Questions & Replies: Question & Replies No 2056 to 2070
2009-11-25
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[PMG note: Replies are inserted as soon as they are provided by the Minister]
QUESTION NUMBER 2070
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2 NOVEMBER 2009Mr M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:
Whether any taxi operators are currently registered with the SA Revenue Service for payment of income tax; if not, why not; if so, how many? NW2724E
REPLY:
Yes. The South African Revenue Service can confirm that 104 551taxi operators are currently registered on the Income Tax system.
QUESTION NO. 2069
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 26
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 2 November 2009
Ms M R Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Tourism:
(1) Who authorised and approved the former chief executive officer (CEO) of SA Tourism to work for the International Marketing Council while he was employed by SA Tourism;
(2) whether it is in line with the policy and the practice governing this; if not, (a) why not and (b) on what grounds was it allowed; if so, (i) what are the relevant details and (ii) what were the terms of the arrangement regarding how his time will be utilised between the two organisations;
(3) whether a formal application was made for additional work at either of the organisations; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was approval granted and (b) for how long has this arrangement been in place;
(4) what are the relevant details with regard to the CEO's (a) remuneration and (b) costs involved for the periods of employment at both organisations? NW2723E
MS M R SHINN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENTHANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS2069. THE MINISTER OF TOURISM ANSWERS:
1) The SA Tourism Board, in its capacity as Accounting Authority for SA Tourism per the PFMA, agreed to a request from the IMC Board, the Accounting Authority for the IMC per the PFMA, in consultation with the then Minister in the Presidency and then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, that Moeketsi Mosola (former CEO of SA Tourism) would make available the equivalent of the hours in two working days per week to the IMC as the Acting CEO while still attending 100% to all his responsibilities as the CEO of SA Tourism.
2) This is not a usual arrangement, but the then Minister in the Presidency and then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism released a joint policy statement, that a full review be conducted in terms of marketing and branding of South Africa. It was further recommended that the CEO of SA Tourism at the time, Moeketsi Mosola, would conduct the review for six months and report back to the Ministers via the IMC. This review was conducted on time, on specification, and on budget). Furthermore, both Accounting Authorities (IMC and SA Tourism) duly approved this arrangement.
3) The approval was formally granted at an SA Tourism Board meeting in 2008 and the arrangement was for six months while the IMC recruited a new CEO. The acting arrangement was extended for a further period of six months by mutual agreement between the SA Tourism and IMC Boards.
4) Full details of the former SA Tourism CEO total remuneration package during the 2008/9 financial year has been disclosed on page 143 of SA Tourism's 2008/9 Annual Report. This Annual Report for 2008/9, which was duly tabled in Parliament towards the end of August 2009, clearly mentions on the same page the ex gratia bonus of R 322 500 that was paid by the IMC to the former SA Tourism CEO in his capacity as Acting CEO of the IMC. The then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the then Minister in the Presidency agreed that Mr Mosola will not receive a salary from the IMC whilst acting in that position. The Minister of Tourism was informed ex post facto that the IMC made this ex gratia payment to Mr Mosola. We are not aware of any other amount paid by the IMC to the former SA Tourism CEO. Questions in this regard should be posed to the Minister responsible for the IMC.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2065
DATE OF PUBLICATION: MONDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2009 [IQP No 26 -2009]
FIRST SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
Question 2065 for Written Reply, National Assembly: Dr L L Bosman (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
Whether, considering the impacts of climate change on agriculture, she (a) is considering the improvement of early warning systems for weather for agriculture and (b) has examined the effects of (i) changes in ecosystem structures, (ii) the loss of biodiversity on agricultural production and (iii) expanding drought areas on food production; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2719E
REPLY:
(a)Yes, the effectiveness of the system depends on the full functionality of certain elements of the system i.e. prior risk knowledge, monitoring and warning service, dissemination and communication and the capacity to respond by all involved. The department continuously conducts monitoring and evaluation of the system to identify the gaps and comes up with some solutions for improvements.
· The Ministry issues warnings and advisories to those at risk to mitigate the impacts of the natural hazards. Capacity building workshops are also being conducted for farmers and extension officials on the 'understanding, interpretation and usage of weather and climate forecasts for agriculture'.
· National Agro-meteorological Committee (NAC) which meet regularly to review agro-meteorological information and advice on the season ahead and Early Warning Committees (EWC) have been established to facilitate the implementation of Early Warning Systems in the provinces.
(b) (i) Yes, the effects of changes in ecosystem structures are continuously being examined. The use of resources such as food, water and timber has increased rapidly and continues to grow, sometimes unsustainably. Changes in biodiversity affect the ability of ecosystems to supply services and to recover from disturbances. When a species is added or lost at a particular location, the various ecosystems services specifically associated with that species are changed. Similarly, when a particular habitat is converted for human use, the ecosystems services associated with the species that live there are changed.
Many animal and plant populations have declined in numbers, geographical spread, or both. For instance, a quarter of mammal species are currently threatened by extinction. Human activity has caused between 50 and 1000 times more extinctions in the last 100 years than would have happened due to natural processes. Increasingly, the same species are found at different locations on the planet and the overall biodiversity is decreasing because some rare species are lost and common ones spread to new areas. Overall, the range of genetic differences within species has declined, particularly for crops and livestock.
DAFF support the continuing research on the effects of changes in ecosystem structures – to promote genomics which are far advanced in view of locally-suited heat tolerant and water use efficient crops and livestock to lessen production limiting effects of climate change but these programmes need to be accelerated as the effects of climate are a reality; services are the multiple benefits provided by ecosystems to humans.
(ii) The need for increased food production to provide sufficient food for an increasing population has contributed towards the evolution of agriculture from traditional to modern intensive systems. This intensive agricultural production systems increased environmental degradation as a result of its expansion into forests and marginal lands, poor management practices, etc. Equally, market access and demands, policies of economic and agricultural development, social and demographic factors have contributed towards the loss of biological diversity. Such loss may be accompanied by the loss of the cultural diversity of traditional communities and their impoverishment.
(iii) In addition to the development of Drought Management Plan by DAFF, the department is conducting research through agencies such as the ARC and research institutions on mitigation and adaptation options for agricultural production. DAFF is encouraging best farming practices such as diversification, selection of crops with shorter germination period and shorter growing season a well as developing new breeds for livestock and crop in order to adapt to the changed environment particularly in dry land farming areas. Furthermore, best farming practices are aimed at sustainable agricultural production.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2063
DATE OF PUBLICATION: MONDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2009 [IQP No 26 -2009]
FIRST SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
Question 2063 for Written Reply: National Assembly, Dr LL Bosman (DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
Whether she has been informed of the effect of climate change on (a) food security, (b) the availability of water for irrigation and (c)(i) small-scale farms and (ii) farms on marginal lands; if not, what is the position in this regards; if this is so, what are the relevant details. NW2717E
REPLY
YES
(a) Effects of climate change on food security
Climate change has a profound, unavoidable effect on food security as increasing temperatures and shifting rain patterns reduce production. Changing weather patterns or extreme weather events, such as floods or droughts, have negative consequences for agricultural production.
Loss of arable land also impacts on food security. This could be due to declining ground water levels or rising sea levels.
Climate change also leads to outbreaks of pests and diseases that further weaken food systems. It induces outbreaks of pests such as the desert locust. In the case of such an outbreak, locusts are capable of destroying crops.
Fish stocks are also declining not only because of over-fishing but because of declining water levels due to evaporation as a result of rising temperatures.
(b) Effects of climate change on the availability of water for irrigation
According to scientific reports, climate change is expected to alter hydrological systems and water resources and reduce the availability of water.
Rising temperatures and increasing variability of rainfall will generally affect surface waters, increasing drought in some regions and causing floods in others as well as influencing ground water recharge. There is likely to be a general decrease of 5 - 10% of present rainfall with longer dry spells in the interior and north-eastern areas of the country coupled with more frequent and severe flood events. The probable effect is greater evapo-transpiration and more stress on arid and marginal zones.
(c) (i) (ii) Effects of climate change on small scale farms and on farms on marginal lands
Climate variables of temperature and precipitation are very relevant for agricultural activities in South Africa and more so for dryland farming, especially with respect to precipitation. Irrigated farms are cushioned against adverse climate effects by having a substitute for rainwater. Climate impacts were also found to have, to a large extent, a non-linear relationship with net revenue. That is, increases in temperature and precipitation will be beneficial to crop farming but beyond a certain limit the impacts willbe negative.
Based on the study conducted by the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), University of Pretoriato assess the economic impact of the expected changes in the climate on crop farming in the country, the results suggest that net revenues for small livestock farms increase with warming by 25 to 58 percent. A cross-sectional approach (Ricardian) was used to measure the relationship between net revenue from growing crops and climate in South Africa. The net revenues of large livestock owners, however, are expected to fall except in a very dry scenario. In general, small farms can more easily substitute animals that are heat-tolerant, whereas large farms are more dependent on species, such as cattle, that are less heat tolerant. Wetter scenarios imply a shift from grasslands to forests, an increase in harmful disease vectors, and a shift from livestock to crops.
Overall, the livestock sector in Africa loses from climate change, because most animals are raised on large farms. While livestock earnings for small farmers increase with warming, these gains are generally smaller than the losses they face from crops. Still, the analysis suggests that under certain future climate change scenarios livestock may become more attractive than crops in many regions in Africa.
QUESTION 2062
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 02/11/09
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 26-2009)
Dr JC Kloppers- Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
- Whether South Africa is moving towards conventional teaching with less emphasis on group work; if not, what is the position in this regard ; if so what are the relevant details;
- What is her department's current approach to teaching? NW271E
REPLY:
1. 'Conventional' teaching requires the use of multiple approaches by teachers to respond to both the subject or skill being taught and the different learning styles of different children. No one approach is can be Different approaches will have value and relevance in a classroom.
2. There is no single teaching approach that is advocated by the Department of Education as this would go against all that is central to good teaching practice and good education. Different teaching styles are appropriate in different contexts, and all have a place in the classroom.
QUESTION 2059
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Monday, 2 November 2009
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 26 OF 2009
Mrs J F Terblanche (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(1) What measures will her department implement at all ports of entry to deal with the issue of human trafficking;
(2) whether officials will receive training on how to identify behaviour common to criminal activities; if not, why not; if so, (a) when will training (i) commence and (ii) conclude and (b) how many officials will be trained?
NW2713E
REPLY
(1) The Department is in the process of establishing Inspectorate Units at the main Ports of Entry. An Inspectorate Unit is, currently, established at the O. R. Tambo International Airport. The Department of Home Affairs, also, forms part of the National Task Team on Human Trafficking, which is led by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Provincial Task Teams, comprising the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health, and the NPA, have been established in all nine Provinces.
(2) Yes. The Department, in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has, already, commenced a training programme for immigration officials on combating, and to sensitize staff to the issue of Human Trafficking. A curriculum on Human Trafficking is, also, being developed, which includes training on how to detect common criminal behaviour, in terms of departmental legislation, and to detect cases of trafficking for referral to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, and the support organizations for victims. The Department, in conjunction with the IOM, is, also, currently, training facilitators, and assessors within the Department's Directorates: Central Law Enforcement and Inspectorate, respectively, to roll out training to officials on implementation of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill, once, it has been enacted.
(2)(a)(i) – (ii) & (b)
The dates on which the training was offered, as well as, the number of officials involved, are listed below:
· 24 to 28 August 2009: Facilitators course - 15 officials
· 07 to 11 September 2009: Assessors course - 8 officials
· 05 to 09 October 2009: Advance course – 7 officials
The next training for moderators will be from 09 to 11 November 2009 and 10 officials will be attending.
QUESTION NO: 2058
DATE SUBMITTED:
MR J SELFE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
1. Whether a contract to render full food provisioning services (HK14/2008) was awarded by her department; if so, (a) when, (b) to which company, (c) what was the value of the contract, (d) over what period, and (e) to which correctional centres?
2. Who were the members of the (a) bid evaluation committee and (b) bid adjudication committee in respect of this contract?
3. What were the contract specifications in respect of this contract?
4. Whether any other companies tendered for this contract; if so, which companies?
5. Whether the successful bidder's price for the services rendered was the lowest; if not, for what reason was the contract awarded to this company?
REPLY
(1)(a) The contract was awarded on 8 December 2008 and commenced on 1 February 2009.
(b) Bosasa Operations (Pty) Ltd
(c) ± R279 797 478-80 / Annum (for all seven Management Areas) – based on the estimated number of offenders (estimated lock-up totals).
(d) The contract was awarded for a period of three years, ending 31 January 2012.
(e) Johannesburg Management Area:
- Johannesburg Female
- Johannesburg Medium A: Male
- Johannesburg Medium B: Male
- Johannesburg Medium C: Male
Pretoria Management Area:
- Pretoria Female
- Pretoria Central: Male
- Pretoria Local: Male
- Pretoria Maximum: Male
- Odi
- Thaba Tshwane
St. Albans Management Area:
- St. Albans Maximum: Male
- St. Albans Medium A: Male
- St. Albans Medium B: Male
- Port Elizabeth
- Patensie
Durban Westville Management Area:
- Durban Juvenile
- Durban Female
- Durban: Medium A: Male
- Durban: Medium B: Male
- Durban: Medium C: Male
- Umzinto
Pollsmoor Management Area:
- Pollsmoor Female
- Pollsmoor Maximum: Male
- Pollsmoor Medium A: Male
- Pollsmoor Medium B: Male
- Pollsmoor Medium C: Male
Modderbee Management Area:
- Modderbee: Male
- Devon: Male
- Nigel: Male
Krugersdorp Management Area:
- Krugersdorp: Male
- Krugersdorp: Youth
(2) (a) BID EVALUATION COMMITTEE:
Ms. R S T Mthabela DC: Personal Well-Being (Chairperson)
Ms. G P Mathibela Deputy Regional Commissioner: Western Cape
Mr. M Nxele Deputy Regional Commissioner: KwaZulu/Natal
Ms. K M Mabena Director: Health Care Services
Mr. H Steyn Director: Security
Mr. M J Maako Director: Contract Management
Mr. F J Bell Director: Production Workshop & Agriculture
Mr. S B Masha Director: Skills Development
Ms. T G Molatedi Area Commissioner: Pretoria
Ms. M R Mbebe Area Commissioner: Krugersdorp
Mr. J M Mkabela Area Commissioner: Pollsmoor
Mrs. D B Mokgoetsi Area Commissioner: St Albans
Mr. Z K Monama Area Commissioner: Durban Westville
Mr. K D Bouwer Area Commissioner: Johannesburg
(b) BID ADJUDICATION COMMITTEE
Mr. T J Motseki CDC: Corrections (Chairperson)
Ms. S Moodley CDC: Development and Care
Mr. S A Tsetsane CDC: Corporate Services
Mr. J G Shilubane Acting CDC: Central Services
Ms. N Mareka Acting CDC: Finance
Mr. M M M Ngubo DC: Supply Chain Management
(3) The contract was arranged for the rendering of full food provisioning services, full maintenance of food services unit equipment, cleaning services of the food service units and training of offenders at seven Management Areas over a three-year period. The bid specifications consist of one hundred and eighty-six (186) pages.
(4) Yes, the following companies also tendered:
- Feedem Pitseng Ltd
- J/V: MDC Catering Services & Qhuba – Umgamu Projects
- J/V: Matsekele Interior Décor cc, Herby-Glenda Contractors cc & Taliphani Construction and Projects
- Mpilende Foods (Pty) Ltd
- Itakane Trading 47 (Pty) Ltd T/A Capitol Caterers
- J/V: Nolwazi Projects Solutions & Shelela Food Products
- Kagiso Khulani Supervision Food Services (A division of Compass Group SA)
- Iziko Caterers (A segment of Fedics)
- Royal Sechaba Holdings (Pty) Ltd
- Xantium Trading 471 (Pty) Ltd T/A C³ Food Services
- Equality Food Services
- Independent Management & Projects (Pty) Ltd
- Unique Catering (a division of Ukweza Holdings)
(5) Bids were submitted in two envelopes, namely:
- Envelope 1: Technical Proposal
- Envelope 2: Financial Proposal
Before any proposal was considered for evaluation, all bid proposals were checked for compliance with qualifying criteria, which were clearly stipulated in the bid specifications. A number of companies were eliminated during this round and their prices (financial envelopes) were not opened.
The remaining companies were evaluated in terms of specified technical criteria. A technical threshold score was also specified for this round, namely 140 out of 200 (70%).
A number of companies did not achieve the technical threshold score and it was clearly specified in the bid specifications that only those bidders that achieve the technical threshold score or more will have their Financial Proposals considered.
Only four (4) companies achieved the technical threshold score and the financial proposals of only those companies were opened and considered.
The prices of the other ten (10) companies are unknown.
It was stated in the Special Bid Conditions that bidders may bid for any Management Area; any combination of Management Areas or all Management Areas and the Department reserves the right to award the bid per Management Area.
Points were therefore calculated per Management Area as follow:
Technical Proposal 50 points
Financial Proposal 50 points
Total 100 points
In terms of regulation 13 of the preferential procurement regulations pertaining to the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 (Act 5 of 2000),the total points out of 100 were converted to 90 points and preferential points out of 10 were added.
Bosasa Operations (Pty) Ltd scored the highest final points for all seven Management Areas.
However, some of the short-listed companies submitted slightly lower prices, but their lower technical points resulted into lower final points.
Paragraph 5.9.5.5 of the "Supply Chain Management: a Guide for Accounting Officers / Authorities" of February 2004 as issued by National Treasury clearly states that a contract should be awarded to the company scoring the highest points.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER 2057
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)
Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
(1) How many (a)(i) ownerless and (ii) abandoned mines have been found to exist as at 1 October 2009;
(2) whether her department has a plan to deal with these mines; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(3) whether her department has made this plan available for public comment; if not,
(4) whether this plan will be made public in the future; if not, why not; if so, when? NW2711E
REPLY
(1) (i) approximately 70 sites
(ii) Not applicable
(2) The Department is in the process of developing an inclusive strategy in addressing derelict and ownerless mine sites
(3) Refer to 2 above
(4) Not applicable for now.
QUESTION NUMBER 2056
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 OCTOBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 26)
Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
Whether the water ingress and regional mine closure strategy for the Witwatersrand and Klerksdorp-Orkney-Stilfontein-Hartebeestfontein (KOSH) area has been made available for public comment; if not, (a) when will such documents be made available and (b) why has there been a delay in publicising the relevant documents? NW2710E
REPLY
Yes. The draft Regional Mine Closure Strategy (RMCS) documents for both Klerksdorp-Orkney-Stilfontein Hartebeesfontein (KOSH) and Witwatersrand Basins (namely Western, Far Western Eastern and Central basin) were made available for public comments. The Council for Geosciences (CGS), which had been contracted by the Department of Mineral Resources to develop the RMCS, posted the Regional Mine Closure Strategy documents on its website for public comment from the 15th December 2008 to the 31st of January 2009. In addition, an invitation to all interested and affected parties was circulated on the 15th of December 2008, urging them to view and comment on the documents. The period for commenting on the documents was extended to the 28th of February 2009.
a) Falls off
b) Falls off