Questions & Replies: Questions & Replies No 626 to 650

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2010-04-08

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[PMG note: Replies are inserted as soon as they are provided by the Minister]

QUESTION 626 WRITTEN REPLY 05 March 2010

626. Mr M H Hoosen (ID) to ask the Minister of Public Works:

(1) With reference to the media report about the State purchasing a house worth approximately R3 million for the National Police Commissioner, (details furnished), what are the details of the policy that informs the department on the purchase of property for senior Government officials;

(2) whether his department is in the process of purchasing any property for use by senior ranking officials; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the cost of each of these properties, (b) what is the reason for purchasing such property, (c) what alternatives were considered before the decision was made to purchase the properties and (d) what property was used by the previous commissioner;

(3) Whether the property that was used by the previous commissioner is inadequate to accommodate the new commissioner; if so, why? NW751E

Reply:

(1) The Department facilitated the process of acquisition of the house which is occupied by the National Commissioner based on the provisions of the South African Police Service (SAPS) housing policy. In terms of this policy, members appointed or deployed for operational purposes qualify for the provision of residential accommodation and the National Commissioner as an incumbent to the post falls within the category of such members.

(2) The Department is not purchasing any property for use by any departmental officials.(a) (b) (c) falls away d) The previous National Commissioner used his private property.

(3) The two previous Commissioners had owned residential houses in Pretoria.

QUESTION NO: 627

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 5 March 2010

QUESTION PAPER NO: 6

DATE OF REPLY: 12 February 2010

Mrs P de Lille (ID) to ask the Minister of Communications:

What is the total amount that was paid to the members of the Ministerial Task Team on Sentech and the SABC since its inception?

NW752E

REPLY:

The total amount paid is R9,4 million.

QUESTION NO: 628

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 5 March 2010

QUESTION PAPER NO: 6

DATE OF REPLY: 12 February 2010

Mrs P de Lille (ID) to ask the Minister of Communications:

Whether the SABC intends to use subtitling to assist more than one million deaf persons to view its television programming; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW753E

REPLY:

SABC informed me that access is a core issue for public television. The SABC, as a Public service broadcaster, is mandated to provide access of services to the whole nation. Since equity and inclusivity are basic principles of our democracy, it is mandatory that people with sensory disabilities as well as people from marginalised language groups are accommodated. Deaf and hard of hearing people rely on two means of communication when watching television, namely South African Sign Language (SASL) and wall-to-wall subtitles.

The SABC has drawn up interim subtitling guidelines for the use of commissioning editors, executive producers and independent producers.

The SABC is also in the process of developing an Audio Visual Translation Policy that will indicate how many hours of content per genre will be made accessible for deaf and blind viewers in particular. The number of hours and genres will increase year on year.

QUESTION NO: 629

DATE OF PUBLICATION:

QUESTION PAPER NO:

DATE OF REPLY:

Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Minister of Communications:

(1) Whether his department appointed an audit committee; if not, why not; if so, when;

(2) (a) on what date in August 2008 did he meet with the Auditor-General when he was informed about the noncompliance and (b) what steps did he implement to rectify the problem?

NW757E

REPLY:

(1) The Department appointed an audit committee on 14 September 2007.

(2) I did not meet with the Auditor-General in August 2008.

Question 630

Adv A de Walbert (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:

(1) Whether he is considering steps to introduce tax rebates for the SA film industry; if so, what will these steps entail; if not, why not;

(2) Whether he will consider any other measures to render assistance to the film industry in the current economic climate? NW402E

Response:

(1) The department introduced a revised Film and Television production scheme in 2008. The revision was intended to enhance the ability of the rebate scheme to assist emerging local film makers. The department will continue monitoring the impact of the incentive in relation to its intended objectives, and should this monitoring process indicate the need for additional instruments such as tax incentives, these will be considered. Introduction of tax incentives would require consultation with Cabinet and the National Treasury, the custodian of tax legislation.

In order to further assist local South African film makers, the dti introduced during the second quarter of 2009, a system ofmilestone payments whereby productions that qualified for the rebate can get reimbursed during predetermined phases in their shooting schedule rather than being reimbursed through a single payment after the completion of the production, as was done previously. This has a significant beneficial impact on the cash flow requirements of beneficiary productions as they receive their approved grants much earlier.

QUESTION NO 631

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: 30 MARCH 2010

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: MONDAY, 15 MARCH 2010 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 – 2010)

Adv A de W Alberts (FF Plus) asked the Minister of Transport:

Whether his department has introduced or will introduce measures to combat the reckless use of minibus taxis before the Fifa Soccer World Cup tournament kicks off on 11 June 2010; if not, why not; if so, what do these measures entail? NW403E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

The National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996) prohibits the reckless and negligent driving of a motor vehicle and is not limited only to a specific class of motor vehicle. In terms of section 63 of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996), it is an offence for a person to drive a motor vehicle on a public road recklessly or negligently. The word "recklessly" should not be interpreted as only referring to occupants of the motor vehicle, but includes any other person who at any given time is on a public road or whose safety may be jeopardised by the conduct of the person operating such a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the Act also prohibits any inconsiderate driving of a motor vehicle on a public road.

In relation to our efforts to combat and reduce the carnage on our roads, we are continuously in the process of increasing our law enforcement interventions and strategies to ensure that we deal with lawlessness on our roads. However, in relation to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and in particular the taxi industry, we will be focusing on our public transport to ensure the safety of all the road users during the event. A zero tolerance approach will therefore be adopted to ensure that minibus taxis operate their vehicles within the boundaries of the law.

QUESTION 632

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15/03/2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 7-2010)

Ms F I Chohan (ANC) to ask the Minster of Basic Education

Whether her department intends transferring reform schools throughout the country to the Department of Social Development; if not, what is the status of reform schools; if so, (a) how many schools are affected and (b) what are the further relevant details. NW585E

ANSWER

The Department of Basic Education intends to transfer all Reform Schools to the Department of Social Development as prescribed in the Children's Act of 2005.

(a) Five Schools will be affected.

(b) At present there are three fully fledged Reform Schools and two Reform Schools Programmes attached to Schools of Industries in four of the nine provinces. Those provinces with a Reform School or Reform School Programme are Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Ntal, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape. Learners sentenced to a Reform School from Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West are admitted to a Reform School in another province. Most of the time those learners are admitted to Ethokomala Reform School in Mpumalanga.

The two Reform School Programmes are at Gali Tembani Youth Care Centre in Eastern Cape and Newcastle Youth Care Centre in KwaZulu Natal. These Reform School Programmes at Gali Tembani Youth Care Centre and Newcastle Youth Care Centre are operative.

The three Reform Schools are Eureka Special Youth Care Centre, Kraaifontein Special Youth Care Centre and Ethokomala Reform School. Eureka Special Youth Care Centre and Ethokomala Reform School are operative whilst Kraaifontein Special Youth Care Centre closed down in December 2009.

The two Western Cape Reform Schools (Eureka and Kraaifontein) have a bed capacity of 120 and the Ethokomala Reform School has a bed capacity of 160. The Reform School Programme in Eastern Cape has a bed capacity of 76 whilst the Reform School Programme in KwaZulu Natal has a bed capacity of 20.

School's Name

Province

Town

Bed Capacity

Operative

Yes/No

Gali Tembani

Eastern Cape

Queenstown

76

Yes

Newcastle

KwaZulu Natal

Newcastle

20

Yes

Ethokomala

Mpumalanga

Kinross

160

Yes

Eureka

Western Cape

Rawsonville

120

Yes

Kraaifontein

Western Cape

Kraaifontein

120

No

QUESTION NO. 633 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 7 NW670E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15 March 2010

Dr L L Bosman (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) (a) How many persons in the (i) commercial sector and (ii) the subsistence sector have permits to conduct trek netting in False Bay, (b) in each case, what was the most recent total allowable catch for a season as allowed by the department and (c) what was the official tonnage landed from trek netting in False Bay in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009;

(2) whether action was taken against any permit holders who over-caught in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether fisheries officers are as a matter of course on site whenever catches from trek netting are landed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Dr L L Bosman (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

633. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1)(a)(i) Five.

(1)(a)(ii) None.

(1)(b)(i) The total allowable effort was five tons in the commercial sector.

(1)(b)(ii) Nil in the subsistence sector.

(1)(c) Tonnage is not officially known as research has focused on the number of nets, which is stated in the total allowable effort.

(2) The notion of over-catching, in terms of tonnage, in a total allowable effort environment is not relevant. There were also no known cases of more nets being used than permitted in both 2008 and 2009.

(3) The current permit conditions do not place an obligation on the trek net fishers to submit their catch to the Fishery Control Officers (FCOs) or notify them when they launch their nets. This situation is however currently under review as there have been recent incidents of the harvesting of under-sized fish and has not been reported to FCOs.

QUESTION NO 634

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15/03/2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 7-2010)

Mr R B Bhoola (MF) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1) Whether all schools in KwaZulu-Natal have received laptops in terms of the laptop initiative programme for schools; if not, which schools have not received laptops;

(2) whether occupational-specific dispensation agreements have (i) been finalised and (ii) concluded with all educators in KwaZulu-Natal; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW755E

REPLY:

(1)

The Teacher Laptop Initiative is directed at school-based educators not schools. It offers an opportunity for school based educators to own and use an ICT package (laptop, teaching and learning software and connectivity) for teaching and learning. It is aimed at

both contributing towards the policy of integrating ICT in teaching and learning and the improvement of the conditions of service for educators by providing a monthly allowance for the qualifying educators.

The Province intends providing 41805 teachers with the laptop allowance for the financial year 2010/2011. The remaining educators will receive in the financial year 2011/2012.

(2)

Programmatic payments were made in December 2009 and January 2010. The targeted date for the finalization of the remaining exception cases (31179) is end of the financial year 2009/2010.

QUESTION NUMBER: 635

DATE FOR PUBLICATION: 15 MARCH 2010

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: 30 MARCH 2010

MR R B BHOOLA (MF) TO ASK THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION:

Whether he has taken any steps to deal with the problems identified by the Youth Parliament that (a) youth constitute 70% of the unemployed, (b) (i) youth experience funding and (ii) resource constraints to sustain entrepreneurship initiatives and (c) municipalities were not actively inducting youth in tender processes; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps?

NW756E

REPLY:

Yes, the NYDA is taking steps to address the youth unemployment challenge. One of the ways that the NYDA is responding is by ensuring that youth development is a mainstream activity in all government departments, and all three spheres of government. Furthermore, the NYDA is in the process of establishing Provincial Advisory Boards (PAB's) in all 9 Provinces. Partly such PAB's will be responsible for lobbying for more opportunities to be availed both at Provincial and local level for unemployed youth. Lastly the NYDA has prioritised key projects for implementation in the next financial year; the main feature of these key projects is to enrol a larger number of direct beneficiaries, a departure from how NYDA predecessors used to function, i.e. focus on individuals and a programmatic approach at community and local level. The key projects include an element of entrepreneurship development and support.

QUESTION NUMBER 636

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12 MARCH 2010

Dr P de Lille (ID) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) Whether government tenders have been awarded to certain companies (names furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(2) Whether these companies complied with tender requirements in regard to having tax clearance certificates; if no, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW759E

REPLY

(1) The authority to award tenders has been devolved to the various accounting officers I accounting authorities since the introduction of supply chain management in Government during December 2003. In order to monitor preferential procurement policy outcomes, the National Treasury manages and maintains an electronic database where national and provincial departments report the award of all contracts in excess of R100 000. It must be emphasized that the information contained in these reports are not audited and that the values of the individual contracts awarded may differ from the actual payment made. The names of the companies 101 Junjus Trading cc, Blue Nightingale Trading 61, Ever Roaring Investment and SGL Engineering Projects do not appear on the National Treasury's database.

(2) The National Treasury, in collaboration with the South African Revenue Services (SARS), has issued an instruction to all accounting officers and accounting authorities that no contract may be awarded to a bidder who has failed to submit an original valid Tax Clearance Certificate from the SARS. Such a certificate will only be issued if the taxes of that bidder are in order or that suitable arrangements have been made with the SARS to meet any tax obligations. The Tax Clearance Certificate requirements are applicable to all contracts exceeding the threshold value of R30 000 (VAT included).

QUESTION NO: 637

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 07 OF 15 March 2010

Mrs P de Lillie (ID) to ask the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

(1) (a) What is the value of each tender that was awarded to certain companies (101 Jungjus Trading CC, Blue Night Trading 61, Ever Roaring Investment and SGL Engineering), (b) which municipalities awarded these tenders and (c) when will the projects for which these tenders were awarded be completed;

(2) Whether there were any inspections or problems after completion; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) Whether the said companies met all the requirements necessary to be awarded a tender; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) Whether the said companies have submitted tax clearance certificates before they were granted tenders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW760E

Reply

The information requested is not available within the Ministry and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The province has been contacted and a full response to the question will be provided as soon as all information has been furnished.

QUESTION NUMBER: 638

DATE FOR PUBLICATION: 15 MARCH 2010

DATE REPLY SUB MITTED: 8 APRIL 2010

REV K R J MESHOE (ACDP) TO ASK THE MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY: PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND EVALUATION AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION:

Whether, on his visit to Siyathemba township (details furnished) near Balfour in Mpumalanga in 2009, after the President's visit, he promised residents that 100 houses would be built within the current financial year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what progress has been made?

NW763E

REPLY:

The Provincial Department of Human Settlement made an allocation of 100 PHP Housing units to Dipaleseng Local Municipality for the financial year 2009/10.The Municipality identified 100 prospective beneficiaries of which 51 of them have been approved and the others are being verified in the department. The Council took a decision to allocate the units as follows;

Ward 1: 50 Housing Units

Ward 6: 24 Housing Units

Ward 3: 26 Housing Units

The Provincial Department appointed a Community Resource Organazation to facilitate the construction of these houses and they are currently establishing site together with the appointed Contractor to commence with the construction of the 100 houses.

Another 100 PHP Housing Project was concluded during the 2008/09 financial year in the Municipality covering the following wards;

Ward 2: 50 Housing Units

Ward 4: 50 Housing Units

QUESTION NUMBER 639

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12 MARCH 2010

Mr J J Mc Gluwa (ID) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) Whether the money that was provided to the Department of Home Affairs for the smart card project has been returned after the process was stopped by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA); if not, when will the money be returned; if so, (a) when and (b) how much has been returned;

(2) what was the returned money used for by his department?

NW764E

REPLY

(1) and (2)

An amount of R114 million allocated for the ID "Smart Card" project in 2008/09 was unspent. Of this amount, R4 million was shifted to offset overspending in other programmes and R110 million was rolled over in the 2009/10 Adjustments Appropriation for the "Who Am I Online" project.

An amount of R104.4 million was allocated for the Smart Card project in 2009/10. The Department of Home Affairs has indicated that this will not be spent, and has proposed that it be shifted to cover costs associated with enhancement of the Movement Control System, in preparation for hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and to reimburse the Government Printing Works for higher than anticipated costs of printing passports.

The government will be initiating a smart card project that will cater for government-wide needs and will assist in rationalizing cost.

QUESTION 641

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Monday, 15 March 2010

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 of 2010

Mr J J Mc Gluwa (ID) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

Whether she will take any steps to redesign identity documents in light of the reported comments of her Deputy Minister (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what steps?

NW766E

REPLY

Yes. The Department is in the process to improve the security features of the current identity document, including the possibility of digitising the photograph into the identity document, as well as the upgrading of security features. Photo digitisation will ensure that the photograph of the rightful owner cannot be replaced.

QUESTION 642 FOR WRITTEN REPLY

MONDAY, 15 MARCH 2010

642. Mr L Ramatlakane (Cope) to ask the Minister for the Public Service and Administration:

(1) With reference to his reply to question 60 for oral reply on 9 September 2009, (a) which (i) directors-general (DGs) and (ii) deputy directors-general (DDGs) heading more than five departments' contracts were (aa) to expire, (bb) expired, (cc) suspended, (dd) terminated and/or (ee) re-determined and (ff) paid out for their contracts and (b)(i) what amount was paid to each, (ii) which departments did they work for and (iii) who is acting at each affected department;

(2) whether these occurrences were negotiated with the affected person(s); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether termination was the result of poor performance; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether the correct disciplinary procedures were followed in terms of the (a) Labour Relations Act, Act 66 of 1995, or (b) Senior Management Handbook; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(5) whether the Department of Correctional Services has concluded its disciplinary process of a certain person (name furnished); if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

(1) (a)(i)(aa) The contracts of the following Directors-General (DGs) were due to expire in the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010:

Name

Department

Ms M Mpofu

Transport

Mr HA Dennis

South African Secret Service

Mr TD Mseleku

Health

Mr EL Kganyago

National Treasury

Mr JS Selebi

Police

Dr A Ntsaluba

International Cooperation and Relations

Mr M Manzini

National Intelligence

(a)(i)(bb) The following contracts expired in the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010:

Name

Department

Mr M Manzini

National Intelligence

Dr P Mjwara

Science and Technology

Mr JMJ Maseko

GCIS

Mr T Matona

Trade and Industry

Ms O Ramsingh

Office of the Public Service Commission

Dr A Ntsaluba

International Cooperation and Relations

(a)(i)(cc) Ms X Sibeko

(a)(i)(dd) None

(a)(i)(ee) The terms of the following Directors-General were re-determined:

Name

Department

Mr TD Mseleku

Health

Ms LG Msengana-Ndlela

COGTA

Mr IW Kotsoane

Human Settlements

Ms N Nduli

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Ms X Sibeko

Correctional Services

(a)(i)(ff) The following Directors-General were paid out for their contracts:

Name

Department

Mr TD Mseleku

Health

Ms LG Msengana-Ndlela

COGTA

Mr IW Kotsoane

Human Settlements

Ms N Nduli

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Ms X Sibeko

Correctional Services

(a)(ii) Deputy Directors-General are not appointed on contract basis.

(b)(i) Providing information as to how much a person was paid out may be exposing such individuals to serious risks and we therefore decided not to do so.

(b)(ii) The table above reflects the Departments they were working for respectively.

(b)(iii) Mr P Thabethe is Acting for the Department of Agriculture and the other Departments have already appointed their Directors-General, as follows:

Health : Ms Motoso

Co-operative Governance : Mr E Africa.

Human Settlement : Mr M Dlabantu:

Public Service Commission : Mr D Diphofa

Correctional Services : Mr Moyane

(2) These occurrences were handled as provided for in terms of applicable legal and regulating instruments.

(3) No Director-General's contract was terminated as a result of poor performance.

(4)(a) and (b)

No exit took place due to misconduct, hence no disciplinary action need.

(5) The disciplinary process with regard to the National Commissioner of Correctional Services was concluded on 14 December 2009 and the former National Commissioner was not found guilty of the charges preferred against her.

QUESTION NO: 643

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15 March 2010

QUESTION PAPER NO: 7

DATE OF REPLY: 19 March 2010

Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Minister of Communications:

(1) How many specified officials employed by his department were suspended for irregular expenditure in the 2008-09 financial year;

(2) whether disciplinary processes were instituted against these officials; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) were their respective positions in the department and (b) was the outcome of the disciplinary processes;

(3) whether the accounting officer was informed of this; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(4) whether the misappropriated money will be repaid to the department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW768E

REPLY:

Please read the reply together with the reply for Question 760

(1) Thirteen (13) people were suspended from 2008 to 2010 for irregular expenditure.

(2) Disciplinary processeses were instituted against the officials and the outcomes are as follows:

(a) Designations

(b) Outcome of the disciplinary processes

2 Senior Administrative Officers

3 Months without pay

2 Assistant Directors

3 months without pay

Executive Secretary

1 month without pay

Executive Secretary

3 months without pay

Deputy Director

3 months without pay

Chief Director

Dismissal

Administrative Officer

Case still pending

Deputy Director-General

Case still pending

Deputy Director

Demotion

Assistant Director

Dismissal

Driver/Messenger

3 months without pay

(3) Yes the accounting Officer was informed of this.

No, the sanction was not coupled with repayment of money, but criminal charges were instituted

QUESTION NO: 644

Mr R.B Bhoola (MF) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements:

(1) Whether the Housing Development Agency (HDA) has offices in all provinces; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) The Housing Development Agency (HDA) has three offices which were established in accordance with the operational activities of the HDA. The offices are located at the following addresses:

Gauteng (Head Office)

Eastern Cape

Western Cape

Block A, Riviers Road Office Park 6-10 Riviera Road Killarney, Johannesburg 21 93

4th Floor, Fairview Office park 66 Ring Road, Greenacres Port Elizabeth 6000

129 Bree Street Cape Town
8001

Currently there is no operational requirement for additional office space in different provinces or municipalities. New offices will be opened as demand requires.



QUESTION NO: 645

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 07 OF 15 March 2010

Mr S N Swart (ACDP) to ask the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

(a) What role does the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) play in determining municipal guideline increases in electricity tariffs and (b) what steps will he take to resolve the impasse between the Government and Nersa on this matter?NW771E

Reply

(a) In terms of section 4 (ii) of the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act no 4 of 2006) the National Energy Regulator must regulate prices and tariffs, Therefore NERSA on an annual basis determines and communicates municipal guidelines increases to promote co-operative governance between all spheres of government and public entities.

(b) This guideline increase is then sent through to municipal distributors as a guide to them in determining their annual electricity tariffs. Further to that, to provide timely information to enable municipalities to plan properly and to prepare their budget in accordance with the process set out in Chapter 4 of the PFMA. Please see the Table Here

QUESTION NO. 646

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 March 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 7)

Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister of Health:

(1) Whether he has been informed that a regulation backlog of nearly 3 000 medicines, which could take another two years to resolve, is being exacerbated by the Medicines Control Council's (MCC's) current practice of duplicating tests already conducted in advanced countries; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether his department has considered the need for measures to ensure the MCC can automatically accept medication already subjected to stringent regulatory registration elsewhere; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether his department has considered the need for new technologies for on-the-spot detection of fake and substandard regulated products to protect the citizens; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW772E

REPLY:

(1) Yes. We are aware of the backlog of 1 682 medicines, 45 of which are New Chemical Entities (NCEs) and the balance generics. We define the backlog as outstanding registrations from 2007 and prior.

The main cause of the backlog is over-reliance on external evaluators who have primary jobs elsewhere. I have appointed a team to deal with the backlog. I am also working on legislative amendments that will facilitate a shift from over-reliance on external evaluators to building in-house capacity particularly for the evaluation of generic medicines. This legislation will also enable the regulatory authority to retain fees, therefore facilitating recruitment and retention of both in-house staff and external evaluators on a retailer basis.

It is true that efficiencies could be gained through entering into formal agreements with identified stringent Regulatory Authorities. This option forms part of the envisaged legislative review. I however wish to advise that NRAs in developed countries mainly evaluate NCEs and Biotechnologies, rather than generics. Further, the sources of generics are by and large different from our applicants.

Further, the risk/benefit ratio of a medicine for a particular population remains the responsibility of a national regulatory authority. Speed of processing applications must therefore be balanced with capacity building.

It is against this background that I believe the backlog will be addressed within a year. We admit efficiency should be improved. It should however be noted that some of the delays are due to incomplete information and inappropriate data submitted by applicants.

(2) As indicated above, automatic acceptance is not desirable. An abbreviated review process is however a viable option.

(3) The Department of Health, Sub-Directorate Law Enforcement, has in the past considered a number of new technologies for the on-the-spot detection of substances contained in medicines by using infra red technologies. Due to the costs involved with the purchase of these devices (in the region of R650 000 per unit excluding maintenance and calibration costs), the Department has opted not to purchase these devices.

Currently the Department is investigating the use of mass spectrophotometers, a technology that compares well with infra red technology but which may be more affordable.

QUESTION NO: 647

Mr Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:

1. How many staff members have been appointed at the level of Deputy Director-General, (b) what is each one of these persons earning and (c) what was the reason for the appointment of each one of these persons?

2. Whether she will make a statement on the matter? NW773E

REPLY

The Honourable Member is a Commissioner on the Interim National Defence Force Service Commission and therefore has access to all the information that would assist him in this matter. No appointments at the level of Deputy Director-General have been made since I took over as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and no statement will therefore be made.

QUESTION NO.: 650

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15 March 2010

Mr L W Greyling (ID) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:

(1)(a) How many companies benefit from the reduced mega-flex rate of Eskom, (b) what percentage (i) of the domestic total energy use do these companies utilise and (ii) increase will these companies incur as a result of the latest price increase announced by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa);

(2)(a) how many companies receive an even lower and fixed tariff for their electricity usage other than the mega-flex contracts which have been confirmed by Eskom and (b) what (i) percentage of the total electricity usage do they utilise and (ii) are the names of these companies? NW776E

REPLY

1)(a-b)(i-ii) Eskom only offers a tariff called Megaflex, which is one of its NERSA approved standard retail tariff offerings the details of which are attached as Annexure A. A reduced Megaflex tariff is not offered. With the exception of two customers who have long term pricing contracts all Eskom customers in South Africa are supplied at the standard Eskom Retail Tariffs as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).

(2)(a) Currently, Eskom only has two customers who have long term contracts, and Eskom has started the process of engaging the customers concerned with the view to revising the contracts. These contracts were entered into during the period when Eskom had excess capacity.


(b)(i) These long term contracts account for approximately 5% of the total electricity usage in the country.

(b)(ii) The additional information requested relates to the confidential commercial information of a third party and is subject to the protection provided in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

QUESTION 632

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15/03/2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 7-2010)

Ms F I Chohan (ANC) to ask the Minster of Basic Education

Whether her department intends transferring reform schools throughout the country to the Department of Social Development; if not, what is the status of reform schools; if so, (a) how many schools are affected and (b) what are the further relevant details. NW585E

ANSWER

The Department of Basic Education intends to transfer all Reform Schools to the Department of Social Development as prescribed in the Children's Act of 2005.

(a) Five Schools will be affected.

(b) At present there are three fully fledged Reform Schools and two Reform Schools Programmes attached to Schools of Industries in four of the nine provinces. Those provinces with a Reform School or Reform School Programme are Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Ntal, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape. Learners sentenced to a Reform School from Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West are admitted to a Reform School in another province. Most of the time those learners are admitted to Ethokomala Reform School in Mpumalanga.

The two Reform School Programmes are at Gali Tembani Youth Care Centre in Eastern Cape and Newcastle Youth Care Centre in KwaZulu Natal. These Reform School Programmes at Gali Tembani Youth Care Centre and Newcastle Youth Care Centre are operative.

The three Reform Schools are Eureka Special Youth Care Centre, Kraaifontein Special Youth Care Centre and Ethokomala Reform School. Eureka Special Youth Care Centre and Ethokomala Reform School are operative whilst Kraaifontein Special Youth Care Centre closed down in December 2009.

The two Western Cape Reform Schools (Eureka and Kraaifontein) have a bed capacity of 120 and the Ethokomala Reform School has a bed capacity of 160. The Reform School Programme in Eastern Cape has a bed capacity of 76 whilst the Reform School Programme in KwaZulu Natal has a bed capacity of 20.

School's Name

Province

Town

Bed Capacity

Operative

Yes/No

Gali Tembani

Eastern Cape

Queenstown

76

Yes

Newcastle

KwaZulu Natal

Newcastle

20

Yes

Ethokomala

Mpumalanga

Kinross

160

Yes

Eureka

Western Cape

Rawsonville

120

Yes

Kraaifontein

Western Cape

Kraaifontein

120

No

QUESTION 640

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Monday, 15 March 2010

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 of 2010

Mr J J Mc Gluwa (ID) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) How much money was spent by her department on the smart card identity document system and (b) what tender irregularities were identified;

(2) whether she has received a report of the forensic audit of the tender process; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether she will table the report in Parliament; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, when;

(4) whether she identified any problems with regard to the State Information Technology Agency's (Sita) involvement in the smart card identity document tender process; if so, what problems;

(5) how much (a) money was received from Treasury for the smart card system and
(b) unspent money was returned to Treasury owing to the tender being stopped?

NW765E

REPLY

(1)(a) No money was spent on the Smart ID Card document system.

(b) to (4) The Department of Home Affairs was advised by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), in April 2009, that a forensic audit of the tender process was being carried out (at its request) to investigate possible irregularities. It is suggested that the hon member directs his request for the information to the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, as SITA resorts under his jurisdiction.

(5)(a) A total of R104.4 million.

(b) No unspent money was returned to the National Treasury, as it was approved that this money could be utilised for the shortfall on the printing costs of new passports which was payable to the Government Printing Works.