Questions and Replies

Reply:

The Department’s statement on the conflict in Sudan is in line with the statements issued by the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and the international community as a whole. Similarly, South Africa’s statement on the war in Ukraine has been consistent with the statements by a number of countries, including international organisations. South Africa has consistently called for the peaceful resolution to the wars in Sudan and Ukraine, which have a devastating impact and negative humanitarian effects to the most vulnerable. South Africa supports the AU, UN and peace initiatives by a number of countries to bring about peace in these countries.

Reply:

a) Department has established a committee dealing with harassment incidents generally. During awareness campaigns and at morning parades when addressing the Code of Conduct, officials are sensitised about harassment.

For 2022/23, Quarter 04, the Department trained 240 officials to capacitate them to investigate, initiate and chair cases of harassment. During the Women’s month, Children’s month and the month of people living with disability, young women are targeted for training and awareness on harassment in the workplace.

The reported incidents of harassment are investigated and the outcome of the investigation will determine the disciplinary action to be taken against alleged transgressors. The victims are referred to Employee Assistance Practitioners for emotional and psychological support.

b) Each case is handled according to its own merits. The nature and complexity including availability of all relevant parties determines the expediency of each case.

 

END.

Reply:

a) The percentage of completion of the new correctional centre in Parys, Free State is 55%.

b) The estimated cost to completion of the project is ninety six million, four hundred and fifty four thousand, five hundred and forty eight rand and twenty three cents (R96, 454, 548.23) inclusive of Professional Fees at 18%. The mentioned amount excludes Construction Price Adjustment Provision (CPAP), Development Bank Southern Africa (DBSA) Management Fees, Contingency and Value Added Tax (VAT).

END.

Reply:

a) Approximately thirteen percent (13%) of land in South Africa is communal land.

b) Approximately 16 million hectares.

(i),(ii) There is currently no disaggregation of occupied communal land in terms of apartheid-era Permission to Occupy Certificates and other forms of tenure.

Reply:

a) The farm belonging to Fortuins Kolk of the Rossouw Olivier Familie Trust (IT1990:2004) in Carnarvon was purchased in line with the Provision of Land and Assistance Act, Act 126 of 1993, using the Proactive Land Acquisition policy (PLAP) on 13 January 2023.

b) The comparative market values and prices of the farms that were sold in the Carnavon area between 2014 and 2023 are reflected in Annexure A: Comparable Market Values and Prices.

c) The indicators that the farm was bought within the realistic market value are based on the value determined by the Office of the Valuer-General in terms of the Property Valuation Act 17 of 2014 (PVA) of 2014:

The OVG price determination table:

Property description	Portion 2 of Farm Fortuins Kolk 37, Carnarvon RD
Land use	Grazing and irrigated land
Extent	3509.2669 Ha
Carrying capacity	32ha/LSU
Water sources	Boreholes and dams
Fixed improvements sizes	±695 m² in total
Current use value	R4 057 818.38
Market value	R18 161 321.00
PVA value	R11 110 000.00

d) The agreed purchase price of R11 110 000.00 is based on the provisions of the Property Valuation Act 17 of 2014 (PVA) and PVA Regulations.

Reply:

South Africa is a party to the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC), a multilateral organisation that relies on inter-state cooperation to ensure peace and justice.

South Africa is also a member of BRICS which was founded upon, inter alia, the shared commitment to restructure the global political, economic, and financial architecture to be fair, balanced and representative, resting on the important pillars of multilateralism and international law.

The aspirations of the ICC and BRICS are mutually reinforcing. South Africa’s participation both in the ICC and BRICS reaffirms its commitment to international law and justice, protecting human rights, peace and security, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order, which is a fundamental pillar of South Africa’s foreign policy.

The Government of South Africa has, from the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, consistently called for a peaceful, negotiated solution. The Government of South Africa maintains this stance.

Reply:

Departmental Procedures as stipulated in the B-ORDER 3, Chapter 2, (Physical Care/ Hygiene), outlines the provisions of toiletries for inmates per month as follows:

• 5x toilet paper rolls per inmates,
• 1x packet sanitary towels (10`s) per female inmate and when requested,
• 1x toothbrush every 6 months or when requested,
• 2x 25ml tooth paste every third week or 1x 50ml per month,
• 2x 100-gram bar bath soap per month,
• 2x 200-gram bar sunlight green soap per month,
• 1 shaving blade,
• Face cloth and towel as required.

The provisions of toiletries and toilet paper at East London Management Area were as stipulated above and the last date of provision was on 03 April 2023 and 14 April 2023 respectively.

The Department continues to conduct the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the procedural prescript and analysis of reports on a monthly basis.

END

Reply:

aa) The comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO):

Financial Year: 2021-2022

(i) small – medium – and micro – enterprises

• none

(ii) Cooperatives

• none

(iii) Township enterprises

• none

(iv) Rural enterprises

• none

Financial Year: 1 April 2023 –

(i) small – medium – and micro – enterprises

• none

(ii) Cooperatives

• none

(iii) Township enterprises

• none

(iv) Rural enterprises

• none

bb) No other entity is reporting to the Minister.

Reply:

The Department is not involved in the KARPOWERSHIP deal between South Africa and Türkiye. Department of Mineral Resources and Energy is better suited to answer in detail the question related to the deal with KARPOWERSHIP and Türkiye.

Reply:

The gazetting of a notice pursuant to the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act, No. 37 of 2001 is a standard practice for international summits held in South Africa. The immunities are for the conference and not for specific individuals. This is a standard conferment of immunities that is done for all international conferences and summits held in South Africa irrespective of the level of participation. The immunities are meant to protect the conference and its attendees from the jurisdiction of the host country for the duration of the conference. The Government of the Republic of South Africa is a party to the Rome Statute and is aware of its obligations under the Rome Statute. The subject of President Putin and the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court are a matter under consideration by Government as reported many times in the public domain and in response to questions in Parliament.

Reply:

The incident is currently under investigation, the outcome thereof will be shared upon finalisation .

END.

Reply:

(a) What oversight mechanisms have been put in place for projects that are implemented by the DBSA.

I have been informed that the Department has the following governance structures in place to oversee the work undertaken by the DBSA on behalf of the Department:

• Project Progress Meetings – Chaired by the Deputy Director-General supported by project teams from both the Department and DBSA.
• Project Steering Committee Meetings - Chaired by the Director-General supported by project teams from both the Department and DBSA.
• The Department also ensures that there are project steering committee and technical meetings established and convened for each individual project. These meetings guide individual project implementation and monitor progress on site. The Department further conducts site visits to each project to monitor progress.
• Additionally, the Department receives written monthly and quarterly reports from the DBSA.
• DBSA is required to seek concurrence from the Department at each stage, i.e. stages as outlined in the Framework for Infrastructure Delivery and Procurement Management, prior to moving on to the next stage.
• I have also instituted monthly meetings with the DBSA for oversight purposes.

(b) What mechanisms have been put in place to build internal capacity to end the reliance of implementing agencies.

The agreed oversight mechanism in terms of the existing Service Level Agreement has not been fully implemented and is therefore under review.

This is, now, being rectified by, first, bringing skilled Built Environment Specialists into the Department to build the internal capacity.

Reply:

The Minister is appraised of his responsibilities. On the 26 May 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa, invoking Section 97 of the Constitution, signed a proclamation which transferred to the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity certain powers and functions entrusted by the Electricity Regulation Act (Act No 4 of 2006.

President Ramaphosa transferred to the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity all powers and functions contained in Section 34(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act, which were previously entrusted to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy.

In addition, the President transferred relevant powers and functions set out in Section 34(2) of the Electricity Regulation Act which are necessary to direct the procurement of new generation capacity and ensure security of supply.

Reply:

The Honourable Member is kindly requested to specify what report she is referring to exactly (the proper name of the report), to enable the Minister to respond to this question appropriately.

END.

Reply:

Background to the reply: 

A hospital that has the deliveries of 56 babies at a time, would generally require a minimum of approximately 25 Midwives at a particular time to ensure maximum coverage. This means that these midwives would have to take care of the 56 newborn babies, while also continuing to monitor the new arrival and those mothers who are in the active stage of labour. In this situation these nurses must ensure that the mothers and their newborn babies receive quality clinical care which would not result in unnecessary litigations. At this hospital, the picture derived from the letter that was received from MEC about this incident, it means that this was the reality at the time. The nurses, like all workers, are at times faced with acute shortage of resources, because of the sudden (unexpected rise in service demands) and at times these sudden increases outstrip the actual resource envelope. The nurses at this time were faced with the hard choice of either leaving the babies on unrestrained on the beds, with a risk of them falling or creating safe mechanism of keeping them safe and unharmed/unhurt).  

1.. The Minister of Health stated during the interview about this incident that the unfortunate incident of placing the newborn babies in the cardboard boxes instead of cribs is unacceptable and apologised to the families of the newborn babies. The position of the department, which is in line with standard clinical practice, is that not all the newborns delivered will require incubators. Incubators are used in situations where the new-born baby is sick and requires supportive machine or continuous oxygen for survival. Healthy new-born babies may require crip/ basinet, not a permanent arrangement but, as a backup support in case the mother is unwell to take care of the baby, need to take a bath or go to the toilet. In general, where both the mother and the baby are well, babies are safe to be kept on the mothers’ chest in what is called Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).  

2. The Provincial Department of Health instituted the investigation on the matter and the details will be made available when the report has been finalised. 

3. Contingency plans are in place in all hospitals; however, contingency plans are developed based on the average delivery rates per facility.  The department has a plan in place for the procurement of essential equipment in all the hospitals, however there are times where the sudden increase in the number of patients such as admissions cannot be preplanned. The contingency measures in place include the enforcement of the referral system, which ensures that a hospital that cannot manage the situation for various reasons, including the lack of capacity such as equipment, human resources etc, such a hospital can refer the patients to the next facility which has capacity. The report from the province indicated that Mahikeng Hospital had a capacity of 16 incubators and 31 cribs and on the night in question, which is enough for the normal day to day management of the workload. The report from the province further indicates that on the day in question, 56 babies were delivered, thus outstripping the available capacity. This means that 47 babies had been placed in accordance with proper prescribed procedures, leaving the nurses to place 09 babies in cardboard boxes. It is reported that four babies were placed in card boxes and others were placed two babies in each crib.  

END.

Reply:

Yes. The agro-processing industry is considered a priority in the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), which is a social compact signed between government and industry in May 2022. The grounds for prioritising the agro-processing industry are as follows:

• The agro-processing industry has the potential to stimulate and spur demand for raw materials from the agricultural industry through backward and forward linkages. Demand for raw materials creates output markets, with the potential to increase income for farmers. As a result, farmers are encouraged to bring fallow land into production, which in turn creates demand for raw material downstream and contributes to job creation upstream. The value-add and food processing mitigate post-harvest losses.
• Whilst the AAMP is a sectoral plan, the contribution of government towards “competitive agricultural and agro-processing sectors, driving market-oriented and inclusive production to develop rural economies, ensures food-security, and create employment and entrepreneurial”, is articulated in the AAMP as follows:

Pillar-1: Resolving policy ambiguities and creating an investment-friendly climate:

Increase transformation of, and worker-ownership in agriculture, food and beverage value chains, actively support black-owned Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and women food processors and retailers by lowering barriers to entry.

Pillar-2: Creating enabling infrastructure:

A key challenge facing rural areas is the acute lack of economic infrastructure, both bulk and on-farm infrastructure. In mitigation, the President established an Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency to coordinate and align the development of bulk infrastructure (electricity, water, rail, road, ports, etc.) by the three spheres of government. Accordingly, the Infrastructure Office has developed a 203-project pipeline, costed at R1.8 trillion. About 13 of these infrastructure projects are directly located within the agriculture and agro-processing space such as processing facilities, irrigation schemes and fresh produce markets. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has budgeted R2.15 billion to support and develop farmers with production inputs and on-farm infrastructure.

Pillar-3 Comprehensive support, development finance, and extension services:

Efficient and effective advisory technical services are critical to the development of agro-processing activities in rural areas. Accordingly, researchers recommend participatory approaches geared to assist producers and agro-processors to restore their natural resource base, increase agricultural production, productivity, and value-add and equally, ensure compliance with mandatory food manufacturing standards and regulations. DALRRD is currently strengthening extension and advisory machinery through retraining and resourcing of Agricultural Extension Practitioners (AEP). DALRRD and the Provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDA) have recruited more than 3 500 AEP as part of providing comprehensive support to producers and agro-processors. In total, the number of AEPs recruited will be 10 000. The move is expected to improve the ratio of AEPs to producers toward an acceptable standard.

Pillar-4: Ensuring food security, expanded production and employment creation:

The agricultural sector contributes about 2.8 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, when food manufacturing is taken into consideration, the sector’s contribution to GDP could be as high as 7 percent. Similarly, the agricultural sector employs about 888 000 people whilst the agro-processing industry employs 264 029 people. An increase in agricultural production through the utilization of land under the Traditional and Cultural Council will expand the raw material base required downstream for value-add. The AAMP estimates that a 10 percent increase in the utilisation of land under Traditional and Cultural Councils, which is equivalent to 481 380 hectares is expected to create 501 000 job opportunities. The number is higher when factoring downstream jobs.

Pillar-5: Market access - domestic and export:

Access to markets is the lifeblood of agribusinesses operating in rural areas. Infrastructure backlogs in rural towns entail high transaction costs for producers and agro-processors. On the domestic front, the National Treasury (NT) is implementing the 30% set-aside geared to ensure penetration of small and medium producers into State institutional markets. Moreover, various municipalities are investing resources to revamp and revitalise fresh produce markets. On the export side, the recently signed Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfTCA) provides opportunities for growth and development of rural economies. The AAMP underscores the importance of maintenance of the current global markets and sourcing new markets.

Pillar-6 Import replacement and expanded agro-processing exports:

Localization strategy is a critical pillar of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP). The thrust of localization efforts is to increase productivity while entrenching inclusive economic growth.

Programme	Intervention Plan
Rural industrial development	Identify and support smallholder farmers who have initiatives of industrialisation, such as goats and cattle massification; and Formalise the rural agro processors for linkage with industry role players.

Reply:

1. The COVID 19 Vaccination programme started on 17 February 2021. According to the Electronic Vaccination Data System the total number of COVID 19 vaccines administered for the period 17 February 2021 and 5 June 2023 are 38 977 115.

2. Yes, three deaths resulting from Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) following administration of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine have been causality linked to the vaccine. The common adverse events following immunisation includes fever, pain at the injection site, pain, nausea, local reaction, headache, fatigue, dizziness and chest pain.

3. (a) An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) can be reported three ways a) on the MedSafety app b) at any private or public health facility on the MedSafety app or on a paper-based form emailed to [email protected] c) on the COVID-19 hotline (now the National Health Hotline). The NDoH in collaboration with SAHPRA has widely communicated to the public how to report AEFI, including on social media, training of health care workers and on various webinars/media engagements. Only serious and severe AEFI are investigated; 3075 clinically significant AEFI have been reported and the investigations are either underway or concluded. It should be noted that the majority of AEFI are found to be related in time, but not causally linked, to immunisation.

(b) A total of 49 claims have been received by the Covid-19 Vaccine Injury No Fault Compensation Scheme. All the claims have been adjudicated by the Adjudication Panel and finalised.

Breakdown:

Claims – No evidence of temporary or permanent disability	30	R0.00
Claims – Death benefit (R150,000.00) each	3	R450,000.00
Claim – Permanent Disability	1	R171,000.00
Claims – Temporary Disability	2	R45,000.00
Claim – Private Doctor consultation	1	R5,600.00
Claims – re-directed to Sisonke Trial – vaccinate before 17 May 2021	6	R0.00
Claims – assessed – wait for additional information	6	R0.00
TOTAL	49	R671,600.00

END.

Reply:

(a). The current system of lodging applications for mining licenses is ELECTRONIC. The DMRE launched an online system, referred to as SAMRAD Online Application System, in 2014 where all applications for mining licenses are lodged. Furthermore, the online system was launched to make it easier for companies and individuals to lodge applications in the comfort of their company offices or homes.

(b). The DMRE through the Small-Scale Mining directorate has been assisting Artisanal Small -Scale Mining (ASM) miners through providing financial provision for rehabilitation to qualifying Historically Disadvantaged South African (HDSA). The environmental licenses are evaluated and granted by the DMRE (Competent Authority) whilst the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (Appeal Authority) deals with objections and appeals of environmental licenses.

Reply:

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development does not have Provincial Heritage Resource Authority unit within its approved organisational structure.

(a),(b) Falls away.

Reply:

(a) Tourism is a concurrent function in the Constitution.

The Department together with provinces, the private sector and law enforcement agencies developed a Tourism Safety Strategy in 2018. The 2018 Strategy has not yet been fully implemented and was revisited on 29 May 2023 at a Dialogue to implement it and action was agreed on outstanding issues. The strategy implementation is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department and SAPS.

The Tourism Safety Forum will now meet quarterly.

The Department has budgeted to train 2000 Tourism Monitors in the 2023/24 Financial Year.

(b) In partnership with the private sector, we will launch a safety app and operational centre where monitoring will be done.

Reply:

Yes. It is true that agribusiness migratory patterns result in unemployment and food insecurity for households that were directly benefiting from such establishments. It is also true that the opportunity should be seized to promote more self-employment within the sector. Of the nine objectives defined in the Agricultural and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), five objectives as highlighted below aim to broadly address the concerns raised in this question:

• Promote transformation in agriculture and agro-processing sectors;
• Increase food security in South Africa;
• Accelerate the opening of markets and better access conditions;
• Enhance competitiveness and entrepreneurial opportunities through technological innovations, infrastructure development and digitalization; and
• Create effective farmer support, agro-processing, food wholesale and retail incentives.

The work done through various committees is focused on developing integrated development plans to address and attain the broader strategic intent for inclusive economic growth.

Reply:

1. (a) (i) The following towns has functional clinics; Kamieskroon, Kharkams; Leliefontein ; Hondeklipbaai (Fixed clinics);

(ii) Towns (small settlements) with no clinics: Kheis; Lepelsfontein; Spoegrivier; Tweerivier; Klipfontein ;Soebatsfontein; Nourivier; Rooifontein; Kamassies and Paulshoek.

(b) The Health Professionals in mobile clinics visit these 10 smaller settlements twice a month.

2. (a) (i) Two (2) ambulances are allocated to Kamiesberg Local Municipality.

(ii) These ambulances service all towns within the municipality.

(b) All ambulances are stationed in Garries which is a centrally located town within the municipality.

3. (a) All ambulances are roadworthy and undertake roadworthy tests annually.

(b) All ambulances have valid licences.

END.

Reply:

The Department of Mineral of Resources and Energy (DMRE) is legislatively not responsible for compensation of employees. There are two Departments in the Republic of South Africa that are responsible for compensation of employees. These are the Department of Health and the Department of Employment and Labour. Silicosis compensation is specifically the responsibility of the Department of Health through the administration of the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act (ODMWA) as amended.

The Tshiamiso Trust is established under the National Department of Health, through its Statutory Body called The Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases, which is responsible for compensation of all occupational lung diseases incurred by mineworkers and ex-mineworkers.

However, the DMRE supports the respective Departments on their respective programmes including on compensation.

Reply:

The Minister was not informed about the 100 nurses who were offered employment at the Jubilee District Hospital during the recent cholera outbreak.

According to the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health, a group of 137 Nurses presented at the Hospital on the 22nd of May 2023. It is not clear who had made arrangements for the group to come to the hospital as there was no formal arrangement for them to come to the facility.

The group presented themselves to the Assistant Manager Nursing indicating that they have been instructions to report for duty. The Assistant Manager Nursing, without first verifying the status of the said nurses, allocated them to the wards where 41 of them commenced duties immediately. When the matter was brought to the CEO's attention some hours later the same day, the CEO immediately rescinded the allocation as the presence of the nurses at the facility could not be accounted for.

This matter is currently being investigated by the district. Once the investigations are finalized, details shall be provided, and the recommendations will provide the possible way forward.

END.

Reply:

I have been advised that:

a) In order to take steps towards reducing the regulatory impediments for SMMEs and Co-operatives, the DSBD in partnership with key stakeholders like South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic), Foundations and Think Tanks embarked on the following processes:

1. Conducted extensive research and rapid literature review to- identify key regulatory impediments, analyse them and design best methods and interventions, as well as strategies that could be adopted to address those impediments.
2. Through this research, the DSBD has identified 29 major regulatory barriers that this project will focus on the implementation of specific remedies, options, and reforms at National, Provincial and Local levels of government in the coming financial years.
3. The findings of the research have been piloted in selected municipalities to test their efficacy.
4. These findings were also used as a resource to support the work of the Red Tape Reduction Committee at the Presidency.

b) In the 2021-22 financial year period the DSBD started the process of reviewing the Businesses Act (No.71) of 1991 and the Licensing of Business Bill 2013 and will be introducing the Businesses Amendment Bill to Cabinet in the second quarter.

Reply:

1. Key intervention to ensure continuity of protein supply was to substitute meat with beans which is also a source of protein.

(2) (a) Only one hospital reported food shortages.

(b) Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital

3.(a) The initial cause was the supplier is contracted to supply a number of hospitals in Johannesburg South with the inclusion of Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic hospital and one of the facilities failed to make a payment on time and the supplier stopped food supply in all facilities, including those whose contractual obligations were met.

(b) A long term solution would be to have more suppliers who are having a mix of items on contract, rather than depending on one supplier for most items. Moreover to construct a cold-room to keep buffer stock for reserves rather than daily deliveries.

END.

Reply:

No. This is not an admission that management is not aware of the critical shortage of the hospital management is aware of the crucial shortages in their hospital. The hospital management relies on the subordinates who are responsible for day to day running of their sections to alert them if there is any crucial shortages of supplies and equipment in their respective sections. This is standard management practice. It is true that they become aware of the shortages when nurses inform them directly, through relevant management processes.

Reply:

I have been advised:

(a)&(b) That During the 2022-23 financial year, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) developed the Gender, Youth and Disability (GEYODI) Strategy. The strategy was developed in consultation with stakeholders in the gender, youth and persons with disabilities ecosystem. The aim of the strategy is to mainstream women and youth participation in the mainstream economy. One of the objectives of this strategy is “to provide entry points for increased inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities into all SMME, co-operatives and informal businesses financial and non-financial interventions.” The GEYODI strategy is aligned with the revised 2019-24 Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) of minimum 40% target for women, 30% for youth and 7% for persons with disabilities in all programmes and interventions of the Small Business Development (SBD) Portfolio (the DSBD, the Small Enterprise Development Agency [Seda] and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency [sefa]).

 

Furthermore, the DSBD through Seda is administering the SheTradesZA Hub whose aim is to assist South African women entrepreneurs to increase their competitiveness and connect to regional, and global market. Some of the results that can be observed include the increase in jobs created and the increase in sales revenue.

The Department is collaborating with other stakeholders to transform the retail sector by ensuring that women entrepreneurs get opportunities to place their products on the shelves of major retails domestically and internationally. For example, we have major retails like Pick n Pay and Clicks stores that have listed some of the products from our beneficiaries.

The localisation programme that is the Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme (SEMSP) programme has supported women entrepreneurs to commercialise their products in order to meet industry standard and quality.

The SBD Portfolio is supporting the Presidential 40% commitment – Women Economic Assembly (WECONA) by facilitating capacity building of women entrepreneurs to equip them to take up opportunities through government procurement processes. To date Seda has supported and trained more than 3000 women entrepreneurs from across the country through capacity building workshops.

The DSBD is also supporting women and youth who are operating in the informal sector through the Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP). The aim of the IMEDP is to empower informal businesses by allocating tools of trade to the value of R10 000 in order to build their asset base. These informal businesses are given an opportunity to formalise their businesses and participate in the mainstream economy. In the last financial year 2022/23 we have supported approximately 2500 women, youth and people with disabilities.

The Department is also rolling out the Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) whose purpose is to stimulate innovation amongst youth owned businesses. The primary objective of the programme is to provide the necessary financial support through sefa’s 50/50% blended finance and non-financial support through Seda’s Business Development Support service (BDS) to youth start-ups to promote innovation and enable them to acquire digital capability for competitiveness and viability. The Youth Challenge Fund seeks to provide financial and non-financial support to young entrepreneurs.

The following is a breakdown of financial support for women and youth during the 2022-23 Financial Year:

Measure	Annual Target	Q1 Achieved	Q2 Achieved	Q3 Achieved	Q4 Achieved	Year-to-date Achieved	% Achieved per annual target
Facilities disbursed to women-owned businesses	R801 million	R195 million	R212 million	R268 million	R253 million	R928.7 million	116%
Facilities disbursed to youth-owned enterprises	R601 million	R128 million	R157 million	R149.6 million	R130 million	R566 million	94%

Reply:

Yes. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has accurate data on the extent of loss of arable land due to mining in Mpumalanga. The information is based on recorded and considered applications lodged in terms of the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, 1970 (Act No. 70 of 1970). Based on analysis of applications reviewed for the 2020 and 2021 financial years, the extent of agricultural land in hectares lost to mining is as follows:

Year	Hectares lost to mining
2020	3 445,254
2021	2769.784
Total	6215,038

Agricultural activities in the form of cropping and grazing land for livestock facilitate food security and provision of rural community income. The loss of mentioned agricultural land impacts negatively on the growth of the agricultural sector.

The loss of agriculture land in the long-term is being mitigated by the introduction of the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill (PDALB) which promotes planning between the various affected sectors in a coherent and transparent manner, but specifically to safeguard arable land for continued food security without compromising each sector’s economic contribution i.e. by delineating high potential farming land.

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The table below outlines the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) loan book performance in the referenced years:

Financial Year	Approvals	Disbursements	# of SMMEs Financed	# of Jobs Facilitated
FY2016/17 (Audited numbers)	R827 million	R1, 076 billion	43 211	55 997
FY2022/23 (un-audited numbers)	R1, 706 billion	R2, 427 billion	74 762	104 547

So, it is clear that Sefa has not regressed – infact it has more than doubled its disbursements from 2016/17 to 2022/23 . To break down this further and for the financial year ending 31 March 2023, the Minister indicated in her budget speech that sefa through its development finance interventions and programmes, cumulatively financed 74 762 SMMEs and Co-operatives and disbursed R2.4 billion to these enterprises.

Through these disbursements, sefa was able to reach:

• 74 486 black owned SMMEs to the value of R2.1 billion.

• 15 535 youth owned SMMEs to the value of R564 million.

• 72 651 women owned SMMEs to the value of R928 million.

• 2 953 township based SMMEs to the value of R541 million.

• 66 302 rural-based SMMEs to the value of R952 million.

Collectively, these funding interventions have created 32 665 new jobs and sustained 71 882 existing jobs.

This performance is by no means reflecting a regress in the performance of sefa at the end of the financial year ending in 31 March 2023.

Reply:

(a) What are the details of the background and verification checks that were performed before the specified person was appointed to the specified position.

I have been informed by SA Tourism, in terms of its policy, upon appointment into the organisation the following suitability checks were conducted on the person:

• Educational qualifications;

• Previous employment references;

• Identity documentation;

• Criminal record;

• Judgment and bankruptcy orders;

• Previous employment history;

• Pre-employment testing, where it is an inherent requirement of the job; and

• Any other relevant information deemed necessary.

In line with internal mechanisms for assessing the suitability checks and disclosure of interests, the acting CEO was found suitable for an executive management role at SATourism.

As a member of executive management within SA Tourism and having been subjected to these checks, the Board resolved to appoint her as Acting CEO.

(b) What are the reasons that the specified person was not suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into the most recent allegations.

The Interim Board was not aware of the allegations at the stage of appointment. The initial enquiry into the matter showed evidence that the Acting CEO followed a process for approvals to accept the invitation by Qatar Airways in 2022.

As such, the Board made the decision to retain her in the acting position subject to the completion of an ongoing investigation into the matter by SA Tourism’s Internal Audit division. This investigation will determine whether all internal policies as well as the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act were followed. The Board will review the outcomes of the investigation to determine what further steps are required.

Reply:

I have been advised:

That the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) has a wide footprint in the country that consists of fifty-three (53) branches and fifty-six (56) co-location points with the intention to widen access to Seda services in underserviced and rural South Africa. The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) is working with Seda in increasing awareness across various regions by deploying additional resource in Seda’s access points as well as co-locations. This will assist in addressing the issue of SMMEs travelling far to access Seda services. A Business Development Services mapping exercise has been undertaken to identify other stakeholders that are also providing similar services to establish partnerships with them and offer services on the entity’s behalf. Furthermore, to broaden the net wider, the use of virtual platforms is considered as an opportunity where Seda provides interaction opportunities for clients to attend online training and webinars. Seda has adjudicated seventy-eight (78) and signed contracts with fifty-two (52) access points during the 2022-23 financial year as shown below. Eighty (80) access points will be contracted by the end of the 1st quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.

Seda will continue to expand service delivery to rural communities through various modalities whilst striking a sound balance between community needs, budget availability and collaboration with ecosystem partners.

During the 2022-23 financial year, Seda has reached 68 117 SMMEs and Co-operatives through entrepreneurship awareness sessions throughout the country. Pop-Up Markets that are hosted in collaboration with our strategic partners also assist to raise awareness and promote the services and benefits offered by Seda. Seda organised 39 Pop-Up markets in 2022-23 financial year. Following are a few recent examples:

• Seda Namakwa branch conducted their Pop-Up market from 28 February 2023 to 1 March 2023 where various clients exhibited their products and services. Eighteen (18) exhibitors were in attendance.
• Seda ZF Mgcawu branch hosted the Pop-Up Market from on 2-3 March 2023 in Upington.
• The Nkangala Branch held a Pop-up market on 17 March 2023, in Delmas, and twenty-five (25) SMMEs exhibited their products and services in partnership with Victor Khanye Local Municipality and Standard Bank.
• Seda Limpopo hosted a Pop-Up market in collaboration with the Groblersdal Mall in February 2023.
• The Mopani Branch in conjunction with the district and local municipalities hosted two (2) Pop-up markets and one (1) in Waterberg on 31 March 2023.
• Small Business Development Portfolio (DSBD, Seda and sefa), in collaboration with Exxaro, hosted a three-day mall activation at Lephalale Mall, Limpopo, from 24-26 March 2023. Twenty-two (22) local entrepreneurs from the manufacturing, arts and craft, agriculture, and service sector participated in the exhibition.
• Pop-Up markets were held in the Brits Mall with ten (10) SMMEs and Letlhabile Mall with fifteen (15) SMMEs exhibiting. Both events were held on the 31 March 2023 and ending on 1 April 2023.

During the 2022/23 financial year, Seda trained more than fifteen thousand one hundred and nineteen (15,119) SMMEs on various programmes and courses. These includes courses amongst many other Basic Business Skills, Business Start-Up 1, Cybercrimes, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Awareness, Food Safety, Quality Management System (QMS), SARS Incentives, Export Awareness, Costing, Empretec, Business Planning, Business Model Canvas, Community Public Private Partnership, Art of Pitching, Customer Care, Retail Management, Design Thinking, Green Economy, etc. Training are needs based and often presented in collaboration with our partners. Below are a few examples:

• The Seda ZFM branch conducted a 3-day Farm management training with small scale farmers in the small-town agricultural town of Keimos. The training helped by upskilling them on the management activities and responsibilities involved in running an agri-business. Basic activities involved in the agri-management process were explained by providing examples and scenarios.
• Seda Thabo Mofutsanyana Branch partnered with the Department of Correctional Services with the aim of developing a capacity program for inmates based in Bethlehem prison. The Provincial Regional Facilitator conducted self-mastery training attended by twenty-seven (27) inmates over 3 days.
• Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) in partnership with the Motheo TVET College hosted a Financial Symposium on 8 March 2023 in Bloemfontein. The Seda Provincial Office and Mangaung Branch, together with sefa, attended the session with other stakeholders namely, Nedbank, NEF, and the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) to present offerings to the audience. Ten (10) Seda clients from the district exhibited their products and services.
• Seda Joburg Branch collaborated with EkasiLab from the Innovation Hub to roll out design clinic training in Soweto and Kagiso for approximately thirty (30) Small Businesses. Seda covered the cost of training and EkasiLab provided venues and catering.
• Seda Gert Sibande Branch has partnered with Coca-Cola to train fifteen (15) businesses. The training took place in February 2023. Coca-Cola offers a three(3)-meter container valued at R150 000 and a Fridge to the Spaza Shops in rural and township areas.
• The Innovation and Technology unit of the the dtic, DSBD in partnership with Seda Thabo Mofutsanyana Branch invited prospective entrepreneurs with innovative ideas from Setsoto and Dihlabeng Local Municipalities to attend the innovation workshop. The workshop was held in Bethlehem and Ficksburg (Ntsu Secondary School, Comp High School, Seda Bethlehem office and Ficksburg hall) from 14-15 March 2023. The purpose of the workshops was to unearth technologies from the communities and townships of the district, create networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation and present technology offerings of the the dtic. More than a hundred (100) participants attended the session in four (4) different venues including two high schools in Bethlehem.

Seda has an Export Orientation Course (EOC) which focuses on Export Development. These courses focus on the business with the aim of helping the business assess its export readiness. The training targets SMMEs that have the intention and the potential to enter the export business or those already involved in exports but wanted to strengthen their knowledge in this field of business.

The SheTrades programme is a partnership between the International Trade Centre (ITC), DSBD and Seda to promote Women’s Entrepreneurship. ITC SheTrades has set up a Hub in South Africa to help South African women entrepreneurs increase their international competitiveness and connect to national, regional, and global markets through the SheTradesZA Hub. The primary objective of the Hub is to connect at least 10 000 women owned businesses to markets by 2024. This is part of South Africa’s contribution to ITC's goal of connecting three million women entrepreneurs to markets by 2023.

A total of 3003 women have registered as at the end of March 2023. Through the programme, women-owned businesses will be able to:

• Connect to potential buyers, investors, suppliers, business support organizations and SheTrades partners.
• Learn skills to boost business potential through free e-learning courses, on-site workshops, and webinars.
• Receive support to attend national, regional, and international trade fairs.
• Get chances to participate in B2B meetings.
• Access to investment opportunities.
• Increased visibility and larger network in international markets.

Seda has also forged three key skills development partnerships namely:

• A 3-year partnership with the National Skills Fund (NSF) to benefit 14 000 beneficiaries for a total budget of R 592 275 000. The aim of the project is to recruit unemployed graduates with Accounting and Business Management qualifications to be trained on New Venture Creation, Coaching, and Mentorship Programme to enhance their skills to provide support to Micro Enterprises. Seda will use coaching as an innovative methodology to facilitate and reinforce learning and development support to Micro Enterprises and the unemployed graduates will be trained on new venture creation as well as business coaching to enable them to transfer skills & knowledge to Micro Enterprise owners.
• Seda and W&R Seta signed an agreement to support one thousand (1000) Tuckshops, General Dealers to the value of R 9 975 000.
• In 2021, DSBD, Seda and Merseta signed Agreement for Merseta to release a discretionary grant to Seda to the value of R 50 million. The funding will be provided in phased approach over a 3-year period. The purpose is to train Small Enterprise in the Automotive Trade Sector as well as facilitate Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL).

In addition to the above, Seda through its Learning Academy has also developed different training programmes. These programmes are credit bearing and accredited by the Services Seta. Quality training aims to assist organisations of all types to implement and operate the QMS to increase effectiveness, consistency, and customer satisfaction, explain the benefits of implementing QMS and understand the quality, management principles. Whilst Food safety introduces Food Safety, Understand Pre-Requisite programme, HACCP and HACCP principles and Implementing a Food Safety Management System (SANS 22000:2019.).

Seda has an Entrepreneurship in Schools Programme that encourages learners to consider entrepreneurship as an alternative career to employment. The main objective of the programme is:

• To influence the mindset of learners by encouraging them to become job creators instead of job seekers once they leave the schooling system.
• To equip learners with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed to start and manage their businesses; and
• To improve entrepreneurial activity amongst the learners and educators.

Seda is also in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development’s (UNCTAD)

Division of Investment and Enterprise United Nation’s Empretec training Programme.

• Empretec is a six (6) day programme aimed based on a unique Harvard University methodology focusing on behavioural approach to entrepreneurship.
• The programme is interactive, experience and self-assessment based and takes 25-30 participants per workshop. Participants learn by doing.
• Participants on this programme receive an UNCTAD endorsed certificate.
• Programme develops Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs) such as opportunity seeking, persistence, goal setting, risk taking, fulfilling commitments, planning etc. for participants.

Seda has a dedicated programme, The Basic Entrepreneurship Skills Development (BESD) which was jointly developed by Seda and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development via Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) since 2012. GIZ left the programme in December 2016. The programme is funded by the National Skills Fund for an amount of R84 million. The BESD approach utilises coaching as an innovative methodology to facilitate and reinforce learning and development support to emerging entrepreneurs. A total of 260 undergraduates and 1998 Emerging Entrepreneurs successfully completed the training initiative.

Reply:

Figure 1 below provides details of the municipalities across the country regarding

1. What are the details of each Category (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) C municipality in each province that has functioning firefighting services for structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires and (b) which of the specified municipalities (i) have their own fleet and (ii) rely on rentals;

(2) what are the details of each Category (a) A, (b) B and (c) C municipality in each province that has no firefighting services?

LIMPOPO PROVINCE
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Mopani District Municipality	Greater Tzaneen Greater Phalaborwa Greater Maruleng Greater Letaba Greater Giyani	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	19 fire appliances	None
Capricorn District Municipality	Lepelle-Nkumpi Blouberg Molemole	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	12 fire appliances	None
Polokwane Local Municipality	Polokwane	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	31 vehicles	None
Waterberg District Municipality	Bela-Bela Lephalale Mogalakwena Modimolle	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	08 fire appliances	None
Sekhukhune District Municipality	Elias Motsaoledi LM Ephraim Mogale Fetakgomo Tubatse LM Makhuduthamaga	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	15 fire appliances	None
Vhembe District Municipality	Musina Thulamela Makhado Collins Chabane	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	16 fire appliances	None

Western Cape Province
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Garden Route DM	Garden Route DM	Veld fires	13 fire appliances	None
	Hessequa	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	9 fire appliances	None
	Knysna LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	11 fire appliances	None
	Kannaland LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2 fire appliances	None
	Bitou LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	9 fire appliance	None
	Oudsthoorn LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5 fire appliances	None
	George LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	10 fire appliances	None
	Mossel Bay LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	18 fire appliances	None
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
WEST COAST DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY	West Coast DM and Matzikama LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	28 fire appliances	None
	Swartland LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5 fire appliances	None
	Saldanha LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	12 Fire appliances	None
	Bergrivier LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	9 fire appliances	None
	Cederberg LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3 fire appliances	None
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Central Karoo District	Beaufort West LM Prince Albert LM Laingsburg LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5 fire appliances	None
Overberg District	Theewaterskloof LM Cape Agulhas LM Swellendam LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	24 Fire Appliances	None
	Overstrand LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	24 Fire Appliances	None
City of Cape Town Metro	City of Cape Town Metro	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	395 Fire Appliances	None
Cape Winelands District Municipality	Cape Winelands DM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	26 Fire Appliances	None
	Stellenbosch LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	20 Fire Appliances	None
	BreedeValley LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	8 Fire Appliances	None
	Witzenberg LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	7 Fire Appliances	None
	Langeberg LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	8 Fire Appliances	None
	Drakenstein LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	13 Fire Appliances	None

 

KWAZULU NATAL
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
UMgungundlovu District	uMshwathi; uMngeni; Mpofana; Impendle; Mkhambathini; Richmond	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	18 Fire Appliances	None
	Msunduzi LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	12 Fire Appliances	None
UGU District	Umzumbe LM Umuziwabantu LM Umdoni Fire LM Ray Nkonyeni LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	8 Fire appliances	None
Harry Gwala District	Ubuhlebezwe LM Nkosazana Dhlamini Zuma LM Greater Kostad LM uMzimkhulu LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	13 Fire Appliances	None
ILembe District	Mandeni LM KwaDukuza LM Ndwedwe LM Maphumulo LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	8 Fire Appliances	None
King Cetshwayo District	Umfolozi LM uMhlathuze LM Umlalazi LM Mthonjaneni LM Nkandla LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	22 Fire Appliances	None
eThekwini Metro	eThekwini Metro	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	118 Fire Appliance	None

FREE STATE PROVINCE
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Moqhaka LM	Moqhaka LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Metsimaholo LM	Metsimaholo LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Ngwathe LM	Ngwathe LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	6	None
Mafube LM	Mafube LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Maluti a Phofong LM	Maluti a Phofong LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Dihlabeng	Dihlabeng	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Nketwane	Nketwane	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Phumelela	Phumelela	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
Mantsopa	Mantsopa	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Setsoto	Setsoto	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Xhariep District Municipality	Kopanong LM Letsemeng LM Mohokare LM Nala LM	No Fire Services rendered	0	None
Lejweleputswa District Municipality	Tokologo LM Tswelopele LM Masilonyane LM Nala LM	No Fire Services rendered	0	None
Matjhabeng LM	Matjhabeng LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5	None
Northern Cape
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Gamagara LM	Gamagara LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	11	None
Ga Segonyana LM	Ga Segonyana LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5	None
Joe Morolong LM	Joe Morolong LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
John Taolo Gaetsewe DM	John Taolo Gaetsewe DM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Namakwa District Municipality	Hantam LM Kamiesberg LM Karoo Hoogland LM Khai-Ma LM Richtersveld LM Nama Khoi LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Frances Baard District Municipality	Sol Plaatje LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5	None
NORTH WEST PROVINCE
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Madibeng LM	Madibeng LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Rustenburg LM	Rustenburg LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	8	None
Kgetleng LM	Kgetleng LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Mogwase LM	Mogwase LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Moretele LM	Moretele LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
Mahikeng LM	Mahikeng LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality Naledi LM	Ditsobotla LM Ratlou LM Ramotshere Moiloa LM Tswaing LM Naledi LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality	Kagisano-Molopo LM Lekwa-Teemane LM Taung LM Mamusa LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	12	None

MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
GAUTENG PROVINCE
Merafong City LM	Merafong City LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	4	None
Mogale City LM	Mogale City LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Rand West LM	Rand West LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Emfuleni LM	Emfuleni LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Lesedi LM	Lesedi LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Midvaal LM	Midvaal LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
City of Tshwane Metro	City of Tshwane Metro	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	19	None
City of Ekurhuleni Metro	City of Ekurhuleni Metro	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	14	None
City of Johannesburg Metro	City of Johannesburg Metro	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	11	None
EASTERN CAPE
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Amathole District Municipality	Great Kei LM Mbhashe LM Mnquma LM Ngqushwa LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	9	None
Amahlathi LM	Amahlathi LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1
Raymond Mhlaba LM	Raymond Mhlaba LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Alfred Nzo District Municipality	Alfred Nzo District Matatiele LM Umzimvubu LM Winnie Madikizela Mandela LM Ntabankulu LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	5	None
Chris Hani District Municipality	Emalahleni AB Xuma Intsika Yethu Inxuba Yethemba Enoch Mgijima Sakhisizwe	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Joe Gqabi District Municipality	Walter Sisulu LM Senqu LM Elundini LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	0	None
OR Tambo District Municipality	Mhlontlo Nyandeni Port St Johns Ingquza Hill	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
King Sabata Dalindyebo	King Sabata Dalindyebo	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
Sarah Baartman District Municipality	Blue Crane Route Beyers Naude LM Makana Sunday's River Valley Kouga Ndlambe Koukamma	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	17	None
Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality	Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	19	None
Buffalo City Metro Municipality	Buffalo City Metro Municipality	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	14	None
MPUMALAMGA PROVINCE
MUNICIPALITY	AREA JURISDICTION	PROVISION OF SERVICE	CURRENT FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES	LEASED FIREFIGHTING APPLIANCES
Msukaligwa LM	Msukaligwa LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2
Govan Mbeki LM	Govan Mbeki LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
Lekwa LM	Lekwa LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
Mkhondo LM	Mkhondo LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
Chief Albert Luthuli LM	Chief Albert Luthuli LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Dr Pixly Ka Seme LM	Dr Pixly Ka Seme LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	0	None
Dipalaseng LM	Dipalaseng LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	0	None
Bushbuckridge LM	Bushbuckridge LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	3	None
City of Mbombela LM	City of Mbombela LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	15	None
Thaba Chweu LM	Thaba Chweu LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	0	None
Nkomazi LM	Nkomazi LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	2	None
Victor Khanye LM	Victor Khanye LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Thembisile Hani LM	Thembisile Hani LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Emalahleni LM	Emalahleni LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Emakhazeni LM	Emakhazeni LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Dr JS Moroka LM	Dr JS Moroka LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None
Steve Tshwete LM	Steve Tshwete LM	structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires	1	None

 

End

Reply:

The Minister presents regular updates to the Cabinet and to the public through the weekly NECOM briefings on the state of generation and our capacity to address the frequency and intensity of loadshedding. Whilst every effort is been made to ensure that we reduce loadshedding, there is no definitive timeline, as this is, inter alia, a function of improvement to generation capacity of the Eskom installed fleet, on boarding of renewable energy and success of the Demand Side Management (DSM) programme.

Whereas many of the interventions being pursued will results in overall improvement to the demand-supply equilibrium, it remains premature to suggest load shedding will be over by the end of year. It is worth noting that generation performance showed improvement from the preceding two weeks (22 May 2023 – 06 June 2023) The average available generation improved by 631MW from 28382 MW to 29013 MW (07 June 2023 to 19 June 2023).

Between 15 May 2023 and 15 June 2023, Eskom’s unavailable plant capacity due to unplanned breakdowns (UCLF), Partial Load Losses (PLLs), and outage delays has decreased by 3580 MW from 18 255 MW to 14 765 MW. These improvements in generation plant performance have resulted in an upward trend in the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) and a reduction in the severity of load shedding from daily stages 4-6 to stage 3 for the period under review, largely the stage 3 was applicable to evening peaks, with the remaining part of the day with no load shedding. EAF for June is trending above 60%. Generation last achieved 61.39% EAF in August 2022.

Reply:

a) I have been informed that the audit outcome for the 2018/2019 financial year identified fruitless and wasteful expenditure in relation to the implementation of the infrastructure projects, included was the NW – Manyane Lodge Project. The AGSA recommended that management should investigate the circumstances related to the reported expenditure.

b) The Accounting Officer, in consultation with the then Executive Authority, Minister Kubayi, commissioned a forensic investigation in line with Section 38(1) of the PFMA which defines the following responsibilities in relation to the fruitless and wasteful expenditure:

1. Section 38 (1) (c) (ii) The accounting officer must take effective and appropriate steps to prevent fruitless and wasteful expenditure;
2. Section 38 (1) (g) The accounting officer must on discovery of fruitless and wasteful expenditure, immediately report, in writing, particulars of the expenditure to the relevant treasury; and
3. Section 38 (1) (h): The accounting officer must take effective and appropriate disciplinary steps against any official in the service of the department or constitutional institution who makes or permits fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

c) The forensic investigation yielded that certain officials did not comply with the requirements of Section 45(a) to (c) of the PFMA which obligate the following in relation to the responsibilities of other officials:

1. Section 45 (a) An official in a department must ensure that the system of financial management and internal control established for that department is carried out within the area of responsibility of that official;
2. Section 45 (b) An official in a department is responsible for the effective, efficient, economical and transparent use of financial and other resources within that official’s area of responsibility; and
3. Section 45 (c) An official in a department must take effective and appropriate steps to prevent, within that official’s area of responsibility, any unauthorised expenditure, irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

d) The reported findings also went into each official’s own alleged transgressions per project.

e) The Deputy Director-General who was responsible for the programme, at that time, has since retired from the public service effective July 2020. Similarly, the responsible Accounting Officer at the time of the projects, also left the public service in 2015. All other implicated officials are undergoing disciplinary processes, which are at various stages.

f) The current Accounting Officer reported this matter to the South African Police Services (SAPS) in September 2020 and it is currently under further investigation processes by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, also known as The Hawks. Furthermore, the Accounting Officer has initiated the process of civil claims against the implementing agents through the State Attorney in July 2020 and July 2021.

g) It is important to note that both the current Accounting Officer and Deputy Director-General: Destination Development were not implicated in the outcome of the investigation, because they were not involved in the project.

Reply:

The following steps were taken to ensure that the person arrested in Tanzania was confirmed to be inmate Mr Thabo Bester who escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC):

• Individuals’ fingerprints were compared with those fingerprints on the warrant/s of imprisonment at the MCC;
• South African Police Service (SAPS) also confirmed that the fingerprints of the person arrested in Tanzania are the same as the fingerprints of the inmate as on the criminal records kept by the SAPS.

END

Reply:

1. (a) (i) In accordance with the Persal data set as extracted for the month of May 2023 below is the table of the age demographics of all nurses employed in the public health sector and

(ii) Persal does not provide the breakdown percentage of each specialized category since they are all grouped under category specialty

(b) The data also specifies the Provinces in which they are employed-

Professional Nurse (Specialized) 2023
Province	25-34yrs	35-44yrs	45-54yrs	55-64yrs	*above 65
Eastern Cape	87	376	652	586	7
Free State	12	100	345	378	1
Gauteng	293	1105	1693	1448	28
KwaZulu-Natal	386	1975	2545	1689	12
Limpopo	109	527	1072	1160	8
Northern Cape	16	55	154	154	11
Mpumalanga	57	293	578	431	4
North West	59	282	535	406	14
Western Cape	225	673	912	631	6
Total	1244	5386	8486	6883	91

* Aged above 65 are regulated in accordance with the Public Service Regulation and Act- to employ professionals over the age of 65

(2) (a) Current vacancy rate for all the specified nursing specialties in each province and

Nursing Specialty Vacancy Rate
Province	Vacant	Vacancy rate %
Eastern Cape	498	13.0%
Free State	46	2.8%
Gauteng	1096	15.2%
KwaZulu-Natal	1984	22.7%
Limpopo	340	10.2%
Mpumalanga	170	9.1%
Northern Cape	120	33.0%
North West	318	19.1%
Western Cape	488	13.6%
Total	5060	15.7%

(b) The Department is unable to state the envisaged time frame to fill the vacant positions due to general budget cuts that negatively affects the Compensation of Employment (CoE) a specific date of when the specified challenges will be eradicated. However, it can confirm that measures are applied across Provinces to prioritize filling of vacant posts where the budgets permit.

END.

Reply:

In terms of the RFP issued for the Risk Mitigation IPP Procurement Programme, the Bidders assume responsibility to obtain all environmental consents. As such it is the responsibility of Karpowership to engage with the NGOs as well as other Interested and Affected Parties with regard to objections that they may have in the process of the environmental authorisations aligned with the provisions of the National Environmental Management Act.

Government continues through existing environmental legislation provision to consult and engage with key stakeholders.

Reply:

I have been advised:

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has not undertaken a review as part of its research undertaking on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The DSBD and the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) participated in the South Africa-United States of America (SA-USA) meeting to discuss matters related to the AGOA. The US International Trade Commission (USITC) communicated that they will be conducting assessment on how (extent to which and the impact of) AGOA has assisted/supported growth in the Chemical and Textile Sectors (and other sectors); as well as domestic programmes (funding and capacity building) aimed at supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMME) exporters.

AGOA is currently set to expire in 2025. SA is jointly with the African Union lobbying for extension beyond 2025. DSBD and the dtic will embark on a consultation process to formulate a country position on AGOA ahead of the negotiations to ensure that South African SMMEs interests are covered in the new agreement.

(a)&(b) Not applicable.

Reply:

The 2030 Human Resources for Health Strategy is available and can be accessed on the National Department of Health’s website on the following link:

https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2030-HRH-Strategy-Final.pdf

Attached as Annexure 1 is a copy for ease of reference.

END.

Reply:

I have been informed that the Department, in the past, did not do social facilitation for infrastructure projects.

I have, now, instructed the Department to use and implement the existing social facilitation process, as approved by Cabinet in 2021.

Reply:

No.

According to the Mpumalanga Department of Health, Goba in Ward 11 has an estimated population of 860. The nearest Primary Health Care (PHC) facility is 6km away in Mbangwane. The population size does not meet the norm of 8 000 - 10 000 which allows for a fixed PHC facility to be constructed. Currently, a mobile clinic is visiting the village once a month. The number of patients seen per visit are between 35 to 40.

END.

Reply:

1. The short-term measures include the following:

• 1. Eskom has completed the engineering planning and identified and scoped the relevant infrastructure projects that will enable connection of new generation in line with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and bid windows to come.
  2. Eskom has allocated a capital budget of R74.21 billion to the Transmission Division over the financial years 2024 to 2028. This is an increase from the previous figure of R59.9 billion and shows an appreciation for the urgent need to close the Transmission infrastructure gap.
  3. Eskom has embarked on various other measures to give some certainty that the projects will be delivered, such as reviewing manpower numbers, reviewing equipment supply, and looking at project development and construction capability.
  4. The recently established Energy NATJOINTS Workstream 10 is monitoring this programme closely and escalating matters that require unblocking, such as environmental approvals and rights of way approvals.
  5. Over and above these measures, Eskom is developing standard operating procedures to adopt best practices in network modelling that will allow for more renewable energy to be connected to existing infrastructure in exchange for moderate curtailment. This will be quicker than constructing new power lines and substations. 

(2) what are the relevant details of the kind of models and solutions for transmission build-outs that have been developed for (a) maintenance and upgrades and (b) new builds?

REPLY

For maintenance and upgrades, Eskom uses a combination of outsourced and in-house capabilities, providing services such as servitude, transformer, and switchgear maintenance.

Eskom’s Enterprises business is geared up for some of this specialised work.

(2)(b)

For new build:

• The same as the above applies, even though the volume of in-house is much smaller.
• Eskom will use a combination of the multiple package system (engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM)). Contracts for these services already exist.
• Eskom will use the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) methodology, sometimes called “turnkey”. This method is expected to reduce the administrative burden of multiple procurement and project management. One contract for these services has been issued to the market, and a second one is in the preparation stage.
• Eskom will also use the owner’s engineer (OE) method of project development and project management. A contract for these services is under evaluation

 

Reply:

I have been advised that:

a) As means of addressing the onerous labour legislation and regulations to free up small businesses to create jobs, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has activated several interventions which include, undertaking a dedicated exercise to identify and review legislation and reforms that impede on Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) and co-operatives’ growth. The update has so far embarked on the initial process of consultations focused on the primary users of this legislation namely, municipalities who are the sphere of government that must implement business licensing by-laws. A total of 29 pieces of regulatory impediment legislations have been identified across the three spheres of government that will culminate with a clear implementation and action plans for action. This exercise was conducted in partnership with key stakeholders in the ecosystem. These stakeholders include but not limited to the following:

• Departments of Economic Development across all nine (9) provinces.
• South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
• The Social Protection Community and Human Development Cluster.
• Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
• Department of Home Affairs.
• Districts and local municipalities.

The DSBD is also implementing the initiatives that are also aimed at lessening regulatory barriers for SMMEs and co-operatives which the Pilot Administrative Simplification Programme (PASP) and Municipal Performance Monitoring. The program aims to ease the strain that prolonged processing delays have on businesses and public resources. Administrative simplicity will help with process improvement at municipality level. The initiative entails exposing the municipality stakeholders and users to a five (5) days’ workshop for optimisation of processes. Some of the municipalities that have already benefitted from this initiative include amongst others, the Ray Nkonyeni (Ugu District), Ubuhlebezwe (Harry Gwala District), and the City of Umhlathuze Local Municipalities (King Cetshwayo District). The Department is also:

• In the process of developing a Municipal Red-tape-Reduction Dashboard which will support Municipalities to track all the administrative bottlenecks for urgent attention.
• Rolling out the Red Tape Reduction Awareness workshops whose purpose is to create awareness and instil the culture of intolerance towards red tape. A total of twenty-five (25) municipalities have already participated in these workshops during the 2022-23 financial year.
• Hosting the Inter-Provincial Task Team (IPTT) on red tape reduction and ease of doing business. The IPTT is a quarterly platform for the DSBD, Provincial Departments of Economic Development, COGTA, Red-Tape Reduction Committee at the Presidency, key entities to SALGA to identify and discuss approaches to address systematic red tape issues that impacts SMMEs / co-operatives. This platform is also utilised to exchange best practices, foster peer learning, and build a community of best practice, this session is hosted quarterly. As a result, important sectoral problems for action are escalated for action. So far, about sixteen (16) IPTT meetings and workshops were held during. Some of the successes of the IPTT include amongst others, addressing bottleneck in the National Department of Transport policies of clearing the backlog in the tourism operating license applications. Over two hundred and twenty-seven (227) renewals have been processed.

b) The DSBD has already started an in-depth review of the regulatory barriers affecting small enterprises and the urgent need for regulatory change regarding the Businesses Act of 1991 and the Licensing of Business Bill. The Department has, so far, determined that there are twenty nine regulatory impediments that need to be addressed at the national, provincial, and local levels of government in the upcoming fiscal years. This project will concentrate on implementing these specific remedies, options, and reforms across the three spheres of government. The Businesses Amendment Bill that addresses some of the regulatory impediments will be presented to Parliament during the current financial year (2023-24). After the review of the twenty nine regulatory impediments the an implementation plan will be developed and presented to Cabinet after consultations have been finalised with the affected institutions by the end of the current financial year.

Reply:

1. The Figtree clinic is not dilapidated. A major renovation was last done in 2017 and minor maintenance is done as and when the need arises. The current challenges are that it still has a pit latrine and the fence that has become worn.

The clinic has an average monthly headcount of 2445 visits, which equates to an average of 122 patients per day. It has 4 consultation rooms and uses the nurses’ home as an extension to accommodate the facility manager’s office and HIV testing, screening and counselling services.

2. Mpumalanga Department of Health has identified forty (40) projects for comprehensive maintenance and Figtree Clinic is one of the clinics to benefit. The renovation of the first batch of health facilities started in April to June 2023. Fig Tree clinic is falling under the second batch which will start from July to September 2023.

END.

Reply:

(a) The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has the Disciplinary Code and Procedure which provides guidance in dealing with alleged acts of misconduct. Officials who are accused of committing serious misconduct are placed on precautionary suspension with full pay as a measure to ensure a fair and uninterrupted/ interference free investigation to ultimately determine the facts of an allegation.

Before placing the officials on suspension, the Executing Authority examines the seriousness of the allegations after which, if nececessary, serves the official with a contemplation of suspension letter. The official is afforded an opportunity to respond within a specified period. Based on the supporting evidence, and the official’s response or evidence, the executing authority decides whether to suspend or consider alternative placement.

The Department reviews suspensions on a regular basis to ensure that sufficient reason still exists for the precautionary suspension to remain in place.

(b) The Human Resources Manager referred to was suspended in 2019 for Section 95 allegations of fraud/maladministration. The case was investigated and the official was found guilty and issued with a final written warning. During the review of her suspension it was decided to alternatively place her at Social Reintegration to prevent any interference with evidence as, due to her role as HR manager, she had direct access to administration and evidence implicated in the case.

In addition, services of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) are available to all officials for emotional and psychological support. All officials in the Department are made aware of the services offered.

END.

Reply:

a) The Bill was withdrawn to address the inputs received from stakeholders during the Parliamentary consultation processes. Additionally, the Department also considered other developments which have taken place in the gas industry over time. These were found to be crucial for reflexion in the legislation going forward.

b) The Bill will be introduced to Parliament after following the prescribed broad stakeholder consultation.

Reply:

I have been advised:

That the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) is implementing the Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural and township communities. The TREP goal is to overcome the legacy of economic exclusion by creating a conducive environment for entrepreneurial activity and providing dedicated business support to enterprises in rural and township areas including access to funding. TREP supports all small enterprises operating in townships and rural areas to grow their businesses. The programme assists small enterprises with the acquisition of business-related equipment, tools or machinery and working capital. Furthermore, the DSBD is rolling out a network of incubators to ensure that Business Development Support is accessible to small enterprises and co-operatives operating in unserved and underserved areas such as townships and rural area.

Our financial products through Sefa also prioritise rural enterprises as seen in the Sefa disbursements below:

	Audited Performance over the past financial years
	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23 (Estimated)	2023/24 (Target)
Disbursements to enterprises located in rural towns and villages (R’000)	R371 151	R563 051	R977 100	R766 765	R938 636

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department that it has projects in rural areas, villages, townships and small towns across all the line function branches of the Department. Projects include amongst others:

• Infrastructure products /development;
• Skills development;
• Enterprise development;
• Experience enhancement; and
• Market access.

SA Tourism also has a focus on grading of establishments as well as support for bidding and hosting of business events in rural areas, villages, townships and small towns in our country.

Reply:

I have been informed by SA Tourism that there was no fruitless expenditure identified in relation to the proposed Tottenham Hotspur deal.

As a result, there was no disclosure in the entity’s submitted financials. 

This forms part of the Internal Audit investigation.