Question & Replies No 651 to 675

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2009-08-19

2009-08-19

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

QUESTION NO. 652 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 August 2009

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

(1) With reference to the reply to Question 188 of 2009, what was the tonnage of wild abalone endorsed for export in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cities) in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008;

(2) whether any wild abalone was exported in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008 without the Cities endorsement; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what was the tonnage in each of these years;

(3) what (a) were the (i) names and (ii) designations of the staff who processed the endorsement of wild abalone for export in each of these years and (b) was the budget attached to the function of processing endorsements of wild abalone for export?

NW738E

MR G R MORGAN (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

652. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) None. In the response to Question 188 of 2009, the department erroneously interpreted the question as referring to the issuing of CITES permits which is a departmental function. The endorsement of CITES permits is a SARS function.

(2) Yes.

(3) The department did not endorsed CITIES permits during 2007 and 2008.

(a)(i) Not applicable.

(a)(ii) Not applicable.

(b) No budget was allocated to the function of processing endorsements of wild abalone for export as this is not a departmental function.

QUESTION NO. 653

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 August 2009

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

(1) What was the total income generated by SANParks from the sale of animals from each of the national parks (a) for 2008 and (b) during the period 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2) what is the breakdown of the number of animals per species sold from each national park 9a) in 2008 and (b) during the period 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?

NW739E

MR G R MORGAN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

653. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) (a) R33 752 950.00

(b) R51 147 342.98

(2) (a)

(b)

Species (columns) Parks (rows)	White	buffalo	Eland	tsessebe	Wthg	Cape mountain zebra	bontebok	sable antelope	Roan antelope
Kruger NP	203				8
Mokala NP		22		10				1	3
Mountain Zebra NP		22	4			32
Bontebok NP							77

Question 656

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

(1) When will the criteria be announced for business rescue practitioners under the new Companies Act, Act 71 of 2008;

(2) Whether rescue practitioners will be required to undergo examinations in restructuring and corporate renewal; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) Whether turnaround practitioners will be paid prescribed fees or on a contingency basis; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?NW742E

Response:

(1) In terms of Section 138(2) of the Companies Act, the Minister may designate one person or association within the Republic to regulate the practice of persons as practitioners in terms of this Act. This power will be exercised by the Minister by way of a regulation. the dti is currently consulting relevant stakeholders in the drafting of the regulations pertaining to the new Companies Act which will address among other things the criteria for business rescue practitioners. The process is expected to be finalised on or before 1 April 2010.

(2) There is no structure at the moment that requires rescue practitioners to undergo examinations in restructuring and corporate renewal. This will be informed by the regulations pertaining to the new Companies Act which are currently being drafted and will be subject to consultations.

(3) There is no position taken on this matter as yet. The process will be guided by the regulations pertaining to the new Companies Act which are currently being drafted and will be subject to consultations.

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY 657/324

Date reply submitted:02/11/2009

QUESTION :NW743 Dr P J Rabie (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

1. Whether the Government intends reconsidering the current labour legislation in the light of cumulative job losses of 475 000 in the first half of the year; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply: The Minister of Labour replied 1. The Department of Labour is intending to introduce amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Employment Equity Act and the Labour Relations Act. The process of considering amendments to these acts is starting under the auspices of the National Economic Development and Labour Advisory Council (NEDLAC). These amendments are not primarily a response to the current recession although some may have relevance to job security. The context for the legislative review and recommended amendments relates to a number of factors that include:

· Experience in implementing legislation that has highlighted certain problem areas in law and its administration;

· Court rulings and developments in case law that have pointed to necessary changes and areas for clarification in labour legislation, and;

· Developments in the labour market that require amendment in legislation.

To deal with the impact of the recession on job losses, the Department is an active participant in the Framework Response to the Economic Crisis that was the subject of an announcement by the President on 5^th August 2009. In particular, the Department has set aside R2.4 billion for a National Jobs Fund, drawn from the National Skills Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund, to fund a training layoff scheme.

QUESTION NO 659

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 7 AUGUST 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 - 2009)

Date reply submitted : 4 September 2009

Mrs D A Schäfer (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

Whether any action has been taken against those who transgressed the policy on the use of official vehicles whilst off-duty; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what action?

NW745E

REPLY:

This office does not differentiate between members being on or off duty concerning disciplinary steps taken against those who transgress the policy on the use of official vehicles. However, 213 cases of misuse and abuse of vehicles were reported and investigated in the 2008/2009 financial year.

The nature of departmental action taken against perpetrators are as follows:

Negligent driving - vehicle : 16

Verbal warnings : 3

Final written warnings : 11

Suspended dismissal - fines R200,00 to R500,00 : 7

Fines R250,00 to R1 500,00 : 8

Suspended dismissal for three to six months : 8

Dismissal : 3

Suspended without salary : 1

Cases still under investigation : 129

Allegations unfounded/withdrawn : 27

QUESTION NO 660

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 7 AUGUST 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 - 2009)

Date reply submitted : 8 September 2009

Mrs D A Schäfer (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) (a) How many SA Police Service (SAPS) offices have working computers (i) per province, (ii) how many computers are there at each of the stations per province and (iii) how many SAPS members are there per computer per station per province and (b) how many police stations per province do not have a computer;

(2) how many SAPS offices do not have access to (a) email and (b) a fax facility per province in each case?

NW746E

REPLY:

(1)(a)(i) and (ii) All SAPS police stations (1,122) have working computers available.

The following is an indication per province and station:

NATIONAL HEAD OFFICE	9,518
WESTERN CAPE	5,603
EASTERN CAPE	5,309
NORTHERN CAPE	2,075
FREE STATE	2,854
KWAZULU-NATAL	6,263
NORTH WEST	3,334
MPUMALANGA	2,922
LIMPOPO	3,394
GAUTENG	8,433
TOTAL	49,705

(1)(a)(iii) Personnel per computer per station per province:

NATIONAL HEAD OFFICE	3
WESTERN CAPE	4
EASTERN CAPE	4
NORTHERN CAPE	3
FREE STATE	4
KWAZULU-NATAL	4
NORTH WEST	3
MPUMALANGA	3
LIMPOPO	4
PROVINCE GAUTENG	4

(1)(b) All police stations have computers available.

(2)(a) Only 12 police stations do not have access to E-mail.

(2)(b) Only 11 police stations do not have access to a facsimile where network is insufficient.

(3) Summary is as follow

2009/08/11	STATIONS	PERSONNEL	WORKING COMPUTERS	NO NETWORK CONNECTED COMPUTERS	NO E-MAIL	NO FAXIMILEE
NATIONAL HEAD OFFICE		26,801	9,518	0	0	0
WESTERN CAPE	151	20,764	5,603	0	0	0
EASTERN CAPE	191	20,226	5,309	11	11	11
NORTHERN CAPE	91	7,141	2,075	0	0	0
FREE STATE	109	11,184	2,854	0	0	0
KWAZULU-NATAL	185	25,218	6,263	0	1	0
NORTH WEST	81	9,866	3,334	0	0	0
MPUMALANGA	85	10,155	2,922	0	0	0
LIMPOPO	93	12,479	3,394	0	0	0
GAUTENG	136	36,945	8,433	0	0	0
TOTAL		180,779	49,705

Eastern Cape: No network at Kolomane, Avondale, Lukholweni, Tabase, Katkop, Sulenkama, Nemato,
Mbizeni, Dalasile, Mpisi, Rossouw
KZN : No email at Intsikeni

QUESTION NO.: 661 DATE OF PUBLICATION: 5 August 2009 Ms D A Schäfer (DA) to ask the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:

Whether the National Register for Sex Offenders, established in terms of section 42 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007, was completed and implemented by the deadline of 30 June 2009; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW747E

REPLY:-

Yes, the National Register for Sex Offenders was established and became operational with effect from 30 June 2009. The Register will be operationalised in phases. Phase I has commenced.

The National Register for Sex Offenders will record the names and details of all the people who committed sexual offences against a child or a person who is mentally disabled before or after the commencement of this chapter. These will include offences committed in or outside the Republic. It will also include the names of persons whether they are appointed in the public or private sectors.

As from 30 June 2009, court orders are being captured onto the National Register for Sex Offenders as the court orders are made.

Phase 2 deals with historical convictions and considering the lack of interface automation across departments, some processes are still being conducted manually.

QUESTION NO: 664

QUESTION PAPER NO 7: 7 AUGUST 2009

DATE SUBMITTED: 26 AUGUST 2009

MR J SELFE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

Whether she will accept the recommendations of the Parole Board and the National Council for Correctional Services to release a certain person (name furnished) on parole; if not, why; if so, what are the relevant details? NW750E

REPLY

It is premature at this stage to respond to this question as the Minister is still considering the recommendations and reasons supplied by the National Council of Correctional Services. Once the Minister has reached a decision she will communicate this decision as well as the reasons to the applicant and then the public.

QUESTION 665

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 07/08/09

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 07-2009)

Mr DC Smiles (DA) to ask the Minister of basic Education:

Whether her department has any statistics on the breakdown of matric candidates in 2008 in terms of race; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many (i) black, (ii) coloured, (iii) Indian, (iv) white, (v) Asian and (vi) other learners wrote the 2008 Senior Certificate examinations in each province and (b) how many of these learners (i) failed, (ii) passed, (iii) passed with matric exemption, (iv) passed with merit and (v) passed with distinction? NW751E

REPLY:

Statistics on the break down of candidates who wrote the Grade 12 NSC examination in 2008, in terms of race is available

(a) (i) to (vi) See table 1 column 1.

(b) (i) See table 1 column 3.

(b) (ii) See table 1 column 2.

(b) (iii) See table 1 columns 4, 5 and 6 for the types of passes which allows candidates admission to Higher Education.

(b) (iv) The NSC in 2008 did not make provision for "Pass with merit" in 2008.

(b) (v) The NSC in 2008 did not make provision for "Pass with distinction" in 2008.

TABLE 1 - NSC Nov 2008 - Race data per province

		1	2	3	4	5	6
Province Name	Race	Wrote	Passed	Failed	Pass Bachelor	Pass Diploma	Pass Higher Certificate
EASTERN CAPE	Asian	34	32	2	25	6	1
EASTERN CAPE	Black	52,998	24,120	28,878	5,401	8,796	9,722
EASTERN CAPE	Coloured	4,053	3,115	938	807	1,420	864
EASTERN CAPE	Indian	155	149	6	101	37	10
EASTERN CAPE	Unspecified	14	12	2	5	4	3
EASTERN CAPE	White	3,130	3,097	33	2,108	901	78
EASTERN CAPE Total		60,384	30,525	29,859	8,447	11,164	10,678
FREE STATE	Asian	114	92	22	43	24	23
FREE STATE	Black	26,050	17,728	8,322	3,865	7,418	6,373
FREE STATE	Coloured	743	550	193	147	273	122
FREE STATE	Indian	28	27	1	18	6	3
FREE STATE	Unspecified	1	1	0	1	0	0
FREE STATE	White	3,278	3,246	32	2,219	945	64
FREE STATE Total		30,214	21,644	8,570	6,293	8,666	6,585
GAUTENG	Asian	164	153	11	105	34	10
GAUTENG	Black	71,687	50,446	21,241	14,565	19,397	14,678
GAUTENG	Coloured	4,553	3,719	834	1,306	1,419	854
GAUTENG	Indian	2,367	2,306	61	1,567	476	172
GAUTENG	Unspecified	19	18	1	14	3	1
GAUTENG	White	15,291	15,155	136	10,051	4,488	449
GAUTENG Total		94,081	71,797	22,284	27,608	25,817	16,164
KWAZULU-NATAL	Asian	1,035	444	591	100	164	177
KWAZULU-NATAL	Black	126,090	67,238	58,852	16,657	25,697	24,447
KWAZULU-NATAL	Coloured	1,613	1,433	180	630	567	233
KWAZULU-NATAL	Indian	8,792	8,258	534	4,282	2,987	980
KWAZULU-NATAL	Unspecified	23	23	0	21	2	0
KWAZULU-NATAL	White	2,919	2,905	14	2,156	680	66
KWAZULU-NATAL Total		140,472	80,301	60,171	23,846	30,097	25,903
LIMPOPO	Asian	79	75	4	51	17	3
LIMPOPO	Black	87,171	46,981	40,190	10,041	16,743	19,677
LIMPOPO	Coloured	134	89	45	27	41	20
LIMPOPO	Indian	3	1	2	1	0	0
LIMPOPO	Unspecified	9	5	4	2	2	1
LIMPOPO	White	1,386	1,379	7	921	423	23
LIMPOPO Total		88,782	48,530	40,252	11,043	17,226	19,724
MPUMALANGA	Asian	599	237	362	60	77	94
MPUMALANGA	Black	50,563	24,910	25,653	4,815	9,327	10,376
MPUMALANGA	Coloured	243	197	46	76	78	42
MPUMALANGA	Indian	132	130	2	74	41	10
MPUMALANGA	Unspecified	10	4	6	0	2	2
MPUMALANGA	White	2,429	2,405	24	1,468	864	56
MPUMALANGA Total		53,976	27,883	26,093	6,493	10,389	10,580
NORTH WEST	Asian	24	20	4	14	4	1
NORTH WEST	Black	29,479	19,005	10,474	4,057	7,601	6,987
NORTH WEST	Coloured	511	399	112	115	174	97
NORTH WEST	Indian	104	99	5	81	15	1
NORTH WEST	Unspecified	5	4	1	2	0	1
NORTH WEST	White	2,962	2,943	19	1,944	896	83
NORTH WEST Total		33,085	22,470	10,615	6,213	8,690	7,170
NORTHERN CAPE	Asian	17	13	4	6	5	1
NORTHERN CAPE	Black	5,023	3,286	1,737	673	1,296	1,230
NORTHERN CAPE	Coloured	3,965	2,989	976	660	1,395	887
NORTHERN CAPE	Indian	16	15	1	12	2	1
NORTHERN CAPE	Unspecified	6	4	2	2	0	2
NORTHERN CAPE	White	950	944	6	584	329	26
NORTHERN CAPE Total		9,977	7,251	2,726	1,937	3,027	2,147
WESTERN CAPE	Asian	53	52	1	38	12	2
WESTERN CAPE	Black	11,767	7,051	4,716	1,815	2,602	2,286
WESTERN CAPE	Coloured	22,398	17,896	4,502	5,159	7,778	4,439
WESTERN CAPE	Indian	421	408	13	296	83	16
WESTERN CAPE	Unspecified	645	610	35	359	198	36
WESTERN CAPE	White	8,408	8,376	32	6,500	1,674	117
WESTERN CAPE Total		43,692	34,393	9,299	14,167	12,347	6,896
Grand Total		554,663	344,794	209,869	106,047	127,423	105,847

QUESTION NO.: 666

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 5 August 2009

Ms M Smuts (DA) to ask the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:

Whether the President has proclaimed a date for the commencement of the Judicial Service Commission Amendment Act, Act 20 of 2008; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) when and (b) what is the preferred date of commencement?

NW753E

REPLY

No, the President has not yet proclaimed a date for the commencement of the Judicial Service Commission Amendment Act, 2008 (Act No. 20 of 2008). In order for the Act to be implemented effectively the following should be in place:

(i) Guidelines to be developed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, acting after consultation with the Chief Justice, regarding the criteria to be applied by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development when considering the granting of consent to a judge who has been discharged from active service to hold or perform any other office of profit (section 11(3) (b)).

(ii) A Code of Judicial Conduct to be compiled by the Chief Justice, acting in consultation with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development (section 12(1)).

(iii) Regulations to be made by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, acting in consultation with the Chief Justice, regarding the content and management of the Register of Judges' Registrable Interests (section 13(5)).

(iv) Rules to be made by the Chief Justice regulating the procedures before a Judicial Conduct Tribunal (section 25(1)).

The Code of Judicial Conduct and the regulations regarding the Register of Judges' Registrable Interests must be tabled in Parliament within 4 months after the commencement of the Act, while the rules regulating the procedures before a Judicial Conduct Tribunal must be made within six months of the commencement of the section. Consultation has commenced with regard to the Code of Judicial Conduct and the regulations pertaining to the Register of Judges' Registrable Interests. The Judges Conference held from 6 to 9 July 2009 considered some of the Minister's views regarding the Code and the regulations. The Report of the Conference, which is expected soon, will contain the judicial input in this regard and these matters will be finalized soon after receipt of the Report.

(a) Falls away.

(b) Based on the need for consultation regarding the matters referred to above, it is envisaged that the Act will be put into operation during October or November 2009.

QUESTION 668

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [NO 7-2009]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 AUGUST 2009

668. Mrs A Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform:

(1) Whether funds are available to purchase land for (a) restitution and (b) redistribution in the 2009-10 financial year; if so, (i) what amount is still available and (ii) how many contracts still need to be processed in the 2009-10 current financial year;

(2) whether his department will keep on signing contracts with farmers to buy land for (a) restitution and (b) redistribution if the budget is depleted; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,

(3) whether the farmers will be informed of the timeframe for payment; if not, why not; if so, what will the timeframe be? NW756E

THE MINISTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM

QUESTION 669

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [NO 7-2009]

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 August 2009

669. Mrs A Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform:

Whether a decision was taken by the department that allows only the buyer to appoint the attorney to handle land transfers; if so, (a) why, (b) who approved the decision, (c) how many attorneys are available to work on land transfers and (d) what effect did this decision have on the pace of land transfers? NW757E

THE MINISTER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM

No.

(a)-(b) There is no provision in law that prescribes who may appoint a conveyancer. The

transfer of the property itself is governed by a written contract, the sale agreement, which sets out the agreement between the seller and the purchaser. The terms relating to the appointment of a conveyancer, like many other terms in a sale agreement, can be varied by negotiation between the parties. The approach adopted by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), is that the party who accepts liability for the payment of conveyancing fees shall be entitled to appoint the conveyancer.

(c) The DRDLR has 228 conveyancing attorneys listed on its Proquote database. In respect of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, 44 firms were appointed nationally to work on land transfers. The State Attorney's Office also assists with a number of land transfers.

(d) The approach adopted by the DRDLR has had no major impact on the pace of land transfers.

	RESTITUTION	REDISTRIBUTION
(1)	(a) No.	(b) Yes.
(1)(i)	Nil for restitution.	PROVINCE	AMOUNT R
		KwaZulu-Natal	R163,401,558
		Limpopo	R11,084,361
		Northern Cape	R119,938,300
		North West	R230,608,653
		Western Cape	R137,634,391
		Mpumalanga	R258,403,658
		Gauteng	R78,591,614
		Eastern Cape	R164,161,028
		Free State	R202,381,368
		TOTAL	R1,366,204,931
(ii)	205 land purchase agreements currently need to be processed.	(ii) 241 projects.
(2)	(a) No. Although negotiations will continue, no contracts will be signed until the additional budget is approved.	(b) No. The Department will focus on finalising existing commitments in the current financial year.
(3)	Yes, where sale agreements have been entered into. Timeframes will be communicated once consultation is complete and funding becomes available.	Yes. Timeframes will differ from one transaction to another depending on the stage in the project cycle.

QUESTION NO 667

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 7 AUGUST 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 - 2009)

Date reply submitted : 4 September 2009

Ms M Smuts (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

Whether a certain case (details furnished) was withdrawn at the Athlone Magistrates= Court because it was found that the detectives attached to the Manenberg office of the SA Police Service had not yet concluded their investigations; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how many cases emanating from the Manenberg SAPS have been withdrawn for this or similar reasons?

NW755E

REPLY:

The case referred to was provisionally withdrawn as the Prosecutor had failed to instruct that the doctor who had examined the victim be subpoenaed to testify.

At present the docket is with the Senior Public Prosecutor at the Athlone Magistrates= Court so that the accused can be summonsed.

No other cases from Manenberg SAPS have been withdrawn for similar reasons.

QUESTION 670

ON THE RATE OF RENTAL COLI.ECTION ON THE N2 GATEWAY PROJECT

DEPUTY MINISTER

1. PURPOSE

To obtain the approval of the Deputy Minister for the draft response to the question by Mr. A C Steyn, Member of Parliament, pertaining to the rate of collection in the N2 Gateway

2. DETAILS OF THE QUESTION

Mr. A C Steyn, Member of Parliament, enquires from the Deputy Minister the following:

1) What (a) the amount of rental income should have been collected from occupants of the N2 Gateway development in each of the past 12 months for which information is available and (b) the amount actually collected,

2) Whether any funds were allocated to maintenance and renovation at the development in each of the 12 most recent months for which information is available; If not, what are the relevant details if so, how much,

3) How many units (a) are available and (b) are currently occupied?

3. DRAFT RESPONSE

It Is hereby suggested that the Deputy Minister respond to these questions in the following manner:

a) Response to 670 (1) (a) and (b)

The table below covers the period July 2008 to July 2009 and reflects the total rent due and the total rent amount actually collected. The information supplied is from Trafalgar Properties who were appointed rental collections agents from April 2008. The rates of rental payment in the occupied rental units in Joe Slovo, has been very low.

Month	Total Rent Due	Total rent paid /collected	% Paid
July '08	397,412.00	73,711.78	19%
August'08	629,841.00	104,467.50	17%
Sep '08	601,760.00	81,568.45	14%
Oct'08	622,410.00	79,084.14	13%
Nov 08	627,941.00	42,486.81	7%
Dec '08	635,940.00	49,531.41	8%
Jan '09	642,264.00	51,618.70	8%
Feb '09	651,469.00	42,802.60	7%
Mar '09	659.574.40	41,934.79	6%
Apr '09	655.644.29	21,705.00	3%
May '09	450,690.05	36,776.36	8%
June '09	456,562.28	33,922.06	7%
July '09	463,147.23	19,210.30	4%
	7,494,655.25	678,819.90

b) Response to 670 (2)

According to information made available by the Housing Development Agency (as it was obtained from Thubelisha Homes), the total amount spent on maintenance on the units between July 2008 and July 2009 is R183 742.96.

c) Response to 670 (3) (a) and (b)

There is a total of 707 units In Joe Slovo. All the 707 units are utilized. 705 units are used for residential purposes, and the balance of the units is used as site offices.

4. CONCLUSION

The draft reply is enclosed on a separate document for your consideration and approval, should you concur with the contents thereof

5. RECOMMENDATION

It Is recommended that you approve the draft reply to Parliamentary question No. 670.'

QUESTION NUMBER 671

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 AUGUST 2009

Mr M Swart (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:

(1) Whether revenue inflow for the month of July 2009 was negative against budget projections; if not; what is the position in this regard; if so, by what quantum;

(2) What is the total shortfall of revenue inflows against budget now projected to be at the end of the financial year? NW759E

Reply:

(1) The National Treasury gazettes (and publishes on its website) the tax revenue collected within 30 days after the end of every month, in accordance with Section 32 of the PFMA. The total tax revenue collected for the three-month period 1 April to 30 June 2009 was published on the National Treasury website on 30 July 2009. The tax revenue collected as at the end of July 2009 will only be published on 30 August 2009. The total collected as at 30 June 2009 was R128 012 million, compared to R141 153 million for the same period in 2008. Hence the nominal tax revenue collected for the first three months of fiscal year 2009/10 is R13 141 million below the amount collected for the same period last year, and is even lower when compared to what we budgeted to collect as announced in February 2009. Given the tax revenue collection trends during the first three months of the 2009/10 fiscal year and the continued slowdown of the domestic economy it is expected that the July 2009 revenue collections will also be below the corresponding figure in 2008.

(2) As announced in my address to parliament on 1 July 2009 the projected tax revenue short fall for 2009/10, at the time, was in the order of R50 to R60 billion rand. This will remain our estimated range for now. An official update of the projected under-collection of tax revenue during 2009/10, based on the February 2009 estimates, will be announced at the time of the MTBPS in October 2009.

QUESTION NO 673:

Mr M M SWATHE, MP (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER WHETHER HE INTENDS TO INTRODUCE A POLICY TO PROBIBIT THE BUILDING OF NEW SHACKS AND/OR INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS

Enquiries: T. Masimini

1. Purpose

To obtain your approval of the draft response to the question posed by Mt Swathe, MP.

2. Details of the question

Mr M M Swathe MP (DA) has asked the following question:

(1)- Whether he and his department intends introducing a policy to stop the building of new shacks and buildings in informal settlements; if not why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether he will relocate people living in shacks in informal settlements to RDP houses; if not, why not; if so what are the relevant details?

3. Proposed response to the question

It would seem that Mr Swathe actually intended to table enquiries regarding possible legal measures that are being considered in respect of the re-emergence of informal settlements where upgrading projects were undertaken and completed. Housing MINMEC during 2007 took a decision that all nine provinces should institute legislation similar to the Act promulgated by the Kwazulu- Natal Provincial Government that prevents the emergence of informal settlements where upgrading projects have been undertaken. You may recall that this Act was contested by slum dwellers and that the High Court rejected the application to set aside the Act. The matter is currently being referred to the Constitutional Court for a final ruling.

However, the draft response proposed in the following paragraphs, has been drafted to respond to the actual wording of the question posed by Mr Swathe.

It is proposed that you respond to the question in the following manner:

(1). While it is the intention to put appropriate legislative measures in place to prevent the re-emergence of informal settlements, pending the outcome of a current Constitutional Court application to set aside a similar Act promulgated by the KwaZulu- Natal I am not contemplating instituting policy to stop the building of new shacks and buildings in informal settlements

However, in 2004 Government instituted a National Housing Programme for the upgrading of informal settlements. The programme provides for a structured and phased process towards the upgrading of informal settlements. One of the key principles of the Programme is the recognition of the rights of the inhabitants and the role they need to play in the redevelopment project. Once the project is initiated the community participation structures established, all inhabitants of the settlement are recorded and the development need so identified, forms the basis for the project design. The community is primarily responsible to prevent any further influx and or shack building, as this will compromise the progress of their redevelopment project.

(2). Yes. The relocation of informal settlement inhabitants is determined based on the specific development conditions of each location. The National Housing Programne provides for a flexible development approach. In instances where the current informal settlement is well located and the area is suitable for residential development, the settlement is upgrade in the current location. Due to general prevailing high densities in informal settlements, some households may require resettlement to adjacent land. Such processes are undertaken in close collaboration with the community participation structures.

Where the current informal settlement location is not suitable for residential development, the entire settlement may be required to relocate. Once again such initiatives are undertaken in collaboration with the community, and the objective is always to limit the negative impact of relocation initiatives by seeking land for development as close as possible to the current settlement location.

It should be noted that National Housing Programme: Upgrading of Informal Settlement, only provides service stands and tenure security to the inhabitants of the settlements. Housing consolidation constitutes phase 2 of the overall development and the housing provision phase is undertaken in terms of the various options available under the National Housing Programme. In addition, phase 2 also entails the provision of basic social and economic amenities, to ensure that sustainable human settlements are created.

4. Recommendation

It is recommended that you approve the draft reply to the question of Mr Swathe, MP .

QUESTION 672

QUESTION

672. Mr M M Swathe (DA) to ask the Minister of Human Settlements:

Whether he and his department will implement a programme to eradicate the housing backlog in all the provinces; if not, why not; if so, (a) when will the programme start and (b) what is the set target to achieve?

REPLY

Section 26 (1) and (2) of the Constitution determines that The State must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to have access to adequate housing.

The aim of Government's Human Settlement Programme therefor is to provide housing to all qualifying beneficiaries in an integrated manner within the context of sustainable human settlements. This implies that Government aims to eradicate the housing backlog over time, depending on the availability of resources.

Based on provincial allocations of the Integrated Housing and Human Settlement Grant, Provincial MECs responsible for Human Settlements prepare annual provincial plans which indicate the spending priorities within a particular province. These priorities are determined according to housing demand in a province with a view to the eradication of backlogs.

Therefor, Government's Human Settlement Programme since 1994 has been aimed at eradicating the housing backlog.

a) Falls away

b) Government has decided not to set targets based on the eradication of backlogs per se, but rather to pursue the establishment of integrated, sustainable human settlements based on the availability of financial resources being made available in terms of the Integrated Housing and Human Settlement Grant.

QUESTION NO 674

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 7 AUGUST 2009

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 7 - 2009)

Date reply submitted : 14 September 2009

Ms J F Terblanche (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

Since the launch of the investigation into fraudulent activities in the department of Home Affairs, (a) how many cases have been investigated, (b) how many arrests have been made, (c) how many (i) departmental officials, (ii) civilians and (iii) other officials was successfully prosecuted following these investigations and (d) what was (i) the nature of each offence and (ii) ranking of each official?

NW762E

REPLY:

(a) 17

(b) 18

(ii) 3

(iii) 1

(d) (i) Corruption

Fraud

Extortion

Theft

(ii) Senior Home Affairs Officials

Chief Administration Clerk

Administration Clerk

Immigration Officer

Species (columns)

Parks (rows)

White rhino

Red hartebeest

Black wildebeest

Kruger NP

Mokala NP

Addo Elephant NP

Mountain Zebra NP

Marakele NP