Questions & Replies: Question & Replies No 1251 to 1275
2009-10-01
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[PMG note: Replies are inserted as soon as they are provided by the Minister]
QUESTION NO. 1273
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 16)
Mr P D Dexter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Why has the valuation of the compensation fund for 2006 not been completed as required by the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act, Act 78 of 1973;
(2) whether he will take any steps to ensure that the fund is properly resourced; if not, why not; if so, what steps?
NW1620EREPLY:
(1) Actuaries have been appointed at the beginning of the year 2007 for the valuation of the Fund as required by the Act. The results of the process will help in establishing the future liquidity of the Fund and improvements on systems. The actuarial valuation report is not yet available due to the verification of data that is of a poor quality.
(2) The office of the Compensation commissioner for Occupational Diseases is implementing the recommendations of Deloitte and Touch Actuarial and Insurance solution as per the valuation of 2003 by increasing levies by 75% up to 2009 and 12, 7% thereafter, to ensure that the fund is properly resourced.
QUESTION NO.: 1271
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
Mr P D Dexter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Economic Development:
Since the start of the recession, how many jobs have been (a) lost and (b) created? NW1618E
REPLY
Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) figures are the basis of tracking employment in the economy. There are two surveys, namely the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) and the Labour Force Survey (LFS). These surveys reflect net employment, i.e. the difference between new jobs created and jobs lost.
The LFS is a household-based sample survey of both formal and informal labour activities of individuals above the age of 15 whereas the QES is a survey of enterprises in the formal non-agricultural business sector.
The data does not allow for a separation of jobs created and lost by sector, but rather for net changes in employment by sector. Certain sectors would therefore reflect net job losses and others net job gains. The aggregate data in turn reflects the net figures for the economy as a whole. The data reveals that job losses have been widespread across the economy. However, the government's response to the crisis, in particular the impact on the construction sector of pressing ahead with much needed infrastructure investment has been acting to counter the employment losses from the recession, although not sufficiently to outweigh them.
Much depends on the dates over which employment figures are compared and which survey is used.
The contraction of the economy started in the fourth quarter of 2008. The most significant impact was felt during the first two quarters of 2009.
Labour Force Survey
The following are the key findings of the LFS since the beginning of the recession, that is, from the fourth quarter of 2008.
For the six month period since 1 January 2009 to end June 2009, the position is as follows. At end December 2008, total employment stood at 13 844 000. By the end of June 2009, total employment was 13 369 000 which indicates 475 000 net job losses over the six-month period.
At the end of the third quarter of 2008 on 30 September 2008, ie the date prior to the contraction of the economy as measured by quarterly GDP figures, total employment stood at 13 655 000. By the end of June 2009, total employment was 13 369 000 which indicates 286 000 net job losses over the nine-month period.
Compared for a 12 month period, the total employment at the end of June 2008 was 13 729 000 and at the end of June 2009, it was 13 369 000 which indicates 360 000 net job losses over the 12 month period.
Quarterly Employment Survey
The following are the key findings of the QES since the beginning of the recession, that is, from the fourth quarter of 2008.
For the six month period since 1 January 2009 to end June 2009, the position is as follows. At end December 2008, total employment (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) stood at 8 512 000. By the end of June 2009, the corresponding employment was 8 259 000 which indicates 253 000 net job losses (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) over the six-month period.
At the end of the third quarter of 2008 on 30 September 2008, ie the date prior to the contraction of the economy as measured by quarterly GDP figures, total employment (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) stood at 8 492 000. By the end of June 2009, the corresponding figure stood at 8 259 000 which indicates 233 000 net job losses (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) over the 12 month period.
Compared for a 12 month period, the total employment (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) at the end of June 2008 was 8 457 000 and at the end of June 2009, it was 8 259 000 which indicates 198 000 net job losses (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) over the period.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1269
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 16)
Mr D A Kganare (Cope) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) Whether each province has bought into his department's ten-point plan; if not, which provinces; if so,
(2) whether these provinces have aligned their budget to achieve the stated objectives of the plan; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how is he monitoring the implementation;
(3) whether he will intervene in cases where provinces do not perform as agreed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1614EREPLY:
(1) All 9 Provincial Departments of Health (DoHs) have bought into Government's Strategic Health Priorities for 2009-2014, also known as the 10 Point Plan. The Programme of Action (PoA) of Government's Human Development Cluster is based on the 10 Point Plan. Furthermore, the Annual National Health Plan for 2009/10 reflects how each of the 9 Provinces will ensure the achievement of the objectives of the 10 Point Plan. Also, the Format for 5-year Strategic Plans and 3-year Annual Performance Plans of Provincial DoHs, make it mandatory for Provinces to reflect the activities they will be implementing in pursuit of the objectives of the 10 Point Plan.
(2) The Health Sector and National Treasury have agreed that the budget programme structure of the 9 Provincial DoHs, which consists of 8 budget programmes, will remain the same for 2009/10 and 2010/11. However, with regard to resource allocation, each Province has striven to align its resources to the stated objectives of the 10 Point Plan. Discussions between the Health Sector and Treasury about resource allocation for the MTEF period 2010/11-2012/13 were informed by the 10 Point Plan. In terms of monitoring, the National Health Council, chaired by the Minister, will receive regular progress reports on the implementation of the 10 Point Plan. My Department will also continue to provide progress reports to me.
(3) We will certainly intervene in cases where Provinces do not perform as agreed, in consultation with the Provincial Health MECs and Premiers. The relevant details will depend on the nature of the problems identified. Interventions could include provision of additional support and capacity where these are found to be lacking, and remedial action in cases where this is required.
QUESTION 1268
DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 [IQP No 16 -2009]
FIRST SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
National Assembly: P J C Pretorius (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
(1) (a) Which training institutions offer diploma and/or degree courses in forestry and forestry-related fields, (b) what courses are offered by each institution and (c) how many students successfully completed each course at each of these institutions in each of the past two years for which information is available;
(2) Whether the number of students that qualify annually is sufficient to meet the country's forestry needs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) Whether the quality and content of training offered by each institution is monitored by her department to ensure that they meet the needs of the industry; if not, why not; if so, how is the monitoring done? NW1613E
REPLY:
(1)(a) There are seven institutions, listed below, that offer forestry and forestry related courses:
§ Stellenbosch University
§ Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Saasveld campus)
§ University of KwaZulu-Natal
§ University of Venda
§ Fort Cox College
§ University of Pretoria
§ Tshwane University of Technology
(b) The following courses are offered by the various institutions:
Stellenbosch University:
· A Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programme in Forest and Wood Science and related fields.
· Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc) and Doctorate (PhD) degree programmes in Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences.
· For the BSc programme this is divided into two fields of study i.e.:
i. Forest and Natural Resource Management (4 year programme)
ii. Wood Products Science (a 4 year programme)
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University:
· A Diploma and Bachelor of Technology (BTech) and Master of Technology (MTech) degrees in Forestry.
· Forestry & Wood Technology
University of KwaZulu-Natal:
· A 4 year BSc degree in Agriculture (Forestry), MSc and PhD
· Commercial Forestry
· Community Forestry (Agro-forestry)
University of Venda:
· A BSc degree in Forestry
University of Pretoria:
· Postgraduate Degrees in Forestry
Fort Cox College
· Diploma in Social Forestry
Tshwane University of Technology
· National Diploma in Pulp and Paper
(c) The Department signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with two institutions, namely the University and Stellenbosch and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and through these agreements we monitor the number of students.
· At the Stellenbosch University, in2007 there were 3 Undergraduates and 12 Postgraduates and in 2008 there were 9 Undergraduates and 5 Postgraduates.
· At the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in the past two years the university has recorded 35 Diplomas per year, approximately 20 BTech Degrees per year and on average 2 MTech Degrees per year.
(2) No, the main challenge is that only the University of Stellenbosch and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University produce students that have the qualifications required by the sector. Some of the institutions still need to improve their curriculum to suit the needs of the sector / country. This is why the Department has engaged in a Raising the Profile of Forestry Programme, which includes the Youth Advancement Programme where the youth from the primary to the tertiary levels, as well as the unemployed, are encouraged to participate in competitions that are aimed at encouraging them to choose a career in forestry.
(3) Yes, the Department monitors the quality and content of the courses offered by the institutions with which it has signed MoUs, as stated above. The Department has a Forestry Capacity Building Unit that works closely with the Forestry Industry Education and Training Authority (FIETA) to ensure that it is involved in new developments, and that institutions adapt to address the skills needs, in the sector. The sector, through the Department and FIETA, has established a Sector Skills Development Forum to evaluate progress annually. The Forum has met once since its establishment and will meet again later this year. All the institutions are members of this forum and actively participate.
QUESTION 1267
DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 [IQP No 16 -2009]
FIRST SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
National Assembly: P J C Pretorius (DA) to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
(1) Whether her department has any forestry extension officers in its employ; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many, (b) where are they employed and (c) what are their main functions;
(2) Whether she has found that there is a need to employ forestry extension officers; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1612E
REPLY:
(1) No, there is currently no forestry extension officers employed in the Department, but it does provide technical support through existing officials. There are 22 officials in Limpopo, 11 in KwaZulu-Natal and 32 in Eastern Cape who are qualified foresters and are currently dealing with commercial forestry / plantation management. There is however a need for a targeted intervention to train and develop forestry extension officers who will attend to the forestry needs in the future. There is also a need to promote collaboration between the private sector and land owners.
(2) Yes, there is a need to employ forestry extension officers, especially in areas dealing with new afforestation and in areas dealing with post-settlement and post-transfer support.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1266
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 11 September 2009
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16 of 2009
Mrs J F Terblanche (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(a) How many mobile units does her department currently own in each province,
(b) in which provinces do they operate, (c) what are the operating times and (d) how many officials man a unit at any given time?
NW1611E
REPLY:
The Department currently owns and operates one hundred and seventeen (117) Mobile Units. The information for (a) to (d) is provided in the table, below:
| Zone / Province | Number of Units | Operating time start | Operating time end | Number of officials |
| Zone 1 Kwazulu-Natal | 16 | 09:30 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 1 | 12 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or depending on the distance travelled between the service point and the office of departure | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 2 | 11 | 08:00 | Until all applicants / clients have been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 2 | 12 | 10:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | Until all applicants / clients have been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 2 | 11 | 08:00 | Until all applicants / clients have been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 3 | 12 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 3 | 17 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 4 | 10 | 08:30 | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 4 | 16 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
QUESTION 1264
Mr. A Louw (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(1) Whether the practice of labour brokering has been outlawed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether he has formulated a plan to address the reduction of training opportunities that would follow the outlawing of labour brokering; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1609E
WRITTEN REPLY
No, there is nothing in our law that refers to the concept of labour broking. The so-called labour brokers legitimised themselves through the use of the provisions of the law that regulate temporary employment services.
In terms of our skills development legislation workplace skills could be accessed by any other employer or workplace. Therefore, employers could still make use of workplace skills training to develop their personnel.
QUESTION NO: 1263
QUESTION PAPER NO 16: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
DATE SUBMITTED:
MR J SELFE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Whether parole applications for prisoners sentenced before the parole provisions of the Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998 came into effect, are evaluated differently to those prisoners sentenced after the commencement of the Act; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how? NW1608E
REPLY
No. All submissions for parole considerations are similarly evaluated in terms of Section 42 of the Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998 and Section 63 of the former Correctional Services Act, no 8 of 1959. The Case Management Committee must submit a report to a Correctional Supervision and Parole Board when an offender is considered for parole. In terms thereof the report must contain inter alia the following:
" (i) the offence or offences for which the sentenced prisoner is serving a term of imprisonment together with the judgment on the merits and any remarks made by the court in question at the time of the imposition of sentence if made available to the Department;
(ii) the previous criminal record of such prisoner;
(iii) the conduct, disciplinary record, adaptation, training, aptitude, industry, physical and mental state of such prisoner;
(iv) the likelihood of a relapse into crime, the risk posed to the community and the manner in which this risk can be reduced;
(v) a prisoner who has been declared an habitual criminal which indicates that-
(aa) there is a reasonable probability that the prisoner will in future abstain from crime and lead a useful and industrious life; or
(bb) the prisoner is no longer capable of engaging in crime; or
(cc) for any other reason, it is desirable to place the prisoner on parole;
(vi) the possible re-placement of such prisoner under correctional supervision in terms of a sentence provided for in section 276 (1) (i) or 287 (4) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act, or in terms of the conversion of such prisoner's sentence into correctional supervision under section 276A (3) (e) (ii), 286B (4) (b) (ii) or 287 (4) (b) of the said Act, and the conditions for such placement;
(vii) the possible placement of such prisoner on day parole or on parole, and the conditions for such placement; and
(iv) the likelihood of a relapse into crime, the risk posed to the community and the manner in which this risk can be reduced;
(viii) such other matters as the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board may request"
This report is applicable to all offenders irrespective of the date of sentence and there is no difference in the manner in which an offender is evaluated for possible placement on parole.
In addition it is important to take note of the following stipulations of sections 36 to 38 of the Correctional Services Act, 111 of 1998 which deals with the objectives of incarceration; the general principles regarding the serving of the sentence as well as assessment and sentence planning:
"36 Objective of implementation of sentence of imprisonment
With due regard to the fact that the deprivation of liberty serves the purposes of punishment, the implementation of a sentence of imprisonment has the objective of enabling the sentenced prisoner to lead a socially responsible and crime-free life in the future.
37 General principles
(1) In addition to the obligations which apply to all prisoners every sentenced prisoner must-
(a) participate in the assessment process and the design and implementation of any development plan or programme aimed at achieving the said objective; and
(b) perform any labour which is related to any development programme or which generally is designed to foster habits of industry, unless the medical officer or psychologist certifies in writing that he or she is physically or mentally unfit to perform such labour.
(2) In addition to providing a regime which meets the minimum requirements of this Act, the Department must seek to provide amenities which will create an environment in which sentenced prisoners will be able to live with dignity and develop the ability to lead a socially responsible and crime-free life.
(3) All such amenities must be prescribed by regulation and as far as possible be available to all sentenced prisoners unless, for economic or other practical reasons, such amenities can be introduced in some prisons only, in which case, their partial introduction should be on a non-discriminatory basis.
(4) In addition to the general purpose stated in section 22, the disciplinary system for sentenced prisoners shall have the particular aim of promoting self-respect and responsibility on the part of the prisoner.
38 Assessment
(1) As soon as possible after admission as a sentenced prisoner, such prisoner must be assessed to determine his or her-
(a) security classification for purposes of safe custody;
(b) health needs;
(c) educational needs;
(d) social and psychological needs;
(e) religious needs;
(f) specific development programme needs;
(g) work allocation;
(h) allocation to a specific prison; and
(i) needs regarding reintegration into the community.
(2) In the case of a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months or more, the manner in which the sentence should be served must be planned in the light of this assessment and any comments by the sentencing court."
QUESTION NO: 1262
DATE SUBMITTED:
MR J SELFE (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
How many offenders in each correctional centre (a) attend educational and/or rehabilitative programmes, (b) work in agricultural and/or production workshops and (c) are unable to work as a result of disability on a daily basis? NW1607E
REPLY
| AGRICULTURE: OFFENDER LABOUR 2009/2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | TOTAL | OBJECTIVE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OFFENDERS | TOTAL | OFFENDERS | TOTAL | OFFENDERS | TOTAL | OFFENDERS | TOTAL | OFFENDERS | TOTAL | OFFENDERS | TOTAL | |||||||||||||||||||||
| EASTERN CAPE REGION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EAST LONDON MED. A CORRCENT | 8.26 | 157 | 0.63 | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KIRKWOOD AGRICULTURE | 79.63 | 1513 | 87.7 | 1754 | 85.14 | 1788 | 84.35 | 1940 | 75.75 | 1515 | 33.9 | 8510 | 219 | |||||||||||||||||||
| MIDDLEDRIFT CORRCENT | 50 | 950 | 47.5 | 950 | 43 | 903 | 41.3 | 950 | 6.1 | 122 | 15.44 | 3875 | 90 | |||||||||||||||||||
| PATENSIE AGRICULTURE | 19.16 | 364 | 23.4 | 468 | 19.81 | 416 | 22.09 | 508 | 24.2 | 484 | 8.92 | 2240 | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ST. ALBANS AGRICULTURE | 61.79 | 1174 | 70.85 | 1417 | 62.95 | 1322 | 62.39 | 1435 | 74.45 | 1489 | 27.24 | 6837 | 90 | |||||||||||||||||||
| UMTATA AGRICULTURE | 54.74 | 1040 | 25.4 | 508 | 56.48 | 1186 | 67.09 | 1543 | 74.05 | 1481 | 22.94 | 5758 | 96 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SMALL PLACES | 14.89 | 283 | 43.15 | 863 | 50 | 1050 | 23.48 | 540 | 2.9 | 58 | 11.13 | 2794 | 400 | |||||||||||||||||||
| REGION TOTAL | 288.47 | 5481 | 298 | 5960 | 317.38 | 6665 | 300.70 | 6916 | 257.45 | 5149 | 120.20 | 30171 | 935 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GAUTENG REGION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ATTERIDGEVILLE AGRICULTURE | 33.95 | 645 | 34.45 | 689 | 35.81 | 752 | 32.7 | 752 | 33.85 | 677 | 14 | 3515 | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||
| BAVIAANSPOORT AGRICULTURE | 96.42 | 1832 | 96.75 | 1935 | 84.86 | 1782 | 77.48 | 1782 | 89.25 | 1785 | 36.32 | 9116 | 184 | |||||||||||||||||||
| DEVON AGRICULTURE | 47.37 | 900 | 32.2 | 644 | 23.9 | 502 | 25.83 | 594 | 25.5 | 510 | 15.43 | 3874 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||
| LEEUWKOP AGRICULTURE | 126 | 2394 | 122.65 | 2453 | 132.14 | 2775 | 133.26 | 3065 | 154.6 | 3092 | 54.9 | 13779 | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||
| MODDERBEE AGRICUTURE | 34.89 | 663 | 28.9 | 578 | 22.33 | 469 | 34.04 | 783 | 38.95 | 779 | 13.04 | 3272 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NIGEL AGRICULTURE | 27.3 | 546 | 2.18 | 546 | 90 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI AGRICULTURE | 10.11 | 192 | 9.85 | 197 | 8.86 | 186 | 18.13 | 417 | 20.4 | 408 | 5.58 | 1400 | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ZONDERWATER AGRICULTURE | 104.47 | 1985 | 95.6 | 1912 | 78.14 | 1641 | 86.83 | 1997 | 99.65 | 1993 | 37.96 | 9528 | 266 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SMALL PLACES | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| REGION TOTAL | 453.21 | 8611 | 447.7 | 8954 | 386.05 | 8107 | 408.26 | 9390 | 462.2 | 9244 | 179.40 | 45030 | 975 | |||||||||||||||||||
| KWAZULU/NATAL REGION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GLENCOE AGRICULTURE | 20.58 | 391 | 35.3 | 706 | 30 | 630 | 31.43 | 723 | 29.85 | 597 | 12.14 | 3047 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NCOME AGRICULTURE | 77.26 | 1468 | 74.5 | 1490 | 70.81 | 1487 | 61.78 | 1421 | 78.05 | 1561 | 29.59 | 7427 | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SEVONTEIN AGRICULTURE | 128.11 | 2434 | 130.5 | 2610 | 96.57 | 2028 | 109.26 | 2513 | 117.05 | 2341 | 47.51 | 11926 | 150 | |||||||||||||||||||
| WATERVAL AGRICULTURE | 232.16 | 4411 | 198.4 | 3968 | 204 | 4284 | 193.52 | 4451 | 169.5 | 3390 | 81.69 | 20504 | 300 | |||||||||||||||||||
| SMALL PLACES | 0 | 0 | 253 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| REGION TOTAL | 458.11 | 8704 | 438.7 | 8774 | 401.38 | 8429 | 396 | 9108 | 394.45 | 7889 | 170.93 | 42904 | 893 | |||||||||||||||||||
| LIMPOPO, MPUMALANGA & NORTH WEST REGION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BARBERTON AGRICULTURE | 74.26 | 1411 | 81.75 | 1635 | 62.95 | 1322 | 78.74 | 1811 | 79.95 | 1599 | 30.99 | 7778 | 219 | |||||||||||||||||||
| BETHAL CORRCENT | 26.89 | 511 | 24.25 | 485 | 14.48 | 304 | 13.22 | 304 | 6.39 | 1604 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| KLERKSDORP AGRICULTURE | 32.37 | 615 | 30.8 | 616 | 20.52 | 431 | 21.35 | 491 | 27.45 | 549 | 10.76 | 2702 | 120 | |||||||||||||||||||
| LOSPERFONTEIN AGRICULTURE | 69 | 1311 | 85.05 | 1701 | 59.71 | 1254 | 65.74 | 1512 | 73 | 1460 | 28.84 | 7238 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||||
| MOGWASE CORRCENT | 8.63 | 164 | 3.1 | 62 | 8.81 | 185 | 9.26 | 213 | 13.55 | 271 | 3.57 | 895 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NELSPRUIT CORRCENT | 13.05 | 248 | 10.3 | 206 | 9.48 | 199 | 10.09 | 232 | 9.15 | 183 | 4.25 | 1068 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||
| POTCHEFSTROOM AGRICULTURE | 20.58 | 391 | 15.85 | 317 | 17.05 | 358 | 12.87 | 296 | 19 | 380 | 6.94 | 1742 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ROOIGROND AGRICULTURE | 125.89 | 2392 | 125.4 | 2508 | 147.38 | 3095 | 141.83 | 3262 | 44.85 | 11257 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| STANDERTON MED. A CORRCENT | 3.95 | 75 | 3.1 | 62 | 2.67 | 56 | 4.35 | 100 | 1.17 | 293 | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| THOHOYANDOU MED. A CORRCENT | 28.26 | 537 | 35 | 700 | 29.1 | 611 | 39.04 | 898 | 50.95 | 1019 | 15 | 3765 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||||
| TZANEEN CORRCENT | 36.79 | 699 | 37.4 | 748 | 35.24 | 740 | 31.78 | 731 | 41.05 | 821 | 14.9 | 3739 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| WITBANK AGRICULTURE | 12.63 | 240 | 14.4 | 288 | 6.19 | 130 | 12.74 | 293 | 3.79 | 951 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SMALL PLACES | 156.63 | 2976 | 115.45 | 2309 | 153.38 | 3221 | 115.65 | 2660 | 24.95 | 499 | 46.47 | 11665 | 330 | |||||||||||||||||||
| REGION TOTAL | 608.95 | 11570 | 581.85 | 11637 | 566.95 | 11906 | 556.65 | 12803 | 339.05 | 6781 | 217.92 | 54697 | 1593 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NORTHERN CAPE & FREE STATE REGION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GOEDEMOED AGRICULTURE | 210.74 | 4004 | 232.5 | 4650 | 190.33 | 3997 | 192.78 | 4434 | 219.6 | 4392 | 85.57 | 21477 | 324 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GROENPUNT AGRICULTURE | 138.89 | 2639 | 139.6 | 2792 | 121.86 | 2559 | 103.78 | 2387 | 130.05 | 2601 | 51.71 | 12978 | 240 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GROOTVLEI AGRICULTURE | 135.79 | 2580 | 145.7 | 2914 | 135.71 | 2850 | 124 | 2852 | 150.35 | 3007 | 56.59 | 14203 | 152 | |||||||||||||||||||
| VEREENIGING CORRCENT | 50.53 | 960 | 12.45 | 249 | 6.52 | 137 | 13.22 | 304 | 48 | 960 | 10.4 | 2610 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| VIRGINIA AGRICULTURE | 64.42 | 1224 | 53.6 | 1072 | 58.67 | 1232 | 42.9 | 858 | 17.47 | 4386 | 120 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SMALL PLACES | 57 | 1083 | 20.8 | 416 | 11.52 | 242 | 26.52 | 610 | 101 | 2020 | 17.41 | 4371 | 600 | |||||||||||||||||||
| REGION TOTAL | 657.37 | 12490 | 604.65 | 12093 | 524.62 | 11017 | 460.30 | 10587 | 691.9 | 13838 | 239.14 | 60025 | 1496 | |||||||||||||||||||
| WESTERN CAPE REGION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ALLANDALE CORRCENT | 32.11 | 610 | 30.15 | 603 | 23.86 | 501 | 28.91 | 665 | 27.05 | 541 | 11.63 | 2920 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||
| BRANDVLEI AGRICULTURE | 80.32 | 1526 | 90.3 | 1806 | 79 | 1659 | 90.61 | 2084 | 88.45 | 1769 | 35.24 | 8844 | 134 | |||||||||||||||||||
| DRAKENSTEIN AGRICULTURE | 231.47 | 4398 | 242 | 4840 | 257.48 | 5407 | 214.39 | 4931 | 277.6 | 5552 | 100.11 | 25128 | 291 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GEORGE CORRCENT | 26.53 | 504 | 21.6 | 432 | 18.29 | 384 | 26.48 | 609 | 26.9 | 538 | 9.83 | 2467 | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||
| HELDERSTROOM AGRICULTURE | 138.58 | 2633 | 85.75 | 1715 | 113.86 | 2391 | 140.17 | 3224 | 113.25 | 2265 | 48.72 | 12228 | 173 | |||||||||||||||||||
| POLLSMOOR MED. A CORRCENT | 28.79 | 547 | 35.2 | 704 | 35 | 735 | 39.48 | 908 | 32.7 | 654 | 14.14 | 3548 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||
| VOORBERG AGRICULTURE | 170.74 | 3244 | 165.6 | 3312 | 147.76 | 3103 | 161.91 | 3724 | 165.2 | 3304 | 0 | 16687 | 278 | |||||||||||||||||||
| REGION TOTAL | 708.53 | 13462 | 670.6 | 13412 | 675.24 | 14180 | 701.96 | 16145 | 731.15 | 14623 | 286.14 | 71822 | 996 | |||||||||||||||||||
| NATIONAL TOTAL | 3174.63 | 60318 | 3041.5 | 60830 | 2871.62 | 60304 | 2823.87 | 64949 | 2876.2 | 57524 | 1213.74 | 304649 | 6888 | |||||||||||||||||||
| OFFENDER SKILLS UTILIZATIONS: PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS 2009/2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Management Area | Apr | May | Jun | 1st quarter | July | Aug | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pretoria Wood | 92 | 88 | 87 | 267 | 120 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pretoria Steel | 65 | 65 | 63 | 193 | 65 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pretoria Textiles | 29 | 15 | 22 | 66 | 26 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zonderwater Wood | 56 | 66 | 68 | 190 | 66 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zonderwater Steel | 70 | 68 | 80 | 218 | 86 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zonderwater Textiles | 45 | 45 | 48 | 138 | 45 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boskburg Wood | 154 | 128 | 0 | 282 | 0 | 115 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boskburg Steel | 115 | 104 | 97 | 316 | 102 | 106 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boskburg Textiles | 30 | 35 | 38 | 103 | 32 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johannesburg Textiles | 93 | 60 | 70 | 223 | 78 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leeuwkop Wood & Steel | 74 | 73 | 74 | 221 | 79 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Witbank Textiles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Witbank Shoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potchefstroom Textiles | 25 | 25 | 25 | 75 | 29 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mogwase Textiles | 23 | 23 | 23 | 69 | 23 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thohoyandou Textiles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thohoyandou W & St | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kroonstad W & St | 65 | 56 | 61 | 182 | 52 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kroonstad Textiles | 22 | 14 | 20 | 56 | 24 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kimberly Textiles | 43 | 39 | 42 | 124 | 40 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malmesbury Textiles | 107 | 28 | 72 | 207 | 108 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drakenstein Textiles | 43 | 41 | 31 | 115 | 0 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drakenstein W & St | 102 | 82 | 99 | 283 | 103 | 103 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Helderstroom Textiles | 32 | 31 | 29 | 92 | 31 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Worcester Textiles | 47 | 56 | 42 | 145 | 38 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pollsmoor Wood & Steel | 54 | 98 | 54 | 206 | 49 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pollsmoor Textiles | 25 | 36 | 20 | 81 | 19 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East London Textiles | 43 | 52 | 39 | 134 | 55 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St Albans Wood & Steel | 47 | 44 | 38 | 129 | 38 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St Albans Textiles | 29 | 32 | 32 | 93 | 31 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Durban Textiles | 45 | 50 | 47 | 142 | 59 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PMB Wood & Steel | 62 | 67 | 68 | 197 | 70 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PMB Textiles | 24 | 25 | 20 | 69 | 22 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Total | 1661 | 1546 | 1409 | 1490 | 1555 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
QUESTION NO 1261
TRANSFERRED FROM WRITTEN TO ORAL REPLY IN TERMS OF RULE 117
DATE REPLY SUBMITTED: TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2009 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16 – 2009)
Mr S B Farrow (DA) asked the Minister of Transport:
(1) Whether he intends imposing weight restrictions on the R103; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date will the restrictions take effect, (b) what will the restrictions be and (c) what will the penalties be for vehicles that do not comply with the restrictions;
(2) whether any other provinces have imposed weight restrictions on certain sectors of their roads; if so, (a) which provinces and (b) for what reasons?
NW1603E
REPLY:
The Minister of Transport:
(1) (a) There are various regulatory signs which can be legally used to apply restrictions to heavy vehicles with regard to "Mass and Dimension" limitations. It is the responsibility of the respective roads and traffic authorities at the Provincial, Metropolitan or Municipal level to determine where and what restrictions should be imposed and the law enforcement thereof. The Department of Transport (DoT) is not aware of any weight restrictions imposed on the R103. However, based on the proposed interventions as indicated below, this may become a reality on not just the R103, but on all roads in South Africa.
The DoT recognizes that various initiatives that have been implemented to curb the practice of overloading on our roads and the introduction of the user pay principle within the road environment through toll roads have resulted in an unintended consequence of heavy vehicle transporters circumventing the primary road system by using the secondary road network instead. Therefore, this has an adverse impact on implementing the Road Infrastructure Framework for South Africa as the Department's policy context of having an optimum split between road and rail. The Department recently commissioned a team to develop a Road Freight Strategy, with key focus areas being:-
· to monitor and enforce road freight movement;
· to review the current axle mass limits;
· to design the weighbridge network; and
· to analyse the currently developed National Freight Monitoring Framework in providing intelligence on movement of freight.
The Department of Transport has issued a "Letter of Intent of Law Making" on the proposal to all Transport Stakeholders. The following items are of relevance to the Honourable Member's Question, namely:-
Ø the intention to reduce the current axle limit by 1 000 kg per axle. However, this calculation on reduction may not apply on the double or the tandem axles as a different calculation based on the degree of damage to the road infrastructure. The final proposal on the reduction will be made once all the Stakeholders and the Strategy has been finalised; and
Ø the proposal to prohibit the operation of certain axle loads from the secondary network and their migration to the primary network.
(b) Falls away.
(c) Drivers of vehicles who do not comply with restrictions will be charged for exceeding the permissible axle mass limit.
(2) As stated in my reply to part (1) of the Question above, there are various regulatory signs which can be legally used to apply restrictions to heavy vehicles with regard to "Mass and Dimension" limitations. The Department of Transport is not aware of all the weight restrictions imposed by the respective Provinces along their road networks.
QUESTION 1259
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28/08/09
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2009)
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:†
Whether her department is considering making mathematical literacy compulsary for al learners from grades 10 to 12; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1601E
REPLY:
Yes.On 18 July 2005 the Minister of Education approved the new policy document, National Senior Certificate: A qualification at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
Learners opting for the National Senior Certificate must offer a minimum of seven subjects listed in the above policy document, of which two official languages, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy; and Life Orientation are compulsory subjects.
The purpose of including Mathematical Literacy in the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) is three fold. Mathematical Literacy should enable the learner to become:
A self-managing person: There are mathematical demands that are encountered on a daily basis, demands which people should be able to handle with confidence. Such demands range from an ability to handle financial issues such as hire purchase, mortgage bonds and investments to an ability to read a map.
A contributing worker: The workplace requires the use of fundamental numerical and spatial skills in order to efficiently meet the demands of the job, for example, dealing with work-related formulae, reading statistical charts, dealing with schedules, etc.
A participating citizen: For the fact that statistics is so often (mis)used to support opposing arguments, Mathematical Literacy should help learners acquire a critical stance with regard to mathematical arguments presented in the media and other platforms.
There is no intention to make Mathematical Literacy compulsory for all learners. Learners all do some form of mathematics. Based on their post-school intentions they can choose between mathematics and mathematical literacy.
QUESTION 1258
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28/08/09
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 12-2009)
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:†
Whether since the publication of White Paper 6 in 2001 any policy documents regarding the implementation of inclusive tuition have been published; if not, why not; if so, what are the (a) status and (b) relevant details of such documents?
NW1600E
REPLY:
The Department of Education is finalizing a field test on White Paper 6 Which started in 2004 and is ending in 2009. The field test is preparing the Department for a further rollout of Inclusive Education. In the process, the following guideline documents were developed and are at different stages of endorsement by the Department:
§ Guidelines for Full-service/Inclusive Schools
§ Guidelines to Ensure Quality Education and Support in Special Schools and Special School resource Centres
§ Guidelines on Inclusive Learning Programmes
§ Draft strategy for Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support
QUESTION 1257
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11/09/09
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 16-2009)
Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:†
Whether, in light of the Development Bank of South Africa's (DBSA's) statistics on schools ,she or her department has formulated a turnaround strategy to address inequalities in education without lowering the standard of education in any school; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1599E
REPLY:
1. No fee schools - we have adopted a policy that ensures that poor learners are not expected to pay school fees. Currently there are over 14 000 no-fee schools in the country, benefiting over 5million (out of a total of about 12 million) learners.
2. Foundations for Learning Campaign (supply of workbooks, textbooks and teacher guides to schools - have begun improving and increasing this). The Presidency is supporting the Department to ensure that all learners and teachers receive the materials they need;
Quality Learning Campaign - focuses on a compact between teachers, parents and the government to improve teaching and learning (T&L)
4. Teacher Summit - for the first time Departments of Education spoke together with teachers via their Unions on what should be done to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The recommendations of the summit are being taken seriously by the Department. Mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the Summit Declaration is not just a piece of paper.
5. Infrastructure - we have developed norms and standards that commit government to providing school buildings of a particular standard. The backlogs are great and will take many years to address - however we are committed to ensure that all schools are provided with the minimum infrastructure for them to work in an enabling environment. The Department is seeking creative ways to fund this backlog, especially that of libraries and laboratories. In the meanwhile, schools are encouraged to use science kits and to establish reading corners in classrooms.
6. In his research article (Building Education Beyond Crisis), Bloch indicates that the problems in education need to be worked on together with all stakeholders and role-players and proposes a "get-together" for this to occur. This recommendation is supported.
7. The Minister has commissioned a study to look into challenges facing the implementation of the curriculum.
QUESTION 1255 F
OR WRITTEN REPLY: DR A LOTRIET (DA): DISCIPLINARY STEPS TAKEN AGAINST OFFICIALS FOLLOWING THE AUDITOR -GENERAl'S REPORT OF 2007.2008 FINANCIAL YEAR
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of Publication in Internal Question Paper: 11 September 2009 (Internal Question Paper No 16-2009)
1255. Dr A Lotriet (DA) to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture:
Whether any disciplinary steps have been taken against any officials in her department following the findings in the Auditor-General's report of the 2007-08 financial year regarding financial irregularities; if not, why so; if so, what are the relevant details
REPLY
YES
DETAILS
NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Mr S Selepe
DESIGNATION: Deputy Director-General
PERSAL NO: 17576610
SUSPENSION DATE: 12 February 2009
NATURE OF CASE: financial Misconduct
DATE OF FIRST ENQUIRY 2009: 16 July 2009, Postponed 22 July 2009, 21 August
DATE OF NEXT ENQUIRY: 1st It week October 2009
DATE REPORTED TO SAPS: 24 August 2009
CASE NO: 982/8/2009
QUESTION NUMBER: 1253
1253. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Energy:
(1) Whether, with reference to her statement that the Government together with Eskom would assist Angola to rebuild their electricity supply (details furnished), a further 40% Increase is being requested by Eskom; if so, (a) how much will assistance to rebuild Angola's electricity supply cost and (b) how is this justified in light of the needy who have not yet had access to electricity;
(2) Whether she has taken cognisance of the critical effects that consumers are experiencing with the continuous rise of the cost of electricity; of not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply
1 (a) The assistance to Angola has no bearing on the electricity tariff increase in South Africa, because the transaction will be purely commercial. The details of the costs are not yet available because we still have to undertake investigations and then propose a business plan to assist them.
(b) As indicated above, this will be a commercial transaction
(2) Yes. That is why I am putting in place a two-pronged approach to cushion the domestic and indigent consumer in particular, In collaboration with municipalities and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:
o Firstly, the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) penetration level will be increased to ensure that all qualifying households have access to FBE; municipalities will also be required to eliminate the leakage of FBE benefits to non-qualifying households
o Secondly, an inclining block tariff will be introduced by NERSA In line with the Electricity Pricing Policy, in order to provide even more relief up to certain limited levels of consumption, which levels are typical for the indigent in particular.
QUESTION 1266
DATE OF PUBLICATION: Friday, 11 September 2009
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16 of 2009
Mrs J F Terblanche (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:
(a) How many mobile units does her department currently own in each province,
(b) in which provinces do they operate, (c) what are the operating times and (d) how many officials man a unit at any given time?
NW1611E
REPLY:
The Department currently owns and operates one hundred and seventeen (117) Mobile Units. The information for (a) to (d) is provided in the table, below:
| Zone / Province | Number of Units | Operating time start | Operating time end | Number of officials |
| Zone 1 Kwazulu-Natal | 16 | 09:30 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 1 Mpumalanga | 12 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or depending on the distance travelled between the service point and the office of departure | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 2 Free State | 11 | 08:00 | Until all applicants / clients have been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 2 Northern Cape | 12 | 10:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | Until all applicants / clients have been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 2 North West | 11 | 08:00 | Until all applicants / clients have been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 3 Western Cape | 12 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 3 Eastern Cape | 17 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 4 Gauteng | 10 | 08:30 | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
| Zone 4 Limpopo | 16 | 09:00 or depending on the distance travelled per Unit | 15:00 or until the last applicant / client has been attended to | Three (3) – the driver and two (2) administration clerks |
QUESTION 1256
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER [NO 16-2009]
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11 September 2009
1256. Mrs A Steyn (DA) to ask the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform:
Whether his department has done any virements of money from the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) or Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programmes to the pilot projects; if not, from which programme was the money taken; if so, (a) what amount, (b) from what programme and (c) what impact will it have on the programmes for which the money was originally budgeted? NW1598E
THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has, through the 2009 Adjustment Estimates of National Expenditure (AENE) process, applied for the shifting of funds from the transfer and subsidies budget under Programme 5: Land and Tenure Reform to fund rural development activities including the pilot projects under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP), but this process has not been finalised. In line with the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 and relevant financial prescripts, the DRDLR is currently funding the pilot projects from the suspense account as an interim measure until the 2009 AENE process has been finalised.
(a) A virement of R505 444 750.00 has been requested.
(b) Programme 5: Land and Tenure Reform.
(c) The performance target for land redistribution will be reviewed for the current financial year, which could further impact on the target of redistributing 30% of white-owned agricultural land to land reform beneficiaries by 2014.
QUESTION NO. 1251
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11 September 2009
Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to Question 505 on 25 August 2009, the SA Weather Service (SAWS) was subject to the (a) Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) Treasury regulations on the same date it became a public entity; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether, in terms of the findings of a certain audit report (name furnished) of 2005, any disciplinary action was taken against any staff member of the SAWS regarding the processes of awarding tenders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1593E
MR M J ELLIS (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENTHANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS1251. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) SAWS is established in terms of the South African Weather Service Act of 2001 and is listed as a National Public Entity under Schedule 3A of the Public Finance Management Act, as per the General Notice 2302 of 30 November 2001.
(2) It is not clear who is the person referred to on the 2nd part of the question. Nonetheless, most if not all the people who were there at the time are no longer in the employ of SAWS. SAWS has also earlier today, delivered to the Minister's Office, a file responding to the recent Enquiry by Mr Gareth Morgan, MP on related issues.
QUESTION NO. 1251 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16 of 2009DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11 September 2009
Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to Question 505 on 25 August 2009, the SA Weather Service (SAWS) was subject to the (a) Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, and (b) Treasury regulations on the same date it became a public entity; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether, in terms of the findings of a certain audit report (name furnished) of 2005, any disciplinary action was taken against any staff member of the SAWS regarding the processes of awarding tenders; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW1593E
MR M J ELLIS (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENTHANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS1251. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) SAWS was established in terms of the South African Weather Service Act of 2001, effective 15 June 2001 (a) and (b) SAWS waslisted as a National Public Entity under Schedule 3A of the Public Finance Management Act, as per the General Notice 2302 of 30 November 2001.
(2) Most matters mentioned in the said Report took place between April 2005 and June 2006 and were linked to three former employees (the then General Manager: Corporate Services, the then Company Secretary and the then Chief Executive Officer) who left SAWS prior to the tenure of the current Board and Executive Management. Two of these three former employees resigned and are no longer in the employ of SAWS; and the then General Manager: Corporate Services went through a Disciplinary Enquiry in 2006 and had her Employment Contract subsequently terminated.
PALIAMENTARY QUESTION No.1270 /NW1615E
Mr D A Kganare (Cope) to ask the Minister of Labour:
(1) How much money was allocated by the National Skills Fund to each provincial government for implementing learnership programmes in each of the past five financial years;
(2) how many learners graduated with Seta-certified accreditation from these programmes in (a) each province and (b) in each region in each province;
(3) whether his department commissioned any investigation in any province into the usage of these funds; if not, why not; if so, in which province and what were the findings of each investigation;
(4) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
THE MINISTER OF LABOUR REPLIED:
(1) The Department of Labour's National Skills Fund allocated Learnership funding only once during the 2006/07 financial year to all the nine provincial governments. The amount was part of the 3 years Strategic Projects that were intended to support their Provincial Growth & Development Strategies (PGDS). The Learnership proportions were as follows:
| Province | Amount allocated | # Learners to benefit |
| Eastern Cape | R 72,106,000 | 2,326 |
| Free State | R 49,700,000 | 1,440 |
| Gauteng | R 16,666,000 | 1,000 |
| KwaZulu Natal | R 20,050,000 | 580 |
| Limpopo | R 61,685,000 | 1,909 |
| Mpumalanga | R 28,000,000 | 800 |
| Northern Cape | R 17,500,000 | 500 |
| North West | R 52,500,000 | 1,500 |
| Western Cape | R 52,500,000 | 1,500 |
| Total | R 370,707,000 | 11,555 |
(2) The Learnerships commenced at different intervals and some commenced very late due to various challenges experienced in the provinces. Up to the end of March 2009, the reports received indicated the completion rates as follows:
| Province | # Learners completing |
| Eastern Cape | 0 |
| Free State | 653 |
| Gauteng | 528 |
| KwaZulu Natal | 0 |
| Limpopo | 0 |
| Mpumalanga | 0 |
| Northern Cape | 0 |
| North West | 0 |
| Western Cape | 800 |
| Total | 1981 |
(3) The Department of Labour has not commissioned any investigation in the usage of these funds. To date we have not received any formal complaint of financial mismanagement on these funds.
The NSF allocated to the provinces are audited by the Auditor General as in accordance with a special Practice Note that was issued by the National Treasury and the Directors General in each province remain accountable for these funds. The Department of Labour staff also monitors these projects through site visits and quarterly monitoring reports.
The Provincial Senior Executive Manager Free State did bring it to my attention, that the new Premier of the Free State Province did commission an investigation into the Free State Strategic Project. We have assisted this process by providing the relevant background information as requested.
(4) I will not make any statement on the matter.