Questions & Replies: Question & Replies No 2351 to 2375
2009-11-27
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[PMG note: Replies are inserted as soon as they are provided by the Minister]
QUESTION 2361
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 20 November 2009
Internal question paper no:
2361. Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
Whether he will publish a call in the Government Gazette and other media for nominations to the third SA Council for Social Service Professions; if so, (a) when and (b) what steps will she be taking in this regard? NW3077E
REPLY:
(a) Yes, the Minister for Social Development published a call for nominations to the third SA Council for Social Service Professions in the Government Gazette No 32780 on 11th December 09 and in the City Press as national newspaper on 13 December 2009 with a closing date of 15 January 2010. Other media targeted for publication is The Sowetan on 15 December 2090, The Sunday Times on 20 December 2009; Mail and Guardian on 8 January 2010 and City Press on 10 January 2010.
(b) The Minister will also appoint a person in the employ of the Department of Social Development and will request the Minister of Higher Education and Training to nominate a person to the Council.
Once nominations have been received a panel appointed by the Minister of Social Development will compile a short list of persons which the Minister will appoint in terms of the provisions of the Act.
QUESTION 2360
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 20 November 2009
Internal question paper no: 29
Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
Whether, with reference to the extension of the child support grant to 18-year olds, her department will gazette an amendment to the regulations of the Social Assistance Act, Act 13 of 2004, for public comment before 31 December 2009; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, when? NW3076E
REPLY:
Yes, the regulations made in terms of the Social Assistance Act, Act No. 13 was gazetted for public comments on 27 November 2009 in Government Gazette No 32747. However, due to time constraints, the period for commenting is very short since the implementation of the extension of the child support grant must begin on or after 1 January 2010.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2358
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 NOVEMBER
2009: (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 29-2009)
"2358. Mr M.W. Rabotapi (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:
(1) How many (a) infringements by mobile phone manufacturers worldwide of
the authorized use CSIR-patented lithium-ion battery technology have
been detected and (b) of these infringements are being pursued for legal
redress;
(2) What (a) are the names and details of the manufacturers who have
infringed the intellectual property of the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), (b) steps have been taken against each of
them and (c) agreements have been signed with any of these companies
to ensure payments for the rights to use the CSIR's technology;
(3) (a) for how many years did these infringements go unnoticed, (b) why and
(c) what steps have been put in place to monitor the use of intellectual
property generated in South Africa abroad?
REPLY:
(1) (a) No infringements of CSIR-patented lithium-ion battery technology by
mobile phone manufacturers have been detected.
CSIR core patents were granted in 1984 (priority date 1982). The CSIR
licensed its core patents in lithium-ion technology to all identified users
for the term of the technology's patent life. All known users of CSIR
technology took out licences, as requested.
After the expiry of the core patents in 2002 any manufacturer could use
the technology freely.
Since obtaining its patents, the CSIR has successfully obtained patents
on improvements or ancillary claims to such patents, and is actively
pursuing licensing discussions with all parties that may be users of its
technology.
(b) There are no known infringers and therefore no legal redress is being
sought. If the CSIR were to become aware of any infringement it would
take legal action and enlist the help of every government department that
could assist constructively or provide financial assistance in resolving any
infringement case.
(2) None that CSIR is aware of; see the answer to Question 1.
(3) (a) None that CSIR is aware of; see the answer to Question 1.
(b) None that CSIR is aware of; see the answer to Question 1.
(c) The CSIR has an intellectual property office which adheres to accepted
best practice in continually identifying users of the CSIR's intellectual
property. Dr Michael Thackeray, the inventor of the technology in
question, is involved in all significant international battery fora and
monitors product claims and developments by major international battery
manufacturers to identify possible users of CSIR technology. Dr
Thackeray is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable experts in this
field.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2357
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 NOVEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 29-2009)
"2357. Mr M Mnqasela (DA) to ask Minister of Science and Technology:
1. (a) How many foreign African scientists have been granted work permits in the past 12 months up to 30 September 2009 and (b) what is the (i) country of origin and (ii) place of employment: of each scientist;
2. (a) how many foreign African scientists have been refused work permits and (b) what were the reasons for the refusal in each case;
3. whether her department has a policy on recruiting and employing foreign African scientists in (a) Government, (b) statutory bodies and
(c) private sector; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?"
REPLY
1. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) does not keep data on applications for work permits for foreign scientists, as these are made through the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). However, the DST does facilitate the awarding of exceptional skills work permits to foreign scientists for flagship programmes such as the South African Research Chairs Initiative, under which foreign expertise is recruited into the country. The DST provides letters of support to individual scientists who have applied for exceptional skills work permits from the DHA. This is done on an individual basis after the assessment of the exceptional nature and the scarcity of the applicant's skills.
Even with the letters of support, it is the DHA that makes the final decision on who is awarded a work permit or not. As a result, the DST does not have data on foreign African scientists who have applied for work permits in the 12 months from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009.
2. As indicated above, these statistics should be available from the DHA. In the period of 12 months ending 30 September 2009, the DST has written eight letters of support for foreign scientists, but has not received information on individuals who have not been granted work permits from the scientists or the institutions that recruited them.
3. There is no system-wide DST-led policy aimed at recruiting and employing foreign African scientists. Institutions in the National System of Innovation such as higher education institutions and science councils have their own recruiting policies. However, any institution that has recruited a foreign scientist, from Africa or elsewhere, may request the DST to write a letter of support for an exceptional skills work permit application.
The institution that has recruited the scientist has to provide evidence of the exceptional nature of the applicant's skills and the scarcity of such skills in the country. It also has to show that attempts at local recruitment did not produce a suitable candidate to fill the position, and that the exceptional skills possessed by the scientist in question will be passed on to South Africans through student training or mentoring.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2356
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 NOVEMBER 2009:
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 29-2009
"2356. Mr M Mnqasela (DA) to ask Minister of Science and Technology:
1. How many South African scientists (a) returned to the country in response to her department's efforts to encourage them to return and
(b) declined to return because of work permit problems for their spouses;
2. whether she will engage with the Minister of Home Affairs to give favourable consideration to work permit applications of spouses of South African scientists wanting to return; if not, why not; if so what are the relevant details?" NW3071 E
REPLY
1. (a) The Department of Science and Technology is using flagship projects such as the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChl) to reverse the brain drain by attracting important professionals to the country's research and science systems. The Initiative aims to add research capacity within the higher education system with a target of 60% of the appointed research chairs coming from outside the higher education sector and from abroad in particular. Of the 82 research chairs that have been awarded, 20 are international scientists; of these, less than five are ex-South Africans.
(b) In the context of SARChl, no ex-South African, nor his or her spouse, was declined a work permit.
2. Yes, the Minister would be interested in engaging with the Minister of Home Affairs about applications for work permits for South African scientists who have been recruited back into the country, and their spouses, enjoying favourable consideration.
A Human Resource Development (HRD) Council is being established to drive the implementation of the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS). By virtue of her position, the Minister of Science and Technology is a member of the HRD Council. The Minister would like to use this forum to engage with other ministers on issues regarding attracting South African scientists back to the country.
Applications for work permits and permanents residence received from scientists abroad who have applied for the Research Chairs, indicated in 1 above, have been treated favourably. When the Department of Home Affairs awards work permits, the immediate family of the applicant is considered as well.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2355
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 29 – 2009)
Mr M Mnqasela (DA) MP asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) Whether he or his department has been approached by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Soccer tournament to address the issue of confusing signage at airports and along major routes to match venues as a result of the name changes that have not been carried through to signage; if not, (a) why not and (b) how will this issue be dealt with; if so,
(2) whether he or his department has raised the concerns with the relevant authorities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether the Government has any plan to drive the issue to erected correct place name signage before the event starts; if not, why not; if so, from which budgets will the cost of marking and erecting correct signage come?
NW3070E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
(1) (a) and (b)
There has been no approach from the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on this particular issue. All municipalities and provinces are required to do audits of the permanent signage erected on roads falling within their respective jurisdiction. The incorrect and/or outdated signs must then be removed and replaced with the correct signage. In addition, all Host Cities are allocated temporary event related signage, to guide visitors and spectators during the event.
(2) The updating of permanent signage, as well as the erection of temporary event signage, has been raised with all host cities and provinces, through the existing 2010 coordination structures. The Department of Transport (DoT) has also developed and issued a guideline document, focusing on the design and development of temporary signage. The document was issued prior to the 2009 Confederations Cup and it informed the design and erection of temporary signage for that event. Permanent directional signage is designed and erected in accordance with the Road Traffic Signs Manual, also approved and issued by the DoT.
(3) Each sphere of government is responsible for the procurement and erection of all traffic signage on roads that are within its jurisdiction. The responsibility for national roads is with the National Department of Transport, through its agency, the National Roads Agency of South Africa (SANRAL). Provinces are responsible for signage on provincial roads, with municipalities responsible for signage on local roads. The guidelines for design and technical specifications are issued nationally, and the responsible authorities must make budgets available for the erection of signage.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2354
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 29 – 2009)
Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) (a) What are the (i) objectives, (ii) milestones, (iii) timelines and (iv) timeframes pertaining to the Gauteng Improvement Project and (b) how is the project (i) measured and (ii) monitored;
(2) (a) at what stage is the project and (b) how does it fare against set timeframes and timelines?
NW3067E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
(a) (i) The objective of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is, inter alia, to reduce congestion and provide much needed capacity on the freeway network in Gauteng. This is because very little additional capacity has been created on the roads in the Gauteng Province over the last 20 years, despite a rapidly growing economy.
(ii) The individual contracts have various individual milestones. However, overall a 2010 World Cup Soccer milestone is to have the provision of additional lanes on the freeways completed by May 2010.
(iii) and (iv) The GFIP consists of 15 construction contracts, each with its own timelines and milestones. The majority of these contracts were awarded between April and June 2008 and some after June 2008. Each contract has its own contractual completion date, with most earmarked for completion towards the end of 2010. All the contracts will, however, be completed by the middle of 2011.
(b) (i) (ii) On each contract a team of full time supervisory engineers measure and monitor the progress of the contractors. The measurement and monitoring is done against the contractual programme. Aspects that are monitored include actual time lapsed versus programmed time, actual quantity of work done versus programmed production and actual expenditure versus predicted cash flow.
(a) and (b) The contracts are between 55 and 65% complete and adhering to the timelines. The contracts that started after June 2008 are on track to be completed by the contractual completion date.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2353
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 29 – 2009)
Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) Whether any plans exist to accommodate all road users including those who do not have bank accounts with the payment of toll fees to the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral); if not, why not; if so, what plans;
(2) how would defaulters who do not pay toll fees but who use the tolls be dealt with to ensure that the fees are paid?
NW3066E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
All users will have the opportunity to register as an account holder for toll plazas where electronic toll collection (ETC) will take place. The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is currently setting up a National Central Clearing House (NCCN) where road users can set up a toll account. Two types of accounts can be set up, namely:-
Prepaid Account
This account does not require a road user to be banked. It works on the same principle as a cell phone or electricity pre-paid account. The account holder will be informed when his/her account is reaching a low balance, in order for the account holder to top up the account. This option is available for any road user, whether banked or not. The account holder will have several options to top up the account, including at a point of presence (kiosk, satellite centre), internet banking, at an ATM, et cetera.
"Guaranteed" Post Paid Account
A road user will set up an account, but may elect that the toll fees are directly subtracted from the account holder's banking account, such as a credit card. For this option, the account holder must have a credit card.
It should be noted that comprehensive research (27 000 interviews) regarding the freeway user profile for the Gauteng area was done. Some interesting statistics obtained from this survey are:-
If a road user is making use of the Gauteng freeways where the concept of open road tolling is implemented (tolling without any physical toll gates), it will be a requirement that the user sets up an account before using the network, or identify himself/herself within a grace period post usage of the network.
The toll system records a toll transaction for every vehicle passing the electronic tolling point and records the following information:-
- Whether an electronic tag was detected and read successfully;
- taking front, back and top photographs of the vehicle; and
- calculating the dimensions of the vehicle in order to classify the vehicle as a light or heavy vehicle.
The information recorded at the road side is processed and it is then determined to see if it matches the information of any registered account. If an account is matched, the transaction takes place. If no account is matched, or if the user does not identify himself/herself, within the grace period allowed, the following actions will take place:-
- From the number plate information recorded, an address of the user will be determined via the e-Natis system;
- an invoice will be forwarded after 14 days to the registered owner of the vehicle;
- the registered vehicle owner will have 30 days to pay the outstanding invoice;
- non-payment of the invoice will result in an infringement notice to be issued in terms of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) legislation;
- thereafter, the non-payment of toll, any fines and administration fees are dealt with in terms of the AARTO process; and
- in terms of AARTO, all outstanding fees and fines needs to be paid before the annual vehicle license can be renewed.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2352
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: MONDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 29 – 2009)
Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) What is the current financial position of the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral);
(2) whether Sanral is currently able to operate and be sustainable with its allocated budget; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether there are processes, procedures and mechanisms that ensure that Sanral spends its budget appropriately and does not overspend; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW3065E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
- The South African National Roads Agency's (SANRAL) financial statements are annually audited by the Auditor-General and are published in the Agency's Annual Report, which is tabled in Parliament. As at 31 March 2009, SANRAL's capital and reserves were in a negative position of R798.9 million (2009: negative R1 811.8 million). However, the historical background to this position should be noted to understand the position.
At inception, SANRAL's assets were not transferred from the then South African Roads Board at a value related to either historical cost or replacement value. Therefore, since inception the balance sheet reflected a negative equity position. In order to rectify this, SANRAL is in the process of revaluing its road assets to the current depreciated replacement value, estimated to be about R130 billion.
- There are many disparate demands made on the fiscus and SANRAL's requirements are subject to the availability of funds through the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for non-toll roads. However, to face the challenge of meeting the demands of the growth of traffic on the national roads, SANRAL has sought other sources of funding. It has made prudent use of the "user pay" principle to deliver on its mandate. The selective implementation of toll roads has assisted SANRAL in ensuring that the national road network is in a good condition.
- SANRAL has a sophisticated, internationally recognised, Pavement Management and Bridge Management System. Information is gathered electronically with various surveying vehicles equipped with advanced technology, to indicate the condition and strength of the pavement as well as the road signs. The system assists SANRAL to determine the priority and type of action required on each section of road. This is then used to compile a budget for both toll and non-toll roads, with the MTEF allocation as limit for non-toll roads.
QUESTION NO 2351
Mr S J F Marais asked the Minister of Trade and Industry:
What was the total cost of (a) hotel accommodation, (b) entertainment, (c) flight and (d) transport in respect of all candidates who were interviewed for appointment to the National Lotteries Board?NW3064E
REPLY:
The department did not bear any costs as interviews for the National Lotteries Board were conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry.