Question & Replies No 1001 to 1050

2008-11-27

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

Question 1002

Mr J J M Stephens (DA) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:

(1) Whether, with reference to the reply by the Minister of Defence to Question 727 on 16 May 2008, he has been informed of the content of a letter by a certain official in Düsseldorf (details furnished – see attached) addressed to a certain official in Bern (details furnished – see attached) requesting judicial assistance regarding their investigations relating to an agreement between the SA Government and a certain company (details furnished) for the supply and delivery of four corvettes for the SA Navy; if so,

(2) Whether he has taken any steps to (a) investigate the facts alleged in a certain document (details furnished), (b) assist the German authorities in the investigation of the veracity of these facts, (c) bring a certain company (name furnished) and all culpable officers and employees to be prosecuted before a competent court of law and (d) secure a conviction against all culpable persons with a view to invoke the provisions of the agreement; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;

(3) Whether any request for assistance in the investigation of these allegations has been received from the German authorities; if so, (a) what was his department's response and (b) what was the result;

(4) Whether the German authorities have forwarded information that might assist the South African authorities in the investigation of these allegations; if so, (a) what action was taken in respect thereof and (b) what was the result?NW1740E

Response:

(1) The dti has not been informed of the content of the letter in question, which relates to the investigation into the agreement between the South African government and the German Frigate Consortium for the supply and delivery of four corvettes to the SA Navy.

(2) No steps have been taken to investigate, assist authorities, prosecute or convict any persons or company as the dti has not been requested to undertake any such activities in this regard. Investigations into any alleged wrong doing by other organs of State are on-going and the Department will assist wherever possible.

(3) The dti has not received a request for assistance from the German authorities.

(4) The dti has not been forwarded any information that would assist the South African authorities in the investigation of the stated allegations.

QUESTION NO 1003

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: FRIDAY, 11 JULY 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 – 2008)

Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:

Whether his department considers introducing regulations or legislation as is currently enforced in the European Union whereby, if a passenger is refused boarding as a result of overbooking by the airline, compensation is rewarded in the form of cash and the refunding of the cost of the ticket and any costs that may have to be incurred for accommodation and meals; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1741E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

In general, matters relating to consumer protection for all industries fall within the domain of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Currently, no South African legislation exists for the regulation of denied boarding compensation within the air transport industry and compensation to passengers is awarded based on the individual airlines' conditions of carriage.

As an integral part of the development of the White Paper on National Civil Aviation Policy, the Department of Transport (DoT), in consultation with the DTI, is addressing the question of denied boarding compensation. In particular, the DoT seeks to balance the interests of the consumer with the broader interests of maintaining the commercial viability of the airlines. To this end, it is envisaged that a mechanism to protect passengers from the effects of denied boarding will be handled from the perspective of national legislation on consumer protection applicable to all industries, suitably augmented by civil aviation-specific legislative requirements.

The DTI has done considerable work to date in their Consumer Protection Bill, 2008, which aims, amongst others, to provide consumers with the option of redress as well as to promote and protect the economic interests of consumers. This Bill, which was tabled in Parliament on 05 May 2008, addresses various aspects of consumer rights and supplier obligations, including the concerns regarding "over-selling and over-booking".

Of particular importance, Section 47 (3) of the Bill addresses the situation where a supplier fails to supply contracted goods or services on the specified date or at a specified time because of insufficient stock or capacity to supply those goods or services. Under these circumstances a supplier is required to refund to the consumer the amount paid and in addition, compensate the consumer for consequential damages for any economic harm sustained by the consumer as a consequence of the supplier's breach of contract. This will, however, not apply if such shortage of services (aircraft seats) is due to circumstances beyond the supplier's control and reasonable steps have been taken to inform the consumer of such shortage.

Details regarding the levels of such monetary compensation payable to consumers will be the subject of further consultations between the DoT, DTI and the airline industry. It is envisaged that particulars regarding monetary compensation payable will be incorporated into regulations to be promulgated by the Minister of Trade and Industry under the Consumer Protection Act, once enacted.

QUESTION 1004

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 13 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) What are the reasons for her department not releasing a report submitted to her office by a team of immigration experts assessing the huge backlogs in processing applications for asylum-seekers, (b) what is the total cost for the (i) compilation of the report and (ii) remuneration to members of the team who wrote the report and (c) how many times did the team meet to discuss or elaborate on the report;

(2) whether she will release the report; if not, why not; if so, when?

NW1742E

REPLY

(1)(a) As far as I know, there was never any report to be published, as this was a Backlog Project. The Exit Report was prepared, and submitted by the Backlog Managers appointed and trained by the Department, with the aim of eradicating the backlog in asylum applications, accumulated since 1998, and not to "assessing the huge backlogs in processing applications for asylum-seekers" as suggested.

In essence, the Exit Report, so compiled by the Backlog Managers, was purely an administrative report, intended for in-house use; and, therefore, cannot be published.

It is also important to note that the writers of the Exit Report were not a team of Immigration experts. They were, instead, appointed by the Department to assist in eliminating the accumulation of pending asylum applications by means of approvals and rejections, through an adjudication process, for the duration of the project. In order to achieve that, the Department provided them with training in "Refugee Status Determination and Immigration matters".

(b)(i) No additional costs were incurred for the report, as its compilation was completed within the allotted budget for the Backlog Project.

(ii) The total cost was R9 179 552.25. This was the amount paid in salaries to the Backlog Managers for the duration of the project (May 2005 to March 2008).

the last three (3) months of the project were basically dedicated to the compilation of

report, and the closure of the project.

(2) With reference to the response given in (1)(a) above, the report is intended for

Internal use. Besides, there are lessons learnt in the project which are also vital for improving processes, and service delivery, such as file census, file audit, file management system, segregation of dormant files from active ones, etc.

QUESTION NO 1006

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 JUNE 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18)

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

(1) Whether she has taken any action against mines that are using water without a water user licence; if so, (a) against which mines and (b) what action was taken in this regard; if not, why not;

(2) whether any action will be taken in the future in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1744E

REPLY:

(1) Yes, action has been taken against mines that are not authorised to use water. (a) Examples of mines against which action has been taken are mines in Carolina, Belfast and Richards Bay areas. (b) A number of notices of the intention to issue directives in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) to mines in these areas which were using water without authorizations have also been issued. Water use license applications for most of those mines have recently been received.

(2) The Department does not allow mines to use water without a water use authorisation. The Department follows a set procedure for addressing such unlawful water use. This process entails the issuing of letters to the users to apply for water use licences, followed by notices of the intention of issuing a directive, followed by a directive in terms of the National Water Act 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) . If a particular water user does not adhere to all the abovementioned steps the Department then further proceeds to take formal legal action.

The Department will follow this set procedure for any mine which uses water unlawful.

There are also defunct and abandoned mines (such as Union Tin Mine in Limpopo) which were left by unknown miners under previous legislation and which do not have water use licences. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is liaising with the Department Minerals and Energy to ensure that the mines are rehabilitated at the government's costs. The new MPRDA is ensuring that the situation will never happen because of the required financial provision.

QUESTION NO. 1007 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 18 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 June 2008

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

(1) Whether his department has taken any steps to (a) prevent further erosion of the Lookout beach in Plettenberg Bay and (b) rehabilitate the beach; if not, why not; if so, what steps;

(2) whether his department has had any interaction with the Bitou Municipality in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether the erosion of this beach will be a threat to the local tourism industry; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1745E

MR G R MORGAN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1007. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

(1) (a) No steps have been undertaken by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to prevent further erosion of Lookout Beach in Plettenberg Bay. The erosion is a natural process caused by the migration of the mouth of the Keurbooms River.

(b) The Department has no intention of rehabilitating the beach. Apart from this being a very costly option with a limited potential for success, it is not the Department's policy to interfere in natural coastal processes. The Department is fully aware of the history of the erosion of the Keurbooms River mouth over the last 70 years. [An interesting report with sketches can be found in the report compiled for this department by the CSIR in 1984 entitled: "Estuaries of the Cape Part II Synopses of available information on individual systems. Report No. 31 Keurbooms / Bitou System (CMS 19)].

(2) The Western Cape's Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has met with the municipality on site to discuss this issue. In addition, officials from the Department have offered to meet with municipal officials on site, but to date this offer has not been taken up.

(3) The erosion has already destroyed an ablution block and boardwalk, which were situated in the dunes, and part of a car park. In addition, the erosion may affect one guesthouse / restaurant and a sewage pump station. The owner of the guesthouse has long been informed that as the structure falls within 100 m of the high water mark, protective work will be subject to an EIA. He was advised to make contact with the provincial environmental authorities in George should he wish to explore possible protective measures. The municipality has also been advised to make arrangements to move the sewage pump station. The erosion will have a minor impact on the local tourism industry. It is anticipated that people will visit other beaches in Plettenberg Bay until the migration of the Keurbooms River mouth reverses and the beach is reestablished naturally.

QUESTION NUMBER: 1008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 JUNE 2008

Mr S J F Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) Whether he will justify the monetary policy of general interest rate increases as the only measure to contain the increased CPIX; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether he and Cabinet will consider fiscal interventions in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether he will accept any recommendations on how to deal best with these challenges; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1746E

REPLY:

(1) While interest rates are not the only tool to contain inflation pressures, they are the primary instruments of monetary policy and the most effective means of managing demand and preventing a general rise in prices in the face of shocks to food and oil prices. Monetary policy should be used to contain inflation expectations so that short-term shocks to inflation do not become permanent. Most developing countries are raising interest rates at the moment to address inflation arising from oil and food prices.

In general terms, public policies and regulations should support real economic outcomes – more rapid growth in volumes produced for instance – rather than nominal ones such as price increases. Where this is not the case, for example in sectors where firms' pricing power is protected by regulations or tariffs that limit competition, then the policies are effectively placing a greater burden on monetary policy to keep inflation low. A fiscal policy stance that raises a surplus, for instance, contributes to demand management by raising national savings, lowering government debt, and contributing to more productive use of borrowed capital in the private sector. Strong growth in spending on infrastructure development will also help to increase the potential growth rate of the economy, reduce bottlenecks, and lower costs over time. Microeconomic policies aimed at improving productivity and reducing the cost of doing business are also important. Effective delivery of education and skills raise the productivity of human capital and alleviate labour market constraints. Accelerated reform of trade policy could play a more important role than it has in some time to reduce the cost of imported inputs, drive up productivity growth, and reduce unwarranted pricing power, all of which will lower inflation and place less pressure on monetary policy.

(2) As I have already indicated, the fiscal stance has an important impact on inflation dynamics. Fiscal policy currently provides support to the supply-side of the economy through strong growth in infrastructure related allocations and spending on human capital development, including health and education. The fiscal surplus also supports improved government savings and lower government borrowing. This complements the monetary management of the economy by the South African Reserve Bank.

(3) I believe that the current macroeconomic framework is the best way to deal with the challenges posed by rising inflation and volatility in international commodity markets. We remain committed to the current fiscal stance as well as to inflation targeting as the framework for monetary policy. We established the International Growth Panel and they have made recommendations on how to raise the sustainable growth rate of the economy through more effective trade, competition, sectoral and industrial policy while adopting prudent macroeconomic policy measures. A national discourse on those recommendations is now required. We would also be open to considering other recommendations that are sound and that are backed by empirical evidence.

QUESTION NUMBER 1009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 JUNE 2008

Mr S J F Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) What were the objectives and mandates for commissioning the Harvard Group of exclusive economists to conduct a study and research of our economic environment and its challenges;

(2) whether he and the Government will implement the proposals recommended in the reports of the research; if not, why not; if so, (a) when, (b) which proposals and (c) what is the time frame for the implementation;

(3) whether a 4% Gross Domestic Product is attainable; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1747E

REPLY

Finance:

(1) I assume that the honourable member is referring to the International Growth Advisory Panel (IGAP), which includes economists from all over the world, based not only at Harvard University, but also the University of London, MIT, University of Michigan, Boston University, UCLA, Washington University, Stellenbosch University and University of Cape Town.

The IGAP, consisting of leading economists working in the area of growth, was commissioned to assess government's own growth initiative, namely the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA). This in turn was based on a National Treasury document entitled A Partnership for Growth and Empowerment: Accelerating Economic Development, 2005-2014.

As agreed, the Panel delivered the following services:

· An assessment of the binding constraints outlined in ASGISA and a growth diagnostic on the South African economy. This includes the provision of a series of analytical research papers on possible constraints to South African growth with regard to fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies, competition, trade, industrial and beneficiation opportunities, labour market performance, black economic empowerment (BEE) and public administration.

· An overall report synthesizing the research papers and highlighting policy priorities for spurring enhanced economic growth for South Africa.

(2) The Government regards the IGAP report and papers as providing a basis for wider discussion and debate within South Africa, which will lay the basis for considering the recommendations of the IGAP, and determining whether we agree with them or not. We cannot just blindly implement any set of recommendations, without first conducting such debate and discussion. Thereafter, Government intends finalising a formal response to the recommendations. That is why, after releasing the overall report and all 19 papers to the public, the Panel was encouraged to participate in workshops in Parliament, NEDLAC and at two universities (Gordon Institute of Business Science and UCT Graduate School of Business) on 17 and 18 June 2008. We will announce our initial response to the recommendations within the next few months, but the discussions and debates will continue and will hopefully complement ASGISA thereafter.

(3) I assume the honorable member means 4 per cent growth in GDP?

It is too earky to tell. We will watch developments closely. We are still comfortable that GDP growth will average 4% during the calendar year of 2008. Although GDP growth decelerated sharply to 2.1% in 2008q1 (5.1% growth in calendar year 2007 and 5, 3% in 2007q4), the deceleration in growth was largely the result of a 22.1% decline in mining output (due to the mining closures in January). When the negative impact of Mining is excluded, GDP still grew by 3.6% during the first quarter.

It should be noted that:

· Should the economy[1] register no further growth (0%) during the course of the year, annual growth will still be 2.4%.

· Should GDP[2] growth average just 3, 0% over the next three quarters, GDP growth for calendar 2008 will be 3,5%.

Eskom has initiated a number of projects to reduce electricity demand and thus far the national power grid seems to have stabilized, with no significant outages. These developments should have a significant positive impact on second quarter GDP of the Mining and Electricity sectors in particular. A (temporary artificial) strong rebound in GDP growth could thus be expected during the second quarter.

Furthermore, one positive spin off from the current high food prices is a strong agricultural output response. In the first quarter of this year, agricultural output increased by 12.5%. If favorable weather conditions are maintained, agricultural output is likely to continue to support growth going forward.

In addition, growth will be supported by the public sector infrastructure investment, which is expected to rise by an average annual growth rate of 19.2% over the MTEF. Private investment, which rose by 14.8% in 2007, is also expected to remain strong, supported by high commodity prices and plans to expand domestic capacity. The 2010 Soccer World Cup will also stimulate investment over the next 2 years.

To conclude: Given a sharp rebound in second quarter growth (related to mining and electricity), and a continued strong performance by the agricultural sector, as well as strong investment by both public and private sectors, we remain confident that even with economic activity weakening (slightly) in other sectors, growth for the calendar year 2008 will still be strong.

QUESTION 1010

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [NO 18-2008]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 June 2008

1010. Mr A H Nel (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:

(1) Whether her department has concluded an agreement with any private firm to act on behalf of it to buy or secure options to buy agricultural property; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,

(2) whether she has been informed that (a) a certain company (name and details furnished) claimed that their subsidiary company (name furnished) has been mandated to assist the Government in acquiring land for land redistribution and (b) a certain official of her department (name furnished) has claimed that her department has entered into a contract with said subsidiary to acquire agricultural land for redistribution; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(3) whether she has taken any action against those involved for fraudulently using the name of her department for their own purposes; if not, why not; if so, what action? NW1748E

THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS:

(1) No. I have been informed by the Department of Land Affairs that they have not entered into any agreement with any private firm to purchase property on their behalf.

(2)(a) and (b), and (3) Fall away.

1013. Ms AM Dreyer (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

(1) Whether his department has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance

Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through

(i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or

(iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not,

why not; if so,

(2) whether any action has been taken against the offending officials; if not, why not;

if so, in each category, (a) how many officials (i) were dismissed, (ii) were

suspended and (iii) had other sanctions imposed on them and (b) what amounts

of money were involved;

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what

are the relevant details?

NW1751E

THE MINISTER OF LABOUR REPLIED:

(1) (a) Yes, records have been kept of irregular expenditure at Head Office.

(b) Yes, incidents that occurred at Head Office have been reported in term of section 4.3 of Treasury Regulation [Sec 85(1) (a) and (e) of the PFMA].

(i) Criminal conduct: Financial misconduct 2007/08 was reported to the office of the Public Service Commission, Department of Public Service and Administration, National Treasury and the office of the Auditor General.

(ii) Unauthorised: Not applicable, the Department did not incur any unauthorised expenditure in the 2007/08 financial year.

(iii) Irregular expenditure was reported in 2007/08 Annual Report

(iv) Fruitless and wasteful expenditure: The Department did not incur any fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the 2007/08 financial year.

(2) The following disciplinary actions have been taken against the offending officials:

(2) (a) (i) twelve (12) officials were dismissed, (ii) of the twelve (12) officials that were ultimately dismissed, seven (7) were suspended with immediate effect as a precautionary measure, (iii) no other sanction was imposed on these officials short of dismissal.

(b) An amount of R1, 409, 063. 24 was involved in respect of the twelve (12) officials that were dismissed, as indicated below.

Rank	Gender	Salary Level	Charges preferred against employee	Findings Of Disciplinary Hearing Enquiry	Sanction Imposed	Further Actions Taken Against Employee	Amount Involved	Recovery Of Loss
CSO	Male	SR 5	Initiated a fraudulent UIF application	Guilty	Dismissal	To recover from pension	R 16 363.00	Recover from pension
CSO	Male	SR 5	Initiated a fraudulent UIF application	Guilty	Dismissal	To recover from pension	R 29 881.01	Recover from pension
Inspector	Male	SR 5	Submission of fraudulent S&T claims	Guilty	Dismissal	None, the employer did not suffer financial loss	R 124.90	Not applicable
Senior State Accountant	Male	SR 8	Fictitious claims on procurement of goods and services	Guilty	Dismissal	Criminal action instituted	R 925 406.78	To be recovered from his pension and himself
Senior Practitioner	Male	SR 8	Initiated fraudulent UIF death benefits claims	Guilty	Dismissal	Criminal action instituted	R 50 020.07	To be recovered from his pension and himself
AC	Female	SR 5	Initiated fraudulent UIF death benefits claims	Guilty	Dismissal	Criminal action instituted	R 104 351.60	To be recovered from his pension and himself
ASM	Male	SR10	Unauthorised use of Department vehicle and garaging	Guilty	Dismissal	Recovery of outstanding KM's travelled.	R 2408.80	Recover from pension
Snr Registry Clerk	Male	SR 6	Unauthorised use of Departmental vehicle	Guilty	Dismissal	Recovery of outstanding KM's travelled.	R 951.00	Recover from pension
ASM	Male	SR 10	Unauthorised use of Departmental vehicle	Guilty	Dismissal	Recover of outstanding KM's travelled	R 970.00	Recover from pension
SAC	Female	SR 6	Fraudulent claims of COIDA benefits	Guilty	Dismissal	Criminal action instituted	R 141 190.00	Recover from pension
AC	Female	SR 5	Initiated fraudulent UIF benefits claims	Guilty	Dismissal	Criminal action instituted	R 121 033.75	To be recovered from her pension and herself
Practitioner	Female	SR 8	Initiated fraudulent UIF death benefits claims	Guilty	Dismissal	Criminal action instituted	R 16 363.23	To be recovered from her pension and herself

(2) (a) (ii) Unauthorised expenditure

No unauthorised expenditure occurred during the 2007/08 financial year.

(2) (a) (iii) Irregular expenditure

One official was involved, and was charged and given a final written warning.

(2) (a) (iv) Fruitless and wasteful expenditure

No fruitless and wasteful expenditure occurred during the 2007/08 financial year.

(b) Amount regarding criminal conduct is R1, 409 063.24

Amount regarding irregular expenditure is R2,965.40; Supply Chain Management prescripts of three quotes were not followed. The responsible official was charged and given a final written warning.

(3) The following 16 disciplinary cases were pending on 31 March 2008:

There were three (3) cases relating to fraud, five (5) cases relating to mismanagement, three (3) cases relating to government vehicle abuse, two (2) cases relating to bribery, two (2) cases relating to failure to declare money collected and received from clients, one (1) case relating to fruitless expenditure

QUESTION 1014

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

(1) Whether her department (a) has kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) has reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(2) whether any action has been taken against the offending officials; if not, why not; if so, in each category, (a) how many officials (i) were dismissed, (ii) were suspended and (iii) had other sanctions imposed on them and (b) what amounts of money were involved;

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a) Yes

(b) Yes

2. Yes

(a) (i) One (1) dismissal for theft

(ii) None

(iii) One written warning

Four final written warnings

(b) A total of R32 328-12 for all cases

4. Yes, one (1) case is pending. It was found that the official negligently mismanaged state finances.

QUESTION NO. 1015

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 JUNE 2008 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER No. 18 – 2008

"1015. Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture:

(1) Whether his department has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending at 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?"

NW1753E

REPLY:

(1) (a) Yes

(b) (i) No criminal conduct occurred during the 2007/08 financial year therefore none was reported.

(ii) No unauthorised expenditure occurred during the 2007/08 financial year therefore none was reported.

(iii) No irregular expenditure occurred therefore none was reported during the 2007/08 financial year.

(iv) No fruitless and wasteful expenditure occurred during the 2007/08 financial year therefore none was reported.

(2) (a) (i) No officials were dismissed during the 2007/08 financial year.

(ii) No officials were suspended during the 2007/08 financial year.

(iii) No officials had other sanctions imposed on them during the 2007/08 financial year.

(b) Not applicable.

(3) No disciplinary cases were pending as at 31 March 2008.

QUESTION NO 1016

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13 JUNE 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18/2008)

Date reply submitted: 24 June 2008

Mr E W Trent (DA) to ask the Minister of Safety and Security:

(1) Whether the SA Police Service has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007‑08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1754E

REPLY:

(1)(a) and (b)(i)‑(iv)

Yes, there were incidents of criminal conduct, irregular expenses and fruitless expenditures.

(2) Yes. The particulars are:

	(1)(b)(i) (Criminal Conduct)	(1)(b)(ii) (Unauthorized Expenditure)	(1)(b)(iii) (Irregular Expenditure)	(1)(b)(iv) (Fruitless Expenditure)
(2)(a)(i) (Dismissed)	4	0	0	0
(2)(a)(ii) (Suspended)	0	0	0	0
(2)(a)(iii) (Other sanctions)	67	0	0	51
(2)(b) (Amounts involved)	R 9 596 450,87 (See Note 1)	0	R 3102 224,12 (See Note 2)	R19 246,06 (See Note 3)

Note 1:

The amount of R 9 596 450,87 is arrived at as follows:

SANCTION CASES AMOUNT

Dismissals 4 R 10 613,00

Recoveries 46 R 381 369,96

Cases waived

(Treasury Regulation 12.7.3) 3 R 4 095,00

Disciplinary sanctions imposed 13 R 109 038,91

No disciplinary sanctions(Due to

cases being withdrawn) 5 R 9 091 334,00

__ ____________

71 R 9 596 450,87

Note 2:

The amount of R3 102,224.12 relates to 120 cases of irregular expenses. A total number of 101 applications for condonation, as far as non‑compliance with procurement procedures are concerned, were approved. Nineteen applications for condonation, where irregular expenses are involved, are in the process of consideration. Irregular expenses usually involve cases where value (goods or services) has been received and no monetary loss for the state is involved.

Certain cases are currently the subject matter of thorough investigation and a due process with a view to determine whether or not irregular expenses are involved. Once confirmed that irregular expenses are indeed involved, the process to consider applications for condonation will be activated.

Note 3:

(a) Recovery steps were initiated in 32 cases involving an amount of

R11 520.98

(b) Nineteen (19) cases valued at R 7 725.08 were waived against officials in terms of Treasury Regulation 12.7.3.

(3) Yes. Sixteen (16) cases relating to irregular expenses and eight (8) cases relating to financial misconduct, are still pending. Although Supply Chain Management at National level condoned the non‑compliance with procurement procedures (irregular expenses) as far as 16 applications are concerned, the offices involved were instructed, with due regard to Treasury Regulation 9.1.3, to consider disciplinary steps as well. The remaining eight (8) cases relates to financial misconduct involving matters of fraud, theft and bribery.

QUESTION: NO 1017

(Internal Question Paper No – 2008)

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

(1) Whether his department (a) has kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) has reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if

so, what are the relevant details?

NW1755E

REPLY:

The department has the following in place:

a) A record of all identified administrative irregularities.

b) Reported all cases investigated by Risk Management had investigated to the office of the Auditor General. Not all cases were reported to the PSA because investigations were not yet completed. All cases would also be reported on the Accounting Officer's report on the annual report.

the department is in the process of charging officials with financial misconduct.

i. No official had been dismissed so far.

ii. Three officials were suspended.

iii. The department is busy with two disciplinary enquiries and will report soon on the outcome.

i. R1, 200 000.00 Attempted Fraud;

ii. R 674 640.00 Unauthorized Expenditure;

iii. R 83 707.00 Unauthorized Expenditure;

iv. R 475 201.16 Theft;

v. R 202 762.40 Fruitless & Wasteful Expenditure;

vi. R 9 909.00 Unauthorized Expenditure;

vii. R 90 000.00 Possible Fraud;

viii. R1, 374 417.00 Unauthorized Expenditure;

ix. R1, 548 520.00 Unauthorized Expenditure;

All forensic audit investigations relating to irregularities committed within the financial year 2007 / 2008 were completed within the financial year 2008 / 2009.

The financial irregularities mentioned on 2 (b) above are some of the outstanding disciplinary cases. (See attached document)

Question 1018

Dr P J Rabie (DA) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:

(2) Whether any action has been taken against the offending officials; if not, why not; if so, in each category, (a) how many officials (i) were dismissed, (ii) were suspended and (iii) had other sanctions imposed on them and (b) what amounts of money were involved;

(3) Whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?NW1756E

Response:

(1) (a) Yes, the department has kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act.

(b) Yes, the department reported incidents of losses as follows:

(i) No losses through criminal conduct were reported to the Loss Control Officer during the period in question.

(ii) No losses through unauthorized expenditure were reported to Loss Control Officer during the period in question.

(iii) No losses through irregular expenditure were reported to the Loss Control Officer during the period in question.

(iv) Losses through fruitless and wasteful expenditure were reported during the period in question. R101 000 of fruitless expenditure was reported of which R90 000 was written off as a loss and the balance of R11 000 is under investigation.

(2) Yes, disciplinary action was taken against the offending official.

(a) (i) Number of officials dismissed: None

(ii) Number of officials suspended: One (1)

(iii) Number of officials who had other sanctions imposed on them: One (1)

(b) The amount of money involved with regard to the suspended official is R1 012.00 and the amount of money where other sanctions were imposed is R440.00

(3) There is one matter relating to financial misconduct that is currently pending. The employee has been charged.

QUESTION NO. 1019 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 18 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13 June 2008

Mr E W Trent (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

(1) Whether his department has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1757E

MR E W TRENT (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1019. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

(1) Yes, my department has kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999)

In terms of losses through:

(i) criminal conduct,

Chief Directorate	Reference Number	Official	Description	Serial No	Date
Social Responsibility Policy and Projects	1/4/10/157	Mr GB Qotywa	Dell 600 Notebook (Burglary at home)	9B4K91J	5 May 2007 (Finalized)
Environmental Quality & Protection	1/4/10/157	Dr Ranjini Pillay	Dell 410 Notebook (Burglary at home)	95WC92J	24 June 2007 (Finalized)
Transfrontier Conservation & Protected Areas	1/4/10/155	MS Skumsa Mancotywa	Dell notebook (Burglary at home)	42YTCOJ	14 March 2007 (Finalized)
Human Resource & Transformation	1/4/10/87	Ms S Songelwa	Notebook Compaq TC4400 (Theft from office)	SCND6361W33	12 July 2007 (Not finalized)
Human Resource & Transformation	1/4/10/204	Ms M Beta	Notebook Compaq (Burglary at home)TC4400	CND636298Q	17 February 2008 (Not finalized)
Directorate Antarctica & Island	1/4/10/124	Mr S Watson	CPU (Theft from office)	ZAB60801FD	02 August 2006 (Finalized in 2007)
Environmental Quality & Protection	1/4/10/163	Mr S Nariain	CPU (Theft from office)	181716187MACPL	27 June 2007 (Finalized
International Unit	1/4/10/43	Mr AJ Wills	Notebook Dell 600 (Stolen at the conference in Germany)	9QX4DLJ	20 May 2006 (Finalized in 2007)
Biodiversity & Conservation	1/4/10/177	Ms L Sello	Notebook Dell 600 (Burglary at home)	GNRT51J	11 October 2007 (Finalized)
Biodiversity & Conservation	1/4/10/31	MA Motaung	Notebook Dell (Burglary at home)	WCR8/R	6 February 2006 (Finalized)

The above were not criminal conducts by DEAT employees but assets stolen from DEAT employees by third parties. Correctives steps were followed to alert DEAT employees with measures to be taken in securing the assets of the State.

(ii) Unauthorized expenditure – none.

(iii) Irregular expenditure – authorization of a purchase not within the delegation – R155 000 – expenditure approved (in terms of National Treasury Practice Note No. 4 of 2008/09).

(iv) Fruitless and wasteful expenditure – R530 000 which were investigated and condoned in accordance with the prescripts.

(2) (a) Action taken against offending officials (i) None.

(ii) None.

(iii) None.

(b) Not applicable.

(3) There are no disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008.

QUESTION 1020

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13/06/2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 18-2008)

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

(1) Whether her department has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(3) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending on 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1758E

REPLY:

1)(a) Yes.

(b) (i) No.

(b) (ii) No.

(b) (iii) Yes.

(b) (iv) No.

(2) (a) There was irregular expenditure during the 2006/07 financial year. Three officials from the Department collaborated to evade financial procedures and failed to follow the stipulated tender process. The DoE finalized the investigation into the matter during the 2007/08 financial year and the offending officials have been dismissed.

(2) (b) The sum involved was R1 230 587.74.

The Department acquired a new quotation from another service provider and discovered that the same service could be rendered for R450 000.00 less. The R450 000.00 is being recovered in equal amounts of R150 000.00 from each of the three officials.

(3) No disciplinary cases were pending on 31 March 2008.

QUESTION 1021

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 12 June 2008

Internal question paper no: 18

Mrs J A Semple (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

(1) Whether his department (a) has kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), and (b) has reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the 2007-08 financial year; if not, why not; if so,

(2) whether any action has been taken against the offending officials; if not, why not; if so, in each category, how many officials (a) were dismissed, (b) were suspended and (c) had other sanctions imposed on them;

(3) what amounts of money were involved in each case;

(4) whether there were any disciplinary cases pending at 31 March 2008; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1759E

REPLY:

This question has been circulated within DSD for a reply, as well as to its reporting entities.

Department of Social Development (DSD)

(1)(a) Yes, DSD has kept and maintained records as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), for the past years as well as the 2007/2008 financial year.

(b) (i) No losses during 2007/2008 financial year were reported due to incidents of a criminal nature.

(ii) No losses during 2007/2008 financial year were reported due to incidents of unauthorised expenditure.

(iii)Yes, there were cases of alleged irregular expenditure reported during 2007/2008 financial year that are currently still under investigation (refer to Table C under 3 below).

(iv) Yes, there were cases of alleged fruitless and wasteful expenditure reported during the 2007/2008 financial year that are currently still under investigation (refer to Table D below, under 3).

(2)(a) No officials were dismissed during 2007/2008 financial year, as the investigation revealed that the nature of the offence did not warrant dismissal and therefore other sanctions were imposed. The department benefited from the procurement of such goods and services as they were required and planned to be procured.

(b) No officials have been suspended during 2007/2008 financial year, as the investigation revealed that the nature of the offence did not warrant suspension and therefore other sanctions were imposed. The department benefited from the procurement of such goods and services as they were required and planned to be procured.

(c) During 2007/2008 verbal warnings were served to officials for committing irregular expenditure prior 2006/2007 financial year, the investigations were only finalised during 2007/2008 financial year (refer to Table A below, under 3 below).

(3) OTHER SANCTIONS IMPOSED

The amounts involved in cases were other sanctions were imposed (verbal warnings) in relation to irregular expenditure are as follows (refer to Table A below):

Table A

Post Designation	Nature of Misconduct	Amount Involved
Deputy Director	Non-compliance with procurement processes.	R57,000.00
Deputy Director	Non-compliance with procurement processes.	R62,280.00
Deputy Director	Non-compliance with procurement processes.	R428,162.00

Other cases of irregular expenditure committed prior 2006/2007 for which investigations are still underway are as follows:

Table B

Nature of Misconduct (prior 2006/2007)	Amount Involved
Non-compliance with procurement processes.	R2,148, 733

Table C

Nature of Misconduct (2007/2008)	Amount Involved
Non-compliance with procurement processes.	R887,000

FRUITLESS AND WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE

There were also alleged cases of fruitless and wasteful expenditure during 2007/2008 for which investigations are still underway. They are as follows:

Table D

Nature of Misconduct	Amount Involved
Damages to hired vehicles and non-arrival at hotels.	R390,000

(4) There were no disciplinary cases pending as at 31 March 2008.

REPLY

National Development Agency (NDA)

(1) (a) Yes, the NDA has kept records as required in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999).

(b)During the period in question, there have not been any reported incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

However, the Auditor General is in the process of finalising an investigation related to the severance package paid to the previous Company Secretary. In this regard the contract of employment was ended by mutual agreement between the NDA and the Company Secretary and the package represented the remaining period of his retirement. The decision to terminate was motivated by the recommendations from various legal and labour experts.

In this regard the Board was advised that the relationship between the parties had deteriorated to the point where there was little chance of the re-established of the necessary trust and good faith for the execution of the mandate.

(2) Not applicable

(3) The severance package amounted to R1 365 000.

(4) Not applicable

REPLY:

SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY (SASSA)

(1,2) The Agency keeps and maintains all relevant records as espoused by the Public Finance Management Act PFMA 1999 Act No. 1 of 1999.

The Agency has reported all incidents of losses through criminal conducts, unauthorized expenditure or overdraft, Irregular expenditures, and Fruitless and Wasteful expenditures and the records are available for perusal.

Report of Cases per category:-

Criminal conduct,

Kwa-Zulu Natal Regional Office

Basic Accounting System (BAS) fraud – colluded by both SASSA employees and members of the Public.

Explanatory notes of the Fraud:

A syndicate of which a SASSA official is part of the attempted fraud to defraud SASSA – KZN an amount of R 1 852 986.55 resulting in an actual loss of R478 599.90, which was done by infiltrating BAS using Whinspy Spy ware to access employee usernames and passwords and also loading three Suppliers onto BAS with the specific intention of effecting payments services that were never rendered to SASSA KZN namely:

Owami Trading Enterprise – R 410 685.95 – Actual Loss R107 522.28

Uptown Trading – R1 021 448.23 – Actual Loss R155 000.00

Kupheya Business Enterprise – R 420 852.36 – Actual loss R216 077.00

Actions Taken on recovery of fraud:

The matters have been referred to the SAPS with case number 559/10/2007: FRAUDULET BAS PAYMENT.

The implicated SASSA official is suspended pending disciplinary hearing.

The matter is still under the proceedings/investigations by the SAPS Commercial Crime Branch in Pietermaritzburg.

The SASSA official including implicated company's owners were arrested by the SAPS.

The issues are pending investigations which is currently underway.

Head Office SASSA

SASSA head office has the under mentioned record of all cases of criminal activity committed by both its employees and the members of the public.

CASE 1 amount involved R250 000

CASE 2 amount involved R 1000 000

Total amount involved R 1, 250, 000

Actions Taken on recovery of fraud:

Case 1 hearing convened and finalized the officer pleaded guilty and was dismissed.

Case 2 the officer is suspended and allegations are under investigations.

Mpumalanga

The Mpumalanga region has the following cases related to criminal conduct:

Case 1 – Fraud – Amount involved R 325 380

Case 2 – Fraud – (Grants related) R 9839.67

Total Amount Involved R 335 219.67

Recovered R 335 219.67

Western Cape

The following cases relates to criminal Conduct:

Case 1 – Fraud – amount involved R 4190.00

Case 2 – Fraud – amount involved R 5640.00

Eastern Cape

Only one case related to fraud in the E Cape region with R 11 500 amounts involved.

Northern Cape

A single Grant related fraud registered with R 810 amount involved.

Limpopo

Only one case related to Fraud with an amount of R 5, 300.

Free State

Case 1 – Fraud – amount involved – R 2000

Case 2 – Fraud – amount involved – R 300

Case 2 – Fraud – amount involved – R 200

Total amount involved R 2500

Unauthorized Expenditure / Overdraft

The overdraft as reflected in part A of the Appropriation Statement is attributed to imbalances between allocated funds and SASSA operational requirements, better explained as an overdraft in the financial year 2007/8 as SASSA is a public entity.

Short Description: - Issues that led to overdraft of the Agency's allocated budget:

The Agency was allocated a total of R4, 142,747 billion for the 2007/08 financial year as captured in the 2007 ENE. An additional amount of R374, 467 million was made available through the Budget Adjustment process. Thus the Agency's allocation increased to R4, 517,214 billion.

In line with Government Priority of taking the services to the people and ensuring that the indigenous do not walk more than 20 kilometres in order to access the services, the Agency procured 40 mobile trucks which cost more than R37 821 065.45. The maintenance and repairs R 2, 943 360, satellite dish (bandwidth) costs R 29 040 9.60 and salaries for the truck drivers cost around R27 million. (All for the period of two years)

Part of the overdraft is attributed to inadequate funding on grants handling fees, increase in the number of personnel (staff) and high litigation costs experienced in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

In order for the Agency to operate optimally, it became necessary that the budget be aligned with the activities undertaken to give effect to its mandate. The effect was the deviation from the published ENE figures. In this regard a request for deviation was sought from the DSD and approval was granted.

Irregular expenditure

Irregular expenditures are as a result of the transactions for goods and services that did not satisfy the requirements of Internal Supply Chain Management processes.

An amount of R 25 834 000 was condoned by the Bid Committee and the CEO depending on the level of authority attached to the figure or processes.

However an amount of R 5, 503 000 is awaiting condonation by the Bid Committee and the Financial misconduct Board of the Agency.

Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure

Limpopo Region – Interests charged on the Trust Account amounting to R 517 087.51.

Explanatory Notes: - That contributed to the Trust Account incurring interests:-

The Social Assistance Grants was previously administered by the provincial Department of Health and Social Development in the region as Programme 2. In 2005/06, the Programme was administered through National conditional grants and as such required the opening of the bank account which linked to what was called PMG 2 on BAS. The PMG 2 was a set of financial books where the transactions in relation to the grants money were reported. The Province was responsible for spending of this money however National Department of Social Development played an oversight role as it was preparing for the establishment of SASSA.

During this period and before, the Provincial Department of Health and Social Development was not charged interest on over withdrawal of the bank account as the Province, since the Provincial Treasury had an agreement with the bank i.e. ABSA. The reason for this could be that the Provincial Treasury was managing overall provincial accounts hence departmental accounts were not charged interest on over withdrawn accounts or receive interest on positive accounts.

The reasons for over withdrawal of the bank account for the grants were caused by various factors which amongst others included the following:

· Overspending in the previous financial years.

· Over withdrawals by CPS which has now paid back an amount of R6.1 million after reconciliation were performed for 2006/07 year-end.

· Robberies occurred in the previous years which at 2006/07 year end amounted to R7 million being amount not recovered by the Provincial Department to date.

· Handling fees that were charged in the Trust account from inception of the account until discovered in March 2007 as SASSA was reconciling the account from the year 2003.

· Delays in the flow of transfer of grants money.

The factors alluded to in the paragraph above resulted in an amount of R517, 087.51 interests being charged against SASSA books and it is reflected as wasteful and fruitless expenditure. The detail of amount is as follows:

Trust account

30 Nov 2006 R53, 402.70

31 Dec 2006 R214, 163.46

31 Jan 2007 R96, 504.89

28 Feb 2007 R28, 542.87

31 Mar 2007 R16, 105.32

___________

Sub total R408, 719.24

PMG 2 account

31 Dec 2006 108,368.27

___________

Grand Total R517, 087.51

___________

NB. The interest detailed in the subparagraph above in terms of the date when the bank started charging coincide to the interest received on positive balance for the same period which amounted to R2 million and this was surrendered to the National Department of Social Development.

The following actions were taken against the offending officials per the cases:-

Officials who were Dismissed

Five officials were dismissed in the financial year 2007/8 in various regions within SASSA i.e. Head Office 1, E Cape, North West, Mpumalanga, and Free State refer to point 4 below and Annexure B for details.

Who were Suspended, and

Five officials were suspended for the period in the following regions: - Mpumalanga 2, Head Office 1, Western Cape 1 and KZN 2, refer to point 4 below and Annexure B for details.

Officials who had any other Sanctions imposed on them

Eight officials were given final written warning, one transferred to local office from a district office, and one being demoted, Refer to point 4 below and Annexure B for details.

NB: The above section should be interrogated in conjunction with point number 3 below and Annexure B for details and easy understanding.

REPORT OF ANY INCIDENTS OF LOSSESS THROUGH: -

(3) WHAT AMOUNTS OF MONEY INVOLVED IN EACH CASE?

REGION	NATURE OF MISCONDUCT	STATUS OF CASES	OUTCOME	FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Mpumalanga	Misuses of Government vehicle	Finalized	One month suspension without pay	R 6849.40 cost of repairs for vehicle but presently the money had been recovered
Mpumalanga	Fraud	Finalized	Dismissed/ awaiting appeal outcome	R 325 380.00 11 month cost to be incurred if the transaction had gone through undetected. Money incurred on salaries to date while waiting appeal R 72 751.00
Mpumalanga	Fraud by capturing and verifying grants for unqualified beneficiary	investigation	investigation	Grant in aid R 9839.67 incurred already through SIU
Mpumalanga	Missing Laptop	Finalized	Three months suspension without pay	R 18690.00 cost of a laptop. Officer acknowledged the debt and captured on the system for recovery in 12 months period.
Mpumalanga	Damage state Vehicle	Finalized	Final written warning	R 4000.00 as cost of repair and acknowledge debt signed already for deductions.
Mpumalanga	Accident	Written warning	Written warning file closed	R 195 600.00 Vehicle was written off and the officer was exemted from liability as per advice by state attorneys
TOTAL				R 560 359.07
W/ Cape	Fraud	Final written warning	Finalized	R 4190.00
W/ Cape	Fraud	24 months suspension without pay and final written warning	Appeal against the sanction	R 5640.00
TOTAL				R 9830.00
Gauteng	Damage state vehicle	Hearing was held and the person pleaded guilty	A final written warning was given and the person is suspended from driving a state vehicle for six month	Still awaiting for the amount to be verified
TOTAL				_
N/Cape	Grant related fraud	Hearing postponed until 24-25 July 2008	Pre- Cautionary transferred to the local office from the district office	R 810.00
TOTAL				R 810.00
E/Cape	Fraud	Dismissed	Matter referred to the police	R 11500.00 was recovered from his pension
TOTAL				R 11500.00
Head Office	Fraud	Hearing convened and finalized: Officer pleaded guilty	Officer dismissed from SASSA	R 250 000.00 in the Process to recover the amount
Head Office	Fraud	Officer Suspended: Allegations to be investigated	Pending	R 1000 000. 00
TOTAL				R1 250 000.00
N/ West	Fraud failure to cancel disability grant	Awaiting inputs from Compliance unit which is delaying the finalization of the investigation report	Still pending and not suspended	To be verified subsequent to reconciliation by the Post Office
N/ West	Misuse of state funds	Finalization pending on outcome of appeal	Appealed the dismissal	R 1880.00
N/ West	Misuse of state funds	Hearing postponed from 10-11 July to a date be confirmed by the chairperson	Case still pending	R 400.00
N/ West	Fraud	Finalized	Final written warning	Awaiting SIU to verify the amount
N/ West	Fraud	Finalized	Final written warning	Awaiting SIU to verify the amount
TOTAL				R 2280.00
Kwa- Zulu Natal	Fraud	Officer suspended	Disciplinary hearing to start at the end of July 2008	R 1852 986.55
TOTAL				R 1852 986.55
Limpopo	Loss of state property	Not charged Criminally	Chairperson pronounced: Two months suspension and a final written warning. Awaiting out come of appeal	R 4000.00
Limpopo	Misuse of state Vehicle	Not charged Criminally	Chairperson pronounced: a final written warning.	R 980.40
Limpopo	Misuse of state Vehicle	Not charged Criminally	Chairperson pronounced: a final written warning.	R 820.00
Limpopo	Fraud Social Grants	Pending prosecution	Precautionary suspension for 60 days. Chairperson pronounced: Dismissal.	R 5300.00
TOTAL				R 11 100.40
Free State	Fraud	Demote but not implemented as submitted to Head office for ratification	Precautionary suspended	R 2000.00
Free State	Fraud	Sanction Pronounced	Dismissed	R 300.00
Free State	Fraud	Hearing Scheduled for the 22 July 2008	Pending	R 200.00
TOTAL				R 2500.00

(4) DISCIPLINARY CASES PENDING AS AT 31 MARCH 2008, DETAILED

The total number of cases pending as at the 31^st March 2008 is 32 and 44 Pending charges.

See below graphs for a detailed status of all cases as at 31^st March 2008, Refer to Annexure B for all cases reported and details.

MISCONDUCT CASES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2008
Status	EC	FS	GP	HO	KZN	LIM	MP	NW	NC	WC	Total
Still under investigation	0	8	0	0	22	2	2	7	2	2	45
Investigation Pending	9	0	0	1	8	8	2	0	3	1	32
Awaiting legal opinion	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Investigation Completed	8	12	10	2	0	16	5	14	5	21	93
With Various Charges	4	5	9	2	7	6	2	10	3	20	68
Charges Pending	4	7	2	0	7	15	2	8	2	1	48

DETAILED TOTAL STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF PROGRESS OF THE AGENCY MISCONDUCT CASES

TOTAL CONSOLIDATED CASES FOR SASSA PROGRESS

COUNT

Still under investigation

Investigation Pending

Awaiting legal opinion

Investigation Completed

Charges

Charges Pending

QUESTION NO: 1022

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20 June 2008

QUESTION PAPER NO: 20

DATE OF REPLY: 2 September 2008

Dr R Rabinowitz (IFP) asked the Minister of Communications

(1) (a) Whether she will ensure that her Department (a) monitors (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 and councils reporting to her; 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 her department and;

(b) what kinds of (i) energy are being used in the office of her department and (ii) energy saving measures are being implemented in these offices?

NW1226E

Reply

(1) (a) and (b): Yes, the Department intends to first calculate its carbon footprint, the outcome of which will be used as the basis to formulate measures to reduce our carbon footprint. The Department also intends to create awareness regarding this matter among all the staff, in so far as they can address the issue of their own carbon footprints at their homes.

(2) Yes, this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all the entities reporting to me.

The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) informed me that they have not published any glossy publication this year and have no intention of producing any glossy publication. USAASA's 2007/08 Annual Report will not be a high gloss publication and the paper used for printing should be environmentally friendly.

The South African Post Office (SAPO)informed me that in June 2008 they launched an Environmental Programme aimed at reducing carbon footprints. In line with this programme SAPO will be phasing out of glossy publications. The initial phase will be with the annual report where the use of the recycled paper will be considered.

Sentech informed me that they discontinued the production of glossy Annual Report publications in 2005. Since 2006 Sentech has been using special coated paper for the cover and matt finish paper for the inside. Sentech brochures and pamphlets are printed on matt paper. The Sentech internal newsletter is electronic and a few copies are printed on a normal A4 paper for employees who have no access to email facilities.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) informed me that they have a SABC has a paper recycling project that is part of a broader savings initiative aimed at encouraging staff to use resources wisely, and discourages wasteful use of resources. This crosses the broad spectrum of electricity, paper, water, and other similarly environment sensitive resources. The SABC will look the phasing out glossy publications that could be looked into. The format of the publication is constantly being monitored to keep number of pages down, to use the simplest printing techniques, and to use mainly recycled products.

The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) informed me that they produce an annual report, an annual prospectus and limited pamphlets to promote their training courses. Much of its communications is in electronic format. The annual report and prospectus will be in mat finish board. The pamphlets are in non-glossy, low cost material.

(3) (a) (i) & (ii)

The Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA)informed me that the cost required to produce the 2007/08 Annual Report, as per the quotation provided by the service provider and which includes printing, is R488, 583, 48 inclusive of VAT. In 2007, USAASA produced 1,500 copies of the Annual Report. In this year USAASA has taken a decision to produce lesser copies of the Annual Report and to utilize the USAASA website as well as the production of CDs to distribute the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa 2007/08 Annual Report to stakeholders.

The South African Post Office (SAPO)informed me that they will publish about one thousand two hundred (1200) annual reports, 50% being printed on the glossy publication and others being printed on the recycled green paper. The cost of glossy publication is estimated at R70, 000.00 and recycled green paper at R57, 000.00.

Sentech informed me that no costs were incurred in the past 2 to 3 years as a result of Sentech's proactive stance of doing away with the glossy publications. Bulk buying is known to be cost-effective. Their publicity/promotional material (brochures, pamphlets posters) were ordered in bulk.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) informed me that the cost of the 2006/07 Annual Report was approximately R500 000 and the Social Report was R350 000. The SABC uses recycled paper for its Annual and Social Reports.

The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) informed me that the cost of the Annual Report last year was R32513, 94 for 1000 copies, and that for the Prospectus R5 876.70 for 1000 copies and the pamphlets R10 153.98 for 15000 copies.

In 2007/08 the Department of Communications spent R198 752.00 on 3000 copies of the Cost of Annual Report. In the same year the Department spent R1 133 000-00 on pamphlets, booklets, reprinting of legislation, policy publications as well as the Strategic Plan and Departmental Business Plan.

3(b) (i) The Department uses the Eskom electricity which is supplied via the municipality.

(ii) The Department has implemented the following measures to reduce energy consumption:

Officials were requested to adhere to the following provisions:

· Lights: All lights such as those in passages, should be switched off, except those necessary for security reasons, when the last person leaves for home.

· Air conditioners: These should be used only when really necessary and switched off when not in use or when officials are out of the office. This however excludes server and PABX rooms.

QUESTION NO: 1023

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 OF 20 JUNE 2008

DR R RABINOWITZ (IFP) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

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

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

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

REPLY:

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

The nature of the Department's business has a direct bearing on its carbon footprint. The Department does not manufacture products and its carbon footprint thus mainly relates to its use of energy. The Department has performed an audit of its energy consumption and has identified opportunities to reduce same. Opportunities identified are listed in par 3(b) ii below.

2. Whether this will include the phasing out of glossy publications from all agencies or councils reporting to her; if not, what is the position in this regard:

The Department does not have agencies / councils reporting to it. With regards to its own glossy publications the Department is working to reduce its carbon footprint by using recyclable paper for publications.

3. (a) What is the estimated cost of all such (i) reports

i) Annual Report R200 000 per annum

Strategic Plan R50 000 per annum

and (ii) publications

ii) Newsletter R50 000 per annum (issued 11 times per year), Budget Vote speech booklet R30 000 (once off), AU/NEPAD report-back booklet R60 000 per annum (issued 2 x per year), DFA activities booklet R50 000 (once per year).

(b) What kinds of (i) energy are being used in the offices of her department and (ii) energy saving measures being implemented in these offices?

i) The Department mainly uses fluorescent lighting, which is regarded as being energy efficient, for its normal operations. In areas where non fluorescent lighting is required, the Department is, where possible, in the process of changing such lights with energy saving lights.

ii) Lighting system shutdown takes place at 20:00 daily, circumstances permitted. (In some of the rented buildings occupied by the Department, central control of lights makes it impossible to switch off lights in unoccupied offices whilst allowing officials to work in other offices).

In addition to the above, a general circular has been issued to all staff at head office with additional energy efficiency measures to be implemented immediately. These measures include –

· All geysers to be switched off permanently since normal daily activities do not require the use of hot water.

· Kitchen equipment, excluding refrigerators, will be switched off when not in use

· Offices/areas with individually controlled light switches will be switched off when office/area is not occupied, even during day time when office/areas are not occupied/used for an extensive period of time. Similarly, loose standing electrical equipment i.e.: fans, air-conditioning units, heaters must also be switched off when office/area is not in use, or where the offices/areas are empty for an extended period of time.

· Lighting in outside parking areas must be switched off at sunrise, and must only be switched on at sunset.

· Light bulbs are to be replaced with energy saving light bulbs.

· Lighting in offices/areas should, where possible, be reduced by removing some florescent light tubes or reducing lux levels.

· Air-conditioning systems plants are switched off at 20h00 and switched on at 06h00.

· It is also being considered whether computer equipment i.e. desk-tops and printers could be switched during week-ends.

The above energy saving measures have been consolidated into an energy saving plan that was implemented on 1 April 2008, and the Department is currently developing a more comprehensive strategy on energy utilisation.

Question no. 1025

QUESTION PAPER DATE: FRIDAY, 13 June 2008#

1025: Mr. J H van der Merwe (IFP) to ask the Minister of Minerals and Energy:

(a) What is the total electricity generation capacity from all generators in South Africa and (b) what percentage of the total capacity has not been available for transmission as a result of (i) planned and (ii) unplanned maintenance during 2007? NW1719E

ESKOM'S RESPONSE

(a) The Operational Eskom Generation capacity at the end of 2007/08 was 38 354 MWs

(b) (i) 8.63 % during the 2007/8 period.

(ii) 5.13 % during the 2007/8 period.

QUESTION NO. 1027

(Internal Question Paper No 19 – 2008)

Mrs C Dudley (ACDP) to ask the Minister for Provincial and Local Government:

(1) Whether he has been informed of mismanagement of the municipality in Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether he or his department will take any steps to investigate the matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

ANSWER

(1) No. The department has not been informed of any mismanagement of the Kareedouw municipality.

(2) The department will do so only if the matter is reported to it formally, like all other cases. Once the formal report has been received, it will also be referred to the Member of the Executive Council responsible for local government in the Eastern Cape, who will then conduct an investigation in terms of section 106 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act No. 32 of 2000.

QUESTION NO.: 1028 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20 JUNE 2008

Mr L M Green (FD) to ask the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

(1) Whether she has been informed of a certain murder case (details furnished) in October 2006 in which the murderer was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and is due to be released in 10 months on good behavior; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) what is the Government's policy with regard to minimum sentences for serious crimes;

(3) whether the sentence in this case is in accordance with such policy; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1761E

REPLY

(1) No. I have not been informed of the case referred to by the Honourable Member. Regarding the prisoner's release in 10 months on good behaviour, I propose that the Honourable Member approach the Department of Correctional Services which should be in a position to provide an explanation for this prisoner's imminent release.

(2)&(3) Sentencing is a judicial function exercised by the courts. The courts are independent and subject only to the Constitution and the law. The provisions relating to "minimum sentences", as contained in the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 105 of 1997) allow a court to impose a lesser sentence (than a prescribed minimum sentence) if the court is satisfied that substantial and compelling circumstances exist for the imposition for such a lesser sentence.

QUESTION NO.: 1029 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20 JUNE 2008

Mrs S M Camerer (DA) to ask the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

(1) Whether the Public Protector appointed a firm of attorneys to represent him in the sexual harassment case in which he is charged by his Deputy Public Protector; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(2) whether funds in the budget of the Public Protector have been allocated to meet the cost of employing these attorneys; if so, on what basis; if not,

(3) whether the case of sexual harassment has been settled; if so when?

NW1762E

REPLY

(1) The Public Protector has not been "charged' with sexual harassment by the Deputy Public Protector. The only "case" that exists is that of allegations of sexual harassment made against the Public Protector. The Public Protector instituted a civil claim in the High Court (Witwatersrand Local Division, Case No. 14776/06) against the owners of the Sunday Times for damages for defamation by publication of allegations of sexual harassment made against the Public Protector.

As the allegations published by the Sunday Times allegedly emanated from the Deputy Public Protector, the Public Protector was advised to join the Deputy Public Protector in the proceedings.

The Public Protector instructed Mohlaba & Moshoana attorneys at his own cost to represent him in this matter.

The Sunday Times served a subpoena duces tecum on the Office of the Public Protector to obtain access to certain confidential official records, which it claims it would require for the purposes of the defamation trial. The Head of the Special Investigations Unit of the Office of the Public Protector, who is responsible for the management of litigation involving the Office of the Public Protector, instructed the firm, MNMR Attorneys, to represent the interests of Office of the Public Protector in the matter.

(2) The attorneys representing the Public Protector's interests in this matter have been engaged at the personal costs of the Public Protector. These attorneys are paid from the litigation budget of the Office of the Public Protector.

(3) The civil case of defamation against the Sunday Times and the Deputy Public Protector has not been settled. A trial date has been requested and is expected soon.

QUESTION NO. 1030

(Internal Question Paper No 19 – 2008)

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

What was the amount of regional services council levies outstanding at each of the 46 district municipalities as at 30 June 2008?

ANSWER

District municipalities were requested to furnish the required information. Only 22 out of the 46 district municipalities have responded so far. In respect of each of the 22 district municipalities, the outstanding amounts are set out hereunder:

(1) Waterberg District Municipality: R 5 80 559-40;

(2) Ukhahlamba District Municipality (Eastern Cape): R 1 363 433.00;

(3) Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality: R 312 687-56;

(4) Cape Winelands District Municipality: R336 739 572-63

(5) Capricorn District Municipality: R 17 000 000-00

(6) Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality: R 241 983-88;

(7) Central Karoo District Municipality: R 275 394-00;

(8) Eden District Municipality: R 16 934 019-04

(9) West Rand District Municipality: R 5 855 472-43

(10) West Coast District Municipality: R 3 618 044-03

(11) Fezile Dabi District Municipality: R 2 919 802-86

(12) Nkangala District Municipality: R 2 064 707-11

(13) Amathole District Municipality: R 1 062 999-52;

(14) Umgungundlovu District Municipality: R26 000 000-00;

(15) Motheo District Municipality: R 547 481-08;

(16) Mopani District Municipality: R 445 000-00;

(17) Umzinyathi District Municipality: R 00-00;

(18) Ugu District Municipality: R 481 085-00;

(19) Uthukela District Municipality: R 2 846 507-38;

(20) Gert Sibande District Municipality: R 6 740 982-26;

(21) Ehlanzeni District Municipality: R 4 274 287-43;

(22) Overberg District Municipality: R 240 815-10;

The Honourable Member will be provided with the outstanding information as soon as it is received from the remaining district municipalities.

QUESTION NO.: 1031 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20 JUNE 2008

Mrs S M Camerer (DA) to ask the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:

Whether the Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Public Protector has been suspended; if so, (a) when, (b) what was the date of his appointment and (c) what is the reason for his suspension; if not, (i) what is the nature of his removal from office and (ii) when will the matter be finalised?

NW1764E

REPLY

(a) Yes, the Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Public Protector was suspended with effect from 22 December 2007 pending the investigation of charges of misconduct against him.

(b) The Chief Executive Officer was appointed on 1 April 2007.

Question 1032

Mr L B Labuschagne (DA) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:

Whether his department has concluded talks with the private sector regarding the possible introduction of a wage subsidy allowance for all 18-year olds that they can take up to facilitate their first job; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?NW1765E

Response:

The Department of Labour is currently considering a number of initiatives to improve young peoples' access to the labour market. These initiatives will be discussed at NEDLAC with our social partners.

The dti intends to undertake economic research on the matter with the aim of exploring both the disadvantages and advantages of such a policy approach to youth economic empowerment. Based on the outcome of the research, the dti will adopt a position on the matter and act accordingly in collaboration with relevant departments and stakeholders.

QUESTION NO 1035

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 JUNE 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19)

1035. Mrs D van der Walt (DA) to ask the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry:

(1) Whether her department has done an audit on the expertise and capacity of each forestry license holder; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) Whether the license holder (a) is residing in the area where s/he is the license holder, (b) has the relevant resources to ensure success and (c) is (i) running the business or (ii) sub contracted; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1768E

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REPLY:

(1) No. (a) The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry assesses licenses based on factors outlined in Section 27 of the National Water Act, (NWA) 1998 (Act no 36 of 1998), which does not include a requirement to assess expertise and capacity of the applicant.

Some of the relevant factors in Section 27 that the Department must consider include:

a) existing lawful water uses;

b) the need to redress the results of past racial and gender discrimination;

c) efficient and beneficial use of water in the public interest;

d) the socio-economic impact –

(i) of the water use or uses if authorised; or

(ii) of the failure to authorise the water use or uses;

e) the likely effect of the water use to be authorised on the water resource and on other water users;

f) the strategic importance of the water use to be authorised;

g) the probable duration of any undertaking for which a water use is to be authorised.

(2) No. (a) Mainly, licenses are issued based on the availability and suitability of the area for forestry development and availability of water in the proposed catchment management area for forestry development. The National Water Act allows for an applicant to be either the owner of the property or a lessee of a property, and as such the licensee may not be residing in the area in which authorisation for water use has been granted.

No. (b) The Department does not have information relating to the resources of license holders as it is not required in terms of the National Water Act.

No. (c) It varies between applicants and a license holder can either run the business or subcontract.

QUESTION NO 1036

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 JUNE 2008

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19)

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

(1) (a) For each river for which an ecological reserve has been determined, what is the (i) name of the river, (ii) actual ecological reserve and (iii) date on which the reserve was determined and (b) for each river for which no ecological reserves have been determined, what is the reason why no ecological reserve was determined;

(2) Whether the ecological Reserve of each of the rivers is respected when granting water extracting licences; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1770E

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REPLY:

(1) (a) Yes, see Appendix A.

(b) Ecological Reserve determinations not being determined for particular water resource or catchment area usually occurs as a result of the following:

1. Ad hoc water use licence applications have not being received by the Department that have a potential impact on that particular water resource or catchment area;

2. Reserve determinations are normally prioritized according to my Department's roll-out plan dealing with our compulsory licensing process (as part of our water allocation reform program), accordingly, certain areas might not be earmarked for roll-out within a particular financial year as we anticipate the roll-out of this program (i.e. water allocation reform) in a phased manner;

3. Those particular areas or water resources where ecological Reserves have not been conducted might not be under stress (i.e. water demand exceeding water availability), as the Reserve determination process also focuses on critical areas (i.e. areas that require immediate interventions both in terms of water availability and water resource quality); and lastly

4. A lack of skilled human resource capacity also poses a challenge in this regard.

(2) The ecological Reserve is indeed respected and taken into account in most of our planned water resource development initiatives.

Appendix: Example of the data provided in WMA 12

APPROVED RESERVE DATABASE FOR WMA 12 MZIMVUBU TO KEISKAMMA
Quat	Reserve determined or letter of recommendation sent to use previous Reserve for the current application.	Type of Water Resource	Water Resource Name	PES	EIS	REC	% MAR (Ecological + BHN)	Approved
R10B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Cata River	B	Very High	B	30.330	03/08/2005
R10B	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Keiskamma River	B	Moderate	B	30.370	11/05/2006
R10D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Keiskamma River	C	Very High	B	30.190	24/11/2004
R10E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Keiskamma River	C	Very High	C	20.225	03/09/2004
R10E	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Keiskamma River	B/C	Moderate	B/C	27.890	11/05/2005
R10H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Keiskamma River	B	Moderate	B	30.420	28/03/2006
R10H	Letter of recommendation to use previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved on 28/03/2006	River	Upper Keiskamma River	B	Moderate	B	30.420	28/03/2006
R20A	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Buffalo River	D	Moderate	D	20.630	11/05/2006
R20F	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Buffalo River	C	Moderate	C	26.050	11/12/2000
R20F	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Buffalo River	C	Low	C	30.550	21/11/2003
R20G	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Buffalo River	C/D	Moderate	C	22.100	11/12/2000
R20G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Buffalo River	D	Moderate	D	14.300	12/09/2003
R20G	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Buffalo River	C	Moderate	C	22.100	21/11/2003
R30A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nahoon,Ganubi and Kwelera Coastal Streams	D	Moderate	D	12.197	12/09/2003
R30B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nahoon,Ganubi and Kwelera Coastal Streams	D	Moderate	D	12.083	12/09/2003
R30B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Kwelera River	D	Moderate	D	12.080	14/02/2005
R30D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nahoon,Ganubi and Kwelera Coastal Streams	C	Moderate	C	18.958	12/09/2003
R40A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Bira, Mgallna and Mtati Coastal Streams	C	Moderate	C	18.963	12/09/2003
R40A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Bira, Mgallna and Mtati Coastal Streams	C	Moderate	C	18.963	10/04/2006
R40A	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved on 10/04/2006	River	Bira, Mgallna and Mtati Coastal Streams	C	Moderate	C	18.963	10/04/2006
R40C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Shelber Stream	C	Moderate	C	19.410	08/04/2003
R50A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Bira, Mgallna and Mtati Coastal Streams	C	Moderate	C	19.430	12/09/2003
R50B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Bira, Mgallna and Mtati Coastal Streams	C	Moderate	C	20.400	12/09/2003
S10A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper White Kei River	C	Moderate	C	24.930	14/06/2007
S10D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Wit Kei River	B	Moderate	B	29.260	20/01/2005
S10E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Middle White Kei River	D	Moderate	D	12.910	02/07/2003
S10G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Middle White Kei River	D	Moderate	D	14.720	02/07/2003
S10J	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Middle White Kei River	D	Moderate	D	13.080	02/07/2003
S10J	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Middle White Kei River	C/D	Moderate	C/D	20.880	20/03/2007
S20D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Middle White Kei River	D	Moderate	D	14.410	02/07/2003
S31E & S3G	The Water Qualiy Reserve for S31E and S31G (Lower Klaas Smits River) was determined as part of the 2006 Kei River Intermediate Reserve (no Template has been written up for this)
S32E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Klipplaat River	D	Moderate	D	13.745	08/05/2001
S32G	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Klipplaat River	C	Moderate	C	25.050	20/03/2007
S32K	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Upper Black Kei River	D	Moderate	D	9.210	20/03/2007
S32M	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Lower Black Kei River	C/D	Moderate	C/D	11.180	20/03/2007
S40A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Lower Black Kei River	D	Moderate	C	11.000	12/09/2000
S50J	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Lower Tsomo River	D	Moderate	D	12.770	02/07/2003
S60B	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Kubusi River	C	Moderate	C	23.020	17/12/2003
S60E	Intermediate water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Kubusi River	C	Moderate	C	22.500	17/12/2003
S70A	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Kei River	C	Moderate	C	16.060	14/06/2001
T11C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Xuka River	C	High	B/C	25.230	20/06/2002
T11E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Bashee River	C	Moderate	C	16.160	27/07/2000
T11H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Bashee River	D	Low	D	12.845	12/09/2003
T12G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Bashee River	D	Low	D	12.650	12/09/2003
T12G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mgwali River	D	Low/Marginal	D	12.650	26/02/2006
T13A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Bashee River	D	Low	D	12.790	12/09/2003
T13D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Ncihana River	C	Moderate	C	19.760	26/11/2002
T13E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Lower Bashee River	C	Moderate	C	19.760	12/09/2003
T20A	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve for T20D and a portion of T20E, approved on 08/05/2001	River	Mtata River	C	Moderate	C	21.979	08/05/2001
T20D &E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mtata River	C	Moderate	C	21.979	08/05/2001
T20E	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve for T20D and a portion of T20E, approved on 08/05/2001	River	Mtata River	C	Moderate	C	21.979	08/05/2001
T20F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mtata River	C	Moderate	C	22.890	22/08/2005
T20G	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mtata River	C/D	Moderate	C	21.510	30/09/2002
T31A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	A	Moderate	A	36.402	25/10/2000
T31B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	B	Moderate	B	24.320	27/07/2000
T31C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	B	Moderate	B	24.550	27/07/2000
T31C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mngeni River	B	Moderate	B	30.380	01/07/2006
T31D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	B	Moderate	B	30.157	25/02/2004
T31D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	B	Moderate	B	30.157	13/01/2005
T31E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	B	Low/Marginal	B	31.020	21/10/2004
T31E	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved on 21/10/2004	River	Mzimvubu River	B	Low/Marginal	B	31.020	21/10/2004
T31F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	A	Low/Marginal	A	43.507	29/12/2004
T31F	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved on 29/12/2004	River	Mzimvubu River	A	Low/Marginal	A	43.507	29/12/2004
T31G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	A	Moderate	A	43.440	29/12/2004
T31G	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	24.331	31/01/2006
T31H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mvenyane River	B	Low/Marginal	B	30.420	20/06/2002
T31J	Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Umzimvubu River	A/B	Moderate	A/B	37.070	11/09/2003
T32A	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzintlanga River	B	Moderate	B	31.140	14/06/2007
T32A	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	Wetland	Franklin Vlei Wetland	C	High	B/C	0.35 m³/s(Summer months), 0.12-0.17 m³/s (winter months)	14/06/2007
T32A	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	B	Moderate	B	31.210	14/06/2007
T32B	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Un-named tributary of the Mzintlava River	A/B	High	A/B	38.060	13/08/2003
T32B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	A	Moderate	A	44.732	29/06/2006
T32B	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved 29/06/2006	River	Mzintlava River	A	Moderate	A	44.732	29/06/2006
T32B	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	C	Moderate	C	20.850	14/06/2007
T32C	Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	A	Moderate	A	44.875	19/03/2002
T32C	Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	B/C	Moderate	B/C	30.015	12/09/2003
T32D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mvalweni River	B	Moderate	B	31.320	07/01/2003
T32D	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved 07/01/2003	River	Mvalweni River	B	Moderate	B	31.320	07/01/2003
T32D	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Droewig River	C	Moderate	C	22.680	03/12/2004
T32E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mvalweni River	C	Moderate	C	21.380	20/06/2002
T32E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	C	Moderate	C	20.438	19/09/2006
T32F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Little Mzimvubu, a tributary of Mzintlava River	C	Moderate	C	20.940	18/03/2008
T32G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Tende River	C	Moderate	C	21.354	20/03/2007
T32H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	20.805	12/09/2003
T32H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	20.805	15/03/2004
T32H	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mzintlava River	C	Moderate	C	20.815	03/08/2005
T32H	Letter of recommendation to use previous Rapid lll water quantity Reserve approved on 03/08/2005	River	Mzintlava River	C	Moderate	C	20.815	03/08/2005
T33A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Kinira River	C	High	B/C	26.000	15/02/2002
T33A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Kinira River	C	High	C	21.050	03/08/2005
T33B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Seeta and Mabele River	C	High	B/C	24.809	20/03/2007
T33C	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Morulane River	D	Low	D	13.790	20/03/2007
T33D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Ntata River	C	High	C	20.240	11/12/2005
T33D	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Paballong River	D	Low	D	14.420	20/03/2007
T33D	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Kinira River	D	Low	D	15.450	20/03/2007
T33E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Kinira River	C	High	B/C	33.430	30/11/2007
T33K	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	20.460	12/09/2003
T34C	Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Upper Ntata River	C	High	B/C	27.156	01/10/2003
T34C	Letter of recommendation to use previous Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve approved on 01/10/2003	River	Upper Ntata River	C	High	B/C	27.156	01/10/2003
T34D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Tina River	C	High	B/C	26.820	19/03/2004
T34H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nkwane River	C	Moderate	C	21.930	20/06/2002
T34H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	21.480	29/08/2003
T34H	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Tina River	C	Moderate	C	21.481	20/03/2007
T34J	Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Tina River	B/C	Moderate	B/C	26.839	26/08/2003
T34K	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Manzana River	C	Moderate	C	21.850	20/06/2002
T34K	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Manzana River	C	Moderate	C	21.340	08/10/2002
T35A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Tsitsa River	B/C	Moderate	B/C	23.792	16/08/2000
T35A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Tsitsa and Pot Rivers	C	High	B/C	26.480	30/11/2007
T35B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Little Pot River	C	High	B/C	26.440	30/11/2007
T35C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mooi River	C	High	B/C	26.250	10/07/2007
T35D	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mooi River	C	High	C	21.120	14/02/2005
T35E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	B/C	Moderate	B/C	26.394	01/10/2003
T35F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Inxu and Kuntombizininzi River	C	High	B/C	26.960	30/11/2007
T35G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Mtata River	C	Moderate	C	22.180	27/07/2000
T35G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Wildebees River	C	High	B/C	27.140	30/11/2007
T35K	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Tsitsa River	C	Moderate	C	21.400	11/12/2002
T35K	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	21.390	12/09/2003
T35K	Rapid lll water quantity and quality Reserve determined	River	Tsitsa River	B/C	Moderate	B/C	26.810	27/10/2003
T35L	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Upper Umzimvubu River	C	Moderate	C	21.335	12/09/2003
T35M	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nqombolo and Nxotsheni River	C	Moderate	C	21.350	26/11/2002
T36A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Jujini and Kundokwana River	B	Moderate	B	31.350	26/11/2002
T36A	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved on 26/11/2002	River	Jujini and Kundokwana River	B	Moderate	B	31.350	26/11/2002
T36B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Lower Umzimvubu River	B	Moderate	B	31.360	12/09/2003
T36B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Lower Umzimvubu River	B	Moderate	B	31.360	22/08/2005
T60B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mtentu River	B	Very High	B	47.780	30/11/2007
T60F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Eastern Pondoland Coastal Area Rivers	B	Very High	B	31.840	07/05/2004
T60F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Msikaba River	B	Very High	B	31.800	14/06/2007
T60G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mateku River	B	Very High	B	31.340	03/08/2005
T60J	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Eastern Pondoland Coastal Area Rivers	B	Very High	B	31.860	14/06/2007
T60K	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Eastern Pondoland Coastal Area Rivers	B	Very High	B	32.110	15/03/2004
T60K	Letter of recommendation to use the previous Desktop water quantity Reserve approved on 15/03/2004	River	Eastern Pondoland Coastal Area Rivers	B	Very High	B	32.110	15/03/2004
T70A	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mngazi River	B	High	B	34.770	24/03/2001
T70A	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mngazi River	B	High	A/B	30.351	28/03/2006
T70B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mngazi River	B	High	A/B	37.590	18/03/2008
T70C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mgazana River	B	High	A/B	30.980	19/05/2004
T70E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Great Kei River	B	High	A/B	24.790	27/07/2000
T70E	Rapid water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mtakatye River	B	Very High	B	25.200	06/07/2001
T70E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Eastern Pondoland Coastal Area Rivers	B	High	A/B	31.260	07/05/2004
T70E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mtakatye River	B	High	A/B	38.020	30/11/2007
T70F	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Great Kei River	B	High	A/B	24.610	27/07/2000
T70G	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Ku-Nkunzimbini River, a tributary of the Mdumbi River	B	High	A/B	37.590	11/12/2002
T80A	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nzulwini River	B	High	A/B	30.000	02/03/2001
T80A	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mpako River	C	High	C	19.000	07/03/2001
T80B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mncwasa River	B	High	A/B	24.826	08/05/2001
T80C	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Xora River	B	High	A/B	24.931	08/05/2001
T80D	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Mbanyana River	B	High	B	28.000	02/03/2001
T90B	Rapid lll water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nqabara River	B	High	B	24.800	02/03/2001
T90B	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Nqabara River	B	High	A/B	37.310	19/09/2006
T90E	Desktop water quantity Reserve determined	River	Eastern Pondoland Coastal Area Rivers	B	High	A/B	30.360	15/03/2004

QUESTION NO 1039

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 08 JULY 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 – 2008)

Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:

(1) Whether the payment of R6 million per month for ongoing work on the eNatis system is within the terms of reference of the original tender document; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) for what purpose is this fee paid and (b) on what basis;

(2) whether the original contract included the transfer of skills to relevant experts in his department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether provision has been made for this fee; if not, why not; if so, (a) in which budget vote and (b) for what amount;

(4) how long will this expanded mandate continue?

NW1773E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(1) When the contract was awarded by the State Tender Board in 2001, the Board was aware of the fact that the Electronic National Transport Information System (eNaTIS) operates in a dynamic environment that requires ongoing changes due to an expanded mandate as requested by the Provinces (system users) based mainly on changes in legislation, expansion of offices, opening of new offices and new software requirements. The State Tender Board was also aware of the fact that a mission-critical system such as the eNaTIS would require that services be transferred with great care and in a well-managed manner once the initial contract period expires. Contract RT1194KA makes provision for a chance control mechanism whereby additional deliverables outside the original scope of the contract may be requested from the contractor by the State. This formalised change control mechanism falls under the governance of a National Steering Committee (NSC) that has a formal mandate to approve such changes. The NSC consists of representatives of the Department of Transport, provincial authorities and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). The relevant contract stipulates that such work shall be done on a 'time-and-material basis'. Work done on a time-and-material basis is performed at the original man-hour rates approved by the State Tender Board in 2001, subject to escalation in terms of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The deliverables contracted by the State under the fixed-price portion of this contract have been completed and all current work is performed under approved change control items. Therefore, it is performed on a time-and-material basis under the terms and conditions of the original contract.

(a)

The cost is for specialised resources to maintain and enhance the system in order to ensure 99.95% system availability and to obtain system performance and optimisation to allow the 3,000 users at 1,300 service centres countrywide to perform 99.95 % of all transactions within a response time of 60 seconds.

(b)

As mentioned above, all costs are in accordance with time-and-material rates approved by the State Tender Board in the original contract, subject to escalation in terms of the CPI.

(2) Contract RT1194KA for the provisioning and maintenance of the eNaTIS makes provision for transfer management through schedule 15 whereby the services may upon expiry or termination of the contract be transferred from the current contractor to either the State or, at the State's request, to a third party. The Department of Transport has contracted the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to assist the Department with the smooth handover of the eNaTIS to the RTMC. In accordance with the transfer management provisions of the contract, the contractor is obliged to assist the State in the process of transferring the contract to the State or a party appointed by the State. The transfer management provisions include skills transfer in order to ensure that the receiving entity will be empowered to continue maintenance and enhancement on the system.

(3) Traditionally the eNaTIS was financed through National Treasury allocations and provincial contributions. Since the implementation of the eNaTIS, a transaction fee was approved in accordance with the Road Traffic Management Corporation Act, 1999 (Act No 20 of 1999). This transaction fee was initiated on 01 July 2007. Provincial contributions are reduced on a sliding scale, with the last contributions being collected from Provinces in the current (2008/2009) financial year. From the 2009/2010 financial year all costs related to the eNaTIS will be financed through transaction fees and no further Treasury allocation or provincial contributions will be applicable. The system will be fully self-funding from the 2009/2010 financial year. It should be noted that the average amount per month (approximately R6 million) also includes third-party costs such as Telkom data lines, additional service centre equipment and deployment of new service centres.

(4) The Department of Transport intends concluding the transfer management process by October 2008. As soon as the transfer management process has been concluded, the current extended mandate can be terminated. QUESTION 1041

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) what were the reasons for the correct procedures not being followed in awarding tenders to four IT firms to modernise the identification system and (b) what are
(i) the full names of the tender committee members responsible for the allocation of those tenders and (ii) their designations;

(2) whether any action will be taken against those found to have not followed the correct procedures in awarding the tenders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1775E

REPLY

(1) and (2) It needs to be clarified that there is no report that has ever found any tender for the Department of Home Affairs to have been awarded without following correct procedures. It is also not clear from the question which specific tender the Honourable Member is referring to. A number of tender relating to the identification system have been issued and/or awarded in the department. These include the HANIS tender, the Smart ID card tender and the Who-Am-I-Online tender.

With regard to the Who-Am-I-Online tender, I have taken a decision to refer the concerns raised by Members of the Home Affairs portfolio Committee regarding the process and the costs to the Office of the Auditor-General who currently dealing with this matter. A report in this regard is still not yet available.

QUESTION NO 1042

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 08 JULY 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2008 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 – 2008)

Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:

(1) Whether his department has received any proposals from the private sector to implement periodic vehicle testing systems countrywide in line with departmental policy and Cabinet approval; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what did these models propose and (b) how were they received;

(2) whether his department has any alternate plans to introduce periodic vehicle testing countrywide; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what plans and (b) when will they be implemented?

NW1776E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

(1) Yes. However, it is important to distinguish between two processes, namely:-

ü the completion of the feasibility study for the introduction of periodic vehicle testing; and

ü the actual introduction of periodic vehicle testing, depending on the recommendations contained in the feasibility study.

The Road to Safety Strategy, 2006 – 2010, proposes that, as part of a measure to combat road traffic accidents, a policy of repeatable (periodic) vehicle roadworthiness testing be implemented. The feasibility study will determine the readiness of the country in terms of capacity in dealing with the periodic testing of vehicles.

The Department of Transport (DoT) is currently still busy with the process to complete the feasibility study. The service provider appointed in 2006 to conduct the initial feasibility study was liquidated in 2007. The service provider had completed 80% of the feasibility study at the time of their liquidation. The DoT then requested for proposals to complete the feasibility study for periodic vehicle testing during April 2008. Three (3) proposals were received from the private sector. One (1) service provider was appointed on the 11^th June 2008 and commenced with the study on 01 July 2008. The new service provider was given nine (9) months to complete the feasibility study.

(a) The Department of Transport can only comment on this once the newly appointed service provider has submitted their recommendation(s) to the DoT. As indicated, the new service provider has been given nine (9) months to complete the study and submit their recommendation(s) to the Department for consideration and possible implementation. The results of the feasibility study will inform the implementation process.

(b) The DoT can only comment on this question once the recommendation(s) have been received and discussed with all the stakeholders.

(2) The DoT can only comment on this question once the recommendation(s) have been received and discussed with all the stakeholders.

The Department will consult broadly with all the stakeholders as well as benchmarking both nationally and internationally to ensure that the periodic vehicle testing is in line with the internationally accepted standards.

The service provider will also advise on the capacity in as far as the number of vehicle testing stations in the country and recommendation(s) will include the proposed age of vehicles to be first subjected to periodic vehicle testing.

(a) and (b) Fall away.

QUESTION 1043

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(a) When was the Large Account Initiative, created to assist companies with large requirements of foreign skills, set up, (b) how many companies are part of this Large Account Initiative, (c) how many skilled foreign nationals have been recruited and (d) what is the breakdown of the foreign skills acquired since the initiative was established?

NW1777E

REPLY

(a) The first phase of Large Account Initiative (LAI) which serviced 4 (four) pilot companies,\ started in July 2007.

(b) Apart from the initial 4 pilot companies, an additional 23 (twenty three) companies

were selected on the 15^th of May 2008.

(d) The foreign skills which were acquired consisted of the following: (i) Mining Engineers, (ii) Artisans, (iii) Specialized Engineering skills for the Construction Industry and (iv) Industrial Engineers.

QUESTION 1044

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 20 June 2008

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 of 2008

Ms H Weber (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:

(1) (a) When will the recently-announced division of her department into separate civics and immigration service units be implemented, (b) how will the two new units be structured and (c) what amount (i) was budgeted, (ii) was allocated and (iii) has already been spent in dividing the department into these two units;

(2) whether there will be any staff retrenchments or job losses resulting from this restructuring; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the
(a) relevant details and (b) reasons for these retrenchments;

(3) whether any new jobs will be created by the division of the department into the civics and immigration services units; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how many?

NW1778E

REPLY

(1)(a) The Department is in the process of implementing the new structure, including the division between Civic Services and Immigration Branch.

(b) These units will be structured according to the Vision and Design structure that was presented, and approved by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) on 11^th of April, and by the Minister of Home Affairs on 16 April 2008.

(2) The intention of this re-organisation is not to reduce capacity. On the contrary, between 2000 and 3000 vacancies need to be filled in the next five years. The intention is to capacitate the organisation, in the best way possible, so that the Department of Home Affairs can meet its performance obligations to the South African public.

(3) Civic Services is expected to grow with approximately 1 700 employees, in five (5) years, while the National Immigration Branch/Immigration Services is expected to grow with approximately 1000 employees, in five (5) years, as well.

1045: Ms A M Dreyer (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

(1) Whether the forensic investigation into the affairs of the Construction Sector Education and Training Authority (Ceta) has been completed; if not, when is it expected to be completed; if so, why has the report not been tabled at the Board meeting;

(2) whether he will make the report available to Parliament; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether he has made any decision regarding the recommendation by the employer's sector to place the Ceta under administration; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether he will take any steps to rectify the matter at the Ceta; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) what is the time frame? NW1779E

The Minister of Labour replied:

I am advised that the forensic audit is currently underway. If it is completed in time before the end of the auditing process, some aspects of that report will be included in the Annual Report of the CETA as required by the PFMA. I will table the CETA Annual Report before the 30^th August 2008 in parliament.

(2) I have not taken any steps as yet as I have to follow proper legal procedures that were set out by parliament in the Skills Development Act and other related legislation. I will act accordingly as soon as I receive the necessary legal opinion and advice from the National Skills Authority.

With regard to Question 3 and 4 refer to my answer above.

Question 1050

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

(a) How many (i) technical staff have received training at the SAAirways from January 2005 until 10 June 2008, (ii) candidates failed their mechanical standard certificate exam at the first attempt, (iii) candidates have already had to rewrite this exam a second time and (iv) of the candidates who have already written this exam have not yet obtained the 75% pass mark, (b) what was the average percentage obtained by the students who did not pass the first exam and (c) what are the further relevant details? NW1784E

Reply:

(a)(i-iii) There are 164 technicians that have been employed by South African Airways Technical (SAAT) between January 2005 and 10 June 2008 and six candidates failed their mechanical standard certificate exam. These candidates were not invited to rewrite their exam.

(iv) Six of the trade test questions are based on practical work and are marked as either "pass" or "fail" and thus a percentage mark calculation is not applicable.

(b-c) A response has been provided above (part (a) (IV) of the question).

[1] At market prices, seasonally adjusted and annualised

[2] At market prices

2008-11-27

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