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23 February 2024 - NW13

Profile picture: Singh, Mr N

Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Health

(1)Whether he will furnish Mr N Singh with the total number of newly qualified medical doctors who cannot be placed in community service internships at public hospitals in the Republic as at 8 February 2023; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) given the current shortage of medical doctors in the Republic, what are the full, relevant details of the steps that his department is taking to ensure that all newly qualified medical doctors are fast-tracked into community service medical programmes so that they may serve the residents of the Republic?

Reply:

1. All medical doctors eligible for community service have been placed as of January 2024. This number excludes those who lodged appeals against the areas that they were placed at.

2. National Department of Health can confirm that all medical doctors that were eligible to commence community service started work on 01 January 2024. Only those who are deemed as not eligible or are late starters (i.e., completing their community service later than 31 December 2023) have not been placed. They will be placed upon completion of their community service.

END.

23 February 2024 - NW9

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Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Given that the courts have recognized the right of prisoners to further their education and highlighted the importance of personal computers as tools of education, how does his department intend to facilitate access to educational resources, considering the (a) evolving nature of study material s being available in electronic format and (b) alignment of security measures with the ruling within correctional facilities.

Reply:

a) In line with Formal Education Procedure- section 7.2.7.1, indicates that all offenders who have registered for education programmes that require access to electronic material are granted the use of computers/ laptops within the Correctional Centre. Personal laptops are allowed for educational purposes with the approval of the Head of the Centre.

b) As outlined in the Formal Education Procedure- section 7.2.9, the Department of Correctional Services has a secure room within the Correctional Centre or at the school available specifically for the placement of computers/ laptops for offenders.

A designated official is assigned to specifically control the use and access to all computers/ laptops in the secured room.

END

REPLY:

23 February 2024 - NW24

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Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister of Health

What substantial measures has his department taken to solve the funding dilemma and/or budget constraints that are often cited as a reason for the shortage of medical personnel at public hospitals in the Republic, as these factors give rise to skilled doctors emigrating for employment opportunities?

Reply:

As reflected during the media briefing hosted on 05 February, fiscal challenges facing the country and also impacting on the health care system are acknowledged. The Provincial Departments of Health continue to actively engage their Provincial Treasuries to find ways of addressing the unemployment of health professionals, including medical doctors. According to the 09th February 2024 PERSAL print out, 425 Medical Officer appointments were captured for January 2024. Of these, 371 are Medical Officer Grade 1 category.

As reported in Parliament during the State of Nation Address (SONA) Debate on 13th February 2024, working with the Minister of Finance, a solution to address the current challenge of doctors wishing to stay in the public service is being worked out. The details will be furnished after the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech on 21st February 2024.

There is no documented evidence that links the choice to emigrate with the delayed employment by the state. Contrary to that is the demonstration of aspirations to serve the South African Public Health system as expressed by the recent outcry by the “unemployed doctors”.

END.

23 February 2024 - NW3

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Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

What is the current status of the private sector participation tender regarding the Ngqura Container Terminal in Port Elizabeth? (2) Whether there are sufficient bid submissions to proceed with the specified tender in its original format; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? (3) Whether any changes will be made to the tender guidelines to improve private sector participation in the tender process; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? (4) Whether he will make a statement on the matter.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

1. The Ngqura Container Terminal (NCT) private sector participation (PSP) transaction ran alongside the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 transaction, with the intention to position it as a transshipment hub for SA, based on the location of South Africa, adjacent to major sailing routes such as Asia and West Africa and Asia and South America trades.

There was an initial interest for the PSP in the terminal, as demonstrated by responses received during the Request For Information and the Request For Qualification processes, with four respondents shortlisted to participate in the Request For Proposals (RFP) process. However, there was no response received on the final RFP submission date. Some respondents cited challenges in meeting the volume requirements for NCT, which were stipulated in the RFP documents, and therefore the PSP for NCT was not awarded.

2. There was no response to the RFP process as outlined above and the PSP could not be awarded.

3. Transnet’s strategy to position the terminal as a transshipment hub has not changed. Management is considering options on how to proceed with the PSP, and a decision has not been taken yet whether this will include amending the RFP requirements or whether other alternatives to the initial PSP process will be considered.

4. Further announcements will be made when there is further progress.

 

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

22 February 2024 - NW32

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Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(a) How will the R3,8 billion funding for the missing middle be facilitated for the 2024 academic year and (b) what number of students will benefit from the funding?

Reply:

(a) The R3.8 billion funding will be sourced from the National Skills Fund (NSF) and the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), with the NSF contributing R1.5 billion and the SETA offering R2.5 billion in 2024. The transfers will be subject to NSFAS meeting certain conditions, including improved controls and processes.

(b) 31 884 students will be funded over a period of 4 years.

21 February 2024 - NW77

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Khumalo, Dr NV to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

What are the full details of (a) her department’s alternative building technology in relation to implementation across all provinces and (b) the total number of occupied units as a result of the use of the alternative building technology as at the latest date for which information is avaible?

Reply:

(a) and (b)

Project name

Project Location

IBT System utilised

Number of Houses entrolled as IBT

Number of houses constructed and occupied as IBT

Number of houses still to be built on IBT

1. Transhex Mega Projects, BNG/Social/Gap Housing

Western Cape, Worcester

Ikhaya future house Moladi Envirolite

1410

190

1220

2. Umlazi F6, BNG/Social/Gap Housing

KZN, Umlazi

SANJO Fabtech Building system

Change of design in progress for 10 units. Units were initially enrolled as conventional

10 units in progress at various stages

0

3. Fortwest Ext 4&5, BNG/Social/Gap housing

Gauteng Pretoria West

Sanjo Fabtech Building system

500

100 Houses contructed. Not occupied

400 houses

4. Toekomsrus Ext 4, Western Mega Projects, BNG/Social/Gap housing

Gauteng Randfontein

MONL Frames building system

598

360 Houses constructed. 285 houses invaded houses is included in the 360 houses

238 houses

5. Thembisa ext 7

Gauteng Tembisa

Sterling Building systems (Sanjo Fabtech)

500

466 constructed, project on hold

34 houses

6. Delft Housing Project BNG/Social/ Gap housing

Western Cape, Delft New Precinct

Kwikspace Modular Buildings

Vela Building Solutions

1911

1426

485

7. Greenville Housing Project, BNG/Social/ Gap housing

Western Cape, Fisantekraal

Benex Masonry Building system

2956

2659

166 Project under construction – 131 not yet started

8. Belhar Military vets project, BNG/Social/ Gap housing

Western Cape, Belhar

Intastor Profile Modular Roofing system

102

102

0

9. Sicelo Shiceka BNG/Social/ Gap housing

Gauteng, Midvaal

Sterling Buidling System (Sanjo Fabtech)

100

0

0

10. Vosloorus Ext.9 BNG/ Social/Gap housing

Gauteng, Vosloorus

Plaswall Building system

132

0

0

21 February 2024 - NW75

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Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

(1)Whether, given the fact that, in the 202021 financial year, her department purchased an Eskom building to the value of R16 million to address social housing needs in the Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality, her department did a cost analysis to convert the building into social housing; if not, why not; if so, what (a) was the projected cost and (b) is the current cost analysis; (2) whether, considering that the Government already owns a number of unused and vandalised state buildings, she has found that it makes sense to add more property to the list as opposed to using buildings that the Government already owns; if not, why not; if so, on what basis?

Reply:

1. According to the Northern Cape Provincial Department responsible for Human Settlements the department acquired the Eskom building through the Housing Development Agency (HDA) for the reported R 16 million.

(a) A projected cost analysis was prepared by LESEDI Technical Engineering CONSULTING (PTY) LTD for the HDA in August 2021 and the cost for the project conversion was estimated at R120 million.

(b) A current cost analysis has not been done.

2. A signed inter-ministerial agreement between the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) affords the NDHS and its entities the first right of refusal from DPE to acquire disposable assets before availing them to the open market. The HDA as an Enabling Agent of the NDHS is tasked to acquire some of the properties availed by ESKOM for the purposes of provision of sustainable and affordable housing to communities. The HDA has identified a gap in the market for student accommodation in the various tertiary institutions in and around Kimberley. The HDA has therefore targeted the Eskom Towers building in Kimberley, for acquisition and redevelopment into student accommodation.

Student accommodation is renowned for being one of the less volatile asset classes thus providing investors an opportunity to plough funds with high prediction-confidence. The positive social-economic impact of this development besides job creation and an added revenue stream for the municipality has been an indication that investment in the ESKOM building is an advantage for development by the government.

21 February 2024 - NW44

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Makamba-Botya, Ms N to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

What is the reason for the delay by her department in completing the housing project in uThukela Region in Alfred Duma Local Municipality, Ward 9, which started in 2018 and stands incomplete to this day?

Reply:

The KZN Provincial Department of Human Settlements indicates that there are two factors that contributed to the delays of the Umbulwane Area H Housing Project-

(i) STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

In November 2018 to February 2019 severe weather patterns led to the Umbulwane area experiencing extended heavy rainfall, which resulted in the existing stormwater arrangements not able to limit/mitigate the extensive flooding of portions of the project, impacting on several houses under construction. The KZN NHBRC immediately stopped the construction activities until an appropriate and sustainable solution was found.

Following the tabling of the investigations that were conducted by both the NHBRC as well as the Project Engineer, meetings were held with all the stakeholders to discuss the findings and provide suitable and sustainable solutions in order to urgently implement and unblock the project. The Implementing Agent and the Project Engineers subsequently provided the remedial and upgrading requirements along with the maintenance plan.

(II) BULK SERVICES

During the installation of the bulk services, an application from the District Municipality, via the Alfred Duma Local Municipality citing that they did not have the funds to install bulk water and sewer arrangements. The KZN Department realised that if these issues were left unresolved, the structures on the ground would be subjected to vandalism and illegal occupation.

The KZN Department then made funds available to resolve both the storm water management issues, as well as the bulk connection services to allow the project to proceed.

The KZN Department took on the responsibility that should have been taken by the uThukela District Municipality (Bulk services) as well as the responsibility that should have been performed by the Alfred Duma Local Municipality (Storm water management) to unblock all challenges causing the project to be stalled. The Implementing Agent is anticipated to return to site and resume construction activities by 15 March 2024 and complete the project by March 2026.

The status of project the is as follows:

Internal Services

Water Reticulation : 100%

Sewer Reticulation : 100%

Storm water control : 100%

Internal Roads : 100%

Sewer Pump Station: 95%

Top structures

Slabs : 400

Walls : 145

Roofs : 105

 

21 February 2024 - NW40

Profile picture: Tetyana, Mr Y

Tetyana, Mr Y to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

(1) What (a) measures have been put in place to (i) develop and (ii) implement a comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis in Kya Sands in Johannesburg, considering the urgent need for improved living conditions and infrastructure such as sanitation facilities and drainage systems and (b) specific measures have been taken to ensure that residents are protected from the immediate threat of infectious diseases, given the alarming density of makeshift dwellings and the lack of proper sanitation facilities, especially in the context of the ongoing risks posed by heavy rains and potential flooding?

Reply:

Based on the response or the information provided to my office by City of Johannesburg, it must be noted that in the last two (2) financial years (2021/2022 and 2022/23) the city has embarked on a process of developing the area using Informal Settlements Upgrading Grant (ISUPG). The City appointed a consultant to develop a professional upgrade plan in order to normalise the Kya Sands Informal Settlement into a formal township (i.e. to densify and present a tangible plan for re-development and re-blocking of the settlement).

The plan is categorised as a Category B1 settlement where in-situ upgrading will be utilised. In-situ upgrading means that the settlement will be developed in the same area where it is located as there is enough land and space. Households located in the North-Western sections of the settlement will need to be relocated as they are located within, the 1:100-year flood line.

(b) The Department of Human Settlements within the City of Johannesburg is providing interim basic services such as refuse collection, sanitation and water on a weekly basis.

21 February 2024 - NW104

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Bodlani, Ms T to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

1.With reference to various government departments which were recently interrupted by the system of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) that was offline, what (a) were the reasons for the system interruptions at SITA and (b) plans have been put in place to address the specified interruptions; 2. Whether there is a risk of more frequent, more severe system interruptions at SITA this year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

I have been informed by the SITA as follows:

1. (a) The following are the key reasons for the system interruptions at SITA:

(i) A change in configuration resulted in blocked communication between systems. This resulted in service disruptions and as a consequence impacted email, internet, intranet, VPN and Applications to a key national department.

(ii) The SITA Core Network links are provided by both Private Sector Operators (PSO) and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The service disruptions occasionally impact on connectivity to some of SITA’s Switching Centres and Data Centres, which impacts government services to key national and provincial departments.

Notwithstanding the fact that there is redundancy in place, the fibre breaks still impact both primary and secondary links at times. The key contributing factors are vandalism, veld fires and construction work. There are also single points of failure in the Network that have been identified, that contributed to service outages.

(iii) Persistent loadshedding has also put pressure on backup power infrastructure that occasionally fail to kick in, resulting in disruption in network connectivity.

(b) The following interventions have been put in place to address the specified interruptions:

(i) SITA made investments to address single points of failure and modernised the network through a Software Defined Network programme. SITA has built further redundancy into the current architecture over and above the existing dual network routes and infrastructure. There has also been upgrades on backup power infrastructure, increase frequency of maintenance to backup diesel generators, uninterrupted-power-supplies and switchgear to ensure power supply equipment is protected. Alternative power sources are also being investigated for future investments.

2. The interventions that SITA has put in place, mitigate the risk of more severe system interruptions. The drive is to ensure high availability of services through:

  • Modernisation of the Network;
  • Consolidation and modernisation of switching and data centres;
    • Establishing partnerships with industry and State-Owned Entities to leverage their existing capabilities and to derive economies of scale.

Thank you

21 February 2024 - NW14

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

Considering the displacement caused by the floods in KwaZulu-Natal in April 2022 and the Usindiso building fire in Gauteng, (a) what disaster management measures has her department put in place in terms of housing for displaced persons and (b) how has she ensured that such measures are implementable across all provinces, especially considering the severe lack of (i) resources and (ii) infrastructure in some provinces?

Reply:

a) Before the 2023/24 financial year, the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) has been allocating disaster response funds (on application) to provinces and municipalities that were affected by disaster incidences such as floods, gale force winds and fires through the Provincial Emergency Housing Grant (PEHG) and Municipal Emergency Housing Grant (MEHG) respectively.

As a result of the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu Natal, the province was allocated a budget of R342 133 000 through the PEHG, for the provision of Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) that enabled more than 3 000 displaced households to be removed from mass care centres (community halls, churches, and schools) to various lodges and flats within eThekwini municipality. In addition, these funds were also utilised by the province for the construction of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), whilst a permanent housing solution such as the construction of BNGs, is sought by the KZN Department of Human Settlements (KZN-DHS). The Eastern Cape Province was allocated a budget of R84 109 000 through the PEHG, for the provision of 225 Temporary Residential Units to displaced households.

As of the 1st of April 2023, the NDHS discontinued the PEHG and MEHG to formulate an Emergency Housing Response Fund (EHRF) that is administered and implemented directly by NDHS.

The Human Settlements Department under the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) played an active role in the provision of emergency accommodation for the victims of the fire incident that occurred at the Usindiso building. The CoJ’s Human Settlements Department established a Transitional Relocation Area (Shalizile Denver TRA) where the victims were relocated to. Services such as water supply, sanitation, area lighting and refuse removal are provided. The costs relating to the construction of the corrugated structures amount to R3 648 640.00 in Shalizile Denver TRA.

bI The National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) put in place the following emergency housing interventions that will enable displaced disaster victims to be provided with decent shelter during disasters:

  • A 3-year panel of contractors has been established for the construction of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) on an as-and-when-required basis until the year 2026.
  • The Housing Development Agency (HDA) has been tasked with the responsibility of acquiring suitable land parcels and state-owned buildings that will be utilised immediately as Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) during disasters, whilst TRUs are being constructed. This responsibility is in line with their core mandate prescribed by the Housing Development Agency Act No. 23 of 2008.
  • The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) has been tasked with the responsibility of conducting structural assessments and remedial plans for formal houses that were damaged by the floods, winds, and fires, as per their mandate prescribed on the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, 1998 (Act No. 95 of 1998).
  • To ensure that such measures are implementable across all provinces, the NDHS has developed Emergency Housing Guidelines that outline the type of disaster interventions that should be provided by the department. The Guidelines also outline the collaborative role of the Provincial and Municipal Disaster Management Centres (PDMCs, DDMCs & MDMCs), in assisting the NDHS to respond effectively and efficiently to disasters.

21 February 2024 - NW105

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Bodlani, Ms T to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Whether the State Information Technology Agency has contingency plans to ensure noninterrupted services during loadshedding; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date will such plans be implemented and (b) what are the specific details of the plans?

Reply:

I have been informed by the SITA as follows:

Yes, SITA has implemented various contingency plans to ensure non-interrupted services during load shedding.

(a) Ongoing.

(b) SITA operates a total of twenty-six (26) Switching Centre and ten (10) Data Centre facilities across the country, which are central in the provision of network connectivity and hosting services, respectively.

• All these facilities are equipped with diesel generators which are triggered to provide backup power during load shedding. SITA has contracts in place for preventative and corrective maintenance and support of the diesel generators. Furthermore, SITA has established contracts with various Industry Suppliers for the supply and replenishment of diesel, performance of which is managed in line with service level agreements (SLAs) metrics.

• A remote environmental monitoring (REM) system has been implemented to ensure proactive monitoring of diesel levels in these facilities.

Thank you

20 February 2024 - NW48

Profile picture: Mkhonto, Ms C N

Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)       What are the reasons that learners of Senzokuhle Primary School in Umzimkhulu, Harry Gwala District, Ward 5, which was established in 2002, are still attending their classes in mobile classrooms; (2) when will (a) proper adequate structures be built for this school and (b) the school be provided with furniture, teaching and learning materials; (3) why is the school classified as quintile 3 instead of 1?

Reply:

(1) (2) (a) The question falls under the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Kwa Zulu Natal. The Member is kindly requested to refer the question to the MEC for Kwa Zulu Natal as per section 92(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 134 (5)(b) of the NA rules. 

19 February 2024 - NW47

Profile picture: Mkhonto, Ms C N

Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour

(1)What (a) steps of intervention has he taken to resolve the labour disputes between Impala Bafokeng Platinum Mine and its 2 000 employees and (b) was the root cause of the disputes; (2) has the labour union registrar had any engagements with the National Union of Mineworkers and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union to avoid potential violence amongst workers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW48E

Reply:

1. Honourable Mkhonto, I am aware of the matter you are raising. Our labour laws are thoroughly crafted to deal with matters of this nature. We all want peace, stability, harmony and acceptable working conditions in the workplace. But when the instability of whatever nature rears its ugly head, our laws must kick in and the institutions that are a creature of these laws must then be activated to dive in, when those situations emerge.

Honourable Mkhonto, you will also appreciate the fact that even Minister himself or herself must act in a manner that is consistent with our laws. He or she cannot intervene in disputes in a manner that is outside legal framework, in other words, in contravention of labour laws.

Now, what have I done that is within the parameters of the law? I have met with the trade unions and the employer in the company. This was done through the consensus of the parties. I have appealed, encouraged and nudged parties to reach a settlement on the matter in dispute.

The law has articulated a mechanism on how parties can deal with their impasse. Legislation has established CCMA as a primary institution and impartial entity to deal with workplace disputes. Labour Relations Act, among others, in an attempt to protect politicians from accusation of interfering, meddling in and tampering with the system and of taking sides, does not permit the Minister of Employment and Labour to encroach the zone of workplace disputes between parties.

2. The issues of NUM and AMCU is outside of the mandate of Registrar of Labour Relations. The functions and the parameters of the Registrar of Labour Relations are clearly articulated in the Labour Relations Act. The issue between NUM and AMCU is about recognition in the workplace, whether the other party meets the requirement of being recognised as the negotiating partner with the employer.

The law is very clear that if parties cannot reach a consensus on the matter of the representivity threshold in the workplace, they should approach CCMA to conduct representivity and determine whether the aggrieved party has reached the necessary threshold. Even the CCMA has offered to intervene and assist in resolving the dispute. However, the parties are vacillating on this matter which frustrates the CCMA’s intention to intervene.

The Government is concerned about how parties conduct themselves even on matters that the law has offered dispute resolution mechanisms. To add to the work that, we’ve already done, we are envisaging meeting the sector to engage on the conduct of parties.

END

13 February 2024 - NW67

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Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Minister of Human Settlements

(1)Whether she will furnish Mr L Mphithi with (a) all documents relating to the process of appointing the director-general of her department and (b)(i) a list and (ii) scores of candidates that were interviewed; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; (2) whether the newly appointed director-general of her department has any criminal record; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1) No. The information requested is personal information relating to the candidates who applied for the post of Director-General, and it is protected in terms of Section 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996) and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.

2) No. The verification from the South African Police Service Criminal Database confirmed no criminal record.

09 January 2024 - NW3295

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

In light of the fact that the strategies that he has been implementing to improve the performance and accountability of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) over the years have failed, what is the new and revised strategy of his department to bring stability to the SOEs?

Reply:

  1. Strategies to improve the performance and accountability of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have not failed.
  2. It is worth noting that SOEs face structural, operational and financial issues.
  3. There has been progress although there have been some setbacks. The following are some of the examples denoting progress registered to date:

Eskom

Restructuring proceeding: Eskom’s vertically integrated structure is no longer suitable to meet the country’s energy needs and has made the utility susceptible to the kinds of problems it has recently experienced including state capture and dependency on fiscal allocations. Therefore, Eskom is currently being restructured into three subsidiaries i.e. generation, transmission and distribution as per the 2019 Roadmap For Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry.

Currently the Eskom Transmission Division is undergoing a process of legal separation to form the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA). The NTCSA was incorporated into a wholly owned subsidiary of Eskom Holdings in December 2021. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved the licence for NTCSA to operate the electricity transmission system as well as trading and import/export licences. Eskom’s plan is to commence trading by April 2024, but this is dependent on obtaining lenders consent which is currently being sought. The application for the designation of the NTCSA as a buyer has been supported by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and is being finalised by NERSA. The appointment of the NTCSA Board of Directors is underway. It is expected that NTCSA will be operationalised in April 2024.

Similarly, the Eskom Distribution Division is undergoing legal separation to form the National Electricity Distribution Company of South Africa (NEDCSA). The functional separation for Distribution was completed in March 2021. A new company, the National Electricity Distribution Company of South Africa SOC Ltd (NEDCSA), has been registered. The Minister of Finance and Minister of Public Enterprises has granted approval of the PFMA application in terms of section 54(2)(a) and 54(2)(d) for the transfer of the distribution business assets to the NEDCSA. It is expected that NEDCSA will be operationalised and trading by 2025. Functional separation for the Eskom generation business was completed in March 2021.

Generation improvement: To end loadshedding, Eskom has implemented a Standard Offer Program to purchase excess power from private generators and from neighbouring countries. The Standard Offer Programme is fully subscribed for the 1000 MW. Consideration is being given to extending the capacity and duration of the programme to take advantage of additional opportunities. Furthermore, An Eskom Emergency Generation Programme has been implemented, to procure emergency power when the grid is under significant strain. To date 60 MW has been signed on to the programme and is available to the grid. A further 150 MW is expected to be on-line from the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer programme by December 2023. Between 2028-2023 approximately 2411 MW of new capacity was brought online via the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP).

Eskom is currently in a process of extending the life of KNPP by an additional 20 years. Key to the life extension programme is the replacement of three life limiting components, namely, refuelling water storage tanks (RWST), reactor pressure vessel heads (RPVHs) and steam generators (SGs). Despite some setbacks, Eskom has replaced two of the three life limiting components i.e. RWST and RPVH. On 28 July 2023 Eskom replaced Unit 1’s stream generators and Unit 2 is undergoing similar replacement so to ensure energy security.

But unless new megawatts are added to the entire system, minimal loadshedding will continue in short term.

SAA

SAA is on its way to financial and operational sustainability. SAA’s 2021/2022 financial statements, indicate that the airline emerged from business rescue as a company that was liquid and solvent. After exiting the business rescue process its assets of R8.9-billion exceeded its liabilities of R5.8-billion, resulting in positive equity of R3.1-billion. SAA is now a going concern. During the period ended 31 March 2022, SAA operated on average five narrow-body (i.e., 3 x A319s and 2 x A320s) and two wide-body (i.e., 1 x A330 and 1 x A340) aircraft. The narrow-body fleet peaked at seven in December 2022 when SAA received two A320 deliveries to replace the A319s. The A319s exited the airline fleet in March 2023, leaving the airline with five A320s.

Despite fleet acquisition challenges, the airline will end fiscal year 2024 operating 17 routes, including Sao Paulo, and Perth, Australia and seasonal domestic routes which are George and Port Elizabeth

Transnet

There has been progress registered despite the structural setbacks experienced by Transnet relating to maintenance, equipment and crime. These will be addressed through the turnaround plan as well as the initiatives of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC).

In October 2023 Transnet developed a recovery plan (Turnaround Plan) outlining various measures planned and implemented across the operating division to improve operating performance, enhance effectiveness, and attain improved financial sustainability. The recovery plans include amongst other are reforms proposed by the NLCC in the Freight Logistics Roadmap such as vertical separation of Transnet Freight Rail into rail infrastructure manager and operation collaboration with private sector in ports and rail to resolve operating and financial challenges experienced.

  • New top management will be put in place in Eskom and Transnet.
  • The focus is now on creating financial and operational efficiency.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

09 January 2024 - NW3838

Profile picture: Sonti, Ms NP

Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

What (a) are the full, relevant details of the long-term vision and strategic framework her Office has developed to create a society in which women, youth and persons with disabilities not only have equal opportunities, but also actively contribute to shaping the future of the Republic and (b) measurable outcomes are being targeted?

Reply:

The rights of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities with regards to life, dignity and privacy, including their right to access all areas of human endeavour are well protected by the country's Constitution.

The Bill of Right enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. But it's particularly Section 9, the equality clause, that affords everyone specific protection against all forms of unfair discrimination. Section 9 in particular has broadened political and civil freedom .

Section 9, the equality clause, is far-reaching, prohibiting unfair discrimination on the grounds of gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, and sexual orientation.

Section 11, the right to life, affects issues such as domestic violence and femicide.

Section 12 concerns freedom and security of the person and the sub-section that applies specifically to women is 12(1)(c), which says everyone has the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources. 12(2) says everyone has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes a woman’s right to make decisions concerning reproduction and to security in and control over her body.

Creating an environment where all these rights are protected is a responsibility for all of us, including government, all political parties, civil society, business, traditional and religious leaders and organization, families, right down to individuals. All spheres of government have an inherent responsibility to ensure that these rights which are guaranteed in the constitution are not violated and women, youth and persons with disabilities have rights to equal opportunities and access to promote equity and meaningful participation in society.

Government has developed various national policies and strategies that have been implemented to ensure inclusion and mainstreaming of issues affecting women, youth and persons with disabilities. For example concerted efforts have been made to improve access to education, employment opportunities, access to the built environment, skills development etc.

The recognition of South African Sign Language (SASL) as the 12th official language was an important step towards the realisation of the rights of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The department has developed frameworks on Awareness raising to ensure awareness on different disabilities, the Universal Design and Access to ensure that the built environment is prepared adequately and the Reasonable Accommodation to ensure that needs are identified and implemented.

South Africa after ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) adopted the national policy namely: The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015 and is currently in the process of developing a disability rights act which is being led by the South Africa Law Reformed Commission.

We have established a Disability Rights Machinery which is made up of organizations of and for persons with disabilities are part of the machinery at a National and also at provincial level through the office of the Premiers in the nine (9) provinces. The Purpose of the machinery is to monitor progress on the mainstreaming of implementation plans for persons with disabilities.

Government has further established the Presidential Working Group on Disability made up of members as individuals nominated by the disability sector from different organizations and expertise in disability to advise and guide government in implementation of programs for persons with disabilities.

The department collaborates with sister departments and the disability sector on advocacy programs, consults, plans and monitors mainstreaming of programs for persons with disabilities. Through the Gender Responsive Budgeting, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Auditing Framework, we are able to monitor gender, Youth and disability- responsiveness, inclusion and mainstreaming.

The Annual Performance Plans of government departments are assessed prior to finalisation to ensure that indicators and targets in APPs are women, youth and disability inclusive.

The Department of Women, Youth & Persons with Disabilities has developed a simplified results-based reporting template to assist with measuring targets and to monitor indicators.

The various international and national disability rights instruments and frameworks have been considered and have been harmonised to be included in the indicators within the simplified results-based reporting template. Indicators have been negotiated with the various government departments. The indicators contained in the simplified results-based monitoring template is currently being developed into a system, in partnership with UNICEF. This will assist with more effective and less burdensome reporting.

In 2021, government launched the Women Economic Assembly (WECONA) as a platform to action an enabling procurement environment for women-owned businesses by activating public & private sector supply value chains for a coherent & collaborative approach to achieving women's economic empowerment. Its mandate is anchored on pillars of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide.

At the launch the President instructed that the Provincial WECONAs be established to work in line with the District Development Model, and we have started with KZN. This is done to ensure that the program reaches women across the country.

Since its launch in October 2021, WECONA at a national level has sought to engage industry leaders to set gender transformation targets in each industry and establish game- changing interventions that increase procurement from women-owned businesses.

During our chairship of BRICS, we have worked with the BRICS partners and agreed on a ceclaration to address major concerns related to women across the BRICS countries and to promote mainstreaming of women’s issues across BRICS’ processes, priority areas, declarations and agreements; as well as to provide a platform for exchange of best practices, research and knowledge relating to BRICS women and girls.

We all know that the scourge of GBV as a violation of the constitutional rights of Women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The National Strategic Plan (NSP) thus seeks to rally society in ending GBVF by focusing on key pillars.

Pillar 5 in particular, recognises the role of access to economic opportunities as a foundation for economic power that also enables reduced cases and the vulnerability to gender based violence. The pillar work gives effect to Articles 8 of the 19 articles of the Presidential Summit Declaration Against GBVF, being to “Promote woman-centred economic development”. 

Successfully implemented, it has the power to transform the structural makeup of South Africa’s economy by systematically increasing access, control, and ownership of productive resources to women, as well as strengthening their participation in the world of work in order to address the economic drivers of gender-based violence across local, provincial, and national spheres. This pillar recognizes the clear link between GBVF and economic dependence and seeks to ensure that obstacles to women’s economic autonomy are effectively addressed.

The strategic approach of the pillar seeks ensure that: women are being included in all restorative programmes and opportunities; government and the corporate sector evaluates and makes plans to ensure that they create the most robust plans to guarantee the spiral of poverty for women in this country stops by providing avenues for economic development for women; and women are honoured by being embedded in our fiscal structures.

Key to this is the acceleration of initiatives to address women’s unequal economic and social position specifically through access to government and private sector procurement, employment, housing, land, financial resources and income generation initiatives.

To address the challenge of unemployment among youth, the SANDF led NYS programme is being introduced to build the youths’ character, empower them to serve in their communities, inculcate discipline and a sense of patriotism, train youth in leadership and entrepreneurship; and then provide them with technical capacity building in value chain driven sector specific industries with high absorption capacity.

The training streams will range from food and agriculture value chain; oceans economy and maritime skills; engineering, manufacturing, and infrastructure development; digital technologies and platform economies; and defense industries, public safety and security stream. The programme participants will be trained to be resilient and self-sustaining and then linked with job opportunities in diverse sectors.

We are aware that we cannot implement this program on our own, and on the advice of cabinet, we are working with various government departments who have the financial capacity to support elements of the National Service.

09 January 2024 - NW200

Profile picture: Faber, Mr WF

Faber, Mr WF to ask the Minister of Police

1) What are the details of the (a) destination and (b) total costs for (i) accommodation, (ii) travel and (iii) any other costs incurred for international travel of each (aa) Deputy Minister of his department since 1 June 2019: 2) What is the total cost incurred for domestic air travel for each (a) Minister and (b) Deputy Minister of his department since 1 June 2019?

Reply:

Find reply here

08 January 2024 - NW4220

Profile picture: Marais, Mr EJ

Marais, Mr EJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

What (a) is the current financial status of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) and (b) total budget will be allocated to the SBIDZ in the 2024-25 financial year to promote investment in green energy to enhance sustainable energy, excluding the mooted collaboration or deal with a certain company (name furnished)?

Reply:

The SBIDZ is managed by the Western Cape Provincial Government.

According to the Western Cape Provincial Government and the SBIDZ, the entity is not yet independently financially sustainable and is still reliant upon the Provincial Government as the owner of the SEZ, for operational funding.

Below is a table with the provincial allocation for the financial years 2022-2026.

Specific Budget policy programmes

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

2025/26

 

(R ‘000)

(R ‘000)

(R ‘000)

(R ‘000)

Operational Funding

41 977

-

-

-

New Integrated Port PPF request for SBIDZ

-

9,400*

-

-

Investment – Green Hydrogen development (Earmarked priority allocations)

-

3,300

18,150

18,150

Total

41 977

12,700

18,150

18,150

*To note, R9,4 million appropriated in the 2023/24 main budget for the Project Preparation facility for the integrated port upgrade in Saldanha is to be reclassified in the 2023 Adjusted Estimated for use as operational expenditure by the entity to assist with the entity’s sustainability.

In terms of funding from the SEZ fund, managed by the dtic the SBIDZ zone has received the following funding:

Bulk infrastructure

R 741 858 000

Top structure

R 391 130 000

Skills development

R 4 495 000

Total

R1 137 483 000

The total amount the SBIDZ received from the dtic SEZ fund is R1 137 483 000 over seven years, between 2016/2017 – 2023/2024.

In respect of green energy, the SBIDZ would require operational funding from the Provincial Government. the dtic, IDC and the SBIDZ are working together to attract private investment in green energy.

-END-

08 January 2024 - NW3930

Profile picture: Steenhuisen, Mr JH

Steenhuisen, Mr JH to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

(1) With reference to recent allegations that the costs of catering on board the Presidential Jet, Inkwazi, amounted to just under R600 000 in total for fewer than 18 VIP guests onboard the 12-hour flight from London to the Republic following the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, what are (a) names of the VIP guests who were onboard and (b) total catering costs for every flight of Inkwazi (i) in the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2023?

Reply:

The flight in issue did not depart South Africa for the burial of Queen Elizabeth II in England in 2022. The trip was a Presidential flight from South Africa to Washington DC, USA via Las Palmas for the President to attend the official working visit to the United States of America at the invitation of President Joseph Biden from September 15th to September 17th, 2022.

The flight then departed from Washington DC on the 18th of September 2022, bound for London, United Kingdom for the President to attend the State Funeral and Burial of Queen Elizabeth II.

After the State Funeral, the aircraft left London bound for South Africa on the 19th of September 2022. The catering fee covers all legs flown by the aircraft.

It should be noted that the South African Airforce (SAAF) is invoiced and billed for all onboard catering needs and requirements for all legs flown by the aircraft and are covered by the catering price.

Furthermore, the London leg was scheduled on short notice, which contributed to price increases. External flight destinations charge all catering charges in foreign currency, which influences the pricing. It must be stated that the SAAF gets billed for catering even if the trip's destination changes.

a) NThe VIP’s on board was 13 and 8 crew members and names are kept at AFB Waterkloof Movement as per established procedures. Please see Table 1 attached with names of passengers onboard the Presidential Jet

B) Please see attached expenditure.

 

a)There is no law or policy that prohibits the South African Air Force from disclosing the names of persons traveling in a state aircraft, however names are withheld when it is deemed necessary due to the confidential nature of military operations. The passengers were as depicted in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Passengers onboard the Presidential BBJ

Rank

Surname and Initials

PRES

RAMAPHOSA M.C

COL

CHAKALE J.M

WO

MABUSELA L.D

DR

SELOMA P.S

MEDIC

DUMA S.M

MS

SINGNH R.

MS

GELEBA A.

MR

MAGWENYA V.

MR

MTHEMBU R.X

MS

NKOSI M.

MR

KOORNHOF G.W

MS

CAROLUS D.

MS

MAPETSHANA N.

MR

MMUTLE J.

2018

 
 

""''

-2019 ,.

Ab=•

,.,

, ,

6 756t?0,64

U'7l240,4l

18129411.06

 

401663.&l

310U8,56

77ltl>2,S8

Ac«1mmod.1.11on

GroundHel'ldll-

1•91645,64

l2011"19S,97

13 517 441,61

Ctter1n•

95JS4116

3247H,80

JVU:23,96

Tr.M d011

A.11469,92

0.00

48"69.92

Tou,I

   

3374'449.U

   

202 -

 

,,..

""''

0-2021

,-,

 

981SSlB.98

t 142322,,S

21U9ll,1!

/1,e(Offlll"'OCb:tlOfl

1!6928..97

"300,08

1'8U9,05

,GroundHal'!dlln1

t 5711081.08

100657',tS

15846$7,ll

c.ite"'11

258341,IIO

U50SO

1GU9UO

Transoort111on

24006,,42

0.00

2,000,..2

T....

   

SU270Et, l

   

.. ...

...

 

,..,

-2019-

2020

·"""'

Tot,!

 

)6l16li,.l7

l2 sSt!7f.i

11•ao .os

Am>mlNld ion

78G 4 ,81

760360,06

154685587

Gtour.d Hlflidlln"

)685066.!7

l77Sl 410.SS

21418 411,Al

c-tem,

....

564.1.6,8.,!-9

31f4St.n

Bal1:49.71

,filflU,O(UUOI'\

 

0.00

9,4SQ9,!M

     

4244oll8R9'JI

I

 

-2021-,2.0.,2..2. ,....

       

"M'O''OmmO:latlon

360202:,:SO

111210-,1•

2600 561.U

72S9

25607M,12

J.84S30,13

Gt011nd Handflfl&

c,•-

5 U7,4'

SUH

4

JS47608

0,00

.\058989,11

56!,13

i rwi,p0muon

11119,80

0,00

11729

to:11

   

7181 tSl.B!

 

2023.igi4

,...

loc:al

.......

folal

Act01N'1'1Cdalian

90-UJ,.?'

1231'91

8

6 7.41261...8

l l7S 18',18

7980175,81

J J6S296."6

lr.round Handlll'IIII

199E6S}J6

3-92?:!32,!U

4 l.26998.17

Clterir,f,

280lS6,91

HS7222,l11

JS.374'19,17

,T ns,portatiM

5 l:)8,40

0.00

3231,40

       

l9013188,.ll

   

,..,, 7fl.2,,_2,-

     

To,al

r.d

S9079!i1,.91

12'23006,41

UI 3,0960:33

Accolffll06a:DOn

278152.-00

4116718.17

44048.M.17

Gtol.l!ldHlotldUn.;

1871282.91

3S5t0!2.63

S42l31S.S7

c.1tniv.

nu1 ...•3

l 7D4JSS,29

248267Ul

rnn1

lot,1

3S75,460

2:1959,

6,t714,16

30705 S,.4,05

   
   

.H.o.l'I.C.V.Well

U.1&!5&.56"

 

'30380,99

,;: '"

13iianFe

....

112,uo

5..,1,00

,Euroc:onuol

 
 

45$9817,44

901!iOS,lO

--,,..--

---

-,,.--•uD4",l.l

·,"-.-.''

    • l!.lf;IJI'

··-

1111 ,,U

t11tt;1;1,n

.'=.".'

"",

11i.t.,u

.IIA21"·"'

...

'.9*,'0."•.1"..J.."U,

· IU01-IU

,,.,

·,-

•••ru..r- ,. 111,ll

...

  • n\.out

Mi'-ILM

..,.-,...,oo

l!lHWU't

.....

- -...·...w

··-

-

""::'

ffl■,e,t, .,.

,".",

··,-.,

OJrt.......

_ _,I.V

..

...,.

IUIUILY.

-,W1l0,)}

CORPOflAlE PAYMENTS

Month

Amo1.1n1

Elich11nlN!R.l1C

RandValle

   

R19J

8303801

futy2023

154S,32

   
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

Totat

1 S4S.l2•

 

IU038011

       

M°"ll,

....

Amount

Month

Amount

Exch.anH>Rate

Raind Val\le

     

fl334 34•

An1112023

SlB270.U

R18,'l<

 

Mav2023

SJ00,00

IU9,72

s 91G,o

May2023

$137,00

R19,72

R2701,"

May2023

<-11111

Rl9,72

R3569,'3

June 2023

J· 2023

$38992.

$71 329 7

R18,84

R17,87

R73•626,2

RI 274 662,91

Avirust 2023

AU&\l.St 2023

$277.

S34756

.R,lll..BO

RS207

     

R6S3413,9

"4Jgu.st-20?3

5eptember1023

$147,00

S:167""'2

R18

RlB 92

1\2163,,

R316119,7

October 2023

s111a,

R186S

R20860,0

Octobt-t 2023

SS6852,8

R18,6S

R1060 306,

October 2023

s100,nr

Rl.8,65

Rl 865

Nowmb.-r >01:i

S.SJlliO: t

IU.S,11

IH 'rll'faii0,9

Nowmb(o, 20:H

5!00.00

IU8.l!I

Al819,n

       

Total

$.320630,6

 

R-44163565

       

£xch,nHRate RondV.tlue

_.,,

J:u:ne 2023

J,ny2023

October202.3 Oaober202l Ck1ober 20:tl

S4.l5,ss

$657

-,39

S174 5414,

IUS,84 R17,17 Rl8,65 RlB6'

Rl86S

fl8211 1 RU 7S4, R?301,4 R3 260,0 R772l.1

Se tl!l'nbl!f 2023

Total

uchaa te RandVal

IIS38,00 R20.07

Total

S2073,9

Rl8248,ar

Total

4$3800

R91077,6

08 January 2024 - NW4201

Profile picture: De Villiers, Mr JN

De Villiers, Mr JN to ask the Minister of Small Business Development

Whether, with regard to the energy relief package promised to small-, medium-, informal-and micro businesses, there has been any consultation with the National Treasury and/or other relevant stakeholders to ensure the feasibility and funding of the initiative; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of such consultations?”

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The Department of Small Business Development engaged the National Treasury in March 2023 for funding to assist SMMEs to deal with the effects of load shedding under a programme called “Energy Relief”, also known as “the Power Purchase”, and the request was not approved by the National Treasury.

08 January 2024 - NW3931

Profile picture: Malatsi, Mr MS

Malatsi, Mr MS to ask the Minister in the Presidency

Whether (a) she, (b) the Deputy Minister and (c) any other official in her Office attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, what (i) are the relevant details of each person in her Office who attended the Rugby World Cup, (ii) is the total number of such persons and (iii) were the total costs of (aa) travel, (bb) accommodation and (cc) any other related costs that were incurred by her Office as a result of the trip(s)?

Reply:

(b) Deputy Minister Morolong undertook an approved private trip to attend the Rugby World Cup Final in France. He departed from O.R Tambo International Airport on the 26th October 2023.

(c ) He was not accompanied by any member of his staff.

  1. No one travelled with Deputy Minister Morolong
  2. 0 number of staff
  3. R 0

(aa) R 0

(bb) R 0

(cc) R 0

 

NAME OF THE DRAFTER : Mr Mosimanegape Moleme

DESIGNATION : Head: Office of the Deputy Minister

CONTACT DETAILS : 081 048 8971

SIGNATURE : ____________________________


_____________________________

Phindile Baleni (Ms)

Director General and Secretary of Cabinet

Date:

__________________________

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Minister in the Presidency

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW3948

Profile picture: Khakhau, Ms KL

Khakhau, Ms KL to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Whether (a) he, (b) the Deputy Minister and (c) any other official in his department attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, what (i) are the relevant details of each person in his department who attended the Rugby World Cup, (ii) is the total number of such persons and (iii) were the total costs of (aa) travel, (bb) accommodation and (cc) any other related costs that were incurred by his department as a result of the trip(s)?

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

(a) The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure did not attend the Rugby World Cup final in France.

(b) The Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure did not attend the Rugby World Cup final in France.

(c) No official in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure attended the Rugby World Cup final in France on official duties.

The attendance of international sporting events is not within the mandate of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. Officials who would wish to attend such events would do so at their own cost.

(i) Not applicable

(ii) Not applicable

(iii) Not applicable

(aa) Not applicable

(bb) Not applicable

(cc) Not applicable

08 January 2024 - NW4183

Profile picture: Graham, Ms SJ

Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

What (a) are the details of the (i) metros and (ii) local municipalities in which Eskom installed smart meters in the past five years as a means of demand-side management and (b) were the costs of the installation of the smart meter programmes in each specified metro and local municipality? (2) Whether the smart meters are being used effectively to control demand; if not; (a) why not and (b) what steps have been taken to address the shortcomings; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

According to information received from Eskom:

(1)

(a) The smart meters that were installed during the past five years were mainly for grid modernisation, increased operational efficiency, revenue collection improvement and technology enhancement. The current non-smart meters that were in use have almost reached the end of life as technology is continuously developing. Internationally, all meters are read and controlled remotely with big data being collected from installed smart meters to enhance services offered to customers.

Eskom has started a project to use the already-installed meters for demand management i.e: using the load-limiting functionality which is built into smart meters. The first phase of the project was in Gauteng (Fourways) to ensure that the system worked as per design before the national rollout. At this stage, Eskom is preparing to roll out load limiting in all areas nationally, where smart meters are installed, following the successful implementation of the project in Fourways.

(i) Metros:

Sandton/Midrand – The full rollout of load limiting on installed smart meters in Sandton/Midrand is part of the second phase of the load limiting project. To this effect, the load limiting project in Fourways has already been extended to over 5000 smart meters in Riverside (Fourways area).

(ii) Municipalities:

Smart meters were installed at Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape for a Pilot Project known as Metering as a Service (MaaS). Part of the second phase of the national load-limiting rollout is to engage the municipality and implement load limiting on the installed smart meters.

(b) The installed cost of a single-phase meter ranges between ± R1 700 and ± R2 700 for a three-phase meter, if it is a straight meter swap out. Labour costs are included.

(2)

(a) Eskom has started a project to use the already-installed smart meters for demand management, using the load-limiting functionality built into smart meters. The first phase of the project was in Gauteng (Fourways) to ensure that the system worked as per design before the national rollout. At this stage, Eskom is preparing to roll out load limiting in all areas nationally where smart meters are installed following the successful implementation of the project in Fourways.

(b) Since June 2021, Eskom has only been installing smart meters for electrification projects and maintenance. Load limiting will be phased in on all installed smart meters under the national load limiting project.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4158

Profile picture: Luthuli, Mr BN

Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Small Business Development

Whether her department has put in place any new mechanisms to ensure continuous support to small, medium and micro enterprises during pandemics such as COVID-19; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?”

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has not institutionalised the provision of emergence relief measures to small, medium and micro enterprises due to limited budget; however we will continue to apply to National Treasury whenever there is a pandemic or a disaster.

08 January 2024 - NW4052

Profile picture: Graham, Ms SJ

Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether Eskom has determined the extent to which ghost vending impacts the revenue and financial stability of it and local municipalities; if not; why not; if so; what are the relevant details; (2) Whether any measures are in place to detect and prevent electricity ghost vending; if not, why not; if so, (a) what measures and (b) what are the legal penalties or consequences for individuals or entities involved in electricity ghost vending; (3) Whether Eskom has provided vendor education about the risks and consequences of selling illegally obtained electricity tokens or units; if not, what steps are being taken to raise awareness about electricity ghost vending and encourage consumers to purchase electricity tokens from authorised and reputable sources; (4) Whether there are any technological advancements or innovations being implemented to enhance the security and integrity of electricity token distribution and usage; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) (a) how can consumers protect themselves from inadvertently becoming victims of electricity ghost vending schemes and (b) what action processes are provided by Eskom for communities or individuals who suspect they may be affected by electricity ghost vending activities in their area?

Reply:

According to information received from Eskom:

(1)

Eskom is unable to quantify the ghost vending impact since it is difficult to determine the revenue losses directly associated with illegal sales, as they are done clandestinely.

(2)(a)(b)

Eskom works closely with law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks, to conduct covert investigations on detected or reported illegal vending activities and thereafter tries to locate illegal vending machines, confiscate, and criminally prosecute the perpetrators. On 02 November 2023, the Pretoria High Court granted a preservation order to the amount of R36 million on the property (movable and immovable) belonging to 13 ring leaders of an illegal vending syndicate.

Eskom has recently upgraded its Online Vending System (OVS) to be compatible with Key Revision Number 2 (KRN 2) software and the meters are being converted to KRN 2 applications where the ghost tokens will not be credited by the meters. Furthermore, Eskom is in the process of replacing the current OVS with a new one. The current vending system has been in operation for 16 years and there is a need for a more modern and integrated one.

Eskom conducts meter audits and the customer credit that was not bought through Eskom agents is removed, thereafter the prepaid meter box is disconnected immediately. The customer is then required to pay a minimum fine of R6 052.60.

(3)

Eskom-approved prepaid electricity vending agents are given clear terms and conditions in the service level agreement with specifications on the service scope and control measures. Notifications or warnings are provided regarding the consequence of selling illegally, otherwise the terms and conditions of the contract and service level agreements are enforced.

(4)

(a) Eskom has since decommissioned all officially registered offline Credit Dispensing Units and security modules and migrated to a new centralised OVS. The new Online Vending STS6 security modules have embedded security features that automatically disable a security module after either a certain amount of electricity is sold or after a set duration.

Also, Eskom has recently upgraded the OVS to be compatible with Key Revision Number 2 (KRN 2) software and the meters are being converted to KRN 2 applications where the ghost token will not be credited by the meters. In addition, Eskom is in the process of replacing the current OVS with a new system. The current vending system has been in operation for 16 years and there is a need for a more modern and integrated one. The new system is also expected to have better controls to minimise fraudulent activities.

(b) Eskom periodically runs campaigns to educate customers regarding energy losses and illegal vending is part of this campaign.

Customers are also urged to buy Eskom prepaid vouchers only from legal Eskom national vendors that have their footprint in supermarkets, petrol stations and local shops with registered point-of-sale machines, ATMs, mini markets, mobile apps, and online banking. Customers are encouraged to be vigilant and not be deceived or tempted on social media by unknown people promising big discounts for their purchases. Customers are advised to report incidents of suspected illegal buying of electricity in their areas to the SMS crime line number 32211 or call the Eskom contact centre on 0860037566.

(5)

(a) Customers are informed through campaigns and customer education to buy Eskom prepaid vouchers only from legal Eskom national vendors such as supermarkets, petrol stations and local shops with registered point of sale machines, ATMs, mini markets or mobile apps and online banking and not be deceived and tempted on social media by unknown people.

(b) Customers are urged to report such activities to Crime line number 32211 or call the Eskom contact centre on 0860037566. Eskom also continuously runs campaigns to educate customers about ghost vending.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4019

Profile picture: van der Merwe, Ms LL

van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

Considering that he has admitted that his department records more than 2,000 fake marriages to foreign nationals annually, what (a) new enhanced measures are in place to verify that a marriage between a South African citizen and a foreign national is genuine and not merely a transaction and (b)(i) steps have been taken to nullify the 2 000 fake marriages per year and (ii) are the full, relevant details in this regard?

Reply:

Honourable Member, it may be very important for me to explain how the figure of about 2000 fake marriages comes about.

These are divided into three main categories; the first category is real fake marriages whereby a Home Affairs official is involved in facilitating a marriage that does not exist. The official gets paid money by the prospective spouse (usually male) who wants documents to sojourn in South Africa through marriage.

Due to the system of BACM (Biometric Access Control Management), a Home Affairs official who practices this type of corruption will not register this marriage on the National Population Register because their fingerprints are needed to do so. Hence it is very easy to pick up this type of marriage once a complaint is made, because of its absence from the Register.

The second category, which is by far the biggest category, is marriages of convenience. This is when the couple agrees to get legitimately married whereby one spouse (usually a foreign male) pays money to the other spouse (usually a South African lady) in return for getting documents to sojourn in South Africa via marriage. It is wrongly believed by both spouses that after the transactions have been completed the South African spouse will then approach Home Affairs to ‘cancel’ the marriage on the basis that it is fake. However, our investigations usually reveal their fingerprints, addresses, and photos which are legitimate on the marriage documents. In this case, we advise them to go to court to start divorce proceedings. Many of them cry foul and publicly blame the Department of Home Affairs.

The third category is whereby an ID of a South African (usually a lady) is stolen and used to go and register a marriage with a foreign spouse.

a) Our measures are the following:

  • BACM discourages corrupt officials from registering a marriage on the National Population Register because they will be caught out through their fingerprints
  • Introduction of the new Marriage Register (DHA-30) which requires biometrics from the couple at the same time.
  • Extensive interviews are conducted with the couple before registration of marriage.
  • Letter of non-impediment must be submitted by the foreign prospective spouse to prove that they are not married back home. Such a letter must be written by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the country of origin of the prospective spouse.

b) (i)(ii) Any marriage that is not on the NPR is immediately annulled. Those that are legal but are marriages of convenience, we as Home Affairs are unable to do anything about them. The couple themselves must go to court to divorce, where we have proof that an ID was stolen we also annul the marriage.

From January 2023 to November 2023, 1 614 fraudulent marriages were encountered and 1102 have been expunged. The remainder are still under further investigation.

Reply: Approved / Not Approved

 

Dr PA Motsoaledi, MP

Minister of Home Affairs

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4108

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Manyi, Mr M to ask the Minister in the Presidency

(1)What assurances can she give that she has strictly adhered to the principle of non interference throughout her tenure; (2) whether she would be open to testifying under oath to confirm that there is no evidence, even prima facie, suggesting that she interfered in the day-to-day operations of the State Security Agency (SSA); if not, what is the position in this regard; if, so, what are the relevant details; (3) what measures has she put in place to (a) guarantee the autonomy of the SSA and (b) uphold public trust and confidence in the operations of SSA?

Reply:

The reply to this question has been logged with the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI).

REPLY COORDINATOR

Name :

Designation :

Contacts :

Recommended / Not recommended

___________________________

Ambassador Nozuko Bam

Director-General: State Security Agency

Date:

Approved / Not Approved

________________________

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni , MP,

Minister in The Presidency

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4008

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Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Police

(1) What total number of (a) firearms and (b) ammunition of each Ci) type and (ii) calibre, (aa) were stolen and (bb) were lost and/or went missing at each police station in each province (aaa) in the past four financial years and (bbb) from 1 April 2023 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; 2) what steps has his department taken to combat the then and loss of the Drearms and ammunition; (3) whether any persons were (a) arrested and/or found guilty in this regard; if not, why not; if so what total number of (i) persons were arrested and/or found guilty and (ii) the specified persons were members of the SA Police Service?

Reply:

Find reply here

08 January 2024 - NW4193

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Essack, Mr F to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

(1) What total amount of private investment has been invested since 1994 in State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) reporting to him; (2) Whether any of the SOEs reporting to him hold any investment stakes in any commercial entities located in foreign jurisdictions; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the (i) name of each foreign commercial entity and (ii) total amount of each investment stake and (b) how much in dividends has each SOE realised through the specified investment stakes?

Reply:

According to information received from Alexkor, Denel, Eskom, SAFCOL, Transnet and SAA:

ALEXKOR

  1. None

Alexkor and the PSJV do not hold or plan to hold any investment stakes in any commercial entities located in foreign jurisdictions.

DENEL

1. Not applicable

2. (a)(i) Entity1: Barij Dynamics (49%) (ii) R22 858 500

(a)(i) Entity 2: Pioneer Land Systems (49%) (ii) R0

(b) Barij Dynamics R91 953 908

(b) Pioneer Land Systems R0

ESKOM

  1. None
  1. Eskom has no investment stakes in any commercial entities in foreign jurisdictions.

SAFCOL

  1. No private investment in SOC
  1. (a)(i) Industrias Florestais de Manica in Mozambique

(ii) Equity: R8 433 539

  1. (b) Zero dividends

TRANSNET

Gaborone Container Terminal (GABCON)

Botswana Railways (BR) and Transnet (trading as Spoornet) entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 16 August 1996. BR and Transnet agreed to build a new container terminal at a cost of R14million, where each party contributed equally. Further, it was agreed that a 50:50 Joint Venture Agreement (JVA)

would be created to manage total investments for both parties.

 

Country of Registration:

Botswana

 

Strategic Objectives:

Regional Container Terminal Hub

 

Shareholding:

Botswana Railways (64%) and Transnet SOC Ltd (36%)

 

Dividends realised to date.

R5,4million

SAA

 
  1. SAA currently does not have records of private investment transactions. Our current records indicate that No amount (Nil Rand Value) has been invested in SAA.

However, we see from the attached news coverage that 20% stake in SAA, along with an option for a further 10% was sold to Swissair in June 1999 for R1,4-billion (about $200 million at the time) as part of the government’s privatisation process.

The South African government is to buy back the 20% stake in the country’s national carrier, according to the then Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Jeff Radebe, under government’s transport subsidiary Transnet.

SA to buy back 20% Swissair stake in SAA - The Mail & Guardian (mg.co.za)

  1. SAA does not hold any investments in any commercial entities located in foreign jurisdictions.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4140

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Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

With reference to his reply to question 3313 on 15 November 2023, (a) what informed the decision that identified Telkom Towers to be part of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) pilot project, (b) where will the SA Police Service personnel be accommodated and (c) what amount will the tenants pay to utilise the building, excluding the PPP agreements?

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

I have been informed by the Department that:

  1. Telkom Towers was selected to be part of the pilot project to fast track the refurbishments of the towers so that SAPS can occupy the buildings. Using PPP’s allows the private sector to fund such refurbishments to ease the burden of Capex on the fiscus.
  2. SAPS personnel will continue to stay in their current rental buildings until such a time that the Telkom towers are ready. The leases will be cancelled as and when the towers are ready and handed over for occupation.
  3. The amounts are not determined yet as the project is still in its infancy. These will be known once all of the project costs have been determined at the conclusion of the bidding process.

08 January 2024 - NW4076

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Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs

What is the current backlog of processing applications for temporary residence visas at his department?

Reply:

Honourable Member, this question of visa backlogs was responded to in September 2023 and seems to be appearing again two months later. But it is also appearing in the media in various forms.

The central claim by various media houses, individuals and sometimes even companies, or organisations is that the department of home affairs is causing economic stagnation and contributing largely to unemployment by delaying the processing of visas.

I wish to take this opportunity to clarify matters in this regard.

Contrary to popular belief,the department has no undue delays on visas that impacts directly on the economy and employment. The delays and the backlogs are on two special categories of visas which I will elaborate on below,

The majority of applications received for temporary Residence visa are categories that belongs to section 11 (6) and Section 18. These sections denote to spousal visas and relative visas respectively as enacted in the Immigration Act (Act 13 of 2002).

The department is not just deliberately delaying the processing of such visas.

The department is experiencing significant and ever increasing challenges with regards to legitimacy of relationships being claimed or cited as a reason for applying for these visas.

Some foreign nationals have taken advantage and gets into corruption to legitimise themselves, family members, friends and others.

The number of fraudulent marriages, marriages of convenience and a special category of cohabitation are unfortunately on the increase.

The category of cohabitation is even more problematic and easily attracts corruption because all that two people claiming to be staying with each other need to produce is a contract written by the notary public (notarial contract). There is nothing in law that forbids two people to legitimise their relationship through a notarial contract. The problem is that some of the contracts presented to the department looks very suspicious and warrants a thorough investigation when such applications are processed. More worryingly, spousal visa applications based on the notarial contracts are on the increase.

It is common cause that the department does not have enough Immigration officers who have to be tasked with the difficult job of investigating authenticity of relationships. Yet, without knowing whether relationships are authentic, the department will find itself issuing visas to people who do not deserve to be in the country.

As of 14 December 2023, approximately 86 per cent of the backlog consists of this relationship visas.

The department has developed a plan to address the backlog. The plan aims to move the older Temporary Residency Visa applications from 2022 concurrently with the current applications of 2023.

Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Dr PA Motsoaledi, MP

Minister of Home Affairs

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4107

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Manyi, Mr M to ask the Minister in the Presidency

What (a) external pressures and/or internal factors within the State Security Agency (SSA) influenced the decision of its Director-General, Ambassador Majola, to resign, (a) strategies has her Office developed to (i) address potential implications on national security that might arise due to the abrupt departure of a key official and (ii) ensure that there is a smooth transition and continuity in the critical functions of SSA?

Reply:

The reply to this question has been logged with the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI).

REPLY COORDINATOR

Name :

Designation :

Contacts :

Recommended / Not recommended

___________________________

Ambassador Nozuko Bam

Director-General: State Security Agency

Date:

Approved / Not Approved

________________________

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni , MP,

Minister in The Presidency

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4157

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Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Small Business Development

Whether her department has any step-by-step mechanisms in place to (a) encourage and make a provision for youth entrepreneurship and (b) address youth unemployment in line with the Government’s priority; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?”

Reply:

I have been advised that:

a) In a quest to cultivate an enterprising culture amongst the youth, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has designed support measures for youth-owned businesses. This presents much greater opportunities for isolated and marginalised youth into the economic mainstream in respect of which targeted measures are necessary for accelerating the promotion of youth businesses and self-employment. It is in this light, that the DSBD is increasingly expanding its programmes but more importantly, designing targeted instruments assisting youth owned enterprises with enterprise development.

As at the end of Quarter 2 of the current financial year, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), with limited resources, has provided 10,616 skills development and other business development support for youth entrepreneurship which may include interventions such as, but not limited to Financial Management training, Access to funding, Basic Business skills training, Information and Business Advice, Business Plans, Training and Mentoring, entrepreneurship awareness, etc.

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:

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

Entrepreneurship in schools (Step up to a Start Up) is a programme together with Primestars that will support educators through boot camps to create entrepreneurship awareness amongst the youth and educators.

Furthermore, through Sefa the department has the Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) – the primary objective of the fund is to provide support to youth Start-Up enterprises which are formally registered and is thus seen as an approach to assist in ensuring the economic participation of young people. This is intended to support most promising young entrepreneurs intending to scale-up and growing their businesses.

b) Since its inception the Youth Challenge Fund in November 2021, the programme has approved loans to the value of R227 798 265 to 66 youth-owned businesses and has disbursed R150 348 036 to 42 youth-owned businesses. On the other hand, Seda has also signed a three-year MoU with the National Skills Fund. It includes Work Integrated Learning for 1500 unemployed graduates who will be trained to provide mentorship to 12 500 micro enterprises.

In addition to the above, there other events that seek to orientate young people around entrepreneurship development and opportunities:

  1. Seda Eastern Cape in collaboration with the KSD TVET college presented an information session to eighty (80) youth on entrepreneurship awareness. The event took place from on 6-12 June 2023.
  2. On 10 May 2023 the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted a Career Fair in partnership with public entities to share Career and Personal Development Opportunities for Graduates to advance employability and Business Opportunities in the Northern Cape.
  3. So are the other events such as Seda Eastern Cape’s Amathole Branch which held an eco-system stakeholder meeting by the Border Kei Chamber of Commerce on 22 June 2023. The Chamber is in the process of opening a youth desk focusing on Youth Development in its entirety. The youth desk comes as a follow-up to their annual Youth Reality Conference that the Chamber has been hosting for the past few years. The event attracts over two thousand (2000) young people in and around Buffalo City Municipality (BCM). The chamber has identified challenges that the young people face, and in collaboration with partners seeking to address some of these challenges. One of the challenges being the high level of unemployment among young people.
  4. Seda Nkomazi branch in Mpumalanga made a presentation on Seda’s offerings at the Aids Foundation of South Africa from the 30 May -1 June 2023 in Mangweni, Buffelspruit and Naas respectively. The purpose of this collaboration was to implement a young women focused programme, of empowering them with skills including employability, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
  5. The Nkangala Branch and other stakeholders in Mpumalanga participated in the youth month seminar “Leave Your Legacy” organised by Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA). A presentation on Seda products and services, opportunities that are available to youth and Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) was done. The event was attended by twenty-one (21) youth entrepreneurs, and it took place on the 14 June 2023.

These are some few activities amongst many that seek to orientate young people on entrepreneurship development and available support services provided by the SBD Portfolio.

08 January 2024 - NW4191

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Essack, Mr F to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

What total kilometres of Transnet Freight Rail (a) railway tracks have fallen into disuse since 27 April 1994 and (b) copper cables have been stolen since 1 April 2019. NW5473E

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

a) A total of 3 636 kilometers of railway track have fallen into disuse since April 1994 to the end of November 2023.

b) TFR has lost 4 633 kilometers of copper cable through theft from 2019/20 financial year to date as of the end of October 2023.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comment

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4173

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Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport

Whether her department has records of the number of mini-bus taxis operating as public transport in each province; if not, why not; if so, how many mini-bus taxis have (a) been impounded for not being roadworthy, (b) their operating licenses been (i) rejected and (ii) approved during the 2015-2022 period and (c) what are the relevant details in each specified case?

Reply:

1.  How may mini-bus taxis have been (a) impounded for not being roadworthy

a) Land transport enforcement is a function of a province or municipality. As enforcement authorities, provinces and/or municipalities are responsible for the impoundment of vehicles where there are transgressions to section 87 of the National Land Transport Act (NLTA). Therefore, the Department does not have the records of the impounded vehicles in the different Provinces.

b) The number of operating licenses (OLs) that have been (i) rejected and (ii) approved during the 2015 – 2022 period are depicted in the table below:

Province

Rejected

Approved

1. Mpumalanga

3 356

31 277

2. Free State

1 567

17 759

3. North West

2 431

25 352

4. Limpopo

3 452

31 873

5. Eastern Cape

4 023

35 832

6. Gauteng

10 457

50 700

7. Northern Cape

876

20 970

8. Kwazulu Natal

302

34 405

9. Western Cape

-

-

TOTAL

26 464

248 168

NB: The relevant information has not been received from the Western Cape Province and will be provided once received.

c) Refer to (b) above.

08 January 2024 - NW4217

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Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

What (a) total number of business loans were issued by the Industrial Development Corporation in the past five financial years, (b) was the total monetary value of the loans, (c) total number of the loans were issued to (i) majority BEE owned, (ii) majority female owned and (iii) non-South African companies and (d) total number of specified companies failed in their (i) first, (ii) second, (iii) third, (iv) fourth and (v) and fifth year of operation?[

Reply:

In the past five years the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) issued:

The total number of 834 business loans and equity funding.

The total monetary value is R80,5 billion.

Total Approvals

BEE owned (>50%)

Women owned (>50%)

Non-South African companies

a) Total number of the business loans/equity that were issued:

  1. 53,7% of the total number of business loans/equity by the IDC in the last five financial years was issued to majority black-owned companies; and by value it constituted 31,3% of all loans/equity approvals.
  2. 11,8% of the total number of business loans/equity by the IDC in the last five financial years was issued to majority woman-owned companies.
  3. 3,8% of the total number of business loans/equity by the IDC in the last five financial years was issued to non-South African companies (including investment in other African countries, and by value it constituted 15% of all loans/equity approvals.

Additional information requested will be compiled.

-END-

08 January 2024 - NW4038

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Hlengwa, Ms MD to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

Whether her Office has the relevant details of the (a) allocated budget and (b) total expenditure of the executive of the National Youth Development Agency in respect of (i) travel and (ii) accommodation in the past 10 years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

I am informed by the agency (NYDA) that it currently has data available for the last six financial years due to a change of financial management system and in line with its record management policy.

The budget and actual spend for travel and accommodation for the last six years for the Executive of the NYDA is as follows:

Financial Year

Budget

Actual

2017-18

R5 000 000,00

R5 049 908,84

2018-19

R 9 000 000,00

R9 233 443,12

2019-20

R8 000 000,00

R7 809 264,72

2020-21

R100 000,00

R68 127,08

2021-22

R8 000 000,00

R7 826 743,47

2022-23

R10 000 000,00

R9 399 241,32

The NYDA is working on extracting the remaining four years from its archived data and will share as soon as the extraction is complete.

08 January 2024 - NW3985

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Shaik Emam, Mr AM to ask the Minister in the Presidency

What measures is her Office putting in place to encourage credible reporting by media houses, some of whom appear to promote propaganda, which was found to be untrue (details furnished)?

Reply:

Ethics cannot be considered in a vacuum. It is therefore imperative that we consider the historical as well as current context of the South African media. South African media has a dark history of hegemonic control, censorship, and manipulation in the interest of implementing the apartheid project, resisted only by a few brave independent publications and the conscientised media activists of the liberation struggle era.

The resulting legacy could not be – and is not – easy to undo. Oligopoly and lack of diversity persist, narrowing the public space for access to information and debate in a socio-political and economic landscape where English and Afrikaans dominate all platforms, pay-walls encroach, data is expensive and online access limited. Further constraints come in the form of the perceived imperatives of digital news production and dissemination and the fragmenting impact of the entry, via social media, of multiple unaccountable new voices.

To the traditional media roles of informing, educating and entertaining and, as the ‘Fourth Estate’, speaking truth to and asserting checks on power, have been added new responsibilities: countering the self-reinforcing echo chambers of social media; fighting mis- and disinformation; and counterbalancing the hegemony of powerful international information platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Google.

These are heavy duties. Yet for the proper functioning of a modern participatory democracy, the South African media must be free, proactive, professional, inquiring and accessible. Only then can the media effectively include all citizens in the public discourse and support them in discovering information and forming opinions. Yet the Global Disinformation Index suggests that 41% of South Africans distrust the media and 70% are concerned about the problem of distinguishing valid from ‘fake’ news.

South Africa has a constitution that enshrines the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. However, like in many countries, balancing these rights with ethical considerations is an ongoing challenge. In addition to media being regulated by the country’s constitution and laws, and they are also regulated by the codes they have voluntarily adopted to regulate themselves:

  • the Press Council’s South African Press Code;
  • the Broadcast Complaints Commission’s Code of Conduct for Free-to-Air Broadcasting Service Licensees and its Code of Conduct for Subscription Broadcasting Service Licensees; and
  • the Digital Media and Marketing Association’s Professional Code of Conduct.

Through the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) government continues to ensure that information needs of citizens are met. The GCIS is geared towards ensuring that South Africans receive information in a timely manner, to empower their engagement on important issues that affect their lives as well as the development of communities.

Furthermore, the GCIS has tried and tested platforms such as Vuk’uzenzele newspaper, SAnews, My District Today newsletter, PSM magazine and radio services which boost government efforts to reach the public and contribute to ensuring that the public has access to balanced information. Equally, the social-media platforms managed by the GCIS are regularly updated to ensure they are more effective in conveying government content.

In order to ensure that the community media sector adheres to principles of ethical journalism; the MDDA has since 2019 implemented fact checking training for the sector. Journalists are the first line of defence against information abuse and fake news. Fact-checking is one of the most important elements of the proofreading process. As the name implies, fact-checking in proofreading involves verifying the accuracy of the information included in a document. This practice is essential for producing factually accurate content material that is both reliable and credible.

 

NAME OF THE DRAFTER : PROF. HLENGANI MATHEBULA

DESIGNATION : MDDA BOARD CHAIRPERSON

CONTACT DETAILS : +27 82 448 9219

SIGNATURE :


_____________________________

Nomonde Mnukwa (Ms)

Acting Director-General: Government Communication and Information System

(GCIS)

Date:

__________________________

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Minister in the Presidency

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4200

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De Villiers, Mr JN to ask the Minister of Small Business Development

Whether she will provide an update on (a)(i) the status and (ii) specific details of the energy relief package announced on 18 January 2023 and (b)(i) the steps taken towards its implementation and (ii) the expected timeline for delivery?”

Reply:

I have been advised that:

The Department of Small Business Development engaged the National Treasury in March 2023 for funding to assist SMMEs to deal with the effects of load shedding under a programme called “Energy Relief”, also known as “the Power Purchase”, and the request was not approved by the National Treasury.

An update on this was provided to the Portfolio Committee.

08 January 2024 - NW4089

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Bodlani, Ms T to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

(a) How has the R745 million debt that is owed to Sentech by the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for signal distribution impacted Sentech’s operations, (b) how did the debt impact the long-awaited transition from analogue to digital signal distribution, (c) what interventions did the department make to mitigate the impact of the SABC’s debt to Sentech and (d) how will the SABC finance (i) its debt to Sentech and (ii) future distribution costs?    W5370E

Reply:

(a) & (b) The non-payment of the debt has impacted negatively on Sentech’s cashflow which in turn affects the company’s ability to fulfil its commitments in relation to CAPEX and operational working capital initiatives and maintenance plans.

(c) The DCDT advised the two entities to work together outside third parties to find a workable solution to resolve the signal tariff dispute. The two Boards committed to working together to find a solution and as such a joint committee of the Boards and Executives from both companies was established. The Department is still awaiting the report on the outcome of this committee. The two entities were also advised to enter a debt repayment plan whilst finding a workable solution for the tariff dispute. This was to ensure that the SABC makes monthly payments to minimise the impact of non-payment on Sentech. A debt repayment plan has since been entered.

(d)(i)(ii) The SABC is required to finance its debt obligations including that of Sentech through normal revenue sources so that it can meet all its debt obligations. The SABC is in the process of exploring alternative revenue sources that are set to increase its revenue generation base in the immediate term and a new Strategy has also been developed to improve revenue generation. In addition, in the medium to long-term, in anticipation of the SABC Bill being processed by Parliament, the Department will be reviewing the funding model of the public broadcaster. The funding of signal distribution costs, particularly for public broadcasting service platforms will be considered as part of the review process of SABC’s funding model.

Thank You.

08 January 2024 - NW4015

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Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

What (a) are the (i) names and (ii) positions of officials of his department who travelled abroad in the 2022-23 financial year and (b) was the (i) purpose, (ii) total cost and (iii) total breakdown of such costs of each specified visit?

Reply:

Names (i)

Positions (ii)

Purpose (i)

Total cost (ii)

Breakdown (iii)

Borotho Nthabiseng

Chief of staff

Official visit to UAE

86 252.00

43 126.00

Gordhan Pravin

Minister

Official visit to UAE

 

43 126.00

 

 

 

 

 

Molisane Jacky

ADG

Official visit to Kenya

45 417.57

45 417.00

 

 

Official visit to Kenya

3 901.25

3 901.25

 

 

 

 

 

Masualle Phumulo

D Minister

Official visit to Dakar

18 722.35

6 240.78

Jacky Molisane

ADG

Official visit to Dakar

 

6 240.78

Thelma Malatsi

PA

Official visit to Dakar

 

6 240.78

 

 

 

 

 

Jacky Molisane

ADG

Official visit to Dubai

8 355.98

4 177.99

Georgina Sylvester

PA

Official visit to Dubai

 

4 177.99

 

 

 

 

 

Gordhan Pravin

Minister

Official visit to Dubai

81 924.03

27 308.01

Jacky Molisane

ADG

Official visit to Dubai

 

27 308.01

Georgina Sylvester

PA

Official visit to Dubai

 

27 308.01

 

 

 

 

 

Jacky Molisane

ADG

Official visit to Kenya

17 201.93

17 201.93

 

 

 

 

 

Georgina Sylvester

PA

Official visit to Dubai

8 378.06

8 378.06

Jacky Molisane

ADG

Official visit to Dubai

8 378.06

8 378.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacky Molisane

ADG

Official visit to Kenya

8 550.51

8 550.51

 

 

 

 

 

Total Allowances for all trips

 

 

37 778.00

37 778.00

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

324 859.16

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comments

Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW3857

Profile picture: Mgweba, Ms T

Mgweba, Ms T to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration

What are the relevant details of the (a) progress and (b) preliminary findings of the National School of Government skills audit on technical skills announced in the State of the Nation Address reply by the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa?

Reply:

a) The NSG has made significant progress on the implementation of the Skills Audit Project since the pronouncement by the President in his reply to the debate on the 2023 SONA. The NSG has signed an MOU with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on the 11th of August 2023 to formally establish their collaboration in conceptualising and executing this project. The HSRC is undertaking this research project in partnership with the NSG as announced by the President. Phase 1 (project inception) saw the development of the Skills Audit approach and project plan in the first quarter of the current financial year (2023/2024). Inception meetings were convened on the 9th of March and 9th of May 2023 with the DGs of government departments mentioned by the President to sensitise them on this project and to outline its approach. On the 5th of June 2023, FOSAD MANCO was briefed on this project. Additionally, inception meetings were held bilaterally with each of the mentioned departments. Phase 1 concluded in July 2023. Phase 2 of the project, which commenced in July 2023, is currently underway. It entails the review of departmental documentation. The review covers the analysis of the departmental mandate and strategic imperatives, ideal state of delivery on mandates based on competencies required and organisational design assessment.

b) The preliminary findings are still emerging from the project, which will be tested and engaged with the departments under study for accuracy and validation. These will then be submitted to the President later in the year and also tabled to Parliament.

End

08 January 2024 - NW4139

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Ms N

Mhlongo, Ms N to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether Eskom is steadfast in its commitment to a cost-reflective pricing structure; if not, why not; if so, (2) Whether the cost-reflective tariffs will consider the (a) socioeconomic situation, (b) issue of indigents and (c) monopolies that exist in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) What has he found is the (a) efficiency, (b) cost-benefit and/or (c) even opportunity cost of using open cycle gas turbine?

Reply:

According to information received from Eskom:

(1)

Yes, Eskom is committed to a cost-reflective pricing structure, and it is still in the process of migrating towards cost-reflective pricing – recovering all efficient costs, as required in terms of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA). The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) makes all decisions on the pricing of electricity and Eskom implements these decisions.

(2)

These factors are considered by NERSA when NERSA undertakes revenue and tariff decisions in accordance with legislation (ERA) and policy (Electricity Pricing Policy). To deal with such matters, the government’s Electricity Pricing Policy and Electricity Regulation Act allow for targeted and transparent subsidies and cross-subsidies to particular consumer groups, as appropriate.

(3)(a)

The overall efficiency of the OCGTs is approximately 34% which is the norm for this type of technology.

(b) and (c)

The cost of running OCGTs is balanced against the cost of loadshedding (COLS) to the economy. The latest available estimate of the COLS is 12.61 R/kWh. This is significantly more expensive than the cost of running the OCGTs which varies depending on the price of diesel, which is typically in the range of 6.5 to 7.5 R/kWh.

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4172

Profile picture: Sithole, Mr KP

Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport

Whether her department has put any step-by-step measures in place to ensure road safety during the 2023 festive season in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

Yes, my department together with all relevant role-players within the road traffic management has put a step-by-step measure in place to ensure road safety during the 2023 festive season in each province which is informed by the lessons learned over the last 5 years.

The interventions are based on the biggest contributors to fatal crashes by province were Gauteng (21%), Kwa-Zulu Natal (17%), Eastern Cape (15%), Limpopo (11%), Western Cape (10%) and Mpumalanga (10%) which collectively accounted for over 80% of fatal crashes in the 2022/2023 festive period. The top three crash types are crashes with pedestrians, single-vehicle overturns and hit and run. These three contributed 65.8% to fatal crashes in the 2021/2022 festive period and 68.6% to fatal crashes in the 2022/2023 festive period.

A three-phase strategic approach for the 2023/24 plan was adopted as follows:

Pre-Festive Season

This phase will seek to capitalise on the gains of October Transport Month. Messages and operations will focus on pre-travel, roadworthiness of vehicles, encouraging renewal of licence discs, Did You Know mini campaign and website and social media platforms will be utilised with high frequency for publicity to increase awareness and garner public buy-in. this phase will also include media statement/invitation to announce official launch of festive season campaign and Activations.

Phase

Period

Pre-Festive Activities

1 – 30 October 2023 – October Transport Month

1 – 30 November 2023 – Festive Planning

01 – 15 December 2023 – Festive Implementation

 

During Festive Season campaign

During the festive season messaging will continue anchored by the theme ‘’Masiphelele’’. Encouraging responsible use of alcohol, designated driver arrangements and use of seatbelts. Media is to be acritical stakeholder for dissemination of information, the launch of the festive season will also set the tone for the period.

Phase

Period

Festive Season Activities

15 December 2023 – 15 January 2024

 

Post Festive Season

This period will include the release of road safety statistics and focus road safety messaging on compliance and back to school, back to work programmes.

Phase

Period

Post Festive

16 – 26 January 2024

Road Safety Education

Interventions will vary based on the targeted audience; the messaging will be customised to audience to be impactful. The targeted audience are as follows:

Intervention will take the following formats:

•Mass Media

Drunk driving

The recently conducted research by RTMC revealed that alcohol is suspected in 67% of road traffic crashes and in the previous financial year 11 217 Drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. In pursuit of the realisation of fatality reduction, messaging will show the impact of alcohol on road safety and proposing alternative actions to motorists. Communication, education and awareness will be complemented by law enforcement alcohol operations.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

Intelligence Deployment

The State of Road Safety report confirms that road crashes normally occur within certain period of time and identified hotspot areas. The deployment of Traffic Law Enforcement resources is informed by the traffic data that is relevant, timeous and accurate. The analysis of road traffic data was used for planning purposes to come out with a uniform approach by all Provinces, Municipalities, SAPS and other relevant stakeholder to address peculiar challenges that require specific intervention. It is against this background that the 2022/23 National Road Safety Festive Season Plan have 24/7 deployment.

Six-point crashes and fatalities reduction strategy

The six-point crashes and fatalities reduction strategy is focused on safer road users and safer vehicles pillars of road safety.

International Border Posts

The following are the Ports of entry as identified by CBRTA which usually attract high volumes of traffic over this period of the year:

  • Limpopo – (Beitbridge and Groblersbrug)
  • Mpumalanga – (Lebombo and Oshoek)
  • Kwa- Zulu Natal – (Golela)
  • Northern Cape – (Vioolsdrift).
  • North West – (Skilpadhek; Ramatlabama and Kopfontein);
  • Free State – (Ficksburg)

REDUCTION TARGET PER AUTHORITY

The target is based on the 2021/2022 festive fatalities as a baseline:

Province

2021 baseline

9% Reduction

2022 Actual

2022

2022 Actual

2023 target

2023 target

-25%

   

2022 target

% Achieved

Reduction

Total

Reduction

%

2024 target

KwaZulu Natal

300

-27

-0.7%

-20

281

-56

-19,8%

225

Gauteng

291

-26

+15,5%

45

336

-118

-35,1%

218

Eastern Cape

231

-21

-0.8%

-18

213

-40

-18,6%

173

Limpopo

231

-21

+16,5%

38

269

-96

-35,6%

173

Western Cape

225

-20

+55,6%

125

350

-181

-51,8%

169

Mpumalanga

194

-17

+24,3%

47

241

-96

-39,7%

146

North West

142

-13

+25,3%

36

178

-71

-40,1%

107

Free State

129

-12

+7,2%

9

138

-42

-30,0%

97

Northern Cape

65

-6

+97,0%

63

128

-79

-61,9%

49

EVALUATION AND MID OPERATION REVIEW

There will be an evaluation and Mid- festive season review session which will recommend adjustments if any and they will be communicated immediately to the provinces.

08 January 2024 - NW4090

Profile picture: Bodlani, Ms T

Bodlani, Ms T to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

In light of the fact that in October 2023, the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) employees embarked on a strike, requesting a 7.5% remuneration increase, (a) how did the strike impact SITA in its mandate to provide Information Technology services to various Government Departments, (b) what were the outcome of the agreement made with the Public Servants Association to end the strike and (c) how will SITA finance the remuneration increase?

Reply:

(a) The impact of the strike was mitigated through a robust business continuity and contingency plan. Critical ICT services continued to be provided during the strike.

(b) SITA and PSA agreed on a 5% salary increase across the board and a once off ex-gratia payment of R8326,45 per qualifying employee.

(c) The salary increase was fully funded from the planned 2023-2024 financial year labour cost budget.

Thank You.

08 January 2024 - NW4106

Profile picture: Manyi, Mr M

Manyi, Mr M to ask the Minister in the Presidency

(1)In light of the unexpected resignation of the State Security Agency Director General, Ambassador Thembi Majola, who served only eighteen months of her five-year contract, (a) can she provide Mr Manyi with a detailed account of the specific reasons she cited for her resignation; (2) whether there are any challenges or concerns expressed by Ambassador Majola during her tenure that might have contributed to her decision to step down prematurely; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The reply to this question has been logged with the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committtee on Intelligence (JSCI).

REPLY COORDINATOR

Name :

Designation :

Contacts :

Recommended / Not recommended

___________________________

Ambassador Thembisile C Majola

Director-General: State Security Agency

Date:

Approved / Not Approved

________________________

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni , MP,

Minister in The Presidency

Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4095

Profile picture: Mulder, Mr FJ

Mulder, Mr FJ to ask the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

(1) (a) For what period has the position of Director General in the Department of Trade and Industry been vacant and (b) what are the reasons for the delay in filling the position; (2) whether there are plans to fill the position soon; if not, why not; if so, what are the timelines for filling the position, including a deadline for the final appointment of a new Director General?NW5377E

Reply:

The post of Director General was advertised, and applications were considered by an Inter-Ministerial Committee. However, during the process, the Minister was requested to consider whether structural changes should be proposed involving the responsibilities within the dtic, which would affect the selection of a suitable candidate. This has taken some consideration during the second half of 2023. The Department intends that the position will be filled by the end of the financial year.

-END-

08 January 2024 - NW4149

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether his department will review the current model of fixing state-owned enterprises which has proven to be ineffective; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The impact of state capture and the climate of rentseeking and corruption at all levels, including the deliberate efforts of previous boards and management to force the departure of honest and skilled professions, particularly black professionals, will take unrelenting and courageous commitment to overcome.

Much progress has been made to recover operations, introduce skills and financial controls to overcome the legacy of corruption.

However, introducing ethical business practices in the private sector, both global and local, big and medium businesses, will require a total societal commitment. All social actors, including political parties, (many of which do not necessarily have “clean hands”) must publicly take an uncompromising stand on corruption and operational efficiency, and be seen to act accordingly – not just attempt to make political capital from a matter that we must act on the basis of national interest.

Boards and management at various entities are constantly introducing innovations and undertaking a constant battle against all forms of negativity.

This also involves new initiatives by the President and cabinet. The Presidential SOE Council (PSEC) is one such example.

The PSEC recommended that the Centralized Model be adopted to oversee the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) with development of the National Enterprises Bill and formation of the State-Owned Holding Company. On this basis, the Department then developed the National State Enterprises Bill. The Bill was published on 15 September 2023 for public comment, and the public comment period concluded on 14 October 2023. The Bill incorporates PSEC’s recommendation to adopt a centralized shareholder model to improve the management and oversight of South African State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

Eventually, we shall overcome the forces of darkness, corruption and negativity – the bankruptcy of ideas permeating many at present. Slogans alone will not work!

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not approved/ Comments

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

08 January 2024 - NW4034

Profile picture: Sithole, Mr KP

Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises

Whether his department have any step-by-step measures in place to ensure an effective and harmonious freight rail traffic system in Mpumalanga; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

The following steps have been implemented to ensure an effective freight rail traffic system to support the Mpumalanga region and to optimise the movement of export coal;

1. Security

  1. The activation of industry support to protect by-passes 24/7 and nightshift deployment of security personnel on the coal line. Nightshift deployment has commenced from 6 November 2023.
  2. Rapid Rail Police have been deployed from 1 November 2023 for hot spots such as Ulundi, Ogies and Rustenburg.

2. Rolling Stock

  1. Transnet looks to improve rolling stock availability through the procurement of 30 compressors for locomotives awaiting spare parts. Delivery is on track with 4 having been delivered via airfreight on 30 November 2023, a further 8 to be delivered in March 2024 and the final 18 deliveries planned for April 2024.
  2. Industry via the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is assisting in the sourcing of batteries for CRRC locomotives and compressors. A Mutual Cooperation Agreement (MCA) has been concluded that will allow for the procurement of 50 additional compressors and 100 full sets of batteries (1800 batteries).

3. Operational Efficiency

  1. In order to reduce export coal cycle time and increase efficiencies;
    1. Emergency working has been implemented between the Ulundi & Elubana and Iswepe & Maviristad sections that has improved transit times on the loaded and empty legs
    2. At the Geluksplaas substation that was impacted by theft and vandalism, re-energisation will be complete on 21 December 2023. The re- instatement of this substation will improve transit times between Ermelo and the mines.

 

Remarks: Approved / Not Approved/Comment

Ms Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date: