Question & Replies No 801 to 850

2008-11-27

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

QUESTION NO. 802

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Moulana M R Sayedali-Shah (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) What procedures are followed when meetings of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) and Directorate Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) are not held in terms of the approval process for urgent applications and (b) who from the NCACC attended the meetings of the Scrutiny Committee in terms of the regulations?

ANSWER

(a) As a general rule, meetings of the NCACC are scheduled to take place on a monthly basis throughout the year. At its meetings, it considers a number of matters placed before it. When taking decisions, the NCACC takes into account the recommendations placed before it by the Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Committee is a committee comprising all representatives of review departments. This committee has a duty to undertake general spade work for the NCACC. After considering the Scrutiny Committee's recommendations, the NCACC may decide to accept or reject the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.

In the event that the NCACC cannot convene, the Chairperson of the NCACC and the Minister of Defence consider and decide on matters that are urgent. In considering and deciding on urgent matters, the NCACC takes into account the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee. The decisions taken by the Chairperson and the Minister of Defence under these circumstances are, as a matter of principle, ratified by the next ensuing meeting of the NCACC.

The Directorate: Conventional Arms Control does not hold meetings to decide on urgent applications. What the Directorate does is to facilitate the holding of meetings by the Scrutiny Committee and the NCACC. The Directorate also executes and implements the decisions that have been taken by the NCACC.

Since the Scrutiny Committee was established and functioned as a subcommittee of the NCACC, no member of the NCACC has ever attended its meetings. This failure to have a member of the NCACC attending the Scrutiny Committee meetings is due to practical reasons only. It is because of these practical challenges that the NCACC has proposed an amendment to the Act relating to the establishment and functioning of the Scrutiny Committee.

QUESTION NO. 803

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

Whether there are National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC)-approved processes for the Directorate Conventional Arms Control (DCAC) to follow when scrutinising and assessing applications for the issuing of a permit, besides the Chairperson delegating for the signing of permits; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

The Directorate uses clearly defined procedures when handling conventional arms permit

applications. The procedures deal with the following aspects:

(a) reflection on the international arms control regimes that have a bearing on the South African arms control system;

(b) structures established in terms of the law to implement conventional arms control in South Africa;

(d) procedures to be followed when handling different kinds of permit applications. These include registration permits, marketing permits, contracting permits, export permits, import permits, transit permits and end-user certificates.

In conducting all its work, the Directorate follows, and is guided by, these procedures.

QUESTION NO. 804

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Adv H C Schmidt (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) delegated the decision to issue permits; if so,

(2) whether minutes are kept of such decisions to delegate in respect of (a) who made the decision in each case to delegate, (b) when such decisions were made and (c) the basis on which each decision was made in the past 24 months; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) As a general rule, the transfer of conventional arms takes place on a daily basis. For such transfers to take place, the transfers have to be authorised by the NCACC. In order to facilitate this authorisation, the NCACC has delegated authority to the Directorate: Conventional Arms to handle these transactions. The delegated authority of the Directorate is not exercised in a vacuum, but within the context of NCACC guidelines. Further, the delegated authority of the Directorate has to be exercised after taking into account inputs by the various review departments. The delegated authority of the Directorate is exercised in respect of all kinds of permits, save for the contracting permits that are only authorised by the NCACC. Within the Directorate, the permit signing powers are carried out by the Director of the Directorate and the Deputy Director.

(2) The authority delegated to the Directorate was assigned in writing in respect of all permits, except contracting permits. All permits issued by the Directorate are recorded and are presented to the NCACC on a monthly basis for ratification. The basis for the issuing of permits are the provisions of the relevant Act, guidelines of the NCACC and inputs of various departments. All records of issued permits and the associated details are kept by the Directorate.

QUESTION NO. 805

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Moulana M R Sayedali-Shah (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether the Government received a diplomatic note from the Chinese and/or Zimbabwean government as part of the application for a conveyance permit with regard to the weapons for Zimbabwe carried by the Chinese ship that docked in the Durban harbour in April 2008; if so, (a) who authorised the permit and (b) who signed off the granting of the permit;

(2) whether he consulted the President in this process; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether a quorum was obtained when the decision was taken to issue the conveyance permit for the shipment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) what are the relevant details regarding the minutes kept of all meetings pertaining to the issuing of a conveyance permit to the Chinese shipment carrying weapons for Zimbabwe in respect of (a)(i) dates and (ii) times, (b) venues, (c) attendees and (d) decisions taken;

(5) whether the SA National Defence Force assisted with the refueling of the Chinese ship; if so, (a) how and (b) under whose order?

ANSWER

(1) As part of the transit permit application documentation, the NCACC (National Conventional Arms Control Committee) Directorate received a Diplomatic Note from the Zimbabwean Government, a copy of the Zimbabwean End User Certificate in respect of the consignment and a copy of a document from the Chinese Port Authority in respect of the consignment. After considering the documents, the Directorate consulted the various review departments, after which the matter was referred to the Chairperson of the NCACC for consideration and decision by the members of the NCACC. After due consideration, the NCACC authorised the Directorate to issue the permit. Subsequent to this authorisation, the Directorate issued the permit. The permit was signed by the delegated Deputy Director in the Directorate. It is worth mentioning though that the said Deputy Director signed the permit on specific instructions from the Director of the Directorate, who in turn was giving effect to the decision of the NCACC.

(2) The NCACC is an organ of state and has a full mandate in terms of the National Conventional Arms Control Act (Act 41 of 2002), to regulate the transfer of conventional arms in South Africa. The NCACC considers and decides on all matters before it on the basis of this mandate. This approach was the followed without exception when the Zimbabwean transit permit application was dealt with.

(3) As a matter of practice, all transit permits are dealt with by the Directorate on the basis of the delegated powers, the guidelines of the NCACC and the inputs of review departments. Where the Directorate is not certain, the Directorate seeks, as a general rule, the advice of the NCACC through the office of the Chairperson. This was the case in respect of the transit permit under focus. After the transit permit application had been brought to the attention of the Chairperson of the NCACC, the Chairperson consulted members of the NCACC. After this consultation, a decision was taken to authorise the permit.

(4) As indicated in response to question (3) above, no specific meeting was held by the NCACC to consider this matter. Normal consultation was conducted by the Chairperson after which a decision was made to issue the permit.

(5) This question should be directed to the Department of Defence as the SANDF falls under that Department.

Question 806

Dr S M van Dyk (DA) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises:

(1) With reference to the reply to Question 436 on 15 May 2008, (a) how long does the process of a supplier take to become accredited on the Eskom programme and (b) how many accredited suppliers are expected to be registered in 2008;

(2) whether there have been any delays experienced with respect to the registration of suppliers; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) how many requests have been made to accredited suppliers for the installation of solar geysers and (b) how many geysers have been installed by these suppliers since the implementation of the programme? NW1496E

Reply:

(1)(a-b)Accreditation for participation in the Solar Water Heating Programme takes 48 hours provided that the criteria which are listed below are met:

· SABS compliant system(s)

· Proof of guarantee and maintenance plan

· SESSA membership

· Product registration

· Installer(s) registration

· All relevant company documentation, such as company profile, financials, tax clearance, etc

There are 120 suppliers who have expressed intent to participate in the Solar Water Heating Programme. However, only 15 suppliers have actually obtained accreditation in the past five months. Eskom anticipates the current number of accreditations to double by the end of 2008.

(2) There have been delays experienced due to the following:

· The facilitating auditors have expressed their challenges arising from lack of cooperation by suppliers regarding timeous document submission.

· Auditors engaged in several interactions with suppliers encouraging them to submit all the necessary documents on time to ensure efficiency in the registration process. That has since improved.

· Lack of SABS testing capacity.

· Eskom made a proposal to SABS to allow for international testing in an effort to intensify testing capacity.

· High SABS testing costs for Solar Water Heater suppliers.

· A decision is required from the Eskom Investment Committee to make funding available towards SABS testing costs. An approval from the committee will enable the programme to reimburse all the suppliers whose systems have obtained the SABS Mark of Approval or Test Conformity Report.

(3)(a)(b) Eskom does not facilitate the installation of solar geysers but administrates an incentive to encourage installation. The number of orders received by suppliers is 301 and total number of claimed incentives is 35 to date.

QUESTION NO.: 808 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23 MAY 2008

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

Whether a magistrate may strike a case off the roll as a result of the absence of the prosecutor in a matter, as in the case of two learners of a certain school (name furnished) in Tshwane, who were stabbed by fellow learners that was before the court; if not, what punitive measures are in place to act against such a magistrate; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1498E

REPLY

For a criminal court to operate (for example to strike a case off the roll), it must be properly constituted. In other words, the State must be represented by a public prosecutor. However, nothing in principle prevents a court from striking a case off the roll in the absence of the prosecutor prosecuting in that particular matter. I however fail to see the relevance of this part of the question within the broader scenario of the case in question.

In the case concerned, I am advised that on 2 February 2008, the accused appeared in the Pretoria-North Magistrate's Court on a charge of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. Because of the age of the offenders, the prosecutor considered alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The accused were sent on a diversion course which they successfully completed. The social worker recommended on 3 April 2008 that the criminal matter be withdrawn. The matter was postponed to 5 May 2008 and the Senior Public Prosecutor referred the matter to the Chief Prosecutor to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for guidance.

On 5 May 2008, the prosecutor sought a postponement pending the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The magistrate refused a further postponement, and since the prosecutor could not proceed with the case and declined to withdraw the matter, the magistrate struck the matter off the roll. Once the Director of Public Prosecutions has made a decision, the matter may, depending on the nature of his decision, be re-enrolled.

If a member of the public or interested party is of the opinion that the Magistrate acted outside the framework of his judicial capacity and as such did not conduct himself appropriately, a complaint in this regard should be directed to the Magistrates Commission for investigation in terms of section 13 of the Magistrates Act, 1993.

QUESTION 809

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23/5/2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 14-2008)

Mr C G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether race is a factor used when determining salary scales in education; if not, what is the cause of salary disparities between educators of different races who have the same (a) qualifications and (b) employment experience; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether her department has taken any steps to deal with these disparities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NWS74E

REPLY

(1) No, race no longer plays a role in determining teacher salaries. However, many African teachers were poorly qualified in the apartheid period and only upgraded their qualifications after 1994, and they may be paid less than other teachers who entered the profession with better qualifications to begin with. It is, therefore, possible for individuals with the same qualification and number of years of teaching experience to earn different salaries.

(2) Yes, the Department has made a concerted effort to overcome this problem through a number of collective agreements reached with the unions in the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). The following agreements recognised the qualifications of educators upgrading their qualifications from the lowest levels (former Department of Education and Training qualifications).

· ELRC Collective Agreement 3 of 1996: agreement on a three- year condition of service adjustment package for educators, which introduced the broad-banding salary system;

· ELRC Collective Agreement 4 of 1997: conditions of Service adjustment package for educators;

· ELRC Collective Agreement 5 of 2002: recognition of improved REQV;

In addition, further agreements were reached:

ELRC Collective Agreement 2 of 2005: salary progression for the period 01 July 1996 to 30 June 2002 addressed the backlogs due to a lack of salary progression;

ELRC Collective Agreement 5 of 2006: improved career pathing for qualified post level educators and accelerated pay progression for all educators on applicable salary levels.

Most recently, the ELRC Collective Agreement 1 of 2008 on the Occupation Specific Dispensation for Educators, which was signed on 3 April 2008, provides for an investigation of the implementation of all these previous agreements by 30 September 2008. If it is found that matters that were to be addressed by the previous collective agreements were not fully addressed or have not been properly implemented, then a proposal will be made to correct these anomalies.

QUESTION 810

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23/05/12008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 14-2008)

Mr G G Boinamo (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

Whether her department in implementing inclusive education in all schools, has ensured that (a) there are enough educators who have been trained to facilitate the teaching of children with different learning disabilities, (b) classrooms have been made accessible to learners with physical disabilities and (c) the availability of transport for children with disabilities has been properly arranged; if not, how do children with disabilities access education; if so, what are the relevant details?

NWI500E

REPLY

(a) No, we do not have as many trained teachers to implement inclusive education as we would like, but we have been training teachers. In the 2006/7 financial year the Department trained 2,300 educators and district personnel on the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) strategy and as well as on curriculum adaptation. Since April 2008 a further 800 educators and district officials have been trained. Training on SIAS, curriculum adaptation and assessment guidelines will be extended incrementally to educators in the mainstream.

Some barriers to learning, such as visual and hearing impairments, require that educators receive specialised training. In 2007 the Department, assisted by the Stockholm Institute of Education, trained 50 educators for learners with low vision and 39 educators to deal with hearing impairments. The same training will be conducted during 2008, this time bringing in local experts to work alongside the Swedish experts.

The Department is refining assessment guidelines for learners experiencing various barriers to learning including those that are disabled.

(b) Infrastructural adaptation is advanced in 10 of the 30 primary schools selected to become full-service schools in our pilot project. Physical infrastructure planners in the various provinces have been involved in the process to ensure that future construction of schools, classrooms and toilets, follows the guidelines/criteria for making schools accessible to all.

(c) The 397 special schools receive, as part of their budget allocation, subsidies for learner transport. The funding is intended for the purchase of school buses, the subsidisation of learner transport and for maintenance. The Department has made a bid to Treasury for an additional allocation in the 2008 MTEF allocation to strengthen learner transport for learners in special and full-service schools. In situations where learner transport is not a viable and cost-effective option, the Department makes hostel accommodation available.

QUESTION NO. 812

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 MAY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 14)

Mr M Waters (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:

(1) Whether her department monitors all the waiting-lists for all hospitals; if not, (a) why not and (b) how service standards are monitored in this regard; if so, (i) how many lists are there, (ii) which operations or procedures do they cover and (iii) how often does her department receive such lists;

(2) what is the current length of time a person has to wait for each operation or procedure at each hospital? NW1502E

REPLY:

The following information is as received from the Provinces:

FREE STATE

(1) Yes,

(a) Not applicable;

(b) UAH monitors the waiting lists on a monthly basis by contacting all service units and getting feedback on the waiting lists in existence.

(i) 35 lists in total.

(ii) The operations covered are indicated on the table below.

(iii) The list is received monthly at UAH.

(2) This is indicated on the table per waiting list and category of patient.

Department	Do you have a waiting list	What is list for?	Period of waiting No. 2	Number of patients on the list	Outpatient or Inpatient waiting list
Urology	Yes	Clinic visits and theatre procedures	Clinic visits: 3 months and Theatre procedures: (cancer) 3-4 weeks, (routine) 3-4 months	Clinic visits - 100+ Theatre: (cancer) 4-5 (Routine) 50+	Outpatients
Oncology	Yes	Routine Radiation	Radiation - 4 weeks Ward admissions for chemo: 3 weeks	Radiation - 50 patients Ward Admissions for chemo: 30 patients	Outpatients
Diagnostic Radiology	Doing after-hour list to prevent a waiting list		In-patients - done within the week of admission Outpatients – determined by clinic waiting lists	Number of patients increase according to the availability of Radiographers
Ophthalmology	Yes	Cataract operations and Corneal transplant	Cataract – 1 year Corneas – 2-3 years	Cataract – 220 Corneas - 109	Outpatients
Dermatology	Yes	Clinic visits	6 weeks for new patients	45 patients	Outpatients only, no list for inpatients
Anaesthesiology	Yes	Pain Control unit	3-4 weeks	30 patients
Surgery	Yes	UAH Theatre: Gastro-enterology HPD Breast Endocrine Vascular Peads Surgery Pelonomi Theatre:	Gastro: 4-6 weeks HPD: 4 weeks Breast: 6 – 8 weeks Endocrine: 6 - 8 weeks Vascular: 1-2 weeks Peads: 3 weeks Pelonomi: 4-6 weeks	Gastro: 15 – 20 patients HPD: 10 – 15 Breast: 25 – 30 Endocrine: 15 – 20 Vascular: 5-10 Peads: 5-10 Pelonimi: 50 - 80	Outpatients Inpatients and theatre
Internal Medicine	Yes	New patients and Colonoscopies	Rheumatology: 4 months Gastro: 3 months Colonoscopies: 5 months	Rheumatology: 96 patients Gastro: 40 for consultation Colonoscopies: 29	Outpatients
Nuclear medicine	No, patients are booked by appointment	N/A	± 24 Hours	N/A	N/A
Endocrine	Yes	Clinic visits for new patients Diabetes Clinic Clinic visits for follow-up patients at both clinics Ward admissions (5A)	New patients: 5 months Diabetic: 4 months Follow-up: 3 months Ward admissions: 1 month	39 new patients 31 new patients 25 patients per clinic 19 patients for admission in ward 5A	Outpatients
Paediatrics	Yes	Outpatients only not for admissions	Total list: 6 – 12 months	>50	Outpatients only
Obstetrics and Gynaecology	Yes	Surgery	6-8 weeks		Inpatients
Psychiatry	Yes	Outpatients Urgent cases Pelonomi outpatients FSPC child unit Observations refered by courts UAH consultations	Outpatients: 1-3 weeks Urgent cases: 24 hours Pelonomi: 24 hours FSPC cold cases: 3 weeks FSPC urgent : 24 hours Court referrals: 1 week UAH: 24 hours
Orthopaedics	Yes	Arthroplasty Unit Arthroscopy Unit Feet General Paediatrics Paediatric Spine Hands	Outpatients: 5 months Operations: 930 (± 4 years work) Outpatients: 5 months Operations: 18 (± 6 weeks) Operations: 41 (± 5 months) Outpatients: 6 weeks Operations: 60 (± 10 weeks) Operations: 12 (± 3 months) Operations: 8 (± 8 months) Operations: 22 (± 6 weeks)		Inpatients and Outpatients
Neuro Surgery	Yes	Theatre list Clinical list	2-3 months 4 weeks (new patients)
(Internal Medicine) Nephrology	Yes	Haemodialysis Peritoneal Dialysis Places for haemodialysis in FS Outpatients New patients (only tertiary patients)	6-12 months 3 months 3 months 1 year 4 weeks
Internal Medicine (Pulmonology)	Yes	New patients Follow-up patients Bronchoscopies	1-2 weeks TCB every 6 months 1 week

GAUTENG

(1) The Department monitors waiting lists for Tertiary Services (Cardiac, Orthopedics, and spinal surgery) which are predominantly performed at four Central hospitals. Kalafong and Helen Joseph hospitals render some Tertiary Services even though they are regional hospitals.

(a) Not applicable

(b) Monthly reports of operations/procedures that are performed by all hospitals are submitted to Head Office through the DHIS for collation and analysis.

(i) - Orthopedic (Joint Replacement)

- Surgery (Major Surgery – Cardiac)

- Ophthalmology (Cataract) , and

- Gynaecology (Elective procedures such as hysterectomy)

(ii) See (i) above.

(iii) Monthly.

(2) This varies from time to time and also from one hospital to another, but on average the waiting period ranges from six weeks to eighteen months.

LIMPOPO

(1) Waiting lists are being monitored in order to guide service delivery strategy.

(i) 5 Surgery lists, 3 Urology lists, 3 neurosurgery lists per week.

(ii) Most surgery lists are interrupted by Emergency Surgery which is not provided for resulting in high cancellation figures.

SURGERY DEPARTMENT	WAITING TIME
OPD Appointments – Mankweng Hospital	3 Weeks
OPD Appointments – Polokwane Hospital	3 Weeks
Theatre waiting list - Mankweng Hospital	2 Months
Theatre waiting list – Polokwane Hospital	4 Months
UROLOGY – OPD Appointments (2008 list was full in May 2008)	7 Months
UROLOGY – Theatre waiting list	6 Weeks
NEUROSURGERY – OPD Appointments	2 Months
CONTRIBUTION FACTORS
Mammography	5 Weeks
X-RAY Screening tests (Barium Studies)	3 Weeks
MRI Appointments	3 Weeks
CT Scanner Appointments	4 – 6 Weeks
NHLS History reports

EXAMPLE

(i) Patient with CA Oesophagus

Waits 3 weeks for appointment with surgeon, 5 weeks for Barium Swallow, 4 weeks for Histology

= 12 weeks for a Diagnosis during which time he becomes too weak for surgical intervention.

(ii) Lady with a breast lump

Waits 3 – 12 Weeks for appointment with a surgeon, 5 weeks for Mammography 4 weeks for Histology, 2 months for Surgery = ± 8 – 12 weeks for surgery.

SOLUTIONS

1. Increase the capacity of the readiology department

2. Install mammography and fluoroscopy equipment at other centres

3. Provide emergency theatres

4. Increase the capacity of the peripheral hospitals & reduce local load

5. Recruit surgeons for the provincial and regional hospitals

6. Improve team spirit and cooperation between departments

7. Curb the staff exodus

NORTHERN CAPE

(1) Yes

(i) 6

(ii) All the waiting lists are for planned and elective surgeries only. All the urgent and life threatening operations are performed immediately and efficiently.

- Orthopaedics (joint replacement surgeries)

- Opthalmology (cataract surgery)

- ENT

- Urology

- Elective surgery

- Elective neuro-surgery

(iii) The waiting lists are monitored on a weekly basis at the hospital level and submitted to the Provincial Department on a monthly basis.

(2) The average waiting time for elective procedures is between 1 – 3 months. The patients are continuously followed-up during the wait time and if the clinical condition of the patients changes their surgeries are performed on the basis of emergency.

WESTERN CAPE

(1) The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health currently does not monitor waiting lists.

(a) This is an issue that has been identified as requiring attention. Much of the discussions in the province regarding a single waiting list have for the first time been around equity to access of surgical procedures and exposed the often very different waiting times at different institutions. There are really two issues of concern here: emergency cases and elective cases. Each institution has its own method of booking these cases, and there is currently no way to track this.

(b) We are currently engaged in a process to improve our information on our theatre activity, which is currently inadequate. The plans are to create a unified theatre data system and to capture the date that each procedure was first booked as a data point when each surgical case is done. Once we have this system in place we foresee that we would be able to say what the waiting times are for each type of surgical procedure, and be able to provide this by each individual institution. Currently we are exploring how to gather the data.This would allow for a detailed analysis of theatre activity and allow comparisons between institutions and also give the ability to assess what level of care is being delivered at each site of surgical activity.

(i) With regards to the number of lists, each institution has different numbers of lists. As a generalisation, all surgical disciplines have seen a tremendous decrease in the available lists, due to many factors, but mainly due to the availability of trained theatre staff.

(ii) Emergency and elective surgery.

(2) In the Western Cape, access to emergency or urgent theatre is significantly reduced by several factors which includes; lack of post-operative bed capacity, lack of theatre availability, and or lack of theatre resources, namely staff and equipment. Emergency cases wait from 1 hour to 4 days for theatre time in the Western Cape. Each hospital has its own reasons, and these times vary during the week and the month.

For elective surgery, the waiting lists again vary from 2 weeks through to 10 years, depending on the procedure required, the budget, access to theatre etc. Again there is tremendous variation from institution to institution: an example is that for a total hip replacement at Groote Schuur, the waiting lists are currently closed, because there is more than a 10 year wait. At Tygerberg, the waiting list is about 4 years for a Total Hip replacement. At Somerset the waiting list is about 2 years. For other procedures, like arthroscopic knee surgery, the wait is from 6 weeks at Victoria Hospital, to 5 years at Groote Schuur. Some hospitals no longer offer certain procedures because the trauma component is so high, and they no longer have the capacity.

QUESTION 813

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 23 May 2008

Internal question paper no: 14

Mr M Waters (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

(1) Whether he or his department has taken any steps to relocate the Central Drug Authority to the Department of Health; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, when;

(2) whether substance abuse is a mental health issue; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1503E

REPLY:

(1) No, the DSD has not taken any steps to relocate the Central Drug Authority to the Department of Health. The Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, (Act 20 of 1992 ) as amended in 1999, established the Central Drug Authority to advise the Minister of Social Development on any matter affecting the abuse of drugs; to plan, coordinate and promote measures relating to the prevention and combating of drugs and the treatment of persons dependent on drugs, to review the National Drug Master Plan every five years and to submit it to Cabinet for approval; to annually, report to Parliament on progress made in combating substance abuse in the country annually; to arrange conferences/summits relating to combating substance abuse and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be determined by the Minister from time to time. The DSD is the lead department in the field of substance abuse. The CDA has been established to coordinate and monitor government effort to combat substance abuse through supply-, harm and demand reduction. The DSD is better placed to support the CDA given that its functions are broad and also cross cutting.

(2) No, substance abuse is not only a mental health issue but a bio-psychosocial condition that extends beyond mental health. A person might be affected by both mental illness and substance abuse and suffer from a dual-diagnosis or co-morbidity in terms of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, 1994 (DSM IV). In terms of the Mental Health Care Act, (Act, No.17, 2002) mental health status means the level of mental well-being of an individual as affected by physical, social and psychological factors which may result in a psychiatric diagnosis. The Mental Health Act provides for the care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons who are mentally ill. In this respect, it is in the health domain.

However, substance abuse is a cross-cutting issue and it requires an intersectoral and a multidisciplinary approach, of which health is just but one dimension. It is an acknowledged fact that the management of substance abuse must be holistic and involve individuals, families and communities at risk and those already affected by this scourge. The treatment of the persons is not only focused on the individual but also the environment in which he/she lives. It also requires a more proactive approach which provides for prevention, early intervention, treatment and, aftercare and reintegration services, which are beyond the scope of the Department of Health and more in the domain of social development.

QUESTION 815

815. Ms A M Dreyer (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

Whether any salary ranges were upgraded with regard to the promotion of staff at the Unemployment Insurance Fund in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007; if not, why not; if so, (i) which salary ranges and (ii) on what criteria was each upgrade based? NW1506E

The Minister of Labour replied:

	1		THE FOLLOWING SALARY RANGES WERE UPGRADED IN 2005:
	1.1		Security Officials were upgraded from SR 2 to SR 4
	1.2		Administrative Clerks were upgraded from SR 3 to SR 5
	1.3		Employee Relations Practitioners were upgraded from SR 7 to SR 8
	1.4		Finance Practitioners were upgraded from SR 7 SR 8
			CRITERIA
			The upgrading was done as a result of job evaluation which was conducted in line with the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1994 (proclamation 103 of1994) and Public Service Regulations 2001

2		THE FOLLOWING SALARY RANGES WERE UPGRADED IN 2006
2.1		Officials from the following sections were upgraded from SR 5 to SR 6: Employer Services, Bonus Control, Occupational Health and Safety, Board and Legal Services and Risk Management.
2.2		Officials from HRD and SCM were upgraded from SR 7 to SR 8
2.3		Officials from HRM and Board Services were upgraded from SR 9 to SR 10:
2.4		Officials from Finance and Information Management were upgraded from SR 11 to SR 12.
		CRITERIA
		The upgrading was done as a result of job evaluation which was conducted in line with the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation 103 of 1994) and Public Service Regulations 2001

3	THE FOLLOWING SALARY RANGES WERE UPGRADED IN 2007
3.1	All Assistant Managers at SR 9 were upgraded to SR 10
3.2	All Managers at SR 11 were upgraded to SR 12
	CRITERIA
	The upgrading was done as a result of job evaluation which was conducted in line with the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation 103 of 1994) and Public Service Regulations 2001.

Question 817

Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises:

(1)(a) What was the total rand value of (i) hotel accommodation procured for his departmental officials and (ii) conferencing facilities hired by his department during the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and (b) in each case, what percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council;(2)whether there are any barriers to making use of graded establishments; if not, why is the use of graded facilities not higher; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1508E

REPLY:

(1)(a)(i) The total rand value for hotel accommodation: R 616,360.00.

(ii) The total rand value for conferencing facilities: R 522,967.41.

(b) Table 1: Percentage spent at establishments graded by the Tourism

Grading Council:

Category	Hotel accommodation
Amount:	Grading:	Percentage:
R 101,182.00	3	16.42
R 487,370.00	4	79.07
R 27,808.00	5	4.51
Category	Conference facilities:
Amount:	Grading:	Percentage:
R 2,052.00	0	0.39
R 19,917.05	3	3.81
R 228,598.86	4	43.71
R 272,399.50	5	52.09

(2) The department did not experience any barriers to making use of graded

establishments.

QUESTION NO 818

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 MAY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 14)

Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

(1) (a) What was the total rand value of (i) hotel accommodation procured for her departmental officials and (ii) conferencing facilities hired by her department during the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and (b) in each case, what percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council;

(2) whether there are any barriers to making use of graded establishments; if not, why is the use of graded facilities not higher; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1509E

---00O00---

REPLY:

(1) (a)(i)

Description	1 October 2007 – 31 March 2008 Total Rand Value R
Accommodation:
Domestic	27 413 670.81
Foreign	851 839.87

(1) (a)(ii)

Description

1 October 2007 – 31 March 2008

Total Rand Value

Conferencing facilities

2 086 442.84

(b) Difficult to determine as this information was not captured in a system.

(2) No. The bulk of the accommodation requirements of the officials that are travelling away from home on official business are done by the departmentally approved service providers and the reservations are predominately made at graded destinations. Officials however, can arrange for there own accommodation within the predetermined limits and are not obliged to stay at graded establishments. In some remote areas, graded accommodation is not necessarily easily available. The department supports the use of graded establishments as a first option of accommodation, where such accommodation is available. The department will in future develop a system to monitor the use of graded establishment

QUESTION NO. 81 9

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 14 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23 May 2008

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

(1) (a) What was the total rand value of (i) hotel accommodation procured for departmental officials and (ii) conferencing facilities hired by his department during the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and (b) in each case, what percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council;

(2) whether there are any barriers to making use of graded establishments; if not, why is the use of graded facilities not higher; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1510E

MR G R MORGAN (DA )

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

819. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

(a) (i) The total amount spent on hotel accommodation during the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 is R4 051 617 (domestic and international) and

the total amount spent on conferencing venues and facilities for the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 is R5 837 014.

(b) (i) & (ii) It is department policy that only Tourism Graded establishments are booked for accommodation and conferencing facilities. The expenditure is therefore 100 percent.

The departmental travel agencies are instructed to book graded establishments, however some barriers do sometimes exist such as graded facilities not meeting requirements in terms of the size of the conference facility versus the number of bedrooms available, facilities for people with disabilities, and location of graded establishments that require participants to travel long distances and preventing us using local facilities.

QUESTION 820

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 23 MAY 2008 [IQP N 08 -2008]

Question 820 for Written Reply, National Assembly: Mr I F Julies (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:

(1) Whether human waste may be used as a fertiliser on agricultural land; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what regulations govern the use of human waste;

(2) whether the use of human waste as fertiliser on agricultural land poses any environmental threat; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1511E

REPLY

(1) Raw human waste cannot be used on agricultural land as fertilizer. Only sewage sludge which has been disinfected and stabilized as organic fertilizer from the treatment of raw sewage sludge can be used as fertilizer. It must further meet the requirements for total metal an inorganic content as prescribed in table 12 of the fertilizer regulations, Regulation no R 250 of 3 March 2007 published in the Government Gazette no 29720.

(2) If it is not treated it may pose a serious environmental treat which can have serious implications for human and animal health. However, if it is treated these threats can be mitigated.

Question no. 821

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 23 May 2008

821: Mr. I F Julies (DA) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy

1. (a) Total rand Value for (i) hotel accommodation (ii) conferencing facilities for the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008; and

(b) What percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council?

2. Whether there are any barriers to making use of graded establishments; if not, why is the use of graded facilities not higher; if so. what are the relevant details

Response:

(a) Total Rand value for the period I October 2007 to March 2008 was:

(i) Hotel Accommodation R5 823 523.16

(ii) Venues and Facilities: R6 705622.86

(b) Percentage spent at established graded by the Tourism Grading Council

First Quarter: 91.38%

Second Quarter 84.12% Third Quarter 76.10%

2. The Department of Minerals and Energy spent on average of 84.10% on graded accommodation. The gap of 15.90% may be attributable to the fact that the Department of Minerals and Energy has to do business in remote areas where accommodations available are not graded by the Tourism Grading Council.

QUESTION NO. 823

(Internal Question Paper No 14 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether his department will cease making allocations to the SA Local Government Association (Salga) since it has received three qualified reports from the Auditor-General in the past three financial years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether his department has any plans in place to help Salga resolve its financial problems; if not, why not; if so, (a) what plans; (b) when will they be implemented, (c) how long will it take to implement them and (d) how much will it cost to implement them;

(3) what (a) were the total amounts of State allocations to Salga and (b) was Salga's actual expenditure in each of the past five financial years;

(4) whether Salga overspent its budget in each of the past five financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, by how much in each case;

(5) whether the overexpenditure was accounted for in each of the past five financial years; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) No. SALGA is mandated by the 1996 Constitution, and by the Municipal Systems Act (2000) and the Organised Local Government Act (1997), to assist with the transformation of local government in South Africa in line with the values and vision upheld by the government. The allocations to SALGA are appropriated through the annual Appropriation Act which is voted for in Parliament.

(2) Yes. The department has plans in place (a) to review SALGA's funding model, together with the National Treasury and SALGA, (b) over the duration of the 2009 MTEC process, (c) will depend on the recommendations of the MTEC, (d) there will be no cost implications as the work is being done by the dplg, SALGA and the National Treasury.

(3) The information relating to allocations is available from the 2008 (Vote 29) Estimates of National Expenditure document, and the information relating to actual expenditure is available from the Annual Report of SALGA. These documents have been tabled in Parliament.

(4) No. SALGA has not overspent on its budget over the last five financial years. The table appearing below presents the net cash flow for the last five financial years. The position over the last five years is as follows:

	June 2003	June 2004	June 2005	June 2006	June 2007
Actual Net Operating Result	R 4 911.500	(R 2 549 043)	(R 10 930 150)	(R 63 120 913)	R 1 899 245
Add: Non-cash Flow items
Depreciation	R 257 186	R 266 047	R 1 341 644	R 1 914 068	R 2 144 462
Provision for impairment of trade receivables	-	R 5 295 625	R 62 984 226	R 43 499 461	(R 18 372 282)
Fair value adjustment	-	-	-	R 19 082 415	R 17 103 772
Actual adjustment Net Operating Results	R 5 168 668	R 3 012 629	R 53 395 720	R 1 375 031	R 2 775 197

Budgeted Net Operating Results	0	0	0	0	0

Variance	+R 5 168 668	+R 3 012 629	+R 53 395 720	+ R 1 375 031	+R 2 775 197.

(5) Falls away.

QUESTION NO. 824

WRITTEN REPLY

Mr A C Steyn, MP (DA) to ask the Minister of Housing:

Whether any economically sustainable communities have been developed over the past fourteen years through the RDP housing; if not, why not; if so (a) how many, (b) where are they located and (c) how was their sustainability measured.

Reply

The concept of economically sustainable communities was only adopted in relation to the Comprehensive Plan for the Establishment of Sustainable Human Settlements (Breaking New Ground) introduced in 2004 and therefore has no bearing on the RDP housing programmes.

Question 826

Mr S B Farrow (DA) to ask the Minister for Public Enterprises:

(a) How many (i) aviation engineers and (ii) technicians are employed by the SA Airways (SAA), (b) how many posts in respect of the above two categories are needed to maintain the current fleet at optimum safety levels, (c) how many posts in each case have been vacated over the past 12 months and (d) what plans are in place to ensure (i) a steady stream of replacement personnel for any vacant positions in these categories and (ii) the safety levels of the current and any additional aircraft to the SAA fleet are maintained to international standards? NW1517E

Reply:

(a)(i-ii) SAA Technical (SAAT) has technicians in direct aircraft maintenance, aircraft component repair and other shop floor functions. These technicians fall into two categories:

§ Licensed Technicians (including Team Leaders, Engineering Analysts and Quality Auditors), totaling 879 and

§ Unlicensed Technicians, totaling 434.

(b) It is estimated that at current work levels an additional 80 to 100 technicians are required to ensure that work is completed on time.

(c) There has been a loss of 305 Technicians over the last twelve months, comprising 193 Licensed Technicians and 112 Unlicensed Technicians.

(d)(i)(ii) SAAT has embarked on a targeted recruitment drive as an immediate recovery plan. To ensure a constant flow of Technical staff into the future, SAAT has increased capacity in Apprentice Training. SAAT will also increase capacity for post-apprenticeship training to replace lost technical skills

All work carried out by SAAT is continuously monitored and audited by independent quality inspectors / auditors from the airlines and operators whose aircraft SAAT maintains, including SAA aircraft.

SAAT is also audited annually by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Association (EASA).

QUESTION NO. 827

827. Mr K J Minnie (DA) to ask the Minister for the Public Service and Administration:

(1) Whether (a) a consultative process was followed and (b) a cost-benefit analysis was done prior to the adoption of the Government's software procurement policy; if not, why not in each case; if so, (i) when, (ii) by whom was the policy adopted, (iii)(aa) when and (bb) how were (aaa) calls for public participation and (bbb) the policy published and (iv) what steps have been taken towards implementation;

(2) whether, with reference to the extent of support for and cost and inconvenience regarding Open Source Software (OSS), the Government's policy requires all proprietary software to be replaced by OSS; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1518E

RESPONSE

1 a). The Government IT Officer Council (GITOC) has a working group on open source. This working group has led discussion and consultation with national and provincial government departments on issues of open source and open standards

1b) A cost benefit analysis has not been undertaken on the use of open source nsoftware. Neither has a cost-benefit analysis been undertaken on the use of proprietary software and vendor lock-in. It should be noted that cost is not the only consideration, arguably not even the most important consideration when procuring software. Other considerations, including developing a software capability and developing skills on open source platforms can be a consideration.

Cabinet endorsed the Open Source Software (OSS) Policy on 22 February 2007.

The IT systems and platforms used by the South African government have not been treated as a matter for public debate and no formal public participation process is proposed or envisaged. Where solutions are required and procured through a public tender process open source solutions are encouraged but not mandatory.

The open source policy document is available on the DPSA website at http://www.dpsa.gov.za/egov_documents.asp

After 2003 a number of amendments to procurement procedures administered by the State IT Agency were implemented. Most notably an Open Source Software tender was issued, which authorised a number of service providers to be utilised by government institutions to implement FOSS. This tender is still valid.

A Director-General steering committee to promote Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) has been established post February 2007.

The workgroup facilitated the establishment of FOSS Programme Office at SITA. The SITA FOSS programme office (FPO) is headed by Dr Arno Webb. SITA is developing a technology road map for departments to migrate to FOSS. This will include a proposed funding model; R&D, change management and training requirements.

The Department of Science and Technology, in conjunction with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has been requested to setup a working proof of concept laboratory in order to drive the development of an Enterprise Architecture for the deployment of Open Standard software applications.

The team has been requested to define who the various IT partners, service suppliers, and outsource vendors are. How they will work and interact with the IT staff. What hardware, software, networking, hosting, and support services they will provide, how they will be managed, and what current and future obligations may be imposed on the State for the use of their products, services or expertise.

2)The current policy encourages and supports the development of open source products but does not make the replacement of proprietary software compulsory, it also does not set timeframes for doing so. Replacement strategies can include strategies for creating the necessary support first, possibly replacing software in phases as the support becomes available. Cost and inconvenience of implementation are short term phenomena that are in the longer term normally overtaken by the economy, reliability and ease of maintenance of FOSS.

QUESTION NO. 828

DATE PUBLISHED: 23 May 2008

DATE SUBMITTED: 12 December 2008

The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:

Whether according to the request to access information made by the Democratic Alliance on 25 February 2008, he will indicate the manner in which the release of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mandate and Location of the Directorate of Special Operations would have compromised the (a) defence, (b) security and (c) international relations of South Africa as per the notice in terms of section 25(3) of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000, issued by the Office of the Presidency on 26 March 2008; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1519E

REPLY:

When the report was first handed over to The Presidency, the then President was advised that there were issues contained in the Report which, if made public, would cause prejudice to the defence, security and international interests of the Republic. At the time when the Democratic Alliance made an application for access to the Report in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act on 25 February 2008, the then President had not as yet been advised otherwise.

Hence he responded by saying that he intended to release the report at an appropriate time without compromising the defence, security and international interests of the Republic. However, on further interrogation of the report in consultation with intelligence and security agencies, it became apparent that the risks were not as serious as had been initially estimated. On that advice, the then President decided to release the Report. Regarding the specificity of the defence, security and international issues, the Hon Leader of the Opposition would most certainly appreciate that in the nature of this work, such discourse would not at all be helpful.

QUESTION NO. 829

DATE PUBLISHED: 23 May 2008

DATE SUBMITTED: 12 December 2008

The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:

In light of the Cabinet's endorsement of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mandate and Location of the Directorate of Special Operations, why it recently approved the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill and the General Laws Amendment Bill?

NW1520E

REPLY:

Although Cabinet accepted the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mandate and Location of the Directorate of Special Operations, serious consideration had to be given to how best to implement the recommendations and make best use of the resources available in the fight against crime.

After much consideration, Cabinet felt that it was better to have the unit dedicated to the fight against organised crime located in the South African Police Service.

QUESTION NO. 830

DATE PUBLISHED: 23 May 2008

DATE SUBMITTED: 12 December 2008

The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:

Whether, in light of the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mandate and Location of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSOs), he or his Office has taken any steps to ensure co-operation between the DSO and the SA Police Service and the functioning of these two institutions; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1521E

REPLY:

As the Honourable Member is aware, Cabinet decided to disband the Directorate of Special Operations and establish a new Directorate within the South African Police Service. Parliament has recently passed the South African Police Service Amendment Bill and the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill to create such a Directorate. The Bills contain mechanisms to facilitate cooperation between the different role players in the fight against organized crime.

831. Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister of Labour:

(1) Whether he will ensure that his department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

(2) Whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to him; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) what is the estimated cost of all such (i) reports and (ii) publications per annum in the case of these agencies and all other working documents of his department and (b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of his department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices?

The Minister of Labour replied:

(1) The Department of Labour will actively start to monitor and reduce its carbon footprint with immediate effect. The following measures will be considered:

· Changing the procurement policy of the Department to only allow for the procurement of energy efficient equipment – e.g. printers, copiers, computers, etc.

· By actively addressing the energy consumption of the Department – obtain the figures of consumption of both electricity and liquid fuels and then instructing the facilities managers to actively manage the reduction of energy consumption, by training, making sure that all equipment is switched off when not in use and replacing old inefficient equipment with new technology e.g. LED bulbs and LED tube lights. Where lights can only be switched off per corridor and not per office, motion detectors will be installed.

· Establishing fixed procedures for recycling of paper, computer equipment, glass, and plastic.

· Implementation of a paperless work environment – where only final documents will be printed, scanned and filed electronically.

(2) The required steps will be taken by the Department as well as its public entities to minimize the use of glossy publications when and if required.

(3) The Department does not make use of glossy publications and therefore there are no financial implications

(a) (i) Not applicable

(ii) Not applicable

(b) (i) Electricity

(ii) All staff is obligated to switch off all electronic and electrical equipment at the end of business each day, including the lights in all offices.

QUESTION NO. 832

(Internal Question Paper No 15 – 2008)

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether he will ensure that his department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

(2) whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to him; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

ANSWER

(1) (a) and (b) The Department of Public Works is leading the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Strategy in respect of all government buildings.

(2) The agencies or councils referred to report to Parliament, and not to the Minister.

(3) (a) (i) & (ii) Fall away. However, an amount of R 4,468,710 has been spent on all publications for the 2007/2008 financial year by the dplg.

(b) (i) Electricity.

(ii) Energy saving measures being implemented are the following:

1.1

· All lights in the dplg buildings, including parking areas, are to be switched off between 19h00 and 05h00. Lights in passages, lift lobbies and some lights at the foyer will not be switched off for security reasons. Timer switches will be installed on each floor to regulate electricity.

· All geysers will be switched off between 19h00 and 05h00.

· Air-conditioning systems in our buildings have been programmed to automatically switch off at 18h00 and switch on at 06h00.

· Staff members are to switch off all electrical appliances and equipment when not in use.

· Disciplinary steps will be taken against all staff members who fail to comply with the energy saving measures.

QUESTION NO 833

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 MAY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15/2008)

Date reply submitted: 18 June 2008

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) to ask the Minister of Safety and Security:

(1) Whether he will ensure that his department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;

(2) whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to him; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

NW1219E

REPLY:

1(a) This department interprets the term "carbon footprint" as the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted by human activity over a specific period of time and relating to a specific activity which, in the case of this enquiry, relates to policing in South Africa. There are generally two ways of establishing the carbon footprint of a department, namely direct (or on‑site) emissions, and indirect (or off‑site) emissions. Given the size of the SAPS and the fact that it is distributed geographically across the entire country, the determining of the direct emissions associated with policing would be an immense task. To estimate the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases directly associated with the provision of a policing service in South Africa would require a detailed examination of the physical resources utilised by the SAPS including, inter alia, vehicles, office lighting, heating / cooling and power usage.

1(b) The Department recently implemented organisation‑wide energy saving measures in response to Government's call for more responsible utilisation of energy. These energy‑saving mechanisms include the switching off of lighting and other forms of electronic equipment not being utilised, especially after normal working hours. The Department also employs other mechanisms to improve the effective and efficient utilisation of resources, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the organisation, including vehicle fleet management, in terms of which the utilisation of every vehicle allocated to the Department is used for a specific operational or support purpose and its use is supervised.

The monitoring and reducing of the carbon footprint of the Department will, therefore, not be an easy task, but is one which will also require a standardised approach to the measuring of direct and indirect forms of emissions within Government as a whole

2. The glossy publications that are developed by the Department are produced in accordance with legislation and government policy.

3. The Department has a very stringent financial and budgetary management process in place at all levels. The estimated cost of the corporate documents compiled by the Department may be summarised as follows:

The Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan and Annual and Quarterly Reports	R 1 000 000.
Crime Prevention Information	An estimated 4 million copies at R 5 000 000.
The SAPS Journal (an internal communication publication)	2 million copies annually estimated at R 3 400 000.
The SAPS Desktop Calender	170 000 copies estimated at R 500 000.

QUESTION NO 834

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 MAY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15/2008)

Date reply submitted: 18 June 2008

Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister for Safety and Security:

(1) How many (a) farm attacks and (b) farm murders occurred in 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007 in each province;

(2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

NW1522E

REPLY:

(1) (i) 2005

Province	Incidents	Murders
Eastern Cape	49	3
Free State	28	7
Gauteng	173	26
KwaZulu‑Natal	71	12
Limpopo	34	12
Mpumalanga	141	8
Northern Cape	12	1
North West	55	3
Western Cape	36	13
TOTAL	599	85

(ii) 2006

Province	Incidents	Murders
Eastern Cape	24	5
Free State	39	16
Gauteng	203	23
KwaZulu‑Natal	78	10
Limpopo	38	7
Mpumalanga	139	6
Northern Cape	6	0
North West	137	12
Western Cape	23	0
TOTAL	687	79

(iii) Statistics for the 2007 calendar year will only become available once crime figures for the 2007/2008 financial year are released by the Minister.

(2) No.

QUESTION: NO 835

(Internal Question Paper No – 2008)

Mr W D Spies (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation:

(1) Whether he has received any correspondence from a certain person (name and details furnished) regarding the composition of the S A Olympic men's hockey team; if so, what was his reaction to this correspondence;

(2) whether such a reaction is authorised in terms of (a) the National Sport and Recreation Act, Act 110 of 1998, (as amended) and (b) international sport conventions; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1523E

RESPONSE:

1) I have not received any correspondence from a certain person regarding the composition of the SA Olympic men's hockey team.

2) As I did not receive such correspondence, I did not react whether in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act or International Sport Conventions.

QUESTION NUMBER 836

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30 MAY 2008

Mr W D Spies (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Finance:

Whether currently there is any form of (a) subsidisation of expenses or (b)(i) exemption or (ii) writeback of (aa) VAT and (bb) fuel levies for taxi operators who are (aaa) members and (bbb) not members of taxi associations; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

NW1524E

REPLY:

(a) Currently the only form of subsidy for the taxi industry is a once-off R50 000 subsidy for the scrapping of an old taxi. This subsidy is available in terms of the taxi-recapitalisation programme.

(b) There are no other forms of subsidies for the taxi industry. It should be noted that rail and road passenger public transport are exempted from VAT. This means that road and rail passenger transport providers (including taxi operators) do not charge VAT on the services they provide, but neither can they claim input VAT on the VAT payable on their inputs, their purchases of goods and services.

QUESTION 838

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [NO 15-2008]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30 May 2008

838. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:

(1) Whether a certain person (name and details furnished) in Pietersburg (Polokwane) has been criminally charged; if so, on what charges;

(2) whether this person is still in the employ of her department; if so, why was this person not suspended after his arrest;

(3) whether her department will launch an internal investigation into the functioning of the office of the Land Claims Commission at Pietersburg (Polokwane); if not, why not; if so,

(4) whether such investigation has already commenced and been finalised; if so, what were the findings of this investigation? NW1526E

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS:

(1) Yes. Fraud, alternatively theft, and obstructing or defeating the administration of justice.

(2) Yes. The employee was suspended on 18 March 2008.

(3) and (4) Yes. An investigation was launched and is at an advanced stage but has not been finalised as yet.

QUESTION NO 839

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 MAY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15/2008)

Date reply submitted: 18 June 2008

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

(1) How many applications for new firearms in terms of the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000, in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007 were (i) received, (ii) granted, (iii) rejected, (iv) taken on appeal and (v) fully processed;

(2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

NW1527E

REPLY:

(1) The South African Police Service received the following approximate number of firearm licence applications in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) for the respective years:

(a) 2004: ‑ 449

The implementation of the Firearms Control legislation commenced on 1 July 2004. The majority of firearm licence applications were received towards the latter part of 2004.

(b) 2005: ‑ 6 906

The number of applications began increasing after the first period of the renewal process. This resulted in a situation where the majority of firearm applications were received in the latter part of 2005.

The number of applications for firearm licences increased during the year 2006. This is attributed to the completion of competency testing by applicants who applied for both the competency certificate and the firearm licence.

(d) 2007: ‑ 30 275

The majority of the applications for firearm licences were lodged in the latter part of 2007.

The firearm licence applications have been processed as follows:

Year	(i) Granted	(ii) Refused	(iii) Taken on Appeal	(iv) ¹Fully Processed
2004	135	7	No appeal was registered for this period	142
2005	4 083	1 367	No appeal was registered for this period	5 454
2006	8 659	3 457	102	12 218
2007	7 691	1 799	802	10 292

(2) No.

QUESTION NO 840

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 JUNE 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16)

Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry: (Interdepartmental

transfer on 06/06)

Whether her department took any action in the past year with regard to the rivers and streams flowing through the Cape Peninsula; if not, why not; if so, (a) what action, (b) in respect of which (i) rivers and (ii) streams and (c) with what result?

NW1528E

---00O00---

REPLY:

(a) Yes, the DWAF has taken action with regard to rivers and streams flowing through the Cape Peninsula. This action was focused on raising awareness and collaborative efforts with the Provincial Department of Local Government and Housing (PDLGH) and the City of Cape Town (CCT) to find solutions within the constraints that exist. However, in future the focus will be more strongly on regulation and enforcement, in line with zero tolerance of pollution.

(b) (i), (ii) and (c) The actions taken are stated below and linked to specific rivers and streams where appropriate and also indicate what results were achieved.

DWAF has engaged with the City of Cape Town (CCT) over the past number of years regarding the need for upgrading and expansion of the Waste-Water Treatment Works (WWTW) within the Cape Peninsula. This has led to the CCT embarking on a programme to upgrade and extend the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) to improve the quality of the final treated waste-water and also to accommodate the additional sewage inflow from new developments. This will improve the water quality of most rivers throughout the Cape Peninsula. Looking at the average compliance with effluent water quality for 18 of the CCT WWTWs since the beginning of 2006, excluding marine outfalls, gives us a compliance rate of 88% (According to DWAF's monitoring).

DWAF's Water Services has also been engaging with the CCT and making money available through the Masibambane programme to assist with the eradication of bucket sanitation systems in formal areas and to provide basic services to all people within the Cape Peninsula. The eradication of bucket systems was achieved before the end of last year, 2007, within the target set by our National Government. The eradication of bucket toilets results in a reduction of serious health and environmental risks. In the Western Cape 4 600 bucket toilets were eradicated at the cost of R57 million. This has resulted in improved living conditions for the recipients as well as some improvement in the river water quality.

DWAF, together with the Scientific Services branch of the City of Cape Town has been monitoring the Rivers in the Cape Peninsula on an ongoing basis as part of the River Health Programme. This entails monitoring of the ecosystem health as well as water quality. Results of the monitoring are reported in a colourful and accessible format, prepared through the CSIR, for the Diep, Hout Bay, Lourens and Palmiet River Systems and published in 2003. A further Report for the Berg River System was published in 2005 and for the Greater Cape Town's Rivers in 2004. The latter report covers the Sand, Zeekoe, Silvermine, Else, Krom, Schusters and Bokramspruit in the Southern Peninsula area. The Central area around Cape Town centre included the Hout Bay, Liesbeek, Black, Kromboom, Vygekraal, Elsieskraal and Salt River systems.

These reports will be updated in due course as part of the Berg Water Management Area Report. These reports are extended to providing a Status Report on the State of Health of the River, indicating areas needing attention and amelioration. The reports reflect on what action have been taken and are very useful in raising awareness of the need to clean up the river systems and improve catchment management.

DWAF together with CCT and other stakeholders including civil society organisations, schools and the broader public have participated in river clean-up campaigns in the Liesbeeck River. There are excellent examples of organisations such as the Friends of the Liesbeeck River actively encouraging the protection and enjoyment of "the water environment" and the aesthetic service it provides.

QUESTION NO 841

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30 MAY 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15)

Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

(1) Whether the water of the rivers running through the City of Tshwane were tested by her department for bilharzia or any other kind of pollution in the past year; if not, why not; if so;

(2) whether any traces of bilharzia or other harmful pollutants were found; if so, (a) in which rivers and (b) what traces of pollutants were found;

(3) whether any action has been taken in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what action? NW1529E

--00O00---

REPLY:

(1) No. There is no bilharzia testing for rivers running through the City of Tshwane. Due to the complexity of the test it is uneconomical to do this frequently unless there is suspicion of Schistosoma eggs in the water, which might cause bilharzia if these infect a person.

Fresh water becomes contaminated by Schistosoma eggs when infected people urinate or defecate in the water. The eggs hatch, and if certain types of snails are present in the water, the parasites grow and develop inside the snails. The parasites leave the snails and enter the water where these can survive for about 48-60 hours. Schistosoma parasite can penetrate the skin of persons who are swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water. The Department does routine monthly water analyses for chemical and microbiological testing.

(2) Yes. There are traces of sewage related pollution (a) in the following rivers Kaalspruit, Hennops and Apies/Pienaars. (b) Traces of pollutants that were seen by indicators such as E coli, Ammonia and Phosphate.

(3) The Department discourages swimming in, or drinking water directly from, rivers in City of Tshwane due to the risk of contamination. This is to prevent / reduce the chances of being in contact with parasites such as Schistosoma which might cause bilharzia or other kinds of infection as a result of pollutants in the water.

To deal with pollution related problems and to speed up the response time, the Department engages with the municipalities through forums to identify the sources of pollution and by integrating monitoring programmes to pick up pollution quickly.

QUESTION NO 842

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: MONDAY, 07 JULY 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 30 MAY 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15 – 2008)

Mr M H Hoosen (ID) asked the Minister of Transport:

(1) What is the total (a) number of driving licences renewed annually and (b) revenue received from such renewals;

(2) whether he has been informed that many licensing centers cannot cope with the high volume of applicants; if so, what steps are being taken to address this problem?

NW1530E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(1) (a)

The total number of driving licence cards renewed in the period June 2007 to May 2008 is 1 543 million.

(b)

The public paid R204 million, of which the driving licence testing centres (DLTCs) paid a fee of R64.7 million to the card production facility (CPF) for the manufacture of these cards. The balance is retained by the Provinces and Local Authorities to defray cost with the administration associated with the process.

(2) The Department of Transport (DoT) continuously monitor application volumes for the renewal of driving licence cards and is aware of the fact that some DLTCs experience higher volumes of applications. The DoT has implemented an electronic licence booking module on the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS). It has been fully deployed in two Provinces, and another three Provinces are currently engaged in piloting the module. The full integration of the booking module with the driver module on the eNaTIS prevents fraudulent activities such as block-bookings by driving schools and the practice of applicants making bookings at multiple DLTCs, which will eventually be dishonoured.

In addition, the DoT is currently investigating the introduction of online transactions. The online transactions will free up resources at current service centres, allowing the staff to serve the public better and faster for transactions that require a physical visit to the service centre.

HOUSE: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

TYPE: WRITTEN QUESTION

MINISTRY: SPORT AND RECREATION SA

QUESTION: NO 842

(Internal Question Paper No 10 – 2009)

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

Whether his Director General signed a

a) Performance contract with him?

b) If not, why?

c) If so, when?

Whether all senior managers in his department signed,

a) Performance contracts with the Director General?

b) If not, which senior managers did not sign?

c) For what reason?

d) When will it be done?

e) If so, on which date did each senior manager sign performance contract?

REPLY:

Yes,

a) The Director General signed a performance contract.

b) Not applicable.

c) 30 June 2009.

a) Not all Managers signed.

b) Mr Z Nomvete (Executive Manager: FIFA 2010) and Ms Q Williams (Chief of Staff).

c) Both officials were newly appointed.

d) Mr Nomvete will sign before 31 October 2009 and Ms Q Williams by 22 September 2009, in terms of Chapter 4 of the SMS Handbook.

e) Ms A Burchell (Chief Director), 13 July 2009; Ms N Lubanga (Director), 29 May 2009; Mr D Matlala (Chief Financial Officer), 27 May 2009; Mrs L Mogorosi (Media liaison Officer), 24 June 2009; Mrs V Mathobela (Director), 29 May 2009; Ms L Sizani (Chief Director), 21 May 2009 and Dr B Van der Spuy (Director), 22 May 2009.

QUESTION 843

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 30 May 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15 of 2008

Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) What (a) is the total number of refugee applications pending and (b) steps are being taken to address the backlog;

(2) how many applications have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in the past financial year;

(3) whether her department receives any revenue to support refugees; if so, (a) from whom and (b) what amounts have been received?

NW1531E

REPLY

(1)(a) A total number of 89 584 refugee applications were pending as on 31 March 2008.

However, not all of these constitute a backlog, but are pending applications which are being dealt with, at our permanent office.

(1)(b) The Department of Home Affairs implemented the Refugee Backlog Project to address the pending asylum applications and refugee applications which were submitted before 1 July 2005. This project ended in February 2008, and all applications for political asylum, which were lodged before 1 July 2005, have successfully been dealt with by the Backlog Project. Cases which were not finalised are cases where the applicants appealed against the decisions of the Refugee Status Determination Officers. The backlog project was successful, and it has, now, been closed.

Applications are, currently, being dealt with by the five permanent Refugee Reception Offices, following the appointment of 190 additional staff members (between the five centres), in addition to the existing staff members. The newly appointed Centre Managers, Operations Managers, Refugee Status Determination Managers, and Refugee Reception Managers will ensure that applications for asylum and refugee status are being dealt with swiftly and responsibly.

To improve efficiency, the Department has identified the status determination process of asylum seekers and refugees, as one of the Department's priorities, within the Turnaround Project. The Department is currently piloting the "Refugee and Deportation (RaD) Integrated System in this regard.

(2)(a) A total of 1617 applications were approved during the past financial year (2007/08) – i.e refugee status was granted in terms of section 24 of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act No 130 of 1998).

(b) A total number of 5661 applications were rejected during the 2007/08 financial year.

(3) (a) & (b) No.

QUESTION NO: 844

MR, I E JENNER (ID) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES:

(1) Whether he has been informed of the contents of the report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (details furnished); if so,

(2) What steps are being taken to eliminate the crimes and malpractice allegedly committed within the Department of Correctional Services by members of the staff?

(3) Whether any steps are being taken to discipline and/or dismiss those staff members; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY

(1) Yes

(2) DCS has three-pronged Anti- Corruption Strategy aimed at fighting corruption through investigation of fraud and corruption. This was adopted in 2003 and is in compliance with the Cabinet's minimum anti- corruption capacity requirement. With the adoption of this strategy, specialized components were introduced, namely, the Departmental Investigation Unit (DIU) and the Code Enforcement Unit (CEU), solely with the mandate to investigate and discipline on the cases relating to fraud, corruption, theft and serious maladministration. The said mandate is provided for in terms of section 95 of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 as amended. These structures must be understood in the context of Minimum Anti- Corruption Capacity requirements.

(a) Investigation

The department has put in place safe reporting mechanisms to enable all officials to report crime or malpractice committed within the Department of Correctional Services by members of staff. The Department has a case information management system to record all the reported cases. The cases are investigated by the DIU. The cases with substance are referred to Code Enforcement for disciplinary hearing. The cases with no substance are closed. In the previous financial year, 56 members were subjected to disciplinary process. The conviction rate in this regard was 96, 4 %.

In this financial year, we have planned to increase the investigative capacity by providing basic investigative training course to 500 Correctional officers at management area level to enable them to conduct preliminary investigation on malpractices confronting the department at that level. The course is due to start around the 23^rd of June 2008.

(b) Ethics and anti-corruption awareness training

In the preceding financial year, over 1500 officials have been trained on ethics throughout the DCS. All the members of the SMS were trained on ethics management during 2006/7 financial year. The training was accomplished through partnership with SAMDI.

The afore stated intervention enhanced the officials' level of awareness on the anti-corruption mechanisms available in the DCS and encouraged ethical behavior amongst members of staff as well as with regard to interaction with inmates. The effort will contribute toward harnessing the organizational culture.

(3)With regard to the medical aid fraud, the Department received copies of 120 investigations from the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) all these members were subjected to disciplinary hearings, as the department is not in possession of the investigations against the other members an opportunity was granted to members to voluntary come forward and all in all 232 members were disciplined and got final written warnings on condition that the money they received should be repaid. They have signed admissions of debt to the amount of R6 354 100.00

With regard to the cases mentioned by Mr. Davids of the SIU the following:

· Feasibility study, the official who approved this process resigned from the Department before the investigation was forwarded to the department.

· The second case study investigation report is still with the SIU and investigation is at an advanced stage.

· The third case study involved no DCS officials. The concerned service provider has been arrested and the matter is being handled further by the SAPS.

· Fourth case study concerning undisclosed business interest:

DCS received 9 investigations. The internal disciplinary procedure requires that implicated persons must be afforded the opportunity to state their side of the story before any investigation can be regarded as concluded. That has been concluded with regard to 4 of the 9 cases. The disciplinary process is under way. The other 5 investigations were received recently and they are being analyzed by the Departmental investigators to conclude the internal process for compliance with the disciplinary procedure, where after they will be referred for disciplinary hearing.

QUESTION NO: 845

MR, I E JENNER (ID) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES:

(a) How many prisons are currently overcrowded, (b) which ones are overcrowded, (c) by what (i) numbers and (ii) percentage is each overcrowded, (d) what steps are being taken to alleviate this situation and (e) what are the results of such steps?

REPLY:

(a) In terms of the latest certified information 173 correctional facilities exceeds the approved capacity.

(b),(c)(i)(ii) The table below indicates all the correctional facilities that exceeds their approved capacity with detailed information with regard to numbers and percentages.

APPROVED ACCOMMODATION VERSUS OFFENDER POPULATION AND OCCUPANCY LEVELS PER CORRECTIONAL CENTRE AS ON 31 MARCH 2008
Correctional Centres	Capacity	ATD's	Sentenced	In Custody Total	% Occupation
STANDERTON MED. A CORRCENT	265	181	85	266	100.38%
ESHOWE CORRCENT	507	184	328	512	100.99%
OUDTSHOORN MED. B CORRCENT	79	13	67	80	101.27%
BARBERTON FARM MED. A CORRCENT	137	0	139	139	101.46%
POLLSMOOR MED. C CORRCENT	574	0	585	585	101.92%
DURBAN JUVENILE CORRCENT	629	226	421	647	102.86%
SEVONTEIN CORRCENT	842	0	868	868	103.09%
WORCESTER FEMALE CORRCENT	142	9	138	147	103.52%
SOMERSET EAST CORRCENT	77	0	80	80	103.90%
PATENSIE CORRCENT	353	0	368	368	104.25%
FICKSBURG CORRCENT	77	12	69	81	105.19%
SENEKAL CORRCENT	134	46	95	141	105.22%
RUSTENBURG CORRCENT	630	69	594	663	105.24%
DE AAR CORRCENT	297	64	249	313	105.39%
RICHMOND CORRCENT	43	5	41	46	106.98%
PIETERMARITZBURG CORRCENT	2499	1425	1252	2677	107.12%
UTRECHT CORRCENT	41	6	38	44	107.32%
PORT ELIZABETH CORRCENT	624	174	503	677	108.49%
LICHTENBURG CORRCENT	291	0	319	319	109.62%
BURGERSDORP CORRCENT	197	70	146	216	109.64%
VICTORIA WEST CORRCENT	69	22	54	76	110.14%
GLENCOE CORRCENT	669	2	735	737	110.16%
VOORBERG MED. B CORRCENT	1560	129	1602	1731	110.96%
DWARSRIVIER CORRCENT	236	0	262	262	111.02%
CRADOCK CORRCENT	245	51	223	274	111.84%
TABANKULU CORRCENT	100	27	85	112	112.00%
HEILBRON CORRCENT	58	33	32	65	112.07%
NEW HANOVER CORRCENT	222	25	224	249	112.16%
WITBANK CORRCENT	1278	257	1177	1434	112.21%
GOODWOOD CORRCENT	2115	1382	1003	2385	112.77%
KROONSTAD MED. B CORRCENT	535	534	70	604	112.90%
BERGVILLE CORRCENT	31	0	35	35	112.90%
MOUNT FLETCHER CORRCENT	122	27	112	139	113.93%
MODIMOLLE CORRCENT	341	0	389	389	114.08%
GROENPUNT MED. CORRCENT	739	0	857	857	115.97%
SADA CORRCENT	261	94	209	303	116.09%
BARBERTON FARM MED. B CORRCENT	631	0	734	734	116.32%
CAROLINA CORRCENT	102	20	99	119	116.67%
BOKSBURG JUVENILE CORRCENT	274	0	320	320	116.79%
FAURESMITH CORRCENT	57	18	49	67	117.54%
BUTTERWORTH CORRCENT	136	12	151	163	119.85%
WATERVAL MED. A CORRCENT	603	0	723	723	119.90%
NONGOMA CORRCENT	65	0	78	78	120.00%
LINDLEY CORRCENT	50	21	39	60	120.00%
ROOIGROND MED. B CORRCENT	266	0	324	324	121.80%
GROOTVLEI MED. CORRCENT	266	0	324	324	121.80%
COFIMVABA CORRCENT	55	0	67	67	121.82%
MELMOTH CORRCENT	50	6	55	61	122.00%
KURUMAN CORRCENT	307	147	228	375	122.15%
PIET RETIEF CORRCENT	261	116	207	323	123.75%
DURBAN MED. C CORRCENT	671	0	831	831	123.85%
TZANEEN CORRCENT	67	0	84	84	125.37%
FLAGSTAFF CORRCENT	31	21	18	39	125.81%
DRAKENSTEIN MED. B JUVENILE	474	0	600	600	126.58%
MALMESBURY MED. A CORRCENT	1010	102	1182	1284	127.13%
LEEUWKOP JUVENILE CORRCENT	723	1	929	930	128.63%
ROOIGROND MED. A CORRCENT	772	0	1010	1010	130.83%
MOGWASE CORRCENT	572	35	716	751	131.29%
HENNENMAN CORRCENT	210	218	58	276	131.43%
LYDENBURG CORRCENT	81	14	93	107	132.10%
ZEERUST CORRCENT	161	2	211	213	132.30%
MOSSELBAAI CORRCENT	346	150	308	458	132.37%
UPINGTON CORRCENT	793	246	804	1050	132.41%
KOKSTAD MED. CORRCENT	326	0	433	433	132.82%
POLLSMOOR MED. B CORRCENT	534	0	711	711	133.15%
BETHULIE CORRCENT	42	32	24	56	133.33%
ST. ALBANS MED. B CORRCENT	923	0	1232	1232	133.48%
LOSPERFONTEIN CORRCENT	808	52	1032	1084	134.16%
IDUTYWA CORRCENT	100	0	135	135	135.00%
BETHLEHEM CORRCENT	211	180	105	285	135.07%
BUFFELJAGSRIVIER CORRCENT	245	58	275	333	135.92%
ATTERIDGEVILLE CORRCENT	609	0	831	831	136.45%
MALMESBURY MED. B CORRCENT	207	246	37	283	136.71%
KRANSKOP CORRCENT	72	0	99	99	137.50%
PARYS CORRCENT	84	72	44	116	138.10%
RIEBEECK WEST CORRCENT	256	0	361	361	141.02%
SPRINGBOK CORRCENT	83	30	88	118	142.17%
EMPANGENI CORRCENT	331	417	54	471	142.30%
PRETORIA CENTRAL CORRCENT	1563	0	2226	2226	142.42%
BETHAL CORRCENT	771	504	596	1100	142.67%
DUNDEE CORRCENT	95	121	15	136	143.16%
ELLIOTDALE CORRCENT	53	0	76	76	143.40%
MAFIKENG CORRCENT	108	0	155	155	143.52%
BARKLY EAST CORRCENT	68	0	98	98	144.12%
PRINCE ALBERT CORRCENT	52	20	55	75	144.23%
POLLSMOOR MED. A CORRCENT	1111	1318	287	1605	144.46%
CHRISTIANA CORRCENT	107	0	156	156	145.79%
POTCHEFSTROOM CORRCENT	867	144	1123	1267	146.14%
ST. ALBANS MED. A CORRCENT	1446	2074	59	2133	147.51%
HARRISMITH CORRCENT	265	278	114	392	147.92%
NEWCASTLE CORRCENT	263	160	231	391	148.67%
PIETERMARITZBURG MED B	125	0	186	186	148.80%
LADYBRAND CORRCENT	54	30	51	81	150.00%
LADISMITH CORRCENT	54	15	66	81	150.00%
LEEUWKOP MED. A CORRCENT	911	3	1364	1367	150.05%
DRAKENSTEIN MED. A CORRCENT	576	0	870	870	151.04%
BRANDFORT CORRCENT	141	94	119	213	151.06%
NCOME MED. B CORRCENT	753	0	1145	1145	152.06%
GOEDEMOED MED. B CORRCENT	523	0	800	800	152.96%
UNIONDALE CORRCENT	52	17	63	80	153.85%
STUTTERHEIM CORRCENT	50	0	77	77	154.00%
HELDERSTROOM MAX. CORRCENT	589	4	904	908	154.16%
PRETORIA FEMALE CORRCENT	166	69	188	257	154.82%
LADYSMITH CORRCENT	326	420	89	509	156.13%
ROBERTSON CORRCENT	234	100	266	366	156.41%
BOSHOF CORRCENT	60	45	49	94	156.67%
STELLENBOSCH CORRCENT	74	69	47	116	156.76%
MAKHADO CORRCENT	324	94	414	508	156.79%
STAART VAN PAARDEBERG CORRCENT	276	0	434	434	157.25%
VEREENIGING CORRCENT	786	936	307	1243	158.14%
WORCESTER MALE CORRCENT	490	255	523	778	158.78%
NELSPRUIT CORRCENT	816	915	383	1298	159.07%
KIMBERLEY CORRCENT	801	535	744	1279	159.68%
MDANTSANE CORRCENT	582	0	932	932	160.14%
NKANDLA CORRCENT	43	0	69	69	160.47%
BEAUFORT WEST CORRCENT	76	50	72	122	160.53%
DRAKENSTEIN MAX. CORRCENT	386	1	619	620	160.62%
ODI CORRCENT	891	0	1438	1438	161.39%
KRUGERSDORP CORRCENT	1757	1374	1469	2843	161.81%
DURBAN FEMALE CORRCENT	244	142	255	397	162.70%
JOHANNESBURG FEMALE CORRCENT	605	363	626	989	163.47%
LEEUWKOP MAX. CORRCENT	763	0	1248	1248	163.56%
THOHOYANDOU MED. A CORRCENT	691	0	1140	1140	164.98%
BRANDVLEI MAX. CORRCENT	690	0	1143	1143	165.65%
JOHANNESBURG MED. C CORRCENT	329	0	549	549	166.87%
UMZINTO CORRCENT	445	284	463	747	167.87%
BAVIAANSPOORT MED. CORRCENT	618	0	1043	1043	168.77%
WATERVAL MED. B CORRCENT	627	0	1070	1070	170.65%
GROENPUNT MAX. CORRCENT	1193	27	2014	2041	171.08%
GRAAFF-REINET CORRCENT	63	49	59	108	171.43%
BAVIAANSPOORT MAX. CORRCENT	355	0	609	609	171.55%
NIGEL MALE CORRCENT	349	232	368	600	171.92%
FORT BEAUFORT CORRCENT	162	124	157	281	173.46%
HELDERSTROOM MED. CORRCENT	755	0	1316	1316	174.30%
ALLANDALE CORRCENT	342	331	271	602	176.02%
ZONDERWATER MED. B CORRCENT	795	1	1402	1403	176.48%
QALAKABUSHA CORRCENT (EMPANGENI)	1392	597	1876	2473	177.66%
WILLOWVALE CORRCENT	52	0	93	93	178.85%
HEIDELBERG CORRCENT	443	202	592	794	179.23%
CALVINIA CORRCENT	34	30	31	61	179.41%
LEEUWKOP MED. C CORRCENT	692	0	1249	1249	180.49%
BARBERTON FARM MAX. CORRCENT	845	1	1527	1528	180.83%
ESTCOURT CORRCENT	203	274	94	368	181.28%
POLLSMOOR FEMALE CORRCENT	245	262	184	446	182.04%
KNYSNA CORRCENT	179	157	169	326	182.12%
EAST LONDON MED. A CORRCENT	846	0	1553	1553	183.57%
MODDERBEE CORRCENT	2993	2165	3339	5504	183.90%
BOKSBURG CORRCENT	2012	1811	1952	3763	187.03%
GROOTVLEI MAX. CORRCENT	890	1320	361	1681	188.88%
MIDDLEDRIFT CORRCENT	411	0	781	781	190.02%
OBIQUA CORRCENT	239	0	455	455	190.38%
ST. ALBANS MAX. CORRCENT	717	0	1373	1373	191.49%
OUDTSHOORN MED. A CORRCENT	300	172	412	584	194.67%
DURBAN MED. A CORRCENT	2399	4629	98	4727	197.04%
ZONDERWATER MED. A CORRCENT	877	0	1746	1746	199.09%
GEORGE CORRCENT	514	342	696	1038	201.95%
POLOKWANE CORRCENT	539	286	809	1095	203.15%
THOHOYANDOU FEMALE CORRCENT	134	5	277	282	210.45%
CALEDON CORRCENT	215	394	60	454	211.16%
THOHOYANDOU MED. B CORRCENT	219	465	27	492	224.66%
PRETORIA LOCAL CORRCENT	2171	4647	297	4944	227.73%
UMTATA MAX. CORRCENT	720	7	1642	1649	229.03%
JOHANNESBURG MED. B CORRCENT	1300	0	3003	3003	231.00%
GRAHAMSTOWN CORRCENT	309	349	365	714	231.07%
EAST LONDON MED. B CORRCENT	543	1240	18	1258	231.68%
POLLSMOOR MAX. CORRCENT	1872	3813	718	4531	242.04%
DURBAN MED. B CORRCENT	1853	0	4679	4679	252.51%
JOHANNESBURG MED. A CORRCENT	2630	6529	152	6681	254.03%
MOUNT FRERE CORRCENT	42	0	109	109	259.52%
ODENDAALSRUS CORRCENT	350	906	30	936	267.43%
KING WILLIAMS TOWN CORRCENT	301	713	112	825	274.09%
BIZANA CORRCENT	57	127	61	188	329.82%
UMTATA MED. CORRCENT	580	1229	902	2131	367.41%
Rsa	114559	52662	113178	165840	144.76%

(d) The Department of Correctional Services developed a multi-pronged strategy to alleviate the overcrowding of correctional centres. This strategy consists of the following eight dimensions:

(i) Managing levels of awaiting trial detainees (ATD's) through the IJS Case Management Task Team and Inter-Sectoral Committee on Child Justice.

(ii) Managing levels of sentenced offenders through improving effective and appropriate use of conversion of sentences to community correctional supervision, release on parole and transfers between correctional centres to attempt to establish some degree of evenness of overcrowding.

(iii) Ensuring progress with DCS capital works programme to upgrade our facilities and to build new correctional centres that are both cost effective and rehabilitation oriented.

(iv) Encouraging debate in South Africa about reasons for incarceration as a sentence and encouraging an approach to appropriate sentencing that is focused on facilitating rehabilitation.

(v) Enhancing community correctional supervision so that it can be better utilised as an appropriate sentence for less serious crimes.

(vi) Improving correction and development programmes within DCS to ensure enhanced facilitation of rehabilitation that targets offending behaviour in a manner which the Department has not previously undertaken.

(vii) Encouraging improvement of first and second levels of correction in families, social institutions as well as social and economic sector government departments respectively to decrease the rate of entry into the criminal justice system.

(viii) Encouraging community involvement in social reintegration of offenders back into their communities in order to assist in reducing levels of repeat offending.

(e) The Department of Correctional Services managed to achieve significant successes during the past financial year in most of the above-mentioned strategies which are portrayed as follows:

· The down managing levels of children awaiting trial in this Department's facilities from 1158 in the 1^st Quarter to 1129 at the end of the 4^th Quarter in partnership with the Inter-Sectoral Committee on Child Justice and the IJS Case Management Task Team. Although there was a significant increase in the number of adults awaiting trial in our facilities, the total would have been vastly more if there were not marginal successes in the active participation and marketing regarding possible diversions and/or alternative sentencing options especially on regional and local level inter-departmental forums.

· The successful down management of sentenced offenders from

112 711 in the 1^st Quarter of 2007/08 to 112 552 in the 4^th Quarter of 2007/08 through improving effective and appropriate use of conversion of sentences to community correctional supervision, release on parole and transfers between correctional centres to attempt to establish some degree of evenness of overcrowding.

· There was a decrease of 2.96% during the 4th Quarter of 2007/08 in the sentence group 2-3 years. The number of offenders in the relatively short sentence group 2-3 years remains a concern as it begs the question as to whether they all need to be incarcerated in DCS facilities or could there not be an alternative means to correct the harm/wrong doing of their actions e.g. placed under correctional supervision, rendering of services, etc.

· Appropriate managing of this Department's capital works programme to upgrade our facilities and to build new correctional centres that are both cost effective and rehabilitation oriented. Some of the facilities that are currently under going maintenance are partly the cause that some of the other correctional facilities are currently overpopulated.

· Vigorous marketing of community correctional supervision as an alternative sentencing option resulted in new 522 cases being admitted during the financial year in the community corrections system.

· The placement of parole cases in the Community Corrections System has increased with 4.61% from 30 641 during the 1^st quarter of 2007/08 to an average of 32 636 during the 3^rd quarter of 2007/08 and increased even further 3.46% during the 4^th quarter of 2007/08.

· Active involvement and campaigning in all the respective Regions of first and second levels of correction in families, social institutions as well as social and economic sector government departments respectively to decrease the rate of entry into the criminal justice system.

QUESTION NO:846

MR, I E JENNER (ID) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES:

(a) How many prisoners awaiting trial are currently being held in prisons and (b) what is the average (i) cost per day of holding such prisoners and (ii) time that awaiting prisoners are held in prisons?

REPLY:

(a) On 31 March 2008 there were 52662 awaiting trial detainees in correctional facilities.

(b) (i) For the financial year 2007/08 the cost amounted to R168.68 per day/Awaiting Trial Detainee .

(ii) The average time that awaiting trial detainees are being accommodated in correctional facilities is 170 days.

QUESTION NO: 847

MRS, P de LILLE (ID) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES:

(a) How many incidents of (i) assault, (ii) rape/indecent assault and (iii) murder occurred in prison cells in the past 12 months for which information is available and (b) what steps are being taken to eliminate these crimes?

REPLY

(a) (i) For the period 1 April 2007 until 31 March 2008 a total number of 1038 alleged assaults occurred in Correctional Centres.

(ii) The Department of Correctional Services' Management Information System does not make provision for information specifically required regarding rape and or indecent assaults that took place in Correctional Centres.

(iii) For the period 1 April 2007 until 31 March 2008 the following incidents of murder occurred in Correctional Centres:

Ø Murder gang related : 1

Ø Murder correctional official on offender : 1

Ø Murder offender on offender : 3

(b) The following are actions steps taken to curb unnatural deaths:

Ø Ensure that sufficient staff is available to deal with complaints and requests within the prescribed timeframes.

Ø Offenders are encouraged to lodge their complaints and requests timeously in order to address the possible suicide cases.

Ø Heads of Correctional Centres must ensure speedy finalization of investigations when complaints of assaults are reported.

Ø Introduced a 24 hour direct supervision by developing sufficient staff especially at single cells

Ø Ensure that all night shifts are sufficiently covered by control visits by senior staff.

Ø Contingency plans are revised and in place to deal with any emergency situation even after normal working hours.

Ø Heads of Correctional Centres are frequently reminding staff to be watchful to any behavior of an offender which may lead to any form of suicide and refer them to Social Workers / Psychologist for counseling sessions.

Ø Searching of single cells on more frequent intervals are increased to remove unauthorized items.

Ø Night duty staff has been instructed to conduct increased visits to the single cells and to report any suspicious behavior.

Ø Unnatural Deaths form part of the security feedback during Regional Management Board meetings and Area Commissioners are sensitized during these meetings to effectively manage the occurrences of unnatural deaths.

Ø Heads of Centres were frequently reminded to execute strict control in terms of the provision of medication to offenders.

QUESTION NUMBER: 848

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30 MAY 2008

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) Whether, with reference to the Northern Cape Auditor General's report on a certain municipality (name and details furnished), his department will (a) investigate the matter and (b) determine whether wasteful expenditure occurred on the contract in terms of Chapter 2 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003 and other provisions in the Act; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether any steps will be taken in terms of the said Act to determine if any financial misconduct occurred by the Mayor or any municipal officer; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether he will table a report in Parliament in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1538E

REPLY:

(1) The constitution establishes municipalities as a sphere of government with councils, mayoral committees and a municipal administration. Each of these structures has specific responsibilities regarding sound financial management. The legal system also provides for accountability mechanisms to enforce compliance, while simultaneously providing for sanctions in the event of transgressions.

While the National Treasury (sometimes in collaboration with the provincial treasuries) may take certain steps to encourage and to enforce compliance with legislation and regulations relating to financial management, the primary oversight responsibility for financial management in a municipality rests with the relevant council. Accordingly, the municipal manager is thus required to advise the municipal council on appropriate action to be taken to address matters raised by the Auditor-General.

On the specific cases in point, the National Treasury has also written to the municipality seeking an explanation. The steps to be taken will be informed by the municipality's response.

The law also provides for the provincial legislature to consider such matters and to propose further action to be taken.

(2) As mentioned earlier, a response is being awaited from the municipality. Thereafter we would be in a position to comment on possible steps to be taken.

With regard to Councillors, the role of the MEC for Local Government and the Speaker of the municipal council must be respected when applying the measures provided for in terms of the Code of Conduct for Councillors in the Municipal Systems Act.

(3) The reporting regime requires that the provincial legislature first receive a report. Thereafter it can take appropriate resolutions requesting the steps it deems necessary to address the matter with the municipality.

Furthermore, it would not be appropriate for processes in any part of our intergovernmental system (in this case those of the national Parliament) to pre-empt and even unwittingly override due processes that are supposed to take place within another sphere of government.

QUESTION 849

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 30/05/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 15-2008)

Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Education:

(1) Whether all secondary schools have (a) qualified science teachers and (b) equipped science laboratories; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that these teachers can teach science to the learners?

NW1539E

REPLY

(1) (a) No, all secondary schools do not have qualified science teachers. According to a survey undertaken in 2007, 814 of the 4,588 schools offering Physical Sciences reported a shortfall.

The Department has a database of unemployed teachers that includes 734 Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers. The teachers on the database are local unemployed teachers, retired teachers, teachers who have taken the voluntary-severance package and teachers from other countries. Provinces and schools are able to recruit teachers from this database.

(1) (b) No, secondary schools do not all have science laboratories. According to the National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS), the percentage of schools without laboratories dropped from 75% in 1996 to 60% in 2006. Provinces are continuing to build laboratories from their equitable share allocation for infrastructure.

(2) The Department and the provincial departments are responding in a number of ways.

First, provinces provide equipment to all schools in the system. These include conventional equipment, as well as micro-science kits and small-scale equipment. The micro-science kits are more suitable for schools without laboratories. In addition, the Department has trained subject advisors on doing practical work using "everyday materials". These are materials that can be found in the environment and do not need to be purchased by schools. Subject advisors train teachers in clusters in the provinces on this work.

Second, the Department has provided all dinaledi schools with teacher support packs. These packs contain equipment for Physical Sciences and also serve as mobile laboratories. Relevant practical work that is essential to the understanding of scientific concepts can be done in classrooms as well as outside the classroom.

Third, provinces began providing 100 hours of training to teachers in dinaledi schools in 2006. These teachers are in the last year of their programme, a year in which mentors mentor teachers on their content knowledge.

Fourth, in February and May 2008, a total of 109 subject advisors in Physical Sciences were trained by experts from universities on content and practical work. Each subject advisor received a CD, which contained all the written materials and PowerPoint presentations. This will strengthen the support that subject advisors give to teachers in the classroom. Subject advisors train teachers in clusters in the provinces on this content and practical work.

Fifth, provinces use subject advisors, who have been trained by the Department and universities, to train teachers in all subjects during school holidays and on week-ends. To date, 4,824 Physical Sciences teachers have been trained in the provinces.

Sixth, provinces offer teachers bursaries to study the Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) specializing in Physical Sciences. In 2006, 1,277 teachers enrolled for the ACE. This cohort will be graduating this year. To date R13,8 million has been awarded in bursaries.

Last, the Department has provided additional material – content framework, subject assessment guidelines, learning programme guidelines, examination guidelines, study mates – to support the teaching and learning of Physical Sciences.

QUESTION NO. 850

(Internal Question Paper No 15 – 2008)

Mr W P Doman (DA) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(a) How many (i) professionals and (ii) managers have been deployed under Project Consolidate in (aa) 2005, (bb) 2006 and (cc) 2007, (b) to how many of the 136 municipalities have they been deployed, (c) for how long have they been deployed, (d) what are their fields of expertise and (e) from where were they sourced?

ANSWER

(a) (i) and (ii) (aa), (bb) and (cc), and (b):

Project Consolidate Deployments

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

Number of professionals and managers deployed

210 deployments

359 deployments

1 134 deployments

Number of Project Consolidate (PC), municipalities

69 municipalities

105 municipalities

268 municipalities

(including all 139 PC municipalities).

(c)The duration of deployment differs from one deploying agent to the next. Generally, deployments have ranged from one year to three years.

(d) Deployments have focused on the following skills areas:

engineering;
finance;
town-planning;
project management; and
human resource development.

(e) Support for Project Consolidate has been mobilised from a range of stakeholders and partners, including business and professional organizations, state owned enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and development and donor agencies. Some of these stakeholders include the First National Bank, the Business Trust, AHI, IDT, INCA Capacity Building Fund, GTZ, KFW, DFID (UK), USAID, the South African Planning Institution (SAPI) and the Old Mutual Group.

All firearm licence applications received for the period 2004‑2007 have been fully processed on the Enhanced Firearms Register System. Contributory factors such as outstanding documentation from applicants, safe inspections, availability of applicants for safe inspections result in a situation where a final decision could not be made on the outstanding applications during that specific year. As the outstanding information is received, the applications are considered and finalized.

2008-11-27

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