Questions & Replies: Question & Replies No 1426 to 1450
2009-10-01
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[PMG note: Replies are inserted as soon as they are provided by the Minister]
QUESTION NO. 1449
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 September 2009
Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether any poaching incidents in protected areas have involved the use of the poison known as Temik; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the poison has specifically been involved in the killing of any rhinos since 1 January 2008; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether her department has made representation to the Department of Agriculture on the need to improve the regulation of Temik; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1807E
MR M J ELLIS (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENTHANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS1449.THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) Protected Areas have not experienced any incidents involving the use of Temik as a poison.
(2) No.
(3) No. The matter has not been brought to the department's attention.
QUESTION NO 1448
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18 - 2009)
Date reply submitted : 7 December 2009
Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) Whether the SA Police Service keeps statistics on dogs poisoned by criminals; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many dogs were poisoned by criminals (i) in 2008 and (ii) during the period 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what is the provincial breakdown of this figure;
(2) whether the SAPS has taken any action against the sale of specific poisons used by criminals to poison dogs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether the SAPS has engaged with the Department of Agriculture about any specific agricultural poisons that may require improved regulation to make it more difficult for criminals to use these poisons; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1806E
REPLY:
(1) The crime code list at present employed by the South African Police Service does not provide for a specific crime code for information pertaining to cases in which dogs were poisoned by criminals. The Animals Protection Act (Act 71/1962) does not individualize specific animals.
Correspondence will have to be directed to all police stations involved country-wide in an effort to determine whether such cases appear on their records and the nature and status of each case, thereby placing an extra burden on limited human and financial resources. Members will have to be withdrawn from other duties to be specifically allocated to peruse dockets and registers.
Even if returns are received from the provinces after such an exercise, the information cannot be verified without physical inspection at all the affected stations.
(2) Yes, a Nodal Point was established at the Stock Theft Unit: Detective Service, Head Office on 2007-01-01 for the compiling of a policy and the monitoring there of. The nodal point coordinates complaints/enquiries regarding the illegal possession and misuse of poison received from the various stakeholders.
(3) Yes, SAPS has engaged the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as the other stakeholders to establish the Chemical Crime Management Forum (CCMF) to handle the illegal possession and misuse of poison. The following stakeholders are involved:
- South African Police Service
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(NSPCA)
- Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)
- Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
- Poison Working Group (PWG)
- Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
- Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- Chemical Consultants (Beyer)
- Department of Health
Reply to question 1448 approved/not approved
QUESTION NO. 1447INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 September 2009
Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) With reference to each journey taken since 1 January 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available by the Sarah Baartman vessel into territorial waters of a country other than South Africa, (a) when did the vessel depart from a South African port, (b) when did it return, (c) what was the reason for the journey, (d) what ports in other countries did it stop at and (e) what were the (i) names and (ii) designations of all people on board;
(2) whether for each of the above trips, the people on board earned a stipend over and above their monthly salary; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1805E
MR G R MORGAN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENTHANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS1447. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
1) One journey has been undertaken by the Sarah Baartman into the territorial waters of another country since 1 January 2008 to date.
(a) 25 February 2009
(b) 26 March 2009
(c) It was a SADC Joint Fisheries Patrol that enhanced the joint cooperation.
(d) Dar Es Salaam, Mombasa and Beira.
(e) (i) (ii) Deputy Director K Govender (Operational Commander) – South Africa.
Assistant Director A Moshani – South Africa.
Acting Chief Marine Conservation Inspector N Lutshete – South Africa.
Senior Marine Conservation Inspector H Ruppersberg – South Africa.
Senior Marine Conservation Inspector D Lourens – South Africa.
Fishery Control Officer C Maphossa – Mozambique.
Fishery Control Officer J Cuna – Mozambique.
Fishery Control Officer H. S. Haji – Tanzania (Zanzibar).
Fishery Control Officer – E Bupamba – Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam).
Fishery Control Officer P Agwanda – Kenya.
Fishery Control Officer M.Y. Mutisya – Kenya.
(2) Each country was responsible for covering the costs of their own officials. The South African Officials received their daily rate (Subsistence and Travel Allowance) as well as their daily sea allowance.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1446
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18)
1446. Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1)(a) What is the extent of endocrine disrupting compounds[1] (EDCs) in each river in (i) Limpopo, (ii) Mpumalanga and (iii) Gauteng and (b) what are the effects of the presence of EDCs (i) in water and (ii) on human health;
(2) whether any efforts are being made to (a) reduce the levels of EDCs in these water sources and (b) warn people of the health consequences of drinking this water; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1804E
REPLY:
(1)(a)(i) Currently only limited data is available on the extent of EDCs in the Limpopo catchment. The source thereof is the current Water Research Commission (WRC) study focusing on areas where DDT is used for indoor-spraying to control malaria.
(1)(a)(ii) Pesticides (e.g. BHC Lindane, DDT, DDD, DDE, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Heptachlor) with EDC properties have been found in the Crocodile River (Heath et al, 2003). Among these DDE (a breakdown product and impurity in commercial DDT mixtures) has the highest anti-androgenic effect and this is about one ten millionth the potency of 17, beta estradiol (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds: Priority List of EDCs. Prepared by: Water Research Commission (South Africa) in cooperation with: Kiwa Water Research (Netherlands) and TWZ – Water Technology Center (Germany), September 2003.
In the Inkomati and Olifants Water Management area, EDC is indirectly introduced by the use of pesticides from the agricultural activity (i.e. grapes, citrus, nuts etc) in the area. As agriculture occurs in these catchments, it has been identified as a source of diffuse pollution with some levels of pesticides used finding their way into the Water Resources.
(1)(a)(iii) Currently, there are no EDCs testing for Gauteng Rivers. The preceding study was conducted by the Water Research Commission (WRC) at the Rietvlei Dam in 2008. The proximity thereof to the research institution was one of the reasons for selecting the dam. This is attributed mainly to the costs and the complexity associated with conducting the test. Also, as there was no controlled 'clean' site that could be found for the study, controls were thus generated in an artificial laboratory environment.
(1)(b)(i) Studies have been done in species living in or closely associated with the Aquatic Environment. Health effects vary from subtle change in physiology and sexual behavior of species to permanently altered sexual differentiation. A range of effects can be seen in laboratory populations but it has been difficult to establish direct causal links to specific chemicals in field populations.
(1)(b)(ii) There is still a scientific debate on potential impact to humans as the argument that if the EDCs affect aquatic species then they might also be affecting humans. Some EDCs may possibly have trans-generational capabilities and thus can affect up to 3 generations under highly conservative scenarios. This makes it difficult to undertake control experiments on humans. The other complicating fact is that humans are generally exposed to EDCs in the form of pharmaceuticals (e.g. birth control pills), personal care products and industrial substances (e.g. fabric softeners and plasticisers) at some point in their life. It becomes difficult to specifically link the exposure route to particular dosages that may pose major health effects. There are significant issues related to effects of mixtures of chemicals and their effects on populations. As a result risk analyses in environmentally typical exposure situations have often been equivocal.
(2)(a). My Department has an established monitoring programme for Toxicity. The WRC is funding research through universities and the Council for Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) to quantify the impact on specific rivers. The pilot phase of the national Toxicity Monitoring programme focused on the detection of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in order to contribute to the South African report in terms of the Stockhölm Convention. In terms of the study the proposed hot-spot areas selected around Guateng, Mpumalanga and North-West showed the streams were typically in a good state. As the worst case one site could be described as "fair" another as "poor" while the other four sites were still in a good state. The details can be found in:Jooste S, Bollmohr, S and Thwala M (2008) National Toxicity Monitoring Program: Report on Phase 3: Pilot Implementation and Testing of the Design. Report No. N/0000/REQ1008. Resource Quality Services, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria, South Africa.
In addition, the Department does routine monthly water analysis for chemical and microbiological testing. Where there are high levels of these compounds, a possible source is investigated and appropriate actions taken to ensure that the level of these compounds is reduced.
Conventional treatment (treatment of Waste Water) reduces some level of the EDCs thus reducing the levels that are discharged into water resources. Some EDCs may have an impact on at extremely low levels, often in the pg/kg dose range (a picogram is a millionth of a millionth of a gram). This means that concentrations in water well below chemical detection limits might be beyond the capability of all but the most sophisticated waste treatment facilities to remove some EDCs. In spite of this, one South African study has shown reduced and/or complete removal of estrogenicity by the water treatment process and significant removals were observed after chlorination. Technologically endocrine disruption other than estrogenicity and anti-androgenicity are very difficult to determine and no South African and indeed very few other studies exist.
The banning of EDCs (e.g. DDT) use for agricultural purposes also contributes to keeping the levels of EDCs lower that could have found their way into the water resources however DDT is still being used for vector (malaria) control. The few chemical analytical data on surface water suggest that the continued illegal use of banned pesticides may contribute to some the POPs observed in surface waters in South Africa, although DDT (both a POP and an EDC) can be transported over long distances through atmospheric processes.
(2)(b). My Department discourages any form of contact sports like swimming in, or drinking water from rivers. This is to prevent/ reduce the chances of being in contact with contaminants which might results in some form of infection as a result of pollutants in the water.
To deal with pollution related problems and to speed up the response time, My Department also engages with the municipalities and other stakeholders through forums to identify the sources of pollution and integrating monitoring programmes to pick up pollution quickly and respond appropriately.
In the Rietvlei Dam where water is used for drinking purposes, water treatment plant uses multiple barriers and the best available technology to ensure that the water purified in the treatment process is of the best quality. The best available technology accessible, as recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), for removal of EDCs, as well as a number of other contaminants is used. This technology has been in place at Rietvlei Water Treatment Plant since 1999.
The Water Research Commission has conducted research studies into EDCs in South Africa. The research results are available in the public domain and there were media articles (e.g. Rietvlei story half-baked, Mail & Guardian 25 - 31 May 2007) and scientific debates after these reports were released. Media plays a big role in bringing awareness to issues affecting the society at large. The bigger picture on benefits of using EDCs such DDT vs costs of not using DDT (malaria deaths) should be considered especially for this developing country. The World Health Organization is in agreement with the continued responsible use of DDT for this purpose. The WRC, with support from My Department, is currently working on projects that might contribute to a risk-benefit study on particularly the estrogenic DDT and its congeners. In addition, some of these EDCs will be addressed in the proposed review of the South African Water Quality Guidelines.
The other forms of public awareness are done through the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (e.g. the South African Pesticide Initiative Program) and the Department of Health (e.g. malaria control using DDT).
Detailed Definition
The endocrine system is a highly complex collection of physiological processes in which a variety of natural and synthetic chemicals may play a greater or lesser role. Notably, natural and synthetic hormones are common chemical messengers in the body. The occurrence of endocrine disruption, (i.e.) disturbance of natural chemical messaging in the endocrine system in the body might be the result of a wide range of natural and synthetic chemicals. Any chemical, whether natural or synthetic which can interact with the body's endocrine receptors could therefore be an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC). It must be borne in mind that some pharmaceuticals such as the synthetic birth control hormone ethynyl estradiol, which can be detected in many waste water streams and surface waters, are extremely potent estrogenic disrupters. Beta estradiol, a natural female hormone which is also often detected in water, is also an extremely potent EDC. The body has natural mechanisms to regulate against disruptive effects, so that endocrine disruption usually occurs when: (a) hormones or hormone mimics reach hormone receptors in unusual quantities, and/or (b) the chemicals are present at unusual levels during sensitive development stages, and/or (c) regulation mechanisms are disrupted due to disease.
There are three ways to measure endocrine disruption:
Retrospectively, by direct observation of response in the target population (e.g.) a human population or a test rat population) by an epidemiological study;
Prospectively, by either using a surrogate response in a biotic model such as a modified yeast species or by inference from chemical analysis of the target environment. In order of decreasing cost and rapidly decreasing confidence in establishing adverse effect, the order is (1) target epidemiology, (2) surrogate model response and (3) chemical analysis.
[1] The detailed definition in page 4
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1545
(Internal Question Paper No 29 - 2009)
Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:
1. Whether he will put any mechanisms in place to monitor the establishment of Municipal Public Accounts Committees in all municipalities that will be chaired by a member of the opposition party; if not, why not; if so, what mechanisms;
2. Whether any action will be taken against municipalities that do not comply in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what action?
Answer
1. The department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs together with SALGA and Provincial Departments of Local Government have developed draft framework for establishment of Municipal Public Accounts Committees in municipalities. The support and monitoring of the establishment of MPACs will be done as part of the provincial and national programme i.e. Monthly quarterly reports submitted by Councils
2. All municipalities that will not comply will be engaged and supported to ensure establishment of MPACs through intervention of the provinces and national government working together.
QUESTION 1444
1444. Mr I M Ollis (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(a) What was the total budget for all Sector and Education Training Authorities (Setas) in respect of (i) all specified levies, (ii) discretionary grants and (iii) the National Skills Fund (NSF) in the 2008-09 financial year, (b) what was the total number of learnerships for each of the Setas completed in the 2008-09 financial year, (c) how many persons were trained by each Seta and (d) how many completed their course in the 2008-09 financial year? NW1802E
Minister of Labour Replied:
(a) The comprehensive information that the honourable member is requesting could be obtained from my Department's Annual Report and the 2008/09 Annual Reports of the SETAs which are annually tabled in Parliament as required in terms of the relevant legislation.
QUESTION 1443
Mr I M Ollis (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(1) Whether he will take any steps to ensure that land is available for training by the Forestry Industry Education and Training Authority (FIETA) programme; if not, why not; if so, what steps;
(2) whether he will take any action to ensure that students who qualify through the FIETA do not re-enroll continuously as a result of not enough job opportunities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether his department assists students who completed their training to find relevant work opportunities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1801E
Minister of Labour Replied:
(1) It is important to note that there is a process pertaining to land restitution under the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. However, the Department of Labour remains committed to ensure that learners are trained in line with the requirements of the relevant legislation and the Service Level Agreement between the SETA and my Department.
(2) In terms of the said Service Level Agreement between my Department and SETAs it is a requirement that SETAs must have appropriate systems in place to ensure compliance with relevant legislation which includes the management of learnerships as well as the submission of reports to my Department. Based on the aforesaid SETA's have reporting systems in place to ensure that learners do "not re-enroll continuously",however care is taken by them to move learners to a higher level within the sector as they gather more credits.
3) In terms of the NSDS II SETAs must identify the skill needs within their sector ánd to ensure that students are trained to promote and accelerate quality training for all in the workplace, as well as to enter the labour market and self employment. SETA's are therefore also required to ensure that learners are placed in employment or self employment and not to "train learners for the sake of training" but to train against demand as a means of ensuring training lead to placement. The placement rate of most SETAs is quite high for learners that have been trained as reflected in the SETAs' Annual Reports, and the HSRC impact study reports on skills released during 2008.
In addition to the above my Department is also assisting workseekers at the various Provincial offices and Labour centres to find suitable employment and to be placed accordingly.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 1442
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 September 2009
Mr G R Krumbock (DA) to ask the Minister of Tourism:
(1) Why does his department calculate one job created for every 12 tourists while the international average is one job created for every eight tourists;
(2) whether he is taking any steps to address this issue; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1800E
1442. THE MINISTER OF TOURISM ANSWERS:
(1) The benchmark of eight tourists creating one direct job was developed by the World Travel and Trade Council. This is an average for the world. The norm of 12 tourists creating one direct job is based on a study done in South Africa in 2002 and is based on South African unique circumstances.
(2) Yes, the long-term objective is to have more products with greater diversity. The Department is in the process of developing a National Tourism Strategy which will address the issues raised.
MEMBER: MR J J VAN DER LINDE
PARTY: DA
HOUSE: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TYPE: WRITTEN QUESTION
MINISTRY: SPORT AND RECREATION SA
QUESTION: NO 1441
(Internal Question Paper No 18 – 2009)
Mr. J J van der Linde (DA) to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation:
How many schools in each province as at the latest specified date for which information is available
(a)
(i) Have their own sports field and
(ii) Do not have their own sports field and
(b)
(i) Participate in organised school sports and
(ii) Do not participate in organised school sports?
NW1799E
REPLY:
The source of data below is the National Education Infrastructure Information System.
(a) (i) The following table presents information on the number of facilities in schools per province:
| Province | Number of schools | Number of facilities |
| Eastern Cape | 5716 | 5315 |
| Free State | 1642 | 1807 |
| Gauteng | 2006 | 3991 |
| Kwa Zulu Natal | 5835 | 5225 |
| Limpopo | 3997 | 4593 |
| Mpumalanga | 1916 | 2313 |
| North West | 1742 | 2123 |
| Northern Cape | 609 | 880 |
| Western Cape | 1466 | 2295 |
| Total | 24 929 | 28 543 |
(ii) The following table presents information on the number of schools
without any sport facilities per province.
| Province | Number of schools | Number schools without facilities | Percentage of schools without facilities |
| Eastern Cape | 5716 | 403 | 7% |
| Free State | 1642 | 649 | 40% |
| Gauteng | 2006 | 294 | 15% |
| Kwa Zulu Natal | 5835 | 1881 | 32% |
| Limpopo | 3997 | 346 | 9% |
| Mpumalanga | 1916 | 123 | 6% |
| North West | 1742 | 140 | 8% |
| Northern Cape | 609 | 117 | 19% |
| Western Cape | 1466 | 169 | 12% |
| Total | 24 929 | 4122 | 12% |
b)
- Schools in South Africa participate in mass based activities that are coordinated and funded through the DORA grant that SRSA receives from treasury.
REGISTERED SCHOOL STATS 2007 - 2009
| NAME OF PROVINCE | NUMBER OF LEARNERS IN PROGRAM | NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN PROGRAM | NUMBER OF LSEN SCHOOLS | ||||
| 2007/8 | 2008/9 | 2009/10 | 2007/8 | 2008/9 | 2009/10 | 2009/10 | |
| EASTREN CAPE | 15 918 | 34 792 | 67 522 | 240 | 587 | 587 | 9 |
| LIMPOPO | 10 326 | 21 362 | 34 111 | 175 | 190 | 236 | 10 |
| WESTERN CAPE | 84 279 | 187 637 | 342 799 | 183 | 360 | 360 | 0 |
| KWAZULU NATAL | 74 245 | 143 820 | 221 191 | 162 | 483 | 645 | 6 |
| MPUMALANGA | 22 651 | 45 343 | 71 949 | 105 | 157 | 210 | 18 |
| GAUTENG | 18 926 | 42 876 | 60 000 | 204 | 300 | 325 | 12 |
| NORTH WEST | 13 673 | 20 450 | 23 591 | 104 | 140 | 176 | 0 |
| NORTHERN CAPE | 5 765 | 12 052 | 24 108 | 42 | 79 | 81 | 2 |
| FREE STATE | 9 502 | 15 254 | 31 844 | 90 | 146 | 146 | 3 |
A calendar of competitive sports activities for 2009 was drafted by both SRSA and Department of Basic Education and distributed to all schools. There is no tool in place to calculate the exact number of schools that participate in any of the 16 codes that are offered at a competitive level. In June, SRSA conducted a telephonic survey of the education Districts in the country. All the Districts that were contacted indicated that all the schools in their Districts participated in organized activity at either circuit or District level in at least one code.
QUESTION NUMBER:1437
1437. Mr S C Motau (DA) to ask the Minister of Energy:
Whether her department will meet its goal of universal access to electricity for all schools in the country by 2010 through grid and non. grid technologies; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many schools are still without electricity and (b) when will the school electrification programme be completed?
REPLY
The Department of Energy will achieve universal access to all schools eligible for electrification by the end of the year 2010. Schools that will be excluded are (i) mud-structures purely for safety reasons,{ii) those outside of the NElMS (National Education Infrastructure Management System) database and (Iii) the farm schools that do not have a contract in place between the Department of Basic Education and the Farmer. The contract allows access to private property so that maintenance of the infrastructure can take place.
(a). 1387 schools are still without electricity.
(b) The school electrification programme will carry on until such time that the mud- structured schools are converted into the permanent structures and that will be informed by the Department of Basic Education's strategy to that effect.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER 1434
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 SEPTEMBER 2009
Dr D T George (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:
Whether any costs will be incurred with the (a) establishment of, (b) operation of and (c) VIP protection for bank officials of a regional office of the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund in South Africa? NW1792E
REPLY:
The Government of South Africa will:
(a) Not incur any costs for the establishment of the regional office of the African Development Bank and African Development Fund,
(b) Not incur any costs for the operation of the regional office of the African Development Bank and African Development Fund,
(c) Incur indirect costs for the provision of routine patrols by the diplomatic unit of the SAPS, in line with services provided to all other diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited to South Africa.
QUESTION NO: 1433
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 September 2009
QUESTION PAPER NO: 18
DATE OF REPLY: 5 October 2009
Ms L D Mazibuko (DA) to ask the Minister of Communications:
(1) (a) How much money was collected through the payment of television licences in 2008 and (b) how many licences were purchased;
(2) (a) where does the money collected from television licences go to and (b) how is the allocation determined?
NW1791E
REPLY:
(1) (a) Television licence collections for the 2008/09 financial year (1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009) amounted to R972 million.
(b) A total of 644 253 new licences were added to the TV Licences database during the same period.
(2) (a) In terms of the Broadcasting Act no 4 of 1999, as amended, television licence revenue shall be used solely to fund the SABC's public service broadcasting (PSB) mandate.
(b) With regard to television broadcasting, income derived from licence fees is allocated to the SABC's two PSB channels, namely SABC1 and SABC2. Television licence revenue also assists in funding the Corporation's 15 PSB radio stations. These include, inter alia, 11 full-spectrum radio services in each of the country's official languages, such as Umhlobo Wenene FM, broadcasting in isiXhosa; Ukhozi FM, broadcasting in isiZulu; Lesedi FM, broadcasting in Sesotho; Motsweding FM, broadcasting in Setswana; Phala Phala FM, broadcasting in tshiVenda; SAfm, broadcasting in English and RSG (RadioSonderGrense),broadcasting in Afrikaans. In addition, Lotus FM is a full-spectrum Indian cultural service in English, and X-K Fm is a community radio station broadcasting in the !Xu and Khwe languages of the San people.
QUESTION NO: 1430
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 September 2009
QUESTION PAPER NO: 18
DATE OF REPLY: 7 October 2009
Ms L D Mazibuko (DA) asked the Minister of Communications:
Whether the (a) non-executive and (b) executive members of the previous SABC Board, which was appointed by former President Mbeki in December 2007 and took up office in January 2009, were subjected to (i) individual and/or (ii) group performance evaluations; if not, why not; if so,
(aa) who conducted these evaluations, (bb) when did each evaluation take place, (cc) which of the Board members were evaluated and (dd) what was the outcome of each of these evaluations?
NW1788E
REPLY:
(a) (i) and (ii)
The SABC informed me that there is no record or evidence that the Non Executive members of the previous SABC Board, which was appointed by former President Mbeki in December 2007 and took up office in January 2009, were subjected to individual and/or group performance evaluations.
(b) (i) and (ii)
The Executive Directors of the previous SABC Board were subjected to individual performance evaluations. These members are and Mr. Gabriel Mampone (Acting Group Chief Executive Officer).
(aa) The evaluation of the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gab Mampone, was conducted by the former Chairperson of the Board, Ms Kanyisiwe Mkonza.
Mr Mampone conducted the evaluations of Mr. Robin Nicholson (Chief Financial Officer) and Ms Charlotte Mampane (Acting Chief Operating Officer).
(bb) All the evaluations were done at the end of the 2007/2009 financial year.
(cc) The outcome of each evaluation is recorded in the performance evaluation documents. Such documents are personnel documents and therefore confidential. The outcomes of the evaluations can only be made available with the consent of the individuals concerned.
QUESTION NO: 1429
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 September 2009
QUESTION PAPER NO: 18
DATE OF REPLY: 7 October 2009
Ms L D Mazibuko (DA) to ask the Minister of Communications:
Whether any (a) regulations and (b) draft regulations relating to (i) cellular phone tariffs and (ii) cellular phone call termination rates have been gazetted by ICASA since its establishment in July 2000; if not, why not; if so, (aa) how many and (bb) what are the further relevant details in each case?
NW1787E
REPLY:
I was informed by ICASA as follows:
(a) and (b)
(i) and (ii) No regulations or draft regulations with respect to cellular phone tariffs or with respect to cellular phone call termination rates have been gazetted by ICASA since its establishment in July 2000.
The reasons for this are as follows:
(a) Cellular phone tariffs were regulated by Consumer Price Index (CPI), i.e. in terms of the licence that cellular operators held, they were not allowed to increase their tariffs by more than CPI year on year.
(b) Call termination or interconnection fees were commercially negotiated between operators. As of 2001, cellular operators were not allowed to increase call termination rates by more than 2 cents or CPI.
QUESTION 1428
DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2009 [IQP No 18 -2009] FIRST SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
Question 1428 for written reply: National Assembly, Mr P J C Pretorius (DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
(1) What was the total cost of air travel for senior management of her department in the 2008-09 financial year;
(2) whether any officials travelled first or business class on any flight; if so, (a) how many (i) officials travelled (aa) first class and (bb) business class and (ii) flights were undertaken in each class and (b) what was the total cost of (i) first class and (ii) business class travel? NW1786E
Reply
(1) The total cost of air travel for senior management of DAFF in 2008/09 financial year was R6 259 837
(2) (a) (i) (aa) First class no applicable
(bb) There were in total 48 officials who travelled business class
(ii) The total of 491 flights were undertaken on business class
(b) (i) Not applicable
(ii) R5 331 358
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER: 1426
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 SEPTEMBER 2009
Mr P J C Pretorius (DA) to ask the Minister of Finance:
(1) Whether the Land Bank is engaged in any disputes with farmers about the (a) calculation of interest on their loans or (b) amounts outstanding on their loans; if so, (i) how many such cases were there in respect of (aa) commercial farmers and (bb) emerging farmers, (ii) what was the total amount in dispute in respect of each category of farmer and (iii) what was the outcome of the dispute in each case;
(2) Whether he will make a statement on the matter; if not, why not? NW1784E
REPLY
(1) (a) Yes, the disputes arise from a change in the methodology of calculating interest on the loans as well as in duplum interest.
(b) Yes, some clients have challenged balances on their accounts.
(i) Since 2006 to October 2009 a total of 101 disputes were lodged in respect of both interest calculations and loan balances. In essence, the two cannot be split as the amounts outstanding are determined by the method of interest calculation.
(aa) 101 disputes were lodged by commercial farmers.
(bb) No disputes were lodged by emerging farmers.
(ii) Since 2006, 101 disputes amounting to R13 582 003.73 were lodged by commercial farmers.
(iii) Of the 101 cases in dispute, 34 cases have been settled to the total amount of R9 million (after adjustments) in favour of clients.
Currently, negotiation offers to the net amount of R1 701 525.66 (after adjustments) in favour of clients have been made to a further 9 clients. These clients have not yet accepted the offers and, as such, settlements could not be finalised.
(2) I will consider issuing a statement if, upon completion of the report by the task team of the Land Bank investigating this matter, it is determined that it would be in the public interest to do so.
QUESTION NO 1439
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 18 - 2009)
Date reply submitted : 17 November 2009
Mrs D A Schäfer (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) Whether the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) will have a specialized anti-corruption unit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether there is an anti-corruption unit currently in place under the United Nations Convention against Corruption; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the relevant details of this unit and (b) what resources are allocated to it?
NW1797E
REPLY:
(1) No. The mandate of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations includes the investigation of corruption cases. It is therefore not necessary to have another unit with the same mandate.
(2) South Africa does not have a separate anti-corruption unit; the position is that the mandate of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations includes activities concerning corruption.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.