Questions and Replies

Reply:

The State is required to ensure that political office bearers, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers and Members of Executive Councils are provided with resources and enabling facilities (tools of trade) to perform their duties effectively.

The Guide for Members of the Executive provides a framework to manage the extent to which the State provides these tools of trade. The determination of tools of trade takes into account the nature of the work or duties to be performed by Members of the Executive. These tools of trade include official and private accommodation, offices, office Supplies and stationery, ICT, support staff, travel facilities and security.

The Ministerial Handbook seeks to ensure the appropriateness of the tools of trade, to manage the costs related thereto, to ensure the transparency of their use and ultimately to ensure accountability for the use of tools of trade.

Following various discussions in Cabinet and between the Minister for Public Service and Administration, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, two amendments were proposed and approved by the President on 13 April 2022.

The first amendment dealt with the provision of capacity to Members of the Executive where additional resources are required to support certain tasks. These additional resources would be subject to the authorisation of the Minister for Public Service and Administration to ensure these resources are required and to mitigate any abuse.

The second amendment removed the limit of R5,000 for which the State would bear the cost of electricity and water at a Member's private residence which was designated as an official residence.

Following public concerns about these amendments, it was decided to revert to the previous version of the Guide for Members of the Executive, adopted 2019, pending an independent review.

Reply:

Funds available for emergency relief and recovery following the KwaZulu-Natal floods came from the following disaster relief grants:

• Provincial Disaster Response Grant
• Provincial Emergency Housing Grant
• Municipal Disaster Response Grant
• Municipal Emergency Housing Grant

Other funds were sourced through reprioritising existing budgets and conditional grants.

Provincial Disaster Response Grant

The amount available in the Provincial Disaster Response Grant – R145 million – was not allocated as no application was received from the province.

Provincial Emergency Housing Grant

Of the amount available in the Provincial Emergency Housing Grant – R326 million – only R140 million was transferred to the province by the national Department of Human Settlements (DHS) with the undertaking that the balance would be transferred once the province had spent 80 per cent of their initial tranche. These funds are primarily for the provision of temporary shelter.

As at the end of August 2022, the province had spent R55.4 million of the Provincial Emergency Housing Grant , which translates to 17% of the total amount approved, or 40% of the amount transferred.

The key reason for the low expenditure is the lack of suitable land and because some people affected by the disaster were reluctant to move away from their current location. In addition, the lack of bulk infrastructure in the affected areas and objections from ratepayers’ associations have also delayed delivery.

To address the low expenditure, the National Treasury has granted the DHS approval to deviate from the conditions of the framework, which only provides for temporary shelter relief.

The deviation allows for the DHS to:

• Provide a Rental Assistance Scheme to assist beneficiaries from mass care centres to take up rental units in townships and other areas. This initiative will assist 1,500 families for up to 34 months, with the potential of relieving pressure in around 40 mass care centres.

• Establish Transitional Emergency Accommodation for up to 12 months. This initiative will identify and acquire suitable buildings that can be swiftly refurbished to accommodate families.

 

Municipal Disaster Response Grant

The declaration of a National State of Disaster resulted in a total amount of R516 million being approved and paid to the affected municipalities between June and August 2022. Out of the total amount approved, KwaZulu-Natal was allocated a total of R406 million, of which R25.7 million had been spent by the end of September 2022.

Most of the municipalities have finalised the appointment service providers and have started implementing the approved projects. Expenditure will begin to be realised as service providers start to submit claims for the work done.

Other reasons for slow spending include:

• Changing of approved projects after the payment has been made to the affected municipality. Changing of projects delays spending because municipalities can only spend money on approved projects.

• Procurement processes that municipalities embark on delays the spending of the approved funding. Municipalities are encouraged to use an emergency procurement process to ensure that there are minimal delays. However, not all municipalities follow this advice; as a result it takes longer for projects to be implemented.

Municipal Emergency Housing Grant

National Treasury approved a conversion of a portion of the Municipal Emergency Housing Grant – an amount of R120 million – to augment the shortfall experienced in the Provincial Emergency Housing Grant. There were no funds allocated to municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal against the Municipal Emergency Housing Grant.

Reprioritisation of Conditional Grants

The province also reprioritised conditional grants such as the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant (R1.03 billion) towards disaster projects. Expenditure on the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant as at the end of September was R39 million, with orders to the value of R696 million placed in August and September.

National Treasury granted approval to reprioritise portions of the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG), Informal Settlements Upgrading Grant (ISUPG) and Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for the affected municipalities.

National Treasury approved that a total of R41.3 million be reallocated against the MIG allocation for disaster response. This was for the municipalities of uMzumbe Local Municipality, uThukela District Municipality and King Cetshwayo District Municipality. In terms of the 2021/22 pre-audited Annual Financial Statements, municipalities reported full expenditure against the MIG allocation.

With regards to the 2022/23 allocation for eThekwini, an amount of R124 million was reprioritised from the Informal Settlement Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG) allocation of R727.2 million, and an amount of R340 million was reprioritised for the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) from the R1.2 billion allocations. The reprioritised funds were for the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged through the disaster. As things stand there has been little to no expenditure on the two reprioritised amounts, given the approval was only made towards the end of July 2022.

Reply:

a) It should be noted that the Department is not aware of a letter dated 5 March 2022 to the Minister. However, it may be that the member is referring to Parliamentary Question 1485 (Annexure A). Please note that the Minister concurred with the 2022 NSFAS Eligibility Guidelines and conditions for financial aid in terms of section 4 of the NSFAS Act, whereby the first and second functions of NSFAS are to “allocate funds for loans and bursaries to eligible students” and to “develop criteria and conditions for the granting of loans and bursaries to eligible students in consultation with the Minister. In terms of Eligibility Guidelines and conditions for financial aid, applicants are eligible if the household income is R350 000 or less per annum.

b) The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation following a request to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to respond to Parliamentary Question 1485 on reasons why the students were not funded responded to the question which was tabled on 25 May 2022.

Reply:

When I delivered the State of the Nation Address in February 2022, I outlined a range of measures to address the energy shortfall and fundamentally transform the energy sector.

Since then, we have made significant progress in achieving those objectives:

i) The remaining projects from Bid Window 4 of the renewable energy programme have connected to the grid, adding over 2 000 MW of new generation capacity.

ii) The first three preferred bidders from Bid Window 5 have signed project agreements, and additional projects are expected to reach this milestone within the coming weeks.

iii) Three projects from the risk mitigation procurement programme representing 540 MW of solar PV and 225 MW of battery storage have reached financial close and commenced construction.

iv) The amount of new generation capacity procured through Bid Window 6 has been increased from 2 600 MW to 4 200 MW, with 56 bids received totalling 9 600 MW of capacity.

v) An RFP will soon be released for over 500 MW of battery storage capacity, which will be followed by a further RFP for 3 000 MW of gas power.

vi) The pipeline of embedded generation projects has more than doubled in size to 100 confirmed projects, with a total capacity of more than 9 000 MW, as a result of the removal of the licensing threshold for generation facilities.

vii) Several municipalities are at various stages in the process of procuring power independently, and an MFMA circular has been released to clarify the requirements for municipal procurement.

These measures will enable significantly more generation capacity to be added to the grid from independent power producers to close the energy shortfall.

Reply:

The State is required to ensure that political office bearers, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers and Members of Executive Councils are provided with resources and enabling facilities (tools of trade) to perform their duties effectively.

The Guide for Members of the Executive provides a framework to manage the extent to which the State provides these tools of trade. The adoption of the Guide is not done in terms of any legislative provision, but is the result of a Cabinet decision that the tools of the trade need to be defined and regulated.

The determination of tools of trade takes into account the nature of the work or duties to be performed by Members of the Executive. These tools of trade include official and private accommodation, offices, office Supplies and stationery, ICT, support staff, travel facilities and security.

The Ministerial Handbook seeks to ensure the appropriateness of the tools of trade, to manage the costs related thereto, to ensure the transparency of their use and ultimately to ensure accountability for the use of tools of trade.

Reply:

Below is a response to Parliamentary Question 1910 of 20 August 2021

(a) Which institutions of higher learning have food banks, (b) what total number of students are assisted on a monthly basis and (c) how are the institutions funded for their food bank projects?

No.	Institution/University	a) Food Bank	b) Number of students assisted	c) Funding for the projects
1	Cape Peninsula University of Technology	The university has an interim food support programme wherein students are supported with food parcels and vouchers. This is an interim measure and usually once-off depending on the student’s individual case.	To date 226 students have been supported. The university has issued 129 food vouchers to the value of R300 per voucher and 97 food parcels to the value of R450.	CPUT has established a Task Team to investigate a campus wide sustainable food support programme.
2	University of Cape Town	UCT provides care packs with non-perishable food items and toiletries from donated goods and donated vouchers. The university is in a process of developing additional food security measures to support students in need.	A total of 540 students are frequently assisted. 90 students in unfunded study programmes which were previously funded by NSFAS receive vouchers fortnightly. 450 unfunded or underfunded undergraduate and postgraduate students assisted with donated goods and vouchers on an ad-hoc basis when donated goods are available.	Funding is through more than one source and includes the University, fund-raising initiatives and partnerships with donors.
3	Central University of Technology	Thusanang project is a poverty alleviation project aimed at assisting all students who are financially challenged and academically deserving, particularly those without any form of financial support such as loans or bursaries during the period of their studies. The programme seeks to support registered students by offering once-off type of assistance with food, clothes, and transport (depending on identified need/s).	The university has provided financial support to 157 students in 2019, 86 in 2020 and 74 in 2021 to date. These are students from both campuses in Bloemfontein and Welkom. The University has an agreement with the University cafeteria (Feedem Pitseng) to supply food to students who are referred to by the Student Affairs through Wellness Centre. 2407 vouchers were disbursed in 2019 and 316 in 2020 respectively. Qualifying students are allocated funds into their student cards which entirely depends on the availability of funds. The amounts normally range from R1000 to R2000 disbursed monthly per student.	The amount available for the Poverty Alleviation Project/Thusanang is sourced mainly from an income generated through the Annual CUT Golf Tournament held annually for both Bloemfontein and Welkom Campuses and some donations from the Wellness Centre partners such as ER24 and any available volunteer/s.
4	Durban University of Technology	Phakimpilo (serve life) program commenced in 2020 during the lockdown period. The program provided Spar vouchers to mostly postgraduate students.	The program provided Spar vouchers to 119 students (to date).	Contribution from Alumni office and DUT staff members. Glenwood Spar donates non-perishable food items on monthly basis.
5	University of Fort Hare	The university has a food programme aimed to assist students identified, assessed and approved to receive assistance.	There are about 850 students who expressed a need to receive food parcels. However, 30 students have thus far been assisted.	The project is funded by various external donors approached by the University. The SRC also donates to the project when funds allow.
6	University of the Free State.	UFS has food banks on all three campuses that provide nutritious food packages to students on a weekly basis. The content of food parcels is meant to last a student for two weeks. During 2020, 5567 parcels were distributed and 1 759 in 2021 (to date) UFS launched a vegetable garden initiative that provides fresh vegetables that are distributed in addition to the standard items included in the food parcels. No student hungry programme aims to provide one nutritious meal per day to non NSFAS funded students.	In 2020 31 students benefitted from the programme and 60 in 2021 to date.	Food banks: Tiger brands donates food parcel items for the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses. Gift of the Givers: donates food parcel items for the Qwaqwa campus. Vegetable gardens: Tiger Brands provided funding for the tunnel and vegetable boxes. Sakata Seeds and Kwaggafontein Nursery: sponsor seeds and seedlings on continuous basis. UFS Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Institute for Groundwater Studies & University Estates also contributed in various ways. No Student Hungry Programme: Funded from the interest received from an investment, annual corporate sponsorships and donations by individual donors.
7	University of Johannesburg.	UJ has a Student Meal Assistance Programme which currently provides meal packs to qualifying students.	3522 students in total are assisted. 3022 students receive monthly meal packs funded by the University budget, and 500 students receive meal packs supplied by Tiger Brands.	The University’s annual budget and through Tiger Brands.
8	University of KwaZulu-Natal	UKZN has established a Food Security Task Team to develop a strategy and action plan that will realise the vision of ‘one meal a day for every student’ going forward. Currently, limited food parcels/meal vouchers, are available to food insecure students, on referral/request. Day students with lab/prac requirements are invited onto campus on a needs basis and needy students are assisted.	Statistics not available as only a certain percentage of residence-based students have returned to campus.	The projects are funded through donations and sponsorships, with cash donations / sponsorship being managed via the UKZN Foundation.
9	University of Limpopo	The University has the following projects to assist students: Assist and eat – students receive stipends – 15 students assisted Hands of compassion – donations to needy students Soup kitchen or a meal a day offered during exams period. Food parcels – non funded students Rise Against Hunger on campus project assist with non-perishable food items to needy students.	127 students assisted to date.	Student cafeterias Donations from university staff members, Student Representative Council and the Professionals Provident Fund
10	Mangosuthu University of Technology	N/A	N/A	N/A
11	University of Mpumalanga	The University has been approached by a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), Kago Yabana Foundation (KYF) to provide free meals to needy students for a period of a month.	50 students will be assisted.	N/A
12	Nelson Mandela University	Nelson Mandela University has a MOU with Tiger Brands who provide contents to make up nutrition packs for indigent students. This MOU has been in place since 2003. A food garden, sponsored by Tiger Brands was developed. In addition, an organic food garden was also developed. However, both food gardens are currently not operational as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.	1100 students are supported per month.	Ad hoc donations are received from university departments, staff members and the SRC to increase the content of the nutrition packs.
13	North-West University	Yes, food hampers are provided to students	Approximately 330 students across campuses benefit from food hampers per month.	Since 2016, the University has been receiving donations from corporate sponsors and fund-raising campaigns hosted to solicit food donations from North-West University staff.
14	University of Pretoria	The University of Pretoria Student Nutrition and Progress has been in practice since 1990. The aim of the programme is to foster higher quality education by: a) Alleviating needy students’ short term hunger while giving them nutrition to enhance their learning capacity to enable them to complete their studies; b) Equip students with knowledge and skills to develop and sustain themselves and c) Display a high level of commitment towards the wellbeing of student on all levels.	250 students are assisted through this programme on a monthly basis	The programme is primarily funded internally through the institutional budget which is further supplemented by ad hoc donations done through fundraising and a student food drive.
15	Rhodes University	N/A	N/A	N/A
16	Sefako Makgatho University	Yes, SMU has a vibrant food security project called hands of Compassion, established in 2016 to assist students who are not beneficiaries of any financial support.	To date 354 students are enrolled in the project and each one receives a monthly food voucher of R800. However, the number of students assisted differs from month to month. Students are excluded from the project as soon they receive funding from NSFAS or any other sponsor.	The project is funded through the annual budget allocated to the Department of Student Affairs and Residences, as well as contributions from Student Representative Council and staff members. The University is in a process of securing additional funding for the project.
17	Sol Plaatje University	N/A	N/A	N/A
18	University of South Africa	N/A	N/A	N/A
19	Stellenbosch University	The University has a main food project called #Move4food which is focused on assisting in emergency situations and is usually a once-off financial assistance.	Since March 2021 students are provided with digital food vouchers that allow students to purchase food items of choice at either Shoprite, Usave or Checkers local supermarkets. Between Jan 2021 – 20 August 2021, a total number of 383 students have been assisted.	The university also receives support from three different food catering companies that are situated in Tygerberg and Stellenbosch campuses, who are sponsoring meals for students.
20	Tshwane University of Technology	TUT has the following programs, which address the needs of needy unfunded students. The Food Hamper Crisis intervention program which is an emergency relief intervention addressing the basic psychosocial need that is adversely affecting students’ physical and mental health. The program provides immediate, short-term crisis relief when there is imminent threat to a student’s physical health and or hygiene care by providing a basic food and hygiene hamper that deserving needy students receive once a month. The Assist A Student program addresses the basic needs of needy unfunded students. After rigorous screening the students are given a monthly meal allowance of R500 paid through Fundi card for the academic year or until they get funding from either NSFAS or any other sponsor. The recipients of the meal allowance are assisted for one academic year only, should they still need the meal allowance in the following year they have to go through the application process.	Applications are open throughout the year, by the end of July 2021 a cumulative number of three hundred and forty-one (341) received meal allowances from the Assist A Student program. Recipients are based across all nine campuses	The Gift of The Givers Foundation, is sponsoring the TUT Food Hamper Crisis intervention program. The foundation supplies the University with 250 food hampers monthly and 250 hygiene packs which consist of personal hygiene products and household detergents on an ad-hoc basis as this depends on the availability of resources. The Assist A Student program was established from a ‘seed fund’ which was granted by the then University’s Executive Management Committee. The Student Affairs Executive Committee then resolved to allocate a share to the Assist A Student program from the Student Extracurricular levy which is mandatory from each registered student. Currently R17 of this levy goes toward the Assist A Student funding.
21	Vaal University of Technology	No response received
22	University of Venda	The University provides food parcels through its project Thohoyanzie. It also has a Social Responsibility Fund which is intended to assist needy students, coordinated by the Convocation and Alumni Office. Students are assisted as and when they approach the university for assistance. During the second semester in 2020, the University received food parcels donated by Professional Provident Society (PPS) Foundation and handed same to indigent students. There was also a period when the Service Provider for Student Bar on Campus provided free meals to a group of needy students on a daily basis.	No specific number provided	The projects are funded through donations from companies/organisations, alumni and individuals, including UNIVEN staff and students as well as SRC.
23	Walter Sisulu University	N/A	N/A	N/A
24	University of the Western Cape	UWC provides ad-hoc food support programmes for residence students, sports athletes and for emergency relief especially during the exam period.	To date 1200 students have been supported.	The main support comes from Tiger Brands. Occasionally, Shoprite and Checkers and Pick ‘n Pay provide support to deserving students.
25	University of the Witwatersrand	The University provides monthly food packs, food gardens and a daily meal programme	+/- 2000 students	The University receives funding from corporate sponsors, although Council funds are set aside for the programme in the event of funding not being sourced.
26	University of Zululand	N/A	N/A	N/A

Reply:

Government has considered various options to support the unemployed in addition to the many measures that are currently in place.

A basic package of support in the form of a work seekers grant that would assist the person to actively look for work and travel to interviews is being modelled by the National Treasury. The implementation of such an allowance or grant will depend on the availability of funding, taking into account government’s commitment on the R350 SRD grant that is currently being paid.

The Department of Employment and Labour and the National Pathway Management Network established under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention provides free assistance to work seekers, including the compilation of CVs, job preparation, life skills, employment counselling and access to job opportunities that employers have made available.

Reply:

The South African Air Force (SAAF) transported the President to Welkom on 8 October 2022.

The SAAF is responsible for the air transport of the President and Deputy President, regardless of the purpose of the travel, as mandated by a Cabinet Memorandum of May 1994.

Reply:

1. (a) The National Department does not have any agreement with Temporary Employment Services (TES) in terms of the training of nurses. The Department does not form partnerships with labour brokers or agencies for the training of nurses.

Prospective providers for Nursing Education programmes have to register with Department of Higher Education and need to apply for accreditation from the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Applications are done per programme leading to registration in any of the prescribed categories of nursing according to the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No 33 of 2005). The SANC accredits nursing education institutions and programmes in terms of professional integrity, standards of education, clinical training and placement in appropriate health facilities. SANC also consider whether programmes demonstrate relevance, responding to a specific population’s health service needs. The CHE accredit programmes based on the academic standards of Higher Education.

(b) Induction is done by the health establishment for every cohort of new recruits, focussing on, amongst other subjects, national-, provincial-, and the health establishment’s policies. Health professionals are additionally inducted on the health establishment’s standard operating procedures for the professional group. This function cannot be outsourced, as it forms an integral part of orientation of new employees to a workplace and is seen as letting new employees feel welcome and appreciated by their employers.

2. (a) The National Department of Health has no plans to utilize TES for medical training. Medical training is the exclusive domain of medical schools.

(b) The Department has not established the accreditation status of the TES training programmes

(3)(a), (b) (i), (ii) See reply to (1) (a) here above.

 

END.

Reply:

(1. a) The National Department of Health has one Corporate Bursary Programme which targets only employees of the National Department of Health and its satellite offices.

(b) (i) The funding allocation for audited years:

Audited Year	Allocation	Expenditure
2020/21	R1,200,000.00	R408,240.88
2021/22	R1,500,000.00	R746,040.45

(ii)

The department has only 1 Corporate Service Bursary programme.

(c) Employees who received bursaries are as follows:

Audited Year	Number of beneficiaries
2020/21	06
2021/22	16
2022/23	The Study Assistance Committee is finalizing the adjudication process

(d) The department did not encounter any irregularity for the audited financial years and as such did not lose any money. The programme is audited on a regular basis and no findings were flagged during the audited financial years.

(2) (a) there are no officials that were suspended, disciplined and/or dismissed because there has not been any reported irregularly in relation to the bursaries offered by the National Department of Health.

(b) based on the response in part (a) above, the question is therefore not applicable

(c) based on the response in part (a) above, the question is therefore not applicable

(d) based on the response in part (a) above, the question is therefore not applicable

(3) There are no officials that were suspended, disciplined and/or dismissed because there has not been any reported irregularly in relation to the bursaries offered by the National Department of Health

 

END.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

(a)– (b)

The total percentage and monetary value of capital under-expenditure by Transnet National Ports Authority in the past four (4) financial years, i.e., 2018/19 to 2021/22 has been 32%, translating into R 9 696 million under-expenditure. The proportion of the capital under-expenditure (both in monetary and percentages) per port and/or business unit is as shown in Table 1 on the following page.

Table 1: Under/ over-expenditure

	Port/ BU	Under/ Over -expenditure 2018/19	Under/ Over -expenditure 2019/20	Under/ Over -expenditure 2020/21	Under/ Over -expenditure 2021/22	Under/ Over -expenditure Over past 4 Years
i.	RCB	- R 219m	- R 144m	- R 278m	- R 100m	R 1,883m
		70%	49%	93%	41%	49%
ii.	DBN	- R 305m	- R 905m	- R 317m	R 736m	- R 2,036m
		41%	78%	70%	336%	25%
iii.	EL	- R 83m	- R 23m	- R 28m	R 56m	- R 429m
		81%	32%	67%	525%	41%
iv.	NGQ	- R 245m	R 227m	- R 182m	- R 245m	- R 390m
		77%	48%	41%	56%	10%
v.	PE	- R 30m	- R 31m	- R 25m	R 22m	- R 362m
		40%	49%	45%	52%	25%
vi.	MSB	- R 27m	- R 10m	R 0m	- R 3m	- R 110m
		86%	31%	0%	14%	57%
vii.	CPT	- R 119m	- R 26m	- R 146m	R 148m	- R 844m
		82%	24%	63%	112%	25%
viii.	SLD	- R 243m	R 7m	- R 275m	- R 107m	- R 1,326m
		92%	6%	80%	47%	50%
	DRS	- R 356m	- R 340m	- R 178m	- R 369m	- R 1,578m
		88%	100%	99%	99%	50%
	HO	- R 63m	R 149m	- R 54m	- R 119m	- R 426m
		34%	2092%	52%	38%	20%
	LHS	- R 40m	- R 13m	- R 21m	- R 40m	- R 312m
		76%	32%	71%	62%	51%
	Grand Total Under-expenditure	- R 1,732m	- R 1,108m	- R 1,503m	- R 22m	- R 9,696m
		66%	41%	69%	1%	32%

NB – All negative amounts and percentages denote under-expenditure.

 

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet:

a) An assessment was done by the Department of Transport, the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration Department) and the TNPA, and agreement was reached that there is currently no need for new infrastructure. Thus,

1. No new customs facilities will be built; and
2. No new infrastructure will be built to allow passengers to get off the specified ships for tourism facilities.

b) A few requirements were identified for the Port of Saldanha to attain Port of Entry Status. The requirements included identifying a suitable site and a housing facility to accommodate the relevant government departments; as well as an area to process the arriving passengers.

(i) The site identified and allocated for the Government Departments already has a housing facility equipped with running water, electricity, and connectivity. The identified housing facility is currently leased to the Department of Public Works on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration Department). The assessing team has confirmed that the site meets the requirements from the TNPA for Port of Entry Status. Upgrades will only be undertaken as and when required.

ii) A temporary passenger facility will be erected as and when there is a need. Three sites have been identified for such erection and processing. As and when the demand proves necessary for permanent infrastructure development, new infrastructure will be developed to process passenger arrivals.

 

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

(a) and (b):

The table below shows Transnet National Ports Authority’s total revenue for the past four financial years from FY 2018/19 to FY 2021/22, as well as revenue contributions per port.

i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

vi.

vii.

viii

Reply:

According to Information Received from Eskom:

a) The US$497 million (approximately R9 billion) World Bank concessional loan facility to Eskom for the repurposing of Komati Power Station, comprises US$439.5 million from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a US$47.5 million facility from the Canada Clean Energy and Forest Climate Fund (CCEFCF) and a grant of US$10 million from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). The IBRD and CCEFCF facilities are both 20-year facilities, with the IBRD facility bearing an interest rate of SOFR (six months average secured overnight financing rate) plus 0.86% (approximately 2.88% all in as of 7 November 2022) and the CCEFCF facility bearing interest at a rate of 0.75%. The loans have a capital repayment grace period of five years and are then amortised over the remaining 15 years. The IBRD facility has a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum of the undrawn balance and a front-end fee of 0.25% of the full loan amount.

b) The loan allows Eskom to finance the repurposing of Komati Power Station at a concessional cost of funding and create jobs and opportunities for workers and communities that are impacted by the decommissioning of Komati.

c) The loan will be used to finance the decommissioning of the Komati Power Station, repurposing and repowering of the station and other elements of the Just Energy Transition (JET), including provision for the training of Eskom employees, community development and stakeholder initiatives. The repurposing will install 150MW of photovoltaic, 70MW wind generating capacity, 150MW from a Battery Energy Storage System and a synchronous condenser.

d) In line with the IRP 2019, Eskom plans to decommission and repurpose coal-fired power plants at Camden, Hendrina, and Grootvlei. In alignment with Eskom’s JET Strategy, repurposing of the retired capacity will mean replacement with renewable generation capacity, while considering the economic, social, and environmental challenges of the transition. The repurposing of these power stations is estimated to cost circa US$2.6 billion.

e) The funding is anticipated to come from a combination of development finance institutions, climate funds and the private sector.

 

 

Reply:

1. Shelters and interim housing arrangements do not fall within the department’s remit. However, the Department in its key role in overseeing the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide took the initiative and reached out to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure pertaining the availability of unused government buildings to be used as shelters for abused women. Specifically, this effort aimed to (a) address the shortage of shelters for victims/survivors; and (b) ensure establishment of additional shelters in communities so that victims/survivors can better be served as well as accommodate LGBTQIA+ community, children and persons with disabilities.

2. The Department monitored the Department of public works and Infrastructure on the buildings they planned to offer to the Department of Social Development and also facilitated ongoing discussions between both departments to conclude on drafted Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) on this initiative.

___________________________

Approved by Minister

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Date:

Reply:

(1) The Mining right is still active; therefore, West Coast Resources will still be liable and expected to carry-out the rehabilitation and environmental monitoring. In this case, part of the responsibility of the Business Rescue Practitioner will be handling the environmental obligation management as required by the National Environmental Management Act, (No.107 of 1998) (as amended).

(2) The inspection was conducted by the Department and Department Agri, Env Affairs, Rural Dev Land reform on the 02 August 2022 to assess the concern raised. The outcome of the inspection was that the mining operation had ceased and no activity was observed onsite.

The site visit was undertaken during the of windy season of the year and still none dust emission were observed. Normally Department would request dust monitoring to commence in case there is extreme dust emission within a timeframe of 3 months from the date the notice is issued and the submission of a Dust Management Plan for approval and implementation.

(3) The Mining Right is still active, the department has already enforced the obligation by the Right Holder to undertake the rehabilitation process and these proved to have been done and continuing.

(4) (a) mining area in Kamiesberg area. (b) The rehabilitation process has been undertaken by West Coast Resources (right holder).

 

Reply:

During the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade talks that commenced in 1986, the National Party government of the time bound South Africa to substantial trade liberalization commitments that were incorporated in the terms of South Africa’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 1994. Details of the background hereto was provided in a presentation made by the Ministry to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on 15 November 2022. The rapid liberalization without supportive industrial policies to address the lack of competitiveness of major parts of the pre-1994 industrial base, led to a sharp decline in the proportion of GDP made up by manufacturing output, in other words, a de-industrialisation of the economy.

In 2019 at the start of the current Administration, the President outlined the basic elements of a ‘re-imagined industrial strategy’ that placed deeper local industrialisation at the core of public policy. Though interrupted by the global economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, key elements of this reindustrialization strategy are being implemented. These include the following:

1. the focus on sector-level industrial plans agreed with business and labour, through a number of Master Plans agreed for a number of sectors, complemented by efforts during Covid-19 to build the medical industrial sector
2. the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery plan and the Accord on Localisation agreed with social partners at Nedlac, covering 42 product categories and a number of value-chains
3. protection of local industry through appropriate tariff increases on industrial and agricultural products; or where warranted, decreases in duties applicable through rebates of duty;
4. industrial support measures to address structural inefficiencies and assist with structural transformation of sectors
5. the focus on trade with the rest of the African continent, including through trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (the AfCFTA); and
6. the identification of and support to beneficiation and green industrial projects.

The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has been provided with periodic reports on progress made in these areas, including most recently with the detailed half-year report on the 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan, provided to the Committee on 1 November 2022. The Honourable Member is invited to consider the details provided therein.

Reports on mineral beneficiation have been provided in the quarterly updates by the Department to the Portfolio Committee. Our natural endowment of primary minerals and its beneficiation is an opportunity to promote further industrialisation. At the start of this year the dtic along with the IDC and the DMRE institutionalised the Inter-Agency Working Group on Minerals Beneficiation to align priorities and improve the impact. The Working Group focus currently is on Minerals that go into our renewable energy distribution and generation transition, including battery energy storage, and jewellery minerals.

With regards to Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), a PGMs roadmap is being worked on with Mintek with the departments responsible for mineral resources and energy (DMRE) and science and innovation (DSI) that includes projects focused on the hydrogen economy, batteries, new medical equipment and products, and catalysts.

The chrome beneficiation value-chain already focuses on stainless steel products manufacturing and smelting within the Republic. Impediments to our mineral endowment beneficiation strategies include inadequate freight rail infrastructure and the availability and price of energy.

South Africa is learning from experiences of industrialisation by a number of countries, including fast-growing Asian economies such as China, though conditions in each country are different. For example, China is able to leverage off its massive domestic market of 1,5 million consumers and its early phase of industrialisation was based inter alia on lower input costs that what applies in South Africa. To address scale, South Africa is working with neighbouring countries to finalise a free-trade agreement covering countries on the African continent to create a larger market for local producers. To address input costs, the focus will be on improved industrial dynamism and multi-factor productivity.

Our industrialisation efforts are focused on strategic industries, defined by their capacity to be labour absorbing or providers of critical public goods or significant earners of foreign exchange. Many of the world’s largest economies including the United States, China, India and countries in the European Union continue to actively protect and promote their domestic firms through a range of policy measures in order to retain and change the structure of their respective economies.

Government’s industrialisation initiatives such as encouraging localisation of production; social compacts in the form of Master Plans; strong industrial supply chains to underpin our response to COVID-19 and create an African medical productive hub; or our work on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), have all sought to provide local industry with the space and opportunity to acquire the know-how and capabilities to develop dynamic firms, grow the economy, create jobs for the citizens of the South Africa.

-END-

Reply:

a) National Treasury is currently working on the detail execution plan for Eskom’s debt that will incorporate mechanisms that will not negatively impact the fiscus. As announced by the Minister of Finance in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, the details of this plan will be announced at the Budget 2023.

b) Details of the various elements of the Eskom debt relief package, including mechanisms to tackle arrear debt, cost reflective tariffs, cost optimisation, and unbundling, amongst others, will be tabled at the Budget 2023, following the necessary approvals.

National Treasury is also engaging with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the debt solution that will be implemented will turn Eskom into a sustainable entity that will not rely on the fiscus.

Reply:

According to Information Received from Eskom:

a) In the next 10 years, up to the end of 2032, seven (7) stations, including Komati, are planned to be fully shut down and an additional two (2) are expected to have some units shut down. It should be noted that Eskom currently does not have plans to fully decommission these stations in line with the strategy for repurposing and repowering the sites in support of the Just Energy Transition (JET).

b)  Eskom plans to add 150 MW solar power, 600 MWh battery energy storage and 70 MW wind power to replace the shut-down capacity at Komati. Eskom notes that it is not expected that the full capacity of the coal stations to be shut down could be replaced on a 1-to-1 basis by repowering and repurposing with renewables. The responsibility of ensuring adequate capacity lies with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and those plans are reflected in the latest Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019). Eskom’s shutdown plans are generally in line with the assumptions in the IRP and in fact, the IRP assumed that 4 888 MW of coal stations would already be shut down by the end of 2022. Tutuka, however, is planned to be shut down earlier than assumed in the IRP due to techno-economic considerations.

Eskom is, however, committed to both improving the performance of the Generation fleet and introducing additional capacity, comprising both renewable and low carbo technologies, in order to assist the DMRE with guaranteeing adequate capacity to meet the electricity demands of the nation.

 

Reply:

(a) According to the South Rand hospital management the current staff complement in the hospital is six-hundred and twenty-nine (629) with a vacancy of twenty-six (26).

(b) (i)(aa)(aaa) Table 1 below indicate absentee record in each month for financial year 2020/21

Financial year 2020/21	Absentee record (raw number)	Absentee record (percentage) (N=629)
April	19	3%
May	31	5%
June	38	6%
July	57	9%
August	25	4%
September	38	6%
October	31	5%
November	25	4%
December	25	4%
January	25	4%
February	25	4%
March	19	3%
Annual average	31	5%

(b) (i)(bbb) Table 2 below indicate absentee record for financial year 2021/22

Financial year 2021/22	Absentee record (raw numbers	Absentee record (percentage) (N=629)
April	19	3%
May	25	4%
June	57	9%
July	31	5%
August	31	5%
September	25	4%
October	13	2%
November	31	5%
December	57	9%
January	38	6%
February	16	2.5%
March	19	3%
Annual Average	31	5%

(bb) Table 3 below indicate absentee record for financial year 2022/23

Financial year 2022/23	Absentee record (raw numbers	Absentee record (percentage) (N=629)
April	25	4%
May	25	4%
June	31	5%
July	38	6%
August	25	4%
September	25	4%

(c) The hospital has processes, procedures and mechanisms to always ensure staff attendance

• All employees are required to record their attendance in the Z8 register daily by entering the time they report for and leave work.
• The leave register is also used to manage staff attendance for both sick and vacation.
• Shift supervision in each department to verify employee attendance during all required working hours.

END.

Reply:

According to the information received from Eskom

(a)

When the last operating unit at Komati Power Station was shut down on 31 October 2022, this removed a potential 114 MW from the system. Before the shutdown of the Komati units, all nine units had a nominal capacity of 884 MW.

(b)

Eskom plans to add 150 MW solar, 150 MW wind and 70 MW wind power to replace this shut down capacity. Eskom notes that it is not expected that the full capacity of the coal stations to be shut down could be replaced on a 1-to-1 basis by repowering and repurposing with renewables. The responsibility of ensuring adequate capacity lies with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and those plans are reflected in the latest Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019). The shutdown of Komati is in line with the assumptions in the IRP and in fact, the IRP assumed that 4 888 MW of coal stations would already be shut down by the end of 2022.

Eskom is, however, committed to both improving the performance of the Generation fleet and introducing additional capacity, comprising both renewable and low carbon technologies, in order to assist the DMRE in guaranteeing adequate capacity to meet the electricity demands of the nation.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

(a) – (b):

The total capital budget for Transnet National Ports Authority for the past four (4) financial years, i.e., 2018/19 to 2021/22 was R 9,611,861,186. The total per year and the corresponding proportion of the capital budget per port and/or business unit is as shown in .

Table 1: Capital Budget for the past four financial years

	Ports/ BU	Budget 2018/19 (R)	Budget 2019/20 (R)	Budget 2020/21 (R)	Budget 2021/22 (R)	Budget Total 4 Years (R)
i.	Richards Bay	313,675,026	293,419,973	299,517,725	247,695,964	1,154,308,688
ii.	Durban	739,948,775	1,162,104,371	449,722,731	218,638,550	2,570,414,427
iii.	East London	103,433,433	71,192,492	41,579,111	10,663,936	226,868,972
iv.	Ngqura	320,143,274	473,228,241	445,569,466	434,321,234	1,673,262,216
v.	Port Elizabeth	74,999,174	62,525,281	56,625,106	43,079,731	237,229,292
vi.	Mossel Bay	32,108,064	32,196,033	3,897,130	18,594,591	86,795,818
vii.	Cape Town	144,279,479	106,752,864	231,964,582	131,976,905	614,973,830
viii.	Saldanha Bay	265,588,285	126,142,313	345,848,743	230,189,938	967,769,279
	Dredging	405,660,000	332,589,480	179,241,695	371,512,961	1,289,004,137
	Lighthouse	52,500,644	39,074,500	29,950,002	64,568,000	186,093,146
	Head Office	184,104,169	7,127,723	103,763,171	310,146,317	605,141,380
	Grand Total	2,636,440,324	2,706,353,272	2,187,679,462	2,081,388,128	9,611,861,186

 

Reply:

(1) (a) The process that was followed in appointing Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) as the transaction advisor was through competitive bidding process carried out by South African Airways (SAA). The Department opted to participate in the contract that had been concluded by another organ of state, in this case SAA.

(1) (b) Minister did not play a role in the appointment of RMB by SAA or the Department.

 

Reply:

a) There were no posts advertised for Oakley clinic. The facility was operationalized using nurses from the old clinic.

b) Oakley Clinic only received one (1) COVID-19 Professional Nurse on contract and she never worked as a general worker.

 

END.

Reply:

a) The Department has prioritised Mental Health as an important aspect of health that is

crucial to the overall well-being of individuals and society. The Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No.17 of 2002), its Regulations and guidelines as well as the National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan 2013-2020 that is currently under review guide the efforts to address the mental health of our people.

There are many risk factors for developing mental health problems, and these include living with a chronic condition such as HIV, tuberculosis, cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, women around childbirth and poverty. The Health Sector’s strategy is to focus on comprehensive efforts for prevention, early identification, early intervention and strengthening follow-up care for mental health problems at all the levels of the health care system as this would ensure that all at-risk populations are cared for. Among the plans that are in place to strengthen the efforts to address the mental health of our people, including those living with chronic conditions are the following:

• Progressive integration of mental health into the general health service environment

including primary, secondary, and tertiary level health establishments as envisaged by the Mental Health Care Act, 2002, to among others improve access to mental health services and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

• Improving skills and capacity of health care providers for early identification and

management of mental health problems at primary health care through training as well as complementing the numbers of available staff through contracting private mental health care providers (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists) to render mental health services at primary health care level.

• Strengthening clinical mental health skills among health care providers working in health

facilities listed to conduct 72-hours assessment of involuntary mental health care users as well as in mental health units that are attached to general hospitals.

• Screening and management for common mental disorders including depression, anxiety and alcohol and other drugs abuse at primary health care.

• Integration of mental health screening and referral in the school health programme as well as in the community health worker programme.

• Using various platforms and media to educate the public on mental health issues in collaboration with other stakeholders including civil society.

• Strengthening collaborations with other departments and stakeholders to ensure that the upstream determinants of mental health that lie within their mandates are addressed.

b) The updated National Health Sector HIV prevention Strategy (2020-2025), ensures that

combination HIV prevention strategies are employed for the people who inject drugs (PWID), and the strategy calls for capacity building and skilled health practitioners to deal with substance abuse disorders.

In terms of interventions to reduce transmission the following combination prevention interventions are available in the public health facilities for PWID:

Biomedical interventions: Collaboration with partners for needle exchange support programmes, male and female Condoms and lubricants, post-exposure prophylaxis for unintended exposure, and Pre-exposure prophylaxis (for prevention of acquisition), including monitoring of PrEP retention, HIV testing services (HTS) and referral to treatment for those who test HIV positive, STI management (screening and treatment).

Socio-behavioural interventions: Mental health screening, referral, and linkage to psychosocial support services. Accurate and appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and messages.

 

END.

Reply:

a) Several initiatives have been adopted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements to address delays resulting in project management shortfalls. Firstly, additional service providers have been appointed to expedite the construction of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs).

Secondly, built environment professionals have been appointed to expenditure any land planning development required including Town and Regional Planners, Urban Planners, Civil Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Environment Management Specialists, and Build Control Inspectors.

Thirdly, during the early stages of implementing recovery efforts, a need to appoint social facilitators was identified and this has since been addressed. Lastly, the Housing Development Agency (HDA) an entity of the National Department of Human Settlements has been appointed by the Province as a Project Manager. Therefore, any initial project management shortfalls have been adequately addressed and continue to be attended to as they arise.

b) The monitoring of the quality of TRUs occurs at various levels and by various spheres and entities of government. As a result, all TRUs constructed are in compliance with the norms and standards contained in the National Housing Code of 2009 and are subjected to quality control inspections by the Provincial quality assurors prior to payment of any service providers. In addition, both the National and the Provincial Departments conduct verification of the TRUs in order to ensure adherence to policy and construction standards. Furthermore, the Office of the Auditor-General as well as the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation conduct physical verification and quality assessment on samples of TRUs that have been constructed.

Reply:

A total of 213 hospitals has been submitted to Eskom to be considered for possible exclusion from loadshedding. About 67% of these hospitals are supplied by municipalities while Eskom supplies about 33% of the identified hospitals. Out of the 213 hospitals, 76 hospital has been exempted of which 25 are directly supplied by Eskom and 50 by Municipalities. The number of hospitals exempted to date have doubled since the meeting held on 22 September 2022 between Eskom and National Department of Health. It is still work in progress.

END.

Reply:

a) i               17

ii              8

b) i & ii      see below spreadsheet.

COMPONENT DESCRIPTION	JOB TITLE DESCRIPTION	SALARY LEVEL	Total Package
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE MINISTER	16	R1 739 784.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE MINISTER	16	R1 054 311.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	DOMESTIC WORKER	3	R170 474,58
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	DOMESTIC WORKER	3	R170 474,58
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	DRIVER/MESSENGER (MINISTERIAL & PARLIAMENTARY SER.	5	R241 544,70
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	REGISTRY CLERK	7	R421 809,30
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST (PTA)(MINISTERIAL & PARL.S)	6	R290 046,81
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST (CT)(MINISTERIAL & PARL.S)	7	R385 752,27
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	ASSISTANT APPOINT.& ADMIN.SEC (MIN & PARL.SERV)	9	R523 675,65
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	ADMIN. SECRETARY (MINISTERIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY SE	11	R744255.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS	11	R744255.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT	11	R744255.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	CABINET&PARLIAMENTARY OFFICER (MINISTERIAL&PARL.S)	11	R744255.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	PARLIAMENTARY AND CABINET SUPPORT	12	R882042.00
COMPONENT DESCRIPTION	JOB TITLE DESCRIPTION	SALARY LEVEL	Total Package
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	PRIVATE SECRETARY (MINISTERIAL & PARL.SERV.)	12	R882042.00
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	CHIEF OF STAFF: MINISTERIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY SERV	14	R1 269 951
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER	MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER (MINISTERIAL & PARL.SERVICE)	11	R744255.00
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	DOMESTIC WORKER	3	R170 474,58
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER:	DOMESTIC WORKER	3	R170 474,58
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	DRIVER/MESSENGER (MINISTERIAL & PARLIAMENTARY SER.	4	R202 018,83
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST (MINISTERIAL & PARL.S)	5	R241 544,70
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	REGISTRY CLERK (OFFICE OF THE DM)	7	R380 055,81
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	PRIVATE SECRETARY (MINISTERIAL & PARL.SERV.)	12	R882042.00
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICER	11	R744255.00
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER: DMRE	PARLIAMENTARY & CABINET COORD.	11	R744255.00

Reply:

(1) The total number of Community Healthcare Workers(CHWs) across the Republic who are currently on contract is 49,086.

(2) A three-year agreement is in place at the PHSDSBC for the continued public sector contracting of CHWs. Meanwhile the National Department of Health is working with the Department of Labour and with National Treasury to find a solution with regard to employment conditions of community health workers.

(a) There are no community health workers who have been absorbed on permanent basis. The NDoH has been informed that Gauteng Department of Health has embarked on a preferred recruitment strategy that resulted in 8,253 Community Health workers being appointed into different vacant posts in the province.

(b) This depends on the outcome of the work being done by the National Department of Health in collaboration with the Department of Labour and with National Treasury.

 

END.

Reply:

SHORT-TERM INTERVENTIONS

1. The National Department of Health has provided Eskom with a total of 213 hospitals to be considered for possible exclusion from loadshedding. About 67% of these hospitals are supplied by municipalities while Eskom supplies about 33% of the identified hospitals. Out of the 213 hospitals, 76 hospital has been exempted of which 25 are directly supplied by Eskom and 50 by Municipalities. The number of hospitals exempted to date have doubled since the meeting held on 22 September 2022 between Eskom and National Department of Health.

MEDIUM-TERM TO LONG-TERM INTERVENTIONS

2. The preliminary network analysis that has been conducted reveals that 25 hospital in various provinces can be excluded from loadshedding by building new infrastructure at the indicative cost of approximately R101 million rand. For hospitals deeply embedded in the Municipalities networks, Eskom will support the Department of Health in exploring possible options and can offer containerized PV(PhotoVoltaics) solutions where possible.

3. The National Department of Health in partnership with CSIR (Council for Scientific & Industrial Research) is currently conducting a due diligent exercise for the installation of solar panels at all our health facilities as a first or second or third power back-up mechanism (first being generators; second being solar panels; and third being Uninterrupted Power Suppliers). This due diligent exercise is inclusive of solar PV + battery storage as backup for the critical areas of the following hospital types based on an estimated demand profile

• Clinics both 8 & 24 hours
• Community Health Centres (CHCs):
• District Hospitals
• Regional Hospitals
• Tertiary Hospitals
• Central Hospitals
• Specialized Hospitals

The purpose of the study is to identify a critical consumption for critical areas of each health facility so that the department can be able to roll-out the relevant solar energy for each health facility.

 

END.

Reply:

a) The supply constraints related to contraceptives have been resolved. Currently, there are no challenges related to the availability of contraceptives. As on 04 November 2022, availability of contraceptives across all facilities in the public sector was 91.3%.

b) It is the Departments of Health’s policy to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare through availability of safe, effective and cost-effective medicines at the appropriate level of care. The National Department of Health manages contracts of approximately 1 200 essential medicine items. Contracts are awarded to suppliers (manufacturers) following an open tender process in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act. Provinces procure medicines directly from contacted suppliers. Note that the public sector services the healthcare needs of 84% of South Africa’s population.

The NDOH continuously engages with the contracted suppliers to identify any possible supply challenges, to adjust the demand forecast (where necessary) and to work together to mitigate the risks. Furthermore, the NDOH established a decision-making forum where all provinces are represented; to identify interventions aimed at addressing any medicine supply challenges, to improve medicine availability and to reduce the potential impact of stock outs.

Where supply constraints are identified, the NDOH works with the provinces to identify and implement interventions to minimize stock outs and impact on patients. These interventions are informed by the cause of the supply challenge:

• Where the supply constraint is due to operational matters e.g., machine breakdown, labor unrest, theft, post importation testing, etc. the NDOH would source products from alternative local suppliers with registered products using the quotation process.
• Should the supply constraint result in a longer term supply challenge, such as regulatory matters including amendments to the dossier that requires approval from South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), including a change/addition of an active pharmaceutical ingredient source and/or manufacturing site, the transfer of ownership of dossiers which results in a change of marketing authorization, delays in the issuing of the permits for imported medicines, manufactured products requiring additional quality checks by SAHPRA, etc. and no alternative local suppliers with registered products are available; an application would be made to SAHPRA for the acquisition of unregistered medicines for human use in South Africa Act use in terms of Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act

With regard to:

• Metformin – there were no supply challenges in the public sector.
• Betagesic – i.e. ibuprofen. There were no supply challenges as contracts were awarded to four different suppliers to ensure security of supply of ibuprofen.
• Napamol – i.e. paracetamol 500 mg tablets. There were no supply challenges as contracts were awarded to four different suppliers to ensure security of supply of paracetamol.
• Ponstan – i.e. mefenamic acid. This medicine is not an essential medicines and therefore there is no contract for this item.

The availability of ibuprofen and paracetamol at facility level as on 04 November 2022 was 92% and of metformin, 91.2%.

The question from the Honourable Ismail is reflective of stock outs experienced in the private sector over which the Department has no control. Private sector services the healthcare needs of only 16% of South Africa’s population.

Private sector pharmacies procure medicines from wholesalers based on Single Exit Price. In this context, there is no aggregation of demand. Furthermore, availability is dependent on market forces based on supply and demand. The situation makes the private sector vulnerable to supply challenges.

However, with the implementation of National Health Insurance, in the context of one health system, these supply challenges will also be addressed.

 

END.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

The top five capital projects for the Port of Saldanha are listed in the table below. These projects form the bulk of the R182m investment committed for 2022/23. The table includes the planned completion dates and link with the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone.

Port of Saldanha Top 5 Projects (a)	Planned Project Completion Date (b)	Link with Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) (c)
1. Bulk Electrical Power Supply and ancillary installation	30 June 2023	Project makes allowance for a tie-in of SBIDZ switching station with Port’s new main intake substation for supply of 16MVA electrical power to the SBIDZ over next 16 years
2. Security Requirements to Maintain ISPS Accreditation - Fencing	30 June 2023	None
3. Purchase of Fire and Emergency Services Appliances	01 June 2023	None
4. Dredging Requirements in the Port	30 May 2023	Planned dredging to maintain berth depth requirements associated with TNPA/ Saldehco Facility Operator Agreement, as per concluded Section 56 process. SBIDZ has sub-leasing agreement with Saldehco of 20ha.
Port of Saldanha Top 5 Projects (a)	Planned Project Completion Date (b)	Link with Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) (c)
5. Refurbishment of Quay and Jetty Infrastructure - Fenders	14 March 2023	None

 

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

(a) – (b) and (i) - (ii)

The Competition Commission (CC) is yet to make its final findings in relation to the CC investigations against TNPA and TPT. To this end there is no administrative fine imposed by the Commission against Transnet and any of its ODs, at this stage. The CC report will be made public once it is available.

 

Reply:

According to the information Received from Transnet:

Transnet contracting specifically precludes claims that are regarded as consequential losses by all our customers. Any possible financial losses by farmers as a result of the strike qualify as such and will therefore not be considered on the basis of the above exclusion. All farmers, small and large scale, are expected to have insurance in place to underwrite risks of this nature.

 

Reply:

a) Oakley Clinic is not a new clinic. It was operating in a 2 x 2 meter roomed structure since 1965 and later in 2016, it was operating in an Innovation Building Technology (IBT) structure. A new site was sourced for construction of an Ideal Clinic and construction started on 20 November 2017. The contractor completed the project and handed it officially over to the Department on 08 June 2020. On 09 June 2020 the clinic took occupation of the structure, and it is operated as an 8-hour facility as gazetted.

b) A feasibility study to operationalize the facility as a 24-hour facility, has been conducted. This exercise resulted in a recommendation that an open space inside the facility should be converted into a Maternity Obstetric Unit. This will be considered pending the availability of funds in the 2024-2025 financial year.

END.

Reply:

After consulting with the Provincial Departments of Health, the Minister is convinced that Provincial Departments of Health have developed efficient and effective plans to ensure that despite financial challenges they encounter within the Cost of Employment (COE), viable plans have been developed to sustain service delivery across all nine Provinces. This is substantiated by the information in the table below:

Question	EC	FS	GAU	KZN	LIM	MPU	NW	NC	WC
1(a) what steps has his department taken to fill such posts	The Department has approved its Annual Recruitment Plan for 2022/23 which comprises 1057 critical posts (including nursing) to be filled. The funding emanated from equitable share and conditional grants. Advertisements are published monthly and posts have been filled, whilst others are still in selection phases.	Due to the current pressure on the compensation of employees, the department has appointed a Recruitment Task Team that looks at reprioritization of critical posts in line with the available budget	As of the 30th September 2022, there were 4 392 unfunded vacant nursing posts in the organisational structure of the Gauteng Department of Health. The Department has requested for additional funds to fill the critical vacant nursing posts.	As at 31 October 2022, the Department has prioritized filling of 426 Nursing posts: Professional Nurses 176 Staff Nurses 164 Nursing Assistants 86	The Department has advertised professional nurses’ posts, already shortlisted and interviews have been conducted.	The Department Annually identifies critical posts and demands that need to be filled throughout the year. The Department has the following posts with no funding to fill them however, identified to be critical to ensure continuity of quality health care in the province.	The Department identified critical vacant nursing posts vacated prior to 01 April 2022 to be filled during the 2022/23 financial year within the available compensation of employees' budget. Posts are filled as soon as possible considering the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA)'s prescripts in terms of advertising, shortlisting, interviews and verification processes	The Department prioritised the filling of the critical and scarce skills within the nursing fraternity. The HR Plan addresses the need as a priority for the 2022/2023 financial	Vacancies are filled on a continuous basis through block adverts and recruitment throughout the year in response to the service demands.
1(b)(i) in which provinces will the specified vacancies be filled and (ii) what number of the total number of vacant posts will be filled)	The department prioritized the filling of 867 posts (i.e. 230 permanent vacant posts in different categories, including Operational Managers, Professional Nurses: General, Professional Nurses: Specialty, Staff Nurses and Nursing Assistants and 637 Professional Nurses: General under the Vaccination Programme for a contract period of twelve (12) months).	The department prioritized the filling of 477 nursing posts dependant on availability of the budget	Awaiting for approval of additional funds	The department prioritized the filling of nursing posts in levels of care as they become vacant	A total of 254 posts ranging from Nursing Manager to the level of Nursing Assistant will be filled	A total of 155 staff Nurses for various hospitals and PHC Centres and 142 posts that are vacated, earmarked to be filled by Specialised nurses in the following fields of speciality: Oncology, Trauma, Advanced Midwifery, Surgery, Ophthalmic, ICU, Theatre, and Nephrology.	A total of 233 nursing posts will be filled (Professional Nurses for District Health Services = 147and Professional Nurses for Hospital and Clinical Support Services = 86)	The department is prioritising the filling of speciality and supervisory/managerial posts. The following total number per category will be filled; Operational Manager General/Speciality – 30, Assistant Managers General/Speciality – 20 and Professional Nurse General/Speciality – 30. Total - 80	As at 17 October 2022, the Western Cape had 808 vacant funded nursing posts that are being in the process of being filled.

2. Eight Provincial Departments of Health conduct their own advertisement and recruitment processes; and do not involve any other Employment Services. Only the Western Cape has partnered with agency personnel to supplement its capacity details of which were not provided in the response.

END.

Reply:

The Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements has advised that its Security Management and Anti-Corruption (SMAC) unit conducted an investigation into illegally occupied low-cost housing in the following areas of Welkom, Warden, Sasolburg, Clarens, Schoonplaatz, Harrismith, and Mangaung Hillsideview. The Provincial Department states that the investigation was in response to the public outcry about the illegally occupied houses in the province, and that the aim was to determine the extent of illegal occupation of low-cost housing in the province.

The Provincial Department further indicates that the investigation though not necessarily targeting government officials, revealed that government officials were occupying some of the low-cost houses. In total 326 houses were found to be illegally occupied and 15 of those were occupied by government officials. For the benefit of the Member, detailed findings of the investigation to date is attached (Annexure as provided by the Free State Provincial Department of Human Settlements) however the investigations are still ongoing in order to establish the full extent of the illegal occupation of low-cost housing in the province.

Reply:

•  

a) Illicit Cigarettes

(i) 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

The unit conducted 432 interventions during the period and has had 284 detentions of 91,790,304 cigarettes valued at R72,686,107.77

The unit has achieved 322 seizures of 89,356,949 cigarettes to the value of R102,878,429.40

(ii) 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

The unit conducted 102 interventions during the period and has had 106 detentions of 190,795,489 cigarettes valued at R273,527,115.63

The unit has achieved 97 seizures of 81,241,405 cigarettes to the value of R92,071,583.81

Illicit Tobacco

(iii) 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

The unit conducted 30 Illicit Tobacco interventions during the period and has had 9 detentions of 207,036 units valued at R5,240,665.00

The unit has achieved 7 seizures of 1,240 units (combination of weight in kg’s and boxes) Illicit Tobacco to the value of R19,282.00

(iv) 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

The unit conducted 45 Illicit Tobacco interventions during the period and has had 13 detentions of 536,774.50 units (combination of weight in kg’s and boxes) valued at R55,951,740.00

The unit has achieved 3 seizures of 23,039 units (combination of weight in kg’s and boxes) Illicit Tobacco to the value of R110,762.00

•  

b) Illicit Alcohol

(i) 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

The unit conducted 56 Illicit Alcohol interventions during the period and has had 43 detentions of 227,292.53 units (combination of liters/ bottles & cans) valued at R9,376,353.83

The unit has achieved 25 seizures of 25,146,924.25 units of Illicit Alcohol to the value of R8,931,872.30

(ii) 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

The unit conducted 39 Illicit Alcohol interventions during the period and has had 35 detentions of 578,304.17 units (combination of liters/ bottles & cans) valued at R19,491,172.39.

The unit has achieved 11 seizures of 12,730.25 units of Illicit Alcohol to the value of R6,915,339.00

Summary of the above data.

Period	01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
Illicit Industry	Number Interventions	Detentions	Seizures
		Number	Quantity	Value	Number	Quantity	Value
Illicit Cigarettes	432	284	91,790,304	R72,686,107.77	322	89,356,949	R102,878,429.40
Illicit Tobacco	30	9	207,036 units	R5,240,665.00	7	1,240 units	R19,282.00
Illicit Alcohol	56	43	227,292.53 units	R9,376,353.83	25	25,146,924.25 units	R8,931,872.30
Period	01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
Illicit Industry	Number Interventions	Detentions	Seizures
		Number	Quantity	Value	Number	Quantity	Value
Illicit Cigarettes	102	106	190,795,489	R273,527,115.63	97	81,241,405	R92,071,583.81
Illicit Tobacco	30	9	207,036 units	R5,240,665.00	7	1 240 units	R19,282.00
Illicit Alcohol	39	35	578,304.17 units	R19,491,172.39	11	12,730.25 units	R6,915,339.00

Reply:

In light of the department’s regulatory mandate, we have set out to ensure monitoring and evaluation is a key component of our work. It is important to note that the department is not a service delivery department, but play a key coordination and oversight role.

The department has been at the forefront of coordinating the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF). The key quantifiable action and measure is the department’s monitoring of the implementation of the NSP on GBVF. This has been done through monthly reports that are sent to the President’s office, as well as accounting to the IMC and through the production of annual reports that are published.

A reflective report on the implementation of the NSP on GBVF for the period May 2020 to September 2022 was developed.

Overall, 65% of the indicators had substantial progress and this comprises 22% achieved and 43% in progress. From a total of 203 indicators, 44 (22%) were achieved as at September 2022; 88 (43%) were in progress; and 71 (35%) of the indicators were either not achieved within the set time frame or not started. The latest report is the, “Reflective report on the implementation of the South African NSP on GBVF”, which was used as the base document for the Second Presidential Summit held from 01st-2nd of November 2022.

Aside from drive shows, imbizos and other talk shops; other progress areas include:

1. The development of the comprehensive GBVF Prevention strategy;
2. A simplified summary version of the NSP on GBVF was developed to make it easy to sensitise and mobilise;
3. Strategic guidance and support was provided to National and Provincial departments including municipalities on the integration of the priorities of the NSP on GBVF in Strategic and Annual Performance Plans, Integrated Development Plans and District Development Plans as part of ensuring budgeting;
4. Coordinating the voluntary multisectoral END GBVF collective platform which successfully piloted 100-day rapid response challenges across the six pillars of the NSP on GBVF; and
5. Out of 52 District and Metropolitan Municipalities, the establishment of 21 (40%) District level GBVF Rapid Response Teams in five provinces (KZN, EC, Northern Cape, Free State, and Mpumalanga) have been supported.

Lastly, the approach taken for the 16 days of activism is also programmatic as part of ensuring impact of initiatives. This year we have an initiative to empower women through self-defence which is a game-changer in addressing the GBVF scourge.

___________________________

Approved by Minister

Ms M Nkoana-Mashabane, MP

Date:

Reply:

The following table reflects the response in this regard.

The National Department of Health is still consulting on this Parliamentary Question to provide the correct and full details to the Honourable Member and Parliament. The information will be provided as soon as it is ready, in a short time.

END.

Reply:

My Department in conjunction with the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements are not able to establish where the Mzamo informal settlement is hence I am not able to adequately respond to the Question. I therefore wish to request the Honourable Member to provide further details such as the municipal area or town where the Mzamo informal settlement is situated as this information will allow me to provide an adequate Reply to the Honourable Member’s Question.

Reply:

With respect to historical spending on the detailed areas previously requested, the National Treasury previously provided a very detailed spreadsheet on each of those areas. This spreadsheet is attached again for your information. We are somewhat uncertain from your question, what further information you are seeking. With respect to beneficiary numbers for each of these services, these data are held by the line departments responsible for each of these services, e.g. the Department of Human Settlements for the number of houses built, or the Department of Higher education and Training for the number of NSFAS beneficiaries. You will need to approach the relevant departments for this information. However, with respect to the number of social grant beneficiaries historically, we are able to provide some information, as attached in the second accompanying spreadsheet.

Reply:

According to Information Received from Eskom:

The Eskom Academy of Learning was referred to as the Eskom College and was established in 1984. During the last few years, it went through changes and recently the mandate of the Eskom Academy of Learning (EAL) is: “To build critical capabilities in order to create a highly responsive, multi-skilled, flexible and innovative workforce that adapts to future markets and the new world of work, through cross cutting learning offerings, while simultaneously leveraging the hospitality and capabilities”.

(a)(i) Training that is offered at the EAL is tailor-made for Eskom employees and Year-To-Date (YTD), October 2022, 30 717 employees attended various training interventions.

(a)(ii) The Eskom Academy of Learning provides the following learning and development

offerings:

1. Leadership development:

Offers a suite of leadership development programmes tailored for Supervisors, Middle Managers and Senior Managers. These include but are not limited to:

• 3X core Management Development Programmes (MDP) across all leadership segments.
• 16X short courses. Most frequently booked: mentorship, tough conversations, personal resilience for leaders, leadership mindset.
• 3X Transition Programme for new Senior Managers, Middle Managers and Supervisors.
• Customised leadership offerings to address specific leadership competencies.

2. Functional training:

Offers training which is intended to enable employees to perform their duties and to ensure regulatory and legal compliance. These include, but are not limited to:

• Project Management
• Contract Management and Supply Chain Management e.g., suite of NEC, PIE, and Warehousing.
• Safety, Environment and Quality courses.
• Customer Services courses e.g., Care for Customers and Customer Revenue Billing.
• Finance e.g., Cost Centre Owner and Forex.
• Human Resources e.g., Performance Management and Employee Relations.
• Legal and compliance e.g., Ethics and PFMA.
• Security: National Key Point Management and Firm Arm handling.

3. Technical Training

The EAL offers on-site artisan training which comprises of Control, Measurement & Instrumentation, Electrical, Electrical Line Mechanic, Mechanical and Welding. Engineering training is also taking place at the EAL and at various sites of Eskom.

(b) On-job training is taking place within the different divisions at Business Unit level.

(c) The below table represents the overall Eskom training budget at organizational

level which is inclusive of the EAL’s budget.

Eskom annual training budget – R’m

FY	Budget
(aa) 2019-2020	1 225
(bb) 2020-2021	1503
(cc) 2021-2022	1 154
(dd) 2022-2023	1 141

 

 

 

Reply:

(1)(a) Eskom spent a total of R632.9 billion (excluding capitalized interest) between the start of Financial Year (FY) 2008 (1 April 2007) and the end of FY 2021 (31 March 2021), of which R320.1 billion (50.6%) was focused on increasing installed generating capacity, at:

New stations	Return to Service (RTS) stations
1. Medupi 2. Kusile 3. Ingula 4. Sere 5. Angerlig 6. Gourikwa	1. Camden 2. Komati 3. Grootvlei 4. Arnot

During this period, total installed capacity increased by 19.9% from 43.0 Gigawatt (GW) to 51.1 GW.

The remainder of the capital spend relates to the expansion of power grids, the refurbishment of all plant and the acquisition of transport fleet, computing equipment, land, buildings, furniture, workshops, and other production equipment. During the period, over 23 000 km of transmission, distribution and reticulation voltage network was commissioned, with an excess of 96 000 transformers being installed, adding over 94 000 Megavolt-ampere (MVA) to the grid.

The annual capital expenditure grew from R23.4 billion in FY 2008 to a peak of R60 billion in FY 2017 during the peak of the generation capacity expansion programme, but subsequently returned to R24 billion in the FY 2021 period.

(b) Energy sales in the period reduced from 224.4 Terawatt-hour (TWh) in FY 2008 to 191.9 TWh in FY 2021 (an annual average contraction of 1.2%). However, the FY 2021 period was impacted by the initial stringent COVID-19 lockdowns, which saw sales decrease by 6.7% from 205.6 TWh in FY 2020 to the 191.9 TWh in FY 2021. Re-working the annual contraction to the end of FY 2020 results in an annual average contraction of 0.7%. In total, over the FY 2008 – FY 2021 period, Eskom sales amounted 3 004.4 TWh; estimated loadshedding impacts over the same period totalled 5.7 TWh (the equivalent of 0.2% of the total adjusted sales in the period).

While of significant impact to the economy, the underlying sales reduction over the period cannot be wholly attributed to the impact of loadshedding since underlying shifts to more energy efficient technologies and a shift/reduction in energy consumption across sectors because of other economic factors, also play a part.

Insofar as Eskom’s energy send out is concerned, cognisance must also be taken of the impact on the country, the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) programme had over the period. Eskom’s contribution has reduced from 95.4% of the energy needed to meet consumer demand in FY 2008 to 90.0% in FY 2021, with the IPP (introduced in FY 2011) contributing 6.0% of the supply in FY 2021 – the balance is linked to the import of energy. Finally, there must also be an appreciation that the Generation plant became 15 years older during this period.

 

Reply:

The two departments are still engaging on this very complex policy framework given the challenges faced fiscally and the need for better economic growth. As Minister of Finance stated in the MTBPS, “Discussions on the future of the grant are on-going and involve very difficult trade-offs and financing decisions. Despite the provision made in this budget, I want to reiterate that any permanent extension or replacement will require permanent increases in revenue, reductions in spending elsewhere, or a combination of the two.”

Ongoing discussions on social relief responses involve the Department of Social Development, Presidency, Department of Employment and Labour, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and are exploring various options taking into account affordability, efficacy in addressing poverty, and possibilities of enabling developmental and long-term economic inclusion outcomes as opposed to focusing only on short term food provision.

DPME is coordinating some of the work assessing performance against the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan, 2018 - 2023. Assuming that 70% of social grant expenditure is spent on food, we estimated that approximately R182.1 billion was spent on food related interventions in 2021/22, as shown in Table 1 below. This includes spending on the school nutrition programme, feeding in ECD centres, clinic based nutritional support and other areas. In our view, the major problem pertaining to access to food is due to demand side factors, such as low household incomes, as opposed to supply side factors.

Table 1. Summary of food and nutrition spending

There is some evidence that child malnutrition and fatality rates from malnutrition have declined over the years (see table 12 and Figures 22 inserted in Annexure 1). There is also some indication that the substantial increase in social grants and UIF during COVID-19 gave some protection against hunger (see Figure 5).

Nevertheless, we acknowledge the pressures on households arising from substantially higher inflation. This is partly why the MTBPS indicates that the SRD 350 grant will be extended by a further year and why temporary support was given to cushion the fuel price increase. The MTBPS suggests that total non-interest expenditure will increase by R52.4 billion in 2023/24 (as compared to Budget 2022 projections). Extension of the SRD 350 grant will be by far the biggest item within this and this reflects prioritisation given to this area.

ANNEXURE 1

Reply:

No one has been found to be guilty of any misconduct with regards to the proposed sale of shares in SAA. There have been and continue to be, efforts to undermine the saving of the airline and sustain the national flag and brand.

If the negative forces succeed, some 900 jobs will be lost, the assets of the airline will be sold to competitors cheaply, and capacity will be reduced in South Africa and the traveling public will be exploited.

 

Reply:

1. As part of addressing the lack of human resources in hospitals and clinics, the Department of Health has developed and published (in February 2021), a 2030 Human Resources for Health Strategy that serves as a guideline of the Human Resources Agenda for the Public Health sector at various levels of care. The 2030 HRH Strategy modelling, indicates a current shortfall of skilled health professionals in South Africa and makes a call for investing in the Health workforce to address human resources deficits and inequalities across provinces and between private and public health sectors. However, due to stringent budgets, the implementation is at a snail’s pace.

Despite available limited resources, in the public service generally, the Department has managed put measures in place to close the vacancy-rate gap for health care related posts to 12.4% and administration positions to 11.80%, respectively, as at the 30 September 2022, across all the provinces.

In relation to Medical Equipment, the department has been experiencing budget cuts over the past few years impacting negatively on issues such as maintenance of equipment and facilities. However, new interventions in the form of conditional grants have been put in place to help provinces cope with revitalisation and maintenance backlogs.

The following are some of the conditional grants that have been introduced to help with acquisition, maintenance and revitalisation of facilities inclusive of Medical Equipment and are in addition to Equitable Share granted to provinces:

a) Health Facilities Revitalisation Grant (HFRG), Managed National Health, but transferred to provinces with conditions and oversight by National Health.

b) National Tertiary Services Grant (NTSG): Managed by National Health, but transferred to provinces for equipment gaps/shortages and repairs.

c) National Health Insurance Indirect Grant (In-kind grant): Managed and implemented under National Health through implementing agents.

Other interventions include:

a) Integration of maintenance plans and Service Level Agreements within transversal contracts administered under National Treasury to help ensure functioning equipment.

b) Development of Medical Equipment Maintenance Strategic Framework within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer within National Treasury, and the related transversal Contract for Maintenance of Medical Equipment.

2. Provincial Departments of Health are implementing various plans that include the following:

1. Annual Recruitment Plan – with prioritisation of critical posts where funding permits
2. Utilisation of conditional grant funding where it allows for prioritisation of posts
3. Filling of approved replacement posts
4. Employment of health professionals on contract basis to strengthen capacity and where funding permits these contract employees are absorbed on permanent employment at the end of their contracts
5. Awarding of bursaries yearly to internal and external candidates to study further in various disciplines where there are shortages
6. Provision of internship and community service programme

 

END.

Reply:

a) The red tape definition that the Red Tape Reduction Team in The Presidency is using at present is the following: “Red Tape can be defined as rules, regulations, and/or bureaucratic procedures and processes that are excessively complex and which impose unnecessary delay(s), inaction and/or costs that exceed their benefits, and/or is no longer effective in achieving the purpose for which they were originally created”. (Original source: Guidelines for Reducing Municipal Red Tape, 2013). The focus is specifically on red tape within government that inhibits economic growth and job creation in key areas of the economy, working with relevant role-players across government, and outside of government.

b) The Red Tape Reduction Team does not have enforcement powers but it does draw on the strategic leadership, convening and coordinating authority of The Presidency in working with departments and agencies firstly in identifying priority red tape issues and secondly in addressing them.

Thank You.

Reply:

According to the information received from Transnet

(a)– (b)

Capital Budget Detail for the period 2018/2019 to 2021/2022

	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)
Port	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Port of Durban	441,022,538	424,554,750	825,653,729	652,534,096
Port of East London	20,360,000	25,256,552	69,346,552	17,867,284
Port of Port Elizabeth	62,040,000	137,543,429	60,783,599	58,162,514
Port of Cape Town	221,204,907	256,639,379	207,388,203	117,222,693
Port of Saldanha	1,269,411,580	1,244,406,126	870,384,205	559,712,854
Port of Richards Bay	481,714,757	407,769,148	422,441,498	404,784,263
Port of Ngqura	112,325,882	138,701,408	30,871,000	92,228,961
Head office	113,500,000	242,569,008	113,919,050	123,635,445
Total	2,721,579,663	2,877,439,801	2,600,787,836	2,026,148,110

Reply:

1. (a) In line with Mental Health Care Act, 2002 as well as the World Health Organization’s approach to mental health services delivery, mental health is integrated into the general health services environment from primary health care level upwards. This is because individuals with a mental health problem often have other comorbidities as well. The budget for mental health is therefore integrated into other health services budget and cannot be singled out. The only clear cut mental health budget is that of specialised psychiatric hospitals, subsidies to community based mental health services, contracted mental health services budget, Mental Health Review Boards budget and the recently allocated conditional grant for mental health. The table below depicts the budget for mental health per province in the past five financial years as provided by the provinces.

Province	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/2022
Eastern Cape	R776 812 825	R814 343 561	R842 019 615	R677 232 329	R685 291 223
Free State	R383 350 000	R373 432 000	R389 396 100	R374 545 000	R421 315 000
Gauteng	R270 849 000	R391 061 000	R505 703 059	R610 018 600	R664 723 555
KZN	R858 384 455	R922 424 520	R965 369 481	R1 002 502 520	R954 083 000
Limpopo	R517 009 000	R547 850 000	R567 535 000	R584 614 000	R611 386 000
Mpumalanga	R48 693 000	R53 692 707	R59 510 701	R65 118 946	R78 647 305
Northern Cape	R54 871 000	R85 205 000	R108 547 000	R119 510 000	R127 371 000
North West	R482 452 366	R506 307 086	R503 906 430	R542 408 696	R602 446 383
Western Cape	Figure not provided	R921 445 000	R984 102 000	R992 619 000	R1 042 290 000
Total	-	R4 625 760 874	R4 926 089 386	R4 968 569 091	R5 189 492 466

(b)(i) The Department of Health’s Norms for Severe Psychiatric Conditions require a minimum of:

• 1x psychiatrist for acute inpatient mental health services per 100 000 fifteen (15) years and older population.
• 0.1x psychiatrist for medium to long stay inpatient mental health care per 100 000 fifteen (15) years and older population.
• 0.25xpsychiatrists for ambulatory mental health services per 100 000 fifteen (15) years and older population.

In terms of the 2022 midterm population estimates the population of 15

years and older is 43 593 223.

In line with these norms that are based on the World Health Organisation model for mental health human resources, an estimated minimum number of psychiatrists required to service the 43 592 223 South Africa population of fifteen (15) years and older is 589.

There are no norms to estimate the number of psychiatrists needed for the below 15 years old population.

According to the Health Profession’s Council of South Africa registers, South Africa has 930 psychiatrists.

(ii) The Norms for Severe Psychiatric Conditions measure the mental health service needs through the number of beds required as opposed to number of mental health facilities. In terms of the norms, a population of 100 000 fifteen (15) years and older population require an estimated minimum of 28 beds for acute mental illness, 10 medium to long stay beds and 20 beds for community based residential mental health services. In this regard, the 43 592 223 fifteen (15) years and older South African population require an estimated minimum total of 25 283 mental health beds:

• 12 206 beds for acute mental illness
• 4359 medium to long stay mental health beds
• 8718 community based residential mental health beds

According to the latest available statistics obtained from provinces South Africa has 19752 mental health beds.

(iii) Campaigning for increased awareness with regard to prevention of mental illness (adopting a healthy lifestyle), early detection and how to access mental health services when needed is a continuous process. The National Department and provincial health departments are currently doing so through door-to-door campaigns, pop-up stalls at events and in malls, community events, group and one-on-one counselling at health facilities, community radio slots and print media. These campaigns also focus on combating stigma that is associated with mental illness.

(2) Budgeting for health and other government services depends on the available resources. The World Health Organization recommends that countries allocate a minimum of between 5% and 10% of the country’s total health budget to mental health. The current estimates indicate that South Africa is spending 5% of its total health budget on mental health.

 

END.