Questions & Replies No 1451 to 1475

2010-06-07

THIS FILE CONTAINS 25 REPLIES.

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QUESTION 1451

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

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 13-2010)

Mr J J van der Linde (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1) What amount (a) was allocated to school sport in each province in the (i)(aa) 2007-08, (bb) 2008-09 and (cc) 2009-10 financial year and (ii) during the period 1 April 2010 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) is allocated for this purpose in the 2010-11 financial year;

(2) whether there are any minimum standards with regard to the availability of sport at schools; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1702E

Response

(1) The amounts allocated to school sports per province are as follows in R'000:

Province	Budget for 2007/08	Budget for 2008/09	Budget for 2009/10	Budget for 2010/11
	R'000	R'000	R'000	R'000
Eastern Cape	43 639	45 937	47 681	51 481
Free State	16 275	18 902	20 381	23 571
Gauteng	18 114	22 736	28 236	33 468
Kwa-Zulu Natal	30 952	32 401	38 019	21 919
Limpopo	5 250	5 565	6 879	7 223
Mpumalanga	19 000	28 350	18 568	26 316
Northern Cape	6 968	6 135	10 419	12 036
North West	12 516	14 865	0	16 721
Western Cape	2353	2853	3337	4339
TOTAL	155 067	177 744	173 520	197 074

The Western Cape Education Department does not budget for school sport. They receive Transfers

(2) Yes, the minimum standard is that schools must have at least two sporting codes. Provincial Education Departments monitor and support seasonal provincial sporting activities. The Department of Basic Education in partnership with Sports and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) does the same with national sporting events.

QUESTION NUMBER 1452 [NW 1703E]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 MAY 2010

Mrs S P Kopane (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) Whether the National Treasury approved any overdraft facility for any provincial health

department (a) in the (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10 financial years and (b) for the 2010-11 financial year; if so, (aa) for which provinces, (bb) in which years and (cc) what (aaa) amount was requested in each case and (bbb) was the motivation in each case;

(2) whether any provincial health department requested an extension of their overdraft during

the abovementioned period; if so, (a) which provincial health department, (b) in which financial year and (c) what (i) additional amount was requested in each case and (ii) was the motivation in each case;

(3) what amount in interest has each province paid in each of the abovementioned financial

years?

NW1703E

REPLY

(1) The National Treasury did not approve any overdraft facility for any provincial health

department during the 2007/08,2008/09,2009/10 nor 2010/11 financial years.

Section 17 of the PFMA establishes the provincial treasury with the MEC for Finance as the head of the provincial treasury. Section 21 of the PFMA puts the provincial treasury of a province in charge of that province's Provincial Revenue Fund in line with the provisions of section 226 of the Constitution.

The provincial treasury is thus responsible for cash management to ensure that departments are in a position to meet their obligations. All nine provinces have accounts at the Reserve Bank-Corporation for Public Deposits (CPO). The CPO provides provinces and the National Treasury with an investment option and a borrowing facility. This account is part of a portfolio that includes provincial accounts. The total portfolio is prohibited from being overdrawn.

During the 2008/09 financial year the following provincial treasuries approached national treasury to extend their overdraft facilities in the CPO, namely: KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Northern Cape with R800 m, R242 m and R139 m respectively, which was approved.

In all of these cases the Provincial Revenue Fund was under pressure as a result of overruns on departmental budgets especially health and education.

During the 2009/10 financial year the Gauteng provincial treasury approached national treasury for a R1.5 billion extension of its overdraft facility, which was approved for the 2010/11 financial year.

To date no new requests for increases in overdraft limits have been received during the 2010/11 financial year.

(2) The National Treasury did not receive any requests from any provincial department of

health for an extension of their overdraft during the above mentioned period. Such requests, if made, would have been directed to a provincial treasury as the custodian of provincial finances, who in turn will determine whether to apply to the National Treasury or not.

(3) To get a sense of total interest paid, the question should be directed to provincial

treasuries. However interest paid for each year on the CPO is as follows:

Debit Interest Paid by Provinces at the Corporation for Public Deposits

		Financial Year
Province	2007/2008	2008/2009		2009/2010	Total
Eastern Cape	-		-	14}066.16	14}066.16
Free State	-	74}002.66		-	74}002.66
Gauteng	-	105}637}934.24		22}042}106.68	127}680}040.92
KwaZulu Natal	1}086}680.58	101}793}698.78		48}837}807.14	151}718}186.50
		240}147.8
Limpopo	714}846.76	4		-	954}994.60
Mpumalanga	-		-	-	-
		16} 177}956. 7
Northern Cape	3}166}889.73	9		2A86}846.17	21}831}692.69
		552}654.5
NorthWest	1} 762}933.26	1		72}020.92	2}387}608.69
Western Cape	0.11		-		0.11
Total	6} 731}350.44	224A76}394.82		73A52}847.07	304}660}592.33

Source: Corporation for Public Deposits

QUESTION NO. 1453

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 May 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

Mrs S P Kopane (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:

Whether any amounts were budgeted for in the (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11 financial years for the funding of substance abuse rehabilitation centres; if not, why not; if so, (i) how much in each year and (ii) for what types of substance abuse in each case?

NW1704E

REPLY:

The Department of Social Development is the lead and coordinating department regarding the prevention and treatment for substance abuse (including providing rehabilitation services). It holds the mandate to administer the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act No 20 of 1992 and the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse Act No 70 of 2008.

In this regard, this question should be directed to the Department of Social Development.

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 May 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)

Mrs H Lamoela (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:

(1) Whether he has been informed that communities living in Limpopo are at risk of contracting cancer as reported in the media recently (details furnished); if so,

(2) whether there has been a reported increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer in the area; if so, (a) how many people have been diagnosed, (b) what is the increase in percentage compared to a decade ago and (c) what steps will he take in this regard?

NW1705E

REPLY:

(1) I am aware of the article referred to and that there are particular groups and researchers that suggest that DDT is a health risk. However, the unreplicated research results of one particular study must be balanced against a myriad of other research that has found DDT to be safe if utilised correctly. We are not at this stage persuaded by the results of this one particular study, although we continue to keep an open mind should other more conclusive evidence becomes available. Please note that such claims have been there for the past 40 years, and hence there is nothing new we are not aware of.

(2) There is no evidence from our statistics that there is an increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer in the Region referred to, that may be linked to the use of DDT sprayed by the Malaria programme.

(3) The Department of Health abides by the regulations set by the Stockholm convention that allows for the judicious use of DDT. The Department will continue to monitor all relevant research with regard to the safety of people living in regions where DDT is used. Moreover, should the World Health Organisation for any reason change its current recommendations on the use of DDT, South Africa will react accordingly. At present however, the evidence against the use of DDT, including the research noted in the article, is by no means conclusive enough for the Department to change its current position.

DDT has been used for controlling malaria and has been fundamental in reducing transmission in South Africa. The evidence for the effectiveness of using DDT in South Africa dates back to the 1940's, where malaria was effectively controlled.

The annual malaria cases in South Africa were below 10 000 each year, for several decades up until the 1990's. DDT was removed from the spraying programme in 1995 and replaced by synthetic pyrethoids. As a result, in 1999 South Africa reported about 65 000 cases and 493 associated deaths which was directly attributable to pyrethorid resistant Anopheles funestus (this vector is a potent transmitter of malaria and it reappeared after DDT usage was terminated). In the year 2000, the Department of Health reverted back to the use of DDT for malaria control. This intervention together with other interventions (change in drug policy and cross-border collaboration with Mozambique) has resulted in significant reductions in malaria cases in South Africa and the disappearance of the funestus vector. South Africa is currently averaging approximately 6000 malaria cases each year and 46 deaths, for the last 3 years in the endemic provinces.

Question 1455.

Mr D C Smiles (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:

(1) (a) How many guests were invited to the launch of the new Military Veterans department and (b) what are their names;

(2) whether any veterans' associations were invited; if not, why not; if so, (a) which associations and (b) what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) what was the total cost of the (i) event, (ii) transport, (iii) catering, (iv) entertainment and (v) advertisements relating to the event, and (b) from which budget were these funds allocated;

(4) whether any sponsorships were obtained; if not, why not; if so, (a) from which (i) companies and (ii) persons and (b) what were the amounts in each case? NW1706E

Reply

The Department of Military Veterans has not yet been launched. Perhaps the Honourable Member got his facts mixed up.

QUESTION NO 1456

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13- 2010)

Date reply submitted: 15 June 2010

1456. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(a) How many (i) SA Police Service members are currently in prison and (ii) of these are (aa) awaiting-trial prisoners and (bb) convicted prisoners and (b) what was each of these prisoners convicted of? NW1707E

REPLY:

(a)(i) Thirty seven (37)

(a)(ii)(aa) Thirty seven (37)

(a)(ii)(bb) Convicted prisoners sentenced to direct imprisonment are automatically dismissed in terms of Section 36 of the Police Act, Act No 68 of 1995.

No South African Police Service member can be a sentenced prisoner because of the above mentioned.

(b) Not applicable

It should be noted that in most cases, the thirty seven people arrested and convicted were initially arrested by other police officers and the investigations were carried out by police officers. This highlights that while there may be a few rotten elements within the police, the Service as a whole remains committed to rooting out such criminal elements.

QUESTION NO 1457

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13- 2010)

Date reply submitted:1 June 2010

1457. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) Whether any of the cases of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) have been dropped since being transferred to the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI); if so, (a) how many and (b) what is the (i) nature of these cases and (ii) total staff compliment of the Hawks;

(2) (a) how many (i) Hawks members have been vetted (aa) since 12 June 2009 and (bb) in total and (ii) cases have the Hawks finalised since their inception and (b) what is the (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction rate?

NW1708E

REPLY:

(1) None of the cases transferred to the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI) from the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) have been dropped.

(1)(a) Not applicable

(1)(b)(i) Not applicable

(1)(b)(ii) This has already been answered in reply to question 1020

(2)(a)(i) This has already been answered in reply to question 1020

(2)(a)(ii) The HAWKS have finalized a total of 27 412 of the cases investigated.

(2)(b)(i) The prosecution rate is not measured.

(2)(b)(ii) The HAWKS achieved a conviction rate of 29.11% in terms of the Police formula.

QUESTION 1458

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [No 13-2010]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

1458. Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform:

(1) Whether (a) all pilot projects under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) are structured and (b) the same procedures were followed to (i) identify and (ii) implement the pilot projects; if not, (aa) why not, in each case and (bb) what other procedures are followed in each case; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) (a) what are the most important factors considered to identify CRDP's pilot projects, (b) how many projects have been identified, (c) what are the names of the identified projects, (d)(i) where and (ii) how were they identified and (e)(i) who are the stakeholders of each project, (ii) what was the target set and (iii) when can results be expected in each case;

(3) (a) how many farms were identified as part of the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (Plas) programme in the country, (b)(i) where and (ii) in which province were they identified, (c) what are the names of the (i) persons and (ii) leased farms, (d) how much rent is being paid monthly to his department, (e) what amount was spent by the Government to upgrade infrastructure at these farms and (f) how many people have benefited from the programme;

(4) whether it is viable to his department in terms of profit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(5) whether he has found that the strategic partnership with the beneficiaries of land restitution has produced the requisite results; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1709E

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM:

(1)(a) and (b)(i)-(ii) Yes. All the pilot projects under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) are structured and the same procedures were followed to identify and implement the projects. The pilot projects were selected by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform and the respective Premiers of the provinces in consultation with the heads of the relevant provincial departments.

(2)(a) The most important factors considered to identify CRDP pilot projects include unemployment, poverty, lack of basic services (water, sanitation and road infrastructure), underutilized agricultural potential in the areas which could create employment opportunities, and finally poor health and education facilities.

(b), (c) and (d)(i) Eight pilot projects have been identified in 8 provinces to date. There are currently 116 projects taking place in each of the CRDP sites as detailed in Annexure A hereto.

(d)(ii) The pilot projects were selected by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform and the respective Premiers of the provinces in consultation with the heads of the relevant provincial departments.

(e)(i)-(iii) Please refer to Annexure A hereto.

(3)(a) The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) bought 1401 farms in terms of its Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS).

(b)(i)-(ii) and (c)(i)-(ii) Please refer to Annexures B and C.

(d) A total of R9.250 million has been received by DRDLR in respect of rent as detailed in Annexure D hereto.

(e) R27 million has been spent to date to upgrade infrastructure as detailed in Annexure E hereto.

(f) The number of beneficiaries in respect of PLAS is 1 258.

(4) Government and therefore DRDLR, is service-driven and not profit-driven.

(5) No. Strategic partnerships have not worked in land restitution projects due to a number of factors as identified in the analysis report attached hereto as Annexure F.

QUESTION NO: 1459

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

QUESTION PAPER NO: 13

DATE OF REPLY: 27 May 2010

Mr. NJ van den Berg (DA) asked the Minister of Communications:

Whether a certain person (name furnished was awarded a contract by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for the supply of services during the Fifa 2010 World Cup Soccer tournament; if not, why not; if so, (a) was the contract budgeted for – and (b) what (i) was the basis for the award, (ii) are the relevant details of the contract and (iii) is the value of the contract?

NW1710E

REPLY:

The SABC informed that:

1. No, the contract was awarded to UTC (Universal Talent Corporation), an international talent management company.

(a) yes

(b) (i) This was based on the company's ability to deliver the required on-air talent for 2010 FIFA World Cup commentary purpose.

(ii) The talent is contracted for the 2010 FIFA World Cup period. They will be providing commentary and analysis during the period.

(iii) ZAR15m

QUESTION NO: 1460

Mr A T Fritz (DA) to ask the Minister of Correctional Services:

Whether the process for he appointment of a Chief Executive Officer for the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services has commenced; if not, (a) why not, (b) when will the process commence and (c) what is the deadline for such appointment; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1711E

REPLY

The process for the creation of the post of Chief Executive Officer for the Judicial Inspectorate is underway, as it has not existed before. Once the job evaluation process and job description are finalised and approved in consultation with Department of Public Services and Administration, the post will be advertised and filled.

We envisage that from the date of advertisement the post will take approximately 30 days to fill.

QUESTION NO: 1461

Mr AT Fritz (DA) to ask the Minister of Correctional Services:

(1) (a) what are the names of the persons who participated in her department's delegation to the 12^th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Brazil from 12^th to 19^th April 2010, (b) what were the criteria used in the selection of each person and (c) who composed the criteria that were used;

(2) what (a) was the total cost of the visit and (b) was the cost incurred for each person who participated in the delegation in respect of (i) travel, (ii) accommodation, (iii) security, (iv) entertainment and (v) other specified costs?

NW1712E

REPLY

(1) (a)

- Minister NN Mapisa-Nqakula

- Ms S Moodley [Chief Deputy Commissioner: Development and Care]

- Ms N Jolingana [Regional Commissioner: Eastern Cape]

- Ms M. Magoro [Acting Deputy Commissioner: Intergovernmental Relations]

- Ms B. Mdhluli [Director – International Relations]

- Ms N. Sopazi [Deputy Director: International Relations]

- Dr L. Louw [Legal Advisor to the Minister]

- Ms M. Morobi [Personal Assistant to the Minister]

- Mr S. Mbananga [Media Liaison Officer to the Minister]

(b)

- Ms Moodley was selected as she was the leader of the South African delegation at the African Chapter in Kenya where topics discussed there were part of the discussion in Salvador.

- Ms Magoro and Ms Mdhluli were part of the Secretariat and Co-ordinators of

the Interdepartmental Committee preparing for the Congress.

- Ms Jolingana was selected as she attended the intergovernmental expert group meeting in Thailand in 2009 for the development of supplementary rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners; also such issues were part of the discussion at the 12^th Congress in Salvador, Brazil.

- Ms Sopazi was selected to do public relations work and facilitate networking processes for the Minister at the Congress.

- Ms Morobi, Dr Louw and Mr Mbananga were the Ministerial support staff.

(2) The total cost of the trip for the delegation was R748 328-19.

QUESTION NO: 1462

Mr A T Fritz (DA) to ask the Minister of Correctional Services:

Whether any correctional centres are accredited by the (a) Department of Basic Education and/or (b) provincial education departments to offer mainstream education from Grade 10 to 12 to inmates; if not, why not; if so, (c) how many, (d) which correctional centres and (e) what are the further relevant details?

NW1713E

REPLY

(a), (b), (c) and (d)

Yes, there are Centres which have been accredited by the Department of Basic Education (DoBE).

[Details underneath]. However, Provincial education departments do not offer mainstream education to

inmates.

Region	Name of centre	Date of Registration	EMIS Number	Number of learners	Number of Educators
Kwa-Zulu Natal	Usethubeni Youth Centre (Durban Westville)	2004	407999	Grade 10: 45 Grade 11: 37 Grade 12: 29	Grade 10: Grade 11: 5 qualified educators Grade 12: 4 correctional officials
Eastern Cape	St Albans	2008	4221087	Grade 10: 6 Grade 11: 19 Grade 12: 12	Grade 10: Grade 11: 13 qualified educators Grade 12:
Gauteng	Emthonjeni	2009	400314	Grade 10: 51	Grade 10:- 7 qualified educators

e) The following are some of the successes and challenges:

Success	Nature of success
Mainstream (NSC) Gr 10 – 12	· Usethubeni (Durban Westville Youth Correctional Centre) is the only centre within DCS that wrote the New Curriculum Statement examination implemented for the first time in 2008 and achieved a 75% pass rate against the National pass rate of 62% · In 2009, Usethubeni progressed to achieve a 97% pass rate.
Challenges	Nature of challenge
Mainstream (NSC) Gr 10 – 12	· The Department of Basic Education disapproved the application for accreditation of the following Correctional Centres: o Groenpunt, Goedemoed (FS/NC), Klerksdorp, Rooigrand (LMN) due to the following reasons: § Inadequate subject matter specialists § Inappropriate infrastructure for NCS provisioning § Identified educators have not been part of DoBE cluster moderation meetings for assessments § Tuition is not on full-time basis with a minimum of 27.5 hrs per week (5.5 hrs per day)

QUESTION NO.: 1463

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 MAY 2010

Dr P J Rabie (DA) to ask the Minister of Economic Development:

(1) How many clothing factories closed in (a) 2009 and (b) the first quarter of 2010;

(2) whether any of the factories approached the Industrial Development Corporation for incentives prior to closing down; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) how many full-time jobs were shed in the clothing and textile industry in the 2009-10 financial year? NW1714E

REPLY

(1) The Economic Development Department (EDD) does not maintain the information requested by the Honourable Member.

(2) See (1) above.

(3) According to the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) from Statistics South Africa, the textile and clothing industries lost 2 443 jobs during the period April to December 2009. The figures for the last quarter of the 2009/2010 financial year are not yet available.

QUESTION NO. 1465

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

Mr G R Krumbock (DA) to ask the Minister of Tourism:

Whether his department has taken any steps to promote tourism from the United States of America and Australia; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1717E

MR G R KRUMBOCK (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS 1465. THE MINISTER OF TOURISM ANSWERS:

The USA is the largest long haul outbound market and currently South Africa receives about 260 000 visitors per annum. Australia is also a significant market with 93 000 arrivals. The USA is the second largest overseas market for tourist arrivals while Australia is number six.

Therefore both these markets are regarded as core markets by South African Tourism. An investment of about R70 million in total is spent annually on marketing in the USA and Australia. The marketing spend is made up of global TV, cinema, radio, outdoor print and online as well as on joint marketing agreements with identified trade partners to run deal driven campaigns to South Africa.

South African Tourism has offices in both these markets with 8 staff in the USA and 6 staff in Australia.

QUESTION NO 1469

DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: THURSDAY, 10 JUNE 2010

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 14 MAY 2010 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO 13 – 2010)

Mr M S F de Freitas (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:

Whether any legal challenges associated with the Gautrain project have been lodged since the inception of the project; if so, (a) what have been the (i) reasons for each of the challenges lodged and (ii) costs to his department in each case to date and (b)(i) how many are pending and (ii) when will they be resolved?

NW1721E

REPLY:

The Minister of Transport:

Yes. Legal challenges are interpreted to be external parties challenging the project itself (e.g. its route alignment) and not commercial disputes/claims between the Province and the Concessionaire, or property owners disputing the expropriation amount.

(a) (i)

§ Muckleneuk Lukasrand Property Owners and Ratepayers Association (MLPORA)

They did not want the route along the existing rail reserve in Muckleneuk and went to court. The court rejected MLPORA's claims and ordered them to pay all legal costs incurred.

§ Dunkeld Village Association

They did not want the route where it currently is, but wanted it along Oxford Road, mainly due to concerns about noise and vibration. After many noise and vibration tests and investigations, the case was settled out of court.

§ Heartland Properties (Pty) Ltd (a member of the AECI Group) relating to

several kilometres of Gautrain route through the Modderfontein area

Their reason was a general concern about the impact of the route on future township development. The matter was amicably settled out of court after, inter alia, arrangements for several bridges linking over the rail line (equal to and in lieu of the compensation for the land) and provision for a future station at Modderfontein (at their cost) were agreed to.

§ WeCare

This organization objected to the vertical and horizontal alignment of the route through Centurion. See below for status.

§ Emergent Investments - properties along the route next to John Vorster Interchange

Several concerns about the route, construction and compensation were raised. The matter was settled out of court.

(ii) There are no costs to the Department of Transport. All costs, where applicable, are for the Gauteng Provincial Government.

(b) (i) and (ii)

The only outstanding "challenge" is WeCare. The Gauteng Province's answering affidavits have been served more than a year ago and the applicant has not taken any further steps to prosecute the application. It is understood from the State Attorney that WeCare has written to them proposing that they withdraw the matter and each party pay their own costs. There is unfortunately no decision or finalisation of this matter yet.

QUESTION NO: 1470

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13 OF 14 May 2010

Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

Whether any district municipalities received a (a) clean audit, (b) qualification and (c) disclaimer or an adverse opinion in respect of the 2008-09 financial year; if not, why not, in each case; if so, in each case, what are the (i) names of the District Municipalities and (ii) the reasons? NW1722E

Reply

CATERGORY A (UNQUALIFIED)

No	CATERGORY A (UNQUALIFIED)	Audit Opinion	Province
1	Bojanala Platinum District Municipality	Unqualified	North West
2	Francis Baard District Municipality	Unqualified	Northern Cape
3	John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality	Unqualified	Northern Cape
4	Namakwa District Municipality	Unqualified	Northern Cape
5	Cape Winelands District Municipality	Unqualified	Western Cape
6	Central Karoo District Municipality	Unqualified	Western Cape
7	Eden District Municipality	Unqualified	Western Cape
8	Overberg District Municipality	Unqualified	Western Cape
9	West Coast District Municipality	Unqualified	Western Cape
10	Fezile Dabi District Municipality	Unqualified	Free State
11	Mopani District Municipality	Unqualified	Limpopo
12	Waterberg District Municipality	Unqualified	Limpopo
13	Metsweding District Municipality	Unqualified	Gauteng
14	Sedibeng District Municipality	Unqualified	Gauteng
15	West Rand District Municipality	Unqualified	Gauteng
16	Ilembe District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
17	Sisonke District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
18	Ugu District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
19	Umgungundlovu District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
20	Umzinyathi District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
21	Uthukela District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
22	Uthungulu District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
23	Zululand District Municipality	Unqualified	KZN
24	Ehlanzeni District Municipality	Unqualified	Mpumalanga
25	Gert Sibande District Municipality	Unqualified	Mpumalanga
26	Nkangala District Municipality	Unqualified	Mpumalanga

CATEGORY B QUALIFIED

No	CATERGORY B - Qualified	Audit Opinion	Province
1	Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality	Qualified	North West
2	Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality	Qualified	Northern Cape
3	Amathole District Municipality	Qualified	Eastern Cape
4	OR Tambo District Municipality	Qualified	Eastern Cape
5	Amajuba District Municipality	Qualified	KZN
6	Motheo District Municipality	Qualified	Free State

CATEGORY C (ADVERSE)

Category - Adverse

Audit Opinion

Province

Alfred Ndzo District Municipality

Adverse

Eastern Cape

Ukhahlamba District Municipality

Adverse

Eastern Cape

CATEGORY D (DISCLAIMER)

No	Category - Disclaimer	Audit Opinion	Province
1	Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality	Disclaimer	Free State
2	Xhariep District Municipality	Disclaimer	Free State
3	Capricon District Municipality	Disclaimer	Limpopo
4	Umkhanyakude District Municipality	Disclaimer	KZN

QUESTION 1471 WRITTEN REPLY 21 May 2010

1471. Dr H C van Schalkwyk (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Works:

Whether there has been an intensification of public sector projects, excluding the Expanded Public Works Programme, as directed in the 2009 and 2010 state of the nation addresses; if not, why not; if so, (a) in which sectors and (b) what are the relevant details? NW1723E

Reply:

There has been an intensification of Public Sector projects which are not amenable to the use of Labour-intensive methods targeted by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) but will still contribute towards job creation. These projects cover the following sub-sectors of the infrastructure cluster; Water, Transport, Energy and Telecommunications sectors. The details of the programmes were outlined in the Infrastructure Development Cluster briefing made by the Minister of Transport on the 1^st of March 2010

QUESTION 1472

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Date of publication on internal question paper: 14 May 2010

Internal question paper no: 13

Mrs S P Kopane (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:

(1) Whether her department and reporting entities has (a) kept records as required in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of loss as a result of (i) criminal conduct, (ii) unauthorised expenditure, (iii) irregular expenditure or (iv) wasteful expenditure in the 2008-09 financial year; if not, why not; if so, how much money was lost as a result of these incidents;

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

(3) whether there were any disciplinary actions pending as at 31 March 2009; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1724E

REPLY:

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

(1)(a) Yes. The Department kept separate registers for incidents of irregular expenditure, unauthorised expenditure and wasteful expenditure as required by the Public Finance Management Act (Act 1 of 1999).

(1)(b) Yes. The Department did report on the outcome of disciplinary cases on financial misconduct to the Public Service Commission and the National Treasury as required in terms of section 85(1) of the Public Finance Management Act (Act 1 of 1999) as amended, read in conjunction with Chapter 4 of the Treasury Regulations.

(1)(b)(i) and (ii) No cases were reported.

(iii) No loss was incurred. Two (2) cases to the amount of R115 721.40 were condoned. Thirteen (13) cases to the amount of R2 050 594.93 were written-off in line with the accounting treatment for irregular expenditure in the 2008/09 financial year. Although the specified policies and procedures were not followed, the Department received the benefit of the services, and therefore it can not be seen as a loss to the Department.

(iv) No case was reported.

(2) Yes.

(a) No official was dismissed.

(b) No official was suspended

(3) There were no disciplinary actions pending as at 31 March 2009. All cases that were reported during the 2008-09 financial year were investigated and completed before the 31 March 2009.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NDA)

(1a) The NDA has developed and implemented a materiality framework in line with PFMA Act. In line with the materiality framework, a record is kept of any incidences of criminal conduct, fruitless, wasteful and irregular expenditure incurred by the NDA.

(b) The NDA reported incidences of (iii) irregular expenditure worth R 2.1 million in the 2008/2009 Annual Report and there were no incidences of

(i) criminal conduct or

(ii) unauthorised expenditure

(iii) wasteful expenditure identified during the same period under review.

(2) No action was taken against any official of the NDA.

A large percentage of the reported incidences of irregular expenditure were attributable to the following weaknesses in the Supply Chain Policies and procedures:

· The entity did not have an approved database of suppliers as required by procurement statutes.

· The Procurement policies and procedures in use at the time had not been updated since 2005.

To address the weaknesses the following corrective measures were taken by the entity:

· An approved supplier database has since been established and is in use.

· The Procurement policies and procedures were updated and approved by the Board, and these are in use.

· The Chief Executive Office's unit monitors adherence to the new approved policies and procedures on a monthly basis by means of monthly procurement reporting.

3. No disciplinary actions were pending as at 31 March 2009.

SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY (SASSA)

(1) (a) Records required in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999

SASSA has kept records as required by the PFMA during the 2008-09 financial year. These records were audited by the Auditor–General of South Africa as part of the supporting information to the annual financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2009.

(b) Report of incidents of loss as a result of offences by officials:

SASSA has suffered the following incidents which were reported during the 2008-09 financial period.

(i) Criminal conduct

The incidents of criminal conduct that were reported during the 2008-09 include cases of fraud that occurred at various regional offices and Head Office. The types of transgressions suffered include:

a) Theft of monies recovered from grant debtors

b) Theft of beneficiary banking details and use thereof to withdraw funds from the bank

c) An official who inappropriately processed a grant application for a relative by not following the relevant processes.

d) An official that was receiving grant payments while employed by SASSA

e) An official pretending to be medical doctor and issuing medical certificates to grant applicants

f) Misrepresentation relating to fingerprints on the grant application forms

g) An official making unauthorised changes in the grant system (SOCPEN)

h) An official making unauthorised changes to orders placed with suppliers

Kindly refer to point (2) below on the disciplinary actions taken against the responsible officials.

(ii) Unauthorised expenditure

There were no reported cases of unauthorised expenditure during the 2008-09 financial year.

(iii) Irregular expenditure

Irregular expenditure totalling R69 719 000 which occurred during the 2007-08 was discovered, investigated and reported during the 2008/09 financial period. Kindly refer to point (2) below on the disciplinary actions taken against the responsible officials.

(iv) Wasteful expenditure in the 2008-09 financial years

During the 2008-09 SASSA suffered a wasteful expenditure totalling R 1 229 479 in relation to the mobile office units (trucks) that were not being utilised.

The above fruitless expenditure was incurred while the mobile office units were waiting for mechanical repairs at various regional offices, and some in Pretoria (at Fuso Garage in Centurion)

The amount of R 1 229 479 is made up of R1 133 479 being the amount paid for the airtime (bandwidth) while the mobile office units were not being utilised, the R 6 400 being the amount spent on the personalised number plates on the trucks that were allocated to the KwaZulu–Natal regional office, and an amount of R 90 000 being the estimated amount of penalties and fines in relation to the late renewal of the licences for ten mobile office units at various regions.

The Financial Misconduct Board (FMB) conducted and investigation on the above matter and recommended that disciplinary action be instituted against the responsible officials. The Labour Relations Unit of SASSA has been tasked with the implementation of the recommendations of the FMB and to institute appropriate disciplinary action against the responsible persons as soon as they are identified (still being finalised).

(2) Action taken against the offending officials

SASSA has taken action against officials who were responsible for the various offences as follows:

a) Regarding the criminal cases reported during 2008/09 two officials have been dismissed, two resigned, one was suspended for three months without pay, two are facing criminal proceeding against them. Money has been recovered from five of the officials.

b) Officials involved in cases of irregular expenditure have been reprimanded by management, and the Financial Misconduct Board of SASSA has recommended that the officials should be issued with warning letters so that they do not repeat the same offences in future. SASSA has also strengthened the internal control measures to prevent future instances of irregular expenditure from being incurred. The benefits of these measures are currently being achieved as evidenced by a significantly reduced amount of irregular expenditure of R2 500 000 that occurred in the 2009/10 as compared to the previous financial period (R69 719 000 in 2008-09). A total of 116 SASSA officials were responsible for the irregular expenditure reported for the 2008/09 financial year.

c) SASSA is finalising the disciplinary action against the officials who were responsible for the wasteful expenditure involving the mobile office units.

(3) Disciplinary actions pending as at 31 March 2009

Disciplinary actions pending as at 31 March 2009 related to all the identified transgressions committed by officials during the 2008/09. These include cases that have been deliberated by the Financial Misconduct Board and for which appropriate disciplinary measures were still being decided upon. There were also some cases that have been referred to the Labour Relations Unit of SASSA from the regional offices which also required to be finalised at that time.

Please find attached Annexure A (LOSSES DUE TO CRIMINAL INCIDENTS DURING THE 2008/09 FINANCIAL PERIOD) and Annexure B (IRREGULAR EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING THE 2008/09 FINANCIAL PERIOD

QUESTION NO. 1474 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 May 2010

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

In view of the fact that there has been a decrease in funding to the implementation of tourism projects in the Extended Public Works Programme, what are his department's plans to achieve the objective of creating of 24 518 jobs by 2013?

NW1726E

MR R B BHOOLA (MF) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS 1474. THE MINISTER OF TOURISM ANSWERS:

The Department has reviewed the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) targets taking into account the decrease in funding. Over the next MTEF the Department has planned to deliver 13 273 full time equivalents (FTEs) jobs from the EPWP initiative. In addition, the Department is also funding the Tourism Enterprise Partnership which is targeted to deliver a further 16 172 FETs.

QUESTIONS 1475

Mr R.B. Bhoola (MF) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:

1. Whether the modernisation of landward defence is to be prioritised; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; 2. What is the current status of modernisation process? NW1727E REPLY 1. Yes, the modernisation of landward defence remains a priority, given the fact that Landward Prime Mission Equipment has reached the end of its life cycle. In my Budget Vote on 4 May 2010 I stated that "we would like, for the current year to prioritise our landward forces whose infrastructure and equipment has fallen into bad state of repairs". 2. Joint landward requirements for modernisation have been determined and documented in the Draft Defence Strategy 2010 - 2030. Currently, the Landward Armament Acquisition Projects to acquire new equipment is partially funded and do not cover the total landward equipment requirements for modernisation.

2010-06-07

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