Questions and Replies
05 December 2022 - NW4000
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)Whether his department has been monitoring the implementation of Regulation 13(c) of the Public Service Regulations and Regulation 8 of the Public Administration Management Act, Act 11 of 2014; if not, why not; if so, what has been the outcome of the specified monitoring; (2) what (a)(i) total number of public servants were found to be conducting business with the State as at 1 October 2022 and (ii) is the breakdown of the specified number for each national and provincial department and (b) is the salary level and position of each of the employees; (3) what (a) number of public servants have been subjected to disciplinary action for conducting business with the State to date and (b) has been the outcome of the disciplinary action taken in each case with regard to each of the national and provincial departments; (4) what (a) number of public servants are currently being investigated by the SA Police Service for conducting business with the State and (b) is the status of the investigations; (5) what number of public servants have been convicted for conducting business with the State as at the latest specified date for which information is available?
Reply:
1. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has been monitoring the implementation of Regulation 13(c) of the Public Service Regulations and Regulation 8 of the Public Administration Management Act, Act 11 of 2014 since 2019. Since then, the DPSA is monitoring public service employees who are allegedly conducting business with the State, through the Central Supplier Database (CSD), on a monthly basis. The following were the outcomes of the monitoring process[1]:
- As at the end of March 2019, 1068 public service employees were flagged on the CSD to be allegedly conducting business with the State. Out of the 1068, 270 employees were from the national departments while 798 were from provincial departments.
- As at the end of April 2020, 1539 public service employees were flagged on the CSD to be allegedly conducting business with the State. Out of 1539, 428 were from national departments, whilst 1111 emanated from provincial departments.
- As at end of January 2021, 484 employees were flagged on the CSD to be allegedly conducting business with the State. Out of this number, 126 were from national departments, whilest 358 came from the provincial departments.
- As at the end of January 2022, 181 employee were flagged on the CSD to be allegedly conducting business with the State. A total of 44 employees were from national departments, whilst 137 were from provincial departments.
2. a.(i) As at 1 October 2022, a total number of 113 public servants were flagged to be allegedly conducting business with the State. When flagged by the DPSA, the information is shared with departments to verify if the identified employees are still in the Public Service and for departments to investigate if these employees are indeed conducting business with the State. As per the feedback received from departments, three (3) of these public servants are representing government in an official capacity in accordance to Regulation 13(c) of the Public Service Regulations, 2016 and one (1) individual was a part time political advisor (see Table with information obtained from PERSAL and the respective departments). Thus, only 109 public servants are considered to be allegedly conducting business with the State.
(ii) the breakdown of the specified number for each national and provincial department and salary level of each employee (position is not tracked on PERSAL) is shown on the table below:
.
National Department |
(b) SALARY LEVEL |
Total |
||||||||||||||
Department |
02 |
03 |
04 |
05 |
06 |
07 |
08 |
09 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
35 |
Trade Industry and Competition |
1 |
1 Status provided: The employee represents the department at the COEGA. |
||||||||||||||
Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development |
4 The employee’s salary levels are not specified. |
|||||||||||||||
Public Service and Administration |
1 |
2 Status provided: One (1) employee was part-time Special Adviser to the previous MPSA with the contract linked to the term of office. |
||||||||||||||
Water and Sanitation |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||||
Higher Education and Training |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||
Correctional Services |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
8 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||||
Transport |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Sport Arts and Culture |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Justice and Constitutional Development |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Statistical South Africa |
1 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||||||||
Basic Education |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Science and Innovation |
1 |
3 Status report: Two (2) of the employees were appointed as Board members of the Biological and Vaccines Institute of SA (BIOVAC). |
||||||||||||||
Government Communication and Information |
1 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||||||||
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Provincial Department |
SALARY LEVEL |
Total |
||||||||||||||
Department |
02 |
03 |
04 |
05 |
06 |
07 |
08 |
09 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
78 |
Eastern Cape (10) |
||||||||||||||||
Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||||
Education |
1 |
2 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
||||||||||||||
Health |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|||||||||||||
Office of the Premier |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Provincial Treasury |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Roads and Public Works |
1 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||||||||
Free State (4) |
||||||||||||||||
Health |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||||
Provincial Treasury |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Education |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Gauteng (3) |
||||||||||||||||
Education |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||||
Health |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
KwaZulu-Natal (17) |
||||||||||||||||
Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs |
1 |
2 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
||||||||||||||
Education |
1 |
1 |
4 The salary level of two (2) employees were not specified. |
|||||||||||||
Health |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
||||||||||||
Transport |
5 The salary level of five (5) employee were not specified. |
|||||||||||||||
Office of the Premier |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Social Development |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Western Cape (1) |
||||||||||||||||
Transport and Public Works |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Northern Cape (16) |
||||||||||||||||
Education |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
9 The salary level of five (5) employee were not specified. |
|||||||||||
Health |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||||
Corporate Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs |
2 |
1 |
4 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||||||
Agriculture Environmental Affairs Rural Development and Rural Reform |
1 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
|||||||||||||||
Limpopo (7) |
||||||||||||||||
Education |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
||||||||||||
Corporate Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs |
1 |
2 The salary level of one (1) employee was not specified. |
||||||||||||||
Health |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||||||||||||
Mpumalanga (19) |
||||||||||||||||
Education |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
||||||||||
Health |
1 |
10 The salary level of nine (9) employees were not specified. |
||||||||||||||
Provincial Treasury |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
Public Works Roads and Transport |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
North West (1) |
||||||||||||||||
Health |
1 |
1 |
||||||||||||||
3. (a) 35 public servants from national departments and 126 from provincial departments were subjected to disciplinary action (based on information provided by departments to the DPSA).
b) The outcome of the disciplinary action taken in each case with regard to each of the national and provincial departments are as follows[2]:
Nationally:
- 18 final written warnings
- 4 one month suspension without pay
- 2 two months suspension without pay
- 1 deceased
- 4 under investigation
- 4 not guilty
- 1 awaiting the outcome of a hearing
- 1 hearing scheduled
Provinces:
- 1 written warning
- 5 final written warning
- 1 contract terminated
- 2 indicated as in another department
- 12 not charging
- 28 out of service
- 14 letters of intention to charge issued
- 2 deceased
- 4 not guilty
- 33 pending
- 8 withdrawn
- 4 resignations
- 1 dismissal
- 2 appointing chairpersons
- 8 under investigation
- 1 retirement
(4)(a) Six (06) public servants are currently being investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for conducting business with the State[3].
(b) Status of investigations:
- One (1) case - 1st court appearance will be held on 24 November 2022.
- Two (2) cases were postponed to 18 November 2022 and 16 January 2023, respectively.
- One (1) case is with the Director for Public Prosecutions for decision.
- In two (2) cases, investigating officers were tasked to source more information as per the Court.
(5) A total of seven (07) public servants have been convicted for conducting business with the State as at the latest date. One of the employees were convicted on two separate cases[4].
05 December 2022 - NW3762
Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
Whether a Senior Management Service (SMS) Pre-entry certificate (Nyukela) is an entry requirement for employment in the Public Service; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) who must ensure compliance and (b) what are the reasons that government departments are advertising SMS positions without the Nyukela requirement?
Reply:
The Nyukela is a requirement prior to a person being appointed into a SMS post. This is as directed by the Minister for the Public Service and Administration.
a) Heads of Department are required to ensure compliance. This includes ensuring that departments indicate Nyukela on the advert as a requirement prior to the appointment of a person to a SMS post.
b) Departments are required to include the Nyukela as a requirement for appointment when advertising an SMS post. When the DPSA notes that the matter is not addressed in an advertisement that is to be placed in the Public Service Vacancy Circular, it is duly referred back to the Department to correct.
End
05 December 2022 - NW3973
Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether, with regard to the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, that provides for the relevant treasury and/or executive authority to institute disciplinary action against an accounting officer charged with financial misconduct, the National Treasury has ever triggered the provisions against accounting officers in government departments in view of the perennial problem of fruitless, irregular and wasteful expenditure showing no signs of improvement; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The disciplinary process is governed by the Public Service Act and not the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The PFMA in its current form does not provide the National Treasury with powers to institute disciplinary action against accounting officers. Information related to disciplinary action instituted in departments can be found in annual reports of those departments. The Frameworks issued by the National Treasury on unauthorised, irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure prescribes the process and requirements that should be followed by departments, constitutional institutions, trading entities and public entities when dealing with matters of financial misconduct linked to these expenditures.
Section 85(1)(a) of the PFMA provides that, the Minister must make regulations prescribing the manner, form and circumstances in which allegations and disciplinary and criminal charges of financial misconduct must be reported to the National Treasury, the relevant provincial treasury and the Auditor-General including (i) particulars of the alleged financial misconduct; and (ii) the steps taken in connection with such financial misconduct.
Treasury Regulation 4.1.3 states that, if an accounting officer is alleged to have committed financial misconduct, the relevant treasury, as soon as it becomes aware of the alleged misconduct, must ensure that the relevant executive authority initiates an investigation into the matter and if the allegations are confirmed, holds disciplinary hearing in accordance with the prescripts appliable and agreement applicable in the public service. The relevant treasury may also direct that (a) an official other than the employee of the department conducts the investigation or (b) issues reasonable requirement regarding the way in which the investigation should be performed as provided in Treasury Regulations 4.1.4.
Therefore, The Frameworks can be found on the National Treasury website at the following links:
05 December 2022 - NW3940
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)With reference to his reply to question 2088 on 27 September 2021 regarding the non-payment of pension funds by the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, what (a) progress has been made on settling the arrears on the payment of pension funds owed by the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality to third parties and (b) is the status of the payments to medical aid contributions by the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality on behalf of officials and councilors where the monies have been deducted from their salaries; (2) whether the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality is up to date with payments to the SA Revenue Service; (3) whether the National Treasury has contemplated withholding equitable share to the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality until it complies with its fiduciary duties; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The information below is provided by the municipality to National Treasury. It is not audited and so cannot be verified by Treasury.
1. (a) The Municipality paid an amount of R18.6 million in the month of September to the Pension Funds. That reduced the total arrear debt to R20.9 million in terms of the narrative report submitted by the municipality to both Provincial and National Treasury. It should be noted that non-payment of pension fund contributions constitutes a criminal offence in terms of Section 13(A) of the Pension Fund Act.
b) The narrative report indicates that the Medical Aids are paid up to date and there is no arrear amount on the account.
2. According to the municipality, it owes the South African Revenue Service a total amount of R30.3 million. This information is obtained from a narrative report the municipality submitted to both Provincial and National Treasury. SARS are unable to confirm with the National Treasury as they do not discuss taxpayers’ affairs of a taxpayer with third parties.
3. The National Treasury does have the power to stop the transfer of the equitable share to the municipality in terms of Section 216(2) of the Constitution and other applicable legislation in the event of persistent failure by a municipality to honor its financial commitments. National Treasury does require municipalities to report on the non-payments of its commitment to South African Revenue Service, pension and other staff benefit deducted from municipal officials to be paid over the appropriate funds and/ or institutions. Failure for municipalities to provide this evidence may result in their equitable share being withheld to influence compliance.
The onus lies with the Executive Mayor to impose consequence management to the Accounting Officer. The Executive Mayor must recommend financial misconduct proceedings against the accounting officer in line with Municipal Regulations on Financial Misconduct Procedures and Criminal Proceedings.
The other option is also for the relevant Pension Fund to implement their credit control policies to collect the monies due to their institutions. Pension Fund Administrator must also lay criminal charges against the accounting officer in terms of their own legislation.
Eastern Cape Legislature must further exercise its oversight responsibility effectively. The matter must be directed to the Provincial Legislature for the relevant committee to summon the Mayor to the Legislature to provide responses on how the municipality is planning to address the matter.
05 December 2022 - NW3967
George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Finance
With reference to the reply of the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa, to question 2985 on 6 October 2022, how does the established interdepartmental committee measure and/or determine whether or not the Republic has credible risk assessments in place to address money laundering and terror financing, that its supervisory authorities have appropriate risk-based approaches, and that the Republic’s investigative and prosecuting authorities are able to speedily investigate, prosecute and seize assets related to financial crimes and corruption?
Reply:
Government is cognizant of the importance of having credible risk assessments as this enables the fight against money laundering, corruption and related financial crimes to be focused and targeted to high-risk areas and sectors. In this regard, to ensure the credibility of risk assessments, the government, including the supervisory authorities, takes into account the guidance that was issued by the Financial Action Task Force on the conducting of risk assessments, which rely on reasonably standardized methodologies that rely on analysis of existing data as well as in-depth engagement with relevant stakeholders and practitioners. The guidance can be accessed using the following link on the FATF website: https://www.fatf-gafi.org/media/fatf/content/images/National_ML_TF_Risk_Assessment.pdf.
Supervisory bodies are required to adopt a risk-based approach to supervision and effect these in line with their internally documented mechanisms. Additionally, supervisory bodies, including the Prudential Authority and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority have conducted money laundering and terrorist financing sector risk assessments. These methodologies are reasonably standardized. The second round sector risk assessments for the banking and life insurance sector have been issued by the Prudential Authority and are available at the following link: https://www.resbank.co.za/en/home/publications/publication-detail-pages/media-releases/2022/Banking-and-Insurance-sectors-assessment-reports.
The supervisory agencies have developed sectoral risk assessments for AML/CFT which have been submitted to the Interdepartmental Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and the Combating of the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) for consideration.
Although the IDC-AML/CFT also comprises the investigating and prosecuting authorities, the IDC-AML/CFT does not interfere with the work of the investigating and prosecuting authorities, as they operate independently in line with their investigating and prosecutorial policies. However, the IDC-AML/CFT guides the investigating and prosecuting authorities of the improvements that are required in the anti-money laundering and related offences policy framework, and also for them to address deficiencies identified in the Mutual Evaluation report. Government is strongly of the view that considerable progress has been made in the effective use by South Africa’s law enforcement agencies of the powers provided for combating financial crimes and money laundering. While much remains to be done, substantial progress is evident in relation to “state capture” cases, the policing of PPE-related corruption, and corporate frauds.
The IDC-AML/CFT considers reports on risk assessments at regular intervals when assessments are updated, and that these are included in the IDC-AML/CFT’s formulation of AML/CFT policies.
The IDC-AML/CFT is in the process of finalising a National Risk Assessment (NRA) for money laundering, terror financing and proliferation financing, and also a strategy for AML/CFT and the Countering of Proliferation Finance (CPF). The NRA document and the strategy document will be submitted to the FATF around end-November 2022 as part of the process of demonstrating progress in addressing deficiencies identified in the Mutual Evaluation report relating to Risk, Policy and Co-ordination (FATF Methodology for effectiveness relating to Immediate Outcome 1) (https://www.fatf-gafi.org/media/fatf/documents/methodology/fatf%20methodology%2022%20feb%202013.pdf.)
The IDC-AML/CFT will publish summarised versions of the NRA and national strategy documents as soon as they are finalised.
05 December 2022 - NW3583
Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Finance
In view of reports that the current Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Tax Ombud is currently the Acting Tax Ombud, what are the details of and update on the process of the appointment of a permanent Tax Ombud?
Reply:
The Minister of Finance has commenced with the recruitment process for the appointment of the Tax Ombud in terms of section 14 of the Tax Administration Act, 2011 (Act No 28 of 2011). The advert for the position was published in the Sunday Times on Sunday, 30 October 2022 and in the Business Day on Monday, 31 October 2022. It was also published on the following social media platforms, namely Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. The closing date for the advert was 14 November 2022. Following the closing date, the shortlisting process will commence and thereafter interviews will take place.
05 December 2022 - NW3761
Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
Given that the Public Service Amendment Bill has been under consideration by his Ministry since 2018, (a) by what date does he envisage the specified Bill will be sent to Parliament and (b) what delays has he found in this regard?
Reply:
It is envisaged that the Public Service Amendment Bill will be tabled in Parliament in the 2022/2023 financial year.
The delay in processing the Public Service Amendment Bill was due to the fact that the Bill was extensively consulted, including consultations with organised Labour in the relevant bargaining councils. The Bill is currently at NEDLAC.
End
05 December 2022 - NW3392
Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
In light of the fact that communication and/or circulars from his department to other departments are issued without time frames, what (a) are the reasons for communications without time frames and (b) has he found to be the impact of the specified practice on accountability and commitment to adhere to legislative prescripts?
Reply:
Circulars are issued based on the provisions of an Act for a number of purposes including issuing instructions’ providing clarifications; information; guidance; rules; and/or background information on legislative or procedural matters. As Circulars are issued under the statutory power, they are binding, usually from the date of issue. As Circulars serve different purposes, there will be those with timeframes and those without. In the event where it is a requirement for timeframes, the circular/communication does indicate for the purposes of accountability and commitment. Those without timeframes are often about clarifications or for information sharing.
As mentioned in (a) above Circulars serve different purposes, and sufficient measures are put in place to ensure adherence, accountability and commitment from all those that they are the target audience.
End
05 December 2022 - NW3748
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Police
What are the reasons that the SA Police Service failed to intercept the act of a women in Parow, who was on the verge of selling her 4 year –old child to paedophiles and which was only brought to the attention of the Government after the Federal Bureau of investigation intercepted the gruesome act of the mother?
Reply:
Find here: Reply
05 December 2022 - NW2995
Hunsinger, Dr CH to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether he and/or the National Treasury submitted a policy review document and/or any other government policy document to structures outside of the Government, either to private and/or external structures or structures of any political affiliation during the past five years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) will he furnish Mr C H H Hunsinger with copies of all such documents and (b) what are the reasons that the Government documents were provided to each structure?
Reply:
This question is very general, and it is not very clear what specific information the Honourable Member is requesting. It is generally the policy of the Government and the National Treasury to seek public comments on policy and legislative proposals. Such policy and legislation proposals are generally published on the National Treasury website for public comment, and once finalised, made public once again on our website.
I refer the Honourable Member to the National Treasury website (www.treasury.gov.za)
05 December 2022 - NW3934
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)With reference to his reply to question 2159 on 26 August 2022, what are the implications of the Public Service Regulations of 2016 for the over 2 000 senior managers in the Public Service who do not have qualifications for the senior management positions that they currently occupy; (2) what is the reason that the capturing of qualifications on PERSAL is not mandatory or compulsory for all public servants as this will assist his department in rooting out qualifications fraud in the Public Service; (3) what steps has his department, which is meant to be at the heart of the Republic’s administration, taken in order to (a) root out qualifications fraud in the Public Service and (b) ensure it gets a clear and concise picture of the qualifications of public servants?
Reply:
1. It should be noted that majority of senior managers were appointed prior to the implementation of the Public Service Regulations, 2016. As of 30 September 2022, the number of SMS members who were appointed on or after 1 August 2016 and who do not have the requisite qualifications for the positions that they are occupying is 599. Whilst qualifications are critical to the recruitment and selection of senior managers, these alone are insufficient because they cannot be used to infer competence
2. PERSAL is specifically designed for payment of employees’ salaries. It should be noted that although qualifications are captured on PERSAL system, this system does not verify the authenticity of the qualifications.
3. (a) In terms of Regulation 67 (9) (a and b) of the Public Service Regulations, before making a decision on an appointment or the filling of a post, an executive authority shall satisfy herself or himself that the candidate qualifies in all respects for the post and that his or her claims in his or her application for the post have been verified as directed by the Minister, and record that verification in writing.
b) Verification of qualifications is one of the selection process which is done before finalising the appointment. The National Qualification Framework Act imposes a duty on employers to verify any qualifications by submitting to SAQA before appointing prospective employees. It is therefore, the responsibility of Accounting Officers in the departments to verify, through the National Learner Database if the qualifications of SMS members they are appointing are authentic as PERSAL is not the system that verify the authenticity of the qualifications.
End
05 December 2022 - NW4027
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)What (a) measures has his department put in place to strengthen the implementation of the Batho Pele principles in the Public Service and (b) has been the impact of the non-implementation of the Batho Pele principles on the state of the Public Service in the Republic; (2)How often does his department monitor the implementation of and the adherence to the Batho Pele principles in the Public Service?
Reply:
1 Strengthening the implementation of Batho Pele principles remains a key priority for the government in building a citizen-centric society.
(a) To ensure that the Batho Pele principles remain valid and relevant, the DPSA has developed a revised Batho Pele revitalisation strategy that Cabinet endorsed in March 2022. The strategy requires the development and implementation of context-specific Batho Pele standards. These standards will ensure that public services are rendered in a specific, effective and efficient manner
(b) Reports from the Office of the Public Service Commission, which monitors adherence to Batho Pele Policy as per its Constitutional mandate to monitor, non-implementation of the Batho Pele principles and Constitutional Values and Principles, non-implementation can impact negatively on service delivery and citizen satisfaction.
2) Quarterly reports on the implementation of Batho Pele principles across the public service are prepared internally within the Department. The Department also uses the Batho Pele Forum which meets on a quarterly basis, to monitor and report on the implementation of Batho Pele with the public service. All these culminate in an annual status report on the implementation of Batho Pele and the level of adherence to the Batho Pele principles.
05 December 2022 - NW4120
Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Finance
Whether the National Treasury has engaged with the Department of Home Affairs to address the processing of the backlog of skilled visa applications to boost human and finance resources and reduce the risk of foreign investment retracting their activities in the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the full, relevant details of the (a) engagements with Home Affairs and (b) type of assistance that National Treasury will provide in this regard?
Reply:
National Treasury works with departments to assist them with their budget requests and implementation of processes that will allow them to achieve their strategic plans. Departments mostly will, through the budget process, inform the National Treasury if funding is requested for a specific project. These funding requests will then be dealt with through the budget process.
In terms of the policy and implementation timelines, the Department of Home Affairs will have this information and should be requested to submit the plans and their timelines. The National Treasury has not yet received the specific funding request for this specific project.
05 December 2022 - NW3959
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Finance
What (a) is the total amount in Rand that has been outstanding by each (i) national department, (ii) provincial department and (iii) local government for more than 30 days for the services rendered by small, medium and micro enterprises and (b) has he found are the reasons for each department and municipality not honouring the 30-day regulation?
Reply:
The National Treasury cannot certify the data provided in respect to this question, as only the accounting officer at each national or provincial department or municipality can do so. The data provided is not verified.
National Treasury Instruction Note No. 34 requires departments to submit exception reports to the relevant treasuries by the 7th day of each month with details of the number and rand value of invoices paid after 30 days and those that remain unpaid from the date of receiving invoices. Provincial departments submit information on the late payment of invoices to their respective treasuries. Information at provincial government is collated by their respective treasuries, consolidated, and submitted to the National Treasury by the 15th day of every month with information on the preceding month. Therefore, statistical information for each provincial department can be obtained from the relevant treasuries. The treasury instruction further requires the accounting officers of departments to confirm the accuracy of information reported by signing off these reports prior to its submission to the relevant treasuries.
Since the inception of the National Treasury Instruction Note No.34, the National Treasury provides progress reports on this requirement to the relevant stakeholders and continues to monitor the level of compliance with the requirement to pay supplier’s invoices within the prescribed period. Such progress reports are shared with the relevant stakeholders on a quarterly and annual basis. The information collated from departments forms the basis of compiling the quarterly and annual reports which can be located on the link below:
http://www.treasury.gov.za/legislation/pfma/Compliance%20on%20Payment%20of%20Suppliers/default.aspx
The statistics provided below provides information collated from departments for quarter 1 of the 2022/2023 financial year. The tables below contain information owed by departments to all suppliers including SMME’s for quarter 1 of 2022/2023 financial year, but we do not have a more detailed breakdown on amounts owing to SMMEs.
(a)(i)
Table 1 below provides a list of national departments that reported invoices older than 30 days and not paid at the end of June 2022.
Table 1: Total number and rand value of invoices older than 30 days and not paid by national departments at the end of June 2022
Department |
Older than 30 days and not paid |
|
Number |
Rand Value |
|
Home Affairs |
2 |
R14 806 |
Public Works and Infrastructure (Main Account) |
1 |
R11 154 |
Water and Sanitation (Main Account) |
3 |
R19 647 |
Social Development |
4 |
R92 567 |
Statistics South Africa |
6 |
R599 146 |
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment |
7 |
R71 720 |
Public Works and Infrastructure (Trading Account) |
23 |
R3 010 |
Tourism |
149 |
R705 591 |
Water and Sanitation (Trading Account) |
764 |
R2 590 747 |
Total |
959 |
R4 108 387 |
(a) (ii)
Table 2 below provides statistics of provincial government on the number and rand value of invoices outstanding at the end June 2022.
Table 2: Total number and rand value of invoices older than 30 days and not paid by provincial departments at the end of June 2022
Provincial Departments Number and Rand Value of invoices older than 30 days and not paid per province |
||
Province |
Number of invoices |
Rand Value of invoices |
Mpumalanga |
3 |
R 3 033 218 |
Western Cape |
4 |
R31 293 |
Limpopo |
26 |
R3 533 130 |
Kwazulu-Natal |
669 |
R27 353 872 |
Free State |
967 |
R281 492 366 |
Northern Cape |
1 131 |
R233 665 843 |
Gauteng |
3 530 |
R1 334 443 888 |
North West |
3 769 |
R392 170 711 |
Eastern Cape |
14 143 |
R2 541 533 317 |
Total |
24 242 |
R4 817 257 638 |
(a)(iii)
The information below represents the first quarter reported to the local government data base by municipalities as per section 71 of the MFMA. It is aggregated per province for ease of reference. Unfortunately, the level of information that the question requires is not available from the reporting template and must be obtained from the municipality directly.
Information related to Municipalities may be obtained at those relevant Municipalities
(b)
The common reasons provided by national and provincial departments for late and/or non-payment of invoices during the first quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year are as follows –
- IT system issues (BAS, LOGiS, Safety web etc);
- Delay in submission of invoices for processing;
- Unresolved invoice discrepancies;
- Client departments not confirming Funds timeously;
- CSD information not updated timeously by suppliers;
- Inadequate budget; and
- Inadequate internal capacity
(b)
In addition to the response under a(iii) above, information on Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) can be obtained from individual municipalities as currently there is no process instituted by the National Treasury to collate and report on such information.
05 December 2022 - NW3785
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)Whether he will furnish Inkosi R N Cebekhulu with an update on the investigation of the Public Service Commission, especially on the matter of the 2 364 senior managers who have reportedly been found not to possess the relevant qualifications for the jobs that they occupy, with 1 211 senior managers employed at the national level and 1 153 at the provincial level; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Whether any of the specified managers have been red-flagged for corruption and fraudulent practices; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) Whether he will furnish Inkosi R N Cebekhulu with an update on the investigation of the Public Service Commission, especially on the matter of the 2 364 senior managers who have reportedly been found not to possess the relevant qualifications for the jobs that they occupy, with 1 211 senior managers employed at the national level and 1 153 at the provincial level; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) The Public Service Commission (PSC) has to date, requested information from the Acting Minister for Public Service and Administration (AMPSA) in order to be able to deal with the issue of SMS qualifications properly. The PSC will communicate its findings once information is received from the AMPSA and the analysis thereof is concluded.
End
05 December 2022 - NW2350
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
What (a) was the backlog of disciplinary cases in the Public Service in the (i) 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22 financial years, (b) total amount did the specified backlog cost the State and (c) is the breakdown of the backlog in each (i) national and (ii) provincial department?
Reply:
(a)The breakdown in the number of backlog of disciplinary cases are as follows:
(i) 2020-21
1st Quarter 1627
2nd Quarter 2188
3rd Quarter and 1722
4th Quarter 1583
(ii) 2021-22
1st Quarter 2199
2nd Quarter 2614
3rd Quarter and 2428
4th Quarter 2986
Please note the backlog is calculated as cases that are taking more than 90 days to conclude which is the standard to finalise disciplinary cases in the Public Service.
(b) Backlogs on disciplinary cases do not necessarily cost the state money except showing the failure of departments in meeting the required standard of 90 day to finalise disciplinary cases.
(c) The breakdown of the backlog in each
(i) National
2020-21
1st Quarter 165
2nd Quarter 535
3rd Quarter 195
4th Quarter 196
2021-22
1st Quarter 619
2nd Quarter 978
3rd Quarter and 917
4th Quarter 1263
(ii) Provincial departments
2020-21
1st Quarter 1462
2nd Quarter 1653
3rd Quarter and 1527
4th Quarter 1387
2021-22
1st Quarter 1580
2nd Quarter 1636
3rd Quarter and 1511
4th Quarter 1723
End
05 December 2022 - NW3166
George, Dr DT to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether the Office of the Tax Ombud relies on any statutory provisions for its establishment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? (2) whether a separate budget will be appropriated for the specified office; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) There is enabling legislation which makes provision for the Minister of Finance to appoint a Tax Ombud in terms of Section 14 of the Tax Administration Act, 2011 (Act No 28 of 2011).
(b) Section 15 of the Tax Administration Act, 2011 is the enabling legislation which deals with the Office of the Tax Ombud and makes provision for the Tax Ombud to appoint the staff of the office of the Tax Ombud.
(c) The Office of the Tax Ombud has functional independence, in that the Minister of Finance and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) cannot interfere with the decision of the Tax Ombud.
2. The Office of the Tax Ombud is financed by a budget approved by the Minister of Finance, which is a ringfenced in the SARS budget.
02 December 2022 - NW3851
Chirwa-Mpungose, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
What (a) steps has he taken to recoup the R5 billion meant for youth skills development that has allegedly gone missing and (b) plans have been put in place to ensure that negligence and corruption of this nature no longer takes place?
Reply:
There are decisive steps which I took in addressing the detected malfeasance at the NSF. It must however be stated that the R5 billion quantum is not an accurate figure, the correct figure is much lesser than that.
At the time of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) indicating that the AGSA audit process could not conclusively report on the NSF funded projects amounting to about R2.5 billion, I immediately placed the then Director-General and the Chief Executive Officer on precautionary suspensions.
Further to that I commissioned a forensic investigation on the financial affairs of the NSF to which NEXUS FORENSIC SERVICES was tasked.
The forensic report has since been received studied and presented to SCOPA and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Higher Education Science (PCHESI) and Innovation.
Critical consequence management action taken since the release of the report are:
1. DHET assisted by the State Attorney office has issued further precautionary suspension letters to internal official implicated by the forensic report with the intention of taking disciplinary actions.
2. A case of criminal investigation, as recommended in the forensic report has been opened with the South African Police Services.
3. Further to these interventions, and for the purpose of recouping the NSF funds from ill-gain, the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) has been brought on board. The results thereof will be civil action claims against all parties who corruptly benefitted from the NSF skills development funding system.
The forensic investigation, much as the AGSA also did point out, exposed the soft underbelly of the NSF business operating systems which may have contributed vastly to opportunistic malfeasance conducts.
I have since commissioned a Ministerial Task Team (MTT) to look at the reconfiguration of the NSF business operating model so that it becomes an effective, efficient, and economically efficient skills development entity.
The MTT has completed its task and has submitted a report to which the Director General of the DHET has been tasked to complete the processes of implementing the report by 31 July 2023. The report has been presented to PCHESI.
02 December 2022 - NW4465
Denner, Ms H to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
Whether the (a) Compensation Fund (CF) and (b) Department of Labour intend to hold the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) accountable for the late and/or non-submission of financial information for audit purposes of the CF, with specific reference to unlisted investments made by the PIC on behalf of the CF; if not, why not; if so, how?
Reply:
Yes. The Investment Services Agreement between the Fund and the PIC is being reviewed to incorporate Penalties for non-compliance to the Service Levels and reporting requirements.
02 December 2022 - NW4373
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What (a) are the reasons that Eskom refuses to replace the transformers in informal areas in Ward 78, Ivory Park, notably in Extension 5 through to 13, and (b) of (i) households are affected by the transformers in Ward 78 and (ii) legally connected paying customers have been inconvenienced by the disconnection of power by both Eskom and City Power that has hampered service delivery?
Reply:
According to information received from Eskom:
a) Eskom is experiencing a very high number of incidents of illegal connections, meter bypassing and tampering, unauthorised operations on the network, infrastructure vandalism and theft, and the non-payment and non-purchasing of electricity tokens. This number is constantly on the rise. Over the years, Eskom repeatedly replaced and repaired failed equipment without holding customers accountable, even when the failure was because of illegal electricity activities. Eskom has since implemented stringent control measures, as it is financially unsustainable for Eskom to replace this equipment continuously, especially without any return on investment. The debt levels, however, continue to grow, and the operational costs, on the other hand, also keep accelerating exponentially, while the business takes further financial strain as Eskom has to keep repairing, refurbishing, or replacing infrastructure that breaks or is frequently vandalised. Eskom has also reinstated the Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA) to accommodate customers who cannot immediately settle the R6 052,60 remedial fee for tampering with Eskom infrastructure, to allow those customers to pay the balance over a maximum period of six months.
Sixty per cent of customers who have been issued with remedial charge sheets must have made the upfront payment of R500 before supply can be restored. The 60% threshold is aimed at ensuring that most customers honour the payment to avoid repeated equipment failure.
It should also be noted that in Ivory Park there are a number of customers have illegally connected transformers to the Eskom network and are refusing Eskom entry into the area to remove these illegally connected transformers. Out of 158 failed transformers, Eskom has replaced 107 and is in the process of replacing the remaining 51. With that said, Eskom is not refusing to replace the failed transformers in Ivory Park, but merely following the equipment replacement process it has implemented for the reasons mentioned above.
(b)(i) The Eskom network is not configured according to wards. Therefore, Eskom is unable to provide the customer base according to wards. However, Eskom has a total of 24 446 customers in Ivory Park, of whom 12 001 are zero buyers (prepaid customers). This means that 49% of customers in Ivory Park are not buying electricity from registered electricity vendors.
(b)(ii)The frequent equipment failures unfortunately inconvenience law-abiding and paying customers of electricity in these areas, while costing Eskom billions of rands in damaged infrastructure and lost sales. Furthermore, to try and protect the customers who are paying for electricity, Eskom has tightened its existing measures, such as audits, maintenance, education and awareness campaigns, to avert failures that lead to unplanned and extended outages and also to influence and change the culture of non-payment and non-purchasing of electricity tokens.
Over and above trying to prevent inconveniencing paying customers, these control measures are also aimed at combating illegal connections, meter bypassing and tampering operations on the Eskom network, infrastructure theft and vandalism and other electricity-related crimes.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
02 December 2022 - NW4383
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
What total number of Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges have their own student accommodation facilities?
Reply:
The Department has thirty-eight (38) Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges that have their own student accommodation facilities. The colleges are as follows:
TVET COLLEGES WITH STUDENT ACCOMMODATION |
|
PROVINCE |
COLLEGE NAME |
EASTERN CAPE |
Buffalo City TVET College |
Ingwe TVET College |
|
King Hintsa TVET College |
|
KSD TVET College |
|
Lovedale TVET College |
|
Port Elizabeth TVET College |
|
FREE STATE |
Flavius Mareka TVET College |
Maluti TVET College |
|
GAUTENG |
Central Johannesburg College |
Ekurhuleni East TVET College |
|
Tshwane North TVET |
|
Tshwane South TVET College |
|
South West Gauteng TVET College |
|
KWAZULU NATAL |
Elangeni TVET College |
Mnambithi TVET College |
|
Esayidi TVET College |
|
Mthashana TVET College |
|
Thekwini TVET College |
|
Umfolozi TVET |
|
Coastal KZN TVET College |
|
LIMPOPO |
Vhembe TVET College |
Sekhukhune TVET College |
|
Capricorn TVET College |
|
Waterberg TVET College |
|
MPUMALANGA |
Ehlanzeni TVET College |
Gert Sibande TVET College |
|
Nkangala TVET College |
|
NORTH WEST |
Orbit TVET College |
Taletso TVET College |
|
Vuselela TVET College |
|
NORTHERN CAPE |
Northern Cape Urban TVET College |
Northern Cape Rural TVET College |
|
WESTERN CAPE |
Boland College |
College of Cape Town |
|
False Bay TVET College |
|
West Coast College |
|
South Cape TVET College |
|
Northlink College |
02 December 2022 - NW4321
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Considering that his department spent R500 000 on a report that recommended that the national nuclear regulator be removed from his department and placed within the former department of environmental affairs, and noting the significant amount spent on the specified report and its findings, (a) what are the reasons that the nuclear regulator remains within his department and (b) by what date will it be (i) moved to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and/or (ii) constituted as an independent agency within the Government?
Reply:
The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) was established as an independent Regulator through the National Nuclear Regulator Act 47 of 1999 (the NNR Act). This had evolved from Council for Nuclear Safety (CNS) that was housed within the then Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC), currently the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa). The NNR plays a central role in ensuring safety in the use and handling of most “radioactive materials”, as defined in the NNR Act. In terms of section 8(1) of the NNR Act, the NNR is “governed and controlled” by its Board. The powers of the Board are extensive and it is placed at the centre of the most important decision-making functions of the NNR; and must direct and control the functions and operations of the NNR.
a) Following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission in South Africa, the then Department of Energy undertook a process of reviewing its legislative framework to strengthen the effective independence of the Regulatory body. In October 2013, the Department commissioned a Feasibility Study at an estimated cost of about R500000 to be in a position to identify and establish where appropriate the following aspects:
- Legislation to ensure the effective independence of the National Nuclear Regulator (“NNR”) by ascertaining the best practice (through benchmarking) in enhancing the effective independence.
- The appropriate body in Government to which the NNR should be reporting; and
- The impact of moving the NNR to such a body.
The Feasibility Study indicated that thirty-one (31) countries operating nuclear power stations and international trends reveal that these countries’ nuclear safety regulators can be an integral part of the State’s governmental bureaucracy or in contrast, can be totally independent. These countries address the “effective independence” of their nuclear safety regulators taking into account the nuclear safety regulator’s Administrative Reporting Mechanisms, Funding Model and Regulatory Enforcement Measure. Taking these factors into account, proposed amendments to the NNR Act were considered prudent, noting the uniqueness of the nuclear industry, and required capacity within the appropriate Department.
(b)
(i) There is no date for any movement. The issue of effective independence of the regulator is being addressed through the strengthening of the statutory framework to ensure that the decisions of the NNR remain independent, given the existing reporting lines of the regulator. The NNR thus remains effectively independent and the perception that is not is unfounded.
(ii) Further amendments to the NNR Act have been proposed, amongst others, to strengthen the independence of the NNR, in particular removing any internal appeal to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy on decisions of the NNR. These amendments will be facilitated through the legislative process.
02 December 2022 - NW4563
Madokwe, Ms P to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Whether he has thought about investing in alternative energy sources like wind, solar energy production and battery storage, especially for government buildings and educational facilities that do not use much electricity, with the intention of feeding leftover energy to the Eskom energy grid; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy is investing in energy efficiency in public buildings and infrastructure, and this covers high-energy efficient lights, heating, ventilation and cooling systems, and alternative energy such as hydrogen fuel cells. The energy efficiency measures are being implemented in various buildings of the municipalities, provincial and State-Owned Buildings with projects underway at the Lahae La SARS 9n Brooklyn, Tshwane Market, and in 45 municipalities. These energy efficiency measures are meant to reduce energy demand, thus ensure more energy is available for the productive sectors of our economy. We do also encourage all consumers of electricity to reduce consumption where possible as the first fuel before embarking on other interventions.
02 December 2022 - NW4302
Cachalia, Mr G K to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What are the relevant details of the much-needed repairs and maintenance to its existing fleet that Eskom will (a) make in the short term and (b) not be able to make due to financial constraints to secure a stable baseload generation?
Reply:
According to Information Received from Eskom:
a) Generation’s power plant units are required to undergo maintenance outages periodically to prevent future failures, address load losses, meet statutory requirements, and fix broken equipment.
The table below summarises the projected outages over the next five years in accordance with the capacity plan published in October 2022 and the plant maintenance philosophies of the stations.
FY of outage start and type of outage (count) |
|||||
Type of outage |
FY23 |
FY24 |
FY25 |
FY26 |
FY27 |
General Overhaul (GO) |
15 |
12 |
12 |
6 |
13 |
Minor Overhaul (MO) |
18 |
14 |
12 |
7 |
5 |
Interim Repairs (IR) |
16 |
14 |
15 |
18 |
13 |
Inspections (IN) |
16 |
11 |
20 |
9 |
12 |
TOTAL |
65 |
51 |
59 |
40 |
43 |
b) The required outage budget for the next five years, FY2023 to FY2024, was R46 713 billion, compared to an affordability cap of R41, 800 billion (what Eskom could afford), resulting in an R4,913 billion financial constraint. Since then, the Chief Financial Officer has raised the affordability level to R44, 700 billion, reducing the gap to R2, 013 billion.
Eskom is working hard to stay within this restriction; but there are risks presented by this funding plan that may result in plant reliability challenges if all maintenance scopes are not completed. In addition, it does not allow for any scope variations in case of additional maintenance requirements discovered during outages.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane Pravin Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
02 December 2022 - NW4315
Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
Whether, with reference to his department’s Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report which reflected that a number of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) did not submit their financial statements by the prescribed due date, he has found this as being indicative of the specified entities’ decline in quality of service and their performance; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what systematic methods will his department provide for monitoring the performance of SOEs, more especially when it comes to their financial statements as per its mandate?
Reply:
The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture Report revealed that boards and senior executives were installed to systematically to collapse governance in Eskom, SAA, Transnet, Denel and Alexkor. According to the Report, Board members and senior executives worked tirelessly to benefit the architects of state capture “by providing long term contracts, increasing scope and budget while completely flouting public procurement prescripts”. The report published by the Commission indicates that “The evidence heard by the Commission revealed quite clearly that part of the reason why some of the state-owned companies have performed as badly as they have and why some rely on Government bail outs year in year out is the calibre of some of the people who are appointed as members of the Boards of these companies or who are their Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officers”. The report unequivocally indicates that good governance was systematically and deliberately collapsed to enable the illegal diversion of resources from SOEs, which affected their financial and operational sustainability. The department and SOEs are working tirelessly to undo the impact of state capture by improving performance and the quality of service, some of which may take years to see the fruits thereof.
It should therefore be noted that the factors that affect the ability of State-Owned Companies (SOC) with the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to submit audited Annual Financial Statements (AFS) within the stipulated time are not as a result of decline in quality of service and their performance, but usually beyond the control of either the SOC or DPE. The main driver is going concern which requires funding. Therefore, SOC experiencing liquidity challenges have to develop mitigating factors and demonstrate sources of funding to ensure that they will be able to operate as a going concern over a period of twelve months.
The following have been the circumstances for specific SOCs with plans to remedy the situation:
1. SAA
The airline could not complete the AFS on a going concern basis for the 2017/18 financial year. This resulted in the airline being placed under business rescue from 6 December 2019 to 30 April 2021. The 2017/18 AFS were completed after the entity exited the business rescue. The Auditor-General is currently auditing the 2018/19 to 2021/22 AFS.
2. Denel
Denel continues to face liquidity challenges, which has resulted in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 AFS audits not being finalised. However, Denel has been allocated R3.4 billion to implement its turnaround plan. It has also commenced on disposing off non-core assets. This has enabled it to develop plans to conclude the outstanding audits over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years.
3. Eskom
Eskom experienced delays in publishing the Group's 2022 Annual Financial Statements (AFS) due to the delay in the appointment of the new external auditor. The entity anticipates publishing the AFS not later than 31 December 2022 once the audit is completed.
4. Alexkor
The AGM relating to the 2020/21 financial year was only held in May 2022. As a result, there was a delay in appointing external auditors to audit Annual Financial Statement for the year ended 31 March 2022.
Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane PJ. Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
02 December 2022 - NW4301
Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises pu
With regard to the financial constraints and the operational limitations of Transnet, what sustainable measures will his department implement to commit to the pay increase granted to Transnet’s employees?
Reply:
According to the information received from Transnet
The salary increases will be funded through a combination of cost control measures, improvement of operational performance and the rebasing of tariffs in line with tariff methodology or customer contracts which allow for salary increases as pass-through costs.
Cost control measures have been implemented across the business to preserve cash without limiting expenditure in critical areas of the business.
Improvement in operational performance will be supported by the initiatives that are strategically driven to unlock the current binding constraints i.e., locomotives availability, theft, and vandalism challenges as well as the focus on infrastructure maintenance backlog.
Remarks: Reply: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane P J Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister of Public Enterprises
Date: Date:
02 December 2022 - NW4160
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Regarding the tragic death of 15-year-old Zenizole Vena in Motherwell in Gqeberha (details furnished), what is the normal and/or standard procedure to be followed at a (a) public health facility and/or (b) police station when assisting a rape victim; (2) whether the standard procedures were followed in the specified person’s case; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he has launched an investigation into the case; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The National Department of Health is still consulting with the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health to gather all the information required to respond to this Question. The full response will be furnished to the Honourable Member and Parliament as soon as all details have been received from the Province.
END.
02 December 2022 - NW4400
Malatsi, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
What is the (a) total number of staff employed and/or provided as departmental support in (i) his and (ii) the Deputy Minister’s private offices and (b)(i) job title and (ii) annual remuneration package of each specified person?
Reply:
a) What is the total number of staff employed and/or provided as departmental support in the office of the Minister?
The office of the Minister has 14 employees as of 1 November 2022. Of the 14 employed staff, 1 employee (Chief of Staff) is a secondment from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
(ii) What is the total number of staff employed and/or provided as departmental support in the office of the Deputy Minister?
The office of the Deputy Minister has 10 employees as of 1 November 2022. Of the 10 employed staff, 1 employee (Director: Technical Specialist) is held additional to the departmental establishment.
(b) (i) job title and (ii) annual remuneration package of each specified person in the office of the Minister:
|
Names and Surname |
Job Title |
Annual remuneration Package |
1 |
Ms Mokgadi Tena |
Chief of Staff (secondment) |
R1 308 051.00 |
2 |
Ms Nomfundo Seoka |
Administrative Secretary |
R1 105 383.00 |
3 |
Ms Siphokazi Shoba |
Parliamentary Liaison Officer |
R1 190 826.00 |
4 |
Mr Ishmael Mnisi |
Media Liaison Officer |
R1 263 900.00 |
5 |
Ms Esther Rammutla |
Private Secretary |
R1 105 383.00 |
6 |
Mr Babulele Bingwa |
Cabinet and Parliamentary Officer |
R766 584.00 |
7 |
Ms Kalipa Dazela |
Community Outreach, Media, and Digital Officer |
R766 584.00 |
8 |
Ms Silindile Mncwabe |
Assistant Private Secretary |
R393 711.00 |
9 |
Ms Thembi Mdepa |
Assistant Administrative Officer |
R331 188.00 |
10 |
Ms Zanele Mavimbela |
Receptionist |
R269 214.00 |
11 |
Mr Mpho Masalesa |
Registry Clerk |
R181 599.00 |
12 |
Mr Karabo Lephothe |
Messenger/Driver |
R151 884.00 |
13 |
Ms Thandiwe Masondo |
Household Aide |
R128 166.00 |
14 |
Ms Eunice Ntombela |
Household Aide |
R128 166.00 |
b) (i) job title and (ii) annual remuneration package of each specified person in the office of the Deputy Minister:
Names and Surname |
Job Title |
Annual remuneration Package |
|
1 |
Mr Bayanda Mzoneli |
Head of Office |
R1 495 641,00 |
2 |
Ms Florence Masebe |
Director: Technical Specialist |
R1 105 383.00 |
3 |
Ms Motshedisi Letuka |
Private Secretary to the DM |
R908 502.00 |
4 |
Mr Steve Mamphekgo |
Parliamentary Officer |
R766 584.00 |
5 |
Mr Mandla Tshabalala |
Community Outreach Officer |
R766 584.00 |
6 |
Mr Thulani Mayisela |
Senior Registry Clerk |
R269 214.00 |
7 |
Ms Keabaitse Mashaba |
Receptionist |
R269 214.00 |
8 |
Mr Stephens Mahlangu |
Messenger/Driver |
R151 884.00 |
9 |
Ms Manqoba Dube |
Household Aid |
R128 166.00 |
10 |
Ms Phumza Dlangamandla |
Household Aid |
R128 166.00 |
02 December 2022 - NW4308
Boshoff, Dr WJ to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What are the relevant details of (a) the total number of hours that the hydroelectric power plants at the (i) Gariep Dam and (ii) Vanderkloof Dam have been running during the period 1 January 2021 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) how much electricity has been generated during the specified period at each of the specified plants?
Reply:
According to information received from Eskom:
See the table below for the requested information.
Period: 1 January 2021 to 20 November 2022 |
||
Station |
a) Operating hours |
(b) Electricity generated (GWh) |
(a)(i) Gariep |
24 724.7 |
2 230.0 |
(a)(ii) Vanderkloof |
15 895.8 |
1 928.7 |
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane Pravin Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
02 December 2022 - NW4531
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
Whether, with reference to community health workers who have been working as volunteers within the structures of the Department of Health for a long time, his department intends to engage with the specified department to action the possibility of paying the volunteers a stipend or salary to ensure social security; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
In response to your question, I think it is important that I firstly indicate that the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) regulate basic conditions of employment and minimum wages for employees and workers respectively.
An employee is defined in the BCEA as any person, excluding an independent contractor, who works for another person or for the state and who receives or is entitled to receive, any remuneration and includes any other person who in any manner assists in carrying on or conducting the business of an employer. The NMWA on the other hand, defines a worker as any person who works for another person and who receives or is entitled to receive any payment for that work whether in money or in kind.
Both these Acts however do not apply to a volunteer, which is defined in the Act as a person who performs work for another person or for an organisation serving a charitable purpose, who does not receive any remuneration.
Be that as it may, I have received a request from Dr MJ Phaahla, MP and Minister of Health, for my department to conduct an investigation into the conditions of employment of Community Health Workers so as to explore a sectoral determination as a way to regulate the conditions of employment for these workers.
This request is necessitated by the fact that there is currently no coherent dispensation for the employment of Community Health Workers and most of these workers are employed on conditional grant funded programmes, the Expanded Public Works (EPWP) and donor funded programmes, all of which have limited time terms and no sustainable funding.
Upon receiving this request, I have as per section 52(4) of BCEA directed the National Minimum Wage Commission to conduct an investigation into the conditions of employment in the sector concerned in order to establish the feasibility of introducing a sectoral determination that will regulate the conditions of employment for these workers
On completion of the investigation and after considering representations made by members of the public, the NMW Commission will prepare a report containing its recommendations on the matters which should be included in the sectoral determination for my consideration as per section 54 of the BCEA.
02 December 2022 - NW4583
Langa, Mr TM to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
What are the reasons that (a)(i) Engen and (ii) Sapref are issued a licence to import fuels when they are no longer manufacturing and/or refining and (b) the Government on its own capacity cannot take over?
Reply:
a) In terms of guidelines governing the import and export of crude oil, petroleum products and blending components every licensed manufacturer and wholesalers are allowed to import and export petroleum products.
South Africa is a net importer of petroleum product, meaning that even when these refineries were operating, they were expected to import certain portion of petroleum product.
b) There is nothing stopping state owned companies from importing petroleum products.
02 December 2022 - NW4379
Essack, Mr F to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
With most renewable energy projects that are currently under development across the Republic located far from Eskom’s major transmission network, what (a) steps has Eskom taken to ensure that it will have the requisite transmission infrastructure in place when renewable energy projects start generating power and (b) is the current state of Eskom’s transmission expansion projects to date?
Reply:
According to Information Received from Eskom:
a) The Transmission Development Plan (TDP 2022) identified the new infrastructure required to implement the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 and Eskom’s 2035 Corporate Strategy. However, it takes time to establish new transmission infrastructure (especially the building of long lines and substations), mainly due to servitude acquisitions and constructability challenges. Eskom is aware of these challenges and is making every effort to expedite the build programme by engaging key government and private stakeholders.
In the interim, Transmission has taken the following steps to assist Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and expedite the TDP implementation programme:
1. The Grid Connection Capacity Assessment (GCAC 2024) document on Eskom’s website provides an indication of available network capacity elsewhere on the system that could be considered for integration of renewable energy (RE) projects.
While network capacity may be limited/restricted in the broader Cape areas, there is available capacity inland, for example, Free State, North-West, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces, that can be considered for the integration of future RE IPPs.
2. Transmission is currently taking measures to “fast-track” projects across the network, especially in areas with interest and potential to integrate RE resources. These include the following:
2.1 A Programme Management Office (PMO) has been established that tracks, monitors, and reports on the deliverables from the various work streams.
a) There is positive movement in the engagements with DPE/DPWI to address servitude challenges by implementing expropriation with compensation at market value. Steps are in place to expedite the process going forward.
b) Engagements with the dtic/NT to address opportunities for localisation and in cases of challenges with the local manufacturing and industry capacity, for example, for large transformers, exemptions are being considered to source from international suppliers.
c) Engagements with industry associations, for example, The Powerline Association of South Africa (POLASA) and the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), to increase preparation capacity to meet the TDP build requirements,
d) The majority of the capital expenditure for the first five years of the TDP was secured from Corporate Finance
e) Supplier engagement forums were held with industry participants to share the transmission build programme.
2.2 The TDP prioritised list of projects has been escalated to the PICC and SIP10 as critical infrastructure requirements for the country.
2.3 Ongoing and close working relationships with the DFFE to expedite the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) processes.
2.4 Ongoing discussions with DMRE/IPPO on the transmission network requirements to meet the RE procurement programmes.
2.5 Transmission is represented on the Electricity Crisis Committee (Natjoints Stream1) that was recently established to address Transmission grid strengthening challenges.
2.6 Finalising the Owner’s Engineer (OE) and EPC (turnkey) strategy to leverage our in-house capability to expedite the TDP roll-out programme.
(b) Eskom is placing a strong focus on the implementation of projects over the next five years. The analysis carried out reflects a requirement of approximately 2 890 km of extra high voltage lines and 60 transformers, requiring a capital investment of approximately R51 billion by FY2027. This requires that some challenges beyond Eskom’s full control, such as the lead time to obtain servitudes, among other relevant authorisations, and the country’s resource capacity be urgently addressed.
As at the end of October 2022, the total portfolio of Transmission’s expansion projects equated to 224 and is summarised as follows:
- There are 45 projects in the execution phase that are under construction.
- There are 56 projects in the definition phase that are finalising servitude acquisitions and detail engineering designs before achieving execution release approval.
- There are 123 projects in the pre- and concept phases, that are projects in the early stages of development requiring EIA and conceptual level designs.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane Pravin Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date:
02 December 2022 - NW4584
Langa, Mr TM to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
Whether he has been informed that Sasol has been trying to sell Natref; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, is the Central Energy Fund as it is the main entity on energy involved in this?
Reply:
The Department has not received any communication regarding the matter under question, we therefore cannot comment on Sasol’s intention to sell its stake at Natref.
02 December 2022 - NW4149
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Health
Whether new units have been set up in the Bela-Bela Public Hospital in Limpopo; if not, (a) why not and (b) what are the reasons that the new intensive care unit is not equipped with sufficient staff for the specified unit to be fully functional; if so, are the new units operational?
Reply:
(a) The Limpopo Provincial Department of Health has confirmed that there was no new ICU that was recently constructed for the Bela Bela hospital because the existing ICU is still in good condition.
(b) The existing intensive care unit is fully functional.
END.
01 December 2022 - NW4443
Mthenjane, Mr DF to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
Which steps of intervention has he taken towards the abolishment of all borders to promote free trade amongst African countries?
Reply:
The promotion of free trade amongst African countries does not require the abolishment of all borders but the continued implementation of regional and continental initiatives to manage the flow of goods.
The Department of Finance as the responsible Department can provide relevant information on the current initiatives to improve the facilitation of goods into and from South Africa to give effect to free trade amongst African countries.
The Border Management Agency is working closely with the South African Revenue Services to ensure the efficient facilitation of people and goods through our ports of entry.
END
01 December 2022 - NW4518
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether the Expanded Public Works Programme has recorded any cases of sexual harassment against participants in the past five years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) are the relevant details and (b) actions have been taken against the perpetrators?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
a) I have been informed that from the records and to the best of our knowledge, in the last five years, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is aware of one case of alleged sexual harassment against some of its participants.
The case was reported in August 2018 and involved female participants who were part of the Thaba Tshwane project that was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
It was alleged that the participants were being harassed by employees of the contractor on site.
No other cases of have been reported to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure from programme implementers.
It is expected that any cases of sexual harassment should be dealt with in terms of existing laws by the project implementers.
b) In the instance of the reported case, a letter was written to the contractor on the project informing them about the allegations in order to ensure that this was dealt with on site in terms of taking action against the perpetrators.
In terms of the existing institutional arrangements for the EPWP, any transgression happening at an implementation level should be dealt with at an operational levels by public bodies implementing EPWP Projects.
It should be noted that the rights against sexual harassment in the workplace are set out in the Labour Relations Act and Employment Equity Act. A Code of Good Practice on the Handling of Sexual Harassment Cases has been issued by the Department of Employment and Labour. In this Code, employers are encouraged to develop and implement policies on sexual harassment.
01 December 2022 - NW4578
Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What is the total number of women who have benefited from land reform programmes in each (a) province and (b) of the past three financial years?
Reply:
(a), (b) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in line with the Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation Policy, allocated farms to 80 women amounting to 76 536 hectares in each province for the past three financial years. 10 052 female headed households benefited through the Restitution programme. Details for allocation per province are outlined in the tables below:
Redistribution:
Province |
Hectares allocated to Females |
Number of Females Allocated the Land |
Eastern Cape |
81 |
2 |
Free State |
5,273 |
7 |
Gauteng |
1,416 |
5 |
Kwazulu-Natal |
5,921 |
14 |
Limpopo |
5,043 |
5 |
Mpumalanga |
2,227 |
9 |
North West |
8,145 |
11 |
Northern Cape |
40,913 |
13 |
Western Cape |
7,517 |
14 |
Grand Total |
76,536 |
80 |
Restitution:
Province |
Female Headed Households |
Eastern Cape |
2 520 |
Free State |
137 |
Gauteng |
1 574 |
Kwazulu-Natal |
2 245 |
Limpopo |
2 194 |
Mpumalanga |
1 014 |
Northern Cape |
108 |
North West |
74 |
Western Cape |
186 |
TOTAL |
10 052 |
01 December 2022 - NW3976
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
With reference to his recent report to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services that the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU) finalised 380 cases with 344 convictions, translating to a conviction rate of 90,5%, what (a) total number of the 380 cases were dealt with by each SCCU unit, (b) were the charges in each specific case, including the quantum, (c) was the identity of the accused in each of the 380 cases, (d) was the specific sentence of each accused in respect of convictions and (e) was the date of (i) enrolment and (ii) finalisation of each case?
Reply:
a) The finalised cases reported by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) include cases disposed-of within the dedicated commercial crimes courts as well as those finalised by the prosecutors of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU) in other courts, as the NPA measures the performance of the Unit rather than the dedicated courts.
The NPA, in collaboration with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) and the Judiciary, established various new dedicated commercial crime courts within the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West and Northern Cape Divisions to ensure that each province has at least one dedicated commercial crimes court. the work of the SCCU) within the NPA as well as the dedicated courts are closely monitored and part of agenda points not only within the different management structures of the NPA but also in the other departments. Collaboration is also done in the National Serious Commercial Crimes Steering Committee where all stakeholders participate in improving the conditions and expansion of the dedicated commercial crimes courts.
The table below provides details on the total number of cases dealt with by each Special Commercial Crimes Unit:
NEW DIVISION |
NO. OF SCCU CONVISTIONS |
Bloemfontein |
10 |
Cape Town |
33 |
Durban |
47 |
ECD |
39 |
Mmabatho |
6 |
Mpumalanga |
9 |
Mthatha |
41 |
Pretoria |
61 |
SCCU Johannesburg |
89 |
SCCU Polokwane |
9 |
Grand Total |
344 |
b) The charges in each case from which the convictions were obtained is attached as Annexure “A”, and it also includes information relating to questions (c), (d) and (e). The data requested is kept manually and the information available, mostly from the dedicated commercial crime courts, has been extracted from the manual registers. The information relating to the quantum is not always included, neither manually or electronically, as it often creates ambiguity when an amount is indicated but in various instances the amount is indicative only of potential value and not actual prejudice sustained. It is also important to note that new selection criteria to adopt cases within the SCCU no longer focus on the quantum of cases but rather the intricacy of cases, national and international priority as well as other complexity- related criteria.
END
01 December 2022 - NW3683
Matiase, Mr NS to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
How has the African Continental Free Trade Area been used by her department as a policy instrument to gain markets for the Republic’s agricultural products?
Reply:
The Department has been part of the development and adoption of the agreed upon Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework. The Department will, therefore, consistently apply this to gain markets through the harmonised standards that align the African SPS system with international science-based standards, border processes, sharing of information and technical capacity building.
This Policy Framework is guided by the World Trade Organisation SPS Agreement and International Standards Setting Organisation (Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), International Office of Epizootics (OIE). Therefore, South African agricultural products will gain markets through the harmonised standards and the specific protocols that would be negotiated at a bilateral level.
The AfCFTA market access pillar has been concluded with only a few outstanding technical issues, particularly the finalization of tariff offers, rules of origin and customs-related matters. At a policy level, the Department will domesticate the relevant legal policy instrument to facilitate the effective implementation of the Agreement. The AfCFTA Sanitary and Phytosanitary Annex will be incorporated into the DALRRD’s policy to process trade under the AfCFTA Agreement. This will help to ensure smooth access to the African market while ensuring that good quality standards in respect of food, plant & animal health are maintained. The Department will further embark upon trade promotion programmes to ensure detailed awareness and knowledge of the AfCFTA agreement and its market access requirements.
Through an Interdepartmental forum including the South African Revenue Services and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (SARS and the dtic), the Department will also work to ensure that member countries respect and comply with the agreed rules of trade. Where implementation challenges arise, the Department, through this forum, will work to resolve them using the agreed legal instruments such as the Dispute Settlement Mechanism in the agreement.
01 December 2022 - NW4207
Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
With regard to the recruitment of 10 000 unemployed youth graduates to join the digitisation project of records of his department, (a) who was awarded the tender to assist with the appointments, (b) who makes the appointment decisions, (c) for each of phase 1, 2 and 3 list the (i) offices where the recruits will work and (ii) total number of recruits allocated to each specified office and (d) what is the status of procurement of (i) scanners and (ii) workstations for the specified project?
Reply:
a) The Department has not awarded any tender to assist with the recruitment process for the 10 000 unemployed youth graduates. However, the recruitment was facilitated by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) through the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) Programme. The service was provided at no cost to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
b) Interview panels were set up by the DHA nationwide to interview candidates. Interview panels make recommendations for appointments.
c) The DHA adopted a phased approach for the recruitment of young unemployed graduates and as demonstrated in the table below, the allocation recruits will be per province rather than offices and is aligned to the volume of documents that require digitisation.
d) The procurement of equipment and software for the digitisation process was advertised via an open Request for Bid, which closed on 23 September 2022. The evaluation process to select a preferred provider for the duration of the project is in an advanced stage. Workstation procurement is being done through a SITA transversal contract for the 1st cohort and is due for delivery in December 2022.
END
01 December 2022 - NW4362
Khanyile, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
What (a) type of visa class was granted to all the occupants of the Russian yacht called Nord that is supposed to dock in the Cape Town harbour, (b) is the duration of each visa and (c) number of occupants are on the specified yacht?
Reply:
The yacht referred to has not docked at any of South Africa’s harbours. No pre-clearance application was received for such a yacht to dock at Cape Town harbour.
END
01 December 2022 - NW4340
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What is the extent of land owned by (a) her department and (b) entities reporting to her that (i) has exclusive rights and (ii) lease from the other state departments to (aa) use and (bb) occupy the land?
Reply:
a) The extent of land owned by the Department of agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) is 17 293 976 hectares.
b) The entity reporting to the Department of agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in terms of the PFMA listing is the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Board, which owns no land, since the land vests in the Ingonyama as Trustee of Ingonyama Trust however, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) owns 14 739.65064 hectares, while Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has approximately 43 hectares.
(i), (ii)(aa)(bb) Falls Away.
01 December 2022 - NW4025
Graham-Maré, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)What total number of generators were bought for official Ministerial homes; (2) whether each house was equipped with a generator; if not, what are the relevant details of how the generators were allocated to each (a) Minister and/or (b) Deputy Minister who benefited from the specified purchase; if so, what are the relevant details of which (a) Minister and/or (b) Deputy Minister derived this benefit; (3) whether any new generators have been purchased and/or installed since 1 July 2022; if not, why not; if so, what (a) are the relevant details and (b) total amount has been spent on diesel to run the generators since 1 July 2022?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. I have been informed that the total number of generators that were replaced due to redundancy for official Ministerial residences is 13.
2. Not all houses were equipped with generators:
a) The generators were replaced due to redundancy and was also too costly to maintain.
b) The generators were replaced due to redundancy and was also too costly to maintain.
3.a) 1 (one) generator has been procured and was installed on the 09 November 2022, and 3 (three) are still in the procurement stage.
b) The total amount of diesel spent is R784 135.00
01 December 2022 - NW4060
Sharif, Ms NK to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1)Whether, with regard to the responsibilities of his department in relation to the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, Act 49 of 2003, he will furnish Ms N K Sharif with a statistical summary of the most common reasons provided by the Director-General (DG) for the rejection of applications in terms of section 2(3) of the specified Act; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what total number of officials in the DG's office work on assessing and deciding upon the specified applications in terms of section (a) 2(1) and (b) 2(3) of the Act; (3) whether he will furnish Ms N K Sharif with copies of all standard operating procedures, guidelines, checklists and all other guiding documentation developed by his department to help officials in the office of the DG to take decisions in terms of section 2(3) of the Act; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details; (4) what is the average turnaround time for the specified applications from submission by an applicant to a decision communicated to the specified applicant?
Reply:
- There is no statistical summary of rejected applications in terms of section 2(3) of the Act.
- Four (4) Officials
- The standard operating procedure (SOP) for the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status was signed in October 2020 and is applied by officials that process the applications. The Department is unable to provide a copy of the SOP due to the sensitivity of the procedures to be followed in this category of applications that involves the amendment of personal information. The documents required by the Department from applicants in this category are indicated under “Amendments” on the DHA website.
- The average turnaround time is 4-12 weeks
END
01 December 2022 - NW4248
Zondo, Mr S S to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)Whether, in light of the fact that her department handed over 12 buildings between December 2019 and March 2020 to the Provincial Departments of Social Development of Gauteng and the Western Cape for use as shelters for gender-based violence victims, and in view of reports that her department has spent R1 960 411,84 to date on building and garden renovations for the six buildings in Gauteng while the buildings remain closed and unoccupied, she will furnish Mr S S Zondo with the details and/or an update on the occupation of the shelters by the Gauteng Department of Social Development; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department plans to retrieve some of the funds spent on the shelter whilst it remained unoccupied by the Gauteng Department of Social Development; if not, why not; if so, what are the further, relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. I have been informed that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), the respective Provincial Departments of Social Development (DSD), and their respective Infrastructure Departments; after having engaged extensively, have agreed that the method of disposal of these shelters will be that of Donation. In the meantime, all parties have resolved that User Agreements will be signed. The signing of the User Agreements will enable DSD to occupy the aforementioned properties. The Agreements have been prepared and are being signed by the various parties.
2. DPWI is mandated to ensure that its assets are safeguarded and kept in good condition at all times. Furthermore, DPWI intends to provide the properties in a habitable state and ready for DSD to use by victims of gender-based violence and femicide.
DPWI will not be recovering any funds from DSD, due to the fact that the delay in occupation is not due to any of the Departments’ doing, but rather the fact that the three departments needed to finalize the governance structure of how the properties will be managed. It has now been agreed that the properties will be donated to the user departments and that User Agreements will be signed in the meantime as a governance structure to allow DSD to use the properties.
01 December 2022 - NW4512
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)Whether the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment signed a new lease agreement for the property called Knoflokskraal in the Western Cape; if not, what are the future plans regarding the specified property; if so, what is the term of the lease; (2) what plans are in place to manage the Khoisan people affected by the interdict?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1) I have been informed that the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment did not enter a new Lease Agreement in respect of the property.
(2) A task team, consisting of National, Provincial and Local Government, established in August 2022, has had several meetings to discuss the future of the land.
01 December 2022 - NW4260
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)With reference to the recent handing over of buildings for shelters of gender-based violence and femicide victims in Gauteng and the Western Cape, in which municipalities are the shelters found; (2) whether she has found that the shelters are safe with no possibilities of perpetrators gaining access to the premises and putting the lives of victims in danger; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. I have been informed that the shelters are in the following Municipalities: Western Cape:
Gauteng:
2. The houses are currently safe as they are guarded by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. Once the houses/ shelters are handed over to the client, safeguarding of such assets becomes the responsibility of the User/ client department, Department of Social Development. |
01 December 2022 - NW4437
Ceza, Mr K to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What measures of intervention has she taken with regard to managing the dispute that emanated from claims of the Qwabe clan lands by the Cele clan in Mthandeni to guard against possible spilling of blood in that area?
Reply:
The Cele Community lodged a land claim with the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights during the first window period to lodge land claims and the said claim was settled by the Commission in 2013 through land restoration. The land that has been restored to the Cele Community is as follows:
NO. |
Property Description |
Extent |
Date of Registration |
1 |
Ptn 7 of the Farm Lucasdale No 15690 |
50,0000 |
06 Jan 2010 |
2 |
Ptn 8 of the Farm Lucasdale No 15690 |
32.5573 |
10 Jul 2008 |
3 |
Farm Glendale C No 16996 |
183.8379 |
O6 August 2010 |
4 |
Remainder of the Farm Langespruit No 1180 |
1445.9431 |
10 Jul 2008 |
5 |
Remainder of Ptn 1 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
162.0266 |
10 Jul 2008 |
6 |
Remainder of Ptn 7 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
11.1288 |
26 Jul 2008 |
7 |
Portion 29 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
12.1406 |
25 Jul 2008 |
8 |
Portion 28 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
8.0937 |
08 Jan 2010 |
9 |
Portion 51 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
2.7236 |
10 Jul 2008 |
10 |
Portion 62 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
11.1288 |
04 Nov 2010 |
11 |
Remainder of the Farm Mount Albert No 3175 |
45.5308 |
10 Jul 2010 |
12 |
Portion 2 of the Farm Mount Albert No 3175 |
55.9723 |
10 Jul 2008 |
13 |
Portion 1 of the Farm Lot H No 3637 |
5414SQM |
22 Aug 2008 |
14 |
Portion 2 of the Farm Lot H No 3637 |
2.9289 |
22 Aug 2008 |
15 |
Remainder of the Farm Taurus No 3841 |
188.7225 |
10 Jul 2008 |
16 |
Portion 5 of the Farm Taurus No 3841 |
4.0469 |
10 Jul 2008 |
17 |
Portion 9 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
12.1167 |
26 Jul 2008 |
18 |
Portion 15 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
20.2088 |
25 Jul 2008 |
19 |
Portion 27 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
8.0937 |
26 Jul 2008 |
20 |
Portion 29 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
4.0469 |
26 Jul 2008 |
21 |
Remainder of the Farm Rankin No 6543 |
37.4473 |
26 Jul 2008 |
22 |
Portion 9 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
10.1172 |
26 Jul 2008 |
23 |
Portion 10 of the Farm Hlangwini 3868 |
10.1172 |
26 Jul 2008 |
24 |
Remainder of Ptn 1 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
65.1878 |
|
25 |
Portion 26 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
20.2621 |
25 Jul 2008 |
26 |
Portion 17 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
6.0708 |
26 Jul 2008 |
27 |
Portion 12 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
117,3589 |
10 Jul 2008 |
28 |
Portion 16 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
20.2343 |
26 Jul 2008 |
29 |
Portion 27 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
4.0469 |
26 Jul 2008 |
30 |
Portion 28 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
16.1874 |
25 Jul 2008 |
31 |
Portion 17 of the Farm Badulsdale No 14004 |
10.1172 |
10 Sep 2008 |
32 |
Portion 6 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
81.0368 |
|
33 |
Portion 9 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
10.1172 |
26 Jul 2008 |
34 |
Portion 4 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
4.0469 |
29 Jul 2009 |
35 |
Portion 5 of the Farm ramsdale No 14536 |
20.2343 |
24 Jun 2011 |
36 |
Portion 11 of the Farm Langesboskop 15375 |
212.8510 |
04 Nov 2010 |
37 |
Portion 12 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
212.8214 |
04 Nov 2010 |
38 |
Portion 26 of the Farm Langesboskop No 15375 |
209.2871 |
04 Nov 2011 |
39 |
Portion 32 of the Farm Langesboskop No 15375 |
65.5670 |
04 Nov 2011 |
40 |
Portion 26 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
20.2621 |
25 Jul 2008 |
41 |
Portion 16 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
20.2103 |
|
42 |
Portion 1 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
65.1878 |
|
43 |
The Farm Glendale E No 17136 |
1019.1906 |
06 Aug 2010 |
44 |
The Farm Glendale F No 17137 |
456.8980 |
06 Aug 2010 |
45 |
Portion 12 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
12.1406 |
25 Nov 2011 |
46 |
Remainder of Portion 16 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
11.3312 |
25 Nov 2011 |
47 |
Portion 23 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
50.5868 |
14 Oct 2011 |
46 |
Portion 35 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
10.1172 |
04 Noember 2010 |
47 |
Portion 43 of the Farm Waterbosch No 1276 |
8094SQM |
29 Jul 2009 |
48 |
Portion 4 of the Farm Waterbosch No 3772 |
7.6336 |
19 Aug 2013 |
49 |
Portion 5 of the Farm Linden No 3772 |
5.2676 |
10 Sep 2008 |
|
|
|
|
50 |
Remainder of Portion 2 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
5.0111 |
29 Jul 2009 |
51 |
Portion 5 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
9.1599 |
29 Jul 2009 |
52 |
Portion 6 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
35.2008 |
10 Sep 2008 |
53 |
Portion 10 of the Farm Hlangwini 3868 |
10.1172 |
26 Jul 2008 |
54 |
Portion 12 of the Farm Hlangwini No 3868 |
10.1174 |
10 Sep 2008 |
55 |
Portion 17 of the Farm Badulsdale No 14004 |
10.1172 |
20 Sep 2008 |
56 |
Portion 3 of the Farm Ramsdale No 14536 |
4.0469 |
29 Jul 2009 |
57 |
Portion 1 of the Farm Rankin No 6543 |
23.7396 |
22 Aug 2008 |
56 |
Portion 2 of the Farm Rankin No 6543 |
21.3522 |
22 Aug 2008 |
57 |
Rem of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
107.0744 |
26 Jul 2008 |
58 |
Portion 4 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
56.4917 |
26 Jul 2008 |
59 |
Portion 7 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
6.0703 |
06 Dec 2010 |
60 |
Portion 8 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
6.0703 |
06 Dec 2010 |
61 |
Portion 9 of the farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
6.0702 |
06 Dec 2010 |
62 |
Portion 10 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
6.0704 |
06 Dec 2010 |
63 |
Rem of Portion 16 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
20.2343 |
26 Jul 2008 |
64 |
Portion 27 of the Farm Badulsdale No 13004 |
4.0469 |
26 Jul 2008 |
65 |
Portion 1 of the Farm Kundale No 14535 |
18.4981 |
26 Jul 2008 |
66 |
Portion 13 of the Farm Langesboskop No 15375 |
514..8282 |
06 Dec 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67 |
Portion 14 of the Farm Langesboskop No 15375 |
191.5772 |
29 Oct 2010 |
68 |
Portion 16 of the Farm Langesboskop No 15375 |
196.0397 |
29 Oct 2010 |
69 |
Portion 4 of the Farm Lucasdale No 15690 |
25.7175 |
10 Jul 2008 |
Similarly, the Qwabe Community lodged their land claim during the first window period of lodging land claims, but this claim has not yet been settled by the Commission. The properties that are the subject of the Qwabe land claim are as follows:
Number |
Property |
Number |
1 |
Waterfall |
1205 |
2 |
Glen Aryil |
909 |
3 |
Lalucia |
14634 |
4 |
Compensation |
868 |
5 |
Lot |
56931 |
6 |
La Mercy |
15124 |
7 |
Doornkloof |
1399 |
8 |
Hlangwini |
3568 |
9 |
Badulsdale |
13004 |
10 |
Hlanzane |
3842 |
11 |
Licksdale |
1180 |
12 |
Taurus |
697 |
13 |
Grafton |
2229 |
14 |
Hlanzane |
3842 |
.
A comparative analysis of the properties that have been restored to Cele Community versus those that have been claimed by the Qwabe Community will reveal that there is no competition between the properties claimed by either of the two communities.
Finally, it is important to note that the restitution process deals with the restoration of land rights to individuals or communities who were dispossessed of their land rights after 19 June 1913, but does not extend to settling disputes regarding traditional boundaries of communities, which is what the dispute between the Qwabe Community and Cele Community may be about. The dispute about the jurisdictional boundaries must be referred to COGTA for resolution.
END
01 December 2022 - NW4367
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Small Business Development
Whether her department has signed memoranda of understanding and/or transversal agreements with any other departments; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?”
Reply:
The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU’s) and/or transversal agreements with several departments and various agencies. The following table provides the details of the agreements signed with departments:
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT |
||
No. |
Institutions |
Detail of the agreement |
1. |
DSBD and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (KZN EDTEA) |
The Parties undertake to collaborate in the area of Red Tape Reduction with the general understanding that red tape is defined as rules and regulations, administrative and management procedures and systems, which are not, or are no longer effective in achieving their intended objectives, and which therefore produce sub-optimal and undesired social outcomes. 1. DSBD work in a clear and disciplined relationship on Red Tape Reduction/Ease of doing Business between the DSBD and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Departments. 2. DSBD has developed a province specific Programmes of Action, addressing Capacity Building and other mechanisms, over a three-year cycle to provide this disciplined relations and collaborative action to reduce Red Tape and unleash the potential small businesses in this province. 3. The Programme of Action developed for the province is aligned with government’s “One Plan” district and metro model and finds expression in both the DSBD’s as well as the provincial partners’ Annual Performance Plans (APPs). This integrated planning, standardisation and alignment of indicators involves all relevant provincial and local government officials, including Provincial COGTA, in its execution. 4. This is a journey that provinces cannot take alone, EDTEA, COGTA, SALGA, OTP are integral partners to the process. 5. A separate TOR for the relationship governing the collaboration between Provincial EDTEA, COGTA, SALGA, OTP and in some instances also Provincial Treasuries are also required internally. Geographical reach: Kwa-Zulu Natal province. |
2. |
Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) |
The Parties undertake to collaborate in the area of Red Tape Reduction with the general understanding that red tape is defined as rules and regulations, administrative and management procedures and systems, which are not, or are no longer, effective in achieving their intended objectives, and which therefore produce sub-optimal and undesired social outcomes. 1. DSBD work in a clear and disciplined relationship on Red Tape Reduction/Ease of doing Business between the DSBD and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Departments. 2. DSBD has developed a province specific Programmes of Action, addressing Capacity Building and other mechanisms, over a three-year cycle to provide this disciplined relations and collaborative action to reduce Red Tape and unleash the potential small businesses in this province. 3. The Programme of Action developed for the province is aligned with government’s “One Plan” district and metro model and finds expression in both the DSBD’s as well as the provincial partners’ Annual Performance Plans (APPs). This integrated planning, standardisation and alignment of indicators involves all relevant provincial and local government officials, including Provincial COGTA, in its execution. 4. This is a journey that provinces cannot take alone, EDTEA, COGTA, SALGA, OTP are integral partners to the process. 5. A separate TOR for the relationship governing the collaboration between Provincial EDTEA, COGTA, SALGA, OTP and in some instances also Provincial Treasuries are also required internally. Geographical reach: Limpopo Province. |
3. |
Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (NCDEDT) |
The Parties undertake to collaborate in the area of Red Tape Reduction with the general understanding that Red Tape is defined as rules and regulations, administrative and management procedures and systems, which are not, or are no longer, effective in achieving their intended objectives, and which therefore produce sub-optimal and undesired socio-economic outcomes hampering investment and transformation of local economies. 1. DSBD work in a clear and disciplined relationship on Red Tape Reduction/Ease of doing Business between the DSBD and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Departments. 2. DSBD has developed a province specific Programmes of Action, addressing Capacity Building and other mechanisms, over a three-year cycle to provide this disciplined relations and collaborative action to reduce Red Tape and unleash the potential small businesses in this province. 3. The Programme of Action developed for the province is aligned with government’s “One Plan” district and metro model and finds expression in both the DSBD’s as well as the provincial partners’ Annual Performance Plans (APPs). This integrated planning, standardisation and alignment of indicators involves all relevant provincial and local government officials, including Provincial COGTA, in its execution. 4. This is a journey that provinces cannot take alone, EDTEA, COGTA, SALGA, OTP are integral partners to the process. 5. A separate TOR for the relationship governing the collaboration between Provincial EDTEA, COGTA, SALGA, OTP and in some instances also Provincial Treasuries are also required internally. Geographical reach: Northern Cape |
4. |
Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency (ECRDA) |
Areas of collaboration
Geographic reach: Eastern Cape province. |
5. |
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment |
Areas of collaboration: Facilitate participation of SMMEs and Co-operatives within business value chains, especially those owned by women, youth and persons with disabilities within the following areas: • Biodiversity Economy - wildlife, bioprospecting / biotrade, and ecotourism sectors, • Chemicals and Waste Economy — Recycling Enterprise Support Programme (RESP); Refrigeration and air-conditioners (RAC) Programme; • Green Economy (Climate Change & Air Quality); • Forestry Masterplan; • Fisheries Management (small scale fisheries and aquaculture as a sub sector of the Oceans Economy); • Invasive Alien Plant and bush encroachment Biomass Economy (Environmental Programmes); and • Environmental Protection and Infrastructure sector (Environmental Programmes). • In line with the joint work plan, the two parties agreed to provide capacity building, skills development, production support, incubation, enterprise development, mentorship and training of SMMEs and Co-operatives sharing and securing resources (financial and non-financial resources), both parties further agreed to implement programmes nationally. Geographical reach: National level. |
6. |
Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) |
This MOU formalises the intentions of both parties to work together in strengthening democratic and developmental local government, as well as promoting more effective, efficient and responsive local governance in South Africa and within Southern Africa, as determined by the Parties. The Parties undertake to cooperate with each other in the following broad areas: • Implementing the Cooperatives Support Development Programme through both DSBD and its agencies and further facilitate the establishment of sustainable cooperatives within viable economic conditions. • Position cooperatives for radical economic transformation to facilitate active participation of cooperatives in mainstream economy; and facilitate access to funding and markets to identified cooperatives. • Adequately invest on Local Economic Development at provincial and municipal levels to facilitate inclusion of Cooperatives Development Programmes in IDP’s, LED strategies and support at those levels; Central to this approach includes interventions like Assert Based Community Development, the NDP, Land reform policies, Integrated Develop Plans of municipalities; as well as the alignment of programmes and budgets of a number of various projects and spheres of government coordinated at Local Government level; Implement capacity enhancement and development programmes targeting LED Practitioners and Portfolio Committees in order to adequately support. Geographic reach: MoU is pitched at National level but will be implemented both provincial and local levels piloting the arrangement in KZN. |
7. |
Eastern Cape Province Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) |
Areas of collaboration The two departments undertake to collaborate in the areas of Red Tape Reduction with regard to small business cooperative development with focus on providing support to implementation of remedial actions to reduce time and costs of existing procedures and processes making them less complex and more cost and time efficient. The agreement will also cover the following: • Informal Economy interventions • Cooperative development • Sector specific interventions • Innovation and digitization and • Co-funding of projects Geographic reach: The agreement will be implemented at a provincial level to support local initiatives within the jurisdiction of the Eastern Cape. |
8. |
Department of Economic Development – Western Cape |
The MoU integrates the work of Seda that was part of the initial arrangement with the Western Cape |
9. |
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development |
Effective implementation of the Ecosystem Development for Small Enterprises (EDSE) Programme |
STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
MINISTER: DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
01 December 2022 - NW4170
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Given the reduction to the budget of Legal Aid South Africa (LASA) of R534 670 over the 2021/22-2023/24 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period, what (a) was the justification for the specified reductions in LASA’s budget, (b) effect will the reductions have on service delivery rendered by LASA to indigent and vulnerable persons and (c) are the relevant details of any backlog in services rendered by LASA; (2) Whether LASA is able to provide effective services at all courts in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) The National Treasury‘s mandatory baseline budget reductions were necessitated by the national fiscal constraints.
b) Any reductions in Legal Aid SA’s budget has an adverse impact as this affects the recruitment levels, i.e. number of employees as per approved establishment and consequently the court coverage.
c) There are no backlogs as pending matters’ turnaround times are monitored so that cases are not delayed unnecessarily.
2. Legal Aid SA is able to provide services at all courts in the Republic of South Africa through its practitioner per court model, meaning that there is a legal practitioner stationed in every court, responsible for taking all legal aid instructions in his/her or their assigned court. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development consults with Legal Aid SA whenever new courts are established, and provides necessary budget allocation.
END