Questions and Replies

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08 March 2024 - NW287

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Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With regard to the Community Works Programme, what is the total number of (a) cases of sexual harassment and gender-based violence that have been reported and (b) the reported cases that have been successfully prosecuted and secured a conviction for the offending parties in each of the past 10 years in each case?

Reply:

Based on the information at our disposal and in consultation with CWP sites in all provinces:

a) There were no cases of sexual harassment and gender-based violence reported.

b) Not applicable.

End.

08 March 2024 - NW286

Profile picture: Spies, Ms ERJ

Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What is the total (a) amount that has been spent on the Community Works Programme, (b) number of people who have benefited from the specified programme and (c) amount that has been paid to implementing partners for the programme in each of the past five financial years in each case?

Reply:

a) For the past five years, the CWP spent as follows:

Financial year

Budget

Expenditure

% Spent

2022/23

4,295,349,000

3,828,768,000

89%

2021/22

4,205,153,000

3,525,647,000

84%

2020/21

4,098,622,000

3,482,391,000

85%

2019/20

3,834,288,000

3,832,114,000

100%

2018/19

3,851,123,000

3,328,642,000

86%

b) From the past five years, the following number participants benefited from the programme:

  1. 2023/24 - 255 000
  2. 2022/23 - 254 700
  3. 2021/22 - 252 018
  4. 2020/21 - 259 065
  5. 2019/20 - 250 011

c) The amount paid to Implementing Agents in the past five years is as follows:

2023/24 financial year - no advances paid as Implementing Agents (IAs) were not contracted in this financial year.

Contract period: 01 October 2021- 31 March 2023

IA

Advances Paid to IAs

Spent by IAs

Balance

South African Youth Movement

R83,062,750.42

-R83,062,750.42

R0.00

Insika Foundation

R54,164,282.00

-R53,037,310.64

R1,126,971.36

Thembalethu Development

R35,280,520.85

-R35,212,305.99

R68,214.86

Green Development Foundation

R41,396,955.81

-R41,092,516.53

R304,439.28

Seboka Training & Support Network

R14,833,467.93

-R14,833,467.93

R0.00

National Youth Development Agency

R59,313,545.94

-R59,313,545.94

R0.00

TOTAL

R288,051,522.95

-R286,551,897.45

R1,499,625.50

Contract period: 01 April 2018- 30 September 2021

IA

Advances Paid to IAs

Spent by IAs

Balance

Thembalethu Development

R473,211,793.24

-R474,067,031.15

-R855,237.91

Insika Foundation

R531,665,053.09

-R534,935,980.71

-R3,270,927.62

Joubert Park Outreach Project

R316,568,960.26

-R319,980,177.23

-R3,411,216.97

Seboka Training and Network

R253,661,457.61

-R254,973,285.13

-R1,311,827.52

3L Development

R158,656,284.02

-R156,384,027.27

R2,272,256.75

South African Youth Movement

R336,658,079.31

-R333,723,145.64

R2,934,933.67

Beaulah Africa

R164,197,948.80

-R161,169,692.62

R3,028,256.18

NPO Iketsetse

R97,661,360.80

-R89,662,377.24

R7,998,983.56

AIDS Foundation

R63,450,737.92

-R62,224,209.54

R1,226,528.38

Icembe Foundation

R18,797,125.66

-R15,396,762.22

R3,400,363.44

Out the Box

R9,867,722.77

-R8,545,572.57

R1,322,150.20

TOTAL

R2,424,396,523.48

-R2,411,062,261.32

R13,334,262.16

Total Advances Paid to IAs Over the Past 5 Years

Total Spent by IAs Over the Past 5 Years (Incl. Retention Fees Paid)

R2,769,827,247.96

R2,754,993,360.30

End.

08 March 2024 - NW331

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Bond, Mr M to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What are the full details of all (a) sponsorships, (b) donations and (c) financial transfers provided for lawfare and/or any other purposes to (i) her, (ii) her department and (iii) officials of her department by any (aa) Qatari, (bb) Iranian and/or (cc) Russian organ of state, organisation and/or resident since 1 January 2021 up to the latest date in 2024 for which information is available?

Reply:

(aa) Qatar:

In May 2022, the state of Qatar donated food, equipment and other support for the victims of the April and May floods in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The donations were facilitated by the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Social Development. On Sunday 29 May 2022, the Province of KZN received the attached consignment as a donation from the State of Qatar. The equipment and goods were facilitated and distributed through designated provincial structures and mechanisms. Therefore, this donation was not presented to the (i) Minister of Cooperative and Traditional Affairs, (ii) the department or (iii) officials of the Department.

(bb) Iran:

Neither the (i) Minister of Cooperative and Traditional Affairs, (ii) the department nor (iii) officials of the Department received (a) sponsorships, (b) donations and (c) financial transfers provided for lawfare and/or any other purposes.

(cc) Russian:

In September 2023, during the BRICS meeting of Ministers responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM) from the Russian Federation, Mr Aleksandr Kurenkov, presented to the Minister of COGTA, a bouquet of flowers and a vase from ERMERCOM.

End.

28 February 2024 - NW74

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With reference to subdivision 4(c) of her reply to question 3220 on 13 November 2023, how does her department establish the exact capacity available and what is needed for the department to react to a situation in the event of a national disaster?

Reply:

In relation to the exact capacity available in each Province and what is required to react to national rescue disasters, the Department performs annual assessments of Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) capacity within Provinces, which includes provision of funding for training and development for purposes of establishing and maintaining sustainable USAR capacity within Provinces.

The NDMC will in the new financial year initiate a process for the development of National USAR standards for the South African USAR teams accreditation process. The standard will identify specific roles and responsibilities for each Urban Search and Rescue activity included in the operational plans of the various USAR teams participating in disaster response efforts. It will also provide mechanisms to determine the level of implementation of USAR activities according to the magnitude of the event or disaster and the capacity of the USAR team to deal with it. The standard will be introduced in all spheres of government, and it will also make provision for the development of USAR response systems for all government USAR teams involved in response, including the private sector, NGOs, and technical experts for the purpose of enhancing USAR capacity within the country.

The above initiatives will be aligned to the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), as South Africa is a signatory to the UN General Assembly Resolution 57/150 on "Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International USAR Assistance" (2002) which underpins much of the actions taken by the Department in the areas of effective preparation, coordination and response to rescue related disasters.

I thank you.

28 February 2024 - NW73

Profile picture: Smalle, Mr JF

Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What is the current total number of (a) fire rescue disaster personnel and (b) rescue swimmers (i) at each disaster centre (ii) in each province; (2) on what date was the last disaster audit done on capabilities of disaster centres with regard to (a) readiness, (b) capacity, (c) training and (d) qualification(s); (3) whether her department has any memorandums of understanding in place with any nongovernmental organisations and/or nonprofit organisations that relate to disaster responses; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what date was each memorandum of understanding signed with each specified organisation and (b) what liability cover is in place in respect of each memorandum of understanding? NW74E

Reply:

Question 1 (a)

The department of COGTA has initiated fire services capacity assessments which is updated on annual basis with all the Provincial Disaster Management Centres across the Country. The current total number of fire rescue disaster personnel are as follows:

Provinces

Number of fire rescue members 

Western Cape

1 452

Free State

481

Gauteng

3 538

Eastern Cape

938

KwaZulu-Natal

1 125

North West

650

Limpopo

482

Mpumalanga

478

Northern Cape

88

Question 1 (b) (i) and (ii)

Eastern Cape

10

Free State

27

North West

23

Gauteng

197

Western Cape

69

Limpopo

0

Mpumalanga

37

Northern Cape

0

KwaZulu-Natal

205

 

Question 2 (a) (b) (c) (d)

The Department performs annual Urban Search & Rescue capacity assessments within the Provinces as part of its efforts to ensure the establishment as well as development of a sustainable Urban Search & Rescue capacity within the country. 

The last capacity assessment in terms of (a) (b) (c) (d) was performed in the Mpumalanga Province on 25 October 2023. 

 Question 3

The Department has no active MOUs with NGOs/Non-profit organizations dealing with rescue disasters, as these are typically entered into on a Provincial and Municipal level with NGOs/NPOs at the initial face of operations. However, the Department is exploring the possibilities of such MOUs and have referred a recent request for partnership with an NGO through to the CoGTA Legal Services for a legal opinion. The Department is also in the process of having it's Urban Search & Rescue Governance Framework gazetted, which, in line with the Disaster Management Act (No 57 of 2002) calls for the active participation of all stakeholders, including the private sector, NGOs, technical experts, communities, traditional leaders and volunteers, in disaster risk and response planning and operations. 

End.

28 February 2024 - NW132

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Given that the Auditor-General has reported that a total of 268 material irregularities on noncompliance and suspected fraud in municipalities resulted in R5,2 billion material financial losses in the 2021-22 financial year, and noting reports that 61 accounting officers in municipalities did not take appropriate action when the Office of the Auditor-General notified them of the material irregularities, which included referring matters to public bodies for further investigations, (a) what measures has her department put in place in collaboration with the National Treasury to ensure that municipalities hold such officers accountable and (b) how will her department ensure that the same mistake is not repeated in the financial years to come?

Reply:

a) The Local Government: Municipal Structures Act No. 3 of 2021 introduced section 79A which now makes it mandatory for each municipality to establish Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC). One of the key responsibilities of MPAC, is to review comments made by management in the audit action plan to address issues raised by the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA).

To support and strengthen the functioning of the MPACs, the Department established the MPAC and Council Committees Forum to support MPACs to perform their legislative responsibility. The discussion at the Forum is inclusive of matters relating to issues raised by the AGSA; investigation on Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful (UIF&W) expenditure in accordance with section 32 of the MFMA, read with s79A of the Municipal Structures Act. The Forum includes representatives from the National Treasury, SALGA, provincial departments responsible for local government, and the AGSA.

The implementation of the recommendations to address identified material irregularities are evaluated by the department as an integral part of assessing the adequacy of the audit action plans and progress on the implementation of the audit action plans. Engagements are also held with some of the MPAC provincial forums on their oversight role relating to issues raised by the AGSA.

Municipalities are required to refer identified material irregularities that are of a criminal nature to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. Progress in relation to investigations of the reported cases is provided by law enforcement agencies at the Local Government Anti-Corruption Forum (LGACF), which was launched by the Department as a coordination structure of anti-corruption efforts in the local government sphere. On an ad hoc basis, the AGSA is also invited to the LGACF to make presentations on material irregularities in local government and progress in relation to addressing the material irregularity findings.

b) The Department will collaborate with its key stakeholders, including the National Treasury, SALGA, provincial departments responsible for local government, and the AGSA, to identify municipalities with persistent non-compliance or lack of action for intervention, encourage MPACs to hold management accountable for poor performance and transgression.

End.

12 December 2023 - NW4171

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether her department is responsible for maintaining a record of the relevant details relating to the number of employees who are currently suspended with pay in each municipality across the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

No. The Department is not responsible for maintaining a record of employees in municipalities who are suspended with or without pay.

The powers to appoint municipal personnel and to institute disciplinary proceedings, including suspensions and conditions of suspensions, are vested in municipal councils.

Therefore, the record of suspended municipal personnel are kept by municipalities in their capacity as employers.

End.

12 December 2023 - NW3877

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Makamba-Botya, Ms N to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What (a) steps has she taken to empower headmen to be more effective in their communities and (b) tools of trade are they provided with, since they are regarded as office bearers?

Reply:

a) In relation to training and empowerment of headmen/women, there are those coordinated by the National Department of Traditional Affairs (DTA) and individual Provincial CoGTA Departments. During the 2021/22 financial year, the DTA in partnership with LGSETA coordinated training of four hundred and forty-one (441) Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (inclusive of headmen/women) on the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act 2019, Act No. 3 of 2019 (TKLA). In addition, during the 2022/23 financial year, DTA facilitated training of eight hundred and fifty-one (851) traditional leaders, consisting of Senior Traditional Leaders, Headman/women including women structures in traditional communities on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and Customary Initiation Act 2021, Act No. 2 of 2021 (CIA).

According to information received from Provincial CoGTA Departments, they also undertake empowerment programmes for headmen/women as reflected in Annexure A.

b) The provision of tools of trade to headmen/women is a provincial competence. According to information received from Provincial CoGTA Departments, the status quo is as reflected in Annexure A. However, in order to promote uniform norms and standards, the DTA is currently in consultation with Provincial CoGTA Departments on a draft Handbook on the tools of trade for traditional leaders.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW3875

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Mthethwa, Mr E to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With reference to the report of the Auditor-General of South Africa on municipal audits, what steps has she taken to mitigate against the deteriorating service delivery of poor performing municipalities with adverse audit reports?

Reply:

Poor service delivery can be attributed to various factors including financial liquidity challenges; inadequate allocation of financial resources for infrastructure development; poor contract management; and poor maintenance of infrastructure. Additionally, corruption, poor governance and political infights and/or disagreements distract priorities and delivery of services within municipalities.

Addressing these issues require a comprehensive approach involving improved governance; effective municipal leadership; collaboration with strategic partners within local government, and strategies to address governance failures.

The state of local government (SoLG) report identified 66 municipalities as dysfunctional, and these municipalities had challenges across the key performance areas of political, governance, administration, financial management and service delivery. In response to getting these municipalities out of this state of dysfunctionality, the Department developed Municipal Support and Intervention Plans (MSIPs) to address the short and medium-term challenges identified in the SoLG report for each of the municipalities and key local government performance areas. The implementation of MSIPs is monitored on a quarterly basis to assess achievement of proposed actions; facilitate adjustments based on changing circumstances, and for accountability.

The Department, including its provincial counterparts, have various intergovernmental forums and engagements on support to improve municipal performance and service delivery. Provinces also have provincial structures that discuss similar matters, and some established the Rapid Response Teams or Multi-disciplinary teams to respond to municipalities that have service delivery challenges.

The Department provides the following support aimed at strengthening the capacity within municipalities as a complementary process to enable a conducive environment for improved service delivery:

  • The Department, through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), supports municipalities by among others, placement of civil and electrical engineers to assist with infrastructure management and capacity building in municipal project management units.
  • Use of the Municipal Systems Improvement Grant (MSIG) to stabilize institutions and governance systems. The implementation of the projects through MSIG includes capacity building for long term viability in targeted municipalities.
  • Municipalities that experience liquidity challenges and adopted unfunded budgets are persuaded to develop budget funding plans. Some have developed financial recovery plans to improve their cashflow and minimise the use of conditional grants for operational cost.
  • Strengthen oversight committees to exercise their oversight role in ensuring accountability.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW4208

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What (a) were the reasons for her department allowing the Eskom debt to increase from R1,3 billion to R2,1 billion therefore failing to implement the financial recovery plan and reduce Lekwa Local Municipality Eskom debt while under section 139(7) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, (b) is the total amount of creditors that cannot be settled within 30 days and (c) are the reasons that her department failed to institute action and/or clear the unwanted expenditure of R1,6 billion?

Reply:

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs did allow the Eskom debt to increase. We have been making clarion call to everyone to pay Eskom.

The Financial Recovery Plan (FRPs) in municipalities are implemented and monitored by the National Treasury.

It is recommended that this question be redirected to the Ministry of Finance for the National Treasury to respond accordingly.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW4101

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Tito, Ms LF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What preparations has her department put in place across the country in light of the severe weather warnings of tornados and thunderstorms predicted for the upcoming summer months?

Reply:

The NDMC in collaboration with the SA Weather Service prepares a summer seasonal weather outlook that provides a future prediction of possible severe weather conditions, this encompasses a hazard prediction for flooding, areas of above average temperature, windstorms, drought, and fire. These hazard outlooks are in recognition of the predicted weather conditions for the summer period.

The NDMC uses this forecast to prepare summer contingency plans per province so that short term planning can take place for the season ahead. These are prepared in advance of the season and tabled in the quarterly National Disaster Management Advisory Forum (NDMAF) meetings with provinces. Provinces are also able to report in these NDMAF meetings on areas in which they will require intervention from the NDMC. Provinces also work together in the summer rainfall areas to dela with cross border hazard conditions such as fire, flooding, and drought mitigation.

The NDMAF also features a segment in which Early Warning matters are tabled. Within this discussion, the South African Weather Service presents the seasonal outlook for the South West Indian Ocean, prepared by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) designated Regional Specialised Met Centre (RSMC) based in La Reunion Island (France). RSMC La Reunion have the responsibility for monitoring and tracking tropical cyclones in the SW Indian Ocean basin and are the de facto tropical cyclone monitoring agency in the region. The outlook for the 2023-2024 summer season is for a below-normal risk of tropical cyclones in the SW Indian Ocean. Utilising daily guidance from RSMC La Reunion the NDMC, together with the SA Weather Service can track Tropical Cyclone in the Indian ocean channel 3-5 Days in advance on it making landfall.

The NDMC early Warnings Directorate has a technology application that tracks the path, frequency, and possible impact of Tropical Cyclones. In this way, the NDMC can ensure that it monitors and reports on the possible impact and track of all tropical cyclones approaching South Africa via the Indian Ocean.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW4082

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What (a) financial assistance has her department given to each province for (i) fire disaster, (ii) drought relief and (iii) flooding for the (aa) 2020-21, (bb) 2021-22 and (cc) 2022-23 financial years, (b) what total number of applications for assistance was (i) received and (ii) granted, (c) for what monitory value in each financial year and (d) what method and/or criteria does her department use to support the applications?

Reply:

a) (i) There were no allocations and transfers for fire incidents in 2020-21, 2021-2 and 2022-23

(aa) The department supported affected organs of state by transferring an amount of R138 million from the Provincial Disaster Response Grant during the 2020/2021 financial year to seven provinces to mitigate the effects of drought.

Province

Allocation R'000

Date funds transferred

 

Hazard

1. Eastern Cape

R 35 000

06/07/2020

Drought

2. Kwazulu-Natal

R 4 000

06/07/2020

 

3. Limpopo

R 18 640

06/07/2020

 

4. Mpumalanga

R 12 160

06/07/2020

 

5. Northern Cape

R35 689

06/07/2020

 

6. Northwest

R8 000

06/07/2020

 

7. Western Cape

R 25 000

06/07/2020

 

Grant Total: 07

R138 489

 

 

(bb) The department transferred an amount of R48 million to Western Cape Department of Agriculture to mitigate the effects of drought during the 2021/2022 financial year from the Provincial Disaster Response Grant.

Province

Purpose of allocation

Allocations R'000

Date funds transferred

         
         

Western Cape

distribution of livestock feed.

R48 100 

07/02/2022

 

An amount of R173 million was transferred from Municipal Disaster Response Grant to 11 municipalities in two provinces (Western Cape) to address the effects of the drought in 2021/2022 financial year.

Province

District

Municipalities

Total Allocation R'000

Hazard

  1. Eastern Cape

 

Metro

1. Nelson Mandela Bay

R57 829

Drought

 

Sarah Baartman

2. Dr. Beyers Naude

R6 057

 
 

Cacadu

3. Makana

R2 200

 
 

Sarah Baartman

4. Ndlambe

R15 229

 
 

Sarah Baartman

5. Sundays River

R7 580

 
 

Sarah Baartman

6. Kouga

R12 500

 
 

Sarah Baartman

7. Kou Kama

R6 380

 
 

Amathole

8. Amathole

R13 207

 
 

Chris Hani

9. Chris Hani

R5 000

 

2. Western Cape

Garden Route

10. Oudtshoorn

R47 150

 

Grant Total: 02

06

10

R173 132

 

  • (bb) During the 2021/2022, an amount of R157 million was transferred to 16 municipalities in four provinces (Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West) from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant to repair damaged public municipal infrastructure due to Tropical Storm Eloise.

Province

District

Municipalities

Allocation R'000

Hazard

1. KwaZulu Natal

uThukela

1. Alfred Duma

R31 937

Tropical Storm Eloise

2. Limpopo

Capricorn

2. Blouberg

R12 900

 
 

Capricorn

3. Lepelle-Nkumpi

R5 626

 
 

Capricorn

4. Molemole

R1 000

 
 

Capricorn

5. Polokwane

R2 600

 
 

Vhembe

6. Makhado

R26 000

 
 

Vhembe

7. Thulamela

R13 000

 
 

Vhembe

8. Collins Chabane

R26 000

 

3. Northern Cape

Frances Baard

9. Magareng

R6 440

 
 

Frances Baard

10.Sol Plaatjie

R1 015

 
 

Frances Baard

11.Phokwane

R6 456

 
 

ZF Mgcawu

12.Kgatelopele

R1 838

 
 

John Taolo

13.Gamagara

R7 000

 

4. North West

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati

14.Lekwa Teemane

R4 570

 
 

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati

15.Naledi

R4 393

 
 

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati

16.Kagisano Molopo

R6 361

 

Grant Total

07

16

R157 139

 

(cc) in 2022/2023 financial year, an amount of R516 million was transferred from Municipal Disaster Response Grant to 17 municipalities affected by the April 2022 floods. The funds were meant to assist the organs of state with the emergency repair of the damaged infrastructure.

Province

District

Municipalities

Allocation R'000

Hazard

1. KZN

uMgungundlovu

1. Msunduzi

R620

April 2022 floods

 

uMgungundlovu

2. Mkhambathini

R8 200

 
 

iLembe

3. iLembe

R19 500

 
 

uThukela

4. Inkosi Langalibalele

R48 950

 
 

uGu

5. uGu

R2 000

 
 

uThukela

6. Alfred Duma

R14 354

 
 

iLembe

7.  Kwa-Dukuza

R109 103

 
 

uGu

8.  Ray Nkonyeni

R19 100

 
 

Metro

9.e-Thekwini

R185 000

 

2. EC

OR Tambo

10.Port St John

R13 300

 
 

OR Tambo

11.Ingquza Hill

R4 130

 
 

OR Tambo

12.Nyandeni

R2 693

 
 

Alfred Nzo

13.Umzimbuvu

R10 500

 
 

OR Tambo

14.Ntabankulu

R5 111

 
 

Amathole

15.Mbashe

R14 415

 
 

Alfred Nzo

16.Winnie Mandela

R12 790

 

 

OR Tambo

17. OR Tambo

R46 872

 

Total

08

17

R516 748

 

R3.3 billion from Municipal Disaster Recovery Grant to support 16 municipalities affected by the 2022 floods in three provinces. The funds were allocated to municipalities to reconstruct and rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure.

Province

District

Municipality

2022/2023 R&R allocation R'000

Hazard

1. EC

Alfred Nzo

1. Winnie Mandela

R33 806

2022 Floods

2. KZN

Metro

2.    eThekwini Metro

R1 534 785

 
 

King Cetshwayo

3.    uMhlathuze City

R34 966

 
 

King Cetshwayo

4.    King Cetshwayo DM

R4 500

 
 

uThukela

5. Inkosi Langalibalele

R76 950

 
 

uThukela

6.    Alfred Duma LM

R22 000

 
 

iLembe

7.    iLembe DM

R14 549

 
 

iLembe

8.    KwaDukuza LM

R1 271 098

 
 

uMgungundlovu

9.    uMgungundlovu DM

R10 100

 
 

iLembe

10. Mandeni LM

R17 023

 

3. WC

Overberg

11. Theewaterskloof

R1 194

 
 

Overberg

12. Swellendam LM

R3 553

 
 

Cape Winelands

13. Breede Valley

R10 310

 
 

Garden Route

14. Oudtshoorn

R26 664

 
 

Garden Route

15. George

R237 498

 

 03

08

15

R3 318 742

 

(ii) Seven provincial department of agriculture and 60 municipalities received disaster grants funding.

(d) Grants applicants are supported through assessment conducted as and when incidents occur, classification and declaration of the state of disasters. Affected organs of state then submit application for disaster grants through the municipal and provincial Disaster Management Centres. At the provincial and municipal levels the project steering committees are established to monitor the implementation of funded projects.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW4026

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Ms SA

Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether she is responsible for putting functional measures in place in municipalities to combat intimidation and abuse faced by municipal workers who report and/or attempt to report corruption and maladministration in municipalities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what functional measures has been put in place?

Reply:

Protection for whistleblowers, including municipal employees and councillors who report allegations of corruption, maladministration and related offences at municipalities is provided by the Protected Disclosures Act, 2000 (Act No. 26 of 2000) (“the PDA”). The PDA was primarily enacted to provide for procedures in terms of which employees in both the private and the public sector may disclose information regarding unlawful or irregular conduct by their employers or other employees in the employ of their employers and most importantly to provide protection to employees who make a disclosure.

The purpose of the PDA is to protect workers from being subjected to an “occupational detriment” because they made a protected disclosure; to provide for remedies where an occupational detriment does occur and to provide procedures in terms of which information can be disclosed in a responsible manner. The PDA is administered by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Practically, this means that if a person discloses information which is classified as a protected disclosure and an occupational detriment occurs because of disclosing, an employee or worker can approach any court with jurisdiction, which includes the Labour Court, for appropriate relief. The courts are empowered to make any appropriate order which is just and equitable in the circumstance where an occupational detriment has occurred.

Municipalities are encouraged through the Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy to develop whistle blowing policies to encourage the reporting of allegations of corruption, maladministration and related offences at municipalities. Furthermore, municipal officials and councillors can report any act of corruption and maladministration anonymously through the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH) administered by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

It has been highlighted that while the PDA is well intended, it is deficient in many important respects. As such, there is a process currently underway, lead by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, to review the PDA with a view to close the identified gaps.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW3903

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Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to her reply to question 2204 on 19 June 2023 that the Joe Gqabi District Municipality has no firefighting vehicles for structural, mountainous, veld and/or hazmat fires, her department has plans in place to assist the municipality with firefighting vehicles, if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the plans and timeframes of the envisioned assistance to the Joe Gqabi District Municipality?

Reply:

The NDMC Fire Services Directorate, in its attempt to reposition fire services in the country is working closely with the Eastern Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre in improving capacity within the province to provide a sustainable Fire Services within the Eastern Cape Province, which includes the Joe Gqabi District Municipality. In May 2023 a functionality assessment was performed by the Eastern Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre to assess the municipality’s capacity, funding sources, human and physical resources to support a fire service. The NDMC Fire Services Directorate further supported the Eastern Cape during the 2023/204 FY by performing capacity assessments within five (5) identified municipalities for the implementation of the National Fire Safety & Prevention Strategy, aimed at lowering prevention of loss of life, with a particular focus on preventing multi-fatality causalities in buildings to which the public have access.

There are plans in place to assist the municipality, to improve its capacity to perform the firefighting function. The NDMC Fire Services Directorate is in the process of drafting a consolidated Status Report of Fire Services in the country which forms part of the Review of the Disaster Management System in the country, and a Fire Services Working Group have already been established to perform this task. The aim of the Status Report is to identify service delivery gaps, and to monetarily quantify the areas where support is needed, from which a business case will be forwarded to the Minister, and upon approval be submitted to National Treasury before the end of March 2024.

End.

11 December 2023 - NW3866

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Loate, Mr T to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether her department, subsequent to the issuing of regulations in 2007 in respect of the minimum competencies of senior managers in local government, has now fully ensured that the specified goal was met, to counter the criticism of the Report of the National Planning Commission (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what total percentage of senior managers in local government presently meet the qualification criteria; (2) What progress has her department made in providing the framework in local government for the creation of a skilled and/or professional public service to enhance the highest quality service delivery in local government

Reply:

1. The Municipal Regulations on Minimum Competency Levels, 2007 (Government Gazette No. 29967 of 15 June 2007) were promulgated in terms of section 168 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act No. 56 of 2003). The Regulations are administered by the National Treasury, and therefore any details pertaining to progress in achieving the specified goals should be obtained directly from the National Treasury.

2. The following progress has been made since the adoption of the new system of local government in 2000 to build an ethical, professional and capable local public administration responsive to the needs of communities:

a) Regulations on appointment and conditions of employment of senior managers

These regulations contribute to the professionalisation of local public administration by setting out uniform procedures for appointment of municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers (senior managers), including the appointment criteria (i.e. competency requirements, higher education qualifications and experience) necessary to enable incumbents to perform the duties associated with the relevant posts.

b) Municipal Performance Regulations for Municipal Managers and Managers Directly accountable to Municipal Managers

The objectives of these regulations are to provide a framework that ensures that municipalities are performance orientated and responsive to community needs; foster a culture of commitment to serving the public; and a collective sense of responsibility for performance in terms of standards and targets in order to maximise the ability of municipalities as a whole to achieve their objectives and improve the quality of life of their residents.

c) Disciplinary Regulations for senior managers

These regulations prescribe, amongst others, uniform procedures for reporting incidents of breach of the Code of Conduct for Municipal Staff; investigation of allegations of misconduct; appointment of presiding officers; roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders; and sanctions.

d) Municipal Staff Regulations

These regulations were promulgated on 20 September 2021 with the implementation date of 1 July 2022. The regulations incorporate minimum competency requirements for staff below management echelons which forms the basis for sector-wide skills audit and development programmes while ensuring that all municipal staff members participate in the performance management system in order to maximise the ability of municipalities to achieve their objectives and improve the quality of life of their residents. The skills audit exercise will provide a useful baseline information on skills profiles, workplace skills plans and sector skills plans.

e) Municipal Systems Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 3 of 2022)

The Municipal Systems Amendment Act provides legal certainty with regards to the Minister’ regulatory powers, including -

  • Provision for the appointment of municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers;
  • Provision for procedures and competency criteria for such appointments, including consequences of appointments made otherwise than in accordance with such procedures and criteria;
  • Provision procedures for performance evaluation;
  • Limiting the political rights of all municipal managers and managers directly accountable to municipal managers from holding political office in a political party;
  • Regulating the re-employment of municipal staff members who have been dismissed for misconduct;
  • Prohibits the bloating of municipal administration;
  • Provision for mandating procedures to be adhered to by organised local government before it embarks on wage negotiations in the bargaining council designated for municipalities; and
  • Empowering the Minister to investigate maladministration, fraud, corruption or any other serious malpractice in municipalities, if the MEC fails to conduct such investigations.

End.

07 December 2023 - NW3350

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Are there any memorandums of understanding or service level agreements in place between her department and private rescue centres; if so, what (a) financial support does her department offer and (b) financial assistance was awarded to which private rescue group in 2022; (2) is there a memorandum of understanding between International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) and her department; if so, what are the terms of reference?

Reply:

  1. There are no memorandums of understanding or service level agreements in place between the Department of Cooperative Governance – NDMC and private rescue centres.
  2. No, there is no memorandum of understanding between International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) and the department.

End.

07 December 2023 - NW4059

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Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether she and/or her department guides the processes of Valuation Appeal Boards; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how many members does the Ekhurhuleni Valuation Appeal Board (a) comprise of and (b) are needed to constitute a quorum; (2) with regard to the Board attending to hearings on a one-month-on and-one-month-off basis, how many hearings (a) have been concluded so far and (b) still has to be conducted; (3) how many applications for appeal with regard to valuation rates (V.R.) during 2017/2021, (a) succeeded to have the ratable property values reduced and (b) how many ratable property values increased; (4) in respect of appeal applications for V.R. 2021/2025, (a) have the ratable property values reduced and (b) how many ratable property values were increased?

Reply:

1. The relevant sections of the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA) contain sufficient provisions that guides how the MECs responsible for local government establish Valuation Appeal Boards (VABs) and what constitute a quorum for a VAB. In this regard, sections 56 and 58 outline how VABs are established and composed, section 64 provides for appointment of alternate members of a VAB and section 68 outlines what constitute a quorum of the members of a VAB.

a) According to information supplied by the provincial CoGTA and Ekurhuleni municipality, the Ekurhuleni VAB is currently composed of 4 members and 4 alternate members.

b) In terms of section 68 of the MPRA,

“(1)(a) A majority of the members of an appeal board serving at any time constitutes a quorum for a meeting of the board.

(b) In addition to a quorum being present, a meeting may not continue unless the valuer member of the appeal board is present.”

2. According to Ekurhuleni municipality:

(a) 3023 hearings have been concluded; and

(b) 2755 hearings are still to be conducted.

3) According to Ekurhuleni municipality, during the 2017/2021 valuation roll period:

(a) 687 appeals were concluded where the rateable value decreased; and

(b) 117 appeals were concluded where the rateable value increased.

4. According to Ekurhuleni municipality, during the current 2021/2025 valuation roll period and to date:

(a) 2293 appeals have been concluded where the rateable value decreased; and

(b) 462 appeals have been concluded where the rateable value increased.

End.

07 December 2023 - NW4023

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether her department has undertaken to assist the Mbombela Local Municipality in delivering the service of building a community hall for Ward 25 in Hazyview, Mpumalanga; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date is it envisaged that the assistance will be provided and (b) by what date will the building of the hall commence, (c) what is the projected cost of the project and (d) what are the further relevant details?

Reply:

The Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG) did not undertake to assist the Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) in delivering the service of building a community hall for Ward 25 in Hazyview, Mpumalanga.

The identification, prioritisation and budgeting of projects, like a community hall among others, is the responsibility of a municipality in accordance with the integrated development planning process. DCOG’s role is to provide support, together with the rest of the provincial and national governments, as stipulated under section 154 of the Constitution.

DCOG also administers the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) that is annually allocated to municipalities through the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) for the provisioning of basic services to poor households. Furthermore, DCOG provides technical support by deploying built environment professionals to municipalities for infrastructure development through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) in accordance with section 154 of the Constitution, mentioned above.

It is brought to the attention of the Honourable Member of Parliament, that MLM prioritised the construction of building a community hall in Ward 25 in Hazyview through the MIG funding. The construction project of the community hall commenced on 26 March 2018 and was completed on 12 March 2021 as per completion certificate attached hereto as Annexure.

End

07 December 2023 - NW3851

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Hadebe, Mr BM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What (a) lessons have been learned from past disasters to enhance her department’s disaster response for improved implementation of interventions and (b) projects will be implemented by utilising the recent budget adjustment allocation for the National Disaster Centre?

Reply:

a) Various lessons have been learnt from the coordination of disaster response measures and engagements of stakeholders. The key lessons are as follows:

  • Review and strengthening of the disaster management function placement, capacity and capability across spheres and sectors; Mainstream Disaster Management in all organs of state; Improvement of intergovernmental collaboration and coordination through integrated disaster management plans and contingency arrangements; Identification of risks early through multi-hazard community-based risk assessments; Improvement of the Early Warning Systems to activate local early action initiatives;
  • Implementation of a centralized information management system; Educate communities to increase resilience and decrease vulnerability; development & increase of the use of risk transfer mechanisms and development of the disaster risk financing strategy for the country.

b) The recent budget adjustment allocation for the National Disaster Management Centre will be utilised for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of municipal infrastructure damaged by the floods in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape provinces. The funded municipal infrastructure are mostly roads and water related infrastructure.

End.

04 December 2023 - NW4083

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)      Whether she is responsible for monitoring municipal budgets; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what was the (a) expenditure and (b) percentage of the operational budget spent by each municipality on water and sanitation infrastructure maintenance and (c) what is the current infrastructural backlog for each municipality; (2) whether she is responsible for accounting for water losses through leaks of municipal infrastructure; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the (a) current volume of water losses from leaks per municipality; (b) total number of grant funding framework reports submitted for (i) water and sanitation, (ii) electricity, (iii) roads and storm water, (iv) roads provision for each in the past two financial years? NW5363E

Reply:

  1. No, National and Provincial Treasuries are responsible for monitoring municipal budgets.
  2. No, the Department of Water and Sanitation is responsible for accounting and monitoring of water losses.

End.

27 November 2023 - NW3836

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Mkhaliphi, Ms HO to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether she has been informed that the Auditor-General of South Africa indicated in her latest report that the Eastern Cape will not meet its target in relation to the temporary shelters for persons who were affected by floods; if not, why not; if so, what steps has she and/or her department taken to ensure that the affected persons obtain the necessary relief?

Reply:

Yes we noted AGSA report. The DCoG through NDMC has already activated a team comprised of the following stakeholders namely: Eastern Cape (EC) Provincial Disaster Management Centre, EC Department of Human Settlement, EC Department of Social Development to expedite the assistance to victims of disasters. Reference can be made to the situation of Cwebeni Village floods victims. The task team include the district and local municipalities. In this case the provincial EC Department of Social Development is finalizing profiling the families, through the task team the Department of Social Development reported to continue to offer immediate relief to the affected families. The process will be finalized by the end of November 2023. Information obtained will be shared with Department of Human Settlement implementation of ‘Emergency Housing Scheme’.

The NDMC in consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre coordinates the stakeholder engagement weekly meetings since the 15 November 2023.

End.

27 November 2023 - NW3850

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Direko, Ms DR to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What progress can she highlight as the key achievements of the Government to (a) strengthen local governance and (b) improve service provision since the local government elections in 2021?

Reply:

a) Government invested in capacity building programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of local government officials and Councillors. This includes training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing platforms to improve governance practices, financial management, service delivery, and community engagement. Municipal Public Accounts Committees were trained to exercise oversight over the executive functionaries of council and ensure good governance in municipalities.

b) Through the MIG, municipalities have been able to extend service coverage to underserved areas, especially in rural and informal settlements. This includes the provision of basic services like water supply, sanitation, electricity, and access to community facilities, which were previously lacking or inadequate.

c) The MIG has supported the upgrading and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, ensuring that it is well-maintained and meets quality standards. This has resulted in improved reliability and efficiency of service delivery, reducing disruptions and enhancing the overall experience for residents.

d) Cogta implemented changes in the MIG/IUDG Framework to allow municipalities to use a portion of their MIG/IUDG allocation to buy specialised waste management vehicles servicing the poor. Some municipalities have used this opportunity and the 2022 Census data released by the Stats SA in October 2023 indicates a nominal increase to 66% (63% in 2011) in the collection of waste by municipalities.

e) In the same period 2020/2021 the Department revised the MIG/IUDG Framework to allow municipalities to use up 5% of their MIG/IUDG allocation develop Infrastructure Asset Management Plans. MISA was tasked specifically to support municipalities in this regard.

f) Municipalities with non-compliance pre-directives or directives are allowed to use up to 10% of their MIG/IUDG allocation for urgent repairs and maintenance in respect of water and sanitation. This provision has been carried over from Covid-19 special provisions.

g) Cogta has also set up the Results Management Office (RMO) to house experts in various fields (DDM, CWP, Infrastructure, Finance, Energy and Governance) to provide an additional layer of support, particularly in dysfunctional municipalities

h) The strengthening of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) has been ongoing. MISA has been designated by the Minister to champion the development of Infrastructure Asset Management Plans, the Schedule 6b, the deployment of more experts, trainee artisans as well as supporting the implementation of the CWP programme (particularly the municipal services aspects).

End.

 

27 November 2023 - NW3862

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Marekwa, Ms GP to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Since a significant amount of the Municipality Infrastructure Grant supports water-related interventions, (a) what Green Drop measures will be implemented to improve sanitation in municipalities with poor ratings and (b) which municipalities are targeted?

Reply:

a) The Green Drop measures to be implemented, through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), to improve sanitation in municipalities with poor ratings include the following:

  1. The implementation of MIG funded sanitation capital projects to upgrade, repair or refurbish sanitation systems to restore functionality.
  2. The utilization by municipalities of the 5%, a further 5 % as well as 10% of the MIG funding for the Project Management Unit (PMU), activities related to Asset Management Plans and Repairs and Refurbishments respectively that are provided for in the MIG Framework.
  3. The implementation of the MIG Schedule 6B by identifying and implementing projects that address non-compliance notices and directives issued by both the Department of Public Works (DWS) and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
  4. Following the approval by Cabinet in August 2023 of the Action Plan prepared by DWS, the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG), the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) to address the Green Drop Report findings in municipalities, among others, DCOG and DWS will reprioritize further portions of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) and the MIG funding over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to address the infrastructure interventions required.

b) All the Water Services Authorities that receive the MIG funding will be supported using the MIG funding to either improve on the poor results or maintain the good results in the Green Drop Report of 2022. Metropolitan Municipalities do not receive the MIG.

End.

27 November 2023 - NW3919

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether her department is responsible for keeping information and/or records regarding municipal water and electricity losses; if not, why not; if so, what (a) has been the total (i) monetary value and (ii) percentage of the (aa) water and (bb) electricity losses recorded by her department for each municipality in the past three financial years and (b) contingency plans did (i) her department and (ii) specified municipalities put in place to curb the specified losses?

Reply:

No, the department is not responsible for keeping information and/or records regarding municipal water and electricity losses.

The monitoring of water losses is done by Department of Water and Sanitation working with Municipalities. The monitoring of electricity losses is done by National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

End

27 November 2023 - NW3841

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether, given that climate change now poses a significant existential threat to countries around the world, to the extent that disaster management efforts need to be coordinated across national borders to enhance their effectiveness (details furnished), the Southern African Development Community Disaster Management (SADC) Protocol has been signed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she has found that the Republic meets the protocol standards in all aspects of disaster; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO5063E

Reply:

1. No, the the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Disaster Management Protocol has not been signed. It is necessary that the the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs first need to confirms that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Disaster Management Protocol does adhere to legal requirements and aligns with the principles of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa before she can sign the Protocol.

2. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs engaged the office of the State Law Advisor within the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD) for the Legal Opinion on whether the Republic meets the protocol standards in all aspects of disaster and to further determine whether the Convention complies with the domestic laws of the Republic of South Africa. This office thoroughly examined the Disaster Management Protocol in accordance with paragraph 5.20 (a) of the Manual on the Executive Acts of the President of the Republic of South Africa, in conjunction with Chapter 5 of the Constitutional Handbook for Members of the Executive (the "Constitutional Handbook".

The relevant details are that as it stands, the Republic of South Africa, represented by either the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs or the President, cannot sign the SADC Disaster Management Protocol in its current form. Consequently, the SADC Disaster Management Protocol must be presented to Parliament, accompanied by comments from the DoJCD, to inform them of issues that prevent the Republic from proceeding with the signing process. In this context, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will seek to inform Parliament, gather input, and obtain Parliamentary approval before proceeding with the signing the Protocol. Signing the Protocol without first securing Parliamentary approval would constitute a violation of section 231(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (“Constitution”). This is because, in its current form, the agreement becomes binding upon signature.

End.

27 November 2023 - NW3842

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Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What are the reasons that her department failed to implement post-audit action plans relating to the Community Work Programme as the department regressed from 73% to 63% in achieving predetermined objectives and consistently failed to obtain an unqualified audit opinion?

Reply:

The failure in the implementation of the Post Audit Action Plan (PAAP) is mainly related to asset management as it is a qualification area.  The asset management was previously outsourced and was taken over during the latter part of the last financial year due to poor performance of the service provider. All the Asset Management activities in the PAAP were assigned to the service provider.  These activities have now been taken over and refined in the current PAAP and are being implemented by the department and there is progress reported in the implementation of the current PAAP.

Furthermore, the department has significantly reduced the qualification items in the audit report and is only left with one item (asset management) which is putting every effort and resources to address. We have established teams to deal with assets on site. We have brought in capacity from other units to support the Asset Management Unit. We are confident that this matter will be completely resolved before the end March 2024.

End.

 

27 November 2023 - NW3843

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Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What are the reasons that her department withheld the Local Government Equitable Share from municipalities that are already in dire financial distress as her department only spent R110,7 billion of the R115 billion that was allocated to it leaving an underexpenditure of R4,3 billion which will be surrendered to the National Revenue Fund?

Reply:

In terms of Section 21(1) of the Division of revenue Act (DoRA), despite a provision to the contrary in the Public Finance Management Act or the Municipal Finance Management Act, any conditional allocation, or a portion thereof, that is not spent at the end of a financial year reverts to the National Revenue Fund, unless the roll-over of the allocation is approved in terms of subsection (2) which states that, the National Treasury may, at the request of a transferring officer, receiving officer or provincial treasury, approve a roll-over of a conditional allocation if the unspent funds are committed to identifiable projects.

For the 2022/23 financial year, an amount of R87,3 billion was allocated for the Local Government Equitable Share (LGES) grant to all 257 municipalities. A total of R83,9 billion was transferred to the municipalities, leaving a balance of R3,4 billion at the end of the financial year. The R3,4 billion was not withheld to municipalities, but was rather offset against unspent conditional grants of municipalities that failed to surrender their unspent allocations to the National Revenue Fund. The offsetting of the R3,4 billion was as per the National Treasury directive.

End.

27 November 2023 - NW3852

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Matuba, Ms M M to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What (a) is the total number of municipalities that are still under administration and (b) progress has been made since each municipality was placed under administration?

Reply:

a) Currently, a total of thirty-two (32) municipalities (Annexure A) are still under administration across the country. Of the 32 municipalities under administration, 3 are under intervention in terms of Sec 139(7) of the Constitution (i.e. National Cabinet intervention).

b) Detailed reports have been presented before the various committees of the National Assembly and the NCOP on the progress to date in these municipalities.

The progress varies across municipalities and across provinces. Good progress continues to be registered in municipalities such as Lekwa and Govan Mbeki in Mpumalanga, Mangaung in the Free State, Makana in the Eastern Cape, Msunduzi and Mpofana in KwaZulu/Natal, Emfuleni in Gauteng and Phokwane in the Northen Cape.

However, municipalities such as Ditsobotla in the North-West, Renosterberg in the Northern Cape are still operating under precarious circumstances. We are intensifying our support in these municipalities to ensure that they return to normality.

End.

ANNEXURE A

Total Number per Province

Names of Municipalities

Type of intervention

Date

Instituted

Status

Eastern Cape: 3

Enoch Mgijima LM

S139(7) of the Constitution (National Cabinet intervention)

April 2022

Ongoing

 

Amathole LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2021

Ongoing

 

Makana LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

2019

Ongoing

Free State: 3

Mangaung Metro

S139(7) of the Constitution (National Cabinet intervention)

April 2022

Ongoing

 

Mafube LM

S139(5)(a)&(c) of the Constitution

June 2022

Ongoing

 

Tokologo LM

S139(5)(a)&(c) of the Constitution

June 2022

Ongoing

Gauteng: 3

Emfuleni LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

June 2018

Ongoing

 

West Rand DM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Feb 2019

Ongoing

 

Merafong LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Sept 2022

Ongoing

KwaZulu Natal: 07

Umzinyathi DM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

Oct 2016

Ongoing

 

Mpofana LM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

Dec 2017

Ongoing

 

Inkosi Langalibalele LM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

Dec 2017

Ongoing

 

Mtubatuba LM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

March 2019

Ongoing

 

Msunduzi LM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

April 2019

Ongoing

 

Uthukela DM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

Aug 2018

Ongoing

 

Umkhanyakude DM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

Jan 2021

Ongoing

Mpumalanga: 5

Emalahleni LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Oct 2018

Ongoing

 

Govan Mbeki LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Oct 2018

Ongoing

 

Msukaligwa LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Oct 2018

Ongoing

 

Thaba Chweu LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Oct 2018

Ongoing

 

Lekwa LM

S139(7) of the Constitution (National Cabinet intervention)

April 2021

Ongoing

Northern Cape: 2

Phokwane LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

July 2020

Ongoing

 

Renosterberg LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Aug 2020

Ongoing

North-West (8)

Madibeng LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Tswaing LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati DM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Kgetleng Rivier LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Mahikeng LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Ramotshere LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Naledi LM

S139(5) of the Constitution

Jan 2022

Ongoing

 

Kagisano-Molopo LM

S139(1)(b) of the Constitution

Sept 2022

Ongoing

Western Cape:1

Beaufort West LM

S139(5)(a) of the Constitution

Aug 2021

Ongoing

Total

32

22 November 2023 - NW3935

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Malatsi, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether (a) she, (b) the Deputy Ministers and (c) any other official in her department attended the Rugby World Cup final in France in October 2023; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, what (i) are the relevant details of each person in her department who attended the Rugby World Cup, (ii) is the total number of such persons and (iii) were the total costs of (aa) travel, (bb) accommodation and (cc) any other related costs that were incurred by her department as a result of the trip(s)?

Reply:

According to the records of the department: Myself, the Deputy Ministers and any employee of the department did not attend Rugby World Cup in France in 2023, in official capacity.

Nothing prohibited officials to attend Rugby World final in France as it would have been done in their own expenses.

End.

 

22 November 2023 - NW3651

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)What was the (a) water supply reliability for 2020 and (b) estimated water supply reliability for (i) 2030 and (ii) 2050 for each local municipality, measured against (aa) the population and (bb) megalitre on each day (ML/day); 2. what is the (a) current water treatment capacity and (b) water shortfall per ML/day?

Reply:

The information requested by honourable member is monitored in the national monitoring system as well as the national information system provided for by the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) and the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997) respectively. DWS is responsible for these national systems as mandated by both pieces of legislation highlighted in the background above.

It is therefore recommended that the honourable member redirect the question to Ministry of Water and Sanitation for the DWS to respond accordingly.

End.

22 November 2023 - NW3819

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether any funds were allocated towards the assurance of readiness of municipalities in handling natural disasters in each province; if not, why not; if so, what is the (a) allocated budget and (b) actual expenditure; (2) what actual work has been done in 2023 to ensure that municipalities are able to handle natural disasters? NW5038E

Reply:

1. No. Preparedness measures are funded by organs of state from their own resources. The NDMC provide support and guidance to organs of state on preparedness measures. (a) Not applicable. (b) Not applicable

2. The actual work that has been done or being done in 2023 to ensure that municipalities are able to handle natural disasters include amongst others the following:

  • Since the beginning of 2023, 8 district municipalities in priority disaster areas have been assessed on the implementation of their disaster management plans and strategies to prevent, prepare for and mitigate disaster risks in terms of the Disaster Management Act. By the end of 2023, a total of 12 district municipalities in priority disaster areas would have been assessed on the implementation of their disaster management plans and strategies to prevent, prepare for and mitigate disaster risks in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
  • From an NDMC’s early warning perspective, support to local municipalities includes the preparation of quarterly seasonal outlooks (issued at the quarterly National Advisory Forum) that provide a forwarding looking prediction of hazards combined with future weather scenarios. This enables short- and medium-term planning to take place at local level. The issuing of monthly drought monitoring updates to provide 6,12 and 36 monthly drought spatial maps allows municipalities to manage the drought hazard with their local geographies.
  • Support to organs of state on the development of response procedures aligned to the South African Weather Service Impact Based Early Warning Table (Level 1-10) This support takes the form of a series of national workshops are being conducted by the NDMC to develop response procedure and decision-making procedures aligned to the 10 levels of the Impact Based Early warning systems for severe weather.
  • Enhancement of collaborative efforts with the South African Weather Service to incorporate other new products and data to improve the disaster management function. This enhancement takes the form of a renewed MoU with the SA Weather service that brings a series of new data and services to understand climate change indicators, better mapping of past incidents of severe weather and improving predictability of hazards based on historical analysis.
  • The continuation of disseminating impact based early warnings weather warning and advisories that informs decision making, response activations and preparedness by local disaster management structure and relevant by stakeholders including communities.

End.

22 November 2023 - NW3808

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether her department has any measures in place to assess the preparedness of municipalities to handle natural disasters; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the relevant details of the specified measures for each municipality in the Republic, (b) how often are assessments of the measures conducted, (c) when last were the assessments conducted in each municipality and (d) what has been the expenditure for each assessment exercise in each municipality during the past five financial years?

Reply:

Yes, the department has measures in place to assess disaster management plans in their entirety, and this process include the assessment of preparedness measures of municipalities to handle natural disasters.

a) The assessment measures (tools) include the guideline on the “Development and structure of a disaster management plan” that the NDMC developed and published in 2017 (Annexure A). Within this guideline, there is a “Disaster Management Plan Checklist” that is followed during assessments to verify if all aspects of a disaster management plan are addressed in the plan. These measures are uniform and standard measures used when disaster management plans of respective municipalities are assessed. There are no individual or specified measures for each municipality in the Republic, other than the once referred to.

b) Number of assessments determined in the APP Annual Targets are undertaken/conducted on a quarterly basis. These include continuous engagements with municipalities whose disaster management plans / preparedness measures are assessed to address gaps identified during the assessments.

c) The last assessments were undertaken during quarter 2, July – September 2023.

d) There is no expenditure incurred as the assessments are undertaken inhouse by the NDMC officials.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3650

Profile picture: Smalle, Mr JF

Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)With reference to the (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23 financial years, which municipalities (i) submitted unfunded budgets, (ii) did not submit annual financial statements and (iii) submitted the annual financial statements late; (2) what is the total collection revenue percentage for each municipality for the 2022-23 municipal financial year to date; (3) what is the gross value added by each municipality per capita?

Reply:

Section 18 of the MFMA required Municipalities to have credible funded budgets. Provincial and National Treasury asses and monitors budgets (funded and unfunded budgets) of Municipalities.

It is recommended that this question be redirected to Minister of Finance for the National Treasury to respond accordingly.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3555

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Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With reference to her reply to question 2611 on 15 September 2023, wherein she stated that regular site visits are conducted to ensure validation and verification of work that is reported to have been done, and noting that visits to various provinces and sites by a certain political party (name furnished) revealed that the participants neither have enough tools nor adequate uniform and thus they are unable to execute their work, (a) how is work done at the sites that are still without the tools of trade, (b) who should be responsible for the lack of tools of trade at such sites and (c) what are the relevant details of the expenditure of the budget allocated for tools of trade?

Reply:

(a) How is work done at the sites that are still without the tools of trade,

  • Although procurement has not yet taken place, most sites still have tools of trade as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procured in 2022/2023 Financial Year.
  • Participants assigned to do useful work at social facilities or public institution like schools, clinics, etc. use tools of trade from those institution they work in.
  • Municipalities, government departments as well as the offices of traditional leaders or community tribal offices also help providing tools when CWP useful work is done in their centres.
  • Some donations have also been received e.g. in Makhado where a donation of lashers was received.
  • Participants sometimes use their own tools especially if the useful work is meant to benefit them e.g. home gardens etc.

(b) Who should be responsible for the lack of tools of trade at such sites.

  • The Department takes full responsibility for lack of tools of trade as well as PPEs at site level and the situation will be addressed as soon as the appointment of Implementing Agents is finalised latest by the 1 December 2023.

(c) What are the relevant details of the expenditure of the budget allocated for tools of trade.

  • There is no expenditure incurred yet. 
  • The budget for tools and materials is R450.00 per participant and R450 for PPE per participant per year.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3534

Profile picture: Montwedi, Mr Mk

Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What has she observed as the top five greatest contributors to the problems that cause? (i) Instability and Lack of service delivery in local government. (2) What are specific steps of intervention has she taken to solve the specified problems?

Reply:

The Department, through the State of Local Government Report, identified the following key contributors to instability and lack of service delivery in local government:

  1. Instability in Councils (coalitions and changes in Council) and poor oversight (ineffective, incapacity and dysfunctional committees of Council).
  2. Weak administration (vacancies at senior management, incompetence, lack of technical capability, ineffective organograms and shortage of tools of trade).
  3. Inability to perform on conditional grants (poor planning, slow/ineffective SCM processes, Business forums, poor performing contractors, and sub-contractors, under expenditure and no value-for-money).
  4. Poor and lack of repairs and maintenance of infrastructure (cash management challenges, poor budgeting, poor planning for repairs and maintenance).
  5. Poor collection and management of revenue (low revenue base, ineffective revenue generation and enforcement controls).

Steps to address the problems:

The Ministerial outreach was conducted in 8 of the 9 provinces to drive the:

    1. Implementation of Municipal Support intervention plans focusing on 6 pillars with corresponding solutions to the identified challenges.
    2. Implementation of Schedule 6b of DORA, cost re-imbursement and other measures on MIG expenditure.
    3. Supported Section 139 interventions in distressed municipalities.
    4. The Department also collaborate with sector Departments, SALGA and provinces to build capacity in municipalities to conduct their own affairs.
    5. The Department is also considering the deployment of a team of experts to support municipalities to plan and implement service delivery initiatives.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3230

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Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to the inability of municipalities, particularly the Bela-Bela Local Municipality, to solve the daily electrical outages unrelated to load shedding, provide clean drinking water to all wards daily, repair streetlights and switch on new streetlights installed years ago, her department will instruct municipalities to undertake a full technical audit, which must co-exist with the Master Plan for the current and next five to ten years, on all their electrical infrastructure and/or equipment on the network; if not, why not; if so, on what date?

Reply:

The Department of Co-operative Governance (DCOG) will not instruct municipalities to undertake a full technical audit as DCOG has no authority to do so. DCOG however provides support, together with all the Provincial Governments and the rest of National Government, to municipalities in accordance with the District Development Model (DDM) to perform their functions in terms of section 154 of the Constitution.

DCOG provides technical support for infrastructure development to municipalities including Bela Bela Local Municipality (BBLM) through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) by deploying technical professionals. These professionals provide technical support throughout the project life cycle from integrated development planning, infrastructure delivery to operation and maintenance. This support includes the infrastructure assessments which are part of technical audits, development of master plans, project documentation, Asset Management Plans including Operations and Maintenance Plans.

DCOG monitors the performance of municipalities together with sector departments like the Department of Minerals and Energy (DMRE) on electricity provision, and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on water services provision as well as the National Treasury. Sector departments also perform assessments, which are technical audits, for example the Green Drop and Blue Drop Certification Programmes by DWS.

Should municipalities fail to perform their functions, the national government will intervene after provincial governments have done so, in terms of section 139 of the Constitution.

Reported outages in BBLM are attended to by a standby maintenance team. Water outages have currently been implemented to manage demand which is not met by the bulk supply from both Magalies Water Board and BBLM’s own water treatment works. BBLM’s street lights have been negatively affected by the theft of streetlight cables. BBLM has planned and implemented a multi-year theft proof mechanism due to insufficient budget to roll it out at once to the whole municipality. A few areas have been attended to with an overhead line which has proven to be efficient in addressing the theft of cables.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3500

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Ms SA

Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

In light of the heavy rainfall that destroyed over 12 000 houses in the south-east part of the country in 2022 and led to the declaration of a National State of Disaster by the President, whether any funds were allocated towards assisting citizens who were affected; if not, why not; if so, what is the (a) allocated budget, (b) actual expenditure, (c) number of temporary accommodation sites and (d) repair work that has been done already?

Reply:

Yes, funds were allocated by government through the respective organs of state as per their respective mandates and programmes to address the effects of the disasters within affected communities. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs coordinated response measures by the relevant organs of state to ensure alignment and collaboration of efforts.

(a) A total amount of R3.5 billion was allocated by COGTA from the existing Disaster Grants to the affected municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape to repair and reconstruct the damaged infrastructure for water, sanitation, roads, and bridges in order to restore the livelihood of the affected communities and ensure the provision of reliable service delivery. This approach was to facilitate a comprehensive and integrated relief package to the affected community members. Other allocations have been done by the relevant organs of state as per their mandates and budget votes.

(b) The total expenditure as reported by municipalities allocated Disaster Grant funds managed by COGTA is R993 337 206.00

(c) According to the information provided by the Department of Human Settlements, affected communities were supported through approximately 3 033 temporary residential units (TRU’s) in both KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces where the houses were damaged as a result of the heavy rainfall of April 2022.

(d) Repair work that has been done already?

Through the allocation to municipalities from the Municipal Disaster Response Grant, several assets that are owned by municipalities were repaired to ensure continuous and reliable services to affected communities. The repair of infrastructure includes repairing of tarred, paved and re-gravelling of damaged roads, replacement of valves and electrical components for water and sewer treatment plants and repairing damaged bridges to allow communities to access facilities such as schools, clinics, and hospitals. The table below depicts evidence of progress made:

Province

Municipalities

Allocation R'000

Implementation period extended until 30/06/2023

Expenditure R'000 as of 20/10/2023

% Spent

Balance   R'000

Types of Projects

Completed within six months?

1. KZN

1.  Msunduzi 

R620

Jul-Dec 2022

R620

100%

R0

Water & Sanitation

Yes

 

2.  Mkhambathini

R8 200

Jul-Dec 2022

R8 200

100%

R0

Roads & stormwater

Yes

 

3.  iLembe

R19 500

Jul-Dec 2022

R19 500

100%

R0

Water & Sanitation

Yes

 

4.  Inkosi Langalibalele  

R48 950

Jul-Dec 2022

R48 947

99%

R2

Roads & bridges

No

 

5.  uGu

R2 000

Jul-Dec 2022

R1 980

99%

R19

Water & Sanitation

Yes

 

6.  Alfred Duma

R14 354

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R13 792

96%

R621

Roads and stormwater

No

 

7.  Kwa-Dukuza

R109 103

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R73 307

67%

R35 735

Roads & bridges

No

 

8.  Ray Nkonyeni

R19 100

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R19 100

100%

R0

Roads & stormwater

Yes

 

9.e-Thekwini

R185 000

Sep 22-Feb 2023

R163 119

88%

R21 880

Roads, water & sanitation

No

Total

09

R406 827 000.00

July 2022-February 2023

R348 565 000.00

86%

R58 257 000.00

 

 

Province

Municipalities

Allocation R'000

Implementation period extended until 30/06/2023

Expenditure R'000 as of 20/10/2023

% Spent

Balance   R'000

Types of Projects

Completed within six months

EC

Port St John

R13 300

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R11 384

85%

R1 916

Roads& stormwater

No

 

Ingquza Hill

R4 130

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R3 858

100%

R0

Roads & stormwater

No

 

12.Nyandeni

R2 693

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R2 578

100%

R0

Roads & stormwater

No

 

13.Umzimbuvu

R10 500

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R10 500

100%

R0

Roads & stormwater

No

 

14.Ntabankulu

R5 111

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R5 089

100%

R0

Roads & stormwater

No

 

15.Mbashe

R14 415

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R13 762

94%

R652

Roads& stormwater

No

 

16.Winnie Mandela

R12 790

Aug 22-Jan 2023

R12 790

100%

R0

Roads &stormwater

No

 

17. OR Tambo

R46 872

Aug 22-Jan 2024

R43 312

94%

R2 936

Water & Sanitation

No

Total

 

R109 811 000.00

 

R103 273 000.00

96%

R 4 852 000.00

   

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3725

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Komane, Ms RN to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, in light of the Constitutional Court ruling between Constance Mogale and Others v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others, her department had taken any steps in the North West to make way for the reconstitution of the traditional councils; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) by what date does she envisage the elections of traditional councils will be held?

Reply:

Yes, the Department has taken steps to make way for the reconstitution of traditional councils which have recognised traditional leaders.

a) In February 2022, the COGTA Ministry published the formula for determining the number of members of Traditional Councils (TCs) as required by the Act. However, in January 2023, traditional leaders requested that the published formula be reviewed which led to provinces not being able to finalise the constitution and therefore not meeting the legislated timeframe of 31 March 2023. To address traditional leaders’ concerns, and as empowered by the Act, section 63(4)(c) Intervention Plan was developed to ensure that the TCs can be constituted and the implementation of the plan has commenced. As part of implementation of the Intervention Plan, on 12 May 2023, I convened a meeting of all Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders as well as the MECs to address traditional leaders’ concerns on the current formula.

At this meeting it was resolved that the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San should consult all houses of traditional and khoi-san leaders to make proposals on the formular. The Chairperson of the National House called a Xivijo meeting from 23-24 October 2023 to discuss among others, the formula options and for traditional leaders to make their recommendations in this regard. Arising from the recommendations made at the Xivijo, I have now formally written to all MEC’s and Provincial Houses to consult them on the formula options that have been proposed.

b) Our intention is to gazette the new formula by the end of this calendar year. We envisage the elections of traditional councils to start being held in January 2024.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3657

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Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

What total amounts were owed to (a) Eskom and (b) water boards and/or agencies by the (i) Bela-Bela, (ii) Modimolle-Mookgophong and (iii) Thabazimbi Local Municipalities (aa) as on the last day of the 202223 financial year and (bb) in each month until 31 October 2023?

Reply:

Eskom and Water boards Debts, arrangements and monitoring of payments are managed and overseen by the National Treasury. It is recommended that the question be redirected to the Ministry of Finance for the National Treasury to provide response accordingly.

I thank you.

20 November 2023 - NW3231

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Van Der Walt, Ms D to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to the total collapse of municipal services in the town of Ohrigstad, under the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality in Limpopo, her department intends to take steps to intervene to ensure (a) daily electricity supply, (b) clean drinking water, (c) maintenance of all local streets, (d) proper road and traffic signage, (e) functional municipal offices with qualified officials, (f) the implementation of all by-laws, (g) approval of all buildings in accordance with the zoning allowed in the planning department and (h) the cleaning, safety and accessibility of the new sports stadium in town?

Reply:

There is no collapse, let alone total collapse, of municipal services in the town of Ohrigstad, under the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality in Limpopo Province. To the contrary, the municipality is delivering municipal services as outlined below:

  1. There is continuous supply of electricity in Ohrigstad, except during scheduled times of national loadshedding.
  2. The Sekhukhune District Municipality is the water Services Authority for the FTLM area. in the town of Ohrigstad, the source of the water is a privately owned borehole that supplies a Water Treatment Works operated by Lepelle Northern Water Board where treatment takes place before distributing to residents.
  3. Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) is currently developing an Urban Integrated Roads and Stormwater Master Plan for Ohrigstad, Burgersfort, Steelpoort and other proclaimed townships to assist with planning, budgeting and implementing road construction and maintenance for municipal roads. SDM and the Provincial Government are responsible for district and provincial roads respectively that are in FTLM are of jurisdiction. The Master Plan also aims to address road and traffic signage.
  4. In September 2023, FTLM appointed a new regional manager for the Ohrigstad Regional Office to manage services and ensure functional municipal offices. The manager appointed has already reported for duty.
  5. The FTLM has in place Building Regulations that it enforces. In this current financial year, the Municipality is in the process of appointing a service provider to conduct audits on illegal land use and buildings in Burgersfort, Ohrigstad and Steelpoort as a measure to strength enforcement of by-laws.
  6. From 1 June 2023 the municipality commenced with cleaning services and maintenance of open spaces in Ohrigstad Town through a service provider appointed for a period of 36 months.

In accordance with section 154 of the Constitution, the Department of Corporate Governance (DCOG), through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), provides technical support to FTLM for infrastructure development throughout the whole project life on all infrastructure grants. Should FTLM fail to perform its functions, national government will intervene following the intervention of the provincial government in terms of section 139 of the Constitution.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3220

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Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether her department initiated any studies and/or research into urban search and rescue; if not, why not; if so, (a) by whom were the studies and/or research conducted and (b) what critical findings have been made; (2) what is current capacity of her department’s urban search and rescue in terms of (a) human resources and (b) aero fleet; (3) what are the current annual deployment budgets set aside for (a) urban search and rescue and (b) aeronautical and maritime search and rescue; (4) what are the current vacancy rates at the (a) aeronautical and maritime rescue, (b) fire rescue and (c) disaster rescue centres of her department in each province?

Reply:

1. The department (COGTA) has initiated capacity assessments that exist nationally into urban search and rescue; (a) conducted by the Directorate: Fire Services and the assessments were completed for Gauteng, Western Cape, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces and (b) It was found that the two provinces (GP & WC) are complaint and have capacity to render Urban Search and Rescue, moreover, the other provinces found not having required capacity to render USAR. In building capacity, the department has trained 25 personnel in each province (NW and KZN). Currently the directorate: Fire Services has embarked on USAR enhancement project in EC and LP.

2. (a) Currently the department (COGTA) operates by two (2) officials and one vacancy in the Directorate: Fire Services.

(b) The department has access to obtain aircraft through emergency procurement or through cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations where or when needed

3. The department (COGTA) do not maintain dedicated annual deployment budgets set aside for (a) urban search and rescue, but where funds may be required for deployment such funds may be allocated through reallocation of the unused operational budget of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC). (b) The Cooperative Governance And Traditional Affairs (COGTA) do not maintain a dedicated budget for aeronautical and maritime search and rescue as these functions are administered through the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) operated and maintained in terms of the South African Maritime and Aeronautical search and Rescue Act, 2002 administered by the National Department of Transport. As far as the maritime SAR is concerned, the National Department of Transport through SAMSA only submits an operational budget for the management and operationalization of the MRCC, not deployment of SAR assets. The financial implication for the deployment of private SAR assets is managed by the Department (of Transport), in liaison with the RCC Chief. It is on a pay for service basis and not on retention. “Private” referring to non-government organizations. Budget allocations for SAR asset deployment and maintenance should be available from the relevant SASAR member departments. ARCC is currently hosted and funded by Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS). The annual budget allocated by ATNS to resource ARCC is approximately R8,1 million rand annually for Human Resources and R500 000 annually for travel.

4. (a) The department (COGTA) do not have the details available of the vacancy rates at the aeronautical and maritime rescue as these functions are administered through the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) operated and maintained in terms of the South African Maritime and Aeronautical search and Rescue Act, 2002 administered by the National Department of Transport . The structure of the MRCC currently comprises of 17 positions in total. Namely:-.

  1. MRCC Chief (1)
  2. MRCC Operations Supervisor (1)
  3. Duty Controllers (7)
  4. Assistant Duty Controllers (7)
  5. Admin Officer (1)

Current Status:-

  1. MRCC Chief – Vacant
  2. MRCC Ops Supervisor- Filled
  3. Duty Controllers – 6 filled (1 vacancy)
  4. Assistant Duty Controllers – 5 filled (2 vacancies)
  5. Office Admin – Vacant

Total no. of vacancies: 5 (applicable to this Financial Year)

(b) The department (COGTA) has one vacancy in the Directorate: Fire Services in terms of fire and rescue, and

(c) The department (COGTA) do not maintain disaster rescue centres in each province as the Disaster Management Act, 2002 requires each province to establish and maintain a Disaster Management Centre in each province that play a role to coordinate and manage amongst other things the rescue of persons during a disaster.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3434

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Groenewald, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional

(1) What was the total annual expenditure countrywide from 1 April 2019 to date on the (a) deployment to provinces and municipalities and (b) payments of administrators in terms of section 139 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and the Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, by the (i) national Government, (ii) provinces and (iii) municipalities. (2) whether she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

1. a) The prerogative to invoke Section 139 as stipulated in the Constitution vests in the Provincial Executive Committees (b) and they also decide the remuneration of Administrators. National government, through the National Treasury, had invoked Section 139 (7) in Lekwa (Mpumalanga), Mangaung (Free State) and Enoch Mgijima (Eastern Cape) led by National Cabinet Representatives (NCRs). The following is the breakdown of the contract values for each intervention:

(i) Lekwa Local Municipality

The Section 139 (7) has been implemented since April 2021 and approximately R4,5 million (inclusive of VAT) was spent on the NCR fees to implement the intervention. In addition, the province assisted with the deployment of resources to assist the NCR together with CoGTA national seconding a resource to support and monitor the implementation of the intervention. The NCR left the municipality in end of August 2022.

(ii) Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality

The Section 139 (7) has been implemented since April 2022 and a contract value of R14,208,480 (incl. VAT) was spent for a period of a year that included fees for the NCR, with team of specialist ranging from governance, finance, service delivery and a small admin support team. The company did not charge for disbursements and agreed to absorb these costs. CoGTA also seconded resources to serve in the Administration. The NCR left Mangaung end of August 2023.

(iii) Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality

The intervention was implemented from April 2022 and the contract of the NCR has since lapsed. A total value of R12,956,170 (incl. VAT) including disbursement fees of approximately R1,5 million was spent to pay the NCR, and a team of specialists ranging from governance, finance, service delivery and a small admin support team. The team comprised of approximately 12 people..

For Sub section (ii) the prerogative to invoke Section 139 rests with provincial PECs as well as decisions on budgets to pay Administrators and (iii) in the case of Section 139 (7) costs were incurred by the National Treasury.

2. No further statement is necessary. The response to PQ 137 to the NCOP further expatiated on the benefits of deploying Administrators to lead the implementation of the intervention guided by the ToRs with the support of the municipal Council to achieve the set objectives of this course.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3380

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Buthelezi, Ms SA to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether her department is responsible for allocating funds towards the repair of nearby bridges following the collapse of the Paardekraal Dam in Rustenburg, Northwest, which was damaged during heavy rainfall in 2022; if not, why not; if so, what is the (a) allocated budget, (b) actual expenditure and (c) details of the repair work that has already been done?

Reply:

No. The incident was not brought to the attention of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – NDMC. Furthermore, no funding request was submitted by the Rustenburg Local Municipality (the municipality) through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in North West province (PDMC). According to the information provided by the PDMC, the bridge that was damaged by the floods was constructed by the Anglo Platinum Mine.

  1. Not applicable,
  2. Not applicable
  3. According to the province, the Municipality continues to monitor the water catchment as part of disaster risk reduction measure, particularly clearing culverts as and when necessary.

End.

20 November 2023 - NW3362

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Powell, Ms EL to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether her department incurred any costs in relation to the hosting of the (a) BRICS Summit from 22 to 24 August 2023 and (b) BRICS Parliamentary Forum from 27 to 28 September 2023; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what was the total cost incurred by her department?

Reply:

No, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs did not incur any costs in relation to the hosting of the (a) BRICS Summit from 22 to 24 August 2023 and (b) BRICS Parliamentary Forum from 27 to 28 September 2023.

The BRICS Summit was coordinated by the DIRCO, it is recommended that this question be re-directed to relevant Ministry to respond accordingly.

End.

17 November 2023 - NW3840

Profile picture: Smalle, Mr JF

Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

With 66 or 25,68% dysfunctional municipalities and a further 107 or 41,63% medium-risk municipalities and only 10,5 % stable municipalities (details furnished), what measures has she put in place to ensure that municipalities that have applied to have their debt totaling R56,8 billion written off will (a) comply with the conditions for their debts to be written off and (b) adhere to the various sets of laws and regulations that will ensure the administrative accountability of such municipalities?

Reply:

Item 4.1.3.2 of the National Treasury issued MFMA Circular No. 124 (on Municipal Debt Relief) states

If a delegated municipality did not meet any condition during any month, the Provincial Treasury’s  certificate of compliance in terms of this paragraph must include as an attachment a report explaining the non-compliance and the progressive support measures instituted by both the provincial treasury and the municipality to facilitate the municipality’s progressive adherence to the condition(s).

It is therefore recommended that the question be redirected to Ministry of Finance for the National Treasury to provide a response accordingly.

I thank you.

17 November 2023 - NW3849

Profile picture: Spies, Ms ERJ

Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether, with reference to the R56 billion debt municipalities owe Eskom and Treasury’s Municipal Debt Relief plan (details furnished), her department consulted with the National Treasury to commission an independent socio-economic impact assessment on the proposed National Treasury plan to ring-fence municipal grants meant for indigent households for use in the payment of debt by dysfunctional municipalities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The question is elicited by the Honoruable Member’s take that there is a proposed National Treasury plan to ring-fence municipal grants meant for indigent households for use in the payment of debt by dysfunctional municipalities of which the Department of Cooperative Governance is not privy of. Given that the “plan” is attributed to the National Treasury which also issued MFMA Circular No. 124 (on Municipal Debt Relief), it is therefore recommended that the question be redirected to Ministry of Finance for the National Treasury to provide a response accordingly.

I thank you.

16 November 2023 - NW3574

Profile picture: Groenewald, Mr IM

Groenewald, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether her department keeps a record of the categories of engineers employed in municipalities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the total number of (a) mechanical, (b) electrical, (c) civil and (d) chemical engineers that are employed in each municipality in each province that is supported by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent; (2) whether any of the specified engineers are registered with recognised professional bodies; if not, why not; if so, with which bodies; (3) what is the total number of vacancies in each municipality for the specified positions; (4) whether she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply:

1. The Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG) keeps a record of engineers employed in municipalities that are supported by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA). As of December 2022, the total number of (a) mechanical, (b) electrical, (c) civil and (d) chemical engineers employed is provided on Annexure A attached hereto.

2. Yes, some of the engineers are registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and shown on Annexure A as professionally registered. Some of the engineers are not registered as they are still gaining the requisite experience required for professional registration.

3. According to the respective municipalities, the total number of vacancies is provided on Annexure A attached hereto.

4. The vacant posts get advertised in local and national newspapers as well as on the municipalities’ websites in some instances.

5. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will not make a statement on the matter as the vacancies are filled as and when they become available anytime during the year when the incumbent leaves the position. Furthermore, the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCOG) through MISA deploys professionally registered engineers, among other built environment professionals, to provide technical support for infrastructure development to the municipalities.

End.

16 November 2023 - NW3646

Profile picture: Smalle, Mr JF

Smalle, Mr JF to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether her department undertook any research to determine the current rescue capacity in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what the full details of the (a)(i) current rescue capacity and (ii) shortcomings of the rescue capacity of the Republic and (b) current budget set aside for (i) international and/or cross border rescues, (ii) local rescue and (iii) maritime rescue; (2) what (a) is the total number of credited swift water technicians in each province and (b) are the details of the level of accredited qualifications at the disposal of her department?

Reply:

1. (a) The department (COGTA) has initiated fire services capacity assessments which is updated on annual basis with all the Provincial Disaster Management Centres across the Country. (i) The current rescue capacity in the Country is as follows:

Provinces

Number of Firefighters

Number of Fire Appliances (Rescue Vehicles and Fire engines

Western Cape

1 452

657

Free State

481

41

Gauteng

3 538

204

Eastern Cape

938

114

KwaZulu-Natal

1 125

145

North West

650

83

Limpopo

482

86

Mpumalanga

478

69

Northern Cape

88

32

(ii) The NDMC has noted that the provinces i.e. Free State, Northern Cape, and Mpumalanga are without dedicated Fire focal persons in fulltime capacity for the coordination of Fire Services functions. This is recorded as a shortcoming to carry out fire services functions in the above-mentioned Provinces as per proclamation R153 of the Constitution of South Africa.

(b) The department (COGTA) do not maintain dedicated annual deployment budgets set aside for (i) international and/or cross border rescues, but where funds may be required for deployment, such funds may be allocated through reallocation of the unused operational budget of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC). (ii) local rescue as such responsibility in terms of Schedule 4, Part B of the South African Constitution Fire Services is the responsibility of local government with national and provincial oversight. The Fire Brigade Services Act, 1987 (Act no. 99 of 1987) (FBSA) is the primary piece of legislation regulating fire services and provides for the establishment, maintenance, employment, co-ordination and standardisation of fire brigade services. (iii) The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) do not maintain a dedicated budget for maritime rescue as these functions are administered through the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) operated and maintained in terms of the South African Maritime and Aeronautical search and Rescue Act, 2002 administered by the National Department of Transport. The annual budget allocated by ATNS to resource ARCC is approximately R8,1 million rand annually for Human Resources and R500 000 annually for travel.

(2) (a) Total number of credited swift water technicians in each province

Eastern Cape

10

Free State

27

North West

23

Gauteng

197

Western Cape

69

Limpopo

0

Mpumalanga

37

Northern Cape

Did not submit

KwaZulu-Natal

205

(b) The department (COGTA) do not maintain any details of the level of accredited qualifications, this information is at various institutions of higher learning.

End.

16 November 2023 - NW3568

Profile picture: Makamba-Botya, Ms N

Makamba-Botya, Ms N to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether she has any measures in place to curb the over-reliance on consultancy firms to provide basic services such as auditing, accounting and financial planning, amongst other services, that could otherwise be done through establishing internal capacity; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The stability of municipal administrations is an important component both in building capacity and in creating the environment for effective functioning of the municipality and provision of sustainable service delivery. To strengthen institutional capacity, the Minister promulgated the Local Government: Municipal Staff Regulations and Guidelines as a response to the commitments of government’s resolve to professionalise local public administration and build a capable local public administration and human resources. The regulations prescribe minimum competency requirements for staff below management echelon, for entry into the municipal administration. The Regulations for staff below senior managers are linked with competency requirements for each individual occupational level.

The Department is currently rolling out programmes through Municipal Systems Improvement Grants (MSIG), which aimed at providing technical support to the municipalities to stabilize administration and improve governance systems. The roll out of these programmes empowers and strengthen capacity within municipalities.

To ensure effective use of consultants, Local Government Municipal Cost Containment Regulations prescribe requirements, and bring consistency and uniformity in application od use of consulatnts. The regulations requires that the municipalities may only appoint consultants if an assessment of the needs and requirements confirms that the affected municipality does not have the requisite skills or resources in its full -time employ to perform the function. Furthermore, the regulations advocate for municipality to develop consultancy reduction plans to reduce the reliance on consultants.

Though, the use of consultants is not prohibited, municipalities are encouraged to channel resource and invest in building internal capacity for sustainability and reduce reliance on consultants.

End.

19 October 2023 - NW3172

Profile picture: Buthelezi, Mr EM

Buthelezi, Mr EM to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

(1)Whether she has issued any regulations and/or directives to municipalities with regard to end-of-year functions; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) what resolutions have been passed by municipalities to give effect to her directives with regard to the specified functions, (b) which municipalities hosted end-of-year functions in 2022 and (c) what amount did each municipality spend on its end-of-year function; (3) whether the costs were included as part of the budget received by the municipalities from the Government; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs did not issued any regulations and/or directives to municipalities with regard to end-of-year functions. This specific matter is addressed in the Local Government: Municipal Cost Containment Regulations issued by the National Treasury as well as MFMA Circular 82.

It is recommended that honourable member redirect the question to Minister of Finance for the National Treasury to respond accordingly.

End.