Questions and Replies

Reply:

a)  Both DWS and COGTA allocate grants (RBIG, WSIG and MIG) to municipalities for water and sanitation infrastructure and have the power to ensure that these grants are used for their intended purpose. However, DWS does not have legislative powers to ensure that local governments earmark their own funds for either maintenance of existing water and sanitation infrastructure or for new water and sanitation infrastructure. Water and sanitation infrastructure is not a provincial function, and provincial governments cannot be expected to allocate funds earmarked for provincial functions such as basic education or health to municipal water and sanitation.

The RBIG and WSIG grants have conditions attached to them (prescribed by the Division of Revenue Act) requiring them to be used for new infrastructure projects, as well as for the refurbishment and upgrading of existing infrastructure. DWS is not allowed to use the grants to fund operation and routine maintenance of municipal water and sanitation infrastructure. Operation and maintenance of municipal water and sanitation infrastructure is supposed to be funded by municipalities from revenues raised from the sale of water and from sanitation charges. However, there is no legal requirement for municipalities to allocate such revenues to the water and sanitation function, and many municipal councils do not prioritise operation and maintenance of their water and sanitation infrastructure when they approve their municipal budgets. This problem is exacerbated by poor billing and revenue collection processes in many municipalities.

The table below indicates RBIG and WSIG allocations for the 2024/25 financial year per province:

Regions	RBIG 6b	RBIG 5b	Transfers to Water Boards	WSIG 6b	WSIG 5b	Total
	Budget allocation	Budget allocation	Budget allocation	Budget allocation	Budget allocation	Budget allocation
	R'000	R'000	R'000	R'000	R'000	R'000
Eastern Cape	317,423	707,935	0	45,000	562,092	1,632,450
Free State	649,208	220,112	276,084	32,000	330,959	1,508,363
Gauteng	710,863	0	279,000	28,425	246,742	1,265,030
KwaZulu Natal	0	428,744	315,000	200,000	1,070,000	2,013,744
Limpopo	752,661	126,013	317,000	429,973	483,713	2,109,360
Mpumalanga	351,595	497,246	0	113,415	442,470	1,404,726
Northern Cape	35,281	577,000	113,000	30,000	327,492	1,082,773
North West	226,095	401,333	1,152,194	167,905	429,996	2,377,523
Western Cape	14,831	894,000	0	0	144,209	1,053,040
Total	3,057,957	3,852,383	2,452,278	1,046,718	4,037,673	14,447,009

b) In addition to the RBIG and WSIG grants, DWS has established a Water Partnerships Office together with the DBSA and SALGA. The role of the Office is to provide support to municipalities to establish partnerships with the private sector. For example, it is currently supporting the eThekwini, Mangaung, Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane municipalities to put in place performance-based public private partnership contracts to reduce non-revenue water.

The DWS is also working with the Infrastructure Fund and the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) to raise additional funding for municipal water and sanitation projects, in collaboration with willing municipalities. This involves collaborating in project planning, funding and implementation of large, blended finance projects.

DWS is also collaborating with industry, including the mining and agricultural sectors, to invest in new water infrastructure. For example, DWS is implementing two projects in Limpopo and the Northern Cape in partnership with mining houses and the relevant municipalities, through which DWS and the mines are jointly funding both bulk water infrastructure and new household connections to communities. The Olifants Management Model in Limpopo is a R25 billion multi-year partnership between DWS, municipalities and mining houses to construct bulk and potable reticulation water infrastructure to supply communities and mines in Sekhukhune and Mogalakwena in Limpopo. The programme will provide potable water to yard connection to an estimated 390 000 people. Similarly, the Vaal Gamagara Bulk Water Scheme in the Northern Cape is a partnership between DWS and mining houses to supply potable bulk water for mining, industrial, agricultural and domestic use.

---00O00---

Reply:

a)  Two officials were successfully prosecuted by the criminal justice system, and they were sentenced to a term of five years, wholly suspended.

b) The two officials were charged with fraud in relation to the intentional and unlawful preparation and submission of fraudulent letters requesting that the rental deposit refunds be paid to their personal bank account instead of that of the Department.

---00O00---

Reply:

a)  The Constitution, National Water Act, and Water Services Act compel the Department of Water and Sanitation to support municipalities and to intervene where there is non-compliance with the national minimum norms and standards. The Green, Blue and No Drop Certification programmes are tools to provide regulatory information regarding water and sanitation services, which are largely the Constitutional responsibility of municipalities.

The drop reports are both a regulatory mechanism and a support mechanism. The results of the reports are provided to all water services authorities, and they are advised as to the causes of poor performance and what needs to be done about it.

The Department is empowered by the National Water Act to issue notices and directives to municipalities to stop sewage pollution. When municipalities do not act on these notices and fail to provide the Department with plans to address sewage pollution, as a last resort the Department is empowered by the National Water Act to lay criminal charges against the municipality for the sewage pollution. Sometimes these regulatory actions are prompted by the results of Green Drop assessments, and sometimes they are prompted by other monitoring mechanisms of the Department.

In the past, DWS generally did not take strong regulatory actions against municipalities and relied on the inter-governmental relations approach which was not effective. However, DWS has been strengthening its regulatory function and making its regulatory actions more consistent, and this has resulted in an increased number of civil actions and criminal charges against municipalities which have not responded to notices and directives to take action to stop sewage pollution.

The Water Services Act does not contain similar provisions for the Department to issue notices, directives and to lay criminal charges for non-compliance with norms and standards for water and sanitation services. During the last financial year, the Department engaged in a public consultation process on proposed amendments to the Water Services Act. The amendments aim to strengthen the role of municipalities as Water Services Authorities, which are meant to function as local regulators to ensure that the local Water Services Providers provide services which meet minimum national norms and standards. The amendments propose that this should be done through the introduction of an operating license requirement for Water Services Providers, to ensure that they have a minimum level of competency. Water Services Authorities will be required to only approve and contract with Water Services Providers that have an operating license.

The amendments also provide for gross non-compliance with key norms and standards for water and sanitation services to be criminal offences, similarly to the National Water Act. The Water Services Amendment Bill will be submitted to Cabinet shortly, to seek approval for it to be tabled in Parliament.

The Blue, Green and No Drop reports assessments will be conducted bi-annually (i.e. once every two years) and progress assessments will be conducted during the gap year.

---00O00---

Reply:

Extortion and price gauging are regulated through South Africa's consumer laws which have been revised into two acts, The National Credit Act 34 (2005) and the Consumer Protection Act 68 (2008) are designed to protect consumers against the many abuses and practises such as overcharging, poor quality and overselling. The sale of water is regulated under these Acts and not directly by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

In addition, Section 8(1) of the Competition Act 89 (1998) prohibits a dominant firm from charging an excessive price to the detriment of customers or consumers, including items such as bottled water and tankers.

Cartels are explicitly prohibited under South African competition law. Competitors are not allowed to engage in collusive behaviour, including price fixing, bid rigging, market division, or any other concerted practices that substantially prevent, restrict, or distort competition.

It is not the role of the DWS to regulate and monitor the pricing of bottled water or water tankering service providers engaged by municipalities. It is the mandate of the DTI through the Competition Commission to regulate the pricing of bottled water and the costs for procuring water tankering through service providers.

The Competition Commission is the statutory body is SA that is empowered to investigate, control and evaluate restrictive business practises, abuse of power and mergers to achieve equity and efficiency in the SA Economy. The pricing of bottled water and determination of hourly rates for hiring of tankers is not part of the mandate of the department.

The department can only regulate standards for water quality of bottled water or water delivered to communities by water tankers.

---00O00---

Reply:

(1) The total number of private water-use licences that have been issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation are as follows:

(a) From 2021 to 2023, a total of 1410 water use licences were issued to private persons.

(b) From 1 January up to 19 July 2024, a total of 272 water use licences were issued to private persons.

(2) The Department does keep a record of the demographic details of the recipients of private water use licences.

(a) The total number of private water use licences awarded to white citizens and/or entities owned by white citizens from 2021 to 2023 is 919.

(b) The total number of private water use licences that have been awarded to white citizens and/or entities owned by white citizens from 01 January to 19 July 2024 is 156.

---00O00---

Reply:

The DWS does not award water-tankering contracts to municipalities. Municipalities procure water tankering services through their own procurement processes and budget.

The position of DWS is that water tankering services should only be used for emergencies where water services interruptions are inevitable and where there is water rationing due to unavailable reticulation infrastructure, but only for temporary usage.

---00O00---

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) was made aware of a water supply interruption in the Gataote Village through a notice which was issued by Magalies Water dated 3 July 2024.

The water supply interruption was reportedly due to the refurbishment of the steel storage tank which was leaking excessively. Magalies Water has informed DWS that the refurbishment of the steel tank was completed on 15 July 2024 and that water supply to the Gataote village has been restored.

---00O00---

Reply:

The former Minister of DWS has approved NWRIA business case and the Department is awaiting the President to sign the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill. To prepare for the establishment of the Agency, the DWS has also been engaged with the following processes:

• The transition roadmap is in place and implementation is being managed together with TCTA
• The DG chaired the initial integrated workstream to ensure smooth transition and implementation of the transitional road map
• Various workstreams have been established to develop and implement an overarching change management plan, including a staff transfer plan and asset transfer strategy, as well as a communications plan
• The advertisement of Board and appointment of Nomination Committee by Minister will be initiated in August/ September 2024
• It is envisaged that the Minister will appoint the Board for the NWRIA by November/ December 2024. Thereafter, the Chief Executive Officer and executives will be appointed
• DWS will transfer ownership of all the national water resource infrastructure assets to the NWRIA, along with staff responsible for maintenance and operation of the assets
• All the functions, projects, staff and agreements of the TCTA will be transferred to the NWRIA at a date decided by the Minister within a period of twelve months of establishment.

---00O00---

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) does not have sanitation funding targeting informal settlements. DWS, through its Water Services Infrastructure Grant, addresses sanitation challenges in Local and District Municipalities and not Metropolitan Municipalities. The funding is applied for by municipalities through submission of business plans. It is the municipalities that identify (within the business plans) areas within their demarcations where projects will be implemented.

---00O00---

Reply:

(a) Regarding the implementation of catchment plans for mine water and wastewater management, the Department is actively addressing these critical issues through allocation of resources and enhancement of technical capacities. Significant progress has been made in the development and implementation of catchment plans across key areas such as Vaal, Orange, Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma, Crocodile, and Limpopo Water Management areas.

One of the challenges identified in these catchment plans is the insufficient monitoring of water resources to accurately assess the impacts of mining activities and wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). To mitigate this challenge, laboratory services have been procured in all provinces to ensure robust monitoring of regional groundwater and surface water pollution, thereby enabling coordinated efforts to safeguard these vital resources. Additionally, capacity-building initiatives are underway to empower officials in effectively implementing the department’s Mine Water Management Policy in all provincial offices.

(b) Substantial investments are earmarked for the review of waste discharge standards across various catchments. This proactive measure is aimed at ensuring the maintenance of Resource Quality Objectives (RQOs), thereby enhancing overall environmental stewardship. In addition, additional personnel will be allocated to the Blue Scorpions to bolster their ability to investigate and take decisive action against non-compliance.

---00O00--

Reply:

a)  In instances where water resources infrastructure projects are implemented by external implementing agents, the Implementing Agents (IAs) are required to assess all the key risks associated with the implementation of the projects. This includes the risks of cost overruns and time delays, in accordance with the respective institution’s risk policy framework and the Implementation Agreements entered into between the Department and the IAs.

b) A project risk register is developed for each project under implementation to address all key risks. The Department monitors the project risks on a quarterly basis and mitigation plans are developed and implemented to manage the risks as identified.

---00O00---

Reply:

(1)(a) The concession was aimed at addressing those applicants who are affected by the backlogs experienced in the Department.

(1)(b)(ii) Skills transfer occurs for a category of visa, namely, Intra-Company Transfer, whereby the company is required to have a skills transfer plan.

(1)(b)(iii) The Department of Employment and Labour is responsible to conduct monitoring and evaluation of skills transfer plan at company level.

(2)(a) The Department has a dedicated Counter Corruption unit to manage and prevent such activities.

(2)(b) Changes on the current systems are being made to identify such types of applications.

(3) The concession covers all nationalities from across the globe.

(4) This questions should be directed to the relevant Ministry dealing with housing.

End.

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

a) Cabinet has not yet deliberated and made a final decision on the closure of the Israeli Embassy.

b) The Department of International Relations and Cooperation will act on instruction from Cabinet once a final decision has been made.

 

 

COMPILER DETAILS

NAME AND SURNAME: Tshelani Ndawonde

CONTACT: 012 351 0250

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Minister approves and signs the Parliamentary Reply to Parliamentary Question 38.

 

MR Z DANGOR

DIRECTOR–GENERAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

PARLIAMENTARY REPLY 38 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.

COMMENT/S

MR RO LAMOLA, MP

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

Reply:

The President has the prerogative to appoint Heads of Mission in terms of Section 84 (2) (i) of the Constitution.

The Foreign Service Act specifies the requirements for the appointment of a Head of Mission, which is implemented by my Department.

 

COMPILER DETAILS

NAME AND SURNAME: S Maja

CONTACT: + 27 12 351 1487

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Minister approves and signs the Parliamentary Reply to Parliamentary Question 84.

 

MR Z DANGOR

DIRECTOR–GENERAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

PARLIAMENTARY REPLY 84 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.

COMMENT/S

MR RO LAMOLA, MP

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

Additional Information

Reply:

The President and not the Minister has the prerogative to appoint Heads of Mission in terms of Section 84 (2) (i) of the Constitution.

 

COMPILER DETAILS

NAME AND SURNAME: MS Maja

CONTACT: +27 12 351 1487

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Minister approves and signs the Parliamentary Reply to Parliamentary Question 86.

 

MR Z DANGOR

DIRECTOR–GENERAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE: 23/07/2024

PARLIAMENTARY REPLY 86 IS APPROVED / NOT APPROVED / AMENDED.

COMMENT/S

MR RO LAMOLA, MP

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

DATE:

Reply:

Find reply here

Reply:

The responsibility for combating the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) rests with all-of-society if we are to make any meaningful progress toward its eradication. GBVF is a complex phenomenon that happens in families, households and communities thus we need all to be invested in the fight against this pandemic. From each individual, household/family, community to all state actors, there is a need for a concerted no tolerance to GBVF in all its forms. This will ensure the implementation of both proactive and reactive measures to combat the scourge.

In March 2020, Cabinet approved the National Strategic Plan on GBVF and the establishment of both the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF and the National Council on GBVF. The implementation of the NSP on GBVF coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020, the department coordinates and monitors the implementation of the NSP on GBVF by governments and key stakeholders monthly.

With this understanding in mind, the department coordinates and monitors the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF) by government and key stakeholders monthly.

Despite the COVID-19 context, the government continued to address GBVF as a twin pandemic so as to better understand its impact on women. We set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF in June 2020 consisting of the Ministers of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities as the convener; Social Development; Police; Justice and Correctional Services; Public Service and Administration and National Treasury to guide the process of implementation.

There are pockets of positive results through various multi-sectoral collaborative platforms that implement joint interventions and funding mechanisms. We have the END GBVF Collective that has been implementing 100 days challenges; and the faith sector collaborative platform that plays a central role in prevention and rebuilding social cohesion.

In February 2021 we launched the private sector GBVF Response Fund. The fund follows the principles enshrined in the NSP on GBVF of harnessing the roles, responsibilities and resources of all stakeholders.

The relationship between civil society networks and governments have allowed for a strengthened and coordinated implementation. Various development partners and academic institutions have also contributed towards implementation.

The process of localisation is bolstered by the establishment and capacitation of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) at district and local municipality levels across the country. The department does not have a provincial foot. To strengthen reach, through support from European Union Gender equality and women’s empowerment programme we have appointed GBVF technical monitors and data capturers and placed them in provinces.

The department has driven the National Council on GBVF Bill as a game-changer in the fight against GBVF. Key principles in the Bill include coordination championed by the highest political office, a multi-sectoral structure, institutional independence and autonomy, a ring-fenced budget with a dedicated GBVF fund, a bottom-up approach across all government tiers, and significant collaboration between government and civil society.

For the 2023/2024 Annual Performances Plan, the Department committed to monitor and enforce accountability to the targets of the NSP on GBVF including but not limited to reporting on implementation of the NSP on GBVF by government and key stakeholders through the following interventions:

1) Submission of monthly progress reports that are collated and analysed by the department; and quality assured by the Department of Planning, monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Presidency; used to produce annual reports.

2) The Department presents these progress reports that outlines gaps, challenges and areas of improvement across the 6 NSP on GBVF Pillars to various Directors-General Clusters and the Forum of South African Directors-General (FOSAD) as a standing item. These monthly reports are translated into a quarterly report for the attention of the President.

3) The department utilizes these reports as a tool to monitor, enforce accountability of Accounting Officers and afford them the opportunity to assess progress made by their respective departments in implementing their allocated NSP on GBVF targets and take necessary corrective measures.

4) The 2 NSP on GBVF Annual Reports produced by the department include the score cards that further reflect the level of sector department performance across the 6 Pillars of the NSP on GBVF and recommendations for implementation.

Ultimately our success is about women, children and LGBTQIA+ persons feeling safe and free in their homes, in their communities and in themselves. We have also developed a prevention strategy as prevention is key in curbing murders and all forms of gendered violence. Currently, we are in the process of driving the concept of dealing with GBVF as a pandemic. We had the inaugural workshop with government stakeholders across all tiers in March 2024. In this drive, we want to use our convening power as the department to institutionalise a coordinated national response from national, to provinces, to districts, municipalities and to ward levels.

GBVF continues to be a national crisis, and this may make it difficult to see the pockets of progress. We have been intensifying efforts to harness all to collectively respond, accelerate efforts, and develop partnerships and strategies toward a whole-of-society approach toward eradicating GBVF.

Reply:

I have been informed by the Department as follows:

1. No. The Department does not involve itself in the operations of companies, in regard to intellectual property issues among a myriad of other matters, be they traded or publicly listed. The company therefore has a fiduciary duty to comply with all financial, legal and regulatory obligations in regard to its contributions to the fiscus.

2. This does not fall within the mandate of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies but rather the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

I thank you.

Reply:

The South African Bureau of Standards has advised as follows:

A service provider was appointed in 2020, when the SABS was led by Administrators.

They conducted the search including advertising, the development of a longlist for the SABS to consider and shortlisting. Following the appointment of a new Board, the process was re-activated in 2023, and the same service provider was asked to conclude the work. The work completed covers the following: advertising, response handling, preparing and presenting a longlist, and headhunting. The Board concluded however that no appointment could be made based on the recommendation of the service provider. The consultancy fee was R209 999.

A new service provider was appointed in 2023 to continue with the process of searching for the suitable candidate in the position of the SABS CEO. The work included advertising, processing of responses, headhunting and candidate sourcing. The cost of consultancy fees to date is R429 333.

-END-

Reply:

(a), (b), (c), (d), (e)

1. No vehicle has been purchased for use by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, since 8 May 2019. He uses Toyota Fortuner vehicles purchased in 2010 (14 years old) and 2016 (8 years old), as official vehicles. They are made in South Africa and have proven to be reliable and resilient.
2. Details of vehicles purchased for the use of the Deputy Ministers since 8 May 2019 has not changed since the previous reply of 24 February 2023.

-END-

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

Over the past 5 years since 01 April 2019 – 31 December 2023 (up to end of quarter 3), the budget allocated to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) as per the budget captured by public bodies in the EPWP Reporting System is reflected in the table below

Table 1: Budget allocation in rands for the EPWP since 01 April 2019 – 31 December 2023

Financial Year	Environment and Culture Sector	Infrastructure Sector	Non-State Sector Community Work Programme	Non-State Sector Non Profit Organisations	Social Sector	Grand Total
2019/2020	9 778 531 595,87	94 060 139 810,20	3 830 657 283,00	715 822 037,56	17 998 137 901,57	126 383 288 628,21
2020/2021	8 325 690 889,08	88 939 775 308,40	3 678 733 714,00	362 503 405,10	12 373 292 802,64	113 679 996 119,22
2021/2022	10 943 739 725,55	128 421 274 739,53	3 621 796 351,40	963 569 674,70	22 633 388 387,70	166 583 768 878,89
2022/2023	10 487 208 343,67	202 087 919 306,63	4 029 089 866,00	1 457 253 036,55	19 281 798 091,97	237 343 268 644,82
2023/2024	14 027 459 830,00	292 674 434 688,00	3 817 322 298,00	1 051 777 886,00	14 739 533 833,00	326 310 528 535,00
Grand Total	53 562 630 384,17	806 183 543 852,77	18 977 599 512,40	4 550 926 039,91	87 026 151 016,88	970 300 850 806,13

a) The total number of the EPWP opportunities which have been created for each of the past 5 years since 01 April 2019 – 31 December 2023 are reflected as follows:

Table 2: Total number of EPWP opportunities created since 01 April 2019 – 31 December 2023

Financial year	Work Opportunities
2019/20	994 699
2020/21	938 688
2021/22	1 016 646
2022/23	990 686
2023/24	773 192
Total	4 713 911

Reply:

(i) MINISTER

Not applicable.

(ii) FORMER MINISTER

1. Make – Audi
2. Model – Q5
3. Year of manufacture – 2020
4. Date of purchase – June 2020
5. Cost R800 000 inclusive of security features

(iii) DEPUTY MINISTER

Not applicable.

(iv) FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER

1. Make – Audi
2. Model – Q5
3. Year of manufacture – 2020
4. Date of purchase – January 2020
5. Cost R800 000 inclusive of security features

Reply:

I am advised as follows:

The former members of the Board were suspended in August 2014 pending a forensic investigation following allegations of maladministration, wasteful expenditure and corrupt activities reported by the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) in the NGB’s 2013/14 annual report and financial performance.

The suspended Board members had reportedly contravened the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) through failing to prevent irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure and making overdrafts on the entity’s bank account without the approval of the Minister of Finance. Furthermore, the Board’s accounting authority, acting either individually or jointly, had allegedly contravened the National Gambling Act by allowing members whose term of office had expired to continue participating in the Board’s activities and representing the NGB.

Two Administrators were appointed from September 2014 to continue with the work of the NGB. The current Chief Strategic Advisor (CSA) was appointed in April 2019 following her stint as former administrator to the NGB.

The National Gambling Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament in August 2018 and passed by the National Assembly in December 2018. The Bill sought to remove the concept of a Board comprising various external members, and replacing this concept with governance led by a Chief Executive Officer, with the assistance of a Deputy CEO. The policy position taken by the Department at the time was that the National Gambling Regulator be established in line with other entities of the dtic after considering the dtic research on Agency Rationalization which found that maintaining the board system was costly and did not contribute towards internal efficiencies of the NGB. However, the Bill was not adopted by the National Council of Provinces (Council) in 2019 and lapsed to the current Parliament. The Bill was revived and was referred to Mediation in December 2021 after it was not t supported by several provinces. The Bill has been in Parliament to date pending the Mediation process.

The delay in the finalisation of the National Gambling Amendment Bill has contributed to the delay in the appointment of the CEO as the appointment needs to be aligned with the Amendment Act.

I am advised that the current total gross salary for the NGB CSA is R2 553 905. As indicated in replies to Questions Number 450, 575 and 745, remuneration matters are now the subject of an investigation commissioned by the Department.

-END-

Reply:

In addressing the recommendations of the State Capture Commission, the department formed working groups with Special Investigating Unit (“SIU”), state organs and other enforcement agencies to implement proclamations relating to maladministration concerning the affairs of SOCs. This initiative resulted in the employment of a civil litigation strategy to recover funds associated with SOC losses sustained during the state capture era and other forms of administrative corruption.

According to the information received from Eskom:

(a) Total amount Eskom lost due to:

1. Corruption: R203 156237-00.
2. The amount is included above,
3. The amount is included above since bribery is a form of corruption.

(b) The amounts below exclude amounts related to investigations conducted by the SIU. Process to recover outstanding amounts by the Asset Forfeiture Unit or in terms of the court order is ongoing.

Project number	Value	Reporting Period
2018 -12568	R3 330 000	FY 18/19
2018 - 12451	R403 994	FY 20/21
2020 - 13218	R1200 000	FY 21/22
Project number	Value	Reporting Period
2022 - 14037	R130 076.24	FY 22/23
2021 - 13600	R51 620	FY 22/23
2023 - 14158	R90 000	FY 23/24

(c) Consultation with SIU has revealed the following success in progress registered in relation to recoveries (including ABB, Koeberg disputes, Kusile and daily corruption at power stations):

Parties	Nature of Dispute	Claim Amount	Status
SIU v SAP and Eskom	On 10 November 2022, the SIU instituted action against SAP. Eskom was cited as a second defendant; however, no relief is sought against Eskom. The SIU seeks the following relief: That Eskom Board Tender Committee's resolution of 29 September 2016 authorising the conclusion of agreements with SAP for licences, maintenance and other services be reviewed and set aside; Declaring the contracts are unlawful and invalid; and 3. Ordering SAP to pay Eskom an amount of R1,01 billion.	R1.1bn	The settlement agreement R 500 million has been signed by both parties and SIU is the process of making it an order of the court.
SIU / Eskom / ABB South Africa Pty Limited (ABB)	On 31 March 2023 the SIU, Eskom and ABB filed an ex parte application to review and set aside set aside the contract awarded to for ABB the supply and installation of the Control and Instrumentation Systems at Kusile Power Station and for consequent just and equitable relief.	R1.56 billion	In December 2020, Eskom/SIU and ABB concluded a settlement agreement in terms of which ABB repaid an amount of R1.56 billion to Eskom The court order was issued on 05 April 2024 and Eskom and SIU were ordered to publish said order in both English and Afrikaans newspapers within 15 day of the order.
Eskom vs Deloitte	Eskom instituted action for the setting aside of the award of two contracts to Delloitte on the basis that they were improperly awarded, and the recovery of approximately R207 million.	R207 million	On 20 March 2020, Eskom and Delloite concluded a settlement agreement in terms of which Delloite agreed to pay an amount of R150 million to Eskom. It was further agreed that investigations had shown no evidence of state capture or corruption on the part of Delloite, there were technical irregularities in the procurement process, Eskom had benefited from the services rendered by Delloites, and that Delloites was entitled to be compensated for the services rendered to Eskom.
Eskom vs McKinsey and Company	Eskom instituted a claim against Mckinsey for the recovery of the fee paid in respect of consultancy services rendered which were unlawfully awarded.	R1.7 billion	In July 2018 Eskom and McKinsey concluded a settlement agreement of R 1 billion.
Eskom vs Trillian	In 2018, Eskom obtained a court order against Trillian for the payment of R595 million related to the fraudulent pretext of Trillian being a supplier development and localisation partner to McKinsey	R595 million	The amount has not yet been recovered due to ongoing liquidation proceedings.

According to the information received from South African Airways:

Since 2019, South African Airways (SAA), have lost a total of R23 056 231.17 due to corruption, fraud and bribery. Of this amount a total of R17 209 114 has been recovered.

Year	Amounts lost due to:	Amounts recovered
	corruption	fraud	bribery
2023		R78 205, 98		R0.00
2022	R126 000			R126 000
2021	R10 600 000			R14 483 114.00 Inclusive of interest
2020	Nil
2019		R12 252 025,19		R2 600 000 Preservation order was granted

According to the information received from Transnet:

TRANSNET CIVIL RECOVERY ASSOCIATED WITH PROCUREMENT IRREGULARITY TO DATE (APRIL 2024)
MATTER	AMOUNT RECOVERED
McKinsey	R870m
Transaction Advisory Services - Regiments; Trillian and previous Transnet executives	R1,5m
1064 Locomotive Supply Agreements (“LSA”) with: Bombardier Transportation (“BT”) Wabtec (formerly General Electric)	Bombardier Transportation R376m (price correction and locomotive retention) Wabtec R70,3m (outstanding supplier development obligation and locomotive retention) Settlements to be presented for Order of Court in Review Application
Liebherr	R54m Settlement to be presented for Order of Court in Review Application
SAP	R244m Part of omnibus settlement in collaboration with SIU and National Prosecuting Authority
IGS and former employees	R26m per judgement
PPE procurement (procurement of breathalyzer straws)	R37m
TOTAL	R1,678,8bn

1. Transnet investigates all allegations received pertaining to fraud, corruption and bribery. This is encapsulated in our Whistle Blowing policy as well as the Anti-Fraud and Corruption policy. Allegations originate from issues reported via the Whistle Blower hotline, internal reports received via management as well as from completed Transnet Internal Audit and Auditor General of South Africa audits/reviews which either recommend further investigations or which identify red flags relating to possible fraud and corruption. Allegations are also received from the Department Public Enterprises (DPE) Hotline as well as from civil society and Transnet investigates all these allegations, including allegations and reports which are published in the media.

2. Transnet Internal Investigations focus attention on gathering and assessing information and evidence which is within Transnet’s domain. There are limitations for Transnet to access information pertaining to financial flows relating to external parties. Transnet therefore places significant reliance on law enforcement agencies and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to conduct further enquiries in matters where alleged or suspected cases of fraud, corruption and bribery are referred as per the respective legislative frameworks. This includes reporting obligations stemming specifically from Section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (PRECCA) which places a duty on defined persons in a position of authority (i.e. director, manager, Chief Executive Officer) to report offences over R100,000.

3. Transnet institutes civil recovery proceedings, generally with the SIU, in the High Court or Special Tribunal to set aside all irregular contracts associated with fraud, corruption or bribery. These contacts are taken on review with the intention to recover on a just and equitable basis.

4. Transnet also refers all allegations of fraud, corruption and bribery to law enforcement agencies to investigate for criminal prosecution.

Matters referred to Law Enforcement:

1. Transnet has referred 15 cases of alleged corruption and 11 cases of alleged fraud to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. Transnet’s actual losses can only be determined once the outcome of the criminal investigation is concluded where the extent of the losses can be quantified.

2.The total value of matters referred by Transnet to law enforcement for further investigation is R2,119,116,991.78. This represents the value of the contracts or transactions where there are allegations of wrongdoing. This can broadly be broken down as follows:

a) Corruption allegations to the value of R1,907,625,107.00

b) Fraud allegations to the value of R211,491,884.78

c) Bribery. Transnet does not capture data with respect to bribery as this would be covered under the offence of corruption.

Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved

Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP

Acting Director-General Minister

Date: Date:

Reply:

I became aware of the allegations against the former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans when the allegations first appeared in the media early in March 2024.

Hence, I was not aware of the allegations at the time that I made changes to the National Executive in August 2021.

Reply:

The matter is being dealt with by the SA Human Rights Commission who have provided me inter alia with the following report:

The complaint was initiated by the Commission’s Northern Cape Provincial Office (NCPO) when they became aware of the audio recording. The NCPO made a preliminary assessment of the complaint and determined that the complaint would best be dealt with through litigation in the Equality Court.

The NCPO established that the respondent’s primary residence was in Gauteng and as per the Commissions Complaints Handling Procedure in August 2023, the complaint was transferred to the Gauteng Provincial Office (GPO).

The GPO has:

1. appointed a tracing agent to confirm the respondents address;
2. briefed counsel to draft an application in terms of section 20 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act against the respondent based on the utterances made by him in the audio recordings;
3. forwarded a letter to the Respondent (via his attorneys) in April 2024 to obtain his response to the complaint. The GPO awaits the Respondent’s response.

Reply:

I have been informed by the SAPO as follows:

1. The R3.8 billion additional funding requirement has been integrated into the financial projections of the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) in the endorsed business rescue plan, which received approval from the majority of SAPO creditors on December 7, 2023. The funding is essential for implementing the business rescue plan, including settling creditor dividends as outlined, investing in CAPEX to modernize mail operating facilities, branch networks, logistics fleet, and information technology infrastructure. Continuous discussions have been held with the National Treasury and the Minister of Finance to explore solutions that ensure the SA Post Office is adequately capitalized in alignment with the business rescue plan.Strategic partnerships play a crucial role in the Business Rescue Plan.

2. Numerous interested parties have put forward proposals, which will undergo a comprehensive review by an internal investment committee established by the joint BRPs at SAPO. This process will ensure a thorough evaluation of all potential partnership opportunities, to strategically select collaborations that will best support the entity's turnaround strategy.

I thank you

Reply:

Question 1:

1. The LPC does not form part of either national or provincial government. Nor is the LPC listed as a “national public entity” under the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, as contemplated in the Use of Official Languages Act 12 of 2012. As such, the suggestion that section 6(3)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 (Constitution) is applicable to the language policy of the LPC is incorrect.

2. Prior to the decision to offer the examination papers in English only, the LPC offered the examination in both English and Afrikaans. Over the period from March 2021 to August 2023 no more than 26 candidates wrote the examinations in Afrikaans at any sitting. In the six examinations over this period this made up between 0.3 and 0.5% of the candidates sitting in the examinations (with total enrolments for the examinations varying between 4 912 and 7878 candidates per sitting).

3. Consistently with this observation, we note that whilst the LPC received complaints from a few organisations pursuant to the publication of its decision not to offer the examination in Afrikaans, not a single candidate legal practitioner raised an objection.

4. The continued offer of Afrikaans examinations for the benefit of a negligible number of candidates has disproportionate cost and logistical implications for the LPC. Moreover, in the last examinations of August 2023, discrepancies between the Afrikaans and English versions of the examination papers led to concerns about the unfair advantage offered to Afrikaans-speaking candidates sitting in the examinations.

5. Many of the considerations considered by the Constitutional Court in relation to the language policy of the University of the Free State, as set out in AfriForum and Another v University of the Free State 2018 (2) SA 185 (CC) apply with equal force in the present context.

6. We further drawn your attention to the fact that the LPC accredits training providers who offer the Practical Vocational Training structured coursework programmes. These programmes are offered, by the training providers (not the LPC), in English. The material is expensive to produce and update annually and is not also produced in Afrikaans. There is also insufficient demand to justify the costs of translation.

Question 2:

1. The LPC denies that its language policy, and its decision to offer competency-based examinations in English only, stand in breach of or in conflict with its objects as set out in section 5 of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA). The objects of the LPC include for it to “facilitate the realisation of the goal of a transformed and restructured legal profession that is accountable, efficient and independent” (section 5(a)), which must perforce require of the LPC to bring into account equity, practicability, and the critical need to undo the damage caused by racial discrimination in its approach to language use and examination. Simply put, any criticism of, and engagement with, the LPC’s language policy and its decision to offer examinations in English only must occur by reference to the correct legal and factual context.

2. The reality is that English is the language of record in South African Courts. Whilst legal practitioners are free to provide legal advice to their clients in the language of their choice, and whilst accommodations are made in the court processes which take account of language rights of those represented, legal practitioners participate in legal processes almost exclusively through the medium of English. The competency of legal practitioners to participate in the legal processes through the medium of English is therefore of significant importance, to protect the interests of the public who make use of legal services.

Reply:

The Minister has lodged an appeal against the decision of the court. The Department awaits judgment on the matter.

Meanwhile, the SITA has completed its business model review with the view to aligning the business strategy and operations to client departments and ultimately the needs of the citizens. The Minister has also appointed the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) which is supporting the Agency in dealing with the procurement backlog which has hampered the ability of the client departments from delivering their services effectively. The MTT has already facilitated the capacitation of the organisation and has ensured the improvement of the procurement process efficiencies.

I thank you.

Reply:

1(a) Thus far, there are eight (8) cases which are on the criminal court roll where suspects are being prosecuted for multiple offences emanating from TRC matters.

(b) In addition, two (2) matters are pending, as indictments are being prepared to charge suspects who are still alive. An additional two (2) matters, post the re-opening of inquests, have been identified where the NPA is considering possible decisions to prosecute.

(b)Establishing whether a suspect is still alive or not, form part of the investigation phase. Suspects are approached during the investigation, to obtain warning statements. This is informed by the evidence collated by an investigator. As such, NPA cannot, at this stage, advise as to which living suspects may be prosecuted.

(c) The purpose of all investigations is to ascertain whether a crime, which has not yet prescribed, was committed. If it has been established that there is enough evidence to charge a suspect, that person/s will be prosecuted. This decision can only be made once investigation is finalised. Those matters that are on the criminal court roll, are cases where it has been established that there are living suspects who must be charged.

2(a) The TRC Component is not in possession of a definitive list of cases that were transferred from the TRC. Fifty-nine (59) matters were identified by the Priority Crimes Litigation Unit (PCLU) by extracting the matters from the TRC Final Report.

2(b) and (c) Identification of additional matters from recommendations made in the TRC Final Report is an ongoing process. Currently the total number of identified cases is one hundred and fifty-eight (158). Twenty-one (21) matters have been finalised. This include the overturning of four re-opened inquests into deaths of detainees and a conviction of murder where the accused was sentenced to ten years direct imprisonment. One hundred and thirty-seven (137) matters are still under investigation. This includes re-opened inquests and inquests where the appointment of a Judge is awaited to preside over the matter and eight (8) matters which are presently on the criminal court roll. As indicated above a complete list of cases was not transferred to the NPA. The NPA is therefore not in a position to answer who received a definitive list of cases.

Reply:

I was informed by the Department as follows:

(i) Minister:

(a) Make : NA

(b) Model : NA

(c) Year of manufacturer : NA

(d) Cost : NA

(e) Purchase date : NA

(ii) Former Minister:

(a) Make : NA

(b) Model : NA

(c) Year of manufacturer : NA

(d) Cost : NA

(e) Purchase date : NA

(iii) Deputy Minister:

(a) Make : NA

(b) Model : NA

(c) Year of manufacturer : NA

(d) Cost : NA

(e) Purchase date : NA

(iv) Former Deputy Minister: Ms Pinky Kekana

(a) Make : BMW

(b) Model : Sedan 12 DC, G30, 520 D

(c) Year of manufacturer : 2021

(d) Cost : R 741 044, 54

(e) Purchase date : 18/11/2021

The vehicle was procured by the department as a transfer from the Minister’s tenure as the Minister of Small Business Development. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) did not procure a new vehicle from a new supplier when she arrived.

I thank you.

Reply:

I have been advised that:

(i) The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) procured three (3) vehicles since 08 May 2019 for the Minister of Small Business Development. From the three (3) procured, one (1) was procured in 2021 and then transferred to the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT) as per agreement between the incoming and outgoing Ministers to DCDT. Two (2) vehicles were procured in 2023 for use in Cape Town and Pretoria.

The following are the details of the three (3) vehicles:

The details of the one (1) vehicle procured in 2021 and transferred to the DCDT:

(a) Make: Audi

(b) Model: Q5 40 TDI

(c) Year of manufacture: 2021

(d) Price: R726 469.25

(e) Purchase date: December 2021

 

The details of the two (2) vehicles procured in 2023:

(a) Make: Audi

(b) Model: Q5 40 TDI

(c) Year of manufacture: 2023

(d) Price: R 790 000.00 x 2= (R 1 580 000.00)

(e) Purchase date: June 2023

(ii) No vehicles were purchased for the Deputy Minister of Small Business Development.

Reply:

Find here: Reply
 

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

The department do not have any events planned towards celebration of 30 years of democracy

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

The Department is supporting the housing sector; the Department of Human Settlements (DHS), Housing Development Agency (HDA) and Municipalities by releasing state-owned properties identified as suitable and available for human settlement development.

The Cabinet Memorandum No. 03 of 2019 (Cab Memo) approved the release of such properties to the HDA, to enable the Agency to work with Municipalities and relevant stakeholders to provide among others, project management and development assistance for human settlements as well as ensure that the land is utilised for purposes released for. The land parcels release in the last 3 financial years are outlined on table 1 to table 3 below:

Table 1. Land Parcels processed in 2020/2021.

Province	Local Municipality	No. of land parcels	Extent (Hectares)
Free State	Letsemeng	1	40
Western Cape	Stellenbosch	1	6,9
	City of Cape Town	2	29,3
	Drakenstein	2	3,54
KwaZulu-Natal	eMadlangeni	2	417
	eThekwini	1	2,15
Gauteng	Tshwane	1	112
	Rand West	1	453
	Ekurhuleni	1	21
Northern Cape	Kgatelopele	5	144
	Ga-Segonyana	1	125
	Phokwane	1	0,95
North West	Mahikeng	1	329
	Madibeng	2	400
Mpumalanga	Dr JS. Moroka	1	69
Eastern Cape	Kou-Kamma	3	20,7
	Gariep	1	1,3
TOTAL		27	2 174,08

Table 2. Land Parcels processed in 2021/2022.

Province	Local Municipality	No. of land parcels	Extent (Hectares)
Free State	Kopanong	1	8
Western Cape	Stellenbosch	1	17,70
	Theewaterskloof	1	70,9020
Northern Cape	Kgatelopele	16	85,62
Mpumalanga	Emalahleni	2	2,11
Limpopo	Polokwane	3	0,48
Eastern Cape	Buffalo City	4	0,3
TOTAL		28	185,1120

Table 3. Land Parcels processed in 2022/2023.

Province	Municipality	No. of Land Parcels	Extent (Hectares)
Western Cape	Saldanha Bay	1	39
KwaZulu-Natal	eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality	5	1,56
	Msunduzi Local Municipality	4	2,8
	Endumeni	3	0,6
TOTAL		13	43,36

It is also worth mentioning that Power of Attorneys (POAs) to initiate planning development planning processes have been issued to the Housing Development Agency.

Reply:

None.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was not involved in the implementation of the Kopanong Precinct Project in Gauteng. Our sister department, Department of Infrastructure Development will be best suited to respond to this question.

Reply:

The monitoring that the DWYPD undertakes is in line with the 5-year policy priorities as defined in the MTSF 2019/2024 which is based on the National Development Plan and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The DWYPD recognised that the 2% minimum employment equity target was not sufficient especially as the 2% target was in place for the past 24 years and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides that a minimum employment equity target of 7% of persons with disabilities must be reached by 2030. It is anticipated that presenting the annual progress report on implementation on the WPRPD to Cabinet will serve as a means to persuade departments to demonstrate their progress made towards employing persons with disabilities in the public service.

The DWYPD processed a cabinet Memorandum requesting Cabinet to increase the employment equity target of persons with disabilities from a minimum employment equity target of 2% to a minimum employment equity target of 3% for the 2024-2025 financial year and to increase same by 1% each year until the minimum employment equity target of 7% is reached by 2030. Cabinet approved the request made by the DWYPD in its cabinet memorandum on 1 November 2023.

Affirming the cabinet decision, the President highlighted that all efforts must be made to ensure that persons with disabilities are given equal and equitable employment opportunities even if it requires persons with disabilities being head hunted for posts if they meet the requirements without having to advertise same. Further, persons with disabilities do not have to have experience when applying for entry level positions.

The DWYPD has communicated the cabinet decision to the Department of Public Service and Administration to develop guidelines and strategies which will be communicated with all government departments and entities to assist them to meet the 3% minimum employment equity target for persons with disabilities in the 2024-2025 financial year. The DWYPD has also written to all government departments informing them of the cabinet decision further consultative workshops were held with them to highlight interventions required and is holding one on one meetings with departments to assist them with strategies that they could undertake to assist with reaching the 3% minimum employment equity target as requested. Naturally if departments reach higher than 3% this will be most welcome and it will demonstrate that we are on our way towards achieving the 7% employment equity target for persons with disabilities by 2030.

Reply:

I have been advised that:

1.(a&b) The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has implemented a number of programmes to support the development of SMMES in the sixth administration.

(i) To date, a total of 68 802 Township and Rural enterprises were supported financially and non-financially since 2019. A critical intervention by the DSBD is the recently designed Township Rural and Entrepreneurship Programme which by end of December 2023 had approved R 1 054 899 738 in funding to 10 148 SMMEs, facilitating 19 692 jobs; and disbursed R 930 814 096 in funding to 9 617 SMMEs, facilitating 17 708 jobs. Furthermore, by the end of quarter 3 (2023/34), the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) provided 3249 SMMEs with non-financial support.

(ii) The Department has made some impact in one of its programmes, namely the Shared Economic Infrastructure Facility (SEIF) through the following supported projects proving business infrastructure to communities.

• Letsatsi Pty Ltd in partnership with Mangaung Municipality and Free State Dept of Economic Development supported eighteen SMMEs with trading facilities using the container conversion model.
• Chris Hani Co-operative Development Centre in partnership with Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) and Chris Hani District Municipality supported forty to hundred emerging farmers/co-operatives that are supplying retailers like Spar through the renovation and construction of the packhouse and fertiliser blending plant, Eastern Cape.
• Wouldn’t be Cool Pty Ltd in partnership with Kgosi Maubane through the agricultural irrigation project supported sixteen beneficiaries that are small businesses based in Hammaskraal.
• Sol Plaatjie Municipality in partnership with Letselebe Pty Ltd supported thirty-three (33) informal businesses through the infrastructure using the container conversion model at Craven Street next to the taxi rank, Northern Cape.
• Seda partnership with eThekwini Municipality supported sixty informal traders with facilities at KwaMashu train station that are selling meat (intloko, mogodu and amanqina), KwaZulu-Natal.
• King Sabatha Dalindyebo Municipality supported hundred (100) informal business that are selling traditional clothes and medicine through the refurbishment of Kwa Ntozonke Market, Eastern Cape.

(iii) The Department has designated the informal business sector as a significant contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), employment creation, sustainable livelihoods and local economic development in the country. As an outcome to this, the National Informal Business Upliftment Strategy (NIBUS) was developed. The strategy is aimed at supporting informal businesses, which are mostly based in township and rural areas, to ensure that they become part of the economic mainstream of the country. This is being achieved through the implementation of various policy and programme interventions. The overall outcome of this strategy will be to gradually unleash the innovative entrepreneurial potential of informal businesses to broaden economic participation and foster inclusive growth through partnerships.

The strategy is aligned to the vision and priorities of the National Development Plan (NDP), responds to decent employment through inclusive growth, the promotion of local manufacturing and one of the key pillars of the New Growth Path (NGP), which seeks to raise employment and alleviate poverty. The strategy is also aligned to game changers (high-impact programmes/projects).

The Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP) instrument has been designed as part of the recommendations of NIBUS to pool resources to support the sector, particularly since most of the existing incentives within Government at large do not cover informal businesses. Key functions of the facility include skills development, compliance support, equipment, machinery, infrastructure and technological support for informal and micro businesses. It also supports capacity building (enhancement) to informal businesses by collaborating with business associations and municipalities as delivery partners.

During the financial year of 2023/24, over 3400 informal and micro enterprises in poor and underserved communities throughout the country have been assisted with tolls, machinery and other relevant equipment through IMEDP to grow and sustain their businesses. Extensive monitoring and evaluation are yet to be undertaken to measure the full impact of these interventions. Early indications are that the growing demand for the support is as a result of the visible effectiveness of the interventions observed in those that have received the support.

(iv) A total of 24 876 youth businesses were supported with entrepreneurship. Since the Department started implementing this target in 2021/22 financial year. DSBD is implementing the Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) a financial and non-financial support fund aimed at stimulating innovation amongst youth start-ups to enable them to acquire digital capability in order to participate fully in the digital Industrial Revolution - 4IR and beyond. Budget through the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) and the Department has disbursed R1,6 billion to enterprises owned by youth over the period.

(v) The Seda Technology Programme (STP) assists through its Technology Transfer Assistance (TTA) in funding and acquiring manufacturing and processing technology. With the manufacturing and processing equipment, many businesses are able to produce on a much larger scale and at a reduced production cost. Also, the quality of products manufactured improved tremendously. Large orders produced were sold at various retail outlets and digital platforms. The following businesses were supported by TTA programme:

Name of business (location)

• • Sinotho Electrical (KwaZulu Natal)
  • Mmutle Mining Projects (Mpumalanga)
  • Guduza Engineering (Mpumalanga)
  • Chads Power Engineering and Suppliers (KwaZulu Natal)
  • S Mach Engineering (KwaZulu Natal)
  • Ngaraga Properties (Pty) Ltd T/A Lindiwe Sanitary Pads (Johannesburg)

The TTA in partnership with the Export Credit Insurance Company (ECIC), assisted a business with acquisition of processing and packaging technology machines to a value of R1 098 000. This enabled the business to meet and exceeded the customer’s expectations for quality, on time delivery, and high demand volumes. The packaging technology, successfully acquired through the TTA/ECIC fund, included an automated industrial sealing machine and foot sealer, date coding and barcoding machines at different pack sizes, box printing, sealing connected to a conveyor belt, a pallet wrapper, a heat tunnel and a semi-automatic L-sealer (to seal packs into sizes required by the customer).

The business is now listed with Kit Kat Wholesalers and Devland Cash and Carry, amongst others, and has started deliveries to five (5) Kit Kat Wholesales and two (2) Devland Cash and Carry outlets. The business is also listed with Clicks for their private labels (house brands) and has already started deliveries. Turnover increased by 344% and the number of jobs increased from fourteen (14) part-time staff to twenty (20). Two (2) permanent jobs were retained. The systems were developed and implemented successfully. The client is certified in accordance with ISO9001:2015 and is enjoying the benefits of being one of the few black companies in their field that are fully compliant and certified.

Furthermore, Seda has supported women-owned businesses with several interventions which included incubation, business management training, productivity and quality improvement interventions. Of the 61 739 businesses supported, 35% were women owned.

(vi) Seda supports a number of incubators in different sectors of the economy. An amount of R 147.2 million was spent to support SMMEs via the various Seda supported incubators and a total number of 2 507 businesses received support through this incubation network. Furthermore, an additional eleven (11) sector focused incubators were approved for establishment during the 2022/23 financial year.

(vii) The Seda Success Stories documenting the support provided to SMMEs is attached as Annexure A.

(viii) Seda supports struggling communities primarily by promoting entrepreneurship and small business development. Here are some ways in which Seda supports these communities:

Business Development Support: Seda's business development support services are comprehensive, aiming to address the diverse needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses in struggling communities. One key service is business planning, where Seda assists entrepreneurs in developing clear and actionable business plans. These plans outline their business goals, strategies, and financial projections, providing a roadmap for success.

Financial management is another critical area of support provided by Seda. Many entrepreneurs in struggling communities face challenges in managing their finances effectively. Seda helps them develop financial literacy skills, understand financial statements, and access financing options such as loans and grants. This support is crucial for ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of their businesses.

Marketing support is also a key focus for Seda. They help entrepreneurs develop marketing strategies that are tailored to their target markets and budgets. This includes guidance on branding, advertising, and digital marketing. By helping entrepreneurs effectively market their products or services, Seda increases their visibility and competitiveness in the market.

Access to markets is a major challenge for many entrepreneurs in struggling communities, and Seda addresses this by facilitating access to market channels. This includes helping entrepreneurs identify potential buyers, distributors, and partners, as well as providing information on market trends and opportunities. By helping entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of the market, Seda increases their chances of success and contributes to the economic development of struggling communities.

Access to Finance: Seda helps entrepreneurs in struggling communities access finance through various means, such as facilitating access to loans, grants, and venture capital. These funding instruments are blended finance from Development Financial Institutions (sefa, IDC, etc.) as well as from commercial banks and philanthropists mandated to assist SMMEs with grants.

Training and Skills Development: Seda offers training and skills development programs to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in struggling communities improve their business skills and knowledge. Some of these programmes are implemented by partnering with like-minded institutions such as the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R Seta), the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta (MERSETA) as well as the National Skills Fund (NSF).

Networking and Partnerships: Seda facilitates networking and partnerships between entrepreneurs, small businesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote collaboration and business growth. Women entrepreneurship is very high on its agenda and through the SheTrades Programme and the Cherie Blair Foundation, female entrepreneurs in impoverished communities are assisted.

Market Access: Seda's approach to assisting entrepreneurs in struggling communities involves a multifaceted strategy to ensure they have the best possible chance of accessing markets successfully. One key aspect of this strategy is providing entrepreneurs with up-to-date information on market trends, consumer behavior, and emerging opportunities. This information equips them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their businesses and adapt to changing market conditions.

Moreover, Seda goes beyond just providing information by actively facilitating access to market channels. This includes helping entrepreneurs establish relationships with buyers, distributors, and other key players in the market. Seda's network of contacts and partnerships allows them to open doors for entrepreneurs that may have otherwise been closed, giving them access to a wider range of potential customers and markets.

Another crucial element of Seda's approach is supporting entrepreneurs in building their brands and marketing their products effectively. This includes providing guidance on branding, packaging, and promotion, as well as helping entrepreneurs develop marketing strategies that resonate with their target audiences. By doing so, Seda helps entrepreneurs stand out in crowded markets and increase their chances of success.

Technology and Innovation Support: Seda supports entrepreneurs in struggling communities to adopt technology and innovate in their businesses through training, mentoring, and access to resources. By focusing on these key areas, Seda aims to empower entrepreneurs with the skills and tools they need to thrive in today's competitive business landscape. This support not only helps individual businesses succeed but also contributes to the overall economic growth and development of these communities.

Overall, Seda plays a crucial role in supporting struggling communities in South Africa by promoting entrepreneurship, fostering business growth, and creating economic opportunities.

2. The incorporation of sefa and the Co-operatives Bank Development Agency (CBDA) into the Seda is underway. It will result in the merged entity Small Enterprise Development and Finance agency – SEDFA which will provide both financial and non-financial support as well as initiatives to support the development of a broader SMME / Co-operative ecosystem. The main rationale for a new entity is to create a single integrated institution that can facilitate access to the full spectrum of financial and non-financial support needed by SMMEs across their lifecycles, accessible in all parts of the country. It will aim to leverage the financial and non-financial resources of all eco-system partners and also aim to develop new eco-system partner organisations and businesses. (e.g., emerging Township network organisations etc.). This will improve efficiency, develop products that are responsive and ensure a higher impact of the government programmes on the SMME ecosystem.

Furthermore, sefa has positively impacted the small business sector in the South African economy over the years. Since its inception in 2012 to 31 March 2023, sefa disbursed R14.5 billion into the South African economy enabling access to finance to over 629 000 SMMEs, who in turn facilitated over 830 000 jobs over this period.

sefa serves as the lender of last resort for SMMEs that generally cannot get funding from other financiers in the economy, and this also means the organisation most often than not spends considerable amount of time processing these applications, which at times are not complete in terms of all information required (compliance and others). Through the efforts of the organisation, sefa has enabled businesses to develop and grow. sefa continues to enable access to finance to small business and these businesses contribute both income (in the form of taxes) and jobs to the South African economy.

Through its insurance business, Khula Credit Guarantee, (KCG), sefa partners with financial and non-financial institutions that extend credit to small businesses and KCG provides credit cover in case these businesses default on their loan repayments. KCG also partners with Corporates who through their ESD programmes support small businesses and KCG provides credit cover in case these small businesses default on their agreements.

Seda supports entrepreneurs and SMMEs with non-financial assistance. Seda does not fund small businesses with capital or cash but offers grant funding through its TTA Programme as well as the Co-operative Development Support Programme. Both these Programmes have been successfully implemented and there is a need for additional funding as the demand far outweighs the supply. The backlog within the system TTA has been cleared and there are no outstanding applications from previous years.

Seda, through its Executive Committee, makes every effort to streamline processes, improve resource allocation, and enhance capacity within the Organisation so that it could help address these challenges and support the timely funding of credible applicants, thereby facilitating the development of small businesses.

Reply:

The Department informs me that a notice was received from the Office of the Public Protector (“the PP”) in December 2020 and an extensive response relating to the notice was submitted. It advises further that no further substantive communications on this issue were received from the PP. It was assumed therefore that the PP concluded that no investigation or further investigation herein was merited.

-END-

Reply:

1. The Department produced a monitoring and evaluation framework for the national strategic plan on gender based violence & femicide. The role of the department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI) is to make available unutilised public buildings to be utilised as shelters or temporary housing arrangements for victims/survivors of GBVF.

The Department linked DPWI with the Department of Social Development (DSD) in ensuring that the identified buildings are renovated, NPOs are linked to these shelters and that they are funded.

2. The Department of Women Youth & Persons with Disabilities will pursue discussions with DSD and DPWI regarding the state of shelters in Namaqualand.

Reply:

(1) The Presidency is not in receipt of the applications for land, referred to by the Honourable Member, that were ‘formally submitted’ to the President on 23 September 2023.

However, the Presidency did receive a memorandum in August 2023. On the basis of this memorandum, I have requested the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and the Minister of Human Settlements to constitute a joint team to engage with the organisation in question.

(2) (a) The Department of Human Settlements’ programme of delivery of serviced sites aims to accommodate households, mainly residing in the informal settlements, whose income levels would enable them to gradually build on their own once they have access to land. The programme prioritises access to housing in well-located areas that are close to economic opportunities, social amenities and transport infrastructure.

A total of 186,750 serviced sites were delivered between 2019 and March 2024.

The serviced sites programme aims in the longer term to mitigate current challenges relating to unauthorised occupation of land, often accompanied with the mushrooming of informal settlements in the country.

(b) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) releases state land identified as suitable for human settlement development to the Housing Development Agency (HDA). This is done through the issuing of Power of Attorney to the HDA, for commencement of township development processes and ultimate transfer to the beneficiaries.

(3) (a) In terms of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, the DPWI consults with the affected user departments and stakeholders before any disposal is considered to confirm if they need the identified properties for their respective government functions. If the identified properties are still required for government purposes, the applicant is informed accordingly.

(b) The DPWI releases state land to support land redistribution, land restitution, human settlement development and for other socio-economic purposes. This includes availing suitable state land for the building of affordable houses for the benefit of the qualifying, historically disadvantaged and poor communities.

(b) State land disposals are subjected to due diligence, including feasibility studies, valuations, town planning, etc., to ensure that the best disposal option is undertaken to achieve socio-economic objectives.

(4) The proposal for a framework bill on land reform was aimed at operationalising equitable access to land, establishing guiding principles on redistribution, restitution and land tenure as well as land administration. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is dealing with these issues in the following manner:

• Land Redistribution: The Department has drafted the Land Acquisition and Redistribution Bill, which is currently undergoing consultations internally and with targeted stakeholders before the Bill is submitted to Cabinet to approve its publication for public comment.

• Land Restitution: There is already the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 which was passed and is being implemented.

• Land Tenure: The DALRRD has drafted the Communal Land Bill, which specifically provides for secure land tenure as contemplated in section 25(6) of the Constitution. The draft Bill is currently undergoing consultations with targeted stakeholders before it is approved by Cabinet for publication for public comment.

• Land Administration: The Restitution of Land Rights Act and the two Bills referred to above provide for land administration in different but appropriate forms as dictated to by the context of each piece of legislation.

Reply:

INSTITUTION	Number of students who owe university fees	Number of students who Cannot graduate and/or receive their certificates because they owe university fees
Stellenbosch University (SU)	9 615 students as at Dec 2023	522 students with fees owing did not receive their graduation certificates at the Dec 2023 graduation ceremony.
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)	63829	25534 students
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)	35819 Registered students owe the university fees  38 809 Non-registered students owe the university fees	We are in the process of checking the graduation lists. If we look at the outstanding balances of graduates at year end it amounts to 5728 students who owe the university and will not receive their certificates. The number of students who will not receive their certificates will decrease as we identify subsequent payments received in 2024.
University of Western Cape (UWC)	At UWC, 307 students completed with 2023 debt, total debt outstanding is R 19 720 786. 976 students completed with prior years debt, total amount outstanding is R 25 535 509	The two data sets only refer to April 2023 and April 2024 graduation ceremonies. UWC has a symbolic graduation process whereby if students complete an acknowledgement of debt they are allowed to attend graduation. Certificates are not released if the completed student has an outstanding balance relating to the completed program, however they do receive a letter of completion.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU)	The total number of students owing the university as at 31 March 2024 are 40839	Students who cannot receive their certificates are 5766   [Please note:  Our students can still graduate, all students receive letters of completion whist the certificates are withheld from those students who have student debt, furthermore,  results are shared with potential employers if required.]
North-West University (NWU)	Number of students with historic/2023 outstanding balances: 7,916 Number of students with historic/2023 outstanding balances & balances for 2024: 58,711	NWU TOTAL: 593.  Please note that we are currently occupied with the autumn graduation ceremonies, and the number of students unable to receive their certificates due to outstanding debt to the institution is expected to increase.
University of Venda (UNIVEN)	University of Venda debtors book has more than 21896 students that owe the university. Total debt owed is as at 31 December 2023 is R623 million.	All eligible students will graduate, and the number is 2,157. Of the 2,157 graduands, 1,402 (65%) will receive their certificates as their accounts have been fully settled, or they are NSFAS beneficiaries. The 546 NSFAS beneficiaries will receive their certificates on the strength of expected payment from NSFAS.
University of Pretoria (UP)	a). Outstanding debt at the University of Pretoria                 Students   Amount   2024   42 856   2 377 473 249,87   2023 and older   17 187   424 277 157,58   TOTAL   60 043   2 801 750 407,45	The UP has 1 327 degrees in safe keeping, the debt amounts to R 47 535 911.21
University of Cape Town (UCT)	Summary of 2023 Registered students owing at 12-04-2024 by Residency       RESIDENCY Total Balance Number of Students AFRICA 844 815.36 38 ASYLUM SEEKER 101 994.30 2 INTERNATI 464 232.05 24 PERMANENT RESIDENCE 3 679 118.69 94 REFUGEE 304 332.84 3 SOUTH AFRICA 117 165 562.89 2 368 SADC 5 587 759.46 179 OTHER 171 347.77 9 Grand Total 128 319 163.36 2 717	The 332 students will not graduate or receive certificates while owing but will get a letter of completion.
University of Free State (UFS)	At 4 April 2024, 39 974 students owe the University of the Free State fees amounting to R850 594 791.  This include tuition and other fees payable relating to prior years, as well as 2024.	887 students.
University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)	As at 31 March 2024 Wits has a total Student Fee Debt Balance of R3 503 849 692 for a total 55 199 students. YEAR OF DEBIT TOTAL STUDY BALANCES A/C'S       2018 & before 324,358 27 2019 22,135,057 651 2020 183,314,146 3,399 2021 207,551,659 4,238 2022 217,858,470 5,046 2023 329,836,873 7,315 2024 2,542,829,130 34,523 TOTAL 3,503,849,692 55,199 Included in the balances above are amounts owed by NSFAS where the close out process has not been finalised.	As at 12 April 2024 Wits has a total of 4557 students that are unable to graduate and receive a graduation certificate with a total debt value of R298 744 877.61. Included in this number are students who were funded by NSFAS at some point in their academic career, and who owe funds in their personal capacity. The number of Students in this category are 368 students with a total debt value of R29 155 637.64. This covers the academic years 2017 to 2023. In conclusion, The University has a principle and practice to allow the students who are solely NSFAS funded to graduate, which is a practice that has been done in good faith with an understanding that NSFAS will settle the debt upon the finalisation of the respective close-out reports.
University of Zululand (UNIZULU)	Number of students owing fees = 22 980	All students at UNIZULU who are eligible to graduate are able to graduate and walk over the stage. Those that owe will receive a letter instead of their certificate. The letter confirms their graduation and invites prospective employers to confirm this directly with the University. The number of students at the end of 2023 that were in this position were 5 967 in total. Some 3 223 students will graduate in 2024 and most of them would have paid up fees as most of them would have been NSFAS funded.
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)	These figures are as at 31 Dec 2023,	SMU is slightly lenient, it allows students to graduate even if they have outstanding balances. A total number of 3870 is still withheld.
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)		Students can graduate but will not receive certificate.
University of Johannesburg (UJ)	As of December 2023, the university had a total of 33 333 students with outstanding debt. The number is made up of the following group of students: Registered in 2023 – 14 537. Not registered as of 2023 – 18 796. The number of students who were registered in 2023 and owed the university, excludes the NSFAS and Bursary-funded students.	Below is the breakdown of students who graduated but owed the university fees: 2021 Graduates – 2 688. 2022 Graduates – 2 583. 2023 Graduates – 2 602. Students are invited to the graduation ceremonies and get their transcript showing that they have completed the qualification. The certificate is retained until the outstanding fees are settled. UJ provide confirmation of completed studies to prospective employees upon request, thereby allowing students to enter employment.
University of Mpumalanga (UMP)	Owe university fees=4397 (as at 17 April 2024)	Cannot graduate and/or receive their certificates because they owe university fees= 405 Please be reminded that our students will graduate but will not receive certificates.
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN)	Of the students who completed their qualification in 2023, there are ±4,760 students who currently owe the University fees for 2023 and prior.	Every graduate is allowed to graduate and is entitled to an official academic record/transcript on application and an official letter confirming ‘Degree Complete’, again on application and payment of the a fee. On settlement of fees outstanding and the requisite ‘fee clearance’, a graduate can formally request to be issued with their withheld degree/diploma certificate(s).
DUT	Row Labels Count of IEPSTNO 2013 39 2014 99 2015 216 2016 256 2017 239 2018 1127 2019 1144 2020 1805 2021 2365 2022 2687 2023 2263 Grand Total 12240	NB: All students owing fees at DUT are allowed to graduate upon receipt of completion letters which state compliance with requirements of the qualification. However, certificates are not issued to this cohort until fees have been settled. Prospective employers may contact the university to verify completion of qualifications.
Sol Plaatje University (SPU)	5213 students owe the University a total of R151 733 467.11, where the individual amounts exceed R1000.00.	Sol Plaatje University does not withhold qualification/graduation certificates where graduates have outstanding fees.

The following universities are yet to respond to the PQ and follow ups are being made:

1. Central University of Technology (CUT)
2. Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
3. Rhodes University (RU)
4. University of Limpopo (UL)
5. University of Fort Hare (UFH)
6. University of South Africa (UNISA).

Reply:

I have been advised that:

a) No Departmental (across the Department of Small Business Development [DSBD], the Small Enterprise Development Agency [Seda] and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency [sefa]) events have been planned for the 30-year celebrations.

b) Not applicable.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(a) The total number of staff members working in the Information Communication and Technology Section is 54

(b) Please refer to the table for the number of employees per salary level.

Salary Level	Number of Employees
5	7
6	1
7	2
8	24
9	5
10	3
11	3
12	6
13	2
14	1

c) The total cost amount in salaries paid to the staff members per annum is R35 244 633,48

Reply:

a) An event celebrating 30 years of the ICT industry in South Africa was held on 26 April 2024 in Sandton.

1. The total cost of the event was R518 458,71. Digital Council Africa sponsored R307 500.00. The total cost incurred by the DCDT was R210 958,71.
2. The sponsorship covered the cost of (aa) catering, (bb) entertainment, (cc) venue hire. (dd) The Department spent R5337,11 on transport costs for officials who have been part of the project team. (ee) no cost incurred on accommodation.

I thank you.