ê1. Ms N D Ntwanambi (African National Congress (ANC)-Western Cape (WC)) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether the Government has considered a new electricity price path for South Africa that will (a) curb the escalating electricity prices and (b) ensure that Eskom remains financially viable and sustainable so that the escalating prices of electricity do not result in the regress of our national programmes and interventions to (i) fight poverty and (ii) create a viable economy that is able to (aa) create more job opportunities and (bb) attract foreign investments; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Yes, Government is considering the introduction of a number of mechanisms that will ensure that tariffs do not escalate in a manner that has an adverse impact on economic growth and job creation.
An interdepartmental team has been established to consider the best approach for determining the next round of electricity tariff increase for Eskom, due to take effect from April 2013. This involves developing a model that seeks to balance the socio-economic impact of increasing electricity prices, the country's competitiveness, Eskom's financial viability and the necessary policy considerations for implementing the Integrated Resource Plan.
The future price path will take into cognisance the competitiveness of the South African economy based on economically sustainable electricity tariffs that balance macroeconomic and socio-political impacts. It is important that the price path provides the regulatory certainty that is crucial for investment in the power sector. Once the price path has been outlined, there will be certainty for the next 20 years regarding future electricity tariffs, as opposed to the current practice where tariffs are determined every three years.
Further details can be obtained from the Minister of Energy.
I thank you.
ê2. Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC-WC) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether the Government has any measures in place to reduce and/or curb University registration fees to create more opportunities for the youth to (a) access higher education and training and (b) expand their chances of breaking the generational poverty that characterises many poor black households, especially Africans; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Honourable Member, this is a question that the Minister of Higher Education and Training will be better placed to deal with. However, I am informed that University fees are determined through each university's admission policy and therefore differ from institution to institution. The Minister of Higher Education and Training has established a Ministerial Committee for the Review of Funding to Universities, which is also tasked with looking into the matter of the student fee increases, and the desirability of capping such increases.
Once this Committee has completed its work, it will make recommendations to the Minister, on whether a national policy to regulate university fees should be put in place. Over the years tertiary fees have been increasing as universities seek to balance their budgets.
To alleviate the plight of poor students however, government provides funding to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to enable poor and academically deserving students to attend universities.
These university loans and bursary allocations increased by 27% in the 2012/13 financial year. The total number of poor but academically deserving students assisted was almost 150 000. It is expected that this will increase by 5% annually.
The Department of Higher Education and Training is also investigating the feasibility of a Central Application Service. One of the anticipated benefits of such a service will be the standardisation of one application fee for all universities. This will assist poor students in extending their opportunities and choice.
I thank you.
ê3. Mr D B Feldman (COPE-Gauteng) to ask the Deputy President:
With reference to the Public Service Commission Audit Report in February 2007 regarding the Government's Poverty Reduction Projects and Programmes (details furnished), what has the Government done to address the (a) discrepancies in the database and (b) lack of a uniform system of norms, standards and indicators that can be easily accessed for monitoring and evaluation processes?
Reply:
Honourable Member, since 1994, we have strived to build capacity and to improve information since these are the requirements facing policy makers and the implementers of programmes and projects. We were tasked with developing and implementing policy whilst strengthening our own capacity and developing systems. The combination of these factors thus put pressure on the pace of service delivery to poor communities.
The House will recall that the department in The Presidency responsible for Performance, Monitoring, and Evaluation was established in 2009 specifically to focus on the performance of the public sector. All Ministers driving priority programmes, including anti-poverty programmes, have committed themselves to clear targets over the five year term of this government.
The responsible Ministers report every quarter to the President and Cabinet on progress made against these targets. From time to time, the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation publishes reports which indicate the degree of progress made. These are significant improvements to our monitoring and evaluation systems.
While the Presidency is the custodian of the Government-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation System as a whole, National Treasury has published the Framework for Programme Performance Information.
Statistics South Africa has published the South African Statistics Quality Framework to provide policy frameworks for programme performance information, social, economic and demographic statistics.
The National Evaluation Policy Framework that was approved by Cabinet in November 2011provides the next essential part of the Government-Wide Monitoring and Evaluation System, setting out the basis for government-wide evaluation, focusing on our priority areas. It should contribute to the establishment of a culture of continuous improvement in service delivery.
With these initiatives I am confident that we are on the right path and the challenges encountered by the Public Service Commission in the course of the audit process will soon become a thing of the past.
I thank you.
ê4. Mr M J R de Villiers (Democratic Alliance (DA)-WC) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the Board of the South African National AIDS Council (Sanac) meets on a regular basis; if not, why not; if so, (a) how often in each year and (b) what is the attendance record for each meeting;
(2) whether any similar structures exist in each province; if not, why not; if so, who (a) is responsible to lead these structures and (b) monitors the performance of these structures;
(3) whether the capacity of the Sanac is satisfactory; if not, what action will be taken in this regard; if so, what have been the unique outcomes of the Sanac? CO109E
Reply:
Honourable Member I have noticed that in the first part of your Question, reference is made to both the Board and the Council. I assume however, that you are specifically referring to the work of the Council which is a multi-stakeholder Advisory platform where decisions are made and implementation monitored. Thus, I will confine my Reply to the South African National Aids Council which I chair.
The South African National AIDS Council holds up to four meetings annually. Meetings are held in the provinces to enable the Council to engage with the Provincial AIDS Councils and to consider among other things, provincial reports on the implementation of all HIV and TB related programmes as defined in the National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The South African National AIDS Council is made up of government and 19 civil society sectors. Each sector sends three representatives to attend Council meetings. Attendance at each meeting is well over 95% and each meeting allows for an engagement with the community through a community dialogue or a visit to a health facility. This approach allows the National Council to experience policy in action and to support and acknowledge health workers at the coal face of service delivery.
All nine provinces have established Provincial Councils on AIDS and Premiers lead the provincial structures and in some cases a Member of the Executive Council has delegated responsibility from their respective Premier to perform this function.
Provincial AIDS Councils monitor their performance against agreed targets, whilst the National structure executes an overarching monitoring function in accordance with its mandate as approved by Cabinet.
The South African National AIDS Council has full representation from the stakeholders described above; the Council is supported by a secretariat which is being strengthened through the appointment of skilled persons, such as the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer.
In the past year SANAC has achieved a number of significant milestones notably;
- The launch and successful execution of the world's largest HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign with over 15 million people tested for HIV and a significant number screened for TB.
- The Council also developed and launched the new National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STI's 2012 to 2016 through an extensive consultative process.
On 24 March this year, which is World TB Day, the National Implementation Plan for the National Strategic Plan (2012-2016) will be launched and we expect all stakeholders, communities, and Members of Parliament to rally behind this important initiative so that we can meet our target of reducing new infections by halve.
I thank you.
ê5. Mr W F Faber (DA-Northern Cape) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the SA National Aids Council (Sanac) is in any way involved in the joint venture between certain companies (names furnished) to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients for antiretrovirals in South Africa; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) to what extent is the Sanac involved in this project and (b) in which province will this project take place;
(2) with regard to the fact that the Government will have a 50% stake in this project, to what extent will the (a) provincial government and (b) local municipalities benefit from the province in which this project will take place? CO110E
Reply:
As the Honourable Member is aware, the South African National Aids Council has launched the National Strategic Plan 2012-2016. Among other things, the strategic plan seeks to extend provision of treatment so that we can arrest mortality rates and offer our people an opportunity to live longer, more productive lives.
The South African National Aids Council is yet to receive a full briefing about project Ketlaphela (which means I will survive in Sesotho), a joint venture between the state-owned Pelchem (Pty) Ltd and Lonza Group Ltd- a Swiss pharmaceutical company.
The South African National Aids Council will not get involved in the project since its mandate is confined to policy advice and oversight. Ketlaphela is a welcome development as it supports our key National Strategic Plan objective which is to provide affordable treatment.
Overall, this project will benefit the entire country because of the availability of low Anti-Retroviral prices.
I thank you.
ê6. Mrs B L Abrahams (DA-Gauteng) to ask the Deputy President:
(a) To what extent did South Africa benefit financially from hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup Soccer tournament, (b) what is the total amount of money that Fifa gave back to South Africa for development projects, (c) what are the details of these projects that are funded from this money which are currently in operation, (d) which communities are currently benefitting from these projects and (e) how were these communities identified? CO112E
Reply:
Honourable Member, according to the National Treasury, the estimated impact of the World Cup was in the region of R10.5 billion which amounts to 0.38% of gross domestic product (GDP). The overall impact on the real GDP level over the period of 2007 to 2013 was estimated to be 0.25%.
More than 309 000 tourists arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of attending the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A survey conducted by the National Department of Tourism and South African Tourism shows that tourists were extremely satisfied with their experience in the country and would highly recommend the destination to friends and family. The benefits of the World Cup will thus be enjoyed over many years to come.
FIFA made a total of USD100 million available to SAFA as a legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I am informed that in the region of USD 30 million has been used by SAFA for infrastructure, buses and World Cup preparations.
The remaining USD 70 million will be will be placed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust. This Trust consists of 8 members which includes one representative of Government who is from the Department of Sport and Recreation.
The Trust will be used for the following purposes:
Football Development, which will include:
- Development programmes for Coaches
- Development programme for Administrators
- Development programmes for referees and technical officials
- Setting up of football academies
- Facilities and equipment
Education which will include:
- Education, life skills and leadership programmes through football for youth and communities
- Bursaries for football players, coaches, referees and administrators
- Health promotion which will include:
- Healthy lifestyle programmes through football for youth and communities
- Training of specialist medical personnel for football teams
- Research and development on football related health matters
Humanitarian causes will include the consideration to fund football communities struck by tragedy or disaster.
I am informed that to date FIFA has transferred R280 million to the Legacy Trust and that the Trust will become operational in April 2012.
The main beneficiaries of the fund, according to the policy of the Trust, will be the SAFA structures at national, provincial, regional and local level. In addition, associate members like tertiary institutions, schools and football for persons with disabilities as well as organised supporters groups will also be eligible for funding. However, all these institutions must be registered as Public Benefit Organisations.
Apparently, funding will be allocated on an application basis. All project proposals will be considered against set criteria and the Board of the Trust will make the final decisions as to which projects are funded.
More details can be obtained from the Minister of Sports and Recreation.
I thank you.
