Questions and Replies

Reply:

 

(1)(a),(b) The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights does not have any record for Maele Trust. The Honourable Member is requested to provide more information and location of the said trust to enable the Department to respond to the question.

(2)(a),(b)(i),(ii) Falls away.

(3) The Commission does not have any record of land claims in respect of Maele territory.

(a),(b) Falls away.

END

Reply:

Since April 2022 to date, the Department of Home Affairs reported criminal cases against 9 officials who resigned and who were identified for unlawful activities. Other cases are being probed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in line with the Presidential Proclamation on the Department of Home Affairs.  

END. 

Reply:

The development of a modern Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) production facility would be an international showcase of South Africa’s capabilities.  As this is a specialised building, highly skilled external consulting engineers and other specialists have been appointed to develop a concept layout and detailed design of the manufacturing process.

The following key steps have been completed:

• Construction related firms such as engineering, architectural, electrical, mechanical and construction to design plan and implement the construction of the new FMD factory have all been contracted
• A process engineer to develop the design or layout of the infrastructure (piping, bioreactors, purifiers, centrifuges, etc.) that will be used in the manufacturing process has been appointed. 

• A well-designed production process is essential for optimisation of the factory design, particularly for obtaining qualifications for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) which is required not only for export purposes but also by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to grant the manufacturing license for the factory.
  • A Project Manager to manage the construction has already been recruited.

The next steps are as follows:

• Obtain all the regulatory permits and approvals for the construction of the facility. These will be secured by the firms contracted to project manage the construction phase of the project.
• Start the construction phase of the factory. The building must have certified engineering features to ensure that the highest international standards and compliance are achieved and that a world-leading environment for both staff and animals is provided.

The table below provides a summary of the key steps in the process:

 

PHASE	ACTIVITIES
Design phase [underway and expected to be completed and signed off - 1st quarter of financial year 2024/25]	Below are the appointed service providers for the development of the new FMD vaccine factory at Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Campus (OVR): Process engineering firm; Architectural firm; Mechanical Engineering firm; Electrical Engineering firm; Civil & Engineering firm; Quantity Surveying firm; Wet Services Engineering firm; and Fire Services Engineering firm. The above appointed service providers have commenced and are almost finished with various stages of the pre-construction documentation and processes which entail the design and planning, infrastructure and bulk services provision and project budget.
Construction [24 – 36 months; expected to start at the beginning of August 2024]	Ordering of specialised equipment for vaccine production; Construction of building according to specifications; and Issuing of compliance certificates of completion in relation to National Building Standards.
Validation [approximately 18 months, followed by full commercial production]	Foot and mouth disease vaccine trials; and Inspection.

 

The coordination between the different appointed service providers is underway to ensure that the building meets the minimum standards in preparation for the construction of the new facility, with accurate user specification requirements, detailed design diagrams, and cost estimates.

 

Reply:

 

Find reply here

Reply:

1. No. There is no system in place to regulate the price for communal land since the land is held in trust by the Minister on behalf of communities and is not for sale.
2. No. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development does not use any reference guide to allocate land to foreign nationals as foreign nationals are not eligible for land allocation in terms of Government’s land reform programme.

Reply:

 

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development relies on the Trespass Act, 1959 (Act No. 6 of 1959) to prohibit the invasion of vacant land.

The Act provides for:

“Prohibition of entry or presence upon land and entry of or presence in buildings in certain circumstances:

(1) Any person who without the permission-

(a) of the lawful occupier of any land or any building or part of a building; or

(b) of the owner or person in charge of any land or any building or part of a building that is not lawfully occupied by any person,

enters or is upon such land or enters or is in such building or part of a building, shall be guilty of an offence unless he has lawful reason to enter or be upon such land or enter or be in such building or part of a building.”

Reply:

No. It is important to note that the Social Assistance legislation only provides for receipt of the CSG up to the month in which the child turns 18. However, the same beneficiaries would be eligible to apply for COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant.

In addition, through the National Integration Social Protection System (NISPIS) programme, DSD links CSG beneficiaries to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), should they wish to pursue their education at institutions of higher learning and they are exempted from NSFAS means test.

Furthermore, government provides for other support services to ensure that vulnerable children complete their education such as no fee schools in poor communities, school nutrition programmes, free primary health care at public facilities, free basic services, and subsidised housing for poor households. A combination of social protection interventions create powerful opportunities to multiply the impact of children’s grants in achieving comprehensive social and economic developments through integration to additional services.

Reply:

(1) As a means of addressing scarce and critical skills in the sector, the Department coordinates an External Bursary Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to increase the pool of scientists and skilled professionals. The Department rates veterinary science as one of the scarce skills; as such each year bursaries are awarded to qualifying young people to pursue this field of study at the University of Pretoria. Since inception of the bursary scheme, a total of 106 young people benefited from financial assistance to study Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) at the University of Pretoria and 84 successfully completed their studies while 22 are currently in the system.

The Department has further established a Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme that ensures that newly graduated veterinarians serve the country for at least one year before they choose gainful employment in industry and other sectors. The Department has been able to deploy an average of 140 veterinarians every year. In addition, the Department has worked with the Department of Higher Education and Training to identify a possible second faculty to train veterinarians and related professionals.

(2) The registration of veterinarians who qualified overseas is done immediately with universities that have equivalence with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). The Department and the SAVC provided opportunities for those who qualified overseas and did not meet the requirements for registration to write exams and if they pass, they may practice in the country.

Reply:

 

(a) In terms of clause 12.5 of the Rooiwal Communal Property Association’s constitution, individuals who are non-members of the Communal Property Association (CPA) can be elected to the executive committee of the CPA.

(b) The Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994) does not disqualify a person who holds political office from being a claimant or a beneficiary, therefore in terms of Rooiwal CPA’s constitution, politicians who are members of the CPA representing their family household, can be elected to the executive committee of the CPA.

(c) Clause 7 of the Rooiwal CPA’s Constitution allows for election to the executive committee of family members provided that they are members of the Rooiwal CPA.

Reply:

(a) The total amounts spent on litigation in the past five financial years are set out in the table below:

Litigation	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
Private firms / Legal advisory services	R3 705 014.84	R6 534 888.04	R8 133 418.97	R13 098 140.58	R37 125 379.29
Litigation / State Attorney / Legal advisory services	R3 668 104.53	R68 627 682.00	R30 378 709.89	R59 539 803.93	R64 447 571.48
Total	R7 373 119.37	R75 162 570.04	R38 512 128.86	R72 637 944.51	R101 572 950.77

(b) The amount spent on litigation since 1 April 2023 to 29 February 2024 is set out in the table below.

Litigation	2023/24*
Private firms / Legal advisory services	R79 974 608.85
Litigation / State Attorney / Legal advisory services	R37 718 387.48
Total	R117 692 996.33

END.

Reply:

Section 72(1)(a) of the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003) (MFMA) requires the Accounting Officer to assess the performance of the municipality during the first half of the financial year taking into account:

1. the monthly statements referred to in section 71 for the first half of the financial year;
2. the municipality’s service delivery performance during the first half of the financial year, and the service delivery targets and performance indicators set in the service delivery and budget implementation plan;
3. the past year’s annual report, and progress on resolving problems identified in the annual report; and
4. the performance of every municipal entity under the sole or shared control of the municipality, taking into account reports in terms of section 88 from any such entities.

Therefore, the issues to be considered by the accounting officer to recommend whether the adjustments budget is necessary are not only limited to subsection (iii) as indicate in Section 72(a) of the MFMA. It must also be noted that after the performance assessment and adjustments of the budget, the municipality must adjust the Service Delivery Budget and Implementation Plan accordingly.

In addition, Section 28(2) of the MFMA read together with regulation 23 of the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulations (MBRR) provides details on the types of adjustments budget that can be considered and the timeframes. Therefore, the adjustments budget as a result of Section 72 performance assessment, must be undertaken according to regulation 23(1) of the MBRR. In terms of regulation 23(1), the municipality can table an adjustments budget referred to in Section 28(2)(b), (d) and (f) of the MFMA in the municipal council at any time after the mid-year budget and performance assessment has been tabled in council, but not later than 28 February of the current year.

Reply:

The department has not allocated any new budget for the 30 Year celebration of Democracy in South Africa. However, the department aims to utilise all standing national days in 2024 to observe the yearlong celebration. In this case, the department intends to celebrate the 30 years anniversary of democracy in South Africa through the Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and the Africa Day under the ambit of Africa Month which falls before the 29 May 2024.

 

Reply:

(1)(a) Department of Correctional Services (DCS) developed a departmental control committee to ensure that procurement to the value of R1 million is approved by the committee. The terms of reference are to ensure daily oversight on procurement transactions, with focus on procurement wherein bidding processes are not followed.

(1)(b) DCS reports all procurement processes through National Treasury and furthermore the procurement manual including delegation has been revised to ensure fairness and competitiveness.

(2) With reference to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation, it was found that there was a breach in procurement processes with disciplinary referrals due to non- compliance. However the services were rendered and paid for, therefore no recovery efforts were recommended by the SIU.

(3) DCS has revised the procurement policies and standard operating procedures to strengthen systematic issues to ensure the segregation of duties in the procurement environment.

END.

Reply:

The Honorable Member should note that :-

1.(a). Participation in the Olympic Games is determined by the relevant International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) regulations and qualification process as determined from time to time in consultation with relevant International Federations (IF), which is the same process followed for Water Polo sport.

(b). South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) in consultation with National federations, have the sole authority for the entry and or withdrawal of athletes and teams from (IOC) International Olympic Committee’s Events.

(c). Following the 2021 Olympic Games and 2023 Fukuoka World Championships, the Swimming South Africa (SSA) High Performance Committee reviewed the performance of all aquatic disciplines, namely (Artistic Swimming, Diving, Open Water Swimming, Swimming and Water polo) in August 2023.

This review was necessary necessitated to ensure that the performance standards of athletes and teams in the SSA Aquatics Disciplines continually improve in relation to international performances and be competitive for Paris 2024 Olympics Games and beyond.

The Criteria adopted is as follows:

Artistic swimming

Achieve a top 20 ranking at Doha World championships 2024 to be eligible for continental qualification.

Diving

Achieve a top 12 ranking at Fukuoka world champs (1st round) or achieve a top 12 ranking at Doha World championships 2024.

Open water

Achieve a top 20 ranking at Doha 2024 World championships to be eligible for a continental qualification.

Swimming

Achieve an Olympic A qualification time standard at the SA Olympic trials in April 2024; should athletes not achieve the Olympic A qualification time standard at the SA Olympic trials in April 2024, the Olympic A qualification time standard achieved during the World Aquatics window period, will be considered. Relay qualification will take place at the 2024 Doha World Championships where the top 13 placed teams will qualify. 

Water polo

Achieve a 12th place ranking at Doha World Championships 2024 to be eligible for a continental qualification.

(2)(a). Participation in the Olympic Games is determined by qualification criteria determined by the IOC in consultation with IF which in this case is World Aquatics. Athletes and teams must comply with the IOC qualification standards and are not invited to participate, including the participation of Teams from Africa.

(b). SASCOC as the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and Swimming as the National Federation respectively, have authority in relation to the relevant national legislation and affiliation to the IOC and World Aquatics for their related functions in South Africa. As a department we are not in a position to speculate on sport development in Africa.

(3). Yes, there was collaborative process, in that following the review by the SSA High Performance Committee in August 2023, the recommendations were presented to and adopted by the SSA Executive Committee and the General Council at the Annual General Meeting in August 2023.

Reply:

1. As Minister of Government Department in the Republic of South Africa, I do not have oversight or authority when it comes to International Federations, and I am therefore unable to comment on this matter.

2.(a). The current Executive Committee was elected on 15 January 2022, and has been serving Swimming SA since then.

(b). Unfortunately, I am not aware of any organizational failures within the Swimming SA, however, I will request my department for a full report on the alleged persistent failure in the organisation.

Reply:

The Ministry engaged Swimming South Africa (SSA) who provided the following responses:

(a). Considering limited resources, grassroots programmes are primarily focused on water safety education and teaching swimming as a life skill in areas where there are facilities. Noting that of approximately 25,000 schools in South Africa, 22,000 do not have swimming pools. Swimming Pools in schools is limited to private schools where water polo is practiced.

(b). Due to financial constraints, Swimming South Africa (SSA) in conjunction with World Aquatics can only provide annual training programmes to coaches and technical officials on an alternative basis. This is an average of 30 people trained annually in accredited courses.

Reply:

I have not been informed about the said situation at the Nomoya Masilela Museum, as this is a Provincial Museum and thus under provincial competence.

Reply:

Swimming South Africa (SSA) indicates that they require additional information to respond to these questions as they are unaware of these incidents.

Reply:

(a) None, since it is not part of the National Treasury’s mandate.

(b)(i) None

(b)(ii)(aa)(bb)(cc)(dd) & (ee) None

Reply:

The Department has engaged with Swimming South Africa (SSA) in relation to the questions asked and submit the following responses.

1. Swimming South Africa indicates that Africa Aquatics encouraged South Africa’s participation at the Olympic Games, however SSA has the final decision on the matter and declined SA’s participation due to the team not meeting SSA’s criteria.

2. The Minister is not able to indicate whether the rest of the African countries were invited to the Olympic Games as this is a matter for Africa Aquatics and the International Olympic

Committees, however, the Minister is aware that South Africa did receive an invitation to Participate at the Olympic Games for the water polo teams.

A). Yes, the SA Water Polo Team attained qualification to the Olympic Games which has not be accepted.

B). The water polo team achieved qualification by virtue of being ranked position 1 on the African continent, however, SSA’s criteria for Olympic qualification requires the team to attain position 12 in the world. The water polo team has not achieved this qualifying standard.

3. No, the Minister has not found anything to this effect.

Reply:

The Code of Conduct for Legal Practitioners referred to by the Honorable Member has been published by the Legal Practice Council on the 29 March 2019 (Government Gazette No 42364 of 29 March 2019) and is available on the website (www.lpc.org.za) of the Legal Practice Council.

Reply:

The 2020 European Union Nations Cup was cancelled by the organizers due to the worldwide COVID 19 pandemic and any payments made by team members were re-imbursed to them. SSA paid and carried the costs of the team entries which was not refunded by the organizers.

Reply:

1.National School Safety Framework
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Provincial Education Departments continue to implement the National School Safety Framework (NSSF), which is a guiding framework in addressing all forms of violent incidences in schools including drug abuse. The NSSF empowers schools to identify and manage all safety threats in schools, establish school safety committees comprising of stakeholders such as teachers, police officers, school governing body members and learner representative council members. Furthermore, The NSSF also empowers schools to develop incident reporting mechanisms, establish collaborations with external stakeholders such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Social Development and civil society organisations, develop school safety plans and policies to respond to safety challenges of violence in schools for both learners and educators. Through the implementation of the NSSF, access control measures in schools are strengthened and awareness programmes on social ills by partner departments and civil society organisations are implemented in schools. 

2. Partnership Protocol between the Department of Basic Education and the South African Police Service 
The Department also has an established Protocol with SAPS to address crime and violence in schools. The Protocol has enabled all schools to be linked to their local police stations, SAPS to conduct searches and seizures in schools and conduct crime awareness campaigns in schools. Regularly, schools work with SAPS and local community police forums and social workers to address violent incidents such as gangsterism, bullying, drug abuse and the carrying of dangerous weapons in schools. Searches and seizures of illegal drugs and dangerous weapons are also done in schools. SAPS identifies hot-spot areas and inform the provincial Education Departments of such areas, this enables the department to procure metal detectors for schools in those areas. 

3. Life Orientation Curriculum
The  Department continues to implement  the Life Skills and Life Orientation curriculum in classrooms, which is the main lever for preventing violence in schools amongst learners. The DBE implements this Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement annually and it covers the following violence related topics: bullying, drugs and substance abuse, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy prevention.

4. Protocol For the Management and Reporting of Sexual Abuse and Harassment in Schools. 
The Department developed a Protocol for the Management and Reporting of Sexual Abuse and Harassment in schools which provides schools, districts and provinces with standard operating procedures/guidelines when addressing allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, and to specifically detail how schools must respond to reports of sexual abuse and harassment perpetrated against learners and school staff. It serves to ensure a safe, caring and enabling environment for learning and teaching, both inside and outside of the classroom. This protocol sets out an approach that enables educators and employees of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to identify, intervene, report and provide support to all learners who are sexually abused or harassed in school, whilst providing an appropriate response to perpetrators of all forms of sexual abuse and harassment. It has been printed,  distributed and mediated in the sector. 

Reply:

As part of the 30 years of democracy and reflecting on the work of the 6th Administration, the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has from 09 April 2024 started handing over the completed infrastructure projects to beneficiaries and communities. A total of 18 projects will be handed over to communities. The cost for these events are shared between all spheres of government and at this stage it cannot be quantified as the events differ in form and structure.

End.

Reply:

(a)(b)(i)(ii)The National Department of Basic Education does not collect information, as part of its framework of regular monitoring, collect information to the level of the detail that is requested, that is, area of specialisation and grade. The Honorable member is kindly advised to request the information directly from the Provincial Education Departments.

Reply:

a), b), c) and d) 

Salary level	Average salary	Total amount spent 2023/24 FY	Projected amount 2024/25 FY @4.7%	Total number of employees per level
Salary level 1	123 741	2 075 022	2 172 548	17
Salary level 2	130 437	10 163 410 848	10 641 091 157	76 650
Salary level 3	159 879	10 034 049 885	10 505 650 229	63 144
Salary level 4	184 026	7 408 831 452	7 757 046 530	41 351
Salary level 5	216 876	40 887 824 397	42 809 552 143	188 044
Salary level 6	274 878	38 318 991 165	40 119 983 749	143 633
Salary level 7	327 819	101 020 256 001	105 768 208 033	306 173
Salary level 8	391 491	66 123 453 459	69 231 255 771	168 382
Salary level 9	462 972	43 982 077 263	46 049 234 894	94 775
Salary level 10	574 725	31 705 654 683	33 195 820 453	54 386
Salary level 11	811 560	28 567 475 706	29 910 147 064	37 066
Salary level 12	1 080 681	32 586 306 183	34 117 862 573	28 343
SENIOR MANAGEMENT SERVICE (SMS)
SMS - Salary level 13	1 232 289	8 449 071 954	Cost-of-living adjustment for 2024/25 FY not approved.	6 754
SMS - Salary level 14	1 454 487	2 943 025 932	Cost-of-living adjustment for 2024/25 FY not approved.	1 994
SMS - Salary level 15	1 738 656	1 111 268 202	Cost-of-living adjustment for 2024/25 FY not approved.	631
SMS - Salary level 16	2 158 533	260 590 709	Cost-of-living adjustment for 2024/25 FY not approved.	117

End

Reply:

Resource provisioning for schools, which includes resourcing for library and information services, is a function located in provinces. The Honourable Member is therefore advised to direct her question to the Members of the Executive Council. 

Reply:

No, municipalities are not reporting to the Department on the use of virtual meetings.

Whilst the Department does not monitor whether council meetings are virtual or physical, learning from experience during COVID-19, we encourage municipalities to explore cost effective ways of conducting council business where feasible. Councillors also receive tools of trade, hence, it is possible for council sittings to be held virtual. It is our view that this approach can result in significant savings for the municipalities which can be redirected to service delivery priorities.

However, we continue to implore on municipalities to be cautious in whatever decision they take because it is important that the principle of inclusive governance is adhered to and promoted at all times, including at a citizenary level. This will ensure that our principle of participatory democracy is upheld in the business of council.

End.

Reply:

(a)

• The Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019 (TKLA) makes provision for the establishment of the Commission on Khoi-San Matters which deals with applications for recognition of Khoi-San communities and leaders and makes recommendations to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in this regard. The Commission was appointed with effect from 20 September 2021 for a period of five years and has to date invited and received applications for recognition and is currently seized with the recognition process. As at this point, there are no recognized Kho-San communities and leaders, and the support of the Department of Traditional Affairs is currently channeled towards the Commission on Khoi-san Matters to process the applications for recognition by Khoi-san leaders and communities.

• The Commission has conducted awareness campaigns in all provinces on the application process, the criteria for qualification, how to complete application forms and other provisions of the Act in relation to applications, including the timeframes within which applications for recognition can be submitted to the Commission. However, despite the extensive awareness campaigns and groundwork that the Commission conducted in its first year of operation to educate members of the public and potential applicants on the application process, all the applications received by the Commission did not comply with the Act and did not have documentary evidence to assist the Commission to determine if the applicants qualify to be recognised.

• To address this challenge the Commission has begun conducting applicant member investigations as part of its investigation and intervention process to assist the applicants to provide required documentary evidence. In this regard, the Commission conducts face-to face bilateral engagements with each applicant member concerned. During the session, the application form and gaps therein as well as the evidence documents required for compliance in terms of the Act are explained to the applicant members, and the applicant member is assisted to complete the application form in compliance with the provisions of the Act.

(b) Government’s support to the socio-economic development of Khoi-san communities is multi-faceted and involves a range of organs of state in line with their respective mandates. The following are examples:

• Culture and language

(i) There are steps taken to design and implement specific projects aimed at promoting and protecting the use of Khoi-San languages as one of the previously disadvantaged indigenous languages. The SA Constitution makes provision for the establishment of a Pan South African Language Board (PanSalb) to promote the creation of conditions for the development and use of languages. To date, PanSalb has launched the Khoekhoegowab Dictionary Glossarium, the first dictionary for the South African Khoi and San languages. Free copies of the Glossarium were distributed to communities and other interested stakeholders. Furthermore, the Department of Education has introduced the Nama language in some of the Northern Cape schools.

• The Protection of the Cultural indigenous knowledge system

(ii) Government has through the Department of Science and Innovation developed legislative measures to protect cultural and indigenous knowledge systems. The primary objective of the Indigenous Knowledge System is to facilitate the protection of Indigenous Knowledge relating to and owned by indigenous communities of SA, and the restoration and recognition thereof, and (a) facilitate the redress of rights and benefits to indigenous communities which have previously been deprived of such rights and benefits; (b) facilitate and coordinate the development of indigenous knowledge; (c) establish and manage the registration of indigenous knowledge practitioners; (d) empower indigenous communities through education and awareness campaigns to enable them to recognise and utilise indigenous knowledge for cultural and economic benefit.

(iii) The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environmental Affairs has launched the industry-wide benefit-sharing agreement on traditional knowledge associated with Rooibos between the Khoi-San communities and the Rooibos industry on 01 November 2019 in the Western Cape. This agreement has been concluded in terms of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, and the agreement was signed by the Minister, the National Khoi-San Council, the San Council of South Africa, and the South African Rooibos Council. The first payment of just over R12,2 million has been paid to the San and Khoi people of South Africa.

• Access to land

Government has through the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development continued to process land claims received from Khoi-san communities. In this regard, the Department has confirmed that Khoi-San communities have successfully claimed land in many provinces. However, government appreciates that at the core of some of the land claims is fundamental issue of the cutoff point introduced by the Land Act of 1913. This matter was discussed at the Land Tenure and Administration Summit convened by the Deputy President in May 2022, and clear resolutions on the way forward were taken in this regard.

• Delivery of basic services

Government follows an integrated governance approach with a view to accelerating service delivery, especially in previously disadvantaged communities. Central to this are Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), which are strategic planning instruments that inform all planning, budgeting, management, and decision-making of local municipalities. To enhance service delivery, government has adopted the District Development Model which seeks to convert districts into geographic hubs within which to drive integrated development and service delivery. These geographic spaces, just like municipalities, cater for all South Africans, including Khoi-san communities that reside there.

End.

Reply:

1. It is not mandatory for public servants to be members of (a) a medical scheme, however, employees who are on salary level 1 to 5 receive 100% medical subsidy if they join GEMS on the Tanzanite One Benefit Option. Employees on salary level 6 to 10 who join GEMS receive 75% medical subsidy and can join any benefit option of their choice. Employees from salary levels 11 upwards structure their salaries and are not compelled to be members of any medical scheme as they do not receive medical subsidy. The police service has its own medical scheme, called POLMED.

2. It is not mandatory for public servants to be members of Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS). The total number of public servants who are Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) members is (a) 688 052 and (b) this number constitutes 55.6 % of the total number of public servants. The number of police service members on POLMED is 146 855 and this constitutes 80% of the police service. State Security Agency (SSA) and Defence are excluded in these numbers.

End

Reply:

It is recommended that the question be redirect to Ministry of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to provide responses accordingly.

End.

Reply:

According to information provided by KZN Provincial CoGTA, the disciplinary hearing for the official in question commenced on 23 June 2017. It is mentioned that his Attorney passed away in April 2018 and all files were taken by the Law Society. The official then requested copies of all documents from the Municipality in order for him to consult and instruct his new Attorneys, Nxumalo and Partners. Due to the loss of vital documentation by the Municipality, the Municipality was unable to proceed with the matter and his case was withdrawn by the Municipal Council. He resumed duties in the Municipality on 26 November 2018.

End.

Reply:

Part (1) There is no such policy or action in the Department to hold children back or force learners out of school for good results. 

Part (2): Causes of the rise in school dropout

The question states that there has been an increase in dropping out of school. On the contrary, the DBE’s analysis of trends in the sector indicates that dropout rates (however defined) have been steadily reducing over the years. The graph below shows completion rates for grade 7 (measured using 16-18-year olds), grade 9 (measured using 19-21-year olds), and grade 12 (measured using 22-25-year olds), all of which have clearly been increasing over time. It should be noted that the slight decrease in grade 9 and 12 completion rates in the graph for 2022 are not statistically significant and therefore should not be interpreted as evidence of a declining trend. The clear trend over time is positive.

During the 2020 and 2021 there were concerns about the potential impact of the pandemic-related disruptions on dropping out. But it is now clear that school participation actually improved during the pandemic (with the exception of young children where we saw a slight increase in delayed entry into school). 16-18-year-olds, in particular, had higher attendance rates than before, and the NSC examinations of 2020-2023 achieved all-time records for the numbers of candidates writing, the numbers of NSC passes, the numbers of Bachelor-level passes, and the pass rate.

It is therefore difficult to answer a question about how the department responded to an increase in dropout when in fact there has been no increase in dropping out.

Completion rates for grade 7,9  and 12 over time

 

Source: DBE analysis of STATS SA General Household Surveys, 2002-2022

Reply:

The Department of Cooperative Governance has through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) partnered with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE) to coordinate training targeting Councillors and Officials on issues of Disaster Management, Climate Change, and Environment. Through working with the Department of Traditional Affairs, training will, with effect from the 2024/25 financial year, be rolled out to reach traditional areas.

End.

Reply:

 (a)(i)(ii)

Province	Number of Vacancies
EAST CAPE	6 111
FREE STATE	1 117
GAUTENG	3 898
KWAZULU-NATAL	7 044
LIMPOPO	4 933
MPUMALANGA	1 931
NORTH CAPE	726
NORTH WEST	1 205
WESTERN CAPE	4 497
NATIONAL	31 462

 

(b) The filling of vacant posts at schools is an ongoing process to ensure that there is no class without a teacher for all grades. For Post Level One vacancies, schools are allowed to recruit at local level and immediately as the vacancy occurs and make temporary appointments. These appointments are then made permanent upon ensuring that the educator meets the requirements of the post. By law, a temporary appointment in a vacant substantive post must be made permanent after three months. In the case of promotional posts, schools are allowed to make acting appointments, especially for critical posts such as those of Departmental Head and Principal while the formal recruitment and selection process is undertaken. In addition, in order to address immediate workload challenges that result from vacant promotional posts, schools are allowed to appoint temporary educators against a vacant promotional post until the vacant promotion post is filled.

Reply:

From the Department’s PERSAL records, there are 21 posts on salary levels 13 to 16. Of these posts, the NHI Branch has managed to fill ten (10).

a) The respective salary levels for each of the filled posts are shown in the column named ‘Notch’ of the table below.

b) Additionally, the Job Titles are listed in column 2 of the table. Detailed job descriptions for each post and key performance duties as were published in the advertisements for the posts are included as an annexure to this response.

	POST JOB TITLE DESCRIPTION	FILLED/ VACANT	FILLED/ VACANT DATE	POST SALARY LEVEL	NOTCH
1	DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: NHI	FILLED	20210606	15	1663581
2	TECHNICAL SPECIALIST: HEALTH ECONOMIST	FILLED	20180401	15	1817142
3	DIR: MEDICAL DEVICES & HEALTH TECHNOLOGY PROCUREME	FILLED	20230701	13	1268919
4	CD: SECTOR WIDE PROCUREMENT	FILLED	20230201	14	1371558
5	TECHNICAL EXPERT	FILLED	20130201	14	1476000
6	DIR: PHARMACEUTICAL ECONOMIC EVALUATION	FILLED	20110401	13	1306665
7	DIR: BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE & DATA ANALYTICS	FILLED	20230601	13	1306665
8	CHIEF DIRECTOR: HEALTH SYSTEM DIGITAL INFORMATION	FILLED	20230101	14	1433289
9	CD:USER & SERVICE PROVIDER MANAGEMENT	FILLED	20230915	14	1371558
10	CD: HEALTH CARE BENEFITS & PROVIDER PAYMENT	FILLED	20230904	14	1371558

END.

Reply:

1. The table below reflects vacancy rates as provided by provinces with the Nurses being a consolidated rate across the 3 different categories of nurses (namely: Professional, Registered and Assistant).

PROVINCIAL VACANCY RATES (%)
Category	EC	FS	GP	KZN	LP	MP	NC	NW	WC
Medical Officers	15.0	23.7	11.4	4.9	20.37	9.62	15.2	22.0	5.85
Nurses	9.0	26.5	11.2	11.2	2.96	8.0	17.4	39.0	7.39
Physiotherapist	18.0	38.8	11.0	10.4	2.03	7.0	11.8	26.0	1.73
Occupational Therapist	26.0	39.7	14.3	27.7	3.36	16.0	30.3	56.0	10.5
Psychologist	17.0	17.7	21.4	36.3	4.55	7.0	41.7	61.0**	9.90
Psychiatrist	20.0*	30.0*		15.4	87.9	73.0	50.0	50.0	8.89
Environmental Health Pract.	14.0	25.5	8.9	12.6	6.90	7.0	11.1	13.0	N/A

* Rate reflecting Medical Specialists combined

**Inclusive of the Vocational Counsellors

Community Health Workers are contract workers that are appointed on annual contract against abnormal appointments (extra ordinary staff) and vacancy rate not applicable. Furthermore, in the Western Cape the category is appointed through agency and NGO organisation and not accounted for directly under the department.

Provincial Departments are in the process of identifying positions which will be filled during the 2024/25 financial year through the Annual Recruitment Plan (ARP). Once the process is concluded and costed, within the available budget, provinces will be in a position to indicate which positions will be filled by when and recruit accordingly with adverts. There has also been ongoing communication with Provincial Departments of Health to establish the extent of the challenges experienced in this regard.

Table 1: Compensation of employees allocation to provinces

R Thousands	Financial Year
Programme	2023/24 Adjusted appropriation	2024/25 Revised Baseline
Eastern Cape	20 028 901	20 011 717
Free State	8 961 049	9 516 387
Gauteng	38 159 905	40 078 685
KwaZulu-Natal	33 031 152	32 976 479
Limpopo	16 441 824	17 351 170
Mpumalanga	10 927 652	11 706 368
Northern Cape	3 767 510	3 740 702
North west	10 567 007	11 281 207
Western Cape	17 340 851	18 055 309
Total	159 225 851	164 718 024

END.

Reply:

Indeed, Hon. Mkhonto, repositioning and restructuring of both Compensation Fund and Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) are essential and momentous. This is a project that needs to be carried through to its logical conclusion with zeal, verve and foresight.

We made Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour and Hon. Mkhonto aware that in September 2021 we started an architectural review process which was intended to determine the fit for purpose of the Compensation Fund structure, systems, personnel capacity and processes to the mandate of this entity.

We also shared with the Portfolio Committee on Employment and labour the outcomes of the fit for purpose exercise that was completed in September 2023. Currently we are solidifying the setting up of the Project Management Office, which will be responsible for implementation of the recommendations, including setting up the new structure and recruitment of senior executives for the CF, including the Commissioner.

The reason that we are not approaching the filling of the two vacancies with haste is that we want to get individuals that are fit for purpose. Importantly, though they must arrive at an environment where formidable foundation has been put in place, and get into the moving train on its long journey, that has left the station and cannot make a U-Turn.

Furthermore, we intend that both the Department and Compensation Fund get the Director General (DG) and Commissioner respectively, who would have outside-in perspective, who think expansively in their consideration of the broader context, ambitious and who are able to cultivate agile team culture. They will have to excel in problem solving, planning and communicating. In addition, they must have fortitude to motivate, guide others and more importantly uphold strong ethical standards.

Reply:

The National Department of Health requested the Minister of Public Service and Administration to consider a request for strengthening the NHI Branch of the department on 16 May 2022.

On 2 June 2022, the Minister of Public Service and Administration approved the creation of 44 new technical positions for the NHI Programme in the Department.

The posts were advertised in the media (Sunday Times) on 28 August 2022. All job descriptions, duties and remuneration levels were advertised as per the Public Service requirements. The relevant remuneration levels of public servants are available in public domain. Details are contained in the annexure.

There are currently no plan for posts addition to the 44 posts mentions above to be created within the National Health Insurance Branch in the Department.

END.

Reply:

(1) and (2) Please see table below

Responses were received from the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape Provinces only. Information from other provinces is yet to be received.

Free State Department of Health
Name of facility	Date of last service	How often are they serviced	Number of refrigerators not functional	Dates for repairs or replacements	Contingency plan
1. Bloemfontein Forensic Mortuary	December 2023	Every 3 months	5	Date of repair or replacement: awaiting infrastructure approval	Bloemfontein FPS currently has 12 functional refrigerators. Surrounding state hospitals like Pelonomi and Universitas, Botshabelo provide refrigeration and storage of bodies when the demand exceeds capacity of Bloemfontein Forensic mortuary.
2. Botshabelo Forensic Mortuary	December 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Bloemfontein Forensic mortuary has enough capacity to provide refrigeration and storage of bodies when the demand exceeds capacity at Botshabelo mortuary
3. Phuthaditjhaba Forensic Mortuary	December 2023	Every 3 months	6	Date of repairs or replacement: appointed service provider for repairs to visit facility on the 28 March 2024
4. Bethlehem Forensic Mortuary	December 2023	Every 3 months	3	Date of repair or replacement: Appointed service provider for repairs to visit facility on the 28 March 2024	State hospitals in the region including Elizabeth Ross, Thebe and Phekolong hospital provide additional 26 body storage capacity for contingency refrigerating and storage of bodies, when the demand exceeds the capacity in the Forensic Mortuaries, in Phuthaditjhaba and Bethlehem
5. Welkom Forensic Mortuary	February 2024	Every 3 month	6	Date of repair or replacement: awaiting infrastructure approval.	Bloemfontein Forensic mortuary has enough capacity to provide refrigeration and storage of bodies when the demand exceeds capacity at Welkom mortuary.
6. Kroonstad Forensic Mortuary	March 2024.	Every 3 months	0	N/A
7. Sasolburg Forensic Mortuary	November 2023	Every 3 months	15	Date of repairs or replacement: awaiting infrastructure approval	Bloemfontein Forensic Mortuary has enough capacity to provide refrigeration and storage of bodies when the demand exceeds capacity for both Kroonstad and Sasolburg mortuary

Limpopo Department of Health
Name of facility	Date of last service	How often are they services	Number of refrigerators not functional	Dates for repairs or replacements	Contingency plan
1. Polokwane FPS	March 2024	Every 6 months	0	N/A	All refrigerators are functional, continue to monitor the gauges.
2. Lebowakgomo FPS	February 2024	Every 6 months	0	N/A	All refrigerators are functional, continue to monitor the gauges.
3. Mokopane FPS	December 2023	Every 6 months	0	N/A	All refrigerators are functional, continue to monitor the gauges.
4. Warmbaths FPS	27 November, 11 December, 1 February 5th March 2024	Every 6 months	3	May 2024	Contingency plan is available, all refrigerators functional, continue to monitor the gauges
5. Tshilidzini FPS	February 2024	Every 3 months	4	June 2024	Purchase order is in progress to procure compressors
6. Elim FPS	October 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	All refrigerators are functional, continue to monitor the gauges.
7. Groblersdal FPS	February 2024	Every 6 months	0	N/A	All the refrigerators functional, continue to monitor the gauges.
8. St Rita’s FPS	March 2024	Every 6 months	0	September 2024	Contingency plan available, all refrigerators functional, continue to monitor the gauges.
9. Letaba FPS	March 2024	Every 6 months	0	N/A	Contingency plan available, all refrigerators functional, continue to monitor the gauges
10. Kgapane FPS	November 2023	Every 6 months	4	April 2024	Contingency plan available,
11. Maphutha Malatji FPS	25 August 2023	Every 6 months	6	April 2024	Request to repair the broken refrigerators is under way, continue to monitor the gauges
12. Nkhensani FPS	21 November 2023 25 March 2024	Every 6 months	0	N/A	Contingency plan available, all refrigerators functional, continue to monitor the gauges

• 3 months vs. 6 months depends on the manufacturer specifications.

Western Cape Department of Health
Name of facility	Date of last service	How often are they services	Number of refrigerators not functional	Dates for repairs or replacements	Contingency plan
1. Beaufort West FPS	January 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
2. Ceres FPS	January 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
3. George FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
4. Hermanus FPS	December 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
5. Knysna FPS	November 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
6. Laingsburg FPS	February 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
7. Malmensbury FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
8. Mossel Bay FPS	January 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
9. Observatory FP Institution	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
10. Oudtshoorn FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
11. Paarl FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
12. Riversdale FPS	November 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
13. Tygerberg FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
14. Vredenburg FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
15. Vredendal FPS	November 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.
16. Worcester FPS	February 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	Maintenance plans are in place. Refrigerators are repaired immediately either via maintenance contracts or emergency delegations.

North-West Department of Health
Name of facility	Date of last service	How often are they services?	Number of refrigerators not functional	Dates for repairs or replacements	Contingency plan
1. Mafikeng FPS	March 2024	When need arises	0	N/A	N/A
2. Lichtenburg FPS	December 2023	When need arises	0	N/A	N/A
3. Brits FPS		When need arises	0	N/A	N/A
4. Phokeng FPS		When need arises	0	N/A	N/A
5. Potchefstroom FPS	March 2024	When need arises	0	N/A	N/A
6. Tshepong FPS		When need arises	0	N/A	N/A
7. Vryberg FPS		When need arises	0	N/A	N/A

Gauteng Department of Health
Name of facility	Date of last service	How often are they services	Number of refrigerators not functional	Dates for repairs or replacements	Contingency plan
1. Johannesburg FPS	October 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
2. Roodepoort FPS	October 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
3. Germiston FPS	November 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
4. Springs FPS	December 2023	Every 3 months	1	Awaiting appointment of service provider
5. Heidelberg FPS	December 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
6. Diepkloof FPS	October 2023	Every 6 months	6	11/04/2024
7. Sebokeng FPS	February 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
8. Pretoria FPS	December 2023	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
9. Bronkhorstpruit FPS	January 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
10. Ga-Rankuwa FPS	March 2024	Every 3 months	0	N/A	N/A
11. Carletonville FPS	October 2023	Every 6 months	0	N/A	N/A

• 3 months vs. 6 months depends on the manufacturer specifications

Mpumalanga Department of Health
Name of facility	Date of last service	Hoe often are they services?	Number of refrigerators not functional	Dates for repairs or replacements	Contingency plan in place
1. Themba FPS	8 April 2024	On request	2		Replacements 2022/2023 : 4-New body storage cabinets loading 6 bodies per unit (Completed) 2024/25:Cool room – work in progress New walk-in freezer – Work in progress
2. Tonga FPS	8 December 2023	On request	0	N/A	N/A
3. Mapulaneng FPS	20 March 2024	On request	0	N/A	N/A
4. Tintswalo FPS	22 March 2024	On request	1	Not stated	Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
5. Lydenburg FPS	16 March 2024	On request	0	N/A	N/A
6. Barberton FPS	26 June 2023	O request	1	Not stated	Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
7. Middelburg FPS	4 April 2024	On request	0	N/A	N/A
8. Witbank FPS	New units installed	On request	0	N/A	N/A
9. KwaMhlanga FPS	6 October 2023	On request	0	N/A	N/A
10. Belfast FPS	5 April 2024	On request	1	Not stated	Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
11. Mammethlake FPS	Reconstruction of the cold room	On request	1	Currently under construction	New facility
12. Delmas FPS	26 March 2024	On request	0	N/A	N/A
13. Ermelo FPS	6 December 2023	On request	2	Not stated	Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
14. Evander FPS	18 August 2023	On request	1		Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
15. Piet Retief FPS	23 February 2024	On request	0	N/A	N/A
16. Standerton FPS	25 January 2024	On request	1
17. Volkrust FPS	4 August 2023	On request	0	N/A	N/A
18. Embhuleni FPS	3 August 2023	On request	1	Not stated	Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
19. Balfour FPS	New refrigerators	On request	0	N/A	N/A
20. Bethal FPS	22 June 2023	On request	2	Not stated	Contingency plans are available. Repairs are done between scheduled minor and major repairs.
21. Carolina FPS	10 January 2023	On request	0	N/A	N/A

END.

Reply:

No.

a) In terms of section (8)(3)(c) of the CPA Act, on request and on payment of the prescribed fee the Registration Officer shall provide members of the public with information contained in the register and with a copy of the constitution of any registered association or similar entity however, the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA) provides a process to be followed to access information from a Public body and the Protection of access to personal information Act 4 of 2013 also takes precedence in relation to personal information that may held a Public body.

b) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) does not issue appointment letters after any elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) however the new committee gets registered with the CPI Unit registration office upon receipt of a submission from the CPA. DALRRD has no obligation in terms of the Communal Property Associations Act, 1996 (Act No. 28 of 1996) and regulations to issue appointment letters of elected committee members.

Reply:

1. Upon the resignation of the Director General of DEL Mr. Thobile Lamati in October 2023, I appointed the Acting DG Dr. Alec Moemi who acted from the 01 November until 31 December 2023. On the 01 January 2024 I appointed Acting DG Ms. Onke Mjo for a period of 12 months or until the Director General for the Department of Employment and Labour is appointed, whichever comes first.

2. The Acting Commissioner of the Compensation Fund Ms. Farzana Fakir has been extended for further 6 months:

a) As you are aware in September 2021 we started an architectural review process which was intended to determine the fit for purpose of the CF structure, systems, personnel capacity and processes to the mandate of CF.

b) As you are now all aware the outcomes of the fit for purpose exercise was completed in September 2023.

c) We are currently in the process of setting up the Project Management Office, which will be responsible for implementation of the recommendations, including setting up the new structure and recruitment of senior executives for the CF, including the Commissioner.

Reply:

The following information is as received from the provinces.

PROVINCES	a) TOTAL AMOUNT OF ACCRUALS OUTSTANDING	b) AGEING - PERIOD THE AMOUNT BEEN OUTSTANDING IN EACH CASE	(C)TOTAL NUMBER OF SERVICE PROVIDERS NOT PAID WITHIN THE REQUIRED 30-DAY PERIOD 2023/2024
R THOUSAND	2022/23 FY	2023/24FY (29 FEB 2024)	2022/23 FY	2023/24 FY
Eastern Cape	R4, 764, 773	R5,132,000	Current: R1, 626, 945 More than 30 days R3, 137, 828	Above 30 days R525,685 Above 60 days R268,465 Above 90 days R345,637 Above 120 days R2,746,364	534 suppliers
Free State	R682,362	R922,130	Current: R369,764 More than 30 days R312,598	>R621,746 < Above R300,383	3121 number of suppliers/ invoices were not paid within 30 days
Gauteng	R6, 827, 872	R5, 926, 667	Current: R2, 040, 370 More than 30 days R4, 787, 502	Above 30 days R874, 366 Above 60 days R618, 711 Above 90 days R2, 928, 777	2, 099 number of suppliers
Kwazulu-Natal	R1, 838, 121	R1,694,242	Current: R1, 548, 239 More than 30 days R289, 882	R355,000 was more than 80 days overdue	514 service providers affected
Limpopo	R 767, 038	R 358 023	Current: R718, 330 More than 30 days R48, 708	1957 transactions amounting to R356 2667 are within 30 days. 40 outstanding transactions amounting to R1 756 are more than 30 days.	28 service providers were not paid within the required 30-day period.
Mpumalanga	R825, 870	R 87 081	Current: R706, 780 More than 30 days R119, 090	R952	1439 suppliers
Northern Cape	R514 622	R842 875	30 Days-R56 991 30+ Days R457 631	Current R153 429 Above 30 Days R689 446	170 354 service providers
North West	R 959 137	R339,687	Current: R619, 450 More than 30 days R339, 687	More than 30 days R339,687	4 330 suppliers
Western Cape Accruals (A) Payables (P)	R 589 529 R 289 746 (A) R 299 783 (P)	R 135 622 R 88 093 (A) R 47 528 (P)	R251 531 (A) (0-30days) R 38 215 (A) (30+ days) R293 951 (P) (0-30days) R 5 832 (P) (30+ days)	R 31 535 (A) (0-30 days) R 56 558 (A) (30+ days) R 42 869 (P) (0-30 days) R 4 659 (P) (30+ days)	1094 (for the period 1 April 2023- 29 February 2024) (equates to 1.75% of all payments)

END.

Reply:

The Department of Employment and Labour will celebrate 30 years of democracy, just like any government department. However, the celebration will be aligned with the Department's mandate. The Honourable Bond knows that the Department of Employment and Labour receives its funding through voted funds to implement its mandate.

The Department consistently have funds that are used to assist registered trade unions.

In the celebration of this important milestone, the Department is planning to leverage on the existing May Day commemoration to celebrate 30 years of democracy as a cost effective way. By aligning the celebration with May Day, the Department intents to reach a broader audience and generate greater awareness about the milestone of 30 years of democracy.

Simultaneously, the Department is planning build-up activities towards celebration of 30 years of democracy within its mandate and aims to utilise existing resources and budget allocations for these activities without attracting additional cost.

Given that May Day is an event that has been commemorated every year, the difference this year is that the focus is on celebrating 30 years of democracy, its cost is R R2 550 000,00

END

Reply:

As was debated in the Portfolio Committee of the National Assembly during 2023 and described in Clause 49 of the National Health Insurance Bill, the possible tax amendments will be introduced through a Money Bill by the Minister of Finance as and when appropriate and earmarked for use by the Fund, subject to the transitional arrangements as provided in Section 57 of the Bill.

END.

Reply:

a) According to the NHLS,

(i) the FCLs do not have toxicologists specifically appointed in their establishments. Instead, FCLs have analytical chemists who also perform the toxicology analyses. They are known as Forensic Analysts and are able to do toxicology tests because they possess and use the same skills / equipment to do the work as a toxicologist would do.

(ii) Analysts employed at each of the FCLs as follows:

FCL	Number of Forensic Analysts
Cape Town	Twenty-four (24) Forensic analysts in total. Of the twenty-four (24), eight (8) analysts are in the toxicology section.
Johannesburg	Thirty-six 36 Forensic analysts in total. Of the thirty-six (36), twenty-nine (29) are in the toxicology section.
Pretoria	Twenty-five (25) Forensic Analysts in total. Of the twenty-five (25), eleven (11) are in the toxicology section.
Durban	Eight (8) Forensic Analysts in total. Durban FCL will expand its service offering to include toxicology testing as soon as the laboratory has relocated to a larger and more suitable building.

 

b) The vacancy rates are as follows: Cape Town (4%), Durban (20%), Johannesburg (2%) and Pretoria (28%). In the calculation of the vacancy rate for the Pretoria FCL, ten new positions were included in the total staff establishment. These ten new positions were created to establish the new toxicology section at the Pretoria FCL. The new positions have been advertised and recruitment processes are underway.

c) (i) and (ii) The table below indicates the number of toxicology samples that were completed over the three months from 01 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 across the three laboratories that deliver toxicology testing services. The table also shows the monthly and daily averages achieved over this period. As indicated in the paragraphs below the table, the daily number of toxicology samples completed does not indicate productivity in the laboratories as tests run concurrently and completion periods vary.

Laboratory	Total completed over 3 months	Monthly average	Daily average
Cape Town	146	49	2
Johannesburg	431	144	7
Pretoria	243	81	4

Toxicology cases are allocated in batches of 15 cases per analyst per month. When cases are received for toxicology testing, the requesting pathologist does not always specify a specific substance to be tested for detection and quantification. Most cases that are received, require a general “screen” for various recreational or illicit drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, poisons, or other substances. Once a substance is detected, additional tests are required to confirm the presence of the substance and to quantify the amount of the substance that was detected.

If a new or rare (unusual) substance is detected through screening tests, a standard to confirm the substance must be procured. Some standards are procured from international suppliers and require special permits to be imported, resulting in delays in the process.

Each toxicology case that is registered in the laboratory may include a varying number of biological specimens that were taken during the autopsy and each specimen may require to be tested more than once or on different sets of instruments, depending on the test requirements. In the pre-analytic stage, specimens may require specialised preparation, depending on the tests that will be conducted.

As a result, it is difficult to quantify the number of toxicology tests that are processed in a day as tests run concurrently and completion periods differ vastly between cases.

END.

Reply:

The acquisition and replacement of official vehicles for the Minister is administered by the 2019 Ministerial Handbook which provides in paragraph 2.1 read together with 2.3, that National Members shall be provided with one vehicle for official use in each seat of office and that on assumption of office must make use of officials vehicles already purchased by the Department, unless such vehicle is to be replaced in terms of paragraph 2.9 of this chapter.

The Ministry was established after the 2023/24 budget allocation therefore no capital expropriation was made for the purchasing of the official vehicle, similarly in the 2023/24 budget adjustment. In light of the above, the Ministry has been renting the Minister’s vehicle on a monthly contract for his transportation in Gauteng and on ad hoc basis for travel outside of the province.

Reply:

(1) Surgeries are conducted at the hospital level and every hospital monitors and maintains records of the number of patients awaiting surgery at all public hospitals in the Republic. Surgical backlogs numbers are not static. As provinces do operations, the numbers under each category and in each province change.

Province	Types of surgery backlogs
	a) at each specified hospital	(b) in each province
Limpopo	Mankweng Hospital Orthopaedic Trauma of femur and Tibia Paediatric surgery Hernia Operations (Inguinal and Umbilical hernia Plastic surgery Cleft lips	Orthopaedic Trauma of femur and Tibia Paediatric surgery Hernia Operations (Inguinal and Umbilical hernia Plastic surgery Cleft lips Urology Ear, Nose and Throat General Surgery Maxillofacial Cardio thoracic Orthopaedics Neurosurgery Paediatric cardiology Radiation oncology
	Polokwane Hospital: Urology Ear, Nose and Throat General Surgery Maxillofacial Cardio thoracic Orthopaedics Neurosurgery Paediatric cardiology Radiation oncology

Province	Types of surgery backlogs
	a) at each specified hospital	(b) in each province
Free State	Universitas hospital General Surgery Opthalmology Urology Orthopaedic Ear, Nose and Throat	Urology General Surgery Opthalmology Orthopaedic Maxillo Facial and Oral Surgery Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ear, Nose and Throat
	Pelonomi hospital Urology General Surgery Orthopaedic Maxillo Facial and Oral Surgery Obstetrics and Gynaecology
	Bongani hospital General Surgery Gynaecology Elective Surgery Urology Orthopaedic Elective Surgery Orthopaedic Trauma
	Boitumelo hospital General Surgery Elective Surgery Orthopaedic Emergencies Orthopaedic Electives
	Dihlabeng hospital General Surgery Gynaecology Elective Surgeries Opthalmology Orthopaedic Trauma Orthopaedic elective surgeries
	Mofumahadi Manapo hospital General Surgery Elective Surgeries

Province	Types of surgery backlogs
	a) at each specified hospital	(b) in each province
Kwa Zulu Natal	Prince Mshiyeni Hospital General Surgery Orthopaedics Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ophthalmology	General Surgery Orthopaedics Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ophthalmology
	Addington General Surgery Orthopaedics Obstetrics and Gynaecology
	Greys Hospital General Surgery Orthopaedics Ophthalmology
	Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital Obstetrics and Gynaecology
	RK Khan Hospital Orthopaedics Obstetrics and Gynaecology
	RK Khan Hospital Orthopaedics Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Province	Types of surgery backlogs
	a) at each specified hospital	(b) in each province
Mpumalanga	The hospitals that are affected by the backlogs are the following: Rob Ferreira Tertiary Hospital Witbank Tertiary Hospital Themba Regional Hospital Mapulaneng Regional Hospital Ermelo Regional Hospital Types of surgery backlogs Orthopaedics Gynaecology General Surgery Cataracts	Orthopaedics Gynaecology General Surgery Cataracts
Northwest	Klerksdorp / Tshepong Hospital Urology Ophthalmology Orthopaedic Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Neurosurgery	Urology Ophthalmology Orthopaedic Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Neurosurgery General Surgery Obstetrics and Gynaecology
	Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital Urology Ophthalmology Orthopaedic Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) General Surgery
	Potchefstroom Hospital Ophthalmology Orthopaedic Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Obstetrics and Gynaecology Surgery
	Mafikeng Provincial Hospital Urology Ophthalmology Orthopaedic General Surgery Obstetrics and Gynaecology
	Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital Ophthalmology General Surgery Gynaecology

• According to Gauteng Department of Health, the province does not have any backlogs.
• The response from the Western Cape Department of health did not address the question that was asked.
• Response from Eastern Cape and Northern Cape Provinces still outstanding.

END.

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