Questions and Replies

Reply:

	(i) Minister	(ii) Former Minister	(iii) Deputy Minister	(iv) Former Deputy Minister
(a) Make	None	Mercedes-Benz	None	None
(b) Model		C-Class (C180)
(c) Year of manufacture		2016
(d) Cost		R653 943.27
(e) Purchase date of all official vehicles purchased since 1 June 2019?		28 June 2019

Reply:

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Reply:

There are no state owned entities reporting to the Minister of Health. There are five public entities (Section 3A) reporting to the Minister of Health. (a) The table below depicts the salary of each (i) chief executive officer and (ii) top executive position in each public entity reporting to the Minister of Health

Name of Entity	(a) (i) the salary of each chief executive officer	(a) (ii) the salary of each top executive position in each public entity reporting to the Minister of Health
Council for Medical Schemes	R 2 736 815	Executive Manager: Office of CEO - R1 849 744 Chief Financial Officer - R1 881 000 Chief Information Officer (Vacant) - R1 881 000 Executive: Corporate Services - R1 881 000 Executive: Regulation - R1 881 000 Executive: Policy, Research & Monitoring - R1 849 744 Executive: Member Protection (Vacant) - R1 881 000
National Health Laboratory Service	R2 792 380	Chief Operations Officer: Strategic Initiatives - R2 117 754 Chief Financial Officer - R2 117 754 Executive Manager: Human Resources - R2 328 376 Executive Manager: Information Technology - R2 117 754 Executive Manager: Academic Affairs, Research; Quality Assurance – R2 703 158 Executive Director -NICD - R2 521 313 Executive Director -NIOH - R2 398 227
Office of Health Standards Compliance	R2 368 024	Chief Financial Officer - R1 431 623 Chief Operations Officer – R 1 814 443 Executive Manager: HSDAS - R1 370 070 Executive Manager: Compliance Inspectorate - R1 540 533 Executive Manager: Complaints Management - R1 586 413 Health Ombud - R2 354 061
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority	R3 005 567.25	Chief Operations Officer - R2 247 799.61 Chief Financial Officer - R1 898 253 Chief Regulatory Officer - R1 604 650.30 Executive Manager: HR - R1 394 372.70 Company Secretary - R1 196 010.90
South African Medical Research Council	R3 280 727	Chief Financial Officer - R3 149 585 Vice President: Extramural Research Units - R2 730 269 Chief Research & Operations Officer - R2 594 400 Executive Director: Grants, Innovations & Product Development - R2 153 086 General Counsel - R2 102 207 Executive Director: Human Resources - R2 050 558 Executive Director (part-time): Transformation - R1 107 064

(b) Executives of Section 3A public entities do not receive remuneration for the attendance of meetings of their organization.

END.

Reply:

(a)(i). salary of each Chief Executive Officer

(ii). salary for each top executive positions

https://pmg.org.za/files/Worksheet_in_C.xlsx 

(b). No amount is paid to any Chief Executive Officer and Executive management team of public entities for attending meetings.

Reply:

Progress of Coding and Robotics Pilot of Draft CAPS

The Pilot programme is showing increasingly effective implementation, with teachers becoming more confident and proficient in their presentation and delivery of the draft curriculum to the Foundation Phase in 200 Primary schools.

 Educators have been trained using the DBE-UNISA Partnership via the UNISA MOOC platform.

The coding and robotics curriculum is still in draft form, but it is envisaged that it will be finalized in March 2023, specifically that of the Foundation Phase.

A significant number of pilot schools are not sufficiently resourced. Educators, however, have lesson plans, and DBE as well as provinces have orientated the educators.

The pilot has been extended also to the Intermediate and Senior phases, and training for teachers of these grades will be instituted fully once the curriculum is finalized.

Whether her department is increasing its capacity to offer coding and robotics in schools; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Numerous workshops for educators have been and continue to be conducted, and teacher support is available and accessible online via the UNISA MOOC Platform every Friday from 15H00-16H00.

The Director General has approved the continuation of the pilot in 2023 for Grades R-9, in the initial 200 pilot schools for Grades R-3, with extension to 1000 schools for Grades 4-7 and 569 Secondary Schools for Grades 8 and 9.

Teachers in these schools have been orientated to the draft curriculum, but there are persistent challenges relating to inadequate internet connectivity and insufficient provision of physical resources such IT devices and Coding and Robotics Kits.

The DBE continues to work with its corporate partners to improve connectivity as well as expansion of resource provision. The MST Conditional Grant allocation to PEDs specifically identifies Coding and Robotics to receive additional targeted funding, at the PED’s discretion.

The DBE, in collaboration with British Council has developed a programme for Grade 8 and 9 learners entitled, ‘#Learning2Code’, to cultivate interest and excitement in CAT and IT that exposes them to a range of digital skills, including coding.

The Coding and Computational Thinking Skills Teacher and Learner Development with British Council is an initiative for Grades 7-9 learners and teachers, using devices an programmes appropriate to the skills needed in the 21st Century.

Emanating from a DBE-SITA partnership, a Robotics Challenge for Grades 8 and 9 is  in place to further stimulate and maintain interest in Coding and Robotics – a programme that also capacitates educators. The current challenge ends 26 March 2023, and at a function in Mpumalanga, learners from Piloting Secondary schools will receive recognition and prizes for their efforts.

The ‘Girl Learner in Stem Initiative’ is designed to empower and encourage them to participate in STEM subjects.40 Girls in Grades 8 and 9 will participate in a Boot Camp in Limpopo during the June 2023 School Holidays, and a further 40 Girls will enjoy a similar Boot Camp in September 2023.  This Initiative a collaboration between the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the United Nations Women.

Moderate success has been achieved in the pilot programme:

•         Increased awareness of Coding and Robotics across the country;

•         All provincial subject managers have been orientated in Coding and Robotics;

•         Provinces have orientated teachers of Grades R-9 in preparation for implementation;

•         Partnerships have been entered into with HEIs, most notably NMU, where teachers are being trained in collaboration with Unions, with co-ordination at the DBE between Branch T and UNISA, aimed at training Grades R-3 educators in schools piloting Coding in Robotics;

•         Increased monitoring and reporting on the pilot (DBE APP 2.1.13 requires monitoring of 18 pilot schools, 2 per province. All schools have been monitored;

•         Three Inter-provincial Meetings with Project Management Teams have been held within the financial year 2022/23;

•         Improved digital skills of educators;

•         Increased expenditure on Coding and Robotics resources by PEDs through both the MST Conditional Grant and provincial equitable share;

•         Inter-directorate collaborations, and partnerships with NGOs have been established in all provinces;

•         Increased extramural exhibitions and competitions in provinces with increased interest shown by learners; and

•         Lesson plans, specifically developed for Grads R-9 educators will assist in effective implementation.

Reply:

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Reply:

It is our considered view that visitations to healthcare facilities, especially hospitals, are properly arranged ahead of time, with the relevant authorities, for visitors to be accommodated in the schedule and operations of the facility. This is so because all staff in our healthcare facilities are extremely busy all the time and if the visitation is not pre-arranged or arranged in an orderly manner, the operations of the facility will be negatively affected. Honourable Members are very well aware that our facilities are overburdened with demand for healthcare services, while at the same time experiencing shortages of staff of various sorts. We therefore do not want the staff in these facilities to operate in an unplanned and uncoordinated manner as this could even result in the Honourable Members ending up not receiving proper attention being taken on walk-abouts or being attended to by staff during such visits. The risk is therefore that the same Honourable Members will as a result complain that they went on a visit and they were not attended to and that no one was available to answer their questions. Also, the Honourable Member will wonder around in the facility and have a risk of causing even more disruption. It is our considered view therefore that visits by everyone to our healthcare facilities, including public representatives, are pre-arranged, but that in the case of Members of Parliament, such visits are further coordinated under the auspices of the relevant Parliamentary Committee. In this way, the Honourable Members will make a positive contribution in improving the quality of healthcare service delivery in our healthcare facilities in particular, and in the entire healthcare system in general.

The Honourable Member is well aware that a healthcare facility is a very sensitive area and allowing uncontrolled access to any healthcare facility poses risks to staff and patients both in terms of security as well as infection control.

END.

Reply:

(1) (a) No specific research has been conducted on the effect of Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on obesity, however, studies have been conducted on the effects of HPL on the consumption of Sugar Sweetened Beverages.

(b)-(c) Scientists have shown that the HPL is working, for example, evidence shows that in the first year after the introduction of the HPL, urban household purchases of sugary beverages fell by 51% (Stacey et al, 2021). Similar results were shown in young adults in Langa Cape Town (Essman et al, 2022) where a 37% in volume and 31% in sugar intake was demonstrated. In Soweto, the frequency of Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB) intake amongst heavy consumers fell from 10 beverages per week before the tax to 4 beverages per week one year later (Wrottesley et al 2020).

(d) The results on the effectiveness of SSBs on consumption are published papers that are accessible to the public.

(e) Not Applicable

(2) Yes, the research has been shared with National Treasury by the researchers.

(3) There has not been any discussion between the DOH and National Treasury on above mentioned studies by the Department since the researchers shared the results directly with National Treasury.

(4) There is currently no planned research focussing only on the impact of HPL on obesity. The Department is finalising the Dietary intake study which will reveal other foods including those with sugar that are consumed by South Africans. The information will assist the Department to identify additional interventions that should be taken to control obesity and reduce the risks of NCDs. Considering that Obesity is caused by multiple factors, with sugar being the major contributor.

END.

Reply:

Health services, in schools, are provided by school-health-nurses through the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) as guided by the 2012 ISHP policy.

1. According to the ISHP policy, vision and hearing screening are provided in all the school phases (see page 12 of the policy). The ISHP programme emphasises hearing and vision screening in the foundation phase for early detection and support.
2. Based on the screening results, learners in need of further assistance are referred to health facility for case management and support e.g. provision of spectacles.

Reply:

International Travel since 1 June 2019.

International Travel	Minister	Deputy Minister
(a) Destination	Report attached.	Report attached.
(b)(i) Total cost accommodation	R 115 395.00 The rest of accommodation was done through DIRCO.	R 7 690.00 The rest of accommodation was done through DIRCO.
(b)(ii) Total cost air/road travel	R 1 305 811.69	R 478 464.35
(b)(iii)Any other cost	R 5 866.65	R 600.00

Reply:

(1) What are the details of the 

(a) destination

aa) Minister:

• 2019: Dubai
• 2019: Paris 
• 2019: Dubai
• 2021: France
• 2020: New York
• 2022: Kenya
• 2022: London
• 2022: Ghana
• 2022: Tanzania
• 2022: Cuba 

(bb) Deputy Minister:

• 2019: Dubai
• 2019: Ghana

(b) total costs for: 

aa) Minister:

(i) accommodation:                    R667 280.51

(ii) travel:                                   R496 564.94

(iii) any other costs incurred:    R2 853.00

 

(bb) Deputy Minister:

(i) accommodation:                    R74 400.05

(ii) travel:                                   R91 617.86

(iii) any other costs incurred:    R1 142.00

 

(2) What is the total cost incurred for domestic air travel for each 

(a) Minister:                   R342 905.44

(b) Deputy Minister:        R768 696.44  

Reply:

The Honourable Member is referred to the response to Question 283 asked on the 17 February 2023.

END.

Reply:

The People to People Exchange Mechanism is a structure set up to drive South Africa-China relationship in the social sector, under the framework of bilateral cooperation and Global Development Initiative.

There was no specific agreement signed between the Hon. Minister Nathi Mthethwa and his counterpart, H.E Ms Sun Chunlan of People’s Republic of China during the 3rd PPEM meeting between the two countries.

However, the two co-chairs signed a minutes of the meeting which serves as a review and report on the work done in the last three years since the 2nd PPEM was held and commitment to new goals to be achieved until the 4th PPEM to be held in 2025.

The agreed minutes covers work in the field of Education (Both Higher and Basic Education), Science, Technology and Innovation, Culture, Sports, Health, Media, Tourism, Youth, Women and Local Government. The commitment as captured by the agreed minute will be implemented by the respective Departments based on the individual bilateral agreements signed between the respective departments in the two countries.

The progress and any challenges will then be reported to the Minister who is the Co-Chair via the South African Co-Coordinator of PPEM, Deputy Minister Manamela, whose task is to coordinate the work of PPEM at an operational level. Minister Mthethwa as the Co-Chair of PPEM will then intervene at the appropriate level to ensure the work is carried out and the agreed outcomes as captured in the minute are implemented.

Nevertheless, during the 3rd PPEM, three Letters of Intent were signed between the two countries in the areas of Higher Education, Science and Technology and Tourism.

In Higher Education, the letter of intent commit the two countries to sign an agreement (2023-2027) to further pursue the following objectives:

1. Chinese Government scholarships
2. Expansion of education collaborations
3. Exchanges of students, academics, and experts and
4. Joint research project among others

In Health, the letter of intent calls for the following:

1. Prevention and treatment of tumors and non-communicable disease
2. Control and prevention of infectious diseases
3. Advanced diagnosis and treatment technologies such as genomic sequencing
4. Traditional medicine
5. Twinning of Hospitals
6. Vaccines and pharmaceuticals and
7. Creating a training platform at the NICD.

In Science and Innovation, the letter of intent calls for the two countries to implement joint SA-China short-term study visits and SA-China joint exchange programs among young scientists, research institutions, and universities for a period of 6 months among others.

Following the signing of the letters of intent, the participating department in PPEM will individually pursue the signing of agreements and/or MoU’s as per their individual needs. Each country will follow its own internal process in terms of signing the respective agreements

Reply:

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has been actively involved in ensuring that the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) supplies the need of the farmer. Relating to the backlog, the DALRRD has been assisting the OBP to liaise with the private sector partnership to alleviate the backlog and finding sustainable solution.

The capacity of the Agricultural Research Council to produce sufficient quantities of Foot and Mouth Disease and other vaccines is being improved.

Reply:

a) Plans: Currently the department has two main programmes that support the development of women in sport and in particular, football:

(i) School Sport Programme: Through this programme, football is among the sixteen priority codes being supported. At the National School Sport Championships, provinces have been able to send at least 3 categories of participants which include male and female. These are Under 17 (Selected team), Under 16 (Top school) and Deaf football players. In each of these categories, there are women teams as well. So, it is a 50/50 representation, which is highly encouraged in all sporting codes as well.

(ii) Club Development Programme: The programme has concluded the pilot study in Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo, which has among other women football clubs. The Club development programme is a dedicated programme to ensure the development of sport, including women football.

b) Interventions:

(i) Women in Sport Policy: The department is in the process of developing a women in sport policy which is an intervention mechanism that will address the inequalities of funding and opportunities for women in sport.

(ii) Safeguarding regulations: We have also developed guidelines that serve as a barrier to women participation and serve to protect their participation in sport, through the introduction of these guidelines that will help curb the harassment of women in sport.

(iii) School Sport and Club Development Programmes: There is a deliberate effort to ensure that all schools and clubs establish women clubs and schools teams. This they do as they present their teams at the National School Sport Championships, where all provincial teams MUST bring women teams.

(iv) Other Male-dominate sport in Girls Schools: Girls schools are within the Schools Sport Programme, however majority are within quintile 4-5, which is not the target quintile. So, there is no direct intervention to such schools currently, what is being done is generally the same as what happens in public schools. The intervention is made through sporting codes, like Rugby, Cricket, Football, Basketball and all other school sport codes to ensure that the girls are adequately accommodated and provided the necessary coaching, participation, equipment and attire and general access in sport. It is for this reason that in School Sport Championships, Winter Codes are dominated by women participation, who represents 52% of the total participation and the Winter Championships are sitting at 50% of women participation.

(v) In addition we have also taken the following interventions:

• The Sport Ambassadors Programme: Have appointed former professional players in football, like Portia Modise, Amanda Dlamini and Simphiwe Dludlu, to help promote the participation of girls in football.
• Recognition: Have gone to provide the necessary financial and performance recognition of the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Club for Winning the CAF Women Confederation Cup, and also the Banyana Banyana Ladies for Winning the Women African Football Confederation Cup (WAFCON).

(vii) Achievements of Girls: As a result of these measures identified here, through the school sport programme, the girl’s football has achieved the following:

• Pan- African Schools Football Championships: After winning the National School Sport Winter Championships in 2021, the girls Under 16 team from Edendale Technical School (KZN), took part at the inaugural Pan-African Schools Football Championships and went on to win a Silver Medal, after losing to Morocco in the final.
• COSAFA Schools Football: in 2022 during the School Sport Winter Championships, the Under 16 girls team from Edendale won and went to represent the country at the COSAFA Schools Football Championships, where they won Gold and a prize-money of US$100 000. They will be representing the region at the CAF Schools Football Championships to be held in Durban in April 2023.
• National Under 17 Selections: Due to this good performance by Edendale Technical High, five of their players were selected to represent the Ladies Under 17 National Football Team, together with their Coach, a woman as well. They went to represent the country at the AUSC Reg V Under 20 Youth Games, which took place in Malawi in December 2022.

Reply:

1. The interaction with SAFA has primarily focused on the need to review SAFA’s Vision 2022. This noting that the plan has run its full course.
2. As indicated above the SAFA’s Vision 2022, like any other plan is due for review to assess progress made, its successes and failures in an objective manner. The review would determine the correctness or appropriateness of the development plans for football.

Reply:

(a). The Department does not determine but contributes to what the President conveys to the public through his national addresses. My department’s interpretation is that the President has expressed himself on the plight of the creative sector through his national interventionary programs such as Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP). This has a significant budgetary contribution, deliberately and specifically for the retention, creation of jobs, inclusion, and access.

(b). The Department has an approved White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage whose core objective is to protect the interest of all practitioners in the sector. To further solidify that, the Department has developed and is processing the following specific policy instruments to regulate and protect the sector:

b.1 Masterplan on Cultural and Creative Industries- Approved

b.2. Copyright Amendment Bill- At Select Committee level.

b.3. Performers Protection Amendment Bill- At Select Committee level.

b.4. Theatre and Dance Policy- en route to the Clusters

b.5. Design Policy -Sector consultations

b.6. National Book Policy-Sector consultations

Additionally, the department: (1) has a strategy that assists creatives financially (MGE) (2) has developed an intervention programme to assist artists with their psycho-social well-being (Silapha Wellness Programme) (3) has an initiative that takes into consideration artists living with disabilities (We Can Arts Festival).

Reply:

(1)(a) Since the settlement of the claim, there have been serious internal conflicts that resulted in the instability within the CPA. This has led to non-compliance with the Communal Property Associations Act,1996 (Act No. 28 of 1996) and non-adherence to the Constitution of the Koegas CPA. A mediator was appointed through the Land Rights Management Facility to regularise the CPA, but the mediation efforts failed as members did not support the process. Reconciling parties to the dispute remains a challenge.

b) Due to unending conflicts, infighting, and non-compliance with both the CPA Act and the Constitution of the CPA, the Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has decided to place the CPA under judicial administration in terms of section 13 of the CPA Act. The matter is being processed by the Kimberley Office of State Attorney in the Northern Cape, and the legal process will unfold in due course.

(2) No. Not all disputes have been resolved. The details are as follows:

• Verification will be finalized by the Judicial Administrator as the main dispute in the CPA relates to the membership list.
• The claim has been settled but not finalized.
• The outstanding matter relating to the release of development grants (section 42C grants) which will only be released once the determination of who are the beneficiaries has been resolved as required by the court order on this matter.

Reply:

Consultation took place with internal stakeholders (RIM’s Ferries Department, Infrastructure and Facilities Management Department, Operations Department, and Heritage Department that includes the Environmental Unit) as well as external stakeholders, however, discussions were underway with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).

There were no formal objections received. However, after Silent Events advertised their event before RIM’s internal processes and consultations with relevant stakeholders was concluded, negative publicity was received from the public. This led to the cancellation of the event by Silent Events cancelled their event.

Future events which are captured in the RIM APP for 2023/2024, include the following:

• Coastal clean ups
• Events relating to engage with issues related to Archiving and Collections
• Various academic seminars and workshops
• Educational camps
• Training and educational sessions
• Tourism trade familiarization trip

Reply:

(1). No payments are made to Board members.

(2). None, the chairperson does not get an allowance.

(3). The Chairperson works for SASCOC.

Reply:

1. In accordance with information extracted from the PERSAL Data Set of 28 February 2023, a total of 8 employees are occupying positions in acting capacity on senior and/or executive positions in public hospitals in the Republic with no permanent contract on salary level six and higher.

The table below is the data as extracted from PERSAL and its accuracy is being verified with Provincial Departments of Health:

ACTING PERSONNEL WITHOUT PERMANENT CONTRACTS AS Feb 2023
POST CLASS DESC	ACTING PERSONNEL	EC	FS	GAU	KZN	LP	MPU	NC	NW	WC	Grand Total
DEP MAN NURS(LEV1&2)	ASSIST MANAGER NURSI	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
HEAD CLIN DPT MED	HEAD CLIN UNIT MED	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
HEAD CLIN DPT MED	MEDICAL SPECIALIST	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
HUMAN+SUPPORT SR10	HUMAN+SUPPORT SR8	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
LINE FUNC + SUP SR11	LINE FUNC + SUPP SR9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
LINE FUNC + SUPP SR9	HEALTH AND SUPP SR8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
MANAGE+SUPPORT SR10	MANAGE+SUPPORT SR9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
MANAGE+SUPPORT SR13	LINE FUNC + SUP SR11	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Grand Total		0	0	2	3	0	1	0	0	2	8

2. The table below indicates total number of senior staff in the employ of his department with a level 6 remuneration package or higher who have a disciplinary process and/or cases pending against them.

(2)(a)(i) total number	(ii)details of cases
Level 6=1	Theft
Level 8=1	Gross Absenteeism
Level 8=1	Corruption and maladministration
(b)disciplinary measures	Yes

END.

Reply:

I was made aware of Operation Dudula protesting outside public health facilities around Gauteng province including Johannesburg and Kalafong Hospital.

a) In Kalafong Hospital, Operation Dudula protest caused an obstruction of free access to the facility, hence the need to intervene, which was done in collaboration with the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health and Kalafong Hospital management.

b) (i) Gauteng Provincial Department of Health applied for an urgent court interdict against Operation Dudula. Subsequently, the Court order preventing disruption to free access to the hospital was granted. Over and above working with the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health, we prevailed with the South African Police Service to be more decisive in implementing the interdict, thus ensuring the protection and safety of all healthcare users, including foreign nationals. The court was applied mainly to prevent obstruction of healthcare facilities from being accessible to all users, including foreign nationals.

(ii) I, together with the Director-General gave the leadership of Operation Dudula an audience, who by the way also had other allegations against the Kalafong Hospital management. Operation Dudula leadership was informed that there are other ways of addressing their allegations against the hospital management. Having visited the Kalafong Hospital and assisting the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health and subsequently meeting with Operation Dudula leadership, was done as an attempt to open the lines of communication so that Operation Dudula are free to talk to us about specific matters they might have.

END.

Reply:

As previously stated, my department (DSAC) has been informed by the NAC that Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra is updating its Business Plan which is due to the National Arts Council of SA by 31 March 2023.  The process of updating the Business Plan, which includes budgets, entails workshops with some of the partners, stakeholders, and the board of Mzansi Philharmonic. Besides what we have already submitted, we will certainly furnish any latest information as and when required.

Reply:

No. Funding is allocated as indicated in the reply to question 1393. The Agricultural Products Standards Bill, currently in the parliamentary process, seeks to regulate organic farming in that anyone who makes ‘organic farming claims’, should have in place an auditable management control system. The same applies to “free-range” and similar claims. Once the Bill is passed into law, regulations will be developed to govern/guide requirements for organic farming.

Reply:

It is important to remind Honourable Members that all these trips are in fulfillment of the obligations for the Portfolio for various representations of the country in various fora in the world, and further, that the international ones are strictly approved by the Head of State before they can be undertaken.

1. The details of the destination, total costs for accommodation, travelling and any other costs incurred for international trips for each Minister and Deputy Minister since 01 June 2019 are as follows:

• Minister R3 712 892.05
• Deputy Minister R1 919 384.33

(aa) The former Minster

The Current Minister

(bb) Former Deputy Minister

Current Deputy Minister

2. The total costs incurred for domestic air travel for each Minister and Deputy Minster since 01 June 2019 were as follows:

a) The total cost for domestic air travel incurred for Minister, Dr. ZL. Mkhize was R1 343 877.00 up to the year 2021, and cost incurred for the current Minister, MP Dr. MJ Phaahla amount to R310 271.79 to date.

b) Costs incurred for former Deputy Minister, Dr. MJ Phaahla since 01 June 2019 until 2021 amount to R616 929,28 and current Deputy Minister, MP Dr. S Dhlomo with effect from 2021 to date sits at R718 054.54.

END.

Reply:

According to our records, R490 525.81 was spent from the R1 million received to establish a feasibility study for the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, and (b) the relevant details of the breakdown of the expenditure was submitted before to the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts, and Culture and to the Honourable member before. Nonetheless, I am pleased to resubmit the details which are enclosed herewith as Annexure 1.

Reply:

a) The Land was bought in 1978 by Government prior to the democratic dispensation. The Department, under the current democratic dispensation did not pay any money for the acquisition of the land; a deed of donation was used to donate the land.

b) A detailed breakdown of the amount paid by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to support the CPA towards input and infrastructure costs since the start of the CPA to date are:

• 2001: R11 584 000.00;
• May 2011: R5 895 846.00;
• October 2011: R354 706.62; and
• November 2011: R2 301 748.59.

(c) (i) Size of the farm is 25 700 hectares.

(ii) Citrus and Livestock production.

(iii) Currently, there is no production on the farm.

(iv) Challenges faced by the CPA are conflicts amongst members.

Reply:

Kindly note that, I cannot confirm the accuracy of the statement and question provided by the Honourable member Madlingozi without additional positive evidence or information about the wasteful expenditure he referred to. However, and as a general rule, it is not uncommon for organisations and individuals that receive public funding to be subjected to strict regulations and guidelines regarding the use of those funds.

In the case of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, such obligations are stipulated within the agreement that the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra had entered into with the National Arts Council. In this context, strict measures will certainly be taken in cases where the public funds are not used in accordance with the agreement.

The measures will include penalties or other consequences for any organisation or individual found to be in violation of the applicable rules regarding the usage of the resources. Therefore, the Department will only act when evidence of such violation/s have been brought to light.

Reply:

 (1)      What (a) total number of schools in the Republic still have (i) Pit toilets, (ii) mud structures, (iii) asbestos structures and (iv) asbestos roofs as at 1 February and (b) is the name of (aa) each school (bb) in each province;

(a) (i)

Province	No. of school with Pit Toilets
EC	984
FS	33
KZN	1 495
LP	1 948
MP	551
NC	5
NW	185
National	5 201

Note: Most of schools do have other appropriate forms of sanitation, as indicated in the attached list,  but the Pits toilets  still need to be demolished. Schools that have pit latrines only are part of the SAFE programme to address the demolition of pit latrines

(a) (ii)

Province	No. of school with Mud Structure
EC	506
KZN	110
LP	36
MP	18
NC	3
NW	13
National	686

(a) (iii)

Province	No. of school with Asbestos Structure
EC	4
KZN	1
MP	2
NC	25
NW	15
National	47

(a) (iv)

Province	No. of school with Asbestos roofs
EC	1 010
FS	6
GT	92
KZN	1 447
MP	26
NC	39
NW	34
WC	31
National	2 685

Annexure A: List of school attached. Please note that the DBE has embarked on a process of conducting a condition assessment of all school that will culminate in an up to date information on all schools across the country

(2)   by what date does her department envisage to have the use of (a) pit toilets, (b) mud structures, (c) asbestos structures and (d) asbestos roofs eradicated at each specified school in the Republic?

The sector is in the process of reviewing the Regulations relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure, which provide for timelines for the eradication of the said backlogs, as the timelines in the current regulations are obsolete. the revised timelines will be provided as soon as the process of revision is concluded.

Reply:

(a). The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has a total number of forty-eight (48) Director positions and forty-four (44) are permanently filled and only four (04) are vacant, therefore only four (04) Directors are acting capacity.

(b). The appointed acting Directors have signed a performance agreement with their respective Chief Directors and therefore, the Chief Director and Deputy Director-General monitor the work of the Directorate and the Branch.

(c). There are departmental Human Resources (HR) delegations signed by the Executive Authority, outlining responsibilities of all Senior Management Staff (SMS) members including the Directors appointed to take responsibilities in their field of work.

Reply:

(a) 

1. To support schools with no infrastructure for sport participation, the Department, in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) have initiated engagements with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to make municipal facilities accessible to schools at no cost. Engagements are also being extended to look at possibilities of how the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) can be accessed for the benefit of the schools.
2. Furthermore, through the Memorandum of Understanding between DBE and DSAC, signed in 2018, an entity of DSAC called the Sport Trust builds multi-purpose sport facilities in identified schools. These facilities are also accessible for utilisation by neighbouring schools.
3. The Department is also in partnership with partners like Supersport and UNICEF to build multi-purpose sport facilities in schools. These facilities are then shared and utilised by other the neighbouring schools.
4. In 2015, the Department, together with DSAC and Cricket South Africa (CSA) signed an operational agreement to fast track cricket development at schools through the Hub system. This initiative contributes to the revitalisation of sports development in the townships and rural areas, and it also improves educational outcomes in the basic education sector. These Hubs are committed to the following:

• develop cricketers at the Cricket Hubs;
• run cluster leagues to feed into the School Sport Programme;
• provide support to integrate the elite cricketers into the CSA High Performance Programmes through CSA’s existing integrated system of Talent Scouts, Coaching Mentors and Sports Science Programmes;
• support worthy educational and sporting causes, from time to time, as identified by the three parties;
• extend early learning and e-learning programmes through homework support, and
• dedicated cricket coaching educational programs are produced and aired on the MINDSET platforms.

(b)

1. The Department partnered with the Motsepe Foundation to further support the delivery of enrichment programmes in schools on 12 April 2016. This ten-year partnership agreement contributes towards the development of Schools Football, Netball, choral and traditional music across the country. This initiative concentrates on schools football (Under 19), schools netball (Under 15) and the Schools Choral Eisteddfod. These programmes start at a school level and proceed until the national level. The winning schools utilise the money for any development project that enhances or advances the mission and objectives of the school and/or its immediate community, e.g. building of extra classrooms, upgrading the soccer or netball pitch, school choral equipment, etc.
2. The Department implements the Integrated School Sports Programme, after-school, extra-mural and co-curricular activities in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) together with other partners. The main role of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is to promote mass participation activities aimed at enriching the curriculum whilst DSAC focuses on social cohesion, talent identification and excellence in sports, arts and culture in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2018 by the two Departments. The programme starts at a school level and proceeds up to the circuit, district, provincial and finally national level. The programme is comprised of the Autumn Games, Winter Games, Spring Games and Summer Games in the following prioritized codes: Athletics, Cricket, Chess, Gymnastics, Swimming, Softball, Tennis, Table tennis, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Volleyball, Goal ball and Indigenous Games.
3. The Department established the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Unit (ASIDI). The objective of ASIDI is to eradicate the Basic Safety Norms backlog in schools without water, sanitation and electricity and to replace those schools constructed from inappropriate material (mud, plankie, asbestos) to contribute towards levels of optimum learning and teaching. The Schools Infrastructure Backlog Grant (SIBG) funds the ASIDI portfolio. Sub-programme 1: Inappropriate Structures: Schools that were built from inappropriate material in their entirety are replaced with new schools that meet the department’s standards of basic functionality. This also includes the building of sport facilities depending on the available space in that particular area.

Reply:

What (a) measures have been put in place by her department to tackle the challenge of bullying in schools, which is costing lives and causing learners to drop out of schools?

1. The Department has trained schools on the implementation of the National School Safety Framework (NSSF) which is the sector's guiding framework for school and assists school to manage and respond to violent incidences in schools including bullying. The NSSF empowers schools to identify and manage all safety requirements and to mitigate against threats faced in a school. The NSSF requires every school to establish a school safety committee which is comprised of stakeholders such as teachers, police officers, school governing body members, learner representative council members amongst others. Furthermore, The NSSF also empowers schools to develop incident reporting mechanisms, establish collaborations with external stakeholders such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Social Development and civil society organisations, as well as develop school safety plans and policies to respond effectively to all the safety needs and challenges.

2.  The Department also requires schools to develop and implement anti-bullying policies, in line with the schools' codes of conduct. These policies define bullying and explains the different types of bullying (e.g physical, verbal, non-verbal, cyber, gender-based, etc.) so that the behaviours are recognisable; the policies make explicit the disciplinary procedures to be undertaken once and incidence is reported and the sanctions which will be undertaken against the perpetrators.

3. The Department and its partner Departments: Social Development, Justice and Constitutional Development, Correctional Services, the South African Police Service and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies have embarked on an Inter-Departmental Campaign on the Prevention of Violence, Bullying, Corporal Punishment, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Learner Pregnancy, Alcohol and Drug Abuse. This Campaign raises awareness on the importance of tackling these social ills and rasies awareness of the negative effects they have on teaching and learning in schools and on learners self esteem. The Campaign has been championed by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education and is supported by other Deputy Ministers from the partner Departments. It targets districts and schools with high prevalence of violence in provinces. To date, the Campaign has been rolled out in five provinces: Gauteng (Gauteng West District), Limpopo (Sekhukhune East District), Mpumalanga (Nkangala District) and the North West (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District).  The next Campaign is scheduled to take place in the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay District in March 2023.

4. The Department through the Life Orientation Curricular covers bullying in detail and how to prevent it. The Department has prepared lesson sets for the delivery of these topics. Understanding peaceful approaches to conflict management are also covered systematically across the grades. The Life Orientation Curricular further encourages learner agency, which is important as it encourages learners to stand up for the values and rights enshrined in the Constitution.

Are there current statistics of bullying in schools in the Republic?

5.  Yes. The statistics on bullying is routinely collected through Statistics South Africa and TIMMS. 

Reply:

Find here: Reply

Reply:

1. As clearly explained by my department (DSAC) and NAC during the Portfolio Committee Meetings of 16 September 2022 and 28 February 2023 (Ms. van Dyk was present at both meetings), the allocation of the R54,68million stems from 3 financial years: R11 515 600 (Eleven Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Rands Only), allocated in the 2019 – 2020 financial year cycle but were not transferred as envisaged; R21 583 000 (Twenty-One Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Rands Only), allocated in the 2020 – 2021 financial year cycle and R21 583 000 (Twenty-One Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Rands Only), based on 2021 – 2022 financial year cycle allocation.

Out of this amount, the NAC was allocated 5% or R2,7million towards administrative costs, leaving a balance of R51,9million. On 11 December 2021, the first tranche of R41,57million was transferred to the Mzansi Philharmonic. As per contract between the NAC and the Mzansi Philharmonic, 75% of the Mzansi Philharmonic’s budget should go towards artistic endeavours and 25% towards operations.  The NAC reported at the Portfolio Committee Meeting of 28 February 2023 that the Mzansi Philharmonic has met this crucial condition and actually did much better than stipulated.  The NAC further reported that as per the Annual Audited Financial Statements  of the Mzansi Philharmonic (which are unqualified and achieved a clean audit), the Mzansi Philharmonic spent the following for the period under review which ended on 31 December 2022: R33,5million or 77,2% was spent on artistic programmes, including concerts, tours, and an allocation of R20million for grants to regional and youth orchestras, education and community engagement programmes in at least 7 provinces throughout South Africa. R9,92million or 22,8% of total expenditure was spent on operations, including administration and corporate marketing.

I am delighted that almost 80% of the resources were spent on artistic endeavours which yielded more than 1000 job opportunities for orchestra musicians, choral singers, and other creatives.

2. The contract between the NAC and Mzansi Philharmonic states that 75% of the Orchestra’s budget must be spent on artistic related programmes which include concerts, tours, and grants to regional and youth orchestras, education, and community engagement programmes. Up to 25% should be used on operations. DSAC plays an oversight role on the institutions that it funds, however, it does not get involved in operational matters and does not micro-manage these institutions. The Department is satisfied that the Orchestra has spent its budget within these prescribed parameters and that expenditure includes travel and accommodation as is necessitated by the demands of the concerts, tours and other programmes. The Department will receive the Audited Annual Financial Statements of the Orchestra by the end of March 2023 which will include further financials.

Reply:

There is collaboration between DBE and DoH, as health services, in schools, are provided by school-health-nurses through the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) as guided by the 2012 ISHP Policy.

a) According to the ISHP policy, vision and hearing screening are provided in all the school phases (see page 12 of the policy). The ISHP programme emphasises hearing and vision screening in the foundation phase for early detection and support.

b) Based on the screening results, learners in need of further assistance are referred to health facility for case management and support e.g. provision of spectacles.

 

 

 

COMPILED BY:

MS COCEKA NOGODUKA

CHIEF DIRECTOR: SUPPORT SERVICES

DATE: 03/03/2023

OFFICIALS INVOLVED

QUESTION NO: 620. IS APPROVED

DR G WHITTLE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL: SOCIAL MOBILISATION & SUPPORT SERVICES

DATE: 03/03/2023

QUESTION NO: 620. IS APPROVED

MR HM MWELI

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

DATE: 04/03/2023

QUESTION NO: 620. IS APPROVED

DR MR MHAULE, MP

DEPUTY MINISTER

DATE: 07/03/2023

QUESTION NO: 620. IS APPROVED

MRS AM MOTSHEKGA, MP

MINISTER

DATE: 08/03/2023

Reply:

1. There was no contract entered into between Robben Island Museum (RIM) and Silent Events. Silent Events requested to hire a RIM venue. An inception meeting was held to understand their requirements and to determine if the nature of the event aligned with RIM’s vision, mission and values.

Subsequently, a site visit was conducted to determine if RIM had the capacity to host such an event and determine if the event would have any negative impact on the Island, including the impact the event would have on RIM’s carrying capacity assessment, which is part of the World Heritage Convention requirements, and if mitigations were required. In respect to RIM’s internal procedures, based on RIM’s Events and Financial policies, a quotation was prepared, after acceptance of such a quotation, an invoice was generated and sent to Silent Events. A follow up meeting was planned with Silent Events, which did not materialise as such an agreement was not entered into.

2.(a). There was no financial contribution from the side of the Robben Island Museum (RIM)

(b).There was no financial loss incurred except the loss of potential revenue, which would have been an amount of R76 395.00.

Reply:

1.(a). Yes, I was informed of the invitation, (b) and yes, I was made aware that the invitation was later revoked.

2. No, I did not apply any pressure and/or influence and/or had any involvement whatsoever in revoking the specified invitation.

3. This is an administrative matter of the SA Rugby Union, and as such neither myself nor my Department can get involved.

Reply:

During the dtic Budget Vote in May 2022, I advised that the dtic completed comprehensive work on a draft Patents Bill (PB) to be submitted to Parliament after consideration by Cabinet. The aim of the draft Bill is to update and reform SA’s patent legislation by synchronizing the legislation with international developments.

The draft Bill was indeed subsequently completed.

Following the Budget Vote debate however, further consultations were required to take account of two additional developments:

First, the final agreement reached at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on waivers and flexibilities relating to pandemic use of patented vaccines, contained a provision to conclude discussion on therapeutics and diagnostics with an extended timeframe. This follows a request from developed countries for such facility; and

Second, discussions that took place during the latter half of 2022 at the African Union, through the Council of Ministers responsible for the AfCFTA, on a Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights, which was formally reported to at the African Union Assembly during February 2023.

Both these international agreements may impact on the contents of the Bill.

As soon as the implications of these two developments have been considered, the final version will be submitted to Cabinet.

-END-

Reply:

1(a). Executive members are paid R 110 00-00 per month.

(b). Board members are not paid to attend meetings.

2. The president receives R 40 000-00 gross per month.

3. The president works for the Polokwane Municipality.

Reply:

a) 9 689 300 learners are beneficiaries of the National School Nutrition Programme.

b) The Department of Basic Education through the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) oversees the menu compilation in line with the conditions as set out in the Conditional Grant Framework. The DBE has in its employ a qualified Dietician and Nutritionists who are tasked to review and assess healthy nutritional menus for each Provincial Education Department during the annual business planning process.  The DBE periodically liaises with the Department of Health to align with health and food safety standards/Regulations.

Reply:

In instances where court transcripts are not available and/or are delayed, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has stated the following possible reasons, as well as the steps taken to recover such records:

a) Delays may be caused when records are being transcribed by the service provider appointed to manage Transcription Services, namely: Gauteng Transcription Services on various load-shedding stages. With the current challenges the country and the courts are facing with electricity, the service provider has declared load-shedding as a Force Majeure in terms of the Service Level Agreement, since this delays the transcription processes which neither the Department nor the service provider have control over the load-shedding schedules. However, these instances are normally communicated with the respective courts, and do not lead to indefinite unavailability of the records.

b) The delays are, sometimes, related to the retrievals of the records on some of the Court Recording Technology (CRT) machines. For an example, when the recorder is taken for repairs by the service provider, i.e. Datacentrix, one will discover that it is blank when returned back after repairs. This therefore will require that a call then be logged to have the recording uploaded back to the recorder.

c) Furthermore, there are some challenges experienced with the retrieval of audio recordings which was done on the old DCRS machines. Once the court provides the audio recordings, either from CRT via the server or the cloud link, the service provider proceeds with the transcriptions without major challenges.

d) The main reasons for not being able to provide records, relate to the following challenges:

1. Recordings or portions of old DCRS recordings that cannot be traced due to the way in which the recordings were transferred from the old DCRS servers. The court has to log a call with ICT to assist with case retrievals and conversions of DCRS cases. In a small number of instances, this seems to be a challenge. ICT has to search on a number of parameters such as case numbers, dates, court room etc. In some instances, all parameters are exhausted without successfully tracing all the portions of the recording.
2. Inaudible portions of a recording, delay finalization of the transcript.

In conclusion, missing records or portions of records, inevitably lead to the need for reconstructing the record. The process depends on the availability of the Magistrate and the Magistrate’s records.

Reconstruction of Court Records also require the availability and records of the Prosecutor/s and Legal Aid Attorneys and/or legal representatives involved.

Nevertheless, the Department’s nine (9) Provincial Offices regularly meet with various and relevant service providers to address any blockages that may occur.

Additionally, the Department has assured me that, in most cases, court documents are available. However, the Honourable Member is requested to alert/inform us if there are specific cases and/or matters that he is aware of where documents are missing so that the Department may investigate the matter(s) and report back accordingly.

END

Reply:

The question asked does not fall within the purview of the Minister of Basic Education but the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The question should therefore be referred to the MEC in KZN. 

Reply:

a) Honourable Speaker, the Department has developed a plan for the implementation of the recommendations from the Vulindlela Team that compiled a report on the review of the work visa regime and part of the implementation plan is the amendment of the Legislation and Regulations to include the remote work visa.

b) The amendment of the Regulations will be undertaken in the new financial year, 2023/2024, while the Legislation is still at the Green Paper stage.

END

Reply:

a) In its effort to eliminate long queues in front offices, the department has rolled out the Branch Application Booking system to all one hundred and ninety-eight (198) offices with live capture system for clients to book a slot before they can visit our offices. In addition, twenty (20) additional mobile trucks have been procured making the fleet now stands at a total of one hundred and twenty-seven(127) and they are deployed at schools and at offices with high volumes of clients to deal with the issue of long queues.

The department in partnership with Banks and Malls will be expanding its footprint where there will be DHA offices in Banks and Malls. Currently The department has twenty-eight (28) bank branches rolled out with live capture system for both ID Cards and Passports applications as well as collections. For this financial year the department will also roll out its services to the Malls. The pilot will commence at Menlyn Shopping Mall in March 2023 and will be rolled out in phases to other provinces.

b) The department is continuously engaging with private partners to ensure that its footprint is expanded and this will resolve the problem of long queues.

END

Reply:

The BMA has trained and deployed Border Guards to various segments of the land border law enforcement areas and Ports of Entry. Their key responsibilities, amongst others, is to detect and prevent illegal persons from entering the country. Since their deployment, the Border Guards have registered multiple successes in preventing cross-border crime, including illegal migration.

Further, from the 1st of April 2023 officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; Health; and Home Affairs, who are responsible for the execution of border law enforcement functions at Ports of Entry, will be integrated into the BMA which will be characterised by a single command and control structure at Ports of Entry. Guided by the Authority’s SOPs, such a structure will streamline processes for the detection and handling of persons attempting to enter the country illegally by the Authority’s personnel.

END

Reply:

Applications for Passports and IDs do not disappear as a result of load shedding. When there is load shedding, replications stop because servers of the affected Branches are off. However, the applications captured before load shedding appear on the database. The officials then run a process to reconcile the information.

END

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

a)(i)  I have been informed that the Department appointed a new Facilities Management service provider on the 08 March 2022 who has commenced with the scheduled and corrective maintenance at the Parliamentary Villages. This includes the residences, grounds and facilities such as the swimming pool and tennis courts.

(i) The curtains at the residences within the Parliamentary Villages are satisfactory, however, the voile curtains are in poor condition because of the lifespan of voile material, which is approximately three (3) years, maximum; depending on the handling as well as weather conditions. Voile is not as durable as standard lined curtains. It fades and becomes fragile because of the direct sun and is not resistant to stains such as mould.

b)  For the residences, particularly the brick residences, occupied by Members of Parliament, there is currently a project underway, which commenced in 2020. Acacia Park is completed, Laboria Park residences are currently being refurbished and Pelican Park residences will be next. The completion date for the said project is in December 2023. In addition, due to the condition of the prefabricated residences in Acacia Park, the Department has registered a project to demolish all prefabricated residences and rebuild brick residences. The estimated financial tender date for the said project is 24 November 2023, as the approval to allocate the project to an implementing agent is awaited.

• With respect to the curtains, the Department is currently conducting moveable asset condition assessments at all residences in the Parliamentary Villages, in preparation for window treatments tenders and rehabilitation or replacement of furniture where necessary.
• The grounds and facilities are currently being attended to by the Facilities Management service provider.

Reply:

His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa during his tenure as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, was seized with finding a lasting solution to the political challenges in Eswatini.

As a SADC member, South Africa concurs with the decisions taken by SADC, including the most recent decisions of the Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit held in Namibia on 31 January 2023, regarding the Kingdom of Eswatini. These decisions, amongst others, condemn all killings and property destruction in the Kingdom, and calls for the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to urgently initiate the National Dialogue process. The Summit also calls for the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to conduct a swift, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the killing of Mr Thulani Maseko.

South Africa, therefore, continues to urge all affected parties in the Kingdom of Eswatini to maintain calm and peacefully engage in the National Dialogue. South Africa is always available to contribute to the stabilisation efforts in the Kingdom of Eswatini for the benefit of the two countries.

South Africa aligns itself with the decision of the 36th African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government which expressed concern at the unfolding situation in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Assembly requested the African Union Commission to work in partnership with SADC and the Kingdom to coordinate interventions for the promotion of peace and inclusive dialogue amongst the Kingdom’s stakeholders, with a view to achieving a peaceful resolution to the political and social crisis in the country. This decision is based on the well-established AU principle of subsidiarity and the ethos of the AU’s Peace and Security Architecture. Also, the decision was taken following the consideration, by the Assembly, of the report of the AU Peace and Security Council, chaired by South Africa for the month of February 2023, on its activities and the status of peace and security on the Continent.

Reply:

1. 

I have been informed by the Department that the break-down of the Goods and Services budget is provided for below, for the period 2019/20 to 2022/23 for each of the three (3) units within the Property, Research and Regulation (PRR) Branch.

#	UNIT	GOODS AND SERVICES BUDGET/ YEAR
		2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
1.	Construction Sector Regulation (CSR)	7 687 000	6 499 000	3 000 000	3 000 000
2.	Property Sector Regulation (CSR)	7 780 000	6 661 000	4 000 000	4 000 000
3.	Office of the DDG	1 024 000	1 087 000	1 000 000	1 000 000
TOTAL	16 491 000	14 247 000	8 000 000	8 000 000

2. 

Legal consultants provide various services including legislative drafting to the Department of Public works and Infrastructure (DPWI). The function and the budget for these services reside with the Chief Directorate: Legal Services (CD: LS). Legislative drafting undertaken for the PRR Branch are consistent with activities in the Annual Performance Plan (APP) and Annual Operation Plan (AOP). The costs incurred by DPWI for the services of legal consultants encompasses any of the following services: drafting of legal opinions, consultations, legislative drafting & presentation to the Portfolio Committee based on the following projects:

No.	Legal Consultancy	Financial Year	ITEM TOTAL
		2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022	2022/2023
1.	Expropriation Bill	R170 634, 25	R166 405.00	R227 010.00	R325 295.00	R889 344.25
2.	Law Reform Report	-	-	R203 550,00	-	R203 550.00
3.	Draft Construction Industry Development Board Amendment Bill	-	R64 900.00	R142 145.00	R103 385.00	R310 430.00
4.	Draft Public Works Bill	-	-	-	R223 100.00	R223 100.00
Sub-Total	R170 634, 25	R231 305.00	R572 705.00	R651 780.00	R1 626 424.25
TOTAL	R1 626 424.25

The total amount of R1 626 424.25 was the cost incurred for legal researchers and consultants who undertook legislative work of the branch.

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

(1) (1) I have been informed by the Department that the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is not the registered owner of Erven (a) 6515 to 6519 and (b) 33 to 41 Tassenberg Street, Alphen Park, Benoni X24.

(2) Not applicable.

(3) Not applicable.

(4) Not applicable.