to each of the municipal managers suspended from office in each of the past three years up to 1 July 2008, (a) what are their names, (b) in which municipality do/did they serve, (c) why are they suspended, (d) how long have they been suspended and (e) what (i) is their salary and (ii) remuneration have they received during their suspension?

ANSWER

The Department of Provincial and Local Government, in collaboration with the provinces, is gathering the required information. The detailed answer to this question will be provided to the Honourable Member as soon as the required information has been collated.

QUESTION NO. 1277

(Internal Question Paper No 22 - 2008)

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial, Local Government:

What are the (a) educational qualifications. (b) number of years spent in local government. (c) number of months spent in the current position, by each (i) municipal manager, (ii) chief financial officer currently employed in each municipality?

ANSWER

The Honourable Member will note that information has been obtained from Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Limpopo and Western Cape provinces. The outstanding Information from Kwa Zulu Natal and North West province will be made available to the Honourable Member as soon as it has been received.

See the tables here:
http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1277tables.pdf

http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1277tables2.pdf

QUESTION NO. 907

(Internal Question Paper No 16 – 2008)

Mr I E Jenner (ID) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department is taking any steps to increase the delivering capacity of local authorities in respect of services and the provision of housing; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps;

(2) (a) which local authorities are receiving assistance to increase its delivering capacity and (b) with what result?

ANSWER

(1) Yes, the dplg has taken steps to increase the delivery capacity of municipalities in respect of infrastructure and service provisioning. Since the inception of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) Programme, municipalities have been allowed to top-slice their MIG allocation (0,5% - 5%, but not exceeding R3,5 million), so that they may be able to establish Project Management Units (PMUs). As at the end of the previous national financial year (2007/08), 190 PMUs had been established.

In addition, in 2006 Government commenced with the deployment of technical, project management, financial and planning experts within municipalities through the Project Consolidate initiative. As at the end of the March 2008, support had been provided to 110 municipalities.

(2) (a) The municipalities receiving assistance to increase their delivery capacity are:

Province	Municipality	Expertise
Eastern Cape	Nelson Mandela Metro	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	King Sabata Dalindyebo LM	Project Manager (2)/ Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	King Sabata Dalindyebo LM	Financial Expert
Eastern Cape	OR Tambo DM	Project Manager (3) /Technical Expert (3)
Eastern Cape	OR Tambo DM	Financial Expert
Eastern Cape	Koukamma LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	Blue Crane & Ndlambe LMs	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Province	Municipality	Expertise
Eastern Cape	Cacadu DM	Project Manager (2) /Technical Expert (2)
Eastern Cape	Sakhisizwe LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	Mamusa & Naledi LMs	Financial Expert
Eastern Cape	Great Kei LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	Great Kei LM	Financial Expert
Eastern Cape	Mbashe LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	Mnquma LM	Project Manager
Eastern Cape	Mbashe LM	Financial Expert
Eastern Cape	Matatiele LM	Planner
Eastern Cape	Matatiele LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	Sakhisizwe LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Eastern Cape	Sakhisizwe LM	Financial Expert
Free State	Tokologo LM	Financial Expert
Free State	Mathjabeng LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Free State	Masilonyana LM	Project Manager (2)/ Technical Expert (2)
Free State	Ngwathe LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Free State	Xhariep DM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Free State	Mohokare LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Free State	Kopanong LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Free State	Kopanong LM	Planner
Free State	Phumelela LM	Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)
Free State	Setsoto LM	Project Manager (2) /Technical Expert (2)
Free State	Phumelela LM	Financial Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Umgungudlovu LM	Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)
KwaZulu-Natal	Sisonke DM	Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)
KwaZulu-Natal	Hlabisa, Indaka & Jozini LMs	Financial Expert (2 per municipality)
KwaZulu-Natal	Hlabisa, Jozini & Umhlabuyalingana LMs	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Province	Municipality	Expertise
KwaZulu-Natal	Ilembe LMs	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Nqutu & Umsinga LMs	Project Manager/Technical Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Indaka & Okhahlamba LMs	Project Manager / Technical Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Ugu DM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Ingwe, Kwasani, Ntabanana & Emadlangeni LMs	Planner
KwaZulu-Natal	Emadlangeni LM	Financial Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Uphongolo LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
KwaZulu-Natal	Uphongolo LM	Planner
Limpopo	Lephalale LM	Project Manager / Technical Expert
Limpopo	Greater Marble Hall & Lepelle- Nkumpi LMs	Financial Expert
Limpopo	Mopane DM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Limpopo	Maruleng LMs	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Limpopo	Greater Tubatse LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Limpopo	Lepelle Nkumpi LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Limpopo	Mutale LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Limpopo	Sekhukhune DM	Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)
Limpopo	Sekhukhune DM	Financial Expert
Limpopo	Aganang	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Limpopo	Fetakgomo & Blouberg LMs	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Limpopo	Greater Giyani	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Limpopo	Ba-Phalaborwa LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Limpopo	Greater Marble Hall	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Limpopo	Lephalale & Thabazimbi LMs	Financial Expert
Limpopo	Mopane DM	Financial Expert
Mpumalanga	Bushbuckridge LM	Project Manager
Mpumalanga	Bushbuckridge LM	Planner
Mpumalanga	Bushbuckridge LM	Project Manage (2) /Technical Expert (2)
Mpumalanga	Nkomazi LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Mpumalanga	Mkhondo LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Mpumalanga	Mkhondo LM	Financial Expert
Mpumalanga	Albert Luthuli LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Province	Municipality	Expertise
Mpumalanga	Albert Luthuli & Govan Mbeki LMs	Financial Expert
Mpumalanga	Lekwa LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Mpumalanga	Lekwa LM	Planner
Northern Cape	Moshaweng LM	Financial Expert
Northern Cape	Pokwane LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Northern Cape	Dikgatlong LM	Project Manager (2) / Technical Expert (2)
Northern Cape	Siyancuma LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Northern Cape	Siyanda DM	Financial Expert (2)
Northern Cape	Siyanda DM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Northern Cape	Karoo Hoogland	Financial Expert
North West	Kgetleng Rivier LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
North West	Moretele LM	Financial Expert
North West	Moses Kotane LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
North West	Merafong LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
North West	Tswaing LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
North West	Ventersdorp LM	Financial Expert
North West	Naledi LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
North West	Naledi & Mamusa LM	Financial Expert
North West	Taung LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Western Cape	Cederberg LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Western Cape	Cederberg LM	Financial Expert
Western Cape	Kannaland LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Western Cape	Hessequa LM	Project Manager/Technical Expert
Western Cape	Oudtshoorn LM	Financial Expert
Western Cape	Eden DM	Financial Expert
Western Cape	Eden DM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Western Cape	Oudtshoorn LM	Financial Expert
Western Cape	Kannaland LM	Financial Expert
Province	Municipality	Expertise
Western Cape	Hessequa LM	Financial Expert
Western Cape	Breedevalley & Witzenberg LMs	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Western Cape	Theewaterskloof LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Western Cape	Grabouw LM	Project Manager/ Technical Expert
Western Cape	Overberg DM	Project Manager / Technical Expert

(b) Since the 2006/07 financial year, municipalities have demonstrated improved capacity to spend MIG funds due to the increased interventions such as the establishment of PMUs and their deployment in municipalities.

The Eastern Cape Province managed to increase its spending from R954 million in the 2006/07 financial year to R1,371 billion in the 2007/08 financial year. In the Free State expenditure improved by R467 million in the 2007/08 financial year. In the Gauteng Province expenditure improved from R782 million in the 2006/07 to R863 million in the 2007/08 financial year. Expenditure in KwaZulu-Natal improved from R1, 153 billion to R1, 358 billion. In Limpopo the expenditure increased from R699 million in the 2006/07 financial year to R901 million in the 2007/08 financial year. The Mpumalanga Province improved its expenditure by R176 million in the 2007/08 financial year. The Northern Cape managed to increase its expenditure from R98 million in the 2006/07 financial year to R138 million in the 2007/08 financial year. The expenditure in North West improved from R440 million to R596 million. However the expenditure in the Western Cape Province decreased by R9 million in the 2007/08 financial year.

QUESTION NO. 356

(Internal Question Paper No 8 – 2008)

Mr L Zita (ANC) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What is the total monetary value of procurements secured by all municipalities in each of the past five financial years and (b) who are the beneficiaries of government procurement of goods and services in terms of (i) racial groups, (ii) income categories and (iii) (aa) large and (bb) small business enterprises?

ANSWER

(a) The Department of Provincial and Local Government does not monitor municipal procurement as this is the responsibility of the National Treasury.

(b) Falls away.

QUESTION NO. 366

(Internal Question Paper No 8 – 2008)

Mr E W Trent (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether it is policy, in the interest of sound financial management, that all spheres of government must settle their debts within a specified time, e.g. 30 days, 60 days or 90 days; if not, why not; if so, what is time period for (a) national and (b) provincial government departments;

(2) whether any (a) national and (b) provincial government departments are in arrears of the specified time in respect of amounts owed to municipalities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what amounts are overdue for the specified period for (i) national and (ii) provincial government department;

(3) whether government departments are required to pay interest on overdue accounts; if so, what steps should be taken to ensure that they do so;

(4) whether the failure of national and provincial government departments to settle the amounts due to municipalities timeously have a negative effect on their ability to manage their financial affairs effectively; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what action (a) has he taken or (b) will he take to correct this unacceptable state of affairs;

(5) whether the failure of the national and provincial government departments to settle their debts to municipalities timeously could lead to unnecessary increases in rates and other service charges; if not, why not; if so, what action (a) will he take or (b) has he taken to prevent such increases?

ANSWER

(1) Yes.

(a) and (b): Section 38(1)(f) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), provides that the accounting officer of a national or provincial government department must settle all contractual obligations and pay all money owing, including intergovernmental claims, within the prescribed or agreed period.

Further, item 8.2.3 of National Treasury Regulations that were issued in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), provides that all payments due to creditors must be settled within 30 days from the receipt of an invoice.

(2) Yes.

(i) and (ii): The National Treasury has been requested to provide the Department of Provincial and Local Government with this information, and it will be submitted to the Honourable Member as soon as it is received.

(3) In terms of section 64(2)(g) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), the accounting officer of a municipality is responsible for the management of the revenue of the municipality, and must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the municipality charges interest on arrears, except where the council has granted exemptions in accordance with its budget-related policies, and within a prescribed framework.

In terms of these provisions, government departments are required to pay interest on overdue accounts, unless otherwise exempted in terms of the provisions quoted above.

(4) Yes.

(a) and (b): As indicated above, the payment of debt owed to municipalities by national and provincial government departments is provided for in the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999). Also, section 64(3) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003), requires the accounting officer of a municipality to immediately inform the National Treasury of any payments for municipal tax or municipal services by government departments that are regularly in arrears for periods of more than 30 days.

As the National Treasury is the custodian of the above pieces of legislation, the Department of Provincial and Local Government is in the process of ascertaining the following from the National Treasury:

§ compliance regarding the reporting of debt that is owed to municipalities by government departments, trading entities and constitutional institutions, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999); and

§ compliance by the accounting officer of a municipality regarding the reporting to the National Treasury of any outstanding payments by any organ of state that is regularly in arrears for periods of more than 30 days, in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003).

The Department of Provincial and Local Government intends making use of the responses from the National Treasury to develop a targeted approach to assist municipalities in recovering such outstanding debt.

(5) A general response in this regard cannot be provided as this will be informed by the magnitude of the debt that each municipality is owed by national and provincial government departments.

QUESTION NO. 1638

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government

(a) What amounts were made available to the Bushbuckridge Local Government municipality under the Municipal Infrastructure Grant programme In the (I) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 financial years and (Hi) during the period 1 April 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available. (b) what amounts were actually spent and (c) which projects was the grant spent in respect of each of these financial years?

ANSWER

a) The amounts made available to the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality under Municipal Infrastructure Grant in 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 (up to end of June 2008) are R91, 212 000, R98, 167 000 and R152, 700 000 respectively.

b) The amounts actually spent are R 91,212 000, R98. 167 000 and R16. 751 000 respectively.

c) The grant was spent on the following projects as shown In table 1, 2 and 3 below:

See the table here: http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2008/questions/Q1638tables.pdf

QUESTION NO. 1641

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether the current service delivery backlogs is the planning base for delivery of basic services; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many people have (i) a flush toilet, (ii) non-ventilated pit toilets, (iii) ventilated pit toilets, (iv) a bucket latrine, (v) chemical toilets, (vi) no sanitation, (vii) piped water, (aa) in their dwelling, (bb) in their yard, (cc) more than 200m away and (dd) less than 200m away, (viii) a borehole, (ix) no water, (x) prepaid electricity meters and (xi) metered electricity and (b) what percentage of the population is constituted by these figures in each case?

ANSWER:

Yes. The backlog as published by Statistics South Africa is used to inform resource allocation at a macro-scale. Further to this, each individual municipality defines its backlogs more specifically through the Integrated Development Planning (lOP) and infrastructure planning process. This is conducted in alignment with the relevant line department information and plans.

(a)

Category	Households
	Number	%
(i) ) a flush toilet	7,221,325	57.2%
(ii) non-ventilated pit toilets	2,587,202	20.5%
(iii) ventilated pit toilets	823,633	6.5%
(iv) a bucket latrine	244,282	1.9%
(v) chemical toilets	43,883	0.3%
(vi) no sanitation	3,360,108	26.6%
(vii) piped water	8,679,800	68.8%
(viii) less than 200m from
dwelling	954,877	7.6%
(ix)more than 200m from
dwelling	467,451	3.7%
(x) a borehole	335,984	2.7%
(xi) no water	1,621,620	12.9%
(xii) prepaid electricity meters	1,343,085	10.6%
(xiii) metered electricity	N/A	N/A

Source: STATSSA (Census 2001 & CS 2007) and DWAF

(b) According to the table above, about 57.2% households nationally have access to flush toilets. About 20.5% of the households nationally have access to non-ventilated pit toilets, 6.5% have access to ventilated pit toilets, 0.3% have access to chemical toilets and 1.9% have access to the bucket sanitation system. Nationally, a total number of 3,311,952 (26%) households are still without sanitation.

About 68.8% of the households nationally have access to piped water. A total number of 1,337,069 (11%) households are still without water. About 7.6% households travel less than 200 meters and 3.7% travel more than 200 meters from their dwelling to access water. A total number of 1,343,085 (10.6%) households have access to prepaid electricity meters.

QUESTION NO. 1642

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr. M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

What was the staff shortage in the fire brigade services in the dplg province in the past three years up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

ANSWER

The Information requested is not readily available within: the dplg. Provinces and municipalities have been asked to provide Information related to them. As soon as the required Information has been received, the Honourable Member will be provided with a response.

QUESTION NO. 989

(Internal Question Paper No 18 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) (a) Which municipalities currently have financial managers' positions vacant, (b) how long has the posts been vacant in each municipality and (c) how many of these positions have (i) existed and (ii) been vacant in each of the past three years for which information is available;

(2) whether these vacancies have been budgeted for; if not, why not; if so, when will they be filled;

(3) whether there has been any increase in the number of these positions in the past three years; if so, (a) what are the reasons for this increase and (b) what are the further relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) (a) According to information collected by the dplg through the Provincial Departments of Local Government, thirty-four (34) municipalities are currently without CFOs. Some of the vacancies could not be filled due to ongoing legal processes, such as misconduct hearings and investigations. The information relating to each of the affected municipalities appears below:

Province	Municipality	Period of Vacancy
Eastern Cape	O.R. Tambo District Municipality	16 months
	Gariep Local Municipality	2 years
	Mhlontlo Local Municipality	5 months
	Sakhisizwe Local Municipality	2 months
	Camdeboo Local Municipality	2 years
	Mbizana Local Municipality	8 months

Free State	Naledi Local Municipality	2 years
	Mohokare Local Municipality	7 months
	Motheo District Municipality	3 months
	Setsoto Local Municipality	1 month


KwaZulu-Natal	Ulundi Local Municipality	10 months
	Umuziwabantu Local Municipality	8 months
	Nquthu Local Municipality	4 months
	Umtshezi Local Municipality	12 Months
	Maphumulo Local Municipality	2 years

Limpopo	Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality	2 months
	Polokwane Local Municipality	2 years
	Mutale Local Municipality	3 months
	Molemole Local Municipality	7 months

North West	Maquassi Hills Local Municipality	5 months
	Mamusa Local Municipality	2 years, 6 months
	Ditsobotla Local Municipality	2 months
	Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality	4 years
	Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality	5 months

Northern Cape	Siyanda Local Municipality	1 month
	Siyancuma Local Municipality	9 months
	Tsantsabane Local Municipality	16 months
	Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality	5 months
	Ubuntu Local Municipality	11 months
	Nama-Koi Local Municipality	4 years
	Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality	5 months

Western Cape	Cape Agulhas Local Municipality	7 months
	Eden District Municipality	3 months
	Breede Valley Local Municipality	12 months
	Oudtshoorn Local Municipality	16 months

(b) In some municipalities the positions have been vacant for more than two years, while in other municipalities the positions have been vacant for a period which is between 1 and 16 months.

(c) (i) & (ii) The department has requested the Provincial Departments of Local Government to provide the required information.

(2) The analysis of the 2007/08 budgets indicates that CFO positions existed and have been budgeted for. The engagement process with the provinces will result in the production of the CFOs vacancy report for the quarter ending September 2008, which will include target dates for the filling of the vacancies per municipality.

(3) (a) & (b) The dplg has requested the provinces to provide information in this regard. The information available in the dplg relates to the latest four quarters of the municipal financial year and reflects that the vacancy rate is as follows:

During July-Sept 2007, the vacancy rate was 17%, Oct-Dec 2007, was 19%, Jan-March 2008, was 18%, and April-June 2008, was 12%. On average there has been a 6% decrease in the vacancy rate in CFO positions in municipalities.

QUESTION NO. 1659

(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2008)

Mr. M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether any of the municipal authorities in each province spent its full budget in the (a) 2005-06; (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 financial years, if not (i) which municipal did no spent its full budget (ii) what amount was not spent in each case and (iii) what were the reasons for failing to spend the full budget in each case; if so, what are therelevant details?

ANSWER

(a) (b) (c)

... z

'1J ~

BUDGET SUMMARY FOR PROVINCES 2005106 - 2007/08 FINANCIAL YEARS	-
	2005 - 06	2006 - 07
Province	Spent Amount	%of Spent Amt	Unspent Amount	%of unspent Amt	Spent Amount	%of Spent Amt	Unspent Amount	%of unspent Amt
Eastern Cape	9 605 821	96.3%	387619	3.7%	13084602	104.7%	-589,746	-4.7%
Free State	4 91 878	95.7%	221862	4.7%	5 391 345	86.5%	844,601	13.5%
Gauteng	3 7 527 959	97.7%	892265	2.3%	43091 570	99.6%	173,687	0.4%
KwaZuIu -Natal	1 9 905 237	98.7%	264,964	1.3%	2 1 722 379	96.3%	825,709	3.7%
Limpopo	4 238 002	93.6%	287 388	6.4%	3831711	73.1%	1,407,378	26.9%
Mpumalanga	4 699 626	103.1%	-143,425	-3.1%	5215329	89.7%	598,133	10.3%
Northern Cape	1 996 826	92.1%	170,569	7.9%	2 205 782	92.5%	178,604	7.5%
North West	5 446 098	92.7%	431,903	7.3%	4 300 843	61.3%	2,716,151	38.7%
Western Cape	1 6 695 272	92.6%	1,342,879	7.4%	1 8 148 002	88.5%	2,357,450	11.5%
Grand Total	R 105,046,719	96.5%	R 3.836,024	3.5%	R116,991.563	93.2%	R8,511,967	6.8%

(a)(b)(c)......... continued

BUDGET SUMMARY FOR PROVINCES 2005/06 – 2007/08 FINACIAL YEARS
2007-08
Province	Spent Amount	%of Spent Amt	Unspent Amount	%of unspent Amt
Eastern Cape	12 584 648	75.8%	4,011,554	24.2%
Free State	6 371 755	84.8%	1,139,523	15.2%
Gauteng	47 901 775	92.4%	3,942,732	7.6%
KwaZuIu -Natal	24 182 478	96.4%	915,450	3.6%
Limpopo	6 230 966	79.3%	1,622,444	20.7%
Mpumalanga	5 525 860	68.3%	2,566,653	31.7%
Northern Cape	2 419 884	91.3%	231,824	8.7%
North West	5 202 659	79.3%	1,359,733	20.7%
Western Cape	20 418 844	86.5%	3,174,727	13.5%
Grand Total	R130,838,869	87.3%	R3,174,727	12.7%

(i) & (ii) All municipalities that have not spent their full budget and those that spent fully are reflected in the Annexure labelled Operating Expenditure and Capital Expenditure.

(iii) In the case where full budget was not spent, common reasons applicable to all municipalities relates to:

- Lack of capacity and skills to implement and manage capital projects

- Delays due to Technical reports and Environmental Impact Assessment affecting capital expenditure

- Fluctuating levels of vacancies impacting on the salaries and wages expenditure budget

QUESTION NO. 1323

(Internal Question Paper No 22 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department received the list of 21 recommendations made by the Harvard panel of international and local economists in its research papers on economic growth in South Africa, released in May 2008; if not, (a) why not and (b) when is it expected that the department will receive these recommendations; if so,

(2) whether his department has implemented or will implement any of these recommendations; if not, why not; if so, (a) which recommendations and (b) what are the timeframe for each recommendation to be implemented?

ANSWER

(1) Yes.

(a) and (b) Fall away.

(2) Yes.

(a) Recommendation 18, relating to the use of central bodies for the provision of services in municipalities with a low capacity.

(b) The timeframe extends over the period 2006 to 2011, in line with the 5 Year Local Government Strategic Agenda.

QUESTION NO. 213

(Internal Question Paper No 4 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether any municipalities are currently under investigation by his department or the provincial governments; if so, (a) how many, (b) which municipalities, (c) why are they being investigated in each case and (d) how many of these municipalities have had forensic audits conducted?

ANSWER

According to the information provided by the following three provinces the situation regarding investigations which have been conducted, is as follows:

(a) (b) (c)

Province	Number of Municipalities	Names of Municipalities	Reasons for Investigations
Eastern Cape	7	Kouga	Land Sales and procedures applied
		Nkonkobe	Procurement, asset management and MIG Projects
		Ukhahlamba	Causes of the bankrupt state of the municipality
		Camdeboo	Councillor remuneration
		Sundays River Valley	Councillor remuneration
		Ingquza Hill	Nepotism in the appointment of staff and procurement
		Alfred Nzo	Irregular tender procedures

Western Cape	1	George Municipality	Over a period of time complaints have been received from various sources regarding the conduct and the decisions of the George Municipality. The Provincial Minister of Local Government and Housing requested information on all issues from the municipal manager in terms of section 106 (1) (a) of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000). These issues have since been responded to by the municipality and some of them are currently being dealt with.

Kwazulu- Natal	35	Matatiele	Matter finalised. The former Mayor repaid monies owing and the criminal/civil claim matters have been resolved out of court.
		Uthukela	Department received an inadequate response and verification of implementation of recommendations in the forensic report indicated that no action had been taken by the Municipality.
		Imbabazane	Council has partially implemented recommendations in forensic report.
		Nongoma	Council has partially implemented recommendations in forensic report.
		Ubuhlebezwe	Council has partially implemented recommendations in forensic report.
		Hibiscus Coast	Matter finalised. All issues to be addressed through the internal audit function of the municipality.
		uMvoti	Matter finalised. Disciplinary action instituted by council but official resigned prior to disciplinary hearing. Criminal case lodged. Civil recovery matter being pursued by individual whose house was sold.
		Impendle	Council has partially implemented recommendations in the forensic report. Outstanding matters to be addressed through the intervention in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution already instituted by Cabinet as a result of non-performance by the municipality.
		Ulundi 1	Council has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and matters remain outstanding.
		Ezinqoleni 1	Council has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Mtubatuba	Matter finalised. Council has implemented recommendations in the forensic report.
		Umzinyathi	The municipality has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Newcastle 1	Matter finalised. Specific disciplinary action taken against officials and councillors.
		Umgungundlovu 1	The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Uthungulu (Ntambanana)	Matter finalised. The Councillor was removed from office and a criminal case lodged.
		Umtshezi	Matter finalised. Council has implemented recommendations in forensic report.
		Richmond	Matter finalised. The Municipality has implemented recommendations in forensic report.
		Ilembe 1	Submission of the report was pending as a result of a court case and the report required amendment. Report is to be referred to council.
		Umuziwabantu	The municipality has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Newcastle 2	The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Ezinqoleni 2	Investigation underway.
		Ulundi 2	Investigation underway.
		Ilembe 2	No formal response has been received from the municipality.
		Umkhanyakude	The municipality has partially addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report.
		Mkhambathini	Investigation report referred to the Municipality.
		Msunduzi	The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Dannhauser	Final investigation report to be forwarded to municipality within the next two weeks.
		Utrecht	Section 139 intervention instituted and administrator and special panel appointed by MEC have assumed responsibility to implement the recommendations contained in report. Final reports from intervention teams expected within two weeks.
		Umlalazi	Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.
		Umgungundlovu Review of PWC Report	The municipality has not addressed recommendations arising from the investigation report and certain matters remain outstanding.
		Umgeni	Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.
		Amajuba & Umzinyathi District and Newcastle Municipalities (Uthukela Water)	Matters being addressed through a Section 139 intervention already initiated at the parent municipalities of Amajuba, Umzinyathi and Newcastle Municipalities. There was also a report to the Portfolio Committee.
		Edumbe	Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.
		Zululand District	New investigation. Field work commenced and investigation underway.
		Various Municipalities: Free Basic Electricity	Field work finalised. Final investigation report expected in two weeks.

(d) The Province of the Eastern Cape has indicated that there are 3 municipalities that in which forensic audits were conducted, and the Province of KwaZulu-Natal has indicated that all the investigations which had been conducted were forensic in nature. No forensic audits were conducted in the Western Cape.

The member will be provided with the outstanding information once it is received from the other six provinces.

25 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Home Affairs

MPs to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

Source
Link

Reply:

QUESTION 1817

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 17 October 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 31 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether any disciplinary action was taken against officials in her department (a) in
(i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007 and (b) during the period 1 January 2008 up to
30 September 2008; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) how many instances of disciplinary action occurred, (ii) what was the rank/position of each official against whom disciplinary action was taken, (iii) what was the transgression and (iv) what disciplinary action was taken?

NW2612E

REPLY

(a)(i) Yes.

(a)(ii) Yes.

(a)(iii) Yes

(b)(i) A total of 594 instances of disciplinary action occurred in the period
01 January 2008 to 30 September 2008.

(b)(ii) Rank / position of each official – please note that the ranks / positions are stated together with the number of officials in that specific rank against which disciplinary action was taken. As per the table below:

Rank / position	Number of officials
Senior Administrative Officers	42
Vetting Officer	1
Senior Administration Clerks	113
Senior Immigration Officers	10
Senior Provisioning Administrative Officer	1
Administration Clerks	125
Senior Legal Administrative Officer	1
Security Officers	13
Refugee Reception Officers	8
Quality Assuror	1
Provisioning Administrative Officers	8
Legal Administrative Officers	2
Information Technology Specialists	2
Immigration Officers	149
Interns	3
Grounds man	1
Foreign Mission Co-ordinator	1
Fingerprint Comparers	35
Drivers	4
Deputy Directors	6
Control Security Officers	2
Client Service Consultant	1
Cleaners	11
Chief Immigration Officers	18
Casual Workers	4
Assistant Directors	12
Administrative Officers	7
Senior Personnel Officer	1
Chief Administration Clerks	4
Chief Training Officer	1
Control Immigration Officers	3
Data Typist	1
National Youth Service Participant	1
Principle Communications Officer	1
Secretary	1
Total	594*

(b)(iii) The transgressions – as per the table below. Please note that the number of a specific instance/s is only stated:

Transgression	Number of officials
Assault	15
Disrespect and abusive behaviour	33
Aiding and abetting and corruption	209
Theft	10
Fraud / false statements	67
Unauthorised absence / abscondment	98
Discrimination against fellow employees	0
Damage to / loss of State property	8
Unauthorised use of Government vehicles	56
Dereliction of duty	94
Absenteeism / abscondment	45
Total	635*

* More than one transgression by official in some cases, hence the difference in totals.

(b)(iv) The disciplinary action taken. Please note that only the number of actions taken is stated:

· Dismissals: 196

· Suspension without salary: 44

· Demotions: 3

· Written Warnings: 196

· Cases withdrawn /

found not guilty / not finalised: 196

QUESTION 843

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 30 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15 of 2008

Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) What (a) is the total number of refugee applications pending and (b) steps are being taken to address the backlog;

(2) how many applications have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in the past financial year;

(3) whether her department receives any revenue to support refugees; if so, (a) from whom and (b) what amounts have been received?

NW1531E

REPLY

(1)(a) A total number of 89 584 refugee applications were pending as on 31 March 2008.

However, not all of these constitute a backlog, but are pending applications which are being dealt with, at our permanent office.

(1)(b) The Department of Home Affairs implemented the Refugee Backlog Project to address the pending asylum applications and refugee applications which were submitted before 1 July 2005. This project ended in February 2008, and all applications for political asylum, which were lodged before 1 July 2005, have successfully been dealt with by the Backlog Project. Cases which were not finalised are cases where the applicants appealed against the decisions of the Refugee Status Determination Officers. The backlog project was successful, and it has, now, been closed.

Applications are, currently, being dealt with by the five permanent Refugee Reception Offices, following the appointment of 190 additional staff members (between the five centres), in addition to the existing staff members. The newly appointed Centre Managers, Operations Managers, Refugee Status Determination Managers, and Refugee Reception Managers will ensure that applications for asylum and refugee status are being dealt with swiftly and responsibly.

To improve efficiency, the Department has identified the status determination process of asylum seekers and refugees, as one of the Department's priorities, within the Turnaround Project. The Department is currently piloting the "Refugee and Deportation (RaD) Integrated System in this regard.

(2)(a) A total of 1617 applications were approved during the past financial year (2007/08) – i.e refugee status was granted in terms of section 24 of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act No 130 of 1998).

(b) A total number of 5661 applications were rejected during the 2007/08 financial year.

(3) (a) & (b) No.

QUESTION 595

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 28 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) What are the key criteria identified by her departmental turnaround team necessary to be met in order to meet the objectives of the turnaround strategy, (b) on what basis was each of these key criteria identified, (c) on what date was the turnaround strategy first implemented, (d) what is the progress to date in respect of each key criterion and (e) by what date will all the objectives have been met so that her department will begin to function efficiently and effectively in all key service delivery and operational areas?

NW1280E

REPLY

The following key criteria were identified:

Improved service delivery which will be customer focused.

The reduction of fraud and corruption.

A much improved and more effective management of risks.

Improved turnaround times for key enabling documents.

Effective operations encompassing people, processes, infrastructure and technology.

Improved organisational alignment.

The selection of the turnaround criteria factored in the key findings of the Ministerial Support and Intervention Task team which was appointed in June 2006 to analyse the root causes of the problems in Home Affairs, and subsequently, made recommendations. In addition, a diagnostic exercise was undertaken in the Department and extensive interviews were conducted to identify key issues and success criteria for the Turnaround.

Phase 1 (one) of the Turnaround was initiated on the 01 June 2007, and encapsulated the design of a new Vision, and defining an Operational Model for the Department, as well as, the Roadmap for the Turnaround. Phase 1 (one) was completed in December 2007, and Phase 2 (two) began in January 2008.

At this stage, it is not possible to assess the progress to date with regards to each set criteria, as the Department has, only, now, embarked on the Piloting and Implementation Phase of the Turnaround Project (Phase 2). This process follows the initial defining of the new Vision and Operating Model of the Department, as well as, the Roadmap for the Turnaround Project.

However, a number of Phase 1 Quick Win initiatives had a significant impact on

the key criteria. These included:

A Track and Trace system for Identity Documents (ID) was implemented, enabling the Department to identify key bottleneck areas in the process, and giving citizens access to the status of their ID applications.

A first line Contact Centre was established to support the existing second line service centre to improve service delivery.

Critical path backlogs were eliminated in fingerprint verification, and turnaround times improved from an average of 27 days to 4 days.

More than 400 front office officials working with Identity Document (ID) applications have been trained on quality assurance. A single courier service has been put in place for the pick up, and delivery of IDs, and applications between front offices, and the head office. This resulted in an improvement in the time it takes to dispatch an application from an average 20 days to 10 days. This figure is set to decline further as implementation progresses in Phase Two.

A new Late Registration of Birth process was developed to minimise fraud in the late registration process. More than 300 front office officials were trained in the new process.

A large account unit was set up to expedite issuing of permits focusing on scarce skills.

(e) The Turnaround Project, a complex task, which typically takes three to five years in many big organisations, is expected to be completed by 2011. It is anticipated that 55% to 65% of the Turnaround effort will be implemented by the end of 2009.

QUESTION 596

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 28 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether her department has made any special budget allocation for the implementation of the turnaround strategy; if not, (a) why not and (b) how will the funds required be sourced; if so, (i) what is the total amount budgeted for the turnaround strategy in each province or region, (ii) how many (aa) individual and (bb) company consultants and/or agencies have been appointed to carry out the (aaa) research on and (bbb) implementation of the turnaround strategy, (iii) what is the total cost of the turnaround strategy to date and
(iv) how much has been expended on outside agents and consultants?

NW1281E

REPLY

(a) No specific budget is allocated to the Turnaround Project, as its work is integrated in the Strategic Plan of the Department. All amounts for the work done in the Turnaround Project are covered in the baseline of the Department's Budget.

The National Treasury has also made a special allocation of R 300 000 000 per annum for specific Turnaround Projects. This is held on commission by the Treasury, and was made available to the Department of Home Affairs on motivation.

(b)(i)The Department has now budgeted a total amount of R1,126,621,000 for the Turnaround Project – please see the tables given at (b)(iv) for a comprehensive breakdown of this amount, which indicates that the amount will be utilised during the 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years. The amount budgeted for, includes the total cost of the Turnaround Project for the Department's Head Office, as well as, all its Provinces.

(b)(ii)(aa) & (bb). A total number of 107 consultants from the consulting firms Fever Tree Consulting and A.T. Kearney were employed.

(b)(iii) The total expenditure incurred by the Department in respect of the Turnaround Project (as on 31 March 2008) amounts to R148.061 million.

(b)(iv) A breakdown of the expenditure as per the tables below:

Description	Budget Allocation (million)	Expenditure as at 31-03-2008 (million)	Budget Allocation (million)	Total Budget (million)	Total Expenditure as at 31-03-2008 (million)
	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
Consultants	R147,310	R146,022	R255,305	R64,104	-	R466,719	R146,022
DHA	R34,719	R2,039	R55,346	R246,591	R323,246	R659,902	R2,039
Total	R182,029	R148,061	R310,651	R310,695	R323,246	R1,126,621	R148,061

QUESTION 597

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 28 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether her department paid for the travel and car hire and any other related costs for a certain person (name furnished) on or about 30 May 2006, 1 and 2 July 2006; if so, (a) in what capacity was the said person employed by her department, (b) why did this person incur these costs and (c) what was the total cost to her department of the expenditure incurred?

NW1282E

REPLY

Yes. The Department paid for the costs for the 30th May and 1st of July 2006 only. The person was offering voluntary service to the Department.

To cover her travel expenses while assisting the Deputy Minister with communication and speech writing services.

R 7 737.60

QUESTION NO.: 598 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 28 March 2008

Dr J T Delport (DA) to ask the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

(1) What is the current staff vacancy rate in the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) at each (a) salary and (b) occupation level;

(2) whether there has been an increase in the number of staff resigning from the DSO since the announcement that it would be disbanded by June 2008; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether there are any plans in place for the prosecutors and forensic investigators who are currently part of the DSO but who will not be transferred to the SA Police Service after the disbanding of the DSO; if not, why not; if so, what plans?

NW1283E

REPLY

(1) The vacancy ratein the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO as at 30 July 2008 is as follows:

(a) Vacancy rate according to salary bands:

SALARY BAND	NO OF POSTS	NO FILLED	VACANCY RATE %
Lower Skilled (Levels 1 – 2)	0	0	0%
Skilled (Levels 3 – 5)	18	17	6%
Highly Skilled Production (Levels 6 – 8)	148	108	27%
Highly Skilled Supervision (Levels 9 – 12)	481	346	28%
Senior Management (Levels 13- 16)	74	43	42%
	721	514	29%

(b) The vacancy rate according to occupational levels:

OCCUPATIONS	NO OF POSTS	NO FILLED	VACANCY RATE %
Administrative Related	73	64	12%
Advocated	104	57	45%
Client Information Clerks (switchboard)	1	1	0%
Communication and Information Related	2	0	100%
Finance and Economics Related	1	0	100%
General and Special Investigators*	432	319	26%
Head of Department/CEO	1	0	100%
Library mail and related clerks	3	3	0
Logistic Support Personnel	8	5	38%
Messengers/Porters	8	8	0%
Other Administrative Related Clerks	1	0	100%
Other Information Technology	1	0	100%
Prosecutors	5	1	80%
Protection Services	9	9	0%
Public Relations	1	1	0%
Secretaries	9	4	56%
Senior Managers**	62	43	31%
	721	514	29%

* Includes Trainee and Assistant Forensic Accountants

** Includes DDPP's and Forensic Accountants

(2) Resignations at the DSO have remained at an average of 3.5 per month for the months before and after the announcement but since April 2005, it has risen to an average of 5 per month.

(3) A plan on these matters is not yet finalised and discussions are ongoing.

QUESTION 882

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 30 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) How many burglaries have occurred in her department's offices throughout the country in each of the past five years up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (b) how many (i) identity documents, (ii) passports,
(iii) computers and (iv) other equipment were stolen during such burglaries, (c) what was the total cost incurred by her department as the result of the burglaries and
(d) what is the total amount spent by her department on office security in each of these years;

(2) whether any of her department's officials were implicated in these burglaries; if so, (a) how many and (b) at which offices were they based;

(3) whether her department has taken any action against the implicated officials; if not, why not; if so, what action?

NW1573E

REPLY

(1)(2(3) The Department has had a series of burglaries in some of its offices, around the country, in the past, which caused so much inconveniences. The information, the Honourable Member is looking for, requires an enduring process of accessing information, spanning so many years that may require the extensive use of resources, so dearly required for the critical advancement of the challenges, and the undertaking of the immediate tasks of the Department.

QUESTION 633

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 9 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 12 of 2008

Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether the spouses of foreign persons with critical skills recruited to come to work in the Republic of South Africa are themselves allowed to seek work in South Africa; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, under what conditions?

NW1319E

REPLY

Currently, the spouse of a recruited foreign person with critical skills does not automatically qualify for a work permit, but is allowed to seek work in the Republic of South Africa. However, as is the case with all other foreign nationals, an application for a work permit must be submitted at the nearest Regional office of the Department in the Republic of South africa (RSA) (or South African Embassy, or High Commission in their country of origin).

Having recognised that this has a potential to negatively affect the recruitment of much needed scarce skills, we intend to consider a review of this legal position as part of the immigration policy review process.

QUESTION 1208

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 1 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 21 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) Whether her department has taken any steps to establish whether companies, small businesses and other employers employ illegal immigrants; if so, for each of the past five years up to the latest specified date for which information is available, how many (a) employers have been found to be employing illegal immigrants and (b) illegal immigrants were employed in each case; if not,

(2) whether her department intends taking such steps; if not, why not; if so, when;

(3) whether they were fined; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1949E

REPLY

(1), (2) and (3) Yes. The Chief Directorate: Inspectorate is responsible for immigration law enforcement. This unit continues to conduct inspections of companies and businesses on a regular basis to ensure that employers do not employ illegal foreigners. The table below reflects information on each province for the past five financial years and also the fines imposed:

Province	Year	Number of employers	Amount Fined	Number of illegal foreigners	Amount fined
Kwazulu Natal	2003/04	2	R2000	1	R500
	2004/05	1	R1000	0	0 *
	2005/06	2	R7000	0	0 *
	2006/07	0	0	0	0
	2007/08	0	0	0	0
	Total	5	R10000	1	R500

Mpumalanga	2003/04	1	R14000	1	R1500
	2004/05	2	R3000	1	R1500
	2005/06	0	0	0	0
	2006/07	10	R15000	2	R3000
	2007/08	2	R6000	2	R3000
	Total	15	R38000	6	R9000

Eastern Cape	2003/04	0	0	0	0
	2004/05	0	0	0	0
	2005/06	2	R5000	1	R2500
	2006/07	2	R5000	1	R1000
	2007/08	5	R17500	1	R2500
	Total	9	R27500	3	R6000

Western Cape	2003/04	4	R12000	2	R2700
	2004/05	4	R7500	1	R1500
	2005/06	4	R10000	1	R2000
	2006/07	5	R30000	4	R10000
	2007/08	15	R86800	2	R5000
	Total	32	R146 300	10	R21200

Northern Cape	2003/04	0	0	0	0
	2004/05	0	0	0	0
	2005/06	2	R2000	0	0 *
	2006/07	0	0	0	0
	2007/08	0	0	0	0
	Total	2	R2000	0	R0

North West	2003/04	8	R19200	8	R4000
	2004/05	10	R20000	6	R5000
	2005/06	10	R41500	9	R6300
	2006/07	8	R24000	4	R3000
	2007/08	9	R11000	5	R3800
	Total	45	R115700	32	R22100

Free State	2003/04	1	R5000	1	R500
	2004/05	4	R6000	2	R2000
	2005/06	5	R15500	4	R4000
	2006/07	4	R24500	2	R4000
	2007/08	1	R2500	1	R1000
	Total	15	R53500	10	R11500


Gauteng	2003/04	16	R33200	9	R3100
	2004/05	10	R27000	6	R2800
	2005/06	23	R6300	23	R4600
	2006/07	67	R31100	52	R26000
	2007/08	10	R10000	9	R4500
	Total	126	R107600	99	R41000

Limpopo	2003/04	7	R38300	5	R7000
	2004/05	12	R22500	7	R4500
	2005/06	16	R26100	7	R7000
	2006/07	0	0	0	0
	2007/08	0	0	0	0
	Total	35	R86900	19	R18500

* Please note: No fines were imposed on illegal foreigners, as the illegal foreigners involved were directly deported. Section 32(2) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No 13 of 2002) states that any illegal foreigner shall be deported.

QUESTION NO 1237

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 15 September 2006

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 30 - 2006

Mrs S V Kalyan (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether any cases of financial misconduct have occurred in her department in the 2004-05 financial year; if so, what are the relevant details?

N1640E

REPLY:

Yes. A total of seven employees have been dismissed for financial misconduct in the 2004/2005 financial year.

The nature of the financial misconduct in respect of the dismissed employees:

- Misappropriation of State funds;

- Failure to bank or declare revenue monies collected; and

- Inflation of subsistence and travel claims

The Ranks, Offices and dates of dismissals:

1) Rank: Senior Administration Clerk

Office: Directorate: Identity Documents: Pretoria

Date of dismissal: 07 July 2004.

2) Rank: Immigration Officer

Office: Pontdrift Port Control Office(Limpopo)

Date of dismissal: 02 November 2004.

3) Rank: Senior Administration Clerk

Office: Regional Office: Umgungundlovu (Kwazulu-Natal)

Date of dismissal: 28 October 2004.

4) Rank: Administration Clerk

Office: Regional Office: Bethlehem (Free State)

Date of dismissal: 22 December 2004.

5) Rank: Immigration Officer

Office: Cape Town Regional Office (Western Cape)

Date of dismissal: 28 June 2004.

6) Rank: Senior Administration Clerk

Office: Polokwane Regional Office (Limpopo)

Date of dismissal: 27 August 2004.

7) Rank: Administration Clerk

Office: Wynberg District Office (Western Cape)

Date of dismissal: 15 December 2004.

QUESTION 1482

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in KwaZulu-Natal as at 25 August 2008?

NW2226E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services were available at each office in the Kwazulu-Natal Province on 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Amajuba Regional Office (R/O)	43	13	16
Chatsworth District Office (D/O)	23	5	1
Commercial Road D/O	43	11	1
Dundee D/O	12	4	0
Empangeni D/O	30	9	1
Eshowe D/O	17	4	1
Estcourt D/O	11	3	0
Ethekwini D/O	61	21	4
Greytown D/O	2	0	0
Howick D/O	0	2	0
Ingwavuma Service Point (S/P)	17	5	1
Ixopo D/O	17	5	1
Jozini D/O	15	5	1
Kokstad D/O	22	6	1
Kwadukuza D/O	22	7	1
Kwamashu D/O	8	2	0
Ladysmith D/O	34	10	1
Maphumulo D/O	8	2	0
Mbazwana S/P	16	5	1
Melmoth D/O	10	1	1
Mpumalanga D/O	8	1	0
Mtubatuba D/O	26	7	1
Ndwedwe R/O	51	15	3
New Hanover D/O	8	1	1
Ngotshane D/O	13	1	1
Nkandla D/O	10	3	0
Nongoma D/O	10	2	0
Nquthu D/O	8	2	0
Phoenix D/O	26	7	1
Pinetown D/O	43	11	1
Prospecton D/O	27	7	1
Richmond D/O	10	3	0
Scottburgh D/O	27	8	1
Tongaat D/O	25	7	1
Ugu R/O	49	15	3
Umbumbulu D/O	8	2	0
Umgungundlovu D/O	16	11	3
Umlazi D/O	37	11	3
Umsinga D/O	14	6	1
Uthungulu R/O	53	15	3
Vryheid D/O	27	7	1
Zululand R/O	25	2	1
TOTAL	932	264	58

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Kwazulu-Natal Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Managers
Ethekwini D/O	24	5	3
Ugu R/O	16	4	1
Umgungundlovu D/O	15	4	1
Uthungulu R/O	20	5	1
Amajuba R/O	12	16	6
Golela PCO	18	6	1
Kosi Bay PCO	8	3	0
Onverwacht Port Control Office (PCO)	5	1	0
Durban Harbour PCO	12	3	0
King Shaka Airport PCO	18	2	2
Sani Pass PCO	3	1	0
Boesmansnek PCO	3	1	0
TOTAL	154	51	15

QUESTION 1483

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in the Western Cape as at 25 August 2008?

NW2227E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Western Cape Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Cape Town Regional Office (R/O)	124	38	4
Wynberg District Office (D/O)	44	13	1
Bellville D/O	62	21	1
Cape Town International Airport	51	12	1
Cape Town Harbour	11	3	0
Cape Town Refugee Reception Office	16	9	1
Paarl R/O	34	11	2
Worcester D/O	19	7	1
Stellenbosch D/O	6	2	0
Malmesbury D/O	22	7	1
Vredendal D/O	8	2	0
George R/O	35	15	2
Knysna D/O	11	2	0
Beaufort West D/O	14	5	0
Oudtshoorn D/O	12	3	0
Khayelitsha R/O	38	17	2
Caledon D/O	24	8	1
Mitchell's Plain D/O	21	6	1
Nyanga D/O	32	7	1
TOTAL	584	188	19

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Western Cape Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Cape Town International Airport	90	9	2
Cape Town R/O	40	4	1
Cape Town Harbour	10	3	0
Khayelitsha R/O	14	3	1
George R/O	15	3	1
Paarl R/O	15	3	1
Malmesbury D/O	5	1	0
TOTAL	189	26	6

QUESTION 1484

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in Mpumalanga as at 25 August 2008?

NW2228E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Mpumalanga Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Nelspruit Regional Office (R/O)	13	6	2
Barberton District Office (D/O)	5	2	1
Hazyview D/O	7	3	1
Komatipoort D/O	6	2	1
Lydenburg D/O	4	1	1
Mhala D/O	9	6	1
Nkomazi D/O	5	3	1
White River D/O	5	2	1
Witbank R/O	36	16	2
Middelburg D/O	19	6	1
Belfast D/O	5	2	0
Kwamhlanga D/O	10	4	1
Mdutjana D/O	18	7	1
Mkobola D/O	9	3	0
Ermelo R/O	23	8	2
Piet Retief D/O	5	3	1
Evander D/O	22	7	1
Bethal D/O	8	2	1
Standerton D/O	6	2	0
Volksrust D/O	5	2	0
TOTAL	220	87	19

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Mpumalanga Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Nelspruit R/O	10	4	1
Witbank R/O	10	1	0
Middelburg D/O	2	0	0
Siyabuswa D/O	0	1	0
Lydenburg D/O	2	0	0
Hazyview D/O	2	0	0
White River D/O	2	1	0
Nkomazi D/O	2	0	0
Komatipoort D/O	5	0	0
Barberton D/O	2	1	0
Lebombo Port Control Office (PCO)	41	2	0
Mananga PCO	6	2	0
Jeppes Reef PCO	10	2	0
Josefsdal PCO	1	1	0
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport PCO	9	2	0
Mhala D/O	5	1	0
Ermelo R/O	1	1	0
Piet Retief PCO	1	1	0
Bethal D/O	1	0	0
Secunda D/O	1	0	0
Oshoek PCO	31	1	0
Waverley PCO	2	1	0
Nerston D/O	4	2	0
Emahlathini D/O	4	1	0
Mahamba PCO	10	4	0
TOTAL	164	29	1

QUESTION 1485

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in Eastern Cape as at 25 August 2008?

NW2229E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Eastern Cape Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
King Williams Town Regional Office (R/O)	24	15	2
Zwelitsha Service Point (S/P)	3	1	0
Alice District Office (D/O)	12	5	1
Fort Beaufort S/P	3	1	0
Middledrift S/P	3	2	0
East London D/O	26	10	1
Keiskammahoek D/O	11	6	0
Mdantsane D/O	9	5	0
Peddie D/O	8	4	0
Queenstown R/O	31	12	2
Whittlesea S/P	3	1	0
Cofimvaba D/O	16	5	1
Tsomo S/P	3	1	0
Cradock D/O	12	5	1
Middleburg S/P	3	1	0
Ngcobo D/O	13	4	1
Cala S/P	3	1	0
Elliot S/P	3	1	0
Lady Frere D/O	10	5	0
Port Elizabeth R/O	33	15	2
Clearly Park D/O	14	4	1
Graaff Reinet D/O	8	4	1
Grahamstown D/O	12	5	1
Port Alfred S/P	3	1	0
Humansdorp D/O	12	5	1
Motherwell D/O	20	6	1
Somerset East D/O	6	3	0
Uitenhage D/O	17	5	1
Mthatha R/O	31	18	2
Mqanduli S/P	5	1	0
Butterworth D/O	12	7	1
Ngqamakhwe S/P	4	1	0
Centane Thusong D/O	2	1	0
Qumbu D/O	10	4	1
Tsolo S/P	4	1	0
Willowvale D/P	17	6	1
Dutywa S/P	4	1	0
Elliotdale S/P	2	1	0
Mount Frere R/O	22	10	2
Mt Ayliff S/P	3	1	0
Aliwal North D/O	6	3	0
Burgersdorp D/O	6	3	0
Mount Fletcher D/O	6	3	1
Maluti S/P	3	1	0
Matatiele S/P	3	1	0
Sterkspruit D/O	14	6	1
Lusikisiki R/O	21	8	2
Flagstaff S/P	3	1	0
Bizana D/O	14	5	1
Libode D/O	14	5	1
Ngqeleni S/P	4	1	0
Port St Johns D/O	12	5	1
Ntabankulu D/O	8	4	0
TOTAL	551	231	31

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Eastern Cape Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
King William's Town R/O	21	5	2
East London D/O	16	4	0
Queenstown D/O	21	6	1
Engcobo D/O	2	1	0
Port Elizabeth R/O	12	5	1
Graaf Reinett D/O	4	1	0
Grahamstown D/O	6	2	0
Butterworth D/O	5	1	0
Mount Fletcher D/O	5	1	0
Sterkspruit PCO	5	1	0
Lusikisiki PCO	16	5	1
Mthatha R/O	19	5	1
Couga PCO	16	5	0
Telebridge PCO	10	1	0
Qachasneck PCO	10	1	0
Ramatisilo PCO	6	1	0
Ongeluksnek PCO	6	1	0
TOTAL	180	46	6

QUESTION 1486

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in Northern Cape as at 25 August 2008?

NW2230E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Northern Cape Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Kimberley Regional Office (R/O)	49	22	2
De Aar District Office (D/O)	15	6	1
Prieska D/O	10	4	0
Jan Kempdorp D/O	8	3	0
Upington R/O	43	18	2
Kuruman D/O	24	10	1
Postmasburg D/O	13	5	1
Springbok R/O	23	10	2
Pampierstad D/O	12	6	0
Calvinia D/O	13	5	1
TOTAL	210	89	10

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Northern Cape Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Kimberley R/O	17	6	1
Upington R/O	22	6	1
Springbok D/O	12	4	1
De Aar D/O	5	1	0
Kuruman D/O	11	3	0
Alexander Bay Port Control Office (PCO)	7	1	0
Sendelingsdrift PCO	2	1	0
Vioolsdrift PCO	17	5	0
Onseepkans PCO	2	1	0
Nakop PCO	17	7	0
Rietfontein PCO	2	1	0
Gemsbok PCO	3	1	0
Twee Rivieren PCO	2	1	0
Middelputs PCO	2	1	0
McCarthy's Rest PCO	2	1	0
TOTAL	123	40	3

QUESTION 1487

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in Limpopo as at 25 August 2008?

NW2231E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Limpopo Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Giyani Regional Office (R/O)	12	3	2
Tzaneen District Office (D/O)	17	6	1
Phalaborwa D/O	12	3	1
Thohoyandou R/O	27	4	2
Vuwani D/O	12	5	1
Dzanani D/O	14	5	1
Elim D/O	13	6	1
Malamulele D/O	12	4	1
Makhado D/O	20	6	1
Mutale D/O	13	4	1
Musina D/O	6	2	1
Mokopane R/O	27	4	2
Lephalale D/O	12	3	1
Modimolle D/O	8	2	0
Tauyatwala D/O	3	0	0
Thabazimbi D/O	6	0	0
Polokwane R/O	28	6	2
Bochum D/O	9	3	0
Seshego D/O	3	0	0
Mankweng D/O	7	2	0
Lebowakgomo D/O	50	12	1
Molemole D/O	7	3	1
Groblersdal D/O	6	3	1
Sekhukhuni Hospitals	25	9	0
TOTAL	349	95	21

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Limpopo Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

QUESTION 1488

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Mr T D Lee (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in Gauteng as at 25 August 2008?

NW2232E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Gauteng Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Brakpan District Office (D/O)	19	6	1
Nigel D/O	22	6	1
Kempton Park D/O	30	9	1
Benoni D/O	19	6	1
Springs Regional Office (R/O)	45	14	2
Boksburg D/O	24	2	1
Germiston R/O	31	4	2
Akasia R/O	25	6	2
Centurion D/O	10	3	1
Alberton D/O	23	3	2
Edenvale D/O	17	3	2
Cullinan D/O	14	5	1
Mabopane D/O	18	2	1
Soshanguve D/O	10	3	1
Garankuwa D/O	25	7	1
Pretoria R/O	88	16	2
Johannesburg R/O	20	20	2
Alexandra D/O	4	4	0
Market Street D/O	4	9	0
Randburg D/O	14	6	0
Sandton D/O	6	3	1
Randfontein R/O	9	12	2
Carletonville D/O	5	4	1
Krugersdorp D/O	5	6	1
Soweto R/O	9	9	1
Roodepoort D/O	17	7	1
Vereeniging R/O	19	11	2
Heidelberg D/O	4	2	0
Sebokeng D/O	4	2	1
Vanderbijlpark D/O	11	4	1
Total	551	194	35

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Gauteng Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Springs R/O	18	3	2
Benoni D/O	4	1	0
Kempton Park D/O	3	1	0
Nigel D/O	5	1	0
Daveyton D/O	5	1	0
Tembisa D/O	5	1	0
Brakpan D/O	5	1	0
Carletonville D/O	1	1	0
Krugersdorp D/O	3	1	0
Soweto R/O	5	2	1
Vereeniging R/O	8	1	1
Germiston R/O	16	3	1
Alberton D/O	3	1	0
Boksburg D/O	3	1	0
Edenvale D/O	3	1	0
Randburg D/O	3	1	0
Randfontein D/O	40	2	2
Roodepoort D/O	2	1	0
Marabastad D/O	24	5	2
Akasia R/O	0	1	1
Pretoria R/O	10	6	1
Johannesburg R/O	19	3	0
Lanseria Airport	8	1	0
O R Tambo International Airport	161	17	4
Crown Mines Refugee Reception Office	34	52	9
TOTAL	388	109	24

QUESTION 1489

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Mr T D Lee to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in North West Province as at 25 August 2008?

NW2233E

REPLY

Due to the fact that the Department of Home Affairs has separated its Civic Services and Immigration Services as part of its Turnaround Project, the following number of posts relating to Civic Services were available in the North West Province on 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

North West Province
Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Mmabatho Regional Office	22	6	9
Molopo District Office	14	2	5
Lehurutshe District Office	9	2	3
Ganyesa District Office	9	3	2
Taung District Office	14	4	4
Vryburg District Office	7	3	4
Rustenburg Regional Office	20	6	8
Mankwe District Office	5	3	4
Madikwe District Office	7	4	2
Brits District Office	10	2	4
Garankuwa District Office	7	2	5
Mabopane District Office	8	4	3
Moretele District Office	15	3	2
Klerksdorp District Office	17	5	7
Lichtenburg District Office	12	3	4
Atamelang District Office	6	2	2
Potchefstroom District Office	8	2	3
Wolmaranstad District Office	2	0	1
TOTAL	192	56	72

Due to the fact that the Department of Home Affairs has separated its Civic Services and Immigration Services as part of its Turnaround Project, the following number of posts relating to Immigration Services were available in the North West Province on
25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Mafikeng	0	0	1
Mafikeng RRO	5	2	1
Mmabatho	20	5	1
Klerksdorp	20	5	1
Rustenburg	20	5	1
Brits	5	1	0
Moretele	5	1	0
Lehurutse	5	1	0
Vryburg	5	1	0
Ganyesa	5	1	0
Potchefstroom	5	1	0
Makopong	6	1	0
Bray	6	1	0
Makgobistad	6	1	0
Derdepoort	6	1	0
Swartkopfontein	12	4	0
Kopfontein	24	7	0
Ramatlabana	24	7	0
Skilpadshek	24	7	0
TOTAL	203	52	5

QUESTION 1490

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 29 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 25 of 2008

Mr T D Lee (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

How many posts were there for (a) counter staff, (b) supervisors and (c) management at each office in Free State Province as at 25 August 2008?

NW2234E

REPLY

The number of posts relating to Civic Services at each office in the Free State Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

Office	Counter Staff	Supervisors	Management
Bloemfontein Regional Office (R/O)	49	14	2
Botshabelo District Office (D/O)	16	5	1
Zastron D/O	8	2	1
Koffiefontein D/O	8	2	1
Taba Nchu D/O	11	4	1
Phuthaditjhaba R/O	49	14	2
Bethlehem D/O	24	8	1
Harrismith D/O	8	2	1
Sasolburg D/O	12	5	1
Welkom R/O	40	14	2
Kroonstad D/O	17	4	1
Bulfontein D/O	10	3	1
TOTAL	252	77	15

The following number of posts relating to Immigration Services in the Free State Province as at 25 August 2008 – as per the table below:

OFFICE	COUNTER STAFF	SUPERVISORS	MANAGERS
Ficksburg Bridge Port Control Office (PCO)	33	12	1
Maseru Bridge PCO	42	12	1
Caledonspoort PCO	20	4	0
Van Rooyenshek PCO	13	4	0
Monantsapas PCO	3	1	0
Pekabrug PCO	3	1	0
Sepapushek PCO	3	1	0
Makaleng PCO	3	1	0
Phuthaditjhaba D/O	14	4	1
Bethlehem D/O	5	1	0
Bloemfontein R/O	19	5	1
Botshabelo D/O	5	1	0
Welkom R/O	19	5	1
Kroonstad D/O	5	1	0
TOTAL	187	53	5

QUESTION 1004

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 13 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) What are the reasons for her department not releasing a report submitted to her office by a team of immigration experts assessing the huge backlogs in processing applications for asylum-seekers, (b) what is the total cost for the (i) compilation of the report and (ii) remuneration to members of the team who wrote the report and (c) how many times did the team meet to discuss or elaborate on the report;

(2) whether she will release the report; if not, why not; if so, when?

NW1742E

REPLY

(1)(a) As far as I know, there was never any report to be published, as this was a Backlog Project. The Exit Report was prepared, and submitted by the Backlog Managers appointed and trained by the Department, with the aim of eradicating the backlog in asylum applications, accumulated since 1998, and not to "assessing the huge backlogs in processing applications for asylum-seekers" as suggested.

In essence, the Exit Report, so compiled by the Backlog Managers, was purely an administrative report, intended for in-house use; and, therefore, cannot be published.

It is also important to note that the writers of the Exit Report were not a team of Immigration experts. They were, instead, appointed by the Department to assist in eliminating the accumulation of pending asylum applications by means of approvals and rejections, through an adjudication process, for the duration of the project. In order to achieve that, the Department provided them with training in "Refugee Status Determination and Immigration matters".

(b)(i) No additional costs were incurred for the report, as its compilation was completed within the allotted budget for the Backlog Project.

(ii) The total cost was R9 179 552.25. This was the amount paid in salaries to the Backlog Managers for the duration of the project (May 2005 to March 2008).

the last three (3) months of the project were basically dedicated to the compilation of

report, and the closure of the project.

(2) With reference to the response given in (1)(a) above, the report is intended for

Internal use. Besides, there are lessons learnt in the project which are also vital for improving processes, and service delivery, such as file census, file audit, file management system, segregation of dormant files from active ones, etc.

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) what were the reasons for the correct procedures not being followed in awarding tenders to four IT firms to modernise the identification system and (b) what are
(i) the full names of the tender committee members responsible for the allocation of those tenders and (ii) their designations;

(2) whether any action will be taken against those found to have not followed the correct procedures in awarding the tenders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1775E

REPLY

(1) and (2) It needs to be clarified that there is no report that has ever found any tender for the Department of Home Affairs to have been awarded without following correct procedures. It is also not clear from the question which specific tender the Honourable Member is referring to. A number of tender relating to the identification system have been issued and/or awarded in the department. These include the HANIS tender, the Smart ID card tender and the Who-Am-I-Online tender.

With regard to the Who-Am-I-Online tender, I have taken a decision to refer the concerns raised by Members of the Home Affairs portfolio Committee regarding the process and the costs to the Office of the Auditor-General who currently dealing with this matter. A report in this regard is still not yet available.

QUESTION 1043

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) When was the Large Account Initiative, created to assist companies with large requirements of foreign skills, set up, (b) how many companies are part of this Large Account Initiative, (c) how many skilled foreign nationals have been recruited and (d) what is the breakdown of the foreign skills acquired since the initiative was established?

NW1777E

REPLY

(a) The first phase of Large Account Initiative (LAI) which serviced 4 (four) pilot companies,\ started in July 2007.

(b) Apart from the initial 4 pilot companies, an additional 23 (twenty three) companies

were selected on the 15th of May 2008.

(d) The foreign skills which were acquired consisted of the following: (i) Mining Engineers, (ii) Artisans, (iii) Specialized Engineering skills for the Construction Industry and (iv) Industrial Engineers.

QUESTION 1044

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) When will the recently-announced division of her department into separate civics and immigration service units be implemented, (b) how will the two new units be structured and (c) what amount (i) was budgeted, (ii) was allocated and (iii) has already been spent in dividing the department into these two units;

(2) whether there will be any staff retrenchments or job losses resulting from this restructuring; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the
(a) relevant details and (b) reasons for these retrenchments;

(3) whether any new jobs will be created by the division of the department into the civics and immigration services units; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how many?

NW1778E

REPLY

(1)(a) The Department is in the process of implementing the new structure, including the division between Civic Services and Immigration Branch.

(b) These units will be structured according to the Vision and Design structure that was presented, and approved by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) on 11th of April, and by the Minister of Home Affairs on 16 April 2008.

(2) The intention of this re-organisation is not to reduce capacity. On the contrary, between 2000 and 3000 vacancies need to be filled in the next five years. The intention is to capacitate the organisation, in the best way possible, so that the Department of Home Affairs can meet its performance obligations to the South African public.

(3) Civic Services is expected to grow with approximately 1 700 employees, in five (5) years, while the National Immigration Branch/Immigration Services is expected to grow with approximately 1000 employees, in five (5) years, as well.

QUESTION 1271

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 8 August 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 22 of 2008

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether her department pays for the printing costs of the annual reports of all agencies, councils and commissions reporting to her; if not, who pays for the printing of these annual reports; if so, what were the associated costs of this in each year from 1994 to 2008?

NW1236E
REPLY

No. The Department of Home Affairs is only responsible for paying printing costs for its own Annual Report and that of the Government Printing Works, as its annual performance is incorporated in the Department of Home Affairs' Annual Report. Printing costs of the Annual Reports for entities reporting to me, i.e. the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Film and Publication Board (FPB) are paid by themselves as budgeted for in their own budget allocations.

The Department of Home Affairs:

Unfortunately, records reflecting the printing costs regarding the Department's Annual Report are only available from the 2001/02 financial year – as per the table below:

Financial year Printing costs Number of copies
2001/02
Reprint R44,706,02
R28,309,79 1800
1000
2002/03 R92,952,00 6000
2003/04 R118,070,94 3000
2004/05 R141,802,21 3000
2005/06 R169,555,60 5000
2006/07 R257,062,20 5000
2007/08 R275,973,80 3000

QUESTION 354

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 7 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 8 of 2008

Dr S-B Huang (ANC) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) Whether she and her Deputy Minister are monitoring her department's turnaround strategy that was launched in 2007; if not, why not; if so, what benchmarking mechanisms are being used in this regard;

whether this is bearing any fruit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW957E

REPLY

(1) Yes. On a lower level, there is an Executive Committee (EXCO) that oversees the work done by the workstreams, and once in a month, the Deputy Minister, and myself get updated, and subsequently, give strategic direction, at a political level, by way of a Steering Committee (STEERCO) meeting on all matters pertaining to the Turnaround. Notwithstanding, the flash reports that are given to me on a weekly basis.

(2) Immense progress, thus far, is commendable. We have been able to realise the Turnaround plan through the 55 projects that have been set up. As we speak, the restructuring and the migration plan of the Department is being implemented.

QUESTION 1094

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) Whether her department (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through
(i)criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or
(iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not;
if so,

(2) whether any action has been taken against the offending officials; if not, why not; if so, in each category, (a) how many officials (i) were dismissed, (ii) were suspended and (iii) had other sanctions imposed on them and (b) what amounts were involved;

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1833E

REPLY

(1)(a) to (b)(iv) As per the table below:

Incident	Disciplinary steps taken/criminal proceedings	2007/08

An official procured goods and services for private use	The department has since charged the official with additional 62 cases of fraud and found guilty and dismissed. The money will be recovered from his pensions.	9
An official procured goods and services for private use	The department has since charged the official with additional 62 cases of fraud and found guilty and dismissed. The money will be recovered from his pensions.	2
An official procured goods and services for private use	The department has since charged the official with additional 62 cases of fraud and found guilty and dismissed. The money will be recovered from his pensions.	24
An official procured goods and services for private use	The department has since charged the official with additional 62 cases of fraud and found guilty and dismissed. The money will be recovered from his pensions.	42
Rendering of catering services without obtaining relevant orders and authorisation from Procurement services	Explanatory information was obtained from the affected offices and the expenditure will have to be regularised.	8
Accommodation of newly appointed officials without following proper procurement processes	The matter is under investigation	31
The Chief Directorate: Communication Service made use of Service Provider: Monitoring South Africa for media monitoring and reporting without following normal procurement procedures where bids needed to be invited.	The department is still in the process of finalising the case to determine liability and the Official responsible for this action.	498
TOTAL		614

(2) (a) For the financial year 2007/2008, 53 officials were involved in financial misconduct.

(i) 21 officials were dismissed for financial misconduct.

(ii) 25 officials were suspended.

(iii) 15 officials had other sanctions imposed on them:

13 officials had only Final Written Warnings imposed on them and;

2 officials had Final Written Warning plus Suspension Without Salary

2 officials were found not guilty.

1 official resigned.

(b) A total amount of R965 885.20 was involved. Please note that in some instances the amounts are not specified.

(3) 14 cases are still pending finalisation. (1) Yes, my Department has kept records, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999 of losses incurred through criminal conduct, unauthorized expenditure, irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

(2) Action was taken against the relevant offending officials found guilty.

(a) With regard to the instances of financial misconduct for the period 2007-08, the following action was taken against officials in my Department:

(i) 4 were dismissed;

(ii) 9 were suspended; and

(iii) 21 had other sanctions imposed on them. Regarding officials that are found to have been liable for the losses, the State Attorneys offices have been briefed to recover the losses from them. Such matters are subject to ongoing litigation.

(b) The process of determining the actual amounts lost takes time. In most cases, the initial figures are estimates but once the investigation is completed, the amounts are generally accurate.

(3) There were 230 cases outstanding at the end of the 2007/08 financial year. To date, 112 of these matters have been finalised.

QUESTION 976

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 30 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15 of 2008

Mr L B Labuschagne (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) Whether her department has conducted an energy audit to determine its (a) use of energy and (b) opportunities for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether her department has any plans to reduce energy consumption; if not, why not; if so, what plans;

(3) whether her department has made any material reduction in energy use since
1 January 2008; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1660E

REPLY

(1)-(3 The Department has disengaged geyser installations, and has, further, requested officials

to, no longer, use portable bar heating systems. As part of the contingencies to deal with load shedding (power-cuts), the Department has installed 11 Gensets and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) at state owned buildings. The rollout of this to all Department of Home Affairs Regional Offices is led by the Department of Public Works (DPW).

The energy savings audits, previously done by DPW, at all the offices of the Department of Home Affairs will, subsequent to its findings, issue recommendations on further energy savings methods, as well as, energy saving devices that must be installed at the various offices of the Department.

QUESTION 429

DOF PUBLICATION: Friday, 14 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 9 of 2008

Mrs S V Kalyan (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether she will introduce an e-identity document; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1033E

REPLY

I will be introducing a Smart ID Card, in the course of the 2008/09 financial year, which is considered to be compatible to the needs of our society. A pilot project is scheduled for the end of December 2008, and a full rollout will commence towards the end of December 2009.

QUESTION 706

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 9 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 12 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2007;

(2) whether these firms are used on a contractual basis; if so, (a) how many contracts did her department take out in this regard in 2007, (b) with which firms were these contracts taken out, (c) for what specific purpose was each contract taken out and (d) what was the value of the contract in each case;

(3) why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security?

NW1403E

REPLY

(1) Yes. A total amount of R29,339,473,87 was spent on private security firms in the 2007/08 financial year.

(2) Yes. (a) A total of ten (10) contracts were in place during 2007.

(b) Khulani Fidelity Security Services (Most Khoza Security Services), Double Barrel Security Services, Motheo Security Services, M2M Security Services, SSE Security CC, Davidson Security Services, P S Legal Protection Security Services, Cheetah Security Services, Naphtronics Security Services and Bagale Security Services.

(d) The following amounts were paid to each of the respective service providers:

· Khulani Security Services R 26,882,623,98

· Most Khoza Security Services R4,860,75

· Double Barrel Security Services R1,875,563,08

· Motheo Security Services R31,686,20

· M2M Security Services R27,000,00

· SSE Security Services R91,618,20

· Davidson Security Services R110,238,00

· P S Legal Security Services R6,666,93

· Cheetah Security Services R43,638,06

· Bagale Security Services R95,006,10

· Naphtronics Security Services R176,122,57

· Fidelity Security Services R450,00

(3) The utilisation of private security companies is necessitated by the fact that the Department currently does not have the internal capacity to provide security, at all of its offices, in all nine (9) Provinces. However, the Department has appointed nineteen (19) new Security Officers during the 2007/08 financial year. Ten (10) of these officers are, currently, stationed at the Department's Head Office, and the remaining nine (9) (Control Security) officers, have, each, been deployed to the Provinces.

Based on different appraisals and audits that have been conducted by both the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the South African Police Service (SAPS), it is more cost effective, at this point, in time, for the Department to outsource physical security. By outsourcing physical security, the Department only needs to pay for services provided by a private security guard, which is, in all instances, far less than the salary, and benefits to be paid to an appointed official, in a financial year.

QUESTION 740

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 16 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13 of 2008

Mr J Selfe (DA) to ask the Minister Home Affairs:

(1) Whether her department's office in Wynberg, Cape Town is experiencing staff shortages; if so, (a) for how long have the staff shortages persisted, (b) what have the implications been for the delivery of services to the public as a result of such staff shortages and (c) what steps is her department taking to alleviate the shortages;

(2) whether the Wynberg office currently conforms to her department's vision of providing a world class service; if not, what steps is her department taking to ensure conformity?

NW1427E

REPLY

(1) Yes. (a) Staff shortages have been experienced over the past two financial years.

(b) Long queues are evident due to the shortage of frontline staff members.

· Staff members, including a deployed Assistant Director, stationed in the Office of the Provincial Manager: Western Cape, as well as, staff members in the offices of the Regional Managers regularly assist when queues are reported to be long.

· Four (4) Queue Managers were appointed with effect from
27 April 2008 to focus on client relations and queue management.

· Three (3) new staff members (appointed at the Regional Office: Khayelitsha) assumed duty at the Wynberg office on Monday, 19 May 2008.

· Members of the National Youth Service were also deployed to the Wynberg office to assist with queue management.

· Five (5) new staff members (appointed at the District Office: Bellville) will also assume duty at the Wynberg office once their appointments have been finalised.

· The Directorate: Human Resource Administration at the Department's Head Office is also investigating ways to further expedite the advertisement of vacant posts.

(2) No. At the moment, the Wynberg office does not conform to the Department's vision of providing a world-class service. However, as part of the Turnaround Project, the Department will address the shortcomings of this office, and it forms part of the offices that have to be refurbished.

The Department of Home Affairs is, further, in the final stages, of finalising its new structure which will cluster Provinces into zones. The proposed separation of Civic Services and National Immigration Services in the Department will address the needs of the Department and its Regional – and District Offices which will minimise capacity constraints.

QUESTION 519

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Thursday, 20 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether her department has a national data base containing the records, including fingerprints, of all persons who have applied for an identity document; if not, (a) why not and (b) what plans are envisaged to address this matter; if so, (i) what is the nature of the information recorded on the data base, (ii) what steps are planned to ensure that every person applying for refugee or residence status have such information recorded on the data base and (iii) what arrangements have been made to share the information with other agencies like the SA Police Service?

NW1161E

REPLY

(a) Yes. A full set of fingerprints in respect of every South African citizen who applies for a South African identity document is kept on the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS). The HANIS System further makes provision for the integration with other Information Systems of the Department, such as the new Refugee System.

(b)(i) The nature of the information that is recorded on the database is as follows:

The identity document number of the applicant or South African citizen.

A full set of fingerprints of the applicant or South African citizen.

A photograph of the applicant or South African citizen.

Demographic data of the applicant or South African citizen, such as surname, full names, date and place of birth, residential, as well as, postal address and the applicant's status, with regard to South African citizenship.

(b)(ii) The Department of Home Affairs has acquired a new Refugee System, and it is currently being piloted by the Department for capturing asylum seekers or approved refugees, and their fingerprints will also be stored in HANIS.

(b)(iii) The SA Police Service has access to the information from the database in electronic, as well as, hardcopy format. In addition, there are three members of the SA Police Service attached to the Criminal Record Centre, and these three members are permanently stationed at the New Co-Operation Building in Pretoria, and they have easy access to any information on the Department's data basis.

QUESTION 768

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 16 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13 of 2008

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

In respect of each of the past five years up to and including 2007, (a) how many posts existed at the Electoral Commission, (b) how many of these posts were vacant, (c) for how long was each of these posts vacant, (d) what amount was allocated by her department for the operation of this Commission and (e) what amount was actually spent?

NW1457E

REPLY

(a)(b) & (c) The information is not readily available or determinable. However, statistics on

the number of posts and vacancies, as at the last day of the relevant financial

year, are given in the Commission's annual reports to Parliament for the fina-

ncial years ending in March 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Similar statistics

were not given in the annual report for the year ending March 2007, as the

Commission's structures were under review, and thus, in a state of flux, at

that time. Comparable statistics will be included in this year's (2008) annual

report.

(d) & (e) The Department of Home Affairs does not allocate funds to the Electoral

Commission. Parliament votes for the Electoral Commission, and the

amount voted appears on the Home Affairs vote as a transfer amount. The

annual amounts voted by Parliament for the Commission are to be found in

the yearly budgets submitted by the Minister of Finance, and approved by

Parliament. The amounts received by the Commission as income, and spent

in each financial year can be found in the Commission's Annual Reports to

Parliament containing the Commission's financial statements, and the Auditor

-General's reports on those financial statements.

QUESTION NO.: 769 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16 MAY 2008

Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

In respect of each of the past five years up to and including 2007, (a) how many posts existed at the Human Rights Commission, (b) how many of these posts were vacant, (c) for how long was each of these posts vacant, (d) what amount was allocated by her department for the operation of this Commission and (e) what amount was actually spent?

NW1458E

REPLY

Details of the vacant posts at the South African Human Rights Commission for the past five years as well as the budget allocated by my Department for the operation of this office are indicated in the table below:-

Year	Total Establishment	Total Nr of Funded Posts	Total Nr of filled Posts	Total Nr of Vacant Funded Posts	Total Funds Available	Total Spent
2002/03	85	85	85	0	27,401,000	28,201,016
2003/04	114	114	95	19	32,728,000	29,458,174
2004/05	120	120	106	14	37,653,000	38,827,409
2005/06	138	138	108	30	41,774,000	42,392,847
2006/07	135	135	104	31	49,220,000	45,574,082

The table below indicates the period which each vacant post remained unfilled:-

TOTAL NUMBER OF POSTS	DESCRIPTION OF POSTS	VACANT FROM	TO
	New and Vacant positions 2004 (19)
1	Education Officer: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	February 2004	March 2005
1	Legal Officer: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	February 2004	March 2005
1	Admin Secretary: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	February 2004	April 2005
1	Provincial Manager: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	February 2004	March 2005
1	Housekeeper: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	February 2004	March 2005
2	PAIA Researchers x2	April 2004	August 2004
5	ESR Researchers x 5	May 2004	September 2004
1	Deputy Director: Equality	May 2004	October 2004
1	Deputy Director: Media & Communications	June 2004	December 2004
1	Legal Officer	July 2004	September 2004
1	Secretary: PEPUDA	July 2004	October 2004
1	Legal Secretary	July 2004	September 2004
1	Legal Practitioner	August 2004	December 2004
1	Deputy Director: Administration	October 2004	March 2005
19
	New and Vacant positions 2005 (14)	From	To
1	Head of Programme: Finance & Administration	January 2005	May 2005
1	Head of Programme : Legal Services	March 2005	November 2005
1	Legal Officer	March 2005	August 2005
1	Legal Officer	March 2005	August 2005
1	Deputy Director: PAIA	March 2005	August 2005
1	Legal Officer	March 2005	Abolished
1	Legal Officer	April 2005	Abolished
1	Deputy Director:PEPUDA	April 2005	November 2005
1	Deputy Director: Media & Communications	April 2005	October 2005
1	Researcher:PEPUDA	April 2005	December 2005
1	Researcher ESR	May 2005	Abolished
1	Deputy CEO: Operations	May 2005	August 2006
1	Deputy Director: Finance	July 2005	December 2005
1	Legal Practitioner	November 2005	July 2006
14
	New and Vacant positions 2006 (30)	From	To
1	Deputy Director: ESR	January 2006	Abolished
1	Communications Officer	January 2006	Upgraded
1	PA to CEO	February 2006	August 2006
1	Education Officer: Northern Cape Provincial Office	January 2006	September 2006
1	Provincial Manager: Eastern Cape Provincial Office	February 2006	January 2007
1	Education Officer	March 2006	September 2006
1	Legal Officer	March 2006	September 2006
1	Admin Secretary: Free State Provincial Office	March 2006	August 2006
1	Employee Relations Manager	April 2006	May 2006
1	Head of Programme: Human Resources	April 2006	August 2006
1	Provincial Manager: North West Provincial Office	April 2006	September 2006
1	Legal Officer: North West Provincial Office	April 2006	June 2007
1	Administrative Secretary	April 2006	June 2007
1	Office Assistant	April 2006	January 2008
1	Deputy Director: Child rights	April 2006	June 2007
1	Deputy Director: HIV/AIDS	April 2006	September 2006
1	Deputy Director: Older persons	April 2006	September 2006
1	Deputy Director: Non-nationals	April 2006	September 2006
1	Legal Officer	April 2006	September 2006
1	Compliants Administrator	July 2006	October 2006
1	Legal Assistant	July 2006	October 2006
1	Secretary	July 2006	July 2006
1	Education Officer: Northern Cape Provincial Office	July 2006	Outstanding
1	Legal Officer	April 2006	June 2007
1	Head of Programme: NACHRET	August 2006	April 2007
1	Human Resources Practitioner	August 2006	September 2006
1	Legal Practitioner	September 2006	February 2007
1	Education Officer: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	November 2006	July 2007
1	Education Officer: Western Cape Provincial Office	November 2006	June 2007
1	Education Officer	March 2006	July 2006
30
	New and Vacant positions 2007 (31)	From	To
1	Admin Assistant: Human Resources	July 2007	August 2007
1	Chief Internal Auditor	April 2007	November 2007
1	Parliament: Administrator	April 2007	November 2007
1	Deputy Director: Disability	April 2007	September 2007
1	Deputy Director: Crime & Human Rights	April 2007	September 2007
1	Deputy Director: Business & Human Rights	April 2007	September 2007
1	Archivist	April 2007	September 2007
1	IT Help Desk Administrator	April 2007	September 2007
1	Deputy Director: Equality	April 2007	November 2007
1	Office Manager	April 2007	September 2007
1	Senior Researcher	April 2007	September 2007
1	Head of Programme: Finance	April 2007	September 2007
1	Senior Assistant Accountant	April 2007	October 2007
1	Head of Programme: Human Resources	May 2007	November 2007
1	Deputy Director: E-Learning	July 2007	December 2007
1	Provincial Manager: Eastern Cape	July 2007	Outstanding
1	Researcher Parliament	July 2007	December 2007
1	Provincial Manager: Western cape Provincial Office	July 2007	Outstanding
1	Provincial Manager: Mpumalanga Provincial Office	August 2007	Outstanding
1	Head of Programme: Legal Service	November 2007	December 2007
1	Administrative Secretary	November 2007	February 2008
1	Administrative Secretary	November 2007	February 2008
1	Head of Programme: Research	November 2007	June 2008
1	Travel & Events Manager	November 2007	January 2008
1	Legal Officer- Northern Cape Provincial Office	November 2007	Outstanding
1	Legal Assistant	November 2007	Abolished
1	Records Clerk	November 2007	April 2008
1	Human Resources Manager	November 2007	Outstanding
1	Accounts Clerk	November 2007	April 2008
1	Deputy Director: Monitoring and Evaluation	October 2007	Abolished
1	Education Officer: Northern Cape Provincial Office	May 2008	January 2008
31

QUESTION 770

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 16 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) What is the total daily cost for running the Lindelani Immigration Centre, (b) how many people is the centre legally allowed to host, (c) how many illegal immigrants are currently (i) hosted and (ii) daily fed by the centre, (d) how many staff members at the centre are employed by her department, (e) how many posts are vacant at the centre, (f) how long have they been vacant, (g) when are these posts going to be filled and (h) how much has been budgeted to fill them?

NW1459E

REPLY

(a) The total daily cost of running the Lindela centre is calculated as the average number of illegal foreigners which were detained – per day – over a calendar month. The Department is then charged R105.00 per day to detain one illegal immigrant.

(b) 4004.

(c)(i) As on the morning of 20 May 2008, a total number of 2205 illegal immigrants were hosted at the centre.

(ii) As on the morning of 20 May 2008, a total number of 2205 illegal immigrants were fed by the centre, but the total varies during the course of the day because of new admissions and deportations.

(d) Fifty eight (58) staff members are currently employed at the centre.

(e) There are currently 15 vacant posts.

(f) As per the table below:

Job title description	Post status description	Post date	Vacant date	Salary level
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2004-03-01	2008-02-11	5
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2004-03-01	2007-12-01	6
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2004-03-01	2008-04-01	6
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2004-03-01	2008-04-04	6
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2006-03-16	2008-05-01	6
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2006-03-16	2006-03-16	6
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2006-03-16	2006-03-16	6
Immigration Officer	Vacant	2006-03-16	2006-03-16	6
Control Immigration Officer	Vacant	2007-09-28	2007-09-28	8
Control Immigration Officer	Vacant	2008-04-01	2008-04-01	8
Assistant Director: Immigration services	Vacant	2006-03-16	2006-03-16	10
Senior Administration Clerk	Vacant	2008-03-10	2008-03-10	5
Senior Administration Clerk	Vacant	2007-08-01	2007-08-01	5
Senior Administrative Officer	Vacant	2007-09-01	2007-09-01	8
Assistant Director: Administration	Vacant	2006-01-01	2006-01-01	9

(g) The Department is in the process of finalising a new structure, which will address capacity at this specific office, as well as, all other offices of the Department.

(h) A total amount of R1,190,775,20 has been budgeted to fill all the vacant positions after the finalisation of the new structure.

QUESTION 231

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Monday, 25 February 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 4 of 2008

Mr M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether her department is currently making use of the services of an international task team to assist with its turnaround strategy; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many persons are employed by the task team, (b) what is the annual cost of the task team, (c) what mandate was given to this task team, (d) in what section are they employed, (e) for how long will her department still use the task team, (f) what is the estimated future cost of the task team and (g) why are (i) local consultants not being used and (ii) highly paid officials in her department unable to perform the turnaround tasks now being done by these consultants?

NW696E

REPLY

(1) No. The team of consultants in the Department cannot be viewed as an "international

task team", as overseas consultants, in the team, constitute a negligible number.

A total number of 107 consultants are currently being utilised.

For a comprehensive breakdown of all costs associated with the Turnaround Project, please refer to the tables below:

Description	Budget Allocation (million)	Expenditure as at 31-03-2008 (million)	Budget Allocation (million)	Total Budget (million)	Total Expenditure as at 31-03-2008 (million)
	2007/08	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
Consultants	R147,310	R146,022	R255,305	R64,104	-	R466,719	R146,022
DHA	R34,719	R2,039	R55,346	R246,591	R323,246	R659,902	R2,039
Total	R182,029	R148,061	R310,651	R310,695	R323,246	R1,126,621	R148,061

(c) The mandate of the turnaround project is to transform the Department into a modern, efficient, cost-effective service organisation responsive to the needs of South African citizens, residents and visitors to our country

(d) The consultants are deployed in all the Branches and Business Units of the Department.

(e) It is anticipated that the consultants will be utilised until the end of the 2009/10 financial year.

(f) Please see the table as mentioned in point (b) above.

(g)(i) & (ii) The minority of international consultants, in the team, merely complements the majority of the local consultants, in conjunction with the Departmental staff, on a daily basis, on all the projects, as project sponsors, team leads, or team members, with their wealth of international experience on Home affairs related matters.

QUESTION NO. 237

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 FEBRUARY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 4)

Mr M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether the Chief Financial Officer of her department received a performance bonus in 2007; if so, (a) how much and (b) why was the performance bonus awarded?

NW702E

REPLY:

Yes.

(a) R20,274.03.

(b) For his performance as evaluated by the Accounting Officer when measured against a set of pre-determined indicators.

QUESTION 1103

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 27 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 20 of 2008

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) Whether she will ensure that her department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

(2) whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to her; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) what is the estimated cost of all such (i) reports and (ii) publications per annum in the case of these agencies and all other working documents of her department and (b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of her department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices?

NW1230E

REPLY

(1) (a) & (b) Yes. The Department of Home Affairs is committed to the implementation of the Programme of Energy Efficient Measures in National Government Buildings, as approved by Cabinet, which includes the monitoring and reduction of the use of energy by National Departments. We are currently working on a plan in this regard. The finalised plan will be costed and implemented.

(2) This is dependent on the plan that will be implemented.

(3)(a)(i) & (ii) As per the table below:

Department of Home Affairs:

Financial year	Costs	Number of copies
2001/02 Reprint	R44,706,02 R28,309,79	1800 1000
2002/03	R92,952,00	6000
2003/04	R118,070,94	3000
2004/05	R141,802,21	3000
2005/06	R169,555,60	5000
2006/07	R191,244,30	5000
2007/08	R R275,973,80	3000

(3)(b)(i) The Department of Home Affairs utilises electricity supplied by Eskom through the various local municipalities, as it does not have its own source of energy.

(3)(b)(ii) The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) did not embark on a specific energy savings audit. However, the matter was raised with the Department of Public Works (DPW) who is enrolled to do energy savings audits at offices of all National Departments, including all the offices of the Department of Home Affairs. DPW will, subsequent to its findings, issue recommendations on energy saving methods, as well as, energy saving devices that must be installed at the various offices of the Department.

Whilst we await the DHA audit report, we have as an interim measure done the following to address energy saving:

- Discontinued with the installation of geysers

- Requested officials to no longer use portable bar heating systems

As part of our contingencies during load shedding (power-cuts), the Department has installed 11 power generators and uninterrupted power supply at state owned buildings. Further rollout to our Regional Offices will be led by DPW.

Film and Publication Board (FPB):

(3)(a)(i) & (ii) The annual cost of publications, including the Annual Report, is estimated at about R190,000,00. These are necessary and unavoidable publications for the benefit of the public, such as schools and community organisations.

(3)(b)(i) As the FPB does not have its own source of energy, it is utilising electricity supplied by Eskom through the various local municipalities

(3)(b)(ii) The FPB embarked on standard energy saving methods, which include that electrical equipment are switched off when not in use, to use electrical lighting only where and when necessary, utilisation of energy saving light bulbs and to ensure that electricity in all offices are switched off after hours.

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC):

(3)(a)(i) Three (3) reports at a total cost of R199,818,64 in the 2007/08 financial year.

(3)(a)(ii) Twenty three (23) publications, which included manuals, pamphlets, flyers, banners, programs, modules, folders and brochures at a total cost of R999,545,42 in the 2007/08 financial year.

(3)(b)(i) Electricity – with standby diesel generators in a limited number of cases.

(3)(b)(ii) - All non-essential electrical equipment such as lights and air-conditioners are switched-off after working hours.

- The IEC uses electronic communication as its prime means of communicating, both internally and externally. This includes working documents, newsletters and the like. Large amounts of paper are thus saved.

- The IEC embarked on a program in 2007 to plant a tree at every school it uses as a voting station as a means of reducing its carbon footprint. The cost is being covered by donations and staff contributions.

QUESTION 1144

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 27 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 20 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether any function was organised to mark the occasion of the delivery of her budget vote in 2008; if so, (a) what total amount was spent on this function, (b) from which budget was the money allocated, (c) what amount was spent on (i) food and refreshments,
(ii) venue, (iii) entertainment, (iv) staff and (v) transport and (d) how many persons were invited to attend this function?

NW1882E

REPLY

(a) Yes. An amount of R67 650 00 was spent on the function.

(b) The money was allocated from the Department's budget.

(c)(i) R67 650.00.

(ii)(iii)(iv)(v) No extra amount of money was spent.

(d) One Hundred and Fifty (150) people were invited.

QUESTION 468

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 14 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 9 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) With reference to the scarce skills and work permit quotas schedule appearing as a link to her department's website, what are the reasons for (a)(i) chartered accountants, (ii) management accountants, (iii) cost accountants and
(iv) accounting technicians not listed as scarce on the schedule and (b)(i) doctors, (ii) nurses and (iii) other health care professionals not listed as scarce under the health professionals category;

in respect of each of the three most recent financial years for which information is available, how many applications (a) for work permits had been (i) received,
(ii) approved and (iii) successfully placed in terms of permanent employment and (b) considered as having a scarce skill had been (i) received, (ii) successfully registered on the site and (iii) successfully placed in terms of permanent employment?

NW1108E

REPLY

The Department of Home Affairs does not determine the professional categories and occupational classes which are deemed to be scarce and critical or the applicable quotas, but mainly facilitates the issuing of quota work permits to foreigners in these professional categories or occupational classes. For this reason, a national list of scarce skills (Master Skills List) has been developed through collaboration by key Departments (Education, Home Affairs, Labour, and Trade and Industry) in order to provide a concrete picture of skills shortages that have been identified as contributory to blocking economic growth and development.

(2) The following breakdown of information available:

(a) During the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006:

(i) 12 765 applications for work permits were received; and

(ii) 12 582 applications for work permits were approved.

During the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007:

27 997 applications for work permits were received; and

26 917 applications for work permits were approved.

During the period 1 April 2007 until 31 March 2008:

20 824 applications for work permits were received; and

18 584 applications for work permits were approved.

(b) During the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006:

(i) 339 quota work permit applications were received; and

(ii) 285 quota work permits were approved.

During the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007:

942 quota work permits applications were received; and

661 quota work permits were approved.

During the period 25 April 2007 until 31 March 2008:

1191 quota work permit applications were received; and

1133 quota work permits were approved.

(2)(a) (iii) and (2)(b)(iii) Work permits are temporary residence permits and are issued for temporary employment and not permanent employment. With regard to general- and intra company transfer work permits, foreigners have secured employment prior to applying for work permits, which means that they have been placed successfully. In so far as quota work permits are concerned, foreigners are required to provide proof of having secured employment in the respective professional category or occupational class within 90 days after having entered the RSA.

QUESTION 1800

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 17 October 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 31 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

With regard to her reply to Question 889 on 10 October 2008, how many of the 1831 vacancies (a)(i) were filled by the end of the 2007-08 financial year and (ii) are still vacant and (b) by when will her department fill all the vacancies?

NW2595E

REPLY

(a) (i) The 1831 vacancies referred to were vacant as at 10 May 2008.This was before the implementation of the new organisational structure that was approved in January this year.A total of 474 positions were filled since 10 May 2008. However, the Department of Home Affairs has started with the implementation of its newly approved structure with effect from 01 June 2008 and 809 critical positions were identified for filling.

(ii) All the critical identified positions (809) are still vacant. A total of 417 vacant positions have already been advertised. Another 476 vacant positions will be advertised soon.

(b) The Department envisages to fill all remaining vacancies by the end of January 2009.

QUESTION 1800

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 17 October 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 31 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

NW2595E

REPLY

(ii) All the critical identified positions (809) are still vacant. A total of 417 vacant positions have already been advertised. Another 476 vacant positions will be advertised soon.

(b) The Department envisages to fill all remaining vacancies by the end of January 2009.

24 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Housing

MPs to ask the Minister of Housing

Source
Link

Reply:

QUESTION NO.: 1444

Mr A C Steyn (DA) is to ask the Minister of Housing as follows:

(1) (a) What was the total cost to the State of consultants used by her

department in the (i) 2005-06; (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 financial years, (b) what are the names of the consultants used, (c) for what purpose were they used and (d) what was the reason for preferring to use consultants instead of hiring persons with the necessary skills?

(2) Whether any former employees of her department have been employed as consultants in the abovementioned financial years; if so (a) why and (b) why did each person leave her department?

Reply:

(1)(a)(i) The total cost to the State of consultants used by the department in the 2005-06 financial years amounted to R 16 597 564.46;

(ii) The total cost to the State of consultants used by the department in the 2006-07 financial years amounted to R21 495 726-96; and

(iii) The total cost to the State of consultants used by the department in the 2007-08 financial year amounted to R 29 464 653-47.

(b)(i) Consultants appointed in 2005-06:

Name of Consultant	Purpose of appointment
CSIR - Boutek	Conduct feasibility study into the development of a mechanism to support alternative technologies and indigenous knowledge systems in rural context.
Shikanda Event Management cc	To organize a National Housing research seminar for the Department of Housing.
Strategic Alter Management	Development of a detailed policy and implementation guidelines for housing assistances to Households affected by death of Guardians / Parents and the protection of Assets Financed by HSS .
V3 Consulting Engineers	Assist with the determining the capacity requirements for the National department of Housing as well as the Provincial Housing Departments.
Nkonki Incorporated	Development of a detailed policy and implementation manual on variation of subsidy amount to cater for extraordinary development. Conditions and the special housing requirements of categories beneficiaries.
Manto Management (Pty) Ltd	Validation of the housing waiting lists in the country, their development processes and the consolidation thereof.
KPMG Service	Development of a comprehensive monitoring evaluation and impact assessment system for the National Department of Housing.
Africon Engineering International	Development of a comprehensive monitoring evaluation and impact assessment system for the National Department of Housing.
Procurement Dynamics (Pty) Ltd	Investigation of the impact of client payment processes on small/ micro and medium contractors.
Nkonki Incorporated	Finalizing of registration process towards achieving a National Housing demand database in the Western Cape, City of Cape Town.

Consultants appointed in 2006/07:

Name of Consultant	Purpose of appointment
EDTECH Consulting	To Conduct Housing Consumer Education Train the Trainer as part of the Housing Consumer Education {HOE} – Rollout to Provinces and Municipalities.
T.L. Consulting	To Manage the implementation of the housing Consumer Education Programme.
Nomkhitha Gys ans & Associates Development Consultants	For finalizing the registration / confirmation process towards achieving a national housing demand database in the Western cape City of Cape Town.
Kago Local Government Consulting	Conduct Train-the-Trainer on Sanitation, Health and Hygiene Programme:
Richard Tomlinson	For converting the National Housing Code into new policy and implementation guidelines for sustainable housing development.
Khuthulani Cleaning Services	Rendering of cleaning services for one year.
Bergstan SA	Conduct a study into the State of Social Economic, Ethnic, Citizenry and Racial Integration in residential areas.
Focused Approach Management Urban Dynamics Gauteng Inc.	Appointment of a service provider: task directive for the first phase of a back office delivery turn around plan for the National Department of Housing.

Consultants appointed in 2007/08:

Name of Consultant	Purpose of appointment
Bergstan SA	To undertake a study into the State of Social Economic, Ethnic, Citizenry and Racial Integration in Resettlement Areas.
Tiso Coaching Services	To workshop Councilors in terms of the Home Loan and Mortgage Disclosure Act 2000 (Act No. 63 of 2000)
Development Works	Development of the Rollout Strategy for Housing Chapters of Integrated Development Plans
Oryx Media Products	Develop and implement a Communication Strategy to influence and raise awareness in the NS Gateway Project
Graham Paddock and Associates	Assist with the completion of the remaining work on Sectional Titles Management Bills and Community Schemes Ombud Service Bills.
Ashira Consulting	Do an investigation of insurance cover for subsidy house
Kayamandi Informatics (Pty) Ltd	To mediate between communities in conflict over housing development in Ekhuphumeleni in Phillipi in the Western Cape Province
Centre for Conflict Resolution	Conduct training on Housing Consumer Education and Housing Policy and Legislation for the N2 Gateway Project
T L Consulting	Undertake a benchmarking initiative on corporate policies of public agencies and develop a full suite of corporate policies for the Housing Development Agency Ltd in preparation for its eventual establishment and operation
I Selepe Consulting	Perform DOH Risk Management Services
Ernst & Young	Do an evaluation of the reporting on the advance tranch payments made to municipalities to implement approved projects linked to subsidies
Hlaniki Investment Holding and Wits Business School	Conduct training for elected Councilors
Dynamics Maserumule Incorporated	Assist with legal advisory services
Urban Dynamics	Appointment of a service provider: task directive for the first phase of a back office delivery turn around plan for the National Department of Housing.

(d) The appointment of consultants was necessitated by the specialised nature of the specific assignments. These assignments required special expertise for a defined period. Such projects furthermore did not warrant the appointment of persons on a permanent basis on the structure of the Department as it would not have been cost effective.

2. No former employees of the department were employed as consultants during the financial years: 2005/ 06; 2006/07 and 2007/08.

QUESTION NUMBER 1520

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether she has been informed of a letter being distributed in the name of a certain person (details furnished); if so,

(2) whether she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

Please find the following statement that was issued by the MEC for Local Government and Housing: North West on 11 August 2008, responding to this matter.

"Confiscation of houses a hoax

11 August 2008

The North West Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing has dismissed the fraudulent declaration signed by a fictitious "Hon Richard Molefe" purportedly in his capacity as Minister for Local Government and Housing as a hoax.

The deceitful "declaration" dated 31 July 2008 is fraudulently written on the letterhead of the North West Provincial Legislature and circulated in Klerksdorp. It alleges that according to New Statue Law 34/217 of 2008, 5 000 houses and or townhouses to the value of between R1.2 million in Tlokwe, Matlosana and Rustenburg Local Municipalities are to be confiscated from white house owners and transferred to previously disadvantaged groups.

There is no Hon Richard Molefe in the North West Provincial Legislature, in the National Assembly, National Council, Council of Provinces and in other provincial legislatures throughout South Africa. The quoted Statue Law does not exist and the "declaration" is not even in the prescribed format or gazetted as required by law. The hoax is a dishonourable, mischievous product of desperate elements wishing to stir unnecessary anxiety, discontent and tension within the targeted communities.

In dismissing the circulated document as a hoax, the MEC for Developmental Local Government and Housing, Howard Yawa said. "The Department has no intention to confiscate any houses or townhouses or infringe on the rights of citizens to property. The hoax is a disingenuous farce that undermines our constitutional democracy."

The department urges any person with information as to the origin of the document or its distributors to report the matter to the police. Residents are also urged to be vigilant and demand identification from any person claiming to be an official executing the declaration and report the person to the police."

QUESTION NO. 824

WRITTEN REPLY

Mr A C Steyn, MP (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

Whether any economically sustainable communities have been developed over the past fourteen years through the RDP housing; if not, why not; if so (a) how many, (b) where are they located and (c) how was their sustainability measured.

Reply

The concept of economically sustainable communities was only adopted in relation to the Comprehensive Plan for the Establishment of Sustainable Human Settlements (Breaking New Ground) introduced in 2004 and therefore has no bearing on the RDP housing programmes.

QUESTION NO.: 563

Mr A C Steyn (DA), MP to ask the Minister of Housing:

(a) Which provinces made use of the Operational Expenditure Budget in support of the implementation of National and Provincial Housing Programmes,

(b) What amounts were disbursed against this facility in each province in the (i) 2006-07 and (ii ) 2007-08 financial years,

(d) What was their total remuneration in each financial year,

(e) What are the details of the projects they were involved in, and

(f) What is the value received by the provincial department by their employment?

RESPONSE:

For 2006/07 financial year 5 provinces, namely Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape made use of the Operational Capital Budget. With respect to 2007/08 all provinces in exception of Limpopo have made use of Operational Capital Budget.

The amount disbursed by the provinces are as follows:

Provinces	06/07 Expenditure R'000	0 7/08 Expenditure R'000
Eastern Cape	21,246	29,746
Free State	7,628	17,676
Gauteng	-	46,944
Kwazulu Natal	-	535
Limpopo	-	-
Mpumalanga	4,349	14,496
Northern Cape	1,413	1,294
North West	-	19,092
Western Cape	11,552	3,626
Total	46,188	133,409

Question no: 564

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(a) How many Cuban technical advisors were involved in the co-operation programme between her department and Cuba's Ministry of Construction in the (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08 financial years, (b) which provinces were they employed in, (c) how many were employed in each province and (d) what are the details of the projects they were and are involved in in respect of (i) value, (ii) number of units and (iii) expected completion dates?

Reply:

(i) In 2006/07 fifty seven (57) Technical advisors were employed by provinces.

(ii) In 2007/ 08- fifty seven (57) Technical advisors were employed in provinces.

Cuban technical advisors were employed in provinces as follows:

Province

Number of Cuban advisors employed in provinces

Eastern Cape

Mpumalanga

Free State

Limpopo

Kwazulu Natal

Western Cape

North West

(d) (i) Cuban engineers and architects are recruited by provinces to provide technical support in housing projects implemented by provinces. It is a known fact that, currently the country is experiencing shortage of skills in almost all sectors. The construction industry is facing similar challenges more especially with the i nfrastructure investment by government and the looming big event like the 2010 World Cup the demand for skills remain high. Government is competing with the private sector for the limited skills available and with the incentives that the private sector offers, skilled people are easily lured to the private sector, and that leaves the public sector with the challenge to implement its programmes without adequate capacity. The challenge is even compounded/ increased by the fact that housing programmes are being implemented in rural areas where very few professionals are interested in providing their services. The Cuban technical advisors are recruited to address skills shortage and to fill the void where their services are mostly required especially in rural areas. Cuban advisors have provided invaluable service by imparting skills and knowledge to officials at provincial and municipal level, communities, NGO's and students who participated in housing projects as part of their experiential learning.

(ii) Cuban technical advisors were involved in projects as follows:

Province	NO of projects they were involved in	Houses/Units completed	Houses/ Units under construction
Eastern Cape	102	2208	37 952
Kwazulu Natal	24	1 760	1 300
North West	19	3 700	545
Nothern Cape	6	700	1000
Mpumalanga	27	2 532	2 967
Free State	24	1 760	1 300
Western Cape	20	847	779

(iii) The Cuban technical advisors are employed in the provinces for a fixed three year period. Due to the fact that housing projects are implemented in phases, in many instances when they enter or leave South Africa after their contracts have expired, projects are at various stages of development.

QUESTION No. 887

Mr E W Trent (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether there has been a comprehensive physical inspection of housing projects by the various Provincial Authorities and/or her department to quantify accurately the number of houses with building defects; if not; why not; if so, in each province (a) how many units require repair work and (b) what is the total estimated cost thereof;

(2) whether any contracts have been rewarded for the repair of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses; if so, in each province (a) how many contracts, (b) what is the total number of units involved and (c) what is the estimated cost thereof;

(3) Whether there has been a comprehensive survey in each province to establish the number of persons who have taken occupation of their RDP houses, but have not yet received the deed of transfer, if not, why not; if so, how many of these transfers have been outstanding for a period (a) less than three months, (b) between three to six months, (c) between six to twelve months and (d) longer than 12 months;

(4) Whether there is a plan in place to rectify the situation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply

(1) Yes, Provincial Housing Departments did initiate a process to determine the number of housing units with building defects. Various methodologies such as surveys and requests for beneficiary applications were utilised to determine the projects and number of units with defects that have to undergo rectification. The services of the NHBRC are utilised to ensure that the same contractor who initially built the units, is not appointed to do the rectification and that contractors appointed adhere to the necessary requirements.

In terms of the information received from the Provincial Housing Departments, the Rectification Programme has been implemented in all nine provinces. Detail of the status quo in each Province is set out in the table below:

Province	Number of units	Total estimated costs - R' million	Status
Eastern Cape	19 953	99,7	Currently 150 units are at various stages of completion.
Free State	-	-	In a process of appointing a service provider to do a survey to identify the number of units to be rectified.
Gauteng	3 440	N/A	Rectification process in progress
KwaZulu-Natal	839	N/A	Rectification process in progress
Limpopo	2000	N/A	Rectification process in progress
Mpumalanga	9 701	N/A	Survey has been done and the appointment of contractors for the first 300 units is receiving attention through the normal procurement process
Northern Cape	1341	12,4	Currently 554 housing units have been rectified and the balance is in process.
North West	600	2,3	Programme is still in the planning stage and a contractor has not yet been appointed.
Western Cape	2473	82,4	Applications has been received for 2705 and are in process of being evaluated.

(2) The following provinces have already appointed contractors, namely: Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

PROVINCE	HOW MANY CONTRACTS	TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS INVOLVED	ESTIMATED COST R' MILLION
Eastern Cape	26	5,145	99,7
Mpumalanga	3	N/A
Northern Cape	1	1341	12,4
Western Cape	6	2473	82,4

(3) Yes, various initiatives have been undertaken or are in the process to verify whether beneficiairies ocuppying their houses have received deed of transfer. Details of the status quo in the various Provinces are as follows:

Eastern Cape:

The survey is under way. A service provider has been appointed to conduct a door to door verification exercise of all people that received a subsidised house. The objective of the survey is to verify whether the occupant is the approved owner of the property and whether he/she has received a title deed. The survey only commenced in April 2008 and has not yet been finalised. Some of the transfers have been outstanding for longer than twelve months due to certain municipalities not having finalised the township establishment process.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Housing Department is in the process of appointing town planning experts to assist with the fast-tracking of the township establishment process in projects where this is an inhibiting factor. The latter projects have been identified. The Provincial Department is also currently beefing up its contract management capacity to assist municipalities to deal with slack conveyancers. In terms hereof, monthly meetings are held with the relevant municipalities and their conveyancers to iron out issues that have blockages.

Gauteng:

The Gauteng Provincial Housing Department has appointed a service provider, namely Servcon to undertake an audit of occupation of the housing subsidy scheme houses. Servcon has been instructed by the Provincial Housing Department to visit houses built by the province and ascertain whether the approved beneficiary is in occupation of the house. Servcon established to date that 25 053 beneficiaries are in occupation of their housing subsidy scheme house but have not received their title deeds. The Provincial Housing Department has mandated Servcon to regularize instances where the beneficiaries have not received their title deeds and to ensure that these beneficiaries are registered at the Deeds Office.

Limpopo:

According to a survey conducted, a total number of 10 473 beneficiaries have taken occupancy of subsidised houses without deeds of transfer being issued. The Provincial Department is planning to register 3000 of these properties during the current financial year, 4000 in 2009/10 and the balance of 3475 in the 2010/2011 financial year.

Mpumalanga:

The Provincial Housing Department is aware of the occupants of subsidised houses without title deeds. Problems are being experienced with registering title deeds because most of the townships were not proclaimed and developments are located in rural areas. As a result, conveyancers are struggling to register deeds. The Provincial Housing Department has initiated a process to proclaim all townships in order to be able to register title deeds which will assist in preventing beneficiaries from selling subsidised houses unlawfully. A service provider has been appointed to take the necessary steps and some documentation has already been submitted to the Office of the Registrar of Deeds.

Northern Cape

A total number of 2628 beneficiaires without title deeds was identified during an investigation in October 2007. Of this number 1136 registrations have already taken place and the particulars of the other have been forwarded to the relevant conveyancers for the necessary attention. Investigations are continuing and the number of registrations is updated every two weeks.

Western Cape

The Western Cape Provincial Housing Department has commenced with some surveys in this regard but no information is yet available of the extent or number of beneficiaries that occupy subsidised housing units which are not yet transferred to their names.

(4) As indicated in paragraph (3) above, most Provinces have already put some initiatives in place to address this matter. In addition, the National Department of Housing is also in the process of considering various options in this regard to assist Provincial Housing Departments in their efforts.

QUESTION NO.: 636

Mrs P de Lille (ID) to ask the Minister of Housing as follows:

(1) How many employees in her department are currently (i) under investigation for fraud related to housing subsidies and ancillary matters and (ii) being prosecuted for fraud (iii) have owned up to fraud and have been spared prosecution provided that money that has misappropriated, is paid back, (b) what steps have been taken to eliminate fraud con cerning housing subsidies and (c) with what success?

Reply:

None

I can imagine the glee with which the Honourable Member asked the question. Here are the facts:

No employees in my department are under investigation because no corruption or fraud has taken place IN the department, but unearthed when an audit was done and civil servants across government had made false submissions and thereby procured housing subsidies. NOT ONE of these civil servants was from the Department of Housing. NOT ONE.

In my Budget Vote on 28 May 2008, I reported back to Parliament on a matter referred to the department by the Auditor-General from his review of the period 1999 to 2004, where government employees from various levels of government, had fraudulently claimed subsidy housing. The Department of Housing monitors the subsidy scheme in the same way as National Treasury monitors the Persal salary payment system.

The National Department of Housing does not administer subsidies, it only monitors the system.

(b) This is what I delivered in my Budget Vote address on 28 May 2008:

"The SIU embarked on a massive forensic data analytical investigation and identified 31259 potentially irregular housing subsidy transactions awarded to government employees nationally. The SIU has begun the process of prosecuting and finalising criminal cases against the corrupt officials in different Provinces around the country. 29 cases have already been finalised with sentences including the payment of the value of the houses. The total amount of debt we expect to recover is R6 827,036.30. A cash amount of R1 103,772.00 has been paid back. The SIU will make recommendations to the Department in order to curb future systematic or opportunistic abuse of the Housing Subsidy System.

"It is envisaged that two hundred (200) cases will be placed on the court roll in the new financial year. The prosecution of fraudulent beneficiaries will have a significant impact in terms of deterrence and promoting a culture of legal obedience."

QUESTION NO: 332

Mr S.J. Masango, (D.A), to ask the Minister of Housing:

As the latest specified date for which information is available,

(a) How many units of the N2 Gateway development were occupied

(i) in total; and

(ii) by individuals who had been on the Cape Town housing list.

(b) What is the current estimated date of completion of the project; and

Reply

(a) (i) As of 17th June 2008, the total number of units occupied in the N2 Gateway Project is as follows:

Rental Units: Joe Slovo Rental Units 705

Total 705

Ownership units: Delft Symphony Precints 4 and 6 1061

Delft 7 – 9 150

New Rest 150

1361

(ii) Of the 1361 houses handed over, 429 beneficiaries were backyarders and 932 from informal settlements who are all from the City's waiting list..

(b) The N2 Gateway Project is a project which seeks to test the appropriateness of the "Breaking New Ground" Comprehensive Plan for the delivery of sustainable and integrated Human Settlements.

The current status of the project:

Delft Symphony	6242 serviced sites. Serviced site for the construction of 350 rental units.	Complete Complete.
Delft 7-9	3908 serviced sites Serviced site for the construction of 845 rental units.	Complete
New Rest	1154 serviced sites.	To be completed Dec 2008
Joe Slovo 3	1545 serviced sites.	Date unknown as we await outcome of court action.
Boystown	1308 serviced sites.	Unknown

HOUSES

Joe Slovo Rental Housing	705 units	Complete
Delft Symphony Precinct 4 & 6	2374	To be completed Aug 2008 1061 occupied.
Delft Symphony Precinct 1& 2	1850	To be completed Jun 2009
Delft Symphony Social Rental	350	To be completed Jun 2009
Delft Symphony Precinct 3 & 5	1333	To be completed Jun 2009
Delft 7-9	3908	To be completed Dec 2008 150 occupied.
Delft 7-9 Social Rental	845 (up to 3 storeys)	To be completed Jun 2009
New Rest (contractor Built)	620	To be completed Feb 2009 150 occupied.
New Rest (PHP)	535	To be completed Jun 2009
Boystown	1308	To be completed Mar 2010
Joe Slovo 2	43 ( affordable houses by others)	December 2008.
Joe Slovo 3	1545	Date unknown as we await outcome of court action.

The above upon completion will realise 15,416 housing opportunities. Whilst it was originally the intention to deliver 23,178 housing opportunities this figure continues to increase as a result of inward migration and is estimated to be now closer to 30,000. It follows, therefore, that a further 15,000 housing opportunities will have to be made available. This will form part of the next process, which has already been initiated, of identifying and acquiring land to be able to meet this growing demand which then will define the project completion date.

(c) Other than the land shortages experienced in the whole of the Cape Town region, the other constraints remaining in meeting the target for the completion of the project are as follows:

· Illegal invasions

· Labour challenges

· Protest actions

QUESTION 1014

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether her department (a) has kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) has reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a) Yes

(b) Yes

2. Yes

(a) (i) One (1) dismissal for theft

(ii) None

(iii) One written warning

Four final written warnings

(b) A total of R32 328-12 for all cases

4. Yes, one (1) case is pending. It was found that the official negligently mismanaged state finances.

QUESTION NO.: 1253

Mr AC Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

§ What amount was spent by officials of her Department on

(a) Hotel Accommodation

(b) restaurants expenses and

(i) in the 2007 -08 financial year and

(ii) during the period 1 April 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

REPLY

The Department has constitutional and statutory responsibilities towards the Portfolio Committee and other Parliamentary structures, whenever their presence is required. In the period under question, the department has appeared before Parliament structures no less than 51 occasions. The staff attends Minmec meetings, which is also a statutory requirement. A departmental team is permanently based in the Eastern Cape, acting on a Cabinet instruction for a special intervention. In addition, the officials of the Department of Housing are responsible to regularly travel to all nine provinces to check on progress made with the implementation of housing projects, meet with Provincial Housing Departments. These responsibilities of the National Department of Housing means that officials would travel and sometimes stay overnight in hotels and that costs would be incurred.

Total expenditure incurred during 2007/08 on hotel accommodation, restaurants and travel costs amounted to R 27 754 161.46

DOMESTIC

FOREIGN

(a)(i) Accommodation R 5 762 905.68

(b)(i) Daily allowance

and incidental costs R 639 594.95

(c)((i) Travel costs R 16 916 483.88

Total R 23 318 984.51

(a)(i) Accommodation R 2 005 885.54

(b)(i) Daily allowance

and incidental costs R 291 068.15

Total R4 435 176.95

Total expenditure incurred from 1 April 2008 to 05 August 2008 on hotel accommodation, restaurants and travel costs amounted to R 10 159 539.93. The amount comprises:

DOMESTIC

FOREIGN

(a)(ii) Accommodation R 1 888 273.70

(b)(ii) Daily allowance

and incidental costs R 253 359.41

(c)(ii) Travel costs R 6 046 885.52

Total R 8 188 518.63

(a)(ii) Accommodation R 1 592 478.48

(b)(ii) Daily allowance

and incidental costs R 122 075.98

(c)(ii) Travel costs R 256 466.84

Total R 1 971 021.30

QUESTION NO: 1275

Mr P J Groenewald (FF) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) What amount did her department (a) budget and (b) spend on the construction of new houses in North West in the (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06, (iii) 2006-07 and (iv) 2007-08 financial years and (c) in what areas was this money spent;

(2) Whether there was any over- or under spending of the budget; if so, what were the reasons for this in each case;

(3) Whether any problems are mentioned in the project reports of the various project managers in North West; if so, (a) what are these problems and (b) what corrective steps are being taken in each case;

(4) Whether she will make a statement on the matter?

REPLY

1 The following amounts were granted to the North West province for the (i)2004/05; (ii) 2005/06; (iii) 2006/07 and 2007/08 financial years:

Financial year	Total Funds available R'000	Amount spent R'000
2004/05	513 737	371 933
2005/06	609 795	615 412
2006/07	699 915	696 544
2007/08	875 178	*785 516

* The figure for the 2007/08 financial year is in the process of being audited due to the fact that the audit report has not been issued as yet.

1. Project-Linked Subsidies	7. Developer Driven Individual Subsidy
2. Consolidated Subsidies	8. Individual subsidies
3. Institutional Programme	9. Extended Benefit Scheme
4.Hostel Upgrading Programme	10.Social Housing Prorgramme
5. Rural housing Programme	11.Integrated Human Settlement Programme
6. Peoples Housing Process Programme	12. Operational Capital Programme

QUESTION NO: 904

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2007;

(3) why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security?

Reply

(1) No

(2) Not applicable

(3) Not applicable

QUESTION NO: 904

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2007;

(3) why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security?

Reply

(1) No

(2) Not applicable

(3) Not applicable

QUESTION No. 1905

Mr S J Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to oral Question 102 on 12 March 2008, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and the Eastern Cape Provincial Housing Department has provided her with the relevant information; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply

(1) Yes. Funding for the work was approved by the Council, tender documents were prepared, and the tender process was followed. The site was handed over to the successful contractor on 21 November 2008. Although the contractor managed to be on site with all the necessary equipment, he failed to comply with Occupation and Health Safety Regulations. The contractor is currently in the process of putting the necessary procedures and processes in place to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations and will commence with actual repairs by the middle of January 2009.

QUESTION 1945

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

In each of the past five years up to and including 1 November 2008, (a) how many houses has her department built in each province, (b) how many provincial departments of housing have underspent their budgets, (c) how many housing projects (i) are currently under way, (ii) were completed and (iii) were suspended and (d) what is the total cost of all (i) houses that her department has built and (ii) suspended housing projects?

The National Department of Housing has delivered a total number of houses completed and in process of completion as follows:

(a)

(b) h

NNote: Housing delivery information for the month of October and November 2008 is in the process of being finalised.

(b)

Provinces	2004/05	2005/2006	2006/2007	2007/2008	2008/2009
No. of PHDs with under-expenditure of more than 5%	4	3	3	3	Pending

(b) The number of housing projects:

(i) that are currently under way:

Province	Total
EC	127
FS	221
GP	676
KZ	182
LP	317
MP	371
NC	87
NW	170
WC	346
Total	2,467

(ii) that were completed:

Province	Total
EC	29
FS	111
GP	105
KZ	65
LP	66
MP	82
NC	59
NW	23
WC	162
Total	732

(iii) that were suspended:

There are no projects that the National Department of Housing is aware of that have been suspended.

(i) houses that the department has built:

R29,6 billion has been expended over the 5 year period to 01 November 2008.

Year	Total (R '000)
2004/05	R 4,481,638
2005/06	R 5,014,231
2006/07	R 6,495,433
2007/08	R 8,219,794
2008/09	R 5,462,632
Total	R 29,673,728

(ii) suspended housing projects:

Nil - There are no projects that the National Department of Housing is aware of that have been suspended.

QUESTION 1633

Dr R Rabinowitz to ask the Minister of Housing:

1. Whether a tender was issued for the supply of solar water geysers in the two projects in Alexandria (names furnished), if not, why not; if so, (a) which companies responded to the tender, (b) what were their tenders in each case, (c) to whom was the tender awarded (d) what was the cost (i) per item or per geyser and (ii) per geyser installed and (e) how many geysers were installed,

2. Whether there is an ongoing service component to the awarded contract; if not, why not, if so, what does it comprise;

3. Whether it includes the training of persons in the community; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY

1. According to the Eastern Cape Department of Housing, as well as the Ndlambe Municipality, none of the housing projects in that municipality contain solar water geysers due to the fact that the housing subsidy does not provide for the installation of geysers in subsidized houses. A tender in this regard was therefore never issued.

2. Not applicable

3. Not applicable

QUESTION NO. 1070

Mr A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether any members of her department are currently suspended on full pay; if so, (a) how many, (b) at what rank level, (c) in which management areas and (d) for how long have they been on suspension

(2) what was the cost to her department of salaries paid to members suspended on full pay in respect of each of the past three financial years up to and including the 2007-08 financial year?

(1) No

(2) 2005/06 R0

2006/07 R385 554.47

2007/08 R630 875.79

QUESTION NO 961

Mr. A C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether her department has conducted an energy audit to determine its (a) use of energy and (b) opportunities for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) Whether her department has any plans to reduce energy consumption; if not, why not; if so, what plans;

(3) Whether her department has made any material reduction in energy use since 1 January 2008; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY

(1) Yes; the department engaged the services of Electro Sense to undertake an energy audit during March 2008. The outcome of the Audit indicates that the department complies with the Department of Minerals Energy requirements as far as the fittings is concerned The report highlights that there is a need to switch off lights when not in use and that all magnetic and or cold start electronic ballasts must be retrofit to the more efficient warm electronic ballasts as well as changing inefficient incandescent lamps to compact fluorescent lamps and/ or lower wattage incandescent lamps, of which these amount to only 73 units as the other units are energy efficient.

(2) Yes. The department is implementing a plan which indicates time to switch off lights and which areas are to be lit up. Energy efficient bulbs and fittings have been fitted to the buildings. Further process of sourcing the lighting retrofit and sensor installation is currently underway.

(3) The department has made concerted efforts to comply with the energy efficiency measures as it has outlined above however, it is too soon to can proclaim a substantive reduction in energy usage.

QUESTION NO.: 742

Mr A.C Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

(1) Whether there have been any instances where certificates of occupations, rather than the title deeds, have been used as the basis for the sale of low-cost houses; If so (a) what is the extent of this problem and (b) what action has been taken to address this problem;

(2) Whether any persons who had purchased a house under such circumstances have subsequently lost (a) the house and (b) the purchase amount; If not, what is the position in this regard; If so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

(1)(a) No

(1)(b) Not applicable

(2)(a) Not applicable

(2)(b) Not applicable

QUESTION NO.: 749

Mr AC Steyn (DA) asks the Minister of Housing:

As the latest specified date for which information is available, whether, any action has been taken against developers for failure to deliver on their contracts; if not, why not, if so

(a) What action; and

(b) Against whom?

Reply

Yes

Action has been taken against developers as follows:

Limpopo Province

Legal actions have been taken against three developers who had not complied with the specifications.

Mpumalanga

The services of two contractors were terminated and taken over by a new contractor. Additional penalties were changed for missing items and quality problems.

QUESTION NUMBER 756

Mr S J Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

Whether the position of Chief Operations Officer currently held by a certain person (name furnished) was advertised internally and externally; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was the position advertised, (b) in which newspapers, (c) what were the requirements and qualifications for the position; and (d) – (i) how many people were short-listed and (ii) what are their (aa) names and (bb) qualifications

Yes

(a) Sunday, 21 October 2007

(b) Sunday Times, City Press and Rapport

administrative and organisational skills; Experience in international co-operation and inter departmental relations; Ability to maintain sound interpersonal relations; Knowledge of administrative procedures applicable to the Public Service; In-depth knowledge of the housing environment, pertaining specifically to the development of housing legislation and policy; A clear understanding of the political, socio-economic environment and unwavering commitment to customer care; Proven skills in both written and verbal communication at a high level will be strong recommendations; Understanding of broader transformation issues; Knowledge of Government finances and the PFMA would be and advantage; Ability to work under pressure; Refine knowledge and understanding of inter-governmental relations.

(ii) An appropriate three-year Bachelor's degree/diploma or equivalent qualification plus proven relevant experience.

(d) (i) No applicants were short-listed for the post due to the fact that the incumbent of the post of Deputy Director-General: Delivery Support was transferred to the post of Chief of Operations.

Not applicable – see (d) (i)

(aa) Not applicable

(bb) Not applicable

QUESTION NO. 1104

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister of Housing:

1. Whether she will ensure that her department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

2. Whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to her; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

3. (a) what is the estimated costs of all such (i) reports (ii) publications per annum in the case of these agencies and all other documents of her department and (b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of her department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices?

REPLY

The response below applies to the National Department of Housing and, the following Housing Institutions – National Home Builders Registration Council; National Housing Finance Corporation; Rural Housing Loan Fund; Servcon; NURCHA; Thubelisha and Social Housing Foundation.

(1a) The National Department of Housing currently monitors and evaluates the impact of National Housing Policies, Programmes and Projects. There are currently no specific mechanisms in place for the monitoring of the carbon footprint as pertains to the national Department of Housing and it's Housing Institutions.

(1b) In view of the growing importance of the issue of managing national carbon footprints globally, the Department will have to consider the role of the Monitoring & Evaluation unit in investigating the problem. This action will also lead to the need to consult with other relevant Departments such as the Departments of Environment Affairs and Tourism, as well as Minerals and Energy and others in order to develop collaborative strategies regarding carbon footprints.

Once this consultation and processes have been completed, my Department may be in a position to develop and provide all relevant entities with guidelines on how to conserve energy and promote a healthy environment.

2. The Department and the Housing Institutions that report to the Minister of Housing primarily produce non-glossy publications aimed at imparting information to all stakeholders in the housing sector. Among these are factual Z-fold pamphlets that inform beneficiaries of housing access criteria and existing housing programmes.

Currently the only glossy publications produced are Annual Reports/Reviews which are statutorily required for 'tabling' to Parliament (750 copies per entity and the Department).

As part of the investigation and development of a strategy to manage the issue of reducing the Departmental carbon footprint, the unit tasked with this function will be required to make recommendations on the development of environmentally friendly strategies in terms of energy audits at construction sites, recycling programmes and, production alternatives.

Currently the Department and some of the entities are already applying environmentally friendly strategies that contribute to the conservation of the environment. Among these are:

· the use of environmentally friendly paper for the production of Annual Reports;

· the reduction of the full copy print runs to meet the requirements for Parliamentary 'tabling' quotas and;

· extensive use of alternative methods such as DVD's and, the Website.

In addition to the Website smaller hard copy quantities of the summarised version of the report will be produced to cut down on the impact on the environment.

· availing in-house documents and reports in electronic format for employees to read on their Computers instead of printing hard copies.

(3a)

(i) Estimated costs for Annual Reports are R1 251 558.00

(ii) Estimated costs for Publications per annum are R765 000.00

The costs tabulated in these figures account for bulk multi-lingual (11 languages) printing of publications (and exceeds the six languages of the National Language Framework) aimed at reaching the primary target markets in their own mother tongue languages. This is especially the case with the national Department which also supplies Provinces and Municipalities with copies for on-going local distribution.

(3b)

(i) Energy used in the offices is electricity supplied by Eskom or the Local Municipalities within which organisations operate.

(iii) Energy saving measures implemented include:

· Electricity:

i. Switching off unused lights during the day as well as all lights at the end of the working day.

ii. Replacing conventional light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs.

iii. Switching off computers when not in use as well as removing screen savers from computer screens.

iv. Unplugging cellular phone chargers when not in use.

v. Connecting several officers to fewer printers.

vi. Severely limit the number of Colour printers available for staff use.

vii. Conversion of air conditioners to individual operation controls instead of being centrally operated.

viii.

· Paper:

i. Produce, distribute and store press cuttings electronically.

ii. Electronic editing/comments for Draft documents.

iii. Double sided printing.

iv. Re-cycle used paper via re-cycling bins and, printing drafts on used paper.

v. Electronic stock control, orders and receipt issuing;

vi. Electronic presentation and distribution of 'Presentations' at meetings;

vii. Printing of limited quantities of in-house Newsletters which are also accessible on the Website/Intranet;

viii. Limited bulk printing of official Stationary (eg. letterheads, fax sheets, invitations, cards etc.) – the template/master copies are available from the Intranet for individual downloading;

ix. All staff have access (at own Desk or Library) to the Intranet where they can access official documents to read or print if necessary.

x. Reduction of the number of publication subscriptions.

· Others:

i. Encourage staff to share cars when attending the same meetings;

ii. Promotion of teleconferencing to avoid travel to meetings.

While these energy saving measures are not exhaustive, the entities and the Department will continue to explore alternative methods for environmentally friendly ways of doing business and, develop campaigns to conscientise employees on the need to save energy at work and at home.

QUESTION NO.: 1145

Mr AC Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

Whether any function was organised to mark the occasion of the delivery of the minister's budget vote in 2008; If so,

a) What total amount was spent on this function,

b) From which budget was the money allocated

c) What amount was spent on

i. Food and refreshments

ii. Venue

iii. Entertainment

iv. Staff and

v. Transport

a) How many persons were invited to attend this function?

REPLY

Yes,

a) R0

b) ABSA Bank sponsored the event

c) Expenditure was as follows

i. Not applicable

ii. Not applicable

iii. Not applicable

iv. Not applicable

v. Not applicable

d) 200 guests, including the Honourable Steyn. And as a point of general information: a great deal of fun was had by all!

QUESTION NO.: 493

Mr I E Jenner (ID) to ask the Minister of Housing:

In respect of the 20061. Whether her Department or any institutions falling under her Department are currently experiencing any shortages in qualified personnel; if not what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the extent of the shortages in each category of specialized work, including in respect of qualified (i) project managers, (ii) electricians, (iii) architects, (iv) plumbers, (v) accountants and (iv) other skilled specialised workers and (b) what steps are being taken to rectify these shortages?

REPLY

The budgeted cost, actual cost and unit cost in respect of the Statutory and other Entities reporting to the Department were as follows:

THUBELISHA HOMES

Thubelisha Homes is currently being wound down and shortages should be seen against this background.

B. SOCIAL HOUSING FOUNDATION (SHF)

The SHF is currently being wound down and shortages should be seen against this background.

C. SERVCON HOUSING SOLUTIONS

(a) Servcon Housing Solutions is not experiencing any shortages in skilled staff, since well created positions have been successfully filled

D. NATIONAL URBAN RECONSTRUCTION HOUSING AGENCY (NURCHA)

(a) Nurcha is not experiencing any shortages in skilled staff.

E. RUARAL HOUSING LOAN (RHLF)

(a) RHLF does not experience any staff shortages in qualified personnel. All the approved job positions of RHLF are filled in line with the capacities of the size of the institution as required.

F. NATIONAL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION (NHFC)

(a) The NHFC does experience skills shortages, as follows:

· Institutional Level

The expansion of the NHFC's mandate has included restructuring of the Corporation's structure to align it with the changed mandate and direction. The restructured organization necessitated new competencies to ensure that the new demands of the mandate were fulfilled. This meant additional capabilities at institutional level, to ensure that institutional interventions such as skills audit, leadership capability assessment are undertaken. The NHFC engaged well equipped partners to assist in this regard. The result from both processes was an implementation of the recommendations which are currently underway.

· Individual Level

The changes, also meant that the Corporation needed to acquire new capabilities (human, process, and technology) in order to ensure delivery of its new mandate.

Priority to the resourcing of the Corporation was given to the internal candidates who were adequately skilled to fulfill the demands of the newly established roles. Where there was a need to go externally because of inadequate competencies, there was a deliberate effort to ensure mentoring of the internal resources through shadowing. This was deliberate in order to beef up the internal competencies and to preserve jobs.

The challenges are experienced in the recruitment of specialized financial skill e.g. Turnaround Specialist, Enterprise Wide Risk Management and Actuarial skills, which skills are requisite in the financial industry which NHFC is in. The NHFC has drafted a retention strategy which is aimed at ensuring that its mission critical employees are retained.

G. NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL (NHBRC)

(a) NHBRC is experiencing staff shortages in respect of engineers as there is a general shortage of technical skills in South Africa in particular Engineering, Finance and scientific fields as espoused by our Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA's). NHBRC has lost some of its recruited engineers since the beginning of 2007/08 financial year to organizations that offer far higher salaries. Whilst some of the positions have been filled, the NHBRC presently has to fill vacant positions of Structural Engineers.

(b) The NHBRC is taking measures to recruit engineers from India, Cuba and to use the Presidential database in identifying engineers who can be recruited. NHBRC has introduced a programme of adopting schools by providing financial assistance to Grade 12 students and encouraging them to pursue engineering and IT fields.

Learnerships and internship programmes have been introduced within the NHBRC to increase capacity and to expose young South Africans to the environment. Bursaries are also given to matriculants who have attained excellent results and pursuing the field of engineering e.g. 17 students were offered bursaries and are studying at various institutions.

QUESTION NO.: 1769

Mr A C Steyn (DA) is to ask the Minister of Housing as follows:

Whether any disciplinary action was taken against officials in her department (a) in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and(iii) 2007 and (b) during the period 1 January 2008 up to30 September 2008; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) how many instances of disciplinary action occurred, (ii) what was the rank/position of each official against whom disciplinary action was taken, (iii) what was the transgression and(iv) what disciplinary action was taken?

REPLY

(a) Yes, there has been disciplinary action taken against certain officials in my department. The following disciplinary action was taken against the employees in 2005, 2006, and 2007 respectively.

(i) 2005

Instances

Position

Transgression

Disciplinary Action

Sanction

First Offender

Deputy Director

1.Nepotism

2. Contravention of the Code of Conduct of the Public Service

3. Wasteful and fruitless expenditure

Disciplinary enquiry was held against the employee

The employee was found guilty of all the charges and sanction of Final Written Warning was awarded.

(ii) 2006

Instances

Position

Transgression

Disciplinary Action

Sanction

First Offender

Senior Secretary

 Insolence and Insubordination

 Theft and / or unlawful removal and use of departmental property

 Theft or dishonesty

 Falsification of Records

Disciplinary enquiry was held against the employee

The employee was found guilty of all the charges and sanction of Dismissal was awarded

(iii) 2007

Instances	Position	Transgression	Disciplinary Action	Sanction
First Offender	Secretary	Fraud	Disciplinary enquiry was held against the employee	The employee was found guilty and sanction of dismissal was awarded.
First Offender	Senior Secretary	Breach of Administrative Process	Progressive discipline applied to the employee	Sanction of written warning was awarded

(b) During the period 01 January 2008 to 30 September 2008

Instances	Position	Transgression	Disciplinary Action	Sanction
Second Offender	Messenger/Driver	Theft	Disciplinary enquiry was held against the employee	The employee was found guilty and sanction of demotion and Final Written Warning was awarded.
First Offender	Librarian	Theft	Disciplinary enquiry was held against the employee	The employee was found guilty and sanction of demotion and Final Written Warning was awarded
First Offender	Senior Administrative Officer	Theft	Disciplinary enquiry was held against the employee	The employee was found guilty and sanction of Final Written Warning was awarded. The employee was also referred to Employee Health and Wellness Programme for Counseling.

02 December 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1951 to 2000

02 December 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1901 to 1950

01 December 2008 - Questions: Minister of Education

MPs to ask the Minister of Education

Source
Link

Reply:

QUESTION 1844

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24/10/2008
(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 32-2008)

Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) In respect of each province, (a) how many public schools are there, (b) how many of these schools do not have (i) classrooms, (ii) toilets (iii) fences, (c) how many posts for (i) maths and (ii) science teachers are vacant, (d) how many such teachers are needed to meet the current demand, (e) how much has her department spent to produce such teachers in each of the past fours years up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (f) what is the current teacher/ pupil ratio in public schools in each province,
(2) whether this figure improved in comparison to the same in 2004, if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details? NW2636E

REPLY

1(a)

Table 1: Number of public schools

Provinces	Schools
Eastern Cape	5,686
Free State	1,614
Gauteng	1,989
KwaZulu-Natal	5,783
Limpopo	4,023
Mpumalanga	1,873
North West	1,730
Northern Cape	602
Western Cape	1,451
Total	24,751

Source: EMIS School Realities, 2008

1 (b) (i)

Table 2: Number of schools using facilities of other schools, as at 29 July 2008.

Source: NEIMS

1 (b) (ii)

Table 3: Operational schools without sanitation facilities, as at 29 July 2008

Province	Schools
Eastern Cape	527
Free State	55
Gauteng	6
KwaZulu-Natal	169
Limpopo	75
Mpumalanga	72
North West	73
Northern Cape	5
Western Cape	22
Total	1,004

Source: NEIMS
Note: These schools also include the platoon schools. These schools will be provided with sanitation either by provincial education departments or the DWAF programme.

1 (b) (iii)

Table 4: Operational schools without fencing or fencing in poor condition, as at 29 July 2008.

Province	Schools
Eastern Cape	1,132
Free State	146
Gauteng	64
KwaZulu-Natal	359
Limpopo	364
Mpumalanga	407
North West	125
Northern Cape	18
Western Cape	108
Total	2,723

Source: NEIMS

1 (c & d) I refer the Honourable Member to the answers I have already provided to questions NA 1560 (12 September 2008), NA 849 (30 May 2008), and NCOP 6 (26 February 2008).

1 (e)

Table 5: Funza Lushaka bursars and costs :

Year	Bursars	Rands
2007	3,360	110 528 265
2008	4,974	164 466 668

1(f)

Table 6: Teacher/pupil ratio in public schools

Province	Learner-Educator Ratio (Teacher/Pupil Ratio)
Province	State-paid and SGB-paid educators	State-paid educators
Eastern Cape	31.7	33.5
Free State	28.9	30.4
Gauteng	32.4	36.4
KwaZulu-Natal	32.5	34.5
Limpopo	31.2	32.1
Mpumalanga	31.6	33.0
North West	29.8	31.4
Northern Cape	29.8	31.7
Western Cape	30.0	35.7
National	31.4	33.7

Source: EMIS School Realities 2008

2.

Table 7: Projects completed by provincial departments from 2005 to July 2008.

Province	Number of classrooms completed	Schools provided with sanitation	Schools provided with fences
Eastern Cape	412	396	101
Free State	132	197	6
Gauteng	199	33	24
KwaZulu-Natal	4,818	1,158	101
Limpopo	3,494	1,672	17
Mpumalanga	657	1,178	4
North West	975	261	124
Northern Cape	92	20	5
Western Cape	1,122	65	32
Total	11,901	4,980	414

Source: NEIMS
Note: Since 2007 DWAF has provided another 67 schools with sanitation. The EU donor programme has also funded 141 new classrooms, sanitation for 27 schools and fencing for 9 schools.

Table 8: The teacher/pupil ratio in public schools in each province in 2005

Province	Learner Educator Ratio (Teacher/Pupil Ratio)
Province	State-Paid and SGB -Paid Educators	State-Paid Educators
Eastern Cape	33.0	34.8
Free State	29.4	30.6
Gauteng	31.6	36.7
KwaZulu-Natal	34.3	36.7
Limpopo	34.1	34.7
Mpumalanga	33.5	35.4
North West	31.1	32.4
Northern Cape	31.9	34.2
Western Cape	31.5	37.2
National	32.8	35.2

Source: EMIS School Realities 2005.
Note: In 2005 the teacher/learner ratio in public schools was 35.2, while the current teacher/learner ratio in public schools is 33.7. This translates into 15,582 additional educators. There were 362,478 state-paid educators in public schools in 2005, while in 2008 there are 378,060 state-paid educators.

QUESTION 1846

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24/10/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 32-2008)

Mr GR Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her department is investigating the incident that occurred on 17 September 2008 at Xolobeni Junior Secondary School where members of the SA Police Service are alleged to have administered corporal punishment to learners; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details,

(2) whether the principal of the school will be removed if he/she is found to have been complicit in the incident; if not, why not; if so, what are relevant details;

(3) whether her department will offer counselling services to the affected learners, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether she will visit the school to assure learners that the matter is being dealt with and it will not recur; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2638E

REPLY:

(1) The Eastern Cape Education Department's preliminary report indicates that there are differences of fact and opinion in the statements made by the members of SAPS and the principal of the school. SAPS members say they searched for dangerous weapons and in the process forced those who resisted against the wall. The principal says the learners were beaten because they were violent and did not take instructions from him. The provincial authorities are conducting further investigations.

(2) The principal will be removed if he is found to be in contravention of the relevant legislation governing educators and schools.

(3) The Department will offer counselling services if there is a need to do so. However, a circuit manager visited the school on 24 October 2008 where she had an open session with the learners. There were no indications of traumatized learners unless they were absent from school on that day.

(4) I have delegated officials to visit the school.

QUESTION 1849

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24/10/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 32-2008)

Ms M Smuts (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(i) In respect of each province (a) what is the total number of (i) public schools as defined in the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996 and (ii) Further education and training institutions as defined in the Further Education and Training Act, Act 98 of 1998 and (b) how many (i) public schools and (ii) FET institutions have computer laboratories or facilities for learners, (aa) with (bb) without internet connection,

(2) Whether any schools are making use of the facilities or assistance of Sentech (Pty) Ltd or the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA); if not, why not; if so, which school in each province?

(3) Whether she has taken any steps to (??) electronic communications by these schools and institutions; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NW2641E

REPLY:

(1)

Table 1: Schools with computer laboratories and internet connections

	Public Schools	FET Colleges
Total Number	24 751	50
Institutions with computer laboratories or facilities for Teaching and Learning	3 366	50
Institutions with Internet Connections	1 768	50 (There is a mix of campuses/college that have internet, and data is not available for those that do not)

(2) Only 3 schools in South Africa currently receive services from Sentech (Pty). Mpumalanga has procured the services of Sentech (VSAT) to connect all secondary and combined schools (525) in the province. No implementation has yet taken place. In 2007/8 the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) provided 241 computer laboratories/cyberlabs in schools. The majority of these schools are in under-serviced areas. USAASA is currently installing 20 computer laboratories/cyberlabs as part of the APEX 3 Project (FOSAD ISAD Dinaledi Connectivity Project).

(3) We communicate with schools, teachers and learners both through the post and digitally. In particular, we make use of the Thutong portal (www.thutong.org.za) to communicate with schools, teachers and learners on various topics, for example, matric examinations.

Additional information

Table 1: Data on provincial distribution of ICT facilities

Province	Total number of Schools	Number of schools with computer rooms 1	Number of schools with Internet connectivity2	Number of schools with electronic communication abilities3
EC	5686	275	72	784
FS	1614	290	199	219
GT	1989	668	374	1601
KZN	5783	583	239	247
LP	4023	237	24	171
MP	1873	119	31	952
NC	1730	286	92	200
NW	602	265	17	600
WC	1451	643	720	720
Total	24751	3366	1768	5494

1 EMIS 2008 Annual survey of schools

2 ICT in Education Audit conducted by SITA 2007/8

3 Provincial Departments of Education, as supplied to National for 2007/8

Table 2: SENTECH in Schools

Province	Total number of Schools	Number of schools that are making use of SENTECH services4	Notes
EC	5686	1	NEPAD e-School from the ORACLE Consortium
FS	1614	1	NEPAD e-School from the ORACLE Consortium
GT	1989	0	Gauteng OnLine (GOL) schools were serviced through a 3-year contract with Sentech. The contract was not renewed. GOL's connectivity has subsequently been placed in a bigger Gauteng network by GSSC that made use of iBurst.
KZN	5783	1	A project school installed by the DOC as part of their Cyberlab project
LP	4023	0
MP	1873	525	Mpumalanga has procured the services of SENTECH VSAT to connect all secondary and combined schools in the province. No implementation has yet taken place.
NC	1730	0
NW	602	0
WC	1451	0
Total	24751	3 (+525)

4 Information provided by ICT Provincial Representatives on the ICT Inter-Provincial Working Group

Table 3: USAASA in schools

Province	Total number of Schools	Number of schools that have facilities provided by USAASA5
EC	5686	41
FS	1614	20
GT	1989	2
KZN	5783	43
LP	4023	36
MP	1873	37
NC	1730	23
NW	602	29
WC	1451	10
Total	24751	241

QUESTION 809

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23/5/2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 14-2008)

Mr C G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether race is a factor used when determining salary scales in education; if not, what is the cause of salary disparities between educators of different races who have the same (a) qualifications and (b) employment experience; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether her department has taken any steps to deal with these disparities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NWS74E

REPLY

(1) No, race no longer plays a role in determining teacher salaries. However, many African teachers were poorly qualified in the apartheid period and only upgraded their qualifications after 1994, and they may be paid less than other teachers who entered the profession with better qualifications to begin with. It is, therefore, possible for individuals with the same qualification and number of years of teaching experience to earn different salaries.

(2) Yes, the Department has made a concerted effort to overcome this problem through a number of collective agreements reached with the unions in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). The following agreements recognised the qualifications of educators upgrading their qualifications from the lowest levels (former Department of Education and Training qualifications).

· ELRC Collective Agreement 3 of 1996: agreement on a three- year condition of service adjustment package for educators, which introduced the broad-banding salary system;

· ELRC Collective Agreement 4 of 1997: conditions of Service adjustment package for educators;

· ELRC Collective Agreement 5 of 2002: recognition of improved REQV;

In addition, further agreements were reached:

 ELRC Collective Agreement 2 of 2005: salary progression for the period 01 July 1996 to 30 June 2002 addressed the backlogs due to a lack of salary progression;

ELRC Collective Agreement 5 of 2006: improved career pathing for qualified post level educators and accelerated pay progression for all educators on applicable salary levels.

Most recently, the ELRC Collective Agreement 1 of 2008 on the Occupation Specific Dispensation for Educators, which was signed on 3 April 2008, provides for an investigation of the implementation of all these previous agreements by 30 September 2008. If it is found that matters that were to be addressed by the previous collective agreements were not fully addressed or have not been properly implemented, then a proposal will be made to correct these anomalies.

QUESTION 810

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23/05/12008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 14-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether her department in implementing inclusive education in all schools, has ensured that (a) there are enough educators who have been trained to facilitate the teaching of children with different learning disabilities, (b) classrooms have been made accessible to learners with physical disabilities and (c) the availability of transport for children with disabilities has been properly arranged; if not, how do children with disabilities access education; if so, what are the relevant details?

NWI500E

REPLY

(a) No, we do not have as many trained teachers to implement inclusive education as we would like, but we have been training teachers. In the 2006/7 financial year the Department trained 2,300 educators and district personnel on the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) strategy and as well as on curriculum adaptation. Since April 2008 a further 800 educators and district officials have been trained. Training on SIAS, curriculum adaptation and assessment guidelines will be extended incrementally to educators in the mainstream.

Some barriers to learning, such as visual and hearing impairments, require that educators receive specialised training. In 2007 the Department, assisted by the Stockholm Institute of Education, trained 50 educators for learners with low vision and 39 educators to deal with hearing impairments. The same training will be conducted during 2008, this time bringing in local experts to work alongside the Swedish experts.

The Department is refining assessment guidelines for learners experiencing various barriers to learning including those that are disabled.

(b) Infrastructural adaptation is advanced in 10 of the 30 primary schools selected to become full-service schools in our pilot project. Physical infrastructure planners in the various provinces have been involved in the process to ensure that future construction of schools, classrooms and toilets, follows the guidelines/criteria for making schools accessible to all.

(c) The 397 special schools receive, as part of their budget allocation, subsidies for learner transport. The funding is intended for the purchase of school buses, the subsidisation of learner transport and for maintenance. The Department has made a bid to Treasury for an additional allocation in the 2008 MTEF allocation to strengthen learner transport for learners in special and full-service schools. In situations where learner transport is not a viable and cost-effective option, the Department makes hostel accommodation available.

QUESTION 849

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 15-2008)

Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether all secondary schools have (a) qualified science teachers and (b) equipped science laboratories; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that these teachers can teach science to the learners?

NW1539E

REPLY

(1) (a) No, all secondary schools do not have qualified science teachers. According to a survey undertaken in 2007, 814 of the 4,588 schools offering Physical Sciences reported a shortfall.

The Department has a database of unemployed teachers that includes 734 Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers. The teachers on the database are local unemployed teachers, retired teachers, teachers who have taken the voluntary-severance package and teachers from other countries. Provinces and schools are able to recruit teachers from this database.

(1) (b) No, secondary schools do not all have science laboratories. According to the National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), the percentage of schools without laboratories dropped from 75% in 1996 to 60% in 2006. Provinces are continuing to build laboratories from their equitable share allocation for infrastructure.

(2) The Department and the provincial departments are responding in a number of ways.

First, provinces provide equipment to all schools in the system. These include conventional equipment, as well as micro-science kits and small-scale equipment. The micro-science kits are more suitable for schools without laboratories. In addition, the Department has trained subject advisors on doing practical work using "everyday materials". These are materials that can be found in the environment and do not need to be purchased by schools. Subject advisors train teachers in clusters in the provinces on this work.

Second, the Department has provided all dinaledi schools with teacher support packs. These packs contain equipment for Physical Sciences and also serve as mobile laboratories. Relevant practical work that is essential to the understanding of scientific concepts can be done in classrooms as well as outside the classroom.

Third, provinces began providing 100 hours of training to teachers in dinaledi schools in 2006. These teachers are in the last year of their programme, a year in which mentors mentor teachers on their content knowledge.

Fourth, in February and May 2008, a total of 109 subject advisors in Physical Sciences were trained by experts from universities on content and practical work. Each subject advisor received a CD, which contained all the written materials and PowerPoint presentations. This will strengthen the support that subject advisors give to teachers in the classroom. Subject advisors train teachers in clusters in the provinces on this content and practical work.

Fifth, provinces use subject advisors, who have been trained by the Department and universities, to train teachers in all subjects during school holidays and on week-ends. To date, 4,824 Physical Sciences teachers have been trained in the provinces.

Sixth, provinces offer teachers bursaries to study the Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) specializing in Physical Sciences. In 2006, 1,277 teachers enrolled for the ACE. This cohort will be graduating this year. To date R13,8 million has been awarded in bursaries.

Last, the Department has provided additional material – content framework, subject assessment guidelines, learning programme guidelines, examination guidelines, study mates – to support the teaching and learning of Physical Sciences.

QUESTION 856

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 15-2008)

Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether Afrikaans-speaking students may apply for the funza lushaka bursary scheme; if not, (a) what is the position in this regard and (b) how many applications of such students were nevertheless received; if so, how many of these students received bursaries;

(2) whether she will review the criteria of this bursary scheme as a matter of urgency to allow for students of all languages to apply and qualify; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1547E

(1) Yes, Afrikaans-speaking students can apply for funza-lushaka bursaries. We do not know how many bursaries have been awarded Afrikaans-speaking students, but as seven of the twenty-two higher-education institutions use Afrikaans as a medium of instruction we can assume that there are a considerable number of Afrikaans-speaking beneficiaries (see table 1).

Table 1: Funza Lushaka bursaries at Afrikaans-medium universities, 2007, 2008

University	Bursary allocation 2007	Bursary allocation 2008	Number of bursaries awarded 2008
University of Stellenbosch	R 7,200,000	R 10,800,000	274
University of the Western Cape	R 4,000,000	R 6,000,000	150
University of Pretoria	R 7,200,000	R 10,800,000	270
University Johannesburg	R 7,200,000	R 10,800,000	199
University of the Free State	R 7,200,000	R 10,800,000	279
North West University	R 7,200,000	R 10,800,000	219
UNISA	R 6,000,000	R 8,000,000	472
Total	R46,000,000	R 68,000,000	1,863

(2) The Department of Education reviews the priority areas for the bursary scheme annually and will do so again this year. The policy encourages students of all languages to apply.

QUESTION 891

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 15-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether her department is planning to schedule an extra five weeks of schooling after the World Cup in 2010 to assist learners to catch up for the time lost as a result of the closure of schools during the World Cup; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1583E

REPLY

No, we have no plans to schedule an extra five weeks of school. The draft school calendar for 2010, which has been published for comment, has the same number of school days as any other year.

This is in compliance with national policy, which requires that there should be between 195 and 200 school days per year.

Therefore, there is no need for any catch-up days to be scheduled.

QUESTION 892

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 15-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

How many (a) qualified grade R educators have been trained to deal with grade R material in each of the past three years up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (b)(i) Grade R schools are currently operating across the country and (ii) what is the breakdown by province and (c)(i) Grade R children have graduated from these schools in each of the past three years and (ii) are currently enrolled in these schools?

NW1584E

(a) There are 15,966 grade R educators teaching grade R this year, and provinces have trained all of them on the curriculum. We are currently conducting an audit of grade R educators to gather detailed information on the status of their qualifications.

(b) (i) There are currently 13,941 schools offering grade R.

(ii)

Table 1: Number of ordinary schools offering grade R by province
Province	2005	2006	2007	2008
Eastern Cape	3,031	3,018	3,483	4,207
Free State	394	426	481	508
Gauteng	958	1,022	1,118	1,164
KwaZulu-Natal	2,118	2,585	3,189	3,423
Limpopo	2,045	2,223	2,107	2,221
Mpumalanga	364	635	792	911
Northern Cape	159	191	220	254
North West	265	406	440	568
Western Cape	683	709	650	685
Total	10,017	11,215	12,480	13,941

Sources: SNAP Survey Databases, conducted on the 10th school day, as published in: Education Statistics in South Africa at a Glance in 2005; Education Statistics in South Africa 2006; School Realities 2007; School Realities 2008.

Public primary schools offer grade R if they have space or as soon as the provincial education department is able to provide the infrastructure required to offer grade R. Community-based sites also offer grade R. In terms of the Norms and Standards for Grade R, these sites have to register with the provincial education department as Independent Schools. This will ensure that they receive support, and will also allow the Department of Education to keep accurate statistics on the sites and learners catered for in these sites.

(c) (i) We do not know the number of grade R learners who move into grade 1, but unless there is a particular reason for holding a child back all grade R learners progress to grade 1. We are in the process of establishing a national tracking system for all learners from grade R to 12. This will provide us with accurate information on the learners in the system, including the number who progress from one grade to the next each year.

Table 2: Number of grade R learners in ordinary schools, by province, from 2005 to 2007
Province	2005	2006	2007
Eastern Cape	105,231	106,045	112,889
Free State	18,449	20,046	22,429
Gauteng	41,073	48,774	49,931
KwaZulu-Natal	79,276	95,802	118,884
Limpopo	86,015	90,748	93,030
Mpumalanga	14,171	23,897	34,962
North West	9,737	13,663	16,143
Northern Cape	6,598	7,682	8,423
Western Cape	32,389	33,614	30,834
National	392,939	440,271	487,525

QUESTION 1555

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12/09/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 27-2008)

Mrs D Van Der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether any employees of the Education Labour Relations Council were found to have acted irregularly, resulting in fraudulent expenditure of R2 905 676, as identified by Auditor-General's March 2008 report; if so, (a) how many and (b) what are their positions in the Council;

(2) Whether any legal action was taken against those employees; if not, why not; if so, what action?

NW2300E

REPLY:

(1) Yes, a forensic audit implicated two ELRC employees in fraud and bribery. They are a Senior Manager: Dispute Prevention and Resolution Services and a Dispute Resolution Case Management Administrator.

(2) The ELRC dismissed the senior manager on 2 August 2007 and the administrator resigned on 15 August 2007. The matter was handed to the police for investigation. The case number is Lyttelton 37/04/2008 and Captain Johann van Staden is the investigating officer. He has forwarded the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority, but no decision has yet been taken on prosecution.

QUESTION 1558

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12/09/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 27-2008)

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether any schools had not had their full complement of textbooks delivered to them by 30 June 2008; if so, (a)(i) which schools and (ii) which provinces and (b) what caused these shortages;

(2) Whether any steps have been taken to (a) ensure all textbooks are delivered and (b) prevent the same problem from developing next year; if not, why not; if so, what steps in each case?

REPLY:

(1) Yes, by 30 June 2008 some high schools had not received all their textbooks. The DoE does not have a comprehensive audit of all these schools. However, between 50% and 75% of pupils in grades 10 and 11 had Mathematical Literacy and Mathematics textbooks, while 90% pupils in grade 12 had textbooks in a sample survey of 184 schools.

Mathematical Literacy

Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
Enrolment	NT*	%	Enrolment	NT	%	Enrolment	NT	%
15 628	4 419	28	11 998	2 853	24	8 859	565	6

*No Textbook

Mathematics

Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
Enrolment	NT*	%	Enrolment	NT	%	Enrolment	NT	%
19 914	8 553	43	12 946	3 624	28	10 647	1 179	11

*No Textbook

(2) The DoE interacts on a regular basis with publishers through the Publishers' Association of South Africa (PASA) and the African Publishers' Association (APA) and provinces. Provinces are responsible for textbook supply in their respective provinces.

For further particulars in answer to this part of the question, can I draw your attention to my answer to oral question 446 (13 November 2007). I attach it here for your convenience.

QUESTION 1561

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 12/09/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 27-2008)

Mrs D Van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

How many schools in each province did not have (a) sanitation, (b) water, (c) electricity, (d) science laboratories, (e) sports fields, (f) kitchen facilities for the preparations of meals as at the latest specified date for which information is available?

NW2306E

REPLY

(a) Sanitation

Province	Schools without sanitation facilities as at March 2007	Projects completed by provincial depts. 2007/08	Completed by DWAF 2007/08	Projects planned for 2008/09 by provincial depts	Planned by DWAF 2008/09	Planned by provincial depts. 2009/10	Planned by DWAF 2009/10
Eastern Cape	579	70	19	242	115	0	442
Free State	95	80	38	35	75	90	28
Gauteng	6	17	0	28	28	5	46
KwaZulu-Natal	167	321	0	200	77	200	132
Limpopo	75	81	0	34	26	186	91
Mpumalanga	72	80	0	21	20	71	143
North West	73	50	0	40	15	50	53
Northern Cape	8	27	1	7	54	25	0
Western Cape	22	0	6	3	13	0	0
Total	1,097	726	64	610	423	627	935

Source: Department of Education's National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), as assessed at 30 September 2007.

b) Water

Province	Schools without water facilities as at March 2007	Projects completed by provincial depts. 2007/08	Completed by DWAF 2007/08	Projects planned for 2008/09 by provincial depts	Planned by DWAF 2008/09	Planned by provincial depts. 2009/10	Planned by DWAF 2009/10
Eastern Cape	1119	102	21	60	115	0	771
Free State	298	44	56	54	62	90	191
Gauteng	0	17	0	28	0	5	0
KwaZulu-Natal	607	394	0	393	239	300	408
Limpopo	350	103	0	34	58	186	257
Mpumalanga	140	90	10	11	33	36	206
North West	48	5	0	50	10	50	45
Northern Cape	6	82		41	4	95	0
Western Cape	0	0	3	3	0	0	0
Total	2,568	837	90	674	521	762	1878

Source: Department of Education's National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), as assessed at 30 September 2007.

(b) Electricity

Province	Schools without electricity supply as at March 2007	Projects completed by provincial depts. 2007/08	Completed by DME 2007/08	Projects planned for 2008/09 by provincial depts	Planned by DME 2008/09	Planned by DME 2009/10
Eastern Cape	1,206	101	334	240	140	391
Free State	270	20	30	39	51	51
Gauteng	13	2	0	28	1	0
KwaZulu-Natal	1,586	80	260	1,139	257	0
Limpopo	323	29	182	0	118	0
Mpumalanga	243	1	67	110	70
North West	93	24	11	26	32	0
Northern Cape	23	0	3	0	15	8
Western Cape	2	8	0	5	0	0
Total	3,759	265	887	1,587	684	450

Source: Department of Education's National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), as assessed at 30 September 2007.

(c) Science laboratories

Province	Schools without laboratories	Projects planned for 2008
Eastern Cape	2,862	12
Free State	248	9
Gauteng	188	52
KwaZulu-Natal	1,540	54
Limpopo	1,260	4
Mpumalanga	526	64
North West	485	0
Northern Cape	126	0
Western Cape	183	0
Total	7,418	195

Source: Department of Education's National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), as assessed at 30 September 2007.

(d) Sports fields

Province	Schools without sport facilities	Projects planned for 2008
Eastern Cape	394	0
Free State	681	0
Gauteng	293	27
KwaZulu-Natal	1,870	0
Limpopo	315	0
Mpumalanga	112	297
North West	128	0
Northern Cape	115	0
Western Cape	172	0
Total	4,080	324

Note: Sports facilities, for use by schools and communities, are provided for under the Municipal Infrastructure Grant to local government.

Source: Department of Education's National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), as assessed at 30 September 2007.

(e) Kitchen facilities are only included for primary schools participating in the National School Nutrition programme, 191 projects are planned for 2008/09, made up of :

Free State - 77

KwaZulu Natal - 50

Mpumalanga - 64

Source: Department of Education's National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), as assessed at 30 September 2007.

QUESTION 1588

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12/09/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 27-2008)

Mr LB Labuschagne (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether provision is made for the temporary appointment of experts in the fields of computer science and mathematics in the absence of a formal diploma in education; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW2336E

REPLY:

The Personnel Administration Measures (PAM) provide for the temporary appointment of unqualified teachers in a number of subjects. The Measures also provide for the temporary appointment of qualified teachers without specifying a subject to teach. Therefore, it is possible to appoint unqualified teachers to teach mathematics and computer science. However, qualified teachers have first preference, and first entrants into the profession in particular.

QUESTION 1590

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 19/09/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 28-2008)

Mrs van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(i) Whether options for a mechanism to accommodate indigent children in better equipped schools have been developed ; if so, what options;

(2) Whether any progress has been made in any of selecting these options for implementation; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so , (a)what are the relevant details and (b) when is it anticipated to be implemented? NW2307E

REPLY:

(1) We accommodate poor children in "better equipped schools" through the system of fee exemptions. The school funding norms provide a full exemption to parents who earn less than ten times the school fee, and a progressive scale of partial exemption to parents who earn less than thirty times the school fee. This policy has not changed and should be enforced in all schools. It should also be noted that the award of fee exemptions should be dealt with after, and separate from, any decision to admit a child to a school.

(2) We accept that a school should not carry the full burden of fee exemptions. Various policy options have been explored, and a draft proposal developed for amendments to the funding norms. The proposal will follow the usual consultative processes before any final decision is made.

QUESTION 621

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2008)

MrW D Spies (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Education:†

What is the (a) demographic composition in (i) percentages and (ii) numbers of the (aa) University of the Free State, (bb) University of Pretoria, (cc) University of Stellenbosch, (dd) University of Johannesburg, (ee) North West University, (ff) Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, (gg) Tshwane University of Technology (Pretoria West campus) and (hh) Tshwane University of Technology (excluding Pretoria West campus) and (ii) University of South Africa and (b) what is the language preference at each of these universities?

NW1205E

REPLY:

(a) The Department of Education captures statistical data about the higher education system at the institutional level in the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS). Below is the latest audited data for the institutions for which information is requested.

Table 1: Headcount enrolments by Race and Gender in 2006

Total – male and female headcount	African	Coloured	Indian	White	Total
Institution	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr
University of the Free State	12 531	51.9	1 525	6.3	586	2.4	9 490	39.3	24 132
University of Pretoria	20 421	44.3	766	1.7	1 762	3.8	23 173	50.2	46 122
University of Stellenbosch	2 447	11.2	3 233	14.7	439	2.0	15 824	72.1	21 943
University of Johannesburg	27 738	64.7	1 199	2.8	2 179	5.1	11 767	27.4	42 883
North West University	22 412	57.9	1 220	3.2	616	1.6	14 288	36.9	38 536
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University	14 477	59.7	2 966	12.2	624	2.6	6 178	25.5	24 245
Tshwane University of Technology	43 947	85.4	617	1.2	427	0.8	6 455	12.5	51 446
University of South Africa	131 197	57.7	14 151	6.2	22 580	9.9	59 209	26.0	227 137

Female headcount	African	Coloured	Indian	White	Total
Institution	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr
University of the Free State	7 309	54.2	1 019	7.6	245	1.8	4 918	36.5	13 491
University of Pretoria	12 190	47.0	434	1.7	907	3.5	12 399	47.8	25 930
University of Stellenbosch	1 154	10.2	1 839	16.3	224	2.0	8 081	71.5	11 298
University of Johannesburg	15 174	65.7	729	3.2	1 126	4.9	6 076	26.3	23 105
North West University	14 541	61.0	753	3.2	361	1.5	8 189	34.3	23 844
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University	8 366	63.3	1 669	12.6	320	2.4	2 861	21.6	13 216
Tshwane University of Technology	23 897	89.3	264	1.0	144	0.5	2 453	9.2	26 758
University of South Africa	72 998	56.8	8 200	6.4	13 603	10.6	33 789	26.3	128 590

Male headcount	African	Coloured	Indian	White	Total
Institution	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr	%	Nr
University of the Free State	5 222	49.1	506	4.8	341	3.2	4 572	43.0	10 641
University of Pretoria	8 231	40.8	332	1.6	855	4.2	10 774	53.4	20 192
University of Stellenbosch	1 293	12.1	1 394	13.1	215	2.0	7 743	72.7	10 645
University of Johannesburg	12 564	63.5	470	2.4	1 053	5.3	5 691	28.8	19 778
North West University	7 871	53.6	467	3.2	255	1.7	6 099	41.5	14 692
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University	6 111	55.4	1 297	11.8	304	2.8	3 317	30.1	11 029
Tshwane University of Technology	20 050	81.2	353	1.4	283	1.1	4 002	16.2	24 688
University of South Africa	58 199	59.1	5 951	6.0	8 977	9.1	25 420	25.8	98 547

(b) The councils of public higher education institutions determine the language policies of individual institutions within the context of the official language-policy framework. While English and Afrikaans are currently the only mediums of instruction in higher education, the language-policy framework promotes multi-lingualism. Below are the official languages of teaching and learning at the undergraduate level at the universities for which information is requested.

Table 2. Languages of Learning and Teaching

Institution	Language of Teaching and Learning
University of the Free State	Afrikaans and English
University of Pretoria	Afrikaans and English
University of Stellenbosch	Afrikaans
University of Johannesburg	Afrikaans and English
North West University	Afrikaans and English
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University	Afrikaans and English
Tshwane University of Technology	English
University of South Africa	Afrikaans and English

QUESTION 625

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 07/08/09

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 07-2009)

Dr WG James to ask the Minister of basic Education:

What are the relevant details pertaining to the (a) budget allocated for and (b) actual expenditure with regard to (i) salaries, (ii) travel, (iii) accommodation, (iv) printing done and (v) other operations of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutes? NW710E

REPLY:

The release of the report of the Ministerial Committee on Transformation and Social Cohesion and the Elimination of Discrimination in Public Higher Education Institutes has provided an opportunity for the country to evaluate the extent to which our higher education institutions have transformed. Not unexpectedly the report also raises a number of challenges that our government has to address.

(a) The operational budget of the Directorate Institutional Support and Sector Liaison was used to support the work of the committee.

(b) Members of the committee were not paid salaries, but were compensated for their time in line with Treasury Regulations. In this regard, an amount of R467, 324.00 was paid to members of the committee. In addition, all travel and accommodation costs were arrangements were made in terms of Departmental policy. On conclusion of the investigation, 300 copies of the report were printed and distributed to all institutions, higher education stakeholders and interested parties. The total cost of producing the report was R71, 527.52 which includes gazetting.

QUESTION 628

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2008)

Mrs C M Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Education:

(a) By what legal mechanism will the proposed National Schools Pledge be implemented and (b) what legal obligation will be placed on (i) principals, (ii) teachers and (iii) learners in this regard;

whether the pledge will affect private schools; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

whether she or her department will invite any public comment with regard to the pledge; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1310E

REPLY:

The question you raise has emerged from a number of submissions as part of the process of public comment. After considering all the public comments on the proposed Pledge, I will decide on the mechanism (legal or otherwise) to follow.

No decision has been taken in this regard.

The proposed National Schools Pledge was published for public comment on 22 February 2008 in Government Gazette No 278. The closing date of 20 March 2008 was subse quently extended to 15 May 2008 to provide sufficient time for all interested parties to comment.

QUESTION 631

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2008)

Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether she recently made a statement with regard to the re-opening of teacher training colleges; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) (a) where will these teacher training colleges be located, (b) what plans are in place with regard to (i) implementation, (ii) human resources and (iii) specialised skills that are needed to realise the project, (c) what timeframes are envisaged and (d) how can stakeholders and people with skills needed to accomplish this make an input?

NW1317E

REPLY:

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I provided to Question 584, which dealt with this specific question. I also commented on teacher colleges in my Budget Vote speech on the 15 May 2008, and I attach what I said here for her convenience.

"Expanding teacher training

One of our emerging challenges is the need to respond to the decline in the number of qualified school teachers. Specific gaps exist in the foundation phase and in scarce skills subjects such as Maths, Sciences and Technology.

Our first response was the introduction of nationally funded bursaries for students in these fields. We expect graduation numbers to grow each year. However, we now believe that these efforts need to be supported by a significant growth in numbers and by an expansion in the capacity of university faculties responsible for teacher training. All but one of our universities offer initial and in-service teacher training in faculties, colleges and schools of education.

We are considering various options in order to expand the numbers.

There have been calls for the re-opening of teacher training colleges. Given that many college sites became our new very vital FET colleges we need to devise innovative strategies for responding to more and better teacher training. I hope to return to the house later this year to set out the department's proposal for expanded provision. We think it important to retain the higher education role in qualifying teachers. We also acknowledge the accuracy of the ANC's call for urgent and focused attention on strategies for admitting increased numbers and for supporting them to be quality teachers for our schools."

QUESTION 634

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2008)

Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether the levels of literacy and numeracy attained by learners upon completion of their primary school education (grade 7) is satisfactory; if not, (a) why not and (b) what steps has her department taken to improve this situation?

NW1320E

REPLY:

National systemic evaluations, conducted by the Department in 2001 and 2004, revealed low levels of reading abilities across the country. The results of the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS), released in November 2007, found that learners in our schools do not read at the appropriate level in relation to their grades and in terms of their age.

Various reasons were provided for this:

Lack of access to books in homes, at school and in community

Low levels of literacy among the parents

Ineffective teaching practices

I have responded to these findings through the following initiatives:

On the 18 March 2008 I launched the Foundation for Learning Campaign, a four-year programme to improve the reading, writing and numeracy skills and abilities of all South African children. The Campaign has provided teachers and schools with clear directives on expected levels of learner performance. The focus will be on primary schooling – starting with the Foundation and Intermediate Phases – so that learners acquire and sustain a solid foundation for learning. All primary schools will be expected to increase average learner performance in Literacy / Language and Numeracy / Mathematics to no less than 50% - indicating an improvement of between 15% - 20% - in the 4 years of the campaign.

The Department has also focused on providing resources to all schools. In the past three years we have provided over 11,000 primary schools with exciting story books, written in all official languages of South Africa towards establishing classroom libraries. Through the USAID-funded Ithuba Writing Project, we are distributing 2.3 million locally authored books in the different official languages to schools. All 2.3 million books should be in our schools by the end of the financial year.

Two years ago, I initiated a Drop All and Read Campaign, which welcomed Grade R and 1 learners into education with their own branded bags containing a selection of books that they can read for themselves or that parents and caregivers can read to them. At the heart of the campaign is that in our homes and in our schools children should be able to pick up books that they can read for enjoyment.

We continue to supply schools with reference materials, which have included bilingual dictionaries. We have also provided all schools with:

the National Reading Strategy document which outlines activities and approaches to promote and develop the reading skills of our learners; and

a Teacher's Handbook entitled Teaching Reading in the Early Grades to assist teachers on methods, approaches and activities to improve their teaching of reading.

A Toolkit for Teachers was developed containing both reading resources as well as guides for teachers; 1;000 of these have been sent to pilot schools countrywide to increase support for the teachers in their teaching of reading.

The Department has developed an Early-Grade Reading Assessment instrument, which is currently being used by teachers in selected districts to help us monitor progress in the different schools. The instrument is currently in use for Sepedi, Xitsonga,Tshivenda, IsiXhosa and English and during the course of this year the tool will be developed in the remaining five languages.

The implementation of the National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development will also address the issue of teacher development and ensure that through the IPET and CPTD programmes teachers are trained to teach effectively.

To monitor whether learners are improving competency, the Department is establishing baseline data on learners' achievement in literacy and numeracy in the early grades. As part of the Foundations for Learning, primary school learners will be assessed annually using standardized tests to monitor their progress against the established baseline.

QUESTION 1249

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 01/08/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 21-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

What amount was spent by officials of her department on (a) hotel accommodation, (b) restaurant expenses and (c) travel costs (i) in the 2007-08 financial year and (ii) during the period 1 April 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

NW1996E

REPLY:

The following amounts were spent:

	2007-08	April - July 2008
a) Hotel accommodation	R26,136,869	R11,334,297
b) Restaurant expenses	R4,100,829	R1,027,639
c) Travel costs	R43,007,845	R17,783,808
Total	R73,245,543	R30,145,744

These amounts include all costs for visits abroad, in-country travelling and meetings, workshops and conferences with provincial education departments and education stakeholders. The restaurant expenditure is for meals and food during these occasions.

QUESTION 1481

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 29/08/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 25-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether her department has any mechanisms in place to punish learners who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour such as bullying, physical or sexual assaults or any other behaviour that threatens the well-being of other learners and/or teachers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW2225E

REPLY:

Yes, the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1996) requires school governing bodies and school management teams to establish and implement codes of conduct for learners in all educational settings. Codes of conduct for learners are negotiated commitments on the part of all learners and parents to abide by set rules so that effective teaching and learning can take place undisturbed. This implies a commitment from educators to establish discipline as a positive, learning process. In terms of section 8(4) of the Schools Act, learners are obliged to comply with the code of conduct. Section 8(5) makes provision for due process, including a fair hearing before a learner may be suspended by the school governing body or expelled by the provincial head of department. Section 9 prescribes two kinds of suspension: (i) as a correctional measure for a period of up to a week, or (ii) pending a decision from the provincial education department as to whether the learner is to be expelled from the school. These processes should be followed in all cases, including anti-social behaviour as described in the question. Schools may act immediately in such cases to ensure the safety of other learners and/or teachers and have been encouraged to do so.

QUESTION 1020

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13/06/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 18-2008)

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her department has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1758E

REPLY:

1)(a) Yes.

(b) (i) No.

(b) (ii) No.

(b) (iii) Yes.

(b) (iv) No.

(2) (a) There was irregular expenditure during the 2006/07 financial year. Three officials from the Department collaborated to evade financial procedures and failed to follow the stipulated tender process. The DoE finalized the investigation into the matter during the 2007/08 financial year and the offending officials have been dismissed.

(2) (b) The sum involved was R1 230 587.74.

The Department acquired a new quotation from another service provider and discovered that the same service could be rendered for R450 000.00 less. The R450 000.00 is being recovered in equal amounts of R150 000.00 from each of the three officials.

(3) No disciplinary cases were pending on 31 March 2008.

QUESTION 1298

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 08/08/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION 22-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) a) How many temporary teachers are currently employed in each province, b) for how long has each teacher been appointed and c) what are the reasons for each teacher not being employed permanently;

(2) Whether her department has taken any steps to reduce the number of temporary teachers by making them permanent employees; if not, why not; if so, what steps?

NW 2036E

ANSWER:

(1) (a and b) In July 2008 there were 31,949 temporary teachers employed by provincial education departments. One in three temporary teachers was employed in KwaZulu-Natal.

Table 1: Temporary teachers in each province by years of service

Province	>2yrs	2-3 yrs	4-5 yrs	6-10 yrs	11-15 yrs	16-20yrs	>20 yrs	Total
EC	4,065	871	7	40	79	2	2	5,066
FS	2,441	83	4	17	102	142	262	3,051
GP	2,115	33	12	6	18	19	11	2,214
KZN	10,436	256	84	130	647	93	31	11,677
LP	2,083	49	0	5	0	1	3	2,141
MP	1,245	151	44	14	181	176	148	1,959
NC	897	17	3	14	34	20	10	995
NW	713	97	8	24	401	169	101	1,513
WC	3,328			5				3,333
Total	27,323	1,557	162	255	1,462	622	568	31,949

Source: Persal (July 2008)

(1) (c) In the case of the 27,323 (86%) temporary teachers who have been in service for under two years, the reason is that they fill substantive posts that are in the process of being filled through the advertisement of vacancy lists. In regard to the remaining 4,626 (14%), I have directed the DoE to establish why they have been employed in such a capacity for over 2 years.

(2) Yes, under labour law (section 6B of the Employment of Educators Act that came into effect in 2005), no temporary educator can be employed in the same substantive and vacant post for more than two years. The employment of temporary teachers is best understood in the context of the annual process followed to determine the number of posts available to each school.

· Every provincial education department finalizes its post-provisioning consultations by 1 September and provides each school with final staff establishments by 30 September.

· In September school principals verify staff establishments and inform PEDs whether teachers will retire or resign from their posts during the final part of the year.

· This information informs the process of appointment of teachers to vacant posts at the beginning of a new academic year.

· The appointment process is normally in the form of requested internal and cross transfers, placement and absorption of educators additional to establishment, or the selection of temporary educators (new entrants, and those with a break in service).

· In a new year PEDs adjust the staff establishments of schools after a proper analysis of the 10th day snap survey. Temporary educators are then appointed on fixed contracts (1 January – 31 December) as required.

· PEDs finalize a list of all educator vacancies by 30 April of each year. If a teacher has been employed on a temporary contract for more than 2 years, any new contract must be converted from temporary to permanent. This measure only applies if an educator is in a substantive and vacant post and is qualified to teach in the learning areas/grades specified.

· This conversion from temporary to permanent must be supported by the School Governing Body (SGB), with the approval of the Head of Department, and is implemented by 1 July of each year.

· The rest of the vacancies are advertised in an open vacancy list for filling on 1 January of the next school year.

· There will always be temporary educators employed in schools. However, at any given time temporary educators should not make up more than 10% of total educator posts in a PED.

A recent DoE presentation to the Education PC in the National Assembly on 27 May 2008 indicated that there are currently 433,280 posts of which 62,616 are vacant. The percentage of vacant posts (that may or may not be occupied by temporary teachers) was 15.5% in 2006 and 14.5% in 2008.

Table 2: Educator posts and vacancies, 2006-2008

	2006	2007	2008
Province	Number of posts	Number of Vacancies	%	Number of posts	Number of Vacancies	%	Number of posts	Number of Vacancies	%
EC	75,744	11,769	15.5	70,608	6,640	9.4	70,007	7,330	10.5
FS	27,690	4,368	15.8	27,764	3,737	13.5	28,644	3,401	11.9
GP	51,724	6,106	11.8	58,793	3,737	6.4	60,035	8,748	14.6
KZN	85,213	10,912	12.8	93,324	6,847	7.3	93,174	13,550	14.5
LP	70,307	10,930	15.5	73,516	15,797	21.5	66,542	12,560	18.9
MP	34,053	6,922	20.3	40,853	7,101	17.4	41,882	7,958	19.0
NW	38,291	7,784	20.3	27,355	176	0.6	27,583	1,727	6.3
NC	7,925	1,150	14.5	9,759	1,049	10.7	10,718	1,727	16.1
WC	33,924	6,099	18.0	31,134	4,938	15.9	34,695	5,615	16.2
Total	424,871	66,040	15.5	433,106	50,022	11.5	433,280	62,616	14.5
Note: "The above vacancies are not entirely vacant. They are occupied by temporary educators "

Source: DoE presentation to the PC on Education, 27 May 2008.

According to the ELRC's study of teacher mortality in 2005, there was a monthly average of 61,206 temporary teachers in 1997 and 34,110 in 2003. The main reason offered for this 44% (27,096) decline in the number of temporary teachers between 1997 and 2003 was "an ongoing process of appointing temporary educators as permanent during the period under review and a trend for advertised permanent posts to be filled with temporary educators".[1] The ELRC mortality study was based on an extensive review of Persal records.

There has been an 11% (2,161) decline in the number of temporary teachers between 2003 (34,110) and 2008 (31,94

QUESTION 1299

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 08/08/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 22-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) (a) How many teachers currently employed by her department have not been trained in the National Curriculum Statement in each province and b) what are the reasons for these teachers not receiving required training;

(2) Whether her department has taken any steps to ensure that these teachers receive the required training in the future; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW 2037E

REPLY:

(1) The DoE does not employ teachers. The provincial departments of education employ teachers and are responsible for teacher training.

(2) The DoE is responsible for training provincial subject advisers and monitoring provincial curriculum workshops. Over a number of years the DoE has conducted curriculum workshops in all 8 learning areas and 29 subjects. In most provinces subject advisers train teachers, but in some provinces the training is outsourced to tertiary institutions or other service providers. Curriculum workshops are not compulsory. Teachers at all public schools are invited to attend curriculum workshops and provincial departments indicate that most teachers attend training.

QUESTION 921

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6/06/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 16-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her department has conducted an energy audit to determine its (a) use of energy and (b) opportunities for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether her department has any plans to reduce energy consumption; if not, why not; if so, what plans;

(3) whether her department has made any material reduction in energy use since 1 January 2008; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1611E

REPLY

(1) (a and b) No, the DoE has not conducted an energy audit, but the Department of Public Works is in the process of conducting an energy audit at the Department of Education. Details will be made available as soon as the report is available.

(2) Yes, Eskom, Government and other stakeholders have joined forces to conserve energy. The DoE is implementing the following actions:

 Lights should be switched on only when necessary and must be switched off when leaving the office;

Optimal use of natural light, such as the opening of curtains, must be encouraged;
Office equipment, such as PCs, printers and copiers, should be switched off when not in use and prior to leaving the office;
The use of hot water should be limited to essential services and only the required amount of water should be boiled;
Officials are encouraged to use the stairs as often as possible, especially if they are located on the 1st or 2nd floors;
Air conditioners and heaters should be used only when necessary.

(3) The DoE is waiting for an energy audit report from the Department of Public Works. QUESTION NO. 922 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 16 of 2008

QUESTION 931

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6/06/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 16-2008)

Mrs S V Kalyan (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

How many (a) applications for places were (i) received and (ii) accepted at each of the specified medical-training universities or colleges and institutions and (b) individuals graduated from each specified facility in each of the most recent seven years for which information is available? NW1621E

(i) Applications received for the MBCHB in 2008

 South African IDZs can differentiate themselves from other competing zones
In the region and other developing economies and create an enabling
environment to attract investors;

 IDZs can develop automated cargo control capabilities which will result in significant reduction in cumbersome administrative requirements for both SARS and companies located in the IDZS;

 All critical government departments and agencies would .be required to participate in a One-Stop-Shop arrangement to facilitate the requirements of companies based in the IDZs. An inclusive stakeholder management approach can be developed to
increase accountability and ownership for thelDZ programme.

QUESTION 663

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether any teacher or facilitator has been (a) charged with and/or (b) convicted of any crimes against any learner in (i) 2005, (ii) in 2006, (iii) in 2007 and (iv) during the period 1 January 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, (aa) how many in each case, (bb) who were they and (cc) at which school did each such teacher or facilitator work;

(2) Whether any such teachers or facilitators (a) are still employed or (b) have been re-employed by her department since their conviction; if so, (i) who are they, (ii) at which schools do they currently teach and (iii) what were they convicted of?

NW1354E

REPLY:

SUMMARY

(1 and 2) The South African Council for Educators (SACE) reports that for the period 2005 to 2007 there were twenty cases involving unprofessional conduct towards learners. Sixteen cases related to unprofessional sexual conduct towards learners, and all were found guilty and dismissed. In four cases the educators were found guilty of assault, and two were dismissed while the other two were fined and continue to be in the employ of their respective provincial education department. SACE is still consolidating statistics for the first quarter of 2008. The names of educators cannot be disclosed, as decisions on some of these cases are challenged through judicial processes.

2005

REF	Name of School	OFFENCE	SANCTION
020/05-AKF	Uxolo High (WC)	Assault	Dismissal
040/05-AKF	Westville Primary (WC)	Assault	Dismissal
043/05-AKF	Imperial Primary (WC)	Sexual Assault	Dismissal
061/05-AKF	Dysseldorp Secondary (WC)	Sexual Harassment	Struck off
089/05-AKF	Esangweni High (WC)	Sexual Harassment	Dismissal
090/05-AKF	Murraysburg Intermediate (WC)	Indecent Assault	Struck off
099/05-AKF	Oude Molen Technical High (WC)	Sexual Molestation	Struck off

2006

REF	Name of School	OFFENCE	SANCTION
006/06-RIK	Newell High (EC)	Sexual Assault	Not Registered
008/06-MT	Retlakgona Primary (NW)	Rape	Dismissed by DOE
030/06-MT	Inkwenkwezi Secondary (WC)	Theft and Assault	Final Written warning and three months suspension without pay
041/06-MT	Macassar Primary (WC)	Sexual Assault	Dismissed by the DOE
043/06	Jurie Hayes (WC)	Sexual Assault	Dismissed by the DOE
082/06-RIK	Alafang Secondary (GP)	Sexual Assault	DOE found accused guilty and a 2 months suspension without pay was imposed
084/06-RIK	Lamontville High (KZN)	Sexual Relationship	Dismissal
M168/2006	Bartimea School: deaf & blind (FS)	Assault	Struck Off
087/06-RIK	Sastri Park Secondary (KZN)	Sexual Assault	Dismissed by the DOE

2007

Ref	Name of School	Offence	Sanction
019/07-AKF	Masiyile Secondary School (WC)	Sexual Relationship	Struck Off
081/07-MT	Houtbay High School (WC)	Indecent Assault	Struck Off
M50/2007	Dikagkeng High School (FS)	Sexual harassment	Dismissed
M44/2007	Navalsig High School (FS)	Assault	Incomplete

QUESTION 1631

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 19/09/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 28-2008)

Mr LB Labuschagne (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

How long does it take to approve a new post establishment at a school?

NW2406E

REPLY

Education MECs approve post establishments on a yearly basis. Preliminary establishments are provided to schools in October of each year and final establishments before the end of the school year for implementation in January of the next school year.

QUESTION 1055

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20/06/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 19-2008)

Dr SM van Dyk (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

How many (a) white students have been turned down for bursaries at state accredited and subsidised technikons and universities in the past three financial years and (b) other students did in fact qualify for such bursaries in the past three financial years?

NW1790E

REPLY:

a) The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides financial aid to students, but does not keep a record of bursary applications it turns down.

b). Below is a list of white students who were granted NSFAS loans and Funza Lushaka bursaries for the last 3 years.

	Number of funded white students, 2005-07

Year	Donor	Donor Type	White Student Count
2005	ASSET	NGO - Recovered Money	1
2005	COMMUNICARE	Private Sector Conduit	3
2005	DE Teacher Education (Ringfenced)	State	376
2005	Department of Agriculture Bursaries	State	21
2005	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION	State	1861
2005	Department of Labour Disability Fund	State	95
2005	Eastern Cape Premiers Office Scholarships	Provincial Government	20
2005	Eastern Cape Provincial Government	Provincial Government	3
2005	MEDUNSA Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	1
2005	NGO-STUDIETRUST	NGO - Recovered Money	14
2005	Rhodes University Council	Institution	52
2005	Rhodes University Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	2
2005	Tshwane University of Technology	Institution	4
2005	UCT UG Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	2
2005	UNISA Post Graduate Fund	Institution	5
2005	Univ Pretoria	Institution	54
2005	University of Cape Town	Institution	15
2005	University of Johannesburg	Institution	2
2005	University of KZN	Institution	3
2005	University of South Africa	Institution	3
2005	University of the Western Cape	Institution	3
2005	Wits University Post Graduate Recovery	Institution Recovered Funds	4
2005	Wits University Under Graduate Recovery	Institution Recovered Funds	3
2006	ASSET	NGO - Recovered Money	1
2006	CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY	Institution	1
2006	COMMUNICARE	Private Sector Conduit	2
2006	DE Teacher Education (Ringfenced)	State	354
2006	Department of Agriculture Bursaries	State	21
2006	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION	State	1615
2006	Department of Labour Disability Fund	State	102
2006	Durban University of Technology	Institution	4
2006	Eastern Cape Premiers Office Scholarships	Provincial Government	26
2006	Eastern Cape Provincial Government	Provincial Government	3
2006	METALLON TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP	Private Sector Conduit	2
2006	NGO-STUDIETRUST	NGO - Recovered Money	8
2006	Rhodes University Council	Institution	49
2006	Rhodes University Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	8
2006	Tshwane University of Technology	Institution	4
Year	Donor	Donor Type	White Student Count
2006	UCT UG Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	1
2006	UNISA Post Graduate Fund	Institution	6
2006	Univ Pretoria	Institution	117
2006	University of Cape Town	Institution	21
2006	University of KZN Gap Funding	Institution	15
2006	University of South Africa	Institution	11
2006	University of the Western Cape	Institution	2
2006	UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND - PG	WITS University	6
2007	CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY	Institution	2
2007	COMMUNICARE	Private Sector Conduit	1
2007	COMMUNICARE HAND OVER	Private Sector Conduit	1
2007	DE Teacher Education (Ringfenced)	State	242
2007	Department of Agriculture Bursaries	State	16
2007	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION	State	1507
2007	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - FET	State	255
2007	Department of Education: Funza Lushaka Bursary	State	757
2007	Department of Labour Disability Fund	State	93
2007	Department of Social Work	SATI	16
2007	Eastern Cape Premiers Office Scholarships	Provincial Government	34
2007	Eastern Cape Provincial Government	Provincial Government	10
2007	Eastern Province Provincial Government Recovered	Provincial Government	1
2007	METALLON TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP	Private Sector Conduit	2
2007	NGO-STUDIETRUST	NGO - Recovered Money	9
2007	Rhodes University Council	Institution	24
2007	Rhodes University Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	2
2007	Tshawane University of Technology 100% loan	Institution	2
2007	UCT UG Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	2
2007	UNISA Post Graduate Fund	Institution	5
2007	Univ Pretoria	Institution	72
2007	Universit of Pretoria Recovered Funds	Institution Recovered Funds	13
2007	University of Cape Town	Institution	17
2007	University of KZN	Institution	1
2007	University of KZN Gap Funding	Institution	15
2007	University of South Africa	Institution	5
2007	University of the Western Cape	Institution	1
2007	Wits University Under Graduate Recovery	Institution Recovered Funds	2

QUESTION 705

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 9/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2007;

(2) Whether these firms are used on a contractual basis; if so, (a) how many contracts did her department take out in this regard in 2007, (b) with which firms were these contracts taken out, (c) for what specific purpose was each contract taken out and (d) what was the value of the contract in each case;

(3) Why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security? NW1402E

REPLY:

Yes, the Department only uses one private security firm, whom the Department paid R411,426 in 2007.

Yes

(a) One

(b) Bushindo Business Enterprise

(d) R411 426.00 for 2007

(3) The Department employs Bushindo Business Enterprise to protect one of the buildings that the DoE currently rents to accommodate its expanding staff. In 2009 the Department will move to a new building that is being constructed in terms of a PPP agreement . Part of the security services will then be provided in terms of this agreement. Thus, the current staff complement of the Department will be sufficient to provide the remaining security services that will be required. The appointment of additional security staff at this stage would lead to their redundancy once we occupy the new building.

COMPILER: MR J VISSER

EXTENTION: X5439

QUESTION 744

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 16/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 13-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(a) What was the name of each private, secondary school that registered learners for matric exams in 2008, (b) in which (i) province and (ii) district is it located, (c) how many learners from each school were registered to write matric in 2008 and (d)(i) passed matric and (ii) received matric exemption in 2007?

NW1431E

REPLY:

In 2008 there are 21,677 private-school candidates registered to write the senior certificate. In 2007, 14,364 private-school candidates passed the senior certificate exam, and 5,869 passed with endorsement.

In 2008 there are 8,174 private-school candidates registered to write the Independent Examinations Board exam. In 2007, 7,034 private-school candidates passed the exam, and 5,663 passed with endorsement.

The details are provided in the two lists attached, one for private schools writing the senior certificate, and the other for private schools writing the Independent Board examinations.

QUESTION 1699

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 26/09/2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 29-2008

Mr G G Boinamo to ask the Minister of Education:

In respect of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 annual reports of her department and the annual reports of each statutory and other entity reporting to her, (a) what was the (i) budgeted cost, (ii) actual cost and (iii) unit cost of each annual report and (b) how many copies of each were (i) produced and (ii) distributed?

NW2479E

Table 1: Annual report costs

PUBLIC ENTITY	i) Budgeted cost of the Annual Report	ii) Actual cost of the Annual Report	iii) Unit cost of each Annual Report
	2006/07 R	2007/08 R	2006/07 R	2007/08 R	2006/07 R	2007/08 R
Department of Education	360 000	376 200	159 354	204 328	159,35	136,21
South African Council for Educators (SACE)	60 000	90 000	64 824	131 141	21,61	87,42
Council on Higher Education (CHE)	70 000	68 000	64 198	67 043	64,20	67,04
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)	70 000	77 000	62 433	70 725	41,62	47,15
Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC)	159 949	198 913	157 555	151 050	105,04	100,70
Umalusi	70 000	80 000	59 433	77 292	29,72	38,65
South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)	150 000	220 000	172 637	258 461	43,16	86,15

Table 2: Annual report copies printed and distributed

Public Entity	i) How many copies were produced?	ii) How many copies were distributed
	2006/07	2007/08	2006/07	2007/08 (distribution to date)
Department of Education	1 000	1 500	900	1 000
SACE	3 000	1 500	2 900	1 500
CHE	1 000	1 000	800	950
NSFAS	1 500	1 500	1 412	1 462
ELRC	1 500	1 500	1 400	1 450
Umalusi	2 000	2 000	1 700	1 750
SAQA	4 000	3 000	4 000	3 000

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN TO ORAL REPLY

QUESTION 220

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 26/06/09

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 04-2009)

Mr GR Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

How much capital expenditure has been devoted to the construction of university residences in each of the past 15 years, (b) how much has been spent on maintenance of existing residences in each of these years and (c) what are the current (i) occupation rates for student and (ii) management capacity in residences in each university;

Whether his department will conduct an audit of university residences; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW267E

REPLY:

The Department of Higher Education and Training will, during 2010, be undertaking a study of student housing in the public higher education system. The study will focus on the system's need for additional student housing, and on the ways in which expansion could be financed. The Department will draw on lessons learned from the 2010/11 to 2011/12 residence expansion process funded by government, institutions and the private sector. The implementation of these expansion plans will lead to the number of student housing places rising by 7 000 by the 2011 academic year, from the current total of 100 000. This expansion programme includes provision for the major renovation of 2 000 existing residence places, primarily in smaller rural universities.

Yes and relevant details are provided above (referred to -1).

QUESTION 1758

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 10/10/2008
(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 30-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether her department has any (a) training programmes for grade R teachers and (b) public awareness programmes aimed at encouraging parents to register learners for grade R programmes in public schools; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW2546E

REPLY:

(a) Yes, the DoE has training programmes for grade R teachers. Most teachers are being trained as part of the NPDE programme. Some provinces have made agreements with institutions of higher learning in their areas to provide training programmes for the teachers. All current teacher development initiatives include grade R practitioners.

(b) Yes, the multi-media information campaigns conducted every year to remind parents to register their children (for all grades) for the next academic year includes grade R learners.

QUESTION 1423

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22/08/ 2008
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24-2008)

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her department commenced with implementing the policy to offer indigenous languages in all the schools; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) when and (b) in which grades;

(2) Whether her department has taken into account the difficulty of introducing indigenous languages to older learners; if not why not; if so, what steps has her department taken to deal with these difficulties? NW2163E

REPLY:

(1) Everyone has the right to be taught in the official language of their choice at a public educational institution "where this is reasonably practicable". The Language in Education Policy (1997) specifies that it is "reasonably practicable" to teach in a preferred language if there are at least 40 primary or 35 secondary learners in a particular grade who request it at a particular school. Parents who believe this right is not being promoted and fulfilled should approach, in the first instance, the school governing body, which sets a school's language policy. If they do not feel sufficiently accommodated, parents should then contact the relevant local education authority.

Schools offer the 11 official and 14 other languages as subjects at three different levels: home language, first additional language and second additional language. With the agreement of the provincial department of education, schools determine what languages should be offered at what level, based on demand from parents. Again, parents must ensure that their preferences are made known to the school through the governing body. I encourage all schools to offer at least one African language as part of their curriculum. In fact, most schools in South Africa offer an African language as a subject in both the GET and FET phases, but it is not as yet a compulsory requirement.

(2) Yes. Learners cannot begin a new language as a subject in the FET phase (post Grade 9). Learners must have taken a language in the GET phase in order to offer that language for matric. It should also be noted that in order to be offered as a subject, any language must comply with all the requirements set out in national policy regarding the outcomes and literature requirements. Any language must be determined as policy before a school may offer it for certification purposes.

QUESTION 1424

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22/08/ 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24-2008)

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether by spending more funds to expand the Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, her department intends replacing matric with FET qualifications, if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) What steps her department has taken to ensure that schools continue to aim for high matric pass rates?

NW2164E

REPLY:

(1) No, the NC (V) qualification for colleges will not replace the matric qualification. Young people have a choice of two qualifications in the FET learning pathway. Both college and matric qualifications serve important but different purposes. The matric qualification will continue to provide a general education for students wishing to pursue an academic career. The NC (V) qualification provides an opportunity for young people to begin their education and training in a given vocational specialization as early as possible. It also allows those with general academic qualifications, such as the matric, to access the vocational specializations should they choose to do so.

The NC (V) qualifications require that students:

· Have a clear understanding of the career pathway he/she wishes to follow

· Demonstrate a level of personal maturity to benefit from the workplace orientation of the qualification

· Engage in both theoretical learning as well as integrated application of skills in preparation for the workplace

The increased expenditure in colleges is motivated by two essential factors. The first is the historical under-funding of FET colleges, which dates back to the former Technical Colleges era. The second is the need to reposition these colleges to respond appropriately to the new and emerging skills demands in the labour market. The responsibility to provide simulated learning environments, for example, is a considerable cost driver in this sector.

(2) The Department of Education has developed a plan to support schools and the Grade 12 learners who will be writing the National Senior Certificate examination in November 2008. As part of this process, the Department introduced a variety of interventions to support the readiness of schools for these examinations. The interventions included the following:

Subject adviser and teacher training
The development of Learning Programme Guidelines, which provide guidelines on teaching each subject in Grades 10, 11 and 12. These include 40 week programmes to provide guidance on coverage, pace and sequence for delivering the curriculum
Subject Assessment Guidelines which indicate the types and nature of the assessment tasks to be developed
The development of catalogues of approved textbooks for grades 10, 11 and 12
The provision of textbooks to grade 10, 11 and 12 learners
The development of examination exemplars for Grades 10, 11 and 12 by the Department's examination panel
The publication and distribution of examination exemplars in Study Mate and Studie Pel, in each of 33 weeks from March to October 2008
The development and distribution of a book of Exemplar Maths and Maths Literacy Papers for grades 10, 11 and 12 funded by Old Mutual
Saturday classes
Winter schools
The National Strategy for Learner Attainment which provides specific support for schools that achieved under 60% pass rate in the Senior Certificate.

These interventions are intended to support schools achieve good pass rates in the National Senior Certificate examinations.

QUESTION 1425

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22/08/ 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION 22-2008)

Mr GG Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her department has taken any steps to prevent learners from falling pregnant; if not, why not; if so, what steps;

(2) Whether these numbers have decreased since the introduction of these steps; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are relevant details?

NW2165E

ANSWER:

(1) Government recognizes that schoolgirl pregnancy is a social issue that causes anxiety for learners, teachers and schools. The Measures for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy, which the Department published in 2007 and distributed to all schools, provides guidelines for dealing with schoolgirl pregnancies. These guidelines focus on prevention, emphasizing the importance of sex education, HIV/Aids education and peer education among pupils, but also offer practical steps to take when schoolgirls become pregnant. The guidelines aim to educate and assist learners to understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities in relation to pregnancy. In support of the guidelines, the Department is developing materials to assist teachers in dealing with the complexities of schoolgirl pregnancy at school. The Department will publish the first edition of a series of support materials in late September 2008. The guidelines complement preventative programmes emphasizing abstinence amongst school-going youth, such as the Life Orientation curriculum, HIV and AIDS peer education programmes, the Girls' Education Movement clubs, and human rights and values education programmes of the Department focusing on responsibilities and positive lifestyle choices.

(2) It is too early to measure the impact of the guidelines on the reduction of learner pregnancy at school. However, the Department is investigating the current data and research available on teenage and schoolgirl pregnancy. The results of this research will be available in early 2009.

QUESTION 1447

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22/08/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24-2008)

1447 Mrs D van deer Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) (a) What was the total cost to the state of consultants used by her department in the (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 financial years; (b) what are the names of the consultants used; (c) for what purpose were they used; (d) what was the reason for preferring to use consultants instead of hiring persons with the necessary skills?

(2) Whether any former employees of her department have been employed as consultants in the above-mentioned financial years; if so, why; why did each such person leave her department?

NW2191E

REPLY:

(1) (a)

Table 1: Total costs of consultant contracts

2005/06	2006/07	2007/08
R 72,883,130.00	R 5,736,558.02	R 7,960,135.85

Note: These totals reflect the ceiling amounts of contracts at date of appointment. Each contract allows for a specific timeframe for the completion of the task and payments to the service providers, which could be interim payments based on the progress, or only paid in total after the completion of the task. The NEIMS contract with Deloitte Consulting largely accounts for the high expenditure in 2005/6.

1. (b and c)

Table 2: Consultants and projects

Names	Purpose used for
(b)	(c)
2005-06
Deloitte Consulting	Assisted with the creation of a National Education Infrastructure Management Survey and Database.
Sizanang Centre	Produced the "Education Financial Tool", and assisted in the utilization of the Tool in the production of medium and long term expenditure plans.
Link Community Development	Assisted with the development of School Financial Guidelines.
Paul Musker & Associates	Reviewed national, regional and international literature and analysed information on incentives for teachers in primary schools, as well as the development of a comprehensive report.
2006-07
Namela Projects	Conducted a transport study that would inform DoE's undertaking of education dynamics in relation to accessibility of schools.
Dishumelani Business Enterprises	Assisted with Whole School Development Intervention.
Khulisa Management	Conducted an EMIS sample survey.
M Power Learning & Development	Assisted with the pilot project to train Master Teachers in Grade 10-12 Mathematics and Physical Science.
Centre for Research in Politics of Language, University of Pretoria	Conducted research on the implications of translating Senior Certificate question papers into all the official African languages.
O.M.A.	Assisted with internal auditing activities.
Bosele Management Consulting (BMC)	Assisted with the "Women in and into Management" project.
Leonie Tiearney	Assisted with tracking the performance of cohorts on first time entries in tertiary institutions.
Ahmed Essop	Assisted in finalizing performance indicators for the National Plan on Higher Education.
Bridging Executive Development	Assisted with Organizational Development.
Unleash Potential Unlimited	Assisted with the monitoring and evaluation of the Innovative Management Project.
Prof Brahm Fleisch	Assisted with the analyses of Provincial Education Strategic Plans.
Regenesys Manager	Assisted with the compilation of a National Report on Education Management, Governance and Development.
Prof Brahm Fleisch	Assisted with the analysis of annual performance plans.
Class Act Educational Services	Refined the IQMS based on 6 provinces and 3 schools per province.
HSRC	Classified towns and determined distances between schools and towns.
Wits Education Policy Unit	Assisted with the "Home Education Project".
2007-08
IC Blue Consulting	Assisting with the re-development of the DoE's website.
Singizi Consulting	Revise existing National Human Resource Development (NHRD) Strategy 2001, into a second version.
Khulisa Management Services	Evaluate, review and refine Whole School Evaluation (WSE) instruments, developing a framework for aligning information from the criteria descriptions, ratings, interview schedules and questionnaire pilot, and report on these instruments.
Pauline Malhaela & Associates	Delivery of Advanced Certificate in Education: School Leadership Field Test.
Mind Pool	Assist DoE in the development of an Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) – Audio visual training at schools.
OMA Chartered Accountants	Assisted with internal audit activities.
SAB&T	Administrative management of the mass literary campaign of the DoE – Kha Ri Gude

(d) The reason for preferring to use consultants instead of hiring persons with the necessary skills is that the professional expertise of consultants is required for specific projects for a short duration of time. Once the project is finalised, their services are no longer required. The process of creating posts, advertising, short listing, interviewing and appointing candidates for a short contract period is subsequently avoided. Furthermore, few candidates are prepared to accept short-term contract appointments.

(2) Three former employees of the Department have been contracted as consultants or are employed by consulting companies appointed by the DoE, in the following financial years:

2005-06 - Ms Helen Perry (Sizanang Centre)

2006-07 - Mr Ahmed Essop

2007-08 - Mr Bobby Soobrayan (Singizi Consulting)

After leaving the DoE, they became employees of the respective companies that were awarded the bids in the three cases. They left the DoE on their own accord either by resigning or by departmental transfer and promotion as in the case of Mr Soobrayan. He thereafter left the public servi

QUESTION 1509

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 05/09/ 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 26-2008)

Mr LB Labuschagne (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether any consideration has been given to revising the current quintile system of funding schools by basing it on the composition of the learner body rather than the geographic location of a school; if not; why not; if so what are the relevant details?

NW 2251E

REPLY:

Yes, I have asked my department to review the current quintile system for school funding. The current quintile system, introduced in 2006, requires provinces to assign each school a poverty score based on the relative poverty of the community in which each school is located. Provinces then assign each school to a quintile according to a national poverty distribution table, so that poor schools in different provinces receive equal school allocations. However, the Head of Department in each province has the discretion to adjust the quintile ranking of a school. The departmental review will include consultations with all stakeholders before we release any proposals for public comment.

QUESTION 1536

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12/09/2008

(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 27-2008)

MS C. Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether her Department has received queries or concerns from Grade 12 pupils regarding examination forms which they have been asked to sign which refer to "Senior Certificate without University Entrance"; if so what are the relevant details?

(2)(a) What are the relevant details regarding university entrance criteria which make it necessary to refer to "Senior Certificate without University Entrance" and;

2(b)(i) what information is available that can be used to assist Grade 12 pupils and concerned parents; and (ii) how can this information be accessed?

(1) The DoE has received no queries of this kind from grade 12 learners.

2 (a) In addition to satisfying the requirements for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) candidates must meet the following minimum requirements for admission to Higher Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor degrees offered at higher education institutions:

(i) Higher Certificate: a National Senior Certificate with a minimum of 30% in the language of learning and teaching of the Higher Education Institution as certified by Umalusi, the Council for General and Further Education and Training

Diploma: a National Senior Certificate with an achievement rating of 3 (Moderate Achievement, 40% - 49%), or better in four recognized NCS subjects excluding Life Orientation.

Bachelor's Degree: a National Senior Certificate with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50% - 59%) or better in four subjects chosen from a NCS designated subject list.

(2) (b)(i) Provinces have publicised the National Senior Certificate qualification through circulars, posters and flyers and other media. Furthermore, Higher Education South Africa (HESA) published the "Guide to Entry Into Higher Education" 2007 version and the "Plan Your Future" summary guide on Higher Education (HE) admission requirements, translated into English, Afrikaans isiXhosa, Isis Zulu and Sesotho. All these documents have been distributed to schools, circuit districts/ regional and circuit offices.

(2) (b)(ii) Over and above the provincial circulars, flyers and posters and other media broadcasts, the information is also available on the Department of Education and National Information Service for Higher education (NiSHE) websites. This information is also available at all provincial offices, districts, circuits and schools.

The Matriculation Board website address is: www.hesa-enrol.ac.za

QUESTION 567

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28/03/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 11-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

In respect of each of the past five years, what was the (a) total capital expenditure estimates for her department at (i) national, (ii) provincial and (iii) local level and (b) amount (i) budgeted and (ii) actually spent at each level?

NW1250E

REPLY:

The Department of Education's capital expenditure budget is for the national level only.

(a) Total capital expenditure estimates and (b) amount budgeted and spent

Financial year	Budget	Spent
	R'000	R'000
2002/03	57 962	13 687
2003/04	53 182	51 871
2004/05	13 373	7 134
2005/06	18 175	14 109
2006/07	9 501	5 459

QUESTION 1851

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 24/10/2008
(INTERNAL QESTION PAPER 32-2008)

Adv PS Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

How many (a) public schools as defined in the SA Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996 and (b) public further education and training (FET) institutions as defined by the Further Education and Training Act, Act 98 of 1998 benefited (i) in 2006, (ii) in 2007 and (iii) during the period 1 January 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available from the e-rate as contained in section 73 of the Electronic Communications Act, Act 36 of 2005? NW2644E

REPLY:

(a) There are no schools currently benefiting from the e-rate.

(b) There are 9 FET colleges in KwaZulu-Natal (Coastal, Esayidi, Mnambithi, Mthashana, Majuba, Thekwini, Umgungundhlovu, Elangeni, Richtek FET colleges) and 1 in the Eastern Cape (Port Elizabeth FET College) benefitting from the e-rate in 2008.

Questions and Replies

23 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 476 to 500

23 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 526 to 550

23 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 301 to 325

23 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies no 551 to 575

20 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 401 to 425

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 201 to 225

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 276 to 300

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 251 to 275

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 226 to 250

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 376 to 400

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 501 to 525

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 351 to 375

17 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 326 to 350

14 July 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 176 to 200

01 July 2009 - Questions: Minister of Mineral Resources

MPs to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources

Reply:

24 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 151 to 175

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1701 to 1725

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 126 to 150

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 76 to 100

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 101 to 125

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 26 to 50

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1 to 25

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 51 to 75

23 March 2009 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1726 to 1750

31 December 2008 - Questions: Minister of Mineral and Energy

MPs to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy

Reply:

26 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Cooperative Governance

MPs to ask the Minister of Provincial and Local Government

Reply:

25 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Home Affairs

MPs to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

Reply:

24 December 2008 - Question:Minister of Housing

MPs to ask the Minister of Housing

Reply:

02 December 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1951 to 2000

02 December 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1901 to 1950

01 December 2008 - Questions: Minister of Education

MPs to ask the Minister of Education

Reply:

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1651 to 1700

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1851 to 1900

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1501 to 1550

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1601 to 1650

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1751 to 1800

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1551 to 1600

28 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1801 to 1850

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1451 to 1500

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1151 to 1200

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 901 to 950

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1351 to 1400

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1301 to 1350

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1101 to 1150

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1251 to 1300

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 851 to 900

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 701 to 750

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1051 to 1100

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 401 to 450

27 November 2008 - Questions asked to Minister of Question & Replies No 1401 to 1450

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