Question & Replies No 501 to 550

2008-11-27

[PMG note: Any gaps in the numbering are due to the replies not being provided yet]

QUESTION NO 504

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10/2008)

Date reply submitted: 29 May 2008

Mr PJ Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Safety and Security:

(1) (a) How many claims were instituted against the SA Police Service in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007 and (b) what was (i) the amount of the claim and (ii) the claim about in each year;

(2) whether each claim has been paid; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1143E

REPLY:

FINANCIAL YEAR	1(a)	1(b)(i)
1(a) (i) ‑ 2005/2006	4 234	R 1 563 567 370
1(a) (ii) ‑ 2006/2007	4 177	R 1 091 969 491
1 (a) (iii) ‑ 2007/2008	4 467	R 1 234 483 368

Note: The particulars supplied for the 2007/2008 cover the period until 29 February 2008.

(1)(b) (ii) In view of the total number of claims involved, it is not feasible to provide details on each claim. In general, claims for compensation were received following alleged unlawful arrests and detentions, shooting incidents, assaults, motor vehicle collisions, etc.

(2) No. Payments are not made only upon receipt of letters of demand. A letter of demand only reflects the amounts claimed. Due process is followed prior to considering to settle or the court deciding on the matter.

QUESTION 512

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 20 March 2008

Internal question paper no:10

Mrs J A Semple (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

(1) Whether there is a performance appraisal system in place for employees of the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) Whether there are targets set for processing social grant applications; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the targets and (b) what percentage of SASSA employees are meeting those targets? NW1154E

REPLY:

(1) At the establishment phase of the Agency there was no Agency specific performance appraisal system in place, however Head Office utilized the appraisal system of DPSA and in Regions the appraisal policies of the Provincial Departments of Social Development applied. These were in line with the Incentive Policy Framework of the Public Service. In terms of the Determination on SASSA Remuneration, Grading and Performance Management Framework by the Minister for Public Service and Administration, SASSA has developed a performance management and appraisal system for employees on salary levels 1-12, whereas the PMDS (Chapter 4 of the SMS Handbook) applicable in the Public Service apply for members of Senior Management Service. The performance management and appraisal system for salary levels 1-12 will be implemented with effect from 1 April 2008 and does not deviate from the Policy Incentive Framework of the Public Service.

(2) There are targets set for the processing of grants. The norm is 20 applications per attesting officer per day. However, in those regions where there is no computerised management information system available, the monitoring of performance is done through manual registers and daily templates. It is therefore difficult to confirm the percentage of staff who do not meet this norm.

(a) and(b)

At a national level, the norm which is monitored is the turn around time of 21 days for applications for grants. This means that a grant application should not take longer than 21 days from application to approval. Statistics from the SOCPEN system for the period December 2007 to February 2008 indicate the following percentages and time frames for the finalisation of grant applications per region:

Region	30 days	60 days	90 days
Eastern Cape	92%	7%	1%
Free State	53%	41%	6%
Gauteng	97%	2%	1%
KwaZulu-Natal	99%	0,6%	0,4%
Limpopo	89%	10%	1%
Mpumalanga	97%	2%	1%
Northern Cape	87%	12%	1%
North West	92%	6%	2%
Western Cape	93%	6%	1%

QUESTION NO: 513

DATE SUBMITTED:

MR AT FRITZ (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

(1) Whether her department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2008;

(2) Whether these firms are used on a contractual basis; if so, (a) how many contracts did her department take out in this regard in 2008, (b) with which firms were these contracts taken out, (c) for what specific purpose was each contract taken out and (d) what was the value of the contract in each case;

(3) Why is there a need for her department to use a private security firm as opposed to state security? NW576E

REPLY

(1) Yes, the Department of Correctional Services made use of one (1) private security firm. An amount of R62.2 million was spent in the 2008/2009 financial year.

(2) Yes, the firm was used on a contractual basis.

(a) Only one (1) contract that commenced in 2005 and expired on 31 March 2009 existed. No new contracts were entered into during the 2008/2009 financial year.

(b) The contract was signed with the company Sondolo IT.

(c) The contract makes provision for the staffing of Security Control Rooms from where the integrated security systems are monitored.

(d) The value of the contract over the four (4) year period was R256.9 million.

(3) With the installation of the new Access Control Systems and Control Rooms in 2005 the Department regarded it as the most viable option to outsource the staffing of the Control Rooms in terms of the transfer of risk in the case of the replacement of damaged equipment and it was also the most affordable option at that stage.

QUESTION NO 517

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10)

517. Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

(1) What (a) was the backlog in respect of the eradication of the bucket system in each province (i) in 2006 and (ii) as at 15 March 2008, (b) amount was allocated by the Government in this regard in each of the past three financial years and (c) was the actual estimated cost to eradicate this backlog;

(2) whether her department has conducted any audit of the (a) percentage of the budgets spent by municipalities to eliminate this backlog and (b) actual percentage of buckets that were eradicated; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether any discrepancies were found regarding these figures at any municipality; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1159E

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REPLY:

The programme of replacing the bucket system of sanitation was started in 2005. It is focusing on replacing all bucket toilets in established settlements that were in existence prior to 1994.

(1)(a) The bucket sanitation backlog in 2006, as well as in mid-March 2008 is shown in the table below:

Province	(1)(a)(i) Backlog as at July 2006	(1)(a)(ii) Backlog as at 15 March 2008
Eastern Cape	23 521	1 924
Free State	102 142	36 471
Gauteng	1 325	0
Mpumalanga	3 435	0
North West	26 299	0
Northern Cape	7 321	1 739
Western Cape	1 869	0
Total	165 912	40 134

(1)(b) The budget allocated to the Programme and ring-fenced in the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) which is managed by the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) in 2005 was R1,2 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 and this budget was allocated as follows:

2005/06: R200 million;

2006/07: R400 million; and

2007/08: R600 million.

(1)(c) The current estimate is R1,8 billion. At the beginning of the Programme, it was estimated that the cost of replacing each bucket toilet would range between R4 000 and R9 000. Assuming that the technology that would be used would range from on-site dry sanitation system e.g. a Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine to water-borne sanitation system i.e. a flush toilet.

However, in 2006 it became evident that the unit cost was increasing due to, among other factors, inflation, excavation in hard rock and high demand for construction skills caused by the increase in infrastructural projects in the country. Additional funds were requested from National Treasury and an additional allocation of R400 million was made available at the beginning of the 2007/08 financial year and another R200 million was allocated in October 2007, bringing the total allocation to the Bucket Eradication Programme by Government to R1,8 billion.

(2)(a) No. The responsibility of monitoring and assessing MIG expenditure rests with DPLG, however, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry works together with DPLG in respect of water services matters. Funds for the first two financial years have all been spent and the expenditure for the 2007/08 financial year looked as follows at the end of February 2008:

Expenditure on Bucket eradication

Province

Allocations

Rx000

Actual Expenditure to Date

Rx000

Expenditure of Total Allocation

Eastern Cape

Free State

Northern Cape

North West

Western Cape

212 472

748 000

100 241

185 316

33 972

125 626

579 387

40 176

98 121

31 653

TOTAL

1 280 001

874 963

At the end of February 2008 municipalities had managed to spend more than R874 million of the R1 ,280 billion, which represents 68% of the year's allocation. The Western Cape Province is the best performing province in terms of expenditure at 93%, followed by Free State at 77% and Eastern Cape at 59%.

(2)(b) No, but according to the information at my disposal the position is that in February 2005 when this Programme started, the bucket sanitation backlog was 252 254 buckets and on 15 March 2008 the bucket sanitation backlog was only 40 134 buckets. This translates to 84% of buckets that have been replaced.

(3) The only challenge that was experienced in relation to figures was with regard to the backlog figures, as most municipalities included buckets in informal settlements. My Department supported municipalities to verify the number of qualifying buckets in all municipalities that had bucket sanitation systems in established settlements that were in existence prior to 1994, in order to ensure that the budget is allocated appropriately, as well as for the purposes on monitoring progress in respect of buckets replaced and remaining backlogs.

QUESTION 519

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Thursday, 20 March 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10 of 2008

Mr C M Lowe (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether her department has a national data base containing the records, including fingerprints, of all persons who have applied for an identity document; if not, (a) why not and (b) what plans are envisaged to address this matter; if so, (i) what is the nature of the information recorded on the data base, (ii) what steps are planned to ensure that every person applying for refugee or residence status have such information recorded on the data base and (iii) what arrangements have been made to share the information with other agencies like the SA Police Service?

NW1161E

REPLY

(a) Yes. A full set of fingerprints in respect of every South African citizen who applies for a South African identity document is kept on the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS). The HANIS System further makes provision for the integration with other Information Systems of the Department, such as the new Refugee System.

(b)(i) The nature of the information that is recorded on the database is as follows:

The identity document number of the applicant or South African citizen.

A full set of fingerprints of the applicant or South African citizen.

A photograph of the applicant or South African citizen.

Demographic data of the applicant or South African citizen, such as surname, full names, date and place of birth, residential, as well as, postal address and the applicant's status, with regard to South African citizenship.

(b)(ii) The Department of Home Affairs has acquired a new Refugee System, and it is currently being piloted by the Department for capturing asylum seekers or approved refugees, and their fingerprints will also be stored in HANIS.

(b)(iii) The SA Police Service has access to the information from the database in electronic, as well as, hardcopy format. In addition, there are three members of the SA Police Service attached to the Criminal Record Centre, and these three members are permanently stationed at the New Co-Operation Building in Pretoria, and they have easy access to any information on the Department's data basis.

QUESTION 520

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 20 March 2008

Internal question paper no:

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

(1) (a) How many mobile units deployed for the processing of grants under SA Social Security Agency (i) are available, (ii) are in working order and (iii) are in need of repairs, (b) how long will they be out of commission, (c) how many applications have been processed by these mobile units to date and (d) in what areas are these units deployed;

(2) Whether these vehicles need extra drivers; if not,

(3) Whether they are driven by his department's officials; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) Whether there is a definite schedule available on the deployment dates of these mobile units, if so, what are the relevant details in each province? NW1163E

REPLY:

(1)(a) There are forty (40) mobile units that are available and thirty (30) of these are currently deployed for the processing of grants under South African Social Security Agency.

(i) Forty mobile units are available

(ii) Thirty are in working order

(iii) Ten need repairs

(b) The units will be out of commission until April and May respectively. One is expected to be commissioned during the second week of April 2008 and the remaining nine units during the first week of May 2008.

(d) The areas in which the units are deployed are listed below:

Region	Units allocation per Region
Eastern Cape	6
Free State	2
Gauteng	1
KwaZulu-Natal	5
Limpopo	4
Mpumalanga	4
North West	4
Northern Cape	2
Western Cape	2
Total	30

(2) No, extra drivers are not required.

(3) The vehicles are driven by SASSA appointed drivers and seven contracted drivers in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal where the appointment process has not yet been finalized.

(4) Each Region has a deployment schedule for the mobile units in each of the districts they are servicing. The attached schedule is for the remainder of the current financial year (2007/2008). The schedule for the 2008/2009 financial year is currently being finalised.

Region	District	Dates
Eastern Cape	Ukhahlamba, Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo and Amatole	03–31/03/08
KwaZulu Natal	Pietermaritzburg, Ulundi and Midlands.	03-31/03/08
Mpumalanga	Inkangala, Gert-Sibande and Ehlanzeni	01-31/03/08
Free State	Xariep,Lejaaleputsaa, Fezile Dabi,Thabo Mafutsanyana and Motheo	03 – 31/03/08
Limpopo	Mopane and Sekhukhune	03-31/03/2008
Northern Cape	Pixley KaSeme and Siyanda	03-31/03/2008
North West	Bophirima Dr Kaunda	03-31/03/2008
Western Cape	Cape Metro Mossel Bay Vredeburg	07/04-14/04/2008

QUESTION 522

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 21 MARCH 2008 [IQP N 04 -2008]

Question 522 for Written Reply, National Assembly: Mr S B Farrow (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:

(1) Whether the Minister is aware of the document entitled "Review of Animal Care Legislation in South Africa" which has been released by the South African Veterinary Foundation: if so, when will the document be discussed by the Portfolio Committee?

(2) Whether the above mentioned body, viz SAVF had any discussions with the Department regarding the contents of the document mentioned above: if so, what is the Minister/Department's view on this document and its contents?

REPLY

(1) No, I am not aware of this document.

(2) No, there has not been any formal discussion between the Department and the SAVF on the contents of the document.

QUESTION NO: 528

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10 OF 20 MARCH 2008

MR AJ LEON (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

What is the total cost to date to the Government for:

(a) accommodation,

(b) living expenses

(c) transport,

(d) and other associated costs relating to the residence in Pretoria of Jean-Bertrand Aristide,

former president of Haiti.

REPLY:

1. The South African Government provides accommodation and services to former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide equivalent to those provided to a South African Cabinet Minister.

2. The South African Government generally owns the accommodation and assets provided for utilisation with regard to the residence in Pretoria of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the costs related thereto, like those of Cabinet Ministers, are integrated into the operations of Government.

QUESTION 530

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises:

Whether his department and any other role players have conducted feasibility studies in respect of the provision of additional water to Eskom and Sasol in light of (a) the intended building of the (i) Medupi and (ii) Bravo power stations by Eskom and (b) Sasol's expansion plans to produce fuel; if not, why not; if so, (i) what studies and (ii) when will the additional water be provided in each case? NW1175E

Reply:

Yes, a feasibility study was carried out by Eskom in respect of the provision of additional water to Eskom and Sasol in light of the intended building of the Medupi and Bravo power stations.

Bravo Power Station's water requirements have been catered for in the Vaal Pipeline Project (VRESAP) being undertaken by Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) through the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) and scheduled to deliver water by December 2008.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

TYPE: WRITTEN QUESTION

MINISTRY: SPORT AND RECREATION SA

QUESTION: NO 537

(Internal Question Paper – 2009)

Mr T D Lee (DA) to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation:

Whether any function was organized to mark the occasion of the delivery of his budget vote in 2009? If so;

(a) What total amount was spent on this function?

(b) From which budget was the money allocated?

(i) Food and refreshments?

(ii) Venue?

(iii) Entertainment?

(iv) Staff?

(v) Transport and

(d) How many persons were invited to attend this function?

REPLY:

A cocktail dinner was organized.

(a) Total amount spent on this function = R104, 838.51

(b) Unit of budget allocation: Marketing & Communication. However, staff and transport costs were borne by respective units of the Department.

(i) food and refreshments: R10, 778

(ii) venue: R2,974,20 (including equipment hire of R1,174.20)

(iii) entertainment: R5,700

(iv) staff: R 28, 862.31

(v) transport: R54, 894,00

(d) Number of persons invited to attend the function was 100.

QUESTION NO 540

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10)

Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

(1) Whether microcystin levels are routinely tested in South Africa's water; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether there is any acceptable level of microcystin in water; if not, what measures are being taken to mitigate against microcystin; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what are the principal causes of microcystin in water;

(3) whether the levels of microcystin in the water of the Hartebeespoort Dam have at any time since 1 January 2005 required waterskiing to be ceased on the dam; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1186E

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REPLY:

(1) Yes. Freshwater resources are routinely tested for microcystin at a number of eutrophic sites in South Africa. These include monitoring done by the Department and water boards and municipalities that purify drinking water. In addition, 80 sites are monitored by my Department for the broader cyanobacteria genera (microcystin is produced by the cyanobacterium Mycrocystis) as part of the National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme.

(2) Yes, there are acceptable levels of microcystin in water that would still render it fit for specific uses. The major drinking water industries do test for microcystins and do take the necessary precautions to provide safe (fit for use) drinking water to users. Where contact water recreation activities are concerned, the World Health Organisation (WHO) [1999] established three hazard levels against which water users can assess the danger posed by cyanobacteria and the recommended actions that should be taken. At unacceptable levels of cyanobacteria, the use of water has to be prohibited and warnings have to be erected at the sites.

(2)(a) There are ways to mitigate against cyanobacteria. These include preventing the blooms through affecting proactive source directed controls.

(2)(b) The cyanobacteria blooms propagate on excessive nutrients in the water and the blooms further proliferate during the warmer months. The microcystin toxins are released once they start degrading.

(3) No. Such a step has not been necessary at any time since 1 January 2005 as the levels of microcystin have not required such actions.

QUESTION NO 541

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10)

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

(1) (a) What are the effects on (i) human, (ii) animal and (iii) water sources exposed to cyanobacteria toxins, (b) how many cases of poisoning of (i) human and (ii) animals have been recorded as a result of these entities coming into contact with cyanobacteria toxins and (c) where did it occur in each case since 1 January 2005 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2) whether her department has conducted any studies to determine the prevalence of cyanobacteria in South Africa's water sources; if not, why not; if so, (a) what water sources have a dangerous level of cyanobacteria and (b) what are the levels in each case;

(3) whether any steps have been taken to prevent human contact with water contaminated by cyanobacteria; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1187E

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REPLY:

(1)(a)(i) Human Effect

Cyanobacteria produce toxins that can be harmful to human health. Humans can be exposed to cyanotoxins by drinking untreated water that has cyanobacterial toxins in it; skin contact by engaging in recreational activities in waters with cyanotoxins and by inhalation of water droplets/aerosols. Drinking infected water can cause gastroenteritis, kidney and liver damage, as well as nerve damage with symptoms including numb lips, tingling fingers and toes or dizziness. Illness from skin contact includes rash or skin irritation ("swimmers itch") and skin blisters on the lips. Inhalation cause runny eyes and nose, allergic reactions or sore throat.

The cyanobacteria blooms can also cause unpleasant odours which can be disturbing for recreational activities.

(1)(a)(ii) Animals Effect

Studies have shown that cyanotoxins causes mortality of livestock, wildlife and aquatic animals. Animals drinking infected water can develop hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, carcinogenic, cytotoxic and respiratory failure illnesses and cyanobacterial toxins can promote tumour growth. The effects are usually fast with large numbers of animal fatalities.

(1)(a)(iii) Water sources

Cyanobacteria toxins can be associated with other non-lethal compounds that cause taste and odours in drinking water. However, the decaying cyanobacteria blooms cause noxious smells at recreational areas as is often found at Roodeplaat and Hartbeespoort Dams. There is also incidence of fish, crocodile and mammal mortality.

- 2 -

(1)(b)(i) To date there is no confirmed incidence of human death due to cyanobacteria toxins in South Africa. However, no epidemiological studies have been done in South Africa, to determine long-term effects of exposure to cyanobacteria toxins, because of the difficulty to connect cause and effect, as well as the similarity of the symptoms to other water related diseases.

(1)(b)(ii) Since 1944 to the present day there have been numerous cases reported on livestock, other wildlife, fish and bird fatalities. Since 2005 cyanobacterial events and/or animal fatalities have been reported to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) from the following sites:

(1)(c) Crocodile West/Marico Water Management Area (WMA) that has the highest incidence of severe eutrophication

- Hartbeespoort Dam (annually)

- Roodeplaat Dam (annually)

- Klipvoor Dam (annually)

- Rietvlei Dam (annually)

- Bospoort Dam (occasionally)

- Bon Accord (occasionally)

Olifants River WMA

- Loskop Dam (2005 and 2007)

- The latest addition to these events is a number of large mammals in the vicinity of four small reservoirs in the Kruger National Park (2007).

Middle Vaal

Erfenis Dam (occasionally)

Allemanskraal Dam (occasionally)

- Koppies Dam (occasionally)

Lower Vaal WMA

- Spitskop Dam (occasionally)

- Krugersdrift Dam (occasionally)

Mvoti to Umzimkulu WMA

- EJ Smith Dam (2006)

- Shongweni Dam (annually)

Mzimvubu to Keiskamma WMA

Laing Dam (occasionally)

Bridledrift Dam (occasionally)

Nahoon Dam (occasionally)

Katriver Dam (occasionally)

Lower Orange WMA

- The Orange River (occasionally)

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(2) Yes, since the 1990s the prevalence of cyanobacteria in South Africa has been investigated by the Directorate Resource Quality Service of DWAF. In addition to a number of surveys by DWAF (Quibell 1995; Van Ginkel and Conradie 2001; Van Ginkel 2004 and Van Ginkel 2008) and the regular National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme assessments (Van Ginkel 2004, 2005, 2006), the Water Research Commission (WRC) has also funded a number of research projects (Harding and Paxton 2001; Downing and Van Ginkel 2004, Downing 2007, etc) that included different aspects of the prevalence of cyanobacteria in South Africa. Another project on the occurrence of animal deaths in the Kruger National Park has recently been approved to be funded by the WRC.

(2)(a) Of the regularly monitored dams in South Africa 11% have shown significant to severe algal and cyanobacterial blooms. However, 58% show significant to serious potential to develop cyanobacterial blooms because of the nutrient enrichment.

(2)(b) The severity of the impacted dams is shown in the following list of dams:

Crocodile West/Marico WMA

- Hartbeespoort Dam (serious)

- Roodeplaat Dam (serious)

- Klipvoor Dam (serious)

- Rietvlei Dam (serious)

- Boskop Dam (serious)

Olifants River WMA

- Loskop Dam (significant)

- Small reservoirs in the Kruger National Park (to be determined).

Lower Vaal WMA

- Spitskop Dam (serious)

- Krugersdrift Dam (serious)

Mvoti to Umzimkulu WMA

- EJ Smith Dam (serious)

- Shongweni Dam (serious)

Mzimvubu to Keiskamma WMA

Laing Dam (serious)

Bridledrift Dam (serious)

Nahoon Dam (significant)

Berg WMA

Theewaterskloof Dam (significant)

Voëlvlei Dam (significant)

(3) Yes, through the National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme (NEMP), the trophic status of the dams is established and presence of the incidence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms are detected. Measures are taken to warn potential users of the dam or water resource. The Directorate Resource Quality Services reports regularly on the cyanobacterial toxin content of the Roodeplaat and Hartbeespoort Dams to the water treatment works and relevant managements, respectively. This enable the early warning for management purposes e.g. implementing treatment options within the water treatment works to ensure safe drinking water and issue warnings to recreational users.

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In a number of WMAs steps have been taken during cyanobacterial bloom conditions to warn impacted stakeholders, e.g.:

The Lower Orange River Remediation Forum (Northern Cape) has a warning system in place in the event of cyanobacterial blooms.

The Hartbeespoort Remediation Forum has a whole communication system in place to warn users.

Swimming event venues have been moved (Roodeplaat Dam).

Rowing South Africa events have been cancelled or postponed (Roodeplaat Dam).

Dams have been closed for recreational or potable purposes (Bospoort, Hartbeespoort, Nahoon and Roodeplaat Dams).

Additionally, many treatment works are upgraded to include dissolved air flotation systems within the treatment works to prevent cyanobacteria entering the treatment works from breaking and releasing the cyanobacterial toxins in the water. This is to ensure safe drinking water, e.g. water treatment work improvements in the Eastern Cape that will be completed by September 2008.

The WRC has also funded research to develop a generic incident management framework for toxic cyanobacterial blooms, with especially the smaller water treatment works in mind. This project was completed in 2006 and the document is available from the WRC.

DWAF Regional Offices also do ad hoc investigations, where no regular sampling is done, to determine the extent of cyanobacteria and toxin development when cyanobacterial blooms do occur.

QUESTION 545

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 MARCH 2008: INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10-2008

"545. Mr J P I Blanché (DA) to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture:

Whether the Government has donated any funds towards a library in Timbuktu; if so, what (a) is the monetary value of the donation, (b) is the reason for the donation and (c) donation or expenditure is budgeted towards local (i) museums and (ii) libraries

NW1192E

REPLY

Yes

Through the Department of Arts and Culture an amount of R1 million has been donated to this initiative. It should be noted that a separate trust fund was set-up to fund raise from private and other donors towards the realization of this project.

There is a bi-national agreement between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Mali in terms of which South Africa is committed to:

Assisting with the conservation of the Timbuktu Manuscripts at the Ahmed Baba Institute;

Fund-raising for, and assisting with, the construction of a new library and archive for the Ahmed Baba Institute;

Assisting with research and raising public awareness in the uniquely important heritage value of the Timbuktu manuscripts

Furthermore the SA-Mali Project: Timbuktu Manuscripts has been accepted as the first NEPAD Cultural Project and overall Government policy requires departments to assist and support NEPAD projects.

No. The amounts transferred to the Timbuktu Manuscripts Trust were savings that had accrued in the Department. For the current financial year 2008/2009, the community libraries will receive R338 million and the National Library will receive R65,3 million. The national museums, otherwise known as declared cultural institutions, will receive R409,9 million.

QUESTION NO. 546

(Internal Question Paper No 10 – 2008)

Mr J P I Blanché (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department is keeping tabs on the councillors and officials around the country who received bursaries to do a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) to ensure that the funds are not turned into fruitless expenditure; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether any statistics are kept about these funds allocated to local governments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) No. The Department of Provincial and Local Government does not keep "tabs" on, or monitor, the receipt of bursaries by councillors and officials around the country, including bursaries for the Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA). These statistics are kept by the LGSETA. In terms of current legislation, each municipality is responsible for putting in place policies through which they manage their human resource issues, including the award of bursaries.

Fruitless expenditure is dealt with in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003, which is administered by the National Treasury.

(2) No statistics are kept by the Department of Provincial and Local Government about these funds as the dplg does not budget for this purpose.

QUESTION 547

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 20 March 2008

Internal question paper no:

Mr I E Jenner (ID) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

Whether his department or any institutions or bodies falling under his department are currently experiencing staff shortages of qualified personnel; if so, (a) what is the extent of the shortage in each category of specialised work and (b) what steps are being taken to rectify the situation? NW1196E

REPLY:

Input by Department of Social Development:

The National Department of Social Development (DSD) is experiencing a minor shortage of qualified personnel with specific knowledge in the field of Actuarial Science or Economics.

(a) DSD currently has three (3) vacant funded Specialist posts in the field of Retirement Reform.

· Specialist: Retirement Actuarial Sciences

· Specialist: Retirement Provisions (2 x posts)

(b) The Department obtained approval from the Minister to recruit personnel on higher salary notches in terms of Chapter 1, Part V C.3 of the Public Service Regulations. These posts were also advertised as widely as possible in the printed media.

Input by SASSA (South African Social Security Agency)

(i) Shortages currently being experienced are in the field of qualified ICT personnel (Information Technology).

(ii) We can not attract the skills as our current salary structures are much lower than that which a qualified ICT person is currently earning in the private sector.

(a) Extent of shortages is found primarily on salary level 13 which is on a Senior Manager level:

Number of posts filled: 7

Number of posts vacant: 5

Average vacancy rate: 42%

Average turn over rate: 12 months.

Average recruitment time: 8 - 12 months.

(b) The steps taken to rectify this situation are:

· The Agency advertises in national media as well as follows a process of headhunting via recruitment agencies that specialise in IT skills.

· The Agency enacts the Public Service Regulations, 2001, Chapter 1, Part V, Paragraph C.3, whereby an Executing Authority may set the salary for a post or an employee above the minimum notch of a salary band.

· Human Capital Management has prioritised for 2008/2009, a holistic turn-over analysis for the Agency which will inform, amongst other things, scarce skills areas, attraction/retention strategy (which could include a scarce skills allowance).

Input by the National Development Agency (NDA)

The National Development Agency (NDA) does not have capacity constraints of qualified personnel.

2008-11-27

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