Questions and Replies

Reply:

a) I have been informed that the Working for Tourism Programme has created short-term or temporary work opportunities in line with the principles of the Expanded Public Works Programme from 1 January 2019 to date.

a) Financial Year
	b) (i) Total number of Work Opportunities (WO) created in each specified financial year
2019/2020	7459 Work Opportunities
2020/2021	2772 Work Opportunities
2021/2022	5961Work Opportunities
2022/2023	5081 Work Opportunities

Total Number of Work Opportunities 2019/2020	7 459
(ii) (aa) Province/Region	(ii) (bb) Type of Temporary Work Opportunity	Work Opportunities (Number)
Eastern Cape	Tourism Monitors	137
Eastern Cape	Data Collectors Project	74
Eastern Cape	Hospitality Youth Training Programme	180
Eastern Cape	Security Services	15
Eastern Cape	Tourism Green Coast Programme	119
Free State	Tourism Monitors	100
Gauteng	Wine Service	380
Gauteng	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food	499
Gauteng	Security Services	6
Gauteng	Safety Monitors	189
Gauteng	Tourism Monitors	96
Gauteng	National Youth Chefs Training Programme	694
KwaZulu Natal	Hospitality Youth Training fast food	736
KwaZulu Natal	Tourism Monitors	367
Limpopo	Security Services	37
Limpopo	Cleaning Services	9
Limpopo	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food	564
Limpopo	Security Services	26
Limpopo	Cleaning Services	10
Limpopo	Construction	41
Limpopo	Tourism Monitors	177
Mpumalanga	Hospitality Youth Training Programme	397
Mpumalanga	Hospitality Youth Training Programme	319
Mpumalanga	Tourism Monitors	234
Northern Cape	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food	193
Northern Cape and Free State	Data Collectors	104
Northern Cape	Tourism Monitors Programme	48
North West	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food	412
North West	Cleaning Services	18
North West	Tourism Monitors	98
National Parks	Tourism Monitors	264
Western Cape	Hospitality Youth Training	438
Western Cape	Hospitality Youth Training	378
Western Cape	Tourism Monitors Programme	100

 

Total Number of Work Opportunities 2020/2021	2 772
(ii) (aa) Province/Region	(ii) (bb) Type of Temporary Work Opportunity	Work Opportunities (Number)
Eastern Cape	Data Collectors	9
Eastern Cape	Security Services	45
Eastern Cape	Tourism Green Coast Programme	14
Eastern Cape	Construction	105
Free State	Construction	66
Free State	Security Service	20
Free State	Tourism Monitors	100
Gauteng	Security Services	11
Gauteng	Data Collectors	108
Gauteng	Tourism Monitors	98
Gauteng	Tourism Monitors Programme	166
Kwa-Zulu Natal	Tourism Blue Flag Programme	97
Kwa-Zulu Natal	Tourism Monitors	1
Kwa-Zulu Natal	Skills Development Project	48
Kwa-Zulu Natal	Security Services	18
Limpopo	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food-	17
Limpopo	Cleaning Services	9
Mpumalanga	Infrastructure Maintenance	563
Mpumalanga	Data Collectors	82
Mpumalanga	Skills Development Project	479
Northern Cape	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food	150
Northern Cape and Free State	Data Collectors	93
North West	Hospitality Youth Training - Fast Food	10
North West	Tourism Monitors	98
Western Cape	Hospitality Youth Training	271
Western Cape	Tourism Monitors Programme	94

Total Number of Work Opportunities 2021/2022	5 961
(ii) (aa) Province/Region	(ii) (bb) Type of Temporary Work Opportunity	Work Opportunities (Number)
Eastern Cape	Construction	35
Eastern Cape	Security Services	15
Eastern Cape	Tourism Monitors	186
Eastern Cape	Construction	55
Free State	Tourism Monitors	98
(ii) (aa) Province/Region	(ii) (bb) Type of Temporary Work Opportunity	Work Opportunities (Number)
Free State	Construction	72
Gauteng	Tourism Monitors	242
Gauteng	Food Safety Quality Assurers	152
Gauteng and North West	Data Collectors	103
Gauteng (SANBI sites)	Tourism Monitors Programme	98
Mpumalanga	Tourism Monitors	290
Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape	Food and Beverage	213
Kwazulu Natal	Construction	13
Kwazulu Natal	Tourism Blue Flag Programme	116
Kwazulu Natal	Tourism Monitors	234
Kwazulu Natal	Data Collectors	101
Kwazulu Natal	Security Services	9
Kwazulu Natal and Western Cape	Wine Making Training	216
Kwazulu Natal	Construction	74
Kwazulu Natal	Tourism Monitors	470
Mpumalanga and Limpopo	Data Collectors	102
Mpumalanga	Skills Development	391
Mpumalanga	Infrastructure Maintenance (National Parks)	1 313
National Parks	Tourism Monitors	315
Northern Cape	Tourism Monitors	104
Northern Cape	Chefs Training Programme	53
Northern Cape and Free State	Data Collectors	21
North West	Cleaning Services	10
North West	Security Services	10
North West	Tourism Monitors	106
Western Cape	Chefs Training	116
Western Cape	Data Collectors Project	62
Western Cape	Food Safety Quality Assurers Programme	218
Western Cape	Tourism Monitors	48

Total Number of Work Opportunities 2022/2023	*5 081
(ii) (aa) Province/Region	(ii) (bb) Type of Temporary Work Opportunity	Work Opportunities (Number)*
Kwazulu Natal	Construction	15
(ii) (aa) Province/Region	(ii) (bb) Type of Temporary Work Opportunity	Work Opportunities (Number)*
Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape	Food and Beverage	278
Eastern Cape	Tourism Monitors	189
Eastern Cape	Construction	12
Free State	Construction	31
Free State	Chef Training Programme	114
Free State	Hospitality Youth Training Programme (Fast Food)	232
Free State	Tourism Monitors	98
Gauteng	Construction	17
Gauteng	Food Safety Quality Assurers	138
Gauteng	Tourism Monitors	222
Isimangaliso	Tourism Monitors	222
Kwazulu Natal	Tourism Blue Flag Programme	99
Kwazulu Natal	Data Collectors	69
Kwazulu Natal	Tourism Monitors	468
Kwazulu Natal	Construction	25
Kwazulu Natal and Western Cape	Wine Making Training Programme	235
Limpopo	Construction	17
Limpopo	Construction	21
Limpopo	Construction	12
Mpumalanga	Infrastructure Maintenance	1 135
Mpumalanga	Tourism Monitors	301
National Parks	Tourism Monitors	316
Northern Cape	Chef Training Programme	50
Northern Cape	Tourism Monitors	104
North West	Tourism Monitors	100
Western Cape	Construction	78
Western Cape	Data collector	16
Western Cape	Food Safety Quality Assurers	119
Western Cape	Tourism Monitors Programme	348

*Total Number of Work Opportunities 2022/2023 must still be audited

Reply:

(1)(a) 49000 doses of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) vaccine were produced by Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) between January 2022 and March 2023.

b) As of 17 May 2023, 15000 doses of the AHS vaccine are available in stock at OBP, with more vaccine doses still in quality check test.

2. No. The current available AHS doses are not sufficient for the next vaccination cycle. However, OBP is working diligently enough in preparation for making sufficient vaccines available for the upcoming vaccination season.

3. OBP is not prepared to supply its attenuated strains and serotypes to a private production entity for further development.

a) OBP’s attenuated strains and serotypes are intellectual property and a tangible asset for the OBP, the juristic person.

b) A plan/strategy to resolve shortages is currently being worked on by the OBP and will remain a priority for the entity. The objective is to ensure that vaccines are always available during vaccination season.

Reply:

1. (a) Compliance monitoring audits are non-financial performance audits conducted to determine conformity by municipalities with the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998. There is no direct financial legislation applicable.

(b) There were no relevant financial legal obligations involved in conducting compliance audits.

(2) (a) (i) and (ii)

Province	License	Permit	General authorisation	Exemption	Total
Western Cape	33	11	37	3	84
Limpopo	21	0	11	0	32
North-West	20	1	1	8	30
Mpumalanga	25	1	6	6	38
Gauteng	44	0	1	6	51
Free State	21	5	11	38	75
Northern Cape	10	10	1	19	40
Eastern Cape	16	10	58	36	120
Kwazulu-Natal	13	27	9	20	69
Total	203	65	135	136	539

(b) (i) and (ii) All municipal wastewater treatment plants were audited in the period between 2009-2023.

(c) Authorisations issued to the wastewater treatment plants have conditions prescribing how much waste and concentrations can be released into the environment. The teams that conduct compliance audits are trained Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) capable of determining whether the conditions have been breached or not. In cases of non-compliance resulting in pollution of the environment, such pollution can be quantified in terms of its impact on the environment. This involves sampling the polluted medium, analysis of the samples, and interpretation thereof.

(d) In instances where a water user fails to comply with any of the license conditions, the Department first exercises administrative enforcement actions which are in the form of Notices and Directives to afford the water users an opportunity to rectify any non-compliance. When users are non-responsive, the Department proceeds with either or both criminal and civil enforcement actions.

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Reply:

(a&b) Tourism visas applied for within the country are considered repeat applications as holders of such visas would ordinarily be extending a tourist visa already issued abroad. The visa volumes mentioned below are per calendar year (not financial year). They are as follows:

Year	Application count
2020	4562
2021	11482
2022	14615

 

(aa) From 1 April 2023 to 11 May 2023, there were 1648 applications received. Applications finalised during the same period were 1545.

(bb) The table below shows from which countries were applications received. The data could not be separated per month.

Tourist visas issued per country

Country	Count of Sticker Number
China	198
Pakistan	197
India	143
United States	92
Germany	83
Saudi Arabia	78
United Kingdom	63
Nigeria	60
Russian Federation	53
France	48
Netherlands	39
Turkey	38
Bangladesh	36
Thailand	36
Angola	35
Dem. Rep. of the Congo	29
Zimbabwe	25
Switzerland	24
Canada	21
Namibia	17
Israel	17
Brazil	16
Australia	14
Italy	14
Kenya	13
Belgium	12
Gabon	11
Republic of South Korea	11
Egypt	10
Poland	9
Philippines	9
Hungary	9
Ireland	9
Mauritius	9
United Rep of Tanzania	8
Sweden	8
Botswana	8
Spain	7
Zambia	7
Cameroon	6
Japan	6
Ghana	6
Malaysia	6
Uganda	6
New Zealand	5
Yemen	5
Jordan	4
Liberia	4
Madagascar	4
Austria	4
Cuba	4
Portugal	4
Lebanon	4
Islamic Republic of Iran	4
Malawi	3
Vietnam	3
Ukraine	3
Mexico	3
Libya	3
Ethiopia	3
Denmark	3
Colombia	2
Algeria	2
Cote D'Ivoire	2
Somalia	2
Luxembourg	2
Malta	2
Mozambique	2
Guyana	1
Burkina Faso	1
Eritrea	1
Argentina	1
Morocco	1
Cape Verde	1
Chile	1
Greece	1
Belarus	1
Indonesia	1
Peru	1
Mali	1
Czech Republic	1
Senegal	1
Myanmar	1
Singapore	1
Nepal	1
Chad	1
Venezuela	1
Dem. People's Rep. of Korea	1
Iraq	1
Sudan	1
Congo	1
Afghanistan	1
Mongolia	1
Grand Total	1648

(cc) 14 applications of April 2023 were adjudicated as at 15 May 2023. The average time taken was 17 days.

END

Reply:

There are only 11 residential lease applications that were received since 2021, where responses have not been sent to the applicants. These applications were put on hold because of ongoing litigation regarding residential leases.

Reply:

(a),(b) The Department is implementing a three-pronged land reform programme. These are:

• Land Redistribution using the Provision of Land and Assistance Act, Act 126 of 1993. To give effect to this Act, the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy and the Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation policy are implemented to acquire and redistribute land;
• Land Tenure Reform programme implemented under the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, Act 62 of 1997 (ESTA); and
• Land Restitution programme implemented by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights using the Restitution of Land Rights Act, Act 22 of 1994.

These land reform programmes are supported by various agrarian reform instruments to address both the financial and technical support for different categories of producers to maintain and improve agricultural productivity and poverty alleviation. These instruments are as follows:

• Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and Ilima/Letsema which are aimed at resourcing and equipping producers towards increased food production and other value chain activities;
• Land Development Support which supports land reform farms with infrastructure; farm machinery and equipment, production development/inputs, and technical support including mentorship provided through commodity organisations;
• Blended Finance Scheme which supports the commercialisation process;
• SA-GAP Certification Programme which assists farmers to meet minimum food safety and quality requirements and thus eases access to markets;
• Collaborations with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), wherein the Department implements the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for the implementation of the Farmer Field Schools. Both interventions enhance the provision of extension services for small-scale farmers towards attaining sustainable food production and market access;

• In our endeavour to reduce the ratio between farmers and extension officers for more extension and advisory services to farmers, the Department continues to recruit extension personnel. Over 4 500 Assistant Agricultural Practitioners were recruited to provide technical support to farmers;
• Skills assessment and mitigation strategy is implemented to attain sustainable growth and equitable participation in the sector. As part of the comprehensive farmer support, the Department provides capacity development interventions that are focused on capacitating producers with requisite skills and mentorship based on their needs at a farm level. This capacity building assists farmers to optimize both production and marketing operations;
• Presidential Employment Stimulus providing production inputs for the most vulnerable producers for household food security and self-employment;
• Farmer Production Support Units provide a centralised service centre for producers to get production inputs, mechanisation, and technical support;
• Land Care Programme to protect and preserve natural resources and create employment at a rural level;
• Animal and Veld Management Programme to provide animal husbandry-related infrastructure like fencing, handling and dipping facilities, and livestock water including boreholes;
• River Valley Catalytic Programme designed to revitalise irrigation schemes in our former homelands;
• Micro Agricultural Finance Institute of South Africa provides affordable loans for producers; and
• National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) Programme targeting unemployed rural youth for skills and capacity building for sustainable opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Reply:

a)  The Department of Water and Sanitation (the Department) works together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to ensure that municipalities receive the necessary support and grant funding to refurbish and maintain water and sanitation assets. Water Service Authorities (WSAs), through their Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), allocate funding for refurbishment of some of Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). Depending on availability of funds, the Department also funds WWTW refurbishment and upgrade projects that meet the criteria of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG).

b) The Department ensures protection of water resources, which can be achieved by initiating rectification measures against the identified non-complaint water users and polluters. When municipalities fail in their mandate to ensure compliance in terms of wastewater and effluent spillages, various legal frameworks can be initiated to address the contraventions.

In instances where a water user fails to comply with any of the license conditions, the Department first exercises administrative enforcement actions in the form of Notices and Directives in accordance with the National Water Act. This is meant to afford the water users an opportunity to rectify non-compliances within certain timeframes.

When users are non-responsive, the Department proceeds with either or both criminal and civil enforcement actions. Criminal sanctions can also be instituted against the municipalities guided by Criminal Procedure Act on violations related to wastewater and effluent spillages. Section 151 of the National Water Act provides legal basis for laying of criminal charges against the municipalities that are intentionally or negligently pollute water resources or engage in unlawful water usage. Offenses under Section 151 of the National Water Act can be used to address pollution of water resources, making it a criminal offense to discharge pollutants into water resources without the necessary authorisation.

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Reply:

Prov		Project Name	(a) Details of the contractor allocated to the project within the past two financial years**	(b)Corresponding contract values of each project in each province
EC	1	Qatywa Lodge	**	R32,802,163.00
	2	Western Tembuland Lodge	**	R23,437,638.25
	3	Maluti Hiking and Horse Trail	**	R18,160,388.15
	4	Mthonsi Lodge	**	R31,072,567.60
	5	Nyandeni	**	R19,023,014.80
FS	1	Qwa Qwa Guest House	**	R21,120,795.06
	2	Vredefort Dome Interpretation Centre	**	R24,160,892.96
	3	Monontsha Access Road	**	R6,726,894.01
KZN	1	Isibhubhu	**	R29,918,570.53
LP	1	The Oaks	**	R25,807,207.29
	2	Ngove	**	R29,988,483.30
	3	Tisane	**	R27,463,083.70

** Based on the reply to Question 1640 regarding the reasons of not completing projects the POPIA Act is also applied in this case.

** Application of the POPI Act

Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013

(c) an assessment of the impact of the completed projects on the (i) overall performance of the tourism industry and (ii) regional economies in the Republic; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case

I have been informed by the Department that the projects are in the construction stage, none of the above-mentioned projects are completed.

I have met with DBSA to discuss the poor performance and advised the Department to establish a project management unit to conduct oversight.

 

Reply:

Prov		(a) A comprehensive breakdown of the total number of such projects in each province	(b) Names of the original contractors assigned to each of the projects **	(c) An explanation of the technical, financial and contractual factors that necessitated the involvement of the DBSA
EC	1	Qatywa Lodge	**	Incomplete chalets, restaurant and conference centre due to budget depletion.
	2	Western Tembuland Lodge	**	Incomplete chalets, entrance guard house due to budget depletion
	3	Maluti Hiking and Horse Trail	**	Poor workmanship on the river crossing bridges
	4	Mthonsi Lodge	**	Incomplete chalets, restaurant and conference centre due to budget depletion.
	5	Nyandeni	**	Chalets completed however not furnished. Lack of maintenance over time.
FS	1	Qwa Qwa Guest House	**	Incomplete chalets due to budget depletion.
	2	Vredefort Dome Interpretation Centre	**	Interpretation Centre completed however there were structural defects due to geotechnical instability.
	3	Monontsha Access Road	**	Incomplete access road due to budget depletion.
KZN	1	Muzi Pan	**	Chalets completed however with some defects/poor workmanship.
	2	Isibhubhu	**	The project was completed however could not be handed over without occupation certificate.
LP	1	Phiphidi Waterfall	**	Incomplete chalets due to contractual disputes with the Implementing Agent whose contract lapsed.
	2	The Oaks	**	Incomplete chalets due to contractual disputes with the Implementing Agent whose contract lapsed.
	3	Ngove	**	Some chalets not completed due to budget depletion
	4	Tisane	**	Incomplete chalets due to budget depletion
	5	VhaTsonga	**	Incomplete rondavels due to budget depletion and poor workmanship
NC	1	Kamiesburg	**	Incomplete ablution facilities, campsite and chalets due to budget depletion
	2	Platfontein	**	Chalets and kitchen completed. Structural defects post completion due in part to geotechnical issues and drainage.
NW	1	Manyane Lodge	**	Incomplete restaurant. Conference centre not done. Damages to the completed chalets from fire and vandalism. Budget depletion.
	2	Lehurutshe Bird and Trophy Hunting	**	Completed and not ready for however not ready be handed due to lack of Occupation certificate.

I have met with DBSA to discuss the poor performance and advised the Department to establish a project management unit to conduct oversight.

 

** Application of the POPI Act

Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013

Reply:

(a) How are the new Preferential Procurement Regulations different from the previous dispensation?

I have been informed by the Department that the previous PPPFA regulations required the calculation of points to be based on the 80/20 principle for which 80 points were for price, 20 points for preferential points as prescribed by National Treasury.

The current PPPFA regulation calculation of points is still based on 80/20 principle however with the new regulations 80 points are still for price but 20 points will be the prerogative of the department to allocate points.

The department reviewed the SCM policy effective from 16 January 2023 to align with the new PPPFA.

The department amended the SCM policy based on the new PPPFA regulations that were issued in November 2022. The changes in the policy were done on the 80/20 principle for bids below R50m and 90/10 principle for bids above R50m respectively to align with the new regulations.

 

(b) What issues have been flagged by the Internal Audit Committee on departmental performance thus far?

The Q2 and Q3 performance reports were presented to the newly appointed Audit Committee on the 27 March 2023 and the matters that Internal Audit flagged related to:

• Payment of compliant invoices within 30 days.
• Impact of Technical Indicator Description related to the expenditure on women owned businesses which had intended transversal contracts.
• Impact of SCM processes and participants’ conduct on Service Delivery
• The links between changes at executive leadership level and performance on areas of work that require Executive Authority input e.g. Public Policy

 

(c) What engagements has her department had with the Office of the Auditor-General to minimise negative findings at the end of the financial year?

• Engagement to input in the audit implementation plan.
• Engagements on the audit strategy.
• Engagement on audit findings,
• Engagements on planning matters prior to the conclusion of Annual Performance Plan for 2023/24.

 

Reply:

Prov		Project Name	(a) Initial allocation to each contractor	(b) Reasons behind the failure to complete each project within the original scope, budget and timeline	(c) Additional funds allocated to the DBSA for completion of each project (construction value)
EC	1	Qatywa Lodge	Budget: R 23,750,000 Exp: R 23,288,668	Incomplete chalets, restaurant and conference centre due to budget depletion.	R 32,802,163.00
	2	Western Tembuland Lodge	Budget: R 10,449,156 Exp: R 10,382,358	Incomplete chalets, entrance guard house due to budget depletion	R 23,437,638.25
	3	Maluti Hiking and Horse Trail	Budget: R 4,750,000 Exp: R 4,749,987	Poor workmanship on the river crossing bridges	R 18,160,388.15
	4	Mthonsi Lodge	Budget: R 28,215,000 Exp: R 27,531,883	Incomplete chalets, restaurant and conference centre due to budget depletion.	R 31,072,567.60
	5	Nyandeni	Budget: R 7,600,000 Exp: R 7,546,800	Chalets completed however not furnished. Lack of maintenance over time.	R19,023,014.80
FS	1	Qwa Qwa Guest House	Budget: R 34,234,974 Exp: R 34,001,662	Incomplete chalets due to budget depletion.	R21,120,795.06
	2	Vredefort Dome Interpretation Centre	Budget: R 3,009,453 Exp: R 2,927,652	Interpretation Centre completed however there were structural defects due to geotechnical instability.	R24,160,892.96
	3	Monontsha Access Road	Budget: R 12,629,500 Exp: R 12,548,922	Incomplete access road due to budget budget depletion.	R6,726,894.01
KZN	1	Muzi Pan	Budget: R 12,447,480 Exp: R 11,887,690	Chalets completed however with some defects/ poor workmanship.	Contractor not yet appointed
	2	Isibhubhu	Budget: R 15,000,000 Exp: R 14,889,708	The project was completed however it could not be handed over without occupation certificate.	R29,918,570.53
LP	1	Phiphidi Waterfall	Budget: R 29,477,099 Exp: R 23,264,771.67	Incomplete chalets. Contractual disputes with the Implementing Agent whose contract lapsed.	Contractor not yet appointed
	2	The Oaks	Budget: R 26,550,216 Exp: R 25,483,869	Incomplete chalets and restaurant due to Contractual disputes with the Implementing Agent whose contract lapsed.	R25,807,207.29
	3	Ngove	Budget: R 20,133,951 Exp: R 19,993,013	Some chalets not completed due to budget depletion.	R29,988,483.30
	4	Tisane	Budget: R 18,810,000 Exp: R 18,299,799	Incomplete chalets due to budget depletion	R27,463,083.70
	5	VhaTsonga	Budget: R 9,185,000 Exp: R 9,068,064	Incomplete rondavels and poor workmanship and budget depletion.	Contractor not yet appointed
NC	1	Kamiesburg	Budget: R 5,100,000 Exp: R 4,815,074	Incomplete ablution facilities, campsite and chalets due to budget depletion.	Contractor not yet appointed
	2	Platfontein	Budget: R 32,206,320 Exp: R 32,072,057	Chalets and kitchen completed. Structural defects post completion due in part to geotechnical issues and drainage.	Contractor not yet appointed
NW	1	Manyane Lodge	Budget: R 48,465,113 Exp: R 47,884,114	Incomplete restaurant. Conference centre not done. Damages on the completed chalets from a fire and vandalism. And budget depletion.	Contractor not yet appointed
	2	Lehurutshe Bird and Trophy Hunting	Budget: R 2,827,500 Exp: R 2,809,808	Completed, not ready to be handed over due to lack of Occupation Certificate .	Contractor not yet appointed

(d) Measures taken to mitigate such issues in future tourism related contracts

I have been informed that the Department has aligned its processes to the Framework for Infrastructure Delivery and Procurement Management (FIPDM), and also partnered with the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) which has requisite built environment capacity and is assisting the Department with the following:

a) Provision of infrastructure delivery, including planning, design and construction through a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and technical specialists and

b) Exercising effective project controls, monitoring and reporting in line with applicable norms and standards.

c) I have met with DBSA to discuss the poor performance and advised the Department to establish a project management unit to conduct oversight.

 

Reply:

(1)(a),(b) Yes. The Minister engaged both the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) as well as Industry, including the National Animal Health Forum and instructed that measures be put in place to ensure continuity in vaccine production and availability. The Minister further advised that there should be closer collaboration between the Agricultural Research Council’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Research and OBP.

2. Yes. ARC and OBP have an established collaboration governed by a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). This MoA covers collaboration in the areas of:

• Research, technology transfer and any possible joint ventures between the two entities;
• Vaccine development and information and technical advice;
• Consultancy, diagnostic and analysis services;
• Commercialisation, training, and advisory services; and
• Human capital development and physical infrastructure sharing.

The ARC and the OBP also collaborate in the production of blood vaccines. The ARC produces blood vaccines that are bottled and marketed by OBP. The full list of vaccines produced by the ARC for OBP is African Red Water vaccine; Asiatic Red Water; Anaplasmosis vaccine; and Heartwater vaccines.

Reply:

a) In terms of institutional arrangements for land transport as prescribed in the National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009, it is the responsibility of municipalities to plan, provide and manage public transport infrastructure in their areas, not the national sphere. As planning authorities, municipalities are responsible for preparing transport plans in their areas and ensuring the implementation thereof as per section 11(1)(c)(iv) of the Act. These plans must comply with minimum requirements as published in November 2014 (Government Gazette No. 38256), which requires the inclusion of a transport infrastructure strategy to deal with the development and maintenance of transport infrastructure, including public transport facilities. In terms of section 11(1)(c)(v) of the Act, municipalities are responsible for the financial planning with regard to land transport within or affecting its area, with particular reference to transport planning, infrastructure, operations, services, maintenance, monitoring and administration, with due focus on rehabilitation and maintenance of infrastructure.

b) See (a) above regarding institutional arrangements and responsibilities.

Reply:

1. Yes, the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) conducted and submitted advice on the effectiveness of mathematics and science education initiatives in schools.
2. there has not yet been a discussion between NACI and the Minister on the advice provided; and
3. The budget allocation of the Advisory Council in the past five years is R90 million.

Reply:

The proliferation of satellites launched into low earth orbit around the earth for internet coverage by companies such as Starlink, Oneweb, Amazon and others, is posing a threat globally to astronomical observations and not only just on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. South Africa together with the international astronomy community is working closely with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) to address the negative impacts Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites on dark and quiet skies.

Some companies have made efforts to mitigate these effects with the use of less-reflective material in satellite construction or changing the orientation of satellites in space. Furthermore, companies can provide astronomers with higher accuracy information about the location of satellites so that observatories can take this into account to decide when and where to point their telescopes. While these potential solutions show promise, they will require a coordinated effort between satellite industry, governments, and astronomy community. A cooperative approach involving all stakeholders is an effective way to reach a satisfactory balance between the need for the evolution of the LEO space economy and the need protect the science of astronomy which requires pristine skies.

Locally, the Department works closely with the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) through a Memorandum of Agreement that ensures that any spectrum permit licenses that are issued to service providers do not impact negatively on the SKA telescope. Furthermore, the spirit of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage (AGA) Act of 2007 and its associated regulations, is such that it does not demand total radio silence but rather a harmonious co-existence of the telescope with other installations and services in the declared astronomy reserve in the Northern Cape.

Reply:

The department does have a plan to deal with pedestrian fatalities on the roads.

In terms of that plan - which is encapsulated in the 365 days road safety programme, the Road Traffic Management Corporation, as the national lead agency on road safety, and provincial departments of community safety and transport jointly identify high-risk areas for pedestrian safety.

The plan identifies behaviour that puts pedestrians at risk such as jaywalking, drunk walking, distracted walking, scholar safety as well as safe crossing of freeways and visibility.

The national and provincial teams then jointly deploy law enforcement and road safety operations in identified high-risk areas to discourage unsafe road usage by pedestrians.

The law enforcement and the road safety education and communication technical committees – comprised of the RTMC, traffic law enforcement authorities and road safety practitioners from all nine provinces – meet regularly to evaluate performance and decide on further required interventions.

The challenge with pedestrian crashes is that they take place within build-up areas where municipalities have jurisdiction. The mushrooming of informal settlements further exacerbates the situation as shops and transport orgonites generally lie on the opposite side of major freeways requiring pedestrians to cross freeways when it is not safe to do so. The road authorities put up pedestrian over-passes to separate pedestrian traffic from the vehicle traffic, thus creating a safer environment for co-existence.

In implementing the 365-plan road safety (on the ground) activations were implemented, in addition to the school programme activations. Other interventions planned for the year with the private sector include focusing on drunken walking, which is a serious issue during weekends and long weekends.

Reply:

(1)(a) The Department currently uses the ICT Systems mentioned below to process online visa applications

SYSTEM	DEVELOPER	DATE
DHA eVisa	SARS/BBD	2019
VFS eVisa (Nigeria)	VFS Global	2022
DHA/VFS Online	VFS Global	2014
VAS (Adjudication)	DHA IT	2014

(1)(b) An amount of R5m is budgeted in the current financial year for the DHA eVisa support and maintenance. The VAS system has no dedicated budget except the time and material for the officials supporting the system. The other systems are supported by VFS with no financial implications for DHA.

(1)(c) The amount budgeted for DHA eVisa development in the 2019/20 financial was 100% spent and for 3 years after go live in production the support and maintenance for eVisa amounted to R 2 264 616.

(1)(d) There are no challenges on the DHA eVisa except normal bugs and fixes that are done in all applications for routine maintenance to improve performance. On the VAS system we are currently performing a user requirements review to enable us to improve functionality.

(1)(e) On completion of the user requirements review on VAS there will be system development and implementation of changes.

(1)(f) VAS changes will be implemented by 31 March 2024.

(2)(a) An amount of R875 173 000 is budgeted for improvement of other ICT systems, support and maintenance, licences, new projects and the breakdown is as follows:

Maintenance and Support	R409 973 000
Licenses	R126 700 000
Technology refresh	R107 500 000
Projects	R231 000 000
Total	R875 173 000

(2)(b) The aim is to ensure systems stability and improved applications performance and IT infrastructure.

(2)(c) ICT systems require continuous support and maintenance hence every financial year we allocate budgets for information and communication technology and the related licenses.

END

Reply:

There was no spending/Allocation on (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises during FY 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 (April 2023)

Below is a summary of spending on SMME’s:

	2021/23	2022/23	2023//24 Current
(i) small-, medium- and micro-enterprises	32%	2.3%	0%

In a drive to transformation, the department has amended and implemented in its policy and processes, the allocation of points through specific goals based on the new regulation (PPR 2022).

Goal	Points	Motivation
Women	5	In recent years, the President announced that Government allocated budget ought to be channel to women owned businesses. Allocating 5 points to all the Departmental procurement will address this requirement.
SMMEs	6	Promotion of businesses with an annual turnover of less than R10M
HDI	4	Promotion of companies that are owned by historically disadvantaged individuals
Disability	3	Granting opportunities to persons living with disability
Locality	2	The locals ought to be given the first preference on procurement of goods and services happening in their area.

The table below depicts the allocation of specific goals where SMME`s have been allocated the highest points:

2. CCMA

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration spent thirty-five (35) percent of the total supplier expenditure to SMMEs. There was no expenditure relating to cooperatives, township enterprises and rural enterprises. The organisation did not implement the set-aside policy, however implemented preferential procurement policy provisions.

3. NEDLAC

2021/22:

i: 97%

ii: 0%

iii: 0%

Note: The remainder was awarded to entities larger than SMME.

2022/23:

i: 99%

ii: 0%

iii: 0%

Note: The remainder was awarded to entities larger than SMME.

2023/24 thus far:

i: 84%

ii: 0%

iii: 0%

Note: The remainder was awarded to entities larger than SMME.

4. SEE

Comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation for SEE entity in terms of the percentages allocated (2022/23 financial year):

1. 62.06% business was awarded to small -enterprises
2. 9.93% business was awarded to medium -enterprises
3. 8.86% business was awarded to micro -enterprises
4. 17.73% business was awarded to Cooperatives
5. 1.42% business was awarded Township and Rural enterprises

Of the above categorises 1.42% business was awarded to people with disabilities.

Since 1 April 2023 till 19 May 2023:

1. 83.33% business was awarded to small, medium and micro -enterprises
2. 16.67% business was awarded to Cooperatives
3. 0% business was awarded Township and Rural enterprises

Of the above categorises 2.78% business was awarded to people with disabilities.

Of the above categorises 58.33% business was awarded to Women.

Of the above categorises 13.89% business was awarded to youth.

5. PRODUCTIVITY SA

There were no spending on (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises during 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 (April 2023)

Below is a summary of spending on SMME’s and other service provides: Detailed list is on excel.

	2021/23	2022/23	2023//24 Current
(i) small-, medium- and micro-enterprises	3%	9%	6%
Other	97%	91%	94%

6. UIF

i. Small-, Medium- and Micro-enterprises

(aa) (2021/ 22 Financial year)

• Procurement allocation to Small-, Medium- and Micro-enterprises is 100%.
• Unable to separate allocation percentage between Rural and Township due to system limitations.

(bb) 1 April 2023 until 31 April 2023

• The procurement allocation is 100%. However, we are unable to separate allocation between rural and township due to system limitations.

ii. Cooperatives

(aa) 2021/ 22 Financial year- procurement allocation is 0%.

(bb) 1 April 2023 until 31 April 2023- Procurement allocation is 0%.

iii. Township and Rural enterprises

(aa) (2021/ 22 Financial year)

• Unable to separate procurement allocation due to system limitations.

(bb) 1 April 2023 until 31 April 2023

• Unable to separate procurement allocation due to system limitations.

7. Compensation Fund

For the 2021/22 financial year, R767 million was allocated for the procurement of goods and services including capital assets. Whilst in April 2023 financial year a total of R13 million from the Fund’s operational budget was allocated for the procurement of goods and services including capital assets.

The Fund’s Procurement is done in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act. In terms of this Act for procurement less than R50 million, bids are scored at a maximum of 20 points for Historically Disadvantaged Individuals while for procurement more than R50 million at the maximum score is 10 points.

For Procurement less than R50 million the maximum 20 points are allocated as follows:                                                                                                                                    Woman                                                      8 points

Youth                                                         6 points

People living with disability                        1 points

Locality                                                   5 points

For procurement above R50 million the maximum 10 points is allocated as follows:

Woman                                                      4 points

Youth                                                         3 points

People living with disability                        1 points

Locality                                                   2 points

Reply:

No, as the law does not allow for such exemptions in line with the principle that all residents earning an income, be they the President, a worker or a businessperson, are subject to our tax laws without exception. We recognise role played by the police is significant in ensuring public order, as well in ensuring the safety and security of citizens as a basic human right. The provision of safety and security as a public good that is funded by Government and such funds are raised through the levying of taxes.

The levying of taxation is a crucial mechanism utilised to generate revenue as part of country’s flagship fiscal policy. One of the linchpins of a good tax system is the principle of equity, which incorporates the concept of horizontal equity. Horizontal equity ensures that all taxpayers who receive employment or other income are taxed the same based on their ability to pay, irrespective of their vocation. Low-income taxpayers earning below R91 250 are also exempt from Personal Income Tax.

Based on the fact that the South African personal income tax system is progressive in nature, the exemption of a group of taxpayers based on their profession would be impractical and go against the principles of a good tax system. Marginal tax rates that increase with income and rebates that apply equally to all taxpayers, are the main tools to give expression to society’s preference to give relief for lower incomes through the tax system. Lastly, it will impede the fiscus, as it will negatively impact the ability to raise sufficient revenue to fund Government social programmes.

Reply:

No, as the law does not allow for such exemptions in line with the principle that all residents earning an income, be they the President, a worker or a businessperson, are subject to our tax laws without exception. We recognise the role played by healthcare officials is significant in ensuring provision of efficient and adequate healthcare to the public, as well in ensuring the provision healthcare as a basic human right. The provision of public healthcare services is a public good that is funded by Government and such funds are raised through the levying of taxes.

The levying of taxation is a crucial mechanism utilised to generate revenue as part of country’s flagship fiscal policy. One of the linchpins of a good tax system is the principle of equity, which incorporates the concept of horizontal equity. Horizontal equity ensures that all taxpayers who receive employment or other income are taxed the same based on their ability to pay, irrespective of their vocation. Low-income taxpayers earning below R91 250 are also exempt from Personal Income Tax.

Based on the fact that the South African personal income tax system is progressive in nature, the exemption of a group of taxpayers based on their profession would be impractical and go against the principles of a good tax system. Marginal tax rates that increase with income and rebates that apply equally to all taxpayers, are the main tools to give expression to society’s preference to give relief for lower incomes through the tax system. Lastly, it will impede the fiscus, as it will negatively impact the ability to raise sufficient revenue to fund Government social programmes.

Reply:

1. The following mechanisms are in place to ensure people with expired visas/permits leave the republic;

a) Immigration inspections/operations for detecting those without lawful documentation to be in South Africa;

b)Tracing of overstayers found on the movement control system

c) Overstay declaration and bans from re-entering the country from 1 to 5 years, depending on the length of overstay - Should a person with an expired visa/permit leave the country;

d) Inability to transact for services or work

2.  If a person is denied a visa and exhausts all appeals relating to that visa they are given an order to leave and if they remain they will be doing so illegally.

END

Reply:

The Department will take a lead in the medium to long-term in the modernisation of the NSNP in schools, which will include:

(i) A proposal to create economies of scale to improve the programme;

(ii) A modern electronic stock management system for high quality inputs;

(iii) An extensive local economic empowerment  with a focus on women, youth and people with disability;

(iv) The introduction of the Home Grown School Feeding with direct links with small holder farmers;

(v) The encouragement of Provinces to join transversal contracts, such as the liquid gas (RT51); and

(vi)The introduction of a Modern IT/Real time data system.

Reply:

Department of Minerals Resource and Energy

(aa) Total procurement for 2021/2022 financial year amounted to R1 168 164 849,84 of which R278 887 344,36 was spent on SMMEs.

(i) Percentage allocated to SMMEs = 24% (R278 887 344.36)

➢ Qualifying small enterprises = 7% (R77 835 797.00)

➢ Exempted Micro Enterprises = 17% (R201 051 547.36)

(ii) Cooperatives = 0%

(iii) Township enterprises = **

(iv) Rural enterprises = **

** The information for township enterprises and rural enterprises was not kept separately. The two categories are included in the QSE and EME as part of the qualification criteria for preferential purposes in line with the Preferential Procurement Regulations 2017.

bb) Figures from 1 April 2023 will be available by end of the first quarter.

COUNCIL FOR GEOSCIENCE (CGS)

(aa) Total procurement spend for the financial year 2021/22 amounted to R 234 968 715 of which R99 819 497 (42%) was spent on small, medium and micro-enterprises which includes cooperatives, rural enterprises and township enterprises.

(bb) The amount expensed towards the SMME cohort for the current year since April will be consolidated at the end of the quarter ending June.

MHSC

MHSC have in total appointed 103 service providers / companies during 2021-22 financial and from 1 April 2023 to 12 May 2023. The percentages are as follows:

1. Small – 48 companies were appointed from 103 service providers equal to 47%.
2. Township Enterprises - 60% (29) of the small companies of 48 are township enterprises.
3. Medium - 26 companies were appointed from 103 service providers equal to 25%.
4. Micro – 12 companies were appointed from 103 service providers equal to 12%.
5. Big – 17 companies were appointed from 103 service providers equal to 17%.
6. Cooperatives – No appointments made to the cooperative companies.
7. Rural enterprises – No appointments made to the rural enterprises.

NERSA

(b) (i) NERSA’s spend on Qualifying Small Enterprises and Exempt Micro Enterprises was as follows (aa) 2021-22 - R31 288 179 (bb) 2022-23 - R69 159 653 (cc) Since April 2023 – The reports are prepared quarterly. The first report will be available at the end of June 2023 (ii) Cooperatives – None (iii) Township enterprises – No data is kept on the category (iv) Rural enterprises – No data is kept on the category

SDT

For the financial year that ended 31 March 2022, the State Diamond Trader spent a total of R5,597,000 on procurement of goods and services, with the percentages allocated as follow

1. Small-, medium- and micro-enterprises: 91%
2. Co- operatives : 0%
3. Township enterprises : 0%
4. Rural enterprises :0%
5. Other: 9%

NECSA

(aa)(i) The total values for procurement with small, medium and micro-enterprises for the FY 2021/2022 period are as follows:

Necsa Group: R84 936 240, 28 (9%)

[Necsa: R 43 531 148.59 (12%)

NTP: R 25 994 130.96 (6%)

Pelchem: R 15 410 960.73 (12%)]

(bb)(i) The total values for procurement with small, medium and micro-enterprises for 01 April 2023 to date are as follows:

Necsa Group: R11 086 614 (16%)

[Necsa Company: R 7 681 574.29 (15%)

NTP: R 2 996 467.22 (26%)

Pelchem: R 408 572.34 (6%)]

(aa)(iii) The Necsa Group conducts business with enterprises that are situated in the townships under a broad umbrella of enterprises that are at least 51% Black-Owned and the figures of expenditure for the FY2021/22 period are as follows:

Necsa Group: R175 169 709.52 (18.7%)

[Necsa: R 72 387 163.52 (19%)

NTP: R 64 299 294.54 (15%)

Pelchem: R 38 483 251.46 (30%)]

(bb)(iii) The figures for the business conducted with enterprises that are situated in the townships under a broad umbrella of enterprises that are at least 51% Black-Owned for the period 01 April 2023 to date are as indicated below:

Necsa Group: R28 035 116 (40.6%)

[Necsa Company: R 20 741 548.04 (41%)

NTP: R 4 619 747.17 (40%)

Pelchem: R 2 673 820.39 (42%]

(aa)(ii), (bb)(ii), (aa)(iv) and (bb)(iv)

The Necsa Group does not currently conduct business with cooperatives and rural enterprises.

NNR

(aa) The NNR’s total procurement budget for the 2021/2022 financial year was R74 842 438 of which 68% was spent on the designated groups, equalling R46 056 045.

(bb) Since April 2023, the NNR has spent R5 536 879, which is 84% of the total budget of R6 571 080 on designated groups.

NRWDI

The National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute, which is a Schedule 3A public entity, conducts its procurement in line with the applicable procurement regulations and prescripts as issued by the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, National Treasury.

Such procurement is conducted in alignment with the PPPFA, and BEE levels have been considered in terms of preference points in the awarding of bids. As a result, there is no information that is requested or captured in the entity’s records that reflects (i) small-, medium- and micro-enterprises, (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises.

SADPMR

No, the SADPMR will not be able to furnish the details required. The Procurement Regulations 2017 were applicable from 1st of April 2022 until 15 January 2023 and the procurement thereof was aligned to the requirements. With effect from 16 January 2023 the new Preferential Procurement Regulations 2022 came into effect and are implemented accordingly. An internal policy with specific preferential procurement goals has been put in place, these goals include enterprises owned by black people, enterprises owned by black women, enterprises owned by youth, enterprises owned by people with disabilities, local content and production as well as Small, Medium and Micro enterprises. A minimum of three of the goals are applicable for each bid or tender that is issued by SADPMR.

SANEDI

 

Comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation
	2021-2022 FY	2022-2023 FY	2023-2024 FY
(i)Number of Small-, Medium- and Micro-Enterprises.	65 SMMEs	22 SMMEs	0
(ii)Number of Cooperatives.	0	0	0
(iii)Number of township enterprises.	0	0	0
(i) Number of rural enterprises.	0	0	0

There is no Skills Development and Localization policy in place and going forward SANEDI will have an approved policy in place.

Mintek

Mintek is a research council that is mandated to promote mineral technology, and to foster the establishment and expansion of industries in the field of minerals and products derived therefrom through research, development, and technology transfer. The annual budget allocation from the Department is primarily allocated to human capital development, research activities, and industry development broadly; namely, small-, medium- and micro enterprises and large enterprises. As a Schedule 3B government business enterprise, Mintek procures in accordance with the PPPFA and the PFMA. As a result, Mintek does not pre-allocate its procurement budget as per the specified categories (i.e., small-, medium- and micro-enterprises, cooperatives, township enterprises and rural enterprises).

CENTRAL EENERGY FUND

Reply:

There are 967 small and unviable schools in KwaZulu-Natal. The province plans to have a phased-in approach to the rationalisation process over several years to mitigate the challenges of scholar transport in particular.  The first stage will focus on small and mis-aligned schools, where transport will not be required.  This will be followed by the targeted 255 of the 967 schools in the 2023/4 financial year.  These are 185 small primary schools with less than 50 learners, and 70 secondary schools with less than 100 learners across the Province. No identified school where transport is required, will be closed or merged until all transport arrangements are finalised and therefore no parent will be financially affected.

Reply:

I have been advised that;

a) The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) Preferential procurement allocation:

(aa) 2021/22: R29 154 571.56 (total procurement spending)

1. SMMEs: R3 873 228.25 – 13.2% of total procurement.
2. Co-operatives: R0.00
3. Township enterprises: R2 817 196.92 – 72.7% of SMME.
4. Rural enterprises: R1 056 031.33 – 27.3% of SMME.

(bb) 2022/23: R44 535 493.44 (total procurement spending)

1. SMMEs: R13 366 125.02 – 30% of total procurement.
2. Co-operatives: R0.00
3. Township enterprises: R9 367 783.78 - 70.1% of SMME.
4. Rural enterprises: R3 998 341.24 – 29.9 % of SMME.

b) The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) Preferential procurement allocation:

(aa) 2021/22: R491 353 796 (total procurement spending):

1. SMMEs: R176 083 798 – 35% of total procurement.
2. Co-operatives: R0.
3. Township enterprises: R95 085 251 - 54% of SMME.
4. Rural enterprises: R49 303 463 - 28% of SMME.

(bb) 2022/23: R392 054 198 (total procurement spending)

1. SMMEs: R172 205 153 – 44% of total procurement.
2. Co-operatives: R0.
3. Township enterprises: R84 380 525 – 49% of SMMEs.
4. Rural enterprises: R46 495 391 - 27% of SMMEs.

c) The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) Preferential procurement allocation

(aa) 2021/22: 95 233 357 (total procurement spending):

1. SMMEs: 60 203 272– 63.22% of total procurement.
2. Co-operatives: R0.
3. Township enterprises: - R54 845 813.18 – 91.10% of SMME.
4. Rural enterprises: - R5 357 458.82 – 8.89% of SMME.

(bb) 2022/23: R86 691 884.74 (total procurement spending)

1. SMMEs: R 66 274 556.00– 76.45% of total procurement.
2. Co-operatives: R0.
3. Township enterprises: – 60 059 248.96 – 90.62% of SMMEs.
4. Rural enterprises: R6 215 307.04 – 9.38% of SMMEs.

Reply:

Find here: Reply

Reply:

The intensity of the flood conditions has necessitated a review of the operating rules for government water schemes to ensure that there is some level of attenuation in the impoundment areas of large dams. Cognisance is taken of the changes in weather patterns caused by climate change. The department is putting in place flood mitigation operation strategies to ensure readiness to mitigate the impact of floods in the large dams and other government schemes. Notwithstanding the efforts of the department, there will still be risks where extreme weather conditions result into peak surface runoff over concentrated areas, since this could result in flood conditions within a very short period.

a) In urban areas, it will be required from municipal town planning units to review stormwater conveyance capability as well as to maintain such systems to reduce the impact of such rainfall.

b) The Department’s Water Resource Planning unit is collecting information which will assist with the review of operating rules to further mitigate the risk associated with flood related peak flows.

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Reply:

The Department engages in a number of activities to raise awareness about the projects that impact youth in communities. These projects include Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme, Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Social Mobilization. The roadshows are sometime organized by the Department and in other cases are implemented in partnership with other government departments.

The awareness events are designed to target different learners and youth. The first approach is to reach out to learners who just wrote the matric exams in October/November of the previous year. After the announcement of matric results, the members of the public are made aware about the opportunities to rewrite, remark or recheck. The information is captured at the back of the statement of matric results.

The attached document is the copy of the Statement of Results that every learners receives. The document provides information regarding the readmission, combination of results as well as registration for learners who would like to rewrite the exams. The information entailed provides the dates and locations where learners may register rewrite.

The second approach is the public awareness campaigns that target the broader community members, especially youth. The campaigns include the Ministerial Roadshows, Career Weeks and events of other Departments: 

1. Ministerial Roadshows

The Department hosts and organizes the Roadshows in Provinces in coloration with the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). In most cases, the roadshows are led by the Minister or Deputy Minister and usually enjoy the support of the MECs of Education as well as municipal authorities. The roadshows have proven to be an effective campaign that receive a broader support from different structures that include unions, tribal authorities, non-governmental organisations.

At the roadshows, the Department invites organisations that include the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Khetha Career Centre, Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and universities to share information about opportunities available for young people.

Officials of the local government structures that include Mayors, counsellors are usually supportive and willing to invite youth in their constituencies to attend. More importantly, media houses at national, provincial and local levels tend to promote and publicize the events.

 2. Career Weeks

Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) organizes National Career Weeks throughout the country where DBE presents the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) at the events. The events are organized in all provinces and attracts a number of youth.

3. Events of other Government Departments

Occasionally, the DBE is invited by entities to share information about the SCMP. In some cases, events are organized by private organisations.

The third approach involves the sharing of information using different media platforms. The DBE uses Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BasicEd/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/DBE_SA/) to share the information about the Programme. The Department also broadcast through radio and television to inform the public where to access the Programme. Through this website link: https://www.education.gov.za/Programmes/SecondChanceProgramme.aspx the Department reaches many young people who access to the Internet. Furthermore, the Department has a dedicated WhatsApp line (063 696 7246), where members of the public send through their queries concerning the Programme.

The Department has developed promotional material that include the Z-Cards, banners that are shared with many organisations. Z-Cards are foldable guide in a portable format that contain information about the SCMP.

In conclusion, the Department continues to reach out to members of the public about all its programmes, not just the SCMP.

Reply:

In terms of the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 the Member of Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Education is required, on an annual basis, to create educator posts based on available funds. The Head of Department is then required to distribute the posts created to schools using the post provisioning norms. 

The Honourable Member is therefore, respectfully requested to direct the question to the MEC responsible for Education in Kwazulu-Natal. 

Reply:

(1) The Department of Basic Education, in collaboration with a team of reading experts from civil society organisations, academia, Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), and schools - developed the Integrated National Reading Sector Plan, whose aim was to contribute to the improvement of reading outcomes, especially for learners in primary schools.  The Sector Plan was premised on the understanding that sustainable improvements in reading require a comprehensive response, which involves more than just classroom interventions.  It was therefore, developed to provide a framework that would allow the Sector to implement comprehensive reading promotion activities.  From this plan, provinces went on to develop and implement their contextualised plans, informed by the integrated National Reading Sector Plan. 

In its quest to strengthen reading literacy, particularly in the face of the evidence of learning losses, the Department decided to review the Sector Plan as part of bolstering up its response to the current challenges.  Further to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DBE carried out the Thrive by Five Index in Early Childhood Development (ECD), which revealed that a number of children start school not on track with their developmental outcomes; and thereby, not school ready.  The review of the strategy therefore, takes into account that when the Sector Plan was conceptualised, ECD was still part of the Department of Social Development.  The revised strategy will therefore, give a sharpened focus to improving the teaching and learning of African Home Languages reading literacy on a large scale, in both the emergent and early grade phases (ECD and Foundation Phase). 

(2) On the matter pertaining to provincial budgets, the Honourable Member is requested to direct his question to the Members of Executive Council (MECs) as this matter rests within their purview.

Reply:

Energy Availability Factor is currently around 50%. This is a dynamic number highly dependent on operations. Department of Public Enterprises who oversees Eskom operations could provide you with updates regularly on EAF and their respective plans to increase plant availability upon request. In line with the 2019 IRP, we are continuing with procurement of additional MW to augment energy generation capacity pursuant to security of supply.

 

Reply:

The winter outlook indicates an increased risk of supply shortfall against expected demand, with our worst-case scenario indicating that load shedding could intensify to stage eight if our interventions are unsuccessful. Stage 6 loadshedding is the highest stage of loadshedding implemented in South Africa so far. Stage 7 or 8 load shedding has not been implemented.

The NRS048-9 Code of Practice differentiates between loadshedding and load curtailment, the latter being the instructed, partial reduction of demand from large industrial customers. On occasion, load curtailment, up to Stage 4, has been implemented in conjunction with Stage 6 loadshedding.

Each stage of load curtailment is approximately 5% of the large customer demand with Stage 4 load curtailment being up to 1000MW of demand that is removed from the power system.

Reply:

(a)&(b) The collaboration between the Seda and sefa has also improved to the benefit of SMMEs and Co-operatives. One of the initiatives that was undertaken is the development of a common funding template. The funding template provides guidelines to Seda officials when developing business plans that are aimed at raising funding through sefa. In addition to this initiative, there is a Steering Committee that has been established at the national level to guide provinces in respect of areas of collaboration. Seda officials in all provinces were also trained on sefa’s programmes as well as the automated loan origination system.

In the short term, there are concerted efforts to strengthen and streamline collaboration and communications between the DSBD entities (sefa and Seda) with regards to their products, services and especially progress feedback on applications. To this end, the entities identified the following key focus areas of engagement to ensure improved service delivery to our clients:

• The sharing of databases by the entities in order to improve service offerings and efficiencies.
• Pre-investment support to be provided by Seda after sefa has reviewed an application and indicates what Seda needs to assist the client with.
• The sharing of processes, which will be arranged with the Seda provincial network through virtual sessions.
• Amendment of the referral process to focus on process and supported related issues.
• Exposure of Seda Practitioners to sefa processes to gain a better understanding of the entities’ evaluation processes.
• The training of Seda Business Advisors on sefa’s due diligence.
• sefa will also train Seda’s Access Points Service Providers on sefa’s products and application processes, especially in those areas where sefa never receives applications.
• Proper functioning referral system between the two entities.
• sefa to link its pre-invest staff to the various Seda branches.
• Seda will also provide post-investment support. sefa will still provide post-investment monitoring, as required of them as a Development Finance Institution (DFI).

In some of the provinces, sefa’s Investment Analysts are already linked to Seda branches and sefa’s Regional Managers meet with the relevant Seda Branch Managers and Practitioners to discuss sefa referrals. These engagements are very important, and the entities are working on standardizing it in all Provinces.

Reply:

                                                                                                        

Response

PROVINCE	CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORKERS	SOCIAL AUXILIARY WORKERS	SOCIAL WORKERS	LEARNER SUPPORT AGENTS	CARE AND SUPPORT AGENTS	Grand Total
EASTERN CAPE	38	15	63	913	6 221	7 250
FREE STATE	54	1	64	93	1 650	1 861
GAUTENG	10	21	137	415	2 860	3 443
KWAZULU NATAL	0	6	72	698	4 876	5 652
LIMPOPO	0	0	73	121	3 241	3 435
MPUMALANGA	12	20	30	320	1 422	1 764
NORTH WEST	0	18	55	130	1 343	1 546
NORTHERN CAPE	0	3	17	40	827	887
WESTERN CAPE	0	9	95	178	450	732
Grand Total	114	93	606	2 907	21 637	26 570
Source: Persal, January 2023

Reply:

The question posed by the Hon Member, falls under the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education in the Eastern Cape, not the Minister of Basic Education.  The MEC for Education in the Eastern Cape is best suited to respond to the question.  

Reply:

I have been advised:

that the relationship between the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa) and the North-West Development Corporation (NWDC) is both strategic and complimentary.

Currently the NWDC does not provide funding to SMMEs in the province, they provide access to finance by linking SMMEs that require business funding with other Development Finance Institutions including, but not limited to, sefa. Additionally, NWDC also provides access to markets and access to industrial infrastructure to SMMEs funded through sefa.

Furthermore, the NWDC offers non-financial support only to the clients that it has previously facilitated access to finance for by linking them with DFIs. In essence the relationship with our agencies is a complementary relationship.

Reply:

The appraisal of educators, in terms of the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) from 2010  and the Quality Management System (QMS) since 2021, is a provincial competency. 

The question asked by the Honourable Member, falls within the Executive Authority of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC); and not the Minister of Basic Education.  Therefore, the question should be directed to provinces.

Reply:

The National Education Infrastructure Management System was decommissioned on 31 March 2023, and the data was moved to the property module of the Education Infrastructure Management System.  Concurrent with the said process is the updating of the information on the system conducted by Provincial Education Departments. The updated reports will be released as soon as these processes are concluded.

Reply:

Response: (a)(i)(ii)

(a) (i)

Single medium schools are schools that use only one medium of instruction for all learner in all grades. Table1 indicates that majority of schools in the country were English medium schools (5 875) followed by Afrikaans medium schools with 1 004 schools.

Table 1: Number of single- medium schools, by province, in 2022

Province	Afrikaans	English	IsiNdebele	SiSwati	IsiXhosa	IsiZulu	SeSotho	SePedi	SeTswana	TshiVenda	XiTshonga
EC	111	755	0	0	120	0	1	0	0	0	0
FS	41	240	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
GT	115	686	1	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	0
KZN	3	1 264	0	0	1	28	0	0	0	0	0
LP	26	1 446	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	4	2
MP	24	337	3	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
NC	155	78	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
NW	58	525	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
WC	471	544	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
National	1 004	5 875	4	1	121	33	2	4	1	4	4

 

a) (ii)

Parallel medium schools are schools that offer two or more mediums of instruction in different classes in the same grade for all grades in the school. Table 2 below reflects the proportion of schools that may be regarded as English parallel medium schools.

Table 2: Number of single- medium schools, by province, in 2022

Province	Afrikaans/English	English/IsiNdebele	English/Siswati	English/IsiXhosa	English/IsiZulu	English/SeSotho	English/SePedi	English/SeTswana	English/TshiVenda	English/XiTshonga
EC	156	12	0	3 614	0	20	0	1	0	0
FS	97	8	0	5	9	367	0	34	0	0
GT	239	60	3	20	126	81	27	59	8	13
KZN	69	29	1	172	3 807	2	1	0	1	0
LP	35	1	0	0	0	1	1 431	23	455	327
MP	73	80	327	2	229	1	92	38	0	119
NC	128	1	0	6	0	0	0	130	0	0
NW	42	0	0	5	1	16	0	881	0	0
WC	464	0	0	159	0	0	0	0	0	0
SA	1 303	191	331	3 983	4 172	488	1 551	1 166	464	459

 

(b)(i)(ii)

Response is attached.

Reply:

Yes, Eskom has launched a number of incentive-based demand side response mechanism customised for different market segments. This is over and above the long standing DMRE lead demand side tax incentive scheme pursuant to Income Tax Regulation12L. Department of Public Enterprises who oversees Eskom operations would be willing to provide you more information in respect of their programmes should you request.

Reply:

The Department of Employment and labour has already initiated a process to ensure that the hiring of foreign nationals is done in an orderly and regulated manner that is consistent with our constitution, the International Treaties and Regional and SADC Protocols that are in existence or that we have signed.

We have already released for public comment, a Draft policy and the proposed Employment Services Amendment Bill that seeks to repeal the current sections 08 and 09 of the Employment Services Act with a comprehensive new chapter in the Act.

The Chapter has includes provisions that allows the Minister of Employment and Labour to introduce regulations around limits or quotas on the number of foreign nationals that can be employed in specific sectors of our economy.

The Draft Policy and the proposed Bill are currently at NEDLAC for consultations with Social Partners in terms of the NEDLAC Act for the next two months. We will finalize the government internal processes thereafter to receive the necessary certifications during August/September. Our plans are to approach Cabinet to approve the Bill for tabling in Parliament during October this year.

Reply:

On 12 May 2023, the Department dèmarched US Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety for a meeting with Minister Naledi Pandor, where the Minister expressed South Africa’s deep disappointment and outrage about the manner in which Ambassador Brigety had convened a press conference on 11 May 2023, and levelled allegations regarding the sale of ammunition by South Africa to Russia, via the US sanctioned Russian naval vessel, Lady R. The Minister strongly condemned the actions of the Ambassador, which were particularly distasteful, especially so soon after the visit to Washington by the Special Envoys appointed by President Ramaphosa. The envoys were well received by all US interlocutors and discussions were productive.

In this context, the press conference held by the US Ambassador was counter to the spirit of the engagement with senior officials and politicians in Washington DC.The Minister informed the US Ambassador that South Africa respects all conventions on arms sales through the provisions outlined in the National Conventional Arms Control Convention (NCACC), and if there was any violation of our laws, criminal charges would be laid if evidence is provided. Following the Minister’s address to Ambassador Brigety, he informed the senior officials that he would issue an unreserved public apology.

The President’s office reiterated that no concrete evidence has been provided to support the claims made by Ambassador Brigety, and that the investigation had been initiated before the Ambassador publicly announced his accusation. It was further indicated that the retired judge appointed to head the investigation, would use any evidence US intelligence officials could provide over the alleged sale of ammunition.

Following the meeting between Minister Pandor and US Ambassador Brigety and the telecon with Secretary of State Blinken, as well as the subsequent meeting between the ANC and Ambassador Brigety, wherein the latter reiterated his apology, it is not contemplated that any further steps will be taken with regard to his removal.

 

Reply:

1. Given the devastating impact of the non and late payment of small enterprise suppliers by government, the Department following consultations with National Treasury and the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) made recommendations to the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Appropriation Bill, to strengthen the enforcement of compliance to the 30-day payment obligation to ensure that all organs of state will pay invoices to small enterprises within the required timeframe of 30 days. The Department is also working with National Treasury to strengthen regulations on the reporting requirements for the late payment of supplier invoices to differentiate between small enterprise suppliers and large enterprise suppliers. This will enable the Department to specifically follow-up on the late payment of small enterprise suppliers as we do not regulatory authority as it stands.

2. We are in the process of amending the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill that will allow for the establishment of the Ombuds Office which is going to allow for dispute resolutions including nonadherence to the 30-day payment rule.

Reply:

The Order by the North Gauteng High Court (Gauteng Division; Pretoria) to amongst others, ensures that there is uninterrupted electricity supply to public schools, was against the Minister of Public Enterprises, and not against the Minister of Basic Education (see para 55).  The Minister of Basic Education was not cited in the matter.

Reply:

What programmes and opportunities  are in place to expose learners in music? 

1. Music as a Curriculum Offering

The Department of Basic Education's (DBE) Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)  caters for  Music as one of the examinable subjects for learners and schools up to Grade 12 level.

2. Music as a Co-Curricular and Enrichment  Activity in Schools

The DBE annually prescribes a music syllabus that is distributed to schools for participation in the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE). Primary and Secondary schools, including farm and special schools are afforded the platform to participate in this event. The DBE also works with Provincial Education Departments and other organisations like AssitejSA, in promoting other music genres, including indigenous and traditional music. 

Reply:

a) Lady Frere (known as Cacadu) is supplied by the Machubeni Water Supply Scheme through the Macubeni Water Treatment Works (WTW). The water interruptions currently experienced are caused by ongoing power/electrical outages that resulting in reduced pumping hours from Machubeni WTW. The short-term interventions in place to ensure water availability include:

• On-going water carting to the affected areas including Cacadu town.
• A backup diesel generator at the WTW
• A long-term intervention to resolve the water supply challenges at Lady Frere is through construction of a bulk pipeline from the Lubisi Water Treatment to supplement water supply to the supply Cacadu town and the surrounding villages. The project started in March 2019 and is planned for completion by 31 August 2023.

The Ngqushwa Local Municipality has an existing Bulk Water Supply Scheme that is managed by Amatola Water which distributes water to the communities of Ngqushwa. The limited capacity of the Peddie Water Treatment Works (WTW), water losses and with loadshedding impact negatively on reliable water supply. Two water tankers are currently carting water to the affected areas of Ngqushwa and surrounding villages as an interim measure to ensure water availability. The medium to long-term interventions include:

• Management of water losses by replacing sections of pipelines from the Peddie Water Treatment Works towards Lover’s Twist through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant. The project is in progress and is planned for completion by 31 July 2023.
• An upgrade of the Peddie Water Treatment Works from 6Ml/day to 11Ml/day
• Upgrade of the Sandile Water Treatment Works from 17Ml/day to 27Ml/day to augment water supply to Ngqushwa. The project is in progress and is planned for completion by 31 August 2023

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Reply:

a) During the visit of the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr LH Loong, two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between South Africa and Singapore namely: the MoU on Information and Communications Technology aims to exchange best practices in ICT, digital technologies and artificial intelligence and robotics and the MoU on Skills Development promotes exchange and training of best practices in the areas of digitalisation, leadership and governance, Women’s Empowerment, Youth Development and Education, Science and Innovation, Port Management and Trade and Economy.

b) The successful implementation of the MoUs would enhance competitiveness and develop skills in science and innovation. More than a 1000 South Africans have already been trained under the auspices of the Singapore Development Programme. Singapore has agreed to purchase more food products from South Africa while South Africa also requested market access for South African meat (including beef, lamb, pork and ostrich) products to the Singaporean Market.

Reply:

a) In the current year 2023/24, the focussed research on the clean coal technology intervention through the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is undertaken through ring-fenced partnership funding between the South African government and the World Bank. It may be necessary to allocate a budget dedicated to this research in support of the just energy transition policy more sustainably.

b) The clean coal research represents a partnership amongst the DMRE, National Treasury, Eskom and the World Bank. The Council for Geoscience was elected as an implementing agent in 2021 to lead the research and implements the same through strategic partnerships to optimise the research outcomes and its application to use the abundant coal resources responsibly and in line with our multi-lateral commitment on climate mitigation measures.

Mintek currently has the following coal-related research projects: (1) Gasification of waste coal fines and co-gasification of low-grade coal and (2) Rare earth elements (REE) leaching from coal discards. We are currently in discussions with a funding agency to extract REE from acid mine drainage. Recent publications from Mintek research activities include:

1. Literature review on the extraction of ultra-clean coal and rare earth elements from coal discards by ultrasonic-assisted chemical treatment,
2. Characterisation of coal for the simultaneous extraction of rare earth elements and ultra-clean coal,
3. Co-Carbonization of Discard Coal with Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate towards the Preparation of Metallurgical Coke, and
4. Mineralogy and distribution of rare earth elements in the Waterberg coalfield high ash coals.

Mintek has budgeted R10 million for the next three years of its funds in coal-related research, and the funding is anticipated to increase as more funds are being sought.

Reply:

1. The aim of the National Presidential SMME and Co-operatives is to cultivate an enabling environment for the development, and nurturing of innovative ideas and best practices across the whole spectrum of small business development in the country. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding SMMEs, SMME financiers, entrepreneur support organisations and success stories from Enterprise Supplier Development programmes.

The Department does not only recognise excellence but most importantly, the platform serves as a catalyst for business development and growth in that businesses are assessed to determine their development needs. The DSBD further seeks partnerships with other ecosystem players to provide mentorship, incubation support, training support and any relevant interventions aimed at assisting businesses to scale.

a) The department establishes incubators across all sectors of the economy to nurture and develop ideas from entrepreneurs and further provide business development support and financial support through its agencies.

Reply:

Schools are provided with basic electricity as per the Regulations relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure. If there is a need for additional supply for contingencies, schools provide these from their Norms and Standards for School Funding allocations, or make requests to their provincial departments for such.