Questions & Replies: Questions & Replies No 1426 to 1450

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2010-06-04

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QUESTION NO. 1426

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13 NW1677E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

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

How, with reference to a certain media release by her department (copy furnished), her department will be able to regulate the boat-based whale watching and shark cage diving sectors when the legislation that governs these sectors falls under the Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998, which was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on 1 April 2010?

Mr M J Ellis (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1426. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

The Presidential Proclamation (published on 10 February 2010) did not transfer the whole of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998) to the Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries. The fisheries functions in the Marine Living Resources Act and related regulations were assigned. These are specified in the schedule to the Proclamation. The environmental functions in the Marine Living Resources Act and related regulations were omitted from the schedule and therefore remain the responsibility of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs. These include, inter alia, the management of marine protected areas (section 43 of the Act) and the following sets of regulations dealing with marine protected areas, Boat Based Whale Watching and White Shark Cage Diving:

Declaration and Management of Walker Bay Marine Protected Area GN 473 of 29 May 2001

Declaration of Areas as Marine Protected Areas GNR 1429 of 29 December 2000

Regulations for white shark cage diving, GNR 724 of 4 July 2008

Regulations to manage boat-based whale-watching and protection of turtles, GNR 725 of 4 July 2008

Regulations for the management of the Bird Island Marine Protected Area, GN 696 of 4 June 2004

Regulations for the management of the Still Bay Marine Protected Area, GN 1108 of 17 October 2008

Regulations for the management of the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area, GN 697 of 4 June 2004

Regulations for the management of the Pondoland Marine Protected Area, GN 694 of 4 June 2004

Regulations for the management of the Table Mountain Marine Protected Area, GN 695 of 4 June 2004

The general administration sections in the Act which are required to manage fisheries and environmental functions are also shared by both Ministers. This is stipulated in line 2, paragraph 2 of column 2 of the Schedule to the proclamation, which assigns these general powers to the Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries only in so far as they relate to the fisheries functions.

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs therefore has the legal authority to manage and permit the Boat Based Whale Watching and White Shark Cage Diving sectors.

QUESTION NO 1427

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13- 2010)

Date reply submitted : 1 June 2010

1427. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) What is the value of (a) the damage caused to buildings and (b)(i) lost, (ii) broken and (iii) stolen equipment used in SA Police Service (SAPS) border protection functions that is due to be handed over to the SA National Defence Force (SANDF);

(2) whether the money required to repair the buildings will come from the SAPS budget; if not, (a) how much will these repairs cost, (b) which department(s) will pay for the repairs and (c) what will be the total amount; if so, what are the details of the cost;

(3) whether any members of the SAPS will be held accountable for the missing or broken equipment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1678E

REPLY:

(1) - (3) No building will be handed over to the SANDF.

Operational Bases and accommodation facilities will be shared between the SAPS and SANDF. The only facilities, which were handed over, were the Echo-stations.

An assessment of all buildings is now being done to access any possible damages.

QUESTION NO 1428

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

1428. Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) (a) What does the War on Leaks programme launched by her Deputy Minister in Mogale City during Water Week 2010 comprise, (b) what funding has been made available for this programme, (c) how many people are expected to be employed as part of this programme and (d) under what conditions of service;

(2) (a) which municipalities are being targeted for involvement in the programme, (b) what is the percentage of treated water lost as a result of leaks in (i) each of the identified municipalities and (ii) the ten municipalities in the country known to have the highest loss of water due to leaks and (c) what financial allocation has been made to each identified municipality;

(3) who will (a) administer the programme, (b) ensure that the funding is utilised for the intended purposes and (c) monitor and report on the expected decrease in water lost to leaks? NW1679E

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REPLY:

(1)(a) The War on Leaks Programme launched in Mogale City repaired leaking taps, pipes and retrofitted wasteful devises. As this township has a potential of saving 0.27 to 2 million kilolitres of water over a period of 5 years in the selected 10 households and Boipelo primary school were selected through the municipal billing system as high water consumers users in Kagiso township. Since the launch of the programme, the. Boipelo primary school has reduced its consumption from an average of 1900 kilolitres to 1255 kilolitres.

(1)(b) An initial funding of R2 million has been allocated.

(1)(c) A total of 12 unemployed local youth were trained and are currently working on the selected 10 households and Boipelo Primary School. The number of people temporarily employed could increase as the scope of work expands.

(1)(d) The local youth employed is on a temporary basis however, should the programme expand, Mogale City will have to develop and manage a recruitment strategy.

(2)(a) Currently Mogale City municipality is the only one participating in Gauteng with the intention to expand the programme throughout the province as part of implementing the Water Conservation and Demand Management Programme.

(2)(b)(i) In 2008/09 Mogale City lost 34% of treated water through the system as a result of leaks.

(2)(b)(ii) The percentage of the 10 municipalities in the country with the highest water losses due to leaks is currently not available. However, a study by the Water Research Commission entitled "An Assessment" of Non-Revenue Water in South Africa, report number TT 300/07 on this matter provided an estimated national water loss of approximately 31%.

(2)(c) During the launch of the War on Leaks programme, R2 million was made available for Mogale City municipality only.

(3)(a) Mogale City municipality and my Department will manage the project.

(3)(b) The municipality and my Department will ensure that the funding will be utilized for the intended purposes.

(3)(c) The municipality will monitor and report on the expected decrease in water lost to leaks.

QUESTION NO 1430

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010: INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13-2010

"1430. Ms MR Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Science and Technology:

(1) what is the nature of her department's support to the adopted schools;

(2) (a) which (i) schools, (ii) geographic areas have been selected for adoption, (b) why these schools chosen and (c) how will the adopted schools' progress be monitored;

(3) what (a) is the reason for the project and (b) are its expected outcomes;

(4) whether these schools will have broadband access to World Wide Webb; if not, (a) why not, (b) what plans are being devised to give them access and (c) how will the network provider be selected; if so, how;

(5) whether the project will be rolled out to other Dinaledi schools if it is successful; if not why not; if so; how?

(NW168IE)

REPLY:

1. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) provides targeted support to adopted Dinaledi schools in consultation with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the relevant provincial Departments.

The support provided ranges from providing training to teachers; additional tuition to students and support for students to attend science awareness programmes, olympiads and competitions. The purposes of the support are to stimulate interest in mathematics and science; identify learners with potential and enhance teaching and learning with the object of improving the schools performance in the National Senior Certificate examinations.

2(a) The 18 adopted schools and their location is provided in the table below.

Province

School

Location

Eastern Cape

Bisho High

Bisho

Hector Peterson High

Zwelitsha

Free State

Lenyora la Thuto Secondary

Botshabelo

R T Mokgopa Secondary

Thabanchu

Gauteng

Ivory Park Secondary

Thembisa

Gatang Secondary

Mamelodi

KwaZulu-Natal

Welabashe Secondary

Kwesa-Mthethwa (Empangeni)

Empangeni Secondary

Empangeni

Limpopo

Kutama

Ha-Kutama

Dendron Secondary

Dendron

Mpumalanga

Osizweni Secondary

Secunda

Kwandebele Science Combined Secondary

Siyabuswa

Northern Cape

Kimberley High

Kimberley

Kgomotso Secondary

Pampierstad

North West

Milner High

Klerksdorp

Vaal Reefs Technical High

Klerksdorp

Western Cape

Qhayiya Secondary

Hermanus

Luhlaza High

Khayelitsha

2(b) The Department of Basic Education selects schools for the Dinaledi programme. The DST identified the adopted schools in consultation with the Department of Basic Education. Particular emphasis was placed on schools which required focused support that could be provided by the DST and proximity of science centres.

2(c) The DST is monitoring the following performance indicators that are influenced by the support provided:

(i) enrolment of learners in mathematics and physical science in grades 10, 11 and 12;

(ii) performance in mathematics, physical science in grades 10, 11 and 12; and

(iii) enrolment of school leavers in higher education institutions and their choice of field of study.

3.(a)(b) The purposes of the support to the adopted Dinaledi schools are to stimulate interest in mathematics and science; identify learners with potential and enhance teaching and learning with the object of improving the schools performance in the National Senior Certificate examinations.

4. Currently, 11 of the 18 adopted schools have internet access. The intention is to get all the adopted schools connected to the internet. Connection of all schools will be done within the context of the Department of Communications (DoC/DBE) Schools Connectivity Plan. Where appropriate, the DST is encouraging the use of indigenous technology such as the Wireless Mesh Network (WMN).

5. The DST is not anticipating increasing the number of the adopted Dinaledi schools. However, good practises emerging from the project will be shared with the Department of Basic Education.

QUESTION 1431

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [No 13-2010]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

1431. Dr A Lotriet (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform:

Whether the Makgaloaneng land claim in Qwaqwa in the Free State has been considered; if not, what requirements were not met; if so, what redress has taken place?

NW1682E

THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM:

Yes. The claim was considered by the Regional Land Claims Commissioner: Free State and Northern Cape (RLCC: FS and NC) and accepted in respect of the property totalling 281.3431 hectares published in the Government Gazette of 5 September 2008. In accepting the claim, the RLCC: FS and NC was satisfied that the claim was lodged in the prescribed manner, and met the requirements of section 2 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No 22 0f 1994).

With regard to the properties described as Tshiame, Riverside, Agriqwa Trust, Qwaqwa National Park, Ellite, Mabolela, Mandela Park, Club View, De Bult, Matsikeng, Disaster and Lusaka, the claim was dismissed on the grounds that it was found to be, amongst other things, frivolous and vexatious and precluded by the requirements of section 2 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994.

QUESTION NO 1432

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

1432. Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

Whether her department has plans in place to improve drought management; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1683E

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REPLY:

My Department has drought management systems and operating rules in place in the majority of the large water supply systems serving the large metropolitan areas. Stochastic models are used to determine the risk of water shortage and to enable decision-making on appropriate water management actions. During droughts, operating rules guide the curtailment of less critical uses so as to keep water in storage for more crucial uses such as basic human needs and high value economic use The severity of restrictions, when they can be relaxed or when further restrictions could be imposed are considered. The application of this technique is being extended to more systems including smaller dams owned by municipalities.

Annual operational assessments also serve to keep the operating rules updated and improved in response to increasing demands, infrastructural developments, climatic changes, improved data and understanding of the water resource systems. This, to a large extent, enables sustainable use of the water resource.

QUESTION NO 1434

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

1434. Mrs S V Kalyan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) What (a) level of security for the supply of water is applied to each of the various sectors of registered users and (b) are the criteria applied when deciding on the level of security for each sector;

(2) (a) who ensures the supply of water to each sector during a water shortage and (b) what level of supply will each sector receive? NW1685E

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REPLY:

(1)(a) When planning a water supply system, the required assurance of supply for each sector thereof is determined in consultation with the users. The assurance of supply goes from low to high, with irrigation users supplied at low assurance, followed by general industrial use, power generation and water for basic human need. The level of assurance therefore varies from 90% for irrigation to 99.5% for power generation and basic human needs.

(1)(b) The criteria for deciding the assurance of supply is based on the level of assurance for each sector taking into account the cost implications and prevailing climatic conditions.

(2)(a) My Department ensures water supply to each sector during a water shortage. However, in cases of severe water shortage, restrictions are posed initially to users with low assurance followed by medium and partial restrictions for high assurance users.

(2)(b) See 1(a) above.

QUESTION NO: 1437

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13 OF 14 May 2010

Mr D C Ross (DA) to ask the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

(1) Whether any funding has been allocated to provide basic services, including water, electricity, sewage purification and communal water supply taps, to the informal settlement of Vergelegen in Monyakeng, Nala Municipality, in the Free State; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,

(2) whether any interim measures will be put in place until a resolution to this situation can be found; if not, why not; if so, what are the (a) timelines and (b) further relevant details? NW1688E

Reply

(1) No, the area as described on the question named as Vergelegen in Monyakeng is not known to the municipality. Areas known to have informal settlement (illegal occupation) are on the Western side (Farm Herman 236) and Northern Eastern Side (Farm Oranjevlei 174) of the formal Monyakeng Township. The place is illegally occupied by farm workers. According to our Spatial Development Framework, the area is not appropriate for development.

(2) With regard to water services, the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) Programme does not fund projects in areas that are not formalized.

QUESTION NUMBER 1439 [NW1690E]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 MAY 2010

Dr D T George (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:

Whether any action was taken by the Financial Services Board (FSB) against the individual (a) brokers and (b) companies in each case following the (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008 report to the FSB by the education and training quality assurance body of the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta ETQA) regarding alleged fraud, plagiarism and copying by senior brokers from various companies in their assessments to become compliant with the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, Act 37 of 2002; if not, why not; if so, what (aa) action and (bb) are the names of the (aaa) brokers and (bbb) companies in each case?

NW1690E

REPLY:

The Financial Services Board (FSB) has indicated to the National Treasury that:

(a) No action has been taken against any brokers following a complaint by the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta); and

(b) No action has been taken against any company following a complaint by Inseta.

(i) and (ii) The FSB did not receive any report directly from the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta) in 2007 or 2008 on alleged fraud, plagiarism or copying by representatives of financial services providers. After becoming aware of allegations in late 2008, the FSB contacted Inseta to provide more information on allegations that candidates from certain authorised financial services providers committed examination fraud whilst taking the "fit-and-proper" qualification assessments as prescribed by the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002. After receiving a written response from Inseta on 20 November 2008, and after a meeting with Inseta on 3 December 2008, the FSB proceeded to investigate four financial service providers accused by the Inseta official (and named) in the media.

Following the investigation, the FSB decided not to proceed with any regulatory action against three of the four financial service providers. Two of these three service providers against whom no further action was taken, have taken steps against their employees involved.

The FSB is still investigating the fourth provider.

Where persons were suspected of plagiarism, they were not granted any qualification based on the assessment in question, and had to undergo the assessments again.

(aa) Refer to the response above, stating that certain matters against one provider are still being investigated.

(bb) and (aaa) It is not appropriate for the FSB to name individuals or companies against whom no grounds for taking action have been found.

(bbb) In the case of the investigation against the one remaining authorised Financial Services Provider, it would not be appropriate to release names whilst the investigation is still in progress.

QUESTION 1440

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14/ 05/ 2010

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13-2010

Dr J C KlopperS –Lourens (D A) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1) Whether she has been informed of the financial problems experienced by a certain school (details furnished) in Klerksdorp after an amount of 2,3 million allocated to the school has disappeared and is unaccounted for; if so , what are the relevant details; if not,

(2) Whether she will (a) investigate the matter and (b) report on the finding ; if not , why not if so what are relevant details;

(3) Whether any steps have been taken to recover the money which cannot be account for; if so, what are relevant details? NW1691E

REPLY:

(1) No, The Minister was not informed of the financial problems experienced by a school in Klerksdorp. However she followed the matter up after it was brought to her attention.

The North West Education Department has since returned to the Minister with proof of transfer of the money into the school account.

QUESTION 1441

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14/05/20101

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13-2010)

Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1) Whether the investigation regarding the leaking of the five 2009 National Senior Certificate question papers in Mpumalanga has been completed; if not, (a) why not, (b) when is it envisaged to be completed and (c) when will the findings be made available; if so, (i) what are the outcomes of the investigation, (ii) how many officials were involved, (iii) what steps were taken against each of them and (iv) what is the extent of the damages both (aa) nationally and (bb) provincially because of the leaking of the question papers (aaa) in monetary terms and (bbb) person hours;

(2) whether any precautions have been put in place to prevent future leaking of question papers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1692E

Response

(1) (a). (b) (c) (i)(ii)(iii)

The investigation of this matter has been instituted at three different levels. The Department of Basic Education conducted an investigation that focused on the administrative and professional breaches, while the South African Police Services conducted the criminal investigation. In addition, the Hawks have embarked on a more extensive investigation of the ongoing history of examination irregularities in the province.

The investigation by the Department of Basic Education was completed in December 2009 and a detailed report was compiled. This investigation revealed that the security systems relating to the storage of question papers in the Examination Unit in the Mpumalanga province was grossly inadequate. The management of the electronic versions of the question papers was not sufficiently controlled and this compromised the question papers in Mathematics, Physical Science and Accounting. The decision was taken to replace the five leaked question papers and in addition, the Minister announced that the Examination and Assessment administration would, from 07 January 2010 be managed by the Department of Basic Education. The Mpumalanga Department of Education has further, instituted disciplinary measures against staff implicated in this matter.

The criminal investigation by the South African Police Services is still continuing and at least 13 persons were arrested and have appeared in court. The case has been adjourned until further notice.

1(aa)(bb)(aaa)(bbb).

The estimated cost to replace the five leaked papers across all nine provinces totals to R 8 258 000. This includes printing, packing and distribution of the replaced question papers. It is not possible to quantify the damages in terms of person hours, given that this exercise involved staff at the DBE, involved in the final quality assurance of the replaced question papers, the nine provincial head office staff, involved in the printing and packing of question papers, and the district office staff, involved in the distribution of the question papers.

(2)

A team of senior officials from the Department of Education are currently stationed in the province and are overseeing the examination processes in the province. Their focus is to establish rigorous systems and processes for the administration of examinations in the province and to train the officials in the province to manage and administer these systems. All question papers are now printed and packed by the Department of Basic Education, in Pretoria.

The Department of Basic Education has also developed Norms and Standards for the handling of National question papers. These norms and standards now constitute the benchmark for security and management of question papers in the province. All PEDs have been requested to review their security systems and procedures regarding the handling of national question papers in the light of the norms and standards prescribed by the DBE. To ensure strict compliance, the DBE will conduct an intensive audit of the security systems in each PED in June/July 2010 as part of monitoring the state of readiness of PEDs to conduct the National Senior Certificate Examinations of 2010.

QUESTION NO 1443

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13- 2010)

Date reply submitted : 1 June 2010

1443. Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) Whether investigations into certain charges at (a) Belfast police station, (b) Chrissiesmeer police station and (c) Morgenzon police station (details furnished) have been completed; if not, why not, in each case; if so, in each case, (i) when were the investigations completed and (ii) what was the outcome;

(2) whether the matter has been referred to the relevant prosecuting authority in each case; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1694E

REPLY:

(1) (a) Belfast – Yes

(i) 2009-08-31

(ii) Case withdrawn.

(2) Yes. Case was taken to court and the Prosecutor withdrew the case.

(1) (b) Chrissiesmeer – Yes.

(i) 2007-09-04

(ii) Case withdrawn.

(2) Case was taken to court and the Prosecutor withdrew the case, stating as reason that there is an old act that allows the farmer to kill foreign/stray dogs.

(1)(c) Morgenzon – No

Statement of driver of the mortuary vehicle is outstanding.

(2) No. Case is not yet finalised.

QUESTION NO. 1444 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13 NW1695E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

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

(1) (a) What are the names of the parks that have submitted their elephant management plans,

(b) on what date was each of the plans received by her department and (c) what management

options for elephants are being considered by each of these parks;

(2) what are the names of the parks that are known to be working on their elephant management plans;

(3) whether any decision will be taken before 31 December 2010 regarding the culling of elephants in any of the parks; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Mr G R Morgan (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1444. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) (a) None.

(b) and (c) None.

(2) Addo, Garden Route, Mapungubwe, Marakele and Kruger National Parks.

(3)Before a decision on culling can be made there must be an approved Elephant Management Plan that considers among others alternative management options to culling. Since the plans are still in preparation it is not possible to comment on whether a decision on culling may be taken in any of the parks before 31 December 2010.

QUESTION NO. 1445. INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13 NW1696E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

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

(1) (a) What was the reason for her department's cancellation of the meeting with civil society groups on the fate of captive-bred lions that was scheduled for 21 April 2010 and (b) when is it intended that such a meeting will take place;

(2) whether her department has commissioned a report on lion breeding and the hunting industry; if not, why not; if so, when (a) was the report first commissioned, (b) will it be complete and (c) will it be released to the public?

Mr G R Morgan (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1445. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) (a) Departmental officials needed more time to consult with provincial conservation authorities.

(b) Once consultation with provincial conservation authorities has been finalised.

(2) Yes

(a) 2008.

(b) 2009.

(c) No decision on the release of the report to the public has been made, as the department is still awaiting the outcome of the appeal case which the lion farmers have brought against the court ruling.

QUESTION 1446

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 14 MAY 2010 [IQP No 13- 2010] SECOND SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT

Question 1446 for Written Reply, National Assembly: Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:

(1) Whether the European Union (EU) catch document scheme was fully implemented on 1 January 2010; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) (a) what date did Marine and Coastal Management submit its electronic system for the verification of fish exports to the EU for approval by the EU and (b) on what date was the electronic system approved by the EU;

(3) whether all certificates issued in terms of the EU catch document scheme to rights holders during the period 23 December 2009 up to the latest date for which information is available are valid; if not, (a) why not and (b) what measures have been put in place to rectify the situation; if so, how did she reach this conclusion? NW1697E

REPLY:

(1) Yes. The European Union (EU) Catch Document Scheme was implemented on the 1 January 2010. The current Certificates are being issued manually and a web-based electronic system is being finalised to replace the manual system.

(2)(a) An official submission was presented to the EU on the 2 February 2010.

(b) Approval was granted by the EU on 9 February 2010.

(3)(a) Yes the certificates issued are valid.

(b) The Certificates comply with the primary objectives of the EU Regulations of ensuring that the catch being imported into the EU has been caught in accordance with relevant applicable domestic conservation and management measures. That is, the vessel and the exporter have complied with the requirements of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998) and the Regulations promulgated thereunder.


NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO. 1448

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 May 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

Ms E More (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:

Whether any amount has been owed by any province to the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) since 7 May 2010; if so, (a) what amount (i) is owed and (ii) has been outstanding for longer than 30 days with regard to each province, (b) what interest has been charged to each province and (c) what (i) are the reasons for the delay in payment and (ii) steps are being taken in this regard?

NW1699E

REPLY:

(a) and (b) According to the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), the following table reflects the details in this regard, as at 31 April 2010.

Table 1.

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(b)

Province

Total

Overdue

Interest

Western Cape

30,686,929

14,204,595

467,394

Eastern Cape

125,235,801

98,266,926

3,343,179

Free State

27,888,329

17,595,925

1,836,766

Northern Cape

28,964,107

22,961,663

459,243

Gauteng

418,151,729

346,748,894

7,862,878

North West

44,776,190

28,664,290

551,024

Limpopo

41,407,525

24,985,780

863,651

Mpumalanga

104,901,320

86,924,256

1,660,151

KZN

122,687,389

45,351,584

107,891

TOTAL DOH

944,699,320

685,703,913

17,152,177

(c) (i) The reasons for the delay of payment are rather complex. The provinces have had many accusations against NHLS. They have complained of being billed for tests never performed or never requested for; they have complained of wrong billing by the NHLS; they have complained of being over-charged in some instances by up to one-third of what they think they owe. I have brought the NHLS to a meeting with all the MECs and Heads of Departments, and tried to adjudicate in the disputes. I have even requested them to organise bilaterals with the CEO of the NHLS, during the periods when the CEO visits each province.

None of these warring factions seems to be relenting on accusations. The end result of this stand-off is usually the delay in payments.

As a minister I have looked into the aims and objectives of establishing the NHLS. The very first main aim and objective was to bring down the cost of laboratory services within the healthcare system. I have arranged for provinces to meet with the NHLS to achieve this objective.

QUESTION NO. 1449

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 May 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

Ms E More (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:

With regard to the current HIV testing campaign, (a) what additional amount has been budgeted for in each province for (i) testing and (ii) analysis of blood samples, (b) from where was this money obtained and (c) what is the estimated total cost of the campaign?

NW1700E

REPLY:

The HIV counselling and testing (HCT) campaign is a national campaign led by the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). This implies that all sectors of SANAC have been mobilised to participate in this campaign which all sectors, notably the public and business sectors, contributing either funding or services or both. With respect to the public health sector, provinces were required to both utilise donated resources and to re-prioritise their regular budget to accelerate services that they are normally required to provide (that is HIV testing and counselling).

The Department of Health has mainstreamed HIV services into the health services (meaning that it is no longer a largely vertical programme) especially into the primary health care (PHC) services. Given that PHC facilities are not cost centres it is very difficult to tease out the specific costs related to the provision of HCT services.

However to provide some examples of the costs to date: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has spent R15m on HIV rapid test kits that will enable them to provide HCT services to 2.2m clients and the cost for an additional 770 000 clients is estimated to cost R46.2m. All of the additional funding will be released from existing budgets. Another example of reprioritisation is the release of R20m for social mobilisation from savings that the Western Cape Department of Health has been able to realise from their HIV conditional grant allocation.

QUESTION NO. 1450

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 May 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

Ms E More (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:

(1) (a) What amount of flu vaccines are available in the (i) private and (ii) public health sectors and (b) on what basis was the allocation determined;

(2) whether any alternative plan is in place in the event of an epidemic outbreak; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1701E

REPLY:

(1) (a) (i) The amount of flu vaccines available in the private sector is not determined by the National Department of Health - it is determined by market forces (supply and demand) over which the Department has no control.

(ii) The public health sector has procured 1,3 million doses of trivalent vaccine and received a donation of 3,5 million doses of monovalent vaccine from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

(b) The number of doses in the public sector is determined by the population at risk for severe disease from Influenza. These risk groups include pregnant women, people living with HIV and AIDS who qualify for ARVs, people with chronic heart and lung diseases, frontline health workers and the elderly.

(2) The world is currently experiencing an Influenza A (H1N1) Pandemic. The current vaccination programme will effectively protect high risk groups against the disease. The Department also has a Pandemic Prepared­ness Plan in place that concentrates on:

(a) Prevention, such as hand hygiene and cough etiquette;

(b) Infection control, such as health workers wearing gloves and protective clothing;

(c) Implementation of Guidelines for case management and effective use of antiviral medication; and

(d) Non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing and remaining at home when sick, are also promoted.

QUESTION 1436 WRITTEN REPLY 14 MAY 2010

1436 Mr M W Rabotapi (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Works:

(1) Whether the SA Police Service constantly patrols each of the parliamentary villages; if not, (a) why not and (b) how often do patrols take place; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) Whether all the alarm systems in all of these villages are functioning; if not, (a) why not, (b) what measures are in place to ensure the functioning of all these alarms and (c) when will all alarms be functioning again?

NW1687E

Reply

  1. Yes, the South African Police Service does constantly patrol each of the Parliamentary Villages

(b) The patrols take place hourly and SAPS records the patrols in their occurrence books. Alarms are also responded to when they are activated.

  1. No, not all alarms are functional in the Parliamentary Villages.

(a) Some of the reasons for the faulty alarms are short circuit on the main wire, stuck panic button, panic button corroded or a headboard activating the alarm, ie. Location of the panic alarm that causes the alarm to be activated.

(b) SAPS provides the Department with a list of recorded faulty alarms on a monthly basis. Upon receipt of the list, an investigation is conducted immediately and the faulty alarms are repaired or when residents report their alarms faulty

(c) Faulty alarms are attended to immediately once reported or detected.