Questions & Replies: Question & Replies No 1351 to 1375

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2009-10-07

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

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

TYPE: WRITTEN QUESTION

MINISTRY: SPORT AND RECREATION SA

QUESTION: NO 1375

(Internal Question Paper No 18 – 2009)

Dr C P Mulder(FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation:

(1) Whether Athletics South Africa (ASA) sent a certain person (name furnished) for gender tests? If not; What is the position in this regard? If so;

(a) When were tests done on her?

(b) What were the results of these tests and

(c) When did ASA receive the results of these tests?

(2) Whether the ASA informed the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) about these tests before the meeting at Berlin in August 2009? If so; what are the relevant details? If not;

(3) Whether the manner in which the chairperson of the ASA (name furnished) handled the matter regarding the gender tests was in keeping with his department's policy? If not;

(4) Whether he will order an investigation by

(a) His department or

(b) An independent body into the matter? If not; why not? If so; what are

the relevant details in each case?

NW1731E

REPLY:

  1. Question (1) and (2) refers as follows: All officials who may be able to answer the question have been suspended by South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
  1. Attempts to ascertain the facts from ASA following the IAAF Berlin Championships proved to be unsuccessful. To this end the department fully supported the intervention by SASCOC's Legal and Arbitration Committee into the matter and the department further endorsed the decision of SASCOC to suspend the board and officials of ASA.
  1. The National Sport and Recreation Act as Amended, (2007) places the responsibility on SASCOC to resolve issues involving National Federations and the matter was handled accordingly.

QUESTION NO 1373

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 SEPTEMBER 2009(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17 - 2009)

Date reply submitted : 7 December 2009

Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) Whether all investigations, complaints and cases of the former Directorate for Special Investigations, or the Scorpions, which have not yet been finalised, have been handed over to the new Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the Hawks; if not, why not; if so, how many cases have been handed over accordingly;

(2) whether the complaint regarding serious fraud and corruption against a certain company (name furnished) has been finalised; if not, why not; if so, what was the outcome of the investigation;

(3) whether the complaint against the above-mentioned company is being investigated by the Hawks; if not, why not; if so, when will they complete this investigation? NW1729E

REPLY:

(1) Yes.

Two hundred and eighty-seven projects/cases of the former Directorate for Special Operations (DSO) were transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI).

(2) No, it has not yet been finalised.

The matter regarding fraud and corruption against Africa Strategic Asset Protection was only received on 26 August 2009.

(3) Yes, the complaint is being investigated by the Hawks.

This is a new matter and the period of investigation can only be determined when the investigation unfolds. A date for finalisation can, therefore, not be set at this point.

Reply to question 1373 approved by Minister

QUESTION NUMBER 1371

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 SEPTEMBER 2009

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

How far has the SA Revenue Service progressed with the VAT deregistration project of companies whose taxable yield was less than R20 000 per year?

NW1727E

REPLY:

The VAT Act (in particular, section 23(3) of the Value Added Tax Act; No. 89 of 1991) stipulates that a person can apply to register for VAT on a voluntary basis if their turnover exceeds or is likey to exceed R20 000 in a period of 12 months.

Section 24(5) of the VAT Act empowers SARS to cancel a vendor's VAT registration if that vendor's turnover does not exceed R20 000 in a period of 12 months.

As part of SARS's on-going process of managing the VAT register, 20 665 vendors were found to be submitting returns declaring turnover of less than R20 000 in a period of 12 months. These vendors were, however, consistently claiming refunds from SARS. This category of vendors was issued with letters informing them that their VAT registration would be cancelled because they were no longer complying with the requirements of the law. They were, however, given until 31 March 2009 to provide information showing that they were carrying on an enterprise that would give rise to a turnover of R20 000 over a period of 12 months. As at the end of August 2009, 4 929vendors had provided such information and their registrations were re-activated. The other 15 736 vendors were suspended with effect from 31 March 2009. These vendors will no longer receive any returns. A de-registration audit will be carried out before their registration is cancelled.

A futher 15 514 vendors who have submitted NIL returns or failed to submit returns will be issued with similar letters shortly. They will also be given an opportunity to provide information showing that they are carrying on an enterprise that will give rise to a turnover of more than R20 000 over a period of 12 months.


QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Question 1370

Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:

Whether his department used or intends using labour brokers in order to supplement their permanent staff; if so, how many temporarily-placed employees were used in the (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 financial years?

Response:

the dti does not make use of labour brokers as such but does make use of temporary employment agencies for short term project related work or replacing employees absent for extended periods such as maternity leave and sick leave.

(a) and (b)

The Department is currently collating the information which will be submitted once available.

QUESTION NO. 1368

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 September 2009

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

(1) How many people (a) applied for permits under interim relief for 2009-2010 and (b) will be granted permits in 2009-2010 that did not receive permits in 2008-2009;

(2) (a) what are the reasons why an applicant who received a permit under interim relief in 2008-2009 will not receive a permit in 2009-2010, (b) what criteria were used to grant permits under interim relief for 2009-2010 and (c) how are these criteria different from criteria used for the previous interim relief period;

(3) (a) what entity makes the final decision that determines which applicants for the 2009-2010 interim relief period are successful and (b) what are the names of all individuals on the panel that makes these decisions?

NW1724E

MR G R MORGAN (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1368 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

1, 2, and 3. This matter is subjudice hence I would not like to enter into any discussion, in compliance with Rule 67 of the National Assembly.

QUESTION NO. 1367 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 September 2009

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

(1) (a) How many fishers (i) will receive permits under the interim relief conditions for the 2009-2010 season and (ii) were granted permits under the interim relief conditions for the 2008-2009 season and (b) what (i) is and (ii) was the breakdown of the number of fishers granted permits for each area;

(2) (a) what are the fishers in possession of these permits allowed to catch in the 2009-2010 season and (b) over what period can they make these catches;

(3) what are the relevant sections of the Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998, that permit the granting of permits under the interim relief conditions?

NW1723E

MR G R MORGAN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1367 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

1, 2 and 3. This matter is subjudice hence I would not like to enter into any discussion, in compliance with Rule 67 of the National Assembly.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 1365

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18 SEPTEMBER 2009

IINTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17)

1365. Mr G R Krumbock (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) Whether the Somkhele Colliery in KwaZulu-Natal has a valid water licence; if not, what steps are taken to rectify this situation; if so, when was the licence issued;

(2) whether any directives have been issued against the mine for non-compliance on any related matters with regard to the licence; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) (a) how many times have inspectors from her department visited the mine since 1 January 2009 to assess compliance and (b) what was the date of each visit? NW1721E

REPLY:

(1) No. The mine does not have a valid water license. However, an integrated Water Use licence application (i.e. abstraction, storing water, impeding or diverting the flow of the river, altering the bed, banks, course and disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact a water resource) has been requested by the mine and My Department is currently processing it.

(2) No directives were issued to the Somkhele Colliery in KwaZulu-Natal. In terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 2002, the Department of Mineral Resources as the lead Authority, prior to the approval of an Environmental Management Programme (EMPR), has to consult with each Department, which administers an Act concerning the environment. To date no contraventions have been referred to My Department.

(3)(a) No inspections were carried out by My Department since no contraventions of regulations have been reported by inspectors from the Department of Mineral Resources. However for good Governance My Department together with DMR work closely together to maximise time and resources. Water samples from the Umfolozi River are taken regularly and boreholes have been installed to monitor the impact on ground water.

(3)(b) Falls away



NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

(For written reply)


QUESTION NO. 1364

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 September 2009

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

(1) Whether any of the scheduled research cruises that will be conducted by Marine and Coastal Management from now until the end of the financial year will be scaled down in intensity to save money; if not, why not; if so, which cruises will be affected;

(2) whether industry stakeholders have been informed of this decision; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1720E

MR G R KRUMBOCK (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1364 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) No. Marine and Coastal Management has no intention to scale down on the intensity of research cruises for the remainder of the financial year in order to save money, and the cruise programme will be completed as scheduled.

(2) Not applicable.



QUESTION 1353

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18/09/09

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 17-2009)

Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

Whether she has taken any steps to release the results of the remarked scripts of November 2008 of the National Senior Certificates examinations; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NW1709E

REPLY:

The results of the re-marked scripts relating to the 2008 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination were released on 27 February 2009. Subsequent to the release of the re-mark results, candidates were offered the opportunity of writing the supplementary examinations in February/March 09. The results of the supplementary examination were released on 28 April 09. The Department of Education monitors on a continuous basis the provincial education departments and I am not aware of any re-mark results that have not been released.


QUESTION 1352

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18/09/09

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 17-2009)

Dr J C Kloppers-Lourens (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1) What is the state of readiness of her department for the National Senior Certificate Examinations (NSCEs) for 2009;

(2) whether any problems are forseen for the upcoming NSCEs; if so, what problems;

(3) whether any plans are in place to avoid the problems which occurred with the 2008 NSCEs; if not, why not; if so, what plans? NW1708E

REPLY:

(1) The Department of Education is ready and confident that the 2009 National Senior Certificate examination will be successfully administered. The Department of Education supports and monitors the provincial education departments on an ongoing basis through on-site audits of examination systems and processes, regular reporting and feedback, inter-provincial meetings and teleconferences. This approach has assisted in identifying the shortcomings as they occur, and rectifying them immediately.

(2) There are no problems that are foreseen at this stage. All possible problems have been identified and plans have been put in place to address them effectively.

(3) Clear plans have been put in place to ensure that all candidates received their results timeously. The problem of not releasing the results all the candidates on the scheduled release date, in 2008, emanated from the new emphasis being placed on school based assessment (SBA) by the Department of Education. Improved control systems were put in place to ensure that candidates are not resulted if the SBA is outstanding, a process that was not in place in previous years. This year all Provincial Education Departments have established quarterly monitoring systems that will ensure that schools are assessing their learners on a continuous basis and defaulting schools will be identified and remedial measures will be initiated, to ensure that moderated SBA marks are collected. The computer system that was implemented for the first time, in the 2008 examination, has successfully processed the 2009 supplementary examination results and is being further enhanced and improved to ensure that there are no glitches in the 2009 NSC examination. The results of the 2009 examination will be released on 7 January 2010 an this will allow school principals and the officials in the Provincial Education Departments more time to verify and check all results before they are released.

QUESTION NO. 1363 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 September 2009

Mr M J Ellis (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) Whether soldiers from the SA National Defence Force have been deployed to the Kruger National Park (KNP) to assist in anti-poaching initiatives, if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) how many soldiers have been deployed, (b) on what date did they arrive and (c) how long will they be deployed;

(2) whether the soldiers have been given any specific anti-poaching training; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether SA National Parks (SANParks) is paying for the cost of this deployment; if not, what entity is paying; if so, what is the cost to SANParks?

NW1719E

MR M J ELLIS (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1363 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) (a) No. The SANDF carried out an exploratory visit to the KNP during 15-16 September 2009, to prepare themselves for the possibility of re-deploying forces for border protection duty in the KNP.

(b) This falls away, see the response in 1 (a) above.

(c) This falls away, see the response in 1 (a) above.

(2) They still need to decide if they will deploy or not.

No. There are no discussions of payments yet

QUESTION 230

FOR ORAL REPLY ON 21 OCTOBER 09

WRITTEN QUESTION 1369

TRANSFERRED IN TERMS OF RULE 117

Date of publication on internal question paper: September 2009

Internal question paper no:

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

(1) (a) How many pension pay-out points are there in each province, (b) where are each of these points located, (c) how many days of each month does each of these points operate, (d) how many pensioners are registered to receive pension pay-outs (i) from each of these points and (ii) on each of the pension pay-out days and (e) how many officials are employed at each of these points;

(2) how many deaths of pensioners waiting in queues have been reported at each specified pension pay-out point in each month (a) in the (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available? NW1725E

REPLY:

Eastern Cape

Gauteng

Mpumalanga

Free State

Limpopo

Northern Cape

North West

KwaZulu- Natal

Western Cape

1(a) Number of Pay Points

2873

147

298

210

2125

365

856

2864

300

(b) Location of Pay Points

Please refer to the Xcel annexure of 249 pages.

(c)

Payment Days per month

Approximately 20 working days, between the 1st and 20th of every month.

Approximately 20 working days, between the 1st and 20th of every month.

Approximately 19 working days, between the 1st and 19th of every month.

Approximately 15 working days, between the 1st and 16th of every month.

Maximum of 16 working days, between the 1st and the 23rd of every month.

Approximately 20 days, between the 1st and the 20th of every months.

Approximately 15 working days, between the 3rd and the 23rd of every months.

Approximately 25 days, between 1st and 25th of each month excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

Approximately 15 working days, between 2nd and 21st of each month.

(d)(i)Number of Pensioners registerd per Region

461774

316005

172720

149856

383322

65413

213545

515478

203746

(ii)Overall Number Paid per day

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

Determined by Payment Schedule

(e) Number of officials employed

69

24

18

24

25

12

27

52

24

2(a) Number of death reported during the period;(i) 2007-2008

None

One

None

None

None

None

None

Six

Two

(ii) 2008-2009

One

Four

None

Two

None

None

none

Seven

None

(iii) 1 April 2009 to date

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Four

Four

Parliamentary Question No. 1358

Mr I M Ollis (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

With reference to the qualified opinions of the Auditor-General of the MAPPP and CETA Setas, what steps is he taking to address (a) the financial state of the majority of Setas that are receiving qualified audits and (b) their ongoing wasteful expenditure? NW1714E

Minister of Labour replied.

Please refer to my answer that I provided to your Question No. 1339 and Question No 1415. For easy of reference I have said: The total number of SETAs out of the 21 that I have tabled their financial reports in Parliament that received qualified financial audits during the 2008/09 financial year are two namely: the Construction SETA and the Media and Printing SETA (MAPPP-SETA. There are two SETAs namely the Energy SETA (ESETA) and the Public Service SETA (PSETA) that did not submit their Annual Reports by 31st August 2009 for tabling in parliament. Save for matters on emphasis on certain aspects, the other 19 SETAs have so far received clean audit report.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

WRITTEN TO ORAL REPLY

QUESTION 1357

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10/07/09

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 06-2009)

Dr W G James (DA) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training:

Whether the results of the study of residences commissioned by his department are completed; if not, why not; if so, (a) when will it be released and (b) what are the further relevant details? NW1713E

REPLY:

The Department of Higher Education and Training will, during 2010, be undertaking a study of student housing in the public higher education system. The study will focus on the system's need for additional student housing, and on the ways in which expansion could be financed. The Department will draw on lessons learned from the 2010/11 to 2011/12 residence expansion process funded by government, institutions and the private sector. The implementation of these expansion plans will lead to the number of student housing places rising by 7 000 by the 2011 academic year, from the current total of 100 000. This expansion programme includes provision for the major renovation of 2 000 existing residence places, primarily in smaller rural universities.

QUESTION NO.: 1351

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 September 2009

Dr S M van Dyk (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:

What is the amount of bonuses awarded by Eskom to each member of the (a) Board and (b) senior management in the (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09 financial years? NW1707E

REPLY

(a) Eskom Non-executive Directors do not qualify for any bonuses.

(b)(i-iii)The table below indicates Senior Management Bonuses:

Eskom Holdings Limited Directors' Emoluments (Short term Bonus Payments)

Title:

2007

2008

2009*

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

R'000

R'000

R'000

TS Gcabashe

R 1,544,000

-

-

B Nqwababa

R 856,000

R 487,000

PJ Maroga

N/A

-

-

DIVISIONAL MANAGING DIRECTORS

BA Dames

R 752,000

R 509,000

-

JA Dladla

R 675,000

R 364,000

N/A

SJ Lennon

R 682,000

R 350,000

-

ME Letlape

R 654,000

R 279,000

-

PJ Maroga

R1,103,000

N/A

N/A

EN Matya

R 749,000

R 216,000

N/A

PD Mbonyana

R 577,000

N/A

N/A

A Noah

N/A

R318,000

N/A

EL Johnson

N/A

R 315,000

-

M Ntsokolo

R 672,000

R 363,000

N/A

*(Eskom has put moratorium on Senior Management Bonuses for 2009)

NB: Mr T S Gcabashe resigned as CEO in the year ending 31 December 2007 and Mr Maroga was appointed CEO Designate from 1 February 2007 and CEO from 1 May 2007.

QUESTION NO. 1362

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 17 of 2009

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 September 2009

Mrs P C Duncan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:

(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to Question 302 on 20 August 2009, abalone fishing was permitted in the 2007-2008 season in Zone E; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, why was no reference made to this in the reply;

(2) in respect of the (a) 2006-2007 and (b) 2007-2008 abalone seasons, what was the (i) allocated total allowable catch for each zone and (ii) what was the actual amount of abalone harvested in each zone;

(3) (a) how many legal abalone rights holders removed abalone to an extent that exceeded their allocated quota during the 2006-2007 season and (b) what was the (i) highest, (ii) lowest and (iii) average overcatch for this period;

(4) whether any action was taken against legal abalone rights holders who removed abalone to an extent that exceeded their allocated quota during the 2006-2007 season; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1718E

MRS P C DUNCAN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

1362 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:

(1) Yes, 12 tons were permitted in Zone E. The department did provide information on the Zone E rights holders who participated in the removal of the allocated interim total allowable catch (TAC) of 75 tons in Zone B, F, and G [see response to 2(b)(i) of Question 302 of 20 August 2009], but did not detail that 12 tons were permitted in Zone E in response to question 1 of Question 302.

(2) (a)(i) 2006-2007

Zone

Total Allowable Catch (TAC) (tons)

Harvested tonnage

A

0

0

B

75

72.1

C

0

0

D

0

0

E

12

10.5

F

20

16.9

G

18

10.2

Total

125

109.7

(2) (b)(ii) 2007-2008

Zone

Total Allowable Catch (TAC) (tons)

Harvested tonnage

A

0

0

B

25

23.9

C

0

0

D

0

0

E

12

8.7

F

20

24.8

G

18

16.3

Total

75

73.7

(3)(a) 73

(3)(b)(i) 99kg

(3)(b)(ii) 6kg

(3)(b)(iii) 22kg

(4) Yes. The amount that exceeded their allocated quota was deducted in the following season.