Questions & Replies: International Relations

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2015-06-24

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Reply received: May 2015

QUESTION NO: 1465(NW1678E) AS PUBLISHED IN IQP NO: 10 OF 17 APRIL 2015

Mr J J McGluwa (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

(a) How many invoices from private contractors to her department currently remain unpaid for longer than 30 days and (b) in each case, what (i) are the details of the (aa) contractor and (bb) services provided and (ii) what is the (aa) date of the invoice and (bb)  reason why the invoice was not paid within 30 days?                                                                          

REPLY:

The Department’s response is based on the latest completed month of March 2015 and is as follows:

  1. No invoices remained unpaid for longer than 30 days as at 31 March 2015;
  2. Based on the response given in (a) above, all the other related questions are not applicable. 

 

Reply received: May 2015

QUESTION NO: 1394(NW1607E) AS PUBLISHED IN IQP NO-10-2015 OF 17 APRIL 2015

MR S MOKGALAPA TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:

What number of (i) financial, (ii) forensic and/or (iii) other investigations that were commissioned by her department have been completed since 1 April 2013 and (b) in each case, what are the relevant details on the (i) investigation including a synopsis of the facts and findings of each case, (ii) persons or third parties responsible for each investigation, (iii) total cost to date of each investigation and (iv) appropriate steps taken against officials and third parties implicated of wrongdoing in the findings of the investigations?     

                                                                         NW1607E

REPLY:

 

Number

Period

Name

Facts and Findings

Third Party responsible

Total Cost to date

Steps taken against official

1.

November 2013

ARF’s alleged procurement irregularities

Irregular expenditure of the ARF reported for 2012/2013 FY

 

Negota Inc conducted the investigation

 R226 371,10

Corrective counselling in terms of the SMS handbook has been effected against the Accounting Officer

Organisational and institutional capacity for ARF has been established.

 

 

Reply received: May 2015

QUESTION NO: 907(NW1056E) AS PUBLISHED IN IQP NO.8-2015 OF 20 MARCH 2015.

Mr T W Mhlongo (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

What amount was spent by (a) her department and (b) state entities reporting to her department on (i) tickets and (ii) sponsorships on The New Age Breakfast Briefings for the last three financial years?               

RESPONSE

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation spent the following amounts on (i) tickets and (ii) sponsorships over the last three financial years:

  1. Tickets – No funds were spent.
  2. Sponsorships – The Department has not spent any funds on sponsorships.

 

Reply received: May 2015

QUESTION NO: 825(NW972E) AS PUBLISHED IN IQP NO: 8-2015 OF 20 MARCH 2015

Dr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:

(1)                    When (a) an agreement was concluded with the government of Cuba in terms of which Cubans will come to South Africa to work in certain professions and (b) this agreement will lapse;

(2)                    whether more than one agreement was concluded; if so, what was the stated period of each individual agreement;

(3)                    (a) what professions were identified in each case and

(b) how many Cubans in each profession will be coming to South Africa;

 

(4)                    whether the qualifications of the Cubans were assessed by die South African Qualifications Authority; if not, why not; if so, which qualifications (a) meet the requirements and (b) do not meet the requirements;

 

(5)                    whether she will make a statement regarding the matter?                          

REPLY:

(1)(a)                   On 20 November 1995 an Agreemend on the Recruitment of Medical Doctors was signed between South Africa and Cuba.

(b)                The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Cuba on Cooperation in the Fields of Public Health and Medical Sciences, signed in 2012, superseded all previous Agreements. This Agreement will be valid for 5 years from the date of signature. 

(2)                                The following Agreements were signed. However, The Agreement signed in 2012 has replaced all other Agreements in Health signed previously.

1996.10.30        Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Health Sector.

1997.01.31        Agreement on the Expansion of Cooperation in the Field of

Health

2001.03.30        Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Health.

2012.05.25        Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of Cuba on Cooperation in the Fields of Public Health and Medical Sciences

(3)(a)                 With regard to medical practitioners, 164 Doctors have been deployed at 40 South African health institutions and 24 professors/lecturers at the Walter Sisulu University.

(b)                             This information is not available and should be obtained from the line-function Department/Ministry concerned.

(4)                                All Cuban doctors were interviewed and verified by the Health Professionals Council of South Africa and their qualifications were vetted.

  1. Not applicable
  1. Not applicable

(5)                    No

ADDENDUM 

This reply only relates to Cuban doctors recruited to work in South Africa.  Cubans have also been recruited to work as Engineers (Ministry of Water Affairs & Sanitation and the Ministry of Public Works), Mechanics (Ministry of Defence) and Teachers (Ministry of Education) that DIRCO is aware of.  Further follow up questions should thus be referred to the relevant Ministries. 

 

Reply received: May 2015

 

 

Reply received: May 2015

QUESTION NO:  684(NW831E) AS PUBLISHED IN IQP NO: 7-2015 OF 13 MARCH 2015

MR R A LEES (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:

  1. (a) What are the details of the (i) methods used by South African foreign missions to carry (aa) post, (bb) documentation and (cc) other communications between missions as well as from foreign missions to South Africa and vice versa, (ii) frequency of movement and (iii) time taken to move documentation from each mission to South Africa;

 

  1. have the methods of carrying these communications changed over the past five years; if not, why not; if so, what (a) methods were previously used and (b) are the details of why the methods were changed;

 

  1. whether these methods of carrying communications also apply to documents of the Department of Home Affairs that are dealt with by foreign missions; if not, why not; if so, is she aware of the details of the (a) methods used and (b) time taken to move documents of the Department of Home Affairs?

 

REPLY:

 

(1) (a) (i)                Courier Services is a method used by South African Foreign Missions to carry, 

 (aa)                      post  is Air Freight.

 (bb)                     The method used by South African foreign missions to carry documents with Classification is Diplomatic Bag accompanied by two (2) officials, however, non-classified documents are sent through air freight.

(cc)                       The methods used by South African foreign mission to carry other communications is through email, fax, telephone (mobile and land line) and domestic courier services.

 

1 (a)(ii)                  The frequency of movement for both post and documentation is monthly.

1 (a) (iii)                 Time it takes to move documentation from each mission to South Africa is seven (7) working days.

 

(2)                         The method of carrying this communication has not changed over the past five (5) years as there has not been any circumstances that required change except that different courier service provider are appointed from time to time as per the Departmental procurement process.

  1. Yes, these methods of carrying communications also apply to documents of the Department of Home Affairs that are dealt with by foreign missions.

(3) (a)                    Yes, she is aware of methods used.

(3) (b)                    Yes, she is also aware of the time it takes to move documents of the Department of Home Affairs.

 

Reply received: May 2015

QUESTION NO: 212(NW229E) AS PUBLISHED IN IQP NO.1-2015 OF 12 FEB 2015

Hon Malema (EFF) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

  1. How many trade deals has South Africa signed with Angola in the past five years

(b) What is the total value of these deals and

 (c) What has been the balance of trade trend since 2009 between the two countries?      

REPLY:

  1. South Africa has not signed trade deals with Angola. However, South Africa has signed trade facilitation agreements, namely the Air Service Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding on Industry Cooperation.
  1. There is no value attached to inter-state agreements as they are enabling legal instruments to promote economic cooperation between two countries.
  1. Since 2009, there has been an increase in trade cooperation between South Africa and Angola. For example, the 2009-2012 two-way trade statistics show Angola as one of South Africa’s largest trading partners on the Continent. Angola is currently ranked 08th with R22, 5 billion of imports largely comprised of crude petroleum oils. In year 2013, the value of exports to Angola was R9, 7 billion, in the same year the value of imports from Angola was R18, 9 billion.

 

ANNEXURE B (Trade Relations)

Trade Relations

Year 2013

Imports from Angola

Exports to Angola

South Africa-Angola

R 18 920 567 824

R 9 700 093 870

                                  

 

Top 5 Main South African Imports from Angola

2013

Mineral Products

R 18 690 671 254

Precious Metal

R 198 777 866

Machinery

R 21 510 552

Vehicles aircraft & vessels

R 3 209 654

Photographic & medical equipment

R          2 423 025

 

Top 5 Main South African Exports to Angola

2013

Prepared Foodstuffs

R 1 531 008 861

Machinery

R 1 506 643 800

Chemicals

R 1 266 120 500

Vehicles aircraft & vessels

R 1 160 728 404

Vegetables

R 1 046 880 272